PMID- 2604017 TI - Chest-lung statics: a realistic analog for student laboratory. AB - A mechanical analog of the human lung-chest wall system was developed in Fribourg and Geneva Universities, Switzerland, to help students understand chest-lung statics. The equipment comprises a lung bellows, with upper airway connected to a three-way manifold, and a transparent chest whose lower part is another bellows that can be mobilized manually. Two water manometers measure intrapulmonary and intrathoracic pressures. The pressure-volume relationships of the lung-chest wall analog, which are essentially determined by the diameters of the bellows and the strains imposed by steel coils, closely parallel those of the human respiratory system. The chest can be opened to demonstrate pneumothorax. A first, guided manipulation of the model at the physiology laboratory provides excellent preparation for--or useful complement to--a human subject experiment on chest lung statics. Unguided, further use of the model provides an opportunity for students to teach each other. Since the model is used, mean score on chest-lung statics at the practical examination is as good as that on other, more easy subjects. PMID- 2604018 TI - B cells and plasma cells in mycosis fungoides. A study including cases with B cell follicle formation or a monotypical plasma cell component. AB - B cells formed a distinctive component (greater than 5%) of the infiltrates in specimens of 28% (n = 12) of the 43 cases of mycosis fungoides studied. A large majority expressed surface immunoglobulin (Ig) D and/or IgM and a small minority IgA, similar to the proportions in inflammatory infiltrates. There was a prevalence of lambda light-chain expression. In about half of these cases, specimens revealed the formation of B cell follicles at various stages of development. Plasma cells formed a substantial number (greater than 25/mm2) in specimens from 21% (n = 9) of the patients. In six of these cases, including all four cases with advanced follicle formation, the same specimens were also rich in B lymphocytes. In most of the specimens the varying majorities of IgA or IgG producing cells and the polytypical expression of kappa and lambda light chains were similar to the patterns in inflammatory disorders. Two cases showed a striking prevalence of IgG, kappa-positive plasma cells, which was present in multiple specimens of one case and was associated with atypical plasmacytoid cells in a tumor of the other case. The pertinence of these observations for a special relationship between the abnormal T cells and the B cell component is discussed. PMID- 2604019 TI - Stereological estimation of nuclear volume in benign melanocytic lesions and cutaneous malignant melanomas. AB - Recent developments in stereology have made it possible to obtain unbiased, objective estimates of the volume weighted mean nuclear volume (vV) from ordinary histological sections, without any assumptions concerning nuclear shape. The aim of this study was to gather baseline data of nuclear vV in melanocytic cutaneous tumors and to compare these with estimates of nuclear volume fraction and with traditional two-dimensional morphometric estimates of nuclear profile area, nuclear density, and mitotic index. Routinely processed, paraffin embedded tissue specimens from 47 malignant melanomas and 76 noninvasive melanocytic cutaneous tumors were investigated retrospectively. vV clearly distinguished between noninvasive (average vV = 122 microns 3) and invasive lesions (average vV = 246 microns 3). Most of the patients with malignant melanomas showing an overlap of nuclear vV with benign lesions had a favorable prognosis. No significant differences in vV could be demonstrated among different noninvasive tumor types. Two-dimensional estimates only distinguished benign from malignant tumors with considerable overlap and with significantly varying influence from other factors among different benign lesional types. The variance associated with estimates of vV disclosed a linear relationship to vV, whereas the relative variation seemed to be constant. Tumor heterogeneity was without significant influence on estimates of nuclear vV. It is concluded that nuclear vV is a superior, efficient, and sensitive estimator for distinguishing between melanocytic cutaneous tumors showing different biological behavior, well-suited for objective malignancy grading. PMID- 2604020 TI - Incidence of leukocytoclastic vasculitis in chronic idiopathic urticaria. Study of 100 cases. AB - One hundred cases of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) were studied to determine the incidence of leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LV) and the clinical and laboratory data that might indicate its presence. LV was found in 12 patients, none of whom had either clinical or laboratory data to suggest its presence. These results suggest that a small percentage of patients with CIU. 12% in this series, have LV without either clinical or laboratory signs of its existence. PMID- 2604021 TI - Generalized cutaneous B-cell pseudolymphoma. Report of a case studied by immunohistochemistry. AB - A 77-year-old woman presenting with multiple reddish infiltrated papulonodular lesions on her back is reported. Histologic studies revealed nodular aggregates of lymphoid cells in a B-cell pattern. Immunohistochemical studies of several lesions showed the immunoarchitecture of germinal centers. Generalized lesions of cutaneous B-cell pseudolymphomas are uncommon. Our case is one of the few reported, and the first studied by immunohistochemistry. PMID- 2604022 TI - Cutaneous lymphoepithelioid lymphoma (Lennert's lymphoma). Combined immunohistological, ultrastructural, and DNA-flow-cytometric analysis. AB - Lymphoepithelioid lymphoma (LEL) is a peculiar type of low grade malignant T cell lymphoma usually arising in lymph nodes, characterized immunohistologically by predominant T-helper/inducer lymphocytes intermingled with clusters of epithelioid cells. An uncommon case of LEL with cutaneous involvement is reported with additional reference to ultrastructure and DNA-flow-cytometric analysis (DNA FCM) of the lymphoma. Light microscopy showed subepidermal bandlike infiltrates of lymphocytes and clusters of epithelioid cells extending into the subcutaneous tissue. By immunohistochemistry the presence of a high percentage of T helper/inducer lymphocytes was confirmed. DNA-FCM demonstrated an aneuploid cell population indicating malignant cells. Our results are in accordance with earlier ones established in lymph nodes. PMID- 2604023 TI - Eosinophilic panniculitis associated with chronic recurrent parotitis. AB - A 37-year-old woman presented with recurrent erythema nodosum-like lesions on her arms and legs that were preceded by chronic recurrent parotitis. Microscopic examination revealed a mixed lobular and septal panniculitis with many eosinophils and multiple eosinophilic flame figures similar to those seen in Wells' syndrome. The dermis was not involved. The classification, differential diagnosis, and possible pathomechanisms of eosinophilic panniculitis are discussed. PMID- 2604024 TI - Formation of palisading granulomas in a patient with chronic cutaneous cryptococcosis. AB - We describe a unique case of a 57-year-old man who developed a chronic cryptococcal infection with cutaneous lesions that showed palisading granulomas. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this entity in the skin. We also discuss the differential diagnosis of palisading granulomas. PMID- 2604025 TI - Nature of so-called "metaplasia of the apocrine epithelium". Macrophages attack apocrine epithelium". Macrophages attack apocrine epithelium. AB - Immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic studies were performed on the lesion termed "metaplasia of the apocrine epithelium." which was seen in association with an apocrine adenocarcinoma. The cells of this so-called "metaplasia" lacked cytokeratin, which was present in the apocrine epithelium. Surprisingly, the lesion ultrastructurally consisted mainly of terminally differentiated macrophages, the cytoplasms of which were filled with numerous phagosomes and lipid droplets. The cells lacked a desmosomal connection at their borders and some had Langerhans granule-like structures in the cytoplasm. The luminal wall was often infiltrated with macrophages and lymphocytes, and, in some portions, was replaced by macrophages with a large cytoplasm filled with numerous phagosomes. The immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings indicate that the lesion is not composed of cells of the apocrine epithelial origin, but of macrophages that have ingested apocrine epithelium. PMID- 2604026 TI - Multiple apocrine hidrocystomas on the eyelids. AB - A 31-year-old man with multiple cystic tumors symmetrically distributed on his eyelids is presented. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry suggest the diagnosis of apocrine hidrocystomas. Apocrine hidrocystomas occur frequently on the face, but multiple and symmetrical occurrence on the eyelids has not been reported up to now. PMID- 2604027 TI - Tissue distribution of GD3 ganglioside detected by mouse monoclonal antibody R24. AB - Mouse monoclonal antibody (MoAb) R24 detects the disialoganglioside GD3, a neuroectodermal antigen expressed by normal melanocytes and melanomas. This antibody has been used to define the immunohistochemical distribution of GD3 antigen in normal and malignant human tissues. The present study shows that staining with MoAb R24 in normal organs and tissues where low concentrations of the antigen can be detected. The highest expression of GD3 was detected on the surface of melanoma cells. Therefore, MoAb R24 can be a useful reagent for studying cells of melanocytic lineage, and for imaging and therapeutic studies of melanomas. PMID- 2604028 TI - A glossary of newspeak. PMID- 2604029 TI - Congenital melanocytic nevi. PMID- 2604030 TI - [Hemoglobinopathies and oxygen transport]. PMID- 2604031 TI - [Vaccination: present and future]. PMID- 2604032 TI - [The fifth force]. PMID- 2604033 TI - [Where, in our current knowledge, is the place for cancer prevention?]. PMID- 2604034 TI - [Tetanus immunity: epidemiologic and analytic study]. PMID- 2604035 TI - Analysis of alkyl sulfates in protein solutions by isocratic and gradient ion chromatography. AB - An ion-chromatographic analysis for separation and quantitation of long-chain alkyl sulfates in both commercial samples of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (lauryl sodium sulfate) and protein solutions was developed. The separation was performed on a hydrophobic resin-based column utilizing tetrabutylammonium hydroxide as an ion-pair reagent and acetonitrile as an organic modifier. Sensitive and selective detection of alkyl sulfates was achieved with an anion suppressor and a conductivity detector. Gradient elution with acetonitrile was developed for the detection of a broad range of alkyl chain lengths (C-10--C-20) at high sensitivity. Because of the wide linear range of this method (0.2-700 micrograms/ml), trace levels of C-10, C-14, C-16, C-18, and C-20 alkyl sulfates can be accurately measured in the presence of high concentrations of C-12 alkyl sulfate (SDS). Thus the alkyl sulfate purity of commercial SDS solutions can be accurately and precisely determined without any sample treatment. For analysis of alkyl sulfates from protein solutions, sample treatment consisted of a one-step ion-pair extraction prior to chromatographic resolution and quantitation. Alkyl sulfates from 2-150 micrograms/ml were recovered in high yield from wide variety of protein solutions. PMID- 2604036 TI - Determination of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in oxidized lipids by high-performance liquid chromatography with a postcolumn reaction system. AB - A new high-performance liquid chromatography procedure with a postcolumn reaction system for determination of free malondialdehyde (MDA) and other thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS) in oxidized lipids in vitro has been developed. Using this procedure, both thermally oxidized methyl linoleate and the degradation products of methyl linoleate hydroperoxides revealed many kinds of lipophilic TBA-RS, but no free MDA was detected on the high-performance liquid chromatography. Similarly, oxidized methyl arachidonate also produced certain kinds of TBA-RS in the lipophilic phase and a small amount of free MDA in the hydrophilic phase. These results indicate that lipophilic TBA-RS produced in oxidized lipids in vitro are major TBA-RS and that the production of free MDA is small, even though the degree of lipid oxidation has previously been estimated as an MDA equivalent measured by the TBA colorimetric test. PMID- 2604037 TI - Chromatographic analysis of purine precursors in mouse L1210 leukemia. AB - A number of antagonists of nucleotide metabolism with anti-cancer activity affect the de novo purine pathway. To determine the biochemical mechanisms of cytotoxicity of these drugs, assay procedures have been developed for measurement of the levels of intermediates proximal to IMP in the pathway for de novo purine biosynthesis in mouse L1210 leukemia cells. Purine precursors have been synthesized in vitro from [14C]glycine using enzymes from chicken liver. These 14C-labeled intermediates have been used as marker compounds to define retention times for metabolites of leukemia cells separated by HPLC and the chromatographic mobilities of these intermediates after two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. These new chromatographic procedures have been used in combination to determine the steady-state concentrations for purine precursors in mouse L1210 leukemia cells in the exponential phase of growth: N formylglycineamide ribotide (16 microM); N-formylglycineamidine ribotide (4.7 microM); 5-aminoimidazole ribotide (4.0 microM); 4-carboxy-5-aminoimidazole ribotide (0.46 microM); N-succino-5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribotide (11 microM); 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribotide (16 microM); 5 formamidoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribotide (2.7 microM); and IMP (57 microM). The metabolic effects of tiazofurin (25 microM) upon mouse L1210 leukemia cells growing in culture define a "metabolic crossover point" at the reaction catalyzed by IMP dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.205) which confirms previous reports of inhibition of this enzyme. PMID- 2604038 TI - One-step and two-step fluorometric assay methods for general aminotransferases using glutamate dehydrogenase. AB - One-step and two-step assay methods were developed for general aminotransferases (ATs) utilizing Glu and alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG) as the donor and acceptor of the amino group, by coupling a glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) reaction with the AT reactions. For instance, alpha-KG formed from Glu by AspAT is reduced and aminated back to Glu by GDH, which oxidizes NADPH corresponding to the amount of alpha-KG formed. In the reverse reaction, Glu formed from alpha-KG is oxidized and deaminated back to alpha-KG by GDH, which reduces NADP+ corresponding to the amount of Glu formed. In the one-step assay, both AT and GDH reactions are simultaneously carried out, and the decrease or increase in NADPH fluorescence is directly monitored in 1.0 ml of the reaction mixture for both forward and reverse reactions. In the two-step assay, an AT reaction is carried out and stopped once at the first step. Next, the alpha-KG or Glu formed is determined fluorometrically in a GDH reaction. In order to analyze partially purified or crude samples, the one-step assay is convenient for surveying the relative activities. The two-step assay is useful for analyzing the properties of enzymes and measuring activities under conditions approaching the optimum. AspAT can be replaced by other general ATs using enzyme-specific substrates in place of oxalacetate and Asp in the assay mixture. The present methods were successfully applied to four enzymes (Asp, alanine, gamma-aminobutyrate, and ornithine ATs) in tissue homogenates and a mitochondrial extract. PMID- 2604039 TI - A modified method for the production of 36ClO3- for use in plant nitrate transport studies. AB - A modified method for the production and purification of 36ClO3- in high yield is described. This procedure, involving the electrolytic oxidation of 36Cl- in a cell with simple electrode design and purification of the electrolysis products (36Cl-, 36ClO3-, and 36ClO4-) by aqueous column chromatography, allows for the recovery of about 80% of the initial radiolabel as 36ClO3-. The method is rapid and suitable for the production of this radiolabeled anion for use as a tracer analog for nitrate in plant membrane transport experiments. PMID- 2604040 TI - Quantification of cells cultured on 96-well plates. AB - The method for cell number measurement in monolayer cultures by crystal violet staining published recently by Gillies et al. (R. G. Gillies, N. Didier, M. Denton (1986) Anal. Biochem. 159, 109-113) was modified and significantly improved. The procedure was adapted for use in 96-well plates since the method is inherently very sensitive. Modifications allowed fast and complete solubilization of dye adsorbed by cell nuclei during staining. Since light absorption of the unstained or destained cell layers is negligible, cell number measurements can be performed in the respective wells. Due to these features, multiple assays may be carried out rapidly using standard 96-well plate readers. In addition, it is shown that the sensitivity of the assay can be varied and easily controlled by choosing the appropriate pH during the staining procedure. This increases the flexibility of the method making it useful for determining cell density of a wide range of different cell types. PMID- 2604041 TI - Quantitation of mucus glycoproteins blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes. AB - A sensitive assay for mucus glycoproteins (mucins) and fragments thereof is presented. The macromolecules are blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes and visualized using a periodate-Schiff (PAS) reaction and the color yield quantitated with an image analysis system used as a reflectance densitometer. At least 50 ng of the macromolecules was detected. "Whole" mucins and subunits were assayed on 0.2-micron pore size nitrocellulose membranes whereas immobilization of the high-molecular-weight mucin glycopeptides (Mr 300-500,000) required pretreatment of membranes with poly-L-lysine. Binding of the glycopeptides to the polylysine-treated membranes was found to decrease with increasing salt concentration suggesting an electrostatic interaction. The data obtained with this method and a solution PAS assay are in good agreement but the former is more sensitive and can be performed on samples dissolved in chaotropic solvents. PMID- 2604042 TI - Derivatization of hydrophilic peptides for liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry at the picomole level. AB - A simple procedure for preparing alkyl and benzyl esters of peptides is described. The procedure can provide an increase in the secondary ion yield of a factor of 25 or more in the liquid secondary ion mass spectra of hydrophilic peptides. The procedure allows rapid in situ derivatization of, e.g., collected, lyophilized HPLC fractions. No sample transfers are required and excess reagents are easily removed. Mass spectrometry of such fractions is typically required to prepare a mass map of the peptides produced by proteolytic digestion of a protein. However, small hydrophilic peptides are often not detected because their low secondary ion yield. Relative yields of MH+ ions from peptides esterified with various alcohols are compared: methanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-hexanol, 1 octanol, and benzyl alcohol. The best combination of ion yield and ease of reagent removal is obtained with 1-hexanol. The degree of improvement depends on the specific peptide; the greatest improvement is generally observed with the most hydrophilic peptides. The procedure does not affect side-chain amides. Partial derivatization is sometimes observed with peptides containing more than one carboxyl group. Hexylation is shown to have a leveling effect on the mass spectra of peptide mixtures, allowing detection of surface-inactive peptides in the presence of surface-active ones. Benzyl alcohol is useful for derivatizing peptides that are not retained or that elute very early from reverse-phase HPLC columns. The derivatives have longer retention times and greater uv molar absorptivity and are more easily detected by subsequent mass spectrometry than the underivatized peptides. PMID- 2604043 TI - Idiotype-anti-idiotype hapten immunoassays: assay for cotinine. AB - Practical application of the idiotype-anti-idiotype reaction to hapten immunoassays has been demonstrated with cotinine as an example. The assay relies on the ability of cotinine, a major nicotine metabolite, to inhibit binding between a monoclonal anti-cotinine antibody (the idiotype) and a second monoclonal antibody (the anti-idiotype) specific for the antigen combining region on the idiotype. A solid phase enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) format was adopted in which fluid phase anti-cotinine and cotinine present either as a standard or in a test sample were incubated in microtiter plate wells coated with F(ab')2 fragments of the anti-idiotype. Horseradish peroxidase-labeled protein A and o-phenylenediamine were used to detect idiotype-anti-idiotype binding. Under optimal assay conditions, 0.9 ng cotinine inhibited immune binding by 50% and as little as 0.04 ng could be detected. In contrast, nearly 70 times more trans-3' hydroxycotinine, a major urinary metabolite, and over 1000-fold more nicotine were required for 50% inhibition. Several other metabolites and structurally related compounds also were poor competitors. Assay reliability was good over a range of cotinine concentrations from 5 to 500 ng/ml saliva with intraassay coefficients of variation between 6 and 10% and interassay values between 6 and 13%. Also, there was a strong correlation (R2 = 0.994) between the cotinine levels found in saliva from 35 cigarette smokers with the idiotype-anti-idiotype assay and a cotinine-anti-cotinine ELISA. Because only monoclonal antibodies and antigen are required, the idiotype-anti-idiotype immunoassay offers a high degree of standardization without the need to prepare labeled hapten derivatives or macromolecular conjugates for solid phase assays. PMID- 2604044 TI - Optimization of in situ hybridization to human metaphase chromosomes. AB - A simplified method describing optimal conditions for in situ hybridization to human chromosomes is presented. A 1.5-kb DNA fragment coding for part of the 28 S rRNA was subcloned into pSP65. Tritium-labeled RNA was synthesized as runoff transcripts and 39-67% of the labeled probes specifically hybridized to the nucleolar organizer regions of the acrocentric chromosomes. Denaturation performed with 70% formamide, 1 mM EDTA, 2 X SSC gave a high specific hybridization with both fresh chromosome spreads (1-8 weeks) and older preparations (3-6 months). To obtain good chromosome morphology and a high specific hybridization it was important to neutralize the final formamide denaturation mixture containing 70% formamide, 1 mM EDTA, and 2 X SSC, whereas it was unimportant to deionize the formamide. Freshly made slides denatured with 0.15 M NaOH in 70% ethanol hybridized equally well with the rRNA probe. Despite treatment of the chromosomes with RNases before denaturation the following proteinase K and the acetylation steps recommended could be omitted without degradation of the rRNA probe as judged from the high specific hybridization to the nucleolar organizer regions. PMID- 2604045 TI - High-performance liquid chromatography separation of phospholipid classes and arachidonic acid on cyanopropyl columns. AB - An HPLC method for the separation and analysis of arachidonic acid and eight phospholipid classes is described: phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and 2-lysophosphatidylcholine. The separation is carried out at 60 degrees C on 2 cyanopropyl columns using a gradient of acetonitrile and 5 mM sodium acetate (pH 5.0). Cyanopropyl columns require a lower proportion of water in the mobile phase to elute the more polar phospholipids than other types of columns and are thus less prone to equilibration problems. The method is highly reproducible (average coefficient of variation for each retention time less than or equal to 3.5%) and permits analysis of peaks by phosphorus content. Data obtained by analyzing lipid extracts from rat alveolar macrophages prelabeled with [G-3H]-arachidonic acid were analyzed by this HPLC method and compared to standard analysis by TLC. There was a significant correlation between the radioactivity profiles obtained with the two chromatographic methods (HPLC versus TLC) by linear regression analysis [HPLC = 0.83 (TLC) + 3.58, n = 25, r = 0.95, P less than 0.001]. PMID- 2604046 TI - Solid-phase tyrosine-specific protein kinase assay in multiwell substrate immobilized polyacrylamide gel. AB - Since tyrosine-specific protein kinase (TPK) is much less abundant than Ser/Thr specific kinases in cells, determination of TPK activity in crude cell extracts or column chromatography eluates has been difficult. This is compounded by the absence of a rapid, economical method for the separation of high endogenous protein phosphorylation background from exogenously added tyrosine-containing substrates. We have developed a new solid-phase assay, which provides high sensitivity and efficiency at a low cost for assaying the TPK activity of crude enzyme preparations. This assay utilizes immobilized tyrosine-containing synthetic polymers such as (Glu:Tyr, 4:1)n in polyacrylamide gels. The kinase reaction is started by adding crude enzyme solutions and [tau-32P]ATP-metal ion mixtures into microtiter-size wells made in the gels. After the phosphorylation reaction, the reaction mixtures are removed and the gels are prewashed in water followed by electrophoresis to completely remove free radioactive ATP. 32P incorporation into the immobilized TPK-specific substrate can be detected by autoradiography and quantitated by cutting the gel pieces and counting them with a liquid scintillation counter. The simple, rapid method should facilitate screening of TPK inhibitors and activators as well as examining the substrate specificity of TPKs. Other enzymes, including Ser/Thr-specific protein kinases, can also be analyzed by this technique. PMID- 2604047 TI - Analysis of a glucose-containing tetrasaccharide by high-performance liquid affinity chromatography. AB - In the present work we have explored conditions for using a pulsed amperometric detector for on-line analysis of oligosaccharides eluted from a high-performance liquid affinity chromatography column. A monoclonal antibody that specifically binds a glucose-containing oligosaccharide is coupled to a SelectiSphere-10 activated tresyl column. The system is eluted isocratically and easily detects 10 ng of the oligosaccharide with a linear response up to 250 ng. Analysis of both serum and urine samples from normal individuals and patients with acute pancreatitis gives a single retarded peak with a retention time identical to that of authentic (Glc)4. Retarded material pooled from several analyses of urine was positively identified as (Glc)4 by GC-MS analysis. As this method requires little cleanup and no chemical derivitization of the sample and is performed rapidly (less than 20 min) at sensitivities of at least 10 micrograms/liter in biological fluids, it represents a substantial improvement over previous GC-MS, radioimmunoassay, and enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay methods used to determine (Glc)4. PMID- 2604048 TI - A mixing chamber to enucleate avian and fish erythrocytes: preparation of their plasma membrane. AB - Biochemical studies of the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton of nucleated erythrocytes are strongly limited by the difficulties encountered in enucleating large quantities of cells. We describe an easily built hydrodynamic system which allows rapid preparation of large amounts of avian and fish erythrocyte plasma membranes. The contents of two 25-ml syringes containing hemolyzed nucleated erythrocytes are forced through four capillaries to a specially designed mixing chamber which fills a collecting syringe. The 50-ml erythrocyte suspension can be processed in 2 s. The high speed flow is achieved with a hand-activated piston. The turbulences in the mixing chamber are carried to an optimal efficiency by the vis-a-vis disposition of the four mixing jets. The enucleated membranes are separated from the nuclei and residual nucleated cells by differential centrifugations. They do not show contamination with nuclear material. Erythrocytes from chicken and trout have been used. They present striking differences in their stability toward hydrodynamic disruption, erythrocytes from chicken being far more stable. Ninety-five percent of trout erythrocytes are enucleated after only one run through the mixing chamber. Two runs performed at the maximal flow rate are necessary to enucleate chicken erythrocytes with a yield of 80%. In the former case most of the purified enucleated plasma membranes are fragmented in small vesicles while they retain a large size in the case of chicken erythrocytes. The proteins of the membranes thus prepared are characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis: we found that erythrocyte membranes from trout are remarkable for their small spectrin content compared to those from chicken. PMID- 2604049 TI - Determination of tissue folate composition by affinity chromatography followed by high-pressure ion pair liquid chromatography. AB - A recent report from this laboratory described the use of affinity chromatography for the isolation of pure folates from tissue extracts (J. Selhub, B. Darcy Vrillon, and D. Fell (1988) Anal. Biochem. 168, 247-251). The present study was undertaken to develop chromatographic procedures for quantitative analysis of the individual folates in the affinity-purified mixture. Methods were devised whereby mixtures containing pteroylglutamates (PteGlu1-7) were batch reduced to the dihydro, H2PteGlu1-7, and tetrahydro, H4Pte-Glu1-7, forms. The 5-methylH4PteGlu1 7 and the 10-formylH4PteGlu1-7 series were prepared from H4Pte-Glu1-7. These compounds were used to calibrate a liquid chromatographic system for the resolution of folate mixtures. This system included reverse-phase ion pair chromatography and a diode array detector. A mixture containing oxidized and reduced PteGlu1-7, a total of 35 derivatives, was separated into seven clusters arranged in an order of increasing number of glutamate residues. Each cluster was represented by two or more peaks which were due to folates that differed in the pteridine ring structure but had the same number of glutamate residues. In clusters containing mono and diglutamyl derivatives the 10-formyltetrahydro-, the tetrahydro-, and the dihydrofolate forms appeared as separate peaks while those representing folic acid and 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate derivatives eluted in coinciding peaks. This hierarchy was maintained in the following clusters except for increasing tendency of the former three forms of folates to elute in the same peak. The number of glutamate residues of any eluting folate can be determined on the basis of retention time in relation to those of the clusters. The pteridine ring structure of that same folate can be determined on the basis of its elution position within that cluster and spectral characteristics determined by the diode array detection system. If that position is common for more than one derivative then identification is based on differential spectral properties. Using uv absorption signals at 280 nm to determine indiscriminate folate activity, absorption signals at 350 nm are used to identify folic acid and dihydrofolate derivatives and signals at 258 nm are used to identify 10-formyltetrahydrofolate derivatives. These principles were incorporated into mathematic expressions which were used for quantitative resolution of simulated mixtures containing oxidized and reduced PteGlu5 and for the analysis of folate composition in rat liver, human milk, and cows milk. PMID- 2604050 TI - Agarose isoelectric focusing of plasma low and very low density lipoproteins using the PhastSystem. AB - Human plasma lipoproteins, fractionated by density gradient ultracentrifugation, and very low density lipoproteins, subfractionated by cumulative rate centrifugation, were subjected to agarose isoelectric focusing in small format thin gels prepared in the laboratory for the commercially available PhastSystem (Pharmacia). From preparation of the gels to their staining, the procedure took less than 3 h. The pH gradient was found reproducible and the apparent average pI of individual low density lipoproteins could be measured with a coefficient of variation of less than 5% between and less than 2% within the same run. The method appears especially suitable for the exploration of charge properties of multiple lipoprotein samples, or other large macromolecules as low density lipoproteins and very low density lipoproteins, with considerable economy of time and reagents. PMID- 2604051 TI - Comparison of recovery times of isoflurane and enflurane as a sole anesthetic agent for outpatient oral surgery. AB - Patients' abilities to complete the Trieger modification of the Bender Motor Gestalt Test as an indicator of recovery time were compared following outpatient general anesthesia, using either enflurane or isoflurane on 100 patients who had their third molars removed. The time required for patients who received enflurane to satisfactorily complete the test averaged 32.7 minutes, compared with 34.6 minutes for patients who received isoflurane. Statistical analysis indicated that there was no significant difference in recovery time in this particular setting between enflurane and isoflurane. PMID- 2604052 TI - Assessment of recovery from nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation using neuropsychometry. AB - This study measured changes in adult performance following prolonged exposure (90 minutes) to nitrous oxide at psychosedative levels. Using a repeated-measures randomized blind design, experimenters exposed 12 subjects to four treatment combinations. These included: room air for 90 minutes (baseline); 100% oxygen for 90 minutes; nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation for 90 minutes followed by 100% oxygen for 2 minutes; and 90 minutes of nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation followed by 10 minutes of 100% oxygen. Following each treatment, participants were asked to perform six standard neuropsychological tests together with a rating scale measurement where subjects self-evaluated their respective levels of alertness. The tests were: digit span; digit symbol; paced auditory serial addition; controlled word association; letter cancellation; and grooved pegboard. Two-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences between mean scores for treatments on only two tests, grooved pegboard (P less than 0.05) and controlled word association (P less than 0.05). There was also a significant difference in mean scores obtained for the rating scale (P less than 0.001). These findings indicate that psychomotor performance and verbal fluency were affected by prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide even after recovery periods. No impairment of vigilance, immediate memory, or mental tracking could be detected as measured by the other tests. Subjective reports by the subjects accurately reflected their underlying impaired status. PMID- 2604053 TI - Postanesthetic temporomandibular joint dysfunction. AB - Internal derangements, myofascial pain dysfunction, and chronic dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are three common sequelae resulting from mandibular trauma. Etiologic factors include prolonged dental and otolaryngologic procedures, and intraoperative use of the laryngoscope and bronchoscope. Three cases are reported to document postanesthetic TMJ dysfunction arising from normal preoperative joints. Four types of TMJ dysfunction are discussed: anterior meniscus dislocation with reduction, anterior meniscus dislocation without reduction, dislocation/subluxation of the mandibular condyle, and myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome. Preoperative screening of mandibular function is recommended in identifying patients as either normal or having potential TMJ dysfunction. Failure to recognize postoperative TMJ dysfunction can lead to long term symptoms that are difficult to alleviate. Litigation is a common sequel in these cases. PMID- 2604054 TI - A simplified technique for nasoendotracheal tube immobilization. AB - A simplified technique for immobilization of a nasoendotracheal tube is described in which a wide strap of open cell, hypoallergenic, foam-backed fabric is secured to the patient's head with a Velcro fastener. PMID- 2604055 TI - Modification of nitrous oxide analgesia by benzodiazepine receptors. AB - The interaction with nitrous oxide analgesia of drugs that act at the benzodiazepine receptor was evaluated in the rat tail flick model. Nitrous oxide produced dose-related analgesia, which was potentiated by diazepam, a benzodiazepine agonist, antagonized by noreleagnine, a benzodiazepine inverse agonist. Pretreatment with the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788 blocked the effects of both diazepam and noreleagnine on nitrous oxide analgesia. Subanesthetic doses of sodium pentobarbital and chloral hydrate produced nonsignificant trends to reduce the analgesic action of nitrous oxide. These data provide evidence for the presence of specific benzodiazepine receptors capable of modulating the analgesic effect of nitrous oxide. PMID- 2604056 TI - An evaluation of Droperidol for preventing nausea and vomiting after deep intravenous sedation for ambulatory dental surgery. AB - Four sets of 25 patients were given either 0, 0.25, 0.50, or 1.00 mg droperidol intravenously during deep intravenous sedation for dental surgery in a nonrandomly assigned, single-blind, prospective clinical trial. The control group experienced a 48% incidence of nausea or vomiting, while each of the experimental groups experienced a significantly lower incidence of nausea or vomiting (P = 0.0026). All nausea or vomiting occurred after the patients were discharged and appeared to be motion-related. PMID- 2604058 TI - Melting of anesthesia circuit by humidifier. Another cause of "ventilator disconnect". PMID- 2604057 TI - Effect of peripheral electrical stimulation on measures of tooth pain threshold and oral soft tissue comfort in children. AB - The effect of peripheral electrical stimulation on tooth pain threshold and comfort of oral soft tissue was evaluated in 30 children, using a double-blind, crossover, study design. Tooth pain threshold was measured before and after 8 minutes of electrical or sham stimulation. Comfort of oral soft tissue during placement of a rubber dam clamp was evaluated 3 minutes after electrical or sham stimulation was begun. Comfort level was rated by each subject and by the investigator, using a visual analog scale (VAS). Heart rate was measured before and immediately following placement of the clamp. Electrical stimulation significantly increased tooth pain threshold and reduced the cardiovascular stress response without altering comfort levels during placement of the clamp. These findings suggest that peripheral electrical stimulation applied in a pediatric dental setting alters sensory aspects of pain but not affective aspects of comfort. PMID- 2604059 TI - Clinical experience with TENS and TENS combined with nitrous oxide-oxygen. Report of 371 patients. AB - Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) alone or TENS combined with nitrous oxide-oxygen (N2O) was administered for restorative dentistry without local anesthesia to 371 adult patients. A total of 55% of TENS alone and 84% of TENS/N2O visits were rated successful. A total of 53% of TENS alone and 82% of TENS/N2O patients reported slight or no pain. In multivariable analyses, pain reports were related to the anesthesia technique and patient fear and unrelated to sex, race, age, tooth, or depth of preparation. PMID- 2604060 TI - A new model of laryngoscope equipped with fiberoptics. PMID- 2604061 TI - [Spectrometry emission by inductively coupled plasma (SEPIHF). Application in the determination of inorganic compounds]. AB - The authors describe the principle of inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectrometry (ICP) to determine inorganic compounds in biological samples. This method is compared with more classical electrothermal flame atomisation absorption spectrometry. The association of ICP with different instruments is reminded (HPLC, mass spectrometry, graphite furnace, hybride generation). Finally, the review ends with some applications in biological fluids. PMID- 2604062 TI - Blood collection by evacuated tubes: the effects of the order of filling tubes on the serum values of potassium and lactate dehydrogenase. PMID- 2604063 TI - [Determination of fructosamine and plasma proteins]. PMID- 2604064 TI - [Research on the circadian rhythm of erythrocytic Zn-protoporphyrin]. PMID- 2604065 TI - [Isoniazid and quality control]. PMID- 2604067 TI - [31st National Congress on Anesthesia and Resuscitation. 23-26 September 1989. Proceedings]. PMID- 2604066 TI - [Consumption of postoperative oxygen after naloxone: effect of hypothermia]. PMID- 2604068 TI - [The effect of propofol sedation on oxygen consumption in the early postoperative period]. PMID- 2604069 TI - [Echocardiographic evaluation in real time of ischemia and filling problems during surgery]. PMID- 2604070 TI - [Comparison of hemodynamic data obtained by right catheterization and transesophageal echocardiography]. PMID- 2604071 TI - [Thoracic peridural anesthesia combined with light general anesthesia: hemodynamic data and echocardiography]. PMID- 2604072 TI - [Fentanyl-etomidate versus fentanyl for the induction of patients with left ventricular function disorders]. PMID- 2604073 TI - [Systolic thickening of the myocardium should be interpreted as a function of the conditions of charge: significance of the rate of myocardial thickening]. PMID- 2604074 TI - [Coronary bypass without extracorporeal circulation: continuous monitoring of the left ventricular systolic ejection fraction in man]. PMID- 2604075 TI - [Respective effect of temperature and duration of extracorporeal circulation on enzymuria]. PMID- 2604076 TI - [The effect of extra-corporeal circulation on proteinuria and enzymuria]. PMID- 2604077 TI - [Course of oxygen consumption in resuscitation in anesthesia using propofol]. PMID- 2604078 TI - [Splanchnic hemodynamic changes caused by ketamine and propofol in the cirrhotic rat. Effects of hemorrhage]. PMID- 2604079 TI - [Liver denervation aggravates the hemodynamic response to hemorrhage in the conscious rat]. PMID- 2604080 TI - [Are hemorrhagic complications after surgery of thoracic-abdominal aneurysms predictable?]. PMID- 2604081 TI - [Postoperative variation in plasma fibronectin: effect of colloidal plasma substitutes]. PMID- 2604082 TI - [Effect of hemodilution on hormone systems, implications for regulation of blood volume]. PMID- 2604083 TI - [Hemodilution and anti-edema effect: experimental study in the rabbit]. PMID- 2604084 TI - [The general course of hematocrit in the postoperative period in various diseases that benefit from autotransfusion: a comparison of cases]. PMID- 2604085 TI - [Saving of blood products by normovolemic hemodilution in prostate resection]. PMID- 2604086 TI - [Effects of total hemodilution on lung compliance in heart surgery]. PMID- 2604087 TI - [Postoperative autologous transfusion in heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation]. PMID- 2604088 TI - [The levels of enflurane in collection bags for normovolemic hemodilution]. PMID- 2604089 TI - [Comparison of spontaneous recuperation of the diaphragm and thumb adductor after administration of pancuronium]. PMID- 2604090 TI - [Changes in baroreflex control of the heart rate in the rat caused by propofol]. PMID- 2604091 TI - [Prevention of tachycardia induced by a fentanyl-pancuronium combination in the coronary patient: propranolol or verapamil?]. PMID- 2604092 TI - [Comparative effects on hemodynamics and left ventricular function of doxacurium and pancuronium]. PMID- 2604093 TI - [Protective effect of a monovalent haptene: tiemonium methylsulfate on anaphylaxis from myorelaxants: preliminary results]. PMID- 2604094 TI - [Pocket nerve stimulators: are they suitable for monitoring curarization?]. PMID- 2604095 TI - [Comparative effects of halothane and isoflurane administered as the sole anesthetic agent on left ventricular function]. PMID- 2604096 TI - [Effects of halothane on skinned cardiac fibers from the myopathic hamster and the diabetic rat]. PMID- 2604097 TI - [Comparative effects of isoflurane and halothane on hepatic blood circulation in man]. PMID- 2604098 TI - [Effect of isoflurane and halothane on hepatic arterial and portal venous blood circulation in man]. PMID- 2604099 TI - [Myocardial depression induced by propofol (P) is not of ischemic origin]. PMID- 2604100 TI - [Comparative effects of isoflurane and halothane on the ultrastructure of hepatic cells in man]. PMID- 2604101 TI - [Isoflurane unlike halothane vasodilates the mesenteric vessels supplying the esophageal ileocolonoplasty]. PMID- 2604102 TI - [Effects of enflurane on diaphragmatic function]. PMID- 2604103 TI - [An error in the filling of an evaporator: could it be detected by means of an infrared monochromatic halogen analyzer?]. PMID- 2604104 TI - [Nitrous oxide: objective evaluation of the central analgesic effect]. PMID- 2604105 TI - [Use of nitrous oxide in general anesthesia for oocyte retrieval]. PMID- 2604106 TI - [Combination pethidine-prilocaine in spinal anesthesia. Clinical and pharmacokinetic aspects]. PMID- 2604107 TI - [The course of morphine concentrations in plasma and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid after intravenous administration in man]. PMID- 2604108 TI - [Peripheral vascular effects of propofol]. PMID- 2604109 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of bupivacaine after cervical block in carotid surgery]. PMID- 2604110 TI - [Does adrenaline diminish vascular resorption of bupivacaine administered in cervical plexus block?]. PMID- 2604111 TI - [Continuous crural block after knee surgery: bupivacaine pharmacokinetics]. PMID- 2604112 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of lidocaine after intercostal block in cholestatic patients]. PMID- 2604113 TI - [Plasma concentrations of fentanyl administered by the transdermal route]. PMID- 2604114 TI - [The general course of blood concentration of propofol administered by perfusion in the child]. PMID- 2604115 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of propofol in obesity]. PMID- 2604116 TI - [Pharmacokinetic study of propofol in burn patients]. PMID- 2604117 TI - [Antibiotic prophylaxis with cefamandole: pharmacokinetic modifications in hemorrhagic surgery]. PMID- 2604118 TI - [Effects of propofol for anesthesia induction on left ventricular function]. PMID- 2604119 TI - [Is the posterior peridural space partitioned? Anatomic study]. PMID- 2604120 TI - [The blood patch--60 cases]. PMID- 2604121 TI - [Incidence of headache after continuous spinal anesthesia: a prospective study]. PMID- 2604122 TI - [Dividing of doses in spinal anesthesia]. PMID- 2604123 TI - [Effects of increased doses of adrenaline on the duration of spinal anesthesia with prilocaine]. PMID- 2604124 TI - [Hemodynamic changes after intrathecal injections of 12.5 mg of bupivacaine in the aged patient: effect of the concentration of the solution (0.5% vs 0.125%)]. PMID- 2604125 TI - [Use of nerve stimulators with an unshielded needle]. PMID- 2604126 TI - [Effects of crural block on blood loss in hip surgery]. PMID- 2604127 TI - [Analgesia in leg fracture with sciatic nerve bloc]. PMID- 2604128 TI - [Left ventricular telesystolic pressure-volume relations in propofol perfusion]. PMID- 2604129 TI - [Postero-anterior peribulbar anesthesia in ophthalmologic surgery. Original methodology in 100 cases]. PMID- 2604130 TI - [Peribulbar anesthesia in cataract surgery]. PMID- 2604131 TI - [Blockage of vertebrae L5 and S1 by peridural lumbar anesthesia]. PMID- 2604132 TI - [Continuous output postoperative peridural analgesia: two bupivacaine dilutions]. PMID- 2604133 TI - [Neurotoxicity of ketamine and midazolam by intrathecal injection in the rabbit]. PMID- 2604134 TI - [Respiratory depressant effect of fentanyl in a small dose (50 g) by peridural injection]. PMID- 2604135 TI - [Incidence and predictive hemodynamic factors in peroperative myocardial ischemia after thoracic peridural anesthesia combined with general anesthesia]. PMID- 2604136 TI - [Continuous intercostal block after thoracic surgery]. PMID- 2604137 TI - [Intrapleural analgesia with bupivacaine after thoracotomy for esophagectomy]. PMID- 2604138 TI - [Lidocaine pharmacokinetics after intrapleural administration in thoracic trauma: comparison in artificial respiration and spontaneously breathing patients]. PMID- 2604139 TI - [Comparison of the effects of propofol and brietal on cardiac performance in coronary disease. Gamma-angioscintigraphy]. PMID- 2604140 TI - [Intrapleural analgesia with lidocaine: effect of volume and concentration]. PMID- 2604141 TI - [Intrapleural analgesia with bupivacaine after thoracotomy is ineffective. Controlled study and pharmacokinetics]. PMID- 2604142 TI - [Alcoholization of the celiac plexus and splanchnic nerve: guided roentgenography]. PMID- 2604143 TI - [Circadian rhythm of pain in man: study by measurement of the nociceptive flexor reflex]. PMID- 2604144 TI - [Effects of spinal anesthesia on right ventricular function]. PMID- 2604145 TI - [Hemodynamic, gasometric and hormonal study in cervical peridural anesthesia in carotid surgery]. PMID- 2604146 TI - [Hemodynamic study of induction by etomidate in peridural anesthesia]. PMID- 2604147 TI - [Comparison of general anesthesia with combined general anesthesia--thoracic peridural anesthesia in surgery of the thoracic aorta]. PMID- 2604148 TI - [Modification of reflex responses to hypovolemia by lidocaine in man]. PMID- 2604149 TI - [Comparative effects of local anesthetics on the functional activity of fibroblast mitochondria in culture]. PMID- 2604150 TI - [Are the vascular effects of methohexital and propofol different?]. PMID- 2604151 TI - [Effects of bupivacaine and lidocaine on mitochondrial respiration and ATP synthesis]. PMID- 2604152 TI - [Myocardial metabolism of lidocaine in the isolated perfused rabbit heart]. PMID- 2604153 TI - [Effect of hypothermia on intraventricular conduction problems caused by bupivacaine]. PMID- 2604154 TI - [Effects of hypo- and hypernatremia on depression of ventricular conduction and arrhythmia induced by bupivacaine]. PMID- 2604155 TI - [Alindine reduces decreased ventricular conduction induced by large doses of bupivacaine in the anesthetized dog]. PMID- 2604156 TI - [Resuscitation in a toxic cardiac accident involving bupivacaine. Experimental study]. PMID- 2604157 TI - [Postoperative analgesia with intravenous clonidine]. PMID- 2604158 TI - [Does clonidine as premedication prevent instability of contractions in carotid surgery?]. PMID- 2604159 TI - [Effects of clonidine on tourniquet-induced systemic arterial hypertension in general anesthesia]. PMID- 2604160 TI - [Peripheral vascular effects of thiopental]. PMID- 2604161 TI - [The effect of clonidine on resuscitation from anesthesia]. PMID- 2604162 TI - [Premedication with clonidine: effects on respiration]. PMID- 2604163 TI - [Postoperative peridural analgesia with clonidine]. PMID- 2604164 TI - [Postoperative analgesia induced with peridural clonidine]. PMID- 2604165 TI - [Postoperative analgesia induced by clonidine: comparison of peridural and IM administration]. PMID- 2604166 TI - [Clinical effects of the addition of clonidine with and without adrenaline with peridural administration of lidocaine]. PMID- 2604167 TI - [Spinal anesthesia with a combination of hyperbaric tetracaine and clonidine: dose effect]. PMID- 2604168 TI - [Incidence of tourniquet pain from spinal anesthesia with a combination of bupivacaine and clonidine]. PMID- 2604169 TI - [The prolongation of spinal anesthesia with clonidine depends on the mode of administration]. PMID- 2604170 TI - [Comparison of the hemodynamic effects of etomidate and thiopental in induction of anesthesia in the aged arteriopathic patient]. PMID- 2604171 TI - [Effects of the addition of adrenaline and clonidine on the kinetics of bupivacaine in the spinal canal]. PMID- 2604172 TI - [Respiratory effects of clonidine administered in the peridural space]. PMID- 2604173 TI - [Duration of analgesia after crural nerve block: effect of the addition of clonidine to bupivacaine]. PMID- 2604174 TI - [Duration of analgesia after crural nerve block: effect of the addition of clonidine to xylocaine]. PMID- 2604175 TI - [Complementary examination and pediatric anesthesia: results of a prospective study]. PMID- 2604176 TI - [What are the complementary preoperative examinations to be performed in children of ASA class 1?]. PMID- 2604177 TI - [Decisional consequences of systematic preoperative complementary examinations in young, ASA class I adults]. PMID- 2604178 TI - [Informatics in the recovery room]. PMID- 2604179 TI - [Peripheral vascular effects of etomidate]. PMID- 2604180 TI - [Information to calculate the index of relative complexity in anesthesia]. PMID- 2604181 TI - [Statistical validation of the simplified index of gravity]. PMID- 2604182 TI - [Response to hypercapnia: automatic acquisition of infracyclic and cyclic elements of the ventilatory profile]. PMID- 2604183 TI - [Evaluation of automatic oscillometric measurement of arterial pressure. Is comparison with radial pressure justified?]. PMID- 2604184 TI - [Comparative evaluation of 13 pulse oximeters]. PMID- 2604185 TI - [Comparative evaluation of two optic fiber catheters in patients in a state of shock and acute respiratory insufficiency]. PMID- 2604186 TI - [Venous admittance may be easily estimated using a probe for the continuous measurement of SvO2]. PMID- 2604187 TI - [Prolonged catheterization of the pedis artery: prospective study of 125 cases]. PMID- 2604188 TI - [Diastolic counter pumping by intra-aortic balloon changes the diastolic coronary output and myocardial systolic function in man]. PMID- 2604189 TI - [The effects of etomidate on myocardial relaxation in the rat depend on the solvent, propylene glycol or ethanol]. PMID- 2604190 TI - [Dopexamine, a new inotropic agent for treatment of low output syndromes after cardiac surgery]. PMID- 2604191 TI - [Treatment of septic shock: does noradrenaline have pernicious renal effects]. PMID- 2604192 TI - [Septic shock: hemodynamic effects of noradrenaline and a noradrenaline dopexamine combination]. PMID- 2604193 TI - [Description of a new hemodynamic index of prognostic value in septic subjects: PvO2/SaO2)]. PMID- 2604194 TI - [Improvement of the prognostic value of O2 consumption (VO2) by comparison with the theoretical Sa value in states of shock]. PMID- 2604195 TI - [Monitoring of SvO2 in septic shock]. PMID- 2604196 TI - [Plasma concentration of tumor necrosis factor correlated with gravity of septic shock]. PMID- 2604197 TI - [Serum level of 2 monocyte cytokines (TNF, IL 1 B) in septic states and septic shock: the relation of various biochemical parameters]. PMID- 2604198 TI - [The effects of etomidate on rat cardiac papillary muscle in vitro]. PMID- 2604199 TI - [In vitro effects of hydroxocobalamin after cyanide intoxication]. PMID- 2604200 TI - [Experience with continuous arterio-venous hemodialysis in medical resuscitation]. PMID- 2604201 TI - [Exchange transfusion as an approach in pernicious malaria: apropos of 3 cases]. PMID- 2604202 TI - [Use of axillary space as a placement site for venous implants]. PMID- 2604203 TI - [Lipid parenteral nutrition in resuscitation patients: which emulsion?]. PMID- 2604204 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of diazepam in hypoalbuminemic resuscitation of patients. Preliminary study]. PMID- 2604205 TI - [Difficult intubation and surgery of the cervical spine: nuclear magnetic resonance]. PMID- 2604206 TI - [Endocrine-metabolic reaction to anesthesia and surgery in the diabetic]. PMID- 2604207 TI - [A new form of post-operative mechanical respiration]. PMID- 2604208 TI - [Determinants of current volume in assisted inspiration]. PMID- 2604209 TI - [Combined retrograde intubation and laryngeal nerve block in conscious trauma patients]. PMID- 2604210 TI - [Changes in diaphragmatic function in endotoxic shock in the rat]. PMID- 2604211 TI - [Diagnosis of nosocomial pneumopathies: elastic fibers]. PMID- 2604212 TI - [Hypoxic response in weaning from artificial respiration in chronic obstructive respiratory insufficiency]. PMID- 2604213 TI - [A probe with a foam cuff balloon: study of the pressure in the balloon]. PMID- 2604214 TI - [Effects of doxapram on the response to hypercapnia: application to weaning from artificial ventilation in chronic obstructive respiratory insufficiency]. PMID- 2604215 TI - [CPAP and selective pulmonary ventilation in thoracic surgery]. PMID- 2604216 TI - [Comparison of HFJV vs CPAP for separate lung ventilation in patients surgically treated aneurysm of the thoracic aorta]. PMID- 2604217 TI - [Reduction of operative risk by HFJV in endobronchial cryotherapy]. PMID- 2604218 TI - [Continuous measurement of pH at the base of the esophagus during induction of anesthesia]. PMID- 2604219 TI - [Measurement of pulmonary volume in high frequency jet ventilation for ORL endoscopy]. PMID- 2604220 TI - [Respiratory effects of the Jarvik-7 artificial heart]. PMID- 2604221 TI - [Effects of pentobarbital on diaphragm contractions]. PMID- 2604223 TI - [Evaluation of an exchange filter on heat and humidity in long-duration mechanical ventilation. Comparison with heated humidification]. PMID- 2604222 TI - [Repercussions of propofol and combinations with alfentanyl on the bronchial reactivity in asthmatics]. PMID- 2604224 TI - [Study of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) by continuous pH measurement in children under caudal anesthesia]. PMID- 2604225 TI - [Comparative study of the ingestion of a sodium citrate and cimetidine-citrate combination before emergency obstetrical anesthesia: effects of pH and volume of stomach contents]. PMID- 2604226 TI - [The effect of stopping morphine sedation on the production of gastric juice in patients resuscitated with artificial respiration]. PMID- 2604227 TI - [The effects of midazolam on respiratory work]. PMID- 2604228 TI - [The utility of monitoring oxygen saturation in coloscopy under propofol anesthesia]. PMID- 2604229 TI - [Antibiotic prophylaxis using cefamandole in endoscopic prostatic surgery: "flash" treatment versus short 24-hour treatment]. PMID- 2604230 TI - [Prevention of perioperative hypothermia in abdominal surgery using an electric blanket to cover the legs]. PMID- 2604231 TI - [Mesenteric hemodynamic criteria predictive of local ischemic complications in ileocolonic esophagoplasty]. PMID- 2604232 TI - [The preoperative EKG correctly interpreted by the anesthesiologist?]. PMID- 2604233 TI - [Frequency and etiology in peranesthetic cardiac arrest: in 102,468 anesthesias]. PMID- 2604234 TI - [Anoxic coma after circulatory arrest: prospective study of intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure (apropos of 84 cases)]. PMID- 2604235 TI - [Effects of xylocaine-adrenaline by intramuscular administration: dose-response effect and concentration effect]. PMID- 2604236 TI - [Development of renal function after induction of anesthesia]. PMID- 2604237 TI - [Peroperative intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia (CHIP) in peritoneal cancer: feasibility of the method; preliminary study of 2 cases]. PMID- 2604238 TI - [Hemodynamic effect of hydroxocobalamin in the chronically implanted conscious dog]. PMID- 2604239 TI - [Premedication: a comparison of pethidine-promethazine/hydroxyzine/midazolam]. PMID- 2604240 TI - [Criteria for choosing and resuscitation of donors for pulmonary and cardiopulmonary transplantation. 10 cases at the CHR in Bordeaux]. PMID- 2604241 TI - [Effects pf multi-organ procurement on survival of the recipients and on renal graft survival]. PMID- 2604242 TI - [Variations in cardiac output in the early phase of liver declamping in a liver graft]. PMID- 2604243 TI - [Peroperative modification of oxygen consumption during liver transplantation]. PMID- 2604244 TI - [Peroperative monitoring of hepatic arterial (DSAH) and portal venous (DSVP) output in orthotropic liver transplantation in man]. PMID- 2604245 TI - [Monitoring of hepatic arterial and venous output after orthotopic liver transplantation in man]. PMID- 2604246 TI - [Effect of age on the circulatory consequences of vascular clamping of the liver in hepatic transplantation]. PMID- 2604247 TI - [Kidney function during hepatic transplantation in the nursing child]. PMID- 2604248 TI - [Use of the Cell Saver IV in hepatic transplantation]. PMID- 2604249 TI - [The effect of heparin on analysis of calcium ions in whole blood]. PMID- 2604250 TI - [Surveillance of volume expansion by thoracic electric bioimpedance in renal transplantation]. PMID- 2604251 TI - [Peridural obstetrical analgesia. The opinions and motivations of pregnant women and their evaluation after delivery]. PMID- 2604252 TI - [Fentanyl with or without adrenaline in peridural administration in obstetrics: plasma analysis and analgesic effects]. PMID- 2604253 TI - [Comparison of two technics of obstetrical peridural analgesia with a continuous injection pump or auto-command by the patients]. PMID- 2604254 TI - [Comparative study of propofol with thiopental for general anesthesia in cesarean section]. PMID- 2604255 TI - [Autologous transfusion in cesarean section]. PMID- 2604256 TI - [General anesthesia with propofol alone for ovocyte removal. Concentration of follicular liquid and rate of cleavage]. PMID- 2604257 TI - [The risk of secondary respiratory depression in neonates, is it correlated with certain pharmacologic parameters after maternal medication with pethidine?]. PMID- 2604258 TI - [Administration of maternal pethidine, does it possibly induce secondary respiratory depression in the newborn with a normal Apgar score at birth?]. PMID- 2604259 TI - [Analgesia and respiratory effects after caudal anesthesia with a bupivacaine fentanyl combination in the child]. PMID- 2604260 TI - [Suborbital nerve block for cheiloplasty in the nursing infant]. PMID- 2604261 TI - [Emergency units: the effect of structure on waiting delays]. PMID- 2604262 TI - [Rupture of the aortic isthmus in polytrauma]. PMID- 2604263 TI - [Comparison of thrombolytic complications at home and at the hospital]. PMID- 2604264 TI - [Mortality, rehospitalization and costs in cases of treatment or non-treatment with thrombolytics]. PMID- 2604265 TI - [Defenestration: initial balance and therapeutic consequence]. PMID- 2604266 TI - [Cardiovascular and hormonal effects of hemorrhage in the anesthetized dog: comparison of etomidate and thiopental]. PMID- 2604267 TI - [Methods for preventing gas embolism in pediatric neurosurgery in a sitting position: anti-shock trousers]. PMID- 2604268 TI - [Diagnostic manometry in acute hydrocephalus after meningeal hemorrhage]. PMID- 2604269 TI - [Hemodynamic profile in patients presenting with cerebral arterial spasm after meningeal hemorrhage in the presence of preventive administration of i.v. nimodipine]. PMID- 2604270 TI - [Does propofol permit a reduction in the dose of nitroprussate sodium in controlled hypotension?]. PMID- 2604271 TI - [The effect of propofol on intracranial pressure in patients without intracranial hypertension]. PMID- 2604272 TI - [The effects of propofol (Diprivan) on cerebral circulation, intracranial pressure and cerebral metabolism in cranial trauma]. PMID- 2604273 TI - [Use of propofol for long-term anesthesia in surgery of the posterior fossa]. PMID- 2604274 TI - [Surgery for pheochromocytoma: preparation and control of peroperative hemodynamic variations with injectable nicardipine]. PMID- 2604275 TI - [The pharmacodynamics of propofol in anesthetic resuscitation]. PMID- 2604276 TI - [Use of nicardipine in the treatment of arterial hypertension during sternotomy in aorto-coronary bypass surgery]. PMID- 2604277 TI - [Comparative study of nifedipine and nicardipine in the treatment of hypertensive crisis after aortocoronary bypass]. PMID- 2604278 TI - [Treatment of postoperative hypertensive crisis with labetalol: effects on left ventricular function]. PMID- 2604279 TI - [The risk of peroperative myocardial ischemia, can it be anticipated in vascular surgery?]. PMID- 2604280 TI - [Prediction of cardiac complications after aortic surgery: left ventricular ejection fraction or myocardial scintigraphy?]. PMID- 2604281 TI - [Evaluation by echocardiography of dipyridamole for prediction of cardiac complications after surgery of the abdominal aorta]. PMID- 2604282 TI - The (even) bolder model. The clinical psychologist as metaphysician-scientist practitioner. AB - Is the clinical psychologist best characterized as a scientist-practitioner? Or does the practice of science and psychotherapy involve metaphysics to such an extent that the clinical psychologist ought to be considered a metaphysician scientist-practitioner? To answer these questions, the roles, if any, of metaphysics in science and psychotherapy are examined. This article investigates this question by examining the views of the logical positivists, Karl Popper and Imre Lakatos, and concludes that the practice of science and psychotherapy involves metaphysics in (a) problem choice, (b) research and therapy design, (c) observation statements, (d) resolving the Duhemian problem, and (e) modifying hypotheses to encompass anomalous results. PMID- 2604283 TI - Bronchial responsiveness, atopy, smoking, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. PMID- 2604284 TI - Intraluminal airway inflammation in chronic bronchitis. Characterization and correlation with clinical parameters. AB - In order to characterize intraluminal airway inflammation in subjects with chronic bronchitis, bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage were performed in 28 subjects with chronic bronchitis with fixed airway obstruction and, for comparison, 15 asymptomatic smokers and 25 normal nonsmoking volunteers. The chronic bronchitics had a cough productive of sputum on most days of the month for 6 months in the preceding 2 yr, had at least one exacerbation requiring medical intervention in each of the previous 2 yr, and had an FEV1 less than 76% of predicted without response to bronchodilator. During bronchoscopy the airways were assessed for visual evidence of inflammation by assigning them a score, the bronchitis index, that graded the airways according to the apparent severity of airway edema, erythema, friability, and secretions. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed by sequentially instilling and retrieving with gentle suction five 20 ml aliquots of sterile normal saline into each of three separate lobes. The first aliquots, the "bronchial" sample, were pooled and processed separately from the final four aliquots, the "distal" sample. Cell counts, cell differentials, and albumin were determined for both the bronchial and distal samples. In order to correlate inflammation with clinical parameters, sputum was collected for 24 h prior to bronchoscopy; spirometry was performed just prior to bronchoscopy, and smoking histories were obtained. Visual inspection of the airways, as quantified by the bronchitis index, demonstrated significantly more evidence for inflammation in the chronic bronchitics than in either the asymptomatic smokers or the normal subjects. The bronchial sample lavage fluids from the chronic bronchitics tended to contain more cells (6.1 +/- 2.2 x 10(6) cells) than the bronchial sample fluids from the asymptomatic smokers (3.6 +/- 0.6 x 10(6) cells) or normal subjects (3.7 +/- 0.5 x 10(6) cells). Furthermore, the chronic bronchitics had a higher percentage of neutrophils in their bronchial lavage fluid (35.8 +/- 5.6%) than did either the asymptomatic smokers (20.7 +/- 2.6%, p = 0.0001) or the normal subjects (10.3 +/- 5.6%). The distal sample lavage fluid also recovered more neutrophils from both the chronic bronchitics (15.0 +/- 4.2%, p = 0.0012) and asymptomatic smokers (5.7 +/- 1.3%, p = 0.002) than from the normal subjects (2.8 +/- 0.4%). The chronic bronchitics were divided into two groups: those with low (less than 20%) and those with high (greater than 20%) bronchial sample neutrophils. Those with higher bronchial sample neutrophils had significantly more sputum production and lower FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25-75 than did the subjects with lower bronchial sample neutrophils.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2604285 TI - Relationships between general health measured with the sickness impact profile and respiratory symptoms, physiological measures, and mood in patients with chronic airflow limitation. AB - The relationship between general health measured using the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), lung spirometry, arterial oxygen saturation during exercise, and six-minute walking distance was studied in 141 patients with chronic airflow limitation. In addition the patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire and the Medical Research Council (MRC) Bronchitis Questionnaire. Their mean age was 63 years (range 31 to 75) and their mean FEV1 was 47 +/- 23 (SD)% of predicted normal. The SIP scores were lower (i.e., the patients had better general health) than in previously reported patients who had greater physiological disturbance, but the profile of the different category scores within the SIP was similar to previous findings. Walking distance correlated with the SIP better than any spirometric measure or arterial saturation and accounted for 41% of the variance in SIP (p less than 0.001). The SIP score was considerably higher in patients who wheezed every day compared with those who did not (p less than 0.005). In patients who reported that their breathing was not normal between acute attacks of breathlessness and wheeze, the SIP score was twice as high as in those who felt normal between attacks (p less than 0.0006). Walking distance, depression score, and MRC dyspnea score correlated with SIP score independently of each other. A multiple regression incorporating these three variables accounted for 62% of the total variance in SIP score. Age, sex, and response to bronchodilator were not correlated with SIP score. We conclude that the SIP provides a valid measure of general health in a population of patients with chronic airflow limitation. PMID- 2604286 TI - Effect of nutritional status on exercise performance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. AB - The purpose of our study was to examine the nutritional status of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (mean predicted FEV1, 30 +/- 11%) and to explore its relationship to functional capacity. Functional capacity was evaluated by measuring peak oxygen consumption (VO2max) using an incremental cycle ergometry test, a 6-min walk test, self-perceived level of dyspnea, and quality of life. The percentage ideal body weight (%IBW) was less than 90% in 33 of 135 subjects. Triceps skinfold thickness was less than 60% of normal in 19 of 33 of these subjects. Total lymphocyte count was not different between groups, whereas hemoglobin (14.9 versus 15.9 g/dl) and albumin (4.0 versus 4.1 g/dl) were marginally reduced in underweight subjects. Dyspnea and overall quality of life were unaffected by nutritional status. Maximal inspiratory (Pimax) and expiratory mouth pressures (PEmax) were weakly associated with %IBW (R2 = 0.04; p = 01 and R2 = 0.15; p less than 0.01, respectively). The %IBW was a predictor of VO2max (percent predicted) after controlling for FEV1 in regression analysis (partial R2 = 0.08; p less than 0.001). Despite the association of weight status with VO2max, the 6-min walk was not influenced by %IBW. The perceived intensity of exercise as judged by the Borg score was far greater with the bicycle exercise that with the 6-min walk (mean score, 10.6 +/- 1.2 versus 4.6 +/- 1.9). This was supported by the difference in heart rate after these two tests.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604287 TI - The role of protein kinase-C in sensitization and antigen response of airway smooth muscle. AB - Recently, we reported the characteristic electrical and contractile changes of airway smooth muscle (ASM) preparations after administration of highly purified antiovalbumin immunoglobin G1 (IgG1). Because these changes are comparable to those we observed after administration of several phorbol esters, we theorized that sensitization of ASM with IgG1 leads to the activation of protein kinase-C. Therefore, in this study we examined the effect of two inhibitors of protein kinase-C on the sensitization-induced changes of ASM cells. ASM preparations were obtained from adult male guinea pigs (Camm-Hartley strain). Changes in both the resting membrane potential, as measured by a glass microelectrode technique, and changes in the isometric force, measured by a copper-beryllium strain gauge, were continuously monitored. Experiments were conducted at the optimal length of ASM preparations and a temperature of 37 degrees C. The preparations were pretreated with H-7 (1-(5-isoquinoilinyl-sulfonyl)-2-methyl piperazine) or NA-0345 (N,N dimethylamino-methyl-SF2370) both protein kinase-C inhibitors, passively sensitized with IgG1 and consequently exposed to a specific antigen. We found that pretreatment inhibited the initial depolarization and the increase in the isometric force, usually observed after administration of IgG1, and that it attenuated ovalbumin-induced depolarization and sustained increase in the isometric force. These effects were concentration-dependent and were observed only when protein kinase-C inhibitors preceded administration of IgG1. Finally, H 7 pretreatment had no effect on KCl- or substance-P-induced physiologic changes but partially attenuated response to histamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604288 TI - The cardiac glycoside digoxin disrupts host defense in experimental pneumococcal pneumonia by impairing neutrophil mobilization. AB - Normal CD-1 mice were administered digoxin (4 micrograms/kg/24 h) and infected with type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae in order to assess the effects of the cardiac glycoside on the chemotactic responsiveness of peripheral blood neutrophils and the mobilization of granulocytes from storage pools. The chemotactic responses to autologous zymosan-activated serum (C5a) by neutrophils obtained from uninfected digoxin-treated and control animals were similar; comparable observations were made with circulating granulocytes isolated from animals at 24 or 48 h after intratracheal challenge with 5 x 10(5) colony-forming units (cfu) of bacteria. However, at 4 and 6 h after intratracheal pneumococcal challenge, the number of immature neutrophils in the peripheral blood was significantly lower in the glycoside-treated animals versus controls; at 24 and 48 h, these differences were not apparent. Following the intravenous inoculation of pneumococci, the number of circulating immature neutrophils was also found to be significantly lower at 4 and 24 h in animals given the cardiac glycoside versus controls. We conclude that digoxin disrupts host defense in experimental pneumococcal pneumonia and bacteremia by impairing the mobilization of neutrophils. PMID- 2604289 TI - Comparison of plasma concentrations of aerosolized pentamidine in nonventilated and ventilated patients with pneumocystosis. AB - Pentamidine concentrations were determined in plasma after a single aerosolization of 4 mg/kg pentamidine base on 18 patients breathing spontaneously (Group I) and in eight patients receiving mechanical ventilation (Group II). All the patients had documented pneumocystosis. Large interindividual variations in concentrations appeared, especially in Group I. Low concentrations were observed in Group I: Cmax = 65.6 +/- 9.4 micrograms/L (mean +/- SEM), contrasting with high levels in Group II: Cmax = 215.8 +/- 49.8 micrograms/L (mean +/- SEM). Consequently, the mean area under the curve from zero to 4 h was 2.6-fold higher in Group II than in Group I. These findings underline the risk of dose-related pentamidine toxicity in ventilated patients treated with aerosolized pentamidine and the interest of plasma pentamidine monitoring. PMID- 2604290 TI - An outbreak of Mycobacterium terrae in clinical specimens associated with a hospital potable water supply. AB - We investigated an increase in the number of patient specimens yielding Mycobacterium terrae in 1986, isolation of M. terrae was associated with specimens obtained from inpatients at our new hospital, but not with specimens referred from other hospitals [37(+)/144 inpatient specimens versus 2(+)/26 referred specimens, p less than 0.05]. By October 31, 1987, we had identified 163 positive specimens from 131 patients. All M. terrae were isolated from specimens obtained from non-sterile sites, i.e., respiratory, gastrointestinal, or urine. No clinical disease related to M. terrae occurred. Review of procedures and cultures of solutions used in the Microbiology Laboratory suggested the source of M. terrae was not in the Microbiology Laboratory. An analysis of case location showed an association with hospital tier (p less than 0.05), a pattern matching the design of the potable water system of the hospital. M. terrae was cultured from multiple outlets of this system. There appeared to be multiple modes of transmission of M. terrae from this reservoir. Control measures included avoidance of water sources during specimen collection and hyperchlorination of the potable water system. These measures appeared to result in the disappearance of M. terrae from subsequent clinical specimens. We believe this to be the first report defining the epidemiologic aspects of M. terrae contaminating clinical specimens. PMID- 2604291 TI - Acceptability, compliance, and adverse reactions when isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide are given as a combined formulation or separately during three-times weekly antituberculosis chemotherapy. AB - In Hong Kong, 627 adult Chinese patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis received, for the first 2 months of chemotherapy, streptomycin together with isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide allocated at random to be given either as a combined formulation or separately. Each tablet of the combined formulation, which was designed for intermittent use, contained 125 mg of isoniazid, 100 mg of rifampin, and 375 mg of pyrazinamide. Patients weighing 42 kg or less received 5 tablets per dose, 43 to 57 kg, 6 tablets per dose, and 58 kg or more, 7 tablets per dose. The dosage of each drug was very similar whether it was given combined or separately. During the 2 months, spontaneous complaints, the commonest of which were nausea and vomiting, were made by 38% of patients receiving the combined and 39% receiving the separate formulations; 1% compared with 5%, respectively, complained that the tablets or capsules were too many, too large, difficult to swallow or that they stuck in the throat (p less than 0.05), and 32% compared with 45% regularly brought their own drink (usually milk or fruit juice) to the clinic to help them swallow their medicament (p less than 0.01). Only 14% of patients in each group missed one or more doses through default. Reported adverse reactions were mainly trivial, 4% of patients receiving the combined and 7% receiving the separate formulations having the administration of one or more drugs terminated. Thus, the differences between the combined and separate formulations showed a small advantage to the combined formulation in terms of acceptability to patients. PMID- 2604292 TI - Relationship of hypergammaglobulinemia, circulating immune complexes, and histocompatibility antigen profiles in patients with cystic fibrosis. AB - Among patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), those in the subset who develop hypergammaglobulinemia and circulating immune complexes often have relatively severe disease and a decreased likelihood of survival. Because Fc receptors have an important role in the removal of immune complexes and because defective Fc receptor function has been associated with inheritance of the histocompatibility antigens HLA DR2 and HLA DR3, we postulated that HLA DR2 and/or HLA DR3 might be genetic markers for this subset of patients with CF. However, in a group of 20 carefully documented patients with CF, we found no association of HLA DR2 or HLA DR3 with serum immunoglobulin, immune complex levels, or evidence of rapidly progressive disease. PMID- 2604293 TI - Relation between tumor necrosis factor-alpha and granulocyte elastase-alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor complexes in the plasma of patients with cystic fibrosis. AB - Patients with cystic fibrosis suffer from a chronic, progressively destructive bronchitis characterized by colonization of the airways by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cell wall lipopolysaccharides from P. aeruginosa may stimulate secretion of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) by monocytes/macrophages. We found elevated levels of TNF alpha (150 +/- 60 pg/ml), interleukin-1 alpha (144 +/- 205 pg/ml), and interleukin-1 beta (62 +/- 100 pg/ml) in plasma from 25 patients with cystic fibrosis. In patients with less advanced disease, elevated plasma levels of TNF alpha correlated with high levels of complexes between neutrophil elastase and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, suggesting that TNF alpha may be a mediator of neutrophil degranulation. TNF alpha, by its chemotactic effect on neutrophils, may also contribute to the massive influx of neutrophils into and around the bronchial tree. Our findings raise the questions whether in patients with cystic fibrosis TNF alpha acts as cachectin and whether it mediates the anorexia that often results in weight loss. PMID- 2604294 TI - Airway mucosal bioelectric potential difference in cystic fibrosis after lung transplantation. AB - Bioelectrical potential difference (PD) across the respiratory mucosa is raised in cystic fibrosis (CF). We have recorded airway potentials from seven patients with CF who had undergone heart-lung transplantation and from eight patients without CF who had had transplants for cardiovascular disease; comparison of these populations controls for the effects of denervation and immunosuppressive treatment. Six patients without CF who had not had transplants formed an additional control. PD was recorded during routine fiberoptic bronchoscopy, using a Ringer's-perfused exploring bridge connected across a high impedance amplifier to an intravenous reference bridge. Bronchial lavage and sputum culture revealed no evidence of infection. Bronchial PD was similar in all three groups of patients at equivalent sites. However, nasal PD was raised in the CF group (mean value, 44 mV +/- 3.9 SE) compared with the patients who had transplants for cardiovascular disease (mean, 18 mV +/- 1.1 SE), and the control patients (mean, 15 mV +/- 1.2 SE). We conclude that the epithelial defects that result in raised airway potentials in CF do not recur in the transplanted lung. PMID- 2604295 TI - Cigarette smoke alters plasma membrane fluidity of rat alveolar macrophages. AB - This study examined the effect of cigarette smoking on the fluidity of the rat alveolar macrophage plasma membrane. Rats were subjected to 8 wk of an in vivo smoke exposure protocol, after which their alveolar macrophages were harvested. Fluidity was assessed by measuring steady-state anisotropy of isolated plasma membranes as well as of lipid vesicles made from total lipid extracts of these plasma membranes. The smoke-exposed animals showed a significant decrease in fluidity in both intact plasma membranes (p less than 0.0001) and in their lipid vesicle preparations (p less than 0.0001). To assess the time course of these changes, lipid vesicles were prepared from total cellular lipid extracts of macrophages from paired rats, control and smoke-exposed, at 1 through 4 wk after initiation of exposure. Significant decreases in fluidity were observed as early as 2 wk after smoking was begun (p less than 0.001). To assess the reversibility of these changes, paired rats were exposed for 8 wk, then withdrawn for 8, 12, and 18 wk, after which fluidity was evaluated in lipid vesicles prepared from total cellular lipids. Even after 18 wk of smoking cessation, significant decreases in fluidity persisted (p less than 0.01). We conclude that cigarette smoking causes a decrease in plasma membrane fluidity of rat alveolar macrophages. This is due at least in part to a change in the lipid portion of the membrane. These alterations occur after a very brief period of smoke exposure and persist long after cessation of smoking. PMID- 2604296 TI - Elevated interleukin-1 release by human alveolar macrophages during the adult respiratory distress syndrome. AB - Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a modulatory protein with immune and inflammatory functions, is spontaneously released by tissue macrophages in lower concentrations compared with peripheral blood monocytes. Conversely, in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, and certain inflammatory diseases, increased amounts of IL-1 are released by alveolar macrophages (AM). We examined IL-1 production by AM from patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and compared it with that in patients with severe pneumonia requiring assisted ventilation, patients with pneumonia requiring parenteral antibiotics, and healthy control subjects. In vitro, ARDS AM released significantly more total IL-1 and IL-1 beta than did ARDS AM in patients with pneumonia and in control subjects. Moreover, after stimulation of these cells with 10 micrograms/ml of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), ARDS AM significantly increased release of IL-1 and IL 1 beta. AM from patients with severe pneumonia also released greater amounts of both IL-1 and IL-1 beta as fresh explants and after LPS stimulation when compared with control subjects. Incubation of AM with 250 U/ml human interferon-gamma (gamma IFN) was associated with less IL-1 beta release. However, stimulating AM from patients with ARDS and severe pneumonia with gamma IFN plus LPS enhanced the release of IL-1 beta compared with that in patients with pneumonia and in control subjects. ARDS AM released significantly more IL-1 beta than did all of the other groups. These results demonstrate that AM from patients with ARDS are capable of releasing significantly greater amounts of IL-1, which may be related to the progression of acute lung injury. PMID- 2604297 TI - An immunohistochemical study of architectural remodeling and connective tissue synthesis in pulmonary fibrosis. AB - Fibroblasts in healthy adult lung are quiescent, synthesizing little collagen. We studied lung biopsies from 30 patients with pulmonary fibrosis, using immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies against the propeptides of type I collagen to localize fibroblasts actively synthesizing collagen. Adjacent sections were stained with antibodies to type III and IV collagen, fibrin, cytokeratin, plasma fibronectin, or EDIIIa-containing "cellular" fibronectin (cFN). In rapid pulmonary fibrosis, including the proliferative phase of diffuse alveolar damage, organizing pneumonia, and subacute idiopathic fibrosis, collagen synthesizing cells were numerous in organizing exudate filling airspaces but were also seen in the interstitium of the alveolar walls, interlobular septa, and walls of blood vessels. The new matrix deposited in the airspaces also contained type III collagen and EDIIIa-containing fibronectin. In chronic pulmonary fibrosis, more than half of the biopsies showed foci of collagen synthesis and cFN deposition near the air-tissue interface. The foci were consistently localized outside remnants of basal lamina and therefore within airspaces. The results indicate that (1) fibrosis in chronic idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis results mainly from organization of exudate within airspaces, just as it does after acute lung injury, and (2) during this process, fibroblasts increase their synthesis of collagen and fibronectin coordinately. Foci of active matrix deposition provide evidence for the progressive nature of chronic pulmonary fibrosis. PMID- 2604298 TI - Airway size and structure in the normal fetal and infant lung and the effect of premature delivery and artificial ventilation. AB - Light microscopic morphometric techniques were used to study the inflated airways of 17 normal infants from 22 wk of gestation to 8 months postnatal age, plus three young adults. In addition, the lungs of four premature and seven mechanically ventilated infants were studied. A computer-assisted digitizer was used to measure airway diameter and to determine the area of cartilage, gland, and muscle in each type of airway. Epithelial height was also measured, and goblet cell number was counted. Using histochemical stains, types of glycoprotein were identified in goblet cells and submucosal glands. Between 22 wk of gestation and 8 months of age, the normal infant showed a linear increase with age in airway diameter. With age the area of muscle and submucosal gland increased in total amount and showed a significant linear increase when related to the size of the airways, except the submucosal gland in hilar airways. By contrast, the increase in cartilage was only commensurate with the increase in size of intrapulmonary airways, but showed a linear size-related increase in the main bronchus. Epithelial height and goblet cell number increased with age in the bronchi, but not more peripherally. Premature infants had for their postconceptional age normal-sized airways with an increase in amount of bronchial smooth muscle and an increase in number of goblet cells. Ventilated infants had a greater increase in smooth muscle (p less than 0.05 to p less than 0.002) and goblet cells (p less than 0.05) and an increase in submucosal gland area (p less than 0.04) whether or not the infant had had hyaline membrane disease. PMID- 2604299 TI - Use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy to retrieve bronchial foreign bodies in adults. AB - The flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope was used to treat bronchial foreign bodies in 33 adults. The length of time that the foreign body was in the lung was less than 1 wk in six (acute group), more than 1 month in 21 (chronic group), and uncertain in two (uncertain group), and the foreign body was an endogenous broncholith in four patients (broncholith group). The foreign bodies were nonfragile, solid matter in most cases and they frequently had sharp projections on them. Granulations around the foreign body were common in the chronic group, but there was no correlation between the length of time the foreign body was in the lung and the amount of granulation or the number of the bronchoscopies needed for diagnosis or management. The granulations did not bleed easily on biopsy or during removal of the foreign body. In fact, they receded if several pieces were removed, making the foreign body much easier to recognize and to retrieve in the next bronchoscopy (about 1 wk later). After removal of the foreign body, the residual granulations regressed, and the bronchial lumen became more patent. The mortality, morbidity, and complication rates were very low, whereas the success rate was high. We conclude that flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is practical and safe in retrieving bronchial foreign bodies in adult patients. PMID- 2604301 TI - Structural changes in airways of rats exposed to nitrogen dioxide intermittently for seven days. Comparison between major bronchi and terminal bronchioles. AB - Structural changes caused by exposure to NO2 were compared between the largest intrapulmonary bronchi (major bronchi) and the terminal bronchioles. Rats were exposed to 50 ppm NO2 for 5 h a day for 7 consecutive days, and microscopic findings were assessed subjectively and quantitatively. Destruction of airway epithelium was present on Day 1, and the reparative phase was observed between Days 3 and 7. Light microscopy showed that on Day 1, loss of cilia and disintegration of epithelium occurred, and that the latter was worse in major bronchi than in terminal bronchioles; apical projections of Clara cells in terminal bronchioles were lost almost totally. Recovery of epithelium began by Day 3 and cilia by Day 5, and ciliogenesis progressed less promptly in terminal bronchioles. Clara cells did not return to normal during the experiment. Furthermore, a decrease in the airway diameter occurred in peripheral airways along with an increase in mural thickness in terminal bronchioles. Mural inflammation was also seen more conspicuously in terminal bronchioles. Electron microscopy revealed that epithelial cells lost secretory granules on Day 1 and began to repair them by Day 5 in major bronchi and by Day 7 in terminal bronchioles. It is likely that epithelium in terminal bronchioles is not particularly sensitive to NO2 compared with that in major bronchi, but that recovery occurs more promptly in major bronchi than in terminal bronchioles. Mechanisms underlying bronchoconstriction occurring preferentially in peripheral airways are also discussed. PMID- 2604300 TI - Increase in luminal mast cell and epithelial damage may account for increased airway responsiveness after viral infection in dogs. AB - To elucidate the mechanisms of airway hyperresponsiveness induced by viral infection, we examined histologically and analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid using dogs infected with influenza C and noninfected control dogs. Airway responsiveness was assessed as inhaled acetylcholine concentration required to increase pulmonary resistance by 5 cm H2O/L/s (ACh PC). Airway responsiveness was determined before and 2 wk after virus or vehicle inoculation in infected and control dogs, and BAL and histologic studies were performed after the final challenge. Differential cell numbers and histamine concentration were determined in the BAL fluids of both groups. The ACh PC of control dogs did not change with the vehicle inoculation. However, that of infected dogs decreased two to five times as much as their initial value with viral infection. Histologic studies revealed diffuse epithelial damage in the central airways of infected dogs, but infiltrated cell counts within the airway tissue of both groups were not significantly different. From BAL analysis, mast cell number and the histamine concentration of infected dogs increased significantly compared with those of control dogs (3.1 +/- 0.4 x 10(5) versus 0.9 +/- 0.3 x 10(5) cells/ml and 7.3 +/- 1.7 versus 1.9 +/- 0.5 ng/ml, respectively). Luminal mast cell number and epithelial damage score in each dog was correlated with the increase in airway responsiveness. These findings indicate that airway inflammation in virus-induced hyperreactive dogs is characterized by epithelial damage and luminal increase in mast cells and related mediators, and these changes may be related to the appearance of virus-induced airway hyperreactivity. PMID- 2604302 TI - The white plague: down and out, or up and coming? J. Burns Amberson lecture. PMID- 2604303 TI - Bullous emphysema in monozygotic twins. AB - Monozygotic twins who developed bullous emphysema are described. This occurrence suggests that there is a genetic component that predisposes to the development of this disorder. PMID- 2604304 TI - False-positive transcarinal needle aspirate in the evaluation of bronchogenic carcinoma. AB - Advances in the staging of regional mediastinal lymph node metastases from lung carcinoma include transcarinal needle aspiration. However, since most clinicians feel that documented tumor involvement of subcarinal nodes is a strong contraindication to aggressive surgical resection, a falsely positive carinal aspirate could deny a patient potentially curative resectional surgery. Herein, we present a case of a falsely positive transcarinal needle aspirate in which resectional surgery was carried out with a subsequent 34-month disease-free state. PMID- 2604305 TI - Platypnea-orthodeoxia and progressive autonomic failure. AB - Platypnea-orthodeoxia has been described in patients with pulmonary shunts, intracardiac shunts, and severe lung disease. We report a case of platypnea orthodeoxia in a patient with minimal obstructive lung disease and progressive autonomic failure. We have shown our patient's symptoms to be the result of an orthostatic increase in ventilation-perfusion mismatching and to be corrected with fluid challenge. PMID- 2604306 TI - Intraindividual variability in serial measurements of DLCO and alveolar volume over one year in eight healthy subjects using three independent measuring systems. AB - To evaluate intraindividual and between-machine variability in DLCO, one technician performed triplicate measurement of DLCO in eight healthy subjects on three consecutive days using three different systems (Collins [C], Gould [G], SRL [S]) on five separate occasions over the course of 1 yr. For each subject and machine, we calculated the coefficient of variation (CV) of the DLCO and its associated alveolar volume (VA) and inspiratory vital capacity (IVC) over the five different measurement periods using the mean value for each period. CV (in %) for DLCO in each of the eight subjects for each machine varied from 2.4 to 7.1% for machine C, 4.1 to 10.5% for machine G, and 2.5 to 8.7% for machine S. Two-way ANOVA showed significant differences in CV for DLCO and IVC but not for VA across subjects (p less than 0.01) and for DLCO, VA, and IVC across machines (p less than 0.03): CV for DLCO was higher for G than for C or S; CV for VA and IVC was lower for C than for G or S. Multiple regression did not show a significant relationship between within-individual CV for DLCO and that for VA or IVC. We conclude that variability in DLCO measurements is affected by both subject and machine, but, at least in healthy cooperative subjects, it does not appear to be affected by variability in VA or IVC. For the average subject and the two less variable machines we tested, DLCO measurements could vary within the same subject as much as +/- 9.6% (two-tailed 95% confidence interval) with repeated measurements over 1 yr. PMID- 2604307 TI - Validation of the smoking habits of a sample of the patient population seen in a pulmonary function laboratory. AB - From a structured history of 32 current smokers seen in the pulmonary function laboratory of a community hospital, we determined the number of cigarettes they smoked in 24 h. We also asked them to estimate their cigarette butt lengths from a visual model and to collect all cigarette butts over the next 24 h and mail them to us. We counted the butts, individually measured their lengths, and compared these with their previous estimates in order to validate their claims. While in the laboratory, we determined the level of carboxyhemoglobin in the peripheral blood of each patient. Patients tended to estimate the numbers of cigarettes that they smoked in units of five. Light smokers returned more butts and heavy smokers returned fewer butts than the numbers they reported as usually smoking. All patients were able to precisely estimate the average length of their cigarette butts, and they left butts of consistent lengths. There was no association between the numbers of cigarettes smoked and the butt lengths. Carboxyhemoglobin levels were positively associated with the numbers of cigarettes smoked in 24 h and negatively associated with the butt length and the time elapsed since the last cigarette was smoked, but these were not associated with the amount of tar in the cigarettes or with the number of years the person had smoked. PMID- 2604308 TI - Cell response in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after exposure to sulfur dioxide: a time-response study. AB - Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has been performed in 22 healthy nonsmoking male volunteers after exposure to 8 ppm SO2 (20 mg/m3). The exposure level exceeds the US Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of 5 ppm, but occurs as peak exposures in industrial indoor environments. Exposures were made during light work on a bicycle ergometer in an environmental exposure chamber for 20 min. BAL was performed 2 wk or more before exposure and 4, 8, 24, and 72 h after exposure in eight subjects at each time interval. Four hours after exposure significant increases were found in the numbers of lysozyme-positive macrophages, lymphocytes, and mast cells (p less than 0.02 to 0.05). Lymphocytes, lysozyme positive macrophages, total count of alveolar macrophages, and total cell number increased to peak values 24 h after exposure (p less than 0.02 to 0.05). Seventy two hours after exposure the cell numbers and distribution had returned to normal. The time course of the cell reactions found in BAL fluid after controlled SO2 exposure represents a new and previously not reported response to a noxious gas. PMID- 2604309 TI - Clearing the air: the theory and application of ultraviolet air disinfection. PMID- 2604310 TI - Hard-rock mining exposures affect smokers and nonsmokers differently: results of a community prevalence study. PMID- 2604311 TI - Pathologic and immunologic alterations in early stages of beryllium disease: re examination of disease definition and natural history. PMID- 2604312 TI - [Psychiatry and its spatiotemporal referentials]. AB - In the course of its history, psychiatry has grown richer parallel to the development of its spatiotemporal system of the reference. Initially classical empirical psychiatry mainly conceived and represented mental disorder in a two dimensional space. Temporality seemed predominant due to the development of the pathology. Psychopathologic, psychoanalytic, and phenomenological currents have inserted it into a three dimensional space by clarifying its psychopathogenic progress connected with the environment. The merely descriptive attitude of the diagnostic criteria tends to place it back in the original two dimensional space. The systemal method views it in a pluri-dimensional space specific of any living system, permitty to understand its mobility and changes better. It results in the notion of a spatio-temporal field. The latter leads to new strategics of knowledge and contributes to a better integration of psychiatry into the world of contemporary scientific knowledge. PMID- 2604313 TI - [Causes of death in hospitalized psychiatric patients]. AB - A study of deaths bearing on 266 observations of hospitalized psychiatric patients: death according to age, sex, and psychiatric diagnosis, the actual causes of death, violent deaths of uncertain cause and suicides. PMID- 2604314 TI - [Do Lewis and MNSS erythrocyte phenotypes predict response to lithium in manic depressive psychosis?]. AB - Manic depressive psychosis (P.M.D.) is the most "Biological" psychiatric disease and the one whose treatment is the most satisfactory since Lithium is used. The aim of the study is: to check P. Grof (18) hypotheses which postulated that M. erythrocyte phenotype is a positive predictive factor to Lithium in the P.M.D. therapy, and to complete by a similar study in the Lewis group according to the hypothesis of J. L. Prunet, E. Rincent and J. G. Pascalis (37) in a previous study. It is a retrospective and longitudinal study on thirty one Lithium treatment M.D.P. patients. Lithium response is evaluated with objective and quantitative parameters which give us the ability to evaluate chimoprophylaxy and the treatment of M.D.P. accesses. In the MNSs system the statistical analysis of these results show us that none of these phenotypes can be considered as a predictive factor of the Lithium response. In the Lewis system there is no efficacy predictive factor of the chemoprophylaxis. On the other hand Le (a- b+) phenotype would have a wase response to the accesses curative treatment by Lithium. Nevertheless, we have to temper this last hypothesis because the repartition of Lewis phenotype is our group of patient, was significantly different that these of the general population. PMID- 2604315 TI - [A proposal for a new classification of mental confusion syndromes]. PMID- 2604316 TI - Assessing exposure to solvent vapour during the application of paints, etc.- model calculations versus common sense. AB - Simple formulae expressing average and maximum concentrations of solvent vapour in indoor air during the application of paints, glues, and the like, have been derived using a six parameter mathematical exposure model MEM 1. The model is valid for solvents that evaporate from the liquid without fractionation and at a constant rate. Some features of the relation between exposure level and system parameters were found to be considerably more tricky than expected. PMID- 2604317 TI - Gases in forage tower silos. AB - Measurements of hazardous gas concentrations in forage tower silos are described. The problems associated with sampling in silos, the identity and distribution of gases and their rate of evolution, and the effects of forced and natural ventilation are considered. Particular attention is given to conditions at times when entry to the silo by farm personnel is likely and the possibility of farmers carrying out gas measurements is discussed. PMID- 2604318 TI - The chemical, physical and biological properties of a neat cutting oil during prolonged use in a large manufacturing facility. AB - A 5-year study was conducted to investigate changes in the chemical, physical and biological properties of a neat cutting oil during prolonged use in a large manufacturing facility. Samples of cutting oil and other materials as appropriate, were collected at regular intervals. They were analysed for individual and total 4-6 ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PCAs), additive and wear elements, boiling range, viscosity and particulates and in addition they were tested biologically to determine irritancy, sensitization and carcinogenic potential. Records were kept of plant utilization data and all oil additions, including the headstock lubricant and hydraulic oil which entered the cutting oil as contaminants on a regular basis. The cutting oil was 'laundered' each year. This involved removal of water and particulates, the lowering of viscosity by addition of mineral seal oil and the adjustment of the additive balance. The total amount of new oil entering the system during the study period amounted to an oil renewal rate averaging 38% by volume per annum. The generation of individual PCAs during the use of the cutting oil was slow and the dilution effect of oil additions prevented their excessive build-up. An equilibrium was reached after 2-3 years. The low level of build-up of individual PCAs was sufficient to produce a measurable increase in total PCAs determined by a gravimetric method. Laundering had no effect on individual PCA content or on the presence of wear elements but was useful in maintaining the physical properties and additive content. No evidence of any increase in irritancy, sensitizing or carcinogenic potential was found in the course of the study. These findings may also be applicable to other cutting oil systems, if the manner of use, the solvent-refined quality of all oils used, rate of oil losses and additions and the volume of the systems, are comparable with those described in the study. PMID- 2604319 TI - The use of isocyanate paints in auto refinishing--a survey of isocyanate exposures and related work practices in South Australia. AB - A survey of 45 crash repair workshops where two-pack polyurethane spray paints are used has been carried out. Painters were interviewed using a combined health work practice questionnaire. Monitoring for airborne isocyanate was undertaken in 14 spray shops. Health data from the questionnaire were compared with corresponding data for control groups of mechanics and industrial spray painters, not exposed to isocyanates. Compared with the other two groups, the isocyanate spray painters generally reported more respiratory and skin problems. Airborne isocyanate concentrations associated with various operations were monitored with both impinger and paper tape methods. A direct comparison of the two methods is presented. PMID- 2604320 TI - Controlled dynamic generation of standard 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate aerosols. AB - A procedure for the dynamic generation of 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) aerosol atmospheres of 70 micrograms m-3 (0.01 ppm) to 1.75 mg m-3 (0.25 ppm), based on the precise control of the evaporation of pure liquid HDI and subsequent dilution with air, was developed. The apparatus consisted of a home-made glass nebulizer coupled with a separation stage to exclude non-respirable droplets (greater than 10 microns). The aerosol concentrations were achieved by passing air through the nebulizer at 1.5-4.5 l. min-1 to generate dynamically 0.01-0.25 ppm of diisocyanate in an experimental chamber of 8.55 m3. The distribution of the liquid aerosol was established with an optical counter and the diisocyanate concentration was determined from samples collected in impingers by a high pressure liquid chromatographic method. The atmospheres generated were suitable for the evaluation both of sampling procedures full scale, and of analytical methods: at 140 micrograms m-3 (0.02 ppm) they remained stable for 15-min provocation tests in clinical asthma, as verified by breath-zone sampling of exposed patients. PMID- 2604321 TI - Relationships between public health, urban hygiene and occupational hygiene. AB - Overall, people these days are more at risk in their everyday lives than when they are at work, largely owing to the remarkable contributions made by sanitary science to public health, so that since 1900 causes of death have changed completely. However, this statistical picture of a healthier nation conceals considerable differences in health status between social classes, so that a different approach is required by public health professionals. Therefore health agencies in Sheffield are collaborating with trade union safety committees and community and ethnic minority groups in adopting health promotion policies with regard to clear air, healthy food, physical fitness and safety at work. PMID- 2604322 TI - Indicative criteria for the new occupational exposure limits under COSHH. PMID- 2604323 TI - Radiation leakage levels from microwave ovens. PMID- 2604324 TI - Transfacial surgical treatment and anthropometric considerations of frontoethmoidal meningoencephaloceles. AB - Meningoencephaloceles and meningoceles are projections of the meninges with or without cerebral tissue, respectively, through a cranial bony defect. Generally, meningoceles are soft and depressible, whereas meningoencephaloceles are solid and pulsatile. They can present through the calvarium or facial bones. PMID- 2604325 TI - Calvarial bone graft donor site: a histological study in a rabbit model. AB - Recently the calvarium has become a popular site for harvesting bone grafts because of its low incidence of morbidity, its proximity to the operative site, and the decreased amount of resorption as a result of its membranous nature. However, information regarding the phenomenon of repair at the donor site itself remains lacking. This investigation was initiated in 40 adult white New Zealand rabbits as an experimental model to study the process of repair at the donor site and to examine the possible use of hydroxyapatite to reconstruct the residual donor site deformity. Our experimental protocol closely followed our clinical procedure for the harvesting of split calvarial bone grafts. Our conclusions in the rabbit model were: (1) each of the commonly used hemostatic agents (bone wax and gelfoam) inhibit osteoneogenesis to varying degrees, (2) hydroxyapatite shows promise in the reconstruction of the donor site defect, and (3) if the periosteum comes in direct contact the defect repairs itself. PMID- 2604326 TI - Reconstruction of the upper extremity with multiple microvascular transplants: analysis of method, cost, and complications. AB - During an 8-year period, 131 multiple microvascular transplants were performed on 62 patients for upper extremity reconstruction of complex wounds. Patients were classified into two groups: In group I 35 patients received paired simultaneous transplantation of 70 flaps performed in 35 operations. Group II consisted of 27 patients who underwent reconstruction with 61 sequentially transferred flaps; each procedure consisted of a single transplant. No statistical differences in flap failure or complications were seen between groups, except that group I required emergency reexploration more frequently. Patients receiving sequential reconstruction required rehospitalization, leading to significantly elevated costs. In our experience, simultaneous multiple microvascular transplants, particularly in patients admitted with acute injuries, result in reduction of costs, total number of procedures, and duration of hospitalization without increased complications. PMID- 2604327 TI - Treatment of asymptomatic preauricular sinuses: challenging conventional wisdom. AB - Congenital preauricular sinuses must not be considered trivial lesions. They can and should be differentiated from branchial cleft cysts. Cure is achieved only through complete excision of the sinus tract and its associated cysts. Total extirpation of the sinus tract is difficult in the presence of infection. The embryoanatomy and treatment of congenital preauricular sinus tracts as well as our experience with 6 patients are reported. We recommend excision of asymptomatic congenital preauricular sinus tracts. PMID- 2604328 TI - Adjunctive agents to facilitate rapid tissue expansion. AB - A rodent model was used to study tissue expansion. Three chemical agents- hyaluronidase, prostaglandin E2, and colchicine--were administered and their effects on tissue expansion studied. Hyaluronidase and colchicine both enhanced the rate of expansion when compared with results in control animals (p less than 0.05). Although prostaglandin E2 had less effect on expansion rate, it did significantly enhance tissue oxygen tension of expanded skin when compared with controls (p less than 0.05). Clinical implications include the possibility of pretreating patients with these agents to increase the rate of expansion and to improve the safety of current methods of expansion. PMID- 2604329 TI - Golden proportion for maxillofacial surgery in Orientals. AB - The facial position and balance of eyes, nose, and mouth in typical Japanese individuals were investigated, based on the golden proportion for each of these relationships. We found that Japanese tend to have a longer upper lip and shorter chin length compared with Caucasians. We believe that this tendency represents a general facial characteristic of the Oriental population. Each ratio obtained from determinations by our method was used for preoperative and postoperative aesthetic analysis in maxillofacial surgery. This method is considered useful because it permitted us to understand quantitatively the positional relationship and the balance of eyes, nose, and mouth in the face and to make comparisons with typical subjects. PMID- 2604330 TI - Utilization of the burn unit for nonburn patients: the "wound intensive care unit". AB - Burn units and experienced burn nurses are valuable, expensive resources that are underutilized when the burn census is low. Burn facilities can be used to treat other conditions or injuries to provide optimum wound management or to provide overflow intensive care unit beds. We studied via a questionnaire survey the admission profiles of 120 burn units in the United States to determine frequency of utilization for nonburn injuries. One hundred sixteen burn units routinely treat nonburn injuries. Seventy-seven burn units also accept overflow patients from other critical care units. A significant amount of nonburn wound care is being provided by burn units in the United States, with potential benefit to both the patient and the burn unit. The implications of the use of burn facilities as "wound intensive care units" are discussed. PMID- 2604331 TI - Psychological considerations in lipoplasty: the problematic or "special care" patient. AB - Plastic surgeons are not able to handpick every patient. They can only, in reality, screen, evaluate, and accept or reject those patients who appear in their practice. Thus, the patient population is already delimited by several demographical and socioeconomic factors. Lipoplasty specialists see a further smaller group within this defined subset of all surgical patients. The group seeking lipoplasty may contain a disproportionately large number of patients with self-concept disorders, whose obsessional emphasis on the physical component of self can present preoperative and postoperative problems to surgeons. This article is designed to help surgeons evaluate their patient population before surgery and to uncover problem or rather "special care" patients. PMID- 2604332 TI - Anterofrontal superficial temporal artery island flap for full-thickness eyelid reconstruction. AB - The development of movable skin flaps appears to be a popular aspiration of contemporary plastic surgeons, although it seems to us that the classic skin flap, devised by pioneers a century ago, still remains worthy of application. PMID- 2604333 TI - An unusual complication of an open-head injury: coccidioidal meningitis. AB - A case of coccidioidal meningitis following an open-head injury is presented. A 6 year-old boy was ejected from a motor vehicle as it was driven over a cliff, resulting in a severe open-skull fracture with grossly contaminated wounds. The accident occurred in an area in which coccidioidomycosis is endemic, and the causative agent, Coccidioides immitis, is found in high concentration in the soil. In addition to fracture reduction, the child received a course of intrathecal and intravenous amphotericin and achieved a satisfactory clinical response. PMID- 2604334 TI - Para-alar crescentic subcutaneous pedicle flap for repair of skin defects in the philtrum. AB - Crescentic subcutaneous pedicle flaps prepared on the area lateral to the alar base were designed to cover the skin defects in and around the philtrum. In 1 patient a combination of the lateral lip advancement flap and the crescentic subcutaneous pedicle flap was applied to the skin defect on the lateral lip and philtrum. In another patient, a combination of two crescentic subcutaneous pedicle flaps was applied to the skin defect within the philtrum. Both methods have been successful. PMID- 2604335 TI - Rigid endotracheal tube stabilization during craniomaxillofacial surgery. AB - Effective stabilization of the endotracheal tube is required for safety when performing surgery in the craniomaxillofacial region. We describe a simple technique for rigid stabilization of the airway, which has been used in over 150 patients without complication. PMID- 2604336 TI - A simple method of nasoendotracheal tube fixation. AB - The critical need to maintain closed-circuit airways during maxillofacial surgery has led to a number of innovations in anesthetic tube placement and stabilization. Several redesigns and alterations of endotracheal tubes have been described and are currently in use. Also several methods of securing endotracheal tubes have been described. These range from suturing the tubing to the patient's scalp to fabricating maxillofacial prostheses. In this report, a readily available and easy method of securing anesthetic tubes is described. This technique has been used successfully in hundreds of patients at our institutions. PMID- 2604337 TI - Re: Surgical approach to orbit puncture wound with prolapsed orbital fat in an infant. PMID- 2604338 TI - Changes in emergency surgery between 1973 and 1982: audit of the workload of one surgical team. AB - The emergency surgical workload of a consultant in general surgery has been studied by comparing two prospectively collected audits of 6-month periods 9 years apart. There have been a number of changes in the pattern and intensity of general surgical admissions (excluding trauma) with a decline in the total number per day from 14.1 to 12.4 and a reduction in the number of days on call for general surgery from 30 to 14 over the 6-month period. There was a similar fall in days on call for trauma from 60 to 23 days and a decline in total emergency surgical operations from 6.6 to 5.2 operations per night on call. These changes have mainly been produced by an increase in the number of consultants in the hospital from five to eight and specialisation with the establishment of an area urology unit. The results of this study suggest that as consultant numbers increase in a particular area there will be diminished exposure of surgical trainees to emergency cases both in quantity and in quality, and this loss of experience will prove deleterious to the trainee surgeon. PMID- 2604339 TI - Outcome of mechanical ventilation in Sri Lanka. AB - The outcome of mechanical ventilation is reported in a series of 43 patients managed in an intensive care unit in Sri Lanka. Eighteen patients (42%) survived. Of these, all except one were discharged from hospital. Patients with organophosphate poisoning and Guillain-Barre polyneuritis had a mortality of 47% and 50% respectively. Patients who were ventilated postoperatively as a result of anaesthetic complications during surgery had a mortality rate of 20%. Patients with tetanus and myasthenia gravis had 100% recovery. The following categories of patients had a poor prognosis with 100% mortality: patients with severe head injuries, subarachnoid haemorrhage, non-traumatic coma, severe chest injuries and porphyria. The series is compared to similar series from other countries. PMID- 2604340 TI - Early return to work following highly selective vagotomy. AB - In the Royal Navy, after surgery, the time that servicemen spend away from work and the level of duty to which they return are decisions made by the surgeon, not the general practitioner. In a prospective study, we have thus been able to assess the acceptability of return to full duty at decreasing intervals after highly selective vagotomy (HSV). Seventy-eight servicemen who underwent HSV for duodenal ulcer were studied in three periods, 1978-1980, 1981-1982, 1983-1986, each with a shorter interval to return to duty. There were no differences in the rates of ulcer recurrence, incisional hernia, or ability to perform full duties. After HSV the mean time to return to full duties for each group was 29.3, 16.4, and 4.2 weeks, respectively. Every patient returned to full duties at 28 days was able to perform any assigned task whether at sea or ashore. PMID- 2604341 TI - Pressure necrosis of a bicoronal flap. PMID- 2604342 TI - Perioperative mortality in Zambia. AB - An audit of 10,592 consecutive operations performed during 7 months in a central African teaching hospital is presented. Eighty deaths occurred within 6 days of operation, an overall mortality rate (OMR) of 7.55 per 1000 operations. Deaths are classified as avoidable or unavoidable. Avoidable deaths are those for which there was evidence of mismanagement of a type and degree sufficient to account for the death. There were 35 avoidable deaths, an avoidable mortality rate (AMR) of 3.3 per 1000 operations. Avoidable factors which contributed to death are classified as surgical, anaesthetic, and administrative. Surgery and anaesthesia at this hospital are described, and possible means of decreasing avoidable mortality discussed. The value of combined anaesthetic and surgical audit is emphasised. PMID- 2604343 TI - Early postoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy for retained common duct stones. AB - The results of endoscopic sphincterotomy in 30 patients with retained common bile duct stones and a T-tube in situ following surgical exploration of the common bile duct are presented. Successful stone extraction was achieved in 27 cases (90%). There was one death, which was not procedure related. Early postoperative T-tube cholangiography is advocated and if necessary sphincterotomy can be safely performed 1 week following surgery. This approach has advantages in shortening hospital stay and minimising patient discomfort. PMID- 2604344 TI - The effect of starch glove powder on joint and other tissues. AB - The purpose of this research was to establish the possible role of starch glove powder in complications following orthopaedic surgery using in vivo and in vitro techniques. Exposure of primary mouse peritoneal macrophages to starch glove powder caused 10% release of prostaglandin E2 (0.1 mg/ml, 16 h) but no increased release of lactate dehydrogenase, demonstrating that cell integrity had not been compromised. Long-term tissue reaction to starch glove powder was investigated in vivo by injection into mouse knee joints. Over a period of 52 weeks no inflammatory response was elicited, no starch was observed in the regional lymph nodes and none was found in joints after the 8th week. Starch glove powder appeared to be innocuous in the joint and although prostaglandin E2 release was stimulated in vitro, this had no apparent effect on joints in vivo. PMID- 2604345 TI - Catheterisation for nephrectomy? AB - A retrospective review of 64 nephrectomies performed in 1985 and 1986 revealed an incidence of postoperative catheterisation of 48%, compared with 20% in an age and sex matched group of patients undergoing cholecystectomy (P less than 0.01). In the 27 male patients over 40 years of age undergoing nephrectomy, there was a 75% incidence of postoperative catheterisation. A figure of 47% was found for the comparable female group. We recommend that routine peroperative catheterisation should be performed in patients over 40 years of age undergoing a nephrectomy. PMID- 2604346 TI - Elective and emergency surgery for colorectal cancer in a district general hospital: impact of surgical training on patient survival. AB - A total of 640 patients were studied retrospectively after surgery for colorectal cancer over a 5-year period at a district general hospital. The complications, perioperative survival figures, and 5-year survival figures were recorded with particular reference to the grade of surgeon carrying out the original operation. The number and type of complications were similar for consultants and for surgeons-in-training with the exception of operative injury to the ureters and postoperative anastomotic strictures, which were more common in cases operated on by consultants. Perioperative mortality rates were similar after elective and emergency operations, but emergency surgery was associated with a significant increase in mortality when compared with elective surgery if the operation was undertaken by a trainee. Although the 5-year survival rate rose when a consultant surgeon carried out the original operation, the difference was not significant. PMID- 2604347 TI - Endoscopic sphincterotomy for bile duct stones: an institutional review of 272 patients. AB - The results of the first 283 endoscopic sphincterotomies (ES) attempted in Oxford for bile duct stones are described. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was achieved in 272 patients (96%) and complete duct clearance was achieved in 88% of these patients; an overall success rate of 85%. Complications occurred in 26 patients (10%), five of whom required an emergency laparotomy. Eight patients died within 30 days of ES but only two deaths were attributed directly to the procedure. Although the sphincterotomies were performed by several endoscopists in varying stages of training, the results are similar to those from other large reports. In the last year of the study (1987), 58 patients were referred from within the Oxfordshire District which suggests an annual demand for ES for bile duct stones of 11 patients per 100,000 of population. PMID- 2604348 TI - Recurrent pyogenic cholangiohepatitis. AB - Three cases of complicated oriental cholangiohepatitis are described in patients of Asian origin. The development of high biliary strictures in two patients required liver resection; in the third patient the process was complicated by a presumed bile duct malignancy. Oriental cholangiohepatitis may be expected in UK surgical practice given the increased frequency of migration from Asia. PMID- 2604349 TI - The primary management of breast cancer: is breast conservation feasible for all patients? AB - A consecutive series of 411 patients with primary breast cancer treated by a consistent policy of breast conservation, regardless of tumour size, location, clinical stage or histological subtype, is reported. Actuarial 5-year survival was 84% for UICC Stage I, 73% for Stage II and 47% for Stage III/IV. The incidence of local recurrence at 5 years was 13% for Stage I, 12% for Stage II, and 26% for Stage III/IV. The probability of salvage mastectomy at 5 years was 5% for Stage I, 8% for Stage II, and 15% for Stage III/IV. Of local recurrences, 40% were managed with further breast conservation. Primary treatment with breast conservation results in satisfactory local control rates, 5-year survival and cosmesis, but the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of local recurrence within the conserved breast requires further evaluation. PMID- 2604350 TI - Wound perfusion with bupivacaine: objective evidence for efficacy in postoperative pain relief. AB - Conflicting reports exist for the efficacy of intermittent wound perfusion with bupivacaine in the relief of postoperative pain. A study was devised to assess postoperative pain relief objectively using a Patient Controlled Analgesic Device (PCAD) during continuous wound perfusion with bupivacaine or saline. Thirty consecutive patients undergoing cholecystectomy were randomised to receive continuous postoperative wound perfusion with 0.5% bupivacaine for 24 h followed by normal saline for a further 24 h or vice versa. During the study period, conventional analgesia was provided using a PCAD set to deliver (and record the number of) on-demand bolus doses of intravenous pethidine 0.2 mg/kg at half hourly intervals as required. Pethidine requirements were higher on the first postoperative day, regardless of which solution was given, but bupivacaine perfusion almost halved mean linear analogue pain scores compared to those recorded with saline. Likewise, the number of bolus doses of pethidine demanded was reduced by an average of 68% compared to those recorded during saline perfusion on day 1 (P = 0.01) and by 82% on day 2 (P = 0.01). When assessed by objective criteria, perfusion of surgical wounds with bupivacaine after cholecystectomy produces better pain relief than wound perfusion with saline. PMID- 2604351 TI - Computerised administration in an intensive care unit. Experience with a personal computer system. AB - A computerised database system for an intensive therapy unit is described. The system runs on an IBM-compatible personal computer. It provides data on the patients admitted to the unit, the bed occupancy and individual patient's discharge summaries. PMID- 2604352 TI - Amputation for antipersonnel mine injuries of the leg: preservation of the tibial stump using a medial gastrocnemius myoplasty. AB - Antipersonnel mines are very commonly used in modern warfare. They produce a recognisable pattern of injury to the leg, which frequently spares the gastrocnemius muscle. Surgical amputation is often indicated. Medial gastrocnemius myoplastic below-knee amputation is suitable for these injuries. The technique permits cover and preservation of an acceptable tibial stump. PMID- 2604353 TI - Bupivacaine squirting. PMID- 2604354 TI - Prolene plug repair for femoral hernia. PMID- 2604356 TI - [Cerebral trauma in boxing]. PMID- 2604355 TI - Massive colonic haemorrhage--the case for right hemicolectomy. PMID- 2604357 TI - [Multiple cancers of the colon. Cancers and polyps. Should total colectomy be performed?]. PMID- 2604358 TI - [Treatment of hydrothorax in patients with cirrhosis using a peritoneo-jugular shunt]. AB - Two cirrhotic patients with massive hydrothorax associated with ascites resistant to medical management were treated by insertion of peritoneovenous shunt. In each case the hydrothorax resolved within 2 to 4 months after shunt insertion. This treatment was still successful 10 to 26 months after surgery. The peritoneovenous shunt is an alternative to medical therapy for large effusions. Its effectiveness in resolving them supports the idea that diaphragmatic defects are involved in their formation. PMID- 2604359 TI - [Polycystic liver. Is Lin's operation still justified?]. AB - Eleven patients with by polycystic liver disease were operated according to Lin's procedure. All cases were symptomatic forms. Sonography was diagnostic examination in 9 cases. Lin's procedure was not associated with any postoperative mortality or morbidity and no recurrences were observed after an average follow up of 4 years. Rarely, a feminale predominance and association with polycystic kidney disease are noted. Sonography establishes the diagnosis and reveals complications (most intracystic bleeding frequently). Lin's procedure is better than sonographic aspiration which must be repeated and can be complicated by severe infection. Operative aspirative drainage is necessary. Hepatectomy is rarely justified. PMID- 2604360 TI - [Esophageal mucoceles complicating double exclusion of the esophagus after ingestion of caustics]. AB - A mucocele is rarely observed after esophageal exclusion for corrosive burns. It may represent a contra-indication to esophageal conservation in case of a total gastric resection for necrosis and perforation of the stomach. To evaluate this risk, 15 patients, operated between January 1970 and December 1988, were reviewed: they underwent total gastric resection with esophageal exclusion, followed by a secondary colon transplant between the cervical esophagus and the duodenum. A plain chest film was performed for 13 patients and a CT scan for 11 patients. Mean follow-up was 5.7 years (2 months - 17 years). Four patients died, one of them after resection of a compressive esophageal mucocele. Six mucoceles were detected on 13 chest films and 7 were described on 11 CT scans. On the whole, 8 mucoceles were diagnosed on 15 patients; one of them was complicated by tracheal compression. The formation of a secondary esophageal mucocele is a late sign of incomplete destruction of the esophageal wall. It is a frequent complication of esophageal exclusion performed after total gastrectomy for corrosive burns of the stomach. It must be detected on a chest film which shows the largest dilatations or on a CT scan, which is a better investigation. When the diameter of the mucocele is equal of superior to 50 mm, it can be compressive and must be treated by resection of internal diversion. PMID- 2604361 TI - [Anteroposterior rectopexy for disorders of rectal stasis: clinical and radiologic results. Value of digital subtraction rectography. Apropos of 30 cases]. AB - We report the results of 30 antero-posterior rectopexies (APR) for rectal kinetic disorders with descending perineum syndrome. All patients were investigated by digital subtraction defecography and ano-rectal manometry. The associated surgical procedures were: sphincterotomy (n = 13) for outlet obstruction demonstrated by anal manometry or balloon expulsion test: hypertonic sphincter (n = 7), narrow fibrous sphincter (n = 6); 10 cases of prolapsectomy with extended anterior mucosectomy to reduce anterior rectal prolapse; 2 sigmoidectomy for dolichosigmoid. Best results (mean follow-up: 12 months, 3-26) were observed for ano-rectal or pelvic pain and rectal bleeding, which were cured in more than 80% of cases. Faecal incontinence (n = 5) was cured in all cases. Although normalisation of bowel movements and easier defecation were observed in 78% of cases, improvement in the dyschezic syndrome was differently perceived by the patients. Postoperative investigation demonstrated the probable cause of surgical failures (23%): impairment of rectal sensitivity (n = 2), anismus (n = 3), motor constipation (n = 4), with dolichosigmoid (n = 3). Severe perineal deficiency was also noted in 4 cases. Solitary ulcer (n = 6), anterior proctitis (n = 8), were cured within 2 months. Postoperative defecography showed correction of rectal intussusception without impairment of anterior rectal motility during defecation. These results confirm the efficacy of ARP for treatment of rectal intussusception or anterior rectocele. This functional rectopexy avoids the rectal "sling effect" of standard rectopexy which usually increases rectal dysfunction. Nevertheless, ARP alone seems to be insufficient when the associated functional or organic disorders implicated in rectal dysfunction are not also corrected, essentially outlet obstruction and dolichosigmoid. PMID- 2604362 TI - [Development of an orthotopic hepatic transplantation technique in rats: what should the researcher's objectives be?]. AB - The development of liver transplantation in man emphasises the need for more work in the field of experimental liver transplantation. For this purpose the model of orthotopic liver transplantation in the rat is very useful but difficult to establish as a safe and reproducible technique. The aim of this study concerning acquisition of the orthotopic liver transplantation model in the rat was to define precise objectives for future investigators. Two investigators without experience in microsurgery each performed 75 orthotopic liver transplantations, which were divided into five consecutive series. In each series survival times of the recipients after transplantation were analysed according to the mean duration of the operative procedure and the mean portal vein clamping time. For each investigator, mean duration of the operative procedure progressively decreased to reach a minimum at the 45th graft. From that time on, the portal vein clamping time became less than 17 minutes and a significant increase in the post operative survival time of the recipient was observed. However it was only from the sixtieth transplantation on, with stable portal vein clamping time but technical mistakes fewer that a high success rate was observed. PMID- 2604363 TI - [Hepatic and splenic contusion after external cardiac massage. A surgically treated case with favourable outcome]. PMID- 2604364 TI - [Two-dimensional echocardiography during the acute phase of myocardial infarction. Diagnostic and prognostic value]. AB - A bidimensional cardiac sonogram was performed in 152 consecutive patients with in 24 hours after hospitalization in the intensive care unit for acute myocardial infarction, in order to evaluate the contribution of this technique to the diagnosis, determination of early complication and the prognosis. For this study, the left ventricle was divided in 10.segments. For each segment, systolic mobility as well as thickness were evaluated. It was possible to obtain a proper recording in 134 patients. Abnormal left ventricular kinetics (at least 1 segment) is present in all anterior transmural infarctions with, in 90 p. cent of the cases, a concordance between electrical and sonographic localization and in 89 p. cent of inferior between electrical and sonographic localization and in 89 p. cent of inferior only present in 65 p. cent. Abnormal kinetics is only present in 65 p. cent of non transmural infarctions. In 15 patients with clinical infarction without any electrical sign, the cardiac sonogram permitted to make the diagnosis and establish the localization of the infarction. In 46 p. cent of the cases, a left ventricular asynergy was observed at a distance of the necrosed area. In these patients, the mortality and cardiogenic shock rates during hospitalization were higher than for patients who did not present these abnormal findings (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, bidimensional cardiac sonography is a very specific diagnostic tool, permitting an early prognosis and able to detect early complication, especially of pericardial and mechanical nature. PMID- 2604365 TI - [Calcified aortic valve stenosis in adults. Analysis of supra- and infra-hissian conduction disorders]. AB - The association of intraventricular or atrio-ventricular conductive disorders with a calcified aortic stenosis, is a classical notion demonstrated by the close anatomical relationships between aortic valve and conduction pathways. These conductive disorders have been, for quite some time, analyzed on standard electrocardiograms, but, since a few years, the recording of the bundle of His potential has become the technique of choice. However, studies regarding this subject are few, based on very small and sometimes heterogeneous groups of patients. Sixty six consecutive patients hospitalized for a narrow aortic stenosis have agreed to be subjected, before valve replacement, to a recording of the bundle of His potential. Thirteen of them (19.7%) show a HV interval exceeding 55 ms or a pathological H deflexion (twisted and lasting 35 ms). None of the pre-operative parameters that were analyzed (black-out, left ventricular function, ventriculo-aortic gradient, calculated valvular area, magnitude of valvular and ring calcifications), seem correlated with the increased HV interval. These results cross-check those reported in most of the literature. PMID- 2604366 TI - [Ultrasonic diagnosis of biventricular thrombus during the acute phase of myocardial infarction]. AB - The occurrence of a left ventricular thrombus is a classic complication of acute myocardial infarction. On the contrary, this is much less frequent in the right ventricle. The authors report the case of a patient presenting a biventricular thrombus resulting as a complication of an anterior myocardial infarction, diagnosed by bidimensional ultrasonography. The course is characterized by the occurrence of a cerebral vascular accident. The sonogram following this neurological accident shows that the left ventricular thrombus has disappeared, confirming its migration. On the contrary, the right ventricular thrombus regressed under appropriate heparin treatment, without any embolic complication. PMID- 2604367 TI - [Evaluation of the left-to-right shunt in interatrial septal defects (ostium secundum) using Doppler echocardiography. Apropos of 12 cases]. AB - In 12 patients with inter-atrial communication (ostium secundum) (IAC-OS), and ages ranging between 8 and 63 years (mean = 21 years), the ratio between pulmonary and systemic flow (QP/QS) was evaluated with the use of Doppler ultrasonography and compared with the QP/QS obtained by oxymetric measurement during catheterization. The pulmonary or systemic flow is evaluated from the diameter of the opening (d) and the velocity curve (ITV) recorded by pulsated Doppler in the aorta and the pulmonary artery; Q = d2/4 x ITV x heart rate both examinations (sonogram and catheterization) are performed in less than 24 hours. The results show a good correlation between both methods (R = 0.948) (Y = 0.756 X + 0.692). There is no significant variation between intra- or inter-observer. The findings of this study are comparable to those already published; the main difficulty in evaluating of the QP/QS by Doppler sonography are related to the measurement of the pulmonary diameter and there recording of good velocity curves. The QP/QS evaluated by Doppler sonography from a simplified calculation method advocated by Oloez et al. (QP/QS = d2 Ap x V max Ap/d2 Ao x V max Ao were compared, in retrospect, to the data provided by catheterization. The correlation is also satisfactory (R = 0.893). The Doppler ultrasonography is therefore a reliable and reproducible method in as far as the measurement of QP/QS in young or adults subjects affected with IAC OS. PMID- 2604368 TI - [Description of electrocardiographic data in children and adolescents]. PMID- 2604369 TI - Primary oral malignant melanoma: a case report. AB - A rare case of primary oral malignant melanoma with widespread metastasis to nose, lacrimal passages, face and liver has been described. PMID- 2604370 TI - Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma: a case report. PMID- 2604371 TI - Oral myiasis: a case report. AB - A case of oral myiasis which was caused by the Diptera species is reported. The case is discussed in relation to its clinical presentation, etiopathogenesis, management and prognosis. PMID- 2604372 TI - Radiographic evaluation of lesion sizes of histologically diagnosed periapical cysts and granulomas. AB - A total of 149 periapical lesions were classified histologically into cysts, granulomas and other lesions. It was found that 53% were cysts, 39% were granulomas and 8% were other lesions. Of the 149 periapical lesions classified, 69 selected cases of cysts and granulomas were obtained and radiographic measurements of area (mm2), largest diameter (mm) and largest root-to-border distance (mm) were recorded. It was found that there is an apparent increase in cystic prevalence with an increase in the area, largest diameter or largest length of the periapical lesions radiographically. A cystic prevalence of 92-100% is observed with a radiographic area of greater than 200 mm2, a radiographic distance and diameter of greater than 20 mm. PMID- 2604373 TI - An aggressive anaplastic squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth in a young patient: report of a case. AB - Anaplastic squamous cell carcinoma occurring in the young patient is an uncommon disease. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature in the last 30 years. This paper presents the rare case of a young male presenting with an aggressive squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth. At the time of his admission, the tumor had already spread to the cervical and supraclavicular nodes bilaterally. The patient died before completing the course of radiotherapy. The case is discussed with special emphasis on the differential diagnosis, etiology and prognosis of the lesion. PMID- 2604374 TI - Peripheral complex odontome with ghost cell epithelium. A case report. AB - Odontomes are malformations of dental tissues found commonly within jaw-bones and to a lesser extent in the soft tissue. A case of peripheral complex odontome exhibiting ghost cell epithelium is presented here. The significance of the ghost cells and origin of the odontome are briefly commented upon. PMID- 2604375 TI - Employment prospects in dentistry. AB - While the employment projections by the Department of Labor do not identify specific changes in delivery patterns for dental care (e.g., independent dental hygiene practice), they do suggest models with some modifications to traditional practice arrangements (e.g., retail dentistry). But if we may assume that the dramatic changes in the last ten years in the delivery of dental services are any indication of the developments in the next decade, then the resultant system will bear little resemblance to the world of dentistry to which many older practitioners nostalgically cling. But from the perspective of dental employees, the combination of 1) the Department of Labor projections for increases in the number of job opportunities for auxiliaries through the next decade, and 2) a decrease in the production of the number of dental hygienist and dental auxiliary graduates, portends a favorable employment market. PMID- 2604376 TI - Do we have to rethink serologic markers used to diagnose hepatitis B infection? AB - The recent addition of testing volunteer blood donors for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) has raised questions not apparent when such testing is applied to hepatitis B (HB) infected patients. The review of published studies, and our own, demonstrates that it is difficult to evaluate false positive results. Some patients appear to lose antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) but not antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), thus raising the possibility of disease transmission. It is anticipated that additional investigation of individuals positive for anti-HBc only by response to hepatitis B vaccine permits clarification of their immune status and absence of infectivity. PMID- 2604377 TI - Intracerebral mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. AB - The current case report deals with a 14-year-old girl with an intracerebral mesenchymal chondrosarcoma which has been recognized in two males and two females varying from 25 to 59 years of age. Three of the five patients had an associated malignant glioma. The present girl died eight years after her initial neurologic deficits and never received any definitive treatment for her deep seated neoplasm. These unique sarcomas may be confused with vascular lesions and have not been found to spread through the neuraxis. This unusual primary intracerebral mesenchymal chondrosarcoma appears to represent a field phenomenon with cartilaginous differentiation of glial and mesenchymal elements in the central nervous system. PMID- 2604378 TI - Biochemical values, complement levels, and hemostatic data in septic leukoerythroblastosis. AB - Recently, the association of granulocytic fragments on blood smear with leukoerythroblastosis in sepsis has been identified in nine patients. Granulocytic fragments were identified by both light and electron microscopy as well as cytochemistry. Leukoerythroblastosis is a poorly defined, uncommon syndrome with leukocytosis, left shift, and nucleated red blood cells (nRBCs) disproportionate to the degree of anemia, which may be associated with leukemia or neoplasia in the bone marrow, acute infection, hemolysis, myelofibrosis, or miscellaneous causes. Here a subgroup with high white blood cells (WBC) and acute infection was studied. The corrected WBC for nine patients was 40 x 10(9) per L with 33 nRBC per 100 WBC; serum C3 and C4 levels before and after the development of leukoerythroblastosis were 0.6 +/- 2 g per L; 0.18 +/- 0.04 g per L pre leukoerythroblastosis and 0.7 +/- 0.46 g per L; 0.30 +/- 0.27 g per L post leukoerythroblastosis, respectively, in four patients. The platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial prothrombin time (aPTT) were 133 x 10(9) per L, 24.4 sec., and 53.5 sec., respectively, for nine patients. Multiphasic chemistries at the time of leukoerythroblastosis were measured in five patients; abnormal values included calcium of 2.0 +/- 0.4 mmol per L, creatinine of 336 +/- 130 mumol per L, total protein of 45 +/- 17 g per L, albumin of 27 +/- 11 g per L, total bilirubin of 421 +/- 362 mumol per L, uric acid of 499 +/- 264 mumol per L, triglycerides of 4.9 +/- 3.7 mmol per L, and alkaline phosphatase of 3.5 +/- 1.0 mu kat per L.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604379 TI - Cyclic neutropenia: a case of asymptomatic appendicitis. AB - A seven year old boy with a history of cyclic neutropenia (CN) was admitted to the hospital after developing fever and chills following a bicycle accident. After admission, he had a rapidly deteriorating hospital course leading to shock and death. At autopsy, acute appendicitis with resultant peritonitis and sepsis was diagnosed. The peculiar clinical and microscopic aspects of this case will be presented and contrasted with the more usual signs and symptoms of this cyclic disease. PMID- 2604380 TI - Mitochondrial myopathies: clinical and biochemical features of 30 patients with major deletions of muscle mitochondrial DNA. AB - Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in muscle and blood from 72 patients with mitochondrial myopathy showed that 30 had major deletions of a variable proportion of muscle mtDNA. All of these 30 patients presented with progressive external ophthalmoplegia and limb weakness, and 8 had the additional features of the Kearns-Sayre syndrome. Of the 42 patients without detectable muscle mtDNA deletions, 10 had progressive external ophthalmoplegia and limb weakness, 2 had the Kearns-Sayre syndrome, 11 had limb weakness without extraocular involvement, and 19 had multisystem disorders predominantly affecting the central nervous system. Only 2 patients with mtDNA deletions had clinically affected relatives, compared with 10 of those without deletions. In the 4 patients with polarographic defects exclusively involving complex I (NADH coenzyme Q reductase), the deleted protein-coding genes were confined to those for complex I subunits. Thirteen other patients with apparently identical deletions had variable clinical and biochemical features. Immunoblots of complex I polypeptides from patients with deletions were either indistinguishable from controls or showed only a mild generalized decrease in all identifiable subunits. PMID- 2604381 TI - Divisional oculomotor nerve paresis caused by intrinsic brainstem disease. AB - Two patients with findings ascribable to superior branch oculomotor nerve paresis and one patient with findings ascribable to an inferior branch paresis are described. In each patient the paresis was caused by an intra-axial midbrain lesion. These patients represent the first described cases of divisional oculomotor nerve paresis caused by intrinsic brainstem disease. PMID- 2604382 TI - Bilateral somatosensory evoked potentials in four patients with long-standing surgical hemispherectomy. AB - Four patients were studied electrophysiologically 8 to 24 years after surgical removal of one cerebral hemisphere without damage to the striatum or diencephalon. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to electrical stimulation of the median nerve on the left or right side were averaged and mapped out over the scalp. Stimulation on the side opposite to the missing hemisphere evoked brief P9 and P14 farfields and a slow N18 negative potential of 15- to 25-msec duration bilaterally. No additional focal response was detected over the remaining (ipsilateral) hemisphere for 60 msec after the stimulus. Because long-standing hemispherectomy entails massive retrograde degeneration of thalamocortical neurons, the preserved P14 and N18 responses must reflect neural activities generated below the thalamus that are volume conducted to the scalp bilaterally. The data clarify several current issues in the evaluation of SEP components. PMID- 2604383 TI - Computed tomographic patterns of proven embolic brain infarctions. AB - To define patterns of infarction on computed tomography that are characteristic of embolism, as opposed to hemodynamically or microangiopathically induced brain lesions, a consecutive series of 60 patients with acute brain embolism were studied. Strokes were embolic in origin; that is, hemodynamic and in situ thrombotic stroke mechanisms had been excluded. Embolically active, cardiac disease was proved in 42 and was clinically evident in 13 patients. Five patients had suffered a stroke due to catheter-related embolism. Computed tomography revealed pial artery territorial infarction in 55 patients (92%). In 5, the infarction had the size or location (or both) characteristic of lacunes, although shape and lack of multiplicity raised questions about this interpretation. No patient showed a low-flow type of infarction pattern. These findings strongly support the view that (1) except for in situ thrombosis, pial artery territorial infarctions are indicative of an embolic mechanism, and (2) that the mechanism underlying lacunes is hardly, if ever, embolic. PMID- 2604384 TI - Clinical departmental director: manager or scholar? AB - We should look very hard at what is required to maintain the role of clinical departmental directors as clinician-scholars and academic leaders. We should consider what is needed to permit them to have the time and energy to participate in their own areas of scholarship, and to be active in longer-term planning not only for their departments but also for their own medical institutions and national health issues as a whole. PMID- 2604385 TI - Complex partial status epilepticus provoked by "crack" cocaine. AB - A 53-year-old woman with a history of chronic abuse of "crack" cocaine developed isolated complex partial status epilepticus after 3 days of frequent cocaine use. The electroencephalogram demonstrated focal epileptiform activity. Follow-up for 1 year during which she reported continuous abstinence from cocaine and anti convulsants revealed no recurrence of seizures. PMID- 2604386 TI - Tumor necrosis factor in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis. AB - We measured levels of alpha-tumor necrosis factor (alpha-TNF) in cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples from 50 drug-free patients with multiple sclerosis, 25 patients with other neurological diseases, 27 patients with non-neurological diseases, and 10 normal subjects. The most elevated levels of alpha-TNF were found in patients with inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. Comparable serum levels of alpha-TNF were detected in normal control subjects, patients with multiple sclerosis, and patients with degenerative neurological diseases. In patients with multiple sclerosis, alpha-TNF levels were also unrelated to time elapsed between the occurrence of clinical exacerbation and the time of sample collection. Only 3 patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis had detectable alpha-TNF in the cerebrospinal fluid. Our data do not support a role for elevated levels of circulating alpha-TNF in the maintenance of the disease. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that a transient elevation of alpha TNF triggers the cellular events leading to demyelination in multiple sclerosis. PMID- 2604387 TI - Intraventricular infusion of Dopamine in Parkinson's disease. AB - A patient with severe end-stage Parkinson's disease and troublesome fluctuations in motor function was treated with a long-term intraventricular infusion of dopamine. There was modest improvement in speech and mentation and there was smoother control of motor symptoms that was superior to that achieved by conventional oral medications. PMID- 2604388 TI - In vitro total-gas, CH4, H2, volatile fatty acid, and lactate kinetics studies on luminal contents from the small intestine, cecum, and colon of the pig. AB - Two experiments were conducted to assess differences in fermentative activities of digesta obtained from various regions of the pig gastrointestinal tract. In experiment 1, the contents of small intestines, ceca, and colons of 110-kg pigs were collected, diluted twofold, and incubated for 2 h at 37 degrees C. In experiment 2, colonic samples from 16,100-kg pigs were similarly treated, except that the incubation period was 5 h. Total gas (gas pressure), CH4, H2, lactate, formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, and isovalerate were measured in experiment 1. Only the gas variables were measured in experiment 2. Statistically significant differences (P greater than 0.05) were not observed among the gas production rate estimates across the small-intestinal, cecal, and colonic regions in experiment 1. Furthermore, all the small-intestinal samples and half the cecal samples assayed in experiment 1 were nonmethanogenic. The mean methanogenic and total-gas production rate estimates for the colonic samples in experiment 1 were 0.052 ml g of wet contents-1 h-1 and 1.7 ml of total gas g of wet contents-1 h-1, respectively. No differences in the methanogenic rate estimates were detected between the proximal, middle, and distal thirds of the pig colons (P greater than 0.05). The volatile fatty acid and lactate molar percentages measured in experiment 1 were consistent with previously published observations. Hydrogen accumulated to the greatest extent (7 microM on average) in the in vitro incubations of small-intestinal contents, whereas the H2 concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 1 microM for the incubated cecal and colonic samples in experiment 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604389 TI - Increase in colonic methanogens and total anaerobes in aging rats. AB - Methanogens are present in the colons of our local Wistar rat colony. We studied the changes in concentrations of their fecal methanogenic and nonmethanogenic bacteria with age as a model of the development of these communities in humans. We found that the predominant methanogen in the rats is a Methanobrevibacter species. The log of the concentration of total anaerobes increased from 9.8/g (dry weight) at 3.0 weeks of age (shortly after weaning) to 10.7/g (dry weight) at 96 weeks (shortly before the end of the life span). In contrast, the log concentration of methanogens increased from 5.5 to 9/g (dry weight) during the same time period. Therefore, methanogens increased as a percentage of the total anaerobes from 0.005% at 3.0 weeks to 2.0% at 96 weeks. About 12 doublings of the methanogenic population and 3.3 doublings of the nonmethanogenic population took place from weaning until death. The slow increase in the ratio of methanogens to total anaerobes with age followed the same pattern in cecal contents as found in feces. There were no relationships between animal weights or fecal outputs and the increase in total anaerobe and methanogen concentrations in feces. A possible explanation for the slow increase in the Methanobrevibacter species in Wistar rats with age is a gradual shifting of the use of electrons from the reduction of CO2 to acetate by acetogens to the reduction of CO2 to CH4. The results provide the first evidence for an age-related change in the nonmethanogenic bacteria of the colon and supporting microbiological evidence for physiological studies that have shown age-related increases in colonic methane production in humans. PMID- 2604390 TI - 19F nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of 5-fluorouracil metabolism in wild-type and 5-fluorouracil-resistant Nectria haematococca. AB - A mutant (furA3) was isolated from the S1 wild-type strain of Nectria haematococca on the basis of its resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5FU). This mutant has greatly reduced activity of uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, a pyrimidine salvage enzyme catalyzing the synthesis of UMP from uracil. The metabolism of 5FU was examined in both strains by using 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In the S1 strain, 5FU appears to be metabolized by two pathways operating simultaneously: (i) conversion to fluoronucleotides and (ii) degradation into alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine. The furA3 mutant shows metabolic changes consistent with a uracil phosphoribosyltransferase lesion, since it takes up 5FU and forms a small amount of alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine but does not synthesize fluoronucleotides. Since pigment synthesis is strongly enhanced by 5FU in the S1 wild-type strain but not in the furA3 mutant, these results support the hypothesis that 5FU stimulation of secondary metabolism in N. haematococca is not mediated by the drug itself but involves a phosphorylated anabolite. PMID- 2604391 TI - Purification and characterization of endoglucanase C of Cellulomonas fimi, cloning of the gene, and analysis of in vivo transcripts of the gene. AB - Two nonglycosylated endoglucanases which bind to Sephadex were purified from culture supernatants of Cellulomonas fimi grown on microcrystalline cellulose. Their Mrs were 120,000 and 130,000. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the enzymes were identical, suggesting that the enzymes were related. A DNA fragment encoding this N-terminal sequence was cloned in Escherichia coli. The nucleotide sequence corresponding to the N-terminal amino acid sequence was preceded by a sequence encoding a typical leader peptide. Transcripts hybridizing to the cloned fragment were detected in total RNA isolated from C. fimi cells grown on carboxymethyl cellulose but not from cells grown on glycerol or glucose. Transcription started at a cluster of sites 53 to 59 nucleotides upstream of a GUG translation initiation codon and terminated at either of two closely spaced C residues immediately downstream of a region of potential secondary structure. The size of the transcript was approximately 3.5 kilobases, sufficient to encode a polypeptide of 130 kilodaltons. The 130-kilodalton polypeptide is designated endoglucanase C (CenC), and the gene encoding it is designated cenC. PMID- 2604392 TI - Evidence for a new pathway in the bacterial degradation of 4-fluorobenzoate. AB - Six bacterial strains able to use 4-fluorobenzoic acid as their sole source of carbon and energy were isolated by selective enrichment from various water and soil samples from the Stuttgart area. According to their responses in biochemical and morphological tests, the organisms were assigned to the genera Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, and Aureobacterium. To elucidate the degradation pathway of 4 fluorobenzoate, metabolic intermediates were identified. Five gram-negative isolates degraded this substrate via 4-fluorocatechol, as described in previous studies. In growth experiments, these strains excreted 50 to 90% of the fluoride from fluorobenzoate. Alcaligenes sp. strains RHO21 and RHO22 used all three isomers of monofluorobenzoate. Alcaligenes sp. strain RHO22 also grew on 4 chlorobenzoate. Aureobacterium sp. strain RHO25 transiently excreted 4 hydroxybenzoate into the culture medium during growth on 4-fluorobenzoate, and stoichiometric amounts of fluoride were released. In cell extracts from this strain, the enzymes for the conversion of 4-fluorobenzoate, 4-hydroxybenzoate, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate could be detected. All these enzymes were inducible by 4-fluorobenzoate. These data suggest a new pathway for the degradation of 4 fluorobenzoate by Aureobacterium sp. strain RHO25 via 4-hydroxybenzoate and 3,4 dihydroxybenzoate. PMID- 2604393 TI - Transformation of Bacillus polymyxa with plasmid DNA. AB - A plasmid transformation system was developed for Bacillus polymyxa ATCC 12321 and derivatives of this strain. The method utilizes a penicillin-treated-cell technique to facilitate uptake of the plasmid DNA. Low-frequency transformation (10(-6) per recipient cell) of plasmids pC194, pBD64, and pBC16 was accomplished with this method. Selection for the transformants was accomplished on both hypertonic and nonhypertonic selective media, with the highest rates of recovery occurring on a peptone-glucose-yeast extract medium containing 0.25 M sucrose. Several additional plasmids were shown to be capable of transferring their antibiotic resistance phenotypes to B. polymyxa through the use of a protoplast transformation procedure which allowed for a more efficient transfer of the plasmid DNA. However, cell walls could not be regenerated on the transformed protoplasts, and the transformants could not be subcultured from the original selective media. PMID- 2604394 TI - Reductive dehalogenation of dichloroanilines by anaerobic microorganisms in fresh and dichlorophenol-acclimated pond sediment. AB - We investigated the transformation of 2,4-dichloroaniline (2,4-DiCA) and 3,4-DiCA to monochloroanilines (CA) in anaerobic pond sediment. Dechlorination of 3,4-DiCA to 3-CA started after a lag period of 3 weeks and was complete after an additional 5 weeks. Although 2,4-DiCA disappeared over 8 weeks, the appearance of a CA product could not be detected. In contrast, anaerobic bacteria in pond sediment acclimated to dehalogenate 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DiCP) or 3,4-DiCP rapidly dechlorinated 2,4-DiCA and 3,4-DiCA without any lag time. By comparison, anaerobic sediment bacteria acclimated to 3,4-DiCA rapidly degraded 3,4-DiCP without a lag. In all cases, the CA products were stable for the duration of the experiments. It is concluded that cross-acclimation occurred. PMID- 2604395 TI - Direct phenotypic and genotypic detection of a recombinant pseudomonad population released into lake water. AB - As a system for studying the fate of genetically engineered microorganisms in the environment, we have previously constructed recombinant plasmids encoding a xylE marker gene (C. Winstanley, J. A. W. Morgan, R. W. Pickup, J. G. Jones, and J. R. Saunders, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 55:771-777, 1989). A series of direct membrane filter methods have been developed which facilitate the detection of bacterial cells harboring the xylE gene, its product, catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase enzyme activity directly from water samples. These methods enable detection of recombinant populations at concentrations as low as 10(3) to 10(4) cells ml of lake water-1. Direct detection facilitates ecological studies of a range of bacterial strains containing the marker system in aquatic environments. The fate of a recombinant pseudomonad population in lake water was assessed by a combination of colony-forming ability, direct counts, and direct detection of the xylE gene and phenotypic expression of its product. PMID- 2604396 TI - Microbial degradation of seven amides by suspended bacterial populations. AB - Microbial transformation rate constants were determined for seven amides in natural pond water. A second-order mathematical rate expression served as the model for describing the microbial transformation. Also investigated was the relationship between the infrared spectra and the second-order rate constants for these amides. Second-order rate constants (k2) ranged from a low of 2.0 X 10(-14) to a high of 1.1 X 10(-9) liters organism-1 h-1 for niclosamide (2',5-dichloro-4' nitrosalicylanilide) and propachlor (2-chloro-N-isopropylacetanilide), respectively. The mechanism of degradation (i.e., microbially mediated hydrolysis) of the amides was consistent with that of other organic chemicals previously studied in a variety of natural waters. Preliminary investigations indicate that temporal variations in measured second-order rate constants are small. A simple linear regression of the infrared carbonyl-stretching frequency with log K2 gave a correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.962. PMID- 2604397 TI - Inactivation of gerbil-cultured Giardia lamblia cysts by free chlorine. AB - Giardia lamblia cysts were harvested from Mongolian gerbils and exposed to free chlorine in buffered water at pH 5, 7, and 9 at 15 degrees C. The contact times required to obtain a 2-log reduction in cyst survival (i.e., a 99% kill) were interpolated from survival curves generated at fixed concentrations of chlorine in the range of 0.25 to about 16 mg/liter. Concentration-time (C.t') products for 99% inactivation ranged from about 120 to nearly 1,500 mg.min/liter. These values are higher than those reported previously for free chlorine using G. lamblia cysts from infected humans. The cysts isolated from gerbils, as with other Giardia cysts, were unusually sensitive to chlorine in alkaline solutions. PMID- 2604398 TI - Growth and luminescence of the bacterium Xenorhabdus luminescens from a human wound. AB - Xenorhabdus luminescens, a newly isolated luminous bacterium collected from a human wound, was characterized. The effects of ionic strength, temperature, oxygen, and iron on growth and development of the bioluminescent system were studied. The bacteria grew and emitted light best at 33 degrees C in a medium with low salt, and the medium after growth of cells to a high density was found to have antibiotic activity. The emission spectrum peaked at 482 nm in vivo and at 490 nm in vitro. Both growth and the development of luminescence in X. luminescens required oxygen and iron. The isolated luciferase itself exhibited a temperature optimum at about 40 degrees C; after purification by affinity chromatography, it showed two bands (52 and 41 kilodaltons) on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicative of an alpha and beta subunit structure. Reduced flavin mononucleotide (Km of 1.4 microM) and tetradecanal (Km of 2.1 microM) were the best substrates for the luciferase, and the first-order decay constant under these conditions at 37 degrees C was 0.79 s 1. PMID- 2604399 TI - Bioluminescence of the insect pathogen Xenorhabdus luminescens. AB - Luminescence of batch cultures of Xenorhabdus luminescens was maximal when cultures approached stationary phase; the onset of in vivo luminescence coincided with a burst of synthesis of bacterial luciferase, the enzyme responsible for luminescence. Expression of luciferase was aldehyde limited at all stages of growth, although more so during the preinduction phase. Luciferase was purified from cultures of X. luminescens Hm to a specific activity of 4.6 x 10(13) guanta/s per mg of protein and found to be similar to other bacterial luciferases. The Xenorhabdus luciferase consisted of two subunits with approximate molecular masses of 39 and 42 kilodaltons. A third protein with a molecular mass of 24 kilodaltons copurified with luciferase, and in its presence, either NADH or NADPH was effective in stimulating luminescence, indicating that this protein is an NAD(P)H oxidoreductase. Luciferases from two other luminous bacteria, Vibrio harveyii (B392) and Vibrio cholerae (L85), were partially purified, and their subunits were separated in 5 M urea and tested for complementation with the subunits prepared from X. luminescens Hb. Positive complementation was seen with luciferase subunits among all three species. The slow decay kinetics of the Xenorhabdus luciferase were attributed to the alpha subunit. PMID- 2604400 TI - Production of deoxynivalenol by Fusarium isolates from samples of wheat associated with a human mycotoxicosis outbreak and from sorghum cultivars. AB - Fusarium isolates from specific diseased sorghum plants and rain-soaked wheat and wheat flour associated with human mycotoxicosis in India have been screened for their toxigenic potential. Of the 322 isolates screened, 11 isolates were found to produce deoxynivalenol in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 186 micrograms g 1. The occurrence of deoxynivalenol-producing fusaria in a nontemperate region and deoxynivalenol production in low concentrations by Fusarium moniliforme are reported for the first time. PMID- 2604401 TI - Survival of Pseudomonas putida UWC1 containing cloned catabolic genes in a model activated-sludge unit. AB - The possibility of the accidental or deliberate release of genetically engineered microorganisms into the environment has accentuated the need to study their survival in, and effect on, natural habitats. In this study, Pseudomonas putida UWC1 harboring a non-self-transmissible plasmid, pD10, encoding the breakdown of 3-chlorobenzoate was shown to survive in a fully functioning laboratory-scale activated-sludge unit (ASU) for more than 8 weeks. The ASU maintained a healthy, diverse protozoal population throughout the experiment, and the introduced strain did not adversely affect the functioning of the unit. Although plasmid pD10 was stably maintained in the host bacterium, the introduced strain did not enhance the degradation of 3-chlorobenzoate in the ASU. When reisolated from the ASU, derivatives of strain UWC1 (pD10) were identified which were able to transfer plasmid pD10 to a recipient strain, P. putida PaW340, indicating the in situ transfer of mobilizing plasmids from the indigenous population to the introduced strain. Results from plate filter matings showed that bacteria present in the activated-sludge population could act as recipients for plasmid pD10 and actively expressed genes carried on the plasmid. Some of these activated-sludge transconjugants gave higher rates of 3-chlorobenzoate breakdown than did strain UWC1(pD10) in batch culture. PMID- 2604402 TI - Model to predict aerial dispersal of bacteria during environmental release. AB - Risk assessment for genetically engineered bacteria sprayed onto crops includes determination of off-site dispersal and deposition. The ability to predict microbial dispersal patterns is essential to characterize the uncertainty (risk) associated with environmental release of recombinant organisms. Toward this end, a particle dispersal model was developed to predict recovery of bacteria on fallout plates at various distances and directions about a test site. The microcomputer simulation incorporates particle size distribution, wind speed and direction, turbulence, evaporation, sedimentation, and mortality, with a time step of 0.5 s. The model was tested against data reported from three field applications of nonrecombinant bacteria and two applications of recombinant bacteria. Simulated dispersal of 10(5) particles was compared with reported deposition measurements. The model may be useful in defining appropriate populations of organisms for release, methods of release or application, characteristics of a release site that influence containment or dispersal, and in developing an appropriate sampling methodology for monitoring the dispersal of organisms such as genetically engineered bacteria. PMID- 2604403 TI - Monohydroxylation of phenol and 2,5-dichlorophenol by toluene dioxygenase in Pseudomonas putida F1. AB - Pseudomonas putida F1 contains a multicomponent enzyme system, toluene dioxygenase, that converts toluene and a variety of substituted benzenes to cis dihydrodiols by the addition of one molecule of molecular oxygen. Toluene-grown cells of P. putida F1 also catalyze the monohydroxylation of phenols to the corresponding catechols by an unknown mechanism. Respirometric studies with washed cells revealed similar enzyme induction patterns in cells grown on toluene or phenol. Induction of toluene dioxygenase and subsequent enzymes for catechol oxidation allowed growth on phenol. Tests with specific mutants of P. putida F1 indicated that the ability to hydroxylate phenols was only expressed in cells that contained an active toluene dioxygenase enzyme system. 18O2 experiments indicated that the overall reaction involved the incorporation of only one atom of oxygen in the catechol, which suggests either a monooxygenase mechanism or a dioxygenase reaction with subsequent specific elimination of water. PMID- 2604404 TI - Sodium-dependent transport of branched-chain amino acids by a monensin-sensitive ruminal peptostreptococcus. AB - A recently isolated ruminal peptostreptococcus which produced large amounts of branched-chain volatile fatty acids grew rapidly with leucine as an energy source in the presence but not the absence of Na. Leucine transport could be driven by an artificial membrane potential (delta psi) only when Na was available, and a chemical gradient of Na+ (delta uNa+) also drove uptake. Because Na+ was taken up with leucine and a Z delta pH could not serve as a driving force (with or without Na), it appeared that leucine was transported in symport with Na+. The leucine carrier could use Li as well as Na and had a single binding site for Na+. The Km for Na was 5.2 mM, and the Km and Vmax for leucine were 77 microM and 328 nmol/mg of protein per min, respectively. Since valine and isoleucine competitively inhibited (Kis of 90 and 49 microM, respectively) leucine transport, it appeared that the peptostreptococcus used a common carrier for branched-chain amino acids. Valine or isoleucine was taken up rapidly, but little ammonia was produced if they were provided individually. The lack of ammonia could be explained by an accumulation of reducing equivalents. The ionophore, monensin, inhibited growth, but leucine was taken up and deaminated at a slow rate. Monensin caused a loss of K, an increase in Na, a slight increase in delta psi, and a decrease in intracellular pH. The inhibition of growth was consistent with a large decrease in ATP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604405 TI - Improved medium for recovery and enumeration of the farmer's lung organism, Saccharomonospora viridis. AB - A new medium, which we propose to call R8, was developed for the isolation and enumeration of the thermophilic actinomycete, Saccharomonospora viridis. This organism has been implicated in a range of hypersensitivity pneumonitides, including farmer's lung, but is generally isolated in small numbers from contaminated environments. Recovery of S. viridis from moldy hay and mushroom compost on R8 medium was compared with recovery on conventional media. S. viridis was isolated from both substrates but in highest numbers and most consistently on the R8 medium. The selectivity of this medium was best observed when the sedimentation chamber method was used for hay samples. Here S. viridis accounted for up to 80% of the total number of actinomycetes recovered on R8 and could not be recovered on rifampin selective medium under the same conditions. R8 was also found to be an efficient recovery medium for a range of thermophilic actinomycetes from mushroom compost and for another allergenic species, Faenia rectivirgula, from moldy hay. Contamination of isolation plates by thermophilic bacilli was reduced on R8 compared with the activity on half-strength tryptone soy agar, supplemented with 0.2% casein hydrolysate, and this, together with specific improvements in S. viridis growth, accounts for the selective effect. It is possible that the occurrence of S. viridis and its role as a causative agent of hypersensitivity pnuemonitis have been underestimated by the use of suboptimal recovery protocols. It is hoped that use of R8 in conjunction with dilution plate techniques will generate information on the ecology of S. viridis and contribute to health risk assessment studies. PMID- 2604406 TI - Microbial growth and accumulation in industrial metal-working fluids. AB - The dynamics of microbial growth in metal-working fluids (MWF) and the effect of the addition of biocides were studied in large fluid systems, in this case, one central tank which holds 150 m3. In this system, populations of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes (greater than 10(8) CFU/ml) were sustained for a year, although large quantities of biocides were added. Quantitation of 3-OH lauric acid, a marker for many Pseudomonas spp., by gas chromatography indicated that the bacterial biomass exceeded the viable counts by approximately 15 times. Fungi were grown on several occasions, the dominating genera being Fusarium and Candida. Soon after the old MWF was removed and the tank was provided with fresh MWF, which consisted of an emulsion of mineral oil in water, there was a massive growth of P. pseudoalcaligenes that reached levels of greater than 10(8) bacteria per ml. Initially, only low concentrations of other species were found for some weeks. After this period, different enterobacteria and other gram-negative rods often appeared at high concentrations (10(7) and 10(8) bacteria per ml, respectively). Bacteria identified as P. pseudoalcaligenes showed great variation with respect to colony morphology and a certain heterogeneity with respect to biochemical characteristics. Certain bacterial species grew as microcolonies on metal strips immersed in the circulating MWF, but P. pseudoalcaligenes was not recovered from this habitat. The total bacterial count in the air surrounding the machines in the metal-working shop showed an inverse relation to increasing distance from the machine. The concentration of bacteria in the air varied because of the number of machines in use, temperature, and humidity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604407 TI - Human origin of Bacteroides fragilis bacteriophages present in the environment. AB - Bacteroides fragilis HSP40 phages have been detected in waters with various levels of fecal contamination of human origin. The average numbers of B. fragilis phages present in sewage water reached 5.3 x 10(3) per 100 ml of water. We found a number 1,000 times lower in a river contaminated with domestic sewage only, in which the levels of fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci were 10,000 times lower than those found in raw sewage. In addition, B. fragilis phages were not found in significant numbers in slaughterhouse wastewaters. They were not present in fecal-polluted waters containing fecal contamination from wildlife only. Although the number of B. fragilis phages present in contaminated waters was lower than the number of coliphages, their presence indicated human fecal contamination. It is also shown that Bacteroides phages are only able to multiply under anaerobic conditions in the presence of nutrients, and they cannot multiply in natural waters and sediments. PMID- 2604408 TI - Biological degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid: chloride mass balance in stirred tank reactors. AB - A mass balance was developed for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid by a mixed culture. Batch culture experiments showed the degradation to be an acid-producing step. Inorganic chloride concentration consistently correlated with the expected value and with base consumption to maintain a constant pH. PMID- 2604409 TI - Extraction from prawn shells of substances cryoprotective for Vibrio cholerae. AB - Substances cryoprotective for Vibrio cholerae were detected from prawn shells immersed in phosphate-buffered saline. This cryoprotective activity was heat resistant and sensitive to treatment with trypsin. For the exhibition of its full activity, the presence of Mg ion was indispensable. The cryoprotective activity of this substance was more active than that of other known cryoprotectants, like glycerol or serum. PMID- 2604410 TI - Anaerobic dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol in freshwater sediments in the presence of sulfate. AB - In the presence of added sulfate, 2,4-dichlorophenol and 4-chlorophenol were transformed stoichiometrically to 4-chlorophenol and phenol, respectively, in anaerobic freshwater lake sediments between 18 and 40 degrees C. The concomitantly occurring sulfate reduction reduced the initial sulfate concentration from 25 mM to about 6 to 8 mM and depressed methane formation. PMID- 2604411 TI - Vesicoureteric reflux: screening of first degree relatives. AB - Thirty three healthy infants and children with a family history of reflux nephropathy or vesicoureteric reflux in first degree relatives were screened for upper urinary tract abnormalities (renal scarring or pelvicaliceal dilatation) using ultrasound scanning or intravenous urography, or both. In addition, micturating cystourethrography was carried out in all infants and children under 2 years old (n = 20) and in children over 2 years old in whom abnormalities of the upper renal tract (renal scarring) had been found (n = 3). Upper renal tract abnormalities were found in four of the total of 33 children (12%) and vesicoureteric reflux in 12 of the 23 who underwent micturating cystourethrography (52%). Screening of infants and children was acceptable to parents. This approach has enabled the diagnosis of vesicoureteric reflux to be made in an appreciable number of children before the development of urinary tract infections and reflux nephropathy. Prospective follow up of this group will provide more information about the natural history of sterile vesicoureteric reflux. PMID- 2604412 TI - Congenital diaphragmatic defects that present late. AB - Twenty two patients (age range: 1 month to 11 years) were treated for congenital diaphragmatic defects (excluding hiatus hernia) in the six year period 1983-8. Presenting features were failure to thrive (n = 7), abdominal pain and vomiting (n = 4), chronic respiratory symptoms (n = 3), and inability to wean from ventilatory support (n = 3). The defect was an incidental finding in five patients. Operative repair was performed with no mortality or serious postoperative morbidity. Dramatic improvement occurred in 15 of the 17 symptomatic patients. Awareness of the differential diagnosis should avoid delay in diagnosis or inappropriate treatment. Surgical correction is strongly recommended in all cases. PMID- 2604413 TI - Need for new reference curves for height. AB - Data from the National Study for Health and Growth, on children aged from 4.0 to 12.0 years measured in 1972, 1985, and 1986 were used to assess whether new growth standards are required, and which subgroups of children might require separate standards. The change over this period, from just over half a centimetre in the youngest girls to over a centimetre in the oldest boys, warrants the use of revised reference curves, which are also needed for Afro-Caribbean children. PMID- 2604414 TI - Growth and body proportions in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. AB - Total height, sitting height, and subischial leg length were measured in 27 patients (19 girls and eight boys aged 4.3-21.1 years) with congenital adrenal hyperplasia to determine the influence of chronic hyperandrogenaemia on body proportions. Proportions were normal in 24 patients with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia who had received steroid treatment since birth, but one of three patients with non-classical (late onset) congenital adrenal hyperplasia had a disproportionately large trunk. Eleven patients with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia had completed growth, of whom seven had height standard deviation (SD) scores for chronological age less than zero, and one had extremely short stature (SD score -3.25). In 13 patients who were still growing, nine had height SD scores for chronological age of less than zero despite having mean (SD) advances in bone age over chronological age of 1.64 (1.68) years. Height SD scores for bone age were less than 0 in all 13 patients, indicating a loss of height despite advanced skeletal maturation. Doses of glucocorticoid that permit mild chronic or intermittent hyperandrogenaemia also seem to be associated with mild growth retardation. An adult height below average may be an inevitable consequence for many patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia receiving conventional glucocorticoid treatment. PMID- 2604415 TI - Identification of factors affecting infant growth in developing countries. AB - The anthropometric progress of seven infants was followed throughout their first year of life. Weight, length, mid upper arm circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses were measured on a mean (SD) of 30 (6) occasions with weight alone being measured on a further 6 (2) occasions. The effects of infection and energy intake were identified and illustrated using both standard deviation (SD) score graphs for individual subjects, and more traditionally, regression analysis for the group. Diarrhoea and vomiting, pneumonia, and diarrhoea alone each resulted in significant reductions in growth velocity of 30 g/day. Multimeasurement SD score graphs showed the effects of all illnesses, and permitted simultaneous comparison of anthropometric measurements. PMID- 2604416 TI - Growth in atopic eczema: a controlled study by questionnaire. AB - The parents of 128 children with atopic eczema and 117 healthy control children responded to a questionnaire that included measurement of their own and their children's heights at home after standardised instructions. When cases and controls were compared there was no significant difference in parental height but the children with eczema were significantly shorter than the healthy control group. This difference remained significant when children with associated asthma were excluded from the analysis. PMID- 2604417 TI - Bone mineral content and body size 65 to 100 weeks' postconception in preterm and full term infants. AB - A total of 36 preterm and 22 full term infants were weighed and measured at 65 to 100 weeks' postconception. It was found that the preterm infants were on average significantly lighter by 1008 g and shorter by 3.8 cm than those born at full term. Despite the smaller size of preterm infants, mean values of bone mineral content in the mid-forearm were not significantly different between the two groups. In contrast, near 40 weeks' postconception the mean bone mineral content observed in 35 of the preterm infants was significantly smaller than that observed in eight of the full term infants. Our results suggest that there is a phase of rapid mineral accretion between 40 and 60 weeks' postconception. This 'catch up' in mineral accretion reduces the perinatal mineralisation deficit that might otherwise persist into childhood. PMID- 2604418 TI - Norrie's disease: a prospective study of development. AB - Developmental progress, hearing, and dysmorphic features were monitored prospectively in eight babies with Norrie's disease (an X linked form of congenital blindness believed to be associated with mental retardation, regression, sensorineural deafness, and dysmorphic features) and in six congenitally blind peers during their preschool years. No evidence of sensorineural deafness or dysmorphology was found in the group with Norrie's disease. No significant difference in the rate of developmental progress occurred between the two groups. All 14 children showed continuing developmental progress and in 10 this was at a normal or superior rate. Two cases and two controls showed slowing in their rate of progress; in both groups a suboptimal developmental climate had prevailed and may have been contributory. The emphasis on serious and progressive associated disabilities in past reports has led to considerable distress for families of children with this disease. Our study suggests that these anxieties may often be illfounded. Parental depression constrains development, particularly when a baby is blind. More optimistic counselling with developmental guidance is recommended for children who are not overtly retarded in infancy until the long term developmental perspective of this disease is further clarified. PMID- 2604419 TI - Chronic cough in a hospital population; its relationship to atopy and defects in host defence. AB - The background and aetiology of chronic cough were investigated by comparing 60 children under 6 years with simple cough, 60 children with asthma, and 60 controls. Both cough and asthma were more common in boys and associated with a history of eczema, chest deformity, and skin reactivity to inhaled allergens, but these findings were more prevalent in asthma than cough. House dust mite sensitivity was found in 34 (57%) children with cough, 45 (75%) with asthma, and six (10%) controls. Tests of immunological function showed some high concentrations of IgM in groups with both cough and asthma, but high IgE concentrations, eosinophilia, and lymphocytosis were significant only in asthma. IgG1 and IgG2 concentrations were raised in some children with cough or asthma, but the only low subclass concentrations were of IgG3 observed in the group with cough. Children with simple cough represented a heterogeneous population but many showed evidence of atopy. Major defects of immunity were not observed. PMID- 2604420 TI - Postpubertal gluten challenge in coeliac disease. AB - Altogether 38 postpubertal children with coeliac disease were rebiopsied. Mucosal abnormality in nine (24%) of them indicated poor adherence to the diet. Gluten challenge with a diet containing a normal amount of gluten was performed in those 29 patients with a normal mucosa. During challenge, rebiopsy was done when reticulin antibodies turned positive (mean 0.6 years, range 0.2-2.0) or at the end of the two year study. Histologically a clear relapse into coeliac disease was seen in all 23 patients who were positive for reticulin antibodies. At this time gliadin antibodies were positive in all but two. Sixteen (70%) of those who relapsed were completely asymptomatic. Three girls and one boy did not relapse within two years, indicating the possible recovery from coeliac disease to be 11%. All four had undergone gluten challenge earlier in childhood, after initial diagnosis and mucosal recovery, and this had resulted in mucosal relapse. To establish definite postpubertal recovery from coeliac disease in cases with normal mucosa at two years from challenge, further follow up studies of reticulin antibodies and later rebiopsy are needed. The reticulin antibody test seems to be suitable for prediction of mucosal relapse in coeliac disease. PMID- 2604421 TI - Anorectal malformations with sacral bony abnormalities. AB - A range of anorectal malformations with sacral bony abnormalities was found in members from three generations of two kindreds. The anorectal anomaly was low in all but one of the patients. Partial sacral agenesis was the main bony defect in one family, and meningomyelocele and spina bifida occulta were noted in the second. The inheritance pattern in these kinships is autosomal dominant. This may be a variant of caudal regression syndrome, which seems to be aetiologically heterogeneous. PMID- 2604422 TI - Iron supplements for preterm or low birthweight infants. AB - A survey of 57 neonatal units in the United Kingdom showed considerable disparity in iron supplementation policies for preterm low birthweight infants. PMID- 2604423 TI - Intestinal obstruction caused by malrotation of the gut in atrial isomerism. AB - Five children with atrial isomerism developed intestinal obstruction caused by malrotation of the gut. Other than asplenia, the extracardiac anomalies in these syndromes are rarely regarded as important as the outcome after intestinal surgery is poor. As cardiac treatment improves, early investigation and intervention for intestinal symptoms becomes more important. PMID- 2604424 TI - Comforters and night waking. AB - Among 320 low birthweight infants seen at nine months post term those using a soft object, thumb, or fingers as comforter were significantly less likely to wake at night (9/96, 9%) than those with no comforter or using a dummy (66/224, 29%). Dummy users were as likely to wake (27/93, 29%) as those without a comforter (39/131, 30%). PMID- 2604425 TI - As sick as a pigeon--psittacosis myelitis. AB - An association between acute transverse myelitis and psittacosis in a teenage boy is described. Closer collaboration between doctors and vets might have made the diagnosis sooner. A full paediatric history should include details of contact with pets and other animals. PMID- 2604426 TI - Urge syndrome and urge incontinence. PMID- 2604427 TI - Cholesterol and diet. PMID- 2604428 TI - Educating medical students about death and dying. PMID- 2604429 TI - Rise in urea concentration after arginine hydrochloride infusion. PMID- 2604430 TI - [Usefulness of CAT in retroperitoneal fibrosis]. AB - We report on six patients with with retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) who were evaluated preoperatively by CT. Patient scans disclosed a retroperitoneal fibrous layer localized between L4-S2, S3 in four of the six cases (65%). Similarly, varying degrees of uni-or bilateral utero-hydronephrosis were observed in five patients, and venous involvement with collateral abdominal circulation was observed in two. The surgical findings coincided with those of the CT scans, and disclosed that in the two patients with no evidence of a fibrous layer on the scan, this was due to the its being localized to an area in one or both sides of the pelvic cavity. The diagnosis was histologically confirmed as idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis in all six cases. We consider CT to be the preoperative method of choice in the diagnosis of RPF because it not only provides information on the status of the urinary system, the involvement of other retroperitoneal structures and the extent of the fibrous layer, it also provides orientation as to the possible etiology of the retroperitoneal fibrosis. PMID- 2604431 TI - [Epidermoid carcinoma of the bladder. An uncommon tumor]. AB - A review of 921 bladder tumors revealed epidermoid carcinoma accounted for 29 (3.1% of total). The present study was undertaken to determine the most important features of transitional cell carcinoma; e.e. its being highly prevalent in women, the high incidence of infiltrating tumors at the time of diagnosis, and its apparently scant potential to spread. Similarly, we studied the scant response achieved by radiotherapy and emphasize that the best results are achieved by radical surgery combined with preoperative radiotherapy. PMID- 2604432 TI - [Infiltrating transitional carcinoma of the bladder. Is the P/T ratio a reliable index to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative radiotherapy on tumors of the bladder?]. AB - To determine the efficacy of preoperative radiotherapy, we used the following index: change in the clinical relative to the pathological state. We analyzed the series of our department, which was comprised of 175 patients who had undergone radical cystectomy. The P/T ratio was obtained in 138; it dropped in 26 (19%), remained unchanged in 57 (41.3%), and increased in 55 (40%). Analysis of the disease-free interval and survival by Kaplan and Meier's method showed a significantly higher difference for the patient groups with tumor Po + P less than T and P = T than for those with P greater than T, and there were no significant differences between the Po + P less than T and P = T patient groups. However, analysis of the TLE and survival curves for group P = T by comparing the three treatment regimens utilized showed no evidence that preoperative radiotherapy prolongs both parameters. The same finding was observed for the group whose P was greater than T. Evidently, prognosis is good for the group whose P dropped. However, we do not believe that it is ascribably to the beneficial effects of radiotherapy on the tumor. We believe that this is mainly due to the fact that, by definition, patients with more aggressive tumors are excluded. In our series, P3 and P4 tumors are classed under the groups whose P is "equal to" or "greater than". PMID- 2604433 TI - [Milk of calcium lithiasis. Crystallographic study]. AB - We performed a crystallographic study of two cases of milk of calcium lithiasis. Dust from the specimens were studied by x-ray diffraction and thin layer light microscopy. Analyses of the different morphological types and their layers revealed these to be comprised of wewellite and calcium phosphate, except one with pure wewellite in its core and cortex. PMID- 2604434 TI - [Primary hyperthyroidism. Our experience]. AB - The present study was performed in ten cases of hyperparathyroidism with a history of recurrent renal colic with or without passing calculi. Most of these patients had undergone stone surgery. Diagnosis was based on patient history, and metabolic and radiologic work up, and confirmed histologically following surgical exploration of the neck and removal of the pathologic parathyroid gland. PMID- 2604435 TI - [Extrarenal complications in kidney transplant. Our experience]. AB - Since renal transplantation was introduced in the treatment of chronic end-stage renal failure, we have observed that extrarenal complications have an important role in transplant morbidity and mortality in hospital where kidney transplantation is not an uncommon procedure. The present study reports on the statistical data relative to extrarenal complications in kidney transplantation observed at our hospital, highlighting infectious, GI, respiratory, and hematologic complications because of their incidence. PMID- 2604436 TI - [Ureteroiliac fistula as a complication of ureterorenoscopy]. AB - Although complications post-URS are scant and can usually be resolved by conservative methods, these however, may be potentially severe as in the present case in whom a ureteroiliac fistula was observed during a URS procedure that had been performed to dilate a post-URS stenosis. Previously, extravasation had also occurred. The post-URS complications are briefly described and discussed. PMID- 2604437 TI - [Histologic study of the gonads in ovarian differentiation during organogenesis]. AB - We report the results of a histologic study of the differentiating ovary carried out in human embryos and fetuses. Up to the sixth week, the anlage of the gonad is formed by the proliferation of cells originating from the coelomic mesothelium; this proliferation starts with the migration of the primordial germ cells. Between the sixth and the tenth weeks, the primary mesenchyma invades the epithelial mass and divides it into "cords"; by division, the germ cells contained within the mass become ovocytes. At the tenth week, the gonad takes shape and is separated from the mesonephros. At the twelfth week, the gonad is formed of two zones; an outer zone formed of epithelial clusters arranged in rosettes around the ovocytes; and an inner, mesenchymal, zone that becomes the medulla and separates the outer epithelial zone from the remnants of the mesonephros. At the sixteenth week, the gonad becomes the ovary that contains millions of primordial follicles; each follicle consists of an ovocyte surrounded by a ring of granulosa cells originating from the coelomic epithelium; the follicles are separated from each other by mesenchymal cells that form the cortical stroma. The remnants of the mesonephros are clearly separated from the ovary by the medulla.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604438 TI - [Intravascular malignant lymphoma (malignant angioendotheliomatosis). Apropos of a case with histologic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies]. AB - We report a new case of intravascular malignant lymphoma that arose in an 81-year old woman. The most prominent symptoms were impressive dermatologic anomalies including painful, diffuse edema over which arborescent telengiectasic lesions could be seen. This clinical picture was associated with the presence, in deep skin biopsy specimens, of mononucleate tumor cells located within the lumen of dermal vessels. Complementary immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies confirmed that the intravascular tumor growth was lymphomatous in nature. Clinical manifestations of this disease are recalled, and histopathologic features as well as the characteristic location of this malignant lymphoma are analyzed and discussed. Thus, we agree with Felix [3] and Witschi [6] that the cords of cells that will give rise to the follicular cells surrounding the ovocytes originate only from the coelomic epithelium; the primary mesenchyma forms the cortical stroma, and this embryonic type tissue, characterized by enourmous physiologic plasticity, differentiates into endocrine tissue to form the inner theca. the mesonephros plays no part whatsoever in the formation of the ovary. PMID- 2604439 TI - [Dermo-hypodermic lymphoid pseudotumors with follicular hyperplasia. Apropos of a case]. AB - We report the case of a female patient with ubiquitously distributed cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules measuring 2 to 6 cm along their long axis. These nodules first developed at the age of 63 years and subsequently appeared in crops separated by spontaneous remissions. Studies of removed nodules demonstrated diffuse lymphoid follicular hyperplasia suggesting a tumor and raising difficult nosologic problems, especially regarding relationships with the extranodal multicentric Castleman syndrome. In march 1987, biopsy of a large scapular nodule spreading into the striated muscle suggested possible transformation into a low grade malignant lymphoma of the lymphoplasmocytoid type. PMID- 2604440 TI - Distribution of basement membrane antigens in bladder carcinomas: an additional prognostic parameter. Immunohistochemical study. AB - A retrospective study of basement membrane (BM) components (laminin and type IV collagen) in urothelial tissues was performed by applying an immunoperoxidase method to 64 formalin-fixed specimens. The distribution of laminin and type IV collagen was investigated in normal and non-cancerous epithelium (11 cases), where the staining of the basement membrane was continuous. In the invasive bladder carcinomas (53 cases), two distinct staining patterns were observed both with type IV collagen and with laminin: preserved or thin and discontinuous (pattern I) and fragmented or absent (pattern II). These patterns were largely related to the type of growth of the bladder neoplasias ("pushing margin" or "finger-like") and to the cellular arrangement. Furthermore, five-year survival exceeded 70% in patients with pattern I, whereas only three of the 18 patients with pattern II survived for five years or more. PMID- 2604441 TI - [Cytologic diagnosis of breast angiosarcoma]. AB - Angiosarcomas of the breast are exceedingly rare tumors that are only infrequently seen by pathologists examining fine-needle biopsy specimens. We report two cases in two women aged 52 and 57 years. Cytologic features are analyzed and differential diagnosis is discussed. PMID- 2604442 TI - [Epithelioid sarcoma. Apropos of 2 cases. Immunohistochemical study and review of the literature]. AB - We report two cases of epithelioid sarcoma (ES), including one with a 32-year follow-up. Difficult diagnostic problems often arise in this infrequent form of soft tissue sarcoma that predominantly involves the extremities and usually affects young individuals. Immunohistochemistry cannot elucidate histogenesis but does provide helpful information for the differential diagnosis. PMID- 2604443 TI - [Primary adenocarcinoma of the bladder. Apropos of 10 cases. Retrospective study]. AB - We report ten clinicopathological cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder. Histologic features were often reminiscent of those seen in digestive tumors: Lieberkuhnian adenocarcinoma (4 cases), mucinous adenocarcinoma (3 cases) and signet ring cell adenocarcinoma with linitis plastica (1 case). Prognosis was poor in these tumors that were all invasive and had spread beyond the muscular layer: four patients died and six were critically ill when they were lost to follow-up. We emphasize the role played by glandular metaplasia of the vesical urothelium in the histogenesis of these tumors. PMID- 2604444 TI - Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. A cytomorphological histochemical and ultrastructural study of one case. AB - We describe the cytomorphological, histochemical and ultrastructural findings in bronchoalveolar lavage samples from a patient with alveolar proteinosis. The contribution of these techniques to the diagnosis of this rare disease is discussed. PMID- 2604445 TI - Entering a new era of quality care. PMID- 2604446 TI - EPO brings about change. PMID- 2604447 TI - Case management and chronic illness. PMID- 2604448 TI - Management of anemia using recombinant human erythropoietin in patients on chronic hemodialysis. AB - Most hemodialysis patients experience symptomatic anemia related to their chronic renal failure that can limit physical activities, interfere with rehabilitation, and negatively affect the quality of life. Preliminary studies of the newly developed recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) have revealed that this drug can correct the anemia of chronic renal failure and alleviate many of its related symptoms. This article reviews the pathophysiology of this anemia, discusses rHuEPO, describes the nursing care of patients receiving rHuEPO, and considers future implications and areas for nursing research. PMID- 2604449 TI - Comparison of Blisterfilm and gauze for peritoneal catheter exit site care. AB - Presently, gauze is the dressing of choice for exit site care. This article evaluates a different type of exit site dressing called Blisterfilm, a unique polyurethane adhesive film that has greater oxygen permeability, decreases the amount of pressure exerted on the catheter and exit site, and is easily removed. PMID- 2604450 TI - A diary of hurricane Hugo. AB - Charleston, South Carolina was the recent victim of Hurricane Hugo. This article recalls the events that occurred before, during, and after the hurricane struck. The focus is on four outpatient dialysis units in that area. It is a story from which others may learn more about emergency preparedness. PMID- 2604451 TI - Progressive systemic sclerosis: Part 2--Nursing management. AB - Multiple body systems can be affected by scleroderma. Satisfactory coping and life-style alterations will depend on numerous factors, including the nature and extent of organ involvement, individual coping style, and health professional services provided. Because of the low incidence of this disease, nurses may have little knowledge about the nursing management. Because of the nature of the disease's complications, the nephrology or dialysis nurse may care for more scleroderma patients than other hospital nurses. PMID- 2604452 TI - Erythropoietin used in renal failure complicated by paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. PMID- 2604453 TI - The effect of schistosome infection on the mortality rates of Bulinus globosus and Biomphalaria pfeifferi. AB - Schistosoma infections of Bulinus globosus increased the per capita mortality rate in the laboratory from 0.231 to 0.406 per week. Schistosoma mansoni infections of Biomphalaria pfeifferi increased the per capita mortality rate in the laboratory from 0.055 to 0.177 per week. Calculations based on data from previous work by another author indicate an increase in the mortality rate of B. pfeifferi associated with prepatent S. mansoni infection. PMID- 2604454 TI - Canine filariasis in Salamanca (northwest Spain). AB - A survey of dogs in four areas of Salamanca province (northwest Spain) was carried out to determine the prevalence of filariids in the canine population. Blood samples from 293 dogs were tested for the presence of microfilariae, using a modification of the Knott technique. For correct identification of filariid species, blood smears associated with the 43 positive Knott tests were histochemically stained for demonstration of the somatic distribution of acid phosphatase activity. The survey revealed the presence in the northwest of Spain of Dirofilaria immitis, D. repens and Dipetalonema reconditum, with an overall prevalence in Salamanca of 12.3%, 0.3% and 2.1% respectively. The greater prevalence of canine heartworm was found in the irrigated area, where 33.3% of the dogs harboured microfilariae. The relationship between the prevalence of D. immitis and mosquito populations, and the influence of host sex and age in this infection, are analysed. PMID- 2604455 TI - Surgical management of leprous neuritis: results of 114 operations. PMID- 2604456 TI - The host preferences of Chrysops silacea and C. dimidiata (Diptera: Tabanidae) in an endemic area of Loa loa in the Congo. AB - The analysis of 404 blood meals from Chrysops silacea and C. dimidiata which had been collected in the forests of the Chaillu mountains (People's Republic of the Congo) has demonstrated for the first time that both species also feed on non human hosts. For both species the feeding patterns are fairly similar. However, man remains the main host in 89-90% of the cases. C. silacea and C. dimidiata took 6 and 4% respectively of their blood meals from hippopotamuses, 2 and 0% from rodents, 2 and 4% from wild ruminants, and 0.8 and 0.7% from monitor lizards. Whenever a differentiation has been made between the different members of the primates, only meals from humans but not from chimpanzees or baboons have been detected. The results may provide an explanation for the distinct barrier between the simian and human loiasis infections. They also give evidence for the ability of both vectors to travel over prolonged distances. PMID- 2604457 TI - Incidence of Toxoplasma infection in a population of European starlings Sturnus vulgaris from central England. AB - A sample of European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, culled from a communal roost in a city in Central England, was examined for infection with Toxoplasma. Eleven (8%) of 133 birds were confirmed as infected after horizontal passage of brain homogenate through mice. Serological examination, using the indirect and direct agglutination tests, proved unsatisfactory for screening starlings for Toxoplasma infection. If the proportion of starlings infected with Toxoplasma in this sample is representative of the population as a whole, then this bird could play an important role in the maintenance of the infection in urban environments. PMID- 2604458 TI - Hepatitis A in Mauritius: an apparent transition from endemic to epidemic transmission patterns. AB - Between January 1984 and December 1985 a large outbreak of viral hepatitis occurred in the island nation of Mauritius (population 986,000). No hepatitis epidemics had occurred there since the 1930s. The outbreak involved 2428 reported cases; however, reporting levels were thought to be extremely low. All of the island's nine geographical districts were affected, but cases were concentrated in five districts mostly in the central and northern parts of the island. The highest attack rate occurred in children aged five to nine; persons above age 14 were almost unaffected. The male:female ratio of cases was 1.1:1. Evidence to support hepatitis A virus (HAV) as the infecting agent included; (1) clinical illness was compatible with hepatitis A; (2) the age profile of cases was typical for community-wide hepatitis A outbreaks; (3) the rate of positive tests for hepatitis B surface antigen in suspected hepatitis patients did not increase during the outbreak; and (4) nine of nine clinically ill children tested were serum-positive for IgM anti-hepatitis A virus antibody. Transmission was probably by the person-to-person route; no common source was implicated. The outbreak appears to represent a transition from a 40-year pattern of endemic HAV transmission on the island to an epidemic pattern. PMID- 2604459 TI - Susceptibility of adult phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) to Bacillus thuringiensis var. israeliensis. PMID- 2604460 TI - Chagas' heart disease and myocardial infarct. Incidence and report of four necropsy cases. AB - The authors describe the clinical-pathologic findings in four patients with myocardial infarct (MI) associated with Chagas' disease, found among 181 autopsies of chronic congestive cardiac chagasic patients. Organized thrombo embolus was found in the epicardial portion of a coronary artery in one instance and thrombosis in the apex of the left ventricle as well as systemic infarcts were found in all cases. These data suggest thrombo-embolism, probably from the apex of the left ventricle, as a possible cause for the regional (large; transmural) MI in chronic Chagas' heart disease. The mechanism usually operative in MI, i.e. complicated atherosclerosis, was not present in the patients of this series. Moreover, our data do not support either small artery disease or heart denervation as etiologic factors for regional MI. PMID- 2604461 TI - Studies on the topical treatment of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis: the therapeutic effect of methyl benzethonium chloride and the aminoglycosides, gentamicin and paromomycin. AB - BALB/c mice infected with either Leishmania major or Leishmania mexicana were treated twice a day for 10 days with an ointment containing 15% gentamicin or paromomycin, with or without 12% methylbenzethonium chloride (MBCl). It was found that topical application of either paromomycin or MBCl cured the parasite lesion, and that combined treatment with the two compounds had an additive effect. However, after four days' therapy there was a severe inflammatory response at the treatment site, and in most experiments mice relapsed and renewed lesion growth was observed. It is suggested that a non-specific inflammatory reaction may be an important component of the therapeutic response. In further experiments, L. major infected mice treated with paromomycin and MBCl which had cured but not relapsed 58 days after treatment were challenged with a similar dose of the homologous parasite. Lesions developed 16 days post-infection, and the number of parasites recovered from these lesions was similar to that recovered from lesions in control mice. Therefore no protective immunity had been induced by chemotherapy. PMID- 2604462 TI - A serological test for the diagnosis of Strongyloides antibodies in ex Far East Prisoners of War. AB - This paper gives the results of an ELISA test for Strongyloides stercoralis antibodies in a group of 436 ex Far East Prisoners of War (FEPOWs). Antigen was obtained from third-stage larvae of Strongyloides cebus. Sensitivity of the test is 97%, with a specificity of 99%. The test is being investigated further as regards cross-reactions with other helminths, but initial results look promising. PMID- 2604463 TI - Eosinophilia as a marker for chronic strongyloidiasis--use of a serum ELISA test to detect asymptomatic cases. AB - In a previously published survey of 602 former Far East prisoners of the 2nd World War (FEPOWs), 88 (15%) were found to have Strongyloides stercoralis infections. A further 25 (4.2%) had significant blood eosinophilia for no obvious parasitological or other medical cause. We have reinvestigated this latter group several years (range nine to 19 years) later, using a recently developed serum ELISA test as well as other standard parasitological procedures. Of the 11 who were still alive and traceable five (45%) were diagnosed as having strongyloidiasis. Eosinophilia in high risk groups such as former FEPOWs is very suggestive of Strongyloides infections. The serum ELISA test appears to be a useful, sensitive and specific screening test for this diagnostically difficult infection. PMID- 2604464 TI - Can implanted cyst pieces of Echinococcus granulosus regenerate? AB - Small piece of ovine hydatid cysts devoid of brood capsules and protoscoleces, and half or quarter pieces of secondary sterile murine cysts of equine origin failed, over a six-month period, to regenerate when passaged into the peritoneal cavity of BALB/c mice. The majority of similar pieces placed in microdiffusion chambers prior to insertion into mice also failed to regenerate, suggesting that the passage of cyst pieces may not be totally reliable in the assessment of the viability of germinal layer tissue after chemotherapy. PMID- 2604465 TI - Resistance of mice to infection with the human strain of Hymenolepis nana. AB - Six attempts were made to infect mice by feeding them eggs of the human strain of Hymenolepis nana, but none was successful. No eggs were found in the mouse faeces 14 days after feeding, and no adult worms were recovered at post mortem examination. In attempts to induce cysticercoids to infect mice, beetles were either fed on infected human faeces or given Hymenolepis eggs on filter paper. Both methods were unsuccessful, as no cysticercoids were recovered six days after exposure of the beetles. PMID- 2604466 TI - Response of adult Necator americanus to some known anthelminthics in hamsters. AB - Adult Necator americanus infection in laboratory hamsters (the hamster-hookworm model) was examined as an anthelminthic screening system. Three reference anthelminthics--pyrantel (PYTL), mebendazole (MBZ) and ivermectin (IVRN)--were used to assess the sensitivity of adult N. americanus and also to investigate the value of the hamster-hookworm model for predicting clinical results. Serial drug dosages were used, and the ED50 was determined from the resulting cure rates. In addition, percentage worm reductions were calculated by reference to the worm burdens in control groups. The results showed that the hamster-hookworm model was able to differentiate anthelminthics on their efficacy. Absolute activity (100% worm reduction) followed treatment with 8 mg kg-1 MBZ, 38-40 mg kg-1 PYTL and 18 mg kg-1 IVRN. Based on ED50 data of PYTL and MBZ, adult N. americanus appeared to be two to five times more sensitive than pre-adult stages. However, with IVRN the reverse appeared true. MBZ appeared to be most active and PYTL least active in terms of curing infected animals, but there were no obvious differences between the rates of worm reductions following single or multiple doses of anthelminthics. It is considered that the hamster-hookworm model will prove of value in identifying and characterizing possible new anthelminthics. PMID- 2604467 TI - Effect of histamine and its antagonists on the course of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in rats. AB - The involvement of histamine in the rejection of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (nematode) from rats harbouring 18 to 20-day-old infections was investigated. Parenteral administration of histamine delayed worm rejection. A similar effect was observed with histamine depletor, compound 48/80, and the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor indomethacin. Antihistaminics, mepyramine and pyribenzamine failed to alter the course of infection, and neither did the histamine synthesis inhibitor, semicarbazide. Pretreatment of rats with the H1 histamine receptor antagonist, mepyramine, effectively antagonized histamine-induced worm retention, whereas the H2 histamine receptor antagonist cimetidine had a negligible effect. The results suggest that histamine or histamine depletors do not have any apparent role in self-cure mechanism; rather they support parasitism. PMID- 2604468 TI - Diagnosis of human hydatid disease in surgically-confirmed cases by the use of the indirect haemagglutination test based on a thermo-stable lipoprotein and on unfractionated hydatid cyst fluid. AB - A total of 204 sera, taken from healthy individuals or from individuals with various parasitic and bacterial infections, were examined by the indirect haemagglutination test. The tests were carried out using either a thermo-stable lipoprotein or unfractionated hydatid cyst fluid, and a titre of 1:64 or above was considered positive. Sixty-two of 70 sera from individuals with surgically confirmed hydatid disease showed positive reactions with the thermo-stable lipoprotein--a sensitivity of 88%. No false positive reactions were obtained with sera from healthy individuals or from individuals with parasitic or bacterial infections, and no cross-reactions were observed with sera from individuals with multiple myeloma. The lipoprotein antigen thus showed a specificity of 100%. A sensitivity of 88% was obtained with the indirect haemagglutination test using whole hydatid cyst fluid; but positive reactions were obtained from healthy individuals and from individuals with schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, taeniasis and malaria. No cross-reactions were obtained with sera from patients with gonorrhoea, syphilis or multiple myeloma. Because of the high sensitivity and specificity shown by the thermo-stable lipoprotein ('Antigen 880'), it is considered that this antigen is more useful than unfractionated hydatid cyst fluid in the diagnosis of human hydatidosis in Kenya. PMID- 2604469 TI - Mortality in a rural area of Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. AB - As part of a multi-disciplinary research programme undertaken by the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research near the town of Madang, northern PNG, a three-year study of mortality was conducted in a rural population of approximately 16,500 people. From early 1982 the area was under continuous demographic surveillance which continued for the three years of the study. All deaths which occurred in this period were investigated by interviewing relatives of the deceased and examining any available health service records. Respiratory diseases were the commonest cause of death, with pneumonia accounting for 20% of deaths in children under 10 years of age, and pneumonia and chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) together accounting for a third of all deaths. Deaths from COLD were more common in the study population than in PNG hospitals and health centres. The proportion of deaths caused by malaria in children under 10 years was estimated to be between 4 and 17%. Mortality rate in the first year of life were determined by following up a cohort of 1015 births occurring in the first 20 months of the study. Of the 1002 live births, 46 died in the first 12 months of life, giving an infant mortality rate of 45.9% live births. Other mortality and demographic rates were consistent with data reported from the 1980 PNG National Census, suggesting that the study population belonged to an advantaged rural area. Demographic features found in this population were a high birth rate, a relatively low crude death rate, and a rate of natural population increase of 2.8% per annum. The methodological difficulties associated with the measurement of malaria mortality have important implications for the evaluation of future malaria vaccines. The methods employed in this study are critically discussed, and recommendations made for future studies. PMID- 2604470 TI - Measuring morbidity from malaria. PMID- 2604471 TI - Rickettsiae of the spotted fever group in dog fleas (Ctenocephalides spp.) in Western Sicily. PMID- 2604472 TI - Pentamidine isethionate--induced inhibition of neutrophil respiratory burst. PMID- 2604473 TI - The effect of liposome-entrapped desferrioxamine on Leishmania donovani in vitro. AB - Desferrioxamine was tested in vitro for activity against promastigotes of Leishmania donovani. In addition, the effects of liposome-encapsulated desferrioxamine and free desferrioxamine on macrophages infected with amastigotes of L. donovani were compared. The drug was added to the culture medium for three days, and the results were compared with several controls; the drug solvent, empty liposomes, and desferrioxamine which had been re-ferrated with an equimolar concentration of ferric ammonium sulphate. Desferrioxamine was found to be inactive against growing promastigotes at the highest concentration used, 50 micrograms ml-1. On the other hand, 44% and 60% of amastigotes were eliminated when macrophages infected with L. donovani were exposed to 50 micrograms ml-1 of free or liposome-encapsulated desferrioxamine respectively. PMID- 2604474 TI - Factors affecting the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus among non pregnant women in the Alexishafen area of Papua New Guinea. AB - The prevalence of hepatitis B viral markers was studied in 673 women of childbearing age in 17 villages (12 indigenous and five plantation villages) on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. Some 7.9% of women were HBsAg positive and 41.3% were positive for anti-HBs. There was significant variation in prevalence between villages, ranging from 0 to 13.9% for HBsAg and 26.0 to 71.0% for all markers. The 12 indigenous villages were classified into three groups according to language (Austronesian or non-Austronesian), location (inland or coastal), and marriage patterns. The prevalence of hepatitis B was significantly higher in Austronesian than in non-Austronesian villages (P less than 0.01), and it remained significant after controlling for age differences and for possible effects on prevalence caused by women marrying into the three village groups from other areas. Interactions between malaria and hepatitis B were also investigated. Non-Austronesian villages with the highest spleen rates had the lowest prevalence of hepatitis B infection, and there was no correlation with parasitaemia. These results may reflect a lower exposure of women to hepatitis B infection in non Austronesian villages, or may indicate different genetic or immunological responses to infection between Austronesians and non-Austronesians. PMID- 2604475 TI - Soil particles in the tissues of the foot in endemic elephantiasis of the lower legs. AB - The presence of microparticles of clay is demonstrated in the dermis of the foot in a patient with endemic elephantiasis. The particles are seen to be in the phagosomes of macrophages or in the cytoplasm of other cells. The conducting lymphatic in the subdermal tissue is found to be impermeable to Patent Blue Violet dye and to be fibrosed. The failure to conduct lymph to the node produces a permanent deposit of silica in the dermal tissues; a parallel is drawn with similar deposits in the lung in pneumoconiosis. PMID- 2604476 TI - Epidemiology of echinococcosis/hydatidosis in Anambra State, Nigeria. AB - The prevalence of hydatidosis in cattle, goats and pigs slaughtered in Anambra State, eastern Nigeria during 1973 to 1979, as determined from official meat inspection records, was 7/373,242 (0.002%), 249/476,249 (0.05%) and 1/31,005 (0.003%), respectively. Special point surveys conducted from September 1979 to February 1980 and from March 1985 to September 1987 in two of the slaughterhouses that officially recorded zero infection rates also found no infection in the 551 cattle, 3830 goats and 2126 pigs examined. Similarly, none of the 80 dogs obtained from some of the rural communities in the localities served by these slaughterhouses harboured tapeworms (Echinococcus) at necropsy. Information obtained from rural health centres and some rural and urban-located hospitals, including records of hospital admissions, revealed insufficient awareness of the nature and importance of the disease in man and no evidence even of suspected cases. The apparent absence of infection in humans was confirmed by records at the main specialist hospital in the area, which showed that only one case of human hydatid disease had ever been diagnosed by that hospital. The most important factors that might have been responsible for the virtual absence of canine and human infections include the extremely low infection rates in food animals, limited access by dogs to offal, limited contact between dogs and potential domestic intermediate hosts of hydatid, and absence of a wild-life cycle. PMID- 2604477 TI - Experimental studies of Korea Taenia (Cheju strain) infection in domestic animals. AB - In the present study, one DYL pig (five-day old), four L-SEM pigs (37-day old), three SEM pigs (44-day old), one Holstein calf (eight-day old) and two Sannean goats (five-day old) were each fed 1000, 30,000, or 380,000 eggs of the Korea Taenia (Cheju strain) and were sacrificed 16-105 days after inoculation. All DYL, L-SEM, and SEM pigs and the Holstein calf were susceptible to Korea Taenia, and one of the two Sannean goats became infected. The cysticerci recovery rates for L SEM, SEM and DYL pigs, Holstein calf, and Sannean goat were 5.6, 1.7, 0.06, 0.03 and 0.02% respectively. Cysticerci were recovered only from the livers of the infected animals, and more cysticerci were found in the parenchyma (51%) than on the surface of the liver (49%). Immature cysticerci were first observed on day 16 after infection, mature ones on day 29, and degenerated or calcified cysticerci on day 30. Inoculation of a huge number (380,000) of Korea Taenia eggs lead to early degeneration or calcification of the cysticerci. The length, the width, and the diameters of protoscolex, rostellum, and sucker of the cysticerci were largely proportional to the period of inoculation. The measurements and patterns of the hooklets indicate that Korea Taenia is very similar to Taiwan Taenia but is different from T. saginata and T. solium. The results of the present study provide evidence that Korea Taenia and Taiwan Taenia may be of the same species. PMID- 2604478 TI - Onchocerciasis endemic in the State of Bolivar, Venezuela. AB - Microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus were demonstrated by single shoulder-skin biopsy in 42.8% of inhabitants of seven Amerindian villages in an area of approximately 10,000 km2, near the Brasilian Roraima Territory. The highest prevalence was found among the Yanomama Indians of Chajurana (84.6%, with a mean of 61.3 microfilariae per mg of skin). The six other communities were affected, but with lower prevalence and microfilaria skin densities. The absence of lymphoedema and the few subcutaneous nodules and eye lesions found among the infected individuals suggest a relatively recent introduction of the disease to the region. Mansonella ozzardi infections were also detected in the area. PMID- 2604479 TI - The aetiology of chronic renal failure in adult Sudanese patients. AB - One hundred adult Sudanese patients who presented to Soba University Hospital (SUH) with established chronic renal failure (CRF) were studied to determine the aetiology. Thirty-eight had chronic glomerulonephritis, 12 renal calculi, nine diabetic renal disease, seven chronic pyelonephritis, five sequelae of acute renal failure (ARF), four renal vascular disease, three polycystic disease of the kidneys, and two obstructive uropathy. In 20 patients the aetiology was not determined because of late presentation to hospital. The results were compared with those of the developed countries, which differ greatly from Sudan in climate, diet, race, culture and social habits. The main differences were in the prevalence of renal calculi which, although being the second commonest cause of CRF in the Sudan, were rare in European countries. Also, diabetes mellitus was a much commoner cause of CRF in Sudan than Europe. Other aetiological factors were similar. PMID- 2604480 TI - The effect of moonlight and other factors on the oviposition cycle of malaria vectors in Madang, Papua New Guinea. AB - A series of capture-recapture experiments were undertaken in a coastal village of Papua New Guinea throughout a complete lunar cycle at the end of the dry season in 1987. The duration of the oviposition cycle of mosquitoes released blood-fed in their village of capture was 2.04 days at the full moon and increased to 2.4 days during moonless periods. Mosquitoes displaced 4 km from their village of origin demonstrated an oviposition cycle of longer duration than that of mosquitoes displaced 0-1.5 km. Approximately 25% of Anopheles farauti dispersed between adjacent villages. Significantly fewer An. koliensis dispersed. Unfed mosquitoes suffered a high pre-release mortality but had a similar oviposition cycle to those which were released blood-fed, suggesting that they did not experience any difficulty in obtaining a blood meal. PMID- 2604481 TI - Diel pattern of oviposition in the laboratory of the mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae). AB - The diel pattern of oviposition of Aedes albopictus derived from Singapore was studied in the laboratory by recording the performance of individual females at two-hour intervals. Oviposition was almost exclusively diurnal, about 98% of eggs being laid during the full photophase, and the rest during the 30-minute evening 'twilight' and the first 30 minutes of the scotophase. A large, well defined peak of oviposition (comprising about 56% of eggs laid) occurred during the two hours before sunset. Nulliparous females allowed to engorge on human blood matured on average about 95 follicles (range 51-138). PMID- 2604482 TI - A single trypanosome is sufficient to infect a tsetse fly. PMID- 2604483 TI - A simplification of the technique for cloning Leishmania. PMID- 2604484 TI - [The impact of medical publications]. PMID- 2604485 TI - [Prevention of coronary atherosclerosis. (V). Prevalence of non-stenotic atheromatous rigidity in men accidentally killed in Mexico City]. AB - The presence of rigid coronary arterial segments was detected during a survey for coronary atherosclerosis in men who died of violent causes. These lesions which traditionally are considered of non-clinical significance, in the absence of stenosis are probably responsible of the clinical and electrocardiographical abnormalities as seen in patients with "normal" coronary arteries using coronary angiography, the best current procedure for the detection of isolated coronary atherosclerosis. We propose these lesions are to be considered as functional lesions and consequently that these lesions should be considered by both, the pathologist and the clinician. Our hypothesis is to be tested in the near future when new diagnostic advances with the possibility of detection of coronary pathology in vivo, appear. The prevalence of these abnormalities in different age groups as well as the topography are presented. The concordance of these lesions with coronary stenosis is also presented. PMID- 2604486 TI - [Electrofulguration of a pre-excitation zone by the bundle of Kent]. AB - The purpose of this presentation is to report the first endocardial catheter ablation in Mexico of a right posteroseptal accessory pathway. The patient, without structural heart disease, had a Wolff Parkinson White syndrome with recurrent episodes of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation with a fast ventricular response, through the accessory pathway (Shorter RR interval less than or equal to 190 msec). Previous antiarrhythmic drug therapy had failed to control the tachyarrhythmias. An electrophysiologic study was performed and the right posterior septal accessory pathway was localized by direct mapping of the auriculoventricular junction. Two sessions of electrofulguration with energy shocks ranging from 200 to 250 joules were delivered. There were no complications during the two procedures. Three months afterwards the patient is asymptomatic without tachyarrhythmic episodes, and no drug therapy is necessary. The fulguration prolonged the anterograde accessory pathway conduction. Therefore, the risk of sudden cardiac death due ventricular fibrillation has been reduced. PMID- 2604487 TI - [Changes in ventricular depolarization and repolarization in 116 cases of surgically treated interauricular communication]. AB - The postoperative changes of ventricular depolarization and repolarization were studied in 116 cases of atrial septal defect 3 to 8 years after surgical treatment. High fidelity multiple unipolar registries as well as the vectorcardiographic curves in three planes were obtained. Before surgery there were 101 RBBB (87.07% of this series). Of 22 minor degree RBBB, 17 (77.27%) showed no changes, 2 (9.09%) became distal blocks and 3 (13.64%) became intermediate degree RBBB. Of 77 preoperative intermediate degree RBBB, 20 (25.97%) diminished to a minor degree, 1 (1.3%) became a distal block and 2 (2.6%) augmented to an advanced degree. Fifteen distal right blocks (12.93% of the total of cases) persisted postoperatively. Signs of right ventricular enlargement disappeared in all the cases. The right Q-Tc, previously prolonged in 38 cases (32.76% of this series), was normal after surgery. Peaked or negative interpolated T waves disappeared in right precordial and transitional leads. The electrocardiographic features of ventricular repolarization seem to reflect hemodynamic improvement better than those of depolarization. The electrocardiogram permits classification of the disturbances of right ventricular conduction, while the vectorcardiogram shows variations in dimensions of the right ventricle. PMID- 2604488 TI - [Thrombosis of the left auricle. Diagnostic usefulness of two-dimensional echocardiography]. AB - The purpose of this study is to determine the sensitivity and specificity of two dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of thrombosis of the left atrial appendage. Sixty patients with mitral rheumatic heart disease were examined prospectively 24 to 72 hours prior to cardiac surgery. Two images were used to identify thrombosis in the appendage: parasternal short axis at the level of the aortic valve with a lateral and superior inclination of the transducer and a modified apical five chamber view with counter clockwise rotation of the transducer between the apical long axis and the five chamber view. Diagnosis was corroborated during surgery and by histopathological analysis. In all cases the presence and predominance of mitral lesion (stenosis or regurgitation) were established by clinical history, electrocardiogram, chest roentgenogram and two dimensional echocardiogram. In 58 patients the lesions were also confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Of the 60 patients (46 females and 14 males between 16 and 61 years of age), eleven cases (18.3%) of left atrial thrombosis were detected, of which seven had formed in the left atrial appendage. All were confirmed during surgical intervention and pathological analysis. One thrombus in the left atrial appendage not diagnosed by echocardiography was found during surgery (Sensitivity:90.9%). In this case pathology studies demonstrated recently formed thrombi. In all cases in which two dimensional echocardiography did not show signs suggesting thrombosis, surgery confirmed that atrial thrombosis did not exist (Specificity: 100%). This study demonstrates the utility of two dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of thrombosis of the left atrial appendage, thus making it possible to schedule corrective surgery and the use of anticoagulants. PMID- 2604489 TI - [Coronary angioplasty. Results observed in 14 cases]. AB - Between December, 1985, and May, 1988 we have performed coronary angioplasty of 14 lesions in 12 patients. Before angioplasty 8 patients had a history of unstable angina, and 3 developed angina after streptokinase because of an acute myocardial infarction. We attempted angioplasty of 11 proximal and 3 distal lesions; these included a coronary bypass graft lesion, and 3 lesions in one vessel. We successfully dilated 12 lesions (85%). The coronary stenosis was reduced on average from 84.2 +/- 9 to 17.5 +/- 7 per cent (P less than 0.0001); and the pressure gradient was reduced from 74 +/- 16.25 to 18.3 +/- 9 mmHg (P less than 0.001). Procedure-related complications included: coronary occlusion in 4 patients (28.5%) that were successfully resolved during angioplasty in 3 patients, but one developed myocardial infarction (8.3%); and one urgent surgery and death in a patient with 3 vessel disease. Twelve patients (83%) with no evidence of myocardial ischemia returned to their normal activities. These initial data confirm coronary angioplasty as a safe, efficatious and successful alternative in the management of selected patients with coronary artery disease. PMID- 2604490 TI - [Fever and infection after heart surgery. A prospective study of 75 cases]. AB - We prospectively studied 75 patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery, they were otherwise health and were not using inflammation modifying drugs. Their febrile response and inflammatory conditions after surgery were monitored. Most of them had fever, 52/75 (64%). Postoperative infection was rare (13%) and when present, it was due to pathogens easily treated. Contamination-/infection of genitourinary tract occurred in 10/24 cases (16%), only one case was symptomatic. There was no difference in febrile response between infected and not-infected patients, neither the "routine" laboratory evaluation allowed differentiation, therefore the diagnosis of postoperative infection remains clinical. There is difference in febrile response between patients who had or had not extracorporeal circulation during the surgical procedure. In the later, fever developed 2 days later and it had longer duration. PMID- 2604491 TI - [A study of left ventricle filling using pulsed Doppler in patients with a high prevalence of atherosclerosis]. AB - We studied the left ventricular diastolic function with Doppler Echocardiography in 61 patients: the first group (A) was conformed by 20 patients with cerebral stroke in evolution (24 to 48 hours) with age between (45 to 63 year old) every one had carotid obstructive lesion shown by angiography. The (B) group had 21 patients with ischemic heart disease and all of them had selective coronary arteriography with atheromatous obstructive lesions (45 to 63 years old); 17 of this patients had previous myocardial infarction. The third group (C) was formed by 20 healthy people between 40 and 62 years of age. We found an increase in the late diastolic peak velocity, in the (A/E) ratio in the early diastolic time; in the early diastolic acceleration and in early diastolic desceleration. The difference between groups (A) and (B) with the (C) was evident (P less than 0.001). We conclude that patients of (A) and (B) groups had reduced left ventricular compliance and the (B) group with evidence of ischemic heart disease show more prominent abnormality. PMID- 2604492 TI - [Behavior of the ST segment, during isometric exercise, in chagasic patients with apical aneurysm of the left ventricle]. AB - In order to study the ST-segment changes during isometric exercise (IE) we have reviewed the hemodynamic and cineangiographic protocols of 13 with Chaga's disease patients. On the basis of the electrocardiogram (EKG) and the left ventricular cineangiogram, the chagasic patients were divided in two groups. Chagas' group I: 6 patients with left ventricular apical aneurysm, Chagas' II: 7 patients with multiple left ventricular dyskinetic segment and occasional premature ventricular contractions. Fourteen subjects with normal left ventricular cineangiograms and normal EKG's were used as controls. The IE was performed by all chagasic and control subjects 31.9 +/- 18 (M +/- SD) months after the cardiac catheterization. The IE was performed at 25% of maximum voluntary capacity for 5 minutes. The precordial leads (V1-V6) were simultaneously recorded, in the standing position, immediately before and after the IE. The ST-segment changes were assessed by measuring the distance of the 'J point, of the ST-segment, to the baseline in three consecutive sinus beats. Immediately before the IE, 5 patients of Chagas' group I (86%) has ST-segment elevation (leadas V1-V2). In the control group, only 2 subjects (14%) had ST segment elevation, (P less than 0.007). After IE, the control subjects "normalized" their ST-segment elevation, whereas it persisted elevated in the 5 Chagas' group I patients (P less than 0.003). These results suggest that in chagasic patients, the ST-segment changes observed during isometric exercise could be related to the presence of left ventricular apical aneurysm. PMID- 2604493 TI - [Infectious endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus. Study at the Ignacio Chavez National Institute of Cardiology 1977-1987]. AB - This is a descriptive survey of infectious endocarditis (EI) due to Staphylococci, collected at the Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia "Ignacio Chavez", in a ten years period. All had anatomical and bacteriological diagnosis. There were 21 cases, this disease in not rare, and both coagulase-positive or negative Staphylococci were represented in similar proportion as etiologic agents. Coagulase positive organisms produce a clinical picture of septicemia and systemic boxicity, therefore early diagnosis and prompt therapy is forthcoming. Instead coagulase negative EI cause an insidious illness with late diagnosis, focal intramyocardial abscesses and low responsiveness to therapy explain the poor prognosis. It is impossible to differentiate with our present resources between Staphylococcal bacteremia and EI. We recommend, combined antimicrobial therapy and if necessary early surgical treatment. PMID- 2604494 TI - Excystation and culture of Giardia spp. from human source. AB - In this paper, we report the hatching of Giardia spp. trophozoites from purified cysts harvested in Sheather's solution from human feces. Isolated cysts were induced by acidic Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes, concentrated by centrifugation and washed with pH 7.5 HBSS. The cysts were placed in 8 ml. culture medium (Pancreatic digest of casein and yeast extracts) supplemented with human serum and bile in borosilicate glass tubes with screw caps. Trophozoite excystation was scanned in a Commandon chamber filled with the suspension, sealed with a cover glass and vaseline. The trophozoite emergence was recorded with phase contrast in a photomicroscope. The excystation began within the first 3 minutes, after inoculation into medium. The trophozoites emerged trough a small hole at one end of the cyst and simultaneously began cellular division, the whole process required 5-30 minutes. The trophozoites attached themselves to the walls of the culture tube, permitting the replacement and removal of contaminants without dislodging them from the tube walls. The isolates MM-INP and MG-INP have been maintained at 37 degrees C for more than six months. PMID- 2604495 TI - Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of nifedipine administered by different routes in healthy volunteers. AB - Absolute bioavailability (F) of 10 mg nifedipine capsules was studied in six adult healthy male volunteers. The drug was given swallowed and sublingual and the results compared with data obtained when the drug was administered intravenously (0.015 mg/k). The pharmacokinetic profile of nifedipine was performed from venous blood samples obtained over a period of 8 hours, with a specific gas chromatographic assay. Besides bioavailability (F), also were calculated the peak plasma concentration (Cmax), the time to reach Cmax, (tmax), the clearance of the drug (CL), the apparent volume of distribution (V1), the elimination half-life (t1/2 beta), and the area under the curve (AUC). The F value was 44.5 + 7.5% and 48.7 + 8.3% for the swallowed and sublingual routes respectively; however, during the sublingual administration the mean Cmax was larger (92.9 +/- ng/ml), and mean tmax greater (1 h), than the data obtained following the swallowed administration (134.1 +/- 17.7 ng/ml and 0.5 h respectively; p less than 0.05). When nifedipine was administered intravenously the mean t1/2 beta was 2.063 +/- 0.24 h, the mean CL was 0.234 + 0.017 l/h.kg, and the mean V1 was 0.278 + 0.027 l/kg; these data did nat show the great individual variability reported by other authors. Due to the mean AUC, less than 450 ng.h/ml, the group of volunteers of this trial could be classified as rapid metabolizers. Finally, there was a significant linear correlation between nifedipine plasma concentrations and the changes observed in the heart rate blood pressure (r = 0.85; p less than 0.05). PMID- 2604496 TI - Enterobacterial common antigen in the urine from children with cancer. AB - An inhibition of immunohemolysis assay was used to detect the enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) in urine samples from 40 children with cancer. Seven patients were excluded because bacterial contamination of urine. Thirty of the remaining 33 sterile samples gave an ECA-positive reaction. Specimens from 30 healthy control were negative. These findings may reflect a vascular dissemination and glomerular filtration of gram-negative lipopolysaccharide residues as a consequence of the malignancy. Detection of ECA in urine may be an useful tool for investigating the evolution of neoplastic diseases in the absence of urinary tract infections. PMID- 2604497 TI - [Preparation of human semen for in vitro fertilization procedures and intra fallopian gamete transfer]. AB - Techniques of "In Vitro" fertilization (IFV) and gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) are proving to be successful in the treatment of infertility. We report here in detail the laboratory procedures of sperm processing for these two techniques also in the present work we pointing out the media quality control methods and the incubation time for the maintenance of spermatozoa fertilizing ability. PMID- 2604498 TI - [Effect of different doses of Plantago psyllium mucilage on the glucose tolerance test]. AB - To assess the effect of different doses of Plantago psyllium mucilage on glucose tolerance test, four oral glucose tolerance tests were performed to eight healthy volunteers. Glucose load (75 g) was mixed with 0 (control test), 10.20 and 30 g of mucilage. Serum glucose levels were measured at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. Maximum peak of glucose at 30 minutes, and the area under the curve of glucose were significantly lower in the test with 20 and 30 g of mucilage than the tests with 0 and 10g. There was a significant relationship (r = 0.44 p less than 0.025) between the dose of P. psyllium mucilage and its attenuating effect of hyperglycemia. PMID- 2604499 TI - [Management of pancreatic fistula with terbutaline. Report of a case]. AB - External pancreatic fistulas are secondary to trauma or surgery. Their treatment consists of scrupulous skin care, fluid and electrolyte replacement and nutritional support. Usually they are associated to significant morbidity and mortality as well as long hospital stay. In 1981 Joehl described the inhibitory effect on pancreatic secretion caused by the beta agonist terbutaline, in 1985 he used it successfully in a patient with an external pancreatic fistula following an episode of pancreatitis. We report the case of a 21 year old patient who presented with a 26 day posttraumatic pancreatic fistula that closed five days after the administration of terbutaline. To our knowledge this is the second case reported in the literature. We believe that use of terbutaline, due to its pancreatic inhibitory effect as well as its minimal side effects, might be useful in these patients. PMID- 2604500 TI - Radial bone mineral content in healthy Mexican women. AB - Fifty healthy Mexican women from 21 to 70 years of age volunteered to undergo radial bone densitometry. The bone density in ten women per decade was assessed at two sites in the radius of the nondominant forearm; one site was the distal radius at 5 mm of separation from the ulna and the other at one-third of the distal radius. Calcium, inorganic phosphates and alkaline phosphatase were measured in serum samples and the calcium/creatinine ratio in fasting urine samples. Bone density at the distal radius was 360.6 +/- 36.2 mg/cm2, 369.8 +/- 47.9 mg/cm2 and 364.7 +/- 53.7 mg/cm2 in the 21-50 age group. There was no significant difference between these groups; the pooled value of all these samples was 365 +/- 46 mg/cm2. There was significant difference in the 51-60 age group, 290 +/- 48. mg/cm2 (p less than 0.01) and in the 61-70 age group. 277.9 +/ 49.9 mg/cm2 (p less than 0.01). Bone density at the one-third distal radius in the 21-20 age group was 696.3 +/- 60.9 mg/cm2; 31-40, 683.6 +/- 68.4 mg/cm2 and 41-50, 697.9 +/- 53.9 mg/cm2. There was no significant difference among these group; the pool of all these samples showed 692.6 +/- 59.6 mg/cm2. In the 51-60 age group it was 628.0 +/- 63.3 mg/cm2, a non significant difference. On the other hand, the density in the 61-70 group was 573.7 +/- 83.5 mg/cm2, significant (p less than 0.01) when compared to the 21-50 age group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604501 TI - [Purine metabolism in ankylosing spondylitis: clinical study]. AB - We undertook a prospective study of 23 male patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) (New York Criteria), 18 HLA-B27 positive and 5 HLA-B27 negative, five of them had hyperuricemia. The following data of evolution were taken into consideration: age at onset of disease, time course of the disease, presence of urolithiasis, heart disease, flares of uveitis. Clinical activity and degree of disability were evaluated every one to 3 months; on each visit, every patient had determinations of serum and urinary uric acid levels, serum and phosphorus, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum protein electrophoresis, as well as X ray films of the vertebral spine and pelvis. Three groups of patients were detected, all of them with equal age at onset, duration of disease, frequency of B27, peripheral arthritis, and leukocytosis. One group had hyperuricemia (5 of 23 patients, 80% of them HLA-B27 positive) and a lesser degree of clinical activity of the disease (p less than .001, a higher frequency of uveitis (40%, lower levels of serum gammaglobulins (p less than 0.05) and ESR (p less than 0.05), a lesser degree of ankylosis of the spine, and a better functional prognosis than the other groups. Another group (8 of 23 patients, 75% of them were HLA-B27 positive) had normouricemia and hyperuricosuria, and showed a higher frequency of fever (50%), an abnormal urinalysis, and urolithiasis (25%). PMID- 2604502 TI - [Determination of secretory immunoglobulin A, IgG and IgM in bronchial lavage from patients with primary and metastatic lung neoplasms ]. AB - It has been informed in cases with epithelial neoplasias an increased level of secretory immunoglobulin A (IgAS) in bronchial secretions: IgAS, IgG and IgM were measured in bronchial secretions and sera in four groups: bronchogenic carcinoma (Brc), lung metastasis, chronic bronchitis (CB) and voluntary subjects without respiratory disease. It was employed radial immunodiffusion method (RID) with a control from human colostrum for IgAS and commercial controls with the same method for IgG and IgM. To avoid dilutional factor it was established the relation between IgAS, IgA and IgM with total proteins in the samples of bronchial lavage (Ig/tp). Using ANOVA it was found a significative difference (p less than .002) in IgAS/tp among the four groups in the bronchial samples. With Mann-Whitney there was a p less than .05 comparing the healthy control group with any of the others. There was no statistical differences among the BrC and the metastasis or CB groups; IgG and IgM did not showed differences. The seric values of the immunoglobulins has normal levels. It was detected low levels of IgAS in the groups with pulmonary pathology in comparison with the healty controls. The present results are different with the previously reported in the revised literature. PMID- 2604503 TI - Seroepidemiology of the hepatitis B and delta in the southeast of Chiapas, Mexico. AB - An area of high endemicity for hepatitis B and delta antigen was identified in the southern border of Mexico (Chiapas). The study included individuals from mexican communities and guatemalan refugee camps. 91.1% of the subjects were positive to anti-HBcAg antibodies. The frequency of asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg went from 4.2% in mexican communities to 17.3% in guatemalan refugee camps, the percentage was higher in households with six or more persons per room (14.0 per 100 individuals). The prevalence of e antigen in subjects positive to HBsAg was higher among guatemalan refugees (35.3%) than among mexicans (7.7%). A refugee camp, Benemerito de las Americas, showed 65.6% positives to anti-HBcAg antibodies and 39.0% asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, 41.7% of these were positive to HBeAg. Antidelta antibodies were present in 50 of 119 subjects positive to HBsAg. The mechanism of transmission was mainly horizontal since most of the infected children in each household corresponded to the oldest offspring. Our data were similar to those observed in the amazonian region of Brazil, Southeast Asia and tropical Africa. PMID- 2604504 TI - Development of optokinetic neuronal responses in the pretectum and horizontal optokinetic nystagmus in unilaterally enucleated rats. AB - Responses of single units to constant-velocity rotations of the visual surround (0.25-10 degrees/s) were studied in the pretectum of unilateral enucleated rats at different ages. Enucleation was performed either in the first postnatal week ("early" enucleated rats) or in the adult stage ("late" enucleated rats). Pretectal unitary responses were recorded in early enucleated animals at postnatal day 20-21, 36-49 and, in both experimental groups, in the adult stage. Optokinetic ocular nystagmus was studied in early and late enucleated rats in the adult stage. Gain of optokinetic nystagmus in temporo-nasal stimulus direction was not changed for visual surround rotations of up to 20 degrees/s compared to controls in monocular viewing conditions. At higher stimulus velocities, however, the gain dropped. In naso-temporal stimulus direction, optokinetic nystagmus was improved in gain for optokinetic pattern motions of up to 5-10 degrees/s. There were only minor differences in the gain behaviour of optokinetic nystagmus obtained from early or late enucleated rats. The optokinetic responses of pretectal neurons obtained from early and late enucleated rats were reduced in sensitivity by more than 50%. The response patterns of neurons recorded in the contralateral pretectum relative to the intact eye were shifted by a large amount from directional selective to directional nonselective response types. No such changes were obtained in the ipsilateral pretectum. In contrast to normal rats, there were very few directional selective units responding to temporo-nasal pattern motion. On the other hand, a large proportion of directional selective units responded to naso-temporal pattern motion. These latter units were found in both early and late enucleated rats. A similar response type has previously been described for intact young rats but not for adult rats. The velocity tuning curve of pretectal units studied in the adult stage was similar in shape in early and late enucleated rats and resembled that obtained from enucleated or intact young animals. Our results show that response sensitivity, direction and velocity tuning of pretectal units depend crucially on retinal afferent input originating from both eyes. The data suggest that the response characteristics of many of the pretectal units that are considered to be important for mediating optokinetic reflexes depend on interpretectal signal processing using commissural connections. There is very little evidence for an adaptative structural plasticity of the optokinetic system following loss of one eye. The reduced asymmetry observed in gain of optokinetic responses correlated in both early and late enucleated rats with the shifts observed in the distribution of pretectal unitary response patterns. PMID- 2604505 TI - Immunocytochemical study of parvalbumin fibers and cell bodies in the rat hipothalamus. AB - The distribution of parvalbumin (PA) cell bodies and fibers in the hypothalamus of the rat was studied using a monoclonal antibody and the avidin-biotin peroxidase method. The densest clusters of immunoreactive perikarya were observed in the nuclei mamillare medialis, arcuatus and dorsomedialis hypothalami, whereas the corpus mamillare lateralis had the lowest density. The densest network of immunoreactive fibers was observed in the corpus mamillare lateralis and nucleus arcuatus. The corpus mamillare medialis contained a moderate number of PA fibers, whereas the nucleus dorsomedialis hypothalami had the lowest density of immunoreactive fibers. In addition, a large number of immunoreactive fibers was found in the tractus opticus and the tractus mamillo-thalamicus. Essentially, the distribution of PA in the rat hypothalamus after using a monoclonal antibody seems to be broader in comparison with previous studies carried out in the same diencephalic region of the rat. The presence of PA in several nuclei of the rat hypothalamus suggests that this protein could be directly or indirectly involved in neuroendocrine, limbic and visual functions. PMID- 2604506 TI - [Pediatric oncology in France. Current status: future perspectives]. PMID- 2604507 TI - [A psychiatric consultation service at a pediatric hospital. Definitions, nomenclature, perspectives]. AB - A psychiatric consultation service has been implanted for the last 15 years at the Children's Hospital of Tours. It co-ordinates pediatric psychiatric activities on the various wards of this large pediatric center (200 beds). All pediatric psychiatry personnel belong to this autonomous unit which plans their work: clinical care and liaisons, teaching and research activities. This unit manages 1,000 cases a year: 20% of children are aged 0 to 2 years, 40% are under 5 years of age. This type of structure in a university pediatric hospital fosters considerably an early diagnosis and the prompt triaging of children to the services available in their home districts for appropriate care. Furthermore, it facilitates a comprehensive approach with appropriate integration of the somatic and of the psychodynamic dimensions of the child. This type of implantation constitutes a significant step forward in the field. However, its professional activities are handicapped because of the discrepancy between resources made available to psychiatry and pediatrics due to the failure to take into account the type of interventions required of the pediatric psychiatrist. In the hope of remedying these problems of evaluating the services distributed by psychiatry to young children hospitalized in clinical units, we present a specific nomenclature, elaborated after several years of experience. It classifies services in four large categories: Consultation and liaison in in-patient care units; chronic care carried out on a part time basis; admissions to the Pediatric Psychiatry Unit in beds belonging to various pediatric services; complete workups in day care beds. PMID- 2604508 TI - [Prophylaxis of vitamin D deficiency in hypothyroidism in the newborn infant]. AB - This study deals with the relationship between the occurrence of hypercalcemia and the administration of prophylactic doses of vitamin D in children with hypothyroidism, before and during L-thyroxine (LT4) treatment. The goal of the study was to determine the dosage of vitamin D necessary to prevent rickets without inducing hypercalcemia. There was a 23% prevalence of hypercalcemia at the time of the diagnosis of hypothyroidism by screening whereas it was 21% in the children who were not given vitamin D during the first 3 months of LT4 treatment. This figure was significantly higher in those who were given vitamin D during the first 3 months of treatment and reached 70%. However, one of the 19 children not given vitamin D presented with biological signs evoking vitamin D deficiency. In conclusion, in hypothyroid infants, vitamin D should be administered carefully during the first 6 months of treatment and restricted to children at risk for developing vitamin D deficiency. PMID- 2604509 TI - [Severe respiratory syncytial virus infections. Study of 87 infants hospitalized in an epidemic]. AB - During a winter epidemic, 87 infants were admitted to Necker-Enfants-Malades hospital with a severe respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) infection. These infants fell into two groups: 37 infants without any medical history and 50 showing an underlying pathology (immune deficiencies, heart disease, CNS disorders, digestive malformations, allergic manifestations). Of the 37 infants with no medical history, most were below the age of 6 months and the RSV infection was manifested clinically by bronchiolitis or bronchitis. Most of the infants in the other group were more than 6 months of age and presented mostly with pneumonia or bronchiolitis. A respiratory distress syndrome was observed in 17 of the 87 infants, and virtually all of them were younger than 6 months. No significant difference was observed between the two groups with regards to the incidence of respiratory distress. Pulmonary infections complicating the course of the illness, most often due to commensal flora bacteria of the upper respiratory tract, were observed in 19 infants but with no greater frequency in the group at risk. Direct detection of viral antigens in nasopharyngal secretions not only enabled rapid diagnosis in all the infants but also allowed antiviral therapy to be started rapidly. Antiviral treatment by ribavirine, administered over a period of 5 days in 20 mg/ml doses by aerosol was instituted in 10 patients whose course might have become serious. In 8 of these patients, disappearance of the virus from secretions and recovery occurred. Two patients in the group at risk died despite treatment, with one case being considered a true therapeutical failure since the virus was still present in nasopharyngeal secretions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604510 TI - [Benign pulsatile cranial bruit in children. Apropos of 6 cases]. AB - The authors report a series of 6 patients aged 8-25 months, without any intracranial vascular pathology, presenting with an objective intracranial bruit associated with visible veins in the naso-orbital region. These bruits, frequent in children between 4 months and 5 years, become rare when patients grow older and disappear in adulthood. Naso-orbital veins are frequently normally detected until the age of 3 years. An intracranial bruit and visible facial veins may be clinical signs indicative of an underlying intracranial vascular malformation (IVM). Enhanced CT scanning should be performed when these two symptoms are associated. If the scan is abnormal, a selective angiography should be performed. PMID- 2604511 TI - [Clinical, anatomo-pathologic aspects and therapeutic results in 63 malignant ORL non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in children]. AB - Sixty-three children with non Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the ENT zone (Waldeyer's ring) were treated between 1975 and 1985 at the Institut Gustave Roussy. The tumors were localized in the cavum (32 cases), tonsils (16 cases), mandibles (9 cases) whereas 6 patients had more than one of these sites involved. At the time of diagnosis, 16 (25%) had neuro-meningeal involvement. Distribution, according to stages and histology was as follows: 4 stages I, 27 stages II, 12 stages III, 17 stages IV and 3 were unclassifiable. A Burkitt type of lymphoma was diagnosed in 37 (58%), a convoluted lymphoblastic type in 6 (10%) and 20 (32%) fell in a broad category of "other lymphoblastic variety" (32%). With regard to therapy, two consecutive time periods could be identified: from 1975 to 1980 all patients were given the same treatment and neuro-meningeal prophylaxis consisted of irradiation of the skull and intrathecal injections of methotrexate. Since 1981, the therapeutic regimen is designed according to the histo immunological classification of the tumors and neuro-meningeal prophylaxis is carried out with the use of high dose methotrexate. With this new approach the survival rate has increased from 45 to 80% and the incidence of neuromeningeal relapses has decreased. PMID- 2604512 TI - [Fusobacterium necrophorum septicemia in an infant]. AB - In a 9 month-old infant admitted to hospital for a fever with chilles, anaerobic blood cultures isolated Fusobacterium necrophorum. On the 5th day of intravenous treatment with amoxicillin and metronidazole clinical signs of mastoiditis, the likely source of the sepsis, became apparent. Septicemias with Fusobacterium necrophorum are usually observed in teenagers and young adults during an acute bout of tonsilitis. This type of infection is exceptional in infants and requires a careful search for a primary focus in facial cavities and in the base of the skull. PMID- 2604513 TI - [Fatal legionellosis in an infant treated with ACTH]. AB - A new case of fatal systemic legionnaires' disease is reported in an infant. This 8 month-old boy was given a protracted treatment with adrenocorticotropic hormones for infantile spasms. Legionella pneumophila type I was found in tracheal secretions and there was multivisceral involvement at autopsy. The mode of contamination and the severity of the disease are discussed in the light of the immunosuppressive properties of the glucocorticoids administered over a period of 4 weeks. PMID- 2604514 TI - [Neurocristopathy. The association of Hirschsprung's disease-ganglioneuroma with autonomic nervous system dysfunction in 2 children]. AB - Two children with the coexistence of long segment Hirschsprung's disease, ganglioneuroblastoma with Ondine's curse in one case and autonomic nervous system impairment in the other are presented. All lesions may be related to aberrations of neural crest cell growth, their migration, or differentiation. A genetic etiology, and the link between Hirschsprung's disease and multiple endocrine adenomatosis is discussed. The combination of Hirschsprung's disease and a neurocristopathy strongly suggests that exploration of the autonomic nervous system and APUD system be carried out. PMID- 2604515 TI - [Congestive cardiomyopathy after chronic inhalation of trichloroethylene]. AB - A congestive cardiomyopathy (associated with an atrial flutter) was observed in a 14 year-old boy who was a regular trichlorethylene sniffer. Regression occurred after stopping exposition to the toxic chemical. This complication hitherto not reported in children, may be fatal. Its origin would be ischemic because trichlorethylene is known to potentiate the effects of circulating catecholamines. This toxic cardiomyopathy has to be added to the list of congestive cardiomyopathies in children and adolescents. PMID- 2604516 TI - [Iconographic rubric. Multicentric osteosarcoma]. PMID- 2604517 TI - [Licit and illicit drug consumption in the school environment. Results of a cross sectional epidemiologic survey carried out among 663 high school students in Le Havre]. AB - A cross-sectional epidemiologic study was undertaken in 1988 in the city of Le Havre, in order to study the licit and illicit drug consumption of adolescents attending high schools. The regular consumption of alcohol was higher in boys (9.2% vs 5.8%) whereas girls smoked more (16.4% vs 12.5%). In the group (4.2%) of every day drinkers, cider was the first alcoholic beverage used. One of 5 adolescents had been drunk at least once in 6 months, those over 15 years of age being involved twice as often as the youngest (28.2% vs 14.1%). The use of neuropsychotropic drugs was independent of sex, age and performance in school. Typological classification according to patterns of alcohol and drug consumption identified 4 groups of adolescents: the excessive consumers (3.6%), the moderate (25.6%), the abstainers (58.1%) and the consumers of psychotropic drugs (12.7%). The distribution of adolescents into these classes was influenced by age and, to a lesser extent, by school performance. PMID- 2604518 TI - [Colchicine in the first trimester of pregnancy and vertebral malformations]. PMID- 2604519 TI - [BCG and the monitoring of post-vaccinal allergy: a proven failure?]. PMID- 2604520 TI - [Near miss in the infant]. PMID- 2604521 TI - [Hydrocortisone therapy of secondary generalized epilepsy in children]. AB - Indications for glucocorticoids in the treatment of secondary generalized epilepsy after age one year is discussed. The present retrospective study showed that half of the children exhibited significant reduction of seizure frequency and 2/3 of them improved their cognitive abilities. Results were better in tonic and tonic-clonic seizures than in absences. The mean delay before improvement was 1 month for seizures and 3 months for cognitive abilities. Adverse events were mainly excessive weight gain and arterial hypertension. Both appeared within 2 months of initiating the treatment and disappeared when treatment was discontinued. The following factors seemed to influence the effect of glucocorticoids: the type of seizure, the nature of the epileptic syndrome, the delay between the onset of epilepsy and of treatment, and the beginning of treatment before 4 years of age. Glucocorticoids may be useful when conventional antiepileptic drugs have failed. The initial dose should be 5 mg/kg/day, reduced after 1 month of treatment. Glucocorticoids should be maintained at least for 6 months. PMID- 2604522 TI - [Staphylococcal toxic shock in children]. AB - Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is reported in 2 children. TSS occurred 10 days after an accidental injury of the fore foot in one case and 5 days following surgery for severe uretero-vesical reflux in the other. The clinical illness was defined by the case definition formulated for epidemiologic studies (CDC, 1982). The diagnosis was confirmed by isolation of a Staphylococcus aureus strain producing TSST, at the infected site. Toxin-induced mediators such as interleukin I and Tumor Necrosis Factor have been incriminated in septic shock with multivisceral involvement. As in our 2 cases, the syndrome may be delayed or even absent. PMID- 2604523 TI - [Hepatotoxicity of the combination of isoniazid-rifampicin in African children. Role of malnutrition and HB virus]. AB - Forty-seven Gabonese children with tuberculosis either limited to the lung or associated with other localizations were treated with isoniazid-rifampin (INH + RIF). They had liver tests done during the first 6 months of treatment. In 30 patients (63.8%) there was an increase in aminotransferase levels [over 100 UI/l in 14 (29.2%)]. The main factors increasing the risk of hepatic toxicity was a high dosage of INH and overall malnutrition. In fact, the weights of patients presenting with signs of hepatic toxicity were significantly lower than those in children who had no alterations of liver function. 68% of the severely malnourished (marasmus of kwashiorkor) presented with high ALAT or ASAT levels during treatment. The eventual role of the chronic HBV carrier state is discussed as 2 children presented with a chronic form of hepatitis at the time the treatment was initiated. PMID- 2604524 TI - [Variability of blood pressure measured using an oscillometric method in children 4 to 48 months of age]. AB - The usual method of measuring arterial blood pressure cannot be used in children less than 4 years of age because of lack of cooperation. We investigated variations of blood pressure measured during 20 minutes by an oscillometric method (Dinamap) in 100 children aged 4 to 48 months and tried to come up with some recommendations for measuring and interpreting blood pressure. Serial blood pressure recordings showed poor reproducibility due to movements which are impossible to avoid and which account for wide variations. Because of this variability, a single measurement is inadequate and must be repeated. The average of repeated recordings does not seem to be a reliable parameter. We suggest that the lower measured value (minima) as the only parameter allowing us to track the progressive increase in blood pressure with age. The data probably explain the large discrepancies between published studies taking into account the use of different methods. PMID- 2604525 TI - [Evolutive atlanto-axial luxation revealing chronic inflammatory rheumatism in children]. AB - Atlanto-axial luxation in uncommon in chronic arthritis in childhood, especially early in the course of the disease. One case is described in which atlanto-axial luxation occurred early. Computed tomographic myelography showed the cervico medullary compression which was treated by transoral anterior decompression and posterior occipito-cervical fusion. PMID- 2604526 TI - [Epidermoid cyst of the testis in children]. AB - An epidermoid cyst of the testis was found in a 10 year-old child. The interest of this case report resides in the fact that it is rare in childhood and that its pathogenesis is not well known. Although the treatment of this condition remains controversial, a high orchidectomy through the inguinal tract was performed to a correct pathological diagnosis. PMID- 2604527 TI - [Intermittent intracranial hypertension revealing a tumor of the cervical spine]. AB - A 6 year-old girl was admitted with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. These manifestations spontaneously disappeared, then recurred a few days later, leading to the discovery of hydrocephalus with increased protein concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid. A cervical spine tumor was diagnosed by magnetic nuclear resonance examination. The patient was successfully operated on for a benign astrocytoma. In the absence of a cerebral tumor, cervical spinal tumors should be looked for when recurring symptoms of intracranial hypertension occur in a child. PMID- 2604528 TI - [Acute anemia induced by rupture of a luteal cyst, aggravated by the ingestion of antivitamin K]. AB - A case of hemoperitoneum secondary to the rupture of an ovarian cyst is reported in a 14 1/2 year-old girl. The severity of the bleeding was explained by anticoagulant therapy given during the previous 3 weeks for laceration of ankle ligaments which necessitated surgery. In this age group, the differential diagnosis with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy had to be considered. The relative prevalence (10%) of complications associated with antivitamin K administration is discussed. PMID- 2604529 TI - [Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in children caused by hyperplasia of antral gastrin cells]. AB - A case of Zollinger-Ellison due to hyperplasia of antral gastrin cells in a 11 year-old child is reported. Only 49 cases of this syndrome in children have been published. The diagnosis (gastrin stimulation test, immunohistochemical detection of endocrine cells and therapeutic strategy are outlined). PMID- 2604530 TI - [Acute disseminated multinodular non-recurrent adiponecrosis. Cutaneous manifestations of recent toxoplasmosis]. AB - Acute disseminated multinodular non suppurative panniculitis in a 3 year-old boy is reported. The diagnosis was histologically confirmed. Detection of high levels of specific serum IgM favored a diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis. The relationship between panniculitis and acute toxoplasmosis is discussed. PMID- 2604531 TI - [Radiologic case of the month (thymus tumor)]. PMID- 2604532 TI - [Tetravalent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine]. AB - Two hundred forty-nine infants were immunized after being randomly allocated to the classical Tetracoq vaccine or to inactivated poliomyelitis vaccines prepared on monkey kidney cells or on Vero-type continuous cell lines either mixed with DPT or placed in a 2-compartment syringe separating (by-pass) the polio vaccine from the DPT. The 3 preparations were well tolerated and led to a good immune response: the first after 3 injections, the second and third after the second injection. PMID- 2604533 TI - [Efficacy of anti-digoxin antibodies in a premature neonate]. AB - Through the case report of severe digitalis intoxication in a premature born after 27 weeks of gestation with a birthweight of 800 g, the authors show that anti-digoxin antibodies constitute a very efficacious therapeutic tool which, up to the present, has not been used in prematures. PMID- 2604534 TI - [Development of the cranial circumference during congenital hypothyroidism screened in the neonatal period]. PMID- 2604535 TI - [Apropos of accidental ingestion of products for dishwashers]. PMID- 2604536 TI - [ORL diseases in children and bronchopulmonary diseases during infancy]. PMID- 2604537 TI - Metabolism of 1H-benzotriazolecarboxylic acids in vitro and in vivo. AB - The 1H-benzotriazolecarboxylic acids 1 and 2 were stable towards oxidative metabolism as well in vitro as in vivo. In the in vivo studies 2.25% of the ester glucuronide of 1H-benzotriazole-5-carboxylic acid was found in urine. PMID- 2604538 TI - [Synthesis of racemates and enantiomers of 3-alkylthalidomide analogs and determination of their absolute configuration]. AB - The syntheses of the racemates and the enantiomers of the title compounds 7a-7c and of racem. 1,3-dimethyl-thalidomide (8) are reported. The absolute configuration of the optically active products is determined. The hypnotic activities of the analogs of thalidomide 7a - 7c and of the intermediates 6a - 6c are to be tested in animals. PMID- 2604539 TI - Clinical observations in vibratory stimulation of the penis of men with spinal cord injury. AB - Less than 10% of men with complete spinal cord injury experience ejaculation in intercourse. Vibratory stimulation of the penis triggers a predictable series of body reactions in most men with lesions above the thoracic 11th spinal cord level. These reactions are very similar to the physical manifestations of the sexual response in men with intact nervous systems. Between half and three quarters of men with lesions above the thoracic 11th spinal cord level ejaculate. The spermatozoa count is within the normal range, but the percentage of motile spermatozoa is low. The reactions leading to ejaculation take between 30 sec and 3 min and are characterized by rhythmic abdominal and leg spasms, lowered, then elevated pulse rates, elevation of blood pressure, and after the culmination of these experiences, relaxation, tiredness, and a general feeling of well-being. Autonomic dysreflexia (elevation of the blood pressure and severe headache) was avoided with preventive medication. The observations suggest that interrelated ejaculatory centers may be located in the thoracic 11th-and-below areas of the spinal cord. The vibratory stimulation technique has positive implications for both the reproductive and sexual needs of men with spinal cord injury and their partners. PMID- 2604540 TI - Pornography and community standards in Hawaii: comparisons with other states. AB - This first statewide study, using random phone interviews, found a community standard for the acceptance of sexually explicit material. Research shows respondents are conservative in voting for the death penalty and against the legalization of those drugs presently illegal, even marijuana. In other regards, Hawaiians think abortion should be only for the women to decide and that adults should not be denied access to explicit material that shows other adults in consensual sexual acts. The majority of those interviewed had themselves seen erotically explicit materials, often obtaining it themselves. Only a minority found the material offensive. A review of studies on sexually explicit material elsewhere in the country shows these findings to be consistent with all other communities investigated; none would restrict adults from access to sexually explicit material. PMID- 2604541 TI - Victim resistance to rape: the relationship of previous victimization, demographics, and situational factors. AB - The relationship between degree of resistance to sexual assault and a victim's demographic characteristics, her previous experience with violence, and situational characteristics of the assault were investigated. Victim responses during the assault were characterized as no resistance, verbal resistance, or physical resistance. Demographic characteristics and prior experience with violence did not discriminate degree of resistance. However, victim resistance was significantly predicted by six of the assault characteristics. Victims showed greater resistance if the assailant was a friend or relative, if the assailant made verbal threats, and if he physically restrained or injured her. Greater resistance was also associated with less sexual abuse. PMID- 2604542 TI - Sexual desire, general arousability, and sexual dysfunction. AB - To determine the interrelationships among neuroticism, general arousability, sexual desire, and sexual dysfunction in women, two studies were conducted. The first found a significant positive correlation between general arousability and neuroticism. The second found a curvilinear relationship between general arousability and sexual dysfunction, and a negative correlation between levels of sexual desire and sexual dysfunction. Implications for therapy with sexually dysfunctional women are discussed. PMID- 2604543 TI - Male transsexualism in mainland China. AB - Though there have been many studies about transsexualism in the West, as well as other parts of the world, nothing has been reported for mainland China. This is mainly because communication about any sexual phenomenon in China is heavily censored. However, the first author of this paper had either written or personal contact with seven transsexuals in China. This study summarizes general information available on the seven, reports in detail on two cases where there was considerable correspondence, and summarizes the one case of transsexual surgery known to have taken place in China in recent years. Since these cases have not been publicized in China, it is hoped that one result of publication of this information will be to open up a dialogue on the subject with the Chinese. PMID- 2604544 TI - Transhomosexuality, or the dissociation of sexual orientation and sex object choice. AB - Subjects whose sexual orientation and identification is with homosexual persons of the opposite biological sex were studied. "Transhomosexual" has been coined to describe such persons. Forms of transhomosexual expression vary with different emphases found in regard to orientation to, idealization of, and wish to participate in activities of homosexuals of the opposite biological sex. Where identification is strong or overriding, such persons become "transsexual." However, there are important differences between these and conventionally diagnosed transsexuals. Sexual orientation then is not defined entirely or always by the sex of the sexual object choice, but sometimes additionally by references to preferred heterosexual or homosexual styles of relationship. PMID- 2604545 TI - Chemical crosslinking of proteins of the influenza virion. 1. Interrelationships. AB - Purified influenza virus (A/FPV/Rostock/34; H7N1) was reacted with one of three chemical crosslinking reagents [dimethylsuberimidate (DMS), tartryl diazide (TDA) and formaldehyde] under conditions designed to give a ladder of crosslinked polypeptides (putative homo- and heteropolymers) when analysed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. The different virion polypeptides were identified by Western blotting with monospecific antisera against HA1, HA2, NP, and M1. When reacted with any crosslinker NP preferentially formed 2mer and 4mer homopolymers while M1 formed 2mers, 4mers, 6mers, and 8mers. 2mers and 3mers of HA1 were detected after crosslinking with TDA and DMS but homopolymers of HA2 could not be identified with certainty due to comigrating M1. One heteropolymer was clearly identified as 1NP:1M1 (with DMS and TDA) and others, as expected, as components of the haemagglutinin spike 1HA1:1HA2, 2HA1:2HA2, and 3HA1:3HA2. Formaldehyde gave rise only to HA1:HA2 polymers. The presence of other heteropolymers containing NP in conjunction with HA2 and HA1 seemed likely. Whenever HA2 ran with an Mr of about 50k it comigrated with M1 suggesting it may have formed (with DMS or TDA) a 1HA2:1M1 heterodimer. However it is possible that this band consisted of HA2 homodimers comigrating with M1 homodimers. Patterns of crosslinking with DMS and TDA were similar although not identical, but those obtained with formaldehyde were markedly different. All patterns were highly reproducible. PMID- 2604546 TI - Chemical cross-linking of proteins of the influenza virion. 2. Acid-induced irreversible conformational changes in HA1 and HA2. AB - Purified influenza virus (A/FPV/Rostock/34;H7N1) was exposed briefly to pH 5 before returning to an alkaline pH. Virus was then reacted with one of three chemical cross-linking reagents [dimethyl suberimidate (DMS), tartryl diazide (TDA), or formaldehyde which span 11, 6, and 2A, respectively]. Cross-linked polypeptides were analysed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions and identified with monospecific antisera against HA1, HA2, NP and M1. Acidification resulted in changes in the cross-linking patterns for both HA1 and HA2 which could be detected with all three reagents. Most notable were the data with formaldehyde: under alkaline conditions cross-linking gave only HA1:HA2 heteropolymers but after brief acidification none of these were formed and in their place was a novel HA1 homodimer, an HA2 homotrimer and an HA2 of Mr 50k cross-linked to form a homodimer with another HA2 or to a heterodimer with M1. Although cross-linking by formaldehyde was much more affected by acidification of the virus than cross-linking by DMS or TDA, over half the polymers cross-linked by DMS were no longer formed after acidification. The patterns of cross-linking of NP and M1 were unchanged by low pH treatment. PMID- 2604547 TI - Heterogeneity of the ARV-2 strain and natural isolates of the human immunodeficiency virus. AB - To study heterogeneity of HIV isolates ARV-2 and strains isolated from lymphocytes of asymptomatic carriers were cloned using limiting dilutions of virus and infected CEM cells. All viral stocks turned out to be biologically heterogeneous giving clones with cytotoxic and noncytotoxic type of infection. Coinfection of CEM cells with cytotoxic and noncytotoxic variants resulted in interference of their biological effects. This interference ended with distinct cytotoxicity. No correlation between the production of virus and the amount of HIV DNA was found pointing out that nonfunctional DNA copies exist. PMID- 2604548 TI - Influenza virus genetic sequences in the blood of children with congenital pathology of the CNS. AB - Influenza A virus genetic sequences revealed by dot hybridization were detected in peripheral blood cells, serum and liquor of three children with congenital pathology of the CNS. The children were born to mothers who contacted influenza during pregnancy. The virus-specific sequences were found for a long period of time (83 days in one case). The serum of the child did not contain antibodies against M protein suggesting that viral nucleocapsids but not the virus particles persist in the organism of the sick child. PMID- 2604549 TI - [Receptor glomeruli and their ultrastructural organization in the arteries and pia mater of the brain and spinal cord of humans]. AB - Receptor glomeruli have been studied in the arterial walls of the pia mater of the human brain and spinal cord by means of the light and electron microscopy methods. Zone of their high concentration have been stated; three types of receptor glomeruli have been determined, as well as 3 types of ultrastructural organization of sensitive terminals. PMID- 2604550 TI - [Spatial organization and interneuronal relations in various areas of the neocortex in Cetacea]. AB - The data on pyramidal neurons joining in the parietal and temporal areas of the dolphin neocortex by means of apical dendrites fasciculi are presented. The fasciculi also contain dendrites of spindle-like and stellate cells. The vertical fasciculi of the dendrites unite neurons of the layer V and of the sublayer III2. In the sublayer III1, after dichotonic division of the apical dendrites, fasciculi of the second order are formed, to them the dendrites of the pyramidal neurons of the sublayer III1 and the layer II join. Several forms of the interneuronal contacts have been revealed: axo-dendritic, axo-spinous and dendro dendritic. Synaptic complexes of the converged and divergent types have been shown. A suggestion is made on formation of larger neuronal modules++, having common afferent entrance and demonstrating selectivity to the stimulus properties. PMID- 2604551 TI - [Structure and dynamics of the size of the epidural space in human fetuses and newborn infants]. AB - Basing on our definition of the ES as a complex of peridural anatomical formations and taking into account certain peculiarities of their topographic distribution, 4 areas (anterior, posterior and two lateral) are defined. The posterior area of the ES by its sizes predominates over all the others. The ES value is determined by differences in rates of size increment of the vertebral canal and in rates of size increment of the spinal cord dura mater (SCDM). Position of the SCDM sac concerning the central axis of the canal predetermines++ the size of the ES four areas. The dimensions of the ES areas are not similar at various levels of the spinal column. For example, the dimensions of the ES posterior area in newborns are the greatest in the cervical part at CVII, in the thoracic--at ThIV-VII, in the lumbar--at LI-III, and the dimensions of the ES anterior area--at CVII, ThI-IV, LIV-V and Sr. The lateral ES areas are the widest at CI, ThIII, LV and SI. The greatest increase in the rate of increment of linear sizes and area is observed for the spinal canal and spinal cord in 5-, 8- and 9 month-old fetuses and for SCDM--in 5- and 8-month-old fetuses and for ES--in 6-, 8- and 9-month-old fetuses. The topographic peculiarities in the ES structure revealed and rearrangement of its dimensions in the fetuses and newborns can be useful in interpretation of problems on functional formation of the vertebral column, spinal cord and its tunics, and be of applied aspect at various manipulations performed in these formations in premature infants and in newborns. PMID- 2604552 TI - [The intermediate nerve and its place in the system of cranial nerves]. AB - The intermediate nerve (IN) in embryogenesis of man, cat and white rat is formed similarly. From the common with the VIII cranial nerve anlage the geniculum node, the vestibular and cochlear ganglia are emerged. A separated root of the IN connects the geniculum node with the nuclei, situating in the CNS. From the geniculum node main branches of the IN get off: the greater petrosal nerve and the cord of the tympanum, its fibers in the temporal bone canal run in the facial nerve trunk. In the periphery the IN branches unite with other cranial nerves, make connections with branches of vegetative (parasympathetic) ganglia and plexuses. They spread along a large territory, forming a system of parasympathetic innervation in the area of the head and ensuring with specific nervous apparatuses the gustatory organ. It is expedient to select the IN into an independent cranial nerve and confirm it the number of the regular pair. PMID- 2604553 TI - [Coronary chemoreceptors in rabbits]. AB - Position and structure of the coronary ++chemoreceptor (CH) have been studied in 40 Chinchilla rabbits by means of neurohistological and histochemical methods. The CH is situated in the adventitia of the left coronary artery. The CH together with chromaffin cells includes blood vessels, small nervous fasciculi and connective tissue. According to luminescent intensity 2 groups of cells are distinguished. Two types of CH cells are revealed morphometrically, they differ in their size. Metachromasia at staining with toluidine++ blue demonstrates presence of serotonin in the CH. A possible role of the CH in pathogenesis of a sudden death is considered. PMID- 2604554 TI - [Systemic and organic changes in the microcirculatory bed in experimental dehydration of the body]. AB - Among systemic mechanisms of microvascular reactivity of the musculus spinotrapezius, pancreas and small intestine mesentery at dehydration, a special role play the changes directed to maintenance of harmony between the capacity of the blood bed and volume of the circulatory blood, morpho-functional factors on regulation of hemodynamics, as well as mechanism of liquor resource++ elimination from the blood bed. The organic peculiarities of the microvascular reactivity at dehydration are determined by topic and quantitative character of their changes. PMID- 2604555 TI - [Fronto-striatal correlations in normal and pathologic aging of the human brain]. AB - In psychically healthy persons of three age groups (30-40, 50-60, 80-90 years), as well as in those suffering from Alzheimer's disease (50-60 years) right and left hemispheres formations, including into a single functional system (fields 8, 10, 47 and the nucleus caudatus) have been investigated. Using the series of frontal paraffin sections 20 mcm thick, stained after Nissl and Bielschowsky methods, cyto-glioarchitectonics and neuronal composition of the structures mentioned have been studied. In 0.001 mm3 of the brain substance, in cortical layers II and V and in the nucleus caudatus head density of neurons, perineuronal glia, neurons with lipofuscin, size of the neurons have been calculated. Various degree of manifestation of morphological changes is revealed in different stages of the single functional system. These changes are directly proportional to the organizational level of the structures studied and depend on the stage of the process, on accompanying diseases and individual peculiarities of the person. They are more intensive in the frontal fields and weaker in the nucleus caudatus. At Alzheimer's disease they are more distinct in the associative fields 10 and 47, at normal ageing--in the motor structures--in the field 8 and then in the nucleus caudatus. Spreading of the pathological process occurs with a predominant damage of neurons of cholinergic origin. PMID- 2604556 TI - [Effect of altered hormonal balance in the mother-fetus system on body weight, the adrenal glands, thymus gland and peripheral blood leukocyte composition in the offspring]. AB - Pregnant rats have been injected intramuscularly with hydrocortisone-acetate or desoxycorticosterone-acetate (DOCA) for the III or the II-III trimesters of pregnancy. In the last case the animals are given not only greater doses of the hormones, but during a longer period. By the end of the pregnancy the drug dose decreases. In mother-rats after hydrocortisone injections the adrenals mass increases; after DOCA the body mass increases, and that of the adrenals drops. In the offspring hydrocortisone produces decline of the thymus and adrenals mass, as well as neutrophilic leucocytosis, lympho-, eosino-++- and monocytopenia. Just the opposite, DOCA results in lympho- and monocytosis, in increasing morphofunctional activity of monocytes. Common effects in hormonal action is demonstrated as underdevelopment of the adrenals, in decreasing thymus mass, in development of neutrophilic leucocytosis and eosinopenia. With increasing doses and duration of prenatal injections of corticosteroids in rats the mass of the adrenals and thymus drops even greater, stimulating effect of the hormones on the neutrophilic granulocytopoiesis decreases. PMID- 2604557 TI - [Morphokinetics of lymph node structures in subextreme and extreme conditions]. AB - Morphodynamics of the rat popliteal lymph node structures has a variously directed character in Siberia and Antarctic. Reorganization of the lymph node in Siberia is accompanied with increase of the medulla and in Antarctic--of the cortex. The dynamics of certain constructive changes in the node depends on circulation of lymphocytes. They migrate along the vector of the direction and determine the type of the lymph node and its functional state depending on condition of the environment. PMID- 2604558 TI - [Differentiation of hepatic sinusoid vessel cells in rats in the embryonal and postnatal periods of ontogenesis]. AB - Differentiation of the hepatic sinusoidal capillary cells has been studied in the embryonal and postnatal periods of the rat ontogenesis. In the embryonal liver cellular elements are differentiated divergently with formation of endotheliocytes, Kupffer cells and fat-accumulating cells. Differentiation of endotheliocytes is accompanied with their flattening, formation of fenestrae and pores in peripheral processes, increasing amount of micro- and macropinocytic vesicles, and also development of intercellular contacts, presented at first as simple, and then as tight junctions. Formation of intercellular clefts occurs by means of parting of simple junctions; this ensures migration of blood cells across the endothelial lining. Kupffer cells develop out of immature macrophagal elements of the perisinusoidal space. During differentiation they migrate into the endothelial lining. Simultaneously in their cytoplasm lysosomes accumulate and acid phosphatase activity increases. The fat-accumulating cells are formed out of poorly differentiating fibroblast-like elements of the perisinusoidal space. Their differentiation is accompanied with a progressive development of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and with accumulation of reticular fibers in the perisinusoidal space, and in cytoplasm--lipid inclusions. PMID- 2604559 TI - [Mechanical properties of the small intestine of rats in the normal state and after disturbed parasympathetic innervation]. AB - In intact and vagotomized (in 14 and 30 days after the operation) rats by means of the dynamometric method values of maximal load and relative maximum elongation of the proximal and middle areas of the small intestine (SI) have been determined in vitro. Dependence of relative elongation of the SI fragments on the load applied has been investigated. The proximal part of the SI is the most firm to tearing in comparison to the middle one. Bilateral subdiaphragmatic+ truncal vagotomy results in an increased firmness to tearing and in relative maximal elongation of the SI proximal part in 14 days and in decrease of the former parameter in the same SI part in 30 days. PMID- 2604560 TI - [Lectin-binding properties of the neuroepithelium of the vomeronasal organ, olfactory epithelium proper and the septal organ of Masera in mice (semithin section study)]. AB - The apical border of the vomeronasal neuroepithelium, the olfactory epithelium proper, and the septal organ possess varying lectin-binding properties. This can be judged by their ability to bind a peculiar lectin and/or by their reactivity to the given lectin. The following lectins have been used: Triticum vulgaris agglutinin (WGA), Ulex europeus agglutinin (UEA-1), Arachis hypogea agglutinin (PNA), Lymbus polyphenus agglutinin (LPA), Glycine soja agglutinin (SBA) and Dolchos diflerus agglutinin (DBA). But if the apical border of the vomeronasal neuroepithelium possesses certain binding areas for all the lectins investigated, the olfactory epithelium proper and the septal organ are not able to bind some of them. PMID- 2604561 TI - [Determining the degree of maturity of the spermatogenic layer in rats during its regeneration and in the process of maturation of the intact testis]. PMID- 2604562 TI - [Sphygmomanometer cuffs and diagnosis of systemic arterial hypertension]. PMID- 2604563 TI - [Heart growth in the human embryonic period (a study related to the 2d month of gestation)]. AB - The growth of the heart was studied in 27 human staged embryos of post-somitic period (stages from 15 to 23, Carnegie Institution of Washington). The volume of the heart was determined multiplying the cardiac profiles areas (evaluated by point counting planimetry on serial sections) by the thickness of microtomy. Cardiac volume increase was examined relative to age, to crownrump length, and to body weight. The data were transformed into logarithms and bivariate relations were analysed according allometric equations of the form (log y = k log x + log b). The data were fitted according to three techniques: least squares, major axis, and reduced major axis. The slopes of the allometric regressions indicate positive allometry of the cardiac volume relative to embryonic age and to C-R length, and isometry relative to body weight. PMID- 2604564 TI - [Cardiac thrombosis and embolism in patients having died of chronic Chagas cardiopathy]. AB - The authors studied the files of 111 patients (mean age 47.5 years) with chronic Chagas' disease and severe heart failure who had died between 1978 and 1984; they were 72 men and 39 women. Eighty-one patients (73%) had cardiac thrombosis, 65 times (53%) in right chambers and 56 times (46%) in left ones. Sixty-seven patients (60%) had thromboembolic episodes, 41 (65%) to the lungs, 23 (38%) to other organs (target organs: the kidneys in 21 cases, spleen in four, brain in two, abdominal aorta in one, mesenteric artery in one and iliac artery in one). Right chamber thrombosis occurred 65 times, 35 (53%) with pulmonary thromboembolism. Left chamber thrombosis occurred 56 times, 24 (42%) with systemic thromboembolism. A total of 41 patients had pulmonary thromboembolism, only six (14%) without right chamber thrombosis; of 26 patients with systemic thromboembolism, only two (7%) did not have left chamber thrombosis. The authors concluded that the incidence of thrombosis and thromboembolism was high in the group studied, and that there was a relationship between chamber thrombosis and systemic or pulmonary thromboembolism. PMID- 2604565 TI - [Evaluation of the effects of macerated oral dipyridamole on the ergometric test]. AB - Eighteen male patients with ages varying from 42 to 72 years (average 60.6), with coronary heart disease confirmed by angiography, on regular rehabilitation program and on regular use of dipyridamole were submitted to three exercise stress tests: a control test (TE1) and forty minutes after oral administration of macerated dipyridamole in doses of 150 mg (TE2) and 300 mg (TE3), respectively. The comparison between the data of TE2 and TE1 demonstrated that in TE2 the ST depression was more accentuated in the smallest maximal load attained and in the effort peak as well. The comparison between the data of TE3 and TE1 showed that in TE3: 1) the ST depression was more evident in the effort peak and in the smallest attained load; 2) the heart rate and the product heart rate x blood pressure were smaller in the effort peak; 3) the total time of angina and the time for its relief after effort, were longer. The other exercise stress test parameters did not show any significant changes. These data, suggest that the physical effort overload, after dipyridamole administration, produced a more marked myocardial ischemia, whose degree was proportional to the dose. PMID- 2604566 TI - [Estimation of blood pressure in children using a regression equation]. AB - Blood pressure was determined at the Instituto de Educacao do Rio de Janeiro in apparently normal school children, aged 5 to 12 years. Among the 2045 school children, 12 were considered unfit for the study as they presented symptoms of illnesses which could affect the results. The total number was, then, reduced to 2033 children--689 boys and 1344 girls. The blood pressure was measured by auscultatory method of the right arm with children lying supine. A mercury manometer and cuffs of adequate sizes were used. A record of pulse rate, weight and height was also obtained. Normal maximum limits of blood pressure was established according to the 95th percentile. The correlations of weight, height and blood pressure were determined and a regression equation could be elaborated; thus, one can obtain an estimated blood pressure from a child's weight and height. PMID- 2604567 TI - [Rupture of the interventricular septum after acute myocardial infarction in the absence of typical symptoms and electrocardiographic changes. A case report]. AB - A 79 year old man with sudden dyspnea, syncope and third degree heart block underwent a pacemaker (PM) implantation. He persisted with these symptoms and on the third day after the procedure it was detected a precordial holosystolic murmur. A ventricular septal rupture consequence of PM implantation was suspected. The coronary-ventriculography revealed a 99% stenosis in right coronary artery, inferior myocardial infarction and an interventricular communication. Previously, there were no other clinical manifestations nor electrocardiographic alterations suggestive of myocardial ischemia or infarction in this patient. We discuss about the rare association of an unrecognized acute myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular septal rupture. PMID- 2604568 TI - [Right ventricular myxoma simulating pulmonary valve stenosis. A case report]. AB - A 17 year old girl was asymptomatic until 3 months ago, when she noticed palpitations and chest pain. Physical examination revealed a systolic murmur + + +/6 in the pulmonary area. Chest X-ray showed discrete dilatation of the pulmonary trunk and the electrocardiogram a first degree heart block. The diagnosis of myxoma was established after echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization when a mobile cardiac mass was identified in the right ventricular outflow tract. The tumor was removed using extracorporeal circulation and the ventricular access through the right atrium. After a 16 month follow-up the patient is dealing a normal life and there are no signs of recurrence. PMID- 2604569 TI - Panarteritis precipitating extensive circumferential acute myocardial infarction. A case report. AB - It is widely known that other causes than recent coronary thrombosis may precipitate acute myocardial infarction in the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. A 48 year old male patient was admitted due to acute coronary insufficiency. The ECG showed anterolateral necrosis and lateral ischemia. Despite medication angina persisted and he died immediately after coronary angiography. At autopsy, established coagulation necrosis was observed in the internal half and the subendocardium of the lateral and posterior walls, of the left ventricle. Early coagulation necrosis occupied the inner half of the anterior, posterior and septal walls. Severe atherosclerotic coronary lesions were found in all major coronary trunks. An extensive panarteritis, involving extra and intramyocardial branches, consisting of mononuclear cells and prominent edema, was observed. A mixed mechanism may be invoked to explain the extensive myocardial necrosis: panarteritic infiltrates and extensive edema and humoral induced coronary spasm. PMID- 2604570 TI - [Clinical forms of chronic Chagas' cardiopathy]. PMID- 2604571 TI - [Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty using balloon catheterization. Immediate results in 80 cases]. AB - In our first 80 attempts of percutaneous double balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) 77 procedures have been successful. The mean patients age was 44 +/- 17 years, there were 16 men; 12 patients had previously been operated, 29 patients had important valvular deterioration (calcifications, thickening or unpliability) or of subvalvar system. For technical failure BMV was performed with only one balloon in 8 patients. BMV resulted in significant improvement in haemodynamic values: the mean capillary pressure fell from 22 +/- 6 to 12 +/- 5 mmHg (p less than 0.001), the mean mitral gradient from 15 +/- 6 to 5 +/- 3 mmHg (p less than 0.001). Cardiac index remained unchanged. The hemodynamic valve area, by Gorlin formula, increased from 1.09 +/- 0.29 to 2.19 +/- 0.72 cm2 (p less than 0.001). Doppler and echocardiography data were similar to haemodynamic data. Mitral valve area obtained with BMV was equivalent to the area usually obtained in closed mitral commissurotomy. There were 3 tamponades. The first, in a patient to whom BMV was not successful. For the 2 others, surgically evacuated, intracavitary pressures were measured after surgical pericardial drain. BMV was of little efficacy in one patient who died 3 days thoracotomy. The three tamponades were caused by straight tip balloon left ventricle perforation. There was no tamponade with pigtail tip catheter balloon. Mitral valve regurgitation was never increased more than 1 + Interatrial septal defect with QP/QS greater than or equal to 1.5 and less than 2 was present in 5 patients. BMV may be a useful alternative to surgery with low incidence of complication. Mitral valve area increase is similar with both treatment. PMID- 2604572 TI - [Electrocardiographic changes in pancreatitis]. AB - Of 400 patients with acute, chronic or chronic relapsing pancreatitis surveyed in the present study, only 54 had had ECG in their files. Among these, 80% showed ECG alterations, mostly sinus tachycardia and diffuse disturbances of ventricular repolarization. The causes of these alterations are, as yet controversial. Some explanations for these alterations are hypovolemia, sepsis and acute inflammatory state. Other important findings in the patients were bundle branch block, not encountered either before the pancreatic crisis or after its resolution, nor was dielectric effect and lesion current observed in either the acute and chronic forms. The possibility of the presence of previous cardiopathy in patients with high alcoholic intake, Chagas' disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, which are quite likely in these patients, should be recalled as important factors: marked electrolytes disorders were not frequent and did not correlate with ECG findings. The aim of this study is to highlight the importance of ECG during systematic search in the follow-up of patients with pancreatitis, in order to better understand associated cardiac disorders and to improve diagnosis, prevention and treatment. PMID- 2604573 TI - [Diabetic cardiac dysautonomia. Clinical and pharmacologic evaluation]. AB - Thirty-two insulin-dependent (type I) diabetic patients were studied to detect cardiovascular autonomic nervous system involvement. Half percent (16 cases) were men. Their ages ranged from 6 to 64 years (29.03 years). The average time of diagnosed diabetes was 6.5 years. The group was submitted to several clinical (respiratory, arrhythmia, Valsalva, isometric, orthostatic) and pharmacological tests (propranolol and atropine). The physiological responses were measured as heart beat frequency and blood pressure. Results were analyzed by various statistical methods. Evaluation through a diabetic complication scale showed that ten (31.25%) were uncomplicated), 14 (43.75%) at grade 1, four (12.50%) at grade 2, two (6.25%) at grade 3 and two (6.25%) at grade 4. This scale only correlated to the term of diabetes (p less than 0.01). Results from the autonomic test battery indicated that 12 (37.50%) had isolated parasympathetic damage, five (15.62%) sympathetic lesions, and two (6.25%) had mixed type involvement. We observed, as to cardiovascular autonomic involvement, 13 (40.62%) had no involvement and 19 (59.38%) had some degree of damage; in the latter group, 15 (46.78%) had early lesions and four (12.50%) definite. PMID- 2604574 TI - [Dysplastic pulmonary valve and pulmonary valvuloplasty. A case report]. AB - The authors report a case of dysplastic pulmonary valve which undergone unsuccessfully balloon dilation. Clinical, non-invasive and angiographic diagnostic criteria are discussed. PMID- 2604575 TI - [Mitral valve insufficiency caused by endomyocardial fibrosis of the left ventricle. A case report]. AB - A 38-year old female patient, who had asymptomatic heart disease for seven years, developed progressive and fatal heart failure in eight months. The diagnosis of mitral valve insufficiency was made five months before death. The necropsy revealed that the etiology of mitral insufficiency was isolated left ventricle endomyocardial fibrosis with unusual involvement of the posterior cusp of the mitral valve. PMID- 2604576 TI - [Myocarditis simulating acute myocardial infarction. A case report]. AB - A six month-old infant presenting congestive heart failure and electrocardiographic features of acute myocardial infarction, including increased CK-MB levels. The echocardiographic study showed normal origin of the coronary arteries and features compatible with myocardiopathy. After good early response to conventional therapy, the patient developed severe congestive heart failure and shock, and died. In the post-mortem study, the coronary arteries were previous. Microscopic study was compatible with acute myocarditis. PMID- 2604577 TI - [Pseudo-false aneurysm of the left ventricle simulating pulmonary neoplasm. A case report]. AB - The case of a 74 year old woman with pseudo-false aneurysm of the left ventricle after a silent myocardial infarction stimulating left pulmonary neoplasm is presented. Special emphasis in given to the uncommon aspects of the case, its rarity and the association of the pseudo-false aneurysm with a true aneurysm of left ventricle. PMID- 2604578 TI - [Bedside cardiac catheterization. Advantages and disadvantages]. AB - Three hundred patients submitted to bedside heart catheterization (BHC) from 1973 to 1985 were studied, in order to assess advantages and risks of the procedure. Two-hundred and sixty seven patients (89%) suffered a myocardial infarction (MI) and 146 of them were in functional class (Killip) II, 36 in FC III and 71 in FC IV. Thirty cases were submitted to BHC due to congestive heart failure. BHC was successful in 288 patients (96%) and the wedge pressure (WP) could be measured in 236 cases (78.7%). The WP was less than 18 mmHg in 47.2% of the patients in FC II, in 44.9% of the patients in FC III and in 35.3% of those in FC IV. Minor complications occurred in 33 cases (11.0%); balloon rupture in 12 (4.0%), transient arrhythmias in 11 (3.7%) and lumen obstruction in another 10 cases (3.3%). Forty five patients (15.0%) presented major complications related to the procedure: pulmonary infarction (PI) in 18 cases (6%), phlebitis in 15 cases (5%), sustained arrhythmias in 10 cases (3.3%), pulmonary artery rupture and endocarditis each in 1 case. The mean age between the group of patients with and without complications was similar the maintenance time as greater in the group of patients with complications: 3.4 +/- 0.2 vs 2.7 +/- 0.1 days (p less than 0.05). We concluded that many patients with clinical evidence of heart failure had WP smaller than 18 mmHg, emphasizing the value of the procedure in patients with complicated MI. The maintenance time was associated with the occurrence of complications, mainly PI and phlebitis. PMID- 2604579 TI - [Physical exercise and serum lipids]. AB - The physical activity shows an inverse correlation with Ischaemic Cardiopathy, with evidence that lipids and lipoproteins blood levels are favourably modified by exercise. In this way, this study compared the different degrees of physical activity and the levels of blood lipids/lipoproteins, as well as the anthropometric and physiological variants. One hundred fifty seven non smoking males, aged 15 to 31 years old, average 21 years, were divided in two groups: G1 comprises 88 athletes individuals and G2, 69 non-athletes. The G1 individuals showed less corporal fat and better aerobic capacity than the G2 individuals. The levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and the VLDL/cholesterol ratio were lower in the G1 individuals, as well as the risk rate 1 and 2, respectively the ratio of cholesterol/HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol. There was no difference in both groups regarding the LDL and HDL cholesterol. In the G2 individuals the percentage of corporal fat had a direct correlation to the blood levels of triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol, and an inverse correlation to the HDL cholesterol blood level. Also, in this group there was a significative correlation to the risk rate 1 and 2. However, in G1 individuals the lipidic/lipoprotein levels were more favourable, which suggests a lower risk of developing Ischaemic Cardiopathy. Statistical analysis was obtained through "t" Student, X2 and Spearman methods, with significance level of 0.05. PMID- 2604580 TI - [The porcine valve prosthesis and pregnancy]. AB - Anticoagulation is the chief problem during pregnancy of women with mechanical prosthetic valves. Many studies have investigated a nonthrombogenic valve. Since 1978 we have used a biological porcine prosthetic valves in 16 pregnancies, 11 patients with regular clinical electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and chest roentgenographic follow-up. The patients' ages were 19 to 32 years during pregnancy. Nine had mitral, one aortic and one mitro-aortic prosthesis. Two patients dropped out during the study so we completed it with 14 pregnancies. Six patients coursed with grade I heart failure (HYHA), five grade II and three grade IV. All of them were treated clinically. Four valves had dysfunction and calcification during pregnancy and two before pregnancy. The pregnancies resulted in three abortions, seven normal deliveries and four caesarean section with obstetric indication. Fetal distress was not observed during or after delivery. The physiopathology of valve dysfunction during pregnancy was discussed and it was concluded that the biologic porcine prosthetic valve allows hemodynamic stabilization. If dysfunction appears it may be clinically controlled without need of anticoagulation, risk of calcification nor dysfunction during pregnancy. The biologic valves are best indicated for women who wish to become pregnant after valve substitution. PMID- 2604581 TI - [Fatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a newborn infant. A case report]. AB - A patient with severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart failure at six weeks of age is reported. It was believed that myocardial infarction had occurred based on the striking ECG changes and the histologic appearance of the myocardium at necropsy. PMID- 2604582 TI - [Septic pulmonary embolism and endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus in the tricuspid valve after infectious abortion. Report of 2 cases]. AB - We report the cases of two patients with septic pulmonary embolism and respiratory failure after septic abortion. Hysterectomy was performed in both patients after unsuccessful uterine curettage and antibiotic therapy for treatment of the infection. The first patient (27 years-old) remained feverish. The blood cultures yielded Staphylococcus aureus. Tricuspid valve endocarditis was identified as the reason for persistent infection. Antibiotic treatment properly planned was administered and the patient was discharged. The second patient (23 years-old) apparently recovered after hysterectomy. Nevertheless, one month later, infection and septic pulmonary embolism recurred. The diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus tricuspid valve endocarditis was made. Persistent infection unresponsive to medical treatment led to surgical treatment. The patient died after valve replacement. Thus the persistence or recurrence of infection and septic abortion may be due to tricuspid valve endocarditis. PMID- 2604583 TI - [Syphilitic aneurysm communicating with an aortic sinus of Valsalva. A case report]. AB - The authors present the case of a 27-year old woman with an aneurysm, possibly originating from an ectopic coronary sprout and communicating with the right anterior sinus of Valsalva. Secondary syphilitic lesions were observed. By virtue of its great size and localization, this aneurysm produced obstruction of the outlet of the right ventricle and dislocation of the left coronary artery. The authors conclude that this aneurysm was a congenital anomaly because of its great volume, configuration, the way it opened in the aortic right anterior sinus of Valsalva, the normal aortic wall and valve, and normal sinuses of Valsalva, observed at surgery. The follow-up was uneventful. PMID- 2604585 TI - [Preventive cardiology in Brazil. Perspectives of reducing cardiovascular mortality]. PMID- 2604584 TI - [Evaluation of aortic insufficiency in aortic dissection. Significance of intraoperative echocardiography on the conservation of the valve. A case report]. AB - A 34-year old man presented with dyspnea and a new murmur of aortic regurgitation (AR). Two months before he had a episode of acute chest pain. The diagnosis of type A chronic aortic dissection was done on the basis of clinical signs and digital angiography. At surgery, intraoperative two-dimensional echocardiography (Iop Echo) showed a large intimal flap prolapsing into the leaflets during diastole causing AR, without primary involvement of the aortic valve. The aorta was transected just above the valve commissures and a 30 mm woven graft was sutured end to end. The false lumen was closed distally and incorporated into the graft-aorta suture line. Valve replacement was not performed. After the surgical procedure, a Iop Echo indicated competence of the aortic valve by means of contrast injection in the aortic root. AR due to the interference of an intimal flap with the aortic leaflets was not yet been reported. To our knowledge, this is the first case of this mechanism and illustrates the potential value of Iop Echo in diagnosis of aortic dissection. PMID- 2604586 TI - [Volvulus of the cecum. A case report]. AB - The authors present one case of intestinal obstruction by volvulus of the cecum. The patient had abdominal pain for 4 days. This pain was colicky in nature and of greatest in density in the left iliac fossa. He was nauseated, had anorexia, and had been vomiting. Abdominal distension was present. Plain-roentgenogram of the abdomen showed an enormously distended gas-filled intestinal loop in the upper abdomen just to the left of midline. At surgery there was volvulus of the cecum located in the upper abdomen to the left of midline. The cecum was viable and was relocated in the right lower quadrant and secured to the antero-lateral abdominal wall (cecopexy). The patient made a good postoperative recovery. PMID- 2604587 TI - Infectoepidemilogic and immunologic implications of Campylobacter coli enteritis in one newborn monozygotic twin pair. AB - Since campylobacter infections in humans at early age have not been thoroughly documented yet, it seemed interesting to report the occurrence of two simultaneous cases of C. coli enteritis in one newborn monozygotic twin pair. Their clinical history, epidemiology and microbiological analysis, development of specific serum and mucosal immunity as well as total Ig synthesis are discussed on the basis of their close genetic and environmental relationships. PMID- 2604588 TI - [Clinical conference at the Brazilian Institute for Studies and Research in Gastroenterology]. PMID- 2604590 TI - Micromachines: new tools for artificial organs and surgery. PMID- 2604589 TI - Acute pancreatitis induced by scorpion toxin, tityustoxin. Histopathological study in rats. AB - The toxin produced by the Brazilian scorpion Tityrus serrulatus (Tityustoxin) promotes pancreatitis when injected into dogs and rats. The aim of this study is to analyse the histological picture of the rat pancreas at different time intervals after tityustoxin administration. Male adult Wistar rats, weighing 250 +/- 30 g, received i.v. injections of tityustoxin. Different groups were sacrificed after 10, 20 and 40 minutes and after 24 and 96 hours. In all groups the pancreas was removed and examined under light microscope. Results show specific lesions after TsTX administration. After 10, 20 and 40 minutes histological sections of the pancreas showed degeneration with degranulation. After 24 and 96 hours a characteristic picture of acute pancreatitis was evident. Since cellular damage to the pancreas is evident soon after TxTX injection, we suggest a direct action of the venom on this organ. Furthermore, based on these findings, it is possible to claim for a rapid onset of the management of patients offended by scorpion stings. PMID- 2604591 TI - Clinical application of a self-sealing poly(ether-urethane) graft applicable to blood access for hemodialysis. AB - A poly(ether-urethane) graft (PEU) has been developed by our group and examined clinically. From July 1986, four straight and 11 loop grafts were implanted in 15 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. One straight and three loop grafts thrombosed between 1-6 months after the operation. One loop graft was ligated to remedy edema caused by a preexisting subclavian vein thrombosis. Angiographic findings of the grafts revealed a smooth positioning of the graft in most of the cases with minimal to moderate stenosis at anastomotic sites. Punctured sites were identified as tiny filling defects on the wall. However, neither stenosis nor aneurysmal dilatation were observed. Specimens of the graft were obtained from three patients to examine histological findings. Neointimal coverage was observed near the anastomotic site in a specimen obtained 6 months after the operation. The bare luminal surface still remained at the center of the graft. No clinical sign of peripheral thrombi was found. In addition to the clinical experience, this study is supplemented with the preliminary result of an animal experiment using a newly modified PEU graft with an open structure on the luminal surface. PMID- 2604592 TI - Experimental study on the adsorption of excess heparin with anion exchange resin fiber. AB - Anion exchange resin fiber (Ionex) was used as a heparin adsorbent. Ionex has the adsorption capacity of 70 mg/g (weight by desiccation) for heparin, and was used in an attempt to remove the heparin from blood-perfused artificial organs, before the blood was transfused back into the patients. In the ex vivo study, the 5 systemically heparinized dogs (500 U/kg) were treated with a 35-40 g column of Ionex, by direct hemoperfusion (DHP). The concentration of heparin was significantly reduced, within 15 to 60 minutes, using the Ionex. This suggested the possibility of removing excess heparin from the living body. In in vitro, the relationship between the amount of heparin by Ionex and the blood-flow volume were evaluated. Whole blood taken from dogs was added to 5 U/ml of heparin. This was then introduced into a small column containing 0.9 g Ionex, at blood-flow rates of 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 ml/min. A good adsorption capacity was shown at the blood-flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. One possible explanation for this is that the heparin dispersed in the blood cells gradually was passed on into the plasma and, so, did not have time to be adsorbed at the faster flow rates. PMID- 2604593 TI - Effect of plasmapheresis on the liver uptake of ApoB-lipoproteins labeled with technetium-99m. AB - To study liver low density lipoprotein (LDL)-receptor activity before and after plasmapheresis, [99mTc] very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) was used. Autologous VLDL was labeled, sterilized by filtration, and administered intravenously to patients under a gamma camera. The uptake of lipoproteins in the liver was measured by scintiscanning. Liver activity curves were generated for each patient. The liver activity in patients with the heterozygous form of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and in patients with symptomatic atherosclerosis (SA) without hereditary deficit of LDL receptors was reduced as compared to healthy people. Plasmapheresis enhanced the liver uptake of the 99mTc-labeled lipoproteins in atherosclerotic patients. Thus, labeled metabolites could presumably be of use in assessing the effect of plasmapheresis on liver function. PMID- 2604594 TI - Efficient continuous flow washing of red blood cells for exogenous agent loading using a hollow fiber plasma separator. AB - Red blood cells (RBCs) are naturally occurring and biodegradable and are therefore ideal in vivo exogeneous agent (EA) carriers. Before being loaded with the EAs, the RBCs are washed, a process that normally involves repeated centrifugation with an iso-osmotic solution. Washing the RBCs can be achieved more efficiently and rapidly using a capillary hollow fiber plasma separator until the blood is 99.5% protein free. Here, a separator area of 0.25 m2 was preferentially selected over a 0.5 m2 device because the reduction in RBC washing time associated with the latter was considered insufficient to justify the use of the more costly (0.5 m2) separator. Mathematical modelling of this continuous flow system indicates that washing time is mainly dependent on the volume of blood to be processed and the filtration rate. Using the separator, 300 ml of blood can be washed in less than 15 min. PMID- 2604595 TI - Influence of high and low wall shear rates on the inhibition of factor Xa and thrombin at surfaces coated with immobilized heparin. AB - The thromboresistant function of a surface with end-point attached heparin is based upon interaction among the immobilized heparin, antithrombin, and at least factor Xa or thrombin. Heparinized arteriovenous shunts were implanted in dogs. By compressing a segment of the shunt, high and low wall shear rate regions were obtained in each shunt. After removal, the tubings were tested for their factor Xa and thrombin inhibitory capacity. It was found that on a molar basis, the factor Xa and thrombin inhibitory capacity were similar in low wall shear rate segments. In high wall shear rate segments, the thrombin inhibitory capacity was decreased, thus indicating that the AT-mediated inhibition of the serine protease is dependent on the wall shear rate. PMID- 2604596 TI - Artificial placenta: long-term extrauterine incubation of isolated goat fetuses. AB - Previously, this group reported on a system of extrauterine incubation of a goat fetus, in which the fetus is surrounded by artificial amniotic fluid and connected to the circuit with an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenator) by the umbilical arteries and veins. The following is a summary of recent progress using an improved method of catheterization and a new system that included a dialyzer within the circuit. Nine goat fetuses were used in this experiment. Six goats were successfully incubated; the duration of their incubation was 146.5 +/- 61.3 h (mean +/- SD). The longest one was 236 h. Slowly progressive circulatory depression was thought to be the main cause of fetal death. Marked tendencies to bleeding and water retention were not observed in any cases. Stable serum electrolyte levels were maintained. PMID- 2604597 TI - High-pressure portable pneumatic drive unit. AB - The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) is a single-chamber assist pump, driven by a high-pressure pneumatic cylinder. A low-cost, portable driver that will allow cardiac care patients, with a high-pressure pneumatic ventricle assist, more freedom of movement has been developed. The compact and light-weight configuration can provide periods of 2 h of freedom from a fixed position driver and does not use exotic technology. PMID- 2604598 TI - Control of the total artificial heart: new aspects in human versus animal experience. AB - Control strategies for total artificial heart application have generally been based on experience with healthy animals. Human patients in a bad state of health who have impaired organ functions and who are subjected to intensive care procedures can develop atypical hemodynamic behavior. In these patients, both unstable and hyperstable behavior of the vascular resistance were observed. Therefore, regulation of cardiac output (CO) by pressure parameters only was avoided and CO was adjusted to obtain an appropriate O2-utilization (O2U). Intending to keep the O2U within ranges of 20-25%, we obtained cardiac indexes between 3.3 and 4.4 L/m2/min (CO 6-8 L/min), which is higher than other cardiac indexes reported. A CO of 10.5 L/min was even necessary to obtain an O2U of 30% in a septic patient. This strategy caused a stable driving management and led to a rapid hemodynamic stabilization and general improvement of the patients' condition. Results indicate that it is also very important to monitor metabolic parameters for appropriate driver adjustment as well, especially in the early postoperative phase, and that O2-U is a sensitive and useful parameter for this purpose. PMID- 2604599 TI - Contractile response to electrical stimulation of the small intestine in anesthetized and awake dogs. AB - To test whether small bowel contraction can be induced by electrostimulation similar to in vitro results in anesthetized and awake animals, five dogs had stainless steel electrodes implanted on the serosal surface of the jejunum and ileum. Fifty milliamperes of 500-microseconds 910-Hz currents induced a 50-80-mm Hg pressure increase in the jejunum with a threshold of 25 mA. Transverse stimulation was studied long-term in two dogs. The mean pressure change for 500 microseconds 910-Hz 25-mA stimulation in 10 studies was 26 mm Hg (0-75). The thresholds ranged between 15 mA and currents not tolerated by the animal. For 200 microseconds 1.67-kHz 30-mA stimulation, the mean pressure change was 28 mm Hg (0 75 mm Hg, n = 16). On 10 occasions, the pressure increased further after termination of the stimulus (off response), with a mean of 48 mm Hg (10-85). Electrical currents elicit a mechanical response in the small intestine of the intact animal, which resembles the in vitro observations. Currents necessary to evoke contractions in the physiologic range are tolerated by the trained animal. PMID- 2604600 TI - General planning of an artificial organ center. AB - There is an increasing need for research and development centers to deal with design and evaluation of organ replacement systems, the improvement of older devices, and the study of biocompatibility problems. Special attention, in this article, is focused on the determinant role of the background of the investigators involved in a given center and the selection of research programs to be pursued. Financial and architectural aspects are discussed in general terms. Appropriate planning of artificial organ centers should allow conceptualizing research and development that will exert a practical impact on patient care locally and worldwide. PMID- 2604601 TI - Abstracts from the International Symposium on Vascular Access for Blood Purification Methods and Catheter Technology. Homburg/Saar, F.R.G., November 10 12, 1988. PMID- 2604602 TI - Oral hairy leukoplakia: an overview. PMID- 2604603 TI - Characteristics of the Spanish health system. PMID- 2604604 TI - What you need to know about the Spanish health system. PMID- 2604605 TI - Implementation of a quality assurance programme in a university hospital. PMID- 2604606 TI - Quality assurance programmes in primary health care in Spain. PMID- 2604607 TI - Nursing quality assurance in Spain: two experiences. PMID- 2604608 TI - Consumer opinion in quality assurance: Spanish model. PMID- 2604609 TI - Future of quality assurance in Spain. PMID- 2604610 TI - [Results of treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and the oropharynx]. PMID- 2604611 TI - Cyclophosphamide, tetrahydropyranyl-adriamycin, and cis-platinum in the treatment of head and neck adenocarcinoma. AB - Twelve patients with advanced or relapsed head and neck adenocarcinoma received a combination chemotherapy regimen of either cyclophosphamide (C), tetrahydropyranyl-adriamycin (T), and cis-platinum (P) (CTP) or cyclophosphamide, adriamycin (A), and cis-platinum (CAP). Cyclophosphamide (300 mg/sq m), either etrahydropyranyl-adriamycin (30 mg/sq m) or adriamycin (30 mg/sq m), and cis platinum (50 mg/sq m) were administered intravenously in a single day. Nine patients received the CTP regimen, and three patients, the CAP regimen. Prior to chemotherapy, five patients had received surgery or radiation therapy, and the other seven patients received no special treatment. A response rate 75% was achieved (9/12); there were 7 complete responses, whose duration was a mean 6.8 months, ranging from 2 to 18 months, and 2 partial responses, whose duration was 2 months. Virtually all patients experienced nausea and vomiting. Alopecia developed in 7 patients; however, the patients with the CTP regimen experienced less alopecia, if any. Leucopenia and anemia of either a slight or moderate degree were observed, but there was no patient for whom it was necessary to discontinue the treatment. Both CTP and CAP regimens appear to be of significant value in controlling head and neck adenocarcinoma. PMID- 2604612 TI - Two-level screening audiometry in public school. AB - The two-level screening audiometry has been performed every year since 1980 in Kobe City. The method is as follows. When a child fails to respond to 30 dB at 1 kHz or 25 dB at 4 kHz, he is tested at a level 20 dB higher. Thus one can obtain more information as to the grade and type of the hearing impairment of a child than by the usual one-level screening method. According to the two-level test the hearing status of each child was classified into 9 types, i.e., 0 (normal) to 8. Thus the hearing types of both ears of each child are described in two digits, for example 3--6. This method may be useful for statistical purposes as well as for individual care of hearing impaired school children, especially for children who need educational care but cannot consult the otological clinics for some reason. From the otological point of view, our method offers valuable information about the unawared sensorineural deafness in children of school age. (The children themselves, school teachers, and parents do not aware of its presence.) PMID- 2604613 TI - [Epidemiologic studies of tinnitus aurium]. AB - The prevalence of tinnitus was examined in a group of 270 persons from an average cross-section of the population of Ulm. For statistical reasons we selected eight groups aged exactly 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 years. Thirty-one percent of those examined have already noted the presence of tinnitus at some point in time. Temporary tinnitus lasting not longer than 5 min. was reported in 19.5% and longer lasting tinnitus in 11.5% of cases. The highest incidence of 55% was found at the age of 20. The previously assumed age dependent increase in the incidence of tinnitus was seen only in the longer lasting type (5 min). The age dependent incidence of tinnitus was statistically correlated to audiogram, blood pressure, grade of physical activity, noise stress, and vertigo. The low incidence of tinnitus in presbyacusis (11%) differs from previous studies. Hypertension was associated with a lower incidence of tinnitus than normotension or hypotension. PMID- 2604614 TI - Scanning electron microscopic study of the middle ear mucosa after transtympanic infusion of fluids with different osmotic pressure. AB - This study focused on the morphological alteration of the mucous membrane of the middle ear after transtympanic infusion of fluids with different osmotic pressure. Our results suggested that fluids with high osmotic pressure will seriously damage the mucous membrane of the middle ear regardless of whether or not the fluids have ototoxicity. On the other hand, fluids with low osmotic pressure were found to demonstrate minor changes on the mucous membrane. The authors have confirmed through this study that Beriplast-P A (894 mOsm) and B (228 mOsm), fibrinogen-based tissue sealants, may be safely used in the middle ear with minimum injury to the mucous membrane. PMID- 2604615 TI - Influences on taste in the area of chorda tympani nerve after transtympanic injection of local anesthetic (4% lidocaine). AB - Transtympanic injection of 4% lidocaine (TTIL) is a unique procedure to treat tinnitus. Some physicians in Japan have been adopting this procedure to treat tinnitus. It has several complications, and safety standards of this procedure have not yet been established. Among the complications, we focused on "transient taste disturbance" after TTIL, because there have been no detailed reports on this subject. We examined the taste sensation in the area of the chorda tympani nerve before and after TTIL by applying electrogustometry with dB scale (EGM) and filter-paper disc method (FPD method). For a control, we used transtympanic injection of 0.4% dexamethasone (TTIS). After TTIL, transient pathway insufficiency on chorda tympani nerve was observed both in the EGM and the FPD methods, but this pathway insufficiency recovered within 24 h. Some patients felt spontaneous abnormal bitter taste sensation in the oral cavity after TTIL, but the reason for this phenomenon could not be determined. PMID- 2604616 TI - Clinical evaluation of vidian neurectomy for nasal allergy. AB - For the clinical evaluation of vidian neurectomy, questionnaires were sent to 250 cases operated on from 1971 to 1982, with answers obtained from 171. For sneezing, 56.8% of cases were evaluated markedly effective, 36.7% effective, 4.3% unchanged, and 2.2% aggravated. For rhinorrhea, markedly effective was 54.7%; effective, 39.4%; unchanged, 3.7%; aggravated, 2.2%. For nasal obstruction, markedly effective was 67.5%; effective, 27.4%; unchanged, 5.1%; and aggravated, 0%. On the other hand, 20% of cases complained of relapse of nasal allergic symptoms. Concerning the side effects, 28.7% of cases complained of cheek, upper lip, or palate numbness. Decrease of lacrimation was noted in 9.4% of cases. Several kinds of disturbances in the eye movement were observed in 4% of cases. Among them, 16 cases showed complete recovery within 24 h. In 3 cases, abducens paralysis continued for several months. Postoperative arterial bleeding occurred in one case. My recent strategy for the treatment of allergic rhinitis is conservative treatment at first, secondary nasal surgery such as septoplasty or turbinotomy, and at last vidian neurectomy if the patient agrees to be operated on after understanding the side effects. PMID- 2604617 TI - Magnetic control for the vocal cord adduction in the canine. AB - An entirely satisfactory and physiologic solution to adduct paralyzed vocal cord during phonation, coughing, and swallowing has not yet been achieved. The authors noticed that velopharyngeal closure takes place simultaneously with adduction of vocal cords in order to perform phonation, coughing, and swallowing. We devised a new laryngeal pacing system to adduct the paralyzed vocal cord, utilizing velopharyngeal closure under magnetic control. Two mongrel dogs were anesthetized and the interior of the larynx was exposed using a Lynch suspension laryngoscope. A small magnet wrapped by thin Silastic was inserted into the nasal side of the soft palate via a small incision. After making a vertical midline neck incision, the pharynx was dissected and the Gaussmeter probe was inserted into the retropharyngeal space. The Gaussmeter probe was connected to the Gaussmeter and finally to the pacemaker. Electrodes were inserted into the paralyzed adductor laryngeal intrinsic muscles via punctures of the cricothyroid membrane. When the pacing system operated, arbitrarily elevated soft palate to the posterior pharyngeal wall brought about an abrupt increase in magnetic force and thus obvious adduction of the paralyzed vocal cords could be seen. PMID- 2604618 TI - Pathogenesis of cholesteatoma based on clinical results of anterior tympanotomy. AB - A new conception of the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma is proposed based on clinical results of anterior tympanotomy, a procedure developed in order to prevent recurrence of cholesteatoma following retraction pocket formation after canal-up operation. In the cholesteatomatous ear, there is always a long, thick bony septum between the epitympanum and the supratubal recess. This septum is called the anterior attic bony plate, forming the tympanic diaphragm together with the tensor tympani mucosal fold. In anterior tympanotomy, this bony plate is removed finishing intact canal wall mastoidectomy, making a new ventilating route to the eustachian tube. With this technique, the rate of recurrence was reduced from 17 to 5%. Based on these results it is proposed that the real pathogenesis of cholesteatoma is not tubal dysfunction, but the osseous tympanic diaphragm. PMID- 2604619 TI - If you need a bed try the bureau! PMID- 2604620 TI - Blood pressure quiz. PMID- 2604621 TI - Iatrogenic factor. PMID- 2604622 TI - Lithium. Part 2--Current practice. PMID- 2604623 TI - Death where is thy sting? PMID- 2604624 TI - Assessment of haemolytic and thromboembolic potentials--from CFD studies of Starr Edwards cardiac valve prostheses. AB - Quantitative assessments of haemolysis, thromboembolism and endothelial damage are established using computational fluid dynamics and documented threshold values. The regime studied was steady forward (systolic) flow through a fully open Starr-Edwards model 1260 ball valve, in an aortic shaped chamber. Modelling was carried out using finite difference techniques for turbulent, Newtonian flow. Haemolysis was not predicted "in-bulk", but a haemolytic potential as high as 30% was suggested at prosthetic surfaces. Also a 10% thromboembolic potential and a 6% potential for endothelium damage were noted. PMID- 2604625 TI - 3-D superposition for radiotherapy treatment planning using fast Fourier transforms. AB - Currently used radiotherapy treatment planning algorithms based on effective path length or scatter function methods do not model electron ranging from photon interaction sites. The superposition (or convolution) technique does model this effect, which is especially important at higher (linear accelerator) energies since the electron range is significant. Another advantage of this method is that it is conceptually simple and models the physical processes directly, rather than using empirically derived methods. A major disadvantage of superposition lies in the large amount of computer time required to generate a plan, especially in three dimensions. To help solve this problem, superposition using an invariant dose spread array (kernel) can be achieved by performing a convolution in Fourier space using fast Fourier transforms (FFTs). A method for 3 dimensional calculation of dose using FFTs is presented. Dose spread arrays are calculated using the EGS Monte Carlo code, and convolved with the TERMA (total energy released per unit mass). In both cases a 10 MV nominal beam energy is modelled by a 10 component spectrum, which is compared to the result obtained using monochromatic energy only (3.0 MeV at the surface). The FFT technique is shown to be significantly faster than standard convolution for medium to large TERMA and dose spread array sizes. The method is shown to be highly accurate for small fields in homogeneous media. For larger fields the central axis depth dose is accurate but the profile shape in the penumbral region becomes slightly distorted. This is because photons incident near the beam edges are not parallel to the cartesian coordinate system used as the convolution framework. However, this effect is sufficiently small to indicate that the convolution method is suitable for use in routine treatment planning. PMID- 2604626 TI - Modelling polychromatic high energy photon beams by superposition. AB - A unified three dimensional superposition approach to dose calculations used in treatment planning of polychromatic high energy photon beams in radiotherapy is developed. The approach we have used involves computing the dose at all points in a medium by superposing the dose spread array (DSA) from the interaction of a photon at a point in the medium with an array of data representing the TERMA (photon fluence times the photon energy) at points in the beam. The polychromatic nature of the beam is accounted for by modelling the beam as having ten spectral components. A "polychromatic dose spread array" (PDSA) for an interaction from a beam with this spectrum was derived. The TERMA array is calculated from a weighted average of the TERMA arrays for the ten photon energies to give a "polychromatic TERMA array". Thus the method accounts for the effect of beam hardening of the TERMA. But it does not account for the effect of beam hardening on the PDSA since a single PDSA (usually for the spectrum at the surface of the medium) is used at all depths. However, by considering measured and calculated beam central axis data, this model is shown to be adequate for computing depth doses for beams in a homogeneous medium penetrating to extreme radiological depths. A computation time advantage is gained because only one superposition per beam is required. PMID- 2604627 TI - EEG monitoring using aperiodic analysis during carotid and open heart surgery. AB - The Cerebral Electrical Activity (CEA) was monitored by Lifescan in 38 patients undergoing carotid surgery under general or regional anaesthesia and another 20 patients during cardiopulmonary bypass undergoing open heart surgery. This monitor uses aperiodic analysis to process the electroencephalogram. Abrupt changes in CEA were observed when blood flow was disrupted due to surgical intervention or administration of thiopentone. Gradual changes in CEA were due to anaesthesia or hypothermia. In one patient a long period of depressed CEA did not result in a neurological deficit and in another patient a neurological event was undetected by the monitor. PMID- 2604628 TI - Maintenance of visual fixation using a reaction-time task. AB - The VEP to pattern reversal was recorded in eight healthy subjects who were instructed to fixate on a central LED in the stimulating screen. The LED could be extinguished at irregular intervals approximately once every 10 s and the subjects were then required to re-light it as rapidly as possible in a reaction time task. In the first series of recordings subjects were reminded verbally to maintain visual fixation throughout the averaging sequences. When the reaction time paradigm was used to maintain visual fixation, the VEP was slightly less variable in latency but otherwise identical to that recorded when the subjects maintained visual fixation on a constantly illuminated LED. In a separate series of 8 consecutive averaging runs, subjects were given the reaction-time task but no verbal reminders. VEP parameters differed from those in the first series when verbal reminders had been given. There was no correlation between VEP parameters and the reaction time or its variability in individual subjects or in the group. The reaction-time task is a satisfactory means for ensuring accurate visual fixation but does not obviate the need to provide subjects with verbal encouragement to maintain full attention. PMID- 2604629 TI - A mobile traction device for MR and CT imaging. AB - The development of a spinal traction device for use in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) imaging is described. Such a device has arisen from the need to apply continuous traction to patients having suffered acute cervical spine trauma. Previous traction techniques have proven unsuitable for use in the MRI scanner, particularly as they lack stability, are awkward to implement and prove quite cumbersome to manage. Traction may be applied to a patient for periods of time in excess of 1 hour with a minimum of discomfort. Materials are used which have a negligible proton density and a low atomic number, yielding no detectable magnetic resonance and very small x-ray cross sections respectively. Calibrated traction may be applied to patients via tongs or a head harness, the latter rendering the device suitable for general transport of injured patients with traction applied. The device is compact, light and strong and contains no ferrometallic parts. Thus far in excess of 40 patients have been scanned, most in a FONAR beta-3000M .3 Tesla electromagnetic MR imager and some also in a GE 9800 Quickscan CT scanner. No artefact has been demonstrated in any of the images to date for any of the MR pulse sequences or CT kVp. Modifications likely include refinement of the tensioning mechanism, inclusion of x-ray cassette facilities and improvement of aesthetic design. PMID- 2604630 TI - Diagnostic x-ray spectra simulation, verification and application to the clinical environment. AB - A set of computer programs to simulate diagnostic x-ray spectra has been developed according to the method of Birch and Marshall, with good agreement to published HPA data. These programs have been extended to simulate spectra generated with capacitor discharge x-ray units. The application of these programs has proved useful clinically having been applied to filtration problems in chest radiography, and mobile x-ray units amongst others. PMID- 2604631 TI - The development of a thin stainless steel eye plaque to treat tumours of the eye up to 15 mm in diameter. AB - The development of a thin stainless steel ophthalmic applicator is described. The features of this device are that it can be assembled with the radioactive sources (I-125) precisely positioned without the use of adhesives or mechanical devices such as clamps or screws in a matter of a few minutes under sterile conditions. Dismantling occurs in seconds after which the applicator is ready for cleaning and re-sterilisation. The radioactive sources are contained in an acrylic button which fits neatly into a stainless steel shell 1 mm thick. Different distributions of sources may be accommodated in the same stainless steel shell by inserting a different acrylic button. The overall thickness of the plaque is 2.6 mm but potentially can be reduced to 2.1 mm. Suture holes are provided on a flange subtending 120 degrees around the circumference of the shell and are exactly matched on a stainless steel template. An analysis of the dosimetry suggests that the treatment of the radioactive I-125 seeds as point sources may lead to only small errors in the determination of dose at the scleral surface and tumour apex. The differences in the dosimetry resulting from the treatment of the seeds as line sources appear to be of little consequence. As a result, point source dosimetry with anisotropy factor removed is quite satisfactory. PMID- 2604632 TI - Cervical osteophyte induced dysphagia. AB - Although cervical spondylosis is a common disorder, dysphagia induced by osteophyte formation is uncommon. Fewer than one hundred cases of cervical osteophyte induced dysphagia have been reported, with little attention to the diagnosis by barium swallow. The radiological features of two cases treated surgically with good results are described. Both cases complained of dysphagia while one had associated respiratory obstruction on forward flexion of his neck. The features on barium study of cervical osteophytes causing dysphagia include deformity at the level of osteophyte formation, in both AP and lateral projections. Tracheal aspiration due to deformity at the laryngeal inlet and interference with epiglottic retroversion may be present. PMID- 2604633 TI - The distribution of bone metastases as shown on isotope scanning: proposed modes of spread. AB - Bone metastases may result from arterial, retrograde venous or direct spread. Three groups of patients; with carcinoma of lung, carcinoma of breast and carcinoma of prostate, each of approximately 50 individuals were studied to examine patterns of spread in order to relate this to the mechanism of seeding. Statistically significant differences (p less than 0.05) were observed in early bone spread in carcinoma of prostate (absence of skull involvement), carcinoma of lung (presence of posterior chest wall involvement) and carcinoma of breast (presence of anterior chest wall involvement). The results support retrograde venous reflux as being an important contributing mode of spread for carcinoma of prostate and local spread as being relevant in the early spread of carcinoma of lung and breast. PMID- 2604634 TI - Chronic gastric torsion in infancy: a revisited diagnosis. AB - Twenty out of 108 infants with vomiting, who underwent an upper gastrointestinal X-ray study during a period of 2 years, showed a peculiar shape and position of the stomach already described as chronic gastric torsion. We examined clinical, radiologic and laboratory findings of these 20 infants. Our results showed that chronic gastric torsion is frequently associated with gastroesophageal reflux and has a wide spectrum of symptoms, complications and nutritional abnormalities. PMID- 2604635 TI - Interventional radiology in the treatment of ureteric complications in transplant kidneys. AB - Eleven patients who had radiological procedures because of urinary leakage or ureteric obstruction in transplant kidneys are reviewed in order to judge the clinical efficacy of interventional radiological techniques in the management of these complications. Initial technical success was attained in 9/9 dilatation attempts and 17/21 (81%) stent placement attempts. It is thought that 9/11 (82%) patients benefited from the radiological attempts at treatment and at long term follow up 7 kidneys were still functioning, 3 failed due to rejection and one after failed renal artery surgery. The complication rate due to the radiological procedure was low, with one iatrogenic urine leak being the single major procedural complication. Two patients had urinary tract infections while stented and there were two patients with perirenal abscesses. PMID- 2604636 TI - Some DSA testing methods and an evaluation of eight available units. AB - Eight DSA units in the Sydney region were evaluated by a set of simple performance tests. Low contrast resolution and iodine sensitivity tests exhibited the most variation between the six fully tested units. A range of performance levels was measured. Four of the eight units required adjustment by the manufacturers' service engineer after testing. The evaluation of those units considered satisfactory by both the manufacturers and the operators indicated that the fully interfaced, integral units gave better results than the earlier 'add on' units. PMID- 2604637 TI - Galactography with contrast and dye--a two stage radiological/surgical approach to serous or bloody nipple discharge. AB - Patients with serous or bloody nipple discharge arising from a single duct are treated by a joint radiological/surgical approach at our institution. Two galactograms are performed; the first with contrast medium alone to identify any lesion and the second, one hour prior to surgery, using both contrast and methylene blue. This defines the area for the surgeon ensuring the involved duct is removed. Several case histories are described and the galactographic technique is detailed. PMID- 2604638 TI - Cerebral toxoplasmosis and lymphoma in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AB - 16 Patients with central nervous system (CNS) complications of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are described. All patients were male homosexuals. The most common demonstrable lesion in the parenchyma was toxoplasmosis, which produced an area of focal oedema, usually containing a central zone of nodular or ring-shaped enhancement. Cerebral atrophy was also a common finding. One patient had diffuse peri-ventricular lymphomatous infiltration, and a further two patients had both cerebral toxoplasmosis and lymphoma. A delayed "double dose" contrast examination appears to be the most accurate method of outlining the total extent of CNS disease in these patients. PMID- 2604639 TI - An unusual CT appearance in multiple sclerosis. AB - Multiple sclerosis, presenting with a picture on C.T. resembling neoplasia is discussed. A differential diagnosis is presented. PMID- 2604640 TI - Intracranial aneurysmal rupture and ventricular opacification during carotid angiography. AB - A case of intra-angiography rupture of an aneurysm, a rarity, is reported. It was confirmed by CT Scan and autopsy. The aneurysm ruptured despite taking all precautions recommended in the literature. This complication may be reduced by the use of non-ionic contrast media and slow flow rate injections. PMID- 2604641 TI - Cerebellar heterotopia of the cervical cord (a case report). AB - A case of cerebellar heterotopia, presenting as an exophytic mass lesion of the cervical cord and first presenting in an adult is described. PMID- 2604642 TI - Spinal dysraphism with accessory male genital organs (a case report). AB - Clinico-Radiological and operative observations of a case of spinal dysraphism with accessory male genital organs are presented. Operative observations substantiated the presence of myelomeningocele in association with the spinal dysraphism in a case with normal sized penis, urethra and scrotum on top of a huge swelling over the back. PMID- 2604643 TI - Primary obstructive megaureter--an unusual presentation. AB - A rare presentation of primary obstructive megaureter as an asymptomatic pyeloureteral cast in a non-functioning kidney is presented. PMID- 2604644 TI - The efficacy of electrocoagulation diathermy performed under local anaesthesia for the eradication of precancerous lesions of the cervix. AB - This study demonstrates the feasibility of performing electrocoagulation diathermy with intracervical infiltration of local anaesthetic for precancerous lesions of the cervix. A technique suitable for office procedure without need of any supplementary analgesia is described; 200 patients were treated in this fashion with results indicating the ability to obtain high primary cure rates with low morbidity similar to those previously obtained with general anaesthesia. PMID- 2604645 TI - Cervical cancer in South Australia: trends in incidence, mortality and case survival. AB - Approximately 90% of cervical cancers are considered preventable through regular screening and the treatment of precursor lesions, but fewer than 20% of South Australian women were found to have been screened in 1984. Data from the State Cancer Registry have shown an increase in cervical cancer incidence of approximately 80% in women under 50 years of age in the 9-year period to 1986, but a decrease of about 25% in older women. Mortality data have shown similar patterns by age, although the increase in younger women tended to extend to an older age. Case survival was unchanged between the diagnostic periods 1977-1981 and 1982-1987 and there was little change in the proportion of cases that were adenocarcinomas. PMID- 2604646 TI - The clinical significance of the serum haptoglobin concentration in patients with invasive cervical carcinoma. AB - The serum haptoglobin concentration was measured by rate nephalometry in 56 patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix, and in 24 women with no evidence of cervical pathology who served as control subjects. There was a significant difference in the mean serum haptoglobin concentration (p less than 0.005) between the 2 groups of patients. However there was no significant correlation between the serum haptoglobin concentration and the clinical stage of the disease. From our data we propose that a serum haptoglobin concentration greater than 96 mg/dl is suggestive of invasive carcinoma of the cervix, and that this may be used as additional investigation in the initial assessment of such patients. PMID- 2604647 TI - The socioeconomic status of women attending a New Zealand colposcopy clinic. AB - An analysis of a group of predominantly Caucasian women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 lesions seen at the Dunedin Hospital Colposcopy Clinic during a period when it was the only colposcopic service in the region, showed that patients in the lowest socioeconomic class, as judged by two parameters unique in New Zealand were overrepresented. This finding is in agreement with the social class gradient for cervical cancer and precursor lesions observed in other countries. Poverty, more liberal sexual activity and smoking may be factors in the genesis of cervical neoplasia amongst the women studied. In providing cervical smear facilities for at-risk women, special provision should be made for women in the lowest social stratum. PMID- 2604648 TI - Incidence and severity of gestational diabetes in Bahrain and Australia. AB - The incidence and severity of gestational diabetes in a series of 5,199 predominantly Arab patients in Bahrain, and 2,643 of mixed racial origin in Australia were studied. The incidence of gestational diabetes in Bahrain (5.4%) was less than in Australia (7.2%) but the more severe degrees were 3 times more common in Bahrain (p less than 0.001). The incidence of gestational diabetes was significantly increased with increasing maternal age and parity. A notable difference between the 2 populations occurred in the groups weighing less than 70 kg. Although Bahrain had a higher proportion of patients weighing less than 70 kg (64.7% versus 55.9%; p less than 0.001) there was a significantly higher incidence of gestational diabetes in this group in the Australian series (13.9% versus 3.7%, p less than 0.001). Postnatal testing of 165 gestational diabetics in Bahrain and 194 in Australia indicated that although the severe degrees of glucose intolerance were more likely to persist postnatally, it was impossible to predict in the individual patient the change in glucose tolerance that would occur after delivery. All gestational diabetics should therefore have a postnatal glucose tolerance test. PMID- 2604649 TI - Screening for gestational diabetes in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia. AB - This study was undertaken to determine the incidence and severity of gestational diabetes in our hospital population which is predominantly Arab; 455 consecutive patients were screened by a 3-hour glucose tolerance test in the third trimester of pregnancy. The overall incidence of gestational diabetes was found to be 11% and the incidence increased with increasing maternal age, parity and weight. A high prevalence of more severe degrees of gestational diabetes was noted among the Arabs. Glucose intolerance was observed in 2 patients in the absence of any risk factor. The most common high risk factor in patients found to have gestational diabetes was maternal age of 30 years or more. PMID- 2604650 TI - Maternal weight gain, smoking and other factors in pregnancy as predictors of infant birth-weight in Sydney women. AB - Two hundred and four (204) women attending a Sydney maternity hospital and their babies were followed throughout pregnancy in a study, which aimed: 1) to describe the distribution of maternal weight gain in present day Australian women and 2) to determine the effect of weight gain and other factors on birth-weight. Maternal weights and skinfold thicknesses were measured serially to give an indication of weight gain. Mean weight gain from conception to term was 14.2kg and mean birth-weight was 3,442g. Maternal predictors of birth-weight such as maternal weight gain, parity, age, education, height, public or private booking status, smoking, prepregnancy weight, and sex of the infant and gestational age were explored using simple and multiple regression analysis. Weight gain was predictive of birth-weight, each kg increase in total weight gain resulting in about a 30g increase in birthweight. Other strong predictors were gestational age, maternal smoking, sex of the infant and maternal parity. Maternal height was less strongly predictive and age and prepregnant weight were not predictive. Smoking mothers had infants who were 268g lighter than those of nonsmoking mothers. However, smokers were also younger, shorter, had less education and were more likely to book as public patients than nonsmokers. After adjusting for all other predictors, the birth-weight of infants whose mothers smoked, was still 224g less than that for nonsmoking mothers. PMID- 2604651 TI - Outpatient methadone programme for pregnant heroin using women. AB - A prospective study of pregnant narcotic users who attended the antenatal clinic at Westmead Hospital was undertaken to determine the practicality and safety of an outpatient methadone programme for these women. Forty-six women were commenced and managed on a methadone maintenance programme based at the Drug and Alcohol Clinic at Westmead Hospital (GROUP I), 12 women were maintained on long-term methadone therapy by outside prescribers (GROUP II), 12 women not on methadone continued to use heroin through the pregnancy (GROUP III), 14 women used heroin intermittently (GROUP IV). These were compared with a group of 52 women who were non-drug using (GROUP V). Women on the hospital based methadone programme had an earlier first antenatal clinic visit (p less than 0.001) than those women on outside methadone programmes or on heroin and had a longer pregnancy (p less than 0.001) than those women on heroin. The birth-weights on babies delivered to women on the Westmead Methadone Programme were significantly higher than those on babies born to women using heroin (p less than 0.05). A disappointing aspect of the study was a lower number of antenatal clinic visits (p less than 0.001) for all narcotic using women when compared with the comparison group. The outcome of the Westmead Methadone Programme women showed that better maternal and neonatal outcome followed entry into a hospital monitored methadone programme with attendant antenatal care. PMID- 2604652 TI - Pregnancy-induced hypertension and renal failure: clinical importance of diuretics, plasma volume and vasospasm. PMID- 2604653 TI - Bart's hydrops fetalis--clinical presentation and management--an analysis of 25 cases. AB - Twenty-nine hydropic infants were born in the Kandang Kerbau Hospital between 1980 and 1985, during which there were 131,658 deliveries, giving an incidence of 1 in 4,540 total births. Twenty-five of these cases were confirmed to be due to homozygous alpha thalassaemia. No case of fetal hydrops due to Rh isoimmunization was detected. The mean age of the mothers was 28.86 +/- 4.05 years (+/- SD). Eight patients had delivered 1 hydropic baby previously while 1 had a history of 2 babies with hydrops fetalis; 92% of the patients had been followed antenatally while 8% were first seen when they were admitted in labour; 25% of the patients had anaemia, 52% had polyhydramnios, 20% developed hypertension and 64% had bilateral lower limb oedema. None of the patients had concomitant hypertension, generalized oedema and proteinuria. In 4 cases of recurrent hydrops, serial ultrasound scans were performed from early pregnancy but ultrasonic features of hydrops fetalis were only seen from 27 weeks' gestation. Spontaneous labour occurred in 75% of patients at a mean of 32.3 +/- 3.3 weeks (+/- SD). All delivered vaginally and only 1 patient required abdominal decompression. Four patients required Caesarean section, 2 for failure to progress after induction of labour, 1 for major placenta praevia and the fourth for fetal distress; in the last case, diagnosis of hydrops fetalis was only made after delivery of the baby. All the babies in the series died within one hour of delivery. Homozygous alpha thalassaemia is the commonest cause of hydrops fetalis in Singapore and is an invariably fatal condition. It is associated with an increased incidence of maternal anaemia, polyhydramnios and prematurity. PMID- 2604654 TI - Plasma 19-hydroxyandrostenedione and androstenedione levels in hydatidiform moles and early pregnancies with and without hypertensive diseases. AB - Because of the association of preeclampsia with hydatidiform mole, and since levels of 19-hydroxyandrostenedione (19-OH-A) and androstenedione (A) are raised in hypertensive diseases of pregnancy, we compared plasma 19-OH-A and A in hydatidiform mole patients with control early pregnant women. Both steroids were significantly elevated in 27 patients with partial or complete hydatidiform moles, as compared with the levels in 36 control pregnancies at similar stages of gestation. PMID- 2604655 TI - Sarcomas of the uterine cervix. PMID- 2604656 TI - A comparative study of proliferating (borderline) and invasive epithelial ovarian tumours in young women. AB - A series of 18 patients with proliferating or borderline ovarian tumours and 18 with invasive ovarian tumours is discussed. Proliferating tumours occurred at a younger mean age than invasive disease, and presented at an earlier stage, both contributing factors to their more favourable outlook. Histopathological assessment revealed that the majority of both proliferating and invasive tumours were of serous origin. Mucinous cell type occurred less often as did the endometrioid and clear cell types. The management of the proliferating tumours involved 'radical' surgical procedures in 11 of 18 (61.6%) patients. Only 7 patients (38.8%) had conservative surgical procedures performed. Six patients (33%) had adjuvant chemotherapy while 2 (11%) also underwent abdominopelvic irradiation. All patients with invasive disease had radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy and 2 also received abdominopelvic irradiation. The fact that epithelial malignancies of the ovary do occur in younger women needs to be remembered by gynaecologists contemplating surgical procedures on younger patients with adnexal masses. Proliferating or borderline tumours tend to occur more frequently in the younger age groups, and contrary to the implication of their name, they are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. PMID- 2604657 TI - Vulvar dystrophies: an evaluation. AB - Of 86 patients diagnosed as having vulvar dystrophy in a 10-year period 56 (65.1%) had hyperplastic dystrophy, 23 (26.7%) had lichen sclerosus and 7 (26.7%) had mixed vulvar dystrophy. The diagnoses were made by colposcopic or toluidine blue directed biopsies. Fluorinated corticosteroids were given to patients with hyperplastic dystrophy with a response rate of 90.1%. Patients with lichen sclerosus received topical testosterone propionate and the response rate was 87.7%. Topical fluorinated corticosteroids followed by testosterone propionate was given to patients with mixed dystrophy and 85.8% of the patients responded. Surgical therapy was reserved for patients with failed medical treatment. PMID- 2604658 TI - Hysteroscopy: an analysis of 523 patients. AB - An analysis is presented of the indications for, and findings on, hysteroscopy in 523 patients undergoing gynaecological investigation or treatment. Abnormal uterine bleeding or discharge was the indication for investigation in 202 patients. Based on hysteroscopic observation, dilatation and curettage (D & C) was adjudged unnecessary in 114 (56%) and a subsequent D & C on these patients revealed no histological abnormalities. In the remainder, more abnormalities were observed visually on hysteroscopy than were detected by D & C. The results suggest that D & C should be replaced by hysteroscopy and biopsy as a first-line investigation of abnormal uterine bleeding or discharge. PMID- 2604659 TI - Combined obstetric neonatal and gynaecology reports. Tasmania 1987. PMID- 2604660 TI - Absorption of a first trimester fetus. AB - A case of an 8-week fetus with ultrasound demonstrated heart beat, which was absorbed completely prior to abortion at 11 weeks' gestation, is reported. PMID- 2604661 TI - Cardiorespiratory collapse and pulmonary oedema due to intravascular absorption of prostaglandin F2 alpha administered extraamniotically for midtrimester termination of pregnancy. AB - A case of severe reaction to extraamniotically administered prostaglandin F2 alpha, with cardiorespiratory collapse and pulmonary oedema necessitating transfer to an intensive care unit, is presented. Attention is drawn to the profound haemodynamic effects of systemically administered prostaglandin, and the need for caution and ready availability of facilities for resuscitation when this potent substance is administered. Treatment for the effects of intravascular absorption of prostaglandin F2 alpha is discussed. PMID- 2604662 TI - Intrauterine transfusion for anti-Duffy(Fya) haemolytic disease. AB - This paper reports what we believe to be the first case of intrauterine transfusion for severe erythroblastosis due to anti-Duffy(Fya). PMID- 2604663 TI - A case of intrapartum fetal arrhythmia creating difficulties in cardiotocograph interpretation. PMID- 2604664 TI - Two cases of partial 21 hydroxylase deficiency associated with progesterone excess. AB - Two cases of partial 21 hydroxylase deficiency are presented where inappropriate follicular phase progesterone secretion was documented and ultrasonography demonstrated a failure of the normal endometrial and uterine growth towards ovulation. PMID- 2604665 TI - Cervical tuberculosis--case report. PMID- 2604666 TI - Salmonella ovarian abscess. PMID- 2604667 TI - A new type of sanitary tampon, (Gynaeseal) that can also be used as an alternative diaphragm has been developed. PMID- 2604668 TI - Marijuana, aging, and task difficulty effects on pilot performance. AB - This study provides evidence that diverse factors can cumulatively contribute to human/machine performance decrements. In separate sessions, young and old pilots smoked one of three cigarettes containing either 0 mg, 10 mg, or 20 mg of the active ingredient, delta 9 THC. They flew a calm and a turbulent flight in a light aircraft simulator at 1, 4, 8, 24, and 48 hour (h) delay after smoking. Effects were found at 1 and 4 h after smoking in the turbulent flight conditions when 20 mg cigarettes were smoked. Drug dose level, age, weather conditions (i.e., task difficulty), and delay period all affected pilot performance. Most important, these variables produced cumulative performance decrements. PMID- 2604669 TI - Psychomotor screening for USAF pilot candidates: selecting a valid criterion. AB - Subjects for this research were 153 prospective pilots who were tested on computerized versions of the Two Hand Coordination (2HC) and Complex Coordination (CC) psychomotor tests. Independent variables included five basic error scores associated with the two psychomotor tests. The criterion for pilot performance was conceptualized as a function of the number of flying hours required to graduate from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPTFLY). Results of MANOVA and multiple regression analyses revealed that performance on the two psychomotor tests was significantly related to the criterion for pilot performance (UPTFLY). The multiple regression analysis resulted in 27.1% of the variability of UPTFLY being accounted for by psychomotor performance. When the data were reanalyzed using a pass/fail UPT criterion the variability accounted for remained high, suggesting an anomaly associated with sample selection. Undergraduate pilot training outcome (pass/fail) remains the most valid criterion for Undergraduate Pilot Training success. PMID- 2604670 TI - Influence of attitude and expectation on moods and symptoms during cold weather military training. AB - The present study examined the influence of the following: 1) air temperature, 2) day into training, 3) self rating of life stress, 4) rating of relative warmth in cold weather, and 5) expectation for liking cold weather training, on 59 soldiers' self-reports of illness and mood during 3 days of training in the cold (-18 degrees to 0 degree C range). Mood was assessed on six domains of the Profile of Mood States rating scale, and symptoms of illness were assessed on 5 domains of the Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses showed that: 1) the more soldiers expected to dislike the cold weather training, the more tense, depressed, angry, fatigued, and physically uncomfortable they were during training; 2) the more stress they perceived in their everyday lives, the more fatigued, confused, and physically uncomfortable they were during training; 3) as days into training increased the more fatigued and physically uncomfortable they became; and 4) due to appropriate clothing and training, ambient temperature was found to have no significant influence on the soldiers' moods and symptoms. PMID- 2604671 TI - Hyperventilation response to cold water immersion: reduction by staged entry. AB - Staged immersion of humans into cold water was investigated to determine whether the hyperventilation response could be reduced by this behavioral technique. A simple, two-stage procedure involving immersion to the waist for 30 s before full immersion to neck level was compared to non-staged immersion. For the staged immersion, maximum values of respiratory minute volume and respiratory frequency were significantly reduced by 35% and 38%, respectively, from the maxima observed for non-staged immersion. These results indicate that if staged immersion into cold water is possible, it can attenuate the hyperventilation response and, therefore, the probability of sudden drowning. We recommend that this knowledge be incorporated into teaching programs concerning cold water safety. PMID- 2604672 TI - Heat loss caused by immersing the hands in water. AB - The effect of immersing the hands up to the wrist in cold water to alleviate heat strain was examined in volunteers wearing chemical protective clothing and gloves. Each subject, who was monitored with skin and rectal thermistors, was observed while walking on a treadmill at two different work rates (283 +/- 47 and 455 +/- 58 watts) at 23 degrees C and at a resting state at 35 degrees C. After 20 min of work at 23 degrees C or after 120 min in the hot room, the hands were immersed in water at temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 degrees C. The amount of heat lost via the hands ranged between 124 +/- 14 and 31 +/- 4 watts (W) and was greater, the colder the water and harder the work. In most cases, this amount of cooling was sufficient to decrease skin temperature and lower the rate of increase of core temperature. We concluded that this method may be used to decrease resting time when working in the heat. PMID- 2604673 TI - The effect of hypoxia upon macular recovery time in normal humans. AB - Bright light illumination (photostress) of the macula produces a negative after image in the form of a central scotoma. The time needed for restoring normal visual acuity function, "macular recovery time," may be measured using a nyctometer. We have measured the recovery in 30 normal men, aged 18 to 23 years, at sea level and at 8,000 ft (n = 10), 15,000 ft (n = 10), and 18,000 ft (n = 10) of simulated altitudes in a low pressure chamber. The degree of initial recovery (the first 30-40 s) was unaffected by hypoxia equivalent to 8,000, 15,000, and 18,000 ft. The recovery at 2 min was impaired by hypoxia at an altitude of 18,000 ft (p = 0.009) but not at 8,000 ft or 15,000 ft. The initial phase of recovery may represent the neural phase of macular function and appears to be more resistant to hypoxia than the recovery at 2 min, the latter probably being dominated by photochemical recovery. The study establishes a critical level of hypoxia where complete recovery of macular sensitivity is not achieved. PMID- 2604674 TI - Peripheral vascular reflexes elicited during lower body negative pressure. AB - To study the interaction between thermal reflexes and baroreflexes on human forearm vasomotor and venomotor control, and to test the hypothesis that peripheral veins are responsive to baroreceptor unloading during gravitational stress, we imposed lower body negative pressure (LBNP) between 10 and 50 mm Hg (Torr) at ambient temperatures (Ta) of 28 and 37 degrees C. We measured arterial and central venous pressures (CVP), heart rate, forearm venous volume, forearm venous pressure, and forearm blood flow in 12 volunteers. Decreases in CVP were relatively large at 10 mm Hg LBNP (p less than 0.01) at both Ta, and less thereafter. Arterial systolic and pulse pressures were not significantly reduced until LBNP exceeded 30 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). With LBNP up to 20 mm Hg, moderate decreases in forearm venous compliance and increases in forearm vascular resistance occurred. Between 30 and 50 mm Hg LBNP, the changes in both compliance and resistance per unit change in CVP were more than tripled. We concluded that unloading of cardiopulmonary mechanoreceptors stimulates increases in both forearm vasomotor and venomotor tone and that addition of arterial baroreceptor unloading adds to these reflex responses. PMID- 2604675 TI - Effects of gravitoinertial force variations on vertical gaze direction during oculomotor reflexes and visual fixation. AB - Recordings of horizontal and vertical eye movement were obtained on eight subjects exposed to repeated patterns of vertical and horizontal optokinetic stimulation, visual fixation with a fixed or unseen target, and voluntary head oscillation in the high force and free-fall periods of parabolic flight. The downward shift of the beating field of vertical optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) observed in previous experiments was confirmed in the present study. The same directional shift was also noticed during optokinetic after-nystagmus (OKAN). Vertical direction of gaze clearly shifted downward during the decreased gravitoinertial force level when subjects were exposed to horizontal optokinetic stimulation, or when they attempted to track an unseen target in the dark with the head stationary or actively moved up and down. A vertical nystagmus with slow phases directed upward was observed during transition from high force level to free-fall when subjects were fixating their gaze on a stationary target. These findings are in agreement with those showing a general downward drive of the eyes on the first exposure to microgravity during orbital flight and an upward drive on the first day of return. Although this drive could be a consequence of a disorientation experienced by subjects undergoing parabolic flight or by astronauts, the phenomenon also supports the hypothesis of a tonic influence exerted by the otoliths on the postural and extra-ocular musculature in order to compensate for the downward pull by the gravitoinertial forces. PMID- 2604676 TI - A flight surgeon's personal view of an emerging illness. AB - The personal experience of a retired Air Force flight surgeon and instrument rated civilian pilot with an illness that has achieved recent prominence in both the popular and medical press is recounted. The author believes that the illness is widely prevalent and its incidence is increasing. His experience and conviction is that, during certain phases of the illness, both cognitive dysfunction and orthostatic intolerance occur that can pose grave safety risks in the aviation environment, and must be taken seriously by the practicing flight surgeon. As in all emerging illnesses, clinical experience and judgment must precede more definitive proof of the effects of this illness. PMID- 2604677 TI - Control of simulator sickness in an AH-64 aviator. AB - An active 33-year-old Army AH-64 aviator with simulator sickness refractory to routine preventive measures was successfully managed with transdermal scopolamine. Although adaptation is the ultimate means for control of simulator sickness, the use of anti-motion sickness medication, specifically transdermal scopolamine, may be a useful adjuvant in selected aviators. PMID- 2604678 TI - Neurobehavioral and magnetic resonance imaging findings in two cases of decompression sickness. AB - Two divers underwent neurobehavioral examinations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while hospitalized during the first 2 weeks after sustaining decompression sickness (DCS). Their neurologic findings included a Brown-Sequard Syndrome consistent with spinal cord lesion, and focal deficits consistent with cerebral lesion(s). MRI revealed subcortical white matter lesions in the brains of both divers, whereas no lesion of the spinal cord was demonstrated. The patients exhibited neurobehavioral sequelae including disturbances of memory, divergent thinking, and visuospatial and motor functioning. Focal neurologic deficits resolved in both patients, and their cognitive and memory problems improved slowly. Findings in these two divers raise the possibility that cerebral insult more frequently accompanies spinal cord injury in DCS than previously thought. PMID- 2604679 TI - Response capability during civil air carrier inflight medical emergencies. AB - Expanded civil aircraft medical emergency kits have been mandated on U.S. carriers since August 1986. Airlines provided the Federal Aviation Agency reports on medical kit usage and outcomes of the associated medical emergencies; 1,016 inflight medical events during the period August 1, 1986, through July 31, 1987, were available for review. Physicians responded to the emergencies in over 63% of the occurrences; the two most prevalent presenting situations were chest pain and syncopal episodes. Nine passengers died on board aircraft, and at least three deaths occurred postlanding. A minimum of 89 of the total cases resulted in flight diversions. The sphygmomanometer (739 cases) and stethoscope (734 cases) were the most frequently used kit items; oropharyngeal airways were utilized in 14 cases. Since standardized reporting formats are not required, evaluation of response capability remains incomplete. PMID- 2604680 TI - The Initial Blood Storage Experiment--the spaceflight hardware program. AB - The Initial Blood Storage Experiment (IBSE) was conceived to investigate the effects of microgravity on the formed elements of human blood. The experiment flew on the January 1986, 61-C mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia. The experiment hardware was designed to provide a closely controlled temperature and air flow environment for all blood samples. During the mission, two IBSE modules were on board the orbiter and an identical set of hardware and blood samples were maintained on Earth as a control. This paper describes the development and performance of the IBSE hardware which was converted from a conceptual design to an on-orbit, man-rated, mid-deck locker experiment in 17 months. PMID- 2604681 TI - Case from the aerospace medicine resident's teaching file. 34. An aviator with a solitary pulmonary nodule. PMID- 2604682 TI - Assessing health effects of radiation in Navy pilots of electronically modified aircraft. PMID- 2604683 TI - Use of advanced structural materials for wings of competition aerobatic aircraft has led to the appearance of maneuvers generating peak levels of -9Gz. PMID- 2604684 TI - Hazards of mountain flying. PMID- 2604685 TI - Observing the Orion Nebula through the ophthalmoscope's wheel. PMID- 2604686 TI - Sunglasses to keep you eagle-eyed. PMID- 2604687 TI - [Ethical demands in animal production]. AB - Since the second world war, particularly within the last twenty years the structure of agriculture has been changed dramatically by intensifying, specialization and rationalization of every aspect of production methods. This has led to a severe change in the human-animal relationship. Large numbers cause alienation of man from the farm animals confided to him. Extremely high pressure of performance and mechanization of livestock husbandry often overstress the adaptability of the animals. It is to be expected that introduction of new methods of biotechnology will increase this process. The problems caused by this development necessitate to revise the management of animal production and husbandry, judgement to be based on ethical criterions. Farm animals are to be recognized and treated as creatures again. But in the context of livestock husbandry human-human relations are to be reconsidered under ethical aspects, too. In doing so, the scientific scale of values fails, determining correct or incorrect, true or false, whereas ethical judgement uses good or bad as criterions. The personal view is given, making use of some examples. PMID- 2604688 TI - [Accidental thymus involution in calves]. AB - In 149 necropsied calves (age 0 to 28 days) a reduced thymus was found. The absolute thymus weights varied between 6 and 220 g. The relative thymus weights (applied to bodyweight) were between 0.02 and 0.52% (healthy controls 0.24 to 0.67%). The histological changes resemble those of accidental thymus involution. Corresponding to the duration of the disease and/or loss of body weight of the animals there is an increase of lymphocyte depletion. The accidental thymus involution is presumed to be a morphological expression of a secondary immunodeficiency. PMID- 2604689 TI - [Fine particles and dust in animal feeds--quantitative and qualitative (fungi, bacteria and LPS) aspects]. AB - Unground feedstuffs like cereals and roughage which are conspicuous by high proportions of finer particles and dust have to be estimated as risky environmental factors due to the accumulation of microorganisms (moulds, bacteria and lipopolysaccharides) and mites in the fines frequently. The dusty fraction in feed samples should be separated by sensorial inspection of feedstuffs (for example by sieves) and has to be looked at (using pocket lens) critically to find out lacks in the hygienic quality of feedstuffs. Dusty qualities of roughage contain high counts of moulds frequently, therefore a mycological investigation is to be recommended for these samples. The feedstuffs may influence the quantity and quality of air dust within the stable as the starch content (similar to the fed diet) indicates. Likewise corresponding LPS contents were measured in feeds and airborne dust of pig stables. Due to the high counts of microorganisms in the dusty fraction of cereals an intensive cleaning procedure for cereals has to be recommended for minimizing the load of germs; a reduced risk for deterioration can be expected. The residues of cleaning processes (combined mechanic/pneumatic procedures) of cereals should not be reutilized in the production of compound feeds by feed manufacturers, the nutritive value is relatively low anyway due to the high ash- and fiber-contents. Potential risks of dusty feedstuffs to animals' health and the influences of mites, moulds and lipopolysaccharides on the development of gastrointestinal and respiratoric disturbances are discussed. Experimental investigations are needed to elucidate the role of inhaled dust--and its content of lipopolysaccharides especially--in the development of respiratory diseases in veterinary medicine. PMID- 2604690 TI - [Corneal dermoids and double malformation of the nostrils in a bull]. AB - A case report is given on a bull suffering from large cornea dermoids, longhaired and covering large parts of the corneae. The same animal showed a malformation of the nose with four nostrils. PMID- 2604691 TI - Role of carbohydrate moieties in peanut (Arachis hypogaea) peroxidases. AB - The activities of a cationic (C.PRX) and an anionic peroxidase isolated from peanut (Arachis hypogaea)-cell suspension culture were drastically reduced when they were deglycosylated with glycopeptidase F or oxidized by 10 mM-periodate. In contrast with the controls, the deglycosylated or the oxidized peroxidases were much more susceptible to proteolytic degradation. In radiolabelling experiments with [35S]methionine, the non-glycosylated C.PRX was synthesized in the tunicamycin-treated cultures and secreted into the medium. Examination of the C.PRX polypeptides by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis followed by fluorography showed that the non-glycosylated form had an Mr of approx. 31,000, which is about 78% of that of the glycosylated form. Our results suggest that carbohydrates may not be essential for peroxidase secretion, but that stabilization of the peroxidase molecules and acquisition by these isoenzymes of a catalytically active conformation is linked directly or indirectly to glycosylation. PMID- 2604692 TI - Endocytosis of a small dermatan sulphate proteoglycan. Identification of binding proteins. AB - Endosomal preparations from human osteosarcoma cells and from fibroblasts contain 51,000- and 26,000-Mr proteins which bind a small dermatan sulphate proteoglycan after SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. Binding can be inhibited by unlabelled proteoglycan core protein. The proteins co-precipitate with a proteoglycan core protein-antibody complex. Scatchard analysis of immobilized endosomal proteins yielded a KD of about 37 nM for the proteoglycan. In intact cells proteins of the same size can be found. They are sensitive to trypsinization. A 51,000-Mr protein is the predominant membrane protein with strong binding to immobilized dermatan sulphate proteoglycan. There are additional proteoglycan-binding proteins with Mr values of around 30,000 and 14,000 which are insensitive to trypsin treatment. In contrast with the 51,000- and 26,000-Mr proteins, they resist deoxycholate/Triton X-100 extraction several days after subcultivation. PMID- 2604693 TI - Chromatin structure of erythroid-specific genes of immature and mature chicken erythrocytes. AB - The beta-globin and histone H5 genes are transcriptionally active in immature chicken erythrocytes and potentially active in mature erythrocytes. In both immature and mature erythrocytes, the majority of these erythroid-specific gene sequences are located in two chromatin fractions: the low-salt-insoluble residual nuclear material and the 0.15 M-NaCl-soluble oligo- and poly-nucleosomes. These salt-soluble chromatin fragments are enriched in hyperacetylated species of H4 and H2B, ubiquitinated and polyubiquitinated species of H2A and H2B and are depleted of linker histones H1 and H5. The competent, transcriptionally inactive embryonic epsilon-globin gene, which is part of the DNAase I-sensitive beta globin domain, is highly enriched in the 0.15 M-NaCl-soluble polynucleosome fraction but not in the insoluble nuclear material. The repressed vitellogenin gene shows no enrichment in either of these fractions. These results suggest that only those genes that are expressed or have the potential for expression are enriched in the low-salt-insoluble nuclear material of immature or mature erythrocytes. The enrichment of active genes in the low-salt-insoluble residual nuclear material of immature erythrocytes is not dependent on on-going transcription, the presence of RNA or changes in the amount of acetylated histone species. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that active and potentially active genes are insoluble because of the presence of preinitiation transcription complexes. PMID- 2604694 TI - Single active-site histidine in D-xylose isomerase from Streptomyces violaceoruber. Identification by chemical derivatization and peptide mapping. AB - Group-specific chemical modifications of D-xylose isomerase from Streptomyces violaceruber indicated that complete loss of activity is fully correlated with the acylation of a single histidine. Active-site protection, by the ligand combination of xylitol plus Mg2+, completely blocked diethyl pyrocarbonate derivatization of this particular residue [Vangrysperre, Callens, Kersters Hilderson & De Bruyne (1988) Biochem. J. 250, 153-160]. Differential peptide mapping between D-xylose isomerase, which has previously been treated with diethyl pyrocarbonate in the presence or absence of xylitol plus Mg2+, allowed specific isolation and sequencing of a peptide containing this active-site histidine. For this purpose we used two essentially new techniques: first, a highly reproducible peptide cleavage protocol for protease-resistant, carbethoxylated proteins with guanidinium hydrochloride as denaturing agent and subtilisin for proteolysis; and second, reverse-phase liquid chromatography with dual-wavelength detection at 214 and 238 nm, and calculation of absorbance ratios. It allowed us to locate the single active-site histidine at position 54 in the primary structure of Streptomyces violaceoruber D-xylose isomerase. The sequence around this residue is conserved in D-xylose isomerases from a diversity of micro-organisms, suggesting that this is a structurally and/or functionally essential part of the molecule. PMID- 2604695 TI - A 13C-n.m.r. investigation of the metabolism of amino acids in renal proximal convoluted tubules of normal and streptozotocin-treated rats and rabbits. AB - 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy was used to determine the metabolic fate of alanine and aspartate in rat and rabbit kidney proximal tubules. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the influx of 13C label from [3-13C]alanine into the tricarboxylic acid cycle and through the fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase pathway. This influx was calculated from the relative enrichment of 13C in the various glutamate and glutamine carbon atoms. The relative proportion of 13C label which entered the tricarboxylic acid cycle via pyruvate carboxylase relative to the proportion that entered via pyruvate dehydrogenase was 1.92 +/- 0.02 in fed control rats and 2.27 +/- 0.04 in streptozotocin-treated rats. However, streptozotocin-induced diabetes did not significantly affect this ratio in rabbit proximal convoluted tubular cells. Only in rat proximal convoluted tubular cells did we observe an increase in flux through the fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase pathway by streptozotocin treatment compared with fed controls. The data suggest that streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats causes the same metabolic changes as does chronic acidosis. PMID- 2604696 TI - Cholesterol esterification plays a major role in determining low-density lipoprotein receptor activity in primary monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes. AB - 1. We have previously shown that the capacity for specific binding of human 125I labelled low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to rat hepatocytes increases with time in culture [Salter, Bugaut, Saxton, Fisher & Brindley (1987) Biochem. J. 247, 79 84]. 2. In the present study we show that this up-regulation is accompanied by a rise in the cholesterol ester content of the cells. 3. Inhibition of cholesterol esterification with the drug 58-035 (Sandoz) significantly decreases the time dependent 'up-regulation' of LDL receptors. 4. Incubation of hepatocytes with LDL itself has little effect on subsequent LDL binding. However, when cholesterol esterification is inhibited, incubation with LDL decreases binding below that attained with the drug alone. 5. Inhibition of cholesterol synthesis with Lovastatin significantly increases LDL binding and antagonizes the effect of 58 035. 6. We conclude that in hepatocytes the rate of cellular cholesterol esterification can become the major determinant of LDL-receptor activity. PMID- 2604697 TI - Brain chemiluminescence and oxidative stress in hyperthyroid rats. AB - Newborn Wistar rats were made hyperthyroid by injection of tri-iodothyronine and assayed for survival, brain oxygen uptake, brain chemiluminescence and activity of antioxidant enzymes. Brain chemiluminescence was measured (1) by removing the parietal bones or (2) through the translucid parietal bones. Control animals showed a brain chemiluminescence of 130 +/- 12 c.p.s./cm2 and 99 +/- 10 c.p.s./cm2 for procedures (1) and (2) respectively. Hyperthyroid rats showed increases in the spontaneous brain photoemission of 46 and 70% compared with controls, measured by procedures 1 and 2 respectively. The hyperthyroid state did not modify the oxygen-dependent chemiluminescence of brain homogenates. The hyperthyroid animals showed a 30% increase in the oxygen uptake of brain slices and a dramatic shortening of life-span to about 16 weeks. Superoxide dismutase (the Cu-Zn enzyme), catalase and Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase activities of brain homogenates were increased by 18, 36 and 30% respectively in the hyperthyroid animals. Isolated brain mitochondria produced 0.18-0.20 nmol of H2O2/min per mg of protein in state 4 in the presence of succinate as substrate. No difference was observed between control and hyperthyroid animals. It is concluded that hyperthyroidism leads to hypermetabolism and oxidative stress in the brain. The increased levels of oxygen and peroxyl radicals may contribute to premature ageing in these animals. PMID- 2604698 TI - Fluorescence studies on the role of tryptophan in heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles of HeLa cells. AB - The 40 S heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) particles from HeLa cells reveal tryptophan fluorescence with a bi-exponential decay, indicating that only a few of the 'core' proteins contain tryptophan residues. The presence of tryptophan residues distinguishes hnRNP particles from nucleosomes, with which they otherwise share a number of properties. This difference, however, is not essential for protein-RNA binding, as the fluorescence decay remains unchanged when hnRNP particles are dissociated into protein and RNA. However, the Stern Volmer quenching constant is doubled upon salt dissociation, i.e. tryptophan residues become more accessible to solvent. Thus tryptophan quenching is a useful parameter for monitoring protein-protein interactions in hnRNP particles. PMID- 2604699 TI - Oxidation--reduction midpoint potentials of the flavin, haem and Mo-pterin centres in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) nitrate reductase. AB - Oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials have been determined for the flavin, cytochrome b557 and Mo-pterin prosthetic groups of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) assimilatory nitrate reductase using visible, c.d. and room-temperature e.p.r. potentiometric titrations. At pH 7 and 25 degrees C, the midpoint potential for the FAD/FADH2 couple was determined by c.d. potentiometry to be -280 +/- 10 mV (n = 2). The redox potential for reduction of the haem was determined by visible potentiometry to be -123 +/- 10 mV (n = 1), significantly lower than the previously published value of -60 mV [Fido, Hewitt, Notton, Jones & Nasrulhaq Boyce (1979) FEBS Lett. 99, 180-182]. Potentials for the Mo(VI)/Mo(V) and Mo(V)/Mo(IV) redox couples, determined by room-temperature e.p.r. potentiometry, were found to be +2 +/- 20 and -6 +/- 20 mV respectively. These values are very similar to the values previously determined for the FAD, haem and Mo-pterin centres in assimilatory nitrate reductase isolated from the unicellular green alga Chlorella vulgaris and indicate a close thermodynamic similarity between the two enzymes. PMID- 2604700 TI - A simplified method for calculating complex metabolic sensitivities by using matrix partitioning. AB - The matrix method for calculating the overall sensitivities (including control coefficients) of a metabolic system, described by Crabtree & Newsholme [Biochem. J. 247, 113-129 (1987)], is simplified by a preliminary partitioning of the initial matrix equation. This reduces the size of the matrix to be inverted and thereby removes a major drawback with the original method. The resulting procedure is simpler and more systematic than the alternative methods currently available, especially when the system is extensively branched. PMID- 2604701 TI - Biliary lipid composition and gallstone formation in rabbits fed on soy protein, cholesterol, casein and modified casein. AB - In four experimental groups, rabbits were fed on diets containing soy beans, soy beans plus cholesterol (1%, w/w), casein and modified casein for 8 weeks. Biliary lipid levels, lithogenic-index values and the rate of gallstone formation were determined. The highest mean relative concentrations (mol%) of cholesterol and phospholipid were found in the soy bean + cholesterol group, and the highest mean relative bile acid concentration was in the soy bean group. The lowest mean relative cholesterol and phospholipid values were found in the soy bean and modified casein groups respectively. The lowest mean relative bile acid level was in the soy bean + cholesterol group. The highest lithogenic index and rate of gallstone formation were in the soy bean + cholesterol group, and the lowest values were in the soy bean group. The modification of casein used was effective in decreasing the lithogenic effect of casein on gallstone formation. PMID- 2604702 TI - A kinetic investigation of the acyl-CoA oxidase reaction with the use of a novel spectrophotometric assay. Inhibition by acetyl-CoA, CoA and FMN. AB - A direct-reading spectrophotometric assay for acyl-CoA oxidase activity is described. The assay is based on the strong absorption at 300 nm of deca-2 trans,4-cis-dienoyl-CoA, the product of oxidation of dec-4-cis-enoyl-CoA. By use of this assay, acetyl-CoA, CoA and FMN were found to be inhibitors of acyl-CoA oxidase, but with distinctly different kinetic characteristics. PMID- 2604703 TI - Role of brown adipose tissue in glucose utilization in conscious pre-obese Zucker rats. AB - In 16-day-old conscious Zucker rats, at a time when pre-obese fa/fa rats were not yet hyperinsulinaemic compared with their lean Fa/fa littermates, the whole-body glucose-metabolism rate was decreased by 10% in pre-obese compared with lean pups. The markedly decreased glucose utilization found in brown adipose tissue (BAT) of pre-obese compared with lean pups accounted for at least 70% of the difference in whole-body glucose metabolism observed between the two genotypes. In pre-obese fa/fa rats, the 20% decrease in noradrenaline content of BAT reported in this study is consistent with the diminished glucose utilization by this tissue, and further supports the hypothesis of a defect in the sympathetic nervous-system regulation of BAT metabolism as one of the primary causes for this genetic obesity. PMID- 2604704 TI - Purification of TEM-1 beta-lactamase by immunoaffinity chromatography. AB - A monoclonal antibody prepared against TEM-1 beta-lactamase was found to compete with penicillins and cephalosporins for binding to the enzyme. The purified antibody preparation was linked to Sepharose 4B and used for immunoaffinity chromatography purification of TEM-1 beta-lactamase. Elution with either benzylpenicillin or cloxacillin yielded a highly purified, concentrated and active enzyme preparation. PMID- 2604705 TI - Effects of dietary fish oil supplementation on membrane fluidity and enzyme activity in rat small intestine. AB - Rats were fed either a fat-free diet supplemented with 10% menhaden oil or a control diet for four months. Intestinal brush border membranes were isolated; phospholipid fatty acid analysis revealed that the membranes from the fish-oil fed animals had higher levels of palmitoleic (C16:1) and eicosapentaenoic (C20:5) acids and lesser levels of stearic (C18:0) linoleic (C18:2) acids compared with controls. The membranes from the fish-oil fed animals had increased levels of alkaline phosphatase activity compared with controls but disaccharidase levels were equivalent in the two groups. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis studies revealed that the increase in alkaline phosphatase activity was due to an increase in the specific activity of the enzyme rather than an increase in the amount of enzyme. Membrane fluidity was assessed by fluorescence anisotropy using diphenylhexatriene and 12-anthroyl stearate as fluorescent probes. The anisotropy of both probes was similar in the two membranes. These studies indicate that fish oil supplementation alters the fatty acid composition of the intestinal brush border membrane and increases alkaline phosphatase activity without affecting membrane fluidity. Thus the effects of changes in membrane lipid composition on alkaline phosphatase activity appear to result from changes in the local lipid environment of the enzyme rather than from changes in the biophysical characteristics of the membrane. PMID- 2604706 TI - Mitogen-induced phosphorylation of human B-lymphocyte proteins. Relationship to protein kinase C activation. AB - We have investigated the rapid phosphorylation of proteins in B-lymphocytes incubated with the tumour-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13 acetate (TPA), anti-Ig and combinations of TPA and the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis was used to identify the proteins phosphorylated in cells preincubated with [32P]Pi. TPA induced a characteristic pattern of labelled proteins, four of which (pp85, pp76, pp66 and pp63) showed a dose-dependent incorporation of 32P on serine residues. The phosphorylation of pp63 and pp66, in particular, correlated with the mitogenic dose-response curve. Addition of the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin to B-cells also stimulated a characteristic incorporation of 32P into proteins, which included pp63 and pp66. With combined doses of TPA and ionomycin, these two proteins show an enhanced phosphorylation, which correlated well with the synergistic enhancement of proliferation shown by this combination of agents. Protein kinase C (PKC) was partially purified from B-cells and separated into alpha and beta subtypes. The activation of both PKCs was assessed with increasing doses of TPA and concentrations of Ca2+ of 0.1 microM and 2 microM. For both forms of PKC, in particular the beta form, higher concentrations of Ca2+ shifted the dose-response curve for TPA to the left and increased the maximum activation. Anti-Ig, which stimulated B-cells by cross-linking surface immunoglobulin and causing hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2, also caused increased phosphorylation of several proteins, which again included pp63 and pp66. These data suggest that PKC, particularly the beta form, is involved in the early part of the proliferation cascade for human B lymphocytes. It is most probably activated in a synergistic manner by the increased Ca2+ and diacylglycerol levels which result from the earlier hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2. PMID- 2604707 TI - Target size analysis by radiation inactivation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity and malonyl-CoA binding in outer membranes from rat liver mitochondria. AB - The functional molecular sizes of the protein(s) mediating the carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I) activity and the [14C]malonyl-CoA binding in purified outer-membrane preparations from rat liver mitochondria were determined by radiation-inactivation analysis. In all preparations tested the dose-dependent decay in [14C]malonyl-CoA binding was less steep than that for CPT I activity, suggesting that the protein involved in malonyl-CoA binding may be smaller than that catalysing the CPT I activity. The respective sizes computed from simultaneous analysis for molecular-size standards exposed under identical conditions were 60,000 and 83,000 DA for malonyl-CoA binding and CPT I activity respectively. In irradiated membranes the sensitivity of CPT activity to malonyl CoA inhibition was increased, as judged by malonyl-CoA inhibition curves for the activity in control and in irradiated membranes that had received 20 Mrad radiation and in which CPT activity had decayed by 60%. Possible correlations between these data and other recent observations on the CPT system are discussed. PMID- 2604708 TI - Comparison of albumin-mediated release of lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine from cultured rat hepatocytes. AB - We have investigated the albumin-stimulated release from cultured rat hepatocytes of lysophosphatidylcholine derived from methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine and of lysophosphatidylethanolamine. In the absence [corrected] of albumin, neither lysophosphatidylethanolamine nor lysophosphatidylcholine was released into the culture medium. Albumin stimulated the accumulation of both phospholipids in the medium. After 2 h, 14.1 nmol of lysophosphatidylcholine and 2.0 nmol of lysophosphatidylethanolamine per 3 x 10(6) cells had accumulated in the medium. The rate of release of [3H]ethanolamine-labelled lysophosphatidylethanolamine was rapid in the first 2 h and then was decreased, whereas there was a 1 h lag in the release of [3H]ethanolamine-labelled lysophosphatidylcholine. This apparent lag probably reflected the time necessary for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine from phosphatidylethanolamine in the cells. Albumin caused a decrease in labelled cellular lysophosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylcholine which only partially accounted for the accumulation of the labelled phospholipids in the medium. Albumin also stimulated the release of labelled phosphatidylethanolamine (almost 3-fold) and phosphatidylcholine (2-fold) into the medium. There was no detectable change in the labelling of the cellular pools of these phospholipids, most likely owing to the large amounts in the cells compared with the medium. The labelled lysophospholipids did not arise from catabolism of the parent phospholipid in the medium. Analysis of the fatty acids of the secreted lysophospholipids showed a preferential release of unsaturated fatty acyl species of lysophosphatidylcholine, whereas lysophosphatidylethanolamine contained similar amounts of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. PMID- 2604709 TI - Kallikrein-gene expression in the rat gastrointestinal tract. AB - The serine proteinase glandular kallikrein has been demonstrated in the gastrointestinal tract, although there is some doubt as to whether it is synthesized there or derives from exocrine-gland secretions. Using a rat pancreatic kallikrein cRNA probe we have demonstrated kallikrein-like gene expression in the corpus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum and colon, and compared the pattern of expression with that of the gastrointestinal peptides somatostatin, gastrin and glucagon. In addition, using a panel of oligonucleotide probes specific for various members of the rat kallikrein-gene family, we have shown that the kallikrein-like gene expressed appears to be expressed as true kallikrein. PMID- 2604710 TI - High-yield isolation of functionally competent endosomes from mouse lymphocytes. AB - A discontinuous-sucrose-gradient procedure for isolating endosomes from mouse lymphoma cells has been developed. After centrifugation, most organelles (especially mitochondria and lysosomes) are recovered in the denser fractions of the gradient, whereas a mixture of plasma membrane and endosomes is present at lighter densities. The endosome recovery in this fraction can be increased (by 100%) by (a) a mild trypsin treatment of the postnuclear supernatant and (b) loading the cell endosomes with a saturating concentration of low-density lipoproteins. Removal of the plasma-membrane contamination was achieved by preincubating the cells with a gold-ricin complex at 4 degrees C. On centrifugation, the gold-loaded membranes sediment to the bottom of the gradient. The endosome preparation isolated by these procedures is less than 6% contaminated by other organelles and contains 42% of internalized 125I transferrin. We show that these isolated endosomes are functional, as displayed by their ability to fuse and to acidify in a cell-free system. Endosome fusion was studied by a new assay based on the use of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. This fusion is dependent on ATP and on a cytosolic, thermoresistant but trypsin- and N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive, protein factor. Early endosomes fuse more actively among themselves than with late-endocytic vesicles, and they fuse only slowly with plasma-membrane vesicles. PMID- 2604711 TI - Effects of spermine on mitochondrial Ca2+ transport and the ranges of extramitochondrial Ca2+ to which the matrix Ca2+-sensitive dehydrogenases respond. AB - 1. Spermine has previously been reported to be an activator of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake [Nicchitta & Williamson (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12978-12983]. This is confirmed in the present studies on rat heart, liver and kidney mitochondria by using the activities of the Ca2+-sensitive intramitochondrial dehydrogenases (pyruvate, NAD+-isocitrate and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenases) as probes for matrix Ca2+, and also, for the heart mitochondria, by using entrapped fura-2. 2. As also found previously [Damuni, Humphreys & Reed (1984) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 124, 95-99], spermine activated extracted pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase. However, it was found to have no effects at all on the extracted NAD+-isocitrate or 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenases. It also had no effects on activities of the enzymes in mitochondria incubated in the absence of Ca2+, or on the Ca2+-sensitivity of the enzymes in uncoupled mitochondria. 3. Spermine clearly activated 45Ca uptake by coupled mitochondria, but had no effect on Ca2+ egress from mitochondria previously loaded with 45Ca. 4. Spermine (with effective Km values of around 0.2-0.4 mM) caused an approx. 2-3-fold decrease in the effective ranges of extramitochondrial Ca2+ in the activation of the Ca2+ sensitive matrix enzymes in coupled mitochondria from all of the tissues. The effects of spermine appeared to be largely independent of the other effectors of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport, such as Mg2+ (inhibitor of uptake) and Na+ (promoter of egrees). 5. In the most physiological circumstance, coupled mitochondria incubated with Na+ and Mg2+, the presence of saturating spermine (2 mM) resulted in an effective extramitochondrial Ca2+ range for matrix enzyme activation of from about 30-50 nM up to about 800-1200 nM, with half-maximal effects around 250-400 nM-Ca2+. The implications of these findings for the regulation of matrix and extramitochondrial Ca2+ are discussed. PMID- 2604712 TI - Characterization of sodium-dependent and sodium-independent nucleoside transport systems in rabbit brush-border and basolateral plasma-membrane vesicles from the renal outer cortex. AB - The transport of uridine into rabbit renal outer-cortical brush-border and basolateral membrane vesicles was compared at 22 degrees C. Uridine was taken up into an osmotically active space in the absence of metabolism for both types of membrane vesicles. Uridine influx by brush-border membrane vesicles was stimulated by Na+, and in the presence of inwardly directed gradients of Na+ a transient overshoot phenomenon was observed, indicating active transport. Kinetic analysis of the saturable Na+-dependent component of uridine flux indicated that it was consistent with Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Km 12 +/- 3 microM, Vmax. 3.9 +/- 0.9 pmol/s per mg of protein). The sodium:uridine coupling stoichiometry was found to be consistent with 1:1 and involved the net transfer of positive charge. In contrast, uridine influx by basolateral membrane vesicles was not dependent on the cation present and was inhibited by nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR). NBMPR sensitive uridine transport was saturable (Km 137 +/- 20 microM, Vmax. 5.2 +/- 0.6 pmol/s per mg of protein). Inhibition of uridine flux by NBMPR was associated with high-affinity binding of NBMPR to the basolateral membrane (Kd 0.74 +/- 0.46 nM). Binding of NBMPR to these sites was competitively blocked by adenosine and uridine. These results indicate that uridine crosses the brush-border surface of rabbit proximal renal tubule cells by Na+-dependent pathways, but permeates the basolateral surface by NBMPR-sensitive facilitated-diffusion carriers. PMID- 2604713 TI - Identification of meso-hydroxyuroporphyrin I in the urine of a patient with congenital erythropoietic porphyria. AB - A new porphyrin, meso-hydroxyuroporphyrin I, was isolated from the urine of a patient with congenital erythropoietic porphyria. The structure was characterized as the methyl ester, ethyl ester and acetoxy derivatives by fast-atom-bombardment m.s., by conversion into uroporphyrin I and by chemical synthesis. PMID- 2604714 TI - The non-fluorescence of 4-fluorotryptophan. AB - The derivative 4-fluorotryptophan was confirmed to have negligible fluorescence at 25 degrees C and 285 nm (tryptophan/4-fluorotryptophan quantum-yield ratio greater than 100:1). However, photolysis experiments on tryptophan and 4 fluorotryptophan, in which loss of starting material was measured by reverse phase h.p.l.c., demonstrated that 4-fluorotryptophan was significantly more photochemically active than the parent tryptophan, with the 4-fluorotryptophan photolysis quantum yield being 7 times larger than that of tryptophan at 25 degrees C and 285 nm. In addition, at 77 K and 275 nm 4-fluorotryptophan displayed strong fluorescence and phosphorescence, with emission quantum yields comparable with those of tryptophan at 77 K and 275 nm. PMID- 2604715 TI - Regulation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase levels during skeletal myogenesis. AB - We showed previously that the levels of type I regulatory subunit of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase increase during differentiation of L6 skeletal myoblasts as a result of a specific decrease in its rate of degradation. Studies on the rates of degradation of the catalytic subunit show that unlike the type I regulatory subunit, catalytic subunit is degraded very slowly in myoblasts (t1/2 = 29 h) and more rapidly in myotubes (t1/2 = 14 h). As with the regulatory subunit, the degradation of catalytic subunit is increased by treatment of myoblasts with cyclic AMP analogues. These results suggest that the overall increase in the amount of type I cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme during myogenesis is due to the increase in levels of mRNA for the catalytic subunit. This probably leads to an increase in the amount of catalytic subunit, which then stabilizes the regulatory subunit, thereby causing an increase in the levels of this protein also. PMID- 2604716 TI - Comparison of the kinetics of cycling of the transferrin receptor in the presence or absence of bound diferric transferrin. AB - The kinetics of cycling of the transferrin receptor in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells was examined in the presence or absence of bound diferric transferrin. In order to investigate the properties of the receptor in the absence of transferrin, the cells were maintained in defined medium without transferrin. It was demonstrated that Fab fragments of a monoclonal anti (transferrin receptor) antibody (OKT9) did not alter the binding of diferric 125I transferrin to the receptor or change the accumulation of [59Fe]diferric transferrin by cells. OKT9 125I-Fab fragments were prepared and used as a probe for the function of the receptor. The first-order rate constants for endocytosis (0.16 +/- 0.02 min-1) and exocytosis (0.056 +/- 0.003 min-1) were found to be significantly lower for control cells than the corresponding rate constants for endocytosis (0.22 +/- 0.02 min-1) and exocytosis (0.065 +/- 0.004 min-1) measured for cells incubated with 1 microM-diferric transferrin (mean +/- S.D., n = 3). The cycling of the transferrin receptor is therefore regulated by diferric transferrin via an increase in both the rate of endocytosis and exocytosis. Examination of the accumulation of OKT9 125I-Fab fragments indicated that diferric transferrin caused a marked decrease in the amount of internalized 125I Fab fragments associated with the cells after 60 min of incubation at 37 degrees C. Diferric transferrin therefore increases the efficiency of the release of internalized 125I-Fab fragments compared with cells incubated without diferric transferrin. These data indicate that transferrin regulates the sorting of the transferrin receptor at the cell surface and within endosomal membrane compartments. PMID- 2604717 TI - Beta-oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids with conjugated double bonds. Mitochondrial metabolism of octa-2,4,6-trienoic acid. AB - The mitochondrial beta-oxidation of octa-2,4,6-trienoic acid was studied with the aim of elucidating the degradation of unsaturated fatty acids with conjugated double bonds. Octa-2,4,6-trienoic acid was found to be a respiratory substrate of coupled rat liver mitochondria, but not of rat heart mitochondria. Octa-2,4,6 trienoyl-CoA, the product of the inner-mitochondrial activation of the acid, was chemically synthesized and its degradation by purified enzymes of beta-oxidation was studied spectrophotometrically and by use of h.p.l.c. This compound is a substrate of NADPH-dependent 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase or 4-enoyl-CoA reductase (EC 1.3.1.34), which facilitates its further beta-oxidation. The product obtained after the NADPH-dependent reduction of octa-2,4,6-trienoyl-CoA and one round of beta-oxidation was hex-4-enoyl-CoA, which can be completely degraded via beta oxidation. It is concluded that polyunsaturated fatty acids with two conjugated double bonds extending from even-numbered carbon atoms can be completely degraded via beta-oxidation because their presumed 2,4,6-trienoyl-CoA intermediates are substrates of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase. PMID- 2604718 TI - The measurement of Ca2+ inflow across the liver cell plasma membrane by using quin2 and studies of the roles of Na+ and extracellular Ca2+ in the mechanism of Ca2+ inflow. AB - 1. Rates of Ca2+ inflow across the hepatocyte plasma membrane in the presence of vasopressin were estimated by using quin2. 2. Plots of the rate of Ca2+ inflow as a function of the intracellular quin2 concentration reached a plateau at about 1.7 mM intracellular quin2. Ca2+ inflow was inhibited by 60% in the presence of 400 microM-verapamil. 3. A plot of the rate of Ca2+ inflow as a function of the concentration of extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o) was biphasic. The second (slower) phase showed no sign of saturation at values of [Ca2+]o up to 5 mM. It is concluded that, in the presence of vasopressin, Ca2+ flows into the liver cell by two different processes, one of which is not readily saturated by Ca2+o. 4. The effect of the replacement of extracellular NaCl by choline or tetramethylammonium chloride on cellular Ca2+ movement was found to depend on the presence or absence of intracellular quin2. 5. In cells loaded with quin2 and incubated in the presence of choline or tetramethylammonium chloride, a small decrease in the basal intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was observed, and the increase in [Ca2+]i caused by the addition of vasopressin was considerably diminished when compared with cells incubated in the presence of NaCl. In cells loaded with quin2, replacement of NaCl by choline chloride caused a decrease in Ca2+ inflow in the presence of vasopressin, as measured by using quin2 or 45Ca2+ exchange, whereas no change in Ca2+ inflow was observed in the absence of vasopressin. 6. In cells not loaded with quin2, replacement of NaCl by choline chloride did not alter Ca2+ inflow either in the presence or in the absence of vasopressin. 7. It is concluded that (i) Ca2+ inflow through the basal and receptor-activated Ca2+ inflow systems does not involve the inward movement of Ca2+ in exchange for Na+ or the induction of Ca2+ inflow by intracellular Na+, and (ii) the presence of both intracellular quin2 and extracellular choline or tetramethylammonium chloride (in place of NaCl) inhibits Ca2+ inflow through the receptor-activated Ca2+ inflow system but not through the basal Ca2+ inflow system, and inhibits the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. PMID- 2604719 TI - The Ca2+-binding sequence in bovine brain S100b protein beta-subunit. A spectroscopic study. AB - Conformational changes in the beta-subunit of the bovine brain Ca2+-binding protein S100b (S100-beta) accompanying Ca2+ binding were investigated by analysis of the spectroscopic properties of the single tyrosine residue (Tyr17 beta) and flow-dialysis binding experiments. S100-beta binds Ca2+ sequentially at two sites to change the conformation of the protein. The first Ca2+ ion binds to site II beta, a typical Ca2+-binding site in the C-terminal region, and it does not significantly perturb the proximal environment of Tyr17 beta. After the first site is occupied, another Ca2+ ion binds to the N-terminal Ca2+-binding site, I beta, and strengthens a hydrogen bond between Tyr17 beta and a neighbouring carboxylate acceptor group, which results in a large increase in the Tyr17 beta fluorescence spectrum half-width and a positive absorption and c.d. signal between 290 and 275 nm. Ca2+ binding to the S100b.Zn2+6 complex, studied by flow dialysis and fluorescence measurements showed that, although Zn2+ ions increase the affinity of S100b protein for Ca2+, the Ca2+-binding sequence was not changed. Tb3+ (terbium ion) binding studies on the S100b.Zn2+6 complex proved that Tb3+ antagonizes only Ca2+ binding site II beta and confirmed the sequential occupation of Ca2+-binding sites on the S100b.Zn2+6 complex. PMID- 2604720 TI - The quantitative spectrum of inositol phosphate metabolites in avian erythrocytes, analysed by proton n.m.r. and h.p.l.c. with direct isomer detection. AB - The spectrum of inositol phosphate isomers present in avian erythrocytes was investigated in qualitative and quantitative terms. Inositol phosphates were isolated in micromolar quantities from turkey blood by anion-exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose and subjected to proton n.m.r. and h.p.l.c. analysis. We employed a h.p.l.c. technique with a novel, recently described complexometric post-column detection system, called 'metal-dye detection' [Mayr (1988) Biochem. J. 254, 585-591], which enabled us to identify non-radioactively labelled inositol phosphate isomers and to determine their masses. The results indicate that avian erythrocytes contain the same inositol phosphate isomers as mammalian cells. Denoted by the 'lowest-locant rule' [NC-IUB Recommendations (1988) Biochem. J. 258, 1-2] irrespective of true enantiomerism, these are Ins(1,4)P2, Ins(1,6)P2, Ins(1,3,4)P3, Ins(1,4,5)P3, Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, Ins(1,3,4,6)P4, Ins(1,4,5,6)P4, Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5, and InsP6. Furthermore, we identified two inositol trisphosphate isomers hitherto not described for mammalian cells, namely Ins(1,5,6)P3 and Ins(2,4,5)P3. The possible position of these two isomers in inositol phosphate metabolism and implications resulting from absolute abundances of inositol phosphates are discussed. PMID- 2604721 TI - Characterization of trimming Man9-mannosidase from pig liver. Purification of a catalytically active fragment and evidence for the transmembrane nature of the intact 65 kDa enzyme. AB - An alpha 1,2-mannosidase (Man9-mannosidase) involved in N-linked oligosaccharide processing has been purified about 16,000-fold from pig liver crude microsomes (microsomal fractions) by CM-Sepharose and DEAE-Sephacel chromatography, concanavalin A (Con A)-Sepharose chromatography and, as the key step of the procedure, affinity chromatography on immobilized N-5-carboxypentyl-l deoxymannojirimycin (CP-dMM). On SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions, the isolated enzyme migrated as a single protein band with a molecular mass of 49 kDa. The enzyme does not bind Con A and is not susceptible to glycopeptidase F, indicating that it lacks N-linked oligosaccharides of the high-mannose or complex type. Purified Man9-mannosidase has a pH optimum close to 6.0 and requires bivalent cations for activity, with Ca2+ being most effective. The enzyme is inhibited strongly by basic sugar analogues of mannose such as 1 deoxymannojirimycin (dMM, Ki approximately 5 microM), N-methyl-dMM (Ki approximately 55 microM) and CP-dMM (Ki approximately 150 microM), whereas NN dimethyl-dMM and the mannosidase II inhibitor swainsonine were hardly or not at all inhibitory. A homogeneous preparation of the 49 kDa enzyme cleaves specifically three of the four alpha 1,2-mannosidic linkages in the natural Man9 GlcNAc2 (M9) substrate. The relative rates by which the parent and intermediate structures are hydrolysed were found to be about 3:2:5 for M9, M8 and M7 respectively. The enzyme displays only marginal activity toward the remaining alpha 1,2-mannosidic linkages in the Man9-GlcNAc2 oligosaccharide (relative rate of M6 hydrolysis approximately 0.02) and is not active against nitrophenyl and methylumbelliferyl alpha-mannosides. This unique substrate specificity suggests that Man9-mannosidase processing differs from that catalysed by other trimming alpha 1,2-mannosidases hitherto reported. A polyclonal antibody raised against the denatured 49 kDa polypeptide not only recognizes a protein band of similar size in Western blots of crude microsomes, but also reacts strongly with a 65 kDa protein species. On trypsin treatment of detergent-solubilized microsomes, the 65 kDa protein is converted specifically into a stable 49 kDa fragment, indicating a precursor-product relationship between the two proteins. We conclude from this observation that the 65 kDa protein represents the intact form of Man9 mannosidase from which the 49 kDa enzyme which we have isolated has been generated, with retention of catalytic activity, by proteolysis during purification. Proteolytic studies with sealed microsomes suggest that the intact 65 kDa enzyme is a protein with a membrane-spanning domain, as well as a cytosolic polypeptide domain of size at least 3 kDa. PMID- 2604722 TI - Activation of protein kinase C in human neutrophils attenuates agonist-stimulated rises in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration by inhibiting bivalent-cation influx and intracellular Ca2+ release in addition to stimulating Ca2+ efflux. AB - Stimulation of fura-2-loaded human neutrophils with formylmethionyl-leucyl phenylalanine (FMLP) or ionomycin elevated the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+], to a maintained elevated level. Activation of protein kinase C (C-kinase) with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate or dioctanoylglycerol caused decreases in [Ca2+]i from this level. 4 alpha-Phorbol didecanoate, which does not activate C-kinase, had no effect. These results confirm previous reports that C-kinase activation decreases neutrophil [Ca2+]i by stimulating removal of Ca2+ from the cytosol. Further experiments showed that activation of C-kinase attenuated the component of the FMLP-stimulated [Ca2+]i rise that was dependent on external Ca2+. C-kinase activation also inhibited FMLP stimulated entry of the quenching cation, Mn2+, used as an indicator of bivalent cation entry. In contrast, C-kinase activation caused only a partial inhibition of FMLP-stimulated release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. 4 alpha-Phorbol didecanoate was ineffective in inhibiting Ca2+ entry, Mn2+ entry and intracellular Ca2+ release. Addition of FMLP also stimulated a decrease in the ionomycin-elevated [Ca2+]i, and this effect was blocked by staurosporine, a protein kinase inhibitor. These results show that, in addition to stimulating Ca2+ efflux, C-kinase activation in neutrophils inhibits FMLP-stimulated entry of bivalent cations, and partially inhibits intracellular release of Ca2+. Further, FMLP itself can modulate [Ca2+]i by activation of C-kinase. PMID- 2604723 TI - Biosynthetic precursor (214 kDa) of apolipoprotein B-48 is not secreted by Caco-2 cells and normal human intestine. AB - The synthesis and secretion of apolipoprotein B (apo B) was studied in a human colon carcinoma (Caco-2) cell line and in explants from normal human intestine. In Caco-2 cells, the specific activity of the intestinal disaccharidases maltase, sucrase-isomaltase and lactase was enhanced 8-, 6- and 3-fold respectively, at 19 days post-confluence as compared with 1-day-post-confluence cultures. The level of apo B secreted into the medium increased from undetectable in the cells just reaching confluency, to 115 ng/ml at 18 days post-confluence. The presence of apo B-100 and apo B-48 with mobilities on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis corresponding to those of human very-low-density lipoproteins and lymph chylomicrons, respectively, was detected in the media from 7-, 12- and 18-days post-confluence cells. These two apo B proteins were also found intracellularly in 7-day-post-confluence cultures. However, more differentiated cells (12 and 18 days post-confluence) accumulated large amount of a 214 kDa protein intracellularly. Apo B-related 214 kDa protein was also synthesized by normal human intestinal explants. A pulse-chase experiment with explants from normal human jejunum showed a slow intracellular conversion of the 214 kDa protein into the size of mature apo B-48 (264 kDa), concomitant with increasing amounts of mature apo B-48 in the medium, suggesting a precursor-product relationship. Despite large intracellular quantities, the 214 kDa protein from the normal human tissue and Caco-2 cells was absent from the medium. No apo B-100 synthesis was detected in the human explants. These findings may help in our understanding of cholesterol and lipid metabolism in health and in some disorders characterized by the inability to secrete apo B-containing lipoproteins. PMID- 2604724 TI - Conformational analysis of PKI(5-22)amide, the active inhibitory fragment of the inhibitor protein of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. AB - Fourier-transform i.r. spectroscopy, 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy and X-ray scattering were used to study the conformation and shape of the peptide PKI(5-22)amide, which contains the active site of the inhibitor protein of the cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase [Cheng, Van Pattern, Smith & Walsh (1985) Biochem. J. 231, 655-661]. The X-ray-scattering solution studies show that the peptide has a compact structure with Rg 0.9 nm (9.0 A) and a linear maximum dimension of 2.5 nm (25A). Compatible with this, Fourier-transform i.r. and n.m.r. determinations indicate that the peptide contains approx. 26% alpha-helix located in the N terminal one-third of the molecule. This region contains the phenylalanine residue that is one essential recognition determinant for high-affinity binding to the protein kinase catalytic site. PMID- 2604725 TI - The kinetics of transport of lactate and pyruvate into isolated cardiac myocytes from guinea pig. Kinetic evidence for the presence of a carrier distinct from that in erythrocytes and hepatocytes. AB - 1. Time courses for the uptake of L-lactate, D-lactate and pyruvate into isolated cardiac ventricular myocytes from guinea pig were determined at 11 degrees C or 0 degrees C (for pyruvate) in a citrate-based buffer by using a silicone-oil filtration technique. These conditions enabled initial rates of transport to be measured without interference from metabolism of the substrates. 2. At a concentration of 0.5 mM, transport of all these substrates was inhibited by approx. 90% by 5 mM-alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate; at 10 mM-L-lactate a considerable portion of transport could not be inhibited. 3. Initial rates of L lactate and pyruvate uptake in the presence of 5 mM-alpha-cyano-4 hydroxycinnamate were linearly related to the concentration of the monocarboxylate and probably represented diffusion of the free acid. The inhibitor-sensitive component of uptake obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with Km values for L-lactate and pyruvate of 2.3 and 0.066 mM respectively. 4. Pyruvate and D-lactate inhibited the transport of L-lactate, with Ki values (competitive) of 0.077 and 6.6 mM respectively; the Ki for pyruvate was very similar to its Km for transport. The Ki for alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate as a non-competitive inhibitor was 0.042 mM. 5. These results indicate that L-lactate, D-lactate and pyruvate share a common carrier in guinea-pig cardiac myocytes; the low stereoselectivity for L-lactate over D-lactate and the high affinity for pyruvate distinguish it from the carrier in erythrocytes and hepatocytes. The metabolic roles for this novel carrier in heart are discussed. PMID- 2604726 TI - Evidence that glutathione S-transferases B1B1 and B2B2 are the products of separate genes and that their expression in human liver is subject to inter individual variation. Molecular relationships between the B1 and B2 subunits and other Alpha class glutathione S-transferases. AB - The Alpha class glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) in human liver are composed of polypeptides of Mr 25,900. These enzymes are dimeric, and two immunochemically distinct subunits, B1 and B2, have been described that combine to form GSTs B1B1, B1B2 and B2B2 [Stockman, Beckett & Hayes (1985) Biochem. J. 227, 457-465]. Gradient affinity elution from GSH-Sepharose has been used to resolve the three Alpha class GSTs, and this method has been applied to demonstrate marked inter individual differences in the hepatic content of GSTs B1B1, B1B2 and B2B2. The B1 and B2 subunits can be resolved by reverse-phase h.p.l.c., and their elution positions suggest that they are equivalent to the alpha chi and alpha y h.p.l.c. peaks described by Ketterer and his colleagues [Ostlund Farrants, Meyer, Coles, Southan, Aitken, Johnson & Ketterer (1987) Biochem. J. 245, 423-428]. The B1 and B2 subunits have now been cleaved with CNBr and the fragments subjected to automated amino acid sequence analysis. The sequence data show that B1 and B2 subunits do not arise from post-translational modification, as had been previously believed for the hepatic Alpha class GSTs, but are instead the products of separate genes; B1 and B2 subunits were found to contain different amino acid residues at positions 88, 110, 111, 112, 116, 124 and 127. The relationship between the B1 and B2 subunits and the cloned GTH1 and GTH2 cDNA sequences [Rhoads, Zarlengo & Tu (1987) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 145, 474 481] is discussed. PMID- 2604727 TI - The specificity of bovine spleen cathepsin S. A comparison with rat liver cathepsins L and B. AB - The peptide-bond-specificity of bovine spleen cathepsin S in the cleavage of the oxidized insulin B-chain and peptide methylcoumarylamide substrates was investigated and the results are compared with those obtained with rat liver cathepsins L and B. Major cleavage sites in the oxidized insulin B-chain generated by cathepsin S are the bonds Glu13-Ala14, Leu17-Val18 and Phe23-Tyr26; minor cleavage sites are the bonds Asn3-Gln4, Ser9-His10 and Leu15-Tyr16. The bond-specificity of this proteinase is in part similar to the specificities of cathepsin L and cathepsin N. Larger differences are discernible in the reaction with synthetic peptide substrates. Cathepsin S prefers smaller neutral amino acid residues in the subsites S2 and S3, whereas cathepsin L efficiently hydrolyses substrates with bulky hydrophobic residues in the P2 and P3 positions. The results obtained from inhibitor studies differ somewhat from those based on substrates. Z-Phe-Ala-CH2F (where Z- represents benzyloxycarbonyl-) is a very potent time-dependent inhibitor for cathepsin S, and inhibits this proteinase 30 times more efficiently than it does cathepsin L and about 300 times better than it does cathepsin B. By contrast, the peptidylmethanes Z-Val-Phe-CH3 and Z-Phe Lys(Z)-CH3 inhibit competitively both cathepsin S and cathepsin L in the micromolar range. PMID- 2604728 TI - Schiff-base deprotonation is mandatory for light-dependent rhodopsin phosphorylation. AB - The absorption of light by rhodopsin leads to the formation of an activated intermediate (R*) capable of catalysing the exchange of GTP for GDP in a retinal guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (transducin). The ability of R* to function as a catalyst is terminated by the rhodopsin kinase. The 10 nonactive site lysine residues of rhodopsin can be reductively dimethylated to form permethylated rhodopsin (PMRh). This derivative is phosphorylated to the same extent as rhodopsin after photolysis. The monomethylation of the active-site lysine residue of PMRh yields active-site-methylated rhodopsin (AMRh). It had previously been shown, by using AMRh, that the formation of R* and its spectroscopic signature metarhodopsin II requires the photochemically induced deprotonation of the active-site Schiff base [Longstaff, Calhoon & Rando (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 4209-4213]. Here it is demonstrated that active site Schiff-base deprotonation is also mandatory in the formation of the form of photolyzed rhodopsin that is susceptible to phosphorylation by rhodopsin kinase. In terms of the spectroscopically defined rhodopsin intermediates, this means that only metarhodopsin II and possibly metarhodopsin III are the actual substrates for rhodopsin kinase. PMID- 2604729 TI - Regulation of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis. Effects of a cytochrome P-450 inhibitor on the formation and metabolism of oxygenated sterol products of lanosterol. AB - The involvement of oxygenated cholesterol precursors in the regulation of 3 hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity was studied by examining the effect of ketoconazole on the metabolism of mevalonic acid, lanosterol and the lanosterol metabolites, lanost-8-ene-3 beta,32-diol,3 beta hydroxylanost-8-en-32-al and 4,4-dimethylcholesta-8,14-dien-3 beta-ol, in liver subcellular fractions and hepatocyte cultures. Inhibition of cholesterol synthesis from mevalonate by ketoconazole at concentrations up to 30 microM was due exclusively to a suppression of cytochrome P-450LDM (LDM = lanosterol demethylase) activity, resulting in a decreased rate of lanosterol 14 alpha demethylation. No enzyme after the 14 alpha-demethylase step was affected. When [14C]mevalonate was the cholesterol precursor, inhibition of cytochrome P450LDM was accompanied by the accumulation of several labelled oxygenated sterols, quantitatively the most important of which was the C-32 aldehyde derivative of lanosterol. There was no accumulation of the 24,25-oxide derivative of lanosterol, nor of the C-32 alcohol. Under these conditions the activity of HMG CoA reductase declined. The C-32 aldehyde accumulated to a far greater extent when lanost-8-ene-3 beta,32-diol rather than mevalonate was used as the cholesterol precursor in the presence of ketoconazole. With both precursors, this accumulation was reversed at higher concentrations of ketoconazole in liver subcellular fractions. A similar reversal was not observed in hepatocyte cultures. PMID- 2604730 TI - Promethazine inhibits the formation of aldehydic products of lipid peroxidation but not covalent binding resulting from the exposure of rat liver fractions to CCl4. AB - Promethazine is known to have protective activity in relation to CCl4-induced liver necrosis. This hepatoprotective property has been investigated with regard to the free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties of promethazine using isolated hepatocytes and microsomal suspensions. CCl4 is activated in both systems to free radical metabolites that bind covalently to lipid and protein, and initiate lipid peroxidation. A large number of carbonyl products is produced during CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation; promethazine strongly inhibits the production of all classes of carbonyl compounds in both microsomal suspensions and isolated hepatocytes. In contrast, promethazine is a very weak inhibitor of the covalent binding of metabolites of CCl4. We conclude that promethazine acts by scavenging the trichloromethylperoxyl radical and lipid peroxyl radicals, and is a weak scavenger of the trichloromethyl radical. These data, when considered together with the hepatoprotective effects of promethazine, suggest that lipid peroxidation is of relatively more importance than covalent binding in the pathogenesis of CCl4-induced liver necrosis. PMID- 2604731 TI - Conversion of ethanolamine, monomethylethanolamine and dimethylethanolamine to choline-containing compounds by neurons in culture and by the rat brain. AB - The incubation of neurons from chick embryos in primary culture with [3H]ethanolamine revealed the conversion of this base into monomethyl, dimethyl and choline derivatives, including the corresponding free bases. Labelling with [methyl-3H]monomethylethanolamine and [methyl-3H]dimethylethanolamine supported the conclusion that in chick neuron cultures, phosphoethanolamine appears to be the preferential substrate for methylation, rather than ethanolamine or phosphatidylethanolamine. The methylation of the latter two compounds, in particular that of phosphatidylethanolamine, was seemingly stopped at the level of their monomethyl derivatives. Fetal rat neurons in primary culture incubated with [3H]ethanolamine showed similar results to those observed with chick neurones. However, phosphoethanolamine and phosphatidylethanolamine and, to a lesser extent, free ethanolamine, appeared to be possible substrates for methylation reactions. The methylation of water-soluble ethanolamine compounds de novo was further confirmed by experiments performed in vivo by intraventricular injection of [3H]ethanolamine. Phosphocholine and the monomethyl and dimethyl derivatives of ethanolamine were detected in the brain 15 min after injection. PMID- 2604732 TI - Kinetic features of ascorbic acid oxidase after partial deglycation. AB - By means of specific exoglycosidases, sugars have been removed under non denaturing conditions from ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO), different deglycation schedules being followed. Our results indicate that deglycation clearly affects the kinetic features of AAO, leading to an increase of 'affinity' and 'catalytic ability' of the enzymic forms so generated. A better exposure of the catalytic site residues could be supposed to occur upon treatment with exoglycosidases. This is supported by the three-dimensional X-ray structure of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo medullosa; courgette) AAO. PMID- 2604733 TI - The analysis of metabolite channelling in multienzyme complexes and multifunctional proteins. AB - Multienzyme complexes and multifunctional proteins may confer a kinetic advantage by channelling reaction intermediates between consecutive enzymes and reducing the transient time for the establishment of steady states. A general means for quantitatively assessing the contribution of channelling to the reduction of pool size and transient time is presented. Restrictions to the kinetic advantage are identified, and it is shown that no channelling advantage is obtained at high enzyme concentration or for enzymes which exhibit rapid-equilibrium kinetic behaviour. PMID- 2604734 TI - Time-dependent activity and expression of glutathione S-transferases in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2. AB - The human colon carcinoma cell line Caco-2 was examined for glutathione S transferase (GST) composition and activity. Freshly seeded cells and cells until 4 days after confluency contain only the placental (Pi) form of glutathione transferase. Cells in culture for longer periods start to express class-Alpha GST isoenzymes. Confluent cells in culture for 20 days or longer contain up to 90% class-Alpha GST. Class-Mu GSTs are not detectable. GST activity gradually increases from 564 +/- 28 to 5381 +/- 165 nmol/min per mg of protein at day 0 and 32 after confluency respectively. With regard to GST composition, Caco-2 cells in culture for longer periods most resemble small-intestinal cells, whereas short time cultures have characteristics of colonic cells. This cell line is very well suited for the study of both the in vitro properties and the expression of class Alpha and Pi GSTs. PMID- 2604735 TI - Sequence similarity between the reg transcript and pancreatic stone protein mRNA. PMID- 2604736 TI - Purification methods for neuronal K+ channels. PMID- 2604737 TI - Elegance persists in the purification of K+ channels. PMID- 2604738 TI - Reduced glutathione in combination with superoxide dismutase as an important biological antioxidant defence mechanism. PMID- 2604739 TI - In vitro inhibition of hepatic drug oxidation by thioridazine. Kinetic analysis of the inhibition of cytochrome P-450 isoform-specific reactions. AB - The phenothiazine tranquilizer thioridazine has been associated with drug interactions in man. This study investigated the capacity of the drug to inhibit hepatic drug oxidations mediated by cytochromes P-450 (P-450) in microsomes in vitro. Thioridazine was a potent linear mixed-type inhibitor of P-450b-dependent 7-pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase activity in phenobarbital-induced rat liver. The kinetic analysis revealed the enzyme-substrate dissociation constant (Ks) to be 1.6 microM whereas the dissociation constant of the enzyme-inhibitor complex (Ki) was 0.11 microM. In contrast, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity (mediated by P-450c) in beta-naphthoflavone-induced rat hepatic microsomes was inhibited to a lesser extent (Ki = 2.4 microM) in relation to the Ks value (0.5 microM). Spectral studies indicated that the efficiency of thioridazine binding in phenobarbital-induced microsomes was about 25-fold greater than in microsomes from beta-naphthoflavone-induced rat liver. This finding is consistent with the relative capacity of thioridazine to inhibit oxidase activities catalyzed by P 450b and P-450c. Mixed-function oxidase activities catalysed by other P-450s were also inhibited by thioridazine, although to a lesser extent than those catalysed by forms b and c. Thus, the 6 beta- and 16 beta-hydroxylations of androst-4-ene 3,17-dione in hepatic microsomes from untreated rats were inhibited to a similar extent (I50S = 52 and 43 microM, respectively). The 7 alpha- and 16 alpha hydroxylase pathways were approximately only half as susceptible to inhibition by thioridazine. These findings demonstrate the capacity of thioridazine to inhibit a range of P-450-dependent drug oxidations, with those catalysed by forms b and c most susceptible. The present study strongly suggests that drug interactions elicited by thioridazine are most likely a consequence of inhibitory interactions with P-450 enzymes. PMID- 2604740 TI - In vivo conversion of gamma-aminobutyric acid and 1,4-butanediol to gamma hydroxybutyric acid in rat brain. Studies using stable isotopes. AB - The formation of 4-[1,4-13C]hydroxybutyric acid ([13C]gamma-hydroxybutyric acid; [13C]GHB) in rat brain was studied following intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of either 4-[1,4-13C]aminobutyric acid ([13C]GABA or 1,4-[1,4 13C]butanediol ([13C]1,4-BD) to awake, freely moving animals. GHB and [13C]GHB were measured with a gas chromatographic mass spectrometric (GC/MS) technique designed to detect the lactone derivative of GHB with the acid or lactone being determined by conditions of tissue extraction. [13C]GHB was detected following i.c.v. administration of [13C]GABA with a turnover rate of 2.04 nmol/g tissue/hr and [13C]1,4-BD with a turnover rate of 1.4 nmol/g/hr. The formation of [13C]GHB from [13C]GABA was blocked by an inhibitor of GABA-transaminase, but this drug had no effect on the formation of [13C]GHB from [13C]1,4-BD. The latter pathway was also unaffected by alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors, compounds which block this pathway in the periphery. Further, in the course of these experiments, naturally occurring endogenous gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) was detected in rat brain in a concentration of 200 pmol/g tissue weight, but lactonization in vivo of [13C]GHB formed from either labeled GABA or 1,4-BD was not demonstrated. These data confirm two separate pathways of synthesis for GHB in brain, demonstrate the presence of GBL in brain, and illustrate the utility of a new GC/MS technique for analysis of GHB and for GBL which does not involve extensive derivatization. PMID- 2604741 TI - Chiral inversion of 2-arylpropionic acid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs- 1. In vitro studies of ibuprofen and flurbiprofen. AB - The mechanism of inversion of the enantiomers of 2-arylpropionic acids was investigated in vitro using tissue homogenates. Crude rat liver homogenate was shown to mediate the inversion of R to S-ibuprofen, but not inversion of the S to the R-enantiomer. Inversion required CoA and ATP as cofactors. In contrast, R ibuprofen was not inverted by homogenates of kidney or small intestine and there was no inversion of the enantiomers of flurbiprofen by any of these tissue homogenates. Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase was partially purified from rat liver microsomes and bound to Matrex Gel Red A. R-Ibuprofen was shown to be a substrate for this enzyme while S-ibuprofen and R and S-flurbiprofen were not substrates. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the stereospecificity of inversion is controlled by the acyl-CoA synthetase. R-Ibuprofen-CoA did not racemize in either buffer solution (pH 7.4) or human plasma consistent with the hypothesis that racemization of the CoA thioesters is mediated enzymatically. PMID- 2604742 TI - Cytotoxic effects of amiodarone and desethylamiodarone on human thyrocytes. AB - Since recent in vivo evidence suggests that the benzofuran antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone has a direct toxic effect on the human thyroid gland, we have investigated the effects of both amiodarone and its metabolite desethylamiodarone on a novel immortalized functional human thyrocyte line (SGHTL-34 cells). Desethylamiodarone markedly reduced cell number as assessed from both DNA and protein content. Few cells were left after 24 hr exposure to 12.5 micrograms/ml; the concentration producing death of 50% of cells (EC50) was 6.8 +/- 1.1 micrograms/ml (mean +/- SE, N = 15). Amiodarone was much less potent, producing a maximum decrease in cell number of approximately 25% at concentrations up to 50 micrograms/ml. The effect of desethylamiodarone was seen within 24 hr of culture. T3 in concentrations up to 0.75 micrograms/ml had no effect on the action of amiodarone or desethylamiodarone on SGHTL-34 cells. Light microscopy demonstrated vacuolation of SGHTL-34 cells after 4-day culture with either the drug or its metabolite. Studies using primary cultures of human retroorbital fibroblasts demonstrated that the greater cytotoxicity of desethylamiodarone was not confined to thyrocytes. When SGHTL-34 cells were incubated with 2.5 micrograms/ml desethylamiodarone for 4 days, 71.7 +/- 0.9% was taken up by the cells; there was no detectable conversion to amiodarone. Incubation of thyrocytes with 50 micrograms/ml amiodarone for 4 days resulted in the uptake of 80.1 +/- 2.1% by the cells. In addition, 5.0 +/- 0.1% of the amiodarone was converted to material with the same retention time as desethylamiodarone standard; of this material, 72.9 +/- 2.8% was taken up by the cells. We conclude that desethylamiodarone, at concentrations near those found in the plasma of patients on long-term amiodarone therapy, exerts a direct cytotoxic effect on human thyroid cells in short-term culture. This effect may play a role in the aetiology of clinical thyroid disease during amiodarone therapy. We suggest that, since the effect is not restricted to thyrocytes, desethylamiodarone may play a role in the aetiology of amiodarone toxicity which occurs clinically in many tissues. PMID- 2604743 TI - Glutathione conjugation of styrene 7,8-oxide enantiomers by major glutathione transferase isoenzymes isolated from rat livers. AB - Male Sprague-Dawley rat liver cytosol mediated regioselective conjugation of styrene 7,8-oxide (STO) enantiomers with glutathione in completely trans-ring opening manner to afford (1S)-S-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)glutathione and (2R)-S (2-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)glutathione in the ratio 22:1 for (R)-STO and also to afford (1R)-S-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)glutathione and (2S)-S-(2-phenyl-2 hydroxyethyl)glutathione in the ratio 12:1 for (S)-STO. In the above cytosolic reactions, (R)-STO was conjugated 1.8 times faster than (S)-STO, while the (R)- to (S)-ratio in rate of the conjugation was 2.7 when racemic STO was used as a substrate. A kinetic study, carried out by using six major glutathione transferase (GST) isoenzymes isolated from the cytosol, indicated that GSTs 3-3, 3-4 and 4-4 (class mu enzymes) had much higher Kcat/Km values towards both STO enantiomers than the other three major isoenzymes, GSTs 1-1, 1-2 and 2-2 (class alpha enzymes). All the class mu enzymes mediated preferential glutathione conjugation of (R)-STO to (S)-STO. On the contrary, the class alpha enzymes catalysed the conjugation of (S)-STO preferentially to (R)-STO. The kinetic study strongly suggested that GSTs determining the higher enantioselectivity towards (R)-STO in the rat liver cytosol were the class mu enzymes, especially GST 3-3, which had the highest Kcat/Km value towards (R)-STO as well as the highest (R) to (S) ratio in the enantioselectivity among the six isoenzymes examined. GST 7-7, isolated as a major enzyme from the liver cytosol of the animals bearing hepatic hyperplastic nodules which were induced by chemical carcinogens, catalysed preferential GSH conjugation of (S)-STO to (R)-STO. PMID- 2604744 TI - Nuclease hypersensitivity of the rat cytochrome P450IA1 gene. AB - The bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I (DNAase I) hypersensitivity of the rat cytochrome P450IA1 gene was investigated. A nuclease-hypersensitive region was observed at approximately 3.2 to 5.1 kilobase pairs upstream of exon 1 in adult and fetal rat liver. This region did not necessarily correlate with gene expression following 3-methylcholanthrene induction, although it may determine the potential for inducibility of this gene. PMID- 2604745 TI - Selective protein arylation by acetaminophen and 2,6-dimethylacetaminophen in cultured hepatocytes from phenobarbital-induced and uninduced mice. Relationship to cytotoxicity. AB - To evaluate the mechanistic importance of covalent binding in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity, we compared the effects of 2,6 dimethylacetaminophen (2,6-DMA) to those of APAP in primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes. Immunochemical analysis of electrophoretically separated proteins has shown that the majority of covalent binding after a cytotoxic dose of APAP occurs on two major bands of 44 and 58 kD (Bartolone et al., Biochem Pharmacol 36: 1193-1196, 1987). At equimolar concentrations, 2,6-DMA bound proteins only 15% as extensively as did APAP and was not cytotoxic in hepatocytes from uninduced mice. However, when the hepatocytes were obtained from phenobarbital induced mice, APAP administration resulted in increased protein arylation and a more rapid onset of cytotoxicity. Furthermore, in the cells from phenobarbital induced mice, 2,6-DMA not only resulted in increased binding but also in overt cytotoxicity. Since our affinity-purified anti-APAP antibody did not cross-react with 2,6-DMA, a new antibody specific for 2,6-DMA was prepared and, after affinity purification, was used to detect 2,6-DMA protein adducts by Western blotting. Results indicated that, in hepatocytes from both phenobarbital-induced and non-induced mice, the binding of 2,6-DMA was also highly selective with the most prominent target being the 58 kD cytosolic protein. However, by contrast to APAP, only minimal binding to the 44 kD protein was detected after 2,6-DMA treatment. Although several additional protein adducts were increased in treated cells from phenobarbital-induced mice, the 58 kD protein was clearly the most prominently arylated target associated with both APAP and 2,6-DMA cytotoxicity. These data suggest that both the specificity of covalent binding as well as the extent of binding to the major targets may play an important role in the ensuing toxicity. PMID- 2604746 TI - Metabolism of lidocaine by purified rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 isozymes. AB - The metabolism of lidocaine was studied using rat liver microsomes or a reconstituted lidocaine monooxygenase system with one of eight forms of cytochrome P-450 purified from liver microsomes from untreated- (P450 UT-2 and UT 5), phenobarbital- (P450 PB-1, PB-2, PB-4, and PB-5) or 3-methylcholanthrene- (P450 MC-1 and MC-5) treated rats. A reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography system capable of simultaneously assaying four major lidocaine metabolites, namely, monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX), 3-hydroxylidocaine (3-OH LID), methylhydroxylidocaine (Me-OH LID) and glycinexylidide (GX), was employed to determine the rate of formation of each metabolite. Untreated microsomes generated MEGX, Me-OH LID, and 3-OH LID, but the formation of GX was not detected. In male rat liver microsomes, MEGX was the major metabolite of lidocaine when a concentration of 1 mM was employed. The formation of MEGX and Me OH LID was increased significantly (P less than 0.01) by microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rats, and the formation of 3-OH LID was increased with 3 methylcholanthrene. The study with the reconstituted system with purified cytochrome P-450 isozymes revealed that all eight forms of cytochrome P-450 used have an ability to N-deethylate lidocaine to form MEGX. Among these isozymes, cytochrome P450 PB-4 and P450 UT-2 showed a higher turnover number for the formation of MEGX. Me-OH LID was formed exclusively by P450 PB-5, and 3-OH LID exclusively by P450 MC-1. Selectivity of cytochrome P450 PB-5 for aromatic methyl hydroxylation of lidocaine was confirmed by an inhibition study; formation of Me OH LID by microsomes of rats treated with phenobarbital was inhibited completely by antibody against P450 PB-5. It was concluded that different cytochrome P-450 isozymes metabolize lidocaine with a different rate and different position selectivities. Since a specific substrate of cytochrome P450 PB-5 (P-450e) is not known, lidocaine may be a useful substrate for the identification of P450 PB-5. PMID- 2604747 TI - Improved cellular accumulation is characteristic of anthracyclines which retain high activity in multidrug resistant cell lines, alone or in combination with verapamil or cyclosporin A. AB - We have examined the cellular accumulation of anthracycline compounds, alone or in conjunction with resistance modifiers, in an attempt to identify mechanisms by which multidrug resistance (MDR) can be circumvented. This was facilitated by using the EMT6 mouse mammary tumour cell line EMT6/P and its MDR subline EMT6/AR1.0 with 30-fold resistance to Adriamycin (ADM), and the human small cell lung cancer line H69/P together with its MDR subline H69/LX4 with 100-fold resistance to ADM. Both MDR lines hyperexpress membrane P-170 glycoprotein. The accumulation of ADM was compared to that seen for the anthracycline analogues aclacinomycin A (ACL), Ro 31-1215 and 4'-deoxy-4'-iodo-Adriamycin (iodo-ADM). These analogues were selected because of their high activity against MDR sublines, including H69/LX4 and EMT6/AR1.0. Both MDR cell lines exhibited a deficiency in ADM accumulation compared to the parent lines. Smaller differentials were seen using Ro 31-1215 or iodo-ADM. Both resistant sublines were able to accumulate ACL in identical amounts to their respective parental sublines. Improved drug accumulation is likely to contribute to the improved activity of the analogues against MDR cell lines. However, the relative accumulation defects in the resistant lines did not correlate exactly with the degree of resistance to a particular compound. Cyclosporin A (5 micrograms/ml) or verapamil (3.3 micrograms/ml) caused a preferential increase in uptake in both MDR sublines, with a small or negligible effect for the parental line. A smaller effect was observed with iodo-ADM and Ro 31-1215, and levels of ACL were unchanged in the MDR lines in the presence of either resistance modifier. These results indicate two mechanisms for circumventing drug resistance due to reduced drug accumulation. Structurally modified derivatives can partially or completely eliminate uptake differentials between parent and drug resistant cell lines. Any residual uptake can be eliminated using resistance modifiers. The two mechanisms may both operate via inhibition or circumvention of P-170 mediated efflux. The situation is complex, however, and this study indicates the possible involvement of additional resistance mechanisms. PMID- 2604748 TI - A rapid in vitro method for the evaluation of potential antitumor drugs requiring metabolic activation by hepatic S9 enzymes. AB - Metabolic activation is a prerequisite for the antitumor activity of certain drugs such as cyclophosphamide. In vitro assays require systems for metabolic activation to reveal the toxicity of such compounds for tumor cells. Although a number of methods utilizing systems for the in vitro metabolic activation of drugs have been published, practical assays applicable to large scale screening for such agents have been lacking. We, therefore, now report that incorporation of a liver subcellular fraction (S9) into a recently established cell growth inhibition assay (microculture tetrazolium assay) significantly increased the cytotoxicity of cyclophosphamide. Under optimal conditions, the 50% growth inhibitory concentration was decreased in the presence of S9 from more than 600 micrograms/ml to less than 4 micrograms/ml, depending upon the cell line. The method also proved suitable for studies investigating metabolic detoxification (enzymatically or non-enzymatically) by conjugation reactions. For example, glutathione (5 mM) markedly reduced the cytotoxicity of activated cyclophosphamide. In contrast, the addition of UDP glucuronate (10 mM) in the presence of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activator UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (10 mM) had little effect on cyclophosphamide toxicity. PMID- 2604749 TI - Effect of dipicolinate, a chelator of zinc, on bone protein synthesis in tissue culture. The essential role of zinc. AB - The present investigation was undertaken to clarify the essential role of zinc on bone protein synthesis in tissue culture. Calvariae were removed from 3-week-old male rats and cultured for periods up to 72 hr in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (high glucose, 4500 mg/dl) supplemented with antibiotics and bovine serum albumin. The calvariae were incubated for 24 hr at 37 degrees in 5% CO2/95% air in medium containing 10(-6)-10(-3) M dipicolinate, a chelator of zinc, and then the bones were transferred into medium containing either 10(-4) M zinc sulfate or vehicle without dipicolinate. Zinc content in bone tissues was decreased when the culture was treated with 10(-4) and 10(-3) M dipicolinate for 24 hr. When calvariae treated with 10(-4) M dipicolinate for 24 hr were further cultured in medium without dipicolinate for 24 and 48 hr, bone alkaline phosphatase activity was decreased by about 40% (P less than 0.01) of untreated bone enzyme activity. The decreased alkaline phosphatase activity was increased markedly by the presence of 10(-4) M zinc (about 2.5-fold of control value). This effect of zinc was blocked completely by the presence of 10(-7) M cycloheximide, but 10(-8) M actinomycin D caused only a partial inhibition. When calvariae treated with 10( 4) M dipicolinate were pulsed with [3H]proline, the incorporation of [3H]proline into the acid-insoluble residues of bone tissue was decreased by about 40% (P less than 0.01) of the value obtained from calvariae not treated with dipicolinate. The presence of 10(-4) M zinc caused an increase of about 2-fold in [3H]proline incorporation. Bone DNA content was not altered significantly by treatment with 10(-4) dipicolinate or 10(-4) M zinc. These results clearly indicate that endogenous zinc induces the stimulation of protein synthesis at the translational process in bone cells. The present study further supports the view that zinc plays an essential role for protein synthesis in bone cells. PMID- 2604750 TI - Mechanistic aspects of the cytocidal action of ulithiacyclamide on mouse leukemia L1210 cells in vitro. PMID- 2604751 TI - Ulicyclamide is cytotoxic against L1210 cells in vitro and inhibits both DNA and RNA syntheses. PMID- 2604752 TI - Effects of chloroquine on the metabolism of phosphatidylcholine associated with low density lipoprotein in arterial smooth muscle cells. AB - Phospholipid associated with LDL (LDL-phospholipid) has been suggested to affect metabolism of LDL in arterial smooth muscle cells. However, the metabolism of LDL phosphatidylcholine in these cells has not been well clarified. We compared the metabolic pathway of LDL-phosphatidylcholine with that of cholesteryl ester associated with LDL (LDL-cholesteryl ester) in rabbit arterial smooth muscle cells by incubating the cells in the absence or presence of chloroquine, an inhibitor of lysosomal function. When the cells were incubated with LDL [3H]cholesterol linoleate in the absence of chloroquine, 26.6 and 51.4% of incorporated radioactivity was found as cholesteryl ester in the lysosome-rich and microsome-rich fractions, respectively. When the cells were incubated in the presence of 50 microM chloroquine, the radioactivity found as cholesteryl ester in the lysosome-rich fraction increased to 45.5% while that in microsome-rich fraction decreased to 21.4%, indicating that LDL-cholesteryl ester accumulated in lysosomes as a consequence of inhibition of lysosomal function. When the cells were incubated with LDL-[14C]linoleoyl phosphatidylcholine in the absence of chloroquine, 25.1% of incorporated radioactivity was found as phosphatidylcholine in the lysosome-rich fraction and 24.8% in the cytosol-rich fraction. When the cells were incubated in the presence of chloroquine, phosphatidylcholine associated radioactivity found in the lysosome-rich and cytosol-rich fractions changed only to 28.8% and 26.1%, respectively, showing that LDL phosphatidylcholine did not accumulate in lysosomes when lysosomal function was inhibited. In conclusion, these data indicate that LDL-phosphatidylcholine, in contrast to LDL-cholesteryl ester, is not only hydrolyzed in lysosomes, but also at other subcellular sites. PMID- 2604753 TI - Mechanism of antiatherogenic action of calcium antagonists. AB - Analysis of literature reports on the actions of calcium antagonists on the progression of experimental arterial disease has revealed a significant association between efficacy and time of commencement of administration. In the majority of studies where commencement of administration of calcium antagonists preceded or coincided with initiation of atherogenesis, suppression of atherosclerotic changes has been observed. Where administration commenced after initiation of atherogenesis, suppression of atherosclerotic changes has rarely been seen. This distribution of results strongly suggests that calcium antagonists inhibit a process occurring early in atherogenesis. We have previously shown that calcium antagonists selectively inhibit the proliferation of smooth muscle cells that occurs in response to balloon catheter injury. We report here further investigations into this effect, using nifedipine. In the rat there is a 'time window' for the antiproliferative action of nifedipine, between 8 and 30 h after balloon injury. In the rabbit, delaying nifedipine administration so that it commenced 7 days after balloon catheterisation abolished its antiproliferative effect. These results show that nifedipine inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation at an early stage, probably during the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, and that after this time smooth muscle cells are refractory to its antiproliferative action. We conclude that the antiatherogenic actions of calcium antagonists in experimental models of arterial disease are the result of early inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation. PMID- 2604754 TI - Apolipoprotein E phenotype and cholesterol metabolism in familial hypercholesterolemia. AB - Serum lipids, lipoproteins, cholesterol absorption and parameters of cholesterol metabolism were related to apolipoprotein E phenotypes in 38 patients with familial xanthomatous hypercholesterolemia. Serum lipids and lipoproteins were similar in 2 most frequent apo E phenotypes E 3/3 and E 4/3. Coronary artery disease was not related to the apo E phenotypes. Cholesterol absorption efficiency was significantly lower in the apo E 3/3 patients than in the apo E 4/3 group. A high serum level of cholesterol precursor lathosterol, a high lathosterol/sitosterol ratio and sterol balance data suggest that cholesterol synthesis may be slightly higher in the apo E 3/3 than E 4/3 group. The findings indicate that the genetically determined apo E polymorphism contributes to cholesterol absorption efficiency in FH patients, but serum total and lipoprotein cholesterol levels are poorly related to apo E isoforms. PMID- 2604755 TI - Effects of age and cigarette smoking on serum concentrations of lipids and apolipoproteins in a male military population. AB - The effects of age and cigarette smoking on lipids and apolipoproteins were studied in men, 20-65 years old, randomly selected from a military population in the Madrid area, Spain. Subjects were classified as non-smokers, medium smokers (10-20 cigarettes/day) and heavy smokers (more than 20 cigarettes/day). Smoking prevalence was 58%. Serum apolipoprotein A-I and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) were not age-dependent, while total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and the TC/HDL-C ratio increased with age. None of the variables studied was age-dependent over 30 years. The effects of smoking on TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, TC/HDL-C ratio, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B, and apo A-I/apo B ratio in the 20-29-year-old group appeared to be prominent in heavy smokers (P values less than 0.001, less than 0.05, less than 0.01, less than 0.05, less than 0.001, less than 0.05, less than 0.01 and less than 0.05, respectively) but not in medium smokers, in which only TG increased significantly (P less than 0.001). Few differences were noted between non-smokers and smokers over 30 although the TC/HDL-C ratio did increase in heavy smokers (P less than 0.05). PMID- 2604756 TI - Phospholipids and other lipids in angiographically assessed coronary artery disease. AB - Lipoprotein subclasses and their composition in cholesterol, triglycerides and in 5 types of phospholipid as well as apolipoproteins A-I and B were determined in blood of 114 patients undergoing coronary angiography for suspected or confirmed myocardial ischaemia. Lipid concentrations of lipoproteins were measured after preparative ultracentrifugation; high performance thin-layer chromatography was used to separate phospholipid subfractions. Patients with angiographically defined coronary artery disease (CAD) significantly differed from those without CAD in 25 different lipid or phospholipid parameters. Using discriminative analysis, apo A-I/apo B ratio was the only parameter with more than 70% success in reclassifying the patients in the CAD group. When correlated with a coronary atheromatous score reflecting either the number and degree of stenoses (Jenkins score) or the number of diseased vessels alone, only LDL-cholesterol was found to correlate with the Jenkins score. We conclude that serum phospholipid fractions may differ significantly in CAD group as compared with controls, but they are, however, no better predictors of CAD than other lipids. PMID- 2604757 TI - Relation of body fat distribution to serum lipids and lipoproteins in elderly women. AB - Fat distribution measured by dual photon absorptiometry, serum lipids and lipoproteins were determined in 95 elderly women with mild osteoporosis. Increasing obesity, determined anthropometrically as body mass index (BMI) = body weight/(height)2, was associated with a more central fat distribution (P less than 0.001) Central fat distribution correlated positively and independently of BMI and body weight to serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides and the ratio LDL-C/HDL-C (P less than 0.05), whereas the correlation between central fat distribution and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was negative (P less than 0.05). We conclude that the increased risk of cardiovascular disease observed in subjects with central fat distribution might be partly mediated through changes in the lipoprotein profile. PMID- 2604758 TI - Plasma lipids and geriatric assessment in a very aged population of south Italy. AB - A very old population of a rural area of Southern Italy with a mean age of 87 years was investigated in order to evaluate serum lipid levels and their possible association with health conditions, such as mental status, social behaviour and physical autonomy. Among 101 subjects with ages above 82 years, 73 were investigated (participation rate 72%, 31 men and 42 women). Mean +/- SD serum cholesterol level was 199 +/- 36 and 210 +/- 40 mg/dl and mean serum triglyceride level was 107 +/- 43 and 148 +/- 74 mg/dl (P less than 0.05) in men and women, respectively. Mean high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level was 49 mg/dl in both sexes. All subjects were investigated by means of geriatric and neuropsychometric scales such as Sandoz Clinical Assessment Geriatric Scale (SCAGS), Hachinski Dementia Scale (HDS), Plutchik Geriatric Rating Scale (PGRS) and Indexes of Activity of Daily Living (ADL). When subjects were divided into 3 groups according to levels of serum lipids, HDL-cholesterol appeared to be better related to clinical conditions than total serum cholesterol: the group with the higher HDL-cholesterol level presented better scores at all the administered assessment scales when compared to the groups with lower and modal levels (P range between less than 0.05 and less than 0.001). Subjects in the higher serum cholesterol group presented better scores at PGRS only (P less than 0.01). No relation was observed between serum total triglyceride levels and geriatric assessment scores. PMID- 2604759 TI - Thoughts on training and employment opportunities in clinical nutrition. PMID- 2604760 TI - Effect of aerobic exercise on mouth-to-cecum transit time. AB - To examine the premise that exercise reduces the gastrointestinal transit time, we evaluated the effect of walking 4.5 km in an hour on mouth-to-cecum transit time. Twenty-three healthy volunteers, 9 men and 14 women, with an age range of 19-28 yr, were studied. After an overnight fast, the subjects ingested 10 g of lactulose in 150 ml of water while breath hydrogen concentrations were analyzed at 15-min intervals. On separate days, in random sequence, subjects either sat in a chair or walked on a treadmill for 60 min. Mean transit time was 55 +/- 8 min when resting and 89 +/- 4 min when exercising (p less than 0.001). In conclusion, light aerobic exercise prolonged the mouth-to-cecum transit time. On the basis of this observation, exercise as a causative factor in runner's diarrhea and its value in the management of chronic constipation may be questioned. PMID- 2604761 TI - Unilateral absence of the vas deferens. A useful clinical sign. AB - The vas deferens is infrequently palpated at the time of routine physical examination or even during examination of the scrotum. Its absence, especially unilaterally, has been associated both clinically and at the time of autopsy with ipsilateral renal anomalies, especially agenesis. Twenty-six patients with unilateral agenesis of the vas deferens were examined for the presence of an ipsilateral renal unit; 25 patients were examined by intravenous pyelography and one by bone scan. Twenty-two patients were missing the ipsilateral renal unit. Contralateral abnormalities occurred in seven (33%) of these 22 patients also. The absence of the vas deferens is a significant anomaly, and examination for the presence of the ipsilateral renal unit is mandatory. PMID- 2604762 TI - Patch angioplasty in carotid endarterectomy. Advantages, concerns, and controversies. AB - There is much controversy in the literature regarding the precise role of patch angioplasty in carotid endarterectomy. Our report summarizes the theoretical and experimental considerations, including the hemodynamic effects and biologic behavior of the graft, associated with this technique. We present a detailed review of the literature regarding the clinical efficacy of patch angioplasty in carotid endarterectomy, including the early results, the late results, and the incidence and nature of carotid restenosis. We address concerns about the use of patch angioplasty, including the duration of cross-clamping, potential problems with the graft and suture-line disruption, and graft atherogenesis. We conclude that most recent literature indicates that patch angioplasty decreases acute complications (notably carotid occlusion) after carotid endarterectomy and prevents or delays carotid restenosis. As pressure increases to achieve a minimal rate of perioperative morbidity, many surgeons are expected to adopt patch angioplasty in more of their cases. However, in the absence of conclusive results from a prospective randomized study, opinion will continue to be divided regarding the routine versus the selective use of patch grafting in carotid endarterectomy. We present criteria for randomized trials of this technique. PMID- 2604763 TI - Bronchial and gastrointestinal cryptosporidiosis in AIDS. AB - Cryptosporidiosis is a coccidial protozoan initially reported in domestic animals. It is primarily a gastrointestinal organism that does not invade mucosa. It was first described in 1976 in developing countries as an etiology of infantile diarrhea with inanition and malnutrition. Gastrointestinal involvement in patients with AIDS has been increasingly reported. We report a case of combined gastrointestinal and bronchial cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidium is an acid-fast organism which was successfully treated with erythromycin. PMID- 2604764 TI - The physician's responsibility toward hopelessly ill patients. A second look. AB - Physicians have a specific responsibility toward patients who are hopelessly ill, dying, or in the end stages of an incurable disease. In a summary of current practices affecting the care of dying patients, we give particular emphasis to changes that have become commonplace since the early 1980s. Implementation of accepted policies has been deficient in certain areas, including the initiation of timely discussions with patients about dying, the solicitation and execution in advance of their directives for terminal care, the education of medical students and residents, and the formulation of institutional guidelines. The appropriate and, if necessary, aggressive use of pain-relieving substances is recommended, even when such use may result in shortened life. We emphasize the value of a sensitive approach to care--one that is adjusted continually to suit the changing needs of the patient as death approaches. Possible settings for death are reviewed, including the home, the hospital, the intensive care unit, and the nursing home. Finally, we consider the physician's response to the dying patient who is rational and desires suicide or euthanasia. PMID- 2604765 TI - Infectious corneal ulcer with overextended wearing of disposable contact lenses. PMID- 2604766 TI - More on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. PMID- 2604767 TI - Do breath tests really underestimate blood alcohol concentration? AB - It has been reported that in the fully postabsorptive state, breath test results underestimate actual blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in 86% of the population. Reanalysis of the data on which this conclusion was based indicates 77% of these subjects were actually underestimated, and 23% were overestimated. Further refinements indicate 68% had their actual BAC underestimated, 16% were acceptably close to the actual BAC, and 16% were overestimated. Perhaps more importantly, comparison of this data with other results indicates fully postabsorptive status may not occur until more than three hours after drinking. Consequently, breath test results may tend to overestimate actual BAC for significant amounts of time after the peak BAC has been reached. PMID- 2604768 TI - On dismemberment of the corpus of medicine. PMID- 2604769 TI - Miss Alice and me: a lesson learned. PMID- 2604770 TI - Effect of oral pentoxifylline therapy on venous lower extremity ulcers due to deep venous incompetence. AB - The effect of oral pentoxifylline, administered 1,200 mg/day (400 mg slow-release tablets tid) through six weeks, was studied in 10 patients with established deep venous incompetence and persisting venous ulcers. The following parameters were used for verification of the therapeutic result: venous patency (VP) and valvular competence (VC) assessed by means of Doppler ultrasound; venous refilling time (VRT) assessed by photoplethysmography; skin blood flow (SBF) at rest and after tiptoeing exercise, as well as skin perfusion pressure (SPP), both assessed by means of 99mtechnetium clearance technique. Finally, photo documentation of the tissue lesion was obtained, using a two-dimensional (max and min diameter = Dmax, Dmin) metered scale photo. There was an overall good response to the treatment, the studied parameters showing the following changes: VP and VC remained unchanged; VRT improved in 8 patients, SBF increased in 10; SPP slightly improved in 5; and Dmax and Dmin in all 10 patients. Removal or substantial diminution of the ulcers was obtained in 8 patients. These findings indicate that oral administration of pentoxifylline over a period of six weeks supports the conservative treatment and improves considerably the condition of patients with persisting venous ulcers. PMID- 2604771 TI - Oral cancer and precancer--a dilemma. PMID- 2604772 TI - Serum CA 125 in acute pelvic inflammatory disease. AB - Serum levels of CA 125 and other selected tumour markers were measured in 31 patients with proven pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Ten (32%) of the patients had elevated CA 125, one (4%) had elevated CEA, and none had elevated CA 15-3, AFP or beta 2-microglobulin. Compared to patients with normal CA 125, patients with elevated CA 125 were older, more often users of intrauterine contraceptive devices, had longer duration of symptoms, higher erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and more often had an adnexal mass on pelvic examination. There was a correlation between CA 125 levels and the severity of adnexal inflammation as defined by laparoscopy. Isolation of specific micro-organisms from the upper genital tract was not associated with elevated CA 125. In most women serum levels of CA 125 decreased during treatment. PID should be considered as a major cause of positive CA 125 findings among young women. PMID- 2604773 TI - Question posed to an animal rights advocate: where to draw the line on right to life? PMID- 2604774 TI - Ambulatory versus clinical BP readings. PMID- 2604775 TI - Time of administration of calcium acetate and phosphate binding. PMID- 2604776 TI - Immunological aspects of diagnosis of celiac sprue in children. AB - Serum anti-gluten (AGA) and anti-reticulin (ARA) antibodies were examined in children suffering from celiac sprue (CS); cellular hypersensitivity to gluten was tested and secretion of immunoglobulins and anti-gluten antibodies into the culture medium after 24-hour in vitro cultivation of jejunal mucosal biopsies was investigated with the aim to assess significance of these methods for CS diagnosis. Indirect immunofluorescence was used in ARA determination, ELISA method for AGA determination, cellular hypersensitivity was examined using the test of leucocyte migration inhibition (LMIT) with gluten. ARA were detected in 69% of children with untreated CS and in 28% of CS children who were on a gluten free diet. ARA specificity was 100%. Statistically significant higher titres of IgG AGA and IgA AGA were proved in children with untreated CS as compared with the control group. IgA AGA were detected significantly more frequently than IgG AGA. No relationship between positive AGA and the degree of alteration of the jejunal mucosa was found. IgG AGA sensitivity in CS children with pathological findings on the jejunal mucosa was 52%, specificity being 95%. IgA AGA sensitivity was 82% with specificity 90%. After a parallel application of IgA AGA and ARA, sensitivity of the tests rose up to 95.5%, specificity being 90%. Examinations of ARA and AGA have a significant importance for laboratory tests used for screening children with pathological findings on the jejunal mucosa and for indication to jejunal biopsies. The above tests do not replace jejunal biopsy in CS diagnosis. They can be applied in monitoring children with CS during gluten challenge and in checking how the gluten-free diet is observed. Significantly higher stimulation of leucocyte migration in gluten environment was proved in children suffering from CS as compared with the control group. Stimulation of migration is supposed to indicate cellular hypersensitivity to the antigen used in CS children. After a 24-hour culturing of jejunal mucosal biopsies, significantly elevated concentrations of IgA immunoglobulin and IgG, IgA and IgM AGA were found in the culture medium as compared with those obtained from cultured jejunal mucosal biopsies of control group children. The test of leucocyte migration inhibition and in vitro culturing of jejunal mucosa are quite complex and exacting methods when used in routine practice. Their significance lies in the fact they enable us to study in vitro immunological reactions in children suffering from celiac sprue. PMID- 2604777 TI - Patch grafting in carotid endarterectomy. PMID- 2604778 TI - Calcitriol for postmenopausal osteoporosis. PMID- 2604779 TI - Secular trend in the rate of small-for-gestational-age infants: Haguenau study 1971-1985. PMID- 2604780 TI - Essential ingredients of the hospital letter. PMID- 2604781 TI - Non-psychotic psychiatric disorder after childbirth. PMID- 2604782 TI - The psychologic effects of spontaneous abortion. PMID- 2604783 TI - Embolotherapy for severe iatrogenic hepatic injury. PMID- 2604784 TI - Effects of theophylline in gastroesophageal reflux. PMID- 2604785 TI - Nonoperative treatment for perforated peptic ulcer. PMID- 2604787 TI - Abuse of the elderly. PMID- 2604786 TI - Factitious diabetes mellitus as part of Munchausen's syndrome. PMID- 2604788 TI - Fibreoptic bronchoscopy. PMID- 2604789 TI - Heterotopic conditioning stimuli on first and second pain. PMID- 2604790 TI - HIV-2 in Spanish drug abusers. PMID- 2604791 TI - Standard electrocardiographic extremity leads. PMID- 2604792 TI - Fluoxetine and extrapyramidal side effects. PMID- 2604793 TI - Ergotism in lethal catatonia. PMID- 2604794 TI - Acrylic cement in hip surgery. PMID- 2604795 TI - [Percutaneous placement of a double-J endoprosthesis using a descending approach in malignant pelvic tumor threatening the permeability of the upper urinary tract. Apropos of 10 patients]. AB - The percutaneous route should be used for ureteral endoprosthesis placement, whenever ascending retrograde passage is not accessible. The authors review the experience gained from attending 10 patients with advance-stage pelvic malignancies and describe the technique used. Emphasis is placed on care needed when selecting the proper route of entry, as well as on advantages presented by J x 2 large gauge probes developed from new biocompatible polymers. This surgical technique may, some times, ensure comfortable survival in selected, premedicated patients under local anesthesia, in whom it is well-tolerated, and yields low complication rates. PMID- 2604796 TI - Antithrombin III congenital defects: revising classification system. PMID- 2604797 TI - Evoked potentials in neonates and infants with aseptic meningitis. AB - We investigated 4 infants with aseptic meningitis, 4-38 days of age, by repeated electroencephalography (EEG), flash-visual evoked potentials (F-VEPs), and brainstem auditory evoked potentials. The patients all had mild, acute phases and favorable outcomes at 1-2 years of age. EEGs and F-VEPs obtained within 1 month after onset all were defined as abnormal. In 3 patients, EEG findings were normal 1-2 months after onset, while F-VEP findings were normal at 9-10 months. Brainstem auditory evoked potential findings were normal, except for 1 with otitis media. Evoked potentials suggested that subclinical brain damage, especially due to cortical lesions, persisted during the first year of life in these patients clinically diagnosed with "meningitis." PMID- 2604798 TI - Medulloblastoma cell line secretes platelet-derived growth factor. AB - Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant childhood brain tumor in which aggressive growth produces recurrence in approximately 50% of appropriately treated cases and metastases along the neuraxis in 30%. To date, no studies exist concerning the production of autocrine growth factors by this brain tumor type. Malignant brain tumors in adults often produce platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). A medulloblastoma cell line, TE-671, has been used for many years in pediatric neuro-oncologic studies. We assayed this medulloblastoma cell line for the production of PDGF. PDGF is produced by medulloblastoma cells grown in monolayer tissue culture and stimulates PDGF-sensitive 3T3 fibroblasts to incorporate tritiated thymidine in a dose-dependent fashion. This biologic activity is blocked by PDGF antibodies in a dose-dependent relationship. We postulate that PDGF produced by medulloblastoma cells plays a role in the growth of this tumor by stimulating mitogenic activity. PMID- 2604799 TI - Rett syndrome: biogenic amines and metabolites in postmortem brain. AB - The biogenic amines, dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline, and their respective metabolites, homovanillic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and hydroxymethoxyphenylglycol, were measured in selected brain regions obtained at postmortem examination from 4 patients, ages 12-30 years, with typical features of Rett syndrome. A 50% or greater reduction in each compound, except hydroxymethoxyphenylglycol, was observed in the substantia nigra from the 2 older patients, while the youngest patient had normal or nearly normal levels. These results correspond with the most consistent neuropathologic finding in Rett syndrome, reduced melanin content in neurons of the substantia nigra. PMID- 2604800 TI - Neurologic sequelae and MRI in low-birth weight patients. AB - Periventricular hyperintensity was detected using long repetition and echo time on spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging in 24 of 32 children with birth weights less than 2,500 gm. Functionally, 11 children were normal, 6 mildly handicapped, 7 moderately handicapped, and 8 severely handicapped. The functional handicaps were correlated to the degree of periventricular hyperintensity observed on magnetic resonance imaging when periventricular hyperintensity was divided into 4 grades; therefore, the extent of periventricular hyperintensity observed on magnetic resonance imaging has been proved to be of value in the clinical assessment of low-birth weight infants and children and may contribute to the prediction of later functional deficits. PMID- 2604801 TI - Unexpected diagnosis of Candida albicans meningitis in a premature neonate. AB - Candida albicans meningitis was found in an otherwise healthy 44-day-old premature infant whose birth weight was 1,860 gm. Almost no abnormal clinical or neurologic findings were present. The electroencephalogram, however, was abnormal. All previous body fluid cultures were negative. The combined use of amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine resulted in negative cerebrospinal fluid cultures after 3 weeks of therapy. Physical and psychomotor development remained normal on subsequent examination. PMID- 2604802 TI - Congenital fiber type disproportion myopathy in Lowe syndrome. AB - Two brothers with the typical clinical features of oculocerebro-renal syndrome of Lowe exhibited delays in developmental milestones, muscular weakness and hypotonia, and high serum creatine kinase activity. The biopsied muscle revealed selective type 1 fiber atrophy and mild type 1 fiber predominance, similar to that observed in congenital fiber type disproportion myopathy. The abnormal fiber type distribution may be responsible for the common finding of muscle hypotonia in this syndrome. PMID- 2604803 TI - Apert syndrome associated with septo-optic dysplasia. AB - Apert syndrome and septo-optic dysplasia are rare congenital structural disorders which have not been associated previously; we report a female infant with this association. Brain sonography and computed tomography revealed agenesis of the septum pellucidum; optic hypoplasia was demonstrated by funduscopic evaluation. We postulate that an embryopathic factor, which manifests at 5-6 weeks gestation, may result in this new association. Transverse craniectomy was performed in the hope of preserving brain development. Neither hypopituitarism nor adrenal insufficiency was observed; however, clinical manifestations and laboratory data provided evidence of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone syndrome. PMID- 2604804 TI - Plasmapheresis for Guillain-Barre syndrome. AB - Guillain-Barre syndrome is the most common cause of paralytic illness in children. An 8-month-old infant presented with severe Guillain-Barre syndrome associated with parainfluenza 3 infection, was treated with plasmapheresis, and had complete recovery. Plasmapheresis can be technically difficult to perform in small children and infants, but should be considered. Controlled trials should be performed to determine the indications for plasmapheresis in children with Guillain-Barre syndrome. PMID- 2604805 TI - Gerstmann tetrad in leopard syndrome. AB - We report a 12-year-old boy with multiple lentigines (Leopard) syndrome who was evaluated for learning difficulties and Gerstmann tetrad syndrome (i.e., dyscalculia, left-right disorientation, finger agnosia, and dysgraphia). Cranial computed tomography revealed left ventriculomegaly, more pronounced in the occipital horn suggesting mild atrophy of the left parietal lobe. This is the first report of an association between the Leopard and Gerstmann syndromes and one of the few to demonstrate a computed tomographic abnormality in the latter. PMID- 2604806 TI - Cardiac surgery at San Pablo Heart Institute: a preliminary report of the first year experience. AB - A series of 341 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, of which 276 underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and 37 underwent valve replacement, is presented herein. Results of mortality and morbidity are shown, discussed and compared to that of other institutions, and found favorable. These patients represent our first year of experience at the San Pablo Heart Institute. PMID- 2604807 TI - Parotidectomy in an urban community hospital. PMID- 2604808 TI - Chief complaint of 3,545 pediatric patients at the emergency room of San Pablo Hospital during a five months period. AB - A survey was made of the chief complaints at the Emergency Room of San Pablo Hospital of 3,545 pediatric patients seen between January 1 and May 31, 1988. Most common chief complaints involved the gastrointestinal system, trauma, and fractures. There was a wide range of chief complaints. Periodic surveys of this type should be useful in establishing priorities of pediatric training. PMID- 2604809 TI - [Hip fractures in the San Pablo Hospital in 1987: descriptive study]. AB - Hip fractures are the most disabling manifestation of osteoporosis. We reviewed all records of patients over 50 years old hospitalized with this diagnosis in San Pablo Hospital during 1987. Thirty cases were identified. The mean age of our population was higher than that reported in the literature. The mean length of stay was 16.8 days. There was a significant difference between the motor capacity of the patient prior to the precipitating event and 6 months after. The average for the in-hospital expenses was 8,826 dollars per patient. This value does not include the physician and rehabilitation costs. Mortality in the first six months was 23%. We estimate the incidence in our region at 116.5 annual cases per 100,000 persons over 50 years old. PMID- 2604810 TI - The great simulator; spectrum of left atrial myxoma: case report. PMID- 2604812 TI - Study: public fearful of contracting AIDS in physicians' offices. PMID- 2604811 TI - Familial intrahepatic cholestatic cirrhosis in a Puerto Rican family. PMID- 2604813 TI - [Reconstruction of the upper lip using the mucosal eversion technic]. AB - A one-stage reconstruction technique for upper lip defects is presented. This technique uses everted mucosal advancement flaps for the reconstruction of the vermilion border of the lip. It is an extension of Meyer's method employed in the reconstruction of the lower lip (1973) and differs from Camille Bernard's procedure in that horizontal incisions with bilateral triangular skin excisions are used instead of the more unaesthetic perpendicular incisions in the nasolabial fold, leaving a scar along the vermilion border. The method is suitable for reconstructing the upper lip after excision of up to 80% of its substance, and is superior to traditional methods in terms of both the functional and aesthetic results obtained. PMID- 2604814 TI - [Radial forearm flap. Its versatile application in plastic surgery reconstruction of the head and neck]. AB - The radial forearm flap is a versatile tissue transfer in the head and neck. It can be raised either from the distal or the proximal aspect of the volar forearm, and can also include the whole volar forearm skin. The flap is ideal for reconstruction of superficial defects in the head and neck, for the pharynx and oral cavity, as well as for skin defects of the face and the neck. The distal flap is thin and pliant due to the small amount of subcutaneous tissue and the fairly long vascular pedicle. A proximal flap is more bulky due to subcutaneous fat. Since the vascular pedicle of the distal flap is very long, it can also be anastomosed in the contralateral neck. Different applications and indications for the tissue transfer of the radial forearm flap are presented. PMID- 2604815 TI - [Manifestation of malignant lymphoma of the head and neck with special reference to the salivary glands]. AB - We found that thirteen per cent of all head and neck malignomas are malignant lymphomas. In 75% of these cases the Non-Hodgkin type could be found. The major salivary glands were involved by the lymphoma in 55% out of 104 patients. Paraglandular lymph nodes of the parotid gland were affected as well as intraglandular lymph nodes and the lymphoid tissue within the gland proper. The submandibular gland normally shows an involvement only with its paraglandular lymph nodes. Two thirds of the Non-Hodgkin lymphomas located in the salivary glands were low-grade. In case of clinical suspicion of a malignant lymphoma, fine needle biopsy is required for cytological diagnosis. However, surgery is mandatory for histological diagnosis, not as a therapeutic measure. PMID- 2604816 TI - [Movement of the ear ossicles by middle ear muscle contraction]. AB - Up to now, the function of the middle ear muscles has mainly been investigated from an acoustical point of view. However, the primary function of the middle-ear muscles, namely the induction of ossicular movements, has never been investigated systematically. For this purpose, the displacements of the ossicles, as induced by simulated muscle contractions, were measured microscopically in 13 fresh temporal bone preparations. Both muscles move all ossicles. The tensor tympani muscle pulls the umbo inwards about 100 microns. Due to the gliding motion in the malleus-incus joint, the stapes is thus pushed inwards by at the most 10 microns and, additionally, displaced anteriorly, antagonistic to the pull of the stapedius muscle. This muscle pulls the stapes backwards, lifting the anterior crus outwards and pushing the posterior crus inwards. This reduces the pressure on the cochlear fluids significantly as compared to our former concepts of the movement of the footplate, tilting outwards as a whole around an axis at the posterior pole. Furthermore, this outward displacement of the stapes is not prerequisite for the outward movement of the malleus-drumhead complex, which typically appears at the contraction of the stapedius muscle. The basic motion of the stapes is the movement backwards, which is 5 times greater and which matches the anatomic direction of the pull of the stapedius muscle. This explains the otherwise unlogical position of the stapedius muscle parallel to the footplate. Due to the gliding movement in the malleus-incus joint, this motion changes at the umbo into outward rotation, counteracting the tensor tympani muscle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604817 TI - [Flow kinetics of endolymph in rotational stimulation]. AB - In this paper, experimental and mathematical results are presented, indicating rotatory nystagmus to be caused by endolymph flow in the ampulla of the horizontal semicircular canal. During positive or negative acceleration circular flows may develop within the endolymph system, especially in the ampulla of the horizontal semicircular canal. While being independent of the position of the axis of the horizontally rotating system, the velocity of the flow depends on the radius of the establishing "whirl" in the ampulla. It is demonstrated that, close to the corresponding angular acceleration threshold, the velocity of the tangential flow along the cupula is in the same range as that calculated for a caloric stimulus. Like in our model of calorisation also in rotation there is strong evidence that an endolymph flow directed from crista to cupula in the lateral part of the ampulla causes a nystagmus towards the corresponding side, whereas a flow from cupula to crista causes a nystagmus in the opposite direction. Our results suggest that endolymph flows, evoked either by calorisation or rotation, represent adequate stimuli for vestibular excitability. PMID- 2604818 TI - [Effect of binaural conductive hearing loss on maturation of acoustically evoked potentials (auditory brain stem response, middle latency response) in guinea pigs]. AB - During the early development of the acoustic system a conductive hearing loss may alter the maturation of acoustically evoked potentials and affect the development of hearing. The present experiments were carried out in newborn guinea pigs with binaural conductive hearing loss. The external ear canals were plugged over a period of one month from the first day postpartum. During and after deprivation click-evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) and Middle Latency Responses (MLR) were collected to analyze changes in the maturation of these potentials in comparison to untreated animals. This type of deprivation is characterized by threshold elevations of about 40 dB over a wide frequency range. In young deprived animals, ABR Latencies (PIII, PV) and interpeak latencies exhibited a significant delay with a maximum between day 13 and 19, which disappeared within 10 days after the end of the treatment. MLR latencies were also significantly affected after three to four weeks of the deprivation phase. In contrast to the ABR, the recovery of the latencies was completed within four to six weeks. These results therefore indicate that a conductive hearing loss may alter the maturation of the acoustically evoked responses in the sensitive phase after birth. This type of partial deprivation may affect the development of hearing and speech perception in children with chronically occurring otitis media. PMID- 2604819 TI - [What can the additional diagnosis contribute in sudden deafness?]. AB - 100 patients suffering from sudden hearing loss were examined with regard to cardiovascular risk factors and compared with a control group without ear diseases. Hypercholesterinaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia were significantly more often seen in patients with sudden hearing loss. No accumulation of pathological findings in neurological, orthopaedic or ophthalmological examinations was observed in patients with sudden hearing loss. PMID- 2604820 TI - Influence of the elimination of lymphocytes from tumor cell suspensions on the calculation of S-phase fractions by flow cytometry. AB - Contaminating lymphocytes were eliminated from enzymatically obtained cell suspensions of 260 surgical biopsy specimens by density gradient centrifugation using lymphocyte separation medium (LSM) in an attempt to improve the determination of S-phase fractions by flow cytometry. The elimination of lymphocytes from the cell suspensions was ascertained on cytologic smears prepared from the suspensions before and after LSM centrifugation. Following the elimination of lymphocytes, the calculated S-phase fractions increased significantly in DNA-diploid tumors, but not in DNA-aneuploid ones. The increase of the S-phase fraction was correlated to the numbers of lymphocytes in the tumor cell suspensions before LSM centrifugation. Furthermore, in 12 tumors originally classified as diploid, an aneuploid cell line was detected after LSM centrifugation. These results indicate that samples from diploid tumors containing large numbers of lymphocytes should have the lymphocytes eliminated by methods such as LSM centrifugation in order to obtain reliable results for the calculations of the S-phase fractions. PMID- 2604821 TI - Predictive value of discriminant analysis of monocyte ultrastructure in malignant lymphoma. AB - Discriminant analysis was applied to morphometric data obtained from ultrastructural studies of blood monocytes from 20 normal subjects, 23 patients with Hodgkin's disease and 12 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The aim was to assess the efficiency of predicting subject groups from such data. The analysis, performed on a microcomputer using a standard statistical package, considered nuclear volume, nuclear surface area, nucleolar volume, nucleolar surface area, nucleolar volume fraction, number of nucleoli per section, cell surface area, mitochondrial surface area and subject age. The overall agreement between predicted and actual subject groups was 64%; considering only normality and disease, the agreement was 80%. While the predictive value of such data from circulating monocytes would appear insufficient for diagnostic purposes, discriminant analysis as used here might be of value in indicating the state of host defense in malignancy. PMID- 2604822 TI - Bowenoid papulosis. Classification as a low-grade in situ carcinoma of the epidermis on the basis of histomorphologic and DNA ploidy studies. AB - The nature of bowenoid papulosis was investigated by a comparative investigation of 12 biopsy specimens of this lesion, 19 biopsy specimens of Bowen's disease, 14 biopsy specimens of squamous cell carcinoma and 10 biopsy specimens of seborrheic keratosis. In addition to conventional histomorphologic and cytomorphologic studies, nuclear DNA measurements on single cells isolated from tissue blocks were performed using a TV image analysis system combined with an automatic microscope. Two parameters, the "5c exceeding rate" (5cER) and the "2c deviation index" (2cDI), were computed from the single-cell DNA values to arrive at a "DNA diagnosis" and a "DNA malignancy grade" (DNA-MG). All specimens of bowenoid papulosis and Bowen's disease were morphologically diagnosed as in situ carcinomas of the epidermis; a DNA diagnosis of malignant was rendered in all of these specimens due to the detection of aneuploid nuclei (5cER greater than or equal to 1). DNA diagnoses of malignant were also rendered on all specimens of squamous cell carcinoma (100% sensitivity) while DNA diagnoses of benign were rendered in all specimens of seborrheic keratosis (100% specificity). The mean DNA-MG for bowenoid papulosis (0.69) was significantly lower than that for Bowen's disease (1.04) and squamous cell carcinoma (1.15). The mean morphologic (Broder's) grade of malignancy was also lower for bowenoid papulosis than for Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma. HPV 16 DNA was detected in 10 of 12 specimens of bowenoid papulosis. Thus, the results of DNA image cytometry and morphologic investigation suggest that bowenoid papulosis is a low-grade carcinoma in situ of the epidermis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604823 TI - A comparative study in morphometric grading of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. AB - To overcome the considerable observer inconsistency in the histologic grading of transitional cell carcinomas, the value of four different morphometric grading methods was investigated in 61 tumors of the bladder. Only two methods showed satisfactory reproducibility. Both methods, one based on random nuclear sampling and the other on selective nuclear sampling, showed an increase in the mean and standard deviation of the nuclear area with higher tumor grades (P less than .00001). Morphometric classification of the learning set (44 cases) was in agreement with the unequivocally assessed histologic grade in 35 cases (79.5%) using random sampling and in 38 cases (86.4%) using selective sampling. By reducing the grading classes to "low" (grades 1 and 2) and "high" (grade 3) and by introducing a classification probability threshold (0.80), an accurate morphometric classification was achieved in 38 cases (86.4%) using random sampling and in 41 cases (93.2%) using selective sampling. Of the 17 cases with histologic grading discrepancies, all 10 low-grade tumors (with discrepancies of grade 1 versus grade 2) were correctly classified as low-grade carcinomas by both of the morphometric methods; in the remaining 7 cases, with low-versus-high discrepancies (grade 2 versus grade 3), the selective method yielded better correlation with the tumor stage and clinical follow-up. It is concluded that morphometric classification is an acceptable alternative for histologic grading by pathologists, provided that the reproducibility of the method is confirmed. Although both random and selective sampling yielded satisfactory classifications, the selective method gave more reliable results as confirmed by the clinical behavior. PMID- 2604824 TI - The PARTICLE expert system for tumor grading by automated image analysis. AB - While automated microscopic image analysis of histologic sections has been helpful in objectivizing histologic tumor grading and investigating the relationships between grading and prognosis, expert systems have the potential of linking image analysis and other data for statistical analysis and application to a wider range of tumors. One such expert system is PARTICLE, whose development was based on many years of experience in resolving histologic problems by image analysis. This paper discusses the philosophy of expert system for tumor grading and describes its implementation in the PARTICLE system. The system's structure, operations and applications are briefly presented. PARTICLE is essentially based on the evaluation of karyometric data. PMID- 2604825 TI - [Emergency medicine--at the limits of feasibility?]. AB - Based on new scientific knowledge, new aspects of emergency medicine have arisen. They are built on practical organizational structures, are practised both inside and outside medical facilities and have proved their usefulness. Nevertheless, limits to current emergency medical therapeutic measures exist and are to be taken into account. Doctors working in research and daily practice are urged to advance the development of emergency medicine for the benefit of the patient. PMID- 2604826 TI - [Experiences of a regional coordinating center in preparing for organ donations]. AB - Potential organ donors can be expected in every hospital. In the GDR, the annual number of donors nearly corresponds to the number of hospitals, e.g. 1985:500. Even if they work as donor hospitals only once every 1 to 2 years, medical and organizational problems are unavoidable. Taking this aspect into consideration, a regional coordinating centre for the District of Magdeburg with 1.3 million inhabitants and 24 hospitals was established in 1981 at the Clinic for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy of the Magdeburg Medical Academy. This centre advises the "donor-hospitals" and admits potential donors if they are transportable. In 8 years, the centre was consulted in 148 cases. Fifty-six of the resulting organ explantations were performed at the centre. The main advantages of such a centralized service are: permanent presence of specialists who are experienced in organ donor procedures, close local and organizational links to special groups for diagnosing brain death, performing organ explantation, artificial organ perfusion and organ transportation, the possibility to admit patients for "donor conditioning". PMID- 2604827 TI - [Direct potentiometric determination of the level of cyanide in plasma following an infusion of sodium nitroprusside]. AB - Plasma cyanide concentrations were measured potentiometrically in 12 patients before and after infusion of sodium nitroprusside (SNP). A close correlation was found between the increase in plasma cyanide level and the total dose of SNP and between the increase and the mean rate of SNP infusion. After a total dose of 3.1 mumol SNP/kg (0.924 mg/kg) the maximum plasma cyanide concentration amounted to 2.2 mumol/1 (57 micrograms/l) which is lower than the recommended upper limit of 3 mumol/l plasma (78 micrograms/l); but indicates the importance of the recommended maximum dose of 5 mumol SNP/kg (1.5 mg/kg) and the control of plasma cyanide levels under SNP treatment. The direct potentiometric evaluation of the plasma cyanide level using the indicator method seems to be useful for such a control because it is more sensitive and faster than spectroscopic methods. The time needed for performing one measurement is about 35 minutes. PMID- 2604828 TI - [The spectrum of bacterial strains and problems of antibiotic prophylaxis in an intensive care unit]. AB - Out of a total number of 1,935 patients of a mainly cardiac surgically orientated intensive care unit, 103 material extractions and 111 germ diagnoses with resistance examinations were carried out in 60 patients. The infection rate was 3.1%. Thirty-two of the 60 patients died (53.3%). Fifty-seven patients (95%) underwent open-heart surgery. With respect to the total number of open-heart operations (n = 1,345), the rate of severe infections was 4.23%. The germ spectrum reveals a predominance of "problem germs", especially pseudomonas and enterobacteria. The results of the resistance examinations show that no antibiotic combination is suitable for complete germ elimination. Cefotiam (halospor) is effective against 50% of the germs. Problems of an antibiotic prophylaxis are shown. Recommendations are given to restrict antibiotic prophylaxis to 24 hours perioperatively, preferably using a cephalosporin preparation. PMID- 2604829 TI - [The cooperation between anesthesiologists and surgeons]. AB - With the development of anaesthesiology as an independent medical field, the anaesthesiologists were structurally brought together as an autonomous unit. They are not included in the leadership structure of the surgical institutions in which they work. Between surgeons and anaesthesiologists there is no system of super- or subordination. They participate in the operation on an equal footing. This requires regulation or responsibility in all phases of the operation and the postoperative therapy as well as an atmosphere of good team-work. In the interest of the patient, vital decisions are to be made jointly. PMID- 2604830 TI - [Clinical experiences with nalbuphine]. AB - The analgesic nalbuphine was tested in Czechoslovakia in three departments of anaesthesiology. On 94 patients during the first 24 postoperative hours 43.3% of the patients were sufficiently treated with one injection of 10 mg nalbuphine, 30% needed two injections, 20% three injections and 6.7% four injections. The average duration of the analgesic effect was about 4 hours. Repeated injections achieved prolonged action. Side-effects occurred less frequently with nalbuphine than with morphine. It was shown that it is important in the postoperative period to start with the analgetic therapy before pain occurs. PMID- 2604831 TI - [Reexpansion edema of the lung as a complication of the treatment of a spontaneous pneumothorax]. AB - It is reported on a 51-year-old patient in whom a reexpansion edema of the lung occurred after treatment of a pneumothorax. As a cause of the development of this complication, a high negative intrathoracic pressure is of high importance. Further pathogenetic factors are discussed. PMID- 2604832 TI - Synthesis, neuropsychopharmacological effects and analgesic-antiinflammatory activities of pyrrole analogues of lefetamine. AB - The synthesis of pyrrole analogues of the analgesic drug lefetamine is reported. These derivatives bear the 1-phenyl-2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)ethylamino moiety. Compounds were evaluated for analgesic activities in mice by the hot plate and Randall-Selitto tests. Antiinflammatory activity was tested by the carrageenan induced rat paw edema method. General neuropsychopharmacological effects were also screened. The most interesting compound, N,N-dimethyl-1-phenyl-2-(1H-pyrrol 1-yl)ethylamine, showed an analgesic effect comparable to that of lefetamine, but devoid of the neurotoxicity of this drug. PMID- 2604833 TI - Research on antibacterial and antifungal agents. XI. New antibacterial quinolones related to pirfloxacin. AB - The synthesis and antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram negative bacteria of some 1-substituted quinolones related to pirfloxacin are reported. Compounds with a benzyl moiety at 1-position were generally found to be less active than the analogues bearing an unsaturated alkyl chain at the same position. Introduction of fluorine or chlorine in the benzyl moiety did not increase the antibacterial activity. All derivatives here reported were inferior to pirfloxacin as regards antibacterial power, but always superior in comparison with nalidixic acid and pipemidic acid against Gram-positive microorganisms. PMID- 2604834 TI - [4-(3-Oxo-1,2-benzisothiazolin-2-yl)alkanoic, phenyl and phenoxyalkanoic acids: synthesis and anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic properties]. AB - Based on previous observations, the preparation, some physicochemical (partition coefficient, pKa) and pharmacological properties of 4-(3-oxo-1,2-benzisothiazolin 2-yl)alkanoic, benzoic, phenyl, phenoxyalkanoic acids and of some of their functional derivatives are reported. All new compounds were biologically examined for their antiphlogistic, analgesic and antipiretic actions, in comparison with those of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-2-one and with those of ibuprofen as the antiphlogistic, analgesic, antipyretic arylalkanoic prototype. Structure-activity relationships showed that the 1,2-benzisothiazolin-2-one and its new alkanoic and arylalkanoic derivatives have strong actions which are however specific for some of the tested pharmacological properties. From this point of view, the synthesized substances have a narrow spectrum of activity, if compared with ibuprofen which is at the same time an antiphlogistic, analgesic and antipiretic substance. The antiphlogistic and antipyretic activities of 4-(3-oxo-1,2 benzisothiazolin-2-yl)benzoic, phenylacetic and phenylmethylacetic acids and the antipyretic and analgesic actions of 3-oxo-1,2-benzisothiazolin-2-ylacetic acid, which are comparable or higher in "potency" than those of ibuprofen, are noteworthy. PMID- 2604835 TI - [Synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,4]diazepine-4,7-diones with central nervous system activity]. AB - The synthesis of 1-phenyl-5,8-dimethyl-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,4] diazepin-4,7-dione and of 1-phenyl-3,5,8-trimethyl-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro pyrazolo[3,4-e] [1,4]diazepin-4,7-dione is described. These compounds exhibit activity on CNS in animals. PMID- 2604836 TI - Xanthine oxidase inhibition: effect of an N-alkyl substituent on C-2 of the nucleus of 8-azahypoxanthine. AB - Several new 2-n-alkyl-8-azahypoxanthines were synthesized and tested. The compounds were obtained from 4(5)-amino-5(4)-carbamoyl-1,2, 3-triazole and the suitable ethyl alkanoate in the presence of sodium ethoxide. The inhibitory activity of these compounds against xanthine oxidase was dependent on the length of the alkyl chain of the substituent: 2-n-hexyl-8-azahypoxanthine was the most active product. This fact pointed out the great importance of the weak interaction between the substituent and the adjacent region of the active site of the enzyme. PMID- 2604837 TI - Synthesis and pharmacological activity of imidazolyn-5-ones. AB - A new series of imidazolyn-5-one derivatives were synthesized. These compounds were screened for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities, as well as for their ulcerogenic potential, for behavioural effects and acute toxicity. Some of them showed higher analgesic activity than phenylbutazone (PBZ), but lower anti-inflammatory activity. Their ulcerogenic effect was lesser than that of the reference drug. PMID- 2604838 TI - [Synthesis and preliminary pharmacological screening of 2,4-disubstituted N,N dialkyl-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxamides]. AB - By treating at 100 degrees C 2-aminonicotinic acid with ethyl N,N dialkylmalonamate (I) and phosphorus oxychloride N,N-dialkyl-4-chloro-1,2-dihydro 2-oxo-1,8-naphthyridine- 3-carboxamides (II) were obtained. The reaction of compounds (II) with an excess of refluxing phosphorus oxychloride afforded N,N dialkyl-2,4-dichloro-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxamides (III), which in turn were treated at room temperature with excess primary amines to give a mixture of isomeric N,N-dialkyl-2-(alkylamino or cycloalkylamino)-4-chloro-1,8-naphthyridine 3-carboxamides (IV) and N,N-dialkyl-4-(alkylamino or cycloalkylamino)-2-chloro 1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxamides (V). When this last reaction was performed at 160 degrees C, only N,N-dialkyl-2,4-bis(alkylamino or cycloalkylamino)-1,8 naphthyridine-3-carboxamides (VI) were obtained; under the same conditions (IV c) or (V c) reacted with methylamine to give isomeric 2,4-bis(alkylamino)derivatives (VII) or (VIII), respectively. Compounds (II b), (III b), (IV a,c,d), (V a,c,d) were submitted to a wide preliminary pharmacological screening. Some of them, depending on the structure, showed antihypertensive [(IV c)], anti-inflammatory [(IV c) greater than (III b)], or, in the behavioral test, anti-aggressive [(IV d) greater than (III b)] activity. Furthermore compound (III b) caused moderate inhibition of the 5-HT induced contraction of the guinea-pig ileum. PMID- 2604839 TI - HPLC analysis of the nitrosation products of chlordiazepoxide. AB - Products originated from Chlordiazepoxide (I) hydrochloride/sodium nitrite interaction were analyzed by HPLC. The studied reactions were carried out in diluted hydrochloric acid solutions at pH values ranging between 0.5-5.0. Depending on the reaction pH values and molar ratios it was possible to find and assess variable amounts of the N-nitrosochlordiazepoxide (II), the dihydroquinazoline (III) and the lactam (IV). The highest degree of N-nitrosation was found at pH 3.5. At this pH value the yields of (II) were respectively 54.8% and 18.3% when the drug (I)/nitrite molar ratios were correspondingly 0.41 and 0.25. When the reaction was performed in concentrations which is possible to find in the gastric juice of patients taking (I) together with nitrite-rich foods the yield of (II) at pH 3.5 was 2.5%. Since in the meantime the genotoxicity of (II) was proved, "in vivo" formation of N-nitrosochlordiazepoxide (II) represents a potential risk not to be underestimated. PMID- 2604840 TI - Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of 6-p-ethylphenyl-5H-pyrrolo [3,4-b]pyridine 5,7-dione. AB - The synthesis of 6-(p-ethylphenyl)-5H-pyrrolo [3,4-b]pyridine-5,7-dione is described. The compound has been studied for its in vitro activity on RNA containing influenza viruses types A and B. The preliminary results indicate that the compound has a significant antiviral activity against influenza viruses types A and B at concentrations at which no cytotoxic effects on MRC-5 cells in tissue culture are present. PMID- 2604841 TI - [Formaldehyde determination in tobacco smoke--studies under experimental and actual conditions]. AB - The estimation of an external exposure to formaldehyde in tobacco smoke requires a reliable analytical method. The gas chromatographic determination of formaldehyde shows in comparison to photometric methods a higher sensitivity and specificity. In the main stream smoke of various kinds of cigarettes the amount of formaldehyde vary between 3.4 micrograms to 8.8 micrograms/cigarette, this is equal to concentration between 2.3 to 6.1 ppm. In the air of lounges in hospitals formaldehyde concentrations up to 0.19 ppm can be detected after smoking of 15 cigarettes over a period of 1.5 h. In kindergartens without tobacco smoke the formaldehyde concentrations in air range from 0.005 to 0.01 ppm. The smoking of 30 cigarettes and one pipe in a non ventilated room over 1.5 h exceeded formaldehyde concentrations between 0.21 to 0.45 ppm. The concentration declines to 0.08 ppm within 2h after termination of smoking. The MAK-value of 0.5 ppm is not exceeded; in contrast to this the indoor limit of 0.1 ppm recommended by the German Bundesgesundheitsamt is exceeded in the vicinity of the smoker. The formaldehyde concentrations in tobacco smoke reported in the older literature can not be confirmed; this is due to the nonspecificity of the photometric methods. On the basis of our results can be concluded that the irritating effects of tobacco smoke to the mucous membranes are the result of the sum of irritating effects caused by several compounds and particles in the smoke and not only the impact of formaldehyde. PMID- 2604842 TI - [The occurrence of perchloroethylene in indoor air and food in dwellings in the vicinity of dry cleaning plants]. AB - In this presentation the results of investigations concerning the concentration of Tetrachloroethylene in indoor-air and in food in residential quarters in the vicinity of dry cleaners are reported. It could be demonstrated that a significant enrichment of Tetrachloroethylene becomes evident in fat containing food, increasing with the time of storage. Particularly in butter the limit of concentration admissible for the consumption of food was exceeded in four out of five apartments after seven days. The examination of the concentration of Tetrachloroethylene over the course of the day indicates that in dependence of the hours of operation significant differences were measurable in the concentration of Tetrachloroethylene in the indoor-air of an apartment examined, without indoor rooms building up accumulation of Tetrachloroethylene. The investigations confirm that residents in the neighbourhood of dry cleaners are exposed to high load of Tetrachloroethylene by indoor-air and food. PMID- 2604843 TI - [Bismuth--an environmental pollutant of the future]. AB - Campylobacter pylori had become an interesting object in the discussion of the etiology of gastritis and peptic ulcer. Marshall was the first to describe antrum gastritis and duodenal ulcers as infectious diseases. Consequently new forms of therapy like antibiotics and bismuth salts were studied. In time the most favoured method of treatment is the administration of inorganic bismuth salts. There is a lack of recognition about the behaviour of this heavy metal in environment. 0.5 to 1 gram pure Bismuth per day and person leaves the patients naturally by faeces. The number of patients with gastric disorder is very large. Becomes bismuth a environmental problem in future? PMID- 2604844 TI - [The correlation between the excretion of thioethers and their mutagenic activity in urine in workers of different occupational groups]. AB - Electrophilic substances can be inactivated by binding to glutathione or other SH bearing molecules leading to urinary excretion of mercapturic acids or other thioether products. The mutagenic activity in urine as detected by mutagenicity assay (Ames-Test) is caused by genotoxic agents or their electrophilic metabolites. Therefore, it has been suggested that an effective protection by the glutathione system may diminish the urinary excretion of mutagens after exposure to genotoxicants. We determined the thioether concentration and mutagenic activity in urine samples of exposed workers (20 workers of a repair shop exposed to car exhaust, 35 workers of several dry cleaning shops exposed to halogenated hydrocarbons and 26 workers of a metal processing factory exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). We performed microfluctuation assay using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and applied a method for the determination of urinary thioethers based on liquid chromatographic quantification of N-acetylcysteine. Our results show a linear correlation between the two exposure parameters which is independent on exposure conditions described above. PMID- 2604845 TI - Cell envelope proteins of environmental Vibrio cholerae non O1 isolates from Albufera Lake (Valencia, Spain) influence of some factors on OMP expression. AB - The cell envelope proteins of 89 environmental Vibrio cholerae non O1 strains isolated from lake and coastal waters near Valencia, Spain, and six Vibrio cholerae strains from culture collections were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Considerable heterogeneity was found in the major proteins of the environmental non-O1 strains, but bands between 25,000 and 48,000 daltons were observed in the majority of the strains. Estimated relative mobilities of the total protein profile ranged between 11 and more than 100 Kd. Cluster analysis revealed four groups of strains distinguishable by presence or absence of high and low molecular weight proteins. After treatment with Sarkosyl, the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) were characterized in all strains by densitometric methods. They ranged from 19 to 87 Kilodaltons, and corresponded to the major proteins observed in the total membrane preparations. The major OMP most frequently found had a molecular weight around 37 Kd, similar to that of porins in other Gram-negative bacteria. The OMP composition varied in response to culture medium and growth phase. Generally the OMP expression was affected only in a quantitative way by the growth phase while the growth medium had both a qualitative and a quantitative effect. PMID- 2604846 TI - Forty years of progress. AB - The celebration of the 40th anniversary of the National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) provides an opportunity for reviewing the growth of dental research over the decades. The Institute owes its origin to public and professional concern over the dental health of Americans and the prospect that a Federal investment in dental research could pay off. The early years of the Institute were devoted to studies of fluoride and dental caries, with notable achievements in clinical trials of water fluoridation and caries microbiology. During the 1960s came the discovery that the periodontal diseases, like dental caries, were bacterial infections that could be prevented. Basic and clinical research expanded, and the research manpower pool grew with the addition of microbiologists, immunologists, salivary gland investigators, and other basic biomedical and behavioral scientists. The Institute created special broad-based Dental Research Institutes and Centers to foster interdisciplinary research, and continued to expand its research base. A national survey undertaken by NIDR in the late 1970s showed major declines in caries prevalence in schoolchildren. Recent NIDR surveys of adults and older Americans as well as a second children's survey have demonstrated overall improvements in oral health and a continued decline in childhood caries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604847 TI - Advances in diagnosis and detection of oral diseases. AB - Medicine, particularly with respect to diagnostic decision-making, has seen remarkable advances in the last ten years. The art of diagnosis has become much more of a science. Basic science advances have moved from the laboratory into the hospital and radically changed the way a medical diagnosis is arrived at or confirmed. Dentistry, especially oral diagnosis, as yet has not been a significant part of this general medical advance. However, several examples demonstrate that this situation is starting to change. Oral conditions are beginning to be evaluated with greater precision and sophistication. This report reviews some recent advances in oral diagnostic research and suggests where they will carry dentistry over the next 25 years. PMID- 2604848 TI - Future impact of dental science on dental education. PMID- 2604849 TI - Impact of dental science on dental education: past and future. PMID- 2604850 TI - Localizing the spinal cord in oblique off-cord lung boosts. AB - We present a method to accurately localize the spinal cord in oblique projections on plain radiographs. Utilizing a CT scan done with the patient in the treatment position, a template is generated to localize the spinal cord. The technique involves analyzing successive axial CT slices and locating cord position relative to the beam central axis. The template is then placed on the simulator fiducial plate at the time of verification simulation. Cord position is documented in the "beam's eye view" on the radiograph. Utilizing this technique, our radiation oncologists are more comfortable defining the medial field border in oblique setups. In most cases, this technique will minimize the perceived need to add superfluous spinal cord blocks that compromise tumor dose. PMID- 2604851 TI - Mantle and para-aortic simulation procedures. PMID- 2604852 TI - The tangential breast match plane: practical problems and solutions. AB - The three-field breast set-up, in which tangential oblique opposed fields are joined to an anterior supraclavicular field, has been the method of choice for treatment of breast cancer for many years. In the last several years many authors have suggested refinements to the technique that improve the accuracy with which fields join at a match plane. The three-field breast set-up, using a rotatable half-beam block is the technique used at our institution. In instituting this procedure, several practical problems were encountered. Due to the small collimator rotation angles used it is possible to clinically reverse the collimator angle without observing an error noticeable on fluoroscopy. A second error can occur when the table base angle is used to compensate for the incorrect collimator rotation. These potential sources of error can be avoided if a programmable calculator or computer program is used to assist the dosimetrist during the simulation. Utilization of fluoroscopy, digital table position displays and a caliper provide accurate input for the computer program. This paper will present a hybrid procedure that combines practical set-up procedures with the mathematical calculation of ideal angles to result in an accurate and practical approach to breast simulation. PMID- 2604853 TI - The development and organizational format of a radiotherapy patient treatment chart. AB - An important and time consuming responsibility of the Dosimetrist is to ensure and supervise accurate recording of delivered dose and treatment methods. With the rapidly growing complexity of technology, data, treatment protocol regimens and treatment methods, the need for accurate recording in a clearly arranged fashion has become imperative not only for daily patient treatment, but also for legal purposes. This paper describes the process of designing a patient treatment chart based on a review of charts already in use in various departments and aided by the input of all members of the Radiation Oncology treatment team at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. PMID- 2604854 TI - Quality control of custom block making in radiation therapy. AB - Custom blocks are the most commonly used field shaping device in radiotherapy. They offer many advantages in daily clinical use. However, as with all accessories used for patient treatments, care must be taken with their use. As such, a quality control program to check block cutting accuracy is recommended as a routine part of their clinical use. We have developed a three step method for checking custom blocks before they are used for patient treatment. These steps include: a static light check, a parallel opposed film check, and a block check involving the patient. By completing these three steps, we feel that we have improved the overall accuracy of our custom block making system which has resulted in more accurate treatments for our patients. PMID- 2604855 TI - An approach to abutting adjacent fields. AB - Problems arise in designing treatment techniques involving two pair of adjacent opposing fields where machine limitations require the patient to flip from supine to prone positions. Mantle and para-aortic treatments, in particular, can create challenging problems because of changes in patient position, different SSD's between adjacent fields, internal anatomical changes from supine to prone position, as well as field size and other treatment machine limitations. A simulator technique has been developed which takes cognizance of these limitations in specifying the gap between adjacent fields. It employs collinearity of the 50% decrement lines of adjacent-opposed field edges and the intersection of all four edges at an internal mid-plane match point. The technique maintains dose homogeneity and eliminates hot and cold triangles in the area of abutment. Simulation radiographs facilitate identification of collinearity with respect to a specific vertebra in the plane of abutment. In summary, this approach: Verifies abutment of coplanar fields by use of match film, improves isodose uniformity at mid-plane, evaluates dose distributions when abutment occurs at a point anterior or posterior to midline, prevents the possibility of spinal cord complications that might occur due to three field overlap. PMID- 2604856 TI - Design and dose distribution for rectal applicators for the high dose rate remote afterloading iridium-192 brachytherapy system. AB - A Remote High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy Iridium-192 System for outpatient brachytherapy procedures necessitates a variety of applicators in order to accomplish the optimal desired treatment for the patient's tumor involved anatomy. The Nucletron Corporation that manufactures the microselection HDR Iridium-192 treatment unit provided us with their standard applicators; however, a rectal applicator system was not available at the time of purchase. In order to provide this treatment to the patient, the physicians and the physicists designed a custom set of rectal applicators that would meet the current and immediate needs of our patients. A description of the clinical rationale and physical aspects of the rectal applicator system, including design and radiation dosimetry will be presented. PMID- 2604857 TI - Thermoforming plastic in lead shield construction. AB - Radiation treatments using low energy X-rays or electrons frequently require a final field defining shield to be placed on the patient's skin. A custom made lead cut-out is used to provide a close fit to a particular patient's surface contours. We have developed a procedure which utilizes POLYFORM thermoplastic to obtain a negative mold of the patient instead of the traditional plaster bandage or dental impression gel. The Polyform is softened in warm water, molded carefully over the patient's surface, and is removed when "set" or hardened, usually within five minutes. Then lead sheet cut-outs can be formed within this negative. For shielding cut-outs requiring thicker lead sheet, a positive is made from dental stone using this Polyform negative. We have found this procedure to be neat, fast and comfortable for both patient and the dosimetrist. PMID- 2604858 TI - Strontium-90 eye application. AB - Details of the Strontium-90 Eye Application including equipment, irradiation technique, radiation safety and data are presented. PMID- 2604859 TI - Beam's-eye-view aided treatment planning for a nasopharyngeal lesion: a case report. AB - We report on the application of CT-based multilevel treatment planning to achieve complete and uniform dose distribution over the entire target while sparing critical structures. Treatment strategy and parameters are chosen on the slice containing the isocenter. Target coverage and organ sparing is achieved on all other slices by independently adjusting the asymmetric field width at each level, stimulating the effects of custom blocks. The optimized field borders are back projected using beam's eye views (BEV) from each treatment angle. The BEV printouts are used to assist the physician in the delineation of field blocking on the simulation films. PMID- 2604860 TI - Dosimetry considerations when treating inclined lesions. AB - The planning and subsequent treatment of inclined lesions is difficult when non vertical or non-horizontal beams are to be employed. Rotations of the patient support assembly and the collimator further complicate the planning. The present work describes an empirical approach that is relatively simple (requires protractor and calculator). Frequently, plans must be generated in planes other then the central axis and a caution about the location of the "SAD" point will be discussed. PMID- 2604861 TI - Adjustable portal film cassette holder for radiation therapy. AB - An adjustable portal film cassette holder has been designed and constructed. The holder provides for: holding portal film perpendicular to and centered with the central axis of the beam film-to-patient distance to minimize magnification; angling (swivel) film to match collimator angle; and ease of correct repositioning of arrangement when frequent filming is required. This device has now been in use for several months with good results. PMID- 2604862 TI - Equipment and manpower needs in radiation oncology dosimetry and treatment delivery. AB - Information on the patterns of personnel and equipment support at various radiation oncology facilities are included in the Facilities Master List surveys conducted by the American College of Radiology. This paper summarizes the surveyed data on equipment and dosimetrist and technologist support obtained during 1975-1986. There is increasing use of linear accelerators, simulators, and treatment planning computers but the use of 60Co units has been progressively decreasing. There are inadequate but slowly improving numbers of dosimetrists and technologists when compared with the level recommended by the Blue Book. PMID- 2604863 TI - Early events in methyl methanesulfonate enhancement of adenovirus transformation of cloned rat embryo fibroblast cells. AB - Pretreatment of a cloned rat embryo fibroblast (CREF) cell line with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) prior to infection with a specific host-range and cold sensitive type 5 adenovirus mutant (H5hr1), results in a unique carcinogen enhancement of transformation (CET) phenotype (Carcinogenesis 8:967, 1987). By using low-density clonal assays and in situ hybridization techniques with 32P labeled type 5 adenovirus (Ad5) probes, we demonstrated that 5-10 d following infection the proportion of CREF colonies containing H5hr1 DNA and RNA is increased two- to threefold as a result of pretreatment with MMS. Twenty-five days following infection of CREF cells, Ad5 DNA assays showed that both solvent and MMS-pretreated CREF colonies no longer contained detectable levels of viral DNA or RNA. Analysis of free viral DNA by the Hirt procedure suggested that more free viral DNA persisted in MMS-pretreated H5hr1-infected CREF cells than in solvent-pretreated H5hr1-infected CREF cells. The relative amount of free viral DNA in both types of cultures was directly related to the multiplicity of H5hr1 infection and decreased with time following infection. As observed using in situ hybridization techniques, by 25 d after infection no free viral DNA was detected in either MMS- or solvent-pretreated H5hr1-infected CREF cells. By using a protein synthesis inhibitor (cycloheximide) and an RNA transcription inhibitor (actinomycin D), it was further demonstrated that the ability of MMS to induce a unique CET in CREF cells following infection with H5hr1 was dependent on the synthesis of new protein and RNA. In contrast, inhibition of protein and RNA synthesis did not alter the de novo rate of H5hr1 transformation of CREF cells. Temporal kinetic studies indicated that the ability of MMS to enhance H5hr1 transformation of CREF cells and to increase the percentage of CREF colonies containing Ad5 genetic information is regulated in a strict temporal manner. The results of the present investigation suggest that the ability of MMS to enhance H5hr1 transformation of CREF cells is dependent on the induction of new protein(s) in CREF cells, and enhancement is associated with an increase in the proportion of cells in the infected CREF cell population that initially contain Ad5 DNA/RNA. PMID- 2604864 TI - Transfection of a rat cytochrome P450b cDNA into C3H10T1/2CL8 mouse embryo fibroblasts. AB - A cDNA clone of a rat cytochrome P450b gene was used to construct an expression vector driven by an SV40 promoter and containing a G418-resistance selectable marker. This bifunctional plasmid (pJRSL100) was transfected into the C3H 10T1/2CL8 mouse embryo fibroblast cell line. G418-resistant clones were selected and tested for enhanced sensitivity to the carcinogen 2-acetylaminofluorene (2 AAF), a compound that does not normally induce cytotoxicity or morphological transformation in these cells. One subclone, 19P450b-4, exhibited an increased cytotoxic response to 2-AAF compared to the parental C3H10T1/2CL8 cells. DNA analyses of this subclone showed increased number of copies of the cytochrome P450b and the appearance of unique restriction fragment bands relative to parental and control transfected cells. This subclone also exhibited increased levels of mRNA complementary to the P450b cDNA. Metabolism studies of 2-AAF in this subclone demonstrated an increase in the C-hydroxylated metabolites 1-, 3-, 5/9-, and 7-hydroxy-AAF compared with parental C3H 10T1/2CL8 cells. The results indicate that C3H 10T1/2CL8 cells can be transfected with gene/cDNAs to increase their metabolic competency and that such transfection may enhance the usefulness of the C3H 10T1/2CL8 cells in studies on chemically induced cytotoxicity and morphological transformation. PMID- 2604865 TI - Differential effects of chromium(VI) on constitutive and inducible gene expression in chick embryo liver in vivo and correlation with chromium(VI) induced DNA damage. AB - The effect of DNA damage induced by the carcinogen chromium(VI) on the function of DNA as a template for transcription of constitutive and inducible genes was examined in chick embryo liver in vivo. Changes in gene expression, determined using solution hybridization and northern blot analyses to measure steady-state mRNA levels and a nuclear run-off assay to measure gene transcription rates, were compared to chromium-DNA binding and to chromium(VI)-induced DNA damage as previously measured by DNA alkaline elution. Chromium(VI) treatment had little or no effect on either the steady-state mRNA levels or the transcription rates of the constitutively expressed genes for albumin, conalbumin (avian transferrin), or beta-actin. In contrast, chromium(VI) treatment had significant but opposite effects on the basal and drug-inducible expression of 5-aminolevulinate synthase and cytochrome PB1 P450. The changes in steady-state expression of these two inducible genes were similar to the changes in transcription rate, indicating that the effects of chromium were principally transcriptional. Chromium(VI) treatment increased the basal expression of both inducible genes four- to fivefold at maximum, and the time course of this effect was similar to the time course for chromium(VI)-induced DNA damage and repair. In contrast, chromium(VI) pretreatment suppressed by 60-70% at maximum the subsequent induction of these genes by glutethimide, a phenobarbital analog, and the time course of this effect also corresponded to that of chromium(VI)-induced DNA damage and repair. The time courses of the changes in expression of these genes were bimodal, with the second peak corresponding closely to that of chromium(VI)-induced DNA cross-links. However, the first peak occurred during a period when no DNA cross-links or strand breaks were detectable by alkaline elution, although significant levels of chromium were bound to DNA. This suggests that chromium(VI), like cisplatin, may initially produce a DNA monoadduct that subsequently leads to DNA cross-link formation and that both types of chromium(VI)-induced lesions have a significant effect on the expression of targeted genes. PMID- 2604866 TI - Oocyte maturation, fertilization and early development in mammals. 3rd Franco Czechoslovak Meeting. Jouy-en-Josas, 13-14 December 1988. PMID- 2604867 TI - Effect of cycloheximide upon maturation of bovine oocytes. AB - Germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) of bovine oocytes was completely blocked by cycloheximide added to culture medium at concentrations of 1-20 micrograms/ml. Nevertheless, under such conditions a certain degree of chromatin condensation inside the germinal vesicle was observed. The inhibitory effect was not influenced by the presence or absence of cumulus cells and was fully reversible; but the process of GVBD was then significantly accelerated. The critical period in which the proteins necessary for GVBD are synthesized lasts approximately the first 5 h of culture. When germinal vesicle-arrested oocytes are fused to maturing bovine oocytes containing condensed chromosomes, GVBD of immature oocytes occurs within 3 h, even in the presence of cycloheximide. In the mouse, GVBD cannot be inhibited by protein synthesis inhibitors. When immature mouse oocytes are fused with immature bovine oocytes and the giant cells are then cultured in cycloheximide-supplemented medium, both GVs are observed, or only mouse GVBD occurs in common cytoplasm after 8 h of culture. We conclude that protein synthesis is necessary for GVBD of bovine oocytes. Our results also suggest that maturation-promoting factor (MPF) is not autocatalytically amplified in mammalian oocytes. PMID- 2604868 TI - Quantitative inhibitory influence of porcine cumulus cells upon the maturation of pig and cattle oocytes in vitro. AB - Porcine cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured together in 10-microliters droplets of culture medium. When 10 COCs were cultured for 24 h, germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) occurred in 81% of them. When more COCs (20 or 40) were put into the same volume of medium the frequency of GVBD gradually decreased. This inhibition was not observed in denuded oocytes. The process of GVBD was adversely influenced when 10 COCs were cultured in cumulus-preconditioned medium. It is concluded that porcine cumulus cells produced a factor inhibiting GVBD. After removing the inhibitory block and extensive washing, GVBD of arrested oocytes was significantly accelerated. The addition of LH or heparin only partially overcame the inhibitory action. This factor produced by porcine cumulus cells negatively influenced maturation of bovine oocytes; however, a similar effect was not demonstrated in the mouse. Our results suggest that a high concentration of porcine cumulus cells exerts a quantitative inhibitory effect upon GVBD of porcine and cattle oocytes cultured in vitro. PMID- 2604869 TI - Fusion of mammalian oocytes: SEM observations of surface changes. AB - Mouse oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage were fused with maturing oocytes in which GVs were no longer visible. The fused cells were fixed at different time intervals after the initiation of fusion and prepared for scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation. Concomitantly, some fused cells were prepared for light microscope evaluation. Our SEM observations showed no significant differences in surface morphology between immature and maturing oocytes. However, immediately after fusion was initiated, dramatic changes occurred on the surface of the maturing oocytes. The microvilli were shortened or disappeared locally and the plasma membrane was deeply ruffled. One hour after fusion, when the giant cells were nearly spherical, the microvilli reappeared and the ruffling gradually disappeared. In some areas, the microvilli were extremely long. Three hours after fusion, the fused cells were perfectly round and their surfaces were generally covered with microvilli of equal length. No further ruffling was observed. It is suggested that cytoplasmic mechanisms regulate the surface morphology of the oocytes during fusion. PMID- 2604870 TI - In vitro culture of bovine egg fertilized either in vivo or in vitro. AB - Three-quarters of in vivo and one-third of in vitro fertilized bovine eggs reached blastocyst stage when cultured on tubal cell monolayers (TCM), but no hatching occurred in B2 medium supplemented with estrous cow serum. When after 3 days of culture on TCM, morulae were transferred on endometrial cell monolayers (UCM), the same proportion of blastocysts was obtained and one-third of them hatched. Histological studies of hatched blastocysts showed that the number of inner cells was significantly lower than in hatched blastocysts recovered in vivo 8-8.5 days after ovulation. Moreover, the number of pycnotic cells was higher than normal, although mitosis were present. On the contrary, there was no difference in either the number or the appearance of trophoblastic cells between blastocysts obtained in vitro and in vivo. The addition of transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) to either TCM or UCM co-cultures at the very beginning of blastocyst formation specifically stimulated growth of the inner cell mass (ICM). The number of cells at hatching was about double (120) and significantly higher than that found in 8-8.5-day blastocysts in vivo. Moreover, hatching percentages were similar to the controls, even when eggs were cultured for 8 days only on TCM. However the proportion of pycnotic cells remained higher than normal, although many mitotic cells were unevenly distributed in ICM) In vivo during hatching, there were always pycnotic cells in ICM, but their number was limited and approximately similar to the number of mitosis. The uterine factors which control both mitosis and pycnosis in ICM remain to be discovered. PMID- 2604871 TI - Immunocytochemical localization of histones H2B, H3 and H4 in pronuclei and four cell stages of porcine embryos. Preliminary results. AB - In this preliminary work, using pig embryos ultrastructural immunocytochemistry with polyclonal antibodies against purified histones was used to demonstrate both their localization and the time of their appearance in pronuclei, from 15 h after ovulation (pronuclear stage) to 48 h postinsemination (4-cell stage). In pronuclei, the histones H2B, H3, and H4 were located in the heterochromatin as soon as it appeared. Usually, one of the pronuclei seemed to be more heavily labelled. The chromatin facing the zone of pronuclear contact formed a bowl shaped region in each pronucleus heavily labelled for these histones. The so called pseudo-nucleoli were present in both pronuclei and contained H2B. In 4 cell stages, the labelling intensities of heterochromatin for H2B, H3 and H4 were equal in all the nuclei. H2B was still evident in the pseudo-nucleoli, but in a lower quantity than before. The condensed chromatin located either under the nuclear envelope or surrounding the pseudo-nucleoli was heavily labelled for H2B, H3 and H4. PMID- 2604872 TI - In vitro techniques of bovine oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo culture resulting in the birth of a calf. AB - Oocyte cumulus complexes were aspirated from 3 to 5 mm follicles of cows prestimulated with 2.000 IU PMSG 24 h before slaughter. Oocytes matured in culture were fertilized in vitro by heparinized freshly ejaculated or epididymal spermatozoa. The cultivation procedure for fertilized eggs was the same as that used for cultivation of oocytes. From 163 matured oocytes, 109 cleaved to the 2 cell stage 24 h after fertilization and after 6 days of cultivation, 18 developed to the late morula and 18 to the blastocyst stages. Eleven blastocyts and 1 late morula were transferred surgically to the uteri of 7 recipient heifers. Two heifers became pregnant: one delivered a bull-calf at term, while the other pregnancy resulted in abortion at the 3rd month. The examination of some embryos by transmission electron microscopy showed an almost normal morphology for most cells. The degenerated cells contained mostly electron-dense residual bodies of unknown origin. PMID- 2604873 TI - [Thyroid nodules in children. Experience at the National Children Hospital of Costa Rica]. AB - Clinical charts and biopsies of 32 children with thyroid nodules were reviewed at the National Children's Hospital from 1970 to 1988. The classification between benign and malignant types was only possible by surgery and biopsy. Twenty three (72%) were found to be benign forms and nine (28%) were carcinomas (8 papillary and one follicular). Two of the carcinomas had been irradiated previously because of neuroblastoma, as well as one of the benign type who received radiation to the neck and mediastinum because of a Hodgkin's disease. No patients showed alteration in thyroid functional test (T4 and TSH). Twenty two per cent of the carcinomas and 16% of the benign forms presented higher retention in the gammagram test. Seventy eight per cent of the carcinomas and 70% of the benign types showed a normal gammagram test. Surgery in the benign cases included 10 hemithyroidectomy, 7 sub-total thyroidectomy, 3 total thyroidectomy and 3 node resection. Carcinoma cases included 6 patients with total thyroidectomy with ganglionar modified dissection in three patients; 2 hemithyroidectomy and one with sub-total thyroidectomy. Complications included 3 hypoparathyroidisms, one of them permanent, 3 transitory recurrent paresis and only one child died because of pulmonary metastasis. All carcinoma patients were treated with levothyroxine and three of them also received 1131 in order to control ganglionar metastasis. Total survival rate for carcinoma patients was 83% at 90 months. It is concluded that only with surgery it is possible to classify correctly the histological type of children with thyroid nodes. Clinical evaluation and laboratory tests are useless. However, it has not been defined how big the surgery must be.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604874 TI - [Exogenous lipoid pneumonia]. AB - We report 30 patients with exogenous lipoid pneumonia due to vegetal oil. This was employed in most of the cases during the first month of life for digestive tube symptomatology; clinical manifestations began three months following administrations, as a pneumonia or bronchopneumonia with a respiratory distress syndrome of variable severity. 60% of the thorax x-ray studies were abnormal, the main finding was opacity. One patient has alterations of the mechanics of deglutition; seven had gastroesophageal reflux. Arterial gasometry showed hypoxaemia and increase of alveolo-arterial gradient of oxygen in all. Ten patients died and all the survivors were reevaluated in september, 1988; 18 had normal physical findings. Thorax x-ray studies in 13 patients had right reticulate infiltration and 6 right apical opacity; ECG showed right ventricular hypertrophy in 3. Perfusion pulmonary gamagram with technetium 99 was abnormal in 5. Gastroesophageal reflux was evident in 2. Five were under treatment for several causes. Diagnosis and treatment is discussed. PMID- 2604875 TI - [Correction of hyperkalemia with intravenous salbutamol in children with chronic renal insufficiency]. AB - In order to evaluate the efficiency of albuterol sulfate (salbutamol) in lowering of potassium levels in uremic children with hyperkalemia, we intravenously administered salbutamol 30 micrograms/min (total doses 0.5 mg) to ten children with chronic renal failure (CRF) with high serum levels of potassium. Forty five minutes after administration, potassium serum levels were lower going from 6.79 +/- 0.57 mmol/L to 5.04 +/- 1.10 mmol/L; increasing levels were documented 6 hours later up to 5.76 +/- 0.66 mmol/L. Lowering in potassium serum levels was associated with disappearance of electrocardiographic manifestations of hyperkalemia. We observed moderated tachycardia in 90% of our patients and only one patient required withdrawal of this drug for high cardiac frequency rate. We conclude that salbutamol is a useful and safe choice in treatment of hyperkalemia in children with CRF. PMID- 2604876 TI - [Prediction of idiopathic respiratory insufficiency using the gastric aspirate shake test]. AB - To verify the usefulness of the gastric aspirate shake test as a predictor of idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome, we studied 110 premature newborns with respiratory failure to define the surfactant deficiency (negative test) or surfactant sufficiency (positive test). The results were correlated with definitive diagnosis at discharge. Our findings indicate that the gastric aspirate shake test has 97.5% sensitivity, 77.1% specificity 70.9% predictive value for surfactant deficiency, and 98.2% predictive value for surfactant sufficiency. Therefore it was considered useful to predict the idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome. As this test is rapid, simple and inexpensive, it may be useful in primary care hospital in order to distinguish among the idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome and other mild causes of respiratory failure and therefore to decide early transference to specialized hospitals. PMID- 2604877 TI - [Primary amebic meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri in an adolescent from Huetamo, Michoacan, Mexico]. AB - A 13 year old boy died after a three day illness with severe headache, explosive vomiting, fever and progressive loss of consciousness. The autopsy revealed purulent and necrotizing meningoencephalitis mainly involving the basal regions and posterior fossa and on microscopic examination numerous trophozoites of Naegleria were seen in the meninges and necrotic brain tissue. The trophozoites were identified as Naegleria fowleri by immunoperoxidase staining. This case as well as others previously reported in Mexico and the documented presence of Naegleria species from several sources indicate that primary amebic meningoencephalitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases with neurological symptoms of sudden onset. PMID- 2604878 TI - [Diarrhea associated with Trichomonas hominis in a newborn infant]. AB - One female newborn infant with protracted diarrhea in whom associated Trichomonas homonis trophozoites were identified, is presented. Diarrhea in the infant persisted more than 30 days while in the hospital. Another causes of diarrhea, such as metabolic disorders, and bacterial, parasitic or viral infections were not identified. When furazolidone treatment was administered, the therapeutic response was very good, diarrhea disappeared and normal weight increase rate was recovered. It is pointed out that T. hominis might be a potential intestinal pathogen on human beings, specially on immunocompromised hosts, as newborn and malnourished infants are. PMID- 2604879 TI - [The use of transesophageal electrical stimulation of the heart in acute tests for evaluating the efficacy of korinfar in patients with ischemic heart disease]. PMID- 2604880 TI - [An elevated pain sensitivity threshold in patients with IHD and predominantly painless ST-segment decreases during Holter ECG monitoring]. PMID- 2604881 TI - [The effect of nitrous oxide on myocardial work and blood supply in IHD patients]. PMID- 2604882 TI - [Nifedipine and verapamil in the treatment of ischemic heart disease and hypertension]. PMID- 2604883 TI - [A comparison of the results of endocardial and transesophageal electrostimulation of the heart in assessing sinus node function and atrioventricular conduction]. AB - Forty five patients with cardiac arrhythmias were included in this study (20 had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, 19, supraventricular tachycardias; 11 had sick sinus syndrome). In all patients endocardial electrophysiological study and transesophageal atrial pacing were performed in order to study sinus node function and atrioventricular conduction. The results of two methods of investigation have a high correlation. Quantitative criteria were developed for defining normal parameters of sinus node function and atrioventricular conduction during transesophageal atrial pacing. PMID- 2604884 TI - [Quantitative contrast angiography of the right ventricle: the normal indices and the problems in analyzing global and regional contractility]. AB - Normal parameters of the right ventricular (RV) volumes, global and regional contractility were obtained in 20 normal subjects (15 men and 7 women, mean age, 47 +/- 8 yrs) by quantitative contrast RV ventriculography. Analysis of different methods of the angiographic RV volumes calculation was made. It was shown, that Ferlinz's method is adequate to get real values for RV. A new method for computer assessment of RV regional contractility was proposed--shrinkage of 5 areas in percent. The most difference (15 and 17%) between "internal" and "external" observer was found in the anterior and anteroapical segments of RV, differences in another segments were not significant (5-8%). PMID- 2604885 TI - [The diagnostic potentials of the "level of neurotization" scale in patients with ischemic heart disease]. AB - One hundred and sixty eight IHD patients were studied by a "level of neurotization" (LN) scale, the Mini-Mult and the original rating scale. Of them, 76 were followed-up for 1-4 mont. The obtained data indicated validity and reliability of the LN scale which can be used successfully as an additional method for measurement of level for psychic state change evaluation. PMID- 2604886 TI - [Increased natriuresis in narcotized and waking rats with spontaneous hypertension]. AB - The influence of acute volume-salt loading on renal excretory function and hemodynamics was studied in urethane-anesthetized and conscious immobilized, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats on osmotic diuresis. The SHR have been shown to response to the intravenous sodium chloride load with exaggerated natriuresis as compared with the WKY group. The increase in natriuresis in the SHR did not depend on diuresis changes but was due to the increased urinary sodium concentration. Blood pressure changes after sodium chloride load were greater in the WKY than in the SHR group, which may be associated with restricted responsiveness of the cardiovascular system in the SHR. PMID- 2604887 TI - [The initial experience of using transesophageal echocardiography in cardiology and cardiac surgery]. AB - The first experience with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during diagnostic investigation and cardiac surgery is described. Three examples--atrial septal defect (ASD), formation in the right atrium, thrombus in the left atrium are discussed, when the TEE was useful in the establishment of correct diagnosis. The possibilities provided by TEE in cardiac monitoring are described. Some difficulties in the interpretation of the obtained images are listed. PMID- 2604888 TI - [The function of the microcirculatory bed of the bulbar conjunctiva in patients who have had a minor stroke against a background of the labile form of arterial hypertension]. PMID- 2604889 TI - [Quetelet's index in the male population aged 20 to 59 (epidemiological autopsy research in Riga)]. AB - The increased body mass (Quetelet index greater than or equal to 30.0) in 1447 autopsies of Riga's male population aged 20-59 years was revealed in 8.6% of all cases. A significant rise of mean values of the Quetelet index was found in the presence of arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, increased thickness of subcutaneous fat and diabetes mellitus. The mean value of the Quetelet index was significantly higher in cases of coronary and cerebrovascular death victims than that seen in the 20-59-year old group and apparently healthy persons. PMID- 2604890 TI - [The platelet factor 4 content of the blood in induced myocardial ischemia in patients with stable stenocardia]. AB - Seventeen patients were studied: 10 with stable angina and coronary atherosclerosis, and 7 with "intact" coronary arteries (a control group). All patients underwent coronarography and catheterization of the coronary sinus. Blood samples were obtained from the left ventricle and coronary sinus in 3 points: at rest, peak pacing, 10 min after pacing. All patients with stable angina had positive atrial pacing test (pain and/or ECG deviations and lactate production), in control group similar changes were not observed. However, no statistically significant difference was found in platelet factor (IV) 4 levels between the groups and following pacing; the level of platelet factor IV was near 90 ng/ml. It is concluded that patients with stable angina during pacing-induced ischemia had no significant platelet activation, which may provoke thrombotic events. PMID- 2604891 TI - [Dopplerography and ultrasonic scanning of the internal thoracic artery and of mammary-coronary shunts]. AB - The study was performed in 22 patients with ischemic heart disease who underwent direct myocardial revascularization. The functional and structural state of mammary arteries was estimated by the noninvasive Duplex scanning before surgical operation to evaluate the possibility of using them as mammary-coronary bypasses (MCB). Direct blood velocity measurements in the bypasses during aortocoronary bypass (ACB) surgery and MCB were made by ultrasound pulsed Doppler system with a 10 MHz transducer. A method was developed for noninvasive Duplex scanning and evaluation of coronary bypass flow in the postoperative period by using the ultrasound system with 5 a MHz phased array linear transducer, which enabled one to obtain the bypass image in B-mode and the Doppler velocity spectrum inside the bypass. PMID- 2604892 TI - [The effectiveness of the hypolipemic preparation lovastatin in patients with ischemic heart disease and hyperlipoproteinemia]. AB - Lovastatin was investigated in a single-blind placebo-controlled trial in 150 patients with coronary atherosclerosis confirmed by coronary angiographic studies and those with nonfamilial hyperlipoproteinemia. After 3 months of treatment total cholesterol (TC) level was reduced by 36% (p less than 0.001), LDL cholesterol level by 48% (p less than 0.001), triglycerides level by 19% (p less than 0.001), VLDL cholesterol by 24% (p less than 0.01), whereas the HDL cholesterol level was increased by 36% (p less than 0.001). Besides, concentration of apolipoprotein A-I increased by 19% (p less than 0.05), apolipoprotein B decreased by 22% (p less than 0.05) and the ratios of LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol and TC/HDL cholesterol decreased by 64% and 56%, respectively (p less than 0.001). The side effects of lovastatin were negligible. Thus, lovastatin is a highly effective and well tolerated hypolipidemic drug for the treatment of patients with IHD and hyperlipoproteinemia. PMID- 2604893 TI - [The characteristics of cardiosclerosis in dilated cardiomyopathy]. AB - In 52 patients who had died of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) severity of cardiosclerosis (CS) was studied in relation to the patients' age, possible etiological factors, disease duration, and heart weight. In DCMP, diffuse and diffuse small focal CS were common in all segments of the heart, including myocardial portions without macroscopically visible changes. Various types of CS in DCMP were seen in the left ventricular (92.3% cases), ventricular septum (86.5%) and right ventricle (68.2%). There are highly significant variations in the degree of CS in various patients with DC, however, different parts of the heart showed similar changes within the observation. No direct relationship was found between the cardiac weight and severity of CS. Diffuse CS prevailed in cases of DCMP with infective onset of disease. There was a direct relationship between the CS severity and disease duration in DCMP patients. PMID- 2604894 TI - [Our initial experience in using allapinin in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias]. AB - Twenty one patients with various forms of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) were treated with allapinine, a new antiarrhythmic drug. Intravenous infusion of allapinine (0.43 mg/kg) arrested the episodes of SVT in none of 7 patients. Oral administration of the drug for short-term treatment (150 mg/day) prevented the artificial induction or spontaneous occurrence of paroxysms in 10 of 16 patients. Thus, the first experience with allapinine shows its potential efficacy in the prophylactic treatment of paroxysmal SVT. PMID- 2604895 TI - [The potentials for using magnetic resonance tomography for assessing heart function in cardiology patients]. PMID- 2604896 TI - [The diagnosis of hypertension by the structural-functional disorders of the erythrocyte membranes]. PMID- 2604897 TI - Toxic effects of an anionic detergent on the lipid constituents of various cell types of the gill epithelium of Rita rita: a histochemical investigation. AB - Rita rita exposed to a concentration of 6.9 mg per liter (96-h LC50 of an anionic detergent, dodecylbenzene sodium sulfonate) exhibited a gradual decrease in the lipid moieties of the epithelial cells, club cells, and goblet mucous cells lining the gill arch and gill filament epithelium. However, in time, no reaction of any of the lipid moieties could be observed, indicating the absence of the same, using various histochemical techniques. The results are discussed in light of the mechanistic understanding of detergent action. PMID- 2604898 TI - A study of immunological indices for diagnosis of chronic berylliosis. AB - The results of the Be-induced leukocyte migration inhibition test (Be-MIT), the lymphocyte transformation test (LI), the E-rosette formation test (E-RFC), the old tuberculin test (OT), and sero-immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) measurements on 13 cases of berylliosis, 44 members of the observation group, and 51 members of the contact group are reported. In the Be-MIT, 2 of the berylliosis patients were new cases that had been diagnosed and treated for a long time, and both tested positive (18%). Fourteen patients from the observation group tested positive (32%), and 15 from the contact group tested positive (30%). The 8 cases in the control group tested negative; 7 patients from the observation group and 3 of the berylliosis cases tested negative after being treated. The lymphocyte transformation rates of the observation group and the berylliosis group were significantly lower than that of the control group (P less than 0.01). Both Et RFC and Ea-RFC contents in the group with berylliosis were much lower than those in the control group (P less than 0.01). OT tests were performed on 8 berylliosis patients and 10 healthy men. Seven patients showed negative reactions and one showed a positive reaction. All the healthy men showed positive reactions. The IgG and IgA levels of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P less than 0.01). The Be-MIT could detect active beryllium disease at an early stage as well as Be-sensitive individuals. This test could be used as a supplementary diagnostic index for the differential diagnosis of berylliosis and for the evaluation of a curative effect. PMID- 2604899 TI - Study of lead absorption and its effect on children's development. AB - Blood lead levels of 180 pupils from two elementary schools were determined and the intellectual development of the children was followed. The children in these two groups were similar in most nonlead variables. Results showed that pupils at the school near a battery plant had higher blood lead levels than those at a school in a residential neighborhood. An evident dose-effect relationship between blood lead level and children's performance on psychological testing existed: the higher the blood level, the lower the intelligence quotient. This relationship remained after confounding factors were controlled by stepwise regression analysis. Partial regression coefficients for PbB and verbal IQ, performance IQ, and full-scale IQ were -0.85, -0.71, and -0.91, respectively. PMID- 2604900 TI - Study on environmental health strategy after earthquake. AB - The first task in prevention of diseases after an earthquake is to quickly provide an adequate source of safe drinking water. Otherwise, the incidence of infectious intestinal diseases in the disaster area residents will increase rapidly. Additional health measures, such as disinfecting drinking water, protecting the water source, and treating disaster area residents, must be taken at the same time. The sensory test of meat is a useful index of meat decomposition levels. Corpse alkali is a kind of toxic chemical, and personal protective measures must be taken in handling corpses. In general, all of these measures are important not only for achieving the goal of "no severe epidemic after strong earthquake disaster" in the affected areas, but also for enriching knowledge of disaster medicine. PMID- 2604901 TI - Preventive and therapeutic role of vitamin E in chronic plumbism. AB - The ability of vitamin E to prevent or treat experimental lead intoxication was investigated in rats. Lead ingestion (10 mg/kg, lead as lead acetate, orally for 6 weeks) significantly inhibited the activity of blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), reduced the brain dopamine (DA) contents, enhanced the blood zinc protoporphyrin, and enhanced the urinary excretion of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Lead exposure also elevated brain norepinephrine, homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) levels and concentration of lead in blood and tissue. Simultaneous supplementation of vitamin E along with lead significantly reduced the inhibition of blood ALAD activity, brain DA and 5-HIAA levels, and elevation of urinary ALA excretion. Blood and liver lead concentrations were also significantly reduced by simultaneous supplementation with vitamin E. Postlead exposure treatment with vitamin E was ineffective in reducing the lead-induced effects, except that the inhibition of blood ALAD activity was slightly reduced. The present results suggest that vitamin E given simultaneously with lead is effective in reducing the severity of lead intoxication. PMID- 2604902 TI - Decontamination of landfill leachate by soil infiltration. AB - A soil column study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of soil to attenuate pollutants in landfill leachate. It was found that more than 60% of the initial alkalinity, COD, and total nitrogen was removed after the leachate had percolated through the soil column. Lower efficiencies were observed for the removal of dissolved cations, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen. When previously percolated leachate was recirculated through the soil column, significant removal (93.6%) of ammonia nitrogen was achieved. Moreover, a further reduction in COD, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and potassium was evident. Bioassay tests of seed germination and root growth of Brassica chinensis were performed to compare the phytotoxicities of untreated, percolated, and recirculated leachates. The phytotoxicity was reduced by both treatments, with the greatest detoxification observed in the leachate recirculation treatment. The values of pH and Olsen phosphorus were significantly reduced (P less than 0.01) in the treated column soil, whereas significant increases (P less than 0.05) in electrical conductivity (EC), various forms of nitrogen, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron were observed. EC, ESP, potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron, and various forms of nitrogen accumulated at the soil surface (10 cm). On the other hand, manganese was deposited at 20 to 50 cm below the soil surface of the treated column. PMID- 2604903 TI - Distinct cytoskeletal injuries induced by As, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni compounds. AB - The risks of metal compounds to human health are highlighted by the ubiquity of exposure and their persistence in the environment. Although compounds of As, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni are known or "reasonably anticipated" to be carcinogenic to humans and/or experimental animals, the cellular targets of these health hazards and the underlying mechanisms of their carcinogenicity are still unclear. We show in this report that dramatic, time- and dose-dependent cytoskeletal perturbations, especially in the distribution and organization patterns of microtubules and microfilaments, two of the principal components of the cytoskeleton, occurred in 3T3 cells upon exposure to these metal salts. Each metal salt appeared to induce a different, typical pattern of cytoskeletal injury, probably reflecting the specificity of action of each metal ion. These results suggest that the cytoskeleton can indeed act as a target for injury by epigenetic carcinogenic metal compounds in the environment. These findings should help our efforts to understand the mechanisms of action of metal compounds at the subcellular and molecular levels. PMID- 2604904 TI - Fungal flora in rainwater. AB - We analyzed rainwater samples collected throughout a year for fungal flora and compared the results to those from atmospheric samples. Differences between the seasonal variation in number of fungi in rainwater and that in number of fungi in the atmosphere were found; that is, there was less of a difference among rainfall samples from different sampling points than among atmospheric samples. In the rainwater samples 29 fungal genera were detected, whereas only 17 were detected in the atmospheric samples. The variations in Cladosporium and Penicillium were the determinants of the total number of fungi in rainwater, whereas in air the variation in Cladosporium alone was the determinant. Sampling of rainwater therefore can be expected to provide information on fungal flora in the troposphere that cannot be obtained by means of air sampling. PMID- 2604905 TI - The stochastic regression analysis as a tool in ecotoxicological QSAR studies. AB - Correspondence factor analysis (CFA) was used in conjunction with linear regression analysis to examine the structure-activity relationships of 50 benzene derivatives tested on Pimephales promelas. From nine molecular descriptions (numbers of C, H, O, N, Br, Cl, NO2, OH, and NH2 included in the molecules), CFA made it possible to define five new independent variables which were introduced in a stepwise regression analysis procedure to describe the acute toxicity (96-h LC50) of the aromatic compounds. The model log 1/C = -0.727F1 + 1.248F3 + 4.052 (r = 0.918; s = 0.270) is more relevant to describe the ecotoxicological behavior of the studied compounds on the fathead minnow than that obtained with principal components (log 1/C = 0.151 PC1 -0.271 PC2 + 4.124; r = 0.737; s = 0.460). The heuristic potency of this particular statistical analysis, which is called stochastic regression analysis, is discussed in detail. PMID- 2604906 TI - Recognition pattern of different bases in the active site of ribonuclease Ms--a model building study. AB - The structure of base non-specific ribonuclease Ms from Aspergillus saitoi was predicted by sequence similarity to guanine-specific RNase T1 of known structure. In this paper the interaction pattern of binding site of RNase Ms with different nucleic acids bases is analysed using model building and energy minimisation techniques. It is shown that unspecificity of this protein can be explained only when taking into account flexibility of the base recognition loop. PMID- 2604907 TI - STM and AFM images of nucleosome DNA under water. AB - We have imaged DNA from the calf thymus nucleosome using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) operated in water. The fragments are deposited onto the interface between a buffer solution and an epitaxially grown gold surface using an electrochemical tecnique. Most of the fragments are fairly straight, and when individual polymers can be identified, their length is consistent with the expected 146 basepairs (approximately 500 A). The resolution is often adequate to show signs of the 36 A helical pitch. Some images show a structure which appears to have abrupt kinks of the sort predicted by Crick and Klug (Nature 255, 530 533, 1975). In order to check that this shape is not a consequence of binding to underlying structure on the gold substrate, we have also made images of kinked structures using an atomic force microscope (AFM) with the DNA bound to glass. PMID- 2604908 TI - Electrophoresis of DNA in oriented agarose gels. AB - Oriented agarose gels were prepared by applying an electric field to molten agarose while it was solidifying. Immediately afterwards, DNA samples were applied to the gel and electrophoresed in a constant unidirectional electric field. Regardless of whether the orienting field was applied parallel or perpendicular to the eventual direction of electrophoresis, the mobilities of linear and supercoiled DNA molecules were either faster (80% of the time) or slower (20% of the time) than observed in control, unoriented gels run simultaneously. The difference in mobility in the oriented gel (whether faster or slower) usually increased with increasing DNA molecular weight and increasing voltage applied to orient the agarose matrix. In perpendicularly oriented gels linear DNA fragments traveled in lanes skewed toward the side of the gel; supercoiled DNA molecules traveled in straight lanes. If the orienting voltage was applied parallel to the direction of electrophoresis, both linear and supercoiled DNA molecules migrated in straight lanes. These effects were observed in gels cast from different types of agarose, using various agarose concentrations and two different running buffers, and were observed both with and without ethidium bromide incorporated in the gel. Similar results were observed if the agarose was allowed to solidify first, and the orienting electric field was then applied to the gel for several hours before the DNA samples were added and electrophoresed. The results suggest that the agarose matrix can be oriented by electric fields applied to the gel before and probably during electrophoresis, and that orientation of the matrix affects the mobility and direction of migration of DNA molecules. The skewed lanes observed in the perpendicularly oriented gels suggest that pores or channels can be created in the matrix by application of an electric field. The oriented matrix becomes randomized with time, because DNA fragments in oriented and unoriented gels migrated in straight lanes with identical velocities 24 hours later. PMID- 2604909 TI - Divalent cations are not required for the stability of the low-salt Z-DNA conformation in poly(dG-ethyl5dC). AB - It is demonstrated that poly(dG-ethyl5dC) adopts Z form in low-salt solution like poly(dG-methyl5dC). Its existence is, however, not contingent on the presence of divalent cations in the polynucleotide solution. The Z form is transformed into B form below room temperature. The arising B form cannot be transformed back into Z form by millimolar MgCl2 concentrations. On the contrary, the addition of MgCl2 at room temperature converts the low-salt Z form of poly(dG-ethyl5dC) into B form. It follows from the results that Z form is a stable DNA conformation not only at high but even at low ionic strengths. PMID- 2604910 TI - The conformation and stability of ribonucleic acids: modeling base sequence effects in double stranded helices. AB - Base sequence effects within double stranded RNA oligomers of A and Z conformations have been studied by molecular modeling using a methodological approach specifically adapted to nucleic acids. Calculations on symmetric oligomers having homonucleotide or dinucleotide repeating base sequences show that sequence changes can produce modifications in overall conformation, influence the degree of internal hydrogen bonding and strongly affect stability. PMID- 2604911 TI - Conformational flexibility of the furanose ring in DNA and its dipole moment. AB - The influence of conformational rearrangement of the furanose ring in DNA on its dipole moment is studied. The dipole moment of the deoxyribose molecule as a function of its puckered state is calculated by the quantum-mechanical method using the MINDO/3 approximation. The values of the dipole moment and its components are obtained at various magnitudes of the pseudorotation phase angle. The C3'-endo in equilibrium C2'-endo conformational transition of deoxyribose is shown to be accompanied by the change in the dipole moment up to 3D. The results obtained are used to explain the structural properties of the DNA hydration shell. PMID- 2604912 TI - An immunohistochemical demonstration of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) in the rat substantia nigra. AB - The presence of gastrin-releasing peptide-like immunoreactivity in the rat brain was investigated by use of the indirect peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. A high density of gastrin-releasing peptide-like immunoreactive terminals in the ventral pallidum, the interpenduncular nucleus and in substantia nigra, pars reticulata, was observed. Moreover, gastrin-releasing peptide-like immunoreactive perikarya were observed in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus. Antisera raised against gastrin-releasing peptide have been shown to cross-react with substance P, another peptide highly concentrated in the substantia nigra, the ventral pallidum and the interpenduncular nucleus, and gastrin-releasing peptide immunoreactivity in these areas has therefore been regarded as substance P immunoreactivity. To determine the antigenic epitope recognized by the antiserum raised against gastrin-releasing peptide, specificity studies were performed with known peptides fixed to nitrocellulose filter strips as well as preabsorptions with the same peptides on fixed brain sections containing the substantia nigra. From these experiments, it could be deduced that the antiserum recognizes an epitope within the peptide sequence: Val-Gly-His-Leu-Met-NH2. The antiserum cross reacts with bombesin and alytesin, but not with substance P, allowing us to conclude that gastrin-releasing peptide or a very closely related peptide is present in areas of the rat central nervous system in which substance P has previously also been shown to be present. PMID- 2604913 TI - Modification of L-asparaginase from Erwinia carotovora using human serum albumin. AB - L-Asparaginase from Erwinia carotovora was modified by coupling with human serum albumin. The complex retained 80% of the activity, shifted the pH optima to 7.0, and lowered the Km value by tenfold, but the temperature optima remained at 37 degrees C. It was also found to be heat-resistant. PMID- 2604914 TI - Japanese modified traditional Chinese medicines as preventive drugs of the side effects induced by tumor necrosis factor and lipopolysaccharide. AB - It was found that the capacity for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production by Japanese modified traditional Chinese medicines and crude drugs broadly paralleled their antitumor activity. Pretreatment with these drugs prevented the lethal and marked side effects of recombinant human TNF (rhTNF) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) without impairing their antitumor activity. These drugs are thought to decrease the oxygen radicals and stabilize the cell membranes, with a deep relation to the arachidonic cascade. The release of prostaglandins and leukotriene B4 was suppressed by pretreatment with Shosaiko-to. Thromboxane B2 was transiently increased, followed by suppression. After pretreatment with Hochu-ekki-to or Juzen-taiho-to, suppression of leukotriene B4 could not be observed. The release of prostaglandin D2 was suppressed in mice pretreated with Shosaiko-to, Juzentaiho-to or Ogon (Scutellariae Radix) but it increased following pretreatment with Hochu-ekki-to. Chemicals that could prevent the lethality of rhTNF and LPS also revealed suppression of prostaglandins, leukotriene B4 and thromboxane B2. In general, drugs that prevented the lethality of rhTNF and LPS without impairing the antitumor activity could inhibit the release of leukotriene B4 and/or prostaglandin D2. rhTNF could activate the arachidonic cascade in combination with LPS. The lethality of rhTNF and LPS could be prevented by pretreatment with Japanese modified traditional Chinese medicines and the crude drug, Ogon. PMID- 2604915 TI - A pilot study of intraperitoneal recombinant interleukin-2 and ex vivo activated intracavitary lymphocytes in patients with malignant peritoneal spread: I. Clinical aspects. AB - A novel approach to adoptive immunotherapy is described in this study. Of 13 patients with malignant effusions, nine were treated by intraperitoneal (IP) instillation of intracavitary lymphocytes (ICL), activated ex vivo by recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2, Cetus Co., Emeryville, CA) with escalating doses of IP rIL 2 and four by IP rIL-2 alone. ICL and rIL-2 were administered by repeated peritoneal punctures. Patients were divided into two groups: group I of six patients, who received activated ICL with low doses of IP rIL-2 (total dose not exceeding 6 X 10(5) units) and group II of seven patients, in whom escalating higher doses of rIL-2 were administered IP with or without activated ICL, in doses ranging from 10(6) up to 16 X 10(6) units, total dose. Total dose of ICL given ranged from 2 X 10(8) to 2 X 10(9) in both groups. The main objectives of this pilot study was to establish the feasibility of treatment by ex vivo activated ICL and IP rIL-2, to assess the toxicity associated with such a treatment, to escalate doses of rIL-2 to a maximal tolerable dose, and to look for clinical responses. The first two goals were achieved: such a treatment approach is feasible and is not associated with severe toxicity. The side effects observed during this study were usually mild in group I patients and more pronounced in group II patients. These included transient fever, chills, nausea, cellulitis at the puncture site, and one case of peritonitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604916 TI - Immunoconjugates of doxorubicin and murine antihuman breast carcinoma monoclonal antibodies prepared via an N-hydroxysuccinimide active ester intermediate of cis aconityl-doxorubicin: preparation and in vitro cytotoxicity. AB - Doxorubicin (DXR) conjugated to murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) raised against human breast tumor cells demonstrated a MoAb-specific, molar ratio dependent in vitro cytotoxicity. These conjugates were prepared on a scale sufficient to allow for subsequent clinical trials (1 to 3 g of MoAb per conjugation reaction). The conjugation reaction proceeded via an N hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) active ester intermediate of cis-aconityl-DXR (CA-DXR), resulting in a cis-aconitate acid-sensitive linker between the DXR and MoAb. Molar ratios of DXR to MoAb ranged from 40 to 45. The immunoreactivity of conjugated MoAb was only slightly decreased from naked MoAb. When immunoconjugates were incubated with MoAb-reactive tumor cells for 3 hours, specific cell-killing was observed. If the exposure time was lengthened to 18 hours, however, nonspecific killing resulted. Incubation of the immunoconjugate with the nonspecific adsorbant Amberlite XAD-2 caused an average 30% decrease in the DXR-to-MoAb molar ratio, suggesting a population of drug that is tightly but noncovalently associated with MoAb. PMID- 2604917 TI - Detection of paracrine factors in oxidant lung injury. AB - It is well recognized that the oxidant gases ozone and nitrogen dioxide cause lung injury at high concentrations and, as such, are considered to be "hazardous" air pollutants. What is not known is the upper limit of their concentration in ambient air that can be tolerated without causing lung injury. This uncertainty is due, in major part, to a lack of sensitive and noninvasive tests that can identify the presence of early lung injury after exposure to oxidant gases. The hypothesis underlying the studies reported in this document was that the changes in cell populations that occur in the lung after oxidant lung injury are due to the local generation of lung-cell-specific growth factors, and that these factors should leak into the blood stream in sufficient quantities to allow their identification. Once identified, such factors could be used as early markers of oxidant injury. The question asked in the design of these studies was: "Is oxidant lung injury associated with the appearance in blood of factors that enhance lung cell growth, as tested in a cultured lung cell bioassay?" Groups of rats were exposed to either 1 ppm ozone, 85 percent oxygen, or air, and samples of plasma, lung washings, and lung tissue were collected at intervals over a two week period. These samples were tested for their effect on the DNA synthesis of purified populations of three major lung cell types (pneumocyte, fibroblast, and endothelial cell) in culture. The concentrations of the two oxidant gases used in these studies were selected on the basis of their known effect on these cell types in the intact animal. The collected samples were tested either whole or after separation into various fractions, determined by the preference of the sample's constituents for an alkaline or acidic environment. This fractionation procedure was included because simple testing of crude samples may not always reveal the presence of biologically active material because both growth stimulators and growth inhibitors may be present in the same sample. The results from testing whole samples confirm that factors that enhance DNA synthesis by all three lung cell types do appear in blood and lavage after exposure to 1 ppm ozone or 85 percent oxygen. These factors appear to be distinct for each lung cell type, in that the timing of maximal activity in the collected samples differs for each cell type. The time at which they appear in blood bears a close temporal relationship with cellular changes reported to occur in the whole lung of similarly exposed animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2604918 TI - Acute effects of carbon monoxide exposure on individuals with coronary artery disease. AB - The purpose of this study was to determine, using more objective evidence than that reported in previous studies, whether or not exposures to carbon monoxide that produce approximately 2% or 4% blood carboxyhemoglobin levels cause an exacerbation of myocardial ischemia during a progressive exercise test. The objective measurements were based on the development of electrocardiographic evidence of ischemia. In addition, time to onset of angina pectoris was studied. Male subjects, ages 35 to 75, with stable exertional angina pectoris and positive exercise treadmill tests with reproducible ischemic ST-segment changes in their electrocardiograms, were studied. In addition, each subject fulfilled at least one of the following criteria of coronary artery disease: angiographic evidence of at least a 70% occlusion of one or more major coronary artery; prior documented myocardial infarction; or a positive exercise thallium test. Each subject was evaluated on four separate occasions, a qualifying visit and three blinded test visits, which involved exposure (in random order) to air without added carbon monoxide and to air that contained carbon monoxide concentrations calculated to produce approximately 2.2% or 4.4% carboxyhemoglobin, measured by gas chromatography, at the end of the exposure period. These immediate postexposure target levels were set 10% higher than the desired postexercise carboxyhemoglobin levels of 2.0% and 4.0% because exercise while breathing room air results in loss of carbon monoxide. The actual one-minute postexercise levels reached were 2.0% +/- 0.1% (mean +/- standard error of the mean) and 3.9% +/- 0.1%. On each test day, the subject performed a symptom-limited exercise test on a treadmill, was exposed for approximately one hour to air or to one of two levels of carbon monoxide in air, and then performed a second exercise test. Time to the onset of ischemic ST-segment changes and time to the onset of angina were determined for each exercise test. The percent difference for these endpoints on the pre- and postexposure exercise tests was determined, and then the results on the 2%-COHb-target day and the results on the 4%-COHb-target day were compared to those on the control day. Data from the 63 subjects who completed the three test visits and met all protocol criteria were analyzed. There were 5.1% (p = 0.01) and 12.1% (p less than or equal to 0.0001) (trimmed mean) decreases in the time to development of ischemic ST-segment changes after the 2%- and 4%-COHb-target exposures, respectively, compared to the control day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2604919 TI - Cardiovascular effects of chronic carbon monoxide and high-altitude exposure. AB - At higher altitudes, ambient carbon monoxide levels are increasing with the number of residents and tourists and their use of motor vehicles and heating devices (such as fireplaces, furnaces, and stoves). Although chronic exposure to carbon monoxide or high altitude causes pronounced cardiovascular changes in humans as well as in animals, there is little information on the effects elicited by these stressors combined. Data from acute studies and theoretical considerations suggest that carbon monoxide inhaled at altitude may be more detrimental than carbon monoxide inhaled at sea level. It is not known, however, if the cardiovascular system adapts or deteriorates with continuous, concurrent exposure to carbon monoxide and high altitude. Male laboratory rats were exposed for six weeks in steel barometric chambers to altitudes ranging from 3,300 ft (ambient) to 18,000 ft and to concentrations ranging from 0 to 500 parts per million (ppm)2. Carbon monoxide had no effect on body weight at any altitude. There was a tendency for hematocrit to increase even at the lowest concentration of carbon monoxide (9 ppm), but the increase did not become significant until 100 ppm. At 10,000 ft, there was a tendency for total heart weight to increase in rats inhaling 100 ppm carbon monoxide. Although its effects on the heart at altitude are complex, carbon monoxide, in concentrations of 500 ppm or less, had little effect on the right ventricle; it did not exacerbate any effects due to altitude. There was a tendency for the left ventricle weight to increase with exposure to 35 ppm carbon monoxide at altitude, but the increase was not significant until 100 ppm carbon monoxide. Heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, and peripheral resistance were unaffected by exposure to 35 ppm carbon monoxide or 10,000-ft altitude singly or in combination. I conclude that six weeks of exposure to 35 ppm carbon monoxide does not produce measurable effects in the healthy laboratory rat, nor does it exacerbate the effects produced by exposure to 10,000-ft altitude. Basal carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level (due to endogenous carbon monoxide production) was increased from 0.7 to 1.0 percent at 10,000 ft, and to 1.7 percent at 15,000 ft. This suggests that the high-altitude resident has a greater initial body burden of COHb and will attain the COHb level associated with the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for carbon monoxide more quickly than the sea-level resident. PMID- 2604920 TI - Nitrogen dioxide and respiratory infection: pilot investigations. AB - Laboratory and human studies have raised concern that exposure to nitrogen dioxide may increase the frequency and severity of respiratory infections in children and adults. Cooking with a natural-gas-fueled stove exposes a home's residents to short-term peaks of nitrogen oxides and to higher average levels of nitrogen oxides than are measured in homes with electric stoves. We have designed a longitudinal study of infants to determine if nitrogen dioxide exposure from cooking stoves increases the incidence or severity of respiratory infections during the first 18 months of life. Pilot investigations for the longitudinal study were conducted from 1984 through 1986. This report provides the results of the pilot investigations. The first study, conducted in 1984 and 1985, was designed to document (1) that appropriate subjects could be recruited; (2) that nitrogen dioxide concentrations in Albuquerque homes were in the range of interest; (3) that an infant's personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide could be estimated; and (4) that a valid, feasible approach for surveillance could be implemented. To accomplish these goals, the families of infants were recruited at two Albuquerque hospitals, and their homes were monitored for nitrogen dioxide using a passive sampling tube. With this approach, we successfully recruited 147 households; monitoring for nitrogen dioxide showed substantially higher levels in homes with gas stoves than in homes with electric stoves, as previously found in other U.S. cities. More detailed investigations in a sample of the homes showed that personal exposures of the infants, who did not attend day care, could be satisfactorily estimated by room concentrations. We also demonstrated that mothers would complete a daily calendar-diary on respiratory symptoms and provide information every two weeks on illnesses occurring since the previous surveillance call. The second pilot study, conducted in 1986, was designed to refine the system for illness surveillance. Additional goals were to test further the methods for exposure assessment and to evaluate recruitment of subjects through pediatric practices. We recruited 75 infants and followed them over a four-month period. Information from the surveillance system was compared with the clinical assessments of the project's nurse practitioner and the subjects' physicians, and with the results of viral cultures. We also evaluated biweekly versus weekly surveillance calls. Overall, the results of the second pilot study documented that a surveillance system for respiratory illness that incorporates calendar-diaries and biweekly telephone calls is a feasible, relatively unbiased, and sensitive method for studying respiratory illness in a large population of infants. We also found that subjects could be successfully recruited through a pediatric practice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2604921 TI - DNA binding by 1-nitropyrene and dinitropyrenes in vitro and in vivo: effects of nitroreductase induction. AB - 1-Nitropyrene, the predominant nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon found in diesel exhaust, is both a mutagen and a tumorigen. 1,6-Dinitropyrene is present in diesel exhaust in much smaller quantities than is 1-nitropyrene, but is much more mutagenic and carcinogenic. In an attempt to understand this difference in biological potencies, we have compared the extents to which these two nitropyrenes bind DNA in vivo. We have also determined the effect of 1 nitropyrene pretreatment upon the induction of nitroreductases and the subsequent DNA binding by both 1-nitropyrene and 1,6-dinitropyrene. In subsequent experiments, we have examined the importance of acetylation phenotype in the formation of DNA adducts from dinitropyrene in vivo. After a single intraperitoneal injection of 1-nitropyrene, covalent DNA binding could not be detected in vivo; however, 1,6-dinitropyrene formed N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1 amino-6-nitropyrene as the major DNA adduct in rat liver, kidney, urinary bladder, and mammary gland, with the highest levels being found in the bladder. The capability of liver microsomes to catalyze the oxidative metabolism of 1 nitropyrene was unchanged after treating rats with a single dose of 8 mg of 1 nitropyrene per kilogram of body weight. Cytochrome P-450, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH2)-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and cytochrome b5 levels were also unchanged, while slight increases were detected in reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-cytochrome b5 reductase and epoxide hydrase activities. Liver cytosolic and microsomal nitroreductase activities toward both 1-nitropyrene and 1,6-dinitropyrene were increased twofold, and cytosolic nitrosoreductase activity toward 1-nitrosopyrene and 1 nitro-6-nitrosopyrene was elevated by about 20 percent. DNA binding of both 1 nitropyrene and 1,6-dinitropyrene in vitro was twofold higher when cytosol from rats pretreated with 1-nitropyrene was used. However, pretreatment of rats with 1 nitropyrene only slightly increased the amount of in vivo DNA binding by 1,6 dinitropyrene except in the kidney, where there was a 60 percent increase. In the presence of S-acetylcoenzyme A, liver cytosol from slow-acetylator phenotype hamster strains Bio. 1.5 and 82.73 catalyzed the binding of two-to-three times more 1,8-dinitropyrene to DNA than was observed with the fast-acetylator phenotype strain Bio. 87.20. Similarly, when 1,8-dinitropyrene was administered in vivo and the extent of binding was assayed in liver, bladder, and intestinal DNA, there was more binding in strain Bio. 1.5 than in strain Bio. 87.20.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2604922 TI - Leucovorin. PMID- 2604924 TI - Research in pediatric oncology nursing: why now? PMID- 2604923 TI - Continuous bladder irrigation for children receiving high-dose cyclophosphamide before bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2604925 TI - Evaluation of a child's perceived self-competence during treatment for cancer. AB - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of self-hypnosis on the perceived self-competence of children undergoing treatment for cancer and to determine longitudinal differences in perception of self-competence over time. Twenty-two children were randomized into an experimental group (taught self hypnosis) and a control group (given standard care). Data were collected using the Harter Perceived Self-Competence Profile (HPSCP) during four courses of chemotherapy. A decrease in mean scores for the control group was found compared with the hypnosis group, which showed an increase in mean scores in five of six domains. Both groups showed a statistically significant increase in the scholastic cognitive domain and social acceptance domain from the time of diagnosis compared with the second test period. Ten children had a visible physical disability. These children were found to have significant decreases in the domains of athletic competence, social acceptance, and global self-worth. Decreases remained significant throughout all test periods in the athletic competence domain for the children with a visible physical disability. This study is unique in that the researchers evaluated children's perception of self competence over time. These findings support previous studies and identify the need for nurses to become actively involved in helping children develop effective coping skills during chemotherapy for cancer. PMID- 2604926 TI - Effects of group therapy on parents of children with cancer. AB - Group therapy for parents of children with cancer has been suggested as a means of relieving stress. This quasi-experimental study sought to determine the effect of participation in a support group for parents of children aged 10 to 14 years with cancer. Parents completed the Wallston Health Locus of Control (HLOC) Scale and the Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report (SAS-SR) both before and following seven group sessions. Descriptive data were collected from the cotherapists' process log and the participants' evaluation. A significant t test score (P = .017) was obtained for the HLOC Scale questionnaire. The group process log showed recurrent themes of helplessness and powerlessness. The Parent Support Group Evaluation (PSGE) developed by the researchers, demonstrated satisfaction and revealed that school and community activities were considered the most helpful. Tentative conclusions support the value of such a group in providing a forum for the parents to discuss concerns and decrease their sense of isolation. However, more study is needed with a larger sample before definitive conclusions can be reached. PMID- 2604927 TI - Work-related stresses of pediatric bone marrow transplant nurses. AB - The stress that nurses experience when working in specialty units, such as the intensive care unit (ICU) and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), has been described in many studies as being a significant variable in nurse retention, job satisfaction, and quality of patient care. Although some investigation of stress has extended to other areas of nursing, one specialty where stress has not been studied is bone marrow transplant (BMT) nursing. The purpose of this study was to identify work-related stresses of pediatric BMT nurses. The convenience sample consisted of 31 RNs and LPNs who had at least 6 months of experience in a laminar air flow (LAF) BMT unit in a pediatric facility in the southwest United States. Eighteen nurses responded to a questionnaire asking them to describe two incidents in their experience that were most stressful to them. Thirty-seven incidents were collected. Categories and subcategories described in the literature, as well as from the researcher's experience, were used in the content analysis of the incidents. Each incident was analyzed independently by three nurse-judges who identified categories and subcategories in each incident. Several new subcategories were identified from the data. Negotiations for categorization occurred until full agreement among the nurse-judges was reached. Categories of stress identified, in decreasing order of frequency, included: patient care, philosophical/emotional/ethical, environment, interpersonal relations/communication, knowledge base, management of the unit, bureaucratic/political/organizational.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604928 TI - Pediatric pain assessment: trends and research directions. AB - A number of methodologies to assess pain in children are available. These are analyzed from both a clinical and a research standpoint. Research related to factors influencing the response to pain, including age, developmental stage, gender, culture, prior experience, anxiety level, the painful stimulus, and the role of significant others, are reviewed. A range of pain assessment instruments are presented with consideration given to the indications for use, issues of reliability and validity, and practical concerns. The need for further research is defined, particularly in regard to children of ethnically diverse populations. PMID- 2604930 TI - School reentry programs. PMID- 2604929 TI - The relationship between parent-sibling communication and coping of siblings with death experience. AB - Past studies have suggested that parents who can effectively communicate about subjects such as death and dying are most likely to help their child cope with illness and death. Most studies have focused on communication with the ill child and less attention has been paid to the sibling. As part of a larger study to investigate the effects of two types of terminal care on families of a child dying of cancer, this portion of the study focused on parent-sibling communication. It was hypothesized that increased communication would increase coping as manifested by fewer behavioral problems and more social competence in siblings. The tools used included the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL) and the Parent-Sibling Communication instrument. Measurements were taken before and at 2 weeks, 4 months, and 12 months after the death of the ill child. One positive and four negative correlations were found. Parent-sibling communication was positively related to Social Competence before the ill child's death, and was inversely related to Total Behavior Problems following the death. Parent-sibling communication was also inversely related to External Behavior Problems after the ill child's death, to Internal Behavior Problems after the ill child's death, and to Internal Behavior Problems at the 4-month point after the death. The positive relationship between parent-sibling communication and Social Competence scores may reflect the sensitivity of parents to siblings' needs. PMID- 2604931 TI - Informational needs of children and adolescents with cancer. PMID- 2604932 TI - Recombinant interleukin-2 in the treatment of refractory solid tumors in pediatric oncology patients: nursing implications. PMID- 2604933 TI - Job satisfaction. PMID- 2604934 TI - Use of art and play therapy in pediatric oncology. AB - Play enhances a child's physical growth and development and contributes to the mastery of language and social skills. It is essential for the child's psychological development and maturation. An overview of the field of play and art psychotherapy is presented with an outline of the function of play for the physically ill child. Techniques of play and art therapy that nurses can use for children with cancer, including therapeutic play, are described. PMID- 2604935 TI - Sexuality in children and adolescents with cancer: pediatric oncology nurses' attitudes and behaviors. AB - It is essential that health professionals openly discuss how cancer may affect the developing sexuality of childhood cancer patients. This study was conducted to explore nurses' attitudes and behaviors regarding sexuality in cancer patients. Results are reported for a subset of a larger study (N = 937) from subjects who indicated that their practice included children and/or adolescents (N = 156). The Williams-Wilson Sexuality Survey was used to measure attitudes towards sexuality in cancer patients, behavior in nursing care related to the sexuality of a cancer patient, and attitudes towards sexuality in the child and/or adolescent with cancer. The majority of subjects agreed that sexuality should be a routine component of nursing care, yet less than half had actually discussed an alternation in sexuality with an adolescent patient. More than one third said they were not comfortable in initiating such discussions. However, they were comfortable in discussing sexuality concerns when these discussions were initiated by the patient and/or family. PMID- 2604936 TI - The use of an investigational radiopharmaceutical in neuroblastoma: a nursing perspective. AB - Children with advanced-stage neuroblastoma usually have a poor prognosis. While conventional treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation may provide some palliation, long-term survival is rare. A number of investigational therapies are being performed nationwide in an attempt to improve the prognosis for children with neuroblastoma. One such treatment is the use of 131I metaiodobenzylguanidine. This article will review the pathophysiology of neuroblastoma, give an overview of this investigational treatment, and discuss the nursing care associated with radioactive treatment. PMID- 2604937 TI - Home administration of medications in pediatric oncology patients: use of the Travenol infusor. AB - Administration of chemotherapy and other medications with an infusor can facilitate home care of the pediatric oncology patient. An infusor that is reliable, lightweight, disposable, and delivers an infusion at a constant rate is described in two case studies. Use of this device has allowed children to receive most of their chemotherapy as outpatients thus decreasing the cost of care and facilitating the child's return to more normal daily activities. PMID- 2604938 TI - The place for historical research. PMID- 2604939 TI - Worksheets for multiagent chemotherapy regimens. PMID- 2604940 TI - Structure of 1-amidino-3-(3-sulfamoylphenyl)urea hydrochloride. AB - 1-(Diaminomethylene)-3-(3-sulfamoylphenyl)uronium chloride, C8H12N5O3S+.Cl, Mr = 293.71, monoclinic, P21/c, a = 10.148 (1), b = 7.881 (1), c = 15.286 (3) A, beta = 94.77 (1) degrees, V = 1218.2 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.601 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu = 4.838 cm-1, F(000) = 608, T = 294 K, R = 0.069 for 1779 data. The molecular conformation of the protonated arylamidinourea is completely planar and all amidinourea N atoms have considerable sp2 hybridization. The stable tautomeric form has an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the ureido O atom and an amidino N atom. All N atoms in the molecular packing make contact with the Cl- ion. PMID- 2604941 TI - Three conformers in a crystal of N-Ac-L-Leu-L-Tyr-OMe. AB - C18H26N2O5, three independent molecules with different conformations, Mr = 350.4, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 16.077 (10), b = 28.935 (18), c = 12.597 (6) A, V = 5860.0 A3, Z = 12, Dx = 1.191 g cm-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.54178 A, F(000) = 2256, room temperature, final R = 4.9% for 4596 data with [F omicron] greater than 3 sigma and 5.4% for all 4977 measured data. The three independent molecules have different conformations for the backbones and the side-chains, although each molecule is relatively flat and has an approximate H shape. The backbone in one of the conformations has phi, psi angles near those for a beta-turn. There is extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonding, but there are no intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The 75-atom structure was solved with the aid of the Connection Machine computer, a parallel processor for which the symbolic addition procedure was programmed. PMID- 2604942 TI - Structures of colchicine analogues. I. Allocolchicine. AB - Methyl 5-acetylamino-6,7-dihydro-9,10,11-trimethoxy-5H-dibenzo[a,c] cycloheptene 3-carboxylate, C22H25NO6, Mr = 399.4, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 7.968 (1), b = 9.482 (1), c = 15.063 (2) A, beta = 112.95 (1) degrees, V = 1047.9 (2) A3, Z = 2, Dm(flotation) = 1.27 (1), Dx = 1.266 Mg m 3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.5418 A, mu = 0.68 mm 1, F(000) = 424, T = 288 (1) K. Final R = 0.050 for 1765 observed data. The seven-membered ring has the expected boat conformation, and the angle between the normals to the phenyl rings is 48.7 (4) degrees. The relative orientations of the three adjacent methoxy groups and the acetamido substituent are similar to those observed in crystals of colchicine. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the N and O atoms of the acetamido groups link the molecules into infinite spirals along the b axis. PMID- 2604943 TI - Platelet activating factor antagonist design. 3. X-ray crystal structure and intermolecular crystal lattice interactions of methyl trans-4-acetoxymethyl-4,5 dihydro-2,5-bis(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)- 3-furancarboxylate. AB - C23H20O9, Mr = 440.41, monoclinic, P21/c, a = 11.433 (1), b = 7.808 (2), c = 23.313 (3) A, beta = 99.67 (1) degree, V = 2052 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.43 g cm-3, lambda(MoK alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 0.69 cm-1, F(000) = 920, T = 293 K, final R = 0.048 for 1645 observed [Fo greater than or equal to 5 sigma(Fo)] reflections. The observed structure reveals a trans relationship for the 4-acetoxymethyl and 5 aryl substituents. The 4,5-dihydrofuran ring system adopts an envelope conformation. There is no crystallographically imposed symmetry. Several intermolecular van der Waals interactions occur in the cell lattice of this compound. PMID- 2604944 TI - Structure of (+-)-6-methyl-6,12-methano-6H,12H,13H-[1]benzopyran[4,3-d] [1,3]benzodioxocin-13-one. AB - A derivative of warfarin, racemic C19H14O4, Mr = 306.32, monoclinic, Cc, a = 9.594 (2), b = 20.437 (4), c = 7.793 (2) A, beta = 109.94 (3) degree, V = 1436.4 (11) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.416 g cm-3, lambda(CuK alpha) = 1.5418 A, mu = 7.742 cm-1, F(000) = 640, T = 293 K, final R = 0.053 for 1224 observations. The title molecule, formed by spontaneous dehydration of 2'-hydroxy-warfarin, is a cyclic ketal in which the side-chain phenyl is disposed pseudoaxially and is linked through a 2'-oxygen to the ketal carbon in a fixed cis 1,3-diaxial configuration. Two dihydropyran rings are formed; one fused with the benzopyran ring adopts an e,f-diplanar conformation, the other is a chroman and is in a similar conformation. PMID- 2604945 TI - Structure of monoclinic chloro(meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)iron(III). AB - [FeCl(C44H28N4)], Mr = 704.03, monoclinic, P21/n, a = 10.254 (2), b = 15.969 (3), c = 20.810 (4) A, beta = 90.48 (2) degree, V = 3407.7 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.37 g cm 3, Mo K alpha, lambda = 0.71073 A, mu = 5.6 cm-1, F(000) = 363, T = 293 K, R = 0.047 for 3357 unique observed reflections. The iron(III) ion is coordinated to a chloride, Fe--Cl = 2.211 (1) A, and four porphyrinato N atoms, average Fe--N = 2.070 (9) A. The iron(III) is displaced 0.57 A from the mean plane of the 24-atom core. PMID- 2604946 TI - Structure of the antimalarial halofantrine hydrochloride. AB - 1,3-Dichloro-alpha-[2-(dibutylamino)ethyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)-9- phenanthrenemethanol hydrochloride, C26H31Cl2F3NO+.Cl-, Mr = 536.9, monoclinic, P21/n, alpha = 8.169 (3), b = 32.924 (13), c = 22.775 (6) A, beta = 98.99 (3) degrees, V = 6050.2 A3, Z = 8, Dx = 1.18 g cm-3, Cu K alpha, lambda = 1.54178 A, mu = 15.51 cm-1, F(000) = 2240, room temperature, final R = 18.3% for 2899 reflections with [Fo] greater than 3 sigma. The crystal structure of halofantrine hydrochloride was determined to 1.0 to 1.1 A resolution. The high R factor is due to poor crystal quality. In order to have a crystal with sufficient thickness for data collection, it was necessary to use a crystal that had grown in layers. The high R factor is also due to a disordered CF3 group, a disordered solvent channel, and high thermal factors on the long hydrocarbon chains. The two halofantrine conformers stack such that the phenanthrene rings are nearly on top of each other with the chlorine and CF3 groups on opposite sides and with the hydrocarbon side chains projected away from each other, but on the same side of the phenanthrene rings. Atoms in the phenanthrene rings of the two stacked conformers are separated by 3.4 to 3.7 A. On each of the halofantrine conformers, one of the n-butyl groups extends in a linear fashion whereas the other n-butyl group is bent back towards the phenanthrene ring.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2604947 TI - 2,7-Dimethoxynaphthalene. AB - C12H12O2, Mr = 188.2, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 6.109 (3), b = 8.235 (2), c = 19.713 (3) A, V = 991.8 (9) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.260 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 0.79 cm-1, F(000) = 400, T = 293 K, R = 0.047 for 737 observations (of 1337 unique data). The average deviation from planarity is 0.013 (3) A with a maximum of 0.027 (3) A for the fused rings. Steric interaction between the methyl groups and the adjacent H atoms is responsible for opening the angles between the methoxyl groups and the rings. The CH3O-C-C angles are 125.5 (3) degrees [125.0 (3) degrees] where the methyl group is syn to the hydrogen, and 114.3 (3) degrees [114.2 (3) degrees] where it is anti. PMID- 2604948 TI - 1-Acetyl-2,7-dimethoxynaphthalene. AB - C14H14O3, Mr = 230.3, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 8.8107 (9), b = 18.372 (3), c = 7.7512 (11) A, beta = 98.49 (1) degrees, V = 1240.9 (5) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.232 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 0.80 cm-1, F(000) = 488, T = 293 K, R = 0.047 for 1909 observations (of 2848 unique data). The average deviation from planarity is 0.017 (2) A with a maximum of 0.0285 (15) A for the fused rings. The dihedral angle between the naphthalene system and the acetyl group is 117.91 (6) degrees. The methoxyl group ortho to the acetyl adopts a conformation with the methyl group anti to the neighboring alpha-carbon of the ring, with a C-C-O-C torsion angle of -178.7 (2) degrees. The other methoxyl group has the methyl syn to the neighboring alpha-carbon, with a C-C-O-C torsion angle of -1.3 (3) degrees. PMID- 2604949 TI - Structure of leuconolam sesquihydrate. AB - 8a-Ethyl-7,8,8a,10,11,12a-hexahydro-12a- hydroxyindolizino[8,1-ef][1]benzazonine 6,13-(5H,9H)-dione sesquihydrate, C19H22N2O3.3/2H2O, Mr = 353.42, triclinic, P1, a = 9.250 (2), b = 13.366 (3), c = 9.217 (2) A, alpha = 97.786 (3), beta = 119.590 (3), gamma = 70.726 (3) degrees, V = 934.8 A3, Z = 2, Dx = 1.255 g cm-3, Mo K alpha,lambda = 0.71073 A, mu = 0.839 cm-1, F(000) = 378, T = 293 K. The final R value is 0.061 for 1646 significant [I greater than 3 sigma(I)] reflections. The alkaloid from the leaves of Rhazia stricta is built up by a benzene ring ortho disubstituted with a 4,5-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2-oxo-pyrrol-1,4,5 triyl unit and an N(CO)R- unit forming a twelve-membered ring. PMID- 2604950 TI - Bis(benzenethiolato)nitrosyl [tris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)hydroborato] molybdenum(II) . AB - [Mo(C15H22BN6)(C6H5S)2(NO)], Mr = 641.5, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 10.898 (1), b = 18.484 (2), c = 15.989 (2) A, beta = 109.81 (1) degree, V = 3030.2 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.41, Dm = 1.41 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.7173 A, mu = 5.9 cm-1, F(000) = 1320, T = 293 K, wR = 0.047 for 3997 observed reflections. In each complex, the Mo atom is six-coordinate, ligated by a terminal NO group, a tridentate pyrazolylborate ligand and two benzenethiolate ligands. The structure is compared with that of similar complexes and the Mo-S bonding is discussed. PMID- 2604951 TI - The structure of acetylarsenocholine bromide. AB - [C7H16AsO2]+.Br, Mr = 287.03, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 10.121 (3), b = 11.745 (2), c = 9.530 (1) A, V = 1132.8 (6) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.682 Mg m-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu = 6.86 mm-1, F(000) = 568, T = 296 K, R = 0.034 for 919 observed reflections. Crystalline acetylarsenocholine bromide exists in the trans-gauche conformation which is similar to the solution conformation of acetylcholine. The cationic structure is compared with known crystalline acetylcholine salts. In the crystal structure, each Br ion appears to link the arsonium ends of four cations. PMID- 2604952 TI - Structure of [N,N'-propylenebis(2-pyrrolylmethyleneaminato)]nickel(II). AB - [Ni(C13H14N4)], Mr = 284.98, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 10.096 (2), b = 9.360 (2), c = 30.565 (4) A, beta = 119.45 (2) degrees, V = 2515.1 (9) A3, Z = 8, Dx = 1.505 g cm-3, Cu K alpha, lambda = 1.5418 A, mu = 20.22 cm-1, F(000) = 1168, T = 298 (2) K, 437 parameters refined, final R = 0.038 for all 2587 reflections. The complex takes a square-planar geometry around the Ni atom. Although the coordination geometries of the two crystallographically independent complexes are quite similar to each other, significant differences in planarity and Ni-N distances are observed. PMID- 2604953 TI - Structure of (20R)-20,21-epoxy-19-norpregna-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17 beta-diol. AB - C20H26O3, Mr = 314.4, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 10.25 (1), b = 25.36 (2), c = 13.11 (1) A, V = 3410.14 A3, Z = 8, Dx = 1.225 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu = 0.45 cm-1, F(000) = 1352, T = 293 K. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R = 0.051 for 2384 reflections with F/signa(F) greater than 5. Both the crystallographically independent molecules are in one 20R configuration and confirm predictions based on mechanistic and stereochemical arguments. In the crystal lattice the molecules form a two-dimensional network of hydrogen bonds approximately perpendicular to c. PMID- 2604954 TI - Structure of 3-isoinosine. AB - 3-beta-D-Ribofuranosylhypoxanthine, 3-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,6-dihydro-3H-purin-6 one, C10H12-N4O5, Mr = 268.23, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 6.503 (1), b = 24.007 (6), c = 7.392 (2) A, beta = 106.53 (2) degrees, V = 1106.3 (9) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.610 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 1.23 cm-1, F(000) = 560, T = 299 K, R = 0.048 and wR = 0.043 for 1602 observed reflections. There are two crystallographically independent molecules in the structure; in both of them the 6-oxo, 7H tautomer is the predominant form. The bond lengths and angles of the two molecules are almost identical and the hypoxanthine moiety is almost planar. The torsional angles of the glycosidic linkage O(4')-C(1')-N(3)-C(4) are -159.3 and -148.8 degrees, both in the anti range. The sugar puckers are 4T3 (C4' exo/C3'-endo), with P = 46.35 degrees and tau m = 42.30 degrees, and 2E (C2' endo), with P = 157.24 degrees and tau m = 41.32 degrees. All N and O atoms except N(3) and O(4') participate in a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonding system. PMID- 2604955 TI - Structure of (2-benzoxazolethiolato)(triphenylphosphine)gold(I). AB - [Au(C7H4NOS)(C18H15P)], Mr = 609.7, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 12.709 (3), b = 12.871 (4), c = 13.462 (6) A, beta = 94.64 (3) degrees, V = 2195 (2) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.84 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 68.7 cm-1, F(000) = 1176, T = 296 K, final R = 0.033 for 2823 unique observed reflections. The 2 benzoxazolethiolate ligand (Sboz), which contains three potential coordination sites (N, O and S), forms a linear complex with a P-Au-S angle of 176.43 (8). The Au-P and Au-S distances are 2.258 (2) and 2.299 (2) A, respectively. This angle and these bond distances are similar to those of other phosphorous-gold-sulfur complexes such as the antiarthritic drug auranofin. PMID- 2604956 TI - [(Z)-broparestrol]. AB - (Z)-1-(2-Bromo-1,2-diphenylethenyl)-4-ethylbenzene, C22H19Br, Mr = 363.3, triclinic, P1, a = 8.0838 (8), b = 9.4510 (8), c = 11.565 (1) A, alpha = 91.464 (8), beta = 89.563 (9), gamma = 90.828 (8) degrees, V = 883.2 (2) A3, Z = 2, Dx = 1.366 Mg m-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.5418 A, mu = 3.13 mm-1, F(000) = 372, T = 294 (1) K, R = 0.031 for 2764 independent reflections. All the bond distances and angles are normal. To avoid steric hindrance, the three phenyl rings are twisted out of the plane calculated for the two atoms involved in the ethylenic bond and the four atoms linked to them. The dihedral angles of their least-squares planes with that of the ethylene group are in the range 47.77 (7)-57.86 (7) degrees. The cohesion of the structure is due to van der Waals interactions. A mixture of the (Z)- and (E)-isomers (Broparestrol, INN) is used in dermatology. The (Z)-isomer exhibits some aspects of the antiestrogenic activity and other actions that may be connected to the estrogenic properties. Therefore information on the (Z) isomer geometry was required to understand the structure-activity relationship. PMID- 2604957 TI - Clinical evaluation of a posterior composite resin containing a semiporous filler particle. AB - Bowen recently developed a new filler particle for composite resin restorations. The surface particles of a diphasic strontium glass are superficially etched and after silanating the surface, the microscopic defects are filled with prepolymerized resin. The filler particles are then bonded chemically and mechanically to the resin matrix. This paper discusses the clinical performance of this material as a posterior composite resin over a two year period. PMID- 2604958 TI - Clinical applications of the etched metal retainer. AB - This article presents the treatment of several patients directed at the prevention of periodontal disease and restoration of an occlusion from an eating disorder. The disruption of the harmony between the anterior and posterior determinants of occlusion can lead to the loss of teeth. The lack of anterior guidance can create a molar-guided occlusion producing unfavorable occlusal interferences with destructive balancing side prematurities. Conversely, if the posterior teeth are permitted to drift into unstable occlusal relationships, the posterior dentition would develop an irregular guidance despite a suitable anterior guidance. The goal of the profession is preventing occlusal deterioration or disharmony between the anterior and posterior occlusal determinants and restore compromised occlusions when necessary. Etched metal retainers were fundamental to the treatment of specific patients while patient selection and perceptive tooth preparation were essential for success. PMID- 2604959 TI - In vitro color stability of provisional restorations. AB - A provisional restoration must protect the prepared tooth, provide comfort and function and be esthetically acceptable and color stable. This study measured the degree of color change of provisional restorations. Five commercially available resins were evaluated: Trim, Tab, Kind, Snap and Duralay. Five cylindrical samples of each resin were fabricated by mixing the powder and the liquid to a predetermined ratio and pouring the mix into a mold. The Minolta Chroma Meter II Reflectance was used to establish the baseline color L* a* b*. The resins were then subjected to accelerated in vitro aging in a Weather-O-Meter and color readings were recorded. The color differentials on delta E* were computed for each sample (delta E*ab = [(delta L*)2+(delta b*)2]1/2). The difference is a quantitative measurement of color change. The National Bureau of Standards describes delta E* as units (NBS Unit = delta E*ab x 0.92). With this parameter only the allowable delta E*ab need be specified rather than the range of allowable L*, a*, b* values. This is important for color comparison and quality control functions. The results showed that Kind had a slight color change delta E* = -1.72, Trim demonstrated the most color change delta E* = -13.84, while the remaining resins demonstrated a noticeable change in color due to in vitro aging. PMID- 2604960 TI - Antibacterial effects of glass ionomers. AB - Glass ionomer cements have been shown to possess antimicrobial activity. Proposed mechanisms of action include acidity and fluoride. It was the purpose of this study to determine the antimicrobial effect of 11 glass ionomer cements, their individual powder and liquid components and one resin-bonded liner containing high fluoride ionomer glass against Streptococcus mutans #6715. The role of fluoride and pH in the antibacterial activity was also studied. Using agar diffusion assay methodology, the following results were obtained. All of the glass ionomer cements were inhibitory against S. mutans. The antibacterial cements and slurries that were tested for fluoride, released the ion in excess of reported minimum inhibitory values. The antimicrobial activity of the liquid components, that were tested for the effects of pH changes, was totally lost when the pH was adjusted to 5. The resin bonded liner was inactive against S. mutans and did not release inhibitory concentrations of fluoride. These results indicate that freshly-mixed glass ionomer cements are antimicrobial against S. mutans and that the mechanism of action is probably a function of both fluoride and pH although additional factors may be involved. PMID- 2604961 TI - Microleakage of three glass ionomer cement bases. AB - This study compared the marginal leakage in Class V restorations using three different GIC bases and a composite resin sandwich. The specimens were randomly divided into three equal groups, and the following GIC materials were used as bases: Group I: Ketac-Bond Aplicap; Group II: GC Dentin Cement; Group III: Shofu GlasIonomer Base. The results indicated less microleakage in restorations with a Shofu GlasIonomer Base while no statistical differences were noted between Ketac Bond Aplicap and GC Dentin Cement. PMID- 2604962 TI - Spontaneous loss of permanent teeth: a case report. AB - Pathological root resorption has clinical symptoms of great importance when it appears in permanent teeth, as its etiology is not always clear. It is important to examine all local and general factors before determining its "idiopathic" cause. A case of spontaneous loss of permanent teeth in a 19 year-old female is presented. Through a meticulous study correlating the clinical history and the evolution of the symptoms, we can suspect that non-dental medical interventions requiring general anesthesia can lead to the loss of permanent teeth through root resorption. PMID- 2604963 TI - A survey on patients' attitudes and perceptions concerning dental restorative materials. AB - The media has recently become more involved in promoting some restorative materials. This approach affects the perceptions, opinions and attitudes of patients toward the materials. This survey was conducted to generate data on patient preferences toward certain restorative materials, the justification for the preferences, and the source of information. PMID- 2604964 TI - Antibacterial effects of light-cured liners. AB - Light-cured liners and glass ionomers have recently been introduced and it has not been established if they are antimicrobial. This study determined the effectiveness of several light-cured liners against Streptococcus mutans #6715. Fluoride release and pH determination tests were performed to define their antibacterial activity. After evaluation with agar diffusion methodology, two of the light-cured glass ionomers were considered inhibitory. These two liners released fluoride into the agar in excess of the minimum inhibitory value of 20 ppm. The other four materials released fluoride below reported inhibitory values, failed to lower the pH below 4.0 and were ineffective against Streptococcus mutans. The findings suggested that light-cured glass ionomers react similarly to conventionally-cured glass ionomers regarding antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans. It also indicated that antibacterial activity was dependent upon a lower pH. Fluoride release may not be as important to the mechanism of action; however, it cannot be ruled out. PMID- 2604965 TI - The dulling of twist drills during pin channel placement. AB - Dull twist drills used for pin channels have been cited as an etiology for dentinal cracks. This investigation examined the dulling phenomenon after repeatedly using twist drills. Inspection of the twist drills in the SEM for metal deformation revealed no alteration of the cutting edges but an accumulation of a smear debris was noted behind the cutting edges of the cone-shaped drill. Debris was also recorded on the land and flute spiral surfaces with morphological changes on the dentinal walls. These surfaces progressed serially from a rough surface to a smooth, plaque-like surface with fine striations oriented toward the drill rotation. The timing of the changes coincided with dentinal cracking reported by others. Dulling of twist drills in dentin can be attributed to adherence of byproducts rather than a loss of the cutting edge. PMID- 2604966 TI - Fluoride release from orthodontic adhesives. AB - Two commercial orthodontic adhesives containing fluoride were evaluated in vitro for fluoride release. Fluoride release is critical in preventing both decalcification around orthodontic brackets and the formation of white spot lesions. A paste-type adhesive composite resin and a glass ionomer luting agent were compared to a glass ionomer restorative material to determine fluoride release. The composite resin adhesive released minimal fluoride for only three days and then ceased. The glass ionomer adhesive released fluoride at a similar rate to the glass ionomer restorative material with fluoride release still evident at three months. PMID- 2604967 TI - Amalgam restoration completion. Objectives, methods and armamentarium. AB - The success of an amalgam restoration is multifactorial. Attention must be paid to the manipulation and condensation of the alloy, the final contouring, and the finishing procedures. A discussion of current amalgam alloy, including the goals and sequence of the restorative procedure, are presented with emphasis on the instruments and methods. PMID- 2604968 TI - Spiritual care in pediatric hospice. PMID- 2604969 TI - State associations' role in promoting the hospice concept. PMID- 2604970 TI - Interventional analgesia: epidural and subarachnoid therapy. PMID- 2604971 TI - A specialized hospice for dementia patients and their families. AB - This article reports the development of a small pilot program and briefly describes its activities. The growing number of dementia patients in American communities indicates a need to extend hospice services to these patients and their families. It is difficult to determine at present whether this need could be met more effectively by encouraging existing hospices to accept these patients or by establishing specialized programs such as this one. Research in this area is indicated, as well as the sharing of information among hospices providing care to other specialized groups--people with AIDS or terminally ill children for example. The Alzheimer's Family Care Hospice has provided services to eight terminally ill dementia patients and their families in a pilot project sponsored jointly by the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and the Chicago Area Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Another six patients did not meet admission criteria. PMID- 2604972 TI - Researching the effects of AIDS on families. PMID- 2604974 TI - Keeping hospice moving. PMID- 2604973 TI - Creation and evolution of the hospice staff support group: lessons from four long term groups. AB - The author summarizes the experiences of four long-term hospice staff support groups in which he served as facilitator. From these experiences he identifies what seem to be the key elements in the success or failure of a hospice staff support group, including its membership, the group contract, and the facilitator's leadership style. He outlines three developmental stages of the long-term staff support group: trust-building, individual support and team-focus. He suggests that the team-focused group is ideally suited to deal with crucial staff and agency sources of worker stress. PMID- 2604975 TI - Commentary on echoes of silence: death and denial. PMID- 2604976 TI - Neuromuscular dysfunction. PMID- 2604977 TI - The management of dyspnea. PMID- 2604978 TI - Hospice care for minorities: an analysis of a hospital-based inner city palliative care service. PMID- 2604979 TI - The role of the hospice social worker. AB - This paper describes the principal contributions of the hospice social worker. It enumerates professional duties of the social worker and the components of the family assessment. It describes the roles and responsibilities of the social worker as a member of the interdisciplinary hospice team. PMID- 2604980 TI - The study of grief: an in-depth look at a response to loss. PMID- 2604981 TI - The rectal administration of MS Contin: clinical implications of use in end stage cancer. AB - Mercy Hospice in Nampa, Idaho administered unmodified MS Contin 30 mg tablets rectally to 39 terminally ill patients. All patients had pain controlled on oral MS Contin but were switched to the rectal route of administration because of intractable nausea, inability to swallow or both. Pain control was maintained on all patients receiving rectal MS Contin. In 11 patients, the dosage of MS Contin was decreased. No local or systemic adverse reactions developed. The rectal administration is a safe, effective and simple means of maintaining pain control in terminally ill patients. PMID- 2604982 TI - Intraventricular morphine administered by hospice nurses to a patient with intractable pain. PMID- 2604983 TI - The widening scope of spiritual care. PMID- 2604984 TI - Hospice accreditation: a useful tool for quality assurance. PMID- 2604985 TI - Echoes of silence: death and denial. PMID- 2604986 TI - Children's hospice residency program. PMID- 2604987 TI - Hospice and hope: can a patient have both? PMID- 2604988 TI - Lesbian hospice nurse: the visible presence. PMID- 2604989 TI - High-tech hospice. PMID- 2604990 TI - Marketing hospice to the health care community. PMID- 2604991 TI - Principles in building spiritual assessment tools. PMID- 2604992 TI - What patients are told about hospice: a survey of hospice information pamphlets. PMID- 2604994 TI - Dehydration and the terminally ill. PMID- 2604993 TI - The attitudes and experiences of families with death determination in the home. AB - The purpose of this study is to describe the attitudes and experiences of family members with respect to death determination practices for the terminally ill clients of home care agencies. A sample of family 53 members in Southeast Michigan returned survey questionnaires. The findings indicate that police and emergency medical technicians most frequently respond to the call when a person with a terminal illness has died. Fifty percent of the family members reported feeling sad, 35 percent reported feeling relieved and 18 percent of the respondents felt angry about the arrival of municipal personnel. Feelings of anger were significantly associated with the absence of a nurse at the time of death, the use of lights and sirens, disrespectful personnel and the arrival of multiple personnel. Feelings of anger were also significantly associated with continuing thoughts of the day of death by family members. Results suggest the need to rethink state and local laws in regard to death determination and to educate those most likely to respond to families sensitively. Home care agencies and hospices should also encourage attendance by nurses at the time of death. PMID- 2604995 TI - Illinois State Hospice Organization goal. PMID- 2604996 TI - The management of dyspnea. PMID- 2604997 TI - The spiritual care nemesis. PMID- 2604998 TI - Pressure sores. PMID- 2604999 TI - [Proceedings of the 36th scientific session of the Japanese College of Cardiology. Tokyo, September 11-13, 1988. Abstracts]. PMID- 2605000 TI - [Panel discussion: Syndrome X]. PMID- 2605001 TI - [Value and limitations of myocardial scintigraphy]. PMID- 2605002 TI - [Problems of coronary artery thrombolysis]. PMID- 2605003 TI - [Applications of magnetic resonance imaging]. PMID- 2605004 TI - [Problems of assisted circulation (artificial heart)]. PMID- 2605005 TI - [Cardiac function evaluated by Doppler echocardiography]. PMID- 2605006 TI - [Panel discussion: Evaluation of cardiac function for valve replacement]. PMID- 2605007 TI - [Limitations of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)]. PMID- 2605008 TI - Obsessive-compulsive disorders in Cambridgeshire. A follow-up study of up to 20 years. PMID- 2605009 TI - An overview of the prospective ICD-10 classification of mental disorders. PMID- 2605010 TI - On multiaxial psychiatric diagnosis for general medical patients. PMID- 2605012 TI - Psychiatric diagnosis: nosological, biological and psychological aspects. Selected papers from a symposium of the Second World Basque Congress. Bilbao, 12 14 November 1987. PMID- 2605011 TI - Vocal acoustic correlates of flat affect in schizophrenia. Similarity to Parkinson's disease and right hemisphere disease and contrast with depression. PMID- 2605013 TI - Neuroendocrine challenges in the diagnosis of depressive disorders. PMID- 2605014 TI - Psychiatric aspects of normal-pressure hydrocephalus. A report of five cases. PMID- 2605016 TI - Schizophrenia as a systems disorder. The relevance of mediating processes for theory and therapy. PMID- 2605015 TI - Comparative distributions of DSM-III diagnoses in North and South American clinical samples. PMID- 2605017 TI - Computerised life chart methods to map domains of function and illustrate patterns of interactions in the long-term course trajectories of patients who once met the criteria for DSM-III schizophrenia. PMID- 2605018 TI - Patterns of expressed emotion and patient coping styles that characterise the families of recent onset schizophrenics. PMID- 2605019 TI - Vulnerability-linked deficiencies, psychopathology and coping behaviour of schizophrenics and their relatives. PMID- 2605020 TI - Family discourse: physiological correlates of different degrees of stress. PMID- 2605021 TI - What works in work with relatives? A hypothesis. PMID- 2605022 TI - The Finnish adoptive family study of schizophrenia. Possible joint effects of genetic vulnerability and family environment. PMID- 2605023 TI - Electrodermal activity, expressed emotion and outcome in schizophrenia. PMID- 2605024 TI - Coping with attentional disorders as a systemic process in schizophrenic patients. PMID- 2605025 TI - Distractibility in schizophrenia: state and trait aspects. AB - This report compared the selective attention of 19 schizophrenic in-patients, 10 recently discharged schizophrenic out-patients, 21 schizophrenic out-patients in stable clinical remission, 33 first-degree relatives of schizophrenics from 15 families, 25 students who scored deviantly on questionnaire measures of magical ideation, perceptual aberrations, and physical anhedonia, and 20 normal controls. Results indicated that distractors only disrupted the performance of schizophrenic in-patients, suggesting that differential deficits in selective attention are a marker of episodes of schizophrenia. A propensity to interject phonemes from the distracting message was found not only in patients in or just emerging from a psychotic episode, but also in the remaining vulnerable but non psychotic groups, suggesting that intrusion errors might be a mediating vulnerability marker. The findings suggest both state and possibly trait aspects to distractibility in schizophrenia. PMID- 2605026 TI - The logical and psychometric prerequisites for cognitive therapy of schizophrenia. PMID- 2605027 TI - Patient-environment relationships in schizophrenia. Information processing, communication deviance, autonomic arousal, and stressful life events. PMID- 2605028 TI - [Gas chromatographic determination of aluminum in pharmaceutical formulations]. AB - A gas chromatographic method for the determination of Al3+ in pharmaceutical formulations, based on the complex formation between the cation and the trifluoroacetylacetone reagent is reported. The results obtained indicate that the proposed method is suitable, on account of accuracy and precision, for a reliable quality control of commercial dosage forms. PMID- 2605029 TI - Bioequivalency of three tableted gallopamil products. AB - A three cross-study was conducted in 12 healthy male volunteers to evaluate the relative bioavailability of three different gallopamil tablets: Product A-Galcan 25 mg, Product B-Galcan 50 mg and Product C-Procorum 50 mg. Each dose was administered as a single tablet after an overnight fast, and blood samples were obtained for 12 hours. There was no statistically significant differences among the three products for the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curves (when corrected for the different doses). The relative bioavailability of Product A and B to Product C was respectively 96.3% (ESM = 12.4%) and 103.1% (ESM = 10.2%). Statistically significant (p less than 0.05) differences were found in Tmax between Product C (1.0 hr) and both Product A (2.1 hr) and Product B (2.4 hr). A longer-lasting absorption should always diminish peak to trough fluctuations during multiple dosing and to this extent Product B has some advantage over Product C. PMID- 2605030 TI - Pathoanatomical changes in the thoracolumbar junctional region of the spine. AB - The thoracolumbar junctional region (T10-L1) of the spine is a transitional zone, where more than half of the thoracic and lumbar fractures occur. In this presentation the origin of the pathoanatomical changes in the thoracolumbar junctional region of the spine is discussed in view of the previous studies. These studies refer to a torsional force contributing to the formation of the degenerative changes, especially in the facet joints. Degenerative changes anteriorly and posteriorly do not concur in the thoracolumbar junctional region. Only a weak concurrence is found between disc degeneration and spondylosis, which refer to differences in their pathomechanisms. A strong concurrence between the degenerative changes at different levels, especially anteriorly, reflects factors causing overall degeneration in the thoracolumbar junctional region. PMID- 2605031 TI - External fixation of the pelvic girdle as a test for assessing instability of the sacro-iliac joint. AB - External fixation of the pelvic girdle was used in a consecutive series of ten female patients suffering from suspected chronic instability of the sacro-iliac joint. The condition was attributed to pelvic relaxation after pregnancy in seven patients and to trauma in three. External fixation of the pelvis with a trapezoid frame reduced the average radiographic displacement of the symphysis from 5.0 to 2.4 mm in eight patients, relieved the dorsal pain in seven, and markedly improved walking ability in five. Seven of the ten patients were subsequently subjected to an anterior sacro-iliac joint arthrodesis in which square compression plates and autogenous bone grafts were used. At follow-up examination five of these patients were improved, and two unchanged. The results suggest that external fixation of the pelvis is useful in assessing painful sacro-iliac joint instability and should precede surgical intervention. PMID- 2605032 TI - Genetic and environmental factors in sciatica. Evidence from a nationwide panel of 9365 adult twin pairs. AB - The relative roles of genetic and environmental factors in sciatica were studied in the nationwide Finnish twin panel consisting of 9365 adult pairs of the same gender. Morbidity was analysed from two sources of data: the life-long cumulative incidence was measured by a postal questionnaire, and the rate of hospital admission during a 14-year period was measured by record-linkage of the twin panel and the nationwide hospital registry. Altogether 2220 individuals reported sciatica diagnosed by a doctor and 304 were admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of sciatica. The proportion of concordant pairs (calculated from affected pairs) was 17.7% for monozygotic and 12.0% for dizygotic pairs in the life-long cumulative incidence of reported sciatica, and correspondingly 4.6% and 1.9% for those admitted to hospital (a 14-year period) because of sciatica. The estimated heritability was 20.8% for those with reported sciatica and 10.6% for those admitted to hospital. The results show that environmental factors account for more than 80% of the etiology of sciatica, and more than 90% in the case of patients admitted to the hospital. Genetic factors, however, were relatively more significant in individuals under 40. PMID- 2605033 TI - "Antialcohol" drugs. PMID- 2605034 TI - High-risk and population strategies of prevention: ethical considerations. PMID- 2605035 TI - Causes of prolonged cough in patients referred to a chest clinic. AB - The aim of this study was to evaluate the causes of prolonged cough in a patient population referred to a chest clinic during a single year. One hundred and ninety-eight patients (11%) of the total yearly 1745 adult admissions fulfilled our criteria of prolonged cough. Asthma, suspicion of asthma and postnasal drip were the commonest causes of prolonged cough in 147 patients with normal chest roentgenograms (26%, 9% and 16%, respectively), and in 45% the cough was of unexplained origin. Nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity was common in this latter group of patients probably due to a previous respiratory infection. Lung cancer (37%), tuberculosis (16%), sarcoidosis (16%), and allergic alveolitis (9%) were the most important findings in patients with abnormal chest roentgenograms. PMID- 2605036 TI - Circadian variation in circulating platelet aggregates. AB - Acute coronary events are more likely to occur in the morning and it has recently been shown that platelet aggregability increases significantly then. To determine whether circulating platelet aggregates show such a circadian variation, we measured in vivo platelet aggregation in atherosclerotic patients and healthy subjects at three-hour intervals throughout a 24-hour period. We found a significant variation in circulating platelet aggregates, the highest being at 6 a.m. and the lowest at 9 a.m. We suggest that it may be important to consider the duration of action of anti-aggregating drugs and timing their administration with respect to circadian variation in circulating platelet aggregates. PMID- 2605037 TI - Prognostic value of an exercise test one year after myocardial infarction. AB - An exercise test was performed in 306 patients who had had acute myocardial infarction one year previously. The five year cumulative coronary heart disease mortality was 40.0%, when the test had to be discontinued because of ventricular arrhythmias but only 13.0% if discontinued because of fatigue (P less than 0.05). If the maximum work load was less than 80 W the mortality was 30.7% compared with 16.6% in patients who exercised at least 80 W (P less than 0.01). If maximum systolic blood pressure was less than or equal to 150 mmHg mortality was 40.3% compared with 8.5% in patients with greater than 200 mgHg (P less than 0.001). The mortality was 38.2% in patients having single monoform ventricular ectopic beats at a rate of three or more per minute or multiform, paired or early cycle ventricular ectopic beats or ventricular tachycardias: this compared with 14.1% (P less than 0.001) in patients having no or only single monoform ventricular ectopic beats at a rate of less than three per minute. ST-segment depression in univariate testing had no prognostic value. When both exercise test and clinical variables were used in survival analysis (Cox's regression) the most important variable was heart volume and after that ventricular arrhythmias. In multivariate regression analysis ST segment depression also had additional prognostic value. Thus ventricular arrhythmias turned out to be the most important prognostic factor measured during exercise test. PMID- 2605038 TI - Peritoneal macrophages: a model for detecting atherogenic potential in patients' blood serum. AB - Human and mouse peritoneal macrophages cultured in the presence of the blood serum of patients with documented coronary heart disease showed a 2- to 3-fold rise in levels of intracellular cholesterol ester and a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in those of free cholesterol and triglycerides. This effect was observed in 83% of cases, whereas the serum of healthy subjects induced the accumulation of lipids in macrophages only in 28% of cases. These data accord with previously published observations obtained on smooth muscle cells of human aortic intima. A direct correlation was found between the accumulation of cholesterol in macrophages and in cultured smooth muscle cells of human aortic intima. The accumulation of lipids in macrophages was dose dependent and increased with time. It is assumed that a culture of peritoneal macrophages may serve as a model for identifying an atherogenic potential of patients' blood serum. PMID- 2605039 TI - [Electrophysiological study on hemifacial spasm--usefulness in the etiological diagnosis and pathophysiological mechanism]. AB - Electrophysiological studies were performed in 30 patients with idiopathic hemifacial spasm (idiopathic HFS), who underwent microvascular decompression with abolishment of spasm, and 10 patients with symptomatic hemifacial spasm (symptomatic HFS) secondary to Bell's palsy. (1) The maximum firing rate of abnormal discharges recorded from the orbicularis oris muscle during spasm in patients with idiopathic and with symptomatic HFS, and that of discharges recorded on the intact side during voluntary contraction in idiopathic HFS patients measured 181 +/- 71 Hz, 68.4 +/- 36.9 Hz, 56.3 +/- 21.8 Hz, respectively. Thus, the maximum firing rate of the discharges during spasm in idiopathic HFS patients was exceedingly higher than that in symptomatic HFS patients. (2) Electroneurography, performed to evaluate quantitatively degeneration of the facial nerve, revealed that the ENoG value (90.2 +/- 16.5%) in idiopathic HFS patients were higher than that (57.6 +/- 26.8%) in symptomatic HFS patients. (3) In blink reflex examined, synkinetic potentials (S1, S2), synchronous to the potentials consisting of the early (R 1) and late component (R 2) in the orbicularis oculi muscle, were recorded from the orbicularis oris muscle on the affected side in all patients with idiopathic and with symptomatic HFS. In sequential recording of blink reflex potentials (R 1, R 2) and synkinetic potentials (S 1, S 2), the recording pattern of synkinetic potentials was divided into variable and constant type. In the variable type, synkinetic potentials appeared unsteadily and the difference in latency between R 1 and S 1 was varied. In the constant type, synkinetic potentials appeared steadily and the difference in latency between the two was not varied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605040 TI - [Extracellular concentration of dopamine and dopamine metabolites in the rat striatum during cerebral ischemia and reperfusion]. AB - Many data suggest that the presence of dopamine (DA) is a prerequisite for the development of neuronal damage in the striatum; neural injury could be initiated by a massive release from dopaminergic nerve terminals during ischemia. The current study was undertaken in order to define the mechanism through which ischemia alters dopaminergic neurotransmission, and to examine the subsequent events early during recirculation. Experiments were performed on 14 male anesthetized Sprague Dawley rats. The ischemic insult consisted of 20 min global cerebral ischemia (4-vessel occlusion) followed by 80 min reperfusion. Cardiac arrest concluded this phase of the experiment, but measurements were continued for 60 min more. Measurements of catechols were made in the striatum using in vivo differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), each 4 min, throughout the experiment and for 60 min post-mortem. DPV data were substantiated with intracerebral dialysis; 20 min dialysate samples were analysed for dopamine (DA) and homovanillic acid (HVA; DA metabolite) using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Repeated in vivo DPV measurements of striatal catechols during ischemia/reperfusion were collected in 11 of 14 experiments. In 6 out of 11 rats, ischemia induced a massive catechols release in the striatum, resulting in a marked increase in extracellular level (350 to 1200% of control), which persisted throughout ischemia. In these rats, a marked rise in extracellular DA was detected in the dialysate sample collected in the contralateral striatum during ischemia, together with a fall in HVA, probably due to ischemic inhibition of the enzymatic oxidation of DA. Catechol was cleared from the extracellular space within minutes of reperfusion, indicating functional catechol uptake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605041 TI - [Diagnostic value of neuron specific enolase (NSE) in the cerebrospinal fluid of malignant brain tumor with intrathecal metastasis]. AB - Neuron specific enolase (NSE) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 54 cases of brain tumors, in the tumor tissues of 10 brain tumors and in the cyst fluids of 7 brain tumors was measured by radioimmunoassay with NSE measurement kit (Eiken Chemistry co.) NSE values in the cerebrospinal fluid of 35 malignant brain tumors showed abnormal increase higher than 10 ng/ml in 17 cases (about 50%) of them, whereas all of benign cases were lower than 10 ng/ml. The means and standard deviations of NSE in the cerebrospinal fluid of malignant tumors were 20.63 +/- 20.78 ng/ml in the astrocytoma grade 3 and 4, 19.73 +/- 15.5 ng/ml in the medulloblastoma and 12.4 +/- 8.9 ng/ml in the germ cell tumor. NSE values in the CSF of 12 brain tumors with intrathecal metastasis were 28.0 +/- 18.9 ng/ml (mean +/- SD) showing about three times as much as those without intrathecal metastasis. There was significant difference between these groups (p less than 0.01). All cyst fluids including in 7 cases of brain tumors demonstrated high values of NSE even if they were benign tumor and their NSE values in CSF were normal. NSE values of brain tumor tissues had no correlation with malignancy, but were higher in the periphery of the tumors than in the center. NSE values of CSF in brain tumors might be changed in relation with the improvement or deterioration on clinical state and CT. It might be suggested that the measurement of NSE in the CSF had significance as a monitor of therapeutic efficacy and prognosis for the brain tumors. PMID- 2605042 TI - [On the origin of intracranial teratomas]. AB - To investigate the origin of intracranial teratomas, the author reviewed 245 reported cases of intracranial teratoma in neonates (onset of symptoms within 2 months after birth) including his own case and compared them with those occurring in childhood registered in Brain Tumor Registry in Japan (onset of symptoms more than 2 months after birth) in terms of incidence, age distribution, locations and histological pictures. An operated case of teratoma with digit formation and well organized tissue arrangement, a presumed transitional form between teratoma and fetus-in-fetu , is presented in detail and was compared with cases of typical neonatal teratoma and a case of intracranial fetus-in-fetu documented in the literature as well. The following results were obtained: 1) There are two peaks in age distribution as to the incidence of intracranial teratomas, in the neonatal period and in childhood (10 years of age), respectively. 2) Teratomas in neonates mostly arise in the frontal lobe and/or frontal base and the lateral ventricle comprising about 29% of all cases whereas those occurring in childhood arise mostly in the pineal region (56%). 3) No germinomatous components are seen in neonatal teratomas though they are frequently observed in childhood teratomas. 4) There are some cases showing transition between teratoma and fetus-in-fetu , which is believed to originate from included twins. The results suggest that there are two pathogenetically different forms of intracranial teratomas: the one in the neonate originates from included twins and the other, which occurs in childhood originates from germ cells. PMID- 2605043 TI - [A case of multiple sclerosis with pure alexia]. AB - We report here a case of multiple sclerosis (MS) showing pure alexia. The patient was a 28 year-old, right-handed male student of medicine. He had been healthy prior to college, but when he tried to read the newspaper one morning in January of 1983, he suddenly became aware that he could not. He could speak fluently and had no disturbances of auditory comprehension. No signs of abnormality were noted in his writing ability. Thereafter, the patient occasionally experienced difficulty in reading, together with right homonymous hemianopsia. These symptoms, however, usually vanished following sleep. In April, 1984, the patient experienced headache and ataxia when walking, followed by repeated remission and exacerbation of the symptoms. Corticosteroid therapy produced complete disappearance of the headache and ataxia. In September of 1985, he was hospitalized at our department due to the clouding of consciousness accompanied by convulsions. Neurologically, no abnormalities of the ocular fundus were noted and Babinski's sign was negative, but left hemiplegia was observed. Neuropsychologically, his intelligence was normal and he had no difficulty in writing, but paralexia was noted. There were no disorders of spontaneous speech or auditory comprehension. Examination by CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a number of lesions in the white substance of the cerebrum, including the left occipital lobe. The abnormal signs seen radiographically vanished when cortical hormones were administered. It has been thought that the symptoms of multiple sclerosis are due mainly to disorders of the white substance, and that MS seldom produces symptoms of aphasia, due to the fact that the lesions in this disease are generally small.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605044 TI - [Hemorrhagic infarction following cerebral vasospasm]. AB - Among 528 cases with ruptured aneurysm, 10 cases (1.9%) developed hemorrhagic infarction following vasospasm. There was no obvious relationship between the occurrence and location of aneurysm and the neurological grade on admission. Hemorrhagic infarction occurred from day 9 to 25 (mean day 16) after aneurysmal rupture, and the major neurological symptoms were aggravation of consciousness level, which appeared in 6 cases. On the CT scans of the hemorrhagic infarction following vasospasm, nine cases revealed heterogeneous hemorrhage as assembled of spotty or linear hemorrhages within the ischemic infarction, and 5 cases had massive hemorrhagic infarction in size with mass effect. Although surgical therapy for 2 cases and conservative therapy for 8 cases were performed, the results were unfavorable; ie, 2 cases were good, 5 fair or poor, and 3 died. Especially, 5 cases with massive hemorrhagic infarction obviously resulted in poor prognosis. In our series, induced hypertension therapy for vasospasm was considered as a risk factor. In conclusion, it is necessary to avoid induced hypertension therapy in the remission stage of vasospasm and serial SPECT study might be recommended as a useful prospective method estimating the vasospasm. PMID- 2605045 TI - [A biphasic changes in the seizure-threshold in kindling seizure development induced with low-frequency electrical stimulations]. AB - Seven cats were stimulated once a day with low-frequency electrical stimulations to assess the serial changes of development. Each animal had been implanted stereotaxically with a stimulating electrode into the left-side ventral hippocampus and with recording electrodes into the right-side ventral hippocampus, the bilateral dorsal hippocampus. We applied the stimulations at 10:00 AM, bipolarly with 2 mA-biphasic square-wave pulses (1 msec durations). The pulse-interval was set at 300 msec. If epileptic afterdischarge could not be triggered on EEG with this pulse-interval, a 100msec-interval stimulation was applied after 15 min-rest period. The number of stimulating pulses required for a triggering of afterdischarge was defined as pulse-number threshold (PNT) which was used as an indicator of the seizure-threshold. The duration of each seizure on EEG (afterdischarge duration, ADD) was also recorded and the seizure-related behaviors were classified into 5 stages as follows: 1, staring or immobility; 2 appearance of facial twitching or head nodding ; 3, tonic convulsions of the right-side fore-paw or a head turning toward the right-side; 4, generalized clonic convulsions; 5, generalized convulsions with a falling down. The kindling procedure completed within a mean of 36.5 days, and all the animals presented stage-5 seizures. At the completion of kindling, PNT was determined at 10.5 +/- 1.8 (mean +/- SE). During the kindling process PNT showed a sudden decrease in the initial part of stage-1 (within a mean of 3.8 days) and a gradual increase from stage-3 to stage-5. ADD showed a simple increasing function of the development of seizure-stage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605046 TI - [Adoptive immunotherapy in patients with medulloblastoma by LAK cells]. AB - Medulloblastoma is one of the most popular malignant brain tumors in children. It accounts for about 15% of all pediatric brain tumors. Radiochemotherapy has prolonged the 5-year survival rate up to 60-85% for patients with medulloblastoma. But the conventional therapy is not so effective to recurrent cases, especially with meningeal dissemination, and generally fatal. There remains a big problem of the neurotoxicity to infants in a growth process under the whole-neuraxis irradiation and chemotherapy. Aiming to relieve the radiation and antitumor drugs, adoptive immunotherapy is greatly expectant. We have had clinical trials of adoptive immunotherapy for 8 patients with medulloblastoma by lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. They were from 2-9 years in age and had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dissemination of the tumors. All patients underwent the whole-neuraxis irradiation and chemotherapy. After they had CSF dissemination, they were submitted to an adoptive transfer of allogeneic LAK cells. LAK cells were induced from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of their relatives with human recombinant interleukin-2. 3-15 x 10(9) LAK cells were transferred intrathecally in 2-3 months. In 3 of 8 patients, neurological signs were improved and malignant cells had never been detected on CSF cytology after the adoptive immunotherapy. One among these 3 patients showed complete response in 20 months. Thus, this is an attractive treatment for patients with medulloblastoma, especially with CSF dissemination, which cannot be cured by current therapeutic intervention. PMID- 2605047 TI - [Correlation between somatosensory evoked potentials and long loop reflexes- basic investigation and its application for multiple sclerosis]. AB - Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and long loop reflexes (LLRs) to the median nerve stimulation were investigated on 25 normal controls and 25 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Fifteen normal controls were also subjected to LLR study by the common peroneal nerve stimulation. The mean height were 159 +/- 8.2 cm in normal controls and 160 +/- 8.9 cm in MS, respectively. LLRs were obtained with 100% reproducibility in all cases. Upper limb LLRs were recorded from m. abductor pollicis brevis by trigger stimulation during isotonic contraction of the thumb, while lower limb LLRs were recorded from m. peroneus longus by trigger stimulation during isotonic eversion of the foot. The threshold of LLR was lower than that of short latency reflex (H-wave) with the mean latency of 40.4 +/- 1.5 ms. The height of subjects revealed an obvious positive correlation not only with the latency of LLR but also with N 20 of SEP, whereas central conduction time was not. Furthermore, a significant correlation was present between the latencies of LLR and N 20, showing a twofold gradient of LLR against N20. There was a significantly prolonged latency difference between H-wave and LLR of lower limb as compared with that of upper limb. When the stimulation site was changed from the wrist to the elbow, the latency difference between M-wave and H-wave shortened. This fact, therefore, appears to be against "resonance hypothesis" that LLR is set off according to the intrinsic mechanical oscillation given to the muscle concerned.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605048 TI - The effect of prolonged fluoride therapy for osteoporosis: bone composition and histology. AB - To examine the long-term effects of fluoride therapy in osteoporosis, we obtained iliac crest biopsies from 11 osteoporotic patients 6 to 12 years after they had started fluoride therapy. Although basal biopsies were not obtained, nine subjects had been biopsied 4 years prior to the second biopsy. In addition, 4 subjects had stopped fluoride therapy prior to the second biopsy. Biopsy samples were divided and analyzed: (a) histomorphometrically for bone formation and mineralization; and (b) for mineral content. Parameters of bone formation were increased in the first biopsy of all patients; they remained elevated in the second biopsy of subjects still receiving fluoride, but decreased to normal values in subjects who stopped fluoride therapy. Parameters of mineralization (i.e., osteoid width and osteocytic osteoid) were elevated in the first biopsy, but had decreased in the second biopsy whether fluoride was stopped or not. There was no woven bone in these biopsies. Bone mineral content, whether measured as density or by summation of the individual ions (% mineral), was higher than normal in all subjects, whether or not they were still receiving fluoride. These results suggest that prolonged fluoride therapy of osteoporosis continues to stimulate bone formation, but does not cause a progressive mineralization defect. Mineral content is acutely increased following fluoride therapy, and persists after therapy is discontinued. PMID- 2605049 TI - Effects of tobacco use on axial and appendicular bone mineral density. AB - Tobacco use has been identified as being a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis. While some data have suggested an effect on peripheral bone mass there are little previous data examining the role of tobacco use in axial skeletal bone loss. We examined tobacco use in relation to lumbar spine and proximal femur bone mineral density and forearm bone mineral content in 203 women. Data from identical twin pairs, comprising a subgroup of the larger group as well as a small number of male twin pairs, was also analyzed. The data show a difference in lumbar and proximal femur BMD of 0.03 and 0.06 g/cm2 respectively between smoking and nonsmoking identical twins. There was however no difference in the cross-sectional studies and no significant deleterious effect detected of tobacco use on forearm bone mineral content. The effect of smoking on lumbar and proximal femur bone mineral density, in identical twins discordant for tobacco use, was equivalent on average to 3 to 4 years of normal postmenopausal bone loss. PMID- 2605050 TI - Normal postmenopausal women show iliac crest trabecular thickening on vertical sections. AB - Trabecular thickness and the trabecular star volume were estimated in 49 normal individuals (20 males and 29 females) using an unbiased sampling procedure consisting of anisotropic, vertical sections, and a corresponding anisotropic test system. Eight-microns-thick undecalcified stained vertical sections were obtained from iliac crest specimens. Implying a trabecular plate model mean trabecular thickness (Tb.Th., microns) was estimated by different methods: (a) the ratio between bone volume and bone surface (Tb.Th.ratio); (b) the mean of the orthogonal intercepts multiplied with pi/4 (Tb.Th.l0); and (c) the mean of random linear intercepts divided by 2 (Tb.Th.l1). Trabecular star volume (Vtr*, mm3), a true three-dimensional size parameter independent on any model, was estimated using linear intercepts in random directions. Significant (2p less than 0.001) correlations were found between the different methods with coefficients of correlation ranging from 0.71 to 0.89. The Tb.Th. ratio was overall higher (155 +/- 31 microns, (X, SD), 2p less than 0.001) than the other linear estimates, Tb.Th.l0: 144 +/- 26 microns and Tb.Th.l1: 135 +/- 27 microns. Estimates based on orthogonal intercepts (l0) were slightly higher (2p less than 0.001) than those from random linear intercepts (l1). Among all the individuals no significant age related changes were seen in the measured parameters. However, postmenopausal women (greater than 50 years of age) had more thick trabeculae than younger women (2p = 0.03). Intra-individual distribution analysis disclosed that this finding could not be explained by preferential perforation and loss of thinner trabeculae during bone remodeling. Therefore, normal postmenopausal women do increase trabecular thickness with age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605051 TI - The effect of ovariectomy on spine bone mineral density in rhesus monkeys. AB - As part of a study on the effects of hormones on uterine biology and estrogen metabolism, 12 normal female rhesus (Macaca mulatta) monkeys were ovariectomized, and treated intermittently with estradiol and progesterone. In order to determine whether there were changes in bone density as a result of ovariectomy despite the hormone therapy, spine bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-photon absorptiometry. The mean +/- SE time from ovariectomy was 26 +/- 3 months, the mean estrogen treatment time was 3.5 +/- 0.4 months and the mean time from last hormonal treatment was 4.1 +/- 0.6 months. In these 12 monkeys aged 7.7 +/- 0.2 years, the mean spine BMD, 0.825 +/- 0.008 g/cm2, was significantly less, p = 0.0011, than the spine BMD, 0.863 +/- 0.007 g/cm2, in 12 intact female rhesus of similar age, 7.6 +/- 0.1 years and weight. Ovariectomy in female rhesus monkeys results in a relatively rapid diminution of spine BMD which is not prevented by intermittent hormonal replacement. This species may be an excellent model for studies of human osteoporosis. PMID- 2605052 TI - Microcinematographic and autoradiographic kinetic studies of bone cell differentiation in vitro: matrix formation and mineralization. AB - Matrix formation and mineralization have been reported in vitro with cells isolated from rat calvaria bones by collagenase digestion (Nefussi et al., 1985). In the current study, kinetics of bone nodule formation and osteoblastic cell differentiation were studied in this in vitro system using an improved microcinematographic device and flash and follow-up labeling autoradiographic techniques. Microcinematographic analysis showed the formation of bone nodules within 24 h. The initial event observed was the change in the top cells layer which became alkaline phosphatase positive. Matrix synthesis occurred a few hours after this. The autoradiographic results demonstrated the formation of an integrated system where osteoblasts and osteocytes were active and synthesized a collagen matrix and mineralized it in a similar time sequence than in vivo. PMID- 2605053 TI - Comparison between the effects of forskolin and calcitonin on bone resorption and osteoclast morphology in vitro. AB - The adenylate cyclase activator forskolin (1-10 mumol/L) inhibited 45Ca release from parathyroid hormone (PTH; 10 nmol/L) stimulated prelabeled neonatal mouse calvaria in short term culture (24 h). This effect of forskolin was potentiated by rolipram, Ro 20-1724, and isobutyl-methylxanthine, three structurally different inhibitors of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. Forskolin (10 mumol/L) and calcitonin (30 mU/mL) inhibited the mobilization of stable calcium and inorganic phosphate as well as the release of the lysomal enzymes beta-glucuronidase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase from PTH-stimulated unlabeled bones. Osteoclasts in PTH-stimulated calvaria showed active ruffled borders with numerous membrane infoldings. Treatment of PTH-stimulated bones with forskolin and calcitonin resulted in a rapid (2 h) loss of the active ruffled border. In addition, forskolin and calcitonin induced similar changes with respect to the number and size distribution of cytoplasmic vesicles in PTH-activated osteoclasts. After 24 h, all signs of osteoclast inactivation were still prominent, whereas after 48 h of treatment with forskolin or calcitonin, the reappearance of a ruffled border on a number of osteoclasts signaled an escape from the inhibitory action of both calcitonin or forskolin. These data indicate that forskolin inhibits bone resorption by a cyclic AMP dependent mechanism and that the effect of forskolin and calcitonin on bone resorption and osteoclast morphology are comparable. These observations lend further support to the view that cyclic AMP may be an intracellular mediator of the inhibitory action of calcitonin on multinucleated osteoclasts. PMID- 2605054 TI - The surgical and prosthetic approach to implants. Part 2. PMID- 2605055 TI - Control of infection for Dental Surgery Assistants. PMID- 2605056 TI - Integration of ambulance staff trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a medical team providing prehospital coronary care. AB - Ambulance staff with advanced training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and equipped with monitor/defibrillators were used as the initial responders to collapse calls within a medically based prehospital coronary care system. During 21 months, in a population of approximately 120,000, ambulance staff successfully resuscitated six patients from ventricular fibrillation; there were four long term survivors. The median response time of emergency ambulances to collapse calls was eight minutes compared with 20 minutes for the medically manned mobile coronary care unit. None of the patients resuscitated by ambulance staff would have survived if they had been dependent on the mobile coronary care unit acting alone. Nineteen other patients with important arrhythmias were referred for earlier medical management which in some cases may have saved lives. An additional eight long term survivors of out of hospital ventricular fibrillation were resuscitated by medical staff. The integration of paramedical with medical prehospital coronary care improved survival after out of hospital cardiac arrest. PMID- 2605057 TI - Estimation of the risk of death during the first year after acute myocardial infarction from systolic time intervals during the first week. AB - Patients who survived for the first seven days after acute myocardial infarction were followed up for a further 51 weeks. During these 51 weeks there were 123 deaths and 477 eventual survivors. Approximately half of the deaths occurred during the first 3 weeks of follow up. The deaths were predicted with 75% sensitivity and 73% specificity by a discriminant analysis based upon six variables seen during the first 7 days; predictions of death and survival were 55% and 92% accurate respectively. These six variables were, in ascending order of prognostic importance, the occurrence of bundle branch blocks, the administration of a diuretic, the age of the patient, the presence of diabetes mellitus, a previous myocardial infarction, and the ratio of the measured left ventricular pre-ejection and ejection periods. Many other monitored variables, although univariately associated with death, contributed nothing further to the multivariate assessment of mortality risk. PMID- 2605058 TI - Clinical course of endomyocardial fibrosis. AB - The survival pattern, morbidity, and clinical course of 145 patients with endomyocardial fibrosis who were followed up between November 1975 and June 1987 were studied. The diagnosis was confirmed in all cases by cardiac angiography, or echocardiography, or necropsy. Percentage survival at the end of one and 9.5 years was 76.11 and 26.35 respectively. History, physical examination, electrocardiography, and cardiac catheterisation were studied at the first presentation. The determinants of early mortality were studied by univariate Kaplan-Meier estimates compared by the log rank test and Cox proportional hazards multiple regression analysis. Significant univariate predictors of early mortality were QRS axis above +90 degrees, intraventricular conduction delay (QRS duration greater than 0.12 s), duration of symptoms before presentation, New York Heart Association functional classes III and IV, presence of embolic episodes, right atrial mean pressures greater than 20 mm Hg, right ventricular end diastolic pressure greater than 20 mm Hg, and aortic oxygen saturation less than 85%. The significant multivariate predictors of mortality were cyanosis, New York Heart Association functional class at first presentation, and right atrial mean pressure greater than 20 mm Hg. The bleak prognosis of endomyocardial fibrosis did not substantially improve despite advances in the medical management of congestive cardiac failure during the period of the study. PMID- 2605059 TI - Right ventricular function 10 years after the Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries: analysis of size, shape, and wall motion. AB - Biplane right ventriculograms were obtained in 18 symptom free patients 109 (26) months (mean (SD)) after Mustard repair of transposition of the great arteries. Ventricular size, shape, and wall motion were measured from the digitised angiograms and compared with previously published data on left ventricular function after anatomical correction of transposition of the great arteries, with right ventricular function in controls, and with patients before repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Global indices of ventricular function were depressed after Mustard repair and wall motion abnormalities were common. The presence of wall motion abnormalities in this group was associated with a reduction in ejection fraction and ventricular filling rates. In four of five patients in whom an appropriate preoperative angiogram was available a similar pattern of wall motion was seen before the Mustard operation, suggesting that preoperative events may be important in determining eventual outcome. PMID- 2605060 TI - Cardiac involvement in Churg-Strauss syndrome shown by echocardiography. AB - To define the range of cardiac involvement in the Churg-Strauss syndrome, M mode, continuous wave Doppler, and cross sectional echocardiograms were recorded in twelve patients with the disorder. The M mode recordings were digitised and the cross sectional images were recorded with standardised gain settings to determine regional myocardial echo amplitude. Left ventricular end diastolic and end systolic dimensions were increased above the normal 95% confidence interval in four patients, three of whom showed a depressed shortening fraction. Mitral regurgitation was present in six patients; this was severe enough to need valve replacement in two. Mean echo amplitude in both the septum and the posterior wall was significantly increased above normal by a mean (SD) of 4.87 (2.57) dB, suggesting the presence of myocardial fibrosis. There was no evidence of subendocardial involvement as there is in other hypereosinophilic syndromes. Mitral regurgitation is common in the Churg-Strauss syndrome. This cannot be ascribed to involvement of the cusps or chordae and it occurs even when ventricular function is well preserved. It is suggested that mitral regurgitation is caused by diffuse myocardial fibrosis. PMID- 2605061 TI - Potential value of intraoperative Doppler colour flow mapping in operations for complex intracardiac shunting. AB - An eight year old boy presented with multiple residual intracardiac shunts and considerable persisting haemolytic anaemia five years after the repair of a single perimembranous ventricular septal defect. Preoperative transthoracic colour flow mapping showed an "acquired" left ventricular right atrial shunt and three small residual ventricular septal defects around the patch. These had been poorly visualised by both angiography and conventional cross sectional echocardiography and pulsed and continuous wave Doppler. Clearly, to stop the haemolysis effectively, closure of all residual intracardiac shunts was required. Intraoperative pre-bypass colour flow mapping was successfully used to confirm the precise number and nature of the defects and more importantly studies after bypass were used to confirm immediate closure of all defects. PMID- 2605062 TI - Unusual and intraoperative epicardial echocardiographic features of a papillary tumour of the aortic valve. AB - A mass with a diameter of 0.8 cm was detected in the aortic root of a 53 year old woman during routine preoperative cross sectional echocardiographic assessment of a secundum atrial septal defect. Intraoperative epicardial echocardiography showed that the mass was attached by a slender stalk to the tip of the left coronary cusp of the aortic valve, and histological examination showed that it was a papillary tumour. Intraoperative epicardial echocardiography can help in planning the excision of papillary tumours, and excision is advised even when there are no symptoms. PMID- 2605063 TI - Severe haemolytic anaemia after replacement of the mitral valve by a St Jude medical prosthesis. AB - Severe haemolytic anaemia developed in a 33 year old patient after the mitral valve was replaced with a St Jude medical prosthesis. This was the patient's third thoracotomy. She had already had a mitral commissurotomy and a mitral valve bioprosthesis. The patient had an E+ antibody to red blood cells as well as a paraprosthetic leak. The haemolysis became less severe once the population of E+ red cells was completely haemolysed. However, the patient continued to require transfusions to remain out of heart failure. Once the valve was replaced, the haemolysis subsided. Fulminant haemolysis after mitral valve replacement is rare. When it does occur, a paraprosthetic leak should be suspected. Other causes of haemolysis, however, must also be considered and these may contribute to the severity of haemolysis. PMID- 2605064 TI - Hypoplastic right retro-oesophageal aortic arch: similarities to interrupted aortic arch. AB - At echocardiography a dysmorphic neonate was found to have a hypoplastic mitral valve, left ventricle, and ascending aorta with interruption of the aortic arch between the left common carotid and the left subclavian arteries--the left subclavian artery arose from a normal sized left descending aorta. Cardiac catheterisation and subsequent necropsy confirmed this arrangement but also showed a tortuous right retro-oesophageal aortic arch. This arch was severely hypoplastic distal to the right subclavian artery. These cardiovascular anomalies occurred in the child of a family in which other members showed the velo-cardio facial syndrome, a condition known to be associated with right aortic arch. This aortic arch arrangement may be impossible to distinguish from simple aortic interruption by echocardiography alone. PMID- 2605065 TI - Staffing in cardiology in the United Kingdom 1988. Fifth biennial survey. AB - This is the fifth survey of staffing (consultants and senior registrars) in cardiology in the United Kingdom. Data from previous years--including the fourth survey (1986) that was not published separately--are used to show the trends over the past decade. In 1988 there were less than six cardiologists per million population. The United Kingdom, with Ireland, has fewer cardiologists than all other European countries with reliable figures. The ratio for Europe as a whole is approximately 45 per million population; the recommended figure for the United States of America is 60 per million. The distribution of cardiologists in England and Wales is still very uneven. Seven million people--nearly 15% of the population--have no immediate access to special expertise in cardiology. Women are particularly poorly represented in the specialty. This survey indicates that the crisis in staffing for cardiology continues. It will worsen as the possibilities grow for effective management of heart disease and as needs increase with the greater average age of the population. Resolution of this crisis should be a major priority in policies aimed at countering the ravages of heart disease. PMID- 2605066 TI - Prognostic significance of programmed ventricular stimulation in survivors of acute myocardial infarction. PMID- 2605067 TI - Timing of treatment with oxygen radical scavengers and its influence on reperfusion injury. PMID- 2605068 TI - Concentrations of atracurium and laudanosine in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma during intracranial surgery. AB - Concentrations of atracurium and laudanosine in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma were assayed in nine patients receiving atracurium infusions of 111-251 min duration to maintain neuromuscular block during intracranial surgery. The total dose of atracurium was 1.57-2.60 mg kg-1 and the plasma concentration of atracurium was 1.27-5.44 micrograms ml-1. Concentrations of laudanosine in CSF and plasma increased during the infusion period, and after 125-140 min reached means of 202.5 ng ml-1 and 1448.7 ng ml-1, respectively. The highest recorded concentration of laudanosine in CSF was 570 ng ml-1, in one of two CSF samples found to contain atracurium. After operation, two patients had fits, but these were not thought to be related to laudanosine. It is concluded that during infusion of atracurium, laudanosine accumulates in both plasma and CSF. PMID- 2605069 TI - Preoperative cimetidine does not prevent subclinical halothane hepatotoxicity in man. AB - To assess the influence of pretreatment with cimetidine on changes in hepatocellular integrity after halothane anaesthesia, 53 patients were allocated randomly to receive either cimetidine 1600 mg orally or placebo tablets before anaesthesia. Plasma concentrations of glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured as an index of hepatic damage. Data from 45 patients were available for analysis. Plasma GST concentration increased significantly 3 h after induction of anaesthesia in both groups (P less than 0.01, both groups) and at 6 h in the cimetidine group (P less than 0.05). Pretreatment with cimetidine did not influence the magnitude of increase in GST concentration. There was no difference between the groups in the frequency of abnormal GST concentrations at any time. Cimetidine does not appear to prevent release of GST from the liver by halothane anaesthesia in man. PMID- 2605070 TI - Effect of i.v. omeprazole on the pH and volume of gastric contents before surgery. AB - Gastric pH and volume were measured in 87 patients who had received i.v. omeprazole (a new gastric antisecretory agent) 40 mg or placebo 1 or 3 h before surgery. Omeprazole increased the pH of gastric contents in the majority of patients. Administration 1 h before surgery produced greater gastric pH and smaller volume than administration 3 h before surgery. There was a reduction in the number of patients with a pH of less than 2.5 and a volume of 25 ml or more in the treated groups compared with the combined placebo groups. Omeprazole may have a role in prophylaxis against acid aspiration syndrome. PMID- 2605071 TI - Peak airway pressure during high frequency jet ventilation: theory and measurement. AB - A mathematical model has been developed to predict the peak airway pressure attainable during jet ventilation. The theory assumes inviscid and incompressible flow and agrees closely with experimental results using bench models of simple jet systems and systems using a tracheal tube designed for jet ventilation. The results of a previous published study also show good agreement with the predicted results. PMID- 2605072 TI - Effects of incremental doses of alfentanil and propofol on the breathing of anaesthetized patients. AB - Incremental doses of alfentanil and propofol were given to anaesthetized healthy patients undergoing routine orthopaedic surgery. Ventilation was recorded by respiratory inductance plethysmography and analysed by microcomputer. Alfentanil affected primarily expiratory time. The onset of effect lasted 82 s (range 25-173 s); offset was exponential, with a half-life of 146 s (range 62-260 s). Alfentanil also reduced tidal volume, but the effect was less obvious and less consistent. Propofol affected primarily tidal volume. The onset of effect lasted 34 s (range 17-69 s); offset was linear, with a time to 50% recovery of 92 s (range 47-161 s). Propofol had little effect on expiratory time. The drugs had little effect on inspiratory time. Three patients showed periods when the distribution of expiratory times was bimodal; the mechanism for this is unknown. PMID- 2605073 TI - Effect of anaesthesia on the QT interval. AB - A prolonged electrocardiographic QT interval may be harmful during general anaesthesia. It may be prudent, therefore, to select anaesthetic agents which have the least effect on the QT interval. In a controlled study, propofol has been shown to have less effect on the QT interval than thiopentone (P less than 0.05). Our data suggest also that any effects which may be caused by enflurane and isoflurane are masked by the effects of the induction agent. PMID- 2605074 TI - Effects of halothane on motor evoked potential recorded in the extradural space. AB - We studied the effects of supplementing nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia with halothane (1 MAC end-tidal concentration) on the motor evoked potential recorded in the extradural space of eight patients before corrective surgery for idiopathic adolescent scoliosis. The motor cortex was stimulated electrically through the scalp. An additional eight patients in whom anaesthesia was supplemented with an infusion of propofol acted as a control group. Halothane had no significant effect on the amplitude or latency of the motor evoked potential. We conclude that halothane is unlikely to alter the interpretation of motor evoked potentials recorded extradurally during scoliosis surgery. PMID- 2605075 TI - Clinical evaluation of the augmented delta quotient monitor for intraoperative electroencephalographic monitoring of children during surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass for repair of congenital cardiac defects. AB - To assess the augmented delta quotient (ADQ) monitor as a monitor of cerebral function during cardiac surgery, we monitored during operation the electroencephalograms of 48 young subjects (aged 2 weeks to 19 yr). We found ADQ patterns produced by cardiopulmonary bypass, hypothermia and general anaesthetic agents correlated with those obtained from a compressed spectral array (CSA) monitor and could be differentiated from changes caused by cerebral ischaemia, except in the youngest group of patients (less than or equal to 18 months) undergoing deep hypothermia (19.4 (SD 0.8) degrees C nasopharyngeal). In all other age groups the ADQ proved to be a simple monitor of the adequacy of cerebral perfusion. Neurological deficit occurred only if the ADQ was abnormal during hypotension for a period exceeding 7 min. ADQ evaluation of cerebral function was limited by events which produced artificially normal ADQ readings such as low amplitude EEG activity and the described isoflurane effect that was demonstrated to occur in some cardiac patients. The results obtained by the ADQ were comparable to those obtained by compressed spectral array and the ADQ was easier to use and interpret. PMID- 2605076 TI - In vitro actions of ketamine and methohexitone in the rat hippocampus. AB - The effects of ketamine and methohexitone have been tested in vitro on rat CA1 pyramidal neurones using conventional extracellular and intracellular recording techniques. Ketamine 20-200 mumol litre-1 predominantly increased excitability by a postsynaptic action: it enhanced the amplitude of the antidromic (field) potential response in extracellular recordings; in intracellular studies depolarized or did not change the resting membrane potential; increased intrinsic excitability (assessed by direct stimulation); and reduced accommodation properties of CA1 neurones. Methohexitone 10-100 mumol litre-1 did not affect the amplitude of the antidromic field potential responses, tended to hyperpolarize and reduce the intrinsic excitability, but did not alter accommodation properties. At these concentrations these agents either did not affect or, in the case of ketamine, enhanced excitatory synaptic transmission on to the CA1 pyramidal neurones. Methohexitone 50 and 100 mumol litre-1 also induced a large, slow (several seconds) after depolarization which followed the conventional orthodromic response and may lead to action potential discharge. It is clear that these agents have multiple actions on CA1 pyramidal neurones in vitro and that ketamine and methohexitone in vitro influence excitability by different mechanisms. PMID- 2605077 TI - Dissemination of fibreoptic airway endoscopy skills by means of a workshop utilizing models. AB - A questionnaire was mailed to 182 attendees of four practical workshops on fibreoptic endoscopy. After the workshops, 35% of the attendees were able to introduce fibreoptic intubation into their clinical practice or improve their success rate. This suggests that a new psychomotor skill can be disseminated effectively to clinicians by a practical workshop that utilizes inanimate models, and is based on sound educational principles. PMID- 2605078 TI - Modification of central nervous system effects of laudanosine by inhalation anaesthetics. AB - To determine the effect of inhalation anaesthetics on the plasma concentration of laudanosine necessary to produce CNS excitation, we administered laudanosine 0.5 mg kg-1 min-1 i.v. to 40 rabbits under eight study conditions: 1.0 or 0.7% halothane, 1.6% isoflurane, 2.0% enflurane, during normocapnia and hypocapnia; 70% nitrous oxide, alone and with 1.0% halothane, and room air (control). At the onset of purposeless, unco-ordinated movements of the entire body, blood samples were obtained to determine the CNS excitation-threshold plasma concentration (ETPC) of laudanosine. During normocapnia, 1.0% halothane, 1.6% isoflurane and 2.0% enflurane increased ETPC (mean (SD) 11.8 (2.5), 11.3 (2.8) and 9.1 (1.4) micrograms ml-1, respectively) from control (5.0 (0.9) microgram ml-1). ETPC during enflurane anaesthesia did not change significantly with hypocapnia. Nitrous oxide, alone or in combination with halothane, did not change ETPC. The combination of nitrous oxide with 1.0% halothane significantly decreased ETPC to less than that for halothane alone (6.7 (1.2) v. 11.8 (2.5) micrograms ml-1, respectively). PMID- 2605079 TI - Comparison of the cardiorespiratory effects of ketorolac and alfentanil during propofol anaesthesia. AB - The cardiorespiratory effects of a new nonopioid analgesic, ketorolac tromethamine, were compared with alfentanil as part of a balanced technique in which anaesthesia was maintained by a constant infusion of propofol. Twenty patients were allocated randomly to receive a single dose of either ketorolac 30 mg or alfentanil 0.5 mg. The study medication was given during the anaesthetic when the rate of ventilation had been stable (+/- 1 b.p.m.) for 5 min. Measurements of ventilatory rate, end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), heart rate and systemic arterial pressure were made at 1-min intervals for 15 min following the test drug. Patients having alfentanil developed significant decreases in ventilatory rate, heart rate and mean arterial pressure. A significant increase in end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure occurred also. No changes occurred in any of the measured variables in the ketorolac group. PMID- 2605080 TI - Prolonged brachial plexus block with 0.42% bupivacaine. AB - A 55-yr-old man received a left supraclavicular brachial plexus block with 0.42% bupivacaine; he had profound motor and sensory block 26 h after injection; complete recovery occurred at 40 h. PMID- 2605081 TI - An unusual cause of stridor following anaesthesia requiring tracheostomy. AB - A 75-year-old woman underwent panendoscopy and excision of a neck "lump". After antagonism of residual neuromuscular block and extubation of the trachea, she developed recurrent upper airway obstruction and stridor, necessitating a permanent tracheostomy. The possibility of vagal nerve involvement or injury should always be considered during excision of neck lumps. Preoperative indirect, atraumatic laryngoscopy by experienced surgeons is essential, as are tracheal intubation and vigilant postoperative observation. PMID- 2605082 TI - Lipoid proteinosis: Urbach-Wiethe disease. AB - An otherwise healthy patient with Urbach-Wiethe disease required surgical removal of two 3rd molar teeth. In this multisystem disorder infiltration of the buccal, pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa may cause difficulties with tracheal intubation and increase the likelihood of trauma. The anaesthetic implications and management are described. PMID- 2605083 TI - Effect of stimulation of the P6 antiemetic point on postoperative nausea and vomiting. AB - The antiemetic action of stimulation of the P6 (Neiguan) acupuncture (ACP) point has been studied in women, premedicated with nalbuphine 10 mg, undergoing minor gynaecological operations under methohexitone-nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia. Invasive ACP--manual or electrical at 10 Hz--applied for 5 min at the time of administration of the premedication markedly reduced the incidence of vomiting and nausea in the first 6 h after operation, compared with untreated controls. This did not occur with stimulation of a "dummy" ACP point outside the recognized ACP meridians. Non-invasive methods (stimulation via a conducting stud or by pressure) were equally as effective as invasive ACP during the early postoperative period. However, both these non-invasive approaches were less effective than invasive ACP in the 1-6 h postoperative period, although each was as effective as two standard antiemetics (cyclizine 50 mg, metoclopramide 10 mg). In view of the total absence of any side effects in more than 500 ACP procedures, the clinical applications of this finding are worthy of further study. PMID- 2605084 TI - Proceedings of the Anaesthetic Research Society. Cardiff meeting, July 7-8, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2605085 TI - Comparison of bupivacaine and bupivacaine with fentanyl in continuous extradural analgesia during labour. PMID- 2605086 TI - Relative potencies of propofol and methohexitone infusions. PMID- 2605087 TI - Atracurium and double burst stimulation. PMID- 2605088 TI - The Ohmeda OAV 7710 ventilator. PMID- 2605089 TI - A new method for calculation of ventilatory deadspace. PMID- 2605091 TI - The relationships between structure and effects of ACE inhibitors. PMID- 2605090 TI - Estimation of regional metabolism and production of angiotensins in hypertensive subjects. AB - 1. We attempted to collect information on the metabolism and production of angiotensins (ANG) in different vascular beds in humans by constant i.v. infusion of mono-iodinated [125I]-ANG I into subjects with essential hypertension, at the time of renal vein catheterization as part of the diagnostic work-up for renovascular hypertension. 2. Blood samples were taken from the aorta and the renal, antecubital, femoral and hepatic veins. ANG I, ANG II, [125I]-ANG I and [125I]-ANG II were extracted from plasma, separated by h.p.l.c. and quantitated by radio-immunoassay or gamma counting. 3. Our studies so far are restricted to subjects on captopril 50 mg twice daily. Under ACE inhibition (4-6 h after dosing of captopril) no differences in elimination half-life and regional extraction were found between infused [125I]-ANG and unlabelled ANG I. Extraction of arterially delivered [125I]-ANG I was 80% in the kidney, 45% in the forearm, 58% in the leg and 95% in the hepato-mesenteric vascular bed. 4. Measurements of arterial and venous [125I]-ANG II levels indicated that [125I]-ANG I-II conversion had occurred in the cardio-pulmonary vascular bed. 5. ANG I production in the hepato-mesenteric region could be largely accounted for by the renin activity of circulating plasma, but in kidney and limbs only 20-30% of regionally produced ANG I could be accounted for by plasma renin activity. 6. Thus, a major fraction of regionally produced ANG I appears to be formed locally, i.e. not in circulating plasma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605092 TI - Inhibition of vincristine binding to plasma membrane vesicles from daunorubicin resistant Ehrlich ascites cells by multidrug resistance modulators. AB - The multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype is presumed to be mostly dependent on changes in the resistant cell plasma membrane, notably the emergence of a 170 kDa glycoprotein called P-glycoprotein, which facilitate increased drug efflux. We have previously demonstrated that ATP-enhanced binding of vincristine (VCR) to plasma membrane vesicles is much greater in MDR than in wild type cells. The present study has shown that VCR binding to MDR Ehrlich ascites tumour cell plasma membrane vesicles is inhibited 50% most efficiently by quinidine (0.5 microM) followed by verapamil (4.1 microM) and trifluoperazine (23.2 microM). This is the reverse order of the effect on whole cells where a ranking of efficiency in terms of enhancement of VCR accumulation, inhibition of VCR efflux, DNA perturbation and modulation of resistance in a clonogenic assay, was trifluoperazine greater than or equal to verapamil much greater than quinidine. The detergent Tween 80 inhibited VCR binding to plasma membrane vesicles at 0.001% v/v which agreed with the level which modulated resistance and increased VCR accumulation in whole cells. No effect was observed on daunorubicin binding to MDR plasma membrane vesicles after incubation with either Tween 80 (up to 0.1% v/v) or verapamil (up to 25 microM). We conclude that the effect of a modulating drug in reversing resistance to VCR correlates with its ability to raise intracellular VCR levels but not with its capability to inhibit VCR binding to the plasma membrane. Thus, enhancement of VCR accumulation in MDR cells is hardly solely due to competition for a drug binding site on P-glycoprotein. Furthermore, the lack of a demonstrable effect on daunorubicin binding to the plasma membrane by modulators points to transport mechanisms which do not utilise specific drug binding to the plasma membrane. PMID- 2605093 TI - N-benzyladriamycin-14-valerate versus progressively doxorubicin-resistant murine tumours: cellular pharmacology and characterisation of cross-resistance in vitro and in vivo. AB - N-Benzyladriamycin-14-valerate (AD198) is a novel lipophilic anthracycline with greater in vivo antitumour activity than doxorubicin (DOX) in experimental model systems. Using sensitive and progressively DOX-resistant L1210 mouse leukaemia and B16-BL6 mouse melanoma lines, we have determined the cellular pharmacokinetics and cytotoxic response in vitro and in vivo of AD198. In the L1210 leukaemia model following 3 h drug exposure in vitro, the IC50 for AD198 was approximately 0.35 microgram ml-1 for the sensitive and 10-fold DOX resistant cells and 1.0 microgram ml-1 for the 40-fold DOX resistant cells. A similar pattern of cross-resistance to AD198 was also observed with the B16-BL6 melanoma, with and IC50 for AD198 with the sensitive and 10-fold DOX-resistant cells being similar, and about 2-fold higher with the 40-fold resistant cells. In the L1210 leukaemia model, cellular pharmacokinetics of AD198 revealed the following: (a) accumulation of AD198 was concentration but not time dependent, and cellular drug levels in the sensitive and resistant sublines were similar when treated with equimolar concentrations; (b) retention of AD 198 was 60% of the initial drug uptake and, in cells treated with the IC50 of AD198, cellular levels in the 40 fold DOX-resistant line were, as expected, 2-fold higher than in sensitive or 10 fold DOX-resistant cells; (c) in vitro biotransformation of AD 198 in the sensitive and resistant sublines was comparable. Studies in vivo with i.p. L1210 leukaemia (disseminating) and B16-BL6 melanoma (non-disseminating) tumour models evaluating therapeutic efficacy of DOX vs AD 198 in mice implanted with tumour i.p. on day 0 and treated i.p. on days 1-4 indicated: (a) DOX at 3 mg kg-1 administered once daily on days 1-4 resulted in a 55% ILS and 104% ILS with parent-sensitive B16-BL6 melanoma and L1210 leukaemia models respectively; however, similar doses of DOX in the resistant sublines were ineffective, with survival similar to the untreated control; (b) AD198 at 10-12.5 mg kg-1 day-1 for 4 days was extremely effective in the sensitive L1210 (189% ILS), and similar to DOX (61% ILS) in the sensitive B16-BL6; (c) AD198 (10-12.5 mg kg-1) was ineffective (survival similar to untreated control) in the 10-and 40-fold DOX resistant L1210 leukaemia and 40-fold DOX resistant B16-BL6 melanoma, but produced a 76% ILS in the 10-fold DOX resistant B16-BL6 melanoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2605094 TI - Cell population kinetics and ploidy rate of early focal lesions during hepatocarcinogenesis in the rat. AB - We have studied the changes in cell population kinetics and DNA-content of cycling parenchymal cells during the very early steps of rat hepatocarcinogenesis in Faber's protocol. Adult rats were initiated by a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (DENA, 200 mg kg-1), followed 2 weeks later by a 2-week diet of 0.03% 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) as selection phase. In the middle of selection time, a single necrogenic dose of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 2 ml kg 1) was administered by gavage. Twenty four hours thereafter, radiolabelled thymidine (3H-TdR, 1.5 microCi g-1) was given by repeated injections during 24 h. An emergence of small, pyroninophilic ('tigroid') foci was observed at the second, fifth and eighth days after the proliferative stimulus. The focal putative precancerous cells presented a significant higher labelling index (L1) than the non-affected parenchymal cells for all exposure times. However, the labelling intensity decreased from the second to the eighth day after CCl4, suggesting a dilution of the radiolabelled DNA by repeated divisions within the foci. The nuclei of the same foci were analysed for DNA-content by feulgen microdensitometry on neighbouring sections. A gradual reduction of nuclear DNA content was observed in 66% of the foci at the fifth day and in 100% of foci at the eight day, as compared to surrounding tissue and untreated animals, where labelling and DNA-content remain in the same ratio. PMID- 2605095 TI - Expression of glutathione S-transferase B1, B2, Mu and Pi in breast cancers and their relationship to oestrogen receptor status. AB - The concentrations of glutathione S-transferase (GST) B1 and B2 (Alpha), Pi and Mu have been measured by radioimmunoassay in cytosols from 28 oestrogen receptor (ER) rich an 30 ER-poor breast tumours. GST B1, B2 and Pi was detected in all 58 breast tumour cytosols whilst GST Mu was found in only 28. Of the GSTs, Pi was expressed most strongly in all cytosols and the concentration was significantly higher in ER-poor tumour cytosols than in ER-rich tumours (P less than 0.01). As with GST Pi, the highest levels of GST B1 and GST B2 were found in ER-poor tumour cytosols; the levels of GST B1 and GST B2 were positively correlated (r = 0.66, P less than 0.001). No quantitative or qualitative association was found between ER status and GST Mu which was expressed in 46% of ER-rich and 50% of ER-poor tumour cytosols. No relationship could be found between GST expression and age, menopausal status, lymph node involvement or tumour T stage in the subgroup of patients in whom this information was available. These data suggest that a common mechanism is responsible for GST induction in ER-poor tumours and that the nulled Mu phenotype has no increased susceptibility to developing breast cancer. PMID- 2605096 TI - Oncogenic transformation of murine C3H 10T1/2 cells resulting from DNA double strand breaks induced by a restriction endonuclease. PMID- 2605097 TI - A monoclonal antibody specifically reactive with Ewing's sarcoma. AB - We have developed a mouse monoclonal antibody 5C11 (IgG2a) against cell surface antigen of Ewing's sarcoma (ES). 5C11 specifically reacted with ESs but not with other small round cell tumours in childhood, i.e. neuroblastomas, primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNETs), rhabdomyosarcomas and malignant lymphomas. 5C11 did not react with any other tumours in children except for hepatoblastomas. No reactivity has been identified in normal tissues with the exception of fetal hepatocytes. Immunoelectron microscopically, 5C11 reactive antigen was located on cell membrane of ES cells. Biochemically, 5C11 immunoprecipitated a cell surface protein having molecular weight of 81,000 Da. 5C11 is the first antibody which can clearly distinguish ES from neurogenic tumours, especially from PNETs which were recently reported to have common features to ESs regarding chromosal abnormality and proto-oncogene expression but show evident differentiation into neurogenic direction. The results strongly indicate the usefulness of 5C11 not only for diagnostic purpose when no specific marker is available but also for studying the histogenesis of ES. In addition, no reactivity in normal tissue implies its potential application as a therapeutic reagent when the management of ES patients is still a great problem in clinical field. PMID- 2605098 TI - A novel hybridoma antibody (PASE/4LJ) to human prostatic acid phosphatase suitable for immunohistochemistry. AB - A murine monoclonal antibody PASE/4LJ to prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) was used to immunostain a wide variety of sections of benign and malignant tissues (654 blocks). Non-neoplastic adult and fetal prostatic glands, primary and metastatic prostatic carcinomas, and scattered cells in prostatic and penile urethra were positive. Rat, dog and rabbit prostates were negative. Nine of 400 tumours of non-prostatic origin showed some positivity: 6/36 carcinoids, 1/9 islet cell tumours, 1/55 ovarian adenocarcinomas (serous) and one carcinosarcoma of the lung (epithelial portion). Positive staining was seen in islet cells in 4/5 specimens of normal pancreas, and in 4/9 blocks of normal pancreas surrounding a pancreatic tumour. Loops of Henle, maculae densae, and distal tubules in 10/10 fetal and 2/9 adult kidneys were also positive, with proximal tubules and collecting ducts negative. All other 159 blocks of non-neoplastic adult and fetal tissues were negative. The antibody was also affinity purified from ascitic fluid, and shown not to inhibit the enzyme activity of prostatic acid phosphatase. PMID- 2605099 TI - Conformational changes in chromatin structure induced by the radioprotective aminothiol, WR 1065. AB - WR 1065, 2-[(minopropyl) amino] ethanethiol is an effective scavenger of free radicals. When present during irradiation it reduces cellular DNA damage as analysed by alkaline elution from filters. The same technique indicates that without irradiation, WR 1065 has no effect of DNA integrity. Using nucleoid analysis, where DNA damage is detected at the level of replicon clusters, WR 1065 distorts replicon supercoiling without breaking the DNA molecule. This confirmational change in nucleoid structure occurs with no detectable change in nucleoid protein content. It is proposed that perturbation of replicon supercoiling affects the process of normal DNA synthesis and strand break rejoining, allowing a longer time for the accurate repair of DNA damage. PMID- 2605100 TI - DNA content in high and intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma-prognostic significance and clinicopathological correlations. AB - Flow cytometric (FCM) estimation of DNA content has been performed on tumour tissue from 197 patients with high and intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) to investigate the clinicopathological correlations and prognostic significance of DNA ploidy and proliferative activity. Fifty-one per cent of tumours were diploid; the remaining non-diploid tumours were near diploid (14%), aneuploid (28%) and tetraploid (7%). In 81 tumours multiple analyses were performed from different regions of the tumour, ploidy discrepancy was seen within the same tumour in 13/81 tumours (16%), and intra-tumour variation in proliferative index (PI) in 72 tumours was estimated at +/- 5%. Ploidy status did not correlate with histological subtype (Kiel or Rappaport), Ann Arbor stage or the site of disease at presentation. There was no significant difference in response rate, relapse-free survival (RFS) or overall survival rate between the different ploidy categories. Tumour proliferative index (PI) varied markedly between patients (range 2-51%, median 14%). A significant association was observed between PI and histological subtype in the Kiel classification (P = 0.001). The median PI for the lymphoblastic lymphomas was 20% compared with 10% for the centrocytic tumours. An elevated PI was significantly associated with a reduced rate (P = 0.023), with 71% of patients with a low PI (less than 20%) achieving complete remission (CR) compared with 49% patients with a high PI (greater than 20%). Despite this correlation with CR, PI was not significantly associated with overall survival. When the DNA data was combined with over 20 other potential prognostic factors in multivariate analysis, ploidy and proliferative activity did not prove to be of independent prognostic significance for response, RFS or overall survival. In 20 patients additional biopsy material was available from the site of subsequent relapse. In these cases, although the histology at relapse remained unchanged, ploidy status altered in 13/20 patients, and there was a significant rise in tumour PI at relapse compared with the initial pre treatment biopsy (P = 0.017). We conclude that in high and intermediate grade NHL, DNA ploidy as assessed using conventional FCM analysis is not significantly associated with clinical outcome. However, proliferative activity does correlate with histological subtype and response to therapy, and this parameter warrants further evaluation in future studies. PMID- 2605101 TI - Evaluation of the effect of continuous infusion recombinant interleukin-2 (bioleukin) on peripheral blood leucocytes of patients with terminal malignancy. AB - Seventeen patients with terminal malignancy have been entered into a sequential investigation of two doses of continuous infusion recombinant interleukin-2 (bioleukin) given in the setting of a general ward. After an initial experience of a dose of 300 micrograms m-2 in eight patients the remainder received 400 micrograms m-2. Temporary interruption of treatment at the first sign of any serious toxicity led to rapid resolution of side-effects. No patient needed intensive care support, although nine of 17 required temporary interruption of infusion, lasting on average 4 h. Median lymphocyte rebound on day 14 was 3.6 times the pre-treatment level. It remained above pre-treatment levels in four of five patients who had no shown disease progression at day 56 after more than 28 days off treatment. Minor responses occurred in five patients, lasting on average 4 months. PMID- 2605102 TI - Weekly epirubicin for breast cancer with liver metastases and abnormal liver biochemistry. AB - Thirty-six consecutive patients with breast cancer and liver metastases with abnormal liver biochemistry were treated with epirubicin 25 mg m-2 i.v. weekly. No dose modification was made for abnormal liver biochemistry, but dose intensity was adjusted by delaying treatment according to myelosuppression. The UICC overall response rate according to UICC criteria was 11/36 (30%) and median response duration was 27 weeks. Liver biochemistry improved in a further seven patients. Treatment was well tolerated. Epirubicin given in this way is effective in patients with breast cancer and liver metastases. An initial deterioration in liver biochemistry may occur before there is a response to epirubicin. PMID- 2605103 TI - A specialist leukaemia/lymphoma registry in the UK. Part 1: Incidence and geographical distribution of Hodgkin's disease. Leukaemia Research Fund Data Collection Study Group. AB - This paper describes the epidemiology of Hodgkin's disease occurring in parts of the United Kingdom between 1984 and 1986. The cases were carefully diagnosed and the data rigorously cross-checked as part of the larger Leukaemia Research Fund Data Collection Survey of all lymphoid and haematogenous malignancies. The age specific rates show the lack of an older adult second peak. Spatial variation is examined in some detail. At county and district levels there is little heterogeneity in the distribution of cases. However, at the electoral ward level there were real differences for the younger age group (0-34). PMID- 2605104 TI - A specialist leukaemia/lymphoma registry in the UK. Part 2: Clustering of Hodgkin's disease. AB - Part 1 describes the epidemiology of Hodgkin's disease occurring in those parts of the United Kingdom which are included in the Leukaemia Research Fund data collection survey. A total of 1,023 cases diagnosed between 1984 and 1986 were available for analysis. At county and district levels there was little heterogeneity in the distribution of cases. However, at the electoral ward level there were real differences for the younger age group (0-34). In this paper methods of investigation which are not dependent on census boundaries are applied and the presence of localised spatial clustering is confirmed. There is some evidence that the pattern of clustering relates to the nodular sclerosing subtype. These results are related to hypotheses of an infectious aetiology. PMID- 2605105 TI - Serum levels and biochemical characteristics of human ovarian carcinoma associated antigen defined by murine monoclonal antibody, CF511. AB - The murine monoclonal antibody (Mab) against human common epithelial ovarian carcinoma, CF511, was generated by immunising mice with human fetal tissue extract from early first trimester, followed by booster injection of an ovarian cancer cell line. Mab CF511 recognised the 600 kDa sialylated glycoprotein as different from previously known tumour associated-marker antigens. Distribution of the Mab CF511-recognised antigen (CF511 antigen) in various tissues and sera was investigated. In immunohistochemical analysis, Mab CF511 reacted strongly with tumour cells of ovarian serous, clear cell, endometrioid and undifferentiated carcinoma and partially with those of mucinous carcinoma. Mab CF511 also reacted with breast carcinoma as well as lung carcinoma. In normal tissues, Mab CF511 cross-reacted with only five tissues, namely lung, breast, thyroid gland, fallopian tube and uterus. Serum levels of CF511 antigen were tested by ELISA inhibition using Mab CF511. This assay showed the circulating CF511 antigen levels to be elevated in 25 of 36 sera from patients with various clinical stages of common epithelial ovarian carcinoma compared to three of 47 and three of 111 sera from patients with other benign gynaecological diseases, including ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids with or without endometriosis and normal healthy subjects, respectively. For the relation between antigen levels and clinical stages of common epithelial ovarian carcinoma, greater than 34.0% ELISA inhibition was detected in 100% of patients with advanced stages (FIGO III and IV) compared with in 35.3% with early stages (FIGO I and II) patients. While patients with breast carcinoma (100%) and lung carcinoma (100%) also had elevated circulating CF511 antigen levels, patients with hepatoma, colorectal carcinoma and gastric carcinoma had no detectable elevation of antigen. Although the test showed a high degree of specificity, the detection of an elevated CF511 antigen level would not be so helpful in distinguishing patients with ovarian carcinoma from those with either breast carcinoma or lung carcinoma. These data suggest that CF511 antigen is a useful new ovarian tumour marker for diagnosis and management of the disease. PMID- 2605106 TI - Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in autologous bone marrow transplantation for Hodgkin's disease. AB - Fifteen consecutive patients with refractory or relapsed Hodgkin's disease (HD) referred for autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) underwent quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) studies of the lumbar vertebral bone marrow. Markedly elevated lumbar vertebral marrow T1 values suggestive of bone marrow involvement with HD were seen in four patients, two of whom had no evidence of HD on bilateral iliac crest bone marrow biopsy. Serial studies showed normalisation of T1 values in the post-transplant period. T1 relaxation rate correlated positively with time to engraftment following ABMT and a significant correlation (r = 0.73, 0.02 greater than P greater than 0.01) between T2 relaxation rate and granulocyte and macrophage colony forming units (CFU-GM) of processed bone marrow was seen. This preliminary study illustrates the potential role of quantitative MRI both in the pre-transplant assessment of patients considered for ABMT and in the post transplant evaluation of tumour response when marrow involvement with HD is present. PMID- 2605107 TI - Semen cryopreservation in men undergoing cancer chemotherapy--a UK survey. AB - A questionnaire was sent to all centres in the UK involved in cryopreservation of semen from men with malignant disease. Details were requested of samples stored from 1977 to 1987 and of successful use of this sperm in subsequently achieving pregnancy. Twenty-two centres are involved and have stored specimens from 2,219 men. There has been a three-fold increase in referrals in the past five years. Three regions in England have no service. Twenty-seven pregnancies (21 live births) have been achieved in 22 couples. Laboratories are poorly funded, making adequate record keeping and audit of the service difficult. PMID- 2605108 TI - Body weight and breast cancer. PMID- 2605109 TI - Autism. PMID- 2605110 TI - An experimental comparison of the understanding and use of speaker-addressee personal pronouns in autistic children. AB - Eleven autistic children were compared to normally developing children and mentally handicapped children, matched by receptive vocabulary age, on their understanding and use of the personal pronouns 'you' and 'me'. There were no significant differences between the groups in their comprehension of these terms, where the terms could be understood simply as referential labels. There was, however, a marked difference in the production of 'me' and 'you'. Only two autistic children showed the same pattern of responses that was shown by all but 4 of the 22 control children. The autistic children showed almost no 'pronoun reversal'. Instead, they used incorrect case pronouns or proper names for self or other reference. The results are interpreted in the light of significant difficulties in the acquisition of person deixis in autistic children. PMID- 2605111 TI - The theory of mind hypothesis of autism: a reply to Boucher. PMID- 2605112 TI - Collagen cross-link synthesis in cultured vascular endothelium. AB - Cultured vascular endothelium secretes the enzyme lysyl oxidase which cross-links both collagen and elastin. The major reducible cross-link synthesized by cultured human umbilical arterial and venous endothelium is dihydroxylysinonorleucine (di OH-LNL). Treatment of the cultures with the lathyrogen beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), which inhibits lysyl oxidase, inhibited synthesis of this cross-link. Cultured porcine aortic endothelium synthesized three major reducible lysine derived cross-links: dihydroxylysinonorleucine (di-OH-LNL), hydroxylysinonorleucine (OH-LNL) and lysinonorleucine (LNL); BAPN also inhibited synthesis of these three cross-links. Earlier in-vivo observations on BAPN treated chick embryos had shown a 20% increase in the hydration of cartilage and other tissues; the likeliest explanation was that cross-link disruption permitted the proteoglycans in cartilage to express their hydrophilic nature when freed of their collagenous network. Capillary basement membrane contains laminin, proteoglycan and type IV collagen. Following the finding of oedema in lathyritic cartilage, we would propose that agents which disrupt collagen cross-links in cultured vascular endothelium, damaging capillary basement membrane, be considered as one possible mechanism in the pathogenesis of oedema. PMID- 2605113 TI - Quantitative evaluation of myocardial injury induced by acute cerebral ischaemia and its prevention by beta 1-adrenergic blockade. An ultrastructural morphometry study. AB - The protective effects of beta 1-adrenergic blockade with metoprolol (Betaloc Astra) were demonstrated in the gerbil model of myocardial injury provoked by acute ischaemic brain lesions. The myocardial injury was reversible and lipid droplet accumulation was its most striking morphological feature. These droplets were easy to measure in EM photographs and their size was expressed as percentage of sarcoplasmic volume. The EM data of fat accumulation were compared in hearts of carotid-ligated animals with and without metoprolol pretreatment, and in animals with the carotid isolated only, at standard intervals 3-48 h after operation. While in carotid-ligated-only animals the average myocardial fat contents rose to a peak of 1.9% at 10 h, in metoprolol pretreated animals the amount of fat was always significantly lower and started to return earlier to basal values (peak at 6 h, 1.1%). In carotid-isolated-only animals, fat accumulation peaked at 6-10 h (1.1%) and returned quickly to normal levels (0.34 +/- 0.18%). This effective pharmacological blockade with metoprolol strongly supports the concept of catecholamine mediation between acute intracranial lesions and myocardial injury. The background and significance of myocardial fat accumulation is discussed. The EM morphometry of fat droplets appears to be a suitable tool for quantification of reversible myocardial damage most useful for experimental evaluation of cardioprotective measures. As changes in succinic dehydrogenase histochemistry (from 'myofibrillar' to 'granular' pattern) correlated with EM measured fat accumulation, the simplicity and speed of the SDH method recommends itself for fast orientation about presence of myocardial damage. PMID- 2605114 TI - Blood clearance and tissue distribution of 99Tc-labelled pneumococci following splenectomy in rabbits. AB - Female New Zealand White rabbits, following sham laparotomy, total splenectomy and splenectomy with 50% splenic autotransplantation, have been injected intravenously with 99Tc-labelled type 2 Streptococcus pneumoniae. The blood clearance of isotope has been measured and the numbers of circulating bacteria quantitated by blood culture. On sacrifice of the animals the tissue uptake of the isotope has been measured. The results indicate 98% bacterial clearance from the blood within 7 min. The liver is the principal organ for reticuloendothelial uptake of the bacteria accounting for 60% of the total injected dose; 15% of the isotope clearance occurred in the lungs, and the spleen contributed only 3% of the total bacterial clearance. There was no difference in the observed pattern of clearance following splenectomy and following splenic reimplantation. Following the uptake of the bacteria in the tissues, the isotope dissociated from the bacterium and was excreted in the urine. The secondary rise in blood isotope level consequent upon this release was not accompanied by a secondary bacteraemia. PMID- 2605115 TI - Repopulation of guinea-pig skin by melanocytes during wound healing: a morphometric study. AB - Epidermal keratinocytes and melanocytes have a close functional interrelationship. In order to study this relationship we used computer-assisted three-dimensional morphometry (CAM) to investigate the shape and size changes of the cutaneous melanocyte in healing guinea-pig skin. The combination of CAM with osmium iodide staining and resin embedding of tissue gave excellent results and allowed qualitative and quantitative morphometric assessment of melanocytes in vertical epidermal sections. The changes in melanocytes and keratinocytes during healing of a standard 1 cm full thickness wound in the guinea-pig were studied. After an initial decrease, more melanocytes per mm2 of epidermis were seen (from 36 days). These were smaller in volume with shorter, less branched dendrites compared to controls. An unexpected finding was a late phase of melanocyte proliferation, at the end of our study period (99 days). Clearly, the complex changes in the melanocyte-keratinocyte relationship during wound healing continue throughout and beyond the period of our study. PMID- 2605116 TI - Foetal and lactational exposure to alcohol increases oxidative capacity of brown adipose tissue in the rat. A possible relationship to cot death. AB - The effect was studied of chronic alcohol intake in the rat during pregnancy and lactation on the brown adipose tissue (BAT) in pups. The idea was to find a possible relationship to cot death since in some cot death victims increased amounts of BAT have been observed. Exposure to ethanol increased the relative weight of the brown adipose tissue in pups and enhanced both its total protein content and the activities of the oxidative enzymes, succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase. In the BAT of pups sympathetic activity, as demonstrated by noradrenaline, was also increased by long-term exposure to alcohol. In theory, an increased thermogenic capacity of the BAT in the newborn together with other factors such as emotional stress and infections could lead to death from hyperthermia, in which case only non-specific morphological signs would be found in the cadaver. PMID- 2605117 TI - Enhancement of inflammatory reactions in a non-immunological air pouch model in rats. AB - In a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) air pouch inflammation model, accumulation of exudate decreased at a relatively rapid rate and almost disappeared 3 days after a 2% CMC injection into the preformed air pouch. After a second injection of 2% CMC solution into the 1-day-old CMC pouch on the day following the first CMC injection, the decrease in rate of exudate was similar to the change seen after the first CMC injection. In another group of rats, 3 days after the first CMC injection when inflammation had subsided, a second injection of 2% CMC solution into the 3-day-old CMC pouch resulted in a marked increase of exudate accumulation, inflammatory cell infiltration and vascular permeability. Histologically, large numbers of macrophages accumulated in the 3-day-old CMC pouch and fibroblast proliferation and newly formed blood vessels were also visible. The enhanced exudative reaction was significantly inhibited by dexamethasone but not by indomethacin. These results indicate that the enhanced inflammatory reactions appear to be closely correlated with the increase of reactivity at the site of inflammation and the exudative reaction was not mediated by cyclo-oxygenase products. PMID- 2605118 TI - Detection of monoclonal B lymphocytes in bone marrow and peripheral blood of multiple myeloma patients by immunoglobulin gene rearrangement studies. AB - To investigate whether B lymphocytes are involved in the malignant cell clone of multiple myeloma (MM), we performed immunoglobulin gene rearrangement analysis of mononuclear cells and separated B lymphocytes, isolated from bone marrow and peripheral blood of MM patients. The B lymphocytes were separated by immunomagnetic beads, coated with an HLA class II specific antibody. Southern blot analysis with a JH probe revealed in the bone marrow of three out of seven patients identical immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in the B lymphocytes when compared to the plasma cells. Out of 10 patients, two patients with a high tumour burden were found to have monoclonal B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. These results suggest that B lymphocytes in the bone marrow are part of the myeloma clone and that they can circulate in the peripheral blood. Although previous studies indicated that the ratio of K to lambda bearing lymphocytes in the peripheral blood can provide evidence for B cell monoclonality, we did not find a correlation between the results of K/lambda analysis and immunoglobulin gene rearrangement. PMID- 2605119 TI - Analysis of surface antigen expression of human immunoglobulin-secreting cells: phenotypic heterogeneity in normal counterparts of myeloma cells. AB - Human myeloma cells are malignant counterparts of plasma cells which represent the most differentiated B cells. Myeloma cells are, however, heterogeneous in their surface antigen expression (Katagiri et al, 1984, 1985), which may reflect that normal plasma cells have a spectrum of differentiation. To test this hypothesis, immunoglobulin-secreting cells (ISC) of non-neoplastic nature were studied with regard to their surface antigen expression by using a combination of reverse haemolytic plaque assay and complement-dependent cytolysis. Non neoplastic ISC were found to have a broad spectrum of differentiation stages from the immature type of CD20+, HLA-DR+, CD38+ in the peripheral blood to the mature type of CD20-, HLA-DR-, CD38+ in the bone marrow. In patients with polyclonal B cell activation (PBA), ISC showed a more immature antigen expression in comparison with ISC in normal controls or patients without PBA. The surface antigen development of ISC was clearly demonstrated throughout the stages in the analysis of mitogen-induced ISC in vitro. No significant difference in the surface phenotype of ISC was found among heavy chain classes. Thus, non neoplastic ISC show a spectrum of differentiation similar to that of myeloma cells, depending on the site where ISC are located, and on the degree of PBA in vivo. PMID- 2605120 TI - Biological and clinical features of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with cytoplasmic granules or inclusions: description of eight cases. AB - We describe eight patients (four children and four adults) with an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with cytoplasmic granules or inclusions. The incidence of this variant of acute leukaemia in our whole series of patients with ALL is 1.8%. The granules or inclusions were usually positive for aspecific esterases (ANAE) and/or acid phosphatase, and the immunophenotype was in all cases typical of a CALLA positive B-lineage ALL (CD10+, CD19+ and/or CD24+, DR+, TdT+, anti-T-, anti-My-, SIg-). In one paediatric case, CD33 was unusually coexpressed. Ultrastructural investigations were performed in one case and demonstrated large granules containing vesicles, usually membrane bound, in the majority of blast cells. In the two cases analysed, Ig heavy chain gene rearrangement was detected. In this series of patients prognosis was poor since three never achieved a complete remission, four relapsed and only one is still in first continuous remission. PMID- 2605121 TI - Diagnostic and prognostic significance of myelomonocytic cell surface antigens in acute myeloid leukaemia. AB - Thirty-six cases of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) were tested with a large battery of monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) detecting surface markers normally expressed by myelomonocytic, T and B lymphoid, megakaryocytic and erythroid lineages. Differences in antigenic expression were observed among the various FAB subgroups: HLA-class II molecules were found in almost all AML cases but not in the promyelocytic subgroup (M3); CD14 and CD36 antigens were detected in monocytic leukaemias (M4 and M5); the CD34 moAb (MY10) recognizing an epitope described on myeloid stem cells was positive in 88% of the M1 and 80% of the M3 cases. By a multivariate analysis, only the CD14b (MY4) discriminated significantly between M1-M2 and M4-M5 subgroups. Using Cox's model to assess the prognostic importance of variables including immunophenotyping on survival, we undertook a one by one analysis and found that the presence of CD17 antigen predicted for a shorter survival (P = 0.03). In addition this marker appeared more significant than other clinical and biological parameters. PMID- 2605122 TI - Autoantibodies to platelet glycoproteins in patients with disease-related immune thrombocytopenia. AB - Although increased platelet destruction and elevated platelet-associated IgG have been shown in patients with lymphomas and various autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), there have been few studies evaluating autoantibodies against platelet-specific antigens. We evaluated 24 patients retrospectively with disease-related thrombocytopenia (12 with lymphoproliferative diseases and 12 with various autoimmune disorders) using a recently reported antigen-specific assay. Autoantibodies against platelet GPIIb/IIIa or GPIb/IX were noted in 15 of the 24 patients (10 of 12 with autoimmune disease and five of 12 with lymphoproliferative disorders). Platelet associated autoantibodies were present in 60% and plasma autoantibodies in 33%. Anti-GPIIb/IIIa autoantibodies were much more common than those against GPIb/IX. In one patient each with thrombocytopenia and either SLE or myasthenia gravis, absorption of plasma with platelets completely removed the anti-GPIIb/IIIa autoantibodies, but did not affect the level of anti-cochlear autoantibody involved with immune-mediated hearing loss in the SLE patient or the anti acetylcholine receptor autoantibody in the myasthenic patient. These findings show that, in some cases of disease-related immune thrombocytopenia, autoantibodies against GPIIb/IIIa or GPIb/IX can be detected similar to those seen in chronic ITP. As shown in two patients with multiple autoimmune manifestations, the various autoantibodies have diverse specificities and do not crossreact. PMID- 2605123 TI - Platelet membrane abnormalities in myeloproliferative disorders: decrease in glycoproteins Ib and IIb/IIIa complex is associated with deficient receptor function. AB - The number and functional activity of membrane glycoproteins (GP) Ib and IIb/IIIa were investigated in platelets from 11 patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). Three patients had essential thrombocythaemia, two had chronic myeloid leukaemia and six had polycythaemia vera. The numbers of GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa molecules were detected on the platelet surface using different 125I-labelled monoclonal antibodies. The functional properties of GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa were evaluated using purified 125I-labelled asialo von Willebrand factor (vWF) and purified 125I-labelled fibrinogen, respectively, in a binding assay. Binding of the anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody was decreased by 40% in almost all patients studied and, when measured, it was accompanied by decreased fibrinogen binding to activated platelets. Binding of anti-GPIb antibodies to platelets was also slightly decreased or virtually the same in eight out of 11 patients. The decrease correlated with decreased binding of asialo vWF. The increased plasma glycocalicin levels, measured in four patients, depended on the high platelet count. Scatchard analysis revealed normal receptor binding affinity for all ligands tested in all but one patient. In this report we demonstrate that abnormalities in the concentrations of GPIIb/IIIa membrane proteins are commonly present in patients with MPD, while a decrease in GPIb concentration is also seen, although in fewer patients. These abnormalities are accompanied by a concurrent decrease in the respective receptor functions. These findings may explain part of the haemorrhagic tendency often encountered in MPD. PMID- 2605124 TI - The DNA deletion in an Indian delta beta-thalassaemia begins one kilobase from the A gamma globin gene and ends in an L1 repetitive sequence. AB - High fetal haemoglobin levels of 5-15% are present in adult heterozygotes for delta beta-thalassaemia as the result of large deletions of DNA. We have cloned DNA spanning the deletion breakpoint for a new Indian delta beta-thalassaemia associated with mild anaemia. The 5' breakpoint is at 42151 of GenBank file HUMHBB, which is about 1 kb 3' of the A gamma globin gene poly A site at 41003. On the 3' side of the breakpoint, the sequence is homologous to L1 (KpnI) repetitive DNA located 3.6-10 kb 3' of the beta-globin gene: Indian delta beta thalassaemia DNA is 74% homologous to the inverted complement of HUMHBB from 69849 to 70020, followed by a region 78% homologous to the direct sequence of HUMHBB from 70534 to 71010. The precise location of the 3' endpoint of this deletion has not been determined, but it is within L1 sequences located more than 10 kb 3' of the beta-globin gene. PMID- 2605125 TI - Factors influencing the transfusion response to HLA-selected apheresis donor platelets in patients refractory to random platelet concentrates. AB - Immune and nonimmune causes of platelet refractoriness were evaluated in a group of patients receiving HLA-selected single-donor platelet transfusions. During a 1 year observation period, 1 h and 24 h platelet recoveries wre determined after 522 single-donor platelet transfusions given to 43 patients persistently refractory to pooled random-donor platelet transfusions. 72% of patients tested ultimately developed lymphocytotoxic antibodies suggesting they were alloimmunized. When significant lymphocytotoxic antibodies were demonstrable in these patients, HLA well-matched platelet transfusions consistently produced good transfusion responses. In contrast, patients without lymphocytotoxic antibodies had clinical factors that adversely affected transfusion outcome (P less than 0.0001). Fever and splenomegaly markedly reduced 1 h post-transfusion platelet recoveries, while sepsis compromised the 24 h platelet recovery. Overall, the presence of any clinical factor was most likely to reduce 1 h platelet recovery, while donor-recipient HLA incompatibilities correlated best with poor 24 h post transfusion platelet recovery. A platelet crossmatch test predicted the transfusion response when non-immune clinical factors were absent. PMID- 2605126 TI - Red cell glycolytic intermediates in normal, anaemic and transfused human fetuses. AB - Normal fetal ranges for red cell glycolytic intermediates at 18-24 weeks gestation, which are useful as reference values for the prenatal diagnosis of erythroenzymopathies, were established for the first time. Characteristic increases in glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) and particularly fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) suggest that there is no metabolic block at the phosphofructokinase (PFK) step of glycolysis as previously suggested by others for premature infants on the first day of life. Neither reticulocytosis nor anaemia consistently led to further increases in the early metabolites as occurs in adults. However, very large increases in G6P, F6P and particularly FDP may occur independently of anaemia and reticulocytosis. This suggests that activation of hexokinase (HK) and/or PFK can take place as in adults but the stimulus is probably different to adults. The 2,3-DPG in normal fetuses is higher than in adults and increases still further in anaemic fetuses with or without transfusion of adult blood. The pattern of intermediates found in the fetus suggests that the controlling mechanism for the increased 2,3-DPG may be an in vivo relative preponderance of PFK activity over that of pyruvate kinase (PK) rather than regulation of HK as proposed for adult subjects with anaemia or high altitude hypoxia. PMID- 2605127 TI - Desferrioxamine ototoxicity: evaluation of risk factors in thalassaemic patients and guidelines for safe dosage. AB - Forty-seven patients with thalassaemia have been studied to define risk factors for development of sensorineural hearing loss, and to establish guidelines for safe chelation. Sensorineural hearing loss was only present in patients who had previously received desferrioxamine (DFO). The two most significant risk factors were the maximum dose of DFO previously received (P less than 0.01), and a serum ferritin of less than 2000 micrograms/l at that time (P less than 0.001). A therapeutic index obtained from the ratio of the mean daily dose of DFO mg/kg divided by the serum ferritin identifies patients with a ratio of greater than 0.025 as at risk of sensorineural hearing loss (P less than 0.001) and can be used as a guideline for safe DFO dosage. Follow-up audiometry of the affected patients over a 2-year period indicated that adjustment of the dose to a therapeutic index of less than 0.025 resulted in the stabilization of hearing loss in seven patients and improvement in two. PMID- 2605128 TI - Inhibition of cellular iron uptake by haem in mouse erythroleukaemia cells. AB - Haemin inhibited iron uptake from transferrin (Tf) by mouse erythroleukaemia cells (MELC) induced for differentiation by hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA). The rate of 59Fe internalization was decreased, but the rate and the extent of 125I-Tf endocytosis was unaffected by the addition of haemin. Haemin inhibited 59Fe incorporation into haem by a greater proportion than the overall uptake of 59Fe from Tf. The reduction of total cellular 59Fe uptake was more pronounced at 59Fe-Tf concentrations closer to saturation. Exogenous 5-aminolaevulinic acid stimulated 59Fe utilization for haem synthesis in MELC but did not revert the inhibition induced by haemin. Haem synthesis measured by 14C-glycine incorporation into haem was maintained for at least 1 h without an external transferrin iron source and was inhibited by the addition of haemin equally over the whole range of Tf concentrations studied. Desferrioxamine (DFO) stimulated cellular uptake of 59Fe by the uninduced cells and reverted the inhibition of 59Fe transport into HMBA treated cells caused by haemin. Addition of DFO within a short-term incubation had no effect on haem synthesis measured by 14C-glycine incorporation into haem. No evidence for a direct effect of haem on the transferrin cycle or iron release was found. It was concluded that the reduction of iron uptake by haemin treated MELC is secondary to the decrease in iron utilization for haem synthesis. PMID- 2605129 TI - Myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukaemia following bone marrow transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: secondary leukaemia or stem-cell relapse? PMID- 2605130 TI - A case of cALL relapse after allogeneic BMT: recurrence of recipient cell origin, initially determined as being that of donor cell origin by sex chromosome analysis. PMID- 2605131 TI - Lithium therapy in Fanconi aplastic anaemia. PMID- 2605132 TI - Histocompatibility antigen DR4 is associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease in the south Wales population. PMID- 2605133 TI - Immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in human multiple myeloma. PMID- 2605134 TI - Clonal rearrangement of immunoglobulin genes in the peripheral blood of multiple myeloma patients. PMID- 2605135 TI - Anti-Bra antibodies in the French population. PMID- 2605136 TI - Zeta and theta 1-globin gene deletions located on the same chromosome. PMID- 2605137 TI - High serum interleukin-2 levels in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are associated with FAB M4 and M5 subtypes. PMID- 2605138 TI - Abstracts of papers presented at a meeting of the British Society for Haemostasis and Thrombosis. Sheffield, 21-22 September 1989. PMID- 2605139 TI - Mollicutes: what are they? PMID- 2605140 TI - Intraocular lens implants for uniocular cataracts in childhood. AB - We report the outcome of intraocular lens implantation in 20 children with visually significant cataracts (seven traumatic, 13 non-traumatic). Six patients had anterior and 14 had posterior chamber implants. The mean age of the whole group at the time of surgery was 5.9 years (range 0.3 to 15.1 years), while the mean period of follow-up was 2.4 years (range 0.8 to 5.9 years). Postoperatively 10 patients developed a transient fibrinous uveitis, four required lens repositioning, one needed lens removal, and eight required posterior capsulotomy. Complications warranting secondary surgical procedures occurred predominantly in eyes with posterior chamber implants. Co-operation with conventional amblyopia treatment was satisfactory in eight out of 16 patients. Postoperatively nine out of 18 patients had peripheral fusion, four patients regained visual acuities of better than 6/9, and visual acuity did not improve beyond 3/60 in six cases. In 19 eyes the optical pathway to the retina is clear and the implants are stable with no evidence of persisting inflammation. Contact lenses remain the initial treatment of choice in infancy, but modern intraocular lenses are well tolerated and have a role in the visual rehabilitation of patients with contact lens and probable contact lens failures and older children with uniocular cataracts. PMID- 2605141 TI - Chronic orbital inflammatory disease: parasitisation of orbital leucocytes by mollicute-like organisms. AB - Chronic orbital inflammatory disease (COID) is usually considered non-infectious and idiopathic. Treatment is empirical, palliative, and may not prevent disease progression. COID occurs in isolation or in association with various systemic diseases. Exophthalmos may be an important presenting sign. Vasculitis, lymphoid infiltrates, and granulomas are common. Mollicute-like organisms (MLO) parasitising and destroying vitreous leucocytes are often found to cause human chronic uveitis when an appropriate search is made. Inoculation of these MLO into mouse eyelids produced chronic uveitis and exophthalmic orbital inflammatory disease. Mollicutes are cell wall deficient bacteria. Extracellular mollicutes cause human and animal diseases characterised by lymphoid infiltrates, immunosuppression, and autoantibody production. Intracellular morphologically similar bacteria are non-cultivable pathogens termed MLO. Identification is based on direct detection in diseased cells by transmission electron microscopy. MLO are cytopathogenic and detection is aided by the alterations they produce. MLO replace the cytoplasm, destroy the organelles, and alter the nucleus. This results in cell proliferation, destruction, and dysfunction. MLO parasitise lymphocytes, monocytes, and polymorphonuclear leucocytes. This report describes orbital leucocytes parasitised by MLO in three patients with isolated COID. Rifampicin treatment of MLO disease is discussed. PMID- 2605142 TI - Human fetal iridocorneal angle: a light and scanning electron microscopic study. AB - The iridocorneal angle and inner layers of the trabecular meshwork in human fetal eyes were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Tissue from 32 eyes of 17 fetuses with a gestational age from 12 to 22 weeks were investigated in order to determine the morphological changes in the cellular lining of the anterior chamber angle recess during development. The findings indicate that, although hexagonal corneal endothelial profiles extend almost to the angle apex in a few of the younger eyes examined (12-14 weeks), the lining is always perforated by a few discrete intercellular gaps (2-6 microns diameter). As development progresses it becomes clearer that the maturing meshwork is lined by uveal trabecular endothelial cells which are morphologically distinguishable from corneal endothelium. The frequency and size of the gaps between the inner uveal trabecular endothelial cells increase and are well developed by 18-20 weeks, clearly providing a route of communication between the fetal anterior chamber and the developing intercellular spaces in the primitive trabecular tissue. The implications of these observations on the 'Barkan's membrane' theory of congenital glaucoma are discussed. PMID- 2605143 TI - Eye injuries: a prospective survey of 5671 cases. AB - 5671 patients with injuries presenting to a busy eye casualty department were examined prospectively to determine the incidence, aetiology, and severity of the injury. Of these cases 69.9% occurred at work, 18.3% during leisure and domestic activities (excluding recognised sport), 2.3% during sport, and 1.9% were due to assaults; contact lens injury occurred in a further 2.3%, and the cause was unknown in 5.3%. One hundred and two (1.8%) patients required admission to hospital, and of their injuries 13.7% occurred at work, 22.6% during leisure and domestic activities, 42.2% at sport, 18.6% during assault, and 2.9% from an unknown cause. Children under 10 years of age accounted for 4% of the total patients presenting, but for more than 18% of those admitted and 26% of ocular penetrations. 98.3% of all injuries involved periorbital or superficial ocular structures only. The remainder involved intraocular structures. The majority of serious injuries were contusional. There was only one case of intraocular foreign body. This indicates that, while most injuries still occur in the workplace, sport and leisure activities account for the majority of serious injuries. While most injuries do not threaten sight, they do so disproportionately in children. PMID- 2605144 TI - Fundus changes in mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type II: clinical and fluorescein angiographic findings. AB - Previously we have demonstrated a deposit in Bruch's membrane in a single case of mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type II. We studied a group of patients with this disease and described extensive clinical and fluorescein angiographic abnormalities, which were in marked contrast to the findings in a group of patients with other forms of glomerulonephritis. This finding contributes to our understanding of the pathophysiology of the complex of the retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch's membrane, and choriocapillaris. PMID- 2605145 TI - Fundus changes in mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type II: vitreous fluorophotometry. AB - We have described a complex abnormality of retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch's membrane, and choriocapillaris in mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN) type II. Patients with MCGN type II were examined by vitreous fluorophotometry which reveals that there is a breakdown of the blood retinal barrier (BRB) in those patients with the typical fundus lesions. The function of this barrier was calculated as a penetration ratio and was statistically greater in these patients when compared with a group of (a) normal persons, (b) patients with drusen, and (c) patients with other forms of glomerulonephritis. PMID- 2605146 TI - Clinical parameters predictive of enlargement of melanocytic choroidal lesions. AB - The authors followed up 197 melanotic choroidal lesions (62 categorised as benign naevi, 76 classified as suspicious naevi, 41 diagnosed as dormant melanomas, and 18 categorised as active melanomas) left untreated after their initial clinical documentation. Thirty-nine of these lesions enlarged during a five-year follow-up interval (cumulative proportion of lesions that enlarged = 26.2% by Kaplan-Meier method). Individual clinical parameters predictive of lesion enlargement (p less than 0.01) included larger size of the lesion, especially lesion thickness, presence of retinal detachment, location of the lesion's posterior margin within 2 disc diameters of the optic disc, presence of symptoms, and presence of orange pigment clumps on the lesion's surface. The best combination of these parameters for prediction of lesion enlargement, as identified by multivariate Cox regression analysis, consisted of thickness of the lesion, retinal detachment, and symptoms. The five-year incidence of lesion enlargement for patients with none of these prognostic parameters was 5.8%, while that for patients with all three unfavourable parameters simultaneously was 90.6%. PMID- 2605147 TI - Intraocular lens design and the inhibition of epithelium. AB - Of 1170 eyes implanted with posterior chamber lenses between 1981 and 1986 and having intact capsules at surgery, 1015 were examined two years after surgery, 741 were examined three years after surgery, and 308 were examined five years after surgery. At three years the capsulotomy rate for epithelium was 25% for 263 'lasergap' lenses, 2.4% for 296 convex posterior lenses, 8.2% for 73 planoposterior lenses with angulated loops. The highly significant difference for lasergap design, whether ridged, meniscus, or bossed, is of immediate interest to surgeons concerned with minimising the need for secondary capsulotomy. The two year follow-up of soft hydrogel lenses suggested that these lenses also do not significantly retard the ingrowth of epithelium. PMID- 2605148 TI - Medical and surgical management of spontaneous hyphaema secondary to immune thrombocytopenia. AB - The medical and surgical management of an unusual case of spontaneous 'black ball' hyphaema complicated by secondary haemorrhage, raised intraocular pressure and corneal blood staining, and secondary to immune thrombocytopenia is presented. The literature is reviewed with particular reference to the aetiology and treatment of spontaneous hyphaema and the role of intravenous immunoglobulins in the preoperative management of patients with thrombocytopenia who present for routine or emergency ocular surgery. PMID- 2605149 TI - Spontaneous recovery of vision following an orbital haemorrhage. AB - A 73-year-old man presented to casualty with a penetrating orbital injury and total loss of vision in the affected eye. He subsequently spontaneously recovered full vision. We stress the need for frequent assessment of vision before considering potentially hazardous surgical intervention. PMID- 2605150 TI - Heterotopic brain tissue in the orbit: case report. AB - A case of heterotopic brain tissue within the orbit is reported. Previously reported cases of this condition are reviewed, with particular reference to the pathogenesis and visual outcome. PMID- 2605151 TI - Fundus changes in mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis. PMID- 2605152 TI - Day case cataract surgery. PMID- 2605153 TI - Why do we need statistics? PMID- 2605154 TI - Bile acid conjugation and hepatic taurine concentration in rats fed on pectin. AB - A relationship between bile acid conjugation and hepatic taurine concentration was investigated in rats fed on citrus pectin. When rats were fed on the diets containing varying amounts of pectin (10, 30, 60 and 100 g/kg dietary levels), biliary excretion of bile acids increased as the dietary levels of pectin increased. The increase was entirely due to the glycine-conjugated bile acids. The biliary excretion of taurine-conjugated bile acid was somewhat decreased as the dietary level of the fibre increased. Consequently, most of the bile acids were conjugated with glycine in rats fed on the diet containing 100 g pectin/kg. On the other hand, dietary cellulose (60 and 100 g/kg) did not affect the biliary bile acid excretions. The major proportion of bile acids in rats receiving a fibre-free diet and the diets containing cellulose were conjugated with taurine. Hepatic taurine concentrations decreased as the dietary levels of pectin, but not of cellulose, increased. Although dietary pectin (100 g/kg) also slightly decreased the taurine concentration in the kidney, those concentrations in other non-hepatic tissues examined (heart, brain and serum) were unaffected by the dietary fibre. Supplementation of the diet containing 100 g pectin/kg with methionine (10 g/kg) and taurine (10 and 50 g/kg) strikingly increased hepatic taurine concentrations. In this situation, the conjugation of bile acid with glycine was almost abolished and taurine conjugates became abundant in the bile of these animals. It is suggested that dietary pectin mediated an increase in the biliary bile acid excretion which may have depleted the hepatic pool of taurine available for bile acid conjugation and, thus, increased glycine conjugation of bile acids. PMID- 2605155 TI - Problems in estimating the extent of coprophagy in the rat. AB - The quantity of re-ingested faeces was calculated by comparing faecal dry matter of unrestricted rats and coprophagy-restricted rats after correcting for differences in food intake. Due to high day-to-day variations of produced and re ingested faeces it was not possible to calculate precisely the extent of coprophagy of an individual rat at a particular day with this difference method. Reliable quantitative estimates require at least two rats and a collection period of 7 d. When fed on a nutritionally complete diet, rats re-ingested 0-11% of their faeces. When fed on low-protein diets (66 g egg albumin/kg) or diets diluted with 200 g cellulose/kg, coprophagy was not significantly increased. A high re-ingestion rate (6-25%) was observed with thiamin and pantothenic acid deficiencies. After re-ingestion of faeces had been prevented for 1 week, the amount of faeces re-ingested during the subsequent week without tail-cups was increased twofold. It is concluded that rats are able to regulate the amount of faeces eaten precisely according to their requirements. PMID- 2605156 TI - Nutrient supply and growth of cattle offered straw-based diets. AB - An experiment was conducted using steers cannulated at the rumen, duodenum and ileum to study the effects of increasing the levels of barley and fishmeal in straw-based diets. Diets A, B, C and D contained ammonia-treated straw, barley and fishmeal in the ratios, 67:33:0, 66:23:11, 53:47:0 and 52:36:12 (by weight) and were offered in daily amounts of 3.9, 3.9, 4.8 and 4.8 kg dry matter. The effects of barley were attributable to increased intakes of digestible organic matter and consequently to increased flows of microbial matter to the duodenum. There were no modifications in the balance of energy to nitrogen-yielding nutrients available for absorption. Introducing fishmeal into diets improved digestibility of cellulose and xylose by up to 6.7 and 4.7% respectively, and shifted digestion towards the large intestine. Second, it increased amino acid N supply to the small intestine which averaged 52.2, 63.2, 68.8 and 84.0 g/d with diets A, B, C and D. Some changes were also noted in the balance of amino acids absorbed. Consequently, the contribution of amino acids to metabolizable energy intake increased with the proportion of fishmeal in diets (0.17, 0.20, 0.18 and 0.21 for diets A, B, C and D). Growth rates measured in heifers amounted to 259, 431, 522 and 615 g/d for diets A, B, C and D. They appeared to be related to intestinal amino acid supply. PMID- 2605157 TI - Basal metabolic rate and energy expenditure of pregnant Nigerian women. AB - The purpose of the present study was to compare basal metabolic rates (BMR) of pregnant Nigerian women from rural and urban areas with values from similar studies in other Third World countries. We also investigated possible changes in BMR during the course of pregnancy. An open-circuit indirect calorimeter was used to measure BMR and energy expenditure (EE) during sedentary activity in forty-one pregnant Nigerian women. The results showed marked variability in BMR among individuals. A correlation analysis between BMR and other biological and physical characteristics revealed bodyweight and gestation as the only variables related to BMR and oxygen consumption. The study revealed no significant difference between BMR and EE of sedentary activity in the subjects. The wide variability may have been due to the nutritional status of the subjects studied, who were drawn largely from the lower socioeconomic groups of Nigerian society. The present study shows that socioeconomic status and nutritional interventions should be taken into account when framing recommendations for maternal nutrition during pregnancy. PMID- 2605158 TI - Effect of oral glutathione on hepatic glutathione levels in rats and mice. AB - Administration of oral glutathione (GSH) increases hepatic GSH levels in fasted rats, in mice treated with GSH depletors such as diethyl maleate and in mice treated with high doses of paracetamol. An increase in hepatic GSH levels after administration of oral GSH does not occur in animals treated with buthionine sulphoximine, an inhibitor of GSH synthesis. Administration of oral GSH leads to an increase in the concentration of L-cysteine, a precursor of GSH, in portal blood plasma. Oral administration of L-methionine produced a significant decrease of hepatic ATP in fasted rats, but not in fed rats. Administration of N acetylcysteine or GSH did not affect the hepatic ATP levels. The results show that the oral intake of GSH is a safe and efficient form of administration of its constituent amino acids in cases when GSH synthesis is required to replete hepatic GSH levels. PMID- 2605159 TI - Dietary intakes and adipose tissue levels of linoleic acid in peptic ulcer disease. AB - Adipose tissue levels of linoleic acid were determined from biopsies of subcutaneous abdominal fat of normal healthy controls (n 40) and from two patient groups with endoscopically evaluated non-ulcer dyspepsia (n 40) or peptic ulcer disease (n 38). The level (g/100 g) of adipose tissue linoleic acid in the normal healthy controls (15.0 (SD 4.1] was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater than that in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (12.8 (SD 3.5] and in patients with peptic ulcer disease (11.7 (SD 2.7]. A dietary history revealed a lower intake of linoleic acid and a significantly (P less than 0.05) lower intake of dietary fibre (g/d) for both the non-ulcer dyspepsia (15.9 (SD 6.2] and peptic ulcer disease (15.2 (SD 7.8] patients compared with normal healthy controls (20.2 (SD 11.2]. Adipose tissue linoleic acid tended to increase with indices of increasing socioeconomic status, although the differences between patient and controls were not confounded by socioeconomic status. Patients with dyspepsia reported more foods causing symptoms (onion, fried foods, alcohol, citrus fruits and spices) and more foods giving relief (milk, bread) compared with control orthopaedic patients. PMID- 2605160 TI - The effect of differences in dietary iron intake on 59Fe absorption and duodenal morphology in pregnant rats. AB - The effect of iron intake on 59Fe absorption throughout pregnancy, and on maternal and fetal Fe status towards the end of pregnancy, was investigated in rats. The influence of pregnancy and dietary Fe on duodenal morphology was also studied. Female rats were fed on a diet containing 17 or 100 mg Fe/kg for 2 weeks before and throughout pregnancy. 59Fe absorption was measured on days 1 or 2, 8 or 9 and 17 or 18 of pregnancy, and maternal and fetal Fe status was determined on days 18 or 19. Pregnancy resulted in a fall in haemoglobin (Hb) concentration. Compared with non-pregnant counterparts, total liver Fe was reduced in the low-Fe group, but not in the high-Fe group, indicating that the fall in Hb in the high Fe rats was not associated with an Fe-deficient state. 59Fe absorption in rats fed on both diets increased throughout pregnancy, demonstrating that Fe supplementation of the diet, to a level that prevented the development of Fe deficiency, failed to suppress an increase in absorption. Fetal weight appeared to be an important determinant of the efficiency of Fe absorption in late pregnancy. Poor maternal Fe status was accompanied by a reduction in fetal Fe concentration but results also suggested that fetuses were partly protected from maternal Fe-deficiency. Pregnancy resulted in increased duodenal circumference and villus dimensions, whilst high dietary Fe reduced duodenal growth in both pregnant and non-pregnant animals. The relevance of this finding is discussed. It was concluded that, in rats, pregnancy per se causes an enhancement in Fe absorption and that the degree of enhancement is in part related to fetal mass. PMID- 2605161 TI - Measurement of non-haem iron absorption in non-anaemic rats using 59Fe: can the Fe content of duodenal mucosal cells cause lumen or mucosal radioisotope dilution, or both, thus resulting in the underestimation of Fe absorption? AB - Male Wistar rats (188 g) were fed on a semi-synthetic (SS) diet (38 mg iron/kg) ad lib. for 7 d and then meal-fed for 1 d. After a 21 h fast each rat was given one meal (10 g) of high-Fe SS (500 mg Fe/kg; high-Fe group) or control (38 mg Fe/kg; control group) diet. After 16 h 2 ml of an 59Fe-labelled ferrous sulphate solution (18 kBq 59Fe; 120 micrograms Fe) was administrated by gavage and equal numbers of rats from each group were killed 6 or 24 h after dosing. Mucosal uptake of 59Fe from the gut lumen and transfer of 59Fe from mucosa into the carcass were measured. Total Fe content of the duodenum was also determined. Mucosal 59Fe uptake and transfer were markedly lower in the high-Fe group compared with the control group. The Fe content of the duodenum, the major region of Fe absorption, was significantly greater in the high-Fe group than in the controls. A larger amount of Fe may thus have been released into the lumen of the high-Fe rats, via mucosal cell turnover, resulting in a greater lumen dilution of the 59Fe dose in this group compared with the controls. Calculations are presented which demonstrate that such an effect could not possibly account for the observed difference in mucosal 59Fe uptake between groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605162 TI - Methylmalonic acid in the diagnosis of cobalt deficiency in barley-fed lambs. AB - Eight lambs were fed on a cobalt-deficient whole-barley diet supplemented with urea, vitamins and minerals. Four control lambs were fed on the same diet which had been further supplemented with Co. Plasma vitamin B12 levels in the Co depleted group declined rapidly, falling below the normal range within 5 weeks. Differences between the live weights of the animals in the two groups approached statistical significance by week 14. However, methylmalonic acid (MMA) rose above normal levels in the Co-depleted group within 7 weeks. This suggested that an elevated plasma concentration of MMA is a comparatively early indicator of functional vitamin B12 deficiency. It is recommended that 10 mumol/l be the upper level of normality for plasma MMA concentration in barley-fed animals, in contrast with the level of 5 mumol/l for grass-fed animals. Changes in the plasma concentrations of MMA and ethylmalonic acid associated with feeding the barley based diet per se did not significantly affect the validity of the gas-liquid chromatographic assay for MMA. PMID- 2605163 TI - Biotin studies in pigs. 1. Biotin deficiency in the young pig. AB - Sixteen pigs were given a purified diet of maize flour and casein from 5 to 25 d of age with or without a biotin supplement (100 micrograms/kg). From 26 to 94 d of age, eight of the pigs were changed to a wheat and casein diet with or without the biotin supplement and eight continued on the maize flour and casein diet. The weight gain and feed conversion ratio of the pigs were not affected by the dietary biotin supplement or the carbohydrate source. The pigs given the unsupplemented maize flour diet developed foot lesions, scaly skins and showed a reduction in carcass length. The excretion of biotin in the faeces was similar for the pigs given the biotin-supplemented and unsupplemented diets. The excretion of biotin in the faeces of pigs given the wheat diet was ten times as great as that of the pigs given the maize flour diet. The excretion of biotin in urine was 6 micrograms/d in the pigs given the unsupplemented maize flour diet and 67 micrograms/d in the pigs given the biotin-supplemented diet between 91 and 94 d of age. The biotin contents of the liver, heart, kidney, adrenals and plasma were increased by biotin supplementation of the maize flour diet. The 16:1/16:0 and 18:1/18:0 fatty acids ratios in the liver were decreased by biotin supplementation of the maize flour diet. PMID- 2605164 TI - Biotin studies in pigs. 2. The biotin requirement of the growing pig. AB - Twenty pigs weaned at 5 d were given pelleted diets based on maize flour and casein and supplemented with 0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 micrograms biotin/kg diet. The performance of the pigs was not influenced by the biotin content of the diets. Typical biotin deficiency symptoms (foot lesions and skin pustules) were observed in pigs given the unsupplemented diet and the diet supplemented with 50 micrograms biotin/kg diet. Tissue biotin concentration plateaued when 100 micrograms biotin/kg was added to the diet. Faecal biotin excretion was independent of dietary biotin intake, but increased with age. Urine biotin excretion at 102 d was significantly lower for the unsupplemented pigs than for the pigs given various levels of dietary biotin supplements. A dietary requirement of biotin for young pigs between 50 and 100 micrograms/kg diet is suggested from the results of the present experiment. PMID- 2605165 TI - Biotin studies in pigs. 3. Biotin absorption and synthesis. AB - Eight pigs were given a semi-purified diet based on maize flour and casein containing 10 micrograms biotin/kg. The diet was given ad lib. with or without a supplement of 70 micrograms biotin/kg diet from 5 to 94 d of age. The flow of biotin in the stomach was similar to the biotin intake (13.5 and 112 micrograms/d) for the unsupplemented and biotin-supplemented pigs respectively. The flow of biotin through the small intestine decreased for the biotin supplemented pigs from 39 micrograms/d in the first quarter of the small intestine to 7.9 micrograms/d in the last quarter. The flows of biotin in the caecum, large intestine and colon were similar for both the unsupplemented and biotin-supplemented pigs, with values of 17-54 micrograms/d, indicating the synthesis of biotin in the hind-gut. PMID- 2605166 TI - Biotin studies in pigs. 4. Biotin availability in feedstuffs for pigs and chickens. AB - Six pigs (initial weight 30 kg) were fitted with T-shaped cannulas in the ileum, 0.3 m from the ileocaecal junction. Each pig was given each of seven diets for a 10 d period. The diets contained wheat (var. Banks and Egret), barley, sorghum, meat meal, soya-bean meal or casein as test feedstuffs. The apparent digestibilities of biotin to the ileum of the pigs were 0.06, -0.03, -1.23, 0.18, 0.82, 0.12 and 0.95 for the diets containing wheat (var. Banks), wheat (var. Egret), sorghum, barley, meat meal, soya-bean meal and casein respectively. The same diets were given to 168 chickens. Digesta were collected from the terminal ileum after 7 d. The apparent digestibilities of biotin to the ileum of the chickens were 0.11, -0.10, -0.73, 0.05, 0.69, 0.28 and 0.75 for the diets containing wheat (var. Banks), wheat (var. Egret), sorghum, barley, meat meal, soya-bean meal and casein respectively. PMID- 2605167 TI - Biotin studies in pigs. 5. The post-ileal absorption of biotin. AB - Six pigs were given a biotin-deficient diet (10 micrograms biotin/kg) for 14 weeks. The pigs were given the same diet for a further 42 d with one of three biotin treatments: no supplement, 400 micrograms biotin/d given orally, 400 micrograms biotin/d infused into the caecum. The concentrations of biotin in the liver, kidney and heart, at the conclusion of 42 d were greater in the pigs given the oral biotin supplement than in the unsupplemented pigs. The values for the pigs given the caecal infusion of biotin were intermediate. The excretion of biotin in faeces was increased from 35 to 101 micrograms/d by the caecal biotin infusion, and the urinary excretion was increased from 35 to 83 micrograms/d. The oral dose of biotin increased urinary biotin excretion from 35 to 345 micrograms/d, but there was no change in faecal biotin excretion. Two pigs were fitted with ileal cannulas and catheters in the vena cava. The pigs were given a dose of [14C] biotin either into the caecum, when the ileum was occluded by a bladder catheter, or orally. [14C] biotin was measured in the urine and plasma and showed that post-ileal biotin absorption was 8% as efficient as the absorption of biotin after oral dosing. PMID- 2605168 TI - Conformation of DNA modified at a d(GG) or a d(AG) site by the antitumor drug cis diamminedichloroplatinum(II). AB - The purpose of this work was the comparison of the conformational changes induced in the double helix by the adducts formed at d(GG) and d(AG) sites in the reaction between the antitumor drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) and DNA. Two duplexes (20-mer) containing either a single d(A*G*) or a single d(G*G) adduct were studied by means of gel electrophoresis and artificial nuclease and chemical probes. It is shown that the d(G*G*) and the d(A*G*) adducts bend DNA similarly, but at the nucleotide level they distort differently the double helix. We suggest that the weaker interactions between platinated A residues and the other nucleotides, as compared to the interactions between platinated G residues and the other nucleotides, are largely responsible for the differences in the distortions induced in DNA by the d(A*G) and d(G*G*) adducts. This suggestion is supported by the study of the distortions induced in duplexes by the d(G*G*) adducts, one of the platinated G residues being paired with a T residue. PMID- 2605169 TI - Sequential 1H NMR assignment and secondary structure determination of salmon calcitonin in solution. AB - Salmon calcitonin (sCT) has been investigated by NMR at 500 MHz in a 90% DMSOd6 10% 1H2O (v/v) mixture at 278 K. All backbone and side-chain resonances of the hormone have been assigned by using high-resolution phase-sensitive two dimensional techniques. Analysis of the type and magnitude of the observed sequential nuclear Overhauser effects, the NH-alpha CH spin-spin coupling constants, and the 1H/2H exchange kinetics measured in 80% DMSOd6-20% 2H2O (v/v) at 278 K enabled prediction of the secondary structure. Overall, an extended conformation is the dominant feature of the solution, but there are clear indications for a short double-stranded antiparallel beta sheet in the central region comprising residues 12-18, connected by a three-residue hairpin loop formed by residues 14-16. Two tight turns, made by residues 6-9 and 25-28, were also identified, but no evidence was found for the presence of a regular helical segment. The beta sheet favors an amphipathic distribution of the residues, orienting the predominantly hydrophilic Ser13, Glu15, and His17 side chains above the plane of the sheet, and the predominantly hydrophobic Leu12, Gln14, and Leu16 below it. This is interpreted as the "seed" of the amphipathic alpha helix postulated to be responsible for the interaction of sCT with lipids, a situation reminiscent of the folding mechanism of signal peptides in the interaction with membranes. The possible significance of the cis-trans Pro23 isomerism is discussed. PMID- 2605170 TI - Solution conformation of the type I collagen alpha-1 chain N-telopeptide studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy. AB - The solution conformation of the type I collagen alpha-1 chain N-telopeptide has been studied by CD and 1H NMR spectroscopy at 600 MHz in CD3OH/H2O (60/40 v/v) and H2O solutions. The 19 amino acids form the N-terminal end of the alpha-1 polypeptide chain. By the combined application of several two-dimensional, phase sensitive NMR techniques (COSY, RELAY, ROESY), a complete assignment of all proton resonances was achieved, and the conformation of the backbone could be established on the basis of the coupling constant and NOE data. In CD3OH/H2O solutions the spectroscopic evidence clearly indicates that two sections of the molecule (pE1-Y6 and T11-M19) are extended and that the D7-S10 segment forms a beta-turn, stabilized by a hydrogen bond between NH(S10) and CO(D7). The data suggest that the turn is of the type I kind (minor) and that it coexists with an extended structure (major conformer). Interactions between the two extended parts of the peptide were not observed, thus excluding the existence of a beta-sheet. In H2O solution the conformation is significantly different, with no beta-turn, but a completely extended structure is observed. PMID- 2605171 TI - Flavin and heme structures in lactate:cytochrome c oxidoreductase: a resonance Raman study. AB - Resonance Raman spectra of Hansenula anomala L-lactate:cytochrome c oxidoreductase (or flavocytochrome b2), of its cytochrome b2 core, and of a bis(imidazole) iron-protoporphyrin complex were obtained at the Soret preresonance from the oxidized and reduced forms. Raman contributions from both the isoalloxazine ring of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and the heme b2 were observed in the spectra of oxidized flavocytochrome b2. Raman diagrams showing frequency differences of selected FMN modes between aqueous and proteic environments were drawn for various flavoproteins. These diagrams were closely similar for flavocytochrome b2 and for flavodoxins. This showed that the FMN structure must be very similar in both types of proteins, despite their very different proteic pockets. However, the electron density at this macrocycle was found to be higher in flavocytochrome b2 than in these electron transferases. No significant difference was observed between the heme structures in flavocytochrome b2 and in cytochrome b2 core. The porphyrin center-N(pyrrole) distances in the oxidized and reduced heme b2 were estimated to be 1.990 and 2.022 A from frequencies of porphyrin skeletal modes, respectively. The frequency of the vinyl stretching mode of protoporphyrin was found to be very affected in resonance Raman spectra of flavocytochrome b2 and of cytochrome b2 core (1634 1636 cm-1) relative to those observed in the spectra of iron-protoporphyrin [bis(imidazole)] complexes (1620 cm-1). These specificities were interpreted as reflecting a near coplanarity of the vinyl groups of heme b2 with the pyrrole rings to which they are attached. The low-frequency regions of resonance Raman indicated that the iron atoms of the four hemes b2 are in the porphyrin plane whatever their oxidation state. The histidine-Fe-histidine symmetric stretching mode was located at 205 cm-1 in the spectra of flavocytochrome b2 and of cytochrome b2 core. It was insensitive to the iron oxidation state and indicated strong Fe-His bonds in both states. PMID- 2605172 TI - Plastocyanin cytochrome f interaction. AB - Spinach plastocyanin and turnip cytochrome f have been covalently linked by using a water-soluble carbodiimide to yield an adduct of the two proteins. The redox potential of cytochrome f in the adduct was shifted by -20 mV relative to that of free cytochrome f, while the redox potential of plastocyanin in the adduct was the same as that of free plastocyanin. Solvent perturbation studies showed the degree of heme exposure in the adduct to be less than in free cytochrome f, indicating that plastocyanin was linked in such a way as to bury the exposed heme edge. Small changes were also observed when the resonance Raman spectrum of the adduct was compared to that of free cytochrome f. The adduct was incapable of interacting with or donating electrons to photosystem I. Peptide mapping and sequencing studies revealed two sites of linkage between the two proteins. In one site of linkage, Asp-44 of plastocyanin is covalently linked to Lys-187 of cytochrome f. This represents the first identification of a group on cytochrome f that is involved in the interaction with plastocyanin. The other site of linkage involves Glu-59 and/or Glu-60 of plastocyanin to as yet unidentified amino groups on cytochrome f. Euglena cytochrome c-552 could also be covalently linked to turnip cytochrome f, although with a lower efficiency than spinach plastocyanin. In contrast, a variety of cyanobacterial cytochrome c-553's and a cyanobacterial plastocyanin could not be covalently linked to turnip cytochrome f. PMID- 2605173 TI - A spectroscopic study of the binding of m7GTP and m7GpppG to human protein synthesis initiation factor 4E. AB - The binding of analogues of the 7-methylguanosine-containing cap, m7GTP and m7GpppG, to eIF-4E from human erythrocytes as a function of pH, temperature, and ionic strength is described. From the pH-dependent binding of m7GTP and m7GpppG to eIF-4E, a new model describing the nature of the cap.eIF-4E interaction is proposed. The thermodynamic values and ionic strength dependence of binding are consistent with a binding site which is primarily hydrophobic. Fluorescence and circular dichroism data indicate that tryptophan residues may be involved in base stacking interactions with the cap in a somewhat buried environment. The model presented here confirms the earlier proposal [Rhoads et al. (1983) Biochemistry 22, 6084-6088] that the enolate tautomer of the cap is preferred for interaction and further proposes that the interaction is with a protonated amino acid residue, such as histidine, while stacking with an aromatic amino acid, such as tryptophan. PMID- 2605174 TI - High-affinity transport of L-glutamine by a plasma membrane preparation from rat brain. AB - Plasma membrane vesicles prepared from rat brain contain a saturable, high affinity transport system for L-glutamine that exhibits the following characteristics: (1) The rate of L-glutamine transport is linear up to 200 micrograms/mL membrane protein. (2) Transport of [3H]-L-glutamine is linear with time for at least 10 min, is significantly reduced by lowering the assay temperature to 4 degrees C, and is essentially abolished by the addition of excess unlabeled L-glutamine. (3) The transport rate is optimal in the range of pH 7.4-8.2. (4) The system exhibits a Km for L-glutamine of approximately 1.7 microM and a Vmax of approximately 46 pmol/(min.mg of protein). (5) The system is not highly dependent upon the addition of monovalent or divalent cations. (6) Inhibitor studies reveal that the amino acid amides exhibit the highest affinity for the system and that there is a high specificity for the L-isomers. PMID- 2605175 TI - Role of surface electrostatics in the operation of a high-conductance Ca2+ activated K+ channel. AB - This paper demonstrates that local electric fields originating from negatively charged groups on a K+-specific ion channel modify its behavior. Single high conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ channels were studied in neutral phospholipid bilayers. The channel protein surface charges were manipulated experimentally by carboxyl group esterification using trimethyloxonium (TMO) or by electrolyte screening. Three channel properties--ion conduction, ion blockade, and voltage dependent gating--are affected by surface electrostatics. Negative charges increase the affinity of cationic pore blockers by establishing a local negative potential at the pore entrance; these charges modify channel gating by establishing a potential gradient across the ion channel; finally, both effects influence ion permeation through the pore. PMID- 2605176 TI - Estrogen induces N-linked glycoprotein expression by immature mouse uterine epithelial cells. AB - Characterization of complex glycoconjugates and the effects of estrogen on their expression in immature mouse uterine epithelial cells are reported. The secreted fraction contained nonanionic, O-linked lactosaminoglycan (LAG)-bearing proteins of Mr 30,000-40,000 as well as anionic, O-linked, LAG-bearing glycoproteins with very high apparent molecular weight (greater than 670K). Heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans and HS linked to little or no protein were found in the secreted fraction as well. A very similar array of glycoconjugates was found in the nonhydrophobic fraction of cell-associated macromolecules. In addition, the hydrophobic cell-associated fraction contained nonanionic, LAG-bearing glycoproteins of approximately 250K, anionic LAG-bearing glycoproteins distributing over a wide range of molecular weights, and HS proteoglycans with median molecular weights of approximately 250K. In contrast to the glycoproteins produced by their mature counterparts, virtually all glycoproteins produced by immature cells were O-linked. Estrogen treatment of immature mice caused uterine epithelial cells to secrete anionic, high molecular weight (greater than 670K) N linked glycoproteins as a major product. These estrogen-responsive glycoproteins did not appear to contain LAGs. Estrogen treatment also markedly decreased the proportion of all hydrophobic glycoconjugates in the cell-associated fraction. Collectively, these observations indicate that one aspect of the estrogen-induced maturation of uterine epithelial cells is the stimulation of N-linked glycoprotein synthesis and secretion. Furthermore, stimulation of N-linked glycoprotein synthesis by itself is insufficient to support N-linked LAG glycoprotein production. PMID- 2605177 TI - Temperature-induced fusion of small unilamellar vesicles formed from saturated long-chain lecithins and diheptanoylphosphatidylcholine. AB - Small unilamellar vesicles which form when gel-state long-chain phosphatidylcholines are mixed with micellar short-chain lecithins undergo an increase in size as the long-chain species melts to its liquid-crystalline form. Analysis of the vesicle population with quasi-elastic light scattering shows that the particle size increases from 90-A radius to greater than 5000-A radius. Resonance energy transfer experiments show total mixing of lipid probes with unlabeled vesicles only when the Tm of the long-chain phosphatidylcholine is exceeded. This implies that the large size change represents a fusion process. Aqueous compartments are also mixed during this transition. 31P NMR analysis of the vesicle mixtures above the phase transition shows a great degree of heterogeneity with large unilamellar particles coexisting with oligo- and multilamellar structures. Upon cooling the vesicles below the Tm, the original size distribution (e.g., small unilamellar vesicles) is obtained, as monitored by both quasi-elastic light scattering and 31P NMR spectroscopy. This temperature induced fusion of unilamellar vesicles is concentration dependent and can be abolished at lower total phospholipid concentrations. It occurs over a wide range of long-chain to short-chain ratios and occurs with 1-palmitoyl-2 stearoylphosphatidylcholine and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine as well. Characterization of this fusion event is used to understand the anomalous kinetics of water-soluble phospholipases toward these unusual vesicles. PMID- 2605178 TI - Interaction between biotin lipids and streptavidin in monolayers: formation of oriented two-dimensional protein domains induced by surface recognition. AB - Highly specific ligand-receptor interactions generally characterize surface recognition reactions. Such processes can be simulated by streptavidin-biotin specific binding. Biotin lipids have thus been synthesized, and their interaction with streptavidin (or avidin) at the air-water interface was directly shown by measurement of surface pressure isotherms and fluorescence microscopy. These proteins interact with the biotin lipid monolayer via specific binding or nonspecific adsorption. Both phenomena were clearly distinguished by use of the inactivated form of streptavidin. The binding of fluorescein-labeled streptavidin to monolayers was also directly observed by fluorescence microscopy. The fluorescence of the protein domains is directly related to the state of polarization of the exciting light. This anisotropy can only be explained by the formation of oriented two-dimensional biotin lipid-streptavidin domains. PMID- 2605179 TI - Kinetics of the purified glucose transporter. Direct measurement of the rates of interconversion of transporter conformers. AB - There is considerable evidence that the mechanism of glucose transport by the transporter of human erythrocytes is one in which the transporter oscillates between two conformations, To and Ti. Each conformer possesses a single glucose binding site that in vivo faces either the extracellular space (conformer To) or the cytoplasm (conformer Ti). In this study, the interconversions of these conformers in the absence and presence of D-glucose have been directly observed by means of the stopped-flow method with fluorescence detection. Nearly unidirectional conversion of one conformer to the other was accomplished by rapidly mixing purified transporter (a mixture of To and Ti) with either 4,6 ethylidene-D-glucose, which preferentially binds to To, or phenyl beta-D glucoside, which preferentially binds to Ti. The values of the individual rate constants for the conversion of Ti to To and vice versa in the absence and presence of D-glucose at 10.0 degrees C have been obtained, and these show that the kinetics are consistent with the alternating conformation model for transport. Conformational change occurs much more rapidly with glucose bound to the transporter. Furthermore, the activation energy Ea for conformer interconversion is much less when glucose is bound than for unliganded transporter. For example, Ea is approximately 28 kcal/mol for Ti----To versus 17 kcal/mol for Ti + S----ToS, where S is glucose. The alpha-anomer of glucose was 37% more effective than the beta-anomer in speeding the interconversion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605180 TI - Turkey gizzard caldesmon: molecular weight determination and calmodulin binding studies. AB - Sedimentation equilibrium and sedimentation velocity measurements demonstrate that turkey gizzard caldesmon is an elongated molecule of molecular mass 75 +/- 2 kDa. The frictional ratio (2.14) is consistent with a prolate ellipsoid of axial ratio 24, corresponding to an apparent length and width of 516 and 21.5 A, respectively. As was previously determined for chicken gizzard caldesmon [Graceffa, P., Wang, C.-L.A., & Stafford, W.F. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 14196 14202], this molecular weight is appreciably smaller than the value (approximately 135,000) estimated from the results of NaDodSO4 gel electrophoresis experiments. However, a significant difference between the true molecular weights of turkey and chicken gizzard caldesmons--75,000 versus 93,000- also points to probable molecular weight variations within the subclass. Binding measurements, based on perturbation of the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of caldesmon in the presence of calmodulin, show that the interaction between the two proteins is strongly ionic strength and temperature dependent. Dissociation constants of 0.075 and 0.38 microM were determined in solutions containing 0.1 and 0.2 M KCl, respectively, at 24.3 degrees C. Fluorescence emission spectra and fluorescence anisotropy excitation spectra indicate that the tryptophanyl residues of caldesmon are located in solvent-accessible regions of the molecule, where they exhibit a high degree of mobility even when calmodulin is bound. PMID- 2605181 TI - Albumin indirectly modulates fibrin and protofibrin ultrastructure. AB - Albumin modulation of fibrin and protofibrin coagulation parameters was studied. Cation-depleted, fatty acid free, human and bovine albumins decrease fibrin clot turbidity in a concentration-dependent manner. Albumin also inhibits the formation of protofibrin gels, induced by addition of 25 microM Zn(II) to protofibrils, though it does not bind to (proto)fibrin. In order to verify that competition for cations underlies the influence of albumin, fibrinogen was dialyzed against cation-depleted albumin. Elemental analysis indicates a redistribution of Zn(II) from the fibrinogen to the albumin compartment, and the resultant fibrin clots are less turbid. Apparently, cation-depleted albumin acts as a competitor for divalent cations. The ability of albumin to compete for available Zn(II) was also expressed in gels formed by pH-jump experiments, in which fibrin monomer, maintained soluble at pH 4.9, is induced to change phase by addition of NaOH to pH 7.4. While turbidimetric evidence indicates that individual fibrin fibers simply become thinner with albumin, scanning electron micrographs (SEM) reveal a more complex effect on ultrastructure. Though albumin does not bind to the gels, fibrin gels produced with albumin show major changes in fiber ultrastructure, particularly evident in gels formed in the presence of Zn(II). These structural modifications are discussed within the context of the "excluded volume" effect, in which "crowding" by albumin alters (proto)fibrin reactivity and ultrastructure. PMID- 2605182 TI - Homologous membrane folate binding proteins in human placenta: cloning and sequence of a cDNA. AB - A preparation of folate binding protein purified from human placental membranes in the presence of a variety of protease inhibitors followed by deglycosylation with N-glycanase gave a sharp band at Mr approximately 28,000 following SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The deglycosylated protein bound [3H]folic acid as tightly as the native protein. Peptides obtained following digestion of the purified protein with staphylococcal V8 protease and HPLC purification were sequenced. Polyclonal antibodies against the protein preparation were affinity purified and used to screen a placental cDNA expression library. A full-length cDNA for a placental folate binding protein was thus obtained and the corresponding protein sequence deduced. This result, taken together with the peptide sequence data, indicates the expression of at least two homologous folate binding proteins in placenta, one of which appears to be identical with the folate binding protein from human milk and nasopharyngeal epidermoid carcinoma (KB) cells; the cDNA sequence obtained corresponds to the other protein. The deduced protein sequence is characterized by a putative 16-residue amino-terminal signal peptide that is cleaved, resulting in a 239-residue polypeptide. The mature protein exhibits two potential sites for N-linked glycosylation at Asn-99 and Asn-179, eight potential intramolecular disulfide bonds, and a stretch of hydrophobic residues at the carboxyl terminus that could form a transmembrane domain. The protein bears a 68% sequence homology with the KB cell folate binding protein and may represent a fetal folate transport protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605183 TI - 4-Thia-trans-2-alkenoyl-CoA derivatives: properties and enzymatic reactions. AB - 4-Thiaacyl-CoA analogues, in which the 4-methylene group is replaced by a thioether sulfur atom, represent new chromophoric substrates of acyl-CoA dehydrogenases and oxidase. The corresponding 4-thia-trans-2-enoyl-CoA products exhibit a strong new absorption band (extinction coefficient 22 mM-1 cm-1) that is red shifted from 312 to 338 nm upon binding to the medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. 4-Thiaoctanoyl-CoA reduces the dehydrogenase several-fold slower than octanoyl-CoA, although in turnover it is dehydrogenated 1.5-fold faster. The redox potential of 4-thia analogues is some 30 mV more negative than that of their unsubstituted counterparts. 4-Thia-trans-2-enoyl-CoA derivatives are slowly hydrated by enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.17) to the corresponding thiohemiacetal which fragments nonenzymatically to 1 equiv each of malonylsemialdehyde-CoA and alkanethiol. This fragmentation reaction might explain the release of methanethiol during the transamination pathway of methionine degradation. 4 Oxaoctanoyl-CoA is a much poorer substrate and kinetic reductant of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and oxidase than the 4-thia analogue. The corresponding enoyl-CoA product is also fragmented by the hydratase, yielding butanol and malonylsemialdehyde-CoA. Thus, 4-heterosubstituted acyl-CoA derivatives provide new tools for the study of beta-oxidation enzymes. PMID- 2605184 TI - Generation of a catalytic sequence-specific hybrid DNase. AB - Hybrid nucleases consisting of an oligonucleotide fused to a unique site on the relatively nonspecific phosphodiesterase staphylococcal nuclease have been shown to sequence specifically cleave DNA. We have introduced mutations into the binding pocket of the nuclease which lower the kcat/Km of the enzyme. Hybrid nucleases generated from these mutants sequence selectively hydrolyze single stranded DNA in a catalytic fashion, and under a much wider range of conditions than was previously possible. One such hybrid nuclease (Y113A, K116C) was able to site selectively cleave single-stranded M13mp7 DNA (7214 nt), primarily at one phosphodiester bond. Another hybrid nuclease (Y113A, L37A, K116C) catalyzed the hydrolysis of a 78-nt DNA substrate with a kcat of 1.2 min-1 and a Km of 120 nM. The effects of variations in the length and sequence of the oligonucleotide binding region were examined, as were changes in the length of the tether between the oligonucleotide and the enzyme. Cleavage specificity was also assayed as a function of substrate DNA primary and secondary structure and added poly(dA). PMID- 2605185 TI - Repair of pyrimidine dimer ultraviolet light photoproducts by human cell extracts. AB - A newly developed method allows human cell extracts to carry out repair synthesis on ultraviolet light irradiated closed circular plasmid DNA [Wood, R. D., Robins, P., & Lindahl, T. (1988) Cell 53, 97-106]. The identity of the photodamage that leads to this repair replication was investigated. Removal of stable pyrimidine hydrates from irradiated plasmid pAT153 did not significantly affect the amount of repair replication in the fluence range of 0-450 J/m2, because of the low yield of these products and their short DNA repair patch size. Photoreactivation of irradiated DNA using purified Escherichia coli DNA photolyase to remove more than 95% of the cyclobutane dimers from the DNA reduced the observed repair synthesis by 20-40%. The greater part of the repair synthesis is highly likely to be caused by (6-4) pyrimidine dimer photoproducts. This class of lesions is rapidly repaired by mammalian cells, and their removal is known to be important for cell survival after ultraviolet irradiation. PMID- 2605186 TI - Sequence-dependent variations in the 31P NMR spectra and backbone torsional angles of wild-type and mutant Lac operator fragments. AB - Assignment of the 31P resonances of a series of six sequenced-related tetradecamer DNA duplexes, d(TGTGAGCGCTCACA)2, d(TATGAGCGCTCATA)2, d(TCTGAGCGCTCAGA)2, d(TGTGTGCGCACACA)2, d(TGTGACGCGTCACA)2 and d(CACAGTATACTGTG)2, related to the lac operator DNA sequence was determined either by site-specific 17O labeling of the phosphoryl groups or by two dimensional 1H-31P pure absorption phase constant time (PAC) heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy. J(H3'-P) coupling constants for each of the phosphates of the tetradecamers were obtained from 1H-31P J-resolved selective proton flip 2D spectra. By use of a modified Karplus relationship the C4'-C3'-O3'-P torsional angles (epsilon) were obtained. Comparison of the 31P chemical shifts and J(H3' P) coupling constants of these sequences has allowed greater insight into those various factors responsible for 31P chemical shift variations in oligonucleotides and provided an important probe of the sequence-dependent structural variation of the deoxyribose phosphate backbone of DNA in solution. These sequence-specific variations in the conformation of the DNA sugar phosphate backbone of various lac operator DNA sequences can possibly explain the sequence-specific recognition of DNA by DNA binding proteins, as mediated through direct contacts between the phosphates and the protein. PMID- 2605187 TI - Cross-linking of beta-bungarotoxin to chick brain membranes. Identification of subunits of a putative voltage-gated K+ channel. AB - beta-Bungarotoxin (beta-Butx), a presynaptically active neurotoxin from snake venom, is thought to bind to a subtype of voltage-gated K+ channels. 125I-beta Butx was cross-linked to its high-affinity binding site in membrane fractions from chick brain by using the bivalent reagents 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethyl amino)propyl]carbodiimide and sulfosuccinimidyl 6-[(4-azido-2 nitrophenyl)amino]hexanoate. Two major adducts of apparent Mr 90,000-95,000 and 46,000-49,000 were obtained with both cross-linkers. Formation of both adducts was inhibited by the K+ channel ligands dendrotoxin I and mast cell degranulating peptide. Our data indicate that the putative beta-Butx-sensitive neuronal K+ channel contains at least two different types of subunits of about 75 and 28 kDa. PMID- 2605188 TI - Binding characteristics of N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectin of the isolated chicken hepatocytes: similarities to mammalian hepatic galactose/N acetylgalactosamine-specific lectin. AB - Binding characteristics of N-acetylglucosamine- (GlcNAc) specific lectin on the chicken hepatocyte surface were probed by an inhibition assay using various sugars and glycosides as inhibitors. Results indicated that the binding area of the lectin is small, interacting only with GlcNAc residues whose 3- and 4-OH's are open. The combining site is probably of trough-type, since substitution with as large a group as monosaccharide is permitted on the C-6 side of GlcNAc, and on the C-1 side, the aglycon of GlcNAc can be very large (e.g., a glycoprotein). These binding characteristics are shared with the homologous mammalian lectin specific for galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine, suggesting that tertiary structure of the combining area of these two lectins is similar. This is understandable, since there is approximately 40% amino acid sequence identity in the carbohydrate recognition domain of these two lectins [Drickamer, K., Mannon, J. F., Binns, G., & Leung, J. O. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 770-778]. A series of glycosides, each containing two GlcNAc residues separated by different distances (from 0.8 to 4.7 nm), were synthesized. Inhibition assay with these and other cluster glycosides indicated that clustering of two or more GlcNAc residues increased the affinity toward the chicken lectin tremendously. Among the ligands containing two GlcNAc residues, the structure which allows a maximal inter-GlcNAc distance of 3.3 nm had the strongest affinity, its affinity increase over GlcNAc (monosaccharide) amounting to 100-fold. Longer distances slightly diminished the affinity, while shortening the distance caused substantial decrease in the affinity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605189 TI - Effects of hydrostatic pressure on the location of PRODAN in lipid bilayers: a FT IR study. AB - The effects of hydrostatic pressure on the location of 6-propionyl-2 (dimethylamino)naphthalene (PRODAN), an environmentally sensitive fluorescent probe, in phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayers have been studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) over the pressure range of 0.001-25 kbar. The results derived from the PRODAN C = O stretching band, the correlation field splitting of the methylene scissoring mode, and the methylene symmetric stretching mode as well as the absorption of the naphthalene ring show that in the sample of 4% (w/w) PRODAN in dimyristoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) at pH 6.8, most of the PRODAN molecules are embedded in the bilayers. In contrast, at pH 3.0, PRODAN was found to reside either on the membrane surface or dispersed in water. Compared to DMPC, egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (egg PC), which contains a substantial amount of unsaturated fatty acyl chains, is more susceptible to PRODAN permeation. The present study shows that the pressure dependence of the location of PRODAN in lipid membranes is different from that of tetracaine, a local anesthetic, in lipid bilayers. The model regarding the PRODAN location in lipid bilayers derived from the present infrared data has been compared with that obtained with previous fluorescence studies. PMID- 2605190 TI - Hemagglutinins from two influenza virus variants bind to sialic acid derivatives with millimolar dissociation constants: a 500-MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance study. AB - The equilibrium binding of influenza virus hemagglutinin to derivatives of its cell-surface ligand, sialic acid, was measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Binding was quantified by observing perturbations of sialic acid resonances in the presence of protein. The major perturbation observed was a chemical shift of the N-acetyl methyl resonance, presumably due to the proximity of the methyl group to tryptophan 153. X-31 hemagglutinin binds to the methyl alpha-glycoside of sialic acid with a dissociation constant of 2.8 mM and does not bind to the methyl beta-glycoside. Replacing the 4-hydroxyl group of sialic acid with an acetyl group has little effect, while replacing the 7-hydroxyl group with an acetyl prevents binding. Experiments with sialylated oligosaccharides confirm literature reports that mutations at amino acid 226 change the specificity of hemagglutinin for alpha(2,6) and alpha(2,3) glycosidic linkages. The NMR line broadening of sialyloligosaccharides suggests that sialic acid is the only component that contacts the protein. Saccharides containing two sialic acid residues appear to have two separate binding modes. Hemagglutinin that has undergone a low pH induced conformational change retains the ability to bind sialic acid. PMID- 2605191 TI - Cholesterol metabolism by purified cytochrome P-450scc is highly stimulated by octyl glucoside and stearic acid exclusively in large unilamellar phospholipid vesicles. AB - Cholesterol side-chain cleavage (CSCC) catalyzed by purified bovine adrenal mitochondrial cytochrome P-450scc is highly dependent on the vesicles that supply cholesterol. Six-fold higher rates are achieved with large unilamellar dioleoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles (diameter 150 nm) prepared by octyl glucoside (OG) dialysis (DOPC-LUV) than with small sonicated vesicles (diameter 30 nm) (DOPC-SUV) (Vmax = 25 and 4 min-1, respectively. Extensive dialysis that may remove OG decreased Vmax rates for DOPC-LUV almost to rates seen with DOPC SUV. These dialyzed DOPC-LUV were, however, very sensitive to addition of OG (EC50 = 2.5 microM, 4.3-fold stimulation) while DOPC-SUV were only weakly affected (EC50 = 100 microM, 1.6-fold stimulation). This enhancement of CSCC in LUV by OG only occurred when the cholesterol:DOPC exceeded 0.1 and was associated with a 15-fold increase in the Km for cholesterol. Structural changes in both SUV and LUV at high cholesterol:DOPC ratios (0.1-1) were indicated by decreases in internal volume that were insensitive to OG and did not affect the external diameters. Stearic acid produced a similar stimulation of CSCC in LUV (EC50 = 50 microM) and had no effect on SUV. The Vmax for CSCC, produced by OG activation of DOPC-LUV, is comparable to the highest attained for cytochrome P-450scc (Tween 20/cholesterol). In LUV, a minor proportion of OG (1-5% of cholesterol) is thus sufficient to generate a domain of reactive cholesterol that maintains a near optimum turnover. This increased CSCC was paralleled by increased binding of cholesterol to P-450scc, suggesting that this cholesterol is more readily donated by the membrane to the cytochrome. PMID- 2605192 TI - Effect of micelle diameter on tryptophan dynamics in an amphipathic helical peptide in phosphatidylcholine. AB - The effect of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) on the conformation and environment of the single tryptophan residue of a model amphipathic helical polypeptide has been investigated by fluorescence quenching with a water-soluble, neutral quencher (acrylamide) and multiple-frequency phase fluorometry. The peptide H-Ser-Ser-Ala-Asp-Trp-Leu-Lys-Ala-Phe-Tyr-Asp-Lys-Val-Ala-Glu-Lys-Leu-Ly s-Glu- Ala-Phe-Ser-Ser-Ser-OH [18As; Kanellis, P., Romans, A.Y., Johnson, B.J., Kercret, H., Chiovetti, R., Jr., Allen, T.M., & Segrest, S.P. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 11464] was synthesized by solid-phase techniques. Peptide was incubated at 26 degrees C with DMPC at various peptide:lipid weight ratios. The diameter of the resulting disk-shaped micelles increases with increasing lipid concentration from 12.0 +/- 0.4 nm at a 1:1 weight ratio of peptide to lipid to a maximum of 48.7 +/- 1.0 nm at a 1:13 ratio. At a weight ratio of 1:5, the average diameter is 22.7 +/- 0.6 nm. Decreasing the peptide:lipid ratio of the micelle resulted in a blue-shift in the fluorescence emission maximum (from 337 nm at 1:1 to 334 nm at 1:5), an increase in the fluorescence lifetime of the tryptophan measured by the phase shift method at 18 MHz (from 3.12 ns at 1:1 to 3.61 ns at 1:5), a decrease in the rate of fluorescence quenching by acrylamide (from 0.87 x 10(9) M-1 s-1 at 1:1 to 0.42 x 10(9) M-1 s-1 at 1:5), and an increase in the activation energy for quenching (from 6.7 kcal/mol at 1:1 to 12.7 kcal/mol at 1:5).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605193 TI - Cysteinyl peptide labeled by 3-bromo-2-ketoglutarate in the active site of pig heart NAD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase. AB - The substrate affinity label 3-bromo-2-ketoglutarate (BrKG) reacts covalently with pig heart NAD+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase with complete inactivation and incorporation of about 0.8 mol of reagent/mol of average enzyme subunit [Bednar, R.A., Hartman, F.C., & Colman, R.F. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 3681-3689]. Protection against inactivation is provided by isocitrate and Mn2+. We have now identified a critical modified peptide by comparison of the peptides labeled by BrKG at pH 6.1 in the absence and presence of isocitrate and Mn2+. Modified enzyme, isolated from unreacted BrKG, was incubated with [3H]NaBH4 to reduce the keto group of protein-bound 2-ketoglutarate and thereby introduce a radioactive tracer into the modified amino acid. Following carboxymethylation and digestion with trypsin, the specific modified peptide was isolated by reverse-phase HPLC, first in 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid with a gradient in acetonitrile and then in 20 mM ammonium acetate, pH 5.8, with an acetonitrile gradient. Gas-phase sequencing gave the modified peptide: Ser-Ala-X-Val-Pro-Val-Asp-Phe-Glu-Glu-Val-Val-Val-Ser Ser-Asn-Ala-Asp-Gl u-Glu- Asp-Ile-Arg. The corresponding tryptic peptide that was isolated from unmodified enzyme yielded the same sequence except for (carboxymethyl)cysteine at position 3, suggesting that cysteine is the target of 3-bromo-2-ketoglutarate. Pig heart NAD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase is composed of three distinct subunits (alpha, beta, and gamma) that can be separated by chromatofocusing in urea and identified by analytical gel isoelectric focusing. The peptide modified by 3-bromo-2-ketoglutarate, which is in or near the substrate site, is derived only from the separated gamma subunit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605194 TI - Effect of S-adenosyl-1,12-diamino-3-thio-9-azadodecane, a multisubstrate adduct inhibitor of spermine synthase, on polyamine metabolism in mammalian cells. AB - The effects of the potent spermine synthase inhibitor S-adenosyl-1,12-diamino-3 thio-9-azadodecane (AdoDatad) on polyamine biosynthesis have been studied in transformed mouse fibroblasts (SV 3T3 cells) and in mouse leukemia cells (L1210). A dose-dependent decrease in intracellular spermine concentration was observed in both cell lines when grown in the presence of the inhibitor. A major difference in the effects seen in these two cell lines was the cytotoxicity observed in L1210 cells exposed to the inhibitor, which contrasted with little or no effects on growth of SV 3T3 cells treated similarly. Oxidative metabolism of the drug in L1210 cells was suggested by the fact that addition of aminoguanidine, an amine oxidase inhibitor, to the cell cultures ablated the cytotoxic effects of the inhibitor. Complete analysis of intracellular polyamines was carried out, together with analysis of S-adenosylmethionine, decarboxylated S adenosylmethionine, and the inhibitor. These analyses revealed that, although the inhibitor had a dramatic effect on spermine biosynthesis in the cells studied, a compensatory increase in spermidine biosynthesis was observed. This resulted in no change in total polyamine concentrations in cells treated with inhibitors of either spermine synthase or spermidine synthase (Pegg et al., 1982) alone or in combination. In all cases, the concentration of the aminopropyl donor decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine increased dramatically, thus allowing for the observed maintenance of total polyamine levels even in the presence of either one or both potent inhibitors of the aminopropyltransferases. Oxidative metabolism of the inhibitor complicates the interpretation of experiments carried out in the absence of amine oxidase inhibitors such as aminoguanidine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605195 TI - Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of cyanide with molybdenum nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii. AB - The steady-state kinetic behavior of the six-electron reduction of N2 by nitrogenase is known to differ markedly from the six-electron reduction of cyanide in two ways. First, on extrapolation to infinite concentration of cyanide, the H2 evolution reaction is almost completely suppressed whereas at extrapolated infinite concentration of N2, H2 evolution continues. Second, as the ratio of the Fe protein to the MoFe protein increases, the reduction of N2 is favored over H2 evolution, whereas the reduction of cyanide becomes less favored relative to H2 evolution. We have extended these steady-state experiments with Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase to include a third observation, that the six electron reduction of N2 is favored over H2 evolution at high total protein concentrations whereas cyanide reduction is less favored over H2 evolution at high total protein concentrations. All three steady-state observations can be explained by a model whereby cyanide is proposed to bind to a redox state of the MoFe protein more oxidized than that reactive toward H2 evolution and N2 reduction. To test this model, we have examined the pre-steady-state kinetic behavior of both cyanide reduction by A. vinelandii nitrogenase and cyanide inhibition of total electron flow through nitrogenase. The data show that in the presence or absence of cyanide there is a short lag of 100 ms before H2 is detected, followed by a linear phase of H2 evolution lasting for about 3 s, during which time no effects of cyanide are observable. After 3 s electron flow is finally inhibited by cyanide, and the cyanide reduction product CH4 is finally formed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605196 TI - Inhibition kinetics of acetylcholinesterase with fluoromethyl ketones. AB - A series of trifluoromethyl ketones that reversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase were synthesized. By analogy to chymotrypsin and on the basis of data reported here, we propose that the active-site serine adds to the ketone to form an ionized hemiketal. The compound (5,5,5-trifluoro-4 oxopentyl)trimethylammonium bicarbonate (1) inhibits acetylcholinesterase with Ki = 0.06 X 10(-9)M and pseudocholinesterase with Ki = 70 X 10(-9)M. Replacement of the nitrogen of 1 by carbon (compound 2) increases Ki for 1 200-fold for acetylcholinesterase but does not significantly alter Ki for pseudocholinesterase. The Ki for the methyl ketone corresponding to 2 is 2 X 10( 4)M for both enzymes, as compared with 12 X 10(-9)M for the trifluoromethyl ketone (acetylcholinesterase). For both enzymes, a linear decrease in log Ki with decreasing pK of the inhibitor hydrate was observed with ketones containing from 0 to 3 fluorines. We attribute this effect to the stabilization of the hemiketal oxyanion. The reduction of the pK of the hemiketal by the trifluoromethyl group is an important contributing factor to the low Ki of trifluoromethyl ketones. The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by tetramethylammonium chloride and trifluoroacetone was compared to the inhibition by 1, which is a composite of the two smaller inhibitors. The entropic advantage of combining the smaller inhibitors into one molecule is 1.1 X 10(3)M. Inhibitors with Ki less than or equal to 70 X 10(-9) M are slow binding (Morrison, 1982; Morrison & Walsh, 1988). The kinetic data do not require formation of a noncovalent complex prior to formation of the ketal, although such a complex(es) cannot be excluded.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605197 TI - Expression of enzymatically active rat dipeptidyl peptidase IV in Chinese hamster ovary cells after transfection. AB - Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) is a cell surface membrane glycoprotein expressed in many tissues. We have subcloned the coding region of a full-length cDNA for DPPIV into the inducible eukaryotic expression vector pMSG. The resulting construct was used to transfect Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Stable transformants were found to express DPPIV, and the expression is enhanced by dexamethasone. Metabolic labeling of the transfected cells with [35S]Met followed by immunoprecipitation revealed the presence of two specific products of apparent Mr 100,000 (100-kDa form) and 110,000 (110-kDa form), respectively. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that the 100-kDa form can be chased into the 110-kDa form, suggesting the 100-kDa form is the precursor of the 110-kDa form. Further studies with endo H treatment demonstrated that the carbohydrate structures are of the high-mannose type, and of the complex type for the 100- and 110-kDa forms, respectively. The 110-kDa form is present at the cell surface as shown by its accessibility to cell surface iodination. The DPPIV expressed on the cell surface is resistant to digestion by relatively high concentrations of trypsin. Studies also demonstrated that the surface DPPIV is fairly stable with a half-life for turnover of about 40 h. Furthermore, the DPPIV produced in the transfected cells displays specific dipeptidyl peptidase activity. The stably transfected cells that express enzymatically active DPPIV in an inducible manner will provide an excellent system for further biochemical, functional, and cell biological characterizations of DPPIV. PMID- 2605198 TI - Oxidation-reduction potentials and ionization states of extracellular peroxidases from the lignin-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. AB - The oxidation-reduction potentials of lignin peroxidase isozymes H1, H2, H8, and H10 as well as the Mn-dependent peroxidase isozymes H3 and H4 are reported. The potentiometric titrations involving the ferrous and ferric states of the enzyme had Nernst plots indicating single-electron transfer. The Em7 values of lignin peroxidase isozymes H1, H2, H8, and H10 are -142, -135, -137, and -127 mV versus standard hydrogen electrode, respectively. The Em7 values for the Mn-dependent peroxidase isozymes H3 and H4 are -88 and -93 mV versus standard hydrogen electrode, respectively. The midpoint potential of H1, H8, and H4 remained unchanged in the presence of their respective substrates, veratryl alcohol and Mn(II). The midpoint potential between the ferric and ferrous forms of isozymes H1 and H4 exhibited a pH-dependent change between pH 3.5 and pH 6.5. These results indicate that the reductive half-reaction of the enzymes is the following: ferric peroxidase + le- + H+----ferrous peroxidase. Above pH 6.5, the effect of pH on the midpoint potential is diminished and indicates that an ionization with an apparent pKa equal to approximately 6.6-6.7 occurs in the reduced form of the enzymes. A heme-linked ionization group in the ferrous form of the enzymes was confirmed by studying the effect of pH on the absorption spectra of isozymes H1 and H4. These spectrophotometric pH titration experiments confirmed the electrochemical results indicating pKa values of 6.59 and 6.69 for reduced isozymes H1 and H4, respectively. These results indicate the presence of a heme-linked ionization of an amino acid in the reduced form of the lignin peroxidase isozymes similar to that of other plant peroxidases. PMID- 2605199 TI - Synthesis of azidotubulin: a photoaffinity label for tubulin-binding proteins. AB - A photoaffinity label for the identification of tubulin-binding proteins was synthesized from phosphocellulose-purified bovine brain tubulin and (N hydroxysuccinimidyl)-4-azidosalicylic acid. The azidotubulin derivative retained the ability to undergo temperature-dependent microtubule assembly and disassembly. When incubated with purified tau protein, the azidotubulin and tau formed cross-linked complexes upon photoactivation. When 125I-labeled azidotubulin was used to photoaffinity label tubulin-binding proteins within the kinetochore of isolated mammalian chromosomes, a 130-kDa band was identified on autoradiographs of SDS-polyacrylamide gels of the 125I-labeled azidotubulin/chromosome preparations. The 130-kDa complex was isolated by antitubulin affinity chromatography and analyzed by immunoblotting using both antitubulin and kinetochore-specific sera obtained from human patients with the autoimmune disease scleroderma CREST. The immunoblots demonstrated that the 130 kDa band that was observed on autoradiographs was a complex of a subunit of the tubulin dimer and an 80-kDa CREST-specific kinetochore protein. The binding of azidotubulin to the 80-kDa kinetochore protein was significantly decreased when chromosomes were treated with a mixture of 9 parts underivatized tubulin to 1 part azidotubulin prior to photolysis. The formation of the 130-kDa azidotubulin/kinetochore protein complex was not inhibited by pretreating the chromosomes with CREST serum prior to incubation with azidotubulin. Azidotubulin should be a useful probe for the identification and characterization of tubulin binding proteins. PMID- 2605200 TI - Tropomyosin stabilizes the pointed end of actin filaments by slowing depolymerization. AB - Tropomyosin is postulated to confer stability to actin filaments in nonmuscle cells. We have found that a nonmuscle tropomyosin isolated from the intestinal epithelium can directly stabilize actin filaments by slowing depolymerization from the pointed, or slow-growing, filament end. Kinetics of elongation and depolymerization from the pointed end were measured in fluorescence assays using pyrenylactin filaments capped at the barbed end by villin. The initial pointed end depolymerization rate in the presence of tropomyosin averaged 56% of the control rate. Elongation from the pointed filament end in the presence of tropomyosin occurred at a lower free G-actin concentration, although the on rate constant, kappa p+, was not greatly affected. Furthermore, in the presence of tropomyosin, the free G-actin concentration was lower at steady state. Therefore, nonmuscle tropomyosin stabilizes the pointed filament end by lowering the off rate constant, kappa p-. PMID- 2605201 TI - Photoaffinity labeling of tubulin with (2-nitro-4-azidophenyl)deacetylcolchicine: direct evidence for two colchicine binding sites. AB - A new photoaffinity analogue of colchicine, (2-nitro-4 azidophenyl)deacetylcolchicine (NAPDAC), bound to two classes of sites on bovine renal tubulin and photolabeled both the alpha- and beta-subunits. The apparent Ki for the photoaffinity analogue was 1.40 +/- 0.17 microM (mean +/- SD, n = 3) as measured by competition with [3H] colchicine. Values of the apparent KdS for the two sites, as measured by the direct binding of the [3H]NAPDAC to tubulin, were 0.48 +/- 0.11 microM and 11.6 +/- 3.5 microM (mean +/- SD, n = 6), and the corresponding stoichiometries of binding of the two sites were 0.25 +/- 0.06 and 1.3 +/- 0.4 mol/mol of tubulin (mean +/- SD, n = 6). NAPDAC was a potent inhibitor of microtubule formation as detected by electron microscopy. When tubulin was photolabeled with NAPDAC at 25 degrees C, 15 +/- 3 mol % (mean +/- SD, n = 6) of the [3H]NAPDAC was covalently bound to the alpha-subunit, and 67 +/ 9 mol % (mean +/- SD, n = 6) was covalently bound to the beta-subunit. Since NAPDAC is a mixture of two interconvertible diastereomers, the photoincorporation of each was also examined. One diastereomer photolabeled both alpha- and beta tubulin; however, the other did not significantly photolabel either subunit. Tubulin photolabeled with NAPDAC (1:1 mole ratio) exhibited a 23% decrease in colchicine binding. Preblocking and prephotolysis experiments with colchicine, NAPDAC, or ANPAH-CLC [Williams et al. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 13794-13802] provided evidence for conformational changes in tubulin upon colchicine binding. Peptide maps of [3H]NAPDAC-labeled alpha- and beta-tubulin, using Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, demonstrated the presence of NAPDAC in one peptide of the alpha-subunit and in five peptides of the beta-subunit as detected by autoradiography. NAPDAC provides the first direct evidence for two colchicine binding sites on tubulin. PMID- 2605202 TI - cDNA cloning and predicted amino acid sequence of Glycera dibranchiata monomer hemoglobin IV. AB - The three major monomer hemoglobins from Glycera dibranchiata erythrocytes isolated in this laboratory were sequenced from their N-termini. A stretch of amino acid sequence identity was used to determine the sequence of a mixed oligodeoxynucleotide that would be complementary to all 12 possible mRNA sequences coding for the amino acids. A cDNA library was constructed by using poly(A+) RNA from G. dibranchiata erythrocytes, the library was probed with the oligonucleotide, and the longest positive inserts found were subcloned into a sequencing plasmid and then sequenced. The first one was 745 bases long, containing 85 bases of 5'-untranslated RNA, an open reading frame of 444 bases coding for 148 amino acids, and a 3'-untranslated region of 216 bases. The predicted amino acid sequence matches the first 25 amino acids of G. dibranchiata monomer globin component IV. The sequence contains an N-terminal methionine plus 18 other mostly conservative sequence changes compared to the published sequence of Imamura et al. (1972), which appears from our partial sequencing to be monomer globin component II. We confirm the presence of leucine in the E7 position, which is histidine in most myoglobins and hemoglobins. PMID- 2605203 TI - Shielding of tryptophan residues of avidin by the binding of biotin. AB - The binding of biotin to tetrameric avidin changes the environment of tryptophan residues. Binding reduces the total tryptophan fluorescence by 34%, shifts the emission peak from 337 to 324 nm, and reduces the fluorescence bandwidth from 61 to 46 nm. These changes are consistent with the movement of tryptophans to a nonpolar, internal environment. In the absence of biotin, iodide readily quenches the fluorescence of 20-29% of the initial fluorescence, which likely corresponds to one tryptophan located in a positively charged environment. Iodide may have weak access to additional fluorescence, corresponding to perhaps one additional tryptophan. Acrylamide, in the absence of biotin, has good access to three fourths or more of the fluorescence, but the remainder, due to one or two tryptophans, is well shielded. The binding of biotin completely prevents iodide quenching and decreases acrylamide access dramatically. The data indicate that biotin binding shifts two or three tryptophans to an internal, hydrophobic, shielded environment. PMID- 2605204 TI - Kappa-neurotoxins: heterodimer formation between different neuronal nicotinic receptor antagonists. AB - The kappa-neurotoxins are a family of snake venom polypeptides that are competitive antagonists of acetylcholine at a variety of neuronal nicotinic receptors. We have previously determined that kappa-bungarotoxin, purified from the venom of Bungarus multicinctus, exists in solution entirely as a dimer of identical subunits. We now report that the three other known kappa-neurotoxins, namely, kappa 2-bungarotoxin and kappa 3-bungarotoxin from Bungarus multicinctus and kappa-flavitoxin from Bungarus flaviceps, also self-aggregate in solution. Furthermore, when two different kappa-neurotoxins are mixed, a heterodimer species spontaneously forms and reaches an equilibrium with the two homodimers after which 40-50% of the protein exists as the heterodimer. A cation-exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography procedure is described which readily separates kappa-neurotoxin heterodimers from the homodimers. Sedimentation equilibria experiments give an Mr = 15,500 +/- 1000 for kappa-flavitoxin and an Mr = 14,500 +/- 700 for a mixture of kappa-bungarotoxin and kappa-flavitoxin. Since the subunit molecular weights of kappa-bungarotoxin and kappa-flavitoxin are respectively 7313 and 7242, self-aggregation of these toxins in solution results in a preponderance of kappa-neurotoxin dimers. The stoichiometry of the heterodimer formed by kappa-bungarotoxin and kappa-flavitoxin is 1:1, as determined by amino acid sequence analysis. After isolation, the kappa-neurotoxin heterodimer partially dissociates and again reaches equilibrium with the homodimers, a process which requires 2-4 h at 23 degrees C. The ability to self aggregate to form heterodimers and homodimers thus appears to be a common property of the kappa-neurotoxins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605205 TI - Influence of globin structure on the heme in dromedary carbonmonoxyhemoglobin. AB - By use of X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), circular dichroism, and visible absorption spectroscopies, dromedary carbonmonoxyhemoglobin has been characterized structurally and functionally. By consideration of the experimental results the following view emerges: (i) the quaternary structure is not the unique factor determining the tertiary environment around the heme, and (ii) the multiplicity of interactions between hemoglobin and solvent components induces a large number of globin conformations, which somehow affect the conformation of the heme such that the structural parameters (i.e., the doming of porphyrins, the movements of the iron relative to the heme plane, the distortion of the ligand field, and the change in the Fe-C-O angle) can be uncoupled. PMID- 2605206 TI - Helix formation and stability in a signal sequence. AB - A detailed nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the isolated LamB signal peptide (MMITLRKLPLAVAVAAGVMSAQAMA) under conditions defined by circular dichroism spectra to mimic the conformational distribution of this peptide in membranelike environments has provided a description of specific residue conformational preferences. This 25-residue long peptide in 20 mol % trifluoroethanol in water is in dynamic equilibrium between a helical and a more random conformation, and this equilibrium is shifted toward the more random structure as the temperature is raised. Part of the molecule, residues 10-18, exists in a stable helix at all temperatures studied (5, 25, and 50 degrees C). Propagation of the helix through the C-terminal end occurs at 25 degrees C, while the temperature must be lowered to 5 degrees C to observe any significant population of a helical conformation in the N-terminal region. These results argue that the Pro and Gly residues, which flank the helical segment, act to disfavor helix propagation on their N- or C-terminal sides, respectively. The influence of the Pro residue is stronger than that of the Gly. Furthermore, the most stable part of the helix in this signal peptide under the conditions studied is the hydrophobic core, which is the hallmark of functional signal sequences. PMID- 2605207 TI - A thermodynamic model for the self-association of human spectrin. AB - The self-association of human spectrin at 28.8 degrees C in 0.11 M salt (pH 7.5) has been studied by means of sedimentation equilibrium. Coincidence of omega function plots as a function of total spectrin concentration (0-2 g/L) indicated that equilibrium was achieved and that no significant concentration of solute was incapable of participating in the self-association reaction. On the basis of the root-mean-square deviation of the fits and the randomness of the residuals, the behavior can be described equally well, either by a cooperative isodesmic model, in which K12 approximately 2 x 10(6) M-1 and all other K approximately 10(6) M-1, or by an attenuated scheme in which K(i-1)i approximately (3.5 x 10(6)/i M-1. The returned values of the second virial coefficient, B, for both these models fall within the range calculated from the charge and Stokes radius of spectrin. A mechanism for spectrin self-association consistent with both schemes is proposed in which spectrin heterodimers undergo a reversible opening at the self association interface. These open heterodimers then undergo indefinite self association to form a series of open-chain oligomers in dynamic equilibrium with closed-loop oligomers. PMID- 2605208 TI - Hydrogen exchange of the tryptophan residues in bovine, goat, guinea pig, and human alpha-lactalbumin. AB - Hydrogen exchange of the individual tryptophan residues of bovine, goat, guinea pig, and human alpha-lactalbumin has been studied by both ultraviolet and NMR spectra. The assignment of the slowly exchanging imino proton resonances to the tryptophan residues (Trp26 and Trp60) was obtained by comparison of the nuclear Overhauser effect difference spectra of bovine, guinea pig, and human alpha lactalbumin. Taking account of the thermal unfolding of each alpha-lactalbumin, the hydrogen exchange rates of the individual tryptophan residues are analyzed. The temperature dependence of the exchange rates classified their exchange mechanisms into two exchange processes: the "low activation energy process" and the "high activation energy process" which is associated directly with the global thermal unfolding of the protein. Trp26 of alpha-lactalbumin exchanges through the high activation energy process. The exchange behavior of Trp26 of guinea pig alpha-lactalbumin suggests a difference of the globally unfolded state of the protein from the other species. The exchange mechanism of Trp60 of human alpha lactalbumin is the low activation energy process in contrast with those of the bovine and goat proteins, although their global thermodynamic properties are similar to each other. Trp104 and Trp118 of alpha-lactalbumin exchange through the low activation energy process, and the reaction rates are affected by the local structural differences around the tryptophan residues among these proteins. The results presented in this paper indicate that the hydrogen exchange rate through the low activation energy process provides the information only about the local nature of a protein while that through the high activation energy process provides the information about the global nature of a protein. PMID- 2605209 TI - Unusual redox properties of electron-transfer flavoprotein from Methylophilus methylotrophus. AB - The most positive redox potential ever recorded for a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) containing protein has been measured for an electron-transfer flavoprotein (ETF) synthesized by Methylophilus methylotrophus. This potential value, 0.196 V versus the standard hydrogen electrode (vs SHE), was measured at pH 7.0 for the one-electron reduction of fully oxidized ETF (ETFox) to the red anionic semiquinone form of ETF (ETF.-). Quantitative formation of ETF.- was observed. The first successful reduction of ETF from M. methylotrophus to its two-electron fully reduced form was also achieved. Although addition of the second electron to ETF.- was extremely slow, the potential value measured for this reduction was 0.197 V vs SHE, suggesting a kinetic rather than thermodynamic barrier to two electron reduction. These data are believed to be consistent with the postulated catalytic function of ETF to accept one electron from the iron-sulfur cluster of trimethylamine dehydrogenase (TMADH). The second electron reduction appears to have no catalytic function. The very positive potential measured for this ETF and the wide separation of potentials for the two electron reduction steps show that this ETF is a unique and interesting flavoprotein. In addition, this work highlights that while ETFs exhibit similar structural and spectral properties, they display wide variations in redox properties. PMID- 2605210 TI - Ruthenium-iron hybrid hemoglobins as a model for partially liganded hemoglobin: oxygen equilibrium curves and resonance Raman spectra. AB - The structure and function of iron(II)-ruthenium(II) hybrid hemoglobins alpha(Ru CO)2 beta(Fe)2 and alpha(Fe)2 beta(Ru-CO)2, which can serve as models for the intermediate species of the oxygenation step in native human adult hemoglobin, were investigated by measuring oxygen equilibrium curves and the Fe(II)-N epsilon (His F8) stretching resonance Raman lines. The oxygen equilibrium properties indicated that these iron-ruthenium hybrid hemoglobins are good models for the half-liganded hemoglobin. The pH dependence of the oxygen binding properties and the resonance Raman line revealed that the quaternary and tertiary structural transition was induced by pH changes. When the pH was lowered, both the iron ruthenium hybrid hemoglobins exhibited relatively higher cooperativity and a Raman line typical of normal deoxy structure, suggesting that their structure is stabilized at a "T-like" state. However, the oxygen affinity of alpha(Fe)2 beta(Ru-CO)2 was lower than that of alpha(Ru-CO)2 beta(Fe)2, and the transition to the "deoxy-type" Fe-N epsilon stretching Raman line of alpha(Fe2)beta(Ru-CO)2 was completed at pH 7.4, while that of the complementary counterpart still remained in an "oxy-like" state under the same condition. These observations clearly indicate that the beta-liganded hybrid has more "T"-state character than the alpha-liganded hybrid. In other words, the ligation to the alpha subunit induces more pronounced changes in the structure and function in Hb than the ligation to the beta subunit. This feature agrees with our previous observations by NMR and sulfhydryl reactivity experiments. The present results are discussed in relation to the molecular mechanism of the cooperative stepwise oxygenation in native human adult hemoglobin. PMID- 2605211 TI - Characterization of selectively 13C-labeled synthetic melittin and melittin analogues in isotropic solvents by circular dichroism, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopy. AB - The spectroscopic and functional characterization of 13C-labeled synthetic melittin and three analogues is described. Selectively 13C-enriched tryptophan ( [13C delta 1]-L-Trp) and glycine ( [13C alpha]Gly) were incorporated into melittin and three analogues by de novo peptide synthesis. 13C-Labeled tryptophan was incorporated into melittin at position 19 and into single-tryptophan analogues of melittin at positions 17, 11, and 9, respectively. Each of the synthetic peptides contained 13C-labeled glycine at position 12 only. The peptides were characterized functionally in a cytolytic assay, and spectroscopically by CD, fluorescence, and NMR. The behavior of 13C-labeled synthetic melittin was, in all respects, indistinguishable from that of the naturally occurring peptide. All of the analogues were found to be efficient lytic agents and thus were functionally similar to the native peptide, yet no evidence was found for formation of a melittin-like tetramer by any of the analogues in aqueous media, although there was a propensity for apparently nonspecific peptide aggregation, especially for MLT-W9. Since the analogues did exhibit fractional helicities by CD comparable to or even greater than melittin itself in the presence of methanol, we infer that tetramer assembly requires not only the ability to form alpha-helix but also a very precise packing of amino acid side chains of the constituent monomers. The 13C chemical shift of the Gly 12 C alpha was found to be a sensitive marker for helix formation in all of the peptides. For melittin itself, 13C NMR spectra revealed a downfield shift of approximately 1.8 ppm for the Gly-12 13C alpha resonance of the tetramer relative to that observed for the free monomer in D2O. In mixed samples containing melittin monomer and tetramer, two discrete Gly-12 13C alpha peaks were observed simultaneously, suggestive of slow exchange between the two species. We conclude that melittin's ability to form a soluble tetramer is not a prerequisite for cytolytic activity, nor is cytolytic potential precisely correlated with the ability to form an amphiphilic helix. PMID- 2605212 TI - Fluorescence and 13C NMR determination of side-chain and backbone dynamics of synthetic melittin and melittin analogues in isotropic solvents. AB - The dynamics in isotopic solvents of selectively 13C labeled synthetic melittin and three analogues have been investigated by using NMR and fluorescence techniques both separately and in combination. In conjunction with the "model free" approach to interpretation of NMR relaxation data [Lipari, G., & Szabo, A. (1982) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 104, 4546-4570], the availability of steady-state fluorescence anisotropy and lifetime data augment T1, T2, and NOE data to provide quantitative information about fluorophore dynamics in these peptides. A method is presented for using combined fluorescence and NMR data to obtain technique- and model-independent values for parameters describing local motion of 13C labeled fluorophores in peptides and proteins. The dynamics of melittin and melittin analogues are found to be consistent with structural characteristics inferred from CD, fluorescence, and NMR spectral information presented in the preceding paper (Weaver et al., 1989). In particular, the mobility of the random coil peptide monomers is shown to be quite similar, while side-chain as well as peptide backbone motion in the aggregated or oligomeric species differs markedly among the analogues. For melittin itself, experimentally determined overall rotational correlation times for the monomer and tetramer agree very well with values predicted on the basis of solvent-accessible protein surface area. The local dynamics of selectively 13C-labeled Trp-19 and Gly-12 residues of melittin are also found to be consistent with peptide structure. In random coil melittin monomer, a specific model for the motion indicates that the Trp side chain moves through an approximate angle of +/- 71 degrees about the beta-gamma bond with a correlation time of 159 +/- 24 ps. In melittin tetramer, the indole moiety is spatially more confined with a flip angle of +/- 37 degrees, yet demonstrates an increased rate of motion with a correlation time of 56 +/- 8 ps. The constrained mobility of the Trp-19 side chain is consistent with motional constraints inferred from the X-ray structure of melittin tetramer. These results show that protein side-chain motion, even of moieties as large as indole, can occur on the picosecond time scale and that these motions are reasonably similar to those inferred from molecular dynamics simulations. PMID- 2605213 TI - Identification of an isoaspartyl linkage formed upon deamidation of bovine calbindin D9k and structural characterization by 2D 1H NMR. AB - Preparations of recombinant bovine calbindin D9k (r-calbindin) that appear homogeneous on SDS electrophoresis gels have been shown by isoelectric focusing to be mixtures of proteins differing in net charge. The production of two isoforms with increased negative charge occurs during a routine urea denaturation step and can be effectively suppressed by replacing this procedure with thermal denaturation. The two isoforms have been separated from the native protein by DEAE-Sephacel ion-exchange chromatography. Amino acid sequencing of tryptic peptide fragments and two-dimensional (2D) 1H NMR studies establish that the isoforms correspond to calbindin D9k deamidated at Asn56 and that the major product has an isoaspartate (beta-linked peptide) residue at this position. The minor deamidated component is found to have a normal Asp-Gly alpha-linkage. A detailed analysis of proton chemical shifts, phi backbone dihedral angles, and nuclear Overhauser effects indicates that the global conformation of r-calbindin is not perturbed upon deamidation and that all elements of secondary structure are intact. The Asp56 form is nearly identical with the intact protein, whereas the structure of the iso-Asp56 form is perturbed, predominantly in the polypeptide segment Lys55-Asp58. These studies demonstrate that 2D 1H NMR techniques can be used to identify and quantitate the two isoforms produced upon deamidation of a protein and to assess changes in the local and global conformation. PMID- 2605214 TI - Complete primary structure of a Lolium perenne (perennial rye grass) pollen allergen, Lol p III: comparison with known Lol p I and II sequences. AB - The complete amino acid sequence of a Lolium perenne (rye grass) pollen allergen, Lol p III, determined by the automated Edman degradation of the protein and its selected fragments, is reported in this paper. Cleavage by enzymatic and chemical techniques established unambiguously the sequence for this 97-residue protein (Mr = 10,909), which lacks cysteine and shows no evidence of glycosylation. The sequence of Lol p III is very similar to that of another L. perenne allergen, Lol p II, which was sequenced recently; of the 97 positions in the two proteins, 57 are occupied by identical amino acids (59% identity). In addition, both allergens share a similar structure with an antibody-binding fragment of a third L. perenne allergen, Lol p I. Since human antibody responsiveness to all these three allergens is associated with HLA-DR3, and since the structure common to the three molecules shows high degrees of amphipathicity in Lol p II and III, we speculate that this common segment in the three molecules might contain or contribute to the respectively Ia/T-cell sites. PMID- 2605215 TI - Rapid purification of the estrogen receptor by sequence-specific DNA affinity chromatography. AB - Rapid purification of calf uterine estrogen receptor (ER) to near homogeneity has been accomplished by use of sequence-specific DNA affinity resin. Very high selectivity for the estrogen receptor is achieved through the use of DNA Sepharose containing eight tandem copies of a consensus estrogen response element (ERE) DNA sequence. The highly purified ER prepared by this new scheme may be labeled economically with ligands of high specific activity. This purification scheme selects for intact receptors retaining function in both estrogen-binding and DNA-binding domains. Purified receptor has an electrophoretic mobility consistent with a molecular weight of 68,000, sediments as a 5S species on sucrose gradients, and reacts with antibody specific to the human estrogen receptor. PMID- 2605216 TI - Cloning of the genes for human stromelysin and stromelysin 2: differential expression in rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts. AB - Stromelysin is a member of a gene family of metalloproteinases involved in extracellular matrix remodeling in normal and diseased processes. Primary cultures of rheumatoid synovial cells produce large amounts of metalloproteinase mRNA and proteins. We cloned a cDNA for human stromelysin from a rheumatoid synovial cell cDNA library, and we used the cDNA to isolate the gene for human stromelysin and a related gene, stromelysin 2. We sequenced parts of the genes and found that both are contained on approximately 14 kilobase pairs of DNA. Using an exon-containing fragment of the stromelysin 2 genomic clone as a specific probe in Northern blot analysis, we demonstrate the differential expression of stromelysin and stromelysin 2 in rheumatoid synovial cells, human foreskin fibroblasts, and rabbit synovial fibroblasts. In addition, using chimeric constructs of the stromelysin promoter linked to the bacterial gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), we show that the elements required for the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) induction are contained on a 307 base pair fragment which includes approximately 270 base pairs (bp) of 5'-flanking DNA. The cloning of the human stromelysin and stromelysin 2 genes, the documentation of their differential expression, and the identification of transcriptional regulatory regions in the stromelysin gene will facilitate the study of metalloproteinase gene expression in normal processes and in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. PMID- 2605217 TI - Periodical polydeoxynucleotides and DNA curvature. AB - A theoretical method to predict DNA curvature was developed, and a strikingly good correlation between the experimental retardations and theoretical curvature of all the periodical biosynthetic DNAs so far reported in the literature was found. The analysis has been extended to G- and C-rich synthetic polynucleotides, which show a behavior in agreement with the theoretical prediction. A possible application of the method to biologically significant DNA tracts is shown in the case of the regulative region of one of the genes which code for the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase in Pisum sativum. While curvature measurements have not so far been reported for this system, biochemical analysis has indicated short nucleotide sequences (boxes I-III) as recognition sites for regulative proteins. On the basis of the theoretical curvature profile of the region and of the electrophoretic retardation measurements of synthetic polynucleotides, obtained by ligating monomers mimicking the boxes, we suggest that the proteins could use DNA local curvature as structural motif in the recognition process. PMID- 2605218 TI - Identification of a noncatalytic domain in AMP deaminase that influences binding to myosin. AB - AMP deaminase (AMP-D) plays a critical role in energy metabolism in skeletal muscle. Prior studies have demonstrated AMP-D binds to myosin heavy chain in vitro, and it decorates the end of the A band in the myofibril. The present study presents evidence that proteolytic removal of 14 kilodaltons, presumably from the carboxy terminus, of the native 80K peptide does not eliminate catalytic activity but this deletion has a pronounced influence on binding of AMP-D to myosin in the presence of ATP. Comparison of the sequence of the rat skeletal muscle form of AMP-D to that of yeast AMP-D demonstrates conservation of an ATP binding site in the carboxy-terminal domain of the rat protein. These results provide a mechanism for regulating binding of AMP-D to myosin heavy chain in response to changes in ATP concentration and suggest a potential function for AMP-D/myosin complex formation in myocytes. PMID- 2605219 TI - Effects of primary sequence differences on the global structure and function of an enzyme: a study of pyruvate kinase isozymes. AB - Pyruvate kinase is an important glycolytic enzyme which is expressed differentially as four distinct isozymes whose catalytic activity is regulated in a tissue-specific manner. The kidney isozyme is known to exhibit sigmoidal kinetics, whereas the muscle isozyme exhibits hyperbolic kinetic properties. By integration of the crystallographic [Stuart, D. I., Levine, M., Muirhead, H., & Stammers, D.K. (1979) J. Mol. Biol. 134, 109-142] and primary sequence data [Noguchi, T., Inoue, H., & Tanaka, T. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 13807], it was shown that the primary sequence for the C alpha 1 and C alpha 2 regions may constitute the allosteric switching site. To provide insights into the effects of the localized sequence change on the global structural and functional behavior of the enzyme, kinetic studies under a wide spectrum of conditions were conducted for both the muscle and kidney isozymes. These conditions include measurements of enzyme activity as a function of substrate concentrations with different concentrations of allosteric inhibitors or activators. These results showed that both isozymes exhibit the same regulatory properties although quantitatively the distribution of active and inactive forms and the various dissociation constants which govern the binding of substrate and allosteric effectors with the enzyme are different. For such a majority of equilibrium constants to be altered, the localized primary sequence change must confer global perturbations which are manifested as differences in the various equilibrium constants. Structural information about these two isozymes was provided by phase-modulation measurement of the fluorescence lifetime of tryptophan residues under a variety of experimental conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605220 TI - Substrate recognition determinants for rhodopsin kinase: studies with synthetic peptides, polyanions, and polycations. AB - Rhodopsin kinase phosphorylates serine- and threonine-containing peptides from bovine rhodopsin's carboxyl-terminal sequence. Km's for the peptides decrease as the length of the peptide is increased over the range 12-31 amino acids, reaching 1.7 mM for peptide 318-348 from the rhodopsin sequence. The Km for phosphorylation of rhodopsin is about 10(3) lower than that for the peptides, which suggests that binding of rhodopsin kinase to its substrate, photolyzed rhodopsin, involves more than just binding to the carboxyl-terminal peptide region that is to be phosphorylated. A synthetic peptide from the rhodopsin sequence that contains both serines and threonines is improved as a substrate by substitution of serines for the threonines, suggesting that serine residues are preferred as substrates. Analogous 25 amino acid peptides from the human red or green cone visual pigment, a beta-adrenergic receptor, or M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are better substrates for bovine rhodopsin kinase than is the peptide from bovine rhodopsin. An acidic serine-containing peptide from a non receptor protein, alpha s1B-casein, is also a good substrate for rhodopsin kinase. However, many basic peptides that are substrates for other protein kinases--histone IIA, histone IIS, clupeine, salmine, and a neurofilament peptide -are not phosphorylated by rhodopsin kinase. Polycations such as spermine or spermidine are nonessential activators of phosphorylation of rhodopsin or its synthetic peptide 324-348. Polyanions such as poly(aspartic acid), dextran sulfate, or poly(adenylic acid) inhibit the kinase. Poly(L-aspartic acid) is a competitive inhibitor with respect to rhodopsin (KI = 300 microM) and shows mixed type inhibition with respect to ATP. PMID- 2605221 TI - Antisense peptide recognition of sense peptides: sequence simplification and evaluation of forces underlying the interaction. AB - Structural principles were studied which underlie the recognition of sense peptides (sense DNA encoded) by synthetic peptides encoded in the corresponding antisense strand of DNA. The direct-readout antisense peptides corresponding to ribonuclease S-peptide bind to an affinity matrix containing immobilized S peptide with significant selectivity and with dissociation constants in the range of 10(-6) M as judged by analytical affinity chromatography. Synthetic, sequence modified forms of antisense peptides also exhibit substantial binding affinity, including a "scrambled" peptide in which the order of residue positions is changed while the overall residue composition is retained. The antisense mutants, as the original antisense peptides, bind at saturation with greater than 1:1 stoichiometry to immobilized S-peptide. The data suggest significant sequence degeneracy in the interaction of antisense with sense peptide. In contrast, selectivity was confirmed by the inability of several control peptides to bind to immobilized S-peptide. The idea was tested that the hydropathic pattern of the amino acid sequence serves to induce antisense peptide recognition. A hydropathically sequence-simplified mutant of antisense peptide was made in which all strongly hydrophilic (charged) residues were replaced by Lys, all strongly hydrophobic residues by Leu, and all weakly hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues by Ala, except Gly which was unchanged. This "KLAG" mutant also binds to immobilized S-peptide, with an affinity only an order of magnitude less than that with the original antisense peptide and with multiple stoichiometry. Mutants of the KLAG model, in which the hydropathic pattern was changed substantially, exhibited a lower binding affinity for S-peptide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605222 TI - Recognition properties of antisense peptides to Arg8-vasopressin/bovine neurophysin II biosynthetic precursor sequences. AB - We studied the interaction properties of synthetic antisense (AS) peptides encoded in the antisense strand of DNA corresponding to the N-terminal 20-residue sequence of the biosynthetic precursor of Arg8-vasopressin (AVP) and its binding protein bovine neurophysin II (BNPII). Binding affinities of sense polypeptides AVP and BNPII with AS peptides were measured by analytical affinity chromatography, in each case by the extent of chromatographic retardation of a soluble polypeptide interactor on an affinity matrix containing the other interactor as the immobilized species. Chromatographically calculated dissociation constants ranged from 10(-3) to 10(-6) M. Experiments were carried out to define the selectivity and underlying forces involved in the AS peptide interactions. For AS peptide elutions on sense peptide affinity supports, reduced binding affinity with increasing 1-propanol concentration and ionic strength suggested the presence of both ionic and hydrophobic contributions to AS peptide/immobilized sense peptide recognition. This same conclusion was reached with the antisense peptides as the immobilized species and measurement of elution of sequence-simplified, truncated, and charge-depleted forms of sense peptides. Immobilized AS 20-mer affinity matrix differentially retarded AVP versus oxytocin (OT) and BNPII versus BNPI (the neurophysin related biosynthetically to OT) and was used to separate these polypeptides from acid extracts of bovine posterior pituitaries. In addition, immobilized AS 12-mer corresponding to AVP-Gly-Lys-Arg could be used to separate AVP from OT. The results confirm that antisense peptides recognize sense peptides with significant selectivity in the AVP/BNPII precursor case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605223 TI - Allosteric control in Limulus polyphemus hemocyanin: functional relevance of interactions between hexamers. AB - Hemocyanin of the horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus is composed of 48 oxygen binding subunits, which are arranged in eight hexameric building blocks. Allosteric interactions in this oligomeric protein have been examined by measurement of high-precision oxygen-equilibrium curves, using an automated Imai cell. Several models were compared in numerical analysis of the data. A number of conclusions can be drawn with confidence. (1) Oxygen binding by Limulus hemocyanin cannot satisfactorily be described by the two-state MWC model [Monod, J., Wyman, J., & Changeux, J.P. (1965) J. Mol. Biol. 12, 88-118] for allosteric transitions with either the hexamer or dodecamer as the allosteric unit. (2) Of the models tested, the data sets can be best described by an extended MWC model that allows for an equilibrium, within the 48-subunit ensemble, between cooperative hexamers and cooperative dodecamers. The model invokes T and R states for both hexamers (T6 and R6) and dodecamers (T12 and R12). Allosteric effectors modulate oxygen affinity and cooperativity by affecting the R to T equilibria within hexamers and dodecamers and by shifting the equilibria between hexamers and dodecamers. (3) The fitted model parameters show that under most conditions the intersubunit contacts within T-state hexamers are more constrained than those within T-state dodecamers. (4) The oxygen affinities of the hexameric and dodecameric R states are the same, but under all conditions examined the conformation of the fully oxygenated molecule is that of the dodecameric R state. (5) Between pH 7.4 and pH 8.5 the dodecameric T state has a higher affinity for oxygen than the hexameric T state, allowing for "T-state cooperativity".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605224 TI - 1H NMR studies of T4 gene 32 protein: effects of zinc removal and reconstitution. AB - Gene 32 protein (g32P), the single-stranded DNA binding protein from bacteriophage T4, contains 1 mol of Zn(II)/mol bound in a tetrahedral ligand field. 113Cd NMR studies of Cd-substituted wild-type and mutant (Cys166--- Ser166) g32Ps show Cys77, Cys87, and Cys90 to provide three sulfur donor atoms as ligands to the metal ion [Giedroc, D. P., Johnson, B. A., Armitage, I. M., & Coleman, J. E. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 2410]. Proton NMR signals from the His and Trp side chains of the protein have been followed as a function of pH and metal ion removal by biosynthesizing the protein with amino acids carrying protons at specific positions in a background of perdeuteriated aromatic amino acids. Only one of the two pairs of His resonances (from His64 and His81) titrates over the pH range 8.0-5.9. The nontitrating His side chain is most likely ligated to the metal ion. Upon Zn(II) removal, 1H NMR spectra of the fully protonated g32P-(A + B) exhibit substantial signal broadening in several regions of the spectrum, while the His 2,4-1H resonances are broadened beyond detection. The 1H NMR spectral characteristics of the original protein are restored by reconstitution with stoichiometric Zn(II). The broadening of the 1H NMR signals is not due to oligomerization of the protein, since small-angle X-ray scattering experiments show that the average radius of gyration of the apo-g32P-(A + B) is 25.0 A and that of the reconstituted Zn(II)-g32P-(A + B) is 31.2 A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605225 TI - A 1H NMR determination of the solution conformation of a synthetic peptide analogue of calcium-binding site III of rabbit skeletal troponin C. AB - NMR techniques have been used to determine the structure in solution of acetyl (Asp 105) skeletal troponin C (103-115) amide, one of a series of synthetic peptide analogues of calcium-binding site III of rabbit skeletal troponin C [Marsden et al. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 4198-4206]. The NMR measurements include 1H-1H nuclear Overhauser enhancements and gadolinium-induced 1H relaxation measurements. The former yield short-range internuclear distances (less than 4 A); the latter, once properly corrected for chemical exchange, yield longer range metal to proton distances (5-10 A). These measurements were then used as pseudo potential energy restraints in energy minimization and molecular dynamics calculations to determine the solution structure. Further information was provided by NMR coupling constants, amide proton exchange rates, and the temperature dependences of amide proton chemical shifts. The solution structure of the peptide analogue is very similar to that of the calcium-binding loop in the protein, the root-mean-square deviation between the backbone atoms being approximately 1.1 A. PMID- 2605226 TI - Purification of cone visual pigments from chicken retina. AB - A novel method for purification of chicken cone visual pigments was established by use of a 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1- propanesulfonate phosphatidylcholine (CHAPS-PC) mixture. Outer segment membranes isolated from chicken retinas were extracted with 0.75% CHAPS supplemented with 1.0 mg/mL phosphatidylcholine (CHAPS-PC system). After the extract was diluted to 0.6% CHAPS, it was loaded on a concanavalin A-Sepharose column. Elution from the column with different concentrations of methyl alpha-mannoside yielded three fractions: the first was composed of chicken violet, blue, and red in roughly equal amounts, the second predominantly contained chicken red, and the third was rhodopsin with a small amount of chicken green, which was separated from rhodopsin by DEAE-Sepharose column chromatography. Since CHAPS has little absorbance at both ultraviolet and visible regions, we could demonstrate the absolute absorption spectra of chicken red (92%) and rhodopsin (greater than 96%) in these regions. The maximum of the difference spectrum between either chicken red or rhodopsin and its photoproduct (all-trans-retinal oxime plus opsin) was determined to be 571 or 503 nm, respectively. Although chicken green was contaminated with a small amount of rhodopsin having a similar spectral shape, the maximum of its difference spectrum was located at 508 nm by taking advantage of the difference in susceptibility against hydroxylamine between these pigments. Although chicken blue and chicken violet were minor pigments present in the first fraction from the concanavalin A column, their maxima in the difference spectra were determined to be at 455 and 425 nm, respectively, by a partial bleaching method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605227 TI - Fetal lamb 3 beta, 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase: dual activity at the same active site examined by affinity labeling with 16 alpha-(bromo[2' 14C]acetoxy)progesterone. AB - 3 beta,20 alpha-Hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase was purified to homogeneity from fetal lamb erythrocytes. The Mr 35,000 enzyme utilizes NADPH and reduces progesterone to 4-pregnen-20 alpha-ol-3-one [Km = 30.8 microM and Vmax = 0.7 nmol min-1 (nmol of enzyme)-1] and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone to 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol [Km = 74 microM and Vmax = 1.3 nmol min-1 (nmol of enzyme)-1]. 5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone competitively inhibits (Ki = 102 microM) 20 alpha reductase activity, suggesting that both substrates may be reduced at the same active site. 16 alpha-(Bromoacetoxy)progesterone competitively inhibits 3 beta- and 20 alpha-reductase activities and also causes time-dependent and irreversible losses of both 3 beta-reductase and 20 alpha-reductase activities with the same pseudo-first order kinetic t1/2 value of 75 min. Progesterone and 5 alpha dihydrotestosterone protect the enzyme against loss of the two reductase activities presumably by competing with the affinity alkylating steroid for the active site of 3 beta,20 alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase. 16 alpha-(Bromo[2' 14C]acetoxy) progesterone radiolabels the active site of 3 beta,20 alpha hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase wherein 1 mol of steroid completely inactivates 1 mol of enzyme with complete loss of both reductase activities. Hydrolysis of the 14C-labeled enzyme with 6 N HCl at 110 degrees C and analysis of the amino acid hydrolysate identified predominantly N pi-(carboxy[2'-14C]methyl)histidine [His(pi-CM)].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605228 TI - Fragments of bovine insulin-like growth factors I and II stimulate proliferation of rat L6 myoblast cells. AB - The active sites of bovine insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I and II fragments were studied. Overlapping fragments of IGF I (residues 1-25, 11-35, 21-45, 31-55, and 41-70) and of IGF II (residues 1-24, 10-34, 20-44, 30-54, and 40-67) were chemically synthesized. The activity of the fragments was measured by stimulating the proliferation of rat L6 myoblast cells. Two fragments of IGF I (residues 21 45 and 31-55) and two fragments of IGF II (residues 20-44 and 30-54) were active while the other fragments were inactive in stimulating cell proliferation. Although the activity of these fragments was observed only at a high concentration of 0.1 mM, the results imply that the active site is located around residues 31-45 for IGF I fragments and residues 30-44 for IGF II fragments. Consequently, an IGF I fragment (residues 26-50) having a five-residue extension to both the N- and C-terminal sites of residues 31-45 also stimulated the proliferation of L6 myoblast cells. Furthermore, the substitution of Ile-35 in two IGF II fragments (residues 21-45 and 31-55) by Ser inactivated these fragments. This suggests that Ile-35 is an essential residue for IGF II fragment activity. Ser-35, which was reported in the original sequencing of bovine IGF II, is incorrect in the sequence and furthermore has been consistently found to be an Ile-35 in our hands.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605229 TI - Ethoxyformylation of tubulin with [3H]diethyl pyrocarbonate: a reexamination of the mechanism of assembly inhibition. AB - In this study we reexamined the basis for the profound inhibitory effects of low concentrations of diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEP) on tubulin's ability to assemble into microtubules [cf. Lee, Y. C., Houston, L. I., & Himes, R. H. (1976) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 70, 50-56]. Assembly inhibition at low DEP concentrations can be resolved into two components: a component reversible with hydroxylamine (attributed to monoethoxyformylation of histidyl residues) that contributes approximately 40% of the inhibition and a hydroxylamine-resistant component (attributed to ethoxyformylation of non-histidyl residues) that contributes approximately 60% of the inhibition. Comparisons between the extent of assembly inhibition associated with each component and the degree of residue modification argue for the involvement of a small number of highly reactive residues in the inhibition process. To identify these residues, tubulin was reacted with limiting concentrations of [3H]DEP and subjected to tryptic digestion and HPLC analysis. Only one moderately reactive histidyl residue was detected. This residue (approximately 2-3-fold more reactive than the bulk histidyl residues) eluted in an apparently large, hydrophobic fragment. We failed to detect any non-histidyl residues that were exceptionally reactive to [3H]DEP. However, we did observe that the N-terminal methionyl residues in native protein were ethoxyformylated at rates comparable to that of the bulk histidyl residues. In denatured protein these methionyl residues were ethoxyformylated to a much larger extent (approximately 3-4-fold) than the bulk histidyl residues. We suggest that the N terminal methionyl residues in tubulin are partly buried or are in a salt-bridge interaction in native protein and that ethoxyformylation of these residues disrupts tubulin structure and interferes with microtubule assembly. PMID- 2605230 TI - Three novel oligosaccharides with the sialyl-Lea structure in human milk: isolation by immunoaffinity chromatography. AB - We have determined the structures of three novel oligosaccharides isolated from human milk using the monoclonal antibody MSW 113. These oligosaccharides were purified by affinity chromatography on a column of the immobilized monoclonal antibody and by high-performance liquid chromatography. From the results of 500 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy and fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, their structures were deduced to be (formula; see text) These oligosaccharides bound to MSW 113 to nearly the same extent as sialyl-Lea hexasaccharide but bound to another sialyl-Lea structure-directed monoclonal antibody, NS 19-9, only weakly. PMID- 2605231 TI - Structure and protein environment of the retinal chromophore in light- and dark adapted bacteriorhodopsin studied by solid-state NMR. AB - Our previous solid-state 13C NMR studies on bR have been directed at characterizing the structure and protein environment of the retinal chromophore in bR568 and bR548, the two components of the dark-adapted protein. In this paper, we extend these studies by presenting solid-state NMR spectra of light adapted bR (bR568) and examining in more detail the chemical shift anisotropy of the retinal resonances near the ionone ring and Schiff base. Magic angle spinning (MAS) 13C NMR spectra were obtained of bR568, regenerated with retinal specifically 13C labeled at positions 12-15, which allowed assignment of the resonances observed in the dark-adapted bR spectrum. Of particular interest are the assignments of the 13C-13 and 13C-15 resonances. The 13C-15 chemical resonance for bR568 (160.0 ppm) is upfield of the 13C-15 resonance for bR548 (163.3 ppm). This difference is attributed to a weaker interaction between the Schiff base and its associated counterion in bR568. The 13C-13 chemical shift for bR568 (164.8 ppm) is close to that of the all-trans-retinal protonated Schiff base (PSB) model compound (approximately 162 ppm), while the 13C-13 resonance for bR548 (168.7 ppm) is approximately 7 ppm downfield of that of the 13-cis PSB model compound. The difference in the 13C-13 chemical shift between bR568 and bR548 is opposite that expected from the corresponding 15N chemical shifts of the Schiff base nitrogen and may be due to conformational distortion of the chromophore in the C13 = C14-C15 bonds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605232 TI - Raman spectroscopic studies of the packing properties of mixed dihexadecyl- and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer dispersions. AB - X-ray diffraction studies suggest the existence of two separate gel phases for mixed dihexadecylphosphatidylcholine (DHPC)/dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers [Kim, J. T., Mattai, J., & Shipley, G. G. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 6599 6603; Lohner, K., Schuster, A., Degovics, G., Muller, K., & Laggner, P. (1987) Chem. Phys. Lipids 44, 61-70]. In one gel phase the lipid chains are interdigitated, while the other gel phase exhibits the conventional bilayer form. We use Raman spectroscopy to provide a detailed molecular analysis of the intermolecular and intramolecular interactions of the DHPC and DPPC molecules within these mixed bilayers. Observation of the methylene chain C-H stretching modes of DHPC and the methylene chain C-D stretching modes of DPPC-d62 for various mixed DHPC/DPPC-d62 bilayers enables the packing characteristics and conformational order of each lipid to be monitored separately. The spectral data indicate that the packing properties of DPPC-d62 in the mixed-lipid bilayers remain relatively unchanged, while the intramolecular and intermolecular properties of DHPC change dramatically as a function of the composition of the DHPC/DPPC-d62 mixed bilayer. This is consistent with a model based upon the existence of three characteristic lipid types for the mixed-lipid system, namely, domains of pure DPPC-d62 and pure DHPC species with interface lipids or boundary regions between the bulk domains. PMID- 2605233 TI - Temperature dependence of the vesicle-micelle transition of egg phosphatidylcholine and octyl glucoside. AB - The temperature dependence of octyl glucoside micellization was determined and compared to the phase behavior of the octyl glucoside--egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) mixed system in excess water to help elucidate the process of vesicle formation from mixed surfactant-phospholipid micelles. The critical micelle concentration of octyl glucoside (OG) was determined from the sharp increase of ANS fluorescence at micellization in an NaCl buffer at temperatures ranging from 5 to 40 degrees C. The cmc decreased with increasing temperature from 31 mM at 5 degrees C to 16 mM at 40 degrees C. A similar but less steep temperature dependence is observed for the solubilization of egg PC vesicles by OG as monitored by the surfactant-dependent changes in (1) solution turbidity and (2) the resonance energy transfer between NBD-PE and Rho-PE incorporated in the vesicles. These assays identify two breakpoints, most likely the boundaries of the cylindrical micelle and spheroidal micelle coexistence region. The [OG]aq values at these two breakpoints have similar temperature dependencies. However, the cylindrical mixed micelles at the boundary have nearly identical OG:PC ratios over the temperature range studied, whereas the spheroidal mixed micelles have relatively more OG at the higher temperatures (OG:PC ratio increases from 2.92 to 3.72 between 5 and 35 degrees C). Estimation of the acyl volume to surface area ratio for the compositions observed suggests that this parameter remains constant over temperature. The spheroidal mixed micelles, but not the cylindrical PC-OG micelles, exhibit ideal mixing between the two components at all temperatures (5 35 degrees C). This temperature sensitivity may be utilized to improve the efficacy of membrane protein reconstitution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605234 TI - Quantitative determination of conformational disorder in the acyl chains of phospholipid bilayers by infrared spectroscopy. AB - A method is proposed and demonstrated for the direct determination of conformational disorder (trans-gauche isomerization) as a function of acyl-chain position in phospholipid bilayer membranes. Three specifically deuterated derivatives of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), namely 4,4,4',4'-d4-DPPC (4 d4-DPPC), 6,6,6',6'-d4-DPPC (6-d4-DPPC), and 10,10,10',10'-d4-DPPC (10-d4-DPPC), have been synthesized. The CD2 rocking modes in the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum have been monitored as a function of temperature for each derivative. A method originally applied by Snyder and Poore [(1973) Macromolecules 6, 708-715] as a specific probe of hydrocarbon chain conformation in alkanes has been used to analyze the data. The rocking modes appear at 622 cm 1 for a CD2 segment surrounded by a trans C-C-C skeleton and between 645 and 655 cm-1 for segments surrounded by particular gauche conformers. The integrated band intensities of these modes have been used to monitor trans-gauche isomerization in the acyl chains at particular depths in the bilayer. At 48 degrees C, above the gel-liquid-crystal phase transition, the percentage of gauche rotamers present is 20.7 +/- 4.2, 32.3 +/- 2.3, and 19.7 +/- 0.8 for 4-d4-DPPC, 6-d4-DPPC, and 10-d4-DPPC, respectively. The gel phase of the latter two molecules is highly ordered. In contrast, a substantial population of gauche rotamers was observed for the 4-d4-DPPC. The conformational analysis yields a range of 3.6-4.2 gauche rotamers/acyl chain of DPPC above the phase transition. This range is in excellent accord with the dilatometric data of Nagle and Wilkinson [(1978) Biophys. J. 23, 159-175]. The significant advantages of the FT-IR approach are discussed. PMID- 2605235 TI - Fourier-transform infrared studies on cation binding to native and modified purple membranes. AB - Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy has been used to examine the structural differences in the protein moiety between the native purple and the deionized blue membranes, both at pH 5.0. The spectra demonstrate that deionization of purple membrane decreases the content of the distorted alpha II-helices in favor of the more common alpha I-helices. Changes in the signals from beta-turns are also observed. The changes corresponding to the carboxyl groups suggest that deionization leads to a decrease in the strength of the hydrogen bonds involving carboxyl groups. Most of these effects are reversed progressively upon binding of one to five Mn2+ per bacteriorhodopsin to the deionized membrane. Binding of Hg2+ to the deionized membranes does not restore the purple color but induces global changes similar to, but less intense than, those brought about by Mn2+ binding. However, the effects attributed to the carboxyl groups are opposite to those found for Mn2+. Schiff base reduction or bleaching induces a decrease of the content of the alpha II-helix in favor of the alpha I-helix and a decrease in the strength of hydrogen bonds to carboxyl groups. Deionization of these modified membranes leads to a further loss in the alpha II content. These results indicate a conformational rearrangement of the protein structure between the native purple membrane and the deionized membrane, which could arise from surface potential changes elicited by bound cations. The changes observed in the carboxyl groups suggest that some of them are located structurally close to the retinal environment and may be involved in cation binding. PMID- 2605236 TI - Structure of the human hepatic triglyceride lipase gene. AB - The structure of the human hepatic triglyceride lipase gene was determined from multiple cosmid clones. All the exons, exon-intron junctions, and 845 bp of the 5' and 254 bp of the 3' flanking DNA were sequenced. Comparison of the exon sequences to three previously published cDNA sequences revealed differences in the sequence of the codons for residues 133, 193, 202, and 234 that may represent sequence polymorphisms. By primer extension, hepatic lipase mRNA initiates at an adenine 77 bases upstream of the translation initiation site. The hepatic lipase gene spans over 60 kb containing 9 exons and 8 introns, the latter being all located within the region encoding the mature protein. The exons are all of average size (118-234 bp). Exon 1 encodes the signal peptide, exon 4, a region that binds to the lipoprotein substrate, and exon 5, an evolutionarily highly conserved region of potential catalytic function, and exons 6 and 9 encode sequences rich in basic amino acids thought to be important in anchoring the enzyme to the endothelial surface by interacting with acidic domains of the surface glycosaminoglycans. The human lipoprotein lipase gene has been recently reported to have an identical exon-intron organization containing the analogous structural domains [Deeb & Peng (1989) Biochemistry 28, 4131-4135]. Our observations strongly support the common evolutionary origin of these two lipolytic enzymes. PMID- 2605237 TI - On the question of interheme electron transfer in the chloroplast cytochrome b6 in situ. AB - The redox properties, the site of action of the inhibitor NQNO, and the question of interheme transfer in the chloroplast cytochrome b6 have been examined with regard to the role of the b6-f complex in quinol oxidation and H+ translocation. (i) The two hemes of the cytochrome ba and bp, have similar (delta Em less than or equal to 50 mV) oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials that are pH independent in the range pH 6.5-8.0 (Em7 = -40 mV) but are pH dependent below this range with an estimated pK = 6.7. (ii) Only half of cytochrome b6, the stromal-side heme, ba, was reducible by NADPH and ferredoxin. (iii) The 2-3-fold increase (to 0.60 +/- 0.09 heme/600 Chl) in the amplitude of flash-induced cytochrome reduction caused by NQNO was not affected when heme ba was initially reduced, implying that NQNO affects flash reduction at the site of heme bp. (iv) Multiple light flashes did not increase the amplitude of b6 reduction in the presence or absence of NQNO or show binary oscillations. Together with localization of a site of action of NQNO near heme bp, these data provide no evidence for efficient electron transfer from heme bp to heme ba as specified by the Q cycle model. (v) NQNO interaction with heme bp does not block its oxidation, since reoxidation of the flash-reduced cytochrome in its presence or absence was 4-5 times faster (t1/2 approximately 30 ms) when heme ba was reduced. The faster oxidation of the photoreduced cytochrome after NADPH-Fd reduction of heme ba indicates that the oxidation of ba and bp may be cooperative. PMID- 2605238 TI - Theory for the observed isotope effects from enzymatic systems that form multiple products via branched reaction pathways: cytochrome P-450. AB - By use of cytochrome P-450 as the prototype, kinetic descriptions are derived for the observed isotope effects for several models of enzymatic systems which are capable of generating multiple products from single substrates. The models include rapid and slow equilibria between enzyme-substrate orientations as well as multiple simultaneous and multiple sequential isotope effects. When an equilibrium is established between enzyme-substrate complexes that are responsible for the oxidation of different positions of the substrate, the kinetics can be represented by competing pathways from the same intermediate. When direct interchange between the complexes does not occur, the alternate pathway mimics the presence of a competitive inhibitor in the substrate solution. In general, the presence of alternate pathways in competition with the isotopically sensitive step will tend to unmask the intrinsic isotope effect. PMID- 2605239 TI - Isotopically labeled chlorobenzenes as probes for the mechanism of cytochrome P 450 catalyzed aromatic hydroxylation. AB - Noncompetitive and competitive intermolecular deuterium isotope effects were measured for the cytochrome P-450 catalyzed hydroxylation of a series of selectively deuterated chlorobenzenes. An isotope effect of 1.27 accompanied the meta hydroxylation of chlorobenzene-2H5 as determined by two totally independent methods (EC-LC and GC-MS assays). All isotope effects associated with the meta hydroxylation of chlorobenzenes-3,5-2H2 and -2,4,6-2H3 were approximately 1.1. In contrast, competitive isotope studies on the ortho and para hydroxylation of chlorobenzenes-4-2H1, -3,5-2H2, and -2,4,6-2H3 resulted in significant inverse isotope effects (approximately 0.95) when deuterium was substituted at the site of oxidation whereas no isotope effect was observed for the oxidation of protio sites. These results eliminate initial epoxide formation and initial electron abstraction (charge transfer) as viable mechanisms for the cytochrome P-450 catalyzed hydroxylation of chlorobenzene. The results, however, can be explained by a mechanism in which an active triplet-like oxygen atom adds to the pi system in a manner analogous to that for olefin oxidation. The resulting tetrahedral intermediate can then rearrange to phenol directly or via epoxide or ketone intermediates. PMID- 2605240 TI - pH dependence of the inhibition of chymotrypsin by a peptidyl trifluoromethyl ketone. AB - The effects of pH on the kinetics of association and dissociation of chymotrypsin and the dipeptidyl trifluoromethyl ketone (TFK) N-acetyl-L-leucyl-L phenylalanyltrifluoromethane (1) were examined through the pH range 4-9.5. The pH dependence of the association rate (kon) is similar to that of kcat/Km for ester and peptide substrates and is dependent on two pK's at 7.0 and 8.9. We assign these pK's to the active site His and to the amino group of the N-terminal isoleucine residue. Ki for the complex of 1 and chymotrypsin has a pH dependence very similar to that of kon, and we conclude that the same ionizable groups which determine the pH dependence of kon are involved. The dissociation constant of the enzyme-inhibitor complex (koff) shows no pH dependence between pH 4 and pH 9.5. The data indicate that the inhibitor reacts with a form of the enzyme in which His 57 is unprotonated, and the resulting complex contains no groups which ionize between pH 4 and pH 9.5. This is consistent with conclusions previously reached from NMR data (Liang & Abeles, 1987). These experiments led to the conclusion that 1 reacts with chymotrypsin to form a tetrahedral complex in which His 57 is protonated (pK greater than 9.5) and the OH group of serine 195 has added to the carbonyl group of 1 to form an ionized hemiketal (pK less than 4.9). The pK of His 57 is increased by greater than 3 units over that in the free enzyme, and the pK of the hemiketal decreased by greater than 4 units compared to the pK in solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605241 TI - 2-Acetylthiamin pyrophosphate (acetyl-TPP) pH-rate profile for hydrolysis of acetyl-TPP and isolation of acetyl-TPP as a transient species in pyruvate dehydrogenase catalyzed reactions. AB - Rate constants for the hydrolysis of acetyl-TPP were measured between pH values of 2.5 and 7.5 and plotted as log kobs versus pH. The pH-rate profile defined two legs, each with a slope of +1 but separated by a region of decreased slope between pH 4 and pH 6. The rates were insensitive to buffer concentrations. Each leg of the profile reflected specific-base-catalyzed hydrolysis of acetyl-TPP, analogous to the hydrolysis of 2-acetyl-3,4-dimethylthiazolium ion [Lienhard, G.E. (1966) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 88, 5642-5649]. The separation of the two legs of this profile has been shown to be caused by the ionization of a group exhibiting a pKa of 4.73 within acetyl-TPP that is remote from the acetyl group, the amino pyrimidine ring, which is protonated below pH 4.73. The protonation level of this ring has been shown to control the equilibrium partitioning of acetyl-TPP among its carbinolamine, keto, and hydrate forms. The differential partitioning of these species is a major factor causing the separation between the two legs of the pH-rate profile. The characteristic pH-rate profile and the availability of synthetic acetyl-TPP [Gruys, K.J., Halkides, C.J., & Frey, P.A. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 7575-7585] have facilitated the isolation and identification of [1-14C]acetyl-TPP from acid-quenched enzymatic reaction mixtures at steady states. [1-14C]Acetyl-TPP was identified as a transient species in reactions catalyzed by the PDH complex or the pyruvate dehydrogenase component of the complex (E1). The pH-rate profile for hydrolysis of [1-14C]-acetyl-TPP isolated from enzymatic reactions was found to be indistinguishable from that for authentic acetyl-TPP, which constituted positive identification of the 14C labeled enzymic species. PMID- 2605242 TI - Spectroelectrochemical studies of the corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein involved in acetyl coenzyme A synthesis by Clostridium thermoaceticum. AB - An 88-kDa corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein (C/Fe-SP) is the methyl carrier protein in the acetyl-CoA pathway of Clostridium thermoaceticum. In previous studies, it was found that this C/Fe-SP contains (5-methoxybenzimidazolyl)cobamide and a [4Fe 4S]2+/1+ center, both of which undergo redox cycling during catalysis, and that the benzimidazole base is uncoordinated to the cobalt (base off) in all three redox states, 3+, 2+, and 1+ [Ragsdale, S.W., Lindahl, P.A., & Munck, E. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 14289-14297]. In this paper, we have determined the midpoint reduction potentials for the metal centers in this C/Fe-SP by electron paramagnetic resonance and UV-visible spectroelectrochemical methods. The midpoint reduction potentials for the Co3+/2+ and the Co2+/1 couples of the corrinoid were found to be 300-350 and -504 mV (+/- 3 mV) in Tris-HCl at pH 7.6, respectively. We also removed the (5-methoxybenzimidazolyl)cobamide cofactor from the C/Fe-SP and determined that its Co3+/2+ reduction potential is 207 mV at pH 7.6. The midpoint potential for the [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ couple in the C/Fe-SP was determined to be -523 mV (+/- 5 mV). Removal of this cluster totally inactivates the protein; however, there is little effect of cluster removal on the midpoint potential of the Co2+/1+ couple. In addition, removal of the cobamide has an insignificant effect on the midpoint reduction potential of the [4Fe-4S] cluster. A 27-kDa corrinoid protein (CP) also was studied since it contains (5 methoxybenzimidazolyl)cobamide in the base-on form.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605243 TI - Structure and dynamics of a fluorescent DNA oligomer containing the EcoRI recognition sequence: fluorescence, molecular dynamics, and NMR studies. AB - The self-complementary DNA decamer duplex d(CTGAATTCAG)2 and its modified counterpart d(CTGA[2AP]TTCAG)2, where the innermost adenine (6-aminopurine) has been replaced with the fluorescent analogue 2-aminopurine (2AP), have been studied by fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy and simulated by molecular dynamics. Both decamers are recognized and cleaved by the EcoRI restriction endonuclease. 2D NMR results show that both decamers have a standard B-type conformation below 20 degrees C, though a disturbance exists to the 5' side of the 2AP site which may originate from increased local mobility. The fluorescence and fluorescence anisotropy decays of both decamers, as well as the one containing 2AP in only one chain, were studied as a function of temperature. The data show that the 2AP base exists in a temperature-dependent distribution of states and shows rapid motions, suggesting interconversion among these states on a time scale of about 10(-10) s. The integrated fluorescence of the decamer with 2AP in both chains shows a large increase around the helix melting temperature whereas the decamer with one 2AP shows only a mild increase, showing that the mixed helix has a different structural transition as sensed by the 2AP base. The data suggest a model of conformational states which have distinct fluorescence decay times. The various states may differ in the degree of base stacking. Fluctuations in the degree of stacking of the A or 2AP base are supported by molecular dynamics simulations, which additionally show that the 2AP-T or A-T base pair hydrogen bonds remain intact during these large motions. PMID- 2605244 TI - Disulfide formation within the regulatory light chain of skeletal muscle myosin. AB - Thiol-disulfide exchange reactions between myosin and 5,5'-dithiobis(2 nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) lead to the formation of 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid (TNB)-mixed disulfides as well as to protein disulfide bonds. After incubation with DTNB, myosin was treated with an excess of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) before electrophoretic analysis of the protein subunits in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) without prior reduction by dithiothreitol (DTT). Without NEM treatment, thiol disulfide rearrangement reactions occurred in the presence of SDS between the residual free thiols and DTNB. In the absence of divalent metal ions at 25 degrees C, DTNB was shown to induce an intrachain disulfide bond between Cys-127 and Cys-156 of the RLC. This intrachain cross-link restricts partially the unfolding of the RLC in SDS and can be followed as a faster migrating species, RLC'. Densitometric evaluation of the electrophoretic gel patterns indicated that the stoichiometric relation of the light chains (including RLC and RLC') remained unchanged. The two cysteine residues of the fast migrating RLC' were no more available for reaction with [14C]NEM, but upon reduction with DTT, the electrophoretic mobility of the RLC' reverted to that of unmodified RLC and of the RLC modified with two TNB groups. Ca2+ or Mg2+ was able to prevent this disulfide formation in the RLC of myosin by 50% at a free ion concentration of 1.1 X 10(-8) and 4.0 X 10(-7) M, respectively, at 25 degrees C and pH 7.6. Intrachain disulfide formation of RLC never occurred in myosin at 0 degree C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605245 TI - Interaction between stretch of residues 633-642 (actin binding site) and nucleotide binding site on skeletal myosin subfragment 1 heavy chain. AB - Using a complementary sequence or antipeptide to selectively neutralize the stretch of residues 633-642 of skeletal myosin heavy chain, we recently demonstrated that this segment is an actin binding site operating in the absence as in the presence of nucleotide and that this stretch 633-642 is not part of the nucleotide binding site [Chaussepied & Morales (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 7471-7475]. In the present study, we determined that the covalent cross-linking of the antipeptide to the stretch 633-642 [induced by 1-ethyl-3-[3 (dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide] does not alter the overall polypeptide conformation since no changes were observed on the far-ultraviolet CD spectra and thiol reactivity measurements. The presence of the antipeptide did not influence significantly the enhancement of tryptophan fluorescence induced by ATP.Mg2+ or ADP.Mg2+ binding to the myosin head (S1) nor did it on the ATP.Mg2+-induced tryptic proteolysis of S1 heavy chain. Moreover, fluorescence quenching studies, using acrylamide and the analogue, 1,N6-ethenoadenosine 5'-triphosphate, indicated that the nucleotide bound to antipeptide-S1 complex has an accessibility to the solute quencher close to that observed when it is bound to native S1. Additionally, neutralization of the stretch 633-642 of the S1 heavy chain by the antipeptide did not influence the stabilization of the Mg2+.ADP.sodium vanadate-S1 complex. On the other hand, experiments using antipeptide-induced protection against the cleavage of the S1 heavy chain by Arg C protease demonstrated that the presence of Mg2+.ADP.sodium vanadate in the S1 nucleotide site did not affect the interaction of the antipeptide with the stretch of residues 633-642.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605246 TI - Homogeneous reconstituted oligonucleosomes, evidence for salt-dependent folding in the absence of histone H1. AB - Using the method of salt dialysis, we have reconstituted histone octamers onto DNA templates consisting of 12 tandem repeats, each containing a fragment of the sea urchin 5S rRNA gene [Simpson, R.T., Thoma, F., & Brubaker, J.M. (1985) Cell 42, 799-808]. In these templates, each sea urchin repeat contains a sequence for preferred nucleosome positioning. Sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium studies in the analytical ultracentrifuge indicate that at molar histone/DNA ratios of 1.0-1.1 extremely homogeneous preparations of fully loaded oligonucleosomes (12 nucleosomes/template) can be regularly obtained. Digestion of the oligonucleosomes with micrococcal nuclease, followed by restriction mapping of purified nucleosome-bound DNA sequences, yields a complicated but consistent pattern of nucleosome positioning. Roughly 50% of the nucleosomes appear to be phased at positions 1-146 of each repeat, while the remainder of the nucleosomes occupy a number of other minor discrete positions along the template that differ by multiples of 10 bp. From sedimentation velocity studies of the oligonucleosomes in 0-0.2 M NaCl, we observe a reversible increase in mean sedimentation coefficient by almost 30%, accompanied by development of heterogeneity in sedimentation. These results, in combination with theoretical predictions, indicate that linear stretches of chromatin in the absence of lysine rich histones exist in solution in a salt-dependent equilibrium between an extended (low salt) conformation and one or more folded (high salt) structures. In addition, by 100 mM NaCl, salt-dependent dissociation of histone octamers from these linear oligonucleosomes is observed. PMID- 2605247 TI - Purification and characterization of a protein from HeLa cells that binds with high affinity to the estrogen response element, GGTCAGCGTGACC. AB - A non-histone protein, NHP1, that binds with high affinity to the estrogen response element (ERE), GGTCAGCGTGACC, has been purified approximately 45,000 fold from HeLa cells by a combination of chromatography on Sephacryl S-300, heparin-Sepharose, Mono Q (FPLC), and sequence-specific oligonucleotide Sepharose. The native protein has a molecular weight of 170,000 and is composed of two polypeptides of 85 and 75 kDa. The two polypeptides are different as judged by peptide mapping, and only the 85-kDa polypeptide can be cross-linked to the bromodeoxyuridine-substituted synthetic ERE by UV irradiation. The native protein binds to the ERE with an apparent KD of 1 x 10(-11) M and has a pI of 5. The contact points of the protein with individual bases of the ERE have been determined by using partially depurinated and depyrimidinated synthetic oligonucleotides. The strongest contact points of NHP1 with the ERE are 5'AGCG3' in the center of the palindrome and differ from those of the estrogen receptor. NHP1 appears to produce specific nicks around the central CpGs of the ERE, thereby suggesting that it may play a role in active demethylation of mCpGs. PMID- 2605248 TI - Cold depolymerization of microtubules to double rings: geometric stabilization of assemblies. AB - The kinetic pathway of microtubule depolymerization at 0 degrees C has been examined. Microtubules made of MAP-containing and MAP-free tubulins were depolymerized at 0 degree C in the presence of [3H]GDP or [3H]GTP or of trace amounts of 125I dimeric tubulin. The products of depolymerization were separated on a column, their structures were identified by electron microscopy, and the time course of incorporation of 3H or 125I labels in the different components of the system was determined. Two predominant assembly states of tubulin found in the nonmicrotubule state were alpha-beta dimers and double rings. Kinetic data indicate that ring formation from disassembling microtubules does not occur by direct coiling of protofilaments as previously thought, but disassembling GDP subunits are in very rapid equilibrium with curved oligomers that are kinetic intermediates in the isodesmic assembly of GDP-tubulin. The formation of oligomers and rings from dimers, at concentrations as low as 10 microM, is much faster than nucleotide exchange on alpha-beta-tubulin. Disassembly of double rings, in contrast, is slower than nucleotide exchange on alpha-beta-tubulin, by 1 order of magnitude in the absence of MAPs and 2 orders of magnitude in the presence of MAPs. These results support the model proposed previously to explain spontaneous oscillations in microtubule assembly. They are consistent with the existence of an equilibrium between two conformations of tubulin, "straight", i.e., microtubule forming, and "curved", i.e., ring forming, under the allosteric control of bound nucleotide. The straight conformation requires the presence of two ionizable hydroxyls on the gamma-phosphate in GTP or GDP-Pi. PMID- 2605249 TI - Analysis of the membrane-interacting domain of the sea urchin sperm adhesive protein bindin. AB - We have investigated the domain of the bindin polypeptide that selectively associates with gel-phase phospholipid vesicles. We found that small trypsin fragments of bindin retain the ability to selectively associate with gel-phase vesicles. The primary amino acid sequence of bindin suggests that these peptides are derived from the central portion of the polypeptide between residues 77 and 126, which is the most hydrophobic region of bindin. We have also employed 3 (trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[125I]iodophenyl)diazirine (TID) and novel, radioiodinated, photoactivatable derivatives of the polar head group of phosphatidylethanolamine (ASD-PE and ASA-PE) to identify membrane-associated polypeptide segments after the transfer of radiolabel from the probe to the bindin polypeptide. After photolysis, bindin was selectively labeled only from probes incorporated in gel-phase vesicles. The labeling of bindin was much more efficient from the head group probes ASA-PE and ASD-PE (8 and 2% of the total label, respectively) in comparison to the hydrophobic probe TID (less than 0.02% of the total label), suggesting that bindin is localized within the polar part of the bilayer. Protease mapping experiments with V8 protease, trypsin, and endoprotease Lys-C suggest that some of the probe label is distributed along the amino-terminal portion of bindin between residues 1 and 76 and the rest of the label is restricted to the segments between residues 77 and 126 which also selectively bind to gel-phase vesicles. The carboxyl-terminal portion of bindin between residues 127 and 236 is not labeled. PMID- 2605250 TI - The purple to blue transition of bacteriorhodopsin is accompanied by a loss of the hexagonal lattice and a conformational change. AB - X-ray diffraction measurements show that in contrast to the purple membrane, the bacteriorhodopsin molecules are not organized in a hexagonal lattice in the deionized blue membrane. Addition of Ca2+ restores both the purple color and the normal (63 A) hexagonal protein lattice. In the blue state, the circular dichroism spectrum in the visible has the typical exciton features indicating that a trimeric structure is retained. Time-resolved linear dichroism measurements show that the blue patch rotates in aqueous suspension with a mean correlation time of 11 ms and provide no evidence for rotational mobility of bacteriorhodopsin within the membrane. The circular dichroism spectra of the blue and the Ca2+-regenerated purple state in the far-UV are different, indicating a small change in secondary structure. The thermal stability of the blue membrane is much smaller than that of the purple membrane. At pH 5.0, the irreversible denaturation transition of the blue form has a midpoint at 61 degrees C. The photocycle of the blue membrane (lambda ex 590 nm) has an L intermediate around 540 nm whose decay is slowed down into the millisecond time range (5 ms). Light dark adaptation in the blue membrane is rapid with an exponential decay time of 38 s at 25 degrees C. The purple to blue transition apparently involves a conformational change in the protein leading to a change in the aggregation state from a highly ordered and stable hexagonal lattice to a disordered array of thermally more labile trimers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605251 TI - Fusion of liposomes containing a novel cationic lipid, N-[2,3-(dioleyloxy)propyl] N,N,N-trimethylammonium: induction by multivalent anions and asymmetric fusion with acidic phospholipid vesicles. AB - The fusion behavior of large unilamellar liposomes composed of N-[2,3 (dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium (DOTMA) and either phosphatidylcholine (PC) or phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) has been investigated by a fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay for lipid mixing, dynamic light scattering, and electron microscopy. Polyvalent anions induced the fusion of DOTMA/PE (1:1) liposomes with the following sequence of effectiveness: citrate greater than EDTA greater than phosphate, in the presence 100 mM NaCl, pH 7.4. Sulfate, dipicolinate, and acetate were ineffective. DOTMA/PC (1:1) vesicles were completely refractory to fusion in the presence of multivalent anions in the concentration range studied, consistent with the inhibitory effect of PC in divalent cation induced fusion of negatively charged vesicles. DOTMA/PE vesicles could fuse with DOTMA/PC vesicles in the presence of high concentrations of citrate, but not of phosphate. Mixing of DOTMA/PE liposomes with negatively charged phosphatidylserine (PS)/PE or PS/PC (1:1) vesicles resulted in membrane fusion in the absence of multivalent anions. DOTMA/PC liposomes also fused with PS/PE liposomes and, to a limited extent, with PS/PC liposomes. These observations suggest that the interaction of the negatively charged PS polar group with the positively charged trimethylammonium of DOTMA is sufficient to mediate fusion between the two membranes containing these lipids and that the nature of the zwitterionic phospholipid component of these vesicles is an additional determinant of membrane fusion. PMID- 2605252 TI - Proteolytic fragments of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor identified by mass spectrometry: implications for receptor topography. AB - A triple-state quadrupole or a tandem quadrupole Fourier-transform mass spectrometer was used to detect and sequence the peptides released by proteolytic cleavage of the acetylcholine receptor (AcChR) from Torpedo californica electroplax. Fragments in mass range up to 3479 daltons were characterized on the above instrumentation and used to determine proteolytically accessible sites on the receptor. These data were consistent with the cleavage points determined for membrane-bound fragments of the same AcChR samples using gas-phase microsequencing. Each subunit of the receptor is readily cleaved near the C terminus in the region between the proposed transmembrane hydrophobic alpha helices MIII and MIV. This region includes the putative regulatory phosphorylation sites and the amphipathic alpha-helix. Cleavage is also observed in the N-terminal domain, but occurs much more slowly than in the C-terminal region. No cleavage was detected in the middle third of the receptor, which includes the proposed transmembrane alpha-helices MI and MII. An evaluation of these data in terms of the transmembrane topography of the AcChR peptides is consistent with a synaptic or extracellular disposition for the region between MIII and MIV. PMID- 2605253 TI - Patulin biosynthesis: epoxidation of toluquinol and gentisyl alcohol by particulate preparations from Penicillium patulum. AB - A crude extract that catalyzes the epoxidation of toluquinol and gentisyl alcohol was isolated from cultures of Penicillium patulum. About 60% of the activity sedimented from crude extract upon centrifugation at 105,000g for 2 h, and at 30,000g for 30 min after precipitation with 30% ammonium sulfate and resuspension in buffer. The quinone epoxide phyllostine, a product of gentisyl alcohol epoxidation, has previously been shown to be an intermediate in the biosynthesis of patulin [Sekiquchi, J., & Gaucher, G. M. (1978) Biochemistry 17, 1785-1791] and was shown to be further converted to neopatulin by the extract. The epoxide product of toluquinol, desoxyphyllostine (2-methyl-5,6-epoxy-1,4-benzoquinone), has not been reported previously from fungal cultures. Its structure was confirmed by GC-mass spectrometry and proton and 13C NMR. Its CD spectrum showed the same shape and signs as that of phyllostine, indicating that it too is an enzymatic product with a similar absolute configuration. Whereas chemical epoxidation of toluquinone and gentisyl quinone occurs with hydrogen peroxide, the enzymatic epoxidation utilized oxygen and the hydroquinone. The epoxidation was inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline, EDTA, and p-(chloromercuri)benzenesulfonic acid and by degassing with nitrogen, but no inhibition was observed with KCN, catalase, or CO. The apparent Km's were similar for the two substrates (0.17 mM for toluquinol, 0.24 mM for gentisyl alcohol), with both substrates showing inhibition at 1.0 mM. The rate of desoxyphyllostine formation was more than 10 times that of phyllostine formation at equivalent substrate concentrations. Gentisaldehyde was not a substrate for the enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605254 TI - Soluble lactose-binding vertebrate lectins: a growing family. AB - Extracts of rat intestine contain nine soluble lactose-binding lectins with subunit molecular weights ranging from 14,500 to 19,000 that were purified by affinity chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. Two of them are either identical with or closely related to other known rat lectins. A third appears to be the isolated carbohydrate-binding C-terminal domain of a known lectin but lacks the N-terminal domain presumed to mediate a different function. The others have not been described previously. Among them, the major rat intestinal lectin, RI-H, and a related protein, RI-G, have N-terminal amino acid sequences with similarities to sequences found in other known rat lectins. Therefore, these results introduce new members of a growing family of these structurally homologous soluble lactose-binding proteins. PMID- 2605255 TI - Control by hyperthermia of ornithine decarboxylase in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. AB - The effect of hyperthermia on the activity and the messenger RNA levels of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which has a rapid rate of turnover in cultured cells, was studied in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. When the cells were incubated at 42 degrees C, elevation of ODC activity by a change of the medium was prevented. Total RNA was isolated from cells treated at 37 degrees C or 42 degrees C, and the relative abundance of the ODC mRNA was measured by Northern blot analysis. These levels in heat-treated cells were comparable to those in control cells. Inhibition by hyperthermia was reversible. The recovery was suppressed by cycloheximide but not by actinomycin D. In hyperthermic-treated cells, the biological half-life of ODC was 14 min, which was the same time as for cells cultured at 37 degrees C. These results suggest that hyperthermic treatment of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells suppressed ODC induction during translation, not during transcription or after translation. PMID- 2605256 TI - Serum growth factors cause rapid stimulation of protein synthesis and dephosphorylation of eIF-2 in serum deprived Ehrlich cells. AB - In Ehrlich ascites tumor cells maintained in serum-free medium for 16 h the rate of protein synthesis was about 50% of the rate in control (well-fed) cells. The addition of 10% calf serum led to a 1.5- to 2-fold stimulation of protein synthesis within 10 min. Stimulation was effected through a non-transcriptional mechanism which operated at the level of polypeptide chain initiation. The effect was due to non-dialyzable serum growth factors which were sensitive to treatment with dithiothreitol and iodoacetamide. Replacing the 16-h-conditioned serum-free medium with fresh serum-free medium stimulated protein synthesis about 30% in serum-deprived cells, and the effect of these low molecular weight nutrients was additive with the effect of serum factors. Phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2 alpha) inhibits protein synthesis by competitively inhibiting the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), and modulation of the extent of phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha has been suggested as a probable regulatory mechanism in serum-deprived mammalian cells. We measured the ratio of phosphorylated to total eIF-2 alpha in serum-deprived cells. The ratio was elevated in serum-deprived cells compared to control (serum-fed) cells. eIF-2 was rapidly dephosphorylated in response to serum refeeding and returned to near control levels after 10 min. The rapidity of this response and the close temporal correlation between eIF-2 dephosphorylation and increased rate of protein synthesis provide evidence that eIF-2 plays an important role in the regulation of protein synthesis by serum growth factors. PMID- 2605257 TI - The activation of rabbit intestinal adenylate cyclase by cholera toxin. AB - Brush-border and basal-lateral membranes were prepared from rabbit intestinal epithelial cells by differential centrifugation and MgCl2 precipitation. The ADP ribosylation of proteins in these fractions when incubated with [adenylate 32P]NAD+ and cholera toxin was investigated. Three proteins of molecular mass 45, 40 and 37 kDa were labelled in a toxin-dependent manner in each membrane fraction. The incorporation of 32P-labelled ADP-ribose was 18-fold greater in brush-border membranes than in basal-lateral membranes, comparable to the enrichment of sucrase (marker enzyme for the brush border) in these membranes. There was a 20% release of the 40 and 45 kDa proteins from the brush-border membrane following this ADP-ribosylation. Activation of adenylate cyclase by both cholera toxin and sodium fluoride was 2.7- and 2.3-fold greater, respectively, in basal-lateral membranes than in brush-border membranes, comparable to the enrichment of Na+/K+-ATPase (marker enzyme for the basal-lateral membrane) in these membranes. The effect of sodium fluoride on membranes pretreated with cholera toxin revealed no increase in adenylate cyclase activity above that due to the toxin. This presumably means that both toxin and fluoride activate adenylate cyclase by the same regulatory protein. The results show that cholera toxin catalyzes the ADP-ribosylation of regulatory proteins in the brush-border membrane, and these proteins then migrate to the basal-lateral membrane where they activate the catalytic component of adenylate cyclase. PMID- 2605258 TI - Separate and shared lysosomal transport of branched and aromatic dipolar amino acids. AB - Transport systems analogous to the T and L carriers for aromatic and bulky dipolar amino acids in plasma membranes have been characterized in the membranes of intact lysosomes isolated from human fetal skin fibroblasts. While system L appears ubiquitous in plasma membranes, system T has previously been discriminated only in the plasmalemma of human red blood cells and freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Our findings with the lysosomal systems, provisionally designated t and l, reveal both shared and dissimilar properties with the plasma membrane systems. These properties include a lack of dependency on extralysosomal Na+, differential sensitivities to the classical system L analog, 2 aminobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH), and the system T analog, D tryptophan, as well as susceptibility to thiol modification at the membrane by reactivity with N-ethylmaleimide. A transport system in lysosomes from the FRTL-5 rat thyroid cell line has been described by Bernar et al. ((1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 17107-17112) resembles a composite of both carrier systems reported in this work. PMID- 2605259 TI - Effect of obstructive jaundice on the fate of a nephrophilic organic anion in the rat. AB - Renal transtubular transport of phenolsulfophthalein (PSP), a nephrophilic organic anion that circulates bound to albumin, was studied in normal and bile duct-ligated rats. Intravenously injected PSP disappeared from the circulation more rapidly in bile-duct-ligated jaundiced rats than in intact animals. However, urinary excretion of PSP was significantly lower in the former than in the latter. Kinetic analysis revealed that binding of PSP to plasma protein(s) was significantly lower with jaundiced rats than with intact animals. Addition of albumin to plasma samples from bile-duct-ligated rats markedly increased PSP binding. The decreased PSP binding returned to normal levels after treating the jaundiced plasma with bilirubin oxidase, an enzyme that degrades amphiphilic bilirubin to water soluble metabolites. These results suggest that bilirubin might be the major metabolite that occupied the PSP binding site(s) on albumin in jaundiced rats. When PSP was injected bound to equimolar amount of albumin, the rate of PSP disappearance from the circulation decreased and urinary excretion of the ligand increased markedly; urinary excretion of PSP was significantly larger in bile-duct-ligated rats than in intact animals. These results suggest that the renal transport capacity for amphiphilic organic anions, such as PSP, might be increased compensatively in bile-duct-ligated animals, and that the apparent decrease in renal secretory transport for PSP might result from, at least in part, random distribution of the ligand to extrarenal tissues due to decrease in the binding activity of albumin. PMID- 2605260 TI - Purification and characterization of a protein containing D-aspartic acid in bovine lens. AB - A protein containing biologically uncommon D-aspartic acid (DAsp) was extracted with 60% EtOH from the water-insoluble fraction of bovine lens. The protein was purified by DEAE-TOYOPEARL chromatography and electrical elution by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by reverse-phase chromatography. The D/L ratio of aspartic acid in the protein isolated was 0.12. The molecular weight of this protein was estimated to be 22,500 by SDS-PAGE. The high content of serine, glycine and glutamic acid was noteworthy. It has been considered that the presence of DAsp in the living body is caused by racemization closely related to aging. The age of bovines used was relatively young (5 years old). If the racemization was caused by aging, the presence of DAsp in the relatively young bovine lens suggested that the aging of the lens protein may start at a relatively young age. The protein containing DAsp may be generally present in lens beyond species such as mouse, bovine and human. PMID- 2605261 TI - Kinetics of human erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase dimers. AB - The steady-state kinetics of human erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate: NADP+ 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) dimers were studied by initial rate measurement. These experiments gave intersecting double reciprocal plots suggesting a ternary complex mechanism with a Km for NADP and glucose 6-phosphate of 11 microM and 43 microM, respectively. These studies were combined with rate measurements in the presence of one product (NADPH), dead-end inhibitors, as well as alternative substrates. The inhibition by NADPH was found to be competitive with respect to both substrates. Alternate substrates experiments gave linear double-reciprocal plots over a wide range of substrate concentrations. The results suggest that the dimeric enzyme follows either a random or a Theorell-Chance mechanism. PMID- 2605262 TI - Tropomyosin-caldesmon/actomyosin systems in platelets and arterial smooth muscle: results from exchange experiments. AB - Tropomyosin and caldesomon reciprocally control the actomyosin system in smooth muscle and some non-muscle cells. To compare this mechanism between arterial smooth muscle and platelets, we carried out extensive exchange experiments. Actin, myosin, tropomyosin from arterial smooth muscle cells and platelets were recombined and the effects of two species of caldesmon ('caldesmon77' and 'caldesmon140') on the ATPase activities of both systems were examined and analyzed by the method of analysis of variance. (a) The actomyosin system itself is different between artery and platelets, the difference being determined by myosin (P less than 0.05) and not by actin. (b) Platelet tropomyosin differentiates platelet actin from arterial actin (P less than 0.01), while arterial tropomyosin does not. Neither does tropomyosin differentiate myosin. (c) The effect of caldesmon77 differentiates the origins of myosin (P less than 0.01), actin (P less than 0.05) and tropomyosin (P less than 0.05). The effect of caldesmon140 differentiates the origin of myosin (P less than 0.05) and the actin myosin 'interaction' (combination) (P less than 0.01), but not the origin of tropomyosin (P greater than 0.1). (1) It is concluded that actomyosin/tropomyosin caldesmon system is distinguishable between platelets and artery. (2) It is suggested that caldesmon is an actomyosin inhibitor which may interact with myosin, in addition to actin and tropomyosin. PMID- 2605263 TI - Purification and characterization of an insect alpha-amylase inhibitor/endochitinase from seeds of Job's Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi). AB - A protein inhibitor of locust gut alpha-amylase was purified from seeds of Job's Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi) using ammonium sulphate precipitation, affinity chromatography on Red Sepharose and reversed-phase HPLC. It consisted of two major isomers, each a dimer of two closely similar or identical subunits of Mr about 26,400, and associated by inter-chain disulphide bonds. These isomers also had closely similar amino acid compositions. The major isomer showed no inhibitory activity against amylases from other sources: human saliva, porcine pancreas, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus oryzae and barley malt. The manual DABITC/PITC method was used to determine about half of the amino acid sequence of the major isoform. This showed a high degree of homology with previously reported sequences of endochitinase enzymes from several species (tobacco, potato, barley, bean), and endochitinase activity was demonstrated by following the release of radioactivity from [3H]chitin. This novel combination of functions may be relevant to protection of the grain from insect feeding and fungal infection. PMID- 2605264 TI - Amino acid sequence of monkey erythrocyte glycophorin MK. Its amino acid sequence has a striking homology with that of human glycophorin A. AB - A major sialoglycoprotein, glycophorin MK, was isolated from monkey erythrocyte membranes by extraction with lithium diiodosalicylate and partition in aqueous phenol. Chemical analysis of glycophorin MK revealed that the glycophorin consists of 51% protein and 49% carbohydrate by weight, and contains no N glycosidic oligosaccharide units. Only N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) was detected as sialic acid. The amino acid sequence of glycophorin MK was determined, which demonstrated that the glycophorin consists of 144 amino acid residues and 18 oligosaccharide units linked O-glycosidically to the peptide backbone through serine or threonine residues. The molecular weight was estimated to be about 35,000 based on the amino acid residues and carbohydrate content. By comparison of the amino acid sequence with those of human, equine and porcine glycophorins, a striking sequence homology was observed between monkey and human glycophorin. Glycophorin MK demonstrated both M and N blood group activities. PMID- 2605265 TI - Caldesmon weakens the bonding between myosin heads and actin in ghost fibers. AB - Earlier studies using polarized microphotometry have shown that caldesmon inhibits the alterations in structure and flexibility of actin in ghost fibers that take place upon the binding of myosin heads (Galazkiewicz et al. (1987) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 916, 368-375). The present investigations, performed with an IAEDANS label attached to myosin subfragment 1 (S-1), revealed that this inhibition results from the weakening of the binding between myosin heads and actin as indicated by the caldesmon-induced increase in the random movement of S 1. Parallel experiments with actin labeled at Cys-374 demonstrated that this effect of caldesmon is transmitted to the C-terminus of the actin molecule resulting in a conformational adjustment in this region of the molecule. PMID- 2605266 TI - Rapid purification of porcine colostral whey lactoferrin by affinity chromatography on single-stranded DNA-agarose. Characterization, amino acid composition and N-terminal amino acid sequence. AB - We have determined that the major iron-binding and DNA-binding protein in porcine colostral whey is lactoferrin. This lactoferrin was purified to homogeneity in one chromatographic step using immobilized single-stranded DNA-agarose. Although different in chromatographic behavior from human lactoferrin, the porcine lactoferrin purified in this manner was shown to be homogeneous by high performance ion-exchange chromatography (Mono-S), immobilized metal ion (Cu2+) affinity chromatography, size-exclusion chromatography (TSK-4000SW), and reverse phase (phenyl) chromatography. Electrophoresis on SDS-polyacrylamide gradient (10 20%) gels under reducing conditions showed the purified lactoferrin to be a single protein (silver-stained) of 78 kDa. Apolactoferrin purified in this manner bound iron and displayed a UV/VIS absorption spectrum indistinguishable from that of human lactoferrin. The molar absorption coefficient of hololactoferrin was 3.86 x 10(3) M-1 at 465 nm and 1.08 x 10(5) M-1 at 280 nm. Affinity elution analyses of the purified lactoferrin on immobilized DNA revealed that the affinity of this protein for DNA was independent of bound iron. Porcine lactoferrin was recognized by antibodies directed against human lactoferrin and bovine lactoferrin. The amino acid composition and N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis (30 residues) revealed a high degree of sequence homology with human, equine and bovine lactoferrin. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of immobilized DNA as a rapid and simple lactoferrin purification procedure and demonstrate the presence of a lactoferrin in porcine colostral whey with a high degree of sequence homology to human lactoferrin. PMID- 2605267 TI - [Isolation of the fifth IgG-binding domain from Staphylococcus aureus protein A]. AB - Using affinity chromatography on IgG-Sepharose at pH 5.0, a new fragment capable of binding to IgG (domain E) was isolated from trypsin hydrolysate of protein A. Trypsinolysis of protein A was performed at low temperatures. Thus, the intact structure of protein A was found to include six domains, of which five interact with IgG. PMID- 2605268 TI - [Protective effect rendered by human ceruloplasmin on erythrocytes in hepatocerebral dystrophy]. AB - In order to elucidate the protective effect of human ceruloplasmin (CP) on erythrocytes in patients with hepatocerebral dystrophy (HCD), the parameters reflecting the interaction of CP from the blood of healthy donors (n-CP) and of HCD patients (h-CP) with erythrocytes from healthy donors (n-ER) and from HCD patients (h-ER) were estimated. The protective effects of n-CP and h-CP on n-ER and h-ER during the Cu2+-induced lysis were compared. It was shown that the ability of h-CP to prevent the human ER breakdown upon Cu2+-induced lysis is much lower (approximately 3-fold) than that of n-CP. The differences in the protective effect of n-CP and h-CP are manifested in a greater degree during the n-ER lysis than during the h-ER lysis. PMID- 2605269 TI - [Modulation of the inhibiting effect of long-chained acyl-CoA on oxidative phosphorylation of liver mitochondria in rats of various lines by Z-protein]. AB - The effect of short-term starvation on the energy state of the adenine nucleotide system in the livers of rats of Wistar and Wag strains was studied. In fed rats, (4 hours after food withdrawal) both strains had the same liver content of long chain acyl-CoAs. At the same time, in the livers of Wistar rats the phosphate potential values were much higher than in the livers of Wag rats (1.82 +/- 0.18 and 0.64 +/- 0.08, respectively), thus suggesting a strong inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation in the livers of Wag rats. Based on a comparison of the states and levels of Z-protein in the livers of fed and starved Wistar and Wag rats, it was proposed that an excess of long-chain acyl-CoAs over the Z-protein content in the liver is a necessary prerequisite for the development of inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, the Z-protein may be considered as a possible physiological modulator of the inhibitory effect of acyl-CoAs on the energy state of the adenine nucleotide system in the liver in vivo. PMID- 2605270 TI - [Subfractionated conversions of high density lipoproteins in vitro in sera with various lipid spectra]. AB - Using gradient gel electrophoresis, the interconversions of high density lipoproteins (HDL) upon heating for 24 hours at 37 degrees C of blood sera obtained from dyslipidemic patients, were studied. It was shown that during incubation of normolipidemic, hypercholesterolemic and hyperalphacholesterolemic sera, the portion of large particles of HDL2 subclass (HDL2b) is increased with a simultaneous decrease in the portion of the smallest particles of HDL3 subclass (HDL3b and HDL3c). Contrariwise, in hypertriglyceridemic and hypoalphacholesterolemic sera the portion of the largest HDL2b particles is decreased, while that of middle-sized HDL3a is increased. Hence, hypertriglyceridemia and hypoalphacholesterolemia are not associated with an intensive conversion of small HDL3 particles into large HDL2 ones, which may be the reason for the decreased cholesterol transport function of HDL. PMID- 2605271 TI - [Activity of enzymes participating in xenobiotic metabolism and the condition of microsomal membranes of rat liver in vitamin K deficiency]. AB - Alimentary deficiency or vitamin K (vitamin K-poor diet) as well as the vitamin deficiency resulting from sinkumar administration are accompanied by a decreased activity of microsomal demethylases, hydroxylase, NADH- and nNADPH-reductases of dichlorophenolindophenol and neotrazolium. The activity of cytosolic enzymes (only glutathione-S-transferases, aryl- and allyl esterases) is diminished in a lesser degree. Vitamin K deficiency does not significantly interfere with the effect of the xenobiotic metabolism enzyme inducer (phenobarbital) or the cytochrome P-450 inhibitor (cobalt chloride). The changes in the enzyme activity result in a decrease of acetanilide biotransformation. A possible reason for the observed changes in the activity of microsomal enzymes is the weakening of hydrophobic and polar interactions in microsomal membranes. This hypothesis was confirmed by experiments with the use of membrane perturbants as well as by solubilization of membrane-bound enzymes. PMID- 2605272 TI - [Isolation of Ca2+, Mg2+-dependent nuclease from calf thymus chromatin]. AB - Ca2+,Mg2+-dependent nuclease was isolated from calf thymus chromatin by stepwise chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, CM-Sephadex and DNA-Sepharose. The enzyme was purified more than 700-fold. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis revealed one protein band possessing an enzymatic activity. The molecular mass of the nuclease as determined by gel filtration is 25700 Da, that determined by 12% SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is 28,000 Da. In the presence of various ions the enzyme activity decreases in the following order: (Ca2+ + Mn2+) greater than (Ca2+ + Mg2+) greater than Mn2+; the pH optimum is at 8.0. In media with Mg2+, Ca2+, Co2+ and Zn2+ the nuclease is inactive. Some other properties of the enzyme are described. PMID- 2605273 TI - [The role of heme in the regulation of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase activity and content of cytochrome P-450 in rat liver]. AB - The effects of exogenous heme on the activity of delta-aminolevulinate synthase, heme oxygenase, tryptophan-2.3-dioxygenase and microsomal cytochrome content in rat liver were studied. It was shown that hemin chloride diminishes the delta aminolevulinate synthase activity and provokes heme oxygenase induction. This is paralleled with the induction of the tryptophan 2.3-dioxygenase apoenzyme and an increase in the saturation of the enzyme with heme. The cytochrome b5 content does not change thereby, whereas that of cytochrome P-450 shows a decrease. Upon combined administration of actinomycin D and hemin the cytochrome P-450 level is markedly increased. Actinomycin D by itself has no effect on the hemoprotein concentration. It is concluded that the increase in the cytochrome P-450 level results from the activation of heme-induced mRNA translation. PMID- 2605274 TI - [Investigation of the functional properties of domains of alpha-actinin]. AB - The role of domains in rabbit skeletal muscle alpha-actinin was investigated. The binding center of alpha-actinin containing F-actin is localized in the N-terminal domain, while the C-terminal domain provides for dimerization of the protein molecule. A model of structural organization of the alpha-actinin was proposed, according to which the subunits within the molecule are oriented so that the N terminal domains localized on the opposite sides of the protein molecule form the binding centers of alpha-actinin with F-actin. PMID- 2605275 TI - [Stepwise dissociation of subcomponents of C1, the first component of human complement, upon activation on an affinity sorbent]. AB - An affinity sorbent comprising macroporous glass coated with the polymer with the polymer with immobilized immunoglobulin IgG was used for the isolation from human serum of the first component of the complement and for its separation into subcomponents C1r, C1s and C1q by the one-step procedure. Serum C1 was quantitatively bound to the sorbent at 0 degrees C. The unbound part of the serum can be used as a R1 reagent for determining the hemolytic activity of C1. After activation of bound C1 by heating (30 degrees C, 40 min) the activated subcomponent C1r is eluted from the sorbent. Stepwise elution with EDTA at pH 7.4 or with EDTA + 1 M NaCl at pH 8.5 results in a selective and quantitative elution of the activated subcomponent C1s and subcomponent C1q. Stepwise elution of C1 subcomponents from the affinity sorbent after activation reflects the process of C1 breakdown following its activation on immune complexes. PMID- 2605276 TI - Maturational changes and origin of urinary human epidermal growth factor in the neonatal period. AB - In order to clarify the characteristics of urinary human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) excretion in the newborn period, we examined hEGF in the 41 newborn infants; 12 healthy preterm infants (group A), 10 healthy full-term infants (group B), 12 full-term infants with neonatal asphyxia (group C), 7 full-term infants treated with tobramycin (group D) during the first week of life. Renal function tests, i.e. creatinine clearance (Ccr), and N-acetyl-beta-D glucosaminidase (NAG) as a parameter of renal tubular damage, were examined in 29 full-term infants. Urinary hEGF excretion showed a linear increase with gestational age. During the first week of life, urinary hEGF excretion in group B increased with age. However, urinary hEGF excretion in group A remained at the constant level through the study period. Ccr in group C was significantly decreased through the study period when compared with that in group B. NAG indices in group C during the first week of life and those in group D on days 5-7 of life were more elevated than those in group B. Urinary hEGF excretion in group C on days 4-7 of life and that in group D on day 7 of life were significantly decreased when compared with that in group B. These results suggest that urinary hEGF excretion is related to the maturation and that the source of urinary hEGF may be renal tubular cells. PMID- 2605277 TI - Immunoreactive human epidermal growth factor concentrations in amniotic fluid, umbilical artery and vein serum, and placenta in full-term and preterm infants. AB - Immunoreactive human epidermal growth factor (IR-hEGF) was measured in samples taken from 27 full-term and 14 preterm infants. The samples included amniotic fluid, amniotic membranes, fetal and maternal sides of the placenta, and matched umbilical artery and umbilical vein serum. Our results demonstrated the presence of IR-hEGF in the human placenta, amniotic fluid and cord blood during the second half of gestation. The increase in placental tissue, amniotic fluid, and cord blood concentration with progressive gestation suggests a possible functional role for EGF during perinatal development. PMID- 2605278 TI - Transcutaneous bilirubinometry: serum bilirubin measurement using transcutaneous bilirubinometer (TcB). A preliminary study. AB - While the transcutaneous bilirubinometer (TcB) was originally developed for use as a jaundice meter, we have shown that it can also be used as a bedside instrument for direct measurement of serum bilirubin. An analysis of 130 samples indicates that total serum bilirubin measurement using the TcB is simple and accurate. A comparison with the AO bilirubinometer showed a highly significant coefficient or correlation (r = 0.99) for total serum bilirubin concentration. The addition of hemolysates caused no effect on TcB reading obtained by the TcB instrument, even at levels above those usually encountered in sera of newborn infants. The AO cuvette is very suitable for use in this measurement, since this method requires less than 15 microliters of serum. One of the disadvantages of this method may be that it yields somewhat lower (5%) than actual serum bilirubin concentrations in the range above 20 mg/dl, and somewhat higher (20%) than actual serum bilirubin concentrations in the range below 10 mg/dl. Our study demonstrated the TcB instrument to be a useful device for bedside determination of serum bilirubin in the screening of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, though useful as a screening test, it does not provide such an accurate determination of serum bilirubin concentration as the AO bilirubinometer. PMID- 2605279 TI - Transcutaneous bilirubinometry: bilirubin kinetics of the skin and serum during and after phototherapy. AB - Skin bilirubin (transcutaneous bilirubinometry, TcB, reading) and serum bilirubin kinetics were studied in 20 full-term hyperbilirubinemic infants during and after phototherapy. TcB readings at the chest site decreased after 2 h of phototherapy from 28.0 to 21.3 (25% of initial TcB reading, p less than 0.001) and thereafter continued to decrease in a nonlinear fashion through the first 24 h of phototherapy. However, TcB readings after 12 h of phototherapy were about 50% of the initial readings (p less than 0.001), declining minimally during the second 12 h of phototherapy, suggesting saturation kinetics. While serum bilirubin levels remained unchanged during the first 4 h of phototherapy, thereafter they showed a rapid decline to 12 h of phototherapy. The rate of decline decreased during the second 12 h of phototherapy, but serum bilirubin levels still decreased significantly from 16.9 to 14.9 mg/dl. Although TcB readings showed saturation kinetics during the second 12 h of phototherapy, the serum bilirubin levels were shown to decrease significantly. This suggests that the main site of action of phototherapy may be intravascular at this stage, rather than the skin and subcutaneous capillary bed as in the early stage of phototherapy. PMID- 2605280 TI - Oral feeding containers and their influence on intake and ventilation in preterm infants. AB - In order to determine whether changes in feeding container properties could expedite oral feeding without compromising ventilation, the rate of feeding and respiration were studied in 10 healthy preterm infants while using a collapsible feeding container, and the findings were compared to those obtained with the standard rigid bottle. Equal volumes of formula were offered from both containers. With the collapsible container, the total duration of feeding was significantly shorter, and the rate of ingestion of formula was significantly faster (p less than 0.01), while minute ventilation remained equally reduced from control levels during both feeds (p less than 0.05). The fall in ventilation was secondary to a reduction in tidal volume (p less than 0.001). Breathing frequency and transcutaneous oxygen tension did not change significantly with either trial. During feeding activity in both trials, airflow interruption occurred in both phases of the breathing cycle, but the total duration of interrupted airflow was greater with the collapsible container feed (p less than 0.001). Similar amounts of intra-oral negative pressure changes developed with sucking during both feeds. Results show that decreasing the rigidity of the feeding container shortened feeding time significantly without significantly affecting ventilation. Despite the greater duration of airflow interruption with the collapsible container, minute ventilation was sufficiently maintained to prevent compromised oxygenation. PMID- 2605281 TI - Effects of maternal ethanol ingestion on the uptake of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid by fetal rat liver, lung and brain. AB - Maternal ethanol ingestion reduced the uptake of [14C]-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) by placenta and fetal liver, lung and brain when compared with pair-fed or ad libitum-fed controls. The ratios between fetal tissue and plasma radioactivities indicated reduced AIB transport into the tissues of the ethanol fed fetuses. Organ weights correlated with the fetal:maternal plasma 14C ratio, an indicator of the rate of placental AIB transfer, and with the tissue AIB uptake. These observations suggest that ethanol-induced growth retardation may reflect reduced nutrient availability resulting from impaired transport processes. PMID- 2605282 TI - Effects of suckling and the postsuckling fast on weights of the body and internal organs of harp and hooded seal pups. AB - The weights of harp seal pups quadruple during 13 days of suckling while hooded seal pups double in weight in a lactation period of just 4 days. Pups of both species then fast for a month or longer. As a first measure of tissue responses to this 'feast and famine' pattern, we weighted the body, sculp (blubber and attached skin), core (carcass including viscera) and major internal organs of seal pups at birth, at the end of suckling, and at the end of the fast. When expressed as a percentage of body weight, the weights of the internal organs of newborn harp and hooded seals were within the range reported for newborn land mammals. During suckling, harp and hooded seals gained 2.3 and 6.5 kg/day body weight, respectively, but a large part (64-73%) of this gain was blubber and skin rather than core. Even though pups were ingesting great quantities of fat, their digestive organs (stomach, small and large intestines, pancreas) were neither particularly large at birth nor did these organs gain in weight or length unusually rapidly. Most organs increased in weight in proportion to the increase in core weight, but the liver and spleen increased proportionately more than the core, and the stomach, heart and kidneys increased proportionately less. At the end of suckling, sculp accounted for more than half of the body weight in both species. The subsequent 4-week fast resulted in weight loss from both the sculp and core, and the liver and spleen decreased in weight by about 70%. The net effect of sequential suckling and fasting was particularly striking in the hooded seal pup, which has a lighter core, heart, liver and spleen at 1 month postpartum than at birth. These data illustrate a remarkable cycle of nutrient deposition and depletion which is undoubtedly central to the survival of young seals in the harsh pack-ice environment. PMID- 2605283 TI - Microwave treatment of xenogeneic cartilage transplants. AB - Human rib cartilage was irradiated with microwaves according to six different methods and transplanted into rabbits. Untreated rib cartilage preserved in Cialit served as a control. After 12 and 40 wk of implantation, the microscopic appearance of these xenogeneic cartilage transplants was given a score in comparison with the transplants preserved in Cialit. The microwave treatment of the cartilage appeared to improve the results. The Cialit-preserved transplants showed progressive resorption by macrophages with central necrosis and fragmentation, which was not present in the microwave-treated grafts. Microwaves seem to stabilize the cartilage matrix and enhance the diffusion of fixatives. Irradiation in ethanol as an immersion fluid appeared to be the best method. The results of transplantation can benefit from the use of microwaves in the preservation of the cartilage. It is argued that, in addition, microwave irradiation might be used for inactivation of human immunodeficiency virus in human cartilage used for transplantation. PMID- 2605284 TI - Intraocular PMMA lenses modified with surface-immobilized heparin: evaluation of biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. AB - Intraocular lenses (IOL) were surface modified with covalently linked heparin. The surface-bound heparin could not be removed by incubation in solutions known to be effective in breaking non-covalent bonds, nor by incubation in a solution of proteinase K and only to a limited extent by incubation with heparinase. In vitro studies demonstrated improved biocompatibility by the heparin surface modified lens with respect to outgrowth of fibroblasts and macrophages, activation of granulocytes and adhesion of platelets. These results were subsequently verified in vivo in terms of less inflammatory cells on the lens surface and fewer incidences of synechiae after 3 and 6 wk IOL implantation in the rabbit eye. PMID- 2605285 TI - Hydrophobic and fibrillar microporous polyetherurethane urea prosthesis: an ESCA study on the internal and external surfaces of explanted grafts. AB - The ESCA study gives a good qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis of internal and external surfaces of foreign materials. Microporous hydrophobic Mitrathane (a polyetherurethane urea) grafts were implanted as blood conduits in dogs for up to 6 months. Surface analysis of explanted grafts demonstrated the presence of different contaminants: sodium, chlorine, silicon, in patent grafts, i.e. those implanted for 1 month and less. The sulphur probably comes from the presence of proteins on the surface of the polymer and the high level of nitrogen is also protein-related. At 6 month implantation, the grafts were occluded and a decrease of proteins on the surface was observed. The values of N/C and O/C ratios are also reported. For the virgin material, these ratios correspond to the quantity of hard and soft segments; but, for the explanted grafts, these parameters are also influenced by the presence of proteins due to the Versaclean washing which did not wash away all the proteins on the surface of the polymer. The SEM photographs showed a certain degradation of polyurethane after 6 month of implantation. However, by ESCA study, it is difficult to compare the surface of virgin and explanted grafts because it is masked by the presence of proteins. PMID- 2605286 TI - In vivo evaluation of hydrophobic and fibrillar microporous polyetherurethane urea graft. AB - Mitrathane hydrophobic and fibrillar microporous prosthesis was implanted as infrarenal arterial substitute in dogs; it was evaluated in terms of patency rates, healing characteristics and biostability. Segments of grafts were implanted in duplicate for a period of implantation of 24 h, 1 wk, 1 month and 6 month. Two control grafts from the Ontario Research Foundation were implanted: one for 1 month, the other for six month. All except the two Mitrathane grafts implanted for 6 month were patent at death. The Mitrathane grafts showed kinking at one and 6 month post-implantation. The ORF graft implanted for 1 month was found crinkled in its mid-section and the external capsule was ruptured in the graft implanted for 6 month, without crinkling. Histological studies showed fibrin deposits on the flow surface and infiltration of blood elements into the wall of the Mitrathane grafts implanted for 24 h and 1 wk. A thin internal capsule was present on the graft flow surface of both types of graft tested 1 month post-implantation; scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of endothelial-like cells on the luminal surface, particularly in the vicinity of the anastomoses. At 6 month, the Mitrathane grafts were occluded by a thick thrombus originating from the anastomoses, while the ORF graft showed infiltration of collagen through the polyurethane fibrillar structure of the wall with an endothelial-like lining covering the flow surface in the vicinity of both anastomoses. PMID- 2605287 TI - Effect of temperature and ageing on the mechanical properties of dental polymeric composite materials. AB - Evaluation of the mechanical properties of some dental composite materials, Compact, Finesse and Prisma-Fil based on bisphenol glycidyl methacrylate resin was undertaken by applying compression, tension and hardness tests. The effects of temperature and ageing times on these properties were studied. There was a marked increase in the mechanical properties (compressive strength, diametral tensile strength, compressive elastic modulus and hardness) for all the investigated composites with increase of both temperature and time. This was explained in terms of the influence of temperature on the polymerization rate of the materials. The improvement in the mechanical properties of the samples, kept at 37 degrees C, was attributed to further and continued polymerization of the polymer content of their resin system. Such mechanical improvement was verified by the regression equation of linearity versus both temperature and time. PMID- 2605288 TI - In vitro and in vivo degradation of poly(D,L lactide/glycolide) type microspheres made by solvent evaporation method. AB - Microspheres of different poly(alpha-hydroxy acids) were prepared by solvent evaporation to study the effects of gamma-sterilization on stability and to establish the degradation process in vitro and in vivo. gamma-Irradiation dramatically decreases polymer molecular weight and this degradation continues on storage. gamma-Irradiation modifies the controlled release pattern of cisplatin loaded microspheres. After embolization of rat livers by microspheres, a histological study of the inflammatory response was made, along with gel permeation chromatography analysis of degrading polymers. The degradation rate of the polymers increased with the glycolic unit content in the lactic chains. Scanning electron microscopy of microsphere degradation in vitro correlated with the former observations. PMID- 2605289 TI - N-acetylation in chitosan and the rate of its enzymic hydrolysis. AB - Partially N-acetylated derivatives (degree of substitution (d.s.) 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 for N-acetyl) of chitosan were prepared from prawn shell chitosan, and their susceptibility towards a lysozyme from hen egg-white, three microbial chitinases and a chitinase from potato skins was examined. The partially N acetylated derivatives (d.s. 0.4-0.8 for N-acetyl) were 1.5-4.0 times more digestible than N-acetylchitosan (d.s. 1.0 for N-acetyl), and their enzymic hydrolysis rate is controlled by the d.s. for N-acetyl group. These data suggest that chitosan is usable as a digestible material in the biomedical and biotechnological fields. PMID- 2605290 TI - [A computer-assisted noninvasive monitoring system with graphic display of online determination of cardiovascular parameters]. AB - During anesthesia the cardiovascular system is usually assessed on the basis of heart rate and arterial pressure, although the most important hemodynamic measurement is that of flow. A method for the non-invasive measurement of cardiac output is based on thoracic electrical bio-impedance. The NCCOM3-R7 is a non invasive cardiac output monitor that makes use of thoracic electrical bioimpedance, which has been shown to provide results comparable with thermodilution in various hemodynamic states both in animals and humans. A new on line hemodynamic monitoring system has been developed using the non-invasive NCCOM3-R7 (BoMed) cardiac output monitor, a portable microcomputer (NEC Multispeed) in connection with a software package CDDP-1 (BoMed), a Dinamap automatic arterial pressure monitor (Critikon) and an additional 14" display. Every 16 heart beats the cardiac output monitor transfers 11 cardiodynamic parameters in ASCII-format to the microcomputer, where the data are stored. Using the CDDP-1 program the current cardiodynamic status of the patient is displayed numerically and graphically on the monitor screen. Mean arterial pressure is determined by Dinamap and the data must be entered manually in the menu. The program then calculates systemic vascular resistance and left ventricular work index, the CVP being set to 3 torr and PAOP to 6 torr. In the graphic display the current hemodynamic status is shown and the underlying situation is analyzed in terms of systemic vascular resistance and volume-dependent contractility. The reliability of this on-line monitoring system is demonstrated in a high-risk patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605291 TI - [The injection abscess--a sequela of unsuitable cannulas?]. AB - Skin-cylinders punched out by hypodermic needles, are discussed as an influencing factor in abscess forming after injection. Up to now these skin-cylinders are regarded as unavoidable. The authors show, that with different types of hypodermic needles the frequency of skin-cylinders widely differs. They resume, that the frequency of post injection abscesses could be reduced by the use of better suitable needles. PMID- 2605292 TI - [Recording movement traces in field studies]. AB - A method is presented for the simultaneous recording of body movements in space and electrophysiological data in field studies in order to obtain criteria for the evaluation of muscular and mental effort, with the aim of improving the design of workplaces--here exemplified the driver's cab of a railway engine. Eight light-emitting diodes were attached to certain parts of the body and their positions recorded by means of a video system. The positions of the diodes were computed off-line with the aid of image-processing system. In comparison with the resolution of the video camera the accuracy of determining the coordinates of a diode can clearly be improved by computing the center of its imaged bright area. In combination with recordings of the eye movements and the railway track by means of an extra video camera, evaluation of the movement traces permits a differentiated study of specific movements and actions. PMID- 2605293 TI - [Reducing chloramines in drinking water]. AB - Monochloramine is produced when drinking water containing ammonium is chlorinated. It has long been known that activated charcoal destroys monochloramine. However, exact data for the dimensioning of a dechloramination plant were lacking. Four different commercially available activated charcoals were characterized (size of particle, iodine number) and examined for their effectiveness in removing monochloramines. The degradation of monochloramine by active charcoal is based on a chemical reaction of first order between carbon and monochloramine. The types of activated charcoal considerably differ in terms of reaction velocity, due in part to the mean granular size. The final concentration of the monochloramines is influenced only by their length of stay in the activated carbon filter, the temperature and the inflow concentration. A mathematical model describes the dependence of the degradation rate of the monochloramines on various factors. With its aid a nomogram can be established with which, simply and quickly, the activated charcoal needed in a concrete case can be determined. PMID- 2605294 TI - Smoothed orientational order profile of lipid bilayers by 2H-nuclear magnetic resonance. AB - A new method has been developed to determine the complete orientational order profile of lipid bilayers using 2H-NMR. The profile is obtained from a single powder spectrum of a lipid which has a saturated chain fully deuteriated. The smoothed order profile is determined directly from the normalized dePaked spectrum assuming a monotonic decrease of the order along the acyl chain. The oscillatory variations of the order at the beginning of the chain are not described by this method. However the smoothed order profile reveals in a straightforward way the crucial features of the anisotropic order of the bilayer. PMID- 2605295 TI - Chain order profile in lipid HII phases. PMID- 2605296 TI - Hydrocarbon chain conformation in the HII phase. PMID- 2605297 TI - Effect of joule temperature jump on tension and stiffness of skinned rabbit muscle fibers. AB - The effects of a temperature jump (T-jump) from 5-7 degrees C to 26-33 degrees C were studied on tension and stiffness of glycerol-extracted fibers from rabbit psoas muscle in rigor and during maximal Ca2+ activation. The T-jump was initiated by passing an alternating current pulse (30 kHz, up to 2.5 kV, duration 0.2 ms) through a fiber suspended in air. In rigor the T-jump induces a drop of both tension and stiffness. During maximal activation, the immediate stiffness dropped by (4.4 +/- 1.6) x 10(-3)/1 degree C (mean + SD) in response to the T jump, and this was followed by a monoexponential stiffness rise by a factor of 1.59 +/- 0.14 with a rate constant ks = 174 +/- 42 s-1 (mean +/- SD, n = 8). The data show that the fiber stiffness, determined by the cross-bridge elasticity, in both rigor and maximal activation is not rubber-like. In the activated fibers the T-jump induced a biexponential tension rise by a factor of 3.45 +/- 0.76 (mean +/ SD, n = 8) with the rate constants 500-1,000 s-1 for the first exponent and 167 +/- 39 s-1 (mean +/- SD, n = 8) for the second exponent. The data are in accordance with the assumption that the first phase of the tension transient after the T-jump is due to a force-generating step in the attached cross-bridges, whereas the second one is related to detachment and reattachment of cross bridges. PMID- 2605298 TI - Adenosine diphosphate-induced aggregation of human platelets in flow through tubes. I. Measurement of concentration and size of single platelets and aggregates. AB - A double infusion flow system and particle sizing technique were developed to study the effect of time and shear rate on adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation in Poiseuille flow. Citrated platelet-rich plasma, PRP, and 2 microM ADP were simultaneously infused into a 40-microliters cylindrical mixing chamber at a fixed flow ratio, PRP/ADP = 9:1. After rapid mixing by a rotating magnetic stirbar, the platelet suspension flowed through 1.19 or 0.76 mm i.d. polyethylene tubing for mean transit times, t, from 0.1 to 86 s, over a range of mean tube shear rate, G, from 41.9 to 1,000 s-1. Known volumes of suspension were collected into 0.5% buffered glutaraldehyde, and all particles in the volume range 1-10(5) microns 3 were counted and sized using a model ZM particle counter (Coulter Electronics Inc., Hialeah, FL) and a logarithmic amplifier. The decrease in the single platelet concentration served as an overall index of aggregation. The decrease in the total particle concentration was used to calculate the collision capture efficiency during the early stages of aggregation, and aggregate growth was followed by changes in the volume fraction of particles of successively increasing size. Preliminary results demonstrate that both collision efficiency and particle volume fraction reveal important aspects of the aggregation process not indicated by changes in the single platelet concentration alone. PMID- 2605299 TI - Adenosine diphosphate-induced aggregation of human platelets in flow through tubes. II. Effect of shear rate, donor sex, and ADP concentration. AB - The effect of shear rate on the adenosine diphosphate-induced aggregation of human platelets in Poiseuille flow was studied using the method described in part I (Bell, D.N., S. Spain, and H.L. Goldsmith. 1989. Biophys. J. 56:817-828). The rate and extent of aggregation in citrated platelet-rich plasma were measured over a range of mean transit time from 0.2 to 8.6 s and mean tube shear rate, G, from 41.9 to 1,920 s-1. At 0.2 microM ADP, changes in the single platelet concentration with time suggest that more than one type of platelet-platelet bond mediates platelet aggregation at physiological shear rates. At low G, a high initial rate of aggregation reflects the formation of a weak bond of high affinity, the strength of which diminishes with time. Here, the fraction of collisions yielding stable doublets, the collision efficiency, reached a maximum of 26%. The collision efficiency decreased with increasing G and was accompanied by a progressive delay in the onset of aggregation. However, the gradual expression of a more shear rate-resistant bond at high shear rates and long mean transit times produced a subsequent increase in collision efficiency and a corresponding increase in the rate of aggregation. Although the collision efficiencies here were less than 1%, the high collision frequencies were able to sustain a high rate of aggregation. At 0.2 microM ADP, aggregate size generally decreased with increasing G. At 1.0 microM ADP, aggregate size was still limited at high shear rates even though the rate of single platelet aggregation was much higher than at 0.2 microM ADP. Platelet aggregation was greater for female than for male donors, an effect related to differences in the hematocrit of donors before preparing platelet-rich plasma. PMID- 2605300 TI - Effect of cholesterol on structural and dynamic properties of tripalmitoyl glyceride. A high-pressure infrared spectroscopic study. AB - The infrared spectra of tripalmitoyl glyceride confirm the tuning fork configuration previously attributed to trilauroyl glyceride (Small, D. M. 1986. Handbook of Lipid Research. Vol. 4). The acyl chains in solid tripalmitoyl glycerol, either within each molecule or between neighboring molecules, are oriented parallel to each other with the sn-3 acyl chains extended toward the opposite direction of the sn-1 and sn-2 chains. The presence of cholesterol increases the orientational disorder of the tripalmitoyl glyceride molecules in terms of increased reorientational fluctuations and twisting/torsion motions of the acyl chains. In the solid mixture, cholesterol is embedded in the tripalmitoyl glyceride lattice which results in a reorientation of the acyl chains within each molecule from a parallel packing to a nonparallel packing. No evidence was found for hydrogen bond formation between the OH group of cholesterol and any of the three C = O groups of tripalmitoyl glyceride. PMID- 2605301 TI - Translational diffusion and fluid domain connectivity in a two-component, two phase phospholipid bilayer. AB - The two-dimensional connectivity is examined for mixed bilayers of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) as a function of composition and temperature at constant pressure using the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) method. These phospholipid mixtures exhibit peritectic behavior with a large region in which both gel and liquid crystalline phases coexist. Dilauroyl phosphatidylethanolamine covalently linked through the amino function in its head group to the fluorescent nitrobenzodiazolyl group (NBD-DLPE) was used as the fluorescent probe in this study, because it was found to partition almost exclusively in the liquid crystalline phase. The results of these studies show the line of connectivity to be close to the liquidus line on the phase diagram over a rather broad range of concentrations. In this range, a gel phase comprising approximately 20% of the system disconnects a liquid crystalline phase comprising 80% of the system. The implications of this result are discussed for domain shape and the organization of biological membrane components. PMID- 2605302 TI - Calculations of scattered light from rigid polymers by Shifrin and Rayleigh-Debye approximations. AB - We show that the commonly used Rayleigh-Debye method for calculating light scattering can lead to significant errors when used for describing scattering from dilute solutions of long rigid polymers, errors that can be overcome by use of the easily applied Shifrin approximation. In order to show the extent of the discrepancies between the two methods, we have performed calculations at normal incidence both for polarized and unpolarized incident light with the scattering intensity determined as a function of polarization angle and of scattering angle, assuming that the incident light is in a spectral region where the absorption of hemoglobin is small. When the Shifrin method is used, the calculated intensities using either polarized or unpolarized scattered light give information about the alignment of polymers, a feature that is lost in the Rayleigh-Debye approximation because the effect of the asymmetric shape of the scatterer on the incoming polarized electric field is ignored. Using sickle hemoglobin polymers as an example, we have calculated the intensity of light scattering using both approaches and found that, for totally aligned polymers within parallel planes, the difference can be as large as 25%, when the incident electric field is perpendicular to the polymers, for near forward or near backward scattering (0 degrees or 180 degrees scattering angle), but becomes zero as the scattering angle approaches 90 degrees. For randomly oriented polymers within a plane, or for incident unpolarized light for either totally oriented or randomly oriented polymers, the difference between the two results for near forward or near backward scattering is approximately 15%. PMID- 2605303 TI - Disorder induced in nonoverlap myosin cross-bridges by loss of adenosine triphosphate. AB - Adenosine triphosphate-dependent changes in myosin filament structure have been directly observed in whole muscle by electron microscopy of thin sections of rapidly frozen, demembranated frog sartorius specimens. In the presence of ATP the thick filaments show an ordered, helical array of cross-bridges except in the bare zone. In the absence of ATP they show two distinct appearances: in the region of overlap with actin, there is an ordered, rigorlike array of cross bridges between the thick and thin filaments, whereas in the nonoverlap region (H zone) the myosin heads move away from the thick filament backbone and lose their helical order. This result suggests that the presence of ATP is necessary for maintenance of the helical array of cross-bridges characteristic of the relaxed state. The primary effect of ATP removal on the myosin heads appears to be weaken their binding to the thick filament backbone; released heads that are close to an actin filament subsequently form a new actin-based, ordered array. PMID- 2605304 TI - Complement proteins C5b-9 induce transbilayer migration of membrane phospholipids. AB - Transbilayer migration of membrane phospholipid arising from membrane insertion of the terminal human complement proteins has been investigated. Asymmetric vesicles containing pyrene-labeled phosphatidylcholine (pyrenePC) concentrated in the inner monolayer were prepared by outer monolayer exchange between pyrenePC containing large unilamellar vesicles and excess (unlabeled) small unilamellar vesicles, using bovine liver phosphatidylcholine-specific exchange protein. After depletion of pyrenePC from the outer monolayer, the asymmetric large unilamellar vesicles were isolated by gel filtration and exposed to the purified C5b-9 proteins at 37 degrees C. Transbilayer exchange of phospholipid between inner and outer monolayers during C5b-9 assembly was monitored by changes in pyrene excimer and monomer fluorescence. Membrane deposition of the C5b67 complex (by incubation with C5b6 + C7) caused no change in pyrenePC fluorescence. Addition of C8 to the C5b67 vesicles resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the excimer/monomer ratio. This change was observed both in the presence and absence of complement C9. No change in fluorescence was observed for control vesicles exposed to C8 (in the absence of membrane C5b67), or upon C5b-9 addition to vesicles containing pyrenePC symmetrically distributed between inner and outer monolayers. These data suggest that a transbilayer exchange of phospholipid between inner and outer monolayers is initiated upon C8 binding to C5b67. The fluorescence data were analyzed according to a "random walk" model for excimer formation developed for the case where pyrenePC is asymmetrically distributed between lipid bilayers. Based on this analysis, we estimate that a net transbilayer migration of approximately 1% of total membrane phospholipid is initiated upon C8 binding to C5b67. The potential significance of this transbilayer exchange of membrane phospholipid to the biological activity of the terminal complement proteins is considered. PMID- 2605305 TI - Changes in the apparent quantum efficiency for photolysis of Hb(CO)1. AB - Recent studies suggest that the allosteric state of the protein surrounding the hemes in hemoglobin affects both geminate recombination of CO and the apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) for photolysis (Rohlfs, R.J., J.S. Olson, and Q.H. Gibson, 1988, J. Biol. Chem. 263: 1803-1813. We report combined flow/flash experiments in which the AQE for photolysis of Hb(CO)1 was measured as a function of time delay after its formation. Experiments were carried out at 20 degrees C in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 with CO saturations of 10% or less. The AQE was observed to decrease from a value close to 1.0 at short times to approximately 0.6 after 2 s. The fundamental photolysis step for carboxyhemoglobin is known to have a quantum efficiency of nearly 1.0, whereas the lower AQE values we observe result from competition between rapid geminate recombination and a rapid reaction step leading to escape of the CO to the solution phase. Changes in AQE values reflect changes in these rapid reaction steps which presumably result from conformational change in Hb(CO)1. The change in AQE is consistent with conversion of one or more hemes to an R-like state but these changes could not be even approximately described in terms of a simple two state allosteric model. PMID- 2605306 TI - Effects of passive tension on unloaded shortening speed of frog single muscle fibers. AB - Experiments were performed to determine the influence of sarcomere length and passive tension on the velocity of unloaded shortening (Vu) as measured by the slack test technique. Slack test results were obtained from intact twitch fibers isolated from the frog (Rana temporaria). Measurements were made both in the absence and presence of passive tension using two different protocols. In one, all releases were initiated from the same sarcomere length and passive tension level; in the other, all releases ended at the same sarcomere length. In the absence of passive tension, no difference was observed between the results from the two slack test protocols. When passive tension was present, performing all releases from the same initial sarcomere length and passive tension level resulted in linear step size-slack time relationships in which the slopes (Vu) were independent of length over a sarcomere length range extending to 3.1 microns, and the intercepts increased with increasing sarcomere length. Performing all releases to the same final sarcomere length in the presence of passive tension produced nonlinear step size-slack time relationships. The results presented here show that, in the presence of significant levels of passive tension, the traditional interpretation of the slope of the slack test plot as the constant unloaded shortening velocity is only correct when all length steps are initiated from the same initial sarcomere length and level of passive tension. PMID- 2605307 TI - Fluorescent cationic probes of mitochondria. Metrics and mechanism of interaction. AB - Mitochondria strongly accumulate amphiphilic cations. We report here a study of the association of respiring rat liver mitochondria with several fluorescent cationic dyes from differing structural classes. Using gravimetric and fluorometric analysis of dye partition, we find that dyes and mitochondria interact in three ways: (a) uptake with fluorescence quenching, (b) uptake without change in fluorescence intensity, and (c) lack of uptake. For dyes that quench upon uptake, the extent of quenching correlates with the degree of aggregation of the dye to dimers, as predicted by theory (Tomov, T.C. 1986. J. Biochem. Biophys. Methods. 13:29-38). Also predicted is the relationship observed between quenching and the mitochondria concentration when constant dye is titrated with mitochondria. Not predicted is the relationship observed between quenching and dye concentration when constant mitochondria are titrated with dye. Because a limit to dye uptake exists, in this case, the degree of quenching decreases as dye is added. A Langmuir isotherm analysis gives phenomenological parameters that predict quenching when it is observed as a function of dye concentration. By allowing for a decrease in membrane potential, caused by incorporation of cationic dye into the lipid bilayer, a modification of the Tomov theory predicts the dye titration data. We present a model of cationic dye mitochondria interaction and discuss the use of these as probes of mitochondrial membrane potential. PMID- 2605308 TI - Effect of cytoskeletal geometry on intracellular diffusion. AB - A method is presented for determining the retardation of diffusion of particles inside cells owing to cytoskeletal barriers. The cytoskeletal meshwork is treated as a repeating periodic two-dimensional or three-dimensional lattice composed of elements of given size, shape, and spacing. We derive an analytic expression for the diffusion coefficient relative to that of the cytosol. This expression is evaluated by solving numerically an appropriate boundary-value problem for the Laplace equation. For the two-dimensional case, e.g., diffusion in a membrane, the results are quantitatively similar to those obtained by Saxton (1987. Biophys. J. 52:989-997) using Monte Carlo methods. The three-dimensional results are quantitatively similar to experimental results reported by Luby-Phelps et al. (1987. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 84:4910-4913) for the diffusion of dextran and Ficoll particles in Swiss 3T3 cells. By accounting for geometrical factors, these results allow one to assess the relative contributions of geometrical hindrance and of binding to the cytoskeletal lattice from measurements of intracellular diffusion coefficients of proteins. PMID- 2605309 TI - IR vibrational CD in model deoxyoligonucleotides: observation of the B----Z phase transition and extended coupled oscillator intensity calculations. AB - The first observation of ir vibrational CD (VCD) in small model DNA molecules is reported. The VCD signals in the 1550-1750-cm-1 spectral region, which originate from coupling of carbonyl stretching modes of the nucleic acid bases, are found to be sensitive to the handedness of the polymer helix. The formalism to calculate VCD intensities of polymers is developed from the exciton model derived earlier by Tinoco [(1963) Radiation Res. 20, 133; (1960) J. Chem. Phys. 33, 1332; (1964) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 86, 297] and Schellman and co-workers [(1975) Biopolymers 14, 173; (1969) J. Phys. Chem. 73, 28]. The resulting equations, which are a direct extension of the dimeric case known as the "coupled oscillator," are used in model calculations of the helical polymers. PMID- 2605310 TI - A rigorous mathematical treatment for the excluded volume effect in Monte Carlo simulations of polymeric chains. AB - In Monte Carlo simulations of polymeric chains, the chains are most often represented as spheres, or cylinders with flat ends. In this methodological paper, we adopt a representation of the chains as spherocylinders (continuous cylinders ending in semispheres). With such a representation the testing for chain overlap, which is the crucial step for the inclusion of the excluded volume effect in the simulations, can be defined in a rigorous geometrical framework. The treatment we then derive fulfills the following features: it allows a very simple, automatic, and exhaustive classification of all the possible configurations; and it provides a physical representation for steric hindrance effects more natural than the flat-ended cylinders. Notably, this representation avoids the introduction of artificial anisotropies in the treatments. This spherocylindrical representation is also well suited for several types of calculations that can be involved in elaborate Monte Carlo simulations. PMID- 2605311 TI - A critical examination of the reaction of pyridoxal 5-phosphate with human hemoglobin Ao. AB - Pyridoxylated normal adult human hemoglobin (HbAo) has been prepared using both oxygenated and deoxygenated HbAo at pH 6.8 and room temperature without the addition of Tris to produce a mixture with P50 of 30 +/- 2 torr and a Hill coefficient of 2.3 +/- 0.1 similar to that of the isolated adult human hemoglobin from the red blood cell. Reduction of the pyridoxylated HbAo in the oxygen ligated form by sodium borohydride gives unacceptable levels of methemoglobin (i.e., greater than 10%). Excessive foaming and methemoglobin formation can be partially avoided using deoxyHbAo. Reduction with sodium cyanoborohydride is much gentler and gives solutions with less than 5% methemoglobin. Both reducing agents give products with multiple components as shown by analytical chromatography. Radioautography on the isoelectric focusing gels of HbAo treated with 14C pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP) shows three major bands for the cyanoborohydride reduced derivatives and a much more complex mixture of labeled molecules after the sodium borohydride reduction. When pyridoxylated hemoglobin is prepared without reduction, the preparation, after passage through a mixed-bed resin, contains 0.4 equivalents of PLP per heme, and has a P50 of 30 +/- 2 torr and an n value of 2.3 similar to the values found after reduction. Upon anion exchange resin chromatography, the PLP is removed, indicating that the reaction forms a reversible Schiff base. On standing at 4 degrees C for one month, this preparation produces a mixture of HbAo and pyridoxylated HbAo with the original P50. Methemoglobin increased to 3% during this incubation. After four months in the cold, the yield of a single chromatographic species is 70% with 20% methemoglobin. This fraction appears to be stable and can be passed through an anion exchange column without release of the PLP. Separation of the individual chains by reverse-phase chromatography indicates that the addition of PLP to HbAo is directed solely to the beta-chains. This is also the case for the cyanoborohydride reduced derivatives. When NaBH4 is used for the reduction, radioactively labeled PLP is found on both the alpha- and beta-chains. PMID- 2605312 TI - Superoxide dismutase: fluctuations in the structure and solvation of the active site channel studied by molecular dynamics simulation. AB - The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in water is carried out for a total of 23 ps. The simulation system is a 26 A sphere centered at the active site of SOD, including 1602 atoms from SOD and 1761 water molecules. There is no gross deviation from the x-ray structure for the average MD structure. The structure and potential fluctuations around the active site are examined. The results provide new insight to the interactions between SOD and its substrate superoxide. PMID- 2605313 TI - 1H-NMR studies of a monointercalating drug into a d(CpGpApTpCpG)2 minihelix. AB - The structure of the complex formed between the 7H-pyridocarbazole monomer [[(2 piperidyl)-2,1-ethane-yl] [10-methoxy-7H-pyrido[4,3-c]carbazolium] dimethane sulfonate] and the autocomplementary hexanucleotide d(CpGpApTpCpG)2 in aqueous solution is analyzed by 270- and 400-MHz 1H-nmr. The large upfield shifts observed for both the drug and the self-complementary hexanucleotide protons provide evidence for intercalated complexes. The observation of intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effects between drug and the hexanucleotide protons gives a privileged orientation of the drug in the intercalation site with the quaternarizing ethyl piperidine chain protruding in the major groove. Moreover, the data suggest an intercalation based on the neighbor exclusion site principle in the three alternating sequences. PMID- 2605314 TI - Bisintercalation of ditercalinium into a d(CpGpApTpCpG)2 minihelix: a 1H- and 31P NMR study. AB - The structure of the complex formed in aqueous solution between ditercalinium, a bisintercalating drug, and the self-complementary hexanucleotide d(CpGpApTpCpG)2 is investigated by 400-MHz 1H-nmr and 162-MHz 31P-nmr. Whatever the drug to helix ratio, ditercalinium occurred in the bound form, whereas free and complexed hexanucleotide are in slow exchange. This allows unambiguous resonance assignment through two-dimensional chemical exchange experiments. The strong upfield shifts measured on most aromatic protons on both drug and bases as well as on DNA imino protons are consistent with bisintercalation of the dimer. Nuclear Overhauser effects observed between drug and nucleotide protons give a defined geometry for complexation, and suggest a DNA conformational change upon drug binding. PMID- 2605315 TI - Interactions of nucleic acids with distamycins. The drug monomeric chromophore. AB - A study of the monomeric chromophore of the oligopeptides netropsin (1), distamycin III (2), and distamycin V (3) by polarization spectroscopy techniques and molecular orbital calculations is reported. Linear dichroism spectra of the monomeric model compounds 1-methyl-2(ethylcarbamoyl)-4-acetamido-pyrrole (4) and 1-methyl-2(ethylcarbamoyl)-pyrrole (5) dissolved and oriented in lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystals provide, together with the magnetic CD spectra, experimental checks of the theoretical calculations. The polarization directions of the investigated transition obtained by these means in this study allow us to build up in the following paper the exciton states of (1)-(3) and these provide a stereochemical interpretation of the flow linear dichroism spectra of the complexes of DNA with (2) and (3). PMID- 2605316 TI - Linear dichroism studies of the complexes between CT-DNA and distamycins. AB - The study of the monomeric chromophore of the distamycins reported in Ref. 1 was used here to build up a description of the electronic states of the whole oligopeptide by the exciton theory. Liquid crystal-linear dichroism (LC-LD) spectra of the distamycins were recorded by using as orienting solvents both thermotropic and lyotropic mesomorphic media. The agreement between the LD spectra and the polarization assignments by the exciton treatment is satisfactory. On this basis the flow-LD spectra of the complex between distamycin V and DNA was interpreted in terms of the preferred relative orientations of the guest and host molecules. A single site location of the distamycin within the minor groove does not perfectly match the experimental order parameters. This orientational distribution function could be too simple to explain the experimental data. It may therefore be assumed that a small fraction of the guest molecules are preferentially aligned more parallel to the host chain axis than the minor groove. Alternatively, and probably more likely, the partial mismatch of the experimental data with the minor groove location may be seen as a manifestation of the well-known stiffening and bending effects at the binding sites, which have already been observed by other techniques. PMID- 2605317 TI - Characterization of the reaction products of adult human hemoglobin and disuccinimidyloxalate. PMID- 2605318 TI - Neurobehavioral assessment in the newborn period: opportunity for early detection of later learning disabilities and for early intervention. PMID- 2605319 TI - Metabolic correlates of learning disability. AB - To summarize, the neuropsychologic findings in MSUD and MMA children in both groups demonstrated deficits in cognitive/language areas, but interesting individual differences existed. For example, a marked contrast in abilities existed between NT and GV, even taking into account the age difference between these children with MSUD. While NT's general intellectual functioning was within the low-average range, GV was severely impaired. In more specific areas of cognitive functioning, NT had an uneven performance profile with areas of strengths and weaknesses, while GV evidenced a flat profile with significant impairment in all areas. NT demonstrated mild delay in visual-spatial processing, articulation development, motor-speech abilities, and selective attention and concentration; however, his language and psychosocial development were within the broad range of normality. In contrast, GV exhibited severe dysfunction in speech, language, and perceptual/conceptual development. The three children with MMA also exhibited a range of disabilities in cognitive functioning. TJ and SH contrasted in the degree of developmental delay across language and cognitive domains. Both were distractible and exhibited very short attention spans but there was a measurable difference in the extent of their speech, language, visual-spatial development. CH was markedly delayed in all areas of cognitive development, which is consistent with global retardation. The severity of her disease and its probable impact on brain development were undoubtedly related to her intellectual impairment. These datasets illustrate the challenges we face, because within each group we see a range of impairment. Nevertheless, we are optimistic that our efforts to relate metabolic, anatomic and neuropsychologic findings for such children will lead to a better understanding of these disorders. We are hopeful that this will result in new advances in diagnosis and intervention, which will ultimately improve the prognosis for cognitive development. In summary, a multidisciplinary center has been established at UCSD to study the neurologic basis of disorders of language, learning and behavior in infants and children. The center draws together a group of researchers from many fields including neurology, biochemistry, pediatrics, cognitive and developmental neuropsychology, psycholinguistics, neurophysiology and communicative disorders. Because of the diverse interests and expertise of our group, it is hoped to forge a synthesis of the behavioral and neurosciences to study populations of children with a variety of neurologic, metabolic, and language/learning disorders. Disorders currently under study include Lesch-Nyhan disease, oculocutaneous tyrosinemia, propionic acidemia, carnitine palmityl transferase deficiency, Schwachman-Diamond syndrome, histidinemia, Hartnup disease, citrullinemia, galactosemia, maple syrup urine disease, and methylmalonic acidemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2605320 TI - Minor physical anomalies: relation to later achievement. AB - A substantial number of school-age children with learning disability are characterized as being distractible, and there is a congenital contributor to distractibility that has shown relation to school achievement, and to learning disability in particular. This congenital contributor can be assessed at any time from the neonatal through the early school-age period by a 10-minute examination. It seems likely that the basis for the congenital contributor to learning disability is an information processing defect that appears as early as the first year of life in the form of a rapid waning of attention when tired, an overly slow waning when in a rested state, and a failure to form cognitive schemas from perceptual input in either case. The congenital characteristic could also affect learning disability by its association with less than optimal peer relations. The latter could, in turn, affect the child's link to the classroom learning situation. PMID- 2605321 TI - Brain organization in infants: electrical activity mapping. PMID- 2605322 TI - Early detection of infants at risk for later handicap through acoustic cry analysis. PMID- 2605323 TI - Visualization and finite element analysis of pulsatile flow in models of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. AB - Pulsatile flows in glass models simulating fusiform and lateral saccular aneurysms were investigated by a flow visualization method. When resting fluid starts to flow, the initial fluid motion is practically irrotational. After a short period of time, the flow began to separate from the proximal wall of the aneurysm. Then the separation bubble or vortex grew rapidly in size and filled the whole area of the aneurysm circumferentially. During this period of time, the center of the vortex moved from the proximal end to the distal point of the aneurysm. The transient reversal flow, for instance, which may occur at the end of the ejection period, passed between the wall of the aneurysm and the centrally located vortex. When the rate and pulsatile frequency of flow were high, the vortex broke down into highly disturbed flow (or turbulence) at the distal portion of the aneurysm. The same effect was observed when the length of the aneurysm was increased. A reduction in pulsatile amplitude made the flow pattern close to that in steady flow. A finite element analysis was made to obtain velocity and pressure fields in pulsatile flow through a tube with an axisymmetric expansion. Calculations were performed with the pulsatile flows used in the visualization experiment in order to study the effects of change in the pulsatile wave form by keeping the time-mean Reynolds number and Womersley's parameter unchanged. Calculated instantaneous patterns of velocity field and stream lines agreed well with the experimental results. The appearance and disappearance of the vortex in the dilated portion and its development resulted in complex distributions of pressure and shear fields. Locally minimum and maximum values of wall shear stress occurred at points just upstream and downstream of the distal end of the expansion when the flow rate reached its peak. PMID- 2605324 TI - The role of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia on aortic sudanophilia and carotid distensibility in rabbits. AB - These experiments were designed to determine if male New Zealand white rabbits made mildly hypertensive (20-30 mm Hg increase) with bilateral renal artery clips developed more or less sudanophilic lesions than controls, and if the animals responded differently if hypercholesterolemia was produced soon (one week) or late (eight weeks) after the animals were operated on. Both groups received the diet of 2% cholesterol and 6% corn oil for six weeks. We also studied the distensibility of the carotid artery to determine if altered elastic behaviour played a role in lesion development. The experiments showed that the acute hypertensive group developed most lesions (by area), but that the lesions in all groups had the same shape and location. The carotid arteries from the chronic hypertensives were least distensible, and most of the changes appeared to be in the elastance of collagen. The blood pressure actually dropped slightly in the chronic shams after the diet was started. These experiments suggest that, at least, in the rabbit, the duration of the hypertension may determine how the arterial wall responds to hypercholesterolemia. They show that mild hypertension, like hypercholesterolemia, alters the rate at which lesions develop, rather than altering their distribution. The changes do not appear to be related to altered distensibility. PMID- 2605325 TI - A rheological study of packed red blood cell suspensions with an oscillating ball microrheometer. AB - Rheological properties of concentrated red blood cell suspensions are studied with a magneto acoustic microrheometer in which a ball is suspended in a vertically oriented cylindrical tube. The rheometer uses a conventional falling ball technique to measure steady state viscosity and a vertically oscillating, magnetically driven ball for viscoelastic measurements. The motion of the ball is tracked by ultrasound echo location in which sound waves are transmitted and received by an ultrasound transducer mounted at the base of the tube. The compact size of the rheometer allows rheological studies to be made with microliter quantities of opaque suspensions and permits sudden and accurate changes in temperature. Also, values for the adiabatic compressibility are evaluated from measurements of the speed of sound. PMID- 2605326 TI - Effects of cellular morphology on the viscoelastic behavior of high hematocrit RBC suspensions. AB - Using a constant-amplitude (+/- 1 degree) oscillatory Couette viscometer (f = 0.01-1.0 Hz), we have measured the viscous (eta') and elastic (eta") components of the complex viscosity at 25 degrees C for shape-transformed human RBC suspended in isotonic buffer at 80% hematocrit. Morphology-altering drugs employed were: ECHINOCYTIC AGENT 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP, 0.1-5 mM); STOMATOCYTIC AGENT chlorpromazine hydrochloride (CPZ, 0.01-0.1 mM). All suspensions exhibited decreasing eta' and eta" with increasing frequency. Compared to biconcave, control RBC suspensions, salient effects of shape transformation included: 1) for DNP, a dose-related elevation of both eta' and eta", with a 850% increase in eta' and a 2500% increase in eta" at 5 mM and the lowest frequency; 2) for CPZ, a dose related elevation of both eta' and eta", with a 170% increase in eta' and a 280% increase in eta" at 0.1 mM and the lowest frequency; 3) for both DNP and CPZ, the elevations of eta' and eta" were inversely related to frequency. Using 2 mM DNP and various concentrations of CPZ, both eta' and eta" could be returned to control with 0.08 mM CPZ; further increases of CPZ at constant DNP led to elevations of both components. Comparisons of eta' and eta" to steady shear viscometric data indicated that neither a nominal shear rate approach nor a RMS complex viscosity technique was able to completely reconcile these data; a modified Kelvin-Voigt model proved useful in evaluating cellular versus membrane contributions to eta". These results indicate that RBC morphology is an important determinant of the oscillatory behavior of RBC suspensions and suggest the usefulness of the technique for studies of drug-membrane interactions. PMID- 2605327 TI - Deduction of intrinsic mechanical properties of the erythrocyte membrane from observations of tank-treading in the rheoscope. AB - Measurements of the dimensions and membrane rotational frequency of individual erythrocytes steadily tank-treading in a Rheoscope are used to deduce the surface shear viscosity (eta m) and the shear elastic modulus (mu m) of the membrane. Previously published algorithms (Trans-Son-Tay et al., Biophys. J. 46: 65, 1984, and 51: 915, 1987) plus an assumed area-conserving membrane velocity field (Secomb and Skalak, Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math. XXXV 2: 233, 1982) are applied to calculate eta m as a function of the second invariant of the surface strain rate and mu m as a function of the second invariant of membrane strain. The results indicate density-related increases in membrane stiffness and viscosity, shear thinning viscous behavior, and strain-stiffening elastic behavior. PMID- 2605328 TI - Plasma release-cell layering theory for blood flow. AB - Significant internal structural changes occur in flowing blood when shear strain exceeds the critical value of 1 (unit strain), forcing alignment of the erythrocytes and releasing trapped plasma, which in turn leads to the formation of multiple layers of plasma on which oriented and compacted cells slide. These effects are identified in the inflections in the shear rate dependence of viscoelasticity of normal blood and in the viscous and elastic stress-to-strain relationships. Theoretical factors for plasma release and cell compaction allow calculation of the viscous and elastic properties of the cell layers from measured whole blood viscoelasticity and plasma viscosity. The new plasma release cell layering theory encompasses, reinterprets and unifies many diverse previous observations relating to how blood flows, and provides a new understanding of the roles of red cell deformability and aggregation tendency. PMID- 2605329 TI - Dynamic viscous flow in distensible vessels of skeletal muscle microcirculation: application to pressure and flow transients. AB - Blood flow in the microcirculation of the rat skeletal muscle during transient changes of arterial pressure is analyzed theoretically. Although flow in such small vessels is quasi-steady and has a very low Reynolds number, time-dependent nonuniform flows along the length of the blood vessels can be observed due to vessel distensibility. The governing equations for a single microvessel are derived using previously measured microvessel elasticity, and several solutions to different inflow and outflow pressures and flow conditions are investigated. The results indicate that when such distensible microvessels are subjected to a step increase of arterial pressure, the arterial flow shows a rapid overshoot followed by a progressive decay to steady-state. An arterial step flow induces a different response which takes the form of a monotonically increasing pressure. Pressure and flows are nonuniform along the vessel length during such transients. In-vitro whole organ pressure-flow data are presented in the dilated rat gracilis muscle which qualitatively agree with the theoretical predictions. PMID- 2605330 TI - Time-dependent rheological behaviour of blood flow at low shear in narrow horizontal tubes. AB - Magnitude and time-dependence of the effects of red cell aggregation and sedimentation on the rheology of human blood were studied during low shear (tau W 2.5 to 92 mPa) flow through horizontal tubes (ID 25 to 105 microns). Immediately following reduction of perfusion pressure to a low value the red cell concentration near the tube walls decreases as a result of red cell aggregation. This is associated with a transient increase of centerline velocity. Simultaneously, sedimentation begins to occur and eventually leads to the formation of a cell-free supernatant plasma layer. Time-course and extent of this sedimentation process are strongly affected by wall shear stress variation, particularly in the larger tubes. At the lower shear stresses, centerline velocity decreases (flow resistance increases) with time following the initial acceleration period, due to sedimentation of red cells. This is followed by a further increase of resistance caused by the elevation of hematocrit occurring because of the reduction of cell/plasma velocity ratio. The time dependence of blood rheological behaviour under these flow conditions is interpreted to reflect the net effect of the partially counteracting phenomena of sedimentation and red cell aggregation. PMID- 2605331 TI - Effects of aggregation on the flow properties of red blood cell suspensions in narrow vertical tubes. AB - The flow properties of aggregating red cell suspensions flowing at low rates through vertical tubes with diameters from 30 microns to 150 microns are analyzed using a theoretical model. Unidirectional flow is assumed, and the distributions of velocity and red cell concentration are assumed to be axisymmetric. A three layer approximation is used for the distribution of red cells, with a cylindrical central core of aggregated red cells moving with uniform velocity, a cell-free marginal layer near the tube wall, and an annular region located between the core and the marginal layer containing suspended non-aggregating red cells. This suspension is assumed to behave approximately as a Newtonian fluid whose viscosity increases exponentially with red cell concentration. Physical arguments concerning the mechanics of red cell attachment to, and detachment from the aggregated core lead to a kinetic equation for core formation. From this kinetic equation and the equation for conservation of red cell volume flux, a relationship between core radius and pressure gradient is obtained. Then the relative viscosity is calculated as a function of pseudo-shear rate. At low flow rates, it is shown that the relative viscosity decreases with decreasing flow and that the dependence of relative viscosity on shear rates is more pronounced in larger tubes. It is also found that the relative viscosity decreases with increasing aggregation tendency of suspension. These theoretical predictions are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with experimental results. PMID- 2605332 TI - Stability of particle motions in a narrow channel flow. AB - Single rows or two rows of identical circular cylinders spaced regularly in a narrow channel flow have been shown to be capable of steady flow provided the cylinders are located at equal lateral positions and with equal spacings in the flow direction. The stability of such steady flows of circular cylinders is studied for periodic perturbations of the particle positions, assuming that every other cylinder is equally perturbed in lateral position and spacing along the channel. This results in two rows which are not symmetrically placed. The suspending fluid is assumed to be an incompressible Newtonian fluid. It is assumed that no external forces or moments act on the cylinders and the effects of inertia forces on the motion of the fluid and the cylinders are negligible. The velocity field of the suspending fluid and the instantaneous velocities of the cylinders are computed by the finite element method. The translational velocities of the cylinders are obtained for a large number of particle positions, from which the trajectories of their relative motion are determined for various initial positions near the regular single-file and two-file arrangements. It is shown that when the initial arrangements of the cylinders are slightly perturbed from the regular (alternating) two-file flows, the trajectories of their relative motions become small closed loops around the regular two-file arrangements. In contrast, such small closed trajectories are not obtained when they start from the arrangements near the regular single-file flows or regular (symmetric) double-file flows, suggesting that these flows are unstable under the conditions examined. PMID- 2605333 TI - Connecting incremental shear modulus and Poisson's ratio of lung tissue with morphology and rheology of microstructure. AB - The width and curvature of the collagen and elastin fiber bundles in the human pulmonary interalveolar septa and alveolar mouths are measured. The data, together with the known mechanical properties of collagen and elastin fibers, are used to derive the incremental elastic moduli of the lung tissue. The constitutive equation for small incremental stress and strain superposed on a homeostatic inflated lung is linear and isotropic, and characterized by two material constants. PMID- 2605334 TI - Transport through deformable matrices. AB - In order to induce and maintain a pressure gradient in a fluid mixture in steady state, the fluid has to pass through a solid-like matrix capable of generating and carrying an extra stress gradient. Frictional interactions between fluid components and the matrix then produce separations. Matrix deformation occurs and the implication of this is discussed. A general solution for multicomponent systems is given and then specialised to the case of three components--a deformable gel matrix component, a solvent and a macromolecular solute. A method is given for solving the system of equations and is applied in the steady state. Applications involving transendothelial flow and self-regulated selectivity are stressed in particular. The calculations are based on the Flory-Huggins equation, on the Flory gel deformation model and on ad hoc, very crude approximations to the concentration dependence of the three, pairwise defined friction coefficients between the three components involved. PMID- 2605335 TI - Effect of air humidity on spinability and transport capacity of canine airway secretions. AB - The effect of varying the inspired air humidity on a rheological property (spinability) and transport capacity of airway mucus has been analyzed in 10 mongrel dogs. Tracheal mucus was collected in anesthetized dogs inspiring through an endotracheal tube the air of a climate chamber maintained at constant temperature (T degrees:20 degrees C). In one test, the dogs inspired air at an absolute humidity (AH) of 9 g water/m3 air directly through the endotracheal tube. In the other test, the dogs inspired through an artificial nose connected to the endotracheal tube giving a AH of 30 g water/m3 air. Tracheal mucus was collected at the external distal end of the endotracheal tube. The spinability (Sp) or thread-forming properties of mucus was measured. The relative mucociliary transport rate (TR) of mucus was analyzed on a frog palate epithelium preparation. The transport rate was significantly (p less than 0.01) lower (range: 0.59-0.80) when the AH of the inspired air was low in comparison to that obtained with high AH (range: 0.70-1.13). The variations in mucus Sp due to changing AH were positively and significantly correlated (r = 0.80, p less than 0.01) with the corresponding variations in TR. These results suggest that lowering the AH of air induces a decrease in the transport capacity which appears to be dependent on the change of spinability that occurs in the mucus. PMID- 2605336 TI - Phagocytosis and membrane fluidity: application to the evaluation of opsonizing properties of fibronectin. AB - The uptake of particles by phagocytic cells involves an increase in the membrane fluidity determined by steady-state fluorescence polarization. Binding and endocytosis of target particles is in vivo enhanced by humoral factors called opsonins. In this work, fluorescence polarization was used to detect in vitro the opsonic activity of a plasma protein: fibronectin. The assay is based on the analysis of membrane fluidity variations following the uptake of gelatinized latex beads by phagocytic cells in the presence or in the absence of fibronectin. Using TMA-DPH as fluorescent probe, it was observed that the increase in membrane fluidity was enhanced in presence of fibronectin and depended upon the enhanced in presence of fibronectin and depended upon the opsonic activity was related to the integrity of the molecule. Using this method, the opsonic activity of various plasmas could be also determined. PMID- 2605337 TI - Morphometry of human leukocyte granules. PMID- 2605338 TI - The study of rheological effects on vascular endothelial cells in culture. AB - A number of cell culture studies have been reported on the influence of shear stress on vascular endothelial cells. Although through such studies much has been learned about the effect of an endothelial cell's hydrodynamic environment on its structure and function, the reports indicate significant differences in methodology. Using cell shape as an indicator of differences that might result from differing methodologies, an investigation of the influence of selected variables has been carried out. The results presented indicate that not only are such variables as the level of shear stress and the duration of exposure important, but also substrate, media composition, characteristics of the cell itself, and the nature of the flow, e.g. whether it is steady state or pulsatile. PMID- 2605339 TI - Thirty-first annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Atlanta, GA, December 1-5, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2605341 TI - 12th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. December 7-9, 1988. Abstracts. PMID- 2605340 TI - Histone acetylation decreased by estradiol in the MCF-7 human mammary cancer cell line. AB - The effect of estradiol (E2) on the [3H]-acetylation of nuclear histones was studied in the MCF-7 human mammary cancer cell line in culture. Cells (approximately 10(8) were incubated with 8 x 10(-6) M [3H]-acetate in the absence (control) or in the presence of estradiol (10(-5)-10(-8) M). After 20 min incubation, the nuclear histones were extracted and separated by electrophoresis, and each histone band was measured and calculated in DPM/mg protein. It was observed that only the H2 + H3 and H4 histones were associated with the [3H] acetate. Estradiol (10(-6)-10(-8) M) provoked a significant inhibition in the incorporation of the acetate. The negative effect, in percentage of the non treated cell value, was as follows: in E2 (10(-6) M): -25 +/- 10 (SE) for H2 + H3 and -26 +/- 5 for H4; in E2 (10(-7) M): -35 +/- 9 and -39 +/- 10; and in E2 (10( 8) M): -56 +/- 22 and -30 +/- 13 respectively. It is concluded that estradiol has a negative effect in the acetylation of H2, H3 and H4 histones of this mammary cancer cell; no acetylation or effect is observed in H1 histones. The relationship of this finding to the biological responses of the hormone is to be explored. PMID- 2605342 TI - Megestrol acetate in breast cancer--a panel discussion. AB - Physicians have been using hormonal manipulation to treat advanced breast cancer for almost a century. Surgical ablation of the ovaries, adrenals, and pituitary glands has achieved remarkable tumor regression in sensitive patients. Alternatively, large doses of estrogens, progestins, and androgens have achieved similar results. More recently, the emergence of new therapies, such as antiestrogens, LHRH agonists, and chemical blockade of adrenal steroid biosynthesis offer additional choices. Within limits, all of these therapies are equally effective in sensitive patients. The trend at the present time is to select a therapy that will produce a good response with minimal toxicity. Here the participating physicians will discuss one such therapy-Megace (megestrol acetate). They will consider the role of Megace in the treatment of advanced breast cancer along with issues such as toxicity, dose response, etc. PMID- 2605343 TI - Heritability of breast cancer and its role in pre-menopausal cases. AB - The causes for the pre-menopausal incidence peak in breast cancer are still controversial. Other cancers also show an early incidence peak. Since the mammary tissue only starts to develop in puberty, the pre-menopausal incidence peak for breast cancer is comparable to the 'juvenile' peak in other cancers (retina, kidney). The four-mutation model for oncogenesis can explain pre-menopausal breast cancer. The model suggests that malignant transformation of a cell is due to four specific oncogenic mutations. These specific mutations accumulate during the proliferation of somatic cells. According to the model, one inherited oncogenic mutation can cause hereditary cancer. In this case only three additional specific mutations have to be accumulated during somatic cell proliferation. Epidemiological data and mathematical calculations indicate that in this case tumors occur early in life. Thus, the four-mutation model for oncogenesis predicts that the impact of heritability in pre-menopausal breast cancer is more significant than is generally believed. At this point, molecular biological studies are needed, to identify the involved specific mutations. Other implications of the model are an increased incidence of second primary tumors and an increased sensitivity for mutagenic factors in these patients. PMID- 2605344 TI - Antiestrogenic properties of keoxifene, trans-4-hydroxytamoxifen, and ICI 164384, a new steroidal antiestrogen, in ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cells. AB - The agonistic/antagonistic properties of two non-steroidal antiestrogens, namely trans-4-monohydroxytamoxifen (OH-TAM) and keoxifene (LY156758), and the new steroidal antiestrogen ICI164384, a 7 alpha-alkylamide derivative of estradiol (E2), were assessed by measuring their effect on the proliferation of ZR-75-1 cells, an estrogen-responsive human breast cancer cell line. While subnanomolar concentrations of both OH-TAM and LY156758 had significant estrogenic stimulatory activity on cell growth in the absence of estrogens and higher concentrations were inhibitory, ICI164384 behaved exclusively as a growth inhibitor and more potently so than the two other compounds. The three antiestrogens had similar potency to inhibit the mitogenic effect of E2 and at 300 nM, all antiproliferative effects were completely reversible by the estrogen. ICI164384 was a weaker competitor of 3H-labeled E2 or R2858 (moxestrol) uptake in intact ZR 75-1 cells in a 1-hour assay, partly because of a slower intracellular access to estrogen specific binding sites. Moreover, ICI164384 interacted in a rapidly (approximately 6 h) reversible manner with estrogen-specific binding sites, while the non-steroidal antiestrogens induced a longer-acting (greater than 24 h) down regulation of specific [3H]R2858 uptake. The present data indicate that, among the antiestrogens studied, ICI164384 is the only compound acting as a pure antiestrogen in ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells, while LY156758 and OH-TAM behave as antiestrogens endowed with partial agonistic activity in this system. PMID- 2605345 TI - Inter- and intraobserver variability in the histopathological diagnosis of medullary carcinoma of the breast, and its prognostic implications. AB - One hundred thirty-one breast carcinomas with medullary features, registered in the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group from 1977-1982, have been histopathologically reviewed by two senior pathologists and classified as typical medullary carcinoma (TMC), atypical medullary carcinoma (AMC), and non-medullary carcinoma (NMC). Diagnostic criteria were based on those put forward by Ridolfi et al. and Fisher et al. The procedure was repeated with an interval of about one year by both pathologists. The diagnostic interobserver agreement was 72% with a Kappa of 0.55. The intraobserver agreement was 77% and 63% with Kappa values of 0.64 and 0.44, respectively. To see whether the observed inter- and intraobserver variability had any prognostic implications, diagnostic subgroups for both pathologists were analyzed with Kaplan Meier plots for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and with log rank tests. In the first evaluation pathologist 1 segregated a group of TMC with a significantly better RFS than for the NMC group, and pathologist 2 segregated a group of TMC with a corresponding strong trend. These findings could not, however, be reproduced in the second evaluation. The study indicates that the criteria of TMC and AMC as proposed by Ridolfi et al. need to be sharpened and simplified in order to reduce inter- and intraobserver variability. Larger studies with a control group of infiltrating ductal carcinomas are mandatory to elucidate the clinical importance of the diagnoses of Typical and Atypical Medullary Carcinoma of the breast. PMID- 2605346 TI - Colony-stimulating factors. A panel discussion. AB - One of the most exciting recent developments in cancer-related research has been the discovery and understanding of colony-stimulating factors. There is now a general optimism that these factors will be used in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors, lymphomas, and leukemias, as well as in the treatment of patients who are immunocompromised or undergoing bone marrow transplantation. We have gathered a distinguished panel of experts to discuss the current status of this rapidly moving field. PMID- 2605347 TI - Nuclear characteristics as indicators of prognosis in node negative breast cancer patients. AB - Nine clinical, biologic and histologic variables were evaluated for their significance in predicting the metastasis free survival (MFS) and the overall survival (OS) of 650 histologic node negative breast cancer patients. The variables studied were: menopausal status, UICC clinical stage of disease, Scarff Bloom and Richardson (SBR) grade and its 3 components, estrogen and progesterone receptors, and anatomic tumor size. Multivariate Cox analyses revealed that histologic grade and clinical stage were the only significant prognostic factors for both MFS and OS. In the SBR grading system, grades I and III clearly have defined those patients with low and high risk for relapse, respectively. However, it is well known that more than 50% of the patients fall into the intermediate risk category, grade II, which provides essentially no useful prognostic information for those patients. To improve the assignment of patients to specific risk groups, a modified grade (MSBR), with five categories ordered according to the degree of malignancy, has been built from the nuclear pleomorphism and the mitotic index of the SBR grade. In combination with clinical stage, MSBR was found to be a prognostic indicator with high discriminatory power and caused the SBR grade to lose its significance. The first three categories of this MSBR may be gathered to designate low risk patients, whereas the last two categories, once combined, contain all the SBR grade III plus 57% of the SBR grade II tumors, and reliably identify high risk node negative patients. We suggest that a systemic adjuvant therapy should be discussed in this high risk group. PMID- 2605348 TI - Comments on NCI alert on node-negative breast cancer. PMID- 2605349 TI - Hormonal control of polyamine pools in experimental breast cancer in vivo: correlation with estrogen and progesterone receptor levels. AB - The present experiments were designed to test whether, in the hormone responsive N-nitrosomethyl-urea (NMU)-induced rat mammary tumor, polyamine levels are under hormonal control and whether they correlate with estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptor content. We observed that tumor regression induced by ovariectomy was associated with a decline in putrescine (Pu), spermidine (Sd) and spermine (Sm). Administration of estradiol and perphenazine (to stimulate endogenous prolactin release) to castrated rats restored tumor growth and contents of Pu and Sd to control values in a time dependent fashion while Sm levels were only modestly raised. The hormonal modulation of tumor polyamine levels was particularly obvious when the treatment effects on total pools (i.e. Pu + Sd + Sm) were analyzed. No significant correlation was observed between ER and PgR and polyamines in the tumors of intact rats as well as most of the treated groups. In contrast, a highly significant correlation was observed between ER and PgR levels. We conclude that in this experimental system cellular polyamine levels are hormonally regulated but are not correlated with the ER and PgR content of the tumor. PMID- 2605350 TI - Growth kinetics of four human breast carcinomas grown in nude mice. AB - The immune-deficient nude mouse with human tumor xenografts is an appropriate model system for performing detailed growth kinetic examinations. In the present study one estrogen and progesterone receptor-negative (T60) and three receptor positive (Br-10, MCF-7, T61) human breast cancer xenografts in nude mice were investigated. The proliferative tumor characteristics were examined by growth curves, thymidine labelling technique, and flow cytometric DNA analysis performed on fine-needle aspirations. The results showed that the tumors had growth kinetics comparable to other human tumor types with cell generation times of 42 to 60 hours. The three receptor-positive tumors had slower growth rate, larger tumor volume doubling time, and smaller growth fraction and labelling index than the receptor-negative tumor. However, no single proliferation parameter was sufficient to characterize the growth kinetics of individual tumors or to describe proliferative differences between the tumors. PMID- 2605351 TI - Racial and age differences in multiple primary cancers after breast cancer: a population-based analysis. AB - The occurrence of multiple primary cancers was evaluated among 17,944 white and black female residents of Metropolitan Detroit diagnosed with breast cancer between 1973 and 1983. Invasive second primary cancers were diagnosed among 1106 of these women, almost twice the expected number. Subsequent in situ cancers were detected four times more often than expected. Fifty-six percent of the subsequent invasive cancers were of the breast (Standardized Incidence Ratio, SIR = 3.80). Black women experienced higher risk of subsequent breast cancers (SIR = 5.30) than white women (SIR = 3.62). Highest risk was seen among women first diagnosed before age 40 (SIR for black women = 26.15, SIR for white women = 10.87) and within five years of initial diagnosis. These findings suggest that young breast cancer patients, especially black women, are at high risk of developing a second primary breast cancer soon after their initial diagnosis and should be under continued medical surveillance. The occurrence of multiple primary breast cancers among young women suggests a genetic component to risk. Identification of this subpopulation would be useful in the study of molecular and genetic markers for cancer. Subsequent colon (SIR = 1.24) and cervical (SIR = 1.54) cancers also were diagnosed significantly more often than expected, as were ovarian cancers among white women (SIR = 1.45). These findings are consistent with common etiologic factors associated with these cancers. PMID- 2605352 TI - Stress analysis of a total hip acetabular component: an FEM study. AB - A stress analysis of a total hip acetabular component was performed using three dimensional finite element modeling. The model consisted of 548 four-noded quadrilateral shell elements with 582 nodes. A worst-case support condition was assumed in which bony contact with small areas of the ilium, ischium, and pubis was represented by three-point support. Loads corresponding to the peak pressures developed in the hip when rising from a seated position--the activity contributing most to the fatigue of a prosthesis--were applied to the model. Peak stresses of 490 MPa are predicted around a screw hole in the region of greatest loading; according to the fatigue curve for porous-coated Ti-6Al-4V alloy, this translates into a component life of three years. When the area of bony support for the prosthesis is increased by a factor of 1.5, the fatigue life is more than doubled to seven years. The addition of restraints around the loaded hole to represent the placement of a screw extends the lifetime dramatically to 65 years. Substituting the material properties of cobalt-chromium alloy increases the predicted lifetime of the component to twelve years. We conclude that poor bone support can compromise the service life of titanium alloy acetabular components. Furthermore, we suggest that screw fixation be used to secure the prosthesis in the anterior-superior region if the prosthesis is not well supported by bone in the acetabulum. PMID- 2605353 TI - The effect of moderately severe hemodilution with Fluosol-DA on cytochrome P-450 mediated antipyrine metabolism. AB - Antipyrine metabolism was determined in conscious, unrestrained rats after isovolemic hemodilution with FluosolR-DA. Rats received an intravenous antipyrine dose (20 mg/kg) 0.5, 24, 48, or 72 hours after hemodilution and the pharmacokinetic parameters were compared to non-exchanged control (CONT) animals. Antipyrine clearance (Cl) was significantly decreased at 0.5 and 72 hours after hemodilution. Hemodilution did not significantly alter the antipyrine apparent volume of distribution (Vd) for 48 hours; however, Vd was significantly decreased by 60% at 72 hours. The cytochrome P-450 mediated formation of 3OHME and 4OH was significantly increased at 48 and 72 hours due to an increased metabolite formation rate constant (kf) and not an enhanced metabolic clearance (Clm). PMID- 2605354 TI - Hepatocytes immobilised by microencapsulation in artificial cells: effects on hyperbilirubinemia in Gunn rats. AB - The possibility of using hepatocytes encapsulated in a calcium-alginate polylysine matrix to lower bilirubin levels in hyperbilirubinemia was investigated. The animal model was the Gunn rat. The microencapsulated hepatocytes were injected intraperitoneally. 15 X 10(6) microencapsulated hepatocytes from Wistar rats, lowered the bilirubin from 14 mg/100 ml to 6 mg/100 ml after 20 days. The bilirubin is still depressed after 90 days. After encapsulation, Sprague-Dawley hepatocytes were as effective as free hepatocytes in lowering bilirubin levels in Gunn rats. After 68 days, the free Sprague-Dawley hepatocytes were not rejected. PMID- 2605355 TI - Peritoneal oxygenation. A feasibility analysis. AB - Peritoneal oxygenation is a proposed method of augmenting a patient's oxygen supply via a non-pulmonary pathway. Thirteen experiments were performed in which an oxygenation fluid was infused into the peritoneal cavity of a dog and allowed to remain for 18 minutes to almost one hour. The two oxygen transporting fluids tested were: 1) a slightly hypertonic aqueous solution of NaCl and dextrose, and 2) perfluorodecalin. A one-compartment open model was developed to describe the decrease of the PO2 in the infusion solution with time. A second mathematical model was developed to determine the limitation blood flow placed on oxygen transport. Even though no physiologic signs of oxygen uptake were observed in dogs with normal lung function, physiologically significant oxygen delivery was evidenced in acutely hypoxic animals. PMID- 2605356 TI - Resistance of conformable indwelling urinary catheters to encrustation. AB - Conformable and conventional indwelling urinary catheters, made of latex coated with Teflon and of the same nominal size, were encrusted in vitro. The extent of encrustation was quantified by dissolving the deposits, determining the concentrations of calcium and magnesium in the resulting solutions (by atomic adsorption spectroscopy), and calculating the surface densities of calcium and magnesium. Surface densities of both elements were significantly less on the conformable than on the conventional catheters. This result can be explained by the pulsed flow of urine through the conformable catheter tending to dislodge deposits adhering to its inner surface. A similar action is expected to occur in vivo. PMID- 2605357 TI - Thromboresistant polymers: a new approach. AB - Selected antithrombotic agents were found to impart improved thromboresistance to polysilicone tubes when covalently bound to such tubes in pilot studies. Bonding was accomplished by radiation grafting of epoxypropyl acrylate monomer on the polysilicone, followed by reaction of the hydroxyl groups of the antithrombotic agents with the epoxy groups on the grafted monomer chains. The bound antithrombotic agents may act by chelating or complexing calcium ions, which are known to perform several functions in blood coagulation. PMID- 2605358 TI - Eighth Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference. Richmond, Virginia, October 15 16, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2605359 TI - Forensic psychiatry: a subspecialty. The presidential address at the nineteenth annual meeting of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. AB - The implications of the definition of forensic psychiatry are explored, with particular reference to the field as a subspecialty of general psychiatry. The allegation of undue moral uncertainty in forensic psychiatry is denied and the moral issues are revealed to be related to the status of the underlying philosophical disputes. An outline for the organization of the forensic psychiatric assessment is presented. The charge that forensic psychiatry is not as "hard" a science as the other forensic sciences is denied. The administrative and political organizational problems facing the subspecialty are explored. The practitioners in the field are encouraged to recognize that forensic psychiatry is a subspecialty and to work for official subspecialty status. Cautious predictions about the future of the field are provided. PMID- 2605360 TI - Clinical evaluation of juvenile delinquents: who gets court referred? AB - This study examines which alleged delinquents in a large urban juvenile court are selected for referral to the court's psychiatric clinic. A number of demographic factors, probation officer impressions, index charges, and past delinquency record variables were examined for all minor delinquency cases referred in a six month period and for a random selection of nonreferred cases. In general, referral was associated with lower socioeconomic status (SES), and with a variety of probation impressions of child and family dysfunction. Little relation to index charge or past record was found. The authors interpret these results as showing that probation referrals appear to be made more on the basis of high risk than on the basis of favorable prognosis for treatment. PMID- 2605361 TI - The prediction of violent behavior during short-term civil commitment. AB - The predictive validity of the clinical judgment of dangerousness in the context of short-term civil commitment was studied prospectively by comparing the behavioral scale ratings of both verbal and physical aggression between 37 persons committed on the basis of "danger to others" versus 31 persons committed on other grounds. No statistically significant difference was found between these two groups of detainees with regard to the levels of aggression measured during their approximately three-day detention. This finding is in agreement with abundant previous research which documents the inability of psychiatrists to accurately predict future dangerousness, prompting the author to suggest that the "dangerousness" criterion for civil commitment be rejected. Although society is unlikely to resurrect the broadly defined "in need of treatment" criterion because of its historically demonstrated ever present potential for abuse, the author suggests an alternative criterion for civil commitment which, in perhaps a more well-defined and more practical way, would allow the state to maintain its doctrine of parens patriae toward mental patients. PMID- 2605362 TI - Grandparents' legal rights to visitation in the fifty states and the District of Columbia. AB - The parameters of legal visitation rights for grandparents in both biological and adoptive parenting situations are explored. Laws in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia are summarized. Suggestions for improvement in the current system are included. PMID- 2605363 TI - Spying on psychiatrists: surreptitious surveillance of the forensic psychiatric examination by the patient himself. AB - Lawyers have argued that surveillance of the forensic psychiatric examination is often necessary to protect clients' rights and assure more accurate reporting of the findings. This paper reports a new phenomenon which adds a disconcerting dimension to the current controversy over surveillance of such examinations, namely, surreptitious recording by patient/examinees of their own forensic examination. Their motivations range from psychotic delusions to perceptions that they are acting to protect their legal interests. Neither legal nor ethical code prohibitions in any way serve to bar such conduct. Moral arguments for and against secret recording by patient/examinees are explored, and its relationship to other techniques used to monitor professional practices in the health fields (such as pseudopatient studies) is discussed. PMID- 2605364 TI - Simulation of brain damage: assessment and decision rules. AB - The possibility of fabricated or exaggerated organic deficits is a frequent concern in both civil and criminal forensic cases. Additionally, organic deficits may exist, but be incorrectly attributed to a claimed cause. Exaggeration or fabrication can apply to primary cognitive or emotional effects of brain damage or to secondary emotional effects. These categories of deficits, and their relationship to physical brain damage, must be clearly understood in order to comprehensively evaluate the possibility of malingering. This includes evaluation of different forms of consistency between (1) behaviors during evaluation, (2) claimed deficits and known organic syndromes, (3) behavior or claims during evaluation and actual life-functioning, and (4) test performance and known principles of cognitive functioning. Psychometric procedures and clinical strategies are described which can substantially aid in assessing consistency and distinguishing between honest and exaggerated self-reports. Limitations of available assessment techniques are described and a general decision model for evaluation of dissimulation of organic deficits is presented. PMID- 2605365 TI - Follow-up after release of insanity acquittees, mentally disordered offenders, and convicted felons. AB - The authors compared 127 insanity acquittees in the state of Maryland with a matched prisoner control group of 127 convicted felons and a comparison group of 135 mentally disordered prisoners transferred for hospital treatment. Subjects were followed from five to 17 years after discharge from hospital or release from prison. Subsequent arrests, hospitalizations, employment, and functioning of these large cohorts were studied and compared. The study focused on outcome data at five years after release. The authors found that, at five years postrelease, 54.3 percent of the insanity acquittees, 65.4 percent of the prisoner control group, and 73.3 percent of the mentally disordered prison transfers were rearrested. At 17 years postrelease, rearrest rates increased to 65.8 percent of the insanity acquittees, 75.4 percent of the prisoner controls, and 78.4 percent of the prison transfers. Significantly more mentally disordered prison transfers than NGRIs were rehospitalized during the follow-up period. Overall, the prison transfers had significantly poorer outcomes on nearly all variables studied compared with the other two groups. The authors conclude that although there were a substantial number of rearrests among insanity acquittees, that group had a statistically significantly lower rate of criminal activity compared with the other two groups of offenders. PMID- 2605366 TI - Returning the not guilty by reason of insanity to the community: a new scale to determine readiness. AB - The very difficult and very important decision on the readiness of an insanity acquittee for community treatment is often based on informal, invalidated criteria. A more standardized approach is needed. The bases for decisions can then be more clearly articulated and the adequacy of recommendations evaluated. This article describes the development of a scale designed to help guide decisions on readiness for community treatment. PMID- 2605367 TI - Forensic pitfalls. AB - The lives of forensic psychiatrists are complicated and subject to stressful experiences because they have elected to interact with a social system very different from their own. This article presents discussion of these frequently troublesome areas commonly encountered by forensic psychiatrists in trying to respond to the law's requests and needs without sacrificing their medical integrity: (1) legitimate definition of expertise; (2) reasonable medical certainty; (3) generally accepted standard of care. They are explored with emphasis on the exercise of self-assessment by the involved forensic psychiatrists lest their incautious application of knowledge and expertise become pitfalls of their own making. PMID- 2605368 TI - Three-dimensional reconstructions of nucleolus-organizing regions in PHA stimulated human lymphocytes. AB - Ultrastructure and three-dimensional distribution of nucleolus-organizing regions have been studied on ultrathin serial sections of PHA-stimulated human lymphocytes. During the 48 hr of activation the size of fibrillar centers (FCs) decreased from 0.6-0.9 microns to 0.2-0.3 microns and the number of FCs increased rapidly from one to 75-107 per cell. The number of fibrillar complexes (i.e. associations of a different number of FCs connected by the dense fibrillar component) also increased but did not reach the maximum number of nucleolar organizers presented here. Three-dimensional computer reconstructions of fibrillar complexes showed that lymphocyte activation was accompanied by early (2 4 hr) changes in the shape of the primary fibrillar center. Invagination of the dense fibrillar component on its surface occurred and division into two or more smaller FCs followed. Gradually, the typical structure of the nucleolus with several fibrillar complexes and many FCs was formed. These results confirm the hypothesis of fibrillar complex-nucleolar organizer correlation published recently. PMID- 2605369 TI - Growth and characterization of isolated bovine tracheal gland cells in culture. Influence of a reconstituted basement membrane matrix. AB - We describe a method for establishing the culture of bovine tracheal submucosal gland (BTG) cells, in which we have also examined the influence of a reconstituted basement membrane matrix derived from the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm tumor (EHS) on the growth and morphological differentiation of these cells. BTG cells have been isolated by tissue enzymatic digestion using trypsin, deoxyribonuclease I, elastase, hyaluronidase and EGTA for 1 hr at 37 degrees C. Afterwards, cells and tissue were collected by centrifugation and were incubated for 15 min with 15% newborn calf serum to inactivate the proteolytic enzymes. Enzymatic digestion using only trypsin, centrifugation and inactivation steps were repeated three times. Using this protocol, we obtained 15 +/- 4 (X 10(6] cells per g of tracheal submucosa with 72 +/- 2% (n = 5) cell viability. On microscopic observation, isolated cells were mainly composed of serous type glandular cells. Cells were cultured in a 1:1 medium of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's/Ham's F12 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and subcultured in either plastic flasks or flasks coated with EHS matrix. On the plastic, the BTG cells exhibited at confluency an epithelioid appearance. They stained positively with the immunofluorescent anticytokeratin antibody and contained PAS-staining granules. By electron microscopy, lactoferrin, a protein marker specific to the serous cells, was demonstrated immunocytochemically in small secretory vesicles. BTG cells cultured on EHS matrix revealed a significantly increased growth in comparison to those cultured on plastic. In post-confluent culture of BTG cells on EHS matrix, we observed numerous dome-like structures formed by differentiated cells which were joined together around luminal spaces. PMID- 2605370 TI - Dynamics of pancreatic tissue cells in the rat exposed to long-term caerulein treatment. 2. Comparative analysis of the various cell types and their growth. AB - This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of caerulein, a CCK analog, on the different cell populations of the pancreatic tissue and their respective turnover. Rats received saline or caerulein subcutaneously and 3H-thymidine intraperitoneally three times a day for 4 days. They were sacrificed immediately after termination of treatment and 2, 15 and 50 days later. With age, the proportion of acinar cells decreased significantly whereas those of the ductal and interstitial cells increased. Although caerulein induced preferential acinar cell growth, it did not modify the proportion of this cell population with regard to the other cells. However, at specific times after termination of treatment, caerulein induced modifications in the ductal, endothelial and interstitial cell populations. The growth promoting effect of caerulein was evident from the specific increases in total DNA content and DNA synthesis. The labeling indices indicate that all cell populations except the endocrine system were stimulated to grow in response to caerulein. Furthermore, all new cells remained for at least 50 days after termination of treatment. These data indicate that caerulein induced uniform growth of the pancreatic tissue during intensive treatment. The normal growth rate of these stimulated cells was, however, arrested for the following 50 days while that of the control group cell population proceeded normally. PMID- 2605371 TI - Immunocytochemical localization of delta 3, delta 2-enoyl-CoA isomerase in rat liver. The effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, a peroxisome proliferator. AB - Immunocytochemical localization of delta 3, delta 2-enoyl-CoA isomerase (isomerase) was investigated in rat liver. Livers of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)-treated or untreated rats were perfusion-fixed and embedded in Epon or Lowicryl K4M. By light microscopy, reaction deposits for the enzyme were present in the cytoplasmic granules of hepatocytes and interlobular bile duct epithelium. Weak staining was noted in sinus-lining cells. After administration of DEHP, the granular staining of the hepatocytes was markedly enhanced, whereas the staining reaction of the sinus-lining cells decreased. The isomerase staining pattern was quite similar to that of long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (a mitochondrial marker), but different from that of catalase (a peroxisomal marker). Under electron microscopy, gold particles for isomerase were seen to be confined mainly to mitochondria of the hepatocytes, the bile duct epithelial cells and sinus lining cells. Peroxisomes were weakly labeled. After DEHP administration, the peroxisomes were markedly induced, but the mitochondria were not. Quantitative analysis showed that the induction of the peroxisomal isomerase was only 2-fold whereas the mitochondrial isomerase was enhanced about 5-fold, 40 times as high as the peroxisomal enzyme. The results show that the mitochondria are the main intracellular site for isomerase and the peroxisomes a minor site. The mitochondrial isomerase of the rat liver is markedly induced by peroxisome proliferators, DEHP and clofibrate. PMID- 2605372 TI - Genetic evidence for linkage with the Z and W sex chromosomes of two distinct couples of alleles controlling larval and postmetamorphic skin pigmentation in salamander. AB - In Pleurodeles waltl, progeny resulting from a cross between 2 individuals of the Z/W sexual genotype include 25% of W/W individuals, while those issued from crossing a Z/W neomale with a W/W thelygenous female include 50% of W/W individuals. W/W individuals can be identified through the peptidase-1 zymogram since, in P. waltl, this enzyme is controlled by codominant alleles which are linked to the sex chromosomes. In such progeny, we discovered 2 mutant phenotypes affecting larval and postmetamorphic skin pigmentation in W/W individuals. These phenotypes are described herein. The study of their inheritance in several offspring provides evidence that they are controlled by 2 distinct genes, the recessive mutant alleles of which are linked to the W sex chromosome; moreover, in thelygenous W/W females, the differential segment does not prevent the occurrence of meiotic recombinations between W sex chromosomes. Mutant skin pigmentary phenotypes are easily identified and constitute a tool for rapid, efficient selection of individuals of the W/W sexual genotype. PMID- 2605373 TI - Identification of the 16 degrees C compartment of the endoplasmic reticulum in rat liver and cultured hamster kidney cells. AB - In many systems transfer between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus is blocked at temperatures below 16 degrees C. In virus-infected cells in culture, a special membrane compartment is seen to accumulate. Our studies with rat liver show a similar response to temperature both in situ with slices and in vitro with isolated transitional endoplasmic reticulum fractions. With isolated transitional endoplasmic reticulum fractions, when incubated in the presence of nucleoside triphosphate and a cytosol fraction, temperature dependent formation of vesicles occurred with a Q10 of approximately 2 but was apparent only at temperatures greater than 12 degrees C. A similar response was seen in situ at 12 degrees C and 16 degrees C where fusion of transition vesicles with cis Golgi apparatus, but not their formation, was blocked and transition vesicles accumulated in large numbers. At 18 degrees C and below and especially at 8 degrees C and 12 degrees C, the cells responded by accumulating smooth tubular transitional membranes near the cis Golgi apparatus face. With cells and tissue slices at 20 degrees C neither transition vesicles nor the smooth tubular elements accumulated. Those transition vesicles which formed at 37 degrees C were of a greater diameter than those formed at 4 degrees C both in situ and in vitro. The findings show parallel responses between the temperature dependency of transition vesicle formation in vitro and in situ and suggest that a subpopulation of the transitional endoplasmic reticulum may be morphologically and functionally homologous to the 16 degrees C compartment observed in virally infected cell lines grown at low temperatures. PMID- 2605374 TI - In vitro effects of colchicine and nocodazole on ciliogenesis in quail oviduct. AB - Oviduct implants from quails which were primarily stimulated in vivo by estrogen so as to induce ciliogenesis in some epithelial cells were cultured in vitro in the presence or absence of colchicine or nocodazole. After 24 or 48 hr of culture, implants were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy to determine drug-induced alterations in ciliogenesis. After 24 hr of 10(-5) M colchicine treatment, the formation of basal bodies was totally inhibited, though the precursor material of generative complexes was unchanged. The inhibitory effect was not reversed when colchicine was removed in a 24 hr recovery culture. Treatment with 10(-6) M nocodazole for 24 hr, partially inhibited the assembly of basal bodies, which exhibited altered morphology. The assembly of basal bodies was restored during the 24 hr recovery period, after removal of nocodazole. Colchicine and nocodazole did not prevent polarized migration towards the apical surface of basal bodies formed prior to drug treatment. They anchored to the plasma membrane, but the formation of cilia was strongly disturbed in the presence of the drug. Numerous cells possessed anchored basal bodies which failed to induce the formation of cilia. The elongation of cilia was inhibited, as seen by their abnormal capping structure. In the enlarged tip, microtubules diverged. In contrast, these very short cilia possessed a mature ciliary necklace which was constructed during drug treatment. Differentiation of this membrane ciliary structure appeared to be unrelated to axoneme growth. PMID- 2605375 TI - Organization of actin microfilaments in the apical border of oviduct ciliated cells. AB - Actin microfilaments were localized in quail oviduct ciliated cells using decoration with myosin subfragment S1 and immunogold labeling. These polarized epithelial cells show a well developed cytoskeleton due to the presence of numerous cilia and microvilli at their apical pole. Most S1-decorated microfilaments extend from the microvilli downward towards the upper part of the ciliary striated rootlets with which they are connected. From the microvillous roots, a few microfilaments connect the proximal part of the basal body or the basal foot associated with the basal body. Microfilament polarity is shown by S1 arrowheads pointing away from the microvillous tip to the cell body. Furthermore, short microfilaments are attached to the plasma membrane at the anchoring sites of basal bodies and run along the basal body. The polarity of these short microfilaments is directed from the basal body anchoring fibers downward to the cytoplasm. At the cell periphery, microfilaments from microvillous roots and ciliary apparatus are connected with those of the circumferential actin belt which is associated with the apical zonula adhaerens. Together with the other cytoskeletal elements, the microfilaments increase ciliary anchorage and could be involved in the coordination of ciliary beating. Moreover, microvilli surrounding the cilia probably modify ciliary beating by offering resistance to cilium bending. The presence of microvilli could explain the fact that mainly the upper part of the cilia appanars to be involved in the axonemal bending in metazoan ciliated cells. PMID- 2605376 TI - Transcription of dispersed repeated sequences during Pleurodeles waltl oogenesis. AB - Several repeated DNA sequences were isolated from a partial genomic DNA library of the newt Pleurodeles waltl. These repeated DNA elements are dispersed over the 12 P. waltl bivalents, and some of them are transcribed in the oocyte. We describe the localization of label following in situ hybridization to nascent RNA attached to the lateral loops of lampbrush chromosomes. Variations in the number and the location of labelled loops were constantly found for several of the probes. The results are discussed in view of the "cotranscription model" of RNA synthesis on lampbrush chromosomes. We speculate on the possible origins of variation in transcription on lampbrush loops. PMID- 2605377 TI - Liquid crystalline phases of sonicated type I collagen. AB - The assembly properties of concentrated solutions of type I collagen molecules are compared before and after a 5-min sonication, breaking the 300-nm triple helices into short segments of about 20 nm, with a strong polydispersity. The collagen concentration of these solutions, sonicated or not, was increased up to 100 mg/ml by slow evaporation of the solvent. Whereas the non-sonicated solutions remain isotropic, the sonicated solutions transform after a few hours into a twisted liquid crystalline phase, well recognizable in polarizing microscopy. The evidence of a twisted assembly of collagen triple helices in vitro is new and relevant in a biological context since it was reported in various collagen matrices. PMID- 2605378 TI - Lip-reading instruction and hearing aid use. PMID- 2605379 TI - Effects of posture and age on tympanic membrane displacement measurements. AB - This study used changes in posture to investigate the transmission of cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) pressure changes to the cochlear fluids in subjects falling into two age groups. Results were obtained from 32 subjects: 16 aged 19 to 32 years and 16 aged between 40 and 63. Measurements were made with the subject sitting upright and then at 63 degrees to the vertical, using a technique which measures displacement of the tympanic membrane in response to acoustic stimulation of the stapedial reflex. Changes in such measurements are believed to represent changes in perilymphatic fluid pressure. Statistical analysis of the results showed the magnitude of changes in Tympanic Membrane Displacement (TMD) measurements with postural change to be smaller in the older group than in the younger age group. In addition, a larger proportion of the older subjects showed no change in TMD measurements with change in posture. The proportion of subjects in each age group who showed no change in TMD measurements with change in posture was similar to the proportion of temporal bones of subjects of similar ages that had non-patent cochlear aqueducts as determined by a previous histopathological study. Audiometric testing revealed a link between hearing threshold and presumed patency of the communication routes between cochlear and cranial fluids. The magnitude of the tympanic membrane displacement was found to decrease with age in agreement with previous studies showing decrease of stapedial reflex magnitude with increasing age. It is suggested that the communication between cochlear and cranial fluids may be important in the pathogenesis of auditory dysfunction in several patient groups. PMID- 2605380 TI - Non-invasive electrical stimulation of the ear canal as a communication aid in acquired total deafness. AB - Some profoundly deafened patients, who cannot be helped by sound amplification, claim to perceive auditory sensations when alternating currents up to 100 Hz are passed through electrodes applied to the skin of the external ear canal. A portable speech processor has been developed which supplies this current. The signal is a balanced square wave, the frequency of which is proportional to the first formant frequency. The amplitude is proportional to the intensity of voiced sounds. In order to fit the narrow frequency and dynamic range of the electrical stimulus, the speech processor produces a downward frequency transposition and strong limitation of the dynamic range. The device has been tested for (1) discrimination of environmental sounds; (2) question/statement discrimination; (3) identification of vowels and consonants in vowel/consonant/vowel context; (4) lip-reading with and without the prosthesis. PMID- 2605381 TI - Statistical procedure for the preoperative prediction of the result of cochlear implantation. AB - Predicting the result of a cochlear implant preoperatively continues to be the best way to prevent an unfavourable outcome. Data from 28 cases (subdivided into two groups by their results) formed the basis for discriminant analysis using different parameters. Allocation to the two groups was found to be satisfactory. Since a jack-knifed design was used, allocation was done on the basis of data material from cases not included in this programme's analysis. Data correlation was described by an equation from which the result can be predicted with adequate accuracy using language competence, duration of deafness on the operated side, speech discrimination and threshold of acoustical sensations on promontory electrostimulation. The equation is applicable to all patients, irrespective of whether their deafness is prelingual or postlingual. Since the patient material was enlarged by 19 additional cases, we were able to confirm that the formula enables a prognosis of sufficient quality. PMID- 2605382 TI - Coding strategies for a single-channel tactile aid. AB - Measurements have been made on the ability of normally hearing subjects to identify the stressed word in simple sentences, using only tactile information. Vibrotactile stimuli were presented to the distal pad of the second finger via a single vibrator. A range of coding strategies was investigated, voice pitch or speech amplitude being represented as stimulus frequency and/or intensity. Test results show that, even without specific training, subjects can be quite successful in identifying stress patterns. The most effective coding strategies were (i) voice frequency presented as continuously variable stimulus frequency over the range 40-220 Hz, with a correlated modulation of stimulus amplitude, (ii) speech amplitude presented as two discrete levels of stimulus amplitude. PMID- 2605383 TI - Comparison of manual and computer-controlled self-recorded audiometric methods for serial monitoring of hearing. AB - Manual and self-recorded audiograms obtained from 240 ears on two occasions 2-3 years apart were compared, with the objective of establishing the preferred method for serial monitoring of hearing thresholds. The self-recording method incorporates an objective scoring algorithm which is compared with subjective scoring carried out independently by two experienced audiology staff members. The objective scoring method agreed well with the subjective method but gives substantial advantages in terms of cost and freedom from scorer bias. The variability associated with manual audiometry was somewhat lower than that associated with self-recording audiometry when used for serial monitoring. PMID- 2605384 TI - A pseudo free-field measure of auditory disability. AB - Conventional measures of auditory disability via speech identification scores are usually monaural, or occasionally, diotic. Circumstances of everyday listening usually contain stereophonic (dichotic) cues, whilst such listening situations can be tested in a free field environment they are difficult to standardize and calibrate. A procedure has been developed by recording the signals from two Zwislocki couplers in a KEMAR mannikin to produce a headphone-presented set of speech material containing the important dichotic cues present in free field listening. This enables readily calibrated and experimentally controllable conditions to be set up to measure aspects of auditory disability and, for example, its alleviation via amplification. Two examples of the use of the test are provided: (i) the assessment of the benefits of the presence of stereophonic cues on speech identification in both the real free field and simulated conditions, and (ii) the benefits of monaural and binaural provision of amplification of hearing impaired people in directional listening situations. PMID- 2605385 TI - Prawf Geiriau Caerdydd--a Welsh language speech test. AB - We have developed a set of six isophonemic word lists in Welsh, each comprising 16 vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV) words. They include the 20 commonest consonants and the 16 commonest vowel/diphthongs in Welsh, and all six lists give equivalent scores. Examination of error patterns indicates a number of differences from those found in English including a lack of voiced/voiceless confusions and an adherence to the phonotactic constraints of the Welsh language. PMID- 2605386 TI - Relationship between earmould venting, comfort and feedback. AB - Although earmould venting is considered to make an earmould more comfortable, whether it does so remains to be proven in hearing-aid users. A hundred and six patients were sequentially fitted with a hearing aid in a randomized order with an unvented, a 0.8 mm vented or a 2 mm vented mould and questioned about various aspects of discomfort at the end of each trial period. The three moulds were equally uncomfortable (approximately 17% overall), moist (approximately 34% overall) and associated with an itchy sensation (approximately 36% overall). However, a 0.8 mm and a 2 mm vent significantly reduced the sensation of blockage from 35 to 22% (P less than 0.05) and 13% (P less than 0.001) respectively. A potential disadvantage of venting is feedback, but patients' reports of this can be confused with feedback due to incorrectly inserting the mould. A separate study showed that a 2 mm vent might cause feedback in approximately 10% of patients when used in conjunction with behind-the-ear aids whose maximum gain was 45 dB, but only when the gain was at 42 dB or greater. PMID- 2605387 TI - Information-processing skill and speech-reading. AB - Two measures of verbal inference-making ability (a sentence-completion test; SCT, and a word-completion test; WCT) and one test of working memory capacity were examined in relation to speech-reading performance. The results demonstrated that the SCT proved to be the only variable that was substantially correlated with speech-reading performance. The contribution from working memory capacity and the WCT test to speech-reading is mainly via their contribution to the SCT. Skilled SCT-performance was particularly tied to speech-reading conditions with a low level of contextual information accompanying the speech-reading task. No general or specific difference was found between hearing-impaired and normally-hearing subjects in the speech-reading test, thus indicating that speech-reading performance cannot be predicted by factors related to the hearing-impairment. Rather, information-processing skills seem to be decisive. PMID- 2605388 TI - Cognitive therapy vs. self-management training in the treatment of chronic headaches. AB - In view of the association between chronic headaches and depression, this study compared a cognitive therapy package designed for depression with a relatively standard behavioural treatment package designed for headaches (self-management training), in terms of their effects on headaches and depressive symptoms. Fifty five subjects suffering from chronic headaches (tension, migraine and combined) were randomly assigned to the two treatment conditions. Cognitive therapy and self-management training were equally effective at decreasing headaches and depressive symptoms on most measures. Changes in headaches and depressive symptoms were not significantly correlated in either condition, however. Greater headache improvement was associated with high pre-treatment headache activity for both conditions but, whilst self-management training was more effective for subjects low on depression, cognitive therapy was more effective for subjects high on chronicity. This suggests that the latter approach, or some variation of it, may be the treatment of choice for more chronic headache sufferers with depressive symptoms. PMID- 2605389 TI - The multidimensional nature of schizotypal traits: a factor analytic study with normal subjects. AB - Fourteen published scales of psychotic traits or symptoms (measuring various delusional states, magical ideation, perceptual aberration, disposition towards hallucination, hypomanic personality, schizotypal personality, borderline personality and anhedonia) were combined with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire to form a Combined Schizotypal Traits Questionnaire (CSTQ) which was administered to 180 normal subjects. Two factor analyses were carried out on the scale scores. The first analysis excluded symptom scores derived from the Delusions Symptoms States Inventory of Foulds and Bedford and yielded a three factor solution which appeared to measure traits relating to (i) positive psychotic symptomatology; (ii) negative psychotic symptomatology; and (iii) aspects of schizotypy involving social anxiety and cognitive disorganization. The Foulds scales were included in the second analysis which yielded a four-factor solution. The first three factors were similar to those obtained from the first analysis; the fourth factor seemed to measure an asocial component of schizotypy. This last factor was mainly accounted for by the P scale from the EPQ. These results support previous findings suggesting that different schizotypy scales relate to different underlying aspects of schizophrenia. The findings also indicate that psychotic traits are distributed along at least three dimensions. PMID- 2605390 TI - Why forget the false positives? AB - Attention is drawn to the omission of the positive response tendencies from the data captured by prestigious clinical memory assessment devices. Data from a small pilot study, using alcohol abusers, suggest that this is potentially costly in terms of understanding and measuring dysfunction. There is also an indication that, by measuring with greater sensitivity to response patterns, it may be possible to identify memory dysfunction in alcohol abusers earlier in their abuse careers. PMID- 2605391 TI - Physicians survey reveals AIDS attitudes. PMID- 2605392 TI - Diet and nutrition-related concerns of blacks and other ethnic minorities. PMID- 2605393 TI - Diets of American women, in 1985. AB - Compared with 1977, women in 1985 consumed more skim and lowfat milk; soft drinks; mixtures that were mainly meat, poultry and fish; and grain products. They consumed less whole milk, less meat (as nonmixtures) and fewer eggs. In 1985, the mean percent of calories from fat was similar for both low- and high income women. High-income women ate less meat, eggs and whole milk than did low income women, but they ate more cheese, cream and milk desserts, baked goods, table fats and salad dressings. Regardless of income, mean intakes by women were below the Recommended Dietary Allowances for six nutrients: vitamin B-6, folacin, calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc. Both snacking and eating away from home increased between 1977 and 1985. PMID- 2605394 TI - Antitumor properties of mononuclear cells activated by combined treatment with oxidizing mitogens and interleukin-2: basic and clinical studies. PMID- 2605395 TI - The development of classification criteria for children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. PMID- 2605396 TI - Mongolian spots associated with cleft lip. AB - Of the present series comprising 66 newborns with cleft lip, 13 (20%) had pigmented macules in the labial skin on the lateral side of the cleft. Histological examination using serial sections were performed on 47 cases and showed evidence of dermal melanocytosis in 40 cases (85%) consisting of 33 (70%) without clinically detectable macules and 7 (15%) with obvious pigmented macules. The fusiform cells in the dermis were positive for dopa reaction and anti melanocyte antibody. The high incidence of dermal melanocytosis is comparable to that of common Mongolian spots in Asian babies. PMID- 2605397 TI - Primary maxillary reconstruction after cancer excision. AB - Eleven patients who underwent primary maxillary reconstruction following cancer excision are presented. Low partial and high partial maxillectomies are recognised, as are the more radical excisions. Skin grafts, a temporalis muscle flap, free radial forearm flaps, single paddle, double paddle and triple paddle latissimus dorsi free flaps and a latissimus serratus, rib composite flap have been utilised. Oncological aspects and secondary reconstructive problems are detailed. Six patients have survived; three have died of recurrent disease and two of myocardial infarction some time after surgery. PMID- 2605398 TI - A standard method for the correction of hypospadias. AB - A two-stage surgical correction used by one surgeon on 100 consecutive cases of hypospadias is described. The results and complications encountered are discussed and compared with those of the other popular operations. PMID- 2605399 TI - Inferior epigastric artery skin flaps without rectus abdominis muscle. AB - The rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap has many advantages, but its disadvantages are also well-known. These are the possibility of abdominal herniation and, in certain situations, its bulk. To overcome these problems, an inferior epigastric artery skin flap without rectus abdominis muscle, pedicled on the muscle perforators and the proximal inferior deep epigastric artery, have been used in two patients. A large flap without muscle can survive on a single muscle perforator. PMID- 2605400 TI - Lower limb reconstruction in children using expanded free flaps. AB - Controlled expansion is a technique that increases the area of local tissue available for reconstruction. An extension of this is to expand free flaps prior to elevation, thereby increasing their area. This has been particularly useful in children where there may be insufficient tissue available at free flap donor sites. Four children have had extensive cutaneous defects of the lower limb reconstructed with expanded parascapular free flaps. Measurements indicate an approximate doubling in skin area. There has been normal growth of the affected limbs and there has been no donor site morbidity. Apart from small areas of narrow marginal necrosis at the tip of the flaps in the first three cases, which were of no consequence, healing at the recipient site was complete. PMID- 2605401 TI - First web-space reconstruction by Caroli's technique in congenital hand deformities with severe thumb ray adduction. AB - A personal technique is described for reconstruction of the first web-space in congenital hand deformities with severe adduction of the thumb. The technique is based on the use of two local rotation flaps, one designed on the thenar area and the other on the radial half of the back of the hand. Seven patients were treated with such a technique and followed up for an average of 32 months. Excellent results were obtained in five cases. PMID- 2605402 TI - Repair of bilateral cleft lip over prominent premaxilla. AB - Our experience of 25 cases of Millard's repair for bilateral cleft lip is described. We close the alveolus and anterior palate at the same time. The technique is applicable even in the presence of a prominent premaxilla with no previous oral orthopaedics of lip adhesion. The surgical correction of a bilateral cleft lip and palate is completed in two operative procedures. We show that good aesthetic and functional results were achieved. PMID- 2605403 TI - Ischaemia reperfusion injury in pedicle skin flaps in the pig: lack of protective effect of SOD and allopurinol. AB - A model of ischaemia and reperfusion was established which consistently achieved a 50% reduction in viable length of random pattern pedicle skin flaps in pigs. Flaps were subjected to two periods of ischaemia and reperfusion. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) in a dose of 3000 mu/kg given intravenously and allopurinol 70 mg/kg/day orally had no effect on viable skin flap length, skin blood flow or histological characteristics of flaps. SOD polymers, which have been used in other species to delay SOD clearance, were found to cause anaphylactoid reactions in pigs. PMID- 2605404 TI - Factors involved in salvaging ischaemic rabbit skin flaps: ATP and free radicals but not thromboxane. AB - Rabbit epigastric free flaps were subjected to ischaemia at 25 degrees C for 24 hours. At the time of revascularisation the flaps were infused intra-arterially with one of the following: Hanks balanced salt solution (control), the high energy phosphates PEP/ATP, the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor dazoxiben hydrochloride, the free radical scavenger SOD and a combination of all these agents (treated groups). Control ischaemic flap survival at post-ischaemia day 7 was 23.5%, while the other treatments resulted in improved flap survival of 43.5% (p less than 0.025), 23.5% (not significant), 38.6% (p less than 0.05) and 35.7% (p less than 0.05) respectively. None of these agents improved post-ischaemic blood flow significantly. These results would support the use of PEP/ATP or SOD in the clinical treatment of failing ischaemic skin flaps but do not support the use of dazoxiben hydrochloride. PMID- 2605405 TI - The response of the peripheral nerve field to controlled soft tissue expansion. AB - The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of controlled soft tissue expansion on the peripheral nerve field. The rat model was used with single neurone recordings at the dorsal root level related to areas of skin previously expanded over a period of 2-4 weeks. Parameters measured were: stimulation threshold, receptive field size, conduction velocity and afferent disconnection. Results indicated a sparing of neural function despite an expansion in skin area of 110%. PMID- 2605406 TI - The value of head dressings in the postoperative management of the prominent ear. AB - A prospective trial was performed to ascertain the value of padded head dressings following the correction of prominent ears. Twenty consecutive adults and 20 consecutive children were included. The results are discussed and certain recommendations suggested. PMID- 2605407 TI - The nasalis musculocutaneous flap; a report of three cases. AB - In three cases a nasalis musculocutaneous flap, using the dog-ear, has been used to help close the secondary defect after transfer of a superiorly based nasolabial flap to the nose. In one case part of the nasalis flap was used to close a defect in the nasal lining. PMID- 2605408 TI - Anatomy of the orbicularis oris muscle in cleft lip. AB - The anatomy of the orbicularis oris muscle was studied using histological sections of 18 operative specimens of unilateral cleft lip (14 incomplete and 4 complete). In incomplete clefts the intrinsic part of the orbicularis, located in the vermilion, is simply interrupted without distortion. The extrinsic part, lying higher in the lip, crosses the cleft but is distorted vertically according to the degree of the nasal deformity. In complete clefts the intrinsic bundle ends in the submucosa of the vermilion as in incomplete clefts. The extrinsic bundle is deviated towards the ala nasi on the lateral side. On the medial side, the fibres are rarer and more horizontal. Conclusions are drawn regarding reorientation of the muscle fibres during cheiloplasty. PMID- 2605409 TI - Double peroneal free flap for multiple skin defects of the hand. AB - Two or more relatively large skin defects of the hand and fingers were repaired in six cases by a double peroneal free flap with a flap attached to each of two cutaneous branches ramifying from a peroneal artery and vein. All the cases were either multidigital injuries or had injury to adjacent fingers, with skin defects ranging from 4 x 1.5 cm to 11 x 5 cm. The subcutaneous fat of the flap is thin with good elasticity, giving a good match for the finger. This procedure can be employed for two or more skin defects at any site in the finger and hand in one stage, with the added advantage of early rehabilitation. PMID- 2605410 TI - Rotatory atlantoaxial subluxation following pharyngoplasty. AB - Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation often presents in childhood as a stiff, painful neck with associated torticollis. It can occur spontaneously following minor trauma or an inflammatory process in the cervical tissues. Failure to recognise the condition may result in a fixed rotatory subluxation which can be difficult to treat. The authors report on two cases of atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation which occurred following pharyngoplasty and discuss the clinical presentation and management of these cases. The literature on this subject is briefly reviewed. PMID- 2605411 TI - Cover of pre-sternal defects. PMID- 2605412 TI - Self-neglect and frontal lobe dysfunction. AB - An elderly lady, of superior verbal intelligence and with no severe psychiatric condition, severely neglected herself, and required prolonged day patient care. Brain scans showed selective frontal atrophy, and both traditional and new computerised neuropsychological testing demonstrated severe frontal dysfunction. PMID- 2605413 TI - Trichotillomania and incest. AB - Trichotillomania is reported in a 33-year-old female victim of incest, with a possible causal connection. PMID- 2605414 TI - Obsessive-compulsive disorder in a mentally retarded woman. AB - Obsessive-compulsive disorder is extremely rare among mentally retarded people. We report here a case of a mildly mentally retarded woman who exhibits contamination obsessions, compulsive hand-washing rituals, and avoidance. PMID- 2605415 TI - Mania in a five-year-old child with tuberous sclerosis. AB - A five-year-old girl presented with mania and adenoma sebaceum. Later she developed grand mal seizures, and EEG revealed a prominent right temporal focus. It is important to consider tuberous sclerosis as aetiologically related to mood disorders. PMID- 2605416 TI - Status epilepticus after electroconvulsive therapy. AB - Status epilepticus is a rare complication of ECT. We describe a patient who suffered a prolonged seizure which required termination with intravenous diazepam. The status epilepticus was not accompanied by motor movements, and the diagnosis was made only because of simultaneous EEG monitoring. The incidence of status epilepticus after ECT may be underestimated. PMID- 2605417 TI - Family therapy for schizophrenia. PMID- 2605418 TI - Better to be depressed in Australia... PMID- 2605419 TI - . . . or not? PMID- 2605420 TI - AIDS hypochondriasis. PMID- 2605421 TI - Calcium techniques. PMID- 2605422 TI - Obstetric liaison. PMID- 2605423 TI - Schizophrenia, season of birth, and maternal age. PMID- 2605424 TI - Homosexual erotomania. PMID- 2605425 TI - Neuronal misconceptions. PMID- 2605426 TI - Unreliable urine samples. PMID- 2605427 TI - Solvent abuse psychosis. PMID- 2605428 TI - The functional discrimination of attachment and affiliation. Theory and empirical demonstration. AB - Volunteer college students completed a categorisation task designed to test the hypothesis that adults organise their expectations of relationships in a manner that reflects a functional distinction between attachment and affiliation. Terms associated with the provision of security and with characteristics theoretically identified as definitive of attachment relationships were significantly more likely to be associated with the relationship identified as 'lover'. There was substantial overlap between attachment and affiliation relationships in functions relating to intimacy and disclosure. These results highlight the need to differentiate close relationships by functional rather than structural characteristics. PMID- 2605429 TI - Adult personality functioning assessment (APFA). An investigator-based standardised interview. AB - The development of an investigator-based standardised interview to assess patterns of specific and general social dysfunction is described. It covers six domains of functioning: work; love relationships; friendships; non-intimate social contacts; negotiations; and everyday coping. Inter-rater reliability was tested by three investigators rating 21 audiotaped interviews, and was shown to be high, with an intraclass correlation of 0.87 for the total score. The pattern of associations between specific and general social dysfunction was examined through determination of sensitivities and specificities and through LISREL modelling. The findings varied across social domains but it was concluded that the total APFA score provided a reasonable measure of general social dysfunction. PMID- 2605430 TI - Psychiatric symptoms, cognitive stress and vulnerability factors. A study in a remand prison. AB - In a consecutive sample of 208 male prisoners interviewed on the tenth day (T1) after entry, high levels of psychiatric symptoms as measured by the GHQ were recorded. These GHQ scores were strongly correlated with perceived worries and concerns of the prisoners ('cognitive stress'). After 60 days of detention (T2), a significant fall in GHQ scores was observed, and they were still correlated with cognitive stress. A significant negative correlation between cognitive stress at T1 and GHQ scores at T2 was observed. The relationship between potential vulnerability factors (life experiences, social network, personality factors) and GHQ scores was not strong at either T1 or T2. Psychiatric symptoms are common during the early phase of imprisonment but are not durable. PMID- 2605431 TI - Epidemiology of mental disorders in young adults of a newly urbanized area in Khartoum, Sudan. AB - Two hundred and four subjects, 22-35 years old, were selected from a suburban part of Khartoum. They were assessed using the Self-Rating Questionnaire, the Eysenck Personality Inventory, and a Sudanese rating scale of anxiety and depression. Socio-economic information was collected. A psychiatric interview and a medical examination were carried out. It was found that 40.3% had at least one psychiatric symptom, and 16.6% received clinical diagnoses according to DSM-III. The most common diagnoses were depressive illness (neurotic and endogenous) (8.4%) and generalised anxiety (3.4%). Alcohol abuse was very rare (0.4%). There was no sex difference. PMID- 2605432 TI - DSM-III major depressive disorder in the community. A latent class analysis of data from the NIMH epidemiologic catchment area programme. AB - The fit of the structure of DSM-III major depressive disorder to data from two large epidemiological surveys is assessed by latent class analysis. The surveys were conducted at the Baltimore and Raleigh-Durham sites of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program. Three classes are required to fit the data, and the third class bears a strong resemblance to major depressive disorder, although it requires slightly more symptoms to be present than DSM-III. The derived structure replicates successfully for Baltimore and Raleigh-Durham, with a prevalence of the major depression category of 0.9% for both sites. PMID- 2605433 TI - Physical illness in chronic psychiatric patients from a community psychiatric unit. The implications for daily practice. AB - The prevalence and significance of physical diseases, and health-care-seeking behaviour, were examined in a sample of 218 chronic psychiatric patients from an urban community psychiatric unit. Only 14% declined medical screening. Of the respondents, 53% had one or more probable or certain physical diseases warranting further medical attention. The majority of the diseases found were minor and typical of primary care problems. A severe (i.e. life-threatening) disease was present in 7% of respondents. Of the patients, 87% visited their GP at least once a year. The implications are that frequent consultation with primary care specialists and health-care-seeking behaviour should be noted, and included in any evaluation of the medical needs of chronic patients in community psychiatric care. PMID- 2605434 TI - Benefits and problems of routine laboratory investigations in adult psychiatric admissions. AB - A survey of laboratory investigations in the management of 1007 non-geriatric admissions to a district general hospital adult psychiatric unit showed a wide variation in the number of tests performed, and in the abnormal proportion between test types. Despite a policy of screening on admission, 40% of admissions had no tests. Physical illness attributable to mental illness was common, but rarely serious and usually apparent clinically. Mental illness attributable to physical illness detected by laboratory tests was rare: five cases of thyroid disease in women with affective disorder, and two cases of chest infection with raised white cell count in sustained mania. The findings show that tests are frequently used in circumstances where the result is of no apparent value. Test use might be improved by restricting screening to thyroid function and laboratory urine analysis, each in women. There are particular indications for white cell count in sustained or unexplained relapse of mental illness, and for syphilis serology when disinhibition may have exposed the patient to infection. PMID- 2605435 TI - Brain white-matter lesions and psychosis. AB - In a prospective study of late-life onset psychosis, five of the first 27 patients studied had extensive white-matter lesions demonstrated by MRI and/or CT. None of 60 age-matched psychiatrically healthy controls demonstrated such lesions. All five patients had a mild dementia and a frontal behavioural syndrome. In addition, every patient performed poorly on neuropsychological tests of frontal function. Dysfunction of the frontal cortex associated with white matter lesions appears to contribute to the clinical picture of some cases of late-life psychosis. PMID- 2605436 TI - Mood changes after right-hemisphere lesions. AB - Ninety-three patients with acute stroke lesions restricted to the right hemisphere were examined for the presence of mood changes. While 46 patients showed no mood changes, 19 were unduly cheerful, 17 had developed major depression, and 11 had developed minor depression. Although there were no significant between-groups differences in other demographic variables, neurological deficits, activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, or quality of social support, patients with major depression had a significantly higher frequency of familial history of psychiatric disorder and lesions of the parietal cortex than patients with either no mood change or major depression following left-hemisphere lesions. On the other hand, undue cheerfulness was significantly associated with lesions of the right frontal operculum. These findings suggest that major depression following right-hemisphere lesions may have a different aetiology and mechanism than major depression following left frontal or basal ganglia lesions. PMID- 2605437 TI - Cognitive aspects of panic attacks. Content, course and relationship to laboratory stressors. AB - Twenty patients with panic attacks and ten controls were given a standardised interview about thoughts occurring during times of anxiety or panic attacks. The interviewer was blind to the subject's diagnosis. The 20 panic patients underwent a psychophysiological test battery which included a cold pressor test, mental arithmetic task, and 5.5% CO2 inhalation. More patients than controls reported thoughts centered on fears of losing control and shame when anxious. Panic patients rated their thoughts as stronger and clearer than did controls and they had more difficulty excluding them from their minds. A feeling of anxiety preceded anxious thoughts in patients. This suggests that 'faulty cognitions' are not the initial event in a panic attack, although anxious thoughts may exacerbate or maintain them. Significant correlations were found between the intensity of anxiety-related thoughts in anticipation of mental arithmetic and changes in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate during mental arithmetic. PMID- 2605438 TI - Concordance by sex in sibling pairs with schizophrenia is paternally inherited. Evidence for a pseudoautosomal locus. AB - The hypothesis that the gene for schizophrenia is located in the pseudoautosomal region of the sex chromosomes predicts that same-sex concordance will occur in paternally rather than maternally derived pairs. In 120 families that included at least one sibling pair with schizophrenia, affected members were significantly more likely to be of the same sex when there was a history of illness on the paternal than on the maternal side, the difference remaining significant when parent of origin was assessed by three different methods. The finding is as predicted by the pseudoautosomal hypothesis: therefore a search for the gene should be focused on this small (three megabase) region of the genome. The ratio of same to mixed sex pairs in paternally-derived cases (approximately 3:1) suggests the gene is located in the centromeric one-third of the pseudoautosomal region. PMID- 2605439 TI - Achilles tendon rupture in badminton. AB - The typical badminton player with an Achilles tendon rupture is 36 years old and, despite limbering up, is injured at the rear line in a sudden forward movement. He resumes work within three months and has a slight lack of dorsiflexion in the ankle as the main complication. Most patients resume badminton within one year, but some finish their sports career, mainly due to fear of a new injury. The investigation discusses predisposing factors and prophylactic measures. PMID- 2605440 TI - Cardiovascular fitness and thermoregulation during prolonged exercise in man. AB - Nine healthy male subjects differing in their training status (VO2 max 54 +/- 7 ml.min-1.kg-1, mean +/- SD; 43-64 ml.min-1 kg-1, range) exercised on two occasions separated by one week. On each occasion, having fasted overnight, subjects exercised for 1 h on an electrically braked cycle ergometer at a workload equivalent to 70 per cent VO2 max (test A) or at a fixed workload of 140 W (test B). Each test was assigned in a randomized manner and was performed at an ambient temperature of 22.5 +/- 0.0 degrees C and a relative humidity of 85 +/- 0 per cent. Absolute exercise workload was the most successful predictor of sweat loss during test A (r = 0.82, p less than 0.01). Sweat loss was also related to VO2 max tests A (r = 0.67, p less than 0.05) and B (r = 0.67, p less than 0.05). There was no relationship between resting pre-exercise core temperature and VO2 max. However, core temperature recorded during the final min of exercise in test B was inversely related to VO2 max (r = -0.86, p less than 0.01). As a consequence, core temperature during the final minute of exercise was also related to the relative exercise intensity (% VO2 max) performed (r = 0.82, p less than 0.01). The heart rate response during test B was inversely related to VO2 max (r = -0.71, p less than 0.05) and was positively related to the relative exercise intensity performed (r = 0.68, p less than 0.05). No relationship was found between weighted mean skin temperature during the final minute of exercise and the relative (r = 0.26) or absolute (r = 0.03) workloads performed during exercise. The results of the present experiment suggest that cardiovascular fitness (as indicated by VO2 max) will have a significant influence upon the thermoregulatory responses of Man during exercise. PMID- 2605441 TI - The effect of endurance running training on asthmatic adults. AB - Nine mild to moderate asthmatic adults (three males, six females) and six non asthmatics (one male, five females) underwent endurance running training three times per week for five weeks, at self selected running speeds on a motorized treadmill. After training, the asthmatic group had a significantly higher maximum oxygen uptake, significantly lower blood lactate and heart rate in submaximal running, and significantly reduced time to complete a two mile treadmill run, partly attributable to the ability to exercise at a higher % VO2 max after training. These training induced changes of the asthmatic group were generally of a greater magnitude than those shown by the non-asthmatic group. Although seven of the nine asthmatics did show a reduction in the post-exercise fall in FEV1 after the five week training period, this was not statistically significant for the asthmatic group as a whole. The results of this study therefore suggest that endurance running training can improve the aerobic fitness of asthmatic adults, and may reduce the severity of exercise-induced asthma. PMID- 2605442 TI - Blood. PMID- 2605443 TI - Silent ischaemia and vigorous exercise. PMID- 2605444 TI - Corinth and Olympia. PMID- 2605445 TI - Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra. PMID- 2605446 TI - Olympic athletics medical experience, Seoul--personal views. PMID- 2605447 TI - Athletes' anaemia. A review of possible causes and guidelines on investigation. PMID- 2605448 TI - Salivary steroids and psychometric parameters in male marathon runners. AB - Testosterone and cortisol in male marathon runners (n = 11) were determined in saliva samples (n = 28) collected during the three rest days preceding a competitive marathon and in the samples collected at 08.00h on the race day. An Eysenck Personality Inventory was completed on the first rest day and psychological state was assessed on rest days and on the morning of the marathon by completion of visual analogue scales for anxiety, depression, hostility and libido at four times each day. Anxiety, depression and hostility were positively inter-correlated. Extraversion and depression were negatively correlated. At 08.00h on the day of the marathon, anxiety and hostility scores were significantly higher than those on rest days, but depression and libido scores were unchanged. No relationship was found between depression or libido and any hormonal parameter. Race day cortisol correlated negatively with hostility, and changes in cortisol (09.00h) between the race day and the mean rest-day levels correlated with the corresponding changes in anxiety. PMID- 2605449 TI - Marathon finishers and pre-race drop-outs. AB - The purpose of this longitudinal questionnaire study was to investigate the effects of participation or non participation in a marathon race on future running behaviour. The majority (70 per cent) of the participants who intended to run a future marathon actually did so and only 11 per cent stopped running altogether. Fewer of the pre-race drop-outs (31 per cent) who indicated their intention to run a future marathon actually did so (P less than 0.001) and more of them (24 per cent) stopped running altogether (P less than 0.001) compared with the runners in the finishers' sample. These results suggest that the experience of running in a marathon does not negatively influence future running habits. However, failure to run in a race for which an entry has been made may lead to a reduced involvement in running. The present study also examined the reasons for pre-race drop-out. Injury (36 per cent), lack of training (31 per cent) and illness (12 per cent) were the most frequently given reasons for drop out. Few differences were found between the pre-race drop-outs and the finishers, but the drop-outs did feel that running was less important (P less than 0.001), reported a greater number of longer term injuries (P less than 0.001) and did significantly less training (P less than 0.001) than the finishers. PMID- 2605450 TI - Double-contrast computed tomographic arthrography of the shoulder joint. AB - Dislocation of the shoulder joint can cause post-traumatic injury to certain anatomical structures, which may lead to recurrent dislocation. The operative visualization of some of these abnormalities may be difficult and their identification preoperatively allows selection of the appropriate surgical approach and avoids the necessity for lengthy surgery. Fifty-one patients with a history of recurrent dislocation, single dislocation or suspected recurrent subluxation as a cause of pain were examined over a 3-year period by double contrast computed tomographic (CT) arthrography. Thirty-five patients had a demonstrable abnormality and 13 were considered suitable for surgical intervention on radiological criteria. A further 12 patients were advised to have surgery on a combination of clinical and radiological grounds. Eleven of these have so far had surgery, eight of which required an arthrotomy and the CT findings have been confirmed in all these cases. The results of CT arthrography in the patients examined are reported and the technique, normal anatomy and pathological findings are described. The technique is suggested as the imaging method of choice in recurrent dislocation. PMID- 2605451 TI - Demonstration of osteochondritis dissecans of the talus by coronal computed tomographic arthrography. AB - Ten cases of osteochondritis dissecans of the talus are reviewed. Coronal computed tomographic arthrography identified the precise location in each case and consistently revealed the extent of the lesion to be greater than that apparent on the plain radiographs. The talar cartilage over the lesion was shown to be thinned in four cases, deficient in two, and fissuring of the cartilage was demonstrated in four. Subarticular cysts were identified in all but two cases and contrast medium was shown to enter the cysts in two cases indicating a communication with the ankle joint. The aetiology and relevance of these findings to treatment are discussed. PMID- 2605452 TI - The influence of buscopan on adverse reactions to intravascular contrast media. AB - We have analysed the ability of prior intravenous Buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide) injection to influence the incidence and severity of adverse reactions to intravascularly administered, iodinated, ionic contrast medium in 258 consecutive digital subtraction angiographic (DSA) examinations. Adverse reactions were seen in 7.9% of the intravenous and 2.4% of the intra-arterial DSA examinations. The incidence of adverse reactions with and without prior Buscopan injection during intravenous DSA examinations was 8.2% and 7.1%, respectively and during intra-arterial DSA examinations was 5.6% and 1.5%, respectively. This difference is not statistically significant (chi 2-test). We conclude that prior intravenous injection of Buscopan has no influence on the incidence or severity of adverse reactions to intravascular contrast media. PMID- 2605453 TI - Low-field cine magnetic resonance imaging in aortic valve disease. AB - Cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) holds considerable promise as a means of detecting abnormal blood flow patterns with the heart and great vessels. To date, the majority of techniques employed have required moderate to high field strengths. We describe a novel, low-field-strength approach that is technically undemanding and faster than conventional methods, which we have applied to the detection of aortic valve disease. A series of 26 patients with aortic stenosis or aortic regurgitation was compared with 21 normal subjects. All 20 patients with aortic stenosis and 15 of 16 patients with aortic regurgitation were identified. There were four false positives in the aortic stenosis group; all these patients had significant aortic regurgitation. There were no false positives in the aortic regurgitation group. Low-field cine MRI is a practical and useful technique for the detection of aortic valve disease. PMID- 2605454 TI - Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of spinal tumours. AB - The use of gadolinium diethylenetriamine-penta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) (Magnevist) enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (0.15 T) in the assessment of spinal tumours is described. Thirty-five patients were entered into the study and a total of 39 examinations were performed. The information obtained from unenhanced T1- and T2 weighted spin-echo sequences was compared with the Gd-DTPA-enhanced T1 images. Thirty patients had intradural lesions and five had extradural lesions. A variable pattern of enhancement of intramedullary tumours was found, which in part reflected differences in the cystic component of the lesions. Extramedullary intra- and extradural lesions generally showed marked enhancement. The greatest contribution to management decisions was in the evaluation of intramedullary tumours where the use of contrast enhancement facilitated the precise localization of active tumour, differentiation of cystic and solid components of tumour, separation of tumour from peritumoral oedema and, in cases of suspected recurrence, aided distinction between tumour and both post-operative scarring and radiation damage. PMID- 2605455 TI - Modulation in the radiosensitivity of MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells by 17B estradiol and tamoxifen. AB - Colony-forming ability after exposure to ionizing irradiation was compared for proliferating hormone response MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells and cells whose growth was inhibited by tamoxifen or 17B-estradiol. As compared with controls (Do = 1.20 Gy, n = 3.1), cells in 1 microM or 5 microM tamoxifen were less radiosensitive (Do = 1.20 Gy, n = 7.0; Do = 1.22 Gy, n = 7.0, respectively) with the predominant effect being a widened shoulder on the survival curve. This protective effect could be abolished by co-incubation of 5 microM tamoxifen with 100 nM 17B-estradiol (Do = 1.30 Gy, n = 2.6; Do = 1.20 Gy, n = 2.6, respectively). The decrease in radiosensitivity induced by tamoxifen was similar to that seen when replating of irradiated plateau-phase cultures was delayed for 24 h (Do = 1.30 Gy, n = 6.0). In contrast, when proliferation of MCF-7 cultures was inhibited by 10 microM 17B-estradiol, radiosensitivity was increased with a markedly diminished survival curve shoulder (Do = 1.40 Gy, n = 1.0). Different hormonal manipulations of cycling human breast carcinoma cells may have profound but disparate effects on radiosensitivity such that tamoxifen and estrogens may serve as useful agents with which to study the biochemical mechanisms of repair. PMID- 2605456 TI - Sublethal damage repair and radiosensitivity of human squamous cell carcinoma cells grown with different culture techniques. AB - In this study, cells of a human squamous cell carcinoma line, HN-1, were grown in monolayers and as multicellular tumour spheroids (MTS). Repair of radiation induced damage was studied by irradiation with single and split doses of X rays (4-8 Gy). It was shown that the amount of sublethal damage that was repaired in this dose range was equal in cells growing in monolayers and as MTS. The radiosensitivity of spheroids, as expressed by spheroid "cure" dose, increased with increasing MTS diameter. It is postulated that, in MTS with no signs of hypoxia, radioresistance diminishes when MTS increase in diameter. PMID- 2605457 TI - Induced fluid movement within a giant ovarian cyst demonstrated by echo-planar imaging. PMID- 2605458 TI - Spontaneous regression of multiple bone metastases in malignant melanoma. PMID- 2605459 TI - Spontaneous pneumothorax with metastatic seminoma. PMID- 2605460 TI - Case of the month. A painful knee. PMID- 2605461 TI - A radiological feature to assist in the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. PMID- 2605462 TI - Kinetics of recovery from sublethal radiation damage. PMID- 2605463 TI - Lung cancer: tissue characterization by magnetic resonance imaging T1 and T2 values in vitro and role of histopathology. PMID- 2605464 TI - The potential value of hyperthermia in the management of human immunodeficiency virus infection. PMID- 2605465 TI - Ten-year review of non-ruptured aortic aneurysms. AB - Between 1978 and 1987, 587 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm were operated on in the Vascular Unit of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Over this ten-year period there was a dramatic increase in the number of patients treated. Rupture had occurred in 278 patients. Of the 309 patients with non-ruptured aneurysm 175 were asymptomatic, 84 were symptomatic and 50 were acutely symptomatic. Two hundred and fifty-nine patients underwent elective operation and the 50 acutely symptomatic patients were operated on as emergencies. The overall mortality for the non-ruptured series was 2.9 per cent. The mortality in patients undergoing elective surgery was 1.9 per cent (1.1 per cent in asymptomatic and 3.6 per cent in symptomatic patients) and 4.0 per cent for patients undergoing emergency surgery. PMID- 2605466 TI - Long term outcome after resection of the first rib for thoracic outlet syndrome. AB - A total of 112 first ribs in 103 patients were resected over 11 years for thoracic outlet syndrome. Seventy-seven patients (84 operations) were followed up for 2.5 years or more to assess the long term results of this procedure and the factors affecting them. One month after surgery 52 per cent of limbs were asymptomatic and 77 per cent were at least improved. A follow-up examination was performed, on average 6.1 years after the operation, by two independent examiners. This evaluation showed a permanent success rate of 37 per cent among 84 limbs examined. These long term results compare unfavourably with previously published data. The reason for the poor final outcome seemed to be difficulty in selecting patients for the operation. This was not aided by any of the preoperative tests. Patients in this study were evaluated by independent examiners, and only a total absence of preceding symptoms was accepted as the criterion for success. We emphasize the importance of unbiased evaluation and long term follow-up. PMID- 2605467 TI - Unusual cause of thoracic outlet syndrome. PMID- 2605468 TI - Combined internal and external biliary fistulae treated by percutaneous cholecystlithotomy. PMID- 2605469 TI - Attachment of indium-111 labelled endothelial cells to pretreated polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts. AB - This study investigated the effect of different surface coatings on endothelial cell attachment to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular grafts. Small segments of PTFE vascular grafts were precoated with one of a number of substances: gelatin, poly-l-lysin, fibronectin, or collagen type I, III or IV. Indium-111 labelled endothelial cells were then seeded on to the grafts and left for either 10, 30, 60 or 120 min. The unattached cells were removed and the degree of cell attachment was calculated. All coatings were significantly better at enhancing endothelial cell attachment at all times compared with controls, and fibronectin was significantly better as a coating material than any other material used. By pretreating with a substance such as fibronectin, the number of endothelial cells attaching to PTFE vascular grafts can be greatly increased, thereby enhancing the cell seeding process. PMID- 2605470 TI - Sample size in fine needle aspiration biopsy. AB - The weights of biopsy specimens from bovine liver taken for fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) by three groups of physicians, were compared. The groups differed from each other in their extent or degree of experience in FNAC. When the physicians used their normal technique, the mean sample weight increased significantly with experience, from 4.6 mg in the least experienced group to 17.2 mg in the group with the longest experience. Thirty-six per cent of the samples taken by the group with the least experience were in the weight class 0-2 mg, whereas no such samples were encountered for the other groups. When all the physicians were advised to use the same, standard technique there were no statistically significant differences in mean sample weight between the groups or in the proportion of samples in class 0-2 mg. Sample weights correlated significantly (P less than 0.001) with cell counts. This study shows that differences in the technique of FNAC are responsible for differences in sample weights and cell counts, including the number of the acellular samples obtained. This could explain in some part the wide variation in the reported accuracy rates of FNAC. PMID- 2605471 TI - Role of fine needle aspiration cytology and computed tomography in the diagnosis of parotid swellings. PMID- 2605472 TI - Management of high grade parotid carcinomas. AB - Thirty-four patients admitted to the Bristol Royal Infirmary during the 20-year period 1966-85 and diagnosed as suffering from high grade parotid carcinoma were studied. The male:female ratio was 2.4:1, with a mean age at presentation of 68 years. Facial swelling was present in all patients with a mean duration of 9.9 months before treatment. Pain, deep fixation, facial nerve involvement, ulceration and distal metastases were all associated with a poor prognosis. Diagnosis was made either at operation or by fine needle biopsy. All 34 patients received radiotherapy. Fourteen patients (41 per cent) underwent a definitive surgical procedure. The local recurrence rates for the non-surgical and surgically treated groups were 30 per cent (six patients) and 36 per cent (five patients) respectively; twelve patients (60 per cent) in the non-surgical group developed distant metastases as opposed to six patients (43 per cent) in the surgical group. Both local and distant recurrent disease are indicators of poor prognosis, with only one patient alive at 104 months. Seven patients (21 per cent) remain recurrence free. Definitive surgery, combined with radiotherapy, improved survival in those with amenable localized disease. PMID- 2605473 TI - Technical training in surgery: the trainee's view. AB - A questionnaire designed to investigate the technical training of general surgical trainees was distributed throughout Scotland. A total of 222 questionnaires were sent out and 179 (81 per cent) were returned. Of the responders, 38 per cent felt that the overall operative workload was too small and the majority thought that there was too little emphasis on supervised operating. Two-thirds of trainees were generally satisfied with the amount of unsupervised operating, although a substantial proportion (21 per cent) sometimes felt out of their depth when performing delegated emergency operations. Few had attended craft workshops or travelled to other centres, but of those who had, most considered both activities to be very useful. Photographic atlases and videos were not generally felt to be of great value by those who had used them. The majority of trainees did not believe that research activity had interfered excessively with their technical training. PMID- 2605474 TI - Biliary leakage and peritonitis following removal of T tubes after bile duct exploration. PMID- 2605475 TI - Compartment syndrome: a cautionary tale. PMID- 2605476 TI - Time-related changes in characteristics of prognostic significance in carcinomas of the oesophagus and cardia. AB - During 25 years (1960-84) 657 patients were operated on for squamous cell carcinomas (n = 230), adenocarcinomas (n = 399) or anaplastic carcinomas (n = 28) of the thoracic oesophagus or cardia. The male:female ratio was 2.8:1 and the mean age was 66 years (range 22-91 years). Oesophagogastrectomy (n = 514) was performed whenever technically possible. From the first (1960-64) to the last (1980-84) 5-year period the proportion of adenocarcinomas increased from 56 to 78 per cent (P less than 0.001), poorly differentiated cancers increased from 34 to 65 per cent (P less than 0.0001), and stage III-IV tumours increased from 72 to 88 per cent (P less than 0.05). Five-year cumulative rates(s.e.) were 11(3) per cent for operations during 1960-69 (n = 262), 8(2) per cent during 1970-79 (n = 256) and 3(2) per cent during 1980-84 (n = 139; P less than 0.05). Hospital mortality rates (less than or equal to 30 days) and 5-year cumulative survival rates(s.e.) were 6.5 per cent and 36(7) per cent (n = 46) for stage I, 14.0 per cent and 21(4) per cent (n = 114) for stage II, 17.8 per cent and 5(1) per cent (n = 258) for stage III and 23.8 per cent and 3(1) per cent (n = 239) for stage IV tumours (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.001). Well differentiated (n = 70) cancers, those of medium differentiation (n = 239) and poorly differentiated cancers (n = 348) had 5-year survival rates(s.e.) of 24(5), 10(2) and 5(1) per cent, respectively (P = 0.0007). Squamous cell carcinomas had a better prognosis than adenocarcinomas, even after stratification according to location of primary tumour. The 657 patients who underwent surgery constituted 50 per cent of a total of 1316 cases with cancer of the oesophagus and cardia reported from our catchment area during the study period. Frequency of surgery decreased with age. The annual incidence (number per 100,000 inhabitants aged 20 years or more) of adenocarcinomas of the lower oesophagus and cardia doubled to 5.9 in 1980-84, while that of squamous cell carcinomas tended to decrease (to 2.9). A successive worsening of long-term survival after surgery was explained by significant changes in cancer characteristics having pronounced prognostic significance. Over the 25 years the carcinomas changed towards the present pattern where poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas of the lower third of the oesophagus and cardia in stages III-IV have become predominant. PMID- 2605477 TI - Protein electrophoresis of diagnostic peritoneal lavage in penetrating abdominal trauma: a marker of significant injury. AB - Protein electrophoresis of diagnostic peritoneal lavage fluid has been shown in experimental work to be a marker of hollow viscus injury. In order to ascertain the value of this investigation in penetrating abdominal trauma, we conducted a prospective study, over a 4-month period, involving 35 patients with stab wounds to the abdomen whose initial clinical examination was equivocal. The results of electrophoresis were compared with the standard quantitative criteria for diagnostic lavage and the operative findings. Protein electrophoresis was found to be a more sensitive and specific marker of significant intra-abdominal injury than the standard quantitative criteria. PMID- 2605478 TI - Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. PMID- 2605479 TI - Salvage of an exposed arterial prosthesis by tissue expansion. PMID- 2605480 TI - Delorme operation for prolapsed colostomy. PMID- 2605481 TI - Management of ingrowing toenail. PMID- 2605482 TI - Benign non-traumatic inflammatory strictures of the extrahepatic biliary system. PMID- 2605483 TI - Biliary anatomy. PMID- 2605484 TI - Breast abscesses. PMID- 2605485 TI - Cholinergic effects on spinal dorsal horn neurons in vitro: an intracellular study. AB - The cholinoceptive properties of dorsal horn neurons (lamina III-V) were investigated by means of intracellular recordings from the rat isolated spinal cord slice preparation. In half of the neurons investigated, acetylcholine (ACh) evoked a dose-dependent slow depolarization and increase in excitability; hyperpolarization was observed in 10% of neurons. Acetyl-beta-methylcholine (MCh) similarly depolarized 39% and hyperpolarized 25% of neurons tested; depolarization was also observed following bethanechol. Responses to the muscarinic agonists were abolished by atropine (10(-5) M). Nicotine depolarized 84% of tested neurons; dihydro-beta-erythroidine (5 x 10(-5) M) and (+) tubocurarine (10(-6) M) antagonized this depolarization. ACh-, MCh- and nicotine induced depolarizations, associated with changes in input resistance, were maintained in the presence of tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M). Substance P, as well as repetitive electrical stimulation of the dorsal root, also evoked depolarization in ACh-sensitive neurons. Atropine, but not (+)-tubocurarine, diminished responses to both substance P and dorsal root stimulation. These results indicate that dorsal horn neurons are ACh-sensitive and possess both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. In addition, the parallel sensitivity of neurons to muscarinic agonists, substance P and dorsal root stimulation, as well as the parallel antagonistic effect of atropine, are supportive of a common ionic mechanism underlying the activation of muscarinic and substance P receptors. PMID- 2605486 TI - Number, size, and class of peripheral nerve fibers regenerating after crush, multiple crush, and graft. AB - Morphometric characterization of fiber regeneration in a distal nerve after focal proximal nerve injury may provide useful clinical information and insights about underlying neurobiologic mechanisms. The myelinated (MF) and unmyelinated (UF) fibers of peroneal nerve of groups of mice were assessed 9 months after crush, graft, and multiple crush injury of the proximal sciatic nerve: number and size distribution of axon areas, myelin areas, and fiber diameters. After crush, number of regenerated MF and UF was almost identical to that of controls. Their size distribution had almost returned to normal. After graft and multiple crush, fiber number had returned to normal or was significantly increased beyond normal but there were only a few large fibers present. This may be explained by: (a) disproportionate regeneration of small-diameter compared to large-diameter classes of fibers; (b) misdirected regrowth of fibers, so that functional reinnervation was not established, resulting in failure of development or retrograde atrophy and degeneration; or (c) cellular alterations at the site of injury or in the distal nerve which inhibited neural outgrowth or elongation or did not inhibit outgrowth but retarded or prevented maturation. We conclude that explanation (b) is involved, and that there is some evidence favoring the roles of (a) and (c). PMID- 2605487 TI - Septal transplants ameliorate spatial deficits and restore cholinergic functions in rats with a damaged septo-hippocampal connection. AB - Behavioral effects of septal lesion and fornix-fimbria transection were compared in absence and presence of a septal transplant in the hippocampus. The transplant grew in the hippocampus and projected acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-containing fibers throughout the extent of the denervated hippocampus. There were no differences in graft size or AChE reinnervation pattern after septal lesion or fornix transection. An increase in the density of M1 binding sites seen in hippocampal CA3 region after a cholinergic lesion, was restored back to normal after reinnervation of the hippocampus by the graft. Fornix-transected rats were more impaired in water maze acquisition than septal-lesioned rats which were impaired compared to controls. Septal-grafted rats were not different from lesioned rats in the behavioral tasks. However, an injection of physostigmine improved their performance relative to lesioned non-grafted rats. These experiments indicate that grafts can ameliorate behavioral deficits when the efficacy of acetylcholine of graft origin is enhanced. PMID- 2605488 TI - Cerebral cortical concentrations of bioamines and their metabolites during arousal and after feeding in the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). AB - The concentrations of bioamines and their metabolites have been determined in March and April during arousal from hibernation in the cerebral cortex of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). The patterns during arousal for dopamine and serotonin (5-HT) were similar with a significant fall in concentrations by 1 h of arousal, and an inverse relationship with their respective metabolites, 3,4 dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA). This suggests an acute release and metabolism of these bioamines with onset of arousal. During arousal, cerebral cortical concentrations of norepinephrine (NE) were not significantly changed. Levels of homovanillic acid were markedly depressed during hibernation and rose acutely with arousal. After arousal and 4 days of feeding in April, there was an increase in all bioamines and their metabolites studied except for NE. Of note is the marked decrease in the hibernating level of 5-HT and increase in its metabolite 5-HIAA from March to April, which may herald the natural termination of hibernation. Our results suggest that the brain of hibernators undergoes complex changes in the modulation of neurotransmitter systems which are consistent with both down- and up-regulation of neuronal activity in the maintenance of hibernation and the initiation of the arousal process. PMID- 2605489 TI - Odor-induced metabolic activity in the olfactory bulb of rats trained to detect propionic acid vapor. AB - The pattern of glucose metabolism in the glomerular layer of the main olfactory bulb was studied in rats trained to sample brief odor stimuli. After injection with [14C]2-deoxyglucose (2-DG). 5 rats were tested for discrimination of propionic acid from air. Over the 45 min test period rats sampled the stimulus for 0.5-0.8s during each trial and their total exposure to the stimulus was 53 147 s. A discrete focus of increased glucose metabolism was found in the central dorsomedial sector of the glomerular layer in each animal. The position of this focus and the overall pattern of glomerular layer activity was essentially identical to that obtained in 4 control rats which were exposed passively to alternating 5 min periods of the odor and clean air for 45 min. The size of the primary focus was only slightly smaller in the trained rats, despite the large difference in total exposure time. The absence of olfactory adaptation during the behavioral tests and the similar pattern of 2-DG uptake in controls and trained animals indicate that adaptation does not play a significant role in the patterns of glucose metabolism induced in the glomeruli of the olfactory bulb by extended exposure to an odor. PMID- 2605490 TI - Global reduction in cerebral blood flow and metabolism elicited from intrinsic neurons of fastigial nucleus. AB - We sought to determine whether the global increase in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) produced by electrical stimulation of the rostral cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) is a consequence of excitation of intrinsic neurons of the FN or of axons of fibers passing through or projecting into it. Studies were conducted in rats anesthetized with chloralose, paralyzed and ventilated. rCBF was measured with [14C]iodoantipyrine as tracer and regional cerebral glucose utilization (rCGU) by [14C]2-deoxyglucose in homogenates of 11 brain regions. Neuronal perikarya in FN were excited chemically by local microinjection of the glutamate analogue kainic acid (KA) (5 nmol in 100 nl). KA elicited a transient and significant fall of arterial pressure and heart rate, the fastigial depressor response (FDR). Associated was a significant and symmetrical reduction in rCBF, to 44% of control in all regions except medulla. The response was site- and agent specific and unrelated to the hypotension. KA also significantly and proportionally reduced, to 52% of control, rCGU in the same 10 areas of brain. In all regions the magnitudes of the reductions in rCBF and rCGU elicited by KA were linearly related. Intrinsic neurons of FN were chronically destroyed by local microinjection of the excitotoxin ibotenic acid (IBO) (10 micrograms/microliters in 0.4 microliter). Destruction of intrinsic FN neurons had no effect on resting rCBF nor on the global cerebrovascular vasodilation elicited by electrical stimulation of the FN. We conclude that: (a) excitation of intrinsic neurons of FN elicits a widespread reduction of cerebral metabolism and, secondarily, blood flow; (b) FN neurons do not exert a long-term tonic influence on brain blood flow nor metabolism; (c) the global increase in rCBF elicited by electrical stimulation of the FN is a consequence of excitation of axons projecting into or through the nucleus. PMID- 2605491 TI - The characterization and regional distribution of neuromedin N-like immunoreactivity in rat brain using a highly sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay. Comparison with the distribution of neurotensin. AB - Neuromedin N is a hexapeptide that shares a 4 amino acid homology with the C terminus of neurotensin and exhibits neurotensin-like effects in the central nervous system. Both peptides were recently shown to be encoded in the same precursor molecule. In this study, a radioimmunoassay for neuromedin N was developed using monoiodo [125I-Tyr4]neuromedin N as the tracer and a rabbit antiserum raised against synthetic [Cys6]neuromedin N coupled to ovalbumin through its Cys residue. The antiserum showed strong structural requirement for the N-terminal sequence of neuromedin N and did not cross-react with neurotensin and other related peptides. The limit of detection of the radioimmunoassay was 0.5 fmol/tube and the IC50 was 5 fmol/tube. Neuromedin N-like immunoreactivity was present in 0.1 N HCl extracts of rat brain at a concentration of 9.3 +/- 1.3 pmol/g of tissue and behaved like synthetic neuromedin N on HPLC. Its concentration was significantly lower than that of neurotensin assayed in the same extracts (15.1 +/- 1.4 pmol/g), and this was not the consequence of lower extraction yield or lower post-mortem stability of neuromedin N as compared to neurotensin. The regional rat brain distribution of neuromedin N-like immunoreactivity paralleled that of neurotensin-like immunoreactivity, being highest in the hypothalamus and lowest in the cerebellum. These data support the proposal of a neuromodulator role for neuromedin N. The highly specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay described here will make it possible to investigate in more detail the regional brain distribution of neuromedin N and to study its release from brain tissues. PMID- 2605492 TI - Reduction in opioid and non-opioid forms of swim analgesia by 5-HT2 receptor antagonists. AB - Acute exposure to continuous (CCWS) or intermittent (ICWS) cold-water swims elicits non-opioid and opioid forms of analgesia respectively. Intrathecal administration of methysergide blocks ICWS, but not CCWS analgesia. The present study evaluated the role of serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtypes in the mediation of CCWS and ICWS analgesia on the tail-flick and jump tests following administration of methysergide, a non-specific 5-HT antagonist and pirenpirone and ketanserin, two 5-HT2 receptor subtype antagonists. Systemic methysergide was more effective in reducing CCWS analgesia (50-58%, 0.1-1.0 mg/kg) than ICWS analgesia (21%, 5 mg/kg) on both pain tests. Systemic pirenpirone (0.04-0.2 mg/kg) and ketanserin (1-5 mg/kg) were also more effective in reducing CCWS analgesia (43-57%) on both tests than ICWS analgesia (pirenpirone: 0.4 mg/kg, 34%; ketanserin: 5 mg/kg, 21%) on the tail-flick test. Indeed, both 5-HT2 receptor antagonists potentiated ICWS analgesia on the jump test. While serotonin antagonist effects upon hypothermia could not account for CCWS analgesia effects, similar potentiations in ICWS analgesia and hypothermia were observed following pirenpirone and ketanserin. Finally, both 5-HT2 receptor antagonists differentially reduced CCWS hypothermia and potentiated ICWS hypothermia. These data suggest differential serotonergic modulation of the two forms of swim analgesia with opioid-mediated ICWS analgesia acting through spinal 5-HT1 receptors and non-opioid-mediated CCWS analgesia acting through supraspinal 5-HT2 receptors. PMID- 2605493 TI - Measurement of 3-methoxytyramine by in vivo voltammetry: evidence for differences in central dopamine function in BALB/c and CBA mice. AB - Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) combined with carbon fibre electrodes allows selective detection of electroactive dopamine and serotonin metabolites in vivo. While usually employed in rats, we have now applied this in vivo technique in two inbred strains of mice: BALB/c and CBA. Three distinct oxidation peaks were recorded in vivo in the striatum of either BALB/c or CBA mice with a small shoulder occurring after the third peak at approximately +400 mV. Pargyline (150 mg/kg i.p.) potentiated this voltammetric shoulder into an easily measurable peak (Peak 4). In addition, Peak 4 was 2-3 times larger in BALB/c than in CBA mice. Homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT), both catabolites of dopamine, oxidised at approximately +400 mV in vitro. Brain tissue levels of HVA and 3-MT, measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection, demonstrated that pargyline treatment reduced striatal HVA, but increased 3-MT. These results support the view that Peak 4 recorded in the striatum of pargyline-treated mice in vivo is due to the oxidation of extracellular 3-MT. Thus, Peak 4 may be a useful index of dopamine release in situations where dopamine itself cannot be detected. Local infusion of KCl (2 microliters, 0.1 M) further increased the size of Peak 4 in the striatum of both BALB/c and CBA mice. However, the increase was approx. 3 times greater in BALB/c mice, supporting previous evidence of greater dopaminergic function of BALB/c compared with CBA mice. In addition these two inbred strains of mice provide model systems for investigating the comparative functional roles of nigrostriatal pathways. PMID- 2605494 TI - Corticosterone-dependent alterations in utilization of catecholamines in discrete areas of rat brain. AB - This study investigated the impact of chronic adrenalectomy (ADX), and subsequent corticosterone (CORT) replacement to ADX rats, on brain levels of norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) and their extent of depletion after alpha-methyl-p tyrosine (alpha-MpT) administration. Seven discrete hypothalamic areas, namely, the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), medial preoptic nucleus (POM), dorsomedial nucleus (DMN), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), perifornical lateral hypothalamus (PLH), supraoptic nucleus (SON), and arcuate nucleus/median eminence (ARC-ME), were examined. The steady-state content of NE and DA in all areas remained essentially unaltered 7 days after ablation of the adrenal glands, as well as after subsequent CORT replacement therapy in ADX rats. However, ADX, which reduced circulating CORT levels to 0.3 microgram % as compared to greater than 3.0 micrograms % in sham rats, caused a significant increase in the depletion of NE following alpha-MpT treatment, in 4 out of the 7 brain sites examined (PVN, PLH, DMN and ARC-ME). In these brain sites, the NE turnover rate (K, pg/microgram protein/h) and rate constant (K, h-1) increased following ADX. The chronic subcutaneous CORT implant (200 mg), which raised circulating CORT levels of ADX rats to 11 micrograms %, prevented this enhancement of NE turnover in the PVN, PLH and ARC-ME, but not the DMN. Unlike NE, DA utilization in the 7 discrete hypothalamic areas of alpha-MpT-treated rats remained unaltered after ablation of the adrenal glands, as well as after the CORT replacement therapy in ADX rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605495 TI - Circadian rhythmicity after neural transplant to hamster third ventricle: specificity of suprachiasmatic nuclei. AB - Neural transplants into the third ventricle utilized to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of fetal tissue from selected brain sites in restoring circadian locomotor rhythmicity of adult hamsters rendered arrhythmic by lesions of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). Circadian function was continuously monitored in recording wheel cages under controlled environmental conditions. Animals which remained arrhythmic for 3-4 weeks after SCN lesions received transplants of neural tissue from 13-14-day-old fetuses: either SCN tissue or non-SCN tissue (cerebral cortex or hypothalamus excluding SCN). Quantitative evaluation of the data indicated partial restoration of circadian rhythmicity in 37% of 19 animals with SCN transplants, but in 0% of the 9 animals with non-SCN neural transplants. The mean time for reappearance of rhythmicity was 20 days after SCN transplantation. Animals were sacrificed 8-10 weeks after transplantation for histological analysis in order to visualize lesion placement and to characterize transplants. The cytoarchitecture and neuropeptide organization of the transplants were consistent with the brain region. Only SCN transplants were characterized by aggregates of small neurons with codistributed immunoreactivity for SCN-characteristic neuropeptides. PMID- 2605496 TI - Evidence for a persistent sodium conductance in neurons from the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi. AB - Intracellular recordings were made from 39 neurons in a slice preparation of the prepositus hypoglossi nucleus from guinea pigs. Morphological characteristics were confirmed by dying neurons with Lucifer yellow. The neurons were spontaneously active, firing in the range of 8-50 spikes/s. Spike duration was short (0.32 ms) and the spikes were followed by fast and slow afterhyperpolarizations. The current vs frequency relationship was linear during steady state firing, but showed dual firing ranges corresponding to the first, third and fifth interspike interval. The instantaneous frequency of the first few interspike intervals could reach 500 spikes/s. Depolarizing and hyperpolarizing responses to square pulses displayed initial sag and rebound responses sensitive to extracellular Cs+, pharmacologically classifying the responses as a result of a Q-like current. Substitution of Ca2+ in the medium with the inorganic calcium blockers Mn2+ or Co2+ resulted in oscillatory firing, depolarizing excursions being sensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX). Mn2+ or Co2+ in combination with extracellular Cs+ elicited TTX-sensitive plateau potentials, blocked in Na+ -free solution. In conclusion, the prepositus neurons displayed spontaneous activity in the slice preparation and active membrane properties above as well as below the threshold of the action potential. In addition, the prepositus neurons possess a persistent sodium conductance that can be uncovered by inorganic calcium blockers. It may be involved in sustaining the spontaneous discharge. PMID- 2605497 TI - Microinjection of anti-vasopressin serum into hippocampus in mice: effects on appetitively reinforced task after intraventricular administration of Arg vasopressin. AB - Antiserum to [Arg8]vasopressin (anti-AVP) was bilaterally administered into dorsal hippocampus at 1:50 or 1:10 dilution 20 min before the 24-day retention session of a visual discrimination task. This treatment by itself did not affect the retention performance by comparison with the respective control group, whatever the dilution of anti-AVP, suggesting that hippocampal endogenous AVP is not involved in our behavioral paradigm. On the other hand, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of AVP 10 min before the retention session improved retention performance of the visual discrimination task. When anti-AVP was injected at the 1:10 dilution into the dorsal hippocampus 10 min before the i.c.v. administration of AVP, the retention performance was not improved. These data suggest the involvement of the hippocampus in the behavioral expression of AVP following an i.c.v. treatment. PMID- 2605498 TI - Thallium-201 uptake relates to membrane potential and potassium permeability in human glioma cells. AB - The mechanism for 201Tl+ uptake was studied in cultured human glioma cell lines. Ouabain (1 mM) decreased the uptake at steady-state to 60%, but the rate of uptake was faster in the presence of ouabain. Addition of non-radioactive Tl+ (to a K+-free medium) decreased the uptake, but much less than expected for a system limited by the number of transport sites. Changes in K+ concentration of incubation medium affected the 201Tl+ uptake as predicted by the electrochemical equilibrium (Nernst equation). Using the uptake in isotonic KCl as a reference for membrane potential (0 mV), the calculated membrane potential was -75 mV in a medium with 3.0 mM K+. The Tl+-flux constants and the membrane permeabilities for Tl+ and K+ were calculated from the rate of uptake and from wash-out experiments. This is a new method for membrane potential and permeability studies in cell populations. The mechanism for 201Tl+ uptake is relevant for the clinical interpretation of 201Tl+ scintigraphy. PMID- 2605499 TI - On the role of GABA as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in inferior colliculus neurons: iontophoretic studies. AB - Significant neurochemical, immunocytochemical, and ligand binding studies support a role for GABA as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the inferior colliculus (IC). The present study attempted to satisfy some of the remaining criteria for establishing transmitter identity by utilizing iontophoretic application onto IC neurons of agents affecting the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The agents examined include GABA, a GABAB agonist (baclofen), a GABAA antagonist (bicuculline), a GABA uptake inhibitor (nipecotic acid), and a benzodiazepine (flurazepam), thought to exert its actions on the GABA receptor complex. Application of GABA results in inhibition of the spontaneous firing and acoustically evoked responses of inferior colliculus neurons. The inhibitory effect of GABA is enhanced by the simultaneous application of nipecotic acid or flurazepam. These agents as well as baclofen produce firing reductions when applied alone in higher doses. The effect of GABA can be blocked by application of bicuculline, and acoustically evoked (binaural) inhibition can also be selectively blocked by low doses of this GABAA antagonist. These data along with previous studies utilizing different techniques fulfill many of the criteria for establishment of GABA as an important inhibitory transmitter in the inferior colliculus. PMID- 2605500 TI - The effects of intracranial administration of the dopamine agonist apomorphine on penile reflexes and seminal emission in the rat. AB - Previous studies employing systemic administration of the dopamine agonist apomorphine have shown that the dose response curves for apomorphine's effects on penile reflexes and seminal emission differ, suggesting that experimentally separable populations of dopamine receptors regulate these two responses. The present experiments examined the locations of central nervous system DA receptors mediating genital responses in the restrained, supine rate by injecting apomorphine into the medial preoptic area and the paraventricular nucleus through chronic, indwelling cannulae. Medial preoptic area injections facilitated penile reflexes, but not seminal emission, while paraventricular injections facilitated seminal emission. These results suggest that systemically administered apomorphine may facilitate penile reflexes by acting on the medial preoptic area and may enhance seminal emission by acting on the paraventricular nucleus. PMID- 2605501 TI - Cerebral sodium sensors in the sodium-deplete sheep. AB - The sodium intake of sodium deplete sheep was studied during local, push-pull perfusion of different solutions within the third cerebral ventricle. Sheep were made sodium deplete by continuous loss of parotid saliva, and were allowed access to 0.6 M NaHCO3 solution for 2 h daily. Local perfusion within the third cerebral ventricle was performed before and during the access to sodium solution. Four perfusion sites were used: anterior dorsal and ventral, and posterior dorsal and ventral. Perfusion of 200 mM Na-csf caused a decrease in sodium intake at each perfusion site. Perfusion of ouabain, 10(-6) M, caused a reduction in sodium intake only during perfusions within the anterior portion of the third ventricle. The results may indicate that specific neuronal elements sensitive to changes in intracellular sodium concentration are located around the anterior portion of the third cerebral ventricle. These neurones, however, are not exclusive sites from where sodium intake of sodium deplete sheep can be influenced. PMID- 2605502 TI - Influence of acetylcholine on neuronal activity of monkey amygdala during bar press feeding behavior. AB - Single neuron activity in the monkey amygdala was investigated during cue signalled conditioned bar press feeding behavior and the effects of electrophoretically applied acetylcholine (ACh) and atropine were analyzed. ACh increased the firing rate of one third of the neurons tested; these excitatory responses were inhibited by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine. No characteristic location of ACh-sensitive neurons was found, cells were diffusely distributed throughout the amygdala. Activity of ACh-sensitive neurons did not correlate with any particular event during the bar press feeding task. However, continuous application of ACh at low current intensity during the task significantly enhanced the task-related excitatory firing patterns, or markedly attenuated the inhibitory responses. Continuous application of atropine elicited or enhanced inhibitory response patterns. These results suggest that the cholinergic system of the monkey amygdala facilitates neuronal excitation but attenuates inhibition related to various phases of feeding behavior, such as to cue recognition, food aquisition and rewarding process. PMID- 2605503 TI - Development of tolerance in brain mitochondria for calcium uptake following chronic ethanol ingestion. AB - Brain mitochondria isolated from rats following 10 weeks of chronic exposure to ethanol were not deficient in respiratory function or in rates of calcium uptake under control conditions. Ethanol (80 mM) in the incubation medium caused significant depression in the respiratory and ATP-dependent rates of calcium uptake in control mitochondria, but did not affect mitochondria from ethanol tolerant rats. Chronic exposure to ethanol causes mitochondria to take calcium up at a normal rate when challenged acutely by ethanol. PMID- 2605504 TI - Monoclonal antibodies to study the brain in schizophrenia. AB - Twelve monoclonal antibodies were developed which show selective reactivity with brain tissue homogenates from 4 patients with schizophrenia compared to 4 normal controls. Certain antibodies were more reactive with tissue from cases with schizophrenia, others with control tissue. Patterns of reactivity also depended on brain region tested. Differences in reactivity generally ranged from 2- to as much as 8-fold. This panel of monoclonal antibodies may be useful to investigate the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. PMID- 2605505 TI - Organization of projections from the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus to the basolateral complex of the amygdala in the rat. AB - Mediodorsal thalamic (MD) projections to the basolateral amygdaloid complex of the rat were investigated with the anterograde neuronal tracer, Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin. Iontophoretic injections were made in distinct subdivisions of the rostral and caudal part of the MD. Both the medial and lateral division of the MD showed a projection to the basolateral complex and there appears to be a topographical organization of the innervation in the rostrocaudal direction: the rostral and caudal part of the MD project to respectively the mid-rostrocaudal and rostral part of the basolateral complex. PMID- 2605506 TI - Changes in EEG spindle activity induced by ibotenic acid lesions of medialis dorsalis thalamic nuclei in the cat. AB - The injection of an excitotoxin into medialis dorsalis thalamic nuclei (MD) elicited a short-term increase followed by a depression on EEG spindle waves in chronically implanted cats. This biphasic action provides further evidence to the hypothesis that MD plays a crucial role in transferring and inducing spindling on frontal cortex. In addition, retrograde horseradish peroxidase transport from previously lesioned MD labeled subcortical structures such as basal forebrain, anterior hypothalamus, reticular thalamic nucleus, ventral tegmental area, and locus coeruleus. PMID- 2605507 TI - Modulation of a viscerosomatic reflex by electrical and chemical stimulation of hypothalamic structures in the rat. AB - Ventromedial forebrain structures were stimulated electrically with short (10-ms) trains of pulses to test for effects on a viscerosomatic reflex. Stimulation at many hypothalamic sites led to an attenuation or even a complete inhibition of reflex activity. The most sensitive sites, however (i.e. those requiring currents of 50 microA or less to inhibit the reflex), were located in the anterior hypothalamus/preoptic area (AH/POA) and rostrally in the diagonal band of Broca (DBB). At certain sites the effects of electrical stimulation were compared with those of microinjection of an excitatory amino acid (DL-homocysteic acid) which is known to excite neuronal cell bodies and not axons. The results of this part of the study indicated that activation of cell bodies located in the ventromedial AH/POA (from the level of the optic chiasma caudally to the level of DBB rostrally) mediate, at least in part, the inhibitory effects on visceral afferent processing. These data are discussed in relation to a possible role of AH/POA in the spinal processing of nociceptive information of visceral origin. PMID- 2605508 TI - Circling, hemispheric asymmetry, and left-right discrimination. AB - Three measures of rotational/side preference--amphetamine-induced circling, side of exit from open field start square, and side of turn when suspended by the tail -were assessed, and animals were then tested on a left-right discrimination. In a strong replication of a previous finding, rats showing amphetamine-induced rotation learned and retained the spatial discrimination markedly better than non rotators. The other directional measures were unrelated to discrimination learning. PMID- 2605509 TI - Detection of an atropine-resistant component of the hippocampal theta rhythm in urethane-anesthetized rats. AB - An important pharmacological feature of the hippocampal theta rhythm in urethane anesthetized animals is its apparent sensitivity to antimuscarinic drugs. This sensitivity may be partly due to a masking of the theta frequency by increases in both higher and lower frequency EEG components that are unrelated to any residual theta rhythm. The discovery of atropine-resistant, rhythmic medial septal neurons has provided a physiological trigger for averaging EEG and unit activity after large atropine doses. Such averaging has permitted the detection of an atropine resistant component of the hippocampal theta rhythm in urethane-anesthetized rats. The postatropine theta activity recorded from both CAl (superficial to the pyramidal cell layer) and dentate (near the hippocampal fissure) in 15 rats was typically reduced in amplitude, but the recordings from the two locations maintained their phase relations to the septal units and to each other. The presence of this residual theta component after doses as large as 100 mg/kg indicates that it cannot be mediated by muscarinic cholinergic receptors. The coupling of the signal to the atropine-resistant septal cells strengthens our previous suggestion that these septo-hippocampal neurons are not cholinergic, and are therefore probably GABAergic. PMID- 2605510 TI - Embryonic retinal grafts have a beneficial effect on the damaged host retina. AB - The adult rat retina was evaluated following surgical lesion and after transplantation of embryonic day 15 (E15) retinal tissue. While a surgical incision caused degeneration and ganglion cell death peripheral to lesion site, the addition of an embryonic retinal implant to the lesion site resulted in a reduction of this degenerative response. In addition, the embryonic graft also exerted a stimulatory effect in the central direction from the lesion site, as increases in layer thicknesses were seen. We speculate that putative diffusable factor(s) may mediate these effects. PMID- 2605511 TI - Direct inhibition of choline acetyltransferase activity by a monoclonal antibody raised against the plasma membrane of cholinergic nerve terminals. AB - A monoclonal antibody raised against cholinergic synaptosomal plasma membranes isolated from Torpedo electric organ, inhibited completely amphiphilic and hydrophilic choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activities extracted and separated by using Triton X-114 phase partition of synaptosomes. We tested whether ChAT inhibition was direct or not. We found that the antibody was inhibiting ChAT in preparations of very low purity as well as ChAT that was immunoprecipitated by using a non-inhibitory anti-ChAT polyclonal antibody. Also, inclusion of acetylcoenzyme A at 20 times its Km during incubation of ChAT and antibody, completely prevented ChAT inhibition. This same concentration of the ChAT substrate could significantly but not completely dissociate the complex enzyme antibody. These results spoke in favour of a direct inhibition of ChAT; the antibody most probably binds to an epitope that may be located at or near the acetylcoenzyme A binding site. The inhibitory effect on hydrophilic and amphiphilic ChAT was dependent on the antibody concentration, but amphiphilic activity required higher concentrations to be affected to the same extent as hydrophilic activity. This was found not only with Torpedo, but also with rat and human ChAT activities. Thus, the antibody appears to be able to distinguish the two forms of ChAT activity. PMID- 2605512 TI - Reversible inactivation of the medial septum: selective effects on the spontaneous unit activity of different hippocampal cell types. AB - The contribution of septal afferents to spontaneous hippocampal single unit activity was examined by reversibly inactivating the medial septal nucleus using microinjections of the local anesthetic lidocaine. Septal inactivation reduced spontaneous firing of cells in stratum granulosum and in the hilar/CA3 region for periods of up to about 15 min. The firing rates of CA1 complex-spike (pyramidal) cells, however, were not changed, although CA1 theta cells (inhibitory interneurons) exhibited a significant reduction in spontaneous rate. One interpretation of this pattern of results is that the output of CA1 pyramidal cells is maintained roughly constant in spite of reduced input from CA3 because of a proportional reduction in feedforward inhibition. This interpretation is consistent with Marr's 22 formulation of the manner in which the hippocampus implements distributed associative memory. Alternatively, afferents to CA1 originating from regions other than CA3 may play a larger role in regulating CA1 output than previously assumed. PMID- 2605513 TI - Does stimulation of sympathetic axons elicit an increase in cat spindle afferent discharge detectable by the antidromic collision technique? AB - Averaged antidromic action potentials of Group I and Group II fibres elicited in cats by stimulation of L7 and S1 dorsal roots were recorded from intact tibial nerves (near the ankle) either in absence of or during repetitive stimulation of the ipsilateral lumbar sympathetic chain. This was done to test the suggestion that stimulation of noradrenergic sympathetic axons may elicit, in spindles of foot muscles, a substantial increase in the firing rate of secondary endings, capable of reducing the size of afferent antidromic volleys by collision with orthodromic impulses. We found that potentials recorded during sympathetic stimulation were identical to those recorded in absence of stimulation. The reduction in size of a component of the compound action potentials led from the intact tibial nerve during stimulation at 10-20 Hz of the sciatic nerve with C strength pulses, as described by Grassi, Filippi and Passatore (Brain Research, 435 (1987) 15-23), was observed in certain conditions of stimulation. However this reduction cannot be ascribed to antidromic collision, because it is still observed after severing the tibial nerve distal to the recording electrode. PMID- 2605514 TI - Quantification of type I and II adrenal steroid receptors in neuronal, lymphoid and pituitary tissues. AB - Circulating lymphocytes are frequently used to study glucocorticoid receptor (GR) regulation in various clinical disease states, such as depression. Since little is known about the relationship between lymphoid and neuronal GR, type II adrenal steroid receptors (i.e., GR) were quantitated in neuronal (hippocampus, frontal cortex, hypothalamus), lymphoid (circulating lymphocytes, spleen, thymus) as well as pituitary tissues of adrenal-intact and 1 day adrenalectomized (ADX) rats using the selective type II receptor ligand, [3H]RU 28362. Specific, high affinity (dissociation constant = 0.2-0.3 nM) type II receptors were present in all tissues examined with the density in 1 day ADX rats being thymus greater than frontal cortex = spleen greater than hippocampus = pituitary greater than hypothalamus greater than lymphocytes. Adrenal intact rats had fewer type II receptors in frontal cortex, hippocampus and spleen as compared to 1 day ADX rats. Dose-response competition studies using [3H]RU 28362 and various unlabelled steroids revealed a binding profile indicative of a type II receptor with the potency being RU 28362 greater than triamcinolone acetonide greater than dexamethasone = corticosterone much greater than aldosterone in both whole brain and spleen soluble fractions. In contrast to the high concentration of type II receptors in the various tissues, the density of type I (i.e., mineralocorticoid) receptors was very low or nondetectable in the same tissues of 1 day ADX rats with the notable exception of the hippocampus where there were approximately comparable levels of both receptors. These results document the widespread distribution of type II adrenal steroid receptors in neuronal and lymphoid tissues which are similar in affinity and steroid specificity. PMID- 2605515 TI - Immunocytochemical study of the GABA system in chicken vestibular endorgans and the vestibular ganglion. AB - The immunocytochemical distribution of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), GABA synthesizing enzyme; L-glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and degradative enzyme; GABA transaminase (GABA-T) in the chicken vestibular endorgans and the vestibular ganglion was investigated. GABA and GAD-like immunoreactivity were confined to the sensory hair cell cytoplasm, suggesting that GAD synthesizes GABA in the hair cell. GABA-T-like immunoreactivity, indicative of GABA degradation, was found around hair cells, along nerve fibers running through the stroma and within the ganglion cell. These immunocytochemical findings indicate that the GABAergic system exists in the chicken vestibular endorgans and that GABA may function as an afferent neurotransmitter at the level of hair cells. PMID- 2605516 TI - Peripheral but not intracerebroventricular corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) produces antinociception which is not opioid mediated. AB - Corticotropin-releasing hormone and endogenous opioid peptide systems are both activated during stress. An elevation of the pain threshold also occurs under conditions of stress. In the present study the effects of CRH antinociception were examined. Rats were treated with CRH either centrally (i.c.v.) or peripherally (intracardially; i.c.) and their tail-flick latencies were measured. Central application of CRH (0-30 micrograms) was without effect on the analgesic test, while after peripheral application (0-32 micrograms) CRH produced a dose dependent increase in tail-flick latencies. In a subsequent experiment we examined the possible involvement of endogenous opioids in the peripheral CRH induced antinociceptive effects. To this end, two approaches were used: animals were either acutely treated with the opioid antagonist naloxone (3 or 6 mg/kg), or they were rendered tolerant to morphine, and then tested with CRH. In both cases, CRH effects on the tail-flick latencies were not modified. Our findings suggest that: (a) CRH may modulate pain sensitivity during stress; (b) opioids do not mediate this effect; and (c) brain CRH receptors are probably not involved in these processes. PMID- 2605517 TI - Sex differences in cytosolic progestin receptors in microdissected regions of the hypothalamus/preoptic area of guinea pigs. AB - Cytosolic progestin receptors (CPRs) were measured in microdissected nuclei of the hypothalamus and preoptic area of male and female guinea pigs. Adult gonadectomized animals were given 3 daily injections of 20 micrograms/day estradiol benzoate (EB) or oil vehicle. 24 h later, animals were sacrificed and cytosolic progestin receptors were measured using the synthetic progestin 3H R5020. CPR levels did not differ significantly between oil treated males and oil treated females in any brain areas examined. With EB treatment, males showed significant increases in CPRs in most of the brain areas in which females showed increases, i.e. in the medial preoptic area, the periventricular part of the preoptic area, the periventricular part of the anterior hypothalamus, the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, the periventricular part of the medial hypothalamus and the arcuate-median eminence. However, EB treated males showed significantly lower CPR levels than EB treated females in both the periventricular part of the preoptic area and the periventricular part of the medial hypothalamus. PMID- 2605518 TI - Functional role of the sensory cortex in learning motor skills in cats. AB - The functional role of corticocortical input projecting to the motor cortex in learning motor skills was investigated by training 3 cats with and without the projection area. After unilateral removal of areas 1, 2, 2 praeinsularis and a part of 5, the cat was placed in a box and trained to pick up a small piece of food from a beaker in front of the box. Since the beaker and the edge of the box had a space in between, the cat had to develop a new motor skill to being the food back to the box across the space. This skill consisted of combined supination and flexion of the paw to hold the food over the gap. In all 3 cats, the training period necessary for acquisition of the motor skill for the forelimb contralateral to the lesioned brain was significantly longer than the period necessary for the forelimb ipsilateral to the lesioned cortex. Ablation of the remaining projection area after completion of the training did not impair the learned motor skill. The results suggest that the input from the lesioned area to the motor cortex participates in learning motor skills. PMID- 2605519 TI - Reproducible stimulation of ciliary muscle contraction in the cynomolgus monkey via a permanent indwelling midbrain electrode. AB - To better study the pivotal role of the ciliary muscle in ocular accommodation and aqueous humor outflow, a technique was developed to permit long-term reproducible stimulation of the muscle via the normal efferent neuronal pathway in cynomolgus monkeys. Following a small midline craniotomy, the stereotaxic coordinates of the Edinger-Westphal (E-W) nucleus were localized by contrast ventriculoradiography. A bipolar stimulating electrode was stereotaxically positioned to generate the maximum accommodative amplitude, and then permanently affixed to the surrounding cranium. Once experience was gained, the implant procedure required approximately 3 h and was well-tolerated by the animals, which subsequently exhibited normal behavior and no apparent discomfort or neurological deficits. Most animals retained the implant seemingly permanently (8-42 months follow-up), although a few animals extruded them after 4-8 months. Electrode placement in the E-W nucleus was verified histologically. The stimulation current and frequency-accommodative response relationships varied remarkably little between eyes, animals, or experimental sessions, although there was moderate inter-animal variation in the maximum accommodative amplitude. Using square-wave pulses of 0.5 ms duration, maximum accommodation, averaging approximately 15 diopters, was achieved at approximately 700 microA and approximately 70 Hz, and was greater under pentobarbital than under halothane anesthesia. Topical application of carbachol, eserine and echothiophate to the eye induced more accommodation than did central electrical stimulation. Permanent implantation of a stimulating electrode into the E-W nucleus may facilitate study of ocular physiological parameters dependent upon ciliary muscle contraction. PMID- 2605520 TI - Analgesia and impact induced by anticipation stress: involvement of the endogenous opioid peptide system. AB - Anticipation of an unavoidable painful stimulation, i.e. anticipation stress, induces analgesia. This analgesia may result from activation of the endogenous opioid peptide system as it is blocked by naloxone. The present paper characterizes the anticipation stress further by following the kinetics of the analgesia rise, the impact of the stress on the stress-sensitive organs and the involvement of the endogenous opioid peptide system in the anticipation stress effects. Adult male rats exposed repeatedly to placing into a conditioning box followed by a painful stimulation develop analgesia almost immediately after a transfer to the box. Anticipation acts as a specific trigger, no other side stressor is effective. Anticipation stress has a significant impact on stress sensitive organs: weights of the adrenals increase while those of the thymus and spleen decrease. These changes are associated with a significant increase of plasma corticosterone. Blockade of the endogenous opioid system by naloxone before the exposure to anticipation stress potentiates these stress-induced impacts, especially the decrease of weight of the thymus. Plasma corticosterone levels are not affected by naloxone. During the anticipation stress, the amount of opioid receptors, i.e. of [3H]naloxone binding sites, in the hypothalamus, but not in the striatum, decreases. The possible biological role of stress-induced activation of endogenous opioid system, namely the maintenance of the intensity of stress reaction within certain limits and thus the prevention of the self destructive effects of stress reactions, is discussed. PMID- 2605521 TI - The effect of nicotine on catecholaminergic storage vesicles. AB - The present study examined the action of nicotine on the accumulation of [3H]dopamine into synaptic vesicles prepared from mouse cerebral cortex or bovine striatum. Nicotine was shown to be a weak inhibitor of [3H]dopamine accumulation, with an IC50 of approximately 0.2-0.4 mM. In addition, repeated nicotine administration (1.2 mg (-)-nicotine di-(+)tartrate/kg s.c., twice daily for 10 days) in vivo in BALB/cBy male mice did not alter the potency of reserpine in inhibiting [3H]dopamine accumulation into synaptic vesicles, nor did it change the slight shift induced by nicotine in the potency of reserpine in inhibiting [3H]dopamine accumulation. The present results show that nicotine is an inhibitor of vesicular dopamine accumulation at high concentrations. PMID- 2605522 TI - VIP-mRNA is increased in hypertensive rats. AB - Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a potent vasodilator. We therefore set out to investigate VIP-gene expression in spontaneous hypertensive rats. By quantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry as well as by RNA blot hybridization experiments we discovered a significant increase in VIP transcripts in the brains of those hypertensive rats. We suggest that the increase in VIP gene expression may play a compensatory role in these rats where otherwise the rise in blood pressure may have had a much more adverse effect. PMID- 2605523 TI - Effect of lead on intracellular free calcium ion concentration in a presynaptic neuronal model: 19F-NMR study of NG108-15 cells. AB - The intracellular free calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) of the neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell line, NG108-15, was measured using the 19F-nuclear magnetic resonance divalent cation indicator, 1,2-bis(2-amino-5-fluorophenoxy)ethane N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic acid (5F-BAPTA). The basal [Ca2+]i was measured to be 106 +/- 14 nM. Treatment with 5 microM lead (Pb) for 2 h produced a 2-fold increase in [Ca2+]i to 200 +/- 24 nM and a measurable intracellular free Pb2+ concentration ([Pb2+]i) of 30 +/- 10 pM. Intracellular free Zn2+ concentrations ([Zn2+]i) were also observed in the presence of Pb. This represents the first direct demonstration that Pb elevates the [Ca2+]i in neurons, thus providing evidence for a role of [Ca2+]i in mediating the neurotoxicity of Pb. PMID- 2605524 TI - Progestins affect reproductive behavior and androgen receptor dynamics in male guinea pig brain. AB - The present study extends previous studies of ours by comparing the anti androgenic effect of a progestin agonist (R5020) with progesterone (P). Intact male guinea pigs treated with P (1 and 10 mg/day) and R5020 (100 micrograms/day) had greater latency to mount and lower numbers of mounts and intromissions compared to controls. Ejaculation and plasma testosterone concentration were not affected. Specific brain regions were analyzed for androgen receptor (AR) content. Progestins produced fewer (P less than 0.01) nuclear AR in hypothalamus preoptic area and pituitary without associated changes in cytosolic AR. These data are best interpreted by postulating an effect of P on AR dynamics mediated through the P receptor and not by competition for androgen binding to its receptor. PMID- 2605525 TI - Increase in acetylcholinesterase in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus in the absence of septal inputs following selective granule cell lesions. AB - Granule cell lesions cause an increase in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) staining in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. The source of this response was examined by combining granule cell lesions with lesions of the fornix-fimbria, thereby removing the cholinergic input from the septum to the hippocampus. The increased AChE staining was present in animals with granule cell lesions regardless of whether the fornix was lesioned or intact. The increase in AChE staining occurred without a corresponding increase in choline acetyltransferase staining. These findings suggest that an AChE-positive, but non-cholinergic, sprouting response occurred within the dentate gyrus following selective lesions of the granule cells. The source of this sprouting may be from AChE-positive hilar interneurons. PMID- 2605526 TI - A method for isolating and patch-clamping single mammalian taste receptor cells. AB - Individual taste receptor cells were isolated from the tongue of the mouse by enzymatic treatment followed by mechanical dissociation. The cells were morphologically identical with taste cells from amphibians. Whole-cell voltage clamp recordings indicated that the murine taste cells possess a variety of voltage-dependent inward and outward currents. Delayed rectifier currents were blocked by denatonium benzoate, one of the most bitter compounds known. This preparation should permit a detailed electrophysiologcal investigation of taste transduction in mammals at the level of taste receptor cells. PMID- 2605527 TI - Value of thyroid hormone determination. AB - Free thyroid hormone assays have broadened the repertoire in thyroid diagnosis. At elevated binding protein levels they provide more reliable information on the metabolic state than do total hormone determinations; yet under estrogen contraception free T4 may yield test specifically falsely too high data. As a rule, there is accordance between free hormone concentrations and the indices, being equivalent in establishing the free thyroid hormone fraction. In this light the Thyroid Section of the German Endocrinologic Society recommended in 1986 to consider determinations of free or total hormone concentrations with calculation of the indices as being of equal value. In borderline situations the TRH test, the hypersensitivity TSH assay as well as checkups establishing the course of development of the disorder are substantiated. PMID- 2605528 TI - [The mechanism of the effect of sex hormones on the reactivity of vascular smooth muscle]. AB - Using the method of isometric contraction, the authors studied the effect of in vivo and in vitro application of sex hormones (estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone) on the reactivity of spiral strips of the thoracic aorta and renal artery of rabbits of both sexes to vasoactive substances (noradrenaline, serotonin, and angiotensin). The potential effect of sex hormones on the function of calcium in the mechanism of vascular smooth muscle contraction was verified by indirect methods. On repeated hormone administration also morphological changes were evaluated from several parts of the vascular bed by means of light microscopy. The results suggest marked quantitative and qualitative differences in the effect of sex hormones on the reactivity of the isolated aorta and renal artery of the rabbit. Affecting the transport of calcium in the cell of the vascular smooth muscle is presumably and important factor involved in the mechanism of development of the observed changes. PMID- 2605529 TI - [Antegrade pyeloureterography in the transplanted kidney]. AB - Antegrade pyeloureterography performed via fine puncture needle yields detailed imaging of the anatomy of the renal pelvis, calices, and ureter of the transplanted kidney. It is a simple and safe examination method providing information which, as a rule, can not be obtained by urography, radioisotope gammagraphy or ultrasonography. Puncture of the collecting system of the transplanted kidney with subsequent pyeloureterography is indicated for determining the site and nature of the obstruction in the ureter in urinary stasis in the transplanted kidney, for diagnosing urinary fistulas, for functional examination of the dilated upper urinary tract, as well as for percutaneous treatment of urological complications after kidney transplantation. PMID- 2605530 TI - [Incidence of macroscopic changes in the placenta in intrauterine growth retardation in neonates]. AB - Advances in noninvasive imaging techniques allow to visualize the placenta and changes of its structure in the course of gestation. Macroscopic examination of the placenta in newborns with intrauterine growth retardation reveals changes responsible for reduced placental functions. These can then be diagnosed in utero, e.g. by ultrasonographic examination. The most serious defects include reduced weight an insertion area of the placenta and infarcts covering more than 6% of the placental area. Extrachorial placentas also have adverse effects. Other macroscopic changes do not appear to be causally associated with intrauterine growth retardation and have been recorded to a comparable extent also in placentas of eutrophic newborns. PMID- 2605531 TI - [Madelung's disease]. AB - The paper reports on symmetric benign lipomatosis of the head and neck- Madelung's syndrome. Over a period of 5 years, 6 men were treated for this disease at the ENT Department of the School of Medicine, Comenius University in Martin. Four of these patients had hepatopathy, two diabetes mellitus, and in two gynecomasty was observed. Surgical treatment yielded satisfactory functional and cosmetic results. PMID- 2605532 TI - [Peroperative and postoperative cardiologic complications in vascular surgery]. PMID- 2605533 TI - [Frequency of hypoxic episodes during general anesthesia in children]. AB - We measured the frequency and extent of arterial hypoxemia during pediatric general anesthesia under routine clinical conditions. The subjects were 91 children (13 newborns, 27 infants, 37 children under 6 years, 14 children under 14 years) with normal heart and lungs scheduled for extrathoracic surgery. Mask anesthesia (spontaneous/assisted ventilation) was performed in 30 cases, endotracheal anesthesia (controlled ventilation) in 61 cases. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was determined by pulse oximetry at entry into the operating room and recorded continuously from induction of anesthesia to emergence. Hypoxic episodes (minimum duration: 30 s) were classified as slight (SaO2 less than or equal to 95%), minor (SaO2 less than or equal to 90%) and major (SaO2 less than or equal to 85%). The data were analyzed with the Fisher's test. 52% of all children experienced at least one hypoxic episode. Frequency and extent of hypoxic episodes decreased as age and weight of the children increased. Major hypoxic episodes occurred in 54% of the newborns, 26% of the infants, 8% of the children under 6 and 7% of the children under 14. A body weight of 10 kg appeared to constitute a threshold: in children below this weight arterial oxygen desaturation occurred significantly more frequently (p less than 0.001), and the incidence of major episodes was significantly higher (p less than 0.005). Major episodes were almost evenly distributed between induction and awakening from anesthesia, only one episode occurred during maintenance. Desaturation was more likely to occur in intubated children than in those with a mask (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605534 TI - [Anesthesia in children at a day care hospital]. PMID- 2605535 TI - [Preanesthetic consultation in pediatrics: experience with the use of drawings]. AB - 69 children scheduled for ENT surgery have been asked by the anesthesiologist to draw a picture. A analysis of some of those drawings provides information about the psychological reactions of children facing surgery, determined by their current situation, personality and past history. This simple method proved to be an useful adjunct to the psychological preparation of children to anesthesia and surgery. It contributes to a better relationship between anesthesiologist and child, and to a better knowledge of the reactions of children; it could be used in a more systematic manner. PMID- 2605536 TI - [Intrapleural analgesia using lidocaine in the emergency treatment of thoracic injuries]. PMID- 2605537 TI - [Neonatal effects of propofol administered to the mother in anesthesia in cesarean section]. AB - Propofol, 2-6 diisopropylphenol ("Diprivan", ICI) has been shown to be safe and effective for induction and maintenance of anesthesia when injected intravenously. Its pharmacological profile suggests that it may prove to be a useful agent in obstetric anesthetic practice. But, obstetrics is a specialized field in which the acute effects of the anesthetic agent on the fetus must be considered. This open non comparative study was therefore designed to investigate the neonatal assessments when propofol was used either for induction of anesthesia or for induction and maintenance of anesthesia during elective cesarean section. This study was conducted in two separate phases according to the use of propofol. In both phases, anesthesia was induced with an intravenous bolus of 2.5 mg.kg-1 of propofol. In phase 1 (n = 10), anesthesia was maintained with 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen and halothane. In phase 2 (n = 11), a continuous infusion of propofol at a rate of 5 mg.kg-1.h-1 was started after the induction dose. At time of delivery, blood samples were taken from maternal artery, umbilical vein and artery for acid-base and blood gas status. The condition of the infant was evaluated using Apgar score at 1, 5 and 10 min, time to sustained spontaneous respiration and the Neurologic and Adaptative Capacity Score was assessed at 30 min, 2 hours and 24 hours after birth. Maternal and neonatal blood gas tensions and acid-base status at delivery were within the normal clinical limits in both phases and compared favorably with results published by others workers using established methods of anesthesia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605538 TI - [Early informing of patients with spinal cord injuries]. AB - Early information to patients on the prognosis of acute spinal injuries is an important and uneasy task. This retrospective study was undertaken to assess the consequences of this information. It appears that early information involves easier and more confident relationships between patient, nurses and medical staff in the ICU. This early information, despite its difficulty, seems beneficial. PMID- 2605539 TI - [Temporary external transthoracic electrosystolic pacing at a surgery department]. PMID- 2605540 TI - [Safety in regard to anesthesia]. PMID- 2605541 TI - Wound management. PMID- 2605542 TI - Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) algorithms. A powerful decision tree for management of cardiac arrest victims. PMID- 2605543 TI - Certification of specialties in nursing. PMID- 2605544 TI - Are you ready for that elderly patient? PMID- 2605545 TI - Acute pancreatitis: a critical nursing challenge. PMID- 2605546 TI - The lipid clinic and its functions. PMID- 2605547 TI - The choice of contrast agents in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. AB - The availability of newer and more expensive low osmolar contrast agents for cardiac angiography has forced a comparison with the standard ionic contrast agents. The milder hemodynamic effects of low osmolar agents make them the contrast of choice for the sickest patients; however, the existence of a reduction in the rate of anaphylactoid reactions or death during catheterization seems more doubtful. Guidelines for the selective use of the agents in the cardiac catheterization laboratory are offered, based on one hospital's experience of more than 20,000 procedures. PMID- 2605548 TI - Prediction of the left ventricular ejection fraction response to doxorubicin using a multiple linear regression model. AB - The aim of this study was to develop a model for predicting clinically significant deterioration in the left ventricular ejection fraction due to chronic doxorubicin administration. Twenty-six patients were monitored during their courses of doxorubicin chemotherapy with serial gated equilibrium radionuclide angiography. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to derived the best combination of clinical and radionuclide angiographic predictors of resting left ventricular ejection fraction at any point during the course of chemotherapy. The final model consisted of five variables: left ventricular ejection fraction at the previous monitoring point; cumulative dose of doxorubicin achieved at the previous monitoring point; increment in dose from the previous monitoring point; age of the patient; and time to peak left ventricular emptying at the previous monitoring point. The cumulative dose, the ejection fraction at the previous monitoring point and the final model, respectively, explained 11%, 33% and 53% of the variability in ejection fraction determinations during the 26 patient courses. The final model also forecast a potentially very low resting left ventricular ejection fraction (less than 35%) at the cumulative doses of doxorubicin which provoked serious clinical cardiotoxicity in two patients. A multivariate model is a useful aid in timing discontinuation of doxorubicin prior to the development of a clinically significant deterioration in left ventricular ejection fraction. PMID- 2605549 TI - Results from an international survey of Kawasaki disease in 1979-82. AB - Kawasaki disease is a febrile illness of unknown etiology affecting mainly children younger than five years, 20% of whom develop coronary artery aneurysms. The disease was first reported in Japan, but case reports have come from several countries; epidemics apparently occur every two to three years. A committee of the International Society and Federation of Cardiology (ISFC) collaborated on an international, retrospective survey in mid-1983 through 1984, asking about Kawasaki disease cases seen in 1979-82 and their outcomes. Responses were received from 53 countries; reports from 20 countries indicated that no cases were seen in the years surveyed. Kawasaki disease did not always follow the Japanese pattern. An indication of 'epidemic' increases was found in some years in some countries. Recognition of Kawasaki disease varies considerably, but further educational efforts are likely to uncover additional cases, and intensive epidemiological efforts would be possible in a number of countries. PMID- 2605550 TI - Detection of early myocardial tissue changes in acute canine myocardial infarction by ultrasonic tissue characterization methods. AB - To determine the time after left anterior descending (LAD) artery occlusion in which myocardial texture changes first occur, two-dimensional echocardiograms on five sham operated dogs and eight dogs before and after proximal LAD occlusion were performed. Serial two-dimensional echocardiograms were performed every 15 mins by placing a 5 MHz transducer directly on the chest wall. The dogs were sacrificed at the end of the study and the area of myocardial infarction was confirmed by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The two-dimensional echocardiogram images were digitized. The mean pixel intensity +/- SD in the area of myocardial infarction (region of asynergy) and a normally moving area (control region) equidistant from the transducer were calculated; thus, each dog served as its own control. In sham operated dogs, no significant changes in mean pixel intensity, skewness or kurtosis were observed. There was a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in mean pixel intensity in the infarcted regions (anteroseptal) compared to values obtained in the normally moving (lateral) regions at 30 mins (mean pixel intensity 25.2 +/- 2.1 versus 23.0 +/- 0.7, P less than 0.05); this difference persisted at 45 mins (mean pixel intensity 25.8 +/- 0.9 versus 22.6 +/- 0.5, P less than 0.01), 60 mins (mean pixel intensity 27.2 +/ 1.4 versus 22.8 +/- 0.8, P less than 0.01), 90 mins (mean pixel intensity 28.6 +/- 1.6 versus 22.5 +/- 0.9, P less than 0.01) and 180 mins (mean pixel intensity 28.7 +/- 1.8 versus 21.3 +/- 1.4, P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605551 TI - Allergic contact dermatitis. PMID- 2605553 TI - Certification for specialty practice? PMID- 2605552 TI - Cutaneous adipose tissue. PMID- 2605554 TI - Advanced family nursing with the control-congruence model. AB - This article describes family nursing with the control-congruence model (CC model) developed at Wayne State University. The model is appropriate for clinical nurse specialists of all nursing disciplines who assist families to improve functioning together in order to cope with stress. Nursing care focuses on four dimensions of family functioning: system maintenance; system change; togetherness; and individuation. Two assessment tools are used: the assessment of strategies in families--functioning, which measures the emphasis on each of the four dimensions and the assessment of strategies in families--satisfaction, which assesses the satisfaction with family functioning. The paper cites four cases, one relative to each dimension, with examples of nursing care aimed at strengthening effective family strategies and introducing new behaviors. The examples include the interpretation of assessment of strategies in families scores before and after treatment. PMID- 2605556 TI - Analyzing nominal data. PMID- 2605555 TI - Health care for the homeless: a self-care approach. AB - Homelessness has become a problem of national concern. Providing accessible, effective health care to this population in the face of today's economic climate is a problem facing community health clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) with increasing frequency. Homeless health care currently places an enormous financial burden on inner city hospitals. In addition lack of access to health care and the very nature of the homeless lifestyle makes this population a reservoir for the propagation and spread of infectious disease. The community health CNS must address these problems by developing strategies to improve homeless health care. Utilizing Orem's model of self-care provides a systematic approach to problem solving and provides the CNS with a perspective from which to assess patient problems and devise nursing care strategies. Homeless health care from Orem's self-care perspective would increase utilization of services by fostering dignity and self-esteem, as well as promote more efficient use of services. PMID- 2605557 TI - Clinical research with patients in crisis: pitfalls and solutions. AB - Clinical research involving patients in crisis may be difficult to conduct because of the psychophysiological changes in the patient and the hectic environment of the health care setting. Clinical nurse specialists have the opportunity to expand nursing knowledge and contribute to nursing practice through initiation and/or participation in research with people in crisis. This article identifies potential pitfalls in conducting research with patients in crisis and suggests strategies for selecting a research design, data collection methodologies, and obtaining consent or approval. PMID- 2605558 TI - The relationship between knowledge about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the implementation of universal precautions by registered nurses. AB - The relationship between the level of knowledge of registered nurses (RNs) concerning acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related issues and the practical observance of universal precautions was studied. It was hypothesized that the more knowledge a nurse has concerning AIDS the more likely he or she is to implement universal precautions. All registered nurses who have direct patient contact (N = 400) and are employed at a Northeastern teaching medical center, were provided a packet of three questionnaires and encouraged to participate. Two hundred thirteen (53%) RNs returned completed questionnaires. Subgroups were examined for trends relating such parameters as age and the amount of AIDS knowledge, using analysis of variance. The major hypothesis was tested by correlating the overall scores for AIDS knowledge and the implementation score. Results indicated no relationship between knowledge and the implementation of universal precautions (r = -0.12). When evaluating scores according to work areas, those subjects with higher knowledge scores had lower practice scores. Other demographic variables showed no influence on either knowledge or implementation scores as measured by this study. Further study is needed to understand what factors will motivate RNs to implement universal precautions. PMID- 2605559 TI - Rogers' adoption model in the implementation of change. AB - In this era of marketplace competition and cost containment, the most efficient methods of implementing change must be utilized. Rogers' adoption of innovation theory (1972; 1983) provides a framework to identify human responses to innovation/change. The model's six categories exemplify varying degrees of acceptance or rejection behaviors. In the current paper employee responses to the implementation of a new computer system in a larger hospital in the upper midwest with implications for clinical nurse specialists will be discussed. PMID- 2605560 TI - From implication to reality through a unit-based quality assurance program. AB - This article describes the unit-based quality assurance program functioning at one institution for the past 3 years. Included are a brief look at the role of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) in quality assurance, a description of the implementation of a unit-based approach, discussion of how one unit functioned within the program, a description of activities accomplished, and the effects on the practice of one CNS. PMID- 2605561 TI - Consultation. PMID- 2605562 TI - Developing wellness programs: a nurse-managed Stay Well Center for senior citizens. AB - This article describes the process from conception to implementation of developing a nurse-managed wellness center for senior citizens. The center was established in a federally subsidized high rise residential complex in midtown Manhattan. The unique senior population living in this New York City community includes a large proportion of performing artists. These individuals are struggling to maintain ties to their community at a time when their most productive performing years have passed. A health needs assessment was designed to evaluate whether or not these seniors were interested and would participate in a nurse-managed wellness center. The strategies needed to propose and move the project forward through all systems are explored. Two clinical nurse specialists assessed the need, proposed the center, and guided it through several political systems while maintaining leadership to establish a viable and innovative hospital-based health center based on prevention. PMID- 2605563 TI - Education: follow your bliss. PMID- 2605565 TI - Hypertension. PMID- 2605564 TI - Therapy supervision: the phenomena and the need. AB - Nursing has lagged behind in development, utilization, and valuing of therapy supervision. Nevertheless the mental health nursing clinical specialist is expected to be supervised and to be a supervisor of other professional staff. The integral nature of supervision in mental health nursing practice is demonstrated when one defines "therapy supervision," identifies its characteristics, and studies its clinical phases. As the role of the mental health clinical nurse specialist continues to expand, the importance of supervision in developing high level therapeutic skill has become more evident. In this paper various meanings of the concept of supervision and its similarities and differences with associated concepts, such as teaching and therapy, are explored. Essential characteristics are identified, and the application of the concept in practice and research is discussed. The inclusion of supervision training in graduate nursing curriculum, continuing education and in-service programs is advocated. PMID- 2605566 TI - Mutagenic activity in gastric juice and urine of subjects with chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric epithelial dysplasia and gastric cancer. AB - Gastric juice and urine samples from consecutive patients who underwent endoscopy for upper GI tract complaints were examined for the presence of mutagens. Patients endoscopically and histologically diagnosed as having either chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) or gastric cancer (GC) had higher than normal levels of mutagens in their gastric juice and urine. The gastric juice pH of these patients was also elevated and, in the case of the CAG patients, contained detectable levels of nitrites. No correlation was however found between gastric mutagen levels and urinary mutagen excretion in the individuals examined. PMID- 2605567 TI - Effect of enzyme inducers on the metabolism of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5 f]quinoline (IQ) in the rat. AB - The effect of enzyme inducers 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) and Aroclor 1254 (A 1254) on the metabolic fate of the dietary mutagen and carcinogen 2-amino-3 methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) in male F344 rats was studied in relation to single dose corn oil and untreated controls. The latter two groups were similar as regards metabolism of IQ. However, the ratio of total metabolites excreted in urine compared with those in feces was higher in A-1254 pretreated rats. In fact, this distinct excretory pattern stemmed from a lower level of IQ-N-sulfamate, and a considerably higher level of 5-OH-IQ sulfate ester, a major metabolite in urine of A-1254-injected rats. Interestingly, 5-OH-IQ glucuronide urinary levels were unaffected by the treatment. Thus, the direct 5-hydroxylation of IQ appears to be considerably increased by 3-MC and more so by A-1254, and under those conditions the resulting 5-OH-IQ is preferentially converted to the sulfate ester, in turn readily excreted in urine. PMID- 2605568 TI - Carcinogenic activity associated with halogenated acetones and acroleins in the mouse skin assay. AB - Several chlorinated acetones have been identified in drinking water and these, as well as a number of chlorinated acroleins, are produced by chlorination of humic acid solutions. Many of these chlorinated compounds and the brominated acrolein analog were positive in the Ames Assay in the laboratory. To determine if carcinogenic activity was associated with these chemicals the following acetone derivatives: monochloro (MCA); 1,1-dichloro (1,1-DCA), 1,3-dichloro (1,3-DCA), 1,1,1-trichloro (1,1,1-TCA), 1,1,3-trichloro (1,1,3-TCA), and substituted acroleins: 2-chloro (CAC), 3,3-dichloro (DCAC), 2,3,3-trichloro (TCAC) and 2 bromo (BAC), were applied topically to SENCAR mice (25, 30, or 40/group) at the following dose levels: 50 mg/kg (MCA and 1,1,3-TCA); 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg (1,3 DCA); 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg (CAC, DCAC, and TCAC); 200 and 300 mg/kg (BAC); and 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg (1,1-DCA, and 1,1,1-TCA). Doses were applied six times over a 2-week period in 0.2 ml ethanol per application. 1,3-DCA was also tested with single doses of 37.5, 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg in 0.2 ml ethanol. Control animals received 0.2 ml ethanol per application as a single dose or multiple doses to match corresponding studies. Two weeks after the final dose, 1.0 microgram TPA in 0.2 ml acetone was applied three times weekly for 20 weeks. After 24 weeks the percentage of animals with tumors for dose groups above were: MCA (8); 1,1,3-TCA (10); 1,3-DCA, multiple doses (48, 45, 32); CAC (30, 28, 38); DCAC (3, 0, 0); TCAC (10, 5, 0); BAC (54, 43); 1,1-DCA (0, 5, 0); 1,1,1-TCA (10, 5, 0); 1,3-DCA, single doses (47, 47, 63, 20); controls (12--Table 3, 9--Table 4 average). These data show that 1,3-DCA, CAC and BAC, when applied topically, initiate tumors in the mouse skin. These chemicals administered orally in a 2% emulphor solution, at doses described in Table 3, did not initiate tumors in the mouse skin. PMID- 2605569 TI - Estrous cycle status alters N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU)-induced rat mammary tumor growth and regression. AB - The relationship between mammary carcinoma growth, ovariectomy-induced regression and estrogen receptor status were determined in Sprague-Dawley rats with 5-day estrous cycles after injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU) on metestrus (ME), diestrus-1 (DE-1), proestrus (PE) or estrus (E). Rats exposed to NMU on PE had a shorter tumor latency than those injected on ME and E, as well as more carcinomas per rat than those exposed on ME and DE-1. Mammary carcinomas grew faster in rats injected on ME (doubling time, 6.4 days) and DE-1 (6.9 days) compared with PE (15.2 days) and E (16.3 days). Tumor regression was also significantly faster in rats injected on ME (time to 50% vol., 5.5 days) and DE-1 (5.3 days) compared with PE (8.2 days) and E (8.5 days) following bilateral-ovariectomy during log phase growth. Significantly, total nuclear estrogen receptor (ERN) content was increased in carcinomas from rats injected on PE compared with DE-1 (70.8 +/- 11.3 vs. 32.9 +/- 7.3 fm/mg DNA) (P less than 0.05) and DE-1 and ME combined (P less than 0.01). These observations generalize the concept that estrous cycle stage at the time of NMU injection alters subsequent mammary carcinoma biology, and represents the first experimental evidence that slower growing and responding estrogen receptor positive rat mammary carcinomas may be associated with an increase in circulating estrogen prior to carcinogen exposure. PMID- 2605570 TI - Immunohistochemical demonstration of a mRNA-transport protein in rat liver putative preneoplastic foci. AB - A 65K protein, known for promoting nucleocytoplasmic mRNA transport in a cell free system, was previously found in fetal and tumor cells of the rat. The primary objective of this study was to show specificity of immunohistochemical staining for the 65K protein in the livers of rats subjected to a hepatocarcinogenesis protocol. Altered hepatic foci were induced by feeding male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) followed by a phenobarbital (PB) diet. It was shown, using polyclonal antibodies produced in rabbits, that the 65K protein was present in the cells of rat liver putative preneoplastic foci, with little or none being detected in the surrounding cells. PMID- 2605571 TI - Presence of a receptor for the active component of Iscador in ascites fluid of tumour bearing mice. AB - Tumour bearing mice exhibit a specific "receptor" in the ascites fluid which binds with the active component isolated from Iscador. This "receptor" was found to be a protein which inhibited the cytotoxicity of Iscador and its isolated active component at low concentration. The receptor protein was also found in the sonicates of tumour cells which are susceptible to the action of Iscador but not in lymphocytes which were not susceptible to Iscador or its isolated active component. The receptor was separated on a Sephadex G-50 column. Activity was lost upon heat denaturation and dialysis. PMID- 2605572 TI - [In vitro reactivity of the aorta of SHR rats and Wistar rats, in the various developmental phases of arterial hypertension: role of the endothelium]. AB - The mechanical reactivity of SHR and Wistar rats' aortas was evaluated, in vitro, after stimulation by potassium chloride (K+), phenylephrine (Phe), norepinephrine (NE), histamine (H), serotonin (5-HT) and acetylcholine (Ach), before and after the removal of the endothelium. The aortic rings were taken at different ages and stages of the hypertensive state (that in the SHRs started at the ninth week of life) and successively suspended in a bath for isolated organs. The mechanical activity was measured by isometric transducers. In SHR rats an increased sensitivity to K+, NE and Phe compared with the control group, and preceding the hypertensive stage, was found. The removal of the endothelium did not modify the response amplitude to K in both the breeds, while the maximum response amplitude, provoked by NE and Phe, significantly increased in SHRs compared to controls. The relaxation induced by vasodilator agents (Ach, H, 5-HT) was significantly reduced in the SHR rats' aortas with initial hypertension (12th week) if compared with Wistar rats at the same age. The release response was completely absent in the SHR rats' aortas with established hypertension (18th week). In conclusion, these results suggest that, in hypertensive rats, a functional deterioration of the endothelial cells occurs: this may contribute to the increase in peripheral vascular resistance observed during hypertension. PMID- 2605573 TI - [Greater efficacy of propranolol versus nifedipine in angina with 2 components, that results in varying influence on coronary vasomotility]. AB - In 24 patients with stable spontaneous and effort-related angina, ischemic episodes at rest were not preceded by changes in circulatory variables (heart rate, systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures) that may raise myocardial oxygen consumption. We interpreted these episodes as caused by critical and reversible coronary flow reduction at the site of a stenotic lesion, and evaluated the clinical efficacy of nifedipine and propranolol in the treatment of this condition. Propranolol fully abolished or reduced the number of spontaneous ischemic episodes in a significantly larger number of patients than did nifedipine; it was also effective in several cases in whom nifedipine had failed or had even caused a paradoxic effect. Quantitative angiographic evaluation of the influence of nifedipine (Group 1, 12 patients, 10 mg sublingually) and propranolol (Group 2, 12 patients, 0.1 mg/kg intravenously) on the residual lumen diameter of 1 significant coronary stenosis in each patient showed that after nifedipine, the lumen was unchanged in 1, augmented in 7, and reduced in 4 cases; variations ranged between +1.59 and -1.2 mm, and their direction correlated closely with the influence of oral nifedipine on the episodes of spontaneous ischemia; and in no case did treatment with propranolol vary the stenosis lumen by more than 0.3mm. In this form of angina, a number of lesions seem to offer a compliant substrate for vasomotion and, possibly, for critical changes in flow. The vasomotor influences of nifedipine on these lesions are variable as well as the efficacy of the drug on the manifestations of ischemia at rest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605574 TI - [Syncope in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: clinical data, electrophysiologic substrate and prognostic value]. AB - Syncope in Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) patients might be considered a premonitory event heralding the future development of sudden death. Therefore, we reviewed the clinical and electrophysiologic data of 91 WPW patients referred for invasive evaluation of known arrhythmias, in order to assess the incidence and clinical relevance of syncope. Thirty-four patients (37%, Group I) reported the occurrence of 1 or more syncopal episodes, while 57 patients (63%, Group II) had no syncope. These 2 groups did not differ significantly with regard to age, sex, incidence and characteristics of arrhythmias, clinical history and frequency of arrhythmic events, presence of associated cardiac diseases. Eleven patients in Group I and 9 in Group II were resuscitated from a cardiac arrest. The sensitivity (40%), the specificity (64%) as well as the positive predictive value (32%) and the negative predictive value (71%) of syncope vs a cardiac arrest were not significant. There were no statistical differences in the effective refractory period of the right atrium, atrioventricular node, accessory pathway and right ventricle between the 2 groups. Furthermore, no differences were noted in the cycle length of tachycardia (327 +/- 60 ms in Group I and 335 +/- 46 ms in Group II) and in the minimum RR interval during atrial fibrillation (248 +/- 49 ms and 244 +/- 43 ms, in Group I and II, respectively) as well as in the number of patients who had a minimum RR interval during atrial fibrillation less than or equal to 250 ms (15 patients--65%--in Group I and 21 patients--62%--in Group II).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605575 TI - [Correlation between the sites of mitral annular calcification and conduction disturbances: echocardiographic evaluation]. AB - A clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic (M-Mode, 2D) study was performed to explain the causal relationship between mitral annular calcification and cardiac conduction disturbances. Forty-seven patients, 28 women and 19 men (mean age 69) with mitral annular calcification were studied. In 18 patients A-V and/or intraventricular conduction disturbances were present. In this study we have found: a greater incidence of posterior than anterior mitral annular calcification; the anterior mitral annular calcification is often associated with aortic valve calcification and ultimately the common association between anterior mitral annular calcification and conduction disturbances. PMID- 2605576 TI - [Right ventricular thrombosis in association with dilated cardiomyopathy: diagnosis by echocardiography and nuclear magnetic resonance]. AB - Thrombus formation in right chambers is an uncommon event which usually follows an acute right myocardial infarction or a thromboembolic disease. In subjects with dilated cardiomyopathy, thrombus formation is common in the left ventricle; so far right ventricular thrombosis has not yet been reported. In this report we describe a case of cardiomyopathy with right ventricular thrombosis as detected by echocardiography and nuclear magnetic resonance. PMID- 2605577 TI - [Bidirectional tachycardia during therapy with lorajmine]. AB - We report a case of bidirectional tachycardia (BT) found on Holter recording (H ECG), likely due to antiarrhythmic therapy with lorajmine. The patient, who was not on digitalis therapy and had good myocardial function, was investigated for presyncope. H-ECG revealed frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVC). Disopyramide, lorajmine and amiodarone (in succession) were ineffective in controlling the arrhythmias. During therapy with lorajmine (600 mg/die) H-ECG showed numerous symptomless episodes of BT. Two forms of BT were found. In the first one the PVC had a right bundle branch block (BBB) pattern in lead CM1 and alternating polarity (Rs-rS) in lead CM5, whereas in the second one an alternating right and left BBB pattern in CM1 was found. PVC were subsequently controlled with flecainide. In a 4-year follow-up period the patient underwent several H-ECGs, both with and without antiarrhythmic drugs; however, BT episodes were found only during lorajmine therapy. Thus, this drug was likely responsible for the appearance of BT episodes. PMID- 2605578 TI - [Effect of intracoronary and intravenous administration of propranolol on coronary vasomotility at rest and during exercise]. AB - The effect of intracoronary and intravenous propranolol on coronary vasomotion was evaluated in 30 patients with coronary artery disease. Luminal area of a normal and a stenotic coronary segment was determined at rest, during supine bicycle exercise and 5 min after 1.6 mg sublingual nitroglycerin administered at the end of the exercise test using biplane quantitative coronary arteriography. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group I (n = 12) served as control Group II consisted of 10 patients with intracoronary administration of 1 mg propranolol and Group III of 8 patients with intravenous administration of 0.1 mg/kg propranolol prior to the exercise test. In the control Group there was coronary vasodilation (+23%, p less than 0.01) of the normal and coronary vasoconstriction (-29%, p less than 0.001) of the stenotic vessel segment during bicycle exercise. After sublingual administration of 1.6 mg nitroglycerin there was vasodilation of both normal (+40%, p less than 0.001 vs rest) and stenotic (+12%, NS vs rest) segments. In Group II intracoronary propranolol was not accompanied by a change in coronary area but both normal (+13%, p less than 0.05) and stenotic (+22%, p less than 0.05) segments showed coronary vasodilation during bicycle exercise. After sublingual nitroglycerin there was further vasodilation of both normal (+31%, p less than 0.001 vs rest) and stenotic (+45%, p less than 0.01 vs rest) arteries. In Group III intravenous administration of propranolol was associated with a decrease in coronary luminal area of both normal (-24%, p less than 0.001) and stenotic (-41%, p less than 0.001) segments. During dynamic exercise there was coronary vasodilation of both segments when compared to the data after intravenous injection of propranolol but there was no change in luminal area (normal vessel-2%, NS vs rest; stenotic vessel-3%, NS vs rest) when compared to the resting data. After sublingual administration of 1.6 mg nitroglycerin both normal (+21%, p less than 0.001) and stenotic (+46%, p less than 0.001) segments showed coronary vasodilation. It is concluded that supine bicycle exercise in patients with coronary artery disease is associated with vasodilation of the normal and vasoconstriction of the stenotic coronary arteries. Intravenous administration of propranolol is followed by coronary vasoconstriction of both normal and stenotic coronary arteries probably due to secondary mechanisms (reduction in heart rate and contractility) because it is not observed after intracoronary injection of propranolol and it is overridden by bicycle exercise and sublingual nitroglycerin. PMID- 2605579 TI - [Clinical usefulness of the Doppler-echocardiographic method for evaluating intracardiac shunts. Combined Doppler and hemodynamic study]. AB - The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of a quantitative two dimensional Doppler echocardiographic method for estimating systemic and pulmonary blood flows in atrial and ventricular septal defects. Twenty-eight patients (mean age 22 +/- 14), with atrial septal defect (ADS) or ventricular septal defect (VSD) underwent Doppler-echocardiography and cardiac catheterization in order to assess pulmonary blood flow (QP), systemic blood flow (QS), the left to right shunt (SH) and the ratio of pulmonary to systemic flow (QP/QS ratio). Cardiac output was also determined by the oximetry method according to Fick principle. Pulmonary output assessed by Doppler was 7.9 +/- 0.61/min, by catheterization 9.0 +/- 3.9. Linear regression analysis showed a low correlation coefficient (r = 0.10; p = NS). Systemic output evaluated by Doppler resulted 4.6 +/- 1.4 l/m, while at catheterization 5.1 +/- 1.5 l/min (r = 0.25; p = NS). Doppler evaluation of left-to right shunt was 3.3 +/- 1.5 l/min, at catheterization 3.9 +/- 3.1 (r = 0.74; p less than 0.001). Doppler QP/QS ratio resulted 1.7 +/- 0.5, at catheterization 1.8 +/- 0.5 (r = 0.96; p less than 0.0010. The results showed that, in spite of the lack of correlation between the pulmonary and systemic outputs assessed by Doppler vs catheterization, QP/QS ratio, as well as SH, are useful noninvasive indexes in order to evaluate intracardiac shunts. PMID- 2605580 TI - [Gallopamil and chlorthalidone versus atenolol and chlorthalidone in the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in patients with arterial hypertension: polycardiographic evaluation of the systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle]. AB - In 13 patients, affected by hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and essential hypertension, antihypertensive-efficacy and effects of a new calcium channel blocker (gallopamil) associated with a diuretic agent (chlorthalidone) on left ventricular systolic and diastolic performance assessed by phonocardiographic methods. The results were compared to those obtained, in the same group of patients, with a selective beta-blocker (atenolol) associated with the same diuretic agent (chlorthalidone). With both therapeutic regimens a statistically significant reduction of systolic and diastolic arterial pressure was observed; both agents were able to reduce hemodynamic gradient in systole which characterize HOCM; however, the treatment with gallopamil plus chlorthalidone determined greater effects on left ventricular diastolic function as compared to the treatment with atenolol plus chlorthalidone; both treatments determined bradycardia. PMID- 2605581 TI - [Analysis using scintigraphy with thallium-201 of the perfusion picture before and after myocardial revascularization]. AB - The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of coronary artery bypass surgery on myocardial perfusion analyzed by thallium-201 scintigraphy. In 34 patients early thallium-201 imaging, repeated 4 hours later at rest, was performed 2-3 days before and within 1 year following myocardial revascularization. Before surgery, exercise ECGs were positive in 22/34 patients, with scintigraphic perfusion defects in 33/34 patients; thallium-201 imaging showed reversible in 77 and irreversible perfusion defects in 51 myocardial segments. After surgery, exercise ECGs were positive in 3/34 patients, while thallium-201 perfusion data improved in 27, were unchanged in 4 and worsened in 3 patients. After surgery, thallium-201 imaging showed a remarkable improvement, with decreased number of reversible (8 segments) and irreversible (32 segments) perfusion defects. Ten of the 22 patients with previous myocardial infarction had improved irreversible perfusion defects in myocardial segments that were infarcted. Qualitative thallium-201 scintigraphy showed that myocardial revascularization exerted a clear favorable influence on reversible perfusion defects and in part on irreversible perfusion defects, suggesting that persistent defects are compatible not only with scar tissue, but also may represent hypoperfusion of viable myocardium. PMID- 2605582 TI - [Electrophysiologic significance of the electric alternans in supraventricular tachycardia]. AB - To investigate the electrophysiologic significance of QRS alternans during narrow QRS tachycardia, transesophageal atrial pacing and recording was performed in 24 patients with a history of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Standard electrocardiograms (ECG) showed ventricular preexcitation in 15 patients and normal QRS pattern in 9. The ventriculo-atrial interval during tachycardia, as defined by means of transesophageal electrogram, allowed tentative diagnosis of the tachycardia mechanism. A 12-lead ECG was recorded either during spontaneous or induced tachycardia, as well as during transesophageal atrial pacing at increasing rates. Electrical alternans occurred spontaneously in 8 patients (33%, Group A): 5 with accessory pathway reentry (mean VA: 136 +/- 43 ms), 3 with intranodal reentry (mean VA: 48.3 +/- 43 ms). Tachycardia rate ranged between 170 and 230 b/min (mean 200.7 +/- 16). In 2 patients alternation of the QRS occurred only in the presence of a heart rate exceeding 180 and 190 b/min, respectively. The amplitude of QRS remained stable during tachycardia in 16 patients (67%, Group B): 14 with accessory pathway reentry (mean VA: 137.5 +/- 32 ms), 2 with intranodal reentry (mean VA: 45 +/- 7 ms). In this group, the tachycardia rate ranged from 150 to 210 b/min (mean 175 +/- 12). Incremental transesophageal atrial pacing up to rates equal to that of tachycardia was performed in 5 patients of Group A and in 8 of Group B. Electrical alternans could not be induced in both groups with pacing at progressively increasing rates. In contrast, the phenomenon was elicited in 2 patients of Group A when an abrupt pacing at the same rate that had showed the spontaneous occurrence of QRS alternans was instituted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605583 TI - [Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: study of the pattern of onset using dynamic electrocardiography]. AB - We have examined 24 hours ECG Holter recordings of 22 patients without any organic heart disease and with recurrent episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) to check the possible sympatho-vagal influence on spontaneous initiation. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to average heart rate (HR) during the 24 hours recording and to the mode of onset of the arrhythmia: sympathetic (only diurnal episodes, HR greater than or equal to 75 b/min before the onset of the episode, average 24 hours HR greater than or equal to 80 b/min, progressive or sudden shortening of sinusal cycle before the onset), vagal (only nocturnal episodes, HR less than or equal to 60 b/min before the onset, average 24 hours HR less than or equal to 60 b/min, progressive or sudden lengthening of sinusal cycle before the onset of the episode) or "others" who did not show the aforementioned characteristics. RESULTS: there are not only 2 types of patients under prevalent sympathetic or vagal control but even patients who show mixed patterns; in the sympathetic group there are significant differences between ectopic atrial beats (EAB) that start a PAF and isolated EAB in: prematurity index (0.51 +/- 0.11 vs 0.45 +/- 0.07; p less than 0.001) coupling time (381 +/- 36 ms vs 419 +/- 48 ms; p less than 0.005), sinus cycle length (PP) before the onset of the arrhythmia (761 +/- 192 ms vs 950 +/- 175 ms; p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605584 TI - [Idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy: clinical, hemodynamic, histologic and prognostic profile]. AB - Idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy is a rare myocardial disease characterized by restrictive physiology without a specific histologic basis. To assess its clinical, hemodynamic, morphologic and prognostic details we retrospectively evaluated all the patients hospitalized in our Institute from 1974 to 1988. Nine patients, aged 42 +/- 16 years, M/F ratio = 0.29, who represent 64% of all the restrictive myocardial diseases biopsied were identified. Severe cardiac heart failure (3-4 NYHA) and arrhythmias (ventricular and supraventricular) were extremely common. The electrocardiogram showed several non specific signs: low voltage of QRS in peripheral leads (4/7), pseudo-infarctional aspects (3/7), mono or biventricular hypertrophy (3/7) disturbance of ventricular conduction (3/7), aspecific abnormalities of ventricular repolarization (3/7). All patients showed a prolonged QTc. M-mode and 2-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated in 6 cases biatrial enlargement, normal or slightly enlarged ventricles, normal or moderately depressed fractional shortening; biventricular concentric hypertrophy was detected in 3 cases, asymmetrical septal hypertrophy in 1. Five patients showed pericardial effusion. Cardiac catheterization disclosed an increase of left and right ventricular end-diastolic pressures (8/8) with a dip-plateau pattern and/or characteristic W waveform in the atrial pressure tracing (9/9). Passive pulmonary hypertension was detected in 6/9 cases. The cardiac index was decreased in 4/8 cases. Left ventricular angiography showed mitral regurgitation in 5/8 patients, tricuspidal in 5/8. Ejection fraction was decreased in 3/8 cases. Endomyocardial biopsy showed interstitial fibrosis (8/9), cellular hypertrophy and/or nuclear alterations (7/9), slight endocardial thickening (2/9). At a mean follow-up of 22 +/- 15 months 3 patients died and 2 underwent heart transplantation. In conclusion idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy is one of the most frequent forms of restrictive myocardial diseases in our geographic area. Severe congestive heart failure and arrhythmias are extremely common. The disease can be suspected by clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features, but the final diagnosis requires cardiac catheterization and endomyocardial biopsy. Prognosis is severe and heart transplantation must be considered in the cases with severe heart failure. PMID- 2605585 TI - [Arrhythmia related to a dual chamber DDD pacemaker: a study using intra-atrial dynamic electrocardiographic monitoring]. AB - The intra-atrial Holter monitoring (IAHM) has been recently suggested to accurately analyze atrial activity in some complex arrhythmias. We have used this new method to examine DDD pacing-related tachyarrhythmias (DDD/TAs). Fifteen patients underwent IAHM (24 hours) early after DDD pacemaker (PM) implantation. The intra-atrial ECGs were obtained through a multipolar electrode catheter; simultaneously a chest wall lead (CM5) was recorded. A standard Holter equipment was used. When DDD/TAs were observed, a second 24-hours recording was performed after a suitable PM re-programming. In 9 patients (60%) 1 or more DDD/TAs were observed, due to the following mechanisms: PM re-entry, oversensing of extra atrial potentials, fast ventricular stimulation triggered by spontaneous atrial tachyarrhythmias. Whereas the diagnostic accuracy of the IAHM was manifest, the DDD/TAs were often misdiagnosed on the basis of the CM5 lead data. At last, a right DDD PM re-programming, based on IAHM results, was able to solve or minimize the referred arrhythmic problems. In conclusion, the IAHM can be an useful method to understand the electrogenetic causes of the DDD/TAs and to optimally program the dual chamber PM. However, on account of the invasivity of the procedure, the IAHM must be used only when the noninvasive techniques fail to detect the mechanisms of the DDD/TAs. PMID- 2605586 TI - [Asymptomatic pre-excitation. Identification of potential risk using transesophageal pacing]. AB - Noninvasive assessment of the conducting capability of the accessory pathway (AP) in asymptomatic patients with a preexcitation ECG pattern is desirable, since life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden death may be the first manifestation of the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. To investigate whether in patients with preexcitation ECG pattern the absence of clinical arrhythmias excludes the potential for rapid ventricular responses, transesophageal atrial pacing (TAP) was performed in 11 subjects (9 male, 2 female), aged 5 to 43 years. The extrastimulus technique was used in order to define the refractory periods and in the attempt to induce reciprocating tachycardia. Incremental TAP up to the occurrence of block in the AP was instituted, and attempts to induce atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid burst pacing were made. One to one atrioventricular conduction over the AP at progressively increased cycle lengths (CLs), and the shortest R-R interval between pre-excited beats during induced AF were evaluated. The following findings were considered predictors of potential life-threatening arrhythmias: 1) anterograde refractory period of the AP equal to or shorter than 250 ms; 2) one to one AP conduction at CLs shorter than 300 ms; 3) shortest R-R interval, during induced AF, less than 250 ms. Sustained reciprocating tachycardia could not be induced in all patients in spite of the use of the use of an aggressive stimulation protocol. The anterograde refractory period of the AP could not be defined in 9 patients. In the remaining 2 this parameter was longer than 250 ms. In 8 patients (72%), the shortest CL maintaining 1:1 AP conduction ranged from 220 to 280 ms (mean 253 +/- 19).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605587 TI - [Doppler echocardiography in atrial myxoma]. AB - Two-dimensional echocardiography is the technique of choice for the diagnosis of atrial myxoma. In fact the Echo study allows the recognition of the presence of the tumor, and can show its dimensions, shape, implantation site and motility. However, it is not clear the role of Doppler echocardiography in the evaluation of atrial myxoma. This technique could be useful to recognize patients with more severe obstruction to atrioventricular flow due to large tumors. In 4 patients with large atrial myxomas (3 left and 1 right atrial myxoma) Doppler analysis of atrioventricular flow showed an apparent correlation between variation of trans mitral or trans-tricuspid diastolic flow and symptoms (syncopal attacks). Only patients with an obstruction to atrioventricular flow and severely restricted calculated mitral or tricuspid orifice had syncopal attacks, at variance with patients without flow obstruction. Further studies on larger population will verify this apparent relation between atrioventricular flow obstruction and clinical symptoms in patients with large atrial myxoma. PMID- 2605588 TI - [Afterload changes in diabetic dysautonomia evaluated using echocardiography]. AB - We have studied echocardiographic morpho-functional alterations in 34 male subjects with diabetes, aged 31-73 years, with and without autonomic nervous system failure. The subjects are grouped following the tests "deep breathing", "Valsalva manoeuver", "lying to standing" and "active standing" in: D-I (10 normal subjects); D-II (16 subjects with parasympathetic failure); D-III (8 subjects with orthosympathetic failure). The D-III subjects showed significantly lower parietal systolic stress (PSS) compared to normal subjects, 115.6 +/- 17.4 vs 163.1 +/- 13.1 10(3) dynes/cm2 (mean +/- 1SD), and significantly lower end isovolumetric systolic stress, 67.8 +/- 7.8 vs 98.6 +/- 7.1 10(3) dynes/cm2 ("afterload" indexes). In D-III group, the subjects with noradrenaline levels greater than 300 pg/ml, with an hypothetical peripheral resistance to noradrenaline (or receptor "down regulation"), showed higher blood pressure levels and higher parietal stress (PSS: 141.3 +/- 25.3 vs 98.5 +/- 20.7 10(3) dynes/cm2; EISS: 74.1 +/- 17.8 vs 63.6 +/- 8.6 10(3) dynes/cm2). Thus, cardiovascular signs of autonomic failure, like the stress index variation, related to a modification of the afterload, may be observable in diabetic patients. PMID- 2605589 TI - [Cardiac arrhythmia in relation to the leaflet morphology in subjects with mitral valve prolapse]. AB - Aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias in subjects with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and redundant leaflets in comparison with subjects with MVP without leaflets redundance. So, 60 subjects (aged 13 to 39 years), were subdivided in 3 groups on the basis of mitral leaflets shape at 2D echocardiography; a continuous ECG monitoring (24 hours) was also performed. Arrhythmias were more frequent and more severe in the Group III (subjects with MVP and redundant leaflets), in comparison with both Group II (subjects with MVP without leaflets redundance) and Group I (control subjects). In particular, analysing the mean values of the single arrhythmias in the 24 hours, ventricular ectopic beats (VEB), were more frequent in Group II (p less than 0.01) and Group III (p less than 0.05) in comparison with Group I; the couplets and the runs of ventricular tachycardia were more frequent in Group III than in the other groups (p less than 0.001). The number of the subjects with a Lown class greater than 3 was higher in Group III than in the other groups (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, this study confirms that MVP is a disease presenting a large variability arrhythmic risk, that seems to be real only for a subgroup of these subjects. PMID- 2605591 TI - A Symposium on the Endogenous Benefits of Saliva in Oral Health. March 21, 1989. LSU School of Dentistry, New Orleans, LA. PMID- 2605590 TI - [Acute latent myocarditis appearing with ventricular fibrillation after intranasal administration of adrenaline. Description of a case]. AB - We report a case of a 17 year old sports woman, who had a ventricular fibrillation episode with cardiogenic shock during endonasal anaesthesia containing epinephrine. She was so transferred to our department (in shock): the 2-D echo showed biventricular hypokinesia without dilatation (LVEF less than 25%). Endomyocardial biopsy performed 5 days later showed active lymphocyte myocarditis with interstitial fibrosis. There were serum antibodies anti-Echo 9 and Coxsackie B 1, 2, 3. Immunoassay, urinary catecholamines and glucagon test were normal. The clinical picture was resolved within 15 days using intravenous isoprenaline and/or dopamine initially followed by oral diuretics and digoxin; the therapy was broke off at the time of discharge. We believe that the vasoconstriction and/or the oxygen wasting effect caused by epinephrine revealed latent myocarditis which had not been shown up even by intensive physical training. PMID- 2605592 TI - Saliva composition and its importance in dental health. PMID- 2605593 TI - Management of patients with xerostomia. PMID- 2605594 TI - Canal preparation using two mechanical handpieces: distortions, ledging, and potential solutions. AB - Two mechanical handpieces, the Giromatic and the Kerr M-4, were used to prepare curved canals in plastic blocks. The canals prepared with the Giromatic were generally better than those using the M-4. Both systems produced ledges and other canal distortions. This paper will describe methods to minimize ledge production. PMID- 2605595 TI - A dentist oriented fear reduction technique: the iatrosedative process. AB - This article describes a treatment process that significantly reduces learned dental fear and can be performed by the dentist in 30 to 40 minutes. The findings support the conclusion that the process is effective for calming the fearful dental patient. The iatrosedative process is cost and time effective. It is a procedure the dentist can learn readily, and it can substantially diminish the fear that interferes with treatment. PMID- 2605596 TI - Verification of centric relation. AB - This article discusses the clinical uses of Centric Check Points in the edentulous and partially edentulous patient. It details the technique for centric verification, and the correction procedure if an error is discovered. PMID- 2605597 TI - Syncope in dental practice. AB - This article will provide an overview of the pathophysiologic mechanism and management of syncope. It will discuss the classifications and varieties of syncope, as well as syncope caused by dental practices. Finally, the authors will suggest management options for syncope. PMID- 2605599 TI - A team approach to implantology. PMID- 2605598 TI - Clinical pharmacology of sedatives and opioid analgesics, Part I. AB - This two-part article reviews the human pharmacology of two classes of pharmacologic agents: sedative-hypnotics and opioid (narcotic) analgesics. The major emphasis is on the injectable drugs that play a central role in contemporary anesthesiology. In this issue, Part I addresses the pharmacokinetics of intravenous anesthetics and the clinical pharmacology of sedative-hypnotics. In the next issue, Part II will discuss the clinical pharmacology of opioid agonists. PMID- 2605600 TI - Flurbiprofen: a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. PMID- 2605601 TI - Apparatus for storing and transporting traumatically avulsed teeth. PMID- 2605602 TI - The endodontic emergency: practical methods of management. PMID- 2605603 TI - A comparison of periapical and panoramic radiographic surveys in the diagnosis of maxillary sinus mucous retention cysts. PMID- 2605604 TI - Endodontic access: an update, Part I. PMID- 2605605 TI - The reduction of phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth in a severely disabled patient: a case report. AB - Gingival overgrowth frequently occurs in patients medicated with phenytoin (5,5 diphenylhydantoin) to control epileptic seizures. In a recent study, gingival overgrowth was observed in a patient in an experimental group evaluating an automatic toothbrushing system for severely disabled patients. During the evaluation period, which included an oral hygiene regimen provided by an attendant or housemate and a regimen with the Mississippi Dental Care System (MDCS), the patient's gingival overgrowth was noticeably reduced. The results of this study indicate that control of local factors with the MDCS is significantly better than the routine home care regimen, and that the phenytoin-associated gingival overgrowth in this patient was reduced by MDCS. PMID- 2605606 TI - Endodontic access: an update, Part II. AB - Part two of the series on root canal access discusses treatment of the premolars and the mandibular and maxillary molars, and offers additional treatment recommendations. PMID- 2605607 TI - Etched-porcelain resin-bonded full-veneer crowns: in vitro fracture resistance. AB - A recent study showed that both anterior and posterior glass ionomer-bonded crowns were significantly weaker than natural teeth. However, the fracture resistance of resin-bonded anterior crowns exceeded the strength of their size matched controls. The three cement types were significantly different, with the average strength for Gluma, a-bonded crowns being the highest, then the Scotch bond, b-bonded crowns, while Ketac Bond, c glass ionomer cemented crowns were the weakest. This pilot study indicates that the resin-bonded etched-porcelain full veneer crowns are almost as strong as natural teeth and significantly stronger than glass ionomer-bonded crowns. PMID- 2605608 TI - Shortie matrix and complex Class IV composite resin restoration. AB - Clinicians face a dilemma treating anterior teeth severely damaged by caries or fracture. The ideal treatment in many cases would be a full veneer crown. A restorative procedure that satisfies biologic and esthetic considerations is generally not difficult for the experienced clinician. But such a treatment path may be reevaluated because of financial considerations, tooth prognosis, and planned treatment of teeth. Perhaps the most critical issue in the restorative procedure is the role the faciolingual contour of the junctional epithelium (epithelium attachment) plays in matrix adaptation. This article offers the clinician the rationale and technique to utilize the Original Tofflemeier matrix #2 in large Class IV cavity preparation. PMID- 2605609 TI - [The present possibilities of quantitative Doppler echocardiography using pulse and continuous technics. II. Evaluation of cardiac hemodynamics]. AB - The paper presents a clear and concise description of potential ways how to evaluate selected haemodynamic indicators using Doppler echocardiography. The evaluation of the systolic function of the left ventricle is based on the estimate of cardiac flow volumes (i.e. minute and stroke volumes) established by the quantitative Doppler curve speed analysis at the orifice measured. More recent indicators are: peak velocity of aortal ejection, acceleration time or the absolute acceleration value. All the mentioned values can be also obtained during examination at exertion. By means of an analysis of the changes in values and on the basis of the value obtained from the examination at exertion, the authors try to discriminate the patients with a functional (most often ischaemic) myocardial affection of greater or smaller extent. The diastolic function of the left ventricle is evaluated to a certain degree by analyzing its filling using quantitative analysis of speed-time integral of the mitral diastolic flow. Other haemodynamic values obtained by means of speed curve quantification include: estimate of some intracardiac pressures values (systolic pressure in the right ventricle, medial pressure in the pulmonary artery, telediastolic pressure in the left ventricle) and quantification of the intracardiac shunts. PMID- 2605610 TI - [Antibodies against granulocyte precursors in patients with neutropenia: use of the ML-1 myeloid line]. AB - With the aid of indirect immunofluorescent test, the authors investigated antibodies in the serum of patients, which reacted against immature myeloid cells and mature granulocytes. Myeloid line ML-1, longitudinally maintained in vitro, was used as source of immature myeloid cells. 248 sera were examined and antibodies against the immature myeloid cells were detected in 8% of them. In 6 selected sera of the patients with neutropenia, the authors determined the Ig class of the identified antibody against the immature cells of the ML-1 myeloid line, against the myeloid cells of the ML-1 line differentiated with retinoic acid, respectively even the Ig class of the antibody against neutrophils. The IgM class antibody was found to have the highest frequency. Using absorption studies, the authors provided evidence that the antibody against the myeloid cells can be absorbed only by means of the cells of the myeloid line ML-1, which is demonstrated by the absence of the surface character in the mature neutrophils against which the antibody was directed. The authors discuss the outcome of their investigation aimed at making a more accurate diagnosis of immune neutropenia. PMID- 2605611 TI - [The effect of certain substances on changes in the expression of class II HLA antigens]. AB - With the aid of the RIA method, the authors found that the stimulation of T lymphocytes by means of PWM lectin is linked to the expressivity of HLA antigens of class II on their surface. A simultaneous addition of indomethacin, tetracycline, coreton, hydrocortisone and novozir was decreasing the expressivity of the Ia antigens and, at the same time inhibited the lymphocyte proliferation. The growth factor for T (IL-2) lymphocytes was increasing the expressivity of HLA DR antigens in the cells even without a previous stimulation by mitogen. Glucan, serous thymic factor, natrium salicylicum, hippuric acid had no effect on the expressivity of the HLA antigens of class II. PMID- 2605612 TI - [Prevention of recurrent urinary infections using Solco Urovac, a polymicrobial vaccine]. AB - The administration of Solco Urovac polymicrobial vaccine to 26 patients with recurrent episodes of urinary tract infection significantly reduced the number of episodes, in one third of the persons even prevented them for a period of one year. In case of persistent bacteriuria, accompanying, for example, nephrolithiasis, the vaccine had no effect. A better effect can be achieved in cases of uncomplicated infections of the lower urinary tract than in infections associated with structural abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract. In some patients, the administration of the vaccine is accompanied by mild side effects which, but only exceptionally, can lead to the discontinuation of the therapy. PMID- 2605613 TI - [What is the relation between pressure parameters and claudication distance?]. AB - The authors examined the relationship between the ankle pressure, or pressure gradient on the one hand, and the walking distance and different actions, i.e. equalting and standing on tip toes, on the other hand. In 56 male patients with obliterating atherosclerosis, the first stage showed both pressure parameters as closely correlated to the final claudication distance, but not to the actions indicated above. At the second stage, 62 persons showed both the initial and final claudication distances as dependent on the poststenotic pressure as well as on the pressure gradient. Stepwise regression analysis showed a significant dependence of both distances on the lowest pressure measured on four crural arteries. The closest correlation [R = 0.98] was found between the initial and final claudication distances which persisted even after elimination of all pressure parameters. PMID- 2605614 TI - [The relation between hypertension and cerebrovascular accidents]. AB - In 1984, ictus patients were hospitalized at the neurological department of the Regional Hospital, Usti n. Labem, Czechoslovakia. This group included 70% hypertensive patients and 30% normotensives. The diagnosis was determined through direct blood pressure measuring in 71% of them, 26% were diagnosed with the aid of anamnesis and clinical records, and 2.5% were determined on the basis of ECG, eyeground changes or echocardiography. Only 56% of the followed-up patients were found to have signs of hypertrophy and left ventricular overload. The hypertensive patients, both living and dead, were found to have the frequency of clinically manifest ischaemic heart disease significantly higher than the normotensives. The five-year follow-up of hypertensive ictus patients showed a 38.5% death rate, but only 21.7% in normotensives, the average age of both groups being the same. Insufficient follow-up care of hypertensive ictus patients was found in 26% cases. PMID- 2605615 TI - [Preventing the development of intraventricular thrombosis in acute myocardial infarct with thrombolytic therapy]. AB - The authors studied the possibilities of preventing intraventricular thrombosis (IVT) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by employing early therapeutical measures, and by checking the risk factors of IVT, and found a decrease in the IVT embolization potential through adequate therapy. They examined 200 patients with AMI, out of whom 30 [15%] were found to have IVT. According to the results obtained, the therapy of AMI by means of streptokinase had a prophylactic significance for preventing IVT [IVT occurrence - 10%]; a lesser preventive effect was provided by heparin with the 19% incidence of IVT, but the IVT occurred in 47% of patients without thrombolytic or anticoagulation therapy. The risk factors of statistical significance which led to IVT were apical aneurysm, anteroseptal and apical AMI, reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction and the female sex (p less than 0.05). A further IVT follow-up confirmed the risk of systemic artery embolization, especially in malignant IVT (p less than 0.01). In such cases, effective prevention seems to require anticoagulation therapy which must follow immediately after IVT diagnosis and continue up to 50% regression of the thrombus or to its total disappearance. PMID- 2605616 TI - Action of cortisol on the proliferation of rainbow trout fibroblasts. AB - The effect of cortisol on the proliferation of the rainbow trout fibroblast cell line, RTG-2, was examined in synchronous and asynchronous cultures. When the transition from G1 to S was synchronized by restoring serum to serum-deprived cultures, the addition of cortisol at the time of serum restoration delayed the entry of cells into S phase. However, if cortisol was added 24 h after serum restoration, at the G1/S transition point, the subsequent peak of DNA synthesis was unaffected. In asynchronous cultures cortisol inhibited [3H]-thymidine and [3H]-uridine but not [3H]-leucine incorporation into acid-insoluble material. If the exogenous nucleoside concentration was raised, [3H]-thymidine but not [3H] uridine incorporation continued to be inhibited by cortisol. This suggested that cortisol's effect on [3H]-thymidine incorporation reflected a change in entry into S phase and not just on thymidine uptake and metabolism. Cortisol inhibited the proliferation of RTG-2 in asynchronous cultures. At 1000 ng/ml of cortisol a reduction in cell number became apparent before the RTG-2 cultures were confluent, whereas at 100 ng/ml the reduction only became evident in confluent cultures. The synthetic antiglucocorticoid, RU 486, which acts at the level of the corticosteroid receptor, blocked the growth inhibition by cortisol. These results suggest that cortisol regulates rainbow trout fibroblast proliferation via the corticosteroid receptor and that the G1/S transition is one point at which this regulation occurs. PMID- 2605617 TI - Effect of the duration of infusion of urogastrone on intestinal regeneration in rabbits. AB - Urogastrone (UG) increases the rate of mucosal regeneration on patched intestinal defects. Our aim was to determine the effect of the duration of UG administration on regeneration of serosa patched ileal defects in rabbits. Group I (n = 18) were controls. Group II (n = 15), Group III (n = 10) and Group IV (n = 5) received UG 1.5 micrograms/kg/h subcutaneously for 7 days, 14 days or 21 days respectively. Animals were sacrificed at 7 day intervals up to 21 days after patching. Neomucosal growth was significantly greater in the animals receiving UG and was greatest in Group IV. Group II and III animals had less contraction of the patched defect and greater neomucosal surface area than Group I animals at each interval but had a lesser effect than animals receiving UG continuously. Crypt cell production rate was significantly greater in UG treated animals at 7 and 14 days but fell to control levels at 21 days. Prolonging the duration of UG infusion increased the quantity of neomucosa produced by intestinal regeneration. However, UG stimulation of mucosal cell migration and proliferation occurred transiently within 14 days after patching. PMID- 2605618 TI - DNA synthesis in Langerhans' cells of mouse ear epithelium revealed by tritiated thymidine autoradiography and histochemical staining for non-specific esterase and beta-glucuronidase activity. AB - The proportion of Langerhans' cells in DNA synthesis in normal mouse skin was assessed by combining tritiated thymidine [3H]TdR autoradiography with enzyme histochemistry. After injection of [3H]TdR, ear skin was treated in two ways. Epithelial sheet preparations were stained for the presence of non-specific esterase and cytospin preparations of epithelial cell suspensions were stained for beta-glucuronidase activity. The labelling index (+/- SE mean) for cytospins, 40 min after injecting [3H]TdR, was 1.6 +/- 0.15%, doubling to 3-4% from 7-17 days after injection. The sheet preparations showed the proportion of label attributable to paired Langerhans' cells rising from 18% at 40 min after injection, to approximately 45%, on days 1-4 after injection. These results suggest that the proliferation of Langerhans' cells in normal mouse skin might be higher than was previously thought to be the case. PMID- 2605619 TI - The maintenance of colchicine-arrested metaphases in plants requires protein synthesis. AB - With the aim of finding out factors involved in chromosomal condensation, the kinetics of both metaphase accumulation and the subsequent formation of restitution nuclei in the presence of 1 mM colchicine have been analyzed in Allium cepa L. meristems. Restitution nuclei are formed by decondensation of the chromosomes from the c-mitoses and the reformation of nuclear envelopes around them. The study has been carried out in control conditions as well as in conditions which either inhibit protein synthesis (1 microgram/ml cycloheximide) or modify the accuracy of transcription (by near ultraviolet light irradiation under anoxia of cells with bromosubstituted-DNA). The results suggest that the high condensation of chromosomes observed in colchicine-arrested metaphases depends on sustained synthesis of protein, and that the DNA regions coding for such proteins are transcribed not before late prophase. By using cells, the genome of which has been partially bromosubstituted, fed bromodeoxyuridine during different fractions of this S period, it could be inferred that the coding regions for the proteins involved in chromosome condensation are probably multiple since they replicate throughout the whole S period. PMID- 2605620 TI - A comparative bioavailability of 2 oral solid phenytoin dosage forms. AB - The comparative bioavailability of two phenytoin products, Phenytoin Sodium (CAPS (Pvt) Ltd) and Epanutin (Parke-Davis (Pty) Ltd) was studied. Single dose studies carried out in eight healthy volunteers showed that CAPS Phenytoin exhibited a small but significantly higher bioavailability (P less than 0.05). The AUC (0-72 hr) for CAPS Phenytoin was 50.61 microgram/ml/hr compared to 45.09 au/ml/hr for Epanutin. The time to peak concentrations, Tmax, was significantly longer in CAPS Phenytoin when compared to Epanutin being 3.75 hr and 3.25 hr respectively (P less than 0.05) and the peak concentrations Cmax, achieved after single dose administration showed that CAPS Phenytoin exhibited higher levels than Spanutin (1.76 au/ml and 1.58 au/ml respectively) although these differences were not statistically significant. Multiple dose studies carried out in four healthy volunteers and two epileptic patients showed that changes from one product to the other did not produce any significant differences in the steady state phenytoin levels. PMID- 2605621 TI - Adequate heparinization during PTCA: assessment using activated clotting times. AB - Heparinization during PTCA is often done empirically with an initial 10,000 unit bolus of heparin and subsequent additional boluses as deemed necessary to prevent thrombus formation and fibrin deposition. However, the initial 10,000 unit bolus may not result in adequate systemic anticoagulation in every patient, exposing some patients to risk of thrombus at the angioplasty site and subsequent reocclusion. In this non-randomized study, we assessed systemic coagulation during PTCA by retrospectively analyzing activated clotting times obtained in 108 consecutive patients. All patients had normal baseline prothrombin times and activated partial thromboplastin times. Patients who were on heparin prior to PTCA were excluded. Based on data from studies on heparinization during extracorporeal bypass an activated clotting time (ACT) of greater than 300 seconds was required. Twelve patients (11%) were observed to have activated clotting times of below 300 seconds after an initial 10,000 unit bolus of heparin. These patients required an additional 3,000-10,000 units of heparin to have systemic anticoagulation during PTCA. Symptoms of stable or unstable angina had no significant effect on heparin requirement, although there was a trend toward greater heparin resistance in unstable angina. We conclude that it is important to monitor the status of anticoagulation during PTCA, for 11% of patients undergoing PTCA require additional initial heparin bolus to achieve an ACT greater than 300 seconds and to be effectively anticoagulated. Careful monitoring of heparinization during PTCA may reduce the incidence of thrombosis. PMID- 2605622 TI - Side branch occlusion during coronary angioplasty: incidence, angiographic characteristics, and outcome. AB - Side branch occlusion (SBO) during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is a well-recognized complication. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the incidence, angiographic characteristics, and sequelae of side branch occlusion. Data from coronary angiograms of 4,800 consecutive patients from January 1981 to December 1987 was retrospectively analyzed, and 167 patients (3%) involving 181 lesions, with side branch occlusion, were identified. Only arteries with occlusion of side branches greater than 1 mm were evaluated. There were 65 (36%) diagonal, 49 (27%) septal, 40 (22%) left circumflex, and 27 (15%) right coronary branch occlusions. Most side branch occlusion occurred in branches with disease (66%: 120 of 181) or branches originating within the primary arterial lesion (72%: 130 of 181). Although the incidence of side branch occlusion is uncommon, it is associated with a significant incidence of myocardial infarction (14%). Attempts to reopen the occluded branch were successful in 27 of 36 cases (75%). With improvement in balloon angioplasty technology, the risks of side branch occlusion have declined, and many occlusions can be successfully reopened, suggesting that side branch involvement in a primary lesion is not a limitation to balloon angioplasty. PMID- 2605623 TI - Sequential multivessel coronary angioplasty assessed by thallium-201 tomography. AB - In 11 patients with multivessel coronary artery disease, SPECT thallium-201 imaging was performed prior to and within 3 days after each of two sequential percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties on separate days designed to achieve total revascularization. Thallium-201 SPECT was analyzed quantitatively, and an ischemic score for the vascular bed(s) supplied by the dilated vessel(s) was derived. For the vessels dilated during the first procedure the mean diameter stenosis was 80 +/- 8%, reduced to 27 +/- 9%. For the second procedure mean stenosis was reduced from 67 +/- 10% to 26 +/- 6%. For the two procedures, the mean thallium scores decreased from 298 +/- 225 to 115 +/- 130 (P less than .001) and from 135 +/- 129 to 46 +/- 60 (P less than .001), respectively. Of 10 patients with abnormal thallium-201 SPECT prior to angioplasty, nine improved after the first procedure, and seven improved further following the second procedure. Thus, utilizing staged angioplasty with a strategy of dilating the most severe lesion first, thallium-201 SPECT documented progressive improvement in myocardial perfusion. PMID- 2605624 TI - Probe "balloon on a wire" ultra-low-profile coronary catheter: results of PTCA in 107 patients. AB - A new low-profile "balloon-on-a-wire" angioplasty catheter, the Probe (USCI), was used in 107 patients over a 4-month period. Twenty-nine patients had stable angina, 59 had unstable angina, and 19 had had myocardial infarction (MI) 3 to 15 days prior to the procedure; 71 patients had single-vessel and 36 had multi vessel disease. In this series, 57 lesions were defined as complex. Successful dilatation was defined as a residual stenosis of less than 30%. Of 132 non-total obstructions, 127 (97%) were successfully dilated. Two distal lesions could not be reached, two lesions could not be crossed by the balloon, and a distal lesion dilatation resulted in acute closure in one case. Of 19 total obstructions, 16 (84%) were successfully dilated (mean residual stenosis 23%). The wire tip was unable to cross the lesion in the three unsuccessful procedures. Seven complications occurred in the series, all involving non-total obstructions: closure of a distal vessel and a side branch caused no clinical symptoms or EKG changes; three local dissections were tacked back with repeat dilatation; and two longitudinal dissections caused no apparent reduction in luminal diameter. The Probe's low-profile and exceptional trackability enabled it to cross very tight lesions with minimal trauma to the vessel wall. The high degree of conformability of the PET balloon minimizes vessel straightening or sheer forces and appears to reduce the potential for dissection. The device may therefore extend the indications and ease of PTCA while reducing complications of the procedure. PMID- 2605625 TI - Late hemodynamic results after orthotopic heart transplantation in early infancy. AB - To study the late hemodynamic results after infant orthotopic heart transplantation, five late survivors, as of October 1988, underwent right and left cardiac catheterization and endomyocardial biopsy. Mean age at transplantation was 1.4 +/- 1.5 months. Mean post-transplantation period was 17 +/- 5.6 months. All patients were on maintenance immunotherapy. The systemic and mixed venous saturations were normal, with no intracardiac shunt. The atrial and pulmonary artery anastomoses were widely patent. Three patients had coarctation of the aorta with a respective gradient of 24, 26, and 30 mm Hg; two were successfully treated by balloon angioplasty. The right-side hemodynamics were normal in all patients. Left ventricular pressures were elevated only in the patients with coarctation. The ventricular ejection fraction was normal. The right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy revealed no evidence of rejection. The mean cardiac index was 4.7 liter/min/m2 (range, 3.68-5.9). These data indicate excellent hemodynamic results and support orthotopic heart transplantation as therapy for selected neonates and infants with incurable heart disease. PMID- 2605626 TI - Coronary occlusion after failed closure of coronaro-pulmonary fistula with detachable balloon. AB - An attempt to occlude a fistula between the right coronary artery and the pulmonary trunk with a detachable balloon resulted in balloon dislodgment and occlusion of the right coronary artery. The dislodged balloon could be retrieved by suction with the help of a guiding catheter for coronary angioplasty. PMID- 2605627 TI - Treatment of coronary artery stenosis and coronary arteriovenous fistula by interventional cardiology techniques. AB - Complications associated with coronary arteriovenous fistulae (CAVF) include congestive heart failure, bacterial endocarditis, fistula rupture, and angina secondary to the "coronary steal" phenomenon. Traditional treatment of large CAVF is surgical ligation. In this report, we describe a modified microcoil embolization and guidewire technique for percutaneous closure of CAVF. PMID- 2605628 TI - Intracoronary thrombectomy: a new approach to total occlusion. AB - After initial failure with conventional angioplasty of a total right coronary artery occlusion, we were successful in obtaining patency using a combination of intracoronary thrombectomy and thrombolysis. This represents the first report of this technique in the therapy of total right coronary occlusions. PMID- 2605629 TI - Case of spontaneous healing of occlusive dissection on percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. AB - A large pseudolumen due to dissection arose during percutaneous coronary angioplasty. The true lumen was compressed critically. However, no infarction took place because of good collaterals. During medical follow-up, the patient's angina vanished suddenly. The repeat angiography showed healing of the dissection and patency of the coronary artery. PMID- 2605630 TI - Intracoronary electrocardiogram during torsade des pointes secondary to intracoronary papaverine. AB - Papaverine, a potent coronary vasodilator, is now commonly used to measure coronary reserve. We recorded intracoronary electrogram in a patient who developed Torsade des pointes after 10 mg of papaverine. This was associated with marked prolongation of the QT interval. The ventricular tachycardia self terminated with shortening of the QT interval. We believe that although papaverine is a good agent because of its short duration of action, it must be used cautiously because of its effects on repolarization, which can result in arrhythmias. PMID- 2605631 TI - Extendable Probe. AB - In order to maintain the advantages of utilizing the Probe "balloon on a wire" dilatation catheter and still retain the safety of an over-the-wire system for PTCA, a method for extending the probe is described. PMID- 2605632 TI - First use of a 5 French diagnostic catheter as a guiding catheter for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. AB - We report the first use of a 5 French thin-wall, large-lumen diagnostic angiographic catheter as a guiding catheter for emergency angioplasty with an angioplasty balloon on a wire (PROBE) for patients with acute circumflex coronary occlusion and hemodynamic compromise. PMID- 2605634 TI - Catheter designs for patients with aortic stenosis. PMID- 2605633 TI - Coronary artery disease (CAD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), or coronary atherosclerosis? PMID- 2605635 TI - How to change an over-the-wire PTCA balloon over a normal short guidewire. PMID- 2605636 TI - On coronary angioplasty in a patient with dextrocardia. PMID- 2605637 TI - Ventriculography's diminishing role. PMID- 2605638 TI - Root resection: an endodontic viewpoint. PMID- 2605639 TI - Geriatric dentistry: patients relying on interested parties. PMID- 2605640 TI - Saliva used to detect HIV antibody. PMID- 2605641 TI - When dentistry is no longer a lifetime profession. PMID- 2605642 TI - Essence of the beautiful face. PMID- 2605643 TI - Worldwide AIDS cases increasing. PMID- 2605644 TI - A comparison of two methods of needle disposal. PMID- 2605645 TI - Choose your words carefully. PMID- 2605646 TI - Induction of DNA replication in mammalian G1 nuclei by a heat-inactivible component from permeable S phase cells; an assay system. AB - The in vitro initiation of DNA replication was studied in permeable mammalian cells by a newly developed procedure. Pairs of monolayer cultures, one synchronized in G1 and the other in S phase, were incubated in a sandwich with assay solution, containing Triton X-100 for permeabilization and [3H]TTP as a tracer. After 1.5 h DNA synthesis was shown to be induced in 36 to 81% of the G1 nuclei. The inducing capacity of the S phase cultures was diminished by at least 50% after a 10 min exposure to 60 degrees C prior to incubation. The suitability application of this in vitro system for testing components that might effect the initiation of DNA replication is shown in an assay with G1 cultures where the addition of up to 1 mM Ap4A led to an increase of DNA synthesizing cells from 4 to 15%. PMID- 2605647 TI - Presence of high molecular weight glycans on the surface of germ and embryonic cells of Xenopus laevis. AB - Xenopus laevis male germ cells, fertilized eggs and gastrula cells were labelled with 3H labelled sodium borohydride reduction after galactose oxidase treatment. After pronase digestion, the bulk of the label is carried by high molecular weight glycans (greater than or equal to 6,000 D). The high molecular weight of these labelled glycans and their susceptibility to degradation by endo-beta galactosidase suggest that they may be related to the polylactosaminoglycans. PMID- 2605648 TI - Epidermal growth factor promotes chick embryonic angiogenesis. AB - The response of the early extraembryonic vasculature to epidermal growth factor (EGF) was studied. Millipore filter discs containing 10ng-1 microgram of EGF were placed onto the advancing edge of the area vasculosa of 3-day chick embryos, and the effect examined macroscopically and histologically 24 hours after disc application. The capillary density at the site of application increased significantly, and the effect was seen to be dose-dependent; a similar but more marked response was observed in the vessel cross-sectional area per unit length. This change in vascularity was accompanied by tortuous folding of the mesoderm and endoderm (which normally lie parallel to the ectoderm in a trilaminar arrangement) into the yolk substance: this may indicate precocious development of all three layers (ectoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm) of the membrane, and the proliferative effects of EGF may not be confined to the vascular endothelium. PMID- 2605649 TI - Identification of soluble glutathione transferases in the rat hepatoma derived established Fa32 cell line. PMID- 2605650 TI - Cytochemistry of glycoconjugates in the hamster zona pellucida associated with oocyte maturation. PMID- 2605651 TI - [Biological membrane fluidity and methods of its detection]. PMID- 2605652 TI - [Acoustic EEG induced potential mismatch negativity]. PMID- 2605654 TI - [Abstracts of reports presented at the 30th state-wide meeting of cell culture workers. Pardubice, March 29-31 1988]. PMID- 2605653 TI - [A method for transplanting embryonic brain tissue into the central nervous system in mammals]. PMID- 2605655 TI - [Comparison of tolerance to hydrophilic contact lenses made of Hema (37% H2O) and Hema-Degma (55%, 65% H2O) in the rabbit eye. II. Changes in corneal transparency due profound degenerative processes]. AB - The authors investigated on the rabbit eye the effect of long-term continuous wearing (14, 21, 28 days) hydrophilic contact lenses (h. c. l.) with varying degrees of hydration (37%, 55%, 65% water). Long-term wearing of the lenses caused disorders in all corneal layers. These changes are identical in all types of contact lenses, only their onset is earlier and the extent is more marked in contact lenses with a low hydration (37% water). Contrary to epithelial changes in the corneal stroma, the changes are qualitatively different depending on the degree of hydration of the contact lens. Prolonged application of contact lenses with 37% water leads to infiltration of the stroma by inflammatory cells which carry the activities of destructive lysosomal enzymes. The latter are gradually released into tissues and local degenerative processes develop which in some instances culminate by ulceration. Other corneas are vascularized. The described changes in stroma were not found in hydrophilic contact lenses with 55% and 65% water. After prolonged application of highly hydrated contact lenses (65% water) the authors, however, observed uptake of liquid from the upper third of the stroma due to the contact lens which dried on the eye and acted on the cornea as a hypertonic solution. In this subepithelial zone the staining of glycosaminoglycans was reduced, similarly as the enzymatic activities in keratocytes which suggests serious degenerative processes, i. e. disorders in the synthesis of components of the ground substance of the corneal stroma. PMID- 2605656 TI - [Contrast sensitivity in dialyzed patients]. AB - In a group of 57 patients with chronic terminal renal insufficiency, treated by haemodialyses a significantly reduced sensitivity to contrast was observed. Changes in the sensitivity to contrast do not correlate with the period of dialyzation treatment. PMID- 2605657 TI - [A comparative study of various methods of measuring intraocular pressure]. AB - The authors compare measurement of intraocular pressure by aplanation, impression and contact-free tonometry. They draw attention to the advantages of contact-free tonometry in screening of glaucoma which is a reliable, rapid and simple method. PMID- 2605658 TI - [Pars plana vitrectomy with implantation of silicone oil in surgery forvery large retinal tears]. AB - The authors evaluate the results of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with intravitreal implantation of silicon oil (ISO) in 19 eyes of 17 patients with gigantic tears of the retina. During the mean observation period of 22 months the operation was successful in 15 of 19 eyes (78%). The retina adhered on the entire surface in 12 eyes (65%), in three eyes (15%) there remained a defined flat elevation of the retina in the periphery of the lower half of the fundus which did not go as far as the macula. In successfully operated eyes the visual acuity was 0.4 in two eyes, visual acuity of 0.3-0.1 in 7 eyes and visual acuity less than 0.1, making spatial orientation possible, in six eyes. The cause of reduced visual acuity of successfully operated eyes were macular abnormalities which were associated with the fundamental disease, degenerative myopia, injury, impaired nurture of the macula during prolonged detachment, a membrane-forming process. As to late complications of ISO, the most frequent were glaucoma in 42% and complicated cataract u 78% phakic eyes. Extraction of a cataract with iridectomy VI and supplementation of silicon oil into the intravitreal space did not cause in any of the patients a relapse of detachment of the retina. The final evaluation of PPV with ISO in the surgery of gigantic lesions of the retina will be possible only after the long-term follow up of larger groups of patients. PMID- 2605659 TI - [Delayed extraction of an intraocular foreign body]. AB - The authors describe two cases of siderosis of the bulbus which developed as a consequence of late diagnosis of intraocular foreign bodies. The character of siderosis differed, however, in the two patients. In the first patient the picture of generalized siderosis confirmed also by electroretinographic examination permitted the assumption of an adverse course of the disease already on admission, as was confirmed by the progression of the disease even after removal of the intraocular foreign body. In the second patient probable encapsulation of the foreign body led to focal siderosis and a favourable course of the disease. PMID- 2605660 TI - [A laser coagulation technic in central retinal vein occlusion]. AB - The authors analyze the method of laser therapy in venous retinal occlusions. In view of the different therapeutic approach in occlusion of the branch and the trunk of the retinal vein, the paper has two parts. In occlusion of the branch of the retinal vein the authors describe the applied techniques of laser photocoagulation recommended by L'Esperance--quadrant barrage, barrier of the macula and arteriolar constriction. Technical data on photocoagulation are presented. In the treatment of occlusions of the trunk of the retinal vein the authors use panretinal photocoagulation, however, only in the ischaemic form of occlusion as a prevention of neovascular glaucoma. The authors mention some of their own experience with the treatment of venous occlusions of the retina by argon laser photocoagulation and they present their own therapeutic schedule. PMID- 2605661 TI - [Dominant infantile optic nerve atrophy]. AB - The authors present an account of a family with an autosomal dominant infantile atrophy of the optic nerve. In three generations two men and three women were affected. With the clinical picture of simple atrophy of the optic nerve with a different degree of expressivity corresponded functional and fluoroangiographic changes. Disorders of colour vision were within the range of deuteroanomaly, deuteroanopia. The proband suffered also from tritanopia. The disease did not call for amaurotic training. PMID- 2605662 TI - [Experience with a nanosecond Nd-YAG laser]. AB - The author summarizes general experience with the three-year use of a PV-135 Nd YAG laser of Lasertek Co. A total of 1817 operations were performed in 1134 patients. The ratio of successful operations was more than 91%, improved eye sight in optic operations was achieved in 63.8%. PMID- 2605663 TI - [Initial experience with surgery for retinal detachment using a balloonprobe]. AB - The authors present an account of their initial experience with balloon probe according to Lincoff-Kreissig. The surgical procedure was that described by the authors without modifications. The balloon probe was used in five patients, twice because of fatigue of material an episcleral implant had to be used. The retina was put in position in all patients. Temporary buckling by means of a balloon probe is a simple and safe therapeutic method in suitable types of detachment of the retina--fissures to the extent of 1 hour of the circumference of the retina, without traction of the vitreous body. After training at a department with sufficient experience with this method, it can be used even in departments where the number of operations of detachment of the retina is not high. PMID- 2605664 TI - [Treatment of amblyopia with eccentric fixation of the vertical prism and occlusion--additional experience]. AB - The authors evaluated a group of 202 patients with esotropia and eccentric fixation. On purpose they selected patients who were treated previously by another pleoptic method without success. The mean age of the patients was relatively high--7.9 years. The mean period of hospitalization was 54 days. Central fixation was achieved in 123 patients, i.e. in 60.8%. Vision became normal only in 40 children, i.e. in 19.8%. According to statistical evaluation by the U-test prisms with a power of 7 and 8 pdpt proved most useful. The method was successful in amblyopia with parafoveolar and paramacular eccentric fixation and acuity of vision of 0.5, 0.3 and 0.1. The treatment did not prove successful in poorer vision and more distant eccentric fixation. The authors do not recommend the use of vertical prisms with a power of 9 and 10 pdpt, as mentioned in their preliminary publication. PMID- 2605665 TI - [Is the activation of growth of a pigmented lesion of the iris always a sign of malignancy? Case report]. AB - A pigmented lesion of the iris followed up for five years in a 31-year-old female patient with marked progress during the past two years which led to block excision of the formation. Clinical signs (growth, vascularization, pigmentation and blood in the angle) as well as results of auxiliary examinations (ultrasound, fluorescein angiography) suggested a malignant lesion. However, histological examination provided evidence of the benign nature of the formation. Contemporary diagnostic non-invasive methods cannot decide definitely on the nature of a progressing neoplasm of the iris. The authors recommend long-term patient observation of these patients and surgery only in fully indicated cases. PMID- 2605666 TI - Laboratory evidence of human viral and selected non-viral infections in Canada- 1988. PMID- 2605667 TI - Intestinal tuberculosis presenting as Crohn's disease--Quebec. PMID- 2605668 TI - The National Reference Centre for Human Mycotic Diseases. PMID- 2605669 TI - Synergistic induction of rat hepatic ornithine decarboxylase by multiple doses of cobalt chloride. AB - The level of rat hepatic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) induced by repetitive administration of Co2+ was determined by affinity labeling with [3H]difluoromethylornithine. Such a treatment with Co2+ ion induced ODC level to a 10-fold greater extent than single dose of the metal ion or well-known inducers of the enzyme, such as thioacetamide or carbon tetrachloride. The half life of ODC activity induced by repetitive treatment with Co2+ (95 min) was substantially increased to about 10-fold over the value obtained from the enzyme induced by single treatment with the metal ion (10 min). ODC activity induced by repetitive treatment with Co2+ was separated into two peaks by DEAE-Sepharose column chromatography. The two independently collected fractions of ODC peaks exhibited different affinity for pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in vitro and sensitivity to cycloheximide in vivo. PMID- 2605670 TI - The inhibition of lipid peroxidation by disulfiram prevents the killing of cultured hepatocytes by allyl alcohol, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide and diethyl maleate. AB - Disulfiram is a potent antioxidant that prevented the peroxidation of microsomal phospholipids induced by ADP/Fe3+ at concentrations as low as 1 microM. However, disulfiram had a biphasic action when used to assess the role of lipid peroxidation in the killing of cultured hepatocytes by an acute oxidative stress. At a relatively low concentration (10 microM), the antioxidant activity of disulfiram predominated, and there was protection against the killing of the hepatocytes by allyl alcohol, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and diethyl maleate. As the concentration of disulfiram was increased above 10 microM, the extent of protection progressively decreased. Thus, with higher concentrations of disulfiram, there was a second action whose consequence is to obscure the protective effect of the lower doses. With the agents studied, this additional and as yet undefined action of disulfiram leads to the killing of the hepatocytes by a mechanism that is unrelated to the peroxidation of lipids. This biphasic action of disulfiram must be appreciated in any attempt to use this compound to assess the role of lipid peroxidation in toxic cell injury. PMID- 2605671 TI - Interaction of ellipticine and an indolo[2,3b]-quinoxaline derivative with DNA and synthetic polynucleotides. AB - The non-covalent DNA interaction of the anticancer drug ellipticine (Scheme I, 1a) as well as an indolo[2,3-b]-quinoxaline derivative (Scheme I, 3b) with a dimethylaminoethyl side chain has been studied by light absorption, linear dichroism (LD) and fluorescence. Compound 3b (Scheme I) has antitumorigenic as well as antiviral activity. Both compounds bind to DNA or synthetic polynucleotides such as poly(dA-dT).(dA-dT) and poly(dG-dC).(dG-dC) by intercalation. In contrast to ellipticine, compound 3b (Scheme I) exhibits a significant binding specificity for alternating AT sequences. Its fluorescence is strongly enhanced in AT sequences and quenched in GC sequences. Fluorescence titrations evaluated as Scatchard plots show that both ellipticine and compound 3b (Scheme I) bind to the nucleic acids according to a non-cooperative neighbor exclusion model. PMID- 2605672 TI - Influence of the carcinogenic pollutant benzo[a]pyrene on plant development: fern gametophytes. AB - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), ubiquitous environmental pollutants, are known to be biologically active in mammalian systems and are accumulated by plants. A few reports suggest that PAHs stimulate growth in plants and induce morphogenesis in plant tissue in culture. To investigate the growth altering abilities of PAHs in plants, polypodiaceous fern gametophytes were grown under sterile conditions on media containing a biologically active PAH, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), at doses ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 micrograms/ml. The growth pattern of polypodiaceous fern gametophytes enables alterations in growth and morphogenesis to be observed at the cellular level in an intact plant. Doses of BaP in the range 0.1--3.2 micrograms/ml enhanced the onset of the morphological transitions from 1-dimensional (1D) to 2-dimensional (2D) growth. This transition for BaP treated plants occurred after fewer cell divisions than the corresponding solvent and untreated controls. The low (0.1 and 0.32 micrograms) and high (1.0 and 3.2 micrograms) doses of BaP were found to accelerate and inhibit cell proliferation, respectively. The 10.0 microgram dose was toxic and resulted in decreased germination of spores and reduced survival of plants. A slight but significant decrease in survival was also observed in ferns treated with 3.2 micrograms. This is the first example of PAH influencing cell differentiation in a whole plant system. PMID- 2605673 TI - Differential effects of glutathione depletion and metallothionein induction on the induction of DNA single-strand breaks and cytotoxicity by tert-butyl hydroperoxide in cultured mammalian cells. AB - Induction of DNA single-strand breaks (ssb), their resealing and cytotoxicity by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) were investigated in cultured Chinese hamster V79 cells. The effect of the depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH), iron chelation and induction of metallothionein (MT) on these parameters was studied. t-BuOOH in a concentration range of 0.02-0.5 mM induced DNA ssb in a dose dependent fashion. Strand breakage increased as a function of time up to 1 h. Divalent iron chelator o-phenanthroline suppressed markedly the induction of DNA ssb while the trivalent iron chelator desferrioxamine had no effect. GSH depletion increased cytotoxicity of t-BuOOH. In contrast, the depletion of GSH did not affect the efficiency of formation of DNA ssb by t-BuOOH and the rate of resealing of the DNA damage. The induction of MT did not influence the efficiency of formation of DNA ssb by t-BuOOH. In summary, while GSH depletion and MT induction affected the formation of DNA ssb and cytotoxicity differently divalent iron was required for both. Therefore, appears likely that DNA breakage and cytotoxicity by t-BuOOH are caused by independent mechanisms. PMID- 2605674 TI - Metallothionein accumulation in CHO Cdr cells in response to lead treatment. AB - For CHO Cdr cells the presence of lead acetate in the media in concentrations above 1 mM leads to gradual cell death, as measured by the reduction of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. These cells accumulate an increased amount of newly synthesized metallothionein. Typical 9S metallothionein mRNA could be detected by hybridization using metallothionein cDNA probes, with maximal accumulation occurring after 4-h exposure of cells to 2 mM lead acetate. The intracellular levels of metallothionein protein increase continually with time; metallothionein was identified by its richness in cysteine, chromatographic and electrophoretic behavior and reactiveness to carboxyamidomethylation. When separated by an anion-exchanger, both isospecies MT I and MT II could be observed, as they were identical in every respect tested to those induced by zinc chloride. The induction of metallothionein by lead was not due to an increase in intracellular zinc levels, as zinc uptake was unaffected by the presence of lead acetate in the media. PMID- 2605675 TI - Neural networks applied to pharmaceutical problems. I. Method and application to decision making. AB - Neural networks, which are also called perceptrons or multi-layer networks, were found to be useful tools in decision making. The model study showed that the predictions by the neural network were better than those by the linear learning machine and cluster analysis. PMID- 2605676 TI - Radioiodinated phenoxyacetic acid derivatives as potential brain imaging agents. I. Efficient synthesis via trimethylsilyl intermediates. AB - The usefulness of radioiodination via demetallation of aryltrimethylsilanes was demonstrated. The radioiodination reaction was found to be very rapid and the regiospecific incorporation of radioiodine could be carried out with high radiochemical yields and high radiospecific activity. 125I-Labeled dimethylaminoethyl iodophenoxyacetate derivatives (5a--e), dimethylaminoethyl iodophenoxyacetamide derivatives (7a--c), iodophenoxyethyl ethylenediamine derivatives (9,14) and an iodophenoxyethylpiperazine derivative (18) were efficiently synthesized from the corresponding aryltrimethylsilyl intermediates (4a--e, 6a--c, 8, 13, 17) by this method. PMID- 2605677 TI - Radioiodinated phenoxyacetic acid derivatives as potential brain imaging agents. II. Structure-biodistribution relationship. AB - In developing new brain imaging agents for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), we synthesized eleven radioiodinated phenoxyacetic acid derivatives and investigated the relationship between the chemical structure and in vivo characteristics. Biodistribution studies in mice revealed high initial brain uptake for all the compounds. Blood radioactivity level depended markedly upon the chemical stability of the compound. The alpha, alpha-dimethylester derivative (1e), amide derivatives (2a--c) and diamine derivatives (3a, b, 4), which were stable to hydrolysis, showed low blood activity levels following i.v. administration. Disappearance of the ester and amide compounds from the brain was rapid. However, the diamine derivatives displayed improved retention in the brain. Compounds 3a and 4 possessed the best combination of high brain uptake and sufficient retention to be useful as potential brain imaging radiopharmaceuticals with SPECT devices. PMID- 2605678 TI - Studies on the chemical modification of monensin. II. Measurement of sodium ion permeability of monensylamino acids using sodium-23 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. AB - A technique to assay Na+ ions in cells is presented. Intracellular and extracellular Na+ ions in a suspension of guinea pig erythrocytes were conveniently determined by using sodium-23 nuclear magnetic resonance (23Na-NMR), in combination with two anionic shift reagents: Dy(TTHA)3- and Dy(PPPi)2(7-). Monensin (1), monensylalanine (2b), monensylserine (2c), and monensylphenylalanine (2d) induced large increases of intracellular Na+ ion concentration ([Nain]), while monensylglycine (2a), monensyltyrosine (2e), monensylaspartic acid (2f), and monensylglutamic acid (2g) showed slight increases. The values of initial increasing rate (Vi) of 2a-g were much smaller than that of 1. This fact was probably due to the lower lipophilicity of 2a-g than 1, because a good correlation was observed between Vi and Rm50 values of 1 and 2a-g. This lower lipophilicity is a consequence of conformational differences between 1 and 2a-g. PMID- 2605679 TI - Studies on orally active cephalosporin esters. II. Chemical stability of pivaloyloxymethyl esters in phosphate buffer solution. AB - The degradation kinetics of pivaloyloxymethyl (POM) esters of cephalosporins in phosphate buffer solution (pH 6-8) were investigated. The degradation of the starting delta 3 cephalosporin ester proceeded mainly via isomerization to the delta 2 ester and subsequent hydrolysis to the delta 2 acid. Hydrolysis to the delta 3 acid (the parent acid) was very slow. Analysis of the rate constants indicated that the isomerization rate k12 was approximately equal to the apparent degradation rate of the delta 3 ester kdeg, and slower than the hydrolysis rate of the delta 2 ester k24. The isomerization process to the delta 2 ester was found to be the rate-determining step in the degradation of cephalosporin esters. The substituent at the C-3 position of the cephalosporins affected the degradation kinetics. The degradation was accelerated by increase of pH, buffer concentration and added protein. PMID- 2605680 TI - Studies on orally active cephalosporin esters. III. Effect of the 3-substituent on the chemical stability of pivaloyloxymethyl esters in phosphate buffer solution. AB - The effect of substituents at the C-3 position on the degradation kinetics of the pivaloyloxymethyl (POM) ester of delta 3 cephalosporin in phosphate buffer solution (pH 6-8) was investigated. In the degradation, the isomerization process to the delta 2 ester was the rate-determining step. In this study, the logarithm of the isomerization rate to the delta 2 ester (log k12) correlated with the carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift difference value at C-3 and C 4 of the delta 3 ester (delta delta (4-3)). The energy level of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the delta 3 esters also correlated with log k12. The electronic properties at the C-2 position had no effect on the isomerization reaction. On the other hand, the logarithm of the isomerization rate back to the delta 3 ester (log k21) correlated with the van der Waals volume (MV) of the 3-substituent. These results show that the substituent at the C-3 position influences mainly the electronic structure of the conjugated pi-bond system (C3 = C4 - C4 = O) and consequently affects the feasibility of isomerization to the delta 2 ester, i.e., the stability to degradation. PMID- 2605681 TI - Lactone and cyclic ether analogues of platelet-activating factor. Synthesis and biological activities. AB - Six-membered lactone and tetrahydropyran analogues of platelet-activating factor (PAF), 4-11, and related antagonistic derivatives 41-46 were synthesized. None of the delta-lactones 4-7 showed PAF-like activities, while the corresponding cyclic ethers 8, 9 and 11 were slightly active. Some of the cyclic antagonists showed more potent inhibitory activities than the open chain antagonist CV-3988 against platelet aggregation (rabbit platelet-rich plasma, IC50) and hypotension (rat, ID50) induced by C16-PAF: e.g. dl-3-[6-[O-(trans-3 heptadecylcarbamoyloxytetrahydropyran-2- yl)methyl]phosphonoxy]hexylthiazolium (inner salt) (41d) (IC50 5.5 x 10(-7) M, ID50 0.046 mg/kg, i.v.); dl-3-[5-[O-(cis 3-heptadecylcarbamoylthiotetrahydropyran-2- yl)methyl]phosphonoxy]pentylthiazolium (inner salt) (43c) (IC50 5.7 x 10(-7) M, ID50 0.076 mg/kg, i.v.). PMID- 2605682 TI - Synthesis and antagonistic activities of enantiomers of cyclic platelet activating factor analogues. AB - Enantiomers of platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonists, 3-(6-[O-(trans-3 heptadecylcarbamoyloxytetrahydropyran-2-yl)methyl ] phosphonoxy)hexylthiazolium (inner salt) (3), 3-[5-(trans-3-heptadecylcarbamoyloxytetrahydropyran-2-yl) methoxycarbonylamino]pentylthiazolium bromide (4) and 3-(5-[O-(cis-3 heptadecylcarbamoylthiotetrahydropyran-2-yl) methyl]phosphonoxy)pentylthiazolium (inner salt) (5), were synthesized, starting from (2R,2R)- and (2S,2S)-tartaric acid. Antagonistic activities of these compounds against C16-PAF were measured in vitro (rabbit platelet aggregation, IC50) and in vivo (hypotension in rats, ID50). In these three enantiomeric pairs, the (3S)-(tetrahydropyran numbering) enantiomers were one order more potent than the (3R)-isomers: (2R,3S)-3a (R 74,654), IC50 0.59 microM and ID50 0.054 mg/kg, i.v.; (2S,3R)-3b, IC50 4.7 microM and ID50 0.30 mg/kg, i.v.; (2R,3S)-4a, IC50 0.20 microM and ID50 0.032 mg/kg, i.v.; (2S,3R)-4b, IC50 2.2 microM and IC40 0.21 mg/kg, i.v.; (2R,3R)-5a, IC50 1.1 microM and ID50 0.92 mg/kg, i.v.; (2S,3S)-5b (R-74,717), IC50 0.27 microM and ID50 0.064 mg/kg, i.v. PMID- 2605683 TI - Synthesis and antitumor activities of alkyl-1,4-butanediamine Pt(II) complexes having seven-membered ring structure. AB - Novel alkyl-1,4-butanediamine Pt(II) complexes having a seven-membered ring structure were synthesized and characterized by fast atom bombardment mass and infrared spectra and elemental analysis. Their antitumor activities in vivo toward lymphoid leukemia L1210 and Lewis lung carcinoma LL were studied in the case where the leaving group was either dichloride or cyclobutane-1,1 dicarboxylate. 1,4-Butanediamine Pt(II) complexes (seven-membered ring) showed higher antitumor activities than those of ethylenediamine Pt(II) (five-membered ring) and 1,3-propanediamine Pt(II) (six-membered ring) complexes toward L1210 for both leaving groups. Alkyl-1,4-butanediamine Pt(II) complexes showed high antitumor activities toward L1210, except for 1,1-dimethyl-1,4-butanediamine Pt(II) complexes. In particular, 2,2-dimethyl-1,4-butanediamine and 2,3-dimethyl 1,4-butanediamine Pt(II) complexes exhibited excellent antitumor activities with T/C% values higher than 300. None of the dichloro Pt(II) complexes showed antitumor activities toward LL, but the cyclobutane-1,1-dicarboxylato Pt(II) complexes, which were moderately active toward L1210 with T/C% values around 200, also showed high antitumor activities toward LL with T/C% values of more than 200. Alkyl-1,4-butanediamine Pt(II) complexes with a seven-membered ring structure were found to be stable and to have antitumor activities in vivo. PMID- 2605684 TI - Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: synthesis and structure-activity relationships of potent N-benzyloxycarbonyl tripeptide inhibitors. AB - A new series of gamma-D-Glu-containing N-benzyloxycarbonyl (Z) tripeptide inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was synthesized. The effect of varying the antepenultimate amino acid residue in this series on the biological activity was studied. Introduction of Lys and Orn residues at the P1 position provided the most potent inhibitors, 25a and 25b (IC50: 3.5 and 4.9 x 10(-9) M, respectively), which exhibited an oral antihypertensive activity. This result suggests that basic amino acid residues at the P1 position play an important role in binding with the S1 subsite of ACE in this series. Oral antihypertensive activity of selected compounds was evaluated. PMID- 2605685 TI - Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by diastereomers of 2-methylamino-1 phenylpropanol and their derivatives. AB - The anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of the ephedrine diastereomers and their N-methyl derivatives were correlated to the conformation of the molecules in solution. The stereospecificity exhibited by enantiomers of N-methyl-psi ephedrine was attributed to the predominance of one preferred conformation. The possibility of predicting the absolute configuration of chiral inhibitors from enzyme inhibitions data is discussed. PMID- 2605686 TI - A cytotoxic constituent of Lysimachia japonica THUNB. (Primulaceae) and the structure-activity relationships of related compounds. AB - A cytotoxic alkylresorcinol was isolated from Lysimachia japonica THUNB. (Primulaceae) and identified as grevillol (2). It was tested for cytotoxicity against KB, B-16, PC-13, L-5178Y, P-388, and HEp-2 cells in vitro. Synthetic related compounds were also tested for cytotoxicity against the KB cell line, and the structure-activity relationships are discussed. PMID- 2605687 TI - Metabolism of gentiopicroside (gentiopicrin) by human intestinal bacteria. AB - As a part of our studies on the metabolism of crude drug components by intestinal bacteria, gentiopicroside (a secoiridoid glucoside isolated from Gentiana lutea), was anaerobically incubated with various defined strains of human intestinal bacteria. Many species had ability to transform it to a series of metabolites. Among them, Veillonella parvula ss parvula produced five metabolites, which were identified as erythrocentaurin, gentiopicral, 5-hydroxymethylisochroman-1-one,5 hydroxymethylisochromen-1- one and trans-5,6-dihydro-5-hydroxymethyl-6-methyl 1H,3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyra n-1-one. PMID- 2605688 TI - Anti-plasmin inhibitor. V. Structures of novel dimeric eckols isolated from the brown alga Ecklonia kurome OKAMURA. AB - 6,6'-Bieckol (1), 2-O-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-6,6'-bieckol (4), and 8,8'-bieckol (2), bispolyphenols with a dibenzo-1,4-dioxin skeleton, have been isolated as potent anti-plasmin inhibitors from the brown alga Ecklonia kurome OKAMURA. Their structures have been determined to be dimers of eckol linked at the C-6 or C-8 positions, through an aryl-aryl bond on the basis of spectral data. Their inhibitory actions on anti-plasmins (alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor) and some proteases have been examined. PMID- 2605689 TI - Saponins from Chinese folk medicine, "zhu jie xiang fu," Anemone raddeana REGEL. AB - From the Chinese folk medicine "Zhu jie xian fu" (roots of Anemone raddeana REGEL, Ranunculaceae), two new oleanane-type glycosides, named raddeanosides R8 (1) and R9 (2), were isolated. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined as 3-O alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----2)-alpha-L arabinopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-beta-D glucopyranosyl-(1----6)-b eta-D- glucopyranoside and 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1----2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----2)-al pha-L- arabinopyranosyl 27 hydroxyoleanolic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-beta-D glucopyranosyl-(1----6)-b eta-D- glucopyranoside, respectively. PMID- 2605690 TI - Highly sensitive spectrophotometric determination of human serum albumin with 3',4',5',6'-tetrachlorogallein-molybdenum(VI) complex. AB - A highly sensitive spectrophotometric determination of human serum albumin (HSA) with 3',4',5',6'-tetrachlorogallein (T.Cl.Gall)-Mo(VI) complex in a Triton X-100 + polyvinyl alcohol micellar medium is proposed. This method can be used to determine up to ca. 150 micrograms/10 ml of HSA from the optical absorbance at 640 nm, and is superior in sensitivity to the other extremely sensitive spectrophotometric methods. The great sensitivity of this method results from the use of third-derivative spectrophotometry. The binding parameters of T.Cl.Gall Mo(VI) complex to HSA are n = 77.3 and K = 1.05 x 10(4) M-1 as determined from dual double-reciprocal plots. It is suggested that the colored complex in this system may be the association complex between [HSA]m+ and [MoVI(T.Cl.Gall)2]n- involving hydrophobic interaction between HSA and T.Cl.Gall. The proposed method should also be useful for the detection and determination of some peptides (e.g. low molecular weight peptides containing basic amino acids), as well as proteins. PMID- 2605691 TI - Application of ion-pair high performance liquid chromatography for analysis of hyoscyamine and scopolamine in solanaceous crude drugs. AB - A new ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of hyoscyamine and scopolamine in various kinds of crude drugs derived from solanaceous plants was evaluated using sodium dodecyl sulfate as a counter ion. A reversed-phase chromatographic system consisting of a chemically bonded ODS silica gel column with phosphate buffer (pH 2.5)-acetonitrile (65:35) containing 17.5 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate as the mobile phase was used. Hyoscyamine and scopolamine in crude drugs derived from Scopolia, Atropa, Hyoscyamus and Datura species were separated from other compounds in the crude drugs and determined within 20 min after direct injection of the solution extracted with the mobile phase. The results for various kinds of samples are presented. PMID- 2605692 TI - Simultaneous assay of hypoxanthine, xanthine and allopurinol by high-performance liquid chromatography and activation of immobilized xanthine oxidase as an enzyme reactor. AB - A selective and sensitive assay of substrates (hypoxanthine, xanthine and allopurinol) of xanthine oxidase by reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with the use of immobilized enzyme reactors is described. These compounds were oxidized by immobilized xanthine oxidase and produced hydrogen peroxide, which was determined fluorometrically using immobilized peroxidase and p hydroxyphenylacetic acid. The detection limits of hypoxanthine, xanthine and allopurinol were approximately 50, 120 and 130 pg per injection, respectively. Immobilized xanthine oxidase inhibited by oxipurinol during the assay was reactivated by 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and could be used for a long period without a significant activity loss. These methods were applied to plasma and urine samples. PMID- 2605693 TI - Synthesis of a thymosin beta 4-like peptide, deacetyl-thymosin beta Xen4, and its restorative effect on depressed lymphocyte blastogenic response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in uremic patients. AB - An analog of thymosin beta Xen4 isolated from oocytes of Xenopus laevis, deacetyl thymosin beta Xen4, was synthesized by assembling 6 peptide fragments, followed by deprotection with 1 M trifluoromethanesulfonic acid-thioanisole (molar ratio, 1:1) in trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of dimethylselenium. Finally, the deprotected peptide was incubated with dithiothreitol to reduce sulfoxide on the methionine side chain. The synthetic tritetracontapeptide was found to have a restoring effect on the impaired blastogenic response of T-lymphocytes isolated from uremic patients. PMID- 2605694 TI - Syntheses and effects of human splenin (hSP) fragment 32-48 and an analog on the reduced B-lymphocytes of uremic patients. AB - A heptadecapeptide, H-Arg-Lys-Ala-Val-Tyr-Val-Glu-Leu-Tyr-Leu-Gln-Ser-Leu-Thr-Ala Glu-His-OH , corresponding to amino acids 32 to 48 of human splenin (hSP) and an analog in which the amino acid residue at position 34 is changed from Ala to Glu, were synthesized. These peptides were synthesized using conventional solution synthesis and were tested for their effect on reduced B-lymphocytes of uremic patients. Incubation of peripheral lymphocytes isolated from uremic patients with these two synthetic heptadecapeptides, hSP fragment 32-48 and [Glu34]hSP fragment 32-48, had an enhancing effect on the reduced B-lymphocytes, but synthetic bovine thymopoietin II (bTP-II) fragment 32-49 had no effect under the same conditions. PMID- 2605695 TI - Enhancing effect of glyceryl-1-monooctanoate on the rectal absorption of gentamicin from hollow-type suppositories in rabbits. AB - A hollow-type suppository containing gentamicin (GM) in its cavity was prepared using Witepsol H-15 (H-15) mixed with glyceryl-1-monooctanoate (MO) or MO alone in the body of the suppository (type I) and a suppository (type II) containing GM and MO in the cavity was constructed using H-15 in the body of the suppository. Without MO, GM (60 mg) was not absorbed (plasma GM levels less than 1 microgram/ml). However, the absorption of GM from the rectum of rabbits was enhanced by coadministered MO in types I and II. Even when the amount of GM was decreased to 6 mg (1/10), GM was observed in the plasma (Cmax, 3.5 +/- 0.3 micrograms/ml) after administration of the suppository made from MO mixed with H 15. The enhancing effect of MO on the rectal absorption of GM could not be further increased by incorporating an amount of MO larger than approximately 300 mg into the suppository. This study demonstrates that MO can be used in the two types of hollow suppositories as an effective enhancing agent of rectal absorption of poorly absorbed drugs such as GM. PMID- 2605696 TI - Physical and chemical changes of medicinals in mixtures with adsorbents in the solid state. II. Application of reduced pressure treatment for the improvement of dissolution of flufenamic acid. AB - Flufenamic acid (FFA) was mixed with magnesium aluminum silicate (MAS) and stored at 60 degrees C at a reduced pressure of about 2.5 mmHg. After storage, when its concentration was not more than 20%, FFA was observed by X-ray diffraction and polarizing microscopy to be amorphous. The dissolution of FFA was thus enhanced in comparison with that of a freshly prepared mixture. Furthermore, the dissolution curves showed a typical supersaturation pattern, and the supersaturation state continued longer, the higher the pH value of the dissolution medium. Flufenamic acid, in a mixture with MAS, became amorphous more rapidly at reduced pressure than at atmospheric pressure, and therefore the effect of improved dissolution appeared earlier at reduced pressure. Infrared spectral studies suggested that FFA, after storage at a reduced pressure with MAS, was dispersed monomolecularly in an ionic form. The technique of treating crystalline medicinals, that have poor solubility in water, with adsorbent at reduced pressure may be useful for improving their dissolution characteristics. PMID- 2605697 TI - Kinetic behavior and interaction of bacampicillin in alginic acid solution at neural pH region. AB - Stabilization of bacampicillin (BAPC) in suspension was examined by the addition of alginic acid (Alg). BAPC formed a slightly water-soluble adduct (BAPC-Alg) with Alg, in which BAPC and Alg were presumed to be linked by ionic bonding. However, the suspension of this chemically stable adduct showed a lability to a suspension of BAPC alone; chemically very unstable particles of BAPC base were deposited in the suspension. In contrast, when BAPC-Alg adduct was suspended in 1.0% Alg solution at the same pH region, the precipitation of the particles of BAPC base were not observed. This stabilization is supposed to be due not only to the chemical stability of the adduct, but also to an inhibition of the deposition of an unstable BAPC base particles by Alg. PMID- 2605698 TI - Design of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel as a controlled-release vehicle for rectal administration of dl-propranolol-HCl and atenolol. AB - Preparations of beta-blockers, propranolol-HCl and atenolol, in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel were designed for the therapeutic treatment of hypertension by transrectal delivery. In vitro release characteristics and plasma drug concentration profiles after rectal administration in rats and dogs were examined. The PVA hydrogels containing beta-blockers were prepared by a low temperature crystallization method. The release of beta-blockers from hydrogel preparations was consistent with Fickian diffusion (Higuchi model); the drug release versus the square root of release time profile gave a straight line over 60% of the total release process. The release of beta-blockers from hydrogel preparations increased at higher concentrations of PVA in the hydrogel preparations and was not affected by the pH of hydrogel preparations. Plasma concentrations of beta-blockers after rectal administration of hydrogels were higher than those after administration of suppositories (Witepsol H-15) in rats and dogs. The drug plasma concentrations increased at higher concentrations of PVA in hydrogel preparations. In the case of propranolol, which is a hepatic high clearance drug, area under the blood concentration curve, 0-8 h after rectal administration of a hydrogel preparation (20% w/w PVA, pH 7.0) was 2.16 times and 5.26 times higher than those obtained with Witepsol H-15 suppository and oral administration, respectively. Rectal administration with PVA hydrogels is a favorable route for a hepatic high-clearance drug such as propranolol. PMID- 2605699 TI - Micelle-mediated transport of vitamin K1 through porous membranes: contribution of phosphatidylcholine-bile salt mixed micelles. AB - Diffusion of vitamin K1 solubilized by phosphatidylcholine-sodium deoxycholate mixed micelles through porous membranes having various pore characteristics was examined. The membranes include Nuclepore, Duragard and nitrocellulose membranes, which were intended to mimic the narrow channels in the vicinity of absorptive brush border. The diffusion coefficient of the mixed micelles was 4.6-5.5 x 10( 7) cm2/s, from which the hydrodynamic radius was calculated to be about 50 A. The dependence of the diffusivity on pore size showed that the transport of the micelles is hindered by pores having a radius ratio of the diffusate to the pore of about 0.05 or larger. PMID- 2605700 TI - Antiulcer activities of glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives in experimental gastric lesion models. AB - Glycyrrhetinic acid (Ia) and eighteen related derivatives were examined for antiulcer activity using stress-induced gastric lesions (restraint plus water immersion at 25 degrees C) in mice and rats as screening tests. Among the compounds tested, dihemiphthalate derivatives of 18 alpha- or 18 beta-olean-12 ene-3 beta,30-diol (IV, IIId), 18 beta-olean-9(11)12-diene-3 beta,30-diol (VIc), and olean-11,13(18)-diene-3 beta,30-diol (VIIc) showed potent inhibition of gastric lesion formation at a dose of 12 or 25 mg/kg (p.o.); carbenoxolone sodium (Ib) significantly suppressed the lesion formation at a dose of 500 mg/kg (p.o.). Further evaluation of the antiulcer activity was carried out mainly for compound IIId. Compound IIId (p.o.) prevented the formation of indomethacin-induced or 0.6 N HCl-induced gastric lesions; the latter antiulcer effect was noted even in the combined treatment with indomethacin, suggesting that the effect occurs independently of endogenous prostaglandins. In contrast, compound IIId had no preventive effect against Shay rat ulcer when intragastrically (i.g.) administered; further, no antisecretory effect was seen by i.g. application in pylorus-ligated rats. Administration of compound IIId for 2 weeks accelerated the healing rate of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer in rats. No significant change in urine excretion was observed after its consecutive administration for 3 d. These results suggest that dihemiphthalate derivatives (IIId, IV, VIc, VIIc) may produce a strong antiulcer activity, probably by strengthening some gastric mucosal defensive mechanism. PMID- 2605701 TI - Pharmacokinetics of glycyrrhetic acid, a major metabolite of glycyrrhizin, in rats. AB - The pharmacokinetics of glycyrrhetic acid (GLA) was examined in rats after bolus i.v. injection at a dose of 2, 5, or 12 mg/kg. The decline in plasma concentration was generally biexponential at each dose, but the terminal disposition became much slower with increase of dose. A greater than proportional increase in plasma GLA concentration was observed with increase of dose, suggesting a dose-dependency of GLA disposition. Apparent total body clearance decreased significantly with increase of dose. On the other hand, the apparent steady-state distribution volume after i.v. administration was unaffected by dose. The plasma disposition at each dose fitted well to a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model with Michaelis-Menten elimination. It was concluded that the pharmacokinetics of GLA in the rat is dose-dependent owing to a saturable elimination rate. The plasma level of GLA after glycyrrhizin (GLZ) i.v. dosing (100 mg/kg) in the control rats (without biliary fistulization) sustained the concentration range of 1.5-3 micrograms/ml during 1-48 h, but that in the rats with biliary fistulization declined with time. It was suggested that the sustained plasma level of GLA is accounted for by the intestinal reabsorption of GLA produced from GLZ and GLA-conjugates during the enterohepatic recycling of both. PMID- 2605702 TI - Decrease in the solubility product of hydroxyapatite by the adsorption of surface active ion. AB - The solubility product (Ksp) of hydroxyapatite (HAP) in ionic surfactant solutions decreased with an increase in the adsorbed amount of the surface-active ions (dodecylammonium and dodecyl sulfate ions). In the presence of nonionic surfactant (polyoxyethylene(10) octylphenyl ether), Ksp was almost constant within the limit of experimental error. It was concluded that the decrease in Ksp is due to the decrease in the chemical potential of HAP through the adsorption of the surface-active ion on HAP, and due to the spontaneous change in the constituent ions of the HAP surface (i.e., surface complex formation) by ion exchange with the surface-active ion. PMID- 2605703 TI - Identification of antimicrobial and antioxidant constituents from licorice of Russian and Xinjiang origin. AB - The organic extracts of two licorices, known in commerce as Russian and Xinjiang licorices, exhibited potent antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. The bioassay directed chemical investigation of both licorices revealed glabrene, glabridin, and licochalcones A and B as active principles. PMID- 2605704 TI - Inhibitory effects of tetragalloylglucose on the complex II of mitochondrial respiratory chain of Ascaris muscle. AB - The effects of tetragalloylglucose (1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose) on purified complex II (succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase) of the mitochondrial electron transport system of Ascaris muscle were studied. Both succinate ubiquinone-1 (Q1) oxidoreductase, and succinate dehydrogenase measured with 3 (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) in the presence of phenazine methosulfate (PMS) were inhibited by tetragalloylglucose. The inhibitions of both reductase activities of complex II were of competitive type, and the inhibitor constant (Ki) for Ascaris complex II (148 nM) was lower than that for rat liver complex II (1.5 microM). Thus, Ascaris complex II is much more sensitive to this inhibitor than the mammalian counterpart. PMID- 2605705 TI - Biological activities of chemically synthesized derivatives of lipid A: tetraacetyl-monosaccharides linked to 2,3-acyloxyacylglucosamine-4-phosphate. AB - The mitogenicity and lethal toxicity of chemically synthesized lipid A analogs, in which 2,3-acyloxyacylglucosamine-4-phosphate (acyl-GlcN-4P) is linked to a tetraacetyl (Ac4)-monosaccharide, i.e., Ac4-glucose (A-211), Ac4-mannose (A-212), Ac4-galactose (A-213) or Ac4-glucosamine (A-214), were compared with those of tetraacetyl-3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (Ac4-KDO) linked to acyl-GlcN-4P (A-203). All the compounds were capable of increasing incorporation of 3H thymidine into splenocytes of C57BL/6 mice at doses of 50 and 100 micrograms/ml, but the mitogenic activity of A-203 at these doses seems to be stronger than those of the analogs. Intravenous injection of A-203, A-211, and A-213 did not exhibit lethal toxicity even at a high dose (50 micrograms/mouse) in C57BL/6 mice loaded with D-galactosamine hydrochloride. However, A-212 and A-214 showed lethality at the doses of 10 and 50 micrograms/mouse, respectively. The findings indicate that the biological activity of these compounds is affected by the kind of monosaccharide linked to acyl-GlcN-4P. PMID- 2605706 TI - Sustained blood concentration of salicylic acid following rectal administration of salicyluric acid in dogs. AB - The blood concentrations of salicyluric acid and salicylic acid following rectal, intravenous and oral administrations of salicyluric acid (5, 10 and 60 mg/kg, respectively: salicylic acid equivalent) were determined in dogs. After rectal administration, a small amount of salicyluric acid was absorbed in intact form. The rest was hydrolyzed to salicylic acid, which was subsequently absorbed. The blood concentration of salicylic acid was maintained at 0.4-0.7 microgram/ml from 2 to 12 h. Following intravenous administration of salicyluric acid, salicyluric acid was detected in the blood but was rapidly eliminated. A trace amount of salicylic acid was detected, suggesting that systemic de-conjugation of glycine was involved. After oral administration of salicyluric acid, salicyluric acid was well absorbed. Salicylic acid was detected at low concentration for 12 h. Species difference in the metabolic fate of salicyluric acid in dogs, rabbits, rats and humans reported previously is discussed. PMID- 2605707 TI - Gastric pH profile and its control in fasting beagle dogs. AB - The gastric pH of fasting beagle dogs was measured by using an ion-selective field effect transistor pH sensor. In addition, a novel procedure to control the gastric pH in fasting beagle dogs was investigated. Inter- and intra-day variations in the gastric pH of the dogs were observed. The gastric pH of the dogs could be controlled by a single intravenous administration of omeprazole, an H+, K+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) inhibitor (1 mg/0.25 ml/kg). The pH in the stomach was 6.6 +/- 0.2 (mean +/- S.D., n = 6) at 1 h after the omeprazole treatment, and this level of pH was maintained for a period of at least 3 h. Beagle dogs in which the gastric pH has been controlled by omeprazole are considered to be useful as an animal model to be used for the pharmaceutical evaluation of drugs in subjects with a low acidity level. PMID- 2605708 TI - Enteric solid dispersion of cyclosporin A (CyA) having potential to improve availability of CyA in rabbit. AB - The availability of cyclosporin A (CyA) administered as an enteric solid dispersion preparation of which the composition is CyA:HCO-60:HP-55 = 1:2:8 was evaluated in rabbits. The additives are surfactant (polyoxyethylated, 60 mumol, castor oil derivative, HCO-60) and enteric coating material (hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose phthalate, HP-55), which are generally used as pharmaceutical additives. Both the systemic and lymphatic availabilities of CyA from this solid preparation were measured in rabbits after intrastomach administration, 7 mg CyA/kg, and were compared with those from conventional oily solution, Sandimmun. The mean systemic availability of CyA from the solid preparation was 57% which is about 1.5 times greater than that obtained from Sandimmun. The amounts of CyA transferred into the thoracic lymphatics within 12 h from solid dosage form and Sandimmun are 0.62 +/- 0.16(S.D.)% and 0.13 +/- 0.05% of the administered CyA dose. These results support the usefulness of the new solid dosage form of CyA. PMID- 2605709 TI - [Searching for an initiative in midwifery--primary care for mother and the child]. PMID- 2605710 TI - [Monitoring of continuous arteriovenous hemo-ultrafiltration]. PMID- 2605711 TI - [Nursing care in percutaneous balloon arterioventricular valvoplasty]. PMID- 2605712 TI - [Monitoring after percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvoplasty]. PMID- 2605713 TI - [Nursing care in nose reconstruction]. PMID- 2605714 TI - [Emergency care of plastic combustion gas poisoning]. PMID- 2605715 TI - [Rehabilitation and work and recreational therapy]. PMID- 2605716 TI - [The concentration of oral contrast media for CT scanning of the pancreas]. PMID- 2605717 TI - [Nursing administration during hospital reform]. PMID- 2605718 TI - [Head nurses should be appointed openly reforming the personnel system]. PMID- 2605719 TI - [Nursing care of adult patients receiving splenic cell homoplastic transplantation (infusion method)]. PMID- 2605720 TI - [Nursing care of the free-flap graft transplanted from the toe to the hand]. PMID- 2605721 TI - [Nursing care in ultra-early surgery of acute hypertensive hemorrhage]. PMID- 2605722 TI - [Rescue and nursing care of 70 cases with a foreign body in the respiratory tract]. PMID- 2605723 TI - [Nursing care in larynx reconstruction]. PMID- 2605724 TI - [Prevention and clinical management of AIDS]. PMID- 2605725 TI - [Nursing problems and nursing diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine]. PMID- 2605726 TI - [Psychologic care of patients with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy]. PMID- 2605727 TI - [Terminal care of cancer patients]. PMID- 2605728 TI - [Teaching nursing homes in the United States]. PMID- 2605729 TI - [Oxygen temperature adjustment]. PMID- 2605730 TI - [Analysis of nurses' errors from the psychological point of view]. PMID- 2605731 TI - [Nursing care of the fragmentation of gas-stones by extracorporeal shock wave]. PMID- 2605732 TI - [Nursing care in pelvis-rib suspension traction]. PMID- 2605733 TI - [Changes in body weight after oral maxillofacial surgery]. PMID- 2605734 TI - [Fluidity of erythrocyte membranes in patients with ischemic cerebral vascular disease]. AB - Measurement of fluidity of erythrocyte membrane (FEM) in thirty-six patients with ischemic cerebral vascular disease (ICVD) by fluorescence polarization of DPH (1,6,-Diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene) labelled on lipo-region in intact erythrocyte membrane. Twenty one healthy subjects without any stagnation of blood as control. Also research on coefficient of multiple correlation among the FEM and other factors in whole blood or plasma by using stepwise multi-regression analysis. The results revealed that: (1) FEM of patients with ICVD was 3.55 +/- 0.21 (eta), which was significantly higher than that of healthy subjects (2.77 +/- 0.12 eta), P less than 0.001. (2) The FEM of patients with ICVD were positive correlation with RBC electrophoresis rate, whole blood viscosity and low density lipo proteins and were negative correlation with high density lipo-proteins. These findings suggested that it would be available for preventing ICVD by increasing of the surface charge on erythrocyte and of the high density lipo-proteins. PMID- 2605735 TI - [Experimental and clinical studies of the effect of dahuang zhechong wan on hyperlipemia]. AB - Experimental and clinical researches were done for the purpose of that to treat the hyperlipemia with Dahuang Zhechong Wan (DHZCW). The patients of primary hyperlipemia were divided into two groups. One group was treated with DHZCW, the other with inositol nicotinate as control. DHZCW could reduce the serum total cholesterol (0.05 less than P less than 0.2), triglyceride (P less than 0.05), the blood viscosity (P less than 0.01), reductive viscosity (P less than 0.001) and fibrinogen (0.05 less than P less than 0.2). No significant change of the other item of hemorheology, HDL-c and the subfraction were observed. No significant differential effect between those two groups. The experimental hyperlipidemic model was made by feeding cholesterol and axungia on rabbits. The results showed that DHZCW could reduce the serum total cholesterol (P less than 0.05), triglyceride (P less than 0.05), beta-LP (P less than 0.01), the blood viscosity (P less than 0.05) and plasma viscosity (P less than 0.05), but no significant effect on HDL-c and its subfraction, ESR, index of erythrocytic deformation and hematocrit. DHZCW could change the viscosity of blood of hyperlipemia and reduce the total cholesterol, triglyceride and fibrinogen of the blood. It might have some beneficial effects on atherosclerosis and prevent ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. PMID- 2605736 TI - [Quantitative detection of microcirculation and multi-factorial analysis of patients with cardio-cerebrovascular diseases with blood-stasis syndrome]. AB - The studies, which applied the Laser Doppler Micro-detection technique and other multi-factors analysis in patients with cardio-cerebrovascular diseases with blood-stasis syndrome, suggested that the speed of microcirculatory flow were slowed down obviously. The change of this value in patients comparing with healthy adults and the aged showed evident difference accompanied with many changes such as hemorheology, red cell deformability (RCD) and platelet aggregation (PA). Relativity analysis showed that there was linear relativity in degree of microcirculatory obstacle and PA and RCD. Further comparison and analysis with multi-factors for mechanism in microcirculatory obstacles illustrated that those might be the result of many pathological factors' action. In clinical treatment, using anti-platelet drugs and comprehensive measures to enhance RCD and lower viscosity of blood, could be effective in improvement of microcirculatory functions. PMID- 2605737 TI - [Comparative study of the effect of wei-yan-ning and furazolidone in the treatment of gastritis and gastric ulcer caused by pyloric Campylobacter]. AB - Wei-Yan-Ning and Furazolidone were used separately in the treatment of 62 cases of gastritis and gastric ulcer caused by pyloric campylobacteria. The examinations one month later proved, through the gastrofiberscopy and pathological test as well as the urease test, that, among the 40 cases of Wei-Yan Ning group, there were 25 cures (62.5%), prominent effect for 9 cases (22.5%), improvement for 3 cases (7.5%). The total effective rate was 92.5%. Among the 22 cases of the Furazolidone group, there were 7 cures (31.8%), prominent effect for 5 cases (22.7%), improvement for 4 cases (18.2%). The total effective rate was 72.7%. As for the improvement of symptom, the average time for the Wei-Yan-Ning group was 12.5 +/- 8.12 days; and the Furazolidone group was 21.63 +/- 7.87 days. Therefore, the effect of Wei-Yan-Ning group was superior to that of the Furazolidone group (P less than 0.05). PMID- 2605738 TI - [Use of amphotericin B-cells to detect inhibitors of cellular cholesterol biosynthesis]. AB - A new method for detecting inhibitors of cellular cholesterol biosynthesis is reported. It was established according to the principle that amphotericin B binds sterols in the membranes of animal cells to form a complex which kills the cells. The method was simple, reliable and easy to handle. Moreover, the cost was low. Using this method, the authors had screened twenty Chinese herbs and found that Salvia miltiorrhiza and its extracts inhibit cellular cholesterol biosynthesis efficiently. PMID- 2605739 TI - [Study of huoxue-huayu in treating experimental intraocular hemorrhage by electroretinography]. AB - Experiments were conducted in chinchilla rabbits to determine the effect of Huoxue-Huayu (promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis) on the electroretinogram (ERG). An animal model of intraocular hemorrhage was established by radiating of Q-switched ruby laser in 58 eyes of 39 rabbits. After laser radiation, the amplitudes of ERGs of the animal eyes were remarkably reduced. The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups. One group was the control group without any treatment. The other two groups were treated with Yandi Decoction III, a composite prescription of Huoxue-Huayu) and urokinase respectively for 3 weeks. The depressed ERGs in the Yandi Decoction III treated group showed remarkable recovery during 6 weeks after starting treatment, comparing with that in the control group and the urokinase treated group (P less than 0.05). Finally, the 33% of the lost amplitude of a-wave and 28% of b-wave in the Yandi Decoction III treated group were recovered. The mechanism of ERG recovery in the Huoxue-Huayu therapy was also preliminarily discussed in the paper. PMID- 2605740 TI - [Blood circulation and oxygen consumption are important subjects for research on the principle of promoting blood circulation and relieving stasis]. PMID- 2605741 TI - [Contrast sensitivity function. Results of an epidemiologic study]. AB - The examination of contrast sensitive function partially tests the capabilities of ganglion cells. However, this method has not yet proven to be an unquestionable way of diagnosis, 108 Subjects with various pathological conditions were tested with this technique in order to confirm its value for ophthalmological pathology. The first epidemiological results show that there are changes in curves obtained for clinically sick patients, and that the currently used equipment is most sensitive of the 4 th frequency and high frequencies. Finally, each colored stimulation is very significant at low frequencies. PMID- 2605742 TI - [Atypical tapetoretinal degeneration simulating a neurologic syndrome]. AB - We report the case of a 57-year-old woman with progressive bilateral visual acuity loss, presumed during ten years to be secondary to a neurological disease. Ophthalmological examination showed for both eyes pallor of the optic discs and arteriolar narrowing. Periphery was normal, without pigment clumping. Fluorescein angiography showed a widespread irregular hypopigmentation and discovered a bilateral macular edema. Abnormal rod function was confirmed by electroretinography. A review of the literature data shows the variety of clinical symptoms in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and the frequency of atypical non-pigmented forms. Those forms are usually considered as early stages of the disease. Besides, macular lesions, and macular edema in particular, are frequently reported. PMID- 2605743 TI - [Immediate access to fluorescence angiography images: an integrated system of collecting, digitalizing and processing of images adapted to retinography]. PMID- 2605744 TI - [Congenital dystrophies of the pigmentary epithelium]. AB - The author describes different cases of alterations of the pigmentary epithelium observed in several patients as soon as their initial lifetime. He insists on the difficulty to classify all these cases from a clinical and evolutive point of view. PMID- 2605745 TI - [Unilateral Purtscher's retinopathy and seat belts]. AB - The authors report 2 cases of unilateral PURTSCHER'S retinopathia who became at the time of a car injury. They discuss about different possible mechanisms of this affection mainly a security belt wearing and tough slow down. PMID- 2605746 TI - [Autoradiographic localization of retinal dopaminergic receptors in man. Functional implications]. AB - Dopamine receptors were studied autoradiographically in human retina. Both types of D-1 (labelled by 1251-SCH 23982) and D-2 (labelled by 1251-Iodosulpride) binding sites were present in human retina and exclusively localized in the two plexiform layers. The hypothetic role of these receptors in visual function was discussed. PMID- 2605747 TI - [Epikeratophakia: results in young patients with unilateral, post-traumatic aphakia using a congelated then dehydrated corneal lenticule (the Mac Donald, Kaufman technic)]. AB - We performed 11 epikeratophakias with a congelated lenticule (H. Kaufmann and M. Mac Donald technique) for aphakic post-traumatic eyes. The results have been good for the cicatrisation, and the visual result. PMID- 2605748 TI - [Repair of recent canalicular wounds using a monocanalicular stent]. AB - A new monocanalicular stent is described, which is used in cases of lacrimal canalicular injuries, associated with direct sutures of the canalicular wall. When injuries occur on proximal portion (2/3) of the canaliculus, a true monocanalicular stent is used, without intubation of the vertical part of lacrimal system. When the distal portion (1/3) of the canaliculus and/or the sac are involved, a complete monocanalicular probe is placed. First results of this method are exposed (5 cases) and are suggestively good. PMID- 2605749 TI - [Mucous anastomoses using a biological glue in dacryocystorhinostomy]. PMID- 2605750 TI - [Correction of presbyopia with soft multivision lenses]. PMID- 2605751 TI - [Medical treatment of ocular vascular lesions]. AB - The apport of medical treatment (anticoagulation, calcium antagonists, vasodilators) is useful for the therapy of the vascular-ocular diseases. PMID- 2605753 TI - [Quantification of the visual field with Goldman's perimeter by measuring the volume of the vision island]. PMID- 2605752 TI - [A case of cholesteric granuloma of the orbit]. PMID- 2605754 TI - [Chorioretinopathy of the Birdshot type. Apropos of a case]. AB - Authors relate a case of Birdshot retinochoroidopathy and describe the complete clinic study of this pathology pointing out the pathognomomic signs which permit the diagnosis and the strong association with the Antigen HLA A 29. PMID- 2605755 TI - [An uncommon clinical form of phakolytic glaucoma]. AB - A 85 year old man was admitted with an acute endolphtalmitis, a high intraocular pressure (60 mm Hg) and a visual acuity with only light perception. The diagnosis was a phacolytic glaucoma by diffusion of lens proteins through the small preexisting perforation of the lens capsule. The lens was removed by an intracapsular extraction without intraocular lens. The intraocular pressure was normal on the first postoperative day and the visual acuity was improved to 6/10 P2. PMID- 2605756 TI - [Familial strabismus]. PMID- 2605757 TI - [Weakening of the inferior oblique muscle in paralysis of the superior oblique muscle]. PMID- 2605758 TI - [Inferior site trabeculectomy (preliminary study of 28 cases)]. PMID- 2605759 TI - [Minima corticoid eyedrops in inflammatory outbreak of herpetic keratitis]. AB - Seven patients having repeated inflammatory relapses of herpes simplex keratitis have been treated by small dosages of steroid eyedrops (from 0.25% prednisolone once a week to 1% prednisolone once a day). In these patients these doses were almost always sufficient. There was no complications (especially there happened 7 intercurrent dendritic ulcers which were unaffected by the steroids). PMID- 2605760 TI - [Value of qualitative keratometry for the correction of postoperative astigmatism]. AB - The use of a per operative qualitative Keratometer is of interest in prevention of astigmatism in cataract extraction. Our study, which included two groups of forty patients each, demonstrated that the Karickhoff Keratometer can markedly decrease the degree of immediate post-operative astigmatism = gain of 2.38 delta in comparison with the control group and astigmatism less than or equal to 2 in 35% of the cases. PMID- 2605761 TI - [Ocular implantation and exfoliative syndrome]. AB - Operative difficulties and post operative complications after posterior chamber lens implantation are described in 27 eyes with exfoliation syndrome, 8 simple exfoliation syndromes and 19 capsular glaucoma. 14 eyes were operated on by extracapsular extraction and posterior chamber lens implantation in the capsular bag; 13 eyes had extracapsular cataract implantation combined with trabeculectomy. Operative difficulties were due to bad mydriasis and zonular laxity. There was no zonular dialysis. Post-operative visual acuity was between 20/40 and 20/20 in 70% of the cases. There was nos lens luxation. Intercapsular implantation is possible without great risk. The risk of zonular rupture occurs principally during extracapsular extraction. Implants 4 to 12 times Lighter than a cataract human lens do not seem to be dangerous when there is no peroperative zonular rupture. PMID- 2605762 TI - [Cornea and anterior chamber implant with flexible closed haptics]. AB - Authors report the result of 148 cases of flexible (with closed haptics) anterior chamber lens implantation. Analysis of per and post-operative corneal complications, Study shows increase in time of such complications, in relation to secondary displacement and alteration of lens shape. PMID- 2605763 TI - [Retinoblastoma: analytical study apropos of 85 cases]. PMID- 2605764 TI - Pulpal response to a spherical-submicrofilled resin; the effectiveness of a film like lining material adhesive to dentin as pulp protection. AB - This clinico-pathological study was made to investigate the pulp reaction to a restoration system employing a spherical-submicrofilled resin with or without protection by a lining material adhesive to dentin. Black's Class I cavities were prepared in 71 vital human permanent teeth; these were divided into two groups with and without an adhesive film like lining material. The treated teeth were observed clinically over 90 days after operation. They were then extracted for histological examination. As a result of this study, this restoration system was recognized as a genuinely valuable one, and this lining material was acknowledged to be effective in pulp protection. PMID- 2605765 TI - Merkel cell and Merkel cell-neurite complexes in the gingival and alveolar mucosa of the newborn kittens. PMID- 2605766 TI - Distribution patterns of the surface "prismless" enamel in human deciduous incisors. AB - Distribution patterns of the "prismless" enamel were investigated in the labial, lingual, and proximal surfaces of human deciduous incisors under transmitted light through a differential interference contrast. The "prismless" enamel was generally either a short-length (0.2-0.3 mm) type, including island-like and isolated step-like shapes, or a long, band-like type, including relatively short (0.5-1 mm) and longer (2-5 mm) shapes. The island-like type was commonly observed at various intervals in the surfaces; the isolated step-like type was relatively rare. The longer band-like type was found in the maxillary labial and maxillary and mandibular proximal surfaces, but, in the other surfaces, this type was not seen. The surface enamel possessing the longer band-like type was also higher in the ratio of the total length of the "prismless" enamel to the whole surface length than the other surfaces. The frequency of the "prismless" enamel tended to be higher in the cervical region and lower towards the incisal edge. PMID- 2605767 TI - Maxillofacial prosthetics: unmasking the phantoms of everyday life. PMID- 2605768 TI - The next wave: the combination of clinical work with the opportunity to serve people makes dentistry an attractive career option for women. PMID- 2605769 TI - Metabolic effects of acetaminophen. Studies in the isolated perfused rat liver. AB - The effects of acetaminophen on the metabolism of the isolated perfused rat liver were investigated. The following results were obtained: (1) Acetaminophen increased glucose release and glycolysis from endogenous glycogen (glycogenolysis). (2) Oxygen uptake, gluconeogenesis from either pyruvate or fructose and glycogen synthesis were inhibited. (3) In isolated rat liver mitochondria acetaminophen decreased state III and state IV respiration; it also decreased the ADP/O ratio and the respiratory control ratio. (4) The action of acetaminophen on glycogenolysis was not affected by N-acetylcysteine; this compound, however, increased glycogen synthesis. (5) The effects of acetaminophen are reversible. It was concluded that glycogen depletion by acetaminophen can be produced by two mechanisms. The first, as previously demonstrated by several workers, depends on irreversible binding of a reactive metabolite. The second, however, is reversible and depends primarily on an inhibition of mitochondrial energy metabolism. PMID- 2605770 TI - Cytochrome P450 in highly purified suspension of nonparenchymal liver cells. AB - Rat liver nonparenchymal cells (NPC) were prepared by pronase digestion and purified on discontinuous gradients on Nycodenz. Morphological and biochemical characterization of cell suspensions showed that they were free of contamination by hepatocytes. We have confirmed the usefulness of pyruvate kinase activity in monitoring the degree of hepatocyte contamination of NPC and we have derived an equation which allows this carry-over to be calculated. Using highly purified suspensions of NPC we have shown that they contain glucose-6-phosphatase in low but detectable levels. Spectrophotometric studies showed that they contain cytochrome P450, with a specific content of 24 +/- 5 pmole mg-1 cell protein. A potential source of error in previous studies was recognized; namely that peroxidase, present in NPC in high concentration, is able to mask the absorption due to cytochrome P450. Both the presence and inducibility of this enzyme in NPC prepared from rats pretreated with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene have been confirmed using Western blot analysis. PMID- 2605771 TI - Synthesis of proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid by long-term cultures of testicular cells from immature and pubertal rats. AB - Long-term cultures of somatic testicular cells derived from immature and pubertal rats were used to study the synthesis of proteoglycans (PG) and hyaluronic acid (HA). Labelled PG and HA in the culture medium, membrane-associated and intracellular pools were characterized by gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography and selected enzymatic and chemical treatments. Somatic cells synthesize a PG containing both heparan and chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) chains and a PG containing only CS/DS chains. No major qualitative changes in the type of PG were observed in cells derived from immature and pubertal animals. However, significant age-dependent differences in the cell distribution pattern of PG and HA were determined. This may have implications in the regulation of spermatogenesis. PMID- 2605772 TI - Evidence for a differential distribution of reducing equivalents from NADPH in cartilage. AB - It has been suggested that the NADPH, generated from the activity of glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase, may be utilized by two different routes, namely either for biosynthesis purposes (type 2) or for microsomal respiration (type 1). This concept has been tested in the rabbit ear model in which an injection of papain into the rabbit causes loss of proteoglycans of the auricular matrix followed by its restoration over the following eight days. It is shown that whereas the type 1 pathway was either unaltered or diminished, the doubling of the glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase activity was related solely to the type 2 pathway. PMID- 2605773 TI - Progression of renal disease: causes, potential therapies. PMID- 2605774 TI - Identify malignant hyperthermia susceptibility to avert life-threatening episodes. PMID- 2605775 TI - The development of a palliative care program. AB - Palliative care, which neither hastens death nor prolongs life, provides comfort through the final stages of life. The focus is on comfort for the patient and quality of life for both patient and family. A three-month pilot project used the team approach, involving a physician, nurse, and social worker, to assess how the palliative care needs of the terminal cancer patient were being met at the Cleveland Clinic. Data are presented to demonstrate that such needs exist and are not currently being met by existing services, as perceived by the patient population surveyed. During the pilot project, the palliative care team was in compliance with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals hospice standards. PMID- 2605776 TI - Local cortical blood flow and oxygen consumption during isoflurane-induced hypotension. Results in patients undergoing intracranial aneurysm clipping. AB - Cerebral cortical blood flow (lCoBF) and metabolic rate for oxygen (lCoMRO2) were studied in eight patients undergoing intracranial aneurysm clipping. The patients were anesthetized with fentanyl 10 micrograms/kg and 70% nitrous oxide combined with 30% oxygen. Hypotension was induced with isoflurane. A thermal diffusion probe was used to measure lCoBF, and arterial and cerebral venous blood samples were obtained for measurement of arterio-cerebral venous O2 content difference. Measurements were made prior to hypotension, during hypotension (to mean arterial pressure approximately 50 mmHg), and posthypotension. Mean lCoBF decreased from 69 +/- 20 mL/100 g/min at normotension to 59 +/- 13 mL/100 g/min during hypotension (P less than .03, NS) and was 61 +/- 18 mL/100 g/min upon return to normotension (all values mean +/- 1 SD). The lCoMRO2 averaged 3.9 +/- 1.6 mL/100 g/min and 3.1 +/- 1.5 mL/100 g/min, respectively (P less than .03, NS) for normotension upsilon hypotension. Values for cerebral venous PO2 and O2 saturation also did not differ significantly between study periods. These results indicate that isoflurane-induced hypotension during fentanyl-nitrous oxide anesthesia allows maintenance of a constant lCoBF and oxygen delivery. PMID- 2605777 TI - Partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. A novel approach to repair. AB - Isolated partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage with an intact atrial septum is a rare finding. The authors describe their experience with three patients (ages 9, 37, and 54 years), with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the superior vena cava, right atrium, and inferior vena cava, who underwent extracardiac conduit repair of this anomaly. In all three patients, a synthetic Gortex graft was used for reconstruction of the venous pathways to the left atrium. The follow-up period ranged from 10 to 82 months (mean, 42 months). All three patients were evaluated with intravenous digital angiography, transesophageal echocardiography, or both at 10, 33, and 82 months postoperatively. Patency of the grafts with no evidence of obstruction and excellent pulmonary venous flow was shown. This surgical technique is an excellent option for correction of this anomaly, and intravenous digital subtraction angiography is a useful diagnostic tool during the postoperative period to evaluate patency of the repair. PMID- 2605778 TI - Solidity of sickle hemoglobin gels: relevance to pathophysiology of sickling disorders. AB - The physical properties of hemoglobin (Hb) S gels formed under conditions relevant to in vivo conditions have been characterized using viscometry. Mixed Hb SF and Hb AS gels of hemoglobin concentrations and compositions found in patients with Hb S-HPFH (mild sickle-cell disease) and Hb AS (sickle-cell trait) have been compared to those of pure Hb S. The results may explain why red cells containing gels occlude the microcirculation and/or undergo hemolysis in patients with sickle-cell anemia, why patients with Hb S-HPFH are mildly affected with red-cell sickling, and why individuals with Hb AS have no clinical manifestations of the Hb abnormality. PMID- 2605779 TI - Unusual occurrence of ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis in a black patient. AB - A possible association between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) has been suggested in whites. The authors describe the first report of the coexistence of AS and MS in a black patient. The clinical diagnosis of MS was further substantiated by the results of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. The diagnosis of AS met the Rome as well as the New York criteria. The patient possessed HLA-B27; his complete HLA phenotype was Aw66, B27, Cw2, DR3, and DR5. PMID- 2605780 TI - Quantification of temporal lobe resections: a new approach. AB - Extent of resection in temporal lobectomy has been traditionally based on intraoperative linear measurements. The complex geometrical contour of the temporal lobe limits the precision and accuracy of such measurements, and it is often difficult to verify the extent of actual resection after surgery. The authors propose a new method of evaluating extent of resection based on a 20 compartment model of the temporal lobe. The temporal lobe is divided into five anteroposterior coronal sections in relation to the anterior and posterior borders of the mesencephalon. Each section is then divided into superior lateral, inferior lateral, basal, and medial quadrants. The resulting compartments are easily identified on postoperative magnetic resonance images obtained along the coronal plane. Resection within each compartment is noted as none (0), partial (1), or complete (2). An index of resection can then be computed for superior lateral, inferior lateral, basal, and medial quadrants and for the whole temporal lobe. Potentially, this technique can be used to evaluate surgical failures and correlate extent of resection with surgical outcome and neurologic complications. It also allows objective and semiquantitative comparison of surgical approaches practiced at different institutions. PMID- 2605781 TI - Fragmented fibronectin and other synovial fluid proteins in chronic arthritis: their relation to immune complexes. AB - Fibronectin, an opsonic glycoprotein has been shown to exist in fragmented forms in serum and synovial fluid. Some fragments in synovial fluid appear to be polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitable, suggesting incorporation into immune complexes (IC). PEG precipitation, SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting were used to determine whether PEG precipitable fragments are real or artefactual. Disease specificity of fragmentation and IC incorporation of fibronectin and other proteins were also studied using these techniques. PEG precipitable fragments do not appear to be artefactual, although some fibronectin fragments are cryoprecipitable. Protein fragments showed similar distributions in whole serum and synovial fluid, disease specific differences being confined to PEG precipitates. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial fluid PEG precipitates displayed the greatest array of fragmented immunoglobulins and fibronectin. No PEG precipitates contained albumin fragments. Protein fragments in IC may impair their effective removal from RA joints. Accumulated IC could lead to tissue damage via complement activation. PMID- 2605782 TI - The effect of clomipramine treatment on plasma lipoproteins and high density lipoprotein subfractions in healthy subjects. AB - The effect of clomipramine on plasma lipoproteins, including high density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions in five healthy males was investigated. The concentrations of total plasma cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased slightly while that of total HDL-cholesterol showed a small increase, giving a decrease (p less than 0.05) in the ratio of total plasma cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol. The level of HDL2-cholesterol increased (p less than 0.01) with clomipramine treatment while there was no significant change in the concentration of HDL3-cholesterol. Gradient gel electrophoresis showed that administration of the drug was associated with an increase in the relative concentration of HDL2a as well as of HDL2b and a decrease in that of HDL3b/3c. The plasma concentration of apolipoprotein (Apo) A-I showed a small but insignificant increase. These changes in lipoprotein profile are characteristic of those associated with a decrease in coronary risk. PMID- 2605783 TI - Oxalate, phosphate and sulphate determination in serum and urine by ion chromatography. AB - A rapid method for the determination of phosphate, sulphate and oxalate in serum by ion chromatography is described. Serum is deproteinized through a Centrifree filter by centrifugation and the ultrafiltrate directly injected into an ion chromatograph equipped with an anion exchange column and a conductivity detector. By this procedure the sample is not diluted and even small amounts of oxalate in biological fluids can be detected. Mean serum concentrations found in healthy individuals are: phosphate 1.07 mmol/l; sulphate 0.35 mmol/l; oxalate 21.02 mumols/l. Phosphate, sulphate and oxalate contents were also determined in urine from healthy individuals. Values found in serum and urine are in good agreement with those previously reported. PMID- 2605784 TI - Relative values for physiological quantities in disease and special conditions. PMID- 2605785 TI - Effect of renal failure on plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol, 3-methoxy-4 hydroxyphenylglycol, and vanillymandelic acid. PMID- 2605786 TI - Bromocriptine therapy for non-functioning pituitary adenoma. AB - Over a 6-year period, 25 patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas were treated with bromocriptine, while 18 other patients with this condition underwent surgery as the first therapeutic modality. The medically treated group, consisting of those patients without alarming eye symptoms, was analysed in retrospect. Eight of these patients had previously undergone surgery and radiotherapy. Bromocriptine was used in a dose of 5 to 22.5 mg per day; the mean duration of treatment was 18 months. For 11 patients, radiological findings obtained during the year before treatment with bromocriptine revealed progression in five cases and stable tumour size in the others. Three of the five patients with progression showed tumour size reduction during bromocriptine therapy while no further growth occurred in the other two. When medication was stopped in one responding patient, the tumour grew again. One other patient, without pretreatment radiological investigation, exhibited tumour size reduction during bromocriptine therapy, and one patient exhibited radiological progression during the study period. In one case visual fields improved and in one other deteriorated without parallel changes in tumour size on computerized tomography. The favourable reactions were equally divided between the groups with and without previous radiotherapy. We conclude that bromocriptine is rarely capable of reducing the size of non-functioning pituitary adenomas (16% in this series). However, pituitary adenomas exhibiting recent growth may be sensitive to this drug, leading to size reduction or growth arrest. PMID- 2605787 TI - Different hepatic responses to thyroxine replacement in spontaneous and 131I induced primary hypothyroidism. AB - The serum levels of a range of analytes known to change with thyroid status were measured in two groups of patients with primary hypothyroidism commencing T4 replacement therapy. One group (group 1; n = 9) had spontaneous hypothyroidism whilst in the second (group 2; n = 10), hypothyroidism had resulted from radioiodine therapy. The replacement dose was increased in 50 micrograms increments each month to 200 micrograms/day; this produced similar serum concentrations of thyroid hormones and TSH in the two groups at each dose. Dose dependent increases in glutathione S-transferase (GST) were seen in both groups but changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities occurred only in group 1 patients. Group 1 patients had significantly higher levels of GST than group 2 at the 150 micrograms (P less than 0.01) and the 200 micrograms (P less than 0.005) doses of T4, and they had higher activities of ALT (P less than 0.01) and GGT (P less than 0.02) at the 200 micrograms dose. Seven patients in group 1 had abnormalities in GST and four had high levels of ALT, whereas three patients from group 2 had high GST concentrations and all had ALT activities within reference limits. The concentrations of the other analytes measured in serum showed the same response to T4 in the two groups, particularly the concentrations of certain transport proteins whose serum concentrations depend on hepatic protein synthesis. These data suggest that patients with spontaneous primary hypothyroidism are more susceptible to hepatocellular damage than patients who have radioiodine-induced primary hypothyroidism when given oral doses of thyroxine greater than 150 micrograms/day. PMID- 2605788 TI - Vasopressin and oxytocin responses to hypertonic saline infusion: effect of the opioid antagonist naloxone. AB - Endogenous opioids inhibit the release of oxytocin (OT) when vasopressin (AVP) is secreted in response to acute pharmacological stimuli in man and to a variety of physiological and pharmacological stimuli to animals. We have investigated the effect of naloxone on the AVP and OT responses to hypertonic saline in man. In two separate studies, six male subjects were infused with hypertonic saline (675 mmol/l, 0.05 ml/kg/min for 2 h) and either naloxone (4 mg bolus and 6 mg/h) or normal saline in random order. Hypertonic saline resulted in similar significant rises of plasma osmolality and AVP in both groups and a small but significant decrease in OT. Thirst sensation was not altered by naloxone. Endogenous opioids do not play an important role in the suppression of OT release when AVP is secreted in response to an osmotic stimulus in man. PMID- 2605789 TI - Methimazole-induced agranulocytosis in Japanese patients with Graves' disease. AB - We reviewed the records of approximately 7000 Japanese patients whose hyperthyroidism was treated with methimazole (MMI) alone. Four patients (Group I) developed agranulocytosis during a second course of MMI therapy and eight patients (Group II) during an initial course. Six patients (three in each group) received less than 30 mg MMI daily. Agranulocytosis occurred after more than 2 months of therapy (12 weeks-1 year) in five patients. Seven patients were less than 40 years of age. One patient displayed a gradual protracted development of agranulocytosis. These results indicate that agranulocytosis after MMI may occur irrespective of dose, age, duration of treatment, and with a second exposure. PMID- 2605790 TI - Osmoregulation of thirst and vasopressin secretion in Kallmann's syndrome. AB - It has been suggested that abnormalities of thirst and vasopressin secretion commonly coexist with Kallmann's syndrome. Out-patient plasma osmolality, plasma sodium and 24-hour urine volume were similar in 10 patients with Kallmann's syndrome and 10 matched controls. Six patients underwent dynamic testing of osmoregulation with hypertonic sodium chloride infusion. There were similar rises in plasma AVP concentration in patients (0.4 +/- 0.1-6.2 +/- 1.2 pmol/l, P less than 0.001) and controls (0.4 +/- 0.1-5.7 +/- 1.0 pmol/l P less than 0.001). Thirst ratings rose in similar fashion in patients (0.7 +/- 0.3-6.2 +/- 1.0 cm, P less than 0.001) and controls (1.0 +/- 0.3-7.2 +/- 0.5 cm. P less than 0.001). Drinking rapidly abolished thirst and lowered AVP concentrations in both groups before major changes in plasma osmolality occurred. Linear regression analysis defined similar osmotic thresholds for thirst onset and vasopressin release in the two groups, and there was no difference in the calculated sensitivity of the osmoreceptor/vasopressin secretory unit as defined by the slopes of the regression lines. We conclude that osmoregulation is normal in Kallmann's syndrome. PMID- 2605791 TI - Salivary testosterone levels and the progress of puberty in the normal boy. AB - Salivary testosterone (ST) levels were measured in 84 boys aged 7.3-16.2 from the Edinburgh Growth Study. The correlation coefficient between matched plasma/saliva samples was 0.88. Six samples were collected over the course of one day from 0900 to 2100 h each month in the majority of the children for 4 consecutive months. Mean daily ST levels showed a significant rise between each pubertal stage (genital (G) and pubic hair (PH]. The rise in ST became more rapid once a mean testicular volume (MTV) of 10 ml had been reached. The diurnal rhythm was assessed by individual curve fitting on the log scale and by cosinor analysis. A rhythm was present prepubertally and developed into a pattern similar to that of the adult rhythm by stage G3. The monthly rate of rise of ST was greatest at stage G4. A significant rise in ST levels was detectable immediately prior to an increase in MTV to 3 ml. This allowed earlier recognition of the clinical onset of puberty at testicular volume of 3 ml, which in this group occurred at 10.9 (SD 0.9) years. ST is a non-invasive and sensitive method for the serial monitoring of gonadal function in the prepubertal and adolescent boy. PMID- 2605792 TI - Evidence for a slow tissue adaptation to circulating thyroxine in patients with chronic L-thyroxine treatment. AB - We measured serum procollagen-III-peptide in 67 women with long-term L-thyroxine treatment and compared the results with age-matched controls. The strong correlation between serum free thyroxine and procollagen-III-peptide concentrations previously found after 6 months of L-thyroxine treatment was not found after long-term treatment. There were slightly higher procollagen-III peptide concentration values in those chronically treated patients who had high free thyroxine levels but this increase was less marked than in patients previously studied after short-term treatment. An increase in procollagen-III peptide concentration reflects an increased biosynthesis of collagen III, which is present in connective tissues throughout the body, and our findings may be explained by slow tissue adaptation to increased levels of thyroxine. We conclude that the increased thyroxine levels found in L-thyroxine-treated patients are of less clinical importance than thought previously. We also conclude that peripheral markers of thyroid hormone peripheral effects such as procollagen-III peptide may be of less use than thought previously due to this slow tissue adaptation to changes in thyroxine concentration. PMID- 2605793 TI - Urinary excretion of human epidermal growth factor in the various stages of diabetic nephropathy. AB - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a polypeptide mitogen first isolated from mouse submaxillary glands and later from human urine. We have examined the pattern of urinary excretion of human EGF (hEGF) in normal subjects and in diabetic patients with varying degrees of nephropathy. hEGF was measured by homologous radioimmunoassay and expressed in terms of urinary creatinine excretion. On the basis of their albumin excretion rate, the diabetic patients were divided into those with normoalbuminuria (albumin excretion rate 3.5 (1.4-9.8) micrograms/min; mean (range)), microalbuminuria (albumin excretion rate 75 (30-128) micrograms/min) and macroalbuminuria (289 (169-879) micrograms/min). The albumin excretion rate for the normal subjects was 3.7 (1.6-9.7) micrograms/min. The mean (range) hEGF excretion (nmol hEGF/mmol creatinine) was 0.69 (0.47-1.29) for 19 healthy subjects, 0.60 (0.16-1.36) for the normoalbuminuric group (n = 18; NS), 0.47 (0.10-0.83) for the microalbuminuric patients (n = 19; P less than 0.001 vs controls and normoalbuminuric diabetics) and 0.38 (0.10-0.63) for the macroalbuminuric group (n = 18; P less than 0.001 vs controls and normoalbuminuric diabetics). There was an inverse correlation between albumin excretion rate and hEGF: creatinine ratio (r = -0.49; P = 0.02). These results show a progressive decline in hEGF excretion in diabetic patients with varying degrees of nephropathy and do not support the hypothesis that increased kidney size seen in early nephropathy is due to excessive amounts of EGF in the urine. PMID- 2605794 TI - Familial Cushing's syndrome due to nodular adrenocortical dysplasia is an inherited disease of immunological origin. AB - Circulating immunoglobulins may be involved in the pathogenesis of familial Cushing's syndrome due to nodular adrenocortical dysplasia. The disease may also be part of a complex including cutaneous and cardiac myxomas, spotty pigmentation of the skin, and other signs of endocrine overactivity. In the present study of two sisters treated by complete adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome due to nodular adrenocortical dysplasia, and of their first-degree relatives, no evidence of associated disorders was present. However, the serum of both girls and of their mother contained immunoglobulins capable of stimulating adrenal DNA synthesis and cortisol production in vitro. The study supports the theory that familial Cushing's syndrome due to adrenocortical dysplasia is an inherited disease of immunological origin. PMID- 2605795 TI - Circulating sex hormone-binding globulin and testosterone in newborns and infants. AB - The concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone (T) were measured in the cord blood of full-term newborns (14 boys, 15 girls) and pre term newborns (10 boys, 5 girls), and in the venous circulation of 100 full-term infants aged 1-204 days. The ratio of T to SHBG (the 'free androgen index', FAI) was calculated to reflect the level of unbound T (the free, biologically active fraction). In boys' umbilical cord sera, T concentrations were significantly greater in arterial than in venous sera, while there was no such difference in the concentration of SHBG. Levels of SHBG in cord sera were considerably lower than those seen in the maternal circulation at term, but they were significantly greater in boys' than in girls' cord sera. Levels of T, and the FAI, were significantly greater in boys' arterial cord sera than in girls'. In early infancy, SHBG concentrations rose in both sexes, the highest values being seen in girls. In infant girls, levels of T and the FAI were constantly low. In infant boys, the expected peak in serum T concentrations was observed at 1-3 months the values approaching those seen in men. In contrast, values of the FAI at this age were relatively low, similar to those seen in women. This suggests that the elevation of male serum T during the first months of life lacks biological significance. However, it is important to realise that the FAI in male infants is about one order of magnitude larger than that in female infants at this time. PMID- 2605796 TI - Effects of hyperthyroidism on binding proteins for steroid hormones. AB - Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) binding capacities were examined weekly in eight normally cycling women and three women taking birth control pills during a 5-week baseline period and after daily ingestion of 75 micrograms of L-triiodothyronine (T3) for 30 days. The SHBG binding capacity increased whereas the CBG binding capacity decreased after T3 therapy. The binding capacities of proteins for steroid hormones were measured in 18 hyperthyroid subjects (Graves' disease) prior to and after 3 months of antithyroid drug therapy. SHBG binding capacity in hyperthyroid men or women was higher, and CBG binding capacity lower than those in euthyroid subjects. Thus, during hyperthyroidism, binding capacities of sex hormone binding globulin and corticosteroid binding globulin vary in opposite directions. A statistically significant correlation between the ratio of the sex hormone binding globulin to the corticosteroid binding globulin and triiodothyronine levels was found (P less than 0.01). Therefore the ratio of the sex hormone binding globulin to the corticosteroid binding globulin might be potentially useful as a biochemical index of thyroid hormone action in peripheral tissues. PMID- 2605797 TI - Hypertension, the renin-angiotensin system and perindopril. First International Symposium on Perindopril. Paris, France, October 29, 1989. PMID- 2605798 TI - Effects of chronic converting enzyme inhibition on the structure and function of large arteries in the rat. AB - The effects of renovascular hypertension and its treatment by a converting enzyme inhibitor (perindopril) on the structure and function of large arteries were studied in the Goldblatt 1 clip--2 kidney rat. One month after the surgical operation, the hypertensive animals (n = 24) and the sham operated animals (n = 24) were divided into two groups receiving either 1 mg/kg per day of perindopril or distilled water for four weeks. At the end of treatment, the hemodynamic parameters, including blood pressure and instantaneous blood flow measured by Doppler, were measured in anesthetized rats. The mechanical properties of the carotid artery were studied by in situ measurement of the carotid compliance in response to imposed pressures. Lastly, morphometric parameters of the thoracic aorta, including the thickness of the media, the density of elastin, collagen and nuclei and the area of the nuclei were studied by an automated image analysis system. Hypertension was associated with an increase in the characteristic impedance of the aorta (14,479 +/- 5,171 vs 9,022 +/- 4,071 dyne.sec/cm5; p less than 0.01) and a reduction in systemic arterial compliance (2.41 +/- 0.96 vs 3.92 +/- 1.15 x 10(-3) ml/mmHg; p less than 0.01) or carotid arterial compliance (6.31 +/- 1.85 vs 8.38 +/- 3.14 x 10(-2) mm3/mmHg; p less than 0.05). Treatment with perindopril normalized systolic and diastolic blood pressure and completely inverted the markers of rigidity of the large arteries. Morphometric analysis of the aortic wall allowed these functional modifications to be attributed to structural modifications of the wall. The thickness of the media was increased by hypertension (122.3 +/- 3.7 vs 97.5 +/- 4.4 microns; p less than 0.01). This thickening was attributed to hypertrophy of the smooth muscle cells as evidenced by the increase in the nucleus size (8.58 +/- 1.54 vs 7.38 +/- 0.78 microns 2; p less than 0.01). It was accompanied by an increase in the density of collagen (8.6 +/- 3.6 vs 7.3 +/- 2.4%; p less than 0.01) and a decrease in the density of elastin (31.9 +/- 8.3 vs 38.6 +/- 12.8%; p less than 0.01). Treatment with perindopril normalized the thickness of the media (103.0 +/- 4.8 microns) by reducing cellular hypertrophy. The short duration of treatment did not allow regression of the modifications in the density of the proteins of the interstitial matrix. In conclusion, renovascular hypertension severely alters the functional and structural properties of large arteries. Treatment with perindopril normalizes the properties of the vessel wall.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2605799 TI - Pharmacokinetics of perindopril: therapeutic consequences. AB - Perindopril has been studied in groups of normal young and elderly subjects, in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and in hypertensive patients. Plasma concentrations of perindoprilat are increased and renal clearance reduced in elderly subjects, resulting in an increase in the acute pharmacodynamic effect of perindopril. Compensated hepatic cirrhosis does not have any independent effect on the pharmacokinetics of perindopril. After intravenous administration, perindoprilat concentrations show multiexponential decay with a terminal half life of over 30 hours, associated with sustained inhibition of ACE. During repeated dosing, there is little accumulation of the drug and no evidence of increased hemodynamic effect after chronic treatment in hypertensives. The therapeutic consequences of these findings are: (1) Binding of perindoprilat to ACE prolongs the hemodynamic effect, giving the option of once daily administration. (2) Despite the long terminal elimination half-life of the drug, significant accumulation is not a problem during chronic treatment. (3) Increased plasma concentrations of active metabolite in the elderly and reduced renal elimination may require reduced doses to be used. (4) Further dose adjustment in compensated hepatic cirrhosis is not routinely necessary. PMID- 2605800 TI - Experience with perindopril in normal volunteers. AB - The new orally active angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor perindopril was evaluated in normotensive men. Doses of 2 to 16 mg were given once a day for up to one week. Single oral doses of perindopril were found to blunt the pressor response to exogenous angiotensin I in a dose-dependent manner. The drug-induced ACE inhibition, as estimated by the measurement of plasma ACE activity, was maximal 4 to 8 hours post drug intake. ACE activity was still markedly reduced 24 hours after dosing. Plasma levels of angiotensin II and aldosterone decreased significantly, whereas plasma renin activity and blood angiotensin I levels rose during peak ACE inhibition induced by the 4 and 8 mg doses. However, circulating levels of angiotensin II returned to baseline values 24 hours after dosing, both on the first day of treatment and after one week of administration. ACE inhibition with perindopril did not consistently affect blood pressure and heart rate. There was no evidence for drug accumulation during repeated administration. The novel ACE inhibitor was well tolerated and produced no change in routine laboratory tests. The long-acting ACE inhibitor perindopril therefore appears to be effective when given orally in a dose range of 4 to 16 mg. PMID- 2605801 TI - Evaluation of the dose-effect relationship of perindopril in the treatment of hypertension. AB - The evaluation of the dose-antihypertensive effect relationship of a drug is essential for the rational determination of the effective dose. The efficacy and safety of the dose of 4 mg of perindopril in the treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension were demonstrated by means of two double-blind studies conducted according to a rigorous methodology. This efficacy was still present 24 hours after the last dose of perindopril. The dose of 2 mg appeared to be insufficient to exert a significant antihypertensive effect. In the case of inadequate efficacy of the dose of 4 mg of perindopril, the dose of 8 mg is able to exert a greater antihypertensive effect without any major harmful effects. The antihypertensive efficacy is parallel to the percentage of converting enzyme inhibition induced by perindopril. The contribution of the automated method of blood pressure recording using the Dinamap method to establish a dose-effect relationship with reference to the classical sphygmomanometric method is clearly illustrated. PMID- 2605802 TI - Hypertension and the renin-angiotensin system. The place of perindopril. Conclusions. PMID- 2605803 TI - A thorn in the flesh--a study of the pathogenesis of subcutaneous infections. PMID- 2605804 TI - Culture of fungi on cyanoacrylate skin surface strippings--a quantitative bioassay for evaluating antifungal drugs. AB - Current in vitro testing methods for antifungal drugs are often inadequate and sometimes correlate poorly with in vivo efficacy. We present a method of culture of fungi on cyanoacrylate skin surface strippings that can be used in combination with computerized image analysis to evaluate the efficacy of commercially available topical and oral antifungal drugs. Since this method closely copies the in vivo situation, it has obvious advantages over other in vitro investigative procedures and should be of relevance clinically. PMID- 2605805 TI - Juvenile versus maturity-onset alopecia areata--a comparative retrospective clinical study. AB - We report a retrospective study of 209 patients presenting with alopecia areata (AA) at our skin department during the period 1969-1987, with special reference to possible associations, aetiological factors and the relevance of additional investigations. The patients were divided into two groups: (I) those in whom AA developed during childhood; (II) those in whom AA developed in adult life (greater than or equal to 16 years). The aim of this study was to establish whether there is a difference between juvenile and maturity-onset AA and to consider the value of additional investigations in AA. Juvenile AA is more severe and has a less favourable prognosis than the maturity-onset disease. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were not found with respect to AA type and prevalence of auto-antibodies. Bad prognostic signs in AA were early age of onset, atopy (or first-degree family history) and ophiasis and/or onychodystrophy. Initial thyroid function testing seems advisable in patients with AA. Additional valuable investigations may include hair-root examination, determination of antibodies against thyroid tissue, and serum zinc levels. There are indications that psychosomatic factors may play a role in AA. In our study, psychosomatic factors were found in 29% of the juvenile AA and in 17% of the maturity-onset AA patients. PMID- 2605806 TI - The effect of topically applied corticosteroids and zinc on the metallothionein content of skin in an experimental model. AB - The metallothionein (MT) content in hairless mouse skin was determined after topical application of various glucocorticoids or zinc oxide (ZnO). Dexamethasone (1%) in a cream base or zinc paste (20% zinc oxide) were applied twice daily, at a dose of 0.5 g, to the dorsal surface of the mouse. These experiments were conducted for 7 days. The MT content of the skin increased in a time-dependent manner after dexamethasone application with maximal values (7.1 +/- 0.29 pmol MT/mg wet weight) seen after 5 days, whereas zinc paste caused only slight increases after 3 days of treatment. The effect of hydrocortisone and triamcinolone-acetonide on the MT content of the skin was also studied. The physiological significance of these results is briefly discussed. PMID- 2605807 TI - Pseudoporphyria complicating etretinate therapy. AB - Etretinate is recognized to have unwanted cutaneous effects such as dryness of the skin, pruritus and hair thinning. Photosensitivity has rarely been observed as an adverse reaction but we now describe a renal transplant recipient who developed lesions of cutaneous porphyria apparently as a result of etretinate prescribed to suppress cutaneous neoplasia. PMID- 2605808 TI - The relevance of elevated Borrelia burgdorferi titres in localized scleroderma. AB - A 46-year-old man with a 2-year history of localized scleroderma of his right upper arm and elevated Borrelia burgdorferi titres is described. The association of Borrelia burgdorferi infection and localized scleroderma is discussed. PMID- 2605809 TI - Fungal kerion--total scalp involvement due to Microsporum canis infection. AB - We report the case of a 5-year-old girl who developed a remarkably extensive kerion of the scalp due to Microsporum canis infection. Total scalp involvement of this severity and prolonged duration is now unusual, but there has been surprisingly little residual cicatricial alopecia. Microsporum canis does not respond well to ketoconazole, and griseofulvin remains the drug of choice for dermatophyte infections involving hair; a prolonged course may be necessary. This case also demonstrates the benefit of corticosteroids for certain cases of inflammatory ringworm where the host's response to the fungus is exceptionally marked. PMID- 2605810 TI - Algodystrophy (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) complicating unilateral acrodermatitis continua. AB - A 65-year-old female suffered trauma to her left hand on which acrodermatitis continua (psoriasis of Hallopeau) developed. It is suggested that the persistent pain of this skin condition, its poor response to treatment and her allied mental state led to the development of a severe algodystrophy with marked underlying osteoporosis. PMID- 2605811 TI - Erythema elevatum diutinum--a case successfully treated with colchicine. AB - A case of erythema elevatum diutinum, unresponsive to dapsone but successfully treated with colchicine, is described. PMID- 2605812 TI - Chronic granulomatous disease--a case showing long-term survival. AB - The diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease of childhood was made in a 10-year old boy following episodes of recurrent cervical abscesses and ulcerative stomatitis since the age of 4 years. Nineteen years on, on antibiotic prophylaxis, he is now married and remains active although he has been hospitalized with serious complications on many occasions. PMID- 2605813 TI - Behcet's syndrome with gastro-intestinal tract involvement mimicking carcinoma of the caecum--a case report. AB - A 43-year-old patient with a 2-year history of orogenital ulceration and hypochromic anaemia developed rapid loss of weight over a period of a few months and presented with a mass in the right iliac fossa, suggestive, clinically and radiologically, of a carcinoma of the caecum. The mass was removed by standard right hemicolectomy. Examination of the resected specimen revealed a large, irregular, ulcerated area of the caecum measuring 7 cm in diameter extending through all the layers of the intestinal wall. Histology showed a non-specific inflammatory infiltrate. One large artery in the pericolic tissue was occluded by organizing thrombus. Five years after the operation, he developed epileptiform seizures. CT scan showed a small infarct in the left insular area of the brain. Six months later he was admitted to another hospital with profuse diarrhoea and died within 24 h from cardiac arrest. PMID- 2605814 TI - Giant-cell tumour of the tendon sheath--an uncommon tumour presenting to dermatologists. AB - We describe a patient who presented with two skin-coloured, non-mobile, soft dermal nodules on the tip of the distal phalanx of the left middle finger. Skin biopsy revealed the features of a giant-cell tumour of the tendon sheath. This benign tumour is one of the most common tumours affecting the hand but is, we believe, infrequently encountered by dermatologists and rarely mentioned in the dermatological literature. PMID- 2605815 TI - Inequalities in undergraduate dermatology. PMID- 2605816 TI - [Histopathology and ultrastructure of primary tooth. New concepts of mineralization of mesenchyme of molar pulp]. PMID- 2605817 TI - The connection between Uveitis and pulp infection. PMID- 2605818 TI - Porcelain laminate veneers--for improved aesthetics of anterior teeth. PMID- 2605819 TI - Myocardial infarction: rationale for therapy in 1989. A symposium. PMID- 2605820 TI - Advances in systemic autoimmune diseases. Proceedings of a symposium. Perugia, November 6-9, 1988. PMID- 2605821 TI - Surgical treatment of the rheumatoid hand. AB - Multiple involvement of joints and tendons of the hand by rheumatoid disease is frequent and may result in severe deformities. Surgery plays a major role in an integrated treatment program that considers the patient's possibilities for improvement. Extensor and flexor tenosynovitis requires an early synovectomy to prevent tendon ruptures, to restore tendon gliding and to decompress the median nerve at the wrist level. Ruptured tendons are usually widely degenerated and restoration of function is provided by end-to-side repair, tendon grafts or tendon transfers. Joint synovectomies must be preformed at an early stage to be effective. Restoration of function in eroded, dislocated or unstable joints can be attained by arthroplasty or arthrodesis. A resection arthroplasty, usually completed by a silicone implant, corrects the deformity while preserving or restoring a functional range of motion. Flexible implant arthroplasty is very often performed in the metacarpophalangeal joints, and less frequently in the wrist and interphalangeal joints. Arthrodesis is a satisfactory procedure for those joints where stability is more important than motion. PMID- 2605822 TI - Effect of posterior cruciate sacrificing on durability of the cement-bone interface: a nine-year survivorship study of 100 total condylar knee arthroplasties. AB - This paper presents a survivorship analysis of the second group of 100 consecutive primary total-condylar knee arthroplasties carried out in 75 patients between 1979-80 with a maximum follow-up of 9 years. With this type of knee arthroplasty the posterior cruciate ligament is routinely sacrificed. Survivorship results revealed that 98.9% of the knees had a good outcome at 9 years of follow-up, using revision surgery for aseptic and septic loosening, and radiographic evidence of global radiolucency or shift of the component as the end point. Radiographic survivorship analysis showed well-fixed components in 87% of implants using endpoint criteria of appearance and progression of radiolucency under the tibial component. Sacrificing the posterior cruciate ligament does not adversely affect the durability of fixation of total-condylar knee arthroplasty. Bone cement provides an excellent fixation of the total knee implant. PMID- 2605823 TI - A seventeen year survivorship study of Charnley total hip replacement. PMID- 2605824 TI - Autoimmune chronic liver disease as a model of human autoimmunity. AB - Although clonal deletion and clonal energy have been demonstrated in transgenic mice, the findings that autoreactive B or T cells are present in healthy subjects suggest that they are not the sole mechanisms of tolerance. As regards helper T lymphocytes, tolerance to self-antigens can arise by preventing class II MHC expression on non-lymphoid cells and autoantigen presentation to helper T cells initiating the autoimmune response. Autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (CAH) seems to be a good model of self-tolerance bypass. Hepatocytes are able to express class II molecules and can perform accessory cell functions with respect to T cell clones generated from lymphocytes infiltrating the liver in autoimmune CAH patients. The class II antigen expression on hepatocytes may be modulated by IFN-gamma released by infiltrating T lymphocytes; thus, the activated liver cells can present autoantigens to autoreactive T cell clones. On the other hand, these findings may occur only when the upregulation of IFN-gamma or other lymphokines permits the expression of rare class II antigens on hepatocytes capable of binding particular residues of a liver-autoantigen which are recognized by specific autoreactive T cell clones binding different residues on the same epitope. PMID- 2605825 TI - Idiotypic network in myasthenia gravis. AB - Fluctuations in idiotypic and anti-idiotypic Ab levels over time in two myasthenia gravis patients were found to vary either inversely with one another or in relation to one another. A pair of 46-year-old female twins in which one of the twins developed myasthenia gravis while the other remained healthy were also studied. Ab specificities and immunoglobulin specificities available in the B cell repertoire were found to be similar in both twins. PMID- 2605826 TI - [Intellectual impairments in patients with Parkinson's disease--a proposal of the subgroups of the disease]. AB - The severity of intellectual impairments of the 89 patients with Parkinson's disease was evaluated with Osaka Intelligence Scale for the Aged (OISA). They were divided into three groups; normal, slightly impaired, and demented using three discriminative functions of OISA. Their motor disabilities were rated on the Hoehn and Yahr's functional classification scale. EEG, psychotic symptoms such as visual hallucination and "leibhaftige Bewusstheit (K. Jaspers)", medications and prognosis for life were also examined. There was no significant correlation between the duration of the illness and the degree of their intellectual impairments. There were two specific subgroups among our samples; a group of patients who were demented rapidly after their onsets of parkinsonism, and a group of patients whose intelligence was preserved for a long period. The age of onset of the former group was older than the latter. The duration from the onset to death in the former was shorter than the latter. The former group of the patients exhibited psychotic symptoms and EEG abnormalities more frequently. The severity of motor disability and medication did not differ between two groups. PMID- 2605827 TI - [Orthostatic hypotension and prognosis in spinocerebellar degeneration]. AB - To study the prognosis, the patients with various types of spinocerebellar degeneration, examined as inpatients in Department of Neurology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health form 1979 to Oct., 1988, were followed up and classified into three groups, based on their medical records reviewed retrospectively. The survival or death was confirmed for each patient at the end of Oct., 1988. Group I included 11 patients who developed cerebellar ataxia after the symptom or/and sign of orthostatic hypotension. Group II included 13 patients who developed cerebellar ataxia followed by orthostatic hypotension. Group III included 18 patients who showed cerebellar ataxia without orthostatic hypotension. The percentages of the dead patients in groups I, II and III were 82 (9 out of 11), 62 (8 out of 13) and 17 (3 out of 18%), respectively. The median of the age at the onset of the initial symptom or sign of all the patients in each group and the median of the survival interval from the onset of the dead patients were similar among three groups. The median of the age at both the onset and death of the dead patients tended to be higher in group III than those in group I and II. The maximum blood pressure on standing and the difference of the maximum blood pressure between on lying and on standing were not statistically correlated with the survival interval after such blood pressure evaluation among the dead patients in both groups I and II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605828 TI - [CT study in senile dementia of Alzheimer type]. AB - In order to evaluated the utility of cranial CT in diagnosis of senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT) various CT findings were studied. CT scans of 62 cases with SDAT (83 +/- 6 years old) were compared with those of 357 aged cases (means 78 +/- 8 years old) with out psychiatric and/or neurological illness (normal control NC). The methods of evaluating CT findings were linear measurements of the ventricle (Huckman number, Evans' ratio, lateral body ratio), observation of sulci (Sylvian fissure, cingulate sulcus and central sulcus), brain atrophy ranking of microscopic observation (I; absent, II; mild, III; mild to moderate, IV; moderate, V; maximum) and presence of periventricular lucency. When SDAT were compared with NC the cases were divided into two groups by the age (the eighth decade, 80 years old and over) in order to avoid the influence of physiological brain atrophy. The results were as follows: 1) In SDAT there was a positive correlation between the volume of the lateral ventricle in autopsy brain and each index which demonstrates the size of the lateral ventricle on CT (r = 0.65, p less than 0.001). 2) In SDAT the incidence of cases with more than III degree in brain atrophy ranking was significantly higher than in NC (p less than 0.001). It was 82.6% in SDAT, 15.7% in NC in the eighth decade and 92.3% in SDAT, 32.1% in NC in 80 years and over. 3) The mean values of indexes of lateral ventricle enlargement (Huckman number, Evans' ratio, lateral body ratio) in SDAT increased more than those in NC significantly (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605829 TI - [Bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis (Gerhardt syndrome) in the Shy-Drager syndrome]. AB - Ten consecutive patients with a progressive pan-autonomic failure of the Shy Drager syndrome were investigated. Movement disorders of the vocal cords were examined with a fiber-optic laryngoscope as well as a video-recorder. Moderate to severe vocal cord paralysis was present in five of ten patients. The vocal cords were almost immobile during inspiration, while there was no limitation of the adduction during phonation. In two cases, grade of vocal cord paralysis was asymmetric. One patient developed peculiar twisting-like dystonic movements of the vocal cord. Polygraphic studies revealed that SaO2 was lowered in spite of tachypnea during sleep. In two cases, the expiratory flow volume curve in effort dependent portion near TLC showed a plateau and the inspiratory part of the curve also showed a plateau indicating constant flow. These functional disorders suggest an upper airway obstruction probably due to the vocal cord dysfunction. There was no vocal cord paralysis in two patients who had neither snore nor stridor. Development of a severe vocal cord dysfunction usually manifested itself clinically as stridor, snore or respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy. There was little information on the pathology of the vagal nerves and nuclei supplying motor control to the laryngeal muscles. The mechanism of the selective involvement of abductor muscle (posterior muscle) of the vocal cord (Gerhardt syndrome) remains unsolved. Vocal cord paralysis should be looked for since it can result in respiratory failure leading to death. PMID- 2605830 TI - [Anterior shift of posterior lower cervical dura mater in patients with juvenile muscular atrophy of unilateral upper extremity]. AB - Myelography was performed in 16 male patients with juvenile muscular atrophy of unilateral upper extremity. The age at onset ranged from 11 to 19 years (average, 16 years), and the age at study ranged from 15 to 38 years (average, 25 years). The most remarkable finding was an anterior shift of lower cervical dural canal during neck flexion, particularly of its posterior wall at around 6th vertebral level. The above finding was clearly shown in 12 patients whose duration of illness was under 20 years but not in 4 patients whose duration of illness was 20 years or over. And the rates of anterior shift of posterior lower cervical dura mater was inversely proportional to the duration of illness. There was a tendency that the greater the degree of the anterior dural shift and compression of the spinal cord, the greater the severity of the disease. We thought that the anterior shift of the posterior lower cervical dura mater provides the clue to understanding of its etiology and methods of arresting the progression of the disease. PMID- 2605831 TI - [The excessive activity of cytochrome P450 system in ALS--the metabolic ratio of sparteine]. AB - The activity of cytochrome P450 family was studied in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in an attempt to evaluate the susceptibility to environmental substances including possible some neurotoxin. The metabolic ratio (MR) of sparteine sulfate was measured in 30 patients with ALS and 41 controls for the evaluation of the sparteine nitro (N)-oxidation with cytochrome P450 system. The population of phenotypes designed as extensive metabolisers (EMs), intermediate metabolisers (IMs), and poor metabolisers (PMs) for sparteine nitro (N)-oxidation was determined in each group. The lower MR (p less than 0.02) and higher frequency of EMs (p less than 0.05) were observed in ALS group, suggesting the excessive activity of N-oxidation with cytochrome P450 pathway in the ALS group. Especially in 15 patients with ALS age before 60, these tendencies were more remarkable with a significant lower MR (p less than 0.01) and extremely high frequency of EMs (p less than 0.005). The present study might suggest the possible participation of cytochrome P450 pathway in the development of ALS. PMID- 2605832 TI - [The significance of measurement of contents of serum serine protease inhibitors in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type]. AB - We have evaluated serum alpha 1-antichymotrypsin content in dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). The subjects consisted of 26 patients with DAT, 15 with cerebrovascular dementia, 10 with mixed type dementia, 2 with Down syndrome, 17 with Parkinson disease, 14 with spinocerebellar degeneration, 14 with cerebrovascular disease without dementia, 12 with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and 77 normal controls. DAT group showed statistically significant increase of serum alpha 1-antichymotrypsin content, as compared with normal control group (p less than 0.001), mixed type dementia group (p less than 0.05) and other 6 groups (p less than 0.001). However, the levels of both alpha 1-antitrypsin content and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor content, included in serine protease inhibitors, were not significantly different between DAT and normal control groups. These findings indicated that measurement of serum alpha 1-antichymotrypsin is useful as the diagnostic marker of DAT. PMID- 2605833 TI - [Multicystic encephalomalacia in an adult--a case report]. AB - A case of multicystic encephalomalacia found in adult life was described. A 35 year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of unsteadiness. He had developed normally until he fell into the shock state induced by mismatch blood transfusion at the age of 15 months. Since then he has been mentally retarded moderately and had clumsiness of the skillful movement in the right hand. The other neurological abnormality was hyperreflexia only. Laboratory examination failed to disclose metabolic defect. Both CT scan and MRI demonstrated numerous cystic lesions of various size spreading over bilateral cerebral white matter partially involving the inner layer of the cortex. On the contrary basal ganglia, cerebellum and brainstem were completely spared. The diagnosis of MCE was made from (1) anoxic-ischemic episode in infancy, (2) static clinical picture and (3) characteristic distribution of cystic lesions. It is well known that MCE results from perinatal hypoxia, but it is a polyetiologic condition caused by various damages to immature brain of early infancy and usually results in severe psychomotor retardation. Nonetheless, it is intriguing in our case that marked discrepancy was found between morphological change and neurological deficit. It is probable that at the age of 15 months the myelination of major projecting fibers was almost completed, but sufficient plasticity was preserved in immature brain. As a result, the patient had the neurological deficit in the minimum degree in spite of severe morphological change. PMID- 2605834 TI - [Acute acquired toxoplasmosis presenting as polymyositis and chorioretinitis in a Japanese male]. AB - A 55-year-old Japanese male who developed acute polymyositis and chorioretinitis due to toxoplasmosis is described. The patients was well until one month prior to the present admission, when he had an onset of painful swelling of lymphnodes in the posterior cervical region, proximal muscle weakness, myalgia and a partial defect in the visual field of the right eye. He admitted that he had had a chance to eat half-cooked mutton while he had visited Saudi Arabia 40 days before. He was unable to go up and down the stairs at the peak of the illness. Serum CPK was 2050 u/l (N = 5-50) on January 11, 1989. These symptoms improved spontaneously except for the visual field defect. He was admitted to our hospital on January 31, 1989. On admission, neurological examination was unremarkable except for retinal exudate in the right eye which appeared consistent with the clinical diagnosis of toxoplasma chorioretinitis. Serum CPK was 103 u/l, and EMG showed myogenic changes. The IgM-immunofluorescent (IFA) anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody titer was elevated to 640, and IgG-immunofluorescent antibody to 20480 after IgM IFA. These clinical and serological findings indicate acute and recent Toxoplasma gondii infection. It appeared likely that Toxoplasma gondii directly caused acute myositis and chorioretinitis. Clinical manifestations of toxoplasma myositis may mimic those of idiopathic polymyositis, however, the clinical course of the former is usually self-limited probably because of generation of antibodies which will inhibit the growth of the organism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605835 TI - [Oculogyric crisis as an initial symptom of juvenile parkinsonism-like disease]. AB - A 12-year-old boy developed occasional attacks of oculogyric crisis after physical exercises or when tired. Following the initial symptom, progressive Parkinsonian features such as bradykinesia, muscular rigidity, hand tremors in posture, mild dysarthria and disorder of postural reflexes developed. There was no marked diurnal fluctuation o symptoms. Serum ceruloplasmin, copper levels, cranial X-ray CT scan and MRI were normal. Measurement of the plasma levels of L dopa after single oral administration (300 mg) were normal. The treatment with L dopa improved the Parkinsonian features excluding the attacks of oculogyric crisis in a few weeks. This case is not identical with juvenile Parkinsonism proposed by Yokochi et al for lack of both crural or truncal dystonia and remarkable response to L-dopa. Oculogyric crisis is known in several patients with severe generalized dystonia, and seldom in patients with Parkinson disease or juvenile Parkinsonism. Oculogyric crisis may be one of focal dystonias confined to extraocular muscles. PMID- 2605836 TI - [MRI findings in studies of distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles]. AB - A case of distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles was studied with MRI, which showed a characteristic distribution of the affected muscles. A 41-year-old man who presented a slowly progressive weakness in his lower legs starting 11 years previously was admitted to our hospital of further investigation. Neurological examinations showed muscular wasting and weakness in the neck flexors, the flexors of the forearm, the flexors and adductors of the thigh and the extensors of the lower legs. Needle electromyography showed a myopathic pattern. Muscle biopsy revealed a variation in fiber size, an increase in internal nuclei, fatty infiltration and scattered rimmed vacuoles in a histochemical study. Electron microscopy revealed that rimmed vacuoles contained numerous lamellar bodies and glycogen particles. T1 and T2 weighted MRI showed high signals in the m. adductor of thigh m. biceps femoris, m. semimembranosus, m. semitendinosus, m. tibialis anterior, m. tibialis posterior, m. extensor digitorum longus, m. extensor digitorum brevis, m. peroneus, and m. gastrocnemius. There were three merits for the application of MRI to distal myopathy, (1) easy detection of the affected muscles as fatty change is expressed with a high signal intensity by MRI, (2) no affection by the presence of bones in MRI, and (3) the possibility to have a transverse section and a sagittal and coronal section in MRI. In this case MRI was very useful to detect the affected muscles and to observe the progress. PMID- 2605837 TI - [A case report of central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis which occurred during pregnancy and was accompanied by choreic movement]. AB - A 25-year-old female in the 17th week of pregnancy was diagnosed by MRI as having central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis. Serial observations with MR showed gradual disappearance of the lesions in the pons and striatum. Improvement of the symptoms took place shortly before disappearance of the lesions on MRI pictures. The initial symptoms were consciousness disturbance, cranial nerve palsy and tetraparesis. Before the latter disappeared seven months after occurrence of the disease, all other symptoms gradually improved. They were followed by delayed appearance of choreic movements, which was still remaining one year after discharge. It is rare for a pregnant woman to be attacked by central pontine myelinolysis. Moreover, very few symptoms caused by such extrapontine lesions have so far been reported. Also, a review of the relevant literature by the authors found no other case showing choreic movements. This report is of an extremely rare case of central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis which occurred during pregnancy and is accompanied by choreic movements. PMID- 2605838 TI - [A case of polymyalgia rheumatica with cytoplasmic bodies]. AB - A 63-year-old man with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) with cytoplasmic bodies (CB) in biopsied muscle was reported. He was referred to our hospital in June 1988 because of myalgia of four extremities. The ESR was 114 mm/hr and the serum CPK level was normal. Needle EMG and nerve conduction velocities showed normal findings. On light microscopic examination in biopsied muscle, the inclusion bodies which appeared on HE stained sections as deep reddish masses were present in 10% of all fibers. By electron microscopy the core of the bodies consisted of a dense tangle of thin filaments which were intermixed with granular material. Around the core a network of irregularly or radially oriented filaments was observed. These bodies were identified with cytoplasmic bodies. Since there has been no previous report of PMR with CB, our case is important to discuss the relationship between the pathogenesis of PMR and CB. PMID- 2605839 TI - [Malignant lymphoma presenting with bilateral orbital apex syndrome]. AB - This is the first report of bilateral orbital apex syndrome caused by malignant lymphoma. A 73-year-old man suffered from right forehead pain, diplopia and right numb cheek. Thereafter progressed bilateral visual disturbance rapidly, and soon he became blind. Cavernous sinus thrombosis was suspected clinically, but histological study of the biopsied specimen from the nasopharynx revealed malignant lymphoma (non-Hodgkin, diffuse, large cell type) (LSG). The patient died 5 months after the onset of his illness. Autopsy revealed lymphoma cell invasion and necrosis in parasellar region, bilateral optic nerves, nasopharynx, and left posterior root of L3. There was no lymphoma cell in the liver, spleen, or gastrointestinal tract. The nasopharynx was suspected to be the primary site of the tumor. In bilateral orbital apex syndrome, malignant lymphoma should be taken into consideration. Remission can be expected if treatment is started in early stage. PMID- 2605840 TI - Radionuclide angiography in suspected acute cholecystitis: further observations. AB - Radionuclide angiography (RNA) and cholescintigraphy were performed prospectively in 300 patients with suspected acute cholecystitis (AC). Of 79 patients with positive RNA, 63 had AC (80%). Positive RNA was seen in 23 of 26 cases with gangrenous AC (88%) while 12 of the 26 had a positive "rim" sign (46%). All 12 patients with a positive "rim" sign had positive RNA. The "rim" sign may be caused by increased perfusion. Five of 6 patients with positive RNA and "obstructive" pattern had AC (83%). Patients with negative RNA and positive cholescintigraphy had a positive predictive value of 54% (31/57), while those with positive RNA and positive cholescintigraphy had a positive predictive value of 85% (57/67). RNA showed increased perfusion to nonbiliary pathology such as liver abscesses and pyelonephritis. Positive RNA increases the predictive value of cholescintigraphy and may be useful to shorten cholescintigraphic examinations. PMID- 2605841 TI - Distinct hepatic retention of Tc-99m IDA in arteriohepatic dysplasia (Alagille syndrome). AB - An unusual pattern of Tc-99m IDA scintigraphy was observed in a 20-year-old woman with arteriohepatic dysplasia (Alagille syndrome). Although neither hepatic imaging with Tc-99m tin colloid nor radiographic CT revealed any morphologic abnormality in the liver, sequential hepatobiliary imaging demonstrated abnormal radiotracer behavior--specifically, differences in tracer clearance between the peripheral and central portions of the liver. Radioactivity was persistently retained in the periphery of the liver, but the central portion showed normal tracer clearance, resulting in a photopenic center surrounded by a hot peripheral rim on the later images. The gallbladder and small intestine appeared promptly. This image pattern may be characteristic for intrahepatic bile duct hypoplasia. PMID- 2605842 TI - Indium-111 WBC scan in acute toxic centrilobular hepatic necrosis. AB - In this case of prolonged fever and abnormal liver functions, dual tracer scintigraphy with In-111 WBCs and Tc-99m SC led to a biopsy-proven diagnosis of severe acute toxic hepatitis (hepatocellular necrosis). Correlation of the Tc-99m SC scan findings with those previously reported for "pseudotumors" of the liver is discussed. A "pseudonormal" scan pattern is described for the In-111 WBC scintigraphy. Discordance between In-111 WBC and Tc-99m SC scintigraphy in this clinical setting should raise the possibility of hepatic necrosis as a diagnostic alternative to hepatic abscess. PMID- 2605843 TI - Continuous anterior acquisitions in gastric emptying: comparison with the mean. AB - Depth correction is necessary when gastric emptying is studied by means of a labeled meal. In this study continuous anterior images were acquired from the onset of the food ingestion. Differences in depth were measured using a left lateral view. A minimal and crude depth correction was performed. The results obtained with this correction method were compared with those obtained using the depth correction technique of the mean. The results obtained in the anterior projection without any depth correction were also compared with those obtained using the method of the mean. The results obtained with both correction techniques were identical in 18 gastric emptying studies. This approach also permits the creation of a time-activity curve over the duodenum in the anterior projection. In this way the lag phase can easily be assessed. PMID- 2605844 TI - Bilateral basal Xe-133 retention and ventilation/perfusion patterns in mild and subclinical congestive heart failure. AB - The Xe-133 ventilation pattern in congestive heart failure (CHF) was assessed using 24 inpatient ventilation/perfusion studies performed to rule out pulmonary embolism. Patients with histories of CHF, myocardial infarction (MI), and cardiomyopathy were included in the study. Frank pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, and other known lung diseases such as chronic obstructive lung disease, tumor, and pneumonia were excluded. Fifteen of the 24 patients had abnormal ventilation scans. Twelve of the 15 showed bilateral basal Xe-133 retention on washout; the remaining 3 showed diffuse, posterior regional retention. On perfusion scans, 14 of the 15 abnormal ventilation patients showed evidence of CHF such as inverted perfusion gradient, enlarged cardiac silhouette, or patchy perfusion, and all of them had a history of CHF or cardiac disease. Nine of the 24 patients had normal ventilation scans, including normal washout patterns. Seven of the nine had normal perfusion (p less than 0.01). Four of the nine normal ventilation patients had a history of cardiac disease or CHF but no recent acute MI. Bilateral basal regional Xe-133 retention, coupled with perfusion scan evidence of CHF such as inverted perfusion gradient, enlarged cardiac silhouette, and patchy perfusion pattern, appears to be a sensitive and characteristic ventilation/perfusion finding in mild or subclinical CHF. PMID- 2605845 TI - Two unusual cases of metastatic osteosarcoma detected by Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy. AB - Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy is widely used for initial staging and subsequent follow-up of patients with osteosarcoma. Two unusual cases are presented here, one with diffuse pleural metastases and one with diffuse peritoneal metastases. In one case, an abnormal bone scan was the first indication of metastatic disease. Both the metastatic pattern of osteosarcoma and the indications for bone scintigraphy are reviewed. PMID- 2605846 TI - Cystic thyroid mass following I-131 treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma: an unusual complication. AB - Several unusual complications of I-131 therapy for thyroid carcinoma are known. Two patients who developed a further unusual event that consisted of a palpable mass and cystic degeneration are described. PMID- 2605847 TI - F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose: its potential in differentiating between stress fracture and neoplasia. AB - F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulates into regions of enhanced glucose uptake and metabolism such as the brain, heart, and malignant tumors. The clinical usefulness of this positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical is illustrated in a case where the clinical picture and CT indicated a malignant bone lesion in the clavicle. Histologically a stress fracture was found secondary to chronic strain on the clavicle. On follow-up the lesion's course was benign. Planar imaging with F-18 FDG was performed twice during follow-up, and on both occasions there was no accumulation of radioactivity over the suspicious area, indicating normal glucose consumption. This case demonstrates the differential diagnostic potential of F-18 FDG and shows that clinically useful information may be obtained without a position emission tomograph. PMID- 2605848 TI - Reversibility of pulmonary telangiectasia in liver cirrhosis evidenced by serial dynamic pulmonary perfusion imaging. AB - Pulmonary perfusion imaging with Tc-99m MAA revealed significant uptake in the lungs, brain, spleen, and both kidneys of a 48-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis and pulmonary telangiectasia associated with marked hypoxemia and cyanosis. Dynamic pulmonary perfusion imaging revealed a gradual reduction after peak uptake in both lungs. Several weeks after albumin replacement, the hypoxia and dyspnea disappeared with no change in hepatocellular function. At that time, dynamic pulmonary perfusion imaging revealed a plateau-like time-activity curve of uptake in the lungs, as compared with the findings obtained during the state of severe hypoxemia. These observations suggest that pulmonary telangiectasia in a patient with liver cirrhosis may be due to functional vasodilatation. Serial dynamic pulmonary perfusion imaging indicates the passage of the MAA particles through the widened lumen of the pulmonary alveolar capillaries. PMID- 2605849 TI - The hollow skull: a sign of brain death in Tc-99m HM-PAO brain scintigraphy. AB - The advantage of Tc-99m HM-PAO, a newly introduced compound for brain perfusion imaging, is illustrated in three patients with suspicion of brain death. With Tc 99m HM-PAO, the carotid flow study is not essential, as it is in the Tc-99m pertechnetate carotid angiogram; planar images are equally useful; and there is no need for SPECT images. For the diagnosis of brain death, Tc-99m HM-PAO can be injected in the intensive care unit and planar images can be obtained at a later time using a mobile camera or whenever the patient can be moved to the nuclear medicine department. PMID- 2605850 TI - Identification of functioning tissue in horseshoe kidney using SPECT. PMID- 2605851 TI - Transient cold nodule of the thyroid due to localized subacute thyroiditis. PMID- 2605852 TI - Calcification in the supraspinatus tendon detected on bone scan. PMID- 2605853 TI - Soft tissue uptake on Tc-99m MDP bone scan after cardioversion. PMID- 2605854 TI - Lung scan and first-pass radionuclide angiography appearance in pulmonary stenosis. PMID- 2605855 TI - Gallium imaging in a case of Hodgkin's disease with involvement of the liver. PMID- 2605856 TI - Bone scintigraphy in polyostotic fibrous dysplasia resembling multiple bone metastases. PMID- 2605857 TI - Gallium uptake in a paraplegic patient with bilateral lower extremity fat necrosis. PMID- 2605858 TI - Chewing sticks versus toothbrushes in West Africa. A pilot study. AB - Chewing sticks are used for tooth cleaning by many populations. Despite the fact that they contain antimicrobial substances that could conceivably benefit oral hygiene, there have been few attempts to evaluate properties in vivo. This pilot, cross-sectional study recorded the oral hygiene and gingival health of adult Ghanaens who used chewing sticks, toothbrushes, or a combination of both for tooth cleaning. Plaque and gingivitis scores were higher in the chewing stick users, although these were primarily due to differences in men. Men had poorer oral hygiene and gingival health than women, irrespective of the oral hygiene regimen. The same differences were apparent for city and rural dwellers, with no overall differences observed between these two groups. The longer time that is necessary for cleaning with chewing sticks may explain the apparent reduced cleaning efficiency in men. The antimicrobial substances contained in chewing sticks appear to provide no additional benefits to those produced by the antimicrobial activity of commercially available toothpastes. PMID- 2605859 TI - Management of the temporomandibular joint surgical patient. AB - Comprehensive management of the temporomandibular joint surgical patient necessitates a thorough presurgical evaluation and definitive postsurgical management. The article provides an overview of TMJ surgical techniques, including arthroscopy, which has significantly decreased the need for open joint procedures. Early postsurgical intervention is recommended and specific therapeutic paradigms are outlined. Adjunctive technique to reduce inflammation, muscle guarding, edema, and collagen bonding are provided to facilitate manual joint mobilization and therapeutic exercise. Optimal success depends upon a strong professional relationship between the treating dentist, oral surgeon, and physical therapist. PMID- 2605860 TI - Oral hygiene behavior: differences between men and women. AB - It is a well-established fact that in western countries, women demonstrate better "spontaneous" oral hygiene than do men. The purpose of this study was to determine whether being female or male influences the quality of improvement. The study group comprised 84 patients (56 women and 28 men) of different socio economic status, who consulted a periodontist in an urban community. Plaque indices were recorded before any treatment and at the end of initial therapy. The results confirmed that women's "spontaneous" oral hygiene is higher than that of men. The observed absolute improvement was higher in men, but it was not possible to asset a difference in relative improvement according to gender after completion of initial therapy. PMID- 2605861 TI - Salivary testing to reduce sugar consumption in school children. AB - A total of 423 elementary and middle school children participated in a project to see if it would be possible to reduce their sugar consumption. Children tested their salivary lactobacillus colony count and buffering capacity in their health/science class, and they used this information to measure their caries risk. Because the lactobacillus colony count is a good indicator of a person's recent sugar consumption, any change in sugar consumption will produce a change in the lactobacillus colony count. Children's saliva was tested four times, and an intensive dietary counseling program was provided in the classroom. Results showed that lactobacillus counts went down, and the children reduced their sugar consumption. PMID- 2605862 TI - Availability of laboratory testing services for identification of periodontal pathogens in dental plaque. AB - Microbiologic monitoring of key subgingival plaque organisms has been proposed to enhance management of some patients with destructive forms of periodontal disease. However, isolation and identification of many of these species is available only through selected microbiology laboratories possessing special expertise with periodontal microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to determine the availability of periodontal microbiology laboratory services in the U.S. and Canada that identify suspected periodontal pathogens for dentists in clinical practice. A survey questionnaire was mailed to all U.S. and Canadian dental schools. Six laboratories that process plaque samples for dentists in private clinical practice were identified. All of the testing services examine plaque specimens for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Bacteroides gingivalis. Four of the laboratories used bacterial culturing to characterize a wide range of plaque species and to determine antibiotic sensitivity of isolates. Two other laboratories use indirect immunofluorescence microscopy or DNA probes to screen for three putative periodontal pathogens. All but one of the testing services analyze plaque samples that are collected by private practitioners in their offices and forwarded to the laboratory through next-day delivery services or regular mail. The availability of these adjunctive diagnostic services may enhance the ability of dentists in clinical practice to apply recent advances in knowledge on periodontal microbiology into routine preventive and therapeutic patient care. PMID- 2605863 TI - The use of an analog type apex locator to assess the position of dentine pins. AB - An analog type apex locator was used to check the position of dentine pins. The teeth restored with the pins were reviewed. The analog type apex locator was easy to use and the readings obtained correlated well with the presence or absence of later symptoms from the tooth. This electrical method of checking pin position was more discerning than the method of direct observation. PMID- 2605864 TI - Occlusal splint therapy in MPD and internal derangements of the TMJ. AB - Although occlusal splints are useful in the treatment of MPD and internal derangements, they must be used in a rational manner. Two basic appliances are employed in Phase I palliative therapy: a maxillary full coverage (MAR) and a mandibular orthopedic repositioning appliance (MORA). The MAR is used in MPD patients primarily to disengage the occlusion and reduce parafunctional activity. In many cases of internal derangement, protrusive mandibular repositioning is indicated. By using the MORA during the day and the MAR at night, the disadvantages of each appliance are minimized. PMID- 2605865 TI - Sodium retention from mouthwashes. AB - Sodium intake from food and other sources must be carefully monitored in patients with hypertension and other disorders. Retention of sodium was measured during routine use of three commercially available, nonprescription mouthwashes: Cepacol, Plax, and Viadent. A test group of 17 adults rinsed with 15 ml of the three mouthwashes, and with 5% saline and distilled water as experiment controls. Sodium not recovered in the expectorate was considered to be retained for absorption by oral or other tissues. The sodium in each product (in mg/l) varied widely: Viadent, 144; Cepacol, 410; and Plax 5320. The analyzed expectorate revealed approximately 33% of the sodium in the 15 ml used for rinsing was retained, amounting to 0.7 mg for Viadent, 1.9 mg for Cepacol, and 28.3 mg for Plax. The results indicate that persons on sodium-restricted diets should be aware that some brands of mouthwash may be a potentially significant source of sodium. PMID- 2605866 TI - Vasopressin secretion in diabetic subjects with and without autonomic neuropathy: responses to osmotic and postural stimulation. AB - 1. The release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) after an osmotic stimulus and head up tilt was assessed in diabetic subjects with and without autonomic neuropathy. 2. Six diabetic subjects with (DAN +ve) and five without (DAN -ve) evidence of autonomic neuropathy and five normal subjects were infused with 5% (w/v) NaCl at a rate of 0.05 ml min-1 kg-1 body weight for 120 min. Blood pressure, heart rate and plasma AVP were measured over this period. 3. Seven DAN +ve, six DAN -ve and six normal subjects were tilted head-up to 45 degrees for 120 min. Blood pressure, heart rate and plasma AVP were measured during the study. 4. Infusion of 5% (w/v) NaCl produced appropriate rises in plasma osmolality and plasma AVP levels which did not differ between the three groups, confirming the normal osmotic release of AVP in the diabetic subjects. 5. During head-up tilt, there were no differences in AVP responses between the three groups, despite a major hypotensive stimulus in the DAN +ve group. 6. We conclude that osmotic release of AVP is normal in diabetes, but that cardiovascular release of AVP is impaired in diabetic subjects with cardiovascular reflex evidence of autonomic neuropathy, reflecting an afferent defect. PMID- 2605867 TI - Stress hormones given to healthy volunteers alter the concentration and configuration of ribosomes in skeletal muscle, reflecting changes in protein synthesis. AB - 1. The influence of elevated concentrations of stress hormones on the concentration of ribosomes and the relative proportion of polyribosomes, reflecting protein synthesis in vivo, in human skeletal muscle was investigated. Healthy volunteers were given a 6 h infusion of adrenaline (n = 8), cortisol (n = 8), a triple-hormone combination of adrenaline, cortisol and glucagon (n = 8), or saline (n = 8). 2. The total ribosome concentration declined by 30.4 +/- 7.2% in the triple-hormone group (P less than 0.01), by 26.9 +/- 8.6% in the cortisol group (P less than 0.05) and by 24.8 +/- 11.2% in the adrenaline group (P less than 0.05). The proportion of polyribosomes to total ribosomes decreased by 8.5 +/- 2.2% in the triple-hormone group (P less than 0.05). 3. During hormone infusion the serum glucose levels were enhanced. The insulin concentrations in serum were elevated in the adrenaline group and the triple-hormone group, but not in the cortisol group. Serum insulin decreased in the control group. 4. The results indicate an effect of the combined stress hormone infusion on the total ribosome concentration as well as on the relative abundance of polyribosomes. The single hormones influenced the total ribosome concentration only. The results suggest a critical role for stress hormones in producing the decline in muscle protein synthesis seen after trauma. PMID- 2605868 TI - Production of methylguanidine in dogs with acute and chronic renal failure. AB - 1. Methylguanidine is a suspected uraemic toxin that accumulates in renal failure. 2. We measured methylguanidine in the plasma of dogs with acute ischaemic-induced renal failure and in the plasma and urine of dogs with spontaneous chronic renal insufficiency, using a highly sensitive method involving solid-phase extraction followed by h.p.l.c. with post-column fluorescence detection. 3. Constriction of the remaining renal artery of four uninephrectomized dogs for 90 min resulted in a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in plasma creatinine concentration after 24 h (from 113 +/- 3 to 303 +/- 50 mumol/l; mean +/- SEM). Over the next 14 days, plasma creatinine fell towards baseline concentrations. Plasma methylguanidine also increased significantly (P less than 0.05) 24 h after renal occlusion (from 0.16 +/- 0.04 to 0.86 +/- 0.32 mumol/l) and showed a similar pattern to the plasma creatinine concentration. 4. In a further four dogs, administration of mannitol (2 g/kg) at the time of reperfusion significantly attenuated these responses. 5. Dogs with chronic renal failure demonstrated increased plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of methylguanidine, and the levels appeared to be related to the severity of renal insufficiency. Thus, the dogs with the highest plasma creatinine concentrations and lowest creatinine clearances had the highest plasma methylguanidine concentrations. The clearance of methylguanidine exceeded that of creatinine, indicating that the toxin undergoes renal tubular secretion. PMID- 2605869 TI - Sodium handling in the isolated perfused kidney of the cirrhotic rat. AB - 1. In cirrhosis the kidney tends to retain salt and water abnormally. Two theories have been proposed to account for this: the 'underfilling' theory, in which sodium retention is thought to occur secondary to perceived underfilling of the circulation, and the 'overflow' theory, in which sodium retention is considered to be due to a primary renal defect. 2. Using the model of cirrhosis produced by carbon tetrachloride administration in the rat, the ability of the kidney to excrete sodium has been examined in vivo and during isolated perfusion. 3. Cirrhotic animals demonstrated a reduced ability to excrete an acute sodium load: 6 h after 2 mmol of sodium was given by gavage, 27.5 +/- 10.5% had been excreted by the cirrhotic rats and 62.5 +/- 7.0% by control rats (P less than 0.025). 4. In contrast, during isolated perfusion, kidneys from cirrhotic animals excreted the same amount of sodium as control animals over a range of perfusion pressures from 90 to 150 mmHg (12 to 20 kPa). 5. The data are consistent with the view that in cirrhosis the kidney retains sodium in response to immediate external factors. PMID- 2605870 TI - Pulmonary endothelium-derived relaxing factor is impaired in hypoxia. AB - 1. The vasoconstrictor and vasodilator activity of cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells was measured to determine how exposure to different partial pressures of O2 [PO2 142,42 and 15 mmHg (18.9, 5.6 and 2 kPa)] affects the production of endothelial-derived relaxing and constrictor factors. 2. A de endothelialized rat aortic ring [maintained at a PO2 of 142 mmHg (18.9 kPa)] was used to bioassay the effluent from a perfused column of bovine endothelial cells grown on microcarrier beads. The endothelial cells were stimulated by 10(-7) mol/l bradykinin given for 1 min at 12 min intervals. 3. At the start, middle and end of the experiment the bovine endothelial cells were exposed to a PO2 of 142 mmHg (18.9 kPa) and when stimulated by bradykinin the perfusate caused respectively a 70 +/- 4%, 63 +/- 6% and 63 +/- 6% (mean +/- SEM) relaxation of an aortic ring which had been pre-contracted by 10(-6) mol/l phenylephrine. At a PO2 of 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa) the relaxation induced by the cells was not significantly altered, but this tailed to zero after 26-38 min exposure of the cells to a PO2 of 15 mmHg (2 kPa). 4. These responses were unaltered by the presence of 10(-5) mol/l indomethacin, suggesting that prostacyclin is not a significant vasodilator in this system. 5. Reduced production of endothelium-derived relaxant factor rather than production of a constrictor factor, or a direct effect on the smooth muscle, may be involved in pulmonary hypoxic vasoconstriction. PMID- 2605871 TI - Alpha-thalassaemia in the north west of England. AB - Although it is extremely rare amongst the indigenous population, we have previously identified several British individuals with alpha-thalassaemia. It was to be expected that the underlying molecular defect in these individuals would result from racial admixture; however, we found that many of them share a specific, previously reported determinant of alpha-thalassaemia, referred to as - BRIT (Higgs et al. 1985). Several of these individuals with the --BRIT determinant originated from the North West of England and therefore a more extensive survey of individuals from this area was undertaken. We identified 14 individuals with the --BRIT determinant out of 200,000 individuals studied. These, together with all other known examples bring the total number of cases identified to 36. It seems likely that this almost exclusively British determinant of alpha-thalassaemia (--BRIT) has become established through genetic drift in this population. PMID- 2605872 TI - Sustained normalization of cardiac function by chelation therapy in thalassaemia major. AB - The effect of iron chelation using subcutaneous desferrioxamine on the iron overloaded heart was studied prospectively over 4 years in 23 asymptomatic patients (mean age 13.2 +/- 5.3 years) with thalassaemia major and transfusion dependent anaemia. The haemoglobin was maintained greater than 10 g/dl by transfusion and chelation therapy to achieve a negative iron balance. Chelation was closely supervised to ensure compliance. Despite an increase in calculated iron load due to transfusion from 34 +/- 27 g to 63 +/- 28 g, there was a sequential fall in serum ferritin levels from 3148 +/- 1956 ng/ml to 2228 +/- 1825 ng/ml (P less than 0.05). Abnormalities of left ventricular (LV) function, assessed by radionuclide angiography, were present at rest or during exercise in 18 of 23 patients (78%) prior to therapy. Normal LV function was restored in 11 of these 18 patients, five continuing to have abnormal function and two dying. There was a significant increase in resting LVEF from 50 +/- 8% to 57 +/- 6% (P less than 0.01). Peak exercise LVEF rose from 51 +/- 11% to 65 +/- 7% (P less than 0.001). We conclude that the common subclinical abnormalities of LV function induced by iron overload in unchelated patients with thalassaemia major can be reversed with long-term subcutaneous infusions of desferrioxamine. PMID- 2605873 TI - Familial thrombocytopenia and myopathy. AB - We report a family in which a combination of myopathy and thrombocytopenia is transmitted as an autosomal dominant characteristic through three generations. The myopathy has unusual histological features with type II fibre atrophy and vacuolation while the thrombocytopenia appears to be due to a defect in megakaryocyte maturation, platelet morphology and function being normal. The haematological findings in such a family have not been described previously. PMID- 2605874 TI - Central nervous system involvement in haematological malignancies. AB - We have reviewed our experience of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in 540 patients with lymphoma or acute leukaemia treated at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh between 1979 and 1987. CNS invasion is a significant problem in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia but may well respond to treatment, while in acute non lymphoblastic leukaemia this complication occurs too infrequently to justify routine CNS prophylaxis. CNS involvement in Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of low-grade malignancy was uncommon, exclusively of the extradural variety, and did not appear to alter the ultimate prognosis. Diffuse leptomeningeal involvement occurred with significant frequency in more aggressive NHL, often while the disease was in systemic remission or during remission induction. The prognosis for leptomeningeal disease or intracranial mass lesions was extremely poor and some form of CNS prophylaxis may be justified in aggressive NHL. PMID- 2605875 TI - The pretreatment DNA labelling index of the blast cells of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia as a prognostic factor in the outcome of treatment: the concept of 'G-0 acute leukaemia'. AB - A group of 15 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was studied prospectively to analyse the impact of the pretreatment DNA labelling indices of the blast cells. Patients with labelling indices less than 5% did significantly worse than those with labelling indices greater than 5%: the 60-week disease-free survival of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and labelling indices greater than 5% was 80%, whereas that for patients with labelling indices less than 5% was 24%, P less than 0.05. In addition, three patients with acute leukaemia and DNA labelling indices of 0%, so-called G-0 acute leukaemias, are described: all of them had refractory forms of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with a very poor outcome to treatment. PMID- 2605876 TI - Flow cytometric analysis of the megakaryocyte DNA distribution in whole and partially purified human and rabbit bone marrow. AB - Megakaryocytes are polyploid cells that constitute less than 0.1% of the nucleated cells in the bone marrow of most mammals including man. The DNA content of megakaryocytes has previously been measured by microdensitometry. Flow cytometry has also been used in the analysis of bone marrow megakaryocytes, but the general prerequisite for prior enrichment has made this technology less attractive. We describe here a modification to the mode of analysis of megakaryocyte DNA content that can be applied to whole, partially purified and elutriated human and rabbit bone marrow. The electronic masking of low-ploidy cells makes it possible to visualize the DNA content of minority, high-ploidy populations of megakaryocytes within a few minutes. In addition, this rapid technique can be combined with monoclonal antibody analysis of bone marrow cells to aid megakaryocyte identification. PMID- 2605877 TI - Correction of spurious haematological results using Technicon H 1-derived data. AB - Two groups of patients with alert flags on the Technicon H1 analyser, indicating erroneous results for haemoglobin and platelet determinations, were identified. These were due to turbidity from a high WBC affecting haemoglobin or small red cells affecting platelet counts. Data generated by the H1 analyser have been utilized to derive correct Hb and platelet values; for these derivations the haemoglobin utilized the cellular haemoglobin concentration mean and for platelet counts the P COUNT was used. In a prospective study, derived haemoglobin and platelet counts were not significantly different to values obtained by standard haematological techniques. These simplified methods for correcting spurious results have allowed for speedier results and increased laboratory efficiency. PMID- 2605878 TI - Does tube diameter influence the packed cell volume? AB - The relationship between observed PCV and PCV tube diameter was investigated and it was found that the PCV decreased as the PCV tube diameter decreased. An equation which predicted the PCV as a function of the PCV tube radius was derived from the hypothesis that red blood cells in contact with the glass wall were partially dehydrated during high-speed centrifugation and that the amount of dehydration was related to the type of glass. PCV determinations were made on five patient blood samples using eight tubes of varying diameters, four made of soda-lime glass and four made of borosilicate glass. The predictions of the equation correlated well with the experimental results. Twice as much dehydration was observed in the soda-lime tubes as in the borosilicate, thus confirming both parts of the hypothesis. Independent confirmation of the hypothesis was obtained by counting the number of spheroechinocytes in the bottom of the PCV tube. There were twice as many in the soda-lime as in the borosilicate glass tubes. We conclude that dehydration errors must be considered along with trapped plasma errors when attempting to perform a reference PCV determination. PMID- 2605879 TI - Experience with a computer-assisted anticoagulant clinic. AB - A microcomputer has been used for 6 years to assist in the running of the anticoagulant clinic for over 300 patients in a district general hospital. The dose adjustments and the time intervals to the next visit are decided automatically. The system has proved very satisfactory in practice, as shown by data presented. There is considerable saving of medical and secretarial time. There has been no equipment failure necessitating reversion to manual methods. The system produces letters (or labels), lists and continuous statistics, and allows the selection of various options, which makes it adaptable to the requirements of other hospitals. PMID- 2605880 TI - Discrepant INR values: a comparison between Manchester and Thrombotest reagents using capillary and venous samples. AB - The International Sensitivity Index (ISI) for different thromboplastin reagents is obtained by calibration against WHO reference preparations. It is hoped that calculation of the International Normalized Ratio (INR) from the ISI will permit accuracy and conformity in reporting laboratory assays of warfarin effect even across a range of different techniques. We have examined the INR values of 128 warfarin patients obtained by four different techniques in common use, namely venous and capillary Thrombotest and venous and capillary Manchester reagent. Discrepant INR values were obtained. The mean Manchester venous INR values were lower than those obtained by the other three methods (P less than 0.0001). This suggests that patients dosed by reference to Manchester venous INR are liable to receive more warfarin than those dosed by the other methods. PMID- 2605882 TI - Neurobiology of cognition. PMID- 2605881 TI - Laryngeal infiltration in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia. PMID- 2605883 TI - The development of separability in visual perception. AB - Under conditions that do not allow focused attention, reports of illusory conjunctions (i.e. errors that wrongly recombine the features of different objects) constitute evidence of the separate registering of features at an early processing level. The occurrence of illusory conjunctions was used to determine whether there is preattentive analysis of component dimensions (colour and form) and of parts of shapes (triangles and arrows) in young children aged 5 to 8 years. Evidence of preattentive analysis was found, even for the youngest children, for colour and form but not for parts of shapes. Although developmental effects hardly reached significance, inspection of abilities assumed to affect the illusory conjunctions phenomenon suggests that at the preattentive stage children can integrate spatially separate segments but lack the capacity to fully analyse connected segments. PMID- 2605884 TI - On the natural selection of reasoning theories. PMID- 2605885 TI - Is "thinking" belief? Reply to Wellman and Bartsch. PMID- 2605886 TI - NHS resource allocation after the 1989 white paper: a critique of the research for the RAWP review. AB - The Government White Paper on the NHS, 'Working for Patients', abolished the Resource Allocation Working Party (RAWP) formula in name, but retained its general approach of ensuring geographical equity through funding health authorities by a system of weighted capitation. As a result, the longstanding debate about the appropriate need indicators to include in RAWP, which was tackled afresh in the recent NHS Management Board review of RAWP, will remain highly pertinent to NHS resource allocation in the 1990s. Yet, the research carried out for the RAWP review, on which its principal proposals for change to the need indicators were based, is inadequate for developing a new method of resource allocation after RAWP. The paper describes the research and sets out its main conceptual limitations and problems of method. PMID- 2605887 TI - Deprivation and mortality: an alternative to social class? AB - Mortality rates for males aged 20 to 64 in Scotland (1980-1982) display an increasing gradient both by social class (from class 1 to 5) and by the deprivation category of the area (from affluent to deprived) in which the event occurred. Social classes also exhibit gradients in mortality across deprivation categories, the corresponding rates in the most deprived category being around twice those in the most affluent areas. The gradients by deprivation category remain after standardizing for differences in social class composition. Within health boards in Scotland populations show only minor variability in terms of social class, while their composition on the dimension of deprivation is markedly diverse, and the classification of populations by the deprivation category of their area of residence appears to offer a superior basis for the explanation of differences in mortality between health boards than does social class. This evidence of area effects supports a proposal for area socioeconomic characteristics to be adopted as key variables in epidemiological analysis, and for an area classification to be designed and incorporated in the 1991 census output for use on a consistent basis. PMID- 2605888 TI - Use of a cancer register for monitoring and evaluating a breast cancer screening programme. AB - To monitor the effectiveness of a breast cancer screening service accurate information is necessary on the incidence of breast cancer before and after screening is introduced. The Wessex Cancer Register has been used to provide data on the incidence prior to screening and arrangements are being made for the exchange of information between the Register and each screening service in Wessex in order that future registrations can be divided into screen-detected and symptomatically-detected cases. Since changes in mortality will not be apparent for some years and are not detectable in small populations, other indicators of effectiveness are required. Stage at presentation predicts mortality; a change in stage distribution as a result of screening would indicate future changes in mortality. The Cancer Register has been used to analyse stage distribution before the advent of screening. Procedures have been adopted for collecting staging data on all breast cancers diagnosed in the future, both within and without the screening service. In this way stage distribution will be compared before and after the implementation of the service and predictions made on the effect on mortality in the future. In addition, information on the incidence of interval cancers will be analysed using the Cancer Register so that, in the long term, an assessment can be made of the appropriate length of the interval between screens. These cancers will be notified to the screening office for review. A Cancer Register can provide the population base from which to measure the true effectiveness of a breast screening service on the community it serves. PMID- 2605889 TI - Identification of people attending outpatients: congruity between hospital records and response to a postal screen. AB - A comparison of information obtained from a postal screen of people on the electoral register about attendance at outpatient clinics with data extracted from hospital records found agreement between the two sources for 87 per cent of people. This rose to 90 per cent after an interview follow-up of those whose replies were unclear. Given the complexities of defining outpatient attendances clearly, these levels of agreement seemed good. Fewer consultations were omitted by people when a three rather than a 12-month study period was used, but the particular three-month period used (January-March) may have contributed to this difference. PMID- 2605890 TI - Relationship of body mass index, weight and height to plasma lipid levels in people with different diets in Britain. AB - Blood samples and self-reported heights and weights have been collected from 114 vegans, 1550 vegetarians, 415 fish eaters who did not eat meat, and 1198 meat eaters. We have previously reported that mean total and LDL cholesterol were lower in the vegetarians and fish eaters than in the meat eaters, while the mean levels in vegans were lower still. We have examined the possibility that this relationship could be explained by differences in the mean body mass index of the four groups. While there was a small positive relationship between body mass index and plasma lipid levels this did not explain the previously reported difference between diet groups. After adjusting for the effect of body mass index there remained a small negative association between height and plasma lipid levels, which has not previously been reported. Height is known to be influenced by childhood ill health and has also been shown to be related to social class, and it may be that the relationship between plasma lipid levels and height can be explained by these factors. PMID- 2605891 TI - Management control of open-access radiology: is it possible? AB - This paper considers management options for limiting general practitioner use of open access radiology - a service for which there is increasing demand which is difficult to meet. In the current climate of cost containment, restriction of general practitioner access to these expensive diagnostic facilities has management appeal. However, it is difficult to justify blanket restriction of access to radiology services as there is no evidence that it would be economically or clinically sensible. An explicit quota system is unlikely to be feasible because of the small number of referrals made by general practitioners and the element of chance which will inevitably enter into the referral process. Managers should examine more closely the manipulation of incentives and costs which are used, often implicitly, to balance the conflicting desires of clinicians and managers. The best management option would appear to involve a re evaluation of the role of the radiologist to include responsibility for managing the service. This should include assessment of appropriateness of referral by reference to guidelines for investigation and the behaviour of acknowledged good practitioners. PMID- 2605892 TI - Assessing the value of different sources of information on meningococcal disease. AB - Both the true incidence of meningococcal disease and the proportion of cases of meningococcal meningitis notified in England and Wales are not known. A comprehensive search for cases of meningococcal disease within a defined boundary, that of Greater Manchester, was made using various sources of information, for 1985. Sixty-seven per cent of cases of meningococcal meningitis and 63 per cent of meningococcal disease were notified. Fifty-seven percent of cases were referred for further tests to the United Kingdom meningococcal reference laboratory. Only 79 per cent of cases were identifiable on Hospital Activity Analysis (HAA) data. Information was also sought on sources of notification, notification delay, delay in laboratory diagnosis and length of stay. There is considerable potential in reducing notification delay, after comparing dates of laboratory diagnosis and notification. Notification should be more complete. In the absence of this ideal, surveillance of meningococcal disease needs to rely on various sources of information to gain a complete picture of the disease. Management of contacts of cases and of outbreaks is impossible without prompt and complete notification. PMID- 2605893 TI - Priorities in a London teaching hospital: a health services research approach to gynaecology provision. AB - In late 1987, as part of the response to an overspend of pounds 3.2 million, the health authority of an inner London teaching district, Paddington and North Kensington, proposed to close urgently 16 of the 56 gynaecology beds at the Samaritan hospital. They did so on the assumption that the hospital often served women who were neither local nor required the special expertise of a teaching hospital. To test this assumption, we reviewed the functions and funding of the hospital, how its activity level and size compared with other districts, and the nature of the workload, i.e. the extent to which the patients were local or non local, or needed routine or specialist care. It was agreed that non-local routine patients are the district's lowest priority, and we demonstrated that such patients account for no more than six to 11 beds. This information helped to resolve negotiations over the bed numbers. This study demonstrates that it was possible to defuse a potential confrontation by using routinely available and additional survey data to inform the debate. PMID- 2605894 TI - Communicable disease report January to March 1989. From the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. PMID- 2605895 TI - Screening for HIV infection in prisons. PMID- 2605896 TI - Anonymous testing for HIV infection. PMID- 2605897 TI - Responses to Chernobyl. PMID- 2605898 TI - Health status and health care in rural Australia: a case study. AB - Knowledge of the health status of, and patterns of health care service utilization by rural Australian communities, is scant. This deficiency limits attempts to formulate policies designed to bring about efficient, effective and equitable delivery of health care services. This article reports the results of a health interview survey conducted in the Wimmera region of Victoria during spring 1984. The results demonstrate not only that patterns of morbidity in rural areas differ from the Australian average, but also that the health status of rural dwellers is worse than that of most Australians. Evidence suggests that while accessibility is not the most significant determinant of utilization of health care services, distance from services does affect propensity to use them. PMID- 2605899 TI - Changes in sexual behaviour between 1986 and 1988 in matched samples of homosexually active men. AB - Matched samples of homosexually active men were obtained using identical sampling methods in a city of one million people in 1986 and 1988. Data indicated that reported sexual behaviours had significantly changed in the direction of safer sex, particularly oral sex without ejaculation, anal sex with a condom (both insertive and receptive), which increased in frequency, and analingual and digitoanal receptive practices, wet kissing, and anal receptive intercourse generally, which decreased. Reported sources of education for both samples were primarily gay media and gay organisations. These data, with some caveats concerning design and comparability of samples, suggest that behavioural change in the appropriate direction has occurred in homosexually active men, and that gay organisations and media have been perceived as the most common source of information on safer sex in this population. PMID- 2605900 TI - Evaluation of "your pregnancy"--a New Zealand health information booklet for pregnant women. AB - "Your Pregnancy" is a health information booklet distributed to all pregnant women in New Zealand free of charge. Evaluation of the accessibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of the booklet was undertaken. Two groups of women were surveyed 4-5 months after their first babies were born. The first group of women (n = 281) was surveyed before the booklet was introduced and the second group (n = 267) after its distribution. The overall response rate was 79 per cent. Accessibility of the booklet was assessed from the survey of the second group of women. The majority of women received the booklet eventually, but only 62 per cent in the first trimester. Of those women who received the booklet, 73 per cent passed it on to others. Evaluation of the booklet's acceptability was undertaken by calling for submissions from professional and lay groups (n = 41) on all aspects of the booklet and from analysis of responses to the second survey. The booklet was generally acceptable to women and health professionals. Effectiveness of the booklet was gauged by comparing the two groups of women on the extent to which their needs for information had been met, the ease with which they could question others about their pregnancy, locus of control, self-care and self-knowledge. The only variable which showed a change between the two surveys was an improvement in the extent to which women's needs for information had been met. PMID- 2605901 TI - Health promotion: can it redress the health effects of social disadvantage? AB - Social disadvantage is an entrenched feature of contemporary New Zealand society and has a deleterious influence on health. Traditional health promotion activities, with their focus on the individual, have had only a limited impact. The World Health Organization is fostering a new approach to health promotion based on the Ottawa Charter, the two most important strategies being: building healthy public policy and strengthening community action. The new health promotion has great potential, especially with its emphasis on 'empowerment', but as yet only indirect evidence supports the effectiveness of this approach. Several current New Zealand community-based initiatives hold promise for the future and three of these are discussed. The greatest challenge is to ensure that the 'empowering' approach to health promotion continues to be developed by Area Health Boards and that this type of health promotion becomes a major priority at all levels of society. As social scientists, we need to support this approach and assist in the production of evidence to show whether it is capable of redressing the health effects of social disadvantage. PMID- 2605902 TI - Medical practitioners and health promotion: results from a community survey in Sydney's western suburbs. AB - A health survey of 484 persons aged 14 to 89 years was conducted in Sydney's western suburbs in May 1987. Its aims included a description of preventive activities undertaken by medical practitioners and an assessment of the community's perception of the doctor's role in health promotion. Ninety-three per cent reported visiting a doctor in the previous year and 31 per cent of respondents reported having contact with a general practitioner the fortnight before the survey, either for their own health or that of another. Eighty per cent of respondents reported having had their blood pressure measured in the previous year and 63 per cent of female respondents aged 18 years and over who had not had a hysterectomy reported having had a Pap smear in the last five years. However, few respondents reported receiving any lifestyle-related advice at their most recent doctor visit and 77 per cent said that the food they ate was rarely or never discussed with their doctor. Despite this low level of advice, doctors and nurses were perceived to be the most important source of health information by nearly half the respondents. Strategies for increasing the involvement of doctors in health promotion are discussed. PMID- 2605903 TI - Thiamin in beer: a health promotion perspective. AB - Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a serious disease resulting from excessive alcohol intake. As well as the disastrous consequences for the individual, patients with WE place a heavy burden for continuing care on the community. Australia appears to have a higher rate of WE than other western countries, probably due to differences in the consumption patterns of alcoholic beverages. Unlike most other western countries, Australia does not fortify flour with thiamin. On the other hand the USA does fortify flour and has higher thiamin intakes and lower rates of WE. In Australia it has been proposed that thiamin be added to alcoholic beverages. Given that technical problems related to stability, taste and absorption can be solved, the fortification of a substance which is potentially harmful, raises serious problems for health educators. The labeling of alcoholic beverages as 'vitamin enriched' could result in changes in the community's beliefs about alcohol and in increased alcohol consumption. The nutrition and education implications of this proposal are discussed. The conclusion is drawn that Australia should follow the example of other western countries and fortify flour with thiamin. PMID- 2605904 TI - Nursing outside hospitals: the working experience of community nurses. Educational characteristics and job perceptions. AB - The community nursing practice research project reports the results of a mailed questionnaire survey of nurses employed outside hospitals and nursing homes in Victoria in 1985. Two 10 per cent random samples stratified across practice areas were selected from listings of community nurses providing detailed employment information to the Victorian Nursing Council. An 84 per cent response rate was obtained from these listings yielding 689 responses. This paper reports that part of the study relevant to job entry, job satisfaction, job mobility and perceived career options as well as educational preparation. One half of community nurses entered community nursing after five years of hospital experience. The major reasons for choosing employment in community health nursing were its conditions of work, its autonomy and a dissatisfaction with hospital nursing, rather than a specific orientation to community nursing. These can be appreciated in terms of competing demands by the nurse's family life and her sense of growing professional maturity. Job satisfaction was high, with 87 per cent of nurses in the study population being satisfied or very satisfied. Only one quarter considered opportunities for career advancement to exist in their practice area. In the event only one fifth of nurses regarded promotion as important. The high levels of job satisfaction and the low importance attached to promotion are explicable given the nature of female employment and dissatisfaction with hospital nursing. Despite this high level of job satisfaction, one third of nurses believed they would not be nursing in five years time. Less than one third of nurses felt there was adequate opportunity for advancement in their practice area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605905 TI - Utilisation of acute hospitals by age and sex in Australia, 1985. AB - This paper provides estimates of the utilisation rates of acute care (short-stay) hospitals, by age and sex, for the Australian population. Separation and bed-day rates per 1000 persons for public, Repatriation and private hospitals in 1985 have been estimated by age group, for each sex, in each State and Territory in Australia. The Australian Base Grant, negotiated between the Commonwealth, States and Territories in the new Medicare Agreements, distributes funds for the care and treatment of Medicare patients in public hospitals. The national bed-day utilisation rates reported in this article, have been used as the basis for population weights to allocate these funds. This paper presents the data and methods used to derive these weights, and examines the differences between them and the actual State and Territory utilisation patterns in 1985. The impact of population ageing on the overall utilisation rates for acute hospitals in Australia is examined. PMID- 2605907 TI - Health promotion and the new GP contract in the U.K. PMID- 2605906 TI - Predictors of a successful local government public immunisation program in western Sydney. AB - The public immunisation programs of 14 local government councils in Sydney's Western Region were examined to determine those variables which might predict an effective program. Independent variables included the demographic characteristics of the populations being served, as well as relevant aspects of each council's clinic program and administrative input. The dependent variables were three indices of immunisation reflecting the proportion of the 0-5 population reached by the public immunisation service. One variable, the amount of staff time spent on administration, was best able to explain the variance in public clinic immunisation rates across the local government areas. Components of effective staff time were examined and the results are discussed in relation to the planning and promotion of public immunisation programs. PMID- 2605908 TI - Community empowerment: reflections on the Australian situation. PMID- 2605909 TI - 70 kDa heat shock proteins from mollusc and human cells have common structural and functional domains. AB - 1. Immunological and ATP-binding properties of 70 kDa heat shock proteins (hsp 70) from HeLa and sea bivalve mollusc cells were investigated. 2. Hsp 70 have similar antigenic and ATP-binding domains despite the taxonomic difference between the species. PMID- 2605910 TI - Comparative studies on an antigenicity of plasma proteins from humans and apes by ELISA: a close relationship of chimpanzee and human. AB - 1. Antigenic differences between human and ape plasma proteins were quantitatively investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antisera against human and chimpanzee plasmas. 2. With anti-human plasma serum, both the chimpanzee and gorilla were very close to the human, although the chimpanzee was slightly closer to the human than to the gorilla; relative immunological distance (relative ID) of the chimpanzee was 71, while that of the gorilla was 74. 3. With anti-chimpanzee plasma serum, the chimpanzee was found to be closely related to the human; relative ID of the chimpanzee was 58, while that of the gorilla was 75. 4. From these a molecular phylogeny for humans and apes was deduced; among living apes, the chimpanzee is the most closely related species to the human. PMID- 2605911 TI - Isolation of camel brain actin--comparison of its biochemical properties with those of camel skeletal muscle, heart muscle and rabbit skeletal muscle actins. AB - 1. Actins were purified from camel brain, skeletal muscle and heart muscle and their properties were compared. 2. Individual actins were homogeneous and comigrated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE). 3. Isoelectric focusing analysis of camel skeletal muscle and heart muscle actin showed a single polypeptide of the alpha-species, while camel brain actin showed two polypeptides of the beta- and gamma-species typical of non-muscle actin. 4. Actins from camel skeletal muscle and heart muscle showed a greater degree of similarity to each other and to rabbit skeletal muscle actin and showed some differences from camel brain actin, as confirmed by amino acid analysis and one-dimensional peptide mapping. PMID- 2605912 TI - 31P NMR studies of excised gray and white calf brain. AB - 1. 31P NMR examination of isolated calf gray and white matter reveals that white matter contains higher levels of the phosphodiester glycerolphosphoryl choline (GPC) than gray. 2. It is suggested that GPC may play a role in maintaining the level of phospholipids present by inhibition of phospholipases. 3. The spectra also reveal a skewed peak whose maximum is at -11 ppm which is inferred to arise from myelin-like structures. 4. The results show that phosphorus spectra from the brain must be carefully considered whether they arise from the same type tissue or represent a mixed sample since variation in results may represent anatomy as well as physiology. PMID- 2605913 TI - Comparison of the lipoprotein pattern of the horse, the pony and the lactating and non-lactating cow obtained by a combination of an ultracentrifugation and a precipitation technique. AB - 1. The serum lipoprotein pattern was studied in four horses, four ponies and in three high producing lactating and three non-lactating cows. The lipoprotein pattern was estimated with a combination of the preparative ultracentrifugation and the heparin-manganese precipitation technique. 2. The lipid composition of the lipoproteins of horse, pony, lactating cow and non-lactating cow was determined. 3. In all three species more than 50% of serum total lipids was found in the HDL fraction. 4. The mean chylomicron fraction in horse and pony was 3.1%. In the cow it varied from 1.5 to 2.5%. 5. Between the lactating cow and the non lactating cow there were substantial differences in the concentration of LDL and HDL. 6. The cholesterylester concentration in VLDL, LDL and HDL was clearly higher in the lactating cow than in the non-lactating cow. PMID- 2605914 TI - Esterases in natural populations of normal and Echinostoma revolutum-infected Helisoma trivolvis (Gastropoda). AB - Esterases of the digestive gland-gonad (DGG) complex of individual snails from a wild population of Helisoma trivolvis infected with the trematode Echinostoma revolutum were analyzed by vertical slab PAGE and compared to similar DGG homogenates of uninfected conspecifics from the same population. Our analysis indicated that: 1. Four classes of esterases, some atypical, could be resolved using diagnostic inhibitors. 2. Uninfected snails demonstrated polymorphism for two of these four esterase groups, including cholinesterases (CHE), in the 34 individual DGGs analyzed. 3. The rarer of the two ChE phenotypes in the uninfected sample (29.4%) was present in 100% of the 17 infected snails examined. However, no changes in esterase zymograms of infected DGGs due to the parasite were noted. 4. The possibility that the 'rare' ChE phenotype is somehow related to host susceptibility to Echinostoma revolutum is discussed in view of similar apparent linkages in other snail-trematode systems. PMID- 2605915 TI - Amino acid sequence variations in protein AA of cats with high and low incidences of AA amyloidosis. AB - 1. Amyloid isolated from the liver of a domestic short-haired (DSH) cat was dissolved and purified by gel filtration for amino acid sequence analysis. 2. Sequences of two major peptides corresponding to positions 18-23 and 25-75 of human amyloid protein AA were obtained when cyanogen bromide-cleaved protein was applied to an amino acid sequenator. 3. Comparison of these regions of amyloid protein from the Abyssinian cat (high incidence of AA amyloidosis) and DSH cat (low incidence of AA amyloidosis) revealed three amino acid differences, two of which occurred within regions that are completely conserved in the Abyssinian cat and all other species. 4. Secondary prediction plots showed less potential for amyloidogenicity (i.e., less beta-sheet conformation) in protein AA of the DSH cat as compared to the Abyssinian cat and other animal species. 5. These differences in protein AA of the DSH cat may, therefore, be linked to the comparatively uncommon occurrence of AA amyloidosis in the DSH cat as compared to the Abyssinian cat and other animals species. PMID- 2605916 TI - Isolation, partial sequence and asynchronous appearance during lactation of lysozyme and alpha-lactalbumin in the milk of a marsupial, the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). AB - 1. Lysozyme and alpha-lactalbumin from the milk of the common ringtail possum have been purified and partially sequenced. 2. The lysozyme had similar enzymic activity to the c-type lysozyme of the domestic hen and 43% homology over the N terminal 49 residues. 3. alpha-Lactalbumin was present in the milk in two biologically active forms; the more acidic form had 66% sequence homology with the N-terminal 35 residues of red-necked wallaby, 54% with human and 43% with bovine alpha-lactalbumin. 4. SDS polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of milk samples showed that alpha-lactalbumin was present in the milk throughout lactation but that lysozyme first appeared only in mid-lactation. The implications of this functional adaptation are discussed. PMID- 2605917 TI - Determination of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase activities in a marine bivalve mollusk by a new method of assay. AB - 1. A new method for the assay of isocitrate lyase (EC 4.1.3.1) was developed, based on the isolation of 14C-glyoxylate semicarbazone by co-crystallization with authentic carrier. The method was easily adapted to measure malate synthase (EC 4.1.3.2). 2. Interfering reactions were avoided with this method, and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ID) was easily distinguished from isocitrate lyase (IL). Assay of IL in germinating pumpkin seeds gave rates proportional to the amount of extract, with greater sensitivity and less variability than the spectrophotometric method. 3. Six species of marine bivalve mollusks were tested for IL activity, and two species produced glyoxylate: Crassostrea virginica at 0.10 mumol/hr/g tissue, and Petricola pholadiformis at 0.85 mumol/hr/g. The other four species, and four other marine invertebrates from other phyla, lacked detectable IL activity. 4. The rate of disappearance of glyoxylate in the malate synthase (MS) reaction indicated that Petricola had an activity of 0.60 mumol/hr/g: this is the first demonstration of activities of both IL and MS in a marine invertebrate. PMID- 2605918 TI - The elliptocyte: a study of the relationship between cell shape and membrane structure using the camelid erythrocyte as a model. AB - 1. The elliptocytic shape of the camelid erythrocyte is very stable and has a high resistance to modification by drugs and treatment which alter the shape of the discocytic erythrocytes of scimitar-horned oryx and man. 2. Differences in the erythrocyte membrane proteins have been found which indicate that proteins play an important role in stabilisation of the camelid elliptocyte. 3. The organisation of the cytoskeletal network in camelid elliptocytes differs from that established for human discocytes. PMID- 2605919 TI - DNA binding proteins of Schistosoma mansoni recognizing a hexanucleotide motif occurring in genes regulated by steroids. AB - 1. Schistosome proteins interacting with a gene (F-10), which is only expressed in adult females, were investigated. 2. These were also tested using a synthetic oligonucleotide of 20 bp bearing a defined sequence derived from the F-10 gene and containing a hexanucleotide motif, TGTCCT, occurring in genes responsive to steroids. 3. Schistosome proteins (male and female) bound to the F-10 DNA, but only the male proteins bound to the synthetic oligonucleotide with high affinity. 4. The other preparations each produced different binding patterns, although this seemed to lack specificity. 5. These results indicated that the F-10 gene binds different proteins along its structure and suggested that proteins present in the male schistosomes may regulate its expression. PMID- 2605920 TI - A microcomputer-based clinical trial database incorporated with an 'audit trail' for correction process. AB - Multicenter clinical trials usually involve several hundred research variables with tens of thousands of records and require mainframe computers for processing. Because of recent advances in hardware and software, it has become possible to support data management and statistical analysis for a complex research project totally on a microcomputer. The Veterans Administration Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center (CSPCC) in Hines, IL, U.S.A. has successfully implemented three studies employing the SIR/PC Database Management System (DBMS) on an IBM PC AT. The CSPCC DBMS was designed with a method of verifying data and of updating the database, that leaves a more detailed 'audit trial' of the original data and subsequent modifications than provided by the SIR audit trail facility. Data validation can be done at any time throughout the study to facilitate error identification as early as possible in the data handling process. DBMS operation and maintenance are automated by a system of menus. The utility programs are prestored in a procedure file to optimize performance. The simple design speeds implementation and also reduces the cost of development. PMID- 2605921 TI - A suboptimum variable-length encoding procedure for discrete quantized data. AB - A method has been devised which allows to encode the quantized output of a discrete-time memoryless Gaussian source nearly as efficiently as Huffman's optimum variable-length encoding procedure. With respect to the mean code-word length the performance of the two methods typically differs only by 0.1-0.2 bit. The basic idea of the new method is that each code word is made up of two components: the prefix and the kernel. The prefix specifies the length of the kernel and is encoded by means of Huffman's method. Despite the fact that the kernel length may vary from one code word to the other, the code used for the kernel is basically a fixed-length code, because once the prefix has been decoded, the begin of the next code word is known without decoding the kernel. The advantage of the new method as compared to Huffman's method is that only few variable-length codes have to be distinguished so that both encoding and decoding can be accomplished by means of quite simple algorithms requiring only few compare and branch operations and one single addition or subtraction per code word. Areas of application, especially when combining the method with predictive coding, are time series (e.g. the electroencephalogram) and other kind of quantized data. PMID- 2605922 TI - QUAD: a computer package for the analysis of QUantal Assay Data. AB - The computer package QUAD has been developed at the University of Kent, U.K. It is menu driven and written in Advanced BASIC. It runs on IBM PC compatible machines equipped with a suitable graphics facility such as CGA or simulated CGA. QUAD is available on a floppy disk, for a small handling charge. QUAD has four main functions: it performs a logit analysis of quantal assay data; it provides a flexible way of analysing the data, allowing dose transformations and providing alternative confidence intervals for EDp values; it produces a range of diagnostics for assessing the fit of models to data; it provides and fits two families of extended models, each containing the logit as a special case. The package makes use of the latest statistical research, and fitted models are displayed by means of the good graphics facilities available on microcomputers. This document describes the facilities available in detail, and provides and discusses, illustrations of the package at work. QUAD has been designed as a pilot package. Further additions and developments are planned and described later. PMID- 2605923 TI - Computer acquisition and analysis of skin temperature and heat flow data from heat flux transducers. AB - A computer-controlled system for the collection and analysis of skin temperature and heat flow data originating from an array of heat flux transducers is described. The system is based on a program ('THERMAL') that reads, stores, prints and displays skin temperatures and heat flow data every 2 min for up to 4 h. It also simultaneously calculates important environmental physiology parameters such as mean skin and mean body temperatures as well as mean heat flow according to four different combinations of transducers such as the established 3 , 4-, 7- and 12-point (site) formulae. Core temperature, heart rate and environmental condition indices such as dry bulb, wet bulb and globe temperatures are also continuously monitored. PMID- 2605924 TI - A program in BASIC for calculating randomization tests. PMID- 2605925 TI - Home safety: keeping Christmas merry. PMID- 2605926 TI - Community care: HHELP at Christmas. PMID- 2605927 TI - Child care. 45, Cope Street. PMID- 2605928 TI - Cerebral computed tomography in a stage IV ethylene glycol intoxication. AB - The findings on cerebral computed tomography (CT) are correlated with Stage IV ethylene glycol syndrome. Central nervous system anoxia produced by the by products of ethylene glycol is proposed as the culprit for the severe cerebral edema evidenced in Stage IV. PMID- 2605930 TI - Being an academic surgeon. PMID- 2605929 TI - AIDS related testing and confidentiality: Connecticut's new legislation. PMID- 2605931 TI - Physician-owned HMO off to a good start. PMID- 2605932 TI - Medical care costs: no easy answer. PMID- 2605933 TI - Reinventing the wheel. The Connecticut Business Coalition on Health and the Connecticut Health Care Purchasing Organization. PMID- 2605934 TI - The chemistry and biology of mineralized tissues: Part II. Proceedings of the third international conference. Chatham, Massachusetts, October 16-21, 1988. PMID- 2605935 TI - Proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in osteopetrotic rats: modification in expression of genes encoding cell growth and extracellular matrix proteins. AB - Osteopetrosis is characterized by a congenital defect in osteoclast differentiation and/or activity. The unresorbed matrix produces dense and sclerotic bone with the absence of a marrow cavity. Osteoblasts function in both the production and degradation of bone. However, the potential contribution of an osteoblast abnormality in the etiology of osteopetrosis has not been explored. We examined expression of cell growth-related genes (Core Hl histones and c myc) and genes related to osteoblast differentiation (Type I collagen, osteopontin and osteocalcin, an osteoblast-specific marker) in calvarial bone from the 3 osteopetrotic mutations in the rat (ia/ia, op/op and tl/tl) and normal littermates. mRNA preparations from these bones showed up to a 5-fold increase in all cell growth related genes in tl/tl and op/op rats, compared to normal littermates, suggesting a stimulation of proliferative activity of bone cells. The matrix genes also exhibited 2 to 10+fold increases in these two mutations. In contrast ia/ia rats showed no significant changes in expression of proliferation or matrix genes (except for osteopontin) which is consistent with the greatly reduced skeletal sclerosis in this mutation at the time (4 wk) when tissues were analyzed. Since the tl and op mutations have greater elevations in serum 1,25(OH)2D3 than found in the ia mutation, these results may reflect a stimulatory effect on cell proliferation and osteoblast activity by 1,25(OH)2D3. These data suggest that, in addition to osteoclast abnormalities, certain osteopetroses may also have aberrations of osteoblast function. PMID- 2605936 TI - Osteoporosis and familial idiopathic scoliosis: association with an abnormal alpha 2(I) collagen. AB - A positive family history is considered a risk factor for osteoporosis (OP) although the genetic or biochemical basis for this relationship remains undefined. Various mutations affecting normal synthesis of type I collagen have been reported in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a heritable disorder of connective tissue. Family A, in which the proband and a daughter are afflicted with OP and idiopathic scoliosis was examined for defects in collagen metabolism. Dermal fibroblast cultures were established to investigate de novo collagen synthesis. SDS-PAGE revealed an abnormally migrating alpha 2(I) chain and procollagen in two generations. Examination of the kinetics of type I collagen pC & N-propeptide processing demonstrated a rate 2x control in the proband. The phenotype family A is not OI. It shares features with families B & C, having familial clustering of OP. However, collagen synthesis was not abnormal in family B & C. These data suggest that in family A the alpha 2(I) structural defect may be related to defective skeletal matrix formation. PMID- 2605937 TI - Molecular models illustrating the possible distributions of 'holes' in simple systematically staggered arrays of type I collagen molecules in native-type fibrils. AB - Clear 3/8'' Lucite rod models at a scale of 1'' = D (the native-type period), and using four different colored ribbon markers to indicate one set of 'equivalent bands' in the SLS band pattern, clearly show the possible distribution of 'holes' and staining loci in native-type fibrils. Close-packed ordered arrays of the 4.4'' long rods (based on the Hodge-Petruska model) in which nearest neighbors are systematically staggered by D must have ordered distributions of the 0.6D long 'holes'. In one of the two simplest cases, holes occur singly, and are separated laterally by two molecular diameters. In the other case, contiguous holes form transversely continuous channels or slots within the fibril. Electron micrographs of both fish bone and embryonic chick bone clearly show that at least the initial mineralization is intrafibrillar in these systems. PMID- 2605938 TI - The structure of mineralized collagen fibrils. AB - A new model for the structure of mineralized bone collagen is presented which is compatible with neutron diffraction, electromicroscopic, crosslinking, and composition-density data. Mineralized collagen fibrils are comprised of azimuthally oriented, flexible molecules laterally arranged on a superlattice. Four nearest neighbors are longitudinally staggered by 67 nm and two neighbors by 2* 67 nm. In early stages of mineralization the molecules are parallel to the fibril axis with an average interaxis distance of 1.8 nm. In later stages they become flexed away from the fibril axis by an anisotropic lateral compression of molecules to an interaxis distance of 1.3 nm. Three quarters of the mineral in bone is disposed within the fibrils with a symmetry and habit reflecting the above organization of the collagen molecules. PMID- 2605939 TI - Secondary structure predictions for rat osteopontin. AB - Five computerized methods were used to predict the secondary structure of osteopontin - a bone-derived cell attachment protein. The amino terminal one fifth and the carboxy terminal one-third of the 301 amino acid protein contain eight alpha helices (41% of the total residues). The middle of the molecule contains a very acidic region of no predicted structure followed by two segments of beta structure which flank the cell attachment site of osteopontin. Examination of the amino acid sequence also revealed a potential calcium binding loop and two potential heparin binding sites. PMID- 2605940 TI - Cross-linking and stereospecific structure of collagen in mineralized and nonmineralized skeletal tissues. AB - Molecular distributions of the intermolecular cross-links in fetal bovine bone type I collagen fibrils were quantitatively determined and compared with those of periodontal ligament. Results indicated that Hyl and Lys residues in the COOH terminal nonhelical peptide portions (residues 16C) of both alpha 1 chains were quantitatively converted to aldehydes. These in turn stoichiometrically formed cross-links with residues Hyl-87 on both alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains of neighboring molecules. The ratio of cross-linked alpha 1 to alpha 2 chains was 3.5 to 1 indicating a stereospecific packing of collagen molecules in the fibrils similar manner to periodontal ligament collagen. It was found that there were few aldehyde derived cross-links in the NH2-terminal nonhelical portions of the bone type I collagen. The relative paucity of the cross-links in NH2-terminal region of bone collagens may favor mineralization. PMID- 2605941 TI - The effects of noncollagenous matrix proteins on hydroxyapatite formation and proliferation in a collagen gel system. AB - The effects of several noncollagenous matrix proteins on hydroxyapatite formation and growth were studied in a dynamic collagen gel system. In this system growth plate proteoglycan aggregates at concentrations of 1-10 micrograms/ml were effective inhibitors, desulfated aggregates from brachymorphic mice were less effective. Phosphophoryn at 1-100 micrograms/ml had no effect on formation; 60 120 micrograms/ml retarded mineral growth. Type X collagen at concentrations of 50-300 micrograms/ml had no effect on formation or growth. PMID- 2605942 TI - The effect of complexing phosphoproteins to decalcified collagen on in vitro calcification. AB - Decalcified samples of chicken bone containing phosphoproteins of varying concentrations were used to assess the effect of phosphoproteins and of protein bound Ser(P) and Thr(P) in the in vitro nucleation of a Ca-P solid phase from metastable solutions of Ca and P. Phosphoproteins of bone as well as the phosphoproteins from egg yolk (phosvitin) were used. Increasing concentrations of phosphoprotein [as measured by the amount of protein bound Ser(P) and Thr(P)] in the decalcified bone particles significantly reduced the time required for nucleation to occur after exposure to metastable solutions of Ca and P (decreased operational lag times). Treatment with wheat germ acid phosphatase markedly reduced the concentration of Ser(P) and Thr(P) in the decalcified bone samples and in the decalcified bone collagen samples complexed with phosphoproteins (almost to zero). The loss of the organic phosphate groups significantly increased the operational lag time, but did not abolish nucleation of apatite crystals by the bone collagen fibrils essentially devoid of Ser(P) and Thr(P). Bone phosphoproteins were not specific; substitution of phosvitin for bone phosphoproteins as complexes with bone collagen also proved to be effective facilitators of nucleation, which was interesting since both types of phosphoproteins have certain common chemical and structural characteristics. Noncollagenous components other than phosphoproteins were present in the decalcified bone samples. However, the marked dependence of the lag time on the Ser(P) and Thr(P) concentrations and the very marked diminution in the efficacy of the nucleation phenomenon as a result of treatment with wheat germ acid phosphatase, clearly suggests that the organic phosphate residues of the phosphoproteins play a direct and significant role in the process of in vitro nucleation of a solid phase of Ca and P (apatite) by bone collagen, and by implication, possibly in in vivo mineralization as well. PMID- 2605943 TI - Mineral induction by polyanionic dentin and bone proteins at physiological ionic conditions. AB - Polyanionic proteins of calcified tissues have been postulated to provide calcium ion-binding sites which initiate mineral formation, even though it is known that such proteins in solution may inhibit apatite induction and growth. In the studies reviewed here, it was shown that minute amounts of non-collagenous macromolecules from dentin and bone, such as phosphoprotein and proteoglycan, are capable to induce apatite at physiological ion concentrations in vitro, when immobilized on a stable support. PMID- 2605944 TI - Binding of calcium and phosphate ions to dentin phosphophoryn. AB - The concomitant binding of calcium and inorganic phosphate ions by the highly phosphorylated rat dentin phosphophoryn (HP) was measured in the pH range of 7.4 8.5 using an ultrafiltration procedure. HP binds almost exclusively the triply charged PO4(3-)ion, and for each PO4(3-)ion bound, the protein binds about 1.5 additional Ca2+ ions. The protein-mineral ion complex can be described as a protein with two different ligands, Ca2+ ions and calcium phosphate clusters having a stoichiometry of about Ca1.5PO4. The stoichiometry of the bound clusters is similar to amorphous calcium phosphate, indicating that the protein does not sequester crystal embryos of octacalcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite. The protein mineral ion complex is amorphous by electron diffraction analysis and does not catalyze the formation of a crystalline phase when aged in contact with its solution. PMID- 2605945 TI - Ultrastructural immunolocalization of a major phosphoprotein in embryonic chick bone. AB - Immunocytochemistry utilizing the protein A-gold technique was used to examine the ultrastructural cellular and extracellular distribution of a major phosphoprotein in chick bone. HCl-extracts of embryonic and neo-natal chick bones contain a major 66kD phosphoprotein (BPP) which was purified and used to raise polyclonal antibodies in rabbits. The mid-diaphyseal regions of 8-, 12- and 18 day embryonic chick tibiae were fixed with 1% glutaraldehyde and embedded in Epon or Lowicryl. Electron microscopy following incubation of tissue sections with the antibody and the protein A-gold complex revealed specific immunolabeling over the rER and Golgi apparatus of osteoblasts and over those areas of bone matrix containing Ca and P as determined by electron probe x-ray microanalysis. These included extracellular areas in the matrix undergoing early mineralization and electron dense patches occurring at the mineralization front and extending throughout the more mature bone regions. Biochemical analyses of bone tissue processed similarly to that used for immunocytochemistry confirmed the retention of phosphoprotein in the tissue. The spatial correlation of phosphoprotein in the extracellular matrix with Ca-P mineral deposits confirms an earlier report using 33Pi and radioautography and may indicate a role for phosphoproteins in calcification. PMID- 2605946 TI - Use of cultured embryonic chicken osteoblasts as a model of cellular differentiation and bone mineralization. AB - When chicken embryonic progenitor cells were selected and grown in culture as previously described, by 30 days cellular differentiation could be demonstrated by expression of in vivo levels of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase (APase), type I collagen and phosphoproteins (PP). Ultrastructural analysis revealed that the cultures were similar morphologically to young osteoid in vivo with structural features including well-developed, orthogonally arranged collagen fibrils with 64-70 nm periodicity and electron opaque areas consisting of very poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite. Analysis of collagen synthesis versus collagen accumulation in the matrix indicated a temporal inconsistency between the time of synthesis and accumulation, suggesting that accumulation was largely controlled at the level of fibril formation. Analysis of PP accumulation demonstrated a 10 fold increase in total phosphoamino acid content over the 30 day time course. PP synthesis analyzed by [3H]-Ser(P) and [14C]-Thr(P) incorporation showed an induction similar to that seen for APase. Experiments undertaken to characterize the nature of PP synthesized by the cultures identified a unique 66 kD protein. This protein was purified from chick tibial and calvarial bone and a polyclonal antibody was raised in rabbits. Ultrastructural immunocytochemistry using this antibody and the protein A-gold technique revealed specific immunolabelling over regions of mineralizing matrix in vitro, a reaction identical to that observed for the distribution of this 66 kD PP in vivo during embryonic tibial bone development in the chicken. PMID- 2605947 TI - The emergence and maturation of the first apatite crystals in an in vitro bone formation system. AB - Using chick periosteal bone forming cultures we have followed the appearance of the first crystals during de Novo bone formation. The first detectable mineral deposits are crystalline. By x-ray diffraction and dark field imaging we found crystal length to grow from around 100 angstroms on day 4 to (135-160) Angstroms by day 8. The Ca/P ratio rose from 1.46 at day 4 to 1.60 at day 8. PMID- 2605948 TI - Calcium phosphate mineralization. AB - Although it is often assumed that the thermodynamically most stable hydroxyapatite is a suitable prototype for biological minerals, it is now generally accepted that other phases such as dicalcium phosphate dihydrate and octacalcium phosphate as well as defect apatites and carbonated apatites may participate. The Constant Composition kinetics method, has been used to show that defect apatites may be formed with non-stoichiometric coefficients that depend upon the pH of the growth medium. Important factors in analyzing these experiments are the initial surface modification and ion exchange processes involving hydrogen and calcium ions following inoculation of the supersaturated solutions. Proteins and other macromolecules which may inhibit the rate of growth of calcium phosphates in supersaturated solutions are able to enhance the nucleation of these phases when immobilized on inert surfaces. PMID- 2605949 TI - The three-dimensional spatial relationship between the collagen fibrils and the inorganic calcium-phosphate crystals of pickerel and herring fish bone. AB - High-voltage (1.0 mega-volt) electron stereomicroscopy has been used to examine the spatial relationship between the inorganic crystals and the collagen fibrils of pickerel and herring bone. Stereomicrographs of cross sections of the collagen fibrils encompassing regions of initial to full mineralization showed that the calcium phosphate crystals are located within the collagen fibrils. In all stages of mineralization, calcium-phosphate deposits were not observed associated or within membrane-bound structures. Serial cross sections of the fully mineralized collagen fibrils were three-dimensionally reconstructed using the computer graphic imaging process. Findings from this study suggest that there exist a local "bulging" along the fibrils corresponding to the 680 A periodicity in which additional mass of minerals were observed to be accommodated within the collagen fibril structure at this sites. PMID- 2605950 TI - Crystal size and organization in bone. AB - Size measurements of dispersed rat bone crystals show that with age a greater proportion exceeds 400 A in length. The surface fractures of more heavily mineralized bones tend to be smooth and stepped, whereas those of less mineralized bones are fibrous. These observations combined with information reported elsewhere on the crystal-collagen relations in adjacent fibrils in turkey tendon, suggest that some crystals grow out of the confines of the collagen gap regions to form extended aggregates of large flat crystals with well developed fracture planes. PMID- 2605951 TI - Non-apatitic environments in bone mineral: FT-IR detection, biological properties and changes in several disease states. AB - Resolution enhanced FT-IR spectroscopy shows that non-apatitic environments of phosphate and carbonate ions occur in bone mineral. The spectroscopic characteristics of these environments and their chemical and biological properties are reviewed. The potential effectiveness of FT-IR for the detailed study of bone mineral changes in bone disease is shown by analysis of several samples. PMID- 2605952 TI - Ex-vivo study of molecular interfaces in calcified tissues. AB - The aim of this work is the characterization of interfaces in calcified tissues. Thermally Stimulated Currents and Gel Permeation Chromatography have been used for investigating extracts and residues from calf femoral diaphysis, at various stages of demineralization. In residues, the evolution of molecular mobility shows that the organic-mineral linkage is insured by several proteins: Collagen is not directly linked to apatite. PMID- 2605953 TI - Synthetic peptide antisera: their production and use in the cloning of matrix proteins. AB - Small amounts (0.1-1.0 nmole) of purified (greater than 90%) proteins isolated from small quantities of connective tissues can readily be microsequenced and 20 to 40 N-terminal amino acids determined. A synthetic peptide (10 or more amino acids long) can be produced and either injected directly into rabbits for antiserum production (generally peptides greater than 20 amino acids in length) or conjugated to a carrier protein prior to injection. The antisera have proven useful in the isolation of cDNA clones, for both locating clones producing the protein in expression libraries and in the subsequent confirmation of the sequence (preferably using a part of the sequence not directly used in the production of the original antiserum). PMID- 2605954 TI - Osteocalcin: characterization and regulated expression of the rat gene. AB - An osteocalcin gene was isolated from a rat genomic DNA library, and sequence analysis indicated that the mRNA is represented in 953 nucleotide segment of DNA consisting of 4 exons and 3 introns. Although the introns in the rat gene are larger, its overall organization is similar to the human gene. Analysis of the 5' flanking sequences of the rat gene shows a modular organization of the promotor as reflected by the the presence of at least 3 classes of regulatory elements. These include (1) typical sequences associated with most genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II (e.g. TATA, CAAT, AP1, AP2), (2) a series of consensus sequences for cyclic nucleotide responsive elements and several hormone receptor binding sites (estrogen, thyroid and clusters of AG-rich putative Vitamin D responsive elements); and (3) a 24 nucleotide highly conserved sequence between the rat and human gene having a CAAT motif as a central element, designated as an "osteocalcin box." Two regulatory factors of osteocalcin gene expression have been identified. First, contained within the 600 nucleotides immediately upstream from the transcription initiation site are sequences which support Vitamin D dependent transcription of the rat osteocalcin gene. 1,25(OH)2D3 increases osteocalcin mRNA by 6-20 fold increases. In contrast, up to a 200 fold increase in osteocalcin gene expression occurs with mineralization of the extracellular matrix produced by osteoblasts. We propose osteocalcin is a bone-specific marker protein of the mature osteoblast in a mineralizing matrix. PMID- 2605955 TI - Correlation of clinical and molecular biological abnormalities in osteogenesis imperfecta. AB - Substitution of a glycine residue in the triple helix of the alpha 1(I) chain by either arginine, valine or alanine was associated with the type II lethal perinatal osteogenesis imperfecta phenotype. This phenotype was also produced by a frameshift mutation that resulted in an abnormal amino acid sequence of the carboxy-terminal propeptide of the pro-alpha 1(I) chain. The latter baby, however, showed some clinical and radiographic differences from the other babies with type II OI. The severity of the clinical and radiographic phenotypes are likely to be determined by both the type and site of the mutation as well as by the intra-uterine environment. PMID- 2605956 TI - First identification of a gene defect for hypophosphatasia: evidence that alkaline phosphatase acts in skeletal mineralization. AB - Hypophosphatasia is a heritable disorder characterized by defective osteogenesis and deficient liver/bone/kidney alkaline phosphatase (L/B/K ALP) activity. Severe forms of the disease are inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. We examined cultured skin fibroblasts from twelve patients with severe hypophosphatasia. All were deficient in L/B/K ALP activity, yet produced normal levels of the corresponding mRNA. Sequence analysis of L/B/K ALP cDNA isolated from one of the patient-derived fibroblast lines revealed a point mutation that converted amino acid 162 of mature L/B/K ALP from alanine to threonine. The patient was homozygous and the parents, who are second cousins, heterozygous for this mutation. Introduction of the mutation into an otherwise normal cDNA disrupted the expression of active enzyme, demonstrating that a defect in the L/B/K ALP gene resulted in hypophosphatasia and that the enzyme is, therefore, essential for normal skeletal mineralization. PMID- 2605957 TI - How to be a leader in your office. PMID- 2605958 TI - Diagnosis is our foundation. PMID- 2605959 TI - Fit for dentistry. PMID- 2605961 TI - Selected papers from the Sixth International Symposium on Long- Term Clinical Trials. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, West Germany, June 12-15, 1988. PMID- 2605960 TI - Maintenance of a nutrient database for clinical trials. AB - Maintenance of a nutrient database for use in dietary analysis for clinical trials and other medical research studies is described. The database, maintained at the University of Minnesota's Nutrition Coordinating Center (NCC), has been used to calculate dietary intake data for a wide range of diet-disease related investigations including studies on cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, gastroenterology, and osteoporosis. Potential sources of error associated with nutrient databases are identified. Criteria are provided for the selection of a nutrient database to meet study objectives and to minimize the potential for errors and inconsistencies. NCC database maintenance procedures, designed to provide updated and verified nutrient calculations for clinical research, involve adherence to standardized procedures for all aspects of database maintenance including data selection, imputations, quality control, recipe calculations, and documentation. By maintaining multiple versions of the database, the NCC is able to update and expand a working version of the database while providing database stability for individual research studies. PMID- 2605962 TI - Varied acceptance of clinical trial results. AB - The subject of varied acceptance of clinical trial results is discussed in the context of review of trials with which I have been involved and my subjective evaluation of their impact on the practice of clinical medicine. My experience goes back to 1949 and a World Health Organization trial of hyperimmune gamma globulin against rabies. This was followed by a large trial of secondary prevention of poliomyelitis. I participated in the planning and initiation of the first chronic disease trial, the University Group Diabetes Program (UGDP). The latter lasted for 15 years and its ramifications continue to this day. My next trial was the Coronary Drug Project (CDP), a complex trial with more than 8,000 patients. The trials of aspirin and aspirin combined with persantine (the CDPA, AMIS, PARIS I, and PARIS II) followed. My last three trials were a trial of photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy (DRS), a six-country trial of the antiarrhythmic drug mexiletine (IMPACT), and a study involving two diagnostic procedures for pulmonary embolism (PIOPED). When one considers, in retrospect, the plethora of trials one is struck by the uniform absence of a priori considerations of the impact on medical practice, or likely lack thereof, of possible outcomes. PMID- 2605963 TI - Methodologic considerations in the design and conduct of randomized trials: the U.S. Physicians' Health Study. AB - For treatments whose hypothesized risk reductions are small to moderate in size, on the order of 10%-30%, observational epidemiologic studies may not be reliable, since the amount of uncontrolled confounding could easily be as great as the likely reduction in risk. In such cases, randomized trials may be the only epidemiologic design strategy able to provide clear answers to research questions. However, the choice of design features and proper conduct of a randomized trial are crucial to the ability of the study to provide reliable results. In planning a study, five principal issues should be considered: design efficiency, completeness of follow-up, level of compliance, size of the probable risk reduction, and accumulation of sufficient numbers of outcome measures. Careful attention to these design considerations will enhance a trial's ability to provide definitive research results. The importance of these issues can be illustrated by examining the design and conduct of the ongoing Physicians' Health Study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of aspirin in the reduction of cardiovascular disease and beta-carotene in the prevention of cancer. PMID- 2605964 TI - Large trials with simple protocols: indications and contraindications. AB - The design of a clinical trial derives from its objective, which in its turn is dictated by the needs of clinical practice. Therefore, a common condition, a simple treatment, and a simple outcome measure are opportunities rather than design options. The argument that the direction of the net treatment effect can be expected to be similar across patient subgroups is inconsistent with biologic reality, and may misguide interpretation of both individual and pooled trial results. If no data on patient characteristics are recorded, scientific generalization is hampered and there is limited opportunity to learn about mechanisms of action and about specific indications and contraindications. If the treatment influences an intermediary outcome, which is assumed to have a causal role in the disease process that the treatment eventually seeks to influence, the effect on the intermediary outcome is of great importance--for clinical practice is very much centered around this outcome and the effects on intermediary outcomes may serve as an aid in explaining why there is an effect or why not. In conclusion, there are some research questions that may warrant large and simple trials, but many clinically very relevant research questions require a more complex trial design. PMID- 2605965 TI - Choosing covariates in the analysis of clinical trials. AB - Much of the literature on clinical trials emphasizes the importance of adjusting the results for any covariates (baseline variables) for which randomization fails to produce nearly exact balance, but the literature is very nearly devoid of recipes for assessing the consequences of such adjustments. Several years ago, Paul Canner presented an approximate expression for the effect of a covariate adjustment, and he considered its use in the selection of covariates. With the aid of Canner's equation, using both formal analysis and simulation, the impact of covariate adjustment is further explored. Unless tight control over the analysis plans is established in advance, covariate adjustment can lead to seriously misleading inferences. Illustrations from the clinical trials literature are provided. PMID- 2605966 TI - Analysis of clinical trial outcomes: alternative approaches to subgroup analysis. AB - Subgroup analysis is understood as the investigation of the influence of factors other than treatment factors on the response variables or treatment effects in clinical trials. Usual techniques are the Mantel-Haenszel technique and regression technique. The Mantel-Haenszel technique combines (pools) treatment effects (expressed by relative odds) in different subgroups to an "overall" effect. This is meaningful if all subgroups have the same treatment effects. In general, however, there will be interactions between treatment and subgroups and the Mantel-Haenszel estimates will be misleading. Regression models allow analysis of interactions if the interactions are modeled by product terms. If there are many subgroup factors the number of product terms necessary for an adequate modeling of the interactions may be higher than the number of observations and an analysis of the interactions is impossible. To overcome these difficulties as an alternative approach the "classification tree" technique is proposed. This technique combines the possible subgroup constellations to subgroup clusters with homogeneous response within the cluster. From the distribution of the subgroup constellation to the different clusters inferences about the interaction structure can be obtained. The technique is demonstrated with an example of a long-term clinical trial. PMID- 2605967 TI - Analysis of clinical trial outcomes: some comments on subgroup analyses. AB - This article briefly discusses the various ways in which prognostic information can be included in the analysis of treatment effect in clinical trials. Adjustments in the treatment comparison are usually not warranted, as they do not substantially improve precision, but they may be useful, in addition to the unadjusted comparison, if a potent covariate is by chance maldistributed among the treatment groups. Estimation of interactions between treatment and covariates is usually plagued by insufficient statistical power. Estimation of treatment effect within individual subgroups is also subject to large random errors as well as to the problem of multiplicity, but with these caveats in mind it is an informative and needed complement to an analysis of overall treatment effect. PMID- 2605968 TI - Quality of life assessment in clinical trials: methodologic issues. AB - Historically, health-related quality of life research has been carried out at a descriptive level, providing rich data regarding the impact of disease and treatment on the physical, functional, psychologic, and social health of varying patient populations. More recently, there has been growing interest in incorporating psychosocial or "quality of life" outcome measures into clinical trials of medical interventions, particularly in the chronic diseases. This article reviews a number of the central methodologic issues surrounding the development or selection of quality of life measures appropriate for use in clinical trials. Topics discussed include the following: 1. Who should assess quality of life? 2. What should be assessed? 3. What means of data collection should be used, e.g., interviews, questionnaires or diaries? 4. Should the focus of the quality of life measures be generic or disease specific? 5. What are some of the considerations for response scales and for the time frame of questions addressing the quality of life? 6. What psychometric properties should be considered in evaluation of a questionnaire assessing quality of life? Additional attention is directed toward research design and implementation issues in clinical trial-based quality of life studies. PMID- 2605969 TI - Practical problems in interim analyses, with particular regard to estimation. AB - This article considers some of the practical problems inherent in interim analyses and stopping rules for randomized clinical trials. Topics covered include group sequential designs, trials with unplanned interim analyses, estimation problems in clinical trials with planned interim analyses, and the balance between individual and collective ethics. Particular attention is paid to the fact that clinical trials that stop early are prone to exaggerate the magnitude of treatment effect. Accordingly, a Bayesian "shrinkage" method of analysis is proposed to help quantify the extent to which surprisingly large point and interval estimates of treatment difference in clinical trials that stop early should be moderated. PMID- 2605970 TI - The role of clinical trials in drug regulation. AB - Clinical trials and the judgement of the appropriateness of the clinical outcomes are of paramount importance in the process of the evaluation procedure before marketing authorization. Even if the mode of action of the drug remains to be elucidated, the outcome of properly designed and well-performed clinical trials will override this drawback if the results are in favor of the new drug. The critical issue from the medical point of view is the appropriateness of the outcome as "predictor" in terms of therapeutic efficacy. The relationship between pharmacologic effects and the therapeutic efficacy is often a matter of concern, particularly in short-term trials with drugs intended for long-term use and prophylactic indications. In conclusion, despite controversies on their value, clinical trials remain the cornerstone in drug evaluation as a scientific basis for drug regulation. PMID- 2605971 TI - Meta-analysis: science or religion? AB - Meta-analysis of clinical trials has assumed increasing importance in recent years as a means of reaching conclusions regarding the safety and efficacy of treatments evaluated in individual trials. This article discusses impediments to meta-analyses and enumerates needs that should be satisfied to enhance their usefulness. Key among the needs are improved means of identifying trials prior to publication via prospective registration of them and vocabulary and nomenclature for identifying reports of meta-analyses in the published literature. PMID- 2605972 TI - Macromolecule synthesis in temperature-sensitive mutants of methanol-utilizing Hansenula polymorpha. AB - Temperature sensitive (ts) mutants of methanol-utilizing Hansenula polymorpha NTU AM-P5 were isolated by UV irradiation, EMS and/or NTG treatment. They grow normally at permissive temperature (PT) 38 degrees C, but can not grow at restrictive temperature (RT) 46 degrees C. From chemical composition analysis, it was found that ts mutants NTU-AM-L2 and NTU-AM-L3 had higher RNA content than the others; while ts mutant NTU-AM-E19 had the highest protein content among the isolated strains. Leucinyl-tRNA synthetases activity was the highest among the twenty aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in both wild type and their ts mutants. When the cells were shifted from PT to RT for 12 h, total aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity decreased in all tested strains. Leucinyl-tRNA synthetase of ts mutant NTU-AM-E10 decreased 91.23%. At RT, it was found that ts mutants NTU-AM-E10 and NTU-AM-E20 were defective in DNA synthesis; ts mutants NTU-AM-E15, NTU-AM-E20, NTU-AM-N37 and NTU-AM-m5 were defective in RNA synthesis; ts mutants NTU-AM-E10, NTU-AM-E20 and NTU-AM-m5 were somewhat defective in protein synthesis; while ts mutants NTU-AM-L2 and NTU-AM-L3 did not belong to any one of the above classifications. PMID- 2605973 TI - Soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia or with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. AB - An elevated serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (SIL-2R) has been noted in various hematological malignancies and conditions associated with active T-cell responses. Its appearance has also correlated with disease activity and tumor burden. Since few studies have been reported concerning SIL-2R in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), work was undertaken to try to find if SIL-2R could be detected in the CSF of patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and whether it could become a clinical predictor of the central nervous system (CNS) involvement, and its response to therapy. Preliminary results showed that 1) the CSF SIL-2R is usually detectable in very low level with a mean of 15.1 +/- 14.2 units/ml compared with the mean serum level of 338.3 +/- 135.5 units/ml in eight normal controls; 2) there was no significant difference in the mean serum and CSF SIL-2R in five patients with ALL in a complete remission state compared with normal controls, while two ALL patients with CNS relapse and two NHL patients with CNS involvement had high levels of SIL 2R in CSF. High serum and low CSF SIL-2R levels were noted in another ALL case suffering from bone marrow relapse but without CNS relapse. It was also noted that decreased CSF SIL-2R concentration occurred subsequent to intrathecal chemotherapy in two ALL patients. From these results, we conclude that CSF SIL-2R might become a useful indicator of CNS involvement in patients with hematological malignancies and may predict response to chemotherapy. PMID- 2605974 TI - Circulating immune complexes in patients with hematologic diseases. AB - Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were measured by C1q-solid phase method in ninety-five patients with various hematologic diseases. The results showed significantly higher CIC levels in patients with acute myelocytic leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, aplastic anemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) than CIC levels in normal controls. However, there was no significant difference in such levels in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma when compared to normal controls. In this study, the level of CIC did not relate to prognosis for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The findings demonstrated that a high level of CIC in patients with ITP usually responded poorly to steroid treatment. Other immunosuppressive agents were indicated in these cases. Therefore, the CIC level may serve as a therapeutic guide for the treatment of patients with ITP. PMID- 2605975 TI - Serum antibody levels to retinal S-antigen determined by ELISA in experimental and human uveitis. AB - Retinal S-antigen is thought to play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of uveitis. To investigate the role of S-antigen in human uveitis, an immunopotent bioactive S-antigen and a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were developed to determine the anti-S-antigen antibody contents in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) and human uveitis. The bovine S-antigen was isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Fractogel TSK HW-55 gel filtration and hydroxylapatite absorption chromatography. A test by SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis showed that it was a highly purified protein. The purified S antigen evoked EAU in 60% of eyes of guinea pigs even at the dose of 1 microgram. ELISA was developed to determine the contents of serum immunoglobulin G antibody against S-antigen. In the serum of S-antigen immunized rabbit, the antibody was measurable up to 1:160,000 in dilution. The antibody content appeared on the 10th day following inoculation and rose gradually until the 22nd day when the maximal antibody content was observed. Regarding human uveitis, the anti-S-antigen antibody was higher in 31 patients with Behcet's disease and 8 with Harada's disease than in normal controls although statistical significance existed only in the former (p less than 0.02). In this study, the method to purify the bovine retinal S-antigen proved relatively rapid and efficient. The ELISA developed herein appeared sensitive and well reproducible in the detection of anti-S antigen antibody. The results showed that retinal autoimmunity may play a role in the pathogenesis in EAU and human uveitis. PMID- 2605976 TI - Identification and nucleotide sequence of attachment site of the Cflt filamentous phage from Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri. AB - It has been reported that the attachment site on the phage attP is located from 69.2 to 73.8 min on Cflt RF DNA. KpnI and PstI were used, which cut respectively at 67.2 and 72.6 min of Cflt RF DNA. A 0.54 kb fragment containing attP was obtained. For isolation of the right (attR) and left (attL) junctions of prophage and host chromosomal DNA, lysogen DNA was digested with HindIII and used to prepare a recombinant plasmid library. With Cflt RF DNA as a probe, three types of recombinant plasmids respectively containing inserts of 1.7, 4.3 and 2.8 kb DNA fragments were obtained. Since 1.7 kb represents the internal HindIII fragment of Cflt, 2.8 kb were from the junctional regions of prophage and host chromosomal DNA. Further analysis of restriction fragment patterns suggested that the 2.8 kb fragment contains attR, while the 4.3 kb fragment contains attL. To isolate the attachment site on the host bacteria (attB), recombinant plasmids constructed from HindIII DNA fragments of uninfected cells are screened by using molecular probes prepared from the host DNA sequences immediately adjacent to the prophage in the lysogenic host chromosomal DNA. A 1.45 kb fragment was obtained. Further analysis with HindIII site on this fragment established that it represents attB. The DNA nucleotide sequences of attP, attB attR and attL were determined. All of them contain a common 15 nucleotide core with the sequence of 5'-TATACATTATGCGAA-3'. The common core region of the recombination site shows two inverted-repeat DNA sequence. PMID- 2605977 TI - Response to and concentration of interleukin-2 in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. AB - To seek beneficial immunomodulation with interleukin-2 (IL-2) for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a study was conducted of the response to and concentration of IL-2 by mononuclear cells (MNC) from 45 NPC patients who had been pathologically verified, but pre-treatment, at the time they were studied. Thirty-eight normal healthy controls were studied simultaneously. Lymphocyte subsets did not change much after IL-2 stimulation in either NPC patients or the controls. A decreased IL-2 concentration was found in NPC, and a trend of inverse correlation to clinical staging was detected; the more advanced stage, the less concentration of IL-2. It was concluded that there was a normal response to and decreased concentration of, IL-2 in NPC patients. Whether decreased concentration of IL-2 in NPC patients resulted from decreased production or increased consumption is not clear. A further research of IL-2 immunomodulation in NPC patients should be done before its clinical application. PMID- 2605978 TI - A preliminary study of clinical staging in clonorchiasis. AB - Antibody responses to infection with metacercaria of Clonorchis sinensis were studied in triplet cats. Elevated IgM antibody first appeared seven days after infection, followed by elevation of IgA and IgG. The peak titers of IgM and IgA antibodies were found at 3 weeks and 11 weeks, respectively. IgG antibody was elevated at 3 weeks and reached a peak, then a plateau at 13 weeks. Duration of antibody detection after infection was 1 week to 5 weeks for IgM, and 2 weeks to 28 weeks for IgA. IgM and IgA antibody titers decreased to normal level spontaneously without significant effect by the treatment. Using the animal model, the three clinical stages were classified according to the antibody patterns: i.e. acute stage, IgM(+) IgA(+) IgG(+); subacute stage, IgM(-) IgA(+) IgG(+); Chronic stage, IgM(-) IgA(-) IgG(+). Of 77 human patients with clonorchiasis, there were 3 (3.9%) patients who had subacute infection and 74 (96.1%) patients were in chronic stage. PMID- 2605979 TI - Evaluation of the effectiveness of different brands' disks in antimicrobial disk susceptibility tests. AB - A total of 813 routine isolates of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria were employed to determine the efficacy of different branded (Oxoid, Difco, BBL) antimicrobial disks, using disk antimicrobial susceptibility tests, for a total of 22 kinds of antimicrobial disks and 10,740 antibiotic-organism comparisons. Major positive and major negative discrepancies in results were defined as a change from "susceptible" to "both resistant", and a change from "resistant" to "both susceptible" according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards' interpretive standards for zone diameters. Minor positive and minor negative discrepancies were defined as a change from "susceptible" to "both intermediate", or "intermediate" to "both resistant"; and a change from "resistant" to "both intermediate", or "intermediate" to "both susceptible". The overall agreements of Oxoid, Difco, and BBL systems were 98%, 98.7%, and 98.4% respectively, and their differences are not statistically significant. Different kinds of antimicrobial disks' representative patterns of these three brands are further analyzed: (A) In the Oxoid series, there were 220 discrepancies. Minor negative discrepancy is predominant, most frequently related to carbenicillin (25), gentamicin (13) and cephalothin (10). Besides minor negative discrepancy, carbenicillin also had six minor positive discrepancies. Tetracyclin had ten minor positive discrepancies. (B) In the Difco series, there were 137 discrepancies. The majority of them are minor positive discrepancies. Moxalactam (11) and cefotaxime (10) are the most common antibiotics involved. (C) In the BBL series, there were 170 discrepancies. Minor positive discrepancy was the predominant one, which mostly related to carbenicillin (24), amikacin (13), and ceftizoxime (12). In addition, tetracyclin had 24 times minor negative discrepancies. Laboratory workers must pay attention to these different patterns of representation. In order to evaluate the quality of 11 pairs of the give-away and the purchased BBL disks, we also compared the results for these 813 routine isolates (a total of 5,482 antibiotic-organism comparisons). The giveaway disks demonstrated 99.1% overall agreement with the purchased disks. There were 48 minor discrepancies [26 (0.47%) minor positive discrepancies and 22 (0.4%) minor negative discrepancies]. These results allow this study to emphasize the followings in order to raise the awareness of the laboratory workers: (i) alteration of disk efficacy during transportation and storage; (ii) major considerations in choosing different brands' antimicrobial disks, and (iii) the important roles played by salespersons and pharmaceutical companies in achieving sound results. PMID- 2605980 TI - The utilization of yeast in heavy wastewater treatment. AB - Wastewater discharged from vermicelli factories has high concentration of COD and BOD, it is considered to be heavy wastewater. Strach degrading yeast was isolated and applied to treat the vermicelli wastewater. A semicontinuous yeast dominant activated sludge method and an immobilized yeast cells system were used in treating the clarified vermicelli wastewater. When the solid retention time and hydraulic retention time were kept at 7.14 days, using a semicontinuous culture, the solid loading was 0.48 g COD/g MLSS.day, volumetric loading was 1.03 kg COD/m3.day, and the COD removal was about 92%. When the yeast cells were immobilized with 1% Na-alginate solution, in the batch culture system, the COD removal of the immobilized cells was about 73% in 12 hours; with the air bubble system, the immobilized cells had the ability to remove COD of 90%. It indicated that the immobilized cells can treat heavy wastewater directly, and the hydraulic retention time could be reduced from 7.14 days to 24 hours. PMID- 2605981 TI - Those wonderful partnerships. PMID- 2605982 TI - Paperless insurance claims. PMID- 2605983 TI - Implantable bone and bone substitutes. PMID- 2605984 TI - Subclinical hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and hypomagnesemia in patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. AB - Diabetes mellitus is associated with disturbances in electrolyte metabolism. We studied 68 patients with insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus followed up in the Home Monitoring Clinic in order to assess the relationship between electrolyte disturbances and severity of diabetes. There is a significant correlation of serum sodium (r = -0.323, P less than 0.01), potassium (r = 0.416, P less than 0.001), magnesium (r = -0.292, P less than 0.02) with fasting glucose. Thus, in patients with high fasting blood glucose, sodium and magnesium tend to be lower while potassium is higher. Among the three parameters, only serum magnesium significantly correlates with the level of hemoglobin A1 (r = -0.356, P less than 0.001) and thus may be related to the long-term control of diabetes. On the other hand, the hyponatremia and hyperkalemia are more likely to be related to short term metabolic control as reflected by fasting blood glucose. To conclude, minor changes in electrolytes have been found in a group of 68 Chinese patients receiving insulin. There is a remote possibility that these electrolyte changes may influence the chemical events responsible for long-term diabetic complications. PMID- 2605985 TI - Decreased salivary glucose secretory rate: usefulness for detection of diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy. AB - In this study we investigated whether the presence of diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) leads to an altered composition of saliva. DAN was evaluated in 33 normal subjects and 31 diabetic patients by means of the Valsalva manoeuvre, R R variation during deep breathing, heart rate response to standing and lying down and blood pressure response to standing. Salivary flow (ml/h), salivary glucose levels (mumol/l) and salivary glucose secretory rate (mumol/h) were measured in each subject. Twelve diabetic patients were positive for DAN. Salivary flow (13 +/- 2 ml/h) and glucose concentration (330 +/- 50 mumol/l) were not significantly lower in patients with DAN than in normal subjects (18 +/- 2 ml/h, 500 +/- 50 mumol/l) and diabetic patients without DAN (16 +/- 1.9 ml/h, 500 +/- 40 mumol/l). The salivary glucose secretion rate was significantly lower (P less than 0.02) in diabetic patients with DAN (4.2 +/- 1.0 mumol/h) than in normal subjects and diabetic patients without DAN (9.0 +/- 1.0 mumol/h and 8.0 +/- 0.9 mumol/h respectively). The test had a good sensitivity and specificity, and appeared to be particularly indicated in discriminating patients without DAN. It is suggested that the measurement of salivary glucose may represent a simple, quick and inexpensive method for the screening of diabetic autonomic neuropathy. PMID- 2605986 TI - Cardiovascular and pupillary light reflexes in subjects with abnormal glucose tolerance. AB - It is well known that in diabetes mellitus autonomic neuropathy frequently develops. This is usually determined by the cardiovascular reflex. Furthermore, even in borderline cases that have not become overt diabetes, we have already reported the presence of autonomic neuropathy as assessed by the pupillary light reflex. However, a relationship between the impairments of the cardiovascular and pupillary light reflexes is not clear, especially in people with abnormal glucose tolerance. In the present study diabetics were divided into three groups according to the results of their cardiac beat-to-beat variation (BBV) tests and Schellong tests; group I had no abnormality of these cardiovascular reflexes, group II had abnormal BBV scores and normal Schellong test scores, and group III had abnormal responses to both tests. People with borderline diabetes (B-DM) were free from any impairment of their cardiovascular reflexes. We examined their pupillary light reflexes. Age-matched non-diabetics were also studied as a control. The following results were obtained. (1) Compared to controls, (a) diabetics, but not borderline diabetics, had smaller pupils before photic stimulation (A1) and lower maximum dilatation velocities (VD). These illustrate sympathetic function; (b) diabetics and borderline diabetics had lower amplitudes of constriction (A3) and maximum constriction velocities (VC). These illustrate parasympathetic function; (c) borderline diabetics and those diabetics belonging to group III experienced a lower pupillary constriction rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2605987 TI - [Stimulation of protein synthesis in hypoxia-dystrophied neurons of the rat cerebral cortex by the action of a proliferation protein activator isolated from nerve tissue of newborn animals]. PMID- 2605988 TI - [Electrophysiologic features of intercellular contacts of endothelial cells]. PMID- 2605989 TI - [The effect of temperature on the optical and mechanical properties of smooth muscles]. PMID- 2605990 TI - [Mammalian valyl-tRNA-synthetase high molecular weight complex is a special form of elongation factor 1 (EF-1)]. PMID- 2605991 TI - [Apoprotein(a)--an inactive precursor of the plasma prekallikrein activator]. PMID- 2605992 TI - Types of self-reported psychopathology in Dutch and American heroin addicts. AB - One-hundred Dutch and 100 American heroin addicts receiving methadone were administered the Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90), and a Modal Profile Analysis was performed to determine whether or not the mean profiles of the nine SCL-90 subscales were comparable for these two White male samples. Three profile-shape components correctly classified over 85% of both groups and reflected (1) Anxious depressed, (2) Hostile and (3) Paranoid syndromes. The relationships of the SCL 90 profiles to selected psychosocial characteristics were also studied. For example, marijuana use was associated with the Paranoid shape component in both samples. The implications of these SCL-90 profiles for identifying common aspects of self-reported psychopathology in both Dutch and American heroin addicts were discussed. PMID- 2605993 TI - The effects of smoked Marijuana on interpersonal distances in small groups. AB - Twelve adult male research volunteers lived, in groups of three, in a residential laboratory for 7 days. During the later portion of the day (1700-2345), they had the option to socialize with or without access to video-taped films. Four cigarettes containing active marijuana (0-2.7% delta 9 THC) were smoked daily, two prior to and two during the social access period. Active marijuana decreased verbal and either increased or decreased non-verbal interaction time depending on baseline rates. Decreased verbal interactions were associated with increased interpersonal distance. PMID- 2605994 TI - Effects of prenatal morphine treatment of rats on mortality, bodyweight and analgesic response in the offspring. AB - A method is presented for the maternal ingestion of morphine in rats in order to investigate morphine's prenatal effects. Effects on the offspring of the treatment throughout pregnancy were compared with effects of treatment during specific periods of the pregnancy. Morphine treatment (25 mg/kg per day) throughout pregnancy resulted in 0% survival of the offspring. Morphine treatment up to gestational day 21 resulted in 65.4 +/- 7.7% survival of the offspring, and up to gestational day 17 in 31.8 +/- 13% survival. Reduction in the neonatal birth weight was maximal in animals treated with 25 mg/kg of morphine per day from gestational day 4 throughout pregnancy. The analgesic effect of morphine in the offspring was tested with the hot plate method. Male offspring treated with morphine from gestational day 1 to day 17 showed an elevated thermal response after morphine injections on day 80-90 post partum. These findings indicate a long-lasting, post-partum alteration in that part of the opiate system involved in the perception of noxious stimuli. PMID- 2605995 TI - Prediction of alcohol-related casualties: a comparison of two emergency room populations. AB - Logistic regression was used to compare the predictive value of alcohol consumption variables on casualty occurrence in probability samples of two diverse emergency room (ER) populations who were breathalyzed and interviewed at the time of ER admission: San Francisco General Hospital (N = 1459) and four hospitals representative of a nearby California county (N = 1756). Previous analyses suggested differences in the association of alcohol consumption and injury in these two samples. Age, breathalyzer reading and feeling drunk at the time of the event were consistent predictors of injury status in both samples while breathalyzer reading, quantity and frequency of usual drinking and place of injury occurrence (workplace vs. home) were consistent predictors of alcohol related injuries (self-reported drinking 6 h prior to event). PMID- 2605996 TI - Behavioral effects in the mouse during and following withdrawal from ethanol ingestion and/or nicotine administration. AB - The mechanism(s) by which ethanol or nicotine produces dependency and withdrawal symptoms during abstinence is poorly understood. In addition, it has been observed that a high correlation exists between ethanol intake and smoking. Therefore, studies were undertaken to evaluate aversion to the open arms of the elevated plus-maze and the modification of spontaneous locomotor activity during and following repeated ethanol and/or nicotine administration in mice. The ethanol plus nicotine treated animals increased time spent in the open arms of the maze during treatment relative to controls. Withdrawal from this combination treatment led to a rapid onset of intense aversion to the open arms of the maze and a concomitant reduction in locomotor activity which was greater than that produced by withdrawal from ethanol or nicotine treatment alone. The present results suggest that the combined effects of ethanol and nicotine reduced aversion to the open arms of the elevated plus-maze test system and may indicate an anti-aversive action. However, mice demonstrate an increased aversiveness to the open arms following sudden withdrawal of the combination treatment. PMID- 2605997 TI - Ethanol's effects on auditory thresholds and reaction times during the acquisition of chronic ethanol self-administration in baboons. AB - Baboons were trained to ingest ethanol at successively higher ethanol concentrations using oral self-administration techniques. Concurrently, animal psychophysical procedures were employed to determine auditory thresholds and reaction times daily. Maximal consumption of ethanol occurred at concentrations of 6-8% (w/v). During the initial period of ethanol self-administration, both auditory reaction times and auditory thresholds became elevated as animals consumed larger amounts of ethanol. For both the threshold and reaction time measures, the degree of elevation was correlated with the amount of ethanol consumed. These correlations decreased, however, with continued ethanol consumption. The elevations in sensory and motor function recovered to near baseline levels when ethanol was no longer available. PMID- 2605998 TI - Level of agreement between questionnaire measures of alcohol dependence, alcoholism and problem drinking in a sample presenting at a specialist alcohol treatment service. AB - Two questionnaire measures of the alcohol dependence syndrome, one of alcoholism, and one of alcohol-related problems were compared in a sample of 101 subjects attending a specialist alcohol treatment unit. There was substantial agreement between the two measures of alcohol dependence, and lesser agreement between any other pairing. The measures of alcohol dependence also showed the strongest correlation with reported weekly alcohol consumption. The findings are compared with previous research, and the suitability of the various questionnaires as case defining instruments in empirical investigations is discussed. PMID- 2605999 TI - Fluid balance, vasopressin and withdrawal symptoms during detoxification from alcohol. AB - Nineteen patients were studied during the first 4 days after withdrawal from alcohol. Plasma vasopressin was raised (P less than 0.05) and fluid retention occurred (P less than 0.05), with falls in haematocrit (P less than 0.01) and calculated plasma osmolality (P less than 0.02), which were consistent with expansion of plasma volume. Despite these changes mean total body water was within normal limits although there were substantial inter-individual variations. There was no correlation between any measure of fluid balance and the severity of withdrawal symptoms. PMID- 2606000 TI - Effects of ethanol in vitro on some parameters of the immune response. AB - The action of ethanol (ETH) on murine lymphocyte subpopulations and on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated in vitro by mitogens was studied. ETH caused a concentration-dependent decrease in DNA synthesis in the different murine cell types. ETH was more immunosuppressive for T lymphocytes than for B lymphocytes. An enhancement of the blastogenic response was observed for B cells at 0.5% ETH. Interleukin 2 synthesis by murine splenocytes was inhibited by ETH in a concentration-related manner; the lowest concentrations of ETH caused an increase in interleukin 2 synthesis. The highest concentrations of ETH tested decreased the size of the cell clusters formed in cultures of mitogen stimulated lymphocytes, whereas an increase in PBMC cluster size was observed in the presence of 0.5 and 1% ETH. PMID- 2606001 TI - The reliability and validity of the WHO student drug-use questionnaire among Nigerian students. AB - The reliability and validity of the World Health Organization student drug-use survey model questionnaire was tested among 96 senior secondary school students in the Abeokuta Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. The exercise was the major theme of a pilot study of a student drug-use survey carried out in this area. The test-retest interval was 4 weeks. The questionnaire was found to be reliable when group and individual (item by item) comparisons were made. The validity scores were also comparable to those of widely accepted previous studies. It was concluded that the questionnaire is reliable and valid enough for use in this environment to allow for comparisons. It can also yield better results if slightly modified and when respondents become more familiar with questionnaire surveys. PMID- 2606002 TI - [Abnormal gangliosides in the plasma of alcoholics]. AB - Gangliosides were isolated from plasma of alcoholics. The pattern of gangliosides was compared with that of healthy humans. Up to seven fractions of gangliosides could be detected. In healthy subjects the following pattern was found: GM3 38.2%, SPG 6.0%, GD3 30.2%, GD1a 10.6%, GD1b 4.8%, GT1b 7.9%, GQ1b 2.2%. In alcoholics, significant differences were observed in the main ganglioside fractions GM3 (52.6%) and GD3 (17.5%). PMID- 2606003 TI - Effects of ethanol and propylthiouracil on hepatic iron and copper contents in the male albino mouse. AB - With the aim to analyze whether propylthiouracil (PTU) alters ethanol-induced changes in liver iron and copper contents, 40 male albino mice were equally divided into a control group, an ethanol-treated group, a PTU-treated group and an ethanol + PTU-treated group. Twenty animals were killed at the age of 85 days and 20 at the age of 180 days. Liver iron and copper contents showed a progressive, statistically non-significant increase both in the controls and in ethanol-treated animals. Liver iron contents was significantly higher in the 180 day-old alcoholic mice as compared with controls. Animals treated either with PTU or with PTU + ethanol showed liver iron levels in the normal range, markedly different from the ethanol-treated animals (P less than 0.005). Liver copper content of the ethanol-treated animals was higher (but not significantly) than that of the controls. Liver copper levels of the PTU + ethanol-treated animals were in the range of the ethanol-treated animals. Thus, PTU seems to revert an overload of ethanol-mediated iron of copper. PMID- 2606004 TI - [Photoallergic dermatitis caused by the herbicide phenmedipham]. AB - The case of a 51 year old woman, working in the field of agriculture, is reported; she developed a photoallergic dermatitis and a fulminant hepatitis after the use of the herbicide phenmedipham (Betanal). Photopatch-testing revealed sensitization to phenmedipham and, additionally, to maprotiline hydrochloride (Ludiomil), an antidepressant taken by the patient at about the same time. The possible relationship of these reactions with the clinical symptoms are discussed. PMID- 2606005 TI - [Do not forget: lead poisoning]. AB - 3 patients with lead intoxication are demonstrated. The analysis of porphyrins and porphyrin precursors led to the tentative diagnosis which was confirmed by the increased lead levels. The increased urinary excretion of porphyrins and of delta-aminolevulinic acid, the decreased activity of uroporphyrinogen synthase and the increased protoporphyrin content (absorption maximum 595 nm) in the red cells suggested the diagnosis before the lead values of the patients were known. Clinical signs of the patients included gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms. It is assumed that the lead intoxication in these patients was caused by occupational exposition. PMID- 2606006 TI - Effects of infra-red and neodymium yttrium aluminium garnet laser irradiation on non-immunologic immediate contact reactions to benzoic acid and methyl nicotinate. AB - Effects of infra-red A (IRA) (600-2000 nm) and 1064 nm laser irradiation on non immunologic immediate contact reactions (NIICRs) induced by benzoic acid (BA) and methyl nicotinate (MN) were studied. Five concentrations of BA and MN in petrolatum were tested, on two subsequent days, without occlusion on the upper arm of 10 or 12 test subjects, with a dose of IRA irradiation that elevated surface temperature of the skin to 39.5 degrees C. In the first group exposed to IRA irradiation, the NIICR tests were performed immediately after the surface temperature of the skin had reached 39.5 degrees C; the skin was then allowed to cool down. In the second group exposed to IRA irradiation, the NIICRs were performed after a skin temperature of 39.5 degrees C was attained, and the skin temperature was kept unchanged for another 15 min. In the 1064 nm laser exposure group of 12 subjects, the tests were performed on the upper back immediately after irradiation of the skin with 100, 50, and 25 J/cm2 of neodymium yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd-YAG) laser (1064 nm). Reactions were monitored with laser Doppler flowmetry 20 and 40 min after application, and erythema and edema reactions were graded visually. In the first group exposed to IRA, the warming had an enhancing effect on only one reaction induced by MN. In the second group exposed to IRA irradiation, the NIICRs occurring from BA on the exposure day were stronger on the exposed than both the reactions on the non-exposed area as well as the responses to MN on the irradiated area on the following day only.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606007 TI - Changing patterns of contact sensitivity in Sofia. AB - 1237 patients with contact sensitization were patch tested five times with the standard patch test series at 3-year intervals. The study was carried out during the period 1975-1987. The results point out the increasing significance of the most common allergens in the industrially developed countries: potassium dichromate, isopropylaminodiphenylamine, formalin, p-phenylenediamine and nickel sulfate. PMID- 2606008 TI - [Meritorious writing]. PMID- 2606009 TI - [The Nobel Prize in Medicine for the discovery of cell oncogenes]. PMID- 2606010 TI - [Balanced management and psychic clarification in diabetics]. PMID- 2606011 TI - Erosion of a resource. PMID- 2606012 TI - Breastmilk yield and infant nutrition in relation to early infant growth in Njoro, Kenya. AB - Breastmilk yields during the first six months of lactation were measured in 27 mothers from small-scale cooperative farms and 35 mothers from squatter villages in two commercial farms and one forest village. On average, mothers from small scale farms produced 440g milk per 24 hours and the village mothers 510g per 24 hours. Mean birth weight and length for the whole group were all within 90% of the Harvard Standard. However between the 10th and 18th week when milk yield was high, mean child weight was parallel to the Harvard standard but then declined to 90% at 26 weeks. Male infants were heavier and longer at birth than female infants. Seasonal variations were not significant. However, this may have been affected by the failure of the long rains in 1984 which caused food shortages in that year and the following year. PMID- 2606013 TI - Mixed infections in childhood diarrhoea: results of a community study in Kiambu District, Kenya. AB - One thousand four hundred and twenty diarrhoea specimens from 846 children aged 0 to 60 months were collected and analysed for bacteria, parasites and rotavirus over a 16 month period, from June 1985 to September 1986 inclusive. The study was conducted in 4 villages situated in Kiambu District, Kenya. All the specimens were analysed for rotavirus and parasites, including Cryptosporidium. The majority of the specimens were analysed for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Aeromonas. Only 387 specimens were analysed for enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). However, of this proportion analysed for ETEC, 33% were positive. A total of 344 specimens were negative for any organisms while a further 140 were only positive for parasites which have been implicated as being pathogenic, including Ascaris lumbricoides, Hymenolepis nana, Trichomonas hominis and Blastocysts hominis were considered to be at least potentially pathogenic and capable of causing diarrhoea. An average of only 29.4% of these organisms occurred as single isolates. The remaining infections were mixed, with a maximum of 7 potentially pathogenic organisms occurring together in a single specimen. The associations of certain organisms were significant, notably Campylobacter with Giardia lamblia. Campylobacter with EPEC, EPEC with Ascaris, and G. lamblia with rotavirus. The latter was a negative association. PMID- 2606014 TI - Comparison of four nitroimidazole compounds for treatment of symptomatic amoebiasis in Kenya. AB - Four antiamoebic drugs currently used in many Kenyan hospitals and health centres were compared for their efficacy on symptomatic luminal amoebiasis in Kiambu, Kilifi, and Machakos hospitals during this study. The drugs were; the brand metronidazole (Flagyl, May & Baker, Kenya Ltd.), the generic metronidazole (Metrozol, Cosmos Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya), the brand tinidazole (Fasigyn, Pfizer Laboratories Ltd.) and the generic tinidazole (Tynazole Laboratory and Allied Equipments, Kenya Ltd). Clinical cure was achieved in all individuals receiving any of the four drugs. Parasitological cure was better for those receiving either Flagyl or Fasigyn, than those receiving the generic counterparts. Both parasitological and clinical cures were achieved in about 50% of all those who received either Flagyl or Fasigyn. It appears that Flagyl and Fasigyn are not as efficacious as previously reported but are still much better than their generic counterparts for the treatment of symptomatic Entamoeba histolytica infections. PMID- 2606015 TI - Some risk factors for transmission of malaria in a population where control measures were applied in Zambia. AB - A total of 224 patients living in Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, were treated for malaria in the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and surveyed to determine the relationship between parasitaemia, malaria antibodies and travel outside Lusaka. Comparisons of those with parasitaemia or antibodies with those without suggested an increased risk among those who travelled out of Lusaka to high transmission areas and also among those who live in areas of Lusaka where transmission is considered to be high. This study shows that even if there is transmission of malaria in Lusaka, much of the malaria is contracted outside the city. Specificity and positive predictive values for the variables considered showed that these variables may be useful in a clinical situation in determining whether the patient has malaria or not. It is also suggested that these variables should be taken into consideration in assessing possibilities of malaria transmission in towns where control measures were once applied. PMID- 2606016 TI - Application of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on two E. granulosus antigens in the diagnosis of human hydatidosis. AB - A total of 180 sera consisting of 50 sera from Kenyans with surgically confirmed hydatidosis and 130 sera from individuals without hydatid disease were examined. "Antigen 880" (which is suspected to be similar to Antigen B) showed a sensitivity of 88%. No false reactions were obtained with sera from individuals with non-hydatid infections, hence a specificity of 100% was recorded with this antigen. "Antigen 346" (which is similar to Capron's "Arc 5") showed a sensitivity of 52% and a specificity of 100%. It is concluded that "Antigen 880" may be more useful than "Arc 5" in the diagnosis of human hydatidosis in Kenya due to the high sensitivity obtained with the antigen. PMID- 2606017 TI - Infective thyroiditis in northern Nigeria: a fifteen-year study. AB - Infective (suppurative) thyroiditis is almost non-existent in the developed world and even in the developing world, it still remains a rare disease entity. Seventeen patients with this disease were seen in 15 years in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. Fourteen of these patients had multinodular goitre, one patient had an adenoma and 2 never had a pre-existing neck swelling. Two patients with multinodular goitres had associated papillary and follicular carcinoma respectively. Pus was not obtained for culture from 3 patients. The pus in 5 (29%) of 17 patients grew staphylococcus aureus. 2 patients grew salmonella typhi and E. coli respectively and 2 patients grew Group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus from the pus. In three patients the diagnosis of thyroid abscess was an incidental finding by the pathologist, in patients with tender goitre clinically suspected to have had recent haemorrhages. Indolent thyroid abscesses from which gram negative organisms are isolated may be a pointer to an associated underlying malignancy. PMID- 2606018 TI - Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection among female prostitutes in Borno State of Nigeria: one year follow-up. AB - Serological investigations on female prostitutes resident in Borno State in northeastern Nigeria have shown that the seroprevalence of HIV-1 infection has increased 9.81%--fold in one year. The highest sero-prevalence rates were found amongst prostitutes who had not benefited from previous health education campaigns. Prostitution appears to be on the increase in spite of AIDS probably because of the difficulty in finding alternative means of making a living. Attempts to halt the spread of HIV infection are hampered by the fact that most prostitutes are indifferent to the use of condoms and do not appreciate the importance of protecting themselves from the risks of HIV infection. Their frequent mobility also poses a problem as it makes it difficult for them to benefit from health education campaigns. The prevalence of HIV-1 infection among female prostitutes in Borno State (as indeed in other States in Nigeria) is likely to rise sharply in the next few years unless serious efforts are made to intensify health education campaigns targeted at the high risk groups. PMID- 2606019 TI - Some clinico-pathologic and prognostic data in malignant lymphomas seen at Kenyatta National Hospital over a 13 year period. AB - Records were available for 197 patients with malignant lymphomas (MLs) aged 13 years and above seen at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) between the years 1973 and 1986. There were 110 cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD) and 87 cases of non Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). The distribution of the two groups according to sex and histologic sub-types was not significantly different. HD patients were on average significantly younger than NHL patients (28.8 years versus 41.1 years). Over 70% of both HD and NHL cases presented in stages III and IV and the distribution of the groups according to stage of disease was not statistically significant. There was no significant correlation between stage of disease at diagnosis and histologic subtypes for either group. Losses to follow-up were high in both groups. Female sex was associated with longer periods of follow-up in both groups, being statistically significant for HD and not so for NHLs. Age was not correlated with duration of follow-up for NHLS whereas for HD cases, older age (above 53 years) was associated with shortened follow-up periods. The mortality rate was higher in NHLs than in HD cases. PMID- 2606020 TI - Monoclonal antibodies in ABO serology: an evaluation. AB - Monoclonal anti-A and anti-B reagents produced from mouse 'hybridoma' cells have been evaluated by comparative and standard serological techniques and found suitable for use as potent routine blood grouping reagents. They have an avidity time of only 9-12 seconds and their reactions are pH dependent with optimal reactions around neutral pH. The antisera gave good agglutination reactions at room temperature. The cost effectiveness and advantages of monoclonal antibodies include their high potency and the possibility of their production in unlimited amounts from in-vitro cultures. PMID- 2606021 TI - Psychiatric emergencies in a Nigerian general hospital. AB - Subjects attending the emergency services of the Ibadan teaching hospital for psychological problems in a 14-month period were studied, with a view to highlighting the pattern of psychiatric emergencies in a large general hospital. Three hundred and twenty-six subjects made 335 emergency visits. The 181 new cases seen at the Casualty constituted 2% of the newly registered patients attending that unit of the hospital. About 7% of the subjects attended for deliberate self-harm, while 45.7% and 20.9% of the visits were for functional psychotic and non-psychotic illnesses respectively. Cases with acute undifferentiated psychosis of suspected organic aetiology constituted 13.7% of the visits. About 5% of the visits were for substance abuse problems, 6.3% for extrapyramidal reaction to anti-psychotic drugs, while 5.7% were cases of other forms of organic psychotic conditions. In only 19.5% of the visits requiring admission could the subjects be admitted because of scarcity of in-patient beds. PMID- 2606022 TI - Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome in Calabar--a case report. AB - A four and a half-year old Nigerian girl, living at home, who presented with protracted fever, multifocal lymph node enlargement, extensive scaly rash, injected conjunctivae, fissuring of the lip and other features consistent with a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease is reported. This disease, first seen in Japan and then other parts of the world including black Africa has not yet been reported in Nigeria. Child care physicians in Nigeria are hereby cautioned to look out for this unusual disease. PMID- 2606023 TI - Infertility. PMID- 2606024 TI - Maternity care routines in a teaching hospital in Zambia. AB - At the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, 59 uncomplicated, vaginally delivered mothers, were studied with regard to maternity care during the antenatal period and delivery. Information was collected from antenatal cards, labour records, observations during delivery and interviews with mothers. The average of more than five antenatal visits indicates that there was a sufficient demand for health care. The results suggest low application of the recommended maternity care routines, positive correlation between application of the maternity care and the mother's educational level and low staff encouragement of self-care among mothers. These findings suggest a need for systematic critical review and, if necessary, modification of current maternal care technologies and improved general and health education of women. PMID- 2606025 TI - Infertility clinic at Consolata Hospital, Nkubu Kenya (1987). AB - Data regarding 266 cases of couple infertility were reviewed in the Infertility Clinic of Consolata Hospital, Nkubu, Meru, between January and December 1987. Of these, 132 were cases of primary infertility and 134 of secondary infertility. 218 women with primary and secondary infertility were investigated with tubal insufflation with the result that 163 (74.8%) presented tubal occlusion. Besides more than 68% of primary infertility cases had a positive smear for gonorrhoea. PMID- 2606026 TI - Pregnancy and its outcome among teenage mothers in Ilorin, Nigeria. AB - Four hundred and ninety six adolescent and five hundred adult mothers (the latter acting as control), were studied with respect to maternal and fetal outcome. Anaemia of pregnancy was commoner (60%) among the adolescents than the adults (14.8%). Toxaemia of pregnancy was also more common (5%) among the adolescents than the adults (2.4%). However hypertension was more common among the adults (13%) than the adolescents (2.6%). Babies born to adolescent mothers had lower birth weight than those born of adult mothers. There were no significant differences between blood loss or Apgar Scores among the two groups. The need for further studies on this subject is high-lighted. PMID- 2606027 TI - A therapeutic audit in the management of hypertension in Nigerians. AB - The prevalence of hypertension in adult Nigerians is about 20% and hypertension remains a significant risk factor in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In Africans, hypertension carries a dismal prognosis, has a late clinical presentation and certain antihypertensives may be less effective. We therefore conducted a therapeutic audit in order to assess the initial cardiovascular risk profile of Nigerian patients as well as the safety and efficacy of different antihypertensive agents. A cross-sectional survey of 367 patients (M:F:2:1) modal age 25-44 years, mostly WHO II, enrolled in our clinic was undertaken. 56% had been on treatment for up to one year and 2% for longer than ten years. 12.5% had concomitant diabetes mellitus. Statistical analyses of drug efficacy were done by Spearman correlation and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The rank order of hypertensive efficacy was as follows: Thiazides (T) (r = 0.57, P less than 0.05), T + Methyldopa (M) (r = 0.91, P less than 0.001) T + M + Hydralazine (r = 0.92, P less than 0.001). Neither propranolol, nor frusemide showed significant overall efficacy. However, propranolol appeared efficacious in hypertensives with renal impairment. Postural dizziness was occasionally reported. Total mortality was 6% occurring mostly in the modal age group. Diabetic hypertensives had a 5 fold enhanced risk of a fatal outcome (X2 P less than 0.001). Our findings support a rational stepped care approach to pharmacotherapy of hypertension in black Africans, a cost-effectiveness analysis of common antihypertensives; it elucidates the associated adverse effects to patients, and draws attention to the lethality of concomitant hypertension and diabetes. Prospective large scale studies of the treatment of hypertension in Africans are required. PMID- 2606028 TI - Hypertension, cerebral vascular changes and stroke in Ghana: cerebral atherosclerosis and stroke. AB - An autopsy study of cerebral atherosclerosis in 310 Ghanaian adults 20 years and over, using a simplified grading system has shown a lower prevalence of severe lesions (necrotic, ulcerated, haemorrhagic and calcified lesions). These severe lesions (Grade 3) were found in 11.0% hypertensives compared to 2.3% normotensives. This difference is statistically significant (p less than 0.005), thus confirming the observation of other workers that hypertension accelerates atherogenesis. Subjects dying of cerebral haemorrhage showed no significant increase in the severity of atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels over hypertensives dying from other causes. This would suggest that severe atherosclerosis is less involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral haemorrhage in the Ghanaians studied. PMID- 2606029 TI - The significance of 'dry tap' bone marrow aspirations in Zimbabweans. AB - Of the 2880 bone marrow examinations performed in a 3-year period in patients with diverse haematological and oncological disorders, 116(4%) patients exhibited 'dry tap' on routine marrow aspiration. However, when the Jamshidi-Swaim technique of trephine bone marrow biopsy was performed in these patients, the single commonest underlying pathological cause of 'dry tap' was found to be aplastic anaemia which accounted for 56(48.3%) of the cases. The diagnostic potential of the technique and its advantages particularly in a developing country are briefly high-lighted. PMID- 2606030 TI - Double supernumerary impacted premolar teeth: case report. AB - A rare case of double supernumerary impacted premolar teeth is presented. The possible sequelae and management are briefly discussed. PMID- 2606031 TI - Occular loiasis in a Zambian woman. AB - Asymptomatic infection with Loa loa, an eye worm, is reported in a 32-year old Zambian woman. The patient revealed up to 28% eosinophilia but microfileraemia was not noticed. One gravid female parasite 56 X 0.56 mm, extracted from lower lid of left eye of the patient, is described. Treatment with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) extended over three weeks was successful against another parasite in tissues. PMID- 2606032 TI - Kaposi's sarcoma: old and new. PMID- 2606033 TI - Diagnostic implications of genital Kaposi's sarcoma. AB - Genital Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) before the AIDS epidemic was rarely seen in Uganda although a case was seen in 1973, 1982, 1983 and 1985. Eight cases were seen in 1986 and another 17 cases have been documented since the beginning of 1987. Of the 29 patients, 23 were males, 6 females (M:F = 3.8:1); median age 29 years (range 7-70 years). All except 8 males were under 40 years. Six patients had pure nodular disease, while the rest had mixed clinical type. The external genitalia was involved in nodular disease in 15 patients, 12 had infiltrative disease and 6 had ulcerative disease. Florid and plaque were seen in one case each. Mixed cellularity was typed in 13 patients. 19(70.4%) were positive for HIV serology (ELISA Wellcome kit) of whom 13(61.9%) were males. All females were positive. The patient who presented in 1973 remains alive and disease free 13.5 years making it unlikely that he had AIDS. It appears therefore that genital KS is a feature of HIV associated KS and this mode of presentation is new in Uganda. PMID- 2606034 TI - Multiple sclerosis: epidemic in Kenya. AB - Over a period of five years, November, 1983 to October, 1988 six cases of definite multiple sclerosis were identified at Kenyatta National Hospital. Four were females and two were males. Age of onset of disease ranged from 12 years to 30 years. Their mode of presentation, clinical features and prognosis is the same as that of multiple sclerosis seen at higher latitudes. The consequences of misdiagnosis to the patient is discussed. A theory is put forward to explain the increased numbers of MS seen recently as compared to the past decades. PMID- 2606035 TI - Pituitary hormone reserve in the Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome. AB - A patient who presented with hypgonadism was found to have classical features of the Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Syndrome. He had oligospermia and low serum testosterone. Basal serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), cortisol, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were normal. Stimulation with thyrotropin releasing hormone. (TRH) showed normal pituitary reserve for TSH and PRL. Adequate insulin hypoglycaemia caused a normal rise of GH and cortisol. LH and FSH showed normal peaks after luteinishing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). These results indicate normal pituitary hormone reserve and hypogonadotrophic hypgonadism secondary to hypothalamic dysfunction. PMID- 2606036 TI - Cryptosporidiosis and childhood diarrhoea in a rural community in Kenya. AB - Cryptosporidiosis has come to recent prominence as a cause of diarrhoea throughout the world in both adults and children, producing either an acute self limiting diarrhoea or a protracted chronic diarrhoea which can be fatal in immunosuppressed patients. This study was therefore conducted to assess the prevalence of the infection among children less than five years of age in a rural community in Kiambu District, Kenya. 1420 diarrhoea specimens from children less than five years which were processed for bacteriology and parasitology were also examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts, using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) acid fast stain, 3.8% of all the diarrhoea samples were positive for oocysts. 320 non diarrhoeic stools from children in the same age group were also examined and were all negative for Cryptosporidium oocysts. The results of this study would imply that infection with Cryptosporidium is associated with acute childhood diarrhoea in Kenya. PMID- 2606037 TI - Pyridoxine therapy on Nigerian children with infantile spasms. AB - Nine Nigerian children, with infantile spasms, 4 boys and 5 girls age 2.5-15 months, were treated with high doses of vitamin B6. Unlike results from some European and Japanese centres, our results have not been encouraging. Possible reasons for this poor response are suggested. PMID- 2606038 TI - Measles in Chimanimani Zimbabwe. AB - A mini outbreak of measles in Chimanimani District in Zimbabwe where the measles immunisation coverage is about 79% is reported. Although many of the cases occurred in susceptible non-immunised children of the vaPostori (Apostolic) religious sects, a large number was in teenagers and adults. The importance of health education in increasing community participation in immunisation is emphasised. There is need to chart out a strategy to deal with a projected pool of persons susceptible to measles as our coverage rates continue to increase. PMID- 2606039 TI - Early diagnosis and management of diaphragmatic rupture due to blunt abdominal trauma. AB - The experience gained in the management of twenty patients with diaphragmatic rupture due to blunt abdominal trauma, with particular emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment is reported on. Suggestions are made on manoeuvre to facilitate early diagnosis, so that the number of patients seen in the latent and strangulation phases of the ailment is reduced to the barest minimum. Mortality rates with early diagnosis and treatment is low, whilst the mortality rates with late diagnosis and treatment is disproportionately high. PMID- 2606040 TI - Anaesthetic management of carotid artery rupture: case report. AB - The anaesthetic management of a case of carotic artery rupture is reported. The need for quick action in patient handling in all hospital departments and adequate monitoring during surgery are emphasized. PMID- 2606041 TI - A human infection with Dicrocoelium in Kenya. PMID- 2606042 TI - What every doctor should know and remember about anaesthesia. PMID- 2606043 TI - Legg-Calve-Perthes' disease associated with chronic myeloid leukaemia in a child: case report. AB - Chronic myeloid leukaemia was discovered in a female child aged 12 years, whose presenting signs and symptoms were those of Legg-Calve-Perthes' disease in the left hip. The chronic myeloid leukaemia responded dramatically to myeleran therapy, whilst the Legg-Calve-Perthes' disease was treated by bed rest in hospital followed by weight-relieving paten-ended calliper. A rare case of CML in a female child who has 'Legg-Calve-Perthes' disease of the left hip in association is described. PMID- 2606044 TI - Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in serum samples from pregnant women and cord blood at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. PMID- 2606045 TI - Diet, nutrition and oral health. PMID- 2606046 TI - Dietary habits and oral health in infancy and early childhood of Kenyan children at the Kenyatta National Hospital Paediatric Demonstration Unit. AB - The survey was conducted by the method of questionnaire in the Maternal Child Health (MCH) clinic. A total of ninety seven mothers brought their children to MCH clinic. The mean maternal age was 22 years, the youngest mother was 16 years old. The total number of children who attended the MCH clinic was 98 with an equal number of boys and girls. The age range was from 0.5-50 months with a mean age of 12 months. Most of the children were introduced to breastmilk substitutes or compliments from the age of 4 months but some of the children had been introduced to breastmilk compliments at an early age of one month. The commonly used breastmilk compliment at the age of one month was noted to be whole cow's milk, skimmed milk from Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC), cooked green bananas, ribena (only given to children of working mothers), fresh orange juice. The orange juice was noted to be given to children belonging to mothers who are either housewives or employed. For ages 2-3 months the commonly used breastmilk compliments or substitutes were noted to be maize meal, sorgum or millet porridge, whole cow's milk, KCC milk, ribena, orange juice, bananas and potatoes in order of preference. These same foods were given at ages 4 months up to 12 months. In addition pulses and eggs were introduced. The number of children who used the artificial formula was 33%. The method of feeding for the children attending the clinic was by using either bottle or spoon and cup. Twenty nine percent of these children were bottlefed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606047 TI - Thyrotoxicosis in northern Nigeria: a rare disease. AB - Four hundred and thirteen patients had surgery for large to giant goitres between January 1971 and December 1985. Twenty-three (5.7%) of this number had thyrotoxicosis; there were 19 females and 4 males. Thirteen patients presented with nodular goitre; 3 of them had exophthalmos and mild infiltrative dermopathy associated with thyroid nodules--the Marine Lenhart syndrome. PMID- 2606048 TI - Cerebrospinal fluid/serum lactic acid in febrile convulsions. AB - Cerebrospinal fluid/serum lactic acid was prospectively assayed in 42 patients with febrile convulsions. Patients were divided into two groups for analytical purposes. Those with brief febrile seizures (30 patients) and the remaining 12 patients had prolonged febrile seizures. CSF and serum lactic acid values were within normal range in patients with brief seizures while elevated values were obtained in patients with prolonged seizures. The mean CSF lactic acid on admission was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in patients with prolonged seizures than corresponding values in those with brief seizures. Mean serum lactic acid on admission was also significantly higher in patients with prolonged febrile seizures compared to the corresponding mean value in patients with brief seizures (P greater than 0.001). Patients who recovered with neurological deficits had significantly higher CSF lactic acid on admission (P greater than 0.001). Similarly 8 patients who had recurrent febrile convulsions had significantly higher CSF lactate on admission. It is suggested that measurement of CSF lactate can be used as a biochemical marker to identify children with prolonged seizures and those who are likely to have recurrent febrile seizures. PMID- 2606049 TI - Epidural haematoma: a study of 71 cases. AB - A study of 71 patients with epidural haematoma (EDH) who were managed surgically at the Neurosurgical Centre Nijmegen, Netherlands is presented. The male/female ratio was 5:2. 73.2% of all patients were under the age of 40 years. Traffic motor accidents and falls accounted for 84.5% as causes of head injury. 74.6% were either unconscious throughout or were initially conscious and subsequently unconscious. Only 53.7% were initially suspected to have EDH and investigated; while 46.3% developed signs suggestive of haematoma sometime after the initial assessment. The major clinical signs which influenced the initial management policy included lack of verbal response; pupillary dilatation and hemiparesis. Skull fractures were observed in 73.2% of which 9.8% had depressed fractures. The presence of a linear fracture did not influence the initial management policy. PMID- 2606050 TI - Ascending urethrography using the Leech-Wilkinson intra-uterine cannula in adult male patients. AB - The Leech-Wilkinson Intra-Uterine Cannula used in hysterosalpingography has proved useful in ascending urethrography in the adult male patients. Lesions of the urethra, e.g., strictures, calculi, sinuses, diverticula and urethral tear are best demonstrated by ascending urethrography. This method does not replace voiding cysto-urethrography under physiological conditions. PMID- 2606051 TI - Hangman's fracture in head injury. AB - Five patients with fracture of pedicle of axis vertebra as a complication of head injury are reported. The ages of the patients ranged from 16-25 years and all of them were victims of road traffic accidents. The head injuries were moderately severe requiring admission. The average Glasgow Coma Scale sum on admission was 11. Simple non-operative management in a well padded stiff collar with sand bags supporting the head in a neutral position in bed resulted in full recovery without complication after an average of 4 weeks recumbency. PMID- 2606052 TI - Crohn's disease versus tuberculosis: case report. AB - A patient with Crohn's disease, a rare condition outside temperate climate regions, is presented from Saudi Arabia. The difficulty in differentiating this condition, even with the help of advanced diagnostic tools available, such as colonoscopy, from the much more common disease, tuberculosis, is highlighted in this report. A review of the differential diagnosis between the two conditions is discussed. PMID- 2606053 TI - Skin blood flow changes during apneic spells in preterm infants. AB - Changes in skin blood flow during apneic spells were determined in 18 preterm infants using a diode laser Doppler flow meter without light conducting fibres. Heart rate, nasal air flow, impedance pneumography, skin and incubator temperature and laser Doppler skin blood flow were recorded simultaneously in each infant. During 212 apneic spells with a duration of 11.6 +/- 7.5 s (mean +/- S.D.) (range 6.0-48.0 s), the laser Doppler skin blood flow was measured. In all children except one, the majority of the apneic spells was associated with a decrease in skin blood flow. During 155 apneic spells (73%) skin blood flow decreased significantly P less than 0.025), the maximum decrease being 16.7 +/- 14.8%, 28.5 +/- 23.9% and 18.9 +/- 16.1% (mean +/- S.D.) for central, obstructive and mixed apneic spells, respectively. The decrease in skin blood flow started immediately after the beginning of apneic spells in 71%, the rest started with a mean delay of 3.4 s (range 0.1-7.0 s). No relation was found between the decrease in skin blood flow and the duration of the apneic spells. Thirty-four percent of the apneic spells were accompanied by bradycardia. In apneic spells accompanied by bradycardia the decrease in skin blood flow was not related to the fall in heart rate. PMID- 2606054 TI - The fat content of suckled breast milk: a new approach to its assessment. AB - Using a modification of the "interrupted feed" technique (Woolridge et al., 1982, Early Hum. Dev., 6, 265-272), the authors devised an equation relating milk fat content at any point during a feed from a breast to the volume consumed since the start of the feed. Hence, an equation was obtained to estimate the mean fat content (MF) of milk consumed during a feed from the fat content of small samples of fore-milk (Fb) and hind-milk (Fe): MF = 0.57Fb + 0.43Fe The authors argue that their approach yields a closer approximation to the true value of MF than previously described estimators of MF. PMID- 2606055 TI - The cardiovascular and oncotic effects of albumin infusion in premature infants. AB - We determined the oncotic and cardiovascular effects of a standardised infusion of human albumin (1.2 g/kg over 2 h as a 20% solution) in 12 premature infants on 18 occasions when hypovolaemia was suspected on clinical grounds. Blood volume increased by a median value of 15.5%, and fell to preinfusion values by 3 h post infusion in all but four cases. Albumin concentration and colloid osmotic pressure rose during infusion and remained raised even when blood volume had fallen to preinfusion levels. Blood pressure rose in 3 cases only and heart rate fell by greater than 5 beats/min in 6 cases. Indices of long- and short-term heart rate variability were unchanged, but blood pressure variability fell in the second hour of infusion (P = 0.03), an effect which was independent of changes in lung inflation. No changes in blood gases or oxygenation occurred during infusion and no evidence of pulmonary oedema was found. There were wide variations in oncotic and cardiovascular responses to the standardised infusion both between and within subjects. When human albumin is infused in this manner some protection against respiration-induced variability in blood pressure can result, but the circulatory response may prove difficult to predict in the individual. PMID- 2606056 TI - Does age potentiate the smoking-related risk of fetal growth retardation? AB - Whether smoking is more harmful in certain pregnancies than others is a matter of controversy. In a large prospective study, interactions between smoking and other risk factors for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) were studied. Practically all Swedish live births between 1983 and 1985 were included, 280,809 births in all. In single births, significant interaction between maternal age on one hand and moderate (1-9 cigarettes/day) or heavy (ten cigarettes or more per day) smoking on the other, were obtained. The relative risk of SGA for heavy smokers versus non-smokers was 1.9 in the lowest age group (15-19 years) and 3.4 among women aged 40-44. Although smoking was twice as common among teenagers as compared to women aged 40-44, the attributable risk of smoking for SGA was higher among the older women. No other significant interactions with regard to fetal growth were obtained. In Sweden, there has been a shift towards delayed childbearing, and smoking during pregnancy is prevalent. These socio-demographic changes and the increased risk for SGA among older smokers must be considered when evaluating antenatal programs aimed at surveillance of fetal well-being. PMID- 2606057 TI - Changes in vascular resistance in the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries in the human intrauterine growth-retarded fetus, measured with pulsed Doppler ultrasound. AB - To assess how different cardiotocographic (CTG) findings are related to changes in vascular resistance, 256 normal and 37 growth retarded (IUGR) fetuses from 27 to 41 weeks of gestation were studied. Immediately following CTG monitoring, pulsed Doppler was used to identify flow velocity waveforms in both the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the umbilical artery (UA), and from these the Resistance Indices (RIs) in both arteries (RIMCA and RIUA) were calculated. Of the 37 growth retarded fetuses, 25 had normal CTG findings. Although only 3 (12.0%) of these fetuses had low RIMCA, 12 (48.0%) had high RIUA, statistically different (P less than 0.01) from normal fetuses. In 11 of 12 (91.7%) growth retarded fetuses with an abnormal CTG, there were low RIMCA values, significantly more (P less than 0.01) than in those with a normal CTG. As for RIUA, all 12 IUGR fetuses with an abnormal CTG had high RIUA values (100%), a much higher proportion (P less than 0.01) than was found in the normal CTG group. These results mean that intrauterine fetal growth retardation per se is associated with a chronic increase in the RI value in the umbilical artery. By contrast, cerebral vascular resistance appears to decrease in compromised conditions, as indicated by abnormal CTG findings. PMID- 2606058 TI - Is it necessary to change the babies' position during phototherapy? AB - The purpose of this study was to determine whether position changes might affect the efficacy of phototherapy in decreasing total serum bilirubin concentrations. Forty-four full-term newborn infants with hyperbilirubinemia [greater than or equal to 256 mumol/l (15 mg/dl)] were divided into two groups. Position changes were made every 6 h during phototherapy on infants in the study group (N = 22), while no change in position was made in the control group (N = 22). No significant difference between groups was found in serum bilirubin concentration during or within 24 h after phototherapy. Poland's statement advocating position change every 6 h during phototherapy was not supported by a greater decrease of serum bilirubin in our study. PMID- 2606059 TI - The influence of behavioural states on cerebral blood flow velocity patterns in stable preterm infants. AB - Previous Doppler ultrasound studies assessing cerebral blood flow velocities in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) among healthy term and preterm infants, showed a widespread range for the calculated flow indices. However, only one of these studies accounted for the infant's behavioural state. In the present study a stable pattern of the cerebral blood flow velocity tracings and of the Pulsatility Index (PI) was observed during state 1, whereas marked fluctuations in cerebral blood flow velocity and PI were found during state 4 or active wakefulness. During state 2, minor variations of cerebral blood flow velocity and PI occurred though tended to be less pronounced than during active wakefulness. Thus at the time of Doppler assessment the cerebral blood flow velocity pattern and its variability will be better understood by taking into account the behavioural state of the infant. PMID- 2606060 TI - Fetal breathing movements--a comparison of hard copy records produced by M-mode and Doppler ultrasound. AB - To precisely measure the events of the fetal breath cycle it is necessary to have an accurate hard copy record. Two approaches to this have been made using either M-mode or Doppler ultrasound. It was the aim of this paper to compare these methods. Hard copy records of fetal breathing movements were produced by simultaneously recording movements of the fetal chest wall with M-mode and frequency spectral analysis of Doppler signals from either the fetal inferior vena cava or umbilical vein. Timing of the onset and end of inspiration was equally recognised by chest wall movement and changes in umbilical vein flow. Augmented flow in the fetal inferior cava began after the onset of "inspiration" and continued into "expiration". This signal could be used for registering the occurrence of a breath but not for timing. Because of unequal rotation and distortion of the chest wall, during fetal breathing movements, records of chest wall movement were considered less precise than those from the umbilical vein for timing the events of the fetal breath cycle. The umbilical vein flow velocity sonogram provides an accurate record to allow measurement of "inspiratory" time and total breath movement time. PMID- 2606061 TI - Effects of very low birth weight (VLBW) on visual development during the first year after term. AB - Behavioural visual functions were assessed in 155 very low birth weight (VLBW) infants during the first 12 months after expected term. Visual development was examined (mainly cross-sectionally) at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of corrected age by assessment of visual acuity, visual fields, optokinetic nystagmus and visual threat response. Many VLBW infants showed visual impairments (54.2%). No single visual function appeared to be specifically susceptible to impairments, deficits were often apparent across a range of functions. Visual impairments were observed at all test ages, and could already be assessed at 6 weeks of corrected age. The highest incidence of visual impairments was scored at 6 months corrected age. Beyond 6 months, less deficits were observed, suggesting in many infants a delayed rather than a permanently impaired visual development. In some infants deficits became evident at a later stage, after an apparently normal initial development. The results suggest that VLBW infants are at risk for impaired visual development. PMID- 2606062 TI - Effects of perinatal hypoxia on visual development during the first year of (corrected) age. AB - Visual development was assessed in 124 infants (112 preterms and 12 fullterms) who had suffered from perinatal hypoxia and in 55 control preterm infants during the first year of corrected age. Using behavioural techniques, visual functions were tested during follow-up visits in the Sophia Children's Hospital. Corrected ages at testing ranged from 3 months to 1 year. During this period, infants with perinatal hypoxia showed more abnormalities in visual functions than preterm control infants. Gestational age at birth did not influence the outcome of visual development after perinatal hypoxia. Most visual impairments were demonstrated at 3 and 6 months of age. All infants with severe neuro-developmental handicaps showed visual deficits, although neuro-developmental abnormalities and visual deficits could be present as isolated phenomena. Ultrasound abnormalities related well with visual dysfunctions. Prospective studies of infants with visual deficits and a history of perinatal hypoxia are indicated. PMID- 2606063 TI - A computerized re-evaluation of the collision technique. AB - A computer program is described for the collision technique by which data acquisition and data interpretation is possible. Paired stimuli with varying interstimulus times evoke a muscle action potential. The amplitude or the rectified area integral as a function of interstimulus times was used to define the scatter of conduction velocities within the ulnar nerve. In normal and slightly distorted EMG signals the amplitude and area produces the same scatter. In distorted potentials the integrated area is more sensitive. The technique was furthermore used to separate two different age groups of normal persons. Significant differences were seen as well as in an age matched group of patients with myotonic dystrophy. The collision technique and the computer program proved to be sensitive and applicable in routine examinations. PMID- 2606064 TI - EMG dynamics in polymyositis and dermatomyositis in adults. AB - In order to analyze the EMG dynamics in acute and chronic polymyositis 44 patients were examined. Thirty-four were seen in the acute stage, 28 in the chronic stage and 18 serially. Investigations included quantitative electromyography using the Polish minicomputer "ANOPS 105" connected to a DISA electromyograph. Additionally fiber density was analyzed by single fiber electromyography in the chronic stage only. The acute stage findings confirmed the observations of earlier authors with the classical expression of excessive spontaneous activity, polyphasic potentials of short duration and low amplitude. In the chronic stage, motor unit potentials with increased duration and amplitude and with late components of the type seen in satellite potentials were noted. This was compared with the increased fiber density found at this stage. Additionally, in some muscles in the chronic stage, motor unit potentials were seen with increased duration, but also a reduction in the mean amplitude of motor unit potentials counted by the automatic analysis method. The decreased amplitude of the motor unit potentials in the chronic polymyositis may be the result of the smaller size of regenerating muscle fibers. PMID- 2606065 TI - Anal sphincter EMG in anorectal disorders. AB - In 26 patients with different anorectal disorders electromyography was performed in combination with anal manometry. EMG was carried out with a concentric needle electrode as well as with a single fibre electrode. Also the pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) was assessed. A relationship was found between maximal squeeze pressure in anal manometry and maximal voluntary contraction pattern in concentric needle EMG. Mean fibre density (FD) was increased while mean PNTML was not increased. However a relationship was found between PNTML and FD. This discrepancy, increased FD with normal PNTML could mean that a myogenic factor plays an important role in our patients. PMID- 2606066 TI - Magnetic stimulation of the human peripheral nerves. AB - In this report some preliminary data after magnetic stimulation of the peripheral nerves in 8 normal individuals are presented. Compound muscle action potentials were recorded by surface electrodes after magnetic and conventional electrical stimulation of the median, ulnar, peroneal, tibial, femoral and sciatic nerves, and the lumbosacral roots. The data clearly show the ability of the magnetic coil to stimulate the roots in sites relatively inaccessible to electrical stimulation and obtain consistent muscle response suggesting important clinical application of magnetic stimulation in lumbosacral root disorders. However, before the magnetic coil can be recommended for general use, a very careful study comparing the responses after conventional electrical stimulation with those obtained after magnetic stimulation of each nerve in the upper and lower limbs must be evaluated. PMID- 2606067 TI - Reinnervation of peripheral nerve grafts by spinal cord fibres tested by transcranial brain stimulation. AB - A scheme for surgery in patients with avulsed roots is represented by a rat model whose left sciatic nerve was grafted upon the right sciatic nerve, the proximal end of the graft being introduced into the spinal cord white matter. Transcranial stimulation, EMG recording, HRP and histological studies proved that the communication between the brain and the denervated muscles may be reestablished via the motoneurons, through the graft, bypassing the motor roots. Behavioral techniques were developed and will be tested in the future. The possibility of using neurotrophic drugs will be considered. PMID- 2606068 TI - Reciprocal relationship between the major EEG rhythms and latencies of evoked potential intermediate components. A tentative explanation. AB - We recently demonstrated that there is a reciprocal relationship between the known brain wave rhythms (delta, 3.3 c/sec, 5 c/sec, theta, alpha, spindle, and beta) on the one hand, and the averaged evoked potential mid component latencies, on the other. In other words, the latter are closely related to the periods of the known brain wave frequencies. In this paper we offer a hypothetical explanation of this puzzling relationship, by assuming the following: 1) Whenever the fastest component of a sensory signal reaches the cortex it depresses EEG except for those waves of different frequencies which at that very instant exhibit a high amplitude peak of a preferential polarity. One half period later, different in real time for each brain wave frequency, high amplitude peaks will emerge from the record with opposite polarity to that which was preferential at the time of the signals' arrival. These segmental peaks are the same as those that express evoked potential components of mid latencies. For the somatosensory evoked potentials the time of occurrence of these peaks are defined by the following expression: (Formula; see text) where N is equal to successive numbers between 1 and 12, as well as to the fractions of 1; 20 msec is the moment of arrival of the fastest signal to the cortex. Some of the latencies correspond to the arrival of the delayed components of the somatosensory signals. Some correspond to the time of arrival of the auditory and visual signals, in an apparent expectation of multi-sensory signals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606069 TI - Electrically evoked long loop responses (LLR): normative data for upper and lower extremities. AB - Long loop responses can be obtained repeatedly in all neurologically healthy subjects with low variability of onset and peak latencies. Long loop responses showed characteristic features separate from microreflexes of Bickford. Normative data will help us to elucidate the characteristic alterations of these reflexes in different pathologies which involve somatosensory pyramidal and extrapyramidal systems. PMID- 2606070 TI - Photo-evoked eyelid microvibration in newborn infants and children--reflex arc and maturational change. AB - We studied maturational process of the photo-evoked eyelid microvibration (PEMV) in 166 newborns, 72 children and 10 adults free of any neurologic disorders. The results indicate that the latency of PEMV shortens during growth due to the myelination of the nerve fibers of the involved pathway. Age-related normal values were established. The pathway of PEMV probably consists of retina, optic nerve, pretectum, facial nerve, and orbicularis oculi muscle. We also evaluated the effect on this reflex of retinoblastoma, facial nerve paralysis, holoprosencephaly anomalad, and a muscle relaxant used for artificial respiration in respiratory distress syndrome. PMID- 2606071 TI - Assessment of conduction from C8 nerve root exit to supraclavicular fossa--its value in the diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome. AB - Conduction across the thoracic outlet in the components of the lower trunk of the brachial plexus was studied. With the recording electrode over the abductor digiti quinti latencies of stimulation in the supraclavicular fossa and of the C8 nerve root were ascertained. The difference between these 2 values reflected conduction time between C8 and the supraclavicular fossa. Four normal volunteers, 150 patients without Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and 50 patients with clinical thoracic outlet syndrome were studied. Using this method, conduction time from C8 to supraclavicular fossa ranged from 0.4 to 1.2 msec (mean = 0.6570, S.D. = 0.2097) in patients without thoracic outlet syndrome, and from 1.0 to 2.6 msec (mean = 1.7836, S.D. = 0.1984) in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome. These values show a significant difference between the 2 groups at the 0.05 level of confidence (T-Test). In thoracic outlet syndrome, conduction time has a tendency to be prolonged and the value above 1.3 msec is strongly suggestive of thoracic outlet syndrome. The values are consistent and reproducible. This method is easy to carry out and is a useful addition to the diagnostic assessment of thoracic outlet syndrome. PMID- 2606072 TI - Combined effect of click rate and stimulus polarity on BAEP latencies. AB - Previous studies addressed themselves to the effect of different parameters on the brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs). Of special interest were the repetition rate and the click polarity, both able to influence significantly the results. While previous contributions studied these two parameters separately, the present investigation is concerned with their combined effect, non-parametric statistical analyses allowing simultaneous consideration. 37 patients, 21 females and 16 males, with an age range of 20 to 95, carrying different diagnoses, were studied using rarefaction as well as condensation polarities, 10/sec as well as 30/sec repetition rates. Abnormalities present with only one stimulus polarity and repetition rate but not with another combination were present in 24 cases for polarity dependent changes (64.9%) and in 25 (67.4%) cases for repetition rate dependent ones. Generally 30/sec repetition rate yielded longer latencies when repetition rates were kept constant. The combination of condensation clicks and high repetition rates revealed a strong correlation with higher latencies. PMID- 2606073 TI - Determinants of quantitative sensory testing in non-neuropathic individuals. AB - We have studied characteristics of subjects that could potentially influence quantitative sensory measurements in 156 non-neuropathic individuals. All subjects had measurements of vibration perception at the hallux and index finger with the vibration sensitivity tester and measurements of cool and warm perception at the hallux with the thermal sensitivity tester. Age, height, and skin temperature were all inversely related (P less than 0.05) to vibration sensitivity at the hallux, while age was inversely related (P less than 0.01) to vibration sensitivity at the index finger. In multiple regression analyses the significant associations persisted (P less than 0.01). Neither cigarette smoking nor the occasional use of alcohol were related to the quantitative sensory indices. These data indicate that age, height, and skin temperature should be considered in the assessment of vibration perception and that thermal sensitivity is relatively resistant to these factors. PMID- 2606074 TI - EMG interference pattern power spectrum analysis in neuro-muscular disorders. AB - One hundred sixty six subjects, who had clinically proven Neuromuscular (NM) diagnoses and 37 normal controls, had their biceps muscle EMGs, recorded in sustained isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The EMG signals were repeatedly transformed into power spectra (PS). The PS were then analysed by various statistical methods. The statistical analyses showed an overall significant difference in power between the sexes but only in the Dysschwannian Neuropathy group and no differences due to age; a very highly significant fatigue trend that manifests, to a different extent, in all frequency bands; the groups were significantly different from one another in both total power and in band specific power, and to differ in their responses to fatigue. These analyses showed that based on PS alone discriminant analysis can separate the cases into only two significantly different groups: normal controls could not be separated from neuropathies, but both were significantly different from Myasthenia Gravis and myopathies. The statistical analysis highlighted as important the use of separate PS frequency bands and the use of a fatigue paradigm for separating the various NM disorders--showing Group-by-Fatigue; Group-by-Band and Group-by-Band by-Fatigue interactions to be highly significant. All the above mentioned significant features, though, resulted in a low predictive (diagnostic) value by discriminant analysis and even worse by clustering techniques. PMID- 2606075 TI - Electromyographic responses of mammalian motor units to a fatigue test. AB - Evidence is presented that marked changes in the electromyographic (EMG) activity of single motor units often occur during a fatigue-test paradigm (12) widely used for the classification of mammalian motor units into fast-fatigable (FF), fast intermediate-fatigable, fast-fatigue-resistant and slow categories (11), particularly in type FF units. Force output and EMG activity were measured in single motor units of the tibialis posterior muscle of anasthetized cats, while each unit was subjected to a fatigue test consisting of 4 min of motor-axon stimulation, using 1 Hz 330 ms trains of 0.1 ms shocks at 40 Hz. As a measure of the temporal characteristics of the EMG waveform, the reciprocal of the interval between first positive and subsequent negative peak was measured. For parameters of EMG magnitude, peak-to-peak amplitude and area were measured. The fatigue test was shown to produce, on average, significantly greater alterations in the values of the EMG parameters of FF units than of the other unit types. There were no significant EMG alterations among the other unit types. The results are discussed in relation to the interpretation of EMG depression as an indication of excitation failure and the relative fatigability and EMG depression of different motor unit types. PMID- 2606076 TI - Biliary endoscopy. Proceedings of a symposium. Munich, 23-24 June 1989. PMID- 2606077 TI - Endoscopic appearance of the normal biliary system. AB - Both rigid and flexible instruments can be used for endoscopic examination of the biliary tract. The approach is via the cystic duct or by means of a choledochotomy. The stump of the ductus cysticus will be useful if it is necessary to clarify a pathological finding in the distal bile duct or in the region of the papilla of Vater. Usually, however, the instrument is introduced by means of a choledochotomy. First of all, the distal region including the papilla of Vater and then the proximal part of the biliary system are closely examined. The normal biliary duct wall appears yellowish-red without showing the vascular structure. The papilla of Vater region presents a honeycomb appearance. Special emphasis in endoscopic examination is on papilla function, i.e. the opening or closing of the papilla if liquid is allowed to flow in. Results of 935 endoscopic examinations are reported. PMID- 2606078 TI - Endoscopic transpapillary biopsy (ETPB) of human extrahepatic bile ducts--light and electron microscopic findings, clinical significance. AB - Endoscopic transpapillary biopsy (ETPB) has been performed in 106 patients to investigate the fine structure of human bile ducts, and to assess its clinical significance. Three hundred and twenty-six biopsy specimens obtained from the hepatic and common bile duct and from the ampullary/papillary region were examined by light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. No complications due to biopsy occurred. The epithelium lining at the bile duct contains 5 different types of cells: the main epithelial cell, endocrine/paracrine cells, tuft cells, immunocompetent cells and goblet cells. Twenty-one ampullary carcinomas, and 26 benign neoplastic ampullary lesions were diagnosed. In 8 of the former, only second-look, follow-up biopsies established the presence of a carcinoma. While the clinical significance of "blind" hepatic duct biopsy is not readily apparent, ETPB is the diagnostic method of choice for ampullary neoplasms, and extensive biopsies from even tiny ampullary lesions are mandatory. PMID- 2606079 TI - Structural and functional biliary tree changes secondary to extrahepatic biliary obstruction. AB - To assess the potential structural changes of the biliary tree and the liver in patients with extrahepatic biliary obstruction, the resected specimens of 20 patients operated on for benign biliary stricture, were evaluated by means of immunocytochemical, histological and scanning electronmicroscopic studies. Furthermore, liver biopsies were taken for the same purposes. Our results showed that in the dilated segment of the hepatic duct proximal to the stricture, innervation was greatly reduced or completely absent with associated advanced morphological and histological changes and high intrabiliary pressure levels. Similar findings were observed in the liver biopsies, too. These biopsies showed advanced morphological and histological changes associated with reduced innervation. In contrast, the nondilated segment of the hepatic duct, distal to the obstruction, showed normal innervation, normal morphological and histological findings and normal levels of intrabiliary pressure. The present study provides evidence that in cases of extrahepatic biliary obstruction, there is a feature of advanced pathological changes in the biliary tree associated with alterations in innervation. These structural changes are associated with functional changes in both the liver and the biliary tree. These functional changes represent a threat to the patient, in particular if major surgery is required. Increased biliary pressure appears to be a major cause of the development of these changes. Biliary drainage, either surgical or endoscopic, is indicated as the sole alternative, to reduce the intrabiliary pressure and to contribute to a reversal of these structural and functional changes. PMID- 2606080 TI - Intraoperative and postoperative biliary endoscopy (choledochoscopy). AB - The majority of choledocholithiasis patients still require surgery. If the stones are removed, the patient is cured. With modern cholangiography, the anatomy and the location of the calculi can be immediately identified at the beginning of the operation. In 6% of cases, anomalies of surgical importance are detected. The general surgeon is not an endoscopist and therefore, choledochoscopy is used infrequently. The introduction of video techniques changed this pattern because the learning curve is shorter and the procedure is easier and faster to perform with a higher success rate. A permanent (objective) record of the findings and the visualization of the sphincter location and function is an added bonus. If a stone is missed and the T-tube is inserted in the proper fashion, the same video choledochoscope which is employed in the intraoperative phase can be used in the postoperative period. In our experience (108 cases) we had a success rate of 98%. It can be performed on an outpatient basis. The surgeon should be acquainted with intraoperative and postoperative biliary endoscopy to improve the final outcome of this common and important surgical procedure. PMID- 2606081 TI - Percutaneous cholangioscopy for management of retained biliary tract stones and intrahepatic stones. AB - Over the last 13 years starting from 1975 when the first improved cholangiofiberscope was developed at the Teikyo University Hospital, 216 patients with retained biliary tract stones and 93 patients with intrahepatic stones have been seen; stone extraction was successful in 210 and 83 cases with percutaneous cholangioscopy, the success rate being 97.2 and 89.4% respectively. In particular, the advent of sophisticated technology for smashing stones, such as electrohydraulic lithotripsy, and cholangiofiberscope instrumentation have certainly helped to improve the therapeutic results in biliary tract stones. Today it can be claimed that visible stones are readily removable with percutaneous cholangioscopy. Moreover, percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy has been proved to be an indispensable tool for the management of intrahepatic stones and benign or malignant biliary tract diseases. Another advantage of percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy is that it may be indicated, even in patients in whom the transduodenal approach is considered too difficult to apply. The author firmly believes that even better therapeutic results can be expected if this endoscopic approach becomes more routine. PMID- 2606082 TI - Technical potential and limitations of cholangioscopes. AB - The current status and future technological trends for cholangioscopes and cholecystoscopes are discussed. Overall views of diagnostic and therapeutic medical techniques, as well as the technical state of the art of the instruments used to perform them are presented and, on the basis of the overall pictures, those technologies to be improved or to be developed in the future are discussed, together with an approximate estimation of the time required for such improvements/new developments. The discussion concentrates on current and future trends of thin-caliber fiberscope technologies. Since the fiberscopes required for cholangioscopy and cholecystoscopy differ slightly, the discussion treats each application separately. PMID- 2606083 TI - Indications for cholangioscopy. AB - Cholangioscopy permits new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. It can be performed via the peroral route when anatomical conditions are suitable. This procedure was attempted in 6 cases (lithiasis in 5, malignant stenosis in 1): cholangioscopy proved possible in 4 cases, and lithotripsy was successful in 2 cases out of 3. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy was performed when peroral cholangioscopy was not possible (non-accessible papilla, hepatico jejunostomy), or failed. In 17 patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones, unextractable by conventional procedures 14 underwent a cholangioscopy with electrohydraulic lithotripsy. Sixteen had complete clearance of the CBD. Cholangioscopy was attempted in 18 patients with intra-hepatic lithiasis. Lithotripsy was necessary in 10 cases and stenosis dilatation in 8. Results were excellent in 15 patients, and good in 3 with diffuse intra-hepatic lithiasis. In the case of lithiasis, the complication rate of the procedure was 29.5% and 27.7% for CBD and intrahepatic stones, respectively, and the mortality rate was 8.5% (n = 3). These complications (bleeding and cholangitis) are closely related to the percutaneous route. In malignant stenosis (n = 5), cholangioscopy was performed for diagnostic purposes in one case, extraction of a stent in one case and endobiliary laser treatment in 3 cases. PMID- 2606084 TI - Comparison of peroral and percutaneous cholangioscopy. AB - The clinical applications of peroral and percutaneous cholangioscopies are discussed, and the indications, advantages, disadvantages and therapeutic results compared. Peroral cholangioscopy (PCS) performed between January 1986 and April 1989 with the most advanced mother and baby 'scope system was compared with percutaneous cholangioscopic procedures such as PTCS, POCS and PTCCS done in the same period. PCS was done to remove common bile duct stones using electrohydraulic lithotripsy and to diagnose bile duct tumors with effective biopsy studies. Removal of intrahepatic bile duct stones was successfully performed with percutaneous cholangioscopy compared with the PCS procedure. For direct visualization of common bile duct tumors, PCS was the preferred approach for tumors located in the middle CBD to the liver hilus. On the other hand, percutaneous approaches had a good indication for the lesions in the distal CBD. Thus, the best approach for each lesion should be selected for effective diagnosis and treatment. PMID- 2606085 TI - Cholangioscopic differentiation of biliary strictures and polyps. AB - Since April 1977 percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) has been carried out in 428 cases comprising 213 cases of malignant disease and 215 benign cases. PTCS is performed through the dilated sinus track of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. When irregularly dilated and tortuous vessels, which we called tumor vessels, are revealed on biliary strictures or polyps, a correct diagnosis of cancer can be made. Benign biliary strictures with or without gallstones, or polypoid lesions without tumor vessels such as granulomas, can be differentiated by cholangioscopic biopsy. The positive rate of cholangioscopic biopsy in 57 cases of bile duct cancer was 96%. PTCS should be used pre-operatively as a definitive diagnostic procedure for biliary tract strictures and polyps. PMID- 2606086 TI - Percutaneous cholecystoscopy. AB - Since 1981, we have been conducting research on percutaneous transhepatic cholecystoscopy through the sinus tract of percutaneous cholecystostomy and this method has been employed in 72 patients with gallbladder diseases. We have already reported on percutaneous transhepatic cholecystoscopy and its usefulness for the diagnosis of early gallbladder carcinoma. Histological diagnosis was possible on the basis of cholecystoscopic biopsies in all 21 patients with gallbladder carcinoma, including eight patients with early carcinoma. Percutaneous cholecystoscopy is a reliable method for making the differential diagnosis between carcinoma and polypoid lesions of the gallbladder, and the diagnosis of cancer extension on the mucosa to the cystic duct. This method is recommended as a further and final step for the early diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma. We performed endoscopic lithotripsy with the Nd:YAG laser or electrohydraulic lithotripter, and treated 21 patients with cholecystolithiasis. We report here on the results and features of this method as a nonsurgical treatment for cholecystolithiasis. PMID- 2606087 TI - Peroral cholecystoscopy. AB - Three cases of peroral cholecystoscopy was reported. Dilatation of the cystic duct ranged from 8.5 mm to 10.0 mm in diameter, permitting passage of a 4.5 mm diameter baby 'scope. Endoscopic lithotripsy was performed without difficulty. PMID- 2606088 TI - Transpapillary cholecystoscopy. AB - This report describes the inspection of the inside surface of the gallbladder and the cystic duct by a newly available catheter and endoscopic system, with the aid of retrograde endoscopy. Using our newly developed endoscopic retrograde catheter system, we were able to cannulate the gallbladder in nearly 80% of all cases. No papillotomy is needed. Owing to its high degree of flexibility and relative robustness, coupled with brilliant optical quality, the new 0.5 mm miniscope permits careful and virtually complete inspection of even such small structures as the tortuous cystic duct. PMID- 2606089 TI - Relationship between socio-demographic and behaviour variables, and body mass index in a population with high-normal blood pressure: Hypertension Prevention Trial. AB - The relationship between socio-demographic and behaviour variables and body mass index (BMI: weight/height2) adjusted for age were studied in a population with high-normal blood pressure who participated in the Hypertension Prevention Trial. The BMI of the participants ranged from 19.1 to 35.1 kg/m2 in men and from 16.0 to 35.1 kg/m2 in women. The prevalence of obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 25.0 kg/m2) was 77 per cent in men and 61 per cent in women, with prevalence of severe obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 30.0 kg/m2) being 23 per cent and 19 per cent respectively. Stepwise regression was carried out to identify the most important correlates of BMI. In men, they were family income (+), occupation (-), leisure time exercise frequency (-), number of meals eaten out (-), alcohol intake (-), smoking (-), caffeinated drink intake (+), and meal planner. Men who planned meals with their partners had a higher BMI than men who planned their own meals or had someone else plan their meals. Correlates of little importance were marital status, race, education, number of members in household, energy intake, percentage of total calories from fat, occupation activity level, and vitamin/mineral supplement intake. In women the most important correlates of BMI were alcohol intake (-), caffeinated drink intake (+), and race. Black women had a higher mean BMI than white women. The important socio-demographic and behaviour variables in both men and women accounted for about 20 per cent of the variance in BMI which leaves about 80 per cent of the variation unexplained. This indicates the presence of other factor(s) which may be determining body weight. PMID- 2606090 TI - Protection of children from seasonal nutritional stress in an Andean agricultural community. AB - Patterns of seasonal variation in energy intake among small scale farmers (n = 112 individuals) of the highland community of Nunoa, Peru are examined. Marked seasonal fluctuations in energy consumption are demonstrated with average daily energy intakes being lowest during the last few months before harvest (January April) when locally produced foods are in shortest supply. However, seasonal energy reduction does not affect all sectors of the population equally. Children (aged 12 years and under) show the least seasonal change in energy intake and appear to be protected from energy stress during the pre-harvest period. This pattern contradicts the generally held view that children are most severely affected under conditions of food scarcity because resources must be preferentially allocated to adult males. Hence, these results emphasize the need to examine further variation in responses to nutritional stress among human populations. It appears that such variation may be dependent upon (1) the nature of the subsistence economy, and (2) aspects of division of labour within populations. PMID- 2606091 TI - Breastfeeding improves survival, but not nutritional status, of 12-35 months old children in rural Bangladesh. AB - The association between breastfeeding, nutritional status and survival was investigated in a cohort of 1087 children aged 12-35 months from rural Bangladesh followed monthly during 2 years. Mean weight-for-age (%NCHS) of breastfed children was 69.6 per cent (s.d.: 9.3 per cent) compared to 70.6 per cent (s.d.: 10.7 per cent) (P less than 0.001) for non-breast fed children. This confirms that after 1 year of age, breastfed children tend to be more malnourished than non-breastfed children. Despite this difference in nutritional status, risk of dying, after adjusting for age, was six times higher in non-breastfed malnourished children than in similarly malnourished breastfed children. This suggests that breastfeeding beyond 1 year should be encouraged in communities with a high prevalence of malnutrition, despite the frequently observed association between prolonged breastfeeding and malnutrition. PMID- 2606092 TI - Reduced antioxidant capacity in paediatric patients with homozygous sickle cell disease. AB - The sickled erythrocyte has been shown to be susceptible to lipid peroxidation and a role has been suggested for antioxidants in this process. The present study was undertaken in 22 children, aged 5-18 years with homozygous sickle cell disease (SS) and 9 HbAA controls (AA) of similar age. All the SS patients were in steady state ie, not in crisis or any acute illness at the time of the study. Levels of plasma tocopherol, retinol, carotenes and ascorbic acid (antioxidant vitamins of major nutritional importance) were measured. Plasma tocopherol carotenes and retinol were measured by HPLC after extraction into heptane. Total ascorbic acid (in trichloroacetic acid extracts of plasma) was measured colorimetrically following reaction with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Riboflavin status was measured by the glutathione reductase activation test. Levels of all the measured antioxidants except ascorbate were reduced in SS patients compared with control children but only plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration was significantly different between the patients and controls. The median tocopherol level in SS patients (11.32 mumol/l) was significantly lower (P less than 0.02 Mann-Whitney) than that in control children (18.02 mumol/l) when measured directly or when calculated from tocopherol: cholesterol ratio, 4.55 mumol/mmol in SS patients and 7.50 mumol/mmol in control children. The median concentration of total plasma carotenes of SS patients (5.67 mumol/l) was lower than that of control children (12.14 mumol/l). Similarly, plasma beta-carotene concentration of SS patients was lower than that of control children but the difference in each case was not significant. Despite this, the vitamin A status (plasma retinol concentration) of SS patients was poorer than that of control children.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606093 TI - Assessment of body composition in 8-11 year old children by bioelectrical impedance. AB - In 64 prepubescent schoolchildren, 33 boys and 31 girls, aged 8-11 years, body composition was measured by means of anthropometry, densitometry and bioelectrical impedance. From body density the body fat percentage was calculated using age-specific density values for the fat-free mass. Boys and girls younger than 10 years did not differ in body composition. Older boys however had higher body weights, higher body densities and lower body impedance values. Fat-free mass as determined by densitometry could be predicted by body impedance and body weight with a prediction error of 1.31 kg. The prediction formula was sex specific. Omitting the impedance in the prediction equation resulted in a 7 per cent lower explained variance and an only slightly higher prediction error of the FFM of 1.65 kg. The prediction formulas from the literature, developed in adult populations, grossly overestimated the fat-free mass in children, probably due to a different water distribution between the intra- and extra-cellular spaces. PMID- 2606094 TI - Biotransformation of pteroylmonoglutamic acid during absorption: implications of Michaelis-Menten kinetics. AB - Previously reported work from this laboratory has shown that, in man, the formation of plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5MeTHF) from orally administered pteroylmonoglutamic acid (PGA) obeys Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The regression equation obtained from a plot of the reciprocal amount of 5MeTHF formed (micrograms per litre plasma/min) as a function of reciprocal amount of PGA administered (micrograms/kg body weight) provides a useful means of calculating the improved efficiency of 5MeTHF formation by dividing the total dose of PGA into smaller doses. PMID- 2606095 TI - Enthalpy changes and heat production induced by a meal. AB - In 1974 Pittet and coworkers measured the thermic effect of glucose and amino acids by both direct and indirect calorimetry. Their results have been re analysed in this paper. Only about 20 per cent of the substrate ingested was combusted during the period of observation (2 1/2 h). The change in enthalpy due to combustion, as measured by indirect calorimetry, can be divided into two parts. Direct calorimetry shows that about 40 per cent represents heat lost from or stored in the body; the form in which the remainder is stored cannot be evaluated from the data, but it is likely that it is in chemical form, resulting from reactions that increase the enthalpy content of the substrate that was not combusted within 2 1/2 h. PMID- 2606096 TI - Adjusting energy expenditure for body weight in early infancy. AB - The most appropriate method of expressing energy expenditure relative to body weight was investigated in 50 normal, full-term infants at 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 6 months of age. Regression analysis revealed that the relationship between body weight and energy expenditure at each age could be adjusted for by expressing energy expenditure per kg0.65, per kg0.43 and per kg0.55 body weight at the three age points studied. These powers were not significantly different and a pooled estimate was per kg0.56. This is very close to kg0.5 or the square root of body weight. It is suggested that in studies on energy, metabolism in early infancy the expression of total energy expenditure per kg0.5 body weight should be used as the most appropriate adjustment for removing the influence of body weight upon energy expenditure. PMID- 2606097 TI - Is the bioelectrical impedance method suitable for epidemiological field studies? AB - Body composition was measured in a group of 100 pubertal children, aged 11-16 years, by means of densitometry and bioelectrical impedance. Bioelectrical impedance was measured twice within a period of 2 weeks, once at the Department immediately before the measurement of the body density, and once during a home visit. A population-specific prediction equation for fat-free mass from body impedance was developed from the impedance value measured at the Department. The developed prediction formula had a high correlation coefficient and a relatively low standard error of estimate, and was used to predict body composition from the measurements made during the home visit. Body impedance measured at the subjects' home was significantly higher (19 +/- 25 Ohm). Individual differences were up to 70 Ohm. These intra-individual differences gave rise to large over- and underestimates of the body composition in individuals, but at a group level body composition could be precisely predicted. When using (non-population-specific) prediction formulas from the literature, the predicted mean body composition deviated from the measured body composition. The estimation error in the predicted body composition from anthropometric variables alone was slightly larger, but due to the better reproducibility of anthropometric measurements the predicted individual body composition was quite as good or even better compared to the assessment of the body composition from body impedance. It is concluded that the bioelectrical impedance may be an adequate method to assess body composition in epidemiological studies only as far as population-specific prediction formulas are used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606098 TI - Salt and glycaemic response in diabetes. PMID- 2606099 TI - IUPAC-IUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature (JCBN). The nomenclature of steroids. Recommendations 1989. PMID- 2606100 TI - Synthetic fragments of beta-casein as model substrates for liver and mammary gland casein kinases. AB - The octapeptide Glu-Ser-Leu-Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Glu, corresponding to the 14-21 sequence of bovine beta-casein A2 and 11 shorter and/or modified derivatives were synthesized and used as model substrates for three casein kinases: rat liver casein kinases 2 and 1 and a casein kinase isolated from the golgi-enriched fraction of lactating mammary gland (GEF-casein kinase). Casein kinase-2 readily phosphorylates the octapeptide at its Ser-4 residue with a Vmax value comparable to those obtained with protein substrates and Km values of 85 microM and 11 microM in the absence and presence of polylysine, respectively. These are the most favourable kinetic parameters reported so far with peptide substrates of casein kinase-2. Stepwise shortening of the octapeptide from its N terminus promotes both a gradual decrease of Vmax and an increase of Km, this being especially dramatic in passing from the hexapeptide Leu-Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Glu (Km 210 microM) to the pentapeptide Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Glu (Km 2630 microM). The tetrapeptide Ser-Ser-Glu-Glu is the shortest derivative still phosphorylated by casein kinase-2, albeit very slowly, and the tripeptides Ser-Glu-Glu and Glu-Leu Ser were not substrates at all. Furthermore, the pentapeptide Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Glu was found to be a better substrate than Ser-Ser-Ala-Glu-Glu, Ser-Ala-Ser-Glu-Glu and Ser-Ala-Ala-Glu-Glu by virtue of its lower Km value. These data, while confirming that the motif Ser-Xaa-Xaa-Glu is specifically recognized by casein kinase-2, strongly suggest that additional local structural features can improve the phosphorylation efficiency of serine-containing peptides which are devoid of the large acidic clusters recurrent in many phosphorylation sites of casein kinase 2. In particular, predictive structural analysis as well as NMR and C18 reverse-phase HPLC elution profile data support the hypothesis that a beta-turn conformation is responsible for the remarkable suitability of the octapeptide Glu Ser-Leu-Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Glu and some of its shorter derivatives to phosphorylation mediated by casein kinase-2. While neither the peptide Glu-Ser Leu-Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Glu nor any of its derivatives were affected by casein kinase 1, a rapid phosphorylation of the octapeptide by GEF-casein kinase at Ser-5 (not Ser-4) was obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2606101 TI - Lateral diffusion of phospholipids in the lipid surface of human low-density lipoprotein measured with a pyrenyl phospholipid probe. AB - Human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was labelled with the excimeric fluorescent phospholipid analogue 1-palmitoyl-2-(1'-pyreneoctanoyl)-sn-glycero-3 phosphocholine by using phosphatidylcholine-specific transfer protein for the probe insertion. The lateral diffusivity of the probe in the phospholipid/cholesterol surface monolayer of LDL was determined from the measured dependence of the pyrene monomer fluorescence yield on probe concentration. The data were analyzed by the milling-crowd model (J. Eisinger et al. (1986) Biophys. J. 49, 987-1001] to obtain the short-range lateral diffusivity of the probe. The lateral mobility of the probe in LDL was compared to that in model lipid systems, i.e. in protein-free LDL-like lipid particles and in small unilamellar vesicles, with a phospholipid/cholesterol composition characteristic of LDL. This analysis with the probability PE = 1 for excimer production between nearest-neighbour probes gives the lower limits for f, the frequency of translational lipid--lipid exchanges of the probe of 0.62 x 10(8), 0.19 x 10(8) and 0.19 x 10(8)s-1 in LDL, LDL-like lipid particles, and small unilamellar vesicles, respectively. The lower limits for the corresponding lateral diffusion constants are 16, 5 and 5 microns 2 s-1. The results suggest that the translational mobility of phospholipid molecules in the lipid--protein surface of LDL is not constrained by the apolipoprotein B-100 moiety or the neutral lipid core of the lipoprotein. Instead, the protein moiety may perturb the lipid order with the lipid--associating peptide domains and thus fluidize the amphiphilic surface monolayer of LDL relative to the protein-free model systems. In general, lateral diffusivity of the pyrenyl phospholipid probe in LDL and the model lipid systems is comparable to the lateral mobility of lipid analogue probes in a variety of model and biological membranes. PMID- 2606102 TI - Purification and isolation of choline acetyltransferase from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata by affinity chromatography. AB - Choline acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.6) catalyzes the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from acetylcoenzyme A and choline. It has been purified from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata by a new double-affinity chromatography. Our rapid and specific purification procedure includes affinity chromatography on CoA-Sepharose and then a second affinity chromatography on the enzyme's inhibitor [2-[3-(2-ammonioethoxy)-benzoyl]ethyl]trimethylammonium bromide coupled to Sepharose via a six-carbon spacer arm. The final enzyme preparation has been purified 7300-fold to a specific activity of 73 mumol acetylcholine formed min-1 mg protein-1. The isolated enzyme gave a single band on disc polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The relative molecular mass was determined to be 68,300 +/- 2100. PMID- 2606103 TI - Metabolism of free sphingoid bases in murine tissues and in cultured human fibroblasts. AB - Metabolism of free sphingoid bases present in normal tissues [Kobayashi, T., Mitsuo, K. & Goto, I. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 172, 747-752] was examined in mouse tissues and in human cultured fibroblasts. Subcellular fractionation studies of the mouse liver revealed most of free sphingoid bases to be in the membrane fractions. Fibroblasts from patients with Farber's disease contained concentrations of free sphingoid bases similar to those seen in the normal fibroblasts. When L-cycloserine, a potent inhibitor of the first reaction of sphingoid base synthesis, was added to the culture medium, the concentration of free sphingoid bases in fibroblasts decreased, dose-dependently. Thus, most of the free sphingoid bases in the tissue probably do not derive from the degradation of sphingolipids but are newly synthesized. Free sphingoid bases in microsomes from the brainstem and spinal cord were acylated or glycosylated when incubated with acyl-CoA or UDP-glycoside. However, the reaction for the synthesis of ceramide was much greater and more rapid than that of glycosylsphingosine synthesis. In liver microsomes, ceramide synthesis from endogenous free sphingoid bases was observed but synthesis of glycosylsphingosine was not evident. Therefore, the main pathway of metabolism of free sphingoid bases is presumably acylation (to ceramide) but not glycosylation (to lysoglycosphingolipid). PMID- 2606104 TI - Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Characteristics revealed by the rat liver enzyme structure. AB - The primary structure of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from rat liver has been determined, showing the mature polypeptide to consist of 513 amino acid residues, with an acyl-blocked N-terminus. This structure is homologous to those of both other eutherian and marsupial mammals (human and opossum), thus characterizing a mammalian type enzyme to which the human form, notwithstanding its large number of genetic variants, conforms. The mammalian type differs from the fruit fly enzyme by about 50%. Known mutant forms exhibit further differences, widely distributed along the polypeptide chain. Structural patterns show glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases to consist of a few variable regions intermixed with relatively constant segments. PMID- 2606105 TI - Kinetics of the reaction of compound II of horseradish peroxidase with hydrogen peroxide to form compound III. AB - The kinetics of the reaction of H2O2 with compound II of horseradish peroxidase were studied as a function of pH at 25 degrees C and constant ionic strength of 0.11 M. The reaction of H2O2 with compound II involves the transient formation of ferric peroxidase and superoxide anion as the first step followed by the reaction of the intermediate species with H2O2 to form compound III. Both reactions are also observed with peracetic acid as substrate, though the amplitude of the first step was too small for the rate to be measured. Observation of the first reaction was not possible below pH 8.5 under the conditions of this investigation. It tends to occur faster at lower pH so an increasing fraction is lost in the dead time of the stopped-flow apparatus. The rate constants for the second reaction, leading to compound III formation, are small at all pH values, with a maximum of 20 M-1 s-1 at pH 7.0. Groups on the enzyme intermediate species with pKa values of 4.2 and 9.1 appear to be involved in this reaction. Compound III formation is accompanied by oxidation of aromatic amino acid groups on the protein. The compound III formed from horseradish peroxidase compound II and hydrogen peroxide has bands with molar absorption coefficients in excellent agreement with those obtained by flash photolysis of aerated carbonmonoxyperoxidase [Wittenberg, J. B., Noble, R. W., Wittenberg, B. A., Antonini, E., Brunori, M. and Wyman, J. (1967) J. Biol. Chem. 242, 626-634]. Attempts to use m-chloroperbenzoic acid as oxidant resulted in the destruction of compound II. PMID- 2606106 TI - Primary structure of horse serotransferrin glycans. Demonstration that heterogeneity is related to the number of glycans and to the presence of N acetylneuraminic acid and N-acetyl-4-O-acetylneuraminic acid. AB - Three serotransferrin variants Tf 2a, Tf 4b and Tf 5b were isolated in an homogeneous form from a preparation of homozygous horse serotransferrin Tf 0. On the basis of the results concerning molecular mass determination and the carbohydrate analysis, it is concluded that the serotransferrin variant Tf 2a contains only one glycan while variants Tf 4b and Tf 5b contain two glycans. The structure of all of the glycans has been established by combining methylation analysis, mass spectrometry and 400-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy. From the obtained results, it appears that the two glycans of Tf 5b variant are, like in human serotransferrin, of the N-acetyllactosaminic biantennary type, fully sialylated by two residues of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac; glycan type I). In contrast, in addition to this structure, two N-acetyllactosaminic biantennary isomeric structures named type II-A and type II-B sialylated by one Neu5Ac residue and one N-acetyl-4-O-acetylneuraminic acid [Neu(4,5)Ac2] residue located either at Gal6 or 6' and one N-acetyllactosaminic biantennary structure (named type III) sialylated by two residues of Neu(4,5)Ac2, were identified in variants Tf 2a and Tf 4b. These results demonstrate that in an homozygous preparation of horse serotransferrin Tf 0, the heterogeneity is dependent, on the one hand, on the nature of the neuraminic acid substituting a N-acetyllactosaminic biantennary structure and, on the other hand, on the number of glycans bound to the polypeptide chain. Moreover, the differences which exist in the molecular mass of 77.5 kDA, 80 kDa and 82 kDa for serotransferrin variants Tf 2a, Tf 4b and Tf 5b, respectively, are not completely explained by the structure and the number of the glycans suggesting that the three variants should also differ in their polypeptide chain. PMID- 2606107 TI - Characterisation by mass spectrometry and 500-MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of penta- and hexasaccharide chains of human foetal gastrointestinal mucins (meconium glycoproteins). AB - Structural studies using liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry, gas liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and 500-MHz 1H NMR are described of the major penta- and hexasaccharides of a fraction of human foetal gastrointestinal mucins. Glycoproteins from a blood group H active meconium pool were studied after depletion of Ii antigenic activities by immunoaffinity chromatography and treatment with mild acid hydrolysis to reduce the chain heterogeneity. Oligosaccharides were released by mild alkali/borohydride degradation and purified by Bio-Gel P4 chromatography and HPLC. Eleven penta- and hexasaccharides have been fully characterised as a result of this study and one previous report [Hounsell et al. (1988) Biochem. J. 256, 397-401] and information obtained on additional oligosaccharides present in small amounts. These oligosaccharides show the following features: (table; see text) Sequences in these oligosaccharides not commonly found in mucins so far studied are chain-terminating GlcNAc alpha 1 4Gal, repeating-type-I (Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc) backbones, the backbone branch GlcNAc beta 1-6(GlcNAc beta 1-3)Gal and the backbone sequence GlcNAc beta 1-6Gal beta 1- in the absence of a substituent at C3 of galactose. PMID- 2606108 TI - O-specific polysaccharides of Hafnia alvei lipopolysaccharides isolated from two serologically related strains: ATCC 13337 and 1187. A serological and structural study using chemical methods, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy at 500 MHz. AB - The O-specific polysaccharides of Hafnia alvei ATCC 13337 standard strain and 1187 strain have been isolated and characterized. By means of 1H-NMR spectroscopy, methylation analysis and periodate oxidation, the repeating unit of the polysaccharides could be allocated the respective structures. (formula; see text) where Acyl = D-3-hydroxybutyryl, and 3-O-acetylation was to about 66%. The structural similarity of the polysaccharides was confirmed in the serological study; their epitopes were determined and the importance of various structural elements for the serological specificity was discussed. PMID- 2606109 TI - Identification of phenolyl cobamide from the homoacetogenic bacterium Sporomusa ovata. AB - Phenolyl cobamide was isolated from cyanide extractions of the anaerobic eubacterium Sporomusa ovata. The proposed corrinoid structure [Co alpha,Co beta (monocyano,monoaquo)-phenolyl cobamide] has been deduced from 1H NMR, fast-atom bombardment mass spectroscopy and ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy data. The complete corrinoid resembled p-cresolyl cobamide [Co alpha,Co beta (monocyano,monoaquo)-p-cresolyl cobamide], which recently has been obtained from cyanide extractions of the same bacterium. The structures and chemical properties of both cobamides with uncoordinated nucleotides differed significantly from those of vitamin B12 [Co alpha-[alpha-(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazolyl)]-Co beta cyanocobamide]. Sporomusa synthesized coenzymes of phenolyl cobamide and p cresolyl cobamide in considerable amounts of 400 nmol/g and 1700 nmol/g dry cells, respectively. More than 90% of the complete corrinoid pool of the homoacetogenic bacterium consisted of these two corrinoids, indicating that they are physiologically important coenzymes of the bacterial metabolism. PMID- 2606110 TI - Structure dynamics of the hemoglobin mutants Hb Hotel Dieu, HbG Philadelphia, HbJ Mexico, Hb St. Mande and Hb San Diego, studied by nanosecond-laser-flash photolysis. AB - The kinetics of the change from the carboxy to the deoxy conformation of the mutated hemoglobins mentioned in the title and of normal human adult hemoglobin were determined from measurements of light absorption changes occurring up to 50 microseconds after nanosecond-laser photodissociation of the corresponding CO complexes. The spectral evolution of the mutated hemoglobins was found to be similar in its main features to that of normal hemoglobin. The kinetics could be decomposed into two phases with rates 1.1-1.8 x 10(6) s-1 and 0.17-0.34 x 10(6) s 1 (except Hb St. Mande which displayed only the faster phase). Study of the mutated subunits of HbJ Mexico (alpha subunit) and Hb Hotel Dieu (beta subunit) showed that they convert exponentially to the stable deoxy state after photodeligation at the same rates as the corresponding subunits of normal Hb: 1.1 x 10(6) s-1 (alpha) and 0.3 x 10(6) s-1 (beta). The results indicate that there is no direct correlation between the kinetics of spectral relaxation in the time range studied and the oxygenation properties for these hemoglobins. However, there is some indication that the kinetics are dependent upon the region of mutation. PMID- 2606111 TI - Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) investigations of model compounds for zinc enzymes. AB - A test of the ability of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) to determine structural information with specific reference to zinc sites in enzymes has been made. X-ray absorption spectra of 18 compounds of zinc have been measured and the nearest-neighbour scattering has been interpreted using a Fourier transform and an ab initio technique. Empirical Zn-N, Zn-O, Zn-S and Zn Cl amplitude and phase functions have been extracted from Zn(C3H4N2)4(ClO4)2, ZnO, Zn(S2COC2H5)2 and [N(CH3)4]2[ZnCl4], respectively and tabulated as a function of the wavevector with respect to 9660.0 eV X-ray energy. These amplitude and phase functions were then tested with respect to the other 14 compounds. For a single species of atoms in the first coordination shell the interatomic distances can be established to +/- 0.5 pm (+/- 5 x 10(-3) A) whilst when mixed shells exist errors in distances are +/-4 pm (+/- 40 x 10(-3) A). Coordination numbers are given to +/- 16% for the single species case a and +/- 25% for the mixed coordination case. Using the theoretical amplitude and phase functions of McKale et al. [(1988) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110, 3763-3768] the deduced distances are systematically too small by an average of 0.6 pm (6 x 10(-3) A). The errors in the coordination numbers are 18%. PMID- 2606112 TI - Dependence of the Calvin cycle activity on kinetic parameters for the interaction of non-equilibrium cycle enzymes with their substrates. AB - Kinetic model studies and control analyses of the Calvin photosynthesis cycle have been performed to characterize the dependence of the cycle activity on maximum velocities and Km values for the interaction of the non-equilibrium cycle enzymes and ATP synthetase with their substrates under conditions of light and carbon dioxide saturation. The results show that Km values have no major influence on the cycle activity at optimal concentrations of external orthophosphate. The maximum cycle activity is controlled mainly by the catalytic capacities of ATP synthetase and sedoheptulose-bisphosphatase, and is close to the maximum cycle flux that can be supported by these two enzymes. PMID- 2606113 TI - Hydroxyurea increases the phosphorylation of 3'-fluorothymidine and 3' azidothymidine in CEM cells. AB - The triphosphates of the nucleoside analogues 3'-azidothymidine and 3' fluorothymidine inhibit reverse transcriptase and are of therapeutic interest for the treatment of retrovirus infections. At equimolar concentrations 3' fluorothymidine was more effectively transformed to the triphosphate by human CEM cells than azidothymidine which mainly accumulates as the monophosphate. Hydroxyurea, a drug that inhibits de novo synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides, considerably increased the ability of cells to phosphorylate both analogues. Addition of as little as 50 microM hydroxyurea decreased the amount of dideoxynucleoside required to attain a given intracellular concentration of its triphosphate by an order of magnitude. Hydroxyurea is known to shift the balance of substrate cycles between natural deoxynucleosides and their 5'-phosphates in the direction of synthesis and thereby to increase the import and intracellular phosphorylation of the nucleoside. The present results demonstrate a similar effect for the two analogues and raise the possibility of using this effect in therapy. PMID- 2606114 TI - Changes in myosin heavy chain isoforms during chronic low-frequency stimulation of rat fast hindlimb muscles. A single-fiber study. AB - Fast-twitch rat muscles contain three fast myosin heavy chains (HC) which can be separated by density gradient gel electrophoresis. Their mobility increases in the order of HCIIa less than HCIId less than HCIIb. In contrast to the rabbit, where chronic low-frequency nerve stimulation induces a fast-to-slow conversion, stimulation for up to 56 days does not lead to appreciable increases in the relative concentration of the slow myosin heavy chain HCI in rat fast-twitch muscles. However, chronic stimulation of rat fast-twitch muscle does evoke a rearrangement of the fast myosin heavy chain isoform pattern with a progressive decrease in HCIIb and progressive increases in HCIIa and HCIId. As judged from the time course and extent of these transitions, it appears that HCIId is an intermediate form between HCIIb and HCIIa. Single-fiber analyses of normal muscles make it possible to assign these heavy chain isoforms to histochemically defined fiber types IIB, IID, and IIA. The stimulation-induced fiber transformations produce numerous hybrid fibers displaying more than one myosin heavy chain isoform. Some transforming fibers contain up to four different myosin heavy chain isoforms. PMID- 2606115 TI - The European Cooperative Study on the clinical significance of right heart thrombi. European Working Group on Echocardiography. AB - Information on a total of 119 patients with echocardiographically detected right heart thrombi was collected by questionnaire. Two major thrombus types with different morphology, etiology and clinical significance were identified: (1) 48 patients had long, thin, extremely mobile thrombi which resembled a worm or a snake (type A); (2) 57 patients had more or less immobile, non-specific clots resembling left heart thrombi (type B). Type A patients had a high incidence of deep venous thrombosis and a low incidence of potentially thrombogenetic cardiac abnormalities. The reverse was true for group B. These observations and the peculiar worm-shape of type A thrombi suggest that most type A thrombi originate in peripheral veins, while most type B thrombi develop within the right heart chambers. Clinically, type A patients were a high-risk group; pulmonary embolism was the rule and was usually severe. Early (less than or equal to 8 days) thrombus-related mortality was excessively high (42%), including 13 deaths from pulmonary embolism, one from paradoxical peripheral embolism and six perioperative deaths. Type B thrombi were much more benign; pulmonary embolism was not uncommon (40%) but never fatal. Early thrombus-related mortality was only 4% (two peri-operative deaths). Fourteen cases could not be classified as A or B because their thrombi were highly mobile (= not B) but not worm-shaped (= not A). This small group was intermediate between groups A and B in all respects. An analysis of the relationship between therapy and outcome revealed that type B thrombi had a good prognosis irrespective of the treatment. In type A cases early thrombus-related mortality was much lower with surgery (27%) than with conservative treatment (54%). However, the selection of surgical cases was certainly very biased and it is not clear to what extent the better results of surgery are caused by patient selection. Thus the optimal management of these cases remains to be determined. PMID- 2606116 TI - Heart rate variability in relation to prognosis after myocardial infarction: selection of optimal processing techniques. AB - Automatic analysis of heart rate variability from Holter recordings may be invalidated by beat recognition errors and recording artefact, necessitating filtering and editing of the computer-recognized RR interval sequence. Two new methods for heart rate variability analysis have been developed, based on an estimation of the width of the main peak of the frequency distribution curve of the computer-recognized normal-to-normal beat sequence. These methods are independent of a low level of recognition error and artefact, thus removing the need for operator-dependent, time-consuming editing. The value of the new methods (heart variability indices 1 and 2) in identifying patients with serious events (death and symptomatic, sustained documented ventricular tachycardia) during a 6 month follow-up after acute myocardial infarction was assessed in a case-control study comparing 20 patients who had experienced such events (Group I) with 20 patients who, following admission with acute myocardial infarction, had remained free of complications for greater than 6 months after discharge (Group II). Group II was selected to match Group I with regard to age, sex, infarct site, ejection fraction, and beta-blocker treatment. Analysis of the unfiltered computer recognized normal-to-normal interval sequence showed that heart rate variability indices 1 and 2 were significantly lower (P less than 0.005, P less than 0.002) in those who had experienced events compared with those free from complications. Two other methods of expressing heart rate variability, including the standard deviation method, in combination with four different data-filtering techniques, gave less significant distinction between those with and without events during follow-up. It is concluded that using the methods described, reduced heart rate variability in patients at risk from death or sustained ventricular tachycardia after acute myocardial infarction can be detected automatically from unfiltered Holter tape recordings even in the presence of a low level of beat recognition error and recording artefact. PMID- 2606117 TI - Mechanisms of termination of supraventricular tachycardias by intravenous class III antiarrhythmic agents. A comparison of amiodarone and sotalol. AB - The effects of amiodarone and sotalol were studied with programmed electrical stimulation of the heart in 19 patients with inducible tachycardia (AV nodal tachycardia: 10 cases, circus movement tachycardia: 9 cases). Amiodarone was administered intravenously at a dose of 300 mg over 2 min and sotalol at a dose of 1.5 mg kg-1 over 10 min. Both i.v. amiodarone and sotalol lengthened the transnodal conduction time, the effective refractory period of the AV node and the AV nodal Wenckebach cycle length. Only sotalol significantly lengthened the effective refractory periods of the right atrium and the right ventricle. Infused intravenously during tachycardia, amiodarone interrupted arrhythmia in five of six patients and sotalol in seven of ten cases. Tachycardia was stopped by blockade of the impulse into the AV node in three amiodarone patients and in five sotalol patients. In the remaining four cases, the weak link of the circuit was the accessory pathway. Thus i.v. sotalol exhibits electrophysiologic effects consistent with both class II and III activity, whereas the effects of i.v. amiodarone are the result of different activities throughout all areas of the cardiac tissue. PMID- 2606118 TI - Echocardiography and cerebral computed tomography in chronic atrial fibrillation. AB - Chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) may be complicated by asymptomatic small silent cerebral infarctions as well as by stroke. The echocardiographic findings in 29 patients with CAF and 29 controls in sinus rhythm are presented. The cerebral computed tomography (CT) findings in these patients were previously published and significantly more small low-density lesions, probably reflecting previous infarctions, were found in patients with CAF than in controls. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if patients with such cerebral lesions had characteristic echocardiographic abnormalities with special reference to patients with CAF. No significant differences could be detected between the groups with and without cerebral lesions regarding the occurrence of valvular heart disease, left ventricular dysfunction, end-diastolic diameter of the left ventricle, left atrial dimension and left ventricular fractional shortening. Only seven patients with CAF (24%) compared with 21 in sinus rhythm (72%) had normal echocardiograms (P less than 0.001). In conclusion, echocardiography gave no guidance to why some patients developed cerebral low-density areas on CT. PMID- 2606119 TI - Sex differences in cardiac adaptation to essential hypertension. AB - Left ventricular functional and structural adaptations to mild essential hypertension were assessed by 2D-guided M-mode echocardiography in a population of premenopausal and postmenopausal women (n = 29) who were matched with the same number of men with regard to mean arterial pressure, age and race. Premenopausal women had a thinner posterial wall (P less than 0.05), a smaller left ventricular systolic and diastolic diameter, and a smaller left ventricular mass than men with the same level of arterial pressure. Left ventricular performance indices, ejection fraction, velocity of circumferential fibre shortening, and the ratio of the end-systolic wall stress to the end-systolic volume index (a load-insensitive contractility index) were higher in women than in men. These sex differences were most pronounced before the menopause and tended to disappear thereafter. We conclude that in the presence of the same level of arterial pressure, women have smaller left ventricular dimensions and enhanced ventricular performance compared with men. These differences in cardiac adaptations between the genders may account for the lower risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in premenopausal women with essential hypertension. PMID- 2606120 TI - Emergency angioplasty of the left main coronary artery. AB - During urgent cardiac catheterization total occlusion of a severe left main coronary artery stenosis occurred, leading to profound cardiogenic shock. The patient survived, after prompt left main coronary angioplasty was performed, followed by emergency coronary bypass surgery. PMID- 2606121 TI - Effect of different oestrogen doses on final height reduction in girls with constitutional tall stature. AB - The effects of different doses of oestrogens in constitutionally tall girls were evaluated in two centres for paediatric endocrinology. In one centre, 38 girls were treated with a high oestrogen dose of 0.3 to 0.5 mg ethinyloestradiol (EE) daily. In the other, 44 girls received a comparably low dose of 0.1 mg EE per day. Height prediction (HP), chronological age (CA), and height at the onset of treatment were comparable in both groups. Although the duration of treatment was significantly longer in those receiving the low dose, the cumulative oestrogen dose was still significantly lower. The dose of EE had no effect on final height reduction (high dose group: 4.9 +/- 2.6 cm, low dose group: 5.1 +/- 2.4 cm). Final height was more reduced in both groups when treatment was started at an early bone age (BA) (less than or equal to 13 years). No serious side effects were observed in either group, however weight gain was more pronounced in girls receiving the higher dose. We conclude that treatment of constitutionally tall girls with low doses of oestrogens is equally effective in reducing the final height as the usually administered high doses. The lowest effective dose has to be determined in a randomized, prospective clinical trial. PMID- 2606122 TI - Differential effects of oestrogen treatment on the proportionality of growth in tall girls. AB - We studied the differential inhibitory effects of conjugated oestrogens on lower leg length and standing height increments in 17 excessively tall girls compared to a control group of 17 tall healthy untreated girls. Standing height, lower leg length and body weight were recorded at weekly or monthly intervals. Standing height velocity dropped from 150 microns/day to 122 microns/day, whereas daily weight gain increased from 17 to 48 g/day during oestrogen treatment. The oestrogen induced decrease of standing height velocity could be explained by a marked inhibition of lower leg growth velocity from 42 microns/day to 30 microns/day (native data) or 35 microns/day to 8 microns/day (data corrected for weight gain) (P less than 0.001), whereas no differences of trunk growth velocity could be detected. Thus, the findings strongly suggest that pharmacological doses of oestrogens only affect epiphyseal growth. PMID- 2606123 TI - Aseptic osteonecroses in the treatment of childhood acute leukaemias. AB - The incidence of aseptic osteonecroses in the therapy of acute leukaemias in children has been studied. Out of 551 children treated at the Children's Hospital in Munster from 1971 to 1985, 6 developed osteonecrosis, an incidence of 1.09%. Of these children, 5 showed unilateral or bilateral necrosis of the femoral head. The osteonecroses occurred 8-109 months after initiation of the primary therapy or of the relapse treatment. The corticoid doses did not differ from those administered to other leukaemia patients without necrosis. Only 1 patient had received prednisone continuously for 1 year, at a total dose of 20.5 g/m2 of body surface area. Of these 6 children, 4 had been immobilized for several weeks before or during therapy. Two children had presented with pain-related relieving posture of the joints in which subsequently the osteonecrosis developed. Inactivity associated with the cortisone therapy seems to be an important factor in the development of aseptic osteonecroses. PMID- 2606124 TI - Cat-scratch disease with reversible encephalopathy. AB - A case of cat-scratch disease (CSD) complicated by reversible encephalopathy is presented. Neurological complications of CSD are uncommon. Laboratory and radiological examinations were negative. There was complete recovery. PMID- 2606125 TI - Osteomyelitis in tropical pyomyositis: a case report. AB - We report a case of acute tropical pyomyositis in a German girl living in Tanzania. The course of the disease was complicated by osteomyelitis affecting the humerus, which is unusual in tropical pyomyositis. Diagnosis of the osteomyelitis was difficult because a scintigram showed depressed bone activity during the isotope influx and bloodpool phase. The bone phase was abnormal with irregular hypo- and hyperfixation of tracer. PMID- 2606126 TI - Hyperprolinaemia type I and white matter disease: coincidence or causal relationship? AB - We describe a 10-year-old boy with hyperprolinaemia type I and severe neurological abnormalities (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, nystagmus). Magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse white matter involvement and electroretinography confirmed tapetoretinal degeneration. In view of reports in the literature, hyperprolinaemia type I may not be a benign condition, as usually assumed, but may lead to marked neurological abnormalities, particularly in affected males. PMID- 2606127 TI - Plasma concentrations of free amino acids during 3 weeks treatment of massively obese children with a very low calorie diet. AB - Eight grossly obese children (2 girls, 8 boys, age 12.6 +/- 2.1 mean +/- SD years, mean overweight 73.3 +/- 14%) were treated for 3 weeks with a very low calorie diet (VLCD), containing 1022 kJ/240 kcal, 33 g protein, 25.5 g carbohydrate and 0.7 g fat/day. Mean weight loss after 3 weeks was 9.47 +/- 2.8 kg and mean nitrogen loss was calculated to be 113.3 +/- 71.2 g. While serum electrolytes, enzymes, glucose, urea and creatinine remained almost unchanged, distinct alterations of 23 free amino acids in plasma could be observed. A transient increase of plasma valine, leucine, isoleucine and alpha-aminobutyrate during the 1st week was followed by a constant fall in the 2nd and 3rd week. Glycine, proline, serine and threonine showed a progressive increase, while cystine, histidine and, above all, alanine decreased, the diminution of alanine being most rapid during the 1st week. No significant changes were observed in plasma concentrations of arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, citrulline, glutamic acid, glutamine, lysine, tyrosine, ornithine, phenylalanine and taurine. Total plasma amino acid content did not change during diet compared to the pre diet period. The behavior of plasma amino acids shows a typical pattern within four groups, reflecting various interorgan substrate fluxes during hypocaloric dieting. PMID- 2606128 TI - Glycogen storage disease, Fanconi nephropathy, abnormal galactose metabolism and mitochondrial myopathy. AB - We present a 4-year-old male suffering from profound muscular weakness, enzymatically undefined glycogen storage disease. Fanconi nephropathy and impaired galactose utilization. Distorted mitochondria, intramitochondrial fat droplets and partial deficiencies of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, succinate: cytochrome c oxidoreductase, and cytochrome c oxidase have been found in muscle tissue. The causal relationship between mitochondrial myopathy, glycogen storage disease, Fanconi nephropathy and impaired utilization of galactose is discussed. PMID- 2606129 TI - Phosphorylase b kinase deficiency in a boy with glycogenosis affecting both liver and muscle. AB - A boy with marked hepatomegaly and motor weakness was investigated for glycogen storage disease. Glycogen accumulation was demonstrated in both liver and muscle and there was a deficiency of phosphorylase b kinase activity. On the basis of biochemical findings, an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance was considered likely, rather than the more common X-linked variant, with primarily liver involvement. PMID- 2606130 TI - Neonatal pneumothorax drainage systems: in vitro evaluation. AB - We studied, in vitro, different commercially available components for pneumothorax drainage, i.e. drainage tubes, Heimlich flutter valve and vacuum control units. The drainage of a pneumothorax by a drainage tube was, as expected, directly dependent on Poiseuille's law and was influenced more by diameter than length. Of practical importance, a size 6 French gauge tube, used for the very small newborn, may not efficiently evacuate a pneumothorax due to a large air leak. The Heimlich flutter valve, though useful clinically, adds to the resistance of the system especially if fluids accumulate in the valve. All vacuum control units, adaptations of the basic three- or four-bottle pleural drainage system, functioned adequately but simple changes in construction may increase the safety of some of these systems. PMID- 2606131 TI - Evaluation of a casein and a whey hydrolysate for treatment of cow's-milk sensitive enteropathy. AB - A casein and a whey hydrolysate were evaluated in the management of 18 children with cow's-milk-sensitive enteropathy. This diagnosis was based upon clinical features, an abnormal small intestinal mucosa, i.e. an enteropathy, and a clinical response to cow's milk elimination. Two infants refused to take the whey hydrolysate. The median weight gain was higher in children given whey hydrolysate (19.4 g/day) than the casein hydrolysate (9.8 g/day). All children responded to cow's milk elimination and most had a significant improvement in small intestinal morphology after a cow's-milk-free diet. There was some advantage for the whey hydrolysate on morphometric analysis of their small intestinal mucosal response. PMID- 2606132 TI - Oesophageal lung with systemic arterial blood supply. AB - An adolescent girl with congenital bronchopulmonary-foregut malformation (BPFM) is reported. The patient had a hypoplastic, non-functioning right lung with the main bronchus originating from the oesophagus. The pulmonary artery of the "oesophageal lung" was supplied by systemic circulation from the descending aorta, and the venous flow drained through a hypoplastic right pulmonary artery (RPA) into the large left pulmonary artery (LPA). This case was a rare type of left-to-right shunt and demonstrates that oesophagography, pulmonary angiography and aortography are important in demonstrating the haemodynamics involving this malformation. PMID- 2606133 TI - A notation on individuality, 50 years after the death of Sigmund Freud. Toward a "biological Ego"? PMID- 2606134 TI - Long-term care and management of Wilson's disease in the GDR. AB - Diagnosis, long-term management and family investigations of Wilson's disease are provided by selected clinical institutions in the GDR. From 187 patients detected since 1949, 111 are alive. In spite of the principal effectiveness of penicillamine treatment, confirmed by the disappearance of most of the central nervous system symptoms and successful professional rehabilitation of many patients, insufficient therapeutic discipline, psychosocial disturbances and penicillamine side-effects forcing its substitution by zinc or triethylenetetramine dihydrochloride in 14 cases need our further attention. PMID- 2606135 TI - Short-latency sinusoidal wavelets to bright flashed stimuli: studies with corneal lens, nasopharyngeal, retrobulbar and scalp recordings. AB - Short-latency flash visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and electroretinograms (ERGs) were recorded in 30 healthy volunteers and 14 patients (7 with retrobulbar neuritis and 7 with retinitis pigmentosa). Simultaneous recordings were performed by corneal, scalp, nasopharyngeal and retrobulbar (5 patients) electrodes. In 18 out of 30 healthy controls a brief sequence of oscillating wavelets was recorded between 15 and 40 ms on the scalp sites behind the vertex. In retrobulbar neuritis (RBN) patients normal responses were recorded by lens, retrobulbar, nasopharyngeal and frontal scalp electrodes. On the contrary none of these patients displayed short-latency activity behind the Cz scalp position. In 5 out of the 7 patients with retinitis pigmentosa, corneal, nasopharyngeal and scalp electrodes failed to detect any reliable waveform time-locked to the flash onset. In the remaining 2, a small lens ERG was recorded, while all other electrodes recorded a sequence of low-volted wavelets initiating 30 ms after the stimulus onset. In these patients an occipital VEP reduced in amplitude and with prolonged latency was also recorded. It is concluded that in presence of a normal corneal ERG because of the presence of volume spread oscillating retinal activity, it is hard to define while part of the scalp recorded, short latency, oscillating potentials is generated in subcortical visual structures. PMID- 2606136 TI - Palinopsia as an epileptic phenomenon. AB - The preservation or recurrence of images in the visual field after removal of the real stimulus is called 'palinopsia' or 'visual perseveration' which can be split up into three different types according to the latency between the real external stimulus and its apparent recurrence. For a long time it was subject of discussion whether the delusion is a sign of lacking cortical inhibition or of a cortical afterimage or part of an epileptic seizure. If there are different reasons for the three sorts of visual perseveration has not been answered yet. In our case report, however, it is possible to demonstrate a patient's posttraumatic lateralized long-latency visual perseveration for the first time as a clear-cut focal epileptic seizure which is approved by synchronous temporo-parietal epileptic discharges in the electroencephalogram. PMID- 2606137 TI - Antibodies to human spinal cord proteins in sera from patients with motor neuron disease and other neurological diseases. AB - Antibodies to human spinal-cord proteins in sera from patients with motor neuron disease (MND) and other neurological diseases were detected by the immunoblotting method. IgG in serum from a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis reacted with insoluble proteins in the crude nuclear subfraction but the IgG in serum from other patients reacted with soluble proteins. The molecular weights of the antigens on the blots differed among the cases. The significance of the antibodies to neural tissue in sera from MND remains unknown. The etiology of MND is thought to be heterogenous and some types of MND may be closely related to humoral immunity. PMID- 2606138 TI - Establishment of an anti-A human monoclonal antibody from a blood group A lung cancer patient: evidence for the occurrence of autoimmune response to difucosylated type-2 chain A. AB - A human monoclonal antibody, NCC-HAL-27, has been established by a combination of transformation by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and a newly devised "micro cell fusion" technique. Lymphocytes used were derived from a blood group A lung cancer patient. Cancer cells, as well as normal epithelial cells of lung, stomach and colon (including autologous tissue) from blood group A individuals, fixed in formalin, were immunohistochemically stained by the antibody. A higher concentration (greater than 140 mg/ml) of the antibody agglutinated only type-A (not B or 0) erythrocytes. The structural specificity of NCC-HAL-27 was determined by particle-concentrated fluorescence immunoassay and thin-layer chromatography immunostaining using purified, well-defined glycolipids. The antibody was found to be directed against type-2 chain A and difucosylated type-2 chain A antigens with no cross-reactivity with known A-like antigens, such as Tn and Forssman antigen, generally expressed irrespective of ABO status. Interestingly, however, the antibody detected the expression of incompatible A antigen in colon cancers of B and 0 individuals with high incidence (30%-40%). The finding that a monoclonal antibody generated from a blood group A cancer bearing host is directed against autologous A antigen is novel because the ABO blood group antigens are the major alloantigens in man, with strictly controlled immunotolerance. The induction of anti-A in this patient could, therefore, be directly associated with the lung cancer. PMID- 2606139 TI - Anti-inflammatory activity of human IgA antibodies and their Fab alpha fragments: inhibition of IgG-mediated complement activation. AB - The interaction of human IgA antibodies with the classical pathway of complement activation was investigated in a homologous human system, by means of two IgA1 and three IgG1 myeloma proteins having antibody activity against a defined antigen, staphylococcal alpha-toxin. In a solid-phase antigen-dependent C3b binding ELISA system, the monoclonal IgG antibodies were previously shown to activate the classical complement pathway synergistically, resembling polyclonal IgG antibodies, whereas IgA antibodies were unable to activate complement by either pathway. In the present study, IgA antibodies were found to inhibit significantly the activation of complement initiated by antigen-bound polyclonal or mixed monoclonal IgG antibodies, in relation to the amount of IgA antibodies applied and bound to antigen. IgA1 myeloma proteins devoid of antigen-binding activity were without effect. Inhibition was independent of the ability of the IgA antibodies to compete against the IgG antibodies in binding to antigen, and was demonstrable with physiological concentrations of antibodies. Similar results were obtained with polyclonal serum IgA having antigen-binding activity. However, the binding of C1q to antigen-complexed IgG was inhibited only by a monoclonal IgA antibody that could compete against one of the three monoclonal IgG antibodies that bound C1q synergistically. This observation implied that at least two mechanisms were involved in the inhibition of C3b fixation. Fab alpha fragments of monoclonal IgA antibodies, obtained by cleavage with IgA1 protease from Haemophilus influenzae type b, were found to have a similar inhibitory effect on C3b fixation to the intact IgA1 antibodies. This observation supports the hypothesis that IgA1 proteases contribute to the invasive pathogenicity of certain mucosal bacteria, by cleaving secretory IgA1 antibodies to antigen binding Fab alpha fragments, which are not only defective in mucosal defense properties, but which also protect the organisms from other immune effector systems, such as complement activation. PMID- 2606140 TI - Recombinant interleukin (IL) 2-induced human B cell differentiation is mediated by autocrine IL6. AB - The molecular mechanism of the interleukin (IL) 2-induced differentiation of human B cells has been investigated. The experimental results show that Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC) activation alone induces IL6 secretion from B cells. When B cells were activated by SAC, there was an increased transcription of the IL6 mRNA. It reached the peak level by 6 h and rapidly decreased to an undetectable level within 24 h. The IL6 concentration in the culture supernatants reached the peak at 24-48 h and decreased slightly in the following culture periods. Since IL 2 alone could induce IgG secretion, whether exogenous IL6 was added or not, and IL2 did not increase autocrine IL6 synthesis, it appears that IL2 induces the IL6 responsiveness of SAC-activated B cells to differentiate in the later stage of the culture. The addition of polyclonal anti IL6 antibody inhibited IgG secretion. The antibody still efficiently blocked IgG secretion up to day 5, indicating an important role of autocrine IL6 in the IL2 driven B cell differentiation. However, the saturation dose of anti-IL6 antibody inhibited 50%-70% of IgG secretion, suggesting that IL2-induced B cell differentiation appears to be mediated by other factors besides IL6. PMID- 2606141 TI - Contrasting effects of glucocorticoids on the capacity of T cells to produce the growth factors interleukin 2 and interleukin 4. AB - The molecular mechanisms which govern the biosynthesis and secretion of the various T cell-derived lymphokines are poorly understood at this time, in spite of their tremendous importance to the control of the mammalian immune system. Here we provide compelling evidence that production of the murine T cell growth factors interleukin (IL) 2 and IL4 are differentially regulated by glucocorticoid (GCS) hormones. Under conditions where IL2 production is reduced by GCS hormones, IL4 production is increased. In vivo, this effect on T cell production of growth factors is manifest at low GCS concentrations that are well within physiologic ranges. In vitro, splenocytes isolated from antigen-stimulated donors, as well as antigen-specific cloned T cell lines, undergo alterations in their capacity to secrete T cell growth factors when stimulated with antigens in the presence of GCS. Responses normally dominated by IL2 are dramatically shifted to a condition where IL4 represents the major species of T cell growth factor produced. Similar changes in the pattern of T cell growth factor production are observed following short pulses with low-dose GCS in vitro, and the steroid-induced depression in IL2 production can be reversed and/or inhibited by treatment with the potent steroid antagonist RU486. Our results imply that GCS hormones, presumably through their capacity to activate a specified family of ligand-dependent transcriptional regulatory proteins (steroid hormone receptors), function to control the pattern of lymphokines produced by activated T cells. Steroid-mediated regulation of lymphokine gene expression could serve to dictate the types of immune effector mechanisms which can be initiated subsequent to antigen exposure. PMID- 2606142 TI - Serum immunoglobulin levels and naturally occurring antibodies against carbohydrate antigens in germ-free BALB/c mice fed chemically defined ultrafiltered diet. AB - This study investigates the influence of exogenous antigenic stimulation on the serum immunoglobulin levels and the levels of circulating natural antibodies against carbohydrate antigens. Thus, BALB/c mice, raised in a germ-free environment and fed a chemically defined, ultrafiltered diet (GF-CD), were employed. These mice had normal serum IgM levels, but IgG and IgA levels were approximately 5% of conventionally reared littermates. The concentrations of all four IgG isotypes were equally low. The variable part of the heavy chains of naturally occurring BALB/c antibodies against a number of carbohydrate antigens, including 3-fucosyllactosamine (3-FL), levan and dextran, are encoded by VH441, and these antibodies express cross-reactive idiotopes recognized by the monoclonal antibodies 6C4 and 6B1. Antibodies against levan and dextran were lower in GF-CD than in conventional mice, but levels of anti-3FL antibodies, and 6C4 and 6B1 idiotopes, were comparable to those in conventional animals. Peptidoglycan polysaccharide complexes (PPC) are carbohydrate antigens of bacterial origin, like levan and galactan. Naturally occurring antibodies against PPC were found in the serum of conventional mice, but were severely reduced in GF CD mice. The results indicate that most naturally occurring antibodies against carbohydrate antigens of bacterial origin found in conventional mice are caused by exogenous stimulation. PMID- 2606143 TI - Human interleukin 2 (IL 2) receptor beta chain allows transduction of IL 2 induced proliferation signal(s) in a murine cell line. AB - Interleukin 2 (IL 2) delivers cell growth signal by virtue of its interaction with the high-affinity receptor complex, which consists of two distinct IL 2 binding molecules: the IL 2 receptor alpha (IL 2R alpha) and beta (IL 2R beta) chains. Unlike many known growth factor receptors, neither of the IL 2R chains seems to contain a tyrosine kinase domain. In this report, we have shown that the human IL 2R beta chain expressed in a murine IL 3-dependent, non-lymphoid cell line can transduce IL 2-induced cell proliferation signal(s) in combination with the autologous mouse IL 2R alpha chain. This observation should provide a tool to dissect IL 2-induced signal transduction pathway in lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells. PMID- 2606144 TI - Localization of interleukin 6 mRNA in human tonsils by in situ hybridization. AB - We have investigated which areas produce interleukin 6 (IL 6) in human tonsils. This growth factor is required for the terminal differentiation of B lymphocytes into plasmocytes. Using 35S-labeled IL 6 cDNA we demonstrated IL 6 gene expression over various areas of the tonsils, with consistent exception of the follicles, by in situ hybridization. It is, therefore, proposed that B cells are stimulated during their migration out of the follicles. PMID- 2606145 TI - Inhibitory effects of calcium channel blockers on intestinal motility in the dog. AB - Calcium channel blockers are now widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. However, data concerning their effects on intestinal motility in vivo are still rather fragmentary. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of three prototype calcium channel blockers (nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem) on intestinal motility in five fasting, conscious dogs fitted with electrodes and strain-gauges along the small bowel. The myoelectric data were analyzed by a recently developed and validated computer program which allows accurate monitoring of intestinal spike activity. The mechanical data were analyzed by calculating a motility index. After recording of at least two migrating motor complexes (control), an i.v. infusion of one of the following calcium channel blockers was maintained for 3 h: 0.29 or 0.87 mumol/kg per h nifedipine, 1.02 or 2.04 mumol/kg per h verapamil and 1.11 or 2.22 mumol/kg per h diltiazem. Nifedipine 0.29 mumol/kg per h significantly reduced (P less than 0.05) spike activity and motility index during phases II and III without disrupting migrating motor complex cycling. The higher dose suppressed migrating motor complex cycling and almost completely abolished both spike and mechanical activities. The two doses of verapamil had effects similar to those of the two doses of nifedipine. Both doses of diltiazem significantly reduced (P less than 0.05) spike activity and motility index during phases II and III without disrupting migrating motor complex cycling. We conclude that all the agents tested, apart from their well known cardiovascular effects, also have a profound inhibitory effect on intestinal motility in vivo, the order of potency being nifedipine greater than verapamil greater than diltiazem. The search for more selective calcium channel blockers for the treatment of intestinal motor disorders with minimal cardiovascular effects is warranted. PMID- 2606146 TI - Interactions between oxytocin- and calcium-modifying agents in the rat testicular capsule in vitro. AB - We have studied the effect of drugs which affect the movement of calcium on the contractions induced by 50 and 200 nM oxytocin in the isolated testicular capsule of the rat. The ED50 for oxytocin in this preparation was 188 (+/- 66 S.E.) nM and the maximal contraction induced by oxytocin was smaller than that obtained with 10 microM of the calcium ionophore, A23187. Lanthanum (10 mM), cobalt (2 mM), EGTA (3.5 and 5 nM, 30 s exposure) and a decrease in the calcium concentration of the medium reduced the oxytocin response. The response was completely abolished after prolonged incubation with EGTA (2 mM) in a calcium free medium. The calcium blocking agents, nifedipine and flunarizine, and the agonist, Bay K 8644, did not modify the responses to oxytocin. Verapamil, at possibly non-specific doses (10 microM), reduced the contractions while diltiazem (0.1 mM), in a prazosin (10 microM)-resistant way, and nickel (0.1 mM) increased them. Both modifiers of intracellular calcium that were used namely TMB-8 (10 microM), in a calcium-free medium, and dantrolene sodium (10 and 30 microM), with and without calcium in the medium, decreased the oxytocin response. On the whole, it seems as if both intra- and extracellular calcium were involved in the contractile effect of oxytocin, although extracellular calcium does not seem to gain access to the cell through voltage-dependent calcium channels sensitive to selective calcium entry blockers. PMID- 2606147 TI - The influence of acidosis on the myocardial uptake and electrocardiographic effects of disopyramide. AB - The time course for the ECG effects and myocardial uptake of disopyramide was studied in isolated perfused guinea pig hearts under different pH conditions. At pH 7.46 the drug depressed the overall AV conduction time (PR) by 16.64%, the His ventriculum conduction time (HV interval) by 30.46% and delayed the ventricular repolarization (QT interval) by 8.08%, on average. The maximum intraventricular pressure (Pmax) was also depressed by 35.6%. The maximum effect on the QT interval (constant rate: 0.609 min-1) was reached faster than the maximum effect on the PR and HV intervals (constant rates: 0.399 and 0.400 min-1, respectively), while the myocardium uptake process was complete before any ECG parameter reached a steady state (uptake constant: 1.58 min-1). Under conditions of extracellular acidosis (pH 6.92), the disopyramide disposition parameters (uptake rate constant and myocardial concentration) were not modified. However, the drug exerted significantly smaller effects on the HV and QT intervals and on myocardial contractility. These results are in contrast with those obtained previously with lidocaine and quinidine, and indicate that the influence of acidosis on class 1 antiarrhythmic agents may also depend on the characteristics of the individual drug. PMID- 2606148 TI - Effects of ONO-3708, an antagonist of the thromboxane A2/prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor, on blood vessels. AB - The pharmacological properties of a novel thromboxane A2/prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor antagonist, ONO-3708, on blood vessels were examined in vitro and in vivo. ONO-3708, 10 microM, inhibited the rabbit aorta contractions induced by thromboxane A2, prostaglandin H2, 11,9-epoxymethano-prostaglandin H2 (U-46619) or prostaglandin F2 alpha without affecting the contractions induced by angiotensin II, serotonin or norepinephrine. ONO-3708, at a concentration of 1 to 100 nM, appeared to be a competitive inhibitor of the contractile responses of the canine basilar artery to 9,11-epithio-11,12-methano-thromboxane A2 (STA2), U 46619 and PGF2 alpha, and a non-competitive inhibitor of the contractile responses to 15-hydroperoxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HPETE). In in vivo studies, ONO-3708 (10 and 100 micrograms/kg per min i.v.) ameliorated the decrease in diameter of the basilar artery induced by the i.v. infusion of STA2 (0.1 microgram/kg per min) in cats. Furthermore, infusion of ONO-3708 (10 and 30 micrograms/kg per min i.v.) prevented the cerebral vasospasm in an experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage model in dogs. These results indicate that ONO-3708 is a potent antagonist of the thromboxane A2/prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor in vitro and in vivo and may be of therapeutic use in preventing cerebral vasospasm. PMID- 2606149 TI - Intrathecal porcine calcitonin enhances the release of [Met5]enkephalin-like material from the rat spinal cord. AB - Perfusion of the intrathecal space of halothane-anaesthetized rats with artificial cerebro-spinal fluid supplemented with porcine calcitonin (1-10 microM) produced a significant increase (+67-110%) in the spinal release of [Met5]enkephalin-like material. The effect of porcine calcitonin was markedly enhanced (+100%) in animals receiving a continuous i.v. infusion of the opioid antagonist naloxone (65 micrograms/kg per min). These data strongly suggest that the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal porcine calcitonin might involve a stimulatory action of the hormone on spinal enkephalinergic interneurones. In addition, presynaptic opioid autoreceptors probably control the activity of these neurones in the rat. PMID- 2606150 TI - Cholinergic-mediated secretion in the rat colon: neuronal and epithelial muscarinic responses. AB - The acetylcholine receptor agonists, acetylcholine (10(-5)-10(-4 M), carbachol (5 x 10(-6)-5 x 10(-5) M), bethanechol (5 x 10(-5)-5 x 10(-4) M) and dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP, 10(-5) M) increased the short-circuit current (Isc) in the rat colon descendens by a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive mechanism. Blockade by TTX was still observed after removal of the submucosa, indicating the involvement of neurons of the mucosal plexus. Hexamethonium (10(-5) M) and atropine (10(-6) M) were used to distinguish between nicotinic and muscarinic neuronally mediated effects. The inhibitor of choline uptake, hemicholinium-3 (1 mM), reversibly inhibited the effect of repeated electric field stimulation (EFS). The EFS response was only inhibited by high concentrations of atropine (greater than or equal to 10(-5) M). In mucosa-submucosa preparations 4 diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP) was more effective than telenzepine whereas pirenzepine was ineffective. Pirenzepine inhibited the EFS response in mucosa preparations as did telenzepine and 4-DAMP. It was not possible to differentiate between the muscarinic receptors involved in the different parts of the enteric nervous system on the basis of our results. PMID- 2606151 TI - Pharmacological properties of a new kinin-potentiating peptide generated from human serum proteins. AB - A kinin-potentiating peptide (KPP) generated from human plasma proteins on trypsin incubation was partially purified by ultrafiltration and ion-exchange chromatography and was characterized through some of its pharmacological properties. KPP itself was devoid of any action but it potentiated the guinea-pig ileum contractions elicited by several kinins, including an analog resistant to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). In contrast, contractions induced by angiotensin II, histamine, acetylcholine, barium chloride and substance P were not potentiated. Not only did KPP have high specificity towards kinins, but its action started immediately and induced kinin potentiation in a dose-dependent and reversible manner. Furthermore KPP potentiated the bradykinin contracting effects on the rat uterus, a preparation with very poor ACE activity, and on guinea-pig ileum previously incubated with 1.10-phenanthroline, a metal chelator able to inhibit ACE and kininase I activities and with phosphoramidon, a specific inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase (NEP). The results suggest that the potentiating effect of KPP is due to a mechanism different from the inhibition of kinin metabolism by ACE, NEP and kininase I. PMID- 2606152 TI - Hypotension and bradycardia after intrathecal ketanserin and phentolamine in the rat. AB - Intrathecal administration of ketanserin and phentolamine elicited dose-dependent falls in arterial blood pressure and heart rate in anaesthetized rats without attenuation of the pressor responses to i.v. injections of phenylephrine. It is concluded that both ketanserin and phentolamine can decrease arterial blood pressure by acting within the spinal cord. PMID- 2606153 TI - [3H]pBC 264, first highly potent and very selective radioligand for CCK-B receptors. PMID- 2606154 TI - Effects of calcium channel blocking agents on neostigmine-induced fasciculations. AB - Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital and prepared for monitoring contractions of the gastrocnemius muscle evoked by stimulation of the sciatic nerve. Animals received atropine prior to a dose of neostigmine of 0.02 mg/kg i.v. The effects on contractile strength and the number of fasciculations in a 2-min period were assessed. Pretreatment with phenytoin, 20 mg/kg, reduced the number of fasciculations to 32% of control without altering contractile strength. Both nifedipine and nitrendipine, 1 mg/kg each, virtually abolished fasciculations without altering twitch strength. Verapamil, 4 and 8 mg/kg, depressed fasciculation frequency to 50% of control without affecting pre neostigmine twitch height. The dihydropyridine calcium blocking agents did however reduce the neostigmine-induced augmentation of contraction strength. These data suggest that a calcium-mediated current at presynaptic motor endings participates in the generation of repetitive nerve terminal discharges leading to muscle fasciculations. PMID- 2606155 TI - Presynaptic and postjunctional muscarinic receptors in dog ileum: binding studies. AB - [3H]N-Methylscopolamine identified two distinct populations of muscarinic receptors in membranes derived from the longitudinal smooth muscle/myenteric plexus of dog ileum. In isolated axonal varicosities, the half-maximal saturation of binding sites occurred at 2.38 +/- 0.39 nM [3H]N-methylscopolamine, with maximal binding capacity 140 +/- 35 fmol/mg protein (mean +/- S.D., n = 8). In purified smooth muscle plasma membranes, the Kd value was 16 +/- 3 nM with Bmax 1960 +/- 494 fmol/mg. The displacement potencies of subtype-selective muscarinic antagonists in the fraction of axonal varicosities followed the order 4 diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine (4-DAMP) methiodide much greater than pirenzepine = methoctramine greater than AF-DX 116 with pKi values 7.38, 5.67, 5.70 and 5.13, respectively. Both 4-DAMP methiodide and pirenzepine were approximately 4-fold less potent in displacing the ligand from the receptors in smooth muscle plasma membranes as compared to varicose receptors. The potency ratios of cardioselective antagonists methoctramine and AF-DX 116 on varicose and smooth muscle receptors were 1 and 1.7. It is concluded that presynaptic receptors located on isolated axonal varicosities have pharmacological properties similar to glandular (M3) subtype of muscarinic receptors. The binding properties of receptors present in smooth muscle plasma membranes were found incompatible with those of any of the M1, M2 or M3 subtypes. PMID- 2606156 TI - Correlation of brain levels of 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (THA) with neurochemical and behavioral changes. AB - 9-Amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (THA) has been reported to cause improvement in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type. We have examined some effects of THA in vitro and in vivo to define its mechanism of action. In vitro, THA inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (IC50 = 223 nM) and blocks [3H]AFDX-116 (M2) and [3H]telenzepine (M1) binding (IC50 s of 1.5 and 9.1 microM respectively). In vivo levels of THA were 10-fold higher in brain than plasma following 3.2 mg/kg i.p., a dose which was found to be active in reversing amnesia induced by scopolamine assessed in T-maze tests in rats and passive avoidance tests in mice. Additionally, these brain concentrations were above the IC50 of THA for AChE inhibition. THA (5.6-17.8 mg/kg i.p.) also elevated acetylcholine levels in the rat CNS. THA-induced side effects were blocked by the central muscarinic antagonist, scopolamine, but not by the peripheral antagonists methscopolamine and glycopyrrolate, nor by nicotinic antagonists. We conclude that brain AChE inhibition by THA is sufficient to explain its purported therapeutic activity in Alzheimer's disease and that its favorable brain/plasma distribution in vivo may account for its central cholinergic action without inducing the severe peripheral cholinergic effects typically seen with other AChE inhibitors. PMID- 2606157 TI - Cardiorespiratory effects of inositol hexakisphosphate following microinjections into the nucleus tractus solitarii. AB - Microinjections of inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6), a metabolite of inositol recently found to occur in high concentrations in the brainstem, were made into the caudal portion of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of spontaneously breathing rats and cardiorespiratory parameters recorded for a 30 min test period. Microinjections of IP6, in the dose range of 100-500 pmol/rat, produced significant dose-related reductions in mean arterial blood pressure and respiratory rate. The onset for hypotensive action and respiratory depression following microinjections of IP6 was very rapid and a transient apnea could be elicited at the higher doses. Moreover, the sodium and calcium salts of IP6 were relatively equipotent in depressing cardiorespiratory parameters, with the exception of heart rate wherein the sodium salt elicited a much more pronounced bradycardia. These results confirm and extend the findings of a previous study suggesting that IP6 and closely related metabolites may act on extracellular receptors. Taken together, these data provide further support to the notion that inositol lipid signalling pathways may generate both intracellular and extracellular signals in the brain. PMID- 2606158 TI - Pharmacological activity of N-methyl-carbamylcholine, a novel acetylcholine receptor agonist with selectivity for nicotinic receptors. AB - N-Methyl-carbamylcholine (also called N-methyl-carbachol) is an analogue of the mixed muscarinic-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, carbachol. Previous studies have provided evidence that radiolabelled N-methyl-carbachol can bind selectively to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in rat brain. To determine whether N-methyl-carbachol acts as an agonist or an antagonist at nicotine and/or muscarinic receptor sites, the present study examined the pharmacological activity of this compound on some cholinergically innervated tissues. N-Methyl carbachol, like carbachol, depolarized rat isolated sympathetic ganglia and these effects were inhibited by a nicotinic antagonist, d-tubocurarine, but not by a muscarinic antagonist, atropine. Exposure of rat sympathetic ganglia to N-methyl carbachol blocked the compound action potential generated in ganglia by stimulation of the pre-ganglionic trunk; this effect of N-methyl-carbachol was likely due to desensitization of the nicotinic response. N-Methyl-carbochol, like carbachol, stimulated the release of [3H]noradrenaline from cultured adrenal medullary cells that had been pre-loaded with [3H]noradrenaline; these effects were largely inhibited by a nicotinic antagonist, mecamylamine, while atropine produced less blockade. N-Methyl-carbachol contracted the frog isolated rectus abdominis muscle and the effect was completely blocked by d-tubocurarine. By contrast, contracture of the rectus abdominis produced by carbachol was partially inhibited by either atropine or d-tubocurarine. N-Methyl-carbachol, like carbachol, contracted the rat isolated ileum and these effects were completely blocked by atropine; however, N-methyl-carbachol was about 42 times less potent than carbachol for this effect. Intravenous injection of N-methyl-carbachol, like nicotine, to the rat produced a transient decrease followed by a more sustained rise in blood pressure while carbachol produced only a sustained decrease in blood pressure. The effects of N-methyl-carbachol and nicotine on blood pressure were blocked by pretreatment of the animal with a nicotinic antagonist, hexamethonium. N-methyl-carbachol, like nicotine, stimulated the release of [3H]dopamine from rat striatal synaptosomes, pre-loaded with [3H]dopamine; release induced by either N-methyl-carbachol or nicotine was inhibited by mecamylamine but not by atropine. In rat cerebral cortical slices pre-loaded with [3H]inositol, carbachol, but not N-methyl-carbachol, stimulated the accumulation of [3H]inositol-1-phosphate, an effect blocked by atropine but not by mecamylamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2606159 TI - Hospital dispersion of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates resistant to a fluoroquinolone, pefloxacin. AB - Since 1985, nosocomial infections have been frequently treated with a new fluoroquinolone, pefloxacin, at the Cardiological and Neurological Hospital in Lyon. From 1986 to 1988, the incidence of resistance of clinical Staphylococcus epidermidis strains to pefloxacin increased from 31 to 57%. Dispersion of these resistant strains in the hospital environment was recognized when they were detected on 22% of staff members' fingers (139 samples were investigated) and in 28% of the environmental samples (180 were investigated). There was an association between carriage rate and work place. Most of the pefloxacin resistant S. epidermidis were resistant to oxacillin, gentamicin, erythromycin, cotrimoxazole and fosfomycin. Intensive use of pefloxacin selected multiresistant S. epidermidis which became ubiquitous in the hospital environment. PMID- 2606160 TI - Restriction endonuclease characterization of resistant plasmids in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from children in the Sudan. AB - The investigation of plasmid similarity is an important component in the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and in the detection of epidemic plasmids. The use of restriction endonucleases in the classification of transferable, multiply-resistant plasmids from faecal Enterobacteriaceae isolated at the Children's Emergency Hospital, Khartoum was investigated. Twenty-four transconjugant plasmids, coding for 11 different resistance patterns, each of molecular weight 62 MDa, were studied using four restriction enzymes; Pst I, EcoR I, Hind III and Ava II. Fifteen different digest profiles were obtained. Restriction profiles discriminated between plasmids with differing resistance patterns and demonstrated homology of plasmids with common resistance patterns. Restriction endonuclease digest patterns provide a potentially rapid and reproducible method of plasmid classification, that could contribute towards surveillance systems in tropical countries with a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. PMID- 2606161 TI - Some observations on the faecal carriage of mesophilic Aeromonas species in cows and pigs. AB - Replicate faecal samples from healthy individual pigs and cows were examined for the presence of Aeromonas sp. over a 12-month period. Aeromonads were found to be minor components of the faecal flora, only 8.8% of 520 samples from pigs and 4.6% of 481 samples from cows proving positive. Isolation rates in both groups of animals were seasonal. A hydrophila (62% of the isolates) was the predominant species in cows, followed by A. caviae (32%) and A. sobria (15%). This pattern was also recorded in the natural waters that the animals drank from during the period when the faecal carriage rate was at its highest. In pigs, A. caviae (59%) was more common than A. hydrophila (41%). A. sobria was not found in any of the pig-associated samples. It seems that cattle acquire their faecal aeromonads from drinking water. The source of the organisms in pigs is less clear. PMID- 2606162 TI - The effectiveness of a prenatal education programme for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis. AB - A 10 min education programme was developed which, if effective in changing the behaviour of pregnant women, would eliminate or greatly reduce the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis. It was taught in 26 randomly selected (case) prenatal classes offered to women early in their pregnancy. The remaining 26 (control) classes received routine class material which did not mention toxoplasmosis. A questionnaire was administered to all women prior to this early class (pre-test) and again after the last prenatal class, held just prior to delivery (post-test). Changes in pet, food and personal hygiene behaviour between the pre- and post test were determined and a score calculated by adding points for change towards those behaviours recommended in the programme and subtracting points for change in the opposite direction. Cat owners in case classes had a significantly higher score in pet hygiene behaviour than those in control classes (P less than 0.05). No significant difference was found between the food or personal hygiene scores of women in case and control classes, possibly because of low power. However, although behaviours did not differ on the pre-test, women in case classes had significantly better cooking methods for roast beef and hamburger on the post test (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01 respectively). It is concluded that this programme is effective and should be offered to all women in order to reduce congenital toxoplasmosis incidence. PMID- 2606163 TI - Response of the chick embryo to live and heat-killed Campylobacter jejuni injected into the yolk sac. AB - Graded doses of live and heat-killed cells of Campylobacter jejuni were injected into the yolk-sac of 5-day-old chick embryos, and the 50% lethal dose (LD50) was determined 7 days later. A strain dependent virulence was seen. In the diluted series of cultures the LD50 values for live campylobacter ranged from 10(6) c.f.u. beyond the last dilution showing growth, that is to less than one organism per embryo. When the 22 strains were tested as heat-killed cells, the chick embryo LD50 values retained the same relative order of toxicity obtained with viable cells, but the LD50 values were increased by +1 to +4 log units. Heat killed cells from strains known to be invasive, but non-toxigenic, were still lethal for the embryos, suggesting that viability was not solely necessary for virulence. Semi-pure lipopolysaccharide from a non-virulent strain of C. jejuni was not toxic to the embryos, but semi-pure and ultracentrifuge-purified lipopolysaccharide from the most lethal campylobacter strains gave LD50 values in the order of 3.0 micrograms lipopolysaccharide per ml (0.6 microgram per embryo) in the yolk-sac assay. No relationship between serotype and lethality was seen. Injection into the yolk-sac appears to be an easy, rapid and reproducible in vivo assay of the virulence of C. jejuni. PMID- 2606164 TI - Electrophoretic characterisation of the outer membrane proteins of Yersinia pestis isolated in north-east Brazil. AB - The outer membrane proteins of 38 Yersinia pestis isolates from all known plague foci of north-east Brazil were analysed by SDS-PAGE. Approximately 20 bands were consistently found in all strains analysed and 11 were selected for comparative studies. Although qualitative differences among the electrophoretic profiles of outer membrane proteins of wild Y. pestis isolates were not observed, quantitative alterations were clearly noted for most of these proteins. No particular quantitative alteration of the electrophoretic profile of outer membrane proteins could be associated with the period of isolation and geographic origin of the isolates. The 64 kDa outer membrane protein was significantly expressed in higher amounts among Y. pestis strains isolated from a recent plague outbreak. The possible use of electrophoretic profiles of outer membrane proteins of wild Y. pestis isolates as a tool for epidemiological studies and for the analysis of virulence determinants is discussed. PMID- 2606165 TI - Influenza mortality and excess deaths in the elderly, 1967-82. AB - This study assessed the influence of influenza on mortality from heart and lung diseases in people over 70 years of age. The data used were obtained from the Dutch Bureau of Statistics. With a regression model, the observed monthly mortality from heart and lung diseases (influenza not included) in people over 70 years is explained with a yearly variable, a monthly variable and the overall monthly number of influenza mortality cases, assuming that monthly mortality has a Poisson distribution. The monthly excess mortality from heart and lung diseases (influenza not included) due to influenza among elderly people (greater than 70 years) is estimated. This study suggests that 1400 deaths per million per year were due to influenza in people over 70 years of age in the study period of 16 years. It can be concluded that one influenza death in the population over 70 years 'generates' almost two deaths diagnosed as heart and lung diseases in the elderly. PMID- 2606166 TI - Laboratory diagnosis and clinical significance of rubella in children with cancer. AB - Virus-specific antibody responses were studied in 12 children with cancer in whom rubella was diagnosed by seroconversion or a rising titre (greater than or equal to fourfold) of haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibody. Our results confirmed the difficulties of making a diagnosis of rubella infection in immunocompromised children using criteria for interpreting antibody assays established in immunocompetent patients. Specific IgM antibody persisted for more than 2 months in 7 of 10 children with probable primary rubella, 3 of whom had high concentrations of such antibody 6, 7 and 11 months after the rash. Radial haemolysis and specific IgG1 and IgG3 antibody responses were low in 4, 2, and 4 patients, respectively. One child apparently had a rubella reinfection and, in another, rubella antibody passively acquired from blood transfusions was probably responsible for the HI seroconversion. Nonetheless, the benign clinical course of rubella in immunocompromised children was confirmed. PMID- 2606167 TI - A time series analysis of the rabies control programme in Chile. AB - The classical time series decomposition method was used to compare the temporal pattern of rabies in Chile before and after the implementation of the control programme. In the years 1950-60, a period without control measures, rabies showed an increasing trend, a seasonal excess of cases in November and December and a cyclic behaviour with outbreaks occurring every 5 years. During 1961-1970 and 1971-86, a 26-year period that includes two different phases of the rabies programme which started in 1961, there was a general decline in the incidence of rabies. The seasonality disappeared when the disease reached a low frequency level and the cyclical component was not evident. PMID- 2606168 TI - An outbreak of waterborne cryptosporidiosis caused by post-treatment contamination. AB - An outbreak of waterborne cryptosporidiosis affecting 27 persons, diagnosed stool positive, occurred in Ayrshire in April 1988. Twenty-one in 27 confirmed cases required some form of fluid replacement therapy. Local general practitioners indicated a two- to fivefold increase in diarrhoeal disease during the outbreak, and following enquiries made by Environmental Health Officers it became apparent that many hundreds of people had suffered a diarrhoeal illness at that time. Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected in the treated chlorinated water supply system, in the absence of faecal bacterial indicators. Oocyst contamination of a break-pressure tank containing final water for distribution was the cause of this waterborne outbreak. An irregular seepage of oocyst containing water, which increased during heavy rains, was the cause of the break pressure tank contamination, rather than a failure of the water-treatment processes. The waterborne route should be considered when clusters of cryptosporidiosis-associated with potable water occur. Waterborne cryptosporidiosis can occur in the absence of other faecal indicators of contamination. PMID- 2606169 TI - Seroepizootology of Q fever in Bulgaria during the last five years. AB - The work presents results of investigations on Q fever seroepizootology in Bulgaria during the last five years. These data are compared with the preceding period from 1950 to 1983. The basic method for investigation is Complement fixation test. Also used are immunofluorescence, agglutination reaction, cultivation and direct Electron microscopy. In general 15,814 samples were tested. Q fever positivity was foundin 10.08% of cattle, 20.44% of sheep, 10.17% of goats, 59.25% of dogs, 26.66% of magpies, 11.11% of wood-pigeons, 7.40% of mouflons, 7.14% of foxes and 5.82% of hens. These data confirm the results of our preceding investigations for the wide dissemination of C. burnetti among domestic animals. Positive data for the significant spread of C. burnetti among the wild animals and birds also exists. The disease manifests itself clinically in abortions in sheep and cattle and mastitis in sheep. The inapparent form, however, is much more frequent. The infected dogs represent a special interest. The control measures are based on the wide use of tetracyclines. The presented data testify to the continuing importance of the problem of Q fever in Bulgaria. PMID- 2606170 TI - Experimental Q fever in sheep. AB - The aim of the present investigation is the complex study of experimental infection in pregnant ewes by means of clinical, serological, biological, histological and Electron microscopy methods. Four ewes, pregnant from the 2nd to 5th month, were infected by intravenous (in one case by intraperitoneal) routes with a C. burnetii strain at 10(6) ID 50/ml. The clinical illness in all of the animals was characterized by fever and two-phase temperature reaction on the 5th and 12th days. The clinical symptoms were as follows: torpidity, reduced appetite, thirst, conjuctivitis, rhinitis, rapid breathing. As a result of the developed latent infection, after the acute stage, the animals gave birth to three unviable lambs who died within 24 h. Another lamb was still-born. The lambs showed cachexia, arthritis, ataxia, wrinkled skin. The highest CF-titers (1:256 1:512) were reached on the 40th day, but serum antibodies (1:8-1:32) first appeared on the 8th day. The titers began to decrease on the 60th day. The pathomorphological changes testify to a latent infection characterized by placentitis, lymphocellular proliferation of the lamb's parenchymal organs and lymph nodes, multiple thromboses, interstitial pneumonia and plural proliferative changes. The EM exam showed rickettsiae in placentas mainly in the form of inclusions in cytoplasm of leukocytes and epithelial cells. PMID- 2606171 TI - Antibiotic susceptibility of rickettsia and treatment of rickettsioses. AB - The author describes the in vitro data for antibiotic susceptibility of Rickettsia and Coxiella burnetti. Tetracyclines are still the first antibiotic choice in spotted fevers, typhus and Q fever. In spotted fever a shortened treatment is suggested and the place of macrolide antibiotics, such as Josamycin, in treating children may be evaluated. In Q fever, according to the new biological data, an association of tetracyclines and Rifampin or Quinolones is suggested. PMID- 2606172 TI - Diagnosis of rickettsial infections in Swedish patients: detection of specific IgM. AB - Since April 1986, microimmunofluorescence assays have been employed at the Department of Virology at the National Bacteriological Laboratory in Sweden to investigate the presence of specific IgM and IgG antibodies to C. burnetii and R. conorii in patient sera. A total of 111 patients with suspected rickettsial disease were investigated during the time period April 1986-November 1988. In 23 patients specific IgM was detected--in 9 to C. burnetii and in 14 to R. conorii. In thirteen of the IgM-positive patients a significant rise in specific IgG between acute and convalescent sera was also seen. All 23 patients had been travelling abroad prior to onset of disease. The microimmunofluorescence test was a simple and reliable tool in the detection of specific IgM for a rapid and accurate diagnosis of C. burnetii-and R. conorii-infections early in the course of disease. PMID- 2606173 TI - Clinical aspects and prevention of Q fever in animals. AB - In recent years, in the Federal Republic of Germany an increase in the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infections in cattle has been well documented and its association with infertility problems in this species has been postulated by a number of authors. Investigations on this problem have been hampered by the fact that another intracellular agent, Chlamydia psittaci, which may also cause infertility, is also highly prevalent in the cattle population. Vaccination trials with a commercial egg-propagated inactivated vaccine against both agents have indicated that fertility in infected flocks may be improved significantly by application of such a vaccine. However, since this combined vaccine occasionally induces severe local reactions in vaccinated animals, it still needs further improvement. Limited experiments with more purified experimental C. burnetii vaccines have shown that Q fever in cattle may be prevented by vaccination of young uninfected animals only. In this way herds free of C. burnetii may be established. PMID- 2606174 TI - Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus epidemiology: HLA genotype study in 12 north eastern Italian families with two siblings affected by type I diabetes. AB - The purpose of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the histocompatibility antigens and type I diabetes mellitus in families living in the north-eastern part of Italy. In each family two siblings were affected by diabetes. HLA-antigens were determined with the lymphocytotoxicity test, utilizing antisera of the series A-B-C-DR. The phenotypic frequencies were compared with those observed in controls. We showed that diabetes has a strong association with HLA DR 3 and/or DR 4 antigens. In particular we registered high frequency of compound heterozygous DR 3 - DR 4 subjects, and this fact supports the hypothesis of the existence of two different genes for diabetes associated with these HLA antigens. Moreover we observed a particular haplotype segregation with a very high percentage of HLA identity between patients belonging to the same family, confirming the association between HLA and genetic susceptibility to insulin dependent diabetes. These results confirm data in the literature and, completed by other data from other patients' families living in our area, will be useful in providing reliable genetic counselling. PMID- 2606175 TI - Prevalence of hepatitis B infection among hospital personnel in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). AB - Hepatitis B serological markers (HBsAG, anti-HBc and anti-HBs) were determined in 432 (60%) hospital employees by the Hepanostika microenzyme linked immunoassay method. The overall prevalence rate was 9.02% for HBsAg, 46.25% for anti-HBs, 73.6% for anti-HBc and 76.38% for "at least one marker positive". Marker positivity as well as HBsAg carrier rate is higher for males than for females. (82.0 Vs 69.9%; 11.4 Vs 6.75% respectively). The majority of the infections occur early in life, 75% being positive for "at least one marker" by age twenty. The distribution of markers is somewhat different from previous observations with non hospital personnel. Departments most exposed to blood and certain job categories seem to be an increased risk of acquiring the infection. We conclude that hospital exposure is associated with an additional risk of hepatitis B infection. PMID- 2606176 TI - Serosurvey of Leptospira agglutinins among railway employees in the National Railway Compartments of Bologna and Venice. AB - An epidemiological investigation was performed to evaluate the prevalence of anti leptospiral agglutinins within a selected population: the railway workers of the Italian Railway Compartments of Bologna and Venice. Leptospira infection prevalence was found to be 10.38%, which represents the highest frequency ever reported in Italy. There was a significantly higher prevalence of agglutinins among the staff of the Railway Compartment of Venice. A clear prevalence of the bratislava serovar was registered, followed by the australis serovar and the icterohaemorrhagiae serovar. The influence of different kinds of railway work and that of supposed risk factors, such as hobbies and housing conditions, together with the influence of the ABO blood groups on the distribution of Leptospira agglutinins, are discussed. PMID- 2606177 TI - Tetanus incidence and immunity in Poland. AB - The level of tetanus antibody was determined with the passive hemagglutination method in 503 sera of 10 to 90-year-old persons. Immunity to tetanus was age dependent: the percentage of immune persons amounted to 90%-100% in persons below 40 years and then declined to 70% and 60% in persons in the 40-50 and above 50 year-old groups, respectively. Males above 30 years are better immunized than females. The comparison of the results of the present study with results of several periodic surveys performed in the last 27 years showed gradually increasing immunity level in all age groups. The findings are in agreement with age-dependent incidence of tetanus, which has become now, in Poland, a disease primarily of older people. PMID- 2606178 TI - Prevalence of HBeAg, anti-HBe serological markers and HBV-DNA in asymptomatic carriers in Ethiopia. AB - Data on the distribution of HBV-DNA and other serological markers of hepatitis B virus infection in a population of asymptomatic carriers in Ethiopia are reported. As compared to data from other countries of similar or lower levels of endemicity, it has been found that HBV-DNA prevalence and its correlation with HBeAg/anti-HBe status is similar to that of northern Europe. HBV-DNA is present in 84% of HBe Ag-positive sera but in only 4% of anti-HBe-positive sera, where the lowest concentration of DNA (less than 5 pgr/20 microliters) was found. The trend of increasing prevalence of serological markers with age seems to indicate a considerable horizontal transmission still present in this age range (18-30). In keeping with data of other authors a 3% of HBV-DNA positivity in anti HBc only positive sera was found. No regional or ethnical differences of HBV-DNA positive sera across the country were observed. There is also no evidence of any correlation between HBV-DNA prevalence and HBsAg subtypes ad and ay. PMID- 2606179 TI - Risk factors of female cancers in Ragusa population (Sicily). 2. Breast cancer. AB - A case-control study on breast, cervix and corpus uteri cancer cases registered in Ragusa between January 1, 1983 and June 30, 1985 has been conducted. Information on risk factors has been obtained by means of a structured questionnaire. Risk factors for breast cancer were: few pregnancies (1-2 vs greater than 4 OR 2.14, 95% CL 1.13-4.04), few children (for postmenopausal only, chi trend 4.84), previous breast disease (OR 1.97, 95% CL 1.20-3.23), family history (OR 3.57, 95% CL 1.92-6.63), alcohol (OR 1.68, 95% CL 1.12-2.53), high socioeconomical status (1 vs 4 OR 2.93, 95% CL 1.22-70.03). A protective role was evident for: early age at first birth (for premenopausal only, less than 20 vs greater than 20 OR 0.11, 95% CL 0.01-0.90), previous ovary disease (OR 0.26, 95% CL 0.08-0.88). Age at menarche, age at menopause, years of fertile life and breast feeding were not found to be related to breast cancer. A different distribution of risk factors among cases with and without family history has been suggested. A synoptic table shows the distribution of the most important risk factors of the three investigated female cancers in the Ragusa population, reported in the present and in an accompanying paper. PMID- 2606180 TI - The problem and control of gastrointestinal helminthiases in Zimbabwe. AB - An overview of the problem of gastrointestinal (GI) helminthiases in Zimbabwe is given in terms of prevalence, distribution, clinical significance of individual parasites and their transmission patterns. Although data on these aspects are incomplete, the available information and the results of studies conducted elsewhere should assist in the planning and implementation of effective helminthiasis intervention strategies. Community-based integrated helminthiasis control measures that include mass chemotherapy, improved sanitation and health education are considered to be the most practical interventions and are being evaluated in Zimbabwe. This community-based approach is cost-effective, as most of the control measures are carried out on a self-help basis. Besides, local voluntary health committees provide consistent community-level surveillance to promote and motivate the population to join in the intervention measures that include improved sanitation and health education, aspects which have broader implications for improved health. PMID- 2606181 TI - Clinical significance of intraoperative cultures of aneurysm walls and contents in elective abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy. AB - To investigate the clinical significance of intraoperative cultures in elective abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy, we cultured the aneurysmal wall and contents in 90 patients undergoing vascular graft surgery. Prosthetic graft infection was documented in 1 out of 62 patients with negative cultures and in none of 28 patients with positive cultures (chi 2 = 0.4, p greater than 0.1). Bacterial growth was seen in neither of 2 inflammatory aneurysms, 3 of 14 atherosclerotic aneurysms and 2 of 5 aneurysms without specific features. A retrospective analysis of patients' charts aimed at finding possible risk factors failed to identify any correlation between results of cultures and length of hospitalization before surgery, time interval between angiography and surgery, route of angiography procedure or minutes of surgery before sample collection. We conclude that positive cultures may not imply clinical infection at the time of surgery and that prolonged post-operative organism-specific antibiotic therapy does not appear necessary to prevent graft contamination in patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy. PMID- 2606182 TI - Prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of Chlamydia trachomatis among pregnant and non-pregnant women in south-western Greece. AB - One-hundred-ninety-three pregnant and seventy five non-pregnant women, aged 18-35 years, were examined for endocervical infection with Chlamydia trachomatis using an enzyme immunoassay technique on cervical specimens. Chlamydia trachomatis was discovered in 7.2% of the pregnant women and in 10.6% of the non-pregnant ones. There was no correlation between chlamydia infection and either previous vulvovaginitis, previous pregnancies or pregnancy outcome. However, younger, more highly educated women with high sexual promiscuity tended to be more frequently colonized. PMID- 2606183 TI - Prevalence of non-specific vaginitis and correlation with isolation of Gardnerella vaginalis in Italian outpatients. AB - Among all subjects attending a Center for prevention of female genital tract cancer Gardnerella vaginalis was isolated from 57 out of 171 women affected by non-specific vaginitis (NSV), from 15 of 703 non-NSV vaginitis patients and from 10 of 338 healthy adults. Postmenopausal women showed an increased rate of asymptomatic carriage of G. vaginalis. The data suggest a relatively weak association between clinical diagnosis of NSV and isolation of G. vaginalis. PMID- 2606184 TI - HTLV-I, HIV-1 and HIV-2 seroprevalences in Guadeloupe, French West Indies. PMID- 2606185 TI - Dual HIV-1/HIV-2 reactivity in Italian i.v. drug abusers re-evaluated by synthetic peptide spot-test. PMID- 2606186 TI - Fatal asthma in a young patient with severe bronchial hyperresponsiveness but stable peak flow records. AB - We report the sudden death of a 16 yr old boy with asthma. At presentation, the patient had symptoms of active asthma, mild bronchoconstriction, severe airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, and increased variability of peak expiratory flow records. After the patient was placed on inhaled beclomethasone (1 mg b.i.d preceded by inhaled fenoterol 0.4 mg b.i.d) he rapidly felt better, lung function improved, but airway responsiveness remained severe. Four months later, on the day he died, he was well until a fatal attack of asthma occurred around midnight without identifiable precipitating factors. Taken to hospital, he was dead on arrival. Necroscopy and microscopy showed the characteristic features of asthma death. This case report suggests that; a) asthma death may occur suddenly and unexpectedly; b) asthma death may not be prevented by long-term treatment with high-dose inhaled beclomethasone; c) severe bronchial hyperresponsiveness, even in the presence of stable peak flow records, may identify asthmatic patients at risk of sudden death. PMID- 2606187 TI - Catamenial pleural pain. AB - A case of recurrent pleural pain without pneumothorax, thought to be due to pulmonary endometriosis, is presented. The pain was associated with the menstrual periods, remitted when the patient was sterilised, recurred when she was given oestrogens, and finally disappeared when the oestrogen was stopped. The presentation of pulmonary endometriosis, with pleural pain but no pneumothorax, should be added to those previously described in the literature. PMID- 2606188 TI - Inhalation pathology. Scientific meeting of the contact group "Respiratory Physiopathology" of the National Fund for Scientific Research. June 3, 1989, Leuven. PMID- 2606189 TI - Lactobacilli and pleuropulmonary infection. PMID- 2606190 TI - Questionnaire of the ECSC on respiratory symptoms. PMID- 2606191 TI - Epidermal growth factor receptors. PMID- 2606192 TI - Asthma: an inherited dysfunction of bone marrow cells? PMID- 2606193 TI - A comparison of airway responsiveness in smokers with chronic bronchitis and in asthmatic subjects. AB - Fifty-two of 95 smokers with a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) above 70% predicted and with chronic bronchitis were found to have increased bronchial responsiveness, expressed as PC20FEV1, upon challenge with inhaled histamine. The degree of responsiveness was significantly below that found in matched asthmatics, but substantially higher than that reported in normals. The degree of responsiveness was significantly correlated to prechallenge ventilatory capacity, age and tobacco consumption but not to sex. PC40MEF50 showed the same distribution as PC20FEV1, but did not add further information. The slope of the dose response curve expressing the maximum expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity expired (MEF50) did not correlate with any of the parameters measured. The slope of the FEV1 dose-response curves showed significant correlation with tobacco consumption. The degree of bronchial responsiveness as an indication for future disability needs to be investigated. PMID- 2606194 TI - Validity and repeatability of the IUATLD (1984) Bronchial Symptoms Questionnaire: an international comparison. AB - The International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) Bronchial Symptoms Questionnaire (1984) was developed for use in studies of asthma and its reliability measured in an earlier survey in England. The association of the symptoms elicited by this questionnaire to bronchial response to histamine has also been described. This paper presents the results of studies of the questionnaire in four clinical centres in Europe. The reliability of the questionnaire and its ability to predict the bronchial response to histamine were compared for English, Finnish, French and German translations of the questionnaire in samples of diagnosed asthmatics and controls in Nottingham, Berlin, Helsinki and Paris. The answers to questions showed good repeatability, especially in Finland and Germany, particularly those questions on asthma and wheeze. The most sensitive symptom for predicting hyperresponsiveness was the question on wheeze, the most specific questions were those on waking at night with shortness of breath (Paris and Nottingham) and morning tightness (Helsinki and Berlin). This study shows that the IUATLD (1984) questionnaire may provide useful, valid and comparable data even in translation but these studies will need to be repeated in representative samples before such a possibility is accepted as fully demonstrated. PMID- 2606195 TI - Absence of circulating products of oxygen derived free radicals in acute severe asthma. AB - Oxygen derived free radicals (ODFRs), generated by eosinophils, neutrophils, alveolar macrophages and mast cells, have been proposed as important mediators of inflammatory damage in asthma. We attempted to assess the role of these free radicals in patients with acute asthma by determining serum concentrations of phospholipid-esterified 9, 11 and the parent 9, 12-linoleic acid isomers (9, 11 LA, 9, 12-LA), using HPLC and diode array detection. The diene conjugate, 9, 11 LA, has been shown to be a sensitive and specific marker of free radical activity in other inflammatory conditions. Eight patients (6 female, aged 19-42 years) with acute asthma (mean peak expiratory flow 92 +/- (26) m (SEM) l.min-1, mean PaO2 8.4 (1.0) kPa were studied at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after admission to hospital and again 4-6 weeks later. Initial blood samples were taken prior to the administration of oxygen or drug therapy. On admission, mean concentrations of 9, 11-LA and 9, 12-LA were normal at 18.0 (2.8) and 1024 (118) mumol.l-1. All subsequent 9, 11-LA serum concentrations were likewise in the normal range. The serum 9, 11-LA/9, 12-LA ratio was 1.9 (0.4) on admission and 1.6 (0.2) in convalescence (Normal Range 1.0-3.8). These findings in peripheral blood do not support a major role or oxygen derived free radical production in acute asthma, but local airway production cannot be excluded. PMID- 2606196 TI - The effect of posture and abdominal binding on respiratory pressures. AB - We examined the effect of posture on the generation of respiratory pressures in 6 highly trained subjects. Transdiaphragmatic pressure was measured at FRC during bilateral percutaneous phrenic nerve stimulation (twitch Pdi) and maximal sniffs (sniff Pdi), with the abdomen bound and unbound. Maximum static inspiratory (PImax) and expiratory (PEmax) mouth pressures were measured with the abdomen unbound. Three postures were examined: seated (Se), semi-supine (30s), and supine (Su). Changes of posture did not significantly alter twitch Pdi. By contrast, sniff Pdi and static mouth pressures were significantly reduced in the Su posture. Abdominal binding significantly increased twitch Pdi only. We conclude that voluntary respiratory manoeuvres requiring activation, recruitment and coordination of different muscle groups are performed better in the Se position. We suggest that posture be standardised for serial comparative measurements of voluntary respiratory pressures in a given subject. PMID- 2606197 TI - Reference values of total respiratory resistance, determined with the "opening" interruption technique. AB - In a large epidemiological survey of lung function the subjects performed maximum expiratory flow volume (MEFV) manoeuvres. They were also interviewed by trained interviewers using a standardized questionnaire. In a random subset of the subjects the resistance of the respiratory system was measured with the "opening" interruption technique, in which the mouth pressure before the end of the interruption period is divided by the flow shortly after the end of it. The subset contained men and women, and smokers as well as nonsmokers, 229 of whom were considered to be healthy because they had no history of complaints and a "normal" flow-volume curve. In this group mean inspiratory and expiratory resistances did not differ significantly (0.27 and 0.29 for men and 0.39 and 0.38 kPa.l-1.s for women). The averages of in- and expiratory resistance were 0.28 +/- 0.10 kPa.l-1.s for men and 0.39 +/- 0.11 kPa.l-1.s for women. The resistance values were slightly but significantly correlated with body height, FEV1 and MEF50, but not with smoking habits. Due to the considerable variability the method does not permit sharp discrimination between normal and abnormal subjects. However, it appears to be useful in histamine challenge testing, to detect and monitor bronchial asthma, being not subjected to the disturbing effect of forced ins- and expirations. PMID- 2606198 TI - Effect of oxygen administration on the breathing pattern during haemodialysis in man. AB - During haemodialysis (HD), allowing important CO2- unloading, an irregular breathing pattern (BP) is frequently observed. This has been attributed to a decrease in central chemoreceptor firing, with a greater contribution of the peripheral chemoreceptors in the chemical drive to breathe. To provide further evidence for these findings we studied five patients with end-stage renal failure in chronic HD. They underwent HD with a cuprophane membrane and acetate containing dialysate. Ventilation was measured continuously using respiratory inductance plethysmography. Oxygen was administered for 30 min, using nasal cannulae, at a rate of 6 l.min-1, starting 130 min after the onset of the HD. Blood gases were taken from the arterial line. During the initial air breathing, arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) decreased from 12.3 +/- 1.2 kPa (92.8 +/- 8.9 mmHg) at 0 min to 10.5 +/- 1.8 kPa (79.0 +/- 13.3 mmHg) at 2 h (p less than 0.01) (mean +/- SD). All patients showed irregular breathing with 1.4 +/- 0.6 apnoeas exceeding 10 s per 10 min after 2 h. Minute ventilation decreased from 6.8 +/- 1.9 l.min-1 at 0 min to 5.4 +/- 1.3 l.min-1 at 2 h (p less than 0.05). During the O2 breathing, PaO2 increased to 26.3 +/- 4.0 kPa (197.8 +/- 30.3 mmHg) (p less than 0.001), while arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) remained unchanged. The irregular BP previously observed vanished completely. The mean number of apnoeas exceeding 10 s per 10 min decreased to 0.08 +/- 0.12 during O2 (p less than 0.002).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606199 TI - Psychosocial effects of continuous oxygen therapy in hypoxaemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. AB - Twenty six hypoxaemic patients with severe and stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were treated with continuous domiciliary oxygen for a six month period. The patients were evaluated 1, 3 and 6 months after the start of oxygen therapy. In addition to blood gas analysis, 15 coping skills were evaluated by the patient and by the nurse, who also rated the general activity of the patients. Depression was measured by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at the start of the trial and after six months' oxygen therapy. The general psychosocial response was meagre; no significant changes were observed in any psychosocial measures. The response was slightly better in younger and less hypoxaemic patients. We conclude that the psychosocial response to oxygen therapy in severely hypoxaemic COPD patients is limited. PMID- 2606200 TI - Malignant pleural mesothelioma in the southwestern part of The Netherlands. AB - This report is the result of an analysis of the medical records of 124 patients presenting with a malignant pleural mesothelioma. Information about asbestos exposure was available in 104 of them, which appeared to be positive in 95 (91%). The median duration of exposure was 34 yrs. The median latent period was 41 yrs. The median survival was 11 months while different ways of treatment could not prolong survival. The most common radiologic findings were pleural effusions, while in some patients contralateral effusions or pleural thickening was found. Pleural plaques or asbestosis were seen in a minority of the patients. In this series a relatively high percentage of mixed type mesotheliomas was found (56%). Large biopsies will often show both epithelial and connective tissue type elements. Concerning diagnostic procedures we recommend beginning with cytology of pleural fluid, which can easily be obtained together with an Abrams biopsy. If this does not give a definite diagnosis thoracoscopy or thoracotomy will be indicated. PMID- 2606201 TI - Childhood tuberculosis in a developed country. AB - From 1975 to 1985, 25 Danish children (aged less than 15 yrs) and 40 children of immigrants were notified for tuberculosis in Copenhagen for the first time. A follow-up was undertaken in 1987. The annual rate of tuberculosis per 100,000 among the Danish children was 5 and among immigrant children 68-200 depending on the nationality. At the time of diagnosis, no significant differences were present between Danes and immigrants as regards age, sex, occurrence of symptoms or previous BCG immunization, whereas there were significantly more bacteriologically proven cases among the immigrants. All Danish children had respiratory tuberculosis only, whereas 13 immigrant children had extrapulmonary manifestations including one case of miliary and two cases of meningeal tuberculosis. At follow-up, all patients were cured for tuberculosis and had experienced a normal physical development. PMID- 2606202 TI - Addiction and noncompliance. PMID- 2606203 TI - Table sugar as alternative packing medium. PMID- 2606204 TI - The CCRN credential in the federal health care environment. PMID- 2606205 TI - Who cares for the care givers? PMID- 2606206 TI - Applying a theoretic framework for reducing medication errors in intensive care units. PMID- 2606207 TI - Use of a heart sound simulator in teaching cardiac auscultation. AB - The use of a heart sound simulator in teaching recognition of heart sounds was tested in 37 graduate students. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups; one group received both auditory and tactile cues and the other group received only auditory cues. Students were tested at three times: (1) before use of the simulator, (2) after a short teaching session using the simulator, and (3) 2 weeks later. Recognition of heart sounds increased significantly after the teaching session with the simulator, and this knowledge was retained. There was no difference in sound recognition between the two groups. PMID- 2606208 TI - Differences and similarities in nurses' perceptions of intensive care nursing and non-intensive care nursing. PMID- 2606209 TI - Admission diagnosis: "rule out tetanus". PMID- 2606210 TI - Screening: the need for a balance. PMID- 2606211 TI - Cataracts and cigarette smoking. The City Eye Study. AB - The City Eye Study is a nine year longitudinal prospective epidemiological study. During the first three year phase the study recruited 1029 volunteers, aged between 54 and 65 years, primarily from companies and organisations working in or around the City of London. The analysis of the first cohort data shows a significant association between nuclear lens opacities and moderate to heavy cigarette smoking. The Relative Risk for nuclear lens opacity and cigarette smoking ranges from 1.0 for past light-smokers through 2.6 for past heavy smokers, to 2.9 for present heavy smokers. PMID- 2606212 TI - The role of botulinum toxin in the management of sixth nerve palsy. AB - Fifty-five patients with sixth nerve palsy have been treated with Botulinum toxin injection to the antagonist medial rectus, either in isolation or in combination with rectus muscle surgery. Forty of these patients (72 per cent) obtained significant benefit from injection at some stage in their management. Botulinum toxin has a major role in conjunction with transposition muscle surgery for the treatment of complete unrecovered sixth nerve palsy. In less severe paresis, a functional cure may be obtained in a significant number of cases with the use of Botulinum toxin alone, 37 per cent in this series. No serious complications were observed. In view of the safety of this procedure it is reasonable to consider an injection of Botulinum toxin in any adult patient with a persisting sixth nerve palsy. PMID- 2606213 TI - The prism bar--Prentice and frontal positions. AB - The prism cover test has been in use for many years for measuring ocular alignment. The measurements obtained are used for both calculating the amount of correction needed in strabismus surgery, and monitoring any change in ocular alignment with recovery from muscle imbalance. Variability may arise from its use in either the frontal position or the Prentice position. Most prism bars used in the United Kingdom are calibrated for use in the Prentice position. Inaccurate results arise when a prism bar is used in a position for which it is not calibrated. The theoretical calculation for adjusting measurements obtained in the frontal position with prisms calibrated for use in the Prentice position was assessed clinically. A new modified equation is proposed incorporating practical aspects of performing the prism cover test. A table of values is included to assist in determining the necessary adjustment, so allowing for a more reliable assessment. PMID- 2606214 TI - Doppler ultrasound velocity mapping of extra-ocular muscles: a preliminary report. AB - Colour doppler imaging and conventional spectral doppler/B-mode techniques were used to detect and quantify rectus muscle movement during voluntary saccades. A velocity gradient was evident in all muscles studied--low velocities near the muscle origin at the back of the orbit increasing linearly to a maximum near the muscle insertion on the globe. A consistent reduction in velocity occurred along muscles injected with botulinum toxin. Doppler ultrasound complements current clinical eye movement recording techniques--electronystagmography, infrared light reflection methods and magnetic induction methods--insofar as it detects movement in parts of the muscle itself rather than movement of the globe secondary to muscle contraction. Future developments in colour doppler imaging will make the technique clinically more applicable. PMID- 2606215 TI - Children presenting to an ophthalmic casualty department. AB - A five month prospective survey of all children (0-14 years) attending an ophthalmic accident and emergency department was carried out to determine the disease profile and the primary ophthalmic health care provided. A data base was used to collect and analyse all cases. Seventy three per cent of 475 children attending had non-traumatic ophthalmic diagnoses, less than half being referred from their general practitioners. The remaining children had minor ophthalmic injuries of which less than one quarter were referred from their general practitioners. Four of the minor ophthalmic injuries were suspected of being non accidental injury. The management of such cases is discussed. The ophthalmologist in an ophthalmic casualty department has an important role in the provision of primary ophthalmic care for children. In the management of minor ophthalmic injuries, the alerting factors for non-accidental injury should be sought, although the apparent incidence is low. PMID- 2606216 TI - Limbal vernal keratoconjunctivitis: clinical characteristics and immunoglobulin E expression compared with palpebral vernal. AB - Limbal and palpebral vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) are usually considered to be different expressions of the same disease. This single centre population of 120 patients with VKC had 32 patients with limbal VKC, 54 with palpebral VKC and 34 with mixed palpebral and limbal VKC. There were higher proportions of females (p = 0.015) blacks, Indians and Asians (p = 0.0001) in the limbal group and fewer limbal patients had other atopic diseases (p = 0.03). The age of presentation was similar for all groups; 87/112 (78 per cent) presenting before the age of 16. The follow-up period was shorter in the limbal VKC patients (p = 0.004) suggesting a shorter disease course. Only one limbal VKC patient developed corneal opacities compared to fifty (47 per cent) with palpebral or mixed VKC, 24 (27 per cent) of whom lost vision. Tear and serum levels of total IgE and specific IgE to the major inhalent allergens cat, house dust mite and grass pollen were compared in 17 patients with palpebral or mixed VKC and ten with limbal VKC; no statistically significant differences were shown. However the significant variations in sex, racial distribution and associated atopic disease suggest that limbal VKC may be a different disease from palpebral VKC although this is not expressed in terms of IgE production. PMID- 2606217 TI - The ocular surface in keratoconjunctivitis sicca. AB - The ocular surface is altered in kerato-conjunctivitis sicca, a disorder of aqueous tear production. Many of the factors leading to these surface changes are now more clearly understood and are discussed in this paper. PMID- 2606218 TI - Corneal epithelial cell movement in humans. AB - Evidence is presented which supports the centripetal movement of epithelial cells in the normal corneal epithelium. This movement is not, however, uniform and is influenced by various factors including corneal topography, surface disease states and lid shearing forces. We have studied epithelial morphology with corneal specular microscopy and have demonstrated altered morphology in keratoconjunctivitis sicca, neurotrophic keratitis, and contact lens wearing. Following penetrating keratoplasty, we found a vortex keratopathy in 70 per cent of patients up to two years after surgery. We also found pallisading of epithelial cells around sutures which indicated centripetal movement of epithelial cells around islands of stability created by obstructions. The eyelid also alters epithelial migration and turnover by increasing exfoliation from shearing forces. We advance a new hypothesis that the driving force in the central epithelial cell movement is the preferential loss of surface cells by exfoliation from the central apex secondary to the shearing forces of the upper lid. PMID- 2606219 TI - Macular corneal dystrophy in Iceland. AB - This study includes the fourteen Icelanders who had penetrating keratoplasty for macular corneal dystrophy during 1974 through 1988, and a further five patients whose deterioration of vision has so far not led to surgery. The clinical presentation, mode of inheritance and the course of the disease were similar to those seen in other studies. The genealogical part of this study indicates that the gene responsible for the disease was already present in Iceland in the 18th century. Though consanguinity, as usually defined, was found to be uncommon, the relatively small pool of genes in the Icelandic population which numbers at present about 250,000 has led to higher prevalence of macular corneal dystrophy than elsewhere. The histopathological findings concur with the conventional description of macular corneal dystrophy, with the exception of two patients with unusually severe photophobia. In these two cases, electron microscopy revealed that the most anteriorly situated deposits were sometimes associated with increased electron-density of small clusters of basal epithelial cells in the overlying epithelium, such cells also being reduced in size and exhibiting few organelles other than swollen mitochondria. PMID- 2606220 TI - Changing indications for keratoplasty. AB - The indications for keratoplasty at Moorfields Eye Hospital were reviewed for the period 1985-1987. There were 500 consecutive cases of which 472 underwent penetrating keratoplasty and 28 lamellar keratoplasty; of the grafts performed 31 were acute procedures. The most common indication for penetrating keratoplasty was keratoconus accounting for 34.2% of cases and for lamellar keratoplasty corneal dystrophies accounting for 28.6% of cases. This contrasts with other studies which have found pseudophakic bullous keratopathy to be the leading indication for penetrating keratoplasty. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed and the current series is compared to two previous series presented from this hospital in 1959 and 1974. PMID- 2606221 TI - Actinomycetic corneal ulcer. AB - A rare case of keratoactinomycosis developing in the absence of any known ocular trauma is described. It showed a dramatic response to penicillin therapy. Steroids should be cautiously used in the presence of active corneal disease. This case highlights the importance of repeated examination of corneal scrapings. PMID- 2606222 TI - Penetration of topically applied prednisolone sodium phosphate into human aqueous humour. AB - Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) was utilised to determine the penetration of prednisolone sodium phosphate into the aqueous humour of human volunteers undergoing routine cataract extraction. Detectable levels of prednisolone were measured in the aqueous humour within 15 minutes. Peak concentrations occurred between 90 and 240 minutes, and the steroid could not be detected in samples taken 10 hours or more after topical administration. PMID- 2606223 TI - The role of white light interferometry in predicting visual acuity following posterior capsulotomy. AB - White light interferometry was performed on 21 eyes of 19 patients presenting for posterior capsulotomy following uncomplicated extracapsular cataract surgery. The white light interferometer was able to predict post-operative visual acuity to within one Snellen line in 56 per cent of eyes and to within two Snellen lines in 76 per cent of eyes. PMID- 2606224 TI - Intraocular pressure responses to systemic autonomic stimulation. AB - The intraocular pressure (IOP) responses to two standard tests of autonomic nerve function were studied in 15 healthy subjects, mean age 33 years (range: 20-64). Both tests are based on cardiovascular reflexes: (1) The rise in diastolic blood pressure provoked by sustained isometric muscle contraction, a response mediated by the sympathetic nervous system and (2) The heart-rate responses to the Valsalva manoeuvre, a response mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system. During sustained isometric exercise, the mean IOP decreased significantly from baseline values of 12.60 mmHg (SEM 0.55) to 11.26 mmHg (SEM 0.32, p less than 0.05) while mean diastolic blood pressure increased by 20.80 mmHg (range: +12 to +53 mmHg). However there was no direct correlation between them (r = -0.05). Post exercise the mean IOP remained significantly lower than baseline values for five minutes (p less than 0.01). During the Valsalva manoeuvre, there was a significant increase in IOP of 7.20 mmHg from a baseline of 12.80 mmHg (SEM 0.45) to 20.00 mmHg (SEM 0.78, p less than 0.001); during the recovery period, mean IOP was significantly lower than baseline values at 12.13 mmHg (SEM 0.39, p less than 0.05). The mean Valsalva ratio was normal at 1.68 (range: 1.2-2.6). The possible mechanisms involved in these responses are discussed. PMID- 2606226 TI - Glaucoma: ignorance and apathy. PMID- 2606225 TI - Conjunctival chemosis in eosinophilic fasciitis. PMID- 2606227 TI - Skin signs during giant cell arteritis. PMID- 2606228 TI - Biochemical parameters of osteogenesis in epiphysis of mice irradiated and repopulated with syngeneic bone marrow. AB - Whole-body irradiation of BALB/cann mice with 600 R of gamma rays produces a profound atrophy of the spleen and diminishes alkaline phosphatase activity in the homogenates of epiphysis. The acid phosphatase activity remains unchanged until day 10, then slightly declines. Incorporation of 45Ca into epiphysis is practically not impaired following irradiation. Repopulation of irradiated animals with 1-1.5 million nucleated syngeneic bone marrow cells restores spleen weight within 6 days, but until day 11 the activity of alkaline phosphatase of epiphysis remains lower. Full recovery of enzyme activities was not observed until day 14, but on day 28 these activities returned to the normal level. Histological inspection did not reveal a full recovery of bone marrow in the epiphysis of irradiated animals until day 14, possibly because of trapping of the vast majority of stem cells by the spleen and liver. On day 28, however, epiphyses were completely filled with the bone marrow. PMID- 2606229 TI - Modified method of in vitro cultivation of human keratinocytes suitable for grafting. AB - The standard method (Green et al., 1979; Simon and Green, 1985) for cultivating human keratinocytes was simplified and adapted to support growth of large keratinocyte sheets (up to 105 X 280 mm) in glass roller bottles. The keratinocyte sheets can be used to cover burn wounds and skin-graft donor sites. PMID- 2606230 TI - CPC: progressive dyspnea in a young female. PMID- 2606231 TI - Arterial oxygen saturation in sedated patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy and a review of pulse oximetry. AB - The pulse oximeter is a widely used noninvasive monitor which provides a continuous reading of arterial oxygen saturation. We sought to determine if patients with cardiopulmonary disease were at higher risk of oxygen unsaturation than controls during gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patients presenting for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and/or colonoscopy were placed into one of two groups: A. control population:patients with no history of cardiac and/or pulmonary disease (N = 11); B. test population:patients with a history of cardiac and/or pulmonary disease (N = 39). The procedure was performed by one of 14 equally experienced physicians. The Nellcor N-100 Pulse Oximeter and D-25 finger probe were used to monitor arterial oxygen saturation which was recorded at five minute intervals from commencement of intravenous sedation analgesia to 15 minutes post procedure. In both groups, the oxygen saturation fell to statistically significant. A: 98.3% to 90.2%; B: 97.7% to 89.5%. However, the amount of unsaturation which occurred in Group B was not statistically different from Group A. Therefore, history of prior cardiac and/or pulmonary disease does not increase the degree of unsaturation from that occurring in patients with no such history. In addition, the effects of age, procedure, duration, I.V. sedation, and individual tolerance on oxygen unsaturation were studied by regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Only the upper GI endoscopy patients showed a dependence of oxygen unsaturation upon one of the variables, specifically patient tolerance. It is concluded that patients at risk for hypoxemia during endoscopy or colonoscopy cannot be determined prior to the initiation of the procedure, and it is recommended that all of these patients be given supplemental oxygen as well as monitored with a pulse oximeter. PMID- 2606232 TI - Re-assessing the code blue. PMID- 2606233 TI - Quo vadis, doc? PMID- 2606234 TI - Illicit drugs, a medical problem. PMID- 2606235 TI - Your best defense against malpractice. PMID- 2606236 TI - Dental radiology training requirements for credentialing the dental assistant. PMID- 2606237 TI - The who, what, why, and where of oral surgery. PMID- 2606238 TI - AIDS awareness for the office manager. PMID- 2606239 TI - An approach to decision making. PMID- 2606240 TI - Stress on the job: coping strategies for the dental team. PMID- 2606241 TI - Anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and the dental assistant. PMID- 2606242 TI - Bulimia: a vicious circle of obsession. PMID- 2606244 TI - The role of the dental assistant in laboratory asepsis. PMID- 2606243 TI - Getting back to basics with computers. PMID- 2606245 TI - Aging is not a disease. PMID- 2606246 TI - [Set-up model. Appropriate material improves results]. PMID- 2606247 TI - [Close-ups in dentistry]. PMID- 2606248 TI - [Ceramic materials. Development status and significance]. PMID- 2606249 TI - [Post-surgical concerns of face and jaw defects]. PMID- 2606250 TI - [Synthetic or natural gypsum? Difference is in the source]. PMID- 2606251 TI - [Gnathologic positioner. Carryover of resulting errors]. PMID- 2606252 TI - [Evaluation of dental condition of patient at start of treatment]. PMID- 2606253 TI - Primary care in dentistry. PMID- 2606254 TI - Avoiding plastic crime. PMID- 2606255 TI - Filing claims electronically. PMID- 2606256 TI - Building a group practice. PMID- 2606257 TI - Let your patients help choose your marketing strategy. PMID- 2606258 TI - Marketing dental health. PMID- 2606259 TI - Taking the bite out of dental bills. PMID- 2606260 TI - Those troublesome telephone bills. PMID- 2606261 TI - A closer look at sealants. PMID- 2606262 TI - Rapid curing of acrylic denture-base materials. AB - A rapid-cure polymerization of cure, including a terminal boil, with respect to transparency, residual monomer, mechanical properties, and generation of gaseous porosity. It was found that in order for porosity-free resin to be produced during rapid curing, a low concentration (approximately 0.26%) of benzoyl peroxide initiator in the powder component is vital, and a very small concentration (approximately 0.025%) of the chemical activator dimethyl-p toluidine in the monomer component is an advantage. Mechanical properties were only influenced where substantial porosity existed, but it was recognized that a material "tailor-made" for rapid curing would be most welcome. PMID- 2606263 TI - Comparison of three- and four-point flexural strength testing of denture-base polymers. AB - Flexural failure of denture-base materials is considered the primary mode of clinical failure. However, there are several methods of conducting flexural tests, and none has been demonstrated to be the most appropriate. Three- and four point bend-testing were compared, with four different dental polymers used. The values for modulus of elasticity determined by the two tests were not statistically different. However, the values for flexural strength from the three point bend test were always greater, suggesting that that parameter is dependent on the testing procedure. Modifications to the existing denture-base material specification are suggested. PMID- 2606264 TI - The effect of thermal cycling on the fracture toughness of seven composite restorative materials. AB - Short-red chevron-notch samples of seven composite materials were thermal-cycled between 0 degrees C and 60 degrees C. The stress intensification factor, KIC, was found for four sample groups subjected to 10(1)-10(4) cycles, respectively. One group of uncycled samples was tested at the commencement of the investigation and another group after exposure to water for the equivalent time taken by 10(4) cycles (42 days). The KIC decreased for all materials, but the decrease after 10(4) cycles was not significantly different from that after storage in water for an equivalent period of time. These results indicate that, in the determination of KIC, the filler/matrix bond is of secondary importance to the presence of fillers. The effects of cyclic temperature changes likely to be encountered in the mouth are not a significant factor in reduction of the fracture strength of composite filling materials. PMID- 2606265 TI - An indirect in vivo method for quantification of wear of denture teeth. AB - A method using a reflex microscope to undertake direct and highly precise three dimensional measurements of denture casts for the purpose of mapping and determining the volumetric loss of material over a period of time has been developed. The wear that occurred in tooth 46 after clinical use for one year was measured and found to be 7.2 mm3. This technique has proved to be an accurate and objective quantification of what has previously often been a subjective impression. PMID- 2606266 TI - Wear of dental restorative and prosthetic materials in vitro. AB - The aim of this study was to evaluate the wear of some modern materials for fixed crown and bridge restorations and fillings in vitro. Eighteen commercial materials (8 composites, 4 alloys, 4 facade materials, and 2 denture-base resins) were tested. Enamel was used as the control. Test specimens were abraded on abrasion discs under water or in artificial saliva. There was a great variation in the wear rates of the tested materials. The greatest wear was shown by resins used for base material and the smallest by gold and Cr-Co alloys and porcelain. Most of the composites had a wear rate near that of enamel. The wear for amalgam was slightly greater than for most of the composites. When one is using several different materials for reconstructing occlusion, differences in wear resistance should be taken into account. PMID- 2606267 TI - Effect of glass-ionomer base on composite resin hardness. AB - The effect of the glass-mm, and 3 mm thicknesses were placed over glass-ionomer bases, and the microhardness of the external surface was compared with that of controls without a base. A significant reduction in surface hardness (p less than 0.05) was determined only for the 1-mm test specimens. PMID- 2606268 TI - The polymerization shrinkage of composite resins. AB - The majority of methods used for the determination of volumetric polymerization shrinkage rely on mercury as the immersion medium. With current concern for industrial hygiene, the water-filled dilatometer may have advantages. The purpose of this study was to adapt this method for external-energy-cured materials. Six materials were investigated: Aurafill, Silar, Concise, Heliomolar, P-30, and Occlusin. Measurements were taken over one hour, and results ranged from 0.9 to 2.24 volume percent. PMID- 2606269 TI - Phase identification in dental porcelains for ceramo-metallic restorations. AB - Most commercial dental porcelains designed for ceramo-metallic restorations are partially crystallized feldspathic glasses (glass-ceramics) that consist of low (tetragonal) leucite (K2O.Al2O3.4SiO2) crystals embedded in a glassy matrix. In this work, we have identified the crystalline phases in eight commercial dental porcelains (four enamels and four dentin bodies) in both powder (unfired) and sintered forms, by x-ray diffraction, emission spectroscopy analysis, reflection optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Besides low leucite and glass, we have found a second crystalline phase in the sintered and slow-cooled porcelains that we propose to be potash feldspar (K2O.Al2O3.6SiO2). It was impossible to ascertain whether these synthetic crystals may be sanidine, orthoclase, or microcline. The precipitation of feldspar during cooling is explained in terms of the crystallization behavior of typical body compositions in the ternary-phase diagram K2O-Al2O3-SiO2. Ceramography confirms the martensitic (displacive) nature of the transformation from high (cubic) to low (tetragonal) leucite upon cooling. PMID- 2606270 TI - Photocalorimetry of light-cured dental composites. AB - The reactivity of six light-curable dental composite materials has been examined by a novel technique, photocalorimetry, which permits in situ analysis of photoreactions in opaque cross-linking systems. According to photocalorimetry, the rates of reaction of dental composites decrease in the following order: Uvio Fil, Scintilux 2, Visio Dispers, Visio Fil, Silux, and Prisma Fil. By comparing the heats of reaction of the composites and of the resins, one may assume that at least two types of reactive resins are used in these dental composites: one with a heat of reaction of about 35 cal/g, and others with considerably less reactivity, ranging from 14 cal/g to 25 cal/g. Photocalorimetry allows for a rapid assessment of the rate of polymerization (photospeed) of light-curing dental composites and is ideally suited for the study of kinetics and for optimization of formulations. PMID- 2606271 TI - Fluoride uptake from a composite restorative by enamel. AB - The purpose of the study was to determine the in vitro uptake of fluoride by enamel adjacent to a fluoride-releasing composite restorative material containing 11.2 mg/g of fluoride. Blocks of human enamel were placed close to cured discs of the composite in synthetic saliva for periods of up to 24 hours. The fluoride content of successive acid-etch biopsy layers of the enamel blocks was determined by specific ion-electrode analysis, and atomic absorption analysis for calcium was used to determine the layer thickness. After 24 hours, a fluoride content of 5400 ppm was found for the outermost 10-micron layer of enamel. Based on the in vitro demonstration of appreciable fluoride uptake by adjacent enamel, the fluoride-releasing composite gives promise of having anticariogenic properties in vivo. PMID- 2606272 TI - An investigation into the permeability of composite materials using silver nitrate. AB - A new effect of silver-nitrate staining on dental composites and unfilled polymers has been observed which may be useful in the study of polymer permeability. After extended storage in silver nitrate, the materials developed a layer of brown stain in the subsurface. The color was thought to be caused by the presence of finely divided silver precipitated in microcavities within the composite. Energy Dispersive Analysis by x-ray confirmed the presence of silver in the stained zone. The width and shade of staining varied in different materials. After 90 days, layers of different shades could be seen within the stained zone. The exact shade of the stain is thought to depend upon the size of the precipitated silver particles, which is directly related to the sizes of the microcavities. PMID- 2606273 TI - A controlled clinical study of amalgam restorations: survival, failures, and causes of failure. AB - The survival and modes of failure of amalgam restorations were investigated retrospectively. 2660 Class I or II lesions were restored and evaluated yearly or half-yearly for failures during the 30- to 84-month follow-up. Restorations with unacceptable margins were not counted as failures if no traces of secondary caries could be seen. 8% of the restorations were lost because of patient drop out. Of the remaining restorations, 1% was replaced due to primary caries. Of the remaining number (2431), 9% failed because of all other reasons. The leading mode of failure was bulk fracture (4.6%), followed by tooth fracture (1.9%), and marginal ridge fracture (1.3%). For all other reasons, 0.8% of the restorations failed. Only two restorations were replaced because of secondary caries. The alloy selection in both conventional and high-copper categories significantly influenced the survival of the restorations for reasons directly related to the restoration. PMID- 2606274 TI - The effect of trituration time on the mechanical properties of four high-copper amalgam alloys. AB - Several manipulative variables have been shown to influence the physical properties of dental amalgam. Variation in trituration time has been reported to affect creep, compressive strength, and diametral tensile strength in various amalgams. Recent classification of amalgam alloys by particle microstructure reveals four categories: single-composition lathe-cut; single-composition spherical; lathe-cut and eutectic admixture; and lathe-cut and single-composition spherical admixture. The effect of variation of trituration times has not been studied for these newer high-copper alloys. A representative from each classification was selected and physical properties tested, with varied times for trituration utilized. Results showed little compromise in laboratory values for the properties tested. Additional laboratory and clinical trials are warranted, but this study supports the premise that clinicians may vary trituration time to improve handling characteristics without significantly affecting mechanical properties. PMID- 2606275 TI - Properties of prosthetic resin-veneer materials processed in commercial laboratories. AB - Seventeen dental technicians heat-cured microfilled resins, and light-cured hybrid and microfilled resins were used. Marginal adaptation, porosity, hardness, and indentation creep were determined. The results demonstrated considerable variations in all properties studied. The most pronounced variations within the individual brands were found for the properties of porosity and marginal adaptation. When the different products studied were compared, in general the most substantial variations were found for the light-cured specimens. The extremes of number of pores per mm2 were 1.52 and 10.46 for one light-cured product. A moderate scattering of the results of hardness and creep was found. The highly-filled light-cured brands obtained the highest hardness numbers (VHN) and the lowest creep values compared with those of the heat-cured resins. The uneven technical quality found may in part explain the clinical failures of resin facings which are occasionally observed. PMID- 2606276 TI - Interaction of dental cements with the complement system. AB - The relative complement-activating properties of several dental cements were investigated. After the cements were incubated with fresh human serum as a source of complement, the percent of the electrophoretic conversion was assessed by means of the C3 crossed-immunoelectrophoresis technique. It was determined that the ZnO-containing cements--which include zinc phosphate, zinc polycarboxylate, zinc oxide eugenol, and zinc hexyl vanillate--each caused C3 conversion, indicative of complement activation. Glass-ionomer cement, which does not contain ZnO, did not activate the complement system. In dose-response studies, ZnO at relatively low concentrations was effective in causing C3 conversion, while at higher concentrations ZnO appeared to block C3 conversion. Supernatants from ZnO suspensions also caused C3 conversion. Cement particle size, as well as soluble degradative products containing ZnO or Zn++, were suggested as possible factors contributing to the differential effects of the dental cements on complement activation and/or function. PMID- 2606277 TI - The corrosion behavior of palladium-silver-ceramic alloys. AB - Five commercial Pd-Ag alloys were investigated. Their electrochemical behavior was tested with standard potentiodynamic techniques in 0.9% saline solution and an artificial saliva and compared with high-Pd systems. Corrosion characteristics of the Pd-Ag alloys were quite similar regardless of microstructural and compositional differences. In the area of oral interest, all alloys showed a sufficient corrosion resistance. The alloys were, unlike their high-Pd counterparts, adversely affected by a high Cl- content under more extreme conditions, and a visible film formed. PMID- 2606279 TI - Clinical impact of H+, K+-ATP-ase inhibitors. Proceedings of a symposium. Maastricht, November 25, 1988. PMID- 2606278 TI - The Dutch contribution to research and clinical experience with omeprazole. PMID- 2606280 TI - BAERing the UnBAERable. PMID- 2606281 TI - Re: Papso, C.F. and Blood, I.M. Word recognition skills of children and adults in background noise. Ear hear 1989; 10:235-236. PMID- 2606282 TI - MLRs in children are consistently present during wakefulness, stage 1, and REM sleep. AB - Auditory middle latency responses (MLRs) were recorded continuously from normal children, ages 4 to 9 years, during natural sleep. Concurrently obtained EEG recordings were used to determine stages of sleep. Wave Pa was consistently present during wakefulness, alpha, stage 1, and REM sleep. Wave Pa detectability was poor during stage 4 sleep. The probability of obtaining wave Pa during stage 4 increased systematically with age. During stages 2 and 3, Pa detectability was variable. The inconsistency of MLRs in children currently limits their clinical use. These data indicate that the occurrence of MLRs in children is not haphazard, and that the MLR in children can be reliably obtained during certain states of arousal. A straightforward clinical application of these findings is that efforts to obtain MLRs be concentrated during periods favorable for recording the response. We suggest practical strategies for detecting optimal sleep stages. PMID- 2606283 TI - Effect of broadband noise on the human brain stem auditory evoked response. AB - The purpose of this paper is to describe the effect of broadband continuous noise on brain stem auditory evoked responses elicited from normal-hearing and hearing impaired individuals. The motivation for this study derives from the increasing use of noise masking paradigms in diagnostic electrophysiology, the universal presence of background noise in everyday listening environments, and the frequent observation that background noise is more detrimental to the performance of the hearing-impaired individual than to the normal-hearing individual. Four studies were designed to evaluate: (1) the sensitivity and specificity of the latency intensity series, (2) the sensitivity and specificity of the latency-noise series, (3) the dependence of the latency-noise series on signal-to-noise ratio near electrophysiologic threshold, and (4) the dependence of the latency-noise index on the signal level at which the test is performed. The results of the studies reported herein show that the electrophysiological response to increasing masker levels is more sensitive for identifying inner ear pathology than previously used latency-intensity series measures, without compromising specificity. It is suggested that simultaneous broadband masking should be considered as a test for localization of pathology in those subjects for whom routine behavioral measurements are not possible or when the results of such measurements are equivocal. PMID- 2606284 TI - Measurement of hearing aid benefit in the elderly. AB - Providing amplification is at the heart of most rehabilitation programs for the elderly. Given the importance of quality assurance, methods of quantifying hearing aid fitting success are needed. This study was designed to assess the adequacy of a self-assessment scale at measuring hearing aid benefit following a 3 week interval of hearing aid use. Forty-five new hearing aid users completed the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) prior to and following 3 weeks of hearing aid use. Results of the study showed a significant reduction in handicap following 3 weeks of hearing aid use, suggesting the feasibility of using the HHIE as an outcome measure for hearing aid success after a brief interval of hearing aid use. Subjects will be followed longitudinally to determine the best time frame in which to administer this scale. PMID- 2606285 TI - Practices and attitudes related to hearing: a survey of executives. AB - Executives were surveyed about their hearing health-care practices and attitudes toward hearing loss (N = 140, mean age = 49, number of males = 133). In regard to hearing health-care practices, about one-third of the executives had not had a hearing test during the past 5 years. Fifty-one percent of the executives reported that a hearing test was conducted or recommended during their annual physical examinations. Twenty (14%) of the executives rated their hearing as fair or poor, but only two of them wore hearing aids. Executives who reported poorer hearing were less likely to have had recent hearing tests. When seeking a hearing evaluation, the executives indicated a two-to-one preference for medical doctors over audiologists--none preferred hearing aid dispensers. Regarding attitudes, approximately 90% of the executives felt that hearing aids were effective, but only two-thirds disagreed with the stereotype that hearing aids connote old age. Executives who tended to equate hearing aids with old age were less likely to be aware of hearing-impaired employees in their companies. Implications of these findings are discussed. PMID- 2606286 TI - Measurement and prediction of hearing loss in a nursing home. AB - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the abilities of three paper-and-pencil tests to predict pure-tone hearing loss of nursing home residents. The three tests used were the staff version of the Nursing Home Hearing Handicap Index and two tests of mental status, the Mini Mental State and the Short Orientation Memory-Concentration Test. Testing was done on the residents (n = 122) of a long term, intermediate-care nursing home. In general, the residents who passed the hearing test (using a 40 dB HL criterion) performed better on all three tests than did the residents who failed the hearing test and the residents who could not be tested. The results of discriminant analyses showed that the factor of age predicted hearing loss with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 35%. The factor of age in combination with question 4 of the SOMCT and question 10 of the NHHI improved specificity to 53%. PMID- 2606287 TI - Relative effectiveness of three repair strategies on the visual-identification of misperceived words. AB - Experimental videotapes were used to assess the effectiveness of three repair strategies: (1) repetitions, (2) synonyms, and (3) paraphrases. Three groups of normal-hearing adults viewed one of three videotapes. The same 50 test-words were used on each videotape. Each test-item consisted of three stimuli: a test-word, a stimulus that incorporated the repair strategy under investigation, and a repetition of the initial test-word. Each videotape displayed one of the three repair strategies under investigation. The subjects were required to identify test-words presented in a visual-only mode. The results indicated that the performance of the subjects who were provided with synonyms or paraphrases was significantly better than the performance of the subjects who were shown repetitions. Also, subjects who were shown paraphrases performed significantly better than those who were shown synonyms. These findings indicate that repair strategies that incorporate the use of substitute stimuli such as synonyms and paraphrases may be more effective than the simple repetition of the misperceived stimulus. PMID- 2606288 TI - Speech recognition measures with noise suppression hearing aids using a single subject experimental design. AB - Research aimed at quantifying the benefits a hearing aid user might expect from noise suppression hearing aids purported to improve hearing in the presence of background noise have yielded widely varying results. We suggest this may in part be due to the inappropriate use of experimental approaches based on group design and inferential statistical analysis. Included in this paper is our rationale for employing a single-subject experimental design to investigate subject performance with two commercially available hearing-aid noise suppression systems. Preliminary results with two subjects indicate that both the Siemens Automatic Signal Processing (ASP) and Zeta Noise Blocker (ZNB) noise suppression systems markedly improve listener scores on the low predictability sentence material of the SPIN Test. We conclude these two noise suppression systems may improve performance as the listening situation becomes contextually more difficult, and that single-subject experimental designs could be a valuable addition to applied behavioral research with hearing aids. PMID- 2606289 TI - Comparison of SCAN results with other auditory and language measures in a clinical population. AB - This study was conducted to compare results of SCAN: A Screening Test for Auditory Processing Disorders with other central auditory and language tests. The SCAN, Staggered Spondee Word test (SSW), Competing Sentence test, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), and the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals Revised (CELF-R) were administered to 155 children between the ages of 6 and 15 years. All subjects were referred for possible auditory or language processing disorders. Results showed significant correlations between the SCAN, SSW, and Competing Sentence test results except for Filtered Word and Auditory Figure Ground subtests of SCAN that were not significantly correlated with the Competing Sentence Test. Significant correlations also existed between SCAN and the PPVT, but there were no significant correlations between SCAN and the CELF-R subtests. Patterns of responses according to histories of Attention Deficit Disorders were also found. PMID- 2606290 TI - Evaluation of four Spanish word-recognition-ability lists. AB - Tests of word recognition ability (formerly Speech Discrimination) should be suitable for the linguistic background of the person being tested. Few efforts have been made to develop a standardized test in the Spanish language. Current literature reports on six studies that have several drawbacks. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a commercially available Spanish language test. The material consists of four lists of 50 bisyllabic tetraphonemic Spanish words. The words were recorded at a professional laboratory (Auditec of St. Louis) by a native Spanish speaker. In the present study, the lists were evaluated in terms of interlist equivalence, word difficulty, intelligibility of the talker, and slope of the performance/intensity (PI) function. Taped lists were presented to 16 normal-hearing native Spanish speaking adults at four presentation levels. Mean intelligibility scores were poorest for list three. Statistical analysis indicated that the intelligibility of list three is significantly different than the other lists at the 0.05 level. On the average, at low presentation levels, the nine subjects of Mexican origin obtained better scores than the seven subjects of other nationalities. The slope of the PI-PB function (4.3%) was comparable to that obtained by other investigators of English lists. The words most frequently missed contain the /s/ sound and are words that retain their meaning even after deletion of the final /s/. The talker's speech intelligibility was judged to be very clear. PMID- 2606291 TI - Measuring effectiveness in the pharmacy department. PMID- 2606292 TI - Measuring quality of life in clinical drug trials. PMID- 2606293 TI - Medication incidents: a microgram of prevention... PMID- 2606294 TI - A cost containment tool for antibiotics. PMID- 2606295 TI - Computerizing workload in the pharmacy department. PMID- 2606296 TI - A pharmacy service between community hospitals. PMID- 2606297 TI - A self-medication pilot program. PMID- 2606298 TI - The privatization of hospital pharmacy departments. PMID- 2606299 TI - Hospitals must become true health centres. PMID- 2606300 TI - A profession in full evolution. PMID- 2606301 TI - Continuous monitoring of gastroduodenal mucosal hemodynamics in rats by laser Doppler flowmetry and reflectance spectrophotometry. AB - Gastroduodenal mucosal hemodynamics in rats was monitored continuously by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and reflectance spectrophotometry, and the validity of these techniques was determined. Corpus mucosal hemodynamics was recorded for 90 min, under stable conditions. In cases of graded hemorrhagic hypotension, corpus mucosal blood flow by LDF and hydrogen gas clearance, and potential differences showed a good correlation. Corpus, antral, and duodenal mucosal hemodynamics monitored by LDF, hydrogen gas clearance, and reflectance spectrophotometry reflected regional hemodynamic differences. In monitoring mucosal hemodynamics by LDF and reflectance spectrophotometry, regular oscillations (4-6 cycles/min) were observed in most animals. The characteristic change of oscillations during graded hemorrhagic hypotension was thus elucidated. In moderate hypotension (50-90 mmHg), high-amplitude and high-frequency (5-10 cycles/min) oscillations were observed, while in cases of severe hypotension (25-40 mmHg), the oscillations almost ceased. Observation of the oscillatory changes is thus a new application of LDF and reflectance spectrophotometry. PMID- 2606302 TI - An experimental study of percutaneous absolute ethanol injection therapy for small hepatocellular carcinoma: effects of absolute ethanol on the healthy canine liver. AB - As a basic study of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) under ultrasound guidance, 1 ml of absolute ethanol was injected into the healthy liver of adult mongrel. Ultrasonographic, macroscopic and histologic studies of the injection site were carried out chronologically and the mechanism for cell necrosis was evaluated. It was concluded that absolute ethanol injected to the healthy mongrel liver caused not only direct cell damage due to potent fixative effect through deprivation of fluid from cells, but also indirect cell damage due to impairment of tissue blood flow related to thrombus formation, which resulted in necrosis. Moreover, disappearance of acoustic shadow (AS) was considered to be due to absorption or removal of the gases, which were the air in the PTC needle injected into the liver and the evaporated oxygen from denatured oxyhemoglobin (HbO2), and the denatured red blood cells after improvement of blood flow at the surrounding area of the injection site. Gradual attenuation of the echogenicity might reflect the progression of necrosis at the injection site recognized histologically. PMID- 2606303 TI - Effect of long-term oral supplementation with branched-chain amino acid granules on the prognosis of liver cirrhosis. AB - A study was conducted to investigate the cumulative survival rates among groups of patients with liver cirrhosis who were stratified by plasma branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)/aromatic amino acid (AAA) molar ratio (BCAA/AAA), and to evaluate the effect of long-term oral supplementation with BCAA on the prognosis of cirrhotics with noticeably lower BCAA/AAA molar ratio. When 104 patients with liver cirrhosis were divided into three groups on the basis of BCAA/AAA molar ratio, i.e., BCAA/AAA greater than or equal to 1.8 (Group 1), 1.8 greater than or equal to BCAA/AAA greater than or equal to 1.0 (Group 2), and 1.0 greater than BCAA/AAA (Group 3), Group 1 showed the highest cumulative survival rate, followed, respectively, by Groups 2 and 3 (P less than 0.05). In 20 cases of non alcoholic liver cirrhosis having BCAA/AAA less than 1.8, oral supplementation with branched-chain amino acid granules (BCAA-G) for 6 months or more (median 27 months, range 7-62 months) brought about significant increase of plasma BCAA concentration, BCAA/AAA molar ratio, and serum albumin concentration. Furthermore, the 20 cases with BCAA-G supplementation showed significantly higher cumulative survival rate during 2-4 years as compared to the control cases matched for age, sex, and etiology (involvement of hepatitis B virus). These findings indicate that long-term oral supplementation with BCAA to cirrhotic patients provides beneficial effect on the prognosis by improving protein malnutritional status and consequently delaying fatal complications such as hepatic failure and gastrointestinal bleeding. PMID- 2606304 TI - Variant cathepsin B activity secreted from human pancreatic cancer cell lines into protein-free chemically defined medium. AB - Cathepsin B activity was found in serum-free spent media of human pancreatic cancer cell lines, Panc-1 and MiaPaca. Cathepsin B activity was partially purified by gel filtration on TSK G3000SW, Con-A Sepharose chromatography, Phenyl Superose column chromatography, and Mono S column chromatography. The optimal pH of cathepsin B was 7.4, and the activity was retained even at alkaline pH. Heat stability test showed that the enzyme was heat stable; that is, 50% activity was retained after incubation at 56 degrees C for 60 min. These results suggest that cathepsin B secreted from human pancreatic cancer cell is a variant type and may play an important role in pancreatic cancer invasion or metastasis through destruction of the surrounding extracellular matrix by its proteolytic activity. PMID- 2606305 TI - Gastric acid secretion in a child with postbulbar duodenal ulcer. AB - A 14-year-old case was reported with a primary postbulbar duodenal ulcer, which was confirmed by barium meal study and duodenoscopy. In the preoperative study, the patient showed marked gastric hyperacidity: maximal and peak acid output were 0.980 and 1.434 mEq/kg/hr, respectively. As previously described, hyperacidity appears to be a main factor in the pathogenesis of postbulbar duodenal ulcer. Fasting and postprandial serum gastrin secretion was not thought to be responsible for gastric hyperacidity in the present case. Upon histological investigation, the operatively resected stomach did not suggest a possible relationship between hyperacidity and an enlarged parietal cell mass. PMID- 2606306 TI - High energy laser irradiation and electric surgery for obstructive gastrointestinal cancer. AB - A total of 35 patients with advanced obstructive gastrointestinal cancer received monopolar electrosurgery and Nd: YAG laser therapy from January 1985 to June 1988. These included 13 cases of esophageal cancer (U/3 6, M/3 2, L/3 5), 14 case of gastric cancer (cardia 7, corpus 3, antrum 4), and 8 cases of rectal cancer. Twenty (esophageal 9, stomach 8, rectal 3) of 35 patients had much improved results, with the size of the lesion reduced over 90%, and the endoscope could smoothly pass through the stenotic area after electrosurgery or laser therapy. The other 12 patients had partially improved results with the tumor size being reduced 50-90% and the patients could take semiliquid food easily. Both groups of much improved or partial improved had a statistically significant difference (P less than 0.01) compared to the group of failures to treatment. Two patients developed bleeding after treatment. Twenty-one patients died of causes other than complications of electrosurgery or laser therapy. The average survival was 6.8 months. Nd: YAG laser and electrosurgery can provide good palliative results and contribute to a good quality of life in advanced obstructive gastrointestinal cancer. PMID- 2606307 TI - Diagnosis and tactical approach to surgery for early gastric carcinoma: a retrospective analysis of the past 16 years in an Austrian general hospital. AB - In principle, many authors advocate a radical surgical approach for early gastric cancer (gastrectomy on principle). Our own experience with subtotal gastrectomy (including N1 + N2 lymphadenectomy; limited resection even without groups 11, 12) shows that this method yields comparable results. With an operative mortality of 2%, the survival rate was 84.3% after 5 years and 70.5% after 10 years, instead of the predicted values of 82.8% and 63.4%, respectively. Applied to the same age group without gastric carcinoma, this yields a 5-year survival rate of 101.8% and thus almost reaches Japanese standards. PMID- 2606308 TI - Transient tricuspid regurgitation after endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for esophageal varices. PMID- 2606309 TI - Detection of hepatitis B surface antigen in lymphoid follicle in patients with chronic hepatitis type B. PMID- 2606310 TI - Splenic ablation by percutaneous injection of ethanolamine oleate in dogs: a possible therapy for hypersplenism. PMID- 2606311 TI - [Biomathematical aspects of numerical evaluation and mathematical modelling of non-monotonous exponential measuring processes]. AB - Measurements of endocrinological and pharmacological processes often yield courses of time series with exponentially saturated increasing first part followed by an exponentially decreasing part. Such measured courses may be mathematically modelled by the so-called BATEMAN function type, an expression consisting of 2 e-function terms. In this paper, the method of locally adjusted functional approximation for model-free quantitative evaluation of measured time series is sketched. By means of 2 real examples of measured data, it will be demonstrated how the results of the model-free evaluation may serve for internal regression to estimate starting parameter values for an iterative fitting of a BATEMAN function to measured data courses. Furthermore, it is shown that the model-free approach of data evaluation may give substantial hints for the mathematical model building process and for model verification. PMID- 2606312 TI - [An abnormal course of the Th1-root of the brachial plexus in connection with a variety of the anterior scalenus muscle]. AB - A scalenus anterior muscle with 2 insertions was found - one insertion at the Tuberculum m. scaleni anterioris, the other at the osteo-cartilaginous border of the 1st rib. In the thus formed opening, limited by the 2 insertions and the 1st rib, the Th1-root of the brachial plexus emerged. Its other roots passed between the scalenus anterior and medius muscles as usual. An aponeurotic membrane, attached to the inner margin of the 1st rib and narrowing the upper thoracic aperture prevented the Th1-root from crossing over the 1st rib behind the Tuberculum m. scaleni anterioris as it normally does. PMID- 2606313 TI - [Comparison of three histometric methods for the comprehension of stimulating effects on the rat thyroid gland]. AB - There exist some histometric methods for the morphological quantification of different strongly stimulating effects on the thyroid gland induced by drugs and/or other chemical substances in dependence upon dose and duration of application. But in respect of technical and temporal expense and also diagnostic statement, there are considerable differences between these recording procedures. Therefore we examined the 3 mostly used methods synchronously (i.e. determination of thyroid epithelial cell height, nuclear volume in thyrocytes, and estimation of relative volume parts in the thyroid gland by the point counting method) by investigating the thyroid glands of methylthiouracil-(MTU)-stimulated rats and corresponding controls in order to compare the diagnostic value and temporal expense. The largest temporal expense was required in the nuclear volume determination, the smallest in the point-counting method. On principle, all 3 procedures allow the determination of hypertrophic alterations but only by help of the point-counting method, also hyperplastic changes are recognizable. By nuclear volume determination, we found significant differences between central and peripheral parts of the thyroid gland. Therefore, to avoid the subjective error, it will be necessary to measure a large number of nuclei in many planes of the gland. Also the determination of epithelial cell high reinforces the subjective error because of the heterological structure especially in unstimulated thyroid gland. If the number of counting points is exactly determined and, full of sense, limited, the point-counting method allows a nearly complete measuring of the whole object to be tested within an acceptable investigation time. In this way, the heterological structure of thyroid gland will be regarded, and comparability and reproducibility are guaranteed on an high level. PMID- 2606314 TI - [The brachycephalisation problem, a nutrition constitutional problem?]. AB - A hypothesis is framed about which any influences of the nutrition may cause variations of the cranium, but concerning physiological data, kinds of nutrition and special victuals' ingredients cannot still be mentioned. If such connexions are proved, at last the well known brachycephalization among European populations since the Middle Ages and the beginning debrachycephalization in the present time could partially be interpreted. PMID- 2606315 TI - Comparative fine structure of the axial skeleton inside the regenerated tail of some lizard species and the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). AB - The regenerated tail of the New Zealand gecko Hoplodactylus maculatus is equipped with an elastic cartilaginous tube as skeletal axis. Other lizard species and Sphenodon punctatus possess variably developed hyaline cartilaginous tubes. Moreover, H. maculatus enhances the functional performance of its tail by long elastic fibres, which are arranged all around the central regenerated spinal cord. The different characteristics of the regenerated skeleton could be related to the different environments that the species studied occupy in nature. PMID- 2606316 TI - [The "blotting" method for the detection of possible phenotypes of acid phosphatase in sperm]. AB - 64 sperm samples are tested for the evidence of Sperm Acid Phosphatase by agarose isoelectrofocusing with modified blotting. Near pI = 5.0, we observed polymorphic fractions of Sperm Acid Phosphatase. The investigated polymorphism is alike the original one from prostata. Polymorphic patterns are stable in sperm stains up to 6 weeks. PMID- 2606317 TI - [The computer-assisted spatial reconstruction of the hip acetabulum]. AB - Computer aided design is a useful method in presenting graphics. By 2 simple computer programs written in BASIC and running on most home computers very clear plots of the 3-dimensional (3D) structure of joints like the acetabulum can be drawn quickly. By orthogonal transformations the 3D-body may be easily regarded from every possible point of view. The surface of the acetabulum may be emphasized by an optional automatic hatching between adjacent cutting bows. Further methods of automatic data entering from given joints are discussed. PMID- 2606318 TI - [The intertriradial dermal ridges and their relation to handedness]. AB - Palm prints of 394 right-handers and 356 non-right-handers (left-handers and ambidextrous) were evaluated regarding intertriradial ridge counts. Comparison between the handedness groups produced no significant differences. There were found partly contrary tendencies in males and females. The values of an elected group of extremely left-handed females indicate a relation between a "graded variety of handedness-distinction" and a "graded distinction of dermatoglyphic traits". Earlier indications that bilateral asymmetry is reduced in left-handers could not be confirmed generally. PMID- 2606319 TI - Comparative distribution of four lysosomal enzymes within various structures of the human placenta. AB - The histochemical activity of 4 lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase (AP), nonspecific esterase (NE), aryl sulphatase (AS), and beta-glucuronidase (BG), was compared in following structures of the human placenta: syncytiotrophoblast, villous stromal cells, fetal capillaries and larger blood vessels, cells of basal plate, macrophages, and Hofbauer cells. In spite of a general similarity in distribution of the investigated enzymes, differences concerning particular structures were found. Thus positively stained granules in endothelia of capillary vessels were revealed only in the reaction for BG, although contours of capillaries were also outlined by the diffuse reaction product for AS. The muscular layer of larger vessels reacted strongly for AS and weakly for NE with the remaining reactions being negative. In syncytiotrophoblast, BG appeared much less active than the other 3 enzymes. The possible significance of the BG positive granules in endothelial of capillaries and of the occasional divergence in distribution of the classical lysosomal markers (AP and BG) is discussed. PMID- 2606320 TI - [Radius of the curvature of the femur in the sagittal plane]. AB - The degree of anterior curvature was measured on 30 cadaveric human femora, of unknown age and sex, by a spherometer. The mean anterior curvature radius was (1381.28 +/- 118.63) mm with a considerable interspecimen variation, the maximal value was 3262.66 mm and the minimal 695.54 mm. PMID- 2606321 TI - [The early development of the Jacobson's organ in the cat (Felis silvestris)]. AB - The histological study of the nose of an embryo of the cat (Felis silvestris 10 mm) presents a simple cavity which caudally communicates with the oral cavity by a narrow cleft, the primitive choana. This aperture results from the former rupture of the membrana bucconasalis of which the present material still contains remnants. Compared to the simple nasal cavity, the organ of Jacobson, situated at the base of the broad fetal nasal septum, shows a progressive development. From this one might conclude, according to ontogenetical rules, an early functional importance of the accessory olfactory organ. The currently fetal nose under investigation presents the organ as a primary open groove which increases in depth from rostral to caudal. Only caudally, a short section of the organ is already formed into a tube. From the functional point of view, the epithelial lining of this organ is still undifferentiated, but its dorsal part is clearly thickened. It seems that this indicates an early arrangement of the later olfactory epithelium. Beside this it is striking that in early fetal life, the organ of Jacobson extends to a remarkable length within the nasal cavity. Obviously the organ occupies, early in ontogeny, its area inside the little developed nose. Finally, the striking resemblance of the topography of the organ of Jacobson between early embryos of mammals and those of fetal and even some adult reptiles is discussed. PMID- 2606322 TI - Energy dissipation in the elastic recoil of leg tendons of Larus ridibundus. AB - Cycles of tension and recoil were given to different tendons of black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) in an Instron universal testing machine. It is shown that a large proportion of the energy elastically stored in straining is released upon recoil, ranging the energy lost (dissipation energy) between 8 and 13%. These results are in complete agreement with those published in the literature on mammals and birds that can be considered as the most accurate. PMID- 2606323 TI - Preliminary observations on the pharmacology of petaline chloride, a quaternary alkaloid from Leontice leontopetalum. AB - 1. Low concentrations of petaline chloride (1-300 micrograms/ml) caused relaxation of the epinephrine-contracted aorta, contraction of the ileum, and no effect on the trachea. 2. Larger concentrations (up to 3 mg/ml) caused nonsustained large contractions of the aorta and the trachea and increased the amplitude of the phasic contractions of the ileum. 3. The above effects were not inhibited in the presence of atropine. 4. Petaline chloride increased, in a concentration-dependent manner, the contractions of the spontaneously-beating atrium and the isolated perfused heart. 5. The effects of petaline chloride on the atrium and on the perfused heart were not affected by propranolol but were significantly reduced in the presence of quinacrine, suggesting the participation of arachidonic acid metabolism to this effect. 6. In anesthetized rats, petaline chloride (0.3-3 mg/100 g body weight; i.p.) increased both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and increased the heart rate. PMID- 2606324 TI - Changes in norepinephrine concentration following chronic administration of phencyclidine (PCP) to genetically hypertensive and normotensive rats. AB - 1. Chronic treatment of genetically hypertensive and normotensive rats with phencyclidine (PCP) resulted in changes in norepinephrine (NE) concentration in regions of the brain and in the adrenal gland. 2. Chronic PCP treatment resulted in an 18% increase in hypothalamic NE in hypertensive rats and a 20% increase in NE in the medial lower brainstem of normotensive rats. 3. Hypertensive rats also showed a 28% decrease in adrenal NE after PCP treatment. PMID- 2606325 TI - Comparative effects of tetrodotoxin, lidocaine, and amiodarone on Vmax in guinea pig cardiac Purkinje and papillary muscle fibers. AB - 1. Electrophysiological effects of three drugs (tetrodotoxin, lidocaine, and amiodarone), which are known to depress Na channels in cardiac tissues, were studied on isolated guinea pig Purkinje fibers, by means of microelectrode techniques, and compared the findings with their effects on the ventricular papillary muscle. 2. Special attention was paid with regard to their effects on the maximum upstroke velocity (Vmax) of action potentials. 3. In Purkinje fibers, tetrodotoxin was the most inhibitory for Vmax, then in descending order, amiodarone, and lidocaine. 4. That is, half maximal inhibition (IC50) of Vmax by tetrodotoxin, lidocaine and amiodarone was approximately 1.7 x 10(-5) M, 1.5 x 10(-4) M and 2.8 x 10(-4) M, respectively. 5. As for papillary muscle, higher concentrations of the three drugs were needed to get similar potency. 6. The relationships between the depression in the Vmax and action potential duration are discussed in conjunction with their antiarrhythmic activities. PMID- 2606326 TI - The protein kinase C inhibitor H-7 inhibits concanavalin A induced T-lymphocyte activation. AB - 1. 1-(5-isoquinoline sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), a protein kinase C inhibitor, was found to inhibit con A stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation and cytosolic protein kinase C (PKC) activation in T-lymphocytes of mouse spleen. 2. The inhibitory effect of H-7 was both concentration and time-dependent. 3. H-7 exerted no inhibition when T-lymphocytes have been preincubated with con A for 10 hours or longer. 4. These results support the notion that PKC is an important element of the con A mitogenic signal transduction mechanism and the PKC signal is completed within the first 10 hr of con A incubation. PMID- 2606327 TI - The effect of amiloride and its analog dichlorobenzamil on the cardiac chronotropic responses of myocardial cell aggregates in culture to alterations of extracellular potassium or calcium. AB - 1. Cardiac ventricular myocytes aggregates from 7-day-old chick embryos show a decrease in beating rate with increasing [K+]0, from 1 to 10 mM, and stop beating at 10 mM. 2. Amiloride, at 10(-7) and 10(-6) M, produced a significant (P less than 0.05) accentuation of the effects of increasing [K]0 that were dose dependent and produced an earlier cessation of spontaneous beating. 3. The amiloride analogue 3',4'-dichlorobenzamil (DCB), that preferentially inhibits Na+/Ca2+ exchange, produced a significant (P less than 0.05) accentuation of the effects of [K+]0 that were greater than that produced by amiloride. 4. When [Ca]0 was increased from 2.2 to 5.0 mM, cardiac beating rate increased, became irregular and then stopped at [Ca2+]0 of 5 mM. 5. DCB, but not amiloride, significantly (P less than 0.05) accentuated the changes with increasing [Ca2+]0. Thus inhibition of Na+-Ca2+ exchange accentuates the effect of increased [Ca]0 on the heart. PMID- 2606328 TI - Effect of retinyl acetate on nuclear proteins in rabbit liver. AB - 1. Retinyl acetate injected intraperitoneally to adult rabbits fed on standard diet caused detectable changes in the polyacrylamide gel patterns of liver nucleoplasmic and 0.35 M NaCl-soluble chromatin proteins. 2. Both histones and non-histone proteins soluble in 5 M urea were not affected in vitamin A-treated animals. 3. It seems that variations in liver nuclear proteins from retinyl acetate-administered rabbits may reflect retinol-dependent alterations in structure and function of their chromatins. PMID- 2606329 TI - Experimental cardio-depressant effects of clonixin. AB - 1. The cardiovascular effects of CLX were studied. 2. CLX induced hypotension, bradycardia, negative chronotropism and negative inotropism. 3. Electrophysiological studies showed a decrease of sinus venosus discharge frequency. The action potential configuration was changed: the overshoot amplitude and (dV/dt)max were reduced and duration increased. 4. CLX at higher concentrations displaced the maximum diastolic potential and phase 4 slow diastolic depolarization was lengthened. 5. The above findings could be explained by a depressant action of CLX on the electrical activity of the pacemaker cells, possibly by a modification of the slow calcium currents. PMID- 2606330 TI - Functional changes in the microcirculation of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. AB - 1. The constrictor response of microvessels to norepinephrine and tyramine, and the dilator response to acetylcholine and papaverine was equivalent in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. 2. Acetylcholine and phentolamine were equally effective as antagonists of the vasoconstrictor action of norepinephrine in both groups of animals. 3. The minimum effective doses of histamine and PAF-acether to produce maximum dilation of microvessels, or to antagonize the response to norepinephrine in normal rats had to be increased 20-fold to evoke equivalent effects in diabetic animals. PMID- 2606331 TI - Effects of 7-O-demethylisothalicberine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid of Berberis chilensis, on electrical activity of frog cardiac pacemaker cells. AB - 1. In spontaneously beating preparations of sinus venosus of the chilean frog Caudiverbera caudiverbera, the electrophysiological effects of 7-O demethylisothalicberine (7-O-DI) on transitional pacemaker cells were investigated. 2. 7-O-DI in concentration 1 x 10(-4) M blocked the action potential of transitional cells. This blockade was preceded by subthreshold oscillations and depolarization of membrane potential. 3. Lower concentration of the drug to induce complete blockade (5 x 10(-5) M), allowed to observe a great depression of bioelectric cell characteristics in transitional fibres. 4. 7-O-DI induced blockade of transitional cells action potential was preceded by the appearance of a notch in their upstroke and the persistence of a fast depolarizing activity that remained unblocked. This 7-O-DI resistant fast component of the upstroke was blocked by tetrodotoxin. 5. Transitional cells completely blocked by 7-O-DI were depolarized to about 40 mV. 6. The results indicate a close similarity between 7-O-DI and verapamil effects on action potential configuration. PMID- 2606332 TI - Comparative antiulcer and antisecretory effects of various calcium antagonists. AB - 1. The antiulcer activity (ethanol or indomethacin-induced ulcers) and the antisecretory effects (pylorus-ligated rats) of various selective and non selective calcium antagonists were studied. 2. Flunarizine and pirenzepine reduce the ethanol-ulcer length whereas diltiazem and cimetidine are weakly active and verapamil, nifedipine and nicardipine are ineffective. 3. All tested compounds except verapamil prevent the development of indomethacin-induced ulceration. 4. All substances, except flunarizine decrease the total H+ output in Shay rats. 5. The activities of the different compounds are discussed in terms of their mode of action. PMID- 2606333 TI - Treatment of frostbite with the calmodulin antagonists thioridazine and trifluoperazine. AB - 1. Thioridazine and trifluoperazine, which have been previously found in this laboratory to be the most effective calmodulin antagonists in treatment of burns, are shown here to be also effective in the treatment of frostbite. 2. Electron microscopic studies have revealed a complete reversal of both the vascular and skin tissue damage induced by frostbite. 3. The reversal of the vascular damage was also demonstrated by the ability of these compounds to abolish the increase in hemoglobin content in the skin. 4. The reversal of the skin tissue damage was also revealed by the ability of these compounds to raise the decreased ATP level and the reduced activities of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial and soluble hexokinase in skin, induced by frostbite, to normal control levels. PMID- 2606334 TI - Effect of chronic intake of ethanol on the binding of vasoactive intestinal peptide to rat spleen lymphoid cells. AB - 1. The effect of chronic intake of ethanol on the binding of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) to rat spleen lymphoid cells was investigated. 2. The intake chronic of ethanol elicited an increase in specific VIP binding. 3. This increase was due to an increase in binding capacity of both the high and the low affinity binding sites. 4. There was a decrease in the affinities of both classes of VIP binding sites. PMID- 2606335 TI - Vasorelaxing action of melatonin in rabbit basilar artery. AB - 1. In rabbit basilar arteries, melatonin (10(-5)-10(-3) M) and nifedipine (10( 10)-10(-8) M) inhibited the responses to KCl and 5-hydroxytryptamine. 2. Melatonin or nifedipine inhibited the Ca2+-responses in a Ca2+-free medium containing KCl (40 mM) or 5-HT (10(-5) M). 3. A combined treatment with nifedipine and melatonin caused no further inhibition of the Ca2+ response in the presence of K+ as compared to a single treatment with melatonin. 4. However, the combined treatment caused a greater inhibition of the Ca2+-response in the presence of 5-HT than the single treatment with either agent. 5. These results suggest that melatonin and nifedipine inhibit the same Ca2+ channels activated by KCl. Further, 5-HT-activated Ca2+ channels which are inhibited by melatonin may be different from nifedipine-sensitive Ca2+ channels activated by 5-HT. PMID- 2606336 TI - Prenatal cocaine exposure fails to modify neurobehavioral responses and the striatal dopaminergic system in newborn rats. AB - 1. The effects of cocaine on locomotor activity and striatal dopaminergic receptors and dopamine turnover were studied in rat pups exposed to cocaine (30 mg/kg/day) throughout the entire gestational period. 2. Prenatal exposure to cocaine did not alter the motor coordination or spontaneous locomotor activity in the offspring. 3. No change in the characteristics of dopaminergic receptors and the rate of dopamine turnover was detected in the striatum. PMID- 2606337 TI - Food intake suppressant effect of baclofen in rats. AB - 1. Baclofen given intraperitoneally (i.p.) to rats caused a dose-dependent decrease in food intake. 2. Bicuculline or picrotoxin (GABAA-antagonist) and methergoline (5-HT antagonist) decreased the anorectic effect of baclofen. 3. Pimozide (dopamine receptor blocker), phenoxybenzamine and propranolol (alpha and beta adrenergic blockers) did not diminish the baclofen effect, but even increased the anorexia induced by the drug. 4. It can be postulated that, at least partially, GABAA receptor mechanism, GABA-5HT receptor complex and/or 5-HT mechanism may be involved in baclofen induced anorexia. PMID- 2606338 TI - Deleterious effect of sodium fluoride on gastrointestinal tract. AB - 1. The effect of sodium fluoride (NaF) on gastrointestinal tracts of rats was investigated. 2. Blood flow rate in rat stomach mucosa was only 30% of the initial rate during 30-60 min after a single oral dose (300 mg/kg) of NaF. 3. The addition of NaF (final NaF concentration: 50 and 100 ppm) in vitro gave the reduction of 10 and 28%, respectively, of initial free calcium ion levels in rat blood. 4. These results indicate that oral ingestion of excess amount of NaF caused dilatation of blood vessel and greatly decreased blood flow rate to accumulate the circulating blood in the mucosa of gastrointestinal tract to cause redness. PMID- 2606339 TI - Major gene polymorphism for human erythrocyte (RBC) thiol methyltransferase (TMT). AB - Thiol S-methylation is an important pathway in the metabolism of many sulfhydryl compounds including the antihypertensive drug captopril and the antirheumatic medication D-penicillamine. Erythrocyte (RBC) thiol methyltransferase (TMT) activity was measured in blood samples from 237 individuals from 49 nuclear families. Earlier studies have demonstrated familial aggregation of RBC TMT activity, suggesting a role for genetic determinants. Our study indicates the specific mode of inheritance and gives relative contributions of a major locus and background genotype. We found evidence for a major locus, TMT. The allele frequencies for low enzyme activity, TMTL, and high activity TMTH, estimated from a power transformed scale were 0.58 and 0.42, respectively. The high activity allele, TMTH, appears to have reduced expression in heterozygous individuals (d = 0.21) and to act in concert with a strong influence from polygenic genotype (H = 0.75) to produce a highly heritable phenotype. This major gene polymorphism may now be studied using biochemical and molecular genetic techniques. PMID- 2606340 TI - Availability of schizophrenic patients and their families for genetic linkage studies: findings from the Maryland epidemiology sample. AB - It has been suggested that collections of affected sib pairs, or their nuclear families, may be an efficient method for screening for genetic linkages in schizophrenia. We present the data collected in five years from 15 hospitals in the state of Maryland in an effort to determine if such a collection scheme will be feasible. Probands in our sample were eligible for inclusion in the sample if they were white, were age 16 years or older, and carried a research diagnosis of schizophrenia. Family data are reported for 258 probands. Using the most stringent category of affected (RDC schizophrenia) revealed ten families with two or more affected sibs. The broadest category of affected (any psychotic disorder or psychiatric hospitalization) identified only 36 families with two or more affected sibs. We conclude that, if schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder with decreased penetrance, an effort to collect multiplex nuclear families is unlikely to provide enough data to identify genetic linkage. Alternatively, an effort to seek out and collect larger multiplex, multigenerational families rather than a collection of affected sib pairs may be more efficacious. PMID- 2606341 TI - Phenotypic effects of apolipoprotein structural variation on lipid profiles. IV. Apolipoprotein polymorphisms in a small group of black women from the healthy women study. AB - Structural variation in apolipoprotein E has been shown to influence lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. The purpose of the present study was to investigate several apolipoproteins in a group of Black women from the Healthy Women Study (HWS). HWS is a community-based prospective study of 541 premenopausal women who are being followed through the menopause to determine the influence of biological, genetic, and psychosocial phenomenon on cardiovascular risk factors. Of the 541 subjects, 48 are Black. Serum from most of these 48 Black women was used to type seven apolipoproteins (APO A-I, APO A-II, APO A-IV, APO C-II, APO D, APO E, and APO H). Five of these apolipoproteins are polymorphic in Blacks (APO A IV, APO C-II, APO D, APO E and APO H). Only two and three individuals, respectively, were heterozygous at the APO D and APO C-II loci. APO A-IV, E, and H exhibited more variation, however, only APO E phenotypes could be used for statistical analyses. Three common phenotypes, APO E 3-2, APO E 3-3, and APO E 4 3, were used in analysis of variance on four quantitative lipid variables. Despite small numbers, the effect of APO E phenotype was apparent. The APO E 3-2 phenotype showed reduced average levels of total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B (APO B) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), and the APO E 4-3 phenotype showed increased levels (P less than or equal to .0497). The APO E3-3 homozygote was intermediate on all three. Because of small numbers in the cells of APO A-IV and APO H phenotypes, these were not analyzed with respect to quantitative lipids. PMID- 2606342 TI - Segregation analysis of quantitative traits in nuclear families: comparison of three program packages. AB - Segregation analysis frequently is used to test for the presence of major gene effects and to estimate the various genetic and environmental components contributing to diseases. Recent advances in both theoretical models and computational algorithms have provided a number of new programs for performing segregation analyses. We compared two newer programs: REGC (part of the package "SAGE") and FISHER/MENDEL with an older established program (PAP) to determine relative accuracy in recovering parameter values and asymptotic standard errors, ability to discriminate between alternative transmission models, and execution speeds. Each program was applied to a set of computer simulations of a quantitative trait generated under a variety of genetic models. The results of these comparisons indicated that all the programs provided very similar parameter estimates, but that they differed in their abilities to identify the correct mode of transmission. In our simulations, PAP more often led to the selection of the correct transmission model, whereas REGC frequently indicated the presence of a major gene in simulations of purely polygenic transmission. Relative speeds for the programs differed, and their rank ordering varied with the complexity of the model being fitted. Although REGC was the fastest program for fitting a major gene or mixed model, it was by far the slowest program for estimating parameters in a sporadic or polygenic model. PMID- 2606343 TI - Cellular mosaicism in the methylation and expression of hemizygous loci in the mouse. AB - Proposed models for the inheritance of locus-specific methylation phenotypes in somatic cells include those in which there is stable inheritance of a methylation pattern such that all cells contain a similarly methylated locus, as well as models in which the inheritance of methylation can be variable. We investigated these possibilities by examining the methylation and expression of hemizygous loci in the mouse. Our results demonstrate that differences in both methylation and expression can exist between apparently identical cells and that such mosaicism is genetically controlled. PMID- 2606344 TI - Functional analysis of NTF-1, a developmentally regulated Drosophila transcription factor that binds neuronal cis elements. AB - In an effort to characterize sequence-specific transcription factors that regulate gene expression during Drosophila development, we identified and purified a novel DNA-binding activity (NTF-1). The purified protein consists of several polypeptides that bind selectively to a functionally important cis control element of the Ultrabithorax (Ubx) promoter and to the neurogenic elements of both the dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) and fushi tarazu (ftz) promoter/enhancer regions. Purified NTF-1 activates transcription in vitro in a binding site-dependent manner through upstream sequences of the Ubx promoter. A cDNA clone encoding the open reading frame of NTF-1 was isolated, and the deduced primary amino acid sequence of NTF-1 includes a glutamine-rich region reminiscent of the transcriptional activation domains found in Sp1 but no recognizable DNA binding domain. NTF-1 expression is temporally regulated during embryonic development. In addition, in situ hybridization experiments revealed that NTF-1 is transcribed in a spatially restricted pattern in the embryo, with the highest level of expression observed in the epidermis and a subset of cells in the CNS. Expression of the NTF-1 cDNA in mammalian cells yields a protein that displays DNA-binding and transcriptional activities indistinguishable from that of the collection of proteins isolated from Drosophila embryos. These findings suggest that NTF-1 is a member of a family of developmentally regulated transcription factors that may be involved in directing the expression of genes such as Ubx, Ddc, and ftz in neuronal cells. PMID- 2606345 TI - Novel phytochrome sequences in Arabidopsis thaliana: structure, evolution, and differential expression of a plant regulatory photoreceptor family. AB - Phytochrome is a plant regulatory photoreceptor that mediates red light effects on a wide variety of physiological and molecular responses. DNA blot analysis indicates that the Arabidopsis thaliana genome contains four to five phytochrome related gene sequences. We have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones corresponding to three of these genes and have deduced the amino acid sequence of the full length polypeptide encoded in each case. One of these proteins (phyA) shows 65 80% amino acid sequence identity with the major, etiolated-tissue phytochrome apoproteins described previously in other plant species. The other two polypeptides (phyB and phyC) are unique in that they have low sequence identity (approximately 50%) with each other, with phyA, and with all previously described phytochromes. The phyA, phyB, and phyC proteins are of similar molecular mass, have related hydropathic profiles, and contain a conserved chromophore attachment region. However, the sequence comparison data indicate that the three phy genes diverged early in plant evolution, well before the divergence of the two major groups of angiosperms, the monocots and dicots. The steady-state level of the phyA transcript is high in dark-grown A. thaliana seedlings and is down-regulated by light. In contrast, the phyB and phyC transcripts are present at lower levels and are not strongly light-regulated. These findings indicate that the red/far light-responsive phytochrome photoreceptor system in A. thaliana, and perhaps in all higher plants, consists of a family of chromoproteins that are heterogeneous in structure and regulation. PMID- 2606346 TI - A transcription factor, TFIS, interacts with both the promoter and enhancer of the Xenopus rRNA genes. AB - An activity that binds sequence specifically to the enhancer of the Xenopus laevis rRNA genes has been highly purified. This activity stimulates transcription of coinjected rRNA templates in Xenopus oocytes and has been named TFIS, as it binds to the enhancer sequences within the intergenic spacer. In addition to its enhancer binding activity, TFIS binds to the promoter of the Xenopus rRNA genes, as predicted by models for enhancer action. DNase I footprinting on promoter mutants suggests that there are three TFIS-binding sites between -70 and -240 and that TFIS binding is unusually tolerant of mutations. The large region of protein-DNA interaction and the occurrence of DNase I enhancements at integral multiples of the helical repeat are consistent with the promoter and enhancer DNA wrapping around TFIS. PMID- 2606347 TI - The Xenopus ribosomal gene enhancers bind an essential polymerase I transcription factor, xUBF. AB - We purified xUBF on the basis of its ability to specifically bind the enhancer elements of the Xenopus laevis rRNA genes. xUBF also binds to both upstream and downstream regions of the X. laevis ribosomal gene promoter and is essential for polymerase I transcription. Unexpectedly, xUBF binds to both upstream and downstream regions of the human ribosomal gene promoter, producing footprints that are indistinguishable from the footprints produced by hUBF, a previously described polymerase I transcription factor isolated from human cells. Despite extensive sequence divergence of vertebrate polymerase I promoters, these data suggest an evolutionary conservation of the primary DNA-protein interaction. PMID- 2606348 TI - Equipotent mouse ribosomal protein promoters have a similar architecture that includes internal sequence elements. AB - The promoters of the mouse ribosomal protein genes rpL30, rpL32, and rpS16 are of equal strength, as indicated by in vivo measurements of polymerase loading and by their relative efficiency in driving the expression of a linked reporter gene. The equipotency of these promoters appears to derive from a remarkably similar architecture in which five or more elements are distributed over a 200-bp region that spans a polypyrimidine-embedded cap site. Three trans-acting factors are shared by the rpL30 and rpL32 promoters, one of which, delta, recognizes a common CNGCCATCT motif in the first (untranslated) exons. Site-specific mutagenesis demonstrated that delta-factor binding is critical for rpL30 promoter function. The repeated occurrence of this novel promoter architecture among ribosomal protein genes with very different coding specificities is most readily explained by convergent evolution. PMID- 2606349 TI - NBP, a protein that specifically binds an enhancer of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement: purification and characterization. AB - Immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor (TCR) genes are encoded in discrete germ line DNA segments that are joined by site-specific recombination during lymphocyte development. These DNA rearrangements are mediated by conserved heptamer and nonamer DNA sequence elements that lie near the sites of recombination. In this paper we show that the nonamer element coincides with the recognition site for a specific DNA-binding protein: mutations within the nonamer sequence, but not outside of it, decrease affinity for the binding protein by 300- to 1000-fold. Deletion of the binding site for the protein results in at least a 50-fold decrease in recombination frequency in vivo. By a combination of conventional and recognition site affinity chromatography, we have achieved greater than 20,000 fold purification of the protein from calf thymus, with an overall yield of 22%. The purified protein, which we now call nonamer-binding protein (NBP), has an apparent molecular weight of 63,000 and a frictional ratio of 1.27, suggesting that it exists as a globular monomer in 0.5 M NaCl. Our observations suggest that NBP is a component of the recombinational apparatus. PMID- 2606350 TI - Differentiation-induced gene expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes: CCAAT/enhancer binding protein interacts with and activates the promoters of two adipocyte specific genes. AB - Previous studies have shown that differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes leads to the transcriptional activation of a group of adipose-specific genes. As an approach to defining the mechanism responsible for activating the expression of these genes, we investigated the binding of nuclear factors to the promoters of two differentiation-induced genes, the 422(aP2) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) genes. DNase I footprinting and gel retardation analysis identified two binding regions within the promoters of each gene that interact with nuclear factors present in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. One differentiation-induced nuclear factor interacts specifically with a single binding site in the promoter of each gene. Competition experiments showed that the interaction of this nuclear factor with the SCD1 promoter was prevented specifically by a synthetic oligonucleotide corresponding to the site footprinted in the 422(aP2) promoter. Several lines of evidence indicate that the differentiation-induced nuclear factor is CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), a DNA-binding protein first isolated from rat liver. Bacterially expressed recombinant C/EBP binds to the same site at which the differentiation-specific nuclear factor interacts within the promoter of each gene. Northern analysis with RNA from 3T3-L1 cells shows that C/EBP mRNA abundance increases markedly during differentiation. Transient cotransfection studies using a C/EBP expression vector demonstrate that C/EBP can function as a trans-activator of both the 422(aP2) and SCD1 gene promoters. PMID- 2606351 TI - Cytoplasmic activation of ISGF3, the positive regulator of interferon-alpha stimulated transcription, reconstituted in vitro. AB - The signal transduction pathway through which interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) stimulates transcription of a defined set of genes involves activation of DNA binding factors specific for the IFN alpha-stimulated response element (ISRE). IFN-stimulated gene factor-3 (ISGF3), the positive regulator of transcription, was derived in response to IFN alpha treatment from preexisting protein components that were activated first in the cell cytoplasm prior to appearance in the nucleus. Nuclear translocation of ISGF3 required several minutes and could be inhibited by NaF. Formation of active ISGF3 was mimicked in vitro by mixing cytoplasmic extracts from IFN alpha-stimulated cells with extracts of cells treated to contain high amounts of the unactivated factor. Active ISGF3 was found to be formed from association of two latent polypeptide precursors that were distinguished biochemically by differential sensitivity to N-ethyl maleimide. One precursor was modified in response to IFN alpha occupation of its cell-surface receptor, thus enabling association with the second subunit. The resulting complex then was competent for nuclear translocation and binding to ISRE. Cytoplasmically localized transcription factor precursors thus serve as second messengers to translate directly an extracellular signal into specific transcriptional activity in the nucleus. PMID- 2606352 TI - Evidence for a complex regulatory array in the first intron of the human adenosine deaminase gene. AB - Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is expressed ubiquitously by diverse mammalian cells and tissues but at levels that vary according to tissue and species. In humans, the thymus exhibits levels of the enzyme up to 100-fold higher than most other tissues. Using transgenic mice, we identified human ADA gene regulatory domains. Up to 3.7 kb of 5'-flanking and first exon DNA from the human ADA gene failed to promote the expression of a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene in an efficient, reproducible, or tissue-appropriate manner in transgenic mice. However, when 12.8 kb of DNA from the first intron of the human ADA gene was placed 3' of CAT-coding and -processing sequences, transgenic mice reproducibly expressed CAT activity in most tissues, with profoundly high levels in the thymus. DNase I hypersensitivity studies demonstrated that among transgenic mouse tissues, human thymus, and a variety of human cell lines, a region of the intron 4-10 kb downstream of the first exon exhibited an array of hypersensitive sites that varied according to tissue and cell type. Deletion of this region from the gene construction eliminated high-level expression in transgenic mice. In transfection-transient expression assays, the 12.8-kb intron fragment exhibited enhancer activity in several cell types. A 1.3-kb fragment encompassing two of the hypersensitive sites exhibited some of these activities. The results of these studies suggest that the diverse pattern of human ADA gene expression is determined, in part, by a cluster of cis-regulatory elements contained within its large first intron. PMID- 2606353 TI - The mab-9 gene controls the fate of B, the major male-specific blast cell in the tail region of Caenorhabditis elegans. AB - The internal structures of the tail of male Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes are made by the descendants of four cells (B, Y, F, and U) which divide only in males. These cells are also present in hermaphrodites, where they have minor structural roles in the rectum. Here we show that the gene mab-9 is required for the correct development of two of these male-specific blast cells, B and F. In mutant males, the lineages of B and F resemble those of Y and U, respectively. These abnormal lineages lead to grossly defective male tails. We suggest that in mab-9 males the identities of B and F are transformed into Y and U, their respective anterior neighbors. The case for the F-to-U transformation is less strong than for the B-to-Y transformation because the wild-type lineages of F and U are very similar. Some mab-9 hermaphrodites are constipated as a result of abnormal rectal structure. This may be the result of an analogous fate transformation. mab-9 worms of both sexes are slightly uncoordinated. We propose that the fates of the four rectal cells are initially specified as two pairs (B and Y, F and U) and that the function of mab-9 in both sexes is to differentiate the posterior member of each pair from its anterior neighbor. PMID- 2606354 TI - DNA regions that regulate the ovarian transcriptional specificity of Drosophila yolk protein genes. AB - Yolk protein genes 1 and 2 (yp1 and yp2) of Drosophila melanogaster are divergently transcribed neighboring genes. Both are transcribed in only two tissues, the ovarian follicle cells and the fat bodies of adult females. Previous work has identified a yolk protein enhancer between the genes that is sufficient to direct transcription in one of the tissues, female fat bodies. Using germ-line transformation methods, we identify two cis-acting regions with positive effects on transcription in ovaries. One, a 301-bp region located between the genes, influences both genes and is an enhancer determining the stage and cell type specificity of ovarian transcription. The other, a 105-bp region located in the first exon of yp2, acts across the yp2 promoter region to stimulate yp1 transcription in ovaries. Additional observations suggest how a single enhancer influences both promoters. PMID- 2606355 TI - Effect of the cap structure on pre-mRNA splicing in Xenopus oocyte nuclei. AB - The effect of the 5' cap structure on the splicing of precursor mRNAs was investigated after the RNAs were injected into Xenopus oocyte nuclei. The precursor mRNAs synthesized in vitro in a prokaryotic transcription system with a dinucleotide, ApppG, as a primer, were extremely stable when injected into the nuclei yet behaved like uncapped pre-mRNAs in the in vitro splicing reaction. The ApppG-primed precursor mRNAs served as a control (uncapped) in the injection experiments, and their splicing reactions were compared with those of their capped (m7GpppG-primed) counterparts. The capped precursors were spliced more efficiently than the uncapped precursors. Examination of splicing of the precursor mRNA that contained three exons and two introns with a single molecule has revealed that the cap structure exerts its effect primarily on the 5' proximal intron. Thus, the cap structure not only stabilizes precursor mRNAs but also plays a positive role in the splicing of precursor mRNAs in cells. PMID- 2606356 TI - A high efficiency method for site-directed mutagenesis with any plasmid. AB - A procedure is described which allows for the site-directed mutagenesis of DNA segments in any double-stranded plasmid with high efficiency. There are no limitations as to the position of the mutation. The protocol involves only simple enzymatic manipulations and no difficult to control operations, such as partial digestions, are required. The method was developed and used to mutagenize two different genes (encoding human interferon-beta and interleukin-2) cloned in a eukaryotic expression vector. For ten mutageneses with different oligodeoxyribonucleotides the average yield of mutants was 60%. PMID- 2606357 TI - Physical characterization of the aldehyde-dehydrogenase-encoding gene of Aspergillus niger. AB - To facilitate a better understanding of the regulation of aldA, the gene encoding aldehyde dehydrogenase (AldDH) in the ascomycete fungus, Aspergillus niger, the gene has been physically characterized. The complete nucleotide (nt) sequence of the gene and its flanking regions has been determined. Analysis of the gene has revealed the presence of three introns. The homologous gene in the related fungus, Aspergillus nidulans, contains only two introns. The coding regions of these genes, excluding the intron sequences, show 80% homology at the nt level and 82% homology at the amino acid (aa) level. The aa sequence of the A. niger enzyme is significantly homologous to mammalian sequences, particularly around one Cys residue, which is hypothesized to be adjacent to another Cys known to be at the active site of mammalian AldDHs. The 5' region of the gene shows one major and two minor transcription start points and a general structure common to highly expressed fungal genes. The 3' region shows four sites of polyadenylation. Sequence comparisons of the 5' region of the A. niger aldA gene to other Aspergillus genes has shown a common sequence in the 5' regions of several A. nidulans genes, all but one of which are subject to carbon catabolite repression. This sequence may be important for the regulatory mechanism. PMID- 2606358 TI - Human ribosomal DNA: novel sequence organization in a 4.5-kb region upstream from the promoter. AB - We have investigated the molecular organization of a portion of the human ribosomal nontranscribed spacer, by determining the sequence of 4580 bp of DNA upstream from the promoter. This region contains two pairs of oppositely oriented Alu elements, each of which is separated by dA (or dT)-rich stretches. One dT rich region extends over 800 bp and is of variable length in different ribosomal genes. This and other portions of the spacer consist of simple sequences reiterated many times: for instance, (TACAA)26, (TTTC)117, and (TTGC)47. We are able to position the distal junction of the ribosomal repeat and sequences that have the propensity to form alternate structures, such as Z-DNA and bent DNA. A complex DNA methylation pattern and the influence on transcription of analogous regions in other species, suggest that this upstream area may be important to the expression of the human gene. PMID- 2606359 TI - Human ribosomal DNA: conserved sequence elements in a 4.3-kb region downstream from the transcription unit. AB - The sequence of 4366 bp of nontranscribed spacer (NTS) human ribosomal DNA (rDNA) located downstream from the 3' end of the transcription unit has been determined. The NTS rDNA is rich in pyrimidine nucleotides (31% T and 30% C) that tend to occur on the coding strand in runs of simple sequence repeats. Other highly repetitive sequence elements are also represented, including tracts of (dA-dC)26 and (dG-dT)29 on the coding strand downstream from the putative termination of transcription. Still farther downstream, two Alu repeat sequences are found. Such sequences are also found in rat DNA at comparable locations, consistent with the possibility of a comparable functional role. PMID- 2606360 TI - Nucleotide sequence analysis of novel junctions near an unstable integrated plasmid in human cells. AB - Characterization of human cell clones containing a promoterless selectable gene (neo), integrated at various locations in the genome, demonstrated that one of the integration sites had a high rate of spontaneous tandem duplications. Other investigators have suggested that specific sequences, such as short repeats, found near an integration site, could be responsible for this kind of instability. To learn more about this process, we sequenced the DNA at the recombination site in two independently derived subclones, and compared these sequences with those found in the parental cell DNA. The results demonstrate that specific sequences are not required at the recombination site. In one G418 resistant subclone, recombination occurred between an Alu retroposon in the cellular DNA and integrated pBR322 sequences sharing 3 bp of similarity at the recombination site. In the other subclone, recombination occurred between single copy cellular DNA and integrated simian virus 40 sequences sharing a single bp of similarity at the recombination site. This heterogeneity at the recombination site indicates a general enhancement of the rate of recombination within the entire region, with little if any sequence specificity or similarity required. PMID- 2606361 TI - Nucleotide sequence of an actin-encoding gene from Hydra attenuata: structural characteristics and evolutionary implications. AB - We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of an actin-encoding gene from Hydra attenuata as well as partial sequences of cDNA clones from two additional actin-encoding genes. The gene from the genomic clone contains a single intron, and has promoter and polyadenylation signals similar to those found in other species. The hydra genome has a very A + T-rich base composition (71%). This is reflected in the codon usage of the actin-encoding genes, which is strongly biased towards codons having A or T in the third position. The hydra actin-encoding gene family consists of three or more transcribed genes, two of which are very closely related to each other and probably arose by a recent gene duplication. Hydra actin, like other invertebrate actins, is more similar to the non-muscle isotypes of vertebrates than to the vertebrate muscle actins. Hydra actin is more similar to animal actins than to those of plants or fungi, which is consistent with the view that all metazoans arose from a single protist ancestor. PMID- 2606362 TI - Investigation of detoxification capacity of rat testicular germ cells and Sertoli cells. AB - Isolated pachytene spermatocytes liver longer than round spermatids in vitro. Indigenous formation of oxygen-derived free radicals and hydrogen peroxide can cause damage to germ cells. The germ cell antioxidant capacity may play an important role in this respect. In view of this, we have examined the activity and cellular localization of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S transferases (GST) in rat testicular cells. We have found significant differences in the distribution of these enzymatic activities in the germ cells. In addition, this study shows that alpha-tocopherol is found in various amounts in rat testicular cells in the order of: Sertoli cells greater than pachytene spermatocytes greater than round spermatids, with a factor of 4 in the alpha tocopherol content between Sertoli cells and round spermatids. PMID- 2606363 TI - Application of simulation modeling to lipid peroxidation processes. AB - A quantitative simulation model was developed that utilized present knowledge of lipid peroxidation in biological systems. The simulation model incorporated the following features: peroxidizability of polyunsaturated lipids, activation of inducers and their initiation of lipid peroxidation, concurrent autoxidation, inhibition of lipid peroxidation by vitamin E, reduction of some of the hydroperoxides by glutathione peroxidase, and formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Simulation calculations were done using a computer spreadsheet program. When the simulation program was applied to tissue slice and microsomal peroxidizing systems, the results of the stimulation were in agreement with the experimental data. PMID- 2606364 TI - RNA editing: a novel mechanism for regulating lipid transport from the intestine. AB - Human apolipoprotein (apo)-B mRNA undergoes a novel tissue specific editing reaction which replaces a genomically templated cytidine with uridine. This substitution converts codon 2153 from glutamine (CAA) in apo-B100 mRNA to a stop codon (UAA) in apo-B48 mRNA. This novel RNA editing process is responsible for the generation of hepatic apo-B100 and intestinal apo-B48. We have established the following concerning this process: (1) by transfection of a series of deletion mutants into the rat hepatoma cell line McArdle 7777, which makes both apo-B100 and apo-B48, we have defined a minimum sequence of 26 nucleotides that is required for apo-B mRNA editing. The sequence containing the modified nucleotide forms a 26 nucleotide highly conserved stem loop with the modified nucleotide occurring in an 8-base loop. (2) Conversion in vitro of apo-B mRNA has been established, using cell free S100 cytoplasmic extract and synthetic RNA templates. Activity was abolished by protease treatment. (3) Transgenic mice were created which expressed a human apo-B construct spanning the stop codon. Apo-B mRNA was found in all tissues examined and this was shown to undergo editing. (4) In the rat liver, which produces apo B-100 and apo-B48, modulation of the relative proportion of these proteins by thyroxine was demonstrated to be mediated at the level of the RNA editing mechanism. It is concluded that apo-B mRNA is edited by a generally expressed protein and editing is highly regulated. PMID- 2606365 TI - Non-coeliac flat jejunal mucosa. PMID- 2606366 TI - Chronic lymphocytic gastritis and protein losing gastropathy. PMID- 2606367 TI - [Hemodynamic and clinical studies following injury of the arteries of the forearm]. AB - Forearm arterial injury usually does not lead to acute ischemia, but a functional deficit may develop. We tried to evaluate the need for two patent forearm arteries using rheological, Doppler sonographical and clinical parameters. Twenty seven patients were examined after arterial and/or nerve injury in the forearm as well as six patients in whom a forearm flap was harvested. In seventeen patients both arteries were patent after primary reconstruction. Nine patients showed only one patent artery, while in the six patients with a forearm flap the radial artery was reconstructed in only one case. We found a decreased skin temperature in cases with artery and nerve injury. If both structures were reconstructed, the difference was not significant. The pressure of the finger collateral arteries and of the forearm arteries as well as the rheological investigation did not show any difference. The two-point discrimination, reflecting the nerve regeneration, was not affected, if one or two arteries had been reconstructed. Pain following exercise rarely occurred if both arteries of the forearm were patent. Because of the positive effect on skin temperature and of the reduced pain following exercise, reconstruction of both forearm arteries should be considered. Furthermore, the possibility of a subsequent arterial injury has to be taken into account. PMID- 2606368 TI - [Raynaud syndrome. A case report]. AB - Symptomatology, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical course of a Raynaud syndrome in a sixteen-year old patient beginning in the second year of his life are described. He lost all distal phalanges of both hands and big toes at the age of nine. Remarkable was the laboratory finding of an extremely high serum IgE concentration. A combined therapy of plasmapheresis, immunosuppression and corticosteroids improved the clinical and laboratory findings. PMID- 2606369 TI - [Is intraneural neurolysis in ulnar nerve sulcus syndrome justified?]. AB - A follow-up of thirty-seven patients with ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow is presented. External neurolysis was performed in fourteen cases, whereas internal neurolysis involving interfascicular dissection was performed in twenty-three cases. When indicated, internal neurolysis can lead to very good results. However, unnecessary interfascicular dissection may result in unwarranted impairment of hand function. PMID- 2606370 TI - [A deep palmar muscle as a cause for carpal tunnel syndrome]. AB - In young patients with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and a negative history of synovialitis, trauma, and metabolic disease one has to consider rare muscle variations as a cause of the syndrome. Besides variations of the lumbrical muscles and the superficial flexor digitorum muscles, variations of the palmaris longus muscle can be the causative anomalous structure. A case of carpal tunnel syndrome caused by a palmaris profundus muscle in presence of a normal palmaris longus muscle is reported. PMID- 2606371 TI - [Elastic behavior of the median nerve and ulnar nerve in situ and in vitro]. AB - This study was performed to investigate the mechanical properties of the median and the ulnar nerve in ten fresh cadaver extremities in situ and in a second series in vitro in a strain controlled testing equipment. In situ the nerves were fixed in the equipment at the level of the insertion of the pectoral muscle. The extensions of the nerves were tested in the undissected bed of the nerve with loads from 2 to 25 Newtons. The extension rate of three sections was measured: A: Axilla-wrist, B: Axilla-forearm, C: Axilla-elbow. On the contralateral arm the section D: Axilla-wrist was measured after cutting the nerve's branches without destroying the nerve's bed. The values of the section A, B, and C were significantly different. The nerves were less extensible the more distal the load was fixed. The values of the two sections with equal length A, without, and D, after cutting the nerve's branches also were significantly different (p less than 0.001). The in vitro series showed that the nerves were more extensible after removal of the connective tissue of the nerve's bed. PMID- 2606372 TI - [Osteosynthesis procedures in microsurgery]. AB - In microsurgery the indications and techniques of osteosynthesis are often different from normal orthopaedic surgery. Simple methods which do not require much time or metal and which guarantee sufficient stability and minimal soft tissue trauma are preferable. The external fixator has a good indication in the tibia and the plate osteosynthesis in the upper extremity and in the femur. Kirschner wires are useful in peripheral osteosyntheses. PMID- 2606373 TI - [Extreme soft tissue hypertrophy of both hands of "uncertain origin"]. AB - The author reports on a 56-year old patient. At the age of 17 an asymmetric hypertrophy of the soft tissue isolated on both hands developed increasingly. Based upon differing diagnoses, corticoids and "black light - phototherapy" were attempted. In 1985 and 1986 surgery of both hands was performed. Finally in 1987, after 38 years, "Mycosis fungoides phase III" of the hands was diagnosed and adequately treated. PMID- 2606374 TI - [Rupture of the palmar plate--conservative or surgical therapy]. AB - Disruptions of the palmar plate are frequently overlooked injuries. As the palmar plate stabilises the PIP joint in combination with the collateral ligaments untreated injuries may result in severe complaints. Detailed anatomical and functional knowledge is therefore necessary to diagnose the degree of injury. In addition to ligamentous disruption osseous chips may occur and can be divided into four degrees (Hintringer 1987). By the study of results of 178 cases specific treatment has been established. Surgical intervention is indicated in the presence of an unstable PIP joint, subluxation or osseous chips grade 3 and 4 (Hintringer). The aim should be a painfree and stable joint. Small limitations in movement can be tolerated. PMID- 2606375 TI - [Periarthritis calcarea of the finger joints]. AB - Calcium deposits close to finger joints are seen very often and are common in systemic diseases. There are also calcium deposits with no relation to other symptoms and therefore diagnosis is difficult. Between 1984-1988 we have analysed twelve such cases and explained the differential diagnosis and therapy. It seems important that these cases with typical clinical and radiologic findings are self limiting and restitutio ad integrum is common without any therapy. PMID- 2606376 TI - [Osseous rupture of the attachment of the tendon of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle]. AB - The author reports on a 42-year-old male patient who presented in our clinic with swelling over the left wrist bones after a fall. Dorsal and palmar wrist movement was painful, yet nearly equal on both sides. The X-ray showed an isolated osseous tendon rupture of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle at the base of the third metacarpal. This finding was confirmed upon surgical exploration, and a traction band was applied. After osseous healing of the fragments, the metal was removed early due to irritative synovialitis. Thereafter, the patient's wrist mobility soon became free and undisturbed. PMID- 2606377 TI - [The effect of sofalcone on the kinetics of the generative cells and superficial epithelial cells in mouse gastric mucosa]. AB - Effects of an anti-ulcer drug, 2'-carboxymethoxy-4,4'-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy) chalcone (sofalcone), on the generative cells and kinetics of superficial epithelial cells in mouse gastric mucosa, including the effect of hydrocortisone on them, were investigated by the use of 3H-thymidine autoradiography. The labeling indices and the width of the generative cell zone in the fundic mucosa were significantly decreased by administration of hydrocortisone. The decrease in the labeling indices and the width of the generative cell zone induced by administration of hydrocortisone were not inhibited by sofalcone. Hydrocortisone had no significant influence on the labeling indices of the generative cell zone in the pyloric mucosa, but decreased the width of it. The decrease in the width of the generative cell zone induced by hydrocortisone was inhibited by sofalcone. Concerning the influence on the kinetics of superficial epithelial cells, hydrocortisone inhibited the increase in the labeling indices of the superficial epithelial cells after continuous administration of 3H-thymidine in both the fundic mucosa and pyloric mucosa. In the fundic mucosa, sofalcone showed no influence on the inhibition by hydrocortisone, but in the pyloric mucosa, the effect of hydrocortisone was abolished by sofalcone. These results suggest that sofalcone inhibits the reduction of the cell production and the prolongation of the life span of superficial epithelial cells caused by hydrocortisone in the pyloric mucosa. PMID- 2606378 TI - Peculiarities of amino acid transport in Schizosaccharomyces pombe: effects of growth medium. AB - Transport systems for amino acids in the wild-type strain of Schizosaccharomyces pombe are not constitutive. During growth on different media no transport of acidic, neutral and basic amino acids is detectable. To acquire the ability to transport amino acids, cells must be preincubated with a metabolic source of energy, such as glucose. The appearance of transport activity is associated with protein synthesis (suppression by cycloheximide) at all phases of culture growth. After such preincubation the initial rate of amino acid uptake depends on the phase of growth of the culture and on the amount of glucose in the growth medium but not on the nitrogen source used. L-Proline and 2-aminoisobutyric acid are practically not transported under any of the conditions tested. PMID- 2606379 TI - Regeneration of the optic tectum in larval stages of Bufo regularis Reuss after partial and total excision. AB - The right optic tectum of four larval stages of Bufo regularis was subjected to partial and total excision to determine the regenerative capacity of the optic tectum. Intense regenerative capacity can be observed at stage 50; the regenerated part grows to a considerable size and its structure is comparable to that of the intact part. This regenerative capacity gradually diminishes and from stage 55 onwards the decrease is pronounced. At stage 57 regenerative capacity is severly reduced and the regenerated part, if present, always has an anomalous structure. PMID- 2606380 TI - Amputation level and hind limb regeneration in larvae of the Egyptian toad Bufo regularis Reuss: length, volume and rate. AB - Study of the influence of the amputation level on regeneration length and volume and on the rate of regeneration of the hind limbs of a larval stage of Bufo regularis revealed that, during dedifferentiation and blastema accumulation and growth, the parts regenerating from proximal and distal amputation levels were almost the same length and volume, and grew at the same rate, irrespective of the amputation level. During blastema differentiation and morphogenesis, however, there were significant length, volume and elongation rate differences between parts regenerating from different amputation levels. The results also demonstrated that there was a strong positive correlation between regeneration length and volume, but that the elongation rate was not correlated to regeneration volume. PMID- 2606381 TI - Histophysiology of the saccus vasculosus of the Indian freshwater goby Glossogobius giuris Ham. (Teleostei). AB - The author studied the structure and functions of the saccus vasculosus of the Indian freshwater goby Glossogobius giuris (Ham.). The saccus is ovoid, is localized on the ventral surface of the brain and is lodged between the inferior lobes. It consist of several loculi lined with coronet cells and is bathed with blood from surrounding sinusoids. The coronet cells are variably shaped and have a conspicous central nucleus. It is suggested that the purpose of the saccus vasculosus is to act as a storage site for carbohydrates to the brain. By converting glycogen to acid mucopolysaccharides, the coronet cells are involved in glycogen metabolism. PMID- 2606382 TI - Morphology of the brain of Sarotherodon mossambicus (Peters) and correlation with its habits. AB - The correlation between the brain of an exotic fish, Sarotherodon mossambicus, and its habits was studied. The poorly developed olfactory lobes are indicative of poor olfactory sense, while the large optic lobes and stout, thick optic nerves correlate with this fish's excellent sense of vision. Similarly, its tactile and gustatory sense are determined by the extent of development of the facial and vagal lobes. PMID- 2606383 TI - Cytochemical studies of oocyte development in Sarcophaga lineatocollis Macq. (Muscidae: Diptera). AB - The ovary of Sarcophaga lineatocollis is a typical polytrophic ovary. Each of its 25-30 ovarioles is composed of a small terminal filament, a small germarium and a vitellarium consisting of the egg follicle. The tunica propria is a noncellular, PAS-positive membrane. The ovarian follicle contains fifteen trophocytes and one oocyte. RNA is synthesized with the aid of the nuclei in the trophocyte cytoplasm, which are RNA- and PAS-positive. Protein is deposited intensively in the early stages of the trophocytes. The trophocytes of Sarcophaga lineatocollis synthesize RNA and protein more actively than the oocyte. In this fly, protein yolk precursor (PYP) bodies are supplied by the trophocyte cytoplasm to the ooplasm at an advanced stage of development. Nucleolar budding and vacuolation are observed in the trophocytes. RNA, DNA, protein and PYP bodies appear to be transported to the ooplasm from the trophocytes. Pyknotic trophocyte nuclei can be seen entering the ooplasm. The perinuclear Golgi bodies of the trophocytes help in the production and maturation of PYP bodies in the trophocytes before they are organized and passed on to the oocytes. Some RNA is contributed to the oocyte by the follicular epithelium. All these processes leading to maturation and development of the oocyte are discussed and interpreted. PMID- 2606384 TI - Effect of infection with Trichobilharzia ocellata and Schistosoma mansoni on the ultrastructure of the albumen gland of their respective hosts, Lymnaea stagnalis and Biomphalaria glabrata. AB - The albumen gland, a female accessory sex gland of pulmonate snails, produces the perivitelline fluid. The ultrastructure of the albumen glands of control and infected specimens of Lymnaea stagnalis and Biomphalaria glabrata was studied. The albumen gland of L. stagnalis contains two types of secretory cells--light (active) and dark (inactive)--and two types of supporting cells--centroacinar and myoepithelial. The secretory cells apparently represent two activity stages of one type of cell. The gland B. glabrata possesses only one secretory cell type, which alternates with one type of supporting cell. The albumen glands of L. stagnalis and B. glabrata infected at a juvenile stage were studied 4 and 14 weeks (L. stagnalis) and 4 and 9 weeks (B. glabrata) after exposure. After four weeks' infection, B. glabrata produced some egg masses, but in subsequent stages egg mass production completely coased. Infected L. stagnalis never produced eggs. B. glabrata was apparently infected at a "physiologically" more mature stage than L. stagnalis. The morphology of the albumen glands four weeks after exposure (the daughter sporocyst stage) is in agreement with this hypothesis. At this interval the secretory cells of L. stagnalis appeared to be much more severely affected (inactive Golgi bodies and rough endoplasmic reticulum, crinophagy of the secretory granules) than the cells of B. glabrata. In the later stages studied (shedding of the cercariae), the glands of both species appeared to be completely inactive (reduced height of the epithelium, inactive organelles, crinophagy, absence of secretory granules). At this stage of infection, daughter sporocysts containing cercaria embryos were seen in the connective tissue of the albumen gland of B. glabrata, but not of L. stagnalis. The results thus indicate that the development and synthetic activity of the albumen gland are seriously affected by infection. These processes are known to be under the endocrine control of the female gonadotrophic hormones. Since it has been established that these hormones are normally present in the haemolymph of infected snails, the findings can be explained by assuming that the parasite interferes in some way or other with the snail's endocrine system. PMID- 2606385 TI - Observations on the nature of neurosecretion in the marine crab Portunus sanguinolentus (Herbst) (Crustacea: Brachyura). AB - Several types of NS cells were identified in Portunus sanguinolentus--five types (A, A', B, C and D) in the brain and thoracic ganglion, four types (A, B, C and D) in the commissural ganglia and four types (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) in the optic ganglia. The distribution of these NS cells is described. Cytochemically, the neurosecretory material in the NS cells has a carbohydrate moiety and is rich in disulphide groups, lipids, phospholipids and RNA. It contains a small amount of sulphydryl groups and protein-bound NH2 groups, but no tyrosine or tryptophan. The NS activity of the brain was found to be closely associated with the reproductive and moult cycles. Just before the initiation of vitellogenesis and moulting the NS cells display secretory hyperactivity. Axonal transport of NS material was also observed in the NS cells. PMID- 2606386 TI - Effects of prenatally administered cyclophosphamide on postnatal immunocompetence in mice. AB - The effect of prenatal exposure to cyclophosphamide on postnatal somatic development and the function of the immune system was studied in random-bred ICR mice. In a dose of 1.2 mg (i.e. an average of 23.5 mg/kg pregnant female body weight), cyclophosphamide administered on the 16th day of gestation (a vaginal plug = day 1) caused both prenatal and postnatal retardation of growth. In the 3rd, 5th and 8th postnatal week, increased proliferation of the splenocytes of the experimental mice was observed in vitro, with changes in the intensity of their activation by Concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. In the 3rd week their capacity for activation by lipopolysaccharide was markedly lower than their activation by Concanavalin A and phytohaemagglutinin. No differences were observed between proliferation and activation of the splenocytes of the offspring of the control and the experimental mice at the age of 16 weeks. After depression at three weeks, the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction showed a tendency to increase; in the offspring of the experimental mice the haemagglutinin titre against sheep RBC was raised during the whole period of the investigation. At 16 weeks, the activity of peritoneal macrophages was likewise elevated. PMID- 2606387 TI - Ultrastructural changes in the male germ cells of Bulinus truncatus during spermatogenesis. AB - The structure of the spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and Sertoli cells of the hermaphroditic snail Bulinus truncatus was studied by electron microscopy. The spermatogonia are small, with relatively large nuclei. The acrosome develops from a small proacrosomal granule which is probably derived from the Golgi apparatus in the spermatocyte stage. Condensation and elongation of the nuclei were found in the spermatids. The shape and components of the Sertoli cells did not change during the spermatogonium and spermatocyte stages. Before spermiation the Sertoli cells have the morphological features of steroid-producing cells. The study showed that the Sertoli cells are involved in the nutrition and transportation of the spermatogenic cells, in spermiation and in hormone production. PMID- 2606388 TI - Ultrastructure of rabbit tracheal epithelium after saline lavage of the airways. AB - In experiment the effect of saline lavage on the ultrastructure of the tracheal epithelium was investigated. Immediately after this procedure the trachea was lined with markedly altered pseudostratified columnar epithelium with remnants of the ciliary border. The intercellular spaces were markedly dilated, but the apical junctional complexes were left intact. 99% of the goblet cells were exhausted degenerated and were gradually expelled from the epithelium. Damage to the ciliated cells was not so generalized but some of them displayed signs of vacuolar degeneration. The ciliary border was severely impaired with only 1.5 kinocilia/microns 2, but the majority of remaining cilia were intact. Compared with controls there was only mild, but significant increase in the number of degenerating and malformed cilia. Morphological signs of impaired self-cleaning ability of the epithelium were not noticed. PMID- 2606389 TI - Ultrastructure of the vitreous body of the rabbit. AB - Examination in the scanning and the transmission electron microscope showed three morphologically and structurally different types of cells in the vitreous body of the healthy rabbit eye: 1. cells with numerous cytoplasm processes, whose high metabolic activity is represented by the presence of a large number of organelles and which are capable of synthesizing fibrillar material; 2. elongate cells with a flattened nucleus, with long, narrow cytoplasm processes arising from both their poles and with only a few organelles in their cytoplasm; 3. large spherical cells with structureless contents, whose nucleus and few organelles are situated below the cell membrane. The organized component of the intercellular matter of the rabbit vitreous body is composed of collagen fibrils with a very variable diameter (24-180 nm), The collagen fibrils form the basis of the three dimensional skeleton of the intercellular matter of the vitreous body. PMID- 2606390 TI - Anatomical observations on the arcade of Frohse and other structures related to the deep radial nerve. Anatomical interpretation of deep radial nerve entrapment neuropathy. AB - In a series of 120 elbow regions (66 male, 54 female) from embalmed human cadavers, the authors observed the course of the deep radial nerve and then related it to structures such as a) the deep surface of the initial part of the extensor carpi radialis brevis, which was found to be tendinous in 90% of the cases, b) the superior hiatus of the supinator muscle, which formed a fibrous arcade of Frohse in 61% of the cases, and the distance of its peak from the lateral condyle, which ranged from 4 to 6 cm, and c) the angle between the superficial oblique muscle fibres of the supinator and the long axis of the radius, which varies from 18 degrees to 38 degrees and crossed the nerve almost transversely. The above anatomical factors--and particularly the thickened fibrous arcade of Frohse--are all important for the deep radial entrapment neuropathy in predisposed individuals. PMID- 2606391 TI - New quantitative developments in primatology and anthropology. 1. Schultz-Biegert Symposium. Ittingen, Switzerland, 11-15 September 1989. PMID- 2606392 TI - Developments in cranial morphometrics. AB - This paper sets out to describe a number of traditional and novel approaches to craniometry. These include linear and angular measurements, indices, shape factors, least squares, and Fourier analysis. A study is presented in which these different techniques are applied to a phenetic analysis of the crania of a variety of living and extinct hominoids, with the aim of assessing the relative merits of different approaches. The results allow an appraisal of the stability of phenetic groupings in the face of different data and suggest that the choice of data can considerably influence the observed pattern of between-group relationships. The choice of craniometric method should be made with due regard for the questions at hand and the interpretation of phenetic relationships should allow for the particular data. PMID- 2606393 TI - Biomechanics and allometric scaling in primate locomotion and morphology. AB - Body size has a dominant influence on locomotor performance and the morphology of the locomotor apparatus. In locomotion under the influence of gravity, body mass acts as weight force and is a mechanical variable. Accordingly, the application of biomechanical principles and methods allows a functional understanding of scaling effects in locomotion. This is demonstrated here using leaping primates as an example. With increasing body size, the decreasing ratio of muscle force available for acceleration during takeoff to the body mass that has to be accelerated dictates both the movement pattern and the proportions of the hindlimbs. In an arm-swinging movement, the long, heavy arms of the large-bodied leapers are effectively used to gain additional momentum. A new perspective on decreasing size identifies the absolutely small acceleration distance and time available for propulsion as factors limiting leaping distance and extensively determining locomotor behavior and body proportions. As the mechanical constraints differ according to body size for a given mode of locomotion, a typological approach to morphology in relation to locomotor category is ruled out. Across locomotor categories, dynamic similarity (sensu Alexander) can be expected if the propulsive mechanisms as well as the selective pressures acting upon locomotion are the same. PMID- 2606394 TI - The developing dentition and tooth structure in hominoids. AB - This review of hominoid dental development is presented in two parts. The first section reviews (1) the general relationship between dental development and life history in hominoids; (2) the methods used to document dental development, and (3) the nature of incremental growth markings in hominoid teeth. The second section builds on this and reviews the contributions to hominoid dental development that have been made by (1) studies of tooth emergence; (2) studies of tooth calcification stages, and (3) histological studies of incremental growth markings made either from sections of teeth or replicas of early hominid teeth prepared for scanning electron microscopy. PMID- 2606395 TI - Interactive analysis of phylogeny and character evolution using the computer program MacClade. AB - Computer programs for phylogenetic analysis have been important tools in systematics and evolutionary biology, but most have been designed primarily for the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees and not the interpretation of patterns of character evolution. Described here is the computer program MacClade, designed for interactive analysis of character evolution and phylogeny. For a given tree and a matrix of character data, MacClade displays its reconstruction of character evolution by shading the branches of the tree to indicate ancestral states. Trees can be manipulated for instance by picking up and moving branches. Assumptions underlying the reconstruction of character evolution can be varied extensively. With these manipulations and MacClade's graphical feedback, one can explore the relationships among phylogenetic trees, character data, assumptions and interpretations of character evolution. MacClade has extensive facilities for editing data, displaying various summaries of character evolution in charts and diagrams, and printing. PMID- 2606396 TI - Three-dimensional surface reconstruction software system for IBM personal computers. AB - Surface and volumetric three-dimensional imaging methods have found application in fields as diverse as diagnostic medical imaging and paleontological research. The acquisition, modeling, classification, and computer graphics rendering of discrete image volumes will be introduced. Applications in diagnosis (craniofacial, orthopedic, cardiovascular, and others) as well as reconstruction methods for generic serial sections will be described. C language software for three-dimensional reconstruction which operates on an IBM PC/AT clone is described. PMID- 2606397 TI - Quantitative aspects of the estimation of evolutionary trees. AB - Various approaches to the estimation of evolutionary trees are reviewed, with emphasis on recent developments. It is argued that no approach is 'model-free', that is, without some assumptions about the processes of evolutionary change. A statistical approach provides a general framework and it is accepted that cladistic methodology represents a special case within this framework. The idea of evolutionary convergence is examined in the light of recent discussion of the existence of convergence in molecular evolution. It is concluded that attempts to estimate evolutionary trees are justifiable at least on the grounds that, despite present shortcomings, they are the most appropriate way to analyse comparative data. There are good prospects for further progress. PMID- 2606398 TI - Applications of finite-element scaling analysis in primatology. AB - The study of biological shape in three dimensions using landmark data can now be accomplished using several alternative methods. This report focuses on the use of finite-element scaling analysis in primate craniofacial morphology. The method is particularly useful in its ability to localize the differences between forms, thereby indicating those loci that differ most between specimens. Several examples of this feature are provided from primatological research. Particulars of the methods are also discussed in an attempt to provide the reader with cautionary knowledge for prudent application of the method in future research. PMID- 2606399 TI - Effect of oral and parenteral administration of B6 vitamers on the lymphopenia produced by feeding ammonia caramel or 2-acetyl-4(5)-(1,2,3,4 tetrahydroxy)butylimidazole to rats. AB - The ability of B6 vitamers to prevent the lymphopenic effects of ammonia caramel fed to rats has been evaluated. Diets containing 10 ppm pyridoxine or pyridoxal prevented the lymphopenia produced in rats consuming an 8% (w/v) solution of ammonia caramel, whereas the dietary content of pyridoxamine needed to be increased to 20 ppm to have the same effect. In contrast to the results of the enteral administration of the individual B6 vitamers, pyridoxamine was found to be the most effective vitamer in preventing the ammonia caramel-induced lymphopenia when administered parenterally. However, all the nutritionally active forms of vitamin B6 were able to prevent the depression of the peripheral blood lymphocyte count, which resulted from ingestion of ammonia caramel by rats. The proposal that oral administration of pyridoxine may prevent the intestinal absorption of the lymphopenic constituent of ammonia caramel, 2-acetyl-4(5) (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxy)butylimidazole (THI), is discredited, since THI was found to reduce the lymphocyte count after parenteral administration in rats fed 0.04 ppm pyridoxone in the diet and that increased amounts of dietary pyridoxine (10 ppm) could still prevent this effect. These findings further emphasise the important relationship between dietary vitamin B6 content and the lymphopenic effects of ammonia caramel/THI in the rat. PMID- 2606400 TI - Developmental toxicity of isomalt in rats. AB - The sugar replacer isomalt, a 1:1 mixture of the disaccharides glucopyranosylsorbitol and glucopyranosylmannitol, was incorporated in the diet of rats. Female Bay FB:30 rats were adapted to isomalt by feeding them a diet containing a gradually increasing amount of isomalt for several days, prior to mating. Subsequently, they were mated. Isomalt was fed continuously in concentrations of 2.5, 5 and 10% up to day 20 of pregnancy. In addition, one group of female Wistar rats was mated and fed 10% isomalt incorporated in the diet from day 0 up to day 20 of pregnancy, without previous adaptation to isomalt. Finally, one group of untreated female Wistar rats served as controls. Half of the number of females in each group was selected for caesarian section on day 20 of pregnancy. The other half was allowed to litter and rear their pups for 2 weeks (Wistar rats) or 3 weeks (Bay FB:30 rats). In the females of the Bay FB:30 rats, a decreased body-weight gain and food consumption were observed in the 5 and 10% isomalt group. Minor retardation in the development of the foetuses was observed in the 10% isomalt group only with the Bay FB:30 rats and was therefore considered to be related to maternal toxicity. In addition, a dose related increase in the incidence of wavy ribs occurred in foetuses of the Bay FB:30 rats. However, none of the observed effects were persistent in neonates. Isomalt appeared to have slight toxic effects in the dams of the Bay FB:30 strain but no toxicity in the offspring. In Wistar rats no toxicity and no effects on maternal performance or on embryonic, foetal or neonatal development were seen. Isomalt, when fed at dietary levels up to 10%, did not induce structural or functional teratogenic effects in rats of either the Wistar or the Bay FB:30 strain. PMID- 2606401 TI - Evaluation of the oral toxicity of spinacine hydrochloride in a 13-week study in rats. AB - Spinacine (4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-6-carboxylic acid), the major reaction product of formaldehyde added to Grana Padano cheese, was administered to five groups of ten rats of each set at dietary concentrations that provided doses of O (control), 15, 30, 60 or 300 mg/kg body weight/day for 13 wk. There were no adverse effects upon survival, growth or food intake. No significant treatment-associated changes were found in haematological parameters, in serum chemistry or organ weights at the end of the study. At autopsy, neither gross nor histological modifications were attributable to treatment with spinacine. In this study the no-effect dose level for spinacine was considered to be 300 mg/kg body weight/day. PMID- 2606402 TI - Effect of cooking methods on the mutagenicity of food and on urinary mutagenicity of human consumers. AB - The effects of cooking methods on the in vitro mutagenicity of individual foods, the in vitro mutagenicity of meals containing those foods, and the mutagenic exposure of human volunteers following consumption of the meals were examined using Ames bacterial strain TA98 with S-9 metabolic activation. Three methods of food preparation--boiling, baking and frying/flame-broiling--were compared. With meats, frying or broiling resulted in higher in vitro mutagenicity (10- to 50 fold) than did baking or boiling, whereas for carbohydrates, eggs or vegetables mutagenicity did not vary markedly with cooking method. The observed (experimental) mutagenic activity of the meals was quite similar to their calculated (predicted) mutagenicity, obtained by summing the mutagenicity of the individual foods in the meal. The close agreement between experimental and predicted mutagenicity indicated that components of the meal did not interact in either a synergistic or inhibitory manner. The mutagenicity of fried flame broiled meals was approximately 10-fold greater than the mutagenicity of baked or broiled meals, which were similar in mutagenicity. The mutagenicity of human urine following consumption of the meals was related to the in vitro mutagenicity of the meals themselves. The in vitro mutagenicity of meals is markedly affected by the cooking method used to prepare them and the mutagenicity of the diet may be reflected in the mutagenicity of body fluids. PMID- 2606403 TI - The metabolic disposition of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine in the induced mouse. AB - The toxicokinetics of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), a member of the aminoimidazoazaarene family of mutagens, was studied in C57BL/6 male mice after ip and gavage exposure to a single dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. Twenty-four hr after administration of the dose, 39% of the [14C]PhIP had been found in the urine of the animals exposed ip and 12% had been found in the faeces. By comparison, at 24 hr, gavage-exposed animals had excreted 31% of the administered radioactivity in the urine and 30% in the faeces. Significantly higher levels of labelled compounds could be detected in the blood of animals dosed ip than in that of those dosed by gavage at 6 and 12 hr after dosing. Tissue concentrations of labelled compound were highest in the liver and gastro intestinal tract of the ip group and the large intestine of the gavage group. Considerable radioactivity was also detected in the contents of the large and small intestine of the ip group suggesting biliary excretion of PhIP. Peak tissue concentrations were found 6-12 hr after administration of the dose by both routes. High-performance liquid chromatography of urine demonstrated the presence of 11 metabolites while only two major metabolites were found in the faeces, one of which was not present in the urine. None of the metabolites appeared to be formed by simple N-acetylations or N-demethylations of PhIP. No differences were seen in the metabolite profiles between the ip and the gavage groups, but significant differences were seen in the kinetics of PhIP excretion between animals dosed by these two routes. These data indicate that the toxicokinetics of PhIP metabolism differ depending on the route of administration and should be considered when performing animal studies to assess the significance of human dietary PhIP consumption. PMID- 2606404 TI - Nitrate and nitrite concentrations in human saliva: variations with salivary flow rate. AB - Salivary nitrate concentration has often been used as a measure of human intake of nitrate. However, our findings indicate that this is not a reliable indicator because the nitrate concentration varies with salivary flow-rate and thus depends on the sampling procedure. Parotid or whole saliva was collected from up to six volunteers under carefully controlled conditions. The effects of stimulating saliva production by chewing on silicon tube (mechanical stimulation) or by sucking citric acid from cotton wool (gustatory stimulation) were investigated. Chewing decreased the average nitrate (plus nitrite) concentration in whole saliva by 59% and the nitrate concentration in parotid saliva (which does not contain nitrite) by 53%, relative to unstimulated saliva. Citric acid stimulation decreased the average parotid salivary nitrate concentration by 88%. Stimulation of salivary secretion increased the total salivary nitrate output and the extent of reduction of nitrate to nitrite for most subjects. The unstimulated parotid salivary nitrate concentration was, on average, 2.8 times the nitrate plus nitrite concentration in unstimulated whole saliva. PMID- 2606405 TI - The toxicity of p-aminophenol in the Sprague-Dawley rat: effects on growth, reproduction and foetal development. AB - p-Aminophenol (p-AP) was fed in the diet to groups of 40 male and 45 female Sprague-Dawley rats at levels of 0.07, 0.2 or 0.7% for up to 6 months. Methaemoglobin levels were determined after 6 wk. During wk 12, urine was collected from ten rats/sex/group for evaluation of mutagenicity in the Ames test. Clinical chemistry, haematology and histopathology studies were performed in subgroups after 13 and 27 wk. In addition, after 13 wk, 25 females/group were mated to untreated males in a teratology study. After 20 wk, 20 males/group were removed from the test diets and mated to untreated virgin females in a dominant lethal mutagenicity study. These males remained untreated until they were killed at 27 wk. Rats that had been maintained on the test diets throughout the study were also killed at wk 27. The high dose level of 0.7% p-AP resulted in a significant (10-15%) reduction in body-weight gain in both sexes. There was no increase in the level of methaemoglobin and, other than slight reductions in total erythrocytes and haemoglobin in female rats at 13 wk, there were no toxicologically important differences between groups in haematology or clinical chemistry values at any time during the 27 wk of treatment. Dose-related nephrosis was seen in both sexes after 13 and 27 wk and in the high-dose males that were removed from the test diet for a 7-wk recovery period. The compound was not teratogenic, but an increase in developmental variations associated with maternal toxicity was noted at the mid- and high-dose levels. In the dominant lethal study, an increase in the total number of resorptions (but not litters with resorptions) was observed in the high-dose group in the first of two matings but this observation was not confirmed in a follow-up study. Mutagenic activity was not detected in the urine of rats fed p-AP. PMID- 2606406 TI - Disposition of single oral doses of butylated hydroxytoluene in man and rat. AB - The kinetics and metabolism of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in man and rats have been compared. Single oral doses of 200, 63 or 20 mg BHT/kg body weight were administered to rats and a single oral dose of 0.5 mg/kg body weight was ingested by human volunteers (non-smoking males). In rats, kinetic parameters (area under the plasma concentration-time curve, plasma BHT peak levels) showed a dose dependent increase. Plasma BHT levels after oral administration were about four times higher than those that have been reported for another synthetic food antioxidant, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA; Verhagen et al., Fd Chem. Toxic. 27, 151-158). This may be a reflection of a smaller volume of distribution for BHT, since there were no differences in plasma elimination half-life or plasma clearance between BHT and BHA. In man, the mean plasma concentration-time profile after oral BHT intake was well below the BHT profiles observed for rats and closely followed plasma BHA kinetics in man. In rats, the simultaneous administration of BHT (200 mg/kg body weight) and BHA (200 mg/kg) significantly decreased the absorption of BHT from the gastro-intestinal tract in the first few hours after treatment; the plasma kinetics of BHA were not influenced by the simultaneous administration of BHT. In human female volunteers no alterations in plasma BHT or BHA profiles were seen after the simultaneous ingestion of BHT (0.25 mg/kg body weight) and BHA (0.25 mg/kg). Rats excrete about 10% of an oral dose of 200 mg BHT/kg as unchanged BHT in the faeces, whereas in man no BHT could be detected in the faeces. Urinary excretion of (un)conjugated 3,5-di-tert-butyl 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (BHT-COOH) accounts for only a small percentage of the administered dose in both rats and humans. It is concluded that the plasma BHT concentrations reached after the administration of a single medium to high dose of BHT to rats or a single low dose to man are very different. PMID- 2606407 TI - Reactivity of glutathione with alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone flavouring substances. AB - The relative reactivities of a number of alpha, beta-unsaturated ketones used as flavourings were determined using glutathione as the nucleophile. Monosubstitution at the beta-position of the alpha, beta-unsaturated system impeded nucleophilic addition by approximately 1000 times. Beta-Disubstitution reduced reactivity by more than 100,000 times. Endocyclic alpha, beta-unsaturated ketones were generally less reactive than alicyclic analogues. By way of comparison, the most reactive flavouring investigated, 2-octene-4-one, was consumed by glutathione about 700 times less rapidly than was methylvinyl ketone. Methylvinyl ketone was found to condense with guanylic acid 240,000 times more slowly than with glutathione. It is concluded that alpha, beta-unsaturated ketones used as flavourings generally possess low electrophilicity. PMID- 2606408 TI - Pre-natal (segment II) toxicity study of cinnamic aldehyde in the Sprague-Dawley rat. AB - Cinnamic aldehyde (CA) was administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats on days 7-17 of pregnancy at doses of 5,25 or 250 mg/kg body weight/day. Significantly lower weight gain of the dams was observed at the two higher dose levels. No significant dose-related increase of abnormalities was observed: the incidence of poor cranial ossification was significantly increased in all treated groups, while reduced ossification of the tympanic bulla was increased at 25 or 250 mg/kg/day. Significant increases of the incidences of dilated pelvis/reduced papilla in the kidney, dilated ureters and greater than or equal to 2 abnormal sternebrae per foetus were detected in the 2-mg/kg group, which had the highest overall prevalence of minor abnormalities. Since significant increases in the incidences of reduced cranial ossification, dilated ureters and renal variants were observed at 5 mg/kg, a dose at which there was no detectable maternal toxicity, it is suggested that the foetus might be slightly more sensitive than the adult to the action of CA. PMID- 2606409 TI - 14-day and 90-day toxicity studies of C.I. Pigment Red 3 in Fischer 344 rats and B6C3F1 mice. AB - Treatment of F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice with C.I. Pigment Red 3 in the diet (10, 5.0, 2.5, 1.25, 0.6 or 0.3%) for 14 and 90 days resulted in haematological alterations consistent with haemolytic anaemia. Rats appeared to be more sensitive than mice to the haematological effects. Histological lesions were observed in rats and mice after exposure for 90 days. Target organs in the rat were the spleen, bone marrow, liver and kidney. Lesions in the spleen consisted of a haematopoietic cell proliferation, iron-positive pigment and congestion of the red pulp, and inflammation of the splenic capsule. Changes in the livers of rats consisted of haematopoietic cell proliferation and iron-positive pigment in Kupffer cells. Haematopoietic cell proliferation also occurred in the bone marrow of treated rats. The presence of iron-positive pigment and a slightly increased incidence of protein casts were seen in the kidney. Target organs in mice were the spleen, liver and kidney. Histological lesions in mice after exposure for 90 days included increased haematopoietic cell proliferation in the liver and spleen, and iron-positive pigment in the spleen. Mild cytomegaly of the renal tubular epithelia was also observed in exposed mice. PMID- 2606410 TI - The maximization test for skin sensitization potential--updating the standard protocol and validation of a modified protocol. AB - Since Magnusson and Kligman (1969) first described the maximization test, for assessing skin sensitization potential, the test has been substantially validated and data have been obtained on dose-activity relationships. The original method remains acceptable for qualified risk assessment but several modified protocols have been developed to overcome problems with particular test materials. A modified maximization test is described for compounds that are not soluble in the standard vehicles and, therefore, not injectable, and for formulations, to simulate user exposure conditions. The test compounds 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene, p phenylenediamine, 1-(3-chlorophenyl)-3- (4-chlorophenyl)-2-pyrazoline, formaldehyde, benzocain, penicillin G, benzylsalicylate, potassium dichromate and isoeugenol, all gave positive reactions. The incidences of positive reactions varied with the sensitization potentials of the compounds. The results for the first six compounds listed above were compared with those obtained by the standard procedure and were found to be similar. We propose that testing guidelines for skin sensitization should accommodate validated modifications of existing standard procedures. PMID- 2606411 TI - A predictive mouse ear-swelling model for investigating topical phototoxicity. AB - Predictive models should be used to determine the phototoxic potential of consumer products intended for topical exposure and outdoor use. To determine the potential of a compound to elicit a phototoxic reaction, a mouse ear-swelling model, which uses a xenon arc ultraviolet (UV) solar simulator as the radiation source, was used. The UV solar simulator delivered UV radiation from 290 to 400 nm (UVB + UVA) or from 320 to 400 nm (UVA) when appropriate filters were used. With this model, the phototoxic potential of nine known phototoxins and three negative test materials was successfully demonstrated. Based on the time of onset of the phototoxic response following test material application and irradiation, both immediate (20-30 min) and delayed-type (48-96 hr) phototoxic responses were demonstrated using this model with anthracene and 8-methoxypsoralen, respectively. The optimal time for irradiation after application of 8 methoxypsoralen to the ears was 30-60 min. Irradiation of ears immediately after treatment with 8-methoxypsoralen or 6 hr after application resulted in little or no phototoxic response. The phototoxic response to 8-methoxypsoralen was dependent upon the UVA dose and, when tested at a constant UVA dose, the response was concentration dependent. To obtain an optimal phototoxic response to 7 methoxycoumarin, both UVB and UVA radiation were required. These results show that the mouse ear-swelling model, which is quantifiable and more objective than models based on subjective evaluation of skin changes, is an excellent model for investigative and predictive phototoxicity testing. PMID- 2606412 TI - Recommendations of the Society for Forensic Haemogenetics concerning DNA polymorphisms. PMID- 2606413 TI - Impact-induced intracranial pressure caused by an accelerated motion of the head or by skull deformation; an experimental study using physical models of the head and neck, and ones of the skull. AB - An impact incurred by the movable head may bring about a change in intracranial pressure and this change may play an important part in the occurrence of the cerebral contusion. We have carried out the following experiments to determine whether the intracranial pressure change was attributed to an accelerated motion of the head or to a skull deformation. In the blow experiment in which the head was accelerated, a positive peak in the intracranial pressure was recorded immediately after impact at the impact site and a negative one at a site opposite the impact. In the one in which the skull could be deformed, the intracranial pressure curves at both sites contained harmonics. The modal analysis revealed an inbending in the frontal and occipital regions of the skull and an outbending in the parietal and temporal regions immediately after impact, followed by a reverse deformation. Regarding the intracranial pressure change, positive pressures were recorded in the frontal and occipital regions immediately after impact, followed by a negative one. This study demonstrated that the positive and negative peaks were caused by the accelerated motion of the head, and that the curve of the intracranial pressure changes contained harmonics which were caused by the deformation of the skull. PMID- 2606414 TI - ABO and Lewis typing of secretion stains on nitrocellulose membranes using a new dot-blot-ELISA technique. AB - A new method for ABO and Lewis typing of body fluids is described. It combines the advantages of a good antigen binding to nitrocellulose membranes, the need of only very small amounts of stain material and the high sensitivity of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for antigen detection. This is of special interest because conventional ABO and Lewis typing of secretion stains need relatively large stain dimensions. The method is very easy to handle, does not need any expensive equipment and gives a permanent record. Furthermore the high sensitivity offers the possibility of analyzing even sweat and urine stains without the need of concentrating these extracts. PMID- 2606415 TI - Radioreceptor assay and radioimmunoassay of triazolam in urine samples from racing greyhounds. AB - Two complimentary assay techniques were used to determine triazolam levels in greyhound urine samples following a single oral dose. The results from the trials were statistically compared. The relative non-specificity of the benzodiazepine antibody used in radioimmunoassay caused a significant difference in teh two sets of results. This was independent of hydrolysis. PMID- 2606416 TI - [Negligent death caused by careless autopsy. Cause of death not recognized: 2d death]. PMID- 2606417 TI - [Increased risk of breast cancer following estrogen substitution after all? Hormone substitution in peri- and postmenopause--Swedish studies]. PMID- 2606418 TI - [Chronic myeloproliferative diseases. 3: Osteomyelofibrosis]. PMID- 2606419 TI - [Sharpening of the scientific proof. "Apparent disparity" already in some cases exceeding 20%?]. PMID- 2606420 TI - [Accepting the sexual orientation of female patients. Sexual practices--genital diseases]. PMID- 2606421 TI - [Help for the cycle of anxiety and pain]. PMID- 2606422 TI - [Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation--correct method]. PMID- 2606423 TI - [Modifications of limited breast surgery for breast carcinoma as shown in studies]. PMID- 2606424 TI - [Repeated peritoneal lavage in necrotizing pancreatitis. Preliminary experiences with a new therapy concept]. AB - A retrospective report on experience with patients with hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis treated surgically with the new therapeutic concept of programmed lavage, so-called, is presented. With the exception of one fatality, using an unchanged intensive care therapy program, 7 patients were successfully treated with the new concept. Since the results obtained with the therapeutic concept used prior to the technique of programmed lavage, as also reports in the international literature, are associated with a very poor prognosis, it is suggested that this new treatment concept be employed with the aim of improving the prognosis. A definitive assessment of this concept will, however, require a large number of cases treated in this way. PMID- 2606425 TI - [Colorectal neoplasms. 3. Staging classification by the TNM system, 4th edition]. PMID- 2606426 TI - Effects of acute and chronic administration of two antibiotics, aztreonam and gentamicin, alone or in combination, on "open-field test" in mice. AB - A study aimed at investigating the behavioural effects of aztreonam and gentamicin, given separately or in combination, was carried out in mice. Animals were randomly assigned to two test conditions: acute and chronic treatment. Those receiving acute treatment had a single IP injection 60 min before the test. Those receiving chronic treatment had IP injections once daily for 5 successive days prior to the test. Behavioural patterns (ambulation, rearing, grooming and defecation) were assessed using the "open-field" test. The results indicate that, both after single and multiple dosing, aztreonam (10, 40 and 80 mg/kg IP) and/or gentamicin (10 mg/kg IP) do produce changes in the behaviour of animals. A rate increasing effect for certain behaviours (rearing, grooming and defecation) and a reduction in other behaviours (ambulation) seems to occur. PMID- 2606427 TI - Pharmacokinetics of metapramine and its demethylated metabolites in plasma and brain of mice. AB - Previous studies on pharmacokinetic parameters of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in rodents have shown different results from those obtained for the same drugs in man. The kinetics of metapramine (META) and its major demethylated metabolites (METs) were studied in the SWISS CD 1 mouse after acute administration in order to establish the pharmacokinetic parameters in plasma and brain. The plasma half-life (T1/2) was very short (87 min) compared with the half life (7 h) in man. The metabolism of META was intensive as was the transfer of META and its metabolites into the brain. The kinetic profiles of the substances were quite similar both in plasma and in brain, namely a bicompartment open model. META was rapidly absorbed (Tmax = 10 min) into and quickly eliminated (T 1/2 = 40 min) from the brain. These parameters were used to schedule sampling (blood and brain) at the appropriate time after acute administration of increased doses. The administered doses were significantly correlated to firstly the plasma or brain levels of META, secondly the plasma levels of the main monodemethylated metabolite (MET I), and thirdly the plasma or brain levels of META + METs. Finally, the evolution of plasma and brain levels of the substances was studied after repeated injections (i.e. every 40 min) and confirmed the high affinity of META and its metabolites for the brain regions. PMID- 2606428 TI - Model-independent pharmacokinetics of colchicine after oral administration to healthy volunteers. AB - The pharmacokinetics of colchicine were studied after oral administration of three doses (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg) to nine healthy male volunteers according to randomized cross-over design. Plasma and urine samples were collected during 48 h after ingestion, and assayed for colchicine levels by a specific and highly sensitive radio-immunoassay. Pharmacokinetic parameters t1/2 beta, AUC, MRT, CIT/F, CIR, Vd area/F) were calculated by model-independent methods and compared across doses by multiway analysis of variance. Terminal half-life (15.5-19.2 h), mean residence time (15.7-20.3 h), oral systemic (32.2-40.3 l/h) and renal (3.9 4.7 l/h) clearances, and oral volume of distribution (11.4-14.9 l/kg) did not differ significantly between doses, whereas the area under the concentration-time curve was proportional to dose. Our results show that: 1. within the dose range studied (0.5-1.5 mg), the pharmacokinetics of colchicine are linear; 2. monitoring colchicine levels up to 48 hours yields much larger estimates of terminal half-life and volume of distribution than previously reported from considerably shorter studies. PMID- 2606429 TI - French Association of Pharmacologists. Pharmacology Congress. Toulouse, 12-13 September 1988. Abstracts. PMID- 2606430 TI - [Biology of occlusion. 2]. PMID- 2606431 TI - Should we regulate 'utilization management?'. PMID- 2606432 TI - Health maintenance organizations in 1988. PMID- 2606433 TI - Community-based case management for persons with AIDS. PMID- 2606434 TI - Who provides neurologic care? PMID- 2606435 TI - Clarifying Canadian physician payment. PMID- 2606436 TI - Canadian/U.S. health systems: asking the right questions. PMID- 2606437 TI - Physician time and cost of living. PMID- 2606438 TI - Mandating health coverage for working Americans. PMID- 2606439 TI - British public opinion on National Health Service reform. PMID- 2606440 TI - The British public and the debate over the National Health Service. PMID- 2606441 TI - Financing health care: a view from the White House. PMID- 2606442 TI - Prediction of operator-binding protein by discriminant analysis. AB - A number of operator-binding proteins contain similar sequence features to Cro and cI repressors of bacteriophage and CAP protein of Escherichia coli, such as conserved amino acids at constant positions. However, these sequence patterns also occur in proteins that are not operator-binding. We use sequence analogy information in conjunction with a pattern recognition algorithm. The functional and structural properties, e.g., distributions of hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, charged amino acids, electrostatic free energy, and helical structures of protein are also considered. Within the framework of discriminant analysis, we calculate the above variables and search for a better combination of variables. To assess the discriminatory power of these variables, we allocated additional sequences and predict DNA-binding regions of regulatory proteins not included in the training set. PMID- 2606443 TI - Quantitative measurement of mRNAs by polymerase chain reaction. AB - Although polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used to detect the presence of specific mRNA species, there are no reports indicating that PCR can be used as a reliable, reproducible assay to quantify the relative level of an mRNA. In this study we examined the enzymatic steps (reverse transcription and PCR) required to analyze RNA by PCR and determined the conditions under which the product obtained reproducibly reflects the relative amounts of amplified species in the starting material. Aliquots of total RNA from rat ovaries and GH3 pituitary cells were used to prepare cDNAs for PCR amplification of beta-actin and prolactin (PRL) sequences, respectively. Assay of equivalent dilutions of ovarian cDNAs made from 10, 2, and 0.4 micrograms of RNA demonstrated that the amount of PCR product obtained was proportional to both the amount of cDNA amplified and the amount of RNA transcribed, with a relatively small variability for both reactions. cDNAs were also made against RNA prepared from GH3 cells cultured in the presence or absence of Ca2+, which induces PRL gene expression. Measurement of PRL mRNA by PCR gave results comparable to those obtained by Northern blot (4.7-fold induction vs. 5.9-fold), and again was highly reproducible. Additionally, PCR analysis of cDNA against GH3 nuclear RNA allowed us to detect an apparent splice variant of the PRL nuclear RNA that is also Ca2+ regulated. These results indicate the sensitivity and reliability of PCR as a quantitative assay for specific mRNAs, and demonstrate the possibilities for obtaining data not readily available by other means. PMID- 2606444 TI - [Experimental study on the dissecting aortic aneurysm]. AB - Type I dissecting aortic aneurysm is not only the most common type of all but an extremely lethal event. It is important to create the experimental model of type I dissection for clarifying behavior of this disease and successful treatment. The purpose of this study is: (1) production of experimental model of type I aortic dissection; (2) examination of progression manner of dissection; (3) and investigation of influence of dissection upon aortic valve and coronary artery. The experimental model of type I aortic dissection was produced in adult mongrel dogs. Bilateral thoracotomy was made and intimal tear was created in the ascending aorta by modified Blanton's procedure. Hypertension and creation of large pocket of the aortic media were necessary to produce type I aortic dissection. Extension of dissection had a tendency toward the inner layer of the aortic wall at distal site. However, at proximal site the dissection progressed in the same layer of the aortic wall. In this series, retrograde extension of dissection remained blind above annulus of aortic valve, and no incidence of aortic regurgitation or coronary ischemia was occurred. But on histologic examination, degeneration of the aortic wall by the dissection was observed. Such weakness of aortic wall showed potentiality to developed into subsequent aortic regurgitation or coronary ischemia. PMID- 2606445 TI - [Effects of volatile anesthetics on conduction and maximum rate of rise of action potential upstroke in guinea-pig papillary muscles]. AB - Using standard microelectrode techniques, effects of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane on the maximum rate of rise of action potential upstroke (Vmax) and conduction velocity of excitation were examined and compared with those of fast sodium channel blockers in isolated guinea-pig papillary muscles. Lidocaine and tetrodotoxin decreased the square of the conduction velocity in proportion to the decrease in Vmax. In contrast, halothane, enflurane and isoflurane only slightly affected Vmax, but decreased the conduction velocity in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that these volatile anesthetics affect conduction velocity by a mechanism different from that of fast sodium channel blockers. PMID- 2606446 TI - [Analysis of 33C4 monoclonal antibody associated with aggregation of human B lymphocytes]. AB - Interaction between immunocytes is essential for immune response to occur, and the part of it is mediated by cell adhesion mechanisms. However, little is known about the nature of homotypic adhesion between B cells. In order to investigate the mechanisms underlying the B cell adhesion, we tried to identify molecules involved in the adhesion process by raising monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against human B lymphoblastoid cell line WT46. One mAb. 33C4, reacted with all B cells, a part of T cells, and myeloma cells. Interestingly enough, 33C4 mAb induced aggregation of B cells, but not of T cells or other cells. Structural analysis showed that 33C4 molecule is a monomer of 45 kilodaltons with isoelectric point of 5.9. It is thus likely that 33C4 is a unique molecule involved in B cell aggregation and is clearly distinct from other cell adhesion molecules such as LFA-1, ICAM-1, and LFA-3. The mechanisms of aggregation induced by 33C4 mAb, however, remains to be determined. PMID- 2606447 TI - [Correlation of karyotype with clinical features in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. AB - The karyotype of 124 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who were diagnosed on the basis of the FAB classification, were studied according to numerical, structural abnormalities and the presence or absence of translocations. Clonal chromosome abnormalities were found in 85 (68.5%) of the 124 patients. Firstly, chromosome abnormalities were classified according to modal number. Twenty-four patients with ALL had hyperdiploidy (51-66 chromosomes). They had favorable prognostic factors, including low leukocyte count, age between 2 and 10 years and a low level of serum LDH. They had the most favorable outcome. Thirty-nine patients with normal karyotype had a relatively favorable outcome. In contrast 8 patients with near hyperdiploidy (47, 48 chromosomes), 47 with pseudodiploidy, and 4 with hypodiploidy (45 chromosomes) had a poor outcome. Secondly, chromosome abnormalities were also classified according to specific structural abnormalities. The 1; 19 translocation, which is associated with the pre-B phenotype, was found in 13 patients. Their outcome was better than has hitherto been reported. The abnormality of the short arm of chromosome 12 was found in 11 patients, who had a good outcome. The chromosome abnormality of the breakpoint in the T-cell receptor gene locus, containing bands 14q11 and 7q35, was found in 7 patients. Four patients had mediastinal tumors and the T phenotype. Their outcome was intermediate. The 14q32 translocation was found in 8 patients. The 8; 14 translocation was closely associated with L3 (FAB) and the B phenotype, but another 14q32 translocation was not. Their outcome was poor. The 11q23 translocation was found in 4 Patients, who had null cell blasts. Three of the 4 had unfavorable prognostic factors, including both a high leukocyte count and age under one year. They had a poor outcome. The partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 6 was found in 4 patients. The structural abnormality of the short arm of chromosome 9 was found in 4 patients with absence of T cell phenotype. Two patients had a mass. Prognosis of the patients with 6q- and 9p abnormalities was unclear because of the small number of cases. Thirdly, chromosome abnormalities were also classified according to the presence or absence of translocations. The chromosomal translocations, which have an adverse effect in ALL (p = 0.004), were ones of the strongest predictor of treatment outcome. This study demonstrated that chromosome modal number, specific structural abnormalities and the presence or absence of translocations were significantly correlated with clinical features and survival rates of Japanese childhood ALL. PMID- 2606448 TI - [Electrophysiological testing of multiple antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia after chronic oral administration]. AB - Serial electrophysiological testing of multiple antiarrhythmic drugs was performed in 98 patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (WPW syndrome 32, concealed WPW syndrome 46, atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia 20). Of 32 patients with WPW syndrome, twelve patients had atrial fibrillation and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia. Serial supraventricular tachycardia induction was attempted after chronic oral administration of verapamil (120-320 mg/day, 86 pts), diltiazem (180 mg/day, 10 pts), disopyramide (300-600 mg/day, 27 pts), propafenone (300-600 mg/day, 25 pts), flecainide (100 300 mg/day, 7 pts), SUN 1165 (150-300 mg/day, 10 pts), and combination therapy (18 pts) by using six polar electrode left in the heart in almost all patients. In 96 of 98 patients, one or more drugs prevented induction of SVT. Combination therapy alone was effective in 14 pts. The site of action of verapamil and diltiazem was antegrade and retrograde normal pathway AV conduction in circus movement. The site of action of disopyramide, propafenone, flecainide, SUN 1165 was antegrade and retrograde accessory pathway conduction and retrograde normal pathway conduction. Eighty two pts were successfully followed for 17.7 +/- 9.6 months. In 68 of these 82 pts, PSVT did not recur. Therefore, serial electrophysiological testing proved useful for the selection of prophylactic antiarrhythmic drugs. PMID- 2606449 TI - [A prospective study of future cardiac events in subjects who underwent treadmill exercise testing]. AB - The prognostic value of the exercise testing as well as coronary risk factors was assessed in 890 patients (pts) with a history of myocardial infarction (MI, n = 114) or chest pain (typical angina; TA, n = 134, others; OTH, n = 642) in relation to cardiac events (cardiac death, non-fatal MI). Clinical questionnaires and symptomatic-maximal graded treadmill exercise were performed in all pts. Follow-up was obtained prospectively by mail or telephone interview annually. Twenty eight pts were lost to follow-up. In the remaining 862 pts (96.9%), the mean follow-up duration was 3.1 +/- 1.4 (mean +/- SD) years. During follow-up period, 39 cardiac events (21 cardiac death, 18 non-fatal MI) (4.5%) occurred. Cardiac event rates in pts with MI, TA, and OTH were 16.2%, 9.8%, and 1.3%, respectively. Univariate analyses revealed that the event rate was influenced by age, sex (male), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and HDL-cholesterol among coronary risk factors, and by anginal pain during exercise, ST depression, poor exercise tolerance, and abnormal blood pressure response among treadmill exercise findings. By Cox proportional hazard model analysis, the history of MI, age, TA, and ST depression (within 6 minutes of Bruce protocol) was significantly independent predictors for future cardiac events in all pts; and age, sex, and TA in pts without MI. In conclusion, the exercise testing combined with conventional coronary risk factor analysis was effective means in predicting future cardiac events. PMID- 2606450 TI - [A case of epilepsy presenting periodic synchronous discharges and recruiting rhythm for a long time]. AB - A case of secondary generalized epilepsy (47 years old, male) presenting the periodic synchronous discharges (PSD) consisted of sharp waves or sharp and slow waves, and recruiting rhythm (RR) for several years was shown. PSD, of which duration was 10-40 sec, was seen most prominently when he was awake and relaxed, although it was also found during both wakefulness and sleep. On the other hand, RR with a duration of 1-5 sec was observed only during NREM sleep (stage 2 and 3). There was no clinical manifestation associated with PSD and RR, except for the eye-opening behaviors occasionally seen during RR. From the electroencephalographic features of PSD and RR, and the other previous reports concerning them, it was speculated that an association of diffuse cortical and brain stem dysfunctions was responsible for both PSD and RR. In addition, the similarity and dissimilarity of PSD and RR with the slow spike and wave complex and rapid rhythm chiefly seen in the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome were discussed. It was stressed that whether the slow spike and wave complex and rapid rhythm were specifically related to the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome should be reappraised. PMID- 2606451 TI - [Establishment of rat myelomonocytic leukemia cell line (c-WRT-7)--induction of differentiation and transplantation into syngeneic and non-syngeneic rats]. AB - A long term cultured cell line (c-WRT-7) was successfully established from the transplantable rat myelomonocytic leukemia (WRT-7). Analysis of cell surface markers and phagocytic properties of c-WRT-7 cell showed that about 10% of c-WRT 7 cells differentiated spontaneously from blastic cells to macrophage-like cells in the culture. The differentiation of c-WRT-7 cells was markedly enhanced by in vitro treatment of cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phorbol ester (TPA) and retinoic acid. Of these chemicals, LPS was the strongest enhancer of the differentiation of c-WRT-7 cells over the wide range of doses tested. The transplantation of c-WRT-7 cells into the peritoneal cavity of WKA rat (derived host) proved lethal with a significant increase of blastic tumor cells. Conversely, in SHR rat, which has a common major histocompatibility antigen with WKA rat (RT-1k), although the transplanted c-WRT-7 cells grew well as was observed in WKA rat, increased blastic cells were replaced by the differentiated macrophage-like cells and finally were rejected. Furthermore, the increasing differentiation activity of c-WRT-7 cells in vitro was detected in the peritoneal fluid and serum of SHR rat accompanied by the transplantation of c-WRT-7 cells. This is significantly different from the case of the Fischer rat with a different major histocompatibility antigen (RT-1l) in which transplanted c-WRT-7 cells scarcely grew and were rejected immediately. PMID- 2606452 TI - [Early development of the thymus-dependent cells attributable to recipient micro environment in bone marrow chimera mice]. AB - Irradiation bone marrow chimeras were established between AKR and C3H mice to analyze thymic influences on the early development of T-lineage cells. When AKR mice were used as recipients of bone marrow transplantation (AKR recipient chimeras), cell numbers recoverable from thymuses between 2 and 7 wks after reconstitution were consistently much greater (about 10 times) than those from chimeras where C3H mice were used as recipients (C3H recipient chimeras), regardless of the donor strains of bone marrow cells. Further, we found that proliferative responses to anti-CD3 mAb of thymocytes from C3H recipient chimeras were consistently lower than those of AKR recipient chimeras, even though these cells were expressing same levels of CD3 as those of the latter chimeras. By contrast, no differences were observed in increase of intracellular free Ca2+ levels induced by anti-CD3 mAb and in increase of IL-2 production induced by anti CD3 mAb and PMA or PMA and A23187 among these chimeras. However, when these thymocytes were stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3 mAb, levels of IL-2 receptors expressed on the thymocytes from C3H recipient chimeras were less than those from AKR recipient chimeras. The present findings suggest that the cell number of thymus and the proliferative responsiveness to anti-CD3 mAb are determined by recipient micro-environment (e.g. thymic stroma) which supports and maintains the developing thymocytes. PMID- 2606453 TI - Epithelioid haemangioma (angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia) and Kimura's disease in Chinese. AB - Although Kimura's disease has often been considered to be identical to angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (epithelioid haemangioma), recent studies suggest that they are different clinicopathological entities. In this study, we have made a detailed morphological comparison of 10 cases of epithelioid haemangioma and 40 cases of Kimura's disease occurring in the Chinese population. The epithelioid haemangiomas occurred in the subcutaneous tissue, skin and maxillary antrum, whereas Kimura's disease affected the subcutaneous tissue, major salivary glands and lymph nodes. Distinctive features of epithelioid haemangiomas were exuberant proliferation of vessels lined by cuboidal to hobnail endothelial cells with irregular nuclei and cytoplasmic vacuoles, fibromyxoid matrix, involvement of muscular coat of blood vessels and zonation of inflammatory infiltrate towards the peripheral portion of the lesion. Distinctive features of Kimura's disease were florid lymphoid infiltrate with prominent lymphoid follicles, vascularization of germinal centres, germinal centre necrosis, marked eosinophilia with or without eosinophil abscess formation, proliferation of high endothelial venules, and sclerosis. The histological features suggest that epithelioid haemangioma is a proliferation of atypical endothelial cells, possibly neoplastic, that is associated with a variable inflammatory infiltrate, whereas Kimura's disease is primarily an inflammatory condition in which high endothelial venules are usually found. PMID- 2606454 TI - Oestrogen receptors in benign epithelial lesions and intraduct carcinomas of the breast: an immunohistological study. AB - We examined 198 breast lesions, representing commonly encountered benign epithelial proliferative disorders, lobular carcinoma in situ and intraduct carcinoma, immunohistologically for oestrogen receptors (ER). A mixture of three ER monoclonal antibodies--H222, D75 and D547--was used on sections of routinely processed and paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. Over 65% of the benign and malignant lesions showed some evidence of ER expression and significant staining was recorded by two observers in 28-31% of fibroadenomas, 18-28% of ductal epithelial hyperplasias, 30-40% of sclerosing adenosis cases, 38-45% of papillomas, 60% of in situ lobular carcinomas and 42-45% of intraduct carcinomas. Apocrine metaplastic cells and myoepithelial cells showed absent or only weak staining. Amongst intraduct carcinomas, less than 20% of comedo carcinomas and over 50% of cribriform, papillary and solid variants showed significant ER staining. PMID- 2606455 TI - Immunohistochemistry and lectin histochemistry in sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma: a comparison with classical renal cell carcinoma. AB - We investigated the expression of various cell markers in renal cell carcinoma, concentrating particularly on the sarcomatoid variety, using lectin and immunohistochemical techniques. The sarcomatoid variant showed stronger staining in a higher proportion of cases for vimentin and reduced positivity for epithelial membrane antigen, in comparison with classical renal cell carcinoma. All sarcomatoid tumours reacted with at least one cytokeratin, enabling them to be distinguished from true renal sarcomas; this is of diagnostic value when a panel of markers is used. Overall a similar pattern of markers is seen in sarcomatoid and classical renal cell carcinoma using lectin and immunohistochemistry, suggesting that the sarcomatoid variant arises as a metaplastic change rather than having a different histogenesis. PMID- 2606456 TI - Synovial haemangiopericytoma of the knee joint. AB - We report a case of haemangiopericytoma occurring intra-articularly in the synovium of the knee joint. This is a rare tumour which, as far as is known to the authors, has not previously been described in a subsynovial site. PMID- 2606457 TI - True thymic hyperplasia: a histological and immunohistochemical study. PMID- 2606458 TI - Carcinoid of the cystic duct. PMID- 2606459 TI - 'Corkscrew-like' bacteria associated with gastritis. AB - Gastric spiral bacteria morphologically unlike Campylobacter pylori have recently been described in patients with gastritis. We report an additional case. These organisms are as yet unnamed, remain uncultured and are morphologically similar to organisms present in the gastric mucosa of various mammalian species. Their possible role in the pathogenesis of gastritis is discussed. PMID- 2606460 TI - Localization of S-100 protein in a Leydig and Sertoli cell tumour of testis. AB - A Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour of testis presented some diagnostic difficulties. The tumour cells showed strong expression of S-100 antigen. Preliminary study of non-neoplastic testis suggests that Leydig cells and, to a lesser extent, Sertoli cells express S-100 antigen; its localization may be of value in the diagnosis of sex cord-stromal tumours of testis. PMID- 2606461 TI - Immunocytochemistry today--problems and practice. PMID- 2606462 TI - Gonadal influences on behavioral deterioration with aging of male rats. AB - There is much evidence that gonadal steroids modulate brain and behavioral development. However their possible influence on age-related deteroriation of brain and behavior has received little attention. We now present evidence that neonatal castration reduces the decline in locomotion, motor coordination, and circadian activity rhythms that normally accompanies old age in male rats. Three behavioral tests (open field, Rota-Rod, and wheel running) were conducted with aged male rats (24 months). Those castrated in the first 24 hr of postnatal life were more active in the open field (P less than 0.001) than aged rats that were sham-operated neonatally. The sham-operated aged males showed a more marked deterioration of motor coordination in the Rota-Rod (P less than 0.01) and greater disorganization of circadian wheel-running (P less than 0.05) than the neonatal castrates or than young rats neonatally sham-operated. PMID- 2606463 TI - Preference for an estrous female over a non-estrous female evinced by female rats requires dihydrotestosterone plus estradiol. AB - The effects were studied of long-term treatment with testosterone metabolites (dihydrotestosterone. DHT, and estradiol, E2, in sc Silastic implants) on preference behavior of ovariectomized female rats for an estrous female over a non-estrous female. For measuring this behavior a residential plus-maze was used which harbored two ovariectomized "stimulus" females on the top of peripheral boxes, one of which was made estrus by injection of estradiol benzoate and progesterone. When both steroids (DHT plus E2) were circulating simultaneously they evoked preference for an estrous female, while neither steroid by itself sufficed. In earlier work with adult male rats castrated on the day of birth, E2 was effective in the absence of DHT. This sex difference, therefore, seems to have arisen before birth. Further, administration of DHT alone caused a profound lack of interest in both "stimulus" females, which cannot be fully explained by the reduced locomotor activity which has been found to be induced by DHT in earlier studies. PMID- 2606464 TI - Reversal of androgen inhibition of estrogen-activated sexual behavior by cholinergic agents. AB - Androgens have been found to inhibit lordosis activated by estrogen treatment of ovariectomized female rats. In the present experiments, dihydrotestosterone propionate (200 micrograms for 3 days) inhibited the incidence of lordosis in ovariectomized females treated with estradiol benzoate (1 microgram for 3 days). This inhibition of lordosis was reversed 15 min after bilateral intraventricular infusion of physostigmine (10 micrograms/cannula), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, or carbachol (0.5 microgram/cannula), a cholinergic receptor agonist. This reversal of inhibition appears to be mediated by cholinergic muscarinic receptors since pretreatment with scopolamine (4 mg/kg, ip), a muscarinic receptor blocker, prevented the reversal of androgen inhibition by physostigmine. These results indicate that androgens may inhibit estrogen-activated lordosis through interference with central cholinergic muscarinic mechanisms. PMID- 2606465 TI - Testosterone induction of song in photosensitive and photorefractory male sparrows. AB - Song in male songbirds is activated by the sex steroid testosterone (T). Using male song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), we compared effects of T in the normal spring state of photosensitivity (i.e., when the pituitary-gonadal axis is sensitive to stimulation by increasing daylength) and in the late summer-early fall state of photorefractoriness (i.e., when they are insensitive to increasing daylength). Photosensitive males experienced short days for 8 weeks and then long days for another 22 weeks to induce photorefractoriness. T implants were given to the birds twice, first when on short days and photosensitive, and second when on long days and photorefractory. Song rates were compared among 5 conditions: (1) photosensitive, short days, low T titers; (2) photosensitive, short days, high T titers; (3) photosensitive, long days, high T titers; (4) photorefractory, long days, low T titers; and (5) photorefractory, long days, high T titers. Plasma levels of T were monitored throughout the experiment by radioimmunoassay. T was equally effective in inducing song in both the photosensitive and photorefractory conditions. Thus, no seasonal change was found in the sensitivity to hormone action of the neural target sites mediating this behavior in song sparrows. Photosensitive birds sang at a higher rate when on long days than when on short days, however, even though there was no concomitant increase in plasma levels of T. This finding suggests that environmental factors can alter the expression of song activated by similar levels of T. PMID- 2606466 TI - The development of gender-related behavior in females following prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES). AB - Animal research has shown that diethylstilbestrol (DES) present during the sensitive developmental periods of the hypothalamus and adjacent areas of the brain affects the development of sex-dimorphic brain structures and subsequent behavior. To test for corresponding behavioral effects in humans, 30 women with a history of prenatal DES exposure were contrasted with 30 unexposed women who had been referred to the same clinic for a colposcopic examination because of an abnormal Pap smear. Gender-role behavior of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood was assessed by means of a semistructured interview, the Gender Role Assessment Schedule-Adult, and the Bem Sex Role Inventory. The mothers of these women were interviewed about their daughters with the "mother form" of the same interview schedule. The results suggest that DES women show less orientation toward parenting than the controls. There were no consistent group differences in other domains of gender-role behavior. PMID- 2606467 TI - Steroid control of sexual behavior and brain aromatase in the dove: effects of nonaromatizable androgens, methyltrienolone (R1881), and 5 alpha dihydrotestosterone. AB - This study examines the effects of nonaromatizable androgens, methyltrienolone (R1881) and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on aggressive courtship and vocal behavior in the male ring dove. Since androgens may influence behavior by increasing the formation of estrogen in the brain, the effects of R1881 and DHT on brain aromatase activity were also studied using an in vitro microassay. Under conditions in which testosterone induced aggressive courtship patterns, the nonaromatizable androgens were ineffective. But DHT and R1881 induced vocal behavior with equal efficiency, indicating that androgens can influence mechanisms of vocal behavior without conversion to estrogens. The behavioral effectiveness of both hormones was reduced (approximately 50%) when the period between castration and treatment was doubled. Testosterone propionate increased formation of E2 from 3H-testosterone in both the preoptic (POA) and anterior hypothalamic areas. Neither of the nonaromatizable androgens affected POA aromatase activity. The results suggest that only the aromatizable androgen, testosterone, which is also required specifically for male courtship, increases preoptic formation of estrogen. PMID- 2606468 TI - Testosterone, and winning and losing in human competition. AB - Testosterone and cortisol were measured in six university tennis players across six matches during their varsity season. Testosterone rose just before most matches, and players with the highest prematch testosterone had the most positive improvement in mood before their matches. After matches, mean testosterone rose for winners relative to losers, especially for winners with very positive moods after their victories and who evaluated their own performance highly. Winners with rising testosterone had higher testosterone before their next match, in contrast to losers with falling testosterone, who had lower testosterone before their next match. Cortisol was not related to winning or losing, but it was related to seed (top players having low cortisol), and cortisol generally declined as the season progressed. These results are consistent with a biosocial theory of status. PMID- 2606469 TI - Contrasting effects of pre- and posthatch exposure to gonadal steroids on the development of vocal, sexual, and aggressive behavior of young domestic fowl. AB - Prehatch treatment of domestic chicks with 17 beta-estradiol dipropionate (EDP) reduces later testosterone-facilitated sexual behavior, crowing, and suppression of peeping. Prehatch treatment with 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone propionate (DHTP) reduces later testosterone-facilitated aggressive behavior and produces greatly enhanced avoidance that interferes with sexual behavior in some test situations. It also disturbs crowing by removing trilled call elements and increasing the number of elements/crow but has little effect on crowing posture. The majority of these results can be understood as "demasculinizing" effects of gonadal steroids on the developing male fetus, but the possibility that some result from more extreme pathological changes is also discussed. Posthatch treatment with DHTP facilitates attack and cackling but has no effect on sexual behavior or crowing; the synthetic androgen R1881 has similar effects on cackling and also has no effect on sexual behavior or crowing. Posthatch treatment with EDP enhances sexual behavior but has no effect on attack; the aromatase inhibitor 1,4,6 Androstatrien-3,17-dione (ATD) blocked the suppression of peeping by testosterone but had no effect on testosterone-facilitated sexual behavior. Combined posthatch treatment with EDP and DHTP facilitated crowing although treatment with either steroid alone was ineffective. PMID- 2606470 TI - Fragile sites and statistics. PMID- 2606471 TI - Linkage of PGK1 to X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (IMD4) allows predictive testing in families with no surviving male. AB - We present a linkage map of DNA probes around the X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (IMD4) locus at Xq11-13. DXS159 and PGK1 show no cross-overs with the disease locus (Lod 3.01 at theta = 0.00). The order of loci is DXS1 DXS106-(DXS159-PGK1-IMD4)-DXS72 -DXYS1. Members of families whose carrier status has been established by X-inactivation patterns were included in the analysis. As the probe (pSPT/PGK), which is used for investigation of X-inactivation patterns, has been shown to be linked to the disease itself, it is possible to assign phase in mothers of sporadic cases who have been shown to be carriers, even when they have no surviving male offspring. PMID- 2606472 TI - G2 chromosomal radiosensitivity in families with ataxia-telangiectasia. AB - Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive disease involving chromosomal instability, susceptibility to cancer and X-ray hypersensitivity. The latter two features are expressed to a limited extent in the heterozygous carriers of A-T mutations. Although fibroblast lines from A-T heterozygotes clearly show increased susceptibility to the lethal effect of X-irradiation, the difference in post-irradiation survival between cell lines and normal controls is not always large enough to allow the use of X-ray sensitivity as a laboratory assay for carrier detection in A-T. Recently, we have shown in a blind study, that the extent of chromatid damage induced in the G2 phase of the cell cycle by moderate doses of X-rays is markedly higher in A-T heterozygous cells than in normal controls. We have now applied this test to 6 additional obligatory heterozygotes and 24 individuals with different risks of being A-T carriers, from three Israeli A-T families. All 6 cell lines from the obligatory heterozygotes showed the typical hypersensitivity to the clastogenic action of X-rays in G2; of the 24 cell lines with unknown A-T genotype, 16 showed the same hypersensitivity, and 8 responded in a normal way. The proportion of cell lines showing the "A-T heterozygous phenotype" was in accord with the expected value, based on Mendelian chance calculations. Since these observations were made, a daughter of two hypersensitive parents in one of these families has been diagnosed as having A-T. This confirmed the presumed A-T heterozygosity of the parents, as indicated by the laboratory assay. PMID- 2606473 TI - Physical fine-mapping of a deletion spanning the Norrie gene. AB - Norrie disease (ND), atrophia bulborum hereditaria, is caused by a gene defect on the proximal short arm of the X-chromosome. As shown by us and others, microdeletions spanning the DXS7 locus are not uncommon in this disorder, and there is recent evidence that, at least in some of the Norrie deletion patients, the monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and B genes are deleted as well. Molecular hybridization experiments with 19 cloned DNA fragments have enabled us to construct a preliminary long-range restriction map around DXS77, DXS7, MAO-A and MAO-B, and to localize the distal end point of an ND deletion between DXS77 and DXS7. PMID- 2606474 TI - The volumes and morphology of human chromosomes in mitotic reconstructions. AB - Ten unpretreated normal human male fibroblast cells in mitosis were completely reconstructed from micrographs of between 82 and 119 consecutive serial sections. All 46 chromosomes and their centromeres could be reconstructed in every cell. Measurements of chromosome volumes and centromere indices are presented. The data enabled allocation of all chromosomes to their groups (A to G), and chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 16, 17, 18 and Y were individually identified. Comparisons with published karyotypes showed that volume measurements correlated well with measurements of DNA content and chromosome length. Centromere indices also showed good correlation, but the acrocentric chromosomes were more unequally armed than found by length measurement. Secondary constrictions at the nucleolar organising region were visible on about a third of the acrocentric chromosomes. One chromosome of the C group, number 9, had a diffuse subcentromeric region (DSR) on the long arm, at the position of the constitutive heterochromatin and (in meiotic cells) the paramere. PMID- 2606475 TI - Increased detectability of somatic changes in the DNA from human tumours after probing with "synthetic" and "genome-derived" hypervariable multilocus probes. AB - DNA fingerprinting with two minisatellite (33.15, M13) and two simple repeat probes [(GACA)4, (CAC)5/(GTG)s] was performed to screen for somatic changes in the DNA from various solid human tumours in comparison with constitutional DNA from the same patient. Loss of bands or changes in band intensities were observed. Together the probes 33.15 and (CAC)5/(GTG)5 detected deviating fingerprint patterns in 63% of the colorectal carcinomas investigated. In mammary and stomach carcinomas, only 1/11 and 2/11 tumours, respectively, showed differences with either of the three probes, 33.15, (GACA)4 and (CAC)5/(GTG)5. PMID- 2606477 TI - The spectrum of beta-thalassemia mutations in northern and northeastern Thailand. AB - A total of 123 beta-thalassemia genes from northern (n = 113) and northeastern (n = 10) Thailand were examined. Using five oligonucleotide probes, the mutation in 108 genes (88%) was identified: 50 nonsense 17, 49 frameshift 41-42, 4-28(A--- G), 2 IV1 nt5(G----C), 2IVS2 nt654, and 1 deletion removing the entire beta globin gene. The nonsense 17 mutation (n = 39) was linked to a single haplotype, whereas the frameshift 41-42 mutation occurred with several haplotypes. The results of the present study indicate that prenatal diagnosis of clinically important beta-thalassemia syndromes using a limited set of oligonucleotides is feasible in approximately 80% of affected families in northern Thailand and most of the families with beta-thalassemia-Hb E disease in northeastern Thailand. PMID- 2606476 TI - Molecular basis of beta-thalassemia in Thailand: analysis of beta-thalassemia mutations using the polymerase chain reaction. AB - beta-Thalassemia mutations in 71 chromosomes of Thai patients from the northeast, the middle and the south of the country were investigated using dot blot hybridization of PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-amplified DNA with allele specific oligonucleotide probes. Eight different known molecular defects were detected, at different frequencies. There was an amber mutation in codon 17, a C T transversion at position 654 of IVS-2, a frameshift mutation between codons 71 and 72, an A-G transition at nucleotide -28 within the TATA box (known as Chinese mutations), a G-T transversion at position 1 of IVS-1 (an Indian mutation), a 4 bp deletion in codons 41/42 and a G-C transversion at position 5 of IVS-1 (described as both Chinese and Indian mutations) and a Thai original mutation, an ochre mutation in codon 35. Analysis of the three unknown alleles by DNA sequencing of the cloned DNA fragment amplified by PCR revealed an A-G substitution at the second position of the codon for amino acid 19 (AAC-AGC). The analytic approach used in the present study and the characteristic distribution of mutations in each region of Thailand will prove useful for setting up a prenatal diagnosis program. PMID- 2606478 TI - Molecular characterisation of three alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency variants: proteinase inhibitor (Pi) nullcardiff (Asp256----Val); PiMmalton (Phe51--- deletion) and PiI (Arg39----Cys). AB - Three mutations causing alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency have been identified by gene amplification and direct DNA sequencing. In the Pi (proteinase-inhibitor) nullcardiff gene, the codon for aspartate at position 256 has mutated to encode valine. In PiMmalton and Pi I, the respective mutations are the deletion of the codon for a phenylalanine residue at position 51 or 52, and a single base substitution resulting in arginine being replaced by cysteine at position 39. Examination of the protein tertiary structure suggests that all of these mutations are likely to result in folding abnormalities that may explain the deficiency states. PMID- 2606479 TI - The gene encoding the human preproacrosin (ACR) maps to the q13-qter region on chromosome 22. AB - Human proproacrosin is specified by a single gene (ACR). Using a series of human rodent somatic cell hybrids containing variant complements of human chromosomes, the preproacrosin gene was found to cosegregate with human chromosome 22. Somatic cell hybrids containing translocation chromosomes carrying parts of chromosome 22 were used to locate the preproacrosin gene to the region 22q13-22qter. By probing the DNA of 82 individuals, a restriction fragment length polymorphism was found with SstI in 14 cases. PMID- 2606480 TI - Gene assignment of Zellweger syndrome to 7q11.23: report of the second case associated with a pericentric inversion of chromosome 7. AB - The case of a newborn girl with Zellweger syndrome and a pericentric inversion of chromosome 7, 46,XX, inv(7)(p12q11.23), is reported. The diagnosis was confirmed by marked deficiency of peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzymes in hepatic cells from autopsy samples. This is the second case of Zellweger syndrome associated with a rearrangement of chromosome 7, the tentative gene assignment to 7q11 being further supported; the gene is probably confiend to 7q11.23. PMID- 2606481 TI - Rate of chromosomal aberrations in prenatally detected hydrops fetalis and hygroma colli. AB - Chromosome analyses were carried out in a series of 775 fetuses with morphological abnormalities diagnosed by ultrasound. Among these cases, 57 demonstrated non-immune hydrops fetalis with hygroma colli (group 1) and a further 116 non-immune hydrops fetalis without hygroma colli (group 2). Different chromosome abnormalities were found in 54.5% of cases of group 1 where chromosome analyses could be performed, and in 27.6% of cases of group 2. The most common aberrations were monosomy X and trisomy 21. PMID- 2606482 TI - Prenatal enzymatic diagnosis of Krabbe disease (globoid-cell leukodystrophy) using chorionic villi. Pitfalls in the use of uncultured villi. AB - Sixteen pregnancies in families with children enzymatically diagnosed as having Krabbe disease (KD) were monitored for prenatal KD using the assay of galactosyl ceramide beta-galactosidase (GCG) in uncultured chorionic villi (CV), cultured CV, or cultured amniotic fluid cells (AFC). Prenatal KD diagnoses were made for 5 pregnancies on the basis of lower than 10% normal GCG activity in cultured CV or AFC. Uncultured CV were studied in 3 out of the 5 KD embryos, although the GCG activities of 14%-23% as compared with control villi were diagnostically inconclusive; the relatively high activities were considered to be caused by maternal GCG contamination of these very small villus samples. Although the villi from 6 of the other pregnancies yielded more conclusive results, the use of uncultured CV alone is not recommended for prenatal KD diagnosis, this material being subject to possible uncontrolled contamination with maternal enzyme. PMID- 2606483 TI - Use of transgenic mice for the characterization of human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid) variants. AB - Sera from transgenic mice (TM) carrying human genes of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid or ORM) have been analyzed by isoelectrofocusing and subsequent immunoblotting with antihuman ORM antibodies. With this technique it is possible to reveal selectively the human protein secreted in the TM sera. Orosomucoid bands present in TM sera have been compared with those of the most common human ORM phenotypes to correlate the products of specific genes to previously identified genetic variants. In this paper, we report the identification of the genes encoding for variants ORM1 F1 and ORM2 A, which are genes AGP-A and AGP B/B' respectively. The nucleotide sequences of these genes are known; therefore a direct correlation between variants and specific amino acid sequences can be established. PMID- 2606484 TI - Phenylketonuria: detection of a frequent haplotype 4 allele mutation. AB - By sequence analysis of 94 phenylketonuria (PKU) alleles using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based techniques, we identified a G to A transition in exon 5 of the human phenylalanine hydroxylase gene. This base substitution predicts an Arg158----Glu158 amino acid exchange and is strongly associated with the mutant haplotype 4 PKU allele. PMID- 2606485 TI - Unusual chromosome 20 anomaly arising "de novo" to give dic(20)qs. AB - An unusual anomaly is reported involving the long arm of chromosome 20. The appropriate cytogenetic techniques showed it to be a de novo dic(20)qs. PMID- 2606486 TI - No lack of complementation for unscheduled DNA synthesis between xeroderma pigmentosum complementation groups D and H. PMID- 2606487 TI - Laser-tissue interaction. PMID- 2606488 TI - Skin optics. AB - Quantitative dosimetry in the treatment of skin disorders with (laser) light requires information on propagation of light in the skin related to the optical properties of the individual skin layers. This involves the solution of the integro-differential equation of radiative transfer in a model representing skin geometry, as well as experimental methods to determine the optical properties of each skin layer. These activities are unified under the name skin optics. This paper first reviews the current status of tissue optics, distinguishing between the cases of: dominant absorption, dominant scattering, and scattering about equal to absorption. Then, previously published data as well as some current unpublished data on (human) stratum corneum, epidermis and dermis, have been collected and/or (re)analyzed in terms of absorption coefficient, scattering coefficient, and anisotropy factor of scattering. The results are that the individual skin layers show strongly forward scattering (anisotropy factors between 0.7 and 0.9). The absorption and scattering data show that for all wavelengths considered scattering is much more important than absorption. Under such circumstances, solutions to the transport equation for a multilayer skin model and finite beam laser irradiation are currently not yet available. Hence, any quantitative dosimetry for skin treated with (laser) light is currently lacking. PMID- 2606489 TI - Time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy in turbid tissues. AB - Monte Carlo simulations illustrate how various absorption mu a and scattering mu s coefficients influence time-dependent reflectance R (t) from a semi-infinite homogeneous turbid tissue following an impulse of narrow-beam irradiation. The tissue absorption coefficient mu a in cm -1 can be obtained from measurements of R (t) after the first 20-200 ps (depends on mu s) following an impulse by the expression: mu a = -(n/c) d In [R(t)]/dt - 3n/2ct where n is the tissue refractive index and c is the in vacuo speed of light. Early data in the first 20 200 ps do not conform to this expression or to diffusion theory. Monte Carlo simulations allow study of the early R(t) behavior. The volume of tissue involved in a measurement is specified by a volume radius r that approximately equals (6Dtc/n)1/2 where t is the time of measurement and D is the optical diffusion constant D = (3 mu s (1 - g]-1. At 50 ps and typical values of mu s = 100 cm-1 and anisotropy equal to 0.9, r equals 5 mm. The upper limit for measurable mu a values is limited by how quickly the reflectance signal is attenuated, and is estimated for current streak camera technology to be mu a less than or equal to 21 cm-1, assuming several measurements are taken over a dynamic range of two orders of magnitude within a 10 ps period. PMID- 2606490 TI - Monte Carlo modeling of light propagation in highly scattering tissue--I: Model predictions and comparison with diffusion theory. AB - Using optical interaction coefficients typical of mammalian soft tissues in the red and near infrared regions of the spectrum, calculations of fluence-depth distributions, effective penetration depths and diffuse reflectance from two models of radiative transfer, diffusion theory, and Monte Carlo simulation are compared for a semi-infinite medium. The predictions from diffusion theory are shown to be increasingly inaccurate as the albedo tends to zero and/or the average cosine of scatter tends to unity. PMID- 2606491 TI - Monte Carlo modeling of light propagation in highly scattering tissues--II: Comparison with measurements in phantoms. AB - Measurements of the fluence-depth distributions and of the diffuse reflectance of 633 nm light have been made in liquid media with optical properties similar to soft tissues. The results are compared with predictions of Monte Carlo computer calculations in order to test the adequacy of Monte Carlo modeling of light transport in tissue. Except at extremely high albedo, the experimental data and the Monte Carlo results agree well for the depth dependence of the fluence as a function of incident light beam diameter and optical absorption and scattering, and for the dependence of the diffuse reflectance on the albedo. The absolute experimental values for the fluence must be renormalized by a factor which varies with the albedo in order to match the model values, and the possible sources of this discrepancy are discussed. PMID- 2606492 TI - Changes in birefringence as markers of thermal damage in tissues. AB - Light microscopy using polarized transmission illumination of routinely stained histologic sections shows changes of the native birefringence of certain tissue constituents when heated by laser irradiation or electrosurgical current. The naturally occurring birefringence of cardiac muscle disappears permanently when the muscle is frozen, thawed, and heated to temperatures in excess of 42 degrees C in vitro. This loss of birefringence is produced with temperatures at which other morphologic thermal changes are hard to detect; thus, it is a low temperature tissue marker which can be used to observe the extent of thermal damage in tissues. Partial loss of the native birefringence of collagen occurs in canine urinary bladder coagulated by laser irradiation and pericardium heated with electrodes. In addition, thermally coagulated collagens have variable birefringence color shifts when compared to the adjacent unaffected collagens in stained histologic sections. The gradual birefringence color changes are seen at tissue temperatures higher than those at which the thermally induced hyalinization (coagulation) of collagen usually occurs (about 60-70 degrees C), but below those at which carbonization is seen (200+ degrees C). Birefringence changes can be measured to test mathematical models of thermal damage necessary for development of dosimetry models in medical applications of laser irradiation. PMID- 2606493 TI - A theoretical study of the effect of optical properties in laser ablation of tissue. AB - The role of optical properties in the distribution of laser light and the resulting thermodynamic processes in biological tissue is studied from a theoretical perspective. Light distribution is modeled by a discrete ordinate method and heat transfer and ablation is modeled by an immobilized finite element method. The effect of parametric variation of absorption, scattering anisotropicity on the dynamics of the ablation process is examined. The manifestation of higher than the ablation threshold temperature in the subsurface tissue is observed and discussed. Results indicate significant differences in the ablation behavior which may have important clinical implications. PMID- 2606494 TI - Laser ablation of atherosclerotic blood vessel tissue under various irradiation conditions. AB - A quantitative analysis is presented of the destruction of normal wall and atherosclerotic plaque areas of blood vessels by laser radiation. Threshold laser radiant exposure values were measured experimentally in vitro, along with the ablation efficiency for various laser wavelengths and irradiation conditions. Correlations were found between the ablation efficiency and fluence thresholds on the one hand and the optical properties of the blood vessel tissues on the other. Fibrous plaque was demonstrated to be selectively destroyed by the second harmonic output from a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at lambda = 532 nm. PMID- 2606495 TI - Pulsed CO2 laser ablation of tissue: effect of mechanical properties. AB - The ablation rate of guinea pig skin and bovine aorta, myocardium, and liver by a CO2 laser emitting 2-microseconds-long pulses was quantified. Ablation efficiency was found to be strongly dependent upon the ultimate tensile strength of the tissue; the ablation efficiency of liver is seven times that of skin. Gluteraldehyde cross linking of skin, which is known to greatly increase tissue stiffness but not significantly affect ultimate tensile strength, did not change the ablation rate. The water content of the tissues, which largely determines the optical and thermal properties, was measured and found to vary only slightly. The results demonstrate that tissue mechanical properties are important in the interpretation and modeling of pulsed laser ablation of tissue and that variations in these mechanical properties can lead to drastically different cutting rates for different tissues. PMID- 2606496 TI - XeCl laser in biliary calculus fragmentation: fluence threshold and ablation products. AB - The in vitro action of a xenon-chlorine (XeCl) excimer laser on biliary calculi is reported: fluence threshold and rate for ablation process are given. An analysis of gaseous products evolved during irradiation of gallstones, performed through an infrared spectrophotometric technique is also reported. Based on the different results, we discuss the mechanism of destruction. PMID- 2606497 TI - Chrono-coherent imaging for medicine. AB - We describe a new method for imaging with visible and near visible light inside media, such as tissues, which have strong light scattering. The chrono-coherent imaging (CCI) method is demonstrated in this paper for a transmission geometry where an absorbing object is completely hidden from normal visual observation by light scattering of the media. The resultant images are most similar to X rays, with cumulative transmission showing absorption features and refractive index differences in the media. We discuss laser coherence properties, coherence measurements, the relation of CCI to light-inflight holography, holographic film properties relevant to CCI, a particular optical setup for CCI, the results of a demonstration experiment imaging an absorbing object hidden by light scattering, and an experiment to estimate the clinical applicability of CCI. PMID- 2606499 TI - Immunobiology of parasites. PMID- 2606498 TI - A one-layer model of laser-induced fluorescence for diagnosis of disease in human tissue: applications to atherosclerosis. AB - This paper describes a general model of tissue fluorescence which can be used both to: 1) determine chemical and physical properties of the tissue, and 2) design an optimal algorithm for clinical diagnosis of tissue composition. This model is based on a picture of tissue as a single, optically thick layer, in which fluorophores and absorbing species are homogeneously distributed. As a specific example, the model is applied to the laser induced fluorescence (LIF) of normal and atherosclerotic human aorta using 476 nm excitation. Methods for determining the relevant attenuation and fluorescence lineshapes are detailed, and these lineshapes are used to apply the model to data from 148 samples. The model parameters are related to the concentrations of the major arterial chromophores: structural proteins, hemoglobin and ceroid. In addition, the model parameters are used to derive diagnostic algorithms for the presence of atherosclerosis. Utilizing a binary classification scheme, the presence or absence of pathology was determined correctly in 88 percent of cases. PMID- 2606500 TI - How to protect yourself against malpractice. PMID- 2606501 TI - Is there a mentor in your career future? AB - Your new career in nursing holds limitless possibilities for you. Successful career planning and career development must inevitably include the presence of strong nurturing relationships. Whatever form these support relationships take- be it mentor-protege or peer-peer--they will play an increasingly important role in helping you develop as a competent, happy, successful, and confident professional. As members of the nursing profession, we have an edge on helping and being helped by each other. We have strong nurturing backgrounds. We have a deep concern for and sensitivity to human needs. We can help each other as mentors or peer colleagues. Finding mentors and other types of support connections along your career path is essential for "making it" in the professional work world. Each of us needs the gift of mentoring, both as recipient and as giver. PMID- 2606502 TI - Returning to school: guide for the RN consumer. PMID- 2606503 TI - Promoting a positive nursing image. PMID- 2606504 TI - Nurse entrepreneurs: the quiet revolution. PMID- 2606505 TI - An open letter to a graduate nurse. PMID- 2606506 TI - Some characteristics of a secreted chlamydial antigen recognized by IgG from C. trachomatis patient sera. AB - Chlamydia trachomatis serovars release a glycolipid antigen (GLXA) into the culture supernatant during the infective cycle. This antigen is recognized by IgG isolated from humans with a natural chlamydial infection; GLXA may be a major antigenic determinant of chlamydia. It can be immunopurified by molecular shift or affinity chromatography. Silver staining of SDS-PAGE gels demonstrates a pattern of bands that is essentially the same for preparations isolated by either method. GLXA can also be extracted from mature elementary bodies (EB). These preparations show the same pattern of silver staining bands, and the major bands are immunoreactive as shown by Western blot analysis. Isoelectric focusing studies demonstrate that purified GLXA has an acidic pI. PMID- 2606507 TI - The polymeric immunoglobulin A receptor is present on hepatocytes in human liver. AB - A monoclonal antibody raised against human colostrum secretory component produced even staining of hepatocyte plasma membranes, as well as bile duct lining cells, in all sections examined from eight normal and three abnormal human livers. Human bile samples incubated with free secretory component degraded it to varying extents, probably proteolytically; true levels of free secretory component will therefore often be higher than those reported. It seems likely that human liver resembles that of other mammals in transferring polymeric IgA through hepatocytes to the bile by means of the polymeric IgA receptor. PMID- 2606508 TI - Antigen processing by isolated rat intestinal villus enterocytes. AB - The processing of ovalbumin by isolated rat enterocytes and by splenic adherent cells (SAC) was compared. Paraformaldehyde fixation blocked presentation of ovalbumin to T cells by both cell types when given before, but not after, an antigen pulse. Presentation of ovalbumin by both cell types was blocked by treatment with chloroquine, ammonium chloride or monensin before the antigen pulse. Leupeptin treatment before the antigen pulse inhibited presentation by SAC, but not by enterocytes. Ovalbumin processed by enterocytes was not presented by fixed SAC. Radiolabelled ovalbumin was degraded to small molecular weight fragments by SAC, but not by enterocytes. It is suggested that, compared to the degradative processing seen in macrophages. B cells and dendritic cells, processing of ovalbumin by enterocytes comprises a more subtle, non-degradative mechanism. PMID- 2606509 TI - Ontogeny of cytotoxic T-cell repertoire modification. AB - The specificity of the residual anti-B10 cytotoxic T-cell response of B10. A mice rendered neonatally tolerant of B10 was compared to the anti-B10 response of adult and neonatal normal B10. A mice. The response of both spleen cells and thymus cells from adult and neonatal normal mice was biased toward Kb. This was in contrast to the response from tolerant spleen which was biased toward Db. The results suggest that the repertoire of normal mice is established neonatally and does not change radically without specific antigenic challenge. Furthermore the fact that the residual tolerogen specific cytotoxic T-cell precursors (pTc) in tolerant mice have a different repertoire to normal neonates makes it unlikely that they are remnants of a neonatal repertoire that developed prior to the full establishment of tolerance. Taking into account the present and previous results, the residual tolerogen-specific Tc in tolerant mice most likely represent a population of cells that has escaped tolerance induction due to their low avidity for antigen and provide the first evidence that avidity plays a role in tolerance among cytotoxic T cells. PMID- 2606510 TI - Systemic administration of IL-2 induces lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells capable of killing macrophages in various tissues. AB - Murine lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells induced by systemic high-dose recombinant human interleukin 2 (IL-2) administration lysed fresh syngeneic peritoneal macrophages (M phi). LAK cells lysed resident peritoneal M phi and M phi activated in vivo with thioglycollate (TG), Corynebacterium parvum (C. parvum), or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). The induction of anti-M phi cytolytic activity was seen in the spleen, liver, lung, lymph nodes and peritoneal cavity, but was not observed in the thymus. Fluorescence analysis revealed that the majority of infiltrated cells in the peritoneal cavity of IL-2-administered mice were Thy-1+, asialo GM1+, L3T4-, Ly2-. Surface marker analysis on peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) from IL-2-administered mice with depletion techniques using antibody (Ab) and complement (C) indicated that Thy-1+, asialo GM1+, L3T4-, Ly 2- cells were responsible for anti-M phi lysis. These studies indicate that the in vivo administration of IL-2 induces LAK cells capable of killing M phi in various tissues. PMID- 2606511 TI - Culture supernatants of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells contain a high molecular-weight cytotoxic lymphokine. AB - Supernatants of human lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells grown in vitro were tested for cytotoxic activity against several mouse and human neoplastic cell lines. All LAK preparations tested (14/14) exhibited cytotoxic activity (40-90% killing of the target cells). Sephacryl S-300 Gel filtration experiments indicated that the biological activity of the LAK supernatant is associated with molecular moieties ranging from 800 kDa or more, to less than 10 kDa. The finding of strong cytotoxic activity in LAK supernatants against several tumor lines points to the possibility of employing soluble products of these cells, rather than the living cells themselves, for therapeutic purposes. PMID- 2606512 TI - Anti-Ia antibodies inhibit the spontaneous secretion of IL-1 from silicotic rat alveolar macrophages. AB - Class II antigens of the major histocompatibility complex (Ia) are important components in the investigation of cell-mediated immune responses. Several reports have indicated that anti-Ia monoclonal antibodies suppress disease development in animal models. In this paper, the expression of Ia and the effect of anti-Ia on IL-1 secretion from alveolar macrophages (AM) from silica-treated rats was examined. The results obtained showed that 45% of silicotic AM, but only 5% of AM from normal control rats, express Ia antigen. Anti-Ia treatment of silicotic AM reduced IL-1 secretion by 55%. We conclude that anti-Ia immune suppression may involve the inhibition of IL-1 secretion. PMID- 2606513 TI - Heterogeneity of ribosomal autoantibodies from human, murine and canine connective tissue diseases. AB - Antiribosomal auto-antibodies (anti-Rib.Ab) have been studied in connective tissue diseases (human, dog and mouse) by immunoblotting after one-dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis of rat ribosomes. Anti-Rib.Ab could be found in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other connective tissue diseases (progressive systemic sclerosis, PSS; Sjogren syndrome, SjS; mixed connective tissue disease, MCTD; and dermatomyositis, DM with the frequencies 41.7%, 54.6% and 33%, respectively. Immunoblotting after 1D gel electrophoresis showed the great heterogeneity of ribosomal proteins recognized by the anti-Rib.Ab. In the SLE, however, the most frequent antibodies stained bands of the 40S subunit: 30 kDa (34% of positive sera), 19.5 kDa (24.5%) and 43 kDa (17%). In RA, the 25-kDa band of the 60S subunit was the most common (54% of positive sera). In the other human connective tissue diseases, there was no particular predominance. In the MRL/1, anti-Rib.Ab were very frequent (92.6%). The 43-kDa band of the 40S subunit was found in 100% of positive sera. Seventeen out of nineteen dogs with SLE gave positive results on immunoblot, and all of them stained the 43-kDa band of the 40S subunit. 2D gel electrophoresis gave identification of Po, L7, L5, Sb, S19, S13 and L2 proteins in SLE, S3 and SjS, L35a and L37a in RA, and L7, S6 and/or L7a in MRL/1. PMID- 2606514 TI - The effect of histamine on the induction of experimental autoimmune hemolytic anemia on OF1, BALB/c and SJL mice. AB - Erythrocyte autoantibodies can be elicited in mice by injection of rat red blood cells (RBC) which are cross-reactive with mouse RBC. In this report, we show that histamine injected in vivo delayed the production of autoantibodies among BALB/c and OF1 mice. In contrast, the induction of autoantibodies in SJL mice was not affected by histamine. Furthermore, histamine did not affect the production of anti-rat RBC. Cimetidine (anti-H2) but not diphenhydramine (anti-H1) inhibited the histamine effect. PMID- 2606515 TI - 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D in severe immune challenges. PMID- 2606516 TI - Effect of vitamin E on lipid peroxidation in buffalo Bubalus bubalis L. AB - Vitamin E significantly (P less than 0.01), inhibited lipid peroxidation as indicated by malonaldehyde (MDA) production and improved significantly (P less than 0.01) motility and percent live spermatazoa of B. bubalis semen. Bulls with higher MDA formation had lower sperm motility and percent live count. Variance due to bulls for all the three parameters were significant (P less than 0.05). PMID- 2606517 TI - Fucose and sialic acid contents of intestinal microvillus membranes from different animal species. AB - Fucose and sialic acid contents of intestinal microvillus membranes isolated from different animal species have been analysed. Expressed on protein basis, brush borders from fish contained considerably high amounts of sialic acid (298 +/- 16 nmole/mg protein), while rat, goat, sheep and guinea pig membranes showed 41-61 nmole/mg protein. Pig, frog, monkey rabbit and chicken membranes exhibited low levels of sialic acid (10-13 nmole/mg protein). Fucose content of the brush borders was quite high (203-212 nmole/mg protein) in frog and fish intestines. It was least in rabbit (54 +/- 3) and of intermediate levels (80-122 nmole/mg protein) in various other animal species analysed. Fucose to sialic acid molar ratio was less than 1 in fish microvillus membranes. In all other animal species, the ratio was however, greater than one and ranged between 1.65 and 15.20. PMID- 2606518 TI - Ultrasound induced damages and time bound recovery in mouse liver. AB - Therapeutic ultrasound at 875 kHz at 10 and 15 W/cm2 intensity induced extensive damages in the liver of mouse. Total exposure of 5 min was spread over 5 days. Aqueous medium was avoided by coupling the transducer directly to the skin surface. Mild to extensive damages were noted. Complete distortion of hepatocellular architecture was noted in 15 W irradiated mice. However, there was almost complete recovery by 10th day following the last exposure. PMID- 2606519 TI - Carcinoscorpius rotunda cauda amoebocyte lysate for detection of endotoxins--its preparation, stability, sensitivity and comparison with Limulus amoebocyte lysate. AB - Carcinoscorpius amoebocyte lysate (CAL) was prepared from C. rotunda cauda by a modification of the method described by Mahalanabis et al. [Indian J Med Res, 70 (1979) 35]. Seasonal variation as well as batch variation was observed in the yield of haemolymph and the total lysate protein. In the presence of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (pure, free endotoxin) and E. coli and Salmonella cell suspensions (bound endotoxin), the CAL formed a gel after incubation at 37 degrees C. The gelling time varied from 10-90 min depending on the concentration of endotoxin used; higher concentrations formed gel more rapidly. The endotoxin detection capacity (sensitivity) of the lysate preparations was influenced by the season in which prepared, but not by the total protein content. Ten fold increase in the sensitivity was achieved by a purification step using chloroform. Although subsequent frozen storage with or without lyophilization did not alter the initial sensitivity, it was either decreased considerably or lost totally when the lysate was stored for 4 months at 4 degrees C or for 2 months at 30 degrees C. Under the same conditions, Limulus lysate was more stable. The lost sensitivity could not be regained by the incorporation of divalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+). The CAL preparations in general were able to detect as little as 10 100 pg of endotoxin or as few as 10(3) cells of E. coli or 10(4) cells of Salmonella and were comparable to LAL. CAL could be used successfully in lieu of Limulus amoebocyte lysate in the detection and assay of endotoxins. PMID- 2606520 TI - Lack of in vitro spontaneous activity following axotomy of hamster sensory neurones. AB - Although peripheral axotomy of dorsal root ganglion cells in mice, rats and cats has been reported to generate spontaneous activity in sensory nerves, we did not find evidence for such activity in the hamster. In vitro, intracellular recording from L6-S1 dorsal root ganglion cells up to 6 weeks after axotomy did not reveal any evidence for either increased membrane excitability or spontaneous activity. Also, in the sciatic nerve-sectioned hamsters, there was a total absence of the self-mutilatory behaviour which has been reported in other rodents. These results support the hypothesis that species specific factors are important for the development of ongoing activity in sensory nerves following injury. PMID- 2606521 TI - Pretreatment with phenobarbitone modifies suppressant effect of cyclosporine on wound healing. AB - Cyclosporine has been reported to suppress the tensile strength of healing incision wound. Prednisolone, an inducer of hepatic microsomal enzymes, abolished the tensile strength suppressant effect of cyclosporine. Cyclosporine is metabolized by the hepatic cytochrome P-450 enzymes. Induction of microsomal enzymes with phenobarbitone was evaluated for its effect upon the wound healing suppressant effect of cyclosporine. Pretreatment of male rats with phenobarbitone (75 mg/kg/day, ip) for 3 days resulted in alleviating the tensile strength suppressant effect of cyclosporine (5 mg/kg/day, po for 10 days). Phenobarbitone, per se, did not affect the tensile strength. That phenobarbitone prevents cyclosporine induced nephrotoxicity without affecting the humoral immunosuppressant action of cyclosporine has recently been reported. The possibility of modulating microsomal enzymes with phenobarbitone offers another approach in preventing cyclosporine-associated toxicities during immunosuppression. PMID- 2606522 TI - Role of endogenous opioids and histamine in morphine induced emesis. AB - The role of opioid and histaminergic system in morphine induced emesis was investigated in dogs. Morphine (25 micrograms, icv) consistently evoked emesis with an average latency of 195 +/- 29 sec which was fully accounted for by an action on the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) as its ablation rendered animals refractory to vomiting. Intraventricular pretreatment with opioid antagonist naloxone, histamine H1 antagonist mepyramine and H2 antagonists metiamide and cimetidine afforded protection to icv morphine emesis. The CSF histamine concentration was significantly raised 5 min after icv morphine administration. The results suggest that both endogenous opioid and histamine are involved in morphine emesis. Naloxone in high doses (1600 micrograms, icv) elicited emesis which was not blocked by CTZ ablation confirming our earlier report. PMID- 2606523 TI - Influence of industrial pollutants on thyroid function in Channa punctatus (Bloch). AB - A 30 day exposure of C. punctatus to sublethal levels of phenol, ammonia, mercuric chloride, cadmium chloride and a mixture of the four resulted in an overall activation of guaiacol peroxidase and depression of iodide peroxidase (IPOD) activity and blood T4 titre. Interestingly enough, in case of 15 day ammonia and 1 day mercury exposures, an increase of IPOD activity was accompanied by a decrease in T4 titre. In general, phenol, mercury, cadmium and the mixture of pollutants were found to inhibit LP activity by 56% to 85% while ammonia inhibited lysosomal protease (LP) activity by 70%. Alterations in acid phosphatase (AP) activity indicate changes in the lysosomal membrane characteristics caused by these toxicants. Considering the concomitant alterations in IPOD, T4, LP and AP it is surmised that thyroid function in C. punctatus is influenced by the pollutants by two pathways, one via IPOD pathway affecting T4 synthesis and the other via lysosomal pathway affecting T4 release. PMID- 2606524 TI - Uptake of cadmium by isolated human red blood cells. AB - Uptake of Cd by human RBC in vitro was studied. The uptake was found to be biphasic with a rapid initial phase followed by a slower second phase which was still increasing at the time of the last experiment (60 min). Both the phases were found to be independent of metabolically derived energy and unaffected by zinc in the incubation medium. PMID- 2606525 TI - Cytotoxic activity of lactobacilli isolated from plant and dairy sources. AB - Forty four cultures of Lactobacilli isolated from their natural sources such as dahi, raw milk and fermenting rice-pulse doughs etc. along with four standard strains of Lactobacilli were assayed for their cytotoxic activity against three secondary tumour cell lines. Three cultures isolated from dahi samples and identified as Lactobacillus casei D-34, L. casei D-48a, L. plantarum D-70a along with one standard strain L. casei B 1922 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity in the range of 30 to 36%. PMID- 2606526 TI - Short-term and long-term effects of brown and black masheri (pyrolysed tobacco product) on vitamin A and vitamin C levels in mice and hamsters. AB - The short-term and long-term effects of two most commonly used brown and black masheri were studied in Swiss mice and Syrian golden hamsters. In short-term studies, both the types of masheri extracts (ME) at 3/4 LD50 dose given ip did not have any effect on either liver or plasma vitamin C levels (both species). However, a decrease in liver vitamin A was observed only in hamsters injected with black ME. Similar effect was not observed in mice injected with both the types of masheri extracts. In long-term studies, when both the types of masheri were fed through diet at 10% level for 20 months, no effect was observed on hepatic or plasma vitamin C levels in mice (both sexes), while an increase in vitamin C levels was observed in black masheri diet fed hamsters. A depletion in liver vitamin A was observed in hamsters fed both the types of masheri. Such an effect was observed only in black masheri diet fed Swiss mice (both sexes) and brown masheri diet fed Swiss females. PMID- 2606527 TI - Glycogen utilization in tissues of toad, Bufo melanostictus under electropolarity treatment. AB - Electropolarity treatment (0.8V/DC/Cm) was given to the gastrocnemius muscle of B. melanostictus every day for 5 min for 5 days. The glycogen content and aldolase activity levels increased and phosphorylase 'a' activity levels decreased on cathode treatment in muscle, liver and brain while an opposed trend was observed on anode treatment. The heart showed contrasting pattern under both cathode and anode electropolarity treatments. PMID- 2606528 TI - Effect of adrenergic and cholinergic antagonists on post-hemorrhagic erythropoiesis in rats. AB - Experiments were carried out in albino rats to find out the effect of propranolol, priscol and atropine on post-hemorrhagic erythropoiesis. Administration of either propranolol or priscol decreased reticulocyte response following hemorrhage, whereas administration of atropine produced no change. The results indicate that alpha as well as beta adrenergic systems participate in the control of erythropoiesis following hemorrhage, whereas parasympathetic system does not take part. PMID- 2606529 TI - Study of maternal behaviour in wild mice: avoidance to retrieve young and increase in cannibalic activity. AB - Pregnant females trapped from the wild were watched daily for parturition. Postpartum-retrieving reaction tests were carried out with all mothers using their own, alien or mixed pups. All the females when release in the cage for testing roamed around the cage but did not tend to retrieve any of the pups. Females frequently sniffed their own pups as well as alien ones without displaying any discrimination. However, when these females were left with their pups for rearing after the tests, they tended to cannibalize the latter. These findings indicate the absence of maternal retrieving in wild species of Mus, at least, under laboratory conditions. PMID- 2606530 TI - Hydrocarbon emulsification by Candida tropicalis and Debaryomyces polymorphus. AB - Potentiality of C. tropicalis and D. polymorphus, to produce surface active compounds (bioemulsifiers/biosurfactants) during shake cultivation on hexadecane and oily waste was studied. Better emulsification activity, specific towards aromatic hydrocarbons, was observed with C. tropicalis culture broth. Emulsification activity of culture broth was quite stable and was unaffected by change in pH and by increasing the concentration of NaCl up to 5%. The activity was marginally affected by heating in boiling water bath for 15 min, but inhibited to the tune of 90% by 0.3% CaCl2. The isolated bioemulsifying factor contained 40, 22 and 17.5% lipid, protein and carbohydrate, respectively. PMID- 2606531 TI - Acute pancreatitis and reduction of H+ ion concentration in gastric secretions in experimental acute myocarditis produced by Indian red scorpion, Buthus tamulus, venom. AB - Crude venom (4 mg/kg) of scorpion (B. tamulus) was given in saline to anaesthetized dogs and rabbits. It produced a reduction in gastric H+ ion concentration in dogs with acute myocarditis. Simultaneously an increase in circulating amylase and lipase level was also observed. However 60% venom poisoned rabbits showed an elevated lipase level without a parallel increase in amylase. It is suggested that the venom acts directly on exocrine pancreas to cause acute pancreatitis. PMID- 2606532 TI - Effect of defoliant (butiphose) on morpho-physiological properties and enzyme systems of natural membranes. AB - Butiphose (Tributyltritiophosphate, (C4H9S)3PO) a commonly used defoliant in cotton growing regions of USSR, caused extensive alterations in morphological features of erythrocyte and nuclear membranes and affected the permeability properties of rat liver mitochondrial membrane. It disrupted Ca2+ transport system and other energy dependent processes in mitochondria. A reduction in the activity of cytochrome-c-oxidase and NAD.H-oxidase was also observed. PMID- 2606533 TI - Effect of inhalation of insecticide spray on learning and memory in rats. AB - Acute exposure to insecticide (Baygon-spray; 5 ml/animal/5 min) inhalation in rats did not affect the learning process but produced a significant loss of memory (P less than 0.01 less than 0.001) whereas chronic exposure (one exposure per day for three weeks) produced a significant delay in learning (P less than 0.05) and memory (P less than 0.01). Acetylcholinesterase activity in brain after acute and chronic exposure declined significantly (P less than 0.01) during the learning process but returned to normal after 24 hr. PMID- 2606534 TI - Effect of piracetam, a nootropic agent, on rat brain monoamines and prostaglandins. AB - Piracetam is the prototype of a new class of psychotropic drugs, the nootropic agents, which are claimed to selectively improve the higher telencephalic integrative activities. The effect of piracetam on rat brain monoamines and prostaglandins (PGs) was assessed so as to garner information on its mode of action. Two doses of the drug were used, a lower dose (20 mg/kg ip) and a higher dose (100 mg/kg, ip), the latter being known to exert a facilitatory effect on learning and memory. Piracetam produced a dose-related effect on rat brain serotonin (5HT) and noradrenaline (NA), with the lower dose inducing a decrease in 5HT levels and an increase in NA concentrations. The higher dose of piracetam produced the opposite effect. Dopamine (DA) levels were not significantly affected. The lower dose of the drug attenuated 5HT turnover and augmented that of NA, whereas the higher dose of piracetam produced the reverse effects, in clorgyline treated rats. The lower dose of piracetam produced a slight and statistically insignificant increase in rat brain PGE2 and PGF2 alpha. However, the higher dose of the drug produced marked increase in the levels of both the PGs. The observed biochemical effects may provide a basis for the nootropic effect of piracetam. However, they may also be due to the GA-BA-mimetic action of the drug, particularly those observed with the lower dose of piracetam. PMID- 2606535 TI - Pulmonary vasospasm in rabbits infused with stroma free haemoglobin solution. AB - Effect of infusion of stroma free haemoglobin solution into mice and rabbits was studied. Though no abnormalities were noted in mice, pulmonary vasospasm and hepatocytic necrosis were seen in all rabbits. In addition to reports that low adenosine deaminase levels in the solution could be a cause of vasoconstriction, it is proposed on the basis of present results that either denaturation of haemoglobin molecule itself or release of super oxide anion during oxygenation of haemoglobin, could cause cellular damage leading to toxicity. PMID- 2606536 TI - Effect of piracetam, a nootropic agent, on discrimination learning deficits induced by parental undernutrition and environmental impoverishment in young rats. AB - The study was conducted on 64 Charles Foster albino rats which were equally distributed into 8 even-matched groups, following a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design by varying three independent factors at two levels: nutrition--normal and undernutrition, environmental--enrichment and impoverishment, and drug treatment- vehicle and piracetam (100 mg/kg, ip). Prenatal nutrition was induced by restricting the mother's food intake. The environmental enrichment/impoverishment and the vehicle/drug treatments were given during the postweaning period of the rat pups. The animals were subjected to original and subsequent reversal brightness discrimination learning tests in a single unit T-maze at 8-9 weeks of age. The results indicate that undernutrition and environmental impoverishment significantly attenuated the original discrimination as well as the reversal discrimination learning. Piracetam treatment improved the learning performance of normally reared rats and also attenuated the original and reversal learning deficits induced by prenatal undernutrition and postnatal impoverishment. The results indicate that piracetam may be useful in memory deficits induced by malnutrition. PMID- 2606537 TI - Effect of alpha-tocopherol on peroxidative membrane damage caused by doxorubicin: an in vitro study in human erythrocytes. AB - Level of lipid peroxidation in doxorubicin treated human erythrocytes was studied and compared with that of cells pretreated with alpha-tocopherol. Erythrocytes treated with alpha-tocopherol had reduced level of lipid peroxidation with concomitantly lowered membrane damage. The membrane damage was monitored by the levels of conjugated diene absorption, lipid hydroperoxides and lipid peroxides. alpha-tocopherol was not effective in inhibiting the conjugated diene formation, but the lipid hydroperoxides and the lipid peroxide levels were significantly decreased. Methemoglobin level was found to be increased in alpha-tocopherol pretreated cells, which protects the membrane from damage. Erythrocyte membrane lipids were found to be decreased during doxorubicin treatment and alpha tocopherol significantly reduced the membrane lipid breakdown. Level of reduced glutathione was maintained in alpha-tocopherol pretreated cells. These results are discussed with reference to the antioxidant property of alpha-tocopherol. PMID- 2606538 TI - Construction of a gene bank of Rhizobium leguminosarum Rld 164. AB - The total genomic DNA of R. leguminosarum Rld164 (trp, sms, azi) was cloned in the EcoR1 site of the wide host and conjugally transferable cosmid vector pLAFR1. The average insert size in the gene clones of the bank was found to be 21.3 Kb. The strain R. leguminosarum Rld7 (leu-1) was employed as recepient to conjugally transfer and thus isolate the complementary leu+ allele carrying clones from the gene bank. PMID- 2606539 TI - Modification of immune response by glycine in animals. AB - Glycine (50, 100 and 300 mg/kg), administered daily for 10 days in rabbits challenged with typhoid 'H' antigen and sheep erythrocyte antigen, caused dose- dependent reduction of antibody titre. Inhibition of antibody titre observed with 300 mg/kg was comparable to immunosuppression observed with 1 mg/kg betamethasone. PMID- 2606540 TI - A colorimetric method for assay of serotonin deamination by monoamine oxidase. AB - The present method involves conversion of the aldehyde produced, as a result of serotonin deamination by monoamine oxidase, to its 2:4 dinitrophenyl hydrazone derivative which gives a stable, bright yellow colour in alkaline solution and can be measured colorimetrically. The derivative is however unstable in the acidic medium and has to be extracted into an organic solvent immediately. The details of the method and its standardization are discussed. PMID- 2606541 TI - Effect of bone injury on circadian periodicity of plasma 17-hydroxy corticosteroids (17-OHCS) in rabbits. AB - Bone injury inflicted at varying time intervals during 24 hr day-night cycle caused significant varying increase in plasma 17-OHCS levels in all traumatized animals and the levels remained elevated up to 24 hr after trauma. The level of plasma 17-OHCS was found to be aberrated in all the traumatized animals. Thus, adequate adrenocortical response to trauma and aberration in the adrenocortical secretory activity appears inevitable irrespective of the time at which the trauma is produced. However, the degree of response depends on the particular time at which the trauma is inflicted. PMID- 2606542 TI - Thorny foreign bodies of upper airway. AB - Twenty cases of unusual thorny foreign bodies (seeds of Xanthium strumarium) in laryngo-pharynx area are reported. The aetiopathogenesis, clinical features and management are briefly discussed. PMID- 2606543 TI - Solitary uncommon pulmonary nodule in a child. AB - An eleven-year-old boy attended this hospital with complaints of low grade fever and dry cough of three months duration. There was no history of any prolonged illness in the past. Child had BCG and other immunisation at appropriate age. General physical examination, respiratory system, cardiovascular system and other systems revealed no abnormal findings. PMID- 2606544 TI - Ultrasonography in pericardial effusion. AB - Four cases of pericardial effusion diagnosed by echocardiography are reported. While one of the four cases was referred for echocardiography with a diagnosis of pericardial effusion, the other three patients were selected for echocardiography on the basis of cardiomegaly demonstrated in plain x-ray chest examination. Real time echocardiography was considered to be most rapid, safe, convenient, accurate and least invasive method of diagnosing pericardial effusion. PMID- 2606545 TI - Scar cancer of the lung. AB - A case of scar carcinoma developing over lung abscess scar is presented. When the lung scars begin to increase in size and the patient does not respond to the treatment which was effective earlier, the possibility of malignant change in the scar tissue should be considered rather than the recurrence of the previous illness. PMID- 2606546 TI - Pulmonary hydatid disease presenting as non-resolving bilateral consolidations. AB - A 45-year-old female, post menopausal, presented with extensive bilateral radiological opacities in the lungs. Diagnosis of hydatid diseases was confirmed through open lung biopsy. Treatment with albendazole showed striking improvement in clinical symptoms as well as clearing of radiological shadows. PMID- 2606548 TI - Smoking medicos, beware! PMID- 2606547 TI - Branchiogenic cyst of larynx. AB - An extremely rare case of branchiogenic cyst of the larynx in young adult male is reported. Relevant literature is reviewed. PMID- 2606549 TI - Interrelationship between bronchoalveolar lavage cellular constituents and pulmonary functions in sarcoidosis. AB - Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) using a fiberoptic bronchoscope was done in 36 patients with sarcoidosis on 45 occasions and in 19 control subjects over a period of seven years. Total cell, polymorphonuclear cell and eosinophil cell counts of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in patients with sarcoidosis were not significantly different from control subjects. However, lymphocyte count (% total cells) in BALF was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in patients with sarcoidosis as compared to control subjects. Alveolar macrophage was the predominant cell type in BALF in control subjects. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.46; P less than 0.01) between vital capacity (VC) and pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLCO) and a negative correlation (r = -0.52; P less than 0.001) between BAL fluid lymphocytes (%) and DLCO (per cent predicted) was found in patients with sarcoidosis. An increase in lymphocytes in BALF is considered to be one of the parameters indicating activity of sarcoidosis. In view of the relationship between this parameter and the reduction in DLCO, the latter may also be an indicator of disease activity. PMID- 2606550 TI - Pneumoconiosis risk assessment in agate workers--multiple logistic model. AB - A multivariate logistic model for measuring and comparing pneumoconiosis risk is described. In the first stage variables are screened on the basis of contributed variability via Pearson Chi Square statistic. Age, dust years and pack years so chosen as explanatory variables are fitted in the above model. The coefficients are estimated as linear discriminant function co-efficient. The model gives quite a good fit between observed and expected frequencies. Dust years discriminate maximum between the normal and pneumoconiosis group. Nearly sixty per cent of the variation is explained by these variables. PMID- 2606551 TI - Smoking habits of the medical students. AB - Smoking habits of the medical students, both undergraduates and postgraduates, were evaluated by self-administering a predesigned proforma. 854 (66.05%) of the 1293 students responded, of whom, 30.7% of them were smokers. The number of smokers and the intensity of smoking increased with the advancement of their career at college. There were more smokers amongst the married and those with a history of smoking in their family. There was no systematic correlation between the socio-economic or rural/urban background and the smoking habit. PMID- 2606553 TI - [Image reconstruction with X-rays]. PMID- 2606552 TI - [Hygiene, disinfection and sterilization. Cost of procedures]. PMID- 2606554 TI - [The tooth of Buddha]. PMID- 2606556 TI - [Submaxillary lithiasis]. PMID- 2606555 TI - [Severe occlusal problems and pterygoid syndrome. A solution to a clinical problem]. PMID- 2606557 TI - [Sharpening of dental instruments]. PMID- 2606558 TI - [Rosemonde Mandeville ... or the taming of breast cancer. Interview by Ginette Brisebois]. PMID- 2606559 TI - [Elderly men should undergo an annual screening for prostate cancer]. PMID- 2606560 TI - [Alzheimer's disease: first symptoms and development]. PMID- 2606561 TI - [Medications: to take or not to take]. PMID- 2606562 TI - Communicating with each other. AB - Most dentists commit their professional lives to improving oral health by providing preventive and treatment services to their patients. In addition, dentists often participate in community, professional or legal activities that promote oral health. This paper describes five ways that dentists have worked with each other and with others to enhance oral health: (1) Dentists working with each other to promote oral health without the use of organized dentistry. Described as an example is the experience of all the periodontists in one city in the USA in providing community education. (2) Dental associations organizing or facilitating groups of dentists and other dental health professionals to develop and implement programmes that promote oral health. Two community-based educational efforts stimulated by the American Dental Association are described. (3) Dental specialty associations encouraging and facilitating specialists to work with other dentists to enhance their knowledge and skills in prevention, treatment and appropriate referral. The American Academy of Periodontology's efforts to teach communication skills to periodontists and diagnosis and treatment skills to general practitioners is cited as an example. (4) Dentists working with physicians and other non-dental health professionals to promote oral health. Integrating dental education into childbirth preparation classes for expectant parents is one instance of an interdisciplinary approach. (5) An individual dentist taking a leadership role to positively influence legislation to regulate a harmful substance. The efforts of one dentist to restrict the sale and promotion of smokeless tobacco are described. Working with other dentists, health care providers and legislators represent alternative ways that dentists have affected the oral health of individuals. PMID- 2606563 TI - Transfer of innovation for advancement in dentistry: a case study on pit and fissure sealants' use in Japan. AB - The implementation of scientific innovations is most important in advancing both dental care systems and dental science. However, scientific knowledge in dentistry is not always well implemented. In this paper the phases of development, diffusion, adoption and utilization of sealants are examined as one example of the way in which a relatively new innovation still needs more effort to ensure its wider use. Discussions with a dental manufacturer on the development of sealant materials and an investigation into the adoption of sealants in the national health insurance system of Japan were undertaken. Questionnaires regarding the education on sealants offered in dental schools and dental hygienist schools, and questionnaires to dental practitioners concerning their use of sealants, were used and analysed. The analysis of the various factors showed that the transfer of knowledge through the educational system is the most significant step in the uptake of innovations. Legality, insurance coverage and patient acceptance are significantly associated with the phase of adoption. A model of transfer pathways for new dental innovations is proposed. PMID- 2606564 TI - Practice profile time survey and government policy. AB - A practice profile time survey developed by FDI/WHO JWG 9 was employed by Hong Kong Dental Association in collaboration with the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, as part of an exercise to assess oral health manpower requirements in Hong Kong. The results highlighted specific features of private dental practice reflecting needs and demands of the indigenous population. The protocol was found to be reliable and could be used by national associations to collect information required in the monitoring of oral health services, as well as formulation of government policies. PMID- 2606565 TI - Equivalent multi-tissue and thermodynamic decompression algorithms. AB - Multi-tissue and thermodynamic decompression algorithms are described and a computational equivalence is established between the two approaches. Eigenvalues and weighted eigenfunctions of the Fick-Fourier equation effectively define response functions from which Haldane half-lives can be extracted from arbitrary exposures, operationally bridging the two approaches. Decompression criteria for the algorithms are also described and coupled. Comparisons of similarities and differences of approaches are given from both theoretical and applied viewpoints. A seven-parameter set, spanning both models, forms the basis of analysis. We find that representative thermodynamic parameters in a perfusion-diffusion model effectively recover Haldane half-lives in a bootstrap and that critical parameters overlap, though ranges differ in the two cases. PMID- 2606566 TI - MacSECPROT: two programs in BASIC to evaluate protein secondary structure. AB - Two interactive programs in BASIC are described, which provide useful tools to evaluate protein secondary structure. Output is given in two formats: (1) graphics are displayed on screen, which can be printed immediately, and (2) textfiles are saved to disk as permanent records and can be printed with a word processing program. The programs are fast and easy to use and could be a valuable teaching aid in biochemical and molecular biology courses. Program lists are written in Microsoft BASIC for the Apple Macintosh, but can be adapted to other machines accepting graphic commands. PMID- 2606567 TI - A 2-year assessment of a microcomputer based local-area network system for managing perinatal medical information. AB - Based on a 2-year experience using a perinatal information system and a microcomputer-based local area network (LAN), we assessed the LAN system to see how it provided positive feedback in daily perinatal practice. Discussed herein are the results pertaining to the compatibility between data on conventional patient's charts and that input into the computer system, along with a review of the data-base acquired, containing a large quantity of perinatal medical information. PMID- 2606568 TI - Effects of cavities on EEG dipole localization and their relations with surface electrode positions. AB - Effects of cavities in the human head on EEG dipole localization have been investigated by computer simulation. The human head is represented by a homogeneous spherical conductor including an eccentric spherical cavity which approximates effects of actual cavities inside the head. The homogeneous sphere model is used for assessing the effects caused by neglecting the cavity in the volume conductor model in the inverse dipole fitting procedure. Four electrode configurations have been examined to investigate their relation to the EEG inverse dipole solution. After examination of 2520 dipoles in the brain, the effects of cavities in the human head are found to be negligible when the dipole is located in the cortex or in the subcortex. When the dipole is located in the brain stem, the EEG inverse dipole solution is strongly affected by the cavity and is sensitive to the electrode configuration on the scalp. The EEG inverse dipole solution in the deep brain is sensitive to inhomogeneity in the lower part of the head when a single positive or negative potential pole is observed by the electrodes on the scalp, and at the same time is sensitive to the extent of the scalp covered by the electrodes. In conclusion, the electrodes should cover as much of the upper scalp as possible for deep source localization. PMID- 2606569 TI - EGF stimulates anchorage-independent growth of a human bladder carcinoma cell line (KU1) with an amplified and over-expressed EGF receptor gene. AB - Southern blot analysis of 6 human bladder carcinoma cell lines revealed amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in the KU1 cell line. The amplification of the gene was about 4-fold as compared with that of human placental DNA. Several restriction endonuclease digestions revealed that there was no gross rearrangement of the EGFR gene in KU1. Northern blot analysis showed normal 10 and 5.6 kb of EGFR gene-related mRNA species. 125I-EGF binding revealed 2 distinct EGF binding sites on KU1 cells: high-affinity sites 5.7 X 10(5) receptors per cell with 1.1 nM Kd and low-affinity sites 2.3 X 10(6) receptors per cell with 7.4 nM Kd. The number of the EGFR was compatible with that of the A431 squamous carcinoma cell ine which has an amplified, rearranged and over-expressed EGFR gene. Solid-phase immuno-isolation analysis showed a single 170 kDa EGFR protein in KU1 as well as in A431. Unlike other cell lines with amplified and over-expressed EGFR gene, anchorage-dependent growth of KU1 was stimulated but not inhibited by EGF. Moreover, anchorage-independent growth of KU1 was stimulated by EGF. PMID- 2606570 TI - Resident macrophages specifically inhibit DNA synthesis in the nuclei of transformed cells in heterokaryons. AB - DNA synthesis in heterokaryons of mouse peritoneal macrophages and various proliferating cultured cells was analyzed. Macrophages did not inhibit replication in the nuclei of non-immortalized and spontaneously immortalized cells (rat fibroblasts and macrophages, mouse pre-macrophages, NIH3T3 cells). On the contrary, the percentage of DNA-synthesizing nuclei of malignant HeLa cells was drastically reduced in heterokaryons. The transformation of NIH3T3 cells with c-Ki-ras oncogene and that of rat chondrocytes with p53 oncogene made these cells sensitive to the replication-inhibiting activity of macrophages in heterokaryons. Our observation represents a kind of "intracellular" cytotoxic activity of macrophages directed against transformed cells. PMID- 2606571 TI - Tissue norepinephrine depletion as a mechanism for cysteamine inhibition of colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane in Wistar rats. AB - The effects of cysteamine (2-aminoethanethiol hydrochloride) on the incidence, number and histology of colon tumors induced by azoxymethane (AOM), and on the norepinephrine concentration in the colon wall tissue and the labelling indices of colon mucosa and colon cancers were investigated in Wistar rats. Rats received 10 weekly injections of 7.4 mg/kg body weight of AOM and alternate-day subcutaneous injections of 25 mg/kg of cysteamine in 0.9% NaCl solution until the end of the experiment. At week 40, prolonged administration of cysteamine significantly reduced the incidence and number of colon tumors. Histologically, the adenocarcinomas that did develop in rats treated with cysteamine exhibited high mucin-producing activity. Administration of cysteamine caused significant decreases in the norepinephrine concentration in colon tissue and in the labelling indices of colon mucosa and cancers. Our findings indicate that cysteamine inhibits the development of colon tumors. This action may be related to its effect in decreasing norepinephrine concentration in the colon wall tissues and subsequently in decreasing proliferation of colon cancer cells. PMID- 2606572 TI - The influence of glucocorticoids on the growth of a human leiomyosarcoma cell line SK-LMS-1. AB - A cell line derived from a human leiomyosarcoma, SK-LMS-I, has cystolic [Bmax 201.6 +/- 39.7, means +/- SD, fm/mg cytosol protein KD 14.6 +/- 7.8 nM (n = 8)] and nuclear [Bmax 189.2 +/- 87.3 fM/mg DNA, KD 4.8 +/- 0.26 nM (n = 5)] glucocorticoid receptor, by Scatchard analysis of tumors grown in male athymic mice. Tumor growth of SK-LMS-I cells in male athymic mice is inhibited by daily s.c. injection of DEX 5 micrograms, DEX 25 micrograms, DEX 5 micrograms with 5 mu RU-486 and 5 micrograms RU-486. In sharp contrast, in vitro, glucocorticoid markedly stimulates the growth (as determined by cell number) of SK-LMS-I cells, principally at higher cell densities (days 10-21 of growth carried on over a 21- to 23-day period), the greatest stimulation being seen with DEX 10(-6) to 10(-8) M, and no stimulation being seen with DEX 10(-9) and 10(-10) M. In vitro, glucocorticoids with higher affinity for the GR stimulate growth, steroids with lower affinity inhibit growth. No alterations in cell-cycle distribution (percent G0/G1, S, or G2/m) could be found by flow cytometric analysis of glucocorticoid stimulated asynchronously growing cultures. Single, isolated, untreated SK-LMS-I cells form colonies in soft agar with an efficiency of 1.78 +/- 0.10%. Pre treatment of cells with DEX 10(-7) M increases this to 3.24 +/- 0.17%, while cells pre-treated with both DEX 10(-7) M RU-486 10(7) M form colonies with the same efficiency as untreated cells. Glucocorticoids have inhibitory effects on in vivo growth and stimulatory effects on in vitro growth of a GR-positive human leiomyosarcoma cell line. PMID- 2606573 TI - Influence of animal host and tumor implantation site on radio-antibody uptake in the GW-39 human colonic cancer xenograft. AB - The magnitude and kinetics of tumor uptake of a monoclonal antibody (MAb) directed against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the GW-39 human colorectal cancer xenograft differ according to the animal used (nude mouse or hamster) and the site of implantation of the tumor within the animal (cheek pouch, leg muscle, subcutaneous or liver). Several physiological factors have been evaluated in an attempt to explain these differences in radio-antibody accumulation. The following observations have been made: (1) The animal host with the slower blood clearance of radio-antibody and the higher non-tumor tissue uptake has the higher tumor uptake; (2) the xenografts with a higher blood-flow rate, vascular volume and/or vascular permeability have a higher specific radio-antibody targeting; (3) the smaller, more viable tumors take up more radio-antibody per gram than the larger tumors; and (4) tumors with higher specific antigen content accrete more radio-antibody. These results are discussed in terms of the feasibility of clinical tumor imaging and therapy with radiolabelled antibodies. PMID- 2606574 TI - Factors influencing the time and site of leukemic transformation of factor dependent cells after injection into irradiated recipient mice. AB - After cells of the non-tumorigenic-factor-dependent line FDC-PI are injected into irradiated DBA/2 mice a progressive increase occurs in the number of engrafted FDC-PI cells and eventually leukemic transformation occurs. Step-wise increase in the number of cells injected led to an increasingly rapid accumulation of untransformed FDC-PI cells in the hemopoietic organs and some shortening of the pre-leukemic phase. FDC-PI cells explanted from pre-leukemic mice differed from primary FDC-PI cells in that they were able to undergo leukemic transformation in non-irradiated recipients after short latent periods. Pre-leukemic populations contained FDC-PI variants with an improved ability to proliferate in non irradiated tissues. Co-injection of normal marrow cells delayed the leukemic transformation of injected FDC-PI cells. The accelerating effect of prior irradiation of the recipient on leukemia development was also abrogated when the injection of FDC-PI cells was delayed by several weeks. No specific site of transformation could be determined in mice with very early leukemias. Proliferation of untransformed FDC-PI cells and the emergence of variants with improved adaptation to in vivo conditions appear to be important and possibly necessary steps in the pathogenesis of the disease. Whether the host contributes actively to the final transformation process remains speculative. PMID- 2606575 TI - Increased drug cytotoxicity at reduced pH counteracts cyclophosphamide resistance in cultured rat mammary carcinoma cells. AB - The sensitivity of a cyclophosphamide (CP)-resistant MIR rat mammary carcinoma cell variant (MIRCPr) in monolayer culture towards the cytotoxic effect of mafosfamide (an analogue of "activated" CP) was measured as a function of extracellular pH (pHe). An inverse correlation was found between cell survival and the H+ ion concentration in the culture medium. At pHe 7.4, the fraction of clonogenic MIRCPr cells exposed to mafosfamide (7.5 micrograms/ml) for 24 hr was 1 X 10(-1) in relation to untreated control cells. At pHe 6.2, however, this value was reduced to 3 X 10(-4), i.e., a value equal to that for the CP-sensitive parental MIR cells exposed to the same concentration of mafosfamide at pHe 7.4. Our data indicate complete compensation of CP resistance in MIRCPr cells at pHe 6.2. MIRCPr cells were not resistant to the cytotoxic effect of nornitrogen mustard. This suggests that resistance to CP in MIRCPr cells is due to enzymatic inactivation of the primary intermediates in CP bioactivation. The alkylating activity of nornitrogen mustard (and less so that of phosphoramide mustard) is strongly enhanced at low pH. In MIRCPr cells shifted to an acidic environment, therefore, a (putative) decrease in the intracellular concentration of alkylating CP metabolites may be counteracted by an enhancement of their alkylating activity (on a molar basis). By parenteral administration of glucose, the pH in malignant tumors of both animal and human origin can be lowered to values between 5.6-6.6. Our data suggest that an upshift of H+ ion concentration in malignant tissues may at least partially counteract CP resistance in cancer cells in vivo. PMID- 2606576 TI - Antigenic modulation and internalization of monoclonal antibody to human colonic carcinoma cells detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. AB - We studied antigenic modulation and internalization of monoclonal antibody (MAb) A7 using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biotin-labelled antibody-staining techniques. Incubation of the colonic SW1116 cell line with an excess of MAb A7 induced modulation of the cell-surface antigen. When the line was assayed by ELISA, a change in cellular reactivity with MAb A7 was seen after 1 hr. After 24 hr, the cellular reactivity showed a 52% decrease in absorbance. Modulation was inhibited by 0.1% sodium azide and acetone fixation, suggesting that this is an energy-dependent phenomenon. The internalization of biotinylated MAb A7 was examined. Internalized biotinylated MAb A7 was detected in cells fixed before labelling with avidin-biotin peroxidase complex. It was observed that the amount of MAb A7 which remained associated with the cell surface had decreased since A7 was internalized. PMID- 2606577 TI - A new gastric carcinoma cell line (LIM1839) derived from a young Caucasian male. AB - We describe a new and unique gastric carcinoma cell line (LIM1839) derived from a young Caucasian male with rapidly progressing disease. The cell line grows with a pleomorphic morphology and has been in continuous culture for more than 3 years. The cells cannot be cloned in semi-solid agar or grown in nude mice despite numerous attempts. The karyotype of the cultured cells is highly abnormal with a large number of structural and numerical changes. Some chromosomes are dicentric and this feature has persisted in this culture. The cells express one of the small-intestinal dipeptidases, aminopeptidase N, but do not express dipeptidyl peptidase IV or the disaccharidases, sucrase isomaltase or maltase glucoamylase. The cells express high levels of EGF receptors and of messenger RNA for insulin like growth factor II. PMID- 2606578 TI - Effects of disseminative route on the liver- and lung-colonizing efficiencies of B16 melanoma and colon-26 carcinoma in mice. AB - Tumor-colony formation in the liver and lungs of mice was assessed, after delivery of equal numbers of B16 melanoma or colon-26 carcinoma cells via the portal vein or the hepatic artery, and via the pulmonary artery or the bronchial artery. Significantly greater lung involvement occurred after delivery of both cell types via the bronchial artery than via the pulmonary artery. In the case of colon-26 cells, liver colonization via the hepatic artery was more efficient than via the portal vein. In the case of B16 cells, no route-dependent differences in liver colonization were detected. Our results indicate that during hematogenous metastasis, the vascular route taken by some cancer cells to the same target organ may considerably modify the efficiency with which they form metastases. PMID- 2606579 TI - Anti-tumor effects of interleukin-2 and interleukin-1 in mice transplanted with different syngeneic tumors. AB - We have studied the anti-tumor effects of human recombinant IL-2, alone or in association with LAK cells, in mice transplanted subcutaneously (s.c.) with the following syngeneic tumors: highly metastatic Friend leukemia cells (FLC), nonmetastatic FLC, lymphoma RBL-5 cells and HeJ16 fibrosarcoma cells. In these tumor models, peri-tumoral injections of IL-2 were more effective in inhibiting tumor growth than a systemic treatment. Although s.c. IL-2 treatment resulted in marked inhibition of tumor growth in mice injected s.c. with highly metastatic FLC, it was not effective in inhibiting growth of FLC in the liver and spleen. IL 2 therapy was more effective at increasing survival time in mice transplanted with non-metastatic FLC or with RBL-5 cells. In mice transplanted with HeJ16 fibrosarcomas, s.c. IL-2 treatment resulted in highly significant anti-tumor effect and survival of 70% of tumor-injected mice. No general correlation was found between in vitro sensitivity or resistance to the cytolytic activity of LAK cells and the anti-tumor effects observed in vivo. Subcutaneous injection of IL-1 beta in mice transplanted with highly metastatic FLC resulted in a marked increase in survival time and inhibition of metastatic tumor growth in liver and spleen. Combined treatment of IL-1 beta and IL-2 produced a synergistic anti tumor effect: 60% of mice injected with highly metastatic FLC survived. Combined IL-1/IL-2 treatments exerted no anti-tumor activity either in DBA/2 mice injected with antibody to Thy 1.2 antigen or in nude mice, indicating that T cells play important roles during IL-1/IL-2 therapy. In vitro treatment of FLC with IL-1 beta resulted in a slight inhibition of cell multiplication, whereas even high doses of IL-2 did not affect FLC multiplication. Our results indicate that local combined treatments with IL-1 and IL-2 can induce potent, host-dependent (T cell mediated) anti-tumor effects against highly malignant tumors. PMID- 2606580 TI - Cytogenetic abnormalities in benign lymphoid hyperplasia: a dual-parameter study using chromosome analysis and flow cytometry. AB - This is a prospective study of lymphoid tissue showing benign reactive hyperplasia (18 lymph nodes and 2 tonsils), using cytogenetic analysis of cells stimulated with T- or B-cell mitogens. The reason for this study was the detection of an abnormal chromosomal population in cells from an enlarged lymph node excised from a 7-year-old female who on further investigation was found to be clinically well and after one year's close follow-up had not developed any further signs or symptoms of malignancy. In addition, DNA content was measured by flow cytometry (FCM) on fresh cell suspensions in 17 cases and fixed cell suspensions in 3 cases. Structural and numerical clonal chromosome abnormalities were found in 9 of the 20 samples, but no common specific defect was identified. FCM showed an abnormal DNA content in 10 of the 20 samples studied; 3 of these showed clonal chromosome abnormalities. Surface membrane immunoglobulin studies were carried out on 15 of the 20 samples using cell suspensions and frozen tissue sections. In 5 of the 15 cases, monoclonal surface immunoglobulin was detected. There was no direct correlation between the surface membrane immunoglobulin studies and the chromosome and FCM analyses. We conclude that aneuploidy is a common feature in reactive lymphoid tissue, but both cytogenetics and FCM are needed to identify it. PMID- 2606581 TI - The Copenhagen case-control study of renal pelvis and ureter cancer: role of analgesics. AB - Analgesic intake was investigated for 96 patients with cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter (including papillomas) and 294 hospital controls. In comparison with persons who never used analgesics, increased relative risks (RR) were seen for users of phenacetin-containing drugs after adjustment for smoking and high-risk occupational exposure (men: RR = 2.4; women: RR = 4.2). A significant relative risk for aspirin use among women was also observed. There was an indication of a dose-effect relationship for both types of analgesics. The influence of phenacetin and aspirin on the development of renal pelvis and ureter tumours could not be separated since in this study the two compounds occurred so frequently in the same formulation. Experimental studies and phenacetin metabolism makes it biologically most relevant to attribute the observed association in the present study to the phenacetin component of the drugs. PMID- 2606582 TI - Ki67 and 4F2 antigen expression as well as DNA synthesis predict survival at relapse/tumour progression in low-grade B-cell lymphoma. AB - Previous work has shown that parameters of cell activation studied on lymphoma biopsies can be used to discriminate between low-grade and high-grade non Hodgkin's lymphomas and to predict prognosis in the low-grade malignancy group alone. We have now examined expression of several activation antigens and indicators of DNA synthesis in 29 patients with low-grade malignant B-cell lymphomas at the time of primary diagnosis and later at relapse and/or tumour progression. At both times, the level of 4F2 antigen expression examined by flow cytometry on cells in suspension as well as the number of Ki67 antigen-positive cells examined by immunohistochemistry were predictive of patient survival. DNA synthesis estimated by (3H-TdR) thymidine incorporation was of prognostic value at the second biopsy only. These parameters were more sensitive than histological demonstration of morphological transformation in secondary high-grade lymphomas in identifying high-risk patients at repeated biopsy. We propose that Ki67 or 4F2 expression or a marker of DNA synthesis (such as 3H-TdR incorporation or labelling index) should be evaluated when repeated biopsies are performed, in order to select patients for whom aggressive chemotherapy may be considered. PMID- 2606583 TI - Patterns of familial transmission of HBV and the risk of developing liver cancer: a case-control study in the Philippines. AB - The present case-control study was carried out in the Philippines to determine the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in relation to different HBV serological profiles of parents and sibs of HCC cases and controls. The HBV serological profiles of parents and sibs of 33 patients with HCC were compared with those of 2 types of community control: 33 general population controls matched for sex and age (C1 controls) and 33 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers also matched for sex and age (C2 controls). When cases were compared with C1 controls, increased risks were associated with the fact of having an HBsAg-positive mother (RR = 2.5, 95% C1 = 0.4-26.3) and older sibs positive for HBsAg (RR = 2.0, 95% C1 = 0.5-9.1), but the increased risk was not statistically significant. However, a significantly increased risk was associated with the fact of having a mother (95% C1 = 3.5-infinity) or father (RR = 11, 95% C1 = 1.6-473) who had been exposed to HBV. On the other hand, when cases were compared with C2 controls, a non significant 2-fold increase was associated with the fact of having an HBsAg positive mother, but no differences were observed in the HBV serological profiles of their fathers and older sibs. These results suggest that, in the Philippines, the fact of having a mother or father who has been infected in the past with HBV increases the risk of developing HCC but that the contribution of the mother to this increase in risk is not as important as hitherto believed. PMID- 2606584 TI - Prediction of alcohol-related casualties among emergency room admissions. AB - Logistic regression models are used to determine the predictive value on injury status of drinking-in-the-event variables, quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems, and demographic characteristics among 1,896 emergency room patients interviewed and breathalyzed at San Francisco General Hospital. Being young, White compared to Black, a positive admission breathalyzer reading, drinking prior to the event, and binge drinking were predictive of admission to the emergency room for an injury compared to a non injury problem. A positive breathalyzer reading, more frequent usual drinking, blackouts, and a previous accident while drinking were predictive of drinking prior to the presenting injury event. PMID- 2606585 TI - Substance abuse in women: relationship between chemical dependency of women and past reports of physical and/or sexual abuse. AB - The purpose of this research was to describe a group of chemically dependent females who were involved with the criminal justice system and note if they reported histories of physical/sexual abuse. Data for this study were obtained from Andersen's 1986 research project funded by the Michigan Department of Corrections and Wayne State University. The findings showed that 19.7% reported histories of sexual abuse and that 27% reported histories of physical/sexual abuse prior to incarceration. These findings suggest a need for a sexual assessment tool and for further research on the relationships of sexual/physical abuse and chemical dependency. PMID- 2606586 TI - Personality and situation as determiners of desire to drink among problem drinkers. AB - Interaction between (a) Anxiety-Neuroticism, Depression, Sensation Seeking, and Extroversion; and (b) desire to drink alcohol in different situations (Boring, Ceremonial, Convivial, Stressful, and Neutral) was investigated in a sample of 152 adults in detoxification centres. The desire to drink alcohol was found to vary depending upon the situation, although the general level of such desire was high. Those subjects high on Anxiety-Neuroticism were found to have an elevated desire to drink in Stressful, Convivial, and Boring situations. No evidence for interaction was found with Depression, Sensation Seeking, or Extroversion. PMID- 2606587 TI - Client demographics and outcome in outpatient cocaine treatment. AB - A number of studies have begun to investigate the characteristics of cocaine abusers who are admitted to outpatient cocaine treatment programs. One study has published success rates for such treatment. A review of this literature indicates that much of what is known is based on clinical experience with what may be nonrepresentative samples of upper-middle socioeconomic status Caucasians. More systematic study and more representative samples are needed; the current study attempts to address these issues by sampling 81 clients admitted to a comprehensive outpatient cocaine program in a public agency, assessing demographics and treatment success. The results indicate that this sample is indeed different from those in most recent studies in race, marital status, income, employment, and other demographic variables. For example, the sample in this study included higher percentages of clients who were non-Caucasians, single, blue-collar or unemployed, and had relatively lower annual incomes. Fewer demographic variables than expected correlated with treatment success. Among factors that did correlate with such measures of treatment outcome as continuing in treatment (vs dropping out), percent of sessions attended, and alcohol- and drug-free were educational level, length of abstinence from cocaine prior to beginning treatment, number of previous treatments, secondary substance currently used, and quality of current living situation. Retention in treatment is similar to other published data but indicates that cocaine abusers are indeed difficult to engage and keep in treatment long enough to make a significant impact on their drug use. PMID- 2606588 TI - From theory to practice: the planned treatment of drug users. Interview by Stanley Einstein. PMID- 2606589 TI - Beverage alcohol spending in Singapore: a potential development constraint? AB - World Health Organization sponsored studies identify Singapore as a low-level drinking country where beverage alcohol consumption is not growing at a rapid pace. However, data for Singapore do show that from 1978 through 1986, consumer spending on beverage alcohol was on the rise, although not alarmingly. Growing spending on beverage alcohol could signal a challenge to Singapore's continuing economic development when viewed in the context of the country's emerging labor shortage and its development strategy. Beverage alcohol could become a problem due to the upward trend in spending on drinking, the emergence of a labor shortage, and the need for the largest possible pool of highly skilled workers to sustain Singapore's growth and development. Government might, therefore, look into spending on alcohol as diligently as it focuses on the consumption of tobacco and narcotics. PMID- 2606590 TI - Influence of endurance training on plasma amino acid concentrations in humans at rest and after intense exercise. AB - The influence of exercise training on plasma amino acid concentrations at rest and after exercise was examined in a highly trained group of humans and compared with the response of a control group of nontrained healthy humans. After a bout of intense exercise at the same relative work load, the trained group exhibited significantly (28%) higher plasma concentrations of alanine compared with the nontrained group (nontrained = 313.4 microM, trained = 401.3 microM). Other differences in plasma amino acid concentrations after exercise were related to initial differences present at rest before exercise. At rest, the trained group exhibited significantly higher plasma concentrations of leucine, isoleucine, and tyrosine. Post-exercise ammonia and lactate levels were not significantly different between the two groups when any pre-exercise differences were statistically accounted for. Alanine plays a central role as a primary gluconeogenic substrate and as an ammonia carrier. Therefore, in light of the results presented here, we propose that the higher alanine levels observed in the endurance-trained athletes after exercise may play a physiologically relevant role in accommodation to the metabolic demands of exercise. PMID- 2606591 TI - Hematological, anthropometric, and metabolic comparisons between vegetarian and nonvegetarian elderly women. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate hematological, anthropometric, and metabolic differences in elderly women who were similar in most respects except for choice of diet. Nineteen vegetarian (V) and 12 non-vegetarian (NV) elderly women (mean ages 72.3 +/- 1.4 and 69.5 +/- 1.0 years, respectively) were recruited based on several selection criteria including race, religion, education, Quetelet Index, absence of major chronic disease and use of medications, physical activity, and geographic area. Average years of adherence by V and NV groups to dietary regimens were 46.3 +/- 3.3 and 69.6 +/- 1.0, respectively; Hematological comparisons revealed that the V elderly women had significantly lower glucose (4.60 +/- 0.09 vs 5.13 +/- 0.11 mmol/L), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.14 +/- 0.19 vs 4.09 +/- 0.27 mmol/L) and total cholesterol levels (5.41 +/- 0.20 vs 6.48 +/- 0.29 mmol/L) than the NV elderly women (P less than 0.01) for each. The V elderly women tended to have less body fat and midupper arm muscle area than the NV. No differences between groups were found in a variety of metabolic and electrocardiographic parameters during graded maximal treadmill testing except for lower heart rates in the V women. VO2max was not significantly different between the V and NV elderly women (23.8 +/- 1.5 vs 21.9 +/- 0.8 ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively). In summary, when healthy elderly V women are compared with closely matched NV peers, the vegetarian diet is associated with several benefits, primarily lower blood glucose and lipid levels, but not greater functional capacity. PMID- 2606592 TI - Interaction of naloxone and timolol on maximal exercise capacity and the subjective perception of fatigue. AB - The effect on exercise performance and on the subjective perception of fatigue of the opioid receptor blocker naloxone, the nonselective beta-blocker timolol, and the combination of these two was studied in a double-blind randomized cycle ergometry test in healthy young men. Cumulative work at exhaustion was reduced by 25% after timolol (P less than 0.002) and by 34% after naloxone/timolol (P less than 0.02) but not after naloxone, compared with placebo. Naloxone alone had no influence on the subjective perception of fatigue (Borg scale rating), but significantly higher ratings were obtained by timolol and by naloxone/timolol. The present study does not support the hypothesis that opioid peptides are of importance for maximal exercise capacity and subjective perception of fatigue during short-term dynamic exercise in healthy young men. PMID- 2606593 TI - The menstrual cycle and exercise: performance, muscle glycogen, and substrate responses. AB - Six eumenorrheic females (age = 26.3 +/- 2.4 yrs; X +/- SE) exercised until exhaustion (EE; 70% VO2max) at the midluteal (LP, 7-8 days after ovulation) and midfollicular (FP, days 7-8) phases of their menstrual cycles. Phases were confirmed by estradiol and progesterone concentrations. Each EE test was preceded by a depletion exercise bout (DE; 90 min, 60% VO2max and 4 x 1 min, 100% VO2max) and 3 days of rest/diet control. Muscle biopsies 1% (vastus lateralis) were taken post-DE, pre-EE, and post-EE and then analyzed for glycogen content. There was a strong tendency (P less than 0.07) for EE duration to be greater during LP (139.2 +/- 14.9 min) than FP (126 +/- 17.5 min). Glycogen repletion (pre-EE minus post DE) following DE was greater (P = 0.05) during the LP than FP (88.2 +/- 4.7 vs 72.8 +/- 5.7 mumol/g w. w. muscle). However, EE glycogen utilization (pre-EE minus post-EE/EE time) did not differ between phases (LP = 0.41 +/- 0.08 mumol/g w. w. muscle/min vs FP = 0.33 +/- 0.11 mumol/g w. w. muscle/min; P = 0.17). The results suggest that exercise performance and muscle glycogen content are enhanced during the LP of the menstrual cycle. These findings imply athletic performance may be affected by the phases of the menstrual cycle. PMID- 2606594 TI - Influence of polyunsaturated fatty acid diet on the hemorrheological response to physical exercise in hypoxia. AB - Several studies have shown that hemorrheological parameters are modified by physical exercise and exposure to altitude hypoxia. These changes result in a decrease in red cell deformability (RCD). Similarly, it has been shown that a daily dietary fish oil supplement increases RCD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of fish oil diet on RCD after exercise. Fourteen male subjects (19-38 years old) were divided into two groups. The first group ate a "standard diet" rich in saturated lipids; the second group received a daily amount of 6 g of MaxEPA fish oil for 6 weeks. Before the 6 weeks of experimental nutrition, and just after this period, both groups were submitted to two physical exercises of 1 h cycling at 70% of their VO2max. One test was performed at sea level, the other at a simulated altitude of 3000 m in a hypobaric chamber. Blood samples were drawn before and after exercise and used to evaluate: (1) RCD by filtration on polycarbonate membrane, (2) plasma viscosity, and (3) erythrocyte phospholipid composition. Energy charge of red cell was evaluated by ATP/AMP/ADP and two to three DPB assays. Gas liquid chromatography indicated an increase in n 3 PUFA membrane erythrocyte composition. In the control group, RCD decreased by an average of 53% after exercise under hypoxic conditions and was unchanged after the same exercise at sea level. MaxEPA diet suppresses the decrease in RCD observed after hypoxic exercise. These results indicate a decrease in RCD under the combined effects of exercise and hypoxia, which is prevented by 6 weeks of fish oil supplement. PMID- 2606595 TI - Physique characteristics of Pan American Games lightweight rowers. AB - The emergence of lightweight rowing as an international sport has made the optimization of physique within the weight restrictions a matter of primary importance in selection and training of the participants. The occasion of the Xth Pan American Games provided opportunity to obtain comprehensive anthropometric data on 20 male and 13 female lightweight rower finalists including most of the medal winners. Anthropometric characteristics, somatotype, and proportionality profiles showed the male rowers to be similar in most aspects to a student control sample, with the exception of short sitting height and large transverse chest breadth. The females, on the other hand, appeared to be very different from the control sample, having a number of characteristics similar to those of Olympic rowers. The female lightweight rowers also uniquely demonstrated two distinct physique prototypes. PMID- 2606596 TI - Personal and environmental factors in relation to injury risk in downhill skiing. AB - A case-control study was conducted among Dutch downhill skiers. This article presents data on the circumstances of the accident leading to injury and on personal and environmental risk factors for both cases (n = 572) and controls (n = 576). Most accidents (84%) happened on the pistes and ski lifts were involved in about 6% of them. Bad condition of the ski run (30%) and lost balance (24%) were the direct causes most frequently mentioned. Risk seemed to be constant for particular days and moments of the day. Injury risk for the individual appeared to rise with increasing duration of exposure, although very small durations had an elevated risk as well. A relatively low risk was observed for skiers who reported to be only moderately rested (OR = 0.4) and for those who admitted a certain fear of having a ski accident (OR = 0.6). A relatively high risk was observed for the presence of icy spots (OR = 1.4), while poor visibility (OR = 0.4), the presence of clouds (OR = 0.5), and perceived coldness (OR = 0.5) were associated with a relatively low injury risk. No recommendations for prevention can be based on these results. Most factors mentioned are not open to manipulation and further quantification should involve prospective study designs and independent measurements of these factors. PMID- 2606597 TI - The classic and the romantic vision in psychoanalysis. AB - Psychoanalysis is characterized by a tension to be found in intellectual history at least since the eighteenth century. The classic vision of man is that of distrust of the idiosyncratic and subjective and the emphasis on the need for objectivity and rationality. In psychoanalysis this is reflected in the attitude of benevolent suspicion which seeks the traces of the pleasure principle in order to allow maturation. It is exemplified here through Freud's work. The romantic vision sees man as essentially striving for full selfhood, and mental suffering is the result of the thwarting influence of the environment. Kohut, who is taken to exemplify this vision, takes an attitude in which he seeks for the healthy striving behind the seemingly ill and perverse. He emphasizes the human need for idealization as a normal phenomenon. The tension between classicism and romanticism expresses itself in clinical problems no less than in theory. It is argued that this tension is not to be resolved, as it reflects the tension between the human ability and need for full experience and the capacity for self reflection which is essential to maturity and wisdom. PMID- 2606598 TI - A cognitive perspective on object relations, drive development and ego structure in the second and third years of life. AB - This paper extends a recent line of research by correlating Piaget's theory of cognitive development with several psychoanalytic perspectives on development during the second and third years of life. The concrete, imagistic, unintegrated nature of mental representations associated by Mahler and Kernberg with this period, along with the mental operation of splitting, are related to preconceptual representation, a cognitive mode described by Piaget. Psychoanalytic perspectives on the body ego and object world associated with the anal period are also seen to involve concrete, unintegrated representations which show correspondence with preconceptual cognition. Parallels are explored between cognitive stages and the psychoanalytic understanding of ego and superego development. While psychoanalysis is not a cognitive psychology, aspects of its theory are concerned with cognitive structure and are enriched by a consideration of cognitive development. PMID- 2606599 TI - Drive theory and the metapsychology of experience. AB - This paper begins by examining the current conflicting points of view about metapsychology--its status, usefulness and explanatory power. The drive concept, the source of psychic dynamism, is identified at the core of the controversy. As a solution, the paper proposes a conceptual intensification afforded by the integration of consciousness into Freud's theory of the drive. With consciousness, I attempt to mine a deep vein of theory. Rather than being viewed as an inert accompaniment to organismic events, consciousness is exhibited as an inherent dialectical activity. This allows a non-metaphorical conceptualization of psychic energy that is consistent both internally and with physical law. This drive concept is then applied to the putative experience of earliest infancy and provides a basis for the anaclitic origin of sexuality and a critique of current infant research. PMID- 2606600 TI - The search for the self. AB - In this paper, I attempted to illustrate the process of separation and growth in the third analysis of a Holocaust survivor's daughter. The first phase of analysis began by working through her externalization of the past by means of acting out. Her encounter with death allowed a re-activation and re-working of sadomasochistic fantasies, making her aware of an additional facet of the Holocaust, namely its defensive aspect. The working through of feelings of mourning and guilt facilitated differentiation from the burden of her father's past. The second part of the analysis dealt with furthering the process of growth by working through separation from her mother. Differentiation from primary objects' representations, which enabled her to marry and become a mother herself, was made possible through the analytic experience. An 'interminable' analysis thus came to an end. PMID- 2606601 TI - The maternal erotic transference. AB - After reviewing literature on gender and erotic transferences, which have often been treated as primarily problematic, this paper offers a positive and transformational view of aspects of what is called the maternal erotic transference (MET). Rooted in mother and baby's earliest sensual contacts, it manifests in concrete transferences to the real parts of the body of the therapist; its expressions are typically inhibited as preverbal and/or defended against out of shame and fear of humiliation. Analysts of both genders who have access to their own maternal erotic countertransferences and their patients' matching transferences may enable their patients' acceptance of and immersion in the maternal erotic transference in its loving and sado-masochistic permutations and thus foster the making of a sense of wholeness, and connectedness to living. Experienced thus, MET may herald the transition in the analysis from a dyadic to a triadic oedipal phase animated by accessible pre-oedipal aggressivity and sensuality. PMID- 2606602 TI - A sexual theory of persecutory delusions. AB - This paper presents a theory of the persecutory delusions which occur in the schizophrenias. Attention is turned to the masturbatory fantasies and dreams of neurotic patients undergoing psychoanalytic treatment. The similarity of the contents of these fantasies to the delusional contents suggests that the latter are in the nature of masturbatory fantasies. Their conversion into delusions results from psychical dissolution. The 'defence' activity is secondary to this. PMID- 2606603 TI - The flow of interpretation. The collateral interpretation, force and flow. AB - This paper was presented to a Conference on the theme 'The Formulation of Interpretations in Clinical Practice'. It suggests that, impressionistically in line with the identification of psychoanalysis with natural science, an unconscious metaphor which sees interpretation as something like a force inserted on a physical particle has been more influential conceptually than the unconscious metaphor naturally complementary to it, that of interpretation as something like a liquid in flow. The concept of 'the collateral interpretation' is introduced. Loosely speaking, this is what an analyst thinks he would interpret at any given moment. It is tentative, unformed, and changes kaleidoscopically. It accommodates psychoanalytic concepts. It is suggested that examination of the mode of operation of 'the collateral interpretation' is important in understanding the formulation of interpretations. A single session is used for clinical illustration. PMID- 2606604 TI - Contribution of mechano-electric coupling to ventricular arrhythmias during reduced perfusion. AB - The monophasic action potential may have a better relationship to reduced myocardial perfusion than the S-T segment of the electrocardiogram. This was addressed because of the need to monitor ischaemic areas in open chest surgery. The precise relationship between the action potential and myocardial motion during reduced perfusion also requires addressing because of the potential importance in arrhythmias. Landrace pigs were anaesthetised and their chests opened to expose the heart. Snares were placed around a branch of descending coronary artery, and the ascending aorta. Arterial and intraventricular pressures were monitored. Monophasic action potentials and local segment mechanical behaviour were recorded from predefined areas. Radiolabeled microspheres were used to measure regional myocardial blood flow. After 60 min ischaemia, regional blood flow showed a good relationship with action potential duration, reducing with blood flow reductions, whereas the S-T segment of the ECG showed no correlation. Both regional ischaemia, and aortic constriction in normal heart, produced paradoxical wall motion, (lengthening instead of shortening during electrical systole and contraction), associated with early afterdepolarisations. The latter were occasionally accompanied by ventricular ectopic beats. Alternans was regularly noted with ischaemia. All the observations could be seen in the period preceding arrhythmia. The results suggest that the monophasic action potential per se may be used in monitoring ischaemia during cardiac surgery, and the 'Mechano-electric feedback' interactions could have implications for arrhythmias. PMID- 2606605 TI - Normalized power spectrum density function analysis on spike trains. I. Mathematical method and its evaluation. AB - The mathematical descriptions of normalized power spectrum density function (NPSDF) for rapidly estimating quantitatively the characteristics of frequency domain of neural spike trains were created and the efficient analytical method was thus established. All the tests and practical applications showed that the method reflects the frequency domain accurately and can satisfy most cases of the analysis in both frequency resolution and calculation speed. PMID- 2606606 TI - Normalized power spectrum density function analysis on spike trains. II. Rhythms of unit activities in the somatosensory cortex of cats. AB - The normalized power spectrum density function (NPSDF) was used to analyse unit activities in the somatosensory cortex of cats. Thirty-four units from 40 cats were recorded and analysed. Rhythmic activities of 2-5 Hz were found in every unit, the strength increasing with mean firing rate and peripheral stimulation while the frequency remained constant. The results suggested: NPSDF is a better method for studying rhythm of unit activities; 2-5 Hz exists in the unit activities of the somatosensory cortex; and peripheral input may have the action of "phase tuning" in addition to the action of time-locked driven firing. PMID- 2606607 TI - Sensorial substitution using sound-vibratory stimuli on the teeth: a new approach to the rehabilitation of the profoundly deaf. AB - In 20 normal-hearing subjects, hypoacusics and anacusics ranging from 4 to 44 years of age, we have developed a study related to the analysis of brain evoked potential: B E R, E R P 40 Hz, cochlear microphonic responses and P 300 stimulating sound in the ear, and vibration to the teeth. With vibratory stimuli to the teeth, the brainstem potential didn't appear in anacusics; however, it appeared in subjects with perception deafness and transmission deafness. The potential type E R P 40 Hz (Galambos et al, 1981) appeared in hypoacusics, but not in anacusics; however, the subjective sensation of the vibration remained with them in absence of all the auditory registrable responses; nevertheless, we were able to record the P 300. We recorded perfectly cochlear responses in anacusics using vibratory stimuli of 500 Hz and higher applied to their teeth, even though they didn't have any other type of normal auditory response. The potential P 300 was obtained in normal hearing, hypocusics and anacusics, with the proper latencies according to their ages. PMID- 2606608 TI - The initial management of alcoholism using oxygen and nitrous oxide: a transcultural study. AB - This study confirms the value of analgesic nitrous oxide/oxygen therapy for initial management of alcoholism in a mainly rural cohort. The gas administration at no time impairs consciousness. 150 consecutive patients, mainly of Zulu origin (of both sexes) suffering from chronic alcoholism were treated with nitrous oxide/oxygen mixtures. The majority of patients showed significant and extremely rapid improvement, which was maintained and resulted in early entry into the rehabilitation programme. This method resulted in a considerable reduction in addictive sedative benzodiazepine medication during their hospital stay. The treatment also provided relief from craving. I conclude that the incorporation of this therapy into the management of chronic alcoholism is a useful, safe and effective adjunct without adverse side effects. PMID- 2606609 TI - Effects of age, brain damage, and task complexity on the sensitivity of reaction time to the delay between the warning signal and the stimulus. AB - Four age groups of normal subjects were given a visual reaction time task with three levels of uncertainty. The speed of response improved when the interval between the auditory warning signal and the imperative visual stimulus increased in the range from 1 to 3 s. This delay effect decreased when the level of uncertainty was increased, irrespective of the age. This phenomenon was globally reiterated in two control experiments. A set of 21 brain-injured subjects with clinical complaints concerning attention was also given the test. These subjects were also able to benefit from the delay. The benefit was affected neither by the task complexity nor by the slowness of the reaction times. PMID- 2606610 TI - Surgical teams: a project for the future. PMID- 2606611 TI - Update on hemorrhoids. PMID- 2606612 TI - Infrared-photo-coagulation for hemorrhoids treatment. AB - The treatment of bleeding and prolapsing hemorrhoids at stage I and II using infrared-coagulation is technically simple, therapeutically effective and complication-free. Comparative examinations of their efficacy compared with sclerosing injections and rubber band ligature have shown that the method of sclerosing injections is equal, opposite to the rubber band ligature, especially in stage II a little less effective, but without any complications as pain or secondary bleeding. PMID- 2606613 TI - Digital dilatation for hemorrhoids treatment. PMID- 2606614 TI - Cryosurgical treatment of hemorrhoids in Japan. AB - Hemorrhoid treatment in Japan consists mainly of conservative therapy and conventional surgery. Cryosurgical hemorrhoidectomy, though still not widely used, has attained a reputation for low profile surgery and relatively painless recovery compared to conventional surgery, in spite of some inevitable problems. Our series includes external hemorrhoids and prolapse, which have been ruled out from the indications for cryosurgery, yet obtained satisfactory results. A threatening drawback is lower digestive tract hemorrhage, which occurred in 19 of 372 prolapse patients (5.1%) after cryosurgery. As for its pathogenesis, an autoimmune reaction at the site of the terminal ileum is postulated. Characteristics of the hemorrhage are: onset around the 14th postoperative day at night or early in the morning, and seen particularly in nervous patients. Prophylactic administration orally of covering materials may reduce incidence. Cryosurgery is certainly an effective measure for the treatment of hemorrhoids, including prolapse. PMID- 2606615 TI - Ligation and cryosurgery of all hemorrhoids. An office procedure. AB - Over 21,000 patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids were treated either at the Rudd Clinic in Toronto, or at Proctology International in the Cayman Islands, with the ligation or the ligation and cryosurgical technique. The procedures as described are simple, very effective and should be done in the office and not in the hospital. It is better for both patient and doctor and the cost saving is in the tens of millions of dollars in our series alone. Other problems such as anusitis and para-anal lesions should be differentiated from hemorrhoids and treated as described to improve your success rate. All surgeons are encouraged to adopt new techniques which will improve the treatment of their patients and their own reputation. It is a changing world--especially in medicine and we must keep up and be willing to adapt. I recommend the ligation and cryosurgical technique to all surgeons for the treatment of all symptomatic patients with hemorrhoids. PMID- 2606616 TI - Hemorrhoidectomy: Hospital Leopold Bellan procedure. AB - The authors describe their hemorrhoidectomy technique, a modification of Milligan Morgan. It differs by the association of a posterior anoplasty (with internal sphincterotomy in the case of a fissure or sphincter hypertonia) and of a sub mucocutaneous dissection of the security bridges. They report on their experience with 410 operations carried out during the year 1985. Immediate complications are mainly hemorrhage (2.68%) and urinary problems (9%). Average cicatrization time is about six weeks. At one year, there were no relapses nor fissures. A moderate stenosis was observed in 1.45% of the cases, and a hypocontinence to flatus in 2.3%. Use of a CO2 laser does not result in any modification of these results. PMID- 2606617 TI - Total circular hemorrhoidectomy. AB - For the surgical treatment of hemorrhoids, the Whitehead-operation is considered bad because it leads to complications like anal stenosis, incontinence and mucous ectropion or prolapsus. Modifications suggested by A. Toupet help to avoid these inconveniencies. But it still requires excellent understanding and training in ano-rectal surgery. The Whitehead-operation, modified by A. Toupet, is indicated in the following cases total hemorrhoidal prolapsus, especially with thrombosis and mucous prolapsus. PMID- 2606618 TI - Hemorrhoidectomy according to Milligan-Morgan: ligature and excision technique. AB - The author notes of the fundamental principles and particularly the techniques of hemorrhoidectomy according to Milligan-Morgan, adopted with full satisfaction in more than 1,000 cases of third and fourth degree hemorrhoids. Correct indication and a precise, accurate technique based upon the high ligature of the vascular peduncle and on the preservation of the muco-skin bridges, are the essential conditions for the radicality of the intervention in 97% of the cases and for a minimum incidence of morbility. The modifications by Arnous based upon a posterior sphincterectomy with anoplasty in those cases with sphincteric hypertone, and upon the revision of the muco-skin bridges make this technique feasible even in the most complicated cases. PMID- 2606619 TI - Sclerotherapy superior to surgery for longer survival and less rebleeding in 103 cirrhotics with variceal bleeding. AB - In the ten years period from 1976-1986, 103 cirrhotic Japanese with acute variceal bleeding underwent either surgical treatment (48) or endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (55) at Kyushu University Hospital. We retrospectively analysed the clinical records of these patients. The two groups were comparable with regard to clinical condition and liver function, except for the higher rate of Child's C patients in the sclerotherapy group than in the surgical group (29 vs. 16; P less than 0.05). Control of variceal bleeding was attained in all of the 48 surgical patients and in 54 (98.2%) of the 55 sclerotherapy patients. Bleeding recurred in five (10.4%) of the surgical group and in one (1.8%) of the sclerotherapy group, resulting in four and one deaths, respectively, during the hospital stay. Mortality rates at 30 days and six months were 16.7% (8/48), 43.8% (21/48) in the surgical group, and 9.1% (5/55), 14.5% (8/55) in the sclerotherapy group. The five-year cumulative survival rate was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in the sclerotherapy group (53.3%) than in the surgical group (29.4%). Therefore, in our patients sclerotherapy led to a longer survival with fewer rebleedings, as compared to other patients who underwent conventional surgical treatment. PMID- 2606620 TI - The relationship between a subcutaneously placed afferent jejunal loop in a hepaticojejunostomy and postoperative cholangitis. AB - A subcutaneously placed afferent jejunl loop pexis, which is often performed during a hepaticojejunostomy, opens a route to the biliary tract, through which appropriate instruments can be passed should postoperative complications arise, requiring a choledochoscopy, the removal of calculi, and for the dilatation of the anastomotic site. From our clinical experience with such a pexis, however, postoperative cholangitis showing a transient fever with abdominal pain and liver dysfunction frequently develops. Further, in cases in which a subsequent dissection of this jejunal pexis was performed, there was a reduction in the incidence of cholangitis, which suggests a possible correlationship between such a pexis and cholangitis. In this investigation, bile stasis in jejunal loop has been studied, using hepatobiliary scintiscanning in examining 31 patients given a hepaticojejunostomy. Fourteen of these patients were also given a jejunal loop pexis, and 17 patients were without such a pexis. Bile stasis was found to be more frequent in the group given a jejunal loop pexis (p less than 0.001). Further, bile stasis was found in 90% of patients showing postoperative cholangitis whereas postoperative cholangitis was observed in 60% of patients with bile stasis (p less than 0.01). Thus, based on the data obtained, as well as our clinical experience, it would seem that a subcutaneously placed jejunal loop pexis should be avoided while performing a hepaticojejunostomy, unless the possibility of anastomotic stenosis and/or the retention of stones are strongly expected. PMID- 2606621 TI - Hepatic intraarterial antibiotic therapy for resistant hepatic abscesses. AB - Liver abscesses present a severe problematic medical entity. The traditional treatment modality consists of surgical drainage, which cannot be accomplished in all circumstances. Other modes of therapy include systemic antibiotics or percutaneous catheter drainage under ultrasonography or computerized tomography. Despite new treatment regimes liver abscesses, to date, are a potentially lethal disease, with a mortality rate of about 50%. We report an innovative approach of high dosage intrahepatic arterial antibiotic infusion for the therapy of hepatic abscesses, which are resistant to conventional treatments. A patient who underwent mastectomy for breast carcinoma, developed liver metastases one year later. She was prescribed systemic chemotherapy for one year, but no antitumor response was evident. Since ther was no evidence for extra-hepatic metastases, intraarterial hepatic chemotherapy was instituted, using an Infusaid (Mi-400) implantable pump. Marked regression of liver metastases was observed. Therapy was withheld after 19 months because of biliary sclerosis development. At this stage, the patient developed liver abscesses, which were resistant to systemic antibiotic therapy. Intraarterial antibiotic therapy, using the implantable pump, was initiated. Following the treatment, a marked improvement in the patients' clinical condition was recorded and shrinkage of the abscesses was evident by ultrasonography. The patient was free of symptoms for three months, when she was readmitted with evidence of terminal metastatic disease and sepsis. It is suggested that intrahepatic arterial antibiotic therapy is an additional mode of treatment for patients with persistent liver abscesses which fail to respond to conventional treatment. PMID- 2606622 TI - Breast cancer and regional lymph node dissections. AB - Regional lymph node metastases were evaluated in 289 patients with operable breast cancer. The metastases of the axillary and internal mammary lymph node were shown to be closely related to the survival of patients, but the status of these nodes was shown to be impossible to estimate before the operation. Thus, axillary and internal mammary node dissections seem to be very important in order to attain an acceptable amount of information for staging of certain breast cancer patients. Due to the radicality of operations including internal mammary node dissection, the use of modified extended mastectomy is proposed as the staging operation. In this manner, the anterior chest deformity created by an extended radical mastectomy can be avoided and the pectoralis major muscle spared in patients without internal mammary lymph node involvement. Also found in this study, was some evidence of the beneficial use of en bloc extended radical mastectomy for the survival of a selected group of patients. PMID- 2606623 TI - The prognosis of patients who become pregnant after mastectomy for breast cancer. AB - Forty-seven patients were treated for primary operable carcinoma of the breast and had subsequent pregnancies. Their ages varied from 22-45 years, the median age being 35 years. Each patient with negative nodes received only a radical mastectomy, and each patient who had metastases to the lymph nodes in addition received a course of radiation therapy. None of the patients received chemotherapy. Of the 30 patients who did not have metastases to the lymph nodes, 23 survived a 10-year period (77%). Of the 16 patients who manifested metastases to the lymph nodes, nine survived a 10-year period (56%). No detrimental effect of subsequent pregnancy could be demonstrated even among patients with positive axillary nodes. It is generally agreed that most metastases show up within a 3 year period before incurring a pregnancy. In this series there was no differences between those who delayed. Abortion could not be demonstrated to improve the survival rate; in fact, patients who had abortions did worse than those who did not. We conclude, accordingly, that pregnancy need not be avoided or terminated among those patients who are apparently free of recurrences or residual cancer after undergoing treatment for carcinoma of the breast. The decision to become pregnant and the medical conduct of the pregnant female are best determined by the stage of the cancer and how the malignant potential affects prognosis. Careful consultation should be sought with all support personnel, which should include the husband, spiritual leader, psychologist, etc., to discuss the potential for the patient's surviving and supporting the child.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606624 TI - The effect of hysteroscopy on the incidence of meconium aspiration in high risk obstetric patient. AB - Four hundred amnioscopies were performed from April to December 1984 using a 6 mm contact hysteroscope to detect the presence of intrauterine meconium on 360 high risk obstetric patients. During that eight month period, out of 400 clinic patients delivered, 25 cases of intrauterine meconium were identified. Two infants had meconium aspiration. In comparable periods of 1982 and 1983, 320-356 clinic patients were delivered. Ten-twelve infants had meconium aspiration in their respective groups. The technique of contact hysteroscopy was demonstrated to be easy to perform with few, if any, complications. PMID- 2606625 TI - Hip fractures in the elderly. Mortality, functional results and social readaptation. AB - Six-hundred and fourteen aged over 70 and presenting hip fractures have been studied prospectively. The results were compared with the literature. The overall mortality rate within three months was 24%. This mortality was significantly influenced by the general health condition of the patient at the time of the injury, his living conditions and the possibility of walking again after the operation (p less than 0.001). For 38% of the survivors, the fracture means a considerable loss of functional independence. The adjacent impairment was in close relationship with patient's age and fracture-type (p less than 0.05). Sixty per cent of the patients were able to return home. In predicting the probability of returning home, the functional status before injury and the possibility of walking at the moment of discharge were particularly important (p less than 0.001). PMID- 2606626 TI - Minute gastric carcinoid tumor with regional lymph node metastasis. AB - A minute carcinoid tumor of the stomach developed into a regional metastasis around the celiac axis. There was marked lymphangitic and venous invasion of the tumor cell cluster around the tumor, in the submucosal layer. We wish to emphasize that radical gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy should be performed, even for a minute carcinoid tumor, as there will probably be a lymph vessel-related metastasis. PMID- 2606627 TI - Mesenteric panniculitis of the mesoappendix. AB - A rare case of mesenteric panniculitis mimicking appendicular mass is presented. At laparotomy panniculitis localized in the mesoappendix and concomitant chronic appendicitis were found. A pathogenetical association is suggested by the Authors. The need for careful follow-up is stressed. PMID- 2606628 TI - [Metastatic mesenchymal chondrosarcoma]. PMID- 2606629 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy of bone tumors and bone marrow disease. AB - The authors have made use of an integrated magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy (MRI/MRS) examination to study seven patients with a variety of bone tumors. The spatial localization method used in the 31P portion of the examination was surface coil localization and a one-dimensional chemical shift imaging method (3 cases). The authors found that the precision of spatial localization was critical in many of these cases, since most of these bone tumors were surrounded by muscle tissue that contained high concentrations of phosphocreatine (PCr). For this reason, they suggest that the metabolite ratios should be referenced to the adenosine triphosphate (beta-NTP) resonance rather than PCr. The phosphate monoester (PME) to beta-NTP ratio was elevated as compared with normal muscle in all of the bone tumors studied. The authors found that all of these tumors exhibited pHs between 7.0 and 7.2, which are similar to the values found for normal muscle. They also show the feasibility of using a line-selective proton chemical shift imaging sequence with high spatial resolution for investigating changes in the fatty composition of bone marrow. This method is illustrated in an example of a patient with advanced avascular necrosis in the femoral heads. PMID- 2606630 TI - Response of tumors to therapy studied by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy. AB - Magnetic resonance (MR) methods have been used to study the metabolic and vascular response of model tumors to tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Magnetic resonance measurements demonstrated acute reductions in tumor blood flow, measured from tumor uptake of D2O, and in tumor adenosine triphosphate (ATP), measured by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) following administration of TNF. The decrease in ATP generally followed reduction in tumor blood flow, and therefore was probably due to ischemia caused by damage to tumor vasculature. Superficial human tumors have been studied by MRS to characterize their 31P spectra, and to measure metabolic changes during therapy. The ratio of the intensities of the phosphomonoester (PME) and ATP resonances (PME/ATP) was much higher in tumors than in the normal tissue displaced by the tumors. During therapy, decreases in PME/ATP were detected that paralleled, but did not anticipate, decreases in tumor size. In some cases, a transient increase in PME/ATP was detected during therapy, which did not correlate with changes in tumor size, and which may reflect stimulation of cell growth in some tumor zones. PMID- 2606631 TI - Response to and control of destructive energy by magnetic resonance. AB - Magnetic resonance imaging techniques can be used to control and monitor the deposition of destructive energy. The authors evaluated the feasibility of phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the control, monitoring, and prediction of the three-dimensional extent of tissue destruction during interstitial laser surgery. Characteristic metabolic changes were demonstrated within the lesion and in the adjacent normal tissue during the deposition of thermal energy. PMID- 2606633 TI - Abstracts and proceedings of the 1989 AUR Symposium on Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Association of University Radiologists. Seattle, Washington, May 20 21, 1989. PMID- 2606632 TI - Clinical magnetic resonance spectroscopy: a critical evaluation. AB - The present status of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the clinical radiology setting is discussed critically. The number of groups reporting clinical MRS results has increased, indicating the feasibility of performing localized MRS studies on current 1.5 T whole body MR imagers. However the lack of high quality radiofrequency (RF) coils for MRS and proven user-independent methods for the analysis of spectral data is still hampering further development. At present there is no consensus as to the optimal localization scheme which should be employed for phosphorus (31P) MRS. For proton MRS the stimulated echo sequence is gaining wide acceptance. The minimum voxel sizes achievable for proton and 31P MRS in the brain are calculated to be 2 and 30 cm3, respectively. The recent results obtained with proton decoupling for 31P clearly demonstrate that there is a great deal of improvement possible in the quality of localized 31P spectra at 1.5 T. Both the instrument manufacturers and researchers in the field face important challenges in translating methods which have proven feasibility in the research environment into routine clinical protocols. PMID- 2606634 TI - Early metabolic changes following chemotherapy of human gliomas in vivo demonstrated by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. AB - The authors have used phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy to monitor pH changes in malignant gliomas following treatment with intravenous and intra arterial 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU). Image-guided, localized phosphorus spectra of human gliomas in situ were obtained using a 1.5-T whole body combined imaging and spectroscopy system. Initial intravenous BCNU treatment was followed by a transient decrease of tumor intracellular pH by 0.15 +/- 0.03 pH units (mean +/- SD). Superselective intra-arterial administration of the same drug was followed by an increase of tumor intracellular pH by 0.15 +/- 0.6 pH units (mean +/- SD). These changes occurred prior to any changes on x-ray, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition to enhancing our understanding of the metabolic effects of BCNU, such changes may correlate with drug efficacy or toxicity and may be useful in guiding therapy in the future. PMID- 2606635 TI - Influence of drugs on diseased states of the heart. A 31P NMR and [Ca]i study. AB - Phosphorus 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can be used to monitor the direct effect of drugs on energy metabolites of the heart. Using the isolated perfused heart of the cardiomyopathic hamster (late heart failure), drugs that exacerbate the diastolic level of calcium [Ca]i (e.g., dobutamine and digoxin) augment intracellular phosphomonoester sugars, while drugs which increase cyclic adenosine mono-phosphate [cAMP]i (e.g. isoprel, dibutyryl cAMP, and amrinone) lower phosphomonoester sugars. The phosphomonoester sugars are inversely related to developed pressure and oxygen consumption. Accumulation of sugar phosphates indicates inhibition of glycolysis and limited delivery of pyruvate to the mitochondria, thereby decreasing oxygen consumption. The phosphorylation potential obtained from standardized 31P MRS values showed a direct relationship to the rate pressure product in hamsters with heart failure; however, the two parameters were inversely related in control hamsters. PMID- 2606636 TI - Abnormalities of the liver evaluated by 31P MRS. AB - Clinical phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS) of the liver requires the use of whole-body magnets and of spectroscopy techniques that acquire signal from defined volumes-of-interest within the liver. Such localization techniques and recent clinical studies are briefly reviewed. These studies indicate that (1) high phosphomonoester levels are present in liver diseases involving structural damage, and (2) that MRS of liver tumors may provide a sensitive and rapid indication of response to cancer therapy. Abnormalities of the liver such as alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, and metastasis were analyzed to determine hepatic acid/base status (pH) and to derive absolute molar concentrations of hepatic phosphorus metabolites rather than metabolite ratios. These parameters allow diagnosis and differentiation of several liver pathologies, suggesting an increasing future role of MRS in medical investigation, clinical diagnosis, and patient treatment. PMID- 2606637 TI - Phosphorus-31 MRS of human testicular function and viability. AB - The current clinical use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is explored with attention to testicular function and pathology. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy provides insights into metabolic processes that are occurring in vivo. Information on these processes were, until now, only obtained through the use of invasive procedures such as biopsy, with the attendant undesired side effects. Phosphorus-31 (31P) MRS of the testes can provide unique metabolic information noninvasively and may provide clinicians with an alternative to the invasive procedures. The practical applicability of 31P MRS to the study of human infertility and testicular pathologies is described in some very preliminary studies. PMID- 2606638 TI - The evolving spectrum of viral hepatitis. PMID- 2606639 TI - Living related renal transplantation in Ireland: a sixteen year review. AB - Between January 1972 and December 1987, a total of 777 transplants were performed of which 135 (17%) were living related. There were 108 sibling donors, 25 parent to child and 2 child to parent. All sibling transplants were HLA identical. Conventional immunosuppression with Prednisone and Azathioprine was used in all cases. Actuarial patient survival were 95%, 91% and 88% at 1, 5 and 10 years respectively. Corresponding actuarial graft survivals were 90%, 80% and 60%. Graft survival in the sibling compared to the parent to child group was 87% versus 60% at 5 years. There were 13 deaths during the study interval and 32 grafts were lost. Five year patient/graft survivals of 91/80% compare favourably with other reported series. The poorer outcome in parent to child transplants has led us to modify the immunosuppressive protocol to include Cyclosporin A in this group. The increased availability and improved survival of cadaveric grafts in recent years and our one year patient/graft survival of 92/88% has led us to reduce emphasis on living related transplantation in our renal replacement programme. PMID- 2606640 TI - Changes in incidence of hepatitis B in Ireland from 1970-1987. AB - This paper analyses data on 2,226 cases of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection detected during the years 1970 to 1987. Of those where information on risk-group was available (1,301), infection among intravenous drug-abusers accounted for the largest proportion (49%). Most became infected during and since an outbreak of hepatitis B and Delta hepatitis which originated in this group in 1980. A comparison of the data before and after the start of the outbreak among drug abusers shows a marked increase in the number of HBV infections in non drug users, including haemophiliacs, homosexuals and health-care staff, and a dramatic decrease in hepatitis B following blood transfusion. A larger group (165 cases), many of whom are long-term healthy hepatitis B surface antigen carriers, were patients in institutions for the mentally handicapped (IMH). Most were detected recently during pre-vaccination sampling programmes. Others affected included visitors to and from high-incidence areas, tattooed persons, dialysis patients, persons born to infected mothers, and members of the security forces dealing with drug-abusers. In all, 8.4% of the hepatitis B cases detected were found to be carriers and 67% of these remained carriers in 1987 The mean duration of carriage was 3.25 years. Intravenous drug-abusers and IMH patients constituted the two largest groups of carriers. The running-three-yearly mean incidence of new cases of hepatitis B has levelled off below the peak of 1981. Although the number of cases among drug-abusers has apparently decreased, the number of cases among non drug-abusing groups has increased by 50%. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606641 TI - Does simple hysterectomy affect lower urinary tract function--a urodynamic investigation. AB - Twenty-five patients who had a simple hysterectomy procedure underwent urodynamic assessment to assess the effect of surgery on lower urinary tract function. This one year survey suggests that neither vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy causes significant ongoing disruption of such function. PMID- 2606642 TI - Fatal aplastic anaemia following prolonged diclofenac use in an elderly patient. AB - Aplastic anaemia is recognised to occur following the use of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We report a case of fatal aplastic anaemia following prolonged administration of diclofenac in a 77 year old lady with rheumatoid arthritis. To our knowledge this is the first report of fatal aplastic anaemia associated with diclofenac use in an elderly patient. PMID- 2606643 TI - The mesocaval 'C' shunt: improved surgical management for the Budd Chiari syndrome. PMID- 2606644 TI - Untreated combat-related PTSD--why some Israeli veterans do not seek help. AB - The present research assesses factors that interfere with psychiatric help seeking among soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptom severity, perceived self-efficacy, negative life event, family environment, and sociodemographic variables were assessed. 716 soldiers participated in the study. Results showed that symptom severity, self-efficacy and the experience of negative life events distinguished between subjects who sought treatment and those who did not. Clinical implications are discussed. PMID- 2606645 TI - Dybbuk-possession as a hysterical symptom: psychodynamic and socio-cultural factors. AB - The Dybbuk is the traditional Jewish variant of the phenomenon spirit-possession, involving spirits of the dead. Manifestations of such supposed possessions have always been considered malevolent and treated by exorcism. Descriptions of such cases have always been found in folklore, but have not been discussed in psychological or anthropological literature. Based on analyses of 63 documented cases of dybbuk, this paper seeks to analyze the Jewish variant of spirit possession from psychodynamic and socio-cultural points of view. Psychodynamically, dybbuk-possession is conceived of as a hysterical syndrome expressed by repressed impulses, primarily sexual. By analyzing the psychological content of dybbuk-possession, specific psychoanalytically derived hypotheses concerning the dynamics of underlying hysterical symptoms may be validated. From the perspective of psychiatric ethnology, the dybbuk is a culture-bound syndrome viewed as a working alliance between society and a selected group of deviants. PMID- 2606646 TI - Correlates of parental distress and competence in a child psychiatric population. AB - Parents of children referred to a child mental health clinic were assessed by questionnaire for demoralization, coping ability and perception of their children's behavior problems and social competence. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the extent of parental distress in the clinic population and its influence on the child's behavior problems. In the group studied, 30% of parents reported significant distress, but no simple correlation between parent distress and child pathology was observed. However, a high correlation was found between parent coping ability and child competence (with a strong gender effect), and competence value as a clinical parameter is discussed. PMID- 2606647 TI - In vivo cadmium treatment alters natural killer activity and large granular lymphocyte number in the rat. AB - The effects of oral exposure for nearly 6 months to Cd (200 or 400 ppm) on rat natural killer (NK) activity were investigated. No significant differences in body and thymus weights were observed. Peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) number was consistently higher in treated rats throughout the treatment; the number of spleen cells decreased during the first 50 days, and then reached a level higher than in controls. NK activity, evaluated in a 4-h chromium release assay against YAC-1 target cells, was altered in treated rats: lower up to day 30, and then higher. In parallel, a reduction of the large granular lymphocytes (LGL) was found initially in the peripheral blood of Cd-treated rats, followed by a persistent marked increase. These changes were closely correlated with the altered distribution of CD8+ aGM1+ CD5- cells, which mostly consist of NK cells. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis revealed a decrease of cell subset with a typical NK phenotype during the first 30 days of treatment and a clear increase thereafter. Post-exposure observations indicated that all these effects disappeared with a return to control values 2 months after cessation of treatment. These findings suggest that in vivo administration of Cd induces both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on rat NK cell number and cytotoxic activity, depending on time of exposure. PMID- 2606648 TI - Suppression of avidin processing and presentation by mouse macrophages after sublethal exposure to dieldrin. AB - The molecular events in macrophage antigen processing and presentation were examined to determine the possible site(s) of cell-xenobiotic interaction. Antigenic processing by mouse peritoneal macrophages of a single protein antigen, avidin, was significantly suppressed following sublethal exposure of animals to an organochlorine pesticide, dieldrin. Exposure of C57B1/6 female mice to dieldrin affected the in vitro uptake of [methyl-14C]avidin by peritoneal macrophages and markedly decreased phagocytosis of fluorescein-labelled microspheres and Salmonella typhimurium. Release of the processed avidin, determined by immunochemical quantification of immunogenic avidin and by bioassay of immunogenicity of the released antigen, was also markedly affected. Dieldrin markedly affected presentation of avidin on the macrophage surface, observed by cytoimmunochemical staining of the antigen with fluorescent antibody and flow cytometry. Inhibition of the release of processed avidin was dieldrin dose- and time-dependent, following single sublethal intraperitoneal (ip) exposure to the pesticide. The antigenic properties of processed avidin, determined by biological assay using lymphocyte cultures of normal C57B1/6 mice primed with avidin, were proportional to the antigen concentration in supernatants of macrophage cultures, for both vehicle controls and dieldrin-exposed animals. This observation and analysis of the kinetics of release of processed avidin by macrophages from control and dieldrin-exposed animals suggested that the release of processed avidin, but not the immunogenicity of the antigen itself, was affected by the pesticide exposure. Generally, impairment of avidin processing and presentation appeared to be more dramatic than other pesticide-related injuries to macrophages, such as the uptake of the antigen. In conclusion, antigen processing could be a sensitive target for dieldrin-related injury of macrophage functional activities, which, in consequence, could produce suppression of the humoral immune response. PMID- 2606649 TI - 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 acts directly on human lymphocytes and interferes with the cellular response to interleukin-2. AB - 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) inhibits mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in peripheral blood mononuclear cell preparations. Receptors for 1,25(OH)2D3 are present in monocytes and are acquired by lymphocytes upon activation. It is not clear whether the hormone inhibits lymphocyte mitogenesis by a direct action on the lymphocyte or only indirectly by affecting the regulatory monocytes. We addressed this question by using highly purified human lymphocyte preparations which contain less than 0.1% monocytes. 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibited the stimulation of purified lymphocytes by phytohemagglutinin and in the presence of fixed accessory cells, which cannot respond to 1,25(OH)2D3. The inhibitory effect attained 35% similar to that obtained in the presence of monocytes. 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibited interleukin 2 (IL-2)-driven stimulation of purified T cells in three different systems: cells treated with a submitogenic concentration of phytohemagglutinin, IL-2-dependent cells which bear receptors for IL-2 and naive cells in the absence of other mitogens. We conclude: (1) the human T lymphocyte is a direct target for 1,25(OH)2D3; (2) 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibits the response of activated, IL-2-receptor-bearing human T cells to interleukin-2. PMID- 2606650 TI - The antiviral drug amantadine has a direct inhibitory effect on T-lymphocytes. AB - We investigated the effect of the antiviral drug amantadine (AmTd) on polyclonal activation of thymic-dependent (T) and thymic-independent (B) lymphocytes from normal mice. In the present studies, T-lymphocytes are defined by their response to concanavalin A (Con A) and B-lymphocytes by their response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Polyclonal activator-induced lymphocyte proliferation was assessed by quantifying cellular incorporation of tritiated thymidine. The results show that, in a dose-dependent manner, AmTd exhibits at least 2-fold greater inhibitory activity against Con A-responding T-cells than against LPS responding B-cells. Further, several findings demonstrate that AmTd has a direct inhibitory effect on T-lymphocytes. First, AmTd pulse treatment of isolated T cells, but not accessory cells, abolished the T-cell response to Con A. Second, AmTd pulse treatment of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte line, CTLL-2, markedly reduced their ability to undergo IL-2-induced proliferation. Third, proliferation of T cells which had already undergone activation by ConA was inhibited by AmTd. Further, the finding that addition of IL-1, IL-2 or both to cultures failed to reverse inhibition of the response to ConA argues that AmTd did not interfere with endogenous production of these lymphokines. Possible implications of these findings are discussed. PMID- 2606651 TI - 8-Mercaptoguanosine-mediated enhancement of in vivo IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 antibody responses to polysaccharide antigens in normal and xid mice. AB - We have examined the effects of the immune adjuvant 8-mercaptoguanosine (8sGuo) on the in vivo antibody response to the T-cell-independent type 2 antigen, TNP Ficoll. While 8sGuo enhanced the IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 antibody responses, it was without effect on the IgM antibody responses. Increasing the dose of injected 8sGuo from 30 to 300 mg or the frequency or its injection led to greater enhancement in the antibody response, which varied from 20 to 100 times that of control responses. The effect of 8sGuo was relatively early acting in that it no longer enhanced anti-TNP antibody responses when given 3 days after antigen injection. Its ability to mediate an adjuvant effect on antibody responses was demonstrable even under conditions where the injected antigen by itself stimulated either no or low-level antibody responses. Thus, it enhanced the antibody response to the very weak antigen, pneumococcal polysaccharide, and restored the antibody response of nonresponder immune defective xid mice to TNP Ficoll. These results extend the earlier observations of Goodman and coworkers by demonstrating that in vivo IgG response to type 2 polysaccharide antigens can be enhanced in normal mice and restored in xid immune-deficient mice. PMID- 2606652 TI - Abortion: the right to an argument. AB - Our moral puzzles about abortion will not be resolved by resort to compromise positions and adoption of middle ground, for abortion concerns how we understand ourselves as a people and how we define membership in this community. PMID- 2606653 TI - Prehospital DNR orders. PMID- 2606654 TI - A French homunculus in a Tennessee court. PMID- 2606655 TI - Militant morality: civil disobedience and bioethics. PMID- 2606656 TI - We must rescue them. PMID- 2606657 TI - Operation rescue: domestic terrorism or legitimate civil rights protest? PMID- 2606658 TI - Pro-choice: a new militancy. PMID- 2606659 TI - AIDS and civil disobedience. PMID- 2606660 TI - Civil disobedience in time of AIDS. PMID- 2606661 TI - The fiery fight for animal rights. PMID- 2606662 TI - Grassroots opposition to animal exploitation. PMID- 2606663 TI - To do or not to do? PMID- 2606664 TI - Practical solutions. PMID- 2606665 TI - Mercy, murder, and morality. PMID- 2606666 TI - In memoriam: medicine's confrontation with evil. AB - The proposed public burial of anatomical specimens derived from victims of the Nazis provides an occasion for the medical community worldwide to confront this legacy and the profession's ongoing potential for evil. PMID- 2606667 TI - Resolving disputes over frozen embryos. AB - The relation between respect for family and reproductive choice and use of IVF technology is in dispute in recent legal cases on the disposition of frozen embryos. Couples in IVF programs should be encouraged to stipulate in advance binding instructions regarding the disposition of such embryos. PMID- 2606668 TI - [The margin of safety and depth of excision in surgical treatment of basalioma. Use of 3-dimensional histologic study of 2,016 tumors]. AB - During the treatment of 2016 basal cell carcinomas (BCC), 1757 of which were primary tumours and 259, recurrences, every operation was followed by a check on radicality by means of histological evaluation of the margins of the excised tissue (three-dimensional histology). The average safe margin at first excision was 3.8 mm, and excision normally extended to the lower subcuticular border in depth. After first excisions, tumour tissue was found in 31.6% of histological sections prepared from the marginal sections at the circumference and/or on the underside of the excised material. Tumour material was far more frequent in the marginal area (28.3%) than on the underside (7%). With a 2-mm safe margin around the primary BCC there were still 46.7% tumour-positive marginal sections; with 4 mm, 20.3%; and with 6-8 mm, 14.7%. Fibrosing BCC and tumours with diameters over 20 mm, and recurrent BCC in particular had a significantly larger share of tumour positive marginal sections and considerably more frequently required two or more reoperations until the final radical excision than did the solid and superficial types of BCC. An average safe margin of 4.5 mm plus standard deviation to give 7 mm (standard deviation 2.5 mm) was necessary for radical excision of primary BCC, but often even larger margins, up to a maximum of 3.2 mm were necessary. Hence, when surgical treatment of BCC does not include three-dimensional histological evaluation generous safe margins are necessary. Surgery with histological monitoring is the only justifiable method of treating tumours of the fibrosing type, recurrent BCC and BCC over 10 mm in diameter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606669 TI - [Focal melanocytic atypia in dysplastic nevus cell nevi. Results of a serial section study]. AB - Dysplastic nevi were diagnosed according to the ABCDE rule for recognition of early melanomas in 11 patients with familial dysplastic nevus syndrome (DNS) and in 39 patients with the sporadic variant of DNS. All these 50 patients exhibited multiple dysplastic nevi. On routine histological examination melanocytic atypia confirming the histological diagnosis of dysplastic nevus was found only in 12/50 cases. However, when cut consecutively dysplastic nevi with melanocytic atypia were diagnosed in 17 further cases (34%). In most cases (72.4%) only a mild degree of atypia (grade I) was found. Dysplastic nevi with severe melanocytic atypia (grades II-III) were found in all groups of sporadic and familial variants of DNS (with and without melanoma). To improve the prognostic value of the histological examination in dysplastic nevi significantly it must be of interest to add the degree of melanocytic atypia. With increasing degree of melanocytic atypia also the typical histological feature of dysplastic nevi become more significant. Since such atypia in dysplastic nevi is not necessarily sited in the centre of the lesion and since in most cases melanocytic atypia occurs focally, we believe that histological examination of dysplastic nevi must be undertaken by step section. Lesions suspected of being dysplastic nevi must be excised with margins of at least 2-5 mm for a correct histological diagnosis. PMID- 2606670 TI - [Primary cutaneous granulomatous alternariosis]. AB - We report on a case of primary cutaneous granulomatous alternariosis on the forearm of a 65-year-old man who is otherwise in a good health. Histological examination revealed a predominantly histiocytic granuloma with numerous large cells containing fragments of fungi. The granuloma contained septate fungal hyphae and macroconidiospores. By means of macro- and micro-cultures the fungus was identified as an Alternaria species. PMID- 2606671 TI - [Phacomatosis pigmentovascularis interpreted as a phenomenon of twin spots]. AB - A case of phacomatosis pigmentovascularis is reported. In order to explain the origin of this phenotype, we propose the genetic concept of twin spots. The teleangiectatic birthmark and the pigmentary naevus are caused by two different recessive mutations. Their loci are situated on the same chromosome. The embryo is doubly heterozygous, bearing one of the two mutations on one chromosome, whereas the other mutation is present on the homologous chromosome. During embryogenesis somatic crossing-over occurs, resulting in two different cell populations, each being homozygous for one of the two mutations. The mechanism of mitotic recombination would be a decisive event establishing an aetiological link between the two different naevi, thus making them twin spots. PMID- 2606672 TI - [Local administration of vitamin A acid in chronic actinic cheilitis]. PMID- 2606673 TI - 26th Hanford Life Sciences Symposium. Modeling for scaling to man: biology, dosimetry, and response. PMID- 2606674 TI - Multiparameter extrapolation of biodistribution data between species. AB - Values of an inaccessible biological parameter in man may be predicted from values measured in animals by correlating with a parameter accessible in both species, such as body weight, energy production, excretion rate, etc. Predicting toxic effects, from environmental chemicals, of therapeutic doses for drug administration and of radiation absorbed dose from medical and environmental radioactivity depends on the rationalization of relationships between concentration and time when scaling to humans from animal data. For example, the retention of 99mTc, injected intravenously as pertechnetate, reaches 10% in the mouse at about 1 d, but this level occurs in humans at about 7 d. Making a simultaneous transformation between two species for the concentration and time variables by using a method of least-squares fitting, we have derived a series of transformation factors for several species. When correlated with a biological parameter such as body weight, these factors can be used to yield predicted values that are in good agreement with measured values. This system may be used with any related variables, making it useful for predicting other types of biological data. PMID- 2606675 TI - Biologically motivated models for chemical risk assessment. AB - Assessing the risk associated with human exposure to environmental chemicals depends to a large extent on the ability to extrapolate from a particular range of exposure conditions in the test animal species to a very different range of exposure conditions in the human. One of the more promising tools for accomplishing this extrapolation is the biologically motivated pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model. In a biologically motivated model, the structure is based on the physiological and biochemical structure of the animal system being described. This paper provides an overview of the biologically motivated modeling approach. Examples of models for styrene and methylene chloride are discussed in relation to their ability to predict human kinetics for these chemicals and their use in estimating the risk of chemicals to exposed humans. Finally, the use of a biologically motivated model to analyze the mechanistic basis of chemical carcinogenesis is discussed. PMID- 2606676 TI - Modeling for scaling to humans: time to get serious. AB - The subject matter for this 26th Annual Hanford Life Sciences Symposium evolved from the deliberations of a Task Group on Modeling for Scaling to Humans, which was established in January 1986 through the efforts of the Office of Health and Environmental Research of the Department of Energy (OHER/DOE). Several laboratories that utilize animals in radiobiological research sponsored by the OHER/DOE were extensively reviewed in the spring of 1985, and, as a result, OHER recommended establishment of eight task groups designed for selected purposes. The current membership of the Task Group on Modeling for Scaling to Humans is shown in Table 1; Dr. James A. Mewhinney of the Lovelace Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute has been Chairman since these Task Groups were established. Ms. Judy Mahaffey of Battelle. Pacific Northwest Laboratories served as chairperson for this symposium, and the Task Group membership has served as the Program Committee. The OHER/DOE thanks all of them for their work as members of the Task Group as well as for their arranging such a potentially productive and informative meeting. PMID- 2606677 TI - Physiological pharmacokinetic model of hexachlorobenzene in the rat. AB - A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model was developed to describe the distribution of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in the rat after oral administration or injection. The model was based on flow-limited blood perfusion of HCB to tissues and organs of the body. A set of simultaneous differential equations were solved for the different tissue concentrations as a functions of time. The model allowed for elimination of HCB by excretion. The model also allowed for differential growth of various tissues over the course of an experiment. Computer simulations using the model indicated that growth of animals during the course of dosing experiments can greatly increase the apparent half-life of HCB. PMID- 2606678 TI - A physiologically based model of 1-nitropyrene metabolism after inhalation or ingestion. AB - The nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 1-nitropyrene (NP), a bacterial mutagen and mammalian carcinogen, is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. A physiologically based toxicokinetic model was developed describing the disposition of NP after oral administration (ingestion) or after inhalation. The model incorporated the following compartments: blood, upper respiratory tract, lung, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and a general tissue compartment. First-order rate constants for absorption of NP from the GI tract (2 h-1), metabolism by the liver (30 h-1), excretion of metabolites in bile and urine (2 and 4 h-1, respectively), and covalent binding of NP metabolites to tissue macromolecules (0.05, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.001 h-1 for lung, liver, kidney, and general tissue compartment, respectively) determined from model simulations were used to describe absorption, biotransformation, and excretion of NP. Physiological parameters such as alveolar ventilation, cardiac output, blood flow to organs volume, and tissue/blood partition coefficients described movement of NP and metabolites among compartments. Model predictions for concentrations of NP and metabolites in tissues were compared to experimentally determined data obtained in rats after inhalation of NP. Model predictions for concentrations of NP metabolites covalently bound to tissue macromolecules agreed with experimentally determined data in rats. Levels of bound material in lung and liver were about one-tenth that found in kidney. Results indicated that NP movement among tissue compartments could be described to a large extent by blood flow and organ volume alone (e.g., tissue/blood partition coefficients = 1). The use of physiologically realistic parameters will enable scaling of the model developed using animal studies to predict disposition of NP in humans. PMID- 2606679 TI - Pharmacokinetic parameters for interspecies scaling using allometric techniques. AB - Pharmacokinetic models characterize the kinetic behavior of natural and synthetic substances in animals and man. While the same model structure can generally be used for a particular substance in a variety of species, the values of the model parameters are generally species dependent. Two approaches, allometric and physiologic, may be used to adjust or scale the values of model parameters determined for a substance in one species to predict its pharmacokinetic behavior in other species. In this paper, the allometric approach is applied to pharmacokinetic parameters determined by using compartmental models or "model independent" methods. Model parameters (Pi) such as mean systemic clearance and steady-state apparent volume of distribution are of interest. Parameter values are determined in several species that vary significantly in body weight (BW). Values of the parameters frequently follow the power function of body weight: Pi = a(BW)b. Interspecies scaling is accomplished in that values of Pi for other species are then estimated from the body weights of those species. PMID- 2606680 TI - Inhalation reference dose (RfDi): an application of interspecies dosimetry modeling for risk assessment of insoluble particles. AB - Accurate extrapolation of animal toxicity data for human health risk assessment requires determination of the effective dose to the target tissue and the sensitivity of the target tissue to that dose. The methodology for deriving reference doses [the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) benchmark values for gauging systemic toxicity] for oral exposures has not included dosimetry modeling. Dosimetry data facilitate evaluation of concentration response data with respect to the dose-response relationships used in quantitative risk assessment. Extension of this methodology to derivation of inhalation reference doses (RfDi) should account for the dynamics of the respiratory system as the portal of entry. Predictive physiologically based modeling of the inhalation of reactive gases has recently been demonstrated (Overton and Miller 1988). Models that describe the deposition of hygroscopic particles and account for chemical factors that affect clearance mechanisms and gas uptake are under development. This paper presents a method for calculating a dosimetric adjustment factor based on the values for the initial deposited dose of insoluble particles in an animal species and in humans. The ratio of these two values serves as a scaling factor that can be applied in the R f D methodology to account for the dosimetric differences in the inhaled deposited dose. This application for insoluble particles illustrates the feasibility of interspecies dosimetry calculations for extrapolating the toxicological results of inhaled agents to human exposure conditions for more accurate risk estimation. PMID- 2606681 TI - A biokinetic model of inhaled Cm compounds in dogs: application to human exposure data. AB - Curium isotopes are major by-products in irradiated nuclear reactor fuel and comprise a significant fraction of the alpha-emitting radionuclide inventory. Although little use is currently being made of purified Cm sources, such usage is possible if reprocessing of spent fuel becomes feasible. Because little information is available on the biokinetics and dosimetry of inhaled Cm compounds, a study was conducted in which adult beagle dogs received a single inhalation exposure to either a monodisperse aerosol of 244Cm2O3 (1.4 micron activity median aerodynamic diameter [AMAD]; sigma g = 1.16) or a polydisperse aerosol of 244Cm (NO3)3 (1.1 micron AMAD; sigma g = 1.74). At times ranging from 4 h to 2 y after exposure, animals were sacrificed and their tissues analyzed for Cm content. The data describing the uptake and retention of 244Cm in the different organs and tissues and the measured rates of excretion of these dogs formed the basis on which a biokinetic model of Cm metabolism was constructed. This Cm model was based on a previously published model of the biokinetics of 241Am that was shown to be applicable to data from human cases of inhalation exposure to 241Am aerosols. This Cm model was found to be adequate to describe the biological distribution of Cm in dogs and was also applied to the sparse data from humans. Reasonable agreement was found between the model predictions for lung retention of Cm and for urinary excretion patterns in humans. PMID- 2606682 TI - A model for scaling the results of U excretion rate studies in beagle dogs to man. AB - A biokinetic model was used to simulate retention and excretion of two forms of U: ammonium diuranate (ADU), a relatively soluble form, and U3O8, a relatively insoluble form. These two U forms represent those most likely to be encountered in the U milling industry. The simulation model was compared with results from a study of aerosols of commercial refined U ore inhaled by laboratory animals. Beagle dogs were exposed by inhalation to ADU aerosols to achieve a median initial body burden of 0.058 mg U kg-1 body weight (within a range of 0.016 to 0.64 mg U kg-1), or to U3O8 aerosols to achieve a median retained body burden of 0.28 mg U kg-1 (0.030-0.81 mg U kg-1). The simulation model accurately described the accumulation of nephrotoxic concentrations of U in kidneys of animals exposed to ADU. Very small fractions of the initial body burden of U3O8 were translocated to kidney, and these fractions were overestimated by the model. The model showed general agreement with results of other laboratory animal studies and with available information from human exposures to ADU, UF6, or U3O8. PMID- 2606683 TI - Flow distribution in human and canine tracheobronchial airway casts. AB - Measurements of flow rates through hollow casts of human and canine tracheobronchial airways, which extend from just below the larynx to airways 1 mm in diameter, show basic similarities in the distribution of air flow and also species differences which must be considered. The distribution of air flow, for both constant and pulsatile inspiratory flow, was measured for minute volumes equivalent to 6, 11, 17 and 22 L min-1 for the human and 3, 6, 8, and 11 L min-1 for the dog. Inertia of air flow (inertance) was found to carry more of the flow to airways of the lower lobes at higher flow rates. Basic differences in airway branching pattern result in a more distinct change in airflow distribution as flow rate changes for the canine cast as compared with the human cast. These differences should contribute to differing patterns of mass transfer of inhaled particles and gases in central airways of the two species. PMID- 2606684 TI - Dosimetric principles for extrapolating results of rat inhalation studies to humans, using an inhaled Ni compound as an example. AB - Dose-effect relationships of inhaled substances are complicated by the interrelationship between inhaled dose, deposited dose, and retained dose. Deposited and retained doses are most important for evaluating dose-effect relations; however, inhaled dose and exposure concentration that are not representative of the actual dose to target sites are widely used for this purpose. For extrapolating results of animal inhalation studies to humans, several factors have to be considered for calculating a human equivalent dose to the respiratory tract and for estimating a human equivalent exposure concentration. Among these factors are separate deposition in nasopharyngeal, tracheobronchial, and alveolar regions, both total regional deposition and deposited dose per unit surface area. Predictive particle deposition models for the respiratory tract can be used for calculating these. The retained dose is another factor that takes into account respiratory tract retention and determines the long-term dose to the respiratory tract. A rat inhalation study using Ni3S2 exposure (concentration, 970 micrograms m-3; duration, 78 wk; exposure, 6 h d-1, 5 d wk-1) resulted in bronchogenic and alveologenic tumors. Extrapolation modeling of rat data was performed based on dose factors discussed above, and assuming different conditions of pulmonary retention for Ni3S2 with half-times of 36 d for rats and 103 d for humans. Model calculations showed that deposited surface area dose was greater for the tracheobronchial than for the pulmonary region in both rat and man. The retained dose per gram of lung was greater in rat than in man under resting conditions. An equivalent exposure concentration would be lower in humans than in the rat if it is based on the retained dose expressed per square centimeter of alveolar surface area. However, inhaled equivalent concentration in man can be considerably higher when the tracheobronchial surface area dose is considered. The most sensitive region of the respiratory tract--for example, with regard to tumor induction--should be selected for estimating human equivalent exposure. PMID- 2606685 TI - Sensitivity testing of an age-related, multicompartment dosimetric model for bone surface-seeking radionuclides in man. AB - The sensitivity testing of an age-related dosimetric model and its application to the dosimetry of 239Pu are described. The model is used to calculate the committed dose received by the skeleton and liver to age 70 y, following intakes of 239Pu by an adult aged 20 y and by children aged 0 and 10 y. The model is biologically based and takes account of the age-dependent transfer of Pu between the different organs of the body and between the different components of the skeleton. It consists of 22 compartments, 16 of which are skeletal, each connected by transfer pathways defined by age-dependent rate constants. The sensitivity of the predictions of the model, as applied to adults, to changes in the assumed values of rate constants were tested. The results of the tests applied suggested that the age-related model is relatively robust and is not particularly sensitive to changes in the assumed values of many of the rate constants used. PMID- 2606686 TI - Human respiratory tract model for radiological protection: a revision of the ICRP Dosimetric Model for the Respiratory System. AB - In 1984, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) appointed a task group of Committee 2 to review and revise, as necessary, the ICRP Dosimetric Model for the Respiratory System. The model was originally published in 1966, modified slightly in Publication No. 19, and again in Publication No. 30 (in 1979). The task group concluded that research during the past 20 y suggested certain deficiencies in the ICRP Dosimetric Model for the Respiratory System. Research has also provided sufficient information for a revision of the model. The task group's approach has been to review, in depth, morphology and physiology of the respiratory tract; deposition of inhaled particles in the respiratory tract; clearance of deposited materials; and the nature and specific sites of damage to the respiratory tract caused by inhaled radioactive substances. This review has led to a redefinition of the regions of the respiratory tract for dosimetric purposes. The redefinition has a morphologic and physiological basis and is consistent with observed deposition and clearance of particles and with resultant pathology. Regions, as revised, are the extrathoracic (E-T) region, comprising the nasal and oral regions, the pharynx, larynx, and upper part of the trachea; the fast-clearing thoracic region (T[f]), comprising the remainder of the trachea and bronchi; and the slow-clearing thoracic region (T[s]), comprising the bronchioles, alveoli, and thoracic lymph nodes. A task group report will include models for calculating radiation doses to these regions of the respiratory tract following inhalation of representative alpha-, beta-, and gamma emitting particulate and gaseous radionuclides. The models may be implemented as a package of computer codes available to a wide range of users. This should facilitate application of the revised human respiratory tract model to worldwide radiation protection needs. PMID- 2606687 TI - A comparison of excretion and retention between the current ICRP lung model and a proposed new model. AB - The current International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) lung model (Health Phys. 12: 173; 1986) was developed from information available in the early 1960s. Since that time considerable new information on lung morphology, deposition, and retention has become available and, where appropriate, has been incorporated into a new model being discussed by a Task Group of the ICRP. This new model is conceptually much simpler in that it contains only three compartments, as opposed to 11 in the current model. The intent of this simpler model is to make it easier to model experimental retention and excretion data, either from in vitro studies, animal or human experiments, or human experience. However, this conceptually simpler model is somewhat more difficult to use than the current model as the new model parameters vary with time after exposure. That is, parameters are time-varying functions rather than constants, as they are in the current model, and retention is not given by the familiar Bateman equations. Default time-varying parameters for the new model have been developed that give results comparable to the current model for Classes D, W, and Y compounds. In addition, parameters have been developed for U ore dust, based on in vitro and in vivo studies, and for UO2 from human experience in U fuel fabrication facilities. The development of these parameters will be described, and the results with the new model compared with those obtained with the current model. PMID- 2606688 TI - Predictions of ozone absorption in human lungs from newborn to adult. AB - Although children are an important human population, dosimetry models for gases have been used to predict absorption mainly in laboratory animals and adult humans. To correct this omission, we have used several sources of data on age dependent lower respiratory tract (LRT) volumes, age-dependent airway dimensions, a model of the adult tracheobronchial region, and a model of the adult acinus to construct theoretical LRT lung models for humans from birth to adulthood. An ozone (O3) dosimetry model was then used to estimate the regional and local uptake of O3 in the (theoretical) LRT of children and adults. For sedentary or quiet breathing, the LRT distribution of absorbed O3, the percent uptake (84 to 88%) and the centriacinar O3 tissue dose are not very sensitive to age. For maximal work during exercise, predicted LRT uptakes range from 87 to 93%, and the regional percent uptakes are more dependent on age than during quiet breathing. In general, the total quantity of O3 absorbed per minute increases with age. Regardless of age and state of breathing, the largest tissue dose of O3 is predicted to occur in the centriacinar region, where many animal studies show the maximal morphological damage from O3. PMID- 2606689 TI - Aerosol deposition in the nose as a function of body size. AB - The effect of body size on nasal doses from inhaled aerosols has not been measured directly in people. Two basic types of computational models are used to calculate inhaled particle deposition in adults. One type uses an impaction parameter that incorporates particle aerodynamic diameter and the average airflow rate. The second type uses the nasal pressure drop and particle aerodynamic diameter. Although both types of models have been adjusted to give reasonably accurate deposition efficiencies for adults, they predict very different deposition efficiencies when they are applied to young children. This is not surprising because the airflow-type model has no body-size-dependent parameters, unlike the pressure-drop-type model. The objective of our studies was to test these two types of computational models using idealized hollow nasal models of two sizes, representing the adult and young child. The results indicate that a pressure-drop relationship fits the aerosol deposition data very well. When the properly scaled physiological air flows and minute ventilations are used in a nasal dose calculation, the young child is seen to have potentially larger nasal doses than those of an adult. PMID- 2606690 TI - Dose paradigms for inhaled vapors of primary carcinogens and their impact on risk assessment. AB - In the assessment of risk, several factors affect predictions: selection of reactive agent, selection of tumor incidence data, modeling of dose, scaling across species, adjustment for differences in duration and frequency of exposure, and selection of the most suitable risk extrapolation model. If the endpoints, exposure regimen, and the model for risk extrapolation are constant, then the review of dose paradigms will illustrate the effect of dose modeling on risk, since by definition the reactive agent is the primary carcinogen. The response incidence in lifetime inhalation bioassays of two primary carcinogens, ethylene oxide and formaldehyde, was used with different dose paradigms to estimate risk from maximum lifetime occupational exposures. The dose paradigms that will be considered include: concentration, concentration time product, retained dose, integrated blood concentration, and tissue exposure. The basis for across-species scaling and the assumptions underlying each dose paradigm were discussed. PMID- 2606691 TI - The molecular basis of stochastic and nonstochastic effects. AB - Stochastic effects have been defined as those for which the probability increases with dose, without a threshold. Nonstochastic effects are those for which incidence and severity depends on dose, but for which there is a threshold dose. These definitions suggest that the two types of effects are not related. In this paper it will be shown that at least some of the nonstochastic effects are the consequence of accumulated stochastic effects and that both types of effect can be related to a common cellular damage. It is proposed that, at the cellular level, effects such as mutation induction and cell reproductive death are related to DNA double-strand breaks caused by radiation. Further, we propose that stochastic effects depend on a mutational event induced in a critical cell of a target organ. Nonstochastic effects are considered to arise because the function of a substantial proportion of critical cells is impaired. In some cases the predominant effect is comparable to cell reproductive death. Animal mortality, for instance, may occur because a substantial proportion of bone marrow cells is killed. Using this concept, mathematical formulas can be derived for the various effects. Modification of the irradiation conditions (e.g., low dose rate or density ionizing radiation) leads to changes in the initial molecular lesions and, consequently, to changes in the dose effect relationships of stochastic and nonstochastic effects. Experimental support will be discussed, using animal mortality as an endpoint. The implications of this approach will be discussed with emphasis on its application to radiological protection. PMID- 2606692 TI - A stochastic model of the acquisition of drug resistance during antineoplastic chemotherapy. AB - A stochastic model is proposed to simulate the phenomenon of acquisition of genetic resistance by a tumor cell population treated with antineoplastic cytotoxic agents. In the model, stochastic differential equations are numerically integrated to simulate the expected response after treatment with two different agents. The model takes into account the initial number of cells, the sequence of the agents, the time intervals between administrations, the birth and death rates of the untreated cells, the probabilities of mutations to resistance, and the induced cell-killing kinetics. Satisfactory demonstration runs of the model indicate that it could represent a useful tool in verifying the results of experimental and clinical chemotherapy courses and planning treatment strategies. PMID- 2606693 TI - Mathematical models of cell survival after ionizing radiation: application to radiotherapy planning. AB - The work described here represents an attempt to use mathematical models of single-cell survival for radiotherapy planning. The aim of the study is to develop a procedure in which the distribution of the effects achieved by optimizing physical radiation dose is implemented by taking into account radiobiological terms. An algorithmic model has been developed to evaluate the probability of tumor control and of excessive damage to normal tissue on the basis of the linear-quadratic model of cell survival. In its present preliminary form, the procedure can be used to predict differential isoeffect distributions obtained by varying the total dose and the fraction size of multifraction radiotherapy courses. This approach can also be used to extract from historical clinical results, by maximum-likelihood methods, parameters related to the cellular response to radiation (for instance, alpha and beta of the linear quadratic model). PMID- 2606694 TI - Modeling the biological effectiveness of high-LET radiation. AB - Reevaluation of neutron exposures to atomic bomb survivors has greatly reduced the significance of that data base for estimating the relative biological effectiveness of radiations with high linear energy transfer (LET). Consequently, greater emphasis is being given to animal data and mechanistic studies at the cellular and molecular level in assessing the role of radiation quality in the health effects of low-level radiation exposure. We are investigating the spatial patterns of energy deposited in DNA by ionizing radiation and their influence on cell killing and mutation induction. Our basic hypothesis is that high ionization density increases the probability that radiation-induced DNA damage will be unrepairable or misrepaired. This paper discusses the use of computer simulation to investigate damage induced in DNA by the decay of incorporated 125I. PMID- 2606695 TI - Analyzing the role of biochemical processes in determining response to ionizing radiations. AB - The interaction of biochemical processes and radiation damage appears to play a major role in determining long-term biological effects. It is responsible for both the removal of radiation-induced alterations in macromolecules and for the time-dependent changes in survival of irradiated cells. Restoration of macromolecules by such means as the rejoining of strand breaks in DNA suggests a variety of possible mechanisms which could lead to the observed enhancement of cell survival. However, even though a number of molecular repair mechanisms have been identified, specific links between any such mechanisms and a subsequent modification of cell survival have proved difficult, if not impossible, to demonstrate. Models of cellular response provide a means of attempting to establish this connection. Although details of radiation chemistry, chromatin structure, enzymatic repair, molecular genetics, and cell cycle kinetics are generally simplified, each individual model incorporates features based on a set of assumed mechanisms. For example, one group of models assumes that all damage is potentially lethal (capable of killing the cell unless it is repaired), while another assumes that part of the damage is sublethal (innocuous until it interacts with other damage). Using split-dose, dose-rate, and delayed-plating techniques, we have demonstrated two distinct components of repair in plateau phase Chinese hamster ovary cells. One process has a characteristic time of about 1 h; the other, about 18 h. In both cases, the reaction rates and the fractions of damage repaired appear to be independent of the initial amounts of damage produced. These observations suggest that none of the simpler models adequately describes cell inactivation; i.e., reproductive death is inconsistent with all assumptions regarding any of them. Consequently, more-complex models involving combinations of sublethal and potentially lethal damage or multiple-step damage processes may be required. These findings help to define the effects of exposure at low doses and dose rates and to develop an understanding of the underlying biochemical mechanisms involved. PMID- 2606696 TI - A method for comparison of animal and human alveolar dose and toxic effect of inhaled ozone. AB - Present models for predicting the pulmonary toxicity of O3 in humans from the toxic effects observed in animals rely on dosimetric measurements of O3 mass balance and species comparisons of mechanisms that protect tissue against O3. The goal of the study described was to identify a method to directly compare O3 dose and effect in animals and humans using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid markers. The feasibility of estimating O3 dose to alveoli of animals and humans was demonstrated through assay of reaction products of 18O-labeled O3 in lung surfactant and macrophage pellets of rabbits. The feasibility of using lung lavage fluid protein measurements to quantify the O3 toxic response in humans was demonstrated by the finding of significantly increased lung lavage protein in 10 subjects exposed to 0.4 ppm O3 for 2 h with intermittent periods of heavy exercise. The validity of using the lavage protein marker to quantify the response in animals has already been established. The positive results obtained in both the 18O3 and the lavage protein studies reported here suggest that it should be possible to obtain a direct comparison of both alveolar dose and toxic effect of O3 to alveoli of animals or humans. PMID- 2606697 TI - Time-related factors in the study of risks in animals and humans. AB - Data from epidemiological studies of humans exposed to potentially harmful substances are usually analyzed using methods that account for the dependence of risks on time-related factors such as age and follow-up period. Recently developed statistical procedures allow modeling of the age-specific risks as a function of dose as well as factors such as age at exposure, time since exposure, exposure duration, and dose rate. These procedures potentially allow more rigorous inferences and clearer understanding of the patterns of risk observed in epidemiological studies than has been available in the past. Statistical procedures that consider time-related factors can also be applied to laboratory animal data, providing information that is useful for the problems involved in extrapolating from animal studies to humans. By applying such procedures to data on exposure to the same substance in different species (including humans) or to different substances in the same species, better understanding of the relationship of risks across species and across substances can be achieved. In addition, such statistical procedures allow appropriate treatment of exposure that is accumulated over time and lead to improved understanding of patterns of risk over time. The approach is illustrated using data from a lifespan study of beagle dogs exposed to inhaled Pu. PMID- 2606698 TI - Choice of dose measure for extrapolating carcinogenic risk from animals to humans: an empirical investigation of 23 chemicals. AB - When estimating carcinogenic risk in humans from animal data, animal to human extrapolation is often accomplished by assuming that humans and animals are equally sensitive when dose is measured appropriately in common units in both species. This paper reports on an empirical investigation of several dose units, based on data from 23 chemicals for which both animal and human data were available. The dose units were evaluated using a measure called "bias," which represents roughly the factor by which the TD25 calculated from animal data must be multiplied to correspond, on average, to the TD25 calculated from human data. (A TD25 is the average human dose rate per unit of body weight in mg kg-1 d-1, administered between ages 20 and 65, that would cause an extra lifetime cancer risk of 25%.) Biases of greater than one mean that estimates of human risk from animal data exceeded estimates made from human data. Five dose measures are evaluated in this paper; they are based on several risk assessment methods. The resulting ranges of biases are: dose rate per surface area in mg m-2 d-1, 2.1 to 12; dose rate per unit of body weight in mg kg-1 d-1, 0.36 to 1.6; parts per million in diet, 1.1 to 6.2; cumulative dose per unit of body weight in mg kg-1 per lifetime, 13 to 84; parts per million in air, 1.1 to 4.5. These findings suggest that all of these measures of dose except dose rate per unit of body weight tend to result in overestimation of human risk. PMID- 2606699 TI - Fitting a model to categorical response data with application to species extrapolation of toxicity. AB - The evaluation of toxicity data for noncarcinogens is complicated by the multiplicity of possible end points, and variations in both severity of effect and response rate. Often the response rates are not reported, so that "dose response" analysis involves the relation between dose and severity of effect. Severity is usually reported as a description of the nature of the effects; measured values are rare. One approach is to then assign severity descriptions to ordered categories and to model the dose-category relationship. The application presented here is to interspecies scaling, i.e., the estimation of parameters in the model used to convert animal doses into equally toxic human doses. PMID- 2606700 TI - Structural differences between human and rat lungs: implications for Monte Carlo modeling of aerosol deposition. AB - The geometrical structure of the lung is one of the main factors governing inhaled particle deposition; structural differences among different species are, therefore, of great importance for extrapolation modeling. A statistical analysis of morphometric data for the human and rat tracheobronchial tree reveals significant interspecies differences in airway branching patterns: compared to the relatively dichotomous and symmetric structure of the human lung, the rat lung displays a more monopodial airway branching pattern. Thus, for the rat lung, we recommend characterizing the properties of a given airway, i.e., its size, physiologic function, and distance from the trachea, by its diameter rather than by a theoretically assigned generation number. A Monte Carlo method is used to construct an airway geometry along each inhaled particle's path by randomly selecting airway parameters from their frequency distributions and the correlations among them. While the airway geometry is selected randomly, particle deposition in individual airways is calculated analytically. These stochastic deposition calculations allow for structural differences between the human and rat lung, and the variability of the airway system within each species. PMID- 2606701 TI - A Bayesian methodology for scaling radiation studies from animals to man. AB - This paper describes a Bayesian methodology for integrating studies in experimental animals and humans to obtain a risk estimate for a radionuclide for which no data or very limited human data are available. The method is quite general and is not limited to radiation studies. In fact, it was first developed for chemical toxicants. The methodology is illustrated using studies with rats, beagles, and humans exposed to isotopes of Ra and Pu. The goal is a quantitative risk estimate for bone cancer in humans exposed to internally deposited Pu. The choice of bone cancer as an end point and of Pu as the source of exposure was made partially because of its inherent interest but also because of issues of data availability and suitability. We performed Poisson regression analyses on 13 of 15 data sets. These analyses form the basis for the unifying method of interpreting the entire ensemble of studies. Each of the studies is summarized by the estimated dose-response slope and its estimated standard error. These summary statistics are combined with other available biological and physical information about species differences, physical and metabolic characteristics of isotopes, disease mechanisms, and the like. This information enters the analysis in the form of prior assumptions about the parameters of the Bayesian model combining the studies. The posterior distribution for the bone cancer rate in man from the Bayesian analysis of the 13 studies is updated with the limited data on Pu in humans. This update gives the final probability density for the bone cancer rate in humans exposed to internally deposited Pu. This density has a median of about three cancers per 100 Gy and has a 95% probability interval from 0.8 to 11 bone cancers per 100 Gy. PMID- 2606702 TI - Scaling of fatal cancer risks from laboratory animals to man. AB - The functionally injurious and carcinogenic responses after exposure to 226Ra in mice, beagles, and people are reviewed. The observed bone-cancer response ratios from beagle data are used for examples of scaling carcinogenic risks to man for inhaled 239PuO2 and, in a similar manner, those from rat data are used for ingestion of diethylnitrosamine. Scaling fatal cancer risks from laboratory animal data to human risk predictions is described as a three-step process involving a three-dimensional analysis. The three dimensions used in this study for chronic exposure to chemical toxicants or ionizing radiation are average dose rate to target tissue (proportional to tissue concentration), elapsed time, and risk. The first step involves determination of dose rate delivered to target tissues. The second step is evaluation of the independent dose-response relationships observed in animals and prediction of human risk distributions by normalizing time units with respect to species natural life span. The third step involves predicting induced cancer occurrence (dependent risk) using the convolution integral for each of the competing risks, including those associated with natural life span. The use of computer graphics in conjunction with three dimensional models of dose-response relationships dramatically clarifies the separate and interactive roles of competing risks. Low dose rates result in spontaneous deaths from natural aging, yielding a quasi-threshold for fatal induced cancer. PMID- 2606703 TI - A code to investigate complex metabolic models for dose calculation. AB - A code, DOSEDAY/DOSEYEAR, was developed as a research tool for calculating dose in humans from internally deposited radionuclides, using the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) Publication 30 compartmental scheme as a framework and ICRP Publication 30 values for default compartmental rate constants. This framework can be varied to investigate new rate constants, fractionation, recycling pathways, and other metabolic information. The compartmental model described in ICRP Publication 30 cannot easily be solved analytically; approximate solutions are generally used. The code calculates the numerical solution to a system of 70 simultaneous, stiff differential equations describing the compartmental model. Step sizes for numerical integration were determined internally by the code to insure stability, and a material balance was calculated for comparison with inputs, which provided a self-contained verification system. The code contains modules for calculating activity and decay in each compartment and for converting these values to dose. Using numerical integration techniques allowed researchers to use recycling compartments (i.e., as proposed for I) and to calculate dose over any time period. DOSEDAY/DOSEYEAR calculates dose for inhalation, ingestion, and injection intake pathways. Chronic intake may also be calculated, using a selected equational form to describe intake (i.e., sinusoidal, representing diurnal Rn exposure; linear, representing 1-d exposure to a constant source; etc.). The code is operational on any personal computer which supports compiled BASIC and thus provides researchers with a readily implemented problem-solving tool to investigate metabolic models. PMID- 2606704 TI - HUMTRN and EFFECTS: age and sex specific dosimetric and physiological human population dynamics models for dose assessment. AB - A human simulation model called HUMTRN and a population risk assessment model called EFFECTS were developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a major component of the BIOTRAN environmental risk assessment model. HUMTRN simulates growth using dietary and physiological characteristics and kinetics of radionuclides to predict radiation doses to selected organs of both sexes in different age groups. The model called EFFECTS was interfaced with output from HUMTRN to predict cancer risks in a dynamic human population. EFFECTS is based on the National Research Council Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR)-III radiation cancer mortality estimates from the U.S. population mortality and natality estimates for both sexes between the ages of 1 and 70. These models track radiation intake from air, water, and food, calculate uptake in major growing organs, and estimate cancer mortality risks. This report documents the use of an IBM Personal Computer AT to run HUMTRN and EFFECTS. Air, water, and food contaminant concentrations are provided as input to HUMTRN, which then provides input for EFFECTS. The limitations of this approach are also discussed. PMID- 2606705 TI - A resource facility for kinetic analysis: modeling using the SAAM computer programs. AB - Kinetic analysis and integrated system modeling have contributed significantly to understanding the physiology and pathophysiology of metabolic systems in humans and animals. Many experimental biologists are aware of the usefulness of these techniques and recognize that kinetic modeling requires special expertise. The Resource Facility for Kinetic Analysis (RFKA) provides this expertise through: (1) development and application of modeling technology for biomedical problems, and (2) development of computer-based kinetic modeling methodologies concentrating on the computer program Simulation, Analysis, and Modeling (SAAM) and its conversational version, CONversational SAAM (CONSAM). The RFKA offers consultation to the biomedical community in the use of modeling to analyze kinetic data and trains individuals in using this technology for biomedical research. Early versions of SAAM were widely applied in solving dosimetry problems; many users, however, are not familiar with recent improvements to the software. The purpose of this paper is to acquaint biomedical researchers in the dosimetry field with RFKA, which, together with the joint National Cancer Institute-National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute project, is overseeing SAAM development and applications. In addition, RFKA provides many service activities to the SAAM user community that are relevant to solving dosimetry problems. PMID- 2606706 TI - Human subject age and activity level: factors addressed in a biomathematical deposition program for extrapolation modeling. AB - A deterministic aerosol deposition model, previously validated by data from adult inhalation exposure experiments, is used to study particle deposition within the developing human lung. Here, two age-dependent lung morphologies are presented, in which the number of tracheobronchial (TB) generations is complete at birth but airway dimensions vary with age; the number of pulmonary (P) generations, however, changes with age, as do the alveolated airway dimensions. Deposition patterns within the two morphologies are compared. For the light and heavy respiratory-activity levels considered, regional TB and P, and total (TB + P) lung deposition fractions are calculated. For all particle sizes (0.2-9.0 microns diameters) tested, total deposition in both morphologies was minimal for the 30-y old adult and maximal for either of the youngest subjects (7 and 22 mo old). A breakdown of total deposition into lung compartments was specifically addressed for one morphological model. Age-dependent deposition models are intended to aid in future extrapolation efforts to assess the threat to human health from airborne contaminants. PMID- 2606707 TI - H. M. Parker lecture. Communicating with the public about long-range storage of high-level radioactive waste. PMID- 2606708 TI - Comparative skeletal distribution of Am and Pu in man, monkey, and baboon. AB - The skeletal distribution of Am and Pu in four human cases was compared with the skeletal distributions of these radioelements in baboons and monkeys. Excellent agreement was noted among the four human cases; data were available for Am in all four and Pu in three. A statistically significant correlation was found between the 241Am and 239Pu + 240Pu skeletal distributions in the humans and those in nonhuman primates. Trabecular bone had the highest concentrations of 241Am and 239+240Pu in humans, baboons, and monkeys. Scaling factors are proposed to convert the percentages of skeletal activity in animal bones to the corresponding percentages in the bones of the human skeleton. PMID- 2606709 TI - Is the beagle dog an appropriate experimental animal for extrapolating data to humans on organ distribution patterns of U, Th, and Pu? AB - Concentrations and organ distribution patterns of alpha-emitting isotopes of U (238U and 234U), Th (232Th, 230Th, and 228Th), and Pu (239,240Pu) were determined for beagle dogs of our colony. The dogs were exposed to environmental levels of U and Th isotopes through ingestion (food and water) and inhalation to stimulate environmental exposures of the general human population. The organ distribution patterns of these radionuclides in beagles are compared to patterns in humans to determine if it is appropriate to extrapolate organ content data from beagles to humans. The results indicated that approximately 80% of the U and Th accumulated in bone in both species. The organ content percentages of these radionuclides in soft tissues such as liver, kidney, etc. of both species were comparable. The human lung contained higher percentages of U and Th than the beagle lung, perhaps because the longer life span of humans resulted in a longer exposure time. If the U and Th content of dog lung is normalized to an exposure time of 58 y and 63 y, median ages of the U and Th study populations, respectively, the lung content for both species is comparable. The organ content of 239,240Pu in humans and beagles differed slightly. In the beagle, the liver contained more than 60%, and the skeleton contained less than 40% of the Pu body content. In humans, the liver contained approximately 37%, and the skeleton contained approximately 58% of the body content. This difference may have been due to differences in the mode of intake of Pu in each species or to differences in the chemical form of Pu. In general, the results suggest that the beagle may be an appropriate experimental animal from which to extrapolate data to humans with reference to the percentage of U, Th, and Pu found in the organs. PMID- 2606710 TI - Estimation of human gonadal Pu and Ce concentrations from animal data. AB - Data were obtained from the literature for gonad and body weights and for the Pu or Ce content of the gonads and body at death for several laboratory animal species, five human Pu injection cases, and 731 human adults exposed environmentally to Pu in fallout. Data for Pu concentration in gonads, liver, and bone samples of 59 male and five female occupational Pu cases (including four completely analyzed whole bodies) were obtained from the U.S. Transuranium Registry. A logarithmic function was used to relate fractional Pu or Ce concentration in testes and ovaries to body weight of the animals and to predict fractional Pu or Ce concentrations in human gonads, [Pu]G . PuB-1 = aBWb, where [Pu]G or [Ce]G is the nuclide concentration in gonads (Bq g-1 of wet weight), PuB or CeB is the nuclide content of the body at death, and BW is body weight (kg). The fractional Pu and Ce concentrations in both the testes and ovaries are inverse and nearly linear functions of body weight. The regression lines of fractional Pu or Ce concentration in testes and ovaries have similar slopes (b = 1.07 +/- 0.14); however, the nuclide concentrations (coefficient a) in ovaries are six times greater than in testes. Extrapolation of the animal data yielded fractional Pu concentrations in human testes and ovaries that agree with those calculated for the occupational cases and those recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The good agreement between the fractional concentrations of Pu and Ce in the testes and in the ovaries suggests that these data can be substituted in metabolic models of chemically similar elements for which gonadal data are scarce. PMID- 2606711 TI - Experimental trials with Gd(DO3A)--a nonionic magnetic resonance contrast agent. AB - Gd(DO3A), a member of a new family of nonionic MRI contrast agents, was evaluated in vivo in a rat model. In 10 animals, enhancement of an intracerebral glioma was studied following Gd(DO3A) injection. Correlation with tissue pathology was obtained in all cases. Comparative studies of renal enhancement were performed in 15 animals, utilizing disodium Gd(DTPA)2-, sodium-Gd(DOTA)-, and Gd(DO3A). With the glioma model, Gd(DO3A) administration provided enhancement of tissue with an altered blood brain barrier, thus permitting identification of the bulk of the neoplastic lesion. Comparative studies revealed that enhancement of normal renal medulla was equal or superior with Gd(DO3A). PMID- 2606712 TI - Biodistribution, dosimetry, metabolism and monkey PET studies of [18F]GBR 13119. Imaging the dopamine uptake system in vivo. AB - The in vivo characteristics of a new radiotracer, [18F]GBR 13119, have been examined. Full body biodistribution in rats has been determined and the expected human dosimetry calculated. Pharmacological specificity of in vivo regional brain distribution in rats was examined. Blockage of specific binding was accomplished by dopamine reuptake inhibitors but no effect was observed for pretreatment with serotonin or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Preliminary examination of rat blood shows the presence of radiolabeled metabolites, which can be rapidly identified using bonded-phase (Sep-Pak) chromatography. Finally, the striatum of living primates has been imaged using PET and i.v. administration of [18F]GBR 13119. These results represent the intermediate steps in the development of [18F]GBR 13119 as a radiotracer for the study of the dopamine uptake system in man. PMID- 2606713 TI - Intensification of tumor affinity of 99mTc-DL-homocysteine by cooperative use of SH-containing compounds. AB - The enhancement of tumor-specific distribution was investigated on 99mTc-DL homocysteine (99mTc-Hcy), a possible tumor-imaging agent. In vitro HPLC analysis showed that 99mTc-Hcy did not bind to nonmercaptalbumin but to mercaptalbumin in blood. When glutathione, homocysteine or cysteine, which converts albumin from the mercapto- to nonmercapto-form, was intravenously injected into 99mTc-Hcy predosed mice bearing Ehrlich solid tumor, the SH-containing compounds did not affect the radioactivity distribution in tumor, but decreased that in blood to less than half that of untreated animals. In vitro gel filtration analysis showed that glutathione released 99mTc-Hcy from albumin. Free 99mTc-Hcy produced in blood by the treatment was rapidly excreted into urine. These results suggest that the combination of 99mTc-Hcy and SH-containing compounds is useful for tumor imaging. PMID- 2606714 TI - Effect of different linkages between chelates and monoclonal antibodies on levels of radioactivity in the liver. AB - After injection of radiometal labeled antibodies, the radionuclide accumulates in the liver. This might be altered by a metabolizable linkage between metal chelate and antibody. Four benzyl-EDTA chelating agents were synthesized and conjugated to mouse monoclonal antibody Lym-1. Liver uptake of 111In in nontumored mice 72 h after injection was 2.2, 13.4, 7.6 and 20% for disulfide, thioether, thiourea or peptide linkages, respectively. 111In excreted in the urine was still in the benzyl-EDTA chelate form, as shown by binding to a specific anti-chelate antibody. PMID- 2606715 TI - Simultaneous production of antibodies against T3 and T4 in a single animal; their characteristics and usefulness in radioimmunoassay. AB - Simultaneous production of antibodies against triiodothyronine and thyroxine was attempted in a single rabbit by immunizing the animal with T3-albumin conjugate and T4-albumin conjugate at the same time. This resulted in the production of antibodies against both T3 and T4. The characteristics of each antibody were studied and the antiserum was used for determination of serum T3 and T4 concentrations by radioimmunoassay. The results were compared with those obtained with antibodies against T3 and T4 which were produced individually in different rabbits and were found to be more or less similar. From the results of the experiments, it appears that it is possible to make antibodies against T3 and T4 simultaneously in a single rabbit. PMID- 2606717 TI - In vivo diagnosis and therapy of human tumors with monoclonal antibodies. Part II. Proceedings of a symposium. Naples, Italy, 16-19 March 1988. PMID- 2606716 TI - Potential tumor or organ imaging agents--31. Radioiodinated sterol benzoates and carbamates. AB - A series of radioiodinated benzoate and carbamate esters of cholesterol and pregnenolone wherein the acyl moiety served as the carrier for radioiodine was synthesized and evaluated as potential imaging agents for the adrenal cortex. 2,6 Dimethyl-3-iodobenzoyl and N-(4-iodophenyl) carbamoyl groups were chosen as the acyl functionality in an attempt to provide esters resistant to in vivo hydrolysis. Tissue disposition studies in rats revealed that their biodistribution was determined by the attached sterol carrier-the cholesterol esters demonstrated significant uptake at 24 h in the adrenal whereas the corresponding pregnenolone derivatives showed only slight affinity for steroid secreting tissues at this time. PMID- 2606718 TI - Therapy of metastatic malignant melanoma using Xomazyme Mel, a murine monoclonal anti-melanoma ricin A chain immunotoxin. PMID- 2606719 TI - Evaluation of the suitability of a monoclonal antibody raised against human ovarian carcinoma for therapeutic approaches. PMID- 2606720 TI - Myocardial necrosis imaging by 111In monoclonal antimyosin Fab. PMID- 2606721 TI - Locoregional immunotherapy of human ovarian cancer: preliminary results. AB - Ten patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma (5 in FIGO stage III and 5 in stage IV), following the failure of repeated chemotherapy courses, were submitted to i.p. radioimmunotherapy (RIT). Several antibodies (HMFG1, HMFG2, H17E2, B72.3) were employed. The antibody choice was made on the basis both of immunohistochemistry and immunoscintigraphy results. The mean dose administered in each single course was 17 mg, 3 patients underwent two treatments and 2 patients were injected three times. The isotope employed was 131I (mean dose 92 mCi). The early or late untoward effects were negligible. All patients developed anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) which reduced, during the further RIT, the MoAbs' effective half-life. The estimated radiation dose delivered to the tumour ranged from 2910 to 11,000 cGy. Both wholebody and liver radiation burden resulted in tolerable limits while the thyroid irradiation was high. In 3 patients the RIT result was ineffective; in 2 cases a temporary ascitis staunch was obtained. In 2 cases the tumour growth was slower than expected and in 3 patients instrumental evidence of partial tumour reduction, still lasting after 4-11 months, was observed. PMID- 2606722 TI - Progress in the treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphomas with radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies. PMID- 2606723 TI - Hb Chad or alpha 223(B4)Glu----Lys beta 2 observed in members of a Surinam family in association with alpha-thalassemia-2 and with Hb S. AB - Three different hemoglobinopathies, i.e. Hb S, Hb Chad [alpha 23 (B4)Glu----Lys], and alpha-thalassemia-2 (-3.7) have been observed in eight members of a family from Surinam. The proposita had all three abnormalities, while her mother and four of her half-brothers had Hb Chad together with an alpha-thalassemia-2 heterozygosity or homozygosity. Gene mapping and dot-blot analysis of amplified DNA identified a G----A mutation in codon 23 of the alpha 2 alpha 1 hybrid gene resulting in the Glu----Lys substitution. The quantity of the alpha-Chad chain averaged 31.5% in its carriers with an additional alpha-thalassemia-2 heterozygosity [-alpha Chad(-3.7 kb)/alpha alpha], and 43% in the two carriers with an additional alpha-thalassemia-2 homozygosity [-alpha Chad (-3.7 kb)/-alpha (3.7 kb)]. These quantities are considerably higher than those reported for families from Chad, China, and Japan; the low levels of 14.5-24% Hb Chad in members of previously reported cases suggest a mutation on a chromosome with two alpha-globin genes [alpha alpha Chad/alpha alpha or alpha Chad alpha/alpha alpha]. PMID- 2606724 TI - Hb Evans or alpha 262(E11)Val----Met beta 2; an unstable hemoglobin causing a mild hemolytic anemia. AB - Structural analysis of the alpha chain of the hemoglobin from a Caucasian female with a mild hemolytic anemia showed the presence of a variant with a Val----Met substitution at position alpha 62. The valine at this position forms one of the contacts with heme and its replacement by methionine will likely decrease heme binding and cause a distortion of the heme crevice and a decreased stability of the abnormal protein. Dot-blot analysis of amplified DNA with 32P-labeled synthetic oligonucleotide probes confirmed the suspected G----A mutation in the first position of codon 62, and also located the mutation in the alpha 2-globin gene. The mutation was found in the proposita and one of her daughters but was most probably absent in her parents. PMID- 2606725 TI - Inhibition of oxygen-linked anion binding in Hb Camperdown [alpha 2 beta 2(104)(G6)Arg----Ser]. AB - Oxygen equilibrium studies of purified Hb Camperdown [beta 104(G6) Arg----Ser] have revealed an increased oxygen affinity at acid pH, while it is decreased for pH values above 7.4. This accounts for an almost 40% reduction in the alkaline Bohr effect. The effects of chloride and organophosphate effectors on the oxygen affinity of Hb Camperdown are inhibited by 40-50%. In chloride-free Hepes buffer, Hb Camperdown exhibits a lower oxygen affinity than normal Hb A. The present results confirm the important role of the positively charged residues lining the beta 1 beta 2 interface in regulating the functional properties of hemoglobin. PMID- 2606726 TI - Studies of beta-thalassemia mutations in families living in three provinces in southern China. AB - beta-Thalassemia is a common disease in Southern China and 10 different mutations or frameshifts are responsible for most types of beta-thalassemia in this area. We studied 126 chromosomes of 80 beta-thalassemia patients from the Guangxi, Guangdong, and Sichuan Provinces using the polymerase chain reaction followed by dot-blot hybridization with specific oligonucleotide probes. The most common mutation in the three provinces is the frameshift at codons 41-42, followed by the A----T mutation at codon 17. The A----G mutation at nt -29 of the promoter is common in Sichuan but not in the other two provinces. Three mutations (T----C at nt -30; G----T at IVS-I-1, and G----C at IVS-I-5) were not observed. These data were used to initiate a prenatal diagnosis program using the same techniques for identification. Eleven fetuses at risk for beta-thalassemia have been diagnosed. PMID- 2606727 TI - Frameshift codon 5 [Fsc-5 (-CT)] thalassemia; a novel mutation detected in a Greek patient. AB - Sequence analysis and dot-blot hybridization of DNA from a Greek patient with a transfusion dependent thalassemia revealed the combination of a beta IVS-I-1 G--- A mutation (beta(0) -thalassemia) and a hitherto undescribed frameshift mutation; the latter concerns the absence of a CT dinucleotide from codon 5 and results in a termination signal at the new codon 21 (also a beta (0)-thalassemia). PMID- 2606728 TI - Cytosine arabinoside plus hemin treatment of a human erythroid cell line, KMOE, strongly induces embryonic, fetal, and adult beta-like globin genes. AB - A variety of regimens were utilized on KMOE cells to maximally raise globin mRNA levels for the purpose of improving the usefullness of this line for globin gene studies. Steady-state mRNA levels of embryonic (epsilon), fetal (gamma) and adult (beta) globin genes were assayed by the S1-nuclease protection method before and after exposure to inducing compounds. Exposure of KMOE cells to cytosine arabinoside and hemin leads to over 20-fold increases in beta- and gamma-globin mRNA steady-state levels, and an over 60-fold increase in epsilon-globin mRNA level. Exposure to cytosine arabinoside alone induced beta- and epsilon-globin but not gamma-globin gene expression. The alpha-like globin genes (zeta and alpha) were also monitored but found to be poorly expressed and not significantly inducible. The presence of epsilon-globin mRNA and the lack of alpha-globin mRNA distinguishes this line, KMOE-EL, from the KMOE sublines previously described. PMID- 2606729 TI - A further case of beta-thalassemia with an homozygous T----C substitution at the donor splice site of the first intervening sequence of the beta-globin gene. PMID- 2606730 TI - Hypoglycemia after administration of somatostatin analog (SMS 201-995) in metastatic carcinoid. AB - SMS 201-995 (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, NJ) is a synthetic peptide analog of native somatostatin that has been used to relieve symptoms caused by neuroendocrine tumors. Reports have described an insulin suppressive effect of SMS 201-995 that results in elevations of blood glucose. We report a patient with a metastatic small bowel carcinoid and renal failure in whom mild symptomatic hypoglycemia occurred 30 to 60 minutes after SMS 201-995 administration. No increase in insulin or decreases in glucagon, cortisol, or catecholamines were observed during these hypoglycemic episodes. Elevated levels of growth hormone fell gradually following SMS 201-995 administration and did not temporally correspond to the 30- to 60-minute nadir of blood glucose. However, SMS 201-995 levels peaked during this 30- to 60-minute period. As clinical experience with this drug broadens, patients whose glucose control is dependent on counter regulatory hormones should be monitored for the possibility of hypoglycemia. PMID- 2606731 TI - Clinical and laboratory features of small left atrial myxomas. PMID- 2606732 TI - A suggested new approach to supraventricular tachydysrhythmia after coronary bypass surgery. PMID- 2606733 TI - Ulceroglandular tularemia: a typical case of relapse. AB - Tularemia is an infectious disease that continues to occur sporadically and in epidemics in the United States. It is characterized as an acute febrile illness with constitutional symptoms associated with skin, glandular, respiratory, or gastrointestinal involvement. Tularemia usually can be treated effectively with streptomycin. Relapse most often occurs when patients are treated with bacteriostatic agents such as chloramphenicol or tetracycline. We present a case of ulceroglandular tularemia distinguished by its relapse after initial streptomycin/doxycycline therapy and subsequent slow response to additional streptomycin. PMID- 2606734 TI - Recurrent leukemia cutis in acute myeloblastic leukemia. AB - We report the case of a 64-year-old female with acute myeloblastic leukemia (French-American-British classification: M2) who developed two specific cutaneous manifestations during her illness. She presented with extensive cellulitis involving the face, neck, and upper chest wall. While the cellulitis resolved with antibiotic therapy, a fungating ulcerated nodule remained on the lower lip which proved to be leukemic on biopsy. Concomitant blood and bone marrow findings were diagnostic of acute myeloblastic leukemia. The lip lesion cleared with a course of chemotherapy. An erythematous macular rash subsequently developed over the lower trunk which was thought to be an allergic reaction to the penicillin treatment. However, biopsy results were consistent with leukemia cutis. A repeat bone marrow examination revealed excessive blasts. Our observations emphasize the various presentations of leukemia cutis and the need to biopsy any cutaneous lesion of unclear etiology in the setting of acute leukemia. PMID- 2606735 TI - Orf: a case report. AB - Ecthyma contagiosum (orf), a viral disease endemic to sheep and goats, can be zoonotically transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals. While the disease is common among sheep and goat herders worldwide, it comes to medical attention infrequently since it is generally a mild self-limited illness. We recently treated a healthy 36-year-old female who presented with bullous lesions on her fingers and a diffuse macular rash which had developed after antibiotic therapy for her bullae. She had been caring for her neighbor's goats which had recently been ill with "sore mouth." We discuss this case of orf and review the medical literature on this self-limited illness uncommon to the midwestern United States. PMID- 2606736 TI - Improvement in left ventricular systolic function after pericardiocentesis. PMID- 2606737 TI - Osteoporosis as a community health problem: lessons learned from studying hypertension. PMID- 2606738 TI - [Prognosis relevant pathohistologic classification of cervical lymph node metastases (pN) of laryngeal cancer]. AB - A total of 4665 neck lymph nodes from 151 patients with laryngeal cancer treated with primary surgery (laryngectomy plus conservative or radical neck dissection) were examined histologically. In all, 330 lymph node metastases were found and they were classified by size, number, site in the neck, and extranodal disease. These parameters were correlated with survival rates. The present UICC classification system for N/pN is discussed critically, and a pN classification is proposed that is relevant to both histopathology and prognosis. PMID- 2606739 TI - [Multicentric cancer spread in the mouth cavity and oropharynx]. AB - The clinical entity of multicentric cancerisation comprises multiple carcinomas arising from different anatomical sites and widespread carcinomas of multicentric origin. Over a period of 12 years multicentric cancerisation was diagnosed in 42 out of 150 patients (28%) with primary tumours of the oral cavity or the oropharynx. Patients with multicentric cancerisation are younger at the time of diagnosis of their first primary tumour, and their survival rates are worse compared with patients with only primary tumour. We conclude from our results that a routine panendoscopy should be performed in every patient presenting with a carcinoma of the oral cavity or the oropharynx to rule out a synchronous second primary tumour. Furthermore, these patients should be encouraged to stop smoking, to stop drinking spirits and to undergo regular follow-up examination. PMID- 2606740 TI - [Pathogenesis and clinical aspects of Reinke edema. Long-term studies]. AB - Since 1973, 307 patients have been treated for Reinke's oedema in the ENT Department of the University of Marburg. A retrospective study from 1983 and observations up to 1989 investigated the aetiology and the prognosis of the disease. Two aetiological factors were found: smoking and voice abuse. Surgical treatment, stripping of the vocal cords as described by Kleinsasser was successful. There were no recurrences and no malignant degenerations. The prognosis was considered to be good. Two other long-term studies of Reinke's oedema are compared with our findings. Controversial opinions about the therapy are discussed. PMID- 2606741 TI - [Orthopantomography and its significance for the otorhinolaryngologist]. AB - Orthopantomography, i.e. a single radiograph producing a panorama-like view of the entire jaw, was originally developed for the diagnosis of dental diseases. Further developments have made this technique useful for routine ENT examination also. The main indications for orthopantomography in otorhinolaryngology are: diseases of the maxillary sinus (especially of the basal parts), fractures of the jaws, sialolithiasis, tumours of the oral cavity invading the jaw, osseous tumours and facial anomalies. PMID- 2606742 TI - [Borderline cases of sudden deafness and so-called vestibular dysfunction]. AB - Forty-seven patients (31 male, 16 female) have been treated at the ENT University Clinic of Marburg during the last 13 years for sudden sensorineural hearing loss combined with disorders of equilibrium. The epidemiological data, history, audiological and electronystagmographic findings of those patients with cochleovestibular lesions are reported. The results of follow-up examination are compared with those of the patients who suffered from sudden deafness and vestibular neuronitis. In patients with combined lesions, special attention was paid to any correlation between the hearing loss and the dysequilibrium, on the one hand, and the restitution of both functions, on the other. We discuss how these patients with cochleovestibular lesions may be distinguished from those with Meniere's disease. PMID- 2606743 TI - [How frequent are pathologic ENT findings in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome?]. AB - Several studies have been reported suggesting a relationship between pharyngeal obstruction due to ENT pathology and the sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). To determine the incidence of pathological ENT findings that may present symptoms similar to SAS, we performed ENT examination, fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy, rhinomanometry and partial audiometry and electronystagmography in 431 patients who had undergone polysomnography for clinically suspected SAS. 336 patients were referred for ENT examination; 95 patients had some kind of ENT disease and therapy before polysomnography. In the first group 31% showed one or more pathological ENT finding (ears 9%, nasopharynx 2%, nose 19%, oropharynx 5%, larynx 5%, neck 1%); 10.5% had pathology in two regions and 0.7% in three regions. An ENT operation was indicated in 23%, usually for nasal obstruction. ENT findings included chronic otitis media, adenoids, enlargement of lingual tonsil and vocal cord pathology, but no patient had a malignant tumor or severe pharyngeal obstruction. We conclude that severe anatomical abnormalities or dysplastic syndromes are rare; only 2 SAS patients had acromegaly due to hypophyseal adenoma and 1 patient without SAS had craniofacial dysplasia. However, ENT examination frequently revealed severe nasal obstruction due to septal deviation, polyposis or adenoids. These findings emphasize the need for ENT examination and therapy before application of CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) therapy. PMID- 2606744 TI - [Comment on the contribution: The correlation of external magnetic fields and metallic middle ear implants by A. Schadel and R. Kramer in HNO (1989) 37:315 319]. PMID- 2606745 TI - HLA-DP typing by DNA amplification and hybridization with specific oligonucleotides. AB - HLA-DP genotyping was performed using dot-blot analysis with synthetic oligonucleotide probes. Fourteen probes were designed based on the known sequence variations in the polymorphic segments of the DP beta second exon. Each probe was tested against genomic DNA amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, using DP beta-specific primers. A total of 45 HLA homozygous B-cell lines, selected from the Tenth International Histocompatability Workshop and pretyped for the known DP omega specificities, were analyzed. Different hybridization patterns were found for each DP omega specificity. The oligonucleotide hybridization performed on DP omega-negative B-cell lines gave a pattern distinct from those of known DP omega specificities, indicating the presence of novel DP allelic sequences. The use of sequence-specific oligonucleotides combined with DNA amplification allows a simple and reliable genotyping of DP antigens. PMID- 2606746 TI - The amino acid at position 57 of the HLA-DQ beta chain and susceptibility to develop insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. AB - In Caucasoids HLA-DQB1 genes encoding amino acids other than aspartic acid at position 57 of the DQ beta chain (non-Asp-57) are associated with susceptibility to develop insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), while resistance is associated with aspartic acid at this residue (Asp-57). Following amplification of genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction, the DQB1 alleles of 87 random Norwegian IDDM patients and 187 healthy controls were investigated with 11 different sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes. Of these patients 82% carried DQB1 alleles encoding non-Asp-57 at both of their DQ beta chains, compared to 27% of the controls (relative risk = 12.2, p less than 0.0001). Sixteen percent of the patients (versus 51% of the controls) were heterozygous Asp-57/non-Asp-57. Two percent of the patients (22% of the controls) were apparently Asp-57 homozygous. The results demonstrate that non-Asp-57 DQ beta chains are associated with susceptibility to develop IDDM but also indicate that the protection associated with DQ beta Asp-57 may not be as dominant as reported by others. PMID- 2606747 TI - Justified paternalism in adolescent health care. Cases of anorexia nervosa and substance abuse. AB - This essay on the limits of adolescent autonomy espouses justified paternalism in adolescent medicine as a 1980s alternative to the "antipaternalistic" rights position of the 1970s. Thus, it proposes that the harm principle be a basis for justified limitations of liberty. In turn, justified paternalism should be both testable and severely limited because by definition it always involves treating someone in a way that violates a moral rule (e.g., coercive deprivation of freedom, invasion of privacy). Therefore, paternalism can only be justified when the evil prevented from occurring to the person is greater than the wrong caused by the violation of the moral rule and, more importantly, if it can be universally justified under relevantly similar circumstances always to treat persons in this way. PMID- 2606748 TI - Sterilization for the mentally retarded adolescent. Balancing the equities/the Cincinnati experience. PMID- 2606749 TI - Immunodeficiency virus infection, adolescents, and the Institutional Review Board. PMID- 2606750 TI - School-based clinic use and other factors affecting adolescent contraceptive behavior. AB - Adolescent risk taking, preventive behavior, and contraceptive use were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire in a sample of 260 inner city high school students targeted by a school-based health clinic. Multivariate models consisting of individual and environmental variables significantly predicted sexual activity and contraceptive use. Older age at first intercourse, higher number of welfare benefits received by the household (including Medicaid, food stamps, and free or reduced price lunch), and use of the school-based clinic were significant positive predictors of more frequent contraceptive use by adolescents. Results of our study suggest that programs may be having some success in encouraging and enabling sexually active adolescents to use contraception and to use it more consistently. Rigorous program evaluations should help program planners and policy makers design and refine adolescent pregnancy-prevention efforts. PMID- 2606751 TI - Impact of asthma self-management education on the health behavior of young adults. A pilot study of the Dartmouth College "Breathe Free" program. AB - This paper examines the relationship between asthma self-management education, medical management of asthma, psychosocial aspects of chronic illness, and behavior modification strategies (including self observation, decision-making and asthma-attack response) among college-age students with a clinical history of asthma problems. The results of a pilot study indicate that after students participated in the innovative "Breathe Free" workshop at Dartmouth College, use of the college health service for acute asthma care decreased. These students also demonstrated increased knowledge about asthma and increased satisfaction with activity level and perceived asthma control. Chart reviews completed four years after the workshop indicate improved compliance with asthma treatment recommendations, as well as increased use of early intervention strategies. PMID- 2606752 TI - Risk of contraceptive discontinuation among adolescents. AB - This prospective study assesses a sample of adolescent oral contraceptive users for correlates of continued use of birth control. Data were collected by interview at both an initial family planning clinic visit and 3 months later. Half of the sample did not return to the clinic for follow-up. Among those contacted by phone, all had discontinued the use of a contraceptive, and 69% were at risk for an unintended pregnancy. Least likely to continue to use the pill were adolescents who perceived substantial health-related problems associated with oral contraceptive use, felt their own risk of pregnancy was less than that of other teenagers, and had poor problem-solving skills. Among the most common problems experienced were the side effects associated with oral contraceptive use and difficulty remembering to take a pill every day. Suggested interventions aimed at supporting continued and effective use of birth control are provided. PMID- 2606753 TI - Victims of gun shootings. A retrospective study of 36 spinal cord injured adolescents. AB - Interpersonal violence with a handgun is the primary cause of spinal cord injuries (SCI) among teenagers in the population served by the Southeastern Michigan Spinal Cord Injury System (SEMSCIS). As part of a community-wide effort to reduce the injury and death rate from acts of violence, SEMSCIS selected the victim, rather than the perpetrator or the sociocultural environment, as its segment of a prevention program. A retrospective study of demographic data, causal statements, medical information from the medical records of 36 injured adolescents, and telephone conversations with the victims identified "risk taking" as the pre-event behavior that had made them vulnerable to violence. This study led to the production of a powerful video, "Wasted Dreams," in which disabled teenagers tell their peers about their injury and how to avoid becoming a victim. PMID- 2606754 TI - A comparative study of plans for infant care made by adolescent and adult mothers. AB - This study evaluated the choices of primiparous adolescent and adult mothers about whom they believe will care for their infant after they go home from the hospital. The responses of 70 younger adolescents (age 14-17 years) and 37 older adolescents (age 18-19 years) were compared with 80 adult (age 20-25 years) primiparas regarding their plans for school or work, type of child care arrangements planned, and the father's anticipated involvement in the care of the baby. There were no statistical differences among our three age groups. The results show that first-time mothers in all three age groups more often expect themselves to be the primary care giver for their infant, all age groups expected their mother to help most when they lived with her, and about three quarters of each age group expect the husband/baby's father to help in some way. PMID- 2606755 TI - Postdischarge therapy of hospitalized adolescent suicide attempters. AB - To assess the effect of discharge planning on posthospitalization therapy, the admitting physicians of all youths hospitalized for a suicide attempt were contacted by questionnaire or phone. Of the 80 attempters admitted during the 42 month study period, adequate information was available on 65 (81%). At discharge, 47 patients had discharge plans in the hospital record; of these, 18 (38%) received posthospitalization care. Nineteen patients had no discharge plans, and only one (6%) received therapy. No other differences were found between those patients receiving care and those not receiving care when gender, age, method of attempt, history of prior attempt(s), and length of hospital stay were examined. Effective discharge planning may have a major impact on posthospitalization therapy for adolescent suicide attempters. PMID- 2606756 TI - Why teenagers put rocks in their ears. Hidden drugs and confidentiality. AB - Just before and during the arrest procedure, juveniles may hide drugs within the body, an act called "body stuffing." The type and quantity of drug, its container, and the hiding place modify the potential toxicity of the contraband drug. The discovery of drug contraband by medical personnel raises an ethical issue regarding confidentiality. Responsibility for prison security rests primarily with the correctional staff, not with the medical staff. The need for trust between the physician and the adolescent in the detention setting is important. Appropriate medical and psychologic intervention can only be instituted if the detainee trusts and cooperates with the physician. PMID- 2606757 TI - Hematospermia in an adolescent. AB - Hematospermia is an infrequent condition in adolescence. This report presents a case of hematospermia in an 15-year-old male adolescent. A relationship is postulated between hematospermia and some vascular phenomena accompanying the pubertal reproductive development. PMID- 2606758 TI - Relapsing polychondritis in an adolescent. AB - Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is an uncommon systemic disorder with a highly variable course. A 17-year-old woman recently presented with a 1-month history of depression, weight loss, chest wall tenderness, hoarseness, and dysphagia. Physical examination revealed cachexia, low-grade fever, pharyngeal erythema, and tenderness of the right auricle, anterior chest, cricothyroid cartilage, and both knees. Laboratory studies included a hematocrit of 34% and a sedimentation rate of 50 mm/hr. Initial improvement on oral corticosteroids was followed by respiratory distress. At that time calcified tracheal cartilage, subglottic stricture, and a saddle nose deformity were present. Despite therapy with steroids, dapsone, and pulse cyclophosphamide, the respiratory distress reoccurred, eventually necessitating tracheostomy. Tracheal cartilage biopsy confirmed the presumptive diagnosis of RP. Bilateral auricular chondritis developed after initial presentation, as did acute vertigo. Although seen in all age groups, less than 10% of cases of RP are seen in children and adolescents. Auricular chondritis (89% of all cases), inflammatory asymetric arthritis (81% of all cases), nasal chondritis (72% of all cases), respiratory tract chondritis (56% of all cases), and audiovestibular abnormalities (46% of all cases) were present in our patient. Relapsing polychondritis may follow a slowly evolving or rapidly progressive course. Appropriate diagnosis and aggressive therapy are recommended to lessen the morbidity and mortality. PMID- 2606759 TI - Hematospermia in the adolescent. AB - Hematospermia can occur in adolescents. Most primary care providers are unfamiliar with this condition, etiology, and management. It is a source of severe anxiety for the patient, despite its usual benign nature and spontaneous resolution. PMID- 2606760 TI - The tall athlete and Marfan syndrome. Need for clinical differentiation. AB - A 14-year-old female athlete was referred because of her height, thinness, and long fingers. Investigation suggested that she did not have Marfan syndrome, but rather mitral valve prolapse. This case presentation demonstrates some of the difficult issues faced in sports medicine when dealing with athletes suspected of the Marfan syndrome or mitral valve prolapse. PMID- 2606761 TI - Abnormal vaginal bleeding secondary to iron deficiency in a thirteen year old. AB - Abnormal vaginal bleeding in perimenarchal females is usually attributed to immaturity of the hypothalmic/pituitary/gonadal axis (i.e., dysfunctional uterine bleeding). Iron deficiency as a cause for abnormal bleeding has been described, but is poorly understood. This case report describes a 13-year-old Hispanic female with iron deficiency anemia as a presumptive cause for two episodes of abnormal vaginal bleeding. Anemia may be a cause as well as an effect of menorrhagia in young teenagers. Work-up should include evaluation of tissue iron stores if other etiologies for abnormal bleeding are not found. PMID- 2606762 TI - Fatal Pneumocystis carinii in an adolescent with systemic lupus erythematosus. AB - We report the case of a 16-year-old female who developed pulmonary infection due to Pneumocystis carinii within 3 months of the clinical diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Steroid therapy doses never exceeded Prednisone 40 mg/day, and no cytotoxic drugs were used. The case presents several unique aspects of importance to clinicians caring for adolescents with SLE. PMID- 2606763 TI - Looking for an academic job in adolescent medicine. A personal odyssey. PMID- 2606764 TI - Condom machines on college campuses. PMID- 2606765 TI - Granulopoiesis in tadpoles of Rana esculenta. Ultrastructural observations on the morphology and development of heterophil and basophil granules. AB - The morphology and development of heterophil and basophil granules from the trunk kidneys of Rana esculenta tadpoles were studied at the electron microscopic level. Cells of the heterophils series contain granules displaying either spheroid profiles with homogeneous content (Type A), or elongate profiles with a crystalloid interior (Type B). Type A granules apparently originate directly from Golgi-derived vesicles, which, gaining slightly in size and density, transform into the mature granules. Type B granules could be traced back to vacuolate structures showing an irregular content. Their development could be traced through increasingly elongated forms with the appearance of a characteristic crystalloid core. Fully developed basophil granules are considerably larger in size than heterophil granules and contain heterogeneous interna showing a central cortical organisation: a finely stippled medullary zone of varying density is surrounded by a sickle-shaped and lamellate cortex (Type L), or a moderately dense and uniformly stippled medulla is enclosed by two diametrically opposed, cap-shaped, filamentous regions (Type F). The heterophil and basophil granules are compared to those in other vertebrates and possible phylogenetic aspects are discussed. PMID- 2606766 TI - The larynx of roaring and non-roaring cats. AB - Dissections were made of the larynges of 14 species of the cat family, with representative specimens from all genera. It was found that the vocal folds of the larynx of genus Panthera (with the exception of the snow leopard) form the basic structure of a sound generator well-designed to produce a high acoustical energy. Combined with an efficient sound radiator (vocal tract) that can be adjusted in length, a Panthera can use its vocal instrument literally to blow its own horn with a 'roar'. Also, it is proposed that laryngeal morphology can be used as an anatomical character in mammalian taxonomy. PMID- 2606767 TI - A method for studying rat embryonic metabolism by microcannulation of the vitelline circulation. AB - A novel technique which involves the cannulation of the vitelline vessels of the 11.5 days rat embryo is described; this has allowed the introduction of both macromolecular and particulate substances directly into the embryo, thus bypassing the digestive and metabolic activity of the visceral yolk sac and facilitating the study of the fate of such substances within the embryo. The method does not affect the growth of the conceptus in vitro providing that inert solutions (e.g. azo blue dye in Hank's balanced salt solution) in volumes of less than 1.0 microliter are employed. When India ink is injected, the vitelline vessels and the intraembryonic vessels are seen to be extensively perfused. Approximately 80% of injected 125I-labelled polyvinylpyrrolidone is retained by the conceptus after injection, and it is distributed mainly in the embryo and exocoelomic cavity. PMID- 2606768 TI - Loss of neurons from the external cuneate nucleus of the ageing mouse brain. AB - The number of neurons in the ASH/TO mouse external cuneate nucleus was examined at 6, 15, 22, 25, 28 and 31 months of age. There is a highly significant decrease in the number of neurons between 6 and 31 months of age. Neuron loss begins at 15 months when degenerating neurons are first found in the nucleus and becomes more rapid with increasing age. It is suggested that neuronal loss is due to anterograde transneuronal degeneration following a loss of primary proprioceptive neurons, first from the spinal roots and later from the brainstem. PMID- 2606769 TI - Membrane segregation in atrioventricular nodal myocytes of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). A cytochemical study using filipin and tomatine. AB - The membrane systems of hamster general atrial and ventricular myocytes were studied and their reactivity with the sterol probes, filipin and tomatine, compared with that of atrioventricular nodal myocytes. The sarcolemma of atrial and atrioventricular nodal myocytes was considerably more reactive to sterol probes than the sarcolemma of general ventricular myocytes. Atrial myocyte sarcolemma was also more reactive than previously reported in rat atrial myocytes. Particle-free regions of annular nexuses were consistently unreactive with all combinations of sterol probes whereas much smaller particle-free regions of macular nexuses and desmosomes were reactive with the same probes. Intracellular membrane systems of all three types of cardiac myocyte reacted in a similar manner with sterol probes. These results indicate variation in comparable sarcolemma composition of cardiac myocytes between the rat and hamster and between cardiac regions within the same species. PMID- 2606770 TI - Cell proliferation in the olfactory bulb of adult freshwater teleosts. AB - The olfactory bulb of adult specimens of Carassius auratus was subjected to an autoradiographic study using [3H]thymidine. Adult specimens of Carassius auratus, Barbus meridionalis, Cyprinus carpio and Salmo gairdneri were also studied using light and electron microscopy. Cells were found undergoing mitotic division with two characteristic locations: a group can be seen near to the ventricle or ventricular recess; these cells can be identified as granule cells or precursors of granule cells. Other cells undergoing division are seen on the outer limiting glial membrane and in the olfactory nerve fibre layer; these cells are identified as astrocytes. Different hypotheses about the destination and meaning of these proliferating cells and the similarities and differences with the cell proliferation in adult higher vertebrates are discussed. PMID- 2606771 TI - A subepithelial elastic lamina in the palpebral conjunctiva of monkeys. AB - Eyelids from ten cynomolgus monkeys were sectioned in a variety of orientations and the conjunctival layer examined by light and electron microscopy. An elastic lamina composed of a mesh of mature elastic fibres was present in the palpebral conjunctival stroma adjacent to the epithelium covering the area of the tarsal plate and extending to the lid margin. Mesh fibres orientated at or close to right angles to the lid margin were thicker and denser than the transverse and oblique fibres linking them. The elastic lamina was most substantial in the marginal conjunctiva bridging the interval between the tarsal plate and the mucocutaneous junction where it terminated abruptly. In this position the area occupied by the elastic mesh exceeded that of the mesh spaces. Dense collagen bundles enclosed the lamina, infiltrating the mesh spaces and attaching the lamina firmly to the tarsal plate. In the marginal zone thick elastic fibres branched forward from the lamina in a brush-like fashion penetrating the relatively soft marginal eyelid tissue obliquely between tarsal gland ducts, while other finer, more numerous fibrils passed backwards attaching the lamina to the basement membrane of the epithelium. The organisation of the elastic lamina suggests that the tension generated would act to pull the lid margins towards the surface of the eye. Production of a regular thin tear film during lid retraction following a blink is facilitated by this action. PMID- 2606772 TI - The innervation of the adrenal gland. III. Vagal innervation. AB - Following the injection of 3-5 microliters of horseradish peroxidase or Fast Blue into the left adrenal medulla, labelling of neurons in the vagal sensory ganglia of rats and guinea-pigs has been demonstrated in all cases. Labelled vagal motor neurons with cell bodies in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagi have been demonstrated in all cases in the guinea-pig and occasionally in the rat. The possible reasons for this variation are discussed. In both rat and guinea-pig the motor and sensory vagal innervation of the rat adrenal is derived from bilaterally situated cell bodies and the proportion of innervation derived from the two sides is approximately equal but with a slight ipsilateral predominance. PMID- 2606773 TI - The behaviour of sensory ganglia in relation to their environment. AB - The nodose ganglion was removed from rats and transplanted into the denervated tongue and into the denervated or innervated sternocleidomastoid muscle. In another procedure the ganglion was sutured to the distal hypoglossal or sciatic nerve. The ganglia failed to develop motor end-plates on denervated muscle. They did, however, induce formation of taste buds on the lingual epithelium. The regenerated nerve fibres ramified extensively within the connective tissue, invading perivascular tissue and lingual epithelium. At a cellular level some ganglion cells were covered with a meshwork of axonal material while others were found outside the confines of the implanted ganglion. The latter cell group are thought to achieve their location by a process of migration. PMID- 2606774 TI - The vascular supply of the chondro-epiphyses of the elbow joint in young swine. AB - The vasculature of the elbow joint was examined in 39 pigs between one day and 15 weeks of age. Each pig was anaesthetised, exsanguinated and the thoracic limbs were perfused with India ink or a silicone rubber injection compound. The humerus, ulna and radius were dissected free, examined, fixed in formalin or ethyl alcohol, cleared by the modified Spalteholz technique and examined mesoscopically. Features of interest were photographed and then a limb from two pigs in each age group was cut into slabs and examined mesoscopically. The vascular supply of the distal part of the humerus was complex. It was supplied by vessels on both the cranial and caudal aspects and locally each aspect had a dual blood supply. Vessels anastomosed and on the cranial aspect formed a vascular ring. The proximal part of the ulna was supplied by vessels that were on its medial and lateral surfaces. The vessel on the lateral surface continued distally and supplied the lateral aspect of the proximal part of the radius. The proximal part of the radius was also supplied by arteries that were on the cranial and medial surfaces. Blood vessels provided branches to numerous cartilage canals of the articular-epiphyseal cartilage complexes, epiphyseal centres of ossification, and growth plates. The patterns of blood vessels in cartilage canals which were in sagittal or transverse planes were best exemplified by those in the distal part of the humerus. Perforating cartilage canals emerged from the epiphyseal centres of ossification. The pattern of cartilage canals was consistent in a general configuration, but individual variation did occur. Although cartilage canals were abundant in the youngest pigs, with increasing age the distribution of cartilage canals changed and the numbers of cartilage canals decreased. PMID- 2606775 TI - The medial papillary muscle complex and its related septomarginal trabeculation. A normal anatomical study on human hearts. AB - The morphology of the medial papillary muscle complex of the right ventricle was studied in 81 normal hearts from subjects ranging in age from 20 weeks of gestation to 13 months. The position of the main medial papillary muscle (of Lancisi) was differentiated in terms of a root and a belly. The anterior aspect of the root was found in a constant position at the basal bifurcation of the septomarginal trabeculation, whereas its belly showed considerable positional variation. Three groups of minor papillary muscles were identified and localised in specific areas in the base of the right ventricle. Taken overall, they formed part of the medial papillary complex. The complex itself was found to be constantly related to the antero-septal commissure of the tricuspid valve. A separate group of septal papillary muscles could be differentiated from the medial papillary complex. The anchorage of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve to the ventricular septum was also studied. The antero-superior and postero inferior portions of this leaflet were found to be supported by the medial and posterior papillary complexes, respectively. Its midportion was connected to the septal group of papillary muscles but much variability was evident. The portion of the septomarginal trabeculation supporting the medial papillary complex, namely the postero-basal division, was studied further. This showed considerable variability and did not form a continuous anatomical spectrum. PMID- 2606776 TI - Muscle fibre direction of longissimus, iliocostalis and multifidus: landmark derived reference lines. AB - Considerable inter-individual variations in the fibre direction angles of the iliocostalis lumborum, longissimus and multifidus were observed, thus bringing the applicability of a two dimensional fixed angle grid system for fibre direction determination into question. However, the angulation of the fibres of the multifidus and iliocostalis lumborum were found to be easily identifiable by the use of three surface anatomical landmarks: the caudal tip of the superior iliac spine, the lateral border of the iliocostalis at the twelfth rib and the L1 L2 interspinous space. No reliable index was found for the longissimus. Suggested electrode placement sites for the electromyographic study of the iliocostalis lumborum and the multifidus are at the levels of the L2-L3 and the L4-L5 interspinous spaces respectively. PMID- 2606777 TI - The shape and size of the human hyoid bone and a proposal for an alternative classification. AB - Human hyoid bones, according to the main characteristics of their shape, studied in 76 bones, may be classified into five types, in the following order of frequency:D-type 29%, B-type 26.5%, H-type 21%, U-type 18.5%, and V-type 5.0%. The frequency of the types is to a certain (but not statistically significant) degree sex-related. In 60% of the cases the shape of the hyoid bone does not belong to any of the shapes that are conventionally described. Almost half of the hyoid bones are asymmetric and/or anisometric. According to their width the hyoid bones may be designated as narrow (45%), intermediate (34%) and wide (21%). There is no standard correlation of the distance between the tubercles of the greater horns to the distance between the lesser horns in the same hyoid bone. On the contrary, with the exception of the horseshoe-shaped bones, the former distance almost coincides to the length of the major transverse axis of the same bone. The two dimensional size of the hyoid bone, which is of importance to the vital space of the superior opening of the lower respiratory tract, varies greatly, and to a certain degree it is related to the hyoid shape. PMID- 2606778 TI - Identification of lingual glands and ducts ventrally in pigs' tongues. AB - Hitherto unreported tubulo-acinar mucous lingual glands were located ventrally in the free tip of the tongue, just cranial to the attachment of the frenulum linguae in 186 of 400 (47%) of pigs' tongues. The glands were bilateral in 126 (32%) of the tongues. These glands emptied by several ducts onto the ventral surface of the tongue. PMID- 2606779 TI - Synapses of the inner plexiform layer of the area centralis of kitten retina during postnatal development: a quantitative study. AB - The frequency of occurrence of conventional synapses in the inner plexiform layer of the area centralis of the kitten retina remained invariant with postnatal age while that of bipolar cell ribbon synapses increased significantly. A significant increase also occurred in the ratio of bipolar cell ribbons to conventional synapses. The counts were made from large montages of electron micrographs in 17 kittens of ages ranging from newborn to 200 days and also in 3 adults. It was confirmed that the observed results were not attributable to an age-related change in the size or orientation of the profiles during postnatal development. The distribution of conventional synapses showed a peak in the middle stratum of the inner plexiform layer which remained invariant with development. By contrast, the distribution of bipolar cell ribbons changed during development, with new ribbons being added to the inner part of the inner plexiform layer. PMID- 2606780 TI - The effect of the gene undulated (un) on the shape of cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae in the house mouse (Mus musculus). AB - Videodigitised outlines of C6, C7, T1 and T2 vertebrae from 23 mice carrying the mutant gene undulated (un/un) and normal littermates (+/un) have been examined by Fourier analysis. There were large differences in shape between C6 vertebrae, smaller but significant differences in C7 and insignificant differences between T1s. The situation in T2 was complicated by the effects of the genetic background, but the effect of undulated was still significant. We conclude that the undulated gene shows significant pleiotropy in its effects even over this short length of the vertebral column. PMID- 2606781 TI - The relationship between age, size and shape of mouse thoracic vertebrae: a scanning electron microscopic study. AB - Scanning electron microscopic studies of replicas of the first and second thoracic vertebrae of mice aged 25-60 days allow us to differentiate areas of bone deposition and resorption, the sites of areas of calcified cartilage and the attachments of ligaments. The main site of resorption throughout the period is beneath the neural arch, with other local areas of resorption occurring around the developing vertebral processes. The spinous process increases in size over the period, especially in T2. Results obtained in this way correlate well with an earlier morphometric study of the same bones. PMID- 2606782 TI - The lung of the emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae: a microscopic and morphometric study. AB - Qualitative and quantitative characteristics suggest that the lung of the emu is poorly adapted for gas exchange when compared with that of other birds. The granular epithelial cells extend over the air capillaries, and the squamous epithelial cells have microvilli indicating a poor differentiation of the epithelium of the exchange tissue. The surface area of the blood-gas tissue barrier per unit body mass was only 5.4 cm2/g, the volume of the pulmonary capillary blood per unit body mass was only 0.93 cm3/kg, and the tissue barrier was unusually thick (0.232 micron). These parameters produce a relatively small total morphometric pulmonary diffusing capacity for oxygen of 0.014 ml O2/sec/mbar/kg. The findings conform to the evolution of a very large flightless bird in a warm environment lacking effective predators. PMID- 2606783 TI - The ultrastructure of bovine ileal follicle-associated epithelial (FAE) cells during the perinatal period. AB - The ileal follicle-associated epithelial (FAE) cells in bovine fetuses and neonates were examined by light and electron microscopy. In 7-9 months old fetuses (68, 82 and 86 cm CRL) the dome epithelium was usually a little thinner than elsewhere and contained more intra-epithelial leucocytes. FAE cells were already distinguishable by their being more cuboidal and eosinophilic than the other epithelial cells. The cytoplasm of the FAE cells bulged noticeably into the lumen and contained numerous mitochondria and vacuoles. At 18 hours and 21 hours after birth, the dome epithelium was more columnar and eosinophilic than previously and contained more intra-epithelial leucocytes. The FAE cells showed characteristic bulging of large cytoplasmic processes into the lumen, as seen in the previous stage. In the cytoplasm, moderate numbers of mitochondria, numerous vesicles and microtubules could be seen. Frequently degenerated FAE cells could also be found among normal FAE cells in the epithelium. After this stage the cytoplasmic processes almost disappeared but distribution of the other organelles was similar to that seen at the previous stage except that multivesicular bodies were frequently seen in the apical cytoplasm. These histological results suggest that bovine ileal FAE cells are histologically and functionally mature by birth and that at birth they seem to be able to react against the penetration of pathogenic substances from the extrauterine environment. PMID- 2606784 TI - Periosteal changes in mechanically stressed rat caudal vertebrae. AB - When a caudal vertebra is stressed by looping the tail, remodelling results with increased formation of bone on the inner (concave) side of the loop and decreased formation on the corresponding outer (convex) side. The initial morphological changes in periosteum under stress are examined by histology, autoradiography and transmission electron microscopy. Vessel damage appears minimal and thus seems unlikely to be a trigger for the remodelling process. On stress application the connective tissue relationships in the fibrous component of the periosteum are altered immediately but changes in the osteogenic layer are delayed. On the inner side, the midzone between the cellular periosteum and the fibrous periosteum becomes drawn out and enlarged, with reorientation of the cells perpendicular to the bone. This reflects the tension exerted on the bone surface through the elastic recoil of the fibrous periosteum. On the outer side, the midzone becomes narrowed as the taut fibrous periosteum exerts a compressive force on it. The midzone, which shows a delayed response and the greatest structural change with altered stress, may buffer the osteogenic layer and so play an important role in bone remodelling. The results have considerable bearing on the establishment of bone form during normal growth and development. PMID- 2606785 TI - Granulopoiesis in tadpoles of Rana esculenta. Ultrastructural observations on the developing granulocytes and on the development of eosinophil granules. AB - The morphology and development of the granules of developing eosinophils present in the trunk kidneys of Rana esculenta tadpoles has been studied at the ultrastructural level. During the differentiation of eosinophil granulocytes a single and morphologically unique population of cytoplasmic granules is present. Fully developed granules are spherical, membrane-limited, and have a dense and homogeneous content. Eosinophil granules have been traced back to Golgi-derived vacuoles which fuse and form immature granules containing a dense and knot-like precipitate. By condensation these immature granules transform into the definitive homogeneous forms. The eosinophil granules of Rana esculenta are compared to those in other vertebrates and possible phylogenetic aspects are discussed. PMID- 2606786 TI - An ultrastructural study of the stellate ganglion of the pig-tailed monkey (Macaca nemestrina). AB - The stellate ganglia of Macaca nemestrina were studied with the electron microscope, using the conventional and chromate-dichromate methods of aldehyde fixation. The principal neurons are multipolar and mostly mononucleated. They measure between 10 and 50 microns in their average somal diameters. The organelles of the perikaryon are arranged in perinuclear, intermediate and peripheral zones. Unusual organelles consisting of stacks of closely apposed paired membranes, with or without dense bodies studded on their surfaces, are encountered. Nuclear eccentricity is a regular feature of the neuron and the nuclear membrane shows a varying degree of invagination. All parts of the neurons are surrounded by satellite or Schwann cells though dendritic surfaces in direct contact with the basal lamina associated with the satellite cells are not uncommonly seen. Features peculiar to dendrites have been described. Structures resembling dendritic growth cones are present in abundance. Most synapses are axodendritic; axosomatic synapses are much less frequently encountered. While most synapses are of the simple type, complex types are also present. Desmosome like junctional complexes exist between dendrites, dendrites and somata and axons and dendrites. Differences between Schwann cells of myelinated axons and those of myelinated axons and satellite cells have been noted. In addition to an abundance of macrophages, other connective tissue cells such as mast cells, fibroblasts and plasma cells are also present. Degenerative profiles observed include neuronal cell bodies and cell processes, especially dendrites. They are phagocytosed by the satellite cells and macrophages. The presence of degenerative profiles, chromatolytic neurons and structures resembling dendritic growth cones in the normal stellate ganglion has been discussed. PMID- 2606787 TI - Interactions between jaw-muscle recruitment and jaw-joint forces in Canis familiaris. AB - Electromyographic activity from the jaw-adductor muscles was recorded during mastication and bone crushing in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). During mastication, balancing-side temporalis electromyographic activity was much less than that of the working side while masseter muscle electromyographic activities were of similar amplitude. Despite the large bite forces that were produced during bone crushing, balancing-side masseter and temporalis electromyographic activities were always smaller than the working-side electromyographic amplitudes. Based upon geometric modelling, it is proposed that balancing-side muscle activity is reduced because of its tendency to produce mechanically disadvantageous jaw-joint forces. This hypothesis was tested by correlating bone strain adjacent to the jaw joint measured during manipulations of the mandibular condyle with bone strain recorded during the simulation and stimulation of jaw adductor muscle activity. Working-side muscle activity produced bone strain that correlated with a compressive joint loading, while balancing-side muscle activity, with an occlusal fulcrum at the carnassial teeth, produced bone strain indicative of an anteroventral movement of the working-side mandibular condyle which eventually ruptured the joint capsule. When the temporalis and masseter muscles were stimulated bilaterally with a carnassial bite point, bone strain indicative of a ventrally directed and potentially damaging condylar movement was produced. It is proposed that working-side muscle activity exceeds balancing-side muscle activity during carnassial biting to maintain jaw-joint stability. PMID- 2606788 TI - Primordial germ cells and gonadal development in the golden hamster. AB - We present results of a light and electron microscopical study of the developing hamster gonad. Two main problems have been examined: the source of somatic cells contributed to the developing gonad and the possible presence of nuage in germ cells. Nuage has been previously reported in hamster oocytes at meiosis; its possible presence at earlier stages and in male germ cells, especially meiotic spermatocytes, was investigated. The mesonephros was found to be the major source of somatic cells to the developing gonad, though a contribution from the coelomic epithelium could not be excluded, and interstitial tissue appeared to arise from mesenchymal cells. The presence of nuage associated with nuclear pores and mitochondria in hamster oocytes from Day 15 p.c. onwards has been confirmed. New findings are the association of nuage with intercellular bridges and its presence at earlier stages, including Day 8 p.c., and in male germ cells especially at the time of the entry to meiosis. PMID- 2606789 TI - Ultrastructural observations on the caecum of the rabbit. AB - The caecal mucosa of the rabbit has been studied using transmission electron microscopy and its fine structure is considered in the light of its known secretory and absorptive capacities. The luminal surface consists of columnar absorptive epithelium while the crypts are lined with glandular epithelium comprising undifferentiated cells, goblet cells containing dark and light mucigenous granules, and intra-epithelial cells. Endocrine cells occur more commonly in the cryptal epithelium and two cell types have been recognised which correspond to EC and L cells respectively. The lamina propria includes lymphocytes, plasma cells, mast cell and smooth muscle cells. There is little ultrastructural variation within mucosal cells along the length of the caecum. PMID- 2606790 TI - The fine structure of initial mineralisation during tooth development in the gummy shark, Mustelus manazo, Elasmobranchia. AB - In the enameloid matrix a large number of tubular vesicles appeared around the odontoblast processes at the stage of enameloid matrix formation. The tubular vesicles were limited by unit membrane and the membrane often seemed to connect with that of the odontoblast processes. The tubular vesicles probably originated from the odontoblasts. Electron-dense granules were observed in the tubular vesicles before the appearance of crystals and then, in the stage of mineralisation, initial enameloid crystals appeared in each tubular vesicle. Parts of the odontoblast process surrounded small aggregations of tubular vesicles in the unmineralised dentine matrix. There were many multivesicular bodies and lysosomes in the odontoblasts forming the dentine. The odontoblasts probably absorb and break down the tubular vesicles after the beginning of dentinogenesis. Only in the predentine, during the enameloid maturation stage, did a few matrix vesicles appear, but no crystals were found in them. Hence, the initial mineralisation in tooth germs of the shark can be said to be different from that in teleosts. PMID- 2606791 TI - A microscopic study of the lung of Testudo graeca (Chelonia). AB - The lung of the tortoise, Testudo graeca (Chelonia) was studied by means of light and electron microscopy, histochemistry and immunocytochemistry. The lung showed the typical faviform structure of the reptilian lung. Three orders of trabeculae were observed. The epithelium of primary and secondary trabeculae was composed of ciliated, mucous, basal and endocrine cells. Mucous cells contained sialo- and sulpho-mucins and were reactive to the lectins Con-A, WGA, DBA, PNA and SBA. Endocrine cells were observed as solitary cells or forming neuroepithelial bodies. By means of immunocytochemistry, endocrine cells were demonstrated to contain serotonin. In the gas-exchange area Types I and II pneumonocytes and undifferentiated cells were observed. Free macrophages were detected in the faveolar lumen. The lung interstitium contained smooth muscle cells, fibrocytes, pigment cells, myelinated and unmyelinated nerves and intrapulmonary ganglia. Nerve terminals containing clear and dense-cored vesicles were observed in the adventitia of the blood vesicles and interspersed between the smooth muscle bands. The lung of the hibernating specimens showed a marked vacuolisation of pneumonocytes. In conclusion, the lung of Testudo graeca showed a complex histological organisation. Marked differences from mammalian lung were found. PMID- 2606792 TI - Neuroglial response to neuron injury. A study using intraneural injection of ricinus communis agglutinin-60. AB - The present study has shown the selective destruction of large ventral horn neurons in the lumbosacral cord segments following a single injection of RCA-60 into the sciatic nerve. The neurons appeared to undergo structural alteration beginning 3 days after the RCA application. In the postoperative period extending from 1 to 60 days, degeneration of neurons was progressive and irreversible and this elicited a rapid increase in the number of microglial cells. They were most numerous in the 7 days postoperative animals. The massive microglial cells penetrated the neuropil and appeared to strip off the axon terminals from the postsynaptic somata. Occasional axon terminals were phagocytosed by microglia. The numerous microglial cells often formed a multilayered 'barrier' encircling the somata of the RCA-poisoned neurons which eventually became totally disorganised. It is postulated that in the course of neuronal degeneration induced by RCA, microglial cells serve to prevent the leakage or diffusion of the toxic lectin from the neuronal somata into the neighbouring neuropil. They also function as scavenger cells in the removal of degenerating myelinated axons in the longer surviving rats. Oligodendrocytes do not appear to react actively to the degeneration process. However, astrocytes showed a significant increase in the 7 and 15 day postoperative rats and this coincided with the presence of mitotic astrocytes in the same period. PMID- 2606793 TI - An applied anatomical study of the ostia venae hepaticae and the retrohepatic segment of the inferior vena cava. AB - In sixty normal adult livers the retrohepatic segment of the inferior vena cava was found mostly to assume a curve to the left (75.00%). This segment has a length of 7.1 cm and is totally encircled by liver substance in 6.67% of cases. Altogether 492 ostia venae hepaticae were studied, averaging 8.2 per liver and classified as large, medium and small. The large ostia are divided into superior (SLO) and inferior (ILO) openings. The SLO are found opening into the upper end of the hepatic segment of the inferior vena cava, frequently with part of the venous walls exposed outside the liver. The ILO and medium ostia are present in 95% of the livers, appearing mainly on the lower quarter of the right half of the wall of the retrohepatic segment of the inferior vena cava as well as on the left anterior wall of that segment. The ILO may serve as the exit for several hepatic veins and they may be multiple. Their significance in respect of liver surgery is discussed. PMID- 2606794 TI - A study of the junction between the straight sinus and the great cerebral vein. AB - In the present study 20 human brains were used to verify the presence of a small body projecting into the floor of the straight sinus at its junction with the great cerebral vein. The elevation could be identified at the anterior end of the floor of the straight sinus with an empty cavity underlying it. Histologically, the elevation was found to consist of interwoven bundles of collagen fibres covered by vascular endothelium continuous with that of the straight sinus. The importance of such an elevation in the regulation of blood flow from the great cerebral vein to the straight sinus is discussed from a hydrodynamic point of view. PMID- 2606795 TI - The sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area in the human brain: a comparative morphometric study. AB - The sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) in the human hypothalamus is an ovoid, densely packed collection of large cells. The size, shape and cellular morphology of the SDN-POA was examined in relation to sex and age in adult human subjects. In this region the following parameters were measured: length of the rostrocaudal axis, maximum cross-sectional area, volume, numerical cell density, total number of cells, and the diameter of the cell nucleus. The SDN-POA was elongated in females and more spherical in males. The mean volume and total cell number were markedly sexually dimorphic: the volume of the SDN-POA was 2.2 times as large in males as in females and contained 2.1 times as many cells. No sex differences were observed in either cell density or mean diameter of the cell nuclei. Furthermore, multivariate regression analysis revealed that there are also sex-linked differences in the structural organisation of the human SDN-POA, finding expression in the way the morphometric parameters are interrelated. Of the parameters measured, only the volume and cell number of the SDN-POA showed a dramatic decrease with ageing. The reduction in cell number, however, was not constant throughout adulthood but was found to depend upon sex and age. In males, a major reduction in SDN-POA cell number was observed between the age of 50-60 years. In females, cell death was found to be more prominent than in males, especially among old people (t greater than 70 years), dropping to values which were only 10-15% of the cell number found in early childhood. In conclusion, the human SDN-POA has a sex-dependent pattern of ageing. Finally, the morphology of the SDN-POA was compared with that of other hypothalamic regions--the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN)--both in man and in rat. Species-specific differences in the dimensions of these nuclear regions are discussed in the light of their assumed functional significance. PMID- 2606796 TI - Early monocular enucleations in fetal ferrets produce a decrease of uncrossed and an increase of crossed retinofugal components: a possible model for the albino abnormality. AB - The terminal distributions of retinofugal axons to geniculate laminae or cell groups have been studied in monocular ferrets that had had one eye removed on the 28th or 29th day of intrauterine life and survived until the end of the fourth postnatal week. Normally pigmented and albino animals were studied and the patterns of retinogeniculate terminations in these were compared with earlier accounts of the patterns that develop normally or after a monocular enucleation on the day of birth. Birth normally occurs after 41 days of gestation. In albino animals the neonatal and prenatal enucleations produce essentially the same result. The abnormally large crossed retinogeniculate component, which is also characteristic of normal adult albinos, innervates the major (A) laminae and these fuse medially and caudally as in normal albinos. These represent geniculate Layers A and A1. The abnormally small uncrossed component resembles the abnormally small uncrossed component of normal albinos in innervating several separate terminal islands within the geniculate region. These are larger than in a normal albino animal and are surrounded by a zone of sparser termination not seen in a normal albino. In normally pigmented animals the prenatal enucleation produces a result essentially like that produced by the enucleation in albinos, whereas the postnatal enucleation produces a relatively more symmetrical retinogeniculate pathway in which the crossed component innervates an abnormally enlarged Lamina A and the uncrossed component innervates an enlarged Lamina A1. These results can be most readily explained by assuming that between embryonic Day 28 and the day of birth there is an interaction between the two retinofugal pathways that produces an increase in the uncrossed component from the levels characteristic of albinos and early monocular enucleates to normal levels. This interaction must then be absent in albinos. PMID- 2606797 TI - Initial development of capillaries in the neuroepithelium of the mouse. AB - The developmental stage of the mouse embryo at which capillaries first occurred and their localisation in the neuroepithelium were investigated on serial sections of 9 and 10 days old embryos embedded in paraffin and Epon. In addition, areas of the neuroepithelium in which capillaries had been observed at the light microscopical level were investigated by electron microscopy carried out on embryos fixed with glutaraldehyde supplemented with tannic acid. In 5-7 microns serial sections of paraffin-embedded embryos, capillaries were initially seen in the CNS anlage at Theiler's Stage 14 (1972). At this stage, capillaries also occurred in the prosencephalon, the rhombencephalon and in the developing spinal cord. In 1 micron serial sections of resin-embedded embryos, capillaries could be identified in the neuroepithelium one stage earlier, i.e. at Stage 13. These very early capillaries were seen in the dorsal part of the lateral wall of the prosencephalon which later forms the diencephalon. At the ultrastructural level, those areas of the neuroepithelium in which leptomeningeal capillaries first started to spread into the neuroepithelium were characterised by the disintegration of the basement membrane of the neuroepithelium and the appearance of tannic acid-positive extracellular structures between the neuroepithelium and the adjacent leptomeningeal capillaries. PMID- 2606798 TI - Development of the ventral striatum in the lizard Gallotia galloti. AB - The ventral striatum nucleus (VS) begins development at Stage 31 (E. 31) from the neuroblasts which proceed from the cellular proliferation of both the ventral and terminal sulci. The ultrastructural features of the neuroblasts of VS between E. 31 and E. 34 have the aspect of immature cells, but as from E. 38 neuronal maturity is gradual until hatching. At E. 34 cellular death occurs. The first degenerated cells belong to Type I (nuclear degeneration) of the pycnotic cells; as from E. 40 cytoplasmic degeneration appears. Vascularisation starts at E. 35 and from E. 38 the first synaptic contacts are observed, especially those of the axodendritic type. PMID- 2606799 TI - Effects of click polarity on auditory brain-stem potentials: a three-channel Lissajous' trajectory study. AB - Three-channel Lissajous' trajectories (3CLTs) of the auditory brain-stem evoked potentials (ABEP) were recorded from 16 adult subjects (28 ears) in response to rarefaction (R), condensation (C) and alternating polarity (A) clicks. 3CLTs were analysed and described in terms of their geometrical measures. All 3CLTs included 5 planar segments (named 'a', 'b', 'c', 'd' and 'e') whose latencies, durations, orientations, sizes and shapes were not affected by click polarity. Occasionally, planar segment 'd' was not defined, and its absence was parallelled by the absence of peak IV in the Vertex-Mastoid records. A small (0.03 microV), but significant increase was found in the trajectory amplitude of planar segment 'e' in C clicks. The effects of click polarity on 3CLT observed in this study suggest that some previously described ABEP changes with click polarity were the result of interactions between electrode positions and relative contributions of overlapping generators. The effects on the fourth and fifth ABEP components may be the results of changes in the temporal overlap of the activity of their generators. PMID- 2606800 TI - Acoustic distortion products can be used to monitor the effects of chronic gentamicin treatment. AB - Acoustic distortion has been measured from the ear canals of guinea pigs treated with the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin. The correlation between pre- and post-treatment levels of distortion can be related to the extent of outer hair cell (OHC) pathology induced by gentamicin. All animals that were treated and show functional changes also show changes in OHC morphology. Changes in distortion properties are evident before clear changes in surface hair cell morphology are seen. In the early stages of intoxication, thin sections of the organ of Corti are necessary to reveal the underlying structural changes accompanying functional impairment. Where OHCs have been affected by gentamicin treatment, the greatest change in 2f1-f2 level is for distortion generated by widely spaced stimuli. With closely spaced stimuli, 2f1-f2 may be unchanged in level, but higher order distortion components are depressed. Functional evidence of mild OHC disruption is only revealed by stimulus levels at or below 60 dB SPL. With higher sound levels, apparently normal levels of distortion can be generated by ears in which there is clear evidence of OHC pathology. In a single, untreated animal with an extensive basal turn lesion, some 2f1-f2 distortion was generated when the stimulus frequency region lacked OHCs. PMID- 2606801 TI - Forward masking effects on early auditory evoked potentials. AB - In early auditory evoked potentials (EAEPs) evoked by click trains, every click had a masking effect on the responses to the clicks following it and the whole response evoked by the click train was the sum of the masked responses to every click in the train. Special attention was paid to the situation when the inter stimulus interval (ISI) was less than 10 ms and the responses to the individual clicks might be merged to form a continuous wave. The experiments showed that the more the number of the clicks preceding a given click in the train, the stronger the effect on the response to this click until the number was big enough and the effect became saturated; the shorter the ISI when it was less than 10 ms, the stronger the effect; the higher the intensity of the masker, the stronger the effect. PMID- 2606802 TI - Possible precursors of regenerated hair cells in the avian cochlea following acoustic trauma. AB - Hair cell regeneration following acoustic trauma to the avian cochlea has been documented using DNA labeling with tritiated thymidine. The goal of this study was to identify potential precursor cell populations for regenerating hair cells. Chicks were exposed in pairs to a 1500 Hz pure tone at 120 dBSPL for 18 h. The animals received repeated injections of 3H-thymidine over a survival period of 6, 15, or 24 h, 3 days or 30 days after the completion of noise exposure. One cochlea from each animal was processed for autoradiography and the other for scanning electron microscopy. Labeled, regenerated hair cells were present by 3 days after exposure and recovery from injury was nearly complete by 30 days. Examination of animals in short survival groups suggest that two precursor populations may exist. For inferior sensory epithelial damage, cuboidal or hyaline epithelial cells appear to serve as the precursor cell population for the regeneration of both hair cells and supporting cells. With isolated superior damage, however, supporting cells may be the precursor population. PMID- 2606803 TI - Rapid force production in the cochlea. AB - Electrical stimulation of the mammalian cochlea causes a mechanical response which produces acoustic signals at the frequency of the electrical current. These electrically-evoked acoustic emissions can be as large as 34 dB SPL. Concurrent acoustic stimuli can enhance the emission response. Comparison of the enhancement effect with the cochlear microphonic (CM) suggests that the emissions originate from the outer hair cells (OHC). Frequency response measurements indicate a rate limiting time constant for the force-generating process which is less than 35 microseconds. PMID- 2606804 TI - Tectorial membrane. II: Stiffness measurements in vivo. AB - The tectorial membrane is assumed to play a crucial role in the stimulation of the cochlear hair cells and was thought for decades to serve as a stiff anchor for the tips of the hair-cell stereocilia, particularly those belonging to the OHCs. Yet, its stiffness has never been measured under conditions approximating its normal environment in live animals. We have developed a method for doing this. The tectorial membrane is approached through the lateral wall of scala media. The bony cochlear capsule is removed along scala media over somewhat less than 1/4 turn, and the underlying spiral ligament and stria vascularis are carefully reflected. With the help of a three axial hydraulic manipulator, a flexible micropipette filled with isotonic KCl is inserted into the tectorial membrane at one of two different angles and moved either transversally, away from the basilar membrane, or radially, toward or away from the modiolus. This causes the tectorial membrane to be deformed and the micropipette to bend. The micropipette stiffness is calibrated on an instrument of a new kind, so as to convert the bend into force. The calibration allows us to determine the point stiffness of the tectorial membrane from the amount of micropipette bend. The stiffness of the tectorial membrane per unit length has been calculated from the point stiffness with the help of the deformation pattern. Transversal and radial stiffness magnitudes have been determined in the second cochlear turn in Mongolian gerbils. Both are smaller by almost an order of magnitude than the corresponding aggregate stiffness of the OHC stereocilia. As a consequence, the tectorial membrane cannot act as a stiff anchor for the stereocilia but only as a mass load, except at relatively low sound frequencies where mass effects are negligible. This means that the classical model of shear motion between the tectorial membrane and the reticular lamina must be replaced. PMID- 2606805 TI - Responses from the exposed human auditory nerve to pseudorandom noise. AB - Whole-nerve responses to lowpass-filtered noise (2.5 kHz) and broadband click stimuli were recorded from the exposed intracranial portion of the eighth nerve in patients with normal hearing who were undergoing neurosurgical operations to relieve vascular compression of cranial nerves V, VII, and VIII. Cross correlograms between the response and the noise showed a large degree of individual variation. When noise of 95 dB SPL was used, the correlograms in some patients had a large peak that represented a positive correlation between a negative nerve potential and the rarefaction phase of the sound and that peak could usually be identified at a delay that was close to the latency of the main negative peak in the response to high-intensity broadband click sounds (3.0-3.5 ms). The amplitude of these components decreased when the sound intensity was decreased, and, at stimulus intensities below 80 dB, the correlograms became dominated by components at longer delays. In other patients, peaks of a similar amplitude appeared in the cross-correlograms between delays of 2 and 12 ms in the entire range of sound intensities that were studied (65-105 dB SPL). In all patients the location of the peaks was little affected by the stimulus intensity in the range studied. All reproducible peaks that appeared at delays longer than 2.8 ms shifted towards longer delays when the recording electrode was moved from a location near the porus acusticus to a more central location (near the brainstem) on the exposed intracranial portion of the eighth nerve, indicating that components at longer delays than 2.8 ms result from propagated neural activity in the auditory nerve. It is assumed on the basis of the results that these correlograms are measures of phase-locking of neural activity to a complex stimulus sound (noise). PMID- 2606806 TI - Immunocytochemical localization of neurofilament subunits in the spiral ganglion of normal and neomycin-treated guinea pigs. AB - Neurofilaments are a major component of the neuronal cytoskeleton and present in all neurons. The expression of subunits of neurofilaments has been shown to be altered by conditions such as development, aging, degeneration and regeneration of the neuron. In the present study, we determined 1) the distribution of neurofilament subunits in spiral ganglion cells of normal guinea pigs and 2) if this distribution is altered by hair cell degeneration. Immunocytochemical analyses were done with monoclonal antibodies to the 200,000 (NF 200), 160,000 (NF 160), and 68,000 (NF 68) daltons neurofilament subunits. In the normal guinea pig, type II spiral ganglion cells were intensely labeled with NF 200, NF 160, NF 68 antibodies, whereas type I cells were significantly labeled only with NF 200 antibody. Neurofilament subunit immunoreactivity was also localized in the auditory nerve and afferent and efferent fibers to the hair cells. To determine the effects of hair cell loss on neurofilament expression in spiral ganglion cells, guinea pigs were treated with neomycin at doses known to cause extensive hair cell damage. Type I and type II spiral ganglion cells responded differently to this treatment. Type II cells remained strongly immunoreactive after treatment although the number of such cells was reduced, especially in the longer surviving animals. NF 160 and NF 68 immunoreactivities increased gradually from base to apex in type I cells after neomycin treatment, while NF 200 immunoreactivity decreased in all turns. PMID- 2606807 TI - Perilymph composition in scala tympani of the cochlea: influence of cerebrospinal fluid. AB - A commonly used technique to obtain cochlear perilymph for analysis has been the aspiration of samples through the round window membrane. The present study has investigated the influence of the volume withdrawn on sample composition in the guinea pig. Samples of less than 200 nl in volume taken through the round window showed relatively high glycine content, comparable to the level found in samples taken from scala vestibuli. If larger volumes are withdrawn, lower glycine levels are observed. This is consistent with cerebrospinal fluid (having a low glycine content) being drawn into scala tympani through the cochlear aqueduct and contaminating the sample. The existence of a concentration difference for glycine between scala tympani perilymph and cerebrospinal fluid suggests the physiologic communication across the cochlear aqueduct is relatively small in this species. The observation of considerable exchange between cerebrospinal fluid and perilymph, as reported in some studies, is more likely to be an artifact of the experimental procedures, rather than of physiologic significance. Alternative sampling procedures have been evaluated which allow larger volumes of uncontaminated scala tympani perilymph to be collected. PMID- 2606808 TI - Amino acid uptake and release in the guinea pig cochlear nucleus after inferior colliculus ablation. AB - This study attempts to determine if the neurons in the guinea pig inferior colliculus that project to the cochlear nucleus could use certain amino acid transmitters. The left inferior colliculus was ablated surgically to destroy projections descending to the cochlear nuclei. Nissl and silver stained sections of the brain stem indicated that this procedure destroyed most of the left inferior colliculus, but spared a small amount of collicular tissue ventrally and rostrally. Six to seven days after the ablation, degenerated fibers were present in the right inferior colliculus, in the left lateral lemniscus, and in the cochlear nucleus, bilaterally. Three to five days after the ablation, the uptake and electrically-evoked release of exogenous, radiolabeled D-aspartate, gamma aminobutyrate, and glycine were measured in the three major subdivisions of the cochlear nucleus, the anteroventral, posteroventral, and dorsal divisions. These activities were compared to those in unlesioned controls. The ablation did not alter the uptake and release of the amino acids in the dorsal and posteroventral divisions of the cochlear nucleus. However, it lowered slightly (by 10-18%) the uptake and release of gamma-aminobutyrate and glycine in the anteroventral division, although the difference from the control group was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that most of the neurons in the inferior colliculus that project to the cochlear nucleus probably do not use glutamate, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyrate, or glycine as a transmitter. However, the possibility remains that a small proportion of the collicular projections to the anteroventral cochlear nucleus might use gamma-aminobutyrate or glycine as a transmitter. PMID- 2606809 TI - Middle latency response: frequency and intensity effects. AB - Auditory middle latency responses (MLR) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were measured with epidural electrodes in unanesthetized gerbils. Response thresholds of simultaneously recorded MLRs and ABRs, and latencies and amplitudes of MLR peaks were analyzed with respect to stimulus intensity (10-80 dB SPL) and frequency (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 kHz). Only minor changes in the latencies of the MLR were associated with increases in stimulus intensity. Changes in latencies were more apparent for waves A and B as compared to wave C, and were significant only at low intensities. Latencies did not change significantly as a function of stimulus frequency. Amplitudes of the MLR were highly variable between animals, particularly waves B and C, and showed complex changes with intensity. In general, wave amplitudes were inversely related to stimulus frequency. The gerbil MLR resembles MLRs recorded under similar conditions in guinea pig, cat, and rat. Some qualitative similarities between gerbil and human MLRs are apparent. Results indicate that the MLR is a less sensitive measure of hearing threshold relative to the fast waves of the ABR at frequencies above 1 kHz. However, clearly defined MLRs are elicited with a wide range of stimulus frequencies. Because the surface recorded MLR reflects activation of central auditory pathways, including the cortex, it may provide an electrophysiological measure which can be utilized to study central components of normal and pathological auditory function. PMID- 2606810 TI - Clavulanate/beta-lactam antibiotics: further experience. Proceedings of the Second Biennial Conference on Infectious Diseases and Malignancies. Montreux, 6-8 March 1989. PMID- 2606811 TI - Penetration of ticarcillin/clavulanate into cartilage. AB - The penetration of ticarcillin and clavulanate into cartilage was investigated in 20 subjects undergoing funnel chest correction. Cartilage samples, obtained 120 or 180 min after administration of ticarcillin/clavulanate (mean dose: ticarcillin 70.0 mg/kg, clavulanate 4.7 mg/kg), were divided into core samples and outer covering portions. After 120 min, the mean ticarcillin in the outer portion was 11.0 mg/kg and that in the core sample was 0.81 mg/kg; at 180 min the mean concentration in the outer portion was 6.47 mg/kg and ticarcillin was undetectable in all but two core samples. Clavulanate was shown to decline with time in spiked cartilage preparations and the results in this investigation may underestimate penetration. Clavulanate was undetectable in most core samples. In the outer portion the mean concentration was 1.30 mg/kg at 120 min and 0.62 mg/kg at 180 min. The penetration gradient requires further elucidation and should be considered when chemotherapy for infection in cartilage is discussed. PMID- 2606812 TI - Cerebrospinal fluid penetration after single or multiple dosage with ticarcillin/clavulanate. AB - Penetration of ticarcillin and clavulanate into the cerebrospinal fluid was studied in ten patients with varying degrees of impairment of the blood-brain barrier. In general, penetration of both drugs was relatively low and variable (5.4 +/- 5.8% for clavulanate and 2.0 +/- 4.0% for ticarcillin) but markedly better in those patients with impaired blood/brain barrier. PMID- 2606813 TI - The pharmacokinetics of ticarcillin/clavulanate acid in neonates. AB - The pharmacokinetics of a 25:1 combination of ticarcillin and clavulanate were studied in nine pre-term and seven full-term neonates. Pre-term neonates with a gestational age ranging from 30 to 36 weeks received 83.3 mg of ticarcillin and 3.3 mg of clavulanate per kg bw and full-term neonates with a gestational age from 39 to 43 weeks received 100 mg of ticarcillin and 4 mg of clavulanate per kg bw 8-hourly, each by a slow infusion over 10 min. Serum was sampled 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 480 min after the first dose and trough samples were additionally obtained on the fourth day of treatment. The patients were allocated to Groups 1 3 on the basis of the pharmacokinetic characteristics obtained. Group 1 comprised seven full-term babies. Group 2 contained seven pre-term neonates with a birth weight between 1915 and 2650 g and Group 3 consisted of two pre-term neonates of low birth weight (1400 g and 1640 g). Mean (+/- S.E.) pharmacokinetic characteristics of Group 1 patients for ticarcillin were: Cmax = 404.9 mg/l (36.0); T = 2.68 h (0.23); AUC = 1287 h.mg/l (69); Vd = 266 ml/kg (28) and for clavulanate: Cmax = 15.0 mg/l (1.2); T = 1.39 h (0.12); AUC = 30.1 h.mg/l (1.7); Vd = 263 ml/kg (22). Corresponding parameters for Group 2 patients for ticarcillin were: Cmax 278.7 mg/l (30.4); T = 4.20 h (0.49); AUC = 1107 h.mg/l (57); Vd = 338 ml/kg (35) and for clavulanate: Cmax = 8.4 mg/l (0.56); T = 2.56 h (0.18); AUC = 27.1 h.mg/l (2.0); Vd = 414 ml/kg (29). Drug accumulation was not observed in patients of Groups 1 and 2. Each of the two patients of Group 3 presented a pharmacokinetic profile which was considerably different from those observed in Groups 1 and 2. While in patients of the latter group the peak serum concentrations were achieved at 15-30 min after the end of infusion, these concentrations occurred between 120 and 240 min in one of the Group 3 patients. In the other Group 3 patient a remarkable drug accumulation was noted but was not associated with clinical or laboratory evidence of toxicity. These data show that ticarcillin and clavulanic acid in these dose ranges achieved adequate peak and trough concentrations in pre-term and full-term neonates. PMID- 2606814 TI - Pharmacokinetics of ticarcillin/clavulanate in severely burned patients. AB - A pharmacokinetic trial with ticarcillin/clavulanate was undertaken in patients with severe burns. Timentin 5.2 g (ticarcillin 5 g + clavulanate 200 mg) was administered by iv infusion over 20 min, two or three times daily. Fifteen patients with varying amounts of total body surface (TBS) burned could be evaluated for pharmacokinetic calculations (group A, greater than 20% TBS, n = 7; group B, less than 10% TBS, n = 8). Both groups presented similar pharmacokinetic behaviour. Compared with healthy volunteers, the volume of distribution for both ticarcillin and clavulanate was increased 2.5 times. For ticarcillin the mean elimination half-lives in serum were 95.1 (A) and 86.1 min. (B), respectively; for clavulanate, the half-lives were 144.0 (A) and 132.1 min (B), respectively. The 0-8-h urine recovery of ticarcillin was 84% (A) and 83% (B), and for clavulanate it was 86% (A) and 88% (B) of the administered dose. As a consequence of the increased distribution volumes and the increased AUC's in severely burned patients the highest recommended dose of ticarcillin/clavulanate appears suitable. PMID- 2606815 TI - Ticarcillin/clavulanate in severe infections in patients with varying renal function. AB - The therapeutic efficacy of ticarcillin/clavulanate was assessed in 71 patients with severe infections: 38 acute pyelonephritis, 16 septicaemia and 19 miscellaneous infections. The patients were classified according to their renal function in: Group A, normal (16 cases); B, mild renal impairment (RI) with creatinine clearance (Clcr) between 80 and 40 ml/min (18 cases); C, moderate RI with Clcr between 40 and 15 ml/min (12 cases); D, severe RI with (Clcr) between 15 and 5 ml/min (13 cases) and E, terminal with (Clcr) less than 5 ml/min (12 cases). A total of 105 microorganisms (48.6% resistant to ticarcillin): 31 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 18 Escherichia coli, 21 other Enterobacteriaceae, 2 Haemophilus influenzae, 10 Bacteroides spp., 14 enterococci, 8 staphylococci and 1 streptococcus, were isolated. All except six Ps. aeruginosa were sensitive to ticarcillin/clavulanate, using 75:10 microgram discs. Bacteriological eradication was obtained in 97% of the cases on the third day and at the end of treatment, and in 82% of the cases after one month. In all the assessable cases, the clinical symptoms disappeared on the third day except in one patient who developed a resistant strain (Klebsiella oxytoca). The wide range of bacteria assessed and the clinical-bacteriological success rates demonstrated that the ticarcillin/clavulanate combination had an efficacy/safety profile that could be considered excellent. Tolerance was good and side effects were not observed. This study confirms the practical efficacy of the recommended dosages derived from our previous kinetic studies in RI. PMID- 2606816 TI - Impact of ticarcillin/clavulanate on the intestinal microflora. AB - Ten healthy volunteers were given 5.2 g Timentin (5 g ticarcillin plus 0.2 g clavulanate by intravenous bolus three times daily for seven days. Stool specimens were collected before and 2, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21 days after the start of treatment to study the effect on the normal intestinal microflora. The concentrations of ticarcillin and clavulanate in serum, urine and faeces were determined by a microbiological method and the pharmacokinetics were studied on days 1, 3 and 7. There were no significant differences in the serum concentrations of ticarcillin and clavulanate during the three days. The total 8 h recovery in urine of ticarcillin was 62% of the dose and of clavulanate 19%. The mean serum half-life of ticarcillin was 1.0 h and of clavulanic acid 0.91 h. There were no measurable concentrations of ticarcillin or clavulanate in the faecal specimens. The number of enterobacteria slightly decreased, while there was a minor increase in the number of enterococci and streptococci during the administration of ticarcillin/clavulanate. The anaerobic microflora was also slightly affected. There was a minor decrease in the number of anaerobic cocci, bifidobacteria, eubacteria, lactobacilli and clostridia, but the number of bacteroides was not influenced by the treatment. After treatment the aerobic and anaerobic microflora returned to normal in all volunteers. The present microbiological findings indicate that ticarcillin/clavulanate has a minor ecological impact on the human intestinal microflora. PMID- 2606817 TI - Clavulanate and beta-lactamase induction. AB - Concern has been expressed that clavulanate can antagonize ticarcillin against enterobacteria and pseudomonads that have inducible expression of chromosomal 'Class I' beta-lactamases. It is suggested that clavulanate-induced enzyme inactivates ticarcillin, which itself is a feeble inducer. We confirmed that this mechanism applied, showing that antagonism was abolished in beta-lactamase-basal mutants of inducible strains. Antagonism has been reported in double disc tests with strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia spp. and indole-positive Proteeae. Only with some strains of Ent. cloacae and Morganella morganii, however, did the presence of 1-32 mg/l clavulanate elevate the MIC of ticarcillin by more than one or two dilutions in chequerboard studies. Clavulanate was synergistic with ticarcillin against Proteus vulgaris strains, being a potent inhibitor of the unusual Class I enzyme of this species. Induction-determined antagonism was not reduced in Ent. cloacae transconjugants that produced the plasmid-mediated TEM-1 beta-lactamase, despite the ability of this enzyme to bind clavulanate. Our results suggest that Ent. cloacae and M. morganii strains should be confirmed not to be more sensitive to ticarcillin alone than to ticarcillin/clavulanate, before the latter combination is used clinically. Otherwise, it appears that beta-lactamase induction is unlikely to cause significant antagonism. It is emphasized that induction is reversible, causing, at worst, a transient resistance. It should not be confused with the selection of stably-derepressed mutants that can occur, for example, in the clinical use of newer cephalosporins. PMID- 2606818 TI - The susceptibility to amoxycillin/clavulanate of Enterobacteriaceae with plasmid mediated ampicillin resistance: a twelve-year study of strains in one Spanish hospital. AB - We studied the antibacterial activity of amoxycillin, clavulanic acid and the combination, against 1210 clinical isolates with plasmid-mediated ampicillin resistance, isolated at the Zaragoza Clinical University Hospital during 12 years. MICs were determined by an agar dilution technique with an inoculum of 10(4) cfu per spot. MIC50 values of amoxycillin/clavulanate ranged from 8 to 16 mg/l. The antibacterial activity of amoxycillin/clavulanate did not show any statistically significant variation during the 12-year period. PMID- 2606819 TI - Activity of clavulanate-potentiated penicillins against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. AB - It has been suggested that combinations of penicillins with clavulanate may be useful in treatment of infections by methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). To determine the potentiating effect of clavulanate on the antibacterial activity of penicillins, we studied MRSA in vitro by an agar dilution method. A total of 124 clinical isolates of MRSA were tested for sensitivity to benzylpenicillin, amoxycillin, and ticarcillin alone and in combination with 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/l of clavulanate. Most of the strains were not typable by the international reference set of bacteriophages of human staphylococci but showed typical properties of nosocomial strains. A reduction in the MIC90 of benzylpenicillin and amoxycillin to 25 mg/l was seen in the presence of 2.5 mg/l of clavulanate. The effect was less pronounced with ticarcillin. In spite of some increase in the susceptibility of MRSA to benzylpenicillin and amoxycillin produced by clavulanate, these combinations seem to be inappropriate in infections due to MRSA. PMID- 2606820 TI - Efficacy of clavulanate-potentiated antibiotics against Bacteroides species and artificially associated cultures of aerobes and anaerobes. AB - Clavulanic acid is known to potentiate the activity of amoxycillin and ticarcillin against beta-lactamase-producing Bacteroides species. In order to assess the usefulness of the clavulanate antibiotics in mixed infections with aerobes and anaerobes, artificially associated cultures of clinically significant Bacteroides species and facultative anaerobes (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp.) were tested. The minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of amoxycillin and ticarcillin, singly and in combination with clavulanate, were determined for the individual species in the associated culture and for the associated culture as a whole. In the absence of clavulanate, association experiments showed that the MBCs of susceptible strains increased in the presence of beta-lactamase-producing species, whereas the addition of clavulanate to the test systems led to MBCs which were mostly comparable to values as determined in single strain testing. PMID- 2606821 TI - Role of beta-lactamases in the response of pulmonary infections to amoxycillin/clavulanate. AB - Lung secretions from patients with bronchiectasis have been studied before and during treatment with amoxycillin/clavulanate (Augmentin 750 mg tds). beta Lactamase activity was usually present in the sputum sol phase and originated from organisms not usually considered to be the major pathogen. The presence of beta-lactamase was related to inactivation of amoxycillin in the lung secretions. Extensive bacteriological investigation of the sputum before therapy showed several organisms to be present in each sample. Six of eight patients showed a good clinical and biochemical response to therapy with amoxycillin/clavulanate. This, however, could not be predicted or explained by the results of bacterial investigation although Haemophilus influenzae was eradicated in three of these responders. beta-Lactamase activity did not change during treatment, and this investigation thus failed to produce indirect evidence of penetration of clavulanate into the secretions. PMID- 2606822 TI - Determination of clavulanic acid by a sensitive HPLC method. AB - A new HPLC method is described for the estimation of clavulanic acid. It should be of use for further studies on the penetration of clavulanic acid into body tissues and fluids. It utilizes standard HPLC equipment and UV detection, but provides at least ten-fold increased sensitivity (less than 0.008 mg/l) over previously published methods by using solid phase extraction with imidazole derivatization and subsequent pre-concentration of the sample, and a microbore chromatographic column with a conventional detection system. PMID- 2606823 TI - Penetration into lung tissue after intravenous administration of amoxycillin/clavulanate. AB - In order to investigate the penetration of amoxycillin and clavulanate into lung tissue, ten patients with a malignancy requiring a pulmonary resection, receiving 2000 mg amoxycillin and 200 mg clavulanate by intravenous injection, were studied. Samples of whole blood were taken before dosing and at the time of tissue removal. One to five grams of healthy lung tissue was taken from a segment or lobe other than that in which the tumour was located. All serum and tissue samples were analysed by a microbiological assay. The mean period to elapse before serum sample collection was 41.8 min at which time the mean concentrations were amoxycillin 71.3 and clavulanate 7.8 mg/l. The mean period to elapse before tissue collection was 54.3 min at which time the mean concentrations were amoxycillin 34.1 and clavulanate 2.3 mg/kg. These levels of amoxycillin and clavulanate are high enough to inhibit important pathogens in the lower respiratory tract. PMID- 2606824 TI - Penetration of amoxycillin/clavulanate into human bone. AB - Twenty patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery for total hip replacement received a single prophylactic intravenous dose of 2.2 g Augmentin (2 g amoxycillin + 200 mg clavulanate). Bone samples removed during the operation were saved for amoxycillin and clavulanate assay. The proportion of inorganic matter in the bone samples was determined to calculate the concentrations of the drugs in their distribution volume. The cortical and cancellous bone were penetrated to a comparable extent by both compounds yielding maximum concentrations at one hour after the end of the infusion. The mean concentrations of amoxycillin in the cortex and spongy layer were 26.0 and 18.2 mg/kg within 1 h, 23.8 and 19.8 mg/kg in the interval from 1 to 2 h after infusion, and 9.2 and 5.9 mg/kg between 2 and 5 h. The corresponding values for clavulanate were 2.3 and 1.6 mg/kg, 2.5 and 1.6 mg/kg, and 1.0 and 0.7 mg/kg, respectively. No postoperative wound infections occurred in these patients. PMID- 2606825 TI - Phasic capillary pressure determined by arterial occlusion in intact dog lung lobes. AB - In six open-chest dogs, electrocardiogram- (ECG) controlled pulmonary arterial occlusion was performed during the control period and during the infusions of serotonin and histamine. A temporal series of instantaneous pulmonary capillary pressure and the longitudinal distributions of vascular resistance and compliance were evaluated in the intact left lower lung lobe. In the control period, we found a significant phasic variation of pulmonary capillary pressure (Pc) with the cardiac cycle. The ratio of arterial to venous resistances (Ra/Rv) was 6:4, and the ratio of arterial to capillary compliances (Ca/Cc) was 1:11. During the infusions of serotonin and histamine, Pc showed similar phasic variations, despite significant hemodynamic changes induced by these agents. Serotonin predominantly increased Ra, whereas histamine predominantly increased Rv. The ratio of Rv to the total resistance decreased significantly from 0.42 to 0.32 during the infusion of serotonin and increased significantly to 0.62 during the infusion of histamine. The data suggest that phasic Pc determined by ECG controlled arterial occlusion reflects the pulsatility in the pulmonary microvascular bed under control conditions and after alterations of the pulmonary vascular resistance by serotonin and histamine. PMID- 2606826 TI - Flow and volume dependence of respiratory mechanical properties studied by forced oscillation. AB - The influence of inspiratory and expiratory flow magnitude, lung volume, and lung volume history on respiratory system properties was studied by measuring transfer impedances (4-30 Hz) in seven normal subjects during various constant flow maneuvers. The measured impedances were analyzed with a six-coefficient model including airway resistance (Raw) and inertance (Iaw), tissue resistance (Rti), inertance (Iti), and compliance (Cti), and alveolar gas compressibility. Increasing respiratory flow from 0.1 to 0.4 1/s was found to increase inspiratory and expiratory Raw by 63% and 32%, respectively, and to decrease Iaw, but did not change tissue properties. Raw, Iti, and Cti were larger and Rti was lower during expiration than during inspiration. Decreasing lung volume from 70 to 30% of vital capacity increased Raw by 80%. Cti was larger at functional residual capacity than at the volume extremes. Preceding the measurement by a full expiration rather than by a full inspiration increased Iaw by 15%. The data suggest that the determinants of Raw and Iaw are not identical, that airway hysteresis is larger than lung hysteresis, and that respiratory muscle activity influences tissue properties. PMID- 2606827 TI - Viscoelastic behavior of lung and chest wall in dogs determined by flow interruption. AB - Pulmonary and chest wall mechanics were studied in six anesthetized paralyzed dogs, by use of the technique of rapid airway occlusion during constant flow inflation. Analysis of the pressure changes after flow interruption allowed us to partition the overall resistance of the lung (Rl) and chest wall (Rw) and total respiratory system (Rrs) into two components, one (Rinit) reflecting in the lung airway resistance (Raw), the other (delta R) reflecting primarily the viscoelastic properties of the pulmonary and chest wall tissues. The effects of varying inspiratory flow and inflation volume were interpreted in terms of frequency dependence of resistance, by using a spring-and-dashpot model previously proposed and substantiated by Bates et al. (Proc. 9th Annu. Conf. IEEE Med. Biol. Soc., 1987, vol. 3, p. 1802-1803). We observed that 1) Raw and Rw,init were nearly equal and small relative to Rl and Rw (both were unaffected by flow); 2) Rrs,init decreased slightly with increasing volume; 3) both delta Rl and delta Rw decreased with increasing flow and increased with increasing lung volume. These changes were manifestations of frequency dependence of delta R, as it is predicted by the model; 4) Rrs, Rl, and Rw followed the same trends as delta R. These results corroborate data previously reported in the literature with the use of different techniques to measure airways and pulmonary tissue resistances and confirm that the use of Rl to assess bronchial reactivity is problematic. The interrupter techniques provides a convenient way to obtain Raw values, as well as analogs of lung and chest wall tissue resistances in intact dogs. PMID- 2606828 TI - Airway level at which edema liquid enters the air space of isolated dog lungs. AB - To identify lung units associated with liquid leakage into the air space in high pressure pulmonary edema, we perfused air-inflated dog lung lobes with albumin solution to fill the loose peribronchovascular interstitium. Next, we perfused the lobes for 90 s with fluorescent albumin solution then froze the lobes in liquid nitrogen. This procedure confined the fluorescent perfusate to the liquid flux pathway between the circulation and the air space and eliminated the previously filled peribronchovascular cuffs as a source of the fluorescence that entered the air space. We divided each frozen lobe into three horizontal layers and prepared fluorescence-microscopic sections of each layer. In the most apical layers where alveolar flooding was minimal, 10.6 +/- 21.0% (SD) of alveolar ducts were either fluorescence filled or air filled and continuous with fluorescence filled alveoli. In the same layers, 11.0 +/- 19.0% of respiratory bronchioles were similarly labeled. No terminal bronchioles in these layers were fluorescence labeled. This suggested that the fluorescent albumin entered the air space across the epithelium of respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, or their associated alveoli. To simulate an alternative explanation, i.e., that fluorescence first entered central airways then flowed into peripheral air spaces, we prepared two additional lobes that we first partially inflated with fluorescent albumin then filled to capacity with air. This pushed the fluorescent solution along the airways into the lung periphery. In these lobes the ciliary lining of bronchi and terminal bronchioles was fluorescence coated. By comparison, cilia in fluorescence-perfused lobes were not coated. We conclude that alveolar flooding in hydrostatic pulmonary edema occurs across the epithelium of alveolar ducts, respiratory bronchioles, or their associated alveoli.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606829 TI - Regulation of glycogenolysis in human skeletal muscle. AB - The role of inorganic phosphate on the regulation of glycogenolysis in resting and contracting muscle was studied in human quadriceps muscle. Increased Pi content was achieved by intermittent electrical stimulation of the muscle followed by occlusion of the blood flow. Occlusion resulted in the maintenance of a high Pi content over a 60-s observation period during which the muscle was either at rest or was stimulated electrically. The study was performed with and without infusion of epinephrine (EPI). In the absence of EPI the phosphorylase a fraction was 50% immediately at the end of the initial stimulation period, declining to 22% after 60 s. With EPI corresponding values for phosphorylase a were 91% initially, 56% after 30 s, and 33% after 60 s, respectively. In both cases the Pi content was increased by approximately 35 mmol/kg dry muscle during the stimulation and remained constant during the occlusion. In neither of these situations was significant degradation of glycogen observed during the occlusion. In the study performed with electrical stimulation during the occlusion period, muscle glycogen degradation was observed both with and without EPI. Phosphorylase a fractions and Pi contents in this study were similar to those observed when muscle was rested over the 60-s occlusion period. The paradox of a high Pi content and extensive transformation of phosphorylase to the a form but low glycogenolytic activity points to additional factors in the regulation of glycogen breakdown. PMID- 2606830 TI - Stimulation of vagal C-fibers alters timing and distribution of respiratory motor output in cats. AB - Pulmonary vascular congestion or pulmonary embolism in humans produces shallow tachypnea, and indirect experimental evidence suggests that this characteristic breathing pattern may result from activation of vagal unmyelinated afferents from the lung. We have investigated, in decerebrate cats, reflex changes in breathing pattern and in the activation of the diaphragm, posterior cricoarytenoid, and thyroarytenoid muscles caused by activating C-fiber afferents in the vagus nerve. The right vagus nerve was sectioned distal to the origin of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, eliminating vagal afferent traffic although preserving motor innervation of the larynx on that side. The left cervical vagus was stimulated electrically, and efferent activation of the laryngeal muscles was avoided by cutting the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Transmission to the brain of vagal afferent traffic resulting from this stimulation was controlled by graded cold block of the nerve cranial to the site of application of the stimulus. Activation of C-fibers, when A-fibers were blocked, significantly decreased respiratory period and amplitude of diaphragm inspiratory burst. In addition, this selective activation of vagal C-fibers augmented postinspiratory activity of the diaphragm and recruited phasic expiratory bursts in the thyroarytenoid. We conclude that, in unanesthetized decerebrate cats, afferent traffic of vagal C-fibers initiates a pontomedullary reflex that increases respiratory frequency, decreases tidal volume, and augments braking of expiratory airflow. PMID- 2606831 TI - Rapid shallow breathing caused by pulmonary vascular congestion in cats. AB - The vasculature of one lung of unanesthetized spontaneously breathing decerebrate cats was isolated and congested with blood. Such pulmonary vascular congestion (PVC) consistently resulted in a shallow tachypnea associated with expiratory activation of the diaphragm and thyroarytenoid muscles, signifying augmented expiratory braking. With progressive increases in pulmonary vascular pressure, tachypnea and expiratory braking increased progressively and ultimately obscured phasic activity in the diaphragm and thyroarytenoid. Thus the apnea caused by PVC constitutes not an arrest of neural respiratory activity but rather a continuous activation of thoracic inspiratory and laryngeal adductor muscles. When capsaicin, a neurotoxin that activates nonmyelinated afferents, was injected into the pulmonary artery of the isolated lung, it produced changes in timing and distribution of respiratory motor output that resembled those with PVC but were more abrupt in onset. Capsaicin, applied perineurally to the cervical vagi, preferentially blocked the conduction of nonmyelinated afferent fibers. This procedure, which produced little degradation in Hering-Breuer reflexes, eliminated tachypnea and expiratory braking caused by PVC or capsaicin injection. The results indicate that activation of pulmonary vagal afferent fibers of C or A delta category in unanesthetized cats reflexly modifies the respiratory motor output in a way that resembles the human response to PVC or pulmonary embolism. This is a brain stem reflex. PMID- 2606832 TI - Rate of CO uptake by canine erythrocytes as a function of PO2. AB - We used a continuous-flow rapid-mixing apparatus with spectroscopic analysis to measure the rate of CO uptake by canine erythrocytes at 37 degrees C at five different PO2 values from 0 to 553 Torr. Fresh blood from five different dogs was used for the experiments. PCO approximated 80 Torr. Corrections for the lower capillary PCO during a measurement of the diffusing capacity of lung CO, as made by Roughton and Forster in 1957 (J. Appl. Physiol. 11: 290-302, 1957), were not used. The regression equation for 1/theta, where theta is milliliters of CO combining for each milliliter of whole blood (capacity 0.2 ml/ml) per minute for a PCO of 1 Torr was 1/theta = 1.45 +/- 0.0042 PO2. This equation is very similar to that for human erythrocytes under the same conditions. PMID- 2606833 TI - Respiratory mechanics in the normal dog determined by expiratory flow interruption. AB - We recently proposed an eight-parameter model of the respiratory system to account for its mechanical behavior when flow is interrupted during passive expiration. The model consists of two four-parameter submodels representing the lungs and the chest wall, respectively. The lung submodel consists of an airways resistance together with elements embodying the viscoelastic properties of the lung tissues. The chest wall submodel has similar structure. We estimated the parameters of the model from data obtained in four normal, anesthetized, paralyzed, tracheostomized mongrel dogs. This model explains why lung tissue and chest wall resistances should be markedly frequency dependent at low frequencies and also permits a physiological interpretation of resistance measurements provided by the flow interruption method. PMID- 2606834 TI - Effects of altitude acclimatization on pulmonary gas exchange during exercise. AB - Pulmonary gas exchange was studied in eight normal subjects both before and after 2 wk of altitude acclimatization at 3,800 m (12,470 ft, barometric pressure = 484 Torr). Respiratory and multiple inert gas tensions, ventilation, cardiac output (Q), and hemoglobin concentration were measured at rest and during three levels of constant-load cycle exercise during both normoxia [inspired PO2 (PIO2) = 148 Torr] and normobaric hypoxia (PIO2 = 91 Torr). After acclimatization, the measured alveolar-arterial PO2 difference (A-aPO2) for any given work rate decreased (P less than 0.02). The largest reductions were observed during the highest work rates and were 24.8 +/- 1.4 to 19.7 +/- 0.8 Torr (normoxia) and 22.0 +/- 1.1 to 19.4 +/- 0.7 Torr (hypoxia). This could not be explained by changes in ventilation-perfusion inequality or estimated O2 diffusing capacity, which were unaffected by acclimatization. However, Q for any given work rate was significantly decreased (P less than 0.001) after acclimatization. We suggest that the reduction in A-aPO2 after acclimatization is a result of more nearly complete alveolar/end-capillary diffusion equilibration on the basis of a longer pulmonary capillary transit time. PMID- 2606835 TI - Effects of tracheal airway occlusion on hyoid muscle length and upper airway volume. AB - Complex relationships exist among electromyograms (EMGs) of the upper airway muscles, respective changes in muscle length, and upper airway volume. To test the effects of preventing lung inflation on these relationships, recordings were made of EMGs and length changes of the geniohyoid (GH) and sternohyoid (SH) muscles as well as of tidal changes in upper airway volume in eight anesthetized cats. During resting breathing, tracheal airway occlusion tended to increase the inspiratory lengthening of GH and SH. In response to progressive hypercapnia, the GH eventually shortened during inspiration in all animals; the extent of muscle shortening was minimally augmented by airway occlusion despite substantial increases in EMGs. SH lengthened during inspiration in six of eight animals under hypercapnic conditions, and in these cats lengthening was greater during airway occlusion even though EMGs increased. Despite the above effects on SH and GH length, upper airway tidal volume was increased significantly by tracheal occlusion under hypercapnic conditions. These data suggest that the thoracic and upper airway muscle reflex effects of preventing lung inflation during inspiration act antagonistically on hyoid muscle length, but, because of the mechanical arrangement of the hyoid muscles relative to the airway and thorax, they act agonistically to augment tidal changes in upper airway volume. The augmentation of upper airway tidal volume may occur in part as a result of the effects of thoracic movements being passively transmitted through the hyoid muscles. PMID- 2606836 TI - Diaphragm, genioglossus, and triangularis sterni responses to poikilocapnic hypoxia. AB - Both isocapnic and poikilocapnic hypoxia may elicit a biphasic respiratory response, during which an initial ventilatory stimulation is followed by a reduction in breathing and diaphragm (DIA) electrical activity. To ascertain whether during adulthood other respiratory muscles have biphasic hypoxic responses similar to the DIA, in nine anesthetized cats electromyograms (EMG) were recorded from the DIA, genioglossus (GG), and triangularis sterni (TS) (n = 7) muscles during poikilocapnic hypoxia. DIA and GG EMG started at 60 +/- 4 and 9 +/- 3 units, respectively, during O2 breathing, increased to a maximum of 100 units during the 10-min hypoxic stimulus, and subsequently declined to 81 +/- 6 and 58 +/- 12 units, respectively, by the end of 10 min of hypoxia. The time course of the increase and subsequent decline was similar for the DIA and GG and for GG activity during both inspiration and expiration. Furthermore the degree to which GG EMG declined after reaching its peak activity level correlated with the magnitude of the respective decline in DIA EMG (r = 0.79, P less than 0.02). The TS, in contrast, was maximally active either during O2 breathing or very early during hypoxia, and its activity declined progressively thereafter (to 13 +/- 6% of its peak value at the end of 10 min of hypoxia). The degree to which TS EMG declined did not correlate with the degree to which DIA or GG EMG declined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606837 TI - Myosin heavy chain turnover and glucocorticoid deterrence by exercise in muscle. AB - This study was undertaken to determine whether regular endurance running, of the type known to attenuate glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy, produces a reversal of the glucocorticoid-mediated suppression of myosin heavy chain (MHC) synthesis. Female rats were arbitrarily assigned to one of four groups. There were two sedentary groups that received either a vehicle (1% aqueous carboxymethyl cellulose) or cortisol acetate (100 mg/kg body wt) for 11 consecutive days and two exercise (treadmill running 29 m/min, 90 min/day, for 11 consecutive days) groups that received the activity simultaneously with either vehicle or steroid treatments. Protein synthesis measurements were performed by constant infusion of [3H]leucine. Fractional synthesis rates of MHC were determined from the leucyl-tRNA precursor pool, which was similar in all groups (range 2.85 +/- 0.32 to 3.51 +/- 0.43 dpm/pmol). Exercise prevented 30% of the plantaris muscle mass loss as the result of cortisol acetate treatment. MHC synthesis rates (%/day) in plantaris muscles of sedentary animals were reduced by glucocorticoid treatment to 65% (6.2/9.5) of the vehicle-treated group. Exercise did not alter this depression of MHC synthesis. The combination of exercise and glucocorticoid treatment reduced the calculated MHC breakdown rate (%/day) to 80% (-8.0/-10.1) of the rate resulting from hormone treatment alone and 60% (-8.0/ 13.3) of the rate resulting from exercise alone. These results show that endurance exercise does not reverse the glucocorticoid inhibition of MHC synthesis in muscle but may act through reducing MHC breakdown. PMID- 2606838 TI - Modulation of endoperoxide product levels and cyclophosphamide-induced injury by glutathione repletion. AB - Glutathione is a tripeptide important in a number of diverse cellular functions including enzymatic reactions involved in prostaglandin endoperoxide metabolism. We have previously reported that cyclophosphamide administration to rats results in acute lung injury manifested by increased bronchoalveolar lavage albumin concentrations. In the current study we examine whether cyclophosphamide treatment affects pulmonary glutathione stores or bronchoalveolar endoperoxide metabolic product levels and whether these effects may be related to acute lung injury caused by the drug. We show that cyclophosphamide treatment causes a dose dependent reduction in pulmonary glutathione stores 4 h after drug administration. In addition, acute lung injury as the result of cyclophosphamide can be abrogated by coadministration of oxothiazolidine carboxylate, an intracellular cysteine delivery system that also reverses pulmonary glutathione depletion induced by cyclophosphamide in our study. Finally, cyclophosphamide treatment reduces prostaglandin E2 concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage and alveolar macrophage culture supernatant in a dose-dependent fashion and increases bronchoalveolar thromboxane concentrations in low dose-treated animals. These effects are reversed to a variable degree by coadministration of oxothiazolidine carboxylate. Our study suggests in vivo pulmonary arachidonic acid metabolism and cyclophosphamide-induced acute lung injury are modulated by cellular glutathione stores. These findings may have important implications for the treatment of acute lung injury. PMID- 2606839 TI - Density dependence of respiratory system impedances between 5 and 320 Hz in humans. AB - For respiratory system impedance (Zrs), the six-element model of DuBois et al. (J. Appl. Physiol. 8: 587-594, 1956) suggests three resonant frequencies (f1,f2,f3), where f1 is the result of the sum of tissue and airway inertances and tissue compliance and f2 is the result of alveolar gas compression compliance (Cg) and tissue inertance (Iti). Three such resonant frequencies have been reported in humans. However, the parameter estimates resulting from fitting this model to the data suggested that f2 and f3 were not associated with Cg and Iti but with airway acoustic properties. In the present study, we measured Zrs between 5 and 320 Hz in 10 healthy adult humans breathing room air or 80% He-20% O2 (HeO2) to gain insight as to whether airway or tissue properties are responsible for the f2 and f3. When the subjects breathed room air, f2 occurred at 170 +/- 16 (SD) Hz, and when they breathed HeO2 it occurred at 240 +/- 24 Hz. If this resonance were due to Cg and Iti it should not have been affected to this extent by the breathing of HeO2. We thus conclude that f2 is not due to tissue elements but that it is an airway acoustic resonance. Furthermore, application of the six-element model to analyze Zrs data at these frequencies is inappropriate, and models incorporating the airway acoustic properties should be used. One such model is based on the concept of equivalent length, which is defined as the length of an open-ended, cylindrical tube that has the same fundamental acoustic resonant frequency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606840 TI - Analysis of noninvasive macromolecular transport measurements in the lung. AB - Several groups of investigators are measuring transcapillary protein flux in the lung using noninvasive methods. Results from these studies are reported using several different protein transport indexes, including pulmonary transvascular transfer coefficient, relative extravascular protein, pulmonary transcapillary escape rate, protein leak index, lung transferrin index, slope index, and lung-to heart count ratios. The purpose of this study is to discover the relationships between these indexes by employing a two-compartment theory of protein transcapillary transport in the lung. We found that all the above indexes can be related to a single index, which we call the normalized slope index. This index is the time rate of change of radioactivity originating from protein in lung interstitium divided by radioactivity arising from protein in lung plasma, normalized by this ratio at time 0, and corrected for blood volume changes. In particular the normalized slope index is shown to be the same as pulmonary transcapillary escape rate under normal sampling conditions and is relatively unaffected by changes in interstitial volume. The response of the normalized slope index to changes in microvascular pressure and microvascular permeability is explored by applying a two-pore model of the microvascular barrier. Results indicate that the normalized slope index is relatively insensitive to changes in microvascular pressure but is greatly affected by changes in microvascular permeability (i.e., changes in large-pore size or number). Since all published leak indexes are related, we would encourage all investigators in the field to adopt a single leak index. We recommend that when a two-compartment model is applied to external detection data, the results be expressed as pulmonary transcapillary escape rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606841 TI - Effects of acute hyperbaric oxygenation on respiratory control in cats. AB - We studied ventilatory responsiveness to hypoxia and hypercapnia in anesthetized cats before and after exposure to 5 atmospheres absolute O2 for 90-135 min. The acute hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) was terminated at the onset of slow labored breathing. Tracheal airflow, inspiratory (TI) and expiratory (TE) times, inspiratory tidal volume (VT), end-tidal PO2 and PCO2, and arterial blood pressure were recorded simultaneously before and after HBO. Steady-state ventilation (VI at three arterial PO2 (PaO2) levels of approximately 99, 67, and 47 Torr at a maintained arterial PCO2 (PaCO2, 28 Torr) was measured for the hypoxic response. Ventilation at three steady-state PaCO2 levels of approximately 27, 36, and 46 Torr during hyperoxia (PaO2 450 Torr) gave a hypercapnic response. Both chemical stimuli significantly stimulated VT, breathing frequency, and VI before and after HBO. VT, TI, and TE at a given stimulus were significantly greater after HBO without a significant change in VT/TI. The breathing pattern, however, was abnormal after HBO, often showing inspiratory apneusis. Bilateral vagotomy diminished apneusis and further prolonged TI and TE and increased VT. Thus a part of the respiratory effects of HBO is due to pulmonary mechanoreflex changes. PMID- 2606842 TI - Sonomicrometric regional diaphragmatic shortening in awake sheep after thoracic surgery. AB - Through a right thoracotomy in seven sheep we chronically implanted sonomicrometry crystals and electromyographic electrodes in the costal and crural diaphragmatic regions. Awake sheep were studied during recovery for 4-6 wk, both during quiet breathing (QB) and during CO2 rebreathing. Tidal volume, respiratory frequency, and esophageal and gastric pressures were studied before and after surgery. Normalized resting length (LFRC) was significantly decreased for the costal segment on postoperative day 1 compared with postoperative day 28. Fractional costal shortening both during QB and at 10% end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) increased significantly from postoperative days 1 to 28, whereas crural shortening did not change during QB but progressively increased at 10% ETCO2. Maximal costal shortening during electrophrenic stimulation was constant at 40% LFRC during recovery, although maximal crural shortening increased from 23 to 32% LFRC. Minute ventilation, tidal volume, and transdiaphragmatic pressure at 10% ETCO2 increased progressively after thoracotomy until postoperative day 28. Our results suggest there is profound diaphragmatic inhibition after thoracotomy and crystal implantation in sheep that requires at least 3-4 wk for stable recovery. PMID- 2606843 TI - Postural baroreflex stimuli may affect EEG arousal and sleep in humans. AB - Past research has shown that baroreceptor stimulation can induce sleep. The present study investigated whether the upright posture inhibits sleep by reducing baroreceptor firing. Twenty-eight men were each exposed to four conditions on separate days: 40 degrees head-up tilt with (TP) and without (TN) 45 mmHg positive pressure on the legs and the supine position with (SP) and without (SN) leg pressure. Heart rate and blood pressure changes indicated that baroreceptor firing was strongly reduced by TN and only mildly reduced by TP in 24 subjects. Baroreceptor effects of SP were unclear. SN and SP did not differ significantly in their effects on electroencephalogram (EEG) sleep. Among subjects who showed a normal baroreflex response to tilt, both TN and TP inhibited sleep, but TN caused a persistent elevation of EEG beta activity that did not occur in TP plus a greater delay in sleep onset. TN had no such arousing effects in four subjects who showed little or no baroreflex response to tilt. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the fall in baroreceptor firing produced by the upright posture contributes to EEG arousal. PMID- 2606844 TI - Effect of training on muscle metabolism during treadmill sprinting. AB - Sixteen subjects volunteered for the study and were divided into a control (4 males and 4 females) and experimental group (4 males and 4 females, who undertook 8 wk of sprint training). All subjects completed a maximal 30-s sprint on a nonmotorized treadmill and a 2-min run on a motorized treadmill at a speed designed to elicit 110% of maximum oxygen uptake (110% run) before and after the period of training. Muscle biopsies were taken from vastus lateralis at rest and immediately after exercise. The metabolic responses to the 110% run were unchanged over the 8-wk period. However, sprint training resulted in a 12% (P less than 0.05) and 6% (NS) improvement in peak and mean power output, respectively, during the 30-s sprint test. This improvement in sprint performance was accompanied by an increase in the postexercise muscle lactate (86.0 +/- 26.4 vs. 103.6 +/- 24.6 mmol/kg dry wt, P less than 0.05) and plasma norepinephrine concentrations (10.4 +/- 5.4 vs. 12.1 +/- 5.3 nmol/l, P less than 0.05) and by a decrease in the postexercise blood pH (7.17 +/- 0.11 vs. 7.09 +/- 0.11, P less than 0.05). There was, however, no change in skeletal muscle buffering capacity as measured by the homogenate technique (67.6 +/- 6.5 vs. 71.2 +/- 4.5 Slykes, NS). PMID- 2606845 TI - Amino acid exchange between plasma and erythrocytes in vivo in humans. AB - To study amino acid exchange between plasma and erythrocytes in vivo, 4-h primed, continuous intravenous infusions of L-[1-13C]leucine, [15N]glycine, and L [15N]alanine were administered to five healthy young men in the postabsorptive state. Stable isotope enrichments and amino acid levels were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in both plasma and whole blood and estimated (using hematocrit) in erythrocytes. A high concentration gradient across the erythrocyte membrane was consistently found for glycine (552 +/- 268 microM in erythrocytes vs. 155 +/- 35 microM in plasma), but not for leucine or alanine. A steady-state isotopic enrichment was observed in whole blood as well as plasma for each amino acid in every subject. Steady-state [13C]leucine enrichment in erythrocytes did not differ from plasma enrichment at steady state, the ratio of erythrocyte to plasma enrichment being 1.03 +/- 0.20 (95% confidence limits = 0.78-1.28); in contrast, this ratio reached only 0.23 +/- 0.04 and 0.59 +/- 0.09 (confidence limits 0.18-0.28 and 0.48-0.70) for [15N]glycine and [15N]alanine at steady state, respectively. These results suggest that most of erythrocyte leucine is exchangeable with plasma, whereas only a fraction of erythrocyte glycine and alanine is involved in exchange with plasma in vivo. PMID- 2606846 TI - A captive bubble method reproduces the in situ behavior of lung surfactant monolayers. AB - We tested a new captive bubble surface tensiometer with films adsorbed from aqueous suspensions of rabbit lung surfactant and a bovine lung surfactant lipid extract and with films of dipalmitoyl-sn-3-glycerophosphorylcholine (DPPC) spread from solvents. The lack of tubes penetrating the bubble surface eliminated potential leakage pathways for the surface film, which was compressed by increasing external pressure. Surface tensions and areas were calculated directly from bubble shapes without the need of pressure measurements. After only one to two compressions, the rabbit surfactant films exhibited the low surface tension, collapse rates, and compressibilities characteristic of the alveolar surface in situ and approached the behavior of spread DPPC films. The bubble "clicking" phenomenon described earlier by Pattle (Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 148: 217 240, 1958) was also reproduced, but only with the bovine extract, which did not perform as well as the rabbit surfactant in surface tests. These findings suggest that surfactant apoprotein SP-A, which was probably present in the rabbit but not the bovine preparations, enhances both adsorption and stability of pulmonary surfactant monolayers. PMID- 2606847 TI - Decline in lung liquid volume and secretion rate during oligohydramnios in fetal sheep. AB - Reduced amniotic fluid volume often results in fetal lung hypoplasia. Our aim was to examine the effects of prolonged drainage of amniotic and allantoic fluids on lung liquid volume (Vl), secretion rate (Vs), and tracheal flow rate (Vtr) in fetal sheep. In five experimental animals, amniotic and allantoic fluids were drained from 107 to 135 days of gestation. The volume of fluid drained from the experimental animals was 411.8 +/- 24.4 ml/day (n = 140). In six control animals, amniotic fluid volume was 747.7 +/- 89.7 ml (n = 15). Wet and dry lung weights were 20-25% lower in experimental fetuses than in control fetuses. Fetal hemoglobin, O2 saturation, arterial PO2, pH, and hematocrit were unchanged by drainage. During the drainage period, Vl was up to 65% lower, Vs was up to 35% lower, and Vtr was up to 40% lower in experimental fetuses than in control fetuses. We conclude that prolonged drainage of amniotic and allantoic fluids decreases Vl, Vs, and Vtr in fetal sheep. These findings indicate that fetal lung hypoplasia associated with oligohydramnios may be the result of a prolonged reduction in Vl. PMID- 2606848 TI - On the imperfect elasticity of lung tissue. AB - This paper deals with a unifying hypothesis addressed at lung tissue resistance and its responses to neurohumoral and biophysical stimuli. The hypothesis holds that dissipative and elastic processes within lung tissue are coupled at the level of the stress-bearing element. Such a description leads naturally to consideration of a readily measured attribute of organ-level dissipative behavior called lung tissue hysteresivity, eta. On preliminary analysis this attribute is found to be nearly frequency independent and numerically conserved across species. To the degree that the numerical value of eta might be conserved during an intervention in which tissue dynamic elastance changes, such behavior would be consistent with the notion that elastic energy storage and dissipative energy loss reside within the very same stress-bearing element and, moreover, that those processes within the stress-bearing element bear an approximately fixed relationship. Tissue hysteresivity is closely related to the parameter K used by Bachofen and Hildebrandt (J. Appl. Physiol. 30: 493-497, 1971) to describe energy dissipation per cycle, and both lend themselves directly to interpretation based on processes ongoing at the levels of microstructure and molecule. Intraparenchymal connective tissues, surface film, and contractile elements appear to submit individually to this description and, in doing so, yield respective hysteresivities that are relatively well matched; this suggests that such hysteretic matching may be a necessary condition for synchronous expansion of the alveolar duct. The overriding simplicity with which this description organizes diverse observations implies that it may capture some unifying attribute of underlying mechanism. PMID- 2606849 TI - Diaphragm atrophy and weakness in cortisone-treated rats. AB - Despite frequent therapeutic use, the potential of corticosteroids to produce respiratory muscle myopathy is unknown. We studied effects of chronic steroid treatment on diaphragm mass and function. Eleven Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with cortisone acetate (100 mg.kg-1.day-1 im) for 10 days. Controls (injected with vehicle) included 11 freely eating rats and 11 animals pair fed to match food intake of cortisone rats. Steroid treatment depressed body weight 30% compared with controls. Mass of diaphragm, gastrocnemius, and extensor digitorum longus showed significant atrophy (30%); heart and soleus were unaffected. Isometric contractile properties of costal diaphragm strips were studied in vitro using direct stimulation. The force-frequency relationship was markedly depressed by steroid treatment, both at low and high frequencies. However, force developed per unit cross-sectional area was similar among all three groups, as were twitch characteristics. When stimulated every minute, forces developed by control strips fell progressively, whereas the forces of cortisone-treated strips remained unchanged. When stimulated every 5 s, the fall in force was not different between groups. We conclude that cortisone weakened the diaphragm by decreasing muscle mass but made the diaphragm more resistant to one form of fatigue in vitro. PMID- 2606850 TI - Glottic and cervical tracheal narrowing in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. AB - There are several studies showing that patients with idiopathic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have a narrow and collapsible pharynx that may predispose them to repeated upper airway occlusions during sleep. We hypothesized that this structural abnormality may also extend to the glottic and tracheal region. Consequently, we measured pharyngeal (Aph), glottic (Agl), cervical tracheal (Atr1), midtracheal (Atr2), and distal (Atr3) tracheal areas during tidal breathing in 66 patients with OSA (16 nonobese and 50 obese) and 8 nonapneic controls. We found that Aph, Agl, and Atr1, but not Atr2 or Atr3, were significantly smaller in the OSA group than in the control group. Obese patients with OSA had the smallest upper airway area, although the nonapneic controls had the largest areas. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the pharyngeal area, cervical tracheal area, and body mass index were all independent determinants of the apnea-hypopnea index, accounting for 31% of the variability in apnea-hypopnea index. Aph, Agl, and Atr showed significant correlation with the body mass index. We conclude that sleep-disordered breathing is associated with diffuse upper airway narrowing and that obesity contributes to this narrowing. Furthermore, we speculate that a common pathophysiological mechanism may be responsible for this reduction in upper airway area extending from the pharynx to the proximal trachea. PMID- 2606851 TI - Prevention of interleukin 2-induced acute lung injury in guinea pigs by pentoxifylline. AB - We administered recombinant human interleukin 2 (IL-2) to guinea pigs to investigate whether IL-2 would cause acute lung injury. In addition, we examined the effects of pentoxifylline (PTXF) on IL-2-induced acute lung injury. Three groups of animals were studied over a period of 8 h. The saline control group was injected intravenously with 2 ml of pyrogen-free saline; the IL-2 group was injected intravenously with 4 X 10(6) U/kg recombinant IL-2; and the IL-2-PTXF group was injected with a 20-mg/kg bolus of PTXF followed by a continuous infusion (6 mg.kg-1.h-1) started 60 min before injection of 4 X 10(6) U/kg IL-2. Lung water (wet-to-dry lung weight ratio), the concentration ratios of 125I albumin in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue compared with plasma (125I-albumin BAL-to-plasma, 125I-albumin lung-to-plasma), and cell counts in BAL fluid were examined. An intravenous injection of IL-2 caused an increased lung water (P less than 0.01), an increased 125I-albumin lung-to-plasma ratio (P less than 0.05), and a significant increase in the absolute number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages in BAL fluid compared with the saline control. In contrast, the PTXF-pretreated group did not demonstrate IL-2-induced acute lung injury (lung water, 125I-albumin lung-to-plasma) or increased accumulation of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages in the BAL. These data suggest a possible role for PTXF in attenuating the side effects of IL-2. PMID- 2606852 TI - Ventilatory control during exercise with peripheral chemoreceptor stimulation: hypoxia vs. domperidone. AB - Hypoxia potentiates the ventilatory response to exercise, eliciting a greater decrease in arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) from rest to exercise than in normoxia. The mechanism of this hypoxia-exercise interaction requires intact carotid chemoreceptors. To determine whether carotid chemoreceptor stimulation alone is sufficient to elicit the mechanism without whole body hypoxia, ventilatory responses to treadmill exercise were compared in goats during hyperoxic control conditions, moderate hypoxia (PaO2 = 38-44 Torr), and peripheral chemoreceptor stimulation with the peripheral dopamine D2-receptor antagonist, domperidone (Dom; 0.5 mg/kg iv). Measurements with Dom were made in both hyperoxia (Dom) and hypoxia (Dom/hypoxia). Finally, ventilatory responses to inspired CO2 at rest were compared in each experimental condition because enhanced CO2 chemoreception might be expected to blunt the PaCO2 decrease during exercise. At rest, PaCO2 decreased from control with Dom (-5.0 +/- 0.9 Torr), hypoxia (-4.1 +/- 0.5 Torr), and Dom/hypoxia (-11.1 +/- 1.2 Torr). The PaCO2 decrease from rest to exercise was not significantly different between control (-1.7 +/- 0.6 Torr) and Dom (-1.4 +/- 0.8 Torr) but was significantly greater in hypoxia (-4.3 +/- 0.7 Torr) and Dom/hypoxia (-3.5 +/- 0.9 Torr). The slope of the ventilation vs. CO2 production relationship in exercise increased with Dom (16%), hypoxia (18%), and Dom/hypoxia (68%). Ventilatory responses to inspired CO2 at rest increased from control to Dom (236%) and Dom/hypoxia (295%) and increased in four of five goats in hypoxia (mean 317%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606853 TI - Phosphorylation of rodent cardiac myosin light chain 2: effects of exercise. AB - The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether the degree of cardiac myosin light chain 2 (P-light chain) phosphorylation occurs as a function of changes in cardiovascular functional state as induced by 1) treadmill exercise (20-27 m/min, 0% grade for 20, 30, 45 min) (phase I) and 2) pharmacological intervention (phase II) in adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. It was hypothesized that cardiac myosin phosphorylation is regulated in accordance with time-dependent sustained elevations in myocardial work demands requiring alterations in either heart rate or left ventricular pressure development. Exercise heart rates (HR) and double products (HR x DP) were equivalent among the three exercise groups and were significantly elevated in comparison with the normal-rest (NR) group (P less than 0.05). In phase II, isoproterenol elicited higher HR, although the atenolol group exhibited a marked reduction in HR, mean arterial pressure, and double product relative to NR (P less than 0.05). Percent myosin P-light chain phosphorylation exhibited both a HR- and a work load-dependent modulation in P-light chain levels (-9% to +23% change) in the two phases of the study (P less than 0.05). These data are consistent with the view that the above responses are associated with modulations in intracellular calcium concentrations commensurate with the alterations in HR and left ventricular pressure. Also, elevations in P-light chain phosphorylation could serve to augment left ventricular pressure development under these functional states. PMID- 2606854 TI - A muscarinic agonist inhibits reflex bronchoconstriction in normal but not in asthmatic subjects. AB - Muscarinic receptors of the M2 subtype, which inhibit acetylcholine release from cholinergic nerves (autoreceptors), have been described in animal and human bronchi in vitro. We investigated whether these receptors may be involved in feedback inhibition of cholinergic reflex bronchoconstriction induced by sulfur dioxide (SO2) in seven nonasthmatic atopic subjects and in six mild asthmatic subjects. In a control experiment, total respiratory resistance (Rrs) was increased by 30 +/- 5% in nonasthmatic and by 60 +/- 18% in asthmatic subjects. In nonasthmatic subjects, pilocarpine, an agonist of muscarinic M2-autoreceptors, increased Rrs by 15 +/- 5% and addition of SO2 increased Rrs to 21 +/- 5% above base line, which was not significantly greater than after pilocarpine alone. Histamine gave a comparable bronchoconstriction (25 +/- 3% increase in Rrs) and SO2 further increased Rrs to 39 +/- 6% above base line (P less than 0.05). Thus pilocarpine appears to inhibit SO2-induced bronchoconstriction in nonasthmatic subjects, and this effect is not explained by an increase in airway tone. In asthmatic subjects, pretreatment with pilocarpine increased Rrs by 31 +/- 8% and SO2 further increased Rrs to 88 +/- 17% above base line. SO2 alone gave a 60 +/- 18% increase in Rrs. Our results suggest that feedback inhibitory muscarinic receptors may be present on cholinergic nerves in normal airways and that there may be a dysfunction of this feedback mechanism in asthmatic airways. This might be contributory to exaggerated cholinergic reflex bronchoconstriction in asthma. PMID- 2606855 TI - Free fatty acid availability and temperature regulation in cold water. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a reduced availability of plasma free fatty acids (FFA) would impair human temperature regulation during cold exposure. Seven seminude male subjects were immersed on two occasions in 18 degrees C water for 90 min or until their rectal temperature (Tre) decreased to 35.5 degrees C. The immersion occurred after 2 h of intermittent oral ingestion of either nicotinic acid (NIC) or a placebo (PLAC). Plasma FFA levels immediately before the immersion were significantly lower in NIC (87 +/- 15 mumol/l) than in PLAC (655 +/- 116 mumol/l, P less than 0.05). Although FFA levels increased by 73% in NIC during the immersion (P less than 0.05), they remained significantly lower than in PLAC (151 +/- 19 vs. 716 +/- 74 mumol/l, P less than 0.05) throughout the immersion. Muscle glycogen concentrations in the vastus lateralis decreased after cold water immersion in both trials (P less than 0.05), but the rate of glycogen utilization was similar, averaging 1.00 +/- 0.27 mmol glucose unit.kg dry muscle-1.min-1). Plasma glucose levels were significantly reduced after immersion in both trials (P less than 0.05), this decrease being greater in NIC (1.3 +/- 0.2 mmol/l) than in PLAC (0.7 +/- 0.1 mmol/l, P less than 0.05). O2 uptake increased to 3.8 +/- 0.3 times preimmersion values in both trials (P less than 0.05). Mean respiratory exchange ratio (RER) immediately before the immersion was greater in NIC (0.87 +/- 0.02) than in PLAC (0.77 +/- 0.01, P less than 0.05). Cold exposure increased RER in PLAC but not in NIC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606856 TI - Conductive and convective heat flows of exercising humans in cold water. AB - The apparent conductance (Kss, in W.m-2.degrees C-1) of a given region of superficial shell (on the thigh, fat + skin) was determined on four nonsweating and nonshivering subjects, resting and exercising (200 W) in water [water temperature (Tw) 22-23 degrees C] Kss = Hss/(Tsf-Tsk) where Hss is the skin-to water heat flow directly measured by heat flow transducers and Tsf and Tsk are the temperatures of the subcutaneous fat at a known depth below the skin surface and of the skin surface, respectively. The convective heat flow (qc) through the superficial shell was then estimated as qc = (Tsf - Tsk).(Kss - Kss,min), assuming that at rest Kss was minimal (Kss,min) and resting qc = 0. The duration of immersion was set to allow rectal temperature (Tre) to reach approximately 37 degrees C at the end of rest and approximately 38 degrees C at the end of exercise. Except at the highest Tw used, Kss at the start of exercise was always Kss,min and averaged 51 W.m-2.degrees C-1 (range 33-57 W.m-2.degrees C-1) across subjects, and qc was zero. At the end of exercise at the highest Tw used for each subject, Kss averaged 97 W.m-2.degrees C-1 (range 77-108 W.m-2.degrees C-1) and qc averaged 53% (range 48-61%) of Hss (mean Hss = 233 W.m-2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606857 TI - Increased total concentration of Na-K pumps in vastus lateralis muscle of old trained human subjects. AB - The concentration of Na-K pumps was measured as the total capacity for [3H]ouabain binding in needle biopsies of the vastus lateralis muscle. Samples were obtained from young (28 +/- 0.2 yr) and old (68 +/- 0.6 yr) untrained control subjects and from groups of age-matched old trained subjects, who had been performing well-defined training programs at regular intervals for 12-17 yr. Measurements of maximum isometric force in knee extension showed that running and, especially, strength training produced a significant increase, whereas swim training was without effect. Both running and swim training increased endurance of knee extension, whereas strength training had a negative effect. When compared with untrained age-matched subjects, the swim-, running-, and strength-trained subjects demonstrated increased concentration of [3H]ouabain binding sites of 30% (P less than 0.01), 32% (P less than 0.05), and 40% (P less than 0.05), respectively. In the entire group of 28 individuals tested, maximum isometric strength and the concentration of [3H]ouabain binding sites showed correlation (r = 0.49, P less than 0.01). This upregulation of Na-K pump concentration might contribute to the reduction in exercise-induced hyperkalemia seen in trained subjects. PMID- 2606858 TI - Pulmonary responses to phospholipase A2 in the perfused guinea pig lung. AB - We examined the effect of phospholipase A2 (PLA2; Naja naja) challenge on pulmonary hemodynamics, airway constriction, and fluid filtration in isolated Ringer-perfused guinea pig lungs. Intratracheal PLA2 (10-100 U) produced dose dependent increases in pulmonary arterial pressure, intratracheal pressure, and lung weight, although intravenous PLA2 administration had no effect on monitored variables. Morphological features indicative of airway constriction and pulmonary edema were observed by light microscopy. PLA2-induced increases in intratracheal pressure and/or lung weight were attenuated to varying degrees by pretreatment with indomethacin (1 microM, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor), ICI-198,615 (1 microM, a leukotriene D4 receptor antagonist), and WEB 2086 (1 microM, a platelet activating factor antagonist). PLA2-induced increases in pulmonary arterial pressure and intratracheal pressure were also reduced in lungs removed from animals pretreated with dexamethasone (50 mg/kg ip for 2 days; a steroidal antiinflammatory agent). Pyrilamine (1 microM, a histamine1-receptor antagonist) and Takeda AA861 (1 microM, a delta 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor) did not produce significant inhibitory effects on PLA2-induced pathophysiological changes. Intratracheal instillation of high-dose platelet-activating factor (50 micrograms) or lysophosphatidylcholine (100 micrograms) produced gradual increases in intratracheal pressure and lung weight, but these changes were not as large as those induced by PLA2. Thus these studies suggest that resident cell populations associated with airways may play an important role in PLA2-induced pathophysiological changes in the perfused guinea pig lung. These PLA2-induced effects are most likely partially mediated by generation of eicosanoids and platelet-activating factor. PMID- 2606859 TI - Morphometric study of human alveolar ducts based on serial sections. AB - Interactive computerized morphometry was used for the quantitative study of the terminal airway branches (alveolar ducts) that followed the last bronchioles in three human acini. Two normal adult human lungs from the autopsy service were fixed by instillation and serial sections were prepared; three tissues blocks showing a central bronchiole were selected. Primary and secondary alveolar walls were traced and the following parameters were measured: volume, surface area (of primary and secondary septa), curvature (in equivalent radius) for branches of individual generations, and cumulative values starting with the first alveolar duct and moving peripherally. Although branching was dichotomous, we noticed considerable asymmetry in the pattern of branching and number of side branches. The branching trees of alveolar ducts that we studied comprised 6,7, and 10 generations. The average volume of ducts was 0.04-0.13 mm3, the surface area of primary walls ranged from 0.3616 to 0.7931 mm2 and of secondary septal walls from 0.0100 to 0.0647 mm2. The equivalent radius of curvature was between 22.7 and 38.1 microns. Cumulative increases of volume and surface area revealed similarity in the first five generations. Secondary walls represented only 4% (or 8% if 2 sides are considered) of the primary surface area, strengthening the view that alveoli are incompletely developed side chambers secondary to the alveolar ducts. PMID- 2606860 TI - Epithelial vs. serosal stimulation of tracheal muscle: role of epithelium. AB - There is evidence implying an active role of airway epithelium in the modulation of bronchomotor tone. To study this phenomenon, we designed an in vitro system allowing pharmacological stimulation of either the inside or outside of the airway lumen. Rat tracheas were excised, cannulated, and their inside and outside perfused independently with Krebs solution. Two hooks were inserted through opposite sides of the tracheal wall, the lower one was attached to a fixed point, while the upper one was connected to a force transducer. Isometric contractions of the tracheal muscle were elicited by carbachol solution perfused in single and cumulative concentrations. In one-half of the preparations the epithelium was mechanically removed. Stimulation of the inside or outside of the trachea produced equal maximal tracheal muscle tension [1.55 +/- 0.14 and 1.2 +/- 0.09 (SE) g in and out, respectively]. The time course of tension development was longer when carbachol was administered inside the trachea: an effect that was abolished when the epithelium was removed. In addition, removal of the epithelium was found 1) to increase the maximal tension irrespective of the route of carbachol perfusion and 2) to increase the sensitivity of the preparation to carbachol stimulation. PMID- 2606861 TI - Effects of hypothermia on rat brain pHi and phosphate metabolite regulation by 31P-NMR. AB - The effects of arterial alphastat regulation on brain intracellular pH (pHi) and several phosphate metabolites were assessed in anesthetized rats during hypothermia (28.6 +/- 0.2 degrees C) and normothermia (36.2 +/- 0.2 degrees C) by using 31P high-field (8.5 T) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). There were significant differences in pHi and metabolite ratios at the two temperatures under conditions of equal minute ventilation. During hypothermia, the brain pHi was 0.09 U higher, the phosphocreatine-to-inorganic phosphate (PCR/Pi) ratio 49% larger, and Pi-to-ATP 20% lower than at normothermia. These changes were fully reversible on warming the animal. The change in brain pHi/temperature was 0.011U/degrees C (95% confidence interval -0.007 to -0.016). The brain's ability to regulate its pHi and phosphate metabolism during hypercapnic acid-base stress was studied by using 10% CO2 ventilation. Hypothermic rats showed a larger fall in brain pHi (0.145 +/- 0.01 U, 7.15-7.01) with 10% CO2 than normothermic rats (0.10 +/- 0.02 U, 7.06-6.96). Similarly ventilated rats had a larger fall in arterial pH with 10% CO2 at hypothermia (0.36 +/- 0.04 U) than normothermia (0.24 +/- 0.01 U), so the delta brain pH/delta arterial pH was the same at both temperatures. The brain PCr-to-Pi ratio decreased approximately 20% during 10% CO2 breathing in both hypothermic and normothermic animals. Brain pHi and metabolite ratios returned to base line 30-50 min after CO2 washout in both groups. In summary, lowering body temperature while maintaining constant ventilation leads to changes in brain pHi and metabolites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606862 TI - Early dynamics of O2 uptake and heart rate as affected by exercise work rate. AB - The kinetics of O2 uptake (Vo2) and heart rate (HR) in response to constant work rate exercise have been characterized as two phases, an immediate response as the result largely of abrupt hemodynamic changes and a slower response as the result of increases in both blood flow and arteriovenous O2 difference (avDo2). There are few data reported concerning Vo2 and HR during phase I or the relationship between their kinetics and work rate or intensity. Because phase I responses depend on abrupt cardiovascular adjustments, it was hypothesized that phase I increases in Vo2 and HR would be greater the more "fit" the subject and would be relatively independent of work rate. To test this, 10 normal subjects exercised from rest to each of five work rates ranging from unloaded cycling to 150 W. The phase I increases of Vo2, HR, and Vo2/HR had small but significant correlations with work rate but not with fitness. At very low work rates (unloaded cycling and 25 W), Vo2 and HR often exceeded their steady-state levels in phase I. There was therefore no phase II increase for Vo2 or HR at these work rates, the entire O2 requirement having been met by phase I circulatory adjustments. For all other work rates, mean response times for Vo2 and HR were related to fitness and were slower than those for Vo2/HR, suggesting that avDo2 reached a steady state before cardiac output did. PMID- 2606863 TI - Respiratory mechanics in anesthetized paralyzed humans: effects of flow, volume, and time. AB - The effects of inspiratory flow rate and inflation volume on the resistive properties of the total respiratory system were investigated in 16 anesthetized paralyzed humans by using the technique of rapid airway occlusion during constant flow inflation. This allowed measurement of the intrinsic resistance (Rmin,rs) and of the effective additional resistance (delta Rrs) as the result of viscoelastic pressure dissipations within the pulmonary and chest wall tissues. We observed that 1) at fixed inflation volume, Rmin,rs increased linearly with increasing flow although delta Rrs decreased according to an exponential function; 2) at fixed inflation flow, Rmin,rs decreased with increasing inflation volume although there was a concomitant increase in delta Rrs. This behavior could be explained in terms of a spring-and-dashpot model incorporating 1) the standard resistance and elastance and 2) a spring-and-dashpot in parallel with standard elastance, reflecting the stress adaptation units within the thoracic tissues. PMID- 2606864 TI - Hyperosmotic-induced bronchoconstriction in the canine lung periphery. AB - Hypertonic aerosol- and dry airflow-induced bronchoconstriction were examined in the canine lung periphery by the use of a wedged bronchoscope technique. Collateral resistance was measured in anesthetized dogs before and after exposure to isotonic and hypertonic aerosols and dry airflow. Hypertonic aerosols produced significantly greater responses than isotonic aerosols, and resistance increased in an exposure-dependent manner. Atropine attenuated responses to these challenges, indicating that aerosol-induced peripheral lung constriction was, in part, muscarinic in origin. Paired hypertonic- and dry airflow-induced constriction exhibited marked differences in magnitude and time course: responses to hypertonic aerosol peaked immediately; dry air-induced responses rose slowly to a maximum 5-min postchallenge. These differences may reflect differences in stimulus strength or differences in the regulatory pathways activated by each challenge. Despite this, a significant correlation exists between aerosol- and dry air-induced responses in the canine lung periphery and suggests that changes in airway fluid osmolality have an important role in the initiation of airflow induced bronchoconstriction. PMID- 2606865 TI - Aerosol deposition in the lung with asymmetric airways obstruction: in vivo observation. AB - Both the total and regional aerosol deposition were measured in six adult sheep before and after an induction of asymmetric airway obstructions, either by local instillation of carbachol solution (CS, 0.1%) distal to the right main bronchus or inhalation challenge of the right lung with carbachol aerosol (CA, 10 breaths). Total lung deposition was determined by monitoring inert monodisperse aerosols [1.0 micron mass median aerodynamic diam (MMAD)] breath-by-breath, at the mouth, by means of a laser aerosol photometer. Cumulative aerosol deposition over the first five breaths as a percent of the initial aerosol concentration (AD5) was used as a deposition index. Regional deposition pattern was determined by scintigraphic images of sulfur-colloid aerosol (1.5 microns MMAD) tagged with 99mTc. Radioactivity counts in the right (R) and left lung (L) were expressed as a percent of the whole lung count. Half-lung AD5 was then determined by multiplying AD5 by fractional radioaerosol depositions in R or L. Pulmonary airflow resistance (RL mean +/- SE), as determined by an esophageal balloon technique, increased by 111 +/- 28 and 250 +/- 96% after CA and CS, respectively (P less than 0.05). AD5 also increased in all the sheep tested by 29 +/- 3 and 52 +/- 8%, respectively, after CA and CS (P less than 0.05). Radioaerosol deposition pattern was even at base line (R/L = 51:49) but shifted toward the unchallenged L after CS (R/L = 40:60). Deposition pattern after CA was variable: a shift toward L in three, no change in one, and a shift toward the R lung in two sheep.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606866 TI - Cimetidine reduces hyperoxic lung injury in lambs. AB - We previously reported that pretreatment with endotoxin significantly reduced acute pulmonary O2 toxicity in lambs (J. Appl. Physiol. 65: 1579-1585, 1988). One of endotoxin's many effects is to inhibit cytochrome P-450 mono-oxygenation reactions, which are believed to produce toxic O2 species. Therefore, one possible explanation for endotoxin's beneficial effect is that it inhibited P-450 mediated O2 radical production during hyperoxia. To test this hypothesis, we administered a single dose of cimetidine, a noncompetitive inhibitor of P-450 activity, to nine lambs before continuous exposure to greater than 95% O2. Compared with six control O2-exposed lambs, the cimetidine-treated O2-exposed lambs maintained normal gas exchange for a longer period of time (P less than 0.01), accumulated lung water at a slower rate (P less than 0.01), and had normal microvascular permeability after 72 h of O2 exposure. Postmortem levels of antioxidant enzymes in blood-free lung homogenate were not increased in cimetidine-treated lambs. However, the levels of oxidized glutathione were significantly lower in cimetidine-treated lambs, and the ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione concentrations (GSH/GSSG ratio) was sevenfold higher than the ratio measured in control O2-exposed lambs (P less than 0.001). In four lambs, pretreatment with ranitidine (a drug chemically related to cimetidine but without P-450 inhibitory activity) had no effect either on the time course of O2 injury or on postmortem antioxidants. Microsomes were isolated from blood-free lung of all study animals and P-450 activity of the form 2 isozyme was measured.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606867 TI - Reduced erythrocyte deformability alters pulmonary hemodynamics. AB - Isolated rat lungs were perfused with suspensions containing normal and stiffened erythrocytes (RBCs) to assess the effect of altered RBC deformability on pulmonary hemodynamics. RBC suspensions were prepared using cells previously incubated in isosmolar phosphate-buffered saline with or without 0.0125 or 0.01875% glutaraldehyde. Washed RBCs were resuspended in isosmolar 4% albumin saline solution. Isolated rat lungs were perfused with control and stiffened cells by the use of a perfusion system that allowed rapid switching between suspensions. Pressure-flow (P/Q) curves were constructed by measuring pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) over a range of flow rates. In a second set of experiments, P/Q curves were generated for perfusion with control and stiffened cells (0.0125% glutaraldehyde) before and after vasoconstriction with a synthetic prostaglandin analogue (U 46619). RBC deformability was quantified in all experiments by determination of filtration time of a dilute cell suspension through a 4.7 microns Nuclepore filter. Incubation with 0.0125 or 0.01875% glutaraldehyde produced a 6 or 21% decrease in RBC deformability, respectively. These decreases in deformability were associated with significant increases in Ppa at each flow rate. The increases in Ppa correlated significantly with the degree of RBC stiffening. With 0.0125% glutaraldehyde, the P/Q curve was shifted upward without a change in slope, whereas incubation with 0.01875% glutaraldehyde resulted in a significant increase in slope. Vasoconstriction and perfusion with stiffened RBCs had additive effects on Ppa. These findings suggest that decreases in RBC deformability cause physiologically significant elevations in hemodynamic resistance in the pulmonary circuit independent of vasoactivity. PMID- 2606868 TI - Force deficit during the onset of muscle hypertrophy. AB - The purpose was to study selected structural changes associated with the deficit in maximum specific force (N/cm2) during the early development of skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Ablation of gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles was performed bilaterally in 35-day-old rats (n = 41), and the soleus muscle was studied from days 1 to 30 thereafter. Compared with control muscles from age-matched unoperated rats (n = 48), muscle mass and cross-sectional area increased in parallel from 28 to 52% over the 30-day postoperative period. Specific force of hypertrophied muscle was depressed 38% at days 1 and 3, and by 28% from days 5 to 30 after synergistic muscle ablation compared with age-matched control values. Interstitial space was 38% greater than the control value of 20.4 +/- 1 microliters/100 mg at day 1 only. Protein concentration was depressed 15% for 7 days after the ablation operation, and connective tissue protein concentration was unchanged. The relative magnitude of increased mean fiber cross-sectional area was less than that of muscle mass until day 7 after ablation. Mononuclear cell infiltration in interfascicular spaces occurred from days 3 to 30 without light microscopic evidence of muscle fiber injury. Initial functional deficits are explained in part by an enlarged interstitial space and decreased protein concentration; later deficits are likely accounted for by intracellular changes. PMID- 2606869 TI - Inspiratory function of the levator costae and external intercostal muscles in the dog. AB - The shortening of the canine parasternal intercostals during inspiration may have a passive component, and we have previously speculated that this might result from the actions of the levator costae and external intercostals (J. Appl. Physiol. 66: 1421-1429, 1989). The present studies were designed, therefore, to evaluate the pattern of activation of these muscles in the dog and to define their action on the rib cage during breathing. The results indicate that 1) the levator costae and external intercostals in the cranial part of the rib cage are active during inspiration, both in the supine and in the prone posture; 2) the inspiratory activation of the two muscles is increased after bilateral phrenicotomy; 3) it is increased even more when the parasternal intercostals in the different interspaces are also denervated; and 4) when the levator costae and external intercostals are the only muscles active during inspiration, the ribs continue to move cranially, and the sternum, rather than moving caudally as it does in the intact animal, moves cranially as well. Therefore, we conclude that the levator costae and external intercostals in the dog have a true inspiratory function. When needed, they are capable of causing a significant expansion of the rib cage and the lung during breathing. PMID- 2606870 TI - Airways responsiveness determined by consecutive histamine challenges in asymptomatic asthmatics. AB - The effect of two consecutive histamine inhalation challenges on airways responsiveness was assessed in a group of eight nonsmoking nonmedicated asthmatics aged 19-27 yr. All subjects had a base-line forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) of greater than 80% of their predicted normal value before the initial challenge and were allowed to recover to greater than 95% of the initial base-line FEV1 value before the second challenge was initiated. The average airways recovery time after the first challenge was 44 min but ranged between 30 and 90 min. The mean +/- SD values of cumulative histamine dose units provoking a 20% decrease of the FEV1 from the buffer control value (PD20FEV1) were 10.79 +/- 5.95 determined with the first and 30.50 +/- 46.36 with the second challenge (P greater than 0.05). We conclude that sequential histamine challenges performed in mild asthmatics with closely controlled prechallenge airways function are well tolerated. Although some variance does exist in intersubject airways recovery time and in intra-subject histamine airways responsiveness determined by sequential challenges, our data do not support recent observations (J. Appl. Physiol. 63: 1572-1577, 1987) that histamine tolerance is a characteristic finding associated with bronchial asthma. PMID- 2606871 TI - Airway pressure-volume curve estimated by flow interruption during forced expiration. AB - We attempted to estimate the pressure-volume characteristics of airways downstream from the choke point when the airflow was abruptly interrupted during forced expiration. The change of gas volume of the downstream segment after interruption could be estimated by multiplying the maximum flow (Vmax) immediately before interruption by the interruption time because the Vmax is maintained for a short period after airflow interruption at the mouth, as described in our previous report (J. Appl. Physiol. 66: 509-517, 1989). For the pressure of the downstream segment, we used the mouth pressure itself. Airway compliance, a slope of the pressure-volume curve, was measured in an airway model in eight normal subjects, in six patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and in one patient with tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica. Airway compliance was 0.96 ml/cmH2O in normal subjects and 2.49 ml/cmH2O in COPD patients. This difference of airway compliance was believed to be caused by the longitudinal expansion of the downstream segment and changes in the properties of the airway wall. PMID- 2606872 TI - Response of bronchial vasculature to local or systemic hypoxia and hypercapnia. PMID- 2606873 TI - Lactate formation and tissue hypoxia. PMID- 2606874 TI - Do lactate and ventilatory thresholds differ? PMID- 2606875 TI - Diagnosis and therapy of breast cancer. PMID- 2606876 TI - Viability of meiotic prophase spermatocytes of rats is facilitated in primary culture of dispersed testicular cells on collagen gel by supplementing epinephrine or norepinephrine: evidence that meiotic prophase spermatocytes complete meiotic divisions in vitro. AB - Dispersed testicular cells prepared from 14-d-old rats were cultured on type 1 collagen gels using a medium composed of a 1:1 mixture of Ham's F12 medium and Leibovitz's L15 medium (F12-L15 medium) containing 10% (vol/vol) fetal bovine serum. The viability of the spermatogenic cells was facilitated by supplementing a rat adrenal extract into the medium. The effective substance(s) (the survival factor) was purified from acid extracts of adrenals by molecular sieve high performance liquid chromatography and identified as epinephrine and norepinephrine. Both epinephrine and norepinephrine promoted the survival of the spermatogenic cells with a half saturating dose of 10 ng/ml. The spermatogenic cells, which could be cultured for 2 wk on a collagen gel by supplementing with the survival factor (epinephrine or norepinephrine), were subjected to Giemsa staining and to DNA flow cytometry. The following results were obtained: a) The spermatogenic cells from 14-d-old rats did not contain spermiogenic cells (1c cells). b) During a culture period of 2 to 7 d the ratio of meiotic prophase spermatocytes (4c-cells) to premeiotic cells (2c-cells) increased. On Day 7, more than 90% of the surviving cells were meiotic prophase spermatocytes. c) On Day 10, spermatids (1c-cells) appeared for the first time. The time of the first appearance of spermatids in the culture was consistent with that in vivo. These results suggest that both epinephrine and norepinephrine facilitated the viability of meiotic prophase spermatocytes and that a part of the meiotic prophase spermatocytes completed the meiotic divisions in the testicular cell culture. PMID- 2606877 TI - Growth factor interactions between mouse mammary cell lines cocultured in collagen gels. AB - Three related mouse mammary cell lines were cultured in collagen gels and assayed for growth factor responsiveness and interaction via soluble factors. The CL-S1 cell line is nontumorigenic and grows poorly in collagen gel culture. The +SA and -SA cell lines exhibit different degrees of malignant behavior in vivo and have different growth properties in vitro. In collagen gel culture, +SA growth was stimulated by serum but not by epidermal growth factor (EGF), whereas both serum and EGF were required for optimal growth of -SA cells of early passage number as well as CL-S1 cells. -SA cells of later passage repeatedly exhibited a change so as to no longer require serum while retaining EGF responsiveness. [125I]EGF binding analyses indicated that CL-S1 cells bound EGF with less affinity than did -SA cells whereas +SA cells bound almost no ligand. When cell lines were maintained in separate collagen gels but shared the same culture medium, growth of +SA or -SA cells was slightly enhanced in the presence of CL-S1 cells and -SA cell growth was enhanced by the presence of +SA cells. Using the normal rat kidney fibroblast line NRK (clone 49F) as an indicator, serum-containing conditioned media from each cell line and from each pair of cell lines cultured in collagen gels were tested for transforming growth factor (TGF) activity. Both the -SA and CL-S1 lines tested positive for TGF-alpha production and possibly released a TGF-beta activity. These results suggest mechanisms by which cell populations in and around tumors can modify one another's growth characteristics. PMID- 2606878 TI - Organic and inorganic lead inhibit neurite growth in vertebrate and invertebrate neurons in culture. AB - Neurons from brains of chick embryos and pond snails (Lymnaea stagnalis) were cultured for 3 to 4 d in the presence of no toxins, inorganic lead (PbCl2), or organic lead (triethyl lead chloride). In chick neurons, inorganic lead reduced the percentage of cells that grew neurites (IC50 = 270 microM total lead, approximately 70 nM free Pb2+) but did not reduce the number of neurites per cell or the mean neurite length. Triethyl lead reduced the percentage of cells that grew neurites (IC50 = 0.24 microM) and the mean neurite length (extrapolated IC50 = 3.6 microM) but did not reduce the number of neurites per cell. In Lymnaea neurons, inorganic lead reduced the percentage of cells that grew neurites (IC50 = 13 microM total lead; approximately 10 nM free Pb2+). Triethyl lead reduced the percentage of cells that grew neurites (IC50 = 0.4 microM) and exerted significant toxicity at 0.2 microM. The two forms of lead affected neurite growth in qualitatively different ways, which suggests that their mechanisms of action are different. PMID- 2606879 TI - Covalent binding of 17 beta-estradiol and retinoic acid to proteins in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. AB - Both retinoic acid and 17 beta-estradiol formed covalent bonds with proteins of the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Two-dimensional gel patterns of the labeled proteins were unique for each ligand. There were four major retinoylated proteins in MCF-7 consisting of two doublets with molecular masses of 37 kDa and 20 kDa. These proteins were designated 37a, 37b, 20c, and 20d. The extent of retinoylation was very low in a 55 kDa protein that we previously identified in the human myeloid leukemia cell line HL60 [Takahashi, N. and Breitman, T. R. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 5159-5163]. These results indicated that the protein substrates for retinoylation may vary among cell-types. About 10 proteins were labeled from 17 beta-estradiol. Two of these proteins had mobilities that were identical to the retinoylated proteins 37a and 20c. These results indicate that in MCF-7 cells there are two proteins that can be retinoylated and labeled from estradiol. The demonstration that some ligands of the steroid/thyroid receptor family are covalently linked to cellular proteins suggests new mechanisms for the many effects of these agents on cells. PMID- 2606880 TI - The role of age at assessment, developmental level, and test in the stability of intelligence scores in young autistic children. AB - Longitudinal comparisons were made of intelligence and developmental quotient (IQ/DQ) scores for three age groups of 70-72 autistic children aged 2 to 3, 4 to 5, and 6 to 7 years at initial assessment and reassessed at least 2 years later. Stability and predictability over a mean follow-up period of 5 years were related to age, developmental level, and test used at initial assessment. IQ/DQs during preschool years were quite stable and predictive of later IQ scores, except when early scores on the Bayley Scales of Mental Development were compared with later scores on performance or nonverbal tests. As for other populations, predictability for young autistic children was strongest when the same test was used at both assessments, and when children were 4 years or older at initial assessment. PMID- 2606881 TI - Family functioning in families with older institutionalized retarded offspring. AB - Psychological distress, marital satisfaction, family adaptability, and cohesion are explored in 31 families with mentally retarded (MR) institutionalized offspring (late adolescence and young adulthood) and 38 comparison families. Multivariate analyses indicate no differences between the groups, although univariate analyses point to higher levels of cohesion in the families with MR offspring and the importance of the construct of adaptability in understanding family functioning. The results are discussed in terms of the adaptive coping mechanisms of the families with MR offspring and the implications of this for intervention, research, and policy. PMID- 2606882 TI - Fenfluramine treatment of twenty children with autism. AB - The effects of fenfluramine were examined on 20 children with autism over a 48 week period utilizing a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design. Blood and urine samples and psychological tests (Griffith's Developmental Scales and Real Life Rating Scale) were obtained at each crossover period. The only significant improvement was a decrease in abnormal motor behavior. We did not find any significant improvement in intellectual functioning or any correlation between good clinical response and low baseline serotonin levels or high baseline IQ. Serotonin decreased 53% after fenfluramine treatment and rebounded to a level 35% higher than baseline following a placebo period. Fenfluramine and the active metabolite norfenfluramine were determined in plasma samples. PMID- 2606883 TI - The effects of fenfluramine (hydrochloride) on the behaviors of fifteen autistic children. AB - Fifteen autistic individuals were involved in an investigation using fenfluramine and placebo in a double-blind crossover design. Subjects were assessed using IQ tests, the Real Life Rating Scale (RLRS), the Adaptive Behavior Scale-School Edition (ABS-SE), and videotaped play data on 8 of 12 visits, including 2 follow up visits. Serotonin level in platelet-poor plasma was assessed on all 12 visits. Serotonin levels decreased with the administration of fenfluramine, and increased with the reinstatement of placebo. Statistical tests revealed no significant differences on the IQ scores, the RLRS, or the ABS-SE for the drug versus the placebo conditions. Videotaped data favored the subjects while on placebo. Group and individual data were analyzed over time and indicated no significant improvements due to the drug. The implications of this research make it difficult to recommend fenfluramine as a treatment for autism. PMID- 2606884 TI - The borderland of autism and Rett syndrome: five case histories to highlight diagnostic difficulties. AB - Four girls and one boy with pervasive developmental disorders are described. They all met DSM-III-R criteria for autistic disorder and all also showed many if not all the symptoms currently considered essential for a diagnosis of Rett syndrome. It is concluded that there is considerable overlap between the two disorders and that the symptomatic similarities might mirror common pathophysiological abnormalities at the brainstem level. PMID- 2606885 TI - Functional equivalence of autistic leading and communicative pointing: analysis and treatment. AB - Several studies have demonstrated that behavior problems can be reduced by teaching new, socially desirable responses that serve the same function as the undesirable behaviors being replaced. The present study was undertaken to extend this strategy systematically to a different area of child development, specifically, language disorder. A less desirable form of requesting, autistic leading, was treated by strengthening a more desirable form of requesting, pointing. The study was conducted using a multiple baseline design across four children with autism. Intervention included verbal and physical prompting of the pointing response as well as tangible reinforcement for child-initiated instances of that response. In a later phase, verbal requesting was also taught to accompany the pointing. Following intervention, response generalization was observed; that is, as pointing became frequent, leading became rare. In addition, stimulus generalization was observed; that is, pointing was exhibited in the presence of new adults, new settings, and new tangible objects. Results are discussed with respect to the principle that functional equivalence and response efficiency can be combined procedurally to treat a variety of undesirable behaviors in an educationally constructive manner. PMID- 2606886 TI - Are autistic children "behaviorists"? An examination of their mental-physical and appearance-reality distinctions. AB - This paper continues our earlier investigation of autistic children's deficit in attributing beliefs to others--in their "theory of mind." Three experiments are reported. The first tests the prediction that autistic children will fail to distinguish mental and physical entities. The second tests the prediction that they will also be unaware of the mental function of the brain. The third tests the prediction that they will be unable to take into account their own mental states. This latter prediction was tested using Appearance-Reality (A-R) tasks. All three predictions were supported. Deficits in these areas were not found among mentally handicapped or normal children of the same or lower mental and chronological age, suggesting that they may be autism-specific and independent of general developmental delay. It is argued that autistic children's failure to make A-R distinctions is consistent with Leslie's (1987) metarepresentation theory of autism. PMID- 2606887 TI - Emotion-related and abstract concepts in autistic people: evidence from the British Picture Vocabulary Scale. AB - Autistic and nonautistic retarded adolescents and young adults, individually matched for chronological age and performance on the British Picture Vocabulary Scale (BPVS; Dunn, Dunn, & Whetton, 1982), were compared on those items of the BPVS that independent raters judged (a) emotion-related and (b) highly abstract. Compared to control subjects, autistic individuals scored lower on emotion related vis-a-vis emotion-unrelated items, an effect that could not be attributed to the "social content" of the items. However, autistic and nonautistic subjects achieved similar scores when responding to highly abstract vis-a-vis "concrete" words of the BPVS. The findings suggest that autistic individuals have specific impairments in grasping emotion-related concepts. They also suggest the need for further study of autistic and nonautistic retarded subjects' difficulties in abstracting. The results have a bearing on the interpretation of the BPVS and on the use of this test as a matching procedure. PMID- 2606888 TI - Daily life therapy: a Japanese model for educating children with autism. AB - The controversial practice of Daily Life Therapy, as demonstrated at the Boston Higashi School in Massachusetts, is reviewed. Five fundamental principles of Daily Life Therapy are examined: instruction that is group-oriented; routine activities that are highly structured; instructional techniques that center on learning through imitation; a method for reducing children's levels of unproductive activity through rigorous physical exercise; and a curriculum that focuses on movement, music, and art. These central features of Daily Life Therapy are discussed in light of current theory, research, and educational practices in autism. Empirical questions raised by this unique treatment mode are outlined. PMID- 2606889 TI - Brief report: a comparison of DSM-III and DSM-III-R criteria for autism. PMID- 2606890 TI - Proton nuclear magnetic resonance study of a selectively deuterated mouse monoclonal antibody: use of two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy. AB - A 1H NMR study of a selectively deuterated mouse anti-dansyl monoclonal antibody is reported. Two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn (2D-HOHAHA) spectroscopy was found to be effective for establishing the connectivity between the C2-H and C4-H protons of His residues in the antibody molecule. It has been concluded that 1) even in the case of large proteins such as an antibody, HOHAHA peaks can be observed for amino acid residues that are located in a flexible environment, and 2) deuterium labeling is effective in reducing the efficiency of spin relaxation and makes it possible to increase the number of observed HOHAHA cross peaks. It was suggested that 2D-HOHAHA can also be used to obtain information concerning the flexible parts of antibody molecules. PMID- 2606891 TI - Reassessment of the viscosity behavior of sodium dodecyl sulfate-protein polypeptide complexes. AB - A reassessment study was made on the viscosity behavior of SDS-protein polypeptide complexes, since information about the nature of the complexes is important in establishing the principles of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Measurements were made under two conditions, i.e., in a buffer of low concentration, and in a buffer of high concentration (usually used in standard SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Results in the former case were not consistent with viscometric data previously reported and widely accepted [Reynolds, J.A. and Tanford, C. (1970) J. Biol. Chem. 245, 5161-5165], and indicated that the complexes did not behave as a series of pseudo-homopolymers under the former conditions. Results in the latter case indicated that the complexes behaved much more like homologous polymers, but their viscosity behavior can only be interpreted in terms of flexible chains rather than a series of rigid rods with a constant diameter and variable lengths depending on their molecular weights. PMID- 2606892 TI - New methods to investigate ATP requirement for pre-mRNA splicing: inhibition by hexokinase/glucose or an ATP-binding site blocker. AB - Addition of yeast hexokinase and glucose at various time points of the pre-mRNA splicing reaction rapidly depleted ATP and inhibited further progress of the reaction, indicating that ATP is required for both the first and second steps of splicing. ATP analogues, p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl-5'-adenosine (FSBA) and 7-chloro 4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl), which can modify amino acids at the ATP binding site of a protein, inactivated the splicing activity of the nuclear extract. While the inactivation by the former was irreversible, the splicing activity was complemented by a Micrococcal nuclease-treated extract. This ATP analogue (FSBA) may be a useful tool for identification of ATP-dependent splicing factors. PMID- 2606893 TI - A novel stimulating protein of mammalian DNA polymerase alpha. AB - A DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex, which had been purified by means of immunoaffinity column chromatography, showed little activity in a reaction mixture composed of Tris-HCl buffer, but showed full activity in potassium phosphate buffer. It was found that potassium ion is required for the reaction by the immunoaffinity-purified enzyme. On the other hand, the DNA polymerase alpha purified by the orthodox biochemical method showed full activity in both buffer systems. A protein factor, which could restore the activity of immunoaffinity purified DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex in the potassium-free reaction mixture, was separated from biochemically purified DNA polymerase alpha. The factor, designated as factor T, was stable to heat up to 70 degrees C, but was sensitive to trypsin. It sedimented at about 4S through a glycerol gradient. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed two polypeptide bands at 56 and 54 kDa. By immunoprecipitation, the factor T was shown to be physically associated with DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex. The stimulation was also observed with poly[d(A-T)], primed M13 DNA, and heat-denatured DNA. PMID- 2606894 TI - Hemocyanin from Tachypleus gigas. I. Oxygen-binding properties. AB - Hemocyanin was prepared from an Asian horseshoe crab, Tachypleus gigas. The hemocyanin was found to be similar to Limulus hemocyanin in the size of native molecules (48-mer) and dissociation under nonphysiological conditions. It also showed the reverse Bohr effect. The O2 affinity of the dissociated monomer was higher than that of the native molecule. Equilibrium O2 binding to T. gigas hemocyanin was studied with special attention to the effect of inorganic ions. Neutral salts decreased the O2 affinity of the associated hemocyanin. In the presence of CaCl2 the strength of the effect was in the order of Na+ greater than Cs+ not equal to K+ for the series of chlorides, and Br- not equal to Cl- greater than SO4(2-) for the series of Na+ salts. A high concentration of CaCl2 (50-500 mM) considerably increased the Hill coefficient. The O2 binding data obtained under various ionic conditions were analyzed by model fitting. The two-state concerted model could be fitted to the data, if the ligand affinity of the states was allowed to vary. Statistical tests of the fitting showed that the hexameric structure can be regarded as the functional unit under physiological conditions. PMID- 2606895 TI - Hemocyanin from Tachypleus gigas. II. Cooperative interactions of the subunits. AB - Six subunits (I to VI) were isolated from hemocyanin of an Asian horseshoe crab, Tachypleus gigas, by anion exchange chromatography of the dissociated hemocyanin. The subunit preparations were nearly homogeneous as judged by alkaline electrophoresis, but they still showed the presence of isoproteins in isoelectric focusing. The subunits were reassembled (in 10 mM CaCl2 at pH 7.5) and tested for restoration of the cooperativity in O2 binding. The reassembly of the subunits gave equilibrium mixtures of the monomer and hexamer with small amounts of larger molecules. Homogeneous and heterogeneous hexamers were prepared by reassembling a single kind or two kinds of subunits, followed by isolation of the hexamer fraction by gel filtration. Among the homohexamers, only the subunit V hexamer showed cooperativity in O2 binding with the Hill coefficient of 1.6. Among the heterohexamers the subunit I/V hybrid was most noteworthy, showing a Hill coefficient (1.7) higher than that of any other heterohexamer examined. It was concluded that there are specific interactions between the subunits I and V. It is suggested that their interactions are important for the cooperativity in the native hemocyanin. PMID- 2606896 TI - Identical properties of aldosterone and corticosterone binders and their presence in rat brain and kidney. AB - The [3H]corticosterone binders from rat brain and kidney were characterized by binding affinity and chromatographies, and compared with the binders for [3H]aldosterone and [3H]triamicinolone acetonide. Corticosterone-binding globulin like molecules at very high concentrations in crude extracts were completely eliminated by a DEAE-gel adsorption procedure. [3H]Aldosterone binder in the renal, DEAE-treated fraction was recovered in a single peak by gel-filtration chromatography and by ultracentrifugation in linear sucrose gradients, independent of hormone-binding and tungstate, a stabilizer of the binder. The Stokes' radius and sedimentation coefficient of the renal aldosterone binder were 6.6 nm and 9.3S, respectively, indicating an apparent molecular weight of 263,000. Corticosterone-preferring binder also existed in the DEAE-treated fraction. Both aldosterone and corticosterone binders were found in the brain and kidney preparations. Comparison among the binders showed identical values of Stokes' radius and elution pattern from DEAE-Toyopearl in a linear salt gradient regardless of the organ and the hormones. Scatchard analyses of [3H]aldosterone and [3H]corticosterone binding showed for each ligand only one group of high affinity sites with the equivalent dissociation constants, 4-7 nM. The orders of steroids in competing for the two high-affinity sites were equivalent: corticosterone greater than or equal to aldosterone much greater than triamcinolone acetonide, and that for the triamcinolone acetonide binding was triamcinolone acetonide much greater than aldosterone greater than or equal to corticosterone. Hydroxyapatite column chromatography separated the aldosterone and corticosterone binders from the triamcinolone acetonide binder, but not the aldosterone binder from the corticosterone binder. It is concluded that aldosterone and corticosterone binders distinct from triamcinolone acetonide binder exist in rat brain and kidney.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606897 TI - Immunochemical evidence that myosin I heavy chain-like protein is identical to the 110-kilodalton brush-border protein. AB - In a previous study, we identified a new mammalian myosin heavy chain, termed myosin I heavy chain-like protein (MIHC), by molecular cloning of a bovine intestinal cDNA clone. In this investigation, we examined the relationship between MIHC and the 110-kDa intestinal brush-border protein, which possesses a myosin-like ATPase activity. We raised antibodies against a chemically synthesized oligopeptide representing a part of the MIHC sequence. These antibodies reacted specifically in immunoblots with the 110-kDa protein in both purified 110-kDa protein-calmodulin complex and crude microvillar protein extracts. Staining of tissue sections with these antibodies was specifically localized to the brush-border microvilli of small intestines, indicating an identical cellular localization for both MIHC and the 110-kDa protein. Furthermore, analysis of the MIHC sequence revealed two putative calmodulin binding sites, which is consistent with the fact that the 110-kDa protein forms a complex with calmodulin. These results strongly support the conclusion that MIHC is identical to the 110-kDa protein and suggest that not only the conventional myosin system but also the MIHC (110-kDa protein)-calmodulin complex may play an important role in ATP-dependent and Ca2+-induced brush-border contraction. PMID- 2606898 TI - Purification and characterization of hepatic microsomal prostaglandin omega hydroxylase cytochrome P-450 from pregnant rabbits. AB - Prostaglandin omega-hydroxylase, designated as cytochrome P-450 LPG omega (P-450 LPG omega), has been purified, to a specific content of 15 nmol of cytochrome P 450/mg of protein, from liver microsomes of pregnant rabbits. The purified P-450 LPG omega was found to be homogeneous on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and to have an apparent molecular weight of 52,000. The enzyme showed a maximum at 450 nm in the carbon monoxide (CO) difference spectrum for its reduced form. This cytochrome P-450 efficiently catalyzed the omega-hydroxylation of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF 2 alpha), prostaglandin A1 (PGA1), and prostaglandin A2 (PGA2), as well as the omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylation of myristate and palmitate, in a reconstituted system containing cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, phospholipid, and cytochrome b5. Various monovalent and divalent cations further stimulated these reactions in the presence of cytochrome b5. In addition, the reactions were also markedly enhanced by various organic solvents, such as ethanol and acetone. This cytochrome P-450 showed no detectable activity toward several xenobiotics tested. P-450 LPG omega was very similar or identical to the pulmonary prostaglandin omega-hydroxylase (P-450p-2) (Yamamoto, S., Kusunose, E., Ogita, K., Kaku, M., Ichihara, K., & Kusunose, M. (1984) J. Biochem. 96, 593-603) in its molecular weight, absorption spectra, catalytic activity, peptide mapping pattern, and N terminal amino acid sequence. However, P-450 LPG omega was more unstable than P 450p-2 on storage. In sharp contrast to P-450p-2, P-450 LPG omega was not induced by progesterone. PMID- 2606899 TI - Partial characterization of an unusual 185 kDa protein synthesized by dermal fibroblasts from patients with Marfan syndrome: identification of the protein as type IV collagen. AB - Production of an unusual collagenous protein was observed in culture of dermal fibroblasts from four patients with Marfan syndrome. The apparent molecular weight of the protein was about 185 kDa after reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol and 175 kDa after limited pepsin treatment. The 185 kDa protein was susceptible to the bacterial collagenase but resistant to the animal collagenase. Immunoprecipitation revealed the specific interaction of the pepsin-treated 175 kDa collagenous protein with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to human type IV collagen. From the patterns of CNBr peptide mapping the 185 kDa band was identified as alpha 1 (IV) chain. Type IV collagen in the skin is generally considered to be of non-fibroblastic origin. However, in "diseased" condition, dermal fibroblasts might produce type IV collagen. The clinical manifestation in relation to production of type IV collagen by cultured skin fibroblasts from Marfan patients is discussed. PMID- 2606900 TI - Role of substrate in reversible activation of proteasomes (multi-protease complexes) by sodium dodecyl sulfate. AB - Previously, we reported that proteasomes (large multi-protease complexes) are present in a latent state in a variety of eukaryotic cells, and can be activated by treatment with various compounds such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or poly lysine (Tanaka et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 16209-16217). In the present study, the mechanism of activation of latent proteasomes by SDS was examined. Latent proteasomes were greatly activated by addition of low concentrations of 0.04 to 0.08% SDS in the presence of substrate. This activation appeared to be reversible, because SDS-activated proteasomes returned to a latent state when the concentration of SDS was reduced by dilution. In contrast, in the absence of substrate, latent proteasomes lost their activity almost completely in an irreversible fashion within a few minutes during treatment with SDS at either 0 or 37 degrees C. Interestingly, SDS-treated proteasomes were markedly protected against this rapid inactivation by either a peptide or protein substrate. Moreover, removal of the substrate after activation of proteasomes caused their rapid irreversible inactivation. These results indicate that the substrate is necessary for reversible activation of latent proteasomes by SDS. This effect of substrate is presumably important in regulation of intracellular protein breakdown by activated proteasomes in eukaryotic cells. PMID- 2606901 TI - Identification of 3 alpha, 6 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-tetrahydroxy-5 beta cholestanoic acid in Zellweger's syndrome. AB - In order to confirm the occurrence of 3 alpha, 6 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholestanoic acid in Zellweger's syndrome, the nature of tetrahydroxycholestanoic acids present in a patient with this disease was studied. Urinary bile acids were extracted with a Sep-pak C18 cartridge and methylated after alkaline hydrolysis. The methyl esters were purified by silica gel column chromatography, and the methyl tetrahydroxycholestanoate fraction was analyzed by gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Along with already known side chain hydroxylated derivatives of 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholestanoic acid, 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 24- and 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 26-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholestanoic acids, three nuclear hydroxylated derivatives of 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholestanoic acid were found. One of them was identified as 3 alpha, 6 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholestanoic acid by direct comparison with the authentic standard which was chemically synthesized from 3 alpha, 6 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid by side chain elongation. PMID- 2606902 TI - Expression of the apolipoprotein E gene in a human macrophage-like cell line, THP 1. AB - The human monocyte-like cell line, THP-1, differentiated into macrophage-like cells on the addition of a phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate. During the course of differentiation of THP-1 cells, the level of transcripts of the apolipoprotein E gene increased. Apolipoprotein E mRNA increased by more than a hundred times compared to the level prior to differentiation. The apolipoprotein E mRNA reached the maximal level on day 2 after the addition of the phorbol ester and then gradually decreased. After the level had decreased to half the maximal value on day 4 it remained constant. The time course of apolipoprotein E secretion, which showed a peak on day 2, was parallel to that of apolipoprotein E protein synthesis. Furthermore, the time course of apolipoprotein E protein synthesis showed a similar profile to that of the apolipoprotein E transcript level. This indicates that the induction of apolipoprotein E expression by the phorbol ester is due mainly to the increase in the number of transcripts. The synthesis of apolipoprotein E protein was reduced by about 60% on treatment of the differentiated THP-1 cells with 5 micrograms/ml of lipopolysaccharide. The presence of 5 micrograms/ml of lipopolysaccharide in the medium reduced the level of apolipoprotein E mRNA by about 50%. Thus the reduction in protein synthesis was mainly explained by the decrease in the level of apolipoprotein E transcripts. This reduction in the mRNA level caused by lipopolysaccharide was not mediated by the tumor necrosis factor or interleukin 1, which are known to reduce the transcriptional and post-transcriptional activity of lipoprotein lipase in adipocytes, respectively. PMID- 2606903 TI - Anti-gizzard MLCK monoclonal antibody MM13 inhibits superprecipitation and phosphorylation of bovine aortic smooth muscle actomyosin. AB - We prepared monoclonal antibodies directed against chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and used them to study the contractile system of aortic smooth muscle. One monoclonal antibody, MM13, dose dependently inhibited actomyosin superprecipitation of bovine aortic smooth muscle, in accord with the suppression of 20 kDa myosin light chain phosphorylation by endogenous kinase. Immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that MM13 cross-reacted with the 150,000 Mr peptide of bovine aortic actomyosin preparation. The bovine aortic MLCK was purified approximately 2,400-fold to apparent homogeneity by three steps of column chromatography. The purified enzyme has a molecular weight of 150,000 and a slower mobility than chicken gizzard MLCK (130,000 Mr), as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. MM13 also cross-reacted with purified bovine aortic MLCK and inhibited the kinase activity, in vitro. We interpret these findings to mean that binding of the anti-gizzard MLCK monoclonal antibody directly to aortic smooth muscle MLCK (150,000 Mr) decreases the phosphorylation of the 20 kDa myosin light chain, thus suppressing the aortic smooth muscle myosin-actin interaction. PMID- 2606904 TI - Role of Ca2+ in the substrate binding and catalytic functions of snake venom phospholipases A2. AB - Phospholipases A2 are classified into two groups, I and II, according to differences in the polypeptide-chain length and the intramolecular-disulfide bondings. The effects of Ca2+ on the kinetic parameters for the hydrolysis of monodispersed and micellar phosphatidylcholines, catalyzed by a cobra (Naja naja atra) enzyme (Group I) and by mamushi (Agkistrodon halys blomhoffii) and habu (Trimeresurus flavoviridis) enzymes (Group II), were studied by the pH-statassay method at 25 degrees C, pH 8.0-8.2, and ionic strength 0.1-0.2. The results were compared with those reported for the other Group I and II enzymes. The Ca2+ binding was clearly shown to be essential for the catalysis of all the phospholipases A2. However, the substrate binding to Group I enzymes was found to be independent of the Ca2+ binding. On the other hand, the substrate binding to Group II enzymes was facilitated more than 10 times by the binding of Ca2+ to the enzymes. This was interpreted in terms of conformation changes of the peptide loop of residues 26 to 44 accompanying the Ca2+ binding. The latter result, but not the former, seems compatible with the hypothesis for interpreting the catalytic mechanism of phospholipases A2 that an intermediate complex should be stabilized by the coordination of the bound Ca2+ ion with the phosphoryl group and the carbonyl oxygen atom of the ester bond at the sn-2 position of the bound substrate molecule [Verheij et al. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 743-750 and (1981) Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Pharmacol. 91, 91-203]. According to the similarity in the primary and tertiary structures of the active sites of both types of enzymes [Renetseder et al. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 11627-11634], it is supposed that similar intermediate complexes may occur even for Group I enzymes, at least in the transition state of the productive complexes. PMID- 2606905 TI - Involvement of Ca2+ release and activation of phospholipase A2 in mitochondrial dysfunction during anoxia. AB - During anoxic incubation, depletion of mitochondrial ATP was followed by release of Ca2+ with concomitant increase in the rate of state 4 respiration due to disruption of the diffusion barrier against protons. The external addition of ATP and its non-metabolizable analog, beta,gamma-methylene adenosine 5'-triphosphate, prevented both the release of Ca2+ and increase in the rate of state 4 respiration. Addition of EGTA, which did not prevent release of the ion, resulted in little increase in the respiration rate. Addition of an inhibitor of mitochondrial phospholipase A2, such as quinacrine, dibucaine, or chlorpromazine, also prevented increase in the respiration rate without affecting Ca2+ release from mitochondria during anoxic incubation. Non-esterified polyunsaturated fatty acids were also found to be liberated from anoxic mitochondria. External addition of the ATP-analog, EGTA, and inhibitors of phospholipase A2 suppressed the liberation of non-esterified polyunsaturated fatty acids. Melittin and Ca2+, which activate phospholipase A2, increased the rate of state 4 respiration and the liberation of fatty acids. These findings support the hypothesis proposed previously that the following sequence changes occurs in mitochondria during anoxia; depletion of ATP, liberation of free calcium from mitochondria, and disruption of the diffusion barrier against H+ of the inner membrane. The results also indicate another event; activation of phospholipase A2 by release Ca2+ which results in H+ leakiness of the inner membrane. PMID- 2606906 TI - Nucleotide sequence of the membrane-bound aldehyde dehydrogenase gene from Acetobacter polyoxogenes. AB - The nucleotide sequence of the membrane-bound aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) gene from an industrial vinegar producer, Acetobacter polyoxogenes, was determined. Comparison of the sequence with the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the mature ALDH and determination of the actual translational initiation codon by means of in vitro manipulation of the upstream and proximal regions of the cloned gene showed that ALDH was primarily translated as a 773-amino-acid protein and that the 44-amino-acid sequence at the NH2-terminus, which probably serves as a signal peptide, was processed during maturation and localization in the membrane. When ALDH was expressed in a large quantity in Escherichia coli cells after the coding region had been placed downstream of the lac promoter, the ALDH protein, which still contained the signal peptide and had no ALDH activity, was localized in the membrane fraction. PMID- 2606907 TI - Structure of cDNA coding for rat platelet phospholipase A2. AB - Three cDNA clones coding for rat platelet phospholipase A2 and a homologous protein were isolated from a rat megakaryocyte cDNA library and sequenced. One (prPLA2-1) carries a 708 nucleotide long insert. The others (prPLA2-2 and -3) differ from clone 1 in three nucleotides and have a 748 nucleotide long insert. All contain a single open reading frame which encodes a 146 amino acid long polypeptide. Based on the deduced amino acid sequence, we concluded that prPLA2-1 encodes rat platelet phospholipase A2. prPLA2-2 and -3 most probably encode a protein homologous to phospholipase A2 with two amino acid replacements. A typical signal peptide sequence (21 amino acid long), located at the NH2 termini of the deduced structure, was immediately followed by a polypeptide which corresponds to the mature enzyme, suggesting that the rat platelet enzyme is not expressed as a proenzyme form. Northern blot analysis showed a single transcript, which is 900 to 1,100 nucleotides long, in the poly(A)+RNA fractions of rat megakaryocytes, bone marrow cells, peritoneal cells of caseinate-treated rats, and spleen cells. PMID- 2606908 TI - Vapor-phase hydrazinolysis for microdetermination of carboxyl-terminal amino acids of proteins. AB - The "vapor-phase" hydrazinolysis method was devised for the microdetermination of the carboxyl-terminal residue of a protein. With this method, a polypeptide sample is degraded with vaporized hydrazine. The optimum conditions for hen egg white lysozyme were established to be 2 to 4 h at 90 or 100 degrees C, the recovery of the carboxyl-terminal leucine being about 70%. With this vapor-phase method, side reactions are reduced and the time of hydrazinolysis is shortened. The limit of quantitation for the carboxyl-terminus of a protein is about 50 pmol, as judged so far with hen egg-white lysozyme. The carboxyl-termini of several proteins were determined using this novel procedure. PMID- 2606909 TI - Molecular cloning and characterization of MACIF, an inhibitor of membrane channel formation of complement. AB - Human erythrocytes contain a membrane protein, MACIF, which inhibits the formation of a membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement. We have cloned and sequenced the complementary DNA of MACIF messenger RNA. The amino acid sequence predicted from its nucleotide sequence consists of 128 amino acids. The amino terminal 25 residues may correspond to a signal peptide. The carboxy-terminal sequence confirmed that MACIF is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein. The amino acid sequence of MACIF was partially determined by established techniques for protein chemistry and the resultant sequence was consistent with that predicted from the nucleotide sequence. The results of sequence analyses also suggested that asparagine at the 18th position was N-glycosylated. When mRNA obtained from the MACIF cDNA clone with SP6 RNA polymerase was microinjected into Xenopus oocytes, the oocytes synthesized a product which exhibited MACIF activity and reacted with anti-MACIF antibody. Comparison of the predicted sequence revealed significant homology with mouse Ly-6 antigens. PMID- 2606910 TI - Anchoring of peptide elongation factor EF-1 alpha by phosphatidylinositol at the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. AB - The cytoplasmic peptide elongation factor, EF-1 alpha, is anchored at the endoplasmic reticulum membrane by phosphatidylinositol via ethanolamine bridging presumably to Asp306 of the protein. PMID- 2606911 TI - Changes in the membrane surface charge density and/or membrane potential of the porcine intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles induced by treatment with neuraminidase. AB - The effects of neuraminidase treatment on the membrane surface charge density and/or membrane potential of the porcine intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles were studied by using three fluorescent dyes, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5 hexatriene (DPH), 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS), and 3,3'-dipropyl-2,2' thiadicarbocyanine iodide (DiS-C3(5]. The results of quenching studies of DPH labeled membranes using cationic (T1+) and anionic (I-) quenchers suggested an increase of negative charge on the membrane surface by desialylation upon neuraminidase treatment. This interpretation was further supported by a decrease of ANS-binding affinity of the membranes after treatment with the enzyme. In addition, the degree of valinomycin-induced fluorescence change of DiS-C3(5) probed membranes in the presence of various concentrations of KCl was reduced by treatment of the membranes with neuraminidase. This suggests that penetration of the dye molecules into the vesicle interior is facilitated by the treatment. The membrane potentials estimated from the null point of valinomycin-induced changes in the DiS-C3(5) fluorescence of the control and neuraminidase-treated membranes were -25 to -29.7 and -40 to -48.8 mV, respectively. From these results, it is suggested that the membrane surface charge density and/or membrane potential of the intestinal brush-border membranes are susceptible to modification of carbohydrate moieties on the membrane surface by neuraminidase treatment. PMID- 2606912 TI - Amino-terminal amino acid sequence and chemical and functional properties of a membrane attack complex-inhibitory factor from human erythrocyte membranes. AB - The protein corresponding to P-18 (Sugita et al. (1988) J. Biochem, 104, 633-637) was isolated from native human erythrocyte, and newly designated membrane attack complex-inhibitory factor (MACIF). The amino-terminal sequence of this protein was determined to be Leu-Gln-Cys-Tyr-Asn-Cys-Pro-Asn-Pro-Thr. Endoglycosidase F digestion of MACIF decreased its molecular weight by about 6K on SDS-PAGE. On the other hand, endoglycosidase H, neuraminidase, or endo-alpha-N acetylgalactosaminidase treatment had no effect on the molecular weight, indicating that MACIF has complex-type N-linked oligosaccharide chains, but no O linked chain. MACIF was highly resistant against trypsin digestion and heat treatment. The inhibitory activity of MACIF on the hemolysis of EC5-8 cells was comparable to that on EC5-7 cells, indicating that MACIF inhibited the binding of C9 to the intermediate cells, or the subsequent C9 polymerization. PMID- 2606913 TI - Characterization of copper atoms in bilirubin oxidase by spectroscopic analyses. AB - Bilirubin oxidase [EC 1.3.3.5], purified from the culture medium of Myrothecium verrucaria, was found to contain two blue copper atoms per protein molecule with a molecular weight of ca. 52 kDa. The two copper atoms were estimated to be in the all cupric state by the cuproine colorimetric method and also atomic absorption analysis. We could remove the reduce cuprous ions from the holo enzyme by adding ascorbate, followed by a KCN solution, yielding an apo-enzyme with no activity. The apo-enzyme can be reconstituted with Cu or other divalent cations such as Co, Fe, and Cd, with accompanying recovery of the enzyme activity. The activity recovery depended upon the species of cation employed; Cu being most effective, an almost 100% recovery, and Cd the least, only a 25% recovery. We could obtain information on the copper ions and their coordination structure by spectroscopic analyses of the apo- and reconstituted enzymes, obtaining such as absorption, CD, MCD, and XPS spectra. The bilirubin oxidase catalyzed-reaction was a second order reaction with respect to copper bound with protein. The donor set was of the CuSS*N2 (S = Cys, S* = Met, N = His) type, i.e., the same as in the case of blue copper proteins. On studying the Co-substituted enzyme, it was revealed that the copper site of the enzyme had a 4-coordinated structure. PMID- 2606914 TI - Ferredoxin and rubredoxin from Butyribacterium methylotrophicum: complete primary structures and construction of phylogenetic trees. AB - Complete amino acid sequences of ferredoxin and rubredoxin from Butyribacterium methylotrophicum, a methylotrophic hetero-acetogen, were determined by combination of protease digestion, Edman degradation, carboxypeptidase digestion, and/or partial acid hydrolysis. The ferredoxin was composed of 55 amino acids with a molecular weight of 5,732 excluding iron and sulfur atoms and showed a typical 2[4Fe-4S]-type ferredoxin sequence with an internal repeat at the 14-23 and 42-51 positions. The rubredoxin was composed of 53 amino acids with a molecular weight of 5,672 excluding iron atom and showed a sequence similar to those of other anaerobic rubredoxins. The sequences were compared to those of corresponding proteins from six different bacteria to construct phylogenetic trees, which showed essentially the same topology. The relationships between the ferredoxin sequences from this bacterium and those of Clostridium thermoaceticum and Methanosarcina barkeri, both of which possess a carbonyl-dependent acetyl-CoA metabolic system, are also discussed. PMID- 2606915 TI - Enzymatic properties of a novel phorbol ester receptor/protein kinase, nPKC. AB - A protein kinase C-related cDNA encodes a novel phorbol ester receptor/protein kinase, nPKC epsilon, clearly distinct from the four "conventional" PKCs [Ohno, S., Akita, Y., Konno, Y., Imajoh, S., & Suzuki, K. (1988) Cell 53, 731-741]. We purified nPKC epsilon from COS cells transfected with nPKC cDNA and compared its enzymatic properties with a conventional PKC, PKC alpha. nPKC epsilon was eluted from a hydroxyapatite column at a position coincident with type II PKC and thus was separated from type III PKC (PKC alpha), the only PKC expressed in COS cells. The protein kinase activity of nPKC epsilon is activated by phospholipids and diacylglycerols (or phorbol esters) in a manner similar to conventional PKCs. However, the cofactor dependencies and substrate specificities were clearly different from PKC alpha. A phospholipid, cardiolipin, enhances the kinase activity three- to fourfold compared with phosphatidylserine. The optimum Mg2+ concentration (3 mM) is clearly different from those of conventional PKCs (10-20 mM). The activation of nPKC epsilon by these cofactors is totally independent of Ca2+. Similar to conventional PKCs, nPKC epsilon autophosphorylates serine and threonine residues, indicating the specificity of the kinase to these amino acid residues. However, it shows a clearly different substrate specificity against exogenous substrates in that myelin basic proteins rather than histone are good substrates. These properties of nPKC epsilon permit clear discrimination of nPKC epsilon from conventional PKCs. PMID- 2606916 TI - Expression and characterization of pro alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor. AB - alpha s-Plasmin inhibitor (alpha 2PI), one of the serine protease inhibitors in plasma, was expressed in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cell line. The expression vector was constructed with its genomic DNA and cDNA, and was transfected into BHK cells by the calcium phosphate method. The recombinant alpha 2PI which was secreted from the cells was estimated by SDS-PAGE to have a molecular mass of 67 kDa, which is indistinguishable from that of normal plasma alpha 2PI. The leader peptide of 12 amino acids was retained at the amino terminus of the recombinant alpha 2PI. This finding suggests that alpha 2PI has pre-pro type processing and the propeptide of 12 amino acids is not removed in BHK cells. This pro-alpha 2PI shows essentially the same inhibitory activity on plasmin and the same affinity for plasmin(ogen) as those of normal alpha 2PI. However, the cross-linking ability to fibrin is reduced to less than one-third of that of normal alpha 2PI. The cross-linking site is the glutamine residue located at the second position from the amino terminus of normal alpha 2PI. The conformational change of this region caused by the addition of the propeptide may have affected the cross linking capacity of the inhibitor. PMID- 2606917 TI - Biochemical analysis of the movement of a major lysosomal membrane glycoprotein in the endocytic membrane system. AB - HRP-anti LGP107Fab' and 125I-anti LGP107IgG were used as probes to study the movement of LGP107 in the endocytic membrane transport system in primary cultured hepatocytes of rats. Following the addition of HRP-anti LGP107Fab' to the culture medium, the transfer of the antibody conjugate from the cell surface of lysosomes was examined by cell fractionation on Percoll density gradients. The HRP tracer showed a bimodal subcellular distribution, in plasma membrane and lysosomal fractions. The amount of HRP found in the lysosomal fractions became larger as the period of cell incubation was increased. The rate of HRP accumulation in lysosomes was 0.13% of the administered load per hour per 10(6) cells. When cells were given 125I-anti LGP107 IgG, the antibody was not stored but was rapidly degraded in the lysosomes. The uptake of 125I-IgG by the cells, which was assessed by measuring the TCA-soluble radiolabeled degradation products released into the medium, increased proportionally to the administered concentration of the antibody and to the incubation time. The rate of uptake of the polyvalent 125I-IgG was comparable to that for the uptake of the monovalent HRP-Fab', and remained unchanged even after long exposure of the cells to a saturating concentration of the polyvalent IgG. This uptake process continued for many hours in the cells exposed to the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. These results suggest that there is a continuous circulation of LGP107 between the cell surface and lysosomes in hepatocytes. PMID- 2606918 TI - "Push-out" tests. PMID- 2606919 TI - Evaluation of metal implants coated with several types of ceramics as biomaterials. AB - The in vivo biocompatibility of metals coated with several different types of ceramics [alumina (alpha-Al2O3), titanium oxide (TiO2), titanium nitride (TiN), and hydroxyapatite (HAP)] was investigated. These composites had been devised for the purpose of incorporation into the stem of a total hip prosthesis. The materials were inserted into the mid-diaphyseal region of the femurs of adult dogs, and follow-up quantitative histological comparisons were performed for a period of up to 96 weeks. HAP-coated composites showed the best biocompatibility. PMID- 2606920 TI - Interaction of human serum lipoproteins with biomaterials. AB - Human serum was incubated with representative portions of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blood storage bags and vascular prostheses. The in vitro interaction process with lipoprotein was followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) using sudan black and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) in the prestaining procedure. Densitometric scan of all the lipoprotein bands in serum after incubation with PVC bag material when prestained with sudan black showed remarkable increase in intensity. However, in the same experiment when NBT was used for prestaining no increase in the intensity of any of the lipoprotein bands could be observed. Since sudan black is known to bind cholesterol specifically we suggest that a molecular unfolding occurs when lipoprotein interacts with PVC bag material. When similar experiments were carried out with vascular prosthesis there was conspicuous decrease in the intensity of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) band especially when stained with NBT. This indicates preferential adhesion of HDL during interaction with vascular prosthesis. PMID- 2606921 TI - In vivo and in vitro degradation of glycine/DL-lactic acid copolymers. AB - A series of copolymers of glycine and DL-lactic acid with various compositions was synthesized and their in vivo and in vitro degradation behavior was studied. For the in vivo examination, discs of the copolymer films were subcutaneously implanted in rats. The in vitro studies were carried out in phosphate buffer at pH = 7.4 and 37 degrees C. The decrease in molecular weight, the loss of weight, and the tissue reactions of the different copolymers were determined after 2, 5, and 10 weeks. Poly(DL-lactic acid) was used as reference material. The in vivo and in vitro degradation behavior of the polymers was comparable. The decrease of molecular weight of the copolymers and poly(DL-lactic acid) in time was similar. The weight loss for copolymers with a higher mole fraction of glycine units started earlier. The copolymer with the highest content of glycine units disappeared completely within 10 weeks both in vivo and in vitro. The poly(DL lactic acid) implant lost only 25% weight over the same period. Tissue reactions against all materials started with an acute inflammatory reaction caused by the trauma of implantation, followed by wound-healing processes, ending in a very mild foreign body reaction for the poly(DL-lactic acid) and a more excessive macrophage mediated foreign body reaction for the glycine/DL-lactic acid copolymers. The tissue reaction was more severe for polymers having a higher rate of degradation. PMID- 2606922 TI - Study of the osteoconductive properties of bioactive glass fibers. AB - Bioactive glass fibers have been prepared and implanted in cortical defect and in muscle. The fibers can act as a substrate for bone apposition, when implanted in a cortical defect, and become incorporated in the new bone matrix. The same results were obtained when fibers were implanted in a muscle pouch together with bone marrow cells. An intense inflammatory reaction was observed when bioactive glass fibers were implanted in muscle; the reaction was milder when fibers were implanted in bone or in muscle together with bone marrow cells. This fact supports the hypothesis that osteogenic cells adhere in an early phase to the substrate and prevent recognition of the foreign material by inflammatory cells. This appears to be a fundamental condition for direct bone matrix apposition on the surface of fibers. PMID- 2606923 TI - Acute histopathological response to a new biodegradable polypeptidic polymer for implantable drug delivery system. AB - This article deals with the in vivo evaluation of a new class of synthetic polypeptides, the poly[(tert-butyloxycarbonylmethyl) glutamates], POMEG, as an injectable or implantable drug delivery system. Three different polymers, varying in their degree of esterification, were extruded either with or without progesterone, and finally implanted in rats up to 14 days. Histologic evaluation of the implant sites show evidence of the good biocompatibility of these polymers. In addition, the description of their in vivo behavior, based on microscopic observation of the implanted POMEG rods, enables one to appreciate their potential as a drug delivery system for short- or long-term therapy. PMID- 2606924 TI - Embolization: critical thrombus height, shear rates, and pulsatility. Patency of blood vessels. AB - The present article builds on elementary fluid dynamics and previous analyses by the author to delineate approximate boundaries of mural thrombus height Hp, maximum shear rate gamma Max, and flow pulsatility beyond which thrombi are subject to either very high or very low probabilities of embolization. A thrombus height of approximately 0.1 mm emerges as a critical dividing line: Below it, the maximum embolizing shear stress tau s is independent of thrombus height and varies only linearly with shear rate. Above it, tau s quickly approaches a strong quadratic dependence on both thrombus height and shear rate: tau s approximately (Hp gamma)2, significantly increasing the likelihood of an embolizing event. By contrast, convective-diffusive removal of blood components during the initial stages of thrombus formation varies only weakly with gamma 1/3 in all but the smallest vessels. These maximum embolizing stresses are due principally to fluid drag. Acceleration (pulsatile) forces only begin to make their presence felt at gamma less than 500 s-1 and reach parity with fluid drag at gamma approximately 10 s-1, i.e., at a level where the presence of pulsatility is questionable. The results are used to provide maps of domains with high and low probabilities of an embolytic event and of vessel patency. The maps reveal that relatively modest changes in shear rate and/or vessel lumen can cause shifts from high to low likelihood of vessel patency, opening up possible ways of controlling blockage by manipulation of these variables. PMID- 2606925 TI - Amphiphilic networks: II. Biocompatibility and controlled drug release of poly[isobutylene-co-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]. AB - Biocompatibility and diffusional characteristics of recently synthesized unique amphiphilic networks, i.e., copolymers of methacryloyl-capped polyisobutylene (MA PIB-MA) with 2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) have been examined. Excellent biocompatibility and biostability were obtained after 7 weeks with films containing 53-58% MA-PIB-MA implanted dorsally or abdominally in rats. In contrast, networks with higher or lower MA-PIB-MA contents showed decreased biocompatibility. These amphiphilic networks were also studied as potential implantable drug release systems. Bromophenol blue and folic acid were used as model compounds for drug release. Diffusion of these chemicals from loaded networks into water showed a marked pH dependence. Under specific well-defined conditions (MA-PIB-MA/DMAEMA content, pH, time range) release was observed to be independent of time (zero-order release). PMID- 2606926 TI - Immunological safety assessments of anti-IgE antibody which is detached from therapeutic immunoadsorbents for removing IgE. AB - Assessments were made of the safety of antibodies which might be detached from a therapeutic immunoadsorbent (IA) during extracorporeal circulation, with respect to possible immunological responses to such antibodies. The IA used was antihuman IgE antibody (a-IgE Ab) immobilized on a carrier, for removal of IgE from patients' plasma. The antibody was raised in goats and isolated to give an IgG fraction. This fraction was either used without further purification or was subjected to immunoaffinity purification. The active anaphylaxis test in guinea pigs indicated that positive responses were not observed at doses of less than 0.1 micrograms of goat IgG per animal. Rabbits given goat IgG intravenously 3 times a week for 8 weeks did not produce the specific antibody against goat IgG at doses of less than 0.05 micrograms/kg, which corresponds to less than 3 micrograms for an adult with a body weight of 60 kg. However, none of the rabbits given goat IgG at 2.5 mg/kg showed any toxic reactions and different patterns of the body weight growth from these in the control group. In addition, we tested whether immunoaffinity purified a-IgE Ab could trigger Type I hypersensitivity in a monkey model. Anaphylactic reactions were not observed after a single intravenous injection of a-IgE Ab at less than 10 micrograms/kg. These in vivo results are useful to judge whether the amount of antibody that leaks from a therapeutic IA is acceptable or not in a clinical situation. PMID- 2606927 TI - Hydroxylapatite coated implants. PMID- 2606928 TI - Evidence of a role for NK cells in oxazaphosphorine-mediated tumor regression. AB - The present studies showed that nude mice xenotransplanted with L5222 leukemia responded as did syngeneic BD IX rats to low doses of mafosfamide or cyclophosphamide. Unlike rats, nude mice rarely showed resistance to a second tumor challenge. The observation that concurrent treatment of rats with cyclosporin A did not alter the rate of survival clearly indicated a T-cell independent mechanism of tumor defense. The incidence of lung colonies from i.v. injected Lewis lung-tumor cells could be enhanced by a high dose pretreatment with mafosfamide or cyclophosphamide, whereas pretreatment at low doses was inhibitory. Since identical experiments carried out in NK-cell-deficient C57Bl/6 "beige" mice did not show such an effect, NK cells appeared to represent a possible effector cell in oxazaphosphorine-mediated antitumor effects. This assumption was further supported by the fact that enhanced NK cell activity could be observed in the 51Cr release assay using spleen cells from mafosfamide-treated L5222-bearing rats. The transplantation of the unrelated syngeneic ovarian carcinoma OV-342 to animals that had previously been cured of L5222 leukemia did not lead to the rejection of this tumor. This indicates that a specific resistance against L5222 leukemia had developed. In contrast, a T-cell-dependent antitumor effect was demonstrated for mafosfamide in the MOPC-315 mouse plasmocytoma. Therefore, we conclude that the effector cell for tumor rejection depends on the type of tumor. This, of course, does not exclude a common target cell for the immunopharmacological activity of oxazaphosphorines. PMID- 2606929 TI - Dermal oncogenicity study of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate by epicutaneous application in male C3H/HeJ mice. AB - A carcinogenicity bioassay of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) was conducted by applying 25 microliters 86.5%, 21%, or 2.5% 2-EHA in acetone three times a week to the clipped dorsal skin of male C3H/HeJ mice (80 per group) over their lifetime. Another group was treated with a 43% 2-EHA solution for 24 weeks and thereafter observed for lifetime (stop-test). An untreated group and a group that received only the diluent acetone served as controls. Treatment-related changes in the skin indicative of irritation (scaling, scabbing, hyperkeratosis, hyperplasia) were found in all 2-EHA-treated groups. These lesions were reversible in the 43% group immediately after treatment was stopped, and in the 2.5% group after the 11th week of treatment. Only in the 86.5% and 21% test groups showing chronic irritative skin damage was there a high incidence of nepolastic skin lesions (papillomas, carcinomas, and melanomas) with no dose dependency. In contrast, no skin tumors were found in the control groups, in the group treated with 2.5% 2-EHA for lifetime or in the group treated with 43% 2-EHA for about 6 months and observed for lifetime. PMID- 2606930 TI - Two human melanoma xenografts with different metastatic capacity and glycosaminoglycan pattern. AB - Two human melanoma xenografts were compared with respect to their in vivo growth and metastatic potentials as well as glycosaminoglycan patterns. The less differentiated HT 168 tumor showed faster growth at primary sites and a more pronounced capacity for metastasis into the liver. Although chondroitin sulfate was the dominant glycosaminoglycan subtype in both tumors, the more invasive xenograft had a higher heparan sulfate/chondroitin sulfate (HS/CS) ratio. We suggest that tumor progression is influenced by this ratio in this human melanoma system. PMID- 2606931 TI - Effects of tobacco-specific nitrosamines and snuff extract on cell proliferation and activities of ornithine decarboxylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in mouse tongue primary epithelial cell cultures. AB - Tobacco and its related compounds, including snuff, have been implicated in oral cancers. Tobacco-specific nitrosamines have been shown to be the causative agents present in tobacco and its related compounds. Both, N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and its butanone derivative (NNK) are carcinogenic in animals. In our in vitro studies using embryonic mouse tongue epithelial cells, NNN is linked to an increase in [3H]dT uptake along with a concomitant increase in ornithine decarboxylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities. NNK, the more potent compared to NNN, causes a further increase in [3H]dT uptake, cell count and ornithine decarboxylase activity. However, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase behaves differently in cultures treated with NNK compared to those treated with NNN. Snuff extract has an overall inhibitory effect on cell count, [3H]dT uptake, and ornithine decarboxylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities when administered either alone or in combination with NNN and NNK. How the inhibitory effect of snuff in the presence of tobacco-specific nitrosamines is involved in oral carcinogenesis should be further investigated. PMID- 2606932 TI - Phospholipids and fatty acids in breast cancer tissue. AB - The fatty acid composition of fractionated phospholipids and neutral lipids was analyzed in human breast cancer tissues and the surrounding, apparently healthy tissue. In the cancer tissues the relative amounts of unsaturated fatty acids were increased in all the phospholipid subclasses analyzed. The differences were more marked in phosphatidylethanolamine than in the other phospholipid fractions and, furthermore, the relative amount of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine was increased in cancerous tissue. In blood-erythrocyte phospholipids, no differences in fatty acid composition could be found between breast cancer and control patients. The present study suggests that the lipid composition of cancerous breast tissues differs from that of the surrounding tissue and may be involved in carcinogenesis. PMID- 2606933 TI - Cis-diamminodichloroplatinum plus a 5-day continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of locally recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer patients. AB - A group of 23 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven advanced or metastatic head and neck cancer were treated with cisplatinum, 100 mg/m2 i.v., on day 1 plus 5 fluorouracil, 1000 mg/m2, in continuous infusion for 5 days. Most patients (87%) had recurrent or metastatic cancer and were previously treated (78%). Out of 21 evaluable patients we obtained a 42% overall response rate (complete + partial responses) with a mean duration of more than 8 months and a 14% minimal response rate. A stabilization of disease was achieved in 28% of cases, while 14% of patients progressed. This response rate, as well as the duration of response, seems to be similar to those obtained in other series comprising previously treated patients with advanced or metastatic head and neck carcinoma. The toxicity was generally acceptable, with few cases of grade 3 (WHO criteria) toxicity. However most patients required hospitalization because of the length of treatment. In conclusion the response rate and the duration of responses obtained with cisplatinum plus a 5-day infusion of 5-FU in advanced or metastatic pretreated patients is, at present, unsatisfactory, even if the impact on survival is still not entirely clear. PMID- 2606934 TI - Immune reactive proteins as prognostic and clinical markers in malignant cervical neoplasia. AB - The significance of immune reactive proteins in malignant cervical neoplasia, with particular reference to its prognostic and clinical relevance, was studied in 229 patients. All stages of the disease showed elevated levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC). Patients with stages I/IIA showed elevated levels of IgG, whereas those with stages III and IV showed depressed IgM levels. In the case of IgA, the situation was reversed: patients with advanced disease showed increased levels. Radiotherapy resulted in highly elevated levels of CIC, IgG, and IgA. However, in patients who remained disease-free after radiation treatment, levels of these proteins came down, often falling below pretreatment levels. On the other hand, patients developing recurrent disease showed sustained, high levels of CIC and IgA, with IgG as an isolated case in stage I/IIA. The present study therefore shows that although these increases were non-tumour-specific, patients with persistent elevation of CIC and IgA levels were at much greater risk of developing recurrent disease, thereby proving the merit of these substances as markers in prognosticating the course of disease in malignant cervical neoplasia. PMID- 2606935 TI - Ewing's-sarcoma-associated HBA-71 tumor antigen represents a new differentiation marker of human thymocytes. AB - The monoclonal HBA-71 antibody recognizes a new human tumor-associated antigen of Ewing's sarcoma and peripheral neuroectodermal tumors, which is also expressed in some normal tissues, including thymus, islets of Langerhans, ependyme, adenohypophysis, Sertoli/Leydig and granulosa cells. Besides a tumor-specific reciprocal chromosomal translocation t (11:22), the expression of the HBA-71 antigen is the only marker which can be used for reliable differential diagnosis of these rare malignancies of childhood and adolescence among other small round cell tumors. The HBA-71 antigen is further characterized here by ultrastructural, functional and cell-matrix interaction studies. In immunohistochemical staining the HBA-71 reacted with the cell surface of human cortical thymocytes. The HBA-71 antigen was also found to be localized at the cell-surface glycocalyx of tumor cells using immunogold staining and electron microscopy. A panel of additional monoclonal antibodies with reactivity patterns similar to those of the HBA-71 antibody was obtained by immunization of mice with ES cell lines and boostering with thymocytes. The HBA-71 antibody triggers proliferation of thymocytes and to a lesser extent also stimulates peripheral mononuclear blood cells. Antibody induced thymocyte cultures exhibit the phenotype of immature, CD3low thymocytes with uniform and stable expression of the HBA-71 antigen. In contrast to the thymocytes the HBA-71 antibody has an inhibitory effect on the continuous growth of the HBA-71+ tumor cell lines. The HBA-71 antigen may be involved in the regulation of growth of the positive normal and malignant tissues. Positive modulation of the antigen expression was induced in Ewing's sarcoma cell lines in response to insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and by interaction of the cells with the extracellular matrix. PMID- 2606936 TI - Nicotine and estrogen metabolism--possible implications of smoking for growth and outcome of treatment of hormone-dependent cancer? Discussion of experimental results. AB - The combination treatment of hormone-dependent autochthonous mammary carcinomas in the rat with nicotine plus HECNU, a water-soluble nitrosourea, resulted in a potentiation of antitumor action. Nicotine and its metabolite cotinine are strong inhibitors of the aromatase. With regard to investigations in smoking women, suggesting a decreased endogenous estrogen production, our results indicate that smoking might influence growth and treatment results of hormone-dependent human cancer. PMID- 2606937 TI - Effects of leukotrienes on phenotypic properties and growth of arterial smooth muscle cells in primary culture. AB - During the first few days in primary culture arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) go through a transition from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype. Morphologically, this process includes loss of myofilaments and formation of an extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum and a large Golgi complex. Functionally, it leads to the cells losing their contractility, beginning to secrete extracellular matrix components, and dividing in response to growth factor stimulation. Similar changes in the structure and function of the SMCs occur in the initial stages of atherogenesis. The object of the present investigation was to study the effects of leukotrienes on the differentiated properties and growth of rat aortic SMCs in primary culture. Enzymically isolated cells were seeded directly on a plastic surface in serum-containing medium or on a substratum of plasma fibronectin in serum-free medium. The change in cell morphology was followed by transmission electron microscopy, and the activation of cell growth by thymidine autoradiography and cell counting. The results demonstrate that 10 pM-LTB4, LTC4, -LTD4 and -LTE4 all speeded up the shift of the SMCs into a synthetic phenotype, whereas 5S,12S-DHETE (an isomer of LTB4) lacked effect. Further, LTB4, LTC4 and LTD4 stimulated the SMCs to enter the cell cycle earlier than in the controls, enhanced the proliferative response to serum mitogens, and under serum free conditions induced DNA synthesis by themselves. Indomethacin did not interfere with the effect of LTB4 on the structural transformation of the cells but blocked its effect on DNA replication, suggesting that only the latter involved endogenous production of a cyclo-oxygenase product.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606938 TI - Bimodal redistribution of surface transmembrane glycoproteins during Ca2+ dependent secretion (acrosome reaction) in boar spermatozoa. AB - We used the acrosome reaction of boar sperm cells to study the dynamics of surface transmembrane glycoproteins (TMG) during a secretory process. The acrosome reaction is the Ca2+-dependent fusion of a large cytoplasmic vesicle (the acrosome) with the overlying segment of the plasma membrane (acrosomal cap) that leads to the release of the acrosomal enzymes. After triggering the acrosome reaction in vitro (2 mM-CaCl2 in the presence of 10 microM-A23187), we used freeze-fracture electron microscopy to follow the topographical rearrangement of a population of acrosomal-cap large intramembrane particles that correspond to transmembrane proteins that bind wheat germ agglutinin. We found that these TMG move in the direction of either one of two opposite poles, proximal and distal, of the acrosomal cap. This bimodal movement of the TMG reorganizes the acrosomal cap into three extensive domains. The first two, on the apical rim and on the equator, are membrane domains to which the TMG are directed and where they accumulate. The third, a large in-between area of protein clearing, corresponds to the region from which TMG were preferentially located before displacement induced by the Ca2+ effect. The topography of these new membrane domains of the acrosomal cap becomes coincident with that of the structural domains of the subjacent acrosomal membrane. Mirroring of the acrosomal membrane by the plasma membrane is followed by fusion between the two membranes, formation of an exquisite labyrinth of hybrid-membrane tubules, followed by fission and release of the acrosomal contents through intertubular fenestrae. PMID- 2606939 TI - Anionic site behavior in Leishmania and its role in the parasite-macrophage interaction. AB - The behavior of cationized ferritin (CF) binding sites on the surface of Leishmania mexicana amazonensis (amastigotes, infective and non-infective promastigotes) and their participation in the interaction with macrophages were evaluated. Glutaral-dehyde-fixed parasites treated with CF present a uniform labelling over the whole cell surface. However, living parasites displayed CF patches and caps. Capping was usually seen towards the anterior (flagellated) portion of the cells, where shedding phenomena took place. These processes were inhibited by sodium azide but not by low temperature (4 degrees C). CF treatment of non-infective promastigotes led to an increase in their uptake by macrophages, whereas the uptake of amastigotes or infective promastigotes was not significantly altered. The effect of CF on the parasite surface charge was analyzed by whole-cell microelectrophoresis. The mean electrophoretic mobility (EPM) of non-infective promastigotes was decreased by 26%, while once again the other parasite forms were not significantly affected. Transmission electron microscopy of mouse peritoneal macrophage cultures, fixed after interaction with CF-labelled parasites, revealed that both amastigotes and infective promastigotes quickly removed bound CF. Therefore CF was seen neither in parasite-macrophage attachment areas nor in parasitophorous vacuoles. On the contrary, non-infective promastigote-macrophage attachment areas were remarkably large and preferentially comprised CF-labelled membranes. These results strongly suggest an important participation of cell surface anionic sites in the L. mexicana amazonensis macrophage interaction. PMID- 2606940 TI - Definition of individual components within the cytoskeleton of Trypanosoma brucei by a library of monoclonal antibodies. AB - The detergent-insoluble T. brucei cytoskeleton consists of several morphologically distinct regions and organelles, many of which are detectable only by electron microscopy. We have produced a set of monoclonal antibodies that define each structural component of this highly ordered cytoskeleton. The monoclonal antibodies were selected by cloning of hybridomas produced from mice injected with complex mixtures of proteins of either the cytoskeleton itself or salt extracts thereof. Four antibodies define particular tubulin isotypes and locate the microtubules of the axoneme and sub-pellicular array; two antibodies recognize the flagellum attachment zone; one recognizes the paraflagellar rod and another the basal bodies. Finally, one antibody defines a detergent-insoluble component of the nucleus. The antigens detected by each monoclonal antibody have been analysed by immunofluorescence microscopy, immunogold electron microscopy and Western blotting. PMID- 2606941 TI - Evidence for a Mr 88,000 glycoprotein with a transmembrane association to a unique flagellum attachment region in Trypanosoma brucei. AB - We have examined the relationship of externally accessible proteins associated with the internal cytoskeleton of procyclic Trypanosoma brucei. Two approaches were taken. First, externally disposed glycoproteins were identified with lectins and examined for their persistence and location in isolated cytoskeletons. Second, proteins containing tyrosine residues available for chemical modification on the outer surface were identified in isolated cytoskeletons and probed for glycosylation. The procyclic form of T. brucei that was employed does not express the variable surface glycoprotein. The lectin concanavalin A (ConA) bound to the outer surface of T. brucei in two discrete locations; one a narrow line close to the flagellum attachment zone on the cell body, the other at the distal tip of the flagellum itself. Of these, only the cell body labelling was detected when isolated cytoskeletons were probed with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled ConA. When cytoskeletons were prepared from cells labelled with gold-conjugated ConA, a narrow line of label was detected parallel to the flagellum attachment zone but was distinct from it. Only one cytoskeletal protein, of Mr 88,000, could be labelled at the cell surface by the 125I/iodogen procedure. This protein could be precipitated from SDS-solubilized cytoskeletons with ConA-agarose. These data indicate the existence of a previously undetected cytoskeletal structure, situated in the cell body, close to the point of flagellum attachment, which has a transmembrane association with an external Mr 88,000 glycoprotein. PMID- 2606942 TI - Serotonin regulates cytosolic Ca2+ activity and membrane potential in a neuronal and in a glial cell line via 5-HT3 and 5-HT2 receptors by different mechanisms. AB - The mechanisms of action of two different serotonin receptors, found in a neuronal cell line (neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells) and in a non-excitable glioma cell line, were explored. In both cell lines, serotonin induced a dose dependent, transient rise of cytosolic Ca2+ activity (measured by fura-2 or indo 1 fluorescence). Ca2+ channel blockers (Ni2+ and La3+, not nifedipine) suppressed the Ca2+ response to serotonin in the hybrid cells but not in the glioma cells. After application of Ca2+ ionophores (ionomycin and A23187) in order to short circuit internal Ca2+ stores, serotonin was still able to induce a Ca2+ response in the hybrid cells but not in the glioma cells. Serotonin dose-dependently stimulated the rate of 45Ca2+ uptake several-fold in the hybrid cells, but hardly at all in the glioma cells. Thus, in the neuronal cell line cytosolic Ca2+ activity is raised through enhancement of Ca2+ entry into the cells from the extracellular environment via 5-HT3 receptors (blocked by ICS 205-930, MDL 72222 and GR 38032 F). The depolarization response caused by serotonin in the hybrid cells is due to activation of cation conductance(s), obviously allowing entry of extracellular Ca2+. In contrast to the neuronal cell line, in the glial cell line the rise of Ca2+ activity is mediated by ketanserin-susceptible 5-HT2 receptors (not affected by treatment with pertussis toxin) mainly liberating Ca2+ from internal stores. In the glioma cells the release of Ca2+ from internal stores leads to opening of Ca2+-dependent K+ channels, responsible for the hyperpolarizing response. Thus, the neuronal and the glial cell lines might provide suitable systems in which to study the diverse cellular functions triggered by the rise of cytosolic Ca2+ activity, which is caused by different serotonin receptors. PMID- 2606943 TI - Differential expression of membrane sialoglycoproteins in exudate and resident mouse peritoneal macrophages. AB - Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) has been used to define biochemical differences between exudate and resident macrophages in the peritoneal cavity of mice. Western blotting with 125I-WGA identifies a restricted set of glycoproteins in elicited peritoneal macrophages (M phi) (recruited with thioglycollate or periodate) and fully activated M phi (recruited with live Bacille Calmette Guerin, or heat-killed Corynebacterium parvum); the major species migrates with Mr 89-115 kDa in 10% acrylamide gels. These glycoproteins are not detected in resident peritoneal M phi, nor in thymocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes and a variety of non-M phi cell lines. The binding of WGA is sensitive to neuraminidase, which exposes binding sites on these proteins for peanut agglutinin and reduces their electrophoretic mobility; these features are typical of O-linked sialo-oligosaccharides. In culture, exudate M phi increase their WGA binding content over 48 h, and continue to display a phenotype distinct from that of resident peritoneal M phi. The stable differential expression of these sialoglycoproteins, by elicited and activated versus resident peritoneal M phi, suggests that biochemical modification during the synthesis and expression of membrane glycoproteins accompanies M phi recruitment to an inflammatory focus. PMID- 2606944 TI - Nerve growth in the absence of growth cone filopodia and the effects of a small applied electric field. AB - Nerve orientation may involve a biasing of the distribution of tension at the growth cone. Chemical and electrical guidance cues cause more filopodia to appear on one side of the growth cone and this may determine turning behaviour. In a small applied electric field, filopodia predominate on the cathodal side of the growth cone and nerves turn towards the cathode. Removing all filopodia by treatment with cytochalasin D did not prevent nerves from continued slow growth and nerves still oriented towards the cathode. It is concluded that nerves can perform some types of orienting behaviour in the complete absence of filopodia. PMID- 2606946 TI - XIV International Symposium on Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. Bologna, Italy, 28th May-1st June 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2606945 TI - Eurythermic and stenothermic growth of cultured fish cells and their thermosensitivity. AB - RBCF-1 cells derived from the caudal fin of the goldfish (Carassius auratus) have been established at 37 degrees C, and could grow at a wide range of temperatures (20-37 degrees C). To examine the mechanism(s) of this eurythermic property, we isolated clones from RBCF-1 cells with different optimal growth temperatures. R37 clone grew continuously at 37 degrees C but could not grow at 27 degrees C. R27 clone grew continuously at 27 degrees C but could not grow at 37 degrees C. Thus R37 and R27 cells may be referred to as stenothermic. The R3727 clone, which was derived from R37 cells selected at 27 degrees C, and the cell hybrids of R37 and R27 cells, could proliferate for a long time and form colonies at 27-37 degrees C, like progenitor RBCF-1 cells, so they may be referred to as eurythermic. The shape of colonies of R3727 cells changed with incubation temperature; they resembled those of R37 cells at a higher temperature (37 degrees C), while at a lower temperature, (27 degrees C), they were like those of R27 cells. The lethal effects of heat treatment were compared among RBCF-1 clones. R27 cells were most sensitive, and R37 cells were most resistant. The heat treatment could induce the four major heat-shock proteins (hsp30, hsp42, hsp70 and hsp90). Marked induction of hsp70 and hsp30 was observed at 33 degrees C for R27, at 37 degrees C for R3727 and at 40 degrees C for R37. With R3727 cells, induction of hsps and thermosensitivity were highly dependent on the incubation temperature before heat treatment. PMID- 2606947 TI - [Clinical study on the prognostic factors of thalamic hemorrhage]. AB - To investigate the prognostic factors, 30 cases of hypertensive primary thalamic hemorrhages with a poor or fatal outcome were studied. The age of the patients ranged from 42 to 84 years (mean: 64.4). Their level of consciousness, ocular deviations and pupillary abnormalities were analyzed in relation to the estimated volume and the extension of the hematomas. The level of consciousness was classified according to neurological grading (NG) of Kanaya et al. Twelve cases (40.0%) were above NG 4a. In high-aged patients, NG 1 or 2 often indicated a poor prognosis. A downward deviation or gasing nose (also known as 'thalamic eyes') was found in 13 cases (43.3%). Pupillary abnormalities were seen in 26 cases, and bilateral miosis (14 cases) indicated a poor prognosis. The extension of the hematoma consisted of 'downward' (type D), 'lateral' (type L) and 'upward' (type U), and combinations there of. Types U and D were thought to portend a poor prognosis. The following factors were thought to indicate a poor prognosis: (1) uncontrollable high blood pressure, (2) upward extension of the hematoma associated with large ventricular cast, (3) downward ocular deviation, bilateral miosis and downward extension of the hematoma (the first two were considered as indication of the hypothalamus and the midbrain being affected), (4) advanced age. PMID- 2606948 TI - [Clinical aspects of traumatic intracerebral hematomas. Pathogenesis of delayed traumatic intracerebral hematomas]. AB - Eighty three cases of traumatic intracerebral hematomas (maximum diameter of at least 3 cm) were classified into the following two groups. Group-1 consisted of 34 cases in which intracerebral hematomas were confirmed in the initial CT scans on admission. Group-2 consisted of 49 cases in which intracerebral hematomas were found not in the initial CT scans on admission, but in the second or later CT scans. This is the so-called CT-diagnosed delayed traumatic intracerebral hematomas which have been widely reported in recent years with the increasing use of CT scans. These two groups were studied clinically and the following results were obtained. 1) Traumatic intracerebral hematomas were apt to occur in middle aged or elderly patients, and more delayed cases increased in patients of 60 or older. 2) The times when the formation of traumatic intracerebral hematomas were judged as completed showed two peaks: within 6 hours after the trauma and 12 to 24 hours after the trauma. 3) Excluding traumatic hemorrhages in the basal ganglia, there were many hematomas in the frontal lobes in the cases of coup injuries by anteroposterior force or contre-coup injuries by posteroanterior force and in the temporal lobes in the cases of contre-coup injuries by lateral force. Traumatic hemorrhages in the basal ganglia were seen in 10 cases, six of which were in Group-1. In all six of these cases, the intracerebral hematoma was confirmed within 6 hours after the trauma and the direction of the external force was unclear. Except for the findings described in 1) to 3), there were no differences in the basic pathogenesis and characteristics between the two groups. These results indicate that there is no essential difference in pathogenesis between CT-diagnosed delayed traumatic intracerebral hematomas and other intracerebral hematomas, as far as the present clinical studies are concerned. PMID- 2606949 TI - [A metrical study of the aorta and main aortic branches in the human fetus]. AB - There have been some metrical studies on the aorta of human adults. However, little work has been done on Japanese fetuses. This study was carried out to investigate such arterial changes during the fetal age period of 6-8 months as 1. lengths of the aortic arch, thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta, 2. relative positions on the aorta where main aortic branches arise, and 3. diameters of the main aortic branches. The results were as follows: 1) The total length of the aorta increased with fetal age. Growth rates of the aortic subdivisions were different from one another. During the 6-7 month period, proportions of the aortic arch and the abdominal aorta to the whole aorta increased. On the other hand, the proportion of the thoracic aorta decreased during this period. During the 7-8 month period, the proportions of each subdivision were unchanged. 2) Diameters of the main aortic branches and distances between these branches and the brachiocephalic artery were measured. During the 6-7 month period, the relative positions of arteries arising from the aortic arch moved toward the heart along the aorta, while the celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery and renal artery moved downward. The relative positions of the ductus arteriosus and the inferior mesenteric artery remained unchanged during the period. No change was seen in the relative positions during the 7-8 month period. 3) Distances between the arising points of the left and right intercostal arteries were measured on the dorsal surface of the thoracic aorta. The distance was wider in the upper segment of the aorta than in the lower segments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606950 TI - [The effect of vitamin A on leukotriene production in the ischemic rat brain]. AB - Human plasma leukotriene C4 (LTC4) levels of cerebral infarcted patients showed a significant increase and plasma vitamin A (VA) levels showed a significant decrease compared to the normal plasma obtained from age-matched control. Therefore, the effect of VA on leukotriene (LT) levels and the progress of cerebral edema were investigated in VA deficient Wistar rat brains. Incomplete global cerebral ischemia was induced by occluding the bilateral common carotid arteries (BLCO) with clips. Wistar rats were made VA deficient by feeding them a vitamin A deficient diet for 5 weeks on a specific pathogen free status. After 3 hours of BLCO the blood was reperfused by removing the clips. After each period of reperfusion, the rat brain was fixed by freezing in situ and used for assaying leukotrienes, vitamin A, and water content. Slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (LTC4 + LTD4 + LTE4) levels showed an increase at the end of BLCO in the VA deficient group and the high levels persisted for 30 min and then decreased to the control level. Brain water contents were elevated significantly at the 30 min phase of reperfusion. With VA administration, the water contents tended to be lower than in the VA deficient group at any phase. Histologically, after ischemia and reperfusion, evans blue extravasation and marked spongioid formations around small vessels were observed in the VA deficient rats only. These facts indicate that VA functions to stabilize cell membranes and suppress ischemic cerebral damage. PMID- 2606951 TI - [Recurrence of early gastric cancer]. PMID- 2606952 TI - [Adjuvant chemotherapy to gastric cancer and colonic cancer. Association with immunotherapy and carcinoembryonic antigen]. PMID- 2606953 TI - Steroid production by the cumulus: relationship to fertilization in vitro. AB - Insemination media were collected from 92 follicles of 14 patients stimulated to undergo oocyte retrieval for in-vitro fertilization. Levels of progesterone and oestradiol in the insemination drops were assayed, corrected for carry-over from follicular fluid and volume and expressed as production per microgram of protein in the cumulus. Significantly higher progesterone production per unit protein was associated with oocytes which fertilized in vitro (P less than 0.02). Oocytes fertilizing with subsequent fragmentation or degeneration showed progesterone levels significantly higher than oocytes fertilizing normally (P less than 0.05). Polyspermic oocytes (n = 3) were associated with very high levels of progesterone production but were not significantly different due to the low numbers. Oestradiol production per unit protein was significantly greater in oocytes which fertilized normally than in those which degenerated (P less than 0.05). The protein content of cumuli whose oocytes fertilized appeared to be significantly lower than those which did not (P less than 0.05). These results probably reflect the maturity of the follicle, although direct actions of cumulus products upon the gametes cannot be ruled out. PMID- 2606954 TI - Oocyte donation by gamete intra-fallopian transfer to amenorrhoeic and cycling patients given replacement steroids. AB - Thirteen procedures of oocyte donation by the gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) technique are described. The patients included six women with premature ovarian failure, four normally cycling women with unexplained infertility who responded poorly to super-ovulation induction in preparation for GIFT, and lastly one woman carrier of a 16/21 balanced translocation. Two patients had oocytes donated on two occasions. Oocyte donors were recruited either among the patients' relatives (n = 4), or among GIFT or IVF patients (n = 8), who altruistically donated their extra oocytes. Donors were superovulated and oocytes collected laparoscopically or vaginally under ultrasound guidance. Donors did not suffer any complications. Recipients were given exogenous estrogens, and exogenous progesterone was added from the day of donation. Seven clinical pregnancies were obtained (53.8% per attempt); one set of triplets aborted at 14 weeks. Donation took place on replacement day 12-18 and pregnancies were obtained in patients receiving oocytes throughout this temporal window. The increasing availability of embryo-freezing facilities will probably reduce the number of ova available for donation. Therefore, the patients' families may become a precious source of donated eggs, especially for those patients having large families, with strong family ties. PMID- 2606955 TI - Progesterone versus dehydrogesterone as replacement therapy in women with premature ovarian failure. AB - Dehydrogesterone (DH) induces normal endometrial secretory patterns in infertile as well as post-menopausal women, and has been successfully employed in the treatment of luteal-phase defects. The purpose of this study was to compare DH and progesterone (P) as progestins in steroid replacement cycles in eight women with premature ovarian failure (POF). Patients were treated during two subsequent cycles. Oestradiol valerate was used as the oestrogen. Four women received P as progestin in the first treatment cycle, while the remaining four patients began with DH. Histological dating and total protein content of uterine fluids (PCUF) were used as markers of P action on the endometrium. Samples were obtained on days 18-19 (early luteal phase, ELP) and day 26 of each cycle. Five regularly cycling women served as control for the normal range of PCUF. Histological dating of the endometrium showed ELP out-of-phase glands in 37.5% of cases treated with DH in comparison to none in the P group. Moreover, a characteristic ELP stromal haemorrhagic suffusion and increased oedema were present at the surface of the endometrium in all cases treated with DH. There was no histological difference between treatments on day 26 of the cycle. A significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in PCUF was observed in DH-treated endometria in comparison to P-treated endometria and controls. All three cases dated as out-of-phase endometria in the ELP had a PCUF less than or equal to 0.5 mg/ml. There was no difference between groups in PCUF on day 26. In conclusion, the morphological and biochemical data suggest that the endometrium supplemented with DH in women with POF fails to present optimal conditions for implantation of human embryos in the ELP. It is recommended that oral DH should not replace i.m. P as the progestin in steroid replacement cycles. PMID- 2606956 TI - Effect of transuterine puncture during transvaginal oocyte retrieval on the results of human in-vitro fertilization. AB - In many in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programmes, the transvaginal approach is now the most widely used method for ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval. Sometimes, however, the position of the ovaries is such that it might not be possible to aspirate the follicle transvaginally without puncturing the uterine wall. Between May and November 1988, we performed 518 transvaginal, ultrasound-guided oocyte retrievals for IVF or zygote intra-Fallopian transfer (ZIFT). During this period, 22 transuterine punctures (4.2%) were necessary to reach one of the ovaries. To investigate the effect of uterine laceration on the results of IVF/ZIFT treatment, the outcome of treatment was compared between patients who had a transuterine puncture and a control group of patients treated by IVF or ZIFT during the same period without transuterine puncture. Seven of 16 patients who had a transuterine puncture became pregnant after IVF, compared to 84 pregnancies out of 347 cases (24.2%) in the control group. After ZIFT, two pregnancies (2/6) were achieved in patients with uterine laceration, compared to 46 pregnancies out of 149 procedures (30.8%) in the control group. These differences were not statistically significant. Transuterine puncture during transvaginal oocyte retrieval does not seem to have an adverse effect on the results of human IVF and ZIFT treatment. PMID- 2606957 TI - Paternal age and mental functions of progeny in man. AB - The effects of maternal age on the quality of offspring are well known. Those due to the father's age are less obvious, apart from the role of increasing paternal age in the onset of many dominant autosomal disorders. But an experimental model has demonstrated that, in rats, increasing paternal age, without any other anomalies, might produce a decreased learning capacity in progeny. The object of the epidemiological investigation presented here was to verify whether this effect might also occur in man. The study involved the distribution of scores obtained in psychometric tests by 18-year-old male subjects, according to their father's age at the time of their birth. This distribution indicated not only that increasing paternal age is accompanied by effects similar to those observed in animals, but also that very young paternal age was also related to these effects. Thus, the curve of such scores produced an inverted U-shape, with maximum scores obtained when the father was about thirty years of age. Maternal age did not appear to play a part in this event. These results pose the problem of identifying genetic and/or psychosocial factors which might have an impact on the quality of the conceptus. PMID- 2606958 TI - Comparative results on survival of human and animal eggs using different cryoprotectants and freeze-thawing regimens. I. Mouse and hamster. AB - The achievement of successful pregnancies and births after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer of frozen-thawed human oocytes has stimulated further work on improving the established methodology. The present investigation was conducted on 1837 mouse oocytes, 1785 mouse pronuclear stage embryos, 1400 hamster oocytes and 1024 hamster pronuclear-stage embryos. In an effort to study the advantages and disadvantages of a newly introduced, 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PROH)-based system over the conventionally used dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO)-based methodology, a direct, prospective comparison between the two cryoprotectants was undertaken in a randomized trial. The combination of 1,2-PROH and DMSO potentiates their cryoprotective effect on mouse and hamster eggs. 1,2-PROH seems to improve cryopreservation in the animal system, though not significantly. Four different protocols were used to evaluate the effects of two changing experimental parameters. These were, firstly, the intermediary temperature attained before placing the cells into liquid nitrogen and, secondly, the modification of the method of adding and removing the cryoprotectant. The morphological survival rate, fertilization rate and developmental rate were significantly better in the low intermediary temperature compared with the high intermediary temperature system of cryopreservation. In addition, the rate of zona pellucida breakdown diminishes considerably in the former compared with the latter system. The 'rapid' sucrose method of cryoprotectant equilibrium and removal showed, in most groups, results which were lower than, or equal to, the traditionally used 'multiple-step', 'slow' method. PMID- 2606959 TI - Comparative results on survival of human and animal eggs using different cryoprotectants and freeze-thawing regimens. II. Human. AB - A total of 269 human pronuclear embryos and 84 oocytes were subjected to four different protocols of cryoprotectant equilibration, washing out and freeze thawing. The morphological survival, rate of development, fertilization in vitro and overall survival rate were estimated in the groups of fresh, aged oocytes, diploid and multipronuclear embryos used. With some restrictions, the conclusion can be drawn that slow, low intermediary temperature 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PROH) and 1,2-PROH/dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) systems are superior to the rapid, high intermediary temperature 1,2-PROH and the traditionally used DMSO systems. The best success rates were reached with the combination of cryoprotectants in the low intermediary temperature group. Thirty-three patients had 37 transfers of cryopreserved pronuclear embryos (n = 103), resulting in eight pregnancies (24.2% per transfer) thus doubling the pregnancy rate in the stimulation cycles for the same period (21% per transfer). Thawing at a rate of 50 degrees C/min is not incompatible with the survival of slowly frozen human oocytes and pronuclear embryos cooled to an intermediary temperature of -70 degrees C using the DMSO system. PMID- 2606960 TI - Fertilization in vitro of human oocytes by spermatozoa collected in different stressful situations. AB - It has been shown that semen quality is impaired in couples undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF), probably due to stress. A possible effect of stress on the ability of spermatozoa to fertilize human oocytes in vitro was analysed in the present study composed of 26 couples with normozoospermic men undergoing IVF. A semen sample was obtained during the infertility work-up and was cryopreserved (sample 1). A second sample (sample 2) was provided after oocyte retrieval during the IVF cycle. Sample 1 was thawed and both samples were washed and preincubated for oocyte insemination. One-hundred-and-five oocytes were inseminated using thawed sample 1, and 120 with sample 2. Semen parameters such as density, progressive motility and percentage of abnormal forms were compared between sample 1, before and after freezing, and sample 2. Only motility was significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased by cryopreservation in sample 1, but no parameter was significantly different when fresh sample 1 was compared to sample 2. The fertilization rate was 78.6% using sample 1 in comparison to 87.5% when sample 2 was employed (not significant, NS). Cleavage rates were 77.7 and 89.7%, respectively (NS). A group of five patients undergoing IVF who needed donor semen served as a control for the effect of sperm cryopreservation on IVF. In these cases, the donor was asked to provide a fresh sample. Half of this sample was frozen and thawed. Subsequently, fresh and thawed samples were prepared for insemination and oocytes inseminated either with the fresh preparation (n = 24) or the frozen and thawed spermatozoa (n = 22).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2606961 TI - The uptake of [3H] glucosamine-labelled glycoconjugates into the perivitelline space of preimplantation mouse embryos. AB - Autoradiography has been used to follow the synthesis and migration of labelled glycoconjugates into fertilized and unfertilized mouse eggs. Adult female mice were paired individually with males and injected with 100 microCi [3H] glucosamine, either when they were paired with males or at the time a vaginal plug was first detected. The mice were killed at intervals after the injection of label and 5-microns and semi-thin sections of the oviducts were processed for autoradiography. Labelled glycoconjugates passed rapidly into the perivitelline space of fertilized and unfertilized mouse eggs. There was a positive correlation between the density of label within the zona pellucida and the perivitelline space. Labelled glycoconjugates were maintained within the perivitelline space of many developing embryos for at least 48 h despite very low levels of label within the oviduct by this time. Other 2-cell embryos were only lightly labelled. It is suggested that labelled glycoconjugates may be derived from secretions of the cumulus cells which surround the egg at ovulation rather than from oviductal secretions. PMID- 2606962 TI - Quality control in the IVF laboratory: in-vitro and in-vivo development of mouse embryos is unaffected by the quality of water used in culture media. AB - We have examined the effect of media made with tap water or with various purified waters on the fertilization of mouse oocytes, their development to blastocysts, their rate of hatching in vitro and their survival after transfer to recipients. Zona-intact and zona-free embryos, as well as cell clusters from 8-cell stage embryos, were also used. The macromolecular composition of the media was varied. We were unable to find any adverse effect of tap water under any condition examined. The implications of these findings for quality control in IVF units are discussed. PMID- 2606963 TI - Is cholic acid responsible for embryo-toxicity of the post-receptive uterine environment? AB - HPLC analysis of the embryo-toxic fraction of human uterine fluid, collected between the 22nd and 25th days of the menstrual cycle, revealed the presence of cholic acid at high concentrations. It is suggested that cholic acid could be responsible for the embryo-toxicity of the uterine environment, which follows the receptive period for implantation. PMID- 2606964 TI - Comparison of human chorionic gonadotrophin in human urine and amniotic fluid as estimated by a polyclonal and by a specific monoclonal assay in very early pregnancy. AB - Urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) was estimated in 42 samples from patients in very early pregnancy or shortly after early spontaneous abortion, in which initial testing showed a positive urinary HCG in the Hybritech Tandem ICON II monoclonal 2 min test. There were no false positives with this test even when the blue colour was difficult to distinguish from the white background, i.e. considerably less than the calibration blue spot at 50 mIU/ml. The Serono polyclonal beta-HCG radioimmunoassay (RIA) detected urinary intact HCG (plus free beta-subunit) at concentrations as low as 10 mIU/ml IS 61/6 for bioassay (the old standard), i.e. approximately 22 mIU/ml 1st IRP 75/537 for immunoassay (the new standard). The LKB-Pharmacia DELFIA monoclonal fluoroimmunoassay (FIA) detected urinary intact HCG, without free beta-subunit, to a minimum concentration of 18 mIU/ml 75/537. The proportion of monoclonal/polyclonal was 2-155%. In normal amniotic fluid at 16-20 weeks of pregnancy, HCG concentrations were 3180 +/- 2270 (755-11,000) mIU/ml with the FIA. PMID- 2606965 TI - Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide loses its prolactin-releasing activity in menopausal women. PMID- 2606966 TI - Counselling and selection of homosexual couples in fertility treatment. AB - Artificial insemination with anonymous donor sperm (AID) is a widespread practice for heterosexual couples in which the male partner appears to be infertile. The Centre for Reproductive Medicine of the Brussels University teaching hospital has been one of the first to extend this form of therapy to lesbian couples. In the course of the past 7 years, 27 lesbian couples have come to the centre with a request for AID. The question of whether children can be brought up within such a frame of reference cannot be dissociated from the question of attitudes towards homosexuality as such. Such attitudes still solicit a whole range of controversial reactions. This paper will deal with the most important findings from investigations thus far carried out on the issue of homosexual parenthood. It also sets out the selection criteria used in the evaluation of applicants. A profile of the homosexual couples selected will be presented, with particular attention to their social status, their psychosexual development and their motivation towards parenthood. PMID- 2606967 TI - Voluntary regulatory scheme for clinics practising IVF and related technologies in Australia. PMID- 2606968 TI - The transition from standard edgewise to preadjusted appliance systems. PMID- 2606969 TI - T. Patrick Tracy on new computer technology. Interview by J.W. Barnett. PMID- 2606970 TI - Clinical and instrumental functional analysis for diagnosis and treatment planning. Part 10. Diagnostic splint therapy. PMID- 2606971 TI - Unstable occlusion and temporomandibular joint disease. PMID- 2606972 TI - Vertical tube headgear. PMID- 2606973 TI - Relative stiffness of orthodontic wires. PMID- 2606974 TI - A simple immunosorbent assay for detection of human blood. AB - A simple, rapid and highly sensitive assay based on Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Technique (ELISA) using human Haptoglobin antibodies for identification of human blood is described. The important feature of the present assay is absence of need for enzyme antibody conjugates. Human blood stains as old as 3 years show positive results by this method. This test is suitable for identification of human blood in forensic and epidemological studies. PMID- 2606975 TI - An automated micromethod for detection of lytic antimycobacterial antibodies by immune lysis of liposomes sensitized to tuberculin. AB - Calcein was concentrated inside multilamellar liposomes (MLV) by encapsulation through an osmotic gradient in order to increase its quenching. Immune lysis of these MLV sensitized to PPD by direct encapsulation or by exposure to preformed vesicles was studied in the presence of rabbit anti-BCG serum and of a non-immune rabbit serum as a source of complement, successively added in the wells of a microplate to a final volume of 0.1 ml. A 40 to 50% release of encapsulated calcein was observed after 5 min using a Titertek Fluoroskan II. Preformed liposomes exposed to PPD were more sensitive to anti-BCG serum than liposomes formed in PPD. Trials with human sera revealed a significantly higher level of specific lytic immunoglobulins in tuberculous patients than in non-tuberculous subjects. Key words: Liposome immune lysis assay; lytic antimycobacterial antibodies; tuberculosis, human; test automation. PMID- 2606976 TI - Influence of the peptide insolubilization method on detection of anti-peptide antibodies in ELISA. Evaluation of nonspecific interactions. AB - Different methods of peptide insolubilization in solid phase were compared in ELISA, to verify the influence of the peptide antigen presentation in the interaction with related antibodies. Our studies were performed using as model the peptide fragment 163-171 of human Interleukin 1 beta, and polyclonal or monoclonal anti-peptide antibodies. It was found that the peptide, N-terminally linked to a protein carrier before the adsorption on microtiter wells, interacted with specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies with high sensitivity and specificity. In contrast the recognition of similar random conjugates, prepared using a bivalent cross-linking reagent or the peptide covalently linked to poly-L Lysine-pretreated wells, was hampered generally by very high levels of nonspecific binding. On the other hand, the free peptide adsorbed directly to the solid phase interacted with antibodies with very low sensitivity and specificity. Nonspecific interactions were found in particular between peptides and hyperimmune sera or nonrelated monoclonal antibodies. On the contrary pre-immune sera and normal mouse immunoglobulins never showed significant interactions with any of peptides. This nonspecificity was also overcome when N-terminally linked peptide-protein conjugates were used for the assay. PMID- 2606977 TI - Favourable effect of detergent on antigen detection and comparison of enzyme linked detection systems in an ELISA for Chlamydia trachomatis. AB - The influence of addition of detergents to the antigen on sensitivity of an ELISA for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis was investigated. Of the detergents tested, only octyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside and sodiumdesoxycholate gave respectively a two- to fourfold and an eightfold increase in sensitivity. The effect was only present within a narrow range of detergent concentrations. The optimal detergent concentration was strongly dependent on the protein concentration in the antigen preparation. For optimal detection of the bound chlamydial antigen, enzyme and biotin labeled secondary antibodies were compared. The biotin labeled antibodies were combined with enzyme labeled streptavidin biotin complex (SBC). Color development was obtained with both types of conjugates by using either o-phenylenediamine (OPD) or an enzyme amplification system. The best results were obtained with the SBC method and OPD. PMID- 2606979 TI - Papers of the 4th International Hamburg Symposium on Craniofacial Anomalies and Clefts of Lip, Alveolus, and Palate. August 30-September 4, 1987. PMID- 2606978 TI - Solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for the detection of HMG nonhistone proteins in their native structure. AB - The use of purified specific antibodies against HMG1 and HMG17 (high mobility group nonhistone chromosomal proteins), together with a very sensitive solid phase enzyme immunoassay, allows the detection of nanograms of these proteins free in solution or in chromatin native structure, and the measurement of their accessibility. The sensitivity of the assay is comparable to that of the radioimmunoassay, with the advantage of avoiding the handling of radioactive materials. PMID- 2606980 TI - Differentiated reconstruction of the orbicularis oris muscle in unilateral labioplasty. AB - Repair of the cleft lip aims to restore the normal anatomy. The most important step in treatment of unilateral deformities is the differential re-arrangement of muscle components to correct the insertion and reorientate the direction of their fibres. The three different components of the orbicularis oris muscle must be repaired independently, to permit each to function separately. After insertion of the nasal bundle into the anterior nasal spine, correction of the misdirected nasolabial bundle and end-to-end union of the deep fibres, better cosmetic and functional results were achieved. PMID- 2606981 TI - A modified technique to correct the cleft lip nasal deformity. AB - Repositioning the collapsed alar cartilage, lengthening the columella and correct repositioning of the alar base of the cleft side are the main components of the cleft lip nostril repair. The rotation-advancement lip procedure was performed in all primary cases, and to some extent for necessary revision in secondary cases. For elevating and supporting the displaced alar cartilage "Skoog's mattress key stitch" was used. The columella was lengthened with a c-flap. In the secondary cases the c-flap was kept long and wide enough, so that its de-epithelialized distal part was used to augment the depression of the cleft side alar base. In all primary cases, a lateral mucosal L-flap was inserted into the intercartilaginous incision. 17 primary and 15 secondary cases were repaired using this technique. Follow-up of the patients from one to four years demonstrated no interference with nasal growth in primary cases and no recurrence of the deformity in any case. Three secondary cases required additional minor corrections. PMID- 2606982 TI - Presurgical orthopaedic treatment using hard plates. AB - Our concept in the treatment of unilateral clefts of lip, alveolus and palate includes early maxillary orthopaedic treatment starting immediately after birth until the end of the first year of life and the surgical closure of the lip at three months and of the soft palate at twelve months. Hard palate and alveolus are closed after three years by secondary osteoplasty in the alveolar region. The appliance is made of hard acrylic resin and is adjusted monthly to allow for growth. It thus encourages passive orthopaedic guidance of maxillary growth. The local compatibility of the plate was excellent and the acceptance by the children created no problems until tooth eruption. Follow-up studies were conducted on twenty children treated in this way until three years of age. After the first year results show a good and harmonious arch alignment without any collapse of the alveolar segments. The cleft narrows and the steepness of the palatal slope flattens. This maxillary development is arrested after suspension of orthopaedic treatment, and a slight collapse of the alveolar segments is observed. PMID- 2606983 TI - Evaluation of the result of surgery on cleft lip and palate and skeletal growth determinants of the cranial base. AB - In evaluating the results of surgery on cleft lip and palate, the growth determinants have to be taken into consideration. The goal should be that the dentoalveolar conditions coincide with the growth tendencies at the base of the skull upon termination of growth. If there is a tendency at the cranial base to class III, most likely it will not be possible to achieve a dentoalveolar angle class I without osteotomies. PMID- 2606984 TI - Early secondary osteoplastic closure of the residual alveolar cleft in combination with orthodontic treatment. AB - In 84 early secondary bone graftings, rib and chin transplants were used. While good overall results are obtained, comparison of the two types of graft show that the cases with bone from the chin clearly do better. PMID- 2606985 TI - Late secondary autogenous bone grafting in cleft patients comparing mandibular (ectomesenchymal) and iliac crest (mesenchymal) grafts. AB - A comparative study has been performed between two groups of 25 alveolar cleft patients. The cleft area was restored with mesenchymal (iliac crest) and ectomesenchymal bone (mandibular symphysis). The results are discussed; the mandibular symphysis is a reliable donor site; the ectomesenchymal graft is better incorporated, significantly less resorbed, and the orthodontic treatment postoperatively is not altered. PMID- 2606986 TI - Six years' experience with free septum replantation in cleft nasal correction. AB - Cleft lip/nose/palates are almost always accompanied by typical deformity of the inner and outer nose. The septum, which is usually considerably misshapen also influences the degree of deformity of the external nares. With extreme septum deformation it has proved expedient to remove the septum in its entirety and to replant it after suitable straightening. This technique is described. PMID- 2606987 TI - Oronasal fistulae in repaired cleft palates. AB - The study reviews oronasal fistulae occurring after palatoplasty. Subjects were fifty-two patients who had received palatoplasty in our clinic from 1981 to 1987. In twenty-one cases (40%) oronasal fistulae persisted. Two-thirds of these fistulae were slits or pinholes. The ratio of fistula occurrence was relatively high compared to other reports. Most of them were observed at the junction of the premaxilla and maxilla. There was no significant difference between fistula formation and the distance of the push back, and also there was no correlation with the width of the cleft. PMID- 2606988 TI - The tongue and forehead flap in the closure of residual oronasal fistulae. AB - Some defects related to untreated palatal or residual clefts represent major deformities. A review of 177 cases, untreated or operated on according to Schwekkendiek's (1958) chronology, was carried out. The advantage of simultaneous operative techniques is discussed, specifically pharyngoplasties, vestibular flap rotation, and osteoplastic closure. When all other surgical possibilities have failed, some flaps have been used to restore mucosal continuity. A multidisciplinary evaluation of each individual case is emphasized. PMID- 2606989 TI - Muscle reconstruction in primary cleft lip surgery. AB - Skeletal maldevelopment in the mid-face in the case of cleft lip and palate is caused by an inadequate surgical reconstruction of the paranasal muscles. This results in deficient functional stimulus to the desmal osteogenesis at the mid face sutures. Early reconstruction of these muscles can prevent secondary skeletal maldevelopment. PMID- 2606990 TI - Craniomandibular disorders in chronic orofacial pain patients. AB - Forty-six patients with chronic orofacial pain were examined by a pain group consisting of specialists from different fields of dentistry. More than half of the patients presented a craniomandibular diagnosis. The pain had diminished or disappeared 1 year after treatment in 46% of the patients as a whole and in 39% of the patients with a craniomandibular diagnosis. Fifty-two percent of the patients with no relief of their chronic pain had a psychiatric diagnosis. PMID- 2606991 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging of the TMJ: identification of anatomic elements by controlled movement and application to normal and pathologic clinical situations. AB - Magnetic resonance imaging of the temporomandibular joint is evaluated by an ex vivo model, in normal patients, and in those with TMJ dysfunctions. Adaptation of MRI techniques for very thin articular elements is discussed. PMID- 2606992 TI - A study of the emotional characteristics of temporomandibular disorder patients using SCL-90-R. AB - This study was conducted to identify the emotional characteristics of temporomandibular disorder patients. The authors applied one of the self-report modes of psychological measurement, Symptom Checklist-90-Revision. The subjects were 219 TM disorder patients who visited the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, during the period from December 1985 to September 1986. Patients were divided into subgroups according to sex, age, duration of symptoms, presence or absence of pain, and educational level. The mean values and distribution of T-scores of each symptom dimension and global index were then compared. PMID- 2606993 TI - The intracapsular therapeutic modalities in conjunction with arthrography: case reports. AB - Manipulation and lavage of the temporomandibular joint has been shown to add an important therapeutic dimension to arthrography. These therapeutic modalities were prescribed by the primary treating practitioner in conjunction with diagnostic arthrography in a group of patients. The therapeutic modalities consisted of joint mobilization (Farrar manipulation or distraction) augmented by (1) increased hydraulic pressure in the superior compartment, or (2) with small amounts of contrast in both compartments, and/or (3) with lavage of the superior joint compartment. The therapeutic modalities were prescribed in association with the arthrography as a logical extension of the arthrographic technique. The result of the mobilization and lavage was an increase in the mandibular range of motion (ROM) and a decrease in pain in cases with adhesions as well as those with anteriorly displaced disks without reduction. Patients with anteriorly displaced disks with reduction, redundant tissue in the fossa, osteochondritis, and adhesive capsulitis also showed benefit, although patient populations treated with these conditions were small. There were no adverse sequelae. Manipulation and lavage should now be viewed as one more tool in the treatment of intracapsular pathology. PMID- 2606994 TI - Biomechanical and physiologic processes leading to internal derangement with adhesion. AB - This article describes the biomechanical and physiologic processes occurring with the insidious development of craniomandibular dysfunction. This explanation uses basic orthopedic concepts and correlates the specific pathophysiologic circumstances that result in internal derangements and adhesive capsulitis. The specific pathophysiologic processes reviewed here include collagen failure, inflammatory response, synovitis, synovial hypertrophy, fibrous adhesion formation, and chondromalacia degenerative changes. Current diagnostic terminology describes internal derangements as being present with or without reduction. In view of the physiologic processes described, a better diagnostic description would be internal derangement with adhesion. Treatment should be directed toward preventing progression of degenerative changes and allowing normal reparative processes to proceed. PMID- 2606995 TI - Guidelines for the examination and diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders. AB - These guidelines propose performance criteria for the history and examination of patients with temporomandibular (TM) disorders. Pertinent diagnostic subcategories are identified, and the comprehensive history and review of systems are described. The examination procedures include documentation of temporomandibular and craniocervical range of motion, TM joint sounds, and the recording of muscle and joint tenderness. The TM disorders addressed include muscle problems such as myalgia, protective splinting or trismus, spasm, myositis, dyskinesia, muscle contracture, hypertrophy, and bruxism. Temporomandibular joint disorders addressed include disk-condyle incoordination, restricted condyle translation, open condyle dislocation, arthralgia, osteoarthritis, polyarthritis, and traumatic joint injury. Disorders of mandibular mobility such as ankylosis, adhesions, fibrosis, skeletal obstruction, and hypermobility are also described. Finally, disorders of maxillomandibular growth, including masticatory muscle hypertrophy, atrophy, neoplasia, maxillomandibular hypoplasia, condylar agenesis, maxillomandibular hyperplasia, and condyle hypertrophy are described. PMID- 2606996 TI - Condylar penetration into the middle cranial fossa. AB - This article describes two cases of condylar penetration into the middle cranial fossa in which a similar surgical procedure is used, namely, a rib graft for closure of the fossa. The rib graft, being an autogenous substance, does not present the problems associated with alloplastic materials. If care is taken not to contaminate the graft, and if the bone used has adequate thickness to prevent penetration and resorption, the graft will prove a superior option to repair damage in the middle cranial fossa. PMID- 2606997 TI - Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint: report of two cases. AB - Two cases of synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint are reported. This condition is rare but benign, with only 36 cases reported in the literature to date. Symptoms include tenderness, swelling, and limited range of motion, with deviation to the affected side. Diagnosis is made both from the clinical presentation and histologic examination. The etiology is thought to be cartilaginous foci within the synovial membrane that become detached and proliferate in the synovium as chondrocytes. Treatment includes removal of the "loose bodies" and possible resection of the synovial membrane, condyle, and disk. PMID- 2606998 TI - Liquid crystal thermography as a diagnostic aid and objective monitor for TMJ dysfunction and myogenic facial pain. AB - Liquid crystal contact thermography was used to assess both normal control patients and patients with temporomandibular joint and myofascial pain. The technique appears capable of detecting temperature changes around the TMJ and muscles of mastication. Patients with painful internal derangements of the TMJ have warm areas over the joint, and those with myogenic facial pain symptoms have areas of variable temperature over the masseter muscle. After successful nonsurgical treatment of these conditions, the thermograms return to normal. PMID- 2606999 TI - Craniomandibular disorders in headache patients. AB - Fifty patients with recurrent headache who had been referred to a neurologist were randomly invited for an examination of their stomatognathic system. The prevalence and distribution of the findings in many ways resemble the clinical findings in CMD patients. In 66% of the patients, a myogenous or arthrogenous origin of CMD pain could be detected. Headache occurred more bilaterally, but unilateral findings were more common at the functional examination. The results did not show any statistical differences between the sexes. PMID- 2607000 TI - Physical therapy for the postsurgical TMJ patient. AB - The evolution of the role of the physical therapist in the treatment of dysfunction in the stomatognathic system includes involvement in oral surgery and postsurgical repair procedures of the TMJ. There is no doubt that the multidisciplinary approach to treatment is essential to the effective treatment of a surgically repaired or restructured synovial joint. The surgical and therapeutic goals are to restore the joint, as much as possible, to a friction free, pain-free, functional range of motion. To accomplish this, the practitioner must consider the normal structure and biomechanics of ligaments and tendons; the time frame for adequate collagen fiber biosynthesis; and the effects of immobilization, controlled mobilization, and exercise on ligament repair. PMID- 2607001 TI - The condylar disk as a controlling factor in the form of the condylar head. AB - The articular disk has been implicated as a controlling factor of the form of the condylar head. In a study investigating the role of articular function on the condylar cartilage, 35 adult Wistar rats (mean weight 327 g) were operated on to establish the effects of loss of the disk and capsule on the form of the condylar head. These animals had their zygomatic arch and disk removed on one side, while a neutral procedure was performed on the opposite side to act as a control. The results showed extremely unusual shapes to the form of the condylar head and implicated the disk as the controlling factor. Studies with tritiated thymidine also showed an increase in proliferative activity. PMID- 2607002 TI - The effect of experimental stress and experimental occlusal interference on masseteric EMG activity. AB - This experiment attempted to study the separate and combined effects of occlusal interference and transient stress on masseteric activity among eight nonclinical human subjects. Before each of two sessions, subjects were fitted with an occlusal interference or an occlusally inert (control) molar clasp. During each session they viewed horrific and idyllic videotapes while masseter EMG was recorded bilaterally. Electrodermal measures validated that the horrific videotapes were stressful. Studies showed that the occlusal variable worked less well. The EMG was elevated contralateral to both clasps and during videotape viewing. The EMG effects from videotape viewing were relatively pronounced without the occlusal interference. Research implications are discussed. PMID- 2607004 TI - AIDS legislation. PMID- 2607003 TI - Staging of internal derangements of the TMJ with magnetic resonance imaging: preliminary observations. AB - Although MRI has been reported to be accurate in diagnosing displaced TMJ menisci, it has not been used to characterize the condition of the meniscus. A staging system of internal derangement of the TMJ using MRI signal characteristics and morphology of the meniscus is presented. A normal meniscus has the appearance of a small "drumstick" and is positioned superiorly on the mandibular condyle. It produces a small amount of intermediate signal on the MRI. A grade 1 displaced meniscus has normal shape and signal; a grade 2 meniscus has normal shape and absent signal; a grade 3 meniscus has abnormal shape and absent signal. There was a significant correlation between meniscus grade and chronicity of symptoms, severity of pain, and presence of degenerative joint disease in 62 joints (39 patients). PMID- 2607005 TI - Capitation complications--contracts--coercion. PMID- 2607006 TI - Capitation a framework for analysis. PMID- 2607008 TI - Calcium for your children--a handout. PMID- 2607007 TI - Anatomy of a staff meeting. PMID- 2607009 TI - Quality improvement--a review. PMID- 2607010 TI - Prevalence of bottled water usage by pediatric dental patients: implications for dental health. AB - Drinking bottled water has become a popular substitute for tap water because of the concern over the contamination of municipal water supplies. The purpose of this study was to determine the percentage of pediatric dental patients drinking bottled water as their primary source of water. The fluoride content of these products was obtained from the distributors and the products were independently analyzed to ensure accuracy. Approximately 10 percent of 1,126 randomly selected patients from a private pediatric dental practice were routinely using bottled water from nine different sources. The fluoride content of these products varied from 0.04 ppm to 1.4 ppm. Independent analysis of the fluoride content of the different brands of bottled water using a microanalyzer with a fluoride-specific electrode indicated that the measured fluoride content was within +/- 0.1 ppm of the distributors' reported fluoride levels. The results of this study found that 16.9 percent of the pediatric patients were receiving less than the optimal level of fluoride and 72.4 percent were receiving greater than the recommended level of fluoride. Ten percent of the patients were being supplemented with additional fluoride tablets by their pediatrician, although the fluoride levels in the bottled water ranged from 0.9 to 1.4 ppm. In order for children to receive the optimal caries-preventive benefit from fluoride, the pediatric dentist needs to question the source of the patients' drinking water routinely. When bottled water is being used, the fluoride content should be obtained from the distributor or submitted for laboratory evaluation for fluoride content. PMID- 2607011 TI - The dilated pore of Winer--an overlooked cutaneous lesion of cats. AB - A retrospective study of 125 cutaneous cystic lesions in cats from 1978 to 1987 Revealed 14 examples of the dilated pore of Winer, a lesion previously described in man and in one cat. Histologically, this lesion appears as a flasklike cystic structure with a wide external opening and laminated keratinaceous content. The cyst is characterized by a thickened wall with numerous, closely apposed rete ridges, either at its base or throughout most of the circumference, with a thinner atrophic wall approaching the os. Clinically, the lesion is a hairless nodule or visible cutaneous defect containing either soft keratinaceous material or, more commonly, projections of horn-like material. In man, the lesion is believed to be either a hamartoma or a benign neoplastic process. Surgical excision is curative. PMID- 2607012 TI - The effects of endotoxin pretreatment on subsequent challenge of mice with cycloheximide and a small dose of endotoxin. AB - Mice treated with 15.0 micrograms of S. enteritidis endotoxin are completely protected against the coagulopathic effects, but only partially protected against the fatal glucocorticoid deficiency which follow an otherwise lethal challenge with cycloheximide and 5.0 micrograms of the same endotoxin given 3 days later. Hydrocortisone treatment results in survival of all such tolerant, challenged animals. The protection conferred against occlusion of glomerular capillaries by fibrin coagula is abolished by EACA, suggesting that tolerance has induced high levels of fibrinolytic activity by the time of challenge, and evidence indicates that this protective degree of fibrinolytic activity persists for more than 24 h after cycloheximide and endotoxin challenge. PMID- 2607013 TI - Early events associated with experimental infection of the murine lung with Rhodococcus equi. AB - Pneumonia due to Rhodococcus equi was induced in the murine lung by deposition of a known dose of organisms. From serial estimations of bacterial numbers in the lungs of inoculated mice, analysis of the cellular composition of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and morphological examination of the lungs, events in the host parasite interaction were followed until day 7. Early bacterial clearance from the lung was dose-dependent but was not sustained. A proportion of the inoculated R. equi was susceptible to the early nonspecific phagocytic cell response, and the contribution of neutrophils to bacterial clearance appeared largely limited to the first 24 hours. A substantial fraction of the organisms survived in the alveoli, probably within macrophages. The contribution phagocytes make to resistance against R. equi is similar to that which prevails in infection with Listeria monocytogenes. PMID- 2607014 TI - The neuroteratogenicity of procarbazine hydrochloride in the rat: histopathological and immunocytochemical aspects. AB - Procarbazine hydrochloride, and antineoplastic drug, was administered to pregnant rats from days 13 to 16 of gestation at doses of 0, 1, 5 and 15 mg per kg as part of a behavioural study. Histological examination of the brains from the offspring at 12 to 15 weeks of age revealed cerebral atrophy, which increased in severity with increasing dose, together with a reduction in neuronal numbers, with no apparent effect upon the astrocyte and oligodendrocyte populations. PMID- 2607015 TI - Serial ultrastructural studies of scrapie in hamsters. AB - We report sequential studies of the ultrastructural neuropathology of the subcortical grey matter of hamsters infected with the 263K strain of scrapie virus. Vacuolation in this model develops relatively late in the incubation period, while tubulovesicular structures appear early. Furthermore, neuroaxonal dystrophy, accumulations of branching tubules, and neuronal change consisting of intracytoplasmic "whorls" of proliferating membranes constitute prominent features of scrapie-related neurodegeneration. PMID- 2607016 TI - The accuracy of cytology in diagnosis and DNA analysis of canine mammary tumours. AB - Fine-needle aspirates from 84 spontaneous canine mammary tumours were used to assess the accuracy of this method in flow cytometric DNA analysis and cytological diagnosis. Defined samples from different tumour parts were analysed for histological diagnosis and DNA ploidy as a control. The DNA ploidy in cytology specimens and those obtained from the defined tumour samples, when testing for independence, was highly significant (P = 0.0001). The total accuracy of cytology was 79 per cent, with a sensitivity of 65 per cent and a specificity of 94 per cent. The results show the possibility of combining cytology and DNA analysis of fine-needle aspirates from canine mammary tumours. The method is suitable for preoperative diagnosis of canine mammary tumours as well as for measuring DNA ploidy, which makes it useful if DNA ploidy turns out to be of diagnostic and prognostic value in these tumours. PMID- 2607017 TI - Marek's disease virus-induced transient paralysis in chickens: demonstration of vasogenic brain oedema by an immunohistochemical method. AB - The presence of vasogenic brain oedema and its distribution in Marek's disease virus (MDV)-induced transient paralysis (TP) were determined in genetically resistant and susceptible inbred White Leghorn chickens. MDV-inoculated TP susceptible chickens with nervous signs (9 days post-inoculation) had severe vacuolation of cerebellar white matter and associated diffuse leakage of albumin and IgG. The serum protein leakage was associated morphologically with a vasculitis and intramural pseudocyst formation in the walls of blood vessels cuffed by mononuclear cells. This transient vasculitis and resulting vasogenic oedema coincided with the temporary neurological signs seen in TP-susceptible chickens. The vasculitis and vasogenic oedema were not present in brain tissue from recovered MDV-inoculated TP-susceptible chickens, MDV-inoculated TP resistant chickens, or uninoculated control chickens from either line. PMID- 2607018 TI - Spontaneous external endometriosis in a De Brazza's monkey. AB - A spontaneous case of external endometriosis in a 22-year-old female De Brazza's monkey is described. During diagnostic laparotomy, peritoneal adhesions of the uterus to the urinary bladder, ovaries and abdominal wall were seen. A surgical biopsy of soft tissue attached to the ventral surface of the uterus was examined histologically and consisted of endometrial glands and stroma. These findings were compatible with a diagnosis of endometriosis. PMID- 2607019 TI - Endogenous 24-hour cycle of core temperature and oxygen consumption in week-old Zucker rat pups. AB - Experiments were designed to test whether or not the 24-h core temperature fluctuations in week-old rat pups are of endogenous origin. Lean (Fa/-) Zucker rat pups born on the same day to mothers maintained in two different colonies with light/dark cycles 12 h out of phase with each other were mother-reared through the first 3-4 days of life and then artificially reared simultaneously in constant dim light. Continuous, automatic measurement of core temperature and oxygen consumption during artificial rearing showed clear 24-h rhythms in 5- to 8 day-old pups. Each rhythm reached a daily minimum at a time corresponding to the beginning of the light period in the colony of origin. The amplitude of these rhythms did not diminish during artificial rearing, nor did the phase difference between the rhythms of pups originating in the two colonies systematically change. The persistent 12-h phase differences between these two groups of pups prove that the observed rhythms are not caused by exogenous stimuli. We conclude that the rat pup possesses an endogenous time-keeping mechanism that permits the expression of overt rhythmicity at the age of 1 week. PMID- 2607020 TI - Characterisation of neuropeptides of the AKH/RPCH-family from corpora cardiaca of Coleoptera. AB - Extracts of corpora cardiaca from two members of the family Tenebrionidae. Zophobas rugipes and Tenebrio molitor, from one member of the Chrysomelidae, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, and from three members of the Scarabaeidae, Pachnoda marginata, P. sinuata and Melolontha hippocastani, were assayed for adipokinetic and hypertrehalosaemic activity in acceptor locusts (Locusta migratoria) and cockroaches (Periplaneta americana), respectively. All corpus cardiacum material tested, except that from the cockchafer, M. hippocastani, gave positive bioassay results. Biological activities of corpus cardiacum extracts from all species investigated can be resolved on reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Gland extracts from the two tenebrionid species each show a single peak of biological activity associated with a single peak of UV absorbance having an identical retention time in both species. The two biologically active fractions from the corpora cardiaca of the potato beetle, L. decemlineata, coelute with exogenous (synthetic) hypertrehalosaemic hormones I and II of the American cockroach. The two species of the genus Pachnoda contain two active compounds in their glands; compound I of each species is more abundant and elutes just ahead of the (synthetic) hypertrehalosaemic hormone of the cockroach Blaberus discoidalis. The gland material of M. hippocastani exhibits an absorbance peak with the same retention time as the major peak from the Pachnoda species; however, this peak material does not elicit biological activity in the assays used here. After fractionation by RP-HPLC the main biologically active compounds were subjected to amino acid analyses. All factors are peptidic and contain 8 amino acid residues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607022 TI - Comparison between panoramic and posterior bitewing radiography in the diagnosis of periodontal bone loss. AB - A study is reported comparing the diagnostic yield of panoramic and posterior bitewing radiographs when used to image periodontal bone disease. It is concluded that there is a high concordance between the findings from the two types of radiographs but that the concordance varies with the degree of bone loss and tooth type. Consequently when panoramic radiography is used in clinical practice, the examination should be supplemented by intraoral radiographs in regions when image quality is poor in the panoramic image and where there are structures of special interest. PMID- 2607021 TI - Secretion by the mandibular gland of the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) during isoprenaline infusion. AB - Intracarotid infusion of isoprenaline, either alone or in combination with acetylcholine infusion was used to stimulate salivation by the mandibular glands of anaesthetized red kangaroos. Isoprenaline alone (0.20-1.25 eta mol.kg-1.min-1) elicited flow rates ranging from 0.014 to 0.239 ml.min-1 (1.21-28.1 microliters.g gland-1.min-1). Salivary concentrations of sodium, chloride, phosphate and urea were negatively correlated with flow, whereas potassium, calcium, magnesium, hydrogen ion, bi-carbonate, protein, and osmolality were poorly correlated with flow. Relative to cholinergic saliva produced at equivalent flow rates, isoprenaline-evoked saliva had higher osmolality, saliva/plasma urea ratios and concentrations of protein, potassium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and phosphate, but lower sodium, chloride and hydrogen ion levels. At a steady salivary flow (0.5 ml.min-1), superim-position of isoprenaline infusion (0.15 eta mol.kg-1.min-1) on a pre-existing acetylcholine infusion reduced the rate of acetylcholine administration necessary to maintain flow, increased osmolality and the concentrations of protein, urea, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and phosphate and decreased sodium, chloride and hydrogen ion in the saliva. Salivary amylase activity was low and highly variable and the amylase activity/protein ratio fell substantially during isoprenaline stimulation. These results support the conclusion that the enzyme is of extrinsic origin. The response of the kangaroo mandibular gland to isoprenaline stimulation was very similar to that reported for rat mandibular gland, suggesting that the same ion transport phenomena underlie mandibular secretion in both species and probably in therian mammals generally. PMID- 2607023 TI - An electrical method for examining remaining dentine thickness. AB - Cylindrical cavities were prepared on the buccal surfaces of 78 dog teeth. Impedance between cavity floor and oral mucous membrane was measured with a caries meter and correlated with remaining dentine thickness (RDT). Statistically significant, positive correlations (P less than 0.01) were found to exist between RDT and impedance in upper and lower premolars, however, a considerable degree of variation was observed in the RDT at an impedance value of less than 30 k omega. It is concluded that measurement errors make it difficult to determine RDT with electrical methods and that an impedance of 40 k omega is required to prevent bacterial contamination of pulpal tissues. PMID- 2607024 TI - Effects of chlorhexidine solution on neutrophil locomotion in vitro. AB - The aim of this study was to ascertain the effect of low concentrations of chlorhexidine on the locomotor behaviour of neutrophils. A special feature was the use of a direct test of chemotaxis. Neutrophils recovered from peripheral blood of healthy adult volunteers were tested for chemokinesis and chemotaxis in the presence of chlorhexidine. A moderate dose-related direct response was observed in respect of both these parameters. It was also apparent that increasing concentrations of the drug inhibited a greater proportion of cells, so that there was total immobility at 0.2 per cent and many cells appeared lysed. PMID- 2607025 TI - Effect of alumina concentration on the thermal diffusivity of dental porcelain. AB - The importance of the thermal diffusivity of restorative dental materials is well established. The laser flash method first described by Parker et al. (1961) is widely used to determine the diffusivity of industrial materials but has not hitherto been reported in the study of dental materials. The effect of the crystalline alumina content of dental porcelains has been investigated using this technique which permits rapid and accurate measurement. Values of 1.45 mm2/s and 0.66 mm2/s were determined for a commercial aluminous core porcelain and a dentine porcelain respectively. Mixtures of core and dentine powders exhibited intermediate levels. Increasing the alumina content resulted in increased diffusivity. The highest value was determined for a new high strength aluminous core porcelain which yielded a diffusivity of 1.74 mm2/s. This material was found to contain an increased concentration of alumina particles. PMID- 2607026 TI - The surface pH of glass ionomer cavity lining agents. AB - It is considered that acid release from the surface of glass ionomer (polyalkenoate) cements may be associated with early pulpal sensitivity following the use of these materials. This study was carried out to examine the surface pH of different types of glass ionomer lining cements using a flat-ended pH electrode. It was found that the surface pH remains low for this group of materials during the first hour of setting. Different types of glass ionomer lining cement were also shown to behave differently when considering acid release from the surface. Conclusions regarding the behaviour of glass ionomers should only be made with reference to the specific material tested. PMID- 2607027 TI - 99mTc-MDP adsorption of some dental alloys with varying surface roughness: effect of oral environment. AB - The purpose of this study was to measure the surface characteristics of some dental alloys by 99mTc-MDP adsorption and to investigate the effect of oral environment on 99mTc-MDP adsorption. Sample discs of five different dental alloys were prepared. The surfaces were sandblasted, ground with sandpaper, polished and electrolysed in succession. The surface roughness of each disc was measured by the use of a profilometre. Contact angles (theta) of the surfaces were also measured. 99mTc-MDP adsorption of the discs was determined both prior to and after 2 h of exposure to the oral environment. Our results indicated that the discs sandblasted and electrolysed had the maximum surface roughness and those polished the minimum surface roughness. The 99mTc-MDP adsorption showed variation according to the type of alloy used and its surface roughness prior to exposure to the oral environment. After exposure 99mTc-MDP adsorption was essentially the same for all the alloys. PMID- 2607028 TI - An improved method for preparation, stabilization, and storage of house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) microsomes. AB - An improved method for preparation and storage of insect microsomes from house fly, Musca domestica L., abdomens was developed. Microsomes were prepared in phosphate buffer fortified with glycerol, dithiothreitol, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, and 1-phenyl-2 thiourea. No cytochrome P-420 was observed when abdomens were isolated by our method. No measurable loss of cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5 or NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase levels, or methoxyresorufin O-demethylation, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation, or aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylation activities occurred when a diluted suspension (protein concentration of 2 mg/ml) of microsomes was stored at -80 degrees C for at least 2 mo. PMID- 2607029 TI - Efficacy of chitin synthesis inhibitors on nymphal German cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae). AB - Second- and fifth-instar Blattella germanica (L.), fed the chitin synthesis inhibitors triflumuron, chlorfluazuron, hexafluron, and UC 84572 (structure not disclosed) were examined for mortality and developmental abnormalities. All compounds were active against B. germanica (L.), with lower diet concentrations being required to kill second instars compared with fifth instars. Chlorfluazuron was significantly more active against second and fifth instars (LC50 = 0.000191 and 0.000363% AI, respectively for the second and fifth instars). UC 84572 also killed nymphs at extremely low concentrations (LC50 = 0.000508 and 0.000754% AI, respectively, for second and fifth instars). LC50's for hexafluron and triflumuron against fifth instars were more than 1,000 times higher than that for chlorfluazuron. Sensitive periods of exposure were determined by comparing effects when four different age classes of fifth instars (1-, 4-, 7-, and 10-d old) fed on the compounds for 3 d. Triflumuron was most effective when ingested during the first three age classes and hexafluron was most effective during the last three age classes. Chlorfluazuron and UC 84572 were most effective when ingested during the second age class (days 4-6). Adults surviving exposure during the fifth instar were often deformed and weak; they died at a greater rate than the controls. However, most surviving adults were able to reproduce normally. PMID- 2607030 TI - Control of lone star ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on Spanish goats and white-tailed deer with orally administered ivermectin. AB - Ivermectin administered orally to Spanish goats, Capra hircus (L.), or to white tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman), was highly effective against lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.). For Spanish goats, daily oral doses of 20 micrograms/kg resulted in greater than or equal to 2 ppb ivermectin in the blood. This level was sufficient to cause greater than 95% reduction of estimated larvae from feeding ticks. A bioassay with horn flies, Haematobia irritans (L.), was developed to estimate oral intake of ivermectin. Probit analysis of dose mortality data indicated that a 50% reduction in adult horn fly emergence can be expected when the manure from goats treated orally with ivermectin at 10, 20, 35, and 50 micrograms/kg/d was mixed with untreated cow manure at a rate of 0.345, 0.110, 0.100, and 0.092%, respectively. In studies with white-tailed deer, daily oral doses of 35 and 50 micrograms/kg/d provided 100% control of adult and about 90% control of nymphs that were placed on treated fawns. A single oral dose of 50 micrograms/kg gave greater than 90% control of adult and nymphal ticks attached to treated fawns at the time of drug administration and 70% control of ticks placed on treated deer three days thereafter. When ticks were placed on fawns treated with a single dose of ivermectin (50 micrograms/kg) the engorgement period was longer, ticks were lighter in weight, and females laid fewer eggs than ticks detaching from control fawns. A single oral dose of ivermectin at 20 micrograms/kg prevented about 60% of the adult and nymphal ticks attached at the time of drug administration from engorging, but did not affect other ticks placed on the animals after treatment. PMID- 2607031 TI - Screening method for insecticidal activity using first instars of black blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae). AB - A bioassay method suitable for rapid mass screening of fermentation and synthetic organic compounds for insecticidal activity is described. The test, which uses first instars of susceptible black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen), in a bovine serum medium, detects insecticidal activity with reproducible results. It is capable of selecting the most active compound in structure-activity relationships by minimum effective dose concentration studies. The bioassay system is easy to operate and requires only a minute quantity of chemical compound. PMID- 2607032 TI - Intensive care for patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. PMID- 2607033 TI - Nutrition in respiratory failure. PMID- 2607034 TI - Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. PMID- 2607035 TI - Partial ventilatory support in 1989. PMID- 2607036 TI - Effect of pressure support ventilation on breathing patterns and respiratory work. AB - We assessed the effect of pressure support ventilation (PSV) on breathing patterns and the work of breathing in 10 postoperative patients. Minute ventilation (VE) increased by 8% with 5 cm H2O PSV and 10% with 10 cm H2O PSV compared to 0 cm H2O PSV. The increase in VE was achieved by increased mean inspiratory flow (24% with 5 cm H2O PSV and 67% with 10 cm H2O PSV) and a decrease in duty cycle (13% with 5 cm H2O PSV and 39% with 10 cm H2O PSV). The decrease in duty cycle along with a decrease in respiratory frequency allowed a greater expiratory time including a rest period for the respiratory muscles, which might minimize the risk of muscle fatigue. Furthermore, the inspiratory work added by the ventilator was near zero with 5 cm H2O PSV and 10 cm H2O PSV. Oxygen consumption also decreased significantly with 5 cm H2O PSV. We conclude that PSV improves the breathing patterns and minimizes the work of breathing spontaneously via a ventilator. PMID- 2607037 TI - Effect of large volume replacement with balanced electrolyte solutions on extravascular lung water in surgical patients with sepsis syndrome. AB - We investigated the effect of large volume replacement with balanced electrolyte solutions on extravascular lung water (EVLW) in 16 adult surgical patients with sepsis syndrome. Patients entered the study within the 24 h period following surgical interventions for acute necrotizing pancreatitis, intra-abdominal abscesses, and/or peritonitis. Sequential measurements (n = 108) were made at intervals of 6-12 h over a 48 h period. There were no significant differences between initial and final values of thermal-dye EVLW (5.0 +/- 1.1 vs. 5.7 +/- 1.1 ml/kg), plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COP, 13.3 +/- 2.5 vs. 13.2 +/- 2.9 mmHg), pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP, 9.2 +/- 3.0 vs. 10.8 +/- 3.0 mmHg), and COP-PAWP gradient (4.0 +/- 3.5 vs. 2.4 +/- 3.9 mmHg). All results expressed as (mean +/- SD). The EVLW did not correlate with plasma COP, PAWP, or COP-PAWP gradient. We conclude that large volume replacement with balanced electrolyte solutions with the secondary decrease in plasma COP and COP-PAWP gradient do not necessarily contribute to a substantial increase in EVLW. This study fails to show any causal relationship between decrease in plasma COP or COP-PAWP gradient and oedema formation in the lung. PMID- 2607038 TI - An analysis of the utilisation of an intensive care unit. AB - We monitored the response to intensive care of 480 patients by calculating the difference in their organ failure score on the day of admission and that on the day of discharge, and related the response to hospital outcome. The patients were classified into: A) those who benefited (33%), B) those who might have benefited (28%), C) those who would never or would no longer have benefited (18%) and D) those who did not require intensive care management (21%). The criteria used were response to therapy, individually predicted outcome, hospital outcome and perceived need for intensive care. Group C patients used up 26.8% of the total intensive care unit bed days, while group D patients occupied 3.7%. We concluded that an acute terminal care unit to care for group C patients who have no hope of survival is more appropriate to the needs of our hospital than an intermediate care unit for overnight monitoring of uncomplicated postoperative and non operative patients (group D). PMID- 2607039 TI - Validation of a severity of illness score (APACHE II) in a surgical intensive care unit. AB - The intensive care unit is an important resource for the treatment of patients needing medical and surgical care for complicated diseases. The diversity of diseases and the difference in arrangements between hospitals providing such care have limited the precision of evaluations of intensive care. We have measured the admission characteristics and hospital mortality of 598 consecutive patients admitted to our Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) using a severity of disease classification system (APACHE II) on the first day of admission. Hospital outcome details were available on 87% of the SICU patients. The overall mortality was 21.7%, mean APACHE score for survivors and non-survivors was 14.2 and 22.4, and their risk of death was 21.1% and 54.1%. The APACHE II scoring system provided an excellent means of classification, with a higher sensitivity and specificity. PMID- 2607040 TI - Plasma exchange in rhabdomyolysis. AB - The effect of plasma exchange (PE) was evaluated in 4 patients with rhabdomyolysis. A single 21 PE produced a transient fall of creatinine phosphokinase and did not prevent renal failure. Theoretically PE would need to be performed very frequently to remove toxins in appropriate amounts. Since renal failure in myoglobinuira has a relative good prognosis, we do not recommend intensive PE as therapy. PMID- 2607041 TI - Tension pneumoperitoneum. AB - A 26-year-old woman developed the adult respiratory distress syndrome after a post-partum haemorrhage. After mechanical ventilation was started the signs of a tense and distended acute abdomen developed. The aspiration and subsequent analysis of copious intra-peritoneal gas confirmed the diagnosis of a tension pneumoperitoneum secondary to pulmonary barotrauma. PMID- 2607042 TI - Severe hypokalaemic paralysis from an unusual cause mimicking the Guillain-Barre syndrome. AB - We report a case of hypokalaemic quadriparesis occurring 37 years after a bilateral ureterosigmoidostomy. The history and physical signs as well as cerebrospinal fluid analysis initially led to a diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Acidosis and profound hypokalaemia were present and a dramatic improvement occurred after rapid correction of the potassium depletion. The underlying mechanism of potassium depletion which occurs after this mode of urinary diversion are briefly discussed. PMID- 2607043 TI - Severe hypoxemia in a case of midgut carcinoid tumor. AB - A 33-year-old woman treated for carcinoid tumor developed severe hypoxaemia. This hypoxaemia may have been related to an extracardiac right-to-left shunt. The pathogenic role of vasoactive agents is discussed and comparisons made with cirrhosis-associated hypoxaemia. PMID- 2607044 TI - Intraoesophageal placement of minitracheotomy tube. AB - A minitracheotomy tube was inadvertently placed in the oesophagus of a 22-year old woman with cystic fibrosis. The authors discuss how this may have occurred and ways of avoiding this complication. PMID- 2607045 TI - Oesophageal perforation with minitracheostomy. PMID- 2607046 TI - Neutrophil elastase levels and major trauma in man. PMID- 2607047 TI - Surgical intervention in hypercalcaemic crisis. PMID- 2607049 TI - High frequency jet ventilation. PMID- 2607048 TI - Streptococcus suis meningitis, permanent perceptive deafness and endophthalmitis. PMID- 2607050 TI - Hyperlactataemia and increasing metabolic acidosis due to the use of lactate based fluid during haemofiltration. PMID- 2607051 TI - Neurological soft signs and school achievement: the mediating effects of sustained attention. AB - A group of 115 black male adolescents drawn from a clinically unselected birth cohort, half of whom were known to have had neurological soft signs at age 7, were examined at age 17 to determine the relation between soft signs and performance on standard tests of school achievement and sustained attention. Three signs measured at age 17--dysgraphesthesia, difficulties with rapid alternating movements (dysdiadochokinesis), and motor slowness--were related to lower concurrent and past IQ and to impaired performance on laboratory and paper and-pencil measures of sustained attention. The relation between signs and the attentional measures remained significant after IQ was statistically controlled. The three age 17 soft signs as well as age 7 signs were related to impaired performance on standardized tests (age 17) of school achievement. Most of the relation between signs and school achievement could be accounted for by the variance signs shared with sustained attention. One sign, mirror movements, was unrelated to all other attentional and cognitive measures. PMID- 2607052 TI - Child behavior profile types in a general population sample of boys 6 to 11 years old. AB - Characteristics of Child Behavior Profile (CBP) types were studied in a general population sample of 202 boys aged 6 to 11 years. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist and teachers simultaneously rated the Teacher's Report Form. Overall, 39.7% of the boys were classified within a CBP type: 28.8% Internalizing and 10.9% Externalizing. The most common specific type was Somatic Complaints. Teachers rated the Externalizing CBP boys as showing robust externalizing behaviors in school. Also, boys with Externalizing profile types showed severe degrees of psychopathology in both home and school environments. An intraclass correlation of .35 or greater was found to identify boys with sufficiently severe psychopathology to warrant further clinical evaluation. Findings in this general population sample appear consistent with previous results in outpatient samples, and extend our understanding of the validity and clinical value for CBP types. PMID- 2607053 TI - The children's firesetting interview with psychiatrically referred and nonreferred children. AB - This study evaluated the Children's Firesetting Interview (CFI). The measure was developed to operationalize multiple domains of functioning derived from a risk factor model of firesetting. The model poses that child, parent, and family characteristics promote firesetting and continuation of a pattern of firesetting. Major factors include curiosity about fire, involvement in and exposure to fire related activities, and knowledge about first safety The CFI, consisting of 46 questions reflecting six a priori dimensions, was administered to 519 children (ages 6-13) recruited from nonpatient, outpatient, and inpatient samples. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the measure were satisfactory. Criterion validity was supported by the findings that firesetters showed greater curiosity about fire, involvement in fire-related activities, exposure to models/materials, and knowledge about things that burn than did nonfiresetters. These findings did not vary as a function of the child's patient status or level of antisocial behavior. Implications for the evaluation of firesetting risk are discussed. PMID- 2607054 TI - Relationship between the delay task and rating scale measures of inattention and hyperactivity. AB - A group of 187 elementary school children were administered a microcomputer version of the Delay Task (Gordon, 1979) in which responses were reinforced only when they followed the preceding response by at least 6 seconds. They were also rated on the Conners Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS) by their classroom teacher. Performance on the Delay Task was not correlated with any of the CTRS subscales for the overall sample. Sex differences were found in the Conduct, Inattention, and Hyperactivity factors of the CTRS. No sex difference was found for performance on the Delay Task. When performance on the Delay Task was correlated with the four CTRS factors by sex, correlations between the Delay Task and the inattention subscale and hyperactive subscale were significant only for the male subsample. Implications of the findings for assessment of hyperactivity are discussed. PMID- 2607055 TI - Validation of a role-play measure of children's social skills. AB - A videotape-administered role-play test of children's social skills was developed and its psychometric properties tested. Performance criteria for the test were derived from popular children's ratings of the effectiveness of different role play responses. The test was administered to 157 fourth- and fifth-grade boys and girls who had been classified as popular, average, neglected, or rejected, on the basis of sociometric testing. The test evidenced good interrater, test-retest, and internal consistency reliabilities. Children's role-play performance correlated significantly with teacher ratings of social competence and with peer liking ratings. Neglected children performed more poorly on the role-play test than popular children. When differences in intelligence among social status groups were statistically controlled, social status groups did not differ on the role-play test. Results of the discriminant analyses support the conclusion that teacher ratings are better than role-play tests for identifying rejected children, whereas role-play tests and measures of intelligence appear more accurate than teacher ratings for identifying neglected children. PMID- 2607056 TI - Reliability of children's reports of depressive symptomatology. AB - The use of self-report measures for the assessment of depression in children has gained wide popularity as a component in the evaluation of children's mental health and well-being. However, the extent to which children are reliable and consistent reporters of their depressive symptoms is sometimes called into question. This study examined the test-retest reliability of children's reports of depressive symptomatology on the Reynolds Child Depression Scale (RCDS; Reynolds, 1989a). The sample consisted of 220 children, in grades 3 through 6, representing a cross-section of ethnic groups. Children were tested twice, with a 4-week interval between testings. Results showed a high degree of stability in children's responses to the RCDS, with a test-retest reliability coefficient of .85 for the total sample, and a mean difference between testings of less than 2 points. Test-retest reliability coefficients were also computed for males and females, for each grade, and for white, black, Hispanic, and Asian children. Overall, the results lend strong support for the reliability and stability of children's self-reported depressive symptomatology as assessed by the RCDS. PMID- 2607057 TI - Emotional behaviors in chronically ill children. AB - Empathy, emotional responsiveness, depression, aggression, and self-concept in 80 chronically ill and 40 well school-age children (9-11 years) were examined in a quasi-experimental study. The ill children had either diabetes or asthma. Results suggested a similarity of emotional functioning for empathy, emotional responsiveness, and depression in the ill children. The ill children had significantly higher levels of these behaviors than the well children. The groups of ill children did not significantly differ from each other in these areas. The diabetic and asthmatic children significantly differed in aggression and self concept. The diabetic children, however, did not differ from the well children in self-concept. The asthmatic children had the lowest self-reported aggression while the diabetic children had the highest. Neither ill group differed from the well children in aggression. PMID- 2607058 TI - Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity and methylphenidate: the effects of dose and mastery level on children's learning performance. AB - This investigation examined the relationship between methylphenidate (MPH) and the learning and recall of paired associations by children with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH). Forty-five children with ADDH were randomly assigned to one of three groups (novel, partial mastery, and mastery learning) that varied in the amount of previous learning of paired associations and participated in a double-blind, placebo-control, repeated-measures-across-dose (crossover) design. Each child received four doses of MPH (5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, and 20 mg) and a placebo in a random, counterbalanced sequence. The results indicated that both the rate of acquisition and accuracy in learning paired associations were significantly, but differentially, affected by MPH dose and the degree of learning mastery. The implications of these results for psychopharmacological research and the monitoring of psychostimulant effects on children's learning performance in academic settings are discussed. PMID- 2607059 TI - Internal consistency of a diagnostic interview for children: the Child Assessment Schedule. AB - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the internal consistency of the content scales of the Child Assessment Schedule (CAS). A total of 116 psychiatric patients with a mean age of 10 years were administered the interview, and 92 parents were administered the parent version. Coefficient alpha was calculated for each of the 11 content scales. High internal consistency was demonstrated for school, friends, worries, mood, physical complaints, and expression of anger. More moderate but acceptable alphas were observed for the family, fears, and self image scales. The same general pattern of results was observed for both the child and parent interviews. Additional analyses revealed that the number of items in the CAS could be reduced up to 30% without sacrificing internal consistency. These results indicate that 9 of the scales yield reliable scores. PMID- 2607060 TI - Forensic dentistry. PMID- 2607061 TI - A probing question. PMID- 2607062 TI - Cranial arteritis mimicking odontogenic pain: report of case. AB - A 65-year-old patient treated for pain of apparent odontogenic origin did not respond to appropriate dental treatment. While the signs and symptoms mimicked a dental problem, further diagnostic evaluation determined the "culprit"--cranial arteritis. Proper treatment immediately after diagnosis is advised as the complications of cranial arteritis can include the rapid onset of blindness. PMID- 2607063 TI - The incidence of mucogingival defects: report of case. AB - The term true mucogingival defects has been used to denote a complete absence of attached gingiva. This study attempted to establish how often true mucogingival defects occur in a random population sample. Of the 1,302 teeth studied, 13 teeth (1%) had a mucogingival defect, indicating that the true mucogingival defect is not a common occurrence. PMID- 2607064 TI - Esthetic treatment of an avulsed maxillary central incisor: report of case. AB - An 11-year-old patient was treated for functional and esthetic dental problems. A multidisciplinary approach was chosen that combined replantation, habit control, orthodontics, and restoration of fractured and nonvital anterior teeth with porcelain veneers. PMID- 2607065 TI - The efficacy of four root canal obturation techniques in preventing apical dye penetration. AB - This study compared the average apical dye penetration observed after obturation with four root canal gutta-percha obturation techniques. Two thermoplasticized techniques were the most effective of the four methods tested. PMID- 2607066 TI - Detection of HIV in the dental pulp of a patient with AIDS. AB - Dental pulp tissue from a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) was examined to determine the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The results found a high concentration of proviral HIV DNA. PMID- 2607067 TI - Doctor-patient confidentiality and the potentially HIV-positive patient. PMID- 2607068 TI - The effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on blood pressure: a methodologic analysis of the evidence. AB - The potentially beneficial blood pressure (BP)-lowering effects of marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3-PUFAs) remain controversial. The objective of this qualitative and quantitative (meta-analysis) analysis was to evaluate the results of all available randomized controlled trials that studied the effect of omega-3-PUFAs on BP response. A comprehensive search of the English literature from 1970 to 1988 disclosed only six randomized controlled investigations out of 22 published reports. Four of these were evaluable and therefore eligible for this analysis. Of these, only one evaluated hypertensive subjects. In two trials, there were statistically significant reductions in BP; the one reporting an investigation of hypertensive subjects showed the greatest reduction. Using established methodologic criteria, the quality of each report was evaluated by independent observers. Following this appraisal, the outcomes of each investigation were reanalyzed and pooled using a meta-analysis. There was no statistically significant difference between the omega-3-PUFA groups and the control groups, possibly because of failure to include hypertensive subjects in all but one trial. Despite the positive effects in two studies, little scientifically valid evidence is available to demonstrate a significant BP lowering effect of omega-3-PUFAs. Areas needing more attention in future research are identified and methods to improve study designs are suggested. PMID- 2607069 TI - Relationship of dietary fat to plasma fatty acids, blood pressure, and urinary eicosanoids in adult men. AB - This experiment was conducted to determine the relationships between modest changes in dietary linoleate, blood pressure (BP) response, and levels of eicosanoid synthesis in humans. Products of eicosanoids which appear in blood were measured in urine: PGI2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (KPGI2); TXA2, (TXB2); PGF2 alpha, 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha, (MPGF2 alpha). Twenty-three adult men were fed controlled diets having 25 energy percent fat, and having P/S ratios of either 0.3 (low-PUFA) or 1.0 (high-PUFA), for a total of 12 weeks, with a switchover between P/S ratios at 6 weeks. The results showed that, under the conditions of this study, BP was significantly reduced by reducing dietary fat intake from about 37 to 25 energy percent. However, no further effects on BP were produced by increasing the P/S ratio from 0.3 to 1.0. KPGI2 excretion was significantly lowered on both controlled diets as compared to the self-selected (SS) diet. However, MPGF2 alpha was lowered only on the low-PUFA diet as compared to the self-selected diet. No significant decrease in TXB2 excretion was observed. Both MPGF2 alpha and KPGI2 excretion were positively correlated with urine volume and sodium excretion. On the SS diet, but not on the controlled diets, MPGF2 alpha excretion was negatively correlated with plasma linoleate and positively correlated with stearate. On the low-PUFA diet, MPGF2 alpha excretion increased with the intake of linoleate, while, on the high-PUFA diet, it decreased. This may have been due to the limited amounts of linoleate available in the low-PUFA diet (3.2-3.4 energy percent) as compared to that in the high PUFA diet. Both KPGI2 and MPGF2 alpha excretion were positively correlated with systolic and diastolic BP. These results suggest that the amount of dietary linoleate is an important factor in the regulation of prostaglandin synthesis in humans. PMID- 2607070 TI - Serum zinc and copper: associations with cholesterol and triglyceride levels in children and adolescents. Cardiovascular risk in young Finns. AB - Associations among serum lipids (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides) and levels of serum zinc (S-Zn), serum copper (S Cu), and their ratio were analyzed in 3373 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 15-, and 18-year-old Finnish girls and boys. S-Zn was positively related to total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol; S-Cu related negatively to HDL-cholesterol. Obesity did not affect these relationships. The few exceptionally high lipid levels found were not associated with very low or high S-Zn or S-Cu. S-Zn and S Cu were related to serum lipids; causality between the variables, however, remains to be studied. PMID- 2607071 TI - Prevention of coronary heart disease: some results from the Oslo secondary and primary intervention studies. AB - The increase in cardiac disease [fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and sudden death] in the post-war years in Norway, after the much lower incidence during the war, that coincided with high and low fat intakes, respectively, led to a trial in Oslo to determine whether lowering dietary fat intake would favorably influence occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD). Dietary modification, which lowered serum cholesterol of men who had suffered a first time MI, showed decreased reinfarction incidence and cardiac deaths as compared with a comparable group of controls. Another study of normotensive high-risk men (on the basis of serum cholesterol and smoking habits) showed that dietetic measures can be useful in preventing CHD. PMID- 2607072 TI - The optometrist as ophthalmic gatekeeper. PMID- 2607073 TI - Fraud and abuse: proposed laws and legislation. PMID- 2607074 TI - Let's play health care. PMID- 2607075 TI - More research, yes! But what kind? PMID- 2607076 TI - Objective assessment of accommodation. PMID- 2607077 TI - Expanded eye care in the Veterans Administration hospital setting. AB - Over the past decade a greater number of optometrists can be found practicing in hospitals, health maintenance organizations, health clinics and other multipractitioner group settings. The impetus enabling optometry to practice in such settings is based in part on cost effectivity. Optometrists in Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals have been in the forefront in this movement to provide the full range of primary eye care services, and in becoming an integral part of the hospital/medical community. PMID- 2607078 TI - Retinal arterial macroaneurysm: a longitudinal case study. AB - Retinal arterial macroaneurysms are a relatively rare clinical entity that occur most frequently in the elder female population. They are strongly associated with systemic hypertension. Variable clinical presentations may occur, which may often lead to misdiagnosis. Correct diagnosis is essential for proper follow-up care and potential treatment. Differential diagnosis includes Coats' disease, angiomatosis retinae, Leber's miliary aneurysm, diabetic retinopathy, ectopic neovascular membrane, and malignant melanoma. The importance of the differential diagnosis is exemplified in a case report of a macroaneurysm which, upon initial ophthalmoscopic presentation, was concealed by surrounding retinal hemorrhage. The clinical features, differential diagnosis, management, and treatment of retinal macroaneurysms are discussed. PMID- 2607079 TI - Dural arteriovenous malformation. AB - The carotid-cavernous fistula is a well-known clinical entity in which the internal carotid artery ruptures within the cavernous sinus. There is a lesser known but similar clinical entity known as the dural arteriovenous malformation which represents rupture of one of the smaller branches of the internal carotid artery within the cavernous sinus. This paper represents the clinical presentation of one such case of dural arteriovenous malformation and subsequent discussion. PMID- 2607080 TI - Ocular involvement in Behcet's disease. AB - Behcet's disease is a chronic systemic disorder characterized by recurrent uveitis, aphthous lesions of the mouth, and ulcerations of the genitalia. Vision loss from ocular involvement is frequently the presenting symptom and optometrists should be aware of the various ocular signs of Behcet's disease. Management of the Behcet's patient involves systemic therapy and therefore requires comanagement with an internist and/or ophthalmologist. A case report of this infrequent type of uveitis is described along with a discussion of the care and visual prognosis of the Behcet's patient. PMID- 2607081 TI - Optometric office design: a success story. PMID- 2607082 TI - Training and education in medical art. AB - Raising the standard of medical art was given impetus in 1959. Since then, modification and revision of the original scheme has taken place, leading to the development of comprehensive educational programmes that culminate in a postgraduate qualification that raises medical artists to the highest levels of professionalism. PMID- 2607083 TI - Out on your own: the medical artist in private practice. AB - It takes a special kind of determination and drive to succeed in self-employment. Natural artistic talent does not necessarily mean you are qualified to run a business. Today help is at hand. Books, teaching programmes and courses abound. For those who have been out of work for at least 8 weeks, assistance is available from the Enterprise Allowance Scheme, well worth looking into as there are free counselling sessions and an excellent back-up of support and advice to steer you towards setting up on your own. We have been hearing and reading much lately about cost recovery in departments within the NHS and universities. This is basically what the freelance medical illustrator has been coping with for years. In running a business the freelancer becomes manager, secretary, book keeper and consultant, as well as a professional illustrator. Once the decision has been taken to leave the safe surroundings of a salaried position, one changes from being a singular artist who is part of a team into a cost-effective, self sufficient unit. PMID- 2607084 TI - Painting with pixels. AB - Two decades ago the subject of computer graphics was regarded as pure science fiction, more within the realms of Star Trek fantasy than of everyday use, but today it is difficult to avoid its influence. Television programmes abound with slick moving, twisting, distorting images, the printing media throws colourful shapes and forms off the page at you, and computer games explode noisily into our living rooms. In a very short space of time computer graphics have risen from being a toy of the affluent minority to a working tool of the cost-conscious majority. Even the most purist of artists have realized that in order to survive in an increasingly competitive world they must inevitably take the plunge into the world of electronic imagery. PMID- 2607086 TI - The many faces of late-life depression. PMID- 2607085 TI - Mood disorders following stroke: new findings and future directions. AB - Previous investigations by our group and others have demonstrated that poststroke depressions are not fully explained by the severity of associated impairment. We have consistently found, however, a strong association between development of major depression and left anterior brain injury. Recent studies have demonstrated that either left anterior cortical or subcortical lesions may lead to the development of major depression and that preexisting subcortical atrophy may play an important permissive role in the development of major depression. Patients with a mild degree of ventricular enlargement perhaps related to perinatal damage may be more likely to develop poststroke major depression following a lesion of the left frontal cortex or left basal ganglia than a patient without preexisting atrophy. Poststroke mania, on the other hand, is strongly associated with right hemisphere lesions as well as a preexisting subcortical atrophy and sometimes a family history of affective disorder. Thus, mania following brain injury may require the convergence of two factors: a right hemisphere brain injury and either a preexisting subcortical atrophy or a genetic vulnerability. PET scan findings have suggested that the biochemical response of the two hemispheres to stroke may be different. Right hemisphere stroke produces an increase in serotonin receptor binding, which is not found following comparable left hemisphere strokes. Within the left hemisphere, the lower the serotonin binding, the more severe the depression. This suggests that the right but not the left hemisphere may have an ability to increase serotonin binding in noninjured regions, producing a biochemical "compensation" for damage. This differential biochemical response to injury between the right and left hemisphere may partially explain why left hemisphere injury leads to depression and right hemisphere injury (in special circumstances) lead to mania. There remain, however, numerous unanswered questions and many important areas for future research. Although this area of neuropsychiatry is just beginning to develop, it is hoped that insights gained from studying mood disorders in brain-injured patients may also help to illuminate mechanisms involved in affective disorder in patients without brain injury. PMID- 2607087 TI - I can't play ball anymore. AB - The case material from the treatments of four older individuals suffering from late-life depressions reveal that their conditions were precipitated by the presence of physical problems that led to an interference with long-standing athletic skills. Since the skills in question had developed in the context of a tie with an important early object, the loss of the athletic function led to a double loss, that of the object tie as well. In addition, it was seen that the tie with the original object also served as a protection for patients against the specter of the imminence of their own deaths. The loss of this protective function intensified feelings of castration and of vulnerability to death. PMID- 2607088 TI - Nonsuicidal mortality in late-life depression. AB - While suicide is the most dramatic cause of premature death in depressed older persons, it is a rare event in old age. Most of the excess mortality associated with late-life depression is due to "natural causes," especially cardiovascular illness. In the past much of the premature death related to psychiatric disorders was the result of epidemics in large, overcrowded institutions, and even today institutional factors may account for some excess mortality. A recent prospective study comparing depressed patients with nondepressed controls found that neither the initial level of physical health nor social factors explained the excess mortality, but it suggested that some of the excess is due to physical causes not readily apparent or disabling. The effects of grief, tricyclic antidepressants, chronic dysphoria, smoking and alcohol abuse, and organic brain disease are considered. Evidence suggests a complex interaction between depression and physical illness (particularly cardiovascular disease) that develops throughout life. Pursuant to these findings, some questions for future research are offered. PMID- 2607089 TI - The epidemiologic face of late-life depression. PMID- 2607090 TI - The effect of cortisol on thyroid hormone kinetics in the ovine fetus. AB - The mechanism underlying the association of rising concentrations of circulating triiodothyronine (T3) with the prepartum surge in the concentration of cortisol was investigated in 11 fetal sheep. The concentrations and metabolic clearance rates of T3 and thyroxine (T4) were measured prior to and following a continuous intravascular infusion of cortisol (1 mg/h for 84 h). Mean plasma T3 concentrations increased 10-fold following cortisol infusion whereas the concentrations of T4 either remained stable or exhibited a variable decline. Cortisol induced a 5-fold decrease in the metabolic clearance rate of T3 and a 6 fold increase in that of T4. The corresponding mean production rates of T3 and T4 increased significantly although the magnitude of the change varied between fetuses. We conclude that the prepartum rise in plasma T3 concentrations is likely to be a consequence of both a decreased metabolic clearance of T3 and increased peripheral conversion of T4 to T3 caused by rising concentrations of cortisol in fetal plasma. PMID- 2607091 TI - The effects of changes in heart rate and aortic systolic pressure on left ventricular myocardial oxygen consumption in lambs. AB - To determine whether changes in heart rate and aortic systolic pressure contribute equally to the determination of left ventricular myocardial oxygen consumption, we independently varied heart rate and pressure and compared the resultant oxygen consumption for similar rate-pressure products. In 6 young lambs which underwent atrioventricular node ablation, we varied heart rate by ventricular pacing at 250 beats/min, 300 beats/min, and 120 beats/min while aortic pressure remained stable and varied aortic systolic pressure by infusion of phenylephrine (to 132 +/- 15 mm Hg and 155 +/- 14 mm Hg) and by infusion of sodium nitroprusside (to 79 +/- 6 mm Hg) while heart rate was maintained stable at 200 beats/min. The 3 levels of change in aortic systolic pressure were chosen so that the ratepressure product during the pressure changes matched the rate pressure product during the heart rate changes. We found that left ventricular myocardial oxygen consumption was the same at all 3 levels of the rate-pressure product whether heart rate was changed and pressure remained stable or pressure was changed and heart rate remained stable. Also, the correlation between oxygen consumption and the rate-pressure product was similar for both heart rate and pressure changes. During nitroprusside infusion at a fixed heart rate, oxygen extraction was significantly lower than during pacing at a heart rate of 120 beats/min when the rate-pressure product was comparable because of the direct vasodilatory effects of nitroprusside. We conclude that heart rate and aortic systolic pressure contribute equally to left ventricular myocardial oxygen consumption at the same rate-pressure product, even though there may be differences in myocardial blood flow and oxygen extraction. PMID- 2607092 TI - Effect of cortisol on hepatic gluconeogenesis in the fetal sheep. AB - To determine whether the prenatal surge in cortisol induces the onset of gluconeogenesis in the fetal sheep, we performed studies in eight fetal sheep of 124 +/- 3 days gestational age. Catheters were inserted chronically in the descending aorta, inferior vena cava, and hepatic and umbilical veins, allowing the measurement of substrate flux across the liver and placenta. Cortisol was infused over a 48-h period, raising plasma cortisol concentrations from 3.5 +/- 2.5 ng/ml to 78 +/- 22 ng/ml at 24 h and 111 41 ng/ml at 48 h. At 24 and 48 h, [14C]lactate was infused into the inferior vena cava, and blood samples were obtained to measure plasma concentrations and specific activities of glucose and lactate. Comparison of the cortisol-treated group with an untreated control group of animals revealed no differences in blood gases, haemoglobin concentrations, or glucose and lactate levels. Similarly, there were no differences between groups in liver oxygen consumption, glucose and lactate flux, or gluconeogenesis from lactate. In two animals we demonstrated hepatic glucose production from lactate. One of these was in active labor at the time of study, and one aborted within hours of the study. We conclude that the prenatal cortisol surge alone is not responsible for the onset of hepatic gluconeogenesis in the perinatal period. However, cortisol may have a permissive action, promoting hepatic gluconeogenesis in response to other hormonal stimuli. PMID- 2607093 TI - Elimination and subsequent metabolism of circulating hyaluronic acid in the fetus. AB - Hyaluronic acid differs from other glycosaminoglycans in its lack of covalently linked peptide, absence of sulphate groups, and the exceptional size of its single-chain polymers. These differences can be related to its distinct physical and functional properties, and may be pertinent to its greater abundance in early tissue development. In mature animals, the turnover of hyaluronic acid in tissues is reflected at least partly in the blood stream. The metabolism of circulating hyaluronic acid was therefore studied in fetal sheep after intravenous injection of [3H]acetylhyaluronic acid. Between 95% and 99% was removed within 6 min. Plasma radioactivity decayed by first-order kinetics, with a half-life between 0.8 and 1.25 min. The rate of elimination did not vary materially with hyaluronic acid fractions of widely disparate average Mr or with fetal age between 70 and 120 days. 3H2O was detected in plasma within 8-10 min. Labelled material found in urine from 10 min onward included polymers greater than or equal to 70,000 Mr, which indicates that urine may be a source of hyaluronic acid in amniotic fluid. Elimination from the plasma took place mainly in the liver, where labelled material was largely recovered in small metabolic residues as early as 28 min after injection. These were shown by high pressure liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.) to include water, acetate, N-acetylglucosamine and a fraction tentatively identified as N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate. Tritium radioactivity was detected in hepatic lipids but not those of the spleen. Estimated plasma turnover was in the order of 10 micrograms/min per kg body weight. This is about 3-10 times that in adult animals and is consistent with an increased inflow of hyaluronic acid generated during the maturation of developing tissues. PMID- 2607094 TI - Ontogeny of vitamin D action on the morphology and calcium transport properties of the chick embryonic yolk sac. AB - The ontogeny of the calcium transport properties and hormonal modulation of the yolk sac membrane in amniote embryos is presently poorly understood. We investigated the role of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) on plasma calcium values, yolk sac morphology and the ability of the yolk sac membrane to transport 45Ca from yolk to embryo. 1,25-(OH)2D3 treatment caused significant hypercalcaemia in 9-, 12- and 15-day embryos. Additionally, this hormone caused a hypertrophy of the endodermal cell layer that comprises the bulk of the yolk sac membrane. Both of these effects were the most dramatic in the 15-day embryo, the oldest age tested. 45Ca added to the yolk was transported into the blood rapidly across the yolk sac membrane. 1,25-(OH)2D3 significantly enhanced this transport in all age groups. [14C]Inulin was also taken across the yolk sac membrane, but at a slower rate than 45Ca; this transport was unaffected by 1,25-(OH)2D3. Thus, the yolk sac responds to 1,25-(OH)2D3 treatment both morphologically and functionally. The mechanism for transport appears to be a specific one, rather than a simple enhancement of non-specific endocytosis. PMID- 2607095 TI - Rice-based oral rehydration solution shown to be better than glucose-ORS as treatment of non-dysenteric diarrhoea in children in rural Bangladesh. AB - Mothers living in rural Bangladesh were provided with either rice-based oral rehydration solution (rice-ORS) (Group A) or glucose-ORS (Group B) for treating non-dysenteric diarrhoea in their children aged under 5. Mothers living in a third area (Group C) were advised to use locally available treatment facilities, mainly unregistered medical practitioners. The incidence and duration of diarrhoea was recorded in all children over a two-year period. The outcome of each episode was recorded either as a success if the mother reported her child had recovered or as a failure if the child died or was admitted to hospital. Mothers in Group A used rice-ORS as the only treatment for 71% of episodes of non dysenteric diarrhoea, mothers in Group B used glucose-ORS as the sole treatment in 60% of episodes, while mothers in Group C used drugs alone in 55% of episodes. Almost all children recovered successfully but the duration of diarrhoea differed significantly between groups: in the group treated with rice-ORS, 60% of children recovered within 3 days and less than 1% had diarrhoea which lasted for more than 14 days. By the criteria of early recovery and low rate of prolongation of diarrhoea, rice-ORS was found to be better than glucose-ORS. PMID- 2607096 TI - An investigation of a cholera epidemic in Butiama village of the Mara Region, Tanzania. AB - An outbreak of cholera between 19 March and 10 April 1986 in Butiama village of the Mara Region, Tanzania, was investigated in a case-control study, to try to find out the source of infection and its mode of transmission. Sixty-seven patients, including 11 deaths occurring before 29 March, were used to describe the epidemic, but 26 of the first patients were interviewed using a questionnaire, and each was compared with age and sex-matched healthy next-door neighbours. They were questioned about likely risk factors. Though the first two patients were recorded from 2 of the 4 zones of the village, from the second day onwards they came concurrently from all the 4 zones. Also, the number of patients from each zone did not vary significantly. The number of patients reached its peak on 22 March. Females were five times more infected than males, but the case fatality rate was similar. Vibrio cholerae was not isolated from water and fish scale samples, but a history of handling and eating fish, and attendance at social gatherings were significantly associated with the transmission of cholera. The origin of the outbreak appeared to be either multifocal or a common source with concurrent multiple exists. PMID- 2607097 TI - An outbreak of food poisoning in a workers' camp in Saudi Arabia caused by Salmonella minnesota. AB - Between 13 and 16 September 1985, 168 of 419 Filipino workers, living in a camp near Dammam, Saudi Arabia, developed acute gastroenteritis with diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and low-grade fever. The outbreak was confined to those who ate from a single kitchen. The median approximate incubation period of the disease was 34 hours (range 8 to 96 hours). Salmonella minnesota was isolated from the stools and rectal swabs of 34% of the patients. One of the 27 cooks was positive for the organism. There was no infection diagnosed among 390 close contacts of the patients, and the organism was also not grown from samples of leftover or fresh food. All isolates were sensitive to most of the commonly used antimicrobials, except tetracycline and streptomycin. A particular meal served from a single kitchen was tentatively implicated as the source of the outbreak. PMID- 2607098 TI - Mothers' definition of diarrhoea in a suburban community in Tanzania. AB - A study was conducted in Temeke District, a suburban area of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, to assess the usefulness of a definition coined by mothers in the identification and subsequent management of diarrhoeal diseases. The mothers were asked about stool frequency and consistency of diarrhoeal episodes of their children aged under 5 and at what stage they would initiate remedial action. From their responses, seven categories of stool frequency per 12-hour period were established. Among the 630 mothers studied, it was observed that a majority of mothers (92%) would take remedial action for diarrhoea when the stool frequency was 3 or more per 12-hour period. It was, therefore, concluded that the mothers' definition for diarrhoea, being simpler, less confusing and less varied than the other definitions used commonly, could be adopted in surveys and epidemiological studies. PMID- 2607099 TI - Relative prevalence of rotavirus diarrhoea in children attending outpatient departments of hospitals and general practitioners in Sao Paulo, Brazil. AB - The study was done to know the relative prevalence of rotavirus diarrhoea in 329 children with diarrhoea aged less than 1 month to 6 years (32 were of unknown age) attending the outpatient departments (OPD) of public hospitals and 38 comparable patients treated by general practitioners (GP) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Forty-three age-matched patients without any diarrhoea or respiratory symptoms, 28 from the hospital OPDs and 15 from the GPs, served as controls. Rotavirus was detected in 52 of the 329 (15.8%) patients attending hospital OPDs, and in 11 of the 38 (28.9%) patients attending GPs. Rotavirus was detected in the faecal sample of only one child from each of the two control groups getting treatment in the two facilities respectively. The proportion of patients, who attended the GPs showing only rotavirus and no pathogenic bacteria in their stools, was significantly (Chi-square test at the level of 5%) higher than that in similar patients attending the hospital OPDs. Patients aged 7 to 12 months showed the highest frequency (34%) of rotavirus positive stools. Of the 63 rotavirus positive cases, 19 had mixed infections with commonly occurring bacterial pathogens of the intestines. PMID- 2607100 TI - An outbreak of shigellosis in central India: higher death rate in post-measles shigellosis. PMID- 2607101 TI - Serogroups of Aeromonas species from clinical and environmental sources in Calcutta, India. AB - Using a recently developed somatic O-antigen serogrouping scheme, 118 isolates of Aeromonas spp. were serogrouped, 68 of which were isolated from diarrhoea patients admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital and B.C. Roy Children's Hospital, Calcutta, from March 1987 to February 1988 and 50 randomly selected from an environmental study conducted during the same period. The isolates were typed into 23 different serogroups which represent 35.9% of the total 64 O serogroups in the typing scheme. Only 12 strains were not typable by the available O-antisera. The dominant serogroups recovered from clinical and environmental isolates were O34, O16 and O11. It appears from this study that virulence of individual isolates is not linked to serological identity. PMID- 2607102 TI - Traumatic fetal deaths. AB - This study was undertaken to characterize traumatic third trimester fetal deaths in terms of maternal injuries, seat belt use, and clinical course. All traumatic fetal deaths reported to the Chief Coroner's Office in Ontario (population approximately 9 million) over the five year period 1982-1986 (incl) were reviewed. A total of 13 cases were reported. All of these were third trimester deaths, 5 being of 36 weeks gestations or more. In 8 of 13 cases, maternal injuries were either very minor or limited solely to the uterus and placenta. In 4 of these cases, the mother was examined in hospital and discharged having sustained only trivial injuries. In the remaining 5 cases, the mothers sustained serious injuries. The causes of fetal demise were placental abruption, infarction, laceration, or uterine rupture. In 5 of 13 cases, the fetus also suffered significant injuries usually to the head. In only 4 of 13 cases was the mother wearing restraints. Traumatic fetal death is a rare but important consequence of motor vehicle crashes and may occur despite relatively trivial maternal injuries. PMID- 2607103 TI - Infrared tympanic thermography in the emergency department. AB - The failure to diagnose hypothermic and hyperthermic states can have profound clinical implications. Thus, accurately determining body temperature is an integral component of the evaluation of all emergency department (ED) patients. Oral measurements are most commonly obtained but may not reflect core temperatures. Rectal temperatures are considered more reliable but may not reflect fluctuating core temperatures, and are dependent on site placement. The objective of this study was to determine the practicality and comparative accuracy of tympanic thermographic measurements in the ED. Oral, rectal and tympanic readings were compared in 411 patients. There were significant differences when comparing tympanic to oral (R2 = 0.599, P = 0.0001) and rectal to oral (R2 = 0.554, P = 0.0001) temperatures. In contrast, the correlation between tympanic and rectal measurements was R2 = 0.805, with no significant difference between the two, (P = 0.7077). No complications associated with the use of the tympanic probe were detected. Infrared tympanic thermography is an efficient and noninvasive technique for accurately measuring the temperature of ED patients. PMID- 2607104 TI - Penetrating wounds to the posterior chest: analysis of exigent thoracotomy and laparotomy. AB - Most reports of penetrating chest wounds include all regions of the thoracic wall. Recent studies of abdominal wounds stratified by entrance site have demonstrated significant differences in injury pattern that influence initial assessment and management. This is an analysis of 135 consecutive patients admitted to the Denver General Hospital with penetrating injuries to the posterior chest, done in an effort to elucidate operative indications. Fifteen of these patients required emergency department (ED) thoracotomy and were excluded from the study. In the remaining 120 patients, mechanism was gunshot (GSW) in 20% and stab wound (SW) in 80%; 89% were men, and the mean age was 26 years. For analysis, the posterior chest was further divided into upper and lower at the inferior tip of the scapula line. Overall, 28 patients (23%) with posterior penetrating chest wounds required early surgical intervention; 38% following a GSW compared to 20% due to a SW. Only 9 patients (8%) required thoracotomy while 19 (15%) underwent laparotomy. The most frequent indication for thoracotomy was persistent chest hemorrhage, and for laparotomy, positive diagnostic peritoneal lavage. PMID- 2607105 TI - Laboratory tests during resuscitation. AB - The drawing of laboratory tests is often overlooked in the moribund patient. In patients with medical problems, potassium and other electrolyte abnormalities are often of significance and may be the cause of the arrest. Patients without circulation begin to develop severe abnormalities of PT, PTT, and potassium. These measurements will sometimes demonstrate that a patient's condition is hopeless. When laboratory tests show a situation to be hopeless, an early cessation of resuscitation efforts will be possible, and the justification for such actions will be documented. Laboratory tests drawn early in the resuscitation effort may prove that resuscitation could not have been successful. PMID- 2607106 TI - Autonomic dysreflexia: a potentially fatal complication of somatic stress in quadriplegics. AB - A 44-year-old patient with known, stable, long-standing quadriplegia sustained a midshaft left femur fracture in a motor vehicle accident. He presented to the emergency department (ED) two days after the accident with a chief complaint of a swollen left thigh. Management in the ED included x-ray studies and some incidental manipulation during the process of examination and splinting. While awaiting discharge, the patient, although asymptomatic, was observed to be very profusely diaphoretic above the level of his cord lesion. Blood pressure was then noted to be 230/110, far above his admission blood pressure of 110/70. A diagnosis of autonomic dysreflexia was made and the patient admitted for treatment. Fracture manipulation in the ED is herein reported to be one of the many types of acute traumatic and atraumatic somatic stresses that can cause this serious and occasionally lethal syndrome. Signs and symptoms that need to be watched for are discussed. PMID- 2607107 TI - A fatal case of sun exposure in a multiple sclerosis patient. AB - A 35-year-old woman with a long standing history of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis became physically incapacitated by heat-induced muscle weakness while sunbathing and suffered fatal sun exposure. These deleterious effects of increased core temperature on the neurological symptoms have been documented for a half century. Elevation of the patient's core temperature may lead to either transient or permanent neurologic symptoms and signs that predispose to considerable morbidity and mortality. PMID- 2607108 TI - Endoscopic management of impacted Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. AB - Impaction of the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube may occur due to incorrect placement of clamps, biting of the outlet channel(s) or inadvertent injection of particulate matter at the time of inflation of the balloon(s). Endoscopic deflation of the impacted balloon using a pointed object is an easy remedy. This report highlights the pathogenesis of this avoidable complication in one patient. PMID- 2607109 TI - Recurrent methemoglobinemia after acute dapsone intoxication in a child. AB - Dapsone is a synthetic sulfone increasingly used in the treatment of a wide variety of dermatologic disorders. The case of a child with dapsone-induced recurrent methemoglobinemia is presented with a discussion of dapsone toxicity and its treatment. In addition, the diagnostic value of pulse oximetry in the presence of dysfunctional hemoglobins is discussed. PMID- 2607110 TI - Criteria for the assessment of disaster preparedness. AB - The assessment of disaster preparedness of certain areas is to a large extent liable to subjectivity. For a modern society, however, objectivity is a prerequisite. A methodology is presented calculating the disaster preparednes of municipalities, counties, provinces, states, or even countries. Standardization of this methodology could allow comparison of disaster preparedness between these areas. PMID- 2607111 TI - Pietermaritzburg: a city of violence. AB - State-controlled hospital services in South Africa are racially determined, with separate facilities for the different racial groups. The recent violence seen in and around Pietermaritzburg has resulted in an increasing number of blacks attending hospitals other than their own racially defined institution. The majority of these patients make their own way to hospital, usually from nearby localities, suggesting a demand to utilize "local" facilities. Some 50% of all dogbites, 25% of shootings, and 20% of stabbings were brought in by the police. One third of shootings ended fatally. Possible reasons why some blacks attend hospitals other than their own racially defined, are explored. PMID- 2607112 TI - Forearm and wrist radiology: Part II. AB - The emergency physician must be well versed in diagnosing forearm and wrist injuries. Although many of these injuries are readily apparent, others require more sophistication to appreciate. Careful attention to radiographic findings given the assistance of a well-directed history and physical examination is imperative. Both the more common and the more subtle injuries will be discussed. PMID- 2607113 TI - Near-fatal suicidal hanging. PMID- 2607114 TI - Late night thoughts on listening to myself taking the oral boards in emergency medicine. PMID- 2607115 TI - The common world of emergency medicine. PMID- 2607116 TI - The perils of poorly understood pathophysiology. PMID- 2607117 TI - Emergency medicine board examination. PMID- 2607118 TI - Objectives to direct the training of emergency medicine residents on off-service rotations. AB - Up to 50% of the 36 months of resident training in emergency medicine may be on off-service rotations. The experience on these rotations can lack educational content and opportunity pertinent to emergency medicine. The resident rarely has readily available and structured guidance to optimize training in terms of the anticipated needs of the specialty. In response to this problem, the authors have written curricula containing subject content listings, objectives, and supplied references for 16 off-service rotations. A plan for implementing the materials and an example from the obstetrics-gynecology rotation is given. After 12 months' experience, the authors have subjective responses from residents and off-service program directors that support the value of this information. Positive reports include: Residents having a better understanding of faculty expectations, improved "consistency of experience," residents appreciating the added attention, improved performance, and expanded reading efforts. One expressed concern is "too much to read." The project continues to evolve. PMID- 2607119 TI - Mouse hepatic endothelial cells in culture secrete a growth inhibitor for hepatic lipocytes and Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts. AB - Hepatic lipocytes are sinusoidal cells in close contact to endothelial cells. They proliferate, switch to a fibroblastic phenotype and synthetize collagen during hepatic fibrosis. Since it is known that vascular endothelial cells can influence the proliferation of neighboring cells such as smooth muscle cells, we investigated the role of hepatic endothelial cells on the growth of lipocytes and Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts. Concentrated conditioned medium from endothelial cells inhibited both [3H]thymidine incorporation and actual growth of lipocytes and Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts. The inhibition was lost when conditioned medium was treated with heat or trypsin, or when medium was conditioned in the presence of cycloheximide. We conclude that hepatic endothelial cells secrete a proteic growth inhibitor for lipocytes and hepatic Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts. This inhibitor could be of importance in limiting lipocyte proliferation in the liver and possibly in preventing hepatic fibrosis. PMID- 2607120 TI - Hyperkinetic circulatory syndrome in patients with presinusoidal portal hypertension. Effect of propranolol. AB - This study evaluates systemic and splanchnic haemodynamics and the effect of propranolol in 15 patients with presinusoidal portal hypertension (portal vein obstruction, n = 11; schistosomiasis, n = 4). These patients exhibited a hyperkinetic circulatory syndrome characterized by high cardiac index (4.4 +/- 1.61.min-1.m-2, mean +/- S.D.) and by low systemic vascular resistance despite normal liver function and sinusoidal pressure. Hepatic blood flow was decreased in half of the patients with portal vein obstruction. Azygos blood flow, an estimate of superior portal-systemic collateral circulation, was markedly increased in all patients (0.46 +/- 0.19 l/min, upper limit of normal: 0.19 l/min). Therefore, in these patients with normal hepatic venous pressure gradient, azygos blood flow measurement provides an index of splanchnic haemodynamic changes. Propranolol administration (15 mg, i.v.) reduced the hyperkinetic circulatory syndrome, with a significant decrease in heart rate (-17 +/- 6%), cardiac index (-25 +/- 12%) and azygos blood flow (-40 +/- 26%) and a significant increase in systemic vascular resistance (+40 +/- 40%). These results suggest that the hyperkinetic circulatory syndrome observed in these patients, could be related to an increase in beta-adrenergic activity. The decrease in azygos blood flow, after propranolol administration, was significantly correlated (r = 0.94) with the increase in right atrial pressure. This finding suggests that propranolol may act through an increase in portal-systemic collateral venous tone. These haemodynamic results justify, in patients with presinusoidal portal hypertension, clinical trials investigating the beneficial effect of beta blockers on gastrointestinal bleeding caused by portal hypertension. PMID- 2607121 TI - Comparison between portal vein pressure and wedged hepatic vein pressure in hepatitis B-related cirrhosis. AB - Portal vein pressure and wedged hepatic vein pressure were measured simultaneously in 21 patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis of the liver and were compared to pressure measured in six patients with idiopathic portal hypertension. No significant difference in the portal venous pressure gradient was found between patients with cirrhosis and those with idiopathic portal hypertension (17.3 +/- 4.3 mmHg (mean +/- S.D.) vs. 19.7 +/- 3.1 mmHg, P greater than 0.05). However, the difference between the portal and the hepatic venous pressure gradient was significantly smaller in patients with cirrhosis than in idiopathic portal hypertension patients (1.3 +/- 1.7 vs. 10.8 +/- 2.1 mmHg, P less than 0.001). An excellent correlation was found between portal vein pressure and wedged hepatic vein pressure in hepatitis B-related cirrhosis (r = 0.94, P less than 0.001). There was no linear relationship between the portal venous pressure gradient and varix size or bleeding episodes. We concluded that a close agreement existed between portal vein pressure and wedged hepatic vein pressure in hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis. Therefore, measurement of wedged hepatic vein pressure reliably reflects portal vein pressure in these patients. PMID- 2607122 TI - Serological profile of tissue autoantibodies during acute and chronic delta hepatitis. AB - In order to assess the serological profile in relation to other serological and histological markers of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection we have investigated the presence of autoantibodies during acute and chronic delta infection in 353 serum samples from different patients with acute and chronic hepatitis and autoimmune diseases. Basal cell layer antibodies (BCLA) were found in 58% acute hepatitis B, in 73% chronic hepatitis D and in 4% primary biliary cirrhosis. Stellate thymic epithelial cell antibodies (SECA) were detected in 40% acute D hepatitis and in 49% chronic D hepatitis. No tissue autoantibodies were detected in 50 acute B hepatitis, 35 autoimmune chronic liver diseases, 24 connective tissue diseases or 25 controls. In addition, two previously unreported specificities of anti-thymic antibodies reacting with reticular (TRA) and perithymocytic cells (PTA) were identified in 33% and 9% acute D hepatitis, respectively, and in 13% and 6% chronic D hepatitis cases. Among patients with acute HBV-HDV coinfection these antibodies were detected transiently (less than 4 weeks) and at low titer, whereas in those with chronic infection autoantibodies levels tend to be high and persistent throughout the follow-up. Among patients with chronic HDV infection no correlation was found between the presence of tissue autoantibodies and hepatic delta antigen expression and serum HDV-RNA which suggest that autoimmune phenomena observed during chronic delta infection are not related to the level of viral replication. PMID- 2607123 TI - Liver collagen mRNA and serum amino-terminal peptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) levels in patients with alcoholic liver disease. AB - We have investigated the alpha 1 (I), alpha 2 (I) and alpha 1 (III) liver collagen mRNA levels in 38 patients with alcoholic liver disease. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the severity of their liver disease. Liver collagen mRNA levels were estimated by densitometric analysis after hybridization with the corresponding cDNA. Serum amino-terminal peptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) was determined by radioimmunoassay in 30 patients. The results indicated that there was no increase but rather a decrease in the liver alpha 1 (I), alpha 2 (I) and alpha 1 (III) collagen mRNA in patients with the most severe liver lesions as compared to those with minimal changes. This decrease was significant for alpha 2 (I) and alpha 1 (III) cDNA probes. In contrast, serum PIIINP levels showed a positive correlation with the severity of the disease. Thus this study indicates that collagen accumulation in the liver as well as elevation of the serum PIIINP during the development of alcoholic liver disease probably reflects posttranscriptional events in collagen synthesis. PMID- 2607124 TI - Increased plasma levels of glutathione and malondialdehyde after acute ethanol ingestion in humans. AB - The effect of acute ethanol consumption on plasma glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations was studied in two groups of healthy male subjects. The first group (n = 15) received an acute dose of ethanol (1.5 g/kg p.o. over a period of 3 h); in the control group (n = 15), ethanol was replaced isocalorically with carbohydrates. Blood samples were taken at 0 time (ethanol/carbohydrates ingestion) and every 60 min for 6 h. A significant increase in plasma MDA concentration as well as in plasma GSH values were observed in subjects receiving ethanol compared to controls. The enhancement of plasma GSH was accompanied by a concomitant increase of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). These data support the hypothesis of an increase of lipid peroxidation as a possible mechanism of acute ethanol toxicity. The enhancement of plasma GSH and GSSG may reflect an increased utilization and loss of the tripeptide from the liver induced by ethanol. PMID- 2607125 TI - Detection of antibodies to a halothane metabolite hapten in sera from patients with halothane-associated hepatitis. AB - Sera from 40 patients with a clinical diagnosis of halothane-associated hepatitis were tested for the presence of antibodies to the trifluoroacetate (TFA) halothane metabolite hapten using an ELISA assay, with TFA-albumin as the antigen. Positive results were obtained in 30% of cases of which 3/4 with encephalopathy were positive and 9/36 non-fulminant cases were positive. Antibody specificity to the TFA hapten was confirmed in each positive result by a 'hapten inhibition' experiment in which TFA albumin binding was blocked by preincubation of serum with TFA-lysine. Most probably this assay detects a relatively low affinity cross-reaction with the TFA hapten of antibodies in the patients' sera which are directed against specific TFA-labelled liver proteins. Anti-TFA-albumin antibodies were not detected in 28 normal subjects, 5 subjects with fulminant hepatic failure secondary to other causes, 6 subjects with a history of 2 or more exposures to halothane but with no evidence of liver disease and 28 patients with a variety of chronic liver diseases. It is concluded that ELISA testing using trifluoroacetylated rabbit serum albumin (TFA-RSA) as antigen is a quick and convenient assay for the confirmation of halothane-associated hepatitis in fulminant hepatic failure secondary to halothane, but is less sensitive when the illness follows a milder course. PMID- 2607126 TI - Discrimination of mode of action of anxiolytics using an integrated computer data bank and Dynamic Brain Mapping (CNS effects of diazepam and lorazepam). AB - In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, the CNS effects of intravenously administered diazepam and lorazepam were investigated in anxious subjects through the quantitative pharmaco-EEG (QPEEG) method. For up to 4 1/2 hours following administration the effects of each substance on brain function were measured using computer analyzed EEG recordings (CEEG) and a new technique called Dynamic Brain Mapping. The following observations were made: 1. Both active drugs produce statistically significant CNS effects as measured by CEEG changes. These changes were observed earlier with diazepam than with lorazepam. 2. Although both compounds are classified as anxiolytic by the routine computer EEG data base, the detailed brain mapping technology indicated that the CNS effects of diazepam and lorazepam were quantitatively and qualitatively different. 3. Clinical CNS side-effects (sedation) were seen more frequently with lorazepam than with diazepam. This was consistent with the EEG slowing producing properties of lorazepam. The EEG fast activity which is characteristic for all anxiolytics was established more with diazepam than lorazepam. PMID- 2607127 TI - Effects of lofepramine on human sleep: a pilot study. AB - The influence on objective and subjective sleep variables and tolerance of lofepramine (140 mg) given as a single night time dose was compared with placebo in a double-blind cross-over study. Four healthy male volunteers on the same 2 nights of 2 consecutive weeks took either lofepramine or placebo in a randomized order. On 2 successive mornings of the third week all subjects took 140 mg lofepramine after breakfast. The main variables were electrophysiological measures of all night sleep. Supplementary, scores on a sleep questionnaire after each night, and scores on a side-effect questionnaire every morning and evening of the experiment were obtained. Lofepramine reduced paradoxical sleep and increased REM latency. There was a tendency for more intra-sleep restlessness but no relevant changes in sleep continuity variables. In these subjects lofepramine did not change subjective judgement of sleep quality and of feeling refreshed after sleep. No side-effects were reported. PMID- 2607128 TI - A comparison of fluoxetine imipramine and placebo in patients with bipolar depressive disorder. AB - This was a 6-week, double-blind comparison of fluoxetine, imipramine, and placebo in 89 patients with bipolar depression. Using the criteria of greater than or equal to 50% improvement in the HAMD-total score after at least 3 weeks on study drug, endpoint analysis showed 86% of the fluoxetine-treated patients improved compared with 57% of the imipramine-treated and 38% of the placebo-treated patients. Significantly fewer fluoxetine-treated patients discontinued due to adverse events than did imipramine-treated patients (7% vs. 30%, respectively). PMID- 2607129 TI - Familial psychosis and vulnerability to tardive dyskinesia. AB - The demography, course of illness, cognitive dysfunction and neurological consequences of long term treatment of 11 family pairs with long history of chronic schizophrenic illness were studied. There was concordance for the presence of tardive dyskinesia in 6 pairs; each of 2 brother-brother pairs; 3 brother-sister pairs and one of mother-daughter pair. There was concordance for the absence of tardive dyskinesia in 5 pairs, each of 3 father-son pairs and 2 brother-sister pairs. In schizophrenic patients the presence or absence of tardive dyskinesia in one member of the family is a risk factor for the development of the syndrome in another member with the same psychotic illness. Those pairs with tardive dyskinesia were characterized by negative symptoms of schizophrenia and evidence of intellectual deterioration. PMID- 2607130 TI - Organelle-free cytoplasmic volume fraction of rabbit retinal Muller (glial) cells. AB - Retinal Muller (glial) cells are thought to act as "cables" carrying spatial buffering K+ currents from the sites of neuronal release into the reservoir of the vitrous body. In order to calculate the amplitude of such currents it is necessary to know the intracellular volume fraction which is able to carry these currents. Thus, this organelle-free volume fraction was measured in transmission electron microscopic photograms of rabbit Muller cells. This volume fraction was found to vary between 0.7 and more than 0.9 in various retinal layers except at the "external limiting membrane" where it was reduced to 0.24 by the accumulation of mitochondria. In enzymatically isolated cells all values are slightly increased by cell swelling. PMID- 2607131 TI - Loss of neurons from the intracerebellar nuclei of the ageing mouse. AB - The intracerebellar nuclei of the ASH/TO mouse brain were examined at 6, 22, 25, 28 and 31 months of age using quantitative histological techniques. Neuron number remained constant between 6 and 22 months of age but there was a statistically significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in neuronal number between 22 and 31 months of age with neuron number declining from 6970 +/- 690 at 22 months to 4140 +/- 246 at 31 months of age. Neuronal nuclear diameter remained constant between 6 and 25 months of age but increased from 10.6 +/- 0.6 microns at 25 months to 12.2 +/- 0.3 microns at 31 months of age. Whether this was due to an actual increase in nuclear diameter or to a proportionately greater loss of small neurons is not known. PMID- 2607132 TI - Location of respiratory motoneurons involved in phonation. An HRP study in the squirrel monkey. AB - In 11 squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) the motoneuronal distribution of those muscles being involved in the respiratory component of phonation, that is the Mm. obliquus externus and internus, rectus and transversus abdominis, intercostalis externus and internus, and intercartilagineus, were studied with the horseradish peroxidase retrograde tracing technique. It was found that the spinal representations of the abdominal muscles overlap to a large extent. Motoneurons of all four abdominal muscles were found in the lateral, central, medial, ventral as well as dorsal part of the ventral horn, with a clear dominance of the lateral and central positions, however. Marked differences occurred with respect to the rostro-caudal distribution. While rectus motoneurons occupied up to 16 spinal segments, obliquus internus and transversus motoneurons occupied only 9, obliquus externus 14. Furthermore, the density of motoneurons in the different segments showed quite dramatic changes in the case of the obliquus externus and transversus, was relatively constant in the rectus, and formed a single sharp peak in the obliquus internus. The motoneuronal distribution of the intercostal and intercartilaginous muscles showed less overlap than that of the abdominal muscles. Intercostalis internus motoneurons were mainly found laterally in the ventral horn, intercartilagineus motoneurons laterally and centrally, intercostalis externus motoneurons laterally and medially. The intercartilagineus muscle of a specific inter costal space was found to be innervated from 1 to 2 spinal segments, the intercostalis internus from 2, the intercostalis externus from 2 to 3. As all muscles participating in the respiratory component of phonation have a spinal representation in the lateral ventral horn of the lower thoracic cord, this area is proposed to play a crucial role in vocal production. PMID- 2607133 TI - Further studies on the cyto-, fibro- and dendro-architectonic structures of chicken diencephalon and mesencephalon. AB - Cyto-, fibro- and dendro-architectonic analyses of the diencephalic and mesencephalic area in chickens were carried out by means of the Nissl staining, silver impregnation and Golgi-Cox techniques. Within this area, a number of nuclei and fiber bundles were described and summarized in the form of cyto- and fibro-architectonic atlases of the frontal planes at the same level. Furthermore, with special reference to the optic tectum, detailed cyto- and dendro architectonic observations were performed. Cytoarchitectonically, this area was composed of 15 alternately arranged layers from the surface inward, 3 of which were fiber bundle zones demonstrated more clearly in silver-impregnated preparations. On the other hand, in dendro-architectonic preparations, only 4 zones were identified; external horizontal, external vertical, internal horizontal and internal vertical cell layers. Among them, small fusiform and large pyramidal cell types in the external vertical cell layer as well as large stellate cells in the internal horizontal zone were histologically characterized. Further means of performing more detailed architectonic analysis of all nuclei and fiber bundles in the diencephalic and mesencephalic area were discussed and this may be useful for the physiological and anatomical studies. PMID- 2607134 TI - The nucleus Koelliker-Fuse (K-F) and parabrachial nuclear complex (PBNC) in man. Location, cytoarchitectonics and terminology in embryonic and adult periods, and comparison with other mammals. AB - Series of sections from the brain stems of human embryos and adult individuals were studied for the topography and cytoarchitectonics of two different nuclei, both of them referred to in literature as the nucleus Koelliker-Fuse (nucleus K F). A study of embryonic and comparative materials showed that the original descriptions by Koelliker (1896) and Fuse (1913) were identical with the pars compacta nuclei pedunculo-pontini in present-day nomenclature while the nucleus currently designated with their names was rather related to the principal nucleus of the trigeminus. For that reason, we recommend making a distinction between ncl. K-F (1896, 1913) and ncl. K-F (of recent authors); the former can be used mainly for embryonic material, the latter for comparative studies. However, the ncl. K-F (of recent authors) is not developed in adult humans. Descriptions are also included of the organization of the parabrachial nuclear complex and other structures of the isthmus mesencephali in the human embryo, and both are compared with the situation in adults humans. PMID- 2607135 TI - The optic nerve of the viper, Vipera aspis. AB - A quantitative investigation of the optic nerves of eight adult vipers was carried out, both at the level of resolution of the light microscope by stereological methods, and at the level of resolution of the electron microscope. The majority (87%) of axons are myelinated, and the fibers are organized in fascicles; each bundle of axons is disposed around a central column of glial cells of which the greater proportion (62%) are oligodendrocytes, 33% are astrocytes and the remaining 5% are microglial cells. Estimations of the total number of fibers varied, from 5.37 X 10(4) to 6.96 X 10(4), among the eight specimens. The distribution of diameters of myelinated fibers is well characterized (chi 2 = 16.84, df = 22, 0.9 greater than p greater than 0.5) by a three-parameter lognormal distribution with a mean of 0.735 micron, standard deviation of 0.239 micron, and origin of 0.21 micron. Axon diameter is linearly related (r = 0.60) to the number of electron-dense layers in the myelin sheath. The diameters of unmyelinated fibers are distributed (chi 2 = 1.95, df = 4, 0.9 greater than p greater than 0.5) as a two-parameter lognormal distribution with mean of 0.25 micron and standard deviation of 0.067 micron. A surprisingly large number of myelinated fibers, apparently dispersed at random throughout the nerve, showed anomalies of myelination; two possible explanations, between which it is impossible to discriminate on the basis of the available data, are offered for this state of affairs. PMID- 2607136 TI - Types of neurons in nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus of the European bison. AB - The study was carried out on the medullae oblongatae of four European bisons. Preparations were made according to the Nissl, Kluver-Barrera and Golgi methods. Nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus of the European bison are formed of 4 types of neurons. Type I--triangular cells. The perikaryon issues 3 dendrites bifurcating once or twice. The dendritic field is ball-shaped. A single thin axon emerges directly from the soma. Tiny granules of the tigroidal substance are very densely distributed and penetrate into the initial segments of dendrites. Type II -multipolar cells. These neurons have 7-9 thick dendrites which bifurcate twice. The dendritic field is ball-shaped. A single axon, 2 microns thick, emerges directly from the perikaryon. The cells contain thick spherical granules of the tigroidal substance. Type III--fusiform cells. From both poles of the perikaryon 2-3 thick dendrites originate which first bifurcate and next give off 2-3 branches. At each pole of the cell there is a separate dendritic field having a stream-like form. The axon arises from the lateral surface of the perikaryon. The tigroidal substance has a form of elongate bands. Type IV--rounded cells. Three thick dendrites are concentrated at one pole of the cell. The dendrites give off collaterals and ramify. The dendritic field has a stream-like form. The axon emerges from the perikaryon, a long distance from the dendrites. Thick granules of the tigroidal substance are evenly distributed in the cell. PMID- 2607137 TI - Thalamic projections to the cortical gustatory area in the cat studied by retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase. AB - The thalamic projections to the cortical gustatory area in the cat were studied using the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method. The gustatory area extends from the lateral lip of the presylvian sulcus (posterior two-thirds) to the posterior part of the orbital gyrus. It is bounded anteriorly by area 6a beta, laterally by the first somatosensory area, medially by the fundus and medial bank of the presylvian sulcus (prefrontal area), and posteriorly by the insular area. The cortical gustatory area receives fibers mainly from the medial smaller-celled part of the posteromedial ventral nucleus (VPMM). Cortical projections of the VPMM are organized topically; the anterior part of the gustatory cortex receives fibers from the anterodorsal and posteroventral portions of the anterior two thirds of the VPMM, whereas the posterior gustatory cortex receives fibers from the anteroventral, posterodorsal and posterior portions of the posterior two thirds of the VPMM. In addition, there appears to be a mediolateral organization of the cortical projections of the VPMM to the gustatory area. The cortical gustatory area receives a few projections from the ventral lateral, ventral medial, submedial, paracentral, lateral central, parafascicular and medial central nuclei. PMID- 2607138 TI - Central axonal regeneration and autoimmunity in adult birds. AB - After traumatic lesion adult cock spinal cord displays lively axonal regenerative activity. After 22 days, morphological regeneration regresses; functional regeneration is never observed. Before and after spinal lesion in the cocks, IgG decoration of myelin sheaths is never observed. The sera of both injured and intact animals tested both by immunohistochemical methods on intact spinal cord sections and by immunoelectrophoresis on a protein extract of homologous spinal cord are always negative. The authors suggest that the absence in Birds of any autoimmune response against c.n.s. antigens after surgical exposition, as observed in Mammals, is possibly related to the capacity of the central axons to regenerate in Birds, as observed by the Authors in Amphibia and Reptilia (Triturus and Lacerta). PMID- 2607139 TI - Macro square wave jerks in a rhesus monkey: physiological and anatomical findings in a case of selective impairment of attentive fixation. AB - An otherwise normal female rhesus monkey executed large saccadic eye movements (macro square wave jerks) when required to attentively fixate a small visual target (fixation point). The jerks were observed exclusively in this specific testing situation. They occurred periodically at a frequency of 2.04 + - 0.18 Hz to the right side with an amplitude of 23.5 deg. Direction of the jerks was about 3-4 degrees downward from horizontal. These parameters remained constant throughout the several months of daily recording. No jerks were executed during periods when the behaviourally important target was absent or substituted by another, behaviourally non-relevant visual stimulus. The monkey could perform normal visually guided saccades as well as smooth pursuit eye movements, but with the jerks always superimposed, when the monkey paid attention to the visual target. Histologic inspection of the brain revealed the presence of an incapsulated nematode in the cortex of lobulus simplex of the right cerebellar hemisphere, i.e., in a region involved in oculomotor control. PMID- 2607140 TI - Some unusual characteristics of the nucleus anterodorsali thalami: neurophysiological and ultrastructural investigation. AB - Single-unit activity and ultrastructural characteristics were investigated in anterodorsal nucleus of thalamus (AD) in rabbits, guinea pigs and rats. Spontaneous activity of the AD units consisted of long high-frequency trains of spikes alternating with prolonged periods of silence. The typical thalamic "inactivation bursts" were never observed in AD. The AD neurons were highly reactive to sensory stimuli of various modalities. The stimuli evoked sustained discharges with or without initial short-latency on-effects. The AD neurons in incubated slices responded to electrical stimulation of afferent inputs by high frequency sustained discharges (up to several s). The neurons had long period of facilitation, which allowed summation of effects of repetitive stimuli following with intervals up to 20-30 s, and equally long refractory periods after tonic discharge. Ultrastructural investigation revealed highly developed Nissl bodies and extensive multilocular Golgi complex in large AD neurons. Specialized standard combinations of elements of rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum ("doublets") were widely distributed in their cytoplasm. Large aggregates of finely granular or filamentous material (nematosomes) were present in AD neurons. The perivascular glial endfeet in some areas of the AD were very thin or absent altogether, with direct apposition of neuronal somata to the capillary basal membrane, which was characterized by high pinocytotic activity. All functional and structural features of AD listed above were absent in adjacent anteroventral nucleus. It is suggested that the AD neurons possibly have some specialized neurosecretory activity, which, regarding the role of this nucleus in relaying multimodal sensory information to the highest levels of limbic system (hippocampal formation and retrosplenial cortex), may have some special significance for memory functions. PMID- 2607141 TI - Cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of brachial artery diameter in sustained essential hypertension. AB - An exaggerated reflex response of forearm resistance vessels following stimulation of cardiac mechanoreceptors has been observed in human hypertension. In the present study we analyze the possibility that such an increased response also involves the large brachial artery. For that purpose, the influence of leg elevation in subjects in a supine position on brachial artery diameter and blood flow velocity was studied in 12 healthy, normal males and 17 males of the same age with sustained essential hypertension. Brachial artery diameter and blood flow velocity were measured using a two-dimensional pulsed Doppler velocimeter, with subjects in a supine horizontal position, after passive elevation of the legs and again in a supine horizontal position. Blood pressure and heart rate remained unchanged throughout the study. Elevation of the legs induced an immediate increase in brachial artery diameter (P less than 0.001) and blood flow velocity (P less than 0.001) in both normal subjects and hypertensive patients. The maximal increase in these two parameters was similar in the two groups. In normal subjects, the increases were short-lived, with values returning to baseline levels even when leg elevation was maintained. In hypertensive patients, the increases persisted throughout the period of leg elevation, and brachial artery diameter remained significantly increased in comparison with normal subjects (P less than 0.01). This study provides evidence that loading cardiac mechanoreceptors causes a large dilation of the conduit arteries which is long lasting in essential hypertensives and short-lived in normal subjects. PMID- 2607142 TI - Differences in the subjective well-being and symptoms of normotensives, borderline hypertensives and hypertensives. AB - In this study, previously untreated subjects were randomly recruited from a blood pressure screening programme. After repeated measurement of blood pressure levels, the subjects were divided into three major groups: normotensives (n = 95), borderline hypertensives (n = 69) and hypertensives (n = 30). Three self administered standardized questionnaires were used to measure different aspects of subjective well-being and symptoms: the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), the Subjective Symptoms Assessment Profile (SSAP) and the Minor Symptoms Evaluation Profile (MSEP). The results indicate gradual differences between the three groups, the most pronounced symptoms being seen among the hypertensives. Statistically significant differences were found for cardiac and gastrointestinal symptoms as well as for emotional reactions, home life, social life, sex life and sleep. The differences in well-being and subjective symptoms noted between the groups are important in the evaluation of new antihypertensive agents. Self administered questionnaires of the type used in this study could also be valuable in identifying symptoms and disturbances in subjective well-being related to the antihypertensive medication per se. PMID- 2607143 TI - Increased prostaglandin synthesis in the unclipped kidney of one-kidney, one clip hypertensive rats. AB - Reversal of one-kidney, one clip (1-K, 1C) hypertension by removal of the renal artery clip is accompanied by increased renal and vascular prostaglandin (PG) production. It was postulated that PG biosynthesis is stimulated in the unclipped hypertensive kidney. In order to test this hypothesis, we compared urinary excretion of PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (a breakdown product of PGI2) in perfused kidneys isolated from 1-K, 1C hypertensive rats, 1-K, sham-clipped rats and 1-K, 1C rats which had failed to become hypertensive. Urine was collected over 15 min periods at perfusion pressures of 100, 150 and 200 mmHg. At perfusion pressures of 100 and 150 mmHg there was no significant difference in PGE2 excretion between the three groups. In contrast, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha excretion at 150 mmHg was higher in the hypertensive rats compared with the sham-clipped (P less than 0.05) and failed hypertensive (P less than 0.01) rats. At 200 mmHg, both PGE2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha were significantly higher in the hypertensive rats than in the control groups. These increases in PG excretion were clearly dissociated from changes in urinary flow rates. The findings support the hypothesis of increased synthesis of renal vasodilatory and natriuretic PGs in 1-K, 1C hypertension which is particularly evident at higher perfusion pressures, such as may be encountered when the hypertensive kidney is unclipped and exposed to high arterial pressure. PMID- 2607144 TI - Proceedings of the annual scientific meeting of the British Hypertension Society. Oxford, 19th and 20th September 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2607145 TI - Detection and quantitation of interleukin-2 from individual cells. AB - In this report we present the use of cell blotting for the detection of interleukin-2 (IL-2)-producing lymphocytes. This is a rapid and sensitive immunochemical method analogous to Western blotting of proteins. When combined with image analysis one can determine the percentages of IL-2 positive cells as well as quantitate the amount of IL-2 surrounding each cell. When bovine lymph node cells (bLNC) were stimulated with the combination of concanavalin A (ConA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) for 24 h, 46.4 +/- 0.6% stained positive for IL-2 and, on average, each cell produced 0.92 +/- 0.6 pg of IL-2 in 24 h. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and TPA-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC) produced approximately the same amount. 0.86 +/- 0.4 pg of IL-2 per cell in 24 h; 45.6 +/- 3.6% stained positive for IL-2. PMID- 2607146 TI - Direct binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum amyloid A (SAA). AB - A solid-phase, direct binding ELISA for serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins is described, in which noncovalent interactions of SAA with other plasma constituents are disrupted to permit direct coating of the wells of flexible polyvinyl chloride microtitration plates with an amount of SAA antigen proportional to its concentration in plasma. The wells are coated overnight at 60 degrees C with plasma diluted in 3 M potassium bromide and 0.1 M sodium bicarbonate. pH 9.6. The next day, any remaining sites on the wells are blocked by incubation for 1 h at ambient temperature with a 5% solution of dry milk solids and 0.05% Tween 20 in 0.02 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. The wells are rinsed and incubated for 90 min at 37 degrees C with polyclonal rabbit or rat anti-human SAA antiserum. Then, the wells are rinsed and incubated with goat anti rabbit or rat IgG antiserum to which has been conjugated horseradish peroxidase. o-phenylenediamine and hydrogen peroxide substrates are added to the wells, color is allowed to develop, and sulfuric acid is added to stop the enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The amount of SAA coated to wells is quantified by absorbance at 490 nm. Four or more serial three-fold dilutions of plasma samples are assayed simultaneously on separate plates. Each plate contains a set of wells with identical concentrations of SAA standard protein diluted in decreasing concentrations of plasma proteins corresponding to the dilution of sample. The method can detect SAA concentrations in plasma samples ranging from 1 microgram/ml to greater than 1000 micrograms/ml. The method is suited to serial monitoring of SAA concentration in patients undergoing treatment for inflammatory conditions and to the quantitative analysis of large numbers of samples. PMID- 2607147 TI - Improved long-term storage of hybridomas at -80 degrees C using a bovine milk derivative. AB - A medium comprising 40% bovine milk fraction and 10% DMSO (medium A) was used for the long-term storage of hybridomas at -80 degrees C. The viability of the cells, their growth recovery and ability to secrete antibody were studied and the results were compared to those obtained after storage in a medium containing 40% fetal calf serum and 10% of DMSO (medium B). Hybridomas have been kept for 2 years in medium A; the viability of such cells was 75%, the cells were healthy (electron microscopy), they rapidly proliferated when they were cultured in RPMI supplemented with 10% FCS or with 9% milk fraction + 1% FCS and they released measurable levels of antibody. In contrast, hybridomas stored under the same conditions but in medium B died after 6 months. PMID- 2607148 TI - A quantitative C-reactive protein assay using latex agglutination in microtiter plates. AB - In this quantitative assay, latex particles coated with anti-C-reactive protein (CRP) are agglutinated by CRP following vortex agitation in microtiter plates. A decrease in absorbance at 405 nm is directly proportional to CRP concentration. This 30 min assay is simple and necessitates only two pipetting steps after serum dilution. The linear part of the standard curve ranges from 5 to 150 mg/l and CRP concentrations up to 300 mg/l can be determined without additional dilution of sera. Within-assay reproducibility varies from 4.4% to 7.5% while between-assay reproducibility ranges from 9.3% to 12.2%. Correlation studies performed with 104 sera assayed by automated nephelometer and turbidimeter gave correlation coefficients of 0.96 and 0.97 respectively. PMID- 2607149 TI - Mouse strains with typical mammalian levels of complement activity. AB - Common laboratory mouse strains have very low complement levels relative to humans, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and other mammals, which limits the value of the mouse as an experimental model. We therefore tested serum complement levels of 43 mouse strains and 11 rat strains, for the purpose of selecting a convenient laboratory animal having high complement levels. Total complement activity was determined with both erythrocytes and human tumor cells as targets. Eight mouse strains were identified that have complement levels comparable to those of other mammals. These mouse sera lyse tumor cell targets as well as sera from humans, rats or guinea pigs, although they are somewhat less active than rabbit sera. They are relatively inefficient in lysing erythrocyte targets, yet are as active as rabbit serum in this assay. Target cell lysis was demonstrated to be via the classical pathway of complement activation. Of the eight 'high complement' mouse strains, four were recently derived from wild mice, and one, SF/CamEi, was derived from wild mice in 1951. The three other strains, BUB/BnJ, DA/HuSn and RIIIS/J, were developed more than 40 years ago, but apparently were not tested previously for complement activity. Using the BUB mouse as a representative of the 'high complement' mice, we assayed levels of the nine complement components, in an attempt to identify the cause of high complement activity. No difference in levels of C1, C2, C4, C8 or C9 was detected between BUB and BDF1 mice. C2 activity was very low in both strains. C3, C5, C6 and C7 activities were higher in BUB mice than in BDF1 mice, indicating that variation in these complement components is responsible for the difference in total complement activity. The genes determining the 'high complement' phenotype appeared to be semi-dominant in F1 hybrids. The 'high-complement' mouse strains, and recombinant strains derived from them, will be useful in a wide range of biomedical research. PMID- 2607150 TI - Simple immunoassays for semiquantitative determination of calmodulin (CaM) and anti-CaM. Applications to affinity column chromatography of anti-CaM antibodies and estimation of CaM in synaptosomal membranes from rat cerebral cortex. AB - Dot-immunobinding assay for anti-calmodulin (CaM), and immunoblot assay for CaM have become feasible by proper choice of a fixative, i.e., formaldehyde vapor. The protocol for these simple and convenient immunological procedures is presented. Dot-immunobinding assay could be accomplished in 3 h, and immunoblot assay in 8 h. Activities of anti-CaM antibodies in fractions eluted from CaM affinity column were monitored by immunobinding assay. Semiquantitative immunoblot analysis was used to estimate CaM present in various fractions during preparation of EGTA-washed lysed synaptosomal membranes from rat cerebral cortex. CaM content in the final preparation was estimated at lower than 3 micrograms/mg of membrane protein. PMID- 2607151 TI - Measurement of antibody affinity for cell surface antigens using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. AB - We present a fast, simple, and accurate method to determine the affinity constants of antibodies that bind to cell surface antigens. This procedure utilizes intact cells and native, unmodified antibody in a conventional enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Target cells are incubated with serial dilutions of antibody and allowed to reach equilibrium. Cells are then pelleted by centrifugation, and aliquots of unbound antibody in the supernatant are added to a microtiter plate precoated with capture antibody and measured in a conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We measured the affinity constant of murine monoclonal antibody CLB-1H-gran2, which binds to K562 cells (a human erythroleukemia line), and compared the ELISA-based results to those obtained by flow cytometric determination of antibody affinity. The affinity constants obtained by the two methods are in good agreement. The affinity constant is calculated utilizing only the concentrations of bound and free antibody, so that the actual antigen concentration (or number of antigenic sites per cell) need not be known. However, the number of antibody molecules bound per cell can be estimated from the results. PMID- 2607152 TI - Lymphokine-activated killer cell activity after cryopreservation. AB - The effect of cryopreservation on the cytotoxic activity of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells was studied. LAK cells were generated by incubating peripheral blood lymphocytes for 3-5 days with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and then cryopreserved using a programmed freezer. Cytotoxicity was determined in a 51Cr release assay. After thawing, the LAK cells had reduced cytotoxicity (25.5-39.1% as compared to the original lytic units). Cytotoxic activity could be restored to pre-cryopreserved levels by reincubation with rIL-2 for 2 days after thawing. Thus, maximal cytotoxicity of cryopreserved LAK cells could be achieved by incubation with rIL-2 before and after the freezing process. The level of cytotoxicity was comparable to that of LAK cells from fresh peripheral blood lymphocytes. Cryopreserved LAK cells may have potential in adoptive immunotherapy. PMID- 2607153 TI - An indirect asymmetrical sandwich ELISA using anti-allotype antibodies for the specific and quantitative measurement of mouse IgG2a of Igh-1b allotype. AB - We recently described an indirect double sandwich ELISA (Klein-Schneegans et al., J. Immunol. Methods (1989) 119, 117) which permits the specific and quantitative measurement of mouse IgM, IgA and IgG subclasses with one major exception: IgG2a of the b allotype (Igh-1b in mouse strains such as C57BL/6) could not be reliably quantitated even by a very specific and sensitive asymmetrical sandwich ELISA (using two different anti-IgG2a isotype antibodies for capture and for detection). We now describe a similar method based on the use of two different anti-IgG2a allotype antibodies for the capture and detection of IgG2a in the serum of Igh-1b mouse strains. PMID- 2607154 TI - Development of a novel screening device permitting immunocytochemical screening of numerous culture supernatants during hybridoma production. AB - A novel screening device is described which permits the simultaneous immunocytochemical processing of several hundreds or even thousands of hybridoma culture supernatants. The core of the screening apparatus is a foam-coated polymer plate that carries a 96-well pattern representing a modification of the actual 96-well template. This modification permits the use of conventional 26 X 76 mm microscopy glass slides. Each of these slides carries 24 carefully arranged histological sections. One 96-well plate is thus screened by mounting four of these slides in the apparatus during the primary antibody (i.e., culture supernatant) incubation stage. At all other stages of the immunocytochemical protocol, the slides are processed in the classical way. The screening apparatus has been used during the production of monoclonal antibodies against chicken pituitary glycoprotein hormones and against bovine neurohypophyseal peptides. In both instances, it proved to be the major contributory factor in the successful production of antibodies. PMID- 2607155 TI - Rapid methods for purification of human recombinant interleukin-5 (IL-5) using the anti-murine IL-5 antibody-coupled immunoaffinity column. AB - A large scale production of human recombinant IL-5 (hIL-5) was performed by way of recombinant DNA technology. In this study, we transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells with pdKCR-hIL-5gene-dhfr plasmid and selected a cell line, with the use of methotrexate, producing large amounts of hIL-5. The recombinant hIL-5 thus obtained induced IgM production of murine B cell leukemia BCL1, and its activity was inhibited by TB13 anti-mouse IL-5 monoclonal antibody. hIL-5 could be purified from the cell-free supernatants of the transfectants with high recoveries by using anti-mouse IL-5 antibody-coupled immunoaffinity column in combination with a gel permeation column chromatography. N terminal amino acid sequence analysis of purified hIL-5 revealed that a single amino-terminal amino acid (isoleucine) is detected and hIL-5 consists of 115 amino acid residues. PMID- 2607156 TI - Absorption-enhanced solid-phase immunoassay method via water-swellable poly(acrylamide) microparticles. AB - Water-swellable hydrogel microspheres based on cross-linked polyacrylamide were used as solid supports in immunoassay formats. Capture antibody was covalently bound at the surfaces and the pore size of particles was such that these antibodies were excluded from the interiors. Upon contact with a solution containing immunological reactants, water molecules quickly penetrated the microspheres, causing them to swell, thereby concentrating analyte at the surface. Using swellable particles, the antigen capture rate during the first 5 min of incubation with antigen was two times that of antibody-coated 0.79 cm polystyrene beads. In addition, antibodies attached to lightly cross-linked swellable microparticles proved resistant to inactivation by ultrasonic energy, which can be used to accelerate immunological interactions. PMID- 2607157 TI - Flow cytometric methods for the analysis of human basophil surface antigens and viability. AB - Fluorescence and flow microfluorometric methods have been established for the detection and evaluation of IgE-bearing human leukocytes in various cell preparations including those where basophils are present at low percentages. Quantitative techniques for the determination of basophil purity, viability, and cell surface antigens including IgE are described. Use of these methods will facilitate the identification and phenotypic analysis of human IgE-bearing cells in a wide variety of biological fluids. PMID- 2607158 TI - Inhibition ELISA for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using monoclonal idiotype-anti-idiotype interaction. AB - Monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (Anti-Id) to the common (a) epitope of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were raised and used to detect serum HBsAg in an inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (inhibition ELISA). HRP-labelled Id 8D-3-6 was reacted with Anti-Id 4-8H coated on the solid phase in the presence of HBsAg. The ability of the antigen to inhibit the binding of labelled Id 8D-3-6 to anti-Id 4-8H was determined and the results correlated well with those obtained by radioimmunoassay. This assay requires only one washing step, takes 2 h and covers the range 10 ng/ml to 1 microgram HBsAg/ml. The inhibition ELISA is a more convenient, rapid and relatively sensitive assay which can be used to measure the level of a wide range of serum HBsAg. PMID- 2607159 TI - An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantitation of DNA. PMID- 2607160 TI - The use of targetted liposomes to isolate cells bearing immunoglobulin receptors. AB - A new method of mouse B cell isolation has been developed. It is based on the differences in buoyant density of free lymphocytes and cells bound within liposome-cellular complexes (LCC). LCC arise during the interaction of B cells bearing surface immunoglobulins (Ig) with liposomes loaded with affinity purified rabbit antibodies to mouse IgM/IgG. Advantage was taken of the fact that LCC can be selectively removed from other cell populations by differential flotation in Ficoll gradients. Because of their lower density the LCC did not sediment under conditions where free lymphocytes and complexes of the liposomes with dead or damaged lymphocytes did sediment. The method was highly specific and the recovery of B cells was about 50%. B cells isolated with the use of targetted liposomes retained viability and functional activity. Theoretically, liposomes loaded with antibodies to any cell surface marker could be used for the isolation of cells bearing such markers. PMID- 2607161 TI - Comments on 'Quantification of human high molecular weight kininogen by immunoblotting with a monoclonal anti-light chain antibody' by Reddigari and Kaplan. PMID- 2607162 TI - Rapid isolation of human C reactive protein and serum amyloid P component. PMID- 2607163 TI - A glass-fiber filtration assay for solution phase hapten-antibody binding. Effect of surface treatment with a polycation. AB - Radioligands bound to murine monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies in solution are rapidly and effectively separated from free ligand by filtration through either untreated or polyethylenimine (PEI)-pretreated glass-fiber filters. Ligand binding to selected anti-morphine monoclonal antibodies, determined by filtration through untreated filters, was significantly greater (1.5-3.0-fold) than the binding activities obtained by gel filtration. However, radioactivity retained by filters that were pretreated with PEI (pH 4) was essentially the same as that obtained using the Sephadex G-25 short-column assay. The pH dependence of the retention on the coated fibers suggests that the mechanism of binding of antibodies to glass is different from that to the PEI-treated surfaces. The quantitative aspects of the assay are reported. The method should prove useful where quantitative, rapid and inexpensive binding radioassays need to be performed. PMID- 2607164 TI - Isolation and characterization of mouse nasal lymphocytes. AB - A method for isolation of mouse nasal lymphocytes is described. Lymphocyte enriched suspensions are examined for their morphologic, surface immune staining and mitogenic characteristics. This method will allow testing of immune function in the upper respiratory tract of the mouse. PMID- 2607165 TI - Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the quantification of the C4 isotypes (C4A and C4B) in human plasma. AB - Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were developed to determine the concentration of the isotypes of the fourth component of human complement (C4A and C4B) in human plasma. In the case of C4A a monoclonal antibody against a common determinant of the alpha chain was used to capture the protein. The bound antigen was then detected with a biotinylated monoclonal antibody reacting exclusively with the C4A isotype, followed by peroxidase labeled avidin. For the quantification of C4B, C4B-specific monoclonal antibodies were coated onto a microtitration plate in order to capture the protein. Bound antigen was then detected with a biotinylated monoclonal antibody directed against C4 followed by peroxidase labeled avidin. The assays, which were rapid, selective and specific for C4A and C4B, respectively, provide an alternative to gel electrophoresis and blot procedures for the study of unexpressed alleles ('null alleles') at each of the C4 loci. PMID- 2607166 TI - The line blot: an immunoassay for monoclonal and other antibodies. Its application to the serotyping of gram-negative bacteria. AB - A procedure is described for assaying antibodies based on the application of antigen to nitrocellulose as a line with an ink pen point. The method requires no expensive apparatus, is easy to perform, and requires less than 0.25 micrograms of antigen per assay. More than 45 antigens can be assayed simultaneously with a single antibody. Antigens can be applied as purified proteins, extracts, or sodium dodecyl sulfate solubilized extracts. The application of the line blot assay for the detection of monoclonal antibodies which recognize heat-sensitive and insensitive epitopes on the typhus rickettsia surface protein antigen is described. A new serotyping assay for Gram-negative bacteria is also described in which sodium dodecyl sulfate solubilized antigens are applied as lines with and without prior proteinase K digestion. The value of the line blot serotyping assay is demonstrated with Proteus. Rickettsia, Rochalimaea, and Legionella antigens. The line blot immunoassay is a simple, but powerful and flexible, alternative to dot and cross-dot immunoassays. PMID- 2607167 TI - [Adjuvant chemotherapy using adriamycin and cisplatin in infiltrating cancer of the bladder. Prospective study of 49 cases]. AB - Between January 1981 and March 1988, we prospectively treated 49 patients with infiltrating bladder cancer (Stages B2, C and D1 of the classification of Marshall or pT3-T4, No/N+ of the UICC classification) by adjuvant combination chemotherapy with Adriamycin and Cisplatin. Chemotherapy started 4 to 8 weeks after radical surgery with total prostatocystectomy in males or anterior pelvectomy in females associated in all cases with bilateral ilio-obturator pelvic lymph node dissection. With a mean follow up of 34 months (3 to 85 months) 32 patients are still alive and disease free (17/23 stage B2, 8/15 stage C, and 7/11 stage D1). The crude disease free survival is 76%, 49% and 25% for stages B2, C and D1 respectively. These results seem better than those reported with radical surgery alone and encourage the adoption of adjuvant chemotherapy to improve survival in patients with infiltrating bladder cancer. PMID- 2607168 TI - [Experimental study of submucous vesical injections in rats. Teflon versus silicone]. AB - Correction of vesicoureteric reflux by endoscopic subureteric injection of polytef paste is an expending procedure. But polytef past is thick, hard to inject and can migrate at distant sites of injection. We have tried a silicone paste on experimental studie observes tissue reaction at the site of injection (bladder) and in pelvic nodes, kidneys, liver, lungs, brain. 22 rats were injected: 8 with polytef paste, 14 with silicone paste. The study demonstrated that polytef paste sub mucosal injection is followed by migration nodes and local granulomatous reaction. The silicone paste is easier to inject; none particules of silicone were found in nodes nor in others visceria; granulomatous reaction and fibrous capsule around foreign body were smaller. PMID- 2607169 TI - [Urodynamic study of urinary incontinence in elderly women. Apropos of 108 cases]. AB - Clinical and urodynamical study of 108 patients old of more than 70 years and presenting urinary incontinence showed the frequency of vesical instability and dysuria (maximum out put less than 15 ml/s). PMID- 2607170 TI - Choice of operations for distal hypospadias. PMID- 2607171 TI - [Correction of posterior hypospadias by a transverse vascular preputial graft, evolution of technics and results. Apropos of 42 cases]. AB - During more than seven years 42 hypospadias were treated in on stage with different technics of urethroplasty by transverse preputial gauntlet grafts. With original Duckett's technic only 21,5% of patients had a good result. The authors reduced the risk of devascularisation first time by a personal modification then by using the double face flap described by Duckett himself; then the percentage of success after one operation overtake 75%. The different complications and their treatment are described and some operative details are pointed out to prevent complications. PMID- 2607172 TI - [Testicular prosthesis. Study of complications, apropos of 63 cases]. AB - The authors report 63 cases of insertion of testicular prostheses (Lattimer model in Silastic, manufactured by Dow Corning) in patients who had undergone castration for testicular cancer. A study of the early and late post-operative complications, which were relatively rare and always benign, allows several simple rules to be proposed regarding this surgical procedure. There does not seem to be any problem with long term tolerance to medical silicones, after a ten year follow up period for the earliest cases. The insertion of an implant does not in any way delay continuation of treatment for testicular cancer. PMID- 2607173 TI - [Richter's syndrome with testicular localization]. AB - Based on a case showing testicular localisation of sarcomatous degeneration in the context of the progression of chronic lymphoid leukemia (Richter's syndrome), the authors discuss the classification of intrascrotal lymphomatous conditions. PMID- 2607174 TI - [Suspended ileo-ureteroplasty following appendiculoplasty]. AB - The authors report on a case of a stenosis of a uretero-appendiculoplasty, treated by an ileal suspended loop, with a good result. PMID- 2607175 TI - [Antireflux plasty according to Gil Vernet]. PMID- 2607176 TI - Purification and characterization of a human Mx protein. AB - Human interferon-beta (IFN-beta) induces in human embryonic foreskin fibroblasts a cytoplasmic protein with antigenic similarities to mouse Mx protein, a nuclear protein implicated in inhibition of influenza virus replication. The human protein was purified to virtual homogeneity by immunoaffinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody to mouse Mx protein. The purified protein has an apparent Mr of 78,000 and displays a strong tendency to self-aggregate. It can be resolved on two-dimensional gels into four spots with pIs between 6.0 and 6.2, each of which reacts with antibodies to mouse Mx protein. The partial amino terminal sequence was determined for the affinity-purified protein. Cytoplasmic microinjection of the affinity-purified protein does not lead to efficient protection against infection with influenza virus. Cytoplasmic microinjection of the monoclonal Mx antibody, which increases suceptibility of IFN-treated mouse Mx cells to influenza virus, does not alter the viral susceptibility of IFN-treated human cells. These results suggest that, unlike the mouse Mx protein, the human Mx protein studied in this communication may not be sufficient to confer to cells a high degree of protection against influenza virus. PMID- 2607177 TI - The pain of childhood leukemia: a parent's recollection. PMID- 2607178 TI - Nurses' perceptions of pain in the neonatal intensive care unit. AB - Pain in neonates has only recently become the focus of clinical and research attention. Measurement of pain in this population presents special problems. Neonatal nurses were selected as observers and recorders of neonatal pain behavior, as they are in constant contact with neonates undergoing aversive procedures, and thus have special expertise in this area. This study used a questionnaire to examine the perceptions of neonatal nurses as to the indicators and causes of different intensities of pain. Nurses used similar classes of behavior to indicate pain, but varied somewhat in the specific behavioral indicators for different levels of pain. A very wide range of sources of pain was identified. PMID- 2607179 TI - Pain behaviors in infants and toddlers. AB - The purposes of this qualitative study were to describe behaviors of infants and toddlers when in acute pain and to describe changes in those behaviors across the 3-yr span. With the use of naturalistic observation, 32 children, birth to 36 mo of age, were observed following surgery, fractures, or burns. Purposeful sampling of children, who were inpatients of a private midwestern hospital, was used. Data sources included child observations, parent interviews, and patient records. The research method used was grounded theory. Three pain behavior categories were developed, and characteristics of each category were identified. Pain categories included motor movement, communication, and facial expression. Theoretic implications were proposed. It is concluded that predictable changes in pain behaviors occur within infancy and toddlerhood. A matrix of pain behavior is presented. PMID- 2607180 TI - Psychiatric symptoms of pediatric cancer pain. AB - This study investigated the contribution of pain to psychiatric symptoms in 43 hospitalized children and adolescents referred for psychiatric evaluation in a pediatric cancer center during a 1-yr period. Procedures included determination of the primary reason for referral, child and parent diagnostic interviews assessing pain history and psychiatric symptoms, and recommendations for improved pain control or other types of intervention and followup. Across the four referral categories (for symptoms of depression, cognitive/perceptual disturbance, anxiety, or disruptive behavior), approximately 20% of all consultations resulted in a primary recommendation for improved pain control. The findings suggest that pediatric cancer pain may go untreated when its manifestations are psychiatric. Implications for staff education, consultation liaison psychiatry, and psychiatric nosology are discussed. PMID- 2607181 TI - A cognitive-behavioral approach to pain associated with pediatric chronic diseases. PMID- 2607182 TI - Universal utilization of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography for investigation of pancreatic disease. PMID- 2607184 TI - ECG of the month. Achilles heel. Wide QRS tachycardia. PMID- 2607183 TI - Course and regression of acute interstitial pancreatitis induced in rats by repeated serial subcutaneous cholecystokinin-octapeptide injections. AB - The aim of this study was to examine histologic and biochemical alterations in experimental acute interstitial pancreatitis (AIP) induced by serial repeated supramaximal cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-OP) stimulation in rats. High doses of CCK-OP (60 micrograms/kg body wt) were administered subcutaneously (sc) six times at hourly intervals for 1 d (Group I) or for 3, 5, or 7 d (Group II). Rats were killed after 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 d in both groups and also after 13, 20, and 27 d in Group II. During the course of the AIP, the morphological alterations were more pronounced in the repeatedly treated rats, but their appearance and disappearance essentially occurred in parallel in the two groups. Increased mitotic activity of the centroacinar and acinar cells were observed in d 5 and rose further even in Group II. The pancreatic weight and the protein and DNA contents reached a minimum on d 5 in both groups. The lowest enzyme activities did not occur in parallel. Thereafter, functional regeneration occurred despite continuing CCK-OP overstimulation in Group II. The toxicity of repeated CCK-OP hyperstimulation, thus, was limited: after its fifth administration, it failed to further aggravate the acute pancreatic damage or prevent the regeneration. This might be explained by a decreased CCK-OP sensitivity of the preexisting acinar cells, and/or increased CCK-OP tolerance of newly-formed ones. PMID- 2607185 TI - Laryngeal trauma. Diagnosis and management. AB - Acute laryngeal trauma caused by either blunt or penetrating injuries is a difficult airway management problem. Patients may be aphonic or intubated due to the injury, and important historical facts may not be available. Because of this, the recognition and initial proper management of this injury is essential to a successful outcome. Flexible endoscopy provides an easy and accurate examination of the injured larynx without risk of injury to the patient. Assessment of vascular and esophageal injuries is also the key in management of this patient group. The use of CT imaging helps delineate injuries that are not well defined by physical examination. Immediate operative intervention with repair of mucosal injuries and stabilization of cartilaginous framework usually results in good airway and voice quality. PMID- 2607186 TI - Pneumocephalus associated with a frontoethmoidal osteoma. AB - A 51-year-old man complained of a headache of 2-months duration. Computerized tomography revealed pneumocephalus and an osteoma at the confluence of the frontal and ethmoid sinuses on the right. Craniotomy confirmed an osteoma with a spur as the cause of the pneumocephalus. PMID- 2607187 TI - The University College Hospital/Royal National Institute for the Deaf cochlear implant programme. AB - The rationale for developing a single channel, round window, cochlear implant at University College Hospital, London is described. There are advantages to both extra and intra cochlear implants. Surgeons and patients should have a choice. The benefits of implants are now abundantly clear and an implant programme should be funded through the National Health Service. PMID- 2607188 TI - The University College Hospital/Royal National Institute for the Deaf cochlear implant programme. PMID- 2607189 TI - Pre-operative cochlear implant assessment using a round window ball electrode. AB - Placement of a round window electrode allows far superior electrical assessment of a cochlear implant candidate than promontory stimulation. The approach to the round window necessitates either a tympanomeatal flap, which requires a certain amount of time and nursing support, or a myringotomy which may raise worries about possible iatrogenic perforations as well as about technical difficulties of access to the round window. We have used a myringotomy incision in 20 cases. The technique and results are discussed, both in terms of electrical data obtained and of access to the round window. There were no cases of persistent perforation. PMID- 2607190 TI - UCH/RNID single channel cochlear implant: surgical technique. AB - In a series of thirty patients who received single-channel cochlear implants a simple standard operative procedure has been developed. No life-threatening complication and no wound breakdown occurred. The only problems encountered during surgery were related to the position or obliteration of the round window niche. The commonest reason for removing the implant was device failure; this was caused by a single defective electronic component. No further failures have occurred since this was modified. The second commonest reason for failure was related to the position of the implant, both cases occurred early in the series and the operative technique was altered to prevent further episodes. The infection rate has been low, partly because a simple postaural incision does not put the local blood supply to the skin at risk. Synkinetic facial nerve stimulation seems difficult to predict and may be hard to avoid until more is known about its aetiology. PMID- 2607191 TI - Antibiotic prophylaxis in cochlear implantation: current practice. AB - A postal survey examined the current use of prophylatic antibiotics during cochlear implantation. Seventeen centres, worldwide, replied giving details on 1030 cochlear implant operations: 56.4 per cent were implanted with antibiotic prophylaxis and 43.6 per cent without; 2.9 per cent of devices were removed because of infection, 4.5 per cent of those with prophylaxis and 0.9 per cent of those without. Most cases of infection were associated with technical problems in the design or the positioning of the device. No cases of meningitis were reported. Routine antibiotic prophylaxis does not appear to offer any benefit. PMID- 2607192 TI - UCH/RNID single channel extracochlear implant: results in thirty profoundly deafened adults. AB - The University College Hospital/Royal National Institute for the Deaf (UCH/RNID) Cochlear Implant Programme has now given single channel extracochlear implants to forty profoundly deafened adults. Audiological, psychophysical, speech perceptual and subjective results for the first thirty cases are described. The main findings can be summarised as follows: 1. Users of the single channel extracochlear implant gained considerable improvements in their lipreading and communication ability, as assessed by both objective testing and by the patients' own reports. All acquired useful awareness of environmental sounds and an improvement in their quality of life; some also showed improvements in their own speech. A small number were capable of some open-set speech discrimination without lipreading. 2. Extracochlear implantation was not found to destroy residual hearing, although it did cause slight deterioration in hearing thresholds in some cases. 3. Our results so far suggest that patients deafened by meningitis are likely to obtain less benefit from a single channel cochlear implant than those deafened by other causes. Better results were also achieved by younger, more recently deafened patients and those who were good lipreaders. Despite the emergence of these trends we have not yet found a reliable way to predict benefit from an implant on the basis of preoperative variables. 4. Self reported measures of the benefits of the implant correlated well with the objective test results, but also revealed important information that was not available from the objective tests. In particular, they showed that the improvement in lipreading provided by the implant was reduced in noisy conditions. PMID- 2607193 TI - Electrical tinnitus suppression (ETS) with a single channel cochlear implant. AB - Patients with intractable tinnitus in a dead ear were selected for electrical tinnitus suppression (ETS) first with a round window electrode inserted via the ear canal. Three patients have been selected for implantation with a UCH/RNID single channel extracochlear device to use with a sinusoidal tinnitus suppressor. We have also examined the effect of sinusoids on deafened implantees with tinnitus and conclude that tinnitus can be suppressed in some individuals with low frequency sine waves. Two patients are presented who have used cochlear implants to suppress their tinnitus for more than 18 months. PMID- 2607194 TI - Design of the UCH/RNID cochlear implant system. AB - This paper describes the design of the UCH/RNID single channel, extracochlear, auditory prosthesis. The system employs a body-worn analogue sound processor whose output is transmitted to a pair of implanted Platinum/Iridium stimulating electrodes via a transcutaneous inductively coupled link. The stimulating current is passed between a 1 mm diameter ball electrode, resting in the round window, and a 5 mm square foil electrode placed under the temporalis muscle. The implanted amplitude modulation receiver circuit is fabricated from hermetically sealed electronic components which are mounted on a ceramic substrate. The implanted circuit is encapsulated in silicone rubber. The primary design objective was to produce a reliable and effective auditory prosthesis costing less than 1,000 pounds. PMID- 2607195 TI - Improvement in speech production following use of the UCH/RNID cochlear implant. AB - It has been noted that the speech of adults who become deaf can deteriorate, particularly in terms of suprasegmental features. The speech production skills of 30 post-lingually deafened adults who had derived no benefit from hearing aids was assessed before and after cochlear implantation using subjective and objective measures. Significant improvement in speech production was heard in 57 per cent of subjects; 29 subjects were judged to have improved speech production after using their cochlear implant for one year. PMID- 2607196 TI - Case study of a post-lingually deafened child with a UCH/RNID single channel cochlear implant. AB - In November 1987, a post-lingually deafened eight-year old became the first child to receive a cochlear implant in Britain. The case aroused considerable controversy and the following paper examines the decision to implant the child, the difficulties experienced and the favourable outcome of the procedure to date. PMID- 2607197 TI - Comparison of benefit from UCH/RNID single-channel extracochlear implant and tactile acoustic monitor. AB - A 53-year-old, post-lingually totally deafened adult was evaluated six months post-operatively to compare the benefits of a UCH/RNID single-channel extra cochlear implant and a Tactile Acoustic Monitor (TAM). The TAM provided information giving clues to the prosodic features of rhythm and length of sounds. The cochlear implant provided information on pitch changes as well as the above prosodic features. The patient was able to use this additional information to obtain improved speech discrimination and environmental information. PMID- 2607198 TI - Has the increasing use of grommets influenced the frequency of surgery for cholesteatoma? AB - The number of operations for cholesteatoma, together with the number of cases undergoing insertion of ventilation tubes in the Tayside region of Scotland between 1966 and 1986 have been studied. During this period there has been a sixty fold increase in the use of ventilation tubes, but the incidence of cholesteatoma surgery has only varied between 0.94 and 1.88 operations per 10,000 of population per year. The mean annual incidence of cholesteatoma during this period was 1.32 cases per 10,000 of population. The results indicate that there has been neither a rise nor a fall in the incidence of cholesteatoma in Tayside despite a considerable increase in the use of ventilation tubes. PMID- 2607199 TI - Management of the inflammatory aural polyp. AB - Investigation into the underlying disease causing an aural polyp is often hampered when the polyp itself obscures the tympanic membrane. This retrospective analysis of 65 patients undergoing aural polypectomy was carried out to identify any predictive factors for underlying cholesteatoma and to determine a correct management strategy for aural polyps. The duration of symptoms, size of polyp, size of conductive component of hearing loss and bacteriology of otorrhoea were unhelpful as predictors of the underlying disease. Radiological evidence of bony erosion of the mastoid is a useful sign of cholesteatoma when present. Aural polypectomy resulted in 58.3 per cent of ears becoming inactive. It is proposed that aural polypectomy and histological assessment should be employed as initial treatment with mastoid exploration reserved for those ears thus identified as high risk for cholesteatoma. PMID- 2607200 TI - Mastoid ache in acoustic neuroma. AB - In a series of 100 patients with unilateral acoustic neuroma the incidence of mastoid aching was found to be 25 per cent, though none of the patients reported this as their principal symptom. Mastoid ache was not related to tumour size, hydrocephalus, or duration of symptoms. However, there was a significantly higher incidence of facial numbness and diminished facial sensation, but not facial weakness, compared with the whole series. Since motor fibres are more resistant to pressure than sensory fibres, mastoid ache may signify the pressure of an expanding cerebellopontine angle tumour. PMID- 2607201 TI - Reliability of the House and Brackmann grading system for facial palsy. AB - The House and Brackmann grading system has been recommended as a universal standard for assessing the degree of facial palsy. This study examined the inter observer reliability of this system. Three observers assigned a grade to each patient, examined independently, on the same day. Forty patients with a unilateral facial palsy of varying aetiology and severity were assessed. Of the 120 judgements, eight were in dispute, by a maximum of one grade, giving an inter observer reliability of 93 per cent. We conclude that the House and Brackmann grading system is a simple and robust method of assessing facial function. PMID- 2607202 TI - Some observations on submucous diathermy. AB - Submucosal diathermy (SMD) of the inferior turbinates is widely used, although its effect histologically has not been well shown. We attempted to demonstrate the acute histological changes of SMD by performing it immediately prior to inferior turbinectomy. The results found help to explain the unpredictability of producing a clinical response. PMID- 2607203 TI - Adenocarcinoma of the ethmoid sinuses in High Wycombe 1986. AB - Adenocarcinoma of the ethmoid sinus is a rare cancer in this country but relatively common in High Wycombe because of the concentration of furniture factories in this area. The management of five cases occurring recently in the High Wycombe area is described and changes in management since 1960 discussed. PMID- 2607204 TI - Symmorphosis in relation to the relative dimensions of the glottic and tracheal area in the mammalian larynx. AB - A large number of non-human mammalian larynges have been studied in an attempt to relate body mass to maximum glottic and tracheal area in order to confirm symmorphism. PMID- 2607205 TI - Incidence of abnormality in routine 'vocal cord checks'. AB - Where elective surgery carries a risk of damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, pre-operative examination of the larynx is routine. The incidence of positive findings at such examination has been determined by retrospective review of 1,947 clinic records. Only 31 vocal cord palsies were found. The possible causes and relevance of such findings are discussed. PMID- 2607206 TI - Calcium alginate fibre (Kaltostat 2) for nasal packing after trimming of turbinates--a pilot study. AB - Following surgical trimming of the inferior turbinates, 32 nostrils were packed with Calcium alginate fibre (Kaltostat 2 gramme fibre packs 80:20 per cent calcium:sodium) for 36-48 hours to achieve haemostasis. There was no bleeding while the packs were in place or after they were removed. These results were compared with two retrospective groups of patients who had undergone the same surgical procedure but the nostrils had been packed with alternative materials. PMID- 2607207 TI - Congenital cholesteatoma presenting as a post-auricular mass. AB - Congenital cholesteatoma usually presents as either a conductive deafness or as a facial palsy. We report a case which presented as a post-auricular mass. It is important to recognize the possibility that the disease may present in this way when considering the management of such a mass. PMID- 2607208 TI - Sudden sensorineural hearing loss as a presentation of HIV infection. AB - Two case reports of HIV positive patients presenting with sudden sensorineural hearing loss are described. The importance of CT scanning and cerebrospinal fluid examination are stressed. The possible aetiology and pathology of the condition are also discussed. PMID- 2607209 TI - Pulsatile tinnitus and dural arteriovenous malformation. AB - An unusual case of a patient presenting with left sided pulsatile tinnitus is presented. This was later shown to be due to a dural arteriovenous malformation involving the lateral venous sinus. The diagnosis was suspected by the presence of a bruit over the mastoid process and confirmed by a CT scan and angiography. Management involved pre-operative embolisation and neurosurgical excision. The differential diagnosis of pulsatile tinnitus and the management of a dural arterio venous malformation is discussed. PMID- 2607210 TI - Liposarcoma in the pharynx. AB - A rare case of an atypical lipoma in the pyriform sinus is described with an unusual presentation and some difficult histological features. Excision was performed endoscopically, there has been no evidence of recurrence for over a year. External surgical excision is reserved in case of recurrence of the tumour. PMID- 2607211 TI - Treatment of combined subglottic and critically low tracheal stenoses secondary to burn inhalation injury. AB - We report a case of combined severe subglottic and lower tracheobronchial stenoses after an inhalation burn injury. The patient was successfully treated by the insertion of a bifurcated silicone rubber stent. The proximal limb of the silicone tube was used to stent the subglottic stenosis after it had been resected, a treatment option not previously reported. It is speculated that the diffuse airway damage resulted from a combination of thermal injury, mechanical trauma and infection. The relatively late symptomatic presentation of the lower tracheal stricture is stressed and the treatment options discussed. PMID- 2607212 TI - Anterior neck lipoma masquerading as an external laryngocoele. AB - Lipomas of the anterior neck are rare lesions with about 40 cases reported so far in the world literature. Though lipomas are known to change shape depending upon adjacent compressive forces, our case is unique in that the change in shape clinically mimicked an external laryngocoele. A possible explanation for the unusual behaviour of this lipoma is offered. PMID- 2607213 TI - Sialadenoma papilliferum of the parotid gland. AB - Sialadenoma papilliferum is a rare, benign exophytic tumour of salivary glands. The preferred site of this tumour is usually the hard palate. A case of sialadenoma papilliferum occurring in the parotid gland of a 49-year-old man is presented; only one such case has been previously described. PMID- 2607214 TI - AIDS to the post nasal space. PMID- 2607215 TI - Primary composite squamous cell carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the hypopharynx. AB - Neuroendocrine carcinomas are rare neoplasms of the larynx and hypopharynx. Tumours composed of both neuroendocrine and squamous cell elements are very rare. We report a case of a primary hypopharyngeal carcinoma composed of both squamous cell and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and discuss the treatment of this patient and management of neuroendocrine carcinomas of the larynx and hypopharynx. PMID- 2607216 TI - Accuracy of postal questionnaires? PMID- 2607217 TI - Institutional ethics committees. Legitimate and impartial review of ethical health care decisions. PMID- 2607218 TI - 1988 Letourneau Award. No-fault liability and medical malpractice. A viability analysis. PMID- 2607219 TI - Predator-prey populations with parasitic infection. AB - A predator-prey model, where both species are subjected to parasitism, is developed and analyzed. For the case where there is coexistence of the predator with the uninfected prey, an epidemic threshold theorem is proved. It is shown that in the case where the uninfected predator cannot survive only on uninfected prey, the parasitization could lead to persistence of the predator provided a certain threshold of transmission is surpassed. PMID- 2607220 TI - Parameter estimation in a special reaction-diffusion system modelling man environment diseases. AB - An approximation scheme for a reaction-diffusion system with distributed feedback through the boundary is developed. It is used to estimate the strength of the feedback mechanisms from measurements of the states. The results are illustrated by numerical examples. PMID- 2607221 TI - Genealogical-tree probabilities in the infinitely-many-site model. AB - This paper considers the distribution of the genealogical tree of a sample of genes in the infinitely-many-site model where the relative age ordering of the mutations (nodes in the tree) is known. A computer implementation of a recursion for the probability of such trees is discussed when the nodes are age-labeled, or not. PMID- 2607222 TI - A stochastic model for the membrane potential of a stimulated neuron. AB - We present a simple model describing the transition between the prefiring, firing and postfiring phases of a single neuron in a large neural net. Using typical values for the physiological parameters that enter the model, we find average interspike times that are close to those reported in experimental measurements. PMID- 2607223 TI - On a mathematical model for body tissue inflammation. AB - In the present paper I will try to prove the mathematical validity of a model on the localized bacterial infection for tissue inflammation. This model was proposed by Lauffenburger and Kennedy, and it describes the inflammatory response to bacterial invasion of body tissue. I prove the mathematical validity of the model by means of a positivity theorem, an existence theorem and a uniqueness theorem. In spite of the apparent simplicity of the problem, the solution requires a delicate set of techniques. It seems very difficult to extend these techniques to a model in more than one dimension. PMID- 2607224 TI - On the solution of mathematical models of herd immunity in human helminth infections. AB - The general solution of the mathematical model of herd immunity to human helminth infections recently proposed by Anderson and May is obtained. The numerical solution of a more accurate biological model is indistinguishable from the corresponding exact solution of a more tractable mathematical model. Computer simulations of some particular cases of this model support the notion that both ecological and immunological factors determine the observed convex patterns of age-prevalence and age-intensity curves of human helminth infections. PMID- 2607225 TI - Computer-aided pattern analysis of temperature differentials. AB - Chiropractic analysis often incorporates the evaluation of heat distribution patterns observed in skin temperature profiles. Historically, temperature recordings of the spine have been made with a heat detection instrument using a thermocouple design. The advent of refinements in infrared technology, however, have greatly enhanced temperature detection in terms of accuracy and reliability. The present research reflects the development of computer software designed to express the data obtained with a dual channel heat sensing instrument. Two phases are involved: a) digital information, received from the sensing instrument, is standardized, stored for future analysis, and retrieved for comparisons with other graphs; b) stored data is graphically displayed, statistically analyzed, and otherwise compared. The data is displayed for visual observation as a) temperature data received from either channel of the sensing instrument or b) relative temperature differences between data from both channels of the sending instrument. For statistical evaluation, corresponding readings (comparisons between graphs) are plotted against one another and analyzed by a moving Pearson Product Moment correlation and moving t-test. This evaluation is graphically represented with a numeric display of pertinent statistical values. Current work indicates that a 10 point moving correlation and t-test will yield accurate comparisons between graphs. PMID- 2607226 TI - An evaluation of chiropractic manipulation as a treatment of hyperactivity in children. AB - The principle aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of chiropractic manipulative therapy in the treatment of children with hyperactivity. Using blinds between investigators and a single subject research design, the investigators evaluated the effectiveness of the treatment for reducing activity levels of hyperactive children. Data collection included independent evaluations of behavior using a unique wrist-watch type device to mechanically measure activity while the children completed tasks simulating school-work. Further evaluations included electrodermal tests to measure autonomic nervous system activity. Chiropractic clinical evaluations to measure improvement in spinal biomechanics were also completed. Placebo care was given prior to chiropractic intervention. Data were analyzed visually and using nonparametric statistical methods. Five of seven children showed improvement in mean behavioral scores from placebo care to treatment. Four of seven showed improvement in arousal levels, and the improvement in the group as a whole was highly significant (p = 0.009). Agreement between tests was also high in this study. For all seven children, three of the four principal tests used to detect improvement were in agreement either positively or negatively (parent ratings of activity, motion recorder scores, electrodermal measures, and X-rays of spinal distortions). While the behavioral improvement taken alone can only be considered suggestive, the strong interest agreement can be taken as more impressive evidence that the majority of the children in this study did, in fact, improve under specific chiropractic care. The results of this study, then, are not conclusive, however, they do suggest that chiropractic manipulation has the potential to become an important nondrug intervention for children with hyperactivity. Further investigation in this area is certainly warranted. PMID- 2607227 TI - Precise measurement of functional leg length inequality and changes due to cervical spine rotation in pain-free students. AB - A series of blinded studies to determine the feasibility of documenting functional leg length inequalities and changes in functional leg length in normal and non-normal patients were performed. A new apparatus designed to minimize or eliminate subjective components of inequality assessment, while attaining high levels of precision, was developed. Subjects were evaluated for presence of cervical spine lesion by five independent examiners and grouped into "lesioned" and "nonlesioned" categories. Subjects' leg length inequalities were measured by different evaluators as well as multiple measurements by a single evaluator to determine interrater and intrarater reliability coefficients. Measurements were taken on both flat and hi-low tables for changes during active cervical spine rotation. In addition, leg length measurements were taken during induced tetanic contraction by ipsilateral galvanic paravertebral muscle stimulation. Results indicated an absence of any significant effect of head rotation, type of table, galvanic stimulation, or any difference between persons classified as cervically lesioned or not cervically lesioned. Interrater and intrarater reliability coefficients for the measuring apparatus were statistically significant with small error variances. Failure to obtain subjects with frank pain as well as absence of an applied cephalad pressure (as is performed clinically) during leg length evaluation were considered as possible explanations for the failure to detect an effect of head rotation in the leg lengths. Discussion addresses the need for sensitive leg length inequality assessment techniques which eliminate subjectivity and contribute to decreased error variances. PMID- 2607228 TI - Chiropractic management of enuresis: time-series descriptive design. AB - Researchers have indicated that single-subject experimental designs may be of value in chiropractic clinical practice, allowing for the development of a scientific data base. The purpose of this paper was to employ a single-case time series descriptive design in a condition (enuresis) not commonly treated in chiropractic practice, but that which is thought by some to be responsive to manipulation. PMID- 2607229 TI - 'Snapping hip' and sacroiliac sprain: example of a cause-effect relationship. AB - A case history demonstrating a cause-effect relationship between sacroiliac sprain and a 'snapping hip' is presented. Periodic iliac manipulation is shown to eliminate crepitus elicited by simultaneous active or passive extension of the knee and hip. The significance of this case history as evidence of the efficacy of iliac manipulation in the management of sacroiliac syndrome is discussed. PMID- 2607230 TI - Science in chiropractic: too much or too little? PMID- 2607231 TI - Attitudes and habits of chiropractors concerning referrals to other health care providers. PMID- 2607232 TI - Scoliosis: biomechanics and rationale for manipulative treatment. PMID- 2607233 TI - Skin accelerometer displacement and relative bone movement of adjacent vertebrae in response to chiropractic percussion thrusts. PMID- 2607234 TI - Of blindness and courage. PMID- 2607235 TI - Diabetes. PMID- 2607236 TI - Diabetes mellitus: good management can make a difference. PMID- 2607237 TI - Critical factors in the surveillance and management of healthy diabetic patients. PMID- 2607238 TI - Community-based diabetes programs. PMID- 2607239 TI - Georgia's public health experience with diabetes control. PMID- 2607240 TI - The Georgia diabetic retinopathy screening study. AB - The diabetic retinopathy screening study represents a major collaborative effort of many volunteer groups interested in decreasing the risk of severe visual loss to Georgia citizens. Results of the present study have stimulated intense interest in screening more high risk persons, such as minorities, without the exclusion of whites. While age-related macular degeneration is the predominant cause of blindness in the U.S., diabetic retinopathy is a major new cause of blindness. With the continuation and completion of this study, we believe that many more of Georgia's citizens will seek ophthalmologic examinations and benefit from previous research regarding the use of laser photocoagulation and vitreoretinal surgery in preventing or reducing the risk of blindness. Since diabetic retinopathy requiring treatment can be present in patients with normal vision, such patients should obtain an annual dilated eye examination by an ophthalmologist. The value of statewide screening for undetected diabetic retinopathy, the determination of how and where to screen in order to give the most benefit to the potentially affected individuals and citizens of Georgia are only a few of the questions that may be answered when this study is completed. Moreover, to our knowledge this study is the first statewide screening for diabetic retinopathy in the United States. PMID- 2607241 TI - Georgia court upholds hospital medical staff malpractice insurance requirement. PMID- 2607242 TI - Donum Vitae on homologous interventions: is IVF-ET a less acceptable gift than "GIFT"? AB - Donum Vitae argues that, by failing to respect the connection between the conjugal act and procreation, in vitro fertilization-even in the homologous or "simple case", where both gametes come from a married couple and the resulting embryo is transferred to the wife-shows itself to be morally unacceptable. On the other hand, the document refers approvingly to other technological interventions which "facilitate" or "assist" the conjugal act in achieving its objective. Although none of the latter interventions are mentioned by name, the recently developed gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) and certain associated techniques have found favor with many orthodox Roman Catholic thinkers, as well with some church authorities. The present article explores this situation in the Catholic moral tradition, and offers reasons for believing that, given relevantly similar conditions, if GIFT is morally acceptable so also is homologous IVF-ET. PMID- 2607243 TI - An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for cortisol in the saliva of man and domestic farm animals. AB - An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been developed for the direct assay of cortisol in the saliva of man, sheep, calf and pig. The assay is sensitive (integral of 1pg), highly specific and reproducible, and has the advantage over radioimmunoassay in being cheaper and quicker to carry out. The relatively-non invasive method of collecting saliva on cotton buds coupled with simple assay equipment provide a good potential for assessing cortisol status in studies on stress and welfare in farm animals as well as the possibility of monitoring cortisol status in mammals generally. PMID- 2607244 TI - The response of inhibin to human chorionic gonadotrophin is decreased in senescent men compared with young men. AB - Inhibin and testosterone were measured in the serum of young and old men with proven fertility before and after stimulation with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in order to characterize endocrinological changes in senescence further. While there was a significant increase of both hormones in all young men, there was a decreased response of serum testosterone and an insignificant increase in inhibin in the older men. Although basal hormone levels and ejaculate parameters were not different, hCG stimulation revealed that there were decreased secretory capacities of Leydig as well as of Sertoli cells in old age. PMID- 2607245 TI - Muscarinic effects on the hydroxy- and methoxyindole pathway in the rat pineal gland. AB - [3H]Quinuclidinyl benzylate ([3H]QNB)-binding sites, showing similar properties to cholinergic muscarinic receptors in other tissues, were disclosed in the rat pineal gland. Functionality of these receptors was demonstrated, as in-vitro muscarinic activation by pilocarpine increased the pineal metabolic production of the hydroxyindole derivatives 5-hydroxytryptophan and serotonin, with a slight effect on melatonin biosynthesis. Electric-field stimulation of pineal slices caused similar metabolic effects. These effects were inhibited by muscarinic blockade with atropine and enhanced by neostigmine inactivation of acetylcholinesterase. These results suggest that acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter involved. Cholinergic activity may, therefore, regulate indole metabolism in the pineal gland. PMID- 2607246 TI - Failure of N-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-5-methoxytryptamine (a putative melatonin antagonist) and of N-(3,5-dinitrophenyl)-5-methoxytryptamine to prevent the effects of injections of melatonin in the late afternoon on testicular activity of the golden hamster. AB - Daily injections of 10 micrograms melatonin in the late afternoon into male golden hamsters kept under a long photoperiod (14 h light: 10 h darkness) and at low ambient temperature 6 +/- 1 degrees C) induced a complete gonadal atrophy after 4 weeks. When administered under the same conditions at doses of 25 micrograms, neither N-(3,5-dinitrophenyl)-5-methoxytryptamine or N-(2,4 dinitrophenyl)-5-methoxytryptamine, a putative melatonin antagonist termed ML-23 in the literature, showed any effect on testicular activity. Moreover, these two drugs were also unable to prevent melatonin-induced gonadal atrophy when injected 30 min before melatonin. The results demonstrate that in the golden hamster and in the present experimental conditions, these drugs do not have the melatonin antagonistic properties as described in the rat. PMID- 2607247 TI - Characterization of epidermal growth factor-related proteins from human urinary chorionic gonadotrophin. AB - A urinary chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) preparation, mitogenic for ovarian carcinoma cells, was analysed by gel filtration through Sephadex G-100 Superfine. The resulting fractions were tested for hCG and for properties of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) by radioimmunoassays (RIA) in comparison with their ability to stimulate the growth of EFO-27nu ovarian carcinoma cells. The elution profile of the RIA activities for hCG corresponded to molecular weights of 12 and 71 kDa, whereas the mitogenic activity was found in peak fractions eluting at 7, 11 and 52 kDa, indicating the presence of mitogenic substances distinct from hCG or its beta-subunit. In comparison experiments, radiolabelled recombinant human EGF eluted at 7 kDa from the column. The profile of EGF immunoreactivity determined in the eluant fractions of hCG preparation A correlated with the mitogenic potential. Eluant fractions with growth-promoting activity competed with 125I labelled EGF in binding to EFO-27nu cells; the inhibition of EGF binding was correlated with the mitogenic potential and the EGF immunoreactivity. We assume that the 7 kDa component of the gel filtration eluate corresponds to monomeric EGF; the high molecular weight mitogens may represent EGF precursor protein fragments of various molecular size classes. PMID- 2607248 TI - Relationship between insulin-like growth factor-I and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in primary hypothyroidism in women. AB - The effect of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on the disturbance of lipid metabolism during primary hypothyroidism was studied in 12 women with primary hypothyroidism. Significant increases in both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol were seen. Lipoprotein concentrations reverted to normal after substitution with thyroxine (T4) until the euthyroid state was reached. A decrease in IGF-I of 65% (P less than 0.005) was seen in hypothyroid patients and this was inversely correlated (r = -0.75; P less than 0.01) with the concentration of LDL cholesterol. Multivariate regression analysis of LDL cholesterol against IGF-I and free T4 showed that IGF-I determines the concentration of LDL cholesterol instead of free T4. Our data suggest that in hypothyroidism, IGF-I is a determinant of the concentration of LDL cholesterol. In addition, hypothyroidism can influence plasma lipoprotein metabolism by lowering the activity of the salt-resistant lipase (liver lipase). PMID- 2607249 TI - Influence of the thymus on steroidogenesis by rat ovarian cells in vitro. AB - Thymic hormones and factors have been shown to modulate the function of other endocrine glands including the gonads. Absence of the thymus during development results in ovarian dysgenesis characterized by a decrease in the number of follicles and corpora lutea, bringing about severe changes in reproductive function. To examine whether thymic secretions might affect ovarian activity, whole dispersed ovarian cells obtained from immature rats pretreated with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin were exposed to a thymus fraction of approximately 28 kDa and also to the media from incubated thymuses (TIM) and the conditioned media from cultured thymic reticuloepithelial cells (TCM). The thymic fraction caused a dose-dependent decrease in human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) stimulated production of progesterone, oestradiol and testosterone, but had no effect on their synthesis in the absence of hCG. Similarly, hCG-induced production of these steroids was decreased by TIM and TCM. Progesterone secretion was the most markedly affected. These results suggest: (1) that the thymus contains a factor with a molecular weight of approximately 28 kDa which interacts with hCG in ovarian cells, (2) that the thymus can release active substances which modify steroid secretion by the ovary in vitro and (3) that the reticuloepithelial cells of the thymus are involved in the secretion of factors which modulate the stimulation by hCG of steroidogenesis in ovarian cells. PMID- 2607250 TI - Direct pituitary inhibition of prolactin secretion by dopamine and noradrenaline in sheep. AB - The effects of dopamine, noradrenaline and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) on the release of prolactin were examined in ovariectomized ewes. Infusion of dopamine (0.5 or 1 microgram/kg per min for 2 h i.v.) reduced plasma prolactin concentrations in a dose-dependent manner, whereas DOPAC (5 or 10 micrograms/kg per min for 2 h i.v.) had no effect. In a further series of experiments, ovariectomized hypothalamopituitary disconnected ewes were given dopamine or noradrenaline (each at 0.5 or 1 microgram/kg per min for 2 h i.v.), and both amines reduced mean plasma concentrations of prolactin with similar potency in a dose-dependent manner. These effects were blocked by treatment with pimozide and prazosin respectively. During the infusion of dopamine, the peripheral plasma concentrations of DOPAC and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (DHPG) were increased (DOPAC, 22 +/- 7 (S.E.M.) to 131 +/- 11 nmol/l; DHPG, 2.9 +/- 0.3 to 6.4 +/- 0.2 nmol/l), but plasma concentrations of dopamine and noradrenaline did not change. Finally, administration of domperidone, a specific dopamine receptor antagonist that does not cross the blood-brain barrier, resulted in a sustained increase in plasma prolactin concentrations in ovariectomized ewes. We conclude that the secretion of prolactin from the pituitary gland is under dual inhibitory regulation by both dopamine and noradrenaline in the sheep. PMID- 2607251 TI - Osmoregulation of vasopressin secretion in the insulin-withdrawn streptozotocin treated diabetic rat. AB - To investigate whether hyperglycaemic ketoacidotic diabetic rats continue to osmoregulate the secretion of arginine vasopressin (AVP), male Wistar rats were injected with streptozotocin (150 mg/kg body weight). Rats rendered diabetic were maintained on protamine-zinc insulin (PZI) for 11 days (insulin-treated rats; n = 35), after which PZI was withdrawn for 72 h in half the rats (insulin-withdrawn rats). Insulin-withdrawn and -treated rats were divided into two groups; one was injected i.p. with distilled water (20 ml/kg) and the other with hypertonic saline (500 mmol NaCl/l; 20 ml/kg), and killed 30 min after injection. Insulin withdrawn rats (water loaded and osmotically stimulated) were hyperglycaemic (16.5 +/- 0.8 and 16.5 +/- 0.9 mmol glucose/l respectively) and ketotic (2077 +/- 664 and 1474 +/- 170 mumol acetoacetate/l respectively). Insulin-treated rats were euglycaemic and non-ketotic. Osmotic manipulation caused similar changes in plasma sodium in both insulin-withdrawn and -treated rats. Plasma AVP was low in the water-loaded rats (0.6 +/- 0.1 and 4.5 +/- 0.9 pmol/l in the insulin-treated and -withdrawn rats respectively) and increased in rats injected with hypertonic saline (1.2 +/- 1.8 and 35.2 +/- 17.9 pmol/l respectively). There was no evidence of hypotension and hypovolaemia in any group of rats. Linear regression analysis defined the functions: plasma AVP = 2.56 (plasma Na-141), r = +0.63, P less than 0.01 for hyperglycaemic ketotic rats; plasma AVP = 0.83 (plasma Na-146), r = +0.78, P less than 0.001 for insulin-treated animals. The slopes and abscissal intercepts were significantly (P less than 0.05) different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607252 TI - Asymmetric ovulatory response induced by a unilateral implant of atropine in the anterior hypothalamus of the cyclic rat. AB - The effects were analysed, on ovulation at the next oestrus, of unilaterally implanting atropine in the anterior hypothalamus of rats on each day of the oestrous cycle. Implantation on day 1 of dioestrus on either side of the anterior hypothalamus blocked ovulation. Implantation on the left side of the hypothalamus on day 2 of dioestrus blocked ovulation in all animals, whereas implantation on the right side allowed 71% of the animals to ovulate (0/4 vs 5/7; P less than 0.05). Implantation at pro-oestrus on either side of the hypothalamus did not modify the rate of ovulation. When implantation was carried out on the day of oestrus on the right, none of the animals ovulated, but all ovulated when the implant was on the left (0/8 vs 8/8; P less than 0.01). The results suggest the existence of a cholinergic hypothalamic lateralization in the mechanism regulating ovulation which depends on the day of the oestrous cycle. PMID- 2607253 TI - Effects on oestrous cyclicity and ovulation of unilateral section of the vagus nerve performed on different days of the oestrous cycle in the rat. AB - The effects of unilateral section of the right or left vagus nerve (SRVN, SLVN) performed on different days of the oestrous cycle of the rat were analysed. Vagal nerve section on the day of oestrus or on day 1 of dioestrus (D1) altered oestrous cyclicity in a more significant way than when it was performed on day 2 of dioestrus (D2) or pro-oestrus (6/58 maintained normal oestrous cycles compared with 32/39 that did not; P less than 0.01). Ovulation rate at oestrus was lower in rats with SLVN than in the sham-operated group (32/47 vs 28/32; P less than 0.05). The number of ova shed by the left ovary was reduced in sham-operated rats and in animals with SRVN and SLVN, whereas the number shed by the right ovary was not modified. The day of the oestrous cycle on which the vagus nerve was cut also influenced the number of ova shed. No changes in plasma levels of FSH at oestrus were observed in animals with SRVN or SLVN. The results indicate that vagal manipulations performed at the beginning of the oestrous cycle (day of oestrus and D1) induce more changes on oestrous cyclicity and ovulation than when they are performed during the second half of the cycle (D2 and pro-oestrus). In addition, the left ovary is more sensitive to neural manipulation than is the right one. PMID- 2607254 TI - Role of angiotensin II in aldosterone regulation in the Pekin duck. AB - The response of plasma aldosterone to increased plasma angiotensin II (AII) was evaluated in normally hydrated Pekin ducks as well as in birds in which plasma sodium had been acutely increased (+12 mmol/l) or reduced (-4 mmol/l) by the prior infusion of hypertonic saline or hypotonic glucose. In all cases, the i.v. infusion of AII at rates of 5, 15 and 45 pmol/kg per min for 1 h produced dose dependent increases in the plasma concentration of aldosterone, with a potency that was inversely related to the sodium status. In addition, adrenal receptors for AII were demonstrated by in-vitro autoradiography and membrane-binding techniques, suggesting that the AII effect on aldosterone secretion is direct. Angiotensin II produced no change in plasma corticosterone. The infusion of KCl at 1, 2 and 5 mmol/l for 1 h increased plasma potassium by as much as 2 mmol/l, but had no influence on plasma aldosterone. Similarly, the heptapeptide angiotensin III, infused at 5, 15 and 45 pmol/kg per min for 1 h had no effect on circulating aldosterone. The results show that in ducks, AII has a physiological role in the control of aldosterone, whereas plasma potassium and angiotensin III have no such secretagogue function. PMID- 2607255 TI - Diabetes mellitus and the sodium electrochemical gradient across the brush border membrane of rat intestinal enterocytes. AB - The effects of chronic diabetes mellitus of 4-5 weeks duration on the potential difference across the brush border membrane of rat small intestine (Vm) and on Na+-dependent uptake of D-glucose by jejunal brush border vesicles have been studied. Diabetes increased Vm in the jejunum from a mean value of -47.2 mV in control tissue to -57.4 mV in diabetic tissue (P less than 0.001) but was without effect on ileal Vm. Measurements of Vm during ion-substitution experiments revealed that the conductance of Na+ of the jejunal brush border was reduced by diabetes, whilst K+ and Cl- permeabilities were unaltered. Uptake studies using brush border vesicles and an Na+-electrochemical gradient showed that diabetes caused a 56% increase in the initial rate of uptake of D-glucose but was without effect on the peak to equilibrium ratio. Taken together, data from these two studies suggest that the lower Na+ permeability of the brush border in diabetes enhances the electrical and chemical driving force for active Na+-dependent uptake of glucose by reducing glucose-independent movement of Na+ across this membrane. Finally, the possible humoral factors involved in this response to diabetes are discussed. PMID- 2607256 TI - Metabolic clearance of insulin-like growth factor-II in sheep. AB - The metabolic clearance of ovine insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) was examined in sheep using 131I-labelled IGF-II. Following i.v. administration the tracer was distributed in a volume similar to that of the vascular space (58.5 +/ 3.3 ml/kg; mean +/- S.E.M., n = 5) and demonstrated a triphasic pattern of clearance. Size-exclusion chromatography of a plasma sample collected 1 min after injection revealed peaks of radioactivity corresponding to hormone complexed to binding proteins of 150 and 40-50 kDa (relative abundance 21 and 65% respectively), a high molecular weight binding protein (greater than 200 kDa; 5%) and 'free' tracer (9%). Chromatography of sequential plasma samples revealed different patterns of clearance for these constituents. Half-lives of 131I labelled IGF-II complexed to the 150 and 40-50 kDa binding proteins, as calculated from rate constants for their decay, were 351 +/- 30 and 9.6 +/- 1.8 min respectively (n = 5). These differ markedly from estimates for the clearance of IGF-I (545 +/- 25 min, n = 8, and 34 +/- 2.3 min, n = 6) associated with carrier proteins of the same apparent molecular weights. This was reflected in calculated metabolic clearance rates for IGF-I (3.9 +/- 0.5 ml/min) and IGF-II (7.8 +/- 1.0 ml/min). Chromatography also revealed that free IGF-II was reduced to negligible levels by 12 min. In contrast, radioactivity eluting in the position expected for the greater than 200 kDa binding protein was cleared from the circulation very slowly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607257 TI - Parathyroid hormone-related proteins in cultured epithelial cells. AB - The distribution and molecular characteristics of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rP) in conditioned media and cell extracts of cultured human keratinocytes, and in media from a variety of both normal and transformed epithelial and non-epithelial cell cultures were studied. PTH-rP of Mr 20,000 was observed in keratinocyte-conditioned media, and a larger form, Mr 29,000, in the keratinocyte cell extract. PTH-like bioactivity was also detected in media from 12 out of 17 epithelial cell cultures, but was not present in media from 14 cell cultures of non-epithelial origin. The molecular size of the PTH-like protein present in the epithelial cell media was approximately 20,000, corresponding with the PTH-rP in keratinocyte-conditioned medium. These observations may explain why hypercalcaemia is most commonly associated with tumours of epithelial origin. PMID- 2607259 TI - 180th meeting of the Society for Endocrinology. 15-17 November 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2607258 TI - A role for insulin-like growth factor-I in the regulation of human thyroid cell growth by thyrotrophin. AB - Human thyroid epithelial cells in monolayer culture were found to release radioimmunoassayable insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) over a 48-h culture period in serum-free medium. In the presence of supraphysiological concentrations of TSH (1-100 mU/ml) known to be inhibitory to DNA synthesis by human thyroid cells, the release of IGF-I was found to be inhibited in six thyroid cultures studied. In only one out of the six was IGF-I release increased in the presence of physiological mitogenic concentrations of TSH (0.1-100 microU/ml). Human thyroid fibroblasts, established by long-term culture of thyroid epithelial cells under fibroblast-selective conditions, also secreted IGF-I which was unaffected by the presence of TSH at both low and high concentrations. Using a monoclonal antibody against human IGF-I, monolayer cultures of both human thyroid epithelial cells and human thyroid fibroblasts showed positive immunocytochemical staining for IGF peptide. However, fixed sections of intact thyroid tissue only showed positive staining for IGF peptide associated with the fibrous layers surrounding the thyroid follicle, with no staining of the follicular epithelial cells. The growth of human thyroid epithelial cells was also found to be increased by IGF-I (25-100 ng/ml) added in medium plus 1% fetal calf serum as assessed by the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA. In the presence of a monoclonal antibody to IGF-I the increase in [3H]thymidine uptake in response to IGF-I was abolished as was that seen in response to TSH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607260 TI - A radiographic, histological, and histometric study of endodontic materials. AB - Silicone tubes filled with CRCS, a calcium hydroxide-based cement, were implanted at two different localizations in the right tibias of white male Wistar rats. A similar number of solid silicone rods were implanted in the left tibias of the same animals and were used as inert controls. Fifteen days after implantation the bone tissue reactions to these materials were evaluated by means of radiographic, histological, and histometric methods. The radiographic and histometric analysis of the tissues around the deep end of the implants showed that the amount of reactional bone formation in contact with CRCS was significantly lower than that observed in contact with the controls (p less than 0.01). Also, the cell counts obtained from the tissues in contact with CRCS were significantly less than those obtained from the controls (p less than 0.01). This methodology appears to be a refined procedure for analyzing the possible toxic effects of endodontic materials in bone tissues. However, we feel that more extensive experiments will be necessary before predicting the long-term results which could be obtained from this experimental model. PMID- 2607261 TI - Prevalence of black-pigmented bacteroides species in root canal infections. AB - The prevalence of black-pigmented Bacteroides species in the root canals of 72 teeth with apical periodontitis was evaluated. Twenty-two of the canals contained one or more species of black-pigmented Bacteroides. Bacteroides intermedius (14 strains) and Bacteroides endodontalis (5 strains) were most common. Of the species Bacteroides gingivalis, Bacteroides loeschei, and Bacteroides denticola, 2, 3, and 1 strains, respectively, were isolated. The median number of bacterial cells recovered from the root canals containing black-pigmented Bacteroides was 2.8 x 10(5) and from the other canals 3.0 x 10(3). The mean number of strains was 7.9 and 3.3, respectively. Sixteen of the 22 root canals containing black pigmented Bacteroides species were associated with acute apical abscesses and purulent drainage through the root canal. The other six teeth with black pigmented Bacteroides were asymptomatic. One additional abscess was present among the 72 cases. This root canal contained Actinomyces israelii and Actinomyces naeslundii. PMID- 2607262 TI - A study of T and B cells in pulpal pathosis. AB - A study was undertaken using monoclonal antibodies to determine the types of lymphocytes present in pulpal tissues. Pulps were extirpated from teeth clinically diagnosed as normal, reversibly inflamed, or irreversibly inflamed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and an indirect immunoperoxidase technique using monoclonal antibodies reactive to pan-B lymphocytes (B), pan-T lymphocytes (T1), and helper (T4) and suppressor (T8) T lymphocytes. T and/or B lymphocytes were observed in normal pulpal tissues with T8 lymphocytes being predominant. The pulpal tissue in the reversible group demonstrated that more than 90% of the lymphocyte population were T lymphocytes, with a T4/T8 ratio of 0.56. Higher numbers of T1, T4, T8; and B lymphocytes were observed in the pulp from teeth in the irreversible group. A ratio of 1.14 of T4/T8 lymphocytes was observed in the irreversible group. A B/T1 lymphocyte ration of 1.60 suggested this ratio might be used as an index in the immunohistological diagnosis of irreversible pulpal pathosis. There appeared to be no association between the periodontal status of the teeth and the number of immunocompetent cells observed in the pulps. An hypothesis on the regulatory functions of T4 and T8 lymphocytes as well as the interaction of T and B lymphocytes and their products in the pathogenesis of pulpal disease is presented. PMID- 2607263 TI - Topical ice: a precursor to palatal injections. AB - Palatal injections seem to be a painful experience for many patients despite modern injection techniques. Topical cooling has long been used for numbing pain on the body surface. A technique is described which utilizes topical ice on the palate before and during a local infiltration to relieve discomfort. The mechanism of cold transfer through the mucosa and its effect on nerves is discussed. The ice application is readily acceptable by apprehensive teenagers and adults. This technique is comfortable, safe, and physiologically effective. PMID- 2607264 TI - Identification and endodontic management of three-canalled maxillary premolars. AB - Three-canalled maxillary premolars are an endodontic challenge. A guideline is given to help in early recognition of these complex teeth. Access cavity modifications are suggested to enhance intracanal preparation and filling procedures. PMID- 2607265 TI - Root canal morphology of fused mandibular canine and lateral incisor. AB - This clinical report briefly describes the appearance, frequency, and treatment of fused teeth. Presented is a tooth showing the unusual canal morphology and root lengths of a unilateral mandibular canine and lateral incisor fusion. PMID- 2607266 TI - Periradicular healing in a renal transplant patient. AB - A patient with a renal transplant was referred for endodontic treatment due to a large radiolucent area surrounding three mandibular anterior teeth. Nonsurgical endodontic treatment was unsuccessful but subsequent periradicular curettage resulted in complete radiographic healing. PMID- 2607267 TI - Twelve-year follow-up of a replanted incisor. AB - A case report with a 12-yr follow-up of a replanted maxillary incisor is presented. A maxillary incisor, #8, with incomplete root formation was replanted without splinting following a 2-h sojourn in salt water. The pulp responded positively to the electric pulp tester for 2 yr. There was no response to the electric pulp tester 5 yr postoperatively. Although there was some external root resorption, the root appeared to have reached normal length. Two parallel vertical radiolucent slits were present in a trabeculated substance in the site normally occupied by the pulp. This case illustrates an example of revascularization and pulp obliteration. Interestingly, at the 12-yr follow-up, the replanted tooth, as well as tooth 7, showed blunted apices that occurred following orthodontic tooth movement. PMID- 2607268 TI - An evaluation of volumes and concentrations of lidocaine in human inferior alveolar nerve block. AB - The purpose of this study was to evaluate, with the electric pulp tester, the anesthetic efficacy of 1.8 ml of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine, 3.6 ml of 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine, and 1.8 ml of 4% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine in human inferior alveolar nerve block. Thirty subjects randomly received each of the solutions at three successive appointments. The first molar, canine, lateral incisor, and contralateral canine were tested with the pulp tester at various time intervals up to 55 min. Complete anesthesia was defined as an 80/80 reading with the pulp tester. No significant differences in anesthetic success or failure were found among the three solutions. Potential anesthetic problems (failure, noncontinuous anesthesia, slow onset, and short duration) occurred in 43 to 57% of the molars, in 43 to 60% of the canines, and in 57 to 80% of the lateral incisors. Complete anesthesia in the mandible is a meaningful clinical problem. PMID- 2607269 TI - Histological evaluation of ultrasonic and sonic instrumentation of curved root canals. AB - Fifty extracted human mandibular first and second molars with mesial canal curvatures of 18 to 35 degrees were randomly divided into five groups. After routine endodontic access and canal length determination, one of the mesial root canals was instrumented using tap water and one of the following instrumentation methods: (a) hand instrumentation; (b) ultrasonic instrumentation with the Cavi Endo unit; (c) ultrasonic instrumentation with the Enac unit; (d) sonic instrumentation with the Medidenta unit; and (e) sonic instrumentation with the Endostar 5 unit. The other mesial canal was used as a control. The mesial roots were decalcified, serially sectioned, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and blindly evaluated using the light microscope. The mean canal wall planing and soft tissue debridement scores were compared by analysis of variance. There was no statistically significant difference among the groups for wall planing or soft tissue debridement. PMID- 2607270 TI - The effect of newly developed root canal sealers on rat dental pulp cells in primary culture. AB - Cytotoxicity was compared between new root canal sealers (New A, New B, and New B 2) and conventional root canal sealers (AH26, Diaket, Canals, Tubi-Seal, and Sealapex). Dental pulp cells of rats, obtained through primary cell culture, were used. In the experiments with the freshly prepared sealers, the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into cellular DNA was analyzed. In the experiments with the set sealers, the morphological changes of cells were microscopically examined. In the experiments with the fresh sealers, AH26 and Diaket showed strong inhibitive effects on the DNA synthesis, whereas no such effects were noted with the new sealers and Sealapex. On the other hand, in the experiments with the set sealers, the new sealers and Diaket exerted little influence on the cells. However, other sealers had considerable toxicity. These results suggest that the new sealers were the least toxic in vitro, compared with five conventional sealers. PMID- 2607271 TI - Life and AH26 as sealers in thermatically compacted gutta-percha root canal fillings: leakage to a dye. AB - Calcium hydroxide-containing root canal sealers may encourage apical obturation by cementum. Hard-setting bases with calcium hydroxide induce calcification, but set too quickly to permit lateral condensation of gutta-percha. Since thermatic compaction requires less time than lateral condensation, the possibility of using this method with Life as a sealer was investigated. Seventy roots were prepared and filled with gutta-percha using the Engine Plugger for thermatic compaction. In one group of 20 Life was used as a sealer. AH26 was used in another group of 20. The remainder served as controls. Leakage was tested by linear penetration of Procion B Blue dye measured after clearing the teeth. In the Life group the mean dye penetration was 0.575 mm versus 1.025 mm in AH26, but the difference was not statistically significant. The results indicated that Life could be used in thermatic compaction of gutta-percha and that it provided a seal comparable to that obtained with AH26. PMID- 2607272 TI - Differentiation of T lymphocyte subpopulations, macrophages, and HLA-DR restricted cells of apical granulation tissue. AB - Sixteen specimens excised from apical granulation tissue were examined for immunocompetent T lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes, and HLA-DR-determined cells. Light microscopic visualization of the cells was performed using monoclonal antibodies and the immunocytochemical alkaline phosphatase anti alkaline phosphatase technique. Quantitative assessment of the biopsy specimens showed that in five diagnosed cysts, eight granulomas, and three specimens taken from scar tissue, macrophages represented the dominating inflammatory cell fraction, followed by T lymphocytes. In the latter group, helper/inducer T cells were most frequent. Cysts showed a statistically significant increase in cell populations of helper/inducer, suppressor/cytotoxic T cells, macrophages, and HLA DR-coded cells. There were only a few activated T lymphocytes. PMID- 2607273 TI - Using the electric pulp tester with gloves: a simplified approach. AB - A method is presented which simplifies the use of the electric pulp tester for the dentist who routinely wears gloves in practice. Advantages of this method include a reduction in patient apprehension as well as a possible decrease in discomfort for the patient. PMID- 2607274 TI - The impact of improved access and searching techniques on detection of the mesiolingual canal in maxillary molars. AB - A clinical radiographic study of endodontically treated maxillary first and second molars was conducted. The study revealed that modifying the access preparation resulted in a definite increase in the number of mesiolingual canals located and obturated. PMID- 2607275 TI - Unusual healing of apical root fracture. AB - A 23-yr-old woman received a blow to the symphysis region of the mandible. She sustained several injuries including a root fracture of the mandibular left lateral incisor. The pulp in the coronal root portion of that tooth became necrotic. A radiolucent lesion developed at the apex of the coronal root portion, and the apical root fragment was displaced 2 1/2 mm. Following endodontic treatment of the coronal segment, the apical fragment returned to its original position. PMID- 2607276 TI - Maxillary sinus lymphoma: a consideration in the diagnosis of odontogenic pain. AB - A patient with a known history of diffuse large cell histiocytic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the neck and left parotid gland presented with acute right maxillary odontogenic pain and swelling. Following endodontic treatment of the nonvital maxillary right second molar, minor masticatory discomfort persisted in the sextant but a dental etiology could not be established. Two months after the onset of symptoms, the right maxilla expanded uncontrollably and biopsy confirmed an antral lymphoma. The patient succumbed to the lymphoma and secondary complications 2 months later. PMID- 2607277 TI - An in vitro comparison of different bleaching agents in the discolored tooth. AB - Extracted teeth with intact crowns were stained to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of four bleaching agent combinations. Forty-two permanent and 12 deciduous teeth were used. The bleaching agents were placed into coronal pulp chambers and then evaluated and rated at 1-, 3-, 7-, and 14-day and 6-month intervals. New sodium perborate combined with fresh Superoxol was the most effective bleaching agent with 93% success (the final shade was as light as the prestained shade). New sodium perborate and 1-yr-old Superoxol was 73% successful. New sodium perborate with distilled water and old sodium perborate with distilled water were both 53% successful. Deciduous teeth demonstrated a response to bleaching agents similar to that of permanent teeth. Color regression after 6 months was found in 4% of the cases. When it occurred, the degree of color regression was minimal. PMID- 2607278 TI - Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Eubacterium, Peptostreptococcus, and Bacteroides isolated from root canals of teeth with periapical pathosis. AB - Eubacterium, Peptostreptococcus, and Bacteroides were isolated in high frequency from root canals with acute periapical inflammation. The antimicrobial susceptibilities of these strains were studied by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations of different agents. Although all three kinds of isolates were susceptible to penicillins, the isolates other than black-pigmented Bacteroides were less susceptible to cephems, tetracyclines, and macrorides with several resistant strains. All strains were uniformly resistant to aminoglycosides. Some differences in susceptibilities were observed among species of Eubacterium and Peptostreptococcus, while penicillins were effective for both species. Black pigmented Bacteroides showed good susceptibilities to all agents except for aminoglycosides. The susceptibility of Bacteroides gingivalis was superior to that of Bacteroides intermedius. There were many resistant strains in non-black pigmented but not in black-pigmented Bacteroides isolates. Penicillins were the most effective for Eubacterium, Peptostreptococcus, and Bacteroides, indicating that penicillins are suitable for treatment of root canals with acute apical periodontitis. PMID- 2607279 TI - The effect of indomethacin on experimental dental periapical lesions in rats. AB - The role of prostaglandins in the pathogenesis of dental granulomas and associated bone loss was studied by testing the ability of indomethacin, a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, to influence bone resorption in experimentally induced dental granulomas. The cusps of maxillary first molar teeth of Sprague-Dawley rats were ground away, exposing the dental pulps to the oral environment. Daily i.p. injections of 0.1 to 0.2 ml of indomethacin (10 mg per kg) dissolved in 95% ethyl alcohol were administered to one group of the rats while the other group received i.p. injections of 0.1 to 0.2 ml of 95% ethyl alcohol. The rats were killed after 6 wk and specimens of the molar teeth and surrounding jaw bone were taken for routine histopathological processing. The specimens from indomethacin-treated rats demonstrated milder inflammatory changes and a significantly lower degree of periapical alveolar bone resorption. These results support the suggestion that prostaglandins are involved in the events leading to bone resorption in dental periapical lesions. PMID- 2607280 TI - A dye penetration study of retrofilling materials. AB - The apical sealing ability of amalgam, cold-burnished gutta-percha, amalgam with cavity varnish, and SuperEBA cement was evaluated in extracted human teeth. For each experimental group, the roots of 20 single-rooted teeth were sectioned from their crowns. Canals were cleaned, shaped, and obturated with vertically condensed warmed gutta-percha and Kerr Pulp Canal Sealer. Following apical preparation and placement of test materials, root ends were placed in 1% methylene blue dye for 2 wk, after which the roots were sectioned longitudinally, and linear measurements of dye penetration were recorded. Results demonstrated statistically less linear dye penetration in the test group sealed with amalgam and cavity varnish. Statistical differences were not detected among the other test groups. PMID- 2607281 TI - Endodontic retreatment: ultrasonics and chloroform as the final step in reinstrumentation. AB - Forty extracted teeth were instrumented using a step-back flare technique and obturated with gutta-percha and either AH26 or Roth's 801 sealer. After 3 months the canals were retreated by removing gutta-percha and sealer with hot instruments followed by chloroform and files. As a final step, the teeth were instrumented using ultrasonics with either chloroform or with NaOCl. Most teeth were well cleaned. No significant differences were found between sealer groups or between the two irrigants as to the ability to remove gutta-percha/sealer. PMID- 2607282 TI - A persistent oronasal sinus tract of endodontic origin. AB - Extraoral sinus tracts of endodontic origin may be confused with a wide variety of diseases. Although they may be located in a variety of sites on the face and neck, once diagnosed the treatment is relatively simple and successful. Endodontic therapy is the treatment of choice in these cases; however, periapical surgery may occasionally be required. A case of persistent oronasal sinus is described in which healing occurred only after surgical removal of the involved lesion. PMID- 2607283 TI - Disabling complications following inadvertent overextension of a root canal filling material. AB - A case of pain and paresthesia of the mental nerve following inadvertent introduction of root canal filling material into the inferior alveolar nerve canal is described. The causes and treatments of this disabling complication are discussed. PMID- 2607284 TI - Dental gutta-percha: chemical composition, X-ray identification, enthalpic studies, and clinical implications. AB - The purpose of this investigation was to determine the chemical composition, confirmed on X-ray diffraction analysis, of some commercially available dental gutta-percha cones. In addition, their plasticity in response to temperature variations was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Great chemical heterogeneity was found among gutta-percha cones of different origin as well as within the same brand between small and large sizes. Barium sulfate determined radiopacity, zinc oxide influenced the inherent plasticity, while an excess of gutta-percha seemed to produce brittle gutta-percha cones which were unusable in clinical practice. Differential scanning calorimetry measured accurately the thermal ranges within which gutta-percha cones show a maximal plasticity without any chemical damage. It was also possible to define the thermal optimums for heat carriers, which could lead to more appropriate use of these instruments in endodontic therapy, whatever method may be used. PMID- 2607285 TI - Leakage in vitro with IRM, high copper amalgam, and EBA cement as retrofilling materials. AB - An in vitro dye leakage study was performed to compare the sealing ability of high copper amalgam with Copalite, IRM, and EBA cement when used as retrofilling materials. Fifty-one extracted anterior teeth were instrumented and then obturated with gutta-percha. The apical 3 mm of the roots were resected and 2-mm deep apical preparations were made. The roots were then randomly placed into three groups and retrofilled with one of the experimental materials. After 72 h in India ink, the teeth were cleared and evaluated for leakage with a stereomicroscope. No leakage was evident in the three teeth used as negative controls and complete leakage was noted in the three positive control teeth. Statistical analysis showed that IRM and EBA cement had significantly less leakage than amalgam with Copalite. The difference between the EBA cement and IRM was not significant. PMID- 2607286 TI - A maxillary central incisor having two root canals geminated with a supernumerary tooth. AB - This article reports the treatment of a maxillary left central incisor geminated with a supernumerary tooth. A patient having labial swelling around the maxillary incisors was referred to this hospital for diagnosis and endodontic treatment of the maxillary left central incisor. Clinical and radiographic examinations revealed a tooth having two roots and three canals. Examination of a rubber base impression of the cleaned canals showed there was neither perforation of, nor communication with, the radicular groove in the tooth. PMID- 2607287 TI - Traumatic bone cyst, aneurysmal bone cyst, and central giant cell granuloma- pathogenetically related lesions? AB - Three central bone lesions, a traumatic bone cyst, an aneurysmal bone cyst, and a central giant cell granuloma are reported. Comparisons of the clinical, radiographic, and histological features were made. Although these lesions are recognized as separate and distinct pathological entities, a common pathogenesis is suggested by similarities in certain features. Diagnostic aids are suggested to assist in a differential diagnosis. PMID- 2607288 TI - Effects of constraint on the oscillatory pattern of endosonic files. AB - When operated in air, the transverse oscillation of the endosonic file exhibits a series of nodes and antinodes along its length with the greatest displacement amplitude occurring at the unconstrained tip. Endosonic files of varying design, length, and thickness exhibit differences in their oscillation. Preliminary work has revealed that the endosonic file is susceptible to constraint when working within the root canal and a model system was designed to investigate this problem. The constraining influence was found to be greatest when it was applied at those antinodes nearest the tip. This effect was further enhanced if the file was angled. Furthermore, constraint applied at the nodes also influenced the file oscillation. Such results may explain in situ observations on the occasional inefficiency of the system, especially when negotiating the apical third of a curved root canal. Clinical techniques utilizing an endosonic file may require reappraisal in order to minimize such constraint. PMID- 2607289 TI - An in vivo comparison of the step-back technique versus a step-back/ultrasonic technique in human mandibular molars. AB - This study compared the in vivo debridement efficacy of the step-back preparation versus a step-back/ultrasound preparation in the mesial root canals of vital human mandibular molars. Group 1 consisted of 15 teeth prepared with a step-back technique using intermittent irrigation with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. Group 2 consisted of 23 teeth prepared with a step-back technique as in group 1 followed by 3 min of ultrasonic instrumentation (Cavi-Endo) using 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (30 ml per min). Group 3 consisted of 21 teeth which were uninstrumented and served as controls. Following extraction and histological preparation, the 1- and 3-mm levels of the canal and isthmus were evaluated for percentage of tissue removal using a compensating polar planimeter. At the 3-mm level, there were no statistical differences in canal or isthmus cleanliness between the step-back group and the step-back/ultrasound group. At the 1-mm apical level, statistical analysis indicated that the step-back/ultrasonic technique was superior to the step-back technique in canal (99.6% versus 88%) and isthmus (86% versus 10%) cleanliness. PMID- 2607290 TI - Effects of sonic instrumentation on the apical preparation of curved canals. AB - This study compared apical transportation produced in curved (45- to 60-degree) molar canals instrumented with two MM-3000 Sonic Air test files (Rispi-Sonic and Trio-Sonic) with apical transportation from instrumentation with conventional K type files. Seventy-five extracted human permanent mandibular molars were equally divided into three groups. Results showed that 92 (61%) of 150 measurements demonstrated no transportation, and only 7 (5%) had transportation between 0.25 and 0.5 mm. Most of the transportation was 0.25 mm or less, and no file produced transportation greater than 0.5 mm in a buccolingual or mesiodistal direction. Statistical analysis (chi-square test and analysis of variance) showed no significant difference (p greater than 0.05) in the amount of apical transportation in canals prepared with the Kerr K-type, Rispi-Sonic, or Trio Sonic files. PMID- 2607291 TI - Does cold burnishing gutta-percha create a better apical seal? AB - This study investigated the seal created by cold burnishing the gutta-percha exposed after apical root resection of endodontically treated teeth. Sixty single rooted extracted human teeth with a single straight canal were divided into four experimental groups of 15 teeth each. In two of the experimental groups the canals were instrumented and obturated well with laterally condensed gutta-percha and sealer. The remaining two groups were instrumented and poorly obturated with laterally condensed gutta-percha and sealer. The apical 2 mm of all the teeth were then resected and the effect of cold burnishing the exposed gutta-percha was investigated using a linear dye penetration technique. Under the condition of this study, cold burnishing gutta-percha after apical root resection of a well obturated root canal resulted in a poorer apical seal than if no burnishing were performed. Cold burnishing the exposed gutta-percha after apical root resection of poorly obturated root canals improved the apical seal as compared with nonburnished poorly obturated canals. PMID- 2607292 TI - Touton-like giant cells in periapical granulomas. AB - Two types of multinucleated giant cells were observed in periapical granulomas- the foreign body type and the Touton type. In the Touton type, the nuclei were near the center of the cell, surrounded by foamy cytoplasm. Both types of giant cells reacted positively to lysozyme, alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 1 antichymotrypsin, indicating their histiocytic origin. PMID- 2607293 TI - Leakage in vitro with high-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha, high copper amalgam, and warm gutta-percha when used as retrofilling materials. AB - An in vitro dye leakage study was performed to compare the sealing ability of high-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha, high copper amalgam, and warm gutta-percha when used as retrofilling materials. Forty-five extracted anterior teeth were obturated with gutta-percha, the apical 3 mm of the roots were resected, and 2-mm-deep retrograde preparations were prepared. The roots were then randomly placed into three groups and retrofilled with one of the experimental materials. After 72 h in India ink, the teeth were cleared and evaluated for leakage using a stereomicroscope. No leakage was evident in the three teeth used as negative controls. Complete leakage was noted in the three positive control teeth. Statistical analysis of the results showed that high temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha had significantly less leakage than did high copper amalgam. PMID- 2607294 TI - Successful treatment of a two-canaled maxillary lateral incisor. AB - Conventional and surgical therapy was successfully performed on a traumatized two rooted maxillary lateral incisor. The treatment and rational are discussed along with some probable causes leading to formation of secondary roots and canals in teeth that are normally single rooted with one canal. PMID- 2607295 TI - Hypersensitivity to sodium hypochlorite. AB - Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), the most commonly used irrigant in endodontics, is known to produce allergic reactions. This fact, however, is rarely mentioned in endodontic texts. Until now, only two cases of adverse reaction describing accidental injection of NaOCl have been reported. In the current study a case is presented in which hypersensitivity to household bleach was proven with skin patch tests. The clinician was warned of the possible health hazard from using NaOCl in this patient by the past medical history. Endodontic therapy was carried out with an irrigant not containing NaOCl after the allergy to NaOCl was verified. Treatment was uneventful. It is suggested that before any endodontic treatment in which sodium hypochlorite is to be used, the patient should be asked about hypersensitivity to household bleaching materials. PMID- 2607296 TI - Determinants of cigarette smoking in the black township population of Cape Town. AB - There is concern about the increasing tobacco consumption in developing countries, especially in urban communities. Little information is available on the prevalence and determinants of smoking in black townships in South Africa. We therefore conducted a survey of the smoking practices in three such townships in Cape Town, in which 673 higher primary schoolchildren and 1320 adults were interviewed using a WHO questionnaire translated into Xhosa. Results were analysed using a multiple logistic regression model. In higher primary schoolpupils, boys smoked much more than girls [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 17.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.2-60.9]; and smoking prevalence increased with age (ORa = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.3-1.9), peer pressure (ORa = 4.4; 95% CI: 1.9-6.9), and poor health knowledge (ORa = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.6-5.8). In adults, smoking prevalence was 53% in men compared to 6% in women. In men, an urban experience of 6 or more years was significantly associated with smoking (ORa = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-3.0) after adjustment for age, health knowledge and occupation. No association was found between level of education and smoking prevalence. Men in higher paid occupations smoked more than those in low paid occupations (ORa = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.0-2.8). Unemployment, however, was not associated with smoking prevalence. The findings emphasise the need for primary prevention of smoking in women and boys. Urbanisation and increased earning power appear to boost tobacco consumption in the absence of active anti-smoking efforts. PMID- 2607297 TI - Smoking and myocardial infarction in women: a case-control study from northern Italy. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between smoking and myocardial infarction in women. DESIGN: Case-control study over 5 years. SETTING: Cases were women admitted to 30 coronary care units in northern Italy. Controls were admitted to the same hospitals with other acute disorders. PARTICIPANTS: These were 262 young and middle aged women with acute myocardial infarction (median age 49 years, range 24-69) and 519 controls with other acute disorders unrelated to ischaemic heart disease (median age 47 years, range 22-69). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Stratification and the Mantel-Haenszel procedure, and unconditional multiple logistic regression were used to obtain relative risks according to levels of cigarette smoking. The regression equations included terms for age, education, coffee and alcohol consumption, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, body mass index and oral contraceptive use. Compared to life long non-smokers, relative risk was not significantly above unity for ex-smokers but among current smokers showed a significant trend to increasing risk with larger numbers of cigarettes smoked, with risk estimates of 2.3, 5.9 and 11.0 for less than 15, 15-24 and greater than or equal to 25 cigarettes per day respectively. Smoking related risks were consistently raised across strata of hyperlipidaemia, hypertension and increased alcohol and coffee intake. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of population attributable risk, about 48% of all myocardial infarctions in young and middle aged Italian women were attributable to cigarette smoking, which is therefore by far the most important preventable determinant of the disease. PMID- 2607298 TI - The benefit of seat belt legislation in the United Kingdom. AB - Legislation for compulsory wearing of seat belts by car drivers and front seat passengers has been acclaimed as a major public health advance. Reports from other countries, and two recent evaluative studies in the United Kingdom, have suggested that legislation reduces both deaths and injuries. To assess the effect of the UK law 5 years after its implementation, trends in routine data for 1976 1987 have been reviewed. There were two sources of data: mortality statistics, published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in the quarterly Monitor DH4, and road accident statistics, recorded by the police and published by the Department of Transport. There is a downward trend in deaths over the period, but the data show little impact from the law. One explanation for this lack of effect is the risk compensation hypothesis, which suggests that "safety" improvements are transferred by drivers into increased performance--the amount and speed of travel. Public health policies need to take into account the complex behavioural interactions between travel and safety choices if they are to affect underlying trends. PMID- 2607299 TI - Skinfold thickness, body mass index and ischaemic heart disease. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between obesity and subsequent incidence of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). DESIGN: Prospective cohort survey. SETTING: Study of three occupational groups, with follow up examinations. SUBJECTS: 3500 people recruited between 1972 and 1978 (80% response rate), and followed up between 1978 and 1984. This report is based on subgroup of 1511 white men aged 40-64 at entry. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Information was obtained on smoking and family history of IHD. Blood pressure, weight, height, skinfold thickness at four sites, fibrinogen, factor VII activity and cholesterol were measured during follow up. Body mass index (BMI) was used as an index of obesity. BMI was found to be more strongly correlated with IHD than any of the skinfold measurements, none of which was significantly associated with IHD when BMI was allowed for. Increase in BMI by 1 SD (approximately 8 kg) was associated with a 44% increase in the risk of IHD. Of the four skinfolds, subscapular was the most closely associated with risk, confirming the relevance of central obesity. The association between obesity and IHD remained when possible mechanisms for its effects were taken into account, and its strength may increase with time: for 1 SD increase in BMI, risk of events within 5 years was increased by 28%, while risk of events after longer than 5 years was increased by 65%. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive strategies for IHD should include avoidance of obesity. PMID- 2607300 TI - Relation between leisure time exercise and cardiovascular risk factors among 15 year-olds in eastern Finland. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between frequency of leisure time exercise and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents. DESIGN: Cross sectional survey carried out over a 3 month period in 1984. SETTING: All 24 schools in North Karelia province and 16 randomly selected schools in Kuopio province. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1142 boys and girls aged 15, randomly selected from 40 schools (16 boys and 16 girls from each), participated out of a possible total sample of 1280. Main reason for non-participation was absence from school but a small number refused to participate. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The investigation comprised a medical examination, including anthropometry, a self administered questionnaire checked by interview, a parental questionnaire, and a blood sample for biochemical estimations. The main findings were: (1) Leisure time exercise was inversely related to daily smoking (Spearman's rho, boys -0.16, p less than 0.01; girls -0.13, p less than 0.01) but was not related to serum lipoproteins or blood pressure. The inverse association between exercise and smoking was independent of socioeconomic family background. (2) Body mass index and sexual maturation were associated with systolic blood pressure, and among boys they were inversely related to high density lipoprotein cholesterol. (3) The lack of linear trends between exercise and biological risk factors may be explained by the high prevalence of leisure time exercise in the sample (72% of boys and 71% of girls exercised at least 2-3 times per week, in addition to physical education classes at school). CONCLUSIONS: Among 15-year-old eastern Finnish boys and girls, leisure time exercise is favourably associated with the main behavioural cardiovascular risk factor, smoking, but not with serum total cholesterol or blood pressure. PMID- 2607301 TI - Screening for ischaemic heart disease risk factors at a health fair: low attendance by those at highest risk. AB - Among people attending a heart disease screening project at a Health Fair in Sheffield, only 22 of 425 (5.2%) lived in areas with more than 25% of the population belonging to social classes IV or V. The incidence of heart disease is known to be particularly high in these areas, where 15.1% of the total population live. By analysis of the attendance rates from districts other than those immediately adjacent to the site of the Health Fair, we found that the strength of this inverse correlation increased, suggesting that the problems of access are probably greater for people living in deprived areas than for others. PMID- 2607302 TI - The intrauterine and early postnatal origins of cardiovascular disease and chronic bronchitis. AB - Geographical differences in mortality from cardiovascular disease and chronic bronchitis within England and Wales are closely related to past differences in infant mortality. This paper examines the separate relations of mortality during 1968-78 with neonatal and post-neonatal mortality during 1911-25. These divisions of infant mortality are indicators of the intrauterine and early postnatal environments respectively. Stroke is related to neonatal mortality and therefore to the intrauterine environment. Prenatal determinants of blood pressure levels may be one mechanism underlying this. Bronchitis is related to postnatal mortality and therefore to the postnatal environment. This may reflect the long term effects of lower respiratory tract infection in early childhood. Ischaemic heart disease is related to both neonatal and post-neonatal mortality and therefore to the intrauterine and postnatal environments. The links may include blood pressure and as yet unknown processes established in early postnatal life. PMID- 2607303 TI - Time interval since last test in a breast cancer screening programme: a case control study in Italy. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a population based screening programme for breast cancer. DESIGN: This was a case-control study of women dying of breast cancer between 1977 and 1987 who had been invited to take part in a screening programme. SETTING: Community based study of women aged between 40 and 70 years (total population about 35,000 at 1981 census), living in 23 small towns near Florence, Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 103 cases were identified from death certification, and 515 living controls (five per case) selected for year of birth and town of residence. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Screening history was obtained from computer archive. Sociodemographic information was obtained from town registry offices and directly from relatives of the deceased and from the controls by postal questionnaire, and if necessary telephone or personal interview. Analysis was carried out on two age groups--40-49 years and 50+ years at diagnosis--and considered the number of screening tests and the time interval since the last test, separately and together. In the older age group, women with at least one screening test in the previous 2 1/2 years showed a 50% reduction in risk (odds ratio 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.25-0.95). If they had also had another previous negative screen the risk was reduced to one third (odds ratio 0.35, 95% CI 0.14-0.85). There was a significant trend of decreasing risk with increasing number of screens in older women. No clear evidence of a similar protective effect was shown for women in the 40-49 year age group. CONCLUSIONS: A significant protective effect of the screening programme is evident in older women but not in younger ones. The data do not allow an assessment of optimal screening interval because of the small number of previously screened cases. PMID- 2607304 TI - Analysis of cohort mortality from prostatic cancer in Spain, 1951-1983. AB - Prostatic cancer mortality rates in Spain were analysed for the period 1951-1983 by age groups. Five year interval age cohort trends were also studied. A rising trend was seen over this period of time, although there has been some stabilisation during the recent past. Age cohort analysis shows a generation effect in those cohorts born before 1896, consistent with an increased exposure to environmental and/or occupational factors. PMID- 2607305 TI - The Finnish Family Competence Study: knowledge of childbirth of nulliparous women seen at maternity health care clinics. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth in nulliparous pregnant women. DESIGN: Survey using stratified randomised cluster sampling and confidential questionnaire analysis. SETTING: Maternity health care clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Of a total eligible population of 1713 nulliparous pregnant women from a Finnish province, 1443 took part. Of the remainder, 131 were not informed of the study and 139 (8.8%) refused to participate. The distribution of occupation of the refusers was similar to the participants. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Participants were questioned about their sociodemographic characteristics and about their knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth and psychomotor development in the infant, using 28 question sets (118 items). Results showed that, although social differences in the Finnish population are relatively small, there were still distinct differences in knowledge about childbearing in the different strata. The largest knowledge gaps were about health behaviour, particularly about alcohol intake and nutritional aspects of pregnancy and lactation, while knowledge of normal and abnormal delivery was relatively complete. When responses were divided into two groups with the median correct response rate as the cut off point, those with scores at or below the median were significantly more likely to have had modest education, to work in lower level employment, or to be very young or unemployed. CONCLUSIONS: Differences still occur in knowledge levels among nulliparous pregnant women and particular guidance and care is needed for less advantaged mothers to ensure that they deliver healthy full term babies. PMID- 2607306 TI - Maternal fertility, reproductive loss, and defective human embryos. AB - It is possible that many abnormal conceptuses are lost at an early stage without the mother's knowledge. To investigate this further the reproductive history of the mothers of defective embryos (neural tube defects, holoprosencephaly, cleft lip, polydactyly, and early embryonic resorption) was compared with that of the mothers of normal embryos. The frequency of prior miscarriages was higher in the case mothers than in normal controls matched for maternal age and gravidity, the difference being significant for all the anomalies except for polydactyly. The case mothers had fewer prior recognised pregnancies than control mothers matched for maternal age. There were more primigravid mothers in abnormal groups, and the difference from controls was significant for neural tube defects. It was assumed that the gravidity of the case mothers may be underestimated, possibly due to increased early abortions which are not recognised clinically. Thus, it seems that both recognised and unrecognised abortions occur more often in the mothers of defective embryos. Since many spontaneous abortuses are morphologically and/or cytogenetically abnormal, some women appear to conceive abnormal embryos repeatedly. Most of these embryos, however, may be screened out prenatally and escape clinical detection. Information on prior reproductive history of the woman should be examined carefully in genetic counselling. PMID- 2607307 TI - Feasibility of studying subfertility using retrospective self reports. AB - During an investigation of possible reproductive effects of environmental agents, 261 male and 155 female workers were interviewed concerning subfertility at some time in the past: the time taken to conceive, for all births; and the occurrence of one or more fertile phases lasting for 6 months or more. When these two variables were compared, the quality of reporting was acceptable in 89.7% of instances, and data editing enabled accuracy to be improved. Reporting was more reliable with shorter duration of recall, and female workers' reports were somewhat more reliable than those of male workers. The distribution of time taken to conceive was similar for male workers to that observed in previously published prospective series, though with a higher estimate of subfertility when infertile phases were also considered. Comparison with published estimates of reduced fertility appeared to be reassuring. As predicted, the equivalent comparisons for female workers showed the presence of a strong selection effect. PMID- 2607308 TI - Is there an increased risk of twinning after discontinuation of the oral contraceptive pill? AB - We investigated whether conception soon after cessation of use of oral contraceptives affects the chance of bearing twins. Unpublished data from a large sample survey of contraceptive practice in Scotland were used to derive oral contraceptive discontinuation rates by month over the decade 1972-82 and these were related to estimated monozygotic and dizygotic twin birth rates and proportions by month in Scotland from 1974-82, using regression techniques. The results provide some support for the hypothesis that there is an increased risk of conceiving monozygotic twins within a year of ceasing to use oral contraceptives. PMID- 2607309 TI - Mortality among children and young persons in Sweden in relation to childhood socioeconomic group. AB - More than 1.5 million children in Sweden were followed up for the period 1961 1979 with respect to mortality. Mortality differences by socioeconomic group were studied for the age groups 1-19 years. Children in families of non-manual workers, both boys and girls, had a significantly lower mortality than children of manual workers and children of self employed persons. The socioeconomic differences in risk of dying were greater among boys than among girls. For boys, the socioeconomic differences grew smaller as the boys grew older. PMID- 2607310 TI - Mortality from dementia in Norway, 1969-83. AB - From 1969 to the end of 1983 in Norway, dementia was coded as the underlying cause of death from 2058 death certificates, and as a contributory cause from 19,459. This is 3.56% of the total number of deaths. It seems that a considerable proportion of dementia cases are noted on death certificates in Norway. Death rates based on dementia as the underlying cause of death have increased with time, but when including contributory causes, rates have declined. The data may be useful in epidemiological studies, eg, to search for aetiological clues for Alzheimer's disease. Due to the inclusion of contributory causes of death in the registers and to the high number of dementia cases noted on death certificates, Norwegian mortality data on dementia are probably of better quality than in most other countries. PMID- 2607311 TI - Epidemiological surveillance of suicides and attempted suicides in Aquitaine, south-west France, using an original computer network of sentinel general practitioners. AB - To improve the epidemiological study of suicide and attempted suicides in Aquitaine, France, we developed a comprehensive surveillance system based on the input of Sentinel General Practitioners (SGPs). From October 1986 to May 1988, for each case of suicide or attempted suicide, the SGPs reported epidemiological data to our system through a computer network of personal home terminals (Minitels). Data included age, sex, method and result of attempt and antecedents. In an analysis of the relationship between the suicidal method, antecedents and results of suicidal act, the principal findings were a high rate of antecedents of suicide attempts by drug overdoses, hangings and drownings; and no antecedents for attempts by the use of firearms. This may show that the increasing accessibility of firearms is making it more likely that impulsive suicide attempts will be lethal. PMID- 2607312 TI - Day case surgery: geographical variation, trends and readmission rates. AB - Data from the Oxford Record Linkage Study were analysed to determine the amount of work undertaken in day case surgery for 12 surgical conditions in five districts in the Oxford Region during the years 1976 to 1985. Record linkage was used to study readmission rates, comparing day surgery with inpatient care. The use of day surgery gradually increased in some conditions (eg, termination of pregnancy, female sterilisation) but did not increase from a fairly low base for others (eg, inguinal hernia repair, operations on varicose veins and haemorrhoids). There were striking differences between the districts in the use of day case care. For example, the use of day case care as a percentage of all hospital admissions for termination of pregnancy varied from 1% in one district to 24% in another; that for dilatation and curettage varied from 1% to 43%; and that for female sterilisation varied from less than 1% to 35%. Emergency readmission rates after day surgery were similar to those following inpatient treatment. We conclude that the use of day surgery for some conditions judged suitable for day care is still low and, even within one region, variation in the use of day surgery is considerable. The reasons for continued reluctance in some places to undertake more day surgery merit investigation. PMID- 2607313 TI - 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulphonate binding parameters in red cell membranes. Does diabetes mellitus affect cell membrane dynamics? AB - In this study we report the use of 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulphonate as a fluorescence probe to investigate the properties of plasma membranes derived from normal and diabetic red blood cells. The binding of 1-anilino-8 naphthalenesulphonate to diabetes-affected erythrocyte membranes, as compared with controls, was measured by means of fluorescence polarization and fluorescence titration techniques. These measurements demonstrated anomalous 1 anilino-8-naphthalenesulphonate binding to pathological red cell membranes. The amount of 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulphonate bound to diabetic erythrocyte membranes was greater than that of controls. This fluorometric study indicated that the outer monolayer binding of 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulphonate was markedly augmented in the erythrocyte membranes of diabetic patients. Significant correlations were found between 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulphonate binding parameters and membrane lipid composition. The correlation between these binding parameters and non-enzymatic protein glycation was poor or moderate. Though the fluorescence intensity and emission maximum were quite similar in both groups investigated, binding studies revealed that there were approximately 1.2 times the number of 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulphonate binding sites and a 33% increase in the KD value in diabetic membranes, suggesting significant differences in the environment of the 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulphonate binding sites in these two groups of patients. The results presented in this report indicate that (a) 1 anilino-8-naphthalenesulphonate is a sensitive probe of membrane architecture alterations, and can be used to elucidate the perturbating effects of sterols in membrane systems, and (b) that significant differences in membrane dynamics exist between normal and diabetic red cell membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607314 TI - The effect of oral calcium load or verapamil on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. AB - Several investigators have reported recently that in rats, oral calcium load is associated with a marked amelioration in gentamicin-induced renal failure. In contrast to these reports, using the same animal model, we could not observe calcium-induced moderation in gentamicin nephrotoxicity as reflected by either urea or creatinine serum concentration or by various renal cortical intracellular enzymatic activities. Similarly, verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, had no effect on the degree of renal failure in these animals. We conclude that manipulation of calcium diet may not be uniformly effective in reducing gentamicin nephrotoxicity. Additional nutritional factors may play a crucial role in achieving the amelioration of this model of toxic nephropathy. PMID- 2607315 TI - Mutations in acute intermittent porphyria detected by ELISA measurement of porphobilinogen deaminase. AB - To study the existence of different mutations in acute intermittent porphyria, erythrocyte porphobilinogen deaminase activity and enzyme protein concentration were investigated in 125 porphyria gene carriers from 31 families, and in 121 apparently healthy controls. Porphobilinogen deaminase concentration (micrograms/gHb) was quantified using a recently developed double-sandwich ELISA. The ratio of enzyme catalytic activity to the concentration of enzyme protein was expressed as the porphobilinogen specific activity (nkat/g). The controls had a mean porphobilinogen deaminase concentration of 160 +/- 35 micrograms/gHb and a specific activity of 762 +/- 127 nkat/g. Two different types of mutation causing acute intermittent porphyria were detected. The majority (91%) of gene carriers, from 25 families, had a diminished porphobilinogen deaminase concentration of 102 +/- 18 micrograms/gHb, with a slightly lowered specific activity of 634 +/- 105 nkat/g. In 9% of the gene carriers, representing six different families, an increase in porphobilinogen deaminase concentration to 269 +/- 46 micrograms/gHb, and a highly significant reduction in specific activity to 234 +/- 48 nkat/g, were found, which indicates the presence of a different mutation. PMID- 2607317 TI - 24th annual meeting of the Israeli Society for Clinical Biochemistry. Jerusalem, Israel, March 29-April 1, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2607316 TI - Results of comparative determination of morphine in human hair using RIA and GC/MS. AB - Results of radioimmunological and mass-spectrometric tests for morphine in human hair samples, conducted independently in two separate laboratories, were compared. A large degree of qualitative and quantitative parity was observed for the two methods at morphine levels above 1000 micrograms/kg. Due to the variation of results at levels below 1000 micrograms/kg, more GC-MS tests are necessary as a safeguard. Additional GC/MS analyses of the same samples showed that discrepancies between the results of the two methods are not necessarily due to a variable response to the analyte. The results of the GC/MS examinations showed that it is also possible to distinguish between heroin and codeine addicts. PMID- 2607318 TI - New diagnostic methods for inflammations of the human central nervous system by cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Workshop conference of the German Society for Clinical Chemistry. Marburg a.d. Lahn, October 6-7, 1988. PMID- 2607319 TI - Gastric ulcer is accompanied by a decrease of epidermal growth factor in gastric juice and saliva. AB - Numerous studies have indicated a role of epidermal growth factor in the maintenance of the gastrointestinal mucosa. In the present study epidermal growth factor concentrations in saliva and gastric juice of patients with gastric or duodenal ulcer or gastritis are compared with those of healthy controls. For this purpose a novel ELISA system has been developed and shown to be sensitive and specific. It is demonstrated that gastric juice and saliva of patients with gastric ulcer contain less epidermal growth factor than the samples of healthy controls (p less than 0.01). Epidermal growth factor concentrations and outputs (product of epidermal growth factor concentration and the volume secreted in 15 min) in the gastric juice of patients with duodenal ulcer do not differ from those of healthy controls. PMID- 2607320 TI - The role of thrombocytes in liver fibrogenesis: effects of platelet lysate and thrombocyte-derived growth factors on the mitogenic activity and glycosaminoglycan synthesis of cultured rat liver fat storing cells. AB - A central problem in the study of the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis (fibrogenesis) is the identification of the cellular sources of the extracellular matrix and the dissection of the molecular mediators stimulating connective tissue synthesis in certain hepatic target cells. In the present study the role of platelets and of some platelet-derived polypeptide growth factors in the proliferation and proteoglycan synthesis of rat liver fat storing cells in culture (the principle connective tissue-producing cell type in liver) was determined. Fat storing cell proliferation was determined by measurement of the DNA-content, and [3H]thymidine- and bromodeoxyuridine-incorporation. Glycosaminoglycan synthesis was determined by the measurement of [35S]sulphate incorporation. Human platelet lysate (0.3 to 2.6 g protein per litre medium) stimulated, in a dose-dependent manner, both the proliferation and glycosaminoglycan synthesis of rat liver fat storing cells kept as a primary culture in Dulbecco's modification of Eagle's medium in the absence of foetal calf serum. More than 70% of the newly synthesized glycosaminoglycans were found in the medium. Among the various thrombocyte-derived polypeptides tested as candidate mediators of the platelet-derived fibrogenic activity, platelet derived growth factor was not effective in enhancing glycosaminoglycan synthesis, and it stimulated the proliferation of fat storing cells only about 2 fold. On the other hand, epidermal growth factor proved to be a stimulus of both processes. Transforming growth factor beta (greater than 10 pmol/l) inhibited foetal calf serum (Dulbecco's modification of Eagle's medium with a fraction of foetal calf serum of 0.1) and epidermal growth factor stimulated proliferation but enhanced the synthesis of sulphated glycosaminoglycans about 2-fold. These results suggest the possible role of transforming growth factor beta as a negative modulator for fat storing cells proliferation but a positive modulator for fat storing cell transformation and extracellular glycosaminoglycan matrix synthesis. Furthermore, our results indicate a cooperation between different hepatic and extrahepatic cell types by paracrine stimulation of fat storing cells. Transforming growth factor beta in combination with epidermal growth factor appear to be candidate mediators of the platelet-derived fibrogenic activity, which stimulates fat storing cells in culture, and might also be effective in vivo during hepatic repair processes following liver injury. PMID- 2607321 TI - A diagnostic programme for quantitative analysis of proteinuria. AB - A spectrum of quantitative methods was adapted to the Kone Specific Analyser for the purpose of recognizing, quantifying and differentiating various forms of proteinuria. Total protein, IgG, albumin and alpha 1-microglobulin (measured by turbidimetry), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity and creatinine (measured photometrically), were measured in undiluted urine; in addition alpha 1 microglobulin was measured in serum. Within and between run precision, accuracy and linearity of the turbidimetric methods were in good agreement with nephelometric procedures. All turbidimetric methods exhibited a correlation coefficient r greater than 0.98 when compared with the radial immunodiffusion procedure as reference method. Total protein measured turbidimetrically with the Kone Specific Analyser was in good agreement with the manual biuret procedure. The low detection limits and linearities allowed quantification of urine analytes from the lower range of normals up to ten times the upper limit of normals. The measured analytes exhibited stability in urine at pH 4-8 over at least seven days at 4-6 degrees C and -20 degrees C. Only IgG showed a significant loss (up to 30 percent), when measured after storage at -20 degrees C. Quantities per mol creatinine showed significantly lower intra-individual and inter-individual variability than quantities per liter. In 31 normal persons, the intraindividual variation was lowest for N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity (13%) and highest for total protein (33%), when measured in the second morning urine on 5 consecutive days. When related to creatinine, results obtained in the second morning urine showed no significant differences from those in 24 h urine, except for alpha 1-microglobulin which gave lower values in 24 h urines. The upper normal limits, calculated as the 95% ranges, were determined from 154 urines of 31 individuals. Nearly all analytes showed an asymmetric distribution. Because of a wide tailing of the upper limit, preliminary upper normal limits were set above this range: (table; see text) Application of the newly adapted programme to unselected urines sent for urine analysis revealed a threefold increase in the proportion of results outside the normal ranges, compared with the routinely used protein test strip procedure. All additional positive urines exhibited either signs of glomerular or tubular proteinuria. Determination of albumin or N-acetyl beta-D-glucosaminidase excretion was sufficient to detect these additional cases. PMID- 2607322 TI - Performance profiles: new tools for characterization and comparison of clinical chemical results. AB - It is current practice to record the performance of immunoassays by means of precision profiles (according to Ekins), in which the variation coefficient (relative standard deviation) is plotted against the analyte concentration. On the other hand, precision profiles are only occasionally used for evaluating the performance of conventional clinical-chemical methods. It is relatively uncommon to find bias plotted against analyte concentration, presumably because this type of analysis requires reference specimens, whose true analyte concentrations are known or guaranteed by reference methods. If the relative systematic variations are plotted against the true analyte concentrations, and a confidence interval is added to the resulting regression curve, the result is a "bias profile"; if tolerance limits are added, the result is a "deviation profile". The present work describes the preparation of specimens, which can be used to provide experimental data for the three performance profiles. A computer program is used to construct the precision profile, bias profile and/or deviation profile. The mathematical statistical basis of the program is described in detail. For evaluation of the statistical procedure, three analytes and six methods were used: determination of sodium activity/concentration with an ion sensitive electrode and by flame photometry; determination of creatinine by a manual enzymic and a mechanized Jaffe method; determination of thyrotropin by radioimmunoassay and by luminescence immunoassay. Different purposes are served by bias and deviation profiles. Thus, bias profiles can be used to compare the bias of two methods, whereas a deviation profile can be used to define the analytical range of a method. If the acceptable limits of deviation are added to the deviation profile, then the useful analytical range of the method is immediately apparent. PMID- 2607323 TI - A comparison of reference method values for calcium, lithium and magnesium with method-dependent assigned values. AB - Commercially available control sera were analysed by the reference methods for calcium, lithium and magnesium. Calcium: The mean deviation of the target values for routine flame atomic absorption spectrometry from the reference method values was -1.2%, in the case of flame atomic emission spectrometry -0.1%. The assigned values of determinations by methylthymol blue and cresolphthalein showed a positive bias: +2.3 and +2.2%. Lithium: Target values for routine flame atomic absorption spectrometry and flame atomic emission spectrometry were in generally good agreement with the reference method values (deviation +1.7% and +0.7%), although the differences were dependent on concentration. Magnesium: The assigned values for routine flame atomic absorption spectrometry yielded a mean bias of 0.4% from the reference method value. The target values for absorption spectrometry after reaction with Magon and Calmagite, however, differed by +8.2% and +9.3% on average. These methods seem to be less suitable for the determination of magnesium in serum than FAAS and would have failed several times to meet the requirements of quality assessment. PMID- 2607324 TI - Analysis of urinary stones by computerized infrared spectroscopy. AB - The computerized assessment of infrared spectra of urinary stones with existing programmes such as SEARCH (Lehmann, C. A. et al. (1988) Clin. Chim. Acta 173, 107 116), TWIN or CIRCOM (Hesse, A. et al. (1988) Fresenius Z. Anal. Chem. 330, 372 373) has proved to be unreliable when used for routine urinary stone analysis. A more refined method has to be used in place of simple comparison algorithms. STONES is a new programme for computerized analysis of urinary stones developed with the intention of simulating the former non-computerized analysis procedure. STONES is a rule-based system, which interprets the infrared spectra qualitatively by its rules. A quantitative result is obtained by means of library search. Combining these two methods 93% of the tests were correct with regard to clinical relevance. PMID- 2607325 TI - Reasons for intraindividual inconstancy of the digoxin saliva to serum concentration ratio. AB - When a constant dose of digoxin was administered orally over several days, the digoxin concentration in saliva and erythrocytes rose faster than in serum. Thus, the saliva/serum concentration ratio was below 1.0 after a single dose and above 1.0 in the steady state. The digoxin concentration was relatively high in "unstimulated" (more or less spontaneous) saliva and decreased with stimulation of the salivary flow rate. It therefore appeared that the actual salivary digoxin concentration depended on 2 components: the digoxin concentration in "stimulated" saliva depended only on the rapid diffusion from the blood into saliva, and the concentration in the "unstimulated" saliva depended on the rapid diffusion and on a slower exchange with the intracellular compartment. It is suggested that unstimulated saliva reflects the intracellular digoxin concentration and stimulated saliva reflects the free digoxin concentration of the serum. Both effects must be taken in account when interpreting the saliva/serum ratio, and they may explain conflicting results in the literature. PMID- 2607326 TI - Coproporphyrin isomers II and IV are normal constituents of human urine. AB - We describe for the first time the detection of small amounts of the atypical coproporphyrin isomers II and IV in urine from healthy subjects. Efficient sample preparation procedures together with a highly selective isocratic ion-pair high performance liquid chromatographic method enabled the determination of these unexpected compounds. Formation of the atypical coproporphyrin isomers was shown to result mostly from non-enzymatic isomerization at the coproporphyrinogen level within the human body, whereas only traces were formed in vitro during collection and storage of the urine samples under the conditions applied. PMID- 2607327 TI - Reception of photoperiodic information by fetal Siberian hamsters: role of the mother's pineal gland. AB - The rate of reproductive development in juvenile male Siberian hamsters is strongly influenced by daylength (photoperiod). Recent studies indicate that reception of photoperiodic cues begins during fetal life. The present experiments yielded a further demonstration that developing male Siberian hamsters receive information about the photoperiod to which their mother is exposed during pregnancy. The possibility that photoperiodic information is transmitted from mother to young after birth was investigated by cross-fostering young gestated on 12L and 16L to mothers from the other photoperiod. Litters were cross-fostered on the day of birth and then were transferred, along with their foster mothers, to 14L. We found no influence of the mother after birth, indicating that transmission of photoperiodic information from mother to young must occur during gestation. To determine if the pineal gland of the mother is required for this response, adult females were pinealectomized or sham-operated and paired with intact males in 12L, 14L, or 16L. After parturition parents and offspring were exposed to 14L. The influence of prenatal photoperiod on postnatal testicular development in 14L was blocked by pinealectomy of the mother. Postnatal testicular development was retarded in offspring that experienced a photoperiod transfer from either 15L to 14L or 8L to 12L at birth. In contrast, the inhibitory effect of a transfer from 16L to 14L at birth was abolished when juvenile males were exposed to a single long photoperiod (16.3 h light) at age 17 21 days and then were returned to 14L. PMID- 2607328 TI - Regulation of ecdysteroidogenesis in prothoracic glands of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta. AB - Ecdysteroidogenesis in Manduca sexta prothoracic glands is regulated by a set of bioregulatory molecules, including prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) and a protein factor present in larval hemolymph, and by the competence of the glands to synthesize ecdysteroids in response to those molecules. A larval molting bioassay was used to assess the in vivo activity of Manduca PTTHs. Crude PTTH, big PTTH, and small PTTH each elicited a larval molt in head-ligated larvae. However, big PTTH was approximately 10-fold more potent than crude PTTH, which was, in turn, several orders of magnitude more potent than small PTTH. When big and small PTTH were combined, the molting response was similar to that elicited with crude PTTH. The chemical nature of the hemolymph protein factor was also investigated. Injection of [3H]cholesterol into last-instar larvae and fractionation of the radiolabeled hemolymph by gel filtration chromatography revealed three peaks of radioactivity. One peak eluted in fractions containing the hemolymph protein factor, a result consistent with the notion that the factor transports a sterol substrate. The possibility that the factor is a 3(2) ketoreductase was investigated by assessing the effect of the factor on the accumulation of RIA-detectable ecdysteroids in prothoracic-gland-conditioned medium. Three of five preparations of the factor significantly enhanced the amount of RIA-detectable ecdysteroids in conditioned medium, indicating that at least some preparations of the factor may contain ketoreductase activity. The above findings are discussed in the context of current hypotheses of how bioregulatory molecules interact with the prothoracic glands to regulate ecdysteroidogenesis in Manduca. PMID- 2607329 TI - Gonadotropin-induced luminal formation in the seminiferous tubules and efferent ductules in young frogs: light and electron microscopic study. AB - To clarify the mechanism of fluid secretion in the testes at the time of gonadotropin-induced spermiation, young Rana nigromaculata were used. As a morphological index of fluid secretion, luminal formation of the seminiferous tubules, and efferent ductules were observed. The following changes were seen by the administration of hCG or frog pituitary: first, the luminal formation of the seminiferous tubules was seen; next, tubular expansion became evident, and finally, luminal formation and expansion were observed in the efferent ductules. These changes were preceded by the separation of cell contact among Sertoli cells and of cell contact between Sertoli cells and the cells of efferent ductules only in the center and the swelling of Sertoli cells and cells of efferent ductules. With regard to the flow of fluid at the time of spermiation, the present results indicate the possibility that there is a difference in the ability for fluid secretion between Sertoli cells and the ductule cells. PMID- 2607330 TI - Absence of temperature-dependent sex determination in congeneric sexual and parthenogenetic Cnemidophorus lizards. AB - Eggs from congeneric gonochoristic and parthenogenetic whiptail lizards were incubated at various temperatures. There was no significant deviation from a sex ratio of one-half in the sexual species at any temperature, whereas no males were produced in the parthenogenetic species. Temperature-dependent sex determination appears to be completely absent in these lizards. PMID- 2607331 TI - Chemical excitation and inactivation in photoreceptors of the fly mutants trp and nss. AB - The Drosophila and Lucilia photoreceptor mutants, trp and nss, respond like wild type flies to a short pulse of intense light or prolonged dim light; however, upon continuous intense illumination, the trp and nss mutants are unable to maintain persistent excitation. This defect manifests itself by a decline of the receptor potential toward baseline during prolonged intense illumination with little change in the shape or amplitude of the quantal responses to single photons (quantum bumps). Previous work on the trp and nss mutants suggests that a negative feedback loop may control the rate of bump production. Chemical agents affecting different steps of the phototransduction cascade were used in conjunction with light to identify a possible branching point of the feedback loop and molecular stages which are affected by the mutation. Fluoride ions, which in the dark both excite and adapt the photoreceptors of wild-type flies, neither excite nor adapt the photoreceptors of the trp and nss mutants. The hydrolysis-resistant analogue, GTP gamma S, which excites the photoreceptors of wild-type flies, resulting in noisy depolarization, markedly reduces the light response of both mutant flies. Intracellular recordings revealed, however, that the inhibitory effect of GTP gamma S on the nss mutant was accompanied neither by any significant depolarization nor by an increase in the noise, and thus was very different from the effect of a dim background light. The combination of inositol trisphosphate and diphosphoglycerate (InsP3 + DPG), which efficiently excites the photoreceptors of wild-type Lucilia, also excites the photoreceptors of nss Lucilia mutant. The InsP3 + DPG together act synergistically with light to accelerate the decline of the response to light in the mutant flies. These results suggest that the fly phototransduction pathway involves a feedback regulatory loop, which branches subsequent to InsP3 production and regulates guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-phospholipase C activity. A defect in this regulatory loop, which may cause an unusually low level of intracellular Ca2+, severely reduces the triggering of bumps in the mutants during intense prolonged illumination. PMID- 2607332 TI - Na-K pump current in the Amphiuma collecting tubule. AB - There is strong evidence supporting the hypothesis of an electrogenic Na-K pump in the basolateral membrane of several epithelia. Thermodynamic considerations and results in nonepithelial cells indicate that the current carried by the pump could be voltage dependent. In order to measure the pump current and to determine its voltage dependence in a tight epithelium, we have used the isolated perfused collecting tubule of Amphiuma and developed a technique for clamping the basolateral membrane potential (Vbl) through transepithelial current injection. The transcellular current was calculated by subtracting the paracellular current (calculated from the transepithelial conductance measured in the presence of luminal amiloride) from the total transepithelial current. Basolateral membrane current-voltage (I-V) curves were obtained in conditions where the ratio of the pump current to the total basolateral membrane current had been maximized by loading the cells with Na+ (exposure to low-K+ bath), and by blocking the basolateral K+ conductance with barium. The pump current was defined as the difference of the current across the basolateral membrane measured before and 10 15 s after the addition of strophanthidin (20 microM) to the bath solution. With a bath solution containing 3 mM K+, the pump current was nearly constant in the Vbl range of -20 to -80 mV (52 +/- 5 microA.cm-2 at -60 mV) but showed a marked voltage dependence at higher negative Vbl (pump current decreased to 5 +/- 9 microA.cm-2 at -180 mV). In a 1.0 mM K bath, the shape of the pump I-V curve was similar but the amplitude of the current was decreased (24 +/- 4 microA.cm-2 at 60 mV). In a 0.1 mM K bath, the pump current was not significantly different from 0. Our results indicate that the basolateral Na-K pump generates a current which depends on the extracellular potassium concentration. With physiological peritubular concentration of K+ and in the physiological range of potential, the pump activity, measured as the pump-generated current, was independent of the membrane potential. PMID- 2607333 TI - Steady-state current-voltage relationship of the Na/K pump in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. AB - Whole-cell currents were recorded in guinea pig ventricular myocytes at approximately 36 degrees C before, during, and after exposure to maximally effective concentrations of strophanthidin, a cardiotonic steroid and specific inhibitor of the Na/K pump. Wide-tipped pipettes, in combination with a device for exchanging the solution inside the pipette, afforded reasonable control of the ionic composition of the intracellular solution and of the membrane potential. Internal and external solutions were designed to minimize channel currents and Na/Ca exchange current while sustaining vigorous forward Na/K transport, monitored as strophanthidin-sensitive current. 100-ms voltage pulses from the -40 mV holding potential were used to determine steady-state levels of membrane current between -140 and +60 mV. Control experiments demonstrated that if the Na/K pump cycle were first arrested, e.g., by withdrawal of external K, or of both internal and external Na, then neither strophanthidin nor its vehicle, dimethylsulfoxide, had any discernible effect on steady-state membrane current. Further controls showed that, with the Na/K pump inhibited by strophanthidin, membrane current was insensitive to changes of external [K] between 5.4 and 0 mM and was little altered by changing the pipette [Na] from 0 to 50 mM. Strophanthidin-sensitive current therefore closely approximated Na/K pump current, and was virtually free of contamination by current components altered by the changes in extracellular [K] and intracellular [Na] expected to accompany pump inhibition. The steady-state Na/K pump current-voltage (I-V) relationship, with the pump strongly activated by 5.4 mM external K and 50 mM internal Na (and 10 mM ATP), was sigmoid in shape with a steep positive slope between about 0 and 100 mV, a less steep slope at more negative potentials, and an extremely shallow slope at positive potentials; no region of negative slope was found. That shape of I-V relationship can be generated by a two-state cycle with one pair of voltage-sensitive rate constants and one pair of voltage-insensitive rate constants: such a two-state scheme is a valid steady-state representation of a multi-state cycle that includes only a single voltage-sensitive step. PMID- 2607334 TI - [Na] and [K] dependence of the Na/K pump current-voltage relationship in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. AB - Na/K pump current was determined between -140 and +60 mV as steady-state, strophanthidin-sensitive, whole-cell current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes, voltage-clamped and internally dialyzed via wide-tipped pipettes. Solutions were designed to minimize all other components of membrane current. A device for exchanging the solution inside the pipette permitted investigation of Na/K pump current-voltage (I-V) relationships at several levels of pipette [Na] [( Na]pip) in a single cell; the effects of changes in external [Na] [( Na]o) or external [K] [( K]o) were also studied. At 50 mM [Na]pip, 5.4 mM [K]o, and approximately 150 mM [Na]o, Na/K pump current was steeply voltage dependent at negative potentials but was approximately constant at positive potentials. Under those conditions, reduction of [Na]o enhanced pump current at negative potentials but had little effect at positive potentials: at zero [Na]o, pump current was only weakly voltage dependent. At 5.4 mM [K]o and approximately 150 mM [Na]o, reduction of [Na]pip from 50 mM scaled down the sigmoid pump I-V relationship and shifted it slightly to the right (toward more positive potentials). Pump current at 0 mV was activated by [Na]pip according to the Hill equation with best-fit K0.5 approximately equal to 11 mM and Hill coefficient nH approximately equal to 1.4. At zero [Na]o, reduction of [Na]pip seemed to simply scale down the relatively flat pump I-V relationship: Hill fit parameters for pump activation by [Na]pip at 0 mV were K0.5 approximately equal to 10 mM, nH approximately equal to 1.4. At 50 mM [Na]pip and high [Na]o, reduction of [K]o from 5.4 mM scaled down the sigmoid I-V relationship and shifted it slightly to the right: at 0 mV, K0.5 approximately equal to 1.5 mM and nH approximately equal to 1.0. At zero [Na]o, lowering [K]o simply scaled down the flat pump I-V relationships yielding, at 0 mV, K0.5 approximately equal to 0.2 mM, nH approximately equal to 1.1. The voltage-independent activation of Na/K pump current by both intracellular Na ions and extracellular K ions, at zero [Na]o, suggests that neither ion binds within the membrane field. Extracellular Na ions, however, seem to have both a voltage dependent and a voltage-independent influence on the Na/K pump: they inhibit outward Na/K pump current in a strongly voltage-dependent fashion, with higher apparent affinity at more negative potentials (K0.5 approximately equal to 90 mM at -120 mV, and approximately 170 mM at -80 mV), and they compete with extracellular K ions in a seemingly voltage-independent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2607335 TI - Exchange of oxygen across the epicardial surface distorts estimates of myocardial oxygen consumption. AB - The rate of oxygen consumption of isolated, Langendorff-circulated, saline perfused hearts of guinea pigs, rats, and rabbits was measured using the classical Fick Principle method. The heart was suspended in a glass chamber the oxygen partial pressure, PO2, of which could be varied. The measured rate of oxygen consumption was found to vary inversely with the ambient (heart chamber) PO2. This result prevailed whether the chamber was filled with air, saline, or oil, and whether the pericardium was present or the heart was wrapped in Saran. The effect varied inversely with heart size both within and across species. It is concluded that the epicardial surface is permeable to oxygen which will diffuse either into or out of the heart as the PO2 gradient dictates. In either case the classically measured rate of oxygen consumption will be in error. The error can be large in studies of cardiac basal metabolism. A simple model is developed to describe the observed rate of oxygen consumption as classically measured. The measured rate is partitioned into two components: the true rate of oxygen consumption of the heart, and the rate of loss of oxygen by diffusive exchange across the epicardial surface. The latter component is proportional to the gradient of oxygen partial pressure from myocardium to environment and to the diffusive oxygen conductance of myocardial tissue. Application of the model allows the true rate of oxygen consumption of the heart to be recovered from measured values which may be considerably in error. PMID- 2607336 TI - Two early vaccinia virus genes encode polypeptides related to protein kinases. AB - Vaccinia virus particles contain a protein kinase with an Mr of 62K calculated from sedimentation rate. We have sequenced the SalI G restriction fragment of the vaccinia virus genome near to the right inverted terminal repeat and have identified two genes which share 36% amino acid identity with each other and are related to the family of protein kinase genes. One gene, designated B1R, encodes a 34.2K protein which shares 27% identity with a protein kinase encoded by the herpes simplex virus type 1 US3 gene and contains conserved motifs characteristic of protein kinases of serine/threonine specificity. The second gene, B12R, encodes a protein of 33.3K which is poorly related to known protein kinases and lacks specific amino acids at several highly conserved key positions. The deduced partial amino acid sequence of a gene in the corresponding region of the cowpox virus genome is identical to B12R except for one conservative amino acid substitution. Both of the vaccinia virus genes are transcribed towards the right hand end of the genome early during infection. It is possible that the product of either or both of these genes associates to form a homo- or heterodimer that represents the 62K virion-associated protein kinase. PMID- 2607337 TI - Adenovirus subviral particles and cores can support limited DNA replication. AB - Adenovirus type 2 cores can function effectively as templates in an in vitro replication system. Viral DNA replication assays using cores as templates do not differ in their requirements to the well characterized assays using DNA-complex templates, i.e. there is a dependence on terminal protein precursor (pTP), DNA polymerase and DNA binding protein and the assay is greatly stimulated by certain host transcription factors. The products of initiation and limited elongation are easily distinguishable and, in the system described, there is specific proteolysis of the pTP adducts as a function of the adenovirus-coded protease, present in the nuclear extracts from infected cells, or the core templates. Substitution of Mn2+ ions for Mg2+ ions in the replication assay has a dramatic effect on the nature of the replication events, in most cases resulting in the stimulation of initiation without elongation. Similar results can be achieved by utilizing subviral particles as templates, obtained by dialysis of purified adenovirus in a hypotonic buffer at pH 6.4. Restriction enzyme analysis of the replicated products confirmed that DNA synthesis proceeds from the adenovirus termini using both the core and subviral templates. By adding an ATP-regenerating system elongation can be further stimulated, particularly in the case of the subviral templates. Quantification of nucleotide incorporation into the appropriate restriction fragments indicates that for the subviral templates replication can proceed for at least 2000 to 3000 bases from either terminus. These results suggest that the adenovirus genome is packaged in the virion in a conformation readily available for at least the initial replication events. Such a conformation might also be appropriate for early transcription. PMID- 2607338 TI - Phosphorylation of adenovirus DNA-binding protein. AB - Evidence is presented here which indicates that the adenovirus DNA-binding protein (DBP) is phosphorylated at a tyrosine residue early in infection. This was suggested by the discovery that a proportion of the label in 32P-labelled DBP was resistant to alkali, and was substantiated by acid hydrolysis of DBP immunoprecipitates and by immunoblotting with a monoclonal antibody against phosphotyrosine. Treatment of [35S]methionine-labelled DBPs with chymotrypsin produced fragments of apparent Mr 45K and 39K whereas digestion of 32P-labelled DBP resulted in fragments of 45K and 26K. Consideration of the distribution of 32P label and its alkali stability in these fragments suggested that chymotrypsin cleaved populations of DBP at different sites depending on their phosphorylation states. The conservation, in all of the seven adenovirus serotypes sequenced, of a tyrosine residue (at amino acid 195 in adenovirus type 2) together with its surrounding residues, suggests that phosphorylation/dephosphorylation at this tyrosine residue may be important in various functions ascribed to the DBP. PMID- 2607339 TI - Secretory immunoglobulin A antibody response is conserved in aged mice following oral immunization with influenza virus vaccine. AB - Parenteral immunization of BALB/c mice at 3 months of age with inactivated influenza virus vaccine elicited a haemagglutinin (HA)-specific serum IgG antibody response. The magnitude of this response declined with advancing age at the time of vaccination. By contrast, HA-specific IgA and IgG antibody levels observed in lung lavage fluids of mice immunized at 1 and 2 years of age were comparable to those of 5 month old mice when inactivated influenza virus vaccine was administered intragastrically. The secretory immune response was not fully developed in the first 3 weeks of life. However, the HA-specific IgA and IgG responses to oral vaccination in sera were reduced in 1 or 2 year old mice when compared to 5 month old mice. These data demonstrated the preservation of the virus-specific secretory IgA response in the pulmonary fluids of aged mice after oral vaccination with inactivated influenza virus vaccine. An age-dependent difference of systemic and mucosal immunity was evident in orally immunized mice. PMID- 2607340 TI - Identification and primary structure of the gene encoding the Berne virus nucleocapsid protein. AB - The nucleotide sequence of the nucleocapsid (N) protein gene of Berne virus (BEV; proposed family Toroviridae) was determined from two independent clones of a cDNA library. From the deduced amino acid sequence a basic protein of 18.3K was predicted. In vitro transcription and translation, followed by immunoprecipitation, were used to identify the gene. The identification was confirmed by metabolic labelling, using the knowledge that cysteine residues are absent from the amino acid sequence of the N protein. Smaller N-related polypeptides encountered in BEV-infected cell lysates were shown to be probable products of aberrant translation, due to initiation on AUG codons further downstream in the N protein gene. PMID- 2607341 TI - Analysis of the complete nucleotide sequence of Chp1, a phage which infects avian Chlamydia psittaci. AB - We report the complete nucleotide sequence of bacteriophage Chp1. The genome was found to be 4877 bases long and it potentially codes for 11 proteins. Open reading frames (ORFs) 6 and 7 lie within ORFs 2 and 1 respectively but are in a second reading frame. No significant DNA homology was found when Chp1 was compared to the EMBL database. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the three structural proteins VP1, VP2 and VP3 were determined and it was found that they were encoded by ORFs 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Amino acid homology studies revealed that VP1 has homology with the major structural protein of bacteriophages phi X174 and S13, and that the protein inferred from ORF 4 shows homology to the A proteins of phi X174, S13 and G4. The genome of Chp1 has an organization similar to that of phi X174 although it is 509 bases smaller. We propose that Chp1 is a member of the Microviridae but that it is sufficiently different to warrant its own subfamily which we have called the Chlamydiavirinae. PMID- 2607342 TI - Two related viroids cause grapevine yellow speckle disease independently. AB - We have confirmed that two closely related circular RNA molecules previously named grapevine yellow speckel viroid (GYSV) and grapevine viroid 1B (GV1B) are indeed viroids. Electron microscopy after spreading under non-denaturing conditions revealed that GYSV has a rod-like structure typical of viroids. Purified GYSV and GV1B replicated independently in inoculated grapevine seedlings and some of the infected plants developed yellow speckle symptoms indicating that both viroids can cause grapevine yellow speckle disease. Plus-sense RNA transcripts derived from a dimeric GYSV cDNA clone induced yellow speckle symptoms in a grapevine seedling confirming the role of GYSV in the yellow speckle disease. Two oligonucleotide probes were synthesized for the detection of the two related viroids. The probes which could detect each viroid individually were used to assess correlations between the occurrence of these viroids and the incidence of the disease. PMID- 2607343 TI - Molecular cloning and terminal sequence determination of the S and M RNAs of tomato spotted wilt virus. AB - Complementary DNA to the genomic RNA of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was synthesized and cloned in either pUC19 or lambda gt10. Restriction endonuclease maps were constructed from cDNA clones specific for the S and the M RNA segments, extending 3.0 and 5.4 kbp respectively. The nucleotide sequences of the 3' and 5' termini of both RNA molecules were determined. The S and M RNAs contain inverted complementary repeats at their termini, probably involved in RNA replication and in the formation of circular nucleocapsids in virions. The terminal structures of the TSWV genome resemble, in these aspects, those of the Bunyaviridae. PMID- 2607344 TI - Na+ and K+ concentration and regulation of protein synthesis in L-A9 and Aedes albopictus cells infected with Marituba virus (Bunyaviridae). AB - Infection of L-A9 cells with Marituba virus produces a severe inhibition of protein synthesis. This inhibition is temporally correlated with an increase in the intracellular Na+ concentration and a decrease in the intracellular K+ concentration. However, in Marituba virus-infected Aedes albopictus cells the intracellular level of Na+ and K+ ions and protein synthesis remained unaltered. Incubation of both cell types at high NaCl concentration facilitated the translation of viral RNA whereas the cellular protein synthesis was inhibited. Using a hypotonic medium, the opposite was found. Results are discussed in terms of a possible involvement of these ions in the viral translational process. PMID- 2607345 TI - Biosynthesis of elsamicin A, a novel antitumor antibiotic. AB - The 1H noise-decoupled 13C-nmr spectrum of elsamicin A [1] prepared from the cultures of an unknown actinomycete species (ATCC 39417) supplemented with [1 13C]acetate and [2-13C]acetate showed enrichment of all 19-carbons in the aglycone. In addition, L-[methyl-13C]methionine- and D-[1-13C]glucose supplemented cultures enriched the carbons of the two methyl groups on the disaccharide moiety and the C-1 carbons of the disaccharide, respectively. The results demonstrated that the aglycone of elsamicin A is derived entirely from acetate and the disaccharide portion is biosynthesized from two units of glucose and methionine. PMID- 2607346 TI - Cytotoxic macrolides from a cultured marine dinoflagellate of the genus Amphidinium. AB - A fourth cytotoxic macrolide, amphidinolide D[1], together with known amphidinolide B[2], has been isolated from a different batch of the cultured dinoflagellate Amphidinium sp., which was symbiotically associated with an Okinawan flatworm Amphiscolops sp. Two-dimensional nmr experiments including 1H detected heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation (HMBC) resulted in the structure assignment of 1 and structure revision of the diene moiety (C-13-C-15) of amphidinolide B. PMID- 2607347 TI - Novel secoiridoid lactones from Jasminum multiflorum. AB - Four new secoiridoid lactones, jasmolactones A [1], B [2], C [3], and D [4], were isolated from the aerial part of Jasminum multiflorum. The structures of these compounds, which contain a novel bicyclic 2-oxo-oxepano[4,5-c]pyran ring system, were established by spectral analyses and chemical correlations. Pharmacological testing revealed that jasmolactones B and D possess coronary vasodilating and cardiotropic activities. PMID- 2607348 TI - Antitumor agents, 110. Bryophyllin B, a novel potent cytotoxic bufadienolide from Bryophyllum pinnatum. AB - Bryophyllin B [1], a potent cytotoxic bufadienolide, has been isolated from Bryophyllum pinnatum and its structure confirmed by the use of 2D-nmr techniques and difference nOe method. Transformation of bryotoxin C [2] to 1 with acid is also discussed. PMID- 2607349 TI - A pentacyclic triterpene with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity from the roots of Commiphora merkeri. AB - A new pentacyclic triterpene [1] with anti-inflammatory activity was isolated from the roots of Commiphora merkeri. The structure was established on the basis of spectral data and conversion to its triacetate. PMID- 2607350 TI - Additional toxic, bitter saponins from the seeds of Chenopodium quinoa. AB - Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is an important Native American food grain. Prior to consumption, the seeds must be washed with H2O to remove bitterness and improve nutritive value. From the warm-H2O extract of quinoa seeds from Mexico, saponins 1-4 were isolated by monitoring the fractionation with brine shrimp lethality and a taste test for bitterness. By chemical, spectral, and enzymatic methods, 1-4 were identified as glycosides of oleanolic acid. Saponin 4, 3-O-[(beta-D xylopyranosyl)(1----3)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-6-O -methyl ester]-oleanolic acid, is a new natural compound. PMID- 2607351 TI - Turbinaric acid, a cytotoxic secosqualene carboxylic acid from the brown alga Turbinaria ornata. AB - A moderately cytotoxic secosqualene carboxylic acid designated turbinaric acid [1] has been isolated from the brown alga Turbinaria ornata, and it has been identified to be 4,8,13,17,21-pentamethyl-4,8,12,16,20-docosapentaenoic acid by means of spectral analysis and synthesis. PMID- 2607352 TI - Metachromin C, a new cytotoxic sesquiterpenoid from the Okinawan marine sponge Hippospongia metachromia. AB - A new sesquiterpenoid quinone, metachromin C[1], with potent cytotoxic activity has been isolated together with a known terpenoid metachromin A[2] from the Okinawan marine sponge Hippospongia metachromia and the structure determined by spectroscopic data, especially several types of 2D nmr spectra including 1H detected heteronuclear multiple-bone correlation (HMBC). PMID- 2607353 TI - A simple conversion of artemisinic acid into artemisinin. AB - Artemisinic acid [1] has been converted into artemisinin [3] in 2 steps via reduction of the exocyclic methylene group and photooxidation of the resulting dihydroartemisinic acid [2]. PMID- 2607354 TI - Isolation and characterization of an antimalarial agent of the neem tree Azadirachta indica. AB - The isolation and structure elucidation of gedunin [1], the antimalarial agent of Azadirachta indica, are reported. Its 1H- and 13C-nmr spectra were assigned by using one- and two-dimensional nmr spectroscopy, especially homonuclear and heteronuclear COSY, nOe difference, and COLOC experiments. PMID- 2607355 TI - Antimicrobial tetraprenylphenols from Suillus granulatus. AB - From fruit bodies of the basidiomycete Suillus granulatus the tetraprenylphenols 2-6 were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by means of chemical and spectroscopic methods. Compounds 4 and 5 possess antimicrobial properties. PMID- 2607356 TI - Antioxidant metabolites from the tunicate Amaroucium multiplicatum. AB - The antioxidant activity-directed analysis of the extract of the colonial tunicate Amaroucium multiplicatum enabled isolation of one novel chromene 2 and two novel hydroquinones 4 and 5, as well as previously reported compounds, as active compounds. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data (1H nmr, 13C nmr, ms, uv, and ir) and confirmed by chemical synthesis. The isolated compounds were more potent than two standard antioxidants on the inhibitory effects on lipid peroxide formation in rat liver microsomes and on soybean 15 lipoxygenase. PMID- 2607357 TI - Inhibition of protein-tyrosine kinase activity by flavanoids and related compounds. AB - A series of 22 flavanoids and related compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit the activity of a protein-tyrosine kinase purified from bovine thymocytes (p40). Flavones or flavanols with hydroxyl groups at C-5 and C-7 or with three hydroxyl groups on the phenyl ring were potent inhibitors of p40. The replacement of hydroxyl groups with methoxyl groups led to a substantial loss of inhibitory activity. The presence of methoxyl or rhamnosyl substituents at C-3 also abolished inhibitory activity. Kinetic analyses indicated that the flavone apigenin [2] was a competitive inhibitor of p40 with respect to ATP. Flavanones and isoflavones were relatively inactive as protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The isoflavone genistein [17], which has been reported as a potent inhibitor of both pp60(v=src) and the epidermal growth factor receptor, was not an inhibitor of p40. PMID- 2607358 TI - The new standard environmental inventory questionnaire for estimation of indoor concentrations. AB - Several investigators have developed indoor air quality questionnaires for use in field studies. The approach used in many of them have numerous features in common, but most of them are unique in their content (wording, format, item selection). It is thought that indoor air quality research could be greatly advanced if the primary or fundamental questions and instruments could be consolidated. The use of a basic set of "standard" questions would permit intercomparison of results from different research studies. It is generally agreed that environmental inventory questionnaires (EIQ) help to classify, at least in screening, relative concentration estimates, which precede exposure estimation. Thus, such instruments are not equivalent to monitoring for exposure assessment. However, data linkage and mega data bases are important for some comparative analyses of exposure assessment and exposure-response relationships. Standard instruments such as the EIQ are useful as a screening device to precede other tests to allow identification of potentially high exposure situations. They can also amplify information from other tests. General usage of standard questionnaires and protocols can lead to cumulative improvements in data collection, specificity and effectiveness. This has been the rationale for the present efforts by investigators to form a standardized environmental inventory questionnaire, under the auspices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Gas Research Institute (GRI), and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). PMID- 2607359 TI - Use of bioassay methods to evaluate mutagenicity of ambient air collected near a municipal waste combustor. AB - An ambient air sampling study was conducted around a municipal waste combustor; a primary goal was to develop procedures and methods to evaluate the emissions of organic mutagens resulting from incomplete combustion of municipal waste. The products of incomplete combustion from incineration include complex mixtures of organics, particularly polycyclic aromatic compounds, which are present after atmospheric dilution and cooling in emissions as semi-volatile or particle bound organic compounds. Combustion emissions are generally recognized as a potential cancer risk since they contain many carcinogenic and mutagenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Analyzing such a complex mixture for the presence of even a few selected chemicals is difficult and provides risk information on only a fraction of the chemicals present. Bioassay methods, however, may be directly applied to evaluate the mutagenic and potential carcinogenic activity of the complex organics from combustion emissions. The Salmonella (Ames) assay was used to determine the mutagenicity associated with particles from ambient air collected near a municipal waste combustor. Dose-response data was generated, and mutagenicity concentrations were calculated to demonstrate the utility of bioassay in assessing the potential impact of emissions from municipal waste combustion. This phase of study quantified mutagenicity concentrations in ambient air but did not detect organic mutagens that could be attributed to incinerator emissions. PMID- 2607360 TI - Pulmonary function changes associated with an air pollution episode in January 1987. AB - In January 1987, an air pollution episode occurred in central and western Europe. Levels of SO2, NO2, black smoke, sulphates and other components were elevated, with 24 hour average concentrations of SO2 reaching a maximum of close to 300 micrograms/m3 in an area in the southeast of the Netherlands. Pulmonary function was measured in a group of children of 6-12 years old at the end of the episode, and also two and three and a half weeks after the episode. A baseline lung function value was obtained about three months before the episode. Pulmonary function growth between baseline and retest dates was estimated from a simple growth model which was validated using measured pulmonary function growth data from a longitudinal study. A decline of pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1 and PEF) from predicted baseline levels was observed, starting on the last day of the episode. Two weeks after the episode, FVC, FEV1, PEF and MMEF were all decreased, and three and a half weeks after the episode, there was still a deficit compared to predicted baseline levels for FVC and FEV1. PMID- 2607361 TI - Inhalation route effects on exposure to 2.0 parts per million sulfur dioxide in normal subjects. AB - A number of investigations have attributed the control of the nasal to oral/nasal ventilation transition to nasal resistance. To investigate possible changes in nasal resistance due to sulfur dioxide (SO2) exposure, 14 subjects (7 men and 7 women), healthy non-smokers, between the ages of 20 and 46 years, were exposed for 30 minutes to filtered air while free breathing and to 2.0 ppm SO2 with either free breathing, forced oral or forced nasal breathing with continuous exercise at a workload 300 kg.m/min below the workload which initiated cross-over from nasal to oral/nasal breathing in a preliminary incremental workload test. An incremental work test under the ambient conditions was performed immediately following the 30-minute exercise to ascertain any change in the cross-over ventilation. Pre- and post-measures of pulmonary functions were obtained to ascertain any changes in these parameters due to the exposure. There was a significant difference in the workload at which cross-over occurred following forced oral breathing in 2.0 ppm sulfur dioxide. The nasal ventilation prior to cross-over and the nasal component of ventilation were significantly smaller for this exposure condition, indicating a possible change in nasal dynamics following the 30 minutes of forced oral breathing in 2.0 ppm SO2. Lack of concomitant changes in pulmonary function tests including airway resistance suggests that breathing 2.0 ppm SO2 does not affect normal subjects whether administration is by free, forced oral or forced nasal breathing. PMID- 2607362 TI - Estimating the effect of being indoors on total personal exposure to outdoor air pollution. AB - A personal air quality model (PAQM) has been developed to estimate the effect of being indoors on total personal exposure to outdoor-generated air pollution. Designed to improve air toxics risk assessment, PAQM accounts for individual hourly activity patterns, indoor-outdoor differences, physical exercise level, and geographic location for up to 56 different population groups. Unique hourly activity profiles are specified for each population group; group members are assigned each hour to one of up to 10 different indoor and outdoor microenvironments. To illustrate PAQM use, we apply it to two example cases: a long-term example representative of situations where pollutant health impact is related to integrated exposure (as in the case of potentially carcinogenic air toxics) and a short-term example representative of situations where health impact is related to acute exposure to peak concentrations (as with ozone). Case study results illustrate that personal exposure, and thus health risk, attributable to outdoor-generated air pollution is sensitive to indoor-outdoor differences and population mobility. Where health impact is related to long-term integrated exposure (e.g., air toxics), exposure and subsequent risk are likely to be lower than that estimated by previous modeling techniques which do not account for such effects. PMID- 2607363 TI - The superfund remedial action decision process: a review of fifty records of decision. AB - Although the Superfund remedial action decision process is a complex process involving a variety of technical, political, and public health issues, the primary goal of remedial action is the protection of public health. We performed an in-depth analysis of 50 post-SARA Records of Decision in order to characterize the role of risk assessment in the decision-making process and determine whether decisions are being made in an effective and environmentally protective manner. Our findings indicate that the majority of decisions to remediate Superfund sites are based on the existence of contamination per se and not on actual public health risk. Although hypothetical risk is an essential consideration, this gray area is not well-defined in the current decision-making process. The lack of assessment of the degree of risk reduction associated with the remedial alternatives evaluated and the lack of support indicating the effectiveness of the remedial alternatives selected also constitute major weaknesses in the majority of decisions. These inadequacies undermine rationales regarding the protectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the remedial alternatives selected. The fact that objectives beyond addressing public health risk are often unclear in the decision-making process also weakens rationales for cost-effectiveness. PMID- 2607364 TI - Indoor ozone exposures. AB - Indoor and outdoor ozone concentrations were measured from late May through October at three office buildings with very different ventilation rates. The indoor values closely tracked the outdoor values, and, depending on the ventilation rate, were 20 to 80 percent of those outdoors. The indoor/outdoor data are adequately described with a mass balance model. The model can also be coupled with reported air exchange rates to estimate indoor/outdoor ratios for other structures. The results from this and previous studies indicate that indoor concentrations are frequently a significant fraction of outdoor values. These observations, and the fact that most people spend greater than 90 percent of their time indoors, indicate that indoor ozone exposure (concentration X time) is greater than outdoor exposure for many people. Relatively inexpensive strategies exist to reduce indoor ozone levels, and these could be implemented to reduce the public's total ozone exposure. PMID- 2607365 TI - Particulate and nicotine sampling in public facilities and offices. AB - The purpose of this study was to characterize and measure indoor air quality in public facilities and office buildings. The pollutants of interest were particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, PM-2.5, and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Integrated PM-2.5 samples were taken on Teflon membrane filters using Harvard Aerosol Impactors as a pre-size selector. Filters were analyzed by gravimetric analysis. Nicotine, which was used as a marker for ETS, was collected on sodium-bisulfate-impregnanted, glass-fiber filters and was analyzed by gas chromatography. Twenty-one structures were monitored in Metropolitan Boston. Measured particle concentrations ranged from 6.0 micrograms/m3 to about 550 micrograms/m3. Nicotine concentrations were as high as 26 micrograms/m3 in a designated smoking room. Real-time measurements were also taken using two types of nephelometers; a Handheld Aerosol Monitor (HAM) and a Miniature Real-Time Aerosol Monitor (MINIRAM). Short-term field measurements with these instruments correlated better with the integrated PM-2.5 concentrations in smoking locations than with concentrations in non-smoking areas. PMID- 2607366 TI - Air levels and mutagenicity of PM-10 in an indoor ice arena. PMID- 2607367 TI - The autonomy of the practitioner. PMID- 2607368 TI - At what cost a free market: a review of antitrust laws versus professional ethics. PMID- 2607370 TI - Problems and problem-solving strategies during the first 12 years of dental practice. PMID- 2607369 TI - Attitudes of consumers toward dentistry and dentists. PMID- 2607371 TI - Decision process of the dental consumer. PMID- 2607372 TI - The drill versus the Caridex CRS: patient experience. PMID- 2607373 TI - Twelve important steps toward office infection control. PMID- 2607374 TI - A comparison of patient satisfaction using two different support systems. PMID- 2607375 TI - Determining left and right orientation of duplicate radiographs. PMID- 2607376 TI - Restrictive covenant--enforceability when too restrictive. PMID- 2607377 TI - Understanding dental office cash flow. PMID- 2607378 TI - A study of staff member perceptions of performance appraisals: tendencies and implications. PMID- 2607379 TI - Guest relations: are you doing enough in your office? PMID- 2607380 TI - Urinary creatinine excretion is not stable: a new method for assessing urinary toxic substance concentrations. AB - Urinary concentrations of toxic substances require correction to adjust for the misleading effects of varying states of hydration. The most common method in current use involves calculation of substance-to-creatinine concentration ratios. For accuracy, this method assumes creatinine excretion rates to be stable despite varying rates of urinary flow. However, this underlying assumption has been challenged in recent studies. Our evaluation of separate data regarding individual voids confirmed that creatinine excretion rate depends significantly (p less than .0001) on urinary flow. We calculated a logarithmic regression model identical to one reported previously. The partial correlation coefficient for log flow was .21 after adjusting for inter-individual differences in creatinine excretion rates. We propose a simple method to correct creatinine concentrations in "spot" urine samples for the effects of varying hydration. The new method retains many benefits of the classical correction by substance-creatinine ratios. PMID- 2607381 TI - AIDS in the workplace. AB - In a survey of 67 corporations done in 1987 and 1988, 66 were found to have had employees with human immunodeficiency virus infections. The numbers and backgrounds of the infected employees tend to reflect the experience of the surrounding community. These employees were accommodated in keeping with published public health and social guidelines, without significant event. Responsible intervention should include defined medically and socially appropriate policy statements, effective education, and various forms of direct care. PMID- 2607382 TI - Allergy to laboratory animals: a prospective and cross-sectional study. AB - Allergies among animal handlers to their subjects is a problem of high prevalence and relatively low morbidity but with often serious career implications. This study sought to determine whether historical factors, such as general allergic symptoms and atopic indicators, could be used to predict which animal handlers would be affected with allergies to laboratory animals (ALA). In a prospective study, 169 laboratory workers with animal exposure were surveyed by questionnaire for these factors in 1985 and again 2 years later. The presence of three general allergic symptoms (relative risk = 4.29) and three historical atopic indicators (relative risk = 2.50) were moderately predictive of the new onset of ALA. This suggests that those animals handlers with allergic histories are at greater risk of developing ALA, although this is a relatively nonspecific marker. In a concurrent prevalence study, the measurement of airborne rat urinary protein was significantly associated with the presence of ALA (prevalence ratio = 1.75). The measurement of airborne allergens could be helpful in monitoring the effectiveness of air handling equipment with the ultimate goal of reducing the incidence of ALA. PMID- 2607383 TI - Suicide in the workplace: incidence, victim characteristics, and external cause of death. AB - Although there is considerable information on suicide in the general population, little is known about those who kill themselves at work. This research uses data from the National Traumatic Occupational Fatality data base to describe suicide in the workplace. During 1980 to 1985, 3% of deaths in the NTOF data base were suicides, and the average annual rate was 2.3 per million workers. Risk of workplace suicide increases with increasing age. Men have more than seven times the risk of women; whites have a risk ratio of 1.6 compared with blacks. Women use the same methods but in different proportions than men at work or suicide victims in general. Men in military service and in the agriculture/forestry/fishery industry appear at highest risk of killing themselves at work based on these data. PMID- 2607384 TI - Respiratory allergy and specific immunoglobin E and immunoglobin G antibodies to reactive dyes used in the wool industry. AB - Respiratory symptoms among six employees in wool dye-houses in the United Kingdom were investigated. Clinical histories revealed that all had work-related respiratory symptoms, which they associated with exposure to Lanasol dyes. Five of the six subjects had specific Immunoglobin E to human serum albumin conjugates of one or more of the dyes to which they were exposed, providing evidence of sensitization to these dyes. In two subjects there was a definite association between symptoms to a particular dye, and specific IgE to an albumin conjugate of that dye. Specific IgG was found in exposed subjects, irrespective of the presence of allergic symptoms, indicating that specific IgG reflects exposure rather than clinical sensitization. Four of the six subjects had specific IgG4; this was only present in the subjects with respiratory allergy and specific IgE. PMID- 2607385 TI - Occupational risks for brain cancer: a New Zealand Cancer Registry-based study. AB - Occupational risks for brain cancer were evaluated in a New Zealand Cancer Registry-based case-control study. The case subjects were 452 men aged 20 years or older registered under classifications 191 (Cancer of the brain) and 192 (Cancer of other and unspecified parts of the nervous system) of the International Classification of Disease (9th ed) from 1980 to 1984 for whom occupational information was available. The remaining 19,452 men with other cancers registered during an excess of professional and technical workers. An increased risk among workers in agriculture, forestry, and fishing was due to an excess of brain cancer in farmers, with the highest risk found for livestock farmers. Although many comparisons have been made, some of the findings support previous studies and several new hypotheses are suggested. PMID- 2607386 TI - Diagnosis of anhydride sensitivity. PMID- 2607387 TI - Incorporation of directional effects of the retina into computations of optical transfer functions of human eyes. AB - Two-dimensional optical transfer functions (OTF's) of individual human eyes are computed from the retinal images of a point test object, using a phase-retrieval method. The retinal reflection directionality effect is included in the computations by means of an apodization pupil, and subsequently the Stiles Crawford effect is also considered. The modulation transfer functions obtained when the retinal reflection directionality effect is considered show lower values of the modulation; on the other hand, their two-dimensional form and the corresponding phase transfer functions remain practically unchanged. The importance of the Stiles-Crawford apodization depends on the wave aberration of the individual subject, but in general it produces an improvement in image quality, and the modulation transfer function becomes more symmetrical. PMID- 2607388 TI - Motion nulls for white versus isochromatic gratings in infants and adults. AB - The relative sensitivity of infants and adults to luminance modulations of 2.6 cd/m2, 0.3-cycle/deg broadband isochromatic red, green, or blue test gratings was measured with a motion-nulling technique. Optokinetic nystagmus was used as the response measure. Each test grating was pitted against a standard, 2.6-cd/m2, 50% contrast white grating, and the contrast of the test grating required for a motion null was determined. The results were similar for both age groups. Both infants and adults required approximately 50% contrast in the red and green gratings, but only about 25% contrast in the blue grating, to produce a motion null. Quantitative analysis of the results suggests that a peripheral photopic luminance mechanism, with or without a small scotopic contribution, controls optokinetic nystagmus responses in all subjects under these conditions. PMID- 2607389 TI - Psychological practice in a pediatric rehabilitation hospital. AB - Described 127 consecutive referrals to a newly formed psychological consultation service in a pediatric rehabilitation hospital. This setting served children whose needs for comprehensive care and long-term hospitalization could not be met effectively elsewhere in the community. The complex patient population included children with permanent mental and/or physical handicaps who had survived due to advances in medical technology, those with traumatic or congenital brain injury, failure to thrive, feeding problems, apnea, tracheostomy, child abuse, and psychosomatic disorders. A range of psychological services were offered, including specialized assessments and treatment planning for rehabilitation, home and school placement, direct treatment and monitoring of behavioral progress, and consultation with staff. Implications for the practice of pediatric psychology and service delivery to patients in pediatric rehabilitation settings are discussed. PMID- 2607390 TI - Boys with hypospadias: a survey of behavioral difficulties. AB - Studied behavior problems and gender-role behavior of psychiatrically unselected boys (N = 69; ages 6-10 years) with mild or severe hypospadias, a genital anomaly. Parents completed standardized questionnaires in a postal survey. Subjects showed more behavior problems and lower social competency than nonclinical subjects but were better adjusted than a psychiatric-clinical control group. More severe anomalies were associated with increased behavior problems and poorer school performance. Boys with hypospadias had more cross-gender behavior which, however, was not associated with severity of the condition. Surgery related hospitalizations were correlated with poorer school performance and increased cross-gender behavior. A history of hypospadias did not appear to have a lasting negative impact on the family. PMID- 2607391 TI - Stress, social support, and depressive symptomatology in children with congenital/acquired limb deficiencies. AB - Ongoing chronic strain of living with limb deficiencies and normal daily hassles may interact to produce a negative impact on adjustment. Degree of limb loss, daily hassles/microstressors, and classmate, parent, teacher, and friend social support were investigated as predictors of depressive symptomatology in 27 children with congenital/acquired limb deficiencies. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were utilized to test the main effects and buffering interactions effects models of the stress-social support-depressive symptomatology relationship. Degree of limb loss was not a significant predictor. Microstressors and classmate, parent, and teacher social support were all significant predictors of depressive symptomatology. None of the Stress X Social Support interaction terms were statistically significant. The overall model of stress and social support predicted 73% of the variance in depressive symptomatology. PMID- 2607392 TI - Intellectual, motor, and language sequelae following closed head injury in infants and preschoolers. AB - Examined cognitive and motor performance during the subacute stage of recovery and 8 months postinjury in 21 infants and preschoolers who sustained a closed head injury (CHI). Children sustaining severe CHI, who exhibited impaired consciousness for at least 1 day, were impaired on measures of intelligence, motor, expressive language, and receptive language functions on the baseline and follow-up evaluations relative to children with mild-moderate injuries. Irrespective of injury severity, motor and expressive language functions were the most vulnerable to the effects of CHI. Results are discussed in terms of the rate of development of cognitive functions. PMID- 2607393 TI - Early assessment of sensorimotor and cognitive development in high-risk infants. AB - Assessed 88 infants at risk for mental retardation on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and a measure of visual recognition memory at 3 months corrected age. Bayley scales were administered again when the infants were 1-year-old. At 3 months of age the Bayley scales and the measure of visual recognition memory were not significantly correlated. Both measures, however, showed significant correlation to the Bayley scales administered at 1 year of age. Results from regression analyses indicated that each measure at 3 months of age was related to a different source of variance in the 1-year measure. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that at 3 months of age the visual recognition memory measure is a better early window into later cognitive development than the Bayley scales. PMID- 2607394 TI - Psychological and physiological responses to acute laboratory stressors in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus adolescents and nondiabetic controls. AB - Thirty 11- to 18-year old adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) of at least 1-year duration and 15 nondiabetic controls were subjected to three laboratory stressors: a venipuncture and two public-speaking tasks. Half of the IDDM participants were in good metabolic control prior to the inception of the experiment and half were in poor control. The IDDM adolescents in poor control and the nondiabetics were matched to the well-controlled IDDM group on the basis of age, sex, and race. The two IDDM groups were also matched on disease duration. Self-report, behavioral, and physiological measures of anxiety or arousal were monitored during the stress. PMID- 2607395 TI - Childhood cancer stereotype: impact on adult perceptions of children. AB - Explored the possibility that biased expectations might affect how adults respond to children diagnosed as in remission from cancer. The presence of a childhood cancer stereotype was investigated experimentally by assessing reactions of undergraduates and medical students to children described with either an in remission from leukemia label (RLL) or healthy label (HL). RLL children were rated as less sociable, less cognitively competent, less behaviorally active and well behaved, less physically potent, littler, and less likely to adjust well to the future than HL children. Undergraduates and medical students generally did not differ in their ratings of RLL and HL children. Medical students reported that they were more familiar with childhood cancer than undergraduates; however, familiarity was not related to ratings of the RLL or HL children. Implications for further research and health education practices are considered. PMID- 2607396 TI - Behavioral adjustment of pediatric burn victims. AB - Investigated the relationship of a variety of biopsychosocial variables to maternal ratings of children's psychosocial adjustment in a sample of 68 child burn survivors. Results indicated that (a) the mean maternal ratings of behavioral adjustment for pediatric burn patients did not differ from those reported for nonburned, nonclinic children, (b) a relatively small but statistically significant percentage of children had overall adjustment scores in the deviant range, and (c) little variance in the behavioral outcome measures was accounted for on the basis of three sets of predictor variables (demographic, burn severity, injury visibility) hypothesized to influence children's adjustment. Results suggest that the prevalence of behavioral disturbance in long term pediatric burn survivors may be lower than previous reports have indicated. Implications of the results for consultation and future research are discussed. PMID- 2607397 TI - The psychosocial impact of play on hospitalized children. AB - Compared the effects of play on the psychosocial adjustment of 46 children hospitalized for acute illness, who were placed in one of four groups: therapeutic play, diversionary play, verbal support, and no treatment. Ratings of psychological adjustment included self-report, as well as nurse and parent ratings. Children in the therapeutic play condition evidenced a significant reduction in self-reported hospital fears. Parent ratings were not affected by therapeutic treatments; rather, parents in all four groups rated their children less anxious from pre- to posttesting. Results are discussed in terms of methodological considerations that have affected outcomes in this type of research. PMID- 2607398 TI - The Pediatric Symptom Checklist: validation in the real world of middle school. AB - Examined the validity of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), a brief parent completed psychosocial screening questionnaire, in a sample of 166 students from a public middle school. Positive screening on the parent PSC was significantly associated with independent ratings by the students' guidance counselor and teachers of the need for regular counseling; any academic failure during the next 2 years; and PSCs competed by the students about themselves. Most students who screened positive on the parent PSC were found to have significant problems in at least one of the above areas. The PSC also identified a group of students whose difficulties were previously unknown to school personnel. For pediatric psychologists, guidance counselors, and pediatricians who need to identify middle school students with serious psychosocial problems, the PSC appears to be a valid and useful first-stage screening instrument. PMID- 2607399 TI - MMPI special scale clinical correlates for adolescent inpatients. AB - Little research has focused on the clinical correlates of adolescents' Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) special scale responses. We investigated the clinical correlates of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC), Anxiety (A), Repression (R), and Ego Strength (Es) scales, based on self-reported data from 68 inpatient adolescents and ratings by their nursing staff and individual therapists. Parametric and nonparametric analyses revealed patterns of clinically relevant descriptors for these scales in a manner largely consistent with findings derived from studies of adult respondents. Results are discussed in terms of implications for interpretation of each of these special scales and in relation to a general approach to understanding adolescents' MMPI profiles. PMID- 2607400 TI - Utility of the MMPI in a geriatric population. AB - Despite the popularity of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), there exists a relative dearth of normative and validity research regarding its use with persons over the age of 60. Our investigation was designed to examine the MMPI performance of both a normal and a clinical sample of older men and women. Specifically, a nonpatient community sample of 204 subjects and an outpatient psychiatric sample of 30 subjects, between the ages of 60 and 90, were administered the MMPI as well as structured psychiatric interview, the Psychiatric Status Schedule (PSS). Results revealed that, on most of the MMPI scales, the mean scores were well above the norms (i.e., 5-10 t-score points). Through comparisons between the clinical and community subjects as well as between MMPI and PSS performance, the MMPI demonstrated substantial discriminative and concurrent criterion validity within this geriatric sample. The results of the study suggest that, with a few important exceptions, the MMPI, as generally utilized, is valid for use in the geriatric population. PMID- 2607401 TI - Sex differences on the revised Beck Depression Inventory for outpatients with affective disorders. AB - The revised Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was administered to 174 male and 276 female psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with affective disorders. The mean BDI scores, mean number of symptoms claimed, and corrected item-total correlations were comparable for both sexes, and the coefficient alpha for each sex was .88. Principal components analyses found four dimensions of depression underlying both sexes' BDI item-intercorrelation matrices. Although men and women had comparable dimensions with respect to weight loss, self-blame, and somatic-performance symptoms, men had affective and performance symptoms loading on the same factor, whereas women had affective and cognitive symptoms loading on the same dimension. PMID- 2607402 TI - The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire: a further evaluation. AB - The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ; Blatt, D'Afflitti, & Quinlan, 1976b) was designed to assess the introjective and anaclitic personality dimensions hypothesized by Blatt (1974) to underlie different forms of depression. Welkowitz, Lish, and Bond (1985) revised the DEQ (RDEQ) in order to simplify its scoring and facilitate cross-gender comparisons. The study described herein explored the relation between the original and revised forms of the DEQ and assessed the reliability and validity of the Welkowitz et al. (1985) version of the inventory. Two samples were employed: (a) 163 psychiatric outpatients; and (b) 144 adolescent and young-adult offspring of patients with major affective disorders, chronic physical diseases, and normal controls. The results indicated that the three scales comprising the RDEQ were highly correlated with the corresponding scales from the original DEQ, however, the original and revised forms of the inventory exhibited different patterns of intercorrelations between scales. The RDEQ was internally consistent and stable over a 6-month period. In addition, it exhibited the predicted patterns of relationships with interview and self-report measures of depression and depressive personality traits and cognitive styles. Finally, the RDEQ was significantly associated with the course of depression in a 6-month follow-up study. The findings were generally similar across samples and genders. Overall, these results support the reliability and validity of the RDEQ, but indicate that there are important structural differences between the original and revised forms of the inventory. PMID- 2607403 TI - Discriminating psychotic and affective disorders using the WAIS-R. AB - Although there are compelling theoretical explications linking performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) with specific nosological groups, research findings have been inconsistent in demonstrating such relations. Three shortcomings can be identified within this literature: (a) it focuses mostly on the WAIS, (b) it relies on pre-Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed. [DSM-III], American Psychiatric Association, 1980) criteria, and (c) it employs transformed scores or composite indices of WAIS performance. This article attempts to link performance variability on the WAIS-R (Revised) with diagnostic membership. The hypotheses of Rapaport, Gill, and Schafer (1968) are used to evaluate the clinical significance of the resulting discriminant equation. PMID- 2607404 TI - Personality assessment with children of superior intelligence: divergence versus psychopathology. AB - The perceptual and cognitive functioning of children with intelligence quotients greater than 135 was examined with the Rorschach Inkblot Test. A criterion measure, the Child Behavior Checklist, was also administered so as to determine whether deviations for Rorschach variables from age-appropriate norms indicated the presence of psychopathology or were evidence of nonentrenched, novel, or creative styles of encoding and processing information. Rorschach variables indicative of intellectual sophistication, nonentrenched thinking or inaccurate reality perception, and cognitive slippage were reliably elevated for this sample versus norms. Results for the Child Behavior Checklist demonstrated that the incidence of psychopathology in the intellectually superior and average samples were comparable. There was a lack of covariance between Rorschach makers of inaccurate reality perception, cognitive slippages, and schizophrenia, and the sum of behavior problems on the Child Behavior Checklist. Results for the Rorschach and Child Behavior Checklist variables were comparable for children with intelligence quotients greater than 150 versus between 136 and 140. It was concluded that the intellectually superior children did process the Rorschach stimuli in a manner that was nonentrenched and reliably different from norms, but that these differences should not routinely be considered as indications of psychopathology. PMID- 2607406 TI - Rorschach Egocentricity Index and self-concept in children and adolescents. AB - In a sample of 65 child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients, the hypothesized relation between the Egocentricity Index from the Rorschach and standard self report measures of self-concept was not supported. Although the sample as a group had a markedly low mean Egocentricity Index, self-reported self-concept was at a normative level. The validity of the Egocentricity Index and self-report measures of self-concept is discussed, and guidelines for their interpretation are presented. PMID- 2607405 TI - Assessment of children's Type A behavior: relationship with negative behavioral characteristics and children and teacher demographic characteristics. AB - Thirty-two teachers rated Type A behavior, using Matthews Youth Test for Health, (MYTH) and negative characteristics of hyperactivity, negative peer relations, social withdrawal, and depression in 105 children, between the ages of 6 and 11, from lower to middle class Black and White families. Children's age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status (SES) and teachers' gender, grade taught, and years of teaching experience were not related to teachers' MYTH ratings. However, White teachers rated children higher on Type A behavior than Black teachers. Controlling for teacher race effects, MYTH total scores, rather than reflecting a global negative view of the child, showed a strong overlap with hyperactivity and were differentiated from social withdrawal and depression. The MYTH Impatience/Aggression factor was highly related to hyperactivity and negative peer interactions; the Competitiveness factor was associated with a lack of social withdrawal. The conclusions verify the multidimensional nature of children's Type A behavior pattern and the importance of rater demographic characteristics in the assessment of children's behavior. PMID- 2607407 TI - Measuring volunteers for exciting psychology experiments with the Sensation Seeking Scale. AB - The sensation-seeking motive was first operationalized by Zuckerman, Kolin, Price, and Zoob (1964) with the development of the Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS). One area of applied research in which the SSS has been used is the study of volunteering. In this area, evidence suggests that high-sensation seekers volunteer for exciting activities more often than low-sensation seekers, but not for unexciting activities. However, a problem with this research is that no empirical data has been obtained related to the subject's belief of the exciting nature of the activities. In this study, college students were given the most recent form of the SSS and were asked to volunteer for either or both of two studies. SSS scores were higher, p less than .05, for volunteers than for nonvolunteers for a study that subjects rated as exciting, but did not differ for a study that subjects rated as unexciting. This demonstrates that volunteers for exciting studies, but not volunteers for unexciting studies, tend to be higher sensation seekers than nonvolunteers. PMID- 2607408 TI - On competence and ethicality in psychodiagnostic assessment. AB - To function competently, psychodiagnosticians must have an accurate sense of what their tests can and cannot do. To function ethically, they must act accordingly- expressing only opinions that are consonant with the current status of validity data. Psychologists who extol tests as doing more than is commonly known they can or who denigrate them as doing less than is commonly known they can are behaving unethically. PMID- 2607409 TI - Concurrent validation of Hutt's Bender Gestalt screening method for schizophrenia, depression, and brain damage. AB - The effectiveness of Hutt's Bender Gestalt scoring system in screening for schizophrenia, depression, and brain damage was investigated in a sample of mixed, psychiatric inpatients. Fifteen patients represented each diagnostic category. After an examination of each patient's Bender Gestalt protocol according to Hutt's criteria, it was found that the true positive and true negative success rates of the screening procedures for depression and brain damage were significantly higher than corresponding base rates. The Lacks Bender Gestalt screening method for brain damage was no more successful than the Hutt method in identifying true positives and true negatives. With the brain-damaged patients excluded, Hutt's screening procedures for both depression and schizophrenia resulted in significantly high rates of successful identification of true positives and true negatives. Moreover, these rates did not significantly differ from those determined by patients' Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) T scores on corresponding scales. PMID- 2607410 TI - [The effect of cross-linked protein microcapsules on cell cultures]. AB - Microcapsules (diameter range: 5 to 100 microns) prepared through interfacial cross-linking of proteins with terephthaloylchloride exhibited a cytotoxic effect on L 1210 cell cultures. IC50 was: 0.86 mg/ml +/- 0.24 for microcapsules prepared from human serum albumin (AT microcapsules) and 0.63 mg/ml +/- 0.05 for those obtained from egg white lysozyme (LT microcapsules). With K 562 cells IC50 were 0.42 +/- 0.11 mg/ml (AT microcapsules), 0.06 mg/ml (LT microcapsules). An increase in the cytotoxicity was observed when reducing the size of the microcapsules and when increasing the reaction pH or the terephthaloylchloride concentration, or the relative concentration of microcapsules vs cells. On the contrary, the cytotoxic effect decreased, when prolonging the cross-linking time. The activity was not affected when the microcapsules were washed with toluene or with an alkaline solute. The cytotoxic effect, which appears for relatively high doses, apparently involves a contact between the microcapsules and the cells and seems to be related with the degree of cross-linking of the constitutive protein. PMID- 2607411 TI - [Lipemia and apolipoproteinemia B in overweight, smoking men aged 30 to 55 years]. AB - Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B were studied in male subjects with no known risk factor for coronary heart disease. Overweight in this study was associated with higher serum cholesterol concentrations and lower HDL-cholesterol levels. The effects of cigarette smoking on the concentrations of HDL-cholesterol and LDL cholesterol appear to be prominent in the heavy smoking subjects (p less than 0.010 and p less than 0.050 respectively). A positive association between cigarette smoking and serum triglycerides was found. This work suggests that HDL cholesterol is the best indicator to discriminate both cigarette smokers or subjects having overweight at risk of developing atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease. PMID- 2607412 TI - [The pharmacologic action of extracts of Polygonum punctatum Elliot (= P. acre HBK)]. AB - In vivo pharmacological studies were carried out with the aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of P. punctatum Elliot. Previously we have made a phytochemical screening and a essay of acute toxicity. The extracts exhibited an inhibition of the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema, at doses of 300 and 600 mg.kg-1 p.o. and the hydroalcoholic extract at a dose range of 100-600 mg.kg-1 p.o. reduced significantly the increase of the vascular permeability induced by histamine. The extracts showed antipyretic activity only by i.p. administration. The gastrointestinal propulsion of a charcoal suspension was affected by both extracts, but significantly only by the aqueous extract. They elicited bradycardia and lowered the arterial blood pressure, but they do not demonstrate analgesic and diuretic activities. The pharmacological effects assayed are discussed in relation to the chemical composition of this plant and also to its popular use. PMID- 2607413 TI - [Reactions and interactions of drugs]. PMID- 2607414 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of sodium 4-[alpha-hydroxy-5-(1-imidazolyl)-2-methylbenzyl]-3,5 dimethylbenzoate (Y-20811), a new thromboxane synthetase inhibitor. I. Isolation and structure elucidation of urinary metabolite in dog]. AB - The urinary metabolites of sodium 4-[alpha-hydroxy-5-(1-imidazolyl)-2 methylbenzyl]-3,5-dimethylbenzoat e (Y-20811) in dog were investigated. The main metabolite was isolated by high performance liquid chromatography and subsequent preparative thin layer chromatography. The structure of this metabolite was established as 4-[alpha-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-5-(1-imidazolyl)benzyl]-3,5- dimethylbenzoic acid on the basis of spectral analyses and confirmed by its total synthesis. PMID- 2607415 TI - [Evaluation of excised loach skin for studies on transdermal permeation of drugs in vitro]. AB - Transdermal permeation of drug across the excised skin of Asian pond loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus Cantor) was studied in vitro. Ten kinds of drugs, D glucose, L-glucose, sucrose, salicylic acid, cefazolin, urea, antipyrine, naphazoline, propranolol and enviomycin were permeated through the excised loach skin, whereas dextran, a polysaccharide, could not be permeated through the skin. The observed transdermal flux (J), the slope of the line obtained from plots of the cumulative amount of drug permeated vs. time, increased as the drug concentration in the donor compartment solution (50----300 mM), as the temperature of the skin (test solution) increased (4----37 degrees C), or as the molecular weight of compound decreased. These results suggested that the transport of drug across the loach skin was due to the passive diffusion mechanism. The effect of pH on the permeation of drug could not be elucidated since the loach skin was drastically impaired below pH 5.0. The J values of antipyrine and naphazoline varied in proportion to the drug concentration in the donor compartment solution at time zero (C0). The permeability constants (Kp, cm.h-1) of antipyrine and naphazoline were 12.9 x 10(-2) and 9.2 x 10(-2), respectively. However, the J values of salicylic acid and urea were not proportional to C0 in high concentration (300 mM). Probably, these results were related to the irritative effect of salicylic acid or urea on the skin. PMID- 2607416 TI - [Effects of extract from a herbal drug, cnidium rhizome (senkyu), on contraction, heart rates and membrane potentials of isolated guinea pig atria]. AB - Effects of extract from a herb, Cnidium rhizome (Senkyu), on isolated guinea pig atria were investigated pharmacologically and electrophysiologically. The methanol extract from Cnidium rhizome decreased the contraction and slightly increased the heart rates of the isolated atria. Extracts from five other herbs, such as Japanese anglica root (Toki), Peony root (Shakuyaku), Moutan bark (Botanpi), Glycyrrhiza (Kanzo), Bupleurum (Saiko), affected neither the contraction nor the heart rates. The methanol extract from Cnidium rhizome was fractionated with chloroform and water fractions. The chloroform fraction exerted potent negative inotropic and chronotropic effects in isolated atria. The contraction was attenuated by two major components in the chloroform fraction, ligustilide and senkyunolide, but the heart rates were scarcely affected by these components. The chloroform fraction induced changes in resting potentials and configurations of normal action potentials recorded in the isolated left atria: the resting potentials were depolarized, and the upstroke velocity of the action potentials decreased. Neither ligustilide nor senkyunolide exerted such effects. The upstroke velocity of action potentials recorded in partially depolarized atria was reduced by the chloroform fraction as well as ligustilide and senkyunolide. The mechanisms underlying the effects of the extract from Cnidium rhizome were discussed. PMID- 2607417 TI - [Anti-ulcer effect of extract from phellodendri cortex]. AB - In chinese medicine, Phellodendri Cortex (Phellodendron amurense Ruprecht) has been used to treat the patient who suffers from gastroenteritis, abdominal pain or diarrhea. Berberine has been identified as a major component in this plant, and it has biological activities, such as bactericidal activity, anti-cholera toxin effect, anti-inflammatory effect, stimulative effect of bile secretion or bilirubin discharge. In the previous study, we have shown the presence of anti inflammatory activity in the berberine-free fraction of the extract from this plant. In the present study, we also found anti-ulcer activity in the fraction. The fraction significantly inhibited the formation of ethanol-induced ulcer, aspirin-induced ulcer (s.c., p.o.), pylorus-ligated ulcer (p.o., i.d.) in rats, as well as that of stress ulcer in restrained and water-immersed mice (p.o.). In addition, gastric acid secretion was significantly reduced in pylorus-ligated rats by subcutaneous or intraduodenal administration of the fraction, but not by oral administration. These findings suggest that the suppression of ulcer formation may be due to the additive effect of the cytoprotection effect and the reduction of gastric acid secretion by administration of the berberine-free fraction. PMID- 2607418 TI - [Studies on the constituents of "Trichosanthes root". IV. Constituents of roots of Trichosanthes multiloba Miq., Trichosanthes miyagii Hay. and Chinese crude drug "karo-kon"]. AB - A mixture of alpha-spinasterol, stigmast-7-en-3-beta-ol (1) and its 3-O-beta-D glucopyranoside (2), bryonolic acid (3), 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin B (4), cucurbitacin B (5), cucurbitacin D (6) were obtained from the fresh roots of Trichosanthes multiloba Miq. (Cucurbitaceae). 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 were also obtained from the fresh roots of Trichosanthes miyagii Hay. From the chinese crude drug "Karo-Kon", which was considered to be prepared from the roots of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim., 1, 2 and 3 were provided. PMID- 2607419 TI - Lower extremity peripheral vascular disease. Part 1: Scanning electron microscopy. AB - The surgical loss of the foot or leg is vigorously resisted by podiatrists who are committed to the conservation of limbs at risk because of peripheral vascular disease. Pathologic changes in blood vessels may, however, progress to a point where no other option is available to the patient. This study assesses amputation of the extremities and investigates tissue alterations that can be identified in diseased blood vessels implicated in these circumstances. Gross pathology and scanning electron microscopy are examined in this, the first of a two-part study. PMID- 2607420 TI - Anatomical study of the sesamoid bones of the first metatarsal. AB - The authors undertake an anatomical study of the sesamoid apparatus to determine its mechanical functions. The intersesamoid ligament is of particular interest, since its functions are diverse and complex. The sesamoid apparatus appears to coordinate the various forces that converge upon the forefoot into the great toe. The apparatus then seems to form part of a catapult that assists propulsion. PMID- 2607421 TI - Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the foot and ankle in children and adolescents. AB - Over a 12-year period, seven adolescent patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy were seen in the Mayo Clinic Foot Clinic. The details of these cases are presented, and the literature pertaining to reflex sympathetic dystrophy in children is reviewed. PMID- 2607422 TI - Coexistent gout and rheumatoid arthritis. AB - Gout and rheumatoid arthritis are relatively common entities individually; however, the coexistence of these two conditions has been reported rarely in the literature. The authors present a case that was followed for 20 years. The patient was seen by the acknowledged internist and podiatrist. Criteria for the evaluation and diagnosis of each disease entity are discussed and correlated to the case reported. Various theories and research attempting to explain the negative coexistence of gout and rheumatoid arthritis are presented. PMID- 2607423 TI - Wound healing. Oral and topical activity of Aloe vera. AB - The influence of Aloe vera, orally and topically, on wound healing was studied. Wounds were induced on both sides of the vertebral column of ICR mice using a biopsy punch. For the oral study, experimental animals received A. vera in their drinking water for 2 months, whereas the control animals received only water. In the topical study, experimental animals were given 25% A. vera in Eucerin cream topically. The control animals received cream only. A 62.5% reduction in wound diameter was noted in mice receiving 100 mg/kg/day oral A. vera and a 50.8% reduction was recorded in animals receiving topical 25% A. vera. These data suggest that A. vera is effective by both oral and topical routes of administration. PMID- 2607424 TI - An improved approach to evacuation of subungual hematoma. AB - An improved approach to subungual hematoma evacuation has been presented. Hand held cautery is a cost-effective, precise method of treatment of subungual hematoma. Its use decreases the likelihood of unnecessary delay in the regrowth of the nail plate and secondary dystrophy that might result from pressure on the matrix caused by accumulated blood under the nail. The high temperature and fine tip make the cautery an excellent instrument to precisely and painlessly burn a small hole in the nail plate, allowing for evacuation of subungual hematoma. PMID- 2607425 TI - Equality in hospital privileges. PMID- 2607426 TI - A comparison of the effects of denervation on the mechanical properties of rat and guinea-pig skeletal muscle. AB - 1. A fast (extensor digitorum longus) and slow (soleus) twitch muscle were denervated in rats and guinea-pigs and isometric and isotonic contractions were followed for periods of up to 6 months after. 2. The decay of tetanic tension with time could be described as exponential. The rate of decay of tension was greatest in rat soleus and least in guinea-pig soleus by a factor of more than three. The fast muscles atrophied at intermediate rates. 3. The contraction and relaxation times of soleus and extensor digitorum longus of rat, initially prolonged by denervation, became shorter after 3 weeks. There was no such reversal in either guinea-pig muscle, indeed extensor digitorum longus twitch became even more prolonged. Guinea-pig muscles often showed signs of repetitive response to a single stimulus, resulting in distortion of relaxation of the twitch. 4. There was a slowing of isotonic shortening velocity in the late stage of denervation of guinea-pig extensor digitorum longus, accompanied by a fall in the rate of development of isometric tetanic tension. There was a just significant (P less than 0.1) increase in the shortening velocity of rat soleus. None of the other muscles showed any change in either rate characteristic. 5. In guinea-pig extensor digitorum longus the type I fibres atrophied less than type II fibres; in all other muscles the atrophy was more uniform, possibly faster in type II. Guinea-pig soleus remained pure type I contrasting with an increase in the numbers of type II fibres in rat soleus. There was a possible increase in the number of type I fibres in guinea-pig fast muscle and no change in the rat. PMID- 2607427 TI - Single inwardly rectifying potassium channels in cultured muscle cells from rat and mouse. AB - 1. Inward unitary currents through inwardly rectifying K+ channels of myotubes derived from newborn rats or from a murine, clonal myoblast cell line were studied in the cell-attached configuration. Open-closed transitions of the channel were observed in the absence of blocking ions. 2. The single-channel conductance was 26.3 +/- 2.9 pS (mean + S.D., n = 14) with 150 mM-K+ pipette solution at room temperature (19-22 degrees C). The channel showed substates of conductance in addition to the main conductance state. A channel with a smaller conductance (8.9 +/- 2.6 pS, n = 4) was also but less frequently observed. 3. The probability of the channel being open is weakly voltage dependent: it decreased from 0.94 to 0.84 as the membrane was hyperpolarized from the resting potential (RP) + 20 mV to RP - 50 mV. 4. The lifetimes of the openings were distributed according to a single exponential. At least three exponentials were required to fit the frequency histogram of the lifetimes of all closed states. The mean open time showed a weak voltage dependence, while the mean closed times had little voltage dependence. 5. In the presence of external Na+, the open probability decreased from 0.89 to 0.43 and the mean open time decreased from 203 to 28 ms (40 mM-K+, 200 mM-Na+ pipette solution) when the patch membrane was hyperpolarized from RP - 40 mV to RP - 110 mV. The mean closed times were not different from those with 150 mM-K+, Na+-free pipette solution and showed little voltage dependence. 6. It is suggested that inactivation of the macroscopic inward currents during hyperpolarization results mainly from a voltage-dependent block by Na+ with relatively slow kinetics. PMID- 2607428 TI - Reciprocal inhibition following lesions of the spinal cord in man. AB - 1. Reciprocal inhibition was studied in normal subjects and patients with spinal cord lesions by stimulating the posterior tibial nerve below the threshold of the soleus alpha-motoneurone axons and recording the changes in firing probability of single tibialis anterior motor units activated by voluntary contraction. A short latency (about 35 ms) period of decreased firing probability was assumed to represent reciprocal inhibition. 2. For a given stimulus intensity this inhibition was greater in patients with spinal lesions than in normal subjects. 3. The stimulus intensities at which soleus motoneurones and the Ia inhibitory interneurones were brought to threshold provided an estimate of the relative excitability of these two neural populations. In the patients with spinal lesions the Ia inhibitory interneurones were more excitable than soleus motoneurones, whereas in normal subjects the excitabilities were approximately equal. 4. Stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve below the threshold of alpha motoneurone axons also resulted in a second period of inhibition with a latency of approximately 50 ms. This was less prominent in the patients with spinal cord lesions. 5. It is concluded that transmission through the pathways mediating reciprocal inhibition of flexor muscles during their voluntary contraction is enhanced following a spinal cord lesion in man but that a later inhibitory process is depressed. PMID- 2607429 TI - Geographutoxin-sensitive and insensitive sodium currents in mouse skeletal muscle developing in situ. AB - 1. The whole-cell voltage-clamp technique was used to examine developmental changes of Na+ current properties in single fibres of mouse flexor digitorum brevis muscles developing in situ from birth to 20 days post-natal. 2. Geographutoxin II (GTX II), a novel polypeptide toxin from the marine snail Conus geographus, distinguished two different types of voltage-sensitive Na+ currents: GTX II-sensitive and GTX II-insensitive currents, which corresponded respectively to currents with high or low TTX sensitivity. 3. Voltage-dependent activation and inactivation of the GTX II-insensitive currents occurred at membrane potentials 10-20 mV more negative than those for the GTX II-sensitive currents. 4. The GTX II-insensitive current in fibres from mice older than 8 days inactivated more slowly than the GTX II-sensitive current. However, in fibres from younger mice, the two currents decayed with similar speed. 5. The mean specific Na+ conductance (gNa) for the total (GTX II-sensitive plus GTX II-insensitive) Na+ channels was 0.22 mS/muF at a Na+ concentration of 5 mM at birth. The total gNa increased 6 fold to 1.32 mS/muF during the first 20 days after birth. 6. The mean specific gNa for the GTX II-insensitive channels was 0.15 mS/muF at birth, remained at approximately the same level for the first 8 days, and then decreased progressively to become undetectable by day 16. 7. In muscle fibres denervated 12 days after birth, the GTX II-insensitive gNa increased over the next 8 days, whereas the total gNa increased less than normal. 8. By contrast, in fibres denervated on day 4, the total gNa increased more than normal in the following 8 days, and the GTX II-insensitive specific gNa increased above the level seen at birth. 9. Half-maximal activation and inactivation potentials of the total and the GTX II-insensitive currents shifted in the negative direction by 9-17 mV in the first 8 days after birth. 10. We conclude that the regulatory effects of innervation on the total gNa are either suppressive or enhancing depending on the stage of development. On the other hand, denervation elicits an increase in GTX II-insensitive Na+ currents at all ages studied. PMID- 2607430 TI - Sensitivity of macaque retinal ganglion cells to chromatic and luminance flicker. AB - 1. We have studied the sensitivity of macaque retinal ganglion cells to sinusoidal flicker. Contrast thresholds were compared for stimuli which alternated only in luminance ('luminance flicker') or chromaticity ('chromatic flicker'), or which modulated only the middle- or long-wavelength-sensitive cones ('silent substitution'). 2. For luminance flicker, the lowest thresholds were those of phasic, non-opponent ganglion cells. Sensitivity was maximal near 10 Hz. 3. Tonic, cone-opponent ganglion cells were relatively insensitive to luminance flicker, especially at low temporal frequencies, but were sensitive to chromatic flicker, thresholds changing little from 1 to 20 Hz. Those with antagonistic input from middle- and long-wavelength-sensitive (M- and L-) cones had a low threshold to chromatic flicker between red and green lights. Those with input from short-wavelength-sensitive (S-) cones had a low threshold to chromatic flicker between blue and green. Expressed in terms of cone contrast, the S-cone inputs to blue on-centre cells had higher thresholds than M- and L-cone inputs to other cell types. 4. Phasic, non-opponent cells responded to high-contrast red green chromatic flicker at twice the flicker frequency. This frequency-doubled response is due to a non-linearity of summation of M- and L-cone mechanisms. It was only apparent at cone contrasts which were above threshold for most tonic cells. 5. M- or L-cones were stimulated selectively using silent substitution. Thresholds of M- and L-cone inputs to both red and green on-centre cells were similar. This implies that these cells' sensitivity to chromatic flicker is derived in equal measure from centre and surround. Thresholds of the isolated cone inputs could be used to predict sensitivity to chromatic flicker. The high threshold of these cells to achromatic contrast is thus, at least in part, due to mutual cancellation by opponent inputs rather than intrinsically low sensitivity. 6. Thresholds of M- and L-cone inputs to phasic cells were similar at 10 Hz, and were comparable to those of tonic cells, suggesting that at 1400 td cone inputs to both cell groups are of similar strength. 7. The modulation transfer function of phasic cells to luminance flicker was similar to the detection sensitivity curve of human observers who viewed the same stimulus. For chromatic flicker, at low temporal frequencies thresholds of tonic cells (red or green on-centre cells in the case of red-green flicker or blue on-centre cells in the case of blue green flicker) approached that of human observers. We propose the different cell types are the substrate of different channels which have been postulated on the basis of psychophysical experiments. 8. At frequencies of chromatic flicker above 2 Hz, human sensitivity falls off steeply whereas tonic cell sensitivity remained the same or increased. This implies that high-frequency signals in the chromatic, tonic cell pathway are not available to the central pathway respons PMID- 2607431 TI - Amplitude and phase of responses of macaque retinal ganglion cells to flickering stimuli. AB - 1. We have measured responses of macaque retinal ganglion cells to a uniform flickering field, with variation in luminance, chromaticity or both (heterochromatic flicker). 2. With heterochromatic flicker, as the luminance ratio of the flicker components was varied, phasic ganglion cell activity went through a minimum and an abrupt phase change close to equal luminance. Tonic ganglion cell responses underwent a gradual phase change without any minimum close to equal luminance. For red on-centre cells, when wavelengths above 570 nm were altered with white, a progressive phase advance occurred as luminance ratio (L lambda/LW) was increased. With wavelengths below 570 nm a progressive phase lag occurred. For green on-centre cells, the opposite pattern was found. For all tonic cells, the higher the temporal frequency, the more rapidly did such phase changes occur. A simple model incorporating a centre-surround delay of 3-8 ms could quantitatively account for these changes. 3. With luminance flicker of different dominant wavelengths, amplitudes and phase of responses of phasic ganglion cells were independent of wavelength at all frequencies. The amplitude and phase of the responses of tonic ganglion cells was very dependent on wavelength, as well as on flicker frequency. Their characteristics hardly ever resembled results from phasic cells. 4. For achromatic flicker, response phase of tonic cells at or above 10 Hz was variable, probably due to the centre-surround delay. Such variability was not seen among phasic cells. 5. An interesting implication of these results is that the ability of tonic ganglion cells to unambiguously signal rapid chromatic or spatial change is limited. PMID- 2607432 TI - Serotonin-induced bistability of turtle motoneurones caused by a nifedipine sensitive calcium plateau potential. AB - 1. The effect of serotonin on the firing properties of motoneurones was studied in transverse sections of the adult turtle spinal cord in vitro with intracellular recording techniques. 2. In normal medium, turtle motoneurones adapt from an initial high frequency to a low steady firing during a depolarizing current pulse. In the presence of serotonin (4-100 microM) motoneurones responded with accelerated firing and a frequency jump during a depolarizing current pulse followed by an after-depolarization outlasting the stimulus. From a depolarized holding potential motoneuronal activity was shifted between two stable states by brief depolarizing and hyperpolarizing current pulses. As an expression of this bistable firing behaviour, the frequency-current relation in response to a triangular current injection was counter-clockwise in serotonin while clockwise in normal medium. 3. The delay to onset of the frequency jump was shortened as the amplitude of the activation pulse was increased. From a positive holding potential the after-depolarization exceeded spike threshold and its duration increased with an increase in steady bias current. The effect of serotonin on turtle motoneurones could be blocked by methysergide (10 microM). 4. When action potentials were depressed by tetrodotoxin, a voltage-dependent, non-inactivating plateau potential, intrinsic to the motoneurone, was revealed. Activation of this voltage plateau provides the motoneurones with two stable states of firing. The apparent input resistance was 2-4-fold lower during the plateau than at rest. 5. The serotonin-induced plateau potential was Ca2+-dependent and was blocked when Ca2+ was replaced by either Co2+ (3 mM) or Mn2+ (3 mM). 6. The Ca2+ plateau was blocked by nifedipine (1-15 microM). 7. Serotonin reduced the slow after hyperpolarization following action potentials. The change in balance between inward and outward currents seems to be sufficient to reveal the plateau response. 8. Although a small plateau response was induced by Bay K 8644 (1-15 microM), this L-channel agonist could not reproduce the pronounced effect of serotonin. 9. It is concluded that serotonin induces a Ca2+-dependent and nifedipine-sensitive plateau potential in turtle motoneurones primarily by reducing a K+-current responsible for the slow after-hyperpolarization. PMID- 2607433 TI - Post-natal development of K+ currents studied in isolated rat pineal cells. AB - 1. The voltage-activated outward currents in diencephalon-derived neuroendocrine pineal cells, dissociated from rats aged 1 day to 3 weeks post-natal, were studied with the whole-cell variation of the patch-clamp technique and compared with those of adult rats (1-3 months post-natal). 2. Thirty-five per cent of the 1-week-old cells displayed a single slowly inactivating outward current that had properties which distinguished it from the classical IA and IK currents. This current, named IK(d) for developmental, activated at potentials near -35 mV. Its time to half-maximal activation (t 1/2) ranged from 16 ms at -30 mV to 4 ms at + 15 mV. No other membrane currents were apparent with depolarizing steps up to +80 mV. 3. IK(d) displayed slow inactivation at depolarized potentials. The time constant for this inactivation was on the order of several hundred milliseconds. The curve for steady-state inactivation disclosed that the current was 50% inactivated near -90 mV. This current was not found in cells dissociated from animals 4 or more weeks of age. 4. The reversal potential determined from the amplitude of the tail current at various repolarizing voltages was -76 mV. Tetraethylammonium and 4-aminopyridine reduced the amplitude of the current. The amplitude and time course of this current was not affected by the removal of external Ca2+. Similarly, removal of Cl- did not affect the current characteristics. 5. Sixty-five per cent of the 1-week-old cells displayed IA and IK. IK rose slowly with time and displayed a threshold of activation near -20 mV. No current decay was observed during a 160 ms pulse. IA activated with step potentials positive to -50 mV. This current rose faster than IK(d) and IK, and it had a significant decay over a 160 ms pulse. 6. IA and IK were observed as early as 1 day after birth. Comparison of the time course of activation of IA and IK from young and adult animals showed a small increase (2-3 ms at 0 mV) in the time to peak and half-maximal current, respectively. With a step potential to -20 mV, the time constant of decay of IA increased from 34.6 ms in 2-day-old animals to 42.9 ms in adult animals. 7. The results indicate that unlike adult pineal cells, some cells from young animals express a kinetically distinct outward current (IK(d)) which was observed in the absence of IA and IK.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2607434 TI - Visual responses of neurones in cat superior colliculus in relation to fixation of targets. AB - 1. Visually elicited discharges were recorded from single cells in the intermediate and deep layers of the superior colliculus of alert, trained cats. With the behavioural protocols used, vigorous and consistent visual responses to the onset and offset of small, stationary targets were encountered in all layers of the colliculus. In addition, the responses of many cells depended on the behavioural context in which the response occurred. Specifically, thirty-nine cells were encountered in which discharge was contingent upon prolonged fixation of the visual stimulus. Thirty of these were located in the intermediate and deep layers and comprised 22% of the 134 isolated cells which were not related to saccadic eye movement. 2. Fixation-related cells showed sustained increases or decreases in firing during fixation of a visual target. Responses to presentation of a visual target at the same retinal location, without active fixation by the animal, were either absent, much weaker, or had extremely variable latencies. 3. Changes in activity were well established by the end of the fixation saccade. The neuronal response was sustained if fixation was sustained. Moreover, the neuronal response began to decrease before the onset of the saccade which broke fixation even though the receptive field location of the target had not yet changed. 4. In these neurones, the discharge rate was not a function of the position of the eye in the orbit. 5. Neurones in which the discharge rate was suppressed during fixation had larger receptive fields than cells in which the discharge rate was enhanced during fixation. There were fewer fixation-suppressed cells (n = 7, 5%) than fixation-activated cells (n = 23, 17%). PMID- 2607435 TI - Analysis of H2 clearance curves used to measure blood flow in rat sciatic nerve. AB - 1. By use of the H2 clearance technique, blood flow was measured in the sciatic nerve of healthy, anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats at rest, during inferior vena cava occlusion and during 5-hydroxytryptamine infusion. The purpose was to clarify the mechanisms underlying the biexponential curves which are commonly obtained using this technique. 2. An analysis of the frequency distribution of rate constants of 270 nerve and thirty-three arterial samples indicated that H2 clearance rates cluster below 20 ml min-1 100 g-1 and between 70 and 100 ml min-1 100 g-1. This suggests that at least two compartments are present. 3. The contribution of diffusion was studied by recording H2 clearance immediately following circulatory arrest. Slow clearance rates (median = 2.4 ml min-1 100 g 1) were observed, indicating that diffusion is not likely to contribute significantly to nutritive flow under most situations. 4. The contribution of arteriovenous shunts to H2 clearance was assessed by determining H2 clearance during inferior vena cava occlusion and the infusion of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Both manoeuvres caused abolition of, or a significant reduction in the weight of, the fast component which indicates that this compartment is closely related to arteriovenous shunts in nerve. 5. By use of a multi-compartmental model, it was shown that H2 clearance should follow a multi-exponential course, where the weights of the components reflect the relative volumes of each compartment and the exponents represent the relative flow (i.e. flow per unit volume) in each compartment. 6. By use of other mathematical models, estimates were made for the clearance rates attributable to polarographic oxidation of H2 at the tip of the microelectrode (0.2 ml min-1 100 g-1) and to diffusion to air (2 ml min-1 100 g 1). The latter estimate is very close to the measured value of 2.4 ml min-1 100 g 1. 7. These findings indicate that it is possible to separately assess nutritive and non-nutritive flow by application of biexponential analysis to H2 clearance curves. The data suggest that the fast component of a H2 clearance curve is closely associated with arteriovenous shunts, while the slower component is likely to represent capillary flow. Processes such as diffusion to air or oxidation of H2 by the electrode are very slow and therefore are unlikely to distort the assessment of blood flow by using this technique. PMID- 2607436 TI - ATP requirement of the sodium-dependent magnesium extrusion from human red blood cells. AB - 1. Competitive behaviour detectable in the stimulatory action of external sodium (Nao+) and internal magnesium (Mgi2+) corroborates the idea that Nao+-dependent Mg2+ extrusion is a Mgi2+-Nao+ exchange. 2. Mg2+-loaded resealed cells made from metabolically starved cells (with less than 5 mumols/l cells of ATP), show hardly any Nao+-dependent Mg2+ outflow. Incorporation of ATP during lysis-resealing restores this Mg2+ transport. Half-saturation for the effect is reached at an initial ATP concentration of about 150 mumols/l cells. 3. Adenylyl(beta, gamma methylene) diphosphonate (AMP-PCP) and AMP had no restituting effect, indicating that in order to act ATP must be hydrolysed. 4. Nao+-dependent Mg2+ outflow is not inhibited by vanadate concentrations that completely block the Ca2+ or Na+ pump. Therefore, the Nao+-Mgi2+ exchange does not fall into the class of cation pumps of the E1E2 type. 5. Yet the fact that reversal of the Na+ gradient fails to reverse the direction of the Na+-dependent Mg2+ transport in human red cells (Ludi & Schatzmann, 1987) and that at equal Na+ concentration inside and outside the rate of Mg2+ transport is still 50% of that at a Na+ concentration difference of approximately 100 mM across the membrane suggests that the Na+ gradient, or the cation gradients in general, are not the only driving forces for Mg2+ movement. The assumption that there is energy input from ATP hydrolysis is compatible with these observations, whereas proposing the action of a protein kinase fails to explain them. 6. It is concluded that the Nao+-Mgi2+ exchange system has an absolute requirement for ATP and that it is more probable that ATP is supplying energy for transport rather than activating transport by protein phosphorylation or simply by binding. PMID- 2607437 TI - Tension-independent heat in rabbit papillary muscle. AB - 1. Heat and force were measured from isometrically contracting (0.2 Hz) rabbit papillary muscles at 21 degrees C during a single contraction-relaxation cycle using antimony-bismuth thermopiles and a capacitance force transducer. 2. Tension independent heat (TIH) associated with excitation-contraction coupling was isolated from the initial heat by eliminating tension and tension-dependent heat with a Krebs-Ringer solution containing 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) and mannitol. 3. A strategy for testing the validity of this new method for measuring TIH in heart muscle is described and the test confirms that the BDM-hypertonic solution partitioning method properly estimates the magnitude of the TIH component of initial heat. 4. TIH at the time of complete mechanical relaxation is 1.00 +/- 0.17 mJ/g wet weight and the data suggest that calcium cycling is complete by this time. Conversion of TIH to calcium cycled, assuming that 87% of TIH is due to calcium pumping by the sarcoplasmic reticulum, indicates that approximately 52 nmol calcium/g wet weight are required to support a single cycle of mechanical activity (0.2 Hz, 21 degrees C). 5. The length and frequency dependence of excitation-contraction coupling were demonstrated. TIH is reduced by shortening muscle length and by increasing the interval between stimuli. These steady-state data suggest that only a portion (approximately 40%) of TIH is directly related to activation of the contractile apparatus. 6. TIH in the first twitch following a 45 min rest period is significantly reduced by approximately 30%. 7. With subsequent twitches in the positive treppe following the rest period, TIH does not increase as steeply as expected suggesting that tension rise in twitches 1-10 may be modulated by competitive binding of calcium rather than increased calcium delivery. PMID- 2607438 TI - Cellular mechanism of the modulation of contractile function by coronary perfusion pressure in ferret hearts. AB - 1. Isovolumic left ventricular pressure was measured at various coronary arterial pressures in Langendorff-perfused ferret hearts. The concentrations of phosphorus containing metabolites were measured using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), was measured with 19F NMR in a group of hearts that were loaded with the calcium indicator 5F-BAPTA. 2. Developed pressure increased when coronary arterial pressure was raised from the control value of 80 to 100-160 mmHg and decreased when coronary pressure was lowered to 40-70 mmHg. The changes were reversible. 3. Coronary flow varied directly with coronary pressure over the entire range from 40 to 160 mmHg. 4. The concentrations of phosphorus-containing metabolites and the efflux of lactate from the heart remained unchanged at coronary pressures of 60 mmHg or higher. Below 60 mmHg, intracellular pH decreased, while inorganic phosphate concentration and lactate efflux increased. 5. In contrast to the developed pressure during twitch contractions, maximal Ca2+-activated pressure remained constant at coronary pressures of 60-160 mmHg. Only below a coronary pressure of 60 mmHg did maximal Ca2+-activated pressure decline. 6. An increase in coronary pressure produced an increase in developed pressure even in hearts stretched to the peak of the Frank-Starling relation. 7. When coronary pressure was lowered from 80 to 60 mmHg, [Ca2+]i decreased during systole; the opposite effect was apparent when coronary pressure was raised from 80 to 120 mmHg. 8. We conclude that coronary perfusion (pressure or flow) modulates intracellular calcium and, consequently, contractile force. Ischaemia cannot fully explain this phenomenon, nor can changes in sarcomere length. PMID- 2607439 TI - Sodium-calcium exchange in guinea-pig cardiac cells: exchange current and changes in intracellular Ca2+. AB - 1. Membrane currents and changes in [Ca2+]i attributable to the operation of an electrogenic Na-Ca exchange mechanism were recorded in single isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes under voltage clamp and internal perfusion with the Ca2+ indicator Fura-2. 2. Ionic currents that interfere with the measurement of Na-Ca exchange current were blocked through the use of caesium (Cs+), verapamil and tetrodotoxin (TTX). Entry of Ca2+ through surface membrane Ca2+ channels and release of Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum were blocked with verapamil and ryanodine, respectively. 3. In the presence of the blockers listed above, depolarization to positive membrane potentials elicited slow increases in [Ca2+]i and, after an instantaneous increase, a declining outward current. Repolarization elicited a decline in [Ca2+]i and, after an instantaneous increase, a declining inward current. The changes in [Ca2+]i and a major component of the current were abolished by nickel ions (Ni2+; 5 mM). 4. The reversal potential of the current abolished by Ni2+ (Ni2+-sensitive current) was determined at different levels of [Ca2+]i by ramp repolarizations from +80 to -80 mV (1-5 mV/ms). The reversal potential of the current increased linearly with log [Ca2+]i. As a result of the foregoing and other data, the Ni2+-sensitive current was taken to be Na-Ca exchange current (INaCa). 5. The relation between INaCa and [Ca2+]i (less than 1 microM) at constant voltage over the range of -80 to +60 mV was approximately linear. No evidence of saturation could be found; small deviations from linearity at high [Ca2+]i were in the direction expected for a minor contribution from Ca2+ activated non-specific cation current (Ehara, Noma & Ono, 1988). 6. When measured at the same [Ca2+]i, the peak INaCa upon repolarization to -80 to -140 mV seemed to approach a limiting value at very negative potentials. 7. Over the range of +40 to +160 mV INaCa (measured soon after depolarization and thus at the same [Ca2+]i) increased exponentially with clamp-pulse potential. These pulses (to potentials up to +160 mV) elicited a slow rise in [Ca2+]i with the peak at the end of the pulse also increasing exponentially with pulse potential. 8. Inward membrane currents with properties similar to those described above were also recorded in association with physiological [Ca2+]i transients, when Ca2+ channels and the sarcoplasmic reticulum were not blocked. 9. Some of the results are not consistent with certain predictions of a sequential step model, or with those of a simultaneous step model in which the internal binding site for Ca2+ is saturated, or with those of a model based only on thermodynamics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607440 TI - Responses of electroreceptors in the snout of the echidna. AB - 1. This is a report of experiments which provide evidence in support of the existence of an electric sense in the echidna, or spiny anteater Tachyglossus aculeatus. It is the first known example of electroreception in a terrestrial animal. 2. In each of four animals anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose, afferent responses were recorded in dissected filaments of the infraorbital branch of the trigeminal nerve which supplies skin of the upper jaw. Recordings were obtained from a total of forty-seven units identified as electroreceptors, by their responses to weak voltage pulses using focal stimulation of the moist skin surface. 3. In the absence of a stimulus, some receptors had an irregular resting discharge; others were silent. The receptive field for each receptor consisted of a discrete spot. Receptive fields were restricted to the tip of the snout. Cathodal stimulation over the receptive spot was excitatory for the duration of an applied voltage pulse. Reversal of stimulus polarity silenced any on-going activity and was followed by a post-anodal rebound excitation. 4. Receptor threshold was best measured not in air but with the snout immersed in tap water. An electric field was applied between a pair of large plate electrodes on either side of the snout. Threshold for thirty receptors lay in the range 1.8-73 mV cm 1. Measurements of response latency and of conduction path length gave estimates of axonal conduction velocities for the afferent fibres of 10-18 m Receptors responded to sinusoidally changing voltage gradients over the range 0.5-200 Hz with a maximum sensitivity at 20 Hz. 5. In one experiment a receptor site was marked with fine pins. Serial sections of the piece of underlying skin revealed a large mucus-secreting gland at the marked spot. Similar glands in skin of the platypus have previously been shown to be the sites of electroreceptors. 6. In a behavioural experiment an echidna was trained to choose between two identical tap water-filled troughs, one of which had a weak electric field across it. The animal learned to detect field strengths down to 1.8 mV cm-1 which corresponded to threshold for the most sensitive receptor measured in a subsequent electro physiological experiment. It is concluded that the echidna, like the other Australian representative of the monotremes, the platypus, has an electric sense. It remains to be determined what kinds of sources of electric fields the animal encounters in its normal habitat. PMID- 2607441 TI - Strontium-induced creep currents associated with tonic contractions in cardiac myocytes isolated from guinea-pigs. AB - 1. Strontium can replace calcium in a number of physiological and biochemical processes. The effects of Sr2+ were investigated in enzymatically isolated ventricular myocytes of the guinea-pig. Action potentials and membrane currents were measured with the patch-clamp technique used in the whole-cell recording configuration. Mechanical activity was assessed utilizing a laser-light diffraction system for sarcomere length measurements in single heart cells. 2. When experiments where carried out using 2 mM-Sr2+ to replace 2 mM-Ca2+ action potentials were found to be prolonged up to severalfold. Voltage-clamp experiments revealed that the slow inward current (Isi) inactivated more slowly. With Ca2+ replaced by Sr2+, the onset of the twitch was delayed, the maximum shortening was increased and a marked voltage-dependent tonic shortening developed. 3. Voltage-clamp pulses of 3.3 s duration were applied to investigate changes of the steady-state current-voltage relationship produced by replacing Ca2+ with Sr2+. Large slow changes of membrane currents produced by Sr2+ were observed. The identity and time course of these currents were investigated after blocking Isi and potassium currents pharmacologically. The remaining current had many of the characteristics of 'creep currents' (Eisner & Lederer, 1979; Hume & Uehara, 1986 a, b). The creep currents were found to be paralleled by changes of the intracellular Sr2+ concentration, as determined by tracking the sarcomere length during the accompanying tonic contractions. 4. The creep currents were suppressed by Ni2+ (2 mM), a finding that suggests that the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger may be responsible for producing these currents (Kimura, Miyamae & Noma, 1987). The question remains, however, whether the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger is responsible for generating the currents itself or whether it may influence another current source by changing the intracellular Sr2+ concentration. 5. To test the role of the Na+ Ca2+ exchanger in producing the creep currents, the reversal potential of the creep current was investigated. Simple voltage protocols were inadequate to distinguish between the two current sources. However, loading the cytosol with Sr2+ by means of a second pipette sealed to the same cell in the presence of Ni2+ as an inhibitor of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger revealed difference currents compatible with a non-specific cationic channel activated by intracellular Sr2+ (Ehara, Noma & Ono, 1988). 6. In conclusion, the creep currents produced when Ca2+ is replaced by Sr2+ appear to arise from an increase of intracellular Sr2+ which activates a non-specific cation channel. A contribution from the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger can not be excluded. PMID- 2607442 TI - Physiological mechanisms adopted by chondrocytes in regulating longitudinal bone growth in rats. AB - 1. Chondrocyte activities within growth plate cartilage are the principal determinants of longitudinal bone growth, and it was the aim of this investigation to assess how these cell activities are modulated under various growth rate conditions. Using proximal tibial growth plates from rats of different ages, growth rate was determined by fluorochrome labelling and incident light fluorescence microscopy. Various cellular parameters contributing to longitudinal bone growth were quantified by light microscopic stereology. The size of the proliferating cell population ('growth fraction') was estimated by autoradiography (using [3H]thymidine labelling). 2. A comparison between data for suckling (21-day-old) and fast-growing (35-day-old) rats revealed that growth acceleration is achieved almost exclusively by cell-shape modelling, namely by an increase in final cell height and a decrease in lateral diameter, whereas final cell volume and surface area are slightly reduced. Cell proliferation rate in the longitudinal direction and net matrix production per cell remain unchanged. The physiological increase in linear growth rate thus appears to be based principally upon a controlled structural modulation of the chondrocyte phenotype. On the other hand, a physiological reduction in growth rate (i.e. growth deceleration) effected during the transition from pre-puberty (35-day-old rats) to maturity (80 day-old rats) is achieved by simultaneous decreases in several chondrocyte parameters, including cell height (i.e. phenotype modulation), cell volume and proliferation rate (in the longitudinal direction). However, chondrocytes continue to produce matrix at a level comparable to that attained during the period characterized by high growth rates (i.e. at 21 and 35 days). Cartilage matrix thus appears to play a subordinate role in regulating longitudinal bone growth rate. The duration of the hypertrophic cell activity (i.e. phenotype modulation) phase remains constant (at approximately 2 days) under the various growth rate conditions. 3. The findings presented in this study indicate that measurement of bulk parameters such as [35S]sulphate incorporation into matrix components, [3H]thymidine uptake by cells and growth plate height are of limited value as estimators of longitudinal bone growth, since changes in the parameters that these measurements quantify bear little relationship to changes in linear growth rate, and may be useful only as indicators of total growth plate activity. PMID- 2607443 TI - Calcium currents in rat thalamocortical relay neurones: kinetic properties of the transient, low-threshold current. AB - 1. Calcium currents were recorded with whole-cell voltage-clamp procedures in relay neurones of the rat thalamus which had been acutely isolated by an enzymatic dissociation procedure. 2. Low-threshold and high-threshold Ca2+ currents were elicited by depolarizing voltage steps from holding potentials more negative than -60 mV. A transient current, analogous to the T-current in sensory neurones, was activated at low threshold near -65 mV and was completely inactivating at command steps up to -35 mV. Voltage steps to more depolarized levels activated a high-threshold current that inactivated slowly and incompletely during a 200 ms step depolarization. 3. The high-threshold current contained both non-inactivating and slowly inactivating components which were insensitive and sensitive to holding potential, respectively. 4. A 'T-type' current was prominent in relay neurones, in both absolute terms (350 pA peak current average) and in relation to high-threshold currents. The average ratio of maximum transient to maximum sustained current was greater than 2. 5. T-current could be modelled in a manner analogous to that employed for the fast Na+ current underlying action potential generation, using the m3h format. The rate of activation of T-current was voltage dependent, with a time constant (tau m) varying between 8 and 2 ms at command potentials of -60 to -10 mV at 23 degrees C. The rate of inactivation was also voltage dependent, and the time constant tau h varied between 50 and 20 ms over the same voltage range. With command potentials more positive than -35 mV, the inactivation of Ca2+ current could no longer be fitted by a single exponential. 6. Steady-state inactivation of T current could be well fitted by a Boltzman equation with slope factor of 6.3 and half-inactivated voltage of -83.5 mV. 7. Recovery from inactivation of T-current was not exponential. The major component of recovery (70-80% of total) was not very voltage sensitive at potentials more negative than -90 mV, with tau r of 251 ms at -92 mV and 23 degrees C, compared to 225 ms at -112 mV. A smaller, voltage sensitive component accounted for the remainder of recovery. 8. All kinetic properties, including rates of activation, inactivation, and recovery from inactivation, as well as the amplitude of T-current, were temperature sensitive with Q10 (temperature coefficient) values of greater than 2.5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2607444 TI - Light capture by human cones. AB - 1. The variation in visual efficiency of light with varying pupillary entry (the Stiles-Crawford effect) was measured to determine the proportion of light incident on the cones that escapes them without recovery by other cones. 2. The variation in detectability of interference fringes with varying pupillary entry of the interfering beams was measured to determine the proportion of incident light that was recaptured by cones in the dark stripes after escaping cones in the bright stripes of the fringes. 3. By exclusion, these observations determine the variation, with varying pupillary entry, in the proportion of incident light that was captured and absorbed by the first cones it entered. 4. Some 70-90% of the light absorbed by the cones when it passes through the centre of the pupil, is entirely lost to the visual system if it passes instead through the margin of the (dilated) pupil. 5. Over half the light that cones absorb when the light enters the margin of the pupil is light that has previously passed through other cones. 6. If the spread of recaptured light is assumed to be Gaussian, its standard deviation is at most one minute of visual angle. 7. Such recaptured light makes a previously unknown contribution to the various Stiles-Crawford effects. PMID- 2607445 TI - Alterations in [Ca2+]i mediated by sodium-calcium exchange in smooth muscle cells isolated from the guinea-pig ureter. AB - 1. Sodium-calcium exchange was studied in single enzymatically isolated cells of the guinea-pig ureter using the Ca2(+)-sensitive fluorescent dye Indo-1 to monitor the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Patch pipettes containing Indo-1 were used to introduce the dye into cells, to set the intracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+]i) and control the membrane potential during experiments. 2. With [Na+]i set at 11-12 mM and a membrane potential of -60 or -70 mV, brief depolarization of ureter cells elicited typical voltage-gated inward currents associated with rapid increases in [Ca2+]i which showed a bell-shaped potential dependence. If Ca2+ currents were blocked with nifedipine, depolarization led to slower rises in [Ca2+]i. The rates and amplitudes of these increased monotonically with progressively larger depolarizations up to +120 mV. 3. The nifedipine-resistant rises in [Ca2+]i elicited by depolarization were potentiated when the extracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]o) was reduced. Basal levels of [Ca2+]i also increased as [Na+]o was reduced, although the dependence of this effect on [Na+]o was smaller than would be predicted if [Ca2+]i was set only by a Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange process. 4. The nifedipine-insensitive rises in [Ca2+]i elicited by depolarization were potentiated at higher basal levels of [Ca2+]i. 5. The ability of cells to reduce [Ca2+]i rapidly following Ca2+ loading during voltage-gated transients was markedly inhibited if the Na+ concentration gradient was reversed, but was little affected if the Na+ gradient was decreased by 25 or 50%. Recovery from a Ca2+ load caused by reversal of the Na+ gradient could be induced by removal of Cao2+ in the continuing absence of Nao+, indicating the importance of a Na(+)-independent [Ca2+]i-lowering system. 6. The results demonstrate that Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange can modulate [Ca2+]i when [Na+]i and the membrane potential are set at or near their physiological levels in these smooth muscle cells. [Ca2+]i does not, however, appear to be markedly sensitive to the Na+ concentration gradient under the conditions employed for these experiments, suggesting that a Na(+)-independent Ca2+ extrusion system is mainly responsible for regulating [Ca2+]i under normal conditions. PMID- 2607446 TI - Effect of sympathetic nerves on composition and distensibility of cerebral arterioles in rats. AB - 1. The goals of this study were to examine the effects of chronic sympathetic denervation on the mechanics and composition of cerebral arterioles in normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). 2. We used an in vivo method to examine the mechanics of pial arterioles in 10- to 12-month-old, anaesthetized WKY and SHRSP that had undergone unilateral removal of the superior cervical ganglion at 1 month of age. Bilateral craniotomies were performed in each rat to expose pial arterioles in the innervated and denervated cerebral hemispheres. Arterioles were deactivated with EDTA. Incremental distensibility and stress-strain relationships were calculated from measurements of pial arteriolar pressure (servo null), diameter and cross sectional area of the arteriolar wall. Point counting stereology was used to quantify volume density and cross-sectional area of individual components in the arteriolar wall. 3. Chronic sympathetic denervation reduced cross-sectional area of the arteriolar wall by 16 +/- 2% (mean +/- S.E. of mean; P less than 0.05) in WKY and 44 +/- 3% in SHRSP. During maximal dilatation with EDTA, incremental distensibility was reduced and the stress-strain curve was shifted to the left in denervated arterioles of SHRSP, but not WKY. These findings indicate that sympathetic denervation in SHRSP attenuates the development of hypertrophy in pial arterioles and reduces arteriolar distensibility. The ratio of non distensible (collagen and basement membrane) to distensible (smooth muscle, elastin and endothelium) components was reduced in denervated arterioles in SHRSP, but not WKY. 4. Thus, sympathetic nerves have trophic effects on cerebral arterioles in WKY and, to a greater degree, in SHRSP. Sympathetic nerves also contribute to increases in distensibility of cerebral arterioles in SHRSP, but not WKY. The increase in arteriolar distensibility is accompanied by a disproportionate increase in the more compliant elements of cerebral arterioles. PMID- 2607447 TI - Development of Y-axon innervation of cortical area 18 in the cat. AB - 1. Geniculocortical Y-axons (n = 38) in the optic radiations of 4-5-week-old kittens (n = 20) and adult cats (n = 18) were studied both physiologically and morphologically. Axons were recorded from intracellularly and subsequently filled ionophoretically with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The HRP filled the axons' terminal arborizations in visual cortex (particularly well for those innervating area 18). Fourteen axons appeared to be completely filled with HRP (n = 8 in kitten, n = 6 in adult) and served as the basis for the quantitative analysis of the terminal arborizations reported in this study. 2. The distribution and correspondence of the axonal boutons to presynaptic elements in cortical layer 4A was analysed at both the light and electron microscope level using computerized three-dimensional analysis and serial section reconstruction, respectively. Compared to adult axons, the boutons of the kitten axons were smaller (means = 0.75 vs. 1.75 microns length, P less than 0.001) and more densely spaced both along individual axon branches (means = 6.60 vs. 11.20 microns interbouton interval, P less than 0.001) and between neighbouring branches of the same axon (means = 4.7 vs. 6.4 microns nearest-neighbour distance, P less than 0.01). 3. Most kitten boutons made a single Gray's type 1 synapse on a cortical neurone, unlike adult boutons which usually contacted two or more postsynaptic targets. Both kitten and adult axons had dendritic spines as their major target. Occasionally, HRP reaction-product was observed in cortical neurones postsynaptic to the labelled geniculocortical axon, which gave some estimate of the number of synaptic contacts between a single geniculocortical axon and target cell (about five). 4. The kitten Y-axons innervated the visual cortex in a pattern similar to that of the adult, with the richest terminal branching and bouton density in layer 4A with some additional boutons distributed in layers 3, 4B and 6. The extent of the terminal arborizations primarily in layer 4A (as measured in surface views) of kitten Y-axons in area 18 was significantly less than that of adult Y-axons in area 18 (means = 0.9 mm2 vs. means = 1.2 mm2, P = 0.04). 5. We conclude that between 4 and 5 postnatal weeks and 1 year, geniculocortical Y axons projecting to cortical area 18 undergo four major changes. These include a reduction in synaptic bouton density (both in three-dimensional space and along individual branches), a concomitant moderate expansion in the surface area of cortex innervated, an increase in bouton size and an increase in the number of synaptic contacts made by each bouton. A general proportional growth of the individual axons' terminal arborization together with fusion and/or separation of neighbouring boutons is sufficient to explain this development. PMID- 2607448 TI - Corticofugal action on transmission of group I input from the hindlimb to the pericruciate cortex in the cat. AB - 1. In cats anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose, evidence was sought for a corticofugal action on input from muscle group I afferents projecting to the cerebral cortex via the brain stem relay at nucleus Z. 2. Extracellular recordings were made of responses of thirty-four nucleus Z neurones which could be activated by stimuli at group I strength applied to each of a variety of hindlimb muscle nerves. Afferent input to each nucleus Z neurone was restricted to a single muscle. 3. Nucleus Z neurones typically showed a resting discharge which could be increased or decreased by altering the amount of stretch on the muscle which was the source of the afferent input. Ventral root stimulation gave response patterns which showed these neurones to be driven by input from either tendon organs or muscle spindles, but not both. 4. A brief train of focal, cathodal stimuli applied to a discrete region of pericruciate cortex could consistently inhibit the maintained activity evoked by muscle stretch in nucleus Z neurones, or the response evoked by stimulation of the muscle nerve at group I strength. The inhibition was powerful and lasted 50-400 ms. The effective stimulating site corresponded to area 3a, the main cortical receiving area for hindlimb muscle group I input. 5. Since the ascending spinal axons which project to nucleus Z are collaterals of dorsal spinocerebellar tract fibres, it was possible to stimulate the parent axons at their termination in the anterior lobe of the cerebellum. Cortical stimulation was found to have little or no effect on activity in nucleus Z neurones evoked by cerebellar stimulation over conditioning test intervals in the range 10-200 ms. 6. It is concluded that over the time intervals for which it has been tested, corticofugal inhibitory action appears to be largely operating at the first spinal segmental relay, in Clarke's column. Thus the inhibitory action arising in area 3a of the cerebral cortex will suppress the action of input from hindlimb group I fibres at the level both of the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex. PMID- 2607449 TI - Cytoplasmic calcium as the messenger for light adaptation in salamander rods. AB - 1. In order to study the role of cytoplasmic calcium concentration (Ca2+i) in rod photoreceptor light adaptation, we have attempted to prevent light-induced changes in Ca2+i by minimizing calcium fluxes across the outer segment plasma membrane. This was achieved by exposing the outer segment to a low-Ca2+, 0-Na+ solution, in which sodium was replaced with either guanidinium or lithium and the external calcium concentration (Ca2+o) was reduced to micromolar levels. 2. With guanidinium and 1-3 microM-Ca2+o, the circulating current in darkness was maintained for a period of at least 15 s, consistent with approximate stability of Ca2+i. With Li+ rather than guanidinium most of the initial current was suppressed, but the residual current was again relatively stable. 3. During prolonged exposures (greater than 30 s) to low-Ca2+, 0-Na+ solution followed by dim illumination, the circulating current did not remain constant but slowly increased. Incorporation of calcium buffer into the cytoplasm greatly reduced the rate of change of current, consistent with the idea that the increase arose from a gradual decrease in Ca2+i. 4. Light responses of rods exposed to low-Ca2+, 0 Na+ solution in darkness were altered in a characteristic manner. Although the initial rising phase of the light response was little changed, the peak amplitude of the response was larger and occurred later, and the response decayed more slowly than in control. The response-intensity relation was steepened and was shifted towards lower intensities both for flashes and for steps of light. The normal sag in the response to steps disappeared, and the waveform of the step response could be predicted to a close approximation from the integral of the dim flash response. 5. Presentation of background illumination in Ringer solution produced a marked acceleration of the response to a subsequent bright flash. No such acceleration was observed if the background was given in low-Ca2+, 0-Na+ solution. 6. The results described in paragraphs 4 and 5 indicate that, under conditions expected to minimize changes in Ca2+i, all manifestations of light adaptation disappear, and the rod simply sums the effects of incident photons with an invariant integration time. 7. Exposure of a light-adapted rod to low Ca2+, 0-Na+ solution altered the responses to superimposed test flashes in much the same way as for rods in darkness. The initial rising phases in low-Ca2+, 0 Na+ solution were unchanged, but the responses were larger, reached peak later and decayed more slowly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2607450 TI - Maximal shortening velocities, isomyosins and fibre types in soleus muscle of mice, rats and guinea-pigs. AB - 1. Guinea-pig soleus contains only type I fibres and slow isomyosin, SM2. Rat and mouse soleus contain about 70% of type I fibres and a mixture of isomyosins: slow, SM2 and intermediate, IM. Many rat soleus muscles contain a third isomyosin of a slow type, SM1. 2. The maximal velocity of unloaded shortening, V0, is largest in mouse soleus (6.11 Lf s-1), slowest in guinea-pig soleus (1.67 Lf s-1) and intermediate in rat soleus (4.16 Lf s-1) (Lf = fibre length). 3. In guinea pig soleus, V0 is equal to the maximal velocity (Vmax) computed using the Hill force-velocity relationship; V0 is approximately twice as large as Vmax in mouse and rat soleus. 4. V0 measures the unloaded shortening velocity of the fastest fibres whereas Vmax is a function of the force-velocity characteristics of all the fibres contained in the muscle. 5. V0 increases according to the isomyosin composition of the fibres in the sequence SM2 less than SM1 + IM less than IM. PMID- 2607451 TI - Spinal mechanisms in man contributing to reciprocal inhibition during voluntary dorsiflexion of the foot. AB - 1. The inhibition of the soleus Hoffmann reflex (H reflex) during voluntary dorsiflexion of the foot--henceforth referred to as 'natural' reciprocal inhibition--was found to be initiated 50 ms before the onset of the EMG activity in the tibialis anterior muscle and to increase gradually during a ramp-and-hold dorsiflexion. There was a positive correlation between strength of tonic dorsiflexion and amount of 'natural' reciprocal inhibition. 2. The change of activity in the disynaptic and a long-latency group Ia inhibitory pathway and the change in presynaptic inhibition of the Ia fibres mediating the soleus H reflex were tested separately during ramp-and-hold dorsiflexion as well as during tonic dorsiflexion of the foot, and the results were compared with the development of the 'natural' reciprocal inhibition of the unconditioned soleus H reflex. 3. The disynaptic group I inhibition of soleus motoneurones was increased, as compared to rest, during the dynamic phase of a ramp-and-hold dorsiflexion movement, but the inhibition generally did not increase during tonic dorsiflexion of the foot. 4. The long-latency group I inhibition was seen only during dorsiflexion of the foot. It appeared around 50 ms before tibial anterior EMG activity and there was a positive correlation between strength of tonic dorsiflexion and amount of this long-latency inhibition. 5. Presynaptic inhibition of Ia afferents terminating on soleus motoneurones was estimated by an indirect method. The increase of presynaptic inhibition started soon after the onset of the ramp-and-hold dorsiflexion, and gradually became more pronounced during the ramp phase. The amount of presynaptic inhibition was positively correlated with strength of tonic dorsiflexion. 6. It is concluded that all investigated mechanisms may contribute to the 'natural' reciprocal inhibition and it seems that the different pathways are used differentially during different types of movement. PMID- 2607452 TI - Peripheral projections of nociceptive unmyelinated axons in the human peroneal nerve. AB - 1. Previous knowledge of the anatomical course of unmyelinated (C) axons along a peripheral nerve has been scarce and has led to the concept of the axons in a constantly interchanging position. 2. Results obtained by microneurography in the peroneal nerve at knee or ankle levels in awake humans demonstrated that the receptive fields of neighbouring C units in the nerve cluster in close vicinity on the skin of the foot or the ankle. These findings indicate that C afferents run closely together throughout large portions of the peripheral nerve. 3. Intraneural microstimulation performed at neural sites where nociceptive C units were recorded induced painful sensations projected to the skin. When the stimulus intensity was increased, there was typically a concentric increase in the area of projected pain, rather than recruitment of several scattered pain projections. This finding further supports the hypothesis of a neighbouring relation of nociceptive C axons within nerve fascicles, implying spatial recruitment of adjacent axons in the nerve with adjacent peripheral projections. 4. A pain locognosia test performed during ischaemic block of impulse conduction in myelinated fibres demonstrated a fairly precise cerebral localization of noxious events on the foot from the input of C afferent fibres alone. PMID- 2607453 TI - The effect of lactate on intracellular pH and force recovery of fatigued sartorius muscles of the frog, Rana pipiens. AB - 1. The effects of pHo (extracellular pH) and lactic acid on pHi (intracellular pH) and tetanic force were examined in frog sartorius muscle. Ion-selective microelectrodes were used to measure pHi. Tetanic force was elicited by field stimulation. Experiments were performed in HEPES-buffered solution equilibrated with 100% O2. 2. Mean pHi values (+/- S.E.M.) of unfatigued frog sartorius muscles were 7.14 +/- 0.02 and 7.05 +/- 0.09 at pHo 7.2 and 6.4, respectively. 3. A stimulation at a rate of one 100 ms tetanic contraction per second for 3 min reduced pHi to 6.21 +/- 0.09 and 6.20 +/- 0.04 at pHo 7.2 and 6.4, respectively. Meanwhile at pHo 7.2, the tetanic force (defined as the maximum force developed during a tetanus) decreased by 82.9 +/- 2.6%, the maximum rate of relaxation decreased by 92.9 +/- 0.9%, and the rate constant of the relaxation decreased by 88.5 +/- 1.6%. At pHo 6.4, the decrease in tetanic force, maximum rate of relaxation and rate constant were 90.6 +/- 1.8%, 93.8 +/- 0.5 and 87.5 +/- 2.7%, respectively. 4. The maximum rates of recovery of pHi following fatigue were 0.068 +/- 0.05 and 0.025 +/- 0.05 pH units min-1 at pHo 7.2 and 6.4, respectively. Recovery of normal tetanic force and relaxation rate was also slower at acidic pHo than at neutral pHo. 5. In the presence of 40 mmol l-1 L lactic acid at pHo 7.2, the maximum rate of pHi recovery following fatigue was only 0.027 +/- 0.03 pH units min-1 at pHo 7.2. The presence of lactic acid also reduced the recovery of the relaxation phase, but not the recovery of tetanic force. 6. It is suggested that pHi recovery is not a limiting factor for tetanic force recovery and that the extracellular H+ inhibits tetanic force recovery by acting at a site located on the outer surface of the sarcolemma. The recovery of the relaxation phase is believed to be pHi dependent. PMID- 2607454 TI - Acetazolamide and transient responses of basolateral membrane potential of rabbit kidney proximal tubules perfused in vitro. AB - 1. A study was made of the partial recovery of basolateral membrane potential that follows some depolarizing manoeuvres in cells of isolated perfused segments of rabbit proximal convoluted tubules. 2. Peritubular application of 10(-4) M acetazolamide (a known inhibitor of the basolateral sodium-bicarbonate co transporter) caused a hyperpolarization of both the basolateral membrane potential (Vbl) and the transepithelial potential (Vte). 3. Activation of electrogenic apical sodium co-transport caused a depolarization of the basolateral membrane followed by partial recovery of potential, and a sustained transepithelial hyperpolarization. The partial recovery of basolateral membrane potential was significantly smaller in the presence of 10(-4) M-acetazolamide applied to the peritubular fluid, although the magnitude of the initial depolarization was not significantly altered. 4. Addition to the bath of 0.5 mM barium, a potassium conductance blocker, caused a transepithelial and basolateral membrane depolarization followed by partial recovery of potential. The partial recovery of basolateral membrane potential was significantly smaller in the presence of 10(-4) M-acetazolamide applied to the peritubular fluid, although the magnitude of the initial depolarization was again not significantly altered. 5. Increases in bath potassium concentration from 5 to 20 mM led to transepithelial and basolateral membrane depolarization followed by partial recovery of potentials. In paired experiments the partial recovery of basolateral potential was significantly reduced when 10(-4) M-acetazolamide was present in the bath. 6. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the basolateral sodium bicarbonate co-transporter plays a role in the recovery of Vbl following these depolarizing manoeuvres. PMID- 2607455 TI - Role of the sodium pump in pacemaker generation in dog colonic smooth muscle. AB - 1. The role of the Na+ pump in the generation of slow wave activity in circular muscle of the dog colon was investigated using a partitioned 'Abe-Tomita' type chamber for voltage control. 2. Blockade of the Na+ pump by omission of extracellular K+, by ouabain, or the combination of 0 mM-Na+ and ouabain, depolarized the membrane up to approximately -40 mV and abolished the slow wave activity. Repolarization back to the control membrane potential by hyperpolarizing current restored the slow wave activity. 3. Slow waves continued to be present in 0 Na+, Li+ HEPES solution. 4. The depolarization induced by the procedures to block Na+ pump activity was associated with an increase in input membrane resistance. 5. Voltage-current relationships show the presence of an inward rectification. 6. Reduction of temperature depolarized the membrane, and decreased the slow wave frequency and amplitude. The slow wave amplitude was restored by repolarization of the membrane. 7. Brief depolarizing pulses evoked premature slow waves. Brief hyperpolarizing pulses terminated the slow waves. 8. We conclude that abolition of slow wave activity by Na+ pump blockade is a direct effect of membrane depolarization and that the Na+ pump is not responsible for the generation of the slow wave. 9. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that pacemaker activity in smooth muscle is a consequence of membrane conductance changes which are metabolically dependent. PMID- 2607456 TI - The coupled movements of sodium and chloride across the basolateral membrane of frog skin epithelium. AB - 1. When frog skin epithelium was exposed to a chloride-free solution bathing the basolateral side of the frog skin preparation the short-circuit current fell and there was a simultaneous loss of chloride and water from its cells. This effect was partially blocked by furosemide when this drug was added to the basolateral bathing solution. 2. Under control conditions and when added to the solution bathing the basolateral side of the preparation furosemide had no effect on the ion and water contents of the frog skin epithelium. 3. Furosemide but not SITS (4 acetamide-4'-isothiocyanate-stilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid) or amiloride blocked the recovery of short-circuit current and the reuptake of chloride and water by preparations pre-incubated with chloride-free solution on the basolateral side. The recovery of the short-circuit current was also blocked by the replacement of basolateral potassium by sodium. 4. The effect on the short-circuit current of graded replacements by impermeant ions of sodium or chloride did not show saturation for concentrations of these ions up to their control values. 5. Replacement of basolateral potassium by sodium inhibited the short-circuit current and the recovery observed when potassium was reintroduced in the basolateral bathing solution was blocked by furosemide. 6. The replacement of basolateral sodium or chloride by impermeant ions induced an immediate fall in the intracellular concentrations of both sodium and chloride suggesting that the transport system coupling the movements of the two ions across the basolateral membrane is operative under control conditions. 7. It is proposed that the coupled movements of sodium and chloride across the basolateral membrane of the frog skin epithelium are mediated by a sodium-potassium-2 chloride co-transport system which under control conditions is very near equilibrium. PMID- 2607457 TI - Measurements of intracellular Ca2+ in dissociated type I cells of the rabbit carotid body. AB - 1. The carotid body chemoreceptors are stimulated in situ by cyanide (CN-), which mimics the effect of hypoxia. We have shown that CN- increases a calcium dependent potassium conductance (gK(Ca)) in single type I cells dissociated from the carotid body of the rabbit. We have now used the Ca2(+)-sensitive fluorophore, Fura-2, to measure intracellular Ca2+ directly in single type I cells. 2. CN- reversibly increased [Ca2+]i from approximately 90 nM to a mean of approximately 200 nM. Some of this Ca2+ originated from an intracellular store, which was depleted by exposure to Ca2(+)-free solutions. Prolonged application of CN- caused a sustained increase in [Ca2+]i, suggesting that CN- impairs the removal or sequestration of Ca2+. 3. pHi measured with the dye BCECF (2,7-bis(2 carboxyethyl)-5(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein) did not change consistently in response to CN-, although pHi changed predictably in response to both ammonium chloride and to acidification of the superfusate with CO2. 4. Potassium-induced depolarization (35 mM-K+) caused a large, cadmium-sensitive rise in [Ca2+]i. The K(+)-induced Ca2+ load was used to study the regulation of [Ca2+]i. 5. The clearance of a Ca2+ load was slowed either by removal of [Na+]o or by application of CN-. This shows that both a Na+-Ca2+ exchange and an energy-dependent process or processes contribute to the regulation of [Ca2+]i. 6. Carbachol (CCh, 10-100 microM), which also hyperpolarizes type I cells, caused a small transient rise in [Ca2+]i, indicating release from an exhaustible intracellular pool. The response to CN- was unaffected by prior or continued exposure to CCh, suggesting that the two stimuli operate by distinct mechanisms. 7. The increased gK(Ca) seen in type I cells in response to CN- thus reflects a change in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis. The rise in [Ca2+]i presumably underlies the documented increase in transmitter release from the carotid body in response to CN-. If chemotransduction is a consequence of the release of transmitters from the type I cell, the response of the carotid body to CN-, and possibly also to hypoxia, is thus a direct consequence of the energy dependence of Ca2+ homeostasis in the type I cell. PMID- 2607458 TI - Actions of caffeine on fast- and slow-twitch muscles of the rat. AB - 1. The effects of caffeine (0.2-20 mmol l-1) have been examined on calcium transients (measured with aequorin) and isometric force in intact bundles of fibres from soleus (slow-twitch) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL; fast-twitch) muscles of the rat. 2. At 25 degrees C, threshold caffeine concentration for an observable increase in resting [Ca2+]i was 0.2 and 1.0 mmol l-1 for soleus and EDL muscles respectively. Increases in resting force were first detectable at about 0.5 mmol l-1 caffeine for soleus muscles and 5.0 mmol l-1 caffeine for EDL muscles and occurred in the range 0.2-0.4 mumol l-1 [Ca2+]i for soleus and 0.7 0.9 mumol l-1 for EDL. 3. Caffeine potentiated the twitch responses of soleus and EDL in a dose-related manner. The soleus was more sensitive in this respect, with 50% potentiation occurring at 1 mmol l-1 caffeine compared with 3.5 mmol l-1 for the EDL. Concentrations of caffeine below 2 mmol l-1 potentiated Ca2+ transients associated with twitches in both soleus and EDL muscles with no apparent change in the decay rate constant. 4. High concentrations of caffeine (greater than 2 mmol l-1) further potentiated peak Ca2+ in the EDL but depressed it in the soleus. The rate of decay of the Ca2+ transient in high caffeine was significantly prolonged in the soleus but remained unaffected in the EDL. 5. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) had little effect on force or [Ca2+]i at concentrations known to significantly increase intracellular cyclic AMP levels. 6. The Ca2+ transient during fused tetani was characterized by an initial peak, a decline to a plateau level and sometimes a gradual rise towards the end of the stimulus train. Peak [Ca2+]i during normal tetani ranged between 1.1 and 2.4 mumol l-1 in the soleus and 1.9 and 4.0 mumol l 1 in the EDL. 7. Caffeine potentiated both force and [Ca2+]i during tetanus. Since the increase of the Ca2+ transient was significantly greater than potentiation of force, it is likely that saturation of myofilaments occurs. The primary effect of caffeine on the Ca2+ transient was an elevation of the plateau phase. 8. Caffeine concentrations below 5 mmol l-1 potentiate twitch and tetanic force in both fast- and slow-twitch mammalian skeletal muscles primarily by increasing both the basal and stimulus-evoked release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. PMID- 2607459 TI - Short-latency inhibition of soleus motoneurones by impulses in Ia afferents from the gastrocnemius muscle in humans. AB - 1. The possibility that the Ia afferent fibres from the gastrocnemius medialis muscle could be responsible for a decrease in excitability of the soleus motor pool was investigated. 2. The soleus H reflex, evoked by tibial nerve stimulation in the popliteal fossa, was conditioned by a single stimulus to the gastrocnemius medialis nerve at various stimulus intensities and conditioning-test intervals. Care was taken to avoid spread of current from the conditioning stimulus to the tibial nerve, and the results obtained by surface stimulation were compared with those obtained by stimulation through a needle whose tip was positioned closer to the nerve. 3. Stimulation of the gastrocnemius medialis nerve induced two short lasting periods of inhibition in the soleus H reflex, peaking at about 0 and 5 ms of conditioning-test delay. The early inhibition could begin at a stimulus strength as low as 0.5 x MTh (the Motor Threshold). The later inhibition appeared on greater stimulus strength than the earlier. 4. Prolonged vibration of the Achilles tendon abolished the capability of the conditioning stimulus to induce the short-latency inhibition of the soleus H reflex. 5. By stimulating the gastrocnemius medialis nerve at two points separated by a known distance, the conduction velocity of the fibres responsible for the early inhibition was estimated, and found to be around 100 m s-1. 6. Isometric leg flexion, accomplished by tonic activation of gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis but not soleus, was able to induce an inhibition of the soleus H reflex even at very low levels of gastrocnemius electromyographic activity. 7. These findings strongly suggest the existence of an inhibitory effect of primary spindle afferent fibres from the gastrocnemius medialis muscle onto the soleus motor pool. This is not unexpected, since the gastrocnemius medialis muscle can be either agonist or antagonist to the soleus muscle in the performance of different movements. PMID- 2607460 TI - Organization of electrical activity in the canine pyloric canal. AB - 1. The electrical activity of the canine gastroduodenal junction was investigated using cross-sectional muscle preparations and intracellular recording techniques. 2. Spontaneous electrical slow waves were recorded from antral and pyloric cells but not from duodenal cells adjacent to the pyloric region. Slow waves were generated in the antrum and propagated to the pyloric region via the circular layer. Pyloric slow waves consisted of an upstroke phase, a plateau phase and oscillations superimposed upon the plateau, whereas antral slow waves had smooth plateau potentials. 3. Within the pylorus slow waves decayed in amplitude with distance from the myenteric border of the circular muscle; the majority of pyloric circular cells were normally electrically quiescent. 4. The longitudinal muscle in the pylorus was electrically coupled and paced by the circular muscle. In longitudinal cells slow waves were usually of long duration with multiple spikes superimposed upon the plateau phase. 5. Nifedipine (10(-8) to 10(-5) M) decreased slow waves amplitude and duration. Tetraethylammonium ions (TEA; 10 mM) increased the duration of slow waves, caused spiking activity during the plateau phase and also elicited spiking in the quiescent regions. 6. The results suggest that gastric slow waves pace the myenteric portion of the circular muscle layer and the longitudinal layer of the pylorus, but do not traverse the gastroduodenal junction, nor pace the majority of cells within the circular muscle of the pylorus. Other excitatory mechanisms are necessary to activate these regions and to co-ordinate their motility with gastric motility. PMID- 2607461 TI - Potassium (86Rb+) efflux from the rat submandibular gland under sodium-free conditions in vitro. AB - 1. Fragments of rat submandibular gland were pre-loaded with 86Rb+, an isotopic marker of potassium transport, and rate constants for 86Rb+ efflux were determined during superfusion with a physiological salt solution. 2. In sodium containing solutions acetylcholine evoked a rapid and immediate increase in efflux rate. After reaching a peak value, the efflux rate initially declined rapidly, but a second, slowly declining phase to the response was also evident. The response could be resolved into Ca2(+)-independent and Ca2(+)-dependent phases. 3. The basal efflux rate was elevated during superfusion with solutions in which sodium had been replaced with either lithium or N-methyl-D-glucammonium (NMDG+). Although lithium had a greater effect, which was absent under calcium free conditions, addition of calcium to initially calcium-free, lithium containing solutions did not affect the rate of efflux. 4. In the presence of calcium the response to acetylcholine was augmented during exposure to lithium containing, sodium-free solutions but, in contrast, slightly inhibited when NMDG+ was used as a sodium substituent. 5. The transient, calcium-independent component of the response to acetylcholine was unaffected by exposure to lithium, whereas the calcium-dependent phase of the response was inhibited. 6. Responsiveness to acetylcholine was reduced during superfusion with a calcium-free, NMDG+ containing solution. The response normally observed when extracellular Ca2+ was subsequently elevated, in the continued presence of acetylcholine, was also inhibited. Sensitivity to acetylcholine was retained, however, when the tissue was initially exposed to a solution containing approximately 20 mumol l-1 Ca2+. The response was smaller than that evoked in sodium-containing solutions. 7. The use of lithium as a sodium substituent presents special problems, possibly related to the effects of this ion on the metabolic cycling of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate metabolites. PMID- 2607462 TI - Reduction by baclofen of monosynaptic EPSPs in lumbosacral motoneurones of the anaesthetized cat. AB - 1. Monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) were elicited in lumbosacral motoneurones of pentobarbitone anaesthetized cats by stimulating group Ia muscle afferents with most of the dorsal roots severed. In some experiments Ia EPSPs were recorded together with monosynaptic EPSPs elicited by stimulating the ipsilateral ventral quadrants (VQ) of the thoracic spinal cord. Injection of (+/-) baclofen (1 mg kg-1 I.V.) caused a reduction in the peak amplitudes of both Ia and VQ EPSPs, which started immediately upon injection and progressed gradually. No recovery in EPSP amplitude was seen during the recording period, which lasted up to 60 min. 2. The Ia EPSP peak amplitude was reduced by 18-61% (mean +/- S.D., 38 +/- 14%; n = 30), while VQ EPSPs were reduced by 7-42% (23 +/- 13%; n = 5). Baclofen had a significantly larger effect on Ia EPSPs than VQ EPSPs (P less than 0.001; t test). 3. Baclofen did not cause any consistent change in the membrane potential, nor in the membrane time constant, as estimated from the exponential decay of the tail of the EPSP. There was no tendency for the reduction in peak EPSP amplitude to be related to the estimated electrical distance on the dendritic tree at which the synaptic current was injected. 4. For two I a and two VQ EPSPs, the trial-to-trial fluctuation in the peak amplitude was resolved into quantal parameters before and after baclofen was administered. The reduction in peak amplitude was in all cases accounted for by a reduction in the probability of release of neurotransmitter, with no change in quantal size. Other EPSPs either showed negligible trial-to-trial amplitude fluctuation, or could not be resolved into quantal parameters without ambiguity. 5. By comparing the variance components of the EPSP peak amplitude distribution, the hypothesis was tested that the entire action of baclofen was to reduce quantal amplitude. This was rejected for sixteen out of thirty Ia and three out of five VQ EPSPs (P less than 0.05). 6. These results support a presynaptic site of action of baclofen on the terminals of Ia afferents, by decreasing the probability of release of neurotransmitter. They also indicate a similar, although weaker, action on VQ terminals. No evidence was found for an action on the postsynaptic membrane properties or synaptic conductance. PMID- 2607463 TI - Acute carotid baroreflex resetting in conscious dogs. AB - 1. Acute baroreflex resetting in the control of arterial pressure was studied in six chronically instrumented, conscious dogs. Following aortic baroreceptor denervation, the carotid sinuses were surgically prepared for reversible vascular isolation. 2. During the experiments both carotid sinuses were temporarily isolated from the systemic circulation and conditioned with a pulsatile pressure. The carotid sinus conditioning pressure (CPCSP) was at a level of 100, 140 or 60 mmHg for 20 min each. Carotid sinus pressure (CSP) versus mean arterial pressure (MAP) baroreflex curves were constructed after each conditioning period. 3. The baroreflex curves were shifted downward and to the left at low CPCSP and upward and to the right at high CPCSP. 4. We used four parameters to quantify baroreflex resetting. These were: (1) the set point pressure (PSP), (2) the threshold pressure (PTh), (3) BP50 or mid-point pressure and (4) the CSP at maximum gain (PGmax). At high CPCSP, these four parameters were increased by 18.5 +/- 4.0, 23.4 +/- 4.3, 21.7 +/- 5.0 and 22.0 +/- 5.1 mmHg, respectively (P less than 0.05). 5. Resetting was not complete in these studies. The extent of resetting was approximately 50% for upward and 35% for downward baroreflex conditioning. 6. Analysis of the present experimental data indicates that when the cardiovascular system is exposed to a short-term hyper- or hypotension, the baroreflex is capable of correcting the baseline arterial pressure while preserving its ability to buffer transient disturbances as a result of partial resetting. PMID- 2607464 TI - Plasmapheresis affects responses of slowly and rapidly adapting airway receptors to pulmonary venous congestion in dogs. AB - 1. The effects of plasmapheresis on the responses of rapidly adapting receptors (RARs) and slowly adapting receptors (SARs) of the airways to pulmonary venous congestion were examined in dogs anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose. Pulmonary venous congestion was produced in a graded manner by partial obstruction of the mitral valve sufficient to raise the mean left atrial pressure by 5, 10 and 15 mmHg. Plasmapheresis was performed by withdrawing 10% of blood volume twice. 2. Both RARs (n = 11) and SARs (n = 5) responded to pulmonary venous congestion by increasing their activities. The responses of the former were proportionately greater. 3. After plasmapheresis which reduced the concentration of plasma proteins by 12.3 +/- 1.0%, the responses of the RARs to pulmonary venous congestion were enhanced significantly. There was no significant change in the responses of SARs. 4. In another set of six RARs, the effects of graded pulmonary venous congestion were investigated twice with an interval of 45 min between the two observations. No significant differences were noted between the two responses. 5. Collection of lymph from the tracheobronchial lymph duct (n = 6) showed that after plasmapheresis, there was an increase in the control lymph flow. In addition, the lymph flow was enhanced during pulmonary venous congestion (mean left atrial pressure increased by 10 mmHg). 6. It is suggested that a natural stimulus for the excitation of the RAR is a function of the fluid fluxes in the pulmonary extravascular space. PMID- 2607465 TI - New malignancy grading is a better prognostic indicator than Broders' grading in oral squamous cell carcinomas. AB - The prognostic value of histopathologic grading of oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) has varied from not any to highly significant. We have retrospectively studied all (130) SCCs registered in Norway 1963-72 in the buccal and maxillary alveolar mucosa. From 68 of these cases biopsy specimens of acceptable quality were obtained. Broders' method of grading was compared with a modification of a recent malignancy grading system recommended by Anneroth et al. which was performed only within the histologically most invasive areas of the tumors. Cox's multivariate survival analyses showed that this grading in the invasive sites had highly significant prognostic value. Broders grade had no prognostic value. The stage of tumor had also prognostic value. These highly significant results indicate that the histologically invasive areas may be primarily responsible for the clinical behavior of the tumor, and this may be of importance for the choice of therapy for oral SCC. PMID- 2607466 TI - Longitudinal evaluation of major salivary gland function in HIV-1 infected patients. AB - Parotid and submandibular gland function were evaluated in 12 HIV-1 antibody positive men at two visits separated by a median interval of 14.5 months (range 6 22 months). Unstimulated and stimulated flow rates, and the concentrations of total protein, lysozyme, albumin and lactoferrin in these secretions, were determined. Parotid and submandibular gland secretions changed in a specific fashion with time. Lysozyme levels in both glandular stimulated secretions showed significant changes (approximately 40% and 70% elevated, between visits, in parotid and submandibular saliva, respectively). In addition, the frequency with which albumin was detected in unstimulated parotid secretions increased with time. These findings support earlier results suggesting the presence of alterations in major salivary gland function following HIV-1 infection. Submandibular gland function appears to manifest these alterations earlier, but with time the parotid secretions show similar changes. PMID- 2607467 TI - Ultrastructural findings in oral hyperpigmentation of HIV-infected patients. AB - Oral hyperpigmentation has been observed in six HIV-infected patients, in two of whom systemic medication (ketokonazole, clofazimine) was supposed to be etiologically involved. Histologically, pigment was found in epithelial basal cells and particularly in subepithelial connective tissue. Ultrastructurally, the presence of premature melanosomes in subepithelial keratinocytes was of interest. Stimulation of melanocytes during HIV infection may occur in association with immunopathologic changes in the oral mucosa. PMID- 2607468 TI - Central papillary atrophy of the tongue among bidi smokers in India: a 10-year study of 182 lesions. AB - The occurrence of central papillary atrophy of the tongue among tobacco users, its clinical characteristics and the long term behavior in relation to changes in tobacco use was studied in 182 individuals in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Almost all (98%) lesions occurred among bidi smokers. Clinically, about 31% occurred in combination with bidi smoking associated lesions such as palatal erythema (14%), leukoplakia (8%) or both (3%). Histologic evaluation in 12 biopsies using single PAS stained sections showed candidal hyphae in 67%. A 10-yr follow-up (mean: 6.7 yr) of the 182 lesions showed that the regression was highest (87%) among those who stopped their smoking habit and persistence among those who did not reduce or stop their smoking habits. The findings from this study confirm a strong link between bidi smoking and central papillary atrophy of the tongue in rural Indian populations. PMID- 2607469 TI - Effect of phenytoin on intracellular 45Ca2+ accumulation in gingival fibroblasts in vitro. AB - Effect of 5,5 diphenylhydantoin (phenytoin; PHT) alone or in combination with epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the intracellular accumulation of the radioisotope 45Ca2+ (4 min labelling period) was determined in gingival fibroblasts. EGF as well as PHT increased the intracellular accumulation of the radioisotope in normal gingival fibroblasts by approximately 2 and 1.6-fold, respectively. In contrast, in fibroblasts derived from the phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth, neither EGF nor PHT stimulated intracellular accumulation of 45Ca2+. When normal gingival fibroblasts were treated in vitro with EGF in combination with PHT, the EGF-induced increase in intracellular accumulation of the radioisotope 45Ca2+ was abolished. The rate of efflux of the radioisotope 45Ca2+ in prelabelled normal gingival fibroblasts was decreased by PHT treatment in vitro to a level already present in fibroblasts derived from PHT-induced gingival overgrowth. This study indicates that PHT influences the cellular calcium metabolism in fibroblasts which may contribute to the pathogenesis of gingival overgrowth. PMID- 2607470 TI - A study of an in vitro model for invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma. AB - An in vitro model for studying the invasion mechanism of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was developed using a specific culture matrix composed of collagen gel combined with human fibroblasts. Five SCC cell lines cultured on collagen-only gels showed stratified growth on the gels. However, all five cell lines showed invasive growth into the matrix when cultured on the fibroblast incorporated collagen gels. Moreover, fibroblast-conditioned medium was shown to promote the invasion of HSC-3 cells into the collagen gels. These results suggest that fibroblasts play an important role in the invasion of oral SCC cells in vitro. Four cell lines, which were newly established in our laboratory, were tested in this assay system. These cell lines cultured on fibroblast-incorporated collagen gels expressed morphologic and biologic characteristics in vitro, similar to those in vivo. PMID- 2607471 TI - Giant ossifying fibroma: a clinicopathologic study of 8 tumors. AB - Clinical, radiographic and microscopic features of 8 ossifying fibromas diagnosed in 7 patients and measuring more than 8 cm in greatest diameter, were reviewed. The tumors occurred in both juvenile and middle aged patients and all lesions in women involved the maxilla. The abundance of fibrous connective tissue and resorption of mineralized deposits are indicative of altered cellular differentiation and proliferative activities in large ossifying fibromas. Focal areas of aneurysmal bone cyst formation were identified in the majority of lesions. PMID- 2607472 TI - Adult benign granular cell tumor of the maxilla. AB - A granular cell tumor occurred in the right anterior maxilla of a 22-yr-old black man. It involved the right labial maxillary submucosa and the underlying bone. It also invaded the maxillary sinus and the nasal cavity on the same side. The ultrastructural features of the lesion confirmed the biopsy diagnosis of benign granular cell tumor. The treatment involved partial maxillectomy, split thickness skin graft and immediate dental prosthesis. PMID- 2607473 TI - T lymphocytes, Langerhans cells and HLA-DR expression on keratinocytes in oral lesions associated with amalgam restorations. AB - It has been shown recently that patients with mucosal lesions confined to areas opposing amalgam restorations (contact lesions) show a high rate of allergic reaction towards mercury. These lesions may, therefore, represent a contact hypersensitivity reaction. Contact lesions often have a lichenoid appearance. From a pathogenetic and differential diagnostic point of view we therefore evaluated the presence of lymphocyte subpopulations, Langerhans cells (LC) and the expression of HLA-DR antigens on mucosal keratinocytes in biopsies of contact lesions (Group 1) and in lichen planus lesions with (Group 2) and without (Group 3) partial contact with amalgam restorations. T lymphocytes dominated in all three groups and LC counts were similar. HLA-DR positive keratinocytes were found in 18-36% of lesions in all three groups. Thus, the immunologic parameters examined are not of value in discriminating between the types of lesions studied. Rather, it seems that the pattern observed is a common reaction of the oral mucosa to known (amalgam restorations) and unknown factors. PMID- 2607474 TI - Histoplasmosis presenting as hyperplastic gingival lesion. AB - A case of histoplasmosis presenting as ulcerated, hyperplastic gingiva and with no other systematic signs and symptoms is reported. The clinical presentation and the rarity of this condition led one of us to the differential diagnosis of a malignant lesion. The correct diagnosis was made after histological examination and tissue culture which yielded Histoplasma capsulatum. The patient was successfully treated with ketoconazole. PMID- 2607475 TI - Various methods in achieving anterior guidance. AB - The anterior teeth are essential for esthetics, phoentics, and mastication and are equally involved in protecting posterior teeth. A 10-year longitudinal study of treatment modalities was conducted for overbite-overjet occlusal relationships. Comprehensive treatment combining orthodontics, occlusal adjustment, and selective restorations minimized the need for extensive restorative dentistry. The treatment of selected patients with a 10-year postoperative evaluation was discussed. PMID- 2607476 TI - Apparent fracture toughness of all-ceramic crown systems. AB - This study measured apparent fracture toughness (Kc) and elastic modulus-to hardness ratio (E/H) of dental restorations made with five all-ceramic crown systems. An indentation technique was used whereby Kc was calculated from the length of radial cracks formed on the release of a Vickers Diamond. Twenty-four crowns were made by using five different crown systems: Cerestore, DICOR, Hi Ceram, Renaissance, and Vitadur-N. After the crowns were fired and glazed, they were embedded, polished, gold-coated, and indented under oil. In addition Knoop indentations were made for E/H calculation. Cerestore had a mean Kc of 1.79 MPa.m1/2 and E/H of 13.9, DICOR 2.10 and 26.8, Hi-Ceram 1.96 and 17.8, Renaissance 2.02 and 24.2, and Vitadur-N 1.96 and 22.3. Statistically significant differences (p less than 0.05) were found between DICOR and Cerestore materials for Kc and between DICOR, Renaissance, and Cerestore materials for E/H. For comparison, previous work found Vita VMK metal ceramic crowns to have a mean Kc of 1.91 MPa.m1/2 and E/H of 20.2. PMID- 2607477 TI - Glass-ionomer cement film thickness and working time. AB - Reports on film thickness for adhesive glass-ionomer cements have not been consistent, and confusion exists relative to proper working times. In this investigation, film thickness was measured over a range of times for three glass ionomer cements by using a traditional ADA glass plate technique and a simulated clinical cementation technique with castings and dies. The cements were examined from 60 seconds to 255 seconds from the start of mix. Results indicated that the simulated clinical technique generally provided less film thickness. No significant differences in film thickness were found between the brands of cement through 240 seconds with film thickness ranging from 7.24 to 20.5 microns. Greater differences between the cements were observed with the ADA technique beyond 135 seconds from the time of mix. Relative to film thickness, working times would appear to be greater than previously reported for glass-ionomer cements. PMID- 2607478 TI - Fracture-surface analysis of dental ceramics. AB - This study demonstrated that quantitative fractography can be used to study failed aluminous and glass-ceramic central porcelains. Fracture surfaces of DICOR and Vitadur-N core porcelain modulous-of-rupture bars were studied to identify fracture mirror features useful in (1) locating the source of fracture and (2) calculating the stress at fracture in clinically failed restorations. The morphology of fracture surfaces results from events related to the initiation and propagation of the crack front during failure. Modulus-of-rupture testing was performed in four-point bending. Fracture surfaces were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The mean fracture stress for the Vitadur-N porcelain was 94.7 +/- 12.4 MPa (13,730 psi); for DICOR the fracture stress was 55.4 +/- 10.6 MPa (8,030 psi). The standard quantitative fractography relationship between in mirror radius and ln fracture stress was followed for both materials. This quantitative fractography relationship was used to calculate the in vivo stress at failure in a clinically fractured DICOR molar crown. Five clinically failed DICOR crowns were seen to fail from the internal surface. PMID- 2607479 TI - Systemic bone diseases and reduction of the residual ridge of the mandible; primary hyperparathyroidism. A preliminary report. AB - Twenty-five edentulous patients with established hyperparathyroidism were evaluated to establish a possible relation between extreme reduction of the height of the mandible and systemic bone loss. As an important parameter of the severity of the systemic bone loss, the level of the intact biologically active molecule of the parathormone was used. In this study no relation between hyperparathyroidism and reduction of the residual alveolar ridge could be established. In only two patients the reduction could be classified as "severe." Furthermore the level of the active, intact, circulating parathormone or the duration of the hyperparathyroidism could not be identified as an important factor in relation to the local phenomenon of reduction of the alveolar ridges. PMID- 2607480 TI - Dental implants: a survey of patients' attitudes. AB - This study measured the psychologic attitudes of patients to implant prostheses and compared their status before and after therapy. Questionnaires were mailed to 95 patients with implants placed and restored at a university dental school. The implants had been in position for an average of 2.2 years. The patients had previously worn removable complete or partial dentures. Different questions addressed eating, speaking, relationships, employment, social life, esthetics, maintenance, and overall dental health. Sixty-one questionnaires were returned (64%). Satisfaction with the implant prosthesis was significantly greater than for the denture (p less than 0.0001). Responses to individual questions indicated that confidence was improved (88%), implants were worth the trouble (97%), the procedure would be worth repeating (89%), and overall dental health was improved (98%). This survey suggests that patients' attitudes toward their dental health improve significantly after treatment with implant prostheses. PMID- 2607481 TI - A two-year kinesiographic study of mandibular movement patterns in denture wearers. AB - Changes in functional jaw movements during a 2-year period of denture wear were investigated. The sample consisted of 27 partially edentulous subjects who were provided with an immediate complete maxillary denture and a removable partial mandibular denture. Recordings of habitual chewing of apple and empty open-close cycles were made with a mandibular kinesiograph. At the pretreatment stage, when the patients occluded on a residual anterior dentition, irregular patterns of movement were observed. After placement of the dentures, which restored posterior occlusion, the chewing and open-close patterns showed marked improvement and were characterized by significant mean decreases in sagittal and transversal range of movement. Relining of the maxillary dentures further stabilized the functional patterns. During the second year, significant reductions in vertical range of movement and lateral chewing excursions were observed, and were probably related to impaired retention of the complete upper denture. PMID- 2607482 TI - Bactericidal effect of a disinfectant dental stone on irreversible hydrocolloid impressions and stone casts. AB - Infection control in dentistry focuses on the prevention of cross-contamination among patients, dentists, and dental auxilary personnel. This study evaluated the bactericidal effect of a dental gypsum material containing 0.25% chloramine-T on oral irreversible hydrocolloid impressions and dental casts. Eighty irreversible hydrocolloid impressions from 40 human volunteers were prepared. Forty impressions were poured with the disinfectant dental stone and a similar number were poured with a comparable, nondisinfectant stone. After setting for 60 minutes, the impressions and separated casts were sampled for bacterial contamination. The disinfectant stone inhibited bacterial growth in 39 of 40 impressions and casts, whereas all casts and impressions poured with the nondisinfectant stone were contaminated. The disinfectant dental stone containing chloramine-T was effective in eliminating bacterial contamination of both the irreversible hydrocolloid impression and stone cast. PMID- 2607483 TI - Reactions to AIDS and other illnesses: reported interactions in the workplace. AB - Previous research on the public's response to AIDS has been concerned with attitudes and knowledge in relation to the disease itself. The present study investigated American students' willingness to interact in the workplace with AIDS patients and compared this with their reactions to cancer and hepatitis patients. The effects of perceived control over the cause of the disease were also examined. Exposure to the diseases was manipulated with written scenarios. Results demonstrated that the type of illness affected a willingness to interact with individuals--AIDS patients were reacted to least positively, followed by hepatitis, and cancer patients. Perceived control over the cause of the disease did not affect reactions. PMID- 2607484 TI - Effects of aggressive and nonaggressive rock songs on projective and structured tests. AB - The differences between hostility scores on projective and objective tests as a function of listening to aggressive or nonaggressive rock music were studied. While taking the Thematic Apperception Test (Cards 1, 3BM, 4, 9BM, and 10) and the Buss-Durkee (1957) Hostility Scale, subjects (N = 90) randomly assigned to one of three groups listened to a rock song with (a) nonaggressive music and nonaggressive lyrics, (b) aggressive music and nonaggressive lyrics, or (c) aggressive music and aggressive lyrics. TAT stories were scored for aggressive content according to Hafner and Kaplan's (1960) hostility rating scale. Hostility scores did not differ between groups. The findings are congruent with other investigators' reports that subjects do not pay attention to rock lyrics. Previous findings that music affects the emotional quality of TAT stories and hostility scores on the Buss-Durkee scale were not supported. PMID- 2607485 TI - The measurement of perimenstrual distress. AB - This study was undertaken to explore whether the implicit requirement of phase comparison in menstrual research influences the data obtained. One hundred fifty Israeli women responded to the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire in an altered procedure. They rated their experience of behaviors and feelings during the nonmenstrual phase. Later, on a separate form, they rated their experience of the same behaviors and feelings during the menstrual and premenstrual phases. With this altered procedure, nonmenstrual distress scores were consistently higher than the perimenstrual scores. This pattern of results is the reverse of what most studies using the questionnaire have shown and does not seem to justify treating the perimenstrual period as especially problematic. PMID- 2607486 TI - Slow active potentials in ventral inhibitory motor neurons of the nematode Ascaris. AB - The ability of ventral inhibitory motor neurons of the nematode Ascaris to generate slow depolarizing potentials was investigated using intracellular recording and current injection. In quiescent cells, regenerative depolarizations with peak amplitudes of approximately 20 mV and durations of several 100 ms were evoked in response to brief depolarizing current pulses. Repetitive slow potentials were produced in response to sustained depolarizing currents in a threshold-dependent manner. Repetitive slow potentials also occurred spontaneously, exhibiting cycle periods of about 700 ms. The ability of inhibitory motor neurons to generate slow potentials was blocked by addition of Co++, Cd++, or other Ca-channel blockers to the saline but not by TTX or substitution of Na+ with Tris. The amplitude and duration of slow potentials were increased in the presence of Ba++, Sr++, and TEA. Spontaneous slow potentials exhibited characteristics expected of intrinsically generated oscillations, including frequency modulation by injection of prolonged offset currents, phase resetting by brief current pulses, and suppression by strong hyperpolarization. Slow potentials appear to be generated in the ventral nerve cord processes and/or cell body of the motor neuron, and they produce rhythmic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in ventral muscle cells. Slow potentials may therefore contribute to locomotory or other motor behaviors of the animal. PMID- 2607487 TI - Spectral sensitivity of the compound eyes in two day-active fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Lucidota). AB - The electroretinographic visual spectral sensitivity functions in day-active fireflies Lucidota luteicollis and Lucidota atra show a broad green sensitivity and a shoulder in the near-ultraviolet region of the spectrum as is commonly found among day-active insects. The nomogram for P530 visual pigment matches the spectral sensitivity curves in the green. The adult L. luteicollis retains its larval bioluminescent light organ which has a peak emission at 562 nm. The lambda max of the ERG spectral sensitivity does not match the bioluminescent peak as it does in twilight- and dark-active fireflies. Some relevant behavioural observations with respect to mating are presented. PMID- 2607488 TI - Agitation and the older adult. PMID- 2607489 TI - Coping with a crisis: evaluating psychological risks of patients with AIDS. PMID- 2607490 TI - Western voodoo: providing mental health care to Haitian refugees. AB - This article described certain aspects of Haitian life, voodoo and its role in Haitian society, the quality and quantity of psychiatric and mental health care for Haitians in Haiti, and suggestions for providing appropriate mental health care to Haitian refugees in the United States. Conway and Buchanan (1985) described what has helped Haitian refugees adapt in the transition to life in the United States: the strengths from their cultural heritage, such as fortitude; perseverance in the most arduous circumstances; deep religious faith; high self respect; reliance on the extended family; and the tradition of sharing. Building on these assets may assist Western mental health-care providers in offering culturally sensitive mental health care to Haitians. PMID- 2607491 TI - Helping or hurting? Interacting in the psychiatric milieu. PMID- 2607492 TI - What do you need to know about patients on admission to manage their behaviors safely? PMID- 2607493 TI - Juveniles who murder: insights for intervention. PMID- 2607494 TI - The Guillain-Barre syndrome: a case report. PMID- 2607495 TI - A severe case of Legionnaire's disease connected to the BBC outbreak in 1988. AB - On 1 May 1988 a senior Naval Officer, serving at HMS Warrior, was admitted to RAF Halton where a diagnosis of Legionnaire's disease was made. He suffered severe pneumonia and neurological symptoms, and although he eventually responded to treatment, he still suffers sequelae. On 19 April, he was in the vicinity of the BBC at the time of the outbreak of Legionnaire's disease. His clinical findings are reported in this article along with a brief history and discussion of the diagnosis and prevention of Legionnaire's disease. PMID- 2607496 TI - Fluids or fans for heatstroke? PMID- 2607497 TI - Medical employability--the doctor's dilemma. PMID- 2607498 TI - Caffeine and caffeinism. AB - Caffeine is a widely ingested and generally beneficial drug. However, when taken in excess, anxiety related symptoms become increasingly apparent. A case of caffeinism, which presented as a paranoid delusion, is reported as an extreme example of this. A study of 60 hospital inpatients revealed that about 40% of them consumed sufficient caffeine to produce symptoms of caffeinism. It is thus recommended that all patients should be questioned on their caffeine intake. Also, caffeinism should be considered as a differential diagnosis of anxiety states. PMID- 2607499 TI - Is the pattern of acute decompression sickness changing? PMID- 2607500 TI - Changing trends in dental restorative treatment needs of naval recruits 1987-89- disease or diagnosis? AB - The restorative treatment needs of 9960 young men and women who entered the Naval Service at HMS Raleigh between January 1987 and April 1989 are summarised. A marked increase in the numbers of fillings required and a decrease in the proportion considered to be dentally fit occurred in May 1988 and has continued as a trend thereafter. Weighted non-orthogonal analysis of variances have been conducted to assess the significance of clinical and period variables upon the changes. PMID- 2607501 TI - The college of anaesthetists. PMID- 2607502 TI - Experiences with ureteroscopy. AB - Thirty-nine patients underwent 44 ureteroscopic procedures between January 1985 and August 1988 for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Twenty six procedures were undertaken on 23 patients for extraction of ureteric calculi and were successful on the initial attempt in 14 (61%). Four stones not removed on the first attempt were however disimpacted and subsequently passed spontaneously, and three more were removed at a second ureteroscopy. The overall success rate therefore was 91%. Only two patients required ureterolithotomy. Ureteroscopic stone extraction is therefore an effective technique with minimal morbidity and allows rapid return of servicemen to high category medical fitness. PMID- 2607504 TI - Fibromyalgia syndrome. Proceedings of the Palm Springs Fibromyalgia Syndrome Symposium. Palm Springs, CA, March 18-20, 1988. PMID- 2607503 TI - A comparison of self recording audiometry in naval establishments and clinical audiometry in a hospital setting. AB - Following the introduction of self-recording audiometers into regular use in non hospital Royal Naval medical facilities, there has been an increase in the rate of detection of hearing losses and consequent referral for formal audiometry and ENT evaluation at Naval Hospitals. Forty-two sets of audiograms have been examined and the hearing thresholds obtained by the two methods compared. The value of self-recording audiometry even in the often imperfect audiometric conditions available in a Naval sick bay has been confirmed and the midpoint of the tracing established as a reliable indicator of the hearing threshold. PMID- 2607505 TI - Measurement of pain in fibromyalgia in the clinic and laboratory. AB - Fibromyalgia involves constant aching pain throughout the body and acute pain at widely distributed tender points. This review emphasizes the different aspects of the pain experience which are assessed by verbal questionnaires, analysis of descriptive adjectives, numerical and verbal category scales and visual analogue scales. There is a need for studies which utilize ratio scale techniques to measure the different components of the pain experience and which explore a wider range of behavioral and functional measures. Laboratory data on responsiveness at tender and nontender points, examined with respect to adaptation level and hypervigilance theories, suggest that patients with fibromyalgia are overly reactive to external events which other groups, both pain free and pain suffering, find innocuous. PMID- 2607506 TI - An overview of psychologic studies in fibromyalgia. AB - Prior psychologic and psychiatric studies in fibromyalgia are reviewed. Most of these reports had methodologic problems, but there is an association of depression with fibromyalgia described in the better studies. Hudson and Pope's hypothesis that there are 3 possible mechanisms to explain this association is examined and discussed in relation to current and future research in fibromyalgia. PMID- 2607507 TI - A comparative study of pain, sleep quality and pain responsiveness in fibrositis and myofascial pain syndrome. AB - Twenty patients with fibrositis and 19 patients with myofascial pain syndrome were compared with regard to pain levels, sleep quality, general pain threshold and localized pain responsiveness at fibrositic tender points. Patients with fibrositis had significantly lower pain responsiveness (p less than 0.01), lower pain threshold (p less than 0.05) and higher pain levels (p less than 0.05) than patients with myofascial pain syndrome when differences in age between the groups were controlled. No significant difference was found for sleep quality. Regional pain levels influenced local measures of pain sensitivity. A discriminant function, developed on the 4 main study variables, resulted in an almost 80% correct classification to groups. PMID- 2607508 TI - Psychological symptoms and psychiatric diagnosis in patients with fibromyalgia. AB - Previous studies of psychological symptoms and psychiatric diagnoses in fibromyalgia have methodologic shortcomings. Although depressive and somatic symptoms are common, they are not more prominent than in other chronic medical conditions. There may be an association of depression with fibromyalgia, but this is not a causal one. The vast majority of patients with fibromyalgia do not meet criteria for a current psychiatric diagnosis. PMID- 2607509 TI - Diurnal hormone variation in fibromyalgia syndrome: a comparison with rheumatoid arthritis. AB - Twenty patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were assessed as outpatients over a 3 day period with respect to peak and trough levels of plasma cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, ACTH and thyroid stimulating hormone. Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome had loss of diurnal variation in plasma cortisol (trough levels 347.3 +/- 254.7 vs 232.8 +/- 70.0 nmol/l, p less than 0.001) compared with RA patients. Thirty-five percent (7/20) of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and only 5 percent (1/20) of those with RA exhibited abnormal dexamethasone suppression tests (p less than 0.001). No differences were noted in the diurnal variation of other hormones tested. Beck Depression Inventory scores were similar in both groups and no patient exhibited clinical evidence of depression. These data suggest alteration in the pituitary hypothalamic axis with respect to cortisol secretion in fibromyalgia syndrome, perhaps as a consequence of chronic pain. PMID- 2607510 TI - Serum amino acids in fibrositis/fibromyalgia syndrome. AB - Free plasma tryptophan levels in patients with fibrositis syndrome were measured by Moldofsky and Warsh with the view that the pathogenesis of fibrositis syndrome might involve a functional deficiency of serotonin. The hypothesis was supported by the finding of an inverse relationship between tryptophan concentration and the severity of musculoskeletal pain. Our study examined the total serum amino acid pool in fibrositis syndrome. Twenty patients with primary fibrositis syndrome and matched normal controls were evaluated clinically. After denaturation of macromolecules, serum amino acids were quantitated by automated analysis. Patients with fibrositis syndrome exhibited significantly lower levels of total serum tryptophan (p = 0.002), as well as 6 other amino acids: alanine (p less than 0.0005), histidine (p = 0.001), lysine (p = 0.02), proline (p = 0.039), serine (p = 0.028), and threonine (p = 0.013). These findings support the serotonin deficiency hypothesis for fibrositis syndrome pathogenesis but also imply a more generalized defect in amino acid homeostasis among affected individuals. PMID- 2607511 TI - The design of a fibromyalgia criteria study. AB - Increasing recognition of the fibromyalgia syndrome together with concerns about limitations of currently available criteria led most centers engaged in fibromyalgia research in Canada and the United States to undertake a multicenter effort to define epidemiologically correct criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Five hundred fifty-eight consecutive patients (293 with fibromyalgia and 265 controls) were recruited from 16 private practice and university centers. The study used training sessions to increase interrater reliability, and included methods to determine reliability of examination and historical data. Standardized definition and methods of data acquisition by independent, blinded assessors were employed. PMID- 2607512 TI - Physical fitness and muscle metabolism in the fibromyalgia syndrome: an overview. AB - Patients with the fibromyalgia syndrome are physically unfit. Two crucial questions arise. Why do these patients enter a spiral of habitual inactivity? What is the role of deconditioned muscles in causing the symptoms of pain and fatigue? The use of newer techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, allied with studies of exercise physiology, may provide new insights into the fibromyalgia enigma. PMID- 2607513 TI - Factors influencing the development and maintenance of aerobic fitness: lessons applicable to the fibrositis syndrome. AB - Exercise may have therapeutic benefits in the treatment of fibrositis/fibromyalgia. However, little is known concerning what type of exercise best serves patients with this condition, their capacity for exercise or the identity of the physiological or psychological alterations elicited by increased activity that might be responsible for the positive effects. We discuss these issues from the perspective of the classical responses reported in healthy subjects. In addition, since the benefits of exercise programs are dependent upon continual participation. strategies for initiating activity and maximizing compliance are discussed. PMID- 2607514 TI - Muscle energy metabolism, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and their potential in the study of fibromyalgia. AB - The fields of muscle physiology and biochemistry have already identified some of the key components of ATPase hydrolysis products that are involved in muscle fatigue. The concentration of the relevant chemical species can be readily measured by nuclear magnetic resonance techniques in muscle. Now the question is: is alteration of cellular energy balance and the normal balance between supply and demand disturbed in fibromyalgia? Since these chemical events account for a very large amount of muscle reduced performance as well as reduction in both velocity and force, at the very least one ought to identify how large these changes are in any patient in whom we are trying to assess the degree to which these chemical changes might be associated with muscle fatigue. An objective chemical criteria for muscle performance is possible with modern noninvasive phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. PMID- 2607515 TI - Fibromyalgia syndrome. Proceedings of the First International Conference on Fibromyalgia. London, ON, September 16-17, 1988. The 3rd Edward Dunlop Symposium. PMID- 2607516 TI - Fibromyalgia and its relation to chronic fatigue syndrome, viral illness and immune abnormalities. AB - Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome have similar clinical and demographic features. We found that most patients with chronic fatigue syndrome have a tender point examination similar to patients with fibromyalgia. Similar pathophysiologic mechanisms are also being explored in each syndrome, including a potential role for viral induced immune dysfunction. PMID- 2607517 TI - The influence of menopause on blood pressure. AB - The association between menopause and systolic and diastolic blood pressure was explored in a random sample of 278 pre- and 184 post-menopausal women. In 64 subjects menopause had been surgically induced. Post-menopausal women had a higher systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure than pre-menopausal subjects (P less than 0.001). Hypertension, defined as being on antihypertensive medication, regardless of BP, or as having a pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg, was more frequently observed following menopause (40 vs 10%; P less than 0.001). After stratification by age and body mass index, the odds of having hypertension for pre- as compared with post-menopausal women were 2.2 (95% confidence interval from 1.1 to 4.4; P = 0.03). After adjustment of BP for significant covariates, such as body mass index, pulse rate and contraceptive pill intake, the slope of SBP on age was 0.5 mmHg/year (P less than 0.05) steeper in women with natural and surgical menopause than in pre-menopausal subjects. The relation of DBP with age showed a similar slope among pre- and post-menopausal subjects, but in women with natural and surgical menopause taken together, the regression line was shifted upward by an average of 2.3 mmHg (P = 0.03). The relationships of DBP with body mass index and with the urinary sodium: potassium ratio were also 0.2 mmHg/kg/m2 and 0.8 mmHg/unit steeper (P less than 0.05) in post- than in pre-menopausal subjects. In conclusion, in the present cross-sectional study menopause was accompanied by a steeper rise of SBP with age, and by an increase in the absolute level of DBP, which was independent of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607518 TI - Behavioural consequences of hypertension: effects of age and type of antihypertensive agent. AB - In order to investigate the effects on behaviour of hypertension, age, and the types of antihypertensive agents, we have conducted a retrospective analysis in 100 hypertensive patients receiving chronic treatment in our Hypertension Clinic. A group of 80 normotensive subjects, matched for age, were included in the study. Half of the hypertensive patients were under the age of 50 (young group) and half were over the age of 50 yrs (old group). The antihypertensive agents had not been administered according to any specific protocol, but represented the choice of the individual clinicians treating the patients in the clinic. All patients had received treatment for at least one year, and usually for two years. The behavioural tests performed were designed to measure sensory-perceptive ability, cognitive ability and psychomotor function and were those employed and described in our previous studies. The results achieved were varied, but indicated that older age was associated with an impairment in performance as was blood pressure. Test performances in the young hypertensives were similar to those achieved by older normotensives. These results were more prominent in cognitive and psychomotor functions than in the sensory-perceptive tests. The antihypertensive drugs used also affected these results; the worst behavioural performances tended to be in patients receiving the central nervous system agonists (methyl-dopa and clonidine) and better performances in patients receiving beta-blockers alone when compared with the other groups. Surprisingly, patients receiving diuretics showed poorer performance levels, but these were better in patients who received a beta blocker in combination with their diuretic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607519 TI - Predicting acute gout in diuretic-treated hypertensive patients. AB - Factors predisposing to diuretic-induced acute gout were investigated in a case control study. Seventy hypertensive patients with acute gout occurring during diuretic treatment were identified and matched for age and sex to 140 hypertensive controls who took diuretics but did not develop gout. Gout was related more strongly to the use of loop diuretics than thiazides, with 30% of cases taking a loop diuretic compared to 14% of controls (P less than 0.01). In a sub-group of men who took a thiazide and no other diuretic, gout was significantly associated with obesity (odds ratio 3.7, 95% confidence interval 1.4, 9.1) and high alcohol intake (odds ratio 3.3, 95% confidence interval 1.1, 9.8). In these patients, 23% of gout was attributable to obesity and 16% to high alcohol consumption. Approximately 40% of acute gout might have been prevented by avoiding thiazides in those 20% of men who weighed more than 90 kg and/or consumed more than 56 units of alcohol per week. PMID- 2607520 TI - A clinical evaluation of the Accutracker--a lightweight ambulatory blood pressure monitor. AB - An evaluation of the 'Accutracker', a new lightweight ambulatory blood pressure monitor, has been carried out in 14 subjects. Using a cross-over study design, BP readings obtained by the monitor were compared with BP measurements carried out in the opposite arm by a random zero sphygmomanometer. Both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures obtained by the 'Accutracker' were lower than the corresponding mercury sphygmomanometer readings (mean bias -5.6 and -7.0 mmHg respectively). The reproducibility of the monitor readings was significantly and substantially poorer than those obtained with the sphygmomanometer even when machine-flagged suspect values were excluded from the analysis. The results suggest that the data obtained from this device should be interpreted with caution. PMID- 2607521 TI - Felodipine in elderly hypertensives. Dutch GP Multicentre Study Group. AB - Elderly hypertensive patients (n = 52), with a supine diastolic blood pressure (DBP) greater than or equal to 100 mmHg, were randomised to four weeks' double blind, parallel-group treatment with felodipine or placebo in order to compare the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of these compounds. The starting dose of felodipine was 2.5 mg twice daily, which was increased to 5 mg twice daily after two weeks' treatment if the supine DBP was still greater than 95 mmHg. In the felodipine group, mean supine blood pressure (BP) was reduced from 176/101 to 167/92 and 165/88 mmHg after two and four weeks, respectively. The corresponding figures in the placebo group were a reduction from 177/103 to 174/102 and 172/98 mmHg. The difference in reduction in DBP between the groups was statistically significant. The proportion of responders was also significantly greater in the felodipine group. The dose-increase was performed in 34% of the patients on felodipine and in 69% of the patients on placebo. Both treatments were well tolerated, and only one patient was withdrawn from the felodipine group and two from the placebo group. Ankle swelling was the most common adverse event of felodipine. PMID- 2607522 TI - The influence of a heart level pillow on the result of blood pressure measurement. AB - Measurement of blood pressure is subject to two sources of variation: biological variation between and within individuals and measurement variation introduced by the observers. Concerning the latter variation it is important to take into consideration arm position in relation to heart level. To improve the standardisation of arm position in relation to the heart level in the supine position, a special pillow--the heart level pillow--was developed. The distances between the examination couch, the centre of the right cardiac atrium, and the sternum were measured by computerised tomography. The upper arm diameter was determined with vernier callipers. These values were then used to design and manufacture a heart level pillow. Blood pressures were then measured on 78 adult patients both with and without the pillow. When blood pressure was measured with the arm at heart level diastolic blood pressure was on average 5.5 mmHg lower compared with measurements performed without the pillow. Therefore, we conclude that a heart level pillow may reduce one common and important error in the indirect measurement of blood pressure. PMID- 2607523 TI - Age-associated changes in parathyroid hormone in black males. AB - To examine changes in calcium metabolism related to aging in blacks and caucasians, we measured serum mid-molecule parathyroid hormone (PTH), total and ionised calcium in 83 black and 47 caucasian healthy males aged 31-77 yrs. Age and race were without effect on total or ionised calcium. PTH levels increased significantly (P less than 0.03) with age in black but not caucasian subjects. These results demonstrate an aging-associated increase in circulating PTH in blacks and are consistent with other data from our laboratory which suggest that PTH may be involved in the development of salt-sensitive hypertension in blacks. PMID- 2607524 TI - Malignant hypertension presenting as acute pancreatitis. AB - We report a patient who was admitted to hospital with acute pancreatitis but who also had malignant phase hypertension. Whilst his alcohol intake was high, there was no objective evidence of alcoholic liver disease and no other underlying cause for pancreatitis was found. The pancreatitis may therefore have been due to pancreatic infarctions associated with fibrinoid necrosis. In all patients with acute pancreatitis, the diagnosis of malignant hypertension should be considered. PMID- 2607525 TI - Incidence of phaeochromocytoma. PMID- 2607526 TI - An integrated view of hypertension. AB - Hypertension increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality two to four-fold. The chief hazards are now atherosclerosis and coronary disease. The risk is proportional to the degree of systolic or diastolic blood pressure elevation at any age, in either sex. More than the character of the blood pressure elevation, commonly associated risk factors markedly influence the hazard. The risk of coronary heart disease is concentrated in hypertensives with a high total/high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio, impaired glucose tolerance, high fibrinogen, those with ECG abnormalities and cigarette smokers. Evidence of organ involvement such as left ventricular hypertrophy, proteinuria or impaired left ventricular function are hallmarks of impending cardiovascular sequelae. The presence of ECG-LVH behaves like myocardial infarction in its clinical course, predisposing at the same rate to sudden death, myocardial infarction, cardiac failure and stroke. Consideration of all cardiovascular risk factors is required to evaluate properly the need for treatment, select the best treatment, and set goals and determine the efficacy of treatment. Waiting until there is evidence of organ involvement is dangerous since the first such evidence is often sudden death, a stroke or a myocardial infarction. Optimal treatment must improve the composite risk profile as well as lower the blood pressure. This can be achieved by hygienic (dietary) measures or pharmacological therapy in those who do not respond to diet alteration, weight control and exercise. PMID- 2607527 TI - Risk factor interactions for coronary heart disease. AB - There is now an increasing awareness of the atherogenicity of the individual lipoprotein subfractions. In addition, the effects of commonly used antihypertensive drugs has been a cause for concern. Thiazides and loop diuretics both increase LDL cholesterol, but indapamide and spironolactone have no apparent effects. Beta-blocker monotherapy may also increase triglycerides whilst post synaptic alpha-blockers do not affect, or slightly lower triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL levels. PMID- 2607528 TI - The influence of breed and sex on the incidence of mortalities and skin tears in broiler carcasses. AB - The effects of nutrition, breed and sex on the incidence of mortalities and of skin tears on broiler carcasses were studied. Both sexes of 2 breeds, Hubbard and Ross, were given 4 dietary treatments consisting of a normal level of vitamin and mineral premix plus 300 ppm furazolidone, twice normal premix inclusion level plus 300 ppm furazolidone, a normal level of vitamin and mineral premix, and twice normal mineral premix inclusion level. A coccidiostat containing the active ingredient halofuginone was included at 6 ppm, twice the recommended dosage. Starter, grower and finisher diets were fed respectively up to Day 20, Day 30 and Day 48. Group growth performances, mortalities and the incidence of torn skin were monitored on both the live birds and carcasses. The effect of the different nutritional treatments on skin tears was not significant (P = 0.9533), as was the breed effect (P = 0.0547). However, the effect of sex was significant (P = 0.0044), the incidence in hens being higher. Mortalities among the Hubbard were significantly greater than among the Ross (P = 0.0001). Hens showed a slightly higher mortality rate than roosters, tending towards significance at the 5% level (P = 0.0554). PMID- 2607529 TI - Exophthalmos in a horse resulting from an adenocarcinoma of the frontal sinus. AB - A fifteen-year-old thoroughbred gelding with exophthalmos of the left eye, was found at necropsy to have an adenocarcinoma of the left frontal sinus. The tumour extended caudally through the cribriform plate into the orbit, displacing the eyeball anteriorly. PMID- 2607530 TI - The angiocardiographic diagnosis of a persistent truncus arteriosus in a foal. AB - Persistent truncus arteriosus is a relatively rare cardiac anomaly which is associated with a single large artery arising from the ventricles. An interventricular septal defect is invariably present. The vessel gives origin to the pulmonary trunk, aorta and coronary arteries. A description of the angiocardiographic diagnosis of this condition is given as well as a general review of the relative developmental anatomy. PMID- 2607531 TI - Suspected vetch (Vicia benghalensis L) poisoning in a Friesland cow in the Republic of South Africa. AB - The clinical findings, treatment and pathological changes are described in a case of suspected vetch (Vicia benghalensis L.) poisoning in a Friesland cow in the Clanwilliam district, Republic of South Africa. These were characterised by a severe pruritic dermatitis, granulomatous myocarditis and a nephritis. PMID- 2607532 TI - Congenital malformation and variation of the lumbar vertebrae in a dog. AB - The clinical, radiological and anatomical changes in a 6 1/2-month-old Fox Terrier bitch with congenital malformation and variation of the lumbar vertebrae are described. The dog has 5 lumbar vertebrae and the first lumbar vertebra was malformed resulting in a dorsal hemivertebra, kyphosis and spinal cord compression. The possible pathogenesis of the dorsal hemivertebra is mentioned. PMID- 2607533 TI - Intralesional triamcinolone hexacetonide in hypertrophic scarring in a horse. PMID- 2607534 TI - [Benzimidazole resistant Ostertagia circumcincta in Angora goats]. AB - Angora goat kids from the eastern Cape Province with natural infestations of Ostertagia circumcincta, Nematodirus spathiger, and Trichostrongylus rugatus were treated with albendazole, fenbendazole or morantel citrate, while a fourth group remained an untreated control group. The benzimidazoles were less than or equal to 50% effective against O. circumcincta, and approximately 50% effective against possibly resistant fourth larval stage N. spathiger. To confirm the diagnosis of anthelmintic resistance in the O. circumcincta, infective larvae (L3) were cultured from the faeces of the kids prior to treatment, and passaged through a donor sheep. Thereafter 2 groups each of sheep and goats were infested artificially with these parasites, and one group of each animal species was drenched with albendazole at 4.75 mg kg-1 in a second trial. The remaining groups were kept as untreated controls. This treatment was less than 5% effective in both sheep and goats, confirming the resistance of this isolate of O. circumcincta to benzimidazoles in both host species. PMID- 2607535 TI - [The efficacy of alphamethrin-impregnated ear tags against ticks]. AB - The efficacy of 3 kinds of alphamethrin-impregnated ear tags was tested against natural Amblyomma hebraeum, Boophilus decoloratus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi infestations of cattle. One type of ear tag was also tested in combination with a tail band of similar material. Ticks were counted macroscopically on their predilection sites. Counts of B. decoloratus, R. appendiculatus, and R. e. evertsi on all trial animals diminished steadily during the first 7d after application of the devices. Counts on untreated control cattle had returned to their pre-treatment levels by Day 14 in the case of B. decoloratus, and by Day 21 for R. appendiculatus. R. e. evertsi did not regain their pre-treatment numbers during the trial period on the controls, but did so on one of the treated groups. This temporary drop could be interpreted as being the result of pyrethroid contamination from the hands of the investigators at the time of applying the ear tags, but did not interfere with the assessment of the effect of the tags. None of the forms of treatment showed acceptable efficacy against B. decoloratus. Ear tags alone were not very effective against R. e. evertsi, but the numbers of these ticks on the perineum were diminished by the use of tail bands. Two kinds of ear tags showed superior efficacy against R. appendiculatus, and in the case of these, one ear tag appeared to be as effective as two. The effect against A. hebraeum was evidently influenced by the distribution of the impregnated devices. Two types of ear tags were used alone and had no effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607536 TI - The male reproductive pattern and histology of the testes of the lesser yellow house bat, Scotophilus borbonicus (E Geoffroy, 1803) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). AB - Monthly samples of the testes of the vespertilionid bat, Scotophilus borbonicus were collected, sectioned and examined by light microscopy. Spermatogenesis was prolonged and extended over 8 months, coinciding with spring, summer and autumn. During any particular month only certain spermatogenic cells are present in the seminiferous tubules. The mediastinum is, unlike that of most other mammals, situated towards the caudal border of the testis. This species is eminently suited for the study of the process of spermatocytogenesis. PMID- 2607537 TI - Physiological and blood biochemical responses to submaximal treadmill exercise in Canaan dogs before, during and after training. AB - Physiological haematological and blood biochemical parameters were studied in Canaan dogs (n = 8) as possible indices of fitness. These parameters were then used to distinguish between fit and unfit dogs and to monitor the changes in these parameters during training and detraining periods. Fitness was defined as the ability to run for one hour on a motorised treadmill (speed 8.65 km h-1, inclination 10 degrees) while maintaining rectal temperature and heart rate below 41 degrees C and 250 beats min-1 respectively. Fit dogs showed consistently lower values of heart rate and rectal temperature during exercise and recovery, and significantly lower increases for post exercise plasma creatine kinase activity and plasma lactate concentration. Significantly higher values for haemoglobin concentration were found immediately post exercise. There were no significant differences between fit and unfit dogs for post exercise plasma concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase, white blood cell count or total protein, although the unfit dogs showed a tendency towards higher values. Similarly, unfit dogs tended to have lower values for plasma glucose concentration, haematocrit and red cell count. Values for heart rate and rectal temperature during exercise differed significantly between various dogs until numbers fell, due to the inability of certain dogs to complete the exercise test. Dogs were consistent according to whether their values lay above or below the mean value for all dogs. These differences disappeared after 8 weeks of training. Fitness deteriorated after 3 to 5 weeks of detraining. According to these results, heart rate and rectal temperature appear to be the most suitable and sensitive indicators of fitness in tracking dogs. The haematological and blood biochemical parameters tested were found to be of limited use. It is suggested that apparent inherent superiority of dogs should be accounted for in prospective breeding programmes. PMID- 2607538 TI - Horizontal transmission in sheep and delayed clearance in guinea pigs and mice of a Brucella melitensis Rev. I mutant. AB - Virulence assays in guinea-pigs, mice and sheep with a Rev. I mutant strain (FSA) demonstrated that the latter had increased virulence in comparison with a reference strain. The mutant showed slower clearance in guinea-pigs and mice when compared with standard Rev. I strains and horizontal transmission was achieved in 2 sheep. PMID- 2607539 TI - The seasonal tick populations on traditional and commercial cattle grazed at four altitudes in Natal. AB - The number of ticks collected over a period of one year from cattle at 4 altitude levels in Natal, Republic of South Africa, are plotted against meteorological and seasonal data. Collections were made from both traditional and commercial cattle at each altitude. Most of the economically important tick species show clear seasonal patterns of activity. This suggests that strategic dipping could be used as a means of control. PMID- 2607540 TI - Distribution and peroxidative oxidation of 2-t-butyl-4-methoxyphenol in rat tissues after a single intraperitoneal dose. AB - The distribution of 2-t-butyl-4-methoxyphenol (BHA) and its conversion to 2,2' dihydroxy-3,3'-di-t-butyl-5,5'-dimethoxydiphenyl (di-BHA) in rat tissues at different times (1-96 hr) following the intraperitoneal administration of a single dose of BHA (32 mg kg-1 body weight) were monitored by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of both compounds. High BHA levels were found in the intestine and liver persisting up to 24 hours (5.5-20.7 and 1.8-3.3 micrograms g-1 wet weight, respectively). In these tissues, values of the area under the experimental concentration curve (AUC0-24) were 285 and 49 times higher, respectively, than those observed in plasma (945 ng mL-1 hr), AUC0-24 values in kidney, spleen, erythrocytes, and brain were 2-7 times higher, whereas values below those found in plasma were observed in lung and muscle. The metabolite di-BHA could be detected in the intestine, kidney, and spleen, amounting to 5-8% of BHA. These findings indicate that rat intestine is capable of transforming in vivo BHA into di-BHA even when the former compound is administered intraperitoneally and that this capacity is shared by the kidney and spleen. PMID- 2607541 TI - Drug-induced protoporphyria in the olfactory mucosa of the hamster. AB - Administration of 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-4-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethylpyridine (4-ethyl-DDC) to hamsters resulted in a marked loss of cytochrome P-450-dependent reactions (peroxidase, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, and 7-ethoxyresorufin O deethylase) in both liver and olfactory epithelium within 2 hr. This inactivation of cytochrome P-450 was accompanied by inhibition of ferrochelatase (FK), stimulation of 5-aminolevulinate synthase (ALA-S), and accumulation of protoporphyrin both in the liver and to a lesser degree, in the olfactory epithelium. These results suggest that the mechanism of induction of protoporphyria in nasal tissues is similar to that occurring in the liver, namely, suicidal metabolism of 4-ethyl DDC by cytochrome P-450 resulting in formation of N-ethylprotoporphyrin, a potent inhibitor of FK. The consequent depletion of heme leads to stimulation of ALA-S and, thus, porphyrin accumulation. Investigation of the dose-response to 4-ethyl DDC demonstrated that, in liver, maximal inhibition of FK and accumulation of protoporphyrin occurred at a dose of 50 mg/kg while ALA-S activity continued to increase up to a dose of 100 mg/kg. This is compatible with an additional effect of the drug on ALA-S involving induction of cytochrome P-450 and, thus, further depletion of heme. In the olfactory epithelium, stimulation of ALA-S was significantly less marked, suggesting that this secondary effect does not operate in nasal tissue. This is consistent with reports that olfactory cytochrome P-450s are noninducible. PMID- 2607542 TI - Hepatic fatty acid conjugation of 2-chloroethanol and 2-bromoethanol in rats. AB - To study the formation of fatty acid conjugates of 2-chloroethanol (2-CE) and 2 bromoethanol (2-BE), rats were administered (by gavage) 50 mg/kg of 2-CE and 2-BE in mineral oil and sacrificed on fifth day of the treatment. Hepatic microsomal lipids were extracted, and the fatty acid esters were separated by preparative thin-layer chromotography. The ester fraction was further purified by reverse phase, high-performance liquid chromatography and analyzed by ammonia chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Pseudomolecular ions (M + NH4+, base peak) at m/z 336/338, 362/364, and 364/366 in a ratio of 3:1 and 380/382 and 408/410 in a ratio of 1:1 confirmed the in vivo formation of 2-chloroethyl palmitate, 2 chloroethyl oleate, 2-chloroethyl stearate, 2-bromoethyl palmitate, and 2 bromoethyl stearate, respectively. These results demonstrate the formation of fatty acid conjugates of 2-CE and 2-BE in vivo. These fatty acid conjugates may be retained in the body for a longer time and cause toxic manifestations. PMID- 2607543 TI - Covalent interaction of chloroacetic and acetic acids with cholesterol. AB - The covalent interaction of chloroacetic acid with rat liver lipids was studied in vivo. Rats were given a single oral dose (8.75 mg/kg, 50 microCi) of 1 [14C]chloroacetic acid and sacrificed after 24 hours. Lipids extracted from the livers were separated into neutral lipids and phospholipids by solid-phase extraction using sep-pak silica cartridges. The neutral lipid fraction was further fractionated by preparative thin-layer chromatography followed by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The fraction corresponding to the retention time of standard cholesteryl chloroacetate gave a pseudomolecular ion peak at m/z 480/482 ratio: (3:1) on ammonia chemical ionization mass spectrometry, and the fragmentation pattern was found to be similar to that of the standard sample. Under similar conditions, acetic acid resulted in the formation of cholesteryl acetate. The effect of such conjugation reactions on the cell membrane and their contribution to toxicity is presently unknown. PMID- 2607544 TI - The synthesis, release and action of leukotrienes in the isolated, unstimulated, buffer-perfused rat heart. AB - When the perfusion medium of an isolated, non-recirculating, Langendorff rat heart is changed from Krebs buffer to coronary effluent, a significant vasoconstriction (23%, P less than 0.005) is observed. In this study we have investigated the involvement of leukotrienes in this phenomenon. We have extracted and quantified leukotrienes C4, D4 and E4 in samples of coronary effluent taken at different times during the first 2 h of perfusion; the total amounts released during this time were 9, 5 and 32 pmol of LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4 respectively. We have used two different methods to prevent the action of the effluent leukotrienes on the heart. Firstly, we have blocked the leukotriene receptors in the heart, with FPL 55712 (3.8 microM), during perfusion with effluent and, secondly, we have perfused with coronary effluent which was collected in the presence of a leukotriene synthesis inhibitor, AA861 (1 microM). The addition of FPL 55712 to the effluent decreased the normally observed vasoconstriction such that after 30 min the coronary flow rate (CFR) was 114 +/- 3% (n = 6) compared with 66 +/- 1% (n = 7) with effluent alone (P less than 0.005). Effluent collected in the presence of AA861 also caused a decrease in the normally observed vasoconstriction such that by 30 min the CFR was still 88 +/- 2% (n = 6, P less than 0.005 compared to controls). We have confirmed the proposed involvement of leukotrienes in the effluent-induced vasoconstriction by investigating the effect of a mixture of the synthetic leukotrienes C4, D4 and E4, when each of them was present at the same concentration as measured in the coronary effluent; the vasoconstriction observed was superimposable upon that seen with effluent. This vasoactive effect of the leukotriene mixture was not secondary to a change in contractility, since this only decreased to 97 +/- 5% (n = 9) during the 30 min of the leukotriene infusion. Finally, we have studied the effects of the same two leukotriene blockers in normal, buffer-perfused hearts after an initial perfusion of either 30 or 120 min. Application of either AA861 or FPL 55712 resulted in a dramatic vasodilatation (25 to 45% increase), a larger effect always being observed after the shorter initial period of perfusion. Our conclusions are two-fold. Firstly, isolated, buffer-perfused rat hearts synthesize leukotrienes C4, D4 and E4 in considerable amounts and release them into the coronary effluent and secondly, the coronary flow rates of isolated, buffer-perfused rat hearts are partly controlled by the action of internally produced leukotrienes. PMID- 2607545 TI - Role of oxygen free radicals and pH on the release of cardiac lysosomal enzymes. AB - We investigated the effect of exogenous oxygen free radicals and various pH on the release of lysosomal hydrolases from dog myocardial lysosomes. A lysosomal enriched fraction from the homogenate of dog heart was prepared, using differential centrifugation technique. Exogenous oxygen free radicals were generated using xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. The release of lysosomal hydrolases was measured from the lysosomal enriched fraction. There was about 3 fold increase in the release of cathepsin D and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activities in the preparations treated with xanthine-xanthine oxidase as compared to those without such treatment. The presence of superoxide dismutase, an oxygen free radical scavenger, prevented the release of cathepsin D and beta-N acetylglucosaminidase from the lysosomes. Sonication and lubrol treatments, which are known to cause membrane disruption, also induced the release of these enzymes from lysosomal enriched fraction. However, this release was not prevented by superoxide dismutase. The changes in pH (4.5, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.4, 8.0) alone did not cause any increase in the enzyme release. The presence of oxygen free radicals at each pH resulted in a similar increase in the release of cathepsin D and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase. These studies suggest that oxygen free radicals and not the alterations in pH are primarily responsible for the release of lysosomal hydrolases. Oxygen free radicals, in addition to their direct myocardial damaging effect, may also be responsible for the cardiac damage through the release of lysosomal enzymes. PMID- 2607546 TI - Electrophysiological effects of thyroid hormones in guinea-pig ventricular muscle: time course and relationships to blood levels. AB - Chronic alterations in the thyroid state have been shown to induce marked changes in action potential characteristics, the most pronounced being shortening of action potential duration (APD) by hyperthyroidism and an increase in duration by hypothyroidism. In the present study our major objectives were to investigate the time course of the effect of thyroid hormone on action potential characteristics, to examine the relationships between thyroid hormone levels and these changes, and to test whether the electrophysiological alterations are induced both by thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The major findings were that a single dose of either hormone (100 micrograms/kg) caused a marked shortening of APD, while resting potential, action potential amplitude and Vmax were unchanged. APD shortening was observed promptly after ip T4 or T3 administration, with maximal effect occurring within 2 to 3 hrs. Having determined thyroid hormone levels in the guinea-pigs used for the electrophysiological experiments, we found a close temporal association and inverse linear relationships (r = -0.82) between total T4 levels and APD. To determine whether APD shortening is induced due to a direct effect of thyroid hormone on the myocardium, euthyroid papillary muscles were superfused with 10(-6) M T3; within 3 hrs of superfusion with T3, APD was shortened from 148.8 +/- 4.7 ms to 117.7 +/- 6.4 ms (P less than 0.01), an effect blocked by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. Our results demonstrate that thyroid hormones affect the duration of the ventricular action potential in a concentration dependent fashion. Furthermore, the study suggests that thyroid hormones affect the myocardium directly via mechanism(s) that are probably associated with thyroid hormone-related protein synthesis. PMID- 2607547 TI - Verapamil attenuates ATP depletion during hypoxia: 31P NMR studies of the isolated rat heart. AB - To test whether verapamil protects myocardial high-energy phosphate content during hypoxia by reducing pre-hypoxic cardiac work or secondary to metabolic events that occur during hypoxia, we compared the relation between myocardial performance and high-energy phosphate content during normoxia, hypoxia and reoxygenation using 31P NMR spectroscopy in isolated, isovolumic buffer-perfused rat hearts. Function was reduced either by supplying verapamil or by altering work mechanically. During normoxia, supplying verapamil (10(-6.5) to 10(-5) M) decreased cardiac performance, increased both creatine phosphate content and intracellular pH, but had no effect on ATP content. During hypoxia, supplying verapamil attenuated ATP and creatine phosphate depletion, and during reoxygenation, ATP content was higher in verapamil-supplied hearts. In hearts in which pre-hypoxic performance was reduced mechanically, high-energy phosphate content during hypoxia and reoxygenation was preserved to the same extent as in hearts treated with 10(-6.5) M verapamil. During reoxygenation, neither verapamil pretreatment nor mechanical reduction of pre-hypoxic performance affected the creatine phosphate content or indices of cardiac performance, expressed as percentage of pre-hypoxic values. Since reducing pre-hypoxic workload, either by supplying 10(-6.5) M verapamil or mechanically, produced indistinguishable effects on ATP and creatine phosphate contents during hypoxia and reoxygenation, we conclude that the primary mechanism of action of verapamil in hypoxic injury in the buffer-perfused rat heart is the reduction of pre-hypoxic energy demand. PMID- 2607548 TI - Rapid, non-perfusion-limited calcium exchange in cultured neonatal myocardial cells. AB - Neonatal rat myocardial cells culture are used to study the effects of zero [Ca]0 and lanthanum (La3+) on contractile function and to correlate these findings with steady-state 45Ca exchange. A rapid superfusion system is used to study cell shortening. At a stimulation rate of 1 Hz exposure to Ca2+ free solution for 900 ms abolishes contraction. Contraction is fully restored within 900 ms after return to 1 mM Ca2+ solution. Similarly, contraction is abolished 800 ms after changing to a 1 mM La3+ solution, but does not return for several min after removal of La3+. A modification of the scintillation-disc flow cell technique is used to study steady-state 45Ca exchange. Cells are grown directly on scintillant plastic discs pre-treated by the Primaria process which enhances cell adhesiveness. The cells on the discs are inserted into a specially designed flow cell which is then perfused at a rate of 500 ml/min. In this manner the labeling period, intervention and washout are performed while instantaneously and continuously monitoring the 45Ca activity without the need to interpose an unmonitored wash period. In addition, the use of on-line computer monitoring allows an accurate and precise recording of data as often as 6 times/s. This permits the identification of the following four Ca2+ compartments: (1) A rapidly exchanging compartment which is La3+ displaceable, contains 2.59 mmols Ca2+/kg dry cells and has a t1/2 = 1.5 s; (2) An intermediate component composed of two compartments which contain 0.43 and 0.22 mmols Ca2+/kg dry cells and exchange with t1/2 of 19 and 103 s respectively; (3) A slowly exchangeable compartment which contains 0.69 mmols Ca2+/kg dry cells with t1/2 = 19 min; (4) An unexchangeable compartment which contains 6.24 mmols Ca2+/kg dry cells. The rapid compartment is La3+ displaceable and has a flux of greater than 1100 mumols Ca2+/kg dry cells/s. This is the first time that the kinetics and sizes of the rapid Ca2+ compartment and intermediate compartments have been measured. Correlation of contractile response to zero [Ca]0 and La3+ administration with 45Ca exchange measurements under conditions of ultra-rapid perfusion indicate that at least a portion of the La3+-displaceable rapid component is critical in the beat-to-beat control of contractile force. PMID- 2607549 TI - Intracellular magnesium during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion: possible consequences for postischemic recovery. AB - Magnesium (Mg2+) is an important regulator of cell energy metabolism, since only MgATP can serve as a substrate for ATP utilizing processes. We used 31P NMR spectroscopy to determine the complexation of ATP with Mg2+ and intracellular free Mg2+ (Mgf) in isolated rat hearts during control perfusion, ischemia and reperfusion. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to determine preischemic and postischemic tissue Mg2+ and release of Mg2+ into the coronary effluent during reperfusion. Mgf increased from 0.60 mmol/l during control perfusion to greater than 6.5 mmol/l after 15 min of ischemia, while we estimated that at that time 6.7 mmol/l Mg2+ had been liberated from ATP. Less than 2% of cellular Mg2+ was released to the effluent during reperfusion after 30 min of ischemia. From spectra obtained during reperfusion the fraction of ATP that was bound to Mg2+ was calculated to be approximately 96% (compared to 94% during control perfusion), indicating that intracellular Mg2+ did not limit the metabolic use of the newly produced ATP. Mgf remained elevated during reperfusion (0.85 mmol/l). We conclude that intracellular Mg2+ deficiency due to leakage of Mg2+ to the extracellular space does not play a role in the poor postischemic recovery in this isolated rat heart model. Nevertheless, high Mg2+ prior to ischemia or during reperfusion may well be protective, due to interactions of Mg2+ with the sarcolemma or intracellular sites, affecting Ca2+,K+ and Na+ distribution and fluxes. PMID- 2607550 TI - [Acute toxicity studies of propiverine hydrochloride]. AB - Acute toxicity studies of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4) were carried out in mice, rats and dogs of both sexes. 1. The LD50 values of P-4 were as follows: Mice; 410 (male) and 323 (female) mg/kg in oral route, 223 (male) and 283 (female) mg/kg in subcutaneous route and 36 (male and female) mg/kg in intravenous route, Rats; 1000 (male) and 1092 (female) mg/kg in oral route, 1632 (male) and 1411 (female) mg/kg in subcutaneous route, and 22 (male) and 25 (female) mg/kg in intravenous route. On the LD50 values, no sexual difference was apparent but the species difference between mice and rats observed to be present in oral and subcutaneous routes. The approximate lethal doses of P-4 in dogs were 987-1137 mg/kg for male and 865-894 mg/kg for female in oral route, and the values were almost same as those in rats of oral route. 2. Major toxic signs such as clonic convulsion, bradypnoea, dyspnoea, decreased spontaneous activity and hematuria were observed in mice and rats. Furthermore mydriasis in rats, and transitory salivation and/or vocalization in mice and rats were observed. In some rats, sedation, salivation, soil at hypogastrium, rale and emaciation were detected from the next day of oral administration. In dogs, toxic signs such as vomiting, tremor, tonic and/or clonic convulsion, mydriasis and gasping were observed. 3. Pathological changes observed in dead animals were congestion of lungs, liver and kidneys in all routes, congestion and hemorrhage in digestive tracts in oral route, inflammatory changes at the injection site in subcutaneous route. In addition, retention of hematuria in urinary bladder in rats of oral and subcutaneous routes, the hemorrhagic changes of heart, atonia of urinary bladder and retention of urine in dogs were observed. 4. The main cause of death seemed to be respiratory disturbance in all species and the weakness in a few rats of oral route. PMID- 2607551 TI - [One-year chronic oral toxicity study of propiverine hydrochloride in dogs followed by one-month recovery]. AB - The chronic oral toxicity of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4), a new anti pollakiuria agent, was studied in beagle dogs. Groups of 6 males and 6 females were treated with P-4 at doses of 0, 0.3, 1, 3, 9 mg/kg/day for one year and thereafter 2 animals of both sexes in each group were placed on withdrawal for one month. During administration and recovery period, no death occurred in any dosed animals. As a toxic sign, only the frequency of vomiting was increased in animals of 1, 3 and 9 mg/kg/day groups. Body weight, food and water consumption were not affected by the P-4 administration. In serum chemical examinations, gamma-GTP activity was increased in both sexes of 9 mg/kg/day group at 6 month of administration. Further decrease in total and free cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid, increase in GPT activity were detected in some animals of 9 mg/kg/day group at 12 month of administration. In addition decreasing tendency in levels of albumin was noted in males of 9 mg/kg/day group at 9 and 12 month of administration. And also, a gradual increase in total protein level and a gradual decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity were seen in control group, but in females or males of 9 mg/kg/day group, those changes were mild. Urine pH rised slightly in females of 3 mg/kg/day group and in both sexes of 9 mg/kg/day group. No specific findings attributable to P-4 treatment were detected in ECG, heart rate, funduscopy, hematology, fecal occult blood test and necropsy. The absolute and/or relative liver weight in males of 3 and 9 mg/kg/day groups were significantly increased. Light-microscopically, the hypertrophy of hepatocytes characterized by homogenization and enlargement of cytoplasmic space, and concentric inclusions in hepatocytic cytoplasm were detected in both sexes of 3 and 9 mg/kg/day groups. Corresponding to these microscopical findings, the following changes were observed electron-microscopically, the proliferation of smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticulum in hepatocytes in both sexes of 1, 3 and 9 mg/kg/day groups, lamellar bodies in hepatocytes in females of 3 mg/kg/day group, and in both sexes of 9 mg/kg/day group, and annulate lamellae in hepatocytes were detected in one female of 9 mg/kg/day group. After the recovery period, the above mentioned abnormalities were markedly attenuated or disappeared except the changes in hepatocytes. From these results, it seemed that 9 mg/kg/day of P-4 might be safety dose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2607552 TI - [Thirteen-week oral toxicity study of propiverine hydrochloride in rats]. AB - A subacute toxicity study of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4), a new anti pollakiuria agent, was carried out using male and female Wistar rats. P-4 was orally administered to rats at dose levels of 2, 10, 50 and 150 mg/kg/day for 13 weeks, followed by 5 weeks recovery period. The results obtained are as follows: 1. In the general conditions, transient salivation was observed immediately after administration and blotted fur at lower abdomen was noted in rats given 50 mg/kg/day or more. There were no deaths related to P-4. 2. Body weight gain was depressed in males given 50 mg/kg/day or more and females given 150 mg/kg/day. No significant changes in food consumption were observed. Water consumption increased in the groups of 50 mg/kg/day or more. 3. Urinalysis revealed an increase of urine volume, decreases of osmotic pressure, protein and urobilinogen, and a slight increase in excretion of electrolyte in rats given 50 mg/kg/day or more. 4. Hematological examinations revealed slight changes such as an increase in erythrocyte count and a shortening of APTT in rats given 150 mg/kg/day. 5. Serum biochemical examinations showed a decrease in triglyceride and increases in gamma-GTP and AlP activities, and urea nitrogen in males given 50 mg/kg/day or more and females given 150 mg/kg/day. Additionally, decreases in total and free cholesterol, and phospholipid for males and an increase of total cholesterol and a decrease of cholinesterase activity for females were detected. 6. At autopsy, atrophy of thymus and spleen was observed in rats given 50 mg/kg/day or more, but without histopathological correlation. Histopathological examinations revealed hypertrophy and fatty degeneration of hepatocytes, which were accompanied with increases of absolute and/or relative liver weight, in males given 50 mg/kg/day or more and females given 150 mg/kg/day. Electron microscopy showed proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the same groups. In the kidney, eosinophilic and intranuclear inclusions in the tubular epithelium were detected, in which cytoplasm there were no toxic injuries, in males given 10 mg/kg/day or more and females given 50 mg/kg/day or more. 7. After 5 weeks recovery period, above-mentioned changes were generally disappeared, suggesting that these were reversible. 8. The non-effective dose levels and the toxic dose levels of P-4 were estimated to be 2 mg/kg/day for males and 10 mg/kg/day for females, and 50 mg/kg/day for males and 150 mg/kg/day for females, respectively. PMID- 2607553 TI - [Reproduction study of propiverine hydrochloride (1)--fertility study in rats by oral administration]. AB - A fertility study was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats by oral administration of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4) at dose levels of 0 (control), 2, 10 and 50 mg/kg/day. Male rats were treated for 9 weeks before mating and following 4 weeks including mating period. Female rats were administered the test substance from 2 weeks before mating to day 7 of pregnancy. The females were sacrificed on day 21 of pregnancy for examination of their fetuses. Toxic signs consisted of mydriasis, salivation and rale were observed in both male and female animals at the dose of 50 mg/kg group and in male animals at the dose of 10 mg/kg group. Body weight gain was supressed and food intake was decreased in the 50 mg/kg group throughout the administration period. Water intake of the 50 mg/kg group was decreased temporarily at the early stage of administration period, although increased thereafter. Autopsy revealed the enlargement of the liver with yellow brownish coloration in one male rat at the 50 mg/kg group. Fertility and reproductive ability in both sexes were not affected by administration of P-4. There was no lethal effect and no growth-inhibiting or teratogenic effects on the embryos and the fetuses. The results suggest that the non-effective dose level of P-4 was 2 and 10 mg/kg/day for general toxicity in male and female parent animals respectively, 50 mg/kg/day for reproductive ability in parent animals and in embryos and fetuses. PMID- 2607554 TI - [Reproduction study of propiverine hydrochloride (2)--teratological study in rats by oral administration]. AB - A teratogenicity study was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats by oral administration of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4) at dose levels of 0 (control), 2, 10 and 50 mg/kg/day to dams from day 7 to day 17 of pregnancy. Twenty two or twenty three female rats in each group were sacrificed on day 21 of pregnancy for examination of their fetuses, and thirteen female rats were allowed to deliver for the postnatal examination of their offspring. In dams, the dose of 50 mg/kg caused toxic signs consisting of mydriasis, salivation and rale, body weight loss in the early stage of administration, and reduced food intake and increased water intake. The dose of 10 mg/kg caused rale, very slight suppression of body weight gain and slight reduction of food intake. Body weight of the fetuses was decreased very slightly in the 50 mg/kg group. However, embryonal or fetal mortality and incidences of external, visceral or skeletal anomalies were not increased. In offspring, P-4 had no adverse effect on the postnatal development such as viability, growth, differentiation, emotionality, learning ability or reproductive performance. The results suggest that the non-effective dose level of P-4 is 2 mg/kg/day in maternal animals, 10 mg/kg/day in fetuses and 50 mg/kg/day in offspring. PMID- 2607555 TI - [Reproduction study of propiverine hydrochloride (3)--teratological study in rabbits by oral administration]. AB - A teratogenicity study was performed in New Zealand white rabbits by oral administration of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4) at dose levels of 0 (control), 2.4, 12 and 60 mg/kg/day to dams from day 6 to day 18 of pregnancy. Thirteen or fifteen pregnant rabbits in each group were sacrificed on day 29 of pregnancy for examination of their fetuses. In dams, the dose of 60 mg/kg caused mydriasis, body weight loss or decreased body weight gain and reduced food and water intakes. Autopsy and weighing of organ weight revealed no evidence due to drug administration in any group. There were no significant differences in embryo fetal mortality, fetal body weight, or incidences of external, visceral or skeletal anomalies and skeletal variation between treated and control animals. The compound had no lethal effects on the embryos and no growth-inhibiting or teratogenic effects on the fetuses. The results suggest that the non-effective dose level of P-4 is 12 mg/kg/day in maternal animals and 60 mg/kg/day in fetuses. PMID- 2607556 TI - [Reproduction study of propiverine hydrochloride (4)--perinatal and postnatal study in rats by oral administration]. AB - A perinatal and postnatal study was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats by oral administration of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4) at dose levels of 0 (control), 2, 10 and 50 mg/kg/day to dams from day 17 of pregnancy to day 21 after delivery. Twenty two or twenty four dams in each group were allowed to deliver for the postnatal examination of their offspring. In dams, the dose of 50mg/kg caused toxic signs consisting of mydriasis, salivation and rale. One dam of this group showed piloerection, low body temperature, blanching of extremity and auricle, and emaciation associated with marked prolongation of delivery. Body weight gain of the dams was retarded in the 50 mg/kg group throughout the administration period. Food and water intakes were reduced in the 50mg/kg group. In gross pathology of the dam that showed prolonged delivery, the spleen and thymus were moderately or severely atrophied and the adrenal was moderately enlarged. The viability index of the offspring on day 4 was reduced in the 50mg/kg group. Body weight of pups slightly decreased in the 50mg/kg group during sucking and rearing periods. Absolute weights of some organs of the three-week aged offspring were reduced due to attributable depression of body weight gain. However, P-4 had no adverse effect on the postnatal development such as emotionality, motor activity, learning ability or reproductive performance. The results suggest that the non effective dose level of P-4 is 10mg/kg/day in maternal animals and offspring. PMID- 2607557 TI - [Thirteen-week oral toxicity study of propiverine hydrochloride in dogs]. AB - A subacute oral toxicity study of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4), a new anti pollakiuria agent, was carried out at dose-levels of 0, 1, 3, 9, and 27 mg/kg/day using male and female beagle dogs. They were treated for 13 weeks, followed by 5 weeks recovery period. The results obtained from the present study were as follows. 1. In the observation of general symptoms, mydriasis was observed in females receiving 3 mg/kg/day or more and in males receiving 9 mg/kg/day or more, every day, intermittently or sporadically. The incidence of mydriasis varied greatly in individuals. However, this sign disappeared within administration period. 2. Body weight gain was slightly suppressed in males and females receiving 27 mg/kg/day. 3. There were no significant changes in food consumption, water consumption, hematology, urinalysis and fecal occult blood, and no remarkable changes in ophthalmology, electrocardiogram. 4. Serum biochemical findings showed a decrease in Total cholesterol (T. cho), Free cholesterol (F. cho), Triglyceride (TG), Phospholipid (PL), Total protein (TP), Albumin (ALB), alpha 1-Globulin (alpha 1-GLO) and Calcium (Ca), and an increase in Alkaline phosphatase (Al P), gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GTP) activities and Choresterol ester ratio (EST/T) in males and females receiving 27 mg/kg/day. Further, a decrease in lipoprotein-T. cho, -TG and -PL were noted, on the other hand, lipoprotein-T. cho, -TG and -PL in the liver tissue increased. Similar slight changes were observed in males and females receiving 9 mg/kg/day. 5. Pathological examination revealed an enlargement of hepatocytes in a few animals receiving 3 mg/kg/day. In males and females receiving 9 mg/kg/day or more, yellowish liver, a increase in liver weights, an enlargement of hepatocytes with fatty degeneration and the appearance of eosinophilic inclusions in the hepatocytes were observed. Furthermore, some males and females receiving 27 mg/kg/day showed a slight cellular infiltration in glisson's sheaths, proliferation of the bile ducts and deposition of lipid droplets. Histochemical examination of liver tissue showed an increase in Al P and gamma-GTP activities in addition. Electronmicroscopically, the proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, increases in myelin-like inclusions and small lipid droplets in the hepatocytes were noted and these changes suggested the induction of drug metabolizing enzyme in the liver. 6. After 5 weeks recovery period, above mentioned changes were disappeared and it was suggested that these were reversible ones. 7. From the above results, the non-effective dose and the toxic one were estimated to be 1 mg/kg/day and 9 mg/kg/day for males and females, respectively. PMID- 2607558 TI - Study on the immunity to measles in pre-school children. AB - One hundred and ninety-seven pre-school children, composed of 109 boys and 88 girls, who resided in a rural community in southern Taiwan were studied. The age range was from 6 months to 5 years old (y/o) and vaccination coverage was determined by home visits and the vaccination records of the health station. Immunological status was tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the positive rate of measles-specific IgG. The results were as follows: 1, vaccination coverage in the studied sample was 87.9%; 2, the educational level of fathers had a significant influence on vaccination; 3, the positive rate of measles antibody in the vaccinated children was 73.9%; 4, the measles immunity level in the studied sample was 67.8%; and 5, the positive rate of measles antibody, as analyzed by a stratified test, indicated that vaccination age, the current age, and the number of siblings were the significant influence factors. When adjusted to the above variables, it was found that the number of siblings was the significant influencing factor. PMID- 2607559 TI - [A study of chronic schizophrenic patients on the attention tests]. AB - Three groups of people--schizophrenic (26 patients), affective disorder (23 patients), and normal (27 persons) were administered two attention tests--Tai Ta Attention Test and Kraepelin Test. The results indicate that the speed and duration of attention of schizophrenic patients are poorer than those of normal persons. And the attention deficit is not much different between the two psychotic group patients. This study finds that the main attention problem of schizophrenic patients is their deficit of duration of attention. PMID- 2607560 TI - Seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis on Taiwan and some of the offshore islands. AB - Over 4,000 serum specimens from various population groups on Taiwan, Lan Yu, and the Pescadores Islands were tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by use of the indirect hemagglutination test. Only 74 sera were considered to be positive at titers of 1:256 or greater. The highest prevalence rates of positive antibody titers were obtained from 335 people from Ian Yu Island; 59 (18%) were considered positive. A few (11 soldiers) positive titers were detected in sera from 2,487 Chinese Marine recruits on first bleedings and 4 found positive on a second bleeding 12-18 months later. Only a few suspected cases of toxoplasmosis have been reported from humans, yet a number of animals have been found infected with the parasite and other animals found serologically positive. These and other aspects of toxoplasmosis on Taiwan are discussed. PMID- 2607561 TI - The determination of high density lipoprotein cholesterol separated by electrophoresis and sodium phosphotungstate/Mg2+ precipitation: a physical evaluation. AB - Epidemiologic studies show that the risk of clinically evident atherosclerosis correlates negatively with concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL) and the influence of different factors on variations in the concentration of HDL cholesterol. We measured HDL cholesterol by both the electrophoresis and the precipitation method, and then proposed reference intervals for HDL cholesterol, adjusted for age and sex. Our findings show that the HIDL cholesterol concentration was lowest in cord blood. The concentration increased between the ages of 1 to 15 years, but lowered between the ages of 16 to 20 years. After this age period our study shows that the HDL cholesterol levels began to rise again before leveling off between the ages of 21-30 years. There was a significant difference in concentrations of HDL cholesterol between males and females. Our findings also show that the precision of the precipitation method is better than that of the electrophoresis method. The C.V. of the within-run analysis was 4.8% vs. 10.7%, while the C.V. of the between-run analysis was 4.3% vs. 14.6%. However, a significant correlation (r = 0.77) was noted between the precipitation method and electrophoresis. The electrophoresis method can be recommended as an aid in lipoprotein phenotyping, so we suggest it as a routine clinical method for HDL cholesterol analysis. PMID- 2607562 TI - Stressors associated with pregnancy as perceived by pregnant women during three trimesters. AB - A Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale that rated the incidence and severity of stressors associated with pregnancy was administered to 65 pregnant women during their three trimesters. The scores obtained from this scale were analyzed by factor analysis to determine the relationships within categories of stressor, and were analyzed by MANOVA, ANOVA, and trend analysis to determine the variations among nulliparas and multiparas. Factor analysis of the quantitative data defined three categories of stressor experiences, which were labeled Factor I, Factor II and Factor III. It was found that the effects of parity and trimester, on Factor I and Factor II were not statistically significant. The findings also show that "stress from altering body structure and body function" (Factor III) continues to be an important factor throughout pregnancy. It gradually increases and maximizes during the third trimester. A statistically significant linear trend is revealed in three different trimesters. There is no significant difference, however, between nulliparous and multiparous women. PMID- 2607563 TI - [Cultivation of horseshoe crab amebocytes]. AB - The in vitro and in vivo cultivation of horseshoe crab amebocytes is studied. Partial bleeding promotes the proliferation of horseshoe crab amebocytes, and could be a useful method for amebocyte production in vivo. The optimal conditions of in vitro cultivation of amebocytes were incubation at 15 degrees C and pH delta 6.8-7.2. The best medium was the hemolymph of the horseshoe crab. Measuring DNA synthesis of amebocytes by 3H-thymidine uptake showed that no proliferation of amebocytes occurs during in vitro cultivation. Because some protozoa were found in the hemolymph, primaquine, quinine, pyrimethamine and metronidazole were used in the culture medium. Primaquine and metronidazole have a protozoacidal effect on the protozoa parasitising in the horseshoe crab. PMID- 2607564 TI - Thermal oxidation effect on porcelain-titanium restoration. AB - Titanium has good corrosion resistance, light density, high strength and excellent biocompatibility. Conventional ceramicmetal restorations were used extensively in dentistry because of their esthetic appearance and good strength properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of various thermal treatments on the bond strength and physical properties of the porcelain titanium system. Pure titanium was treated in a porcelain furnace at temperatures ranging from 600 to 1000 degrees C, under vacuum and in air, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the relative peak intensity of alpha-Ti was decreased, while the TiO2 was increased when raising the firing temperature. The vickers hardness number was increased at elevated temperatures, especially over 900 degrees C, and firing in air was harder than under vacuum. The tension-shear bond strength was highest in the green stage and lowest in the 1000 degrees C treated group. The metallographic microscopic of the porcelaintitanium interface revealed a thick band-like zone in the 1000 degrees C treated sample. Therefore it seems that the excess oxidation layer of TiO2 weakened the bond strength of porcelain-titanium. Contrary to the conventional ceramic-gold alloys system, the recommended degassing procedure was not suitable for the porcelain-titanium restoration. PMID- 2607565 TI - [Pulmonary artery sling: diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging--one case report]. AB - Pulmonary artery sling is an uncommon congenital vascular anomaly, which may cause significant respiratory morbidity resulting from an external tracheal compression during early infancy. This condition should be considered on finding a mass interposed between the trachea and the esophagus showing an anterior indentation on the esophagograms. The diagnosis is usually made by invasive methods such as bronchography, bronchoscopy, cardiac catheterization, and angiography. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has now become an excellent method for diagnosing cardiovascular anomalies, but the use of MRI as a means of diagnosing pulmonary artery sling is rare. In 1988, Malmgren et al, first reported the use of MRI in three cases. Their findings suggested that two overlaping sets of axial sections might be necessary for depicting the anomaly because different parts of the left pulmonary artery are imaged in different slices. In this paper, we report a diagnostic scan image which utilizes a single axial scan and reveals the pulmonary artery sling arising aberrantly from the right pulmonary artery. We also found (a) when the pulmonary artery sling interposed between the esophagus and trachea; the trachea become stenotic below the upper one-third in LAO equivalent sagittal section; (b) the right pulmonary artery compresses the proximal part of right pulmonary bronchus, and the right upper lobe bronchus arises from the trachea independently in the coronal section. Thus, we conclude that MRI, if available, should be the first choice modality for further examination when a pulmonary artery sling is suggested by conventional radiography. PMID- 2607566 TI - Pulmonary embolism. PMID- 2607567 TI - Monoclonal antibodies and thromboembolism. AB - For many years intensive efforts to reliably image thrombi by radionuclide techniques have been unrewarding. Recently, however, monoclonal antibodies to platelet cell-surface antigens and to fibrin polymer have emerged as potent thrombus imaging agents in experimental animals. In Britain antiplatelet antibody has been successful in clinical trials, as has antifibrin in the United States. It is to be hoped that radiolabeled antibody technology will evolve to the point where it can detect thrombi anywhere, including the lungs and brain. The relative efficacy of radionuclide thrombus detection and Doppler ultrasonography is currently undefined. PMID- 2607568 TI - Inadvertent bucrylate pulmonary embolization: a case report. AB - Detection of small, dense, rectangular opacities that follow the course of pulmonary vessels on chest radiographs should raise the suspicion of a prior therapeutic occlusion of the blood supply of a mass or of an arteriovenous fistula elsewhere with embolization of the occlusive material to the lungs. This article demonstrates the radiographic findings of such an occurrence in an asymptomatic woman. PMID- 2607569 TI - A case of intralobar pulmonary sequestration with calcification and elevated serum values of carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9. AB - Pulmonary sequestration is uncommon. We report a case with radiographically visible calcification and elevated serum values of the tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9. PMID- 2607570 TI - Inefficacy of ethambutol, ethambutol plus isoniazid, INH plus rifampicin, co trimoxazole and metronidazole in the treatment of kala-azar. AB - In an attempt to find an orally effective drug against kala-azar, ethambutol alone, ethambutol plus INH, INH plus rifampicin, co-trimoxazole and metronidazole were tried in the treatment of 70 patients of Indian kala-azar. Ethambutol and ethambutol plus INH were totally ineffective. INH and rifampicin were tried in 10 cases; in three there was some clinical improvement but all relapsed and were cured with sodium stibogluconate. Co-trimoxazole reduced fever in four out of 20 cases, but all relapsed within 2 months. In one case the general health was well maintained but the splenic aspirate contained a large number of parasites and there was no regression in the size of the spleen. The patient was ultimately cured with sodium stibogluconate. Metronidazole orally or intravenously was not effective. It is suggested that, as these drugs are ineffective, a search for an oral substitute to sodium stibogluconate should continue. PMID- 2607571 TI - Influence of immunization schedule on immunization coverage. AB - The infant immunization coverage for triple antigen (DPT) from 1968 and trivalent oral polio vaccine (TOPV) from 1972 to 1985 for Peninsular Malaysia are presented. It shows that immunization coverage improved when the recommended age for first dose of DPT was changed from the fourth to the second month of life in 1972 and declined when the recommended age for the first dose of DPT and TOPV was revised again from the second to the third month of life in 1980. The advantages of immunizing children early in life are discussed. PMID- 2607572 TI - Hydatid cyst obstructing labour: a case report. AB - A case of pelvic hydatid cyst obstructing labour is described in this report. Medical and surgical aspects of management are also discussed. PMID- 2607573 TI - Attachment of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae 01 to various freshwater plants and survival with a filamentous green alga, Rhizoclonium fontanum. AB - In Bangladesh, cholera epidemics occur twice a year. V. cholerae 01 are readily isolated from the environment only during epidemics. The interepidemic reservoirs or sites of survival and multiplication of V. cholerae are still unknown. Investigations were carried out with various fresh-water plants as possible reservoirs of V. cholerae in the environment. Attachment to and acute population changes of V. cholerae on various plant surfaces was used as a screening technique to screen a particular plant species for survival studies. Five plant species, Anabaena variabilis, Rhizoclonium fontanum, Cladophora sp., Fontinalis antipyretica and Elodea canadensis were used for attachment experiments. Among these plants, R. fontanum showed the best attachment. On the basis of attachment results, survival experiments were carried out with R. fontanum. At 0.05% salinity toxigenic V. cholerae 01 survive longer in the presence of R. fontanum than in medium without algae. PMID- 2607574 TI - Morbidity and mortality of bacterial meningitis in Arab children. AB - Between September 1981 and March 1987, 92 episodes of bacterial meningitis in 90 children were treated in three major hospitals in Kuwait. The diagnosis was bacteriologically confirmed in 80 (87%). Haemophilus influenzae was the most common aetiological organism and accounted for 42 episodes (45.6%) followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae in 21 (22.8%) and Neisseria meningitidis in only three (3.3%). Bacterial meningitis occurred in 53 children (57.6%) below the age of 1 year and in 81 (88%) below 5 years. The overall case fatality rate was 5.4% and ten children (9%) had severe neurological sequelae of their disease. Sequelae were more common following pneumococcal meningitis (28%) than after Haemophilus (7%). All 12 children with unknown pathogen recovered completely. PMID- 2607575 TI - Electrophysiological studies of the eye, peripheral nerves and muscles in epidemic dropsy. AB - The involvement of the neurological system in epidemic dropsy is controversial. During two outbreaks of epidemic dropsy, detailed neurological and ocular examinations and electrophysiological studies of peripheral nerves and muscles (motor nerve conduction velocities, sensory nerve latencies and electromyography) and eye (electroretinogram and visually evoked cortical responses) were therefore undertaken. Amongst the 239 subjects examined, burning sensation and tingling paraesthesias of feet were reported by 42.3 and 35.6%, respectively; but none had any objective evidence of central or peripheral nervous system involvement. Electrophysiological studies of peripheral nerves and muscles (10 cases with subjective manifestations) and eyes (24 eyes of 12 patients hospitalized for control of glaucoma) were essentially normal. It is concluded that Argemone mexicana or its toxins do not have any significant effect on the nervous system. PMID- 2607576 TI - Graphite pneumoconiosis and its declining prevalence in Sri Lanka. AB - A study of underground miners in a graphite mine in Sri Lanka was conducted in 1987. Twelve (3.4%) of the 340 workers examined had radiographic lesions suggestive of graphite pneumoconiosis. In comparison, a survey carried out in another mine in Sri Lanka in 1972 showed that 63 (18.3%) of the 344 workers examined had similar lesions. Though the two surveys were comparable, they were conducted in two different mines. Therefore, the conclusion that the reduction in the prevalence of graphic pneumoconiosis was due to the introduction of improved dust control measures could only be tentative. PMID- 2607577 TI - Human pulmonary dirofilariasis in India: a case report. AB - Dirofilaria immitis is a common parasite of the canine cardiovascular system. In dogs, it often produces pulmonary lesions and rarely dilatation of portal vessels. Most of the human cases reported showed pulmonary lesions. We describe here a child manifesting as portal cavernoma with pulmonary dirofilariasis detected at autopsy. This is the first case of pulmonary dirofilariasis reported from India. PMID- 2607578 TI - Safe motherhood in the 1990s. PMID- 2607579 TI - A review of 36 babies with necrotizing enterocolitis. AB - The clinical features, management, and outcome of 36 babies with necrotizing enterocolitis seen over 5 years at the Neonatal Unit, Mount Hope Women's Hospital, Trinidad, are described. The crude overall mortality rate was 25 per cent. The results suggest that prematurity, sepsis, and umbilical catheterization, but not enteral feeding or polycythaemia may be involved in the aetiology of this disease. PMID- 2607580 TI - Breast feeding of infants between 0-6 months old in 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the People's Republic of China. National Coordinating Working Group for Breastfeeding Surveillance. AB - This investigation was designed as an overall study of breast feeding rates and corresponding influencing factors in urban and rural communities in the People's Republic of China. In all 95,578 infants between 0 and 6 months old who lived within 20 different provinces or autonomous regions were subjects for the study which was conducted from March 1983 to August 1985. The findings revealed that breast feeding rates for urban areas were significantly lower than the rates for the rural areas. PMID- 2607581 TI - Cystic fibrosis in Saudi Arabia: a diagnosis not to be missed. PMID- 2607582 TI - Clinical signs and risk factors associated with pneumonia in children admitted to Goroka Hospital, Papua New Guinea. AB - This study examined the clinical signs and symptoms in 897 children aged under 5 years presenting with pneumonia to Goroka Hospital in the highlands of Papua New Guinea between June 1982 and July 1985. The usefulness of the signs in predicting severity of disease was determined and risk factors for severe disease were identified. While cyanosis and poor feeding were the strongest predictors of death, bronchial breathing, grunting, and nasal flaring also significantly increased the risk of dying. First-born children, children under 1 year of age, females, malnourished children, and children with symptoms for more than 7 days were at increased risk of severe disease and of dying. Fever alone did not increase the risk of dying unless it was present for more than 7 days. These clinical signs of severity and risk factors may be used to improve the efficiency of health education programmes, for both health workers and mothers, aimed at reducing childhood mortality from pneumonia. PMID- 2607583 TI - The pathogenesis of hypochromic anaemia in Saudi infants. AB - The pathogenesis of hypochromic anaemia was studied in 138 Saudi bedouin infants aged 9 months. Approximately 25 per cent had hypochromic anaemia, but less than 10 per cent had serum ferritin levels indicative of iron deficiency. A few infants had heterozygous beta-thalassaemia, but many infants with hypochromic anaemia had normal haemoglobin A2 levels together with serum ferritin levels above 20 micrograms/l. DNA analysis of cord blood taken from the hospital where the infants were born showed that the frequency of the single alpha-globin gene deletion type (-alpha 3.7) of alpha-thalassaemia is 0.13 in the bedouin population of Western Saudi Arabia. alpha-Thalassaemia probably accounts for much of the anaemia previously thought to be due to iron deficiency in Saudi infants. Studies of iron status and estimation of the frequency of genetic causes of hypochromic anaemia are important when assessing the need for widespread nutritional programmes to prevent iron deficiency and in the interpretation of reference ranges of red cell indices in populations from malarial areas. PMID- 2607584 TI - Congenital hypothyroidism in Kuwait. AB - During a 7-year period (1981-1987), 25 children with congenital hypothyroidism were diagnosed in a regional hospital in Kuwait. The calculated incidence was 1:3476 live births. The diagnosis relied on clinical manifestation and confirmed by thyroid function tests. The age at diagnosis ranged between 3 weeks and 7 years with a mean of 18.5 months. Seven patients (28 per cent) were diagnosed in the first months, six in the following 5 months (24 per cent), and 12 diagnosed after the age of 6 months (48 per cent). Thyroid scan (TC-99M) was performed for 13 patients, four had thyroid aplasia, three had ectopia, and six had thyroid in normal position. In 1986-1987, two patients were detected by neonatal screening. Mental development was the best in the children who received thyroid hormone replacement in the first 6 months of life. Until a neonatal screening programme is widely available in developing countries, increased clinical awareness will remain the main way for the detection of congenital hypothyroidism. PMID- 2607585 TI - Child health in a Brazilian squatter settlement: acute infections and associated risk factors. AB - As a response to the need for more information about health problems in poor urban communities, a health survey was conducted in Rocinha, the largest squatter settlement, or favela, in Rio de Janeiro. A fifteen-day recall period was used to measure gastro-intestinal disorders, acute respiratory infections, and infections of the throat/ears/eyes in 600 children under 5 years of age. The respective prevalence of the three categories was 44, 79, and 14 per cent. Taking only severe episodes into account, the prevalence was 4, 12, and 2.5 per cent, respectively. Risk factors, such as household income and environmental conditions (socioeconomic status), migration status, maternal stress, magnitude of separation between child and mother, and age of child, are examined and implications of positive associations are discussed. PMID- 2607586 TI - Skin-to-skin contact as a method of body warmth for infants of low birth weight. AB - Skin-to-skin mother/infant contact as a means of warmth for newborns of low birth weight (less than or equal to 2500 g) was studied in 132 infants admitted consecutively during the cold season July/September at the Central Hospital in Maputo. The mean (+/- SD) birth weight was 1788 g (+/- 304 g) and the gestational age 34 weeks (+/- 2.7). Fifty-seven (43 per cent) infants were born outside the hospital and were referred. The ambient temperature ranged from less than 22 degrees C to 32 degrees C. Skin-to-skin contact as the principal means of warmth commenced in more than a third by age 3 days and in more than a half by age 5 days after periods of observation to exclude clinical problems. The infants were kept warm using conventional methods during observation. Re-admission to the intensive care unit was required in nine cases: four for diarrhoea; two for respiratory infection; two with jaundice; and one for poor suckling. Infants were discharged home at a mean (+/- SD) weight of 1864 g (+/- 227), and age 15.6 d (+/ 7.9). Skin-to-skin contact, either by itself or in combination with other methods of warmth, was reportedly followed at home by 67 per cent of the mothers who received home visits. No infant needed readmission for hypothermia either from the neonatal wards or after being discharged home. At follow-up, when body weight had reached greater than or equal to 2500 g, the outcome was graded as 'good' in 64; 'satisfactory' in 6; and 'poor' in 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607587 TI - The lengthened QUAC stick: a method to determine the nutritional status of primary school children. PMID- 2607588 TI - Salmonella typhi infection associated with a school feeding programme. PMID- 2607589 TI - Arm circumference as a nutritional indicator in antenatal care. PMID- 2607590 TI - Steroids and bowel rest versus elemental diet in the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease: the effects on protein metabolism and immune function. AB - Recent studies have shown an elemental diet to be as effective as bowel rest plus steroids in the management of acute Crohn's disease. In order to investigate the metabolic and immunological effects of these two therapies, six patients with an acute inflammatory attack of ileal Crohn's disease were randomly assigned to receive steroids or elemental diet for 7 days. Immunological and protein metabolic studies were performed before and after therapy, protein kinetic rates being measured by the method of constant intravenous infusion of 14C-labeled leucine tracer. Clinical and symptomatic improvement was noted in all six patients with significant falls in sedimentation rate and platelet counts and increases in albumin concentrations. Both forms of treatment increased plasma amino acid flux and oxidation rates, whole body protein turnover and rates of incorporation of amino acid into albumin. However, the increased rates of protein metabolism in the patients given steroids were at the expense of body protein stores with a net (average) loss of 58 g of nitrogen over 7 days. While both forms of therapy were associated with suppression of lymphocyte subsets, complement and circulating immune complexes only the steroid regimen was associated with suppression of in vivo IgG synthesis rates. The results indicated that both forms of therapy were associated with clinical improvement, increases in protein turnover and evidence of reduced inflammatory activity. However, the beneficial effects of steroid regimen must be balanced against the deleterious effects on body protein stores; steroids and bowel rest without nutritional support should be avoided in malnourished patients. PMID- 2607591 TI - Decrease of polyunsaturated fatty acids and elevation of the oleic/stearic acid ratio in plasma and red blood cell lipids of malnourished cancer patients. AB - The fatty acids profiles of plasma and red blood cell lipids have been evaluated in 12 malnourished cancer patients in comparison with samples from eight healthy controls. In such patients, significantly lower levels of linoleic acid (LA) as percentage of total fatty acids were observed in plasma phospholipids (PL) and cholesterol esters (CE), and in red blood cells PL. The levels of arachidonic acid (AA) and the unsaturation index of the two lipid classes were also reduced in plasma CE but not in PL. In spite of the marked reduction of LA and, more generally, of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), no elevation of eicosatrienoic acid (20:3 n-9) was observed, such acid being considered a typical index of essential fatty deficiency. Moreover, no modification of the parameters indicating impairment of the fatty acid desaturation activity was shown. In addition, the levels of palmitic and oleic acids were significantly higher in both plasma PL and CE and in red blood cells PL. The reported elevation of the oleic to stearic acid ratio in lipids of red blood cells from malnourished cancer patients, already observed by other authors, was confirmed in our study. This ratio was even more markedly elevated in plasma lipids of the patients. A very good correlation was found between the reduction of linoleic acid levels, especially in plasma CE, and weight loss, suggesting enhanced utilization of this fatty acid in association with extensive depletion of lipid stores, in this pathological state. PMID- 2607592 TI - Necrotizing enterocolitis: feeding in endemic and epidemic periods. AB - Aggressive feeding practices are thought to increase the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Detailed feeding histories of the 39 cases occurring between January 1, 1984 and May 31, 1985 were compared with matched controls. The study period included a cluster (epidemic) of 11 cases diagnosed within 1 month. Data were analyzed collectively and separately for endemic and epidemic cases. Collectively, cases had greater average daily intake volume, maximum daily intake volume, intake volume on the day prior to diagnosis, and maximum daily caloric intake (all p less than 0.05) than controls. The only recorded parameter that differed in endemic cases vs controls was intake the day prior to diagnosis. In contrast, epidemic cases were fed significantly more volume, more calories, and faster than controls: average intake volume (62.5 +/- 27.2 vs 37.4 +/- 18.0 ml/kg/day); maximum intake volume (118.5 +/- 33.5 vs 76.4 +/- 38.8 ml/kg/day); intake day prior to diagnosis (109.8 +/- 30.9 vs 63.8 +/- 43.1 ml/kg/day); maximum daily increment (42.6 +/- 16.7 vs 26.7 +/- 16.4 ml/kg); maximum caloric intake (126.1 +/- 44.6 vs 77.3 +/- 50.0) (all p less than 0.01). Five of the feeding parameters were significantly less for the epidemic controls than the endemic controls, suggesting a general slowing of feeding during the NEC epidemic. In summary, the data suggest feeding patterns may have an impact on NEC especially during epidemic periods. PMID- 2607593 TI - Cologastric fistula as a complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. AB - Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is frequently used for long-term enteral nutrition or gastrointestinal decompression in both adults and children. The rare complication of a cologastric fistula following PEG has been seen recently in two pediatric patients. One fistula did not close after removal of the gastrostomy tube. A mechanism for the occurrence of this complication in these two children is proposed and technical points are emphasized to prevent this complication. PMID- 2607594 TI - Internal fracture of a pediatric broviac catheter. AB - Indwelling central venous catheters have become an integral part of the care of bone marrow transplant patients. Current technology provides the physician with repeated, reliable accesses to the central venous system via centrally placed silastic (Broviac) catheters. This report describes an unusual mechanical complication and a method for catheter salvage. PMID- 2607595 TI - Spontaneous retraction of catheters. PMID- 2607596 TI - [Clinical effects of cefodizime against infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology]. AB - Clinical studies on cefodizime (CDZM) were performed in patients of obstetrics and gynecology. CDZM was given to patients via drip infusion at a daily dose of 2 4 g, and the results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. A total of 10 cases included 5 cases of intrauterine infections (3 cases of puerperal endometritis, 1 endometritis and 1 puerperal fever), 2 intrapelvic infections (1 pelvic dead space infection and 1 parametritis), and 3 Bartholin's abscess. Clinical efficacies were excellent in 3 cases, good in 6 and poor in 1. The efficacy rate was 90% (9/10). 2. Bacteriological efficacies were as follows: eradicated in 3 cases, replaced in 2, decreased in 1, persisted in 1 and unknown in 3. 3. Neither subjective and objective adverse reactions nor abnormal changes in laboratory test values were observed. PMID- 2607597 TI - [Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefodizime in obstetrics and gynecology]. AB - Cefodizime (CDZM), a new cephem antibiotic, was studied in terms of its pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, and the results are summarized as follows: Concentrations of CDZM in serum and genital tissues following 1 g drip infusion (30 min.) were determined and good penetration of CDZM into tissues was recognized. The maximum level in uterine arterial serum was 56.25 micrograms/ml and maximum tissue levels ranged 23.56 40.64 micrograms/g which were above its MIC80's for main pathogenic organisms. Peak concentrations of CDZM in pelvic dead space exudates following 1 g intravenous bolus injection or drip infusion ranged 6.25-6.52 micrograms/ml. The clinical efficacy of CDZM in 17 cases of obstetrical and gynecological infections was investigated using a dose of 1-3 g daily. The clinical efficacy rate was 88.2% (15/17 cases). Bacteriologically, the eradication rate was 83.3%. No side effects or abnormal laboratory test values were observed. PMID- 2607598 TI - [Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefodizime in the field of obstetrics and gynecology]. AB - Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefodizime (THR-221, CDZM) were carried out and the following results were obtained. Concentrations of CDZM in serum and uterine tissues were determined from 38 to 282 minutes after drip infusion of 1 g CDZM. CDZM reached peak level of 25.0 micrograms/g or higher in each tissue during a period of 38 to 83 minutes. Concentrations of CDZM in the dead space exudate after drip infusion of 2 g CDZM were also studied. At 240 minutes after injection, CDZM concentration in exudate reached a peak of 46.88 micrograms/ml. These levels far exceeded MICs of CDZM against major pathogens most often isolated in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. CDZM was administered to 7 patients with their diseases diagnosed as pelvic peritonitis (4 cases) or acute adnexitis (3 cases) at a dose of 2-4 g per day for 6-14. days. Clinical response was good in all cases. Transient elevation of liver function was noticed in 2 cases. No other adverse reactions were noted during the study. PMID- 2607599 TI - [Pharmacokinetic and clinical study on cefodizime in obstetrics and gynecological field]. AB - Clinical investigation of cefodizime (CDZM, THR-221), a newly developed cephem antibiotic, was carried out with regard to its distributions to genital organs, and the drug was evaluated clinically against infections in obstetric and gynecological fields. 1. Distributions to genital organs One gram of CDZM was administered to each patient who received simple total hysterectomy by 1 hour intravenous drip infusion and concentrations of CDZM in genital organs such as antecubital vein, uterine artery, ovary, oviduct, endometrium, myometrium, cervix uteri and portio vaginalis were examined. Serum concentrations were elevated to an average of 90.63 micrograms/ml in 15 minutes after administrations of CDZM and decreased gradually at fixed times. CDZM was distributed in concentration ranges of 45.32-10.96 micrograms/g in ovary, 26.58-10.20 micrograms/g in oviduct, 42.20 9.80 micrograms/g in endometrium, 31.28-11.72 micrograms/g in myometrium, 42.20 12.52 micrograms/g in cervix uteri and 45.32-9.40 micrograms/g in portio vaginalis, and these high concentrations lasted more than 3 hours after administrations. 2. Clinical evaluations CDZM was given to 10 patients, including 7 cases with pelvioperitonitis and 1 case each with pyometra, Bartholin's abscess and puerperal fever, at a dose level of 1 or 2 gram 2 times daily by 30-60 minutes intravenous drip infusion. Overall clinical efficacies were excellent in 3 cases and good in 7 and the efficacy rate was very high, at 100%. Bacteriological efficacies were eradicated in 6 cases, and unknown in 2, and the eradication rate was 100%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607600 TI - [Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefodizime in gynecologic field]. AB - Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on a new cephalosporin antibiotic, cefodizime (THR-221, CDZM), were performed and the results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. At about 84 minutes after a bolus injection of 1 g dose of CDZM, the drug was transferred well into tissues of internal genital organs and remained there at therapeutic levels for 285 minutes. The drug was also transferred quickly and sufficiently into exudate from pelvic dead space and its levels were still kept at high levels at 6 hours after administration. 2. CDZM was given to 8 women affected with gynecologic infections. The outcome of CDZM therapies showed that the drug was effective in all 8 of patients (100%) clinically and bacteriologically. 3. Notable adverse effects or abnormal laboratory test results were not observed except for 2 patients with transient and slight elevation of transaminase levels. Based on these results, it may be concluded that CDZM is a highly effective and a very safe antibiotic for the treatment on infectious diseases in gynecologic field. PMID- 2607601 TI - [Fundamental and clinical evaluation of cefodizime in obstetrics and gynecology]. AB - Cefodizime (CDZM, THR-221), a newly developed injectable cephem antibiotic agent, was evaluated for its distribution in intrapelvic genital organ tissues, penetration into exudate of retroperitoneal space and breast milk and therapeutical effects on some infections in obstetrics and gynecology. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. When 1 g of CDZM was administered by drip infusion over a 60 minutes period, its serum concentration reached 53.51 micrograms/ml at the completion of drip infusion, then declined rapidly. Peak concentrations of CDZM in intrapelvic genital organ tissues were higher than 20 micrograms/g at different times. CDZM was transferred to the exudate of retroperitoneal space and its concentration reached a peak of 7.01 micrograms/ml at 2.67 hours after initiation of 60 minutes drip infusion at a dose of 1 g, then declined slowly but stood at 4.93 micrograms/ml even at 8 hours. The transfer of CDZM to breast milk was similar to other cephem antibiotic agents and peak levels of CDZM in milk were 0.13-0.36 microgram/ml at 2 or 3 hours after administration of a dose of 1 g. 2. In the clinical study, CDZM was administered by drip infusion over 60 minutes to 6 patients with obstetrical and gynecological infections at a daily dose of 2-6 g. Clinical results were good in 5, poor in 1, and the efficacy rate was 83.3%. No side effects nor abnormal laboratory test results were observed. PMID- 2607602 TI - [Clinical studies on cefodizime in the field of obstetrics and gynecology]. AB - Clinical studies on cefodizime (THR-221, CDZM), a new injectable cephem antibiotic, were performed and the following results were obtained. Ten patients with obstetrical and gynecological infections such as intrauterine infections, pyometra, adnexitis, parametritis and lymphocystitis. The clinical results were evaluated as excellent in 1 case, good in 4 cases and poor in 5 cases. The efficacy rate was 50.0%. Bacteriologically, 10 organisms were isolated from 8 patients and the eradication rate was 44.4%. No side effects were observed in any of the cases treated with CDZM. In laboratory examinations, transient elevations of serum GOT, GPT and Al-P were noted in 1 case. PMID- 2607603 TI - [Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefodizime in the field of obstetrics and gynecology]. AB - We have conducted pharmacokinetic and clinical trials of a new cephem derivative, cefodizime (THR-221, CDZM), and obtained the following results. 1. We administered CDZM to 4 cases with abdominal simple hysterectomy due to myoma uteri at a dose level of 1 g by drip intravenous injection and studied average levels of transfer measured at various locations in the uterine tissues and adnexa at an average of 2 hours after administration. CDZM level was highest in the oviduct, 13.7 micrograms/g (ratio with respect to the uterine arterial blood: 91.3%), followed by the ovary, portio vaginalis, cervix uteri and endometrium, and was lowest in the myometrium, 8.3 micrograms/g (55.3%). CDZM concentrations were higher than 6.04 micrograms/g in any tissues. 2. To study CDZM transfer to pelvic cavity fluid, we administered CDZM to 5 cases with total hysterectomy due to cervical cancer of uteri at a dose level of 2 g using drip intravenous injection. The drug was transferred at high levels to the pelvic cavity fluid. A level of 11.7 micrograms/ml was observed at 3 hours after injection. The drug levels in the pelvic cavity fluid were maintained continuously higher levels than those of venous blood. These concentrations in the uterine tissues and pelvic cavity fluid were higher than the MIC against many strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, hence we considered them to be therapeutically effective concentrations. 3. Eleven cases of gynecological infections receiving in totals of 8 to 48 g of CDZM demonstrated "excellent" results in 3 cases, "good" in 8 cases. Eight strains of organisms were isolated from 10 cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607604 TI - [Comparative studies on activities of antimicrobial agents against causative organisms isolated from urinary tract infections (1986). III. Secular changes in susceptibility]. AB - Changes in the susceptibility of various infectious microorganisms to antimicrobial agents from 1982 to 1986 were evaluated. The microorganisms investigated were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Proteus spp., Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients with urinary tract infections. We compared susceptibilities of microorganisms obtained from simple urinary tract infections with those from complicated infections with or without indwelling catheter. Among penicillins, mecillinam (MPC) showed the strongest activity against E. coli obtained from the patients: 3.13 to 6.25 micrograms/ml of MPC inhibited the growth of over 90% of the isolates. Among the second and the third generation cephalosporins, cefotiam and cefmenoxime (CMX) showed the strongest activity and the growth of isolates was inhibited at concentrations of 0.39 to 0.78 microgram/ml and below 0.10 to 0.20 microgram/ml, respectively. The activities of penicillins against Klebsiella spp. were weak. CMX showed strong activity against Klebsiella spp; 91.7% of the isolates from patients with simple infections were inhibited at 0.39 microgram/ml of the agent; 90.7% and 91.6% of isolates from patients with complicated infections with or without indwelling catheter were inhibited at 0.78 microgram/ml and 1.56 microgram/ml of the agent, respectively. Gentamicin (GM) also showed strong activity against isolates from patients with simple infections and weaker activity against isolates from patients with complicated infections with the catheter; 0.78 microgram/ml of ofloxacin (OFLX) inhibited the growths of 90% of the isolates from these patients. Penicillins showed weak activity against Citrobacter spp. obtained from the patients. Among the second and the third generation cephalosporins, CMX and latamoxef (LMOX) showed strong activities against the Citrobacter isolates; about 50% of the isolates were inhibited at 0.20 microgram/ml of either agent. 1.56 microgram/ml of minocycline inhibited the growth of 75 to 90% of the isolates and 1.56 microgram/ml of OFLX inhibited the growth of 93 to 100% of the isolates. Against isolates of Proteus spp. penicillins also showed weak activities. Among them, however, piperacillin (PIPC) inhibited the growth of over 90% of the isolates at concentrations ranging from 0.78 to 1.56 micrograms/ml. Among the second and third generation cephalosporins, CMX and LMOX showed strong activities; 0.20 microgram/ml of CMX inhibited the growth of 94.4%, 90.4%, and 83.1% of isolates from the 3 types of the patients, respectively. 0.20 microgram/ml of LMOX inhibited the growth of 94.4%, 91.8%, and 88.3% of the isolates, respectively. Enterobacter spp. showed resistance to the beta-lactam antibiotics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2607605 TI - [Radiation therapy with or without cisplatin in esophageal carcinoma]. AB - Of 74 patients with an esophageal carcinoma, 26 were treated with a combined modality of radiotherapy and cisplatin (CDDP group), and 48 were treated with radiotherapy alone (RT group). Sixteen patients were salvaged by surgery after radiotherapy. Fifty-two patients were found to have a loco-regional disease (RT group: 34 patients; CDDP group: 18 patients) and 22 patients had a distant metastasis at the time of the initial treatment (RT group: 14 patients; CDDP group; 8 patients). For those with a loco-regional disease, the response rate was for those in the CDDP group and 34% for those in the RT group. For non-surgically salvaged cases, the median survival was 12 months and there was no statistically significant difference between the CDDP and the RT groups. For the surgically salvaged cases, 2 out of 7 patients in the RT group and 5 out of 9 patients an in the CDDP group are still alive. Additionally, four T3 cases were salvaged by surgery in the CDDP group. PMID- 2607606 TI - [Study of surgical resection of sternal metastasis from carcinoma of the breast]. AB - Three patients with a sternal metastasis from a carcinoma of the breast were treated with a partial resection of their sternum . Two patients died 13 and 14 months after their sternectomy. The remaining patients, however, has survived without a subsequent metastasis for 7 years. The sternal metastasis in the 7-year survival case was confined to the sternum for 7 months before the metastatic resection. Thus, a sternectomy, followed by chemo-endocrine therapy for several months may be indicated for patients with a solitary sternal metastasis, if there is no evidence of a systemic spread. PMID- 2607607 TI - [Relationship between the effectiveness of CDDP therapy and the nuclear DNA content in advanced-recurrent gastric cancer cases]. AB - A microspectrophotometric analysis of the DNA content has been performed on 9 advanced recurrent gastric cancer patients with measurable lesions, who has either been treated by CDDP alone or with other chemotherapeutics during a three year period since, 1984. Histograms of the DNA content were classified into four ploidy patterns. All of the 4 responder cases (CR, PR, MR) showed type, IV, although only one of 5 non-responder cases revealed the same typing. In one of the two CR cases the DNA ploidy pattern, which was examined before and after the therapy, changed from type IV to type II. Thus it appears that an analysis of the DNA content may be useful in evaluating the effectiveness of different chemotherapies. PMID- 2607608 TI - [Development of a cancer of the large bowel following radiotherapy for cancer of the uterine cervix]. AB - Eight patients with a colorectal cancer, following radiotherapy for a cervical cancer have been analyzed. A total of 9 lesions in the large bowel were found. Four were located in the rectum. The average interval between radiation and the diagnosis of a second tumor was 9 years and 6 months. Four patients had had a post-irradiation interval of more than 10 years. In 7 resected specimens, histologic alterations were seen, such as atrophy or the erosion of the mucosal layer around the tumor. Radiotherapy may have contributed to the development of the colorectal cancer in some of these patients. Thus, attention should be paid to monitoring patients who have received radiotherapy for a cervical cancer, since the development of a colorectal cancer after pelvic radiotherapy may occur. PMID- 2607609 TI - [A case of so-called carcinosarcoma of the lung]. AB - A 66-year-old woman was admitted to hospital because of a persistent cough and hemoptysis. Her chest X-ray showed a coin lesion in the S10 area of her right lung. The tumor was resected and its histologic features showed it to be a so called carcinosarcoma of the lung. PMID- 2607610 TI - [A case of lymphangiomas arising contiguously from the rib and thoracic spine]. AB - Reported is a rare case of lymphangiomas arising contiguously from the left 6 th rib and thoracic spine of a 33-year-old female. The localization of the osteolytic lesions that had been observed by chest X-rays were more precisely detected by subsequent computed tomography. Histologically, dilated vessels lined with endothelial cells were observed in the bone marrow. Immunostaining uncovered factor VIII-related antigens in the endothelial of the small vessels, but not in those of the larger vessels. In order to differentiate lymphangiomas from hemangiomas of the bone, not only should the histological features of the lymph vessels be observed at time of operation also the ability these vessels to retain lymph is important. Primary lymphangioma of the bone should be differentiated from lymphangiomatosis and massive osteolysis, which show a poor prognosis. PMID- 2607611 TI - [Study of reinduction chemotherapy in bone marrow relapse of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. AB - Twenty children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in relapse were treated with various combinations of anti-leukemic agents in approach to the induction of remission. Among them, the four-drug reinduction regimen consisting of prednisolone, vincristine, daunomycin and L-asparaginase (PVDA regimen) was found to be highly effective. The incidence of remission was 100% (2/2) for first reinduction. The regimen also proved to be effective in the management of multiple subsequent relapses. The rate of remission induction for second and third to fifth reinduction attempts were 60% (3/5) and 50% (4/8), respectively. The over all remission rate was 60%. The median duration of subsequent remission for the entire patients treated by PVDA regimen was short, only 11 weeks (range: 3 to 26 weeks). PVDA regimen was effective in reinduction of remission in childhood ALL with relapse, but was not effective in remission maintenance. Optimal maintenance therapy for subsequent remissions has to be determined. PMID- 2607612 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of 6-mercaptopurine in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia--interindividual and intraindividual variations]. AB - The pharmacokinetics of oral 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) was assessed in ten children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during maintenance chemotherapy. The doses were 175 mg/m2, 87.5 mg/m2, and 50 mg/m2. The relation between doses and the means of AUC (area under the curve) and Cmax (maximum concentration) suggested a non linear pharmacokinetics. Our results demonstrated wide interindividual variability as reported by others. We demonstrated individual variation between clinically stable patients. The relationships between predicted and observed concentrations were variable among four patients studied. Some of the patients showed discrepancy between the both concentrations, whereas others did not. The results indicate that serum concentration after oral administration is predictable by further analysis of therapeutic drug monitoring. PMID- 2607613 TI - [Clinical study on splenic autotransplantation after splenectomy in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]. AB - Splenic autotransplantation after splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is one of the effective treatments for maintaining the patients' immunity in children. We investigated this surgical method in 10 adult ITP patients. This method was extremely effective for thrombocytopenia. Cellular immunity of the patients was maintained as evidenced by the normal response of peripheral lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin-A (Con-A) after the operation. The mitogenic response of peripheral lymphocytes to PHA and Con-A might be a useful indication for predicting the effect of splenectomy. PMID- 2607614 TI - [Multivariate analysis of acute leukemia]. AB - The outcome of chemotherapy in patients of 150 cases of acute leukemia was investigated. Patients were divided into two groups, that is group I: 100 cases of acute leukemia treated between 1980-1984, group II: 50 cases of acute leukemia between 1985-1986. Complete remission was achieved in 66% of group I and in 82% of group II. Using multivariate analysis, the initial levels of FDP and WBC count and age were found to be important factors to induce complete remission. Female sex was suggestive of a longer remission duration and survival by discrimination analysis. PMID- 2607615 TI - [Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL) with systemic lymph node swelling and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)-like complication]. AB - A 37-year-old male was diagnosed as having chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL) with chief complaint of systemic lymph node swelling. On admission, his peripheral blood revealed mild anemia and mild thrombocytopenia with giant platelets, and monocytosis (1480/microliters). NAP score was low. Serum lysozyme increased. The bone marrow showed normal cellularity consisting of 4% myeloblasts and 14.4% promyelocytes, and a few myeloid cells were positive for double staining by alpha-naphthyl butyrate and naphthol ASD chloroacetate esterase. Biopsied specimens of the cervical lymph node showed infiltration of monocytoid cells, which were positive for lysozyme staining, into interfollicular tissue. As for chromosome variation, 21 large satellite was observed in all dividing cells from his bone marrow and peripheral blood. Furthermore, hemolytic anemia with hemoglobinuria developed during his course. Sugar water test was positive, but Ham test negative. Coombs test and Donath-Landsteiner reaction were negative. Abnormal hemoglobin, spherocyte and fragmentation were not found. Hemolysis disappeared about two months later. However, blastic crisis appeared and he died. We showed a case of CMMoL with 21 large satellite and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)-like complication. Satellite have usually been reported as asymptomatic, and thus this chromosome variant and CMMoL may have been coincidentally observed. PMID- 2607616 TI - [Successful treatment of an infant with fulminant hepatitis by factor VII concentrate]. AB - A 2-month-old boy was admitted to our hospital because of poor sucking and jaundice. There were no abnormalities during the whole period of pregnancy and at birth. His mother was a HBeAb positive HBsAg carrier, but prophylactic maneuver such as anti-HB immunoglobulin and HB vaccine was not performed on him at birth. Physical examination on admission revealed mild disturbance of consciousness. The laboratory findings showed marked increments of serum bilirubin, GOT, GPT, and NH3, and prolongation of prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and hepaplastin test. Thus, he was diagnosed as fulminant hepatitis and treated with exchange transfusion once or twice a day. Biochemical data improved gradually, but hypocoagulable states remained unchanged. At that time we decided to use Factor VII concentrate, because we found that, among several coagulation factors, factor VII activity decreased most rapidly after exchange transfusion. The alternate therapy of exchange transfusion and Factor VII concentrate improved his coagulation abnormality without any side effects. Our experience suggests that the combination therapy of exchange transfusion and Factor VII concentrate may be useful for management of fulminant hepatitis, particularly for uncontrollable coagulopathy. PMID- 2607617 TI - [Relapse of gingival tumor during hematological remission in acute promyelocytic leukemia]. AB - A 56-year-old man was admitted to the hospital in April, 1986, with the chief complaint of fatigue. The diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was made based on the proliferation of atypical promyelocytes in the bone marrow. No gingival swelling was found on admission. A complete remission was achieved by the BHAC-DMP therapy and maintained by the consolidation therapy and the intensification therapy. In July, 1987, he noticed a solitary gingival tumor around the left lower second molar. The biopsy showed the massive infiltration of leukemic cells, despite the hematological remission. Combination chemotherapy was not effective but the tumor disappeared by irradiation. A hematological relapse occurred in November, 1987, but the second complete remission was achieved by the AB-triple V therapy. He died because of the second hematological relapse in July, 1988. Along with the wide use of intensive chemotherapy for acute leukemia, tumor forming leukemia during the hematological remission, as seen in this case, would be increasing. Thus, we should not overlook any newly formed tumor in the treatment of leukemia. PMID- 2607618 TI - [T cell receptor delta chain gene rearrangement in acute unclassified leukemia]. AB - A 31 year-old male who was treated with radiation under the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma was admitted to our hospital because of systemic erythema and tumor of bilateral upper arms in October, 1987. Leucocyte count of peripheral blood showed 4,400/microliters with 36% leukemic cells and bone marrow was hypercellular with 85.6% leukemic cells. Leukemic cells were negative for peroxidase reaction and lineage specific monoclonal antibodies such as CD3, CD4, CD8, CD10, CD19 and CD20. T cell receptor (TCR) delta gene was rearranged but TCR beta, TCR gamma and immunoglobulin (Ig) genes were in germline configuration. He was treated with combination regimen of doxorubicin, vindesine, prednisolone and L-asparaginase, and complete remission was obtained. These observations suggest that TCR delta gene rearrangement is useful for determination of clonality in cases without rearrangements of the other TCR and Ig genes. PMID- 2607619 TI - [DDAVP administration in a case of congenital combined factor V and factor VIII deficiency]. AB - Combined deficiency of factor V and factor VIII, a rare bleeding disorder, was found in a 43 year-old male. He had often presented manifestations of easy bruising since childhood, but none of his family had shown evidence of a bleeding tendency. We examined him and his family as far as we could and his abnormality of blood coagulation was apparent, but the members of his family were normal. The prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time of this patient were prolonged, but his thrombin time was normal. Factor V and factor VIII coagulant activity were low, but von Willebrand factor antigen and activity (ristocetin cofactor activity) levels were normal. Protein C and Protein C inhibitor antigen and activity levels were also found to be normal. Following 1-deamino-8-D arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) injection, he had immediate increases in factor VIII coagulant activity, but both von Willebrand factor antigen, activity levels and factor V coagulant activity remained low. Moreover, there was no rapid decline in factor VIII complex activity. These findings suggest that the endogenous factor VIII in this patient is metabolized normally and that at least the deficiency of factor VIII does not result from accelerated degradation in plasma. PMID- 2607620 TI - [Structure and regulation of expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) gene and processing of CRH-precursor]. PMID- 2607621 TI - [Structure and regulation of the expression of proenkephalin A and B genes and processing of the precursors]. PMID- 2607622 TI - [Structure and regulation of the expression of the human growth hormone gene and processing of the precursors]. PMID- 2607623 TI - [Structure of prolactin gene and its processing]. PMID- 2607624 TI - [Structure and regulation of the expression of the parathyroid hormone gene and processing of the precursors]. PMID- 2607625 TI - [Structure and regulation of the expression of calcitonin and CGRP genes and processing of the precursors]. PMID- 2607626 TI - [Gene structure and gene expression regulation of tachykinin and processing of the precursors]. PMID- 2607627 TI - [Gene structure and gene expression regulation of cholecystokinin and processing of the precursors]. PMID- 2607628 TI - [Motilin and GIP--molecular cloning, chromosomal localization, and tissue specific expression of these genes]. PMID- 2607629 TI - [Gastrin--human gene, processing, degradation]. PMID- 2607630 TI - [Gene structure and gene expression regulation of cytochrome P-450 related to steroidogenesis]. PMID- 2607631 TI - [Gene structure and gene expression regulation of estrogen synthetase]. PMID- 2607632 TI - [Expression of receptor genes in neuroblastoma cells]. PMID- 2607633 TI - [Structure and gene expression of the growth hormone and prolactin receptor]. PMID- 2607634 TI - [Steroid receptors: domain structure and gene regulation]. PMID- 2607635 TI - [Structures and functions of steroid hormone response elements]. PMID- 2607636 TI - [Insulin resistance due to genetic defects of insulin receptors]. PMID- 2607637 TI - Recent trends in the treatment and prognosis of adult leukemia with characteristics of patients in Japan: transition during the fifteen years from 1971 to 1985. AB - Patients with acute (2,569) and chronic (957) leukemia diagnosed at 19 institutes took part in the study on the "Multidisciplinary Treatment of Leukemia" between 1971 and 1985 and were investigated retrospectively. By dividing the 15 years into three five-year periods, we were able to compare patient ratios in the different periods. The proportions of acute to chronic leukemia cases showed no obvious change; however, the proportions of cases diagnosed as acute lymphocytic leukemia in acute leukemia showed a significant increase. The main chemotherapeutic drugs used during the three time periods were cytarabine or its analogues, the anthracyclines, 6-mercaputopurine and prednisolone, against acute myelogenous leukemia, and the vinca alkaloids, prednisolone and the anthracyclines against acute lymphocytic leukemia. The rate of complete remission from acute myelogenous leukemia made marked progress, from 45.1% during 1971-1975 to 62.3% during 1981-1985, but that of acute lymphocytic leukemia showed no significant progress, being 65% during 1971-1975 and 69.7% during 1981-1985. The durations of remission, however, and the survival times for patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia, as well as for those with acute myelogenous leukemia, became significantly longer over the three periods. Median survival times from chronic myelocytic leukemia were 37-40 mo in all three periods, showing no progress. There was a better prognosis in cases of chronic myelocytic leukemia with, than without, Philadelphia chromosome. Except for a low incidence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Japan, adult leukemia patients' characteristics and prognoses seem to be almost the same in Japan as in the U.S.A. and Europe. PMID- 2607638 TI - The growth promoting effect of transforming growth factor-alpha in human breast cancer cell lines. AB - Two human breast cancer cell lines, BT-20 and ZR-75-1, were examined with the aim of the elucidating the pathological roles of human transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha in breast cancers. The TGF-alpha receptor was found to be present in both cell lines. A clonogenic assay revealed that concentrations of TGF-alpha greater than 10(10) M induced a significant increase in colony formation, indicating TGF-alpha to be a breast cancer cell growth factor. Northern blot analysis revealed, moreover, that both cell lines expressed TGF-alpha mRNA. Taking these observations together, it is reasonably possible to assume that TGF alpha is an autocrine growth factor for breast cancer cells. Although it has been proposed that TGF-alpha could be an epidermal growth factor (EGF) superagonist with regard to its colony formation stimulating activity, the present study demonstrated the colony formation stimulating activities of TGF-alpha and EGF not to be all that much different in the two breast cancer cell lines. PMID- 2607639 TI - A phase II study of vindesine in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma. Japanese Esophageal Oncology Group. AB - A phase II study of Vindesine for esophageal carcinoma was carried out cooperatively by 10 Japanese institutions. Fifty patients were enrolled in the study over a year and ten months. Four patients could not be evaluated because less than 4 weeks had elapsed since their preceding therapy. There were one complete remission and five partial remissions among the 46 remaining patients, a response rate of 13.0%. The patient experiencing the complete remission is still alive more than 24 months after treatment. The main side effects were depilation, anorexia, stomatitis and leukopenia. Thrombocytopenia and elevations of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were not marked. There was no mortality connected with the administration of Vindesine. It was concluded that Vindesine is useful in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma as a single agent. PMID- 2607640 TI - Surgical management of renal cell carcinoma extended into the vena cava and the right atrium. AB - The present report describes two cases of renal cell carcinoma extending into the vena cava and the right atrium. The treatment was total nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy, utilizing extracorporeal circulation. The aggressive surgical management of this progressive malignant disease is discussed. PMID- 2607641 TI - Argyrophilic carcinoma "carcinoid tumor" of the breast: case report with electron microscopic and immunohistochemical investigations. AB - A rare primary argyrophilic carcinoma "carcinoid tumor" of the breast in a 48 year-old woman was investigated by light and electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. Light microscopy showed the greater part of the tumor to have characteristic histological features of carcinoid tumor and Grimerius' stain revealed the presence of numerous argyrophilic granules in the tumor cells. Numerous neurosecretory granules and bundles of intermediate filaments were observed ultrastructurally in the cytoplasm. In addition, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and neuronespecific enolase (NSE) were detected in the tumor cells using the immunoperoxidase method. From the results, it is speculated that the tumor cells have the ability to produce CEA as well as NSE in the cytoplasm. The observation of ductal spreading in parts of the tumor, and the detection of CEA, suggest the tumor cells to be derived from mammary epithelial cells. PMID- 2607642 TI - An esophagobronchopleural fistula successfully treated by a surgical procedure combined with conservative therapy after resection for lung cancer. AB - The patient was a 43-year-old woman, who had undergone a right middle and lower lobectomy for adenocarcinoma of the lung. An esophagobronchopleural fistula developed two months after the operation. It was treated by a combined procedure consisting of pedicle flap closure of the fistula and thoracoplasty. The esophagobronchopleural fistula recurred two days later, however, and another pedicle flap closure with fenestration of the chest wall were performed in a third operation. A bronchopleural fistula then recurred, after which it was treated by conservative therapy including intravenous hyperalimentation, frequent dressing changes and systemic administration of appropriate antibiotics. It closed spontaneously 23 days after surgery, in spite of this being a very rare but serious complication very difficult to treat and cure. From our experience with this particular case, we recommend, for treating esophagobronchopleural fistulas, proper drainage, antibiotic therapy, intravenous hyperalimentation and packing of the empyema space, together with closure of the fistula using a muscle or pleural flap. PMID- 2607643 TI - An unusual case of bronchial carcinoid predominantly consisting of large cells. AB - A 58-year-old woman presented an unusual variant of bronchial carcinoid. A tumor measuring 20 x 25 mm was recognized upon gross examination in the upper lobe of the right lung. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of large polyhedral cells with a pseudoglandular arrangement similar to pheochromocytoma cells. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells contained serotonin, S-100 protein and neuron-specific enolase. Thus, we consider this neoplasm to be a large cell variant of bronchial carcinoid which, to our knowledge, has not been described in the literature. PMID- 2607644 TI - Long term trends in cancer mortality rates and cumulative rates from 1955 to 1987 in Japan (2). PMID- 2607645 TI - [Blood type and screen for crossmatch]. AB - To reduce work and effectively use blood for transfusion, a type and screening system (T & S) has been adopted in many hospitals. A questionnaire survey on the system and tests for a transfusion was carried out on our hospital and 381 other hospitals. For 3 years in our hospital, 0.73% of the samples tested revealed the presence of antibodies to red cells which were 30% of the antibodies in Rh system, 30% in Le system, 38% in P1 M and N, and 3% of the other system such as Fyb, Jka and S. Forty percent of the positive samples were subjected to a crossmatch test. The tests were done in a laboratory for serum test in approximately half of the hospitals. A pharmaceutical division controlled the reservation of blood and blood components in 56% of the hospitals. In 45% of the hospitals, a crossmatch test was done using the methods of saline, enzyme treatment and Coombs test. In 10% of the hospitals. Coombs test was used for the test in the transfusion of red cells, platelets, and frozen plasma, and tests were done in 100, 67, and 52% of the hospitals, respectively. When the T & S system is adopted. Staff must have sufficient knowledge on blood transfusion and the system must be efficient to avoid transfusion troubles. PMID- 2607646 TI - [Pretransfusion screening tests for HIV and HTLV-I in donated blood]. AB - Screening tests for HIV and HTLV-I in donated blood were introduced into Japan in Nov. 1986. I) The incidence of HIV-antibody (Ab) among donated blood in Japan is hitherto as low as 1-2/500,000. However, those Ab tests used at present may overlook HIV-infected donors before of their seroconversion. A newly developed HIV-antigen (Ag) test has yielded positive results in 4 out of 29 (13.8%) of our HIV-Ab+ hemophiliacs (all in the AC stage), although none of the 27 HIV-Ab negatives were HIV-Ag+. The rate of Ag+ was higher in the group showing disappearance of p 24-band on the Western blot (WB). The isolation of HIV was successful in 6 out of 13 (46.2%) AC hemophiliacs, even in three with negative HIV-Ag. The usefulness of these new tests for screening should be estimated from the standpoint of the cost/benefit balance. In future, the screening for HIV-2 may also be needed. II) Gelatin particle agglutination test (PA) could detect not only IgG- but also IgM-HTLV-I Ab, while the latter is overlooked by ELISA. On the other hand, a few of false negatives by PA could be observed. Anti-HTLV-I Ab was found in 2% of our donors, the frequency being higher among those who had previously received blood transfusions. If possible, all of the donated blood should be chemically and/or physically treated to inactivate any contaminating viruses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607647 TI - [Clinical study on the serum carcinoembryonic antigen, immunosuppressive acidic protein and C-reactive protein levels in patients with adult T cell leukemia]. AB - Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in patients with adult T cell leukemia (ATL) in order to clarify their significance in this disease. Mean (+/- SD) serum CEA levels in 11 patients with acute ATL (3.1 +/- 1.3 ng/ml) and 7 patients with smoldering ATL (3.1 +/- 0.5 ng/ml) were significantly higher than in sera of 222 healthy controls (2.4 +/- 1.3 ng/ml). However, the levels in 7 patients with chronic ATL and healthy controls showed no differences. On the other hand, mean (+/- SD) serum IAP levels in patients with acute ATL (928 +/- 395 micrograms/ml), chronic ATL (487 +/- 125 micrograms/ml) and smoldering ATL (429 +/- 90 micrograms/ml) were significantly higher than in sera of healthy controls (359 +/- 103 micrograms/ml). However, the levels in patients with smoldering ATL and healthy controls showed no differences. Serum IAP levels in crisis in chronic and smoldering ATL were similar to those in patients with acute ATL. 85% of ATL patients with IAP levels above 500 micrograms/ml had CRP levels above 1+. Serum CEA, IAP and CRP levels were serially measured in a number of patients. Serum IAP and CRP levels reflected each patient's clinical course more than serum CEA levels. Overall the simultaneous measurements of serum CEA, IAP and CRP levels revealed a potential usefulness for determination of ATL subtype, and serum IAP and CRP levels may provide a way to evaluate the effectiveness of chemotherapy. PMID- 2607648 TI - [A method for the determination of cytosolic aminopeptidase in serum and its usefulness for clinical application. Selection of inhibitors for membrane-bound aminopeptidase and cystyl aminopeptidase]. AB - A method for the determination of cytosolic aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.1; C-AP) in serum was developed. At first, more specific and adequate inhibitor for other serum peptidases, such as membrane-bound aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2; arylamidase, AA) and cystyl aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.3; CAP) was selected from 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives. The compound, 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (4,7-DMP) is one of the most effective inhibitor for AA and CAP, and it inhibits completely these enzymes at the concentration of less than 0.4 mmol/l. C-AP in serum at an optimum pH of 8.0 in the assay using L-leucine amide (LA) as the substrate had no inhibitory effects at the concentration of more than 0.4 mmol/l of 4,7-DMP. The results with the proposed method correlated with those with a conventional electrophoretic method. The proposed method hence is a specific and easily available assay for C-AP in serum. The further analysis of C-AP using this method would promise the establishment of clinical assessment of the enzyme. PMID- 2607649 TI - [Evaluation and determination of P-type-alpha amylase activity in human serum by monoclonal antibody]. AB - We evaluated a kinetic procedure for determining pancreatic type of alpha-amylase isoenzyme (EC 3.2.1.1.) by using monoclonal salivary amylase antibody in human serum. The principle of this method is to measure residual pancreatic amylase activity after the reaction of monoclonal anti-salivary amylase antibody which is specifically inactivated human salivary amylase. The reaction of antibody with salivary alpha-amylase completed within 2 min of incubation and residual activity of pancreatic amylase was 100%, and the residual salivary amylase activity showed less than 3% of salivary amylase activity after incubation with antibody. The reproducibility and/or precision was 1.2% to 3.4% and the linearity obtained up to 1.500 U/l. Correlation coefficient between the proposed method (y) and electrophoresis (x1) and wheat germ inhibition method (x2) was well, respectively (r = 0.99 with both method, the regression curves was y = 1.02 x1-0.7 and y = 1.04x2-0.7). The reference value from healthy adults (male 98 and female 102) showed 13.6-48.2 U/l according to statistical parametric method and sex difference was not observed. The monoclonal anti-salivary amylase antibody was not cross-reacted with the other animal serum salivary type of amylase. PMID- 2607650 TI - [Automated measurement of reticulocyte count by flow cytometry. II: Analysis of the blood containing abnormal erythrocytes or giant platelets]. AB - We have examined the influence of erythrocytes containing inclusion bodies, nucleated red cells or giant platelets on the measurement of reticulocyte count by automated machine, R-1000. Correlation of the reticulocyte count between automated and conventional method was extremely good in the blood containing red cells with Jolly bodies, Pappenheimer bodies or basophilic stippling . However, correlation was poor when the sample contained the nucleated red cells. Reticulocyte count was decreased in the blood with significant amounts of nucleated red cells. Since nucleated red cells themselves are not counted as reticulocytes in the machine, this was considered to be due to increased young reticulocytes which frequently appeared with nucleated red cells. Both cold agglutinated red cells and giant platelets apparently influenced the reticulocyte count by the R-1000. These results suggest that red cells with Jolly bodies, Pappenheimer bodies or basophilic stippling do not influence the automatic counting of reticulocytes. Although nucleated red cells, cold agglutinated red cells and giant platelets affected the reticulocyte count, the machine shows abnormal flags in most of above cases (except highly agglutinated red cells), so that one can recount reticulocytes by conventional method. We conclude the machine can safely count the reticulocytes even in the blood containing abnormal red cells or platelets. PMID- 2607651 TI - [Clinical significance of red cell distribution width in polycythemia vera]. AB - We evaluated changes in red cell distribution width-standard deviation (RDW-SD) measured using a multiple parameter automated hematology analyzer E 4000 in patients with polycythemia vera (PV). Patients with iron deficiency anemia, those with chronic myelogenous leukemia, those with primary thrombocythemia, and normal subjects were examined as controls. In the patients with PV, as in those with the other 3 diseases, RDW-SD tended to be higher than in the normal controls when red blood cell counts were high. The RDW-SD in patients with PV transiently increased following administration of a myelosuppressive, which corresponded to the transition period from microcytes to normal blood cells. It was even higher during the polycythemic period than during the myelofibrotic period. This may be associated with hematopoietic abnormality due to extramedullary hematopoiesis. RDW-SD seems to well reflect the pathologic status of PV. PMID- 2607652 TI - [A case of hyper-HDL-cholesterolemia presenting peculiar lipoprotein patterns in agarose gel electrophoresis]. AB - Lipoprotein metabolism was analyzed in a patient with marked hyper-HDL cholesterolemia. A 50 year old male with no symptom of ischemic heart disease or xanthoma had a serum cholesterol level between 293 and 410 mg/dl, and a markedly elevated, HDL-cholesterol level (160-190 mg/dl). The cholesterol content of ultracentrifugally separated HDL2 was exclusively increased, while it was normal in the HDL3 fraction. Analytical ultracentrifugation and HPLC revealed that HDL particles became remarkably larger than the control and, on the contrary, LDL particles became smaller. LPL and LCAT activities were higher in this case, but H TGL activity was normal. Agarose gel electrophoresis of lipoproteins showed an abnormal broad band which was located between alpha and pre beta band. Serum levels of apolipoprotein A-I, A-II, C-II, C-III and E were higher, while apolipoprotein B level was slightly lower than the control. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity was demonstrated to be completely deficient in this case, as determined in 10 microliters serum using [3H] CE-labeled HDL3 as donor and VLDL + LDL fraction as acceptor. Since CETP was considered to catalyze the cholesteryl ester transport from HDL to VLDL and LDL, the deficiency of this activity might be the cause of the marked hyper-HDL-cholesterolemia in this patient. PMID- 2607653 TI - [Detection methods of free radical related substances and the system for their elimination]. AB - Lipid peroxide and SOD were selected as free radical related substances and system for their elimination, and detection was evaluated. NADPH-Cytochrome c reductase-Neotetrazolium (NT) method (Mic-NT method) and Xanthine oxidase Nitrotetrazolium Blue method (XOD-NTB method) are current detection methods of SOD activities. They are based on the O2-specific reaction. Minimum detectable amount of SOD by the Mic-NT method and XOD-NTB method was about 15 ng and 200 ng, respectively. On the other hand, an XOD-NH2OH method which detects SOD activities based on the O2-specific oxidation reaction showed the minimum detectable amount of 2.5 ng. Consequently, SOD-detecting sensitivity of these methods was found to be in the following order: XOD-NH2OH method greater than Mic-NT method greater than XOD-NTB method. In addition, albumin caused a positive error in all three methods. With a monoclonal antibody-aided SOD-analyzing method (EIA method), the minimum detectable amount of SOD was 0.2 ng. The isoenzymes of SOD (Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD) could be detected separately by 1. deactivating Cu, Zn-SOD with CN- or H2O2 and regarding the remaining activity as Mn-SOD and 2. by deactivating Mn SOD selectively through pretreatment of the sample with SDS and regarding the remaining activity as Cu, Zn-SOD. TBA method (Yagi's method) has been used frequently for the measurement of serum lipid peroxide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607654 TI - [Evaluation of leukocyte oxidative metabolism using whole blood samples by chemiluminescence and flow cytometric assays]. AB - To examine granulocyte oxidative metabolism (GOM) quantitatively, we evaluated two methods, one for assaying luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) and the other for changes in fluorescence by dichlorofluorescin (DCF). The CL assay was carried out using a lumiphotometer (TD-4000, Laboscience) after stimulating granulocytes in whole blood by n-formyl-methonyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP, 100 nmol/l) or by opsonized zymosan (OZ, 2 mg/ml). To reduce hemoglobin (Hb) interference, each sample was diluted with autologous plasma to a Hb concentration of 3 g/dl. The DCF assay was performed on whole blood samples (100 microliters) labeled with DCF (5 mumol/l) following stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 100 ng/ml). Changes in fluorescence were determined using a flow cytometer that gave the delta mean channel fluorescence intensity (DMCF) as an indicator of GOM. The coefficients of variance (CV) in within-run assays for the CL and the DCF were 10% and 5%, respectively. These CV-values were almost the same even when separated granulocytes as a test sample were used instead of whole blood. CL determined by FMLP stimulation in 27 renal failure patients on hemodialysis (HD), was significantly lower than that in 10 normal controls, but no difference was found in that determined by OZ stimulation. In HD patients, the DMCF values tended to increase in those at 15 min and the end of HD sessions compared to the value prior to HD. This suggested that the HD membrane and/or extracorporeal circulation stimulates GOM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607655 TI - [A new role of uric acid as an antioxidant in human plasma]. AB - Free radical attack upon uric acid (UA) nonenzymatically generates allantoin (ALT), and the presence of ALT in human plasma suggests free radical intervention within the body. To assess this possibility, we determined plasma ALT in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and some other diseases by high-performance liquid-chromatography (HPLC). Heparinized blood samples were obtained from 15 healthy controls, CRF patients under conservative management (n = 13) or hemodialysis (HD) treatment (n = 8) and patients with gout (n = 11) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 13). Although not seen in normal plasma samples, ALT was detected in 63% and 31% of patients receiving HD and conservative treatment, respectively. The plasma ALT level decreased after each HD session. ALT was also detected in 18% and 23% of the patients with gout and RA, respectively. ALT was found to be generated by ultraviolet radiation or by the addition of H2O2 to a normal pool-plasma. Addition of Fe(2+) and H2O2 increased the ALT level to about twice that of only H2O2. Addition of either catalase, desferal, EDTA, DMTU, DMSO or mannitol to the plasma decreased ALT generation. These findings suggest that ALT is generated from UA attacked by free radicals, especially by the hydroxyl radical, and that UA plays a role as an antioxidant in the plasma of patients with CRF and some other diseases. PMID- 2607656 TI - [Measurement of anti-HTLV-I antibody titer in cerebrospinal fluid]. AB - Anti HTLV-I antibody was measured in 590 cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs) employing a gelatin particle agglutination (PA) method. Anti HTLV-I antibody was detected in the CSFs from 24 patients (4.1%). The serum from the 24 patients also showed positive results. Out of the 24 patients, 11 cases (45.8%) had HAMs. Of the remaining patients 3 had ATLs with meningeal infiltration. Only 11 cases out of 24 patients were positive for anti HTLV-I antibodies when an immunofluorescence (IF) method was employed. This discrepancy of the results obtained by two methods may be explained by the presence of the patients whose CSFs contain anti HTLV-I antibodies of low titer. It is concluded that PA method is both sensitive and specific for the detection of anti HTLV-I antibodies in CSFs. Further, PA method is more convenient than IF method. So, it will be a very useful tool in the diagnosis of HTLV-I related neurological disorders and asymptomatic carriers. PMID- 2607657 TI - [A screening index for primary hyperparathyroidism using discriminant functions]. AB - In order to obtain a useful screening index for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), seven patients with PHPT and fifty-one patients with nonparathyroid hypercalcemia (NPHC) were studied retrospectively. Serum calcium, inorganic phosphate (IP), alkaline phosphatase, albumin (Alb), chloride (Cl), total protein, urea nitrogen and creatinine (Cre) were analyzed at the same time. Discriminant analysis using a stepwise variable select method was applied to these patients. A discriminant function (F 1) was derived from three laboratory tests; F 1 = -0.660 x [IP] + 0.142 x [Cl] + 0.564 x [Alb] - 14.4 (PHPT: F 1 greater than 0.641). F 1 had sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 72.5% (14 false positives) in diagnosing PHPT. Next, another discriminant function (F 2) was derived from PHPT and the false positive patients; F 2 = -2.61 x [IP] + 0.286 x [Cl] - 4.24 x [Cre] - 19.3 (PHPT: F 2 greater than 0.412). When F 2 was applied to positive patients by F 1, final sensitivity was 100% and specificity was 98%. This screening method was tested prospectively in fifty-six consecutive samples of hypercalcemia (PHPT 4, NPHC 52), resulting in sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98%. It was proved that our screening method using two step discriminant functions was very useful to diagnose PHPT. PMID- 2607658 TI - [Determination of urinary NAG isozyme by thermal inactivation and the age difference]. AB - We studied isozymes of urinary beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), NAG-A and NAG-B, to develop a method for the determination of them. Urinary NAG-A was demonstrated to be measured most appropriately by the thermal inactivation at 50 degrees C for 4 hours in the buffer solution of pH 4.8. Using this method, 13 subjects were simultaneously measured for the levels of both urinary and serum NAG-A, which revealed no significant relation between them (r = 0.03). A significant increase in the mean value of urinary NAG-A activities (U/ml) was found in the 11-12 year-old subjects compared with those in the 6-7 year-old subjects. Although no significant differences were revealed among the total urinary NAG activities of the subjects, the values of NAG-A/total NAG (percent) tended to increase as the ages of the subjects increasing. In conclusion, when determining urinary NAG levels, a careful consideration must be taken into account for the presence of heterozygous carriers for Tay-Sachs disease who have a 50%-deficiency of NAG-A activity and for the age difference of the values. PMID- 2607659 TI - [Intestinal metaplasia of the stomach--the significance of single-layer and double-layer metaplasia]. AB - Resected early gastric carcinomas (1,690 cases) and atypical epithelial proliferations (adenomatous lesions, 310 cases) were investigated by the 5 mm wide step sections. There were two types of intestinal metaplasia; double-layer type, where intestinal metaplasia was in the superficial area with the remaining pyloric or pseudopyloric glands in the deep region of the propria mucosae, and single-layer type, where intestinal metaplasia was usually present in a single layer without remaining deep non-metaplastic glands. These two types of intestinal metaplasia were usually found in the same specimen, however, most of the atypical epithelial proliferations (adenomatous lesions) arose from the area of intestinal metaplasia showing a double-layer type. The mitotic activity was usually found in the transitional zone showing these double-layer intestinal metaplasia. Atypical epithelial cells arose in the transitional zone of the double-layer intestinal metaplasia and spread into the luminal side by budding or replacement of existing epithelial cells. However, the author suspected that the cells in the under area of the transitional zone reproduce non-atypical cells to supplement the cells in the existing pyloric or pseudopyloric glands. On the other hand, atypical epithelial proliferations of single-layer type were rarely found showing a concaved appearance. Some of them may arise from the intestinal metaplasia of single-layer type, where the mitotic region moved towards the lower 1/3 of the glands. It seemed likely that most of the well-differentiated adenocarcinomas arise with intimate relation to these two types of intestinal metaplasia, where the incidence of malignant change of each type has been unknown. PMID- 2607660 TI - [A case report of giant cell granuloma of the jaw]. AB - A giant cell granuloma of the mandible seen in a 16 month-old boy was reported. Histopathology showed that the lesion consisted basically of granulation tissue with multinucleated giant cells, spindle-shaped and polygonal stromal cells. No atypia was seen in giant cells or stromal cells. Electron microscopic examination revealed that multinucleated giant cells possessed microvillous structure on their cytoplasm and were rich in organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and dense bodies. Stromal cells consisted of macrophage-like and fibroblastic cells. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated a large number of giant cells and stromal cells that were strongly positive for the antibodies of alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin. These morphological findings suggest that macrophage-like stromal cells are the precursors to giant cells. PMID- 2607661 TI - [Relationship between atherosclerosis and aging process]. AB - On this paper, author reviews studies on the relationship between atherogenesis and aging. An increase in serum lipid peroxide level increased the number of circulating vascular endothelial cells. This indicates that the free radical is an injury factor for endothelial cells. In addition macrophages discharged the active oxygen upon stimulation and incorporated oxidized low density lipoprotein. These results suggested that macrophages play a main role in the initiation of atheroma formation. A very small dose of H2O2 induced platelet aggregation in vitro. Thrombin has chemotactic and chemokinetic activity for the smooth muscle cell as does fibrinogen, fibronectin and oxidized LDL. Conclusion. These results suggest close association through free radicals between the aging process and atherogenesis. PMID- 2607662 TI - [Determination of serum lipid peroxidase using 10-N methylcarbamoyl-3,7 dimethylamino-10 H-phenothiazine (MCDP)--with special reference to aging and diseases]. AB - We developed an assay for determining serum lipid peroxide (LPO) using MCDP. LPO levels in 125 healthy middle-aged and 70 elderly subjects. LPO level in the healthy and the elderly subjects was 1.45 +/- 1.37 nmol/ml and 2.1 +/- 3.0 nmol/ml, respectively. LPO did not increase with age. There was no correlation in the LPO levels determined by the MCDP and TBA methods. We determined the LPO distribution in the fractions of lipoprotein prepared by ultracentrifugation. In the LDL fraction of the diseased (myocardial infarction), the LPO level was higher than that of healthy subjects. Periodic measurement of LPO levels in 10 surgically operated patients revealed that the LPO level decreased significantly on the first day after operation. Our assay is easy to use and shows a lower level than the TBA method. LPO measured by this method would represent a substance different from that measured by the TBA method, i.e., MCDP mainly measures hydroperoxides, whereas the TBA method measures endoperoxides. PMID- 2607663 TI - [Studies on the behavior of lipid peroxide in reperfusion induced arrhythmia]. AB - Lipid peroxidation of the cell membrane is one of the most important factors of reperfusion induced arrhythmia (RIA). To determine the role of lipid peroxidation in RIA, lipid peroxide (LPO) and superoxide dismutase (Total, Mn-SOD) were examined in this experiment. Thirty-four male Donryu strain rats (250-350 g body weight) were studied. After left thoracotomy and 5-minute ligature of LAD coronary artery, reperfusion was done under artificial ventilation with room air. The electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded via standard limb leads. Twenty-four rats were divided into 5 groups and the heart tissue and blood samples were collected 1. preligature 2. after 1-minute ligature 3. after 4-minute ligature 4. 1-minute after declamping and 5. 10-minute after declamping. To examine the correlation between LPO and duration of RIA, samples from another 10 rats were collected as soon as RIA disappeared. LPO, SOD, CPK, and MDH (malate dehydrogenase) were measured in all samples. The total SOD level in heart tissue decreased after reperfusion (p less than 0.05). The heart tissue LPO (t-LPO) decreased after ligature (p less than 0.05), but each value in 2. to 5. was lower than 1., and no increase was found after reperfusion. A negative correlation of R = 0.87 (p less than 0.01) was found between t-LPO and RIA duration, but a positive correlation of R = 0.79 (p less than 0.01) was found between t-LPO and CPK. Moreover, the LPO level was lower in the RIA occurrence group than in the non-occurrence group (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607664 TI - [Changes in mucosal superoxide dismutase activities of gastric lesions]. AB - The mucosal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were serially examined on the acute gastric mucosal lesion (AGML) induced by water-immersion restraint stress to rats for six hours. The mucosal SOD activities gradually increased in proportion to the time up to 3 hours after the restraint stress. But it decreased 6 hours after when severe damage had been established in the mucosa. On the other hand, the mucosal SOD activities of the margins of human gastric ulcer showed to be higher on the healing stage than on the active stage. And the SOD activities of the intractable ulcer were lower than those of the curable ulcer. These results indicate that the mucosal SOD may play some important roles both on the protecting process information of AGML and on the healing process in gastric ulcer. PMID- 2607665 TI - [The significance of lipid peroxidation (free radical) on hepatocellular dysfunction following hepatectomy]. AB - The possibility of extended hepatectomy was examined clinically and experimentally, with special reference to relation between remnant liver dysfunction and lipid peroxidation. Clinical study: When the functional reserve of the remnant liver prior to hepatectomy was below the critical level, both serum phospholipase A2 and plasma lipid peroxide increased and severe hepatic insufficiency occurred. Experimental study in dogs: The amount of lipid peroxide in the plasma and remnant liver increased more after 84% hepatectomy than after 70% hepatectomy, causing significant impairment of the remnant liver function. To prevent hepatic dysfunction after hepatectomy, Coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant and a membrane stabilizer, were administered. These substances reduced the increase of lipid in the plasma and remnant liver, and restored the liver function with subsequent good regeneration. The results suggest that the administration of Coenzyme Q10 may be useful for recovery of liver function and a more favorable prognosis following the extended hepatectomy. PMID- 2607666 TI - [Possible clinical application of SOD and free radical scavengers]. AB - Ischemia-reperfusion injury in various organs has been discussed in connection with reactive oxygen species (ROS). Xanthine oxidase (XOD) has been believed to be the source of O2- to produce this injury of dogs and rats but XOD is not detected in hearts of men, pigs or rabbits. This suggests the importance of O2- produced by leukocyte NAD(P)H oxidase. We demonstrated in 1976 that 3 injections of Cu, Zn-SOD (superoxide dismutase) (i.v.) suppressed rat carrageenan paw edema. McCord succeeded with a single injection in the same model using polyethyleneglycol (PEG-SOD) of long retention time in the blood stream. Michelson's liposomal SOD had clinical effects on Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease etc. Stylenemaleimide (SMA)-SOD (Inoue) is now under experimental trial and recombinant human SOD (r-h-SOD) is today in phase II stage. The aim is to prevent myocyte damage or for kidney transplantation. So-called SOD mimics (Cu complex etc), antioxidants (synthetic propyl gallate or natural flavonoids or tannins) and hydroxyl radical (.OH) scavengers such as DMTU (dimethylthiourea) are considered as a prototype for clinical application. Fe-chelators also attract attention, because Fe+2 produces the most reactive ROS, .OH radical. PMID- 2607667 TI - [Production of monoclonal antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and studies of their specificity]. AB - Mouse monoclonal antibodies to HTLV-1 core proteins, p19 and p24, were obtained by hybridoma technique. The specificity was studied by indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dot blot, and Western blot studies. Polyclonal antibodies reactive with HTLV-1 viral proteins were raised by rabbits and guinea pigs. A sandwich ELISA and a dot blot method using these antibodies detected the soluble viral antigens in the ATL cell lysate and ATL culture media. No reaction was observed when IL-2-activated human T-cell lysate and the culture media were used as controls. These data showed that our sandwich ELISA and dot blot systems are available for quantitative analysis of the soluble HTLV-1 viral antigens and contribute to understanding the ability of viral replication by ATL cells. PMID- 2607668 TI - [The functional maturation of Langerhans cells in CTL induction during tissue culture]. AB - In the previous report, we investigated the effects of tissue culture on the APC function of murine epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) in the induction of allo-CTL in vitro, and found that (1) cultured ear LC expressed increased amounts of Ia antigens on their cell surface, and (2) they induced extremely enhanced levels of CTL over those produced by freshly prepared ear LC and also (3) cultured tail LC were proved to be able to induce CTL for the first time. It seemed that tissue culture decreased the functional heterogeneity among the murine ear LC and tail LC in addition to that among Ia+ APC in spleen and in epidermis. In this study, we investigated the culture conditions that increase the APC function of LC. Our data indicate that LC cultured with dermal components exhibited more enhanced APC function than LC cultured in single cell suspension with only epidermal cells. Recent studies indicate that IL-1 and GM-CSF, which keratinocytes release, are essential for freshly prepared LC to mature into highly efficient APC that resemble splenic dendritic cells. We found dermal factors are more important than epidermal ones for LC to mature in tissue culture. PMID- 2607669 TI - [A three-dimensional observation of human hair tissue treated by modified trypsin HC1 method]. AB - To observe the three-dimensional ultrastructures of human hair and hair follicle under scanning electron microscope, biopsied scalp tissues were treated by the combination of the trypsin-HC1 method and ultrasonic cleaning. After this treatment, the connective tissues surrounding the hair follicle were removed to permit the three dimensional observation of hair tissue. The following findings were obtained; 1) The basal plate, composed of fibroblasts and collagen fibers, was seen as a small disc covering the entrance of hair papilla, 2) The connective tissue (fibrous) sheet, with a capillary network, tightly surrounded the lower hair follicle. 3) A morphological difference in the cells between the cell layers constituting the hair bulb was seen; there were discoid cells in the outer and spherical cells in inner layer, 4) Numerous micro-villous projections were present on the surface of outer root sheath cells and on the surface of keratinized inner root sheath; the latter surface resembled the bark of a tree in appearance. The present modified method seems useful for three-dimensional ultrastructural observation of human hair and hair follicles. PMID- 2607670 TI - [Senile type atopic dermatitis]. AB - Twenty-five patients older than 50 years with atopic dermatitis (AD) diagnosed by the criteria of Tokyo Medical College were investigated on the basis of clinical course and features, IgE RIST, skin reactions, IgE RAST score to several antigens, and IgG4 levels in order to clarify the character of senile AD. The results were compared with the data from younger patients. It was found that the senile type AD showed various type of eczematous lesions whose onset was in the fourth decade of life, and higher IgE RIST and IgG4 levels than healthy people, but lower than younger AD patients. Immediate skin reactions to dermatophagoides and house dust were highly positive in the senile group like the younger group, while the reaction to spices was more highly positive (43%) than in younger persons. Clinically the recognition of the existence of senile type AD and the introduction of antiallergic therapy for severe eczema of old persons are important. PMID- 2607671 TI - [Clinical studies of 15 cases of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) associated with positive proteinuria and membranous glomerulonephritis]. AB - In this study, we demonstrated that the patients with PSS who develop proteinuria during the course are much more prone to develop lung fibrosis, telangiectasia, serositis and esophageal hypomotility. They also exhibited positive LE cell phenomenon, lupus band test, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. The mortality rate is significantly higher in proteinuria positive patients and abnormal clinical data described above seem to be the risk factors for the development of renal involvement in PSS. PMID- 2607672 TI - [Group JK (Corynebacterium jeikeium sp. nov.) isolated from Japanese skin flora]. AB - In many parts of the world, the emergence of multiple antibiotic resistant Group JK has been recognized as an important cause of nosocomial infection in immunosuppressed and neutropenic patients. Group JK infections have not been reported from Japan. We studied 20 Japanese who had recently come to the United States and recovered Group JK from 7 of 20. These results suggest that Group JK may be prevalent in Japanese. Previous failure to identify these organisms may reflect their poor growth on agar not supplemented with lipid and their resemblance to bacteria considered to be commensals and non-pathogenic. PMID- 2607673 TI - [Cisplatin combination chemotherapy in advanced lung cancer in the aged]. AB - Eleven aged patients over 65 years of age with advanced lung cancer (mean age = 70.8 +/- 1.4, non-small cell:small cell = 9:2, stage III:IV = 5:6) were treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin (50 or 80 mg/m2) and vincaloids (vindesine 3 mg/m2 or etoposide 80 mg/m2). To evaluate this cisplatin combination therapy, the aged group was compared with a young group consisting of eleven patients (mean age = 53.3 +/- 1.7, non-small cell:small cell = 9:2, stage III:IV = 5:6) matched for cell type, stage and dose regimen. The mean dose of cisplatin was 58.2 mg/m2 in the aged and 63.6 mg/m2 in the younger group. A notable reduction in tumor size was observed in 9.1% of the aged and 27.3% of the young, while one-year survival rate was 63.6% in the aged and 72.7% in the young. The common side effects were nausea and vomiting, while diarrhea was seen in 18.2% of the aged. Neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia were found in both groups and the time course of myelosuppression in the aged (18.2 +/- 0.8 days) was significantly shorter than that in the younger patients (22.0 +/- 1.4 days, p less than 0.05). With regard to nephrotoxicity, creatinine clearance rate in the aged decreased remarkably from 56.9 to 38.9 ml/min, while there was no significant change in BUN, serum creatinine and urine NAG between the aged and the young. Disorders of electrolytes such as hypokalemia and hyponatremia were seen in 45.5% of the aged. We conclude that advanced lung cancer in the aged was effectively treated with cisplatin combination therapy with tolerable nephrotoxicity and myelosuppression. PMID- 2607674 TI - [Distribution pattern of density in lumbar vertebra studied with computed tomography: a study of histogram plot]. AB - The bone mineral status of the cancellous bone in the lumbar vertebrae was evaluated by analysing density histograms and measuring the mean density by computed tomography. The results obtained were as follows: (a) the distribution pattern of bone density in lumbar vertebrae revealed a normal distribution. (b) high correlation coefficients between peak density (r = -0.79) or mean density (r = -0.77) and age was obtained in males, whereas peak densities in females were maintained well at ages younger than 50 years and peak densities abruptly decreased after 50 years of age. Osteoporotic vertebrae, in which multiple osteosclerotic changes were observed, had several peak densities and did not show normal density distribution pattern. These results indicated that our methods combining analysis of density histograms and measurement of mean density are useful to evaluate the bone mineral status. PMID- 2607675 TI - [Clinical study on the relationship between middle cerebral artery lesions and Binswanger type infarction]. AB - To investigate the relationship between middle cerebral artery (MCA) trunk lesions and the etiology of Binswanger type (B type) infarction, which was demonstrated as a diffuse subcortical low density area/high intensity area by CT/MRI, patients with both MCA lesions and B type infarction were studied clinically. Eighteen patients with B type infarction were diagnosed among 224 patients with MCA occlusion/stenosis on angiography accounting for 8%. The incidence was as high as 25% in M2 stenosis. The mean age of B type infarction patients was 64 years and 16 of them were men. Chronologically stepwize/slowly progressive deterioration of clinical manifestations were observed in 14. All patients had hemiplegia, though half of them were mild or moderate in severity. Furthermore, aphasia, Gerstmann syndrome and dementia were present in 10, 1 and 2 patients, respectively. Twelve had a history of hypertension, while 11 showed transient decreases with marked changes (more than 31 mmHg in mean arterial blood pressure) in arterial blood pressure during their clinical course. Out of 9 patients in whom cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by 133Xe injection method/inhalation method, 7 demonstrated mild to moderate decreases in mean CBF (more than 30 ml/100 g/min) with no relation to the severity of MCA lesions. These findings suggested that hemodynamic mechanisms associated with hypoperfusion due to marked fluctuations in blood pressure are accelerating factors of B type infarction and MCA lesions, even though ischemia in the subcortical area due to leptomeningeal anastomosis may be mild or moderate. PMID- 2607676 TI - [Age related changes in the walking cycle during fastest walking in healthy male subjects]. AB - Velocity, step length and walking rate during fastest walking were measured together with maximum torque (MVC) in the left knee extension for 81 healthy males with aged from 22 to 79 years. Velocity and step length showed an accelerated decline from the sixties, while walking rate decreased with age linearly. Multiple regression analysis with age, height, weight and MVC as independent variables and velocity, step length and walking rate as dependent variables indicated that (1) walking velocity was significantly related to age, MCV and weight, (2) step length to MVC and weight, and (3) walking rate to age. PMID- 2607677 TI - [Clinical study of chronic subdural hematoma and hygroma in two hospitals for elderly patients with dementia]. AB - The authors have investigated the incidence of chronic subdural hematoma and hygroma (CSH) in two hospitals for elderly patients with dementia syndrome over a period of three years and nine months. All observed patients had been in the hospital for 2 weeks or more and had had brain computed tomography (CT) on admission. The total of 613 patients included 212 males and 401 females. Based on the CT findings observed in patients on admission, the authors found 47 patients with CSH. This was equivalent to 7.7% of all patients observed. After admission, almost all patients had brain CT twice per year, with a mean of 2.2 CT examinations during the observation period. Sixteen patients who had no CSH on admission developed CSH. Thus a total of 63 (10.3%) demented patients demonstrated CSH during the observation period. It was assumed that the high incidence of CSH in this study may be due to the practice of performing routine CT examinations in hospitalized patients and the fact that demented patients are prone to fall and hit their heads. From the investigation of past history, tastes, and patterns of daily behavior, we found the risk factors for CSH development to be male sex, alcohol abuse and wandering as a symptom of dementia. We performed CT examinations on all patients who showed subjective or objective neuro-symptoms related to the central nervous system, but we could find only 2 patients with high-density lesions in the subdural space that indicated acute bleeding. This was only 3.1% (2/65) of all patients who developed subdural effusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607678 TI - [Sequential changes in blood pressure and electrocardiographic findings over seventeen years in three different regions in Okayama Prefecture]. AB - The sequential changes in blood pressure and electrocardiographic findings of populations living in three districts of Okayama prefecture, with differing environments and life styles, were analyzed during the seventeen year period from 1966 to 1982. Furthermore, factors influencing the causes of mortality among these populations were evaluated in 790 males and 1, 118 females (total 1,908), aged from 35 to 65 years at the beginning of the survey (1966). During the survey period 94 subjects moved out of the district and 210 subjects died, so that in 1982, 975 subjects (61.1%) could be examined. Cerebrovascular disease, cancer, and cardiac disease were the major causes of death in all these districts. A higher mortality from cerebrovascular disease was recorded in the mountainous district, with harsh weather and living conditions, in contrast to the other two lowland district. There was no significant difference in mortality due to cardiac disease among the three districts. In the mountainous district, the incidence of hypertension, especially systolic hypertension, was higher than in the other two districts throughout the whole of this survey. However, after 1980, the difference in the incidence of hypertension among the districts diminished sequentially. The incidence of hypertension was higher in the elderly than in younger subjects. However, even this age difference in incidence was seen to diminish sequentially, (especially for diastolic hypertension). The ratio of the number of people who were actually treated to the population who needed hypertensive therapy increased gradually, and in 1978 there was no significant difference concerning this ratio among the three districts. Finally over 80% of the subjects who qualified for antihypertensive therapy were treated continuously. The appearance ratio of abnormal ECG findings, (Minnesota Code, Code 3, Code 3 + 4, 5 and especially Code 4 and 5), increased in proportion to the increase of blood pressure in the hypertensive group. The sequential appearance ratios for the borderline hypertension and stage I hypertension groups showed an inverse relationship to that of the normal group. However the appearance ratios of stage II & III hypertension groups increased sequentially with no relation to that of the normal group. Subjects whose ECG showed ST-T changes without subjective symptoms apparently increased sequentially in all districts. The incidence ratios of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction showed no significant sequential changes. These results suggested that high blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) was controlled fairly well in all age groups by therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2607679 TI - [Changes in muscarinic receptors on lymphocytes in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease]. AB - It has been previously reported that responses of T-lymphocytes to stimulation by phytohemagglutinin declined as age advanced. However, it has not been demonstrated whether receptor binding capacity decreased with age. The potent muscarinic cholinergic antagonist, 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) was used to detect the characterization of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) on human lymphocytes. Using techniques developed for the study of mAChR in brain homogenate, direct binding to whole live lymphocytes was shown for the [3H]-QNB. Three age groups of healthy female adults were examined: 42-49 (N = 7), 50-59 (N = 7) and 60-69 years old (N = 8). Moreover, we studied mAChR on lymphocytes from 11 patients (54-65 years old, female) with probable Alzheimer's Disease. Specific binding is saturable, proportional to cell concentration, and can be displaced by atropine. For control subjects (age range 42-69 years old, N = 22), a positive correlation (r = 0.634, alpha less than 0.01) was found between Kd and age. Also positive correlation between Bmax and age was shown to be strong (r = 0.434, alpha less than 0.05), The regression equations are: Y = 3.25X - 109.5 (Kd); Y = 24.7X - 201.8 (Bmax); where, X and Y designate the age of individuals and Kd (or Bmax), respectively. Hence, for patients with Alzheimer's Diseases, the correlation between Kd and age, and between Bmax and age, were weak (r = -0.352, 0.011, not significant, respectively). No significant change in Kd or Bmax was obtained on lymphocytes from patients, compared to age-matched controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607680 TI - [Comparison of hypotensive effects of acutely administered human parathyroid hormone (1-34) in normal young and elderly subjects]. AB - The effects of acute administration of human parathyroid hormone (1-34) [PTH(1 34)] on the blood pressure of 15 young (mean age +/- SD, 20.9 +/- 1.7 years; 7 males and 8 females) and 11 elderly (78.1 +/- 5.9 years; 4 males and 7 females) normal subjects were compared. The elderly subjects have a slightly, but significantly higher mean basal systolic blood pressure (132.4 +/- 17.7 mmHg) than the young subjects (118.7 +/- 11.4 mmHg), but the basal diastolic and mean blood pressures of the two groups were similar. Intravenous bolus infusion of PTH(1-34) at a dose of 100 U induced transient, but marked hypotension in all subjects. The mean maximal decrease in systolic blood pressure (-delta SBP was significantly more (p less than 0.01) in the elderly subjects (42.5 +/- 13.9 mmHg) than in the young subjects (8.0 +/- 8.9 mmHg), but the maximal decrease in diastolic blood pressure (-delta DBP) was similar in the elderly (25.6 +/- 13.9 mmHg) and young (27.3 +/- 10.9 mmHg) subjects. The maximal decrease in the mean blood pressure (-delta MBP) was also significantly higher (p less than 0.01) in the elderly subjects (31.9 +/- 8.7 mmHg) than in young ones (20.6 +/- 7.6 mmHg). The corrected serum level of calcium (scCa) was significantly (p less than 0.01) lower in the elderly subjects (9.6 +/- 0.2 mg/dl) than in the young ones (10.0 +/ 0.3 mg/dl), and the serum level of C-terminal parathyroid hormone (C-PTH) was significantly higher in the elderly subjects (270 +/- 80 pg/ml) than in the young ones (150 +/- 80 pg/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607681 TI - [Factors influencing serum free T3 and free T4 in elderly euthyroid subjects]. AB - Thyroid function was investigated in 222 elderly euthyroid subjects (79.6 +/- 7.6 years, males 68, females 154). Serum free T3, free T4, and TSH levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. To assess the factors influencing serum free T3 and free T4, we applied multiple regression analysis. 1) Serum free T3 concentrations were directly proportional to both serum albumin levels and hemoglobin levels. Serum free T3 levels were lower in bedridden male subjects and in female subjects with dementia. 2) Serum free T4 concentrations were negatively correlated to serum TSH levels in male. Serum free T4 levels were higher in bedridden female subjects, and increased in proportion to serum albumin concentrations in females. 3) Age had no apparent effect on either serum free T3 or free T4 concentrations. PMID- 2607682 TI - [The relationship between N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine accumulation in the brain and its dynamics in other organs]. AB - Single photon emission computed tomography of the brain and dynamic scintigraphy of the lung and liver with N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (IMP) were performed in 21 patients with and without cerebrovascular diseases to determine the relationship between IMP accumulation in the brain and its dynamics in other organs. The D/E ratios of the lung, liver and brain were calculated dividing the counts of the delayed image by that of the early image. The brain D/E ratio in the normal hemisphere was well correlated with the lung D/E ratio. So cases which showed more rapid lung washout tended to washout faster from the brain. We thought that this fact was affected by the systemic circulation. And the values of the brain D/E ratio of the cerebrovascular disease group were larger than that of the non-cerebrovascular disease group. This suggest the frequent existence of arteriosclerotic changes in patients of the cerebrovascular disease. Because the local brain washout was depended on the amount of the cerebral blood flow there. On the other hand, the lung D/E ratio was inversely correlated with the liver D/E ratio. In other words, more washout from the lung caused more accumulation of IMP in the liver. Also the brain D/E ratio was inversely correlated with the liver D/E ratio. In conclusion, there was a close relationship between IMP dynamics in the brain and that in other organs. PMID- 2607683 TI - [Levels for discharge to home and return to general ward of patients who received therapeutic dose of 131I based on external exposure dose]. AB - This paper describes levels for discharge from hospital and return to general ward of patients treated with 131I. The level was determined by comparing the possible exposure dose to those individuals whom the patients are in daily contact with the annual dose limit for the public. The external exposure dose was calculated by using the data on the distance between the patient and individuals, length of the time spent at each distance, and each individual's age. The following levels were obtained: (1) For the patient to be discharged from the hospital, the maximum residual radioactivity should be less than 0.51 GBq if the distance from the patient in bedroom is 50 cm or more and the ages of her children are all over one year. No restriction is needed for the patient with residual radioactivity of 0.20 GBq. (2) For the patient to be returned to the general ward, the maximum residual radioactivities should be 28 MBq and 41 MBq, corresponding to the distance from the patient of 2.0 m and 2.5 m respectively. We established a method to analyze the factors affecting the level. PMID- 2607684 TI - [Hemodynamic significance of diffuse lung uptake of 201Tl in heart diseases]. AB - Clinical significance of diffuse lung uptake of 201Tl was studied in 244 cases of various heart diseases. The grade of lung uptake of 201Tl was assessed by total lung uptake ratio (L/T), maximal lung uptake ratio (Max/T), lung to myocardium or mediastinum counts ratio (M/H or M/Med) and visual grade. L/T, Max/T, M/H and M/Med were directly correlated with pulmonary arterial pressure (PCW), and inversely correlated with cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI). Among them, L/T was the best index to assess PCW, that was correlated with PCW (r = 0.65), CO (r = -0.53) and CI (r = -0.45). The visual grade of 201Tl lung uptake was correlated with L/T, and the increased lung uptake was associated with a higher PCW and a lower CO as well as a lower CI. Diffuse increased lung uptake of 201Tl was observed in 29 of 41 cases (70.7%) with myocardial infarction, 25 of 29 cases (86.2%) with mitral valvular diseases and 9 of 10 cases (90.0%) with combined valvular diseases, in addition, in most cases with left heart failure and cases of NYHA 3 and 4, but that was not rarely observed in cases of NYHA 2 and without left heart failure. In heart diseases, 201Tl myocardial scintigraphy seems to be valuable for detection of left heart failure including pulmonary congestion and interstitial pulmonary edema. Total lung uptake ratio (L/T) may be useful for estimation of PCW, and the visual grade of 201Tl lung uptake may be applicable as routine index for grading of lung uptake of 201Tl. PMID- 2607685 TI - [Evaluation of ischemia by exercise stress Tl-201 myocardial SPECT in silent and symptomatic ischemia]. AB - Forty patients with ischemic heart disease confirmed by coronary arteriography were performed Tl-201 stress myocardial scintigraphy using SPECT. Fifteen patients had anginal attack during exercise Tl-201 myocardial perfusion study (symptomatic group), and 25 patients had horizontal or downsloping ST segment depression more than 0.1 mV without angina (asymptomatic group). The washout maps were derived from circumferential profile analyses of tomographic short-axis slices, and the data were plotted as a bull's eye map. The patient's washout map was compared with the lower limit of normal (mean--2 SD), and the extent and severity scores were calculated. On visual analysis 87% (13/15) of symptomatic patients showed redistribution, while only 56% (14/25) of asymptomatic patients showed redistribution (p less than 0.05). The extent score was significantly higher in the symptomatic group than in asymptomatic group (37.2 + 23.6 vs. 19.6 + 20.8, p less than 0.05), but severity score was slightly higher in symptomatic group (56.1 + 59.4 vs. 30.0 + 54.8, NS). In conclusion, symptomatic ischemia may be more severe than asymptomatic one and the degree of ischemia may be one of the factors that determine the presence of angina during ischemia. PMID- 2607686 TI - [Evaluation of ischemic heart disease by thallium-201 washout-rate map using SPECT]. AB - In thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, washout rate (WR) has been used for the evaluation of the severity of ischemic heart disease (IHD). The WR was calculated from the polar map (Bull's-eye display) of myocardial perfusion using SPECT. To analyze the abnormality of WR map, we computed the extent and severity scores of WR. Applications of two types of standards, absolute and relative standards from control group (n = 16), were compared. The multiple regression analysis showed that the global WR was a function of the severity of coronary artery stenosis and exercise level, i.e. WR (%) = -2.38 X (number of stenotic artery) + 0.093 X (rate-pressure product/100) + 19.7 (n = 62, r = 0.63). Thus in evaluating the severity of IHD by absolute WR, the correction of WR was necessary according to the exercise level. Whereas, to evaluate the score of WR abnormality in polar map, the relative standard separated each group with different number of stenotic artery better than absolute standard did. In conclusion, calculation of WR score from relative standard is recommended for the analysis of polar WR map, although absolute global WR is useful for the evaluation of severity of coronary artery disease. PMID- 2607687 TI - [A case of metastatic lung tumor mimicking left atrial myxoma by echocardiography]. AB - We report a case of lung metastatic tumor originated from submandibular osteosarcoma, which shows rare advancement and findings. This lung metastatic tumor advanced from left lower lung to left atrium through the left lower pulmonary vein, which penetrated to the left ventricle in the diastolic phase mimicking left atrial myxoma. 67Ga-citrate images showed that hot accumulation were recognized behind the heart in planar image and clear advancement from the lung to the heart in the SPECT image. 67Ga-citrate SPECT image should be available for cardiac tumors. PMID- 2607688 TI - [Analysis of diffuse gallium lung uptake--with special reference to prognosis of drug-induced pneumonitis]. PMID- 2607689 TI - The laser treatment of hemorrhoids: results of a study on 1816 patients. AB - Laser is an effective, simple and harmless clinical procedure used for the treatment of hemorrhoids, as an alternative to medical therapy or surgery. In this report, we describe our experience of applying carbon dioxide laser to hemorrhoids in a total 1816 consecutive patients. The results lead us to conclude that the laser treatment of hemorrhoids is effective in pain alleviation from the first session and that patients so treated have a much more comfortable postoperative course. PMID- 2607690 TI - The significance of immunochemically staining calcitonin and CEA in fine-needle aspiration biopsy materials from medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. AB - A review of ten surgical cases of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MCT) demonstrates the usefulness of establishing a preoperative cytological diagnosis through the immunochemical staining of calcitonin (CT) and CEA in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy smears. If MCT is suspected after routinely performing May-Grunwald-Giemsa stained cytology of an FNA biopsy in the outpatient clinic, then CT and CEA staining is recommended for confirmation of MCT. The advantages of this immunochemical staining include that it can be carried out in the outpatient clinic within one day and also that it is much less costly than measuring serum CT and CEA. PMID- 2607691 TI - The acceptable delay between biopsy and radical mastectomy in breast cancer patients. AB - The effects on the prognosis of breast cancer, of the delay between biopsy and radical mastectomy were studied in 394 patients. No delay had been experienced by 148 cases (no delay group), no biopsy had been performed in 166 cases (no biopsy group) and 80 cases had experienced a delay of 1 day or longer after having had a biopsy taken at a different institution (delay group). The recurrence rate of the no delay group was 10.8 per cent (16/148), whereas that of the delay group was 18.8 per cent (15/80). The relapse free survival rate of the no delay group was superior to that of the delay group (Kaplan Meier's method: p less than 0.05). The delay group was further divided into two groups according to the duration of delay, namely: a group whose delay was less than 7 days and another whose delay was longer than 8 days. There was no significant difference between the relapse free survival rates of the no delay group and the less than 7 days group, however, a significant difference was observed between the no delay group and the longer than 8 days delay group (p less than 0.05). The acceptable delay between biopsy and radical mastectomy may therefore be concluded as less than 7 days. PMID- 2607692 TI - A new method of modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer. AB - We have developed a new type of modified radical mastectomy, the method and clinical results of which are reported herein. In this operation, axillary dissection is performed by the following two approaches. Firstly, the axillary contents are dissected from the highest possible subclavicular point to the pectoralis minor muscle, after partially cutting the sternocostal origin of the pectoralis major muscle. The second approach is from the posterior aspect of the pectoralis minor muscle to the lateral portion of the latissimus dorsi muscle. Parasternal dissection can also be performed for stage II and IIIa cancers with a central or medial tumor. After lymph node dissection, the detached edge of the sternocostal origin of the pectoralis major muscle is resutured to cover the parasternal region. Thus, complete dissection of the axillary nodes is performed whilst preserving the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles. Good clinical results were achieved with respect to radicality, cosmetic effects and function in 28 patients with stage I, II, and IIIa breast cancers who were followed up for between 5 to 8 years. This new operation may therefore be adopted for the majority of patients with Stage I, II, or IIIa cancers, unless massive infiltration into the pectoralis major muscle has occurred. Preservation of both the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles results in a good cosmetic appearance, good functioning of the arm and easy reconstruction of the breast following mastectomy. PMID- 2607693 TI - Early carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct. AB - This study attempts to define early carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct through a study of 11 patients whose carcinomatous invasion did not extend to the outer layer of the bile duct. The patients were divided into the following 3 groups, namely; a mucosa group comprised of 3 patients, a fibromuscular layer group comprised of 5 patients, and an adventitia group comprised of 3 patients. None of the patients had any lymphnode metastases. Histological characteristics were determined according to infiltrative growth (INF alpha, beta, gamma), lymphatic invasion (ly), venous invasion (v) and perineural invasion (pn). In the mucosa group, INF alpha was observed in 2 patients, while ly, v, and pn factors were all negative. In the fibromuscular layer group, INF beta was seen in 3 patients, ly was positive in 2 patients, while v, and pn factors were negative in all patients. In the adventitia group, INF gamma was found in 2 patients, and ly, v, and pn factors were positive in all patients except for 1 in whom v was negative. Death from recurrence occurred in all the adventitia group patients and in 1 other patient. Early carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct could therefore be defined at present, as being carcinoma confined to within the mucosa and fibromuscular layer. PMID- 2607694 TI - Postoperative results of distal partial gastrectomy, selective vagotomy plus antrectomy, and selective proximal vagotomy for duodenal ulcers. AB - We investigated the postoperative results of distal partial gastrectomy, selective vagotomy plus antrectomy, and selective proximal vagotomy, to evaluate their effectiveness in the treatment of duodenal ulcers. The operative mortality of selective vagotomy plus antrectomy and selective proximal vagotomy seemed to be lower when compared to distal partial gastrectomy, although each procedure showed a sufficiently low mortality. The acid reduction rate was significantly lower after selective proximal vagotomy than after the other procedures (p less than 0.01). However, the rate of ulcer recurrence following selective proximal vagotomy tended to be higher compared with the other procedures. All three procedures showed good results according to Visick's grading and postoperative symptoms occurred in about 50 per cent of all patients, no matter what the procedure. The regaining of physical ability was significantly greater following selective proximal vagotomy than following distal partial gastrectomy (p less than 0.05) and the capacity to work was also better after vagotomy, particularly selective vagotomy plus antrectomy (p less than 0.05). Thus, although distal partial gastrectomy and selective vagotomy plus antrectomy proved superior regarding the low ulcer recurrence rate and acid reduction, while selective proximal vagotomy proved superior for improving the quality of life, on the whole, the three operations promise almost equivalent results. PMID- 2607695 TI - The effects of estrogen on human breast carcinomas serially transplanted into nude mice. AB - The effect and mechanisms of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) on breast cancer cells were studied in vivo and in vitro, using 5 human breast carcinomas serially transplanted into nude mice. These carcinoma strains consisted of 4 estrogen receptor (ER) positive tumors and 1 ER negative tumor. Mice bearing these tumors were treated with an intramuscular injection of E2 at a dosage of 50 mg/kg and the tumor doubling time (Td) was calculated in days. The tumor growth was significantly stimulated by E2 in 3 out of the 4 ER positive tumors, the Td of the E2 treated groups being 17.6 days for MCF-7 (control: -17.8 days), 12.8 days for R-27 (control: -12.5 days approximately 14.5 days) and 10.4 days for Br-10 (control: 14.5 days), however, in the T-61 tumor, the growth was inhibited by E2 in a dose dependent manner. In the case of the ER-negative MX-1 tumor, the tumor cell growth was not affected by E2. Discrepancies between the effects of E2 on ER positive tumors were further analyzed by examining the steroid hormone receptor status and conducting in vitro growth studies. In vitro clonogenic cell assay reproduced the antitumor activity of E2, indicating that E2 directly inhibits part of the cell growth of T-61 tumors. The above results suggest that this experimental system provides a useful tool for analyzing the mechanism of estrogen in breast cancer and that the clonogenic assay using ER positive specimens can help to identify breast cancers sensitive to estrogen therapy. PMID- 2607696 TI - The augmentation of lymphokine-activated killer cells induced by partial hepatectomy in mice. AB - Spleen cells that are cultured with interleukin 2 for as short a time as 4 days develop the ability to lyse syngeneic natural killer-resistant tumor cells but not to lyse syngeneic lymphoblasts. When mice were subjected to partial hepatectomy (HEP), the spleen cells exhibited not only an augmentation of natural killer activity, but also an augmentation of in vitro induction of lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells. Furthermore, the LAK cells exhibited lytic activities against syngeneic lectin-induced lymphoblasts and regenerating liver cells. The sensitivity of regenerating liver cells to lysis by LAK cells was detected as early as one day after HEP, and continued until day 14. Analysis by cell depletion techniques using monoclonal antibodies and complement, as well as discontinuous gradient sedimentation, indicated that the LAK cells activated by HEP were Thy-1+, Lyt-2+, asialo GM1+ and Lyt-1-, lymphocytes with a low density. After the intravenous (i.v.) administration of anti-asialo GM1 before HEP, the in vitro induction of LAK cells was remarkably inhibited. PMID- 2607697 TI - A case of postnephrectomy arteriovenous fistula. AB - A rare case of a postnephrectomy arteriovenous fistula involving the major renal vessels is presented herein. This type of postnephrectomy arteriovenous fistula is very unusual; in fact, since first documented in 1934, only 65 cases have been reported in the world literature, including 2 cases from Japan. Even though postoperative arteriovenous fistulae are rare, one should bear this complication in mind when unknown causes of bruit or heart failure develop following surgery. PMID- 2607698 TI - Multiple malignant lymphoma within an ileal blind loop--report of a case. AB - A 55-year-old woman presented to our hospital with abdominal fullness and edema of both legs. She had undergone a bypass operation by an ileotransversostomy for adhesive ileus following a drainage operation for acute appendicitis 35 years previously. We diagnosed the patient as having blind loop syndrome as a consequence of the side-to-side ileotransversostomy, and performed a right hemicolectomy and intestinal resection. The resected specimen of dilated ileal blind loop contained 15 crater-like lesions, proven histologically to be nodular proliferation of atypical lymphocytes. Lymph follicles had also proliferated in the mucosa of the blind loop and the histologically confirmed diagnosis of non Hodgkins lymphoma of the diffuse medium-sized cell type was thus made. The etiology of such tumors is probably related to the alteration in intestinal environment caused by conditions such as fecal stasis, bacterial overgrowth, and bacterial toxins in the blind loop. PMID- 2607699 TI - Successful correction of a Collett Edwards type II truncus arteriosus after bilateral pulmonary artery banding--a case report. AB - A case of a 4-year-old girl who underwent successful correction of a Collett Edwards type II truncus arteriosus following bilateral pulmonary artery banding is reported herein. The diagnosis of Collett Edwards type II truncus arteriosus was made when she was 5 months of age, after which the bilateral pulmonary artery banding was performed. This proved very effective and enabled elective radial surgery to be done. The radical operation was performed safely by a modified version of Rastelli's procedure. The patient had an uneventful recovery and is now well with no symptoms one year following her operation. PMID- 2607700 TI - Congenital lobar emphysema--a report of 5 cases. AB - Five infants with congenital lobar emphysema whose main symptoms included dyspnea, cyanosis and recurrent respiratory infections, are presented herein. The most reliable diagnostic tool was plain chest X-ray films with antero-posterior and lateral views, while radio-isotopic investigation of the lung perfusion state took second place in the diagnosis of this disease. The affected lobes were the left upper lobe in four patients and the right middle lobe in one. Lobectomy was performed with good results in 4 patients, however, 1 infant was lost following an emergency thoracotomy. PMID- 2607701 TI - [Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) by using Inoue-balloon]. AB - Inoue-Balloon was the first one developed for non-surgical mitral commissurotomy. The advantages of Inoue-Balloon are 1) large diameter (30mm-24mm) with low profile (4.5mm), 2) easy balloon placement, 3) non-slip during dilatation, 4) adjustability of diameter, 5) quick inflation and deflation. From 1982 to 1988, PTMC were performed in 512 pts by using Inoue-Balloon. Contra-indication for PTMC are Combined mitral regurgitation of 3/4 or more and fresh thrombus in the left atrium. No patients died during PTMC. Complication included 2 (0.4%) cerebral embolisms, 11 (2%) severe mitral regurgitations. PTMC resulted in increase of mitral valve area from 1.13 +/- 0.02 cm2 to 1.97 +/- 0.04 cm2. The statistic analysis using unpaired t test identified that the increased MVA is significantly larger in pliable valve than in non pliable valve (p less than 0.0001). The increased MVA is also significantly affected by the following conditions; subvalvular lesion (p less than 0.02), previous surgical mitral commissurotomy (0.0007), and atrial fibrillation (p less than 0.001). Incidence of resultant mitral regurgitation is significantly higher in thickened commissure than in non thickened commissure (p less than 0.005). Similarly, this is also higher in the pre-MVA under 1 cm2 than in those over 1 cm2 (p less than 0.006). No correlation was found between balloon size and the incidence of mitral regurgitation. The optimal sizes of the balloon for the PTMC are 27 or 28 mm in diameter for an average Asian patient, and 28 to 30 mm for the European patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607702 TI - [Current status of Jatene's operation]. AB - The current status of Jatene's operation for transposition of the great arteries was described by showing the analysis of our results of an arterial switch operation addition to the review of the literatures. The arterial switch operation recently has become the operation of first choice because of its low surgical mortality (4.5% in author's series) and low incidence of postoperative complication. Surgical techniques to avoid complications such as postoperative bleeding, kinking of the transplanted coronary arteries, aortic valve insufficiency and pulmonary arterial stenosis were presented. One-stage anatomic correction has been performed with low mortality less than 10% in centers dealing high volumes of neonatal surgery (7% in author's series). One-stage correction in the neonate is advocated in views of its low surgical mortality and excellent postoperative left ventricular function. PMID- 2607703 TI - [Coronary artery bypass surgery with internal mammary artery grafts: clinical and angiographic results]. AB - We report clinical and angiographic results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery in 307 patients. IMA grafts can be utilized in the wide ranges of patient ages and/or coronary lesions including left main trunk disease, and have good adaptive capability to coronary flow demand with very low probability of atherosclerotic changes. Postoperative (5.2 +/- 4.4 months) patency rates for IMA grafts and SVG were 96% and 86%, respectively; a significant difference (p less than 0.001). From the benefits of this graft, the use of IMA has become a routine procedure in our CABG surgery and the rate of multiple bypasses with IMA grafts has increased recently. The late cardiac events have significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased in patients with the IMA graft than in those without it. We believe that the use of IMA has improved the quality of CABG in Japanese patients and this operative modality can bring better late results than multivessel PTCA. PMID- 2607704 TI - [Current topics on coronary artery surgery: clinical experience of laser application]. AB - In recent years, laser has been gradually utilized in cardiovascular surgery. Since 1980, we have applied lasers experimentally in the following three categories in the fields of cardiovascular surgery. That is, Group 1: new myocardial revascularization in the patients for whom coronary artery bypass surgery can not be performed, because of small or diffuse coronary arteries, Group 2: laser vascular anastomosis especially for small-caliber vessels, Group 3: laser angioplasty for obstructive arterial disease. Subsequently, efficacy of laser application could be obviously recognized in these fields. On the basis of good results of our experimental studies, laser was clinically employed for 112 patients with anginal pain, intermittent claudication or renal failure. Optimal conditions of vascular anastomosis were 20-40 mW in output and 6-12 sec/mm in irradiation time. They consisted of new myocardial revascularization in 1 case and vascular anastomosis including 7 cases of coronary artery bypass surgery in 89 cases and laser angioplasty with 5 cases of intraoperative laser coronary angioplasty in 22 cases. Optimal conditions for laser angioplasty were 6 watts in output and 3 sec in irradiation time for each shot. Laser irradiation was carefully repeated according to the grade of atherosclerotic changes. Vascular endoscopy was useful to keep safe procedures. These patients are doing well without complications throughout laser. Our clinical experience of laser application in the cardiovascular surgery is presented in detail. PMID- 2607705 TI - [Coronary artery bypass grafting using gastroepiploic artery]. AB - Since March 1986, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) by utilizing the right gastroepiploic artery (GEA) has been performed in 60 patients during 3 year period. There were 52 males and 8 females, and age ranged from 34 to 73 year old with the mean of 56.2 year old. Triple vessel disease and the left main disease involved 90% of the patients. There were two patients under hemodialysis for chronic renal failure, one patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, one patient with aneurysm of the abdominal aorta, and two patients with arteriosclerosis obliterance, preoperatively. Five patients were second CABG. GEA was used as an in-situ graft in 57 patients and as a free graft in 3 patients and was anastomosed to 3 left anterior descending, 3 diagonal (all "free" graft), 5 circumflex, and 49 right coronary arteries. To bypass the other coronary arteries, the internal mammary artery graft (unilateral 38, bilateral 20, sequential 5) with or without saphenous vein graft was used. The mean number of distal anastomoses was 3.3 (1-5) and the mean number of arterial graft anastomoses was 2.4 (1-4) per patient with the mean aortic cross clamp time of 62.4 minutes (23-137 minutes) and the mean cardiopulmonary bypass time of 120.8 minutes (69-210 minutes). Splenectomy, Y graft replacement of the abdominal aorta, and ascending aorta-bifemoral bypass were concomitantly carried out in each one patient. Two patients (3.3%) died of renal and cardiac failure within 30 postoperative days. One patient (1.7%) died of stroke lately. New Q wave was noted in 2 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607706 TI - [Modified mitral valve replacement with preservation of chordae tendinae]. AB - The purpose of leaving the mitral apparatus in place during mitral valve replacement is twofold. One is to preserve ventricular performance and another is to prevent ventricular rupture. Our clinical results of modified mitral valve replacement were compared with those of conventional mitral valve replacement. The analysis was done to see if any difference existed between patients predominantly with mitral stenosis and with regurgitation. Hospital mortality of the modified group was significantly less than that of the conventional group. In mitral stenosis, this was due to the disappearance of ventricular rupture. In mitral regurgitation, on the other hand, this was mostly due to the decrease of low output-multi-organ failure syndrome. Ventricular function was assessed by echocardiography up to 3 years postoperatively. The superiority of ventricular performance in modified technique was prominent in the subgroup of mitral regurgitation. PMID- 2607707 TI - [Characteristics of the spread pattern in esophageal carcinoma]. AB - The correlation of spread pattern with various clinical and histopathological factors was studied using macroscopic and microscopic findings of 284 patients who had undergone resection for esophageal carcinoma without pre-operative treatment. Macroscopic evaluation were made according to new classification proposed by the Japanese Pathological Research Committee for esophageal carcinoma. The location of primary tumour, length, macroscopic type, the depth of penetration, and extranodal lymphatic and vessel permination of cancer cells (Exn LV-Pm) had a correlation with the lymph node metastasis and the prognosis. The protruded type, ulcerative and localized type of tumor had a comparatively low lymph nodes metastases. On the other hand, ulcerative and infiltrative type, diffusely type of tumor had high incidence of lymph node metastasis. Histopathological findings for small size and non-penetrating of tumor shows variant histological type: e.g. undifferentiated carcinoma (3), adeno-squamous (3), P/D squamous cell carcinoma (8), M/D sq. cell ca. (12), W/D sq. cell ca. (4). The penetrating small tumour was almost M/D and W/D squamous cell carcinoma. For the purpose to clarify the pattern of lymph stream for esophageal carcinoma, we examined the status of lymph node metastasis of comparatively early carcinoma (sm. or mp.) relating to the site of primary tumor. Tumor in the middle esophagus drained into the mediastinal lymph nodes. Tumor in lower esophagus drained only into the abdominal lymph nodes. Microscopic examination of extranodal lymphatic and vessel permeation (Exn-LV-Pm) for dissected lymph nodes was carried out 71 cases. The positive cases of Exn-LV-Pm was 33%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607708 TI - [Endoscopic Nd-YAG laser treatment in lung cancer]. AB - Authors have treated a total of 199 cases consisting of 92 lung cancer cases, 14 primary tracheal cancer, 50 metastatic airway lesions and 43 benign airway lesions. In 167 of which effective results were obtained. Out of 92 effective results were obtained in 73, 79% in lung cancer cases. Out of 30 emergency cases in which the procedure was performed to widen the airway, effective results were obtained in 29. It was also effective in 35 of 48 cases in which the procedure was performed for staged (palliative) widening of airway. In 9 of 13 cases in which the procedure was performed for curative vaporization of cancer invasion and 1 of 2 cases in which procedure was performed for hemostasis, successful results were obtained. PMID- 2607709 TI - [Right ventricle support after lung resection]. AB - It is very important to establish a method of determining the influence of lung resection on right ventricular function and to devise some therapeutic methods of supporting the right ventricle. However, there has been no systematic research on these issues. We found that echocardiographic demonstrated abnormal motion of the ventricular septum after right pneumonectomy and of the left ventricular wall after left pneumonectomy. We developed a triggered cuirass respirator and showed that it could support the right heart after a lung resection. We also found that the injection of SF6 Gas into the postpneumonectomy pleural space might be useful in supporting the right heart after a pneumonectomy. PMID- 2607710 TI - [Effect of enteric nervous system on anti-peristaltic discharge]. AB - The mechanism of the occurrence of anti-peristaltic discharge originated in the stomach distal to the transection followed by end-to-end anastomosis has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the enteric nervous system on the anti-peristaltic discharge in the canine stomach distal to the transection by using sodium channel blocking agent TTX and ganglion blocking agent C6 together with local anesthetic lidocaine electromyographycally. Following results were obtained. 1. The retardation of propagation velocity of normo-peristaltic discharge and the decrease of frequency of anti-peristaltic discharge were noted both at TTX 10 micrograms/kg iv. and TTX 10 micrograms/kg iv. together with mucosal anesthetization by lidocaine. And no significant difference was recognized between them. 2. The retardation of propagation velocity of normo-peristaltic discharge and the decrease of frequency of anti peristaltic discharge were noted at C6 10 mg/kg iv. together with mucosal anesthetization by lidocaine. While the decrease of frequency of anti-peristaltic discharge was only noted at C6 10 mg/kg iv. Conclusively, it was suggested that the nervous pathway which transmits some excitive information from mucosa to the myenteric plexus exists and that the myenteric plexus has a important role on the occurrence of anti-peristaltic discharge. PMID- 2607711 TI - Effect of aminoglycoside antibiotics on the electrical stimulation-induced contractile response of the guinea-pig ureter. AB - Using electrical stimulation, we first investigated whether the movement of ureteral smooth muscle of the guinea-pig was myogenic in its control, or neurogenic. We then investigated the effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics (kanamycin, bekanamycin and ribostamycin) on the movement of ureteral smooth muscle induced by electrical stimulation. In these investigations, each ureter removed from the animal was cut into three approximately equal-sized segments, which are an upper segment (kidney side), a middle segment and a lower segment (urinary bladder side). Each segment was mounted in an organ bath filled with Krebs solution and the mechanical response induced by electrical stimulation of each segment was recorded isometrically. Each one of the upper, the middle and the lower segments was stimulated with rectangular pulses (50 volt, 0.1-3 msec durations, 40 Hz) for a period of 2 sec. Of all segments tested (ten in each group), none showed any response to the stimulation with pulses below 0.5 msec duration. While 2-3 segments out of ten of the upper, the middle and the lower ureteral segments showed a contractile response to stimulation with pulses of 1 msec duration, the rest of the segments showed no response to the same stimulation. This contractile response was not inhibited by tetrodotoxin which is known to block the nerve-mediated response. And also, all the ten samples of each upper, middle and lower segment never failed to show a contractile response to stimulation with pulses of 2 msec and 3 msec duration. Various drugs which are already known to block the nerve-mediated response (i.e., atropine, guanethidine, phentolamine, propranolol and tetrodotoxin) were tried, but none of them had an inhibitory effect on the contractile response. On the other hand, each one of kanamycin (KM), bekanamycin (AKM) and ribostamycin (RSM) in concentrations of 1 x 10(-5) g/ml-1 x 10(-3) g/ml produced a concentration-dependent decreasing effect in the magnitude of the electrical stimulation-induced contractile response of the ureteral segment. In addition, the decreasing effects of these antibiotics were also observed in the tetrodotoxin. From these results, we concluded that the contractile response of the ureter may be myogenic in its control, and the aminoglycoside antibiotics, KM, AKM and RSM, may act directly on the ureteral smooth muscle so as to decrease its contractile response. PMID- 2607712 TI - Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on the non-adrenergic inhibitory potentials in the intestinal smooth muscle cells of the guinea pig. AB - Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the spontaneous and evoked contractions in the duodenal and ileal preparations, the spontaneous action potentials and the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory potentials (NANC i.p.s) in the longitudinal smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig duodenum and ileum were examined. Preparations were pretreated with atropine (1 microM) and guanethidine (5 microM). CGRP (26 nM) was found to inhibit spontaneous and evoked contractions. The resting membrane potential of the longitudinal smooth muscle was not altered but the frequency of spontaneous action potentials was decreased by the treatment with CGRP (6-104 nM). Field stimulation evoked the NANC i.p.s and the pretreatment with atropine (1 microM) and guanethidine (5 microM) caused an increase in the amplitude of the NANC i.p.s in the longitudinal smooth muscle. However, CGRP (6-104 nM) did not change the amplitude of the NANC i.p.s. The rebound excitation in the longitudinal muscle membrane was inhibited by CGRP. The single spike activity of the myenteric neurons in the duodenum was not affected by CGRP (26-104 nM). The results suggest that CGRP inhibits the intestinal motility by non-neurogenic NANC manner and does not activate the NANC inhibitory neurons in intestine. PMID- 2607713 TI - [An experimental study of the gastrointestinal motility in conscious dogs with strain gauge force transducers]. AB - Interdigestive motor complex (IMC) from the stomach to the ileum and colonic migrating motor complex (CMMC), and the effects of motilin and PYY to them were studied in conscious dogs with strain gauge force transducers (SG). In fasted dogs, IMC cycle times were 100.5 +/- 7.5 min in from the antrum to the ileum and propagation velocity of the small intestine was fastest in the proximal jejunum (4.85 +/- 0.81 cm/min), slowest in the distal ileum (0.81 +/- 0.08 cm/min). The duration of postprandial interruption of motor complex (DIMC) was longer in the antrum and duodenum in 8 dogs of the twelves than the middle and lower intestines. Ileo-colonic propagation rates of IMC that reached to the terminal ileum were 95/116 (81.9%), but the frequency of CMMCs was about 4 times higher than that of IMCs. Each colonic motor complex were classified into four patterns, such as aboral migrating complex (A), oral migrating complex (O), discrete complex (D) and giant migrating contractions (G), and the starting point of migrating complex was marked with -, like A, O or G. Thus, independency index (I I) in each site was defined as: I I = (sum of number of A, O, G and D)/(total number of colonic motor complex). I I was highest in colon 1 (70-80%) and next in colon 4. Motilin (0.5 microgram/kg.hr) elicited IMC like activities in the antrum, duodenum and proximal jejunum, but no effects in the middle and lower small intestine, and the colon. PYY infusion caused dose dependent inhibitions of IMC in the antrum and duodenum, but no effects in the below intestines as same as motilin. These findings suggest that IMCs are basal rhythms of gastrointestinal motility and IMCs occurring from the antrum to the proximal jejunum are more sensitive to the factors as eating or gut peptides. PMID- 2607714 TI - [Clinical studies of ureteroileal junction stricture in ileal conduit]. AB - Fifty eight patients who underwent ileal conduit formation in our hospital for the past 14 years were reviewed. Out of them, 11 patients developed hydronephrosis which should be treated. It occurred due to urolithiasis, recurrent tumor, contracted ileal loop in one patient respectively, and ureteroileal junction stricture in 8 patients (10 ureteral units). The 8 patients consisted of 6 males and 2 females. All of the males underwent total cystectomy because of bladder tumor (T.C.C.), and the females had anterior pelvic exenteration because of uterine cancer (adenocarcinoma). Out of 10 ureteral units, 7 were corrected by surgical intervention, 1 was dilated with endourological procedure, and 2 had no treatment. Six ureteral units including 1 ureteral unit treated by an endourological method resulted in improvement or disappearance of hydronephrosis. Histological examination of the stricture revealed fibrosis in 7 ureteral units treated surgically. According to our clinical studies, infection in the pelvic space seemed to be one of the causes which brought about ureteroileal junction stricture. PMID- 2607715 TI - [Cellular architecture of papillary and nonpapillary transitional cell carcinoma]. AB - To characterize the cellular architecture of papillary and nonpapillary transitional cell carcinoma. 2 normal ureters, 6 papillary bladder cancers and 5 nonpapillary bladder cancers were subjected to light and electron microscopic study as well as three dimensional reconstruction by 0.5 microns thick serial sections. Normal urothelium consisted of three cell layers of the basal, intermediate and superficial cells, each of which was morphologically characterized in terms of cell shape and development of cell organelles. Over 90% of the epithelial cells were proved to be connected to the uniform basement membrane directly or with long, fine cytoplasmic processes, forming hemidesmosomes at the junctional portion. Papillary tumors had, as a rule, the same cellular architecture as that of normal epithelium in terms of the regularity of cellular polarity, arrangement and differentiation, and the connection to the basement membrane. But, in G2 tumors, the connection between the intermediate and superficial cells and the basement membrane failed to be confirmed in 7 to 44% of the cells, suggesting the heterogeneity of the tumors. In contrast, nonpapillary tumors showed a high irregularity of the cellular architecture in both lesions of stromal and intra-epithelial invasion. The development of the basement membrane was indefinite, often showing thinning or disruption where occasional cytoplasmic protrusion of the tumor cells into the lamina propria was found. Nearly all of the intermediate and superficial cells in the intraepithelial lesions proved not to communicate with the basement membrane. The present results indicate distinct differences of cellular architecture between the papillary and nonpapillary urothelial tumors, which may reflect not only the growth pattern but also the biological behaviour of the individual tumors. PMID- 2607716 TI - [A comparative study of the sensitivity of bladder washing flow cytometry, voided urine cytology and bladder washing cytology in the detection of bladder carcinoma]. AB - In order to evaluate flow cytometric deoxyribonucleic acid measurement (FCM) of bladder washing in the diagnosis of bladder carcinoma, the sensitivity of voided urine cytology, bladder washing cytology and bladder washing FCM was tested in 76 samples from 56 patients with histologically proven bladder carcinomas. The positive rates were 43.2% and 75.7% in bladder washing cytology and bladder washing FCM, respectively. On the other hand, 36.5% and 57.1% positive rates for once- and three-times-voided urine cytology, respectively, were obtained. Bladder washing cytology and bladder washing FCM were positive in 20% and 70% patients with a histological diagnosis of atypia or dysplasia, respectively. The sensitivity of bladder washing FCM according to the tumor grade was 33.3%, 81.9% and 88.9% for grade-1 (G-1), G-2 and G-3 tumors, respectively. The sensitivity of bladder washing cytology according to the tumor grade was 0, 40.9% and 77.8% for G-1, G-2 and G-3 tumors, respectively. The sensitivity of three-times-voided urine cytology was 25.0%, 55.6% and 83.3% for G-1, G-2 and G-3 bladder tumors, respectively, and it was superior to that of single bladder washing cytology. These results indicate that FCM is more sensitive than voided urine cytology and/or bladder washing cytology in patients with bladder carcinoma. FCM may indicate urothelial neoplasia before it is apparent on urine cytology, especially against a background of inflammation. Therefore, FCM is valuable for case finding in suspect populations or for follow-up cases with diagnosed bladder cancer. PMID- 2607717 TI - [Clinico-statistical study on bladder tumor]. AB - A survey was performed on 277 cases of bladder tumor including 221 males and 56 females (3.9:1), treated in the Department of Urology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. The result was as follows. The age distribution was from 24 to 86 years old with the average of 65.7. Histologically, 2 cases were diagnosed as transitional cell papilloma, 53 cases as transitional cell carcinoma G1, 111 cases as G2, 88 cases as G3, 16 cases as GX, 5 cases as squamous cell carcinoma and 2 cases as adenocarcinoma. As to the relationship between the grade and the stage, all cases of papilloma or G1 were superficial, while 7.2% of G2 and 45.5% of G3 were invasive, showing a close correlation. As to the relationship of cystoscopic findings and the stage, invasive tumors occupied 1.7% of tumors less than 1 cm in diameter, 16.7% of those 1 to 3 cm, 48.0% of 3 to 5 cm and 41.7% of more than 5 cm in diameter. Also 7.1% of papillary pedunculated tumors, 57.1% of non-papillary pedunculated, 21.7% of papillary sessile and 53.5% of non-papillary sessile were invasive. Thus cystoscopic findings of tumors correlated with the stage. The 5 year survival rates were 61.7% in all cases, 81.4% in pTa, 70.5% in pT1, 58.7% in pT2, 50.0% in pT3a, 32.6% in pT3b and 25.0% in pT4. The stage of tumors reflected the prognosis well. Careful cystoscopy and accurate grading were thought to be helpful for correct staging and for choosing a suitable treatment. PMID- 2607718 TI - [A case of proliferative chronic cystitis, progressing to obstructive nephropathy, treated by total cystectomy and enterocystoplasty]. AB - A 52 year-old man, being pointed out as with microscopic hematuria and suspected of carcinoma of the urinary bladder at another institution, visited this hospital for further examination. DIP demonstrated an irregular right lateral wall of the urinary bladder. CT of the pelvic cavity revealed a protrusive mass lesion inside the urinary bladder. Cystoscopy proved a circular, edematous and irregular mass lesion around the urinary bladder neck. The pathological examination of TUR specimens showed a proliferative chronic cystitis. However, after about half a year, there was a recurrence of mass lesions in the urinary bladder. Moreover, right non-functional kidney and left hydronephrosis were observed. For preserving renal function, total cystoprostatectomy was performed. Nerve sparing technique for sexual function, and total bladder replacement using a detubularized sigmoid colon to obviate the need for a stoma were adopted. Postoperative course was uneventful and the function of both kidneys was recovered. Normal urination from the urethra and sexual function are both preserved. Pathological examination of the cystectomized specimen confirmed only proliferative cystitis with extensive deep ulceration and thick connective tissues. A rare case in which obstructive nephropathy was caused by proliferative cystitis is reported and discussed. PMID- 2607719 TI - [A study of intercellular communication of human transitional cell carcinoma cell lines]. AB - Intercellular communication (IC) was investigated by a dye transfer method in 5 human bladder carcinoma cell lines, JTC-29, JTC-30, JTC-32, HUB-41 and T-24 which showed various histological anaplasia when transplanted into nude mice. IC was investigated as follows; 1) IC among cells of each bladder carcinoma cell lines, 2) IC between various combination of different cell lines and 3) IC between cells of bladder carcinoma cell lines and fibroblasts prepared from the human skin or prostate. High IC was observed among JTC-30 cells which showed a differentiated pattern when transplanted into nude mice. JTC-32 and HUB-41, of which transplanted tumors showed poorly differentiated patterns, demonstrated lower IC than JTC-30. Statistical significance was present only between JTC-30 and JTC-32 cells (p less than 0.05). T-24 which formed histologically anaplastic tumor in nude mice demonstrated markedly poor IC. Second, IC between two different cell lines was demonstrated only between JTC-30 and JTC-32. Third, fibroblast from the skin and prostate had high IC but showed apparent IC with none of bladder carcinoma cell lines. These findings indicate that ICs of bladder tumor cells vary with cell lines tested and appear to decrease with progress of malignant anaplasia. Furthermore, the fact that there is sometimes high IC and sometimes lack of IC between differentiated and undifferentiated tumor cells suggests a possible role of IC in prevention of malignant progression. The present study provides no evidence of IC between bladder tumor cells and fibroblasts, which in some reports have been suggested to be an important phenomenon in evaluating the metastatic capacity of cancer cells. PMID- 2607720 TI - [Urinary material affecting calcium oxalate monohydrate stone formation]. AB - We previously reported that the low molecular and uronic acid-rich fractions in the urine from calcium oxalate stone formers promoted aggregation of calcium oxalate monohydrate seed crystals. In this study, we have demonstrated that lyophilized material of the fractions contains hyaluronic acid as a sole glycosaminoglycans, as well as acidic amino acid-rich proteins and urinary pigment which is supposed to combine with protein. It is known that hyaluronic acid is present in stone matrix, that calcium containing stones contain proteins rich in acidic amino acids, and that the external color of calcium oxalate monohydrate calculi is usually brownish. These facts correspond with our present results. Therefore, it is suggested that the urinary material promotes the calcium oxalate crystal aggregation, sticks the crystals together and is incorporated into the stone. PMID- 2607721 TI - Seven-legged calf--dipygus with an extra foreleg at the pelvic region. AB - A male Holstein-Friesian calf with seven legs was examined macroscopically and radiographically. External features included two normal forelimbs, two normal hindlimbs (lateral hindlimbs), and two abnormal hindlimbs (medial hindlimbs) which were underdeveloped. Also, a rudimentary forelimb, which was attached to the pelvic region, was observed between both the medial hindlimbs. It consisted of an underdeveloped humerus, a duplicated ulna, several carpal bones, a partially duplicated metacarpal bone and three digits with three hoofs. This leg was connected with two sets of coxae by a irregular-shaped bone considered the vestigial vertebrae and ribs. Two penises and scrotums, three kidneys and testes were also observed. This calf is the first case of dipygus associated with pygopagus parasiticus in cattle. Based on these findings, the pathogenesis of this rare anomaly was briefly discussed from an embryological point of view. PMID- 2607722 TI - Influence of cholesterol administration and aging on the development of pulmonary foam cells in F344 rats. AB - The influence of experimentally induced hyperlipidemia and aging on the development of pulmonary foam cells (PFCs) was examined in Fischer 344 rats. The male and female rats were administered orally with cholesterol at a dosage level of 1000 mg/kg/day for 30 days from 6 to 10 weeks or from 33 to 37 weeks of age. The control rats received the vehicle only in the same manner. Plasma levels of total cholesterol, phospholipid, triglyceride (TG), beta-lipoprotein (beta-LP) and calcium in both control and cholesterol-administered groups were higher at 37 weeks than at 10 weeks of age. Plasma beta-LP and TG levels in the treated groups were significantly higher or tended to be higher than those of the controls at 10 and 37 weeks of age. Males of the treated group showed the highest level of beta LP at 37 weeks of age, positively correlated with the highest incidence of PFCs. PFCs developed singly or in a small cluster in peribronchial and subpleural regions. PFCs had an abundant cytoplasm filled with many fine vacuoles containing neutral lipid and cholesterol. PFCs stained with PAS and reacted immunohistochemically with both anti-rat monocytes/macrophages monoclonal antibody and anti-lysozyme antibody. Moderately swollen macrophages with a foamy appearance were detected in perivascular connective tissues of the lungs and they were considered to represent an initial stage of the development of PFCs. These observations suggest that hyperlipidemic conditions, particularly hyper beta lipoproteinemia, resulting from cholesterol administration or aging may be involved in the development of PFCs in rats. PMID- 2607723 TI - Gross abnormalities of kidney in congenital osteochondrodysplasia rat (ocd/ocd). PMID- 2607724 TI - Microhardness of enamel and dentine of cat premolar teeth. PMID- 2607725 TI - Multivariate craniometrics of yak in Nepal. PMID- 2607726 TI - Cecal adenocarcinoma in a cow. PMID- 2607727 TI - Inhibition of mouse oocyte maturation and porcine sperm motility by a plant compound. PMID- 2607728 TI - Double-inlet univentricular heart of left ventricular type in a calf: detection by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. PMID- 2607729 TI - Electrophysiological and pathological study in a dog with seizure. PMID- 2607730 TI - Isolation of salmonellae from clinically normal cattle and pigs in Indonesia in 1986 and detection of plasmids in the isolates. PMID- 2607731 TI - A case of cerebrocortical necrosis in a sheep. PMID- 2607732 TI - Electron microscopy of absorptive enterocytes in the large intestine of the chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger). PMID- 2607733 TI - Abnormal wave forms of auditory brainstem response (ABR) in two dogs. PMID- 2607734 TI - Ureteral electromyogram in normal and hydronephrosis rats. PMID- 2607735 TI - Cytochemistry of glycoconjugates in the zona pellucida of the cat. PMID- 2607736 TI - Effects of lipopolysaccharide from Bacteroides gingivalis in SUS rats. PMID- 2607737 TI - Deleterious effect of prednisolone on the attachment of Taenia crassiceps cysticerci to the intestine of gerbils. PMID- 2607738 TI - Determination of blood volume in dogs using an enriched stable isotope 50Cr. AB - For the measurement of canine blood volume, various experimental conditions and techniques have been investigated using a non radioactive stable isotope 50Cr. On the basis of the results in this preliminary work, erythrocytes were labeled using 50Cr. Five micrograms of 50Cr per 1 ml of blood was added and incubated for 60 min. The canine erythrocytes were tagged using 50Cr and injected into vein of the same dogs. The blood samples collected at 60 min after the injection were irradiated by thermal neutron for 20 min at the reactor of the JAERI. Activities of 51Cr (the 50Cr concentration method) and 51Cr/59Fe radioactivity ratios (the 51Cr/59Fe ratio method) in the samples were measured. There was a very high correlation (r = 0.97, P less than 0.001) between the blood volumes calculated by the 50Cr concentration method and the 51Cr/59Fe ratio method. The latter method is less complicated than the former, because measurement of the sample weight and correction of thermal neutron flux are unnecessary. The mean blood volumes calculated by the ratio method and the Evans blue method were 89.8 +/- 6.8 ml/kg B.W. (mean +/- SD) and 98.9 +/- 10.6 ml/kg, respectively, showing a significant difference between them (P less than 0.05). However, these values are almost in accord by correction of venous blood PCV values with factor 0.97. As a detection limit of 50Cr was approximately 0.1 ng per 1 ml of blood in this system, this method has been concluded to be applicable to the measurement of the blood volume of cattle. PMID- 2607739 TI - Detection of early pregnancy factor in superovulated mice. AB - Rosette inhibition tests for the detection of early pregnancy factor (EPF) were performed on naturally ovulated and superovulated mice from day 2 of pregnancy up to 4 days after parturition. In both groups of mice, the rosette inhibition titre (RIT) increased on day 2 of pregnancy, and persisted at high levels until day 15. Thereafter, the RITs of both groups of mice decreased to the non-pregnancy range. No significant differences of the mean RITs between these two groups were observed during the high RIT period. These results showed that the superovulatory treatment did not cause any changes or interference in the detection of EPF. In order to investigate the initial time of appearance of EPF in the maternal circulation in relation to the stage of fertilization, measurement of RIT and examination of the fertilization stage were carried out on superovulated mice 1 day after mating. The mean RIT of mice with pronucleus stage ova was significantly (p less than 0.01) higher than that of mice with sperm-penetrated ova. EPF was considered to appear in the maternal peripheral blood at the pronucleus stage. PMID- 2607740 TI - Epidemiological studies on the expectation of life for cats computed from animal cemetery records. AB - Based on the Chiang's method, the life table for cats was constructed from the death data of 3936 cats. They died in the Kanto area and were buried in an animal cemetery in Tokyo from June 1981 through May 1982. This life table seems to be the first one for domestic pet cats. The expectation of life for cats was 4.2 years at age 0, 5.0 years at age 1, 5.4 years at age 4, 5.3 years at age 5, 3.5 years at age 10, and 2.2 years at age 15. The maximum age at death was 22 years. From age 0 to age 5, the probability of dying for cats was higher than that for dogs, but over 6 years of age it seemed that Gompertz's equation was applicable to this life table for cats. From these results, if the probability of dying for cats at early ages decreases, the fundamental pattern of dying curve for cats seems to be a similar figure of dogs. The life table was constructed for different breeds and localities. Comparing the expectation of life at age 1 (e1) of the two populations divided by breeds or localities, there was significant difference in the e1 among different localities but not among different breeds. These facts suggest the existence of some factors which may influence the life span of cats among different localities. PMID- 2607741 TI - Histochemistry of complex carbohydrates in the horse duodenal gland. AB - Complex carbohydrates were examined in glandular cells of the horse duodenal gland by using lectin histochemical techniques. In the horse, the duodenal gland was distributed in the area from the uppermost part of the small intestine to a point about 6m caudal to the pylorus. It consisted of two types of cells, mucous and serous cells. The former was found in glands distributed almost all over this part, but the latter was present in glands distributed restrictedly to the uppermost part of the small intestine at a point about 10 cm caudal to the pylorus. The cytoplasm of the mucous cell contained neutral glycoproteins with different saccharide residues as alpha-D-mannose, N-acetyl-beta (1----4)-D glucosamine, galactose, alpha-galactose, alpha-N-acetylglucosamine, beta-D-Gal (1 ---3)-D-GalNAc, alpha-L-fucose and sialic acid. On the other hand, the serous cell contained neutral and acid glycoproteins with different residues such as alpha-D-mannose, alpha-D-glucose, beta-D-galactose(1----3)-D-N-acetylgalactose, alpha-L-fucose, N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine, N-acetyl-beta (1----4)-D glucosamine, galactose, alpha-galactose, alpha-N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid. It is also elucidated in the present study that lipase, an enzyme for digestion, is contained in the serous cell of the equine duodenal gland. PMID- 2607742 TI - Chemotactic responses of neutrophils in cats with spontaneous feline infectious peritonitis. AB - The culture supernatant of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) from cats with effusive feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was chemotactic for peripheral blood neutrophils (PBN) from healthy cats, magnitude of the chemotactic activity being approximately 10-fold lower than that in zymosan-activated fresh serum of healthy cats (ZAS). The migration profile of PBN from healthy cats was slightly different between the PEC culture supernatant and ZAS. These findings suggest that the chemotactic activity detected in the PEC culture supernatant is distinct from that in ZAS. The chemotactic responses of PBN from FIP cats to ZAS were reduced, as compared with that from healthy controls. In contrast, the neutrophil chemotactic response and sensitivity to the PEC culture supernatant in FIP cats were not remarkably different from those in healthy controls. Furthermore, the chemotactic responsiveness of PEC from FIP cats to ZAS was slightly different from that of PEC to the PEC culture supernatant. These results suggest that neutrophils from FIP cats have altered reactivities against these chemoattractants. PMID- 2607743 TI - Production of dark firm dry meat in slaughtered pigs with so-called liver degeneration characterized by yellowish discoloration and high lipid contents. AB - The livers which are discolored yellowish and have a large amount of lipids (liver degeneration) are frequently observed in slaughtered pigs. Dark firm dry (DFD) meat and liver degeneration have a common etiological agent of exhaustion in pigs before slaughter. The correlation between them was examined. In 65 cases of 77 slaughtered pigs with the degenerative liver, which contained more than 6.6% total lipids of liver wet weight, the carcasses showed early rigor mortis and the higher final pH above 6.0. R values of the muscles, which indicated the decrease of ATP, were higher. The meat had a DFD appearance and the muscle fibers had no tendency to shrink. These data showed that the pigs with liver degeneration produced DFD meat at a high rate. In 4 cases of 5 pigs exhausted experimentally by 53 hr fasting and hard exercise before slaughter, both liver degeneration and DFD meat were produced simultaneously. The livers of them were discolored and contained about 8.0% or more total lipids. The carcasses of them showed early rigor mortis and the higher final pH above 6.0. From these data, it was suggested that the exhaustion in pigs before slaughter caused both liver degeneration and DFD meat. PMID- 2607744 TI - A serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in zoo animals and other animals. AB - A survey for Toxoplasma gondii (Tp) infection in the animals bred or caught in and around Kobe Municipal Oji Zoo was conducted by the Latex Agglutination (LA) test using plasma samples collected for the years from 1980 to 1988. Plasma antibody to Tp (greater than or equal to 1:64) was found in 5.0% (0 of 181) mammals belonging to 28 families of 10 orders and 6.7% (12 of 179) aves belonging to 22 families of 15 orders, respectively. Cats, rats and pigeons caught in and around the zoo lower positive rates than those reported in previous studies: 9.3% (4 of 43), 0% (0 of 55) and 4.9% (4 of 82), respectively. High antibody titers were obtained from a Caribbean flamingo, a chimpanzee and 7 other animals born in the zoo. These results suggest presence of some primary Tp infection in the animals bred in the zoo. PMID- 2607745 TI - Cases of XY female, single-birth freemartin and trisomy (61, XX, +20) observed in cytogenetical studies on 18 sterile heifers. AB - A total of 18 sterile heifers, their mother cows, their half-sib cows and a bull which may or may not be a full-sib were cytogenetically investigated. Three cases out of the 18 sterile heifers showed different types of chromosomal abnormalities respectively; 60, XY; 60, XX/60, XY; 61, XX, +20. The remainder showed normal karyotype. PMID- 2607746 TI - Influence of immunosuppressants against Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs. AB - Two immunosuppressive drugs, azathiopurine (AZP) and prednisolone (PDS), were examined on dogs experimentally infected with Dirofilaria immitis in order to estimate the involvement of immunological assail in rejecting the parasite by the host. AZP was orally administered to 3 dogs daily at a dosage of 1-10 mg/kg for a period from 3 days before infection until the end of the experiment. The dose was then varied and transiently ceased according to the severity of the side effects. PDS was subcutaneously administered daily to 2 dogs. They were administered 10 mg/kg of PDS from 3 days before infection to day 15 and 5.0-8.5 mg/kg from day 60 after infection to day 70. The serum D. immitis-specific antibody level assessed by an indirect hemagglutination test was steadily decreased in the AZP-medicated dogs. However, in the PDS-medicated dogs, the antibody titer was decreased until day 32 and, thereafter, was recovered. When all dogs were sacrificed between days 145-148, an average recovery rate of worms in both the AZP- and PDS-medicated dogs was 52.5% and 49.6%, respectively, while the controls showed 42.5%. The statistical analysis revealed no significant difference among the groups, indicating that the administration of AZP and PDS was not effective in protecting the larvae from the host's immune attack. PMID- 2607747 TI - Isolation, characterization, and quantitative measurement of serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in cattle. AB - Bovine alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1AG) was purified from pooled normal bovine sera by successive ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatographies and gel filtration. Bovine alpha 1AG had a molecular weight of 42,000 +/- 2,000 and a sedimentation coefficient of 3.4S. It contained 26.6% carbohydrate. Gel isoelectric focusing revealed a microheterogeneity with 7 to 8 bands in a pI range of 3.2 to 3.7. It migrated to the alpha 1-globulin region upon immunoelectrophoresis. Single radial immunodiffusion was developed for the quantitative measurement of bovine alpha 1AG in serum. The mean serum value of alpha 1AG in 152 healthy Holstein cattle (1-12 years old) was 283.2 +/- 82.3 micrograms/ml. Elevated values (cut-off value = 450 micrograms/ml) were observed in cattle with traumatic pericarditis (100%), arthritis (100%), mastitis (91%), pneumonia (70%), and mesenteric liponecrosis (43%). PMID- 2607748 TI - Injection and sampling methods for drug residue study in calf muscle. AB - Eight calves, weighing 50-150 kg, were given intramuscularly 5 ml of ampicillin (ABPC) aqueous suspensions (200 mg potency/ml) in their right and left gluteal and femoral regions. All calves were sacrificed one hour later to confirm the location of injected drug. The drug was found in a muscle layer when injected with a needle 15 mm long to the following positions, 1. the midpoint between the central position of the gluteal region (CG) and the tuber coxae (M-CTc), 2. the midpoint between CG and the tuber ossis ischii (M-CTo), 3. the central position of M. semimembranaceus in the femoral region (CF). Seven calves, weighing 130-150 kg, were given intramuscularly 5 ml of ABPC suspensions at M-CTo and CF and sacrificed one hour (4 calves) and 3 days (3 calves) later. ABPC diffused along the long axis of the muscle fibers but not to the radial direction. ABPC was detected only in the injected muscle layer even after 3 days indicating that the drug did not diffuse to the neighboring muscles. In the injected muscle layer, concentration of ABPC was remarkably different from part to part. From these results, sampling of the injected muscle for the drug residue study was proposed as follows: 1. isolate about 100 g of muscle just under the stick point marked on the skin considering the direction of drug diffusion, and 2. isolate separately about 200 g of the surrounding muscle to confirm if the sampling is appropriate. PMID- 2607749 TI - Chylopericardium and chylothorax, resulting from a catheter to the left subclavian vein: an autopsy report. AB - A 47-year-old woman with long-standing myelofibrosis and thrombocytosis whose spleen was removed 9 days prior to death, died of a heart tamponade. Subsequent autopsy revealed the development of chylothorax and chylopericardium due to the existence of a thrombus obstructing the ostium of the left thoracic duct, as a consequence of the particular location of a central venous catheter in the left subclavian vein in the proximity of the confluence of the left thoracic duct in the afore-mentioned vein. PMID- 2607750 TI - Lack of sex dependence of the serum level of immunoreactive erythropoietin in chronic anemia. PMID- 2607751 TI - An alcohol attitude scale for teen-agers: a short form. AB - Lack of valid measurement remains a major obstacle in research and evaluation of health education programs. An alcohol attitude scale for teen-agers developed by the author was found to be a valid tool for researchers. However, because of the length of the scale, it was not a feasible device for practitioners in health education. In this study, a shorter form of the scale was developed. An alcohol attitude scale for teen-agers, composed of 54 Likert-type items, was reduced to produce a short form. Stepwise discriminant function analysis of the data identified 19 items that were the greatest discriminators between heavy drinking and nondrinking teen-agers. For the purpose of cross-validation, the short form of 19 items was administered to a representative sample of more than 1,250 teen agers in several midwest school districts. The collected data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical methods for providing evidence of validity and reliability of the short form. Results demonstrated highly significant levels of internal consistency and discriminating power of items and the total scale. The short form of the attitude scale for teen-agers was found to be a valid and reliable instrument for use as an alternative to the longer alcohol attitude scale from which it was derived. PMID- 2607752 TI - The impact of a preschool health curriculum on children's health knowledge. AB - This evaluation assessed the effect of Hale and Hardy's Helpful Health Hints preschool health education curriculum on the health knowledge of children ages three-six. The sample consisted of nine experimental preschool programs (n = 194) and three comparison preschool programs (n = 73). A picture identification test assessed children's pretest and posttest health knowledge of the five senses, safety, nutrition, dental health, personal responsibility, emotions, hygiene, and drugs/medicines. Posttest knowledge scores increased by 22% among experimental group preschool programs and 12% among comparison group preschool programs. Significant differences (p less than .01) were found between experimental and comparison group students. Findings provide direction in research efforts to define conditions in which preschool health education is optimally effective. PMID- 2607753 TI - A descriptive analysis of activity structures in high school health education classes. AB - The extent of use of activity structures in high school health education classes was examined. Twenty health educators from high schools in a large southwestern city agreed to have their classes observed on four separate occasions. Trained individuals observed, coded, and timed various classroom activities using a standardized coding form. Across all 80 observations, most classroom time was spent in Teacher Presentation of Content (23.4%), Seatwork (23.1%), or Media Presentation (15.6%). Little classroom time was used in Student Presentation (.3%) or Behavioral Presentation (.02%). The project goal was to provide baseline observational data into health education classroom activities. From this initial quantitative description of activity structures, correlational and experimental studies can be designed to link these activity patterns with student outcomes in health instruction. PMID- 2607754 TI - School tobacco policy: a medical perspective. PMID- 2607755 TI - Production of an anti-tobacco television public service announcement by middle school students. PMID- 2607756 TI - Helping children of alcoholics. PMID- 2607757 TI - The school nurse as case manager for chronically ill children. PMID- 2607758 TI - New resources supplement HIV education programs for adolescents. PMID- 2607759 TI - Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of hippuric acid and ortho-, meta-, and para-methylhippuric acids in urine. AB - A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the simultaneous analysis of hippuric and methylhippuric acids in urine is described. Compounds are first extracted from acidified urines after addition of o-methylbenzoylalanine (internal standard), using methyl-t-butyl ether. The organic phase is evaporated under nitrogen flow and the residue dissolved in the mobile phase which consisted of 91% potassium phosphate buffer (12.0mM, pH: 2.0), 4.5% methanol, and 4.5% tetrahydrofuran. The method described allows complete separation of meta- and para-methylhippuric acids in less than 20 min using a stainless steel column packed with octadecyl-dimethysilyl silica. The authors used this method to determine the urinary excretion of hippuric and methylhippuric acids in rabbits following exposure to a mixture of toluene and isomers of xylene. Data indicated that under the actual experimental conditions of exposure o-xylene is excreted to a lesser extent as a methylhippuric acid than the meta- and para-xylenes. PMID- 2607760 TI - Simultaneous determination of monoacetylmorphine, morphine, codeine, and other opiates by GC/MS. AB - A GC/MS method for the simultaneous determination of morphine, codeine, and O-6 monoacetylmorphine as well as other semisynthetic opiates in urine is described. The method employs 2H6-acetic anhydride to acetylate free hydroxyl groups on all of the opiates. As a result, the same hydrolysis and extraction procedure is used for all analytes. Quantitation is achieved using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the electron impact mode and with selected ion monitoring of the three most characteristic ions for each analyte. Ratios of these three ions are used for verifying identity while the molecular ions are used for quantitation. The detection limit for all analytes is less than 10 ng/mL. PMID- 2607761 TI - Fast determination of demeton-S-methylsulfoxide (Metasystox R) in blood plasma. AB - An HPLC method for the detection of demeton-S-methyl-sulfoxide (Metasystox R) in human plasma was developed. DSMSO was extracted by passing the acidified plasma sample through an Extrelut 3 column and eluted from the column with dichloromethane. An aliquot of the extract was injected onto the HPLC nitrile reversed-phase column. The mobile phase was a solution of 3% acetonitrile in 0.01M phosphoric acid. The eluent was monitored at 215 nm. With this method, plasma concentrations between 0.5 and 50 mg/L were determined. Within this range, the concentration-response relation was linear (r = 0.9991). The within-run and between-run coefficients of variation were concentration dependent, with maximal values less than 10%. The analysis took about 45 minutes. PMID- 2607762 TI - Rapid determination of low pg/mg amounts of N-nitrosodiethylamine in rodent body fluid and tissue samples by isotope dilution high resolution mass spectrometry. AB - A rapid, sensitive, specific, and cost-effective method for the determination of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in rodent tissue and body fluid samples is reported. The method involves isolation of the NDEA from the samples with subsequent detection and quantitation of observed NDEA against mass-labeled N-(15N) nitrosodiethyl-(15N)-amine (15N2DEA) by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring. Validation of the method included linearity studies of NDEA response, calculation of the relative response factor (RRF) for NDEA versus 15N2DEA, and absolute recovery studies. Estimates of precision, detection limit, and minimum quantifiable limit are also reported. PMID- 2607763 TI - The application of derivative spectrophotometry for the simultaneous determination of cocaine and other local anesthetics. AB - Part I. Cocaine-Lidocaine Mixtures A rapid procedure based on second-derivative UV spectrophotometry is proposed for the simultaneous determination of cocaine and lidocaine. The optimum magnitudes are chosen in terms of response linearity, sensitivity, relative percent error, relative recovery data, and reproducibility. Part II. Cocaine-Procaine Mixtures A derivative spectrophotometric method based on second-derivative ultraviolet absorption spectra has been developed for the simultaneous determination of cocaine and procaine. Several derivative magnitudes have been investigated. A statistical analysis of the results is reported. Part III. Cocaine-Tetracaine Mixtures A simple method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of cocaine and tetracaine by measuring the amplitudes of the positive peak at 286.6 nm and the negative peak at 313.9 nm with respect to zero baseline. Part IV. Cocaine-Benzocaine Mixtures Derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometry has been used for the simultaneous determination of cocaine and benzocaine. Both cocaine and benzocaine can be assayed by measurement of, respectively, the peak-to-peak amplitude D261.4,277.4 and the peak-to-zero amplitude D299.4. The method is applied to simulated street samples of cocaine. PMID- 2607764 TI - Analysis of a carcinogen, 4,4'-methylenedianiline, from thermosetting polyurethane during sterilization. AB - Polyurethane (PU) is widely used in medical devices such as potting material in artificial dialysis devices, plasma separators, etc. Gamma-ray irradiation is frequently used for the sterilization of such devices. This paper reports that a carcinogen, 4,4'-methylenedianiline (MDA, p,p'-diaminodiphenylmethane), is produced from medical thermosetting PU by gamma-ray irradiation. Gamma-ray irradiated PU was immersed in methanol or equine serum. The serum was treated with a mixture of 5N HCIO4:acetonitrile (1:10) in order to deproteinate and recover MDA. It was found that MDA is formed from thermosetting PU at around a few ppm in the original sample. The production of MDA increased with increasing irradiation dose. The MDA amount formed was related to the irradiation dose by a second order equation. Results of methanol and serum extraction were similar. Pressurized steam (autoclave) sterilization in place of gamma-ray sterilization was also examined. MDA production was not found in autoclave sterilization procedures. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of methanol or N,N dimethylformamide (DMF) extract of irradiated PU showed that the PU oligomers eluted. Time course of methanol extract of irradiated PU was detected at 245.5 nm. This showed an exponential decline regardless of doses of irradiation. PMID- 2607765 TI - Medicolegal alcohol determination: comparison and consequences of breath and blood analysis. AB - The concentration of alcohol in blood or breath has come to be regarded as the most objective indicator of impaired driving ability for medicolegal and other purposes. Regardless of the analytical method employed, there is substantial uncertainty about impaired driving ability at a particular alcohol concentration because of large differences in response among individuals to a given dose of alcohol. There is additional uncertainty associated with the particular analytical method used. Since breath alcohol analysis is the most common method employed for medicolegal purposes in the U.S., this method is compared to blood alcohol analysis in order to estimate its reliability and explore the numerous consequences resulting from the use of these methods. Results from blood and breath analyses are often used interchangeably, even though they are not necessarily equally valid indicators of impaired driving ability. To satisfy fundamental legal and scientific principles, it is concluded that the total uncertainty involved in a determination of impaired driving ability must be reported or otherwise accounted for in medicolegal applications. PMID- 2607766 TI - Bovine blood quality control material for cadmium, mercury, and lead. AB - A protocol is elaborated for the preparation and characterization of a quality control material (QCM) containing intrinsic concentration of cadmium (Cd) (0.8 microgram/L) and lead (Pb) (13.4 micrograms/dL) from bovine blood and an elevated QCM containing Cd (5.0 micrograms/L), mercury (Hg) (11.2 micrograms/L), and Pb (34.5 micrograms/dL) from bovine blood spiked with aqueous spiking-solutions prepared with salts of Cd, Hg, and Pb. Borosilicate glass septum vials of 7-mL capacity were filled with 5 mL of blood, sealed with Teflon-silicone discs and plastic screw caps, and stored at -20 degrees C. Quality control, intervial and intravial, and storage stability values for Cd, Hg, and Pb were ascertained by analyzing the blood in randomly selected vials by an internal laboratory using modified published methods which were established for detection limit, accuracy, and precision. Validation of the protocol was demonstrated by intravial and intervial homogenity for Cd, Hg, and Pb and no change occurred in the concentrations of the elements in bovine blood containing EDTA at storage temperatures of 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C for 2 years. PMID- 2607767 TI - Uncertain validity of Widmark calculations for estimating blood alcohol concentrations. PMID- 2607768 TI - A reassessment of 'use of corrected retention indices based on 1-nitroalkane and alkylarylketone scales for HPLC identification of basic drugs'. PMID- 2607769 TI - Oscillatory isozymes as the simplest model for coupled biochemical oscillators. AB - We analyze a simple model for two autocatalytic reactions catalyzed by two distinct isozymes transforming, with different kinetic properties, a given substrate into the same product. This two-variable system can be viewed as the simplest model of chemically coupled biochemical oscillators. Phase-plane analysis indicates how the kinetic differences between the two enzymes give rise to complex oscillatory phenomena such as the coexistence of a stable steady state and a stable limit cycle, or the co-existence of two simultaneously stable oscillatory regimes (birhythmicity). The model allows one to verify a previously proposed conjecture for the origin of birhythmicity. In other conditions, the system admits multiple oscillatory domains as a function of a control parameter whose variation gives rise to markedly different types of oscillations. The latter behavior provides an explanation for the occurrence of multiple modes of oscillations in thalamic neurons. PMID- 2607770 TI - On the relationships between the rate of cytoskeletal stable assemblies turnover, stability of the differentiated state, development and aging. AB - There is a general consensus that biological specificity is a structure-derived property. If a living system is going to maintain its structure and function then the newly synthesized molecules should replace the faulty ones at the correct time and in the correct places so that the previously established cellular topology will be preserved. In addition, pre-existing spatial determinants which will direct the asymmetrical assembly of the newly synthesized molecules should be available. Therefore, regulation of turnover of cellular architecture represents an essential feature of living systems. In considering the underlying causes of cellular senescence it seemed reasonable to focus on the relationship between development of a stable phenotype and the turnover of cellular and extracellular stable assemblies, currently thought to be involved in maintaining the stability of the differentiated state. In recent years evidence has accumulated suggesting a reciprocal relationship between cytoarchitecture turnover rate and achievement of a stable structure. The lack of a feedback control on the turnover of cellular stable assemblies and/or a low turnover rate of cytoarchitecture components would mean that they will be subjected to damaging processes such as oxidation, cross-linking, aminoacid racemization or non enzymatic browning which are known to occur in other long-lived proteins. The consequence would be the generation, with advancing age, of faulty cellular structures which, in turn, would alter the deposition of newly synthesized molecules. This process may lead to a progressive breakdown in cellular and extracellular stable structures. The process of directed assembly seems to be general for biological systems displaying history-dependent development. We believe that it is this strategy which imposes severe limitations on presegregated spatial determinants turnover rates and, therefore plays a major role in initiating the aging process. We also suggest that species-specific life span might be determined by the species-specific regulatory networks which governs the cell-specific cytoarchitecture damaging rate. Moreover, aging appears to be an intrinsic feature of biological systems displaying history-dependent development and should be absent in systems displaying history-independent life cycles, such as bacteria, some species of protozoa, and certain transformed cell lines. An important feature of protein turnover is that this process requires metabolic energy. Therefore, we can expect that structure preservation strategy is a part of a more general energy-saving strategy, a view previously expressed by T.B.L. Kirkwood (Nature, Lond., 1977, 270, 301-304). PMID- 2607771 TI - A mathematical model for predicting relative muscle force with a perturbation analysis of selected muscle parameters. AB - A mathematical model is presented that predicts relative muscle forces using a minimum of experimentally derived input data. Tests of this model against literature values for maximum muscle force of four cat hindlimb muscles show a maximum error of only 5%. A perturbation analysis using this model demonstrates its sensitivity and applicability, as well as the congruence between this model and previous theoretical discussions of muscle function. PMID- 2607772 TI - Fitting bent lines to data, with applications to allometry. AB - Change-point models, in which a linear or non-linear relation is generalized by allowing it to change at a point not fixed in advance, are of growing importance in allometric and other types of modeling. Frequently, the change-point is picked "by eye" and separate regressions are run for each resultant subdomain. This procedure is deficient, however, for the following reasons: first, a repeatable and objective procedure for estimating the change-point has not been used; second, the subsequent analysis usually does not take into account the fact that the change-point is estimated from the data; and last, the usually desirable requirement of continuity at the change-point is ignored. This paper describes various methods for jointly estimating linear relations and the intervening change-point from the data. In the simplest case, with normal errors and a linear relation of one variable upon another, this amounts to fitting a "bent line" via least squares techniques. In addition, tests and graphical diagnostics for the presence of change-points are presented. An example is given where a change-point and slopes are estimated for the relation of running speed with size among land mammals. In the past, these data have been fit with a straight line or a parabola. It is shown here that superior fit and interpretability are achieved using a change-point model. PMID- 2607773 TI - Kentucky Nurse Association begins a major campaign opposing RCT. PMID- 2607774 TI - Help after childbirth--do women get what they expect and need? PMID- 2607775 TI - Post-traumatic stress disorders in the Vietnam veterans: a nursing challenge. PMID- 2607776 TI - Polyclonal increase of HTLV-I provirus-carrying lymphocytes in HTLV-I-carrier rabbits transplanted with Shope carcinoma cells. AB - Fifteen HTLV-I carrier rabbits of two inbred strains and their F1 hybrid were inoculated with Shope carcinoma cells. The peripheral blood leukocyte counts in all these rabbits increased to 2-4 times the preinoculation level with a concomitant increase in abnormal lymphocytes. Southern blotting analyses of peripheral blood leukocytes revealed the polyclonal integration of HTLV-I proviral genome in all these animals. However, lymphocytic infiltration without any apparent leukemic infiltration was observed in major organs of these animals; a similar but slight lymphocytic infiltration was also observed in non-carrier control animals inoculated with Shope carcinoma cells. These results are interpreted as indicating that the growth of squamous cell carcinoma in HTLV-I carrier rabbits induced the polyclonal expansion of provirus-carrying cells, which may correspond to the intermediate state between healthy carrier and smouldering ATL. PMID- 2607777 TI - PMN cells from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients show defective chemotaxis in remission. AB - The chemotactic index (C.I.) of granulocytes from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients at diagnosis and in subsequent remission was measured using different concentrations of the synthetic chemotactic peptide, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl phenylalanine (FMLP), by time lapse cinematography and compared with that of normal granulocytes. The C.I. of CML polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) at diagnosis and in remission was significantly lower than the C.I. of PMNL from normal subjects (p less than 0.001 and 0.05 greater than p greater than 0.02, respectively). PMNL from CML patients at diagnosis showed increased speed after stimulation with FMLP. In most of the CML patients, the highest values of C.I., speed and the number of motile cells were obtained at FMLP concentrations of 10 100-fold higher than those required for normal PMNL. These results suggest an alteration in the interaction between FMLP and its receptors and that events occurring after FMLP binding are also altered. It was earlier shown that PMNL from CML patients in the active stages of the disease show defective chemotaxis. Present studies show persistence of such defective cells in the peripheral blood of CML patients in remission. These results also suggest that defects in PMNL from CML patients in remission. These results also suggest that defects in PMNL from CML patients may be constitutional. PMID- 2607778 TI - Prognostic implication of sequential bone marrow cultures in the myelodysplastic syndromes. AB - Twenty-five patients with newly-diagnosed myelodysplastic syndromes were studied by the clonal culture method at least three times during the clinical course. Clinical outcomes of the patients were classified into: a stable disease (ten patients); subsequent leukemic transformation (eight patients) and nonleukemic death (seven patients). The growth of the marrow granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM) at the time of diagnosis was significantly related to the survival. In addition, sequential changes in the CFU-GM growth patterns correlated with the different clinical outcome of myelodysplastic syndromes patients. PMID- 2607779 TI - A new experimental model for in vivo studies on differentiation and proliferation of leukemic cells using a mouse myeloid leukemia aneuploid line. AB - We developed an experimental model to investigate in vivo differentiation and proliferation of leukemia cells using mouse myeloid leukemia aneuploid cells (LL 2) and syngeneic SL mice. The LL-2 cells were near-tetraploid cells isolated from mouse myeloid leukemia cell line M1 (clone D501). In suspension culture, the LL-2 cells were myeloblastic and grew well like parent D501 cells, but were distinct from the parental cells due to the large size of their nucleus, double chromosome number and DNA content. The LL-2 cells as well as D501 cells could be induced to differentiate in vitro into mature macrophage-like cells by a protein inducer of differentiation. After transplantation of 4 X 10(6) LL-2 cells into the intraperitoneal cavity of syngeneic SL mice, most of them died of leukemia within 10 weeks. On microscopic examination of the peritoneal cells of the mice, the transplanted LL-2 cells were clearly distinguishable from normal host cells by the size of their nucleus. We determined the increase in the LL-2 cells in the peritoneal cavity by morphological examination of the large-sized LL-2 cells. Survival times of the mice inoculated with the LL-2 cells were prolonged by administrations of an inducer of differentiation, poly(I).poly(C). We found morphological changes in the peritoneal blastic LL-2 cells to mature macrophage like cells after the serial administrations of poly(I).poly(C) to the recipient mice. Thus the aneuploid LL-2 cells that grow in syngeneic mice may be useful to study in vivo differentiation and proliferation of leukemia cells, and to develop a therapeutic strategy of leukemia using various treatments including differentiation inducers. PMID- 2607780 TI - Automatic temperature controller for maintaining body temperature in experimental animals. AB - A system for autoregulation of body temperature of large and small animals is described. The device uses the IC AD590 as a temperature transducer. It operates on the basis of continuous regulation of the heating current, and does not emit transients which interfere with electrical recordings. A panel meter shows either the rectal temperature of the animal or the current flow to the blanket. PMID- 2607781 TI - High-frequency components in epileptiform EEG. AB - We analyzed the spectral content of interictal and ictal EEG of rats treated with metrazol. Significant power was present in the EEG between 100 and 800 Hz ictally but not interictally. Since high-frequency activities appeared to accompany spiking episodes, a computer algorithm was developed to recognize rapid voltage fluctuations or high-frequency components in EEG. The algorithm turned out to be effective in the identification of seizure spikes. The significance of high frequencies in EEG spikes and the advantage of the spike selection algorithm are discussed. PMID- 2607782 TI - Whole cell recording from neurons in slices of reptilian and mammalian cerebral cortex. AB - We describe methods for obtaining stable, whole-cell recordings from neurons in brain hemispheres from turtles and in brain slices from rats and turtles. Synaptic currents and membrane properties of central neurons can be studied in voltage and current clamp in cells maintained within their endogenous synaptic circuits. The methods described here are compatible with unmodified dissecting microscopes and recording chambers, and with brain slices of standard thickness (400-500 microns). PMID- 2607783 TI - Improved artifact rejection and isolation of compound action potentials by means of digital subtraction. AB - When recording compound action potentials (CAPs) elicited by stimulating near the recording site, it may prove difficult to distinguish the CAP from the shock artifact because of their overlap in time. This problem is compounded when a pair of stimulation pulses is delivered because the CAP elicited by the test pulse (T pulse) may be partially superimposed on the artifact and response elicited by the conditioning pulse (C pulse) as well as on the T pulse artifact. Methods based on digital subtraction were used to address these problems. A record was obtained with the C-T interval adjusted to be slightly less than the absolute refractory period so that the T pulse would fail to elicit a CAP. A record consisting of a C pulse artifact and response was subtracted from this record to yield a 'pure' shock artifact. In principle, subtracting this 'artifact-only' record from records obtained with single pulses removes the shock artifact and yields a 'pure' response. An extension of this method was used to isolate T pulse responses from the C pulse artifact, C pulse response, and T pulse artifact. These methods proved effective in improving the isolation of the CAPs of interest from other features of the raw records. Limitations of the techniques and their complementarity with other methods of artifact reduction are discussed. PMID- 2607784 TI - Applications of the expectation-maximization algorithm to quantal analysis of postsynaptic potentials. AB - The expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is a robust method for maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of an incompletely sampled distribution. It has been used to resolve the trial-to-trial amplitude fluctuations of postsynaptic potentials, when these are recorded in the presence of noise. Its use has however been limited by the need for different recursion equations for each set of conditions defined by the signal and noise processes. These equations are derived for the following conditions which arise in studies of synaptic transmission: non-gaussian noise process; quantal fluctuation; quantal variability. In addition, a constraint can be incorporated to accommodate simple and compound binomial models of transmitter release. Some advantages of these methods are illustrated by Monte Carlo simulations. PMID- 2607785 TI - Calibration of 125I-polymer standards with 125I-brain paste standards for use in quantitative receptor autoradiography. AB - 125I-Polymer standards were calibrated by interpolation of their optical densities in [125I]-brain paste standard curves to obtain dpm/mg protein. There was a linear relationship between the calibrated polymer standards and the dpm/mg polymer, as provided by the manufacturer. One dpm/mg polymer was equivalent to 7.34 +/- 0.22 dpm/mg protein. Receptor quantification in selected rat brain areas with comparison to either brain paste or calibrated polymer standards yielded similar results. PMID- 2607786 TI - Recognition of the retrograde reaction in motoneurons using an image analysing system. AB - An automatic procedure is described which allows recognition of sectional profiles of alpha-motoneurons of the facial nucleus of the rat. The system is able to distinguish nucleus and nucleolus from the cytoplasm of the nerve cell profile and to characterize those structures by suitable parameters. The region of the nucleus of the facial nerve (FNN) has been measured 7 days after unilateral partial nerve transsection. Based on the resulting data a multivariate analysis was performed to distinguish between normal and retrograde reacting cells. It is shown that this automatic cell characterisation technique is highly sensitive and reliable. The data were used to describe comprehensively the retrograde reaction of the cell. PMID- 2607787 TI - Calibration of ion-selective microelectrodes: flow-system and analysis program for the IBM PC. AB - A menu-driven program--written in C and Assembly language--has been developed for use with an IBM PC or compatible computer for calibration of ion-selective microelectrodes. Available features include (i) user-logical commands, (ii) rapid, accurate construction and display of calibration curves (fitted by least squares non-linear regression), (iii) analysis of data (stored either on- or off line), with correction for drift and conversion from voltage or length to ion concentration or activity, (iv) calculation of selectivity coefficients, (v) optional storage and use of activity coefficients, and (vi) output of data, calculations and graphics to printer and plotter. A simple chamber and valve activated flow-system for rapid change of solutions with either manual selection or computer control is also described. PMID- 2607788 TI - [Effect of active metabolites of vitamin D on manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism]. AB - We have evaluated the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1.25-OHD) in 33 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and normal renal function, relating them with the clinical expression of the disease and other biochemical parameters. The level of 1.25-OHD of the patients was significantly higher than in healthy controls [51 +/- 18 vs 36 +/- 10 pg/ml (122 +/- 43 vs 86 +/- 24 pmol/l), p less than 0.001], although it was higher than the upper limit of the normal range in only 36% of patients. By contrast, the level of 25-OHD was diminished [11.0 +/- 6.3 ng/ml (27.5 +/- 15.7 nmol/l) in the patients and 19.9 +/- 10.5 ng/ml (49.7 +/- 26.2 nmol/l) in the controls, p less than 0.01]. A positive correlation was found between PTH and 1.25-OHD (r = 0.40, p less than 0.05) and a negative one between PTH and 25-OHD (r = -0.40, p less than 0.05). Calcemia was correlated with PTH (r = 0.77, less than p 0.001) but not with 1.25-OHD (partial r = 0.22). There was no correlation between vitamin D metabolites and calciuria, nor between the former and the biochemical indexes of bone remodelling. There were no significant biochemical differences between patients with renal calculi and those without them. It was concluded that PTH level appears as the major determinant factor of 1.25-OHD serum level. The serum level of vitamin D metabolites does not seem to clearly influence calcemia, calciuria, bone remodelling or the development of calculi. PMID- 2607789 TI - [The expanded vaccination program]. PMID- 2607790 TI - [Fat embolism]. PMID- 2607791 TI - [A manic episode in a female patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder treated with chlorimipramine]. PMID- 2607792 TI - [Validation of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) scale of behavioral pain]. PMID- 2607793 TI - [Digitalis poisoning associated with hyperkalemia: presentation of a case]. PMID- 2607794 TI - [Incidence of pancreas divisum, annular pancreas and incomplete pancreas divisum in a series of 1996 pancreatographies]. PMID- 2607795 TI - [Erythrocyte concentrate versus whole blood]. PMID- 2607796 TI - [Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid and radiotherapy]. PMID- 2607797 TI - [Bone marrow autotransplant: preliminary results in 20 patients with acute leukemia]. AB - The results of bone marrow autograft (BMAG) in 20 patients with acute leukemia (AL) consecutively treated from October 1985 and May 1988 are reported. The follow up was continued until November 1988. The mean age of the patients was 20 years (range 10-48) and their diagnoses were acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) in 12 and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 8. The preparation for BMAG included cyclophosphamide and whole body radiation in all cases. The procedure was carried out in the first complete remission (CR-1) in 5 patients, in CR-2 in 11, in CR-3 in 2, and in CR-4 in another 2. Two patients died as a direct consequence of BMAG, 11 relapsed and 7 are alive and free from relapse. The likelihood of survival free from prolonged illness was calculated as 24% for the whole series, 60% for the cases of BMAG in CR-1 and 50% for the group of patients with AML. The results were poor in the cases of BMAG carried out for AL in an advanced stage. On the basis of these results the experience of other authors with this therapeutic modality is reviewed, and its current indications are discussed. PMID- 2607798 TI - [Usefulness of the determination of saliva cortisol in the study of adrenal gland glucocorticoid function]. AB - To validate the adequacy of saliva as a biological specimen for the study of glucocorticoid adrenal function, the concentrations of salivary cortisol (SC) and serum total cortisol (TC) were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in several groups of individuals in baseline state and during stimulation tests. The study of diurnal variations of SC in the reference population (n = 29) showed a nyctohemeral rhythm similar to that of TC, with maximal concentrations at 08.00 09.00 h (18 +/- 9 nmol/L) and 61% and 80% decreases at 15.30 and 23.00 h, respectively. After the administration of 1 mg of dexamethasone, SC was reduced in a 95% of its baseline value (n = 18). In all patients with Cushing's syndrome (n = 8) SC was increased whereas TC was normal in 3. All patients with adrenal failure (n = 11) had subnormal SC levels, while TC was normal in 4. The SC response to stimulation with intravenous synthetic adrenocorticotropin (Nuvacthen) (with and without previous suppression with 1 mg dexamethasone), insulin hypoglycemia and glucagon were qualitatively similar to those of TC, although more marked in proportion. These results, together with the practical advantages of saliva as a biological sample (easy obtention of specimen, absence of stress during its collection, and stability of cortisol in it), indicate that SC represents a more reliable measurement than TC as a useful clinical test to detect glucocorticoid dysfunction. PMID- 2607799 TI - [Geriatric emergencies versus adult emergencies: retrospective analysis of medical emergencies at a general hospital]. AB - The aim of the study was to evaluate the process of the attention to emergencies in patients older than 65 years and to compare it with the same process in adult patients. To this end, 965 clinical records of medical emergencies from the Hospital Central de la Cruz Roja in Madrid were retrospectively evaluated, and data were obtained regarding age, the cause for consultation, the investigations performed and their yield, the administration of drug therapy, the major diagnosis at the time of discharge from the service and the clinical course. It was found that all evaluated diagnostic investigations were carried out with equal or higher frequency in patients older than 65 years and that their mean clinical effectiveness was also higher. In addition, it was found that the patients older than 65 years were more commonly admitted to the hospital through the emergency service than the rest of the population. It was concluded, therefore, that the process of attention to emergencies has differential characteristics in the elderly population, and that if the number and proportion of old people increase as it will presumably happen during the two next decades, the cost of attention to emergencies and the number of emergency hospital admissions will also increase. PMID- 2607800 TI - [Diabetes mellitus education in primary care]. PMID- 2607801 TI - [Eating disorders of psychologic origin]. PMID- 2607802 TI - [Multi-infarct dementia associated with antiphospholipid antibodies. Presentation of 2 cases]. AB - Two patients with positive antiphospholipid antibody and early multi-infarction dementia as a presenting feature of their illness are reported. One was included in the so called primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, while the second one met the criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus. We point out to the presence of aortic regurgitation in one of the patients and its possible relation with these antibodies. Although the precise mechanism of thrombosis is incompletely known, the recognition of this type of dementia is of paramount importance as it is a potentially treatable condition. PMID- 2607803 TI - [A 69-year-old female with extrapyramidal syndrome and pulmonary masses]. PMID- 2607804 TI - [Hospitalizations during 1 year of a group of patients with severe chronic respiratory insufficiency under home care]. PMID- 2607805 TI - [Rapid diagnostic methods as predictors of urinary tract infection in primary care]. PMID- 2607806 TI - [Adrenal myelolipoma: diagnosis using fine-needle puncture aspiration]. PMID- 2607807 TI - [Antithrombin III]. PMID- 2607808 TI - [Association of acute leukemia with disseminated intravascular coagulation in adults. Analysis of 14 cases]. AB - The association of acute leukemia (AL) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in 89 patients with a de novo diagnosis of AL made in our center during the last 8 years was retrospectively evaluated. DIC was demonstrated in 14 patients (15.7%) (7 AML-M3, 1 AML-M3, 1 AML-M2, 1 AML-M4, 2 AML-M5, and 2 ALL-L1). In 5 of them ICD was diagnosed after the beginning of chemotherapy. The factors predisposing to the development of DIC were: 1) the type of AL (p less than 0.01), as 70% of AML-M3 had DIC; 2) the intensity of granulation in leukemia cells (p less than 0.004); 3) the presence of Auer's rods and/or splinters in these cells, and 4) the presence of hemorrhagic diathesis (p less than 0.007). Eight of the 14 patients with DIC received heparin at a prophylactic dosage. No significant differences in the clinical course were in the group of patients with DIC who received heparin and in those who did not, excepting that in the former the platelet requirements were higher (p less than 0.005). Mortality rate during the first month was higher in the group of AL with DIC than in AL without DIC (p less than 0.025). Long term mortality was similar in both groups. The control of hemostasis is fundamental in AL, even in those patients without DIC at the time of diagnosis. The administration of blood derivatives has a high priority in AL with DIC. The role of heparin is still controversial. PMID- 2607809 TI - [Immediate and 1-year survival after cardiopulmonary resuscitation at an intensive care unit]. AB - Eighty consecutive patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for cardiorespiratory arrest (CRA) were prospectively studied. The immediate survival rate and the survival rates after 48 hours, at the time of hospital discharge and one year later were evaluated. Forty-one patients (51%) initially recovered from CRA, 20 died in the hospital and 17 (21% of the initial group) survived after one year. Survival was related to: 1) the mechanism of CRA. Ventricular tachycardia fibrillation (VT-VF) had a better prognosis than asystole (AS) and electromechanical dissociation (EMD) (p less than 0.005). 2) Duration of CPR. The survival was higher when CPR lasted for less than 15 minutes (p less than 0.001). 3) Underlying disease. The classification of the patients in three categories depending on the underlying condition permitted an approach to the prognosis of CPR. Group A: patients who did not benefit from CPR, without survivors at the time of hospital discharge. Group B: patients who had a benefit from CPR, with a 37% survival at the time of hospital discharge and 33% after one year, with a good quality of life and a good neurological status. Group C: patients in whom the benefit of CPR was variable, with a similar survival rate as group B at the time of discharge, but with a reduction to 20% in the subsequent year. PMID- 2607810 TI - [Arterial hypertension: a dynamic concept]. PMID- 2607811 TI - [HTLV-1 in drug addicts in Andalucia]. PMID- 2607812 TI - [Carotid sinus syndrome with no response to carotid massage. Apropos of a case]. PMID- 2607813 TI - [Guillain-Barre syndrome associated with herpes simplex infection]. PMID- 2607814 TI - [De novo membranous glomerulonephritis after kidney transplant in a patient with amyloidosis]. PMID- 2607815 TI - [Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid and cervical radiotherapy]. PMID- 2607816 TI - [Pulmonary abscess caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae]. PMID- 2607817 TI - [Neoplasms associated with chronic lymphatic leukemia. Incidence and characteristics in a series of 232 patients]. AB - The frequency and features of associated neoplastic diseases and their impact on survival were evaluated in a series of 232 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who had been diagnosed during an 18 year period. Thirty-two patients (13.8%) had overall 38 neoplasias, 27 of which were diagnosed after CLL. There were no significant differences in the initial clinical and hematological features of the patients depending on whether they had or not a second neoplastic disease or on the time of its development. When compared with the normal population of similar age and sex, the patients with CLL, particularly females, had and increased risk to develop other tumors. The actuarial analysis showed that the risk of developing associated tumors increased through time up to 36% nine years after the diagnosis (27% when skin neoplasias were excluded). Although differences in survival were not found between patients with CLL and associated tumor and the rest of the series, most patients with noncutaneous neoplasia died as a direct consequence of it 18 months after its diagnosis. PMID- 2607818 TI - [Predictive value of obligatory reporting of sexually transmitted diseases]. AB - Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) were recently included in the Spanish reporting system, or Compulsory Reporting of Diseases (EDO). In the present study, the validity of this system is evaluated with the estimation of the positive predictive values of the EDO. A preestablished questionnaire was administered by phone to the reporting physicians of the 478 cases of STD that had been reported to the EDO system from August 1987 to May 1988 in the Alicante and Valencia provinces. In this survey, in addition to data related to the reporting physician (specialty and place of work) and to the patient (sex, clinical symptoms and signs), information permitting to classify each diagnosis as certain, likely and unlikely was collected (incubation time, laboratory tests). Considered as a whole, the results suggested an acceptable accuracy (positive predictive value 79.09%, confidence limits 76.7%-81.5%) for both diseases. This permits to consider STD statistics as fairly accurate. Among the factors influencing the diagnostic precision are the disease itself, the patient's sex, the qualification of the reporting physician and his place of work. The predictive value of the cases reported from centers of diagnosis of STD was higher. We think that, although these results are acceptable for the epidemiological survey, the quality of care could be enhanced by a better organization of services and an improved undergraduate and postgraduate education. PMID- 2607819 TI - [Serum osteocalcin in insulin-dependent diabetic patients]. AB - Serum osteocalcin (BGP) is the currently most reliable marker of osteoblastic activity and of the bone formation index. To investigate its state in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) we measured the BGP level in 82 individuals divided in two groups. The control group (CG) consisted of 26 healthy volunteers (16 males and 10 females: mean age 25.6 +/- 2.8 years). The diabetic group (DG) consisted of 56 patients with IDDM (36 males and 20 females; mean age 23.2 +/- 6 years). The DG was, in its turn, subdivided in four subgroups (A, B, C, D) depending on the time from the diagnosis (TE) (less than 2, 2-5, 5-10, and greater than 10 years). The DG had a significantly lower BGP than CG (3.01 +/- 1.5 vs 3.9 +/- 1.7 ng/nl; p = 0.024). BGP levels were also lower in the subgroups C (2.4 +/- 1.0 ng/ml; p = 0.006) and D (1.7 +/- 0.9 ng/ml; p = 0.000) than in CG. When they were compared between them, the subgroups A (3.6 +/- 1.1 ng/ml) and B (4.5 +/- 1.4 ng/ml) had BGP levels significantly higher than subgroups C (2.4 +/- 1.0 ng/ml; p = 0.009 and p = 0.000) and D (1.7 +/- 0.9 ng/ml; p = 0.000 and p = 0.000). There were no differences between subgroups A and B, on the one hand, and C and D, on the other. There was a highly significant lineal correlation between TE and the BGP levels (r = 0.5196; p = 0.000). The patients with IDDM have reduced BGP levels; this reduction becomes apparent after 5 years of clinical evolution and shows a correlation with the time since the diagnosis. PMID- 2607820 TI - [Role of systemic chemotherapy in the treatment of infiltrating cancer of the bladder]. PMID- 2607821 TI - [Dangers of the destruction of the ozone layer]. PMID- 2607822 TI - [Heparin-induced skin necrosis, thrombocytopenia and pulmonary thromboembolism. Presentation of 2 cases]. AB - Two patients with skin necrosis in the injection points after subcutaneous prophylactic porcine calcium heparin administration are reported. In addition, both patients had thrombopenia, deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism. The review of similar cases suggests that skin necrosis is another feature of the thrombopenia and multiple vascular thrombosis syndrome associated with heparin administration. Data from the literature suggest that there is a common immunologically-mediated pathogenetic mechanism responsible for these phenomena through the production of platelet aggregates and immune reaction in endothelial cells. Paradoxically, the continuation of therapy with intravenous sodium heparin was not followed in our patients by new complications despite the theoretical risk. PMID- 2607823 TI - [Severe acute hepatitis as initial manifestation of chronic hepatitis B virus infection]. AB - Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was revealed by a severe acute hepatitis with positive HBsAg in a patient. The positivity of IgM anti-HBc antibody, the rapid negativization of DNA-HBV, the early normalization of liver function tests and the exclusion of other causes of acute hepatitis favored the diagnosis of recent HBV infection and were predictive of a rapidly favorable outcome. However, immunohistochemical study of a transjugular hepatic biopsy sample discovered HBsAg within the liver, with a characteristic topographic distribution of chronic HBV infection. The patient's evolution confirmed this diagnosis, because 20 months later he had chronic active hepatitis with persistent replicative activity of HBV. This case illustrates the heterogeneity of HBV infections, emphasizing the need of an accurate diagnosis and a careful follow up until the complete resolution of each case of acute hepatitis with positive HBsAg. PMID- 2607824 TI - [Prevalence of Latin in the scientific language]. PMID- 2607825 TI - [A 63-year-old man with fever, asthenia, anorexia and weight loss]. PMID- 2607826 TI - [Wegener's granulomatosis: severe ulcerative disease of the digestive and respiratory systems and multiple adenopathies]. PMID- 2607827 TI - [Trichomegaly: an unusual manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome?]. PMID- 2607828 TI - [Role of the primary health care in the context of medical teaching]. PMID- 2607829 TI - [Coxiella burnetii pneumonia and acute respiratory insufficiency]. PMID- 2607830 TI - [Community-acquired Streptococcus milleri pneumonia with fatal outcome]. PMID- 2607831 TI - [Candida meningitis in a human immunodeficiency virus seropositive woman]. PMID- 2607832 TI - [Autonomic function in uremia and diabetes mellitus]. AB - Autonomic function was evaluated in three groups of patients: diabetics, nondiabetic uremics, and uremic nondiabetics. Autonomic function was assessed with a parasympathetic function test (Valsalva maneuver) and two sympathetic function tests (cold and amyl nitrite). The results showed that all groups of patients, as compared with healthy controls, had a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This ANS involvement, both in the parasympathetic and the sympathetic divisions, was much more severe in those patients with simultaneous uremia and diabetes. PMID- 2607833 TI - [Meta-analysis of the prevalence of peptic ulcer in relation to tobacco consumption]. AB - The reported studies of the association between smoking and the incidence of peptic ulcer have had nonconclusive results. Therefore, we have carried out a quantitative review including and evaluating all the factors related to that association. To this end, the techniques of meta-analysis suggested by Rosenthal have been used, and it has been found that the type of study design acted as a moderating variable. A correlation of 0.22 was found for studies with a case control design, and 0.07 for studies with a sampling survey design. The small power of this association can be attributed to the great variety of factors which, in addition to smoking, may play a role in the etiology and pathogenesis of peptic ulcer. PMID- 2607834 TI - [Importance of meta-analysis as a quantitative technic for studying reviews in the health sciences]. PMID- 2607835 TI - [Tangier disease: study of the first case in Spain]. AB - The clinical, biochemical and pathological studies of the first case of Tangier's disease that, to our knowledge, has been detected in Spain are reported. The patient had all the characteristic features of the disease: hypercholesterolemia with very pronounced reduction of plasmatic high density lipoproteins, splenomegaly, orange yellow tonsils and peripheral neuropathy. In addition, he had pneumonia and pancytopenia. Neurological examination and computed tomography suggested cerebral involvement, not previously reported in this condition. Biopsies demonstrated lipid accumulation in the reticuloendothelial cells of diverse localizations and in Schwann's cells. PMID- 2607836 TI - [Magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of spondylodiscitis]. PMID- 2607837 TI - [Pharmacologic consumption and medical care for diabetics in Tarragona]. PMID- 2607838 TI - [Reversibility of alcoholic myocardiopathy]. PMID- 2607840 TI - [Pericarditis caused by Q fever and the echocardiogram]. PMID- 2607839 TI - [Occult adenocarcinoma of the prostate and supraclavicular adenopathies]. PMID- 2607842 TI - [Follow-up in Von Hippel-Lindau disease]. PMID- 2607841 TI - [Limitations of a study on passive smoking and wheezing in children]. PMID- 2607843 TI - [Sensitivity and specificity of the exertion test in elderly patients]. AB - One hundred and fifty four patients who presented at our Institution for suspected coronary artery disease were evaluated. They were divided in two groups: A) 77 patients older than 65 years (X = 68.35 +/- 2.99 years), and B) 77 patients younger than 65 years (X = 51.01 +/- 7.50 years). Diagnostic exercise test and coronary angiography were performed in all. Most tests in both groups were terminated due to physical exhaustion (71% and 74% in groups A and B, respectively). During the exercise test there was a higher incidence of ventricular premature beats and lower limb pain in the older group, while angina was more common in the younger group. The overall sensitivity of the test was similar in both groups (88%), with a high prevalence in both (86% in group A and 78% in group B). The sensitivity regarding the extension of coronary artery disease was higher for the detection of one-vessel disease in the younger group (76% vs 63%), while it was higher in the older group for the detection of two and three-vessel disease (86% and 91% vs 84% and 80% in the younger group). PMID- 2607844 TI - [Gammagraphy with 111In-labelled leukocytes in an acute outbreak of inflammatory intestinal disease. Evaluation of the localization, extension and degree of activity]. AB - We have studied 59 patients suspected of presenting an acute bout of inflammatory bowel disease: 23 had Crohn's disease and 36 had ulcerative colitis. All them underwent scintigraphic examination using 111In labelled leukocytes during the first 72 hours after their admittance and in a period no longer than 30 days, they also underwent barium enema and/or endoscopic study. Scintigraphic examination was more sensitive (100%), specific (100%) and accurate (100%) than endoscopy (72%, 100% and 78%) and barium enema (69%, 80% and 71%) in Crohn's disease. In ulcerative colitis, although endoscopy (100%) was slightly more sensitive than scintigraphy (100% and 94% against 78% and 93%). Reliability of barium enema was always lower to that of scintigraphy. In both conditions, scintigraphic examination detected a higher number of affected segments than barium enema did (40/16 in Crohn's disease and 65/31 in ulcerative colitis). Correlation between the index of scintigraphic activity and Harvey's index of clinical and biologic activity was highly significant (p less than 0.001) in both diseases. We conclude that scintigraphic examination using 111In labelled leukocytes is a reliable examination method for evaluation of localization, extension, and degree of activity of inflammatory bowel disease and that it must be a part of the examination protocol. PMID- 2607845 TI - [Neurosyphilis in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus]. AB - Nervous central system involvement is observed in two out of three patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus and probably, the true prevalence is even higher than that clinically detected. The coexistence of neurosyphilis in this group of patients has been poorly studied and the possibility that some alterations in the natural history of syphilis related to its rapid course with respect to time in which neurologic involvement would occur would have reasonable immunologic basis. We report two patients aged 26 and 22 who presented antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus together with meningo-vascular syphilis with spinal involvement and secondary brain infarction, respectively. In both patients, neurosyphilis was the first manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus infection and none of them referred a history of previous primary or secondary syphilis. PMID- 2607846 TI - [Cerebral magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of cryptic vascular malformations (telangiectases). Presentation of a case]. PMID- 2607847 TI - [Infective endocarditis in heroin addicts in the province of Cadiz]. PMID- 2607848 TI - [Cocaine poisoning and rhabdomyolysis]. PMID- 2607849 TI - [Postinfarct ventricular pseudo-aneurysm. Usefulness of bidimensional echocardiography]. PMID- 2607850 TI - [Difficulties in the early diagnosis of congenital infection with the human immunodeficiency virus in our country]. PMID- 2607851 TI - [False parasitism by Dicrocoelium dendriticum: presentation of 4 cases]. PMID- 2607852 TI - [Puncture-aspiration-biopsy in the diagnosis of cancer of the prostate]. PMID- 2607853 TI - Social and legal aspects of medical informatics. Papers from MIE '88 Workshop. Oslo. PMID- 2607854 TI - Current issues in data protection. PMID- 2607855 TI - Council of Europe Convention on automatic data processing. PMID- 2607856 TI - Practical issues and examples of data protection. PMID- 2607857 TI - Security threats and trends in society. AB - This paper is concerned with what can go wrong in health information systems and focuses attention on new trends in computer technology that might generate a vulnerable structure of opportunities for committing unlawful or unethical acts that could threaten our society. Malicious threats are distinguished from accidental threats. Several of the many threats to security in a health environment are reviewed, as well as new trends in technology and in society that might have an effect on health data security. Particular attention is given to microcomputers, unauthorized access to networks and databases, 'viruses', as well as encryption, memory cards and 'information standards'. Some reasons are given to explain why crimes can be committed in the health care environment. PMID- 2607858 TI - Data protection and automated medical records in Belgium. PMID- 2607859 TI - Liability for medical expert systems: an introduction to the legal implications. AB - Some of the possible legal implications of the production, marketing and use of expert systems are examined in this paper. The relevance of a legally useful definition of expert systems, comprising systems designed for use by both laymen and professionals, is related to the distinctions inherent in the legal doctrine underlying provision of goods and provision of services. The liability of the sellers and users of, and contributors to, expert systems are examined in terms of professional malpractice as well as product liability. A recurring theme indicates that legislators may be inclined to restrict possibilities of liability suits in order to avoid disincentives to the creation of expert systems. PMID- 2607860 TI - Computerization of medical records in hospitals: legal aspects. PMID- 2607861 TI - Current issues in data protection as they affect nursing both in the United Kingdom and generally. PMID- 2607862 TI - Information and management in the English National Health Service. PMID- 2607863 TI - [A fetus is a person with a right to exist]. PMID- 2607864 TI - [Quality assurance in hospitals--an example from Norway]. PMID- 2607865 TI - [Neurologic side effects of mefloquine. Implications for prevention and self administration]. PMID- 2607866 TI - [Vascular surgery or not? The patient's life style is decisive]. PMID- 2607867 TI - [Legislation of Chlamydia infections made the tracing of transmission easier]. PMID- 2607868 TI - [More and more complicated combination therapy of ischemic heart disease]. PMID- 2607869 TI - [Septicemia--an inflammatory process affecting many organs]. PMID- 2607870 TI - [Connection between cholesterol levels and the risk of ischemic heart disease in men]. PMID- 2607871 TI - [Suicide prevention must be aimed at making access to suicidal methods more difficult]. PMID- 2607872 TI - [Adverse working environment decreases fertility]. PMID- 2607873 TI - [A shortage of psychologists and psychotherapists in Latvian health care]. PMID- 2607874 TI - [New horizons in research on pancreatic cancer]. PMID- 2607875 TI - [HIV prior to the 90's--why and where in Sweden]. PMID- 2607876 TI - [Diet and health. Inflammatory reactions can change metabolism and nutritional requirements]. PMID- 2607877 TI - [Changing to lactovegetarian food decreases the level of certain cancer related agents in feces]. PMID- 2607878 TI - The use of histopathology in leprosy diagnosis and research. PMID- 2607879 TI - A second report on multidrug therapy for leprosy in Trinidad and Tobago. AB - Multidrug therapy consisting of rifampicin, clofazimine and dapsone, was introduced to Trinidad and Tobago in January 1982. This was with slight modification of the WHO regimens. Since then 717 patients have completed multidrug therapy up to the end of December 1987. Of these, 272 patients have completed surveillance and have been discharged from clinic attendance. Thirty four patients died before completing surveillance and three are known to have migrated. Of the remaining 408 cases still under surveillance, the majority are multibacillary. This paper reviews the outcome of multidrug therapy in Trinidad and Tobago between January 1982 and December 1987--a period of 6 years, and presents some of the statistics related to the newly diagnosed patients within the same period. PMID- 2607880 TI - 'Flu' syndrome on once monthly rifampicin: a case report. AB - 'Flu' syndrome as a complication of intermittent weekly administration of rifampicin is well documented. The rare occurrence of 'flu' syndrome on once monthly rifampicin is reported in this paper. PMID- 2607881 TI - Penile and scrotal lesions in leprosy: case reports. AB - Six leprosy patients in the Ridley-Jopling spectrum of BT-BL showing lesions on penis and scrotum are presented, as we believe that this common enough clinical feature is not well documented in the literature. PMID- 2607882 TI - Leprosy control: the rationale of integration. AB - After considering the situation and the perspectives of integration and the drawbacks that a vertical approach can represent for leprosy control, the author proposes the framework of control programmes as a systemic model for comprehensive health care. The structure that health services in developing countries are adopting in order to implement PHC allows for an horizontal integration of specific activities; conversely, activities which have already proved their value for leprosy control can easily enlarge their scope and include other prevalent conditions. Integration leads to an improvement in patients' and health workers' attitudes; provided that the necessary supervision is guaranteed, integration is feasible and warrants more effective patients' care and a better exploitation of resources in order to reduce the specific risk in the community. PMID- 2607883 TI - Eye lesions in leprosy--glaucoma and tension. PMID- 2607884 TI - Wound healing and treatment of ulcers in leprosy. PMID- 2607885 TI - Central administration of neuropeptide Y induces hypothermia in mice. Possible interaction with central noradrenergic systems. AB - Neuropeptide Y (0.24 and 1.17 nmol icv) and clonidine (0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/Kg ip) induced a slight decrease of short duration of the rectal temperature in mice in a dose-dependent manner. While pretreatment with yohimbine (0.5 mg/Kg sc), was without effect on neuropeptide Y-induced hypothermia, it attenuated the hypothermic effect of clonidine. The association of neuropeptide Y (0.05 and 0.24 nmol icv) with clonidine (0.0125, 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/Kg ip) induced a synergistic effect, but it only was significant when neuropeptide Y 0.05 and 0.24 nmol icv was associated with clonidine 0.1 mg/Kg ip and when neuropeptide Y 0.05 nmol icv was associated with clonidine 0.05 mg/Kg ip. These results suggest that the effect of neuropeptide Y is not mediated by an interaction on alpha 2 adrenoceptor, but in accordance with these results, the existence of a collaborative mechanism between both neuropeptide Yergic and noradrenergic systems cannot be ruled out. PMID- 2607886 TI - Effect of nifedipine on the contractile function of the rat diaphragm in vitro. AB - The isometric contractile response of the directly-stimulated rat diaphragm was studied before and following addition of the calcium channel blocker, nifedipine. Nifedipine (10 micrograms/ml and 30 micrograms/ml bath concentrations) significantly increased isometric force output during twitch and unfused tetanic stimulation. Force potentiation during unfused tetanic stimulation was equivalent during either high or low voltage stimulation. Nifedipine had no effect on the time to peak force, half relaxation time, or relaxation time during twitch stimulation; thus, both activation and relaxation rates were increased. The force potentiating actions of nifedipine persisted in a calcium-free bathing solution and were enhanced by d-tubocurarine. In contrast to the force enhancing effects found with twitch and unfused tetanic stimulation, nifedipine caused a small but significant reduction in isometric force during maximal fused tetanic stimulation. It is concluded that the force potentiating effects of nifedipine on rat diaphragm are not due to fiber recruitment, enhancement of neuromuscular excitation, or altered inward trans-sarcolemmal calcium flux, but may result from a direct effect of the drug on the rate of activation of the contractile apparatus. PMID- 2607887 TI - Inhibition by nifedipine of the indirectly induced contractile response of the rat diaphragm. AB - The effects of nifedipine (30 micrograms/ml) on isometric force production of in vitro rat diaphragm were studied during direct and indirect modes of muscle activation. During direct muscle stimulation, nifedipine potentiated isometric force during twitch and unfused tetanic stimulation. Indirectly elicited responses, evoked by stimulation of the phrenic nerve, were uniformly depressed following nifedipine. Inhibition of indirect force production increased with time, while force potentiation with direct activation remained constant. We conclude that inhibitory effects of nifedipine on the phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation are specific for nerve or neuromuscular junction. PMID- 2607888 TI - Chronopharmacological study of furosemide in rats: (III). Examination in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. AB - We have previously reported that a time-dependent variability is observed in the diuretic effect of furosemide in Wistar rats and the adrenergic system is involved in the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon. The present study was undertaken to examine chronopharmacological profiles of furosemide in two related but different strains of Wistar rats, spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Furosemide (5 mg/kg) was administered intra-arterially in SHR and WKY at 1000 hrs (03HALO) or at 2200 hrs (15HALO). Urine was collected for 60 min after the drug and urinary excretion of sodium and furosemide were determined respectively. In both groups of rats, urine volume and urinary excretion of sodium and furosemide were significantly greater at 1000 hrs (03HALO) than at 2200 hrs (15HALO) as observed in the previous study using Wistar rats. The diuretic effects of furosemide in SHR was not different from those in WKY at 1000 hrs (03HALO) or at 2200 hrs (15HALO). These data indicate that the effects of furosemide also vary with a time of administration in SHR and WKY as observed in Wistar rats. In addition, the present study suggest that the mode of the time dependent changes in the effects of furosemide in SHR, which is reported to have an altered circadian rhythm in the adrenergic system, does not differ from that in WKY rat. PMID- 2607889 TI - Circadian rhythms of blood clotting time and coagulation factors II, VII, IX and X in rats. AB - The 24-hr variations in clotting times and vitamin K-dependent blood coagulation factors were studied in rats kept on a 12-hr light-dark cycle (light on: 0600 1800 hours). Clotting times were determined under a binocular microscope by measuring the time required for the formation of the first fibrin thread. Factors II, VII and X were analyzed by the prothrombin test while the factor IX was quantified using the activated partial thromboplastin time assay. Results indicated that the clotting times were significantly longer during the dark (activity) period with a peak at 1:00 and a trough at 17:00. Similarly, a variation was found in factor activity levels: prothrombin (II), factor VII and factor X had higher activities during the light span (rest period). The highest activities found at 13:00 and 09:00 were statistically different from the minimum activity levels obtained at 21:00. Factor IX did not show a significant circadian variation. PMID- 2607890 TI - Sorbitol accumulation in heart: implication for diabetic cardiomyopathy. AB - Sorbitol levels in heart were determined in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Significantly higher levels were found in hearts of diabetic rats compared to normal rats. The findings are compatible with either significantly higher de novo synthesis of sorbitol in heart than is generally believed or uptake of circulating sorbitol by heart as previously indicated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in vivo metabolic imaging. Sorbitol accumulation in heart tissue may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy as has been implicated in cataract formation. PMID- 2607891 TI - Detection of HBV DNA in HBsAg-positive sera after amplification using the polymerase chain reaction. AB - The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum as detected by molecular hybridization is considered the most reliable marker for the presence of complete virions and, therefore, infectivity. This technique, however, has a lower limit of detection of 0.1 pg HBV DNA. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a technique by which DNA sequences can be amplified selectively, we investigated sera from 30 HBsAg carriers, 6 also positive for HBeAg and 24 negative for HBeAg. After PCR followed by Southern blot, 27 sera were found to be positive for HBV DNA, whereas only 7 sera were positive for HBV DNA in the conventional dot blot. PCR followed by Southern blot analysis lowered the limit of detection to 0.5 fg HBV DNA. Amplified HBV DNA fragments from some samples were directly sequenced without previous cloning. We conclude that PCR is a suitable method to amplify parts of viral genomes present in human sera, and that PCR with subsequent Southern blot analysis allows the detection of hepatitis B virions in the majority of HBsAg-positive sera. PMID- 2607892 TI - Role of lysosomal enzymes in tissue damage during hepatic amoebiasis. An experimental study. AB - Two key lysosomal enzymes, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase of Kupffer cells and blood monocytes were studied in guinea pigs infected intramesenterically with E. histolytica. The animals were sacrificed on days 0, 2, 5 and 8 post-infection. The enzyme levels in the cell lysate and supernatants of both Kupffer cells and blood monocytes were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in the infected animals compared with the controls. This increase was more marked on the 5th and 8th days post infection (P less than 0.001). The alteration in enzyme levels was higher in Kupffer cells than in blood monocytes (P less than 0.05). The enzyme levels increased exponentially with the severity of the hepatic lesions. A direct correlation was observed between the enzyme levels and the severity of the hepatic lesions (P less than 0.01). Hence, the role of lysosomal enzymes, released by activated mononuclear phagocytic cells, in the pathogenesis of hepatic amoebiasis is postulated. PMID- 2607893 TI - Ultrastructural heterogeneity of glycogen in human liver. AB - The ultrastructure of the lobular patterns of hepatic glycogen was studied in four human liver surgical biopsies, obtained 14 h after the last meal. In centrilobular hepatocytes, glycogen particles were regularly dispersed with elements of SER between the particles. Periportal hepatocytes showed dense glycogen deposits with SER restricted to the periphery of the glycogen masses. The ultrastructural heterogeneity of the lobular distribution of glycogen in our human cases is similar to that found in control-fed rats and mice. The metabolic signification of these findings is as yet unclear. PMID- 2607894 TI - HBV-DNA by in situ hybridization. A method to improve sensitivity on formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded liver biopsies. AB - In situ hybridization of hepatitis B virus DNA by means of biotinylated probes is a rapid specific histochemical method but it is not very sensitive in formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded material. The specificity and sensitivity of a new method using a digitonin solution and hydrolytic bath before cytohybridization in 19 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver biopsies was evaluated and a noticeable increase in staining intensivity observed. Digitonin and hydrochloric acid at low concentration increase the permeability and the diffusion of the bio probe, improving significantly the sensitivity of reaction. Hepatocytes containing few copies of HBV-DNA were revealed by this method and microscopic visualization of specimens with numerous viral episomes was considerably improved. Therefore cytohybridization can be a specific and sensitive method, even for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material, revealing active HBV replication even in HBcAg negative hepatocytes. PMID- 2607895 TI - Spin-lock techniques and CPMG imaging sequences: a critical appraisal of T1p contrast at 0.15 T. AB - The addition of a spin-lock preparatory sequence to a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) imaging sequence provides a method which allows an accurate and simple comparison of T1p and T2 contrast. Sagittal and axial brain images, produced with the application of a three pulse preparatory spin-lock sequence prior to a sixteen-echo CPMG imaging sequence, are compared with images acquired without the spin-lock sequence. The CPMG sequence uses non-selective refocusing pulses. Therefore, observed echo signals accurately reflect T2 relaxation. This allows a convenient method for assessing the degree to which T1p and T2 contrast differ. The spin-lock CPMG (SL-CPMG) images were acquired with a spin-locking field amplitude of 0.4 G and resemble heavily T2-weighted images at 0.15 T. Quantitative analyses of signal intensities from edema and normal brain tissue confirm the qualitative observations. This in vivo method should prove useful for determining when the additional RF power deposition associated with spin-locking techniques will provide an alternate form of tissue contrast than that available from additional echo collection. PMID- 2607896 TI - Retrospective cardiac gating: a review of technical aspects and future directions. AB - The advent of short TR gradient-echo imaging has made it possible to acquire cine images of the heart with conventional whole body MRI scanners. In this paper, technical details of the data collection and image reconstruction process for cine MRI using retrospective cardiac gating are presented. Specifically, the following issues are discussed: data sorting and interpolation; time resolution; motion compensation and phase information; the type of steady state sequence including optimal flip angle; respiratory motion and correction; and the potential of 3D imaging. PMID- 2607897 TI - High field imaging of the normal pancreas. AB - Fifty MR scans conducted at 1.5 T were evaluated to assess how well the pancreas could be identified. A total of 128 sets of images were reviewed. The pancreatic head was identified in 81%, 82% and 74% of scans with T1, intermediate and T2 weighting, respectively. The body was identified in 100%, 96% and 70% and tail in 96%, 87% and 54% on those respective sequences. Relative contrast was calculated between pancreas and: liver, spleen, muscle, fat, stomach and small bowel. The variability seen in contrast compared to stomach and small bowel suggests that consistent MR visualization of the pancreas will probably necessitate the use of an oral contrast agent. PMID- 2607898 TI - Perfluorocarbon imaging in vivo: a 19F MRI study in tumor-bearing mice. AB - Multiresonance perfluorocarbon emulsions (Oxypherol and Fluosol-DA) were imaged in tumor-bearing mice using 19F spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging in vivo. Multiple thin-slice fluorine images free of chemical shift artifacts were obtained in 13 minutes and these were correlated with proton images obtained during the same experiment to delineate the anatomic distribution of perfluorocarbons. Sequential images were used to determine the time course of the distribution and the retention of the compounds in tumors and organs. 19F MR spectroscopy was used ex vivo to determine with high sensitivity the relative concentration of perfluorocarbons in different tissues and organs and to confirm the results obtained from imaging experiments. The fluorine images visually demonstrated the preferential localization of the perfluorocarbons in the liver and spleen; shortly after injection, the images also revealed the highly vascularized tumor-chest wall interface. Imaging and spectroscopy together showed that the perfluorocarbons were removed from the blood pool within hours and remained sequestered in tissues at later times; the highest concentrations were found in the spleen and liver, where the agents were retained without spectral changes for the duration of these studies. The perfluorocarbons accumulated within tumors at dose-dependent concentrations, one to two orders of magnitude smaller than those observed in the spleen and liver. PMID- 2607899 TI - Implementation of mixed bandwidth MRI pulse sequences using a single analog lowpass filter. AB - In many MR imaging situations, such as when imaging certain areas of the brain, substantial increases in the signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios can be achieved by extending the duration of the data sampling period, or equivalently stated, by reducing the bandwidth of the data acquisition. This technique is particularly applicable for the clinically useful long TR double spin-echo sequence for improving the signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios for the long TE second echo image. Such a sequence would employ a relatively short data sampling period (wide bandwidth) for the short TE first echo, and a relatively long data sampling period (narrow bandwidth) for the long TE second echo. Implementing such a sequence which uses two data acquisitions of different bandwidths within one sequence repetition can present certain technical problems. In this communication, we describe a method to implement such a mixed bandwidth pulse sequence on a standard commercial whole-body imager without the need for additional software or hardware. This sequence is now in routine clinical use at our institution. PMID- 2607900 TI - Internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint: radiologic staging with clinical, surgical, and pathologic correlation. AB - The radiologic findings from 60 patients with 86 internally deranged temporomandibular joints (TMJ) upon whom sequential imaging procedures had been performed over a period of two months to ten years were analyzed and correlated with clinical, surgical (72 joints), and pathological observations. Internal derangement of the TMJ disc (meniscus) and osseous structures was found to be an irreversible and progressive disorder with characteristic stages. Internal derangements of the TMJ were divided into early (stage one), intermediate (stages two and three) and late stage (stages four and five) categories based upon radiologic findings obtained with radiography, lateral TMJ tomography and either two compartment arthrography or high field, surface coil MR. After sequential imaging studies, each patient and 72 deranged joints underwent surgical joint exploration and meniscectomy because of progressive joint disease and clinical disability. Surgically removed tissues underwent routine histological evaluation. Surgical and pathologic observations included disc displacement, deformity, hyalination, myxomatous degeneration, perforation of the disc attachments, capsular adhesions, synovitis and mandibular condyle lesions including osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), avascular necrosis (AVN), osseous remodeling and degenerative arthritis. There was excellent correlation between imaging studies and surgical observations. Internal derangement of the TMJ is an irreversible, generally progressive disorder which may be staged and followed with radiography, tomography and either two-compartment arthrography or high field, surface coil MR. PMID- 2607901 TI - MRI of inflammatory synovial processes. AB - MRI was used to evaluate inflammatory synovial processes in 53 patients over a 4 year period. Multiple disease processes were imaged, including: rheumatoid arthritis [n = 12], osteochondromatosis [n = 6], bursal abnormalities [n = 17], ganglion cyst [n = 1], meniscal cyst [n = 5], hemophilia [n = 1], and septic arthritis [n = 11]. The soft tissue contrast resolution of MRI and its multiplanar capability makes it particularly suitable for evaluating masslike or fluid inflammatory processes for diagnostic purposes, to determine extent of disease, and in some cases, to determine the composition of the inflammatory processes. PMID- 2607902 TI - Magnetic ports in tissue expanders--a caution for MRI. AB - Although a great deal is known about the potential hazards of ferromagnetic materials relative to MRI, little has been written about the safety of tissue panders. Recently a new modification of the existing ports has been made available by incorporating a magnet for ease of identification of the injection site. Despite its low mass, the intrinsic magnetic field presents a contra indicating factor due to the potential for torque and movement in the presence of the strong magnetic field found in the clinical MR imagers. With any evidence of tissue expander prosthesis obtained in the history, a careful questioning about the possibility of a magnetic port should be carried out. PMID- 2607903 TI - Pre-operative localized in vivo proton spectroscopy in cerebral tumors at 4.0 Tesla--first results. AB - Sixteen patients with prediagnosed cerebral lesions were studied with stimulated echo localized 1H-spectroscopy at 4 Tesla. Initially, CT cerebral angiography and MR investigation at 1.5 Tesla were performed. After selecting a patient and receiving his agreement the high field examination started with the acquisition of an MR image of the known tumor at 4 Tesla using head or surface coil. 1H spectroscopy was performed by selectively exciting a cubic volume between 8 to 20 cubic centimeters in the center of the tumor, in one case below 4 ccm (pinealoma). If possible, in a second examination the corresponding opposite side of the brain was studied. The extirpation of the tumor followed during the next days. Macroscopic aspects, histology and grading of the investigated lesions were determined. In some cases, specimens of the tumors were cooled in cooking salt solution and in liquid nitrogen, respectively, in order to perform in vitro proton MRS at 8.4 Tesla. The evaluable in vivo spectra showed good resolution and significant differences between corresponding cerebral areas with and without tumor as well as between different types of tumor histologies like medulloblastoma, astrocytoma and meningeomas. Often a good correspondence between in vivo and in vitro spectroscopy was seen. No clinically relevant side effects or complications were observed during the in vivo high field examination. PMID- 2607904 TI - 31P NMR measurements of T2 relaxation times of metabolites in human skeletal muscle in vivo. PMID- 2607905 TI - Cystic lymphangioma in the adult: an unusual axillary mass. AB - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has rapidly become an effective technique for the diagnosis and localization of most musculoskeletal diseases. Because MRI lacks ionizing radiation and has superior soft tissue contrast as compared with computed tomography without the need for intravenous contrast material, MRI is emerging as the study of choice for soft tissue masses. This report describes the use of MRI in the evaluation of an unusual axillary soft tissue mass in an adult, a cystic lymphangioma. PMID- 2607906 TI - MRI of unilateral facial hypertrophy. AB - Unilateral hypertrophy of facial muscles is an uncommon phenomenon with few reported cases in the worldwide literature. The few that have been reported have usually been associated with accompanying disease processes and clinical findings. In this paper, we describe a case of idiopathic hemihypertrophy of facial muscles and the MRI findings which were seen in this case. PMID- 2607907 TI - MRI findings in osteofibrous dysplasia. AB - A case of osteofibrodysplasia of the long bones in a 4-year-old girl is reported with ipsilateral tibial and fibular involvement. The radiological pattern of the lesions suggested fibrodysplasia but not their MRI signal characteristics. This diagnostic imaging mismatch and the bifocality of the lesion were the tell-tale indications for the confirmatory bone biopsy yielding osteofibrous dysplasia of Campanacci. PMID- 2607908 TI - Avascular necrosis of the capitate demonstrated on a 0.064 T magnet. AB - We report the first case of avascular necrosis of a carpal bone to be imaged on a 0.064 Tesla magnet, one of the lowest field strength magnetic resonance imaging systems currently available. PMID- 2607909 TI - Pulse sequence optimization for use with a biopsy needle in MRI. AB - The purpose of this study was to assess the degree of conspicuity and amount of field distortion caused by a biopsy needle designed specifically for use in MRI studies. Toward this, a number of pulse sequences including spin and field echo were used. Parameters such as field of view, strength of read gradient, direction of read gradient, echo time and slice thickness were varied. The effect of these manipulations on needle visualization was studied. Partial voluming errors with thicker slices decreased needle conspicuity. Smaller field of view improved needle visualization as a result of magnification effect. Shallow read gradient strengths also increased needle conspicuity. Increased image artifacts were noted on field-echo sequences compared to spin echo. This effect increased with longer echo times. This reflects T2* effects on field-echo images. PMID- 2607910 TI - Antagonism of the respiratory and analgesic effect of fentanyl produced by aminophylline. AB - Low-dose aminophylline may reverse the respiratory depression caused by morphine and fentanyl. High-dose aminophylline may decrease an animal's tolerance to painful stimulation. We postulated that fentanyl combined with low-dose aminophylline could result in adequate analgesia without the side-effect of respiratory depression. Twelve healthy volunteers were randomly divided into group A and group B each consisting of six persons. Group A received fentanyl 3 ug/kg and group B received fentanyl 3 ug/kg plus aminophylline 3 mg/kg iv. Arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) was taken as an index of respiratory status and the analgesic effect of fentanyl was estimated by measuring changes in maximum pain tolerance (MPT) using a pressure clamp device. The results showed that 3 mg/kg of aminophylline significantly alleviated the respiratory depression effect of fentanyl 15 and 25 min post-injection (P less than 0.05), without attenuation of its analgesic effect. The severe hemodynamic disturbance and acute reversal of analgesia, which may be induced by naloxone, were not observed. Our results suggest that aminophylline safely reverses the respiratory depression caused by fentanyl. PMID- 2607911 TI - [Continuous thoracic epidural fentanyl in postoperative pain control--a comparison of two different dosages]. AB - We evaluate the postoperative pain relief using continuous epidural fentanyl infusion in two different dosages for thoracic and upper abdominal surgeries. A total of 21 ASA class III patients were studied. A thoracic epidural catheter was placed before surgery but pain control was begun when the patients became fully awake and complained of pain in the recovery room. Patients were divided into group A (n = 9) and group B (n = 12). Those in group A were given fentanyl 1.5 micrograms/kg in saline solution as initial dose followed by continuous infusion at a rate of 1 microgram/kg/h for 23 hours. In group B the initial dose and the maintenance dose were respectively 1.0 microgram/kg and 0.5 micrograms/kg/h. Following the initial dose, the intensity of pain was assessed hourly for a total of 24 hours using a visual analogue pain scale with scores from 0 to 10. In group A, the pain scale fell from the baseline level of 7.7 +/- 2.6 to 2.3 +/- 2.0 at the first hour while in group B it fell from 8.9 +/- 1.4 to 4.3 +/- 2.1. The pain scores following continuous infusion in groups A and B were respectively 1.3 +/- 1.5 and 2.9 +/- 1.7. Although the analgesic effect appeared to be better in group A, pain relief was satisfactory in both groups (p less than 0.01). Regarding respiratory depression, there was a greater degree of rise in PaCO2 in group A and some of the patients even had a PaCO2 value above 50 mmHg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607912 TI - [pH-adjusted lidocaine HCl with or without epinephrine for epidural anesthesia]. AB - Preparations of local anesthetics are prepared as acidic solutions of the salts to promote solubility and stability. In solution, these salts exist as both nonionized and ionized forms. The ratio depends on the pH of the solution, and it is only the non-ionized form that permeates the nerve membrane and sheath. This study of epidural analgesia was undertaken to determine the effect of increasing the pH of the lidocaine HCl by the addition of sodium bicarbonate. Parameters studied included the time of onset of analgesia (time between the completion of injection and the loss of scratch sensation at the left L1 dermatome), the spread of sensory blockade, the degree of motor block, and the blood pressure and heart rate. Eighty seven adult patients undergoing epidural anesthesia were divided into four groups. Group 1 patients were given 2% lidocaine HCl solution plus 1.5 mL normal saline per 10 mL of lidocaine (pH 5.55). Group 2 patients were given 2% lidocaine HCl solution plus 1.5 mL 7% sodium bicarbonate per 10 mL of lidocaine (pH 7.04). Group 3 received 2% lidocaine HCl solution with 1:200000 epinephrine plus 1.5 mL normal saline per 10 mL of lidocaine (pH 5.68). Group 4 received 2% lidocaine HCl solution with 1:200000 epinephrine plus 1.5 mL 7% sodium bicarbonate per 10 mL of lidocaine (pH 7.11). The time of onset of analgesia and the spread of sensory blockade were more rapid in groups 2 and 4. The degree of motor block was more pronounced in these two groups, as were the changes in blood pressure and heart rate. PMID- 2607913 TI - The distance from the skin to the epidural space in a Chinese patient population. AB - The inter-relationship between age, height, weight and distance from the skin to the epidural space correlated with the patient's weight (r = 0.52, F = 23.96, P less than 0.001), and showed no correlation with patient's height (r = 0.18, F = 0.04, P greater than 0.05) or age (r = 0.13, F = 1.88, P greater than 0.05). The epidural space was found at a depth range of 3-7 cm, and 60% of patients had a depth of 4-5 cm. The results may be useful as a guideline for successful epidural blocks. PMID- 2607914 TI - The effect of warm irrigating fluids on the incidence of shivering during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). AB - Twenty-four unpremedicated patients of ASA class II or III undergoing TURP were given esia with 10 mg of tetracaine at level L3-4 or L4-5. These patients were randomly given "warm" or "ambient temperature" irrigating fluids. Those with irrigating fluids of temperature between 25.5 degrees C and 33 degrees C were arranged as Group 1 and those of temperature between 21.5 and 23 degrees C as Group 2. The results failed to show that the incidence of shivering could be decreased by the use of warm irrigating fluids. PMID- 2607915 TI - Use of atracurium in patients with or without renal failure. AB - Nine patients with normal renal function, and eight renal failure patients scheduled for renal transplantation, were anesthetized under nitrous oxide and isoflurane to determine the influence of renal function on the effect of atracurium. Atracurium 0.5 mg/kg, was given as an iv bolus, followed by 0.2 mg/kg as maintenance dose. The onset times, duration of action, duration of maintenance dose and recovery times of neuromuscular blockade were recorded and compared. There were no differences in the pharmacodynamics except that the uremic patients had slightly longer recovery time. It is concluded that atracurium is an ideal drug for uremic patients. PMID- 2607916 TI - [Anesthesia, surgery, immunology]. PMID- 2607917 TI - Parenteral tramadol in postoperative pain relief. PMID- 2607918 TI - Insidious onset of airway obstruction of an endotracheal tube by blood-mucus plugs. PMID- 2607919 TI - Thiamylal sodium with sparteine sulfate inducing dysrhythmia in anesthetized patients. PMID- 2607920 TI - [Epidural anesthesia combined with general anesthesia for pheochromocytoma resection--one case report]. PMID- 2607922 TI - [Anesthesiologist and inhospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation]. PMID- 2607921 TI - [Epidural analgesia for hydrotherapy in burned patients with 0.25% bupivacaine]. PMID- 2607923 TI - [Should we continue to use halothane clinically?]. PMID- 2607925 TI - Mass screening in the medical laboratory. PMID- 2607924 TI - Ribavirin's risks in reproduction--how great are they? PMID- 2607926 TI - The problems of mass screening. PMID- 2607927 TI - Direct determination of lead in urine by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry with platform atomisation. AB - A direct method of urinary lead assay by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry is described for routine use in the clinical laboratory. It employs a simple sample pre-treatment procedure preceding automated analysis. Reproducibility, linearity and recovery were satisfactory without the need of standard addition. Mean and reference intervals of normal urine were similar to values reported in the literature. PMID- 2607928 TI - Gelatin particle agglutination assay for HIV. PMID- 2607929 TI - The computer and the doctor-patient relationship. PMID- 2607930 TI - Clinical computing in two teaching hospitals. PMID- 2607931 TI - Video image digitizers revisited. PMID- 2607932 TI - The sixth annual medical hardware and software buyers' guide. PMID- 2607933 TI - [Bodily experiences and sexuality in obese women. A clinical study]. AB - The aim of the study was to investigate the centralized impulsive dynamics of 21 obese women in comparison with 21 normal ones, with particular reference to the unconscious bodily experiences and sexuality. Two tests comparing areas of unconscious experience and body organs and classes of feelings, and emotional self-assessment questionnaire and a colour choice test, were given. The statistical analysis of the results showed significant differences between the two groups studied, the obese women being immature, dependent, hypersensitive and introverted with great oral requirements and low autonomous control and with some confusion between food and affection. Their sexuality is pervaded with great aggressiveness and has little connection with its maternal and relational function. Finally, some psychotherapeutic strategies are mentioned. PMID- 2607934 TI - [Contribution of the Rorschach test to the differential diagnosis of impotence]. AB - Attention is called to the clinical problem of masked depressions and depressive equivalents. In certain situations, the "impotence" symptom can be classified sonographically among cyclothymic disturbances. The Rorschach test has been used to study some typical cases and it is stressed that a psychodiagnostic investigation may be useful in the differential diagnosis of the clinical syndrome. PMID- 2607935 TI - [Combined treatment with lithium salts and socioenvironmental therapy in patients with manic depressive psychosis. Considerations on the results obtained in 1984 88 at the Mental Health Service of Local Health Unit No. 32 in Moncalieri]. AB - A study by National Health Unit - U.S.S.L. 32 on 28 patients suffering from manic depressive psychosis has shown the great importance of social and environment factors in the treatment of this disease. In two test groups given the same quantity of lithium salts, the one also receiving a social and environmental assistance revealed a net reduction in the number of hospital admissions for manic symptoms whereas no significant improvement was obtained in the other group. PMID- 2607936 TI - [A case of delirium tremens caused by barbiturate suppression]. AB - A case of delirium tremens caused by the suppression of barbiturates is reported and the hypothesis is upheld that DTs should be considered an aspecific syndrome of exogenous reaction. PMID- 2607937 TI - The existential condition of temporarily laid-off workers. PMID- 2607938 TI - [Intercurrent relationship of alcoholism and panic attack disorder]. PMID- 2607939 TI - [Psychosocial factors in the origin and prognosis of alcoholism]. PMID- 2607940 TI - [Evaluation of well-being in the elderly]. PMID- 2607941 TI - [Biological markers of susceptibility to schizophrenia. Indication or limitation for rehabilitation?]. PMID- 2607942 TI - [Panic: physiology and psychology]. PMID- 2607943 TI - Prevalence of anabolic steroid use by male and female adolescents. AB - This study was performed to determine the prevalence of anabolic steroid use among male and female high school students. A total of 1,010 questionnaires were distributed in five high schools in a relatively affluent school district (Group I, 510 surveys with a 92.4% response rate) and five high schools in a relatively less affluent school district (Group II, 500 surveys with an 86.0% response rate). Three percent of all high school students reported using anabolic steroids: 5.0% of males and 1.4% of females. Among Group I students, 5.9% of all athletes reported using anabolic steroids, whereas only 1.5% of all Group II athletes admitted using them. A 10.2% usage of anabolic steroids among Group I male athletes was observed, but only 2.8% of Group II male athletes reported their use. The median age for anabolic steroid consumption was 17 yr. The primary source of anabolic steroids was the black market (85.2%), while physicians directly supplied anabolic steroids to only 7.4% of the adolescents. It appears that within the high school adolescent population, Group I male athletes are the primary consumers of these drugs, with a reported 10.2% prevalence. PMID- 2607944 TI - Computed tomography of hamstring muscle strains. AB - Acute hamstring muscle strains occurring in ten college athletes were evaluated using computed tomography to identify the location and characteristics of these common injuries. Acute muscle strains appeared as areas of hypodensity within the muscle 1-2 d following injury. This suggests that inflammation and edema are the major component of injury, not bleeding as commonly assumed. Injuries were seen most commonly in the proximal and lateral portions of the hamstring muscle group, particularly in the biceps femoris. PMID- 2607945 TI - Fluid replacement during and after exercise in the heat. AB - This study sought to determine whether ad libitum drinking of a carbohydrate electrolyte (CE) beverage would minimize the physiological disturbances associated with prolonged (3 h) continuous exercise in the heat (Tdb = 31.5 degrees C, percent RH = 22.3). Seven male subjects performed two bouts of cycle exercise (60% VO2max) drinking either a CE beverage (4.85% polycose, 2.65% fructose) or distilled water. Subjects continued to drink ad libitum for 3 h during recovery in the heat. No significant differences were observed between drinks for rectal temperature, heart rate, or sweat rate during exercise. Subjects tended to drink more (P less than 0.0565) water than the CE beverage during exercise, but plasma volume (percent PV) decreased less (P less than 0.0253) and plasma [( glucose], P less than 0.0001 and [K+], P less than 0.0047) were higher when subjects drank the CE solution. At the end of exercise, plasma osmolality and [Na+] were also higher (P less than 0.05) when subjects drank the CE beverage rather than water. Rating of perceived exertion was higher (P less than 0.0001) when drinking water. In recovery, ingesting the CE beverage, 1) subjects drank more (P less than 0.0012); 2) plasma volume increased to a higher level (P less than 0.0017); 3) plasma osmolality (P less than 0.0001), [Na+] (P less than 0.0001), glucose (P less than 0.0001), and [K+] (P less than 0.0015) were greater; and 4) body weight increased more (P less than 0.0422) than when water was ingested. Thus, in terms of minimizing physiological disturbances, ad libitum drinking of the CE beverage was as effective as drinking water during exercise but was more effective in recovery. PMID- 2607946 TI - Increased training intensity effects on plasma lactate, ventilatory threshold, and endurance. AB - The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of increased training intensity (ITI) on VO2max, plasma lactate accumulation, ventilatory threshold (VT), and performance in trained distance runners. Seven trained male distance runners increased their training intensity three d.wk-1 at 90-95% HRmax for eight wk. ITI did not alter VO2max (65.3 +/- 2.3 vs 65.8 +/- 2.4 ml.kg-1.min-1) but improved 10 km race time (means = 63 s decrease) and increased run time to exhaustion on the treadmill at the same speed and grade (means = 3.88 min). Significant decreases in plasma lactate concentration at 85 and 90% of VO2max were observed after ITI. No differences were found in plasma lactate at 65, 70, 75 or 80% of VO2max or VT following ITI. Significant correlations were obtained between 10 km race times and changes in plasma lactate at 85 and 90% of VO2max (r = 0.69 and 0.73, respectively). Lactate accumulation at both 2.5 and 4.0 mM were at a significantly greater percent of VO2max after ITI. Additionally, the changes in plasma lactate were dissociated from alterations in VT after ITI. These data indicate that previously trained runners can increase training intensity to improve endurance performance by lowering lactate at the intensity at which they trained despite no changes in VO2max and VT. PMID- 2607947 TI - Longitudinal assessment of responses by triathletes to swimming, cycling, and running. AB - Fourteen triathletes (eight male, six female) were tested four times (in February, May, August, and October) to monitor adaptations to training for a triathlon (1.9-km swim, 90.3-km bike, 21.1-km run). VO2max was measured during treadmill running (TR), cycle ergometry (CE), and tethered swimming (TS). Lactate threshold (LT), defined as the VO2 at a lactate concentration of 4 mM, was determined during TR and CE. In all sessions, TS VO2max was less than TR and CE (P less than 0.05), and CE was less than TR (P less than 0.05). Means for Session I were 57.4, 53.4, and 48.3 ml.min-1.kg-1 for TR, CE, and TS, respectively. Corresponding values for Session IV were 58.4, 56.0, and 47.8 ml.min-1.kg-1. The only significant increase in VO2max was for CE (5%). VO2 at the LT increased from Session I to IV for both TR (6%) and CE (10%); the LT for TR was at a higher VO2 than for CE in all sessions. The percent VO2max at LT for TR in Sessions I and IV was 80 and 85%, respectively. Analogous values for CE were 72 and 76%. The minimal increases in VO2max suggest that subjects had reached their potential in this parameter. Improvements in race performance were probably attained through peripheral adaptations, as suggested by increases in the VO2 at LT. The occurrence of the LT at a lower percent VO2max in cycling than in running suggests that the triathletes had greater potential for improvement in cycling. PMID- 2607948 TI - Effects of hydraulic circuit training on cardiovascular function. AB - The effect of hydraulic circuit training (HCT) on cardiovascular (CV) function was assessed in 32 healthy middle-aged males (X age = 42.2 +/- 2.1 yr). Maximal aerobic power (VO2max), with simultaneous measurement of stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO), by impedance cardiography, was assessed pre- and post training. Subjects were randomly assigned to a nonexercising control group, a cycle training group (cycle), or one of the two HCT groups. Training groups participated in a 9 wk program, 3 d.wk-1. Subjects assigned to HCT exercised on a 9 station circuit, completing 3 circuits.d-1. Each circuit consisted of three 20 s work intervals at each station with a 1:1 work:rest ratio. One HCT group (HCTmax) completed the maximal repetitions possible (RM) during each work interval. The other HCT group (HCTsub) exercised at 70-85% of RM. Following training VO2max (ml.kg-1 min-1) was significantly increased in all training groups (18.0, 12.5, and 11.3% for cycle, HCTsub, and HCTmax groups, respectively; P less than 0.05). The increase in VO2max observed in the cycle group was significantly greater than that recorded by the two HCT groups (P less than 0.05). For all three training groups, the increase in VO2max was associated with increases in SVmax and COmax (P less than 0.05 for both). These findings suggest that both maximal and submaximal HCT programs can elicit improvements in cardiovascular fitness. PMID- 2607949 TI - Material moderation of plantar impact stress. AB - The ability of sport shoe midsole materials to attenuate impact loads was assessed. The three materials examined were mechanically characterized as a stiff spring (STS), subordinate spring/dominant damper (SS/DD), and dominant spring/subordinate damper (DS/SD). Each material was used as the midsole in one pair of basketball shoes. Nine male intercollegiate basketball players performed five vertical jumps in each condition. Vertical ground reaction force and discrete in-shoe stress data were recorded during the landing phase of the jump. Material differences did not alter vertical impact forces. The mean (standard deviation) DS/SD calcaneal impact stress (523.0 (277.4) kPa) was significantly reduced compared to the SS/DD (787.2 (283.7) kPa) and STS (708.9 (394.2) kPa) conditions. In addition, DS/SD calcaneal loading rates were 48.5 and 62.3% of the SS/DD and STS impact rates, respectively. Stress moderation differences across the forefoot were not detected. In vitro modeling suggested improved DS/SD calcaneal impact moderation was founded upon its minimal viscous properties, which allowed greater surface deflection. Lack of discernible forefoot differences were traced to minimal forefoot midsole thickness (0.64 cm) as compared with the rearfoot (1.59 cm). These data indicate the most successful moderation of impact stresses was achieved by the material displaying the least stiffness at in vivo loading rates, providing sufficient material thickness was maintained to allow deflection without bottoming. PMID- 2607950 TI - Ground reaction force asymmetries of normal human gait. PMID- 2607951 TI - Analysis of muscle regeneration using single myofibers in culture. AB - Proliferation of satellite cells is responsible for formation of new muscle cells during development and regeneration. Signals governing satellite cell growth were studied using a tissue culture system consisting of single myofibers with attached satellite cells. The cells remain quiescent in basal medium but enter the cell cycle in response to growth factor obtained from injured muscle. The growth factor exhibits both source and target specificity and appears to be a polypeptide greater than 30 Kd. Satellite cells exposed to growth factor enter the S phase of the cell cycle by 18 h and proliferate with a generation time of 12 h. The growth factor is active in vivo and increases the proliferation and fusion of satellite cells to myofibers when injected intramuscularly in rat pups or adults. In addition to positive signals, satellite cell growth is modulated by negative feedback from the mature myofiber, as satellite cells removed from single myofibers by centrifugation show increased sensitivity to growth factor. The mitotic inhibition imposed on satellite cells results from contact with the myofiber plasmalemma and not the basal lamina, as shown by comparison of satellite cell mitogenesis in killed and living myofibers. PMID- 2607952 TI - Fibroblast growth factor is stored in fiber extracellular matrix and plays a role in regulating muscle hypertrophy. AB - A polyclonal antibody specific to bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) localizes bFGF in the extracellular matrix of rat skeletal muscle fibers, where it is bound by the heparin-rich basal lamina. FGF accumulation appears to be augmented in hypertrophied compared to control fibers. In addition, FGF-like growth activity can be isolated from hypertrophied muscle. This growth activity binds to heparin and can be purified by heparin-affinity chromatography. When assayed in a chick myogenic cell culture system, the purified rat growth activity stimulates myobenic cell replication and stimulates myosin accumulation and synthesis. The function, in vivo, of basal lamina-localized FGF in rat muscle is not known, but it is most probably related to increased satellite cell replication seen during normal fiber maturation, during work-induced hypertrophy, and during regeneration. During hypertrophy, we observe the appearance of new fibers in addition to growth of preexisting fibers. It is hypothesized that muscle hypertrophy involves activation of satellite cells which may then fuse with existing fibers and, in addition, also form new fibers. PMID- 2607953 TI - Training for ultraendurance triathlons. AB - There are wide individual variations in training distances and paces for each of the three activities involved in a triathlon. Peak weekly swim distances ranged from 1 to 20 miles, with an average weekly distance of 7.2 miles. Usual swim training pace varied from 17 to 50 min.mile-1, with an average swim training pace of 29.6 min.mile-1. Peak weekly cycling distances ranged from 15 to 435 miles; average was 227 miles. Cycling pace averaged 18.6 mph and ranged from 13 to 26 mph. Run distances ranged from 4 to 100 miles.wk-1 at paces between 5 1/2 and 14 min.mile-1. Average run training was 45 miles.wk-1 at a 7 min 42 s pace. There was little or no systematic difference in training between males and females. Younger triathletes, however, tended to train greater distances at faster paces. Faster finishers (less than 10.5 h in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon) tended to average greater training distances at faster paces than slower finishers. There was, however, a great deal of overlap in training practices according to finish time. Faster finishers in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon were able to maintain their training paces throughout all three activities of the triathlon. Large differences were seen between faster finishers and slower finishers, particularly in the ability to hold run training pace during the race. The reason for this remains unclear. Training distances appear to be more important than training paces in preparation for an ultraendurance triathlon. PMID- 2607954 TI - Medical care at ultraendurance triathlons. AB - With the increasing participation in triathlons of all distances has come a corresponding increase in the need for competent medical information relating to the care of these triathletes. Although medical organization at triathlons involves certain principles which should be applied regardless of race specifics, there are certain other arrangements that will vary with the size and length of the event. For example, the longer races require a reliable communication system, fully equipped mobile response teams, and a larger number of medical staff. Medical communication needs can be served by having priority medical transmissions via UHF radio from mobile vans to a main medical station. An average of 2.5 physicians and 7.5 nurses and other paramedical volunteers for each group of 100 competitors has been found to be sufficient to meet the medical needs of triathletes. The swim, although having the greatest potential for catastrophe, accounts for only 1-3% of medical visits at the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon. Ten percent of injuries requiring medical evaluation at the Hawaii Ironman occur during the bike portion of the race. The rest occur either during the run or after finishing. Seventy-one percent of the total medical visits come directly from the finish line. Dehydration and exhaustion account for the majority of primary medical diagnoses. Appropriate medical care at triathlon races is necessary to aid athletes in safely experiencing their physical potentials. PMID- 2607955 TI - Study of acute renal ischemia in the rat using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. AB - Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy, chemical lactate measurements, and microscopic examinations were performed to investigate acute renal ischemia in rats. MR images (1H) and spectra (31P and 1H) were acquired on a 2.0-T superconducting small-bore magnet by using implanted coils. Occlusion of the renal artery induced a significant decrease in signal intensity of the renal parenchyma on T2-weighted images, which was most obvious in the outer medulla ( 50 +/- 15%, n = 8, P less than 0.001) and was the result of venous congestion, as verified histologically, 31P spectroscopy demonstrated a drop in pH from 7.3 +/- 0.2 to 6.6 +/- 0.2 (n = 18, P less than 0.001), characterized by a time constant (Tc) in the same range as that of the depletion of ATP (2.3 +/- 1.3 min versus 1.9 +/- 1.2 min, n = 10, P = ns). By means of 1H spectroscopy, a lactate peak was detected within 1.5 to 4 min of ischemia, still increasing in intensity after 1 h of ischemia. The Tc of the lactate buildup (15.9 +/- 7.5 min, n = 8) was significantly longer than that of the drop in pH (P less than 0.005). The chemically measured intrarenal concentration of lactate was 1.3 +/- 0.5 mumol/g in control kidneys and 8.7 +/- 3.2 mumol/g (P less than 0.005) in kidneys made ischemic for 1 h. The present study demonstrated important features of acute renal ischemia: (a) acute ischemia induces venous congestion in the medulla; (b) accumulation of lactate is not the main cause of the intracellular acidification observed during ischemia. PMID- 2607956 TI - Regional effects of repetition time on NMR quantitation of water in normal and edematous lungs. AB - It is well known that pulmonary edema is, in general, spatially nonuniform. Since the NMR spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) is increased by lung edema, the spatial distribution of T1 will be nonuniform. When the repetition time (TR) is short relative to the T1 of edematous lung, lung water content will be underestimated and this underestimation will be spatially nonuniform as well. Therefore, technical artifacts which are a complex function of lung edema and its spatial distribution are expected. We compared overall and regional (topographic) lung water density measurements obtained from living rats (with normal or edematous lungs) using repetition times of 2.0 and 6.2 s (at a magnetic field of 1 T), to quantify this uneven T1 effect for normal and edematous lungs. NMR measurements at TR = 2.0 s underestimated whole lung water density (-rho H2O) TR = 6.2 s) by an average of 7.2% in normal rats and 22.5% in rats with pulmonary edema. Regional -rho H2O underestimation (%delta-rho H2O) varied from 2.2 to 8.8% (groups means) in normal lungs and from 7.3 to 30.8% in edematous lungs. As a result, the interquartile range (of the voxel distribution as a function of rho H2O) underestimated the spatial nonuniformity of lung water density by 28.0% in edematous lungs, likely because of greater loss of NMR signal from high-water density, long-T1 lung regions. Both %delta-rho H2O and T1 were significantly correlated with -rho H2O at TR = 6.2 s.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2607957 TI - Differential flow imaging by NMR. AB - A new method for spatially resolved NMR flow measurements, named differential flow imaging (DFI), is introduced and experimentally verified. The DFI technique is based on the fact that flow velocity in any direction may cause a pixel position shift in the phase-encoding direction of a 2DFT NMR image. In this method two flow-influenced magnitude images are obtained by properly encoding and/or compensating the flow velocity. A spatial map of the desired component of the flow velocity can consequently be calculated from these two images. Since the DFI technique uses only the magnitude information of the complex images, it is not sensitive to systematic phase errors in contrast to other methods which are based on the phase measurements. On the other hand, the DFI technique can be combined with the phase measurement methods to perform multidimensional flow measurements in a shorter data acquisition time when the phase errors are small or corrected. PMID- 2607958 TI - Spin locking for magnetic resonance imaging with application to human breast. AB - The dependence of rotating frame spin-lattice relaxation, T1 rho on locking field frequency, f1, was measured for phantom materials and human breast tissues. These data were used to predict the relative signal strengths obtainable in a spin locking imaging sequence. This imaging sequence was implemented on a 0.15-T imaging system and measurements of phantom and tissue signal strength for various imaging parameters agreed with predicted signal strengths. Compared to T1 and T2, T1 rho appears to have unique capability to distinguish tumor from normal fat and fibrous breast tissues. The applications of T1 rho to tissue characterization and imaging at high static field strengths are discussed. PMID- 2607959 TI - Water referencing for spectroscopic imaging. AB - A water referencing algorithm for addressing the spectroscopic imaging problems of low SNR and main field inhomogeneities is proposed. Using the location of the water peak from each voxel and additional a priori information results in a parametric estimation problem. Optimum estimates of the desired metabolite concentration can then be computed and displayed in an image format. The algorithm is shown to be very stable in the presence of noise and is insensitive to Bo inhomogeneity. A detailed error analysis as well as extensions to the basic data model are also discussed. Results from both 1H and 31P experiments are presented to verify the predicted good performance even with extremely low signal to-noise ratio data. PMID- 2607960 TI - Piezoelectric-controlled tuning capacitor for surface coils. AB - The design of a piezoelectric-controlled trimmer capacitor and its use as a tuning element of an MRI surface coil at 63.8 MHz are described. It is found that image quality does not depend strongly on match of the coil to the transmission line but that tuning can be a significant factor. The work is intended to lead eventually to an automatic frequency control circuit in which the capacitor serves as the active element in holding the resonant frequency of the nuclei and the resonant frequency of the coil in coincidence. PMID- 2607961 TI - Localized volume selection technique using an additional radial gradient coil. AB - A volume selection technique for the localized NMR imaging using an additional radial gradient is proposed. This volume selection gradient is the fourth gradient in addition to the usual 3-dimensional imaging gradients, i.e., x-, y-, and z-directional gradients, and is of the radial form. The principle of the proposed method is the use of the radial gradient in conjunction with the selective RF pulse thereby selecting a small cylindrical volume which can be used for the 3-dimensional volume imaging with fewer encoding steps than those of the conventional full 3-dimensional volume imaging. The present technique combined with the fast steady state free precession gradient echo imaging sequence allows us to reduce the total scan time to several minutes for the 3-dimensional volume imaging with the spatial resolution of 1 x 1 x 1 mm or to spend the same scan time for the 3-dimensional imaging with improved spatial resolution. The basic principle of the radial gradient coil consisting of a main circular loop coil and an offset compensating Helmholtz coil is discussed and the construction details are presented. Some experimental results of the proposed volume selection imaging technique as well as computer simulation results are also given. PMID- 2607962 TI - Multiple-output chemical shift imaging (MOCSI): a practical technique for rapid spectroscopic imaging. AB - A new technique for rapid multiple-frame chemical shift imaging and localized spectroscopy is reported. Unlike phase-encoding techniques and multiple-delay chemical shift imaging techniques, this technique permits spectroscopic imaging at high spatial resolution and moderately high spectral resolution with acquisition times as short as 10 min or less. Unlike other rapid spectroscopic imaging techniques which have been reported, it uses cyclic trapezoidal gradient waveforms achievable in standard clinical magnetic resonance imaging systems. Multiple-output chemical shift imaging images and spectra from a human study are shown. PMID- 2607963 TI - The synthesis of pulse sequences yielding arbitrary magnetization vectors. AB - A new procedure and algorithm are presented to allow the synthesis of a pulse sequence which will generate an arbitrary frequency-dependent spin excitation. This procedure is a generalization of our previous paper, where this was done subject to the restriction that the spin excitation was symmetric about zero offset frequency, and pulses were restricted to being about a fixed axis. The required final z-magnetization vector (Mz) is expressed as a function of the off resonance frequency as an Nth order complex Fourier series. We then form a consistent Fourier series for (Mxy). As many as 2(2)N different pulse sequences may be directly generated all of which produce a different Mxy(f), but the same Mz(f). A pulse sequence is then generated which will yield the desired Mz(f) and Mxy(f). This is done by an analytic inversion of the Bloch equation, not by the classical Fourier approximation. This technique enables us to generate any Mz which is potentially realizable by a pulse sequence. PMID- 2607964 TI - The use of finite impulse response filters in pulse design. AB - We develop a new way of synthesizing pulse sequences with desirable frequency characteristics. By combining our previous results with techniques from the theory of finite impulse response filters, we can specify (1) the total duration of the pulse sequence, (2) the frequency ranges it is desired to perturb, (3) the desired perturbation, and (4) the frequency range it is desired not to perturb. We can then synthesize a hard pulse sequence which will yield that desired perturbation with the minimal possible error. The minimum error is global, in the sense that no pulse sequence can do better at achieving the specifications, and is not just a local minimum, around the pulse sequences close to the derived pulse. PMID- 2607965 TI - The synthesis of soft pulses with a specified frequency response. AB - We propose a new approach to synthesizing shaped pulses, by first synthesizing a hard pulse sequence and then converting it to a soft pulse. In previous papers, we developed a new approach to synthesizing hard pulse sequences by exactly inverting the Bloch equation, which yields the optimal frequency response. These results can now be applied to shaped pulses. Specifically, one can specify (1) the total duration of the pulse, (2) the frequency range it is desired to perturb, (3) the perturbation desired and, (4) the frequency range it is desired not to perturb. One can then synthesize a shaped pulse which has the desired effect with the least possible error. This enables us to obtain very sharp inversion and pi/2 pulses. PMID- 2607966 TI - The application of spinors to pulse synthesis and analysis. AB - We show how spinors may be used to solve many problems in pulse synthesis and analysis. They provide an elegant simple notation for many problems. We show how one can specify the component of a spinor and then, by exactly solving the Bloch equations, synthesize a hard pulse sequence or a soft pulse which will yield the desired spinor. This is done by generalizing our previous approach to inverting the Bloch equations. This can be applied to synthesizing refocusing pulses. Finally, some simple consequences about symmetric pulses are derived. It is shown that given a symmetric inversion pulse, one can always synthesize an asymmetric inverting pulse of the same duration, which, as an inversion, is better. PMID- 2607967 TI - Compensation for effects of linear motion in MR imaging. AB - Various compensation methods for different types of motion during MR image acquisition have been proposed. Presented here is a postprocessing scheme for eliminating artifacts due to linear, intra-slice motion of known velocity. The data for each phase encoding or "view" acquired from a moving object are shown to differ from those which would be measured from the stationary object by a phase factor which depends on the object's displacement from a reference point. This derivation is then used to propose a correction scheme for linear motion in which all phase encodings measured at different positions of the moving object are collapsed onto the same reference position. After subsequent reconstruction, the object appears perfectly "focused." By selection of different reference positions, the method permits positioning of the compensated object as desired within the field of view of the image. This property allows the method to be extended to create sequences of corrected images with smooth object motion between frames of the sequence. The basic correction scheme and its variations were tested experimentally in phantom studies with velocities as large as 8 cm/s. PMID- 2607968 TI - Localization and functional analysis of the regulated promoter from the Streptomyces glaucescens mel operon. AB - The transcription initiation site of the mel operon from Streptomyces glaucescens, determined by S1 mapping and primer elongation experiments, lies 32 to 34 bp upstream of the translation initiation codon of the first open reading frame. A total of 172 to 219 bp upstream of the transcription start point are necessary for a fully active and regulated mel promoter. Deletion analysis, gel retardation assays and DNAse I footprint experiments facilitated division of the promoter into three functional domains, which include the RNA polymerase recognition site up to nucleotides -33 to -42, the binding region of a protein of assumed regulatory function between nucleotides -65 and -93, and an upstream activator site, located between positions -158 and -219. PMID- 2607969 TI - Cloning and analysis of a deletable tetracycline-resistance determinant of Streptomyces lividans 1326. AB - An unstable determinant encoding resistance to tetracycline and minocycline has been cloned and characterized. It could be demonstrated that this determinant shares extensive homology with the otrA gene identified in Streptomyces rimosus. Tetracycline-sensitive variants of Streptomyces lividans derive mostly by deletion of this resistance determinant and neighbouring DNA regions. PMID- 2607970 TI - Regulation of enterobacterial cephalosporinase production: the role of a membrane bound sensory transducer. AB - In clinical isolates of Enterobacter cloacae, resistance to the newer beta-lactam antibiotics often results from overproduction of a cephalosporinase encoded by the beta-lactam-inducible ampC gene. Regulation of ampC is controlled by the divergently expressed activator gene, ampR, and a second unlinked locus. In this presentation we show that although Escherichia coli has lost its ampR gene it has retained the second regulatory locus and that this comprises the bicistronic ampDE operon. Genetic and biochemical studies define the ampD gene as encoding a repressor for ampC transcription whereas the ampE gene product is a cytoplasmic membrane protein. Inactivation of the AmpD protein by mutation causes massive overproduction of cephalosporinase which, in E. cloacae, can terminate in therapeutic failure. In contrast, loss of AmpE results in a total block in induction, despite the presence of the activator, AmpR. PMID- 2607971 TI - Bill F.: signs of the times read from the life of one mentally retarded man. AB - The history of a field is ultimately made up of the lives of people. This partial biography of one mentally retarded person affords a deep glimpse into the realities of "the field" of mental retardation as well as our society in general. PMID- 2607972 TI - Role of Human Rights Committees in the review of restrictive/aversive behavior modification procedures: a national survey. AB - Public residential facilities were surveyed regarding the roles played by their Human Rights Committees in the review of restrictive/aversive behavior modification procedures. Almost 98% of the responding facilities reported that they had an active Human Rights Committee, with the largest plurality of members being staff members from the facility. Review of restrictive/aversive procedures was a role for over 95% of the committees, even though most committees appeared to lack great degrees of expertise in the clinical use of behavior modification. Other areas of review were discussed. PMID- 2607973 TI - Impact of a cash subsidy program for families of children with severe developmental disabilities. AB - The impact of a cash subsidy program on 81 families raising children with severe handicaps was examined. Families were interviewed prior to receiving the $225 monthly subsidy and one year later. Mothers reported significantly less family stress, particularly related to financial stress, and enhanced life satisfaction. Furthermore, they were less likely to anticipate out-of-home placement for their child after receiving the subsidy. In general, lower income and black mothers were less likely to plan placement. However, the number of families stating that they planned placement was too small to allow us to fully explore the interrelations between out-of-home placement and various social, cultural, and economic factors. PMID- 2607974 TI - Communicative interaction between teachers and children with severe handicaps. AB - The content and structure of teacher input language to children with severe handicaps during early stages of language development were examined. Teacher child dyads (N = 21) were videotaped during interactions in a semi-structured play setting. Each child was ranked as to level of communicative abilities on a scale of early communicative behaviors. Results showed that teachers adjusted the complexity of their linguistic requests based on the child's level of communication and modulated their requests based on children's responses from one moment to the next. The structure of the teacher's utterances was not as closely attuned to the communicative levels of the children. Issues and problems relating to adults' linguistic interaction with children with handicaps were discussed. PMID- 2607975 TI - Employment preparation for high school students with severe handicaps. AB - An ecological model for employment preparation in high schools that is based upon successful postschool community job placement for students with severe handicaps was discussed. The functions of employment training were analyzed, the components of a community-referenced model for high school training described, and implications drawn for model utility in relation to curriculum and instruction in high school programs. PMID- 2607976 TI - Nuclear magnetic resonance. Part B. Structure and mechanism. PMID- 2607977 TI - Proton nuclear magnetic resonance assignments. AB - The procedures outlined here have been used successfully for more than 30 proteins to date, and are nearly routine for molecules up to a molecular weight of 10,000. Some of the proteins assigned have a molecular weight greater than 10,000. For these larger proteins, relayed-COSY and TOCSY experiments have been essential for the identification of spin systems, although for thioredoxin these experiments could not be used. In this case, assignments were accomplished using nonspecific deuteration to the level of 75% and specific, nearly complete, deuteration of certain kinds of residues (see LeMaster [2], this volume). Nonspecific deuteration reduces the cross-relaxation rates of each proton to the rest of the molecule, thus reducing the linewidths. The cross-peak patterns were also narrowed due to simplification of the coupling patterns. Such a laborious procedure of nonspecific deuteration may not be necessary for complete proton assignments of proteins in this size range, as evidenced by the fact that this method was not used for the other two molecules mentioned above. It may prove, however, to be quite valuable in the study of larger molecules, where linewidths are expected to increase due to longer rotational correlation times. Overlap problems in the NH chemical shifts can be dealt with by making use of the differential temperature dependence of these shifts. Another technique is to take advantage of the wide range of exchange rates between these protons and the solvent. Spectra containing only the slowly exchanging NH protons can be obtained by acquiring spectra of the protein soon after dilution in D2O, and spectra of only the rapidly exchanging protons can be obtained by obtaining spectra in a freshly prepared H2O solution of the protein after having completely exchanged all the NH protons with deuterium. Variation of the pH will resolve problems of overlap in all regions of the spectrum, although many chemical shifts may be unaffected by pH. In some cases, pH variation may change the conformation of the molecule. This may, in fact, assist in the sequential assignment if the chemical shifts can be followed with pH. Finally, the relayed-NOESY experiments can resolve overlap problems with the alpha-proton chemical shifts. Thus, it is very likely that the assignment methods outlined here will be successful for the assignment of the proton spectra of even larger molecules if there is significant secondary structure and significant variety of residues to provide enough dispersion of the chemical shifts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2607978 TI - Computer-assisted resonance assignments. AB - Investigation of NMR spectra by automatic procedures began only a few years ago. Many projects are still in progress and results have not been published; completed projects, with published results, have not yet found their final form. Other approaches might be incorporated. One example is the simulation of cross peaks. These calculations explicitly take into account spectral parameters set for data acquisition and processing. They thus allow realistic simulations of expected peak patterns. Comparison of experimentally obtained peaks with a collection of simulated peaks helps characterize the spin system and determine coupling constants, especially in strongly coupled systems. Whereas automatic assignment procedures will require improvement for quite some time, it seems that useful and time-saving software tools complementing pure computer graphics will be available in the very near future. PMID- 2607979 TI - Distance geometry. PMID- 2607980 TI - Molecular dynamics simulation techniques for determination of molecular structures from nuclear magnetic resonance data. PMID- 2607981 TI - Deuteration in protein proton magnetic resonance. PMID- 2607982 TI - Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance of phosphoproteins. PMID- 2607983 TI - Isotopic labeling with hydrogen-2 and carbon-13 to compare conformations of proteins and mutants generated by site-directed mutagenesis, II. PMID- 2607984 TI - Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance of enzyme complexes: bound ligand structure, dynamics, and environment. PMID- 2607985 TI - Fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance of fluorinated ligands. PMID- 2607986 TI - Ligand-protein interactions via nuclear magnetic resonance of quadrupolar nuclei. PMID- 2607987 TI - Ligand conformations and ligand-enzyme interactions as studied by the nuclear Overhauser effect. PMID- 2607988 TI - Mechanistic studies utilizing oxygen-18 analyzed by carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. PMID- 2607989 TI - Positional isotope exchange using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance. AB - This chapter has presented the basic methods involved in the use of 31P NMR to study positional isotope exchange in enzyme-catalyzed reactions involving phosphorus-containing substrates. The method is straightforward but requires synthesis of specific 18O isotopically labeled substrates at the site of bond cleavage. Analysis of the kinetic consequences of the PIX reaction depends on the nature of the enzymatic reaction and the number of other substrates involved in the kinetic reaction mechanism. This may be simple or formidable. From the examples described in this article one can appreciate that PIX experiments, when combined with other kinetic methods, can in favorable cases unravel many (if not all) of the rate constants in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. PMID- 2607990 TI - Enzyme regulation of metabolic flux. PMID- 2607991 TI - Monitoring intracellular metabolism by nuclear magnetic resonance. PMID- 2607992 TI - Computer programs related to nuclear magnetic resonance: availability, summaries, and critiques. PMID- 2607993 TI - An in vitro method to study the adherence of oral bacteria to HeLa cells. AB - Exfoliated buccal epithelial cells have been widely used in microbial adherence studies, but present a number of problems due to their variable nature and to contamination with indigenous bacteria. An adherence assay was developed using HeLa cell monolayers which were washed with buffer, or treated with saliva or serum to mimic buccal or crevicular epithelial cells, respectively. A total of eighteen strains of oral bacteria tested showed a low affinity for untreated HeLa cells, but most strains adhered in high numbers to saliva treated HeLa cells. A few strains, usually present in the gingival crevice, demonstrated a high affinity for serum treated HeLa cells. Thus, salivary and crevicular fluid components appear to be specifically implicated in the selective adherence and colonization of bacteria on oral surfaces. PMID- 2607994 TI - Isolation of medically significant Vibrio species from riverine sources in south east Queensland. AB - Vibrio and Vibrio-like bacteria were isolated from water, sediments, plants and faeces from eight riverine sites in South East Queensland, Australia, using filtrations, enrichments and selective growth on thiosulphate-citrate-bile salts sucrose (TCBS) and Simidu agars. Isolates (402 in toto) were classified by numerical analysis of phenotypic characteristics and comparison with fifteen reference cultures. Of the isolates 41 (10.2%) were identified as Vibrio cholerae, 33 (8.2%) as V. fluvialis and 118 (29.4%) as motile Aeromonas species. Other isolates resembled V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, V. vulnificus and V. hollisae. No isolates were positively identified as V. damsela or Plesiomonas shigelloides. Vibrio species tolerant of low salt levels and aeromonads were widely distributed in riverine locations but more halophilic species were restricted to more saline areas. Simidu agar failed to select for vibrios as effectively as TCBS agar. Enrichment for 18 h produced more isolates than for 6 h. PMID- 2607995 TI - Influence of diltiazem on postischemic microcirculation and function in the rat kidney. AB - Renal microcirculation and function were studied in the unilateral clamp-induced ischemia/reperfusion model in anesthetized rats. After 60-min reperfusion fluorochromelabeled globulin was injected i.v. allowing histological determination of capillary plasma flow patterns (CPFP). In the 60-min ischemia protocol the untreated group revealed poor capillary labeling in the outer medulla (OM), whereas cortical perfusion patterns were only slightly altered. Pre and postischemic treatment with diltiazem led to significant improvement of CPFP in the OM: 4.9% of tissue areas were lying more than 60 microns from the next perfused capillary vs 70.2% after untreated ischemia. Postischemic treatment with diltiazem proved much less effective. Inulin clearance (CIn) amounted to less than 2% of baseline values irrespective of the treatment regimen. However, in the 30-min ischemia protocol, displaying normal CPFP, preservation of CIn was evident and most effective after pre- and postischemic diltiazem treatment (53% vs 8% after untreated ischemia). Measurements of tubular function, however, did not reveal any significant improvement after diltiazem treatment. This observation and the fact that the drugs has a vasodilating effect lend support to the view that the preservation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is most likely mediated by vascular mechanisms. In conclusion, in this experimental model diltiazem significantly reduced postischemic disturbances of renal microcirculation occurring after prolonged periods of ischemia and was clearly efficient in maintaining GFR after shorter ischemic episodes; however, tubular function was not preserved. Our results, as well as those of other authors, strongly suggest that diltiazem causes the aforementioned effects mainly by actions at the vascular site. PMID- 2607996 TI - The microvascular system of the optic nerve in control and enucleated rats. AB - The microvascular system of the optic nerve of the rat was examined morphometrically to determine the effect of enucleation of one eye at birth on the microvascular development in the contralateral optic nerve. For this purpose, two groups of rats were used: three were unilaterally enucleated on the day of birth and studied on postnatal Day 28; three littermates were used as controls. Using plastic embedded semithin sections, we analyzed various parameters and compared the results statistically. The average diameter of microvessels up to 7.5 microns was found to be 4.7 +/- 0.2 micron in controls and 5.3 +/- 0.5 micron in experimental rats. The density of microvessels expressed as the mean number of sectioned capillaries per tissue area was 137 +/- 25/mm2 in the control group and 169 +/- 32/mm2 in the experimental group. The intravascular volume fraction percentage (Vv), which represents the volume fraction of the capillary network per unit of optic nerve volume (mm3/mm3%), was 0.06% in the controls and 0.10% in the enucleated rats. Total length of capillaries per unit of volume (Lv) averaged 1050 +/- 112 and 2235 +/- 195 mm/mm3 in control and experimental groups, respectively. The internal capillary surface area available for metabolic exchange expressed per volume unit (Sv) was 15.5 +/- 2.1 and 37.2 +/- 2.8 mm2/mm3 in control and experimental groups, respectively. These results, together with the lack of ultrastructural modifications in the vascular walls of microvessels, suggest that these rearrangements of the capillary system in the enucleated group could be triggered by an increase in the optic nerve metabolism resulting from monocular vision. PMID- 2607997 TI - Prediction of oxygen transport rates in blood flowing in large capillaries. AB - A mathematical model has been developed to predict oxygen transport to and from blood flowing in tubes of the diameter of arterioles and larger (approximately 20 microns and larger). The resistance to oxygen transport in red cell suspensions is much higher than that of a comparable homogeneous hemoglobin solution. The increased resistance is associated with encapsulation of the hemoglobin in the red cells. Yet, somewhat paradoxically, for large capillaries relatively little resistance is within or in the immediate vicinity of the red cells. The great majority of the resistance is shown to be distributed in the plasma. Predictions of oxygen uptake and release are shown to be in excellent agreement with results of measurements taken on red cell suspensions flowing in capillaries of 27- and 100-microns diameter. The model seems to be the first for oxygen transport in flowing blood that is validated by detailed comparison with experimental results. It is a predictive model in that all parameters in the model are determined from independent measurements or from the literature. PMID- 2607998 TI - Postocclusive reactive hyperemia of fingertips, monitored by laser Doppler velocimetry in the diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon. AB - Measurement of laser Doppler flow on the fingertip was evaluated before and after occlusion of the fingerbase for 5 min by suprasystolic compression in normal control subjects and in patients with several types of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). Baseline flow values differed significantly (P less than 0.002) between the 24 normals and the 29 primary Raynaud patients but there was a considerable overlap between the primary and the secondary Raynaud group. The postocclusive reactive hyperemia parameters showed an improved discrimination between the patients with primary RP and the 38 patients with secondary RP. The patients with scleroderma and those with arterial obstructive disease of the finger had the lowest increase in flow. Of all the indices analyzed none showed an optimal discrimination among the several subtypes of finger ischemia. The parameters that represent the increase in laser Doppler values after occlusion differentiated best between primary and secondary types (P less than 0.02). Time variables after the peak were more suitable to differentiate scleroderma patients from those with arterial obstructive disease (P less than 0.002). The reproducibility of the laser Doppler monitored postocclusive response in normals was found to be only moderate (standard error of a single observation varies between 7 and 43% for different parameters). In conclusion postocclusive reactive hyperemia may be useful in determining the degree of obstructive vascular disease in groups of patients presenting with RP. It is not sensitive enough to discriminate adequately among individuals in the several subgroups. PMID- 2607999 TI - Tridimensional ultrastructure of glomerular capillary endothelium revealed by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. AB - Recent advances in specimen preparation techniques and scanning electron microscope (SEM) design have permitted ultrastructural examination of the glomerular capillary wall in three dimensions using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM). Specimens in which the cytosol and cytoskeleton have been extracted, but cell membranes nuclear structures and organelles left in place, were studied using a Hitachi SEM with a resolution of approximately 3 nm. Each HRSEM micrograph displayed a depth of field and information content equivalent to 15-30 consecutive, ultrathin, transmission electron microscope (TEM) sections viewed simultaneously in perfect serial alignment. The results have confirmed previous ultrastructural observations obtained by use of TEM and, in addition, have revealed new ultrastructural features of the normal rat glomerulus. A morphometric analysis of glomerular endothelium carried out using the HRSEM micrographs revealed that the endothelial cell processes, which lie between the fenestrae, are nearly circular in cross section and that they, as well as the fenestrae, have a diameter of approximately 60 nm. The potential functional role of the fenestrae in controlling access to the underlying basement membrane requires further study. PMID- 2608000 TI - Filterability of different human leukocyte subpopulations. PMID- 2608001 TI - Collaborative research: all things considered. PMID- 2608002 TI - Toward safe weight loss. PMID- 2608003 TI - A study of licensed Michigan nurses. PMID- 2608004 TI - A statement of beliefs about HIV infection. PMID- 2608005 TI - Recommended guidelines for HIV testing. PMID- 2608006 TI - [The use of fast electrons with different energies in the selection of Streptomyces kanamyceticus]. AB - It is shown on the prototrophic strain Streptomyces kanamyceticus that relative biological activity of neutrons is higher than that of gamma rays and depends on the bundle energy. The mutagenic efficiency of superfast neutrons is 2-3 times as high as the effect of neutrons with the energy of 1.4-1.6 MeV. The antibiotic production trait in the obtained variants of S. kanamyceticus is established to be unstable. Variants obtained under the effect of superfast neutrons are more stable. The promising strains are obtained for the further breeding. PMID- 2608007 TI - [Characteristics of the action of the influenza virus on the microcirculatory vessels in an experiment]. AB - The dynamic light-optic and electron microscopic examination of the organs of experimental animals with the influenza infection have revealed the most pronounced pathology in vessels of the lung and brain microcirculation. The early developing perivascular edema around capillaries which is induced by an increase in the transcellular transport without a disturbance of the dense contact integrity is observed in the brain tissue. Variations in the lung microvessels manifested in a rise of the pinocytosis activity of endothelial cells, in a change of the luminal surface profile and damage of the supermembrane layer. A reversible aggregation of plate and erythrocytes was observed in the lung and brain microvessel lumen at early periods. The revealed changes, including the main of them--microvessel permeability disturbance, are associated with the dynamics of the concentration of the influenza virus and its complexes with antibodies in the organs under study. PMID- 2608008 TI - [Cellular immunity in experimental infections caused by Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum]. AB - The cell-mediated immunity was assessed in guinea pigs with experimental infection induced by Mycobacterium avium and M. scrofulaceum. It is established that the cell immunity indices in vitro correlate with the spread and gravity of the pathological process as well as with the tension of the immunological reactivity of the organism. PMID- 2608009 TI - [The biological properties of low-molecular staphylococcal peptides]. AB - Staphylopeptides with molecular weight less than 4000 Da, possessing their own specific allergic activity in skin allergic tests. immunoleukolysis test and phagocytosis breaking test were obtained by the acid extraction method. PMID- 2608011 TI - [Pilot projects]. PMID- 2608010 TI - [The biological activity and physicochemical properties of a new bacteriocin from a strain of Pseudomonas cepacia 5779]. AB - Pseudomonas cepacia 5779 bacteriocin (cepaciacin) whose producer was revealed due to application of the special screening system has been studied for its certain biological and physicochemical properties. Possessing a narrow range of action, it inhibits only the P. cepacia strains. Its biosynthesis occurs more intensely on the rich nutrient media, the highest quantities of cepaciacine being revealed at the terminal stage of the produced log growth. UV irradiation or mitomycin C introduction into the medium stimulated biosynthesis of this bacteriocin. Cepaciacin P. cepacia 5779 is a complex consisting of several protein subunits and carbon part. The protein-carbohydrate ratio is 3:1. The molecular weight of the complex is 1.8 x 10(6) Da. Lipopolysaccharides isolated from the indicator strain being added, cepaciacine loses its activity. This bacteriocin is stable in the narrow range of pH, thermolabile, decomposes under the effect of proteases and is, evidently, a representative of a new type of the bacteriocin-like substances. PMID- 2608012 TI - [Neuro- and embryotoxic side effects of vitamin B6]. PMID- 2608013 TI - [Immunocytochemical investigations of cardiac and vessel allograft arteriosclerosis using smooth muscle cell and macrophage-specific monoclonal antibodies]. AB - Accelerated coronary arteriosclerosis is one of the major complications affecting long-term survival in cardiac transplantation. In this study, we sought to clarify the cellular components in cardiac and vessel allograft arteriosclerotic lesions using monoclonal antibodies specific to either the muscle actin (HHF 35) or the macrophage (RAM 11). Four kinds of allogeneic transplantations were performed in the rabbits: 1) cardiac heterotopic transplantations, low cholesterol-fed (n = 6), 2) cardiac heterotopic transplantations, 1% cholesterol fed (n = 6), 3) vessel transplantations, low cholesterol-fed (n = 6), 4) vessel transplantations, 1% cholesterol-fed (n = 6). All recipients were immunosuppressed with cyclosporine. The donor hearts and the arterial grafts were excised 5 weeks after transplantation and submitted to immunocytochemical analysis. The intimal lesions in both groups 1 and 3 were composed of infiltrating mononuclear cells and HHF 35 positive smooth muscle cells. The more thickened intima in both groups 2 and 4 were occupied with smooth muscle cells and foam cells, which were derived from macrophages. These data suggest that the proliferation of smooth muscle cells might be a major factor contributing to graft arteriosclerosis, and that long term exposure to hypercholesterolemia could induce the accumulation of smooth muscle cells or macrophage derived foam cells. PMID- 2608014 TI - [Flow cytometric cell cycle analysis using a monoclonal antibody to bromodeoxyuridine on gastric cancers]. AB - Flow cytometric cell cycle analysis using a monoclonal antibody to Bromodeoxyuridine was performed on 117 gastric cancers. Dissociated cells were stained with indirect immunostaining for BrdU (FITC-BrdU) and propidium iodide. Bivariate BrdU/DNA distribution were obtained using EPICS-C flow cytometry. Tumor ploidy was classified as follows, D1: diploidy, D2: diploidy + aneuploidy, A1: single aneuploidy, A2: multiple aneuploidies. The ploidies of noncancerous gastric mucosa were all diploidy and that of S-phase fraction(SPF) were ranged from 0.0% to 1.2%. In 117 gastric cancers, aneuploidy was observed in 80 cases, D2: 38, A1: 15, A2: 27. SPF was higher in aneuploidy (14.5 +/- 5.1%) than diploidy (6.1 +/- 5.1%). Significant differences were observed between that of D1 (6.1 +/- 2.5) and D2 (13.6 +/- 6.2), A1 (12.5 +/- 4.5), A2 (16.0 +/- 3.2), and A1 and A2 (p less than 0.01). The patients with aneuploid tumors had poor prognosis than diploid tumors (p less than 0.05). In concerned with DNA ploidy pattern, the patients with A2 had most poor prognosis than the other (p less than 0.05). Furthermore, the patients with SPF over 10% had poor prognosis than that of SPF below 10%. These results indicated that DNA ploidy pattern and SPF may possibly be useful prognostic markers for gastric cancers. PMID- 2608015 TI - [A study on the changes in the tracheo-bronchial mucosa after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer; with special reference to the influence of neck and upper mediastinal lymph node dissections]. AB - The tracheo-bronchial mucosa of 27 surgical patients with esophageal cancer was examined by bronchofiberscope postoperatively, and the changes of the mucosa were divided into four grades, i.e., GI: no change or slight redness only (7 cases), GII: Severe redness or erosion (7 cases), GIII: Ulcer formation (11 cases) and GIV: Necrosis of the mucosa (2 cases). All the GI-III changes were reversible. However, GIV change was irreversible. The biopsy specimens were taken from the mucosa of the tracheal bifurcation on the 7th postoperative day, showing squamous metaplasia in 9 of 13 patients. Bilateral modified neck and upper mediastinal lymph node dissections were performed in 18 of 27 patients. The change of the mucosa was judged as GIII or IV in 12 of 18 patients (67%), whereas the change was less significant in the remaining 6 patients. Namely, the degree of mucosal change did not necessarily correspond with the extent of lymph node dissection. The changes of the mucosa were considered to be brought about not only by tracheo bronchial ischemia but also by injurious effects on the pulmonary parenchyma following aggressive lymph node dissection. The assessment of the degree of the mucosal change might be a useful indicator for postoperative management of esophageal cancer patients. PMID- 2608016 TI - [A clinicopathological studies on gastrointestinal leiomyosarcomas, with special reference to prognosis]. AB - Twenty-five cases of gastrointestinal leiomyosarcomas were subjected to clinico pathological studies in an attempt to correlate the prognosis with tumor size, mitosis, cellularity and DNA ploidy pattern. Leiomyosarcomas greater than 5cm in diameter had poorer prognosis. Those with mitotic index larger than 3.0/mm2, cellularity larger than 3.0/0.0004mm2, DNA aneuploidy had poorer prognosis. By multiple regression analysis, mitotic index was useful for the prediction of tumor recurrence in earlier postoperative period, but cellularity, tumor size were useful for the prediction of recurrence in later postoperative period. As for the type of tumor recurrence, hematogenous metastasis was observed in 7 cases, peritoneal dissemination in 2 and local recurrence in 4. Four cases with local recurrence had all hematogenous metastasis. Two cases of gastric leiomyosarcomas developing local recurrence were greater than 10cm in diameter and gastric local resection was done for them. One case was diagnosed benign leiomyoma in the rectum histologically, but after trans-anal tumor resection local recurrence and metastasis to the lung occurred. We must pay attention to the surgical margin and the surface of tumor dissection during of the tumor, especially in larger tumors. Aggressive surgical resection is efficient for the treatment of recurrent tumors. PMID- 2608017 TI - [Effect of ileo-jejunal transposition (IJT) on gastrointestinal hormones and intestinal structure in dogs]. AB - The effects of ileo-jejunal transposition (IJT) on gastro-intestinal hormones and intestinal structure have been studied in 9 mongrel dogs. IJT was performed by isoperistaltic interposition of the distal fourth of the small bowel in the jejunum 15 cm distal from the ligament of Treitz. A test meal (carbohydrate- and fat-rich) loading was carried out in 5 dogs before and 4 and 12 weeks after the operation. Plasma concentrations of gastrointestinal hormones (GLI, GI, GIP and gastrin) were measured by radioimmunoassay using the antibodies. The six mongrel dogs were used for the histological studies. Following IJT hyperenteroglucagonemia was observed, especially in postprandial state. An increase of the mucosal thickness in the whole intestine was observed after IJT. This suggested the possibility that enteroglucagon stimulates intestinal mucosal growth as a circulating hormone. Postprandial plasma GIP levels after IJT were significantly lower at the 90, 120 and 150 min after the test meal loading than those of the preoperative state. Plasma gastrin levels were no significant differences before and after surgery. These observations lead us to conclude that enteroglucagon may play an important role in intestinal adaptation mechanisms after IJT. PMID- 2608018 TI - [Effect of blood transfusion on prognosis of colorectal cancer patients]. AB - To evaluate the effect of blood transfusion on prognosis of colorectal cancer, data of 592 patients having been operated on in our department were analyzed using Cox method, logistic regression and Mantel-Haenszel test. The predictor variables were age, tumor location, Turnbull's modification of Dukes stage, preoperative hemoglobin (HB), anesthetic time (AT), perioperative blood transfusion (BT), and intraoperative blood loss (BL). Cox analysis showed that the most significant prognostic factors were Stage and BT (p less than 0.001), followed by location and BL. Logistic analysis also revealed that Stage and BT were significant predictors of 1-year and 5-year survivals. Similar results were obtained by Mantel-Haenszel test in which the patients were stratified by Stage, and grouped by HB, BT and BL. BT was a significant factor whereas BL and HB did not achieve statistical significance. We conclude that BT is an important prognostic factor unrelated to other variables and its adverse effect on survival is of higher significance than BL and HB. Some measures including clinical decision analysis were proposed to avoid unnecessary blood transfusion in surgery. PMID- 2608019 TI - [Experimental study on functional and morphological restoration following hepatic ischemia]. AB - Restoration of damaged hepatocytes after ischemia was studied functionally and morphometrically in a rat model with partial hepatic vascular occlusion. In 30 min occlusion group (n = 35), ATP (mols/mg of protein) dropped down to nearly zero, but returned to the pre-ischemic level within 6 hours after reperfusion. The number of mitochondria (Mt)/unit area of cytoplasm (N/beta m2) increased to 1.41 times of the pre-ischemic value. Simultaneously, the area of single Mt decreased to 2/3 of the pre-ischemic value. Cellular necrosis and subsequent fibrosis were slight, not different from those of the controls. In 60 min occlusion group (n = 35), it took 14 days for ATP to return to the pre-ischemic level. An increase in the number of Mt and reduction in the Mt area, were slight compared with 30 min occlusion group. In contrast, necrosis and subsequent fibrosis markedly developed with a concomitant increase in lysosomes. In conclusion, it was suggested that, in 30 min of ischemia, active division of Mt, which is a compensatory mechanism of Mt reduced the degree in ischemic damage of hepatocytes, in contrast, in 60 min ischemia, division of mitochondria was limited, causing delayed recovery of ATP and severe necrotic change of hepatocytes. PMID- 2608020 TI - [Hemodynamic effects of anesthetic agents and bypass flow during orthotopic liver transplantation in pigs]. AB - Although the hemodynamics during orthotopic liver transplantation is unstable, it is very important for new liver to get well-controlled hemodynamics. Thus hemodynamic changes were studied, especially in relation to the influence of anesthetic agents and bypass flow in orthotopic liver transplantation in pig. Hemodynamic changes associated with NLA, GOS (sevoflurane) and GOF anesthesia were evaluated. It was difficult to maintain arterial pressure and to recover cardiac output with NLA after the bypass was removed. GOS, with which the hemodynamic condition was best maintained and no hepatotoxicity was manifest, proved the most useful of the three anesthetic agents. Hemodynamic studies based on bypass flow were made by comparing two groups, a high flow (31 +/- 4ml/kg/min) and a low flow (19 +/- 2ml/kg/min) groups, following the bypass model study conducted by 20, 30 and 40ml/kg/min. flow rates with the fixed infusion speed. In the high flow group, cardiac output and pulmonary arterial pressure were better maintained during the anhepatic phase and at the removal of the bypass. It is estimated that the low flow group was within the limits permitted, but beyond safety limits, also from the bypass model study. It is suggested that approximately 30ml/kg/min was the appropriate flow rate in pig. PMID- 2608021 TI - [An electron microscopic demonstration of the invasion of tumor cells into the diaphragm]. AB - In order to assess the important changes in the morphologic features of the surface of the diaphragm, that occur in pathological conditions leading to cancer, an electron microscopic study was carried out in rabbit following intraperitoneal injection of 1) physiological saline solution, 2) erythrocyte, and 3) VX2 tumor cells. After injection of physiological saline, or erythrocyte, a decreased number of microvilli was observed in the peritoneum of the diaphragm. After injection of VX2 tumor cells, changes occurred in the mesothelium with a decrease in cell volume becoming spherical, a subsequent hydrophobic degeneration of cytoplasm, breaking of contacts between cells and exfoliation from the basement membrane leading to stoma formation. Enlarged stoma were then rapidly occupied by the tumor cells invading the lymphatic cysterna below the basement membrane, by the 14th day after inoculation. Eventually, localized disruptions occurred in the basement membrane through which the tumor cells penetrated into the peritoneal connective tissue into the lymphatic duct of the diaphragm. It is probable that these observed stages reflect the actual etiological dissemination in the peritoneum. PMID- 2608022 TI - [Experimental and clinical studies on intrapleural instillations of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in patients with malignant pleural effusion]. AB - The author investigated the anti-tumor effect of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell induced by culture in IL-2 and performed intrapleural instillation of IL-2 in patients with malignant pleural effusion on the original protocol. The original protocol had been designed to keep high concentration of IL-2 in the effusion. The mean LAK activity in advanced esophageal cancer patients was not depressed as compared with other disease of patients and normal individuals. LAK cells expressed the surface markers of OKIa1, Leu7, and OKT8. Clinically pleural effusions and malignant cells in the effusion disappeared in all of the 12 pleural cavities in 10 patients. Therefore the validity of this therapy was 100% (CR: 3 cases, PR: 7 cases). Mean survival time from the initial administration of IL-2 was 9.0 months. Fever and eosinophilia were the main side effects of instillation of IL-2, but the symptoms were temporary and not so serious. The results suggested that intrapleural instillations of IL-2 should be highly recommended for patients with malignant pleural effusion. It seems that cytotoxic LAK cells derived from Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) in the effusion with high concentration of IL-2 might be effective to eliminated malignant cells. PMID- 2608023 TI - [Three staged operation for aneurysms of abdominal thoracoabdominal and aortic arch]. AB - Sixty-one year old man, who was diagnosed as abdominal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, underwent only Y graft replacement for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Two years later, the graft replacement was carried out for the thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Three years after the second operation, graft replacement of the aortic arch was performed under separate cerebral perfusion technique as a supportive measure, because of the gradual growth of the arch aneurysm. We recommend the distal aneurysm (abdominal aortic aneurysm) should be removed first to prevent the detachment of the thrombus in the aneurysm during proximal operation. PMID- 2608024 TI - Linear kalilo DNA is a Neurospora mitochondrial plasmid that integrates into the mitochondrial DNA. AB - The linear autonomous form of kalilo DNA (previously called AR-kalDNA) is shown to be resident within mitochondria rather than nuclei, as had been suggested by previous experiments. This form has been renamed mtAR-kalDNA, to signify its mitochondrial location. Experiments are described that illustrate the inheritance and somatic transmission patterns of the mitochondrial kalilo plasmid and the mitochondrial inserted form of kalilo DNA (mtIS-kalDNA). Progeny of a cross with a pre-senescent subculture as the female parent inherited mtAR-kalDNA only; mtIS kalDNA was not transmitted sexually. During somatic propagation of the ascospore cultures, novel kalilo DNA inserts appeared and most of them persisted until death. We propose that these inserts originated from de novo integration of mtAR kalDNA into the mitochondrial DNA. In two of the ascopore-derived series analyzed, the first inserts detected were seen only transiently and inserts appearing subsequent to the transient inserts were retained until death. We propose that these enduring inserts originated either from rearrangements of the transient inserts or from novel integration events, either from mtAR-kalDNA or from transposition of the transient inserts. PMID- 2608025 TI - The generation of transplasmic Drosophila simulans by cytoplasmic injection: effects of segregation and selection on the perpetuation of mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy. AB - Experimental transplasmic Drosophila simulans were obtained through cytoplasm microinjection between eggs carrying different mitochondrial genomes. These genomes (siII and siIII) show a 1.5% difference in their sequences. They produced a large number of heteroplasmic flies in their F1 progeny and several flies were still heteroplasmic at the eighth generation. The distribution of frequencies of mitochondrial genotypes in the offspring of heteroplasmic females suggests that the stochastic processes involved in the evolution of experimental heteroplasmy of multiple nucleotide sites are very similar to those previously described for spontaneous length heteroplasmy. In addition, the siII genome has a noticeable advantage over the siIII genome in both directions of injection. This advantage is estimated at 58% per fly generation and 5% per cell generation. PMID- 2608026 TI - Organization of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum bacteriophage psi M1 DNA. AB - psi M1 is a virulent bacteriophage of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum strain Marburg. Restriction enzyme analysis of the linear, 30.4 kb phage DNA led to a circular map of the 27.1 kb psi M1 genome. psi M1 is thus circularly permuted and exhibits terminal redundancy of approximately 3 kb. Packaging of psi M1 DNA from a concatemeric precursor initiates at the pac site which was identified at coordinate 4.6 kb on the circular genome map. It proceeds clockwise for at least five packaging rounds. Headful packaging was also shown for psi M2, a phage variant with a 0.7 kb deletion at coordinate 23.25 on the map. PMID- 2608027 TI - Gene amplification associated with the dominant cob-354 cobalt resistance trait in Dictyostelium discoideum. AB - A DNA amplification is correlated with the dominant, unstable cob-354 cobalt resistance trait in the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum. The amplified DNA is present as about 50 copies of an extrachromosomal element. Cells grown under nonselective conditions in the absence of cobalt ions lose both the cobalt resistance trait and all extrachromosomal copies of the amplified DNA. The amplified DNA is transferrable to new genetic backgrounds by parasexual genetic crosses. These results explain the inability to map the cob-354 trait to a linkage group. The chromosomal origin of the amplified DNA is group III or VI. Thus the resistance trait appears to be independent of the previously known cobalt resistance locus, cobA, which maps to group VII. A developmental defect involving the production of multiply-tipped aggregates that do not complete fruiting body formation also is correlated with the presence of the amplified DNA. PMID- 2608028 TI - An inhibitory effect of RGD peptide on protein-priming reaction of bacteriophages phi 29 and M2. AB - The amino acid sequence, arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD), found in some cell adhesive proteins, is a recognition signal for the receptor protein. It is interesting that we have found the RGD sequence in terminal protein (TP) of bacteriophages phi 29 and M2 near an amino acid, the serine residue at 232, covalently linked to the terminal nucleotide of their DNAs. At the initiation of protein-primed DNA replication, TP is essential for the recognition of replication machinery containing DNA polymerase and primer protein (PP; PP becomes TP upon linking the first nucleotide, and hence the primary structure of TP is the same as that of PP). Synthetic peptide RGD specifically inhibited transfection of phi 29 and M2. The target of the RGD peptide is shown to be TP by marker rescue experiments, suggesting that a receptor for the RGD sequence exists in TP. Furthermore, the peptide inhibited the in vitro protein-priming reaction of DNA replication. We propose that the RGD sequence of PP and a putative receptor on TP is utilized for the molecular recognition initiating DNA replication. PMID- 2608029 TI - Nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the nitrogenase iron protein (nifH) of Azospirillum brasilense and identification of a region controlling nifH transcription. AB - The DNA sequence was determined for the Azospirillum brasilense nifH gene and part of the nifD gene. The nifH gene is 885 bp long and encodes 293 amino acid residues. The region upstream of the nifH open reading frame contains a putative promoter whose sequence shows perfect homology with promoters of other diazotrophic bacteria and two putative upstream activator sequences. Experiments with the promoter-probe vector pAF300 showed that this region promotes transcription in response to the nitrogen and oxygen availability of the cell. The amino acid sequence was deduced from the DNA nucleotide sequence of nifH; the polypeptide contains the four cysteine residues highly conserved among other nifH products and an arginine residue at position 101 which could be the site of the modification occurring during the "switch-off" of nitrogenase. The codon usage appears to be very biased reflecting the high G + C content of the Azospirillum nifH gene. In a comparison of the amino acid sequence with the other 18 known nifH gene products, the A. brasilense nifH product showed the highest level of homology with fast-growing Rhizobia suggesting interesting evolutionary implications. PMID- 2608030 TI - Regulation of transcription and promoter mapping of the structural genes for nitrogenase (nifHDK) of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7. AB - Transcription of the structural genes for nitrogenase (nifHDK) in Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 was analysed using Northern blots of total RNA extracted from cultures grown under nitrogen-fixing conditions. Hybridization with an internal nifH probe revealed two transcripts, a major one (by concentration) of 1.1 kb corresponding to nifH and a minor one of 5.6 kb corresponding to nifHDK. Hybridization with nifD or nifK probes revealed the minor transcript of 5.6 kb. This confirms that the nifHDK genes are organized as a single transcription unit and suggests regulation at the level of termination of transcription. The complete nucleotide sequence of nifH was established and the DNA region upstream of the initiation codon was analysed for transcription and translation signals. The nifH open reading frame (ORF) is preceded by an NtrA-dependent promoter and two elements homologous to upstream activator sequences (UAS) required for NifA mediated activation in other diazotrophs. Promoter mapping with S1 nuclease revealed two start sites located 10 bp and 40 bp downstream of the NtrA-dependent promoter. PMID- 2608031 TI - Histone variants in mouse centromeric chromatin. AB - Highly purified centromeric heterochromatin was isolated from mouse liver nuclei and the pattern of core histone variants was analyzed. In comparison with total chromatin, the centromeric heterochromatin of young animals was characterized by (1) enrichment in the replication-dependent variants H2A1, H2B2 and H3(2), (2) reduced amount of the minor variant H2Az and (3) absence of ubiquitinated molecules of H2A. This specific variant pattern changed upon ageing as a result of accumulation of replacement variants so that in adult animals both chromatin preparations exhibited similar pattern for H2A and H2B, while the difference in the profile of H3 variants was preserved. PMID- 2608032 TI - Acute effects of hypoxia and phosphate on two populations of heart mitochondria. AB - Initial Polytron treatment with subsequent exposure to the bacterial proteinase Nagarse has been shown to result in the isolation of two distinct populations of cardiac mitochondria, subsarcolemmal and interfibrillar mitochondria, respectively. Although these populations have been shown to possess distinct biochemical properties, few studies have been reported which document the potential differences in their response to pathological insult. We therefore examined the effect of acute hypoxia with or without reoxygenation as well as treatment with phosphate on oxidative phosphorylation on both groups of mitochondria. Freshly-isolated interfibrillar mitochondria (IFM) exhibited significantly higher respiratory values, with the exception of the ADP:O ratios, than subsarcolemmal mitochondria (SLM). With pyruvate-malate as respiratory substrate, 40 minutes hypoxia alone produced no effect on SLM whereas a stimulation in respiration was seen in IFM. A 40-minute reoxygenation period depressed the oxidative phosphorylation rate in SLM whereas it was stimulated in IFM. These treatments did not produce any effect in either population when succinate was the substrate of choice. Because of the latter observation, the possibility that increased lability of complex I of the electron transport chain accounted for the differences associated with NAD-linked substrates was studied by assessing NADH oxidation of sonicated mitochondria following the treatments. SLM exhibited enhanced permeability to exogenous NADH as well as increased sensitivity to sonication following either hypoxia or hypoxia/reoxygenation compared to IFM. Compared to hypoxia/reoxygenation, increasing concentrations of phosphate (5-15 mM) produced a marked depression in oxidative phosphorylation of SLM whereas IFM were relatively resistant. The toxic effects of phosphate were much more evident with pyruvate-malate as substrates; with succinate, oxidative phosphorylation of IFM was not depressed by phosphate whereas only a slight depression was observed with SLM. The latter population similarly exhibited reduced NADH oxidation following phosphate treatment whereas IFM were unaffected. Our studies show a differential sensitivity of two mitochondrial populations to hypoxia/reoxygenation, and, more markedly to phosphate. Since these effects were much less pronounced with succinate-linked respiration and since they were associated with defective NADH oxidation in SLM, it is suggested that the differences between the two populations may be accounted for by the increased lability of complex I of SLM due to hypoxia/reoxygenation or phosphate. PMID- 2608033 TI - Studies on the characterization of rat prostate androgen receptors. AB - In the presence of sodium molybdate and protease inhibitors, two forms of androgen-receptor complexes were observed which sedimented in the areas of 8-9S and 5-7S by SDG centrifugation. The intermediary 5-7S form was better seen when complexes were incubated at low KCl concentrations. The sedimentation coefficient of this form fluctuated between 5 and 7S depending on the KCl concentration. At high ionic strength (0.6M KCl) in all media, one form only was observed having a sedimentation coefficient value of 4.3S. By gel exclusion chromatography, we also observed two specific entities at 75A and 68A; in the presence of 0.6M KCl, however, two entities were found at 68A and 43A. The constant presence of protease inhibitors in all buffers was necessary to separate the intermediary 68A form. We calculated molecular weights of about 270 kDa, 190 kDa, and 80 kDa respectively for these three forms. [3H]R1881-receptor complexes bound to DEAE cellulose and were eluted in the absence of glycerol at 0.1M and 0.2M KCl. Material found at 0.1M KCl sedimented in the areas of 5-7S and 8-9S in nearly equal proportion, and that found at 0.2M KCl sedimented in the 8-9S area only. When the cytosol was chromatographed at a fast flow rate (4 ml/min), untransformed 8-9S receptors did not bind to phosphocellulose, but transformed complexes were retained, could be eluted with 0.4M KCl and sedimented in the 4S area on KCl free SDG centrifugation. When the excluded untransformed 8-9S complexes were re-chromatographed at a slow flow rate (1 ml/min), they were retained on phosphocellulose, and could be eluted with 0.3M KCl.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2608034 TI - [From determination of amino acid residue conformation to reconstruction of the spatial structure of proteins (from the data of nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy]. AB - A new approach to the calculation of the spatial protein structure based on the joint utilization of the theoretical conformational analysis method and nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) spectroscopy data is proposed and verified. The quality in determining various molecule structural parameters is estimated in terms of the expected NOE spectral parameters derived from the X-ray analysis data of the avian pancreatic polypeptide. The proposed approach is shown to correctly determine such structural parameters of protein molecules as local amino acid residue conformations, reciprocal spatial orientation of the C alpha atoms neighbouring along amino acid sequence and reapproached segments of the polypeptide chain. Spatially remote molecule fragments are mainly responsible for the error in determining structural parameters. PMID- 2608035 TI - [Thermodynamic and kinetic study of thermal denaturation of Kunitz soybean trypsin inhibitor by differential scanning microcalorimetry]. AB - The thermal denaturation of soybean trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz inhibitor) has been studied in pH-region from 2.0 to 11.0 by differential scanning microcalorimetry. The thermodynamic characteristics have been determined. It has been established that the denaturation transition of protein may be described by a two-state model. It has been shown, that two side hydrogen bonds between carboxylate-ion and tyrosyl and carboxylate-ion and lysyl take part in the stabilization of the inhibitor's native structure. The activation of denaturation is accompanied by cleavage of one side hydrogen bond. PMID- 2608036 TI - [Affinity modification of DNA-dependent RNA-polymerase from phage T7 with 5'-p fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine: the effect of modification on the interaction with substrates]. AB - T7 RNA polymerase, covalently modified with 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine, looses the ability of binding the promoter (pGEM-2 plasmid) and poly(dC) template as well as the initiating nucleoside triphosphate (GTP). However the enzyme retains the unspecific binding with DNA fragments of considerable length. PMID- 2608037 TI - [Intragenomic polymorphism of the primary structure of 5S rRNA gene variants of the loach (Misgurnus fossilis L.). Determination of the transcriptional activity]. AB - The primary structure of 12 cloned repeats of loach oocyte 5S rRNA genes was determined. The heterogeneity of nucleotide sequences was revealed in the coding regions and spacer of the genes. The results of the study on in vivo transcriptional activity of the cloned 5S rRNA gene variants are consistent with the localisation of site specific base substitutions in the coding part affecting the transcription. We have compared the nucleotide sequences of loach 5S rRNA gene variants and of Xenopus laevis, X. borealis and Bombyx mori 5S genes which can be actively transcribed in X. laevis oocyte nuclei. As a result we could propose a consensus nucleotide sequence in the internal control region (from 45 th up to 100-th nucleotide) of the eukaryotic 5S rRNA gene. This sequence comprises a RNA-polymerase III promotor and stretches interacting with transcriptional factors. We have considered the base substitutions in the nucleotide sequences of 5S gene variants exerted on the experimental model of loach 5S rRNA secondary structure. All base substitutions in actively transcribed genes do not influence the general double-stranded structures of the transcripts. However in 5S RNA transcripts from genes with low transcriptional activity base substitutions affecting the box c RNA-polymerase III promoter destroy hairpin II interacting with ribosomal proteins. We have concluded that two factors can restrict the divergency of 5S rRNA genes: (1) conservation of the nucleotide sequence in the gene internal control region, and (2) conservation of the general double stranded structures in 5S rRNA transcripts. PMID- 2608038 TI - [Characteristics of DNA sequences in the sites of permanent attachment to the nuclear matrix located in the vicinity of replication initiation site]. AB - The permanent DNA attachment sites to the nuclear matrix in the domain of chicken alpha-globin genes originally found in erythrocyte nuclei are shown to exist in sperm and cultured fibroblast cells too. Short fragments of permanently attached to the nuclear matrix DNA have been cloned and sequenced. A primary structure of a 1.7 k.b. fragment from 5'-region of chicken alpha-globin gene domain containing both replication origin and permanent attachment site has been determined. A region possessing homologies with papovaviral replication origins and putative mammalian ARS elements has been found on the 1.7 k.b. fragment. A region containing short internal repeats and GC-rich motifs has also been found. Similar motifs were observed in several of the cloned short fragments of DNA permanently attached to the nuclear matrix. PMID- 2608039 TI - [Structural organization and localization of cytochromes P450 in the membrane]. AB - The secondary structure prediction of 19 microsomal cytochrome P-450s from two different families was made based on their amino acid sequences. It was shown that there is a structural similarity between the heme-binding sites of these enzymes and the bacterial P-450cam. An average predicted secondary structure of cytochrome P-450 proteins with 70% accuracy contains about 46% alpha-helices, 12% beta-strands, 9% beta-turns and 33% random coil. In the region of the 35-120 residues in microsomal P-450s two adjacent beta alpha beta-units (the Rossmann domain) were recognized, which may interact with the NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. Using the procedure of identification of hydrophobic and membrane associated alpha-helical segments of 23 cytochromes, only one N-terminal transmembrane anchor was predicted. Also the heme-binding site perhaps includes surface-bound helix. A model of vertebrate microsomal P-450s is proposed. That is an amphypathic membrane protein located on the cytoplasmic face of the endoplasmic reticulum, their active center lies out/on the bilayer border. PMID- 2608040 TI - [Protein factors specifically binding to the regulatory elements of non transcribed spacer of rat ribosomal genes]. AB - Mouse, rat and human protein factors recognizing regulatory elements of nontranscribed spacer of rat ribosomal genes were studied by gel retardation assay. Protein factors bind specifically to the DNA fragments containing the core promoter sequence of RNA-polymerase I, to "spacer" promoter and to a putative enhancer sequence. Factors of mouse, rat and human nuclear extracts that recognize the region containing the core promoter sequence have similar molecular masses and are not identical to the previously described protein factor TIF-1B. Two factors that bind the "spacer" promoter region differ from the factors of the core promoter. "Spacer" promoter factors of mouse and rat nuclear extracts are probably identical, but differ from those of human extract. Protein factors, recognizing the putative enhancer region of rat and human extracts are alike but were not detected in mouse extract. Regions of nontranscribed spacer containing dispersed and tandem repeats do not bind any specific protein factors. PMID- 2608041 TI - [Properties and conditions of formation of the fibronectin-collagen complex in a culture of human embryo fibroblasts]. AB - In our previous study the macromolecular complexes mostly consisting of fibronectin and procollagen were isolated from human fibroblast culture media using immobilized antibodies against fibronectin. At present an attempt was made to elucidate at what stage the formation of the fibronectin-collagen complex occurs--either in the course of incubation of the immobilized antibodies with labelled proteins secreted by fibroblasts, or in the extracellular space while labelling fibroblasts, or intracellularly. The results obtained show that the fibronectin-collagen complex: 1) pre-exists even before incubation with the immobilized antibodies and 2) it is of intracellular origin. Thus, the considerable amount of the fibroblast-secreted fibronectin (no less than 20%) is released from the cell not in the free form but in the complex with procollagen. It was suggested that the fibronectin-collagen complex presents a stage in the formation of the insoluble extracellular matrix. PMID- 2608042 TI - [Divergence of unique DNA sequences of bivalve mollusks from Mytilinae subfamily (Bivalvia mytilidae)]. AB - The DNA-DNA hybridization method was used to determine the divergence degree of unique sequences of five bivalvia species belonging to the Mytilinae subfamily. The matrix of delta Tm values for heteroduplexes of unique sequences was found which made it possible to define three phylogenetic branches within the subfamily. Under non-stringent hybridization conditions (55 degrees C, 0.5M PB) the divergence between species of any two branches was about 14% of nucleotide substitutions. The hybridization of [3H] unique sequences of Mytilinae with DNA fragments of Modiolus modiolus, a representative of the closest relative Modiolinae subfamily, showed that the divergence rate of unique sequences in two phylogenetic lines of the Mytilus genusis higher than in the line of the Crenomytilus genus I0.35-0.23% and 0.1% of nucleotide substitutions per one million years, respectively). According to the matrix of delta Tm values for five species of Mytilinae and Modiolus modiolus, a phylogenetic tree was built reflecting the differences between the divergence rates in different branches. PMID- 2608043 TI - [Synthesis, properties and interaction with eukaryotic cells of alkylating derivatives of oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing cholesterol or phenazinium residue covalently bound to the 3'-terminus]. AB - Radioactive alkylating 5'-[32P]-[4-(N-2-chlorethyl)N-methylaminobenzyl]-5' phospham ide decadeoxyribothymidilate derivatives containing either free hydroxyl group (reagent I), hydrophobic cholesterol residue (reagent II) or polyaromatic phenazinium residue (reagent III) at 3'-termini were synthesized. The products were purified by HPLC and used for oligonucleotide-directed alkylating of DNA in isolated rat liver nuclei, Krebs-2 ascite carcinoma cells and L-929 murine fibroblasts. The uptake of reagent II by the cells was two orders of magnitude higher than that of reagent I and III. Intracellular alkylation of DNA by reagent II both in isolated nuclei and in living cells was about one order of magnitude higher than in the case of reagent I. The presence of phenazinium at 3'-termini of the reagent III leads to a sufficient increase of the alkylation extent compared to reagent I despite a quite low extent of its uptake by the cells. PMID- 2608044 TI - [Statistical analysis of splicing sites in mammals]. AB - 222 donor and 222 acceptor sites were studied. Well-known features of these were confirmed. Several novel observations were made: cCAGGGag signal is present at ( 60) region and there is a complementarily between regions (-65) and (-28) of acceptor sites. The calculated strengths of donor and acceptor sites of the same intron are correlated on the 0.5% significance level. PMID- 2608045 TI - [Thermodynamic and spectral study of DNA-prospidin complex]. AB - By the methods of heat denaturation and luminescence the interaction between an antitumor drug prospidine and DNA in aqueous solutions at two ionic strengths (0.1 and 0.001 M NaCl) and at various prospidine concentrations was studied. For the first time it has been demonstrated that the interaction occurs at 0.1 M NaCl and therapeutic prospidine concentrations. In the framework of Frank-Kamenetsky's theory of melting of a polymer with stabilizing ligands the size of the binding site and binding constants (K) with the decrease of ionic strength, the lack of alterations in the DNA UV absorption spectrum on complex formation and the data on the competitive binding of ethydium bromide suggest that at the first stage of the reaction an external complex is formed due to electrostatic interactions between quaternary nitrogen atoms of prospidine and DNA phosphate groups. Incubation of the complex at 37 0 C leads to a decrease of the DNA melting temperature and hyperchromic effect. Presumably this is due to the relatively slow formation of chemical bonds between alkylating groups of prospidine and nucleophilic groups of DNA bases, which results in the destabilization and denaturation of DNA. It is concluded that the interaction between prospidine and DNA must be taken into consideration when studying the molecular mechanism of prospidine antitumour activity. PMID- 2608046 TI - [Localization of energy domains in Bacillus intermedius 7P ribonuclease]. AB - Two independently melting regions (energetic domains) were localized in Bacillus intermedius 7P ribonuclease by methods of circular dichroism and high resolution X-ray analysis: the lov-temperature melting domain, containing C-terminal region of the molecule with five strands in antiparallel beta-structure and the high temperature melting alpha-helical domain in the N-terminal region. The contact between these domains is stabilized mainly by ionic interaction Asp-22 - Lys+-48. At pH 2.4 and 30.5 0 C, when the low-temperature domain melts, half of the beta structure content in binase is destroyed though the alpha-helical structure content is conserved. It has been shown that in pH interval 2.4-4.8 at 15 0 C no changes in secondary structure and local surrounding of aromatic amino acid residues could be identified. Thus, the changes in ionic interactions in the binase molecule due to protonation of Asp side chain groups does not effect the secondary or tertiary structure, though it changes the energetical state of the binase molecule, revealing a change of number and size of energetic domains. PMID- 2608047 TI - Expression of transforming growth factor-beta in the rat ventral prostate during castration-induced programmed cell death. AB - Castration-induced androgen deprivation leads to the activation of the programmed death of the androgen-dependent prostatic epithelial cells in the rat ventral prostate. In order to identify potential mediators of this programmed cell death, the expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) in the rat ventral prostate was studied, after castration induced-androgen withdrawal. Steady state levels of TGF beta mRNA were determined by Northern blot analysis and compared with mRNA levels for prostatein C3, the major androgen-dependent secretory protein of ventral prostate and also with mRNA levels for TRPM-2, a gene that is specifically expressed during castration induced prostatic cell death. Within the first day after castration there was a dramatic increase in the levels of TGF beta mRNA in the ventral prostate (approximately 10-fold) and by 4 days after castration TGF beta mRNA was maximally expressed (approximately 40-fold increase), by which time the androgen-dependent C3 secretory protein mRNA transcripts have diminished to undetectable levels. Androgen administration to 4 day castrated rats led to a marked decrease in TGF beta mRNA to a level comparable to its constitutive expression obtained in the intact control animals, indicating that expression of TGF beta in the rat ventral prostate is under negative androgenic regulation. The transcript levels encoding TRPM-2 initially increased 10-fold within the first day after castration and by day 4 post castration there was a dramatic increase (approximately 50-fold) which correlated well with the maximal rate of cell death of the androgen-dependent prostatic epithelial cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2608048 TI - Human progesterone receptor complexed with the antagonist RU 486 binds to hormone response elements in a structurally altered form. AB - Structural and functional properties of human progesterone receptors (PR) bound with the antiprogestin, RU 486, and the progestin agonist, R5020, were compared in order to identify receptor mechanisms responsible for the inability of RU 486 to activate the transcriptional capacity of receptors. RU 486 interaction with human PR did not inhibit receptor transformation as assessed by dissociation of nontransformed 8-10S oligomeric receptors (in vitro and in vivo) and by tight binding of PR to nuclei/chromatin in whole cells. Assays based on immunoprecipitation of PR-DNA complexes with an antibody to human PR and gel retardation were used to analyze the effect of RU 486 on receptor binding to the hormone response element (HRE) of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV). RU 486 did not impair PR recognition of the MMTV HRE. Quantitative affinity constants and kinetic parameters of PR binding to these specific DNA sites were similar for receptors complexed with either agonist or antagonist. However, PR-RU 486 complexes exhibited an altered sedimentation rate on sucrose gradients and a faster mobility when bound to the MMTV HRE as assessed by gel retardation. These results indicate that human PR transformed by RU 486 exhibit no impairment in binding to specific DNA sites of target genes, but when bound to DNA assumes a structural form different from that of the receptor-agonist complexes to activate transcription results from this structural alteration in PR, which does not permit protein-protein interactions required for receptor-mediated induction of gene transcription. PMID- 2608049 TI - The fetal rat binding protein for insulin-like growth factors is expressed in the choroid plexus and cerebrospinal fluid of adult rats. AB - The biological effects of the insulin-like growth factors, IGF-I and IGF-II, on their receptors are modulated by IGF-binding proteins. Recently, we isolated a cDNA clone for one member of the family of IGF-binding proteins, BP-3A, a 30 kilodalton (kDa) protein synthesized by the BRL-3A rat liver cell line. BP-3A is related to but distinct from two other cloned IGF-binding proteins, the human amniotic fluid binding protein and the glycosylated binding subunit of the 150 kDa IGF-binding protein complex in serum. It is expressed in multiple nonneural tissues and in serum in the fetal rat and decreases after birth, similar to the developmental pattern of IGF-II expression. IGF-I, IGF-II, and their receptors are expressed in brain. The present study examines the expression of BP-3A in the rat central nervous system. By Northern blot analysis, BP-3A mRNA is present at high levels in brain stem, cerebral cortex, and hypothalamus from 21-day gestation rats and, like IGF-II mRNA, persists in adult rat brain. The site of BP 3A mRNA synthesis was localized by in situ hybridization to coronal sections of adult rat brain using 35S-labeled oligonucleotides, 48 bases in length, complementary and anticomplementary to the coding region of BP-3A. Specific hybridization of the BP-3A probe was observed exclusively to the choroid plexus extending from the level of the medial preoptic nucleus to the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, similar to the previously reported preferential localization of IGF-II mRNA to the choroid plexus. Synthesis of BP-3A mRNA by choroid plexus suggested that BP-3A might be secreted into the cerebrospinal fluid. A 30 kDa IGF binding protein was demonstrated in rat cerebrospinal fluid that is recognized by antibodies to BP-3A and, like purified BP-3A, has equal affinity for IGF-I and IGF-II. By analogy with other transport proteins synthesized by the choroid plexus, BP-3A may facilitate the secretion of IGF-II to the cerebrospinal fluid and modulate its biological actions at distant sites within the brain. PMID- 2608050 TI - Cloning and sequencing of the bovine gastrin gene. AB - In order to deduce the primary structure of bovine preprogastrin we therefore sequenced a gastrin DNA clone isolated from a bovine liver cosmid library. Bovine preprogastrin comprises 104 amino acids and consists of a signal peptide, a 37 amino acid spacer-sequence, the gastrin-34 sequence followed by an amidation-site (Gly-Arg-Arg), and a C-terminal nonapeptide. Comparison with human, porcine, and rat cDNA sequences revealed extensive homology in the coding region as well as in short noncoding structures. PMID- 2608051 TI - Identification of two steroid-responsive promoters of different strength controlled by the same estrogen-responsive element in the 5'-end region of the Xenopus laevis vitellogenin gene A1. AB - A structural and functional analysis of the 5'-end region of the Xenopus laevis vitellogenin gene A1 revealed two transcription initiation sites located 1.8 kilobases apart. A RNA polymerase II binding assay indicates that both promoters form initiation complexes efficiently. In vitro, using a transcription assay derived from a HeLa whole-cell extract, the upstream promoter is more than 10 fold stronger than the downstream one. In contrast, both promoters have a similar strength in a HeLa nuclear extract. In vivo, that is in estrogen-stimulated hepatocytes, it is the downstream promoter homologous to the one used by the other members of the vitellogenin gene family, which is 50-fold stronger than the upstream promoter. Thus, if functional vitellogenin mRNA results from this latter activity, it would contribute less than 1% to the synthesis of vitellogenin by fully induced Xenopus hepatocytes expressing the four vitellogenin genes. In contrast, both gene A1 promoters are silent in uninduced hepatocytes. Transfection experiments using the Xenopus cell line B3.2 in which estrogen responsiveness has been introduced reveal that the strong downstream promoter is controlled by an estrogen responsive element (ERE) located 330 bp upstream of it. The upstream promoter can also be controlled by the same ERE. Since the region comprising the upstream promoter is flanked by a 200 base pair long inverted repeat with stretches of homology to other regions of the X. laevis genome, we speculate that it might have been inserted upstream of the vitellogenin gene A1 by a recombination event and consequently brought under control of the ERE lying 1.5 kilobases downstream. PMID- 2608052 TI - Transcriptional regulation of prolactin gene expression by thyroid hormone- alternate suppression and stimulation in different GH cell lines. AB - Transient expression experiments, using chimeric plasmids containing 3000 base pairs of PRL 5'-flanking sequences linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase structural gene, demonstrate that L-T3 can inhibit (GH1 cells) or stimulate (GH4C1 cells) chloramphenicol acetyl transferase activity. Deletion experiments have defined the region necessary for these effects to sequences between -176 and -11 of the PRL gene. This region seems to contain the sequences necessary both for basal expression and for L-T3 regulation. Gel mobility shift experiments revealed that proteins extracted from GH1 and GH4C1 cell nuclei but not rat-2 fibroblasts interact with the PRL gene from -176 to +75. DNase I footprinting studies reveal two footprints which are the same in all pituitary derived cells tested. These footprints are not seen in rat-2 fibroblasts. Neither of these footprints likely represents binding of the L-T3-receptor since extracts from cells containing very low levels of receptor form footprints identical to those from cells with an abundance of receptors. These results suggest that different trans-acting factors, not identifiable by conventional footprinting techniques, are present in these cell lines which account for their opposite responses to L-T3. The regulation of PRL gene expression by L-T3 is unique in that both stimulation and suppression can be demonstrated using a single hormone gene system. This should allow us to answer fundamental questions regarding the molecular switch between stimulation and suppression of gene expression by hormones. PMID- 2608053 TI - Type I and type II corticosteroid receptor gene expression in the rat: effect of adrenalectomy and dexamethasone administration. AB - We have used 32P-labeled cRNA probes directed against Type I (mineralocorticoid, high affinity glucocorticoid) and Type II (classical glucocorticoid) receptor mRNA to screen various tissues, and have investigated the effect of adrenalectomy (ADX) and dexamethasone (DM) administration on their levels in hippocampus. Both Northern blot and S1 nuclease analysis showed Type I mRNA to be high in hippocampus, colon, and heart; low in liver; and undetectable in thymus. Type II mRNA was high in liver, thymus, and brain; and low in testis and parotid. A transient increase in both hippocampal Type I and Type II mRNA was noted at 1-3 days post ADX. DM similarly elicited a rise in hippocampal Type I mRNA at 2-4 days after ADX, but prevented the ADX-induced increment in Type II mRNA. In contrast to the transient increase in Type I receptor mRNA levels, hippocampal levels of Type I receptors measured by [3H]aldosterone binding were constant 1-16 days post ADX. DM administration caused a doubling in Type I receptor levels over 4 days, with plateau levels at 4-16 days; previously, DM has been shown to lower Type II receptor levels in the hippocampus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2608054 TI - Hamster placental lactogen-II contains a structural feature unique among the growth hormone-prolactin-placental lactogen family. AB - Sequence analysis of cDNA for hamster placental lactogen-II (PL-II) revealed that while this protein has a high degree of sequence homology to mouse and rat PL-II it contains a pair of cysteine residues not present in the mouse and rat proteins or in any other known member of the GH-PRL-PL protein family. This unique pair of cysteine residues may be responsible for the extreme tendency of hamster PL-II, compared to other members of the GH-PRL-PL family, to form disulfide-bonded hormone-serum protein complexes. PMID- 2608055 TI - Stable overproduction of intact glucocorticoid receptors in mammalian cells using a selectable glucocorticoid responsive dihydrofolate reductase gene. AB - We have generated several mammalian cell lines that stably express high levels of intact glucocorticoid receptor. These cells were created by cotransfecting a glucocorticoid-dependent dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene into DHFR-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells together with a plasmid directing the expression of human glucocorticoid receptor. Using this approach, transfection frequencies indicate that the inclusion of glucocorticoid receptor cDNA increased the efficiency of DHFR transformation greater than 10-fold over nonreceptor control DNA. When a stably cotransfected line (designated MG/hGR) was subjected to short term growth in cytotoxic concentrations of the antifolate methotrexate, these cells strongly resisted growth inhibition when dexamethasone was present in the medium. This effect was steroid specific and was inhibited by the glucocorticoid antagonist RU38486. In an effort to exploit the methotrexate induced coamplification properties of the DHFR gene as a means of creating cell lines having increased levels of glucocorticoid receptor, MG/hGR cells were chronically exposed to a relatively low concentration of methotrexate (50 nM). After this treatment a resistant line was isolated (MG/hGR/MTX50) that displayed complete dependence on exogenous glucocorticoid for growth. To investigate the molecular basis for the enhanced ability of MG/hGR/MTX50 cells to resist the cytotoxic effects of methotrexate in the presence of dexamethasone, glucocorticoid receptor protein in these cells was characterized and compared to parental CHO cells and methotrexate sensitive MG/hGR cells. Affinity labeling with [3H]dexamethasone mesylate and Western blot analysis with antiglucocorticoid receptor antiserum revealed that nontransfected CHO cells have virtually undetectable levels of glucocorticoid receptor protein whereas cotransfected MG/hGR cells contain at least 3 times more intact monomeric receptor protein of Mr 94,000. Correspondingly, analysis of receptor protein in MG/hGR/MTX50 cells indicated that these cells contain 8 to 10 times more glucocorticoid receptor than nontransfected CHO cells. Scatchard analysis of steroid binding curves revealed that these increases correspond to 6,600, 22,000 and 63,000 dexamethasone binding sites per cell for nontransfected CHO cells, cotransfected MG/hGR cells, and MG/hGR/MTX50 cells, respectively. Sedimentation profiles of native receptor in transfected and methotrexate-resistant cells further support the progressive increase in receptor content and demonstrate that glucocorticoid receptor exists in cotransfected cels as an oligomeric complex under hypotonic conditions (9S complex in the presence of 20 mM sodium molybdate, 7S in the absence of molybdate), which dissociates to a monomeric 4S species in the presence of 0.4 M KCl. These physicochemical properties are indistinguishable from those observed for the endogenous hamster glucocorticoid receptor and suggest that stably transfected human glucocort PMID- 2608056 TI - Disruption of N-linked glycosylation of bovine luteinizing hormone beta-subunit by site-directed mutagenesis dramatically increases its intracellular stability but does not affect biological activity of the secreted heterodimer. AB - The single site for N-linked glycosylation of the beta-subunit of bovine LH (LH beta) was disrupted by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis to assess its potential roles in the biosynthesis, transport, and hormonal activity of the LH alpha/beta heterodimer. Pulsechase studies performed with stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells that expressed both alpha-subunit (fully glycosylated) and nonglycosylated LH beta revealed that turnover, transport, and secretion of newly synthesized, nonglycosylated LH beta were effectively blocked over a 22-h span. Free nonglycosylated LH beta, like free wild-type LH beta, was sequestered inside the cell; therefore, the intracellular retention of uncombined LH beta-subunit is not due to a signal located within the N-glycan moiety. Nevertheless, an older pool of unlabeled, nonglycosylated LH beta-subunit was available for combination with newly synthesized alpha-subunit, as verified by immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled alpha-subunit from cell lysates and culture medium with anti-LH beta-antiserum. This heterodimer displayed normal kinetics of secretion (t 1/2 = 2.4 h) as compared to fully glycosylated LH (t 1/2 = 2.1 h). The wild-type and mutant forms of LH were also purified from culture supernatants of the two cell lines, and were compared for their relative abilities to stimulate progesterone secretion in cultured rat Leydig cells. Both proteins displayed similar potency (ED50 = 32 vs. 41 ng/ml, respectively) and maximal stimulation of progesterone release Pmax = 2.7 vs 2.5 micrograms/ml), indicating that N-linked glycosylation of the LH beta-subunit does not play a significant role in LH signal transduction. Collectively, these results indicate that N linked glycosylation is important for intracellular degradation of free LH beta, but is not essential for either its assembly with alpha-subunit or the transport and secretion of biologically active heterodimer. PMID- 2608057 TI - Human islet amyloid polypeptide gene: complete nucleotide sequence, chromosomal localization, and evolutionary history. AB - The gene-encoding human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), a recently discovered 37 amino acid hormone-like polypeptide which is expressed in the insulin producing beta-cells of the endocrine pancreas, has been isolated and characterized. The coding region of the gene is interrupted in the 5' untranslated region and NH2-terminal propeptide by introns of 330 and 4808 base pairs (bp), respectively. Exon 1 (104 bp) encodes most of the 5'-untranslated region of the mRNA; exon 2 (95 bp) encodes 15 nucleotides of 5'-untranslated region, the putative 22 amino acid signal peptide and five residues of the NH2 terminal propeptide; exon 3 (1246 bp) encodes the remainder of the NH2-terminal propeptide (residues 6-9), the IAPP moiety and its processing signals and the 16 amino acid COOH-terminal propeptide, as well as the 3'-untranslated region of the mRNA (1059 bp). Analysis of the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence of intron 2 of the hIAPP gene did not reveal any homology with the structurally related calcitonin/calcitonin-gene-related peptide genes and indicated that, in contrast to these latter genes, the hIAPP gene apparently gives rise to only a single hormonal product. The transcriptional initiation site was identified about 28 bp downstream from a TATAA sequence. The hIAPP gene was localized to the p12.3 region of chromosome 12. PMID- 2608058 TI - Role of an estrogen receptor-dependent mechanism in the regulation of estrogen receptor mRNA in MCF-7 cells. AB - We have previously demonstrated that regulation of estrogen receptor (ER) expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells is a complex process involving transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation by estradiol. Treatment of MCF 7 cells with estradiol results in the down-regulation of receptor expression; posttranscriptional suppression of receptor mRNA appears to be the predominant mechanism. To determine whether posttranscriptional regulation of ER gene expression is mediated by an ER-dependent mechanism independent of protein synthesis, we have used the competitive estrogen antagonist, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and the inhibitor of protein synthesis, cycloheximide, to study regulation of ER mRNA by estradiol. 4-Hydroxytamoxifen had no effect on the steady-state level of receptor mRNA and effectively blocked the suppression of ER mRNA by estradiol. The metabolic inhibitor, cycloheximide, was unable to prevent the estrogen induced decrease in ER mRNA. These data provide evidence that the posttranscriptional suppression of ER expression through estradiol is mediated through the ER independent of protein synthesis. A study of the effects of estradiol on the steady-state levels of nuclear and cytoplasmic receptor mRNA suggest that posttranscriptional suppression is a nuclear event. PMID- 2608059 TI - Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies inhibit the autocrine-stimulated growth of MDA-468 human breast cancer cells. AB - The response of malignant and nonmalignant human breast cell lines to the growth inhibitory effects of monoclonal antibodies against the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor was studied. A series of human breast cell lines, which express EGF receptor, were used: MDA-468, MDA-231, and Hs578T human breast cancer cells and the transformed human mammary epithelial cell lines 184A1N4 and 184A1N4-T that have been benzo[a]pyrene immortalized and further transformed with SV40T, respectively. Four antibodies of two different classes were tested: 225 immunoglobulin G (IgG), 108.4 IgG, 96 immunoglobulin M (IgM), and 42 IgM. All four antibodies inhibited the anchorage-dependent and -independent, EGF stimulated growth of 184A1N4 and 184A1N4-T cells, respectively, and this growth inhibition could be reversed by the addition of increasing concentrations of EGF. In contrast, the antibodies inhibited the anchorage-dependent and -independent growth of MDA-468 cells in the absence of exogenous EGF suggesting that the antibodies were acting to block access of an endogenously produced ligand to the EGF receptor. In the presence of antibody and increasing concentrations of EGF, MDA-468 cell growth was first stimulated then inhibited as the EGF concentration increased, thus, uncovering the growth stimulatory potential of low concentrations of EGF in these cells. Data is presented that indicates MDA-468 cells secrete a transforming growth factor with autocrine growth stimulatory capabilities. The growth of MDA-231 and Hs578T cells, which contain activated ras oncogenes, was not inhibited by the antibodies and the growth of these cell lines was not stimulated by EGF. Of the cell lines studied only MDA-468 cells appear to possess an autocrine growth stimulatory capacity. PMID- 2608060 TI - Glucocorticoid-induced stimulation of ribosomal gene transcription in rat hepatoma cells is mediated by modification of RNA polymerase I or an associated factor. AB - An in vitro transcription system was developed from H411EC3 (H4) hepatoma cells, which mimics the in vivo up-regulation by glucocorticoid hormones on ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis. Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription in extracts derived from H4 cells grown in the presence of 100 nM triamcinolone acetonide was 4- to 5-fold greater than that in extracts derived from cells grown in the absence of glucocorticoid. This effect was not a general stimulation by the steroid, as RNA polymerase II transcription of the metallothionein-1 gene which lacked a glucocorticoid responsive element was unaffected. The increased transcription in hormone-treated extracts was also independent of differential ribonuclease activities or inhibitors as ascertained by the inclusion of ribonuclease inhibitor and mixing experiments, respectively. Chromatography of H4 cell extracts on heparin-sepharose followed by transcription complementation analysis, showed that the hormone-induced stimulatory activity eluted with the fraction (TFIA) which contains RNA polymerase I (Pol I). Immunoblot analysis with specific anti-Pol I antibody showed similar subunit profiles in the absence and presence of the hormone. The presence of a Pol I enhancer element in addition to the rDNA promoter did not further modify the glucocorticoid-induced transcription. These results indicate that the glucocorticoid-mediated effects could be observed in cell extracts which accurately initiate transcription of cloned rat rDNA. Moreover, the alterations of rDNA transcription by the hormone is effected by a factor which elutes with fraction TFIA. PMID- 2608061 TI - The human sex hormone-binding globulin gene contains exons for androgen-binding protein and two other testicular messenger RNAs. AB - When a sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) cDNA was used to screen a human testicular cDNA library, three distinct cDNAs were isolated, one of which corresponds to the human SHBG cDNA sequence and probably represents testicular androgen-binding protein. The other two SHBG-related cDNAs each contain unique 5' regions that diverge from the SHBG cDNA sequence at the same position, and one of them (SHBGr-2) lacks a 208-base pair region within the SHBG cDNA. As a result, this cDNA could potentially encode for a truncated form of SHBG which lacks N linked carbohydrates and part of the steroid-binding domain. Southern blots of human placental DNA and cloned genomic DNA fragments also indicate that SHBG and its related testicular cDNAs are the products of a single gene. Sequence analysis of the gene indicates that the complete coding region for the SHBG precursor is comprised of 8 exons, which are distributed over 3.2 kilobase (kb) of genomic DNA, and the unique 5' regions associated with the two SHBG-related testicular cDNAs were identified 1.9 kb upstream from the initiating codon for SHBG. In addition, the deletion within SHBGr-2 is due to the removal of exon 7, and an interesting feature of the gene is that differentially used exons are preceded by Alu repetitive DNA sequences. Although the relative abundance of the various SHBG related mRNAs in the testis has not been established, Northern blot analysis indicates that they are similar in size (1.6 kb) to that of hepatic SHBG mRNA. PMID- 2608062 TI - Proinsulin I and II gene expression in inbred mouse strains. AB - Mice and rats express two nonidentical insulins from a pair of unlinked genes. We have applied a nuclease protection assay, which can sensitively quantify each of the mouse insulin mRNAs, to the resolution of the following questions concerning their expression. First, it has not been established whether alterations in expression of one or both of these genes cause differing total insulin biosynthetic capacity noted between several inbred mouse strains. These studies showed that the relative abundance of mRNAs encoding mouse insulins I and II was identical in four separate mouse strains. In spontaneously obese, hyperinsulinemic (db/db)C57BL/KsJ mice, both proinsulin I and proinsulin II mRNAs were increased relative to the levels in normal (+/db) C57BL/KsJ mice, but again the ratio of the two mRNAs did not differ. The ratio was nearly identical to that for the orthologous mRNAs in rats, indicating that the mechanisms which regulate insulin mRNAs in rodents are conserved in both genes in several mouse strains and between rodent species. This finding suggests that differences between mouse strains in insulin biosynthetic capacity result from differences in the glucose sensing/signalling mechanism at a point before coordinate gene transcription. Second, low levels of insulin synthesis have been suggested as an explanation for relatively high levels of insulin in several nonpancreatic tissues. We showed that the ribonuclease protection assay, sufficiently sensitive to measure 1/2000th the amount of insulin mRNA present in pancreas, was unable to detect insulin mRNA in salivary gland. This result indicates that the high levels of radioimmunoassayable insulin detected in salivary glands are not the result of insulin synthesis in situ. PMID- 2608063 TI - Molecular cloning, sequence, and expression of a cDNA encoding the chicken myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS). AB - Little is known about the important cellular substrates for protein kinase C (PKC) and their function in the cellular processes influenced by this kinase. This paper describes the molecular characteristics of a prominent cellular substrate for PKC in chicken cells, known as the myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate, or MARCKS protein. The chicken protein was studied because it was apparently at least 20 kilodalton smaller than its mammalian counterpart; we hoped that regions of sequence similarity might point to conserved regions of biological importance. Using the bovine MARCKS cDNA as a probe, we selected a positive clone from a chicken brain cDNA library that contained an insert of about 1.5 kilobase, in which a single open reading frame encoded a protein of 281 amino acids, 27.7 kilodaltons, pI 5.26. This protein contained the sequences of ten tryptic peptides derived from the purified chicken brain protein. Expression of the cDNA insert in mammalian cells confirmed that the open reading frame encoded a protein that comigrated on two-dimensional electrophoresis with the authentic chicken protein, and could be phosphorylated by exposure of the cells to active phorbol esters. When the chicken and bovine protein sequences were compared, the two major regions of sequence identity were: 1) the amino terminal region containing a myristoylation consensus sequence and an mRNA splice site, and 2) a highly basic internal domain of 25 amino acids that contained all of the serines known to be phosphorylated by PKC in the intact protein. These conserved regions are likely to represent domains of some functional importance for this widely distributed cellular substrate for PKC. PMID- 2608064 TI - Binding of thyroid hormone receptors to the rat thyrotropin-beta gene. AB - Negative regulation of rat TSH beta gene expression by thyroid hormone is mediated largely by decreased transcription of the gene. This is apparently mediated by a cis-acting element which has been localized to a 57-basepair fragment spanning the second transcriptional start site of the rat TSH beta gene. We have investigated whether thyroid hormone receptors bind specifically to DNA sequences in this region of the gene. We compared binding of native T3 receptor to the TSH beta gene sequences and to the rat GH (rGH) gene T3 response element (TRE), and examined the ability of two different forms of in vitro synthesized T3 receptor to bind to the TSH beta gene. The avidin-biotin complex DNA binding assay was used to examine sequence-specific binding of the receptor. [125I]T3 labeled receptor in GH3 cell nuclear extracts bound to a site within the first exon of TSH beta and also to a region immediately upstream of the second transcriptional start site of the gene. In addition, the Hc-erbA beta and r-erbA alpha-1 forms of the T3 receptor each bound to TSH beta and rGH sequences, demonstrating that both alpha- and beta-forms of T3 receptor can bind to TREs exerting either positive or negative transcriptional regulation. Competition experiments showed that both native and in vitro synthesized T3 receptor bound to the first exon of TSH beta with an affinity slightly less than that for the rGH TRE. The two receptor-binding sites of the rTSH beta gene show sequence similarity to adjacent regions of the rGH TRE. These data indicate that negative regulation of rat TSH beta gene transcription may be effected by direct binding of the T3-receptor complex to one or both of the binding sites flanking the second transcriptional start site. PMID- 2608065 TI - Progestin inhibition of progesterone receptor gene expression in human breast cancer cells. AB - The present study was designed to investigate whether inhibition of progesterone receptor (PR) gene transcription and/or regulation of PR mRNA half-life were involved in the progestin-mediated decrease of PR in T-47D human breast cancer cells. Cells were treated with the progestin ORG 2058 and PR mRNA measured by Northern blot analysis of total RNA. A major PR mRNA around 13.5 kilobases and minor species around the 28S ribosomal RNA subunit were decreased upon ORG 2058 treatment. The decrease was not detectable until 2-3 h after treatment and was the same at all ORG 2058 concentrations (1-100 nM) tested. The decrease in PR mRNA was unaffected by actinomycin D in the first 3 h but was inhibited thereafter. There was a partial recovery of PR mRNA levels 24 h after ORG 2058 exposure. Immunoblot analysis showed that immunoreactive PR decreased in parallel with PR mRNA. The rate of protein loss in the first 12 h after progestin treatment was related to the ORG 2058 concentration used. Nuclear run-on experiments showed that ORG 2058 caused a decrease of up to 70% in the transcription rate of the PR gene. The half-life of PR mRNA was shown to be 2-2.5 h by [3H]uridine incorporation, which was much shorter than estimates obtained using actinomycin D, and was unaffected by ORG 2058. In summary, these data have shown that the mechanism by which progestins decrease the concentration of PR includes inhibition of transcription of the PR gene. PMID- 2608066 TI - Identification of nuclear factors that enhance binding of the thyroid hormone receptor to a thyroid hormone response element. AB - Using a gel shift assay, we analyzed the binding of in vitro translated alpha- and beta-thyroid hormone (T3) receptors to a T3-response element (TRE) derived from the rat GH gene. No receptor-TRE complexes were observed when translated receptor alone was incubated with the TRE. However, addition of a nuclear extract from liver to the translational products resulted in the formation of two receptor-DNA complexes for both the alpha- and beta-receptors. These complexes were shown to contain translated receptor by comigration of 32P-labeled TRE and 35S-labeled receptor in the gel shift assay. A competition experiment demonstrated that formation of the complexes was sequence specific. Preincubation of the liver nuclear extract at 60 C abolished formation of both complexes indicating that receptor-TRE binding required a heat-labile nuclear factor. Phosphocellulose chromatography of the nuclear extract resulted in separation of the activities required for formation of the two complexes. Analysis of nuclear extracts from different tissues revealed that one complex formed in the presence of all extracts, whereas the second complex appeared predominantly with a nuclear extract from liver. Addition of T3 to the binding reaction had no effect on receptor-TRE complex formation. We suggest that nuclear factors interact with the T3 receptor to enhance hormone-independent binding to a TRE. PMID- 2608067 TI - The mRNA encoding a parathyroid hormone-like peptide is produced in mammary tissue in response to elevations in serum prolactin. AB - During lactation, a dramatic rise in serum PRL stimulates milk production, resulting in a substantial rise in calcium mobilization from gut and bone. We found that the production of a newly characterized calcium-mobilizing PTH-like peptide (PTH-LP) by mammary tissue was tightly linked to lactation, suggesting a possible role for PRL in the expression of PTH-LP. Here it is shown that suckling results in both an elevation in serum PRL and the appearance of PTH-LP mRNA in mammary tissue. Bromocriptine, a potent inhibitor of PRL secretion, blocked the suckling-associated rise in serum PRL and the subsequent induction of PTH-LP mRNA in mammary gland. Furthermore, injection of PRL dramatically induced PTH-LP mRNA in unsuckled puerperal glands, but not in glands on day 21 of pregnancy. Thus, the correlation between serum levels of PRL and the expression of PTH-LP mRNA in mammary tissue extends the role of PRL in milk production and suggests a possible mechanism for the PRL effects on calcium metabolism. PMID- 2608068 TI - Organization of the human corticosteroid binding globulin gene and analysis of its 5'-flanking region. AB - The structure of the human corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) gene has been determined, and restriction endonuclease maps of human placental DNA and cloned genomic DNA indicate that CBG is encoded by a single gene. The transcription unit for hepatic CBG mRNA comprises five exons distributed over approximately 19 kilobases (kb), and nuclease protection and primer extension studies using human liver RNA demonstrate that the first exon spans 70 base pairs (bp). Typical of many eukaryotic promoters, sequences that resemble TATA and CAAT-box motifs are centered 28 bp and 73 bp upstream from the origin of transcription, respectively. In addition, six highly conserved sequence elements, responsible for efficient, liver-specific expression of the mouse albumin gene, are located within the first 200 bp of the 5'-flanking region. Further analysis of a region (500 bp) immediately 5' of the transcription start site, however, failed to reveal sequences that might correspond to known steroid hormone response elements. When compared to other serine protease inhibitor genes, the organization of the human CBG gene is most closely related to the human alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin genes. It would therefore appear that these proteins are derived from a common ancestral gene, and this supports the concept that they may be functionally related. PMID- 2608069 TI - Cloning and expression of ovine placental lactogen. AB - Ovine placental lactogen (oPL) is active in a wide range of GH and PRL assays, a property that it shares with human GH (hGH). In addition, oPL is one of a small number of hormones that bind the human GH receptor with high affinity. In order to compare the sequence of oPL to the sequences of other members of the GH family, full-length cDNA clones have been isolated. These clones predict that the full sequence of oPL contains 198 amino acids preceded by a 38 amino acid signal sequence. The mature oPL sequence includes six cysteine and two tryptophan residues and shows substantially more identity to bovine PL (67%) and oPL (49%) than to mouse (31%) or human (25%) PL or to oGH (28%) or (26%) hGH. Like the natural hormone, oPL expressed in mammalian tissue cells binds with high affinity to a soluble form of the recombinant hGH receptor. Thus, oPL binds to the human receptor in spite of having a sequence that is considerably divergent from hGH. Interestingly, the sequence of oPL differs from hGH at most of the amino acids recently found by mutagenesis studies to be important residues in the binding of hGH to the human receptor. PMID- 2608070 TI - Inhibition of phosphatidylserine synthesis induced by triggering CD2 or the CD3 TCR complex in a human T cell line. Relationships with G proteins and receptors modulation. AB - Activation of Jurkat T cells with phytohemagglutinin, CD3 or CD2 mAbs results in a marked inhibition of phosphatidylserine (PS) synthesis. Monitoring PS synthesis in T cells shows that: (i) after modulation of CD3 molecules the cells become refractory to further treatment with CD3 mAbs as well as to a further challenge with CD2 mAbs; and (ii) treatment of T cells with fluoride ions and cholera toxin, two known effectors of guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins, also resulted in a strong inhibition of the synthesis of this phospholipid. The inhibition of PS synthesis thus appears to be regulated similarly to the other activation events, suggesting that transmembrane signalling mechanisms leading to PS inhibition are the same as those previously proposed for increasing phosphatidylinositides turnover and subsequent rise in the intracellular calcium concn in lymphocytes. PMID- 2608071 TI - [Effects of amrinone in myocardial insufficiency following heart surgery in children]. AB - 11 infants and children with severe congestive heart failure after cardiac surgery were treated with Amrinone. Cardiac and circulatory effects were monitored by quantitative echocardiography and blood pressure measurements. Within 1 day after the initial dose ventricular ejection fractions (EF) increased. Left ventricle: EF = 0.35 +/- 0.06 to EF = 0.49 +/- 0.06; right ventricle: EF = 0.30 +/- 0.12 to EF = 0.56 +/- 0.12. Vascular resistance dropped from R = 1527 +/- 517 dyn.s.cm-5.m2 to R = 1071 +/- 399 dyn.s.cm-5.m2. Blood pressure and heart rate remained almost unchanged. It is concluded, that Amrinone acts as a positive inotropic and vasodilating drug with the potential for effective treatment in children where conventional therapy has failed. PMID- 2608072 TI - [Are there risk factors for stenosing laryngitis? Results of the Southern Bavaria pseudo-croup study]. AB - We tried to find a correlation between elevated air pollution levels and incidences of laryngitis (pseudocroup). Clinical data-obtained by questionnaire from 418 children with laryngitis, viral shedding in rhinal secretion and data on air pollution as SO2, NO2 and dust levels were compared via correlation analyses. Boys with allergic diathesis and with signs for bronchial hyperreactivity were identified as a high risk group. The high incidence of laryngitis especially seen in the month of October could be explained by the increased number of RSV positive patients. There was no significant correlation between laryngitis and the air pollution levels during the time of observation. PMID- 2608073 TI - [Detection of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis by nuclear magnetic resonance tomography in children]. AB - Suspected osteomyelitis or septic arthritis, respectively, is usually proven by means of clinical symptoms, laboratory data and microbiologic findings of blood cultures and joint fluids. In the early phase of the diseases conventional X-rays are not helpful. Imaging with isotopes is the most important procedure to describe localisation and extension of the inflammatory processes. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging as a newer method is capable to detect these inflammatory processes very early, precisely and without discomfort for the patient. In four children with osteomyelitis and in one infant with septic arthritis, respectively, we were able to confirm the clinical diagnosis in a very early phase of the disease. In the patient with septic arthritis nuclear magnetic resonance was the only imaging procedure successfully localising the inflammatory process. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging localises precisely inflammatory bone and joint diseases during the early stage of the disease. PMID- 2608074 TI - [Aneurysm of the vein of Galen as a possible cause of congestive heart failure: a report of 5 new cases]. AB - We report on five newborns with an arterio-venous malformation of the vein of Galen. All newborns were cyanotic and in congestive heart failure without any evidence of congenital heart disease. Congestive heart failure in these cases was mainly due to an almost two-fold increase in cardiac output of approximately 8 l/min/m2 (normal: 4.5 l/min/m2). According to previous reports, mortality is very high in patients with this malformation when becoming symptomatic during infancy, and therapy by surgery or embolization is only successful in 10-30%. While three of our patients died shortly after diagnosis because of untreatable heart failure, the other two were operated on either by subtotal ligation of the draining vein or by ligation of 4 arterial feeders. In the first case secondary thrombosis of the aneurysm occurred and cardiac failure subsided. In the second case a large shunt remained and a balloon-embolization was performed successfully. However, in both patients severe neurologic defects occurred, the severity of which remains to be assessed later since the post-operative observation period is only 2 and 5 months, respectively. PMID- 2608075 TI - [Biotinidase deficiency: a congenital metabolic disease which can be successfully treatment with vitamin H]. AB - At the age of 13 months a patient developed muscular hypotonia, deafness of the inner ear and cutaneous symptoms (alopecia; skin rash, complicated by superinfection with monilia). Biochemical assays revealed compensated metabolic acidosis, pathologically high lactate and pyruvate concentrations in the blood and cerebro-spinal fluid, as well as increased urinary excretion of 3-OH isovaleric acid, 3-methylcrotonylglycine and lactate. The patient was diagnosed as suffering from autosomal recessive biotinidase deficiency on the basis of severely reduced biotinidase activity in plasma (0.05 nmol/min/ml). In both his parents and brother heterozygosity was found. Institution of therapy with a daily dose of 10 mg biotin rapidly removed most of the symptoms; after six months of treatment the deafness had improved significantly. PMID- 2608076 TI - [An unusual late manifestation of hemorrhage caused by vitamin K deficiency]. AB - After an uneventful pregnancy and birth at home without vitamin K-prophylaxis, a 13-day-old breast-fed newborn showed an unexplained swelling of his right elbow and avoided movement of his right arm. One week later a swelling of his left thigh and hip with extensive hematoma led to the diagnosis of vitamin K deficiency. The initial symptoms can be interpreted as an unusual primary manifestation of late hemorrhagic disease caused by vitamin K-deficiency. PMID- 2608077 TI - The mutual exclusivity bias in children's word learning. AB - Nearly every recent account of children's word learning has addressed the claim that children are biased to construct mutually exclusive extensions, that is, that they are disposed to keep the set of referents of one word from overlapping with those of others. Three basic positions have been taken--that children have the bias when they first start to learn words, that they never have it, and that they acquire it during early childhood. A review of diary and test evidence as well as the results of four experiments provide strong support for this last view and indicate that the bias develops in the months following the second birthday but does not gain full strength or become accessible to consciousness until sometime after the third birthday. Several studies also show that, after this point, it can still be counteracted by information in input or by a strong belief that something belongs to the extension of a particular word. The full body of evidence is compatible with the view that mutual exclusivity is the default option in children's and adults' procedures for integrating the extensions of new and old words. We present several arguments for the adaptive value of this kind of bias. PMID- 2608078 TI - Position of the elbow in determination of abnormal motor conduction of the ulnar nerve across the elbow. AB - Routine evaluation of patients for suspected ulnar neuropathy includes testing of motor conduction velocity across the elbow, although the best position of the elbow for this test is controversial. The preferred testing position--elbow flexion or extension--was studied by determining the yield of abnormality at both positions in patients selected for possible ulnar nerve abnormalities unrelated to motor conduction. We found no major differences between the flexed or extended position of the elbow except that normal values for each of these positions varied. The yield of abnormal findings was greatest from measuring absolute motor conduction velocity across the elbow as opposed to comparing the difference in velocities between the elbow and either adjacent segment. PMID- 2608079 TI - Cross-reactivity of an antineurofilament antibody with a troponin-T isoform. AB - Histochemical examination has revealed that a monoclonal antibody raised against the 200-kilodalton (kd) subunit of neurofilament reacts not only with neural tissue but with type 1 and type 2C fibers of skeletal muscle. To identify the cross-reactive substance(s), rat soleus muscle, which includes type 1 and type 2C fibers, was separated into a soluble fraction and an insoluble myofibrillar fraction. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the antibody reacted with 30-kd and 36-kd polypeptides in the soluble fraction and with a 38-kd polypeptide in the insoluble fraction. We isolated a fraction that contained the 38-kd polypeptide from the insoluble fraction. The material in this fraction bound to F actin. Two-dimensional electrophoresis of the fraction showed that the 38-kd polypeptide was part of the group of isoforms of troponin-T, which was identified by a monoclonal antibody developed against troponin-T. Thus, we conclude that this antineurofilament antibody recognizes one of the isoforms of troponin-T in type 1 and type 2C fibers. PMID- 2608080 TI - Survival prediction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. AB - This longitudinal study of 194 patients with sporadic ALS demonstrated that it is possible for physicians to predict the approximate survival time for an individual ALS patient given: (1) the age of the patient, (2) the duration of his weakness and (3) an estimate of his clinical disability (ALS Score). This information is of value in the clinical management of ALS patients, and it should facilitate construction of experimental therapeutic trials in ALS. PMID- 2608081 TI - Recurrent myoglobinuria and HIV seropositivity: incidental or pathogenic association? AB - There have been few cases of polymyositis in patients with AIDS, and polymyositis is rarely a cause of myoglobinuria. We studied a 20-year-old homosexual man with recurrent myoglobinuria. He was asymptomatic between episodes. Each episode was accompanied by muscle pain, limb weakness, high serum levels of creatine kinase, and pigmenturia. Muscle biopsy showed active necrosis without inflammation or abnormalities of glycolytic or other energy-generating enzymes. Antibodies to HIV were present in serum. Clinical evidence of AIDS has not developed in 2 years. Recurrent myoglobinuria may be another consequence of HIV infection. PMID- 2608082 TI - AAEE case report #20: hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, type I. AB - A case study is reported regarding a 32-year-old man with classic clinical and electrophysiologic features of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, type I (HMSN I), a slowly progressive autosomal dominant condition marked by slow motor and sensory velocities and generalized segmental demyelination. Another clinically similar autosomal dominant neuropathy (HMSN II) is distinguished from HMSN I by nearly normal nerve conduction velocity. Acquired demyelinating neuropathy may occasionally resemble HMSN I clinically, but the former demonstrates electrophysiologic features not seen in the latter such as conduction block, dispersed compound muscle action potentials, and differential slowing of conduction velocity. Neuropathologic studies of HMSN I suggest that both neuronal and Schwann cell distrubances play a role in pathogenesis. PMID- 2608083 TI - Modulation of the bulbocavernosus reflex during voiding: loss of inhibition in upper motor neuron lesions. AB - The bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) is a sacral segmental reflex which is suppressed throughout most of micturition. The BCR was evaluated by recording the associated EMG activity using a concentric needle electrode placed in the external urethral sphincter. The influence of the central nervous system (CNS) on the BCR was studied in 29 neurologically normal individuals and in 33 patients with upper motor neuron (UMN) lesions and voiding dysfunction. Ninety percent (26/29) of the neurologically normal patients did not have a BCR during most of micturition. By comparison, all the patients with an UMN lesion had a positive BCR beginning early during voiding. The finding of suprasegmental modulation of the BCR during voiding demonstrated by external urethral sphincter EMG was a more sensitive although slightly less specific sign of UMN bladder dysfunction than detrusor sphincter dyssynergia; uninhibited bladder contractions were neither sensitive nor specific for UMN lesions. PMID- 2608084 TI - The effects of taurine on pharmacologically induced myotonia. AB - Taurine reduces the excitability of striated muscle fibers by increasing the membrane conductance to chloride ions (GCl). This action was tested on rats made myotonic by drugs that block GCl by different mechanisms. Experiments were made "in vivo" using electromyographic (EMG) recordings and "in vitro" with intracellular microelectrode recordings from extensor digitorum longus muscle fibers. Taurine did not antagonize the myotonic discharges produced in vivo by anthracene-9-carboxylic acid, nor did it restore GCl lowered in vitro by this agent. However, when myotonia was chronically induced by 20,25 diazacholesterol, taurine given chronically in vivo or acutely in vitro antagonized the EMG myotonia as well as the reduced GCl and increased excitability of single fibers. We conclude that taurine acts directly on chloride channels to modify their kinetics. Our findings suggest that further clinical studies on the use of taurine in muscle disease involving abnormal excitability or chloride channel function will be useful. PMID- 2608085 TI - Median to radial latency difference test in mild carpal tunnel syndrome. AB - Electrodiagnostic assessment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is hampered by the normal variability of conduction velocity, amplitude and duration of evoked responses, and hand temperature. Comparative testing of other nerves in the same hand may control for these variables and improve sensitivity for detection of mild focal entrapment. In consecutive cases referred for evaluation, antidromic sensory latencies were recorded from the thumb over 10 cm segments of the median and radial nerves, and the difference between these latencies was calculated. Median sensory antidromic conduction to digit III, ulnar sensory conduction, and median motor latency measurements were also made. Three hundred and thirty-three upper limbs were studied in 262 patients. All tests were normal in 73 arms. Mild conduction slowing was identified in 86 median nerves. The median-radial latency difference was increased in 87% of these mild cases. The median-ulnar latency difference was diagnostic in 88%. Either median-radial or median-ulnar latency differences were abnormal in all confirmed cases. The routine median motor and sensory distal latency tests had sensitivities of 29% and 52%, respectively. Radial responses were elicited in 99% of the hands studied. The median-radial latency difference in digit I is a sensitive indicator of mild CTS that can be measured quickly with a minimum of discomfort. PMID- 2608086 TI - Conduction studies in peripheral cat nerve using implanted electrodes: III. The effects of prolonged constriction on the distal nerve segment. AB - Electrophysiological properties were monitored in detail in chronically constricted peripheral nerves by implanted, multicontact nerve cuff electrodes and correlated with morphometric histology in selected cases. The physiological and histological responses in nerve to a range of constricting cuffs of standard sizes were readily graded. The initial response to any significant constriction was a transient, focal conduction slowing or block at the constriction, followed by more protracted distal effects; the latter ranged from loss of excitability consistent with "dying-back" degeneration to reductions in conduction velocity consistent with histologically observed atrophy. Smaller myelinated fibers tended to have similar but less pronounced changes than larger diameter fibers. Recordings from ventral and dorsal roots showed that distal degeneration was more pronounced in motor than in sensory fibers of similar caliber. Electronmicroscopical measurements showed that basal laminas were relatively preserved around even the most atrophic and demyelinated axons. Perimeter measurements of the basal lamina could be used to estimate the diameter of the original nerve fiber. PMID- 2608087 TI - Immunohistochemical differential distribution of S-100 alpha and S-100 beta in the peripheral nervous system of the rat. AB - The localization of the alpha subunit of the S-100 protein (S-100 alpha) and beta subunit (S-100 beta) was studied in the peripheral nervous system of the rat. In peripheral nerves, S-100 alpha and S-100 beta were found in the cytoplasm of Schwann cells. Axons were positively stained in part by S-100 alpha and almost totally by S-100 beta. In the dorsal root ganglia, S-100 alpha was found in satellite cells and their processes and in some neurons. S-100 beta was found in more of the large neurons, but almost all of the small neurons were negative for S-100 beta. In the anterior horn cells, S-100 beta staining was stronger than that of S-100 alpha. In Schwann cells, both S-100 alpha and S-100 beta were present on the rough endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosomes, and nucleus, as seen by electron microscopy. The S-100 alpha and S-100 beta in axons were associated with microtubules and neurofilaments. PMID- 2608088 TI - Hypokalemic paralysis in two patients with paramyotonia congenita (PC) and known hyperkalemic/exercise-induced weakness. AB - Two male patients from a single family with known PC and "potassium sensitivity" developed hypokalemic paralysis following generalized anesthesia. These patients confirm previous similar observations. It's significance and management are discussed. PMID- 2608089 TI - Muscle fatigue in some neurological disorders. AB - Fatigue of tibialis anterior (TA) was induced by repetitive electrical stimulation. Using this test, patients with upper motor neuron muscle weakness owing to multiple sclerosis (MS) and injuries to the spinal cord showed greater fatigability of their TA muscles, suggesting that the muscle fiber population changed toward that typical of fatigable motor units. During repetitive stimulation, in addition to the decrement in tension there was an increase in half-relaxation time of tetanic contractions at 40 Hz in both subjects and patients. The increase in half relaxation during repeated activity was greater in patients with MS and spinal cord injury than in healthy subjects, suggesting that the long-term inactivity affected the efficiency of the Ca2+ uptake mechanism of their muscle fibers. Thus long-term inactivity of patients with upper motoneuron dysfunction leads to increased fatigability of their muscles and exaggerates the slowing of muscle relaxation after prolonged exercise. PMID- 2608090 TI - Role of nerve and tension in maturation of posthatching slow-tonic muscle in chicken. AB - The role of motor innervation and muscle tension in the posthatching maturation of the slow-tonic anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscle of the chicken has been investigated. Modification of the muscle tension was obtained either by maintaining ALD in a shortened state or by stretching, after or without denervation. In denervated as well as in innervated ALD, shortening resulted in atrophy and inhibition of developmental change in muscle fiber population. In contrast, stretch causes hypertrophy, transformation of all 3B fibers, increase in SM2 isomyosin expression, and decrease in Ca2+-activated myosin ATPase in innervated or denervated ALD. On the other hand oxidative activity in ALD fibers was strikingly reduced after denervation even in presence of stretch-induced hypertrophy. This study suggests that a passive stretch can be involved in some, but not all, changes in ALD characteristics occurring after denervation and may be also involved in normal posthatching development of the slow-tonic muscle. Possible clinical implications of these results in relation to treatments for preventing muscle atrophy resulting from immobilization or disuse are suggested. PMID- 2608091 TI - Effect of immunization and potassium iodide on polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemiluminescence in experimental murine sporotrichosis. AB - This study was undertaken to examine the effects of immunization with Sporothrix schenckii and oral potassium iodide (KJ) administration on the chemiluminescence (CL) response of mouse polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in experimental murine sporotrichosis. When N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP) particles were used as foreign bodies to be phagocytosed, the time to the peak CL response of the PMNs in an immunized group was shortened in comparison with a non immunized control group, and the CL intensity was found to be prolonged. Whereas administration of KJ resulted in a reduction of the CL intensity in non-immunized mice, in immunized mice it caused a rise in CL intensity. When the foreign bodies used as targets for phagocytosis were Sp. schenckii, changes similar to the above occurred, but CL production was reduced. PMID- 2608092 TI - Treatment of cutaneous candidosis in guinea pigs: effect of zinc oxide on the antifungal efficacy of nystatin. AB - This article describes the in vivo evaluation of a new topical preparation (Zincostatin) indicated for Candida albicans infected diaper rash. In order to study the influence of the 20% zinc oxide (W/W) (a protectant) on the anti candidal efficacy of the 100,000 U/g of nystatin found in the ointment, groups of guinea pigs received different treatments with or without local occlusion. Zinc oxide, nystatin, or the combination of both were applied, in the ointment base, on the backs of the animals inoculated with a fresh strain of Candida albicans. Macroscopic and microbiological evaluation of the skin lesions were assessed at regular intervals during 21 days. While the two treatments containing nystatin were more effective than zinc oxide alone, the latter agent did not decrease the efficacy of the antifungal drug in combination therapy. Also, zinc oxide seemed to afford some protection against local maceration induced by occlusion, which increased the severity of the infection. PMID- 2608093 TI - Mucormycosis of the bovine udder. AB - Nine cross-bred cows suffering from mucormycosis of the udder were observed. Histopathological and cultural examination of the lesions revealed the presence of Mucor spec. PMID- 2608094 TI - Mycosis in man due to Arthrinium phaeospermum var. indicum. First case report. AB - Arthrinium phaeospermum var. indicum Kan & Sullia was repeatedly isolated from erythematous nodules of a patient. Scrapings of the experimental infection developed on rabbits revealed fungal filaments and few spores similar to those of A. phaeospermum var. indicum. The identity of the pathogen is discussed and it is being reported for the first time from human being. In vitro sensitivity of A. phaeospermum var. indicum to miconazole nitrate exhibited a minimum inhibition concentration of 6.25 micrograms/ml. PMID- 2608095 TI - Mycetoma due to Nocardia brasiliensis: first case report from the Union Territory of Delhi. AB - The first case of mycetoma caused by Nocardia brasiliensis from the Union Territory of Delhi is reported. The patient, a permanent resident of the Union Territory of Delhi, acquired the disease 10 years ago following an accidental injury to his right hand. The diagnosis of the case was made on the basis of demonstration of the grains in direct microscopy, isolation of the organism in culture directly from the grains, identifying the organism by the conventional tests and through histopathology of the biopsy from the affected portion. PMID- 2608096 TI - Tinea capitis in adults. AB - Scalp ringworm is unusual after puberty. Etiological, epidemiological and clinical data regarding cases of tinea capitis in the elderly observed over a period of 15 years are discussed and some explanations are given for the conditions which favoured the mycotic infection of the scalp in adults. This study underlines that tinea capitis in the elderly is usually characterized by very variable and often atypical lesions and that female preponderance in adult cases of scalp ringworm is striking and unexplained. Moreover, all the dermatophytes we isolated from scalp lesions in children can cause tinea capitis in adults. PMID- 2608097 TI - Additive effect of the combination of griseofulvin and ketoconazole against Microsporum canis in vitro. AB - The susceptibility of 28 strains of Microsporum canis to griseofulvin, to ketoconazole and to a combination of both antifungal drugs was determined. Griseofulvin proved to be more active than ketoconazole. The combination of both antifungal agents was found to exert an additive effect. PMID- 2608098 TI - Instability of the nuclear chromatin of procyclic Trypanosoma brucei brucei. AB - Digestion of nuclear chromatin of Trypanosoma brucei brucei procyclic culture forms with micrococcal nuclease yielded DNA fragments which formed DNA ladders in agarose gels, similar to those of rat liver. However, the chromatin of trypanosomes was digested more rapidly. The digestion of T. b. brucei chromatin yielded a large amount of DNA fragments of core-particle size. The numbers of base pairs per nucleosomal and linker DNA were identical in both species, if the digestion conditions were reduced in the case of T. b. brucei. Psoralen cross linking of soluble chromatin of trypanosomes at 5 mM salt at pH 7 or pH 10 resulted in an irregular array of single-stranded (ss) bubbles separated by variable stretches of double-stranded (ds) DNA. The proportion of ss DNA was low compared with the ratio of ss/ds stretches in rat liver chromatin, which also showed regularly arranged nucleosomal DNA. Soluble chromatin of T. b. brucei, pre treated with 500 mM NaCl to remove a potential H1 and psoralen cross-linked at 5 mM salt at pH 7 or pH 10 was to a great extent ds in both situations. The true nucleosome filament organization of T. b. brucei chromatin could only be shown by psoralen cross-linking the DNA in whole nuclei under physiological conditions. The results indicate that the chromatin of procyclic T. b. brucei differs significantly in its compaction pattern from rat liver chromatin; a typical histone H1 is not found, and the DNA-protein interactions are also less stable and can more easily be destabilized by experimental conditions. PMID- 2608099 TI - Characterization of the promastigote surface protease of Leishmania as a membrane bound zinc endopeptidase. AB - The effects of a variety of inhibitors suggested that the promastigote surface protease (PSP) of Leishmania might be a zinc metalloprotease. To investigate this possibility, we conducted atomic emission and absorption spectroscopic analyses, which show that PSP contains 1 atom of zinc per 63-kDa monomer. Further studies showed that the enzyme can be biosynthetically labeled with 65ZnCl2. The comparison of the amino acid sequence of Leishmania major PSP with nine other zinc metalloproteinases revealed significant similarity in the area of their zinc binding sites. These data show clearly that the promastigote surface protease of Leishmania is a zinc metalloproteinase. Secondary structure analysis by circular dichroism spectroscopy indicates that PSP contains over 40% beta-strand and less than 20% alpha-helical structure. The molecular masses of amphiphilic PSP (152 kDa) and of hydrophilic PSP (142 kDa), determined by quantitative electron scattering, suggest that the purified enzyme occurs in solution, and presumably at the cell surface, as a non-covalent homodimer. PMID- 2608100 TI - Genomic organisation of nuclear tRNAGly and tRNALeu genes in Trypanosoma brucei. AB - We have isolated a 0.3-kb HaeIII restriction fragment from Trypanosoma brucei which contains two tRNA genes. Secondary structure models predict that the two genes identified encode tRNA molecules which specify glycine (anticodon UCC) and leucine (anticodon CAG). The two genes are separated by 86 nucleotides, transcribed in the same direction and contain features of conventional RNA polymerase III transcription units. Southern blot analysis indicates the presence of multicopy tRNa gene families in T. brucei. PMID- 2608101 TI - Structure of the apical membrane antigen I (AMA-1) of Plasmodium chabaudi. PMID- 2608102 TI - Body composition, energy, protein and iron intake of Nigerian female nursing students. AB - 100 apparently healthy female nursing students (aged 20-30 years) were studied. A 24 hours dietary recall was recorded. Additionally a questionnaire was elaborated to collect dietary parameters for 3 days. From the mean daily food intake the energy, protein and iron intake was calculated. A series of anthropometric measurements, i.e. body weight, body height and skinfold thickness (triceps, breast, scapula, abdomen) were used to determine total body fat, lean body mass, optimum weight, and relation weight. The mean total body fat of the 100 subjects was (21.3 +/- 5.1) % and (12.7 +/- 4.4) kg, respectively, the optimum weight (56.6 +/- 6.3) kg and the mean relative weight (101 +/- 12.4) %. 11% of the 100 subjects studied was underweight, 73% showed normal weight, 10% was overweight and 6% obese. All the age groups met their energy and protein requirements as well as the iron intake. PMID- 2608103 TI - [Comparative observations of the behavior of ethephon in fruit, coffee and paprika]. AB - After application of Flordimex to soft and stone fruit for fruit abscission and acceleration of ripening obvious Ethephon residues have been found. Therefore, the dose rate has to be restricted to keep the maximum residue limit. The same is true for the use of Flordimex for fruit abscission in apples, whereas for yield regulation residues are far below 0.05 mg/kg in apples. A typical feature of the active ingredient is the large quantity of its residues in juice and wine, which is as high as Ethephon concentration in fruits or even higher. Finally, Ethephon is demonstrated to enter the pulp of bananas, mandarin, grapefruit and mango as a result of treating harvested tropical fruit. The residue situation after treatment of pineapple, sweet pepper and coffee is discussed. PMID- 2608104 TI - Some considerations about the tyramine content of some Cuban beers and wines. PMID- 2608105 TI - Toilet cleaner for wound care? PMID- 2608106 TI - Reaching out to traditional midwives. PMID- 2608107 TI - Stomatherapy. PMID- 2608108 TI - Interpersonal skills for tutors. PMID- 2608109 TI - Isolation procedures for resistant bacteria. PMID- 2608110 TI - Inservice education and staff development at a private hospital. PMID- 2608111 TI - My experiences at Valley Trust. PMID- 2608112 TI - [Interdependence]. PMID- 2608113 TI - Insurance for AIDS sufferers. PMID- 2608114 TI - Workers see AIDS as 'government plot'. PMID- 2608115 TI - Sorting out triage in urban disasters. PMID- 2608116 TI - The College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. Its role in North Carolina's health care system. PMID- 2608117 TI - It may be the slow lane ... but you can still get there from here. PMID- 2608118 TI - Spice as a variety of death--black pepper can be lethal. PMID- 2608120 TI - The North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program. PMID- 2608119 TI - Physician employment contracts and restrictive covenants. PMID- 2608121 TI - The North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program. PMID- 2608122 TI - Views from the schools of medicine: the community dimension of medical education. PMID- 2608124 TI - Current issues in community based medical education. PMID- 2608123 TI - Views from the health care service sector of North Carolina. PMID- 2608125 TI - Medical education, teaching and research in the community setting: the full-time AHEC faculty. PMID- 2608126 TI - Experiences with community based medical education: a preceptor's view. PMID- 2608127 TI - Reflections of a former student, AHEC resident, and now rural practitioner. PMID- 2608128 TI - Issues in information dissemination and professional competence. PMID- 2608129 TI - Information when and where it is needed: the North Carolina AHEC Library and Information Services Network. PMID- 2608130 TI - Rural community health centers: the information network and professional competence. PMID- 2608131 TI - Impact of the AHEC information network on private medical practice. PMID- 2608132 TI - Serving the needs of nursing professionals in rural areas. PMID- 2608133 TI - Serving the information and professional development needs of the allied health professional. PMID- 2608134 TI - Impact of the AHEC mental health initiative on rural areas. PMID- 2608135 TI - Health manpower issues facing North Carolina and the AHEC Program. PMID- 2608136 TI - Comments on Dr. Frazier's article. PMID- 2608137 TI - Reply from Dr. Hendricks. PMID- 2608138 TI - Exploring the causes behind the increasing ESRD mortality rate in the U.S. PMID- 2608139 TI - Quality and accessibility of social work services to dialysis patients: a study. PMID- 2608140 TI - The nephrology social worker in the 1990's: where there's a will, is there a way? PMID- 2608141 TI - How to manage the chloramine problem. PMID- 2608142 TI - A look at the health of organ donation. PMID- 2608143 TI - [Percutaneous nucleotomy: indications and preliminary results]. AB - Percutaneous nucleotomy was developed in the late seventies. In the beginning special forceps were used to remove the nuclear tissue. However, because of the large diameter of the cannulas used there was a risk of nerve damage. In 1985 Onik et al. presented the 'automated percutaneous lumbar diskectomy'. The risk of damage to the surrounding tissues of the disc was low. The method proved to be successful. In this article we describe the method and analyse our first 40 patients treated for a disc protrusion between February and June, 1988. This pilot study also shows that CT discography is important for the selection of patients for treatment with this method. PMID- 2608144 TI - [Patients' condition one year following surgery for a lumbosacral radicular syndrome]. AB - In 492 patients with a lumbosacral radicular syndrome caused by a lumbar intervertebral disc herniation or by a stenosis of the lumbar spinal canal, the situation 1 year after a root decompressing operation was compared with the situation before surgery. About 75% of the patients reported satisfactory improvement, while about 10% were not satisfied. The judgement of the physicians is somewhat more favourable: 80% and 5%, respectively. The best results are obtained in patients in whom the preoperative diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation is highly probable; the worst results are obtained in patients undergoing a second operation. Back pain, sometimes serious, persists after surgery in about 50% of the patients. Such persistent back pain occurs most frequently in patients with a lumbar canal stenosis; one-third even mention a postoperative increase in back pain. About 50% of the patients who were on sick leave before operation resumed work afterwards. PMID- 2608145 TI - [Effect of surgery on neurological involvement caused by a lumbosacral radicular syndrome]. AB - Results of neurological assessment one year after surgical treatment of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc and lumbar stenosis are reported in 443 patients. Follow-up was performed during one year after operation. Preoperatively, surgeons found motor loss more frequently than patients, (28 and 12% respectively) and, postoperatively, motor loss was still present in 25% and 24%, respectively, of these cases. The operation had caused motor loss in 5% and aggravated motor loss in 3%. Sensibility was reported as abnormal one year after surgery by both patients and surgeons in one-third of the cases. Sensory loss, considered by the patient to have been caused or aggravated by the operation, occurred in 15% of the cases and in 12% of these the surgeons agreed. Preoperatively, unilaterally diminished knee and Achilles tendon reflexes were found in 9% and 42% respectively; one year after surgery, these had recovered in 65% and 57%, respectively. Surgery caused or aggravated unilaterally diminished knee or ankle jerks in 3% and 10%, respectively. PMID- 2608147 TI - [Irritable bowel syndrome]. PMID- 2608146 TI - [Acute kidney insufficiency in patients treated with fumaric acid esters for psoriasis]. AB - We describe four female patients with psoriasis treated with fumaric acid esters. In two patients acute renal failure developed during this therapy. Histological investigation of renal biopsy in one patient was compatible with the diagnosis of acute tubular necrosis; her renal function was reversible after cessation of the medication. The histological diagnosis of the other patient was tubulo interstitial nephritis, possibly as a reaction to acute tubular necrosis. The recovery of her renal function was incomplete after 9 months. PMID- 2608148 TI - [Blow-out fractures of the orbit]. PMID- 2608149 TI - Evaluation of the infertile male. PMID- 2608150 TI - A hereditary cancer consultation clinic. AB - There is a significant hiatus between existing knowledge about hereditary forms of cancer and the application of this information at the bedside. We believe that the HCCC concept will effectively bridge this gap between medical knowledge and its service application. Priority areas for assuring long-range success of this mission will require: a) greater public and physician awareness of the hereditary portion of the total cancer problem; b) generation of cost-benefit information relevant to the surveillance and management of patients at risk for hereditary cancer so that third party carriers might be more responsive to patient needs: c) enhancement of patient/family compliance with surveillance/management protocols leading to early detection of cancer and improved survival; and d) research into biomarkers which demonstrate acceptable sensitivity and specificity for the cancer-prone genotype, one day enabling identification of the deleterious gene(s). Thus, we may achieve the ultimate goal of identifying biochemical agents which will effectively ameliorate the deleterious products of the cancer-prone gene(s), improve clinical outlook, or even prevent cancer expression. PMID- 2608151 TI - [The significance of chronic mania]. PMID- 2608152 TI - [The limits of cognitive training methods in long-term schizophrenic patients]. PMID- 2608153 TI - [An unusual speech disorder in endogenous depression]. PMID- 2608154 TI - [Comments on the contribution by K.-J. Neumarker et al. Borrelia encephalitis and catatonia in adolescents. Nervenarzt (1989) 60:115-119]. PMID- 2608155 TI - Symposium on autoimmunity in glomerular diseases. Brussels, October 22, 1988. PMID- 2608156 TI - Rat sciatic nerve Schwann cell microcultures: responses to mitogens and production of trophic and neurite-promoting factors. AB - During embryonic development and in response to injury, the growing axons of peripheral neurons may influence the migration and proliferation of Schwann cells which, in return, may present neurons with a critical supply of factors required for neuronal survival, growth and differentiation. The identification and characterization of agents influencing the proliferation of Schwann cells as well as Schwann cell production of factors affecting neurons is greatly facilitated by the use of in vitro techniques. We describe here a simplified method of obtaining large numbers of purified neonatal rat sciatic nerve Schwann cells for use in generating large numbers of replicate microcultures. We then illustrate the use of these microcultures to examine Schwann cell: i) morphology and survival; ii) proliferation; and iii) production of neuronotrophic and neurite-promoting activities. We report that rat Schwann cells in microculture proliferate in response to serum, laminin and fibronectin, cholera toxin, and chick embryo parasympathetic ciliary neurons. Also, extracts of Schwann cell microcultures contain independently regulated activities which support the survival and neurite outgrowth of peripheral ganglionic neurons. PMID- 2608157 TI - Intermediate filament proteins immunologically related to desmin in astrocytes: a study of chicken spinal cord by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. AB - Co-migration experiments by two-dimensional SDS-PAGE using chicken spinal cord extracts and desmin purified from chicken gizzard showed that desmin is not present in spinal cord. However, by the immunoblotting procedure, desmin antibodies recognized 3 spinal cord antigens with different molecular weights and isoelectric points than desmin and the glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein. These antigens which also reacted with GFA protein antibodies were not identified in chicken gizzard extracts. The reactivity of the antigens with a monoclonal antibody recognizing an epitope common to most intermediate filament proteins (1) suggests that immunostaining of astrocytes with desmin antibodies (2, 3) is due to the presence of new intermediate filament proteins immunologically related to desmin. PMID- 2608158 TI - Morphological alterations in cultured neuromuscular tissue induced by two anesthetic agents. AB - A diversity of pathogenic effects was observed in two complementary culture systems following their exposure to the anesthetic agents. Thiopental sodium and ketamine hydrochloride. The cytotoxic effects of both agents in these two culture types were reversible and dose-related. In organotypic spinal cord slice cultures, thiopental sodium caused general toxicity but no demyelination, while ketamine hydrochloride induced, to a varied extent, damage of the myelin sheath and degeneration of mitochondria into multilamellar bodies. In autologous nerve muscle co-cultures both anaesthetic agents caused the arrest of muscle contractions. However, when added to skeletal muscle cultures, the drugs differed in their effect. Thiopental sodium did not inhibit spontaneous muscle contractions indicating, as in the case of Tubocurarine, a direct effect of the drug on the neuromuscular junction. Ketamine hydrochloride, in contrast, arrested spontaneous muscle contractions, implying that it did not directly affect the neuromuscular synapse. PMID- 2608159 TI - Sodium and potassium uptake in primary cultures of rat astroglial cells induced by long-term exposure to the basic astroglial growth factor (AGF2). AB - Astroglial cell cultures were derived from newborn rat forebrain and cultured for 5 days in serum containing-, and for an additional 4 days in a serum-free, defined medium. At the end of this 9-day-long period, basic astroglial growth factor (AGF2) was administered to the culture medium (10 ng per ml). Cells were subsequently cultured in AGF2 containing serum-free, defined medium for further two weeks. At definite intervals of culturing, unidirectional influx of both Na+ and K+ (INa and IK, respectively) was determined by applying 22Na and 42K. The AGF2-treated cultures showed highly increased, amiloride-sensitive INa at the early exposure period (2-8 hours), similar to that we have reported about cultured astroglia exposed to AGF2 for minutes. They also exhibited significant furosemide-sensitive-, while relatively poor ouabain-sensitive component of INa. However, at later periods of exposure to AGF2, INa was significantly reduced, particularly due to the decrease of its amiloride-sensitive component, while its furosemide-sensitive component further increased with the time of AGF2 treatment. In contrast to INa, the IK in the cultures exposed to AGF2 increased significantly in the course of the long-term exposure period, particularly the ouabain-, and furosemide-sensitive-components, while its amiloride-sensitive component, similarly to that of INa, decreased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2608160 TI - A thyroid hormone-vasopressin interaction promotes survival and maturation of hippocampal neurons dissociated postnatally. AB - Hippocampal cells dissociated from 5-day-old rat pups were grown in a suitable chemically defined basal medium, supplemented or not with 3,3',5-triiodo-L thyronine (T3), [Arg8]-vasopressin (AVP), or both, at different concentrations. Four days after plating, neuron-like cells began to degenerate drastically in the basal medium. Although AVP alone had no effect, T3, and to a greater extent T3 and AVP together, prevented their death. Moreover, T3 and AVP also acted synergically in promoting the maturation of surviving cells, especially AchE positive neurons, either directly or through glial cells. PMID- 2608161 TI - Uptakes of iodide and chloride by primary cultures of mouse astrocytes and neurons. AB - Primary cultures of both mouse astrocytes and neurons accumulate more 125I- than 36Cl- from the medium. The average cell/medium ratio of 125I- of astrocytes (1.01) is greater than that of neurons (0.74), whereas the ratio of 36Cl- of neurons (0.47) is greater than that of astrocytes (0.25). The equilibrium potentials of both 125I- and 36Cl- calculated from the cell/medium ratios in astrocytes and neurons are significantly lower than their corresponding resting transmembrane potentials which suggest that both iodide and chloride are actively transported into both cell types. With respect to different transport inhibitors, thiocyanate is more effective in inhibiting 125I- uptake whereas furosemide is more effective in inhibiting 36Cl- uptake. Radioiodide uptake by mouse astrocytes was directly proportional to the [Na+]o but was not significantly affected by changes of [Cl-]o or [HCO3-]o, except that it is low in bicarbonate-free medium. Radiochloride uptake by astrocytes was inversely related to [Cl-]o and [HCO3-]o and was not affected [Na+]o, except that it was low in sodium-free medium. Radioiodide uptake by neurons was directly related to [Na+]o between 60 and 140 mM and inversely related to [HCO3-]o between 10 and 40 mM, but it was not affected by [Cl-]o. Radiochloride uptake by neurons was directly related to [Cl ]o and to [Na+]o between 60 and 140 mM and was not affected by [HCO3-]o. However, in sodium-free medium both 125I- and 36Cl- uptakes into neurons were higher than those in [Na+]o between 5 and 60 mM. These results indicate that uptake of 125I- and 36Cl- into astrocytes and neurons are different in their ion dependence and that they are under separate regulation. PMID- 2608162 TI - The effect of heptyl-physostigmine, a new cholinesterase inhibitor, on the central cholinergic system of the rat. AB - Heptyl-physostigmine (Heptyl-Phy; MF-201) is a new carbamate derivative of physostigmine (Phy) with greater lipophilicity and longer inhibitory action on cholinesterase (ChE) activity than the parent compound. Following single dose administration of 5 mg/kg heptyl-Phy i.m., maximal whole brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition (82%) if reached at 60 min. Inhibition of plasma BuChE butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) remains close to the steady state level (60%) between 120 and 360 min. At 360 min, whole brain AChE activity is still 67% inhibited compared to controls. Inhibition of AChE activity displays brain regional differences which are more significant at 360 min. At this time point, AChe activity in cerebellum is only 40% inhibited while frontal cortex and medial septum are still 80% inhibited. Increases in acetylcholine (ACh) levels also show regional differences, however, there is no direct relationship between AChE inhibition and ACh increase. The electrically evoked [3H]ACh release in cortical slices was inhibited only by the highest concentration of heptyl-Phy tested (10(-4) M). At this concentration ChE activity was 97% inhibited in vitro. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that heptyl-Phy compares favorably to other reversible cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI), particularly to Phy as far as producing a more long-lasting inhibition of AChE and a more prolonged increase of ACh in brain with less severe side effects. Therefore, it represents an interesting candidate for cholinomimetic therapy of Alzheimer disease (AD). PMID- 2608163 TI - Rett syndrome: an EEG study in 52 girls. AB - EEG studies have been carried out on 52 girls with Rett syndrome, the majority of records being taken between two and 7 years of age. Discharges were a common feature, occurring in 43 patients, and did not appear to be related to the onset of seizures. The discharges, consisting of sharp waves or spikes, were characteristically most prominent around the middle third of the head, often occurring asymmetrically and could be infrequent or almost continuous. They were usually enhanced by light sleep and were seen only during sleep in 15 EEGs taken in 13 patients, most of whom were under four years of age. These EEG features when present may help confirm the diagnosis of Rett syndrome in the appropriate clinical setting and in particular are quite distinct from the usual EEG patterns seen in Angelman (Happy Puppet) syndrome. PMID- 2608164 TI - The effect of methotrexate on the development of synapses in the neonatal rat hippocampus. AB - The effects of postnatal methotrexate (MTX) exposure on the development of synapses in the developing rat hippocampus were examined. The density of E-PTA stained synaptic junctions per unit area was significantly reduced by MTX exposure either during day 1-5 or 6-10 post partum. It was suggested that administering MTX during the critical period affected the development of synapses in the developing rat brain. PMID- 2608165 TI - Focal changes in the globi pallidi associated with neurological dysfunction in methylmalonic acidaemia. AB - Neurological abnormalities are common in patients with organic acidaemias and sometimes these are distinctive. Lesions in various parts of the brain are increasingly being recognised in patients with methylmalonic acidaemia. We present the cases of two patients with methylmalonic acidaemia who became acutely ill with marked metabolic acidosis. CT scan showed bilateral areas of low density involving the globi pallidi. One patient developed dystonic posturing of the upper and lower limbs with rigidity and bradykinesia following her recovery. Treatment with benzhexol and with levodopa and carbidopa had no sustained benefit. Her gait slowly improved but her dystonic posturing remained. The other patient developed marked truncal hypotonia and a variable increase in limb tone following the acute illness. These abnormalities have persisted. It is concluded that structural brain changes, and in particular symmetrical lesions in the globi pallidi, may follow acute illness in patients with methylmalonic acidaemia and be accompanied by neurological symptoms. PMID- 2608166 TI - Immunohistochemical analysis of brain macrophages in adrenoleukodystrophy. AB - Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against antigenic determinants present at the surface of mononuclear cells, we characterized the macrophage infiltration in frozen brain specimens from a patient with adrenoleukodystrophy by immunohistochemical staining. This study demonstrated that macrophages were the main infiltrating cells in the white matter and that there was a wide variability in their phenotype according to their location: they stained very strongly with Leu-M5, EBM11, Leu-M3, To5 and 2LPM 19 C in the perivascular cuffs, whereas they stained principally with Leu-M5 and EBM11 and to a lesser extent with To5 and 2LPM19c in the white matter. In addition to the expression of MHC class II and CD4 molecules, macrophages exhibited strong labelling with 7G7B6, a monoclonal antibody raised against IL2 receptors. These results attest that macrophages, which infiltrate the brain parenchyma have various phenotypes, and very likely different states of activation, and suggest that interleukin-2 plays an important role during this activation. PMID- 2608167 TI - Clinical neurophysiological assessment of children with sacral anomalies. AB - Clinical neurophysiological investigations were carried out in 8 children with various forms of sacral dysplasia. No EMG activity was found in leg muscles in two children with complete sacral agenesis, even though pelvic floor activity was preserved in one of these. The external anal sphincter and puborectalis were examined in all cases, and it was easy to demonstrate neuropathic changes in individual motor unit potentials by attenuation of their low frequency components. There was only a loose association between any pelvic floor neuropathy and the level of the bony defect in the sacrum, confirming recent reports. Trans-cutaneous stimulation of the spinal nerve roots in the lumbar canal was carried out in four children. Unilateral slowed conduction in L5 roots corresponded with the clinical signs in one patient, and absent innervation of leg muscles was confirmed in the two children with complete agenesis. Normal L1 L4 conduction times were found in a child with no clinical signs. Early assessment of children with sacral anomalies is important in order to prevent secondary complications. Clinical neurophysiological investigations are useful in delineating the different patterns of neurological involvement, especially in the pelvic floor, and the results complement those obtained with imaging techniques. PMID- 2608168 TI - Long-term persistence of intrathecal viral antibody responses in postinfectious diseases of the central nervous system and in Rett syndrome. AB - Twenty patients: seven with herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE), six with other severe central nervous system (CNS) infections and 7 with Rett syndrome were studied to determine whether they showed any intrathecal synthesis of virus specific or total IgG in CNS. The study of the postinfectious patients was made a mean of 20 years after the primary infection in childhood. Four of seven patients with HSVE had an elevated IgG index and four showed intrathecal viral antibody production which was both specific (against HSV) and non-specific. One patient with congenital syphilis and one with tuberculotic meningitis showed non-specific intrathecal viral antibody synthesis. In three of seven patients with Rett syndrome intrathecal antibody production was observed. The clarification of the mechanism of polyclonal immunoactivation in postinfectious diseases would be of interest since similar persistent immunoactivation is a common feature in multiple sclerosis. In Rett syndrome the immunoactivation may also have pathogenetic significance. PMID- 2608169 TI - Schilder's diffuse sclerosis: case study with three years' follow-up and neuro imaging. AB - Schilder's diffuse myelinoclastic sclerosis, a rarely described disease in childhood, was diagnosed in the case of a 6-year-old girl with subacute cerebral disease. CT-scanning showed asymmetric rim-enhancing lesions within the cerebral white matter. Spontaneous clinical improvement occurred prior to corticosteroid treatment. Follow-up by CT and MRI for three years showed the development of stable amyelinic lesions. Improvement in motor control and in electrophysiological recordings contrasted with an arrest in neuropsychological development. The differential diagnosis and the prognostic implications of this disease are stressed. PMID- 2608170 TI - Hypomelanosis of Ito--report of four cases and survey of the literature. AB - Four cases of hypomelanosis of Ito with typical skin depigmentation and various noncutaneous findings were described. This neurocutaneous syndrome has been well documented by clinical investigations, especially computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. The literature is surveyed giving special consideration to related neurologic manifestation. The most frequent neurologic abnormality was psychomotor retardation. Hearing loss in two patients and varicosis in one patient was striking. In one more patient, the symptoms resembled neurodegenerative disease. PMID- 2608171 TI - Canavan disease and N-acetylaspartic aciduria. PMID- 2608172 TI - [Incidence and prognostic significance of anterior precordial ST segment depression in acute inferior myocardial infarct]. AB - In order to evaluate the incidence and prognostic significance of anterior precordial ST segment depression (decreases ST) in acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI), 158 patients with inferior MI were selected. In 90 patients (56.9%) an anterior decreases ST was associated with inferior lesion wave (group A), and in 68 patients (43.1%) only an ecg pattern of inferior myocardial infarction (group B) was present. No significant statistical differences were observed in mortality (group A 10% vs group B 10.2%), in compliances (group A 54.4% vs group B 47.0%) and in higher peak serum ck-levels (group A 83.3% vs group B 69.1%) in two groups during hospitalization period. In conclusion the anterior decreases ST during inferior MI should not be considered a negative prognostic sign. These favourable results are probably related to stringent criteria for ecg diagnosis of inferior myocardial infarction used and to exclusion of all patients with non contemporary evolution of anterior decreases ST and inferior lesion wave. PMID- 2608173 TI - [Prognostic value of late exercise test after myocardial infarction]. AB - The parameters of a maximal exercise stress test, without therapy, 30 to 186 days after myocardial infarction were related to cardiac death, recurrent nonfatal infarction, coronary artery by-pass surgery, development of angina pectoris and ST segment depression during subsequent stress test in 209 patients. During a follow-up period of 9.5 to 119 months (medium 52) 12 patients died, 14 developed recurrent nonfatal myocardial infarction, 4 were submitted to coronary surgery, respectively 53 and 69 patients presented angina and ST segment depression at the first test, 23 and 33 developed them subsequently. Among the exercise parameters only the systolic blood pressure less than 140 mmHg was predictive of future mortality. Angina and ST segment depression when present at the first stress test were significantly related between them and with low heart rate, low maximal systolic blood pressure and low work load, but not with cardiac mortality, reinfarction and by-pass surgery. Our results show a low predictive value of the late maximal exercise test after a myocardial infarction. Probably that depends on evolution of coronary disease, which does not provide long-term prognostic informations. PMID- 2608174 TI - [Use of myocardial thallium-201 scintigraphy in the evaluation of infarct area]. AB - In twenty-four patients admitted of the Coronary Care Unit for myocardial infarction, without signs of previous necrosis and uncomplicated course, amplitude of infarct size was estimated by 201-Thallium perfusion scintigraphy. The obtained results were compared with residual ventricular function (i.e. angiographic ejection fraction) and with other methods of fibrotic area evaluation such as electrocardiographic score and CPK and CK-MB dismission curve. Concordance was observed among: scintigraphy and ejection fraction, scintigraphy and electrocardiographic score, scintigraphy and CPK peak. PMID- 2608175 TI - [Surgical cardiac risk in patients with heart diseases. I. Evaluation of the risk]. AB - To evaluate the cardiac risk in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, it has been identified by the multivariated analysis some major and independent correlates of fatal or life-threatening cardiac complications. The most important ones were the history of previous myocardial infarction in the preceding six months, clinical signs of congestive heart failure, third heart sound or jugular venous distention, and for some Authors instable angina class IV CCS. Other predictive factors of complications were premature ventricular and atrial contractions or ectopic rhythms within cardiac diseases, age over 70 years, intraperitoneal, intrathoracic, aortic or emergency operation, severe valvular aortic and mitral stenosis and poor general medical conditions. Stable angina, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking habit were less important. The global evaluation of cardiac risk can be performed by multifactorial index subdividing the patients into four very different risk classes. This is obtained by scores assigned to each statistically significant factor. PMID- 2608176 TI - [Surgical cardiac risk in patients with heart diseases. II. Perioperative treatment]. AB - An improvement can be obtained in the surgical prognosis of the cardiopathic by working on the main risk factors. Congestive decompensation must usually be treated with diuretics; digitalis in only indicated in certain cases. In patients with ischaemic cardiopathy, angina therapy should be continued during the perioperative period, replacing the oral route; in the postoperative period. ECG monitoring is advisable up to Day III-V. Valve defects should be assessed carefully, including haemodynamically (especially severe aortic stenosis) because correction of the defect may become a priority. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy hypovolaemia and loss of sinus rhythm should be avoided. Valve prostheses involve particular problems represented by antibacterial prophylaxis and perioperative anti-coagulation. Congenital cyanogenic cardiopathies often require a lowering of the haematocrit and careful control of hypotension. Postoperative arrhythmias generally have medical causes and require control of the latter before possible antiarrhythmic therapy. The implantation of a temporary prophylactic pacemaker is rarely needed; for patients with definitive pacemakers, some precautions are needed for the use of the thermocautery. It is very important to deal with poor general medical conditions that might affect prognosis. Control of hypertension is less important than control of hypotension. PMID- 2608177 TI - [ST segment elevation after elective electric cardioversion]. AB - From a group of 142 patient with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter treated with DC shock, we selected 5 cases who showed a marked ST segment elevation immediately after electrical cardioversion. Only two patients, who received high voltage DC shock (950 and 1220 Joules) revealed prolonged and significant increase of CPK values. Our data suggest that ST segment transitory elevation after DC shock should probably not be considered a sign of myocardial injury even though this could be the case when high voltage DC shocks are used. PMID- 2608178 TI - [Non-prolapsing atrial myxoma. Description of a clinical and echocardiographic case]. AB - A clinically and sonographically identified case of atrial myxoma with no prolapse due to its short peduncle is described with emphasis on the importance of 2D echocardiography given the lack of both clinical symptoms and Time Motion ultrasound data in atrial myxomas prolapsing through the mitral anulus into the ventricular cavity. In fact 2D echocardiography shows up the systolic-diastolic swing of the tumour mass between the lower third of the left atrium and the atrioventricular valvular plane. PMID- 2608179 TI - [Retroesophageal right subclavian artery. Description of a clinical case]. AB - A case of retroesophageal right subclavian artery, occasionally observed in a patient submitted to diagnostic investigation and surgical treatment for bilateral steno-obstructive involvement of the carotid district, is described. PMID- 2608180 TI - [Chiari's network: persistence of the embryonic remnants of the valve of the sinus venosus in the right atrium. Echocardiographic and clinical analysis in a group of subjects]. AB - As echocardiography is being used more often, its value and accuracy are becoming more fully appreciated, especially for identifying normal anatomic variants and their possible erroneous interpretation as pathologic states. We report the echocardiographic and clinical findings observed in sixteen subjects examined at our Cardiological Service in the period from January 1987 to April 1988. Mean age of these subjects is 40 +/- 27.04. Of these subjects, six are affected by other cardiac pathologies and ten are unaffected (Group A). First, we describe in all the patients M-mode and two dimensional patterns of persistence of the right venous sinus valve known as the Chiari network. This structure can present as a highly mobile, highly reflective echo target, which can be seen especially by means of the bi-dimensional technique. The Chiari network could be seen with all four standard approaches. The two most diagnostic views are, in our experience, the short axis parasternal view (62.5%), and the subcostal view (87.5%). In a great number of subjects (75%) the Chiari network could be seen in at least two approaches. Second, in Group A we make a clinical examination. Nine subjects in this group show the presence of a cardiac systolic murmur with vibratory characters from grade 1/6 to grade 3/6. 50% of the same patients presented supraventricular arrhythmias (particularly, two presented reciprocating paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and one paroxysmal atrial fibrillation). The significance of these findings is not clear yet. We, at least, emphasise that the Chiari network could be confused with other curvilinear highly mobile, echo targets such as right-heart vegetations, flail tricuspid leaflets, a small right heart thrombus or even a pedunculated right heart tumor (especially right atrial myxoma). On the contrary, this structure might be considered a "normal anatomic variant". PMID- 2608181 TI - [The echocardiographic examination associated with the cold pressor test or the isometric force test in the evaluation of ischemic heart disease]. AB - Sixteen angina patients were submitted to echocardiographic examination during the cold pressor test and during hand grip. Certain left ventricular function echocardiographic parameters were assessed in these subjects and in a further 14 patients presenting negative histories for cardiovascular diseases who represented the control group. Of the two tests associated with echocardiography, the cold pressor test appeared capable of inducing the more evident changes on left ventricular function compared to isometric effort in subjects suffering from ischaemic cardiopathy. PMID- 2608182 TI - [Dynamic left intraventricular obstruction in acute myocardial ischemia]. AB - A case of a 60-year-old woman suffering from hypertension, who presented an episode of acute myocardial ischemia with an elevation of the ST segment in the anterior ECG lead, is reported. On examination, a transient loud systolic murmur was present; it completely disappeared soon after the cessation of acute myocardial ischemia. Doppler echocardiography was performed a few times, during and after the acute ischemia: it was able to show a sort of "hour-glass" deformation of the left ventricle due to the akinesia of the anterior and apical segments. This functional anatomic deformation hampers the outflow from the left ventricle thus creating a dynamic left intraventricular gradient, which is clearly shown by pulsed wave and continuous Doppler echocardiography. PMID- 2608183 TI - [Angiographic aspects of unstable angina]. AB - One-hundred and ninety-four patients with unstable angina pectoris (91 "in crescendo" angina and 103 new onset angina) underwent coronary angiography. The angiographic data from both groups were compared in order to discover whether angiographic aspects were related to the various clinical symptoms of coronary artery disease. Patients with recent onset angina had a significant increase (p less than 0.0001) of mono-vessel disease, whereas multi-vessel disease was prevalent in patients with "in crescendo" angina pectoris. Higher prevalence of coronary collaterals was observed in patients with "in crescendo" angina (p less than 0.005). No significant difference was observed in ejection fraction of the two groups. A further analysis was performed in 100 patients with unstable angina pectoris but without prior myocardial infarction (42 "in crescendo" angina and 58 recent onset angina). Also in these patients were found the same results; with the exception of ejection fraction which was more slight in patients with "in crescendo" angina (p less than 0.01). These data confirm that patients with unstable angina are an heterogeneous group in which comparison is unreliable and that the severity of clinical symptoms is not related to the degree of angiographic coronary lesions. PMID- 2608184 TI - [Persistent left superior vena cava in patients treated with a definitive pacemaker. Incidence in the population and follow-up of particular pacemakers]. AB - Four cases of persistent left superior vena cava encountered during the placing of a definitive pacemaker are reported. The incidence of the abnormality in the adult population is discussed together with the possible techniques for implanting an electrocatheter in the right ventricle. PMID- 2608185 TI - [Echocardiographic parameters and systolic times in arterial hypertension in the elderly]. AB - In 40 subjects, 15 mean age 70.7 +/- 5.6 with systolic-diastolic hypertension, 15 mean age 75.5 +/- 6.8 years with systolic hypertension and 10 mean age 73.6 +/- 5.1 normotensive control group we have analyzed with M-mode 2D echocardiography and echophonocardiography the following parameters: diastolic--EDD--and systolic diameter--SD--of left ventricle, diastolic thickness of septum--SSD--and posterior wall--SPPD--of left ventricle, left ventricular ejection fraction--EF- (Theicholtr. formula), radius posterior wall thickness--R/SPPD--, left ventricular mass--LVM--(Devereux' formula), and systolic time intervals (Q-A2, LVET, PEP and PEP/LVET). The differences between groups are: systolic-diastolic hypertensive patients have increased EDD, SPPD and LVM, reduction of EF and increased PEP/LVET ratio in comparison with B and C groups; systolic hypertension doesn't increase EDD; SSD and PEP/LVET increase, while the EF remains within normal limits. In the healthy aged subjects SSD, SPPD and LVM are normal. PMID- 2608186 TI - [Hemodynamic response to isometric exercise in elderly subjects]. AB - The haemodynamic responses to isometric exercise (handgrip) performed during right cardiac catheterization were tested in 9 elderly patients (1 female, 8 males) with average age of 67.8 +/- 2.3 years, without clinical and instrumental signs of cardiovascular disease. The parameters tested before and after handgrip were: heart rate (FC), systolic blood pressure (PAS), diastolic blood pressure (PAD), mean blood pressure (PAM), cardiac output (PC), cardiac index (IC), systolic index (IS), mean pulmonary pressure (PPM), end-diastolic pulmonary pressure (PPTD), systemic arterial resistance (RST), pulmonary arterial resistance (RPT), stroke volume (GS), left ventricular systolic stress index (ILS). Statistical analysis was carried out using the Student test. Stress produced a highly significant increase (p less than 0.001) of PPM (+28%) of PPTD (+ 33.1%), a modestly significant increase (p less than 0.01) of PAD (+ 15.6%), PAM (+ 18.2%), ILS (+ 24%,), RPT (+ 25%), a weakly significant increase (p less than 0.05) of PAS (+ 20%), RST (+ 15.6%). No significant variation attributable to FC, IC, IS, GS was observed. Our subjects presented a reduced tolerance to isometric exercise. PMID- 2608187 TI - [Possible pro-arrhythmic effects of vagal stimulation maneuvers]. AB - Vagal stimulation manoeuvres are currently used in clinical practice both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Such manoeuvres are not, however, without risk. The Authors describe the case of a patient in whom, in the past, a Lown Ganong-Levine syndrome had been diagnosed. During a vagal stimulation, performed because of a suspected paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia crisis, a sudden increase of ventricular rate, up to 280 b/min, occurred. At the end of this paroxysm, the presence of an atrial flutter was ascertained. The high ventricular rate was thus attributed to an 1:1 A-V conduction which occurred because of the performed manoeuvres. The possibility of causing not only hypokinetic but also potentially dangerous hyperkinetic arrhythmias must be held in consideration; the vagal stimulation manoeuvres therefore should not be performed without the possibility of electrocardiographic monitoring. PMID- 2608188 TI - ["Myocardial bridge" and "intramural LAD pathway" are not just a semantic problem]. AB - The angiographic definition of "Myocardial Bridge" universally applies to signify systolic narrowing of a coronary segment by strips of myocardial tissue. The Authors report the clinical history of two patients suffering from effort angina and transient myocardial ischemia, in whom coronary angiography showed no atherosclerotic lesions, but wide systolic kinking of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, without systolic luminal obstruction. The definition of "Intramural LAD Pathway" has been put off in place of "Myocardial Bridge", making a distinction not simply semantic but between two different angiographic and pathologic pictures. It is very likely indeed that coronary flow impairment, solely systolic in myocardial bridge, takes places mainly during diastole in Intramural LAD Pathway. PMID- 2608189 TI - [Importance of intraoperative H/R ultrasonography in the immediate evaluation of the results of thromboendarterectomy of the carotid bifurcation]. AB - Personal experience on the intraoperative use of HR echography for the evaluation of the immediate surgical results in carotid bifurcation T.E.A. is reported. It is already assessed that early failure in vascular surgery is due to technically incorrect procedures. PMID- 2608190 TI - [Increase in blood potassium and subsequent normalization: effects on the electrocardiogram. Case report]. AB - Significant variations in the ECG have been observed in a female aged 77 with heart failure and chronic atrial fibrillation during an occasional increase in blood potassium followed by normalization. The major phenomena observed during hyperkalemia, due to a severe dehydration, were a transient sinus rhythm with atrio-ventricular block followed by atrial activity disappearance and advent of interventricular and fascicular block. Therapeutic normalization of blood potassium leads to a progressive disappearance of intraventricular and fascicular block, a temporary sinus rhythm and finally the return to atrial fibrillation which was the steady state of the patient before the blood potassium imbalance. PMID- 2608191 TI - [Dynamic obstruction of the left ventricular outflow as a late complication of mitral valve replacement. Case report]. AB - The obstruction of the left ventricular tract outflow following mitral valve surgery, as a late complication, is rarely reported in the literature. The case of a 47-yr-old woman, who, after mitral valve surgery, developed dynamic left ventricular tract outflow obstruction four years later is reported. This alteration was detected by 2D echo-Doppler. The echocardiographic findings were: 1) Normal function of the mitral prosthesis. 2) An equal pressure-gradient of 44 mmHg at rest and of 75 mmHg after amyl nitrite at three examined levels: below, above and at the level of the aortic valve. 3) A hyper-echo image in the peri annular region, probably representing fibrous degeneration around the valve ring, which was the likely cause of the obstruction. Th data were confirmed by cardiac catheterization. The echocardiographic technique appears to be a useful tool to detect and study this complication of mitral valve surgery. PMID- 2608192 TI - [Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula associated with Caroli's disease. Case report]. AB - The case of a 26-yr-old man with a pulmonary arteriovenous fistula associated with a similar angiopathy of the liver and spleen is described. This patient also developed so-called Caroli's disease. PMID- 2608193 TI - [Lasers and genital (cervico-vulvo-vaginal) pathology]. AB - The authors performed laser vaporization in 240/250 cases for viral pathology of the lower genital tract, obtaining recovery at the first treatment in 232/240 cases and at the second in 238/248 cases. PMID- 2608194 TI - [Postpartum perineal evaluation. Role of the Q-tip test]. AB - Data reported in this study concern 56 women who were subjected, 1 and 6 months after delivery, to a perineal examination including, in addition to the functional evaluation of the levator ani muscles, the "Q-tip test". A positive Q tip test is associated with a greater incidence of stress urinary incontinence, especially when, at the same time, the score for the functional evaluation of the levator ani muscles ("Perineal Testing") is inferior to 3. The results of this study seem to indicate a greater gravity and ventral extension of obstetric perineal injuries. PMID- 2608195 TI - [Destructive cesarean section: hysterectomy for obstetric reasons and post abortive hysterectomy. Analysis of 35 cases]. AB - The Authors examined surgical case studies for the 20-year period from February 1968 to February 1988 concerning hysterectomies performed for obstetric reasons at the "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department; these numbered 35 out of 69,677 births. They also considered hysterectomies carried out during caesarean sections, during birth or the postpartum period, during the puerperium and after miscarriage. They also analyzed reasons for the action taken, the type of operation, the length of the gestation period, the mother's age, and transfusions given. PMID- 2608196 TI - [Medium term treatment and prophylaxis of dysfunctional metrorrhagia in adolescence]. AB - The authors compared the therapeutic effectiveness of these different pharmacological methods of preventing dysfunctional menometrorrhagia in adolescents, which were: 1) chorionic gonadotropin, 2) cyclofenil, 3) ovariostatics. Therapy was given during 2 menstrual cycles, and effects were evaluated both during the treatment and for the succeeding 2 cycles. Parameters followed were: a) clinical recovery, b) persistence of spotting, c) effectiveness in inducing ovulation. The results were equally good both in treatment with ovariostatics and ovulation inducers. The latter proved however, more effective during follow-up. Side-effects were very rare, so much so that, in no case was it necessary to suspend treatment. PMID- 2608197 TI - [Analysis of the routine control colposcopic findings, of the preventive gynecological oncology service]. AB - Ten-thousand-fifty-one colposcopic examinations recorded using uniform and standardized criteria from 1983 to 1988 are analysed. The results confirm the validity of the protocol used. It is emphasized that the main problem concerning the prevention of cervical cancer still lies in putting high-risk patients in touch with the health services. PMID- 2608198 TI - [Cardiopathies, pregnancy and labor in our hospital practice. Clinical cases from 1969 to 1987]. AB - The behaviour of cardiopathies and the prognosis for labour was studied in 44 pregnant women with heart disease admitted to Muscatello Hospital Augusta in 1969 87. Improved cardiological and obstetric treatment together with the interdisciplinary approach adopted since 1971 eliminated maternal deaths and drastically reduced complications in pregnancies. Caesarian section was adopted in all but class I cases and was well tolerated. Puerperium passed without incident and the patients were up by the second or third day, released on day 8. There was also a distinct improvement in foetal prognosis with fewer small for date births and only one death due to foetal immaturity. PMID- 2608199 TI - [HELLP syndrome. Clinical report]. AB - A case of HELLP-syndrome is reported and attention called to the importance of early recognition of the syndrome whose clinical characteristics at times delay intervention that can be important for the wellbeing of mother and foetus. PMID- 2608200 TI - [Microsurgery in gynecology. 8 years' clinical activity]. AB - A series of 110 patients given surgical treatment for "mechanical infertility of varying origin in 1980-88 is examined". The classification system proposed for the microsurgical procedures available is based both on personal experience and on the classification of the causes of mechanical infertility in women according to aetiopathogenesis. Clinical results are judged in terms of pregnancies achieved and suggest that while adhesiotomy, salpyngostomy, t-t tubal anastomosis and cornual reimplantation are all useful, fimbrioplasty is less likely to give good results, particularly in the long term. Finally the links between gynaecological microsurgery and F.I.V.E.T. and G.I.F.T. are analysed. PMID- 2608201 TI - [The oblique projection in the radiologic study of the breast]. AB - In order to verify the diagnostic value of the oblique view (O) in Mammography, we analyzed the results obtained in 3,833 patients examined with Mammography or Xerography. 2,076 patients were examined with conventional methodology (including cranio-caudal--CC--view and medio-lateral--ML--view at the first exam and at the follow-up exams). 1,307 patients were examined with methodology including also O view (CC and O at the first exam and the O only at the exams of follow-up). We compared the diagnostic possibilities of the two groups of patients about detection of focal lesions confirmed by histologic results; and their "cost" in terms of exposure-dose to the patients. We observed a better diagnostic capacity (+3.5%) for the methodology including the oblique view; moreover we observed in this methodology an important reduction (-20%) of the exposure-dose to the patients. PMID- 2608202 TI - [Use of panoramic hysteroscopy in the differential diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding]. AB - The usefulness of Hamou's microcolpohysteroscope in the evaluation of submucous myomas, endometrial polyps, hyperplasia of endometrium, atrophic endometrium, in order to obtain a more accurate diagnosis and a more proper therapeutic management, is underlined. PMID- 2608203 TI - [Infection of Chlamydia trachomatis and dysplasia lesions of the cervix uteri (CIN)]. AB - With the aim of evaluating the correlation between dysplastic lesions of the uterine cervix associated or not with condylomatosis and Chlamydia T. infection, we carried out a serological study of anti-Chlamydia species-specific antibodies and a direct and/or a cultural investigation on a sample of 320 women who performed a Pap-test. The serological examination showed positivity (titer greater than or equal to 1:32) in 49 control subjects (with negative cytology) (23.7%); in 27 cases (43.5%) with actual diagnosis of condylomatosis/CIN associated or not with condylomatosis and in 28 cases (54.9%) with previous diagnosis of condylomatosis/CIN associated or not with condylomatosis. The cultural investigation did not show any significant difference among the groups above mentioned. Finally, the frequency of positive cases for anti-Chlamydia antibodies was estimated for each grade of actual or previous CIN: a greater frequency of positivity was noted in cases with CIN 3 (75%). PMID- 2608204 TI - [Determination of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in the blood of patients with cancer of the uterine cervix]. AB - The RIA method has been used to assay the squamous cell carcinoma antigen in the serum of twenty-four patients suffering from cervical cancer. The results obtained showed expressive differences between the levels in women with metastatic relapse and in those in remission, but the SCC antigen is particularly useful in the therapeutic monitoring, since it can assess of the current treatment. PMID- 2608205 TI - [Retrospective study of cesarean section in the years 1974-87]. AB - 747 Caesarean sections carried out during the years 1974-97 inclusive have been examined on the basis of retrospective data. From the study it emerged that Caesarean section gradually increased in frequency from 6% in 1974 to 29% in 1986 87, that it is more frequently performed in primigravidas, that repeated Caesarean sections are increasing constantly and that its indications, whether maternal or foetal or mixed, are expanding. It also turned out that the practice of blood transfusion concomitant with C.S. has been failing continuously for 5 years. As for maternal and perinatal morbidity-mortality, it was evident that only neonatal morbidity is lower in C.S. compared to vaginal delivery, and only maternal mortality due to operated vaginal delivery is higher than C.S.-induced maternal mortality: for the rest, statistics all speak in favour of vaginal delivery. In spite of this, many Authors write in favour of the percentage increase in C.S. and the reasons are given. PMID- 2608206 TI - [Vesico-urethral traumatic lesions caused by labor]. AB - The technique used for immediate repair of a delivery-induced vesico-urethral lesion is described. PMID- 2608207 TI - Cytological diagnosis of breast cancer. AB - One hundred thirty-one fine-needle aspirations and 85 nipple discharge smears were evaluated cytologically and correlated with histological diagnoses and with clinical impressions. This study demonstrates that cytological diagnosis of breast lesions is a useful and clinically accurate procedure. PMID- 2608208 TI - Trends in cesarean section rates. AB - Analysis of rates of primary cesarean section by level of perinatal designation and of individual hospitals with rates in excess of 20 percent show the increased utilization of cesarean sections between 1967 and 1986. Recommendations are made for reducing the utilization of cesarean sections at the hospital and physician levels. PMID- 2608209 TI - Prevention of handgun deaths. AB - Rising numbers of deaths from firearms occurred as a consequence of the increased availability of handguns in the homes of victims. Physician counselling about the risks of handgun ownership and the implementation of stricter handgun control laws are measures needed to address this major public health problem. PMID- 2608210 TI - Radiotherapy T1 glottic carcinoma. AB - From 1970 to 1985, curative radiotherapy was administered to 63 patients with stage I carcinoma of the true vocal cords. Precision radiotherapeutic technique yields cure rates comparable to surgical results. Good voice quality was preserved in a high percentage of patients. PMID- 2608211 TI - Endoscopic nasal surgery. AB - The purpose of functional endoscopic sinus surgery is to re-establish ventilation and mucociliary clearance by endoscopic removal of diseased tissue from key areas of the nasal cavity. Systematic nasal endoscopy and high resolution computed tomography provide diagnostic information that can allow for the recognition of pathology not identifiable by other means. PMID- 2608212 TI - Acromegaly as the amenorrhea-galactorrhea syndrome. AB - The presence of amenorrhea with galactorrhea, elevated prolactin levels, and a pituitary tumor does not always imply the diagnosis of a prolactinoma. Other pituitary disorders, including acromegaly, should be considered. PMID- 2608213 TI - Current challenges to the practice of medicine. PMID- 2608214 TI - The medical malpractice mediation panel. PMID- 2608215 TI - Mortality patterns among a Native American population in New York State. AB - This study investigated patterns of mortality among a Native American tribe, the Seneca Nation of Indians (SNI). The names of 962 tribal members reported to have died in New York State between 1955 and the end of 1984 were identified through a review of tribal roll books maintained by the Seneca Nation. Positive matches were obtained for 796 (83%) of these individuals using New York State mortality files for the period under investigation. Standardized Proportionate Mortality Ratios (PMR) were computed for major causes of death based on cause-specific mortality patterns in the New York State population for each sex during the same time period. Significantly elevated risks of mortality were observed for all infectious diseases, tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, and accidents. Depressed mortality ratios were noted for deaths due to all cancers combined, and for cancers of the lung, pancreas, breast, and lymphatic/hematopoietic cancers. Changes in mortality risks over time were also observed. PMID- 2608216 TI - The awarding of honors to medical clerks. Results of a national survey. AB - We conducted a national survey of medical schools to determine the frequency of the awarding of honors to third-year clinical clerks and fourth-year subinterns in internal medicine. Of 126 schools surveyed, 86.5% responded. Of those responding, 66% award honors to their junior clerks and 47% award honors to their fourth-year students rotating on the internal medicine service. Consistent criteria do not exist among programs and even within some programs for such awards. The number of students receiving the awards or the percentage of the class that is felt to qualify for honors is also highly variable. The attainment of honors is an important criterion for residency selection as well as a positive predictor of future performance of candidates. The writing of the dean's letter, residency selection, and the date of the National Residency Matching Program results announcement are now occurring later in the academic year than previously, thus making the results of the fourth-year medicine rotations available to residency selection committees by the time choices have to be made. We conclude, therefore, that it seems useful for all medical schools to award honors not only to third-year clerks but also to senior students. PMID- 2608217 TI - Sarcoidosis of the thyroid clinically mimicking malignancy. PMID- 2608218 TI - Late onset post-pneumonectomy empyema. PMID- 2608219 TI - Scrotal ischemia after intravenous vasopressin therapy for hemorrhagic esophageal varices. PMID- 2608220 TI - Confidential Tay-Sachs carrier screening. PMID- 2608221 TI - Kashin-Beck disease. PMID- 2608222 TI - Medical malpractice. PMID- 2608223 TI - Alcohol abuse: opportunities for prevention. PMID- 2608224 TI - AIDS in New York State: an update. PMID- 2608225 TI - Fasting urinary calcium/creatinine and hydroxyproline/creatinine values in young women with amenorrhoea and in matched eumenorrhoeic controls. AB - The present study was undertaken to compare fasting urinary calcium/creatinine (Ca/Cr) and hydroxyproline/creatinine (HP/Cr) values in young amenorrhoeic women with those of age and weight-matched menstruating women and to see whether restoration of menstruation would influence values. Thirty amenorrhoeic patients were matched with 30 controls. Higher Ca/Cr (0.393 (SD 0.213) vs 0.142 (0.89), p less than 0.001) and HP/Cr (0.025 (0.005) vs 0.020 (0.007), p less than 0.005) values were found in patients with hyperprolactinaemia or hypothalamic dysfunction associated with weight loss, anorexia nervosa or excessive exercise (n = 20), suggesting excessive bone loss in these amenorrhoeic patients, who are frequently oestrogen deficient. Furthermore when 9 amenorrhoeic patients with hypothalamic dysfunction became eumenorrhoeic their urinary Ca/Cr values fell (p less than 0.02). However, amenorrhoeic patients with polycystic ovaries (n = 10) had similar Ca/Cr and HP/Cr values as their controls. It is therefore probable that amenorrhoeic patients with polycystic ovaries are not at risk of osteopenia. The present findings suggest measurements of fasting urinary Ca/Cr and HP/Cr values are likely to prove useful in identifying patients with amenorrhoea who are rapidly losing bone, and in assessing their responses to therapy. PMID- 2608226 TI - Maori and nonMaori postneonatal mortality rates by domicile. AB - The urbanisation of Maori with the possible loss of family and cultural ties may in part account for the higher Maori postneonatal mortality rate compared with nonMaori. To examine this hypothesis rural and urban postneonatal mortality rates by region and ethnic group were compared. In the North Island regions there was no significant difference between the urban and rural rates of either ethnic group. In the South Island the rate for Maori in the rural areas (7.51/1000 live births) was lower (RR = 0.45, 95%CI = 0.17-1.17) than in the urban areas (16.83/1000). PMID- 2608227 TI - Pneumococcal osteomyelitis of the superior pubic ramus: case report. AB - A patient with osteomyelitis of the superior pubic ramus is reported. Computed tomography was helpful in making the diagnosis. PMID- 2608228 TI - The long term effects of sexual assault on women's mental health. PMID- 2608229 TI - Cardiac transplantation in New Zealand: an initial report. AB - During the first 18 months of its establishment, the cardiac transplant unit at Green Lane Hospital has undertaken 10 transplant operations. Fifty potential recipients have been referred and 15 were accepted for transplantation. Of the ten who have had surgery, 2 are making good progress at school, 1 is active at home and 5 have returned to work. Two patients have died. PMID- 2608230 TI - Prevalence of smoking in a Dunedin sample followed from age 9 to 15 years. AB - A longitudinal study of a Dunedin cohort through to adolescence showed that by age 15 years, 80 percent of the adolescents had tried smoking. There was a steep rise in the prevalence of smoking from age 13 to age 15 years. At age 13 years 1% of the adolescents smoked every day, compared with 15% of them at age 15 years. At age 15 years this group of daily smokers consisted of 18% of the girls and 11% of the boys. The majority of adolescents who had never smoked by 13 years of age, but had smoked by 15 years of age were girls. Prevalence rates from the present study (1987-88) are similar to those reported in the 1960s and 1970s. A large decrease in the number of boys who smoke every day has been offset by a large increase in the number of girls who smoke every day. PMID- 2608231 TI - Aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of head and neck masses: the early Christchurch experience. AB - Fine needle aspiration cytology has been performed on patients presenting with head and neck masses in Christchurch since mid-1985. The results of an initial 120 aspirations were reviewed. Histology was available to compare with the cytology result in 58% of cases. Clinical review was used to assess the accuracy of the cytology result in the remaining cases. The majority of the masses aspirated were of benign origin (72%). The cytological diagnosis was accurate in 79% of cases. Of the remaining aspirates, 13% were inaccurate and 8% nondiagnostic. The sensitivity for malignant lesions was 100%, with 86% specificity (for benign lesions). Particular diagnostic difficulty was found in the differentiation between some salivary gland tumours, and the assessment of aspirates from neck masses after combined therapy (radiotherapy and surgery). Fine needle aspiration cytology is of considerable value in the management of head and neck masses. PMID- 2608232 TI - Behavioural science at the Auckland Medical School: introduction and evaluation of a revised programme. AB - This paper provides an overview of developments in the Auckland Medical School behavioural science programme. From 1984 to 1987, an entirely new five year course was phased in, its design based on a survey of 165 clinical teachers. This course has eight topic streams oriented towards producing a behaviourally knowledgeable and skilled clinician. Evaluation of the course shows good acceptance by students. Recent and planned modifications to the course are described. PMID- 2608233 TI - Improving our health service: in from the cold--the essential twins, quality assurance and information systems. PMID- 2608234 TI - Imovane (zopiclone) PMID- 2608235 TI - Horizontal transmission of hepatitis B. PMID- 2608236 TI - Abortion--a dilemma for a Christian general practitioner. PMID- 2608237 TI - Passive smoking in the home. PMID- 2608238 TI - The death of solo practice. PMID- 2608239 TI - Unsuspected HIV infection. PMID- 2608240 TI - Diet and behaviour. PMID- 2608241 TI - Occupational overuse injury--again. PMID- 2608242 TI - Unsafe home births. PMID- 2608243 TI - Cot deaths. PMID- 2608244 TI - Sedatives/hypnotics for abuse. PMID- 2608245 TI - Simvastatin in the media. PMID- 2608246 TI - Looking to the future. PMID- 2608247 TI - Trial rosters: the verdict. PMID- 2608248 TI - The award round and you. PMID- 2608249 TI - New course choices for studious OH nurses. PMID- 2608250 TI - How relevant are nursing models? PMID- 2608251 TI - Substance abuse in the workplace. PMID- 2608252 TI - Why alcohol policies are bad news. PMID- 2608253 TI - Nicotine gum and smoking cessation. PMID- 2608254 TI - The costs of going to court. PMID- 2608255 TI - [Synthetic resin inlay--phoenix out of the ashes]. PMID- 2608256 TI - [Crozat appliance, timely finishing]. PMID- 2608257 TI - A case of the scalenus anterior muscle passing behind the left subclavian artery. AB - The scalenus anterior muscle was found to pass behind the left subclavian artery and the first thoracic nerve in a 95-year-old Japanese woman. The scalenus anterior muscle originates from the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae and inserts on the first rib more dorsal than typical. It is innervated by the fifth and seventh cervical nerves. The muscle belly is thin. The scalenus minimus was not found. The left vertebral artery originates from the aortic arch and enters the transverse foramen of the fifth cervical vertebra. The primary vertebral artery arises from the costocervical artery. The internal thoracic artery originates from the subclavian artery more distally than typical. The axillary artery crosses the brachial plexus between the eighth cervical and first thoracic nerves. Because the first thoracic nerve joins the brachial plexus more distally than usual, the plexus has no typical inferior trunk. Comparative anatomy shows that the muscles, nerves and arteries of the lateral cervical region of the present case maintains primitive characteristics. From the functional viewpoint, the mechanical efficiency of the scalenus anterior muscle is probably lower than usual due to the lower point of origin and the dorsal shift of the insertion. PMID- 2608258 TI - The intermediate epithelium lining the larynx of the Suncus murinus. AB - In the larynx of the Suncus murinus the stratified squamous epithelium lines the tip of the caudal surface of the epiglottis and the region close to the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage, while the ciliated columnar epithelium is located in the laryngeal sac and the dorsal part of the vocal fold. Further, in the transitional zone between the stratified squamous epithelium and the ciliated columnar one there exists the epithelium which shows gradations ranging from stratified squamous through stratified cuboidal to ciliated stratified low columnar type. It is suggested that the epithelium lining the transitional zone is identical with the "intermediate epithelium" in the mouse nasopharynx and larynx. PMID- 2608259 TI - Observation on the basal lamina of duodenal mesothelial cells during metamorphosis of Xenopus laevis. AB - Morphologic changes in the basal lamina of duodenal mesothelial cells during metamorphosis of Xenopus laevis were observed. In the prometamorphosis stage (Stage 56-59), the basal lamina was almost completely flat; the lamina densa of the basal lamina was a 50 nm layer of high electron density. In the early stages of metamorphic climax (Stage 60-62), the basal lamina showed occasional slight folding (stage 60), with the lapse of time, the folding became continuous and deeper. The development of an additional thin basal lamina was observed in areas where the folded basal lamina was separated from mesothelial cells, viz. on the side adjacent to the mesothelium. The lamina densa in this stage was approximately twice the thickness of the prometamorphosis stage and exhibited high electron density. In the later stages of metamorphic climax (stage 63-66), the basal lamina just under mesothelium became more apparent. The folded basal lamina shifted from the mesothelium into the subserosa and gradually disappeared, and the basal lamina became a single layer. The thickness of the lamina densa was almost the same as in the prometamorphosis stage. Since the timing of the folding of the basal lamina coincides with the shortening of the digestive tract and the marked narrowing of the lumen, we suggest that physical changes in the digestive tract during metamorphosis may play an important role in these morphologic changes of the basal lamina. PMID- 2608260 TI - A morphometric right-left comparison of the cat olfactory bulb. AB - The brain weight, sizes (length, width and height) and thickness of cell strata of the olfactory bulb (OB) were measured in the cat weighing 2.3 to 4.8 kg. There was a significant correlation between the brain weight and the body weight. The OB size did not correlate significantly with the body weight, but only the width of the OB with the brain weight. Comparison of the right and left OBs showed that there was no significant difference between them in regard to the size and thickness of cell strata in the cat used in the present experiment. PMID- 2608261 TI - The foci of the red bone marrow observed in the laryngeal cartilages of the Suncus murinus. AB - In the Suncus murinus, the thyroid, the cricoid and the arytenoid cartilages were in part ossified. The foci of the red bone marrow, termed as the "marrow foci", were observed in the ossified portion of the cartilages. The marrow foci were filled with mature and immature blood cells. It is suggested that the marrow foci take part in active hematopoiesis in the Suncus. Further, a canal which connected the marrow cavity and the outside of the cartilage was occasionally seen. It seems that the canal corresponds to the nutrient canal. PMID- 2608262 TI - A morphometric study of changes in Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA)-binding pattern of the human gastric parietal cell in association with acid secretion. AB - Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) specifically stains the perinuclear region of the human parietal cell that corresponds to the intracellular secretory canalicular membrane at the electron microscopic level (Histochemistry 83: 189, 1985). In the present study, the DBA-staining intensity of the parietal cell was quantitatively estimated in association with gastric acid secretion. Gastric fundic glandular tissues were taken by endoscopic biopsy from 11 healthy males before and after administration of tetragastrin (4 micrograms/kg) or betazol hydrochloride (1 mg/kg). Paraffin sections were prepared and stained with DBA by the ABC method. Light absorbance of the stained parietal cells covering a spot 20.9 microns in diameter was measured using a microspectrophotometer set at wavelength of 365 nm. In all cases, a significant increase in absorbance was recorded after stimulation. The total average of the absorbance before and after stimulation was 0.21 and 0.29, respectively. Electron microscopy revealed that the increase in absorbance was caused by an increase in surface area of the membrane of the intracellular secretory canaliculi. PMID- 2608263 TI - [Ethics of clinical practice and research, in the light of the publishing policy of Orvosi Hetilap]. PMID- 2608264 TI - [The number of periodicals, number of physicians, information status]. PMID- 2608265 TI - [Alloarthroplastic treatment of congenital hip dysplasia]. AB - The implantation of a total prosthesis to treat the anatomical changes following dysplasia of the hip requires a special operative technique and the availability of implants that can be individually adapted to the joint at operation. This paper deals with special prosthesis systems, particularly in combination with autologous acetabular bone grafting. Long-term acetabulur results show rates of loosening comparable to those observed after the treatment of primary osteoarthrosis. PMID- 2608266 TI - [Total prosthesis implantation with added pelvic osteosynthesis]. AB - This report documents our limited experience with total hip replacement requiring large bone-graft reconstruction of the acetabulum with internal fixation. Four of the 14 patients were elderly and had a fresh fracture of the acetabulum; 6 had severe loosening of the acetabular companent with non-union, necessitating plate fixation along the pelvic rim in 5 patients. Four patients had large defects after tumor resection. In only 1 of these 14 cases did loosening occur. Our results are promising and we plan to increase the use of pelvic plates in these extremely unstable cases. Following stabilization of the pelvic ring, a metallic reinforcement ring increases stability. These operations were performed via an anterior ilioinguinal approach. PMID- 2608267 TI - [Girdlestone total prosthesis]. AB - Thirteen out of 17 patients with a hip prosthesis according to the Girdlestone procedure were studied at a follow-up time of 26 months to 10 years. Seven patients were found to be satisfied with the total prosthesis, while the others complained about pain, walking disability and an insufficient range of motion. The implantation of a prosthesis using the Girdlestone procedure is technically difficult and should be restricted, as the results are superior to the Girdlestone hip in only a carefully selected group of patients with good abductor muscles and unsatisfactory results after the Girdlestone operation. PMID- 2608268 TI - [Total prosthesis implantation in the arthritic hip]. AB - In 11 patients, hip arthrodeses were converted to arthroplasties. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 21 years. In some cases the patients' own assessment contrasted with the objective findings. No difference could be determined between previously arthrodesed and ankylosed hips. The duration of arthrodesis did not have an influence on the long-term results. It is interesting to note that in this group of patients the long-term survival rate proved to be slightly better than the overall survival rate for all patients with arthroplasties performed in our clinic. PMID- 2608269 TI - [Total hip prosthesis in bone loss of the femur]. AB - Severe bone deficiency in total hip arthroplasty (THA) represents a serious problem, and there is an increasing demand for reconstructive measurements even on the femoral side to salvage these hips. The different therapeutical concepts are reviewed. Mechanical stability has proved to be of the utmost importance for successful results; fixation of the prosthesis by acrylic cement both in the graft and in the host femur seems to be superior to cementless fixation in most cases. The Wagner cementless self-locking revision stem has the advantage of facilitating regeneration in the deficient proximal femur without allografts and their disadvantages. PMID- 2608270 TI - [Long-term results of primary hip total prosthesis with acetabulum reinforcement ring]. AB - The Muller acetabular reinforcement ring has proven very useful, especially in total hip revision when the bone of the acetabulum is of poor quality or deficient. However, the acetabular reinforcement ring may also be indicated in primary total hip replacement, especially in the case of poor quality bone in the acetabular bone stock, e.g. in chronic polyarthritis or protrusio acetabuli, or of deficient morphology of the acetabulum, e.g. in hip dysplasia. We analysed the results recorded in 145 patients operated on between 1977 and April 1983. Each of these patients had received a total hip prosthesis for the first time, with the polyethylene cup supplemented by an acetabular reinforcement ring. This patient group cannot be compared with the usual patient populations reported on in connection with primary hip replacement, since most of our 145 patients had several risk factors and had undergone previous surgery on up to seven occasions on the hip ultimately replaced by a prosthesis. Radiological analysis did not show a significant correlation between malposition of the acetabular reinforcement ring and signs of loosening, except when the acetabular component had been implanted in a most atypical manner. The infection rate was 4.8%, but it must be borne in mind that from 1977 to 1983 there was no routine prophylaxis with antibiotics. The incidence of aseptic loosening of the acetabular reinforcement ring necessitating revision was 0.7% after a mean follow-up of 7.7 years (range 5.5-11 years).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2608271 TI - [Treatment of infected hip joint arthroplasty. Results of treatment of 62 infected total prosthesis arthroplasties]. AB - The treatment of 62 cases of infected total joint arthroplasty of the hip is reported. The treatment regimen for each patient was dependent on the general medical condition of the patient and the clinical signs of infection, as well as the type of bacteria, the bony anchorage of the prosthesis and the bone stock of femur and acetabulum. Surgical treatment was one of the following: treatment of the infection leaving the prosthesis in situ; one-stage or two-stage revision arthroplasty; or excision arthroplasty (Girdlestone procedure). There were 11 early and 51 late infections. The commonest bacterium isolated was Staphylococcus epidermidis (30%). The primary success rate of revision of the shaft was somewhat better with cemented than with uncemented prostheses. The overall success rates for cemented and for uncemented shafts were similar (91.5% versus 90%). PMID- 2608272 TI - [The infected total prosthesis]. AB - We define infection as a bacterial inflammation that prolongs the treatment period or impairs the end result. Without a proper definition of terms, statistics are not comparable. A strict differentiation of "septic" and "aseptic" is not possible. The count of contaminated air particles has a relatively low influence on the incidence of infections. Joint puncture with joint irrigation is not only an indispensable procedure in diagnosis; together with systemic antibiotics it can also combat an infection, provided that the prosthesis is still stable. Joint irrigation preceding one-stage revision improves the prognosis and should therefore always be considered. Between 1980 and 1988, out of 42 deep infections 11 were successfully treated by irrigation alone. In 26 cases healing was accomplished by one-stage revision, and there were 5 treatment failures, in only 2 of which Girdlestone resections were involved. PMID- 2608273 TI - [Recurrent dislocation of the hip prosthesis]. AB - Recurrent dislocation of a hip prothesis is a severe complication. For the patient it is debilitating both physically and mentally. In most such cases one or more revision operations are necessary. Reintervention is more likely to be successful if the cause and the mechanism of luxation are understood. Recurrent hip dislocation is often seen after insertion of socalled tumor prostheses, after the "southern" approach and in the case of fracture treatment. One helpful and secure method seems to be the conversion of a non-linked prosthesis to a linked prosthesis. For elderly patients the simplest method seems to be cementing the head of a bipolar hip prosthesis. PMID- 2608274 TI - [Peri-prosthesis fractures in total hip endoprostheses]. AB - Periprosthetic fractures after total hip arthroplasty (THA) were found in 0.77% (33 fractures in 4280 THA). At the time of fracture the prosthesis was loose in about one-third of the cases. In most cases (63%), the fracture was located at the distal end of the prosthesis. Fractures at this location were transverse or short oblique; those situated more distally were spiral. Whereas those located along the prosthesis shaft were long oblique. Open reduction internal fixation was performed immediately for all fractures. Thirty patients were followed an average of 2.7 years (1 year-11 years) after fracture. In 28 cases stabilization was obtained using a plate. In 2 cases the prosthesis was changed at the same time as plate stabilization. 1 case the lossened prosthesis was converted to a Girdlestone. A primary change in the prosthesis without osteosynthesis was performed in 2 cases. One year after operation all fractures were healed. We recommend a large DC plate for fractures distal to the tip of the prosthesis (spiral fractures). In cases of stable THA, we stabilized the fracture at the level of the tip of the prosthesis or along the shaft of the prosthesis itself, using a wave plate with corticocancellous bone graft. Fractures along the loosened prosthesis but with good bone stock are treated by implantation of a long-stem prosthesis. If bone stock is poor, we recommend the fracture be stabilized using a plate. Only after the fracture is healed do we revise the prosthesis. PMID- 2608275 TI - [Vascular complications in surgery of the hip joint]. AB - The mechanisms of severe vascular injury during surgery of the hip joint are depicted with reference to the authors' own patient series and a review of the literature. Massive arterial hemorrhage is most commonly caused by the tip of a Hohmann retractor. Special care must be given to placement of the proximal retractor directly against the pelvis behind the anterior lip of the acetabulum, and this must be checked with the finger tip. Other mechanisms of injury are: massive venous bleeding can result if a coil of pelvic vein is rolled up with a Kirschner wire; arterial thrombosis can be caused by the polymerization heat of bone cement; or intimal dissection can be caused by pressure of a retractor or loosening of an intimal plaque, resulting in ischemia of the corresponding limb; arterio-arterial embolism can originate from appositional thrombus formation on a chronically weakened arterial wall; false aneurysms may be due to instrumental arterial injury; and arteriovenous fistulae can be caused by a piercing instrument. Laceration of the external iliac or common femoral artery is best treated by interposition of a saphenous vein graft. Angiological examination before and immediately after hip surgery is advocated. PMID- 2608276 TI - Transformation by basic fibroblast growth factor requires high levels of expression: comparison with transformation by hst/K-fgf. AB - Basic fibroblast growth factor is a potent mitogen for a variety of cell types and has been suggested to have transforming activity. To test this hypothesis, we have introduced a human bFGF cDNA into NIH 3T3 cells either by DNA transfection or by retrovirus infection. We have compared the properties of cell lines obtained with cells prepared similarly but expressing the hst/K-fgf growth factor. While bFGF does not contain an amino terminal signal sequence and is not secreted from cells in which it is synthesized, hst/K-fgf does contain a signal sequence and is secreted from cells. Our results show that the transformed phenotype correlates directly with the level of bFGF expression, since all transformed clones expressed high levels of bFGF, while nontransformed clones expressed comparatively low levels of bFGF. In contrast, even low levels of hst/K fgf expression resulted in a transformed phenotype. These results suggest that bFGF is an inefficient transforming protein and that this may relate to its lack of secretion. PMID- 2608277 TI - Stimulation of protooncogene expression by partial hepatectomy is not tissue specific. AB - We have characterized the early protooncogene response and the later cell proliferative response in the kidneys and livers of normal rats cross-circulated with partially hepatectomized animals. Increase c-myc and C-Ha-ras expression was observed in the kidneys of totally hepatectomized rats, as well as those of their cross-circulated partners. This indicates that the initial response to hepatectomy is not organ-specific, although the later DNA synthetic response of the kidney is only approximately one-tenth that of regenerating liver. Expression of c-myc and c-Ha-ras is dramatically increased in the livers of both hepatectomized and nonhepatectomized, parabiotic (cross-circulated) rats within 1 hr of partial hepatectomy, confirming the presence of a circulating factor which stimulates protooncogene expression early in regeneration. DNA synthesis was also stimulated in the livers of the cross-circulated animals between 20 and 26 hr following hepatectomy, but only to a level one-eighth that of the livers of hepatectomized animals. Normal rats cross-circulated with totally hepatectomized animals also demonstrated an early increase in hepatic c-myc and c-Ha-ras expression, indicating that regeneration must be stimulated by an extrahepatic signal. Our data suggest that the early increase in protooncogene expression is a non-organ-specific response to partial hepatectomy which does not insure subsequent cellular proliferation. The organ specificity of liver regeneration must involve an event separate from the early stimulation of protooncogene expression. PMID- 2608278 TI - A single amino-acid substitution in the DNA-binding domain of the myb oncogene confers a thermolabile phenotype to E26-transformed myeloid cells. AB - A biologically active provirus of the ts 143 E26 mutant that is temperature sensitive (ts) for myeloblast transformation was molecularly cloned. The predicted amino-acid sequence of the v-myb-encoded domain of the mutant P135gag myb-ets protein displayed two single amino-acid changes, one of which was non conservative when compared to the wild-type E26 v-myb sequence. This mutation, which substitutes a threonine residue (wild-type) for an arginine residue (mutant), is located within the amino-terminal part of v-myb in the DNA-binding domain at a position which is conserved between the c-myb genes of chicken, humans, mice and Drosophila. Introduction of this mutation into the genome of a wild-type E26 virus was sufficient to induce a ts phenotype similar to that obtained with the original ts 143 E26 virus. PMID- 2608279 TI - [Current trends in stapedial surgery]. AB - The authors discussed their experiences of otospongiosis++ surgery in 949 patients as regards to technical differences, final results and complications. The review of literature was also described. PMID- 2608280 TI - [Epidemiology of malignant tumors in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses]. AB - During the 15 years 127 patients with malignant tumors of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses were examined in ENT Clinic of Medical Academy in Cracow. An analysis was performed according to the place of employment and residence, and of the frequency of inveterate smoking and drinking. PMID- 2608281 TI - [The problem of diagnosing tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses]. AB - A case of incorrect diagnosis of extensive nasal cavity, maxillary sinus and nasopharynx neoplasm was presented. The imitation of tumor symptoms was due by long lying in nasal cavity foreign body, inflammation of maxillary sinus and adenoiditis. The author underline that over hasty neoplasm diagnosis always exerts an unjustified and destructive psychologic influence on patient and his family. PMID- 2608282 TI - [Direct laryngoscopy and laryngeal microsurgery in children under general anesthesia]. AB - The great local irritability, especially on mechanical agents (giving shock), required the great caution during the laryngeal microsurgery. Local anesthesia lowered the shock risk and assure the safe and precise maneuvers. However, the tracheal tube in the small children larynx limits the visibility. The aim of this work is the description of our experiences in direct laryngoscopy and laryngeal microsurgery in children under general anesthesia, by use of tracheal tube. The significant modification is a metal tube, fixed to the laryngoscope, by which the halothane and oxygen mixture was given constantly. 201 endoscopy and microsurgery maneuvers of the larynx were performed in our Clinic. PMID- 2608283 TI - [Disturbances of upper airway patency and their sequelae]. AB - The authors present their investigations of the effects of upper airway compromise from hypertrophy of lymphoid tissue, nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum and hypertrophy of the nasal conchae. All the patients were under the age of 18 years. Methods of assessing children with airway compromise include 6-hour polysomnography (PSG). Special attention was paid to the heart function, as well as to pO2 and pCO2 saturation. Computer analysis of PSG studies revealed disturbances in circulatory system function, unnoticed in routine physical examination. The results may serve as one more voice in a debate about the advisability of surgical treatment of airway compromise performed in childhood. PMID- 2608284 TI - [Directional preponderance of caloric nystagmus in vestibular neuronitis]. AB - The aim of this work was an analysis of caloric directional preponderance prevalence in patients with vestibular neuronitis and coincidence of above mentioned symptoms with spontaneous and positional nystagmus. The examinations were carried out in 36 patients, aged 27-51, 19 women and 17 men. The vestibular reactions were recorded by electronystagmography and directional preponderance and mean angle velocity of the slow phase were calculated. It was pointed out that in vestibular neuronitis patients the directional preponderance may appear early and in great number of cases with canal paresis. However, in the late stages of vestibular neuronitis the directional preponderance may appear independently without the spontaneous and positional nystagmus. PMID- 2608285 TI - [Oncocytosis of the parotid gland]. AB - The authors described a rare case of oncocytic transformation of parotid gland tumor in a woman operated upon. PMID- 2608286 TI - [Evaluation of radiotherapy failure in laryngeal cancer patients in several Polish medical centers during the years 1980-1982]. AB - Analysis of the treatment failure was performed in the group of 634 laryngeal cancer patients treated by radiotherapy. It has been demonstrated that extensiveness of neoplasm and supraglottic region were disadvantageous as prognostic factors in radiotherapy patients. PMID- 2608287 TI - [Budesonide (Rhinocort) as a therapy for pollen allergy]. AB - The therapeutic influence of Budesonide in 51 patients with pollen allergy were described. The preparation improved the symptoms after 2 weeks of therapy. The side effects were absent. PMID- 2608288 TI - [A case of craniofacial gunshot wound]. AB - The authors described a rare case of craniofacial shot wound in 11 years old girl. The cork pistol shot caused the disseminated lead fragment wounds in cheek, maxillary sinus, sphenoidal-palatal, subtemporal, nasal cavity and nasopharynx. PMID- 2608289 TI - [Tracheal neurofibroma in a 10-year-old girl]. AB - A rare case of the tracheal tumor with its recurrencies in 10 years old girl was described. The diagnostic difficulties were also discussed. PMID- 2608290 TI - [A case of advanced skin cancer of the nose]. AB - The author presented the treatment of a more advanced nasal skin cancer in 79 years old woman with immediate reconstructive surgery. PMID- 2608291 TI - [Evaluation of therapeutic procedures for malignant tumors in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus tumors]. PMID- 2608292 TI - [Selected issues related to the structure of the endolymphatic sac in Meniere's disease]. AB - The morphometric examinations of the endolymphatic saccule epithelium in Meniere's disease were performed. The squamous epithelium prevailed in lower and cuboid and cylindrical in upper part of the saccule. In Meniere's disease the cellular nuclei are more elongated. The mean height of the epithelial cells are lower of 2,236 microns than the cells in normal hearing person. The morphometric method of examination permits to follow the supposition that in Meniere's disease there are the degeneration of the epithelial cells and subsequently the disturbances in endolymphatic resorption. PMID- 2608293 TI - [Superficial structure of lymphocytes from peripheral blood in patients with laryngeal cancer examined by scanning electron microscopy]. AB - In 20 laryngeal cancer patients and in 20 normals 1927 and 1950 respectively the blood lymphocytes were examined by use of scan microscopy. The great differences were disclosed between the patients and normals. It was pointed out the considerable differences between patients and normals in the number of lymphocytes with plain surface (lymphocytes "G") in opposition to the intermediary and ciliated lymphocytes (differences statistically significant). In laryngeal cancer patients there were the significantly lower number of lymphocytes with ciliated surface (lymphocytes "Sz"). In the patient group there were the considerable differences in superficial structure of lymphocytes, probably as a response to cancer disease. PMID- 2608294 TI - Falls resulting in spinal cord injury: patterns and outcomes in an older population. AB - Falls are the major cause of spinal cord injuries in older people. The pattern of injury seen most frequently is that of a central cord syndrome due to cervical hyperextension. The medical records of 58 patients over 50 years of age who sustained a spinal cord injury in a fall were reviewed for circumstances of onset, length of stay and outcomes of rehabilitation. The study identified elderly single or widowed men, and those who use alcohol, as high risk groups. PMID- 2608295 TI - Hysterical spinal paralysis. AB - Seventeen patients were diagnosed as having hysterical paralysis. Although a variety of patterns of motor and sensory loss were seen, 15 out of 17 patients had normal reflexes, and all the patients had bowel and bladder control, an important diagnostic point. All but 1 were improved after an average 3.8 days hospital stay with 13 being fully recovered. When a patient is encountered with paralysis, normal reflexes and bowel and bladder control, the only initial diagnostic study indicated is routine X-rays. PMID- 2608296 TI - The contribution of the three columns of the spine to spinal stability: a biomechanical model. AB - The load carrying capacity (LCC) of the human spine was evaluated in 10 human cadaver spines. The specimens consisted of segments from T11 to S1 with markers placed on the specimens at each vertebral level in both Ap and lateral planes. The specimens were loaded to 1250 N and spinal deflections were recorded and photographed at 125 N intervals during the loading cycle. In 5 specimens, axial and flexion loads were applied to the intact spine. The anterior and middle columns were destroyed in sequence at L2 and the loading process repeated. In the remaining 5 specimens, axial and extension loads were applied with the spine intact and after the posterior and middle columns were destroyed in sequence at L2. Load deflection curves were generated for each test and comparisons were made between intact spines and spines with single and double column destruction. RESULTS: When the axis of loading was anterior to the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL), destruction of the anterior and middle columns reduced the LCC by 46% and 68% respectively and destruction of the posterior and middle columns reduced the LCC by 30% and 63% respectively. There was minimal change in the LCC when the axis of loading was posterior to the PLL and the anterior and middle columns were destroyed. Two column destruction of the spine reduced its load carrying capacity for flexion loads by 70%. In thoracolumbar spinal fractures where flexion loads are predominant and anticipated, the authors conclude that surgical stabilisation is indicated with double column failure. PMID- 2608297 TI - Cotrel-Dubousset rods in spinal fractures. AB - Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation (CDI) has been gaining popularity in scoliosis surgery because of their improved rigidity which can obviate the need for a brace in most cases. Early results of this new system in scoliosis surgery have demonstrated a low pseudarthrosis and hardware complication rate. Because of these advantages, CDI was used to stabilise thoracolumbar fractures at the Lucerne Spinal Center. The results of 23 patients were reviewed with respect to completion of healing, change in neurological status, hardware complications, and follow-up radiographic parameters. Nine patients were braced and 14 were not braced post-operatively. Two elderly patients expired at 1 and 6 months following their injury from medical complications. Of the remaining 21 patients, all were evaluated at follow-up ranging from 6 to 28 months, mean 12.7 months. The evaluation revealed that all patients showed complete healing without significant neurological or hardware complications. PMID- 2608298 TI - Seat belt injuries of the lumbar spine--stable or unstable? AB - Twenty six patients with seat belt injuries of the lumbar spine were admitted into the Spinal Cord Injury Unit of the University Hospital, University of British Columbia, in the past 10 years. Four patients with pure ligamentous injuries were primarily treated surgically. Sixteen patients were treated with closed methods with a Stryker frame followed by a body cast or brace. Significant angulation with spinal deformity occurred in 6 patients. The common factor of failure of closed treatment was the inadequate reduction of initial angulation. When the initial angulation at the fracture site was adequately reduced, closed methods were associated with satisfactory results with no serious disability seen in long term follow-up. Open reduction with fixation with compression rods or wiring and fusion invariably leads to good results. It is recommended that patients with seat belt fractures of the lumbar spine may be treated by a closed method provided good reduction is obtained initially, otherwise open reduction and posterior fusion is more preferable. PMID- 2608299 TI - Intracavernous pharmacotherapy for management of erectile dysfunction in spinal cord injury. AB - Sexual dysfunction due to inadequate or poorly sustained erections is a common problem among patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). While penile prostheses have provided adequate treatment for many patients, the complication rate in spinal cord injured patients remains high and they have not received widespread acceptance among SCI patients or the physicians treating them. Recently, intracavernous injections of vasoactive medications have proved beneficial for treating patients with erectile dysfunction. In the current study, we evaluated 40 SCI patients and 116 patients with vascular based impotence who had been followed for a minimum of 1 month while utilising intracavernous injections of phentolamine and papaverine. SCI patients with neurogenic based erectile dysfunction are significantly different from vascular impaired patients. SCI patients are younger and have been impotent for a longer period of time when treatment is sought. Furthermore, the dose of medication required is significantly less for SCI patients. The time of erection is longer and the quality of erection is better in neurogenic based impotence. Results with this treatment in SCI appear to be quite good with short term followup and long term evaluation of this methodology in SCI appears warranted. PMID- 2608300 TI - The effects of the electroejaculation procedure on sperm motility. AB - Electroejaculation is becoming more available for obtaining semen from spinal cord injured men wishing to father children. This study was undertaken to determine what effect the electroejaculation procedure itself had on sperm motility. Factors which were found to impact on sperm motility were osmolarity, electric current and aqueous jelly lubricant used for bladder catheterisation. pH did not affect sperm motility. PMID- 2608301 TI - A controlled study of neuropsychological deficits in acute spinal cord injury patients. AB - According to a number of studies, between 40% and 60% of acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients demonstrate cognitive dysfunction resulting from various forms of cerebral damage, including concurrent or premorbid closed head injury, chronic alcohol or substance abuse, and other causes. However, applicability of findings from these reports has been limited due to the use of inadequate neuropsychological testing techniques and the lack of control data. In a collaborative investigation, 81 acute SCI patients and 61 non-injured control subjects between 18 and 55 years of age completed a comprehensive motor-free neuropsychological test battery, including: Halstead Category Test (HCT), Vocabulary Subtest (VOCAB) of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Revised; Mental Control (MC) Subtest, and Initial and Recall trials of Logical Memory (LM) and Paired Associates (PA) Subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale; and the 8 trials of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Percentages of retained information on the LM and PA were also calculated. Impairment levels for each test were defined as values which exceeded two standard deviations (one-tailed) from the control mean. Based on this definition, the prevalence of neuropsychological abnormality on each test ranged between 10% and 40%. Mean performance levels of patients were significantly more impaired than those of control subjects for all tests except for the Interference trial of the RAVLT and for the percentages of retained information on the LM and PA subtests. Comparison of test results of SCI patients with those of control subjects demonstrates that poor attention span and limited initial learning ability are frequent problems among SCI patients. Other common neuropsychological deficits among these patients include poor concentration ability, impaired memory function, and altered problem solving ability. These deficits may interfere with rehabilitation following SCI. PMID- 2608302 TI - Hyperextension spinal fracture. AB - Hyperextension thoracolumbar spinal fractures are unusual and occur primarily in patients with ankylosed spines. Early diagnosis to avoid neurologic deterioration requires a high index of suspicion, given the paucity of radiographic findings. The biomechanics of the fracture and its treatment differ from more typical spinal fractures in several important aspects. PMID- 2608303 TI - The histology of a failed shelf procedure. AB - Clinical, radiographic and histologic findings are reported in a patient who underwent a hip shelf procedure 24 years previously. While the histologic observations confirm the presence of metaplasia of the surgically formed articular surface to fibrocartilage, there are superadded degenerative changes morphologically similar to those seen in degenerative arthritis. PMID- 2608304 TI - Laboratory testing of bolts and screws in cancellous bone. AB - The pull-out resistance of 6.5-mm cancellous screws and 4.0-mm bolts with 12-mm washers from cancellous beef bone was measured. The findings are the following: (1) The 4.0-mm bolt with the 12-mm washer had greater pull-out resistance from thin (12-mm thick) cancellous bone than did the 6.5-mm cancellous screw. (2) In thicker cancellous bone (35 mm), the bolt and washer had greater pull-out resistance than did the screw, but the difference is not significant. (3) There was no significant difference in pull-out resistance of the cancellous screw from holes drilled with a 3.2- or a 4.5-mm bit. These findings support the use of bolts for fixation of thinner sections of cancellous bone, but not when the bolt or screw is in thicker cancellous bone. PMID- 2608305 TI - Improved results with the "inverted T" modification of the Bristow procedure. AB - The results of two modifications of the Bristow procedure in 21 patients were compared an average of 53 months after surgery. Twelve patients had an "inverted T" modification (group T) and nine patients had May's modification (group M). Recurrence rates and functional limitation were determined, as well as range of motion, pain, and apprehension with abduction and external rotation. Preoperative instability was classified according to the method of Protzman. Surgical outcome was graded using the rating scale devised by Rowe in 1978. There were no postoperative dislocations. Overall results were 16 excellent, three good, one fair, and one poor. All 12 patients in group T had an excellent result. In group M, there were four excellent, three good, one fair, and one poor result. Clinical score was 95 in group T and 75 in group M. Pre- and postoperative external rotation at 90 degrees abduction were 91 and 89 degrees in group T, and 99 and 77 degrees in group M. PMID- 2608306 TI - Pediatric update #10. Treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children by closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. AB - In a retrospective study of 25 displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children, treatment by closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation was reviewed. Follow-up averaged 16 months. Loss of elbow motion and carrying angle were graded according to Flynn's criteria. Twenty-two patients' results were rated excellent, two were good, none was fair, and one was poor. There were no complications reported. Comparison of the values of Baumann's angle obtained from intraoperative, postreduction roentgenograms with those of the opposite, normal elbows predicted the final carrying angles within two degrees in 14 of 17 cases and within five degrees in all 17 cases where such comparison was possible. We conclude that this technique is safe and effective and recommend the use of Baumann's angle as a standard to judge the quality of reduction. PMID- 2608307 TI - Tips of the trade #17. A simple technique to facilitate paratenon and muscle fiber stripping of free tendon grafts. AB - Stripping paratenon and muscle fiber off a free tendon graft while it is immersed in a saline bath facilitates the procedure and prevents desiccation of the tissue. PMID- 2608308 TI - Imaging rounds #102. Pigmented villonodular synovitis. PMID- 2608309 TI - Leishmania mexicana mexicana: quantitative analysis of the intracellular cycle. AB - The complete intracellular cycle of the Leishmania mexicana mexicana G. S. strain was quantified in human macrophages and in the mouse IC-21 macrophage line utilizing a culture system that allows the direct observation of individual intracellular parasites. A wide range of pre-replicative lag periods exists, implying that promastigotes may be in any phase of their DNA synthetic cycle when phagocytosed by the macrophage. Amastigotes replicated 2-3 times, after which the host cell died and liberated amastigotes that were taken up by other macrophages and continued to replicate. The mean amastigote population-doubling time in human macrophages (17.5 h) was not statistically different from promastigotes growing in axenic culture (16.4 h), but was nearly 2-fold less than amastigotes growing in mouse-derived IC-21 macrophages (33.7 h). These observations are markedly different from cover-glass culture assays of Leishmania-macrophage interactions and provide an unambiguous description of the intracellular cycle of Leishmania mexicana mexicana. PMID- 2608310 TI - The effect of drugs on the cell cycle of Giardia intestinalis. AB - Flow cytometric analysis of the binucleated protozoan parasite Giardia intestinalis gave DNA histograms with a broad G1 peak and a definable G2 + M peak with twice the DNA content of G1. Twenty-four hour treatment with metronidazole arrested cell cycle progression of susceptible trophozoites in the G2 + M phase, but had no effect, even at toxic doses, on the DNA histogram of a line selected for resistance to metronidazole. Furazolidone was inhibitory to both stocks, causing an arrest in the S and G2 + M phases. Inhibitors of the mammalian cell cycle were also tested. Hydroxyurea, which blocks mammalian cells in G1/S, and razoxane, which blocks in G2 + M, arrested trophozoites in the G2 + M phase whereas colchicine and gamma-irradiation had little or no effect on the cell cycle of G. intestinalis. These results suggest that the cell cycle of G. intestinalis may be controlled in a different manner from mammalian cells. PMID- 2608311 TI - A monoclonal antibody-derived antigen of Babesia divergens: characterization and investigation of its ability to protect gerbils against virulent homologous challenge. AB - A Babesia divergens merozoite antigen was purified by affinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody. Silver staining of SDS-PAGE gels revealed 2 bands of Mr 50-60 kDa and Mr 24-29. It is proposed that the Mr 24-29 kDa band represents the native protein and that it is complexed, perhaps as a dimer or perhaps to host protein to give the Mr 50-60 kDa band. Peptide analysis of the antigen followed by Western blotting with the monoclonal antibody revealed only an Mr 20 24 kDa band. After affinity purification the antigen was precipitated with acetone and inoculated subcutaneously, together with complete Freund's adjuvant, into gerbils. Two inoculations were given 3 weeks apart, after which the immunized animals and a group of control animals were challenged with 5 x 10(7) parasitized red cells from a virulent microaerophilus stationary phase (MASP) culture of an homologous strain of B. divergens. Parasitaemias rose rapidly in control animals and all were dead by the fifth day. Two of the vaccinated animals survived the challenge. Parasitaemias in the remaining two rose slowly but both animals succumbed on the seventh day. Western blotting of merozoites and of the purified antigen, using sera from the surviving animals showed strong reactivity with the Mr 24-29 kDa band. PMID- 2608312 TI - A comparative evaluation of snail sampling and cercariometry to detect Schistosoma mansoni transmission in a large-scale, longitudinal field-study in Machakos, Kenya. AB - In an operational Schistosoma mansoni field-study in an area about 20 km 2 (population approximately 8000), transmission detection by simple snail sampling was compared with cercariometry. Between 1985 and 1987, 62 field sites were sampled at fortnightly intervals. Of a total of 2758 field observations, 89.8% gave full snail data; 64.4% full cercarial data; and 61.7% complete data for both methods. The complete data sets showed significant but not strong correlations between Biomphalaria pfeifferi (total and infected with S. mansoni or other trematodes) and cercarial (S. mansoni and non-human) recoveries. Non-human (but not S. mansoni) cercarial recovery decreased with deteriorating cercariometry filter quality. Both snail and cercarial recoveries diminished significantly with increasing water flows at the time of collection. Many samples yielded infected snails or cercariae, but not both, and neither method detected significantly more transmission sites. The method of choice for detecting transmission in a large scale field-study depends on logistical and financial considerations. Relatively simple snail sampling allows quick, cheap and widespread data collection adequate for most purposes but more complicated cercariometry is still valuable for specific, small-scale studies. PMID- 2608313 TI - Effects of potential inhibitors on Brugia pahangi in vitro: macrofilaricidal action and inhibition of microfilarial production. AB - A series of compounds that apparently disrupt hormonally regulated processes in insects have been examined for effects on the viability and microfilarial production of adult Brugia pahangi cultured in vitro. The azasteroids, 25 azacoprostane and 25-azacholestane, inhibited the production of microfilariae at 5 ppm, the former also exhibiting macrofilaricidal activity at this concentration. The brassinosteroids examined inhibited microfilarial production at 5 ppm but did not affect worm viability. Azadirachtin also proved to be a significant inhibitor of microfilarial release without effect on worm motility or viability. Of all the compounds tested, the non-steroidal amines appeared to be the most promising as potential filaricides, several of them proving to be macrofilaricidal at 1 ppm and affecting microfilarial production at even lower concentrations. PMID- 2608314 TI - Comparison of glycolysis and glutaminolysis in Onchocerca volvulus and Brugia pahangi by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. AB - Comparison of glycolysis in Brugia pahangi and Onchocerca volvulus by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy showed that the former organism is predominantly a lactate fermenter and the latter resembles more closely the metabolism of a mixed acid fermenter producing lactate, succinate, acetate, ethanol, formate and carbon dioxide. Both organisms synthesize glycogen as a storage carbohydrate. Glutaminolysis in both organisms proceeds by the delta amino-butyrate shunt to produce succinate which is then further metabolized to acetate and carbon dioxide as end-products. PMID- 2608315 TI - Repair of Hymenolepis diminuta after complement-mediated damage. AB - Seven and 56-day-old Hymenolepis diminuta were exposed to complement by incubation in 50% normal rat serum (NRS) in modified Hanks' saline. Ultrastructural studies revealed that the scolex/neck region remained relatively intact whilst in the strobila region microthrix denudation and loss of distal cytoplasm were observed. When complement-mediated damaged worms were incubated in vitro in 50% heat-inactivated normal rat serum (hiNRS) plus M199 or implanted into the duodenum of NMRI mice repair occurred, although destrobilated parasites were only found in vivo. The regions undergoing repair contained tegumental protrusions, vesicles, large electron-lucent areas and large quantities of lipid. Microtriches were formed parallel to the parasite surface and were raised into a perpendicular position. It is suggested that the regenerative process exhibited after complement-mediated damage does not mimic totally the embryological development of the surface layer. PMID- 2608316 TI - [The Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine 1989. J. Michael Bishop and Harold E. Varmus]. PMID- 2608317 TI - Pulmonary gas exchange during graded exercise in normal, sedentary, non-smoking subjects. AB - There is some discordance in the literature on the evolution of the alveolo arterial oxygen tension difference (A-a)DO2 from rest (R) to graded exercise (E) in healthy subjects. For some authors and not for others (A-a)DO2 increased during exercise. In order to solve this problem we have examined 9 healthy, non smoking sedentary students (5 males). In every subject PaO2 increased from rest to the highest level of exercise. (A-a)DO2 significantly increased from R and E1 to E2 and from E3 to E4. (A-a)DO2 at rest was 7.5 +/- 4.1 torr; at E1: 7.0 +/- 4.3 torr; at E2: 11.5 +/- 4.2 torr; at E3: 12.5 +/- 3.9 torr; and at E4: 16.5 +/- 4.3 torr. The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve (ODC) was significantly shifted to the right from 53 to 92% saturation. This shift favours the liberation of O2 from hemoglobin to the tissues but cannot explain the evolution of (A-a)DO2. We believe that the increase in (A-a)DO2 is due to an increased maldistribution of the ventilation-perfusion ratio. PMID- 2608318 TI - [Lymphocyte surface antigens in the peripheral blood. Detection by flow cytometry. Applications to the immune system in clinical practice]. AB - A flow cytometer enables observation of single cells providing morphological characterization of the cell and identification of cell markers. The cells pass a detection point where they are striked by a sharply focused beam. Light scattering by the cells gives informations about size and granularity. Detection of fluorescence emission permits identification of fluorescent tag such as antibodies. Flow cytometric analysis of immunologic phenotyping allows interpretation of weak fluorescence intensity and detection of two antigens on a single cell with dual fluorescence analysis. Evaluation of B and T cells and their subclasses from whole blood preparations, provides informations of immunological status. Immunophenotyping at the clinical level has been used in a variety of human diseases; immunophenotypic changes have been observed in congenital and acquired immunodeficiency syndromes and auto-immune disorders. PMID- 2608320 TI - [The Institute of Senior Biomedical Training]. PMID- 2608319 TI - Acute effect of molsidomine on pulmonary circulation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. AB - Chronic obstructive lung diseases (COLD) are very often complicated by pulmonary arterial hypertension and right heart failure. Several drugs including nitrates have been used to counteract this type of hypertension. Molsidomine (M) is a recent nitrates-like drug acting for a longer time than the classical nitrates. Our aim was to investigate whether M could significantly lower pulmonary arterial hypertension of patients suffering from COLD. Ten male patients were investigated before and after intake of 4.0 mg M given sublingually. Ventilatory and cardiocirculatory indices were measured at rest and during a 30 and a 50 watts exercise. During exercise, M significantly lowers pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance without detrimental effect on arterial blood gases. M seems to be a promising drug to counteract the pulmonary hypertension of patients with COLD. PMID- 2608321 TI - [Pregnancy after treated cancer of the breast. Results of a case-control]. PMID- 2608322 TI - [Current data on interleukin 2 in cancer therapy]. PMID- 2608323 TI - [Numerical revolution in breast imaging]. PMID- 2608324 TI - [Weight gain under adjuvant chemotherapy]. PMID- 2608325 TI - [Evaluation of interferons in hemato-oncology]. PMID- 2608326 TI - Strategies for the study of tumor invasion using an assay in vitro. PMID- 2608327 TI - Melanoma progression: role of signal transduction pathways in transformation, differentiation, and malignancy. PMID- 2608328 TI - [Control of cell movement by laminin, multifunctional glycoprotein of the basal membrane. Role in metastasis]. PMID- 2608329 TI - Genetic analysis of T-lymphoma invasion and metastasis. PMID- 2608330 TI - Gene amplification and tumor progression. PMID- 2608331 TI - [Mechanisms of induced epithelium-fibroblast conversion in a line of vesical cancer in the rat]. PMID- 2608332 TI - [Medical lasers in oncology]. PMID- 2608333 TI - [Therapeutic indications of lasers in oncology]. PMID- 2608334 TI - [Surgical use of lasers in digestive cancer]. PMID- 2608335 TI - [Role of lasers in pneumology]. PMID- 2608336 TI - [Tobacco consumption in France]. PMID- 2608337 TI - [Characteristics and properties of the light cigarette]. PMID- 2608338 TI - [Cancer of the respiratory tract induced in rats by tobacco smoke. Value of an initiation-promotion model]. PMID- 2608339 TI - [Biological markers of tobacco abuse]. PMID- 2608340 TI - [Cancer and tobacco. Current data]. PMID- 2608341 TI - [Contribution of new informatics to therapeutic trials]. PMID- 2608342 TI - [Precautions with respect to analysis of therapeutic trials]. PMID- 2608343 TI - [Current data on large cell anaplastic lymphomas co-expressing EMA, Ki-1 antigens and IL2 receptor]. PMID- 2608344 TI - [B lymphomas of the digestive system. Current data and concept of MALT]. PMID- 2608345 TI - [Histopathologic aspects of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas associated with HIV]. PMID- 2608346 TI - [Malignant T lymphomas]. PMID- 2608347 TI - [Interferon, interleukin 2 in metastatic cancer of the kidney]. PMID- 2608348 TI - [Chemotherapy by endovesical instillation. Its value in the treatment of superficial tumors of the bladder]. PMID- 2608349 TI - [Deficiency in reparases]. PMID- 2608350 TI - [Fundamental and methodologic bases of therapeutic intensification]. PMID- 2608351 TI - [Methodology and indications of autografts of stem cells in hematology]. PMID- 2608352 TI - [Therapeutic intensification with bone marrow autografting in adults]. PMID- 2608353 TI - High-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow rescue in advanced resistant/relapsing Hodgkin's disease. PMID- 2608354 TI - [Artificial control of gene expression]. PMID- 2608355 TI - [Amplification of genetic sequences in the molecular diagnosis of cancer]. PMID- 2608356 TI - [Nuclear receptors of retinoic acid]. PMID- 2608357 TI - [Are there certain epidemiologic relations between diet and colorectal cancer]. PMID- 2608358 TI - [What is involved in the prevention and screening of colorectal cancer?]. PMID- 2608359 TI - [Prognostic factors of colorectal cancer]. PMID- 2608360 TI - [Advances in sphincter preservation]. PMID- 2608361 TI - [Radiotherapy in colorectal cancer]. PMID- 2608362 TI - [Pain and cancer. The oncologist's point of view]. PMID- 2608363 TI - [Pain in cancer and its current therapeutic management]. PMID- 2608364 TI - [Use of zidovudine during HIV infection]. PMID- 2608365 TI - [Surveillance of totally implanted catheters]. PMID- 2608366 TI - [Rheological properties of blood in children and adolescents with borderline arterial hypertension]. PMID- 2608367 TI - [Immunologic shifts in children with acute and chronic glomerulonephritis]. PMID- 2608368 TI - [Significance of leukocytic factors of coagulation and fibrinolysis in the forecasting of unfavorable neurologic sequelae in convalescents after mumps meningitis]. PMID- 2608369 TI - [Experience in the use of biostator in the treatment of diabetes mellitus in children of the pubertal age]. AB - The authors discuss the possibilities of the use of the apparatus "artificial pancreas biostator" in multiple modality treatment of patients suffering from type I diabetes. The own research data are provided. They are based on the use of the apparatus "biostator" in 62 children aged 9-15 years with diabetes mellitus in order to improve insulin therapy. After treatment sessions with the aid of the apparatus all the patients noted improvement of the well-being and abatement of the signs of diabetes mellitus lability. In some cases, the treatment using the apparatus promoted a more rapid attainment of disease compensation as compared to the application of conventional treatment methods. It has been shown that high insulin requirement of pubertal children with diabetes decompensation is determined in many respects by activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system. PMID- 2608370 TI - [Current aspects of the diagnosis and treatment in congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex in children]. AB - The paper treats of current diagnostic criteria for congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex in children. They include investigation of HLA-antigens, identification of heterozygote and homozygote carriership, prenatal diagnosis of the disease, and the screening tests. The leading position in the disease diagnosis is assigned to its clinical manifestations, measurement of 17 hydroxyprogesterone and testosterone in blood serum together with excretion of 17 ketosteroids with urine. Emphasis is laid on the importance of early disease diagnosis and establishment of sex appurtenance, which is promoted by studies of sex chromatin, karyotype and ultrasonic scanning of the internal genitalia. The treatment policy for patients with congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex has been elaborated as have been its aspects: hormonal, surgical and psychotherapeutic. The treatment protocols using current hormonal drugs with changes in conventional time of their intake are described in detail. The long term results of hormonal therapy are provided on the basis of large clinical material (over 500 patients with congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex were examined). PMID- 2608371 TI - [Clinical assessment of the role of circadian rhythm of hormone contents in the blood and saliva of children with congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex]. AB - It has been shown that data on circadian rhythms of 17-hydroxyprogesterone and testosterone content in children with congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex before and during treatment can be used in the control of treatment adequacy. Regular adequate intake of prednisolone brings about a decrease in hormonal content both in the blood and the saliva. Serial collection of salivary samples from children over 3 years of age is feasible and painless as compared to venous puncture, causing no adverse response on the child's part. PMID- 2608372 TI - [Radiotherapy in the treatment of children with Itsenko-Cushing's disease]. AB - Forty children with Icenko-Cushing's disease were subjected to radiotherapy. Radiation of the pituitary with a proton beam in a dose of 70-100 Gy (7000-10000 rad) performed according to the indicated technique appeared highly effective. It was not associated with local or total radiation injuries and was safe. X-ray therapy conducted according to the fractionally intensive technique in a dose of 3000-3500 rad was less effective and produced disease relapses more frequently as compared with proton therapy. PMID- 2608373 TI - [Status and prospects of research and top priority goals in the organization of therapeutic-prophylactic work in the area of pediatric endocrinology]. PMID- 2608374 TI - [Humoral factors in children with diabetes mellitus]. AB - Clinical and laboratory studies into the physiochemical properties of circulating immune complexes, serum IgA, IgM, IgG and antibodies against insulin contained by blood serum and circulating immune complexes were conducted in 102 children aged 7-14 years. Of these, 60 children were affected with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 42 were normal. The data obtained point to the activity of autoimmune processes in IDDM patients in the first years of the disease, which manifested itself by the high content of circulating immune complexes and antibodies against insulin. The content of circulating immune complexes may serve an additional immunological indicator of compensation and prognosis of the disease. PMID- 2608375 TI - [Significance of hormonal studies in the assessment of the health status of children and adolescents]. AB - Hormonal studies into adrenal function were carried out in 500 children and adolescents. Comparatively high correlation ratios attest to the relationship between androgenous and glucocorticoid functions of the adrenals and indicators of the physical, sexual development and osseous age. In the muscular type of constitution, the reserve possibilities of the adrenals appeared to be the most powerful as compared to those seen in the thoracal and digestive types, which is conductive to the least development of the lymphoid and throat ring and the least disease incidence. In children and adolescents engaged in sports swimming, favourable reactions of the adrenals were demonstrable in 50% of cases, pointing to the presence of the reserve possibilities of androgenous and glucocorticoid functions which should be taken into consideration on exercise indication. As influenced by the total school load throughout the entire school year, glucocorticoid function of the adrenals deteriorated 1.5-fold, this is accompanied by the astheno-neurotic manifestations and hypotension. All these facts should be taken into account in the assessment of the health status and undertaking preventive measures. PMID- 2608376 TI - [Informative significance of immunological studies in endocrine diseases in children]. AB - The authors measured the content of circulating immune complexes (CIC) and serum immunoglobulins in children with diabetes mellitus and thyroid pathology. Diabetes mellitus was marked by the increase of the content of CIC and IgA and IgM. The steady rise of the blood content of CIC in patients with diabetes mellitus is a prognostically unfavourable sign of the development of microangiopathies. Children with thyroid diseases manifested dysimmunoglobulinemia and the rise of CIC content in blood. The IgG/IgM ratio can be used as the differential-diagnostic test of thyroid diseases. PMID- 2608377 TI - [Methodical approaches to the determination of steroid hormone levels in different biological fluids in children with congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex]. AB - The paper treats of the data on the use of radioimmunoassays for the measurement of steroid hormone content (17-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone) in blood serum and saliva of children with congenital adrenocortical dysfunction. It is confirmed that these hormones can be detected in saliva only with the aid of highly sensitive and highly specific RIA systems. A positive correlation has been established between hormonal levels in both biological fluids. PMID- 2608378 TI - [Juvenile struma: clinico-pathogenetic characteristics and therapeutic tactics]. PMID- 2608379 TI - [Several problems in forecasting constitutionally tall stature]. PMID- 2608380 TI - [Clinical variants of empty sella turcica syndrome in children]. PMID- 2608381 TI - [Tactics of the management of patients with intersexual structure of the genitalia]. PMID- 2608382 TI - Response to Kirton. AB - Further comment and analyses of data from 103 alcoholics indicate less internal consistency in alcoholics' responding than in normals, no tendency for innovative alcoholics to engage in more hostile/aggressive behaviors than adaptor alcoholics, and a likelihood that more than three factors for alcoholics would be required to account for variance comparable to that for nonalcoholic persons. PMID- 2608383 TI - Note on color preference and color vision test performance. AB - The incidence of color deficient vision was investigated using the Pseudo Isochromatic Plates on a relatively large and representative group. In the sample of 112 adults aged 20 to 80 yr. and comprised of 53% women and 12% minorities, 8% of men and 3% of women were color deficient. Over-all performance indicated no effects for sex or race. Nearly half of the plates were nondiscriminating among sex, minority/majority, and "normal" and "defective" color vision groups. Named color preferences within the "normal" group strongly favored blues and reflected no sex differences. PMID- 2608384 TI - Deaf versus hearing subjects' recall of words on a distraction task as a function of the signability of the words. AB - Subjects, including 17 deaf and 10 hearing students in Grades 11 and 12, completed a test for memory of lists of 6 words (presented visually for 10 sec.). Subjects recalled the words in writing after a distracting task of adding pairs of digits for 10 sec. Word lists are categorized as signable with a single sign, compound or combination of signs, or finger-spelling signs only. Hearing subjects recalled significantly more words in each category than did deaf subjects. Deaf subjects recalled significantly more single-signed words than either of the other two categories. Deaf subjects did not recall more compound/combination signed words than words that could only be finger-spelled. Hearing subjects also recalled significantly more single-signed words than either of the other two categories and were not superior in either of the other categories. PMID- 2608385 TI - Number concepts of preschool children. AB - Using the format of the tin game described by Hughes in 1986, this study investigated the extent and variety of written representations of small numbers of objects used spontaneously and meaningfully by a sample of 39 preschool children. PMID- 2608386 TI - Evaluation of a young child's behavior: effects of attractiveness and sex. AB - Facial drawings of 2- or 4-yr.-old boys or girls differing in attractiveness were attached to an episode which depicted a mild misbehavior. Neither the attribution of responsibility for the behavior nor the choice of an indulgent vs punitive response was associated with the child's attractiveness, sex, or age. These findings suggest that the halo effects of attractiveness discriminations may not be fully operative at these ages. PMID- 2608387 TI - Reliability measures in distorting body-image. AB - This study is the first to make a direct comparison between the distorting mirror and the distorting videocamera with the same group of nonclinical subjects. It also establishes the internal consistency, the test-retest reliability and the convergent validity of both techniques. Analysis indicates, as with other studies, that perceived image is consistently over-estimated and ideal image is consistently under-estimated by both techniques. With the distorting mirror, the frontal orientation is repeatable over four days and with the video the profile is the more reliable orientation. A comparison between profile and frontal orientations on any single test occasion (internal consistency) indicates that the results correlate well so either orientation is acceptable for experimental purposes. The extent to which both techniques were measuring the same aspect (convergent validity) was more marked for the ideal image. A researcher using the distorting mirror can be confident that the ideal image is reliable over time using either orientation but that the perceived image requires a frontal orientation. The frontal or profile orientation is acceptable for the ideal image using the distorting video, but the profile orientation is advisable if one wishes a reliable perceived image. The researcher should also be cautious in assuming that both techniques are measuring an identical body-image construct. PMID- 2608388 TI - Developmental lag in reading in relation to physical growth and sex differences. AB - The relationship between physical growth and reading development was investigated using 200 children between 4 and 8 yr. of age. Boys of varied teeth maturity, controlling for age, IQ, class and physical height, varied significantly in their reading maturity. The same relationship was not found for girls. PMID- 2608389 TI - Speed of visual acuity for vertical eye-movements with a change of accommodation. AB - Speed of visual acuity was measured for Landolt-C targets presented above and below the line of sight as the targets were moved from 2.4 m to 0.6 m from the observer. Target recognition was faster for a downward than an upward eye movement. There was no difference in response times for the up and down eye movements when the fixation and target distances were the same. PMID- 2608390 TI - Some characteristics of relations among depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy. AB - Self-efficacy should be regarded as a cognitive precursor or as a component of anxiety and of depression. Data on depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy were available from a study of the relation of self-concept to depression. Scores on the Children's Depression Scale of Lang and Tisher, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory of Spielberger, Test-Anxiety Inventory of Spielberger, Self-efficacy Scales of Schwarzer, and the Three-Person Test of Backes, were analyzed by multivariate methods. Subjects were 200 high school students ages 15 to 17 yr. The factor solution obtained from the factor analysis provides information regarding state anxiety, test-anxiety, worry, and self-efficacy. Further research is planned for a better understanding of the linkages among self-efficacy, self-concept, depression, and anxiety. PMID- 2608391 TI - Comparison of three methods for eliciting phonological processes. AB - Eight articulatory disordered children were studied to compare the occurrence of phonological processes using three elicitation methods, including single-word productions, imitated sentences, and continuous speech sampling. A total of 11 phonological processes were shown by the subjects, with only the process of gliding indicative of significantly different rates of occurrence among the three procedures. These subjects were relatively consistent in their use of phonological processes under different speaking conditions. PMID- 2608392 TI - Visual feedback and anticipatory hand orientation during infants' reaching. AB - Infants 5, 7, and 9 mo. of age were videorecorded while reaching for a dowel that either was stationary or changed orientation after initiation of a reach. Visual fixation and hand orientation were monitored throughout each reach, as was the efficiency with which infants contacted the stimulus. In reaching for the stationary stimulus, the 5-mo.-olds showed significantly poorer hand orientation adjustment throughout their reach than 9-mo.-olds. The 7-mo.-olds began a reach with the hand poorly oriented as did 5-mo.-olds, but just before object contact their performance matched that of the 9-mo.-olds. On change-orientation trials, the 5-mo.-olds' reaching was disrupted. They missed, stopped, or withdrew their reach on over half of these trials, and hand orientation on contact was significantly worse than on no-change trials. By contrast, older infants were more skilled in using visual feedback to make corrective adjustments in hand orientation during execution of the reach to secure a smooth contact with the stimulus. These infants showed no difference in hand orientation on contact for change in comparison to no-change trials. The 9-mo.-olds' performance surpassed that of the 7-mo.-olds only in the efficiency with which they contacted the stimulus and the incidence of grasps on first contact. PMID- 2608393 TI - Is the amount of death instinct constant from region to region? PMID- 2608394 TI - Influence of age on proprioceptive accuracy in two dimensions. AB - Slow arm movements were made over a smooth horizontal table at shoulder height. With visual cues excluded, target position was indicated by the index finger of the nonmoving arm touching the underside of the table. 134 subjects (including 26 left-handed subjects) in the age range 8.0 to 24.6 yr. were examined to see if the results were age-related. Accuracy slightly but significantly increased with age. The younger subjects showed a greater accuracy with the dominant hand--a situation which tended to be reversed in the older subjects. PMID- 2608395 TI - Voluntary control of agonist premotor silence preceding limb movements of maximal effort. AB - The ability to gain voluntary control over agonist premotor silence through electromyographic (EMG) feedback was examined in healthy subjects performing maximal horizontal elbow flexions. Subjects exhibiting premotor silence on at least 50% of the pretest trials showed significantly greater peak angular velocity than subjects who produced the silent period on fewer than 20% of the trials during the pretest. The latter subjects acquired control of agonist premotor silence with practice and graphic feedback regarding their EMG patterns. The subjects who were the most successful in learning to produce the silent period increased their angular velocity to the level of the subjects who naturally exhibited the inhibition. The less successful subjects showed smaller increases in velocity. The data provide further evidence that premotor silence is primarily under central influence, that its control can be acquired, and that it may be functionally related to contractile rate. PMID- 2608396 TI - A new method for teaching architectural studios: use of objective feedback to help design students refine their capacity for self-evaluation. AB - The literature suggests that there is concern about the traditional method of teaching architecture. This article describes an alternate method of teaching design studios in which scientific assessments are used instead of the traditional architectural injuries. Analysis suggests that the scientific method of teaching design leads to improvements in the students' abilities to predict how other students would respond to their projects. PMID- 2608397 TI - Olfaction in schizophrenia. AB - It was hypothesised that schizophrenic patients tested for olfactory discrimination would show a left nostril deficit. 15 tested were slightly but not significantly better than a control group of 15. PMID- 2608398 TI - Temporal lobes signs and Jungian dimensions of personality. AB - Phenomenological experiences that suggest temporal lobe lability were correlated with Jungian personality (Myers-Briggs) indicators. People with frequent temporal lobe indicators were more intuitive than sensing and more perceiving than judging; in the more general population temporal lobe indicators were also weakly associated with feeling rather than thinking. Students who were actively engaged in a drama class also displayed more frequent temporal lobe signs than psychology students. The data are commensurate with the hypothesis that the relationship between belief in psi phenomena, psi experiences, and specific cognitive styles is derived from a temporal lobe lability factor. PMID- 2608399 TI - Continuation of visual-field mapping for a target embedded in a regular background. AB - The binocular functional visual-field, which is the area around the fixation point within which a target can be detected, was mapped for two subjects, using a peripherally presented target in a regular background. Over-all the field shapes were strikingly similar to field shapes reported previously for these two subjects and confirmed the presence of boundary irregularities for both subjects. PMID- 2608400 TI - Menninger's motives for suicide in genuine and simulated suicide notes. PMID- 2608401 TI - Psychology of computers: XIV. Cognitive rehabilitation through computer games. AB - The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that computer games may be an efficient therapeutic tool in a cognitive rehabilitation program. 60 subjects who showed attention difficulties with or without cerebral dysfunctions participated in a 12-hr. training program based on intensive use of a computer game. Analyses show improvement for the experimental group on scanning and tracking variables, notwithstanding the nature of their particular dysfunctions. Recommendations are presented regarding the nature and content of the cognitive tasks in a rehabilitation program. PMID- 2608402 TI - Contemporary opinions on health issues: an informal look. PMID- 2608403 TI - Depth cues of disparity and relative size added to Necker cube. PMID- 2608404 TI - Perception of unilateral lower extremity weightbearing during bilateral upright stance. AB - The primary purpose of this study was to describe the error in 61 healthy subjects' perceptions of weight-bearing at three target levels during bilateral upright stance. The secondary purpose was to describe the effects of age, sex, lower extremity dominance and target weightbearing level on the error in perceptions of weightbearing. Weightbearing was determined while subjects stood on digital scales. They adjusted their weight in an attempt to bear 25, 50, and 75% of their weight through a designated lower extremity. Three trials were allowed at each weightbearing target, and the results were averaged. Each subject's error in perception of weightbearing at each target level was determined by taking the absolute value of the target percent weightbearing minus the mean actual percent weightbearing. The mean errors at the 25, 50, and 75% targets were 7.3, 3.3, and 7.7%, respectively. The magnitude of the error was unrelated to age. An analysis of variance showed that error was not dependent on sex or whether the dominant lower extremity was used for making judgements. The error did differ between target levels. Clinicians cannot assume, based on the findings of this study, that individuals can accurately judge the percent weightbearing they are placing through one of their lower extremities during bilateral upright stance. PMID- 2608405 TI - Media violence and suicide and homicide rates. PMID- 2608406 TI - Psychology of computer use: XV. Effects of display format on reading text from a CRT. AB - Comprehension of brief computer-displayed text was investigated. Question answering ability was affected by both rate of text presentation and text difficulty. More importantly, though, text presented one word at a time was comprehended better than text presented in multiword units or chunks. Results are discussed with regard to optimizing reading from computer displays. PMID- 2608407 TI - Neuropsychological test performance and employment status in patients referred for assessment. AB - A summary index of neuropsychological impairment (mean Luria-Nebraska T score), along with age, education, and presence/absence of confirmed brain disease, was used to predict employment status (working/not working). Subjects were 50 patients referred for neuropsychological assessment of confirmed or suspected brain damage. The Luria-Nebraska index contributed about 8% of explained variance independently of the other predictors. The joint validity was about 29% of criterion variance. This is related to issues in the use of neuropsychological data to predict functional variables. PMID- 2608408 TI - Sex-related differences in spatial ability: more evidence for convergence. AB - Sex-related differences in spatial ability, favoring males, have frequently been reported in the literature. Recent analyses, however, have found indications of a convergence in the scores of men and women on spatial tests over the years. This research examined the evidence for such a secular trend in a German population using data of 18 samples that had completed the Cube Perspectives Test, a measure of spatial visualization ability. The largest effect size (d = .77) was found for a sample tested in 1978, the smallest difference (d = .38) was observed for a sample tested in 1987. There was a clear trend narrowing the sex-related differences; the correlation between the recency of the data and the respective d value was -.926. The convergence of the scores of men and women proved to be stronger than in the previous studies. PMID- 2608409 TI - Are those who choose guns for suicide more intent on dying? PMID- 2608410 TI - Music affects learning of a braille-like task by sighted subjects. AB - 24 consistently right-handed male college students felt sets of four Braille symbols with either the right or the left index finger and identified by touch alone which two of the four symbols in each set were identical. During the task music was played to either the right ear, the left ear, both ears, or neither ear. Significantly fewer errors were made when the music was in the ear contralateral to whichever hand performed the task. The ipsilateral, binaural, and no-music groups did not differ significantly from each other. It is suggested that monaural music to the ear contralateral to the engaged hand led to reduced interhemispheric competition acting on the hemisphere controlling the hand. Such a facilitating effect may be of practical importance in tasks during which one hemisphere received the bulk of the task-related sensory input and/or processes the final order from the brain to the task-related muscles. PMID- 2608411 TI - Tryptophan intake and national character. PMID- 2608412 TI - Coping behaviors in relation to frequency and intensity of anxiety-provoking situations. AB - The relationships between coping strategies (constructive, passive, and escape), on the one hand, and anxiety reactions and individuals' frequency of experiences of anxiety, and situations' rate of recurrence, and general anxiety-inducing effect on the other, were explored. The investigated factors and their associations were studied both as individual characteristics and situational properties. Data for boys and girls were treated separately. The results for individuals showed that both trait-anxiety and frequency of stressful experience were related positively to escape strategies and negatively to constructive solutions. For situations, general situational effect correlated positively with escape solutions and negatively with constructivity. Rate of recurrence was correlated positively with constructive strategies and negatively with escape solutions. No significant sex differences were found. PMID- 2608413 TI - Relations between personality measures and physiological reactivity using a perceptual motor challenge. AB - 60 undergraduates participated in research designed to investigate the relations between psychological and physiological measures of personality under stress. Psychological assessments were elicited from responses to the Jenkins Activity Survey. Physiological assessments were elicited during 5 1-min. trials on the pursuit rotor, a perceptual motor task. Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses were consistent with the notion that psychological and physiological assessments yield contradictory information and that research is needed to develop valid methodologies with which to assess human stress. PMID- 2608414 TI - Psychophysiological responses to subliminal auditory suggestions for activation. AB - The aim of this study was to characterize further the experimental procedure proposed by Borgeat and Goulet in 1983. Subliminal activation auditory suggestions were expected to increase heart rate and skin conductance in presence of a stressing task. 20 subjects were alternately exposed to activating or neutral (random numbers) 25-dB suggestions masked by a 40-dB white noise. Analyses of variance and covariance indicated an effect of the activating suggestions on heart rate but not on skin conductance. Partly confirming previous results, the data support the reliability of heart rate and the importance of a stressing factor to reveal the effects of preconscious or subliminal stimulations. PMID- 2608415 TI - Perceptions of family learning environments: the influence of sibling background. AB - Longitudinal data from 240 female and 260 male Australians were used to examine relationships among birth order, sibsize, and adolescents' perceptions of family learning environments after taking into account the correlation of intellectual ability and social status on those perceptions. For the analysis, regression models were investigated that included terms to test for possible linear, interaction and curvilinear relationships. The findings provided tentative support for the sibling dilution theory, that is, after accounting for the effects of children's ability and family social status, the sibling variables continued to have some modest associations with the adolescents' perceptions of their parents' support for learning. PMID- 2608416 TI - Mania and nondominant hemisphere function. AB - Unlike schizophrenics, actively disturbed manic and hypomanic patients perceived intensely affective musical stimuli without configurational errors or exacerbation of symptoms. The result disagrees with the prevailing hypothesis of manic affect-related cognitive defect in nondominant hemisphere function. PMID- 2608417 TI - Heterophoria as a measure of subjects' alertness during recovery from general anesthesia. AB - The purpose of the study was to measure the influence of subjects' alertness on heterophoria. An experimental group of 43 patients was measured with the Maddox Wing test for heterophoria. Exophoria was greater 1 1/2, 2 1/2, and 3 1/2 hr. after the end of general anesthesia than at baseline level. Data for a control group of 25 did not vary on the Maddox Wing over four hours. The baseline level was not different between the two groups, so heterophoria as measured with the Maddox Wing can be used to evaluate subjects' alertness during recovery from general anesthesia. PMID- 2608418 TI - The Knud Jansen lecture. Technological choices in prosthetics and orthotics for developing countries. PMID- 2608419 TI - Lightweight modular orthosis. AB - Background and highlights are presented concerning the development of a new orthotic system judged to be "the most outstanding innovation in prosthetics and/or orthotics practice" during the 1986-1989 period. The first Brian Blatchford Prize was awarded at the Sixth World Congress of ISPO held in Kobe, Japan. November 12-17, 1989. The new development selected as most deserving of this award consists of a system utilizing inexpensive, lightweight, modular components which can be quickly assembled with a few hand tools to provide custom fitted knee-ankle-foot orthoses for persons with paraplegia and quadriplegia. These leg frames support standing and permit the patient to begin receiving the physical and psychological benefits of weightbearing as soon as medically feasible after injury. Later, if desired, specially designed knee-joints, with a variety of possible locking features, can be installed on the existing leg frames at a reasonable cost. PMID- 2608420 TI - A reference shape library for computer aided socket design in above-knee prostheses. AB - A Reference Library of socket shapes for an Above-Knee Computer Aided Socket Design (CASD) System has been created. This library forms part of a more general CASD System (Dean & Saunders, 1985; Novicov & Foort, 1982). It consists of a matrix of reference shapes representing above-knee socket characteristics and is based upon skeletal structure, residuum length and tissue mass. A set of 27 biomechanical reference shapes in the form of male plaster casts were produced by a combination of CNC milling and traditional artisan techniques. Each reference shape was digitized to obtain its cylindrical coordinates. Cross-sectional areas and tissue distributions within each shape and between the shapes were analyzed, modified and then stored numerically within the computer for further implementation of the CASD System for the above-knee amputees. The creation and the analysis of the reference shape data is described. PMID- 2608421 TI - The effect of footwear mass on the gait patterns of unilateral below-knee amputees. AB - This study reports an investigation into the effect of shoe mass on the gait patterns of below-knee (BK) amputees. Ten established unilateral BK, patellar tendon-bearing prosthesis wearers were assessed using a VICON system of gait analysis. Incremental masses of 50g (up to 200g) were added to the subjects' shoes and data captured as they walked along a 15m measurement field. Coefficients of symmetry of various parameters of the swing phase (knee frequency symmetry, swing time symmetry) were measured and their correlation was tested with the patient's preferred shoe mass and also their own shoe mass, all expressed as a proportion of body mass. The subjects' 'preferred' shoe mass (139 318g) showed the greatest symmetry in all the parameters examined (correlations 0.78-0.81 p less than 0.01 and less than 0.005), whereas there was no correlation between the subjects' own shoe mass (121-325g) and the symmetry coefficients measured. PMID- 2608422 TI - A single case study: myoelectrically controlled exoskeletal mobilizer for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. PMID- 2608424 TI - Nursing centers: meeting the demand for quality health care. PMID- 2608423 TI - Standing pressure distribution for normal and below-knee amputee children. AB - Below-knee (BK) amputee children have a different morphology from normal children and amputees may thus have atypical limb loading during standing. The purpose of this investigation was to examine differences in standing ground-shoe pressure distribution between BK and normal children. A pressure plate was used to measure the ground-shoe weight distribution of three BK children and ten normal children during standing. Results indicated that the weight distribution between prosthetic and non-prosthetic limbs of BK children was not significantly different from the feet of normal children. The anterior-posterior weight distribution for the prosthetic and non-prosthetic feet was significantly different from that of the normal children. Further quantification of weight distribution and analysis of more subjects is necessary to determine the benefits, detriments, or irrelevance of these results. PMID- 2608425 TI - Nursing practice: innovative models. PMID- 2608426 TI - Models of academic nurse-managed centers. AB - It is unclear as to what degree these models form developmental stages. It is clear that each model has its strengths and areas of concern. Community needs, faculty expertise and interests, educational focus of the school of nursing, and the university's mission and goals are major determinants in identifying which model is most appropriate for any given school of nursing. Much can be learned from the experiences of other schools, which will be helpful for those already involved in the NMC movement of those faculty and schools of nursing considering developing such a school of nursing-managed health care service. PMID- 2608427 TI - Community Wellness Outreach: family health through empowerment. PMID- 2608428 TI - A nursing model of health care: a 10-year trend analysis. PMID- 2608429 TI - Geriatric education and health management clinic: synergy in a nursing center. PMID- 2608430 TI - Home health care through an academic nurse-managed center. PMID- 2608431 TI - Encouraging one-hundred percent faculty participation in an academic nursing center practice plan. PMID- 2608432 TI - Addressing the health needs of congregations: who are the nurses in churches? PMID- 2608433 TI - Academic nursing centers: an assessment after a decade. PMID- 2608434 TI - Nurse-managed centers: the future of health care delivery (purpose and uses). PMID- 2608435 TI - Survival strategies for community nursing centers. AB - The development of innovations in any area presents a myriad of challenges. The establishment of a community nursing center in a competitive health care market place is not a role for the faint of heart or those with limited motivation or energy to devote to such an endeavor. Even so, many nurses are committed to the goal of establishing CNCs as demonstration sites for experimentation with alternative structures of health care delivery in spite of the challenges and the odds. Until reimbursement mechanisms are modified to allow nurses practicing in CNCs to generate client/service-based revenue, reliance on alternative sources of funding will continue. Several strategies have been presented here that have been identified as useful in the acquisition of financial resources for the support of a community nursing center. The strategies include: focusing on community need rather than the model of delivery when approaching potential donors; securing funds from multiple sources; centralizing the funding strategy and the preparation of grant applications; and adopting a policy of patience and persistence in seeking extramural funding. It is my hope that these strategies will assist those of you engaged in the struggle to develop community nursing centers to significantly improve the level of financial security in your center. PMID- 2608436 TI - Payment for nursing services: issues in policy implementation. AB - The respondents presented a picture of payment in Wisconsin that varied among specialty groups and among practitioners within each specialty group. Some nurses in each category had been paid directly, but this tended to be the exception rather than the rule. Even when nurses were paid by third-party payers, client needs were reported as exceeding coverage, payments were difficult to collect, and in most specialty areas, payments received were insufficient for nurses to live on unless other sources of income were available. Records of client utilization, time spent, and types of service were kept by at least some members of each specialty group should such data be needed in further research. PMID- 2608437 TI - Nursing centers: state of the art--survey results. PMID- 2608438 TI - Assessing the effects of clinical setting on students' attitudes toward professional autonomy and client advocacy. PMID- 2608439 TI - An epidemiological study of hypercholesterolemia in a university community. PMID- 2608440 TI - Xth Congress of the French Society of Hematology with the participation of the National Society of Blood Transfusion. Rouen, June 14-17, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2608441 TI - Reevaluation of the utility of mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) screening in infants for iron deficiency. AB - Iron deficiency (ID) at the stage of latent deficiency (LID) or frank anemia (IDA) is still common in pediatric practice. We have assessed the prevalence of LID and IDA in an infant population with an age range of 9-11 months, in Paris. Red cell indices, hemoglobin level, serum iron, transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels were assayed. There was considerable prevalence of ID as 82% of the children exhibited low levels in one of the above parameters. We found low mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) to be predictive of LID in one third of cases. Since MCH value is routinely available to the physician, it appears that a close examination of this red cell index should allow for the diagnosis of ID in a large number of children at risk, without the need to resort to more elaborate and expensive laboratory tests. PMID- 2608442 TI - Low-dose arabinosyl cytosine therapy of AML may be effective after failure of high or conventional doses. AB - In 3 patients with ANLL, chemotherapy including high or conventional doses of Ara C had been ineffective. However subsequent treatment with low-dose (LD) Ara-C induced a PR or CR which were sustained with regular LD Ara-C reinduction courses. Survival of the 2 patients with PR was 24 and 8 months respectively. The patient with CR was alive 18 months after a bone marrow graft. In 2/3 cases, the cytogenetic abnormalities initially detected disappeared with treatment. These observations suggest that the cellular mechanism of action of LD Ara-C is different from that of HD Ara-C, but do not favour a differentiating action of LD Ara-C. LD Ara-C can be prescribed as a salvage therapy even after failure of high or conventional doses. PMID- 2608443 TI - Protein kinase C deficiency in juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia: a case report. AB - Protein kinase C activity was assayed in morphologically differentiated and undifferentiated myeloid cells of a 13-month-old girl with chronic myeloid leukemia. A reduced protein kinase C activity was seen in the morphologically differentiated neutrophils, while the activity in the leukemic cells was higher to that of normal neutrophils from control subjects. PMID- 2608444 TI - 3,5,3'-Triiodothyroacetic acid (TRIAC) effects on pituitary thyroid regulation and on peripheral tissue parameters. AB - The effects of TRIAC on peripheral thyroid hormones, TSH incretion and peripheral tissue parameters were investigated in 13 mildly obese patients (group I) and 10 volunteers of normal body weight (group II). TRIAC was administered 3 x 1 mg daily over a period of 8 days to both groups. In group I (on a 400 kcal low caloric diet) bTSH and fT4 decreased significantly whereas TT4 decreased only insignificantly. TT3 and fT3 rose significantly due to the cross-reactivity of the employed antibody. The peripheral tissue parameters cholesterol, ankle jerk and systolic time interval did not reveal any changes suggesting an increase in metabolic rate. The increase in heart frequency was not significant either. The significant rise in sex-hormone binding globulin was most probably associated with the weight reduction of 3.1 +/- 1.2 kg per week. In group II (on normal diet) bTSH and fT4 decreased significantly whereas TT4 decreased only insignificantly. As in group I, TT3 and fT3 rose significantly. Also in group II TRIAC did not cause alterations in the peripheral tissue parameters. In contrast to the obese group the volunteers in group II showed no significant rise in sex hormone binding globulin and no reduction of body weight. Side effects such as nervousness, tremor or palpitations were not observed. Thus, TRIAC does not induce an increase in peripheral metabolic rate, not even under a TSH-suppressive dose as high as 3 x 1 mg per day. PMID- 2608445 TI - [SPECT in reversible symptoms of cerebrovascular diseases]. AB - In 16 patients with reversible symptoms of cerebrovascular disease a HMPAO- and/or IMP-SPECT was performed. 12 of these patients were suffering from TIA, 4 from PRIND. Using HMPAO-SPECT in 8 out of 9 patients with TIA and in 1 of 2 with PRIND a hypoperfusion could be demonstrated; IMP-SPECT showed a pathological pattern in 3 of 5 patients with TIA and in none of 2 patients with PRIND. A semiquantitative evaluation showed a tracer accumulation reduced by 13 +/- 12% (HMPAO) and 8 +/- 7% (IMP), respectively, in the clinically involved hemisphere, compared to the contralateral side. In circumscript SPECT lesions a reduction by 21 +/- 8% (HMPAO) or 17 +/- 7% (IMP) was observed. The interhemispheric ratio from the HMPAO-SPECT showed a significant correlation to that of the 133Xe-rCBF measurement (r = 0.86; p less than 0.001). SPECT was positive in a higher percentage than TCT, Doppler sonography, radioangiography and 133Xe-rCBF measurement. This does not imply a higher specificity or sensitivity, because a slight inhomogeneous SPECT pattern may occasionally be observed even in normal persons. PMID- 2608446 TI - [Renal artery stenosis: possibilities of magnetic resonance tomography]. AB - Non-invasive detection of stenotic lesions of the renal arteries remains an important clinical problem. Recent advances in magnetic resonance angiography represent a significant progress towards achieving non-invasive diagnosis of vascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibilities of assessment of renal artery stenosis with commonly available hard- and software equipment. Imaging of renal arteries was performed with a ECG-gated fast multiphase gradient echo sequence which allows production of a series of images in different heart phases. Examinations were performed in 15 healthy volunteers and in 12 patients with angiographically verified renal artery stenosis. In 10 patients additional dynamic studies with fast imaging during short breath-holding periods after administration of gadolinium-DTPA served for the assessment of renal perfusion. A superconducting system operating at 1.5 T was used to produce gradient echo sequences with small flip angles and dephasing gradients of constant amplitude. To find the optimal imaging method for depiction of the renal arteries the following parameters were systematically varied: respiratory gating, resolution, number of excitations, slice thickness, phase encoding direction, rephasing gradients, flip angle and echo time. A good visualization of the vessels was always possible and using the best parameter combination even the narrowed lumen could be assessed in some cases. With this technique or with gadolinium-enhanced dynamic studies the perfusion of the kidneys can be demonstrated. However, quantitation of the stenosis or quantitation of renal perfusion was not possible; even the depiction of the stenotic lesion was successful only in half of the cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2608447 TI - [Noninvasive assessment of aortocoronary bypass using magnetic resonance tomography]. AB - Forty-four patients with recent cardiac catheterization because of recurrent chest pain after coronary artery bypass surgery were studied by magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate graft patency. To assess the efficacy of this non invasive method 92 coronary artery bypass grafts were examined by the spin-echo technique. ECG-gated transversal sections were acquired between the diaphragm and the aortic arch. The specificity of magnetic resonance imaging was 83% (48/58) for patent grafts. However, the sensitivity in the detection of occluded bypasses was only 56% (19/34). Despite the good specificity, clinical applications of this method are limited because of its low sensitivity. PMID- 2608448 TI - [A pharmacokinetic approach to studying the uptake of 137Cs by children following the reactor accident at Chernobyl]. AB - The course of 137Cs content of children after the reactor accident of Chernobyl measured by means of a whole-body counter could be reconstructed theoretically by a pharmacokinetic model. The children of the kindergarten of the hospital of the University of Cologne accumulated during the vegetation periods 1986/87 (I) 86.9, 1987/88 (II) 114.4 and 1988/89 (III) 24.4 Bq 137Cs per kg body weight. PMID- 2608449 TI - [Anemia in malignant tumor diseases. II. Tumor-induced loss of transferrin as a cause of the development of anemia based on a rat model]. AB - The cellular uptake and lysosomal accumulation of 67Ga-labelled transferrin within tumors of different malignancy were examined using tissue fractionation and immunological techniques. As tumor models the slowly growing Morris hepatoma 5123 C, the moderately growing Novikoff hepatoma and the fast and aggressive Yoshida hepatoma AH130 were investigated. Isolation of subcellular fractions of tumor homogenates was performed by differential centrifugation and density gradient centrifugation. The intracellular 67Ga-transferrin was found to be highly concentrated within the purified lysosomes. The transferrin within the lysosomal fraction was identified by radial immunodiffusion technique using monospecific antiserum. The accumulation of 67Ga-transferrin by the tumors resulted in a faster disappearance of 67Ga-transferrin from the blood. This loss of circulating 67Ga-transferrin correlated with the proliferation activity and the spread of the tumors. Since transferrin is indispensible for the utilization of iron by the heme-synthesizing red cell precursors, transferrin concentration in the blood is the limiting factor for the utilization of iron in hemoglobin synthesis. Thus, in a further series of experiments we investigated the development of anemia in tumor-bearing rats. With increasing tumor mass a progressive fall of hemoglobin concentration was found. The anemia was more severe in the faster growing Novikoff hepatoma than in the slowly growing Morris hepatoma. The most significant reduction of hemoglobin concentration was found in the very fast growing Yoshida hepatoma. After total tumor resection hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count normalized completely within 6-8 weeks. We conclude from these data that the uptake of transferrin by the tumor cells results in a faster disappearance of transferrin from the blood.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2608450 TI - Sixteenth Symposium on Nucleic Acid Chemistry. Narashino, Japan, October 5th-7th, 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2608451 TI - Improved synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides. AB - An improved synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides was achieved with NPE- and NPEOC-protected phosphoramidites leading to easier and time-saving purification and isolation of the gene fragments. PMID- 2608452 TI - General, regiocontrolled synthesis of unsymmetrically linked dinucleoside adenosine 2',3'-bis(phosphate)s. AB - Adenyl ribonucleotides having unsymmetrical 2'-5',3'-5' phosphodiester linkage have been prepared in a general, regiodefined manner. PMID- 2608453 TI - Synthesis and properties of RNA with catalytic activity. AB - Ribooligonucleotides, which form the self-cleavage domain of a satellite RNA of tobacco ringspot virus, were synthesized by the solid-phase phosphoramidite method using o-nitrobenzyl groups for 2'-hydroxyl protection. The oligomers were obtained in quantities sufficient for NMR measurement. Specific cleavage at an expected site was observed when the three RNA fragments were mixed in the presence of magnesium ions. PMID- 2608454 TI - Modification of 5-methylcytosine in DNA and its relation to mutagenesis. PMID- 2608455 TI - Some properties of bovine mitochondrial serine tRNA gene transcript synthesized with T7 RNA polymerase. AB - Bovine mitochondrial serine tRNA(AGY) gene transcript was synthesized in vitro with T7 RNA polymerase, and it was capable of being aminoacylated with mitochondrial serine tRNA synthetase. The melting profiles of the transcript was similar to those of native serine tRNA(AGY), suggesting that the higher-order structure of the transcript does not much differ from that of native serine tRNA(AGY). Several transcripts with base-substitution were also constructed and their aminoacylation capacity was investigated. PMID- 2608456 TI - Synthesis of oligodeoxynucleoside phosphorodithioates. PMID- 2608457 TI - Synthesis of 1-(5'-O-benzoyl-3'-deoxy-beta-D-glycero-pentofuran-2'-ulosyl)uracil and its alpha-anomer by [1,2]-hydride shift. AB - In contrast with direct tosylation of 5'-O-benzoyl- (1d) or 5'-O-pivaloyl-1-beta D-lyxofuranosyl-uracil (1e) with TsCl/pyridine, tosylation of the 2', 3'-O dibutylstannylene derivatives (4d,e) of these compounds proved to give the 3'-O tosyl derivatives 2d, e selectively. Coversion of 2d as a model to 1-(5'-O benzoyl-3'-deoxy-beta-D-glycero-pentofuran-2'-ulosyl )uracil (5-beta) by base induced [1,2]-hydride shift was examined under various reaction conditions, and the alpha/beta ratio of the product mixture (5-alpha, beta) determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy in each case. The BzOLi/DMF combination has proved to be most profitable for obtaining 5-beta. PMID- 2608458 TI - Synthesis and properties of oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing N6 methoxyadenine. AB - Oligodeoxyribonuclotides containing N6-methoxyadenine (mo6A), a promutagenic base, were synthesized. The Tm values and thermodynamic parameters for double strand formation of d(CCTGGTAmo6ACAGGTCC) have been measured. The order of the base-pair stability was A-T greater than mo6A-C approximately equal to mo6A-T greater than A-C. PMID- 2608459 TI - Synthesis of the carbocyclic oxetanocin A1 and its related compounds. AB - Carboxetanocin A (III) and several related compounds including carboxetanocin G (VI), 9-(3,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)adenine (X), -guanine (XI) and 9-cyclobutylguanine were prepared. PMID- 2608460 TI - Synthetic and high-field NMR study of branched tri-, tetra-, penta-, and heptaribonucleotides modelling the lariat-intron in group II splicing. PMID- 2608461 TI - Interconvertible hairpin structure found in the replication origin of phage G4 single-stranded DNA. AB - We found a synthetic GCGAAAGC fragment with a mobility greater than that of other oligodeoxyribonucleotides in gel electrophoresis to take on a stable hairpin structure possessing two terminal G-C base pairs. The GCGAAAGC sequence is also found in the replication origin of phage G4 single-stranded DNA, but the hairpin structure originally proposed differs from that of the GCGAAAGC fragment we have studied. Possibility of rearrangement of the secondary structure in the replication origin of phage G4 was examined in relation to its replication initiation mechanism. PMID- 2608462 TI - Synthesis of novel nucleosides. AB - A new spironucleoside structural type and two new bicyclic nucleoside structural types were synthesized from the reaction of ribose nitrile oxide with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. Next, a synthetic method for novel meso-ionic nucleoside structual type is presented. PMID- 2608463 TI - Synthesis of DNA fragments bearing 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-adenine: a gamma radiation product. AB - In order to investigate the mutagenic effects and the repair of DNA lesions induced by gamma rays, 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-adenine was introduced in DNA fragments using cyanoethyl phosphoroamidite method. The modified oligonucleotides were purified by HPLC and the presence of the defect in the final product was confirmed by DNA sequencing, enzymatic hydrolysis and FAB mass spectrometry. PMID- 2608464 TI - The synthesis and characteristics of adenylyl-(5'----N epsilon)-lysyl peptides. AB - The dipeptides Boc-Thr-Lys(Cbz)-OMe and Boc-Lys(Cbz)-Glu(OEt)-OEt were prepared by the classical method of peptide synthesis. The Cbz protecting group was subsequently removed via hydrogenolysis. AMP was then covalently joined to the free lysine epsilon-amine by the carbodiimide (DCC) method. The resulting RNA ligase active center model compounds, the adenylyl-(5----N epsilon)-lysylpeptides were then used to study the participation of the amino acid residue functional groups in the hydrolysis of the phosphoamide center. PMID- 2608465 TI - Signal structure of the cis-acting element recognized by VirG protein, a positive regulator in Agrobacterium. AB - VirG protein is known to be the positive regulator for vir genes of Ri and Ti plasmids in Agrobacterium. To investigate the cis-acting element recognized by VirG, we have determined the transcriptional start points of the vir genes on Ri plasmid (pRiA4b). From the analysis of the upstream sequences, it has been found that the sequences generally similar to 5'TG(A/T)AA(C/T)3' appear in phase with an 11-base pair interval, and that the -35 and -10 regions of the promoters are located nearly in the reversal phase with those phasing sequences. These sequence characteristics are conserved in the vir genes on Ti plasmids (pTiA6 and pTiC58). Moreover, the similar sequence structures were found in the regulatory regions of the genes controlled by PhoB and OmpR, which are the E. coli positive regulators closely related to VirG in their amino-acid sequences. PMID- 2608466 TI - O-alkyl O-nucleoside 3'-phosphonates as novel starting materials for oligonucleotide synthesis. AB - It was found that the title compounds were activated rapidly into the corresponding highly reactive phosphorochloridites by use of tris(2,4,6 tribromophenoxy)dichloro-phosphorane (BDCP) as a chlorinating reagent. The reaction was applied to the synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides. PMID- 2608467 TI - Synthesis of a linker, d(GGAATTCC), through liquid-phase and phosphoroamidate approaches involving deamidation with tetrabutylammonium nitrite-acetic anhydride. AB - The title linker was synthesized in the manner of dimer-units introduction through liquid-phase and phosphoroamidate approaches involving deamidation with tetrabutylammonium nitrite-acetic anhydride. PMID- 2608468 TI - A phosphorbisamidite approach to the synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides and their analogues. AB - Utilities of deoxyribonucleoside 3'-O-phosphorbisdiethylamidites in the synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides and their analogues are described. PMID- 2608469 TI - Oligoribonucleotide synthesis by use of the 2-(methylthio)-phenylthiomethyl (MPTM) group. AB - The 2-(methylthio)phenylthiomethyl (MPTM) group was developed as a new type of 2' hydroxyl protecting group in oligoribonucleotide synthesis. The building monomer units of uridine and cytidine for the phosphotriester approach were synthesized from 2'-O-(1,3-benzodithiol-2-yl)-3',5'-O- (1,1,3,3-tetraisopropyldisiloxan-1,3 diyl)uridine and successfully utilized for the synthesis of CpUpG. PMID- 2608470 TI - Solid-phase synthesis of oligoribonucleotides. AB - An efficient method is described for solid-phase synthesis of oligoribonucleotides that involves use of the 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl group (Fmoc) for 5'-protection, 4-methoxytetrahydropyran-4-yl (Mthp) for 2'-protection and a phosphoramidite coupling procedure. PMID- 2608471 TI - Synthesis of 8-diamino-substituted adenosine, inosine, and guanosine. AB - Adenosine, inosine and guanosine derivatives were prepared, modified at the C-8 atom with the aid of diamines (1,3-diaminopropane, 1,4-diaminobutane and 1,5 diaminopentane). PMID- 2608472 TI - The introduction of reporter groups at multiple and/or specific sites in DNA containing phosphorothioate diesters. AB - DNA fragments containing phosphorothioate diesters provide nucleophilic sites which are amenable to labeling by spin labels or fluorophores. Selecting the position for an individual phosphorothioate diester allows highly specific placement of the reporter group. The substitution of a phosphorothioate diester for each and every internucleotidic phosphodiester allows the incorporation of multiple reporter groups; ideally one for each nucleoside residue. With the use of multiple fluorophores a post-assay fluorescent labeling technique has been developed which allows the detection of DNA fragments with the "naked-eye" in the low femtomolar (10(-15) moles) range. PMID- 2608473 TI - Recent studies on nucleoside H-phosphonothioate and nucleoside methylphosphonothioate synthesis. AB - The reaction of suitably protected nucleosides with phosphinic acid in the presence of condensing agents has been investigated and applied for the preparation of nucleoside 3'-H-phosphonothioates. Studies on synthesis and separation of diastereoisomers of nucleoside 3'-methylphosphonothioates are also discussed. PMID- 2608474 TI - Antiviral activities and the mechanism of 9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-6 alkylthiopurines on several RNA viruses from animals. AB - A series of 9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-6-alkylthiopurines (6-alkyl TI) were found to inhibit in vitro replication of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), human influenza virus (IFV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with IC50 values of about 0.06 microgram/ml, 0.7-1.5 micrograms/ml and 1-3 micrograms/ml, respectively. Viral RNA synthesis in infected cells in the presence of actinomycin D was inhibited by treatment with the compounds dose-dependently. It was also found that the decrease of rNTP pool size in infected cells was remarkably dose-dependent. From these findings, the mode of antiviral action of these compounds may be explained by rNTP imbalance in the treated group. PMID- 2608475 TI - Oxidation of pyrimidine bases and their derivatives by sodium peroxodisulfate. AB - Treatment of 1,3-dimethyluracil (1) with sodium peroxodisulfate in water at 80 degrees C under nitrogen gave 5-hydroxy-1,3-dimethyluracil (6) as a main product. Under similar conditions, oxidation of 5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyluracil (2) gave a 6,6'-dimeric compound (10) together with other products. Similar oxidation of 5 bromo-1,3-dimethyluracil (3) and 1,3,6-trimethyluracil (4) was also investigated. Furthermore, reaction of 1,3-dimethylthymine (5) and adenine in the presence of sodium peroxodisulfate gave coupling products (12) and (13). PMID- 2608476 TI - DNA binding and cleavage by enediyne antitumor antibiotics, esperamicin and dynemicin. AB - Esperamicin A1 and dynemicin represent a new class of DNA binding/damaging agents characterized by unique ten-membered ene-diyne core. The former antitumor antibiotic shows high DNA cleavage activity in the presence of dithiothreitol, whereas the latter in the presence of NADPH. Esperamicin A1 favorably breaks T and C bases at oligopyrimidine regions such as 5'-CTC, 5'-TTC, and 5'-TTT sequences. Dynemicin attacks the bases at 3'-side of purine residues such as 5' AG, 5'-AT, and 5'-GC sequences. These drugs also present good circumstantial evidence for minor groove interaction of B-DNA. PMID- 2608477 TI - Synthesis of dinucleoside phosphorodithioates from nucleoside phosphonodithioates. AB - The conversion, in good yield, of 5'-O-(9-phenylxanthen-9-yl) thymidine (1) into the triethylammonium salt of its 3'-phosphonodithioate (2a) is described. The latter compound (2a) is converted into a dinucleoside phosphonothioate (4a), and thence into a corresponding dinucleoside phosphorodithioate (6a) and phosphorothioate (6;X = 0). PMID- 2608478 TI - Stacking interactions between protonated nucleic acid bases and aromatic amino acids: spectroscopic and structural analyses of m3CMP-tryptophan derivative complex. AB - As a stacking model between nucleic acid bases and aromatic amino acids, the interaction on m3 CMP-tryptophan derivative has been studied by 1H-NMR and X-ray crystal analyses. From the comparative 1H-NMR experiments using CMP and m3CMP, it is suggested that the N(3)-protonation by methylation greatly strengthens the stacking interaction with tryptophan. Parallel alignment with a separation distance of 3.38A is shown by the X-ray analysis of m CMP-tryptamine complex. The stacking mode is very similar to those observed in the complexes of indole ring with m1A and m7G. PMID- 2608479 TI - Conformational characteristics of 4-acetylcytidine found in tRNA. AB - The conformational characteristics of a modified nucleoside 4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) was analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This nucleoside was found to take the C3'-endo form predominantly. The enthalpy difference between the C2'-endo form and the C3'-endo form of the ribose moiety of ac4C was determined and 4-acetylation was found to stabilize the C3'-endo form further by 0.83 kcal.mol-1. This conformational characteristics of ac4C is probably important for the correct codon recognition and the stability of the tertiary structure of tRNA molecule. PMID- 2608480 TI - Induced circular dichroism in nucleic acid-acridine derivative complexes. AB - Visible absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectra have been measured for complexes formed between nucleic acids (calf thymus DNA, poly(rA).poly(rU) and poly(rI).poly(rC)) and 9-aminoacridines (quinacrine, acranil and 9-amino-6-chloro 2-methoxy acridine). With poly(rA).poly(rU), a new absorption band was observed at longer wavelengths. The nucleic acid-drug complexes showed considerable different induced CD spectra. Analysis of these CD spectra suggests that the cationic side chains of quinacrine and acranil play an important role on the binding properties to DNA and poly(rA).poly(rU). PMID- 2608481 TI - NMR studies on DNA hairpin structures with a five nucleotide loop. AB - One- and two-dimensional NMR experiments have been undertaken to investigate the structure of DNA hairpins with a five nucleotide loop. Analysis of proton NMR spectra suggests that the four hairpin structures examined have some common structural features; B-type conformation in the stem region and the same stacking pattern, 5' (XXX-turn-XX) 3', in the loop region. The phosphorus NMR spectra suggest that the conformational changes in the loop region affect the backbone conformation of the stem duplex. PMID- 2608482 TI - The molecular structure of Okazaki fragment r(CGCA)d(AAAAAGCG):d(CGCTTTTTTGCG) in solution. AB - The hetero duplex molecule, r(CGCA)d(AAAAAGCG):d(CGCTTTTTTGCG) which corresponds to Okazaki fragment was synthesized and its molecular structure has been analyzed by NMR study. The RNA strand of RNA-DNA hybrid region adopts A-form and DNA strand of the same region deviates from the standard B-form. The conformation of DNA-DNA duplex segment belongs to B-form. The hybrid-DNA duplex junction shows a structural discontinuities, A-B junction. The same conformational characteristic of oligo(dA): oligo(dT) tract as that of DNA oligomer which has same base sequence has been observed. PMID- 2608483 TI - A new model for DNA bending on the basis of gradual compression of the minor groove from 5' to 3' along the oligo(dA) tract. AB - The conformations of double stranded d(GGAAATTTCC) x 2, d(GGTTTAAACC) x 2, d(CGCAAAAAAGCG).d(CGCTTTTTTGCG) and d(GCATTTTGAAACG).d(CGTTTCAAAATGC) have been studied by means of NMR spectroscopy. Analyses of cross peaks in NOESY spectra between H2 of an adenine and H1' of the deoxyribose in the 3'-neighbouring residue on the complementary strand revealed that the minor groove of the oligo(dA) tract is compressed gradually from 5' to 3' along the tract in four oligonucleotides. A new model is proposed as to DNA bending based on the evidence of gradual compression of the minor groove. This model can explain why d(GGAAATTTCC) n x 2 and d(GAAAATTTTC) n x 2 are bent, and d(GGTTTAAACC) n x 2 and d(GTTTTAAAAC) n x 2 are not bent. The bending of d(AjN10-j) n x 2 sequences can also be explained. PMID- 2608484 TI - Electrostatic interaction in the reaction between porphyrin and DNA. AB - The association of tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl)porphine with salmon testes DNA in solution has been investigated in the presence of ethanol at 25 degrees C. It was found that the association constant was 1.14 x 10(6) M-1 and it increased with increasing the mole fraction of added ethanol. The behavior was very different from that in the case of usual intercalaters. PMID- 2608485 TI - New fluorinated carbocyclic nucleosides: synthesis and bioactivity. AB - Novel fluorinated carbocyclic nucleosides, (+-)-3'-deoxy-3'-fluoroaristeromycin and (+-)-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoroaristeromycin have been synthesized. The antitumor activities of these compounds were studied. PMID- 2608486 TI - Novel synthesis of carbocyclic nucleosides from 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes via the reductive N2-C3 cleavage reaction as a key step. AB - Carbocyclic ribofuranosyl and arabinofuranosyl pyrimidine nucleosides were synthesized stereoselectively from 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-3-one via NaBH4 promoted C-N bond cleavage reaction as a key step. PMID- 2608487 TI - Organoselenium-mediated addition of carbon radicals to 4',5'-unsaturated uracil nucleosides and its stereocontrol. AB - Stereocontrolled addition of carbon radicals to 4',5'-unsaturated uracil nucleosides can be accomplished by using organoselenium reagents as a radical source. This provides a new method for C-C bond formation at the 5'-position. PMID- 2608488 TI - Synthesis of 2'-deoxy-6,2'-methano-pyrimidine nucleosides and optical properties of pyrimidine C-cyclonucleosides. AB - 2'-Deoxy-6,2'-methano derivatives of uridine, cytidine, and 4-thiouridine were synthesized by the Peterson olefination of a ketosugar with a pyrimidine followed by an intramolecular glycosylation reaction. CD-spectra of these cyclonucleosides together with other pyrimidine C-cyclonucleosides were given. PMID- 2608489 TI - Synthesis and properties of the box 9R and 9R' sequences of Tetrahymena rRNA. AB - The chloroethoxyethyl (CEE) group is completely stable under the acidic conditions required to remove the 5'-protecting groups in the oligoribonucleotide synthesis, but can be cleaved under the similar condition to that of the tetrahydropyranyl (THP) group in region of pH 2-3. The oligoribonucleotides were synthesized by the phosphoramidite method on solid supports. PMID- 2608490 TI - Self-assembly of synthetic deoxyoligonucleotides containing d-G clusters. AB - Deoxyoligonucleotides containing d-G cluster were synthesized to elucidate exact structures and properties of the parallel-four stranded complexes of oligo(dG). Among these oligomers, d-TTGGGGTT and d-TTGGGGGGTT formed stable complexes which were able to interact with ethidium bromide known as an intercalator. PMID- 2608491 TI - Electronic structure of DNA by DV-X alpha cluster calculations: II. d(GG).d(CC), d(CG)2, d(GC)2 A and B conformations. (Part 2) Sugars and bases. AB - The electronic structure of d(GG).d(CC), d(CG)2, d(GC)2 which are stacked base pairs in the DNA double helix, are elucidated for both A and B conformations in detail by DV-X alpha cluster calculations. These three DNA double helix fragments are contracted from the same bases, G and C, but the electronic structures of the fragments for both A and B conformations are different from each other characteristically. There are some delicate differences in the admixture of the orbital components and the overlap populations of intra- and inter- strand stacked bases among the stacking isomers. On the other hand, the electronic states of sugars differ in the 5'-3' direction, but are not almost dependent on stacked base pairs. PMID- 2608492 TI - Spontaneous formation of helical strands from nucleic acid-lipid conjugates. AB - We have developed a new class of helical strands that self-assembled spontaneously in aqueous solution. Phospholipid-deoxynucleoside conjugates containing two myristoyl groups and a deoxynucleosidyl group spontaneously assembled to form different types of helical strands. PMID- 2608493 TI - Detection of single base mutation in beta-thalassemia using a biotinylated oligonucleotide probe. PMID- 2608494 TI - Uranyl-ion catalyzed oligonucleotide synthesis from adenosine-5'-phosphorazolide. The effect of azoles as nucleotide activating groups. AB - Polymerization of azole-activated nucleotides was conducted in an aqueous medium with uranyl ion as a catalyst. Imidazole, 2-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole, triazole, nitrotriazole, tetrazole and 2-methylbenzimidazole were used as an activation group for adenylic acid. Oligoadenylates up to the hexadecamer were obtained in high total yield under the optimum condition. The azole compounds had large effect on the rate of polymerization, the yield and the chain length of the resulting oligoadenylates. PMID- 2608495 TI - Synthesis of 2-deoxy-D-ribofuranosyl 5-amino- and 5-hydroxyaminoimidazole nucleosides by chemical methods and biotransformation. PMID- 2608496 TI - Attempted stereoselective synthesis of P-chiral analogues of oligodeoxyribonucleotides. AB - Reaction of diastereomeric 5'MMT-nucleoside 3'-O-(4-nitrophenylmethanephosphate) or 3'-O-[O-(4-nitrophenyl)-S-(2-nitrobenzyl)phosphorothioate] with tBuMgCl activated, 3'-protected nucleoside is stereospecific and leads, after appropriate work-up, to dinucleoside-3',5'-methanephosphonate or dinucleoside-3',5' phosphorothioate, respectively. This procedure extended to 5'-activated nucleotides, allows to prepare short, stereoregular oligonucleotide analogues bearing at internucleotide positions methanephosphonate or phosphorothioate function of predetermined sense of chirality at P-centers. PMID- 2608497 TI - HIV carrier infects 11 women. PMID- 2608498 TI - Civilian and military ambulance workers face different challenges. PMID- 2608499 TI - Community care--opening the package. PMID- 2608500 TI - Community care--agenda for change. PMID- 2608501 TI - Community care--up for grabs. PMID- 2608502 TI - Community care--giving and taking. PMID- 2608503 TI - Selling ourselves. PMID- 2608504 TI - 'Uncumphtable'. PMID- 2608505 TI - The unkindest cut. PMID- 2608506 TI - The basics of therapy. The other side of the coin. PMID- 2608507 TI - Making sense of ... lumbar puncture. PMID- 2608508 TI - Enrolled nurses. A bridge to success. PMID- 2608509 TI - Evaluating exit interviews. PMID- 2608510 TI - 'Little Poland'. PMID- 2608511 TI - Fighting the nightmare. PMID- 2608512 TI - Breast reconstruction. PMID- 2608513 TI - Midwives' role in postnatal care. PMID- 2608514 TI - Secluding patients in forensic care. PMID- 2608515 TI - The journal of infection control nursing. Ambulance watch. PMID- 2608516 TI - The journal of infection control nursing. Collecting suction waste. PMID- 2608517 TI - The journal of infection control nursing. How much surveillance? PMID- 2608518 TI - Go-ahead for anonymous HIV testing. PMID- 2608519 TI - Extra-sensory aid. PMID- 2608520 TI - Match-making. PMID- 2608521 TI - Refreshing news. PMID- 2608522 TI - Same-day service. PMID- 2608523 TI - Tidings of comfort and joy? PMID- 2608524 TI - Drunk and incapable? PMID- 2608525 TI - Christmas: what's sauce for the goose.... PMID- 2608526 TI - The generation game. PMID- 2608527 TI - Ski breaks. PMID- 2608528 TI - Teaching health education. PMID- 2608529 TI - As others see us. More than basket-weavers. PMID- 2608530 TI - The 'sixth sense'. PMID- 2608531 TI - The basics of therapy. Entrancing therapy. PMID- 2608532 TI - Systems of life No. 178. Senior systems--43. Mental health and illness in old age -1. PMID- 2608533 TI - Toys: stocking up for Santa's sack. PMID- 2608534 TI - Useful ephemera. PMID- 2608535 TI - Toys to make play matter. PMID- 2608536 TI - Development and relative validity of a food frequency questionnaire for the estimation of intake of retinol and beta-carotene. AB - The aim of this study was to develop and validate a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire to classify individuals according to their intakes of retinol and beta-carotene. Food items for the questionnaire were selected both on the basis of their contribution to total population intake of retinol and beta carotene and on the proportion of between-person variation explained, which was as calculated from data of two study populations in the Netherlands. Thus, 15 products containing retinol and 15 products containing beta-carotene were selected. These contributed over 90% to the total intake and explained 99% of the variation of retinol and beta-carotene, respectively. The questionnaire was validated against a dietary history in a population of 82 women (aged 30-49 years). The time elapsed between the two interviews was (on average) 25 days. Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients comparing the questionnaire with the dietary history were 0.54, 0.59, and 0.64 for retinol, beta-carotene, and total vitamin A, respectively. The proportion of exact agreement in the two extreme categories of vitamin A intake, based on quintiles, was 56%. The corresponding gross misclassification (from 1 extreme category into the opposite) was 3%. These data indicate that a very short questionnaire can classify subjects into categories according to their vitamin A intake. PMID- 2608537 TI - Estradiol binding to plasma proteins after changing to a low-fat diet. AB - Breast cancer development is believed to be associated with both dietary fat consumption and the proportion of biologically available estradiol in the serum. A study was undertaken to determine if a reduction in fat consumption would influence the binding, and thus the bioavailability, of estradiol. Groups of pre- and postmenopausal women were randomized to begin either a standard western diet (40% energy from fat) or a low-fat diet (20% energy from fat). After two months, each woman changed over to the alternate diet. Blood samples were taken at the end of each dietary period. Change of diet made no significant difference to the proportions of nonprotein-bound (free), albumin-bound, or sex hormone binding globulin-bound estradiol in this study. However, the number of women studied and the duration of change were relatively small. PMID- 2608538 TI - Dietary factors and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case-control study in the northeastern part of Italy. AB - The role of various life style factors, including dietary habits, in the etiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was investigated using data from a case-control study conducted in the northeastern part of Italy. This study was done on 208 histologically confirmed non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and 401 control subjects who were in the hospital for acute, nonimmunologic, or neoplastic conditions. Dietary histories concerned the frequency of consumption per week of alcohol, beverages that contain methylxanthine, and 14 select food items or groups of foods (including major sources of proteins, fat, fibers, and vitamin A in the Italian diet). The consumption of milk, liver, butter, oil (chiefly polyunsaturated oils), coffee, tea, and cola was positively related with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma risk. the consumption of whole-grain bread and pasta showed a protective effect. When a logistic model was fitted that included the aforementioned food items in addition to major nondietary covariates, all of the foods, except liver and beverages that contain methylxanthine, remained significant. Interestingly, these associations are in agreement with the positive correlation that is emerging internationally between the consumption of fat and proteins and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. PMID- 2608539 TI - Effect of the quality of dietary fat on tumor growth and metastasis from a rat mammary adenocarcinoma. AB - Experiments were performed to investigate whether the type of dietary fat might affect metastasis from the 13,762 mammary tumor. Female Fischer 344 retired breeder rats were placed into one of five dietary groups: 23% (wt/wt) and 5% (wt/wt) corn oil (HFCO, LFCO), 20% (wt/wt) and 5% (wt/wt) olive oil (HFOO and LFOO), or 20% (wt/wt) beef tallow (HFBT). After four weeks on the diets, each rat had a 2-mm3 piece of the tumor subcutaneously implanted. Primary tumor growth and body weight were monitored weekly for 40 days. At necropsy, the average volume of pulmonary metastases in the HFCO animals (n = 30) was significantly greater than in the other four groups. Among the four groups that did not differ significantly from each other, the rank order in average volume of pulmonary metastasis was as follows: HFOO (n = 25), HFBT (n = 26), LFOO (n = 25), and LFCO (n = 18). Growth of the primary tumor did not vary appreciably among the five groups despite the significant difference in pulmonary metastasis volume. The diets varied considerably in fatty acid content; the most salient difference was that the HFCO diet, which stimulated metastasis significantly more than the other diets did, contained about four times more linoleic acid (18:2) than the other diets. The relevance of this difference and other fatty acid differences is discussed. These results suggest that the quality of dietary fat can be an important determinant of pulmonary metastasis from the 13,762 mammary tumor in retired breeder rats. PMID- 2608540 TI - Dietary sodium and potassium intake and colorectal cancer risk. AB - In a large, comprehensive, population-based case-control study of colorectal cancer (The Melbourne Colorectal Cancer Study), a high intake of sodium was shown to be a statistically significant risk factor for rectal cancer in males (RR = 1.72, p = 0.01) and was close to statistical significance in females (RR = 1.58, p = 0.06). This was independent of previously described dietary risk factors and also independent of the previously described beer risk. A high intake of potassium was protective for both males and females, but this effect disappeared after adjustment was made for the previously described dietary risk factors. A high ratio of dietary potassium to sodium was a statistically significant protective factor in females for both colon and rectal cancer, and the significance of this effect was reduced after adjustment was made for the previously described dietary risk factor (RR for colon cancer = 0.70, p = 0.08; RR for rectal cancer = 0.67, p = 0.08). So far, no biological explanations are available for these associations, and while they are of obvious etiologic interest, they should be interpreted with caution. PMID- 2608541 TI - In vivo and in vitro effects of beta-carotene and algae extracts in murine tumor models. AB - Phycotene, an algae extract with known antineoplastic activity, was demonstrated to prolong, but not sustain, an increased survival rate in a murine fibrosarcoma model when it was combined with immunotherapy. It was further shown that splenocytes from phycotene and beta-carotene-treated survivors could not confer protection to a fresh tumor cell challenge in virgin mice after adoptive transfer. In a series of cytotoxicity assays, phycotene combined with immunization was demonstrated to enhance cell-mediated and complement-dependent cytotoxicity in the first 14-21 days. However, after 21 days, the phycotene and immunization groups exhibited a decreased ability to mediate immune cytotoxicity compared with immunization-only controls. This may serve to explain the in vivo findings that while survival was increased early on in active immunization and phycotene-treated mice, it eventually dropped to the level of the active immunization controls. PMID- 2608542 TI - The impact of a didactic session on the success of feline endotracheal intubation by paramedics. AB - Clinical reports of endotracheal (ET) intubation of infants by paramedics suggest suboptimal success rates. Methods to improve the performance of paramedics in ET intubation should be explored. The small, anesthetized cat may be utilized to evaluate infant ET intubation performance. By determining success rates and complications of ET intubation in the cat model, analysis of the current skills and the impact of a short didactic session is described. Unprepared paramedics (n = 36) were randomized to an educational (experimental) or control group. Supervisory personnel evaluated ET tube placement and complications. There was no significant difference in the percent of successfully intubated cats, 67% and 57%, respectively, between experimental and control groups. Fifteen percent of successful ET intubations exceeded 30 seconds of intubation time. The experimental group chose appropriate equipment more frequently. Serious complications occurred in 50% of attempted intubations. There was a poor correlation between performance and measures of paramedic experience. Development of educational methods is required to improve infant ET intubation success and reduce complications. PMID- 2608543 TI - Pediatric deaths and emergency medical services (EMS) in urban and rural areas. AB - A total of 1078 pediatric coroners' cases in 11 rural and urban California counties were reviewed as they relate to emergency medical services (EMS). Pediatric coroners' death rates per 100,000 population varied from an average of 2.17 in the rural region to 30.4 in the urban region. Vehicular accidents caused the majority (66%) of the accidental deaths, and firearms caused 61% of the violent deaths. Violent deaths (homicide and suicide) were significantly more common in the urban region (P less than 0.001), and vehicular deaths (excluding auto versus pedestrian) were more common in the rural region (P less than 0.001). EMS provider usage was greater in the urban areas (84 vs 66%, P less than 0.001), as was the number of cases receiving advanced life support (97 vs 66%, P less than 0.001). Urban and rural differences in place of death were significant for two places of death; street and highway, and inhospital deaths. A significantly greater number of children died on the street/highway in rural areas (P less than 0.05). Hospital deaths were more likely to occur on the ward in the rural region, versus the intensive care unit in the urban region (P less than 0.001). Proposed factors which may explain these findings include differences in medical resources and in local transfer policies. The study demonstrates that EMS providers are involved in the care of children who have had a fatal emergency. Further evaluation of rural and urban differences in prehospital care of the pediatric patient is indicated. PMID- 2608544 TI - Clinical characteristics of children with fever and transient neutropenia who experience serious bacterial infections. AB - A review of consecutive previously healthy children with fever and newly discovered neutropenia without underlying malignancy, evaluated during a three year period, was performed. A total of 68 episodes occurred in 68 patients; blood culture was performed on each. Of 17 patients who appeared compromised (ill, irritable, toxic) on presentation, five (30%) had either bacteremia or bacterial meningitis. All five patients had clinical evidence of a fulminant disease process on examination. By contrast, all 51 patients who appeared to be well on presentation were culture-negative. Fever and new-onset neutropenia in children is a heterogeneous disorder with several outcomes. Any child with fever and newly discovered neutropenia who appears ill should be presumed to be at high risk for systemic bacterial infection and receive hospitalization for parenteral antibiotic therapy. By contrast, the previously healthy child older than two months of age with fever and new-onset neutropenia who appears to be well, and whose clinical evaluation does not indicate a serious underlying disease process, is at low risk for accompanying systemic bacterial infection; hospitalization with empiric antibiotic therapy pending culture results is not warranted for the majority of such children. Close outpatient monitoring with serial evaluation of the peripheral blood absolute neutrophil count to document bone marrow recovery is recommended for such cases. PMID- 2608545 TI - Multiple-dose activated charcoal in management of phenytoin overdose. PMID- 2608546 TI - Supraventricular tachycardia following the administration of phenylpropanolamine in an infant. PMID- 2608547 TI - Role of transcutaneous pacing in the setting of a failing permanent pacemaker. AB - A 15-year-old boy with acute symptomatic bradycardia caused by a failing permanent pacemaker was paced transcutaneously in the emergency department. Failure to recognize that electrical interference from noncaptured permanent pacemaker beats precluded the usual demand mode of application of the transcutaneous pacemaker led to asystole. We present this case to point out the potential for asystole and ventricular dysrhythmia in this situation and to increase awareness of the role of the potentially lifesaving device in children. PMID- 2608548 TI - A dilated unreactive pupil in acute bacterial meningitis: oculomotor nerve inflammation versus herniation. PMID- 2608549 TI - Hypoelectrolytemia, hypovolemia, and alkalosis in cystic fibrosis with wood burning stove in winter. AB - Hypoelectrolytemia, alkalosis, and shock were present in an infant subsequently diagnosed as having cystic fibrosis (CF). Environmental temperature control was poorly maintained by a wood-burning stove in winter and contributed to the process of fluid and electrolyte loss. Pediatricians must consider CF and other processes when electrolytes and fluid are lost during environmental heat excess. PMID- 2608550 TI - Closed head injury. PMID- 2608551 TI - Use of a computer simulation to evaluate a seminar on child abuse. AB - A computerized patient simulation was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a seminar on child abuse in changing students' behavior in assessing the problem and developing a treatment plan. The CAMPS system (DACIS Software) was selected because it allows students freedom to follow any pathway in selecting over 500 items of history, physical examination, laboratory, and treatments. In interacting with this simulation, students demonstrated how they integrate their knowledge into a clinical setting. The three-hour seminar covered the topics of physical and sexual abuse, patient neglect, and utilization of community resources for treatment. The control (n = 43) and experimental (n = 38) groups, enrolled in an introductory course in pediatrics, were given references to read about child abuse as part of the core curriculum, but they may or may not have had exposure to patients in their clinical work. Only the experimental group attended the seminar. As part of the course evaluation program, both groups interacted with eight computer simulations, two of which involved cases of child abuse. In the classic case of child abuse, the control and experimental groups had similar results. In the more difficult diagnostic problem (shaken baby), the groups differed significantly in total score, cost of the evaluation, and percentage of correct diagnosis. PMID- 2608552 TI - Emergency department record. PMID- 2608553 TI - Opiocortin and catecholamine projections to raphe nuclei. AB - Afferent projections to the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) were identified using retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (HRP-WGA). Neurons were labeled in important nociceptive regions including periaqueductal gray (PAG), arcuate nucleus, lateral hypothalamus and medial thalamic nuclei following both injections. We have immunocytochemically identified opiocortin/WGA neurons in the arcuate nucleus following NRM and DRN injections. Dual stained catecholamine/WGA perikarya were found in zona incerta, locus coeruleus, substantia nigra, nucleus tractus solitarius and adjacent A2, C2 and C3, lateral paragigantocellular reticular nucleus/C1 and lateral reticular nucleus/A1 following DRN injections and in zona incerta, substantia nigra, nucleus tractus solitarius/A2 and lateral reticular nucleus/A1 after NRM injections. These results provide further evidence for opiocortin and catecholamine modulation of analgesia. PMID- 2608554 TI - Degradation of bradykinin and its metabolites by rat brain synaptic membranes. AB - Bradykinin (BK) (Arg1-Pro2-Pro3-Gly4-Phe5-Ser6-Pro7-Phe8-Arg9) was degraded by rat brain synaptic membranes at a rate comparable to that found for Met enkephalin, but approximately 40 times the rate for vasopressin and oxytocin. The catabolic pathway for BK and its metabolites was elucidated through the use of high performance liquid chromatography for metabolite identification and peptidase inhibitors for blocking specific cleavage sites. BK was hydrolyzed at three sites: at the -Phe5-Ser6- bond by metalloendopeptidase 24.15, at the -Pro7 Phe8- bond by an apparently novel peptidyl dipeptidase, and at the -Phe8-Arg9 bond by a carboxypeptidase B-like enzyme. Each enzyme contributed about equally to BK degradation under the assay conditions used. Some of the resulting metabolites were further hydrolyzed: BK(1-8) to BK(1-7) + Phe by a DFP inhibitable prolyl carboxypeptidase-like enzyme, BK(1-8) to BK(1-5) + BK(6-8) by metalloendopeptidase 24.15, BK(1-7) slowly to BK(1-5) by a second peptidyl dipeptidase which was captopril inhibited, and Phe-Arg to Phe + Arg by a bestatin inhibited dipeptidase. A number of properties of the individual enzymes were determined including sensitivity to a variety of peptidase inhibitors. These results provide a starting point for investigating the potential physiological role of each enzyme in BK function in the brain. PMID- 2608555 TI - Synthesis and some pharmacologic properties of five novel V1 or V1/V2 antagonists of AVP. AB - Based on [1-(1-mercaptocyclohexaneacetic acid),2-(O-ethyl-D-tyrosine),4-valine]-8 arginine-vasopressin as a model, five new analogues of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) were designed and synthesized. Four of them have in position 1 a large lipophilic substituent, whereas the fifth contains pchloro-D-phenylalanine at position 2. We found that the anti-antidiuretic potency with 1-mercapto-4-methycyclohexaneacetic acid is higher than with 1-mercaptocyclohexaneacetic acid (model peptide) in position 1 and this analogue is among the most potent antagonists of the antidiuretic response to AVP known to date. Upon further increase of the size of substituents, antagonistic potency was significantly decreased or totally eliminated. As for the substitution of p-chloro-D-phenylalanine in position 2, we conclude that this modification leads to substantial decrease of the V2 antagonistic potency. PMID- 2608556 TI - Secondary structure of a crustacean neuropeptide hormone family by means of CD. AB - Three hormonal neuropeptides have been purified from the sinus gland of the Mexican crayfish Procambarus bouvieri by means of a single-step HPLC method: The molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) and two isoforms of the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH-B and CHH-C). Compositional analysis and partial characterization of three neuropeptides revealed such a high degree of homology that we consider them to be members of a family. Circular dichroic spectra of the three neuropeptides showed that the secondary structure of both isoforms of the CHH are very similar, but that there are important differences in secondary structure between MIH and the CHHs, especially in helix content and in disordered regions. PMID- 2608557 TI - Detection of Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin in the posterior pituitary of the holostean fish, Amia calva. AB - Immunohistochemical analysis of the pituitary of the holostean fish, Amia calva, indicated that enkephalin-related immunoreactivity was restricted to the pars nervosa, and was not detected in other regions of the pituitary. Fractionation of acid extracts of posterior pituitaries by reverse phase HPLC followed by RIA analysis indicated the presence of immunoreactive Met-enkephalin and Leu enkephalin. No immunoreactive forms were detected with RIAs specific for either Met-enkephalin-RF or Met-enkephalin-RGL. The molar ratio of Met- to Leu enkephalin in this terminal field was 3:1 (n = 4). HPLC fractions were also digested with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B to test for C-terminally extended forms of Met-enkephalin. A novel modified form of Met-enkephalin was detected. Extracts of the posterior pituitary, forebrain, midbrain, hypothalamus and hindbrain were screened with RIAs specific for the Pro-dynorphin end products, alpha-neo-endorphin, dynorphin A(1-17), dynorphin A(1-8) and dynorphin B(1-13). The results of these analyses were negative. Collectively, these data suggest that a Pro-enkephalin-like molecule is present in holostean fish. The holostean enkephalin precursor contains at least Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin. However, Pro-dynorphin-related end products with antigenic determinants similar to mammalian dynorphin A(1-17), dynorphin A(1-8), dynorphin B(1-13) and alpha-neo endorphin could not be detected in the brain or pituitary of this species. PMID- 2608559 TI - Dental problems in childhood. PMID- 2608558 TI - Effect of multiple dorsal rhizotomies on calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity in the lumbosacral dorsal spinal cord of the cat: a radioimmunoassay analysis. AB - Calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-LI) was measured by radioimmunoassay in the cat lumbosacral dorsal spinal cord following unilateral dorsal rhizotomy of 5 consecutive dorsal roots. The dorsal rhizotomies greatly reduced but did not eliminate the CGRP-LI from the ipsilateral rhizotomized segments. The amount of CGRP-LI remaining in the rhizotomized segments was greatest in the most caudal segment (846 +/- 311 pmoles/g tissue) and decreased below 300 pmoles/g tissue in the remaining segments. When these values were compared to the intact contralateral side, the percent CGRP remaining ranged from 65% in the sacral segments to less than 20% in the lumbar segments. Rostral to the rhizotomized segments there was a gradual return of CGRP-LI to control levels within 3 segments. Small diameter primary afferent fibers are the only known source of CGRP within the dorsal spinal cord. These results suggest that the most likely origin of the CGRP that remained in the rhizotomized lumbar segments was the rostrally and caudally projecting branches of ipsilateral primary afferents that entered the spinal cord through intact dorsal roots caudal and rostral to the transected roots. These results support the hypothesis that small diameter primary afferents project several segments in the cat spinal cord. PMID- 2608560 TI - Dental health examination and the pediatrician: an orientation to dental health according to developmental age groups. AB - There are a variety of oral/dental findings presented in the oral cavities of children that are of interest to the examining pediatrician. There are oral pathologic conditions and soft tissues anomalies. These include developmental anomalies and variations of the soft tissue, benign mucosal lesions, benign mesenchymal lesions, cysts and pseudocysts, odontogenic cysts and neoplasms of the jaws, benign nonodontogenic neoplasms of the jaws, and inflammatory lesions in bone. There are anomalies in the developing dentitions of children that a pediatrician needs to be aware of also. These include anomalies of number, size, shape, structure, and color. Certain childhood and systemic diseases also have oral manifestations which may aid in the diagnosis of a medical condition and which may need to be managed by the pediatrician as a part of comprehensive care. The pediatrician should appreciate that dental health of children can be divided into four age groups to aid in the understanding, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of oral dental phenomena and concerns. These age groups are conception to age 3, 3-6 (the primary dentition years), 6-12 (the transitional dentition years), and adolescence. PMID- 2608561 TI - Effects of poverty on children's dental health. AB - While dental decay has decreased significantly during the last decade because of community fluoridation and other factors, children of low-income families have not benefited as greatly as others from this decrease and still remain at significant risk for dental disease. Published reports of dental disease among low-income families and data from the 1986 National Health Interview Survey indicate that children from low-income families have (1) higher dental disease rates, (2) higher percentages of unmet dental need, and (3) significantly lower utilization rates for dental care services, especially preventive activities. Even with the rapid growth of dental insurance, children of low-income families still experience barriers, having both a lower rate of dental insurance and lower use of dental services even with insurance. Notwithstanding these difficulties, there is much the medical care delivery system can do to decrease the effect of poverty on the dental health of children. Health care professionals can assist in identifying a source of dental care, encourage early dental visits for children, promote preventive dental procedures including routine visits and sealants, and increase parents' awareness of dental disease and the importance of dental health. PMID- 2608562 TI - The influence of social factors on the control of asthma. AB - The relationships of pulmonary function with age, duration of asthma and social factors were studied in 630 asthmatics. Pulmonary function was assessed by peak flow rate at routine attendance (actual function). Persistence of obstruction was demonstrated by a trial of corticosteroids where necessary. The best obtainable peak flow rate was recorded (maximum function). Unrelieved potentially reversible obstruction was assessed by actual/maximum function. Age and duration of asthma were directly associated with poor control of reversible wheeze as well as with persistent obstruction. In addition poor control of potentially reversible wheeze was related to lower social class, current cigarette smoking and lack of central heating. Persistent obstruction was related to life time amount smoked, passive smoking and lack of central heating. PMID- 2608563 TI - Confusional state and cerebral infarcts. AB - Thirteen patients with confusional state and cerebral infarction were studied. Seven patients had optic pathway alterations. On computed tomographic scan, 2 patients had multiple infarctions and 10 had single infarctions, predominantly located in the temporo-occipital associative cortex. One patient had a normal scan. Reduction of 'selective attention', 'release' hallucinations, amnesic syndrome and secondary individual adjustment could explain the confusional state. PMID- 2608564 TI - The cost of chronic dialysis in multiple myeloma. AB - The complications and costs of chronic dialysis in 4 patients with renal failure due to multiple myeloma are presented. In three patients the paraprotein responded to chemotherapy though without recovery of renal function. These three patients are alive after 18, 16 and 15 months of dialysis, the other dying after 7 months. Hospital admissions ranged from 26 to 74 days per year with infections accounting for 54 to 87% of admission days, 62.5% of which occurred during the first three months of dialysis treatment, with an incidence of 2.4 to 6.9 admissions episodes per year. An in-house audit of our chronic dialysis patients indicated that treatment of myeloma patients is 5-33% more expensive. The extra cost in such high risk patients is mostly due to the greater number and longer duration of hospital admissions for infection. The other extra costs (in decreasing value) of blood products, antibiotics and chemotherapy are relatively small in comparison to in-patient treatment. PMID- 2608565 TI - Lead encephalopathy from an imported Toby mug. AB - Encephalopathy is an unusual manifestation of lead poisoning in an adult, the more common presentation being abdominal colic, anaemia and limb palsy. We report a case of adult lead encephalopathy and describe the use of a simple screening test for lead poisoning together with the increasing number of cases associated with imported ceramics. PMID- 2608566 TI - Parathyroid hyperplasia associated with thymoma. AB - The case of a 65 year old female with myasthenia gravis and hypercalcaemia is presented. Failure of medical control of the myasthenia necessitated thymectomy at which time parathyroid exploration was also carried out. This revealed parathyroid hyperplasia and a thymoma. This association has not been previously documented in the literature. PMID- 2608567 TI - Hypothyroidism and unusual rickets in a very preterm infant. AB - Two separate episodes of rickets developed in a female infant of 25 weeks gestation and birthweight 690 g, who had congenital hypothyroidism and required parenteral nutrition for more than 100 days. We speculate that there is a relationship between metabolic bone disease of prematurity and the preterm infant's thyroid status. PMID- 2608568 TI - Catatonia following biparietal infarction with spontaneous recovery. AB - We describe a case of catatonic stupor following simultaneous biparietal infarction. The patient recovered, a result not previously described in catatonia caused by this pattern of cerebral infarct. PMID- 2608569 TI - Cirrhosis in partial lipodystrophy. AB - A patient with partial lipodystrophy, fatty liver and cirrhosis, and autoimmune thyroid disease is described. Treatment with thyroxine led to partial improvement in the hepatic abnormality. PMID- 2608570 TI - Lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma elaborating lambda chain paraprotein with amyloid deposition in Sjogren's syndrome. AB - A woman presented with painful enlargement of her parotid and submandibular glands. She was shown to have the previously unreported combination of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's disease, and myasthenia gravis. Parotid gland biopsy and bone marrow examination showed the presence of a rare lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma. There was amyloid deposition in the parotid glands, gums and on muscle biopsy. Immunohistochemical staining of the parotid lymphoma and amyloid was monotypic for lambda light chains, and there was also a lambda chain paraprotein. It is felt that the lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma was responsible for the light chain amyloidosis. PMID- 2608571 TI - Abdominal pancreatic pseudocyst--an unusual cause of dysphagia. AB - A 44 year old man with a long history of alcohol abuse developed progressive dysphagia. Radiological investigation revealed a pancreatic pseudocyst. Following percutaneous drainage the dysphagia resolved. PMID- 2608572 TI - Fatal torsade de pointes following jaundice in a patient treated with disopyramide. AB - A case of fatal torsade de pointes in a 53 year old patient treated with disopyramide is described. The arrhythmia followed the development of acute hepatocellular dysfunction and may have been due to failure of the liver to efficiently degrade the drug to its metabolites. PMID- 2608573 TI - Lupus nephritis. Middlesex, October 20, 1988. Abstracts. PMID- 2608574 TI - Psoas abscess in a drug addict. PMID- 2608575 TI - Sleep apnoea syndrome--a too frequent misdiagnosis. PMID- 2608576 TI - Drug-induced acute liver disease. AB - Fifty-three patients with drug-induced acute liver disease are reported. There were 35 females and 18 males with a mean age of 41 years. All but one patient had jaundice or hyperbilirubinaemia and 51 had abnormal liver enzymes. Histologically 38 patients (72%) had cholestatic injury while 15 had cytotoxic parenchymal damage. Methyldopa, chlorpropamide, chlorpromazine, halothane and the contraceptive pill accounted for 60% of cases. Fifty-one patients recovered after drug withdrawal while 2 died of hepatic failure. Drug-induced liver injury must be considered in patients presenting with evidence of hepatic disease as the majority will recover on withdrawal. PMID- 2608577 TI - Papilloedema delaying diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy in a comatose patient. AB - A case of acute Wernicke's encephalopathy due to hyperemesis gravidarum is described. Florid bilateral papilloedema was present, resulting in diagnostic uncertainty and delay in treatment. Attention is drawn to the rare occurrence of papilloedema in Wernicke's encephalopathy, and possible underlying mechanisms for this physical finding are considered. PMID- 2608578 TI - Riedel's thyroiditis associated with hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism. AB - Hypoparathyroidism secondary to Riedel's thyroiditis is rare, only 2 previous cases having been reported. We present the case of a 36 year old woman with Riedel's thyroiditis which developed into hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism. PMID- 2608579 TI - Extensive aortic valve ring abscess formation: a rare complication of Q fever endocarditis. AB - We report the successful management and 2 year follow up of a young patient with Q fever endocarditis on a congenitally bicuspid aortic valve complicated by extensive abscess formation in the aortic valve ring and interventricular septum. Aortic root abscess formation complicating Q fever endocarditis has been reported in only one previous patient. Serological tests may thus be indicated in patients with aortic abscesses. Despite extensive aortic and intramyocardial abscess formation it proved possible to control the progression of disease by open drainage of the abscess and aortic valve replacement. Although the requirement for aortic root replacement was anticipated in this patient, it has not been required. PMID- 2608580 TI - Primary central nervous malignant melanoma in the bathing trunk naevus syndrome. AB - The gross and microscopic features of an unusual case of neurocutaneous melanosis are described. This is an example of the rare association between a primary central nervous system malignant melanoma and a giant congenital melanocytic naevus of 'bathing trunk' distribution. PMID- 2608581 TI - Portal hypertension and ascites in systemic mastocytosis. AB - We report a case of systemic mastocytosis (SM) presenting as ascites and portal hypertension. The haematological picture at presentation was suggestive of chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia. Initial difficulties in making a diagnosis of SM were encountered as the cutaneous signs were atypical. The correct diagnosis was established only after tissue sections were appropriately stained for mast cells. The liver biopsy showed portal and sinusoidal mast cell infiltration, portal fibrosis and evidence of hepatic venous outflow obstruction. The disease progressed rapidly and recurrent massive ascites was a dominant problem. This case illustrates again the problems of making a diagnosis of SM especially when the clinical picture is atypical. Ascites as a presenting manifestation of SM has been reported previously in only six patients. Published cases of SM with portal hypertension or ascites or both are reviewed. PMID- 2608582 TI - Spontaneous aortocaval fistula--preoperative diagnosis and management. AB - Spontaneous aortocaval fistula is an uncommon complication of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This report details two cases of this condition presenting with symptoms attributable to arteriovenous shunting. Pain was not a prominent feature so that attention was not initially drawn to the abdomen. Diagnosis and management of the condition are discussed. PMID- 2608583 TI - Massive prolactinoma with galactorrhoea in a prepubertal boy. AB - An 8 year old prepubertal boy presented with raised intracranial pressure, left proptosis and was noted to have galactorrhoea. Cranial computerized tomography revealed a large pituitary tumour infiltrating the cavernous sinus and left orbit. The serum prolactin was 180,600 mU/l (normal value less than 360 mU/l). Prolactinomas are rare in children and galactorrhoea has not previously been reported in a prepubertal child. The management of massive prolactinomas is difficult, but the child presented has made an impressive response to a combination of treatment with surgery, dopamine agonist therapy and radiotherapy. PMID- 2608584 TI - Systemic Weber-Christian disease with reversible bilateral ureteric obstruction. AB - It has been proposed that idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis may be a consequence of 'healed' retroperitoneal lesions of systemic Weber-Christian disease. However ureteric obstruction which is the hallmark of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis, has not been described in systemic Weber-Christian disease. We report a patient with systemic Weber-Christian disease who, during a relapse, developed bilateral ureteric obstruction which resolved when the Weber Christian disease remitted. The radiological appearances were consistent with a diagnosis of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis, but the clinical course was slightly atypical in that the ureteric obstruction resolved completely and rapidly. Ureteric obstruction can complicate systemic Weber-Christian disease and this observation gives support to the hypothesis that idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis is related to systemic Weber-Christian disease. PMID- 2608585 TI - Free retroperitoneal gas--a radiological sign of penetrating abdominal injury. PMID- 2608586 TI - Spontaneous subcapsular splenic haematoma formation in infectious mononucleosis. PMID- 2608587 TI - Bowel perforation in a patient receiving prednisolone for myasthenia gravis. PMID- 2608588 TI - Munchausen's syndrome diagnosed by radiological examination. PMID- 2608589 TI - The association between sequential changes in serum antineuronal antibodies and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus. AB - To determine the significance of changes in serum antineuronal antibody levels in systemic lupus erythematosus, 9 patients who had a rise and 11 patients who had a fall in neuronal antibody titre over a mean duration of 2.1 years (range 0.25 5.2) were identified. These changes were examined in the light of concurrent changes in other serological variables, overall disease activity, neuropsychiatric disease and neuropsychological tests. Changes in antineuronal antibodies were frequently associated with concurrent changes in anti-DNA antibodies and overall disease activity. When neuropsychiatric disease or cognitive dysfunction were present, their course showed a close correlation with changes in antineuronal antibody levels. The results support the association between antineuronal antibodies and neuropsychiatric-systemic lupus erythematosus, but suggest that their measurement will provide useful information of disease status in only a subpopulation of patients. PMID- 2608590 TI - Psychiatric morbidity in primary hyperparathyroidism. AB - Psychiatric symptoms are well recognized as a feature of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. We have applied a standardized psychiatric interview to 15 patients before and after surgery. Thirteen had a lower 'psychiatric score' (less psychiatric morbidity) after surgery and improvements were particularly seen in symptoms of fatigue, depression, irritability, sleep disturbance and lack of concentration. The levels of intellectual impairment and of anxiety were unchanged after surgery. The 'psychiatric scores' in an additional group of 21 hyperparathyroid patients, in whom a decision to treat conservatively had been made independently, were similar to those in the surgically treated patients after surgery. Among all the untreated patients no relationship was found between overall 'psychiatric score' and serum levels of calcium or parathyrin. PMID- 2608591 TI - Ilioinguinal nerve entrapment: a little-known cause of iliac fossa pain. AB - The ilioinguinal nerve entrapment syndrome is an abdominal muscular pain syndrome, characterized by the clinical triad of muscular type iliac fossa pain with a characteristic radiation pattern, an altered sensory perception in the ilioinguinal nerve cutaneous innervation area, and a well-circumscribed trigger point medial and below the anterosuperior iliac spine. Relief of pain by infiltration of a local anaesthetic confirms the diagnosis. This report describes retrospectively the clinical picture of ilioinguinal nerve entrapment in 32 mainly non-surgical patients. In 14 cases a definite diagnosis was established and in 18 patients the diagnosis was considered probable. The mean delay in diagnosis was 12.8 months. Better knowledge of this syndrome may avoid invasive investigations and be cost saving. PMID- 2608592 TI - Coexistent Crohn's disease and sigmoid diverticulosis. AB - This study reports six patients with a diagnosis of diverticular disease with associated localized Crohn's colitis who were all treated by segmental resection. Two patients died in the post-operative period from disease unrelated to their colonic pathology. The remaining four patients remain well, show no signs of recurrent disease and have required no further surgery. The behaviour and significance of the two conditions occurring in the same patient is discussed. PMID- 2608593 TI - Symptomless abdominal aortic aneurysm in the elderly. PMID- 2608594 TI - Solitary thyroid nodule--what to do? PMID- 2608595 TI - Can medical audit be implemented by 1991? PMID- 2608596 TI - Attitudes of hospital doctors in Wales to use of intravenous fluids and antibiotics in the terminally ill. AB - Decisions concerning the use of intravenous fluids and antibiotics in terminally ill patients are regularly made by hospital doctors, but there is little record of staff attitudes and current practice in Britain. A questionnaire was therefore distributed to 833 Welsh hospital doctors, citing the case of a hypothetical terminally ill patient and asking questions about medical management. Of the 448 (54%) doctors who replied, 346 (77%) had managed a similar patient recently. Intravenous fluids would be administered by 238 (53%), with 206 of these (87%) resiting the cannula as required and 62 (26%) resorting to a central venous line if there was no alternative. With increasing age and seniority doctors become conservative in their approach. Nearly all claimed that 'ensuring the patient's comfort' was the reason for their decision. Only 72 (16%) would use antibiotics if the patient became pyrexial. The results suggest that British doctors are divided in their approach to the medical management of terminally ill patients and there is a need for greater discussion and training so that all the issues involved are fully appreciated. PMID- 2608597 TI - Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: another medical cause of acute abdomen. AB - We present a patient with neuroleptic malignant syndrome and intestinal pseudo obstruction misdiagnosed as being secondary to septicaemia. The management of the patient is discussed with emphasis on the role of creatine kinase and liver function tests. PMID- 2608598 TI - Single central nervous system lesions can simulate multiple sclerosis. AB - Three cases are reported in which an initial misdiagnosis of multiple sclerosis was made. In each of these a single central nervous system lesion with space occupying effect was present. These lesions caused confusion because multiple closely running neurological tracts were affected, and there was relapse and remission in the neurological signs and symptoms produced. We conclude that such cases need careful assessment to determine whether a single structural lesion could explain the presentation. Early imaging may show remediable lesions or prevent unnecessary steroid therapy. PMID- 2608599 TI - Intermittent absorption of warfarin caused by an unrecognized pharyngeal pouch. AB - An 80 year old woman on long term warfarin presented with an acute haemarthrosis of her right knee. Further investigations revealed a large pharyngeal pouch and a history of tablet regurgitation was obtained. Surgical resection was necessary 12 months later to ensure predictable absorption of orally administered drugs. The varying presentation of pharyngeal pouches and the importance of this complication are discussed. PMID- 2608600 TI - Bacterial calcification in infective endocarditis. AB - The present report is the first description to our knowledge of a clinical case of bacterial calcification in human infective endocarditic vegetations. Partial calcification of bacteria within vegetations may be a further mechanism of bacterial protection from host defences and antibiotics. Similar calcification has recently been reported in vegetations formed on porcine valvular prostheses implanted experimentally in sheep. PMID- 2608601 TI - Rapidly progressive cardiac failure due to lymphomatous infiltration of the myocardium. AB - A case of myocardial infiltration by lymphoma causing rapidly progressive cardiac failure is described. The clinical and pathological features are detailed and the rarity of this mode of presentation of cardiac involvement by lymphoma is emphasized. PMID- 2608602 TI - Hypercalcaemia associated with chronic viral hepatitis. AB - A patient with long lasting non-parathyroid hormone mediated hypercalcaemia occurring within the context of hepatitis B virus chronic hepatitis is reported. Hepatocellular carcinoma and bone malignancy were carefully excluded. The biological pattern associated hypercalcaemia with normal phosphataemia, low nephrogenic cAMP level and high level of tubular reabsorption of phosphate. The usual causes of hypercalcaemia were ruled out. Hypercalcaemia may represent a rare biological feature of some advanced liver disease. The underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. PMID- 2608603 TI - Bilateral adrenal lymphoma presenting as Addison's disease. AB - We describe an unusual case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the adrenals which presented as Addison's disease. Examination of tissue taken by computed tomography guided biopsy revealed a high grade B cell centroblastic lymphoma. The patient was treated with chemotherapy but died from invasive aspergillosis. Autopsy confirmed bilateral adrenal involvement by lymphoma. PMID- 2608604 TI - Pneumococcal Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome despite a normal spleen. AB - A previously fit 56 year old female presented with a rapidly progressive and fatal pneumococcal septicaemia with disseminated intravascular coagulation. Post mortem studies confirmed a Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome and revealed an anatomically normal spleen; intracellular diplococci were seen within splenic macrophages providing evidence of normal splenic function. This appears to be only the second case of Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome due to pneumococcal septicaemia in a patient with a normal spleen. PMID- 2608605 TI - Testicular cancer in three brothers. AB - Three of four brothers in a family were diagnosed to have testicular tumour. All brothers were in their twenties at diagnosis and all had malignant teratoma, intermediate. One of the brothers, in addition, had a seminoma on the same side as the teratoma. The cases were unusual as there was no family history of cancer and no congenital abnormalities, such as cryptorchidism. Chromosomal analysis and HLA typing did not help in elucidating the cause of this rare familial occurrence of testicular tumour. PMID- 2608606 TI - Antiphospholipid antibodies, thrombosis and vasculitis. Proceedings of a symposium. London, 16th December 1988. PMID- 2608607 TI - Artifical penile nodules. PMID- 2608608 TI - Acute hepatic dysfunction following parenteral amiodarone administration. PMID- 2608609 TI - Relationship between duration and intensity of environmental light on the growth performance of male turkeys. AB - In each of two trials a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used to evaluate the growth response of tom turkeys to environmental light. The main experimental light treatment factors were: daylength [23 h light (L):1 h dark (D) vs. 8 h L:16 h D] and light intensity (10.8 lx vs. 108 lx). There were 100 toms in each treatment; all birds were in closed confinement floor pens exposed to artificial light only. Data were collected for growth performance evaluations at 2 to 4-wk intervals to 22 wk of age. No significant daylength x intensity interactions occurred in the study. No consistent effect of daylength or light intensity on body weight occurred. Light intensity had no significant effect on feed conversion but 23 h L:1 h D significantly (P less than or equal to .01) improved feed conversion from that in the 8 h L:16 h D treatment at 18 and 22 wk of age. This occurred in both trials. Neither the daylength nor the light intensity treatment effects differed with regard to livability or to incidence of leg disorders. Testicular development at 22 wk of age of birds in the two intensity treatments was similar but testes were significantly (P less than .01) larger in the 23 h L:1 h D treatment than the 8 h L:16 h D treatment. Percentage of breast yield was not influenced significantly by the daylength or intensity treatments but the amount of abdominal fat was significantly greater in the 8 h L:16 h D group than the 23 h L:1 h D group. From the results of this study it seems clear that daylength can have an important impact on the growth performance of tom turkeys whereas variations in light intensity ranging from 10.8 to 108 lx generally resulted in negligible differences in response. PMID- 2608610 TI - Effect of different protein levels fed during the prebreeder period on performance of turkey breeder hens. AB - An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of prebreeder protein intake on subsequent reproductive performance and to examine body weight, feed consumption, and body composition changes due to aging in Large White turkey breeder hens. One hundred twenty-nine Hybrid Large White turkey breeder hens were fed either 12, 15, or 18% CP diets (2,882 kcal ME/kg) during the prebreeder period from 24 to 32 wk of age. All hens were photostimulated with 15.5 h light/day and fed a standard 16% protein breeder ration from 32 to 55 wk of age. Prebreeder protein intake increased linearly as dietary protein increased. Treatments did not affect body weight, body composition, egg production, feed consumption, fertility, hatch of fertile eggs, or percentages of early or late dead. Body weight increased from 24 to 55 wk in a cubic response to age. Percentage of carcass moisture decreased, whereas percentage of carcass fat increased from 24 to 55 wk in a quadratic response to age. Prebreeder and breeder feed consumption were not significantly affected by treatment or age. This experiment is evidence that a 12% protein prebreeder ration is adequate for subsequent reproductive performance; observed effects of age on body characteristics agree with published data. PMID- 2608611 TI - Effect of daily restriction and age at initiation of a skip-a-day program for young broiler breeders. AB - Two experiments were conducted with Cobb feather sex broiler breeders comparing skip-a-day (SAD) feeding programs which began at either 2, 4, 6 or 8 wk of age. A fifth program, daily restriction started at 2 wk of age, was also compared. Chicks hatched in December and July, respectively, in Experiments 1 and 2 were exposed to natural daylight until 20 wk of age. All birds were fed ad libitum until the respective restriction programs began. All grower programs terminated at 20 wk of age. A breeder diet was given daily after 20 wk. Males and females were grown together. Sexual maturity was reached earlier in the 2-wk restriction groups (2-wi SAD in Experiment 1 and the 2-wk daily restriction in both experiments) than in the 8-wk SAD group. Egg production in Experiment 1 was also improved by the early restriction. Fertility and hatchability were not significantly affected by treatment. Based on the results of these experiments a SAD program beginning at 2 wk of age was as good as or better than one initiated at later ages. The 2-wk daily restriction program was equivalent to the 2-wk SAD program. PMID- 2608612 TI - Influence of selection for increased body weight on the incidence of leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas in Japanese quail. AB - Leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas were observed in adult laying hens from lines of Japanese quail selected solely (HW) or partly (HW-HP; HW-LP) for increased 4-wk BW and the corresponding randombred control (R1). No neoplasms were observed in a line (LW) selected for decreased 4-wk BW based on observations in one generation. Line R1 served as the base population for Lines HW and LW and was maintained without conscious selection for any trait, Lines HW-HP and HW-LP were sublines of Line HW in which the males were selected for increased 4-wk BW and the females were selected for high or low levels of plasma total phosphorus, respectively. Hens of all lines were necropsied after completing a 120-day production period. A high incidence of neoplasms were found in the dorsal and ventral ligaments of the oviduct in the immediate vicinity of the magnum, and the incidence was much greater in the lines selected for increased growth than in Line R1. These results suggest that selection for increased BW in Lines HW, HW-HP, and HW-LP has resulted in genetic changes that are conducive to neoplastic growth. Based on the results of one generation, it appears that selection for decreased 4-wk BW reduced incidence of neoplasms. PMID- 2608613 TI - Lower gut contents and defecatory responses of broiler chickens as affected by feed withdrawal and electrical treatment at slaughter. AB - The study was conducted to investigate a method of reducing the potential for fecal contamination during slaughter of broiler chickens. Birds were withdrawn from feed for 4, 8, 12, or 16 h before slaughter, then subjected to an electrical treatment of either stunning at 50 V, stunning plus pulsed stimulation at 50 V, or electrocution at 200 V. Peri-mortem defecatory responses were characterized, and postmortem examinations of the lower gut contents were made. Results indicated significant increases for the following variables when analyzed as linear functions on time of feed withdrawal: 1) loss of body weight (expressed as shrink); 2) amount of excreta collected during withdrawal; and 3) frequency and amount of perimortem excretions. Cecal material was observed in the colon most often for the group withdrawn 4 h from feed. Among electrical treatments, electrocution resulted in the lowest frequency of excretion, the smallest amount of excreta, and a greater tendency toward more urinous excreta; however, these results were significantly different from only the treatment of stimulation. There were no significant differences detected among electrical treatment for contents of the various segments of the lower gut. Potential for the use of electrocution to reduce fecal loads during commercial slaughtering conditions was not conclusively demonstrated. PMID- 2608614 TI - Barley and full-fat canola seed in layer diets. AB - Combinations of barley and full-fat canola seed (FFCS) were evaluated in two experiments with pullets. In Experiment 1, diets containing 40% barley plus FFCS or canola meal (CM) were compared with wheat-soybean and barley-soybean control diets. In Experiment 2, various steam-pelleted barley-FFCS mixtures (80:20 70:30, 60:40, 50:50) were used at the 40% dietary level in pullet diets. Diets within each experiment were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Egg production was depressed when hens were fed unpelleted barley-FFCS diets, whereas hens fed pelleted barley FFCS diets produced at a rate equivalent to those fed the control diet. Feed consumption, feed conversion, and egg weight were not influenced by dietary treatment. Yolk color index was significantly increased in eggs from hens fed diets containing increasing amounts of FFCS. In Experiment 2, contents of linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid in the yolk increased in a linear manner with increasing content of FFCS in the diets. PMID- 2608615 TI - Influence of dietary calcium level and particle size of calcium source on in vivo calcium solubilization by commercial Leghorns. AB - Six experiments were conducted in which hens with oviposition times between 0730 h and 0930 h were intubated with limestone at different levels or particle sizes at time of oviposition. Feed was withdrawn from all hens approximately 15.5 to 17.5 h prior to intubation, and the same feed but without supplemental Ca was immediately returned after limestone intubation. Excrement of each hen was collected from intubation (oviposition) until the next oviposition (24 to 27 h duration) in all experiments except Experiment 4. In Experiment 4, excreta were collected for 25 h after first oviposition. Five hens prior to intubation of Ca source and all hens at termination of an experiment were killed, and the contents of the digestive system were collected. Excreta and digestive system contents were analyzed for total Ca and quantity of insolubilized limestone. Approximately 50% of the Ca found in the excreta from hens with 3.75 g Ca intake was recovered in the same form as ingested (limestone). Percentage of Ca solubilized in the digestive system decreased (P less than .05) as Ca intake increased. Although in vitro solubility of larger limestone particles (2 to 5 mm) was much less than smaller particles (.5 to .8 mm), percentage of Ca solubilized in the digestive system during the 25 h following intubation increased (P less than .05) as particle size increased, suggesting a greater retention time of the larger limestone particles in the gizzard. PMID- 2608616 TI - Effect of ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids of the dietary lipid fraction on utilization and metabolizable energy of added fats in young chicks. AB - Relationships between the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids (U:S) in the diet and the utilization and AME(n) of added fat were studied using the results of a number of previously reported experiments. Mathematical equations relating fat AME(n), fat utilization, and palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acid utilization to the U:S were calculated for young broiler chicks. Best fit regression equations for added fat utilization and fat AME(n) were exponential, showing fat utilization increased very steeply in the U:S range of 0 to 2.5, reaching a near asymptotical maximum at a U:S of 4 or more. Synergism between added fats, due to blending vegetable oils with animal fats or using basal diets with unsaturated lipid fractions, led to increased animal fat utilization values. The utilization of saturated fatty acids was especially affected by synergism, whereas utilization of unsaturated fatty acids was not influenced by changing U:S. The origin of effects of factors influencing fat utilization such as level of fat inclusion and basal diet composition, appeared to be through variation in degree of saturation of the total dietary lipid fraction. For young broilers, about 75% of the variation in fat utilization and AME(n) was due to differences in the chemical composition of the fat fraction. PMID- 2608617 TI - Nutritional evaluation of blood meal and feather meal for turkeys. AB - Three samples each of commercial blood meal (BL) and feather meal (FEA) were obtained in Minnesota. True amino acid availability (TAAA) and TMEn contents were determined using Large White male turkeys at 8 wk of age. Average TMEn were 3,458 and 2,976 kcal/kg (DM basis) for BL and FEA, respectively. The TAAA of BL ranged from 86 to 91% for each of 15 amino acids except for isoleucine (74%) and cystine (79%). The TAAA of FEA ranged from 59 to 83%. The three feather meals averaged 72, 72, and 76% in amino acid availability. Two ring-dried blood meals averaged 86 and 82% and one spray dried blood meal averaged 91% in amino acid availability. A positive linear relationship was found between TMEII and TAAA of blood and feather meal samples, suggesting the possibility of approximating the estimation of one from the other in certain ingredients of high protein content. PMID- 2608618 TI - Influence of the sense of taste on broiler chick feed consumption. AB - This study was performed to determine the effects of five flavored diets on feed consumption, weight gain, and feed efficiency of broiler cockerels. Isocaloric diets were flavored with .06% saccharin, 6% citric acid, 5% salt, .10% quinine, or .13% aspartame. In Experiment 1, 1-wk-old broiler cockerels were fed an unflavored control diet ad libitum from a divided feed tray for 3 wk. Sides of the feed tray were rotated daily, every other day, or not at all, to determine the effect of position on preference. In Experiment 2, 1-day-old broiler cockerels were offered a choice between an unflavored control diet and a flavored diet, in an ad libitum feeding arrangement, for 3 wk. In Experiment 3, 1-day-old broiler cockerels were offered a choice between two flavored diets fed ad libitum for 3 wk. Daily rotation of the feed tray eliminated preferences due to position. When each side of the feed tray contained the same unflavored diet and was rotated daily, there were no significant differences in feed consumption, weight gain, or feed efficiency. In Experiment 2, there were significant differences in feed consumption between the control diet and all flavored diets except aspartame. The birds offered saccharin, citric acid, salt, and quinine ate significantly less of these diets than of the unflavored control diet. In Experiment 3, the birds detected the differences in flavor and consumed the feed in a specific order of preference: aspartame, saccharin, citric acid, salt, quinine. PMID- 2608619 TI - Lack of interactive effect of nicarbazin and dietary energy-to-protein ratio on performance and abdominal fat pad weight of broiler chicks. AB - An experiment was carried out, in a factorial arrangement, with female broiler chicks during the period from 8 to 49 days of age. Combined effects were evaluated of dietary energy-to-protein ratio (E:P; 130 vs. 170 from 8 to 28 days of age and 140 vs. 190 from 28 to 49 days of age) and nicarbazin supplementation (0 vs. 125 mg/kg) on performance and fattening. At 49 days of age, feed intake was not affected either by dietary E:P or by nicarbazin supplementation. The latter significantly depressed weight gain (P less than .01) and feed efficiency (P less than .001), but did not affect abdominal fat pad weight. The wide E:P significantly decreased feed efficiency (P less than .01) and increased abdominal fat pad weight (P less than .001). Neither of the parameters was affected by the interaction between nicarbazin and dietary E:P. It was suggested that the growth depressing effect of nicarbazin was due to its effect on increasing the metabolic rate, an increase which did not affect fattening as measured by abdominal fat pad weight. PMID- 2608620 TI - Weight gain and breast yield of large white male turkeys fed diets varying in protein content. AB - Large White male turkeys were reared in floor pens to 20 wk of age. Diet changes were made every 4 wk, with dietary energy levels kept similar for diets within a period, and changes made in protein levels. Although significant differences in weight were noted at 4 and 8 wk, these diminished with age such that at 20 wk no significant differences were noted. Feed intakes paralleled weight gains. A sample of birds was taken every 4 wk for a measurement of breast meat (excluding skin) and composition. Although changes in dietary protein levels did not affect weight gains to 20 wk of age, breast protein yields were significantly reduced by lowered dietary protein levels. Breast meat varied from 15% of live weight at 4 wk of age to 23% at 20 wk. Protein composition of breast meat varied between 90 and 95% (DM basis), and was estimated to be in excess of 50% of edible carcass protein. With such a high level of edible carcass protein coming from breast meat, it is suggested that yield of breast protein be used as a parameter in determining optimum protein and amino acid requirements of heavy weight turkeys. PMID- 2608621 TI - Calcium reserve assembly: a basic structural unit of the calcium reserve system of the hen egg shell. AB - A well-defined proper subregion of the mammillary knob is described, consisting of baseplate (BP), calcium reserve body (CRB), and an integral but distinct CRB cover. The BP extends 14 to 20 microns into the outer shell membrane and rises a few microns above its surface. The organic matrix of the BP is a composite of modified membrane fibers and adjacent components. The distinct CRB matrix is attached to the BP and extends outward in attenuated from, much like the fractal aggregates associated with filter "cakes." The three regions comprise a unit designated as the CRA (calcium reserve assembly, or assemblies). The CRA are fully developed and mineralized by 10.5 to 11 h postoviposition of the previous egg. By 13 h postoviposition a new structure, the crown, is evident. The classical mammillary knob consists of the CRA/crown complex. By hatch time the CRA are partially decalcified, except in the air cell region. Consequently, a zone of separation develops in the affected CRA about midway through the CRB. Estimates of the calcium recovered from the egg shell and of the calcium found in the CRA, excluding the CRA in the air cell region, indicate that more than enough calcium is present in the CRA to meet the drawdown of calcium from the egg shell by the developing embryo. It is concluded that the CRA that are available to the action of the chorioallantoic membrane represent the calcium reserve of the hen egg shell. PMID- 2608622 TI - Effect of fluorescent light on hatchability of commercial broiler parent stock eggs and on body weight of chickens hatched under large-scale commercial conditions. AB - Two experiments involving 11,400 commercial broiler parent stock hatching eggs of varying sizes, ages, and arrangements during incubation were conducted to investigate the effect of fluorescent light (FL) on hatchability and on body weight at hatch. In Experiment 1, there were two trials for a total of 10 incubation trays (units) for lighted treatment as well as the control (nonlighted). All eggs within a trial were laid the same day and were of the same size. Incubation units (150 eggs/unit) of each trial were distributed randomly in the lighted or nonlighted incubators. Experiment 2 used larger sized eggs that were collected for 4 consecutive days to make four independent age groups. Treatment units were positioned on the same level of incubators for lighted and nonlighted groups. In both experiments the only difference between lighted, which extended for 18 days, and nonlighted treatments was the installation of two cool white 40 W fluorescent tubes positioned at the ceiling of the illuminated incubators. After 18 days of incubation, incubated trays were transferred to hatching compartments either distributed randomly in the same hatcher (Experiment 1) or positioned as they were in the incubator (Experiment 2). No significant differences (P greater than .05) in hatchability or body weight at hatch were found between the light treatment and the control. PMID- 2608623 TI - Responses of luteinizing hormone and prolactin plasma concentrations to oral administrations of clomiphene citrate in broody turkey hens. AB - Plasma levels in luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin were measured after oral administration of clomiphene-citrate (CC) at doses of 6 and 12 mg/kg BW/day for 5 consecutive days to broody turkey hens. No significant changes in prolactin levels were measured following treatment. The LH concentrations were significantly decreased (P less than .05) following administration of the 12 mg/kg dose. These results were interpreted as an indication of oestrogenic-like, rather than antioestrogenic-like, activity of CC when administrated to turkey hens at this particular physiological stage. PMID- 2608624 TI - Erythrocytes as barriers for drug elimination in the isolated rat liver. I. Doxorubicin. AB - The effect of doxorubicin (Dx) equilibration between plasma and erythrocytes (RBC), prior to entering the liver, on hepatic elimination was evaluated under two conditions: (I) the drug being first equilibrated for 30 min in the perfusate (containing 27% human RBC) before infusion into the liver and (II) the drug being directly infused into the liver. Mean (N = 6) steady-state hepatic extraction ratios (E) under conditions I and II were 0.286 +/- 0.131 (SD) and 0.592 +/- 0.147, respectively. The marked difference in E was attributed mainly to the initial difference in plasma/RBC Dx distribution ratio of the inlet blood, the slow efflux of Dx from RBC into plasma under condition I, and the slow influx of Dx from plasma to RBC under condition II. The results indicate that most Dx molecules in RBC are not available for elimination. Drug equilibration between plasma and RBC may therefore represent an important factor in hepatic first-pass metabolism. PMID- 2608625 TI - Erythrocytes as barriers for drug elimination in the isolated rat liver. II. Propranolol. AB - The potential of erythrocytes (RBC) to serve as "barriers" of hepatic elimination of propranolol, a drug with rapid equilibration in blood, was studied in rats under two conditions: (I) the drug was preequilibrated in blood before infusion into the liver, and (II) the drug was directly infused into the liver. The mean fractions of dose escaping elimination during each pass under conditions I and II were 0.0561 +/- 0.040 and 0.0290 +/- 0.024, respectively (P less than 0.02). Contrary to the early study on doxorubicin, most drug molecules in RBC were found to be available for elimination. Implications of the present findings in the prediction of hepatic first-pass effect after oral administration, on the basis of intravenous data, are discussed. Marked underestimation of oral bioavailability of propranolol in humans is consistent with the RBC "barrier" effect hypothesis. PMID- 2608626 TI - Polyvinyl alcohol-methyl acrylate copolymers as a sustained-release oral delivery system. AB - Low crystalline and crystalline polyvinyl alcohol-methyl acrylate (PVA-MA) copolymers were examined, because of their excellent flow and compressibility properties, as matrices for sustained-release tablets using phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (PPA.HCl) as a model drug. Crystallinity of the copolymer affected the release characteristics from the tablet. Tablets made with low-crystalline PVA-MA provided sustained release of PPA, both in vitro and in vivo in dogs. PPA absorption from the low-crystalline PVA-MA tablet formulation was biphasic. An initial rapid phase was followed by a second, slower absorption phase which continued over 16 hr. Plasma PPA concentrations then declined with a half-life roughly parallel to the oral immediate-release half-lives. Oral bioavailability from the low-crystalline PVA-MA tablet formulation was 78.8 +/- 3.9%. PMID- 2608627 TI - Drug absorption through mucosal membranes: effect of mucosal route and penetrant hydrophilicity. AB - The influence of mucosal route and penetrant hydrophilicity on the in vivo absorption of a model lipophilic compound, progesterone, was investigated in ovariectomized rabbits. The absorption rate and systemic bioavailability of progesterone and its monohydroxy, dihydroxy, and trihydroxy derivatives were evaluated and compared following oral, nasal, rectal, and vaginal administrations. Nasal delivery resulted in a significantly higher rate and extent of progesterone absorption than oral, rectal, or vaginal administration. The rate and extent of mucosal absorption decreased as penetrant hydrophilicity increased for the nasal, rectal, and vaginal routes. The results of this investigation indicate that the absorption characteristics of a lipophilic compound, such as progesterone, are influenced by the properties of both the mucosa and the drug. PMID- 2608628 TI - Synthesis and biological evaluation of omega-(N,N,N-trialkylammonium)alkyl esters and thioesters of carboxylic acid nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. AB - A series of novel omega-(N,N,N-trialkylammonium)alkyl ester and thioester derivatives [RCOM(CH2)nNR3+ X-, M = O or S. n = 2-6, X = I or Cl] of 11 nonsteroidal antiinflammatory carboxylic acid agents (naproxen, ketorolac, indomethacin, ibuprofen, sulindac, ketoprofen, flufenamic acid, mefenamic acid, zomepirac, etodolac, and tifurac) was prepared and evaluated for their antiinflammatory, analgesic, and gastrointestinal erosive properties. In general, each prodrug retained the antiinflammatory activity characteristic of the corresponding parent drug but exhibited moderately to greatly reduced gastrointestinal erosive properties and significantly reduced analgetic potencies. This profile is likely due to a combination of factors including the rate of hydrolysis of the esters in the stomach, gut, and plasma, changes in the locus of absorption of the prodrug or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID), and altered metabolic disposition patterns resulting from these changes. The results obtained from the compounds of this series indicate that esters of this general class may offer a means to modulate both the aqueous/lipid solubility and the hydrolytic/enzymatic cleavage indices of NSAID prodrugs which potentially possess a more favorable therapeutic ratio of antiinflammatory to gastrointestinal erosive activities. PMID- 2608629 TI - Influence of unbound fraction and perfusate flow rate on taurocholate elimination by perfused rat liver: applicability of three distributed models. AB - The applicability of three different distributed models to the kinetics of elimination of taurocholate by isolated perfused rat liver was examined by fitting each model to literature data. Each of the models was able to predict the effect of changing hepatic blood flow on elimination, but only the model which incorporates separate density functions describing the degree of sinusoidal heterogeneity of blood flow and intrinsic clearance was able to predict the effect of changing unbound fraction on elimination. PMID- 2608630 TI - Contribution of monoamine oxidase (MAO) to the binding of tertiary basic drugs in lung mitochondria. AB - The effects of tertiary amine-containing basic drugs on the enzymes located in the mitochondria and the effect of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) on drug accumulation in lung mitochondria have been studied. Various basic drugs inhibited MAO activity but not other mitochondrial marker enzymes. The potency of MAO inhibition correlated well with their lipid solubility, and the basic drugs inhibited MAO activity dose dependently and competitively. Further, MAO inhibition correlated well with binding affinity to lung mitochondria, and the binding of tertiary amine drugs to lung mitochondria was decreased by treatment with MAOIs. A good correlation was observed between the potency of MAOIs to inhibit the binding of the basic drug to the high-affinity site in mitochondria and the MAO inhibitory activity in mitochondria. These results indicate that mitochondrial MAO is one of the binding sites for tertiary basic drugs in the lung. We think that the action and/or adverse reaction of some drugs may result from inhibition of mitochondrial MAO to metabolize various biogenic amines and that mitochondrial MAO may function as a reservoir for basic drugs. PMID- 2608631 TI - Prodrugs of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine for enhanced ocular transport. AB - Problems associated with the use of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IDU) in the treatment of herpes simplex keratitis can be attributed largely to the polar nature of IDU resulting in its poor permeability across the lipoidal epithelial layer of the corneal membrane. Five aliphatic 5'-esters of IDU were synthesized and evaluated as prodrugs for potential use in the treatment of deep ocular infections such as stromal keratitis, iritis, and even retinitis. A parabolic relationship between in vitro corneal membrane permeability and carbon chain length of prodrugs is evident. For a given prodrug, enzymatic hydrolysis proceeded most readily in iris ciliary body, followed by cornea and aqueous humor. An increase in carbon chain length made the prodrugs more enzymatically labile but more resistant to chemical hydrolysis at pH 7.4 and 34 degrees C. The 5'-butyryl ester of IDU exhibited an approximately fourfold increase in aqueous humor IDU concentration relative to IDU at 25 min following instillation of 25-microliters 5 mM solutions. PMID- 2608632 TI - Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis of N nitrosodiisopropanolamine at the nanogram-per-gram level in a gel formulation containing a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent. PMID- 2608633 TI - Phytic acid in stored common bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). AB - Four varieties of common bean seeds stored at 4 degrees C, 80% relative humidity, for one to eight years showed no differences in proximal chemical composition, Seeds 5-6 years old absorbed more water than 1 to 4 year-old seeds. The cooking time required for five year-old seeds was 6 hours, while the fresh seeds needed 3/4-to-one hour cooking time. The most remarkable difference was in phytic acid content, which decreased 94% to 98% during long storage. PMID- 2608634 TI - Effect of colocasia leaves (Colocasia antiquorum) on serum and tissue lipids in cholesterol-fed rats. AB - Dried colocasia powder (10% and 20%) was fed to hypercholesterolemic rats for a period of one month to explore the effect on serum lipids and tissue lipids. The results indicated that there was a significant increase in total lipids, total cholesterol, and triglycerides levels in the cholesterol fed rats. Liver cholesterol showed a slight reduction which was non-significant, while an increase in liver triglyceride was observed in rats fed with 10% and 20% colocasia leaves diet with or without cholesterol. All these observations indicate an aggravating effect of colocasia leaves on serum and tissue lipids in cholesterol-fed rats. PMID- 2608635 TI - Antinutrients in amphidiploids (black gram x Mung bean): varietal differences and effect of domestic processing and cooking. AB - Phytic acid, saponin and polyphenol contents in grains of various varieties of black gram (Vigna mungo) Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) amphidiploids ranged from 697 to 750, 2746 to 2972 and 702 to 783 mg/100 g, respectively. Domestic processing and cooking methods including soaking, ordinary and pressure cooking of soaked and unsoaked seeds, and sprouting significantly lowered phytic acid, saponin and polyphenol contents of the amphidiploid seeds. Soaking for 18 h removed 31 to 37% of the phytic acid; the extent of removal was higher with long periods of soaking. Saponins and polyphenols were relatively less affected. Loss of the antinutrients was greater when soaked instead of unsoaked seeds were cooked. Pressure cooking had a greater effect than ordinary cooking. Antinutrient concentrations declined following sprouting; the longer the period of germination the greater was the reduction. PMID- 2608636 TI - Compositional and digestibility changes in sprouted barley and canola seeds. AB - Barley and canola seeds were sprouted over a 5 day period, in laboratory conditions under room temperature (22 degrees C) and room lighting. Following initial hydration, seeds were kept moist by wetting the germination trays at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily. A parallel germination experiment using 200 g quantities of seeds in petri dishes was conducted. Starting from the second day of germination, and every day, dishes of germinating seeds were removed, oven dried, weighed and milled for proximate and chemical analysis. Seeds from the main germination experiment were fed in a digestibility trial to Wistar rats. Results indicated that sprouting was associated with depletion of many nutrients in both barley and canola, the major losses being in respect of dry matter, gross energy and triglycerides. In barley (but not in canola) sprouting was associated with significant increases in crude fiber and diglyceride content. In canola, there were significant losses in lipid content and increases in phytosterol and phospholipid content. Digestibility data showed an enhancement in digestibility of nutrients in barley but not in canola, implying that sprouting improved nutritional quality of barley but not canola. PMID- 2608637 TI - Concentration of selected heavy metals in spices, dry fruits and plant nuts. AB - Different spices, dry fruits and plant nuts commonly consumed in Pakistan were assayed for the heavy metals cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, iron and manganese by the potentiometric stripping analysis and AA spectrophotometry. The results revealed wide variation in heavy metal content among different biological materials. Mixed spices generally exhibited higher value for trace metals specially lead (6.6-9.2 micrograms/g), cadmium (0.65-1.34 micrograms/g), iron (142.3-285.0 micrograms/g) and zinc (64.2-65.8 micrograms/g). Dry fruits contained relatively lesser amounts of heavy metals than plant nuts. Almonds contained higher levels of lead (1.02 micrograms/g) and cadmium (0.24 micrograms/g) than other nuts and dry fruits. PMID- 2608638 TI - Electron microscopical tracers in the uterine epithelium of the pregnant guinea pig. AB - Horseradish peroxidase and lanthanum nitrate were used in pregnant guinea-pigs as electron dense tracers to determine whether the 'permeability' characteristics of the uterine epithelium support the hypothesis that immunoglobulin G gains access to the uterine lumen by transepithelial diffusion. Horseradish peroxidase was injected intravenously in eight animals in experiments ranging from 1-43 min and directly into the uterine lumen in five animals in experiments of 1-8 min duration. Lanthanum nitrate was injected only into the uterine lumen of eight animals for exposures of 1-8 min. Horseradish peroxidase did not traverse the junctional complexes regardless of injection site; lanthanum nitrate did not penetrate the complexes either except in one animal. We conclude that the uterine epithelium is a barrier that prevents the diffusional transfer of IgG from mother to fetus. Further studies are required to locate the site where maternal IgG is transferred to the uterine lumen. PMID- 2608639 TI - Simultaneous autoradiography and line immunoelectrophoresis (ARLIE): a novel combination to identify de novo protein synthesis by pregnancy tissues. AB - A novel combination of two conventional techniques (autoradiography, AR and line immunoelectrophoresis, LIE; ARLIE) for identification of specific proteins synthesized de novo by explants is described. The incorporation rate of [35S] methionine was linear in proteins derived from cytosol fractions and supernatants of first trimester human trophoblast and gestational endometrium for up to 18 h. SDS-PAGE analysis of these fractions provided further evidence of the protein synthesis and secretion by the tissue explants. The ARLIE system was evaluated by investigating the synthesis and secretion of five test proteins (PP12, PP14, hPL, FA-1 and FA-2) by trophoblast and gestational endometrium. The synthesis P12 and PP14 could be demonstrated by gestational endometrium only. Similarly the synthesis of hPL could be demonstrated by the trophoblast alone. The synthesis of the fetal proteins (FA-1 and FA-2) could not be demonstrated by either tissue. The control procedure, Protein A assisted immunoprecipitation, yielded similar results for PP14 but not hPL. This novel combination (ARLIE) provides a simple technique with which to study the de novo synthesis of several proteins simultaneously which is independent of the subclass and species of origin of antibodies. PMID- 2608640 TI - Oestrogen and progesterone receptors in human term placenta. Measurement by binding assays and immunological methods. AB - Oestrogen and progesterone receptors have been implicated in human placental steroidogenesis, but studies developed to measure their concentration in this tissue at term yielded discrepant results. Potential inaccuracy of the binding assays, the technique used in previous studies, might influence the discrepancy. In the present study, oestrogen and progesterone receptors were investigated by two different approaches: binding assays with radiolabelled ligand and immunoassays with monoclonal antibodies against receptors. Binding assays included techniques to quantify free and occupied sites in both the cytosolic and nuclear fraction. Conditions intended to block or decrease potential causes of inaccuracy, such as proteolysis or thermal denaturation of the sites, were included in the assays. Cytosolic specific binding was measured by two different techniques, dextran-coated charcoal and hydroxylapatite, whereas nuclear sites were studied on salt-extracts and by exchange. Negative or moderately positive results were obtained for either oestrogen or progesterone receptors, but high levels of non-specific binding made the technique unreliable. Immunoassays included the use of two techniques, histochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent-assay (ELISA). Both frozen and paraffin (Bouin solution or buffered formalin as fixatives) sections were stained with monoclonal antibodies against the oestrogen receptor. Results were always negative in all cases. Levels of oestrogen and progesterone receptors were measured in either cytosol or nuclear extracts by ELISA. This technique was highly sensitive and reproducible. Results were negative for both the cytosolic and nuclear fractions of oestrogen receptors. For progesterone receptors, low positivity was obtained in either crude (3.2 +/- 0.4 fmol/mg protein, mean +/- s.e.) or ammonium sulphate precipitated cytosols (12.6 +/- 3.5 fmol/mg protein, mean +/- s.e.), whereas the values for nuclear extracts were 62.0 +/- 9.0 fmol/mg DNA (mean +/- s.e.). We conclude that: (1) oestrogen receptors could not be detected in human term placenta by the methods used in this study, and (2) low levels of progesterone receptors were detected in both cytosolic and nuclear extracts. PMID- 2608641 TI - Epidermal growth factor receptors in rat placenta, amnion and yolk sac: characteristics of specific binding are dependent on gestational age. AB - Studies of [125I]-EGF binding to the rat placenta, amnion and yolk sac were carried out on days 14, 17 and 20 of gestation. In the placenta EGF binding was detectable on all 3 days; in the amnion EGF binding was undetectably low on day 14 but was present on days 17 and 20, while in the yolk sac EGF binding was undetectably low on all 3 days. Although Scatchard analysis of EGF binding to placental tissue raised the possibility of high and low affinity receptors, a statistical analysis of the ligand binding data was consistent with the presence of only one type of EGF receptor. The overall affinity of the receptors did not change with stage of gestation. However, the concentration of EGF receptors was lower in placental tissue on day 17 than on days 14 or 20 of gestation; the receptor concentrations were similar on days 14 and 20. It is suggested that EGF binding to the placenta, amnion, and yolk sac may reflect the levels of cell proliferation in those tissues in the latter part of gestation. PMID- 2608642 TI - [Prognostic factors in diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the pleura]. AB - Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma (DMM) is associated with a very poor prognosis and is only partially accessible to treatment. On the basis of a retrospective analysis, we made an attempt to identify possible factors that influence the prognosis. Between 1964 and 1986, 84 evaluable patients were treated: the ratio of male to female patients was 4.3:1, their average age being 58.5 +/- 11.9 (range: 21-82 years). The tumour types included 50% epithelial, 38% biphasic, and 12% mesenchymal tumours. The classification in accordance with the suggestions of Butchart revealed: I 10%, II 89%, III 0%, IV 1%. In 32% of the patients, treatment was purely symptomatic, in 42% a palliative surgical procedure with decortication of the tumour and tumour-pleurectomy was performed, while in 26% the palliative procedure was followed by adjuvant chemotherapy using doxorubicin and cisplatin. The median survival for the patients overall was 253 days. Parameters that were found not to correlate with the prognosis were: age, sex, exposure to asbestos, use of tobacco, pleural effusion, and growth behaviour in the thymus aplastic nude mouse. A significant influence was found for the histological type of the tumour and therapy administered, epithelial and biphasic tumour forms, as also surgical and combined surgical/chemotherapeutic treatment resulting in a more prolonged survival. On the basis of these results, surgical therapy should always be employed, despite the fact that there is almost always no curative option; postoperative adjuvant therapy is capable of further improving the prognosis. PMID- 2608643 TI - [Effect of stress ulcer prevention on the incidence of ventilation pneumonia at a pulmologic intensive care unit]. AB - In a retrospective analysis, the influence of stress ulcer prophylaxis on the incidence of ventilation pneumonia (VP) was investigated. In VP, we were able to isolate enterobacteria from the tracheal aspirate or bronchial secretion significantly (p = 0.015) more frequently than in the case of environmentally acquired and nosocomial pneumonia which were treated in the intensive care unit but did not comply with the criteria for VP. The detection of intestinal bacteria in the respiratory tract in VP patients supports the hypothesis that the "gastro pulmonary" colonisation pathway represents a decisive factor in the development of VP. Patients undergoing long-term ventilation who had received ranitidine for prophylaxis of stress ulcer, developed VP statistically significantly more frequently (p = 0.044) than did patients with sucralfat cover. The non physiologically high acid juice pH associated with the use of H2-antagonists leads to an increase in intestinal organisms within the stomach. By ascending the upper GI tract, the bacteria finally colonise the respiratory tract. Through the application of sucralfat, whose ulcerprotective action is not achieved by the inhibition of acid in the stomach, the incidence of VP in a pulmological intensive care unit was reduced. PMID- 2608644 TI - [Pneumothorax caused by histiocytic pneumonitis]. AB - Specimens from the lung obtained during the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax revealed a hitherto unknown histological phenomenon characterised by a histiocytic, inflammatory interstitial pulmonary tissue containing gas. By following the course of the gas an intracellular pathogen could be identified in the macrophages. Its shape resembled that of micrococci, ist size was between 2-4 microns. The ultrastructure within the pathogen suggested gas formation. In these cases the origin of the pneumothorax was attributed to the aerogenous microorganism that had induced a phagocytic inflammation in the pulmonary tissue. PMID- 2608646 TI - [Meeting of the working group "nocturnal respiratory and circulatory disorders" of the German Society for Pneumology and Tuberculosis. Norderney, 28-30 April 1988]. PMID- 2608645 TI - [Lung changes in amiodarone therapy]. AB - We describe a 59-year-old patient who was treated with amiodarone for severe ventricular arrhythmia. After a two-year period of medication the therapy had to be abandoned because of pulmonary changes on the chest X-ray that mimicked lung oedema; no other cause for the pulmonary opacities than an adverse effect of amiodarone was to be found. The radiological changes in the lungs regressed within one year with no specific therapy being administered. PMID- 2608647 TI - [Comparison of respiratory control responses in bronchial and external airway stenosis]. AB - Respiratory responses during allergen-induced airway obstruction and external airway stenosis were investigated in anaesthetised sheep. The results were compared to those obtained from healthy subjects during external airway stenosis. Allergen-induced increase in airway resistance results in an increased respiratory frequency, mainly due to a shortening of expiration (TE) and only partially due to a shortening of inspiration (TI). Tidal volume is diminished while respiratory changes in oesophageal pressure (delta Poes) are increased. Both results in an increase of dynamic elastance (Edyn) representing airway resistance. Based on the increase in the slope and amplitude of inspiratory pressure (delta Poes/TI), the mean inspiratory airflow (VT/TI) remains almost unchanged. In spite of an increased ventilation PaO2 decreases, whereas PaCO2 increases only slightly. External airway stenosis, however, results in a decrease of respiratory frequency, mainly depending on a prolongation of inspiration. Changes in Poes and VT are similar to those of allergen-induced airway obstruction. delta Poes/TI, however, increases less than during allergen application and results in a decrease of mean inspiratory airflow, tidal volume and ventilation. Respiratory responses of healthy subjects during external airway stenosis were similar to those described in experimental animals. The results of our investigation show a different pattern in the control of breathing during bronchial and external stenosis-induced airway obstruction and thus indicate different vagal reflex mechanisms. PMID- 2608648 TI - [The significance of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome]. AB - Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is a neurotransmitter of the non adrenergic and non-cholinergic system (NANC). It has been detected in many organs, including the airways, central and peripheral nervous system, the blood, and CSF. As a result of neuronal overflow, vagal stimulation leads to an elevation of VIP levels in the plasma. VIP leads to the activation of adenyl cyclase, and thus to elevated cAMP in cells bearing VIP receptors. In 25 patients (24 males, 1 female) with a mean age of 50.3 +/- 9.9 years, and a Broca Index of 134.5 +/- 27.0%, plasma VIP was measured in the morning under conditions of fasting with the aid of an RIA assay (Incstar). Eleven patients (mean age: 49.4 +/- 10.1 years, Broca: 130 +/- 27.0%) had fewer than 100 episodes of apnea during nocturnal sleep (apnea/hypoapnea index 4.4 +/- 4.8). At 6.3 +/- 1.6 pcmoll-1, plasma VIP was markedly lower than that measured in 14 patients (mean age: 51.0 +/- 10.0 years, Broca: 138 +/- 28%) with the sleep apnea syndrome (apnea/hypopnea index 58.5 +/- 24.7 (means = 11.0 +/- 3.0 pcmoll-1, p less than 0.001). A significant correlation was found between the apnea episode occurring every night, and the VIP values (r = 0.64; y = -133 + 40 x VIP) measured in the plasma. The VIP measured in the plasma would appear to be a highly sensitive and highly specific indicator of the appearance of episodes of apnea during nocturnal sleep. PMID- 2608649 TI - [Methodologic study for measuring oronasal airflow using thermistors]. AB - In an attempt to simplify the diagnostic work-up of sleep apnea syndrome, a method has long been sought that would permit the recording of apnea on an ambulatory basis. To this end, we have since developed a face mask and special electronics capable of recording expiration and inspiration via thermistors. We made use of a respirator and a ventilation mannikin in order to simulate respiratory activities in the patient. Since the heat given off during respiration is influenced by a variety of factors, we investigated the following parameters: room temperature (12, 17 and 22 degrees) respiratory rate (15, 18, 21, breaths per minute), maximum airflows (0.5 and 0.6 l/sec) and tidal volume (TV 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 l). Erroneous recording of apneic episodes was observed only with changes from complete mouth to nose breathing; otherwise, the apneic episodes were correctly recognized and counted. TV following an apneic phase must exceed at least TV/2 in order to be recorded as a breath. With a set duration of apnea of more than 30 seconds, apnea is considered to be terminated only by a breath of more than 60% of the last amplitude preceding the apneic phase. Changes in the respiratory rate and maximum airflow, or a change between 12 an 22 degrees within the mask has no effect on the recording of apneic phases. We conclude, therefore, that devices for the automatic detection of apnea should be calibrated by simulated respiratory activities, and specified accordingly. PMID- 2608650 TI - [The value and consequences of nocturnal pulse oximetry in severe heart failure, suspected myocardial infarct and acute cerebral ischemia]. AB - On extensive clinical monitoring of nocturnal oxygen saturation (Minolta Pulsox 7) we observed three groups with an increased risk of nocturnal hypoxemia. The hypoxemia was classified in terms of severity, frequency and duration into six groups of findings. The degree of oxygen desaturation was positively correlated to the severity of disease. In the group of patients with heart failure (NYHA III IV) (n = 13) four had severe hypoxemia, and a history of previous cardiac infarction; three of them wore a pacemaker. Decrease in saturation after acute cerebral ischemia was seen in particular in patients with oropharyngeal disorders (dysphasia and dysphagia). In the group with suspected myocardial infarction (n = 16) we measured frequent short drops in saturation in ten patients, eight of whom were heavy snorers. Because of its simplicity, non-invasiveness and high information yield, especially in acute patients, pulse oximetry is important for clinical diagnosis, with immediate consequences for many patients. PMID- 2608651 TI - [Study of the prevalence of sleep apnea syndrome in patients with chronic diseases of the respiratory organs using pulse oximetry and polysomnography]. AB - In the literature, depending upon the group of subjects investigated and the diagnostic criteria applied, the prevalence of the sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is reported to be between 1 and 10%. In the present study, 220 nonselected male patients (age range: 45.1 +/- 11.4 years, Brocca index 109.0 +/- 18.0%, 147 cases of chronic bronchitis, 65 of bronchial asthma, 8 with other diseases of the airways, 44.1% obstructive ventilation disturbances, 41.8% smokers) were investigated. As a screening method, nocturnal monitoring of oxygen saturation with the aid of a digital pulse oximeter (Draeger) was carried out. On average, 65.4 +/- 136.5 cases of desaturation to less than 90% SaO2/8 hours sleep were observed. In 48 patients with a Brocca index of more than 120%, desaturations at 156.1 +/- 244.5 were significantly more frequent than in 172 patients with a low relative weight (40.2 +/- 67.0, p less than 0.0001). Forty-eight patients (21.8%) revealed more than 80 episodes of SaO2 drops per night. Twenty-two patients were submitted to polysomnographic investigation. In 13 patients--6% of the overall group--who had more than 100 episodes of apnea/hypopnea (AHI 47.2 +/- 30.1), a sleep apnea syndrome was demonstrated. PMID- 2608652 TI - [A modified unit for detecting sleep apnea]. AB - A comprehensive diagnostic work-up of patients with a suspected sleep apnea syndrome must include conventional polysomnographic monitoring during the night. On account of the considerable staff and technical requirement, however, this definitive diagnostic measure is not suitable for use as a screening programme. For this reason we undertook to develop a device for the computer-aided recording of sleep apnea. The heart of the unit is a 65816 microprocessor with an address capacity of 16 Mbytes. The oro-nasal airflow is recorded with the aid of thermistors, and, after digital filtering, the respiratory rate is continuously recorded on the basis of this signal. Continuous recording of the heart rate and oxygen saturation, is also effected, the recorded data being stored in the microprocessor. On conclusion of the data acquisition phase, evaluation and a compressed display is shown on any conventional personal computer. Our preliminary experience reveals that the algorithm employed is extremely reliable for the detection of respiration rate and apnea, even in the presence of unfavourable signal forms. Clinically relevant deviations from manual evaluation do not occur. As was to be expected, processing of the signals for heart rate and oxygen saturation presented no problems. PMID- 2608653 TI - [Use of microcomputers in polysomnography]. AB - Constantly falling prices and increasing power combine to make the personal computer an attractive alternative to established recording devices for use in polysomnography. Apart from its price advantage, digital recording of psychophysiological signals offers the possibility of selective display (compression and zooming to parts of special interest), and also semi-automatic evaluation. In order to be able to feed the data acquired in the sleep laboratory into the computer, an interface for signal matching, an analog/digital converter, and suitable software, are required. In order to reduce the wealth of data to the clinically relevant (and, in the last resort, also manageable) amount, preprocessing hardware, such as EEG filters, snore detectors, etc., are required. The system we recommend comprises individual hardware, modules for the pickup of physiological signals, and flexibly combinable software routines that permit adaptation to any future expansions of changing medical problems. PMID- 2608654 TI - [Results of left heart catheterization study in 64 patients with nocturnal disorders of respiratory control (sleep apnea)]. AB - Sleep apnea (SA) is associated with increased morbidity of the cardiovascular system, the interaction between the disordering of respiratory coordination and cardiovascular regulation being largely unknown. In 64 patients (age: mean = 54.1; range: 35-67 years) with an increased apnea index (AI greater than 10), a cardiac catheterisation investigation was performed to exclude coronary heart disease (CHD) or cardiomyopathy. CHD was excluded in 39 patients, 6 patients had coronary single-vessel disease, 9 patients coronary two-vessel, and 10 three vessel disease. In 10 patients, cardiomyopathy was detected, while high-grade impairment of the left ventricular ejection fraction (greater than 30%) was observed in five patients. With the exception of a single patient, CHD was observed only in patients in the over-fifty age group. Arterial hypertension was seen in 84% of the patients with, and in 69% of the patients without, CHD. The patient groups with and without coronary heart disease did not differ with respect to apnea index, ten minute index, or the average duration of the 30 longest apneic episodes. Anginal complaints, observed in a total of 72% of the patients, were one of the major indications for coronary angiography. These results do not support the assumption that SA is primarily a consequence of underlying cardiac disease, but do indicate that SA must be considered a cardiac risk factor, especially in view of the fact that pronounced nocturnal changes in blood gases and haemodynamics, together with malignant arrhythmias, are found in conjunction with this disturbance of breathing. PMID- 2608655 TI - [Diagnosis of sleep apnea: required equipment for staged diagnosis]. AB - In view of the high prevalence of sleep apnoea (SA) a stepped concept for diagnosis and therapy is needed. Such a concept requires appropriate instrumentation. The apparative requirement for a five-stage concept, and the experience gained with it, are presented, in particular these newly introduced stages: screening instrument, based on an analysis of heart rate and breathing sounds, and a mobile sleep laboratory based on oxygen saturation measurement combined with inductive plethysmography and four further parameters. Experience obtained with such a stepped concept demonstrates its efficiency and necessity in the diagnosis of sleep-related breathing disturbances. PMID- 2608656 TI - [Psychological aspects of sleep related disorders of respiratory control]. AB - An impaired ability to concentrate, loss of intellectual performance, and changes in personality are frequently-mentioned psychological symptoms of sleep apnoea. Apnea-associated disturbances of sleep structure as well as nocturnal cerebral hypoxia are possible causes. Twenty men and two women with an average age of 51.5 years underwent psychological testing. The average apnea index was 36 (range 11 to 92). The following psychodiagnostic procedures were used for screening; attention-strain test (d2) to measure short term concentration ability, numbers connecting test (ZVT) for the evaluation of cognitive processing speed as an indication of intellectual performance, the Freiburg Personality Inventory FPI-R for assessing personality traits. As compared with the standard random sample of the d2, our patients' ability to concentrate over a period of five minutes does not seem to be impaired. Deficits in patients with sleep apnea are more likely to be found in the care of long-term concentration, especially in monotonous situations. The mean IQ score of our sample (93) is rather low as compared with the mean value of the age-matched sample (100). Patients with an Apnea index greater than 30 tended to have lower IQ-values (87.4) than those with less severe sleep apnea (97). Older patients had significantly lower age-corrected figures (87.2) than younger patients (98). Younger patients with high apnea activity (greater than median) had significantly (ANOVA: interaction alpha = 0.01) lower IQ scores (84.8) than younger patients with less severe sleep apnea (107). Sleep apnea seems to impair cognitive processing speed. Our sample turned out to be normal with respect to the twelve personality traits measured by means of the FPI R.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2608657 TI - [Personality markers in patients with sleep apnea syndrome]. AB - In addition to the well-known medically oriented examination procedures and forms of treatment of sleep apnea, we are also interested in the psychological aspects of this pathological condition. Against the background of our experience of patients treated with nCPAP--here we have observed, among other things, an increase in general activity--we investigated the question as to whether typical personality traits are to be observed among persons suffering from sleep apnoea. As a psychodiagnostic procedure, the Freiburg personality inventory (FPI-R) was employed in the following persons: a) Persons with diagnosed sleep apnea, b) persons with unconfirmed suspected sleep apnea, c) persons with diagnosed chronic bronchitis. An initial consideration of the results reveals an unremarkable personality profile of the person with SAS who, however, in comparisons with other groups does reveal certain peculiarities. Although the results presented here do not permit any reliable specific psychodiagnostic statement to be made with the aid of the procedure employed, in several points they do provide clues as to features that should be subjected to a differential investigation. PMID- 2608658 TI - The effects of truncating long-range forces on protein dynamics. AB - This paper considers the effects of truncating long-range forces on protein dynamics. Six methods of truncation that we investigate as a function of cutoff criterion of the long-range potentials are (1) a shifted potential; (2) a switching function; (3) simple atom-atom truncation based on distance; (4) simple atom-atom truncation based on a list which is updated periodically (every 25 steps); (5) simple group-group truncation based on distance; and (6) simple group group truncation based on a list which is updated periodically (every 25 steps). Based on 70 calculations of carboxymyoglobin we show that the method and distance of long range cutoff have a dramatic effect on overall protein behavior. Evaluation of the different methods is based on comparison of a simulation's rms fluctuation about the average coordinates, the rms deviation from the average coordinates of a no cutoff simulation and from the X-ray structure of the protein. The simulations in which long-range forces are truncated by a shifted potential shows large rms deviations for cutoff criteria less than 14 A, and reasonable deviations and fluctuations at this cutoff distance or larger. Simulations using a switching function are investigated by varying the range over which electrostatic interactions are switched off. Results using a short switching function that switches off the potential over a short range of distances are poor for all cutoff distances. A switching function over a 5-9 A range gives reasonable results for a distance-dependent dielectric, but not using a constant dielectric. Both the atom-atom and group-group truncation methods based on distance shows large rms deviation and fluctuation for short cutoff distances, while for cutoff distances of 11 A or greater, reasonable results are achieved. Although comparison of these to distance-based truncation methods show surprisingly larger rms deviations for the group-group truncation, contrary to simulation studies of aqueous ionic solutions. The results of atom-atom or group group list-based simulations generally appear to be less stable than the distance based simulations, and require more frequent velocity scaling or stronger coupling to a heat bath. PMID- 2608659 TI - Describing protein structure: a general algorithm yielding complete helicoidal parameters and a unique overall axis. AB - We present a general and mathematically rigorous algorithm which allows the helicoidal structure of a protein to be calculated starting from the atomic coordinates of its peptide backbone. This algorithm yields a unique curved axis which quantifies the folding of the backbone and a full set of helicoidal parameters describing the location of each peptide unit. The parameters obtained form a complete and independent set and can therefore be used for analyzing, comparing, or reconstructing protein backbone geometry. This algorithm has been implemented in a computer program named P-Curve. Several examples of its possible applications are discussed. PMID- 2608660 TI - Identification of peptide hormones of the amphipathic helix class using the helical hydrophobic moment algorithm. AB - Eisenberg's helical hydrophobic moment (less than mu H greater than) algorithm was applied to the analysis of the primary structure of amphipathic alpha-helical peptide hormones and an optimal method for identifying other peptides of this class determined. We quantitate and compare known amphipathic helical peptide hormones with a second group of peptides with proven nonamphipathic properties and determine the best method of distinguishing between them. The respective means of the maximum 11 residue less than mu H greater than for the amphipathic helical and control peptides were 0.46 (+/-/-0.07) and 0.33 (0.07) (P + 0.004). To better reflect the amphipathic potential of the entire peptide, the percent of 11 residue segments in each peptide above a particular less than mu H greater than was plotted vs less than mu H greater than. The resulting curves are referred to as HM-C. The mean HM-C (of the two groups) was highly significantly different such that the HM-C method was superior to others in its ability to distinguish amphipathic from nonamphipathic peptides. Several potential new members of this structural class were identified using this approach. Molecular modeling of a portion of one of these, prolactin inhibitory factor, reveals a strongly amphipathic alpha helix at residues 4-21. This computer-based method may enable rapid identification of peptides of the amphipathic alpha-helix class. PMID- 2608661 TI - Inherited and environmentally induced retinal degenerations. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Retinal Degenerations. San Francisco, California, September 2 and 3, 1988. PMID- 2608662 TI - Zinc content in melanosomes of degenerating RPE as measured by X-ray mapping. PMID- 2608663 TI - Effects of retinal degenerations on the cone matrix sheath. PMID- 2608664 TI - A comparative survey of synaptic changes in the rod photoreceptor terminals of rd, rds and double homozygous mutant mice. AB - In the developing retina of homozygous rd/rd mutant mice the time of onset of degenerative changes and the period of rapid photoreceptor cell loss overlaps the later phase of differentiation during which the maturation of the receptors and the completion of the synaptic connections take place. It remains unresolved if the retarded synaptogenesis within the photoreceptor terminals of the rod cells is a direct effect of the mutant gene or an indirect consequence of premature cell death. In the retina of homozygous rds/rds mutant mice early indication of gene expression within the photoreceptor cells is also recorded as photoreceptor outer segments fail to develop. However, during the very slow rate of degeneration, the surviving cells develop normal synaptic contacts within their terminals. Furthermore, some of the rod cells, though not the cones, go on to enlarge their synaptic structures as more and more photoreceptor cells are lost. In the retina of double homozygous mutant rd/rd;rds/rds mice the photoreceptor cells remain lacking in outer segments, as would be expected, but curiously enough, survive longer than in the rd/rd retina. Among this population of photoreceptor cells with extended life-span profiles of rod terminals are frequently encountered which contain a normal synaptic structure - one synaptic ribbon with two laterally placed processes of horizontal cells and one medially facing process of a bipolar cell. A number of these terminals also show signs of synaptic enlargement. Thus it can be concluded that some of the terminals of the rod photoreceptor cells of the double homozygous rd/rd,rds/rds mice, which survive longer than in the rd/rd mice, develop synapses that are either comparable to normal or resemble those of the rds/rds retina. These findings suggest that retarded synaptogenesis within the rod terminals of the rd/rd retina is likely to result from a pathogenic defect affecting the whole cell and is not due to a specific or exclusive action of the mutant gene on the synaptic components involved. PMID- 2608665 TI - Inherited retinal dystrophy in the RCS rat: composition of the outer segment debris zone. PMID- 2608666 TI - Effect of dietary riboflavin on retinal density and flavin concentrations in normal and dystrophic RCS rats. PMID- 2608667 TI - The effect of anti-inflammatory drug administration on the course of retinal dystrophy in RCS rats. PMID- 2608668 TI - ERG of the pigmented rdy rat at advanced stages of hereditary retinal degeneration. PMID- 2608669 TI - ERG of the albino rdy rat and susceptibility to light damage. PMID- 2608670 TI - Further epidemiological studies on lipid metabolism in retinitis pigmentosa. PMID- 2608671 TI - RPE-associated extracellular matrix changes accompany retinal vascular proliferation and retino-vitreal membranes in a new model for proliferative retinopathy: the dystrophic rat. PMID- 2608672 TI - Alterations in lectin binding accompany increased permeability in the dystrophic rat model for proliferative retinopathy. AB - In the dystrophic Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat, migration of vessels from the inner retina into the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is associated with neovascular proliferation and formation of vitreo-retinal membranes (VRMs), (Caldwell et al., 1988; Frank and Das, 1988). We studied permeability and luminal membrane glycoconjugates in these vessels using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and lectin-ferritin (Fe) techniques. RCS and genetic control rats were injected with HRP, their retinas were fixed, incubated in Fe conjugates of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA-Fe) or concanavalin-A (ConA-Fe), reacted to demonstrate HRP, and prepared for electron microscopy. The RPE and VRM vessels in RCS retinas were compared with the normal inner retina and choriocapillaris vessels in RCS and genetic control rats. In both groups inner retinal vessels formed a barrier to HRP, while fenestrated choriocapillaris (CE) vessels were permeable to the tracer. In both of these vascular beds plasma membrane WGA-Fe binding was dense and uniform, while ConA-Fe binding was sparse and patchy. Studies with competitive sugars showed that WGA-Fe binding was primarily to N acetylglucosamine (NAG) and that ConA-Fe was to mannose. In both RPE and VRM vessels tight junctions appeared intact, but both vessel types were permeable to HRP with the RPE vessels often containing fenestrae and channels. As compared with binding in the inner retina and CE vessels, WGA-Fe binding was lower in VRM vessels and normal in RPE vessels, while ConA-Fe binding was higher in both RPE and VRM vessels. Thus, increased permeability is accompanied by alterations in both NAG and mannose residues in the VRM vessels and with alterations in mannose residues and the presence of fenestrations and channels in the RPE vessels. PMID- 2608673 TI - Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of proteins in the rd chick retina. PMID- 2608674 TI - Retinal degeneration and photoreceptor maintenance in Drosophila: rdgB and its interaction with other mutants. PMID- 2608675 TI - Serum fatty acid proportions in retinitis pigmentosa may be affected by a number of factors. AB - Variations in serum fatty acid (FA) proportions of 67 Retinitis pigmentosa patients suggested a consideration of other factors which might affect these values. Serum FA, particularly arachidonic acid, may be altered during immunoregulatory substance formation in addition to genetic and dietary controls. Parallel immune system studies of these patients showed FA patterns consistent with increased prostaglandin-mediated (PG) lymphocyte suppression in 27% and possible block of PG immunoregulation in another 37%. While differences found between total serum FA of RP patients and age-matched normals included lower 18:2 omega 6 and higher 22:6 omega 3, the dominant and recessive RP patients showed similar proportion. However, lower than normal 22:6 omega 3 was found in 7 Usher RP. PMID- 2608676 TI - Factors affecting the susceptibility of the retina to light damage. PMID- 2608677 TI - Clear PMMA versus yellow intraocular lens material. An electrophysiologic study on pigmented rabbits regarding "the blue light hazard". AB - Pigmented rabbits were exposed for 3.5 h to light (retinal irradiance 60-70 mW/cm2, i.e. below the level of thermal damage) from a Xenon lamp, passing IR filters and a fiber optic system as well as a Perspex CQ (clear PMMA) IOL material in front of one of the eyes (the "PER" eye) and a yellow (blue light absorbing) filter (potential IOL material) in front of the other eye (the "YEL" eye). The difference in spectral distribution of light transmitted by the two filters may be important. Does the yellow filter offer significant protection against "the blue light hazard"? DC ERG recordings were performed before, 1 day after and 4-6 days after exposure. The c- (mainly pigment epithelium (PE)) and b wave (neuroretina) amplitudes were measured and the cPER/cYEL as well as the bPER/bYEL ratios calculated. Both ratios were found to be reduced after exposure, for the c-wave 30-33% (p less than 0.05 - 0.001), and for the b-wave 12-20% (p less than 0.01 - 0.02). This means that both the PE and the neuroretina were injured in the PER eye, the PE more than the neuroretina. At day 4-6 the c- and b wave ratios were found to have returned to initial levels, indicating that the damage was reversible to a large extent. Thus, the yellow filter offered a better protection than the Perspex material. There were no ophthalmoscopic fundal changes 1-2 h after exposure. After 1 day minimal changes were seen in 3/16 YEL eyes and somewhat more pronounced changes in 8/16 PER eyes, all in the central fundus. The conclusion is that in acute experiments and under the conditions applied the yellow filter protected the PE and the retina against photochemical light injury (mainly "the blue light hazard") significantly better than the Perspex material. Furthermore, the yellow filter was found to protect significantly better than a UV absorbing IOL material. PMID- 2608678 TI - Reversible and irreversible blue light damage to the isolated, mammalian pigment epithelium. PMID- 2608679 TI - Comparison of retinal photochemical lesions after exposure to near-UV or short wavelength visible radiation. PMID- 2608680 TI - Studies on blood from patients with dominantly-inherited retinitis pigmentosa. PMID- 2608681 TI - Nucleotide-induced retinal changes. PMID- 2608682 TI - Macular pathology in monkeys fed semipurified diets. PMID- 2608683 TI - Transplantation of retinal epithelium prevents photoreceptor degeneration in the RCS rat. PMID- 2608684 TI - Retinal transplants for cell replacement in phototoxic retinal degeneration. PMID- 2608685 TI - Photoreceptor transplantation in inherited and environmentally induced retinal degeneration: anatomy, immunohistochemistry and function. AB - In conclusion, we have shown that photoreceptors can be transplanted to retina in which the host's photoreceptors are lost by environmental (constant light) or inherited deficits. Furthermore transplanted photoreceptor cells maintain basic characteristics of normal photoreceptor cells by producing opsin and maintaining an intercellular organization and apposition to the host retina that is similar to that seen in the normal outer nuclear layer. To accomplish this we have devised a method to isolate the intact photoreceptor layer. This is significant because it will be necessary to maintain tight matrix organization if coherent vision is to be restored to the retina compromised by the loss of photoreceptors. We have further developed a surgical approach which minimizes trauma to the eye and allows controlled positioning of sheets of transplanted photoreceptors to their homotopic location within the eye. In addition these methods for transplantation and isolation of photoreceptors could be utilized to prepare and transplant other retinal layers so that selected populations of retinal cells can be used in other neurobiological investigations. Photoreceptors can be transplanted when developing or when mature. Not only can mature rat photoreceptors can be transplanted, but we have shown that mature photoreceptors from human donors can be transplanted as well. This is significantly different from neurons which must be immature in order to be transplanted. At present the reason for this difference is not known but has obvious importance for retinal and neural transplantation research in general. Finally, we have shown that transplanted photoreceptors activate the host's dystrophic retina in a light dependent manner that closely resembles the activation pattern seen in normal retina. This finding taken together with our results showing that human photoreceptors can be transplanted presents the possibility that some forms of human blindness might eventually be ameliorated by photoreceptor transplantation. The authors are grateful to A. I. Cohen, and N. W. Daw for helpful discussions; to C. Barnstable for gifts of antibody; and to J. Lett for excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by grants from NIH, National Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation, the Monsanto Company; and an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship to MSS. PMID- 2608686 TI - Monapterin in blood of patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). PMID- 2608687 TI - [The physical properties of suppository excipients analysis of texture by means of thermocouple]. PMID- 2608688 TI - [Matrix systems: biological disposition of the active principal]. PMID- 2608689 TI - [The effect of composition of mixtures of minigranules on the liberation of furosemide]. PMID- 2608690 TI - Nucleophilic aminoalcohol-catalyzed degradation of indomethacin in aqueous solution. AB - The catalytic effect of ethanolamine and related aminoalcohols on the rate of degradation of indomethacin in alkaline solutions has been shown to be due to a nucleophilic reaction mechanism involving formation of an intermediate ester consisting of p-chlorobenzoic acid and aminoalcohol through the reaction of aminoalcohol hydroxyl group with carbonyl carbon of indomethacin amide group. This ester subsequently undergoes a rapid intramolecular aminolysis to yield a stable p-chlorobenzamide derivative and/or is hydrolyzed to p-chlorobenzoic acid, depending on the chemical structure of aminoalcohols. No catalytic effect was observed with the amines not containing a hydroxyl group. PMID- 2608691 TI - Anti-ulcer activity of procyanidins preparation of water-soluble procyanidin cimetidine complexes. AB - The anti-ulcer properties of water-soluble procyanidins prepared by fermentation of tannins from Fragaria vesca were studied. Complexes of procyanidins and cimetidine were prepared. The procyanidins increased the water-solubility of the cimetidine and may prevent undesirable nitrosamine formation in the stomach as they block its cyanamide function. PMID- 2608692 TI - Effects of OKY-046, a selective thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, on blood pressure and thromboxane synthesis in spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - The effects of OKY-046, a specific thromboxane (TX) synthetase inhibitor, on blood pressure, urinary TX excretion, TX synthesis in blood platelets, kidney slices and aortic strips, were evaluated in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). OKY-046 was dissolved in drinking water at concentrations of 1, 10, 100 mg/dl. The average intakes of OKY-046 were 1.4 +/- 0.1, 13.0 +/- 1.1, and 147 +/- 12 mg/kg/day, in rats who took 1, 10, 100 mg/dl of OKY-046 solutions for drinking water, respectively. The systolic blood pressure was significantly decreased by 34 mmHg only with the high dose of OKY-046 (147 mg/kg/day). OKY-046 suppressed the platelet aggregability to ADP and the release of TX B2, a stable metabolite of TX A2, from blood platelets in a dose-dependent fashion. Urinary excretion of TX B2 decreased significantly in both groups treated with moderate (13.0 mg/kg/day) and high doses of OKY-046 (147 mg/kg/day). The release of TX B2 from kidney slices was decreased only by the high dose of OKY-046, while the release of TX B2 from aortic strips was not changed even by the high dose of OKY-046. OKY 046 had no effect on urinary excretion of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, a stable metabolite of prostacyclin, or, on its release from the kidney slices and aortic strips. These results suggest that the effect of OKY-046 on TX synthesis has organ specificity and that the antihypertensive effect of this drug in SHR is related to reduced renal TX synthesis. PMID- 2608693 TI - Attempts at dietary alteration of prostaglandin pathways in the management of pre eclampsia. AB - It has been suggested that dietary supplementation with prostaglandin precursors may enhance the synthesis of PGE which lowers vascular sensitivity to increased levels of angiotensin II in pregnancy. Therefore the effect of dietary supplementation with evening primrose oil (linoleic acid and gamma-linoleic acid) in African primigravidae with established pre-eclampsia was studied. Patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups. Group A (23 patients) received 8 capsules/day of evening primrose oil and group B (24 patients) received 8 capsules of placebo. No significant differences were found between the groups in respect to perinatal outcome, blood pressure lowering effect and haematological indices. PMID- 2608694 TI - Effect of dexamethasone on arachidonate metabolism in isolated mouse thymocytes. AB - In order to investigate the effects of glucocorticoids on arachidonate release and metabolism in mouse thymocytes, we have studied both the action of dexamethasone on arachidonate release from pre-labeled cells and its effect on tracer uptake and metabolism. Our results indicate, first, that dexamethasone failed in this experimental model to affect phospholipase activity; second, that glucocorticoids are able to inhibit the transformation of the precursor into prostaglandins and to block simultaneously its acylation into phospholipids; finally that isolated thymocytes secrete significant amounts of 12-HETE, and that this secretion is unaffected by steroid treatment. PMID- 2608695 TI - 15-Keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin E2- and F2 alpha-metabolite levels in blood from men and women given prostaglandin E2 orally. AB - Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was administered orally in a dose of 1 mg to healthy males (n = 20) and females (n = 10). Blood levels of 15-keto-13,14 dihydroprostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha-M) and 15-keto-13,14 dihydroprostaglandin E2 (PGE2-M), determined as the rearrangement product 11 deoxy-15-keto-13,14-dihydro-11 beta, 16-cycloprostaglandin E2 (PGE2-cyclo-M), were measured. The levels of the two PG metabolites increased already 10 minutes after ingestion of the tablet and the mean peak value for PGE2-cyclo-M in the men was 4.64 nmol/l which was reached 50 minutes after PGE2 administration. The mean peak value in women was 4.99 nmol/l which was obtained after 30 minutes. The increase in PGE2-cyclo-M concentration was significantly faster (p less than 0.05) in women than in the men. The mean plasma concentration of PGF2 alpha in males were 0.20 nmol/l prior to treatment and rose after PGE2 ingestion to mean peak level of 0.84 nmol/l after 70 minutes. The corresponding values for the females were 0.18 nmol/l and 0.88 nmol/l 50 minutes into treatment. When the data from both sexes were amalgamated PGE2-cyclo-M peak levels were reached significantly (p = 0.004) sooner than the PGF2 alpha-M peak. The two PG metabolites returned to baseline levels in 70% of the individuals after 240 minutes. The increase in PGF2 alpha-M concentration following oral administration of PGE2 indicates that part of the PGE2 was reduced to PGF2 alpha.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2608696 TI - Relationship between the production capacity of ovarian 13,14-dihydro prostaglandin F2-alpha and the process of ovulation in immature female rats pretreated with gonadotropin. AB - The purpose of this work was to investigate the effects of gonadotropin on the production capacity of ovarian 13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin F2-alpha (13,14H2-PGF2 alpha) and whether or not this capacity had any relation to the process of ovulation in rat. To induce the first ovulation, immature rats were injected subcutaneously with PMSG (5 IU/rat) at 8:00 at 26 days of age and some of these rats were followed by an intraperitoneal injection of hCG (10 IU/rat) at 57 hrs after PMSG treatment. The 13,14H2-PGF2 alpha production capacity was unchanged as compared with vehicle control until 57 hrs after PMSG treatment. However, the capacity showed a striking increase at 60 hrs after PMSG treatment. A maximal increase of about 7 fold was observed at 9 hrs after hCG injection just before ovulation. The production capacity of the Graafian follicle (GF) and the part (WO GF) of the whole ovary (WO) from which the GF is removed at 2:00 on day 29 and the capacity of early corpus luteum at 8:00 on day 29 was greater than that of GF and WO-GF at 0:00 on day 29. These results suggest that the 13,14H2-PGF2 alpha production capacity in rat ovary is regulated by gonadotropin and is closely associated with the process of ovulation. PMID- 2608697 TI - Measurement of PGE2 as the methyl oxime by radioimmunoassay using a novel iodinated label. AB - A radioimmunoassay has been developed for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) using methyl oxime (MOX) derivatisation and a novel 125Iodine radiolabel. PGE2-methyl oxime (PGE2-MOX) is coupled through an imide linkage to proline in a pro-gly-tyr or similar peptide rather than through the conventional amide linkage to histamine or tyrosine methyl ester. The main advantage of this method is that the imide linkage in the label does not resemble the amide link used in the original antigen and the conjugate is therefore readily displaced by the natural PGE2. This overcomes the traditional difficulty encountered in hapten RIAs where the antiserum has a higher affinity for the label than it has for the compound to be measured. The assay that has been developed using these modifications and a solid phase second antibody separation step, is both sensitive (with a lower detection limit of 0.5 pg/tube), reliable and simple and has the advantage that methyl oximation of the sample protects the PGE from degrading prior to and during the assay. PMID- 2608698 TI - The effect of chlamydial infection on the initiation of premature labour: serial measurements of intrauterine prostaglandin E2 in amniotic fluid, allantoic fluid and utero-ovarian vein, using catheterised sheep experimentally infected with an ovine abortion strain of Chlamydia psittaci. AB - The initiation of premature labour by an ovine abortion strain of Chlamydia psittaci was studied in relation to Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which plays a major role in parturition. The local intrauterine concentration of PGE2 was monitored after experimental infection with C. psittaci, during late gestation, using a catheterised sheep model. Indwelling catheters were implanted into the amniotic and allantoic cavities of six control sheep, and into six sheep infected with an ovine abortion of C. psittaci. The release of PGE2 into the utero-ovarian vein of these sheep was also monitored. Infection with C. psittaci was associated with a premature rise in PGE2 in the amniotic fluid between days 122 and 135 of gestation (P less than 0.01). A premature increase in PGE2 was defected between days 127 and 136 of gestation (P less than 0.05) in the allantoic fluid of sheep infected with C. psittaci, but not in the control uninfected sheep. Chlamydial infection significantly decreased the secretion of PGE2 into the utero-ovarian vein. The mean concentration of PGE2 in the utero-ovarian vein of infected sheep was 68.8 +/- 5.2% of the PGE2 concentration of control sheep between days 122 to 141 of gestation (P less than 0.01). The release of PGE2 into the utero-ovarian vein increased between days 126 to 136 of gestation in infected and control sheep (P less than 0.01). The results from the catheterised sheep model indicated that C. psittaci infection is associated with a local intrauterine release of PGE2. The magnitude of this release was similar to the PGE2 release in control sheep prior to parturition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2608699 TI - Effect of exogenous prostaglandins and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents on prostaglandin secretion and proliferation of mouse embryo fibroblasts in culture. AB - During wound healing, the positive and negative modulation of fibroblast proliferation may be due, in part, to the high prostaglandin concentration of the inflammatory exudates. In vitro, PGF2 alpha has been shown to stimulate, whereas PGE2 inhibits, the growth of different fibroblast cell lines. Therefore, we have investigated the effect of exogenous prostaglandins (PGs) and of various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the proliferation and the prostaglandin (PG) synthesis of normal mouse embryo fibroblasts. PGF2 alpha, 6 keto PGF1 alpha and PGE2 increase fibroblast proliferation. On the other hand, PGF2 alpha increases the synthesis of PGE2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha while 6-keto PGF1 alpha solely inhibits PGF2 alpha release, PGE2 being inactive. The mouse embryo fibroblasts partially transform the prodrug sulindac sulfoxide in the sulfide form, which completely inhibits PG synthesis, as does indomethacin. In contrast, ibuprofen exerts a differential action, according to the type of PG measured. Among the NSAIDs tested, only sulindac (sulfoxide or sulfide) stimulates fibroblast proliferation and this effect appears independent of an alteration of PG synthesis. Therefore, in this model of normal mouse embryo fibroblasts, while endogenous prostaglandins are not involved in the control of cell proliferation, exogenous PGs have the ability to alter fibroblast growth and PG synthesis. PMID- 2608700 TI - Comparative study of a two dose schedule of PGE2 3 mg pessary and 1700 micrograms film for induction of labour in nulliparae with poor cervical score. AB - Efficacy of a two dose schedule of 3 mg pessary or 1700 micrograms film of PGE2 for induction of labour was compared in nulliparae with poor cervical score. Patient characteristics in the two groups (43 in 3 mg and 40 in 1700 micrograms group) were comparable in age, period of gestation, indications for induction of labour and in their initial cervical score. The number of patients who started labour with a two dose schedule 4 hours apart were similar in each group. The improvement of cervical score, length of labour, mode of delivery and the neonatal outcome were not different in the two groups. There was no advantage of using a film preparation over that in the form of a pessary and the use of 3 mg dose did not give significantly better results compared with the 1700 micrograms dose, in terms of obstetric or neonatal outcome. PMID- 2608701 TI - Zinc acexamate reduces gastric damage induced by platelet-activating factor. AB - We have tested the ability of zinc acexamate (ZAC) to prevent platelet-activating factor (Paf) induced gastric damage in rats. Lesions were characterized by a vascular congestion affecting the entire mucosa, oedema, haemorrhage and frequent necrosis of the more superficial areas. The gastric damage appearing after Paf was accompanied by degranulation of gastric mast cells. Leukocytes were often seen at the submucosal level. Oral pretreatment with ZAC reduced in a dose dependent manner both gastric damage and mast cell degranulation observed after Paf. ZAC administered orally at a dose of 100 mg kg-1 statistically inhibited (p less than 0.01) gastric damage and mast cell degranulation. ZAC did not affect the hypotension induced by Paf confirming that gastric damage and hypotension appearing in rats after Paf administration are two independent phenomena. The present findings indicate that the inhibitory effect of ZAC upon gastric lesions induced by Paf may be related to the different protective actions exhibited by this zinc compound in a wide variety of experimental models of gastric ulcer. PMID- 2608702 TI - Effect of hCG on the 13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin F2-alpha forming capacity of the ovary after ovulation in PMSG-primed immature female rats. AB - We have examined the change in the ovarian 13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin F2 alpha (13,14H2-PGF2 alpha) forming capacity after the first ovulation induced by injection of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG 5 IU, sc) at 26 days of age. After ovulation, the 13,14H2-PGF2 alpha forming capacity in the whole ovary (WO) and in non-luteal ovarian tissues (WO-CL) gradually decreased, whereas a rapid decrease of the synthesizing capacity was observed in corpus luteum (CL). The capacity in WO 4 days after ovulation (33 days of age) was markedly stimulated by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG 10 IU, ip) administration, whereas CL at 33 days of age did not respond to the stimulatory effect of hCG. A single injection of hCG on day 7 after hypophysectomy resulted 12 hrs later in a significant increase in the forming capacity of 13,14H2-PGF2 alpha in WO-CL. These results indicate that the 13,14H2-PGF2 alpha forming capacity in CL rapidly decreases after the first ovulation and the WO-CL, but not CL, retain the ability to form 13,14H2-PGF2 alpha in response to exogenous gonadotropin for a long time. PMID- 2608703 TI - Pyridazine analogues of biologically active compounds. Part 5: Novel potential cardiotonics of the amrinone type. AB - Preparation of a series of novel pyridazine derivatives structurally related to bipyridine cardiotonics, starting from 4-methylpyridazine or 4-acetylpyridazine, respectively, is described. As observed with compounds 8, 11 and 16, an enhancement of in vitro cardiotonic activity is associated with the replacement of one or both pyridine subunit(s) in amrinone or milrinone by a 1,2-diazine system. PMID- 2608704 TI - Heteroarylalkanoic acids with possible antiinflammatoric activities. Part 6: 3 (4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide-3-yl-thio)-propanoic acid derivatives. AB - A series of 3-(4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide-3-yl-thio)-propanoic acids was synthesized in order to study their possible antiinflammatory in comparison with the corresponding lower homologues and isosters previously studied. Most of the compounds proved effective against carrageenan-induced plantar oedema. The possible influence of some chemico-physical parameters on the occurrence of this biological activity was investigated. PMID- 2608705 TI - Synthesis and properties of 7-methyl-5-oxo-1,5-dihydro-8-[1,2,4]-triazolo [4,3 c]pyrimidinecarboxylic acid derivatives. AB - The synthesis of the new triazolo[4,3-c]pyrimidines is described, starting from derivatives of 5-carboxy-2-hydroxy-4-hydrazino-6-methylpyrimidine. The 4-methyl 2,3-dihydropyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-3,6-dione was also obtained. Some of triazolo[4,3-c]pyrimidines tested for biological activity were found inactive. PMID- 2608706 TI - Piperazine derivatives of benzimidazole as potential anthelmintics. Part 1: Synthesis and activity of methyl-5-(4-substituted piperazin-1-yl)benzimidazole-2 carbamates. AB - A series of 5-(4-substituted piperazin-1-yl)-2-nitroanilines (4) and 5-(4 substituted piperazin-1-yl)benzimidazole-2-carbamates (6) has been synthesized starting from 5-chloro-2-nitroaniline (3) and N-monosubstituted piperazines. Catalytic reduction of 4 with Pd/C followed by treatment with 1,3-dicarbomethoxy S-methylisothiourea yielded the corresponding methyl-5-(4-substituted piperazin-1 yl)benzimidazole-2-carbamates (6) which were for anthelmintic activity against experimental infections of Trichinella spiralis. PMID- 2608707 TI - [Preparation of peroral delayed-action drug forms using biological polymers as the base. 4. Preparation of erosion tablets with a base of starch hydrolysis products]. AB - The preparation and investigation of erosonic tablets using a modified starch product are described. Codeine phosphate and pholedrine sulfate served as model drugs. The pharmaceutical investigations showed, that this product is a good auxiliary substance for the direct compression. When in contact with water, the tablets form a gel. This gel determines the drug release. In in vitro investigations a degradation of the starch product by enzymes was detected. Especially the amount of the release values obtained were analyzed by the equation of Noyes-Whitney. PMID- 2608708 TI - [Biotransformation of pyridazines. 1. Pyridazine and 3-methylpyridazine]. AB - Pyridazin (1) and 3-methylpyridazine (6) undergo oxidative biotransformation in an unexpected high degree. Beside the unchanged compounds, after administration of 1 two isomeric monohydroxylated products (2, 3), 4,5 dihydrodihydroxypyridazine (4) and 4,5-dihydroxypyridazine (5) and after administration of 6 one ringhydroxylated 6-derivative (7), 3 hydroxymethylpyridazine (8), one ringhydroxylated 3-hydroxymethylpyridazine derivative (9) and 4,5-dihydroxy-3-methylpyridazine (10) were suggested as urinary metabolites in rats. 2 and 7 are the main metabolites of 1 and 6, respectively. PMID- 2608709 TI - Influence of the ion-pair-formation on the pharmacokinetic properties of drugs. Part 5: Influence of ion-pair-formation on elimination of bretylium and hexylsalicylic acid in rats. AB - Following i.v. administration of the hydrophilic drug bretylium (1) and the lipophilic hexylsalicylic acid (2) in rats the plasma levels of 2 were increased due to an increased intestinal reabsorption of 2. Under these conditions the biliary eliminated amount of 2 was 8 times higher than that following the administration of 2 alone. The eneteroheptic circulation of 2 was found to be interrupted following i.v. administration of 1 and 2 and additional oral administration of an anionic exchanger. Then the plasma levels of 2 were not influenced by 1. On other hand the plasma levels of 2 appear to be too low in order to influence those of 1. PMID- 2608710 TI - Antibacterial, antifungal and antitumoral activities of 5-carbamoyloxy and 5 acyloxynaphthalene-1,8-carbolactones. AB - Naphthalene-1,8 carbolactone derivatives have been investigated in order to compare their activities using antitumoral, antibacterial and antifungal tests in vitro. The effect of 5-substitution is the reduction of the toxicity and the suppression of the antibiotic activity. The best results were obtained with the ester series (5-acetoxy and 5-propionyloxy) on both antitumoral and antifungal tests. PMID- 2608711 TI - [Movement profile analysis--automatic registration and evaluation of the movement patterns of small animals]. AB - A method is described, in which small laboratory animals are freely moving in the field of analogous capacitive sensors. The electrical signals induced by animal movements which, according to amplitude and polarity, contain informations on intensity and direction of movements are conveyed to a classification device and classified according to well-defined classes. By measuring during a fixed time (e.g. 10 min) or for a previously determined number of signals (e.g. 2000) a distribution of class frequencies, the movement profile, is obtained. Parameters of movement profile of mice in the orientation phase and factors of influence are reported on. The method allows the continuously automatic registration of movement profiles. PMID- 2608712 TI - No embryotoxicity of exogenous alpha-elastin evidenced through interference with the chick embryonic morphogenetic systems. AB - The effects of alpha-elastin (1) on the morphogenetic systems of the chick embryo were studied by means of the CHEST (chick embryotoxicity screening test). The subgerminal administration of doses of 0.3 mg and larger induced a growth retardation of the caudal morphogenetic systems (CMS). The administration of single effective doses of 1 subgerminally on the second day and intraamniotically on the third and fourth d of embryogenesis verified the beginning of the direct embryotoxicity range between the doses of 0.3 and 1 mg per embryo. It presents in the theoretical extrapolation for mammals the dose limits between 1 and 10 g.kg-1 of maternal weight. Embryotoxic manifestations (body wall defects, growth retardation and embryolethality) were induced predominantly in the embryos treated on d 2 with the very high doses only. Their frequency was rare. It has been concluded that 1 could be a safe potential natural drug carrier in clinical practice. PMID- 2608713 TI - [Potential cardiotonics. 5. Preparation and properties of 6-unsubstituted and 6 methyl-substituted 3-cyan-5-(pyrid-4-yl)pyridine]. PMID- 2608714 TI - An efficient indirect micro-analytical method for the determination of palladium in carbenicillin. PMID- 2608715 TI - [Reverse phase-HPLC of toxicologically relevant active substances]. PMID- 2608716 TI - [The effect of esterification on the dissociation and permeation behavior of orotic acid]. PMID- 2608717 TI - Studies on the availability of iron(II) from Glubifer tablets in simulated gastro intestinal fluids. PMID- 2608718 TI - Neutralization of hirudin anticoagulant action by DIP-thrombin. PMID- 2608719 TI - Effect of ciclosporin on rat liver and kidney glutathione content. AB - The effect of ciclosporin (CS) on hepatic and renal glutathione was investigated in 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-250 g each. CS (120 micrograms/kg/day, i.p.) treatment caused a significant decrease in both hepatic and renal glutathione content. The rat hepatic glutathione levels decreased by 16% within 1 h of a single CS treatment and continued decreasing to 50% following chronic treatment with CS for 7 days. Renal glutathione content decreased only marginally (3%) within 1 h of CS treatment. However, it decreased by 17% within 24 h and continued to decrease during the 7 days of chronic treatment. This decrease in the content of both hepatic and renal glutathione may contribute to the toxicity observed during treatment with CS. PMID- 2608720 TI - Effects of 2(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole pretreatment on cefpiramide binding to mouse glutathione S-transferases. AB - Binding of cefpiramide (CPM) and other beta-lactam antimicrobial agents to 2(3) tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA)-induced liver glutathione (GSH) S-transferases (EC 2.5.1.18) from CD-1 mice was studied. A marked induction of hepatic GSH S transferase from mice fed BHA was observed. Gel chromatography of liver cytosol from mice fed BHA showed an increased binding of CPM, cefotetan and cefazolin to BHA-induced GSH S-transferases. The extent of their binding to GSH S-transferase seemed to be correlated with the extent of their excretion into the bile. Binding of CPM to the GSH S-transferase fraction was inhibited by both indocyanine green, which is known to bind liver GSH S-transferases intensively, and by cefoperazon, which is mainly excreted into the bile. This study suggests that GSH S transferases are the main binding proteins of CPM in the liver cytosol fraction and play an important role as carrier proteins of CPM and some antimicrobial agents in mouse liver. PMID- 2608721 TI - The in vitro and in vivo inhibition of intestinal heme oxygenase by tin protoporphyrin. AB - The effects of tin-protoporphyrin (SnPP) on the activity of heme oxygenase in the epithelium of the proximal region of the small intestine were examined in male Sprague-Dawley rats. A single dose of SnPP (25 mumol/kg body weight) administered either parenterally or by gavage-produced time-dependent decreases in the activity of microsomal heme oxygenase over 24-48 h. Although heme oxygenase activity reverted to normal levels within 24 h after oral dosing, parenteral treatment resulted in substantial (70%) inhibition of the enzyme through at least 48 h after administration of the metalloporphyrin. In vitro, SnPP was shown to be a competitive inhibitor of microsomal heme oxygenase (Ki = 0.017 microM). Tissue tin levels were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy 48 h after SnPP treatments. Comparable levels of tin were found in the liver and kidney after parenteral treatment (14.34 +/- 1.50 and 14.39 +/- 0.45 micrograms/g dry weight, respectively) while only 1.5-3% of these amounts were found in these organs after oral treatment with the metalloporphyrin. These studies establish that the rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of heme to bilirubin is inhibited in intestinal epithelium to the same extent as the enzyme is inhibited in other organs. PMID- 2608722 TI - Comparison of the effect of amiloride and its analogue dichlorobenzamil on cardiac chronotropic responses to ouabain in myocardial cell aggregates in culture. AB - The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of amiloride, an inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange, and its analog 3',4'-dichlorobenzamil, a more specific inhibitor of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange on the response of cardiac myocytes to ouabain. Cardiac myocyte aggregates were prepared from myocytes obtained from 7-day-old chick embryo hearts. Ouabain at 10(-6) M produced a marked and significant (p less than 0.05) reduction in contractile frequency. Amiloride, at 10(-7) to 10( 5) M produced a definite, significant (p less than 0.05) and dose-dependent reduction in this effect of ouabain. In contrast, dichlorobenzamil, 10(-7) to 10( 6) M, significantly (p less than 0.05) accentuated this effect of ouabain. Thus, amiloride and its analog dichlorobenzamil have different effects on the cardiac responses to ouabain presumably because of the differences in the specificity of their inhibition of Na+/H+ and Na+/Ca2+ exchange. Thus to the extent that the effects of amiloride and dichlorobenzamil are mediated through, respectively Na(+)-H+ and Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange, these data suggest that ouabain-induced reduction in contractile frequency is mediated through Na(+)-H+ exchange while Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange acts to minimize this action of ouabain. Amiloride may be useful to oppose the negative chronotropic effect of ouabain while dichlorobenzamil accentuates this effect of ouabain. PMID- 2608723 TI - Muscarinic receptor subtype (M1) identification on rabbit pulmonary vascular endothelium in vivo. AB - We have investigated the presence of M1-subtype muscarinic receptors on pulmonary vascular endothelium in vivo. Utilizing multiple indicator-dilution techniques, we studied [3H]-pirenzepine ([3H]-PNZ; a selective M1 receptor antagonist) binding during a single transpulmonary pass in anesthetized, artificially ventilated rabbits, before and after administration of 4.3 mumol/kg of the nonselective muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine. [14C]-Dextran (MW = 70,000 90,000) served as the intravascular indicator. Before atropine administration, approximately 20% of [3H]-PNZ was lost (i.e., presumed bound to PNZ-specific and nonspecific sites) during a single pass through the pulmonary microvasculature. A significant decrease in [3H]-PNZ binding occurred 90 min after atropine (to approximately 60% of total initial binding), but not after saline, reflecting the loss of specific binding to M1 receptors. These data are in support of previous findings from our laboratory indicating a pressor response to M1 receptor stimulation in the rabbit pulmonary circulation as well as an endothelium dependent contractile response to M1 receptor stimulation in vitro. PMID- 2608724 TI - Phonetic analysis of the stod in standard Danish. AB - This paper presents an acoustic and physiological analysis of the Danish 'stod' with an introduction on its phonological role and distribution. The stod is a prosodic feature bound to definite syllables in certain word types and connected to the latter part of the syllable. Phonetically it is a phonation type related to creaky voice. The first part of the syllable is characterized acoustically by a higher pitch level and often a higher intensity level than syllables without stod, and by a relatively high subglottal pressure and airflow, thus generally by a relatively high expenditure of energy. In the second part, the stod phase proper, there is a considerable decrease in intensity, particularly in the lower part of the spectrum and, for the majority of the speakers, a noticeable decrease in fundamental frequency, and/or aperiodicity. Moreover the airflow is low, and inverse filtering shows a longer closure time in each vibration. There is also a slight decrease in subglottal pressure, and all speakers have a constriction of the vocal folds and often of the ventricular folds as well, but with large interindividual variation as to the degree of constriction. On the boundary between the first and the second phase most speakers have a strong contraction of the vocalis and lateralis muscles, obviously preparing for the glottal constriction of the second phase. The author cannot follow Svend Smith in concluding that a sudden contraction and relaxation of the respiratory muscles resulting in a quick rise and fall in subglottal pressure constitutes the primary factor. There is, rather, an independent contraction of a number of muscles, and neither the high pitch at the beginning nor the fall in pitch and intensity in the second phase can be explained by the subglottal pressure contour. The high pitch level at the beginning may be explained by activity in the cricothyroid, and the decrease in pitch and the low intensity in the second phase is probably due to constriction of the glottis, although the fact that the decrease in intensity starts rather early raises some problems. Finally the question of the origin of the stod is discussed briefly. It is suggested that the stod in Danish perhaps originated from a reinforcement of the first syllable in combination with reduction and loss of a following syllable in Common Scandinavian. The reinforcement may have been accompanied by a rise in pitch, so that developments in different directions (involving stod or tonal accents) were possible. PMID- 2608725 TI - How well does average fundamental frequency correlate with speaker height and weight? AB - The purpose of this investigation is to shed some more light on the conflicting views about a number of acoustic parameters which might carry information on some general somatic features of the speaker. In an experiment, average fundamental frequency (F0) values of 105 male and 78 female adult subjects were correlated with their individual height and weight data. No significant correlations between acoustic and physical parameters were found. The results are discussed with respect to earlier studies with completely different approaches to the issue, namely direct estimation of physical traits from the speech signal by listeners. PMID- 2608726 TI - Tonogenetic mechanisms in northern Mon-Khmer. AB - In this paper, tonogenesis in the four languages Northern Kammu, Blang, Hu and U is analyzed. For comparison, register development in Lamet is treated as well. All these languages belong to the Palaungic and Kammuic branches of the Mon-Khmer division of the Austroasiatic language family and are fairly closely related, but they have developed tone or register systems independently of each other. These developments can be explained by universal microprosodic properties of segments, which are used in different ways by the different languages. Tone (or register) development is connected with merger of voiced and voiceless initial consonants in Kammu, Blang and Lamet, with merger of long and short vowels in Hu, and with merger of long and short vowels combined with both initial and final consonant changes and vowel quality changes in U. Thus, the range of microprosodic properties used for tonogenesis is extremely wide in this language group. PMID- 2608727 TI - The effect of coarticulation on the role of transitions in vowel perception. AB - Sequences of the form V1bV2bV1 were recorded by a male speaker. From each sequence, three types of stimuli were edited out: (1) the medial vowel, from after the burst of the preceding stop to the start of the closure of the following stop; (2) the quasi-steady state of the medial vowel, and (3) the transitions alone of the medial vowel (complement to 2). The perception of each type of stimulus was examined in separate tests and the results were compared. For two of the three contexts (V1 = /i/, /u/), scores for stimuli of the third condition (transitions) were as high as for the first (control) condition, supporting the importance of transitions as cues for vowel identity. For the third context (/a/), however, performance was significantly lower, thus suggesting an influence of vowel context on the contribution of transitions to vowel identification. PMID- 2608728 TI - Dynamic information in the identification and discrimination of vowels. AB - The dynamic theory of vowel perception emphasizes the importance of the consonant transitions in CVC syllables to the identification of the vowel itself. However, the dynamic theory is relatively vague in terms of what perceptual processes may be involved and it says nothing about the role of auditory and/or phonetic memory for such 'dynamic events'. The present study created three synthetic [iota] [epsilon] continua consisting of a [bVb] full-syllable continuum, a silent-center continuum (which had over 72% of the medial vowel replaced by silence) and an isolated vowel continuum to specifically examine (1) the use of auditory and phonetic memory for dynamic acoustic cues and (2) the ability of listeners to track the trajectories of very brief formant transitions. Experiment 1 demonstrated that there were no significant differences among the three continua in terms of listener identifications but that the silent-center tokens demonstrated significantly lower within-category discriminations, perhaps because of degraded auditory representation. Experiment 2 required listeners to make cross-continuum vowel discriminations and showed that some degree of acoustic similarity was important--listeners were particularly poor at discriminating between the silent-center and vowel-only tokens. This suggests that listeners were not able to make discriminations on the basis of abstract vowel labels alone. Experiment 3 demonstrated that listeners could make quite accurate vowel identifications even when as little as 1 pitch period of acoustic energy signaled the consonant transitions in the silent-center tokens. Experiment 4 showed that listeners' identifications of the silent-center stimuli were based on the formant changes in the transitions rather than their endpoint frequencies. PMID- 2608729 TI - Analysis of relaxation time data from a low-resolution 1H-NMR-pulse-spectrometer. AB - Systematic investigations have been undertaken in order to evaluate the potential of low resolution NMR for characterization of biological tissue (in vitro) during early post mortem period. Test measurements from corn-oil samples are compared with computer simulated data. Furthermore, time-after-excision dependence of mouse-liver tissue is presented using the in vitro protocol developed in our laboratory. Quantitative data from biexponential model fit are shown and results are discussed in terms of the "best guess" model. PMID- 2608730 TI - Systematic investigation of degradation effects on spin-spin relaxation times in mouse-liver by low resolution NMR. AB - Despite numerous work on spin-lattice (T1) relaxation in vitro, not much attention has been paid on spin-spin (T2) relaxation until now. In this study we are presenting spin-spin relaxation time measurements of mouse liver tissue in order to estimate the time-after-excision effects. The post mortem behaviour of excised tissue was investigated up to four hours in intervals of about nine minutes. The time course of liver T2 was determined for different temperatures (4 degrees - 40 degrees C) for female mice. In order to describe the similar behaviour of T2 and pH changes in mouse liver after excision, we are suggesting an empirical model to correlate this data. In contrast to T1 results published recently, we found no significant differences in liver T2 time course after excision due to different physiological states like sex, starvation or circadian rhythm. T1/T2-behaviour after tissue excision is discussed in an attempt to separate various relaxation mechanisms. PMID- 2608731 TI - Uncertainties, artifacts, uncontrolled experiments and incomplete evidence in modern biology. AB - Major uncertainties of biological measurements in respect of parameters to which they are referred, cytochemical techniques, subcellular fractionation, light microscopy, electron microscopy, examination of cell membranes, dimensions of cells and intracellular movements, are discussed. The assumptions inherent in widely used techniques are noted and their warrant-ability examined. The impact of insufficient control experiments is shown to be considerable. A few important pieces of evidence in current generally accepted theories--mostly from neurobiology--are highlighted. All these problems represent incomplete experiments, from which it is premature to draw conclusions. PMID- 2608732 TI - 13C-NMR spectroscopic studies on the glucose metabolism of Angiostrongylus cantonesis' eggs with special reference to the end-products and metabolic pathway. AB - 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to identify metabolites excreted by Angiostrongylus cantonensis eggs which had been maintained aerobically in the presence of D-[13C6] glucose. Using 13C-NMR we proved that lactate, acetate and alanine originated from glucose present in the medium via glycolysis. Aminooxyacetate, an inhibitor of alanine transferase, inhibited simultaneously alanine production and the ability to take up glutamate, aspartate and valine from the medium. In addition, we demonstrated that these amino acids can serve as amino group donors of the pyruvate to alanine transamination system in the eggs. PMID- 2608733 TI - Paraproteins associated with low plasma sodium levels. AB - The mechanism of the maintenance of low plasma sodium levels seen in certain multiple myeloma cases has been attributed to the cationic nature of pathological immunoglobulins (paraproteins). This hypothesis was tested with equilibrium dialysis and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis techniques. Citrated plasma samples and affinity chromatography purified paraproteins of three multiple myeloma patients with abnormally low plasma sodium levels were dialysed against 140 mmol/L NaCl solution at pH 7.4 for 24 hours. The electrophoresis of paraproteins was conducted under non-denaturing conditions. Low plasma sodium concentrations observed under the dialysis of the patients' plasma samples were in good agreement with earlier reports. However, the isolated paraproteins did not show any sodium exclusion during the dialysis experiment. The electrophoretic mobility of the paraproteins at pH 7.4 indicated that the isoelectric point of these molecules was below 7.4, so they cannot behave as cations at the pH of the blood. From these data it appears that the maintenance of low plasma sodium levels in certain IgG type myeloma cases cannot be explained by the previously postulated cationic nature of the paraproteins. PMID- 2608734 TI - [Nursing of the child with subacute sclerosing inflammation of the brain]. PMID- 2608735 TI - [Assistance via the element of nursing care]. PMID- 2608736 TI - [Evaluation of the content of an academic program of nursing education]. PMID- 2608738 TI - [Child health in the school years. The Polish Nursing Society. The Chief Board]. PMID- 2608737 TI - [From kindness of heart]. PMID- 2608739 TI - [Whose "sister" is the nurse?]. PMID- 2608740 TI - [And once again on ... the standing of the profession]. PMID- 2608741 TI - [Diagnostic procedures and hospitalized preschoolers]. PMID- 2608742 TI - [The early diagnosis of phenylketonuria]. PMID- 2608744 TI - [With whom do they collaborate?]. PMID- 2608743 TI - [A new form of qualifying courses for school nurses]. PMID- 2608745 TI - [The difficulties of working in the home environment]. PMID- 2608746 TI - [Care of the patient under orthopedic treatment. III]. PMID- 2608747 TI - [Nursing of the child with orthopedic diseases]. PMID- 2608748 TI - Genitourinary problems in the male patient. PMID- 2608749 TI - [Schizophrenic ego-dysfunction as a problem of the consciousness act]. PMID- 2608750 TI - [123I-IMP-SPECT finding of a case of presenile dementia with motor neuron disease -comparison between Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease and presenile dementia with motor neuron disease]. AB - Cross-sectional X-CT and 123I-IMP-SPECT studies comparing patients with presenile dementia with motor neuron disease (52-year-old, female), with Alzheimer's disease (51-year-old, male) and Pick's disease (49-year-old, male), have found a pattern of reductions in regional cerebral blood flow; the most severe reductions have been in fronto-temporal regions in cases of Pick's disease and presenile dementia with motor neuron disease. 123I-IMP-SPECT in a patient with presenile dementia with motor neuron disease differed significantly from uptake in a case with Alzheimer's disease. Although these findings should be evaluated as part of a prospective longitudinal study with X-CT and 123I-IMP-SPECT, it could be suggested that the development of these diseases has different pathophysiologies. PMID- 2608751 TI - [Event-related potentials in depression]. PMID- 2608752 TI - [Studies of sleep disorders in the aged and middle aged using polysomnography]. PMID- 2608753 TI - Trends in American psychiatry: implications for psychiatry in Japan. PMID- 2608754 TI - [Understanding and care of patients with senile dementia]. PMID- 2608755 TI - [The reality of the application and technics of family therapy]. PMID- 2608756 TI - [A diagnostic classification of recent psychiatric diseases]. PMID- 2608757 TI - [Nosologic evaluation of oculopharyngeal myopathic syndromes]. AB - Three patients with oculopharyngeal involvement of neuromuscular origin are presented: one patient suffering from an oculopharyngeal neuromuscular disease (developing an oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy?) and two patients representing a neuromuscular mitochondriopathy. There is no evidence that the oculopharyngeal myopathy and neuromuscular disease, respectively, are the same, despite the simularity of the syndrome. The different clinico-pathological types of oculopharyngeal syndromes are discussed. Following-up the development of further manifestations of the oculopharyngeal syndrome can helf classifying them. PMID- 2608758 TI - [Facioscapulohumeral neuromuscular syndromes--problems of differential and early diagnosis and genetic counseling]. AB - Among 20 kinships affected by facioscapulohumeral and scapulohumeroperoneal neuromuscular syndromes 6 probands with autosomal dominant transmission and 5 obviously sporadic cases revealed myopathic changes on biopsy and were classified to have facioscapulohumer (operone)al muscle dystrophies. 5 autosomal dominant cases and one sporadic case with neurogenic muscle changes and 3 other non dystrophic phenocopies emphasize the necessity of muscle biopsy for nosological assignment. Definite correlations between mode of inheritance, clinical and morphological findings could not be found. Pathological ultrasound and EMG findings in parents and children of seemingly sporadic cases suggest to assume autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penterance in such cases. PMID- 2608759 TI - [Nosologic classification of Fazio-Londe disease]. AB - The observation of a progressive bulbar paralysis with lethal exit in a 20 years old patient, whose mother had died in the age of 29 years after a similar course of disease, is coordinated as Fazio: Londe-disease. But peculiarities are mentioned, that refer to traits of the special form of progressive bulbar paralysis described by Kennedy and of Kugelberg-Welander-disease. A genetic basis of variability is supposed. PMID- 2608760 TI - [Normal cerebrospinal fluid findings in spinal tumors--an analysis of 503 cases]. AB - Till now almost nothing has been published about normal liquor findings in spinal cord tumours. Out of 503 cases there were normal findings of total proteins and cells in 30 cases (6 per cent). A connection with the severity of the compression syndrome was not evident. Nevertheless liquor examinations are important in diseases of the medulla spinalis. This is especially useful in the differential diagnostical demarcation of inflammable spinal cord diseases, accompanying reactions or bleedings into the spinal channel. PMID- 2608761 TI - [Secondary muscular carnitine deficiency following immunosuppressive treatment]. AB - Carnitine deficiency syndromes can be classified into two groups: primary carnitine deficiency and secondary carnitine deficiency syndromes. A lipid storage myopathy with carnitine deficiency following an immunosuppressive therapy is described in a young man suffering from a possible polymyositis. After treatment with L-carnitine both biochemical and morphological features recovered. A secondary carnitine deficiency syndrome due to an immunosuppressive therapy is supposed. PMID- 2608762 TI - [The carnitine level of the umbilical cord blood in relation to the course of labor]. AB - Total and free carnitine were analyzed in cord blood of 24 newborn babies, with uncomplicated delivery, and 12 neonates with protacted labour. At birth, the mean neonatal carnitine value (total 33.7 +/- 10.1; free 23.5 +/- 7.5 mumol/l) was lower than the mean adult value (60.0 +/- 10.0 and 50.5 +/- 7.3, resp.). The carnitine values in the group with protracted labour increase slowly with duration of delivery. In our opinion carnitine values of neonates are not suitable for diagnosis of systemic carnitine deficiency syndrome. PMID- 2608763 TI - [Reduction of complete inpatient treatment by a system of partial hospitalization, ambulatory and complementary services]. AB - This study aimed at investigating whether psychiatric care and especially partial hospitalisation programmes would achieve a reduction in time and cost of inpatient care. Frequency and duration of hospital treatments were studied in chronic psychotic patients (mean duration of illness = 8.7 years) before and after admission to a comprehensive community care system. The system includes partial hospitalisation programmes, out-patient care and various community services. Frequency and duration of hospital treatments were found to be lowered to less than 50%. However, since there were long periods of partial hospitalisation in addition to in-patient treatment, the remaining time of out patient care was reduced. This result can be found mainly during the first year after admission and applies in particular to elderly and particularly chronic patients. In discussing the findings, treatment costs were also considered. PMID- 2608764 TI - [The function of the independent day clinic in psychiatric treatment]. AB - This report on the first ten years of the independent day hospital for psychiatric patients at Siegburg, West Germany, is based on the special nature and position of the hospital within the pattern of psychiatric hospital care as is being practised in W. Germany, where such hospitals are being run with provincial (Land)government supervision and management, and also in consideration of the fact that very little concrete experience has so far been collected on the independent hospitals. Geographical and social data are described and the changes that have taken place in the psychiatric patient care system in West Germany, as well as the changes in proportionate distribution of diagnoses of the patients, are considered. Differentiation of patient groups according to the development of their strategies for psychotic and borderline patients are worked out on this basis. Hence, this type of independent day hospital ceases to be a transitory affair and has evolved a therapeutic approach of its own. PMID- 2608765 TI - [Methods for selecting foster families for psychiatric family care]. AB - Psychiatric foster family care of no more than two patients living in the foster family can be seen as a therapeutic setting, where longterm chronic patients can improve in their social functioning. Recent studies found the family characteristics as decisive for potential therapeutic effects. So the question arises how to select adequate foster family applicants. In an empirical study with 105 applicant-families we have tried to uncover the selection-procedures and mechanism of the foster care team that finally lead to adequate/non-adequate distinction. The results of the study show that the differences between the two applicant groups (selected vs non selected) are not identical with the intended selection criteria of the team members. Some major differences were found in areas that were totally independent from the team-criteria: the selected-as adequate-families had a more intensive exchange with the outside world, educated more children and were therefore assumed to be socially more competent than the not selected applicant group. So selecting foster families comes up as a complicated decision making process that goes beyond checking up some criteria. PMID- 2608766 TI - The First International Symposium on Imaging the Brain in Psychiatry and Related Fields. Wurzburg, May, 1988. PMID- 2608767 TI - Developmental arrest of cerebral asymmetries in early onset schizophrenia. PMID- 2608768 TI - The role of limbic and paralimbic pathology in the etiology of schizophrenia. PMID- 2608769 TI - Brain morphology in schizophrenic disorder: prevalence and correlates of diffuse (cortical and subcortical) brain atrophy. PMID- 2608770 TI - Reduced temporal lobe area in schizophrenia by magnetic resonance imaging: preliminary evidence. PMID- 2608771 TI - Use of CT and MRI in the neurobiological study of schizophrenia. PMID- 2608772 TI - Ventricular size, cognitive and psychomotor performance, and laterality in schizophrenia. PMID- 2608773 TI - Computerized tomography (CT) in affective disorders: relationship with psychopathology. PMID- 2608774 TI - Analysis of patterns of hemispheric brain infarctions on CT: embolic stroke mechanism, territorial infarctions and lacunae. PMID- 2608775 TI - Intracranial CSF volumetry in alcoholics: studies with MRI and CT. PMID- 2608776 TI - MRI of intrasellar and parasellar structures with regard to psychic symptoms. PMID- 2608777 TI - MRI and CT in diencephalic lesions. PMID- 2608778 TI - MRI as the primary diagnostic instrument in normal pressure hydrocephalus? PMID- 2608779 TI - MRI of CSF flow in normal pressure hydrocephalus. PMID- 2608780 TI - Correlation of MRI findings and neuropsychological results in patients with multiple sclerosis. PMID- 2608781 TI - Contributions of magnetic resonance imaging to the diagnosis of MS in isolated optic neuritis. PMID- 2608782 TI - High resolution regional cerebral blood flow measurements in psychiatric disorders. PMID- 2608783 TI - Cortical perfusion in Alzheimer's disease: beyond diagnosis. PMID- 2608784 TI - Cerebral blood flow in low pressure hydrocephalus. PMID- 2608785 TI - Mapping of rCBF and cerebrovascular reserve capacity by stable xenon CT in cerebrovascular disease: pathophysiological aspects and effects of operative therapy. PMID- 2608786 TI - Characteristics of regional cerebral blood flow in patients with concussion. PMID- 2608787 TI - Mean hemispheric blood perfusion during autogenic training and hypnosis. PMID- 2608788 TI - Clinical correlates of cerebral blood flow in depression. PMID- 2608789 TI - Right hemisphere involvement in mescaline-induced psychosis. PMID- 2608790 TI - Cerebral blood flow measurements with HMPAO- and HIPDM-SPECT in brain tumors: basic rCBF studies. PMID- 2608791 TI - Determination of brain death in children with 123I-IMP and Tc-99m HMPAO. PMID- 2608792 TI - Stage-dependent reductions of regional cerebral blood flow measured by HMPAO SPECT in dementia of Alzheimer type. PMID- 2608793 TI - PET-deoxyglucose, CT, and neuropathology of age-related white matter pathology in normals and Alzheimer's patients. PMID- 2608794 TI - PET and neuropsychology in thalamic infarction: evidence for associated cortical dysfunction. PMID- 2608795 TI - Cerebral involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): comparison of positron emission tomography (PET) with other imaging methods. PMID- 2608796 TI - Potentialities and prospects of neuromagnetic imaging: mapping of time and frequency domains of magnetic activity of the brain. PMID- 2608797 TI - Brain electrical activity mapping: clinical applications. PMID- 2608798 TI - Brain electrical mapping of cognitive functions for psychiatry: functional micro states. PMID- 2608799 TI - Altered P300 topography due to functional and structural disturbances in the limbic system in dementia and psychoses and to pharmacological conditions. PMID- 2608800 TI - Comparison of untreated and treated schizophrenic patients, normals, and neuroleptic-treated normals: "hypofrontality" and different EEG spectra before and during voluntary movement. PMID- 2608801 TI - Staging in dementia of the Alzheimer type: topography of electrical brain activity reflects the severity of the disease. PMID- 2608802 TI - Topographic EEG and flash visual evoked potentials in elderly subjects, depressed patients, and demented patients. PMID- 2608803 TI - Topographic brain mapping and evaluation of dyslexic children. PMID- 2608804 TI - Dementia of the Alzheimer type: some features of the posterior cerebral electrical activity. PMID- 2608805 TI - Topographic mapping of pharmaco-EEG before and after application of phosphatidylserine. PMID- 2608806 TI - Functional brain imaging (mapping of EEG) in relation to psychopathologic changes in schizophrenia. PMID- 2608807 TI - Schizophrenia-like psychosis associated with an arachnoid cyst visualized by mapping of EEG and P300. PMID- 2608808 TI - EEG mapping in a child with Rett syndrome. PMID- 2608809 TI - Gilles de la Tourette syndrome: EEG and mapping. PMID- 2608810 TI - Brain electrical activity topographical maps produced in response to olfactory and chemosensory stimulation. PMID- 2608811 TI - Methods of spatial interpolation applied to EEG mapping. PMID- 2608812 TI - Brain mapping of EEG in autogenic training (AT). PMID- 2608813 TI - Computerized electroencephalographic topography (CET) during sleep: topographic hypnograms. PMID- 2608814 TI - P300 evoked by an auditory and a visual paradigm and a semantic task. PMID- 2608815 TI - Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and X-ray CT in patients with dementia. PMID- 2608816 TI - Neuroimaging, cognitive, and pathological changes in dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). PMID- 2608817 TI - Electrical brain activity and cerebral blood flow in dementia of the Alzheimer type. PMID- 2608818 TI - Pathological cerebral blood blow and corpus callosum abnormalities in schizophrenia: relations to EEG mapping and PET data. PMID- 2608819 TI - Significance of HMPAO-SPECT in the early diagnosis and followup of acute cerebral ischemia--comparison to CCT. PMID- 2608820 TI - Digital brain atlas for structure localization in CT combined with EEG mapping. PMID- 2608821 TI - Biological explanation, psychological explanation, and tolerance of homosexuals: a cross-national analysis of beliefs and attitudes. AB - Controversies are commonplace among scientists who endorse different ideas about the determinants of homosexual orientation and their concomitant social and political implications. To measure the relationship between beliefs about the determinants of homosexual orientation and attitudes toward homosexuals, we asked 745 respondents in four societies about their beliefs concerning the origins of homosexual orientation. Analysis indicated that subjects who believed that homosexuals are "born that way" held significantly more positive attitudes toward homosexuals than subjects who believed that homosexuals "choose to be that way" and/or "learn to be that way." PMID- 2608822 TI - Effect of age on congruence between adults' and youths' ratings of life event stressors. AB - Life event stressors were rated by 60 sixth grade students from their personal points-of-view and by two adult samples (ns = 11 and 17) on the basis of how they believed a typical 12- to 14-yr.-old today would rate events. Ratings of adults and sixth grade youth indicated strong congruence and were significantly different from the rating relationship previously reported between adults and ninth grade students. Adults' familiarity with youth strengthened but did not significantly improve congruence of ratings. PMID- 2608823 TI - The cognitive triad and suicide intent in depressed in-patients. AB - Daily ratings of self-esteem, hopelessness and suicide intent were made by senior psychiatric residents on 60 patients hospitalized for depression. Both hopelessness and low self-esteem correlated highly with suicide intent and both contributed independently to suicide intent. This suggested that self-esteem may be important in the development of suicide intent as well as hopelessness. PMID- 2608824 TI - Nurses' perceptions regarding health care and the poor. AB - To assess hospital staff nurses' perceptions regarding the poor and their health care a total of 240 nurses were selected from 6 of 8 area hospitals to participate in the study (40 nurses from each institution). Of the 240 nurses selected, 192 nurses completed the questionnaire (80% return rate). The majority of the sample believed the poor were caught in a "cycle of poverty" (84%) which implies they believe the poor cannot help being poor. However, some of the nurses in this sample also held "victim blaming" attitudes, i.e., poor women become pregnant to collect welfare (58%), the poor live well on welfare (35%), and a person's poverty is due to advantages squandered (27%). About one-third of the nurses agreed poor patients do not receive equivalent quality of care when compared to nonpoor patients and that transferring patients to another hospital due to an inability to pay was very common. Ten percent agreed assisting the poor in becoming well was a waste of medical care as they would be back again soon with another problem. Over half the sample believed the poor were not likely to engage in preventive health behaviors (66%) nor be compliant with their medical regimens (52%). Such attitudes should be studied to see if they affect communication between the poor and their nurse caregivers. PMID- 2608825 TI - MMPI profiles of Hispanic-American inpatient and outpatient sex offenders. PMID- 2608826 TI - Changes in drug involvement: a longitudinal study of childhood and adolescent determinants. AB - Previous research has identified childhood and adolescent personality determinants of early adolescent drug involvement. The purpose of the present study was to examine the determinants of increased involvement over time and to compare these results with previous findings regarding early involvement. Data were available on 654 white males and females at three points, Time 1 (T1) at ages 1-10 yr., Time 2 (T2) at ages 9-18 yr., and Time 3 (T3) at ages 11-20 yr. The subjects (at T2 and T3) and their mothers (at all three points) were given structured interviews assessing the child's personality and behavior. Results indicated that T1 traits of conventionality and emotional control were associated with similar traits at T2, which, in turn, were related to lower drug involvement over time (T2 and T3). Interactive effects indicated first that T2 adolescent protective (nondrug-conducive) factors weakened the effect of childhood-risk (drug-conducive) characteristics resulting in lower drug involvement. Second, high levels of earlier drug use interacted synergistically with personality risk leading to increased levels of involvement. Over-all, the personality factors implicated in increased involvement were similar to those related to earlier involvement. PMID- 2608827 TI - Alienation and self-reported deviance. PMID- 2608828 TI - Observations of Japanese men and children in public places: a comparative study. AB - The popular image of Japanese men, both in the United States and Japan, is that of "salaryman" who works such long hours that he has no time left for his children. The little empirical evidence available, however, suggests that Japanese men have familial involvement patterns not unlike those of men in the United States. In the study reported here, prepubertal children and adult males in Japan and the USA were observed together disproportionately more often during those times when men were not precluded (by work) from being with children. Further, during those periods children were more likely to be found in groups containing men rather than with women only. In both countries women continue to be the primary caregivers of children. However, previous research has shown that men in the USA, compared to men in other cultures, are not totally uninvolved; Japanese men are not either. PMID- 2608829 TI - Assessing computer anxiety. AB - A study was conducted to develop a scale for assessing computer anxiety. The scale was administered to 152 psychology students. The responses were then subjected to both item and principal components analysis. Computer anxiety was significantly and negatively correlated -.48 with the total amount of experience individuals had had with computers. Graduate and undergraduate students did not differ significantly in anxiety. When controlling for amount of experience with computers, clinical psychology students reported more anxiety than industrial organizational psychology students, but men and women did not differ significantly in anxiety. PMID- 2608830 TI - Concurrent incidence of depression and physical symptoms among hostile young women. AB - Analyses of questionnaire responses from 166 young women on the Cook-Medley Hostility scale of the MMPI, Beck Depression Inventory, and Wahler Physical Symptoms Inventory indicated significant differences between hostile and nonhostile women on depression scores, ranging from mild mood disturbance to borderline clinical depression. Hostile women also endorsed more items which indicated pervasive somatic complaints such as nausea, fatigue, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular distress. These results are discussed in the context of negative emotion and degenerative disease. PMID- 2608831 TI - Sexuality within the head-injury rehabilitation setting: a staff's perspective. AB - A survey of 32 staff of an urban rehabilitation program for head-injured adults confirmed that sexual adjustment was an important issue for their clients, but few had pertinent training. PMID- 2608832 TI - Detection of faking good on the MMPI in a psychiatric inpatient population. AB - The efficacy of the Mp and X minus zero scales of the MMPI in identifying fake good profiles was investigated. 30 volunteers from the admissions unit of a state mental hospital were administered the MMPI once under instructions to fake good and once under standard instructions. Under fake-good instructions, psychiatric inpatients were able to produce profiles similar to those of normal college students. Both the Mp and X minus zero scales discriminated significantly between the standard and fake-good profiles. Interactions with order of administration occurred for the Mp scale. PMID- 2608833 TI - Learning style, repeated stimuli, and originality in intellectually gifted adolescents. AB - This study assessed differences in originality between groups with different learning styles as a function of repeated presentations of stimuli. Subjects were 104 gifted adolescents who were administered a measure of originality (Thinking Creatively with Sounds and Words) and Your Style of Learning and Thinking, a measure of learning style. Analysis indicated significant differences in originality for learning styles, for sounds, for presentations, and a significant interaction of sounds and presentations. PMID- 2608834 TI - Externality and burnout among dentists. AB - This study investigates the relationship between burnout as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory and locus of control as measured by the Adult Nowicki Strickland Internal-External Locus of Control (ANS-IE) for 82 dentists. Significant Pearson correlations between two Maslach subscales and locus of control show Personal Accomplishment to be negatively associated -.31 and Emotional Exhaustion to be positively correlated .21 to externality. PMID- 2608835 TI - Predictors of academic self-concept of older adults. PMID- 2608836 TI - Burnout among primary care physicians and mental health professionals in a managed health care setting. AB - This study assessed burnout within a large Health Maintenance Organization. Primary care physicians and one psychiatric clinic staff were studied. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to develop frequency data in the areas of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal achievement. Among the primary care physicians, moderate emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization were found. Personal achievement was high. Among the psychiatric staff, high emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were found. Again, personal achievement was high. The entire professional group, with the one exception, was significantly higher in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal achievement than Maslach's normative sample. Psychiatrists and social workers had significantly higher scores on depersonalization than the primary care physicians or psychologists. High burnout in a Health Maintenance Organization setting suggests that managed health care providers may be more prone to burnout than fee for-service practitioners. Several suggestions were made for such organizations to help alleviate burnout in their staffs. PMID- 2608837 TI - Chronic pain behavior pattern: a simple theoretical framework for health-care providers. AB - A theoretical framework for understanding the basic psychological dynamics of pain patients is provided. The model involves the etiology of chronic pain, the attributes of patients with chronic pain, the sequence of events that leads to symptomatology, and considerations regarding the treatment of chronic pain. Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy is highlighted as a classic example of this proposed chronic pain behavior pattern. PMID- 2608838 TI - Anonymity, sex, and weight-preoccupation as variables on the eating disorders inventory with normal college students. AB - The Eating Disorders Inventory was administered to 595 nonclinical male and female undergraduate college students in response to observations at the counseling center that an increasing number of students were seeking assistance for problems associated with binge eating. The purpose of the study was to identify a group with bulimic characteristics, and since secrecy is associated with bulimia, to compare students' responses when anonymous vs name-identified. Statistical analyses of the eight subscales of the inventory showed no significant differences by anonymity vs identification, but significant differences by sex and by weight-preoccupation existed. PMID- 2608839 TI - Familiarity, proximity and self-injurious behaviors. AB - This paper introduces familiarity and proximity of direct-care staff as possible contributors to the etiology of self-injurious behaviors. Analysis suggests that research workers consider these two variables when evaluating the etiology of such behaviors with specific reference to positive and negative reinforcement paradigms. PMID- 2608840 TI - Anxiety among children in Israel. AB - A sample of 676 children from Israel participated in the present study. They resided in either a city (n = 105) or kibbutz (n = 571) in northern or central Israel. Participants completed an Hebrew version of the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. The current study hypothesized that anxiety is multidimensional in nature. It was also hypothesized that anxiety, given the unique environment of Israel, would be associated with different sources of potential threat. The anxiety items comprising the revised scale were analyzed via a principal factor analysis with varimax rotation. A two-factor solution was retained as the most statistically sound solution; one factor was labeled Anticipatory Anxiety and the other Social Anxiety. The results support the hypotheses. PMID- 2608841 TI - Who would have a test for AIDS? PMID- 2608842 TI - A perspective on Tachibana's eta-squared analysis of the results of the NCTR collaborative behavioral teratology study. PMID- 2608843 TI - Relationship between religiousness and trait anxiety: factor or artifact? PMID- 2608844 TI - Mandatory AIDS testing: factors influencing public opinion. AB - A survey of 341 persons, 82% of whom were university students whose median age was 27.0 yr., was conducted to investigate the relationship between their attitudes regarding mandatory AIDS testing for various groups, attitudes toward the disease, sexual orientation and behavior, and attitudes toward homosexuals. Homosexual and bisexual respondents were less supportive of mandatory testing for anyone than were heterosexual respondents. Greater homophobia and attitudes in favor of legal sanctions against persons with AIDS were correlated for heterosexual respondents, with attitudes supporting mandatory testing for everyone and homosexuals in particular. However, concern about contracting AIDS was unrelated to heterosexual attitudes favoring mandatory testing. Social and political considerations in an era of growing and potentially militant public health concern are discussed. PMID- 2608845 TI - Cardiovascular responsivity in schizophrenics to videotaped social vignettes. AB - Heart rates, blood pressures, self-reported emotional level and anxiety of 15 schizophrenic outpatients indicated subjects discriminated among emotional levels in actors shown on videotape but their anxiety ratings did not change after viewing, and arousal after viewing highly emotional content was lower than at baseline. PMID- 2608846 TI - Attitudes of French-Canadian university students toward use of condoms: a structural analysis. AB - 164 French-Canadian university students took part in a study analyzing the factorial pattern of attitudes toward the use of condoms. A principal component analysis identified 7 factors, namely, positive general attitude toward use of condoms, contraceptive security, inhibition of sexual pleasure, inconvenience, embarrassment, responsibility, and lessening of physical pleasure. PMID- 2608847 TI - Locus of control and anxiety in children from intact and maritally disrupted families. AB - This study investigated the associations of Locus of Control (Children Nowicki Strickland Internal-External Control Scale) with state and trait anxiety (State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children) in 302 children aged 9 to 12 yr. No significant differences were found between the groups. No significant correlations were found between the anxiety measures and externality for the 31 children from maritally disrupted families, but significant positive Pearson correlations were found for the 271 children of intact families. The results are discussed in terms of the possibility of under-reporting of marital disruption by children. PMID- 2608848 TI - Stigmatizing artifacts and their effect on personal space. AB - Examining the relationship between personal space and a stigmatizing artifact, a white cane, with 58 randomly selected subjects indicated that significantly more personal space was accorded a person with an apparent visual impairment. PMID- 2608849 TI - Prediction of early attrition from couple therapy. PMID- 2608850 TI - Children's Motivation Analysis Test (CMAT)--normative data. AB - N-stens for 475 Australian children in Grade 6 and for boys and girls separately are presented for the Children's Motivation Analysis Test, representing the first such normative data available for this instrument. PMID- 2608851 TI - Improving WAIS-R estimates with the Shipley-Hartford and Wonderlic Personnel Tests: need to control for reading ability. PMID- 2608852 TI - Relationship between perceived parental behaviors and the self-esteem of gifted children. AB - This pilot study sought to investigate parent-child interactions which influenced self-esteem in a sample of gifted children. 13 gifted children, aged 6 to 10 yr., who were enrolled in a private elementary school, were tested on the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory and the Parent Practices Questionnaire (PPQ). Significant correlations obtained between (1) each of four maternal PPQ variables (physical punishment, consistency of expectations, principled discipline, and support) and (2) one paternal PPQ variable (deprivation of privileges) with the total self esteem score. Maternal variables and dimensions, more than paternal, appear to influence self-esteem in these subjects. Explanations for these findings are proposed along with recommendations for study. PMID- 2608853 TI - Use of handguns and long guns in suicide and homicide. PMID- 2608854 TI - Effects of an affirmative gay psychotherapy workshop on counselors' authoritarianism. AB - 21 counselors and trainees enrolled in a 3-day workshop showed decreased scores on authoritarianism, measured on the Ray Directiveness Scale, after the training and at 2-mo. follow-up, and lower scores than controls, although scores were like the control group's at pretest. PMID- 2608855 TI - Are employment-interview skills a correlate of subtypes of schizophrenia? AB - 46 inpatients with a DSM-III diagnosis of schizophrenia were assessed in the week prior to discharge from hospital on measures of positive and negative symptoms and on 12 measures of employment interview skills (i.e., eye contact, facial gestures, body posture, verbal content, voice volume, length of speech, motivation, self-confidence, ability to communicate, manifest adjustment, manifest intelligence, over-all interview skill), and a global measure of employability. A cluster analysis based on the total positive and negative symptom scores produced two groups. The group with the lower mean negative symptom score exhibited better employment-interview skills and higher ratings on employability. PMID- 2608856 TI - Student leaders and social performance as measured by the social performance survey schedule. AB - There is a paucity of research on the social skills of student leaders, although studies have been conducted on other groups of students and adults. In this study, the Social Performance Survey Schedule was administered to 114 student leaders in Grades 6 to 11. Consistent with previous research applying the survey on diverse populations, girls engaged in more positive social behaviors, fewer negative behaviors, and had higher over-all performance than boys. Suggestions for those who may have contact with such students were made. PMID- 2608857 TI - Smoking reduction based on a situational model of craving. AB - Eight smokers participated in a smoking-cessation program involving controlled situational reduction and behavioral substitution. Six completed the treatment, and over-all reduction was significant. Reduction was maintained at 12-month follow-up. Ratings of positive images of smoking also changed posttreatment. PMID- 2608858 TI - Preliminary investigation of the relationship between religion and psychological distress in black women. PMID- 2608859 TI - Headache symptomology and neuroticism in a college sample. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate headache symptomology in relation to personality as measured by tests derived from use of factor analysis, namely, the Adjective Self-description scales, the Eysenck Personality Inventory, and seven questions of headache symptomology. These were administered to 200 male and 200 female university undergraduates. Only measures of neuroticism were related to headache symptomology; no sexual differences in neuroticism were associated with any of the specific symptoms investigated; and neuroticism tended to increase with the number of symptoms affirmed. However, generalization may be limited due to the small number of symptoms investigated as well as by the lack of specialization of the sample. PMID- 2608860 TI - Students' reactions as guides to course revisions. AB - Items on four course changes made in response to students' evaluations of a course on interviewing were rated higher by the 3 succeeding classes of students, indicating changes improved the students' perceptions of the course. PMID- 2608861 TI - Infant sensitivity to audiovisually coherent events. AB - We examined 5-month-old infants' sensitivity to audiovisually coherent and incoherent events. A person speaking and an automobile with engine running were filmed approaching and receding with corresponding (coherent) soundtracks. Infants were tested with a habituation paradigm in which they observed coherent or incoherent films, involving, respectively, acoustical radial motion in the direction seen or opposite to the direction seen. Infants habituated to both person and car films, but coherent events uniformly yielded more rapid habituation than did incoherent ones. In addition, infants treated silent events more like audiovisual coherence than like incoherence. Infants habituated more to cars than to people, suggesting that a speaking person may especially maintain infant attention. PMID- 2608862 TI - Retinal eccentricity and the detection of targets. AB - It is known that the detectability of a target depends on its similarity to the individual context elements. This article attempts to show that global properties of the context can also influence detection performance. For example, the detection of an O among several Hs appears to be easier than the detection of an H among several Os, because the context consists of elements that are more angular. However, this angular-context advantage is most apparent when the stimulus projection falls on extrafoveal areas of the retina. The results of two stimulus manipulations suggest that the decreasing ability of the visual system with increasing eccentricity could be responsible for this relationship. Increasing the distance between the single elements, and thus reducing the effect of lateral inhibition, led to a deterioration in performance; and by defocusing the stimulus presentation it was possible to achieve an improvement in performance. PMID- 2608863 TI - Response effects in the perception of conjunctions of colour and form. AB - Two experiments addressed the question whether visual search for a target defined by a conjunction of colour and form requires a central, serial, attentional process, but detection of a single feature, such as colour, is preattentive, as proposed by the feature-integration theory of attention. Experiment 1 investigated conjunction and feature search using small array sizes of up to five elements, under conditions which precluded eye-movements, in contrast to previous studies. The results were consistent with the theory. Conjunction search showed the effect of adding distractors to the display, the slopes of the curves relating RT to array size were in the approximate ratio of 2:1, consistent with a central, serial search process, exhaustive for absence responses and self terminating for presence responses. Feature search showed no significant effect of distractors for presence responses. Experiment 2 manipulated the response requirements in conjunction search, using vocal response in a GO-NO GO procedure, in contrast to Experiment 1, which used key-press responses in a YES-NO procedure. Strikingly, presence-response RT was not affected significantly by the number of distractors in the array. The slope relating RT to array size was 3.92. The absence RT slope was 30.56, producing a slope ratio of approximately 8:1. There was no interaction of errors with array size and the presence and absence conditions, implying that RT-error trade-offs did not produce this slope ratio. This result suggests that feature-integration theory is at least incomplete. PMID- 2608864 TI - The effect of the uniqueness point in spoken-word recognition. AB - The study examines the possibility of observing on-line recognition of spoken words through manipulations of the location of the uniqueness point (UP) in a gender-classification task. The subjects were presented with spoken French nouns and had to indicate by a key-press response whether each was feminine or masculine. RTs measured from word onset were significantly correlated with UP location, a finding that supports the notion of online processing. The effect of UP location is, however, smaller than that predicted by the original cohort theory (that recognition occurs exactly at the UP). On the other hand, it is stronger when words with respectively early and late UPs are presented in homogeneous blocks rather than in mixed order. It is proposed that the results can be accounted for by the notion of a sub-optimal lexical strategy in which some monitoring of the phonetic data continues past the UP. PMID- 2608865 TI - Mental representation and hypothetico-deductive reasoning: the case of the THOG problem. AB - This article reports three experiments that deal with the source of the difficulty of Wason's (1977) THOG problem. The solution of this problem demands both the postulation of hypotheses and a combinatorial analysis of their consequences. Experiment 1 showed that the generation of the hypotheses is not in itself sufficient to solve the problem. Experiment 2 showed that a version presenting a plausible context for separating the level of data from that of hypotheses produced a better performance than both the original abstract version and a thematic version lacking the plausible context separating the levels. Experiment 3 gave evidence that this context can produce facilitation even with the geometric material of the classic version. This experiment also showed that a pictorial presentation of data and a verbal presentation of hypotheses affect performance negatively. The results demonstrate the role of problem representation in problem solving, and, in particular, the role of homogeneity in representing data and hypotheses in hypothetico-deductive reasoning. PMID- 2608866 TI - Text recall in adulthood: the roles of text imagery and orienting tasks. AB - Three experiments were conducted to investigate dual-code theory and the levels of-processing approach in discourse processing. Three concrete and three abstract tests were constructed to be equivalent in the degree to which they were perceived as concrete vs. abstract. All experiments presented concrete and abstract texts under three orienting tasks. Results of the first experiment showed main effects for both text concreteness and orienting tasks and an interaction that can be described by the lack of a difference between the recall rates for the concrete and the abstract texts under the intentional-learning condition. In the second experiment, longer texts were used and a second trial was introduced. The interaction was not replicated. There were main effects for concreteness, orienting tasks, and trials. The third experiment replicated Experiment 2 with subjects in their late 40s and over 70. Main effects were obtained as before. Age interacted with both orienting task and concreteness, indicating that older adults gain less than middle-aged adults from intentional learning instructions and benefit less from highly concrete texts. The discussion focuses on the relation of Materials and Subjects as factors to dual-code theory and levels of processing approach. PMID- 2608867 TI - The minimum principle and visual pattern completion. AB - The minimum principle states that a perceiver will see the simplest possible interpretation of a pattern. Some theorists of human perception take this principle as a core-explanatory concept. Others hold the view that a perceptual minimum principle is untenable. In two recent extensive surveys of the relevant literature a more differentiated position is taken: the minimum principle is not renounced in a definite way. In the research reported here, an intuitively appealing specification of a minimum principle is tested. An experiment on visual pattern completion was performed in which patterns were presented to subjects who traced the contours of the shapes they saw. It was predicted that there would be a preference for interpretations that describe a pattern as a set of separate shapes with minimal information load as computed by Leeuwenberg's coding language. However, only half of the responses given by the subjects were predicted by this specification of a minimum principle. It was further demonstrated that locally complex interpretations of junctions of contour elements are easily made, but not in order to attain globally minimal interpretations. PMID- 2608868 TI - Social Services Committee Eighth Report. PMID- 2608869 TI - Tower Hamlets Health Authority Measles Immunisation Initiative 1987-88. AB - Measles as a cause of childhood death and disability can be prevented by vaccination of 95% of the pre-school population, as in the United States, where proof of measles immunisation is required for school entry. An inner-city London Health Authority used the 1987 World Immunisation Day as the occasion to invite heads of nursery and infant schools to join in a pilot scheme to increase the number of new pupils who were protected. A small but growing number of the schools now include a question about immunisation in their admission routine. The computerised appointment system for child health clinic vaccinations was shown to be unable to give sufficient appointments for older children. School nurses and health visitors organised extra immunisation sessions during the 1988 epidemic. PMID- 2608870 TI - Five years' experience of combined impedance and audiometric screening at school entry. AB - Many papers and pilot studies have considered whether school entry auditory screening should include testing with tympanometry. Some of these papers expressed concern that this type of screening would lead to an excessive number of failures and an overloading of ENT facilities. School children in the Worcester district have been screened at school entry using tympanometry, combined with pure tone audiometry, for the past five years. This paper describes how the combined screening programme was set up, and the advantages that have accrued. It also shows that combined testing has not significantly increased the number of children referred to ENT. The author suggests that this combined tympanometry and audiometric screening should become the accepted way to screen school entrants. PMID- 2608871 TI - A comparison of smoking and drinking among Asian and white schoolchildren in Glasgow. AB - A self-completion questionnaire survey of 385 Asian and white schoolchildren, aged 13 to 16 years, was conducted at three Glasgow schools, and a number of health and social issues were studied. The aims of this study included not only the provision of baseline data on smoking and drinking, and general health and social issues among schoolchildren, but was also to examine the implications for health education and health services. The response rate was 362/385 (94%) and important differences were observed between the two groups. In particular, Asians were less likely to smoke or drink, and their attitudes towards these drugs were, broadly, negative. However, it is emphasised that the Asian community in Britain is heterogeneous and the data from Glasgow cannot be mechanistically extrapolated to other Asian communities in Britain. The results of the study provided information on the beliefs, attitudes and behaviour of Glasgow schoolchildren and gave new data on their drinking and smoking habits, especially of Asians. Health education needs to take into account ethnic differences among schoolchildren as part of a broad, materialist approach rather than an individual-based behaviouralist approach to health education. PMID- 2608872 TI - Pre-school assessment of gifted children. AB - The following paper is an analysis of 27 consecutive referrals of children, thirteen boys and fourteen girls, in one health district, for assessment on the grounds of possible giftedness, with a view to early placement in a state maintained school or nursery school. The assessments were made using the Ruth Griffiths scales of mental development. PMID- 2608873 TI - A national voice for information about HIV infections: the Italian state AIDS hot line. AB - Because of the variety of problems connected with the AIDS epidemic, there is an urgent need for qualified information and counselling. In June 1987, The Italian Ministry of Health established a hot-line, acting within the National AIDS Operational Centre. Through the analysis of more than 39,000 calls received during the first year of activity, a clear outline has been obtained of the emotional impact of the disease on Italian public opinion, and of the problems raised. 67% of callers belong to 20-39 age group; the male/female ratio is 2:1. Interesting correlations have been found between the content of the questions and the sex, age, and type of caller. The vast majority of questions concerning basic concepts and notions about HIV infections are asked by no-risk-related subjects. During the first year, the percentage of questions asked by subjects actually at risk increased, and the questions themselves have become more specific. PMID- 2608874 TI - Pharmacy dispensing practices for Sudanese children with diarrhoea. AB - In order to study the dispensing practices of Khartoum and Khartoum North pharmacies with respect to the management of infantile diarrhoea, a Sudanese woman presented pharmacists with a brief description of an infant with acute diarrhoea. Sixty-three pharmacies were visited; only 3 (5%) recommended oral rehydration salts (ORS) alone. An additional 4 pharmacies (6%) recommended ORS plus either an antimicrobial agent or a physician visit. 39 pharmacies (62%) recommended antimicrobial therapy alone, 9 (14%) recommended a physician visit alone and 7 pharmacies (11%) had no available treatment. On average, antimicrobials cost four times more than two packets of ORS. In order to increase pharmacists' recommendation of ORS, health professional training may be required, perhaps in association with dispensing subsidies. Increased public awareness of ORS should also be encouraged. PMID- 2608875 TI - Factors associated with late booking for antenatal care in central Manchester. AB - A cohort study was carried out to examine the factors associated with late booking amongst the resident population of Central Manchester Health Authority. The factors of importance were found to include teenage pregnancy, unemployment in the household, ethnic origin, moving during pregnancy, geographical area of residence and opinions about the value of antenatal care. Some reasons for delay in consulting doctors were identified, including uncertainty about the pregnancy and in some cases because it was unwelcome. Delays were also noted to occur in the health service referral system. PMID- 2608876 TI - Health care interviews in secondary schools--a review of the first two years' experience in the Brighton health district. PMID- 2608877 TI - A comprehensive selective programme of health surveillance at school. PMID- 2608878 TI - Sleep apnoea: missing the forest for the trees. PMID- 2608879 TI - Adult-onset mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis: a disease with a poor prognosis. AB - A retrospective analysis of the records of 46 patients with adult-onset mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis seen over a period of 15 years is reported. There were 28 males and 18 females with a mean age of 34 years. Mean observation period was 60 months. All patients had renal biopsies and characteristic changes, but no dense deposit variant was seen. HBsAg was positive in 20 per cent of the patients tested whereas in the general population it was about 10 per cent. Nephrotic syndrome was the commonest presentation. There was a mean delay of 8.5 months between the onset of symptoms and renal biopsy. Nineteen patients were given steroid/immunosuppressive therapy while 27 received no specific treatment. At the time of review, renal function was stable in 13 patients but progressively deteriorating in 33. In the latter, the slope of the graph of reciprocal of creatinine versus time could be accurately determined. Steroid/immunosuppressive therapy did not influence the rate of progression of renal failure but appeared to hasten and induce more partial remissions of the nephrotic state. There was no difference in cumulative renal survival between treated and untreated patients, and between HBsAg-positive and negative patients. Overall, 23 patients required dialysis/renal transplantation and an additional four had died of end-stage renal failure at the time of this review. PMID- 2608880 TI - Vasculitis complicating cystic fibrosis. AB - Twelve patients with skin vasculitis complicating cystic fibrosis are described. Seven of these were proven histologically and of these two had systemic vascultitis. Staining of vasculitic tissue by the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique using both monoclonal and polyclonal antisera directed against Haemophilus influenzae, staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa did not consistently reveal any bacterial antigens in these tissues. In one patient the vasculitis appeared secondary to ranitidine. There was no evidence of autoimmune disease in any of the patients. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were detected in the serum of 40 per cent of the patients with vasculitis complicating cystic fibrosis but in none of 61 controls with cystic fibrosis (but without vasculitis) matched for age and sex and with similar bacteriological flora of sputum. PMID- 2608881 TI - A study of the menopause, smoking, and contraception in women with Crohn's disease. AB - One hundred and ninety-six women with Crohn's disease from south-east Wales were asked to provide details of their menstrual cycles, age at menopause, history of surgery, smoking habits and use of oral contraceptives. One hundred and forty-six provided the information (response rate 77 per cent). Eighty-four were still menstruating, three were pregnant, 10 had undergone hysterectomy, one had a pharmacologically-induced menopause and 48 had had a physiological menopause. Of these 48 women, 33 were diagnosed as having Crohn's disease before the menopause. Twenty-five of these were smokers. The mean age at menopause was similar in smokers and non-smokers and in those diagnosed before and after the menopause. The mean age at menopause was between 46 and 47. A logistic analysis using the 'status quo' method showed that 50 per cent of women with Crohn's disease had the menopause at 47.6 years compared with 49.6 years in a group of healthy women from the same area. The two groups had similar smoking habits and it would seem that a premature menopause is associated with Crohn's disease. PMID- 2608882 TI - An analysis of factors predisposing to neurological injury in patients undergoing coronary bypass operations. AB - In a prospective study of 312 patients undergoing elective coronary bypass surgery we evaluated 50 preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative factors with the aim of identifying predisposing causes for perioperative neurological morbidity. Factors which showed a significant association with the development of neurological complications included the duration and severity of heart disease before surgery; the presence of extracoronary vascular disease; history of cardiac failure; history of diabetes; difficulty in terminating bypass; intraoperative mean arterial pressure levels of less than 40 mmHg; a large drop in haemoglobin level during surgery; prolonged stay in the intensive therapy unit after operation; and abnormalities of blood pressure control in the postoperative period. The significance of these findings is discussed and a comparison made with data available from previous studies. PMID- 2608883 TI - Clinical features of the sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome. AB - The sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome has been reported to be rare in Britain. We have offered a clinical service for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition in Scotland for four years during which there has been an increase in referral rate from 19 patients in year 1 to 61 in year 4. We report the clinical features of the 80 patients. Seventy-eight snored and 70 were somnolent, each falling asleep at least once each day when not in bed. Ten reported falling asleep whilst driving or flying. Twenty-nine slept restlessly, 28 were not refreshed by sleep and 21 had nocturnal choking attacks. Ankle swelling was reported by 26 and 25 were hypertensive (diastolic BP greater than 95 mmHg). Two had hyperthyroidism and one acromegaly. Nineteen have been successfully treated by continuous positive airway pressure therapy at home. The data suggest that regional centres should be established in Britain to diagnose and treat this condition. PMID- 2608884 TI - Microdosimetric measurements and the variance-covariance method. Some experimental experience. AB - Systematic and statistical uncertainties in the variance-covariance method have been investigated. Two spherical wall-less detectors have been used to determine the dose mean lineal energy (yD) in a neutron beam of 5.7 MeV produced by a Van de Graaff accelerator. It is shown that certain systematic uncertainties influenced the mean yD of the two detectors much less than yD from only one of them. A statistical uncertainty of 6% (95% confidence level) was achieved if yD was calculated from 2000 measurements. In this particular experiment insufficient shieldings of the preamplifiers positioned in the beam turned out to limit the possibility to measure below 20 nm. PMID- 2608885 TI - Parameter resolution in two models for cell survival after radiation. AB - The resolvability of model parameters for the linear-quadratic and the repair misrepair models for cell survival after radiation has been studied by Monte Carlo simulations as a function of the number of experimental data points collected in a given dose range and the experimental error. Statistical analysis of the results reveals the range of experimental conditions under which the model parameters can be resolved with sufficient accuracy, and points out some differences in the operational aspects of the two models. PMID- 2608886 TI - Excision repair differences in rat fibroblasts. AB - By using a cellular transformation system, which has been developed by Graffi et al., we analysed differences in the excision capacity of UV-induced dimers in normal cells, in vitro transformed cells and in malignant cells derived from a rat fibrosarcoma. The results suggest that both the transformed and the tumour derived cells exhibit a kinetic pattern of excision repair different from that of the normal cells. Recognition of the dimers and the incision rate are more complete in the normal cell. PMID- 2608887 TI - In vitro holding and PLD-repair: II. A flow cytometric and electron microscopic analysis of some mammalian cell lines. AB - The repair of potentially lethal damage (PLDR) in mammalian cells is expected to be better in quiescent cultures since PLD is supposedly fixed during cycle progression. Plateau phase cultures, therefore, serve as models because of assumed mitotic quiescence. Four established cell lines (V79, CHO, L5178Y and HELA) and one euploid cell strain IMR-90 have been analysed by flow cytometry and electron microscopy to address questions on quiescence in the plateau phase and the effect of holding (induction of quiescence by nutrient privation). In contrast to commonly held views, our results indicate that the quiescent fraction in cultures from transformed cells is exceedingly low (1% or less). Plateau phase cultures of transformed cells are constantly turning over. Euploid cells like the IMR-90 show true quiescence in the plateau phase. Holding causes typical cytopathological changes. These changes have been ultrastructurally++ characterised. Resistant sub-populations of cells can be selected out under holding-conditions. Such selected cells show completely different radiobiological characteristics, which raise questions on the interpretation of data on PLDR. PMID- 2608889 TI - Weathering of 134/137Cs following leaf contamination of grass cultures in an outdoor experiment. AB - After spraying grass cultures with rainwater collected after the Chernobyl reactor accident, the time-dependence of the weathering of leaf contamination of 134/137Cs was determined. Hereby the influence of rain and of biomass increase due to growth was considered. Two effective half-lives were found of 6 d and more than 60 d in rain-protected grass for the activity per area (corresponding to 8 d and more than 60 d when related to the activity per dry weight) and 2 d and 30 d in rain-exposed grass for the activity per area (3 d and 23 d when activity per dry weight is considered). These half-lives represent the initially rapid (for about 90% of the activity) and later slow (for the residual about 10%) decrease of the Cesium content in grass. They might be due to different weathering mechanisms whereby the translocation of the radionuclides from the leaf surface into the plant interior and the loss of wax particles might be of importance. PMID- 2608888 TI - The effect of hypothermic treatment on the repair or expression of X-ray damage measured in split dose experiments on L5178Y-S cells. AB - The nature of the post-irradiation lesions and processes leading to cellular reproductive death or survival were investigated in mouse lymphoblastic leukemia L5178Y-S (LY-S) cells. Post-(x-)irradiation incubation at 25 degrees C protects LY-S cells against the fixation of biologically expressed damage which takes place at 37 degrees C. An optimal condition for the repair of damage, assayed in split-dose experiments as split-dose recovery (SDR), is 1 h at 37 degrees C followed by 4 h holding at 25 degrees C prior to the second half of a split dose, or 5 h holding at 25 degrees C without a 37 degrees C incubation during the interval between doses. Longer incubations at 37 degrees C resulted in progressively decreased survivals. Postirradiation inhibition of DNA synthesis at 37 degrees C was observed only during the first 30 min; thereafter, 3H-dThdR incorporation was higher than in unirradiated controls. The excess synthesis effect was removed by shifting irradiated cells to 25 degrees C holding. The inhibition observed at 25 degrees C was reversed by shifting to 37 degrees C. Thus the degree of postirradiation DNA synthesis is inversely related to SDR. DNA filter elution shows complete strand break repair by 20 min at 37 degrees C, and by 3 h at 25 degrees C; DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair plateaus at 80% (37 degrees C) and 60% (25 degrees C) after 90 min. An inverse correlation was found between total strand break repair rate, as assayed by filter elution methods, and cell survival. This work was supported by a grant from The Mathers Charitable Foundation. PMID- 2608890 TI - [Use of the internal mammary vessels (vasa thoracica interna) forirradiation of the parasternal region in breast cancer. 1]. AB - The topographic-anatomical situation of parasternal lymph-nodes, of a. and v. thoracica interna were studied and a method for local irradiation of parasternal lymph-nodes was elaborated introducing discrete linear 60Co-radiation-sources into inner breast vessels. This is the prerequisite to use a radiosurgical method treating mammary carcinoma in central and medial localisation. With this in 463 patients with mammary carcinoma the inner breast vessels were used to introduce radioactive radiation sources. This allowed the irradiation of parasternal lymph nodes in shortest time with simultaneous substantial decrease of radiation exposure of heart, lung, and mediastinal organs, and of spinal marrow. PMID- 2608891 TI - [Initial results of high-dose-rate afterloading treatment of tumors in the head and neck region]. AB - First results of high-dose-rate afterloading therapy in the head-neck area are encouraging. The procedure is not very invasive and is suitable especially for older patients, not tolerating much, who can be hardly submitted another therapeutic method. The limited spatial dose distribution allows a careful treatment of the surrounding tissue in spite of the application of high single doses, however limits the size of tumors too, that the afterloading therapy is possible in (max. 2 cm). The method represents an alternative of the much more complicated procedure of the low-dose contact therapy, that affects the patients in a stronger way like interstitial therapy and moulage treatment. No tumor recurrences or metastasis were seen in our patients. Influence of alteration in fractionation rhythm and of application of sources with very high dose capacity will be the subject of further studies. PMID- 2608892 TI - [Studies of the relevance of the tumor marker neopterin for therapeutic decisions and follow-up of breast cancer]. AB - The value of serum neopterin as tumour marker was verified on 104 breast cancer patients. Based on the results, neopterin cannot be recommended either for deciding treatment after primary therapy or for monitoring of breast cancer. PMID- 2608893 TI - [Changes in the redox potential of serum samples following in vitro irradiation- an indicator of malignant tumor growth]. AB - In serum samples of healthy persons and patients with malignant neoplasia the reduction-oxidation-potentials were determined. Measurements were made in untreated sera and after irradiation with different doses. Sera of healthy persons showed a decrease that of tumor patients an increase of redox-potential values. With this method malignant tumor growth can be demonstrated. It does not yet permit any statements on tumor localisation. On the other hand conclusions seem to be possible on growth speed of neoplasia. To our hitherto existing experiences estimations of redox-potential are applicable to the diagnosis of fast growing recurrences and metastases in tumor after-care, but can also support the therapeutic procedure decisively in defined differential diagnostic problems and in tumors of dignity in question. PMID- 2608894 TI - The effect of nitroimidazole and photochemotherapy on solid Ehrlich carcinomas. AB - The photodynamic effect of activated hematoporphyrin in combination with the radiosensitizer nitroimidazole was investigated. The tumor model used was the solid Ehrlich carcinoma, He-Ne laser was chosen as the light source. A significant difference between the tumor masses of control animals and the tumor masses of treated animals was recorded. It is possible that the photodynamic processes are based on Type I photooxidation. Especially in the treatment of hypoxic areas of tumors the additional administration of nitroimidazole may be important. PMID- 2608895 TI - [Cyto- and histomorphologic changes in the Jensen sarcoma exposed to cisplatin, radiotherapy and combination treatment]. AB - Puncture-cytological and histomorphological investigation results are presented in transplanted tumor Jensen sarcoma. The tested tumors did not respond to therapy in growth reaction and reached a quarter of the body mass of the experimental animals on day 18 post transplantation. Within the five groups (untreated, cisplatin daily 0.6 mg/kg b.w., irradiated with 2 Gy S. D., 20 Gy T. D. only, and 2 groups combined therapy cisplatin and irradiation) cytological differences were shown between the several therapeutic groups already at therapy day 7 in spite of similar growth reaction, but not between centre and periphery of tumors, that were marked more distinctly and confirmed in histomorphological picture at the end of therapy at day 18 p.t. The increased occurrence of giant cells with many nuclei and leukocytic inflammation reaction seem to be a typical picture for combined therapy. PMID- 2608896 TI - [The importance of multivariate statistical procedures in the diagnosis of acute radiation injuries in man]. AB - Data published in international papers were analyzed and submitted to a multidimensional variate and discriminant analysis. In this analysis, information on prodromal symptoms and on hematological alterations 24 hours after irradiation was considered. As a result of the analysis it was pointed out that by means of a discriminant function the classification of persons to the four degrees of radiation sickness is possible with a computed false rate of classification of nearly 20% and a dose-effect-relation exists between discriminant scores and computed whole-body doses. PMID- 2608897 TI - [CT tomography of normal parotid and mandibular salivary glands]. AB - Computed tomography (CT) allows the differentiation of tissues by measurement of their roentgenologic densities. There are a few controversial literature data on the roentgenologic densities of the parotid and submandibular glands. These differences are, in our opinion, due to several factors: 1. The complex anatomic structure of the facial region of the skull, that demands an exact centering. In daily practice the respective imaging parameters are not always kept constant (including partial volume effects), thus introducing density errors. 2. Metallic prostheses and obturators as well as the high-density bones of the facial skull cause artefacts that impair image quality and density measurements. 3. The small density differences between the salivary glands and the adjacent soft tissues makes their differentiation difficult. 4. Different devices and parameters are used for scanning, resulting in different densities. Considering these facts, we have devised a complex method for the investigation of the parotid and mandibular salivary glands. PMID- 2608898 TI - [Thrombosis due to venous catheters--evaluation using CT]. AB - Venous catheters for therapy and parenteral nutrition can cause thrombosis. A diagnostic elucidation and the evaluation of the extent of the thrombosis is indispensible for therapy decision. Besides phlebography, CT is a means for this. The results of CT-investigations of three patients with severe thrombosis caused by permanent venous catheters are shown. In all cases we were able to achieve the correct diagnosis and a reliable evaluation of the extent of the thrombosis. Small amounts of contrast medium are required and the investigation is tolerated even by seriously ill patients. CT therefore is an alternative to phlebography for the diagnostics and evaluation of the extent of thrombosis of the large veins. PMID- 2608899 TI - [CT-guided percutaneous puncture and drainage of pericardial effusion]. AB - Pericardial fluid can impair cardiac function. If medication is ineffective, puncture and drainage of the fluid is necessary. Three cases of CT-guided puncture and drainage of pericardial fluid are reported. The described technique is quick, of little risk and effective. It is superior to the conventional puncture of the pericardium from the subxiphoidal direction. PMID- 2608900 TI - [X-ray diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in mitral valve defects]. AB - Quantitative roentgenologic criteria of lung hypertension are compared with pressure values from intracardiac catheters for 149 patients with mitral disorder. For chronic rheumatic mitral disorders the nature of the valve lesion cannot be determined from the lung vessel pattern. It was found that quantitative criteria facilitate the diagnosis of lung hypertension in 91% of the cases. The most significant and safe criterium is the diameter of the pulmonary artery over the left main bronchus. PMID- 2608901 TI - [X-ray symptomatology and differential diagnosis of functional obstruction of the digestive tract in children induced by birth injuries of the spine and spinal cord]. AB - In 60 mixed-breed white rats and 60 puppies we simulated birth traumas of the cervical spine, the spinal medulla and spinal arteries with ischaemia of the cervical medulla. Clinical, neurological and roentgenological complex investigations of 174 children with similar birth injuries revealed pathogenetic relations between birth trauma of the spine, the medulla and the functional obturations of the intestinal tract as pylorospasms, spastic-hypotonic dyskinesia of the ileum and gastroesophageal reflux. Frequent complications were aspiration pneumonia, reflux oesophagitis, oesophageal stenosis and the development of intestinal invagination due to dysrhythmic iliac peristalsis. PMID- 2608902 TI - [Accuracy of x-ray and endoscopic methods in the diagnosis of an endophytic gastric cancer]. AB - The results of roentgenologic and endoscopic investigations of the upper intestinal tract are compared. For endophytic gastric carcinoma the diagnostic accuracy of roentgenology was 90.6%, that of endoscopy 66.7%. According to an experimental model and the clinical results a new radiologic symptom "discontinuous inner contour" is described, that was observed in 26 patients with endophytic gastric carcinoma. PMID- 2608903 TI - [Neuroradiologic diagnosis of elongated spinal tumors]. AB - Elongated spinal space-occupying lesions are infrequent but not rare. They are found at all ages, most frequently in the thoracic spinal canal and are primarily of gliomatous origin. A survey of our cases from the last 25 years shows the enormous progress in the diagnosis of such processes. This applies to technical quality as well as improved diagnostic information of modern methods and significantly less discomfort to the patient. In the case of suspected space occupying lesions, a consecutive diagnostic program is recommended, that implies first conventional radiographs of the structure of the spine (including tomography if necessary) followed by myelography with modern positive contrast media. Myelography should be combined with CT. Plain CT-scans can demonstrate hypodense or calcified tumours. MRT provides essential additional information by three dimensional imaging and the corresponding signal processing techniques. With increasing MRT-capacities and improving image quality medullary tumours will primarily investigated with this method. The relations between multiple intramedullary cavities can be explored by endomyelography before drainage. PMID- 2608904 TI - [When and how much oral contrast medium in abdominal CT?]. AB - From a retrospective survey of 110 studies the effectiveness of an oral contrast medium in abdominal CT is estimated according to fractionation in time and applied volume. PMID- 2608905 TI - [Modeling hyperparathyroid osteodystrophy in animals]. AB - For the investigation of roentgenologic signs of osteodystrophy, especially of their early signs and symptoms, an animal model is proposed. The roentgenologic, micro-roentgenographic and pathomorphologic skeletal image of the disease can be studied in this model over all stages, which is useful for the understanding of pathologic transformations of bone structure in hyperparathyroid osteodystrophy. Especially micro-roentgenography is able to visualize changes of bone architecture in the early stages of the disease. PMID- 2608906 TI - [The influence of English on the language of science]. PMID- 2608907 TI - [CT examinations in older age groups]. AB - A total of 2,878 unselected subsequent CT examinations carried out in 1984 were analyzed retrospectively. All studies were performed in a university hospital with a centralized department of diagnostic radiology. Most of the patients investigated were hospitalized; there were only 12% outpatients. Of the patients studied 12.6% were older than 65 years and 20.5% older than 60; 17.7% were emergency cases and patients between 16 and 25 years of age represented the largest fraction. In all other age groups the relative distribution between emergency cases and regular studies revealed no significant differences. There was no statistically significant difference between the older age group (patients older than 65 years) and the total population of this study in almost all items investigated, i.e., no differences in CT examination time and no differences in preparation time (time between two CT studies). The rate of abdominal CT examinations was 7% higher in the older age group, while the relative distribution of all other CT examinations was again comparable to the total population under study. Thus, the expected increase in patients in the older age group does not measurably prolong the CT examination time. This statement applies to a major referral center with a high percentage of inpatients. PMID- 2608908 TI - [Aortic calcification in CT. Correlation with risk factors and cardiovascular diseases]. AB - Computed tomography is a much more sensitive method of identifying aortic calcification than conventional radiographic methods. The present study was undertaken to explore the importance of various cardiovascular risk factors with regard to their calcifying effect on the aorta. A total of 2,130 individuals, aged 8-88 years, were included. In all cases continuous 8-mm-thick CT slices were obtained from the thoracic inlet caudally to the adrenal glands. There was a significant relationship between aortic calcification and age, smoking habits, hypertension, diabetes, relative body weight, hyperlipidemia and alcohol consumption. Aortic calcification was demonstrated to be strongly associated with vascular disease. PMID- 2608909 TI - [Cancer of the colon? Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction]. PMID- 2608910 TI - [Expression switch of the mouse PGK genes during spermatogenesis]. PMID- 2608911 TI - [Action of single recessive genes inducing massive lymphadenopathy and autoimmune disease]. PMID- 2608912 TI - [In honor of Freud or why we are all residents of Vienna]. PMID- 2608913 TI - Scintigraphic and MRI studies in a patient with granulocytic sarcoma accompanied with CML and myelofibrosis. AB - Indium bone marrow, bone, and gallium scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed in a patient with granulocytic sarcoma accompanied with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) and myelofibrosis. The significance and implications of the findings of these studies are discussed. PMID- 2608914 TI - MR of acoustic neuromas--relationship to cranial nerves. AB - In this report, the relationship of acoustic neuromas to the adjacent cranial nerves is discussed. On T1-weighted images, the trigeminal nerve was detected in all 13 cases. Mild to marked compression of these nerves by the tumors was observed in eight cases. The extent of compression did not always correspond to the clinical symptoms. In four cases with a maximum tumor diameter of 2 cm or less, the 7th and 8th cranial nerves were identified. There was no facial palsy in these patients. Two patients with a tumor diameter of more than 2 cm also had no facial palsy. All patients, including those with small tumors, complained of hearing loss and/or tinnitus. While MR imaging has some limitations, it is an effective imaging modality for showing the relationship between tumors and nerves. PMID- 2608915 TI - Laser transmission photo-scanner: clinical application in breast tumor detection (report 3). AB - The increasing number of breast cancer patients in Japan necessitates the development of a useful screening method. Previous studies using a laser transmission photo-scanner for breast lesions showed its use to be feasible in screening for small lesions in small breasts. An increase in the power of the laser beam, however, is necessary to detect small tumors in larger breasts or large tumors. In cases where mammography was compared with laser transmission images, the latter were compatible with published data. More precise examination of laser transmission photo-scanning with the addition of spectro-analysis is the next step. PMID- 2608916 TI - Transhepatic portosystemic collateral pathway via an accessory left gastric vein. AB - An unusual transhepatic collateral was found in a patient with portal hypertension. This pathway originated from an anomalous portal branch that arose from the left portal vein branch, and was considered a venous analogy to an accompanying accessory left gastric artery. A relation between the development of the intrahepatic pathway and variation in the hepatic artery is suggested. PMID- 2608917 TI - Bone and gallium scintigraphy in a patient with bone sarcoidosis. AB - Periosteal reaction in bone lesions in patients with sarcoidosis is rare. We report a case with this type of bone sarcoidosis in whom bone and gallium scintigraphy were useful in detecting the lesions and making the diagnosis. PMID- 2608918 TI - Radionuclide equilibrium ventriculography in infants and children using converging collimator. AB - In infants and young children, the radionuclide cardiac blood-pool images obtained with a general-purpose (GP) parallel-hole collimator are often too small to provide accurate delineation of the left ventricle (LV), especially the interventricular border. In order to obtain magnified cardiac images, a radionuclide gated equilibrium study was performed with a converging (CV) collimator. We compared these two methods in terms of image quality and estimation of LV ejection fraction (EF). Twenty-five children (age, 10 months to 6 years, mean 2.5 years; weight, 5.5 to 20 kg, mean 12 kg) with various heart diseases were studied with administration of 3-7 mCi 99mTc human serum albumin. The GP collimator was used in 15 subjects and the CV collimator in 16. The CV collimator provided optimal magnification and better resolution than the GP type. Cardiac images obtained with the CV collimator facilitated precise delineation of the entire interventricular border in all 16 cases. Those obtained with the GP collimator showed poor delineation of the interventricular border in four subjects. Both GP and CV collimations enabled LVEFs to be calculated, and the values correlated well with those obtained by cine-angiography. The correlation coefficient, however, was higher with the CV collimator (r = 0.787 vs. 0.861, p less than 0.001). Radionuclide cardiac blood-pool study with CV collimator has clinical significance because it provides sufficiently magnified cardiac images with high resolution, enabling accurate estimation of LVEF in infants and young children. PMID- 2608919 TI - B-cell immunoblastic sarcoma as a cause of a photopenic lesion on bone scintigraphy: an initial description. AB - Photopenic metastatic lesions on bone scintigraphy have been previously reported. However, this finding is not emphasized for B-cell immunoblastic sarcoma. We report a case of B-cell immunoblastic sarcoma, which presented as an aggressive pancoast tumor with extensive rib destruction. Bone scintigraphy findings demonstrated a photopenic lesion with high gallium avidity. Correlative chest radiograph and CT scan are described. PMID- 2608920 TI - Radiation therapy of carcinoma of the oropharynx. AB - Forty consecutive cases of carcinoma of the oropharynx were treated by irradiation from 1973 through 1987. The overall five-year survival rate calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method was 21%. Data were also analyzed retrospectively to investigate the factors associated with prognosis. The following results were obtained. (1) The results of re-irradiation as salvage treatment were poor. (2) Irradiation to neck lymph node metastases was not particularly effective, especially under 50 Gy. (3) Stage T2(-4) primary tumors were difficult to control with irradiation of 50 Gy. PMID- 2608921 TI - Interstitial irradiation for carcinoma of tongue complicated by chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis--a case report. AB - There has been some controversy concerning dose-time correction in continuous irradiation at low dose rates. We present the results of carcinoma of the tongue in a patient complicated by chronic renal failure, for which he was undergoing hemodialysis three times a week. This patient was treated with a single implant but with a doubling of 137Cs needles for double strength. The actual dose was given in a shorter treatment time than recommended, with the dose-time adjustment following the Paterson-Parker system. The patient has been alive and well for eight years. PMID- 2608922 TI - A case of carcinoma of the rectum after radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix. AB - Carcinomas are known to develop after radiation therapy for benign or malignant lesions. However, the development of primary carcinoma of the rectum following radiotherapy is relatively rare. This paper presents a case of adenocarcinoma of the rectum in which the history strongly suggested a radiation-induced carcinoma 12 years after initial radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix. Furthermore, it was interesting that metastatic adenocarcinoma of the skin was localized only over the pelvic and perineal area that had mild brown pigmentation from the previous irradiation. The relation between the effect of irradiation and a second primary cancer in the irradiated skin is discussed. PMID- 2608924 TI - Imaging and interventional radiology of malignant biliary obstruction. II. Interventional radiology. PMID- 2608923 TI - Imaging and clinical medicine today. PMID- 2608925 TI - Endoscopic internal biliary drainage. PMID- 2608926 TI - Hydroureteronephrosis in Crohn's disease. PMID- 2608927 TI - [Cerebral blood flow imaging in patients with moyamoya disease]. AB - The usefulness of IMP-SPECT and rCBF image by 133Xe inhalation method on rCBF in patients with moyamoya disease was studied. Six patients with moyamoya disease were diagnosed by cerebral angiogram, and STA-MCA anastomosis technique and EMS were done to reconstruct the rCBF. Low perfusion areas were detected around the cerebral infarction and hemorrhage and that of anterior and middle cerebral arteries by IMP-SPECT and 133Xe-rCBF image met by X-ray CT. After surgery, 4 out of 6 cases showed the improvement of rCBF by IMP-SPECT and 133Xe-rCBF image, as for clinical symptoms, there were reduction of TIA in 3 cases, and no rehemorrhage in 3 cases. In summary IMP-SPECT and 133Xe-rCBF image may be useful method to evaluate the rCBF in moyamoya disease and the change of rCBF post STA MCA anastomosis technique and EMS. PMID- 2608928 TI - Effect of gallium nitrate on the in vivo distribution of 67Ga in rats bearing inflammatory lesions. AB - Effect of gallium nitrate on the pharmacokinetics and tissue accumulation of 67Ga was investigated in rats bearing turpentine oil-induced abscess. Gallium nitrate accelerated the blood disappearance of 67Ga, but this effect was less potent than that of ferric nitrate. The accumulation of 67Ga in liver was significantly lowered by gallium nitrate, but no significant decrease of 67Ga accumulation in abscess was observed. On the other hand, 67Ga accumulation in bone was slightly facilitated by gallium nitrate. Ferric nitrate exerted a similar effect on tissue accumulation of 67Ga as gallium nitrate. PMID- 2608929 TI - [Study on quantification of HBs-antibody by immunoradiometric assay]. AB - Quantification of HBs-antibody assay was carried out using a commercial assay kit and standard solutions of HBs-antibody recognised as 1st reference preparation of hepatitis B immunoglobulin by WHO. Standard curve of HBs-antibody was drawn with the function of 3D-spline and the correlation factor was obtained as r = 0.999. Coefficient of intra-assay variance was 3.8% and that of inter-assay variance was 7.8%. Dilution tests showed satisfactory results in the range of 2-16 times. Correlation between value of cut-off indices and concentration of HBs-antibody was obtained as the formula of y = 2.599 x-3.894 (r = 0.992) and 2.1 of cut-off index corresponded to about 5 mIU/ml of HBs-antibody concentration. PMID- 2608930 TI - [Analysis of prognostic factors in 106 cases of carcinoma of the rhinopharynx treated with cobalt teletherapy]. AB - A series of 106 patients affected with nasopharyngeal carcinomas and treated by definitive external irradiation from January 1975 to December 1986 was retrospectively reviewed. The median follow-up, from the end of the treatment, was 43 months (range 24-90). The nasopharynx received not less than 60 Gy to the midplane: the clinically negative neck (N0) was treated with a total dose of 50 Gy and the patients who had N1-3 disease received not less than 60 Gy. Thirty eight patients had a recurrence in the irradiated areas (31 in the nasopharynx, and 7 in the neck); 17 patients developed distant metastases. Disease-free survival at 60 months was 42%. The most significant prognostic factor (p less than 0.05) was the presence of advanced neck involvement (N2-3), since most of the lymphatic and distant recurrences were observed in this group of patients. The overall results did not reveal but slight differences in the survival according to histology, even though patients with undifferentiated carcinomas had a local recurrence rate significantly lower than those with squamous cell carcinomas. Our findings suggest that patients with N2-3 neck diseases or with locally advanced involvement (T3-4) be treated by adjuvant chemotherapy in order to decrease the risk of local and distant relapses. PMID- 2608931 TI - [Radiotherapy of the breast after conservative surgery for primary carcinoma. Irradiation technic with matched fields]. AB - The authors report their technique for breast radiotherapy following conservative surgery (quadrantectomy + axillary dissection). The breast and chest wall are irradiated with photons from a 60Co unit through two fixed opposing tangential fields. The posterior field edges must be parallel and coplanar to the chest wall. A routine treatment plan using simulator, pantograph and computerized console is standardized by mathematical formulae elaborated from geometric breast measurement parameters. Gammagraphies acquired prior to and during therapy allow verification and control of treatment parameters. For 35 patients the therapy plan as described was compared with that obtained by CT images. Our procedure proved valid and an accurate treatment plan could be elaborated even without CT images. The use of wedges, half-field blocks and the dose scattered to the contralateral breast are also discussed. PMID- 2608932 TI - [Diagnostic-therapeutic integration in metastatic spinal cord compression. Analysis of a prospective study]. AB - Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC), an oncologic emergency, is a frequent complication of many neoplastic diseases in an advanced stage. Our experience is reported, which was obtained with a series of 61 patients following a diagnostic therapeutic protocol aimed at early diagnosing MSCC and at assigning the major role in therapy to radiotherapy (RT) alone. Fifty-seven patients with an average follow-up of 13 months (range 4-26) were evaluable. Diagnosis was always made by means of myelography and/or myelography plus CT. In 50 cases the treatment consisted in RT alone and the remaining 7 patients had surgery before RT because of diagnostic doubts; in 1 case the patient was operated on because stabilization was necessary. A dose of 30 Gy was delivered, over 2 weeks, (TDF = 62) to those tumors which were considered as radiation-responsive and having a better prognosis (myeloma, lymphoma), whereas all the other histologies were given a split-course regimen (5 Gy x 3 days, stop x 4 days, +/- 3 Gy x 5 days; TDF = 68). All patients received medium or high doses of steroid depending on the degree of neurologic involvement. Patients with chemo/hormone-responsive primary tumors also received chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. The clinical parameters considered in evaluating the response to treatment were backache, motor performance, and sphincter function. Respectively 86%, 47% and 44% of patients responded. Early diagnosis was the most important prognostic factor, whereas histology of the primary tumor was important in cases with severe neurologic damage only. The results obtained are similar to those reported in literature and confirm the value of the diagnostic-therapeutic approach used, which suggests continuing this trial. PMID- 2608933 TI - [Bone metabolism in thalassemic children with multiple transfusions. Compartmental analysis of 99mTc-Sn-MDP kinetics]. AB - The kinetics of 99mTc(Sn) methylene diphosphonate [99mTc(Sn)MDP] were evaluated by means of compartmental analysis in 5 normal children and 17 thalassemic subjects. Blood and urine activity were analyzed with a computer program which generates intercompartmental rate constants by an iterative least-square method providing a best-fit to the input data. The amount of tracer in each compartment (corrected for decay) was determined as a function of time. The transfer rate of 99mTc(Sn)MDP from blood to extracellular fluid and lamellar bone (K1-3) was about 20% higher in thalassemic subjects than in normal children. The transfer rate of 99mTc(Sn)MDP from blood to woven bone (K1-4) was about 57% higher in thalassemic subjects. A faster rate of spread into woven bone appears to be the major cause of higher bone uptake of 99mTc(Sn)MDP in thalassemic subjects, which suggests that in these patients bone tissue reoccupies the space previously replaced by hyperplastic marrow. Moreover, the increased bone extraction rate revealed a correlation between anemia and bone metabolic activity. PMID- 2608934 TI - [Thoracic manifestations of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)]. AB - AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) seems to be related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and is characterized by severe T-helpers lymphocyte dysfunction. Many of the AIDS patients (47-70%) develop pulmonary manifestations, both infectious and neoplastic, in the course of their disease. In the Department of Infectious Diseases of our Hospital are studied many patients HIV+. Every year 246 seropositive new patients have been discovered. Among them we have studied 25 subjects with respiratory disease, by chest radiographs; successively, according to clinical picture, we have performed thoracic computed tomography, Gallium scintigraphy, fiberoptic bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy (TBB), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL); the majority of these patients (68%) had AIDS, only 28% had ARC and 4% had PGL. In our experience, the diagnosed diseases were mainly infections (92%), and most frequently (52%) due to Pneumocystis carinii, alone or in association with other etiologic agents. We have not found pathognomonic radiographic abnormalities, but chest X-ray evaluated with clinical and laboratory data, may often be useful to obtain diagnostic indications and in order to determine a more specific and aggressive diagnostic approach. PMID- 2608935 TI - [An anatomo-radiological study of changed tracheal transparency in the pathology of the superior mediastinum. Correlations and integration with mediastinal lines]. AB - Twenty cases of mediastinal pathologies were examined with conventional radiology and Computerized Tomography (CT). They all (4 lesions in the superior and 16 in the postero-inferior mediastinum) presented with no significant changes in mediastinal borders. Conventional X-ray pictures were carefully examined for changes in mediastinal shape, and aerial tracheograms for "tracheal dimness"; CT scans were used as anatomical reference material. Mediastinal lines were detectable and evaluable in less cases than tracheal dimness was. The latter proved an useful sign for the evaluation not only of the pathologic condition itself, but also of the therapeutical reduction obtained in previously-diagnosed lesions. The routine study of tracheal dimness on conventional X-ray pictures appears to be an useful addition to the well-known signs of mediastinal pathologic conditions, especially when filters and high voltage are but seldom used. PMID- 2608936 TI - [Digital videoradiography applied to the study of stress urinary incontinence in women]. AB - A digital videofluoroscopic unit was employed to evaluate 42 female patients with urinary stress incontinence, cystocele or endometrial neoplasms, using either voiding cystourethrography or colpo-cysto-urethrorectography (CCURG), with or without urethral metallic bead chain. The digital subtraction technique allowed the direct visualization (on a single frame) of the lowering of both bladder base and other pelvic structures, and of the modification of urethral angles during Valsalva and micturition. The demonstration of contrasted urethra during micturition and Valsalva in incontinent patients allowed CCURG to be performed without urethral chain, with encouraging diagnostic accuracy. The advantages of digital CCURG are emphasized. PMID- 2608937 TI - [Selective and ambulatory salpingography]. AB - A new technique is here proposed to enhance, in a selective or direct way, the fallopian tubes. This new approach is suggested because hysterosalpingography (with the filling of the uterine cavity) is an indirect procedure, and therefore not completely reliable. Since intrauterine pressure cannot exceed 200 mmHg, and more pressure is needed to reach the tube ostia, false negatives are produced; up to 50% of the fallopian tubes not enhanced during hysterosalpingography are normal. Thurmond et al. were the first to introduce selective salpingography. They used a blind procedure with fluoroscopy passing through the uterine cavity, catheterized, with probes, and performed repeated fluoroscopic examinations of the uterine cavity. We suggest a different technique consisting in the use of hysteroscopy to visualize the ostium, and of a direct image to place the probe into the fallopian tube. The intubation is then repeated, if needed, in the other tube, which is then enhanced with the conventional means. X-ray pictures of both tubes will then be made. The technique is thus a simple and quick one, which can be carried out on an out-patient basis at the Radiology Department, without premedication, and with no need for previous preparation. Neither is it necessary to dilate the cervix nor to anesthesize the patient if the Karl-Storz chorionscope is used, which has proved the most useful instrument for this purpose. No complications were observed and the contraindications were similar to those of hysterosalpingography and hysteroscopy. To optimize the method, 16 direct fallopian tube intubations were carried out on a selected group of patients suffering from different kinds of infertility. The procedure lasted no longer than 20 minutes, was well tolerated, and allowed the patients to immediately resume their usual activities. We believe this practical technique to be the procedure of choice when one/both fallopian tubes are not enhanced during conventional hysterosalpingography. PMID- 2608938 TI - [Percutaneous treatment of benign biliary stenosis: bilioplasty and stenting]. AB - We reviewed our personal experience in 46 patients with biliary strictures, who underwent percutaneous balloon dilatation between 1983 and 1988. The strictures were iatrogenic in 24% of the cases, anastomotic in 52%, inflammatory in 17%, and associated with sclerosing cholangitis in 7%. The treatment consisted in dilating the bile ducts with balloon catheters of different kinds and sizes ("bilioplasty") and placing an internal drainage catheter for a varying period of time ("stenting"). In 22 patients the catheter was removed after an average time of 7.7 months. The rate of stricture recurrence was 13.5% (average follow-up: 20 months). In the remaining 24 patients the stents are still in situ, waiting for removing. Major complication rate was 6.4% (2 pleural effusions and 1 hepatic artery bleeding). We also report our initial experience with metallic self expanding stents which appear as a promising tool in the management of recurring strictures. PMID- 2608939 TI - [Proposal of a "radiological chart" in the monitoring of patients with hip prosthesis]. PMID- 2608940 TI - [Amiodarone and radiotherapy. Remarks on a case of post-actinic pneumopathy]. PMID- 2608941 TI - [Systemic-pulmonary fistula: description of 2 cases]. PMID- 2608942 TI - [Course of thin-slice CT findings in a case of pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis]. PMID- 2608943 TI - Mammals from the Caatinga: an updated list and summary of recent research. AB - The taxonomic status of Caatinga mammals, considered by Mares et al. (1981), is updated herein and a checklist of extant mammals is included. A brief survey of recent contributions to the scientific literature on Caatinga mammals is also provided. PMID- 2608944 TI - [Reproductive biology of Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)]. AB - The reproductive biology of the bat Artibeus lituratus was studied. Females were collected monthly at the Estacao Florestal de Experimentacao Engenheiro Agronomo Mario Xavier, Itaguai, R.J. The reproductive status of each female was assessed by the histological examination of the reproductive organs. The results suggest that A. lituratus is polioestrous since lactant females were found to be also pregnant. There are two birth peaks in the year that coincide with the rainy season. PMID- 2608945 TI - [Histologic study of the lumbar glands of Pleurodema thaul (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae)]. AB - Frogs of the Pleurodema thaul species have a pair of prominent elevated cutaneous glands dorsolaterally, just posterior to the sacrum, which are named lumbar glands. We have studied histologically these glands and found that their chromatophores are disposed mainly immediately under the epidermis structuring a dermal chromatophore unit. Similar to the other anuran macroglands, the lumbar glands are constituted basically by granular alveoli filled with secretion. The presence of these granular alveoli and the typical distribution of the dermal chromatophores to suggest a defensive role for the lumbar glands. In most of the amphibians granular alveoli contain secretions with toxicity for several vertebrates. On the other hand, chromatophores in this frog species, probably play an aposematic function, since their disposition on the skin permits that the lumbar glands might be taken for eyes, probably giving to an eventual predator the impression that it may be an animal of higher dimensions. PMID- 2608946 TI - [Histologic study of the pineal organ in tinamid birds]. AB - The pineal organs of 10 species of tinamid birds belonging to the genera Crypturellus, Nothura, Rhynchotus and Tinamus were studied in serial microscopic sections of the entire medial region of the brain. All were located in a triangular space formed by the cerebral hemispheres and the cerebellum. They have the form of a club with the enlarged distal part enclosed in the dura-mater. In all species the pineal is formed of tubulofollicular structures, the walls of which are covered by a pseudo-stratified epithelium with elongated cells. In Rhynchotus and Nothura there is a predominance of small follicles with a reduced lumen and a regular outline, whereas in Tinamus and Crypturellus there is a predominance of large follicles with a wide lumen and an irregular outline. Our results show that morphological organization of the pineal organs in tinamids is similar to that observed for the majority of modern birds, in spite of the fact that they are generally regarded as very primitive. PMID- 2608947 TI - A dose-response analysis of skin cancer from inorganic arsenic in drinking water. AB - A study of the prevalence of skin cancer among 40,421 persons consuming arsenic contaminated drinking water in Taiwan was used for a cancer dose-response assessment of ingested arsenic. The numbers of persons at risk over three dose intervals and four exposure durations were estimated from the data in order to apply the method of maximum likelihood to a multistage-Weibull time/dose-response model. A constant exposure level since birth for each of the exposure categories was assumed. It was found that the cumulative hazard increases as a power of three in age, and is linear or quadratic (with a linear coefficient) in dose. Observations from a smaller epidemiologic survey in Mexico were similar to what would be predicted from the model of the Taiwan data. Assuming that the skin cancer risk from ingested arsenic in the American population would also be similar to the Taiwan population, an American male would have a lifetime risk of developing skin cancer of 1.3 x 10(-3) (3.0 x 10(-3] if exposed to 1 microgram/kg/day for a 76-year lifespan (median lifespan in the U.S.). PMID- 2608948 TI - Multistage modeling of lung cancer mortality among arsenic-exposed copper-smelter workers. AB - Multistage modeling incorporating a time-dependent exposure pattern is applied to lung cancer mortality data obtained from a cohort of 2802 arsenic-exposed copper smelter workers who worked 1 or more years during the period 1940-1964 at a copper smelter at Tacoma, Washington. The workers were followed for death through 1976. There were 100 deaths due to lung cancer during the follow-up period. Exposures to air arsenic levels measured in micrograms/m3 were estimated from departmental air arsenic and workers urinary arsenic measurements. Relationships of different temporal variables with excess death rates are examined to judge qualitatively the implications of the multistage cancer process. Analysis to date indicates a late stage effect of arsenic although an additional early stage effect cannot be ruled out. PMID- 2608949 TI - OSHA's permissible exposure limits: regulatory compliance versus health risk. AB - Workplace exposures to airborne chemicals are regulated in the U.S. by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) via the promulgation of permissible exposure limits (PELs). These limits, usually defined as eight-hour time-weighted average values, are enforced as concentrations never to be exceeded. In the case of chronic or delayed toxicants, the PEL is determined from epidemiological evidence and/or quantitative risk assessments based on long-term mean exposures or, equivalently, cumulative lifetime exposures. A statistical model was used to investigate the relation between the compliance strategy, the PEL as a limit never to be exceeded, and the health risk as measured by the probability that an individual's long-term mean exposure concentration is above the PEL. The model incorporates within-worker and between-worker variability in exposure, and assumes the relevant distributions to be log-normal. When data are inadequate to estimate the parameters of the full model, as it is in compliance inspections, it is argued that the probability of a random measurement being above the PEL must be regarded as a lower bound on the probability that a randomly selected worker's long-term mean exposure concentration will exceed the PEL. It is concluded that OSHA's compliance strategy is a reasonable, as well as a practical, means of limiting health risk for chronic or delayed toxicants. PMID- 2608950 TI - TOX-RISK: a program for fitting dose-response formulae and extrapolating between species. PMID- 2608951 TI - Typical and atypical bronchial carcinoids. AB - From January 1955 to April 1987 111 patients with bronchial carcinoid were operated on in our department. There were 62 males and 49 females with a mean age of 45.5 years. Preoperative histological diagnosis was achieved in 22 cases, while in five patients, a false positive diagnosis of small cell lung cancer was reported. Fifteen patients required pneumonectomy, 70 had lobectomy, 16 bilobectomy, and four segmentectomy. One patient required tracheal resection, while in another patient the tumour was removed through bronchotomy. Four patients were completely treated with YAG laser phototherapy. There were three postoperative deaths. The following variables were analysed and discussed in order to evaluate their influence on prognosis: (1) size of the tumour, (2) typical or atypical appearance, (3) endoluminal or extraluminal growth, (4) vascular invasion, (5) node metastases. Atypical onset, node metastases and extraluminal invasion are significant factors in worsening the prognosis. PMID- 2608952 TI - Impedance measurements of the respiratory system before and after salbutamol in COPD patients. AB - Impedance measurements of the respiratory system by means of the forced oscillation technique were performed in a group of 20 COPD patients before and after inhalation of 0.400 mg salbutamol. A slight, but statistically non significant decrease of resistance is observed at all frequencies from 12 to 52 Hz. Increase of reactance values reached a statistically significant level at all frequencies except at 24 and 52 Hz. It is hypothesized that the increase of reactance in these patients can be explained by an increase of capacitance due to an increase of airway compliance or a decrease of peripheral resistance according to Mead's analogon of the lungs. PMID- 2608953 TI - The slowing of the decline in tuberculosis notifications and HIV infection. AB - Rates of tuberculosis in England and Wales increased slightly in 1986. Evidence is put forward to suggest that this is due to disease in older patients, particularly females. It is very unlikely, therefore, that the arrest in the decline in tuberculosis rates in the UK is related to HIV infection. Infection incurred during World War II is a more probable cause. PMID- 2608954 TI - Do chest physicians follow-up too many patients? AB - We have examined the pattern of attendance of 750 randomly selected regular attenders at a chest outpatient clinic and sought the patients' views on the frequency of their follow-up appointments and the possible consequences of discharge to the care of the general practitioners. In addition, the clinic doctors and the patients' general practitioners were asked about the appropriateness of the frequency of follow-up and whether the pattern of attendance should change or the patient be discharged. Patients were most commonly seen at three monthly intervals. Clinic doctors felt that 24% and general practitioners that 9% of patients attended too often while only 2% of patients felt that this was the case. Clinic doctors recommended discharge for 28% and general practitioners for 21% of patients. Sixty-nine per cent of patients felt that their condition would be unchanged or would improve if they were discharged to the care of their general practitioners. Our findings suggest that at least 20% of our patients should be discharged to the care of their general practitioners, and, if the patients are correct in their interpretation of the consequences of discharge, that as many as 70% could safely be discharged. PMID- 2608955 TI - Fibreoptic bronchoscopy in rapid diagnosis of sputum smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis. AB - We used fibreoptic bronchoscopy to investigate 70 patients with a suspected diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, with histology of any visible lesion and examination of washings by Ziehl-Neelsen Stain and Lowenstein-Jensen culture, and in later cases BACTEC rapid culture technique. Thirty-five patients were considered to have tuberculosis in the light of the course of the illness and response to treatment. In these, chest radiology showed lung parenchymal lesions (LPL) with or without enlarged hilar or mediastinal glands in 18, and mediastinal gland enlargement (MGE) only in 17. In nine patients (four with MGE, five with LPL) the diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by culture or histology of samples taken at bronchoscopy, and in five of these the diagnosis was available within 16 days of bronchoscopy. Of seven patients with positive cultures two had resistant organisms. There were no complications. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy provides early confirmation of diagnosis, and cultures to permit sensitivity studies, in a useful proportion of patients who traditionally present a considerable problem in diagnosis. PMID- 2608956 TI - Chest pain in chronic sputum production: a neglected symptom. AB - One hundred and fifteen patients (80 with bronchiectasis and 35 with mucus hypersecretion alone) who produced sputum on a daily basis were asked if they had suffered chest pain unassociated with an acute exacerbation of their chest symptoms during the last six months. Those with bronchiectasis complained of 28 separate pains of which 18 were considered to be of respiratory origin. Seventeen of these 18 pains were in an area associated with a bronchiectatic lobe(s). Only six chest pains (three considered to be of respiratory origin) were found among the 35 patients with mucus hypersecretion. PMID- 2608957 TI - Pattern of anti-asthmatic drug utilization in Hong Kong compared to other parts of the world. AB - Inhaled drugs are now considered first line agents for the treatment of asthma, whereas oral beta-agonists, theophylline and its derivatives have been relegated to a secondary role. To determine whether current prescribing in Hong Kong conforms to these recommendations, we have evaluated anti-asthmatic drug utilization in the territory as reflected by 1984-86 drug sales (courtesy Medical and Health Department, Hong Kong). Sales/prescription statistics were also obtained from corresponding agencies of other governments and from published literature. If appropriate, data for comparison was expressed as defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1000 inhabitants per day. In contrast to the pattern of utilization in several developed nations, in Hong Kong (a) oral anti-asthmatic agents (particularly beta agonists) were more commonly utilized than inhaled drugs, and (b) inhaled therapy mainly consisted of non-selective beta-agonists, steroids being very rare. Further education is required to improve anti-asthmatic drug utilization patterns in the community. PMID- 2608958 TI - The use and misuse of domiciliary nebulizer therapy on the Isle of Wight. AB - Domiciliary nebulizer use is evaluated in a well-defined population on the Isle of Wight covering all ages. A questionnaire was administered to 167 known users and all were completed. The indication for nebulizer therapy was asthma (137), bronchitis (32) and emphysema (30). Twenty-three had never had a simple inhaler device prescribed and, of the others, 13 had never had instruction in its use. One hundred and fifty-three had used the nebulizer within the previous year and, of these, instruction was provided by physiotherapist (87), general practitioner (30), nurse (19) and hospital doctor (6). Nine received no advice. The drugs used comprised mostly salbutamol (140) and sodium cromoglycate (51). Twenty-six mixed medicines for use in the nebulizer and 24 admitted to exceeding the recommended dose. Twenty-three patients had a peak flow meter available at home. With treatment failure, 108 would call a doctor or report to hospital, while 25 would persist with nebulizer therapy. Thirty-two patients had no help at home in the event of an emergency. Most patients thought that they benefited greatly from nebulizer treatment at home, but better selection of patients and monitoring of treatment is needed. Comparison with previous studies suggests that there has been little improvement in the domiciliary use of nebulizers. PMID- 2608959 TI - Optimal duration of radiological follow-up for tuberculosis contacts. AB - Eight hundred and sixty Heaf test positive contacts of cases of tuberculosis in Lothian were offered screening with chest radiographs for the recommended period of two years. In spite of the use of standard methods of encouragement to attend, only 309 (35.9%) completed the two year period of follow-up. Seven cases of tuberculosis (representing a crude rate of eight cases per 1000 contacts) were detected radiologically, all within 3 months of entering the screening programme. In view of the poor compliance with the extended period of follow-up and the detection of all cases early in the screening process, we recommend that, at least in Lothian, radiological follow-up of Heaf positive tuberculosis contacts need only be applied for a period of 6 months. PMID- 2608960 TI - A variant of Meigs' syndrome without ovarian neoplasm. PMID- 2608961 TI - Management of asthma. PMID- 2608962 TI - Our changing understanding of asthma. AB - It is now becoming clear that asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease, involving many interacting cells. These cells release a wide variety of inflammatory mediators that activate several target cells in the airway, resulting in bronchoconstriction, microvascular leakage and oedema, mucus hypersecretion and stimulation of neural reflexes. Recent evidence suggests that mast cells do not have a key role in either the late response or in bronchial hyper-responsiveness, though they may be involved in immediate responses to allergens. The possible role of other inflammatory cells and the many different mediators which have been implicated in asthma are discussed. Microvascular leakage and the role of neural mechanisms are also examined. It seems probable that there are several different types of asthma, involving different mechanisms, which may respond to different forms of therapy, but more research is needed. PMID- 2608963 TI - [Mortality at an internal medicine department of a tertiary hospital]. AB - The clinical and epidemiological variables as well as conduct parameters, attributable to death cases of the 1,052 patients cared for during one year in an Internal Medicine Department are analyzed. The mortality rate was 11.6%. We may point out in our results the elevated mean age (75.5 +/- 11.2 years) and the high incidence of repeated admissions (46%) among death cases. The mean and median hospital stay values were lower in the patients who died than in those that survived. The more frequent basic causes of death were stroke (27%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (15%) and neoplasias (14%). When analyzing the different conditions within one patient, cardiovascular diseases were most often found amongst those who died (73%). Gastrointestinal and infectious diseases were on the contrary associated to a low mortality rate. PMID- 2608964 TI - [Risk factors in cerebrovascular disease and their prognostic importance]. AB - The prevalence of cerebrovascular disease risk factors and their immediate mortality prognostic value together with the initial analytical parameters are evaluated. 250 cases of cerebral infarction (CI), 150 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and 60 cases of transitory ischemic events (TIE) were studied and compared to a control group. A higher prevalence of arterial hypertension, cardiopathy, previous cerebrovascular disease and elevated hematocrit was found in the CI group. In the TIE group there was an increased prevalence of cardiopathy, previous cerebrovascular disease and high hematocrit. In the ICH group an increased prevalence of hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy was found. We have to point out the importance of a global approach of the risk factors. The intrahospital mortality due to CI was associated with old age, low hematocrit, leukocytosis and high blood sugar at admission. ICH was associated with a higher systolic arterial pressure leukocytosis and elevated blood glucose at admission. PMID- 2608965 TI - [Short-term prognosis in cryptogenetic hemoptysis]. AB - 149 patients suffering from hemoptysis of unknown origin who presented a normal chest X-ray were followed up, in order to evaluate their prognosis, during a mean period of 12.6 months after the initial study which included fiberoptic bronchoscopy. During this time, 24 patients (16.1%) presented new episodes of hemoptysis without radiological modifications; a second fiberoptic bronchoscopy carried out in 13 of these patients did not contribute with any new diagnostic data. One patient was diagnosed of pulmonary thromboembolism after persistent hemoptysis and two others of bronchial carcinoma 4 and 30 months after the initial fiberoptic bronchoscopy when the chest X-ray had already suffered significant changes. These data confirm that short term prognosis of cryptogenetic hemoptysis is generally favourable when the fiberoptic bronchoscopy is negative. The fact that a high percentage of these patients (37%, 55/149) had previously suffered pulmonary tuberculosis and/or inflammatory-scar type localized endobronchiolar lesions suggests that sequelae of these diseases, not observed in the X-ray, could play an etiological role in the bleeding. PMID- 2608966 TI - [Vasculitis caused by hypersensitivity: an analysis of 60 patients]. AB - Sixty cases of hypersensitivity vasculitis are revised analyzing their possible etiology, clinical course, analytical and histological alterations, evolution, and treatment. Thirty of these cases corresponded to Schonlein Henoch purpura (SH). The results of this subgroup (SH) are compared to other hypersensitivity vasculitis (HV). PMID- 2608967 TI - [Sternal osteomyelitis associated with a severe attack of ulcerative colitis with multiple extra-intestinal manifestations]. AB - A case of ulcerative colitis in which multiple extraintestinal manifestations: erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum, vesicle pustule lesions, aseptic osteomyelitis and possible local myositis appeared in the course of an acute decompensation is presented. The pathogenesis of these lesions are discussed and the not previously reported association between ulcerative colitis and aseptic osteomyelitis is presented. PMID- 2608968 TI - [Acute lithium poisoning. Treatment with continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration. Apropos of a case]. AB - We report a suicide attempt with lithium, chlorpromazine and flunitrazepam. In case of intoxication, renal excretion of lithium can be facilitated with forced diuresis by the administration of large volumes of saline solution, peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis. In the case of our patient, treatment with saline solution was not effective, so continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) was performed achieving a decrease in serum lithium and obtaining a prompt clinical improvement. No secondary effects or serum lithium rebound effect were observed. We have not found any previous record of the use of CAVH in the treatment of acute lithium intoxication. PMID- 2608969 TI - [Relevancy of the clinical subjects in medical training]. AB - A judgment of the relevance of twelve clinical science courses for preparing the students to the practice of medicine and to the development of the scientific mind, was tested by the Pair Comparison and Equal-Appearing Interval methods. The test groups consisted of medical school faculty members, medical students and physicians. Three groups of clinical sciences, according its relevancy for preparing the students for a career as physicians, were identified Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery and Public Health, comprised the group of maximum relevancy; History of Medicine, Medicolegal and Radiological studies, formed a group of lowest relevancy. The remainder sciences (Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Otorhinolaryngology, Dermatology and Psychiatry, formed a middle group. Few differences were found when we considered the relevancy to the development of the scientific mind. PMID- 2608970 TI - [A 68-year-old male with a catarrhal picture and radiologic image of condensation in the upper right lobe]. PMID- 2608971 TI - [Pleural effusion as the initial radiologic manifestation of chronic traumatic hernia of the diaphragm]. PMID- 2608972 TI - [Anicteric cholestasis caused by thiocarbamides]. PMID- 2608973 TI - [Inguinal tuberculous adenopathies and polyarthritis: is it a case of Poncet's disease?]. PMID- 2608974 TI - [Chylous ascites and nephrotic syndrome]. PMID- 2608975 TI - [Arthritis caused by group G Streptococcus]. PMID- 2608976 TI - [Thickening of the bladder wall versus alithiasic cholecystitis in acute hepatitis A]. PMID- 2608977 TI - [Complete Gerstmann's syndrome]. PMID- 2608978 TI - [Effect of ketoconazole on steroidogenesis ...]. PMID- 2608979 TI - [Pyogenic liver abscess. Review of 33 cases]. AB - Thirty three cases of pyogenic liver abscess, (24 single and 9 multiple), diagnosed in our department during the past 6 years, were reviewed. Mean patient age was 54 years with a male predominance over females (1.5:1). The most frequently encountered underlying pathology was bile duct disease (33%), followed by previous liver disease (21%). Causal pathology could not be found in 4 cases (12%). The most frequent sign was fever (76%). Diagnosis was made by clinical picture and complementary exam (echography, CT scan and hepatic gammagraphy) in 29 cases (88%). Blood and pus cultures were positive in 47 and 67% of cases respectively. Thirty nine per cent of microbial abscesses were polymicrobial. E. coli and S. milleri were the most frequently isolated. No micro-organism were identified in 5 cases (15%). Antibiotic treatment was given to 33 patients. Surgical drainage was performed in 24 cases and percutaneous drainage in 7 patients. Two patients received antibiotics exclusively. Five patients died (15%), three of whom had a multiple abscess (33%) and the other two had a single abscess (8%). The efficacy of percutaneous drainage for diagnosis and treatment is analyzed reviewing recent literature. PMID- 2608980 TI - [The presence of oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid in various neurologic diseases]. AB - The polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of spinal fluid from 488 patients suffering neurological diseases and from a control group are reviewed. One hundred and eleven cases (22.7%) showed oligoclonal bands (OB). The highest percentage of OB appeared in the group of patients with definite multiple sclerosis (84%), followed by those with probable multiple sclerosis (46%) and inflammatory infectious diseases (43%); the group of patients with a possible multiple sclerosis (7%), vascular malignancies (11%) and other diseases (4%) showed a lower incidence of OBs. No OBs were found in groups of patients with degenerative diseases, dementia or the control group. These results confirm the great usefulness of this test to support the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, although it also shows that it is not a specific test so it should always be evaluated within a clinical context. PMID- 2608981 TI - [Heterogeneity of calcitonin in liver cirrhosis]. AB - Elevated serum calcitonin (SC) levels have been observed in cirrhotic patients although the biological activity of this hormone in such patients is not known. Twenty one patients diagnosed histologically of alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis (AC) and 12 healthy controls were studied evaluating the degree of hepatocellular failure by means of clinical and biological criteria. Serum calcitonin was determined by means of a radioimmuno assay (RIA) and a radioimmunometric assay (IRMA) in which by combining two monoclonal antibodies, mature calcitonin is determined. These levels almost correspond to levels of biologically active calcitonin. The results obtained show a significant increase in SC in patients with AC when compared to controls, both by RIA (280 +/- 197 pg/ml, p less than 0.001) and IRMA (18 +/- 6 pg/ml, p less than 0.01). Control values were 57 +/- 23 pg/ml and 12 +/- 7 pg/ml respectively. Mean SC values in cirrhotic patients obtained by RIA were 4.9 times greater than their controls while the increase in SC in cirrhotics determined by IRMA was 1.5 times the control, thus obtaining a significant direct correlation between SC and severity of hepatic failure. According to our results, the elevated SC found in cirrhotics is mainly due to immature or non active forms directly related with the degree of severity of the hepatic failure and probably to high Molecular Weight molecules. The slight increase in mature SC in this type of patients is probably due to hormonal mechanism of bone regulation, defendants of hepatic osteodystrophy. PMID- 2608982 TI - [Evolution of pulmonary tuberculosis at a specialized hospital from its beginning to the present time. General aspects]. AB - A retrospective analysis of pleuropulmonary tuberculosis patients admitted to a specialized hospital from the day it started functioning to 1986 is performed. The epidemiological and clinical aspects of 966 medical histories are reviewed. 32% of these patients had household contacts with patients suffering the same disease. We could also observe an increase with time in the percentage of diabetic and alcoholic patients. With respect to the bacteriological study we have to point out that in 86% of patients Koch Bacillus was detected. A decrease in length of hospital stay as well as a decrease in mortality up to 3% is observed. These variables are recorded at two time points: when the hospital first started and at the present time, analyzing any possible statistically significant differences. PMID- 2608983 TI - [Neutrophilic dermatosis in inflammatory intestinal disease]. AB - The neutrophilic dermatosis are a group of cutaneous diseases that share similar clinical and histopathologic features. They frequently occur in association with other diseases, particularly idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. We present herein three cases of neutrophilic dermatosis and inflammatory bowel disease. We emphasize the atypical cutaneous findings and we discuss their nosologic situation. PMID- 2608984 TI - [Prevalence of arterial hypertension in the rural population of Catalonia]. AB - The arterial blood pressure and hypertension data obtained from an epidemiological study of endemic goiter in the rural population of Catalonia was analyzed. The prevalence of hypertension is of 25.1 +/- 2.16%, existing a predominance of women over men. The distribution of the arterial pressure values according to sex are presented, as well as the relationship between arterial blood pressure, weight and obesity. PMID- 2608985 TI - [Neurologic complications of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Spain]. PMID- 2608986 TI - [Horton's arteritis. Ophthalmoplegia as a beginning sign]. PMID- 2608987 TI - [Double rheumatologic disease in a woman: ankylopoietic spondylitis associated with connective tissue pathology]. PMID- 2608988 TI - [Data on buprenorphine consumption in drug addicted individuals]. PMID- 2608989 TI - [Polyuria as a side effect of famotidine]. PMID- 2608990 TI - [Anomalous venous drainage from the left lung into the right auricle with complete interauricular septum]. PMID- 2608991 TI - [Churg-Strauss disease. Diagnosis of a fiction?]. PMID- 2608992 TI - [Nursing care for the diabetic child]. AB - Nursing care is reviewed in six patients hospitalized with diagnosis of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type I), three of them with poor metabolic control of disease (hospitalized in miscellaneous ward) and three with diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (hospitalized in intensive care ward). Importance of nurse's work in the hospital assistance staff is pointed out. PMID- 2608993 TI - [The social transformations observed in a family with retarded children]. AB - A deep educational work was carried out with a family presenting generalized retardation in most of its members, with very deficient socioeconomic and hygiene conditions and a child with retardation of organic cause, main point of disorders occurring at his home and neighborhood. Transformations were reached in this family by means of field visits, specialized medical care and the aid of the community revolutionary masses; life level was improved, reaching a higher development of all its members who were incorporated to social life. Valuable benefit rendered by social medicine and importance of the new model of primary care to the family, and within such model main role played by the nurse, as well as the aid given by the community mass organizations, was demonstrated. PMID- 2608994 TI - [Is nutrition an instrument against cancer?]. PMID- 2608995 TI - [Kartagener's syndrome. A case report]. AB - A case of Kartagener's syndrome (situs inversus, sinusitis and bronchiectasis) is reported at the "Comandante Manuel Fajardo" Teaching Clinico-surgical Hospital, Havana City, in a patient aged 33 years, who presents the three elements of Kartagener's triad. The case was investigated in the Department of Medicine and Department of Radiology. The literature on this uncommon syndrome was reviewed and it was found that there are an open prevalence of this entity in children younger than 15 years, as well as severe respiratory complications in affected patients. Emphasis is made on the importance of early diagnosis and adequate treatment of affections of high respiratory passages, which allows an orientation to avoid future bronchiectasis and sinusopathies. Genetic aspects, as well as incidence of suffering variants, are mentioned. Emphasis is made on specific nursing procedures of this syndrome. PMID- 2608996 TI - [Old age: an age for respect and enthusiastic care]. AB - The social problem of the elder and relatives has found a possible way of solution in the "Old People's Home", where outcomes in improving general health conditions of elders, incorporating them to the practice of physical exercise and ergotherapy, have been reached, leading to reduction of obesity and sedentariness. Smoking habit and excess of drugs were reduced and, what is even more important, it has been achieved, in addition, that the elder himself feels again he is useful and is incorporated to social activities in his group. The task of the nurse, together to that of the social worker and the ergotherapist is integral, since their work as a whole constitutes the essence of this type of institution. PMID- 2608997 TI - [Nursing activities with patients coming into an emergency room]. AB - Nursing participation in patients attending to the emergency ward at the Teaching South Infantile Hospital, Santiago de Cuba, was analyzed and evaluated during November 1987. It was observed that the performance of main nursing procedures was adequate. Having a wide participation in patients with neurologic, febrile, respiratory and digestive disorders, and in those polytraumatized patients. Teaching activities in which are involved almost everybody attending to the emergency ward, were wholly fulfilled, according to plans. PMID- 2608998 TI - [Characteristic aspects of the development of a scientific discipline]. AB - Popular criteria to define what does is science are analysed. A difference among experience, technique, technology and science is established in order to present, later, in a more detailed fashion characteristics of a particular factual science, as well as its comparison with technology. Status of nursing scientific development, at the light of characteristics of authentic science and technology, participation of Colombian nurses in the process of construction of our professional identity are analyzed in a general way and, finally, conclusion around relationship between nursing and the other health sciences are reached. PMID- 2608999 TI - [Congenital cardiovascular malformations. January to July 1987]. AB - This paper deals with the study of 23 patients with congenital cardiovascular malformations. Causes of such malformations, as well as symptoms for a positive diagnosis, are investigated. There was only four deaths within the cases under study, which makes evident attention given to these patients. PMID- 2609000 TI - [Temperature evolution in the first 4 hours of life in the newborn infant]. AB - An investigation on behaviour of body temperature of the newborn is carried out in a sample of 30 neonates, during the period comprised between July and September, 1987. Variability of temperature, mainly in the low-weight newborn, is observed; in half of these newborns, a time longer than two hours was required for temperature regulation. Some variants found in the study are exposed. PMID- 2609001 TI - [The work results in a recently created pediatric dialysis unit]. AB - Results of the first period of two working years in a dialysis unit, at a provincial pediatric hospital, are exposed. A total of 26 patients, 20 children and 6 adults, was submitted to hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Within the first, male sex prevailed and age groups more often submitted to dialysis were those under one year old and school children aged 5-14 years. A total of 370 peritoneal dialysis and 264 hemodialysis was performed to children. In the case of peritoneal dialysis, 11.1% was performed by puncture catheter, for acute patients, and the remainder 88.9% by fixed Tenckhoff's catheter, for patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Diseases that more often require the use of dialytic methods were, in first place, acute renal insufficiency, followed by chronic renal insufficiency and, in second place, obstructive uropathies. At the end of the research, 56.0% of the patients assisted in the dialysis unit was cured, with renal transplantations presenting a good evolution or under periodical dialysis waiting for transplantation. Emphasis is made on the most frequent complications occurred during the performance of the fore-mentioned procedures. PMID- 2609002 TI - [A developmental study of low birth weight infants in 1986]. AB - Evolution of the newborn infant weighing 1,000-1,499 g, was studied in 1986 in the "Mariana Grajales" Gynecologic and Obstetric Teaching Provincial Hospital, Department of Neonatology, Santa Clara. Data was obtained from the clinical histories of the newborns and of their mothers. A control group was selected in order to analyze and compare the causes of low birthweight, and as causes of it were determined age and height, and as associated diseases, urinary sepsis, anemia and toxemia of pregnancy. Premature rupture of membranes was significant. Half of the infants of the group under study was severe and moderately depressed. At the somatic evolution was observed a trend to increment and a high coefficient of correlation within the three variables under study. Main nursing actions offered fit up to the attention of these neonates. PMID- 2609003 TI - [An assessment of the patients in a pediatric intensive care unit]. AB - Twenty four patients, consecutively hospitalized in the "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay" Military Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Havana City, were evaluated by the therapeutic intervention system (TISS), in order to extend knowledges on evaluative system. According to the clinic classification system, the cases were clustered into four classes. The most severe cases are included into class IV (higher score), while cases clustered into class I (lower score) are those under current surveillance. Ruling clinical classification corresponded to class II and IV, with seven cases in each group. Incidence of diagnosis of infection of the central nervous system, followed by intoxication, was observed. Mean index of patient/nurse score was 22.3 in the most severe cases. There was little difference between day shift (22.9 points) and night shift (24.1 points). PMID- 2609004 TI - [An analysis of the results of a program for the prevention of sickle-cell anemia in Camaguey Province, 1986]. AB - This paper deals with results of the programme for the prevention of anemia due to sickle cells carried out in Camaguey Province, during 1986. The programme is based on the statistical study of all pregnant women searched during 1986 (12,154), to verify those carriers (heterozygous) of hemoglobin AS and AC, as well as risk couples and to be able to analyze incidence by health area during the period comprised from March 1st. to June 30, 1986, at the Maternal Hospital and "Manuel Ascunce Domenech" Provincial Hospital, Camaguey. A data collecting model looking upon particular and familial aspects of the pregnant woman, such as origin, race, number of clinical history and gestational age, within others, was filled by them. There is 2.13% (259) pregnant women carriers of this pathology in the province. Ten risk couples were detected, but without presenting consanguinity. The concept that this disease prevails in black people is sustained. It is considered that there is need of a publishing work on this theme among patients and of preparing scientifically the nursing personnel in charge of pregnant women. PMID- 2609005 TI - [Toward health for all in the European region of the WHO. Survey of progress accomplished. I. General evaluation]. AB - A review of the main changes in the Member States of the European Region as regards the targets they have set themselves in the area of health-for-all was recently performed. Many indicators have shown considerable progress, but changes are perforce slow. The existence of a political will in matters of health in the governments of the Region has clearly appeared in the course of the past few years. PMID- 2609006 TI - [Comparison of 2 methods for evaluating the prevalence of anemia in young children]. AB - Prevalence of anemia was estimated by two methods in 1235 healthy children 10 months old undergoing a free-of-charge medical checkup in a Parisian Child Health Examination Center. According to the classical method, the frequency of anemia, defined as the percentage of children with hemoglobin concentration below the WHO cut-off point (11 g/dl), amounts to 16.8% of 797 French children, 24.0% of 289 North African children and 43.6% of 149 sub-saharan children. The second method defines the frequency of anemia as the percentage of children whose hemoglobin values are shifted downwards relative to a gaussian hemoglobin distribution in non-anemic children. According to this method, anemia was present in 0.8%, 5.4% and 12.6% of children, respectively. The conventional cut-off point probably tends to overestimate the true frequency of anemia in this age group. PMID- 2609007 TI - [Health care channels for new cases of respiratory tuberculosis in Seine Saint Denis in 1984-1986]. AB - The purpose of this study was to observe routine practice in the care of tuberculosis cases treated in the Seine Saint-Denis department in 1984, with reference to the recent recommendations of the French Pneumology Society. The pathway of each patient through the care network was established for 336 adult cases being treated for respiratory tuberculosis for the first time. The social and economic cost of each pathway was evaluated. The results show the multiplicity of health services intervening in the care of these patients, the persistence of hospitalization, sanatorium care, and long sick-leaves from work, together with major differences in the care pathways according to the nationality, sex, and socio-economic group of the patients. The cost of tuberculosis treatment is shown to be high for both patients and the community. PMID- 2609008 TI - Determinants of stopping cigarette smoking in Italy. AB - The relation between socio-demographic factors, general lifestyle habits, smoking related variables and rates for stopping cigarette smoking was evaluated using data from the 1983 Italian National Health Survey, on the basis of a sample of 19,472 males (15,473 current and 3,999 ex-smokers) and 7,371 females (6,707 current and 664 ex-smokers), representative of the whole Italian population of smokers. Overall rates for stopping (20.5% for males and 9.0% for females) were substantially lower than those observed over comparable calendar periods in other western countries. Besides age, and after allowance for it, stopping smoking was positively associated with higher education and socio-economic status, greater body mass index and the presence of smoking-related symptoms or diseases. Further, a strong inverse association was observed with coffee consumption, and a direct one with physical leisure activity. There was an U-shaped relation between average number of cigarettes per day and stopping smoking, since rates were lower for intermediate (15 to 24 cigarettes per day) smokers, and elevated both for light and heavy smokers, probably reflecting a lower degree of addiction and a greater prevalence of smoking-related disorders, respectively. The effect of most factors was independent, and these associations with quitting rate ratios were still evident after simultaneous allowance by means of multiple logistic regression. The existence of smoking related diseases or symptoms was the most frequent reason for quitting (50.7%); 30.3% reported to have stopped because of knowledge of the health consequences of smoking, 1.3% for economic reasons and 17.6% for other or undefined reasons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609009 TI - Knowledge about and attitudes towards drinking among university students in Spain. AB - A total of 545 Spanish university students from the University of Valladolid, were surveyed in 1985 about their alcohol use, knowledge of the effects of alcohol, and attitudes towards social drinking and towards alcoholism and alcoholics. The knowledge regarding alcohol (mean scores 7.7 +/- 0.1, ranging 1 15) was associated with academic aspects: it was higher among medicine and nursing students and increased according to the length of stay at university. The attitudes both towards social drinking (mean scores 0.6 +/- 0.1, ranging -9 to 9) and towards alcoholism and the alcoholics (mean scores 3.0 +/- 0.1, ranging -6 to 9), were related to alcohol consumption: those students self-reported as "heavy" and "moderate" drinkers, and those with alcohol intake over 40 g/day, had a more favourable attitude. The results suggest a need for education on alcohol. PMID- 2609010 TI - Patterns of drug consumption and reported morbidity in Salamanca (Spain). AB - Health authorities need to have knowledge of the use of health services in order to be able to adopt suitable measures that will ensure a more rational use of pharmaceutical products. The information relative to drug consumption and expenditures can be obtained from different sources. In the present study a survey was carried out by interviewing Salamanca families in order to discover their degree of drug consumption and the expenses incurred therein. The drugs consumed by most families were analgesics-antiinflammatory agents and cardiovascular agents. Most families were found to spend less than 1000 pesetas per month. The expenses incurred were seen to depend on the family characteristics: age, educational status and income. PMID- 2609011 TI - The effect of death certification practice on recorded national asthma mortality rates. AB - There is a wide variation in the mortality from asthma between the countries of the European Community. Studies using a standard case history of a typical asthmatic to assess death certification practice have suggested that this variation is not related to the ways that doctors fill out death certificates. Reanalysis of the data from one of these studies suggests, however, that the way doctors certify more ambivalent case histories may explain much more of the variation. Repetition of this study in a small group of French and English doctors with a special interest in asthma came to the same conclusion, suggesting that these differences are due to both a genuine difference in nosology between the countries as well as to the quality of death certification. PMID- 2609012 TI - [Importance of the definition of urban zones in the study of cancer risk factors]. AB - 1446 cases of colorectal cancer have been collected in the Registry of digestive tract tumours in the "Department" of Calvados with the aim of studying the effect of residential location on cancer incidence. The risk-ratio was different in males and in females and between different types of urban areas. Using the urban category of "Zone de Peuplement Industriel ou Urbain" (ZPIU) increased the observed risk-ratio (1.6 for males, 1.2 for females), and enabled definition of homogeneous populations. This improved classification, thus allowed a more discriminating analysis of the effect of residential location on risk of cancer in both sexes. PMID- 2609013 TI - [Example of a bias linked to the misunderstanding of the forms of a variable]. PMID- 2609014 TI - Covalent binding of diflunisal and probenecid to plasma protein in humans: persistence of the adducts in the circulation. AB - Acyl glucuronide conjugates of carboxylic drugs have been shown over the past decade to be potentially reactive metabolites, undergoing hydrolysis, intramolecular rearrangement and intermolecular transacylation reactions. The present report describes the covalent binding of diflunisal (D) and probenecid (P) to plasma protein of five healthy volunteers who took a 6-day course of oral D with oral P co-administered during the last 2 days. Maximum concentrations of the D- and P-adducts were achieved within one day of cessation of dosing, and were 35 +/- SE 1 and 17 +/- SE 1 ng/mg protein respectively. The D-protein adduct was eliminated from plasma in a biphasic manner, with a terminal half-life of 10.0 +/- SE 0.9 days. In contrast, elimination of the P-protein adduct was monophasic with a half-life of 13.5 +/- SE 0.3 days. The adducts were still measurable in plasma at least one month after the parent reversibly-bound drugs were undetectable. It is not known whether such covalent binding of the drugs, presumably via their acyl glucuronides, could have any biological consequences, such as induction of hypersensitivity reactions. PMID- 2609015 TI - Effect of fluoxetine pretreatment on plasma and tissue concentrations of desipramine in rats. AB - Because of clinical reports that fluoxetine co-administration has led to increased blood concentrations of desipramine and adverse clinical effects in depressed patients treated with desipramine, we investigated the effect of fluoxetine on desipramine metabolism by rat liver microsomes in vitro and on blood and brain concentrations of desipramine in rats treated with desipramine. Fluoxetine caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the 2-hydroxylation and N-demethylation of desipramine in vitro. Fluoxetine increased blood and brain concentrations of desipramine and prolonged the half-life of desipramine in blood and brain in rats in vivo. The inhibition of desipramine metabolism by fluoxetine probably led to the increased blood levels of desipramine in the clinical cases and may have contributed to the acceleration of cortical beta adrenoreceptor downregulation reported in rats when desipramine and fluoxetine were co administered. PMID- 2609016 TI - Aspirin-induced gastric mucosal damage in dogs: protection by the prostanoid Ro 22-1327. AB - Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with gastritis and mucosal injury. The present study examined the efficacy of the synthetic prostanoid, Ro 22-1327, as a mucosal protectant against aspirin. Dogs were orally administered either vehicle followed by 650 mg of aspirin, or Ro 22 1327 followed one hour later by 650 mg of aspirin. Two hours later the dogs were endoscoped and lesions were scored. In separate dogs, with gastric pouches, acid secretion stimulated by food was monitored in the absence and presence of Ro 22 1327 for four hours. There were no gastric lesions in the dogs treated with the vehicle (polyethylene glycol 400; PEG) for Ro 22-1327 followed by vehicle (carboxymethylcellulose) for aspirin. Dogs dosed with PEG followed by aspirin had gastric lesions: mean (+/- S.E.) scores were 2.16 +/- 0.24 and 2.75 +/- 0.18 for the antrum and body, respectively. Ro 22-1327 provided protection from aspirin induced injury. Significant (P less than 0.01) protection occurred at 1.0 mcg/kg of Ro 22-1327 in the antrum (0.60 +/- 0.40) and body (1.60 +/- 0.40). An oral dose of 10 mcg/kg did not inhibit peak or total food-stimulated gastric acid output. Ro 22-1327 is a potent mucosal protectant against aspirin-induced mucosal injury and this activity is not dependent upon inhibition of gastric acid secretion. PMID- 2609017 TI - Effects of adenosine and pertussis toxin on lipolysis in adipocytes from exercise trained male rats. AB - The sensitivity and responsiveness of adipocyte lipolysis to adenosine and pertussis toxin were studied in exercise-trained male rats. Exercise training (9 weeks of treadmill running) significantly increased lipolytic response of adipocytes to noradrenaline (NA). Addition of adenosine deaminase (ADA) to reaction mixture effectively enhanced NA-stimulated lipolysis in adipocytes from both conditioned rats. However, under these conditions, the difference due to exercise training was still evident, although the difference was less pronounced. The inhibition curves of the R-site adenosine analogue N6 phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) against "basal" (lipolysis in the presence of ADA) and NA-stimulated lipolysis were almost comparable between two groups. Only a small (approx. 2-fold) increase in IC50 of adipocyte lipolysis was observed in each inhibition curve in exercise-trained rats. Within 120 min of addition of pertussis toxin to adipocytes from control rats, "basal" lipolysis was significantly increased as compared to "basal" lipolysis in the absence of toxin at the same point. Similarly, pertussis toxin significantly increased "basal" lipolysis in exercise-trained adipocytes. However these were relatively sensitive to pertussis toxin, since significant effect of toxin was seen within 60 min. An addition of NA (0.1 uM) to the medium in the presence of ADA and toxin significantly increased adipocyte lipolysis in both conditioned rats. Again, under these conditions, we observed that the maximal rate of lipolysis of adipocytes from exercise-trained rats was increased as compared to control rats. These results suggest that the decreased input through the inhibitory pathway in lipolytic cascade may be not rate limiting for the amplified lipolytic responsiveness of adipocytes to hormonal stimuli in exercise-trained rats. PMID- 2609018 TI - Analysis of beechwood creosote by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography. AB - Compounds in beechwood creosote were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 22 major constituents were identified. Of these, 19 were phenolic compounds, i. e., guaiacol, phenol, two cresol isomers, four methylguaiacol (creosol) isomers, six xylenol isomers, two trimethylphenol isomers, 4-ethylguaiacol, 4-ethyl-5-methylguaiacol, and 4-propylguaiacol. The remaining three were hitherto unpredicted five-membered ring compounds, i. e., 3 methyl-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one, 3,5-dimethyl-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one, and 3-ethyl-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one. The relative quantities of these compounds were also compared with those obtained by high-resolution high performance liquid chromatography. This report probably represents the first extensive analysis of beechwood creosote. PMID- 2609019 TI - Effect of potential antidotes on the acute toxicity, tissue disposition and elimination of selenium in rats. AB - Treatment of male Wistar rats with sodium selenate (2.24 mg Se/kg, s.c.) inhibited their body weight gain for 24 hr, after which the animals recovered. Intraperitoneal injections of sodium-2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonic acid (60 mg/kg), meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (50.9 mg/kg) and calcium disodium ethylenediamine-tetraacetate (500 mg/kg) 15 min after Se had no protective effect, whilst 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (15 mg/kg) inhibited the recovery of the Se treated animal. Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC, 70 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the Se-induced loss of body weight but had no effect on the tissue disposition of 75Se when injected 15 min, 3 hr or 6 hr after a s.c. injection of sodium [75Se] selenite (50 microCi, 17.4 micrograms Se/kg). The citrate salts of bismuth (2.5 and 5 mg Bi/kg, s.c.), antimony (1.5 and 3 mg Sb/kg, s.c.) and germanium (40 mg Ge/kg, s.c.) also reduced the selenate-induced loss of body weight, whilst germanium citrate (40 mg Ge/kg) and bis-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide (80, 200 and 400 mg Ge/kg) promoted significant dose-related increases in the 24 hr urinary excretion of 75Se when given 15 min after sodium [75Se] selenite (30 microCi, 0.5 mg Se/kg, s.c.). PMID- 2609020 TI - Strain differences of rat liver carboxylesterase activities related to the phenotype difference of esterase-3 (egasyn). AB - It was demonstrated that the inbred strain EHBR had the C phenotype of esterase-3 judging from the absence of liver microsomal beta-glucuronidase and the pattern of esterase activities of liver homogenates after analytical isoelectric focusing. In addition, in the strain EHBR, liver microsomal hydrolase activities of acetanilide and isocarboxazid which are hydrolyzed well by esterase-3 were lower than in outbred Sprague-Dawley rat and inbred LEW rat having the D phenotype of esterase-3. These results suggest that the phenotype difference of esterase-3 is possible to cause the strain differences of liver microsomal carboxylesterase activities. PMID- 2609021 TI - Regulation of protein binding from 35S-(pentachlorobutadienyl)-L-cysteine in renal epithelial cells and mitochondria. AB - The protein binding rate of the reactive metabolite formed from the beta-lyase mediated cleavage of S-(1,2,3,4-pentachloro-1,3-butadienyl)-L-cysteine was determined in rat kidney fractions and isolated renal epithelial cells. The binding was highest in mitochondria and localized to the outer membrane/intermembrane space and matrix. The matrix activity was stimulated by an alpha-keto acid. Soluble thiols and anoxia inhibited the protein binding. PMID- 2609022 TI - A putative growth factor in extract from uterine cancers. AB - Extracts from uterine cervical and corpus cancers, but not from benign tumor or intact tissues tested, were found to contain a growth-promoting activity which induced the proliferation of human endometrial fibroblasts. Exposure of cultured fibroblasts to the cancer extracts increased the rate of [3H]thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent manner. The activity was heat-labil, and not inacticated by removal lipid-soluble fraction, suggesting that the activity is associated with a protein. However, the cancer extract failed to stimulate phosphoinositide turnover. The substance(s) present in the uterine cancer extracts may activate endometrial fibroblasts proliferation through the transmembrane signaling mechanisms other than phosphoinositide turnover. The bindings of previously identified growth factors including somatomedine C, thrombin, insulin, fibroblast growth factor were not inhibited by the extracts. This is the first report to provide direct evidence that malignant uterine tumor may produce and secrete a putative growth factor-like peptide. PMID- 2609023 TI - Absence of parasympathetic control of pulmonary vascular pressure-flow plots in hyperoxic and hypoxic dogs. AB - Hypoxic stimulation of the peripheral chemoreceptors has been reported to inhibit hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). This has been explained by a reflex vagal (Chapleau et al., 1988) or sympathetic (Naeije et al., 1989) pulmonary vasodilation. We therefore investigated the effects of bilateral cervical vagotomy and of muscarinic block (atropine sulfate 0.1 mg.kg-1 i.v.) on multipoint pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa)-cardiac index (Q) plots in 16 sodium pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs ventilated alternately in hyperoxia (fraction of inspired O2, FIO2, 0.4) and in hypoxia (FIO2 0.1). Over the range of Q studied, 2 to 5 L.min-1.m-2, hypoxia increased Ppa and did not change pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (Ppw). After bilateral cervical vagotomy or after atropine, Ppa and Ppw at all levels of Q were not modified either during hyperoxia or during hypoxia. These results show that the parasympathetic system does not affect the global hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasopressor response and thus suggest that the depressor effect of chemoreceptor stimulation on HPV is not vagally mediated. PMID- 2609024 TI - Airway responsiveness in isolated perfused rat lungs: effect of thoracic irradiation. AB - We developed techniques for assessing airway reactivity in isolated perfused rat lungs by measuring the lung mechanics changes produced by injection of ACh into the pulmonary circulation. Lung resistance (RL) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) changed in a dose-response fashion after ACh. We used the preparation to examine the effect of thoracic irradiation on airway responsiveness and pulmonary inflammation. Groups of rats were studied after sham irradiation or 24 h or 72 h after a single dose of 1500 rads. Thoracic irradiation did not alter baseline lung mechanics, but did increase the responsiveness of rat lungs to ACh 72 h after radiation. Radiation was not associated with an increase in neutrophils in lung lavage, airways or peripheral lung tissue. We conclude that thoracic irradiation alters airways reactivity without causing overt pulmonary inflammation, and that isolated perfused lungs can be useful for measurement of airway reactivity. PMID- 2609025 TI - The effects of locomotion on respiratory muscle activity in the awake dog. AB - Using 6 chronically-instrumented awake dogs, we characterized the response of the respiratory muscles to mild and moderate treadmill exercise in terms of (1) the magnitude and timing of the EMGs of the costal and crural diaphragm, triangularis sterni and transverse abdominal muscles, and (2) the concomitant changes in esophageal (PE) and gastric (PG) pressures during treadmill exercise. Dogs wore a bivalved breathing mask which constrained breathing frequency and prevented some of the exercise-induced hypocapnia. Inspiratory and chest expiratory muscle EMGs increased linearly with a 1.5-fold tidal volume (VT) change during exercise. Abdominal muscle recruitment occurred during most exercise levels and exhibited (1) phasic activity coincident with footplant and (2) tonic activation evidenced by a baseline shift in PG and EMG activities. During control, inspiratory and expiratory flow preceded the onset of respiratory muscle EMG activity, but during exercise, electrical activation of these muscles coincided with the onset of mechanical flow. We conclude that phasic and tonic activation of expiratory muscles during exercise in the dog is significantly influenced by both respiratory and locomotory requirements. These patterns of expiratory muscle recruitment may assist inspiration by lengthening inspiratory muscles through decrements in end-expiratory lung volume and by passive recoil of the rib cage and abdominal compartments. PMID- 2609026 TI - The effects of chemical versus locomotory stimuli on respiratory muscle activity in the awake dog. AB - Using 6 chronically instrumented awake dogs, we contrasted the ventilatory and respiratory muscle EMG responses to steady-state normoxic hypercapnia with those occurring at similar levels of ventilation during steady-state treadmill exercise. During hypercapnia, increases in ventilatory output were primarily due to increments in VT whereas during exercise, increases in minute ventilation were due primarily to increases in frequency. With either hyperpnea, augmentation of both inspiratory and expiratory muscle EMG activity occurred but only diaphragmatic EMG activity was strongly correlated with tidal volume changes in both conditions. Using both EMGs and thoraco-abdominal pressures, we found that with increasing chemical or locomotory stimuli, during inspiration (1) diaphragmatic EMG activation occurred sooner relative to the onset of mechanical flow and (2) that respiratory muscles other than the diaphragm contributed significantly to the generation of inspiratory flow and VT either actively or passively through recoil. Post-inspiratory inspiratory activity of the crural diaphragm shortened relative to control in hypercapnia but did not change in exercise. Finally, during mild hyperpneas, end-expiratory lung volume did not change significantly in either hypercapnia or exercise but decreased at the higher levels of hyperpnea only during exercise. This may reflect differences not in the magnitude of phasic expiratory muscle activity, but rather in the degree of tonic abdominal muscle activation between the two conditions. PMID- 2609027 TI - Effect of hypercapnia on ventilatory response to intravenous nicotine administration in anesthetized dogs. AB - We studied the effects of hypercapnia on the ventilatory response to nicotine in thirty anesthetized mongrel dogs. Ventilatory (VE) and occlusion pressure (P0.2) changes were assessed before and after intravenous injection of nicotine at concentrations of 1, 4, 16 and 64 micrograms/kg in four different groups of five dogs each. An end-tidal CO2 (PETCO2) was set at 40 mm Hg or 60 mm Hg by inspiration of 7% CO2 in oxygen through a non-rebreathing valve. With PETCO2 maintained at 40 mm Hg, P0.2 had increased 1 min after nicotine injection from 1 to 16 micrograms/kg in a dose-dependent manner, and a subsequent decrease in P0.2 below the initial value was observed at around 4 min. Injection of 64 micrograms/kg of nicotine produced a marked increase in P0.2 and subsequent apnea. With PETCO2 at 60 mm Hg, the time course of P0.2 was qualitatively similar to that observed with PETCO2 at 40 mm Hg, except that the change in P0.2 was larger in the former case than in the latter, for a given nicotine dose. The ratio of the difference in maximal P0.2 observed with PETCO2 of 40 mm Hg and that at 60 mm Hg to the difference between PETCO2 values (delta PO2/delta PETCO2) increased with nicotine dose from 1 to 4 micrograms/kg and, with a further increase in nicotine dose, the maximal delta P0.2/delta PETCO2 plateaued, while delta P0.2/delta PETCO2 obtained from the minimal PO2 values decreased in a nicotine dose-dependent fashion. These results suggest that hypercapnia enhances both stimulative and subsequent depressive ventilatory responses to nicotine. PMID- 2609028 TI - Changes in eggshell water vapour conductance during shell formation in the chicken. AB - Time-related changes in shell porosity and eggshell water vapour conductance were measured in uterine eggs of the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) from 10 h in uterus to oviposition. Measurements were carried out in artificially-aborted eggs. It was found that the eggshell water vapour conductance decreased to a minimum level at 15 h in uterus. This coincided with increases in shell thickness and shell porosity as power functions of uterine time. From that time on, water vapour conductance increased as a power function of uterine time to the final value prior to oviposition. Thus, eggshell water vapour conductance is determined by different rates of dynamic changes in shell porosity and shell thickness in the course of shell calcification. The final conductance is reached about 2 h before oviposition. PMID- 2609029 TI - Ventilatory responses during varied stride and pedal frequencies. AB - The effects of limb movement frequency during walking and running and cycling at 60 and 90 rpm on the ventilatory responses were studied in 19 male subjects. Ten of the subjects were trained runners whereas nine of the subjects were trained cyclists. The runners completed walk and run exercise trials at equal levels of CO2 excretion (VCO2) and low (approximately 60) rpm and high (approximately 90) rpm cycling trials at equal VCO2 levels. The cyclists completed low and high rpm cycling trials at equal VCO2 levels. The cyclists were not tested on the walk/run trials as they had been tested previously and had been shown to have similar ventilatory responses when walking and running at equal VCO2 levels. Minute ventilation (VE), tidal volume (VT), breathing frequency (f), end-tidal CO2 (PETCO2) and O2 (PETO2) tensions, and inspiratory (TI) and expiratory (TE) times were not found to differ significantly between the low and high pedal frequency trials for either the cyclists or the runners. No significant differences were found in estimated arterial CO2 tensions (PaCO2) or estimated alveolar ventilation (VA) between the cycling trials for either the runners or the cyclists. When comparing running to walking, the runners were found to have a greater VE and estimated VA. This was mediated by an increase in f as VT was found to decrease. The increased f was associated with a shortened TI as TE was not significantly different between the walk and run trials. End-tidal CO2 tension and estimated PaCO2 was significantly lower during the run trial as compared to the walk trial. These results suggest some form of neurogenic stimuli influencing ventilation in the runners while running. This same neurogenic influence is not present when cyclists run and when either cyclists or runners exercise on the bicycle. A possible source for the neurogenic stimuli is discussed. PMID- 2609030 TI - Pressure/flow relations in the interlamellar space of fish gills: theory and application in the rainbow trout. AB - The nature of the water flow in the interlamellar spaces of fish gills is investigated using the basic fluid mechanical equations. The results show that the gill behaves like a low-pass filter, dampening the amplitude of the velocity oscillation when the frequency of the driving pressure differential exceeds some characteristic value and shifting the phase angle between the pressure and velocity pulses from 0 towards -pi/2. The cut-off frequency is determined by the parameter v/r2, where r is the half-width of the interlamellar space and v the kinematic viscosity. Using known gill dimensions the analysis shows that dampening of the velocity amplitude is not likely to occur at driving pressure frequencies below 100 Hz. Fourier analysis of the pressure differential recorded between buccal and opercular chambers of rainbow trout reveals that there is very little contribution from frequencies above 10 Hz, suggesting that interlamellar water flow is pulsatile and that the possibility for backflow exists. PMID- 2609031 TI - Respiratory mechanics determined by flow interruption during passive expiration in cats. AB - We used the interrupter technique to measure the resistance Rinit (equal to the initial change delta Pinit in tracheal pressure divided by flow at interruption) during expiration in six normal anaesthetized-paralyzed cats. By performing interruptions at different points in expiration we found Rinit in each cat to be linearly dependent on flow. By allowing the cats to expire through two different resistances we were also able to demonstrate a volume dependence of Rinit in four of the cats. In addition, we obtained a secondary pressure change delta Pdif in each cat, as the magnitude of the slow change in tracheal pressure in the 2 sec following interruption of flow. delta Pdif was approximately constant over most of the expired volume range, and represented the difference between the static elastic recoil pressure of the respiratory system and the pressure driving flow at any volume during a passive expiration. delta Pdif became larger than delta Pinit towards the end of expiration. Since previously used methods for measuring respiratory system resistance have employed varying combinations of delta Pinit and delta Pdif as the resistive pressure drop, it is clear that measurements of resistance must be made with standard techniques under standard conditions if they are to be compared. PMID- 2609032 TI - Does lung function limit performance in a 24-hour ultramarathon? AB - Based on observations of impaired lung function after marathon and ultramarathon running, it was hypothesized that the decline in running speed during a 24-h ultramarathon may be explained, in part, by ventilatory muscle fatigue. To test this hypothesis, ten competitors in the 1988 TAC/USA National 24-h Championship performed a battery of pulmonary function tests every 3 h during the race. The tests included measurement of inspiratory capacity, peak flow, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, maximum voluntary ventilation for 12 sec (MVV12), and maximal respiratory pressures. Running speed was averaged over 3 h periods. MVV12 was significantly decreased (17%), but only after 24 h of running. All other ventilatory measures tended to decrease over time but the changes were not significant. However, after correcting for between-subject differences in running speed, the variance in MVV12 accounted for 39% (P less than 0.0001) of the variance in running speed. It was concluded that the decrease in ventilatory muscle endurance may constrain running speed in extremely prolonged running events. PMID- 2609033 TI - Thermal desorption of organic solvent from activated carbon for determination of vapor concentration in work environment. AB - A thermal desorption method is proposed for the measurement of single- and bi component organic solvents adsorbed on activated carbon. The adsorbed amount was obtained from the measured desorbed amount and the estimated thermal desorption efficiency. Two estimation methods are proposed to determine the desorption efficiency. One is a numerical method, and the other is a simplified analytical method. The numerical method is generally more accurate than the simplified method in estimating the desorption curve and the desorption efficiency, but much time is needed for calculating. By the simplified method, the desorption efficiency could be estimated quickly by using a personal computer. The estimated desorption efficiencies determined by the two methods are compared with the experimental values. A determination procedure of the adsorbed amount by the proposed method is described. PMID- 2609034 TI - Inhibition of renal sympathetic nerve activity of anesthetized rats by intracerebroventricular administration of angiotensin II. AB - Effects of intracerebroventricular (i. c. v.) administration of angiotensin II (AII) on renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), arterial pressure, and heart rate were examined in rats anesthetized with a mixture of urethane and alpha chloralose. Administration of AII evoked an increase in arterial pressure and a decrease in RSNA with no significant change in heart rate. Prior i. c. v. administration of an AII antagonist, saralasin, greatly attenuated the pressor response and inhibition of RSNA induced by i. c. v. AII. Rats with sinoaortic denervation showed the same magnitude pressor response and decrease in RSNA as intact animals. The result suggests that central AII directly inhibits RSNA via AII specific receptors. PMID- 2609035 TI - Overnight recordings of intracranial pressure and electroencephalography in neurosurgical patients. Part I: Intracranial pressure waves and their clinical correlations. AB - Simultaneous overnight recordings of intracranial pressure (ICP) and electroencephalography (EEG) were conducted on 85 neurosurgical patients with intracranial hypertension and/or ventriculomegaly. Intracranial pressure waves were classified into five types according to the pattern of appearance, and their correlation with sleep cycles and clinical conditions of patients were investigated. A-waves appeared exclusively in patients with long-standing intracranial hypertension, and episodic B-waves appeared in patients with chronic hydrocephalus or a postoperative tumor-free condition. When these episodic pressure waves appeared, the patients were conscious and sleep cycles including REM stage were observed. Persistent, high pressure B-waves were seen mostly in patients with an acute phase of intracranial hemorrhages. The consciousness of these patients ranged from drowsy to stupor. EEG showed alternate appearances of light sleep and waking rhythms in accordance with cyclic oscillations of B-waves which coincided with periodic, apneic respiratory rhythms. When markedly regular B-waves of moderately high pressure appeared continuously, the patients were severely impaired in consciousness and were mainly in a subacute phase of intracranial hemorrhages. EEG showed continuous slow activities and sleep stages were not scored in these patients. No characteristic clinical features were found in patients whose ICP remained within normal range without pressure waves throughout the recording. PMID- 2609036 TI - Overnight recordings of intracranial pressure and electroencephalography in neurosurgical patients. Part II: Changes in intracranial pressure during sleep. AB - Changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) during sleep were investigated in 37 patients with chronic intracranial hypertension or chronic hydrocephalus, in whom episodic pressure waves characterized by A-waves or episodic B-waves were seen in Part I of this paper. The patients were conscious, and sleep stages including REM sleep were observed in all of them. During non-REM sleep, ICP significantly rose in Stage II on many occasions, and was always lower in Stage IV than in other sleep stages. A marked elevation of ICP was seen in REM sleep. ICP changes during REM sleep were characterized by frequent appearances of the pressure waves; 88.9% of A-waves and 95.1% of episodic B-waves appeared during REM sleep. The initiation of REM sleep scored on EEG began 1 to 2 minutes prior to or at the onset of the episodic pressure waves. The episodic pressure waves are assumed to be induced by the intracranial conditions in REM sleep, when increased brain activity and reduced sympathetic tone are known to occur simultaneously. PMID- 2609037 TI - [Annual changes of THI (Todai Health Index) scores of workers in a large-sized enterprise]. AB - To develop a well controlled working environment including a mental health supporting system, it is important to survey the health status of workers. The authors analyzed results of the Todai Health Index (THI), which was administered to employees of a large-sized enterprise in Osaka in 1984, 1986, and 1987. The results were as follows: 1) Female workers had more complaints of "eye and skin", "many subjective symptoms", "mental instability", and "psychosomatic disorder" than males. Male workers complained more of "aggressiveness", "lie scale", and "arousal" than females. 2) The authors could not detect any annual changes of each scale during the 3 years. These results are similar to previous reports. 3) Some people had continuous complaints of "psychosomatic disorder" and "neurosis". These results indicate that THI is useful in obtaining information regarding mentally high risked workers. PMID- 2609038 TI - [Hydrofluoric acid burn: particulars on multiple pulmonary thrombi]. AB - The production of hydrofluoric acid (HF) and its use have increased remarkably due to the rapid development of the electronic and petrochemical industries. HF has a highly corrosive and penetrating action when it comes in contact with organic material, including body tissue. When burns are caused by a high concentration of HF, fatal cases have been reported, even when the contact with HF is only for a short time or on a small area of the body. The causes of death have been reported to be lung edema, mineral disturbance and systemic injury. But no pathological experiments have been reported. In the present study, experiments of HF burns using mice (d.d.Y., 6w, male) were performed, mainly histopathologically and ultramicroscopically. Histological examination revealed that thrombosis occurred in the lung, and that the group in which mice had more thrombi showed a higher death rate. Thrombosis in the lung may be one of the main causes of death by hydrofluoric acid burns. Other organs showed no significant change. Ultrastructural examination of the lungs, revealed that the thrombi were seen in the capillary of the alveolar septa much more than in the pulmonary arteries and were mainly composed of platelets. The endothelial cells in the lungs were injured and had condensed cytoplasm, intracellular edema, or dilation of the intercellular gap. The basement membrane of the capillary was sometimes bared between the strongly condensed endothelial cells, but no platelets directly touched the membrane. Moreover, that no platelets directly touched the subendothelial tissue and the mechanism of the platelet aggregation is interesting. Platelet aggregation was thought to have resulted from the unbalance between thrombogenic factors and antithrombogenic factors in the blood above the surface of endothelial cells caused by endothelial injury. Endothelial cells in the lungs were assumed to be injured by fluoride, directly or indirectly, because the group which showed higher fluorine contents in the lungs showed more severe injury to the endothelial cells and because the fluorine contents in the lung increased much more than that in the other organs which had no thrombi. PMID- 2609039 TI - [Correlation between vibratory detection threshold and conduction study of sural nerve in diabetic patients]. AB - Vibratory detection threshold (VDT) was determined on the plantar side of the distal phalanx of the right great toe of 22 diabetic (NIDDM) patients. In addition, a neurological examination and a sural nerve conduction study were performed. Peripheral neuropathy, based on our criteria, was found in 41% of the patients. VDT was abnormally high in 23% of the patients. The combined frequency of the abnormality of the amplitude of the action potential of the sural nerve or the conduction velocity or both was 73%. The nerve conduction study showed the highest sensitivity in detecting the abnormality of the peripheral nerve in this study; this is in agreement with the result shown in the literature. Seven patients showed no response to electrical stimulation of the sural nerve, although VDT was obtained in these patients. Among the 6 patients that underwent the normal sural nerve conduction study, no one showed abnormally high VDT. The determination of VDT seems to be a useful examination for the follow-up study of diabetic neuropathy, although it is less sensitive than the sural nerve conduction study. PMID- 2609040 TI - Effects of hyperbaric environment on human auditory middle latency response (MLR) and short latency somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP). AB - Hyperbaric chamber dives at 19 ATA with helium-oxygen were performed at the Japan Marine Science Technology Center from November 15 to December 3 in 1988 and from January 25 to February 4 in 1989. During simulated underwater experiments, auditory middle latency responses (MLRs) and short latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) were recorded in 3 professional divers (2 divers in each dive) for assessment of brain function. During the saturation dive (180 m below sea level) component Pa on MLR was lost, while component Po remarkably increased in amplitude. These MLR changes rapidly recovered between the beginning of decompression and at about 90 m below sea level. On the other hand, N9-N20 interpeak latency on SSEP slightly or moderately increased in the both divers, but N9-N14 interpeak latency was not affected by the 19 ATA saturation dive. These results suggest that the hyperbaric environment corresponding to 180 m below sea level cause some cerebral dysfunctions, probably between the brainstem and the cortex, but these dysfunctions are only transient. PMID- 2609041 TI - [Optic neuropathy induced by thinner sniffing]. AB - A case of optic neuropathy induced by thinner sniffing is reported. A 17-year-old girl, who had been sniffing a lacquer thinner for three months, suffered acute blindness followed by optic atrophy. Brain computed tomography revealed symmetrical low attenuation areas in the bilateral putamen. An analysis of the thinner by gas chromatography showed that its major components in a vaporized state were methyl alcohol and metyhl acetate. The optic neuropathy was induced by these solvents. In the diagnosis of the intoxication of mixed organic solvents, the measurement of each solvent in its vapor phase is considered to be quite important. PMID- 2609042 TI - Testicular damage induced by megadoses of pyridoxine. AB - Pyridoxine hydrochloride, 125 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg or 1,000 mg/kg, daily, was intraperitoneally injected into Wistar male rats and its effects on weights and mature spermatid or sperm counts in the testis and the epididymis were investigated. After six weeks administration, weights of the testis and the epididymis in the 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg groups dramatically decreased and weights of the epididymis in the 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg groups also decreased significantly. Mature spermatid counts in the testis and sperm counts in the epididymis decreased in the 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg groups, and sperm counts in the tail plus body of the epididymis also decreased in the 250 mg/kg group. From these results, it was elucidated that megadoses of pyridoxine induced testicular damage in rats. PMID- 2609043 TI - [The effect of gas concentration on ethylene oxide sterilization]. AB - Ethylene oxide (EO) gas is widely used for sterilization of medical instruments and supplies. The gas being used in our hospital consists of 20% EO and 80% carbon dioxide and is packed in a cylinder as liquefied gas. We investigated the relationship between the composition of the gas and the amount of EO gas used by measuring the EO concentration in a sterilizer. The concentration of EO was increased as the amount of gas increased, and it decreased sharply when the remaining gas in the cylinder decreased up to about 12% of its initial value. This value agreed with the calculated one by gas-liquid equilibrium when all of the liquefied gas was consumed and only saturated gas remained in the cylinder. PMID- 2609044 TI - The ordered logistic regression model in psychiatry: rising prevalence of dementia in old people's homes. AB - Ordered logistic regression is an extension of binary logistic regression, and is particularly well suited to the analysis of many psychiatric scores. Its use is demonstrated in a pair of linked cross-sectional surveys of dementia in residents of old people's homes, first to model the association of dementia with demographic characteristics, and then to explore possible reasons for a rise in the prevalence of dementia in the homes over a four-year period. PMID- 2609045 TI - Predicting the range of plasma carbamazepine concentrations in patients with epilepsy. AB - A statistical model is proposed for predicting the range of plasma carbamazepine concentrations after administration of a controlled-release formulation at steady state. The model is based on previous clinical studies in patients with epilepsy. The predicted range may be used to monitor and adjust treatment in a patient. PMID- 2609046 TI - Correspondence analysis as a screening method for indicants for clinical diagnosis. AB - In clinical diagnosis, a patient's symptoms are observed and the probabilities of various diseases are assessed. A widely used method of formalizing this approach is independent Bayes in which symptoms are assumed to be independent conditional on the disease category. Correspondence analysis provides a method for examining the dependence between symptoms and assists in the selection of a reduced set of symptoms for the application of the independent Bayes method. This approach is illustrated on two data sets concerned with patients attending Accident and Emergency departments with chest pain and acute abdominal pain, respectively. PMID- 2609047 TI - On the regression analysis of tumour recurrence rates. AB - Regression models with mixture (random) components are proposed for the statistical analysis of recurrent events when waiting times between successive events are unknown. These models allow adjustment of parameter estimates for unobserved heterogeneity in the population (due for example to missing covariates) or overdispersion resulting from inexact distributional assumptions. The models are illustrated by a study of recurrence rates of superficial bladder cancer in men. PMID- 2609048 TI - Estimation of temporal effects in treatment-induced second cancer. AB - Cancer chemotherapy has been remarkably successful in the treatment of several types of malignancies, but has also been demonstrated to cause leukaemia and perhaps other cancer in long-term survivors. Radiotherapy also carries a carcinogenic risk. A large case-control study of second cancer has been carried out, with the aim of quantifying the risk due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. One of the most important goals of this study is the estimation of the temporal pattern of risk following chemotherapy. Methods are presented for modelling risk as a function of type of treatment and the interval since treatment. The methods are applications of generally available linear regression programs for epidemiological data, and could be equally well applied to studies of occupationally induced cancer. PMID- 2609049 TI - Assessing antiarrhythmic drug efficacy: multivariate considerations. AB - The spontaneous variability of ventricular arrhythmias is the major problem in assessing antiarrhythmic drug efficacy. Efficacy is usually assessed on one form of ventricular premature beats, namely either single beats (VPC) or more complex forms like couplets or salvos. The reduction rates required to assume efficacy with a confidence of 95 per cent are 63 per cent for VPCs, 92 per cent for couples or 96 per cent for salvos. These rates are valid for two Holter electrocardiogram recordings within one week; otherwise the rates are higher and close to 100 per cent. In this paper we extend our ratio method for calculating these criteria to consider two or all three forms of ventricular premature beats simultaneously. The method is based on the first principal component. For use in practice we decided to calculate fixed criteria for each form of ventricular premature beats. For the combination of VPCs and couplets and a confidence level of 95 per cent, reduction rates of 42 per cent for VPC and 87 per cent for couplets are required. Both criteria must be fulfilled to assume the efficacy of a drug. These criteria are lower than those for each form alone. For all three forms together, reduction rates of 28, 72 and 88 per cent for VPC, couplets and salvos respectively are required. PMID- 2609051 TI - Understanding p-value misuse. PMID- 2609050 TI - A measure of similarity for response curves based on ranks. AB - A measure of similarity for response curves is presented and its potential use is discussed. The distribution of a suitable test statistic for testing the independence of the course of two curves is derived. The method proposed is compared with other proposals in the literature for the analysis of paired response curves. A study on the quality of life of patients with acute heart failure is used as an example. PMID- 2609052 TI - Testing for a change-point in registry data with an example on hypospadias. PMID- 2609053 TI - A new method of estimation of interobserver variation and its application to the radiological assessment of osteoarthrosis in hip joints. PMID- 2609054 TI - [Differential diagnosis of diffuse eosinophilic fasciitis]. AB - The authors studied clinical course, morphological findings, condition of microcirculation in 22 patients with diffuse fasciitis++ in comparison with 20 patients with systemic scleroderma and 20 patients with other similar diseases. Comparing clinico-laboratory data of 62 patients sharp differences were observed between diffuse fasciitis++ and systemic scleroderma. In diffuse fasciitis++ microcirculation disorders were less marked than in systemic scleroderma. According to the above research diffuse eosinophilic fasciitis++ is considered to be an independent nosologic form. PMID- 2609055 TI - [Clinical value of determining the N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in joint diseases]. AB - The study of the activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and its isoenzymes in the blood serum of patients with RA and healthy subjects showed that these figures were significantly higher in RA patients. Direct dependence was noted between the degree of the RA process activity presence of systemic lesions and synovitis. PMID- 2609056 TI - [Pericarditis as one of the manifestations of periodic disease]. AB - The authors studied 34 patients with periodic disease. In its thoracal course the development of pericarditis was proved in 1/3 of the patients. PMID- 2609057 TI - [Study of microcirculation by the method of polarography in deforming osteoarthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - Disorders in microcirculation in the periarticular joints was diagnosed in the study of 60 patients with deforming osteoarthrosis and 30 patients with RA. PMID- 2609058 TI - [Dynamics of granulocyte proteins after lymphocytapheresis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - The authors studied concentrations of granulocytic proteins, lactoferrin, leukocytic thermostable alpha-glycoprotein in the blood plasma of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. High concentrations of the above proteins were observed in RA patients. PMID- 2609059 TI - [Mechanisms of destruction and atrophy of the cartilage and bone from the point of view of a rheumatologist]. PMID- 2609060 TI - [Various aspects of the treatment with non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs]. PMID- 2609061 TI - [Use of modified Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. PMID- 2609062 TI - [Effect of 1-hour administration of dimethyl sulfoxide on the levels of prostaglandins, products of lipid peroxidation and beta-glucuronidase activity in the blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - The effect of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on the level of prostaglandins (PGE and PGF2 alpha), the intensity of peroxide oxidation of lipids (POL), activity of beta-glucuronidase (BGU) prior to and 5 and 24 hours after application made to the patients' hands was studied by a double blind method in 20 patients with genuine rheumatoid arthritis (RA) against the background of therapy with nonsteroid antiphlogistic preparations. Of 20 patients 10 received one-hour application of a 50 per cent DMSO gel, 10 patients received placebo (glycerol instead of DMSO). The authors revealed a significant suppression of PS production against the background of an increased level of POL in four patients who had been given DMSO. The activity of BGU increased five hours after application of DMSO and in 24 hours returned to the initial levels. Changes in the levels of inflammation mediators proved to be statistically insignificant in the group of patients given placebo. Thus, one-hour application of DMSO produced a substantial effect on the system of mediators and their interrelationship in patients with RA. PMID- 2609063 TI - [Value of local therapy of urogenital inflammation focus in Reiter's disease]. PMID- 2609064 TI - [Clinical observation of temporal arteritis]. PMID- 2609065 TI - [Pachydermoperiostosis]. PMID- 2609066 TI - Chlamydia trachomatis in reactive arthritis. AB - Evidence of deposition of chlamydial antigen in the joint was sought in 10 patients (9 of them male) with classic sexually acquired reactive arthritis, 15 women with unclassified seronegative oligoarthritis involving the knee and 15 individuals with established rheumatic disorders not associated with genital tract or other infections. Using a fluorosceinated monoclonal antibody to the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis (MicroTrak, Syva) in a direct immunofluorescence test, particulate antigen with physical characteristics of chlamydial elementary bodies was seen in synovial fluid cell smears or synovial biopsies, or both, from 6, 5, and 0 patients, respectively. No typical chlamydial intracellular inclusions were seen. Corroborative evidence of recent chlamydial infection was provided by the finding of high titres of serum chlamydial antibody in all antigen-positive patients with sexually acquired reactive arthritis, including 3 from whom a genital-tract isolate was obtained, and 3 of the 5 women with unclassified arthritis. It is postulated that Chlamydia trachomatis organisms reach the joint during acute genital-tract infection, and the processing and presentation by class I major histocompatibility determinants of chlamydial antigens is a critical step in the initiation of reactive arthritis in some patients. PMID- 2609068 TI - Proceedings of the third international "Erlangen workshop" on pathogenetic mechanisms in inflammatory joint diseases: arthritis and infection, 1988. PMID- 2609067 TI - Frequencies of Borrelia burgdorferi-reactive T lymphocytes in Lyme arthritis. AB - Using a limiting dilution system, frequencies of Borrelia burgdorferi-reactive T cells were determined in the blood and synovial fluid of four patients with chronic Lyme arthritis (LA), one patient with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA), two patients with other inflammatory joint diseases, and two healthy individuals. B. burgdorferi-reactive precursor T cells ranged from 1/750 to 1/8220 in case of LA and ACA patients and from 1/820 to 1/31 400 in case of controls. In vivo activated B. burgdorferi-reactive T cells were almost absent in control subjects. With one exception, they were detected in LA patients at frequencies ranging from 1/1 300 to 1/15 400. Interestingly, even after successful antibiotic therapy of LA patients, similar frequencies of in vivo activated B. burgdorferi-reactive T cells were observed in the peripheral blood, provided that low cell concentrations were used for culture. At higher cell numbers, the fraction of B. burgdorferi-reactive T cells apparently dropped, suggesting regulatory phenomena. PMID- 2609069 TI - [Gadolinium-DTPA in magnetic resonance tomography. Clinical use--indications]. AB - Magnetic resonance tomography was performed on 158 patients with different indications before and after the administration of contrast medium. The MR examination included various plain T1 and T2 weighted spin echo sequences as well as T1 weighted examinations after intravenous application of Gadolinium-DTPA ("Magnevist", Schering AG) in a dosage of 0.1 mmol/kg body weight. The following conclusions were drawn: The sensitivity of MR in detecting brain tumors, acoustic neuromas and pituitary adenomas was improved considerably after the administration of "Magnevist". To diagnose the type of tumor, the criteria which apply to Gd-DTPA are similar to those used for iodine-containing contrast medium in CT. In about 2/3rds of the cases, delineation of pathological tissues from surrounding edema and normal structures was better than in plain films. Hence, accurate, pretherapeutic staging of bronchial carcinomas and an exact definition of the expansion of the malignancies in the muscle-skeleton system were possible. In respect of tumors in the region of the base of the skull, we could omit T2 weighted sequences without noticeable loss of diagnostically relevant information; the examination time could thus be shortened by about 12 minutes. PMID- 2609070 TI - [Magnetic resonance tomography using gadolinium-DTPA in the diskectomy syndrome- a reliable method of identifying a recurrent prolapse in scar tissue]. AB - The non invasive diagnostic possibilities of MR have resulted in better diagnosis of degenerative spinal diseases. Twenty-one patients with failed back surgery syndrome (postdiscectomy syndrome) were studied to evaluate the possibility of 1 Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with gadolinium diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) in differentiating post operative scar tissue from recurrent disc herniation. The enhanced MR studies correctly depicted the character of abnormal epidural tissue in all patients. We conclude that MR with GD-DTPA might be the method of choice to differentiate reliably postoperative epidural fibrosis from recurrent disc prolapse. PMID- 2609071 TI - [The use of digital subtraction angiography/phlebography in pediatrics]. AB - In a retrospective analysis of fourteen digital subtraction angiographies and phlebographies on 12 children during the last 18 months the diagnostic accuracy and safety were evaluated. Accurate diagnosis was possible in all cases and no complications occurred. The subtraction procedure most likely could not be replaced by other modes of investigation. It is superior to conventional angiography and phlebography and can be performed quickly and safely. PMID- 2609072 TI - [Neurologic complications in hereditary multiple exostoses]. AB - Based on the radiological and clinical findings in two patients suffering from hereditary multiple cartilaginous exostoses, the importance of identification and x-ray confirmation of neurological signs within the framework of the overall disease patterns is shown. This is a rare complication, bat it is highly important for the patient. Early clarification is imperative; if surgical intervention is not instituted directly, a closely meshed control network is considered mandatory to prevent severe irreversible neurological deficits. PMID- 2609073 TI - [An atypical finding in a bone cyst]. AB - Atypical radiologic and scintigraphic findings of a benign bone cyst in a 49-year old male are presented. The cyst is surrounded by a polygonal thick uneven sclerotic rim and shows radionuclide uptake. PMID- 2609074 TI - [X-ray findings in adult progeria (Werner's syndrome)]. AB - A patient with Werner's syndrome is presented. The authors describe the clinical picture and x-ray findings in this type of premature aging. The main radiological differentials are discussed. PMID- 2609075 TI - Complete sternal cleft. AB - Complete sternal clefts are rare congenital anomalies, which may be associated with other abnormalities of midline fusion. We here present a case with a complete cleft as the only anomaly of midline fusion. PMID- 2609076 TI - The incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux in children with exogenic and endogenic asthma tested by a new radiological method. AB - 24 asthmatic children and 15 children without any respiratory or gastrointestinal signs of symptoms were investigated for gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) by a new radiological test in which the child swallowed a piece of rye bread with liver pate after intake of a glass of Mixobar (600 mg/ml barium sulphate). The asthmatic children were divided into an exogenic and an endogenic group. 62.5% of the endogenically asthmatic children had GER (p less than 0.01) and 19% in the exogenic group. In normal children only one child had GER (7%). Furthermore, GER was more frequent in asthmatic children with nightly cough compared to asthmatic children without nightly cough (p less than 0.02). It is concluded that GER reflux occurred significantly more often in patients with endogenic asthma and/or nightly cough when compared to normal children. PMID- 2609077 TI - The incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux after solid and semi-solid meal. AB - The influence of different foodstuffs, solid meal, semi-solid meal and solid bolus, was investigated in 21 patients with food-stimulated gastro-oesophageal reflux. All 21 had GE reflux following solid meal, 9 after semi-solid and 11 after solid bolus. The result could not be explained by difference in fat content or reproducibility. It is concluded that information concerning test meals could be of importance when comparing different GE reflux populations. PMID- 2609078 TI - Particular neurological aspects in vascular autoimmune diseases. I. Rheumatoid purpura, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. AB - This study presents particular clinical manifestations in 7 patients with autoiMmune diseases: rheumatoid purpura with right crural nerve paresis (1 case), Stevens-Johnson syndrome with encephalomyeloradicular syndrome (1 case) and left Wallenberg syndrome (1 case), rheumatoid arthritis with right parieto-occipital syndrome (1 case) and Gowers local panatrophy (1 case), systemic lupus erythematosus with confusional state and meningeal syndrome (1 case) and left ictal hemiplegia (1 case). The importance of neurological clinical manifestations at the onset or during the evolution of the autoimmune diseases is emphasized. PMID- 2609079 TI - Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Romania. AB - Data collected from 34 countries (out of 41 and Bucharest) representing 76.17% population of the country (i.e. 17, 232, 817 inhabitants) involve 4424 definite MS cases (2397 females and 2027 males with a F/M ratio 1.18:1). On the prevalence day (July 1, 1984, the mean prevalence) rate was established at 25.7% population and a mean incidence rate 1.78 % (1980-1984). By adding the results from other previous two studies, including the capital Bucharest (898 MS cases) and a county (162 MS cases) (prevalence day January 1, 1977) we could modify the prevalence rate up to 30%. PMID- 2609080 TI - Somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with sensitive dissociation. AB - The purpose of the study was to reconsider the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) morphology in case of thermalgic versus proprioceptive sensory loss. The study was carried out on 70 inpatients affected by uni- or bilateral dissociated sensory disorders and on 45 normal controls. The median or tibial nerves were stimulated (at wrist or ankle), the stimulus intensity being adjusted to elicit a visible muscle response with liminal pain. SEPs were measured with regard to 7 negative components parameters (latency, amplitude) and statistically compared in the three groups. Results show that the initial SEP components (N18, N30, N70) are specifically affected in case of proprioceptive and the late components (N150, N220, N340) in case of thermalgic sensory disorders (N150 having an intermediate position). The intergroup differences were statistically significant. The results are thought to be used in clinical diagnosis. PMID- 2609081 TI - Extinction of orienting reaction in chronic alcoholics. AB - A polygraphic study on resistance to extinction of the somatic (EMG), autonomic (finger plethysmogram, galvanic skin reaction, respiration) and EEG (acoustic evoked potential and EEG-blocking reaction) components of the orienting reaction elicited by a repetitive auditory stimulus was performed in 67 chronic alcoholics and in 70 matched normal subjects (control group). The study showed a significantly lower resistance to extinction of the orienting reaction in alcoholics than in control normal subjects. The severity of this extinction disturbance depended on the patients' age, type of alcoholism, alcohol consumption intensity and chronicity, as well as the type of resting EEG. PMID- 2609082 TI - Acupuncture treatment of discopathic pain. AB - The authors present the effects of acupuncture in 50 patients showing discopathic pain. It is concluded that acupuncture treatment favours the reduction of drug consumption, and, implicitly, of iatrogenic pathology. PMID- 2609083 TI - Measurement of hertzian waves capture at body surface in patients with traumatic paraplegia. AB - Using an original method--the Biohertzmetry--the level of hertzian waves capture at body surface was measured in 20 patients with traumatic paraplegia. A statistically significant decrease of the hertzian waves capture level in the toes in comparison with the proximal area has been noted in 12 patients with complete spinal cord lesion. In patients presenting an open or cicatricial decubitus ulcer, at scar level, in the surrounding skin area with modified colour -and even in a contiguous few millimeters large skin strip normally coloured,--a marked decrease of the level of hertzian waves capture in comparison with the healthy skin ares situated off the decubitus ulcers has been pointed out. Thus, the method used permitted to reveal the alterations of the tissue trophicity- including those undetectable with the naked eye--and to make an estimation of the degree of mortification of the tissues and a delimitation of the reduced trophicity area. PMID- 2609084 TI - [Post-traumatic reactive arthritis. Etiologic, clinical and diagnostic aspects. Apropos of 6 cases]. AB - The relationship between trauma and reaction arthritis, although controverted must be interpreted in each specific cases, after chronological analysis of the events. The localizing role of a trauma occurring before the infectious episode and affecting, topographically, a specific joint, may be accepted. It is reasonable to admit that a trauma, following an infectious episode, may possibly trigger rheumatism, providing that one of these arthritis corresponds topographically to the trauma. On the contrary, it does not seem possible to accept, in the present state of our knowledge, that an isolated trauma occurring on a genetically predisposed individual, may generate, out of nothing, a Fiessinger-Leroy-Reiter syndrome. PMID- 2609085 TI - [Sciatica caused by a posterior articular cyst. Apropos of 8 cases]. AB - The authors report 8 cases of sciatica secondary to a posterior articular cyst. They emphasize the clinical manifestations permitting to suspect this etiology of root compression, which, until now, was rather unusual. Computerized axial tomography makes the diagnosis possible along with posterior arthrography. This arthrography represents the first stage of the medical treatment by posterior joint infiltration of a steroid derivative. In 60 p. cent of the cases, a definite and persisting improvement permits to avoid a surgical procedure. PMID- 2609086 TI - [Comparison of nuclear magnetic resonance and histology in necrosis of the femoral head]. AB - The histological aspect of the femoral head in patients operated for osteonecrosis (stages III and IV) and undergoing a total hip prosthesis, was correlated with nuclear magnetic resonance, pre- and postoperatively. The decreased signal of the NMR image is particularly clear in the area of sub chondral bone plate, the fibrous and vascular area bordering the lower portion of the sequestrum. On the contrary, the aspect of the signal is heterogeneous in the sequestrum itself. This may be explained by a different condition of the adipocytes in the sequestrum. PMID- 2609087 TI - [Bone manifestations disclosing Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma. Analysis of 11 cases]. AB - Bone localizations revealing Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma, are unusual. We are reporting 11 recent cases collected in rheumatology and haematology departments, including 4 where a comprehensive study of X-rays, scintigrams, axial tomograms and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging was performed. Review of the literature as well as our experience concerning the type of onset of the bone involvement, the clinical correlation, the imaging techniques, have led us to consider nuclear magnetic resonance as a decisive factor which should be offered at an early stage in the diagnostic approach. PMID- 2609088 TI - [Painful polyarticular syndrome probably induced by cyclosporin in three patients with a kidney transplant and one with a heart transplant]. AB - Among others, ciclosporin had the advantage of decreasing appreciably the incidence of osteonecrosis after renal transplantation. However, the authors have isolated, in three renal transplant patients and one heart transplant patient, treated with ciclosporin, a new syndrome consisting of bilateral and symmetrical joint pain, affecting the lower extremities and lasting almost one year. Subsiding of the radiological aspect and the isotopic hyperfixation of the affected joints, at the end of the evolution, as well as the histological aspect of the bone surrounding the joints, remind somehow of algodystrophy. In both cases, the severity of the pain seemed to depend on the doses of ciclosporin, indicating that this molecule could play a role in the occurrence of this syndrome. PMID- 2609089 TI - [Spontaneous fracture of the calcaneus in the aged subject without any fluoride therapy]. PMID- 2609090 TI - [Hyperostosis-osteitis-periostitis: a radiologic triad of enthesopathies. Remarks apropos of 2 unusual femoral localizations]. PMID- 2609091 TI - [Clinostatic syndrome of the lower limb. Apropos of 3 cases]. PMID- 2609092 TI - [Aseptic spondylodiscitis after surgical repair of disk hernia. Apropos of 3 cases]. PMID- 2609093 TI - [Spinal cord compression in osteoporotic collapsed vertebrae]. PMID- 2609094 TI - [Treatment of leg pain and sciatica, caused by disk-radicular involvement, with peri-radicular injection]. PMID- 2609095 TI - Reference equivalent threshold sound pressure levels for insert earphones. AB - Insert earphones, coupled to the ear canal by means of a long plastic tube and soft ear plug (Etymotic Research ER-3A Tubephone) are being used for a number of audiometric applications as an alternative to supra-aural earphones. This report presents the results of hearing threshold level measurements in 36 ears of young, otologically normal listeners. The results are expressed as mean sound pressure levels measured on a 2 cm3 coupler according to IEC 126 as well as on an ear simulator according to IEC 711. PMID- 2609096 TI - Hearing and hearing loss in 5-year-old children. Pure-tone thresholds and the effect of acute otitis media. AB - Air and bone conduction pure-tone thresholds of 420 unselected urban children were measured with standard clinical audiometry. The mean of air conduction pure tone averages (average threshold at 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz) was 8.6 dB HL in girls and 8.3 dB HL in boys. In only 5 ears (0.6%), was this average greater than or equal to 35 dB HL. The threshold greater than or equal to 35 dB HL at 4 kHz was found in 1.4% of the ears and at 8 kHz in 4.1%. The bone conduction threshold greater than 20 dB HL at any of the frequencies from 0.5 to 4 kHz was very rare, and only once, at 4 kHz, was it greater than 35 dB HL. Earlier attacks of acute otitis media seemed to have only a marginal long-term effect on air conduction hearing, and an almost negligible effect on bone conduction hearing. PMID- 2609097 TI - Brainstem response audiometry in chronic Lyme borreliosis. AB - Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were investigated in 26 patients with acrodermatitis chronic atrophicans, which is a late manifestation of Lyme borreliosis. Nine of the patients showed pathological ABR, four of them unilaterally and five bilaterally. The main pathological findings were: 1) Poor reproducibility of waves IV-V or of wave V; 2) Increased latency of wave V. After antibiotic treatment, ABR was improved in eight of the nine patients, and in three of them it was normal. In the five patients who did not completely recover, the improvement consisted in better reproducibility and a tendency towards normal wave V latencies. The results of this study indicate that the central nervous system may become involved in patients with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. PMID- 2609098 TI - Transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS) in tinnitus. AB - Low-frequency (2 Hz) TNS applied distally to peripheral nerves of the upper extremity is known to induce a wide-spread, non-segmental and prolonged relief of pain and an increased microcirculation due to sympatho-inhibition in a number of vascular beds. Such stimulation was administered in 29 tinnitus patients of various etiology. Reduction of tinnitus was encountered in 9 subjects in response to a 45-min TNS-session. The improvement was mainly seen in tinnitus characterized by lower frequencies (125-500 Hz). In 7 of the 9 patients, the tinnitus reduction was associated with improvement of hearing, predominantly in the low-frequency band. The effects were still present after one week following daily stimulation at home. On continued treatment, the effects were found to be transitory in 4 of the patients, whereas the remaining 5 patients are still using the stimulator after 2 to 5 years. It is suggested that the mechanism behind the beneficial effects is increased microcirculation in part of the auditory pathways. PMID- 2609099 TI - Waardenburg's syndrome: a comparison of biometric indices used to diagnose lateral displacement of the inner canthi. AB - Clinical inspection may be sufficient to diagnose Waardenburg's syndrome Type I in most individuals but in some the presence of lateral displacement of the medial canthi may not be apparent. In such instances biometric indices are used to determine whether or not this feature is present. In this paper the discriminant ability of 7 biometric indices are examined and compared and the most efficient are identified. The results showed that indices based upon the three interocular distances: inner canthal, interpupillary and outer canthal measurements, were the more accurate indicators. PMID- 2609100 TI - Clinical methods for the objective estimation of loudness discomfort level (LDL) using auditory brainstem responses in patients. AB - Our previous work showed that the slope of the JV latency/intensity function can be used to estimate the loudness discomfort level (LDL). In this study, the previous work was repeated using normal subjects and patients whose LDL was unknown at the time of test. The results showed that the original model still applied. Further measures were taken to evaluate clinical methods of applying this technique. Four basic approaches were used, a 'correction factor' model and a 'curve-fitting' model and these were applied to data obtained from measurements taken in both 5 dB and 10 dB increments. The results showed that the 'correction factor' models were better than the 'curve-fit' approach. The prediction of LDL based upon the 5 dB increment data gave the greater accuracy but the 10 dB increment data gave predictions that were sufficiently accurate for clinical use (95% confidence limits of +/- 8 dB). Thus this ABR estimator has wide application and good accuracy in estimating subjective LDL. A clinical protocol for applying this technique is described. PMID- 2609101 TI - Jaw movement and bone-conduction in normal listeners and a unilateral hemi mandibulectomee. AB - Relative movement between the mandible and skull may compress the auditory meatus and produce an excess sound in the ear canal. To test this, measurements of sound pressure in the ear canal, and movement of the upper and lower jaw are reported on normal subjects and a unilateral hemi-mandibulectomee. On the side the unilateral hemi-mandibulectomee has a jaw and in the subjects with normal jaws, the data confirm that mandible-movement relative to the skull produces sound in the ear canal. The excess sound in the ear canal when the jaw is free to move independently of the skull can be predicted from the relative movement between them. PMID- 2609102 TI - Acoustical feedback associated with the use of post aural hearing aids for profoundly deaf children. AB - The feedback properties of 29 ears fitted with post aural hearing aids and hard acrylic earmoulds, have been investigated for a group of profoundly deaf children. Complex loop gain has been measured, and maximum hearing aid gain before instability has been calculated from the measurement results. Guidelines for prediction of maximum hearing loss, which can be managed, are stated, and a suitable hearing aid frequency response for profoundly deaf children is proposed. This response ensures that acoustical feedback above approximately 1 kHz does not limit the low frequency gain, which is assumed to be very important for the speech recognition. PMID- 2609103 TI - Hearing impairment in orchestral musicians. AB - Symphony orchestra musicians from The Royal Danish Theatre (15 females and 80 males) aged 22 to 64 years were audiologically examined to elucidate the presence and the frequency of noise-induced hearing loss among classical musicians. Compared to a reference material (ISO 7029) the median hearing thresholds of the musicians were increased for all age groups. When using hearing sensitivity in one or both ears less than 20 dB HL as a criterion for normality, it was found the 58% of the musicians had a hearing impairment. 50% of the males and 13% of the females showed a typical audiogram with a notched curve at higher frequencies normally attributed to occupational noise exposure. Furthermore, a significantly poorer hearing on the left ear was found at higher frequencies among the violinists. It is concluded that symphonic musicians suffer from hearing impairment and that the impairment might be ascribed to symphonic music. PMID- 2609104 TI - Seasonal variation of serum bone GLA protein. AB - The seasonal variation of serum Bone Gla Protein (BGP) was investigated in 15 normal young individuals (seven women and eight men, aged 27-39 years). Serum BGP exhibited a significant seasonal variation of 23% around the yearly mean (p less than 0.001) with zenith in February and nadir in July. Significant seasonal variations were noted also for serum alkaline phosphatase (p less than 0.01) and serum phosphate (p less than 0.01). Serum calcium, bone mineral content (BMC) and creatinine clearance revealed no significant seasonal variation. The seasonal variation of BGP did not follow the variation in serum total alkaline phosphatase. The seasonal variation of BGP has to be taken into account when using the protein as a marker of bone remodelling activity. The variation was probably caused by changes in the production rate of the protein, since the renal excretion of the protein, as reflected in creatinine clearance, remained unchanged throughout the year. PMID- 2609105 TI - Quantitative analysis of phospholipids and demonstration of plasmalogen in human neutrophil subcellular fractions by high-performance liquid chromatography. AB - The subcellular distribution of phospholipids in unstimulated neutrophils was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography of lipid extracts of granule and plasma membranes obtained from Percoll density gradients. The mobile phase contained acetonitrile:methanol:85% phosphoric acid (131:3:0.8 v/v/v). Post nuclear supernatants contained 2.3 micrograms lipid phosphorus/mg protein. Phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine were demonstrated in azurophil granules, specific granules and in a combined fraction of secretory granules and plasma membranes. Separate estimates of each phospholipid class by peak areas obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography showed that secretory granules and plasma membranes contained most of the phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine (p less than 0.005 vs peaks areas obtained in azurophil and specific granules), whereas a major part of the phosphatidylethanolamine was located in the specific granules (p less than 0.005 vs peak areas obtained in azurophil granules, and plasma membrane and secretory granules). High-performance liquid chromatography proved to be a useful principle for the demonstration of plasmalogen because the acidic solvent caused hydrolysis of phosphatidalethanolamine, which was recovered as lysophosphatidylethanolamine. Additionally, sphingomyelin was demonstrated in all subfractions by thin-layer chromatography. PMID- 2609106 TI - Early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. A comparison between chemical predictors. AB - Consecutive patients (n = 155) admitted to coronary care units at three different hospitals were investigated. The overall prevalence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was 0.45. The predictive potential with respect to AMI was tested for S-myoglobin, total S-creatine kinase (Tot-CK), and its MB isoenzyme as well as combinations of the different components. S-Myoglobin was determined by latex agglutination (MYO1) and radio-immunoassay (MYO2). The isoenzymes were determined as mass (CKMB1) and catalytic (CKMB2) concentrations. Biochemical tests were performed at arrival and at about 3h, 6h and 12h after the onset of symptoms (chest pain). Diagnostic performance of MYO1 was similar to MYO2 and CKMB2 similar to that of CKMB1. Single components did not show acceptable performance. In the period 6-12 h, combinations of total CK with CK-MB or myoglobin performed equally, with sensitivities of 0.96-0.98 and predictive values of a negative test (PV-) of 0.96-0.98. In view of increasing diagnostic performance for total CK and CKMB following 12 h after the onset of symptoms contrary to a decreasing performance for myoglobin combinations, total CK and CKMB should be used for the early diagnosis of AMI. PMID- 2609107 TI - Age dependence of renal function: clearance of iohexol and p-amino hippurate in healthy males. AB - Iohexol, a newly developed non-ionic contrast agent, has been recently documented as a reliable glomerular filtration marker. This study describes the age dependence of the single injection clearance of iohexol in a sample of healthy male volunteers ranging from 21 to 77 years of age. In parallel, renal plasma flow was studied by measuring the total clearance of p-amino hippuric acid administered as a continuous infusion. In subjects older than 50 years a negative correlation to age was found for both p-amino hippuric acid and iohexol clearance, with a reduction of 52 ml/min and 12 ml/min per decade, respectively, whereas no age dependence was found for younger subjects. Correlation between p amino hippuric acid and iohexol clearances was 0.81. However, the filtration fraction, defined as the ratio of iohexol to p-amino hippuric acid clearance, was higher in the elderly subjects. A consistent discrepancy was found between total and renal clearances of p-amino hippuric acid, indicating significant renal metabolism. Renal clearance of creatinine was poorly correlated to iohexol clearance and did not show any relationship to age. PMID- 2609108 TI - Anticoagulant-induced preanalytical errors in ionized calcium determination on blood. AB - When anticoagulated blood is necessary for ionized calcium (Ca2+) measurements especially in urgent circumstances, the type (sodium or 'calcium-titrated' heparinate) as well as the form (aqueous or dry) of anticoagulant induce preanalytical errors. To quantify these modifications Ca2+ was measured in three aqueous solutions and in three serum pools in different 'sampling' conditions. Incomplete syringe filling and specimen volume/syringe nominal volume ratio effects were tested. Syringes were rinsed (i) with saline to yield 'pure' dilution effect ('solution-dilution'); (ii) with sodium heparinate to study binding; (iii) with calcium-titrated heparinate to evaluate 'calcium-distortion'. All types of errors increased when syringes were not filled to their nominal volume, especially on small-sized specimens. Detailed tables provide percentage error values for all sampling conditions. Thus, 'solution-dilution' can reach 5%; binding is always important (-15 to -50%). 'Calcium-distortion' is minimal, around 1.25 mmol/l Ca2+, but can reach -7% for high Ca2+ and +10% for low Ca2+. PMID- 2609109 TI - At what level of serum total creatine kinase activity can measurement of serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme activity be omitted in suspected myocardial infarction? AB - The purpose of this study was to establish a discriminatory limit for serum total creatine kinase activity (CK activity) below which CK isoenzyme fractionation is unnecessary. We looked at 2610 serum samples from 1077 consecutive patients with suspected acute myocardial infraction (AMI). The CK activity was determined according to the Scandinavian recommended method. Isoenzymes of CK were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, followed by fluorometric scanning. When the threshold for CK activity was 150 U/l, none of the samples had a creatine kinase MB isoenzyme activity (CK-MB activity) equal to or higher than 30 U/l (the diagnostic level), which has been found to differentiate between patients with AMI and those without AMI. Only 14 patients (1.3% of all patients investigated) had CK-MB activity peaks between 10 U/l (detection limit) and 30 U/l. Of these, AMI was only diagnosed in one. We recommend that CK-MB activity should be measured only when CK activity is higher than 150 U/l. This would make about 50% of all CK-MB measurements unnecessary. PMID- 2609110 TI - Calculation of single-ion activities in solutions simulating blood plasma. AB - While, in principle, flame photometry of sodium and potassium measures substance concentration, and ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) measure ion activity, the situation regarding the comparison of results from the two techniques when applied to blood plasma is complex. The problem can be approached experimentally from the point of view of calibration of ISEs with concentration standards, and similar procedures are adopted for commercial ISE-based clinical analysers. Nevertheless, there is interest in the evaluation of single ion activities in blood plasma and solutions simulating its ionic composition. The theory of mixed electrolyte solutions developed by Pitzer has been applied to some solutions currently proposed for calibrating ISEs, and the results compared with the Stokes Robinson-Bates hydration approach. It is recommended that the values from the Pitzer treatment be adopted, because, although this has some empirical features, it has a sounder theoretical basis than the Stokes-Robinson-Bates hydration approach. PMID- 2609111 TI - Porphobilinogen deaminase in human erythrocytes: purification of two forms with apparent molecular weights of 40 kDa and 42 kDa. AB - Porphobilinogen deaminase was purified from human erythrocytes by ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Two forms of the enzyme were isolated, with apparent molecular weights of 40 kDa and 42 kDa, and in relative amounts of 85% and 15%, respectively. Both forms were found to have an N-terminal amino acid sequence identical to that published for the erythropoietic form of porphobilinogen deaminase, as deduced from a cDNA clone. The two forms present could each be separated into three differently charged subforms by Mono Q chromatography. PMID- 2609112 TI - Guidelines for evaluation of reagent strips. Exemplified by analysis of urine albumin and glucose concentration using visually read reagent strips. International Federation of Clinical Chemistry, Scientific Division. AB - Reagent strips are frequently used in the practice of laboratory medicine as well as outside the professional laboratories. In the present report, a scheme is presented which allows a reproducible description of the performance of reagent strips. This is exemplified using strips intended for estimation of urinary albumin and glucose. Experimental conditions that are particularly important for these components are given. Suitable and necessary items which should be included in the protocol presenting results of an evaluation are listed. The guidelines might have general applicability in evaluation and description of tests with a limited number of possible results. PMID- 2609113 TI - [Permanent sequelae of injuries in the otorhinolaryngology field]. AB - The present retrospective study was aimed to scrutinize constant traumatic sequelae in otorhinolaryngology on 586 traumatic reports, which have been documented by the Bohemian State Insurance starting from 1965 to 1985. Constant sequelae appeared to be subsequent both to individual damages of otorhinolaryngologic organs and multiple traumas, from them 59.4% affected the ear region. Most frequently were presented the partial hearing loss, deafness, and labyrinth lesions especially in multiple traumas. As to the nasal area, the amount of 22.7 per cent consisted of external nasal shape deformities with the disordered passage, and olfactory disorders in multiple traumas. The remaining 17.9% sequelae was concerned with the anatomical and functional lesions of other otorhinolaryngologic organs. To determine features and the extent of constant sequelae, most current diagnostical approaches and consiliary examinations were used. However, the objective assessment of olfactory disorders and tinnitus aurium is stated to be still diagnostically intricated. Both the simulation and aggravation were found out in 2.5% of insurers. Other relations were also studied, e.g.: insurer vice versa physician. In addition to other causes, the most frequent ones represented an underestimation of traumatic consequences all along with their erroneous treatment, low levelled outpatient care of ORL specialists as to the multiple trauma management outside ORL service. In many instances, the injured subjects were not appropriately recommended to provide them with simple and effective surgical treatment of yet manifested constant sequelae. The proper expertize activity was complicated with the defective trauma documentation, terminology variants and erroneous regulations dealing with the recompensation of injuries. PMID- 2609114 TI - [The vestibulospinal reflex and its tests]. AB - Examination of vestibulospinal reflexes is an integral part of investigation of the balance apparatus activity. Four tests were selected to verify its utility and reliability, i.e. Romberg (stand II) and Hautant's tests for examining tonic reflexes, Fukuda's stepping test and writing test to monitor how the vestibular apparatus affects coordinated movement. The latter was, however, eliminated from clinical usage due to its unreliability. The final assessment of vestibulospinal reflexes is made more precise by simultaneous evaluation of the three remaining tests. PMID- 2609115 TI - [Endoscopic sclerotization as a method of treatment of esophageal varices]. AB - In the retrospective study of 23 patients the authors are rendering and evaluating their experiences in treating oesophageal varices by endoscopy sclerotization. On the basis of both proper experience and literature sources, they compare the efficiency of their approach with other conservative and surgical procedures. Their own modest experience is collated with the latest literature data. Far from estimating this method as an exclusive one in treating the portal hypertension complications, the authors believe it to be a considerable contribution to improve further destiny of the patients so treated. PMID- 2609116 TI - [Paravalvular fistulae in implanted heart valves]. AB - The paper reviews causes and treatment of paravalvular fistulae of artificial valves, and demonstrates author's properly managed cases. PMID- 2609117 TI - [The significance of mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the lungs and mediastinum]. AB - A total of 299 patients is presented in them the mediastinoscopy has been performed from 1970 up to 1987. The indications and examination technique are also reported. Its significance is evaluated in recognizing the individual groups of diseases of lung and mediastinum. Comparing this method with other techniques, its advantages are referred to as for its precision a good tolerance by patients. The relatively small rate of complications is stated which represented 1.33 per cent in total proposed. PMID- 2609118 TI - [Possibilities of diagnosis and treatment of jumper's knee]. AB - A total of 24 sportsmen having painful sensations upon apex patellae as well as in the course of ligamentum proprium patellae had been submitted to both examination and treatment. Initially, the conservative management of the disease had only partial benefit. More pronounced conditions characterized histologically by microruptures, fiber degeneration up to necrosis showed no response to this treatment. In such cases, the excision of affected ligamental portion with subsequent fascial strand implantation was indicated. Another compound of surgical approach was a deperiostage of patellar apex. From 12 cases managed by surgery, the excellent results were achieved in 9, good in 2 and bad in 1 patient, respectively. PMID- 2609120 TI - Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Environmental Ergonomics. Helsinki, 8-12 August 1988. PMID- 2609119 TI - [Personal experience with the diagnosis and treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts]. AB - Nine cases of aneurysmal bone cysts were diagnosed and treated at the Department of Orthopedics in Hradec Kralove in the period of 1975 to 1986. Diagnosis was based on clinical examination, radiography and histological picture. Therapy included in two thirds of cases excochleation with the following stabilization of the involved bone, resections were carried out in remaining patients. One relapse occurred after excochleation with the character of a giant-cell tumour which evidenced a close relation to this disease. PMID- 2609121 TI - Modification of Vernon's globe thermometer and its calibration in terms of physiological strain. AB - Six men wearing shorts performed treadmill work in about 150 climatic chamber experiments at several temperatures of Vernon's globe thermometer (tg) from 25 to 50 degrees C. Each tg was produced partly by an equal air temperature (ta) and a mean radiant temperature (MRT), partly by a lowered ta (minimum 5 degrees C) and an MRT elevated up to about 80 degrees C above the ta. With an increasing MRT and lowered ta, respectively, body temperature, heart rates, and sweat losses decreased significantly. In another 55 experiments physiologically equivalent combinations of ta and MRT were derived. According to the results a modified globe thermometer was built. It reduced the errors of Vernon's instrument by about 75%. The remaining error of 25% was due to changes in air velocity between 0.5 and 2 m.s-1. The applicability of simple instruments like globe thermometers is obviously limited for the description of physiologically equivalent conditions of unequal ta and MRT at various air velocities. PMID- 2609122 TI - The actual insulation of multilayer clothing. AB - The effect of geometric factors on insulation was calculated mathematically for standing humans. It was found that internal radiative heat transfer in an ensemble was significant for insulation, that intrinsic clothing insulation is a useful concept only for indoor climates, and that shape plays a minor role. The literature agrees closely on insulation and clothing surface area figures, and the latter are compatible with model predictions. Finally, it was shown that wind, body motion, the effects of posture, and the fit of garments are predictable. Sitting provides more insulation than standing for light clothing, but the reverse is true for heavy clothing. Insulation is decreased by about 20% by cycling and by about 40% by walking, and a reasonable estimate can be made of the effect of wind and wind and motion together. The effect of air motion on vapor permeability is stronger than the effect on heat transfer. PMID- 2609123 TI - Evaluation of tolerance limits for humans under heat stress and the problems involved. AB - Investigators are divided about the limits of tolerable ambient temperatures and air humidities, even under equal boundary conditions. In 266 climatic chamber experiments, mostly lasting 4 h, 13 young healthy men were exposed to combinations of ambient temperature (20 to 55 degrees C) and relative humidity (5 to 97%) at an air velocity of 0.3 m.s-1. They were lightly clad and performed equal treadmill work (metabolic rate about 850 kJ.h-1). Mean rectal isotherms and their standard deviations were calculated from the final rectal temperatures of the 13 men and plotted on a psychrometric chart. The slopes of the isotherms were compared with those of various "indices of heat stress." The probability of reaching the potentially critical rectal temperature of 39 degrees C was calculated according to data of Wyndham & Heyns. It increased from about 1:500,000 to 1:150 in climates corresponding to mean isotherms of 37.6 and 38.2 degrees C, respectively. Most of the limits thus far proposed are situated between these two isotherms, and they differ merely in regard to health risk. It is useless to discuss "correct" or "incorrect" limits until society has decided what risk is to be accepted. An upper tolerable limit per se does not and cannot exist. For several reasons the 37.6 degrees C isotherm might be taken into consideration as a limit. PMID- 2609124 TI - Wind-chill equations predicting whole-body heat loss for a range of typical civilian outdoor clothing ensembles. AB - A thermal manikin with constant skin temperature and a wind-chill tunnel with constant air temperatures and wind speeds were used to measure whole-body heat loss for seven ensembles chosen to represent the full range of civilian outdoor clothing in use for everyday, nonsporting wear. Equations fitting the data with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.99 were derived for each ensemble, and diagrams were produced with these equations to interpolate and extend the range of conditions. The conditions studied were those resulting in total heat loss from 50 to 250 W.m-2, so very little extrapolation was required. The wind-chill equivalent temperature (with reference to 2 m.s-1), based on the average value for all seven ensembles, showed good agreement on this measure. The values predicted on the basis of whole-body heat loss through clothing were shown to be much lower than those predicted from the Siple wind-chill index for unprotected skin. PMID- 2609125 TI - Use of thermal manikins in environmental ergonomics. AB - Thermal manikins are a fairly standard tool in environmental ergonomics. As they can provide a rapid, accurate, and reproducible simulation of the physical processes of dry heat loss to the environment, their main application is in the study of neutral or cold conditions at relatively low activity levels. Thermal manikins provide a good estimate of the total dry heat loss from the body and the distribution of heat flow over the body surface. In a standard environment, these measures can be used to describe the thermal characteristics of clothing. With standard clothing, complex thermal environments, eg, as in vehicles, can also be quantitatively compared and evaluated. Future developments include improved simulation of evaporative heat loss; improved software for simulating internal heat transfer, heat storage, and vasoconstriction; reactive programs with target total heat loss; empirical equations predicting manikin response to temperature, air velocity, etc; and standard techniques for testing diving and survival suits. PMID- 2609126 TI - [Long-term course of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: drug versus surgical therapy]. AB - 139 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have been followed up for 1 28 years (mean 8.9 years). Group 1 consisted of 60 patients (mean age 38 years) without indication for septal myectomy (SM) (no pressure gradient at rest in 8, pressure gradient less than 50 mm Hg in 52 cases); group 2 consisted of 79 patients (mean age 36 years) who had SM (pressure gradient at rest 70 mm Hg). Management in group 1 was the following: (1a) propranolol (n = 20) (160 mg/d), (1b) verapamil (n = 18) (360 mg/d) and (1c) no therapy (n = 22). 19 patients died in group 1 (mortality 3.6% year); 17 died in group 2 (mortality 2.4%/year). 10 year survival in group 1b was 80% and in groups 1a und 1c 67% and 65% respectively. Patients of group 1b had a higher survival rate (p less than 0.05) than the other subgroups. Surgery patients treated with verapamil (120-360 mg/d) (n = 17) had a 10-year survival rate of 100% compared to 78% for surgery patients (n = 34) without such treatment (p less than 0.05). In summary, it can be said that the overall survival rate after SM is better than that with medical treatment. Under verapamil, however, survival is not different from that after surgery. The most favorable outcome was observed in surgery patients under long term therapy with verapamil, probably due to the reduction of systolic pressure overload (SM) and improvement in diastolic function (verapamil). PMID- 2609127 TI - [Immediate and late complications secondary to the implantation of a coronary endoprosthesis]. AB - The incidence of acute and late complications after coronary stenting has been studied in 95 consecutive patients. A total of 113 stents were implanted: 23 cases for acute occlusion of the dilated vessel and 72 for restenosis. After 16 months of follow-up, minor complications had occurred in 22 patients (23%). They consisted of transient occlusion of the prosthesis in 7 patients (7.3%), non-Q wave infarction in 4 patients (4.2%) and 10 hemorrhages (11%). During the following period major complications were observed in 11 patients (12%) with myocardial infarction in 7 instances and acute occlusion in 7 patients. 5 patients (5.3%) underwent coronary artery bypass graft and 6 (6.3%) died (one in hospital death). Two deaths were related to the stent, but in the other four no definite correlation between the prosthesis and the death could be demonstrated. Restenosis at 12 months was present in 4 cases: in 3 patients (4.7%) where the stent had been implanted for restenosis and 1 (4.7%) where it had been implanted for acute occlusion. We conclude that for selected patients, coronary stenting is a promising new technique, especially for acute occlusion after PTCA; moreover, at 12 months restenosis is less frequent than after PTCA. However, technical improvement is necessary to diminish the rate of complications, particularly thrombosis and hemorrhage. PMID- 2609128 TI - [Results of the initial 50 heart transplantations in Zurich]. AB - During the first 40 months of the new Heart Transplantation Program (September 1985 until December 1988) a total of a 160 patients were evaluated for transplantation at the University Hospital in Zurich. 50 patients eventually came to heart transplantation, while one patient underwent a heart-lung transplant. In the same period 9 patients accepted for transplantation died on the waiting list before transplantation. All 50 hearts were transplanted orthotopically. Follow-up treatment, immunosuppression and diagnostics for rejection are described. There was no operative mortality in this group. Two patients died early and three died late. For the first consecutive 50 heart transplant patients, showing a total of 732 patient months, actuarial survival was calculated at 90.1% at one and two years, and at 79.5% at three years. "Enlarged Heart Transplantation Program" describes some of the secondary activities spurred by the new Heart Transplantation Program. PMID- 2609129 TI - [Taxonomy for the clinician: a real problem?]. PMID- 2609130 TI - [Pathophysiology of dyspnea]. AB - The sensation of dyspnea is related to pathologically increased breathing work as a result of hyperventilation and/or increased airway resistance. Low cardiac output resulting in tissue hypoxia provokes hyperventilation. In diffuse interstitial lung diseases, hyperventilation is combined with severely reduced lung compliance. In severe airway obstruction, hypoventilation is the result of excessively enhanced breathing work. Habituation and acute changes of situation have an important bearing on the subjective sensation of dyspnea. PMID- 2609131 TI - [Dyspnea of cardial origin]. AB - The cardiac cause of dyspnea is left ventricular failure, usually secondary to coronary or hypertensive heart disease and occasionally due to valvular lesions or cardiomyopathy. The grading of this symptom is discussed, with the various tests, their feasibility and normal values. Invasive and noninvasive methods for further evaluation of these patients are described. Finally, the high correlation between dyspnea and measured physical work capacity, and the poor correlation between this symptom and ejection fraction or prognosis, are documented. PMID- 2609132 TI - [Study of dyspnea by the pneumologist: methodology and functional approach]. AB - Dyspnea is presently considered to be related to the sense of effort made by the inspiratory muscles. It may appear under three different sets of clinical circumstances: increase in ventilatory load (obstructive syndrome, restrictive syndrome); increase in minute ventilation (exercise, hyperventilation, disorder of respiratory gas exchanges); muscle weakness (myasthenia, myopathies). The functional approach is based on history and physical examination of the patient, as well as on simple routine tests such as spirometry and blood gases. Exercise test (ergospirometry) represents the most sensitive and reliable tool in differentiating between the numerous etiologies of dyspnea. Respiratory and cardiocirculatory causes of dyspnea can usually be distinguished on the basis of the pulmonary gas exchanges and oxygen consumption at maximal exercise, and on determination of the anaerobic threshold. Thus, dyspnea of unknown origin, i.e. with normal spirometric tests, should be investigated using a maximal exercise test with gas exchanges. Indication for right heart catheterization should be limited to the rare cases of severe pulmonary hypertension. PMID- 2609133 TI - [Intravenous magnesium administration in bronchial asthma]. AB - The effect of intravenously infused Mg-aspartate hydrochloride (MgAHCl) was studied in 17 asthmatic inpatients. In 6 patients with initial forced vital capacity (FVC) greater than 90% of normal value, there were no significant changes in the lung volumina after 10 mmol of MgAHCl. In 11 patients with initial FVC less than or equal to 90%, the median FVC increased after MgAHCl by 56 to 61% (p less than 0.01), the forced expiratory volume at 1 sec. (FEV1) by 40 to 44% (p less than 0.02) and the peak expiratory flow (PEF) by 45 to 56% (p less than 0.02). No significant changes of respiratory resistance were observed. The average serum concentration of Mg increased by 0.89 to 1.72 mmol/L and decreased to 1.33 mmol/L 20 minutes after the Mg-infusion. Intravenous infusion of Mg produces a significant improvement of FVC, FEV1 and PEF. With its cardioprotective effect and the reduction of bronchial hyperreactivity, Mg could be a valuable method in the treatment of asthmatic patients. PMID- 2609134 TI - [Transtracheal oxygen therapy in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]. AB - In a prospective trial we studied the effect of nocturnal low-flow oxygen administration in 10 consecutive patients with obstructive sleep apnea. In 5 patients the clinical symptoms disappeared completely under nasal oxygen administration and hypoxic episodes decreased from an average of 28 to 3 per hour. In the remaining 5 patients nasal oxygen alone was not sufficiently effective. After insertion of a transtracheal catheter for nocturnal oxygen delivery, however, in 4 of these 5 patients (one patient refused the procedure) clinical symptoms improved and hypoxic episodes were reduced to 3 per hour (48/h without oxygen, 34/h with nasal oxygen). The favourable effect of transtracheal oxygen therapy may be due to the improved oxygenation provided by this technique, as well as to a "pneumatic splint" as a result of increased positive pressure in the central airways during prolonged apneic episodes. Thus, transtracheal oxygen therapy can be considered an efficient alternative to nasal CPAP in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. PMID- 2609135 TI - [Swiss pacemaker statistics for 1987/1988]. AB - In the annual pacemaker survey, covering practically all pacemakers implanted in Switzerland (implanted in 43 hospitals in 1987 and in 46 in 1988), the number of first implants in 1987 was 226 and in 1988 238 per million population. Clinical indications, ECG indications and etiology have undergone no significant changes in the last 3 years. Within the pacing systems used, however, there has been a relative increase in physiological pacemakers to 10% and in rate adaptive pacemakers to 19%. At the present time there are some 10,000 patients with a cardiac pacemaker in this country. PMID- 2609136 TI - [Remnant disease associated with apoprotein E1; clinical importance of apoprotein E (apo E) phenotypes]. AB - The diagnosis of type III hyperlipoproteinemia, or remnant disease, is greatly facilitated by the determination of the apoprotein E (apo E) phenotype. The disease is associated, in over 90% of the documented cases, with homozygosity for the E2 isoform of apo E. Phenotyping apo E directly from plasma offers certain advantages as compared to phenotyping from very low density lipoprotein samples. Elaboration of such a procedure in our laboratory allowed us to detect a rare isoform of apo E, apo E1, which was associated with remnant disease in 3 patients. PMID- 2609137 TI - [Hyper-HDL-cholesterolemia: prevalence and clinical aspects]. AB - The prevalence and clinical aspects of high-HDL-cholesterolemia were investigated in 2000 patients (1215 males and 785 females) aged 14-88 years in our medical outpatient department. The incidence of high-HDL-cholesterolemia was 7% (greater than 1.68 mmol/l) in males and 9.9% (greater than 1.94 mmol/l) in females and was associated in 80% of cases with a normal lipid profile according to the Fredrickson classification. Compared with patients with low-HDL-cholesterolemia, high-HDL-cholesterolemia distinguished by a lower incidence of obesity, of hyperlipidemia, of diabetes and of cigarette smoking. In contrast, daily alcohol intake was significantly higher. Fewer patients had a history of ischemic cardiovascular events. High-HDL-cholesterolemia appears to arise from both environmental and genetic factors. PMID- 2609138 TI - [Probenecid affects liver metabolism]. AB - The effect of probenecid on the pharmacokinetics of phenprocoumon (PPC) given as a single oral or intravenous dose, on the vitamin-K-dependent protein-C-antigen, and on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and 6 beta-hydroxycortisol was determined in 14 healthy volunteers. Probenecid caused a 75% decrease in urinary excretion of PPC and PPC-glucuronide and shortened the plasma half-life of PPC significantly (by about 35%). The results after oral and intravenous administration of PPC did not differ significantly. Plasma protein-C-antigen concentrations following intravenous PPC were significantly increased by probenecid. The plasma half-life of antipyrine after 7 days of probenecid therapy was significantly diminished. Accordingly, urinary excretion of 6 beta hydroxycortisol was significantly increased. These data appear for the first time to reveal enzyme-inducing properties of probenecid, which may be responsible for the shortening of PPC plasma half-life when probenecid is given simultaneously. In addition, the influence of probenecid on plasma protein-C-antigen concentrations may indicate further effects of probenecid on liver metabolism. PMID- 2609139 TI - [Drug interactions of midazolam]. AB - Midazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine with a short half life (1.5-2.5 h) due to intense biotransformation by liver monooxygenases. Anecdotal clinical reports have mentioned a wide interpatient variability in its duration of action. We investigated by in vitro screening factors that could interfere with the rate of midazolam biotransformation (drug-drug interactions). Metabolite production (1' and 4-OH-midazolam) was monitored in human liver microsomes. Midazolam hydroxylations are inhibited by several drugs (i.e. erythromycin, phenothiazine type neuroleptics, cyclosporine). The clinical relevance of these drug interactions is illustrated by the example of a patient treated with amiodarone, erythromycin and midazolam during anesthesia. Midazolam-induced sleep lasted about 6 days due to inhibition of its biotransformation by concomitant drug treatment. PMID- 2609140 TI - [Action of trichlormethiazide and amiloride on cellular Na+, K+ and Mg+ concentrations]. AB - While diuretic-induced changes of plasma electrolyte concentrations have often been described, comparatively few data exist on intracellular electrolyte concentrations under diuretic treatment. Therefore, we studied the effect on intracellular Mg2+, Na+ and K+ concentrations of a thiazide diuretic (trichlormethiazide 4 mg/d) in red blood cells of 14 patients with mild essential hypertension, and of a combination of a thiazide diuretic and a potassium-sparing diuretic (trichlormethiazide and amiloride 2 mg/d each) in red blood cells of 11 patients with mild essential hypertension. Measurements were performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy and flame photometry before starting treatment and after 4 and 8-12 weeks' diuretic treatment. There was no significant change in intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations under either form of diuretic treatment. Intracellular Mg2+ concentrations decreased significantly under thiazide therapy, whereas there was a significant increase in intracellular Mg+ concentrations under thiazide and potassium-sparing combined diuretic therapy. The results show that the combination of a thiazide diuretic and a potassium-sparing diuretic is a useful means to avoid intracellular Mg2+ loss. PMID- 2609141 TI - [Microbiological findings of 97 cases of acute pyelonephritis]. AB - To optimize the therapeutic approach to acute pyelonephritis (PNA), the medical records of 89 patients (73 women and 16 men) hospitalized with diagnosis of PNA between January 1984 and 1987 have been studied. According to routine bacteriological urinalysis, gram-negatives were found in more than 92% (E. coli in 79%, Proteus in 6%). Gram-positives were found in only 8%. The gram-negatives (n = 82) showed resistance to amoxicillin in 36%, to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid in 17%, to cotrimoxazole in 18%, and to ceftriaxone in 1%. No resistance to netilmicin or norfloxacin was found. These results justify treatment with norfloxacin or ceftriaxone instead of amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid or cotrimoxazole for gram-negatives. Among the 7 cases with gram-positives, resistance was found to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cotrimoxazole and also netilmicin, and to norfloxacin, ceftriaxone and amoxicillin. Therefore, an initial therapy using the association amoxicillin-netilmicin is recommended in PNA. PMID- 2609142 TI - [MRI and the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis]. AB - 88 patients aged 22-70 (mean 44) years, presenting with symptoms and/or signs of multiple sclerosis, were investigated by MRI for the purpose of revealing MS-like lesions. 54% of all patients had MRI scans suggestive of MS. Patients with clinically definite MS had MS-suggestive lesions in 85% of cases, and none was normal. In patients with possible signs or symptoms of MS the rate of MS suggestive MRI scans was 34%. MS lesions can be detected, in decreasing order, in the white matter of the hemispheres (centra semiovalia), the periventricular system, the basal ganglia and the posterior fossa. MRI confirms the diagnosis of clinically definite MS and diagnoses MS in cases with questionable MS symptoms or signs. PMID- 2609143 TI - [Effect of air pollutant burden on healthy children and children with lung diseases in southern Ticino]. AB - To investigate the effects of air pollution on the respiratory health of children, a study was undertaken in the southern part of Switzerland covering 312 school children who lived in two zones with significantly different concentrations of NO2. In the more urban area the mean NO2 measured over a period of 10 months was 36.2 +/- 9.5 micrograms/m3 (25 14-day values greater than 40) compared to the mean of the second, rural area of 26.2 +/- 10.4 micrograms/m3 (6 14-day values greater than 40). Respiratory health was evaluated by determination of bronchial reactivity to Carbachol in 5 diagnostic groups (healthy: 109; healthy with positive family history of atopy: 60; allergic but not asthma: 59; asthma: 55; and "unclear cough": 29) by the technique of group specific sampling. The study shows differences in the incidence of bronchial hyperreactivity in children (PD65 less than 900 micrograms Carbachol). Within the 5 diagnostic groups, however, this distinction was significant only in the group of healthy subjects (p less than 0.005). In the other diagnostic groups the influence of the various trigger factors such as respiratory tract infections, allergen exposure, parental smoking and (last but not least) drug treatment seems to be as important as that of air pollution. PMID- 2609144 TI - [Carbimazole therapy in Basedow's disease: therapy results in individual dosage adjustment]. AB - We analyzed the results of 85 treatments with carbimazol in 71 patients with Graves' disease. The initial dose ranged from 45 to 60 mg/day, which was gradually reduced to the lowest possible maintenance dose; the mean treatment period was 17 months. All patients achieved euthyroid function after 12 weeks at the latest. Normalization of the pituitary TSH-reserve occurred late (after 6-12 months in most cases). 60% of the patients treated for the first time (n = 58) and 59% of the whole group remained in remission. The maintenance dose of carbimazol had no effect on the rate of remission. It is interesting to note that in 66% of the patients a very low dose (less than or equal to 5 mg/day) was fully effective and resulted in a remission rate of 54%. Therefore, the dose should always be reduced individually. Relapses occurred within the first year after the end of treatment in 77% of the cases, but were also observed after 2-3 years. Hence follow-up should be continued after cessation of therapy. PMID- 2609145 TI - [Medicosocial characteristics of hospitalized alcoholic patients in 2 internal medicine departments of hospitals in French-speaking Switzerland]. AB - Two prospective studies were performed in the medical services of two hospitals located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland to assess the prevalence of alcoholism and the comparative medico-social characteristics of alcoholic and nonalcoholic patients aged 18 to 75. Both investigations used the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, with a cut-off score of 5. The prevalence of alcoholism was similar in the two institutions (19.6 and 20.5%) and was much higher in males (30 to 32%) than in females (3 to 5%). Among alcoholics, the percentage of unmarried or divorced patients was higher than in nonalcoholics, as was the percentage of unemployed and subjects from lower socio-economic brackets. The most frequent type of alcohol-related disease was alcoholic liver disease, encountered in 25% of alcoholics in both services. Cigarette smoking was also much more frequent in alcoholics (60%) than in nonalcoholic patients (29%). The length of stay was 2 days longer for alcoholics in both hospitals, despite the lower mean age of these patients. PMID- 2609146 TI - [Mandibular fractures in childhood. Their incidence, classification and the therapeutic concept]. PMID- 2609147 TI - [The interdental bleeding index]. PMID- 2609148 TI - [Casuistics. Synoptic treatment planning (III)]. PMID- 2609150 TI - [An in-vitro method for determining the polishing effect of dental polishes]. PMID- 2609149 TI - [The future of the dental assistant profession]. PMID- 2609151 TI - Mercury concentrations in inland waters of gold-mining areas in Rondonia, Brazil. AB - Total mercury concentrations in water, sediments and fish from the gold-mining areas of Brazil, especially the Amazon region, are presented. Mercury concentrations were variable among rivers, with the highest values found in samples from tributary forest rivers. Concentrations in water samples varied between 0.1 and 8.6 micrograms l-1, while in bottom sediments they reached 19,800 micrograms kg-1. Concentrations in edible parts of locally consumed fish reached up to 2700 micrograms kg-1 wet wt, surpassing by almost five times the Brazilian advisory level for human consumption. PMID- 2609152 TI - Effects of cadmium on a microbial food chain, Chlamydomonas reinhardii and Tetrahymena vorax. AB - A steady-state microbial food chain consisting of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii and the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena vorax was established in a two stage, nitrogen-limited chemostat. The lowest concentration of cadmium which produced a toxic effect at the population level was between 7.5 and 10 micrograms l-1. The algal population acclimated to the presence of cadmium up to 40 micrograms l-1 added in increments over time, but demonstrated lowered cell numbers and reduced cell weights. Protozoan populations acclimated to 40 micrograms Cd l-1 added incrementally if the rate of dilution was lowered. Abrupt elevation of the cadmium concentration to 40 micrograms l-1 resulted in extreme fluctuations in the specific growth rates of both populations and the incipient loss of all cells from the system (washout). PMID- 2609153 TI - Whole lake addition of cadmium-109: radiotracer accumulation in the mussel population in the first season. AB - Cadmium with the radiotracer 109Cd was added to the epilimnion of Precambrian Shield Lake 382 in the Experimental Lakes Area, northwestern Ontario to monitor pathways of Cd from water to abiotic and biotic components, to quantify Cd accumulation and distribution in biota and to evaluate adverse biological and ecological effects. This experiment will permit evaluation of the adequacy of the water quality guidelines of 0.2 microgram Cd l-1 in protecting aquatic life in softwater lakes. As part of the whole-lake experiment, we monitored the activities of 109Cd in various body parts of the floater mussel Anodonta grandis grandis to determine accumulation and distribution of Cd. Additions of Cd from 23 June to the end of October 1987 (a total of 900 g Cd and 89 mCi of 109Cd) increased the total [Cd] in the water from 1.6 to about 85 ng l-1. Cadmium-109 was accumulated in body parts of the mussels, in increasing concentration: mantle less than foot less than gill less than visceral mass less than kidney. After 4 months exposure to the increased water [Cd], the mussels had increased body burden of Cd by an estimated 5-9 times. At the latter increase, the population of 7330 +/- 2100 mussels in the lake contained an estimated 0.011-0.020% of the added 109Cd. PMID- 2609155 TI - President's message. Pioneers of the past: architects of the future. PMID- 2609154 TI - Trace metals in a littoral foodweb: concentrations in organisms, sediment and water. AB - Cadmium, lead, zinc and copper concentrations were determined in 15 species of freshwater macro-invertebrates collected from a littoral foodweb. Indications of a biomagnification process, in which predators had a higher concentration than their prey, were only found in the case of zinc. Organisms with copper as an essential component of their haemolymph, such as Crustacaea, Gastropoda and Bivalvia, contained higher concentrations of that metal than other species. Another important factor in the determination of trace metal concentrations, apart from physiological equipment, was body weight, resulting in higher concentrations in smaller, and lower concentrations in larger, organisms. This seemed to be the case within populations of single species, as well as in different species of deposit feeders. Furthermore, feeding habit, proximity to the sediment and physico-chemical factors appeared to be determining factors for trace metal concentrations in macro-invertebrates. The results of this study are related to ecotoxicological theories which explain the causes of pollutant residues in organisms. It is concluded that various explanations for the differences in pollutant residues, e.g. trophic level, feeding habit, body weight, association with the substrate, physiological equipment and abiotic factors, are valid. PMID- 2609156 TI - Ethical and legal issues in providing care to the elderly. PMID- 2609157 TI - South Dakota survey on implementation of nursing diagnosis. PMID- 2609158 TI - [Indications, dangers and results of surgical treatment of humeral shaft fractures]. AB - A series of 78 fractures of the humeral shaft is presented that were treated operatively between 1978 and 1987. Open fractures, fractures with primary palsy of the radial nerve, distal fractures with an intraarticular component, fractures in polytraumatized patients and non-unions were absolute indications for operative stabilization in this series. In 71 fractures, internal stabilization was performed and in 7 fractures external fixation. In 16 fractures (20.6%), primary palsy of the radial nerve was present. In 10 patients (12.8%), radial nerve palsy appeared postoperatively. Nonunions and deep infections did not occur. In two cases, a second osteosynthesis was necessary after loosening of the implants. The humeral shaft fracture shows normal bony consolidation after conservative treatment as well as appropriate plate osteosynthesis. Nine of the 16 patients with primary radial nerve palsy (56.2%) and 6 of the 10 patients with secondary radial nerve palsy (60%) had total functional recovery. In our series, intraoperative palsy of the radial nerve was the most frequent complication after dissection of spiroid fractures in the middle or lower third of the humeral shaft. In this fracture form, a more unstable osteosynthesis, such as intramedullary pinning in accordance to Hackethal, should be chosen. PMID- 2609159 TI - [Technical errors and early complications of osteosynthesis of pertrochanteric femoral fractures using the dynamic hip screw]. AB - Within a period of 3 years, 198 patients with pertrochanteric fractures were operatively treated with implantation of the dynamic hip screw: 141 were female and 57 male (ratio of 2.5:1). The youngest patient was 27 and the oldest 100 years of age (average 74.4 years). Most preoperative failures in management were caused by insufficient reduction when no valgus of the femoral head and neck was achieved. Some patients had ulcers in the genital region because of forced reduction on the traction table, and in one of these cases plastic surgery was necessary. Intraoperative failures may occur because of too early removal of the guide pin, which should remain in the center of the femoral head until the screw is placed in the right position. Postoperative complications are caused by full weight bearing, which leads to varus and recurvation malposition. In 2 cases, deep wound infection occurred. The plate broke out in 3 cases, 2 of those required reoperation. Six patients between 61 to 84 years of age died in the early postoperative period during their stay in hospital. PMID- 2609160 TI - ["Prognostic" analysis of late results of trochanteric femoral osteotomy following post-traumatic malalignment]. AB - Post-traumatic axial malalignment of the lower limbs causes osteoarthrosis of the adjacent joints. Whether or not correction osteotomy is indicated depends upon the degree and the location of the deformity. Malalignment of the proximal femur should be corrected if the axis of the leg does not pass through the knee joint. If the axis is outside the central half of the tibial head, the indication for correction osteotomy is a relative one: varus deformities are more difficult to compensate and it is more urgent that these be corrected. Of 103 patients who underwent osteotomies of the proximal femur during the period 1973-1981, there were 73 in whom it was possible to follow up an average of 7 years after the realignment procedure. In nearly two-thirds of these patients the clinical symptoms noted before surgery had improved. In 10 cases of pseudarthrosis of the femoral neck, necrosis of the femoral head could not be avoided in spite of the surgical correction; nonetheless, the prognosis is better if the correction is done within the first 3 months after the trauma. PMID- 2609161 TI - [Arthroscopic semitendinosus-plasty with lateral extra-articular stabilization in anterior knee joint instability]. AB - Within the framework of a prospective study, 40 patients were examined postoperatively 12 months after their anterior cruciate ligament had been replaced by a doubled semitendinosus tendon arthroscopically combined with a lateral extra-articular procedure. "Second look" arthroscopy was possible in four cases. Evaluation was conducted according to the system of Muller and the Lysholm scoring system. According to the Muller system very good or good results were achieved in 97.5%; 95% of the patients achieved 91-100 points in the Lysholm scoring system. No substantial restrictions in the knee joint's range of movement were reported; there were also no other complications. The operative technique and the rehabilitation regimen are documented. PMID- 2609162 TI - [Conservative treatment of calcaneus fracture versus repositioning and percutaneous bore wire fixation. A comparison of 2 methods]. AB - From 1976 to 1985 we treated 236 patients with fractures of the calcaneum without additional injuries to the legs or pelvis. Among 129 patients, 22 female/107 male, with an average age of 50 and 42 years, respectively, we performed a total of 141 fractures of the calcaneum. The average post-traumatic follow-up was 6 years. For 62 fractures we performed conservative therapy with immobilization in plaster and for 79 fractures, reduction and percutaneous drill wire fixation. The fractures were classified according to Boehler, Watson Jones, and Essex Lopresti, and on the basis of the tuber joint angle (Boehler's angle). The resulting groups, however, were not homogeneously structured. Of 82 intraarticular fractures with fragment dislocation, 19 were treated conservatively and 63 surgically. Boehler's angle at trauma was 14 degrees in the conservative group and 2 degrees in the surgical group. The more severe types of fractures were thus treated by surgery. There were two Sudeck's dystrophies with conservative and three with surgical treatment. Inadequate surgical technique (drill wires extending greater than 2 mm over the bone and insufficient compression) led to the following complications: 10 drill wire perforations without subsequent complications, 8 drill wire migrations, 2 deep infections. In four patients drill wires had to be shortened, and in 1 patient drill wires had to be shortened, and in 1 patient drill wires were misplaced and had to be corrected. Surgically treated fractures were followed by arthrodesis in 2 patients, medialization of the lateral wall of the calcaneum in 1 patient, and peroneal tendon revision in 1 patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609163 TI - [Metachronous 2d fracture of the scaphoid bone of the hand]. AB - The case of a 18-year-old man is presented. Within 6 month he had two accidents, each of which was enough to cause a fracture of the scaphoid bone of the same hand at a different point. PMID- 2609165 TI - Diagnostic radiology today. PMID- 2609164 TI - Thermotoxicity of palacos cement. Clinical observation. AB - In total hip joint replacement with cemented prostheses, Palacos (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA) involves a high perioperative risk for the patient, on account of the effects on both the systemic and the pulmonary circulation. Data were assembled retrospectively from the records of 203 patients who underwent hip joint operation with Palacos implantation in the Inner City Surgical Clinic and the Surgical Polyclinic of the University of Munich from 1982 to 1986. In the hemiarthroplasty series, hemiarthroplasty was performed in 61% of patients in risk group III, whereas in the risk groups I and II it was done in 31% of cases. The mortality following hemiarthroplasty was greater than that following implantation of total prostheses in risk groups I and II. In risk groups II and III the mortality was 17% with surgery on the day of injury, lower, at only 10%, when the operation was performed on the day after injury, and markedly higher, at 31% and 38%, respectively, when surgery was postponed to the 2nd or 3rd day. It has been shown in burn research that the prostanoid levels in the plasma of untreated animals show a typical curve with two peaks, the first on the day of the injury and the second on the 3rd day after injury. Our observations support the assumption that the effect of trauma and surgical treatment are complementary. PMID- 2609166 TI - Graduate medical education in the United States. PMID- 2609167 TI - Heat stroke. PMID- 2609168 TI - Community acquired pneumonia. PMID- 2609169 TI - Acute septicaemic melioidosis. PMID- 2609170 TI - A retrospective study of community-acquired pneumonia in Hong Kong with special reference to the choice of antibiotics. AB - The records of patients admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital with a presumptive diagnosis of pneumonia over a one-year period were reviewed retrospectively. Forty-four patients fulfilled our diagnostic criteria for community-acquired pneumonia and were included in the survey. The initial choice of antibiotics was reasonably uniform: a penicillin in 75%; erythromycin in 9% and other antibiotics in 16%. Lack of clinical improvement resulted in a change of antibiotics in 15 patients (34%). Overall 23 patients (52%) responded to a penicillin, 12 patients (27%) responded to erythromycin, and 8 patients (18%) responded to other antibiotics. This suggests that the majority of the causative organisms were sensitive to penicillin, but a significant number of patients required drugs which were effective against 'atypical' and gram negative organisms. One elderly patient, who also suffered from severe chronic airflow obstruction, died after a grand mal seizure which might have been partly related to theophylline toxicity (Mortality 2%). The investigations performed confirmed or strongly suggested the identity of the causative organism in only 9 patients (21%), and had little or no influence in therapeutic decisions. Although empirical antibiotic treatment was reasonably successful, frequent changes were required, and the lack of firm data on the aetiology indicates that a detailed prospective study is needed. PMID- 2609171 TI - Elderly suicide in Singapore. AB - The suicide rate in Singapore has remained at 9-11 per 100,000 over the past decade. Comparing the age specific suicide rate, elderly people (60 years and above) have a much higher rate (21.3 per 1000,000) than the young (5 per 100,000). The data also indicate that elderly men are more prone to kill themselves than elderly women. Risk factors in elderly suicide and preventive measures are discussed. PMID- 2609172 TI - Stillbirths--ten years experience at Toa Payoh Hospital. AB - An analysis of 287 consecutive stillbirths associated with 47,171 deliveries in Toa Payoh Hospital between 1978 and 1987 was undertaken. The incidence of stillbirths was 6.1 +/- 1.26 per 1,000 total births. 149 out of 287 cases (51.9%) had known causes of death. Intrauterine anoxia and congenital malformations are the commonest diagnosis. In contrast, in 48.1% (138/287) of the stillbirths, we were unable to determine the underlying causes because of maceration and a low autopsy rate. Among the 287 stillborn infants, 54% were born prematurely, and 64.2% were born with birth weights of less than 2,500 g. 8.4% of the mothers had a past history of one to three abortions, and 5.6% of the mothers had a past history of one or more stilbirths. This study showed that the stillbirth rate in this hospital has not changed significantly in the last ten years. PMID- 2609173 TI - Significance of the tuberculin test in Singapore. AB - The standard tuberculin test used by all Singapore government hospitals and institutions is the intradermal Mantoux test using 1 TU of PPD RT23 with Tween 80, and read 72 hours later. There is almost 100% BCG coverage in Singapore children for many years, and therefore the tuberculin skin reaction must be interpreted with special consideration. Taking 8 mm and above as positive, six month old infants vaccinated at birth gave a positive rate of 42% and a mean reaction size of 5.89 mm. The reaction appeared to wane rapidly and among 6 year old school children the positive rate dropped to 12% and the mean size to 2.38 mm. By the age of 11 years, the children showed a positive rate of 36% and a mean size of 6.27 mm. A further increase is observed in 15 year old children, the positive rate being 88% and mean size 13.28 mm. Among tuberculosis contacts, the positive rate and mean size of the tuberculin reaction are generally higher, especially in the younger age groups. Tuberculosis patients above 15 years old were observed to be practically all positive reactors with a mean size of at least 16 mm. PMID- 2609174 TI - Endocervical chlamydial infection in female contacts of patients with nongonococcal urethritis. AB - Eighty-five female contacts of patients with nongonococcal urethritis attending Middle Road Hospital were examined. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from the cervix in 39% of them. Forty-five per cent of the chlamydia-positive patients were asymptomatic and 79% of them showed signs of a cervicitis. None of the patients developed complications. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was not isolated from any of the patients. Clinical markers other than cervicitis are not useful for detecting chlamydial infections in female contacts of NGU. Until such time when cheaper, more convenient and accurate methods of laboratory diagnosis of C. trachomatis are put to routine use, it would seem prudent to treat all female contacts of NGU patients after exclusion of other sexually transmitted diseases. PMID- 2609175 TI - Endocervical chlamydial infection in women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Singapore. AB - Two hundred women attending the sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic at Middle Road Hospital were investigated. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 32% of women who were contacts of men with nongonococcal urethritis, 15% of contacts of gonococcal urethritis, 27% of contacts of unspecified STD, and 13% of women without any history of STD in their sex partners. Overall, Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 17% of 200 women, Neisseria gonorrhoeae from 13% of 199 women, Candida albicans from 34% and Trichomonas vaginalis from 6% of 197 women. Three per cent of the patients had positive VDRL results. A history of bilateral lower abdominal pain and the presence of cervicitis were significantly associated with chlamydial infection. Forty one per cent of the 34 chlamydia positive women were asymptomatic. The results of this study show that C. trachomatis infection is more common than infection with N. gonorrhoeae in women who attend STD clinics. The need for routine screening and treatment on the basis of epidemiological and clinical markers of infection has to be carefully examined. PMID- 2609176 TI - Clinical efficacy of sulbactam/ampicillin in the treatment of moderately severe bacterial infections. AB - 20 patients with moderately severe bacterial infections were studied to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of parenteral sulbactam/ampicillin. There were 9 female and 11 male patients. Their mean age was 51 years. 8 patients had pneumonia, 5 urinary tract infection, 4 cellulitis of the leg and 3 had pustular tonsillitis. 85% of patients had resolution of fever and symptoms within 48 hours of commencing treatment. 95% had successful treatment outcome. The organisms isolated included E. Coli, Klebsiella sp, Branhamella catarrhalis and Bacillus species. In 2 patients, the organisms isolated demonstrated in-vitro ampicillin resistance. However, they recovered fully with sulbactam/ampicillin therapy. No adverse side-effects were reported and dosage adjustment was not required in the elderly. PMID- 2609177 TI - A retrospective study of the profile of ESN children seen at the Child Psychiatric Clinic. AB - A retrospective study of 50 cases of educationally subnormal children seen at the Child Psychiatric Clinic was done. Almost half of the referrals were initiated by schools, the majority being picked up at Primary 1. Forty-six percent of fathers and sixty percent of mothers had no more than primary education. Eighty-two percent of fathers had unskilled or semi-skilled jobs. Besides being below average in academic performance in school, these children also showed some behavioural problems like restlessness, disobedience, bullying, quarrelling or fighting with other children. They tended to be solitary, unresponsive, inert or apathetic, and were not much liked by others. Although all the children were referred and registered for special education, only half the number of parents accepted the offer for their children. PMID- 2609178 TI - Management of Flavobacterium meningitis in the neonates: experience with 18 consecutive cases. AB - 18 neonates with bacteriologically confirmed Flavobacterium meningitis and ventriculitis were treated with various antibiotic regimens, including the use of intraventricular antibiotics. During the course of treatment, four patients died. 8/14 patients developed progressive hydrocephalus which required insertion of ventriculo-peritoneal shunts. The remainder 6/14 patients had normal ventricles or only mild ventriculomegaly. 5/8 patients with progressive hydrocephalus and 5/6 patients with normal or mildly dilated ventricles were followed up for at least 24 months. 4/5 of the patients with progressive hydrocephalus had severe bilateral hearing loss and delayed milestones. All the 5 patients with normal or mildly dilated ventricles had normal hearing although 2 of them had gross motor delay due to spastic paraplegia. Patients with progressive hydrocephalus received effective antibiotic treatment more than 8 days after the onset of infection while those with normal or mildly dilated ventricles within 8 days of infection. Onset of ventricular dilatation was associated with ventriculitis. Daily ultrasound scanning of the ventricles in the early stage helped to determine the need for early instillation of intraventricular antibiotics. Combined use of intravenous rifampicin, moxalactam and piperacillin showed promise as an effective antibiotic regimen in treating patients with normal or mildly dilated ventricles. Once significant ventriculomegaly has occurred, concomitant intravenous and intraventricular administration of antibiotics, to which the organisms were sensitive, was necessary to eradicate the infection. PMID- 2609179 TI - The patient's right to know: some sociological considerations. AB - This is a discussion of the implications of "the right to know" from the perspective of the patient and the physician. Three aspects are explored: Some overlooked premises of the doctor-patient relationship; the assumed benefits of the patient's ignorance; and the link between the right to know and informed consent. PMID- 2609180 TI - Pseudomonas pseudomallei pneumonia with septicemia--case report. AB - A case of Pseudomonas pseudomallei pneumonia with septicemia is described. The onset was insidious with paucity of systemic symptoms except fever. Diabetes mellitus and alcoholism were associated problems. Initially blood cultures were negative but subsequently P. pseudomallei was isolated. The outcome was fatal. Unless diagnosed early and treated appropriately, patients often succumb to septicemic shock. PMID- 2609181 TI - Cardiomyopathy in pregnancy: 2 case reports. AB - Cardiomyopathy developed in the peripartum period in two healthy primigravida at 41 and 42 weeks of gestation are presented. In the first case, the patient presented with pulmonary oedema and had cardiac arrest immediately after admission. After resuscitation, a live baby was delivered by Caesarean section. Second cardiac arrest occurred after 12 hours of operation and the patient was resuscitated again. On the 8th post operative day, patient died of D.I.V.C. and renal failure. The second case was a twin pregnancy associated with pregnancy induced hypertension. Caesarean section was performed for foetal distress. She developed pulmonary oedema with left ventricular failure on the second post operative day, was resuscitated and discharged on the 15th day. These are the first two cases to be reported from Hospital University Sains Malaysia. Reference is made to three other cases in which a similar pathological process might have occurred. PMID- 2609182 TI - Mild haemolysis associated with flu-syndrome during daily rifampicin treatment--a case report. AB - We describe a woman with the 'flu' like syndrome and haemolysis whilst on a supervised daily rifampicin regimen for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Although these are known complications of rifampicin therapy, they often occur when therapy is intermittent or interrupted. Hence the case we describe is unique and is the first of its kind to be reported in Singapore. PMID- 2609183 TI - Primary malignant lymphoma of the cervix uteri: a case report. AB - Primary reticuloendothelial disease of the genital tract is an extremely rare condition. We encountered one such patient with diffuse large cell malignant lymphoma of the cervix uteri who presented with irregular vaginal bleeding. After complete haematological and radiological investigations, satisfactory treatment of the Stage I disease was achieved with total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo oophorectomy and post-operative pelvic irradiation. PMID- 2609184 TI - Vitamin B12 neuropathy in the absence of anaemia--case report. AB - A 70-year old man with neurological manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency in the absence of anaemia is reported. The clue to the correct diagnosis is a raised mean corpuscular volume. PMID- 2609185 TI - Adult Still's disease: a missed diagnosis. AB - Adult Still's disease is now a well recognised distinct clinical entity. Two cases of the disorder are presented to illustrate the protean nature of the syndrome. The literature is reviewed with regards to the diagnosis, management and complications of the condition. The need for the physician to be aware of this condition to avoid unnecessary investigations and delay in instituting effective therapy will be stressed. PMID- 2609186 TI - Re: Acromegaly and cerebrovascular accidents. PMID- 2609187 TI - Drugs causing sexual dysfunction and their alternatives: a reference tool. PMID- 2609188 TI - Purchasing a cysto table. PMID- 2609189 TI - Guide wire lubrication for ureteral stent placement. PMID- 2609190 TI - Quinlan prostatic biopsy technique. PMID- 2609191 TI - Automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy. AB - Lumbar spine disc disease has traditionally been treated surgically by laminectomy and manual removal of the offending disc material. Chymopapain was extensively used to decompress the disc pressure in a relatively noninvasive manner, but has been abandoned due to serious complications, including anaphylaxis and paraplegia. Onik introduced automated percutaneous discectomy in 1985. This procedure has proved safe and efficacious for treating lumbar disc disease without complications. It is performed on an out-patient basis under local anesthesia with minimal rehabilitation time. The success rate reported in a multiinstitutional study with one year follow-up is approximately 75%. The majority of failures occur in patients with free fragments or spinal stenosis - both of which can be diagnosed preoperatively with good imaging examinations. Hence, the success rate can be expected to improve if preoperative imaging is relied upon to help choose appropriate patients. Over 30,000 percutaneous discectomy procedures have been performed. The only complication reported, disc infection, developed in fewer than 0.2% of cases. Automated percutaneous discectomy has the potential to treat a vast number of patients with lumbar disc disease who otherwise would have laminectomies. PMID- 2609192 TI - Low field (0.02 T) magnetic resonance imaging of bone and soft tissue tumors. AB - Extremely low field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was evaluated in 16 patients with bone and soft tissue tumors, both benign and malignant. Twelve of the lesions were located in the lower extremity, 2 in the gluteal and 2 in the shoulder region. The findings were compared to the results of computed tomography (CT). Low signal-to-noise ratio and poor spatial resolution result in an image quality which is inferior to that obtained with MR imaging at higher field strengths. In spite of this, the diagnostic information seems to be at least comparable to that obtained from CT. PMID- 2609193 TI - Gadolinium-DTPA in rheumatoid arthritis and related diseases: first results with dynamic magnetic resonance imaging. AB - Thirty-four joints (19 knees, 15 wrists) of 31 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and related disorders were examined prior to and following intravenous administration of Gadolinium-DTPA (0.1 mmol/kg body weight). T1-weighted spin echo sequences and the gradient-echo technique FLASH were applied. FLASH scanning was used for the registration of the time-dependent changes of signal intensity following Gd-DTPA. Synovial proliferations exhibited a rapid and marked increase of signal intensity whereas fatty tissue, bone marrow, muscle and synovial effusion demonstrated only minor changes, causing enhanced contrast between synovial pannus and joint effusion or other neighbouring structures. Within the synovial pannus, ratios (absolute signal increase) of 131.3 +/- 53.4% and 122.9 +/- 51.1% were found in T1-weighted spin-echo and in FLASH sequences respectively. The average signal increase gradient of pannus (108.2 +/- 70.6%/min) was significantly (p less than 0.001) different from muscle (13.4 +/- 7.8%/min), fatty tissue (10.2 +/- 8.4%/min), bone marrow (5.5 +/- 7.1%/min), and joint effusion (14.7 +/- 7.8%/min). PMID- 2609194 TI - Case report 562: Giant cell reparative granuloma of temporal bone. PMID- 2609195 TI - Case report 579: Progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) with cervical cord compression syndrome, osteolysis and bilateral facet arthropathy. PMID- 2609196 TI - Case report 583: Elastofibroma dorsi. PMID- 2609197 TI - The construction of a social phenomenon: AIDS in the French press. AB - The analysis of articles about AIDS published from 1982 to 1986 in 6 national French dailies sheds light on how the 'AIDS social phenomenon' was constructed during this period. The press passed information about this new disease from the medical domain into the public sphere. As the press circulated AIDS news (information) among various groups and emphasized the rapid extension and catastrophic proportions of this unforeseen 'epidemic', AIDS became an issue around which social relations polarized. The processes at work during the four phases of the construction of this social phenomenon are described: naming, comparisons with past epidemics, popularization of medical knowledge and symbolic values attributed to it, competition over claims to discoveries and patents, discourses about the other (in particular, homosexuals). During each phase, a concept or fact related to progress in the medical sciences served as the basis for attempts to make a meaning out of this new disease. PMID- 2609198 TI - Comparisons between the self-assessed and observer-assessed presence and severity of colds. AB - The hypotheses that self-reported symptoms are a valid proxy for physicians' ratings, and that people with different social characteristics may vary in their recognition and evaluation of symptoms, were tested on volunteers attending the MRC Common Cold Unit. Eleven-hundred volunteers assessed the presence and severity of colds at the end of their stay at the unit, using the same two measures as a trained clinical observer (all ratings were double blind). On both measures there was an extremely high correlation between self- and observer assessments, a finding encouraging for those using self-reports in community surveys. Although this high level of agreement was found within all the age, sex, occupational class and marital status groups, men were significantly more likely than women to over-rate their symptoms in comparison with the clinical observer. No such differences in over-rating were found by age, class or marital status. This finding of a sex difference in the tendency to over-rate physical symptoms is of major significance to theories of illness behaviour, and is particularly convincing because it is based on a double-blind comparison between self-reports and assessments made by a doctor. PMID- 2609199 TI - National suicide and homicide rates: correlates versus predictors. AB - The present study explored correlates of national suicide and homicide rates in a sample of industrialized nations. A large set of social variables was factor analyzed and the factors were correlated with both suicide and homicide rates and with changes in these rates. Different social variables were found to correlate with rates of suicide than with rates of homicide, and different variables correlated with current rates of personal violence than with changes in these rates. PMID- 2609200 TI - The family's functioning with chronic illness in the mother: the spouse's perspective. AB - While previous research has studied the impact of chronic illness on the patient or spouse, the impact on the marriage, the child, the parent-child relationship, and the family's functioning have been relatively ignored. To date ther is no known study of the impact of a mother's chronic illness on the family. The purpose of the current exploratory study was to test a set of interrelated hypotheses about family functioning with the mother's chronic illness from the spouse's perspective based on a family systems perspective. Data were obtained from standardized questionnaires from 48 fathers with young school-age children whose wife had either breast cancer, diabetes, or fibrocystic breast disease. Results of a path analysis revealed that the number of illness demands the father experienced was a significant predictor of his level of depression. More demands resulted in higher depression scores. Marital adjustment was significantly affected by both the father's level of depression as well as by his wife's type of disease. Spouses of women with breast cancer had significantly higher levels of marital adjustment than did partners of the other women. More depressed spouses had lower levels of marital adjustment. Both illness demands and level of marital adjustment significantly predicted the type of coping behavior the family used. More frequent illness demands and higher levels of marital adjustment were associated with familial introspection, that is, coping behavior characterized by frequent feedback, reflection, and discussion in the family. The quality of the father-child relationship was significantly affected by this type of coping behavior. Families characterized as introspective had fathers who reported more frequent interchange with their children.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609201 TI - Medical and social predictors of longevity in the elderly: total predictive value and interdependence. AB - In the Dutch Longitudinal Study among the Elderly, a probability sample of 3149 persons from the population of the Netherlands, initial ages 65-99 years, was followed from 1955 for 28 years. Vital status was determined in 1983 for 84% of the original sample. Multivariate regression models were used to predict the realized probability of dying (RPD), a measure of longevity based on actual survival time, sex and age at baseline. Predictor variables included physical, mental and social indicators of health status. The total variance explained was 20.2%. Objective health (rated by the examining physician) showed the strongest relationship with the RPD. Upon removing objective health from the model, 19.5% of the variance remained explained. Separate analyses were performed for (1) bio medical, physical and mental examination variables, (2) disability and health care use variables, and (3) social and psychological variables; in each case the variance explained was over 11%, demonstrating considerable interdependence among predictors. Across different regression models, bio-medical and disability variables proved to be the most stable predictors of longevity. PMID- 2609202 TI - Is it any good? The evaluation of therapy by participants in a clinical trial. AB - Research into patients' perspectives on treatments, in concentrating on their compliance with medically prescribed regimens, have taken bio-medicine's evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and benefit for granted. This paper suggests that the clinical trial, the predominant method of evaluation, should become the object of research attention. Clinical trials of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for multiple sclerosis have failed to show any therapeutic benefit: people who themselves have the disease have however continued to employ it, arranging its delivery for themselves. This study focuses on the decision by a small number of participants in one such clinical trial whether or not to continue using the therapy afterwards. On the basis of in-depth interviews, concerning how the participants evaluated the therapy and came to their decision, it is suggested that at least in the case of this therapy and this condition, the assumptions inherent in the trial method, and its concept of genuine therapeutic benefit, structures the conclusions of the trial in a way that is profoundly at variance with the participants' own methodological assumptions and concept of benefit. Inter alia, the study challenges the view of patients as being inevitably driven by their disregard of proper scientific method to an unreasoning optimism in their assessments of possible treatments. PMID- 2609203 TI - Women's education and its influence on attitudes to aspects of child-care in a village community in Kerala. AB - In this study of 78 rural mothers of preschoolers in Trichur District, Kerala, India, the author attempts to measure the impact of 10 years of schooling on their attitudes to five important aspects of child-care which have been hypothesized to be key factors in improved child survival. The possible reasons for the important findings of (1) stronger positive attitudes towards traditional aspects of child-care such as breast-feeding, and weaker positive attitudes towards immunization, and (2) no significant difference between educated and less educated women in any of the areas tested, are discussed. The study also explores the question of whether the education of husbands is more important in producing positive attitudes in women than their own educational status, and finds evidence to show that this is so with respect to immunization. The reasons for this are discussed. PMID- 2609204 TI - AIDS and its metaphors. PMID- 2609205 TI - Blood meals of mosquito vectors of filariasis in Guizhou Province, China. AB - The blood meals of mosquito vectors of W. bancrofti and B. malayi were determined by performing CIEP of the eluant of crushed mosquitoes in filter paper against rabbit anti-human, cow and pig sera. The mosquitoes were collected from houses, cowsheds and pigpens in two counties in Guizhou Province. It was shown that all three species fed on blood from humans, cows and pigs with different preference. While An sinensis fed more on cows, Cx. fatigans and An. lesteri fed on the hosts that were nearby, i.e., Cx. fatigans caught from households fed more on humans, and those collected from cowsheds or pigpens fed more on cows and pigs, respectively. PMID- 2609206 TI - Diethylcarbamazine: inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase of Dirofilaria immitis and Brugia pahangi. AB - Anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) was studied. Acethylcholinesterase (AchE) of adult worms of Dirofilaria immitis, those of the 4th-stage larvae, early 5th-stage larvae and adults worms of Brugia pahangi, and that of hamster brain tissue were all inhibited by DEC. Michaelis constant (Km) of D. immitis and B. pahangi adult worm AchE were 1.47 x 10(-4) and 1.81 x 10(-4) M respectively. DEC was a competitive inhibitor of the filarial AchE. Inhibition constant (Ki) for AchE of D. immitis and B. pahangi adult worms were 2.56 x 10( 4) and 6.39 x 10(-4) M, respectively. DEC is a less potent anticholinesterase inhibitor, because Ki of DEC is 10(4) times higher than that of eserine, a potent anti-cholinesterase agent. PMID- 2609207 TI - Changes in complement C3 levels following treatment of patients with Brugia malayi infection. AB - Serum IgG levels and complement C3 levels were assayed on Day 0, 1, 3-4, 7 and 56 70 post-treatment with diethylcarbamizine citrate (DEC) in a series to 26 patients with Brugia malayi infection and 6 volunteers without infection. On treatment, the microfilariae were cleared from the blood within 24 hours. The eosinophils decreased dramatically on Day 1 post-treatment but increased rapidly by Day 4 to 7 and then dropped to normal levels in 45 days. The serum IgG mean levels decreased briefly following treatment with DEC but then returned to original levels. However, the complement C3 levels gradually increased over the 2 months period of study reaching statistical significance levels (p less than 0.01) in patients with initial high blood microfilariae. The observation suggests that Brugia malayi infection probably induces a high rate of synthesis of complement C3 and this process continued in the post-treatment phase. Since, DEC treatment did not cause a decrease in complement C3 with the elimination of blood microfilariae, it would appear that the complement C3 is consumed following antibody attachment to the microfilariae as they enter the blood circulation. PMID- 2609208 TI - Age-adjusted dengue haemorrhagic fever morbidity in Thailand 1983-1987. AB - Age-adjusted morbidity rates of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever in Thailand during the period 1983-1987 were analysed. The 1983 data were used as standard baseline rates. The age-adjusted rates showed increasing trend in the disease morbidity, i.e., 60.2, 138.2, 159.6, 55.2 and 344.7 (per 100,000 capita) respectively. These rates were consistently higher than the crude rates. The Standardised Morbidity Ratios (SMRs) as compared with the baseline 1983 were 1.00, 2.30, 2.65, 0.92 and 5.73 respectively. Regional comparisons revealed annual increases in Bangkok areas, other Central provinces, the North and the Northeast with fluctuations observed in the South. The epidemic was most of the time higher in the Central provinces other than Bangkok areas. The authors suggest that age-adjusted rates (or possibly sex) should be applied in the study of DHF morbidity data, since there were discrepancies in the age distribution among different regions of the country. PMID- 2609209 TI - Immune responses following killed whole vibrio-B subunit oral cholera vaccine in human volunteers. AB - Immunogenicity of killed whole vibrio and B subunit oral cholera vaccines in American and Thai volunteers were analysed in terms of significant rise of antibody titre. Three doses of 2 x 10(11) killed vibrios and 5 mg of cholera toxin B subunit were given at two-week intervals. There were no differences in the percent of volunteers with significant rise of serum immunoglobulin G and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) to cholera toxin. However, the percent with significant rises of serum antibody to whole cell V. cholerae Inaba measured by vibriocidal titre and serum immunoglobulin G, and secretory immunoglobulin A to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) measured by ELISA in American volunteers were significantly different from those in Thai volunteers (89% VS 45%, 68% VS 9% and 53% VS 0%, respectively) (p less than 0.05). PMID- 2609210 TI - Symptoms associated with diarrhoeal illness at San Lazaro Hospital, Manila in 1983 and 1984. AB - The clinical features associated with various agents of diarrhoeal disease were studied using 2,836 patients admitted to San Lazaro Hospital, Manila. Three general patient groups were considered including single pathogen isolations, "multiple pathogen" isolations, and "no pathogen" isolations. In general, symptoms of diarrhoeal illness were found to be non-specific. However, Shigella flexneri. Vibrio parahemolyticus, and rotavirus were significantly associated with a number of prominent symptoms and could sometimes be predictably diagnosed on clinical grounds, especially when age of the patient was considered. Clinical diagnosis cannot be considered an adequate substitute for laboratory methods; other enteric pathogens can sometimes present with the same symptoms. When appropriate laboratory testing is unavailable, as is often the case in developing countries, symptomatologic diagnosis may be of limited value for the organisms mentioned. PMID- 2609211 TI - Knowledge of diarrhea and socioeconomic factors in relation to the use of oral rehydration therapy in Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand. AB - A study to determine the association between the use of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) by mothers who had children under five years old with diarrhea and their knowledge of diarrhea was conducted in 19 health centers and a hospital at Muang District, Samut Songkhram Province. It was found that in general there was significant association between the use of ORT and mother's knowledge of diarrhea. This significant association was still evident after considering socioeconomic factors such as age, occupation, education and economic status. It was also noted that mothers with high knowledge of diarrhea gave ORT to their children under five with diarrhea two times more frequently than mothers with low knowledge of diarrhea. The present study confirms the impact of knowledge of diarrhea on the use of ORT. PMID- 2609212 TI - Repeated doses of albendazole against strongyloidiasis in Thai children. AB - Fifty children aged 5 to 12 years whose fecal examination confirmed of strongyloidiasis were divided into 2 groups. One group (Group I) of 26 received 400 mg albendazole once a day for 3 consecutive days. The other group (Group II) of 24 received the same dosage but repeated a week later. Simple smear fecal examination was performed for 3 consecutive days before treatment, and stool cultures were performed on Days 13, 14, 15 21, 22 and 23 after treatment. Evaluation of successful treatment or cure was based on the absence of larvae in 6 culture specimens. The cure rates were 80.8% in Group I and 91.7% in Group II (p = 0.18). Side effect consisted of mild and transient vomiting in one patient in each group. Although the difference in cure rates between the two drug regimens was not statistically different, two courses of treatment (Group II) resulted in a higher cure rate. PMID- 2609213 TI - Humoral immune response of Balb/c mice to larval and adult worm antigens of Angiostrongylus malaysiensis. AB - The development of Angiostrongylus malaysiensis in Balb/c mice and the humoral response due to it were studied by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with adult worm and L3 antigens. The worms recovered from mice were seen in the brain tissue only, they failed to migrate to the lung as in the normal host (rats). The antibody titres of sera from infected mice, showed similar patterns in response to L3 antigen and to adult worm antigen. However, the highest antibody response could be detected by L3 antigen in the early period after infection while the adult worm antigen detected a higher response in the later stages of development. PMID- 2609214 TI - First case of human Thelaziasis in Indonesia. AB - The thread-like worms removed from the right eye of a 10 month-old boy in North Sumatra were shown to be female Thelazia callipaeda, by the shape of the buccal capsule and the position of the vulva. This is the first report of human infection of Thelazia callipaeda in Indonesia. PMID- 2609215 TI - Oral lichenoid reactions during antimalarial prophylaxis with sulphadoxine pyrimethamine combination. AB - The prevalence of clinically observed oral lichenoid reaction in 186 Malay army personnel using Fansidar for 9 weeks was found to be 4.8%. The prevalence was found to be 0.5% in 186 army personnel who had stopped using Fansidar for 2 months and 0% in 143 army personnel (control group) who had not used Fansidar for at least 4 months. The lesion showed a higher prevalence for the gingiva. There was no correlation between cigarette smoking and the occurrence of these lesions in each group. PMID- 2609216 TI - Central nervous system leptospirosis in the Philippines. AB - One hundred hospitalized patients in Manila, Philippines with aseptic meningoencephalitis were screened for leptospirosis. On the basis of a microscopic agglutination titer of 1:1,600 or greater, the diagnosis was made in five cases, yet in no instance had leptospirosis been included in the differential diagnosis on admission to the hospital. Four of the five patients first noted neurologic symptoms during the second week of illness; two patients presented with encephalitis, two with meningitis and the fifth with hemiparesis. No case was complicated by renal dysfunction or jaundice. By the time of discharge from the hospital, two patients had recovered completely and the other three had markedly improved. Our data show that leptospirosis is an important but overlooked cause of aseptic meningoencephalitis in the Philippines. This is probably also the case in other parts of the tropics where Leptospira interrogans infection remains a significant public health problem. PMID- 2609217 TI - Comparative in vitro sensitivity to metronidazole of Trichomonas vaginalis with isolates and clones. AB - Isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis from a group of Thai women in Khon Kaen, Thailand were studies for their in vitro sensitivity to metronidazole. Forty-five isolates of T. vaginalis and further 226 laboratory clones of these isolates were examined for drug sensitivity under anaerobic conditions using the CPLM (Cysteine Peptone-Liver infusion Maltose) medium. The in vitro sensitivity of T. vaginalis to metronidazole, recorded as MLC values revealed highly variable sensitivity profiles Greater than 90% of the trichomonads studies were susceptible to relatively low concentrations of metronidazole in the range of 1-10 micrograms/ml. The remaining fraction of trichomonads, appeared to be less sensitive and required higher concentration of drug to attain the MLCs. The highest recorded MLC was 60 micrograms/ml. The geometric mean MLC of the 45 isolates was 7.99 micrograms/ml while that of The influence of the individual clones of subpopulations of T. vaginalis on the observed sensitivity of the isolate was also examined. A positive linear relationship was observed between the MLC of the isolated and the MLC of the least sensitive clone of the same isolate (p less than 0.05). This suggests that the most resistant clone present within an isolate of T. vaginalis plays an important role in determining the overall drug sensitivity of the isolate. PMID- 2609218 TI - Afebrile pneumonia associated with chlamydial infection in infants less than 6 months of age: initial results of a three year prospective study. AB - During the year 1986-1988, 112 infants younger than 6 months of age with the diagnosis of afebrile pneumonia were studied at Chulalongkorn Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Thirty cases (26.78%) were caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. The clinical and laboratory findings which differed significantly from pneumonia caused by other organisms included longer duration of symptoms (greater than 1 week), younger age of onset (less than 12 weeks), history of conjunctivitis after birth, no wheezing detected, white blood cell count greater than or equal to 10,000 cells/microliters with eosinophilic count greater than or equal to 300 cells/microliters and reticulonodular infiltration on the chest x-ray. PMID- 2609219 TI - Demonstration of species-specific antigens of Gnathostoma spinigerum, a preliminary attempt. AB - An attempt was made to demonstrate the presence of species-specific antigens for Gnathostoma spinigerum advanced third-stage larvae (GsAL3) in a rabbit receiving weekly immunization with GsAL3 for seven weeks. The homologous and heterologous antibodies against GsAL3 and G. doloresi adult worm (Gd) antigens were initially detected by immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) and ELISA after the second immunization, and their levels were gradually increased with the number of immunizations. Though cross-reactivity between GsAL3 and Gd were shown with both tests, species specific antibodies for the homologous antigens were demonstrated. After cross absorption of rabbit hyperimmune serum was collected after the seventh immunization, seven 'putative' species-specific precipitin bands of GsAL3 were identified. The ELISA values of the rabbit hyperimmune serum showed 50% inhibition after absorption with 0.7 micrograms/ml of homologous GsAL3 antigens as opposed to 1.0 micrograms/ml of the heterologous Gd antigens. PMID- 2609220 TI - Tabanus species and their distribution in Thailand (Diptera: Tabanidae). AB - Surveys of Tabanus in Thailand were carried out in 1975 and 1978. After examination and identification in detail, twenty species were identified. It is concluded that the physiography, agricultural pattern are such that the Thai Tabanus species are concentrated in the north and northeastern parts of Thailand. As a whole, it appears that only Tabanus belonging to the tribe Tabanini are of medical and veterinary importance in Thailand. PMID- 2609221 TI - [Integrity of the death records and problems of information transcription in 8 states of the Mexican Republic]. AB - This paper states some of the main problems associated with the collection and processing of the information about deaths in Mexico. The results reported are in relation to the integrity and transcription problems found in 23 municipalities of eight states of the Republic of Mexico. The main results were: lack of continuity in the flow of information; different criteria in the handling of the several existing formats; incomplete documentation (medical death certificates, official registration and special concentration forms 823-824) in 39 percent, with a variation range of 2 to 72 percent depending of the particular degree of development in each state or county; the forms used to make up the national death statistics (forms 823-824) were not found in 21.5 percent of the cases, and transcription problems of the main variables (age, sex and cause of death), using as common denominator (total deaths) those registered at least in 2 documents, occurred in 26 percent of the age registers, 22.4 percent in the case of sex, and 51.6 percent in the cause of death variable. PMID- 2609222 TI - [Years of potential life lost in Mexico. Applications in the planning of health services]. AB - During health care services planning, rational and coherent information is required in order to allocate resources in accordance with local relative need. In an attempt to recognize the national condition, Stone's method was used. This is a semi-quantitative method for analysing the relationship between health care resources and need. Years of potential life lost index was used for need assessment among the states, and confronted to its Federal Public Health Investment. The optimum resource/need ratio is regarded as that pertaining to the reference population, the nation as a whole. Deviation from the optimum ratio in the states is interpreted as a manifestation of inequitable resource distribution. The results show striking differences in needs and resources. Resource/need ratio varied from 0.21 in Oaxaca to 3.79 in Distrito Federal. The states least favoured in resource sharing were Oaxaca, Puebla, Hidalgo and Mexico. On the other hand, Tamaulipas, Baja California Sur, Quintana Roo and Distrito Federal exceeded the optimum. These indexes permit a quantitative expression of the relationship between need and resources in order to reach geographical equity. PMID- 2609223 TI - [Years of potential life lost: their usefulness in the analysis of mortality in Mexico]. AB - The evolution of the epidemiology of mortality in developing countries requires the use of indicators additional to cause specific mortality rates. This paper presents the leading causes of potential years of life lost in Mexico in 1983, by sex. Methodologic discussion focused on age limits and relative numbers. The indicator proved useful to assess the impact of infectious diseases, accidents and homicides as causes of premature death. It was also useful to identify years of potential life lost attributable to specific age and sex groups. The use of years of potential life lost provides valuable information to epidemiologic mortality analysis. PMID- 2609224 TI - [Factors associated with the blood levels of lead in residents of Mexico City]. AB - A study aimed at detecting risk factors for high blood lead levels in Mexico City inhabitants, undertaken at the local National Institute of Public Health, is described. Measurements of blood lead levels for a sample of 300 civil servants were related to several potential risk factors. The statistical analysis was based on analysis of variance and logistic regression. The results of the analysis seem to suggest differences in blood levels by sex, zone of residence, hours of transportation and eating habits, such as the consumption of canned meals and the use of "earthenware dishes" in the preparation of meals. The nature of the study is exploratory, but it seems to suggest directions of research in the complex problem of lead levels in people of polluted cities. PMID- 2609225 TI - [Pattern of solvent consumption and neuropsychological damage associated with their use]. AB - Results of research comparing the Deficit Index (d.i.) of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery (HRN-B) and the Deterioration Index (DI) of the Weschler's scale (WAIS) are presented. The tests were applied to obtain a neuropsychological evaluation of two groups: chronic solvent-users and non-users. The subjects were from a marginal community and were observed during one year. They were evaluated at the beginning and end of the year on patterns of consumption and cognitive damage. The results showed that during the year of the study: 58 percent of users abandoned drug use; 33 percent changed to occasional consumption and 8.3 percent maintained their consumption pattern 58 percent non users continued a non-consumption pattern and 41 percent began experimental consumption. In relation to these results, users changed their cognitive performance from "moderate damage" to "light damage", according to the Deficit Index (HRN-B); non-users remained in this last level. In relation to the Deterioration Index (WAIS), this was invalidated in the first evaluation. In the second, users obtained "clinical significance" and non-users "suspect damage". In conclusion, Deficit Index (HRN-B) data showed more consistent changes in consumption patterns than Deterioration Index (WAIS). These results are discussed in terms of changes in patterns of consumption and other variables. PMID- 2609226 TI - [Paid blood donors: a new risk group for the development of AIDS in Mexico]. AB - We analyzed the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of seven patients with AIDS who were infected through contaminated needles or blood letting equipment; no other risk factor was identified in these patients. In the Direccion de Epidemiologia de los Servicios Coordinados de la Salud in the state of Puebla, 37 cases of AIDS were registered up to June 15, 1988. Nineteen percent of these were paid donors between the ages of 26 and 45. There were five males and two females. All of them had weight loss, fever, chronic diarrhea and adenomegaly. Six had respiratory complaints, four candidiasis and two pulmonary tuberculosis. In the state of Puebla, there are 517 paid donors registered as carriers of Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV). We do not know the number of blood donations and therefore the number of receptors. In this state, 52 percent of AIDS cases are post-transfusional and we fear an increase. We propose that all paid blood donors should be considered as a high risk group. PMID- 2609227 TI - [Sporadic trichinosis]. AB - A retrospective analysis was carried out to disclose the clinical and laboratory characteristics of 13 cases with sporadic trichinosis, proved by muscle biopsy at the "Salvador Zubiran" National Nutrition Institute and studied between 1977 and 1986. The number of cases per year was one or two with an increase to five in 1986. None of this patients showed a direct correlation between the type of diet or a specific area of the city. The clinical symptoms and physical findings were similar to those described previously for trichinosis, regardless of the clinical setting. In 69.1 percent of the cases the diagnosis was suspected based on clinical and physical data, and 84.6 percent had blood eosinophilia. Muscle biopsy was taken due to predominant muscular symptoms (92.3%) and this method was the most useful test to establish a specific diagnosis; no correlation was found between the number of larvae or cyst and the clinical symptoms. Thiabendazole and/or prednisone was administered and resulted in apparent improvement of the myopathy and blood eosinophilia during the follow-up (x: 7 months). A discussion is presented in relation to the usefulness of the muscle biopsy when a lack of specific enzyme tests exists; we emphasize the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings to suspect this zoonosis when a multisystemic inflammatory disease with striking myopathy is detected. PMID- 2609228 TI - [Toxoplasmosis and abortion in patients at the O'Horan Hospital of Merida, Yucatan]. AB - The relationship between abortion and infection by Toxoplasma gondii was analyzed in 100 cases of spontaneous abortions, 51 of which corresponded to single abortions and 49 to cases with a history of repeated abortions. The Sabin-Feldman test was used for the detection of specific antibodies. Parasites were identified and isolated in the aborted material; sections were stained by Hematoxilin-Eosin, processed for indirect immunofluorescence and inoculated into mice. Antibodies to Toxoplasma were detected in 47 percent of the total study population. Positive identification of parasites in the decidua and corionic villae was established in 2 percent of the patients studied. Parasites could only be isolated in one of these patients. Both cases belonged to the group with positive serology and antibody titers of 1:64 and 1:128, and having experienced a single abortion. There was no significant statistical difference with regard to antibody titers between the single abortion and repeated abortion groups. Our results indicate an important causative relationship between toxoplasmosis and abortions in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. PMID- 2609229 TI - [Several clinico-epidemiologic aspects of diabetes mellitus]. AB - A representative sample of 80 diabetic patients was studied at a First Lovel Unity of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) in Guadalajara, Mexico. 60 percent were women, 95.5 percent were non-dependent on insulin, in 67 percent the illness had less than ten years of evolution, 37 percent reported family history of diabetes, and 61 percent had over-weight problems. With regard to socioeconomic characteristics, 45 percent were working-class people, and 41 percent were housewives; 58 percent had elementary studies. From a clinical viewpoint, the most frequent complication was neuropathy; 38 percent had blood glucose under 150 ml per 100 cc. Basic information about their illness had been given to 33 percent of the patients; 17 percent followed a diet regularly, 22 percent controlled their illness by themselves, 79 percent used sulfanil-urea as medication, 53.7 percent had between two and nine visits to the doctor a year and one or two laboratory exams in the same period. This profile permits the characterization of diabetes as a social illness in our medium, as well as the development of some strategies for its care. PMID- 2609230 TI - [Evaluation of social functioning in patients at a health center]. AB - The Social Functioning Scale (SFS) is described, together with its rationale and development. The instrument consists of 35 items, and was administered to a sample of 320 adult patients of a health center. Social functioning is assessed in a semistructured, 30 minute interview. The patient reports the level of satisfaction related to his/her role performance in five major areas: occupational, social relationships, economic, marital and familiar. Reliability and validity have been established for the SFS. The reliability coefficients for all areas were over 0.80 (p = 0.01). A varimax factor analysis was applied and five factors emerged for the construct validity. This accounted for 52 percent of the total variance. The use of the SFS is recommended since its validity and reliability have been demonstrated. The instrument could be useful for Mexico, and also for other Spanish speaking countries. PMID- 2609231 TI - [Chronology of dental eruption in school children]. AB - The objective of this survey was to establish chronological patterns of eruption of permanent teeth in school children of the Los Reyes la Paz municipality in the State of Mexico. We examined 484 children -242 males and 242 females-between ages 5 and 15, who were attending government schools. A random stratified sample by age and sex was used for the survey. The dental examinations were carried out utilizing oral mirrors and daylight. The data collected was: age, sex, school name, group, school grade, date and permanent teeth already erupted at the moment of the examination. The mean age and range of permanent teeth erupted were determined and the results were presented in tables by sex and age. Results of permanent dental eruption were compared between sexes and they showed statistically significant differences (P less than 0.05), in 86 percent of the examined teeth. Earlier eruption was found more frequently in females than in males. We observed that lower teeth erupt before upper teeth, and that the first permanent tooth that appears in the mouth is the first lower molar. PMID- 2609232 TI - [Analysis of health policies, a new field?]. AB - Health policies are discussed within the framework of State Programs, reviewing its origins as a field of study in the United States, Latin America and Europe. The efforts to develop research and teaching in this area in Mexico are analyzed. A definition of health policies is proposed, as "the set of decisions, actions, and omissions that reflect, in a given time and place, the State's position on the health problems of the population". The difference between "policies" and "politics" is discussed, and the development of public policies is briefly reviewed. The reasons for including this area of study in the Master's degree in a public health curriculum are given. PMID- 2609233 TI - The value of magnetic resonance imaging in the staging of musculoskeletal tumours. AB - In view of the changes that are occurring in the management of musculoskeletal tumours and the importance of precise pre-operative staging, a study to determine the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a modality for this purpose was undertaken. Sixty-four patients were examined and 70 MRI examinations were carried out. Fifteen cases were found to be benign and 49 malignant. As a result of the accuracy of these MRI examinations and their remarkable similarity with the pathological specimens, which was shown to be statistically significant (P less than 0,005), we propose a modification to the sequence of the diagnostic staging modalities for musculoskeletal tumours. PMID- 2609234 TI - Compound injury from high-voltage electricity. AB - When dealing with injury from high-voltage electricity, it must be realised that a crush injury is a more appropriate term than a burn injury. The eventual usefulness of the arm and/or hand should be weighed against the necessarily very intensive surgical treatment of the limb. This evaluation should be done during the initial stages, since it will influence early management. The treatment should therefore be aggressive and should be focused on a high renal output as well as an extensive debridement, which may include amputation at an early stage. Six recent cases, demonstrating this approach, are reported. PMID- 2609235 TI - Guidelines for the treatment of urethral strictures. AB - Over a period of 12 years 467 patients with urethral stricture were treated surgically at Tygerberg Hospital. The following surgical guidelines were developed: visual cold-knife urethrotomy should be the first line of treatment; urethroplasty is indicated when urethrotomy fails or is unfeasible; the urethroplasty of choice should be a single-stage operation; and staged procedures should be reserved for complicated cases. PMID- 2609236 TI - Giant submandibular calculus. A case report. AB - A case of giant mandibular calculus, 6.5 X 5.5 cm, is presented. The management of this condition is reviewed and an explanation offered for the occurrence of these calculi. PMID- 2609237 TI - Cricotracheal separation in blunt neck injury--the sign of hyoid bone elevation. A case report. AB - A case of a 23-year-old man who sustained a traumatic cricotracheal separation after a closed neck injury is reported. Hyoid bone elevation above the level of the superior surface of the body of the third cervical vertebra was present on lateral cervical radiography. The importance of the recognition of this sign is discussed. PMID- 2609238 TI - Thyroid carcinosarcoma. A case report. AB - A thyroid carcinosarcoma--a rare neoplasm of the thyroid gland--in an elderly woman is described. On histological examination the tumour showed the characteristic biphasic pattern of follicular carcinoma and mesenchymal differentiation with a chondrosarcomatous component and osseous metaplasia. The clinical features and details of the histopathological and immunohistological examinations of this tumour are reported. PMID- 2609239 TI - Metabolic effects of prostaglandin E1 on human skeletal muscle with special regard to the amino acid metabolism. AB - The influence of intra-arterial (i.a.) prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on the metabolism of amino acids, glucose and free fatty acids in healthy volunteers was determined by means of the forearm technique. The continuous increase of perfusion from baseline 2.9 +/- 0.1 ml/100 g x min to 5.4 +/- 1.5 after 60 minutes of PGE1 infusion, indicates an increase of basal glucose utilisation from 0.51 +/- 0.11 to 2.5 +/- 0.36 mumol/100 g x min via and additional raised glucose extraction rate. Furthermore, PGE1 resulted in a cessation of the basal muscular glycerol production and led to a change from a basal production of free fatty acids to a net absorption into the muscle. This change from an oxidation of free fatty acids to glucose results in an improved energetic gain of 0.72 mol ATP/mol 02. Baseline values showed a release of most amino acids which, after PGE1 decreased significantly or even changed to an intake. The overall balance of all amino acids changed from baseline -27.9 (i.e. release) to +33.2 nmol/100 x min (i.e. intake). This indicates an inhibition of muscular proteolyses and/or a stimulation of protein synthesis under i.a. PGE1. This additional metabolic effect of PGE1 might be an explanation as to why agents with purely vasodilating actions did not prove therapeutically effective in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease in the past. PMID- 2609240 TI - Therapeutic efficacy of intravenously applied prostaglandin E1. AB - The pharmacological effects of intravenous PGE1 on the macro- and microcirculation were investigated in two independent studies. In the first study 10 healthy subjects were given one i.v. infusion of 2 and 3 ampoules of Prostavasin (40/60 mcg PGE1) respectively, each over 1 hour with at least 1 day wash-out phase. Before as well as 20', 30', 40', 60' and 90 min after the infusion had started measurements of the blood flow in the A. femoralis communis were performed by the means of a Doppler ultrasound technique combined with a computer program (Mavis). Furthermore, tcPO2, heart rate and blood pressure as well as possible adverse reactions were registered. In the second study 10 patients with PAOD stage IIb (mean age: 49.5 years) received one i.v. infusion of 1, 2 and 3 ampoules of Prostavasin (20, 40, 60 mcg PGE1) respectively, in 250 ml saline over 1 hour with at least 1 day wash-out phase. Before as well as 20', 40', 60', 120' and 180 min after the infusion had started, the arterial blood flow was recorded with the method described above. TcPO2, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation, blood pressures and heart rate just as possible side effects were also registered. All PGE1 regimens induced a significant dose dependent increase in the femoral blood flow with a maximum of 68% after 40 mcg of PGE1 and 79% after 60 mcg of PGE1 in healthy subjects and a maximum of 60% after 20 mcg of PGE1, 128% after 40 mcg of PGE1 and 161% after 60 mcg of PGE1 in the patients with pAOD (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609241 TI - Effects of regular physical training in a supervised class and additional intravenous prostaglandin E1 and naftidrofuryl infusion therapy in patients with intermittent claudication--a controlled study. AB - The aim of this study was to investigate if PGE1 i.v.-therapy after active physical training further increases the walking distance in PAOD stage IIb according to Fontaine. 48 outpatients with intermittent claudication underwent a standardized active walking training of about 6 months twice weekly. Afterwards patients were randomly given once daily an i.v. infusion of 60 micrograms PGE1 (3 ampoules prostavasin) or 600 mg naftidrofuryl. The therapy lasted for 3 weeks with the exception of Saturdays and Sundays. Besides laboratory and doppler parameters, painfree and maximum walking distance (treadmill, 10% incline, 3.5 km/h) were determined. RESULTS: Under active physical training the patients' walking distance increased significantly to more than double the baseline levels. Further significant increase of the painfree walking distance was seen after a 3 week treatment with PGE1 from 136 to 270 m (99%) as well as with naftidrofuryl from 117 to 230 m (97%). While this difference was not significant there was a significant difference in favour to PGE1 after the follow-up period (p less than 0.01). In the PGE1-group the painfree walking distance showed a further increase (from 270m to 306m) whereas it decreased in the naftidrofuryl-group (from 230m to 210m). At the same time under PGE1 the ankle/arm index increased significantly in comparison to naftidrofuryl (p less than 0.01). Side effects differed significantly in respect of the frequency and severity. In the PGE1-group in 20.8% of the patients side effects occurred, whereas in 91.6% of the patients in the naftidrofuryl-group side effects were observed. In no case therapy had to be discontinued because of side effects. PMID- 2609242 TI - Efficacy and tolerability of intra-arterial and intravenous prostaglandin E1 infusions in occlusive arterial disease stage III/IV. AB - The efficacy and tolerability of intra-arterial and intravenous PGE1 infusions in patients with occlusive arterial disease [OAD] were studied in two independent multicentre therapeutic trials. In the first study 218 patients with OAD stage III/IV were given an i.a. infusion of 1/2 to 1 ampoule of Prostavasin (10-20 micrograms PGE1) in 50 ml physiological saline solution, once a day. 211 patients took part in the second study. Patients in stage III received one i.v. infusion of 3 ampoules Prostavasin (60 micrograms PGE1) once daily, and patients in stage IV received one i.v. infusion of 2 ampoules Prostavasin (40 micrograms PGE1) twice daily, in 100-250 ml physiological saline solution. In both studies the treatment period was 4 weeks. Both i.a. and i.v. administration afforded a significant improvement in the clinical symptoms. Ulcers healed completely in 18.6% of patients under i.a. treatment (i.v.: 10.7%) and partially healed in 38.9% (i.v.: 51.1%). 50% of the patients became pain-free in the course of i.a. treatment (i.v.: 47.7%) and, at the end of the study, 61.5% no longer required analgesics (i.v.: 48.6%). Stratification of the patients into diabetics and non diabetics showed that in the main the therapeutic response in diabetic patients was as good as in non-diabetics, allowing for the fact that the clinical pictures were usually distinctly more severe in the diabetic patients. The adverse drug reactions were, predominantly, familiar symptoms such as redness, swelling and pain in the infused extremity and phlebitis-like redness along the course of the infused vein, gastro-intestinal symptoms and headache. PMID- 2609243 TI - Prostaglandin E1 in vascular disease. Symposium of the International Union of Angiology, 15th World Congress. Rome, 19th September 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2609244 TI - Intracavernous self-injection of prostaglandin E1 in the therapy of erectile dysfunction. AB - The efficacy of intracavernous autoinjection therapy with prostaglandin E1 was investigated over a period of up to six months in 187 patients with long-term erectile dysfunction. All patients had to undergo an investigation program consisting of routine laboratory tests, directional doppler sonography of the penile arteries, measurements of the BCR-latencies, as well as intracuvernum drug testing with PGE1. Six months follow-up results are available so far in 115 patients. The mean injection dose was 13.5 mcg PGE1 at the beginning of therapy and 12.8 mcg PGE1 at the end of therapy. An average of 24 prostaglandin E1 injections per patient was given. In 16.6% of the 187 patients slight to moderate pain occurred at the injection site, not influencing sexual intercourse. No priapisms lasting more than six hours were observed. A significant improvement of the blood flow in the deep and dorsal penile arteries was shown by penile doppler sonography after 6 months treatment. The efficacy and tolerability of the therapy were designated as very good to good in 91% respectively in 98% of the patients. 94% of the patients would like to continue the therapy. The results indicate that PGE1 due to its erectile potency and great tolerability will occupy an important position in the therapy of the erectile dysfunction. PMID- 2609245 TI - Experience with PGE1 in patients with postoperative trashfoot. AB - Within a 16 years observation period a trash phenomenon was seen in 15 patients. In 13 of these patients it occurred as a postoperative complication of a surgical intervention for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. In 2 cases an aortobifemoral bypass had become necessary because of an underlying AOD. In addition to the standard therapy with heparin 8 patients were intravenously given 2 ampoules of Prostavasin (60 mcg of PGE1) twice daily. All patients survived, and only in 1 case a thigh amputation was unavoidable. Apart from the heparinization, the 7 patients of the control group had received i.v. administrations of vaso-active drugs (naftidrofuryl, pentoxifylline) and hemodilution. 3 patients died within the first three postoperative days, one of them after a thigh amputation. A further patient suffered the loss of both lower legs, but survived and recovered completely as did 3 patients who did not require amputation. Though these results cannot claim the significance of a randomized controlled study they indicate that PGE1 may act favourably in the treatment of the trash syndrome. PMID- 2609246 TI - Hysterectomy: past, present and future. PMID- 2609247 TI - Cesarean section in America: dramatic trends, 1970 to 1987. PMID- 2609248 TI - Diabetes mortality update. PMID- 2609249 TI - Profile of young Americans. PMID- 2609250 TI - Synaptic substrates for enkephalinergic and serotoninergic interactions with dental primary afferent terminals in trigeminal subnucleus interpolaris: an immunocytochemical study using peroxidase and colloidal gold. AB - Pain processing in the trigeminal complex has been thought to reside primarily in the spinal subnucleus caudalis (Vc). However, trigeminal tractotomies eliminating primary afferent input to Vc and severance of secondary trigemino-thalamic fibers from Vc do not disturb pain perception from the central face and oral cavity. Furthermore, large numbers of neurons that are highly responsive to noxious stimuli and suppressed by inputs from the periaqueductal gray and raphe complex have been identified in subnuclei interpolaris (Vi) and oralis (Vo). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the distribution and spatial arrangements of nociceptive modulatory transmitters with nociceptive afferents and trigemino thalamic relay cells in the rostral portion of the spinal trigeminal nuclear complex. The dental pulp contains predominantly nociceptors that project to all three subdivisions of the trigeminal spinal complex. These projections were visualized by anterograde transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase or by degeneration following administration of toxic ricin to the pulp chambers. The spatial arrangements of dental primary afferents with enkephalinergic (ENK) and serotoninergic (5HT) inputs was then assessed by employing avidin-biotin peroxidase and protein-A colloidal gold double-labeling immunocytochemistry. Trigemino-thalamic relay cells were also labeled by retrograde transport of HRP after stereotaxic injections into the ventrobasal thalamus. ENK and 5HT immunoreactivity was found in the ventrolateral quadrant and lateral margin of Vi, together with the adjacent interstitial nucleus (IN). This activity extended from the caudal pole of Vi and the periobex region, where it was most dense, rostrally to a position approximately 2.9 mm from the Obex. Neither ENK nor 5HT immunoreactivity was observed in Vo. Primary dental afferents projected into the ventromedial quadrant of rostral Vi and were found in the ventrolateral quadrant and dorsal aspect of the subnucleus farther caudally. They appeared as simple boutons with single contacts or as larger, sometimes scalloped terminals that formed multiple contacts. Postsynaptic elements were usually small dendritic profiles, although relay cell somata rarely received primary afferent inputs. Many primary afferents entered areas of synaptic clustering and contacted enkephalinergic dendrites, some of which were also postsynaptic to serotoninergic synapses. Alternatively, primary afferents contacted unlabeled processes that were also postsynaptic to the enkephalinergic element to form a triad arrangement. The least common occurrence was axo-axonic contacts in which enkephalinergic synapses were presynaptic to primary afferents. Both enkephalinergic and serotoninergic synaptic categories displayed round vesicles and generally formed asymmetric junctions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2609251 TI - Structural alterations of dendritic spines induced by neural degeneration of their presynaptic afferents. AB - Morphological parameters were compared for dendritic spines of spiny stellate neurons in layer IV of the barrel region of mouse somatosensory cortex, which synapse with degenerated thalamocortical afferents (TC spines) and with intact, unidentified axon terminals (UI spines). Spiny stellate neurons were labeled for light and electron microscopic identification by Golgi impregnation and gold toning. Dendritic spines were examined in series of thin sections, and TC spines were ultrastructurally detectable because of the degeneration-induced characteristic appearance of the TC axon terminals. Results show that the means of the width of the spine head and of the length of the spine stalk were significantly higher in TC spines than in UI spines by about 11 and 25%, respectively. The variability of these two morphological parameters was significantly lower for TC spines. The mean of the spine stalk width at the narrowest cross section of the stalk was about 0.12 microns, with no significant difference observed between the two spine groups. No specific relationship was found in either the TC or the UI groups of spines between the length of the spine stalk and the width of the spine stalk at its narrowest profile. As structural features typifying transneuronal degeneration were not observed along the dendritic spines examined, it is speculated that the morphological differences encountered between the TC and UI spines may result, at least in part, from the degeneration-induced synaptic inactivity of the TC axospinous synapses, rather than exclusively from any direct effects of the degeneration process. PMID- 2609252 TI - Dye-coupling in the neostriatum of the rat: II. Decreased coupling between neurons during development. AB - Physiological and morphological evidence for coupling between neostriatal neurons was obtained from the developing rat. Intracellular injections of Lucifer Yellow CH (LY) were made in rat neostriatal slices to study dye transfer (coupling) between neurons. The incidence of interneuronal coupling was 70% in early postnatal (P) periods and declined gradually to 10% in the adult. The number of neurons filled by a single intracellular injection also declined with age. LY injection into single neurons commonly marked aggregates of 4 to 6 cells in neonates. Single injections never produced more than one coupled pair in P20 or older rats. Neurons in which fast prepotentials (FPPs) could be evoked were consistently found to be dye-coupled. FPPs were resistant to collision with action potentials generated by intracellular current injection. When chemical synaptic transmission was blocked Mn2+, short-latency depolarizations (SLDs) could be evoked by extracellular stimulation. The SLDs were distinguished from chemical synaptic potentials by their "all or none" nature and by their insensitivity to changes in membrane potential. No SLDs were observed in adult neurons. FPPs and SLDs may be indicators of electronic transmission between coupled cells. The high incidence of coupling early in development might reflect intercellular communication that contributes to the differentiation and growth of neostriatal neurons. PMID- 2609253 TI - [The modern surgical possibilities in treating cardiac arrhythmias]. AB - Analysis is made of the current methods of the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias. Special attention is paid to indications and contraindications for surgical treatment. Arrhythmias are classified with bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias. Recently anterograde and physiological stimulation has been successfully used. With an optimally chosen stimulation the lifespan is similar to that in the same age group of healthy persons. The paper is concerned with an analysis of the main results of the treatment of patients with preexcitation syndrome, with supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias, combined arrhythmias, with arrhythmias associated with congenital or acquired heart disease, and coronary disease. PMID- 2609254 TI - [The functional activity and count of the natural killer cells in patients with recently diagnosed diabetes mellitus types I and II]. AB - Eight patients with type I diabetes mellitus (D-I), seven patients with type II diabetes mellitus (D-11) and 8 healthy donors were examined. The disease standing did not exceed 1 year since the moment of the diagnosis establishment. The patients with D-I manifested activation of natural killers (NK) as compared to their activity in the donors and patients with D-II (76.05 +/- 6.5%, 52.33 +/- 9.55% and 55.39 +/- 10.63%, respectively, p less than 0.01) in the presence of the attenuated response of NK to interleukin-2 and alpha-interferon, determined by NK prestimulation. The amount of NK (CD16-positive) in D-I was significantly less than in the donors and patients with D-II. The high activity of NK in D-I correlated with an increase of receptor expression for transferrin on the mononuclear cells of peripheral blood. At the same time 5 out of the 8 patients with D-I and 2 patients with D-II out of the 7 demonstrated the rise of serum alpha-interferon (in the titer 1:40 and over). Activation of NK and the rise of serum interferon may be due to viral etiology of the disease and may play a role in the autoimmune process in patients suffering from D-I. PMID- 2609255 TI - [Zinc and parlodel: the treatment potentials for retardation of growth and sexual development in nephropathies in adolescents]. AB - Ten adolescents aged 10-18 years with physical and/or sexual development retardation associated with nephropathy were examined. Eight patients were treated with immunodepressants before and/or at the moment of examination. The difference between the age indicated in the patient's passport and bone age ranged within 0 to 3 years. On spermogram examination 3 of 4 patients manifested pathospermia. The serum prolactin level and the level of gonadotropins appeared normal but the testosterone content and plasma zinc level were lowered. As a result of the treatment with parlodel and/or zinc acetate for 1.5 to 23 months, 9 of 10 patients demonstrated the rise of the height and body weight and developed secondary sexual signs. In 3 of 4 patients examined for that parameter, the spermograms improved. In the whole group, the concentration of blood prolactin decreased, that of testosterone and zinc rose, whereas the content of gonadotropins remained unchanged. PMID- 2609256 TI - [The clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis]. AB - Lyme borreliosis (LB), an infectious disease occurring in the western and eastern hemispheres, is described. The disease that had been observed retrospectively for several decades was verified in the 1980 s. The causative agent of the disease is a new species of Borrelia transmitted with ticks. LB is characterized by staged development and impairment of some systems of the body. Erythema annulare occurring after the sucking of the ticks is a typical skin manifestation of LB. In the USSR, 90 patients with tick-borne erythema underwent examinations. 64 percent of the patients demonstrated nervous system injuries (serous meningitides, neuritis of craniocerebral nerves, and lesions of the peripheral nervous system). Serologic tests performed in part of the patients with LB in the USSR and USA identified similar responses to the causative agent of the disease. PMID- 2609257 TI - [The combined course of peptic ulcer and pulmonary tuberculosis. The position of the gastroenterologist]. PMID- 2609258 TI - [The diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases caused by sensitization to the Dermatophagoides farinae mite]. AB - A study was made of the diagnostic and therapeutic value of an allergen obtained from the mite Dermatophagoides farinae. The drug turned out to have a high specific activity in the diagnosis of atopic allergic diseases, provoked by sensitization to the mite Dermatophagoides farinae, by means of the scarification skin tests. This was also confirmed during the examination of patients' sera by the RAST method. Specific hyposensitization of patients suffering from atopic bronchial asthma has demonstrated that the drug did not produce any phenomena of acute or chronic toxicity, providing a high therapeutic effect. PMID- 2609259 TI - [High-frequency pulmonary ventilation in respiratory failure]. PMID- 2609260 TI - [Therapeutic diseases and pathology of the fundus oculi (a lecture)]. PMID- 2609261 TI - [The effect of intravascular hemolysis on the body of rheumatics with heart valve prostheses]. AB - The rate of intravascular hemolysis and associated complications was studied in 100 patients with rheumatic heart disease within 2 to 20 years after replacement of the heart valves. Hemolysis of varying intensity was recorded in 72% of patients, anemia in 5%, hemosiderinuria in 27%, cholelithiasis in 4%, and sideropenia in 36.8% of the examined. Renal failure was diagnosed in none of the patients. Thromboembolic complications were more frequently encountered in patients with hemolysis. In order to prevent anemia and sideropenia, it is recommended that control may be exercised over hemolysis and iron content in the blood of patients with prosthetic heart valves. PMID- 2609262 TI - [Complex coronary angioplasty. I. Single or multiple dilatations in the involvement of several vessels in patients with coronary heart disease]. AB - Coronary angioplasty was successfully performed in 658 of 752 multivessel disease patients. One lesion was attempted in 338 patients (45%), 2 or more in 414 patients (55%). Complications occurred in 39 patients (5.2%): 19 (2.5%) had a transmural infarction; 26 (3.5%) urgent surgery, and 14 (1.9%) died. Recurrence occurred in 233 (35%) of 658 patients with 162 (94.7%) of 171 having a successful 2nd angioplasty. Clinical improvement (followup: 31 months) remained in 81% of successful patients. Survival was not affected by the number of dilatations performed but was adversely affected by the presence of prior aorto-coronary bypass, surgery and ventricular dysfunction. Angioplasty can be an effective treatment without the need to dilate all vessels. PMID- 2609263 TI - [Complex coronary angioplasty. II. Dilatation of the multiple lesions in stenosis of one or several coronary vessels]. AB - Angioplasty (PTCA) was successfully performed in 404 (94%) of 428 patients. Two lesions were attempted in 74%, 3 in 21% and 4 or more in 6% of cases. Significant complications included: 11 (2.5%) transmural infarctions, 9 (2.1%) emergency surgeries, and 6 (1.4%) mortalities. A lesion recurrence occurred in 106 (26%) of 404 patients with 81 (91%) of 89 patients having a successful 2nd PTCA. A 2nd recurrence occurred in 15 (19%) of 81 patients with 13 of 15 patients having a successful 3rd PTCA. Followup (mean: 28.3 months) showed an improved anginal status in 83% of patients. The probability of survival at 51 months was 93%. Multiple lesion PTCA in carefully selected patients has a good success rate and an acceptable complication rate. PMID- 2609264 TI - [Specialization and the tasks of integration in medicine: the place and importance of therapy]. PMID- 2609265 TI - [The use of fluorography in the diagnosis of tumors of the large intestine]. AB - A current approach to the perfection of the diagnosis of colonic tumors is proposed in patients at risk by means of introduction into the ambulatory health care system (polyclinics, diagnostic centers) of standardized colonic fluorography followed by endoscopy in necessary cases. The main organizational and methodological principles of the use of colonic fluorography were worked out as a method of screening to reveal colonic tumors. It is suggested that such new elements as the "prescopic stage" realized outside the radiation zone, automated distant air inflation into the colon and so forth may be introduced in colonic fluorographic examination. Experience gained with over 2065 colonic fluorographies on a special fluorograph and 1120 examinations on routine x-ray diagnostic units fitted with the amplifier and a photochannel (79 cases of colonic carcinoma and 89 benign tumors were identified) evidences that the program of making colonic fluorography enables one to significantly improve the diagnosis of colonic tumors. PMID- 2609266 TI - [The carcinoid syndrome]. AB - The author provides a brief description of the clinical picture of the carcinoid syndrome. Describes 2 variants of the disease course in a male patient with bronchial carcinoma and the leading hypotonic syndrome and in a female patient with intestinal carcinoid running its course in combination with the hypertensive syndrome. PMID- 2609267 TI - [An assessment of the interrelationship of biosocial factors and stomach cancer- the results of clinical anamnestic research in Belgrade]. AB - Subject to examination were 80 patients with gastric carcinoma and 80 control patients admitted to the same medical institutions but with no malignant diseases. The groups were compared by sex, age and residence. Different levels of exposure to hypothetic factors were assessed by means of standard tests employed in the examination of matched pairs. It has been established that such habits as tobacco-smoking, consumption of alcoholic drinks and coffee in large amounts as well as the presence of malignant diseases in the familial anamnesis increase the risk of affliction with gastric carcinoma. PMID- 2609268 TI - [Shockwave destruction of stones in the kidneys and ureters]. AB - Experience gained in the use of the first Soviet unit and western lithotriptors is based on the treatment of over 2500 patients of different age groups. Comparative characteristics of lithotriptors are provided to mark substantial advantages of the Soviet unit. Distant lithotripsy (DL) is much more effective and atraumatic as compared with conventional surgical interventions. The use of DL provides positive effect in 97-99% of cases. The rate of complications is extremely low, amounting to 5-10%. Indications and contraindications as to the use of DL are given. Contraindications include cases requiring reconstructive surgical interventions and the presence of coral-like calculi and acute inflammation. The Soviet unit appeared especially effective in the treatment of children with urolithiasis. The cure was attained in 97.2% of the patients, no serious complications occurred. Functional studies of the kidneys did not reveal any changes both in the short- and long-term periods after DL. PMID- 2609269 TI - [The urogenital inflammatory focus and its treatment in Reiter's disease]. AB - The complement fixation test, microprecipitation, leukocyte migration inhibition, leukocyte agglomeration phenomenon, direct and indirect immunofluorescence were used to demonstrate that chronic prostatovesiculitis associated with Reiter's disease may be of immune-induced nature. This requires a differentiated approach to the choice of the treatment policy. The methods of the treatment for the urogenital inflammatory focus in men suffering from Reiter's disease are provided. It is indicated that complete cure of Reiter's disease can be attained only after elimination of inflammation in the urogenital organs. PMID- 2609270 TI - [The methodological aspects of the establishment of sexopathology in the USSR (a lecture)]. PMID- 2609271 TI - [The clinical characteristics of sexual functional disorders in patients with ischemic heart disease]. PMID- 2609272 TI - [Mortality in cardiac surgery]. AB - The authors analyse the status of the title problem as compared with the experience in surgical activity of the cardiosurgical hospital designed for 75 beds, performing 500-600 heart operations a year with the use of extracorporeal circulation. The total hospital lethality was 0 after "closed" interventions and 5.7% after open correction. Analysis is made of the lethality after the most common operations: aortocoronary shunting (1.8%), prosthetic mitral valve (6.7%), prosthetic aortal valves (8%), and radical correction of Fallot's tetrad (6.2%), and so forth. The paper treats of the structure and causes of the lethality, among which attention is drawn to iatrogenesis. Intensification of surgical work on the basis of the standardization of the main stages of the patient's treatment is regarded as one of the approaches to the lethality reduction. PMID- 2609273 TI - [Sexual function disorders in men with obliterating lesions of the genital arteries (the clinico-therapeutic aspects)]. PMID- 2609274 TI - [Skin diseases in the practice of the therapist (a lecture)]. PMID- 2609275 TI - [The diagnostic and prognostic significance of the skin manifestations in patients with pathology of the stomach and duodenum]. AB - The authors provide data on the identification of different skin manifestations on the anterior surface of the legs and rear of the feet in part of patients with gastric and duodenal pathology. In 81% of patients, they may precede manifestation of gastroduodenal abnormalities including ulcer disease. Based on skin alterations in the indicated areas one can work out the examination policy and follow-up of patients with gastric and duodenal pathology and, in some cases, identify the early (preclinical patterns) of the disease. PMID- 2609276 TI - [The different clinical variants of scleroderma in diabetics]. AB - The course of scleroderma is compared in patients with and without diabetes mellitus. In combined pathology, bullous foci of injury and trophic abnormalities occur more frequently. All the patients were diagnosed to have abnormalities on the part of connective tissue metabolism. PMID- 2609277 TI - [HIV infection: the venereological aspects of the problem]. AB - The paper is concerned with the diagnosis, clinical picture and the treatment policy of 7 patients suffering from associated syphilis and HIV infection. Some peculiarities were marked in the course and clinical picture of the syphilitic infection: the reduction of the time of the development of secondary syphilis, odd clinical manifestations, and early damage to the nervous system. Recommendations are given for CSF examination and treatment of all the patients with associated syphilis and HIV infection. Attention is paid to the necessity of examining all the patients with HIV infection for diseases transmitted sexually and vice versa. PMID- 2609278 TI - [Gaucher's disease and pregnancy]. AB - The authors describe a female patient with a chronic pattern of Gaucher's disease which remained unrecognized for a long time. Pregnancy was noted to affect the disease progress and development of liver cellular failure as well as the hemorrhagic syndrome. Splenectomy gave rise to a stable disease remission followed by normal pregnancy and delivery. PMID- 2609279 TI - [Cardiovascular system involvement in toxic goiter and primary hypothyrosis]. PMID- 2609280 TI - Age-specific optimal diets and optimal foraging tactics: a life-historic approach. AB - By linking optimal foraging theory and optimal life history theory, we demonstrate that optimal diets, in general, may depend on the individual's age even when everything else remains the same. Older individuals (i.e., individuals with lower reproductive values) are predicted to have diets composed of highly nutritious food types that are possibly dangerous to pursue. PMID- 2609281 TI - On the evolution of genetic incompatibility systems. V. Origin of sporophytic self-incompatibility in response to overdominance in viability. AB - Conditions for the origin of partial sporophytic self-incompatibility (SSI) are obtained from two quantitative models, which differ with respect to the determination of offspring viability. Offspring viability depends solely on the source (self or nonself) of the fertilizing pollen in the first model, which describes changes only at a primitive S-locus itself. Two loci evolve in the second model: overdominant viability selection maintains an arbitrary number of alleles at one locus, with SSI under the control of a separate locus. In both cases, the origin of SSI requires that the relative change in the numbers of offspring derived by the two reproductive modes compensate for the twofold cost of outcrossing. In the first model studied, the viability of inbred offspring fully determines the relative change in the numbers of inbred and outbred offspring produced. In the second model, the relative change in offspring numbers depends in addition on associations between the S-locus and the viability locus. Because these two-locus associations are comparable in magnitude to the differences between the viabilities of inbred and outbred offspring, SSI can arise under less restrictive conditions than expected from the one-locus model. Greater allelic multiplicity at the viability locus facilitates the origin of SSI by reducing the relative viability of inbred offspring. Tight linkage between the S-locus and the viability locus and high rates of receipt of self-pollen promote the generation and maintenance of associations between the S-locus and the viability locus. In populations in which more than two viability alleles are maintained, the active S-allele can invade even in the absence of linkage with the viability locus. The present study establishes that incompatibility systems can arise in response to identity disequilibrium between a modifier of incompatibility and a locus subject to overdominant viability selection; in particular, compensation for the twofold cost of outcrossing does not require preexisting gametic level disequilibria. PMID- 2609282 TI - Hospital Ethics Committees: one of many centers of responsibility. AB - Ethical reality is coextensive with human dignity. Therefore, one essential way to understand ethics is as the systematic effort to discern the imperatives of human dignity. Seeing ethics in this way highlights the fact that health care institutions have many centers of ethical responsibility (CERs) - the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Trustees, senior management team, etc. The Ethics Committee is only one such CER and not the most important one. These other CERs will benefit from identifying: (1) the fact that they are consistently dealing with ethical reality and making ethical decisions; (2) some critical elements of good ethical decision-making: (i) having the appropriate community; (ii) making the guiding value priorities explicit and specific; (iii) gaining skill in using the needed intellectual tools; and (iv) fashioning appropriate process and structure for discernment. PMID- 2609283 TI - An analysis of ethics consultation in the clinical setting. AB - Only recently have ethicists been invited into the clinical setting to offer recommendations about patient care decisions. This paper discusses this new role for ethicists from the perspective of content and process issues. Among content issues are the usual ethical dilemmas such as the aggressiveness of treatment, questions about consent, and alternative treatment options. Among process issues are those that relate to communication with the patient. The formal ethics consult is discussed, the steps taken in such a consult, and whether there should be a fee charged. We conclude with an examination of the risks and benefits of formal ethics consults. PMID- 2609284 TI - Just health care (II): Is equality too much? AB - In a previous essay I criticized Engelhardt's libertarian conception of justice, which grounds the view that society's obligation to assure access to adequate health care for all is a matter of beneficence. Beneficence fails to capture the moral stringency associated with many claims for access to health care. In the present paper I argue that these claims are really matters of justice proper, where justice is conceived along moderate egalitarian lines, such as those suggested by Rawls and Daniels, rather than strong egalitarian lines. Further, given the empirical complexity associated with the distribution of contemporary health care, I argue that what we really need to address the relevant policy issues adequately is a theory of health care justice, as opposed to an all purpose conception of justice. Daniels has made an important start toward that goal, though there are some large policy areas which I discuss that his account of health care justice does not really speak to. Finally, practical matters of health care justice really need to be addressed in a 'non-ideal' mode, a framework in which philosophers have done little. PMID- 2609285 TI - Intimacy and confidentiality in psychotherapeutic relationships. AB - This article explores the relations among and between intimacy, psychotherapeutic relationships and moral advice. The article concludes that a psychotherapeutic relationship is not usefully explained in terms of intimacy. Instead, a psychiatric relationship is a form of moral advice, and it is this dimension of a psychotherapeutic relationship as a form of moral advice that poses a natural limit to the confidentiality necessary for engaging in psychotherapy. PMID- 2609286 TI - The psychiatrist as moral advisor. AB - This paper is a critique of a paper by Robert Lipkin. Arguments for the following claims are put forward: (1) that what is 'essential' to the psychiatric relationship is what we want it to be for utilitarian reasons; (2) it would not be to our advantage to allow the medicalization of morality; (3) what we should expect from the psychiatrist is prudential advice, not moral advice, and that Lipkin has a confused view about the relationship between these two areas; and (4) we should not allow the psychiatrist to restrict individuals on moral grounds, but only on public safety grounds. PMID- 2609287 TI - Angular homeostasis: III. The formalism of discrete orbits in ontogeny. AB - The formal properties of orbits in a plane are explored by elementary topology. The notions developed from first principles include: convex and polygonal orbits; convexity; orientation, winding number and interior; convex and star-shaped regions. It is shown that an orbit that is convex with respect to each of its interior points bounds a convex region. Also, an orbit that is convex with respect to a fixed point bounds a star-shaped region. Biological considerations that directed interest to these patterns are indicated, and the implications of the prospect of higher orders of star-shapedness mentioned. PMID- 2609288 TI - Angular homeostasis: IV. Polygonal orbits. AB - Some properties are discussed of regular polygons that may result from angular homeostatic processes in stable orbit. To characterize these "homeostatic polygons" we need to discuss the winding number, the sidedness (integer, fractional and irrational), multiplicity, envelopes, and density. A regular (i.e., equilateral, equiangular) polygon may be closed in one revolution about its unique center, in multiple revolutions, or not at all. A homeostatic polygon can be generated only if all vertices are included in a single polygon, which occurs if and only if the number of vertices and the number of revolutions required to complete the polygon are relatively prime. For the homeostatic polygon to have a finite number of sides (without repeating itself) the angle subtended by any two successive vertices at the center must be a rational multiple of 2 pi. Biological implications of these properties are illustrated. PMID- 2609289 TI - Identification and characterisation of an antithrombin III mutant (AT Dublin 2) with marginally decreased heparin reactivity. AB - The antithrombin III (ATIII) isoform patterns of plasma and serum samples from cancer patients and controls were analysed by isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. A novel ATIII banding pattern was identified in two individuals: a patient with breast carcinoma who developed deep venous thrombosis and a blood donor. Family studies in the patient showed the abnormal pattern to be due to a mutant form of ATIII (AT Dublin 2). The coagulation properties of AT Dublin 2 heterozygotes were normal. Immunologic and activity levels of ATIII, measured by standard techniques, were normal. Mutant plasma ATIII showed reduced thrombin reactivity at low concentrations of thrombin and demonstrated decreased reactivity with heparin over a range of heparin concentrations. This was confirmed using a modified ATIII heparin cofactor activity assay with varying heparin concentrations. The abnormal ATIII was also found to elute from heparin agarose at a lower ionic strength than normal ATIII. Two dimensional gel electrophoresis showed the abnormal ATIII to have similar molecular size distribution to normal ATIII. Neuraminidase treatment of normal and mutant plasma reduced the ATIII isoforms to one in both samples. The possible role of AT Dublin 2 in predisposing to hypercoagulation is discussed. PMID- 2609290 TI - Interleukin 1 enhances arterial thrombogenicity in vitro. AB - An in vitro model of platelet adhesion, the annular perfusion chamber, was utilized to test the effects of Interleukin 1 on vascular thrombogenicity for platelets. De-endothelialized, everted human umbilical arteries were placed in cell culture media with or without Interleukin 1. The arteries were later perfused with citrated human blood and then fixed. Platelet adhesion and aggregate formation on artery segments was quantified by blinded morphometric analysis. A monolayer of contact platelets was seen on control artery segments, but arteries exposed to 100 Units/ml Interleukin 1 for 2-20 hours had increased numbers and size of platelet aggregates. Ultrastructurally, intact endothelial cells were not present on any segment. Both prostacyclin and thromboxane were released by vascular cells in the artery segments, but the quantity and ratio of these eicosanoids was not altered by artery exposure to Interleukin 1. Arterial thrombogenicity is modulated by non-endothelial vascular cells in response to Interleukin 1, and this does not appear to be mediated by changes in vascular production of thromboxane or prostacyclin. PMID- 2609291 TI - Clinical usefulness of D-dimer: evaluation during fibrinolytic treatment of venous thrombosis or myocardial infarction. PMID- 2609292 TI - Studies on coagulation and fibrinolysis in Greenland Eskimos. PMID- 2609293 TI - Incidence of increased plasminogen activator inhibitor in patients with deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism. PMID- 2609294 TI - LDL induced shape change reaction of platelets is not due to PAF. PMID- 2609295 TI - [Suicide--an increasing problem in Norway]. PMID- 2609296 TI - [Emergency medicine and ambulances]. PMID- 2609297 TI - [Children and disasters]. PMID- 2609298 TI - [Children and disasters. Guidelines for a working model--experiences from the mental health services for children after the aircrash at Bronnoysund]. AB - The article reviews general principles and an intervention program for the care of children in a crisis situation. The author reports on assistance to children after an air crash in a remote district of Northern Norway, when all 36 on board the plane were killed. Intervention along these guidelines is also recommended for use by general practitioners, nurses and social workers in cases of lesser crisis. It is important to ensure that plans are made in all Norwegian regions to follow-up children who have experienced disaster. PMID- 2609299 TI - [Psychological and neurologic long-term consequences of brain tumors in children. A pilot study]. AB - Brain tumor is one of the most common forms of cancer in children. The therapy includes surgical interventions, radiation of the central nervous system and chemotherapy. Combining these methods of treatment has remarkably improved the survival of children with certain brain tumours (e.g. medulloblastoma). However, long-term studies have revealed serious psychological and somatic consequences of the disease and the treatment. This paper presents the results of a pilot study of nine children with brain tumor. The patients were examined using a battery of neuropsychological methods (Luria's Neuropsychological Investigation, WISC-R), a semi-structured interview (Child Assessment Schedule), a parent report form (Achenbach Child Behaviour Checklist) and a clinical neurological examination. The most striking finding from this investigation was in the psychosocial field. Except for one child, all the patients showed an introvert reaction pattern with a tendency towards anxiety, depression and social withdrawal. All the children showed some neurological and neuropsychological deficits. Except in the case of two mentally retarded children, cognitive functions were within the lower normal range. Specific learning, memory and fine-motor disabilities were found in more than half of the patients. The investigation suggested that both fine-motor and mental performance was detrimentally affected by increased speed. This seems to be an area of special interest for further studies. PMID- 2609300 TI - [Guidelines for helping families after the death of a child]. AB - The death of a child imposes great strain on the family. The article outlines aims and guidelines for both immediate intervention and long-term follow-up. The author emphasizes early provision of outreach help that includes both parents and any children in the family. Parents are advised to view and touch the dead child and participate in rituals, and are encouraged to include any siblings of the dead child to do the same. Central themes for long-term follow-up sessions are outlined, and advice is given on how to coordinate the various services. PMID- 2609301 TI - [Medulloblastoma in children. A 20-year case load]. AB - Between 1968 and 1987, seventy children below the age of 14 years were treated at one institution for cerebellar medulloblastoma. There were 41 boys and 29 girls. The 70 children included one pair of siblings. All the children have been followed up by one of the authors. During the first ten years, postoperative mortality within the first month was 17.5%. During the last ten years there was only one such death (3.5%). All children from the first ten-year period are dead. In the last ten-year period 25 of 35 children have survived (observation time 1 12 years, mean six years). This improvement is due to better surgical care and the use of post-operative irradiation and chemotherapy. Cerebral computerized tomography and magnetic imaging tomography are the investigational methods of choice for medulloblastoma today. PMID- 2609302 TI - [Children with phenylketonuria (Folling's disease). Intellectual functions and psychological adaptation]. AB - Untreated phenylketonuria (PKU) leads to serious mental retardation. The prognosis of PKU has been dramatically improved by neonatal screening and dietary treatment. This study evaluates 25 children, ages 10 to 16 years. Children who receive early and adequate treatment have a mean IQ slightly below normal, and few psychological problems. The disease causes considerable strain on the families, however, because of the very strict diet. Recent evidence suggests that children with PKU can only rarely terminate the diet, although in many cases the diet can be relaxed. It is essential to teach the children the diet and promote autonomy in relation to phenylketonuria. PMID- 2609303 TI - [Gastroesophageal reflux associated with severe cerebral paresis]. AB - Five patients, aged 9-16, living in a community-based home for the mentally retarded, have undergone Nissen fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux. They were all severely physically handicapped by cerebral palsy. Their symptoms had persisted from 1-10 years, and included chronic retching and vomiting, intermittent obstruction of the upper airways, frequent bronchial and pulmonary infections, and episodic abdominal pain and failure to thrive. Three had hematemesis. Two patients lost a great deal of weight. One had chronic reflux associated with lower airway obstruction, which improved postoperatively. All patients had undergone conservative medical treatment of four to 12 months duration, with no lasting improvement. There were very few postoperative complications. One patient had to be reoperated. After surgical treatment their main symptoms had disappeared and their subsequent management was easier. We have reasons to believe that this condition is seriously underdiagnosed in our society, thereby causing unnecessary pain and distress in patients who are unable to convey their complaints to others. PMID- 2609304 TI - [New biotechnologic products in treatment and prevention]. AB - Biotechnology will create new generations of DNA and peptide products in pharmacology. Such products may change clinical practice in the treatment of a variety of diseases, for example cancer and infectious, cardiovascular, and genetic diseases. Development of new vaccines using biotechnology may be effective in preventing or treating serious infectious diseases or cancer. We discuss approved and putative applications of biotechnological products in clinical medicine. PMID- 2609305 TI - [Gene technology in the prevention of cancer]. AB - Cancer may develop in connection with rare, genetic diseases or after exceptional, environmental exposures. Most commonly, however, cancer results from an unhappy coincidence of normal, genetic factors and ordinary, environmental conditions. Oncogenes are normal growth genes. Anti-oncogenes are normal regulatory genes which control growth genes. Cancer may result from changes (mutations) in an oncogene (such as in the Philadelphia chromosome), or from the lack of control of normal oncogenes. The latter may be due to loss of function of a suppressor gene (mutation in an anti-oncogene, such as in retinoblastoma) or through a change in the position of an oncogene (such as in Burkitt's lymphoma and in certain leukemias). PMID- 2609306 TI - [Fibrinolytic treatment of acute myocardial infarction]. PMID- 2609307 TI - [ACE inhibitors]. PMID- 2609308 TI - [Clustering of deaths at a work-place. Practical handling of a problem]. AB - Clustering of deaths in a small, defined group of employees may occur by chance. Alternatively, the cause may be non-fortuitous, for example selection of risk individuals into the group, risk factors at work or in lifestyle. According to the Norwegian Working Environment Act it is the employer's duty to make the decision as to whether an observed cluster of deaths should have consequences for the working environment. The employer may feel a natural need for advice from specialists in order to take this decision. In many instances, the occupational health service will be a natural choice for the employer as a source of advice. At one work-place five out of a total of ten press consultants died between 1970 and 1988. The article describes a way to estimate the probability of the clustering being fortuitous. Fortuity is compared with other possibilities. PMID- 2609309 TI - [Function and tasks of a psychiatric unit for children and adolescents at a regional hospital]. AB - We present a model for further development and application of a child psychiatric consultation and liaison service in pediatric wards, and describe areas of special importance in the collaboration between child psychiatry and somatic medicine (e.g. high technology medicine, cancer, perinatal care). We point out present trends and new challenges in the field. PMID- 2609310 TI - [Child psychiatry at a general hospital. The aims of preventive "liaison child psychiatry"]. AB - The department of child psychiatry, Ulleval Hospital, has started a liaison child psychiatry service for persons under 18 years old admitted to the hospital. The different tasks involved are analysed with a view to meeting the requirements of the different wards. This facilitates purposeful liaison, establishment of jointly agreed priorities and evaluation of the service. PMID- 2609311 TI - [Requests for ambulances for patients with acute diseases and injuries. Are ambulance services abused?]. AB - The aim of this study was to describe the dispatch of emergency ambulance requests in Trondheim and to evaluate the medical justification of such ambulance missions. Data concerning 555 emergency ambulance missions were recorded from March to August 1986. A review of the cases shows that almost 40 per cent were unjustified. However, whether the ambulance missions were justified or not was significantly connected to the age of the patient and with the person requesting the ambulance. Missions requested by health care professionals and missions to elderly patients were the most justified ones. Furthermore, the mission was more justified in the case of internal medical problems than for surgical cases and trauma. We also discuss different ways of improving the use made of emergency medical services outside hospital. PMID- 2609312 TI - [Cholesterol. Statements of the meeting on cholesterol, The Norwegian Medical Association, Oslo 10-12 October 1989]. PMID- 2609313 TI - [Pediatric health services]. PMID- 2609314 TI - [Rehabilitation of children. How can the child be seen from the holistic perspective?]. PMID- 2609315 TI - [Descriptive diagnostics or understanding of the system? Various ideologies on attitudes to mental disorders]. PMID- 2609316 TI - [Pondocillin, Selexid and carnitine]. PMID- 2609317 TI - [Health personnel and handwashing]. PMID- 2609318 TI - [What does exposure to nitrous oxide during labor mean for the development of amphetamine abuse in children?]. PMID- 2609319 TI - [The general practitioner, does he hinder or advance medical research?]. PMID- 2609320 TI - [Measles--an epidemic in Hungary]. PMID- 2609321 TI - HLA-DP antigens in patients with chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AITP). AB - AITP, a disease with well-defined autoimmune character, has been previously studied for a possible HLA association. However, no such association with antigens of the A, B, C or DR loci was found. As this does not exclude a possible association with HLA-DP antigens, we have investigated 36 patients with AITP for DP w1, w2, w3, w4 and w5 by primed lymphocyte typing using locally derived as well as the original DP reagents as used in the 9th International Histocompatibility Workshop. Comparison of antigen frequencies with those of 254 healthy controls revealed an increased frequency of DPw5 in the patient group which, however, was not statistically significant. Other discrepancies were not observed. PMID- 2609322 TI - Recurrent extended HLA haplotypes in children with selective IgA deficiency. AB - HLA supratypes as well as serum IgG, IgA and IgM levels were determined in 44 children and adolescents with severe IgA deficiency (serum IgA less than 5 mg/dl) and in first degree relatives. Frequencies of the HLA alleles B14, DR1, DQW1, C4A2 and C4B2 were significantly higher in the IgA-deficient patients than in the controls. The most recurrent haplotype among patients was B14, DR1 (p less than 10(-4) preferentially associated with A33, A28 or A blank. The supratype B14, Bfs, C4A2, C4B2, DR1, DQW1 was present in a 14-fold higher frequency than in the controls, and strongly suggests the presence of a gene in the HLA region involved in the deficiency of IgA. The fact that this supratype was not always associated with IgA deficiency in the parents and that not all IgA-deficient subjects had this supratype is discussed. Severe IgA deficiency was found in four mothers (two of the four mother-child pairs shared the B14, DR1 haplotype); three other relatives (one father and two brothers) had partial IgA deficiency and did not have the B14, DR1, DQW1 haplotype. PMID- 2609323 TI - HLA Bw57 and DR7 association with psoriasis vulgaris in south India. AB - Eighty-three south Indian patients with psoriasis vulgaris were studied for HLA antigen frequencies and compared with 77 controls studied simultaneously. HLA Bw57, a split of B17 was found elevated in the patients. The two sexes differed in their age-at-onset curves: females had a preponderance to early onset of the disease, while the males had late onset. Among these patients, major group 3, a Western Brachycephal Armenoid group, revealed the highest risk for B17 & Bw57 but not major group 2, a Mediterranean one. PMID- 2609324 TI - HLA association of anti-IgA antibody production. AB - We have HLA typed 46 unrelated IgA deficient blood donors in our region. A weak association to DR3 (RR = 2.07) was observed. However, owing to the heterogeneous nature of this group, we found DR7 may be associated with those who developed class-specific anti-IgA antibodies (RR = 2.94), whereas DR1 may be associated with those who did not (RR = 2.42). PMID- 2609325 TI - No HLA-DR specificity is associated with endometriosis. AB - Thirty-one patients with endometriosis were typed for HLA-A, B and DR antigens. No association was found between the disease and any DR specificity, which may be taken as evidence against an autoimmune aetiology. PMID- 2609326 TI - The absence of 21-OH A and C4 B genes is a constant characteristic of the "Sardinian" HLA extended haplotype A30 Cw5 B18 BfF1 DR3 DRw52 DQw2. AB - The genomic DNA of 25 unrelated individuals with HLA haplotype A30 Cw5 B18 BfF1 DR3 D w52 DQw2 was digested with the restriction enzyme Taq I and hybridized with cDNA probes for C4 and 21-OH genes. Eighteen individuals and a non-Sardinian reference cell (DUCAF) were homozygous for the entire extended haplotype, six individuals were heterozygous for the HLA-A locus and homozygous for the rest of the same haplotype. All of the 18 homozygous individuals, four of the six heterozygous subjects and the DUCAF cell revealed the absence of two fragments at 3.2 and 2.4 kb corresponding to the 21-OH A gene, and the absence of fragments corresponding to the C4 B "long" or "short" gene. The contemporary absence of the 21-OH A and C4 B genes seems to be a constant characteristic of this extended haplotype in the Sardinian population and suggests that this and other extended haplotypes bearing C4 A or C4 B null alleles could be ancestral haplotypes which never duplicated at these loci. PMID- 2609327 TI - HLA antigens and infertility with sperm autoantibodies in man. AB - Vasectomized men with sperm auto-antibodies (S.A.A.) and high frequency of HLA A20 antigen (Ag) were observed by Law et al. (1979); Hancock et al. (1983) observed the prevalence of HLA-A28 in infertile men with S.A.A. HLA-A, B and DR Ag were determined in a population of 80 Caucasian infertile men with (n = 22) or without (n = 58) agglutinating and/or cytotoxic S.A.A. in serum (S) and/or seminal plasma (SP), and the association between HLA-determinants and infertility with S.A.A. was investigated. The frequence of HLA-A28 Ag was found higher in the group with S.A.A. than without (18.2% vs 0.0%) but not statistically significant (chi 2 = 8.87; pc less than 0.15). The same result was obtained with HLA-B13 Ag (chi 2 = 8.87; pc less than 0.32). Lastly, there was no prevalence of HLA-DR Ag in men with S.A.A. In conclusion, no association was found between HLA-A, B and DR Ag and infertility with S.A.A. Nevertheless, two HLA-Ag were more frequently observed in the group with S.A.A. PMID- 2609328 TI - HLA typing with monoclonal antibodies: evaluation of 356 HLA monoclonal antibodies including 181 studied during the 10th International Histocompatibility Workshop. AB - During the 10th International Histocompatibility Workshop (10th WS), 181 HLA MoAbs were studied using lymphocytotoxicity micro-technique (LCT) and/or enzyme immuno-assay (EIA), and their capacity to serve as typing reagents was evaluated. 129 MoAbs were tested by both techniques. Results obtained with 92 class I and 86 class II polymorphic MoAbs (10th WS) were compared to published data concerning 180 class I and 176 class II polymorphic MoAbs, listed in an HLA-MoAbs Register maintained in our laboratory. The following conclusions can be proposed: 1/HLA-A, B typing by LCT with MoAbs is possible for about 14 specificities. Some specificities are clearly recognized (HLA-A3, B8, B13, Bw4, Bw6), others are recognized as cross-reacting groups (B7+27+w22+40), others are not currently recognized by any MoAb with restricted specificity (B5, B15). Several MoAbs confirmed the existence of shared epitopes between products from a single locus (A2-A28, A25-A32), or from A and B loci (A2-B17, Bw4-A9-A32). A single HLA-Cw MoAb has been described. 2/HLA class II typing by LCT with MoAbs is more difficult than class I typing. DR2, DR3, DR4, DR5 and DR7 as well as DRw52 and DRw53 are well defined; other DR specificities are poorly or not at all defined. Particular associations (DR1+DR4, DR3+DRw6, all DR except DR7) are recognized by several MoAbs. All DQw specificities are well recognized, including new specificities defined only by MoAbs: WA (DQw4), TA10 (DQw7), 2B3 (DQw6+w8+w9). Only two HLA-DP MoAbs have been described. 3/Satisfactory results, similar to those of LCT, were obtained with EIA using lymphoid cell lines as targets. 4/Human MoAbs (12 in the Register) are satisfactory typing reagents. They could represent in the future a significant contribution to HLA typing with MoAbs. PMID- 2609329 TI - Effects of in vitro treatment with 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide and hyperthermia on leukemic progenitor cells. AB - A key point of autologous bone marrow transplantation for leukemic patients is how to remove leukemic cells from their own bone marrow grafts. In this study a leukemic progenitor cell assay was used to evaluate the antileukemic efficacy of marrow-purging protocols that employed hyperthermia or 4 hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4HC) against leukemic blasts obtained from patients. After the treatment of 2 x 10(7) nucleated bone marrow cells/ml with 100 micrograms/ml of 4HC in the presence of 7% suspension of packed autologous erythrocytes, leukemic colonies were eradicated in 10 of 13 cases and reduced to less than 0.3% as compared with the colony count in untreated cultures in two cases. More than 10% of leukemic progenitor cells survived after hyperthermia treatment (42 degrees C 60 min) in 7 of 9 cases. It is suggested that treatment of leukemic cells and 7% autologous erythrocytes with 100 micrograms/ml of 4HC is effective to eliminate leukemic progenitor cells. Treatment with hyperthermia may not be effective enough to eliminate leukemic progenitor cells from autologous bone marrow. PMID- 2609330 TI - Preservation of immature hematopoietic progenitor cells responding to interleukin 3 in marrow treated with 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide. AB - The toxic effects of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4HC) on different human hematopoietic progenitor cells were determined. Day 7 colonies supported by granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), day 10 colonies supported by granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were counted. Approximately 2 X 10(2) granulocyte-macrophage colonies per 5 X 10(4) bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells were formed in each assay system. A combination of interleukin 3 (IL3) and erythropoietin (EPO) induces 3 types of day 14 colonies; erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E, 40 +/- 29/5 X 10(4) BM cells), granulocytes macrophage colony forming units (CFU-GM, 143 +/- 29/5 X 10(4) cells and mixed colonies (CFU-GEMM, 24 +/- 13/5 X 10(4) cells). After treatment with 4HC, all the colonies were reduced. However, the recovery rate of day 14 colonies supported by the combination of IL3 and EPO (mean 12.1%) was significantly higher than the recovery rate of both day 7 colonies supported by G-CSF (mean 1.0%) and day 10 colonies supported by GM-CSF (mean 4.0%). The recovery rate of colonies supported by IL3 and EPO as also higher than that of day 14 colonies supported by GM-CSF and EPO. Immature pluripotent hematopoietic progenitor cells supported by IL3 and EPO appeared less sensitive to 4HC treatment than those supported by G-CSF and GM CSF. Colony forming assays using IL3 may be useful in order to predict the hematological reconstitution after autologous bone marrow transplantation with 4HC treated graft. PMID- 2609331 TI - Increased hexokinase activity in fetuses of rats developed under maternal hyperglycemia. AB - Hepatic and diaphragmatic hexokinase (HK) activities increased in fetuses of rats developed under maternal hyperglycemic conditions, compared to those in normal controls. In those organs, Type I and Type II hexokinase isozymes were detected by electrophoresis and densitometry with a chromatoscanner. Densitometric peak that corresponded to hepatic and diaphragmatic Type II hexokinase was also increased in the fetuses developed under hyperglycemia, compared to that of normal fetuses. These findings suggest that in the fetal liver, where significant activity of Type IV was absent, activity of Type II hexokinase varied depending on physiological state such as maternal hyperglycemia. PMID- 2609332 TI - Identification of benzoylcarnitine in the urine of a patient of hyperammonemia. AB - Benzoylcarnitine was identified in the urine of a patient with a carbamoyl phosphate synthase I deficiency for whom sodium benzoate and L-carnitine had been used to treat hyperammonemia. This is a newly identified metabolite of benzoate. Its excretion in the urine was increased day by day at the administration of both sodium benzoate and L-carnitine from 0.10 to 2.25 mmol/g creatinine. Since there is the possibility of a secondary carnitine deficiency and an increase of benzoyl toxicity after long-term therapy with benzoate supplementation and protein restriction, it is important to monitor the urinary excretion of benzoylcarnitine. PMID- 2609333 TI - Effects of acute protein loads of different sources on renal function of patients with diabetic nephropathy. AB - To evaluate effects of acute loading of different proteins on renal function, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), albumin excretion rate (AER), and concentrations of plasma amino acids, 11 normal volunteers and 20 diabetic patients were studied before and after eating 1.0 g/kg body weight of either tuna fish meal or bean curd on separate days. In normal subjects, the mean baseline GFR was 115.8 +/- 9.5 ml/min/1.73 m2, and the mean GFRs after ingestion of tuna fish meal were 134.1 +/- 15.5 (1 hr), 146.2 +/- 18.8 (2 hr), and 157.8 +/- 21.2 (3 hr), respectively. GFR did not significantly increase in normal subjects after ingestion of bean curd. GFR in diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria after ingestion of each protein was similar to the response in normal subjects. In diabetic patients with microalbuminuria, GFR did not significantly increase after ingestion of each protein. In diabetes with macroalbuminuria, GFR decreased after ingestion of tuna fish meal and did not significantly change after intake of bean curd. In both normal subjects and diabetic patients, urinary AER did not increase after each kind of protein loading. Plasma concentrations of alanine, glycine, and arginine, known to induce glomerular hyperfiltration, increased to a greater degree after ingestion of tuna fish meal than after administration of bean curd. These findings suggest that responses of GFR to acute protein loading may differ according to the amino acid composition of the protein ingested and to the stage of diabetic nephropathy. PMID- 2609334 TI - Determination of 3 beta-hydroxylated bile acids in human serum and liver tissue. AB - 3 beta, 7 alpha-Dihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid (3 beta, 7 alpha-diOH) was detected in serum of 3 patients with intrahepatic cholestasis. 3 beta, 7 beta dihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid (3 beta, 7 beta-diOH) appeared in serum of those patients after treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDC). These bile acids were also detected in only unconjugated fractions of serum of another 7 patients with chronic liver diseases, but not in liver tissue of them. The liver does not seem to from these bile acids itself because they were absent in liver tissue. PMID- 2609335 TI - Effect of left ventricular volume on the magnitude of functional depression by external minute vibration. AB - We examined the effect of the left ventricular (LV) volume on the magnitude of the vibration induced functional depression (VID) using four canine cross circulated isovolumically beating LV preparations. A sinusoidal, 50 Hz vibration (1.5 mm in amplitude) was applied to the ventricular anterior epicardium at different values of LV volume which was stepwisely increased by 1-2 ml from 0 to 30 ml. VID was estimated as the difference of the peak LV pressure between control and during external vibration. VID increased as an increment in LV volume when the volume was below 7-8 ml and when peak LV pressure was less than 70 mmHg. However, VID remained constant when the volume increased further. We concluded that VID was independent of LV volume at physiological range. PMID- 2609336 TI - The improvement of systolic function of depressed left ventricle by external vibration at diastole. AB - The left ventricular (LV) incomplete relaxation (IR) has been reported to play an important role in the pathophysiology of the congestive heart failure such as causing higher diastolic pressure and/or impeding the coronary perfusion during diastole. Therefore, using open chest canine preparations (n = 4), we examined 1) whether the minute external vibration during diastole could release IR and 2) what occurred to LV systolic function in this perturbation. LV failure with IR was induced by propranolol administration and, if necessary, by rapid atrial pacing up to 180 beats/min. When we applied a 50 Hz, sinusoidal vibration of 2.1 mm magnitude during diastole to the epicardium of LV with complete relaxation, there was no significant change in the ventricular function. However, the systolic functional improvement (3.8 +/- 1.1 mmHg elevation in LV systolic pressure) was observed when the vibration was applied to LV with IR. We concluded that external vibration at diastole could release IR and would be useful to improve the systolic function of the depressed heart with IR. PMID- 2609337 TI - Effect of taurine administration on serum lipid and biliary lipid composition in man. AB - The effect of oral administration of taurine (3.2 g/day, 2 weeks) on the metabolism of lipids and bile acids was studied with healthy humans. Four male subjects were fed taurine. Another five male subjects were administered 1 g of cholesterol daily for two weeks and, at intervals of two weeks, cholesterol and taurine simultaneously. Serum lipoprotein and duodenal bile were analyzed. Oral administration of taurine resulted in the increase of taurine-conjugated bile acids. However, neither serum lipid nor biliary lipid composition was altered. Addition of taurine with cholesterol administration showed elevation of both the serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol level and the lithogenic index in bile. The ratio of glycine-to taurine-conjugated bile acids was changed from 4.1 to 0.63. The ratio of cholic acid/chenodeoxycholic acid was augmented from 0.57 to 0.81. The percentage of taurocholic acid, taurochenodexycholic acid and taurodeoxycholic acid were increased about 4-fold, 2.5-fold and 3-fold, respectively. Our results suggested that taurine administration alone did not influence the serum lipid level although taurine-conjugated bile acids were increased. The taurine intake would increase serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol and biliary cholesterol levels when excessive cholesterol is administered simultaneously. PMID- 2609338 TI - Potential use of human tissues for toxicity research and testing. PMID- 2609339 TI - Effects of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on phenytoin induced embryopathy in mice. AB - The anticonvulsant drug phenytoin may be cooxidized during prostaglandin biosynthesis to a reactive free radical intermediate capable of exerting embryopathic effects. Since 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a potent tumor promoter, activates the enzymatic release of arachidonic acid, thereby initiating prostaglandin synthesis, the potential teratological synergism between these two compounds was investigated. Pregnant CD-1 mice were given a fixed dose of phenytoin, 65 mg/kg intraperitoneally (ip), on Gestational Days 12 and 13, followed 2 hr later by varying doses of TPA, 0.2 to 2000 micrograms/kg ip. The dams were killed on Day 19 and fetuses were examined for anomalies. TPA post treatment with doses of 2 to 200 micrograms/kg produced a TPA dose-related increase in maternal lethality of up to 100%, compared with no lethality in dams given TPA or phenytoin alone. Subsequent studies therefore were restricted to TPA doses between 0.2 and 20 micrograms/kg. TPA 20 micrograms/kg caused a threefold increase (p = 0.11) in the incidence of phenytoin-induced cleft palates, which likely was an underestimate due to the extremely high (97%) incidence of fetal resorptions. With lower TPA doses of 0.2 to 20 micrograms/kg, the incidence of fetal resorptions in animals treated with both phenytoin and TPA increased in a TPA dose-related manner, to over twofold (p less than 0.05), compared with phenytoin controls. Postpartum fetal lethality was enhanced similarly by the combination treatment, reaching a maximum of 100% (p less than 0.05). Lower doses of TPA also significantly enhanced the fetal weight loss in phenytoin-treated mice, while in contrast, TPA alone significantly increased fetal body weight compared with vehicle-treated controls. In animals treated with only TPA, the incidence of embryopathy generally was either comparable to controls or significantly less than that in phenytoin controls. These data indicate that TPA can potentiate phenytoin-induced embryopathy, possibly through a mechanism involving bioactivation by prostaglandin synthetase. PMID- 2609340 TI - Inhibition of trimethadione and dimethadione teratogenicity by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor acetylsalicylic acid: a unifying hypothesis for the teratologic effects of hydantoin anticonvulsants and structurally related compounds. AB - Teratogenicity of the anticonvulsant phenytoin may be due in part to its bioactivation by prostaglandin synthetase, forming a reactive free radical intermediate. We examined whether teratogenicity of the structurally similar oxazolidinedione anticonvulsants, trimethadione and its N-demethylated metabolite dimethadione, could be inhibited by the prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Trimethadione, 700 or 1000 mg/kg intraperitoneally (ip), was given to pregnant CD-1 mice during (Gestational Days 12 and 13) or before (Days 11 and 12) the critical period of susceptibility to phenytoin induced fetal cleft palates. Dimethadione was given similarly on Days 11 and 12, or 12 and 13, in a dose (900 mg/kg ip) that was equimolar to 1000 mg/kg of trimethadione. ASA, 10 or 1 mg/kg ip, was given 2 hr before trimethadione or dimethadione on Days 11 and 12, and before trimethadione on Day 11 only. Dams were killed on Day 19 and fetuses were examined for anomalies. Either dose of trimethadione given on Days 12 and 13 was negligibly teratogenic, as evidenced by a non-dose-related, 1.1% mean incidence of fetal cleft palates. However, when given earlier on Days 11 and 12, trimethadione 1000 mg/kg caused an 8.9% incidence of cleft palates (p less than 0.05). Similarly, dimethadione caused a 3.9-fold higher incidence of cleft palates when given earlier on Days 11 and 12 (17.3-34.9%) than on Days 12 and 13 (4.4%) (p less than 0.05). At equimolar doses, dimethadione caused a 1.9- to 3.9-fold higher incidence of cleft palates compared to trimethadione (p less than 0.05), suggesting that dimethadione may be the proximate teratogen. Either dose of ASA given on both days before trimethadione totally prevented cleft palates, and ASA 10 mg/kg given only on Day 11 reduced the incidence of trimethadione-induced cleft palates to 1.1% (p less than 0.05). ASA reduced the incidence of cleft palates caused by dimethadione given on Days 11 and 12 from 34.9 to 20.3% (p less than 0.05). These results suggest that the teratogenic potential of trimethadione may depend at least in part upon its prior N-demethylation to dimethadione, which then can be bioactivated by prostaglandin synthetase to a teratogenic reactive intermediate, possibly involving a free radical located in the oxazolidinedione ring. This would provide a unifying hypothesis for the teratogenicity of hydantoins, as well as structurally related teratogens like trimethadione, which lack the molecular configuration necessary for the formation of a teratogenic arene oxide intermediate. PMID- 2609341 TI - The role of heme oxygenase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in the protection by cysteamine from acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. AB - Administration of cysteamine to rats depressed hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity, cytochrome P-450, and total heme at 24 hr. Total heme remained decreased at 48 hr when all other parameters returned to control values. A significant 5-fold increase in heme oxygenase activity occurred in rat liver 5 hr after treatment, when AHH activity and total heme were unchanged. Histological examination of liver biopsies from rats treated with cysteamine revealed normal hepatic architecture. The observed effects of cysteamine on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in vivo were not due to cysteamine-induced hepatotoxicity. Our results indicate that cysteamine increases heme oxygenase activity in rat liver, with a subsequent decrease in total heme, AHH activity, and cytochrome P 450 content. The depression of P-450 by cysteamine is likely to be an important mechanism for its protection in acetaminophen overdose. The protection studies illustrate this mechanism. Centrilobular hepatic necrosis and elevation in transaminase activity following a toxic dose of acetaminophen were prevented by treatment with cysteamine. The hepatoprotective effect of cysteamine was evident when acetaminophen was administered 24 hr after cysteamine but did not occur when acetaminophen was administered 5 hr after cysteamine or simultaneously. All groups of rats receiving cysteamine showed decreased mortality compared to the group receiving acetaminophen alone. PMID- 2609342 TI - Macrophage regulation of myelopoiesis is altered by exposure to the benzene metabolite hydroquinone. AB - Hydroquinone, a myelotoxic metabolite of benzene, decreases the ability of murine bone marrow stromal cells to support myelopoiesis in vitro. Bone marrow stroma consists of macrophages and fibroblastoid stromal cells that participate coordinately in regulating myelopoiesis. The goal of this study was to determine if macrophage or fibroblastoid cell function is more sensitive to the myelotoxic actions of hydroquinone. To address this question, we developed purified populations of macrophages and fibroblastoid stromal cells and treated each population with hydroquinone. These cells were reconstituted together with nontreated cells of the opposite type and assayed for their ability to support the formation of granulocyte and macrophage colonies in an agar overlay. Reconstituted cultures containing hydroquinone-treated macrophages supported fewer colonies than did corresponding cultures containing untreated macrophages. Reconstituted cultures containing hydroquinone-treated fibroblastoid stromal cells were not affected. Moreover, hydroquinone reduced detectable interleukin-1 activity in purified macrophage cultures stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. These results indicate that hydroquinone selectively interferes with macrophage function possibly, in part, via alteration of macrophage interleukin-1 secretion. PMID- 2609343 TI - Antifertility effect of methoxychlor in female rats: dose- and time-dependent blockade of pregnancy. AB - Long-term exposure to methoxychlor (MXC), an estrogenic pesticide, produces infertility in rats, and short-term exposure blocks the decidual cell response (DCR). To address the short-term effects of MXC on fertility, the differential effects of MXC dosage and timing of administration (relative to implantation) on several gestational parameters were investigated. When MXC was administered during early pregnancy (Days 1-8), a dose-dependent decline in implantations and uterine weight was seen with no effect on ovarian weight or corpora lutea; MXC reduced serum progesterone at all doses. Preimplantation administration of MXC (Days 1-3 of pregnancy) produced a decline in implantations and uterine weight, while postimplantation dosing (Days 4-8 of pregnancy) increased resorptions to 100%, decreased uterine weight, and reduced serum progesterone without affecting the number of implantations, ovarian weight, or number of corpora lutea. The DCR of pseudopregnancy was inhibited by 500 mg/kg/day MXC when administered either pre- or postimplantation, but 200 mg/kg/day was without effect in either regimen. When hormonally primed, long-term ovariectomized rats were exposed to doses of 500 mg/kg/day, MXC blocked the induced DCR seen in controls. The data show that short-term MXC dosing during early pregnancy produces a dose-related infertility. The bloickade of pregnancy by the preimplantation administration of MXC may be mediated by a direct effect on preimplantation uterine development. The fetal resorption seen following postimplantation dosing is considered a manifestation of both reduced serum progesterone and the direct disruption of normal decidual development by MXC. PMID- 2609344 TI - Investigation into the mechanism of tetracycline-induced steatosis: study in isolated hepatocytes. AB - Tetracycline is known to cause hepatic dysfunction in humans by inducing steatosis. Accumulation of fat in the liver could result from biochemical effects at various levels in the sequence from protein and triglyceride synthesis to lipoprotein secretion. The effects of tetracycline on the synthesis and secretion of triglycerides and proteins were studied in isolated rat hepatocytes surviving in suspension for up to 2.5 hr. Interpretation of the results obtained for tetracycline was made by comparison with results obtained, under the same experimental conditions, for the well-known steatogenic compounds, cycloheximide and colchicine. The data indicate that tetracycline produces a concentration dependent inhibition of 14C-triglyceride secretion without affecting triglyceride synthesis. This inhibition explains the intracellular triglyceride accumulation. However, tetracycline does not affect protein secretion. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the effect of tetracycline on protein synthesis was not related to inhibition of triglyceride release. In conclusion, it is proposed that the effect of tetracycline could be at the level of the association between triglycerides and apoproteins to form lipoproteins. PMID- 2609345 TI - Genotoxicity of N-nitrosochlordiazepoxide in cultured mammalian cells. AB - Chlordiazepoxide, a benzodiazepine derivative commonly used for the treatment of anxiety, was found to react with sodium nitrite in HCl aqueous solution yielding, at pH ranging from 0.5 to 5,N-nitrosochlordiazepoxide (NO-CDE). In the absence of a metabolic activation system, a dose-dependent frequency of DNA single-strand breaks was revealed by the alkaline elution technique in V79 cells exposed to subtoxic NO-CDE concentrations ranging from 33 to 330 microM. DNA lesions were only partially repaired within 48 hr, and their promutagenic character was demonstrated by the induction of 6-thioguanine resistance in the same cells. The genotoxicity of NO-CDE was confirmed by results obtained in metabolically competent primary cultures of both rat and human hepatocytes, which displayed similar dose-related amounts of DNA fragmentation and of DNA repair synthesis after treatment with concentrations ranging from 33 to 1000 microM. In conclusions similar to those which might occur in the stomach of a patient taking chlordiazepoxide the concentration of NO-CDE in the reaction mixture (50 microM) was of the same order as the concentrations found to induce a genotoxic effect in cultured mammalian cells. PMID- 2609346 TI - Cigarette smoke causes inhibition of the immune response to intratracheally administered antigens. AB - Chronic inhalation of cigarette smoke in rats preferentially inhibited the plaque forming cell (PFC) response of lung-associated lymph nodes (LALN) to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), compared to anatomically distant lymph nodes. Inhibition of the antibody response in LALN of smoke-exposed animals was first detected at 21 weeks of smoke inhalation and was well established by the 27th week of smoke exposure. After prolonged exposure (greater than 34 weeks) to cigarette smoke, similar smoke-induced changes in PFC response took place in other lymphoid tissues as well. Cigarette smoke affected the response of LALN cells to a T cell dependent antigen (SRBC). Exposure to cigarette smoke, however, did not alter the relative percentages of W3/13-positive (T cells) or Ig-positive (B cells) cells, nor did it alter the relative percentages of T cell subsets as scored by their surface phenotypes, i.e., T helper (W3/25+) or T suppressor/cytotoxic (OX-8+) cells. The percentage of phagocytic cells and the accessory cell functions of macrophages remained comparable between sham and smoke-exposed animals. Exposure to cigarette smoke did not significantly alter the response of LALN cells to T cell mitogens (concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin). However, response to a T cell-independent antigen trinitrophenyl Brucella abortus was also significantly reduced. These results show that cigarette exposure in the rat results in a decreased antibody response and this exposure to cigarette smoke may primarily affect the B cell function. PMID- 2609347 TI - Reduction of anguidine toxicity in rats by atropine and methylatropine. AB - Lethality of anguidine (diacetoxyscirpenol) in rats and mice appears to be the result of primary or secondary cardiovascular collapse and to be related to severe tissue destruction in the gut and elsewhere. Experiments were performed in rats to examine the effect on anguidine lethality of treatment with several agents that alter gut function or toxic effects of other chemicals in the gut. Administration of atropine sulfate or methylatropine nitrate by sc injection to rats immediately following administration of an LD50 of anguidine and again 4 hr later gave modest but significant protection against anguidine lethality. The drugs were effective over a range of doses between 2.5 and 20 mg/kg, without a clear dose response, and probably were effective at doses lower than 2.5 mg/kg. S Adenosylmethionine, 25 mg/kg, given to rats at the time of administration of an LD50 of anguidine and again 4 hr later gave some evidence of protection also. Semiquantitative evaluation of pathologic changes in the small intestine, a target of anguidine, indicated partial protection by atropine sulfate against anguidine toxicity at that site. Atropine-treated rats showed less severe damage, earlier resolution of damage, or both. PMID- 2609348 TI - Halomethane hepatotoxicity: induction of lipid peroxidation and inactivation of cytochrome P-450 in rat liver microsomes under low oxygen partial pressures. AB - Halomethane-induced lipid peroxidation and inactivation of cytochrome P-450 were studied in liver microsomes from phenobarbital-pretreated rats in the presence of NADPH at steady-state O2 partial pressures (PO2). As indicated by the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material and the stimulation of O2 uptake, significant lipid peroxidation was induced by those halomethanes containing more than two Cl, Br, or I atoms. Lipid peroxidation decisively depended on the PO2 present, showing distinct maxima at PO2 between 1 and 10 mm Hg. Those halomethanes inducing lipid peroxidation also led to inactivation of microsomal cytochrome P-450, as indicated by a loss of cytochrome P-450 detectable as ferrous CO complex and an equimolar loss of microsomal heme. Under anaerobic conditions inactivation of cytochrome P-450 presumably resulted solely from an attack of halomethane radicals on its heme moiety. Under aerobic conditions lipid peroxidation made an additional contribution to the inactivation of cytochrome P 450. These results suggest that the reductive activation to free radicals, catalyzed by cytochrome P-450, and thus the induction of lipid peroxidation at low but physiological PO2 are characteristic not only of CCl4 but also of other polyhalogenated methanes, especially CBrCl3, CBr4, CHI3, CHBr3, and CHBr2Cl. PMID- 2609349 TI - Alteration of respiratory cycle timing by propranolol. AB - The present study was undertaken to explore the effect of propranolol on respiratory cycle timing and breathing pattern using mice and guinea pigs. Propranolol was administered via aerosol or via injection. Mice exposed to propranolol aerosols exhibited a breathing pattern that was characterized by a pause between breaths. The length of such pauses (TP) increased as the propranolol exposure concentration was raised. We also observed at increasing propranolol concentrations that the time of inspiration (TI) and time of expiration (TE) decreased. Thus, the respiratory rate of these animals was seen to increase, remain unchanged, or decrease depending on the balance between TP versus TI and TE. Guinea pigs also exhibited pauses between breaths during exposure to propranolol aerosols, but such pauses were not observed as consistently as in mice. TP again rose while TI and TE fell in guinea pigs exposed to increasing propranolol concentrations. This species was, however, less sensitive than mice. Intraperitoneal injections of propranolol failed to elicit such alterations in respiratory pattern or timing in either species. These changes in respiratory timing obtained with an aerosol of propranolol were most probably due to a local effect on vagal nerve endings or to its bronchoconstricting effect. PMID- 2609350 TI - Modulation of the embryotoxicity and cytotoxicity elicited by 7-hydroxy-2 acetylaminofluorene and acetaminophen via deacetylation. AB - Acetaminophen (APAP) and 7-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (7-OH-AAF) each produced a similar incidence of, as well as a qualitatively similar, abnormal closure of the anterior neuropore at similar concentrations when added to the medium of cultured rat embryos. At concentrations producing a 50-65% incidence of abnormal neurulation, the affected embryos displayed relatively complete embryonic development as assessed from measurements of protein, axial rotation, and embryonic length. The neural tube defect produced by these agents consisted of elevated neural folds remaining separated by approximately 45 degrees as well as the presence of a mitotically active neural epithelium. In contrast, the nonacetylated structures, p-aminophenol (PAP) and 7-hydroxyaminofluorene (7-OH AF), were embryotoxic at concentrations 10-fold lower than the corresponding acetylated compounds; each produced a greater incidence of abnormal axial rotation and a greater decrease in embryonic protein than APAP or 7-OH-AAF. In addition, the embryos exposed to PAP or 7-OH-AF were morphologically and histologically dissimilar to those exposed to the acetylated compounds. The neural folds of the latter remained elevated and in apposition, but lacked complete fusion of the folds of neural epithelium and were accompanied by marked cytotoxicity. Addition of active deacetylase sources (guinea pig liver microsomes or commercially obtained, purified carboxylic-ester hydrolase) to the culture medium of conceptuses exposed to 7-OH-AAF or APAP resulted in an increased embryotoxicity which was indistinguishable from that produced by the nonacetylated compounds alone. The increases in toxicity were effectively blocked by the addition of paraoxon, indicating that catalysis of the deacetylation of APAP and 7-OH-AAF was the causative factor. No evidence could be found for deacetylation of 7-OH-AAF or APAP mediated by the Day 10 conceptus itself. When examined for cytotoxicity in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells, APAP and 7-OH-AAF each produced observable cell death only if reduced glutathione (GSH) had previously been depleted and if a deacetylase source were present; this cytotoxicity was also blocked by addition of paraoxon. The nonacetylated metabolites were directly cytotoxic, although GSH depletion greatly increased the incidence of cell death. Therefore, deacetylation of APAP and 7-OH-AAF produced an increase in generalized embryotoxicity and cytotoxicity relative to abnormal neurulation, suggesting that APAP and 7-OH-AAF are capable of eliciting neural tube defects via a mechanism(s) that is distinguishable from the generalized embryotoxicity or cytotoxicity produced by their nonacetylated counterparts. PMID- 2609351 TI - General practitioners radiology casebook XVII. Ameloblastoma. PMID- 2609352 TI - The effectiveness of a school-based oral health education program--a pilot study. AB - The aim of this study was to determine the short term effectiveness of an oral health education (OHE) program on a group of coloured school children. The variables measured were the level of oral hygiene and the knowledge of oral health care. All Sub A, B and Std. 1 pupils at the Levana Primary School in Retreat took part in the pilot study. A representative sample, stratified by sex, was randomly drawn from each class. Oral hygiene levels were measured by means of the Debris Index-Simplified (Greene and Vermillion, 1964). Additionally, all pupils were exposed to a set of questions to determine their level of knowledge of oral health care. Assessments were carried out before intervention (baseline) and at 1 and 3 month intervals (post-course 1 and 2). The results of this study indicate that the OHE program is effective in meeting the basic requirements within the school framework. Recommendations are made to improve the current OHE program. The evaluation of the impact of the OHE program has provided a basis for further longterm investigation and systematic planning. PMID- 2609353 TI - [Semi-microanalytical method of fluoride determination in enamel biopsies]. AB - When making use of potentiometric micro-analytical methods in fluoride determination, only a portion of the lantanium fluoride (LaF) crystal of the fluoride electrode is employed. Although there is no difference in sensitivity when using either the total surface or a part of the surface of the LaF crystal, there are advantages in using the total surface of the crystal. For the purpose of utilizing these advantages to a maximum, a semi-micro-analytical method of fluoride determination was developed. A perspex electrode container with a specimen capacity of 50 microliters was designed and constructed in order to bring the total surface of the LaF crystal into contact with the testing solution. Due to the inexpensive and simple design of the containers there are practically no restrictions on the number that could be employed. The solution obtained from a single enamel biopsy could be used for at least two or three analyses. The results obtained by employing the technique described, showed that the method is precise and accurate. The semi-microanalytical method offers an alternative to the micro-analytical method of fluoride determination in enamel biopsies. PMID- 2609354 TI - Probes for the general dental practitioner. PMID- 2609355 TI - Correlations of dimensional and discrete dental traits in the post-canine and anterior dental segments. AB - The present study explores the associations of metric and discrete variation in human canines and first molars. Emphasis is placed on the relation between tooth size and the various grades of expression of the canine distal accessory ridge (CDAR) and Carabelli's trait, in order to test the hypothesis that metric and non metric variation in the posterior teeth are less well integrated than in the anterior teeth. Metric and discrete dental data were gathered from 120 Lengua Indians (52 male, 68 female), 100 Negroes (52 male, 48 female) and 100 caucasoids (50 male, 50 female). Our results indicate that first maxillary molar size and the Carabelli trait vary independently of one another. Similarly, variation in canine size and in the CDAR appears to be independently determined. Hence it is concluded that tooth size and morphology in the maxillary canines and molars are poorly integrated, irrespective of intra-arcadal position. Furthermore, sex dimorphism and interpopulation differences in the expressivity of Carabelli's trait and the CDAR appear to be unrelated to odontometric differences. PMID- 2609356 TI - Oral health status of patients seeking emergency dental care in Transkei. AB - The oral health status of a rural Black population seeking dental treatment was determined at three separate locations in Transkei. Of the patients who presented for treatment 92 per cent were suffering from acute or chronic pain. The main reason for seeking care was pain resulting from dental caries (84 per cent). Inadequate oral hygiene practice was uniformly evident in all the patients at the three locations, as well as within all the age groups. The pattern of gingival bleeding was also comparable by age and location and its distribution closely parallelled the oral debris scores. The mean DMFT for the total population (n = 290) was 5,7 (s.d. 6,1); and 17,0 per cent were caries-free. Caries was more widespread and severe in the patients at the military base in Port St Johns where the mean DMFT of 10,6 differed greatly from the mean DMFT scores of patients at Port St. Johns (3,6) and Elliotdale (4,5). Untreated dental decay accounted for a large percentage of the DMFT at all three sites but in the military group, the untreated decay component, (60,4 per cent of the DMFT), was the highest. With the stratification of the data by age, the average DMFT (8,4), was highest in the 31 50 age group. PMID- 2609357 TI - General practitioner's radiology casebook XVIII. Gunshot wound of the mandible. PMID- 2609358 TI - Proceedings of the LeMaire Symposium, Part II. Miami, Florida, December 1-2, 1988. PMID- 2609359 TI - Fibronectin in reproduction. AB - The fibronectin (FN) levels in human follicular fluids have been shown to correlate well with follicular size and oocyte maturity, suggesting a role of FN in oocyte maturation. When added to the culture medium, the synthetic peptide Gly Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS), which specifically inhibits the cell-binding of FN, has been shown to inhibit both spontaneous resumption of meiosis and gonadotropin releasing hormone-induced meiosis of the oocytes. In another set of experiments, GRGDS has been found to inhibit the in vitro cleavage of mouse embryos by a still unknown mechanism. PMID- 2609360 TI - Endocrine characterization of a human ovarian carcinoma (BG-1) established in nude mice. AB - The steroid receptor-positive human ovarian cancer (BG-1) was evaluated to determine its usefulness as a tumor model. This tumor grows in intact male and female nude mice without hormone supplements. Moreover, its growth was significantly accelerated in ovariectomized mice, and the increased growth rate could be reversed by estradiol administration. Evaluation of tumor growth following endocrine therapy revealed that, while antiandrogens did not affect the tumor growth, both an aromatase inhibitor and a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist significantly impaired growth of this human ovarian tumor. Estradiol was also shown to up-regulate both estrogen and progesterone receptors in tumors grown in ovariectomized mice. Therefore, the BG-1 human ovarian carcinoma grows without hormonal supplements and yet responds to specific forms of endocrine therapy. Moreover, the steroid receptors present in this tumor respond to exogenous steroids. In conclusion, this tumor may serve as an ideal model for the study of hormonal regulation of ovarian tumor growth. PMID- 2609361 TI - Biosynthesis of androgens by pheochromocytomas. AB - Homogenates from four adrenal pheochromocytomas converted 4-14C-labeled pregnenolone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone into androstenedione and testosterone. In addition to these androgens, labeled pregnane substrates were also transformed into corticosteroids, as previously reported, and this conversion occurred in even higher yield. The formation of labeled metabolites of either pathway was greater in homogenates from intraadrenal pheochromocytomas than in those derived from an extraadrenal tumor, but less than in preparations of hyperplastic adrenal cortex. Incubations of subcellular fractions isolated from an adrenal pheochromocytoma showed that the enzyme activities involved in androgen formation from the radioactive substrates studied were associated with the microsomes and required exogenous cofactors. In contrast to adrenocortical tissue, chromaffin cell preparations uniformly failed to convert substrate [4-14C] cholesterol into either androgens or corticosteroids. The data available demonstrate the presence in chromaffin tissue of all of the enzyme activities required for the biosynthesis of androgens and corticosteroids except for those involved in the side-chain scission of cholesterol. PMID- 2609362 TI - Economic stress and suicide: multilevel analyses. Part 1: Aggregate time-series analyses of economic stress and suicide. AB - Of the research on health and economic stress, the approach that has produced the strongest findings has been the aggregate time-series analysis of unemployment and suicide rates. A review of the literature indicates that this aggregate work has been disputed on both methodological and interpretive grounds. To address these issues, two studies of the relationship between economic stress and suicide were conducted on the same population. The first, reported in this paper (Part 1), replicated the aggregate time-series work with improvements in method, using monthly data for 1975-1982 for Los Angeles. A second study (reported in Part 2) combined aggregate economic indicators with individual-level measures of stressful events, symptoms, and suicidal ideation. PMID- 2609363 TI - Economic stress and suicide: multilevel analyses. Part 2: Cross-level analyses of economic stress and suicidal ideation. AB - This paper reports the second of two studies of the hypothesis that the economy affects suicide; both studies were based in the same community during approximately the same time period. Although many aggregate-level tests have been conducted using archival measures of unemployment and suicide (the approach used in Part 1), the impact of economic climate on suicidal ideation has not been measured at the individual level. In the study reported here, aggregate economic indicators were combined with individual-level measures of stressful events, symptoms, and suicidal ideation obtained in a survey of Los Angeles from 1978 to 1982. Each of the two studies revealed small associations between economic stress and suicide or suicidal ideation, but they were inconsistent with respect to specific subgroups. PMID- 2609364 TI - Self-mutilation and eating disorders. AB - Patients with eating disorders are at high risk for self-mutilation (e.g., skin cutting and burning), and vice versa. Evidence for this linkage comes from a literature review, from patient interviews, from responses to an instrument we have developed (the Self-Harm Behavior Survey), and from three instructive case reports. Even if the self-mutilation in these patients is regarded as a Borderline Personality Disorder symptom, DSM-IV should list it as an associated feature or a complication of Anorexia Nervosa/Bulimia Nervosa. In lieu of a dual diagnosis, we postulate that the combination of self-mutilation, anorexia, bulimia, and other symptoms (such as episodic alcohol abuse and swallowing foreign objects) may be manifestations of an impulse control disorder known as the "deliberate self-harm syndrome." PMID- 2609365 TI - Suicide trends in Australia, 1901-1985: an analysis of sex differentials. AB - This paper analyzes trends in the male-female suicide ratio in Australia, using data for the period 1901-1985. The main finding of the paper is that modernization, as measured by an index composed of the female participation rate in the labor force and the urbanization rate, is positively related to the male female suicide ratio. This is contrary to an earlier finding by Stack and Danigelis (1985), who reported an inverse relationship between these two variables. This finding is shown to be due to the fact that no correction was made for trend. When the data series are corrected for trend, a significant positive relationship is found between modernization and the male-female suicide ratio in Australia. Another finding of the paper is that the female suicide rate in Australia has been falling significantly since the mid-1960s. This is also at variance with Stack and Danigelis's hypothesis that as modernization proceeds, the female suicide rate rises. We discuss reasons for this in the Australian context. PMID- 2609366 TI - Suicidal behavior in adolescent and young adult gay men. AB - The relationship of homosexuality to suicidal behavior was explored by questionnaire responses from 52 men in gay-and-lesbian college organizations and 56 men in gay rap groups. A family background of alcoholism and physical abuse, social supports perceived as rejecting of homosexuality, and no religious affiliation were associated with a history of suicidal ideation, reported by 55% of the participants. Racial/ethnic minorities tended to be overrepresented among suicidal as compared to nonsuicidal gay men. Suicide attempts, reported by 20% of the sample, were most often associated with intrapersonal distress, and occurred most often while individuals were "closeted" and/or in the context of recent rejection for being homosexual. Nearly all attempters were aware of their homosexual feelings, but had not yet established a "positive gay identity" at the time of their first suicide attempt. Suicidal behavior in gay youths may be the product both of familial factors that predispose youths to suicidal behavior, and for social and intrapersonal stressors involved in coming to terms with an emerging homosexual identity. PMID- 2609367 TI - Case consultation. Malpractice. PMID- 2609368 TI - Delayed-type hypersensitivity and lymphocyte proliferation in response to Leishmania major infection in a group of children in Jericho. AB - The cellular response to Leishmania major was evaluated in vitro with a lymphocyte proliferation microtest, performed on 100 microliters of whole blood obtained by finger prick. The maximum time and optimum conditions for storage of fresh blood before testing were determined, and the ability of the assay to evaluate cellular immunity to Leishmania was compared to that of the classical Montenegro skin test. A positive correlation between the diameter of the skin induration and the stimulation index was demonstrated. Defining a positive skin test by induration greater than or equal to 5 mm, and a positive proliferation assay by a stimulation index greater than 2.6 and a response greater than or equal to 3000 ct/min, we found a significant correlation between the 2 tests. The proliferation assay was less sensitive than the skin test, but somewhat more specific. Diagnostic specificities and sensitivities did not differ for the 2 tests. PMID- 2609369 TI - Active transmission of Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis in the Serra de Mar forest, Sao Paulo, Brazil. PMID- 2609370 TI - Two new techniques for quantitative determination of Leishmania amastigotes. PMID- 2609371 TI - Didelphis marsupialis, an apparent wild reservoir of Leishmania donovani chagasi in Colombia, South America. PMID- 2609372 TI - Alterations in thyroid function in patients with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection. PMID- 2609373 TI - Serological survey of toxoplasmosis in the Santa Cruz region of Bolivia. PMID- 2609374 TI - A rapid method for hatching infective eggs of Toxocara canis. PMID- 2609375 TI - A laboratory study on the possible use of Helisoma duryi in the biological control of Bulinus africanus, intermediate host of Schistosoma haematobium. AB - In order to evaluate the possible use of Helisoma duryi as biological competitor of Bulinus africanus, life-tables were compiled for these two snail species maintained either in the presence of each other, or separately. Population parameters were calculated from these life-tables and it was found that H. duryi had a higher innate capacity of increase, net reproduction rate and growth rate as well as a longer lifespan and reproductive period than Bu. africanus. Furthermore, the biological potential of Bu. africanus was found to be adversely affected in the presence of H. duryi. It was concluded that the latter might be capable of replacing Bu. africanus in certain freshwater habitats and that field trials ought to be undertaken in South Africa. PMID- 2609376 TI - Prevalence of intestinal helminth infections among Chinese schoolchildren in Macao City. PMID- 2609377 TI - Patterns of infection with Giardia in dogs in London. PMID- 2609378 TI - Density-dependent fecundity of Opisthorchis viverrini in humans, based on faecal recovery of flukes. PMID- 2609379 TI - Replication, tissue tropisms and transmission of yellow fever virus in Aedes albopictus. AB - Experimental studies undertaken to ascertain the dynamics of yellow fever virus replication in an introduced strain (Houston) of the Asian mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), indicate that this species is an efficient vector of yellow fever virus. Replication of virus in Ae. albopictus could be detected 3 d after feeding on a suspension containing 7.2 log10 Vero cell plaque forming units (PFU) per ml of virus; peak titres (3.5 log10 PFU/mosquito) occurred 7 d after exposure. Viral antigen, visualized by immunofluorescence, was first detected in midgut cells 4 d after exposure and appeared in fat cells 7 d after exposure. The only other mosquito tissues revealing viral antigen were the salivary glands, brain, and occasionally cells of the suboesophageal ganglion. Viral antigen was not detected in any of the tissues of the reproductive tract, nor could viral genomic ribonucleic acid (RNA) be detected in these tissues by RNA-RNA molecular hybridization in situ. We detected no vertical transmission of yellow fever virus in 6180 F1 adult progeny produced from infected females. The extrinsic incubation period at 26.7 degrees C was 9 d. We conclude that the Houston strain of Ae. albopictus is a competent vector of yellow fever virus and can serve as bridging vector between the jungle yellow fever cycle and the urban cycle in New World ecosystems. PMID- 2609380 TI - Baseline seroepidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in two Saudi high-risk groups: patients on haemodialysis and patients with congenital bleeding disorders. AB - Because background seroepidemiological data are required before nationwide vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) is attempted, the rate of exposure to HBV was investigated in two high-risk Saudi groups: patients on haemodialysis and patients with congenital bleeding disorders. Although the HBsAg carrier rate was higher in patients with congenital bleeding disorders (11.1%) than in patients on haemodialysis (4.6%), the exposure rate to HBV was similar in both groups (38.8% 44.5%). Because of this high exposure rate it seems cost-effective, at least in the Saudi population or in countries which are endemic for HBV, to screen for HBV markers before vaccination against HBV is recommended. PMID- 2609381 TI - Histiocytic medullary reticulosis associated with positive human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) serology in two African patients. PMID- 2609382 TI - Collateral effects of bednets impregnated with permethrin against bedbugs (Cimicidae) in Papua New Guinea. PMID- 2609383 TI - Changes in the relative frequency of occurrence of infestations of two sympatric species of bedbug in northern Natal and KwaZulu, South Africa. AB - Between 1983 and 1988 the frequency of Cimex hemipterus infestations relative to C. lectularius increased near the Mozambique border and around main roads in the Nkundusi-Mfekayi area of South Africa (28 degrees 15'S; 30 degrees 23' E). In areas where both species were common, the observed number of doubly-infested huts equalled the expected. A hut infested by both bedbug species showed a significant change to a higher proportion of C. hemipterus in the adult population over 2 months. The general increase in C. hemipterus is thought to be due to the large influx of migrants into South Africa in recent years. PMID- 2609384 TI - In vitro studies of antibiotic sensitivities of Streptomyces somaliensis--a cause of human actinomycetoma. AB - Ten Streptomyces somaliensis strains isolated from mycetoma patients were tested in vitro against 13 antibacterial agents. Rifampicin was the most effective antibiotic in terms of low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) followed by erythromycin, tobramycin, fusidic acid and streptomycin sulphate. The S. somaliensis strains were all resistant to trimethoprim, even though the combination of sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim is commonly used as treatment. PMID- 2609385 TI - Immune function in adult highland Papua New Guinea patients with pneumonia. AB - Immune function and nutritional indices were studied in adult highland Papua New Guinea (PNG) patients with pneumonia, PNG highland controls and expatriate controls living in the Papua New Guinea highlands. Compared to PNG controls, pneumonia patients had higher serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G concentrations, higher salivary IgA:albumin ratios, lower total body weights and a haematological pattern suggesting iron deficiency. PNG controls and pneumonia patients had fewer circulating CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes than expatriate controls. The proportion of lymphocytes carrying neither T nor B cell markers was higher in PNG subjects than in expatriate controls. These observations indicate that PNG adult pneumonia patients are a distinguishable subpopulation of PNG adults who may be more susceptible than the general population to pneumonia. Decreased circulating T lymphocyte numbers may be, or reflect, a separate risk factor for the entire population. PMID- 2609386 TI - Tropical pyomyositis in the Solomon Islands: clinical and aetiological features. AB - A prospective study of tropical pyomyositis (TP) in the Solomon Islands' Western Province followed 48 cases (mean age 10.6 years) from a population of 20,000 Melanesians over a two-year period. 32 patients were under 10 years and the male:female ratio was 1.7. Affected muscle was painful, swollen and often fluctuant but hard and indurated in presuppurative lesions. Abscesses, single in 40 and multiple in 8 subjects, were sited in the large muscles of the buttock, thigh, shoulder, arm and back on 52 occasions (90%). They contained 5-200 ml of pus which invariably grew penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sensitive to cloxacillin and erythromycin. All phage typable strains were identified as group 2 in contrast to the wider range of types found at carrier sites in otherwise healthy controls. TP was preceded by trauma in 30 cases (63%) and 26 (55%) of the patients had pre-existing pyoderma. Histological examination of clinically unaffected muscle biopsies from 10 subjects with solitary (7) or multiple (3) abscesses showed no abnormality. Serological evidence of previous infection with adenoviruses or myxoviruses was present in the same proportion (41-42%) of controls as of 22 patients tested. The results provide no evidence for antecedent diffuse myositis, viral or parasitic infections or nutritional deficiencies but support the role of trauma in localizing haematogenous skin staphylococci into damaged muscle. PMID- 2609387 TI - Nutritional status and risk of morbidity among young Gambian children allowing for social and environmental factors. AB - A prospective study of the relationship between anthropometric indices and subsequent morbidity was conducted during 2 seasons in young children in an urban Gambian community. Children with low height-for-age at the beginning of the rainy season had a significantly higher prevalence of diarrhoea and fever during the next 4 months, even after controlling for the possible confounding effects of a range of social, economic and environmental factors. The association was weaker in the dry season. This indicates that the increased prevalence of symptoms among stunted children is not solely attributable to environmental factors, and suggests that impaired growth is associated with impaired host response to infection. PMID- 2609388 TI - An improved method to make sequential deletion mutants for DNA sequencing. PMID- 2609389 TI - Ice nucleation as a 'reporter' of gene transcriptional activity. PMID- 2609390 TI - In situ hybridization of Drosophila polytene chromosomes with digoxigenin-dUTP labeled probes. PMID- 2609391 TI - Proceedings of the Second International Samuel L. Kountz Symposium on renal disease and transplantation in blacks. March 28-31, 1989, Washington, D.C. PMID- 2609392 TI - HLA diversity within the context of general human heterogeneity: anthropological perspectives. PMID- 2609393 TI - Heterogeneity of the HLA-D region in American blacks. PMID- 2609394 TI - Does kidney distribution based upon HLA matching discriminate against blacks? PMID- 2609395 TI - HLA: a legacy of human evolution. PMID- 2609396 TI - The black population in the United States. PMID- 2609397 TI - HLA antigens in Nigerians and their relevance to transplantation in Afro Americans. PMID- 2609398 TI - An update of the End-Stage Renal Disease Program at Howard University Hospital. AB - There exists an overrepresentation of black patients in the ESRD programs at the national and regional levels. There is an increasing number of dialysis patients at the older age groups. The dialysis patients at HUH are much younger when compared to the national and regional data, especially when the three major causes of ESRD--hypertension, diabetes, and glomerulonephritis--are considered. This study demonstrates that black patients develop ESRD at a much younger age. Since both diabetes and hypertension are treatable, there is a need for more aggressive therapy of these conditions to prevent this premature onset of ESRD in blacks. Fifteen percent of patients with ESRD secondary to glomerular disease have an associated history of i.v. drug abuse, which could be responsible for the disease. The glomerular disease may not be treatable but may be preventable. However, this requires combined educational, social, and economic effort. Programs designed to control these three major causes of ESRD may be much less costly than supporting the current treatment modalities of ESRD. PMID- 2609399 TI - Sexual function and mental distress status of patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. AB - There were changes in the sexual functioning of the patient with ESRD after starting hemodialysis. This was marked by decrease in the sex urge, the frequency of intercourse, and the level of satisfaction. The majority of the male patients reported some amount of morning erection, indicating reasons other than physiologic reasons for their sexual dysfunction. The level of mental distress was very low, and younger patients may suffer from a higher level of mental stress. Intervention through individual counseling and sex therapy may be beneficial to most of these patients. PMID- 2609400 TI - Race, a cofactor in HIV-1-associated nephropathy. PMID- 2609401 TI - Risk factors for renal disease in a Native American community. PMID- 2609402 TI - End-stage renal disease in southwestern Native Americans, with special focus on the Zuni and Navajo Indians. PMID- 2609403 TI - Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis in southwestern American Indians. PMID- 2609404 TI - Diabetic renal disease in Pima Indians. AB - Diabetic renal disease is a major source of morbidity and mortality in Pima Indians. Excess mortality in NIDDM occurs principally in those with proteinuria regardless of whether death is due to cardiovascular or renal disease. Diabetes duration is a strong predictor of diabetic renal disease. Additional predictors include blood pressure, severity of diabetes, and, most likely, genetic or shared environmental determinants. The incidence rate of diabetic renal disease in Pima Indians with NIDDM is similar to that reported for subjects with IDDM with equivalent durations of diabetes. These observations suggest that clinical proteinuria and renal failure may occur in patients with NIDDM just as frequently as in those with IDDM. This finding has important implications and suggests that the variations in the frequency and age of onset of NIDDM among different populations and ethnic groups may be primarily responsible for the apparent variations in the frequency of ESRD associated with diabetes in different populations. Furthermore, diabetic renal disease appears to account for virtually all of the excess mortality associated with diabetes among Pima Indians and may perhaps do so in other populations. Improved survival of persons with NIDDM, an increasing incidence of this disease, and a relatively early age of onset in many populations could lead to a dramatic increase in the incidence of ESRD in the future. On the other hand, if diabetic renal disease and its consequences could be prevented, a profound improvement in the longevity and quality of life of those afflicted with diabetes might be possible. PMID- 2609405 TI - Demographic and transplantation trends among minority groups. AB - There are a number of real and perceived problems in regard to transplantation in the heterogeneous population such as exists in California, represented by a single large transplant center serving a large geographic region. At least in this region. Asians and blacks appear to be reasonably well represented in access to cadaveric transplantation. The apparent underrepresentation of Hispanics in regard to their expected incidence of ESRD is unexplained but may be reflected by socioeconomic and language considerations. The outcomes in all groups appear very good following cadaveric transplantation, although there is a trend toward a slight impairment in graft survival among black recipients. In a small series of HLA-identical black recipients of HLA-identical donor grafts, there is no evidence of impaired graft survival. This article did not address the rather small participation of minority groups in organ donation, but the large minority population of blacks, Hispanics, and Asians contributes only 12% of the organs donated in our region. PMID- 2609406 TI - Kidney transplantation in blacks at the University of Wisconsin. PMID- 2609407 TI - The influence of recipient race on renal allograft survival: a single institution analysis. PMID- 2609408 TI - Renal transplantation in the American black. PMID- 2609409 TI - Results of renal transplantation in Miami analyzed by race. PMID- 2609410 TI - Renal transplantation in the black population with systemic lupus erythematosus: a single center experience. PMID- 2609411 TI - Future strategies in immunosuppression: problems and potential for the induction of specific unresponsiveness to organ allografts in clinical transplantation. PMID- 2609412 TI - Renal transplantation in blacks: impact of immunosuppressive regimens. PMID- 2609413 TI - Impact of race on the outcome of renal transplantation under cyclosporine prednisone. PMID- 2609414 TI - Total lymphoid irradiation in kidney transplantation. PMID- 2609415 TI - The cyclosporine-sparing effects of diltiazem in renal transplantation. PMID- 2609416 TI - Transplantation in Hispanics: the Puerto Rico experience. PMID- 2609417 TI - Erectile dysfunction posttransplant. PMID- 2609418 TI - Liver transplantation in black recipients: Pittsburgh. PMID- 2609419 TI - Racial differences in organ donation, recipient diseases, and survival following liver transplantation. PMID- 2609420 TI - Pancreas transplants in blacks and whites. PMID- 2609421 TI - The role of blacks in blood donation and the organ and tissue transplantation process. PMID- 2609422 TI - Organ donation in blacks and minorities in Houston: strategies for educating potential donor families. PMID- 2609423 TI - Availability of suitable kidney transplant donors from an ICU population: a pilot study. PMID- 2609424 TI - Renal transplant patients' health beliefs. PMID- 2609425 TI - Noncompliance in renal transplant recipients: evaluation by socioeconomic groups. PMID- 2609426 TI - Noncompliance in renal transplant recipients: methods for recognition and intervention. PMID- 2609427 TI - The effects of behavioral intervention with patients, nurses, and family members on dietary noncompliance in chronic hemodialysis patients. PMID- 2609428 TI - The black diet versus the renal diet: bridging the gap. PMID- 2609429 TI - Bridging the gap between black food preferences and the renal diet. PMID- 2609430 TI - Hill coefficients and the logistic equation. PMID- 2609431 TI - The association of nephrotic syndrome and renal vein thrombosis: a clinicopathological analysis of eight pediatric patients. AB - Cases with a pathological diagnosis of renal venous thrombosis (RVT) associated with nephrotic syndrome (NS) were studied retrospectively for clinicopathological evaluation. The material consisted of 21 RVT cases which were diagnosed in 2000 consecutive pediatric necropsies, with an overall incidence of about one percent. Eight of the 21 RVT cases were associated with nephrotic syndrome (34%), and this group formed 0.4 percent of the total necropsies in our pediatric center. The glomerulopathies of these nephrotic patients consisted of three cases of Finnish type congenital NS (FCNS), three cases of renal amyloidosis secondary to familial Mediterranean fever, and two cases of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). The presence of sepsis associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation, and the morphological age of the thrombi suggested that the RVT was secondary to sepsis in the FCNS cases. In the MPGN and secondary renal amyloidosis cases, the long duration of both the nephrotic state and the administration of diuretics along with glucocorticoid treatment and also the newly formed thrombi without infarction are strong evidences, although not definite, that the RVT developed as a complication of the glomerulopathy. Even though there were no definite clinical criteria for the diagnosis of most of the RVT cases, we would like to emphasize the importance of flank pain, the rapid deterioration of renal functions in a stable nephrotic patient, as well as the hypercoagulable state in the consideration of the development of RVT which indicate the need for appropriate radiological studies for confirmation of this condition during life. PMID- 2609432 TI - Long-term prognosis of poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis. AB - Five hundred and eighty-eight patients diagnosed as having PSAGN were treated at our University Hospital and called in for a reevaluation study in 1988 to determine the long-term prognosis of the disease. Fifty-nine patients responded to the follow-up call, all of them being in good physical health. The blood pressure, urinalysis, serum creatinine, blood urea and beta 1C globulin levels were within normal limits. These results led us to the conclusion that the long term prognosis was favorable in our PSAGN patients since chronic renal failure had not been encountered. PMID- 2609433 TI - Diluted yogurt (ayran) versus water in dissolving oral rehydration salts. AB - Seventy-six children with gastroenteritis were treated with oral rehydration salts dissolved in ayran (diluted yogurt), and eighty patients were treated with oral rehydration salts dissolved in water. The patients whose ages ranged between three and twelve months accepted both solutions equally. However, the acceptance of the ayran-based solution was significantly greater than WHO's salt solution in the patients whose ages ranged between one and four years. It is proposed that ayran be used to dissolve oral rehydration salts in the treatment of diarrhea since it is more palatable and easily acceptable by children. PMID- 2609434 TI - Physical growth measurements of 18,719 primary school children living in Adana, Turkey. AB - Height and weight measurements of 18,719 healthy children were obtained and the results were compared with those obtained from children living in several regions of Turkey and the USA. The results of these measurements differed significantly. This study demonstrates that local growth standards should be established and used in the evaluation of children. PMID- 2609435 TI - Multiple primary hydatid cysts of the brain. AB - A rare case of multiple primary hydatid cysts of the brain is presented in a 15 year-old boy. The largest of the seven cysts located on the right hemisphere measured six cm across, while the smallest one was one cm in diameter. Detailed studies revealed no evidence of hydatid disease elsewhere in the body. The growth rate of an untreated cyst was about ten cm per year determined by follow-up computerized tomography. Since the only treatment of cerebral hydatid cysts is surgery, with removal of the cysts intact, surgical intervention should be considered in every case, even in the event of multiple recurrences. PMID- 2609436 TI - Hemobilia from a ruptured hepatic artery aneurysm in a 16-year-old girl. AB - A 16-year-old girl with hepatic artery aneurysm due to fibromuscular dysplasia which caused hemobilia is presented. This most unusual and life-threatening type of gastrointestinal bleeding was successfully treated by ligation of the common hepatic and gastroduodenal arteries. The clinical aspects and operative procedures of hepatic artery aneurysm are discussed. PMID- 2609437 TI - Meckel syndrome in twins. AB - Meckel syndrome in twins is presented. Although several families have been reported as having this syndrome in more than one member, this is the first instance that twins having this disorder have been reported. We wish to emphasize the importance of genetic counselling in such a case in which prenatal diagnosis is possible. PMID- 2609438 TI - Acute hemolytic anemia caused by irregular rifampicin therapy. AB - Acute hemolytic anemia characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, vertigo, lumbar pain pallor and high fever due to an irregular and high dose of rifampicin is described in a 13-year-old girl during her treatment for tuberculosis. The presence of rifampicin-dependent antibodies was identified by special tests. PMID- 2609439 TI - Diastematomyelia: a report of two cases. AB - Two cases of diastematomyelia are presented and the related literature is reviewed. Diastematomyelia, a complete or incomplete sagittal division of the neural axis into two halves, is usually accompanied by a number of other malformations. One of the cases in this paper appeared to have an epidermoid tumor which is rarely associated with this seldom seen congenital anomaly. Diastematomyelia, which becomes symptomatic in childhood, requires early surgical intervention to relieve the tethering effect on the cord by removal of the splitting pathology which is thought to be the main cause of neurological deterioration in the ensuing years. PMID- 2609440 TI - [Prescription errors--is the delivery statement ideal?]. PMID- 2609441 TI - [Polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type II]. AB - The polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type II, (Schmidts syndrome), is defined as coexistence of two of the diseases: Addison's disease, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and autoimmune thyroid disease. The first endocrine deficiency state typically develops after the age of twenty and in most cases it is Addison's disease. The prevalence is approximately 5 per 100,000. The syndrome occurs within families in half of the cases. The immunological mechanism is not finally determined, but both the humoral and cellular systems seem to be involved and furthermore there is an association with the major histocompatibility complex. Whereas treatment of the components in polyglandular autoimmune syndrome is straightforward, diagnosis may be troublesome: Patients with Addison's disease may be biochemically hypothyroid the first months of corticosteroid treatment. Patients with myxedema show decreased urine excretion of 17-ketosteroids until thyroid substitution treatment is sufficient. A decreased insulin requirement or increased frequency of hypoglycaemic attacks may be the first sign of an adrenocortical hypofunction in diabetic patients. Patients with one autoimmune disease and their relatives are predisposed to (other) autoimmune diseases. PMID- 2609442 TI - [Prescription habits. Illustrated by a random sample]. AB - With the object of illustrating prescribing habits and errors in prescriptions, a randomized sample of 1,000 prescriptions was employed from the prescriptions from a single day. The main result of the investigation is that, in general, a great proportion of errors occur as 61.7% of the prescriptions were incorrect. Errors concerning limiting of issue and indications of reasons for use are particularly noticeable. Only 48% of the drugs prescribed for which limitation of issue is compulsory and 32.4% of all preparations do not show the indication for use. The alterations in the circular on dispensing issued by the Danish Board of Health with the object of prompting doctors to write multiple prescriptions and always to give the indication for employment of the preparation concerned are thus far from fulfilled. Employment of telephonic prescriptions is still extensively employed as nearly 50% of all prescriptions are given by telephone and the intention of the circular that telephone prescriptions should only be employed in special circumstances is thus far from fulfilled. The present authors find the the doctors' duty to provide the indications for use should be emphasized on account of control of prescriptions in the pharmacies and ensuring correct medication for the patients concerned. Similarly is should be deliberated whether the requirement of endorsing prescriptions for reissue of B preparations should be maintained and measures for limitation of the use of telephonic prescriptions should be limited with due respect to the advantages and disadvantages of these. PMID- 2609443 TI - [Errors in prescriptions and control of prescriptions]. AB - In Denmark, there is a tradition for strict control and safety measures in connection with prescribing and dispensing medicine in order to avoid undesirable or incorrect intake of medicine. The basis for this is the circular on dispensing from the Danish Board of Health which provides guidelines for composition of prescriptions by doctors and the control function by pharmacists. The object of this investigation is to describe the material of incorrect prescriptions which pharmacists are required to collect in connection with control of prescriptions. The investigation is based on material collected during a period of one month in the County of Arhus. The commonest type of erroneous prescription is incorrect statement of the strength of the preparation. This was found in 44.3% of the collected prescriptions. Another common problem is absence of the endorsement "for a child" and absence of the age of the child in prescriptions for these. In the material of incorrect prescriptions, statistically significantly more prescriptions were written by hospital doctors and secretaries. In contrast to ordinary prescriptions, telephone prescriptions are characterized a low frequency of errors as telephone prescriptions only constituted 8.2% of the erroneous material as compared with 47.8% in the conventional investigation. The authors consider that in a future revision of the circular on dispensing the requirement concerning repeated dispensing should be made more lenient and the indications and declarations of age should be more strict. Similarly, reduction in the synonymous preparations and the number of strengths should be reduced in order to facilitate clarity for the prescribing doctor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609444 TI - [Diagnostic activity in general practice. 1. Patients' contact patterns in rural and urban general practices]. AB - Contact with patients was described retrospectively for a period of five years by means of careful notes from the case records in five general practices in urban and rural areas chosen at random as a representative spot test. A total of 968 persons in group 1 of the Danish National Health Insurance (98-99% of the population), 485 men and 483 women or 9.7% of the group 1 insured persons over the age of 30 years had 10,410 consultations. This corresponds to 2.15 consultations per annum for persons in group 1 insurance. 91% of the patients visited the consultation. 17% of all the patient, twice as many women as men, were responsible for 50% of all the consultations. Women had 45% more consultations than men. Women in the age group 35-54 years constituted the group where most persons of the group visited general practice and this group had also the greatest total number of consultations, viz 30% of the total. Significantly more women than men had many consultations in this age group while significantly more men than women had only few consultations in the age group between 35-44 years. Expressed in percentages, the age group 55-64 years showed greatest similarity between men and women. Half of the men and slightly more than one third of all the women consulted their practitioners once per annum or more rarely. Patients of 75 years or over consulted their general practitioners most frequently. PMID- 2609445 TI - [Diagnostic activity in general practice. 2. Frequency of examination of urinary glucose and blood pressure determination among patients in general practice]. AB - In order to estimate how frequently examinations of urine for glucosuria and blood pressure measurements are performed in the primary health care sector to detect common incapacitating diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, the authors carried out a study in five general practices in Denmark for a period of five years. The study was retrospective because it is not possible to study one's own behaviour prospectively. Nearly 1,000 persons aged 30 years or more were involved. 9% of the group had no contact with the health care sector during the period. In 49%, the urine had been tested at least once for glucose; 58% where women were concerned but only 40% of the men. Men under the age of 55 years were significantly underrepresented. Examination of the urine was only undertaken in 51% of the persons aged 55-74 years. Twelve new cases of diabetes were discovered, nine of these were diagnosed in general practice. Hypertension had been diagnosed in 52 patients before the registration period. 60% of the remainder had blood pressure measurements on at least one occasion during the period. Men under 55 years were significantly underrepresented (42%). Sixty-four new cases of hypertension were discovered, 59 of these in general practice. Screening for common diseases such as these is primarily performed by general practitioner. Several other works from general practice where no special efforts were made to systematize screening for diabetes or hypertension did not reveal any better results. It is estimated that 25% of diabetic patients and 50% of hypertensive patients remain undiagnosed. The present rather random screening for these diseases is insufficient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609446 TI - [Shouting by elderly patients with dementia]. AB - "Shouters" is a term for elderly persons with dementia in whom noisy verbal behaviour is considered to be a problem by the surroundings. Despite the serious nature of the problem, it has not been described in more detail in the literature. An attempt is made to suggest a typological subdivision of "shouters" in this investigation. All elderly persons of 65 years and more who were admitted with the diagnosis of dementia during the period 1.4.1987-31.3.1988 to a gerontopsychiatric department were reviewed. Fourteen of these were described by the nursing staff as "shouters". Half of these presented dementia of multiple infarction type. The problematic behavior could be related to protests/anger, anxiety, loneliness/nostalgia, physical pain or uncertain/possible automatism or self-stimulation. Increased nursing measures or medication had no or only slight effect. PMID- 2609447 TI - [The choice of work clothes and the risk of ignition]. AB - Cotton is easily ignited in atmospheric air. Aramid (Nomex) is only ignited if the oxygen concentration is 30% and the ignition temperature is 800 degrees C. Thirty one steelmill employees used one hundred and twenty suits of working clothes made of cotton, cotton/polyamide, cotton/polyester or Aramid (Nomex) in a four month period. 17% were more comfortable when using cotton/polyester. No differences were found between cotton and Aramid. Cotton should not be used as textile for working clothes in environments with risks of ignition. PMID- 2609448 TI - [Eye injuries in Denmark. Based on a prospective study in a limited geographic area]. AB - A regional prospective casualty department investigation of patients with eye injuries is compared with recent Danish investigations on the subject. The frequency, causes and the primary sites of treatment are reviewed and the pattern of referral is followed. The investigation reveals that great regional differences exist as regards the frequency and the sites of primary treatment and that injuries sustained during leisure activities resemble occupational injuries. The combination of standardized casualty department treatment and the possibility of referral to a specialist or special department appears to be a good therapeutic model for acute eye injuries. PMID- 2609449 TI - [Urine cytology as a supplement to cystoscopy and biopsy in the control of bladder tumors]. AB - Throughout the years several investigations have either recommended or discredited exfoliative urine cytology because of high incidence of false negative or false positive results. Most authors agree that high grade bladder tumors are diagnosed with fairly high certainty (80-87%) by using exfoliative urine cytology whereas the value of urine cytology of low grade bladder tumors is uncertain. This investigation, including 200 patients who came for cystoscopic control of bladder tumors, revealed 87% accordance between cystoscopic biopsy and exfoliative urine cytology of high grade tumors while there were 47% false negative and no false positive of low grade tumors. On this background, it must be concluded that exfoliative urine cytology is an important investigation in diagnosing and controlling patients with bladder tumors, but the method can not always stand alone. PMID- 2609450 TI - [Traditional and alternative treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis]. AB - The medicine consumption and the employment of alternative treatment were investigated in a material of 117 patients with disseminated sclerosis (DS) considered to be a representative sample of the patients with DS in the County of Funen. This investigation revealed that the preparations most commonly employed to modify the disease among patients with disseminated sclerosis were: spasmolytics, agents to counteract neurogenic bladder symptoms, benzodiazepine and analgesics. The consumption of medicine increased with increasing handicap. Employment of psychopharmaca was commonest in patients in social classes 4 and 5 and in women. In addition, is was found that there was no difference in social class, sex and age among the patients who employ alternative methods of treatment. The patients themselves have not experienced any effect from alternative treatment. PMID- 2609451 TI - [Hypophyseal hyperthyroidism. Non-tumoral hypersecretion of thyroid stimulating hormone with clinical hyperthyroidism]. AB - A case of hyperthyroidism due to inappropriate TSH secretion in a 45-year-old man is presented. The diagnosis was confirmed by measurement of increased serum TSH values using three different assays, increased T4 and T3 values, the clinical picture, and the effect of anti-thyroid treatment. Nuclear magnetic resonance and computerized tomographic scans of the pituitary fossa showed no abnormalities. Treatment with long-term oral thyrotropin-releasing hormone, oral triiodothyronine, and short-term subcutaneous Sandostatin injections resulted in partial suppression of TSH without however adequate clinical effect. Treatment with thyroxin, bromocriptine, and triiodothyroacetic acid did not alter the parameters. It is concluded, that the inappropriate TSH secretion may be due to a pituitary microadenoma. PMID- 2609452 TI - [General seizures in connection with an epidural blood patch]. AB - A case is presented of a 60 year old woman with severe headache after spinal anaesthesia. She did not respond to fluid, rest in bed and analgesics, and was therefore treated with an epidural blood-patch. Immediately after the epidural needle was withdrawn the patient developed tonic convulsions for 10-15 seconds. After regaining consciousness she had amnesia but no neurological sequelae. The EEG was normal and the patient had no history of previous convulsions. PMID- 2609453 TI - [Hypothyroidism and coronary artery bypass surgery]. AB - A hypothyroid patient with severe coronary disease is described. Coronary artery bypass was undertaken without preoperative treatment with thyroid hormone. Coronary artery bypass surgery may be undertaken in hypothyroid patients without significant risks. As a rule, preoperative administration of thyroid hormone should be omitted on account of the risk of aggravating the ischaemic cardiac condition. Treatment with L-thyroxin is instituted rapidly postoperatively and, in the great majority of cases, it is possible to obtain complete thyroid hormone substitution therapy after coronary revascularisation has been performed. It is emphasized that all middle-aged women with raised serum cholesterol should be screened for myxoedema even if they do not appear to be hypothyroid clinically. PMID- 2609454 TI - [The Appleton Consensus. International guidelines for deciding to abandon treatment]. PMID- 2609455 TI - [Penicillin therapy and health economics]. PMID- 2609456 TI - [Shall Streptococcus A throat infection be treated for a period of 10 days?]. PMID- 2609457 TI - [An electric dispenser for malarias prevention]. PMID- 2609458 TI - [Drug subsidiaries. Background and practical rules]. PMID- 2609459 TI - [Money or life]. PMID- 2609460 TI - [Donors of cadaver kidneys. Reactions of relatives illustrated by a questionnaire study]. AB - Fifteen relatives of 11 patients from whom kidneys were removed after death with the object of transplantation were interviewed, three or more years after the death of the patient. The object of the investigation was to illustrate whether the procedure hitherto employed in Denmark, in which the relatives are asked for their permission for removal of the organs, is satisfactory. The authors were particularly interested to know how the surviving relatives experienced the decision to give permission for removal of the kidneys from their relative. The most important conclusion of this investigation is that the majority of the relatives were satisfied afterwards with the permission they had given and found that this decision had made an otherwise tragic situation meaningful. PMID- 2609461 TI - [An evaluation of the National Patient Register. A study of validity of some abortion diagnoses]. AB - The object of this study was to describe the use of some specific diagnoses for abortion and to study the validity of data in the Danish National Hospital Discharge Register by comparison with data in the discharge records. The study is based on 359 discharge records from 31 hospitals in 1984. Accordance between the two data sources was 92-100% for administrative data (personal identification number, hospital identification, date of hospitalization, and ICD-diagnosis code). Accordance was poorer (31-54%) with the diagnosis in latin and the number code of the diagnosis in the discharge records. This is partly because most of the discharge records include a diagnosis which is difficult to use (ICD-code 644: abortion, not specified as induced or spontaneous) and partly because classification of diagnoses is given low priority in the hospital doctor's job. The article proposes teaching medical students how to use the ICD-classification of diagnoses and surgical procedures. Further, we suggest exclusion of the ICD code 644 since it is always possible to distinguish a spontaneous from an induced abortion in Denmark. It is proposed that the ICD-code 644 is used for complications following spontaneous and induced abortions (retention, haemorrhage, endometritis etc.). PMID- 2609462 TI - [HIV transmission and risk behavior among drug addicts at a treatment institution in Copenhagen (Klub 47)]. AB - From autumn 1985 until 31.12.1988, 127 drug addicts were examined for HIV antibodies. Twenty-five (19.7%) were positive. No connection was found between age, sex and HIV-status. The incidence of positive test results fell from 32.8% in 1985/1986 to 0% in 1988. From autumn 1987, 49 drug addicts completed a questionnaire about risk behaviour as regards sharing syringes or needles during the month prior to commencement of treatment. Thirty-nine had no risk behaviour and the remainder very limited risk behaviour. The majority had reduced their risk behaviour on account of AIDS. Drug addicts have shown their will and abilities to reduce their risk behaviour. It is thus important to continue the informative efforts and prescription of syringes and needles. The therapeutic efforts should be extended with the object of preventing further infection in drug addicts and heterosexual and perinatal infection from the infected drug addicts. PMID- 2609463 TI - [Examination of drug addicts on methadone treatment for HIV antibodies in the county of Frederiksborg]. AB - In November 1988, all of the general practitioners in the County of Frederiksborg were requested to examine drug addicts on methadone therapy for HIV antibodies in December 1988 and January 1989. 81.3% of the general practitioners returned the completed form of results which they had received. Twenty-eight of the drug addicts were examined for HIV antibodies. One was found to be positive, corresponding to 3.6% (95% confidence limits 0.09-18.35%). According to the official lists of patients from whom dangerous drugs were prescribed in the Danish Board of Health, 128 persons had received methadone during the two months involved. Information was thus obtained concerning 22% of the group concerned by means of this questionnaire method of investigation. This method is thus of relatively limited value for monitoring of the spread of HIV-infection among drug addicts receiving methadone therapy. PMID- 2609464 TI - [Continuous non-invasive measurement of blood pressure]. AB - Automatic continuous non-invasive measurement of blood pressure using the Penaz' principle (Finapres) was compared with the blood pressure records using a sphygmomanometer during anaesthesia in 29 patients without significant arteriosclerosis. There were no significant differences between values recorded using the two methods. Furthermore, the changes recorded in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures were not significantly different. Also, the pulse recorded with the Penaz' principle corresponded to the heart rate recorded from ECG. Automatic continuous non-invasive measurement of blood pressure using the Penaz' principle offers a valuable aid for monitoring patients during anaesthesia. PMID- 2609465 TI - [Petroleum burns--toxic contact dermatitis]. AB - A great proportion of older housing facilities in Copenhagen are occupied by elderly individuals whose flats are heated by petroleum stoves. These individuals have frequently reduced mobility and may risk falling while filling their stoves. They may thus be exposed to the effect of the toxic fluid on the skin. The clinical pictures in two cases are described. PMID- 2609466 TI - [Alveolocellular carcinoma diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage]. AB - Alveolocellular carcinoma is localized to the bronchioles and alveoli and the diagnostic procedures usually employed will only rarely contribute to the diagnosis. A case is presented where performance of fiberbronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage with cytological examination of the cyto-centrifuged preparation led to the diagnosis of alveolocellular carcinoma in a patient with diffuse infiltrates. PMID- 2609467 TI - [An international meeting on preventing AIDS in the polar regions. Ilulissat/Jakobshavn 26-28 September 1989]. PMID- 2609468 TI - [Erythromycin--current small-spectrum antibiotics]. PMID- 2609469 TI - Light and electron microscopical studies of the GABA innervation of the dorsal column nuclei and the lateral cervical nucleus in the primate species Macaca fascicularis and Papio anubis. AB - In 4 monkeys of the species Macaca fascicularis (2 animals) and Papio anubis (2 animals) the three dorsal column nuclei and the lateral cervical nucleus have been investigated immunocytochemically with antiserum against gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Light microscopic studies demonstrated the presence of GABA-positive cells in the gracile nucleus, the internal cuneate nucleus and the lateral cervical nucleus but not in the external cuneate nucleus. Although labeled cells seemed fairly evenly spread in the nuclei there was an increased amount between the clusters of the internal cuneate nucleus and in the border zone between the gracile and the cuneate nucleus. Electron microscopical investigation showed GABA labeling in fairly small neurons with relatively large cell nuclei and low somatic bouton covering. GABA-positive terminals with rounded synaptic vesicles were present in all the investigated nuclei also the external cuneate one. No apparent difference in number of such boutons in the different nuclei or parts of the nuclei was found. GABA-positive boutons mostly synapsed with dendrites but in the dorsal column nuclei also with other larger boutons. Axosomatic contacts between labeled terminals and neuronal perikarya were more common in the lateral cervical nucleus than in the dorsal column nuclei. The results from the different nuclei in the monkey were compared with the results of similar investigations in the cat. It is concluded that there are important species differences especially on the light microscopical level in the lateral cervical nucleus. Thus the GABA labeled cells is rather evenly spread over the nucleus in the monkey whereas in the cat they are concentrated to the ventromedial region. PMID- 2609470 TI - Allergic alveolitis in Swedish farmers. AB - Allergic alveolitis due to mold dust inhalation in farmers is a severe but rare disease in Scandinavia. In this report 38 cases of the disease are presented. There were 31 men and 7 women, with mean ages of 46 and 38 years respectively. Strict diagnostic criteria were used, resulting in 21 definite, 12 probable and 5 possible cases. None of the patients were current smokers, but 10 of the men were ex-smokers. The great majority of the patients fell ill between October and April. The symptoms were dyspnea, cough, fatigue, episodes of fever, and in some cases loss of weight. The average duration of the disease was 6 months. The moldy material most commonly associated with the disease was straw, followed by hay, grain, and wood chips. For those tested serum lactate dehydrogenase was raised in 80% and the mean value for PaO2 was 7.8 kPa. Precipitating antibodies to mold antigens were positive in 68%. In general, pulmonary function tests showed a restrictive pattern. Over half of the patients still had dyspnea on exercise after recovery. Three fourths of the patients were treated with antibiotics and thus clearly had been misjudged as having an infection. PMID- 2609471 TI - Myocardial infarction in pregnancy. A case report and review of the literature. AB - A case of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in late pregnancy is reported. The prognosis for pregnant women with AMI and the mode of delivery is discussed. A woman with recent myocardial infarction does not seem to benefit from parturition by Cesarean section but should rather have an assisted vaginal delivery with regional anesthesia. PMID- 2609472 TI - The actions of growth hormone and prolactin on rat hepatocytes are not mediated by changes in cytoplasmic Ca2+. AB - In connection with measurement of the binding of growth hormone and prolactin to rat hepatocytes we investigated whether such binding is associated with changes in the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration. Whereas hepatocytes from male animals were found to have essentially only somatogenic receptors, lactogenic receptors were dominant in females. All hepatocyte preparations responded to epinephrine and vasopressin with transient peaks of cytoplasmic Ca2+. However, no effects on cytoplasmic Ca2+ were obtained when cells from female or male animals were exposed to growth hormone or prolactin. We therefore conclude that signal transduction of the growth hormone and prolactin responses in the rat liver does not involve an early messenger function for Ca2+. PMID- 2609473 TI - Outcome of continuous arteriovenous haemofiltration (CAVH) in one centre. AB - Continuous arteriovenous haemofiltration (CAVH) has been adopted as the treatment of choice for acute renal failure (ARF) in critically ill patients in the intensive care units of Uppsala University Hospital since 1982. To know the outcome of CAVH during the last one and a half year this retrospective study was done on those patients seen in July 1987-December 1988. Forty patients aged 2 months-84 years (mean 57 years) were included. Treatment duration was 1-31 days (mean 10 days, patients with treatment duration less than 24 h were excluded). The majority of ARF causes were due to major surgery because there are two big cardiothoracic and vascular surgical centres with a high turnover in this hospital. In this study CAVH was found useful in the management of ARF in critically ill patients within the limits of its capacity of urea clearance. There is a notable improvement in the number of survivors in this study (55%) when this is compared to a previous study (45%) in a similar group of patients and in the same centre. PMID- 2609474 TI - High alcohol consumption, liver toxic drugs and brain damage--a population study. AB - Computed tomography (CT) of the brain was performed in a random sample of 195 men to investigate the relationship between alcohol drinking and brain damage. This sample from the general population was divided into subsamples on the basis of their self-reported loss of control over drinking, morning drinks and blackouts. Three groups with different degrees of alcohol consumption were distinguished and the only differences in CT findings were a significantly higher frequency of frontal lobe atrophy with increasing alcohol consumption. The consumption of hepatotoxic drugs was also investigated and the following were the types of drug used: antiarrhythmics, antiepileptics, antibiotics, antiphlogistics, mixed analgetics, sulphonamides, benzodiazepines and derivatives of phenothiazines, all of which are metabolized by way of the liver. The material was divided into four groups with regard to both alcohol consumption and use of hepatotoxic drugs: Group IA, low or moderate alcohol consumption and no use of such drugs; IB, low or moderate alcohol consumption with use of such drugs; IIA, high alcohol consumption with no use of such drugs; and IIB, high alcohol consumption with use of such drugs. Group IIB was found to have a higher incidence of cortical and subcortical changes than group IA. The results indicate that drug use influences the incidence of cortical and subcortical aberrations. It is concluded that there is a typical frontal lobe atrophy associated with alcohol abuse; thus with increasing alcohol ingestion there is accelerated shrinkage of the brain, the frontal lobe being the first part affected. The groups with alcohol abuse who used hepatotoxic drugs show a picture of cortical changes and also of subcortical aberrations, expressed as an increased anterior horn index and widening of the third ventricle. PMID- 2609475 TI - [Increasing the superovulatory effect in heifers by trans-zonal bisection of embryos in practice]. AB - Early and late blastocysts (D7) of excellent quality were bisected by the transzonal method. The developing semiembryos without zonal protection were transferred to synchronised recipients--heifers. After bilateral transfer of the identical pair (always one semiembryo into one uterine cornu) 79.7% of the heifers were impregnated. The total gravidity was 58.8%. After ipsilateral transfer (the halves transferred individually) gravidity was confirmed in 48.2% of the cases. The survival efficiency of the halves with respect to the number of bisected embryos was 117.6% in bilateral transfer and it decreased to 93.3% after ipsilateral transfer. Identical pregnancies of twins were recorded in 36.8% of the bilateral transfers and in ipsilateral transfers only 20% of the identical pairs survived. We demonstrated the high recuperative and regenerative ability of the bovine 7 day old blastocyst by means of transzonal bisection. This was dependent on the selection of the appropriate embryo, careful manipulation aseptic technique, biologically compatible cultivation medium and rapid transfer. It is possible to attain satisfactory semiembryo survival levels in transplantation work and by means of this a significant increase of the superovulation effect. PMID- 2609476 TI - [Use of urinary furazolidone determination in calves in laboratory diagnosis]. AB - We examined 41 samples of calf urine in order to determine the urinary furazolidone excretion. 26 calves were administered furazolidone in the form of Terapeutan T in a therapeutic dose of 5 kg per os individually, which represents approx. 3 mg of furazolidone per kg body weight per day over 5 days. 11 calves were administered with twice the therapeutic dose, i.e. 6 mg furazolidone per kg live body weight over the same 5 days. A triple strength dose was administered to two calves on the 2nd and 3rd days and after administration we observed the furazolidone excretion in urine. The dynamics of furazolidone excretion in urine of one calf we determined even after the fivefold dose in comparison with the therapeutic dose, administered in the course of 2 days after application of the double dose, which was administered over 4 days. During administration of 3 mg and 6 mg furazolidone respectively per kg of live weight per kg furazolidone was excreted in urine minimally and only rarely (7.6%). During administration of higher doses furazolidone was found in the urine of all individuals. The highest urinary concentration of furazolidone in calves was determined after administration of the fivefold dose in comparison with the therapeutic dose, i.e. 15 mg furazolidone per kg live weight in the 4th hour after urine collection (23.0 mg furazolidone per liter urine). When this dose was administered over 2 days, it did not effect any clinical symptoms of disease. It has proved to be well founded to determine the furazolidone level in calf urine in laboratory diagnostics. The examination contributes to the estimation of the furazolidone dose, administered to calves. Urinary furazolidone concentrations greater than 1.0 mg.l-1 provide warning signals of overdosage with this chemotherapeutic. For urine furazolidone determination we utilized the photometric method, described by Herret and Buzard (1960). PMID- 2609477 TI - [Changes in the follicle system and the population of tertiary follicles in sheep after the administration of PMSG in anestrus]. AB - The total quantitative changes of ovaries, proportion of atretic and non atretic follicles and changes of tertiary follicles in sheep after administration of increasing doses of PMSG during the anoestrous period were observed. In experimental groups the statistically significant increase of average weight, volume and dimensions of ovaries in comparison with control group were determined biometrically. The average number of tertiary follicles was greater in experimental groups but at the same time we observed a higher proportion of atretic follicles (64% of the total number in the control group; 71-77% in the experimental groups). In the group of sheep administered a dose of 1500 m.u. PMSG we determined a high proportion of luteinized follicles (as much as 21% of the total number of atretic follicles). The total number of small follicles in the so called transient phase in the comparison of experimental and control groups was not changed significantly. In the experimental group an increased incidence of preovulatory follicles and a reduction of tertiary follicle dimensions in the period of follicle cavity formation was determined. PMID- 2609478 TI - [Interactive relations between copper, iron, zinc, arsenic, cadmium and lead in the liver in sheep after experimental poisoning with copper oxide]. AB - The interactions between copper, iron, zinc, arsenic, cadmium and lead were studied in the livers of 12 ewes of the Improved Wallachian breed after experimentally induced intoxication with cuprous oxide from industrial emission. The highest correlation coefficient was recorded between the concentrations of copper and zinc in the livers of the experimental ewes (r = 0.916) and its value was at a significance level of p less than 0.05. The interaction between copper and arsenic in the liver of the experimental animals corresponded to a correlation coefficient of r = 0.359 and that between copper and cadmium corresponded to r = 0.129. The lowest correlation coefficient in the livers of the experimental animals was recorded between copper and lead (r = 0.073). As to the relationships between the remaining elements, the highest correlation coefficient (r = 0.667) was obtained between the contents of zinc and cadmium in the livers of the experimental ewes. The interaction of copper with the other risky metals after experimental intoxication was limited by the concentration of the studied elements in the industrial emission as well as by the course of the disease itself. PMID- 2609480 TI - [Finding of the myxosporidia species Sphaerospora in the blood of the fish Thymallus thymallus]. PMID- 2609479 TI - [Karyometric differences in the tissue of lymphoid organs in Marek's disease and lymphoid leukosis in poultry]. AB - Histological preparations from the bursa of Fabricius and the thymus of chickens of egg layer HX-SL were examined caryometrically by the picture analyser Microvideomat 1. The chickens were allocated in tens to 3 groups (healthy, infected with Marek's disease virus and infected with avian leucosis virus). The surface areas and perimeters of the nuclei were measured and the form factor calculated. The basic statistical parameters for each sample were calculated and consequently the three previously mentioned groups were distinguished by means of linear discrimination analysis. The combinations of parameters bursa-medulla-area (BMA), thymus-medulla-area (TMA) and thymus-cortex-perimeter (TCP) were shown to be the best discriminating in our set. PMID- 2609481 TI - Information sources in animal poisoning. PMID- 2609482 TI - Duration of effective benefit from administration of graded oral doses of cobalt to sheep. AB - The rapidity and duration of the response of sheep to graded oral doses of cobalt, given as the sulphate or as a cobalt-supplemented anthelmintic Panacur SC, was assessed by the determination of serum vitamin B12 and methylmalonic acid concentrations. The rapidity of the response to the treatments, which ranged from 1 to 250 mg cobalt, was unaffected by dose rate but the effective duration was dose related. There was some evidence of a cumulative effect from repeat treatments of the anthelmintic at three weekly intervals. It is suggested that the optimum inclusion rate for cobalt in anthelmintics lies within the range 21 to 100 mg/treatment. PMID- 2609483 TI - Effects of prostaglandin on the reproductive performance of dairy cows. AB - A single injection of a synthetic analogue of prostaglandin F2 alpha (fenprostalene; Syntex) on the day of calving or between days 14 and 21 after calving did not affect the calving to first service interval, the number of services per conception or the conception rate of dairy cows. In a second trial, cows calved more than 45 days were injected once weekly with prostaglandin F2 alpha (dinoprost; Upjohn) or fenprostalene until served at the first detected oestrus. The calving to first service interval and the conception rate were not affected. Following injection of either prostaglandin, the spread in the pattern of onset of oestrus and the range in the proportion of cows (75 to 98 per cent) seen in oestrus within seven days were similar. This variation in the time of onset of oestrus after the administration of prostaglandin precludes limiting oestrus detection to four or five days per week, and is a major limitation to the use of prostaglandins in breeding programmes in dairy cows. PMID- 2609484 TI - Determination of milk withholding time in cattle following use of intramuscular lincomycin. PMID- 2609485 TI - Peste des petits ruminants of sheep in India. PMID- 2609486 TI - Benzimidazole resistance of nematodes in sheep in Belgium. PMID- 2609488 TI - Increasing consumer confidence. PMID- 2609487 TI - Concurrent presence of mesenteric hernia and jejunal intussusception in a horse. PMID- 2609489 TI - LVI/OVS fees. PMID- 2609490 TI - Specialist qualifications. PMID- 2609491 TI - The first postgraduate job. PMID- 2609492 TI - Ingestion of sheep sponges by sheepdogs. PMID- 2609493 TI - Lameness in kittens after vaccination. PMID- 2609494 TI - Vaginal probes. PMID- 2609495 TI - A familial alopecia. PMID- 2609496 TI - Alternative medicine. PMID- 2609497 TI - Birna-type virus in diarrhoeic calf faeces. PMID- 2609498 TI - Culicoides: biological vectors of Akabane virus. AB - Akabane virus replicated in Culicoides nubeculosus and Culicoides variipennis after intrathoracic inoculation and was maintained in both species of midge for at least 9 days post-infection. The virus also replicated to high concentration in C. variipennis after oral infection and was transmitted through a membrane by this species of midge 7-10 days after infection. The experiments described in this paper provided the first definitive evidence that Culicoides spp. are able to act as fully competent vectors of Akabane virus. PMID- 2609499 TI - Preliminary study of the anaerobic bacteria isolated from subgingival plaque from sheep. AB - A preliminary study was made to determine the genera of cultivable anaerobic bacteria which could be isolated from subgingival plaque of sheep. Samples were taken from 10 sheep on farms with a known record of broken mouth periodontitis. For assessment of the sampling technique, samples were also taken from freshly exposed tooth roots in killed sheep. The bacteria isolated on several selective and non-selective media were identified to genus level by a combination of Gram reaction, colony morphology and gas chromatographic analysis of volatile and non volatile fatty acid metabolic end products. At least 10 different genera were isolated and these findings are discussed in relation to the bacteriology of human periodontitis and recent studies of sheep broken mouth periodontitis. PMID- 2609500 TI - Serological and pathogenic characterization of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae isolates from tonsils of slaughter pigs in Indonesia. AB - Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from tonsils of 245 (35.7%) of 687 apparently healthy slaughter pigs in Indonesia during the period of June 1987 to February 1988. A total of 150 of the 245 E. rhusiopathiae isolated could be serotyped within the 22 recognized serotypes. Serotype 2 was most prevalent with 23.7%, followed by Serotypes 11, 12, 1a, 5 and 6 representing 7.3, 5.3, 4.9, 4.9 and 4.1% of the isolates, respectively. The nine other serotypes (Serotypes 1b, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 13, 19 and 22) combined to make up 11.0% of the isolates. Antibiotic-resistant strains were not found. Of 86 selected isolates belonging to various serotypes, 76 (88.4%) were highly virulent for mice (LD50 less than 10(3.0) colony-forming units). In swine, 40 (51.2%) of 78 isolates induced local or generalized urticarial lesions after intradermal inoculation, and the remaining 38 isolates induced no clinical signs. Of 76 isolates used for challenge in the cross-protection study, 29 (38.2%) killed greater than 40% of mice immunized with an erysipelas bacterin marketed in Indonesia. A tendency to be refractory to the bacterin-induced immunity was observed in some isolates of various serotypes, but this characteristic was not consistent. PMID- 2609501 TI - Serum resistance is correlated with encapsulation of avian strains of Pasteurella multocida. AB - Encapsulated avian strains of Pasteurella multocida possessing an A-type capsule were shown to be resistant to the bactericidal action of turkey serum, whereas unencapsulated variants as well as other unencapsulated strains were not. Removal of the capsule from serum-resistant strain P1059-1 resulted in this strain becoming susceptible to the bactericidal effects of turkey serum. Since complement was consumed when encapsulated or unencapsulated strain P1059-1 was incubated in turkey serum, we conclude that the capsule acts to shield the outer membrane rather than prohibiting the generation of an effective membrane attack complex. PMID- 2609502 TI - Isolation of Neisseria cuniculi from a case of ovine pneumonia. AB - Neisseria cuniculi was isolated in pure culture from the lungs of a 2-month-old pneumonic lamb. Mouse LD50, evaluated by intraperitoneal and pulmonary inoculation of the microorganism, was 2 X 10(7) colony-forming units in both cases. The role of the organism in pathogenesis of the disease could not be determined. This organism has not previously been reported in sheep. PMID- 2609503 TI - [Transient ischemic attacks and coronary disease]. AB - Taking into consideration data from the literature that the most common cause of mortality of patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIA) is myocardial infarction, the aim of the study was to examine the state of coronary circulation in patients with TIA previously completely asymptomatic to coronary disease. There have been examined 40 patients with TIA previously asymptomatic to coronary disease and 14 patients with general characteristics similar to Parkinson's syndrome, also asymptomatic to coronary disease. All patients were subjected to neurological examination, echocardiography of carotid arteries, standard electrocardiography, X-ray of the heart and ergometry and, if indicated, coronarography. On the basis of the analysis of the results obtained it has been concluded that a significant number of patients with TIA, previously asymptomatic to coronary disease showed signs of coronary disease which imposes the necessity of correction of doctrinaire principles in prevention and follow up of these patients. PMID- 2609504 TI - [Surgical treatment of habitual luxation of the shoulder joint using the Dickson O'Dell method. Our modification]. AB - The authors have presented their experience in the treatment of 40 patients with habitual dislocation of the shoulder joints using the method of Dickson-O'Dell during a period of 10 years. They have compared their results with results obtained by other methods and consider their modification as the method of choice on the basis of excellent results obtained in their patients. PMID- 2609505 TI - [The preparation and study of potassium-iodide preparations for the protection of the thyroid gland after contamination with radioactive iodine (131I)]. AB - Pharmaceutical-technological and physico-chemical examinations have been performed of the model for development of procedure for production of potassium iodine preparations for peroral use in the forms of solutions, capsules and tablets for protection of the thyroid in radioactive iodine (I131) contamination. PMID- 2609506 TI - [Are Aeromonas species a cause of diarrheal diseases in Yugoslavia?]. AB - Isolation and identification of Aeromonas spp. have been performed in 1,610 stools in the period from January 1987 to April 1988. Of 1300 stool specimens taken from the patients with diarrheal syndrome (540 stools of children and 760 stools of adults) Aeromonas spp. were isolated only in 4 patients (0.30%, P less than 0.001). Positive stools were found in 3 adult patients and one child. In 310 examined stools of healthy adult persons Aeromonas spp. were not isolated. A significantly higher incidence of Aeromonas species has been observed in different kind of water. They were isolated in 58.3% in waste water, in 56.2% in river water and in 22.2% in well water. The results have shown that Aeromonas species are not important causative agents of diarrheal syndrome in our country but their importance for public health regarding their high distribution in the nature necessitate their further studies. PMID- 2609507 TI - [The importance of the role of commanding officers and the military collective in the separation and adaptation processes by the soldier]. PMID- 2609508 TI - [Mapping electroencephalography. New possibilities of electroencephalography in the diagnosis of diseases of the central nervous system]. PMID- 2609509 TI - [Unfavorable prognostic indicators in unstable angina pectoris]. PMID- 2609510 TI - [Moyamoya]. PMID- 2609511 TI - [Disorders of heart rhythm and conduction in acute nonspecific myocarditis. Case report]. PMID- 2609512 TI - [Intracerebral hematoma after surgery for chronic subdural hematoma]. PMID- 2609513 TI - [Rare localizations of tuberculosis in the head and neck region]. PMID- 2609514 TI - [The importance of anamnesis in the diagnosis of epilepsy]. PMID- 2609515 TI - [The classification of malignant tumors by the TNM system]. PMID- 2609516 TI - [The probability of becoming ill with malignant neoplasms over the space of the prospective life span for the population of the Latvian SSR]. PMID- 2609517 TI - [The relationship between the prostaglandin E level in the tumor and the times of the metastasis of primary osteogenic sarcoma]. AB - Radioimmunoassay was used in 46 cases of osteogenic sarcoma to assess prostaglandin E (PgE) levels in tumor tissue. Those levels were found to vary with age. A correlation was established between the effect of preoperative chemoradiation treatment, on the one hand, and degree of treatment-induced pathomorphosis and PgE concentration in tumor, on the other. High PgE level in osteogenic sarcoma tissue proved prognostically unfavorable whatever age and prior chemoradiation treatment and were associated with shorter metastasis-free survival. PMID- 2609518 TI - [Hemostasis and T-cell immunity in lung cancer patients]. AB - Complex examination of hemostatic system and T-cell-mediated immunity in 19 cases of stage II-IV lung cancer showed an increased activity of blood coagulation system to be associated with a decrease in OKT3+, OKT11+ and OKT4+ T-lymphocyte subsets levels. A reverse correlation was established between plasma- Willebrand's factor level and those of OKTe+ and OKT8+ lymphocytes whereas a direct one--between blood-platelet aggregate level and that of OKT4+. The data obtained emphasized the need to consider the status of hemostatic system when evaluating the function of cell-mediated immunity. PMID- 2609519 TI - [The importance of lymphoscintigraphy in breast cancer]. AB - The comparison of results of axillary lymphoscintigraphy with those of morphological examination of surgically removed lymph nodes in 78 patients with breast cancer showed overall reliability of the method to be 0.72, specificity- 0.56 and sensitivity--0.92. Data of lymphoscintigraphy performed in 82 breast cancer patients to form fields of parasternal lymph node irradiation suggested enlarging standard field by 4 cm in 90.2% of cases and by 5 cm--in 54.9%. PMID- 2609520 TI - [The cellular sensitivity of the primary tumor and its metastases in breast cancer patients to cytostatics, interferon and tumor necrosis factor]. AB - Samples of tumor tissue obtained from 47 patients with primary and metastatic breast cancer were implanted under the renal capsule of mice (SRCA-test) to assess individual sensitivity of these malignancies to cytostatics, recombinant interferon (rIFN) and--in some cases--to tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Primary tumor was shown to respond to cytostatics and rIFN in as few as 33.3 and 26.7% of cases, respectively. Xenografts of metastases displayed higher rates of response to all the drugs studied, viz. 64.2, 86.7 and 90% for cytostatics, rIFN and TNF, respectively. PMID- 2609521 TI - [Hormonal and immunological changes in breast cancers with different growth rates]. AB - Thirty-four breast carcinomas revealed unequal growth rates their doubling time ranging 12-150 days. Steroid hormone levels and immunologic vigor were found to significantly differ in patients with different growth rates. Higher rates were associated with more pronounced systemic disorders. PMID- 2609522 TI - [The characteristics of the therapeutic measures in stomach cancer (based on data from the All-Union Center for the Study of Treatment Effectiveness in Patients with Malignant Tumors)]. AB - The paper deals with the analysis of methods used in oncological establishments of the USSR in 1968-1972 and 1974-1980 to treat 19,864 patients with gastric cancer. Stage I or II tumors were identified in 10%, stage III-38 and IV-in 52% of cases. Radical treatment was performed in 34% of hospitalized patients. Surgery remains the most frequent procedure to be used for the treatment of stomach cancer including stage IV. Higher rate of radical treatment can be assured if, on the one hand, fewer patients refuse from operation and, on the other, fewer refusals are justified by concomitant pathology and old age. PMID- 2609523 TI - [The selective toxicity of 5-hydroxymethyldeoxyuridine for the cells of human adenocarcinoma of the large intestine]. AB - Comparing the toxicities of potential anticancer agents for tumorous and normal cells derived from human intestinal epithelium may be a preferred approach for in vitro testing of compounds directed against colon carcinoma. 5 Hydroxymethyldeoxyuridine, a thymidine analog, was preferentially cytotoxic for two lines of human colon adenocarcinoma cells compared to a cell line derived from normal human fetal intestine. Unlike deoxyuridine and deoxycytydine, thymidine protected HT-29 human adenocarcinoma against 5 hydroxymethyldeoxyuridine toxicity, suggesting that thymidilate synthetase is the probable target enzyme of this thymidine analog. 5-Hydroxymethyldeoxyuridine may hold promise as an agent with specific activity against human adenocarcinoma cells. PMID- 2609524 TI - [The effect of tocopherol and ascorbic acid on the development of experimental esophageal tumors]. AB - The study was concerned with the influence of tocopherol and ascorbic acid on induction of tumors by N-nitrososarcosine ethyl ester (NSEE) in rats. In the first series of experiments, NSEE was given orally in the daily dose of 100 mg/kg body weight during 8 weeks while alpha-tocopherol acetate was administered in the dose of 600 mg/kg food during the following 32 weeks. In the second series, NSEE was given intragastrically in the dose of 50 mg/kg body weight daily during 16 weeks whereas for the following 16 weeks, the animals received 20 g/kg food ascorbic acid. The rats were sacrificed at 40 (series 1) and 32 weeks (series 2) of the experiment. NSEE induced tumors of the esophagus and forestomach in more than 90% of cases, mainly papillomas and--less frequently--carcinomas, five tumors per rat, on the average. Treatment with tocopherol was followed by a 37% decrease in the incidence of esophageal and forestomach tumors, an approximately two-fold drop in their multiplicity as well as by lowered incidence of carcinomas. Ascorbic acid did not affect tumor induction. PMID- 2609525 TI - [A comparative study of the efficacy of cryosurgical and operative treatments in transplanted tumors]. AB - Antitumor efficacy of cryosurgery and standard surgical procedures for Lewis carcinoma, melanoma B16, Guerin's carcinoma and Walker's carcinosarcoma was compared in the treatment of 846 experimental animals. The study established the superiority or, at least, similar efficacy of cryosurgery in terms of cure, survival and radicality of primary tumor treatment. Unlike standard surgery, cryosurgery was followed by distant metastases being inhibited in mice. Although there was no significant difference in the incidence of metastases to regional lymph nodes in rats, it was higher than in untreated animals in both treatment groups. Cryonecrosis of tumor tissue is a factor of distant and regional metastases development following cryosurgery. PMID- 2609526 TI - [3 years' experience of radiation therapy with fast neutrons on the V-120 cyclotron]. AB - The paper discusses the results of treatment of 128 patients with head and neck cancer in whom fast neutrons (Y-120; approximately 6.2 MeV) were used as a single procedure or in combination with surgery. Tumors of different histomorphologic structure displayed unequal sensitivity to fast neutrons. Mean disease-free survival in patients with complete regression of tumor was 24 months following neutron therapy alone, 18.5 months after combined neutron-photon treatment and 5.5 months only in controls. Relapse rates were 20 and 15% in patients with pre- and postoperative neutron treatment, respectively, as compared to 52% in controls. PMID- 2609527 TI - [Plastic repair of the cervical esophagus using a small intestine autograft in patients with malignant tumors of the larynx and laryngopharynx]. AB - A one-stage procedure to restore the cervical part of the esophagus and laryngopharynx included extended surgery for advanced cancer of the larynx and laryngopharynx and grafting a free revascularized small intestine segment using microvascular technique. Free small intestine transplant proved well-fed by sufficiently large branches of the external carotid artery, and normal venous drainage was retained. The transplant proved biologically best suitable for such type of plastic surgery. Treatment results should be considered promising. PMID- 2609528 TI - [The social and work activities of patients after the radical treatment of lung cancer]. AB - One hundred and twenty-six radically treated patients with lung cancer showed a decrease in the majority of parameters of socio-occupational activity. A comparative study in two groups of patients (lobectomy-95 and pneumonectomy-31) established a correlation between the extent of surgery and degree of socio occupational activity rehabilitation which was most pronounced in terms of patients' intercourse, resumption of occupational activity and duration of rehabilitation and invalidity periods. Psychoemotional status of lobectomized patients proved better than that in cases having undergone pneumonectomy. PMID- 2609529 TI - [The potentials of gastric biopsy in the diagnosis of dysplasia and cancer of the stomach]. AB - The paper is concerned with the clinico-morphological analysis of the state of the art in diagnosing dysplasia and cancer of the stomach using gastric biopsy in a nononcological department of a regional hospital. Within three years, 13,459 gastroscopies were performed, 31.7% of them involving a biopsy. Cancer of the stomach was diagnosed in 87 patients including incipient form--in 8 (9.2%). Degree II-III dysplasia and alterations suspicious of cancer were identified in 49 while degree I-II dysplasia--in 180 cases. It is emphasized that patients with dysplasia including degree I-II lesions be followed using morphologic, endoscopic and clinical procedures. PMID- 2609530 TI - [The prevention of postresection disorders in the surgical treatment of cancer of the distal stomach]. AB - Four hundred and forty-seven patients who had undergone various surgical procedures for stage II-III cancer of the distal part of the stomach and 35 operated cases of chronic gastric ulcer were followed for three years. The study showed distal subtotal resection of the stomach using transversal gastroenteroanastomosis with a long loop and additional transversal enteroenteric anastomosis to offer functional advantage in cancer patients. These valve anastomoses prevented reflux of duodenal contents to the gastric stump, assured a stepwise emptying of the resected stomach and precluded passing of food to efferent intestine thus preventing dumping and afferent loop syndromes. PMID- 2609531 TI - [The problems of the work rehabilitation of breast cancer patients after radical treatment]. AB - The paper discusses issues in occupational rehabilitation of breast cancer patients following radical treatment. A high level of labor orientation is emphasized which is to be considered in assessing working ability in an individual patient. As many as 71.2% of patients resumed working. Improvement in functional and psychoemotional status observed in the majority of patients as a result of rehabilitation treatment contributed to orientation to resume social activity. PMID- 2609532 TI - [The combined treatment of sacrococcygeal chordomas]. PMID- 2609533 TI - [Diffuse leiomyomatosis of the lungs]. PMID- 2609534 TI - [An unusual case of follicular carcinoma of the thyroid]. PMID- 2609535 TI - [The joint action of ionizing radiation and other risk factors on breast cancer morbidity]. PMID- 2609536 TI - [Modification of the carcinogenic effect of 3,4-benzpyrene by thymosin and cyclophosphane]. PMID- 2609537 TI - [Possible approaches to comparison of survival curves of cancer patients]. PMID- 2609538 TI - [Multifactorial analysis in the prognostication of the incidence of recurrences, metastases and survival of patients with squamous cell cancer of the skin]. AB - A retrospective analysis of the data on 116 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin of the body and extremities was undertaken. Eight parameters were found to influence metastasis formation and five-year survival: extent of involvement according to TNM classification, background conditions of tumor development, duration of disease, rate of tumor growth, gross appearance of tumor, site, contour and histologic pattern of malignancy. Recurrence development was influenced by nine parameters including those mentioned above plus extent of surgery. Tables for calculating likelihood of metastasis and recurrence development and five-year survival are provided. Credibility assured by these tables is as high as 75.0% in prognosing relapse, 96.4% in prognosing metastases and 93.6% in determining five-year survival. PMID- 2609539 TI - [Possibilities of preclinical and differential diagnosis of malignant neoformations according to the percentage of large granular lymphocytes]. AB - The paper discusses the results of application of a simple and easily available method of measuring levels of large granule-containing lymphocytes for identification of risk for cancer during mass screenings and differential diagnosis of benign and malignant tumor before morphological examination. PMID- 2609540 TI - [Quantitative characterization of nuclear polymorphism of the epithelial cells in fibroadenomatosis and cancer of the breast]. AB - A method for quantitative analysis of epithelial cell nuclear polymorphism was suggested, viz. identification of general statistical population using Petunin's criterion. This criterion was employed to assess heterogeneity of visible surface of interphase epithelial cell nuclei and to assay nuclear DNA level in fibroadenomatous hyperplasia and cancer of the breast. Heterogeneity index (h), alongside with other parameters, appeared useful for quantitative assessment of the disease: heterogeneity index values ranging 0.1-0.4 point to pronounced heterogeneity of epithelial cell nucleus surface and DNA level, and are suggestive of malignant transformation of tissue, whereas benign proliferation of the epithelium is usually characterized by 0.4 less than h less than or equal to 0.9. PMID- 2609541 TI - [Effects of the administration of ascorbic acid on 3-OAA-antigen levels formed during chemical hepatocarcinogenesis]. AB - Variations in liver, blood and urine 3-oxyanthranilic acid-antigen (3-OAA-A) levels and those of ascorbic acid in liver of rats and mice receiving various hepatocarcinogens were examined. Treatment with ascorbic acid (three courses of 15 injections each) given prior to tumor development and during early carcinogenesis was followed by a significant decrease in 3-OAA-A concentration up to its complete elimination from the body and prevented hepatoma development. PMID- 2609542 TI - [Microsomal monooxygenases of the liver in mice with transplanted tumors]. AB - Hepatoma 22a and Ehrlich's tumor growth were shown to be accompanied by decrease in cytochrome P-450 level in liver of noninbred and C3HA mice, these changes being more pronounced as compared to solid neoplasms. Benzo(a)pyrene-hydroxylase and amidopyrine-N-demethylase activity varied with tumor pattern. It was not changed in cases of hepatoma 22a but decreased in mice bearing Ehrlich's tumor, particularly, in those with the ascitic form. The inhibition analysis using metyrapone and 7,8-benzoflavone identified phenobarbital and methylcholanthrene forms of benzo(a)pyrene-hydroxylase in murine liver; isoform profile was not significantly affected by tumor. Liver microsomal monooxygenases of tumor-bearing mice retained inducibility by 3-methylcholanthrene. PMID- 2609543 TI - [Factors influencing long-term results of the treatment of patients with malignant tumors of the oropharynx]. AB - A retrospective clinico-statistical analysis of the histories of 62 cases of oropharyngeal cancer who had undergone various therapies showed such factors as time to treatment, site, size, histologic pattern and stage of tumor as well as therapeutic procedure to affect the long-term prognosis. PMID- 2609544 TI - [Endoscopic removal of gastric polyps in ambulatory conditions]. AB - The study included 325 patients (age 16-89 years; 84 males and 241 females) who had undergone surgery for stomach polyps under outpatient hospital conditions. On the whole, 752 polyps were removed: 623 sat on a wide base and 129--on a pedicle. Polyps were removed if bases were under 2.5 cm in diameter and there were no concomitant grave pathologies or blood coagulation disorders. During eight years of follow-up, recurrences were identified in 18, and polyps residing in other parts of the stomach--in 114 patients. Complications which were not dangerous or required surgery occurred in 52 cases. Among the most frequent complications was bleeding which either ceased or was arrested by endoscopic hemostatics. No lethality was recorded. It is concluded that gastric polypectomy in most patients may be performed in outpatient hospitals. If carried out by experienced staff, the procedure will not involve grave complications. PMID- 2609545 TI - [Effectiveness of radiotherapy of patients with cancer of the cervix uteri at the Central Research Roentgeno-Radiological Institute of the USSR Ministry of Health]. AB - The results of radiation treatment for cervical cancer obtained at the Institute Clinic are discussed. Modification-free irradiation was given to 205 patients. Five-year survival was 94 +/- 4% in stage I, 83 +/- 3%--II and 38 +/- 9% in stage III tumor. Dimethylsulfoxide was administered to prevent radiation injury in 48 patients. Radiation injury to the bladder and rectum was observed in 4.9% of cases for each site whereas in controls the indexes were 6.3 and 13.6%, respectively. In 84 patients, dimethylsulfoxide was used in combination with metronidazole to potentiate radiation damage to tumor. This was followed by a significantly more rapid regression of neoplasms. Two-year survival rate in cases receiving topical treatment with both drugs was 75% while in controls--43%. PMID- 2609546 TI - [Possibilities of the cryosurgical method in the treatment of skin carcinoma]. PMID- 2609547 TI - [Mixed adenoma of the adrenal cortex secreting cortisol and desoxycorticosterone]. PMID- 2609548 TI - [Unusual malignant retroperitoneal leiomyoblastoma]. PMID- 2609549 TI - [Probability of hereditary nature of bone tumors in dogs]. PMID- 2609550 TI - [Reexamination of the recommended values for requirements of energy and food substances]. PMID- 2609551 TI - [The question of basic terms and concepts used in establishing the recommended amounts of essential foodstuffs]. PMID- 2609552 TI - [The role of emotional-volitional traits in patients with ischemic heart disease in carrying out dietetic recommendations during long-term clinical observation]. AB - The influence of subjective (individual) prerequisites on the possibility of long term following anti-atherosclerotic diets by coronary patients was investigated. Basing on the examination of the patients they were divided into three groups: those who strictly kept the diet (I), patients who moderately violated the diet (II), and those who did not keep the diet at home (III). Specific psychological methods used in the study allowed differentiation of these groups of patients. A conclusion has been made on the relation between the capacity for keeping the diet and some psychological personality traits of coronary patients. The analysis of the results enabled the authors to reveal a complex of problems for prognosing the coronary patients' readiness to keep the diet at home. The data obtained may be conductive to a rise in the medicosocial adaptation of coronary patients to long-term diet therapy by means of directed psychotherapy. PMID- 2609553 TI - [Anti-atherosclerotic properties of some components of food (a clinico experimental study)]. AB - Platelet lysosomal proteinase and phospholipase activity, cholesterol content in the blood serum and circulating immune complexes, as well as blood serum atherogenic potential were studied with the use of human aortal intima atherosclerotic cell culture in patients with postinfarction cardiosclerosis (males aged from 45 to 62 years), 1-3 h before and 2-6 h after a single intake of one of the following products (50 g): sunflower oil, butter, cod fat, glucose, fructose, starch, dried milk protein, or 22 g of soybean protein isolate 500 U. The total data obtained have evidenced that the soybean protein isolate produces hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic effects, as well as possesses pronounced anti-atherosclerotic properties. PMID- 2609554 TI - [Energy expenditure of workers at modern animal-breeding complexes]. AB - The energy expenditure of workers at modern cattle-breeding farm complexes was studied during their working time and during 24 h. It was found that during the working period the energy expenditure fluctuated from 9.2 to 25.9 kJ/min, while daily energy expenditure comprised 11.6-13.8 MJ. PMID- 2609555 TI - [Consumption of basic foods, state of health and physical work capacity of middle school students]. AB - Actual nutrition, health state and physical working capacity were studied in schoolchildren of three age groups after intake of the polyvitamin "Undevitum" during a month. The results of the investigation conducted have shown that prophylactic measures produced a positive effect on the schoolchildren aged from 11 to 13 and from 14 to 17 years who received 1 degree of "Undevitum" daily. No positive effect was recorded in schoolchildren aged 7-10 years who received 1 degree of "undevitum"/day, every other day. PMID- 2609556 TI - [A method of assessing actual nutrition of organized collectives based on mathematical modelling]. AB - Subjects completely adapted to a complex of factors of their working and natural environment, besides a stable emotional sphere and physical working capacity, develop a certain stereotype of food consumption, that objectively determines relatively constant levels of this or that component in the ration they receive. The authors have developed a method of mathematical modelling of the expected consumption of food substances basing on the calculation of the ration chemical composition according to the menu, and on the further comparing with the level of actual nutrient consumption. A step-by-step regression analysis has enabled the authors to detect significant (by F-criterion) groups of daily ration food products for actual nutrient consumption, and to present the regression models for calculation the expected consumption of mineral substances in daily rations with the use of regression equation. PMID- 2609557 TI - [Distribution and biotransformation of labelled pantothenate in cytoplasmic and mitochondrial fractions of the rat liver with a deficiency of pantothenic acid]. AB - Experiments were conducted on white rats given synthetic rations devoid of pantothenic acid during 10 weeks. Intensification of 14C-pantothenate deposition was recorded 30 min and 4 h after its intraperitoneal administration. The mitochondrial fraction of the liver accumulated the isotope in time. High performance liquid chromatography used for separation of the vitamin labeled metabolites has revealed phosphopantothenate (pantothenate), phosphopantothein, CoA and dephospho-CoA (pantetein) in the liver homogenate, while in the mitochondria extracts only CoA and dephospho-CoA (pantetein) were detected. It has been suggested that dephosphorylation of pantothenate metabolites and rapid transformation of phosphopantetein into CoA may take place during the separation of the fractions. PMID- 2609558 TI - [Various features of the initial stages of assimilation of isotope-labelled dipeptide]. AB - Tritium-labeled dipeptide Gly-Leu was administered to noninbred guinea pigs by intracardiac injections, and to Wistar rats--intra-intestinally, through a specially implanted catheter. It was found that after intravenous and intraintestinal administration of isotope-labeled dipeptide the "low-molecular label" was bound by serum proteins. Dissociation of the complexes "low-molecular label"--serum protein in 8 M solution of urea has evidenced a predominantly reversible character of interaction between the low-molecular ligand and protein macromolecule. The results obtained should be taken into consideration during assay of protein absorption from gastro-intestinal tract of laboratory animals. PMID- 2609559 TI - [Study of the possible harmful action of meat containing ammonia on experimental animals]. AB - The influence of meat containing ammonia in concentrations of 0.1 and 0.3% was studied in chronic experiments on 3 generations of rats (males and females). To investigate the function of the liver, kidneys and CNS, alanine-aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase activity, and the content of the total protein and its fractions were assayed in the blood serum; cholinesterase activity, sulfhydryl groups, urea and residual nitrogen were assayed in the blood, as well as the parameters of rheobase, chronaxie and summation of subliminal impulses. The results of the investigation have shown that meat containing ammonia in concentrations of 0.1 and 0.3% produces a detrimental effect on the experimental animals, the highest effect being recorded with an ammonia concentration of 0.3%. PMID- 2609560 TI - [Study of the digestion and absorption of isolated krill proteins]. PMID- 2609561 TI - [Free amino acids of some unicellular organisms]. PMID- 2609562 TI - [Contamination of marine hydrobionts, used for preparing food products, by vibrio]. PMID- 2609563 TI - [The possibility of mathematical expression of the biological value of proteins and fats in food products]. PMID- 2609564 TI - [Experience in computer formation of food rations]. PMID- 2609565 TI - [Diet therapy of patients after organ-sparing surgery with vagotomy]. PMID- 2609566 TI - [An increase in the effectiveness of the vaccinal prophylaxis of measles]. PMID- 2609567 TI - [The effect of health resort treatment on biliary tract function in the early period of convalescence from viral hepatitis]. AB - At the early period of convalescence from viral hepatitis 65% of persons showed disorders of the functional state of the bile tracts. The frequency of involvement of the biliary system did not depend on the etiological form of hepatitis. After hepatitis A the hyperkinetic type prevailed, after hepatitis B- the hypokinetic type of biliary dyskinesia. Galvanomud treatment restored the functional state of the liver and biliary state, particularly, in convalescents with the hyperkinetic type of gall-bladder dyskinesia. PMID- 2609568 TI - [The comparative efficacy of different therapeutic complexes in vibration disease]. AB - Treatment efficacy was analyzed in 150 miners suffering of vibration disease (stage I). Different treatment complexes were used. Treatment proved most effective in the group where drug therapy was combined with acupuncture, vacuum massage, photoenergotherapy. The authors make a trial to explain the mechanism of action of the preferred method of treatment. PMID- 2609569 TI - [The effect of tobacco smoking on the function of the cardiorespiratory system of operators]. AB - The group of tobacco smoking persons showed during rest, loads and in the restorative period more distinct disorders of cardio-vascular system values. There were no distinct signs of disorders in the ventilatory function of the lungs in the compared groups. In the groups of smokers the body mass was in the average 4.9 kg less. PMID- 2609570 TI - [Coordination dynamometry in the functional diagnosis of the neuromuscular apparatus of the hands in workers]. AB - The author proposes a new principle of coordynamometry based on examination of different levels of somatic regulation of movements according to N. A. Bernshtein's method. Examinations carried out in laboratory conditions and in working conditions indicate the possibility of using the principle of coordynamometry for the diagnosis of the functional state of the neuromuscular apparatus of the hands in the working. PMID- 2609571 TI - [The use of hemosorption and acetylcysteine in treating dichloroethane poisoning]. PMID- 2609572 TI - [The clinical characteristics of diseases caused by Mycoplasma hominis]. AB - Of 1125 patients with acute respiratory diseases (complicated) and uncomplicated 49 (4.4%) showed infection caused by Mycoplasma hominis. The diagnosis was established by serological and microbiological methods. The authors describe the microbiological method of detection of the pathogen in nasopharyngeal wash offs and sputum. Illustrative clinical examples are presented. PMID- 2609573 TI - [The use of antibiotics in outpatient practice]. AB - The authors describe the tactics of using antibiotics in out-patient conditions. In acute bacterial infection the most adapted to the pathogen and infections focus antibiotic is used. The problem of indication to antibiotic therapy is discussed. Of importance is avoidance of the development of resistant strains. Monotherapy with antibiotics of selective narrow spectrum is advocated. The local use of antibiotics is to be avoided. PMID- 2609574 TI - [A decrease in work losses as a consequence of respiratory organ diseases]. PMID- 2609575 TI - [The utilization of the bed resources and the management of the therapeutic diagnostic process in the hospital]. PMID- 2609576 TI - [Autonomic disorders in patients with viral hepatitis based on the data from variation pulsimetry]. AB - Variation pulsimetry in 83 patients with viral hepatitis revealed the phasic character of changes of the vegetative tone and vegetative function at different periods of the disease. Dysregulation of the vegetative nervous system causing disorders of the adaptation-compensation systems of the body are, apparently, one of the pathogenetic mechanisms in the formation of the dyskinetic syndrome of the biliary tract, most frequently of the hypotonic type, in viral hepatitis. PMID- 2609577 TI - [The characteristics of the clinical picture and outcome of viral hepatitis B]. AB - Results are reported of a study of the clinical course and outcomes of viral hepatitis B. The etiology was confirmed in all patients by detection of the superficial antigen of hepatitis B virus in the blood serum. A clinico physiological and biochemical follow-up revealed that complete clinical recovery is slow, though the condition of most convalescents does not suffer practically. Viral hepatitis B convalescents revealed in the long-term follow-up residual clinico-biochemical changes. PMID- 2609578 TI - [The use of anaprilin for the correction of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis]. AB - The possibility was studied of using the native beta-adrenoblocking agent anaprilin for prolonged control of the level of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis. It was established that anaprilin (dose: 40 mg daily) reduces the level of portal hypertension and increases the efficacy of treatment of liver cirrhosis associated with ascites and esophageal-gastric bleeding. A therapeutic effect was achieved in most patients (67 of 75). PMID- 2609579 TI - [Patient rehabilitation after gastric resection for peptic ulcer]. AB - The authors evaluated the results of gastric resection in the Hofmeister Finsterer modification in 262 patients with ulcer disease. Treatment considered of drugs, balneotherapy and electric stimulation with consideration of the functional state of the resected stomach. The used rehabilitation complex allowed to improve the results of surgical treatment, to reduce time of temporary loss of working capacity by 2-3 weeks. PMID- 2609580 TI - [The conservative therapy of chronic colostasis]. AB - In 1972-1988 487 (5.35%) of patients were hospitalized in a Ukrainian SSR Proctological Center for chronic colostasis; 243 (49.8%) were operated on due to developing decompensation of the large intestine and failed multicomponent conservative treatment and invalidism. 244 patients admitted to the clinic were conservatively treated. A scheme of conservative treatment used in the clinic is described. PMID- 2609581 TI - [The age-related characteristics of the lymphoid structures in the human respiratory organs]. AB - It was found that the wall of the tracheo-bronchial tree and the lung stroma of man has two types of nodules: those located in the mucous membrane and adjoining the epithelium and those located in the fibrous-cartilagenous part of the wall of the trachea, bronchi and stroma of the lungs. The latter serve the purpose of defense of the internal medium of the body. It was established that lymphoid nodules of the respiratory organs undergo age-related involution. According to the authors' classification perivascular lymphoid nodules and lymphoid nodules of the mucous membrane of the tracheo-bronchial tree belong to a single immune system of the internal medium and mucous membranes participating in immune homeostasis. PMID- 2609582 TI - [Nonspecific lung disease morbidity among the sailors of the Black Sea maritime steamship company]. AB - The authors present an analysis of the general morbidity among sailors. It was established that the leading place is occupied by diseases of the respiratory organs. It is proposed to include in the system of medical choice of sailors examination of the external respiration and immune status. PMID- 2609583 TI - [The instrumental diagnosis of disseminated lesions of the lungs]. AB - A study is presented of 52 patients with disseminated pulmonary lesions. Among them: histiocytosis X--17, alveolar microlithiasis--5, pulmonary phospholipoproteinosis--7, idiopathic hemosiderosis--14, primary pulmonary amyloidosis--1, primary diffuse lung tumours--8. All patients were subjected to complex bronchological examination including use of different biopsy transbronchial methods as well as open biopsy of the lung. The diagnostic value of the employed bronchial biopsies is discussed. A diagnostic algorithm of rarely met pulmonary disseminations has been developed. Recommendations on the use of different instrumental methods are formulated. PMID- 2609584 TI - [The efficacy of the chemotherapy of patients with chronic destructive pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - The efficacy and tolerance of chemotherapy consisting of 4-6 drugs used intermittently and (or) daily for 3 to 16 months were determined in 100 patients with chronic destructive pulmonary tuberculosis formerly treated without effect. Discharge of Bacteria ceased in 71.4% of patients, the caverns healed in 22% and partially regressed in 67% that was correspondingly 33%, 10.8% and 12.6% higher than in routine regimens of chemotherapy used in 125 patient and consisted of three daily administered drugs. The time of abacillation and healing of the caverns in polychemotherapy were two months shorter. The tolerability of both regimens was satisfactory and approximately similar. PMID- 2609585 TI - [The basic causes of relapses in respiratory organ tuberculosis]. AB - The authors analyze 1080 cases of recurrence of tuberculosis of the respiratory organs with emphasis of their causes. It was found that recurrences were observed in subjects over 40 years of age that were dismissed from dispensary prophylactic examination or observed in subgroup VII-A and more frequently than freshly diagnosed tuberculosis showing bacteria discharge and pulmonary destruction. It was found that the leading cause of recurrence is an inadequate course of chemotherapy. PMID- 2609586 TI - [The effect of molsidomine on the conjunctival microcirculation in patients with ischemic heart disease]. AB - Sublingual administration of molsidomin in average dose of 3 mg with an interval of 15 and 60 minutes was used in the treatment of 24 patients with ischemic heart disease with stable exertion stenocardia of the II-III functional classes. Course treatment in optimal chosen doses resulted in an improvement of the indices of conjunctival microcirculation and rheological properties of erythrocytes. PMID- 2609587 TI - [Urolesan in the treatment of stenocardia patients]. AB - Urolesan was used in the treatment of patients with chronic ischemic heart disease. It was established that urolesan favours improvement of the state of the vascular component of microcirculation, aggregation of erythrocytes, increase of the peripheral circulation, normalization of the blood coagulation system, optimization of external respiration, normalization of the activity of serum aminotransferases. These changes were particularly pronounced in exertion stenocardia. PMID- 2609588 TI - [The etiology and pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy]. AB - The authors analyze cardiomyopathies as primary lesions of the heart of unknown etiology. Examination of skin biopsies in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy indicates the presence of morphological signs of the systemic character of the process in the connective tissue, an increased content of circulating immune complexes in the blood of patients. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy similar changes were found only in one patient. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a manifestation of a systemic immunopathological process in most of these patients. PMID- 2609589 TI - [The glucocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex and the functions of the sympathetic-adrenal and immune systems in cardiomyopathy patients]. PMID- 2609590 TI - [The intravital diagnosis of left atrial myxoma]. PMID- 2609591 TI - [The blood serum protein spectrum of patients with acute leukemia]. PMID- 2609592 TI - [Anemia in a patient with a diaphragmatic hernia]. PMID- 2609593 TI - [The nephrotic syndrome in elderly patients]. AB - The most frequent cause of development of the nephrotic syndrome in the elderly is secondary amyloidosis of the kidneys (71%). Most patients showed an association of the nephrotic syndrome with arterial hypertension (74%) and renal failure (59%). As compared with a control group of patients under 40, the elderly revealed concomitant diseases, greater severity and frequency of vascular and interstitial changes during morphological examination. PMID- 2609594 TI - [The role of immunological disorders in the infertile marriage]. AB - The authors used modern immunological methods to investigate regulatory subpopulations of T-lymphocytes in 300 married couples. It was established that disorders of the immune status in females with infertility may develop according to two immune mechanisms--due to development of isoimmune response to ovocyte antigens. Development of antispermatic immunity is related to changes in the T- and B-system of immunity without involvement of the regulatory C-lymphocyte subpopulations while the C-suppressor deficit may be one of the links in the disorders of the immunological status leading to the development of antibodies to own ovarian antigens. Appearance of immunological disorders in the process of treatment of infertility is the reason for their correction. PMID- 2609595 TI - [The correction of dyslipidemia in breast cancer patients]. AB - A study is presented of 330 patients with cancer of the breast who received a course of radical and restorative treatment. Studied were the dynamics of changes of the content of cholesterol, triglycerids, beta-lipoproteids, its relation with the functional state of lymphocytes and the possible ways of correction of dyslipidemia. The possibility is analyzed of employing dietotherapy, physical loads, drugs in the complex metabolic rehabilitation. It was established that the effect of this complex of measures allows to achieve a distinct reduction of immunodepression in the group of patients with an excessive body weight as well as in persons of middle and older ages. PMID- 2609596 TI - [The differential diagnosis of neuroses and neurosis-like states]. AB - Pathopsychological examination of the patients is important in the differential diagnosis of neurosis and neurosis-like conditions. This is illustrated on the example of differential diagnosis of torpid neurosis-like schizophrenia. The authors analyze the background of selection of methods for pathopsychological examination of this category of patients. This approach will ensure correct early nosological diagnosis and, thus, adequate treatment. PMID- 2609597 TI - [The importance of social psychological and clinical factors for prescribing group psychotherapy for neurosis patients]. AB - Socio-psychological and clinical factors and their significance for group psychotherapy were investigated in 62 patients with neuroses. The obtained statistically valid differences of some characteristic aspects between groups of patients with positive and negative directives. This indicates the necessity of differential approach to group psychotherapy and active individual and group work on the creation of positive motivation to this type of treatment. PMID- 2609598 TI - [Pseudosyringomyelitic acropathy]. PMID- 2609599 TI - [The combined treatment of patients with phlegmon of the hand]. PMID- 2609600 TI - [The nonspecific correction of phagocytosis in patients with foot mycoses]. AB - A clinico-cytochemical examination of 47 patients with mycosis pedis is presented. The author established that these patients showed an inhibition of the phagocytic activity of neutrophils due to imbalance of acid and alkaline phosphatases. It is considered justified to use diuciphon as a means of unspecific immunocorrection. PMID- 2609601 TI - [Diet therapy of patients with digestive diseases working in industrial production]. AB - Data are reported on the frequency of associated chronic diseases of the digestive organs in female workers of the textile industry. With the purpose of enhancing medico-social adaptation the authors developed two variants (main and sparing) of a unified gastroenterological diet which provides adequate energy and nutrient conditions for workers of the textile industry. PMID- 2609602 TI - [Industrial hygiene problems in the mining of complex-mineral potassium ores]. PMID- 2609603 TI - [Clinico-epidemiologic characteristics of the health status of miners]. AB - Clinico-epidemiological examination of 1944 miners working in mines with sloping layers revealed the incidence of diseases of the main systems of the body. It was found that emotional stresses further the development of primary hypertension in miners with a small length of work. Nonprofessional changes of the hearing organ are evaluated. PMID- 2609604 TI - [Determination of the activity of neurotoxic esterase in the peripheral blood lymphocytes for assessing the action of organophosphorus compounds]. AB - It was shown on a model of intoxication of hens with aphos possessing a selective neuroparalytic action that the target-enzyme neurotoxic esterase changed its activity in the brain, spleen and lymphocytes of the peripheral blood. The authors describe a method of determination of the activity of neurotoxic esterase in human peripheral blood lymphocytes that may be used for biomonitoring of the effect of phosphorus organic compounds possessing a delayed neurotoxic action. PMID- 2609605 TI - [The hemostatic system and DIC syndrome in cholestatic forms of viral hepatitis]. AB - A study is presented of 159 patients with cholestatic forms of viral hepatitis and 82 patients with viral hepatitis showing no cholestasis. The disorders of the coagulation activity were found to be nonhomogeneous and depended on the clinical variant of viral hepatitis, the period and severity of the disease, premorbid background and ways of infection. It is emphasized that development of the syndrome of disseminated intravascular coagulation is characteristic of the most severe forms of hepatitis against the background of prolonged and maximal bile stasis as well as in viral hepatitis B. Use of heparine, contrical and antihemorrhagic drugs when indicated prevents or controls the DIC syndrome. PMID- 2609606 TI - [Improvement in the clinical training of students at medical institutes]. PMID- 2609607 TI - [The diagnosis and reparative processes in a protracted course of myocardial infarct]. AB - A study of 20 patients with protracted myocardial infarction and 142 patients with transmural myocardial infarction showing a routine course revealed that the clinico-biochemical equivalent of prolonged course of reparative processes in protracted myocardial infarction are up to 2 months registered values of chlorine soluble mucoprotein, serum hexoses and hexose glycoaminoglycane fractions as well as late (on the 6-7 decade of the disease) oxyprolin peaks in biological substrates. PMID- 2609608 TI - [The academic-scientific-practical union at the medical institute]. PMID- 2609609 TI - [Methodologic approaches to improving the organization of outpatient care for the population of the Ukrainian SSR]. PMID- 2609610 TI - [Autologous skin flora studied to determine the active areas in acute myocardial infarct]. AB - The active points of the autologous skin flora (Botkin-Erb and sei-shu) were evaluated in 36 patients with myocardial infarction. It was established that there was an increase of the number of microbial cells in patients with macrofocal infarction in the Botkin-Erb and sei-shu points while in patients with microfocal myocardial infarction on changes were observed only in the Botkin-Erb point. PMID- 2609611 TI - [Nicotinic acid in the treatment of chronic circulatory failure in patients with ischemic heart disease]. AB - Examined were 98 patients with chronic forms of ischemic heart disease, mainly atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis with different degrees of cardiac insufficiency. Two groups were distinguished. Patients of the first group received traditional treatment while patients of the second group received also nicotinic acid agents. It was found that inclusion of nicotinic acid in the complex treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease increased the therapeutic efficacy. PMID- 2609612 TI - [The interrelation of central hemodynamic and kidney function indices in patients with ischemic heart disease]. AB - Indices of hemodynamics, some renal functions and mechanisms of their regulation were studied in 29 patients with ischemic heart disease and chronic circulatory insufficiency (grade IIA) and in 27 healthy persons under load conditions. Indices of central hemodynamics and renal function deteriorated in the patients after increase of preloads while there were no essential changes of the activity of renin-angiotensin-aldosteron activity. PMID- 2609613 TI - [The use of mildronat in heart failure in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease]. AB - A new native cardioprotector mildronat was used for the treatment of cardiac insufficiency due to ischemic heart disease. It was established that mildronate produced a positive effect on the hemodynamics and gaseous composition of the blood. The patients also showed normalization of the nitrogen metabolism and activity of the membrane-bound erythrocytic enzymes. PMID- 2609614 TI - [The indices of spiroergometry and tetrapolar rheography in patients with ischemic heart disease]. AB - Indices of the central hemodynamics and stroke indices were assessed by means of spiroergometry and tetrapolar chest rheography were studied in 35 practically healthy persons and 45 patients with ischemic heart disease and a direct correlation between the indices of hemodynamics and the above methods was found. Spiroergometry may be used for evaluation of the hemodynamic parameters in patients with ischemic heart disease. PMID- 2609615 TI - [The mechanisms of speech recovery following revascularization surgery in patients having had an ischemic stroke]. AB - A study is presented of 20 patients with ischemic stroke showing speech disorders. After the surgically performed extra-intracranial microanastomosis of the superficial temporal artery with branches of the middle cerebral artery there always followed an improvement of the aphasic defect. During control angiographic examination a 2% solution of novocaine was introduced into the carotid artery. Injection of the preparation into the left carotid artery produced a short-term cessation of speech while administration of novocaine into the right carotid artery did not effect the speech function. It is concluded that speech restoration occurs due to rehabilitation processes in the dominant hemisphere of the brain. PMID- 2609616 TI - [Characteristics of blood coagulation changes in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy]. AB - The main indices of the coagulogram, fibrinolysis and adhesive-aggregational properties of thrombocytes were evaluated in 40 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy with the purpose of determining the pathogenetic factors of thrombogenesis. Hypo- and hypercoagulation changes were found as well a reduction of the number of thrombocytes while the adhesiveness index remained unchanged; the aggregation and deaggregation capacities of thrombocytes reduced, the general fibrinolytic plasma activity increased. PMID- 2609617 TI - [The diagnosis and treatment of hairy cell leukemia]. AB - The author analyzes results of splenectomy in 20 patients with hairy cell leukosis. The importance of cytochemical investigations for the differential diagnosis is emphasized. Hematological indices normalized within two weeks after removal of the spleen. It is recommended to perform the operation of splenectomy in all patients with hairy cell leukosis. PMID- 2609618 TI - [Difficulties in the diagnosis of the recurrent form of thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery branches]. AB - Examples are reported of clinical cases confirming the difficulties of diagnosis of recurring form of thromboembolism of the minor pulmonary artery branches and the following leading signs of the disease are singled out: elevation of the temperature, tachy- and orthopnea, prolonged retrosternal pain, crepitation and moist rales over the lungs, inversion of the T-wave and depression of the ST segment in the right thoracic leads. PMID- 2609619 TI - [Morphogenetic patterns of isolated infundibular stenosis of the pulmonary artery]. AB - It was found that in isolated infundibular stenosis of the pulmonary artery a mass of muscle-fibrous tissue creates an obstacle to blood flow in the right ventricle. Morphogenetic regularities of compensatory and adaptive reactions in isolated infundibular stenosis are similar to those observed in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It may be suggested that abnormalities in the structure of the hypertrophied myocardium in isolated stenosis of the right ventricle infundibulum is a result of a fundamental error in the cardiac morphogenesis and not a reflection of increase of the degree of cardiac hypertrophy. PMID- 2609620 TI - [The general characteristics of emergency states in pulmonology]. AB - The causes of emergency conditions may be located extrapectorally, extrapulmonarily, tracheobronchially and bronchopulmonarily as well as intrapleurally. Circulatory disorders develop due to hypoxia, hypercapnia, acidosis, blood loss. The first stage (prodromal, latent) may be marked by a hazard of sudden deterioration of the general condition of the patient; intensive therapy is necessary during the second stage, reanimation measures and surgical intervention during the third stage. PMID- 2609621 TI - [The surface activity of pulmonary surfactant in experimental acute and chronic ethanol poisoning]. PMID- 2609622 TI - [The importance of thoracoscopy in the differential diagnosis of pleurisy]. AB - Thoracoscopy was performed in 50 patients with pleural exudates of unclear etiology. Indications for thoracoscopy were: unclear character of accumulation of exudate, ineffective treatment including pleural punctures in case of hydrothorax. Visual examination of the pleura and chest organs supplemented by cyto- and histological study of tissues taken from involved places of the pleura allowed to arrive at an exact diagnosis in 90% of cases. PMID- 2609623 TI - [Hyperergic reactions to tuberculin]. AB - Examination in 34875 children and adults revealed in 15.2% positive tuberculin reactions. In 0.23% these reactions were of hyperergic character. The authors present a detailed clinico-roentgenological characterization of these hyperergic reaction. The effect was established of BCG vaccination, contact of patients with tuberculosis, chronic infection foci on the skin sensitivity to tuberculin. PMID- 2609624 TI - [The causes of death in tuberculosis patients at a tuberculosis dispensary]. AB - The authors analyze 218 cases of death from pulmonary tuberculosis in the Vinnitsa Province Tuberculosis Dispensary from 1984 to 1987. A high proportion of mortality was noted among those who died at term under one year after diagnosis, patients with recurrences of the process indicating unsatisfactory measures for early diagnosis of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, inadequate dispensary treatment and antirecurrence measures. PMID- 2609625 TI - [The effect of peloid therapy on cardiovascular function in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - Data on 400 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis indicate that inclusion of mud drugs (peloidin, gumisol, torfot) according to proposed methods reduces abacillation time, closure of disintegration cavities and at the same time does not produce negative effects on the functional state of the cardiovascular system. Peloid therapy favours normalization of the cardiac rhythm in cases of initial tachycardia and normalization of the arterial pressure in initial hypotonia. PMID- 2609626 TI - [Ways to improve medical care for patients with rheumatic diseases]. PMID- 2609627 TI - [The combined treatment of patients with chronic persisting hepatitis at a health resort in Morshin]. AB - A study of 153 patients with chronic persisting hepatitis indicates that galvanization of the liver within one hour after intake of mineral water furthers earlier disappearance or reduction of symptoms of the disease, improves the protein, pigmentary and lipid metabolism, reduces the initially elevated transaminase activity. The treatment favours accumulation in the liver of sulfate, sodium and magnesium ions contained in the mineral water. PMID- 2609628 TI - [The content of middle molecules in the blood plasma of patients with proctologic diseases]. PMID- 2609629 TI - [The effect of hypotensive and pathogenetic therapy on the propulsive function of the heart in patients with glomerulonephritis]. AB - Ultrasound cardiography and Doppler cardiography were used to assess the contractile function of left ventricle and hemodynamics in 37 patients with arterial renal hypertension under the effect of hypotensive (apressin, dopegit, furosemide) and pathogenetic treatment (heparine, cyclophosphamide, curantyl) in out- and inpatient conditions. Complex therapy tended to improve the propulsive function of the heart. PMID- 2609630 TI - [Kidney function in patients with hydronephrosis complicated by pyelonephritis and nephrolithiasis]. AB - The authors studied the renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration, indices of osmoregulating and ion-regulating renal function in 382 patients with hydronephrosis. Regularities of functional changes in the absence of infection, pyelonephritis and nephrolithiasis with uni- and bilateral processes and hydronephrosis of the single kidney. PMID- 2609631 TI - [Prolonged hyperthermia in the therapist's practice]. PMID- 2609632 TI - [Age-related characteristics of the regional distribution of total water in the human brain]. AB - With aging there occurred a clear increase of the content of total water in several structures of the brain, most pronounced in the hypothalamus. The content of total water in the grey and white matter showed a reduction in the fronto caudal direction both in the younger and older age groups though in the old this regularity was less pronounced. In the young the content of total water was higher in the structures of the anterior hypothalamus as compared with the posterior. PMID- 2609633 TI - [Allergic complications in patients with rheumatism]. AB - The frequency and character of drug allergy was evaluated in 200 patients with rheumatism. Drug allergy was revealed in 60% of patients, in 62.5% of them to two and more drugs. Allergy was frequent in women and was influenced by concomitant lesions of the digestive and biliary organs, genetic factors (familial predisposition), presence of nondrug reactions. Most frequently allergic complications were observed due to use of antibiotics (37.5%), in particular, of the penicillin group; nonsteroid anti-inflammatory medicinal agents (13.5%) of all patients), primarily, the employment of pyrazolon drugs. PMID- 2609634 TI - [Lipid peroxidation in patients with the initial stage of circulatory encephalopathy of atherosclerotic origin]. AB - Examined were 30 patients of young age with initial stage of dyscirculatory encephalopathy of atherosclerotic genesis. Determined were the level of lipid peroxidation, state of the physiological antioxidant system, level of lipids. RESULTS: the patients showed a reduction of the antioxidant defense and conjugated increase of free-radical oxidation of lipids; direct correlation between the content of peroxidation compounds and increase of the level of atherogenic lipoproteids. It is suggested that antioxidants should be used during the period of their deficit (winter season) in patients of young age. PMID- 2609635 TI - [Changes in the immune reactivity of the body in cerebral arachnoiditis]. AB - The author evaluates the dynamics of immune reactivity of the body in patients with cerebral arachnoiditis with consideration of main clinical syndrome- hypertensive-hydrocephalic, epileptiform, autonomic-vascular dystonia syndromes in different variants of the course of the process. It is shown that regression of immune insufficiency did not depend on the leading clinical syndrome. The question of including immunomodulators for correction of immune insufficiency is discussed. PMID- 2609636 TI - [The function of the taste analyzer in patients with disseminated sclerosis]. AB - The absolute threshold of gustatory sensibility was studied in 100 patients with multiple sclerosis by means of applying gustatory irritants by the drop method. The patients showed an elevation of the threshold of gustatory sensation as compared with the healthy concerning sweet, salty, bitter. In 5 patients unstable loss loss of taste was the first symptom of the disease. PMID- 2609637 TI - [Modelling of a combined immunodeficiency state by splenectomy and alloimmunization with lymph node antigens]. AB - Autoimmune pathology was modelled in splenectomized animals by allosensitization with lymphoid tissue in association with Freund's adjuvant. It was found that splenectomy in guinea pigs produces stable disorders of homeostasis and morphological picture of the heart, liver, inguinal lymph nodes as well as a imbalance of the autoregulation mechanisms. The authors obtained an experimental model of autoimmune pathology that may be used for investigation of the pathogenesis of these states as well as for developing methods of corrective therapy. PMID- 2609638 TI - [Preparation and properties of monoclonal antibodies to influenza virus A/Krasnodar/101/59 (H2N2)]. AB - Somatic hybridization produced a set of 6 mouse hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies of G isotype to influenza A/Krasnodar/101/59 (H2N2) virus. MCA were characterized by solid phase enzyme-immunoassay, hemagglutination-inhibition test, and indirect immunofluorescence technique. According to the results of radioimmunoprecipitation, all 6 hybridomas produced MCA to hemagglutinin of influenza A/Krasnodar/101/59 (H2N2) virus. PMID- 2609639 TI - [The effect of amplifying reproduction of influenza virus in mouse lungs during simultaneous infection with two cold-adapted strains]. AB - Reproduction of cold-adapted (ca) strains of influenza virus in the lungs of white mice after separate and combined inoculation and the properties of isolates derived from the infected animals were studied. It was shown that after combined inoculation with ca and ts strains A/Leningrad/134/17/57 (H2N2) and A/PR/8/59/1 (H1N1) ca recombinants could develop loosing some ts mutations and possessing (unlike the master strains) pneumo-virulence for mice. All the pneumo-virulent reassortants inherited hemagglutinin from the ca A/PR/8/59/1 strain and PB1 protein from the ca A/Leningrad/134/17/57 strain. The results indicate that it is unsafe to construct live recombinant divaccines by combining the recombinants produced from different donors of attenuation. PMID- 2609640 TI - [Regularities of formation in a general population of serum antibodies to previously circulated influenza A viruses]. AB - The spectrum of antibody production against hemagglutinin of all known influenza A virus serotypes after influenza A (H3N2) infection in persons of all age groups (from 1 month to 72 years) was analysed to investigated the regularities of accumulation of antibodies against influenza A viruses gone out of circulation. For the same purpose, a long-term (many years) longitudinal analysis of serum anti-HA antibody levels against "old" influenza A (HSW1N1), A (H0N1), A (H1N1), A (H2N2), and A (H3N2) viruses was carried out in children and adults of various age groups in 6 cities of different geographical regions of the country. Based on the results of the study, the concept of the "original antigenic sin" is analysed critically, and a new original concept on the regularities of antibody genesis against previously prevalent influenza A viruses and the factors affecting this process has been formulated. PMID- 2609641 TI - [Antigenic characteristics of influenza B virus strains isolated in an orphanage during an influenza outbreak in Moscow in the winter of 1988]. AB - Examinations of ARD patients in an orphanage for defective children in Moscow during an influenza outbreak in the winter of 1988 yielded 12 influenza virus strains, including 6 influenza B strains and 6 influenza A (H3N2) strains. The antigenic analysis of hemagglutinin of influenza B virus isolates showed that with respect to the B/Leningrad/179/86 strain (an antigenic analogue of B/Ann Arbor/1/86 strain recommended for inclusion into the influenza vaccine for 1987 1988) they could be divided into 2 groups: antigenically close to the B/Leningrad/86 strain (isolate B/712) and markedly differing from it (the remaining isolates). As compared with reference strains of the previous years, all the new virus isolates fell into 4 groups: isolate B/712 antigenically related to B/Hong Kong/73 and B/Leningrad/86 strains; B/722 antigenically close to B/Singapore/222/79 and B/USSR/100/83 strains; B/724, an antigenic analogue to B/USSR/100/83; and the remaining isolates, to some or other extent, differing from various reference strains. This attests to simultaneous circulation of various antigenic variants of influenza B virus during the 1988 winter outbreak of influenza in Moscow. An interesting feature of the B/712/88 isolate consists in its antigenic specificity of hemagglutinin being indistinguishable from that of B/Hong Kong/8/73 strains. PMID- 2609642 TI - [Attenuated recombinant influenza type B virus obtained during crossing of virus B/Ann Arbor/2/86 with the cold-adapted strain B/Leningrad/14/17/55]. AB - Crossing the cold-adapted B/Leningrad/14/17/55 strain with the temperature sensitive virulent B/Ann Arbor/2/86 strain yielded a recombinant B/14/5/1 which, by the antigenic specificity of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, corresponded to the B/Ann Arbor/2/86 strain but, like the attenuated donor, had the cold-adapter characteristics. The B/14/5/1 recombinant inherited the genes coding for proteins PB2, PB1, PA, NP, and M from the attenuated master strain and the genes coding for hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and proteins NS from the virulent master strain. This strain was nonreactive for adults and for children with the initial anti-hemagglutinin antibody titre less than or equal to 1:20 (the reactogenic index being 1 and 0.9% respectively) and was moderately antigenic inducing a 4 fold or more rise of anti-hemagglutinins in the blood of 48.8% of seronegative adults and in 46.6% of seronegative children of 3 to 15 years of age. The highest indices of seroconversions (60%) were recorded in a group of preschool children. PMID- 2609643 TI - [Antigenic variability of avian influenza virus A/H13, isolated in the USSR]. AB - The antigenic structure of influenza H13 viruses isolated from wild birds in the USSR in 1976-1985 was studied. Antiserum against the reference A/gull/Maryland/704/77 (H13N6) strain was used to demonstrate the antigenic variations among the viruses. The homology of nucleotide sequences in the region 99-215 for the two A/H13N6 strains, A/gull/Maryland/704/77 and A/great black headed gull/Astrakhan/227/84, were 75% and 86%, respectively. The 9-base segment deletion in A/grey black-headed gull/Astrakhan/277/84 was observed. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences of the strains' hemagglutinin in the appropriate region (amino acids 2-40) revealed 5 replacements (86% homology). Two replacements of arginine by lysine and asparagine by serine in positions 15 and 16, respectively, are the most significant. The latter replacement is accompanied by a change in the glycosylation site and might alter its three-dimensional structure. Further studies of the isolate genome are under way. PMID- 2609644 TI - [Conservativism of the matrix protein of paramyxoviruses]. AB - Cross reactions among paramyxoviruses were determined by the immunoblot method. Human parainfluenza viruses, types 1-3, avian parainfluenza virus type 4, mumps, Sendai, and measles viruses were used. Antisera to human parainfluenza viruses were shown to cross-interact with proteins NP and M of other types, and all antisera to the members of Paramyxovirus genus cross-reacted with M proteins of other paramyxoviruses. No cross reactions with measles virus proteins were observed. It is concluded that M protein is the most conservative protein of paramyxoviruses. PMID- 2609645 TI - [The effect of myelopeptides on the persistence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in monkeys]. AB - Myelopeptides (MP), bioregulatory molecules of bone marrow origin, exert a protective effect in persistence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). The experiments involved 32 monkeys. The effect of MP was observed after one or two subcutaneous injections in a dose of 1 mg within 1.5-2 months after virus infection. The effect consists in 25-fold reduction of the frequency of virus persistence, marked limitation of the zone of spread of the persisting virus, including the central nervous system (CNS), decrease in virulence of the persisting virus, and lack of morphological signs of progress of the pathological process in the CNS. The protective effect was also observed when the infected monkeys were treated with MP and inactivated concentrated TBE vaccine. At the same time, the vaccine alone exerted a much less marked effect on the persisting TBE virus producing only a 2-fold reduction in the frequency of persistence without limitation of the zones of virus spread. In acute TBE in BALB/c mice, the effect of MP is observed irregularly. The marked protective effect of MP in TBE virus persistence in monkeys is not associated with stimulation of humoral immunity but is mediated by other immunological mechanisms requiring further study. PMID- 2609646 TI - [Experimental measles infection in rodents]. AB - The sensitivity of newborn hamsters to inoculation with the vaccine L-16 strain of measles virus and the Lec strain isolated from a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis as well as the possibility of persistence of these viruses in the animals were studied. Intracerebral inoculation of the L-15 strain was shown to produce in hamsters acute meningoencephalitis leading to death in 85%-100% of cases. Over 30 days after inoculation, the infectious virus, the virus-specific antigen and virus genome were found in the brain. In the brains of the sick animals, all the structural proteins of measles virus with the exception of hemagglutinin were expressed. After inoculation with the Lec strain, the clinical signs of the disease were less manifest, and mortality was 40%. The infectious virus could be detected in the brain up to 20 days postinoculation, the genome, up to 31 days. All the structural proteins of measles virus were expressed in the brains of the inoculated animals. No persistence of L-16 and Lec strains of measles virus could be demonstrated at langer intervals after inoculation (90-180 days) in the brains of hamsters. PMID- 2609647 TI - [Lassa and Mozambique viruses: cross protection in experiments on mice and action of immunosuppressants on experimental infections]. AB - The pathogenicity of Mozambique virus for random-bred mice and CBA mice was studied. In contrast to Lassa virus, intracerebral inoculation of newborn zandom bred mice with Mozambique virus (1000 PFU/mouse) results in death of the animals. The pathogenic properties of both viruses for adult CBA mice were found to be similar: intracerebral inoculation of the viruses caused death of the animals within 6-8 days, but not intraperitoneal inoculation. With the latter, they produced a population of immunocompetent cells protecting syngeneic recipient mice against the lethal intracerebral inoculation of the homologous virus. Cross protection experiments demonstrated that intraperitoneal inoculation of Lassa virus protected 70% of mice against the lethal infection with Mozambique virus, and intraperitoneal inoculation of Mozambique virus protected 45% of mice against Lassa virus. Cyclophosphamide exerted no protective effect in Mozambique virus infected mice. Cyclosporin A exerted no therapeutic effect in mice lethally infected with Lassa or Mozambique virus. PMID- 2609648 TI - [Infection of gypsy moth Porthetria dispar cultured cells with Aedes caspius caspius mosquito iridovirus]. AB - The results of inoculation of gipsy moth cell culture with mosquito iridovirus are presented. As a result of the virus infection the cell monolayer became loosened, and in damaged cells, numerous cytoplasmic processes appeared. Virus virions were found in the cytoplasm of the involved cells. PMID- 2609649 TI - [Isolation and crystallization of neuraminidase of the influenza B virus strain B/Leningrad/179/86]. PMID- 2609650 TI - [Monomeric (7S) and polymeric (19S) molecules of anti-delta IfM in acute and chronic delta-infection]. PMID- 2609651 TI - [Etiology and prevention of post-transfusion hepatitis upon systematic screening of donor sera]. PMID- 2609652 TI - [Enzymatic hydrolysate of muscle proteins as the basis for nutrients for cell cultures]. PMID- 2609653 TI - Presidential address. New strategies, timely communications planned. PMID- 2609654 TI - Routine thyroid function tests as a case-finding tool. AB - A comprehensive, multiphasic blood panel was used as a case-finding tool for 738 patients. The thyroid function tests T4 (total thyroxine), rT3U (resin T3 uptake), and FTI (free thyroxine index) were included in this panel. Among the 711 patients found to be clinically euthyroid without known thyroid disorder, 54 had at least one abnormal parameter. Of these patients, four new diagnoses of thyroid dysfunction were made. All four cases had an abnormal T4 and FTI. Two patients had a slightly elevated FTI and normal T4, and have remained clinically euthyroid. All other patients had a normal FTI, and no thyroid dysfunction was noted. This gives FTI in this study a sensitivity of 1.0 and specificity of 0.993, which is camparable to what others have found (1). The prevalence of unsuspected thyroid dysfunction was 0.56 per cent, again comparable to other studies (1-3). It would seem the high sensitivity/specificity of FTI offsets the relatively low prevalence of unsuspected thyroid dysfunction. Since FTI is a sensitive predictor of thyroid dysfunction, consideration should be given to the inclusion of thyroid function studies in existing multiphasic case-finding panels. PMID- 2609655 TI - Smoke inhalation. AB - Two cases of smoke inhalation injury are reported with a brief review of the pertinent literature. The frequency of occurrence, the mortality rate, the clinical course of this common event are discussed with emphasis on the following facts: 1) Pulmonary injury is often associated with skin burns and, conversely, skin burns, particularly when severe, are accompanied by significant effects on pulmonary function; 2) Domestic fires, which account for most of these casualties, may involve complex exposure to a variety of aggressive agents (CO, HCN, NOx, etc.), causing systemic effects; 3) The clinical course of the most severe occurrences characteristically consists of three phases, namely acute pulmonary insufficiency, pulmonary edema and bronchopneumonia, in sequence; 4) The mortality rates of these clinical phases range at or about 50 per cent; 5) Significant laryngeal edema and even pulmonary edema may follow an interval of several hours, during which both subjective and objective evidence of injury may be minimal or unnoticed; and 6) The determination of carboxyhemoglobin levels often helps in gauging the severity of the exposure and related effects of either immediate or delayed appearance. PMID- 2609656 TI - [From the reason for consultation to the result of consultation in (pediatric) surgery]. AB - For the first time in the literature we have tried to open up the region of applied surgery to research. We noticed that there are many unsolved problems awaiting clarification. The aim of our study was to find out how often we could come to an exact diagnosis by our consultation. With the help of imaging diagnostic facilities, the chemical pathology laboratory, and histological examination in connection with operation we were usually able to come to an exact diagnosis. However, patients with unclear abdominal pain where it is essential- amongst other diagnoses--to exclude acute appendicitis (as the most common condition with a potentially dangerous, but avoidable outcome) still present a lot of diagnostic problems. There are for example, no appropriate concepts as basis for the nomenclature of such unresolved cases. PMID- 2609657 TI - [Classification of reasons for consultation and results of consultation in a selected sample from specialized pulmonary outpatient care]. AB - According to Braun's theory of applied medicine terminology 4 results of medical consultation can be defined: A) classification of symptoms, B) classification of groups of symptoms, C) classification of the clinical picture, and D) exact diagnosis. In general practice only about 10% of the results of medical consultation are exact diagnoses. We wondered if the categories A-D also pertain to the patients of a specialized pulmonary diseases outpatient department. 20 consecutive new patients were studied who had been referred by other outpatient departments, consultant specialists, or general practitioners. The group consisted of 13 men and 7 women, mean age 40 years, range 18 to 65 years. In 9 patients consultation resulted in an increase in differentiation by one or two stages in comparison with the reason for referral. The result of consultation was not an exact diagnosis, in 10 cases, even in a specialized outpatient department. Thus, Braun's terminology of applied medicine with respect to the reason for, and the result of a medical consultation is generally valid, as shown by application to a specialist outpatient department. PMID- 2609658 TI - [Theoretical occupational studies in ambulatory care at a university eye clinic]. AB - In the present publication we report our attempts to analyze the diagnostic actions of an ophthalmologist working in the out-patient department of a major eye clinic according to the theories that have been established in applied medicine in other fields. To the best of our knowledge such a study has never been undertaken before. Using our experience from work in the field of applied general medicine it was possible to analyze both the diagnostic approach taken and the average time spent per patient that enabled the doctor to start specific treatment of the presenting symptoms. We observed that the consultation time per patient was comparatively short and that a precise diagnosis, as previously defined by us, is only rarely established. In most of the cases treatment was initiated with a "presumptive diagnosis" and the patient was subsequently followed up as long as necessary. There is no doubt as to the importance of further studies in this field for future application in general ophthalmology. PMID- 2609659 TI - [Quality of life in artificial kidney therapy]. AB - Object of this research was to collect information on stress factors of different types of renal replacement therapy. In an anonymous questionnaire 164 patients (93 men, 71 women) gave subjective information about their life assessment. 87 had haemodialysis (HD), 10 home HD, 13 received CAPD and 54 were transplanted. The small proportion of early retirement (15 out of 33 pensioners) before the start of renal replacement therapy, despite long-lasting disease underlines personal activity. The start of renal replacement therapy coincides with a marked rise in retirement, which must be seen as justified on medical grounds, 46.3% of patients report feeling better during therapy. Comparing the technical therapies, CAPD influences daily routine to the greatest extent. Our results show that transplant patients do best with respect to full or partial rehabilitation. Therapeutic dependence on technical devices represents a major intrusion into the life of any patient. Patients report a high rate of improvement only after transplantation. A high rate of satisfaction during technical therapy brings up the question of adaptation or repression. Only few patients report a substantial decrease in their standard of living. There was no difference in the results between men and women. PMID- 2609660 TI - [131 I accumulation in the thyroid gland of the rat following balneotherapy iodine dose administration]. AB - The effect of oral administration of iodine brine as used in the Austrian health resort Bad Hall on 131I uptake in thyroid, skin and serum, and on the renal radioiodine excretion was studied in 22 rats. Intake of iodine brine resulted in a marked decrease of 131I uptake by the thyroid, both in the long-term experiments (3 weeks of iodine brine supplementation, 131I administration 24 hours before the final evaluation) and in the short-term experiments (1 day iodine, 131I administration 2 hours before evaluation). Reductions in thyroid 131I uptake to 19.4% of the control uptake in the long-term and about 36% in the short-term experiments were observed. No alteration in 131I uptake was seen in the skin, whereas the radioiodine excretion in the urine was somewhat increased. The administration of iodide at a dosage easily achieved by drinking the iodine brine of Bad Hall is discussed as a protective measure against radiation hazards. PMID- 2609661 TI - [Arteriosclerosis and cancer--fats or carbohydrates?]. PMID- 2609662 TI - [Epidemiologic study of the detection of early summer meningoencephalitis north of the Danube, especially in the area of Aschaffenburg and the surrounding district (about 80 km)]. PMID- 2609663 TI - [The Research Institute for Molecular Pathology (I.M.P.)--a new approach for cancer development]. AB - The aim of basic research at the I.M.P. is a more comprehensive understanding of cancer development that should lead to less aggressive and more efficient therapies in future. Molecular biological methods provide a valuable tool to describe the genetic defects and malfunctions of the cancer cell, an understanding of which is essential for the establishment of causal cancer treatment. Several working groups are studying aspects of cellular growth and its regulation from different points of view. One group is investigating yeast genetics, because there the network of genetic interactions can be followed up most easily. In mouse genetics the question of how the so-called proto-oncogenes act during embryonic development is being looked at. Model systems indicate how oncogenes reprogram the cells, and how growth signals enter the nucleus to induce new cascades of gene activity. By characterizing transcriptional and post transcriptional factors it might well be possible to forge an approach towards the growth signals in the cytoplasm. During these investigations the results will be continuously scrutinized for useful therapeutic concepts. PMID- 2609664 TI - [In vivo flow of autologous radioactively labeled low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in human blood vessels]. AB - Following 123I-labelling and reinjection of autologous low-density lipoproteins (LDL) to patients with clinically manifest atherosclerosis and/or hyperlipoproteinaemia (HLP), an investigation was carried out of whole body kinetics and local kinetics over atherosclerotic lesions and areas of increased LDL entry identified by "hot spots" in the 123I-LDL scintigram. In patients with HLP the number and frequency of "hot spots" was higher than in normolipaemics. The time course of 123I-LDL influx into atherosclerotic lesion sites until scintigraphic visualization of "hot spots" exhibited three different types of LDL uptake among the patients. In the majority of patients LDL kinetics was characterized by entry into the vessels with the maximal radioactivity measured as early as within 60 minutes after reinjection. In some patients maximal radioactivity over lesion sites was discovered after 20 hours or even later. Morphological evaluation revealed that in comparison to control tissue, fatty streaks and lipid lesions show by far the highest 123I-LDL accumulation. Ex vivo measurement of the deposition of 125I-LDL in de- and re-endothelialized rabbit aortic segments exhibited a significantly (p less than 0.01 - p less than 0.001) higher 125I-LDL retention as compared with endothelialized segments (after i.v. injection). PMID- 2609665 TI - [Thromboxane A2 and granulocyte elastase after severe trauma--relationship to complications and survival rates]. AB - Of 64 polytraumatized patients with a mean injury severity score of 33.1, 42 showed marked systemic release of thromboxane B2 and granulocyte elastase during the initial 18 hours after trauma, reaching peak arterial levels of greater than 1,000 pg/ml and ng/ml, respectively. If those patients ("responders": plasma TXB2 greater than 250 pg/ml) were compared with the remaining 22 ("non-responders": TXB2 less than 250 pg/ml) the following became obvious: "Late" mortality (greater than 3 d) was 31% in responders, which is significantly higher than in non responders (9%). No correlation was observed between "early" mortality (less than 3 d) and mediator release. There was no difference in the incidence of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (38% versus 32%) or the late sepsis syndrome (17% versus 18%) between responders and non-responders. Morbidity, however, differed markedly in that ARDS in responders was associated with significantly higher elastase levels, a higher mortality and 10 times higher incidence of sepsis as compared to responders without ARDS. ARDS in non-responders, by contrast, did not change elastase maxima or the mortality rate as compared to non responders without ARDS. It is concluded that TXB2 is not a predictor of posttraumatic ARDS, but is related to a complicated course, in particular to sepsis and mortality. Elastase with high probability predicts ARDS and/or the late sepsis syndrome. Simultaneous determination of TXB2 further enhances the predictive value of elastase. PMID- 2609666 TI - [Lipid values in a rural community]. AB - In 1987 the population of a rural community in Tyrol aged 20 to 74 years was screened for plasma lipids (cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides). The mean cholesterol value was 205.8 mg/dl (5.31 mml/l) in men and 207.9 mg/dl (5.37 mmol/l) in women. These values seem to be the lowest so far recorded for population-based cholesterol values in Austria. This might be partly explained by an intensive risk factor intervention programme which has been implemented in this community throughout the past ten years. HDL cholesterol was significantly higher in women (63.7 mg/dl or 1.64 mmol/l) than in men (51.1 mg/dl or 1.32 mmol/l). The opposite was true for non-fasting triglycerides, with mean values of 186.3 mg/dl (2.1 mmol/l) in men, and 122.1 mg/dl (1.4 mmol/l) in women. PMID- 2609667 TI - [Accomplishments of health consciousness on nutrition behavior. results of a representative inquiry]. AB - Interviews of 1000 probands - representative of the Austrian population - on the subject of health consciousness/nutrition show the following results: --about a quarter (26%) of the population is health-conscious and acts in accordance with this viewpoint --almost half of the Austrians (47%) characterize themselves as being health-conscious, but do not live according to this attitude --the rest of the population, nearly a quarter (22%), has not developed a health-conscious attitude. Health-conscious persons would welcome the introduction of new "more healthy" foods on the market. They would like to have more products of high-fibre foods (60%), skimmed or semi-skimmed milk (56%), low-fat sausages and cheese (51%), special vegetable fat for cooking (50%), drinks with less sugar/alcohol (48%), low fat spread (43%), special margarines (43%) and cheese, sausages and bread with less salt (40%). Persons lacking a health-conscious attitude do not believe that it is essential for such products to be available. They think that similar effects could be reached if probands modified their eating behaviour accordingly more economic nutrition. PMID- 2609668 TI - [Professional organ procurement as a prerequisite for attaining the necessary transplantation frequency: experiences with organ distribution at the transplantation center in Vienna]. AB - In the years 1965 to 1988 one or more organs were harvested for the purpose of transplantation from 649 brain dead organ donors reported to the Vienna transplantation centre. Based on a 1982 law regulating organ donation a large number of initiatives aiming at the improvement of the organ procurement system have taken place. In particular, the introduction of a decentralized donor guidance and organ retrieval system, a few information campaigns, as well as the introduction of full-time transplantation coordinators have significantly increased the number of organ donors. This development has made the Vienna transplantation centre one of the largest centres in Europe and has recently resulted in the achievement of a virtual balance between the increase of patients on the waiting list and the growth of the rate of transplantations performed. If this organ procurement policy is consistently continued in the years to come, there is a good chance of ensuring sufficient supply of organs for all patients on waiting lists, at least within the Viennese area. PMID- 2609669 TI - [The effect of donor conditioning and perioperative management of recipients on the initial and late function of kidney transplants]. AB - On the basis of 88 consecutive cadaveric renal transplants, multiple variables concerning donor conditioning and perioperative recipient management which may have an influence on the occurrence of acute tubular necrosis (ATN), were analysed and their impact on long-term results assessed. Cold ischaemia time turned out to be the greatest risk factor and was seven hours shorter in patients with good initial function when compared with patients with ATN. Although actual one-year graft survival was similar in both groups, the postoperative course was more complicated in the ATN group and management more onerous. Furthermore, two patients of the initial non-function group died of complications directly related to renal replacement therapy. Seventeen hours cold ischaemia time was associated with more than 80% initial function. This time is sufficient to allow careful tissue typing and organ transportation. PMID- 2609670 TI - [The extra-anatomic bypass in the therapy of aortoiliacal occlusive disease]. AB - The extra-anatomic bypass procedure is a well accepted alternative to direct aortoiliac reconstruction in high-risk patients or in cases of local inoperability. Between 1980 and 1987 74 patients (54 men, 20 women; mean age = 71 years, 43 to 90) underwent a total of 78 extra-anatomic reconstructions: 23 axillounifemoral, 15 axillobifemoral, 34 femoro-femoral cross-over, 4 axillo popliteal and 2 femoro-popliteal cross-over bypasses. The operations were performed for severe claudication in 16, rest pain in 27 and gangrene in 26 patients; acute ischaemia was the indication in 6 and acute aortic aneurysms in 2 cases; in 1 patient there was an infected bifurcation graft. At a median follow up time of 11 months the secondary patency rates for axillofemoral and femoro femoral cross-over bypasses are predicted to be 75%, 71% and 62% after 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively (Kaplan-Meier estimate); on exclusion of vein and composite grafts, the patency rate increases to 79%, 75% and 65%, respectively. Femoro femoral cross-over grafts seem to produce better results than axillounifemoral grafts (86% versus 77% at 3 years; logrank p greater than 0.05). The patency of the superficial femoral artery providing good run-off conditions, an appropriate technique for performing the anastomoses and adequate choice of graft material appear to improve the results. PMID- 2609671 TI - [Electrodermal activity--"psychovegetative resonance" in AIDS patients]. AB - The habituation of the electrodermal reaction (EDR) is one of the most used variables among psychophysiological indicators in investigations in men. In our department a specific computer assisted technique for measuring habituation, mean amplitude, area underneath the line and "emotional reflection" was developed. 15 acoustic stimuli (500 Hz tone at 72 db intensity lasting for 500 msec) are presented to the patient. The habituation criterion is reached when there are no reactions to 3 consecutive stimuli. Since the first reports in 1981 AIDS has become an expanding major public health problem. Therefore the aim of our investigation was to study electrodermal activity in AIDS-patients, especially the habituation of the EDR. 37 addicted AIDS-patients participated in the study voluntarily and were compared to 30 drug addicted HIV-negative patients, 30 homosexual AIDS-patients and 20 healthy normals. Furthermore the patients were divided according to the stages of their disease. The drug addicted AIDS-patient group habituated earlier than the addicted HIV-negative group, the healthy normals, and the homosexual patients. The drug dependent AIDS-patients were more psychovegetatively suppressed. As compared to the healthy normals and addicted HIV-negative patients the homosexual AIDS-patients differed in emotional reflection; they showed a higher degree of excitement, while in drug dependent AIDS-patients a lower emotional reflection was found. Concerning emotional intensity similar results were obtained. Differences in the mean amplitudes reached the level of statistical significance between homosexual AIDS-patients and the healthy normals and addicted HIV-negative patients respectively. Within as well as between both groups differences concerning stage III and IV could be observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609672 TI - [Intravenous versus oral treatment of endogenously depressed patients with doxepin--a double-blind study with plasma level determination]. AB - A double-blind study was conducted involving 45 "therapy-resistant" endogenous depressive inpatients who were treated with Doxepin intravenously or orally. After a period of 3 weeks there was no significant difference in the clinical ratings (HRSD, SDS). In the parenteral treatment group, however there was a statistically significant quicker onset of action (day 3). Compared to oral application higher Doxepin plasma concentrations during day 1 to 6 could be obtained by drip-infusion in spite of lower dosage. PMID- 2609673 TI - Global strategy for health for all by the year 2000. Second report on monitoring progress in implementing strategies for health for all. PMID- 2609674 TI - [Salmonella infections - prevention and control]. PMID- 2609675 TI - [The development of acute gastroenteritis in the German Democratic Republic]. AB - Next to acute respiratory diseases accounting for about 80% of all cases of notifiable infectious diseases acute gastrointestinal diseases with 12% are the group second in importance. Since many years the number of reported cases with diarrhoea is increasing. The aetiology of merely a small part of these cases (less than 5%) is being determined. Next to the Salmonellae at present Campylobacter species are detected most frequently. The percentage of viral gastroenteritis is under-estimated considerably on account of insufficient diagnostics. Most important for improving the situation is the improvement of hygienic conditions in kindergartens, creches and nursing homes; in food processing plants and kitchens as well as the reduction of human pathogens particularly Salmonellae and Campylobacter-spreading in livestock. PMID- 2609676 TI - [Epizootiology of salmonellosis]. AB - During the period from 1980 to 1987 a decreasing trend of Salmonella isolations could be registered in animal production. With regard to Salmonella serotypes host adapted to domestic animals both main as subordinated series of infections are analyzed in epizootic actions. In all cases of not host adapted Salmonella serotypes vector specific contagious manners are dominating. PMID- 2609677 TI - [Epizootic-epidemiologic aspects of the Salmonella infection chain in poultry production]. AB - Infections with S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis develop in poultry flocks as persistent flock enzootics, often without any clinical manifestation. Infected parenteral hen flocks are the source of vertical, so-called pseudo-trans-ovarian infection chains. These chains may induce horizontally self-maintaining cycles of the infection in the flocks. Environmental Salmonella may enter such cycles. Each of these cycles is able to transmit Salmonella to poultry products so entailing human health hazards permanently. The intensification in modern poultry production causes the permanent presence of Salmonella in the flocks. Hitherto all known control measures (biological, chemoprophylactic, physical) didn't result in a remarkable success. Therefore, the only alternative is the consequent implementation of hygiene regimes in all stages of production and during processing and marketing of poultry products in order to dilute Salmonella as much as possible. PMID- 2609678 TI - [Tenacity of Salmonellae in environmental media and their distribution with waste products]. AB - Feedstuffs and foodstuffs of animal origin have to make allowance for measures of animal hygiene as well as measures which serve for protection of human health. A fundamental task of animal hygiene is to recognize and avert the infectious risk which follow from feedstuffs contaminated by residual products as well as Salmonella contaminated feedstuffs well-timed. The behaviour of reproduction and survival of Salmonella in environmental media and on plants is determined by endogenous factors of the microorganisms themselves and by environmental conditions on the media. It is entered into the achieved level of knowledge of survival behaviour of Salmonella in environmental media and the treatment processes and storage technologies for residual products which usually are estimated in agriculture. In opinion of the authors, new technological procedures are essential for an effective hygienic treatment of residual products for the successfully prevention of animal epidemics and their fighting. PMID- 2609679 TI - [The prevention and control of salmonellosis in cattle and swine]. AB - The control of salmonellosis in the national livestock of the GDR is carried through on the basis of central regulations issued by the Head of the Veterinary Service. The crucial points of these programmes are zoo-sanitary, organizational and immunoprophylactic measures. The effectiveness of the immunoprophylaxis against salmonellosis in cattle and pigs has increased after using live vaccines. At present, the elimination of the host-adapted serovars and the decrease of serovars important for infections in man is focused on. Particular attention is payed to the serovars S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis. The objective requires a well coordinated cooperation between the Veterinary Service and the Public Health Service. PMID- 2609680 TI - [Occurrence of Salmonella in small and pet animals and exotic animals in a large city]. AB - Zoonoses obtain importance with the increasing of the holding of animals in the large town. In the period of one and a half year 3913 samples of faeces and organs were researched for the habitat of Salmonella. The results will be reported. PMID- 2609681 TI - [Epizootiology of salmonellosis in wild and zoo animals]. AB - To demonstrate a few characteristic features of zoo animals caused by infections, bacterial examination of material collected in Leipzig Zoo Garden was carried out with respect to the presence of Salmonella. Examination of 7022 organ and faeces samples revealed that 350 salmonella isolates could be cultivated. This established 5% presence of salmonella. Among the 3 most important classes of animals exists quite a reasonable difference: 9.9% of all samples taken from animals of reptile-origin revealed the presence of Salmonella, only 6.0% and 4.1% was registered among birds and mammals respectively. 65.4% of all the Salmonella isolates were of serovar typhimurium whereby a clear difference between the animal classes was noted. Among birds 84.2% of the isolates were S. typhimurium, among mammals 62.6%, among reptiles only 26.8%. PMID- 2609682 TI - [Legal guidelines for the prevention and control of animal salmonellosis]. AB - Rules of legislation are an important instrument of the state leading to prevent and control the Salmonella-infections of animals. The legislation is not limited on Salmonella-infections of several animal species. It encloses also the veterinary inspection of animals ready for slaughter and their meat after slaughter, the hygiene of food and animal feed stuff, the recycling and/or disposal of waste and carcasses. An account is given in this paper about the several fields of legislation to prevent and control the Salmonella-infections. PMID- 2609683 TI - [Significance for food hygiene of salmonellae--ecology and risks]. AB - Foodstuffs are the main source of Salmonellae. Infection risks for the consumer are caused by the occurrence of the bacteria in animals and by consumption of raw food of animal origin. Specially risks arise, when bacteremia in animals caused by stress in the time before slaughtering is not diagnosed. Slaughtered poultry contains more frequently Salmonellae than hens eggs, but the eggs represent the higher infectious risk. Other risks for salmonellosis in man are caused by imperfect decontamination during production of foods and by incorrect handling of foods. PMID- 2609684 TI - [Risk analysis and process control in food hygiene]. AB - It is introducing and recommending the systematic utilization of complexes of measures for food hygienic process control (good manufacturing practice--hazard analysis--critical control points), which are in international discussion. PMID- 2609685 TI - [The use of ionizing radiation for the decontamination of salmonella-containing slaughtered broiler chickens and powdered eggs]. AB - The effect of cobalt-60 gamma irradiation was investigated on the concentration of Salmonella (S.) typhimurium in artificial contaminated chicken carcasses and on the number of S. tennessee and S. agona in artificial contaminated spray-dried whole egg powder and liquid whole egg. Irradiation of carcasses and of liquid whole egg was carried out at deep frozen conditions between -10 degrees C and -18 degrees C and whole egg powder at 15-20 degrees C. The irradiation doses used where between 0.05 and 8.0 KGy. The D10-value of S. typhimurium in broiler chicks ranged between 0.57 and 0.74 and of S. agona respectively S. tennessee amounted to 0.95 and 1.07 in spray dried whole egg powder and 0.47 respectively 0.53 in whole egg content. Irradiation causes drastic reduction of physiological microflora in chicken carcasses. By radiation treatment using a dose of 4.0 KGy, germ count reductions by 3-5 decimal powers were achieved. Resistance of microbes increases in following succession: Pseudomonas spp., Salmonella spp., other Enterobacteriaceae spp., Micrococcus spp., Flavobacterium spp., yeasts, Bacillus spp., Streptomyces spp., fungi. Results of microbiological and sensorial examinations allow following conclusions: 1. Irradiation is highly effective against Salmonella. 2. Irradiation dose of 4.0 KGy is able to kill about 1 Million Salmonella bacteria per chicken. This guarantees safe elimination of natural occurring Salmonella bacteria in broiler chicken carcasses. 3. Irradiation of chicken carcasses up to 4.0 KGy causes no injury of quality, however storage longer than 4 months deteriorates sensorial qualities more than of unirradiated carcasses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609686 TI - [Cleaning and disinfection in the area of processing and manufacturing of food from animal origins]. AB - Contrary to cleaning and disinfection as regards prophylactic and special measures, food production is aiming at achieving a status of hygiene that avoids a hasty microbial spoilage of foodstuffs, that reduces the potential risk of food intoxications and infections to a minimum already in the production process, and that meets the aesthetic requirements of the consumer. Plans for cleaning and disinfection considering characteristic features of the factory are to be elaborated according to legal provisions. They should take those items into account as existing risk areas, indicator factors to find out the status of hygiene, the selection of cleaning and disinfection agents, methods of cleaning and disinfection, and the plans for checking the hygiene status. The cleaning and disinfections process involves the application of cleaning agents with disinfection effects and of disinfection agents. Principal mistakes made in cleaning and disinfection are being discussed about taking practical experience into close consideration. Sanitary programmes are to be realized as a complete sanitary chain, the realization of which requires a high consciousness of hygiene. PMID- 2609687 TI - [Principles for cleaning and disinfection in fresh egg production for the prevention and control of salmonellosis]. AB - The level of production achieved in recent years and the concentration of livestock are demanding a high degree of security in the production. Measures of cleaning and disinfection are a basic condition for stabilizing the health and the efficiency of animals as well as for assuring an absolute reliability and high quality of the produced food stuffs. Preventive cleaning and disinfection are all the more necessary the more specialized the production and the greater the number of livestock are. As regards cleaning and disinfection special emphasis has to be laid on a disinfectant cleaning particularly in those fields where service periods cannot be carried out. Necessary cleaning and disinfection measures are to be integrated in the production process as technology of production and hygiene represent a unity in the production of fresh eggs. Differentiated cleaning and disinfection regimens are to be applied for such sanitary risk fields as egg conveyors, packing machines, egg grading and egg breaking facilities. PMID- 2609688 TI - [Methods for the elucidation of epidemics of salmonella infections limited to the alimentary tract]. AB - The authors demonstrate results and experience to the methodology of epidemic focus investigations in identification of food causing infections, basing on the evaluation of four Salmonella outbreaks in the district of Gera in 1986 and 1987. The main tasks are: careful anamnestic registration of food and dishes consumed by affected people and persons in the community during the relevant incubation period with help of a check-list, case findings in several stages, continuous documentation of the results in the check-list, analytic evaluation of this list, operative control measures in food-producing factories and super-markets suspected to be a source of infection, microbiologic examinations in men, food, and environment. PMID- 2609689 TI - [Use of a databank for new salmonella primary findings and the value of registering salmonella isolations for salmonella supervision and control]. AB - There are given a retrospect to the history of the Kauffmann-White scheme, its actual delivery to the laboratories, the sources of worth knowing statements on all Salmonella first isolations, and the further incidence throughout the world. By means of a statistic established comprising more than 3.9 millions of Salmonella strains isolated and registered in the period from 1934 to 1987 for each Salmonella serotype exact statements can be made concerning the frequency, the relative incidence in man, food animals, other animals, foods, feeds, water, and sundries, and the relative continental distribution. PMID- 2609690 TI - [Development, position and trends in the taxonomy of the genus Salmonella]. AB - The development of taxonomy of Salmonella genus interpretation was outlined in 1900 by Lignieres. The idea that any Salmonella defined by the Kauffmann-White scheme should be rated as a species in its own right has become under criticism for some time. It was suggested that S. cholerae suis should be seen as the only valid species name in the early 80's. This was ever misunderstood because this name had long ago been attributed to a pig-adapted serovar. Le Minor and Popoff (1987) suggested that S. enterica should be used as the species name. Confusion will thus be ruled out, since enterica has not been associated with any serovar. All salmonella names contained in Kauffmann-White scheme are serovars. It was suggested that all interpretations after consultation with human and veterinary medicine should be accepted in order to avoid the misunderstanding of the terminology and to achieve rational interpretation of results. PMID- 2609691 TI - [Diagnosis of salmonellosis]. AB - The determination of clonal identity of bacterial isolates of Salmonella, in particular epidemiological important serovars of Salmonella, is an unequivocal prerequisite for the study of the epidemic process of salmonellosis. This is demonstrated for the serovar S. typhimurium by means of classical as well as molecular methods for epidemiological subdifferentiation. PMID- 2609692 TI - [Current trends in the development of salmonella detection methods]. AB - The cultural methods require 4 to 7 days for presumptive evidence of Salmonella in foodstuffs. Attempts in time shortening have resulted in combination of pre enrichment or selective enrichment with time saving genetical or immunological tests. Proceedings of enzyme immunoassays for applications in Salmonella screening are important. Involving monoclonal antibodies, fluorescent or chemiluminescent substrates, there are some commercial Salmonella test kits. Especially rapid EIA methods, here advantages and disadvantages are discussed. PMID- 2609693 TI - [Virulence factors of animal pathogenic Salmonellae with reference to plasmid typing]. AB - All the representatives of the genus Salmonella belong to one pathogenic species S. enterica. The virulence intensification of Salmonella are due mainly to endo-, entero- and cytotoxins, fimbria, cilia, the invasion capacity and the serum resistance. The plasmid code is among a series of virulence factors. Studies about the plasmid profile of the salmonella strains is of great importance to the characterisation of the isolates from the epidemiological point of view as well as for research purposes. PMID- 2609694 TI - [Endoscopic papillotomy in the treatment of choledocholithiasis--technic, indications, results]. AB - Endoscopic papillotomy (EPT) has good short- and long-term results in the non operative treatment of common bile duct stones. Advantages are low risk, short hospital stay and short unfit to work. On the basis of the literature and own experiences that derive from 2,500 EPT the author discusses preparation, technique, indications, contraindications, complications, and results of the procedure. EPT successfully had been performed in 98.3% of cases. All bile duct stones could be removed in 92%. INDICATIONS: choledocholithiasis 2013 (456 with gallbladder in situ, 24 with acute biliary pancreatitis), benign papillary stenosis 125, papillary carcinoma 57, other indications 305. COMPLICATIONS: 4.6% (115); bleeding 36, pancreatitis 36, cholangitis/stone impaction 30, retroduodenal perforation 13; urgent operation 1.2% (30), mortality 0.5% (12). PMID- 2609695 TI - [Transpapillary endoprostheses in malignant and benign bile duct diseases]. AB - During the last years the non-surgical drainage of the bile ducts developed to an efficient treatment method and is a real enrichment in the concept of treatment of the malignant obstruction of the bile ducts. In no more radically operable carcinomas in the area of the bile ducts, the pancreas or the porta of the liver it is to be preferred to a palliative drainage operation. In case the drainage of the bile ducts shall not be used therapeutically (through-drainage), an inner drainage in form of an endoprosthesis should always be preferred. As a procedure of the 1st choice the endoscopic retrograde technique is recommended, as procedure of 2nd choice the percutaneous transhepatic technique. Benign basic diseases are more infrequently the reason for the insert of a bile duct drainage. The main indications are general inoperability in non-extractable calculi in the common bile duct. In our own cases patients could be followed up up to 3.5 years. No complications were observed. The occlusion of prostheses does apparently not play a role. PMID- 2609696 TI - [Endoscopic perfusion manometry: diagnosis of functional biliary disorders]. AB - During the last years the endoscopic perfusion manometry developed many new recognitions about the courses of pressure and motility at the sphincter Oddi. The clinical and experimental application of the method concentrated itself to the proof of functional disturbances. Many results are contradictory and a whole series of questions is unsolved. The own investigations concentrated themselves on pressure measurements in the common bile duct in patients with removed gallbladder, in whom by comprehensive diagnostic measures no organic disease of the biliary tract could be found. Two groups of patients were compared. Patients of group 1 (n = 14) had no biliary symptoms after cholecystectomy. The patients of the second group (n = 20) continued to have biliary complaints after cholecystectomy, or they again occurred after symptom-free interval. At the beginning of the investigation the pressure in the common bile duct was the same in the two groups. In group 1 the pressure remained constant also during the manometry and the patients remained without any complaints. However, in group 2 a gradual increase of pressure and biliary complaints developed during manometry. These occurred after an average pressure increase of 8 Torr. The velocity of the increase of pressure well correlated with the intensity of the complaints. The symptoms during manometry were identical with those cited in the anamnesis. The pressure increase in the common bile duct is regarded as an expression of a functional disturbance of the sphincter of Oddi. The constant perfusion rate (1.3 ml/min) in this group of patients is sufficient as volume load, in order to detect a disturbed drainage capacity of the papilla. On its part the increase of the pressure is responsible for the evocation of the complaints. PMID- 2609697 TI - [Therapeutic drug monitoring of digitoxin--results of 3 years' experience]. AB - Between 1986 and 1988 within our therapeutic drug monitoring plasma concentrations were estimated in 1,442 plasma samples by radioimmunoassay. Plasma levels between 0 and 84.2 ng.ml-1 with a mean of 20.8 ng.ml-1 were measured. If the maintenance dose was reduced from 0.1 to 0.07 mg the frequency distribution of the plasma samples was shifted to the left, and the mean value decreased by 5.8 ng.ml-1 (23.5 vs. 17.7 ng.ml-1). The physician's assumptions underdosage?, optimum dosage schedule? or overdosage? were confirmed by the laboratory results in 22.3, 63.6, or 23.0% of the requests, respectively. In 61.2% of all plasma samples were digitoxin concentrations in the range between 10 and 30 ng.ml-1, i.e. in the optimum therapeutic range. Main reasons for the divergent results are non-compliance of the patients and inter-individual differences in the pharmacokinetics of digitoxin. Furthermore, incomplete filling of the forms by the physicians aggravates the assessment of the results. Therefore, a permanent dialogue between clinician and clinical pharmacologist is necessary for an improvement of digitalis therapy. PMID- 2609698 TI - [Waist-hip and waist-thigh index in obesity especially in relation to weight reduction]. AB - Waist-hip index (WHI) and waist-thigh index (WTI) were determined in 18 obese males and 24 females, respectively, before and after weight reduction, in comparison to this in 12 males and 10 females in normal weight. Under weight reduction the two indices in males were significantly reduced in correlation to the relative weight. In females analogous changes could not be proved. Furthermore, the WHI was significantly lower in persons with normal weight than in obese ones (males and females), the WTI only in females. - In obese males, however, not in males with normal weight the WHI processes a prediction value for the atherogenic risk, which is at least adequate to the value of up to now wellknown parameters (relative weight, body mass index etc.). PMID- 2609699 TI - [Characteristics of depression in middle age]. AB - In a district with about 70,000 inhabitants (2/3 urban, 1/3 rural population) 89 women and 64 men, aged between 31-50, who suffer from varying depressive psychoses have been treated during the period 1981-1988. The study gives the number of cases specified according to the diagnoses as well as the percentage rates of relapse with reference to four age groups. A growing tendency up to the age group 41-45 years may be observed with the female proportion increasing. On the other hand, the age group 46-50 reports a declining tendency. The patients have been questioned about particular aspects of their so-called midlife crisis. The patients concerned were open to all questions related to this complex of problems. The study shows the evaluation frequency of some essential conflict situations. The biological, sociological, and psychological background becomes evident in the syndrome. The clarification and therapy of depressive psychoses in the middle years will not ignore the particularly problematic nature of their conflicts, but they contribute correspondingly to stabilizing the profile of mood. Specific medicamentous therapy may be helpful, but, due to the side effects, should be kept under continuous medical control. PMID- 2609700 TI - [Creatine kinase risk groups in acute myocardial infarct]. AB - The individual valuation of risks in patients with acute myocardial infarction on the basis of a monitoring of the creatine kinase (CK) is made evident as relevant to practice for the basic medical care. Thereby a classification of risk groups on the basis of CKmax (less than or equal to 23; greater than 23 less than or equal to 40; greater than 40 less than or equal to 60; greater than 60 mumol/l.s) is controlled. The measurement of the ejection fraction global was performed also according to risk groups (greater than 60; greater than 45 less than or equal to 60; greater than 30 less than or equal to 45; less than or equal to 30%). Parallel to this a classification of the patients according to the electrocardiogram (non-Q-wave, Q-wave) was retrospectively performed. The anamnestic information Re-AMI was individually taken into consideration for the evaluation of CKmax. In 2.5% of the patients in comparison to the ejection fraction the risk group classification of CKmax was globally carried out into a higher group without an an principal incorrect evaluation of the risk (slight, middle, high) in the first AMI. No patient with middle or high risk in the first AMI was incorrectly grouped according to the risk group CKmax or ejection fraction global. PMID- 2609701 TI - [The significance of the performance-lactate quotient in patients following acute myocardial infarct in a preliminary stress test]. AB - According to the risk group classification on the basis of an isoenzyme monitoring n = 67 patients (of them 12 females) with acute myocardial infarction were temporarily differentiated: slight risk (n = 26) on the 14th day, medium risk (n = 16) on the 21st day and high risk (n = 25) greater than or equal to 28. By means of orientating tolerance test and measurement of the lactate concentrations examinations were performed on the day post infarction. All patients with slight risk achieved the physical performance of 375 Watt/min in slight lactate concentrations (less than 4 mmol/l). The performance/lactate quotient (WL-Q) for a slight risk was 1.23 for males and 0.98 for females, for a high risk only 0.66 (males) and 0.53 (females) for a high risk. Patients with high risk were reliably recognized and underwent an individually adapted physical conditioning, taking into consideration the sex-specific differences. PMID- 2609702 TI - [Multiple morbidity. A long-term study]. AB - For twelve frequent diseases the coincidences in a total population are reported. These diseases partly coincide essentially more frequently or more rarely than is to be expected. From this result questions of furthering or inhibiting properties and mechanisms in the corresponding total organism. PMID- 2609703 TI - [Lyme borreliosis with erythema chronicum migrans and Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth meningopolyneuritis]. AB - A case report is given on a Borrelia burgdorferi infection regarded to be typical because of its clinical course and the diagnosis lately made. The meningopolyneuritis was treated by use of corticosteroids before the serologic detection of Lyme disease. 21 months after infection our patient died of a colon carcinoma. Histological preparation of the brain showed a slight encephalitis we consider as third-stage Lyme borreliosis. We conclude that antibacterial therapy is necessary in the management of Lyme disease, especially after the administration of corticosteroids. PMID- 2609704 TI - [Plasma cholecystokinin level in chronic pancreatitis]. AB - Secretion of pancreatic enzymes is inhibited in rats by the presence of intraduodenal proteases via inhibition of CCK release. The existence of a similar feedback mechanism in man is discussed controversially. Thus, in chronic pancreatitis (cP), which leads to a decrease of digestive enzyme secretion, increases in plasma CCK may be postulated. However, food induced CCK release may be impaired in cP due to maldigestion. We studied, therefore, the influence of food with or without addition of pancreatic extracts on plasma CCK in 16 male patients with longstanding cP. Plasma CCK was measured by bioassay using pancreatic rat acini prepared by collagenase digestion. Plasma samples were processed through SEP-PAK cartridges and assayed for CCK-like activity by comparing the bioactivity of samples with those of standard curves of CCK8. Plasma CCK was measured in 20 healthy controls and in cP prior and 7.5, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 min after the application of a test meal made out of milk, cream, eggs, and cacao. In addition CCK was measured in 10 of the same patients with cP on a separate day but with the addition of pancreatic extracts to the test meal. Basal plasma CCK levels were similar in both groups (control: 1.3 +/- 0.2 vs. cP: 1.5 +/- 0.3 pMol/l). Both groups showed a similar steep increase of postprandial CCK with maximal values seen between 7.5 and 30 min (control: 4.6 +/- 0.6 vs cP: 4.8 +/- 1.3 pMol/l). The addition of pancreatic extracts to the liquid meal in cP caused a statistically significant slight increase in plasma CCK.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609705 TI - Pepsinogens A and C: purification from human gastric mucosa and determination in serum by optimized radioimmunoassays. AB - Pepsinogen A and pepsinogen C were purified from human gastric mucosa. The preparations were immunochemically homogeneous and contained only their characteristic components. Specific, sensitive, and reliable radioimmunoassays for both pepsinogen A and pepsinogen C were developed. The concentration of pepsinogens in serum was log distributed. In 144 healthy control subjects the mean level of pepsinogen A (means +/- s) was 65.7 ng/ml (range: 49.8-86.6 ng/ml), significantly higher than the level of pepsinogen C (means = 12.2 ng/ml, range 9.2-16.1 ng/ml, p less than 0.001), with a Pg A/Pg C ratio of 5.8 +/- 2.7. In contrast, pepsinogen C was predominant in the serum of 26 patients with pernicious anemia. Since the mean level of the proenzyme (means = 10.2 ng/ml, range 7.7-13.4 ng/ml) did not differ (p greater than 0.05) from that of the control group, whereas the concentration of pepsinogen A was significantly lower (means = 6.1 ng/ml, range 3.7-9.5 ng/ml, p less than 0.001), the Pg A/Pg C ratio dropped to 0.6 +/- 0.3 (p less than 0.001). In 27 patients with total gastrectomy the levels of both pepsinogen A (means = 2.5 ng/ml, range 2.2-2.8 ng/ml) and pepsinogen C (means = 1.9 ng/ml, range 1.3-2.9 ng/ml) were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than in patients with pernicious anemia. The results indicate that the stomach is the main source of serum pepsinogens, that under normal conditions the gastric chief cells release more pepsinogen A than pepsinogen C, and that only small amounts of the proenzymes originate from extragastric tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609706 TI - [Diagnosis of achalasia--comparison of methods for the evaluation of severity]. AB - To determine the value of endoscopy, manometry, and scintigraphy in predicting the severity of achalasia, 25 patients with primary achalasia of the esophagus were posprectively studied; 17 patients could be examined prior and post pneumatic dilatation. According to the symptoms, the severity was graded from I to IV. While endoscopic findings did not well correlate with the symptom score, the lower esophageal sphincter pressure and the resting pressure in the esophageal body were significantly correlated with the severity of the disease (p less than 0.01). The esophageal retention of radioactivity rose parallel to the symptom score (p = 0.07). Both manometric and scintigraphic findings changed significantly after therapy (p less than 0.01). Manometry and scintigraphy of the esophagus can be used to measure treatment related effects in patients with primary achalasia. Endoscopic findings are not related to subjective complaints, but an endoscopic examination should always be performed to exclude malignancies of the esophago-gastric junction. PMID- 2609707 TI - [Obstruction or pseudo-obstruction?]. PMID- 2609708 TI - [Effect of dihydroergotamine (DHE) on fetal hemodynamics]. AB - With this article we have pursued the question if the fetal hemodynamic will change under Dihydroergotamine-treatment (DHE) of the mother during pregnancy. For that purpose, the S/D-ratio in 20 hypotensive pregnant women was determined before and one week after treatment with 2 x 2.5 mg DHE (DETMS retard) daily by Doppler-sonographic measurement in the fetal aorta. The control group consisted of 20 healthy, untreated normotensive pregnant women not differing from the hypotensives as regards age, parity, and gestational age. The results show that in hypotensive pregnant women the S/D-ratio, and therefore the resistance in the fetal periphery respectively in the placenta circulation is increased by 22% (p less than 0.002) on the average compared with the normotensives. A one week's treatment with DHE led to a significant decrease of the S/D-ratio by 20% (p less than 0.001). Herewith, the values after DHE-treatment did not differ from those of the normotensives. Therefore we conclude that the treatment of hypotensive pregnant women with DHE in the above mentioned dosage produces a significant improvement of fetal hemodynamic. PMID- 2609709 TI - [Retrospective analysis of 663 breech deliveries during the years 1976 to 1985]. AB - 663 breech deliveries between 1976 and 1985 at Hannover Medical School have been studied retrospectively. The overall frequency of breech deliveries was 4.5%. 6.1% were primigravid women. Comparisons were made to a group of deliveries with vertex presentation. Matched pairs were identical regarding the year of delivery, the method (vaginal delivery/caesarean section) and parity. 26.2% of breeches were born through the vagina. The frequency of vaginal deliveries after the 37th week of gestation ranged from 13.5% to 46.9% per year. For vaginal delivery the following prerequisites are defined at out institution: normal pelvic measures and physique, expected birth weight between 2500 g and 3500 g and informed consent. Until 1979 the frequency of vaginal deliveries ranged from 12% to 25%. Since 1980 an increasing number up to 45% was noted. For deliveries before the 38th week of gestation primary indicated caesarean section was preferred. The rate of maternal complications after caesarean section was high compared to vaginal deliveries (29.0% versus 8.6%; p less than or equal to 0.05). Also, these complications usually were more serious. Injuries of the newborn were more often observed following vaginal delivery than following caesarean section (7.5% versus 2.9%). No significant differences were found between the apgar scores after vaginal deliveries and caesarean sections. However, the percentage of reduced pH values was significantly higher after vaginal breech deliveries (57.5% versus 24.7%; p less than or equal to 0.05). No severe acidosis was observed. No difference was seen between the fetal outcome of deliveries from primiparous and multiparous women. Perinatal mortality according to WHO criteria was 1.1%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609710 TI - [Interview training for patient history inquiry at the first prenatal examination: a pilot project at a women's clinic]. AB - In view of the relevance of preventive examinations to health policy and the prophylactic value of the first meeting between physician and patient, the efficiency which which patients' histories are taken--and hence overall prenatal care--should be improved. The method adopted by duty physicians at the prenatal outpatient clinic of a community hospital furnishes an example. The examination was subdivided into four phases: 1. documentation of the current state of communication between doctor and patient (tape recordings, participatory observation, interviewing the patients and the duty physicians); 2. analysis of the interviews and the participatory observation, linguistic analysis of the history discussions; 3. topic-centered communication training of the duty physicians involved, on the basis of their own tape recordings; 4. feedback, verification of efficiency, and transfer of results to routine practice in the prenatal clinic. As early as in the fourth session changes in behavior and an increased awareness of problem areas in the course of the discussion were noted among the duty physicians. The program has proved easy to implement in practice. It enhances communication and identification for the junior physicians, and has had a highly positive overall effect. PMID- 2609711 TI - [Skin transplantation from the cosmetic and functional viewpoint]. AB - With regard to the covering of large skin defects, split skin flaps and mesh grafts are of first consideration. Split skin flapping is preferably applied in cosmetically and functionally sensitive skin areas, whereas the rather unpretending mesh grafting is indicated in large defects on the trunk and extremities, in intertriginous regions, as well as in case of unfavorable conditions of the wound. The application of a fibrin sticker has considerably facilitated the procedure of free grafting and reduced the postoperative risks regarding the graft. We report on the final results of split skin flapping and mesh grafting in 7 patients with large skin defects of varying origin. PMID- 2609712 TI - [Increased plasma noradrenaline values in severe atopic eczema]. AB - By means of a standardized HPLC method, we determined free plasma catecholamines both in 41 adult patients with severe atopic dermatitis and in 18 healthy volunteers. The levels of circulating noradrenaline were significantly higher in the atopic group (p less than 0.005), whereas the concentrations of adrenaline and dopamine, in contrast, were only slightly elevated. We discuss the possible mechanisms leading to these changes in spite of normal activities of DBH. PMID- 2609713 TI - [Delusions of parasitic skin infestation in elderly dermatologic patients]. AB - In a study on 21 patients, who had been treated at the Erlangen Dept. Dermat. for delusion of parasitosis during the last 17 years, we compiled catamnestic data, evaluated the personality profiles, and focussed upon the interrelations between the clinical symptoms, the outcome of various psychological tests, and the course of the disease. Our sociographic results agreed well with those of earlier studies (i.e. social isolation, conflicts in or loss of partnership and sexuality). Nearly half of the patients complained about depressive moods which, however, could not be psychometrically proved. In every fifth patient, we detected a propensity to paranoia both clinically and psychopathometrically, indicating the development into paranoic delusion. In general, the patients' aggressiveness was found rather low. Nor were there any hints for organic psychosyndromes in the majority of the patients. We conclude that delusion of parasitosis usually represents a solitary phenomenon of primary psychosis, which can largely be regarded as a monosymptomatic hypochondriac disorder. Successful treatment with neuroleptic drugs depends on a confidential interrelation between patient and physician. PMID- 2609714 TI - [Effect of laser irradiation on atherosclerosis vascular segments in relation to wave length and pulse width]. AB - The interaction of pulsed Nd:YAG laser radiation and atherosclerotic vessel wall is reported. The effects in the area of radiation were examined at an infrared, green, and ultraviolet wavelength at variable pulsewidths. The laser beam was focused directly on the plane surface of the tissue. The macroscopic and histologic examinations demonstrate that thermal damage of tissue is higher at an infrared wavelength than at a green wavelength and respectively at an ultraviolet wavelength. With increasing pulsewidth an increase of coagulation and necrosis of plaque material and adjacent vessel wall can be noted. The results show that for the precise ablation of plaque without adjacent vessel wall injury short pulsed ultraviolet radiation is preferable. PMID- 2609715 TI - [Mechanical recanalization of chronic coronary artery occlusion by balloon dilatation. Hemodynamic and ventricular kinetic long-term results]. AB - Abundant collaterals may prevent infarction in a region of myocardium supplied by an acutely occluded coronary artery. However, these patients often present with severe angina on exertion which cannot be sufficiently treated with antianginal drugs but require revascularization. Beginning in 1984, recanalization of chronic coronary artery occlusion using balloon catheters was attempted in 48 patients at Medizinische Klinik III, University of Cologne. Interventional therapy was successful in 29/48 patients (60%). The mean diameter narrowing of residual stenoses was 35%. Invasive follow-up at 3 months was possible in 17 of these 29 patients. Restenosis was noted in 41% and reocclusion was found in 18%. In contrast to angiographic findings, clinical symptoms were clearly improved in the majority of cases (88%). This correlates with increased regional contractility of the myocardial region supplied by the previously occluded artery. Contractility was also improved in patients with significant restenosis. The clinical benefit and the improvement of regional myocardial function indicate that it is justified to attempt balloon recanalization in highly symptomatic patients with short distance coronary occlusions despite the relatively high incidence of restenosis and reocclusion. PMID- 2609716 TI - [Excimer laser coronary angioplasty in high-grade stenoses and chronic occlusion]. AB - Excimer-laser-angioplasty offers the advantage of minimal thermal injury to adjacent tissue compared to other laser ablation techniques. Highly flexible glass-fiber-catheter systems are now available, and are capable of transmitting sufficient energy densities to ablate even calcified atherosclerotic coronary plaques. We report initial results of excimer-laser-ablation of severe coronary stenoses and occlusions in 17 patients. An excimer-laser (308 nm) with a pulse duration of 50 ns and a repetition rate of 10 to 40 Hz served as laser source. Eight patients had a chronic total occlusion (RCA, n = 4, RCx, n = 3, LAD, n = 1), nine patients had 90% to 95% stenoses (LAD, n = 7, RCA, n = 2). In all cases a laser-catheter consisting of 17 circumferentially orientated 100 microns glass fibers and a central 15/1000-inch lumen could be advanced to the stenoses/occlusion over a guidewire that had been passed across the stenoses/occlusion. Stenoses diameter could be reduced by 41.5 +/- 10.1% in all patients and vessel lumen was further increased by subsequent balloon dilatation in 10 cases. After 24 h, 16 vessels were patent and showed no restenoses; one recanalized RCA was found reoccluded. We observed no complications, such as perforation, spasm, or thrombi. PMID- 2609717 TI - [Functional evaluation of the left ventricle using 2-dimensional and color-coded Doppler echocardiography]. AB - A new parameter for the evaluation of left ventricular function based on color coded Doppler echocardiography is described. From an apical transducer position the maximal diastolic inflow area across the mitral valve into the left ventricle is registered. A ratio of this area to the left ventricular area in the same plane and frame is calculated. These parameters are evaluated in 17 normal controls and 31 patients with dilatative cardiomyopathy. Additionally, the left ventricular volumes and the ejection fraction are calculated from two-dimensional echocardiography using a disc method. The maximal inflow area is correlated with the stroke volume (r = 0.69, y = 7.0 + 8.6x) and the ratio to the ejection fraction (r = 0.99, y = 0.65 + 0.98 x). The intraobserver-correlation for the maximal diastolic inflow area was r = 0.95, y = 5.5 + 0.79 x and the interobserver-correlation r = 0.89, y = 7.7 + 0.8 x. Finally, the gain dependency of the maximal diastolic inflow area was tested. By increasing the gain at low levels a steep linear increase was noted; at higher gain levels a plateau phase was observed where measurements could be performed. PMID- 2609718 TI - [The acute hemodynamic effects of the new vasodilating beta blocker carvedilol in comparison with combined administration of nifedipine and propranolol in patients with coronary heart disease]. AB - The acute hemodynamic effects of carvedilol, a new vasodilating betablocker, were assessed in comparison to the response to nifedipine or a combination of nifedipine and propranolol in patients with coronary artery disease. Either 5 mg carvedilol, 2 mg nifedipine or 2 mg nifedipine + 5 mg propranolol (N + P) were administered intravenously in a not randomized study within 30 min to 10 patients for each drug. Carvedilol reduced (comparable to the effect of N + P) the left ventricular afterload with a decrease of AOPm of 12.6%, p less than 0.001 (N + P 11.8%, p less than 0.001) and systemic vascular resistance of 9.1%, p less than 0.02 (N + P -10.0%, p less than 0.01) and no change of cardiac index. Single treatment with nifedipine leads to a reflex increase of heart rate which could not be observed after carvedilol or N + P as a result of the betablocking properties of carvedilol and propranolol. Therefore, the rate-pressure-product at rest was unchanged after nifedipine but decreased significantly after carvedilol (-10.9%, p less than 0.01) and N + P (-12.4%, p less than 0.01). Negative inotropic effects were significantly lower after carvedilol, with a 6.3% (p less than 0.05) decrease of LV dP/dtmax, compared to N + P (-12.0%, p less than 0.01). Since preload, afterload, and heart rate changes were equal in both groups negative inotropic effects can be compared on the base of dP/dtmax changes. The acute hemodynamic effects (vasodilation without reflex tachycardia, negative inotropic effects) of the new vasodilating betablocker carvedilol are comparable to a combined treatment with nifedipine and propranolol in patients with coronary artery disease and well preserved left ventricular global function. PMID- 2609719 TI - [Left ventricular diastolic function in heart failure--a Doppler echocardiography study]. AB - Assessment of transmitral flow by Doppler echocardiography allows measurement of changes in left ventricular filling patterns in patients with cardiac disease. Typically a decrease in early diastolic flow velocity and increase in late diastolic flow velocity is found in various cardiac diseases. In order to assess the influence of overt heart failure on transmitral velocity profiles these were measured in 20 patients with a history of myocardial infarction and in 10 normal controls (group I). Of those patients with coronary heart disease 10 patients were in overt heart failure according to clinical and radiological criteria (group II); another 10 patients were compensated after treatment for heart failure (group III). In decompensated group II early diastolic flow velocity (E) was 91.2 cm/s and higher than 67.9 cm/s in group III (p less than 0.05) compared to 68.8 cm/s in the control group. In contrast late diastolic flow (A) at the time of atrial contraction was 41.2 cm/s in group II, 81.3 cm/s in group III, and 65.0 cm/s in group I (p less than 0.05). The ratio between early and late diastolic flow velocities (E/A) was 2.58 in group II, 0.87 in group III, and 1.06 in group I (p less than 0.05). Deceleration halftime was significantly shorter in group II as compared to the other two groups (p less than 0.05). These results can be interpreted as masking of the pathological flow patterns of the underlying heart disease (E/A ratio) by elevated left atrial filling pressure that leads to inversion of the pathologically altered velocity profiles of the underlying heart disease. These results might gain practical value for the care of patients in congestive heart failure if follow-up studies should demonstrate conversion of the flow pattern of group II to that of group III under treatment. PMID- 2609720 TI - [Right-left shunt caused by myxoma of the right atrium]. AB - We report on a 62-year-old female patient who developed central cyanosis due to a right atrial myxoma with right-to-left shunt. PMID- 2609721 TI - A morbillivirus causing mass mortality in seals. AB - During an outbreak of a serious apparently infectious disease among harbour seals (Phoca vitulina), which started in the Kattegat area in April 1988 and rapidly spread to the North sea, the Wadden sea and the Baltic sea, greater than 17,000 animals died within a period of eight months. In August 1988 it was realized that the clinical symptoms and pathological lesions were similar to those found in canine distemper: apart from general depression and fever, the animals suffered from severe respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous disease and a variety of viral, bacterial and parasitic infections were frequently encountered, suggesting a severe malfunctioning of the immune system. At different expert meetings, held in several of the countries involved, possible explanations for the deaths were not only attributed to an infectious agent, but also to effects of overpopulation and environmental pollution. Seroepizootiological studies and the failure of vaccination experiments suggested that a herpesvirus and a picornavirus, which had been isolated from dead seals at the beginning of the outbreak, were opportunistic infections occurring in animals suffering from another infection rather than being the primary cause of the outbreaks. Serological studies were then extended to other viruses of carnivores, known to cause similar symptoms. Screening of a large panel of seal sera from the Netherlands, Denmark, FRG, Sweden and the UK, collected before and during the outbreak, in a virus neutralization test for the presence of canine distemper virus (CDV) neutralizing antibodies, indicated that CDV or a closely related morbillivirus was the primary cause of the disease outbreak.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609722 TI - Prospects for the total eradication of rinderpest. AB - Rinderpest, a major economic problem of Africa and Asia, is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle and buffalo with greater than 90% mortality in susceptible herds. We have developed an effective vaccinia virus recombinant vaccine for rinderpest which protects cattle against challenge by more than 1000 times the lethal dose of the virus. The vaccine circumvents the major logistical problems of the Plowright tissue culture vaccine that occasioned previous failures to eradicate rinderpest by vaccination. The recombinant can easily be propagated and administered by scarification, using methods employed in the world wide eradication of smallpox. More importantly, the lyophilized form of vaccinia virus is thermostable and does not require maintenance of the cold chain, a distinct advantage in the hot and arid regions of Africa and Asia. PMID- 2609723 TI - Pertussis vaccine and severe acute neurological illnesses. Response to a recent review by members of the NCES team. AB - Dr. A. H. Griffith's article on this subject raises some important issues which require comment. We, like him, regret the controversy over the safety and efficacy of whole cell pertussis vaccines over the last 15 years. It does indeed represent a sorry saga whose principal victims are children, many of whom have not been vaccinated against this unpleasant and sometimes dangerous illness because of fears over safety of the vaccine. The National Childhood Encephalopathy Study (NCES), was set up in 1976 as an independent scientific enquiry into severe acute neurological illnesses associated with pertussis vaccine in an attempt to help resolve the matter. The report on the results concluded that these suggested, but did not prove, that the vaccine may very rarely cause the development of potentially damaging severe acute neurological illnesses in children who were previously apparently neurologically normal. Unfortunately the number of cases in the NCES was too small to allow any firm conclusions on whether or not the vaccine can cause permanent damage. The NCES has since been subject to intense scrutiny and criticism both by those who consider the vaccine can cause permanent neurological damage and by those, such as Dr Griffith, who consider it does not. Regrettably, the controversy continues. PMID- 2609724 TI - Pertussis vaccines and permanent brain damage. PMID- 2609725 TI - Stability of recombinant vaccinia virus LC16m0 or LC16m8: preserved laboratory attenuation markers and conserved expression of inserted HBsAg gene. AB - Laboratory tests for the stability of attenuation markers of recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing HBsAg were carried out with those obtained after repeated passages in primary rabbit kidney cells. In these tests it was determined that recombinant vaccinia viruses preserved the attenuation markers of LC16m0 and LC16m8 strains used as vectors, with stable conservation of HBsAg gene expression. The stability of the recombinant vaccinia virus would add another strategy to the use of attenuated vaccinia virus for the development of recombinant vaccinia vaccine. PMID- 2609726 TI - Effectiveness of cholera toxin B subunit as an adjuvant for nasal influenza vaccination despite pre-existing immunity to CTB. AB - In a previous paper, it was shown that cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) augments the production of protective antibodies to influenza virus when CTB is inoculated intranasally into Balb/c mice together with influenza HA vaccine. The present study was designed to determine whether the effectiveness of CTB as a potent adjuvant for nasal vaccination could be limited by pre-existing immunity to CTB. Mice were sensitized by intranasal inoculation of either 1 or 0.05 microgram of CTB 2, 4 and/or 6 weeks before nasal vaccination. They were then vaccinated by either a single inoculation of vaccine together with 1 microgram of CTB or a two dose regimen, composed of a primary inoculation of vaccine together with 0.05 microgram of CTB and a subsequent inoculation of vaccine alone. Levels of nasal IgA antibodies to CTB increased with the increase of the dose of CTB and the frequency of CTB-inoculation. Pre-existing immunity to CTB, however, did not significantly reduce the levels of both nasal IgA and serum haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibodies to influenza virus and did not change the ability of the vaccinated mice to resist viral challenge. These results suggest that a relatively low dose of CTB could be inoculated repeatedly into animals as an adjuvant for nasal vaccination. PMID- 2609727 TI - Vaccination of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) against phocid distemper with two different inactivated canine distemper virus (CDV) vaccines. AB - Two inactivated canine distemper virus (CDV) vaccines--an adjuvanted whole inactivated virus and a subunit ISCOM preparation--were tested for their ability to induce protective immunity in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) against phocid distemper, a disease that recently killed greater than 17,000 harbour seals in the North and Baltic seas, and was shown to be caused by infection with a newly discovered morbillivirus, which is antigenically closely related to CDV. Four CDV seronegative harbour seals were vaccinated three times with the whole-virus vaccine, two with the ISCOM subunit vaccine and two were sham-vaccinated with an antigen-free preparation. Ten days after the last vaccination, when all six vaccinated animals had developed CDV neutralizing antibody titres ranging from 300 to 3000, all eight animals were challenged by the oculonasal and the peritoneal routes, with an organ suspension from dead seals. None of the six vaccinated animals developed clinical signs. The two sham-vaccinated seals died on days 14 and 18, respectively, after having shown a body temperature rise, respiratory symptoms and weight loss. In organs from both dead animals morbillivirus antigen was demonstrated with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an immunofluorescence assay. One of these two animals had developed a low titre of CDV-specific antibodies just before death. These data clearly indicate that seals can be protected from fatal challenge with the phocid distemper virus (PDV), by vaccination with certain inactivated CDV vaccines. They also reconfirm that infection with PDV should be considered the primary cause of the recent epizootic in seals. PMID- 2609728 TI - Postexposure rabies vaccination during pregnancy: experience with 21 patients. AB - Twenty-one pregnant rabies exposed patients received postexposure vaccination using purified Vero cell rabies vaccine. Twelve of these with severe exposures were also given equine rabies immune globulin. Adverse reactions were mild, transient and required no treatment. Fifteen per cent of the patients reported side-effects such as myalgia, malaise, erythema and swelling at injection sites, urticarial rashes, and mild regional lymphadenopathy. The vaccine series was completed in all cases and none of the mothers or infants developed rabies after one year of follow-up. No congenital malformations were detected. All infants were well after one year. One patient experienced a spontaneous abortion. PMID- 2609729 TI - Experimental-scale measles and mumps vaccine production on microcarrier-grown cells. AB - Small-scale measles and mumps virus propagation in microcarrier-grown cells was studied to assess putative advantages over conventional roller-type virus propagation. Significantly higher virus yields could not be attained with microcarrier cultures in cell stirrers, therefore making the advantages purely technological. The pattern of measles virus production was slightly different for the three types of microcarriers used. Experimental measles and mumps vaccine lots obtained met vaccine quality control requirements. PMID- 2609730 TI - Characterization of the M protein and nucleoprotein genes of an avian influenza A virus which are involved in host range restriction in monkeys. AB - A reassortant virus possessing RNA segment 7, which codes for the M1 and M2 proteins, of the avian influenza A/Mallard/New York/6750/78 (H2N2) virus and the other seven RNA segments of the human influenza A/Udorn/307/72 (H3N2) virus had been shown previously to be markedly restricted in replication in the respiratory tract of squirrel monkeys. In contrast, a reassortant possessing segment 7 of another avian influenza virus, A/Pintail/Alberta/119/79 (H4N6), and the seven other RNA segments from the A/Udorn/72 virus was not restricted. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of the RNA segment 7 of each virus was determined to identify the structural basis for the attenuation phenotype specified by RNA segment 7 of the A/Mallard/78 virus. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences revealed only two amino acid differences in the M1 protein and one difference in the M2 protein, suggesting that the attenuation phenotype of a reassortant virus possessing segment 7 of the A/Mallard/78 virus may be specified by one to three amino acids. Reassortant viruses possessing RNA segment 6, which codes for the nucleoprotein, of either avian influenza virus and the other seven RNA segments of a human influenza virus were also restricted in replication in squirrel monkeys. A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of the two avian nucleopeoteins demonstrated only three amino acid differences indicating that these two avian viruses possess NP genes that are highly related. The high degree of relatedness of both the NP and M proteins of these two avian viruses contrasts with their divergent surface antigens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609731 TI - [Reflections of a thrombolysed patient]. PMID- 2609732 TI - [Doppler sonographic criteria of reactive hyperemia in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial occlusive diseases in diabetes mellitus]. AB - The doppler-sonographic measurement of reactive hyperemia is a simple method to make a functional diagnosis of PVD. In contrast to Doppler pressure measurements the new method does not only allow a screening-diagnosis of PVD, it also fit to inform about the localisation and severity of vascular occlusions. Thus the method assist to make sure whether PVD is occlusive and whether angiographic or surgical intervention is necessary. PMID- 2609733 TI - Does medical treatment of lymphedema act by increasing lymph flow? AB - The lymphatic origin of chronic edema of the lower limbs was identified by lymphoscintigraphic exploration. Patients underwent therapy involving 8 days of manual lymph drainage combined with elevation of the limbs during rest periods and double compression bandaging. Manual drainage increased lymph flow in 16 limbs, implying that the edema resulted from a functional lymphatic anomaly. In contrast, manual drainage did not increase lymph flow in 9 limbs, suggesting a structural anomaly of the lymphatics. Hence, the same clinical picture corresponded to two different lymphatic anomalies, distinguished by lymphoscintigraphy. However, the therapeutic results were independent of the lymphoscintigraphic results. Increased lymph flow is therefore not the only explanation for the decrease in edema during therapy. PMID- 2609734 TI - [Profound revascularization: a forgotten alternative for multiple vessel reconstruction. A case study]. AB - The profundaplasty represents with the lengthy conical widening of the deep femoral artery in combination with a lumbar sympathectomy L3-L5 a time-saving and effective alternative to multiple and extensive arterial reconstructions in the above and below knee level. An important prerequisite for this method is the exclusion of arteriosclerotic lesions at the aorto-iliac level. Critical selection of the patients and optimal operative technique of the profundaplasty offers results better or at least similar to that of time consuming femoropopliteal resp. cruro-pedal reconstruction. A below the knee reconstruction can always added in case of failure of the profundaplasty. The concentration on the revascularization of the deep femoral artery and reconstruction of the aorto iliac segment offers a reduction of the operative risk and represents a time saving procedure. PMID- 2609735 TI - Eleven years of aortic aneurysm surgery: changes in techniques and results. AB - This study presents data from aortic aneurysm surgery during the two periods 1974 1981 and 1982-1984. During the last period most elective patients were operated on under epidural analgesia. The proportion of electively operated patients increased from 44% to 65%. The blood loss decreased significantly from the early to the late period. The mortality rate decreased from 58% to 43% for acute, and from 12% to 6% for elective patients. PMID- 2609736 TI - A comparison of the value of hyoscine butylbromide and glucagon on aorto iliac intravenous digital subtraction. AB - The diagnostic quality of intravenous subtraction aorto-iliac arteriograms was assessed in 60 patients randomly allocated to receive either hyoscine butylbromide or glucagon as an inhibitor of bowel peristalsis. The examinations in patients receiving hyoscine butylbromide showed statistically significantly less artefact due to bowel movement than those receiving glucagon. Furthermore, glucagon is 20 times more expensive than hyoscine butylbromide. Neither drug produced significant ECG changes or side effects. We conclude that intravenous hyoscine butylbromide should be used routinely, except where specifically contra indicated, in all patients undergoing IV-DSA of the aorto-iliac segments. PMID- 2609737 TI - [Distribution pattern of atheromatous lesions of the carotid circulation- significance for the angiographic strategy of cerebrovascular insufficiency]. AB - Atherosclerosis of the cervico-cerebral arteries is a generalized disease which frequently involves the whole carotid system. The bifurcations (48.7%), the proximal 2 cms. of the internal carotid arteries (61.6%) and the carotid siphons (60.3%) are most frequently affected. Angiography may demonstrate ulcerated lesions in up to 25% of cases. "Tandem stenoses" in both the extracranial segments of the carotid arteries (4.6%) and isolated hemodynamically significant stenoses in the carotid siphons (.7%) are uncommon. Nevertheless their presence may play an essential role in therapeutical decision making. Because of the multiplicity of lesions, the claim for preoperative selective arteriography is justified. IA DSA may replace film angiography, if image quality and medical information are identical. IV DSA and Doppler-procedures as a rule cannot replace selective arteriography in preoperative work-up. PMID- 2609738 TI - [Intra-arterial infusion therapy of progressive diabetic foot gangrene with prostaglandin E1 amd cefotaxime]. AB - 15 patients with severe diabetic gangrene were treated with a combined intra arterial PGE1/Cefotaxime infusion therapy. There was no indication for vascular reconstructive surgery. The average treatment took 24.7 days. 11 of the 15 patients were responsive to the therapy. Nevertheless 5 of these 11 patients had to be amputated below-knee in the further course of treatment. In 6 cases we succeeded in preserving the affected extremity in a state of acceptable use. One patient died during the study. No complications due to the therapy were seen. Considering that all patients were near to amputation when entering the study the result to have saved the extremities in 40% of the cases must be regarded as a success. PMID- 2609739 TI - [A case of Erdheim-Gsell medial necrosis in combination with mucoid degeneration of a single muscular artery]. AB - We report about a 81-year-old woman who collapsed and died a short time after announcing thoracal pain. The autopsy revealed an acute ruptured thoracic aortal dissection as a consequence of medionecrosis Erdheim-Gsell as well as mucoid media degeneration of several arteries of the muscular type. As far as we know this is a very uncommon combination of two separate non-arteriosclerotic media lesions. PMID- 2609740 TI - [The covering of the infected cubital vessels after complications of dialysis shunts by the use of the musculus brachioradialis]. AB - The case of a 52-year-old patient with uremia and infection in his av-shunt (homologous saphenous vein) is described. Due to the infection a rupture of the venous anastomosis in the cubital area with acute hemorrhage occurred and the av fistula had to be removed and the artery repaired by an autologous vein patch. To cover the exposed cubital artery and the infected ventral elbow area a brachioradial muscle flap was inserted. By this procedure the amputation of the upper extremity could be avoided. Full range of extension and flexion was obtained within 4 weeks. PMID- 2609741 TI - [Clinico-laboratory parallels in changes in the cerebrospinal fluid and the immune status of patients with early stages of syphilis]. AB - A total of 135 patients with early syphilis were examined, 24 of these with primary seropositive, 31 with secondary new, 70 with secondary relapsing, and 10 with latent early condition. Abnormal shifts were revealed in the cerebrospinal fluid of 51 (37%) patients, in 28 of these Stages I-II shifts, Stages II-III shifts in 10, and Stages III-IV shifts in 13 patients. Clinically the patients with abnormal liquor developed multiple chancres, erosive papules, leukoderma, alopecia, neutrophilia; these patients had suffered from various diseases in the past. Immunologic examinations have detected manifest noncoordination of the immune system: increased counts of the T-lymphocytes and plasmacytes, reduced counts of B-lymphocytes, depressed primary immune response, disordered immunoglobulin ratio. PMID- 2609742 TI - [The practical trend in exams in dermatology and venereology]. AB - Three colored photo tests are given to a student at the examination in dermatology and venereology. Practical skills of the students are checked up at bedside. Such an examination is remarkable for its practical trend; it involves elements of diagnostic search and develops clinical thinking. PMID- 2609743 TI - [Psoriasis in persons suffering from chronic alcoholism]. AB - Clinical and biochemical examinations of 4 groups of patients (n = 118) have revealed specific features in the clinical picture and course of psoriasis in the subjects with concomitant somatic diseases or chronic alcoholism. These features should be borne in mind during the patients' rehabilitation. PMID- 2609744 TI - [Antioxidants in the treatment of patients with discoid lupus erythematosus]. AB - The authors present the data of biochemical studies of lipid peroxidation in 63 patients with discoid lupus erythematosus, validating the use of antioxidants combined with prednisolone and delagil in the treatment of such patients. PMID- 2609745 TI - [The functional status of the sympathetico-adrenal system in patients with neurodermatitis and prurigo]. AB - Studies of the urinary catecholamine excretion in the patients with neurodermatitis and prurigo have revealed dysfunction of the sympathoadrenal system, the severity of disorders depending on the disease gravity, dissemination, and length. PMID- 2609746 TI - [Complex assessment of the proliferation of epidermal and tumor cells in malignant skin lymphoma]. AB - Keratinocyte and tumor cell proliferative activities in skin biopsy specimens of 49 patients with various forms of malignant lymphomas of the skin are analyzed. The mitotic index and 3H thymidine labeled nuclei index in the epidermal and tumor proliferate cells were under study; cytophotometry of the tumor cell DNA was carried out, as well as analysis of correlations of the examined parameters and the patients' life spans. The findings evidence an increase of the keratinocyte proliferative activity in epidermotropic malignant lymphomas of the skin, this pointing to the significance of epidermal abnormalities in the development of this condition. PMID- 2609747 TI - [Thromboelastography in patients with focal scleroderma and their dynamics during electroacupuncture]. AB - Presents thromboelastography data on the blood coagulation system in focal scleroderma patients over the course of electroacupuncture. PMID- 2609748 TI - [The effect of thymalin on indices of immunity and hemostasis in patients with disseminated forms of psoriasis]. AB - Use of thymalin in combined therapy of psoriasis patients has resulted in normalization (complete or incomplete) of the immunity and hemostasis parameters; this has been parallelled by improvement of the clinical status of the patients. PMID- 2609749 TI - [Improvement in treatment of patients with gonorrheal epididymo-orchitis]. AB - Examinations of 46 patients with gonorrheal orchiepididymitis have revealed reduced IgA, IgG and IgM levels, a rise of circulating immune complexes level, and depressed lysozyme activity. Addition of proteolytic enzymes to combined therapy has improved the treatment efficacy and normalized the humoral immunity and nonspecific defense parameters. PMID- 2609750 TI - [The diagnostic value of a culture study in detecting patients with trichomoniasis]. AB - The advantages of culture method for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis over microscopy of stained and native preparations are demonstrated. New liquid nutrient media for Trichomonas cultivation reveal vaginal Trichomonas in 99.48% of cases in medium, in 100% of cases in medium, and in 97.78% of cases. These media are universal and may be used at bacteriologic laboratories of treatment and-prophylaxis institutions engaged in culture diagnosis of trichomoniasis. PMID- 2609751 TI - [The plaque form of polymorphous photodermatosis]. AB - Two patients with the plaque form of photodermatosis are described. Clinical manifestations of this condition are similar to those of discoid lupus erythematosus in appearance, but not to those of prurigo or eczema. The authors suggest that the term 'polymorphic photodermatosis' be used instead of 'solar prurigo' or 'solar eczema', representing, in their opinion, clinical variants of the same disease. PMID- 2609752 TI - [alpha-Tocopherol in the combined treatment of vitiligo]. AB - Photochemotherapy was combined with alpha-tocopherol in the treatment of 56 patients with vitiligo in order to shorten the treatment. alpha-tocopherol was used as antioxidant to reduce skin erythema and build up single UV doses. Due to 1.5-2-fold increase of UV exposure follicular mechanisms stimulation was enhanced in vitiligo foci, perifollicular pigmentation was achieved approximately 2 times sooner, and the length of treatment necessary to achieve manifest repigmentation (i.e. more than 50% of the maculae surface) was reduced twofold. PMID- 2609753 TI - [Pemphigus herpetiformis]. AB - A female patient aged 68 has developed polycyclically shaped erythematous plaques with herpetiform vesicles, bullae, and crusts, intensively itching. Histologic analysis has revealed bullae with acantholytic cells and eosinophils. Eosinophils were present in the epidermis as well as in the derma. Both the direct and indirect immunofluorescence tests detected intercellular IgG. These findings have lead the authors to a conclusion that the present case was an atypical form of pemphigus, pemphigus herpetiformis. The disease regressed rather soon after treatment with moderate doses of corticosteroids. PMID- 2609754 TI - [Osteoscintigraphy in the diagnosis of latent psoriatic arthritis]. AB - The authors analyze the findings of clinical, x-ray, and osteoscintigraphic examinations of 69 patients with psoriasis. Osteoscintigraphy has revealed latent psoriatic arthropathy in 49 (71%) patients. This method is an effective diagnostic tool for the detection of early involvement of the bone-and-joint system in psoriasis. PMID- 2609755 TI - [Kyrle's disease]. AB - Kyrle's disease is a rare dermatosis with an unknown etiology. The disease cannot always be clinically diagnosed. A 14-year-old patient with this condition is described, in whom the diagnosis has been histologically verified. PMID- 2609756 TI - [The effect of batriden and dexasone on immune status indices in animals with experimental allergic contact dermatitis]. AB - Experimental findings evidence that the immunity parameters of guinea pigs with 2,4-DNCB-induced allergic contact dermatitis normalize after batriden and dexason therapy, immunosuppressant batriden in low doses alleviating the marked lymphopenic effect of dexason and its inhibitory effect on the peripheral blood neutrophil phagocytic activity. Use of this drug complex will help reduce the hormone dose and thus eliminate the undesirable effects of hormone therapy of allergic diseases of the skin. PMID- 2609757 TI - [Polyamines in malignant lymphoma of the skin and in Kaposi's sarcoma]. AB - High-pressure liquid chromatography was used to detect polyamines, the markers of lymphoproliferative diseases of the skin and of Kaposi's sarcoma. The urine polyamine detection may become one of the diagnostic tests in these conditions, but its findings should be confirmed by clinical and histologic data. Measurements of the urine polyamines may be helpful in assessment of the treatment efficacy. PMID- 2609758 TI - [The role of ureaplasmas in the development of male infertility]. AB - The relationship between Ureaplasma titers and spermatozoa hypokinesia in the semen has been studied in 101 sterile patients and in 36 patients without ureaplasmas (a reference group). The spermatozoa mobility before and after doxicyclin therapy has been examined in the groups with low, medium, and high titers of the microorganism and in the reference group. The spermatozoa mobility has changed but negligibly after therapy in the reference group and in the group with low Ureaplasma level, in contrast to those with medium (p less than 0.01) and high (p less than 0.001) levels of the microorganism in the semen. The findings permit a suggestion that essential shifts of spermatozoa mobility may be explained in a number of cases by medium and high titers of Ureaplasma in infected ejaculate. PMID- 2609759 TI - [The toxicologic characteristics of a new SAKAP-based benzyl benzoate ointment]. AB - The formula of a new stable 20% benzylbenzoate emulsion is presented, so are the results of studies on its toxicity, local irritating and sensitizing effects in guinea pigs. For comparison, the same characteristics of currently used 20% water soap benzylbenzoate emulsion and of the new ointment base, SAKAP (acryl copolymer), have been examined. Both the ointment and its base have proved to be safe. PMID- 2609760 TI - [A statement on the mathematical tasks of optimization in dermatology]. AB - The authors set forth the theoretical basis for the introduction of optimal management mathematical methods into clinical practice. Purely medical problems and those borderline with applied mathematics have been investigated. Recommendations on the choice of a purposeful functional system of differential equations describing physiological processes over the disease course, initial conditions, and restriction system are given. This helps plan the methods for and course of the clinical examinations and come closer to the creation of mathematical and program background for the problem of optimal management of dermatologic diseases treatment. PMID- 2609761 TI - [Clinico-epidemiologic characteristics of eczema in patients with arterial hypertension]. AB - A statistical analysis of 1007 eczema case histories has revealed arterial hypertension, mostly in bacterial eczema, in 24.8% of patients. A close multiple factor relationship between eczema clinical manifestations and course and the presence of concomitant hypertension was revealed. A direct correlation was detected between the patients' age, sex, clinical manifestations and involved skin area in eczema and the level of arterial pressure. The authors emphasize that the detected specificities of eczema course in the presence of hypertension indicate a certain relationship between these diseases involving manifest abnormalities in the skin microcirculatory bed. PMID- 2609762 TI - [Blood coagulation in angiitis of the skin]. AB - Basing on the studies of coagulograms of 88 patients with skin angiitis, the authors analyze the hemocoagulation status in this condition. A shift towards blood hypercoagulation in the presence of fibrinolysis reduction was found to contribute to the pathogenesis of skin angiitis, this fact should be borne in mind when planning combined therapy of such patients. PMID- 2609763 TI - [Madelung's syndrome]. AB - Symmetrical lipomatosis of the neck (Madelung's syndrome) in a 52-year-old man abusing alcohol is described. PMID- 2609764 TI - [The clinical picture of psychoneurotic disorders in neurodermatitis, psoriasis and alopecia totalis in children]. AB - Clinical, psychological, and electroencephalographic examinations of 267 children suffering from neurodermatitis, psoriasis, and total alopecia have revealed neural and mental disorders in 73.78% of patients, these disorders being the most grave and polymorphic in neurodermatitis. PMID- 2609765 TI - [T-activin in the treatment of patients with recurrent erysipelas and concomitant eczema]. AB - Increased levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) have been revealed in 156 patients suffering from erysipelas and chronic eczema, 109 of these with frequent recurrences of erysipelatous inflammation, during all periods of the disease. The maximal rises of CIC levels have been associated with a combination of erysipelas relapse with eczema exacerbation, with the most pathogenic medium- and low molecular complexes, making up together 80.4 +/- 4% of CICs, predominating in the blood. T-activin therapy results in an essential decrease of CIC level and in 2.5 times reduction of the number of early recurrences of erysipelas. PMID- 2609766 TI - [The irritating action of oil-refining products (furfural and mineral oil distillate D-11) on the skin of laboratory animals from isolated and joint exposures]. AB - Experimental data demonstrate a manifest skin irritating action of D-11 mineral oil distillate and furfural used in oil processing. The minimal effective concentrations of these chemicals have been defined. The irritating effects are enhanced in exposure to their combination. These data are recommended to be used when developing prophylactic measures. PMID- 2609767 TI - [The esterase activity of the peripheral blood in patients with foot mycoses]. AB - Nonspecific esterase activities were measured in the peripheral blood phagocytes (neutrophils and monocytes) of 37 patients with mycoses of the soles. The measurements have revealed lowered potentials of alpha-naphthylacetate esterase, naphthol-AS-acetate esterase, and naphthol-AS-D-chloracetate esterase, which appears to be due to depressed leucocyte phagocytic activity. Diucifon therapy corrected this metabolic imbalance. PMID- 2609768 TI - [Liver involvement in early secondary syphilis]. AB - Two patients with secondary new syphilis are described, abusing alcohol, developing early syphilitic hepatitis. The manifestations of this condition are similar to those of viral hepatitis. This necessitates a thorough examination of the skin integument, visible mucosae, genitals and perianal area, and of the peripheral lymph nodes in the patients with suspected viral hepatitis, in order to timely detect a possible liver involvement in Treponema infection. When such patients consult a doctor, specific serologic tests should be carried out and case history be carefully recorded. PMID- 2609769 TI - [Dynamics of immunologic indices in patients with Kaposi's sarcoma during treatment with the preparation leakadine]. AB - Changes in the immunologic parameters of 39 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma over the course of leakadin therapy were under study, i. e. total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, immunoregulatory cells in spontaneous and complementary rosette formation, and in that with monoclonal antibodies. The therapeutic efficacies and immunostimulating activities of prospidin and leakadin, a new Soviet drug, are compared. Besides sufficient therapeutic efficacy, leakadin has shown a manifest immunocorrective effect, increasing the counts of CD2+ and CD3+ cells, i. e. of the total T-lymphocyte pool (including the "young" cells) and, consequently, of its mature fraction, CD4+ and theophyllin-resistant T lymphocytes, CD8+ cells; this fact recommends the drug for the treatment of patients with Kaposi's sarcoma. Since the immunomodulating effects of prospidin and leakadin are ambiguous, their combinations are advised for the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma. PMID- 2609770 TI - [Experience in using a tomicide paste in the combined treatment of patients with pyoderma]. AB - Tomicide paste is a highly effective agent in combined therapy of patients with primary and secondary pyoderma. Tomicide is recommended for practical dermatology in the liquid form for sanitization++ of infection foci in nasopharyngeal organs and in paste with a 10% concentration of the agent. This paste is also advised for cases with secondary pyoderma complicating the course of neurodermatitis and chronic eczema not liable to weeping. PMID- 2609771 TI - [The combined treatment with aurobin and dipromonium of focal scleroderma]. AB - Aurobin ointment has been used for the treatment of scleroderma foci localized on the external genitals. Combined therapy including aurobin has been fairly effective. Clinical improvement has been paralleled by a reduction of the blood serum glycosamino-glycane level. PMID- 2609772 TI - [The use of a heparin ointment in combination with dimexide in treating psoriasis]. AB - Thirty-five male patients with psoriasis en plaques, persisting for 2-5 years, resistant to routine therapy, were treated with official heparin ointment with 15% dimexide under an occlusion dressing. Positive results were achieved in 41.2 +/- 5.9 days of the ointment application. Complete resolution of the rash was observed in 19 (54.3%) patients, partial regression in 14 (40%), no effect in 2 (5.7%) patients. This ointment is recommended for active therapy of patients with local psoriatic plaques with a stable course of the condition, torpid to routine antipsoriatic therapy. PMID- 2609773 TI - [The x-ray semeiotics of spinal involvement in psoriasis]. AB - X-ray examinations of the bone and joint system in psoriasis patients with pain syndromes in the limb joints have revealed spinal involvement in many cases. The authors have distinguished and described x-ray semeiotics of the inflammatory (spondylitis, spondyloarthritis, sacroiliitis), degenerative dystrophic (intervertebral osteochondrosis, spondylarthrosis deformans, spondylosis), and mixed or combined (inflammatory + degenerative dystrophic) involvements of the spine in psoriasis. PMID- 2609774 TI - [A case of active tertiary syphilis]. AB - A case of tertiary active syphilis in a 41-year-old male patient is described, who had not been administered specific treatment. Clinical symptoms of the disease manifested without apparent provoking factors; they were characterized by extensive involvement and no visceral abnormalities. PMID- 2609775 TI - RB virus: a strain of Friend virus that produces a 'Friend virus-like' disease in Fv-2rr mice. AB - RB virus is a newly derived strain of Friend virus that was adapted to produce a 'Friend-like' disease in mice that are genetically resistant to wild-type Friend virus. RB virus was produced by passing high titers of the wild-type Friend virus (Lilly-Steeves polycythemia-producing strain) through adult Fv-2rr mice. Titration of the defective spleen focus-forming virus indicated RB virus infected similar numbers of Fv-2ss or Fv-2rr target cells. Analysis of the spleens from mice infected with RB virus indicated that RB induced the early stage of Friend disease (erythroid proliferation) in both Fv-2rr and Fv-2ss mice. Fv-2ss mice infected with RB virus developed the classical Friend disease within 3 weeks. In contrast, the percentage of Fv-2rr mice developing the 'Friend-like' disease after infection with RB virus never exceeded 60%. The latency period of RBV in Fv 2rr mice was strain dependent. D2.R16 (Fv-2rr) developed the syndrome more rapidly than C57BL/6 (Fv-2rr). RB virus retained the capacity to transform erythroprogenitor cells from both Fv-2ss and Fv-2rr animals. Cells infected with RB virus consistently produced a modified SFFV envelope protein, gp48. PMID- 2609776 TI - Copper, chromium, manganese, nickel and zinc in kidneys of cattle, pigs and sheep and in chicken livers in The Netherlands. AB - Kidneys of cattle, pigs and sheep and chicken livers have been analyzed for contents of copper, chromium, manganese, nickel and zinc. Mean levels found for copper, manganese and zinc correspond well with results of earlier studies as well as with literature data. Contents measured for chromium and nickel are very low: for nickel in porcine kidneys and sheep kidneys median values of 0.045 and 0.022 mg/kg were found. Average contents for nickel in the other tissues and for chromium in all tissues investigated are below 0.01 mg/kg fresh mass. These results for chromium and nickel correspond well with recent results from Sweden, but are lower than most published values. PMID- 2609777 TI - Rapid gas-chromatographic determination of trichloroethylene and/or tetrachloroethylene in lettuce by direct head-space analysis. AB - A direct head-space method has been developed for the rapid investigation of the contamination of large numbers of individual lettuce plants as a consequence of local ground water and soil pollution with trichloroethylene and/or tetrachloroethylene. The plants were divided into several anatomically and physiologically distinct parts with different chemico-physical properties. PMID- 2609778 TI - [The social aspect of diseases]. PMID- 2609779 TI - [A mortality databank for international comparison and background information]. AB - This article describes the structure and utilization of a computerized databank system for WHO mortality data. This system makes available "at finger-tips" data which previously were published by WHO in its blue volumes. The data can be handled much more flexible. At the moment the system provides information on age standardized rates (direct standardization), total number of cases, as well as cover per age-group and year for about a hundred countries. The time period covered is 1950-1985, with exceptions for data which are not available to WHO. PMID- 2609780 TI - [Public health sciences graduate study at the Bielefeld University in the framework of comparative endeavours]. AB - Beginning with the summer term 1989 the University of Bielefeld offers-for the first time in the FRG-an interdisciplinary graduate program on health sciences which follows the American School of Public Health model. The association of the university with regional medical institutions guarantees teaching, research and practice in the core disciplines of public health. PMID- 2609781 TI - [Relationships between air pollution and well-being]. AB - In two longitudinal field studies, influences of ambient pollutant concentrations on psychological well-being (mood, perceived stress), neuropsychological function (concentration, reaction times) and physical state (physiological arousal, complaints) were investigated over a two-months period in samples of healthy and ill residents of differentially polluted areas. In both studies, results of multivariate time-series analyses yielded decrements of emotional well-being with increased sulfur dioxide levels. Chronically ill persons reported somatic complaints and respiratory symptoms with pollutants. Analyses of variance suggested a pollution-induced neuropsychological impairment in healthy residents of polluted areas but no effects on arousal. PMID- 2609782 TI - [The effect of music in discotheques on hearing ability]. AB - The risk of hearing loss due to exposure to music in discotheques is discussed on the basis of VDI guideline No 2058, Bl 2. The hypothesis of a relationship was investigated in two empirical studies. In 204 pupils aged 13-19 years, a positive statistical relation of the 4 kHz hearing threshold on the music-hearing habits reported was observed. The difference between the extreme groups of noise exposure was approximately 4 dB (p less than 0.05) on a group average. The evaluation of audiograms of 3133 youths aged 16-20 years applying for a job performed during the medical tests required for employment, showed that those young people with a striking internal ear hearing loss of greater than 30 dB in the area of the C5 depression had spent significantly more time in discotheques than those without striking findings. PMID- 2609783 TI - [Case-control study for the diagnosis of occupational factors in bladder cancer]. AB - The occupations and life-style factors of 531 male bladder cancer patients were compared with matched hospital controls; risk estimates were obtained as odds ratios of discordant pairs. The case-control study as a "fishing approach" for occupational risk factors has proven successfully that established hazards for cancer could be confirmed (e g smoking, bladder infections, mining and chemical exposures), and others were identified for the first time in Germany (vehicle driving, spray painting, oil- and petroleum exposures). Not only could smoking adjusted risk estimates be statistically confirmed but also trends of risk increasing with duration of occupational exposure were determined. Logistic regressions were performed to determine the influence of life-style factors on occupational risks. PMID- 2609784 TI - [Health survey in the elderly using home interviews: study of various indicators]. AB - Questions asked on the occasion of health survey at home usually refer to frequency of medical consultations and prescribed drugs, but often also to reported somatic symptoms and self-evaluated general health status. Interview data collected in a population of aged widows and widowers revealed a high degree of concordance between these various health indicators, justifying in particular the value assigned to the subjective appreciation of the level of general health. PMID- 2609785 TI - [psychogeriatric disorders and mortality]. AB - In two representative samples of persons aged over 65, living in private households (N = 343) and in nursing homes (N = 146), mortality was studied prospectively in relation to psychiatric status. After a cross-sectional baseline examination the two groups were followed up over eight and six years respectively. The study shows a high mortality risk among persons with dementing disorders and a short-term increase among persons with functional psychiatric disorders, even after controlling for the most significant confounding variables (age, sex, physical impairment) using the proportional hazards regression model developed by Cox. PMID- 2609786 TI - Usefulness of different myocardial sampling zones for the postmortem diagnosis of myocardial infarction. AB - The diagnosis of myocardial infarction requires the use of a group of tests that are very efficient, quick and inexpensive. Another important consideration is the choice of myocardial sampling zones, especially in cases of differential diagnosis between a cardiac injury secondary to a trauma or violent asphyxia and others, secondary to myocardial infarction. The aim of this work was to choose, through discriminant analysis, the most useful zones of cardiac tissue for the quantification of free fatty acids and free carnitine and for the performance of the K/Na quotient, as biochemical parameters for the postmortem diagnosis of myocardial infarction. According to the discriminant analysis performed, seven zones of cardiac tissue are necessary to achieve a differential diagnosis among "myocardial infarction," "other natural deaths," and "violent deaths" with a 71.9% efficacy. Greater diagnostic efficacy was found (78.1%) for differentiating between "natural deaths" and "violent deaths." PMID- 2609787 TI - An improved method for semen alpha-L-fucosidase typing--distribution in the Wuhan population of China. AB - An improved method for the separation of the genetic variants of alpha-L fucosidase in human semen is described. The method involves, isoelectric focusing in ultrathin-layer PAG containing a mixture of ampholines, pH 5-7 and pH 3.5-9.5, and separator HEPES. The Fu pattern obtained is simple, easy to interpret, and reproducible. The occurrence of fucosidase phenotypes in 189 semen samples from the population of Wuhan was investigated, and the frequencies of the Fu alleles were calculated. PMID- 2609788 TI - Genetic polymorphism of the B subunit of coagulation factor XIII in Libyans: occurrence of a fourth common allele, FXIIIB*6. AB - FXIIIB phenotypes were determined in neuraminidase-pretreated serum samples by using isoelectric focusing in ultrathin-layer polyacrylamide gels containing 1 M urea and subsequent immunoblotting. In a Libyan population sample from Tripoli, (n = 108) nine different phenotypes as products of four common alleles were recognized, with frequencies as follows: FXIIIB*1 = 0.6574, FXIIIB*2 = 0.2454, FXIIIB*3 = 0.0741 and FXIIIB*6 = 0.0231. It is suggested that FXIIIB*6 is the fourth common allele of the FXIIIB system in this population. PMID- 2609789 TI - Diagnostic postmortem angiography of fatal splenic artery haemorrhage. AB - The site of fatal haemorrhage from the splenic artery, caused in one case by a ruptured aneurysm and in another case by an intracystic haemorrhage of a postoperative pancreatic pseudocyst, was revealed by postmortem angiography. Radiopaque silicone rubber vulcanizing at room temperature was used as contrast medium. In the latter case, the dissection was seriously hampered by tight postoperative intestinal adhesions following four abdominal operations to control bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract. The results indicate the usefulness of postmortem angiography with contrast medium vulcanizing at room temperature for postmortem diagnosis of rare causes of gastrointestinal haemorrhage. PMID- 2609790 TI - [Short-stop ammunition]. AB - Now and again ammunition is offered emphasizing its "less deadly" or "not at all deadly" effects. On application, however, these types of ammunition contrary to the manufacturer's allegations turn out to be a real threat. On the one hand results can be rather harmful while on the other side at court a remonstration on the grounds of not knowing such outcome beforehand may be successful. Under these aspects construction and effects of a special small shot ammunition for revolvers (Speer 38/357 Shot Shells, manufactured by CCI), of the cartridge "Short-Stop", manufactured by MB Associates in San Ramon (California) and, in connexion with own casework, a "shock-defense" sort of ammunition, manufactured by Rauchalles (Offenburg, West Germany) are compared and discussed with respect to their construction and effects. PMID- 2609791 TI - [A fatality caused by heparin overdose]. AB - Because of suspected pulmonary embolism 550.000 I.U. of heparin were administered instead of 55.000 I.U. of heparin within 24 h to a 62 year old patient. The man died because of cerebral hemorrhage the following day. Autopsy findings are reported and difficulties in medical expertise are discussed. PMID- 2609792 TI - Histamine effects on pulmonary blood vessels in strangulation. AB - Endothelial cells of asphyxial pulmonary veins possess abundant pores and intracytoplasmic vacuoles. The present radioassay demonstrated an increase in histamine concentrations of the pulmonary tissue in asphyxia. These morphological changes, therefore, appear to represent an enhancement of the endothelial permeability induced by high histamine concentrations in blood plasma. The present immunoelectron microscopy study demonstrated heavy reactions of histamine exclusively on the endothelial surface of the asphyxial pulmonary veins. This may support the endothelial cell-dependent vasodilation mediated by histamine in asphyxial pulmonary veins. PMID- 2609793 TI - [Rotator syndrome of the shoulder and mobility of the cervical spine]. AB - "Painful shoulder" results from different pathogenetic disorders. There is a coincidence of cervical spine and shoulder syndromes. However, a deficit exists of reproducible proof correlation. In this study the motility of cervical spine in patients with painful shoulder syndromes is biometrically measured and compared with control persons. 41 patients and 94 healthy persons had been investigated. Radiograms of the cervical spine had been taken in spontaneous position, in maximal flexion and extension positions. The radiograms had been digitalized according to the technique of Arlen. In addition, vertebral gliding had been analyzed. There was no difference in spontaneous posture of the cervical spine. In patients the total motility was reduced. Regarding the single segments there was less motility in C4/5, C5/6, and C6/7. The physiologic vertebral gliding was diminished in C2/3 and C5/6. The correlation between reduced motility of cervical spine and shoulder pain can be explained by the following ways: 1. Interactions by posture 2. Disorders of muscular balance by nerve root lesions 3. Disturbance of muscle coordination by reflectoric afferences from cervical or shoulder regions. These results demonstrate the complexity of apparently local disorders of the shoulder. PMID- 2609794 TI - [Arthritic pain and psychological distress in patients with chronic polyarthritis]. AB - Pain intensity and sensory dimensions of pain experience were studied in four samples totalling 346 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 35%-61% of these patients suffer from severe pain. Arthritic pain is not automatically associated with emotional disorder. However, we met significant correlations of pain intensity with depression, trait anxiety, and state anxiety. Three hypotheses about the relation between pain and emotional state are discussed. Within one third of the patients we observed a paradoxical pain-mood pattern. Within the greater part of the patients severe pain is accompanied by considerable emotional suffering. The question of whether pain intensity is the cause of or the result from depression cannot be answered. However, predicting pain intensity from depression scores is much easier than predicting depression from pain intensity. PMID- 2609795 TI - [Epidemiology of the treatment of patients with chronic polyarthritis in Hannover]. AB - Between 1984 and 1988 a community-based study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was undertaken in Hannover (Federal Republic of Germany) to determine patient characteristics and the patterns of antirheumatic treatment. Among 8044 randomly chosen German residents aged 25 to 74 years, we identified 45 persons suffering from RA; minimal prevalence 0.56% +/- 0.19%. Of these 45 RA-suffers only seven (16%) had consulted a rheumatologist (internist) "during the past 12 months". Only four (9%) persons were currently being treated with remission-inducing drugs (RIDs), e.g., chloroquine, gold. We could also ascertain low rates of physiotherapeutic treatment; "during the past 12 months" seven persons (16%) had received remedial gymnastics, one (2%) had received local application of cold. Our findings indicate that the treatment of RA in the population of Hannover is insufficient. PMID- 2609796 TI - [Plasminogen activator activity of the synovial fluid as an indicator of activation phenomena in degenerative joint diseases]. AB - Activity of plasminogen activator in synovial fluids of patients with osteoarthritis was determined by a radial diffusion assay. Synovial fluid from human knee joints was obtained by joint lavage with 35 ml physiological saline containing 0.5% hydroxyethyl starch. Synovial fluids from contralateral, healthy knee joints served as controls. The activity of plasminogen activator in synovial fluid from activated (painful) osteoarthritis is significantly higher than in cases of latent osteoarthritis, whereas the activity of controls is significantly lower as in latent osteoarthritis. The findings are helpful for the discovery of patients with enhanced plasminogen activator levels in synovia which should be treated therapeutically. PMID- 2609797 TI - [Extreme atrophy of the shoulder muscles in juvenile ankylosing spondylitis as a (misleading) main symptom]. AB - An extreme unilateral muscular atrophy of the shoulder and upper arm region was a symptom of juvenile ankylosing spondylitis in a 20-year-old female patient. No pathological patterns were found in electromyographic, bioptic, and tomographic (CT, NMR) investigations. The muscular atrophy was caused by a shoulder arthritis with severe erosive damage. The false assumption of a neurological disorder and the disregard of anamnesis and low back pain delayed for several years an accurate diagnosis. After the onset of an arthritis of hip joints a collagen disease with myositis was supposed falsely in spite of normal electromyographic results. The unusual muscular atrophy around the shoulder joint probably must be interpreted as a consequence of reflex inhibition and partly due to inactivity. A real myositis seems to not be probable, because newer investigations in contrast to earlier findings show no evidence for inflammatory muscle disease in ankylosing spondylitis. PMID- 2609798 TI - [Restitutio ad integrum of femur head necrosis due to early detection using nuclear magnetic resonance tomography]. AB - Avascular necrosis of the hip was diagnosed early with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in a 50-year-old man with pain and slightly diminished function of his right hip. Conservative treatment (non-weight bearing) of the hip led to complete recovery at one year follow-up. This case emphasizes the importance of MR imaging as first evaluation for avascular necrosis of the hip. PMID- 2609799 TI - [Kidney replacement therapy]. PMID- 2609800 TI - [The development of nephrology and dialysis in the past 40 years]. AB - In the past 40 years the nephrology has been established in the GDR as a subspeciality of internal medicine and pediatrics. In the districts more than 60 nephrological centres were opened and modern diagnostical and therapeutical methods were introduced. More than 2000 patients were treated regularly by artificial kidney. Further detoxification methods including therapeutical plasmapheresis were introduced in the practice in the last years. The number of dialysis increase from 300,000 in 1989 to 500,000 in 1991. PMID- 2609801 TI - [Loss of bone substance in long-term dialysis--the value of serochemical parameters]. AB - During long-term hemodialysis therapy a loss of bone substance--an osteopenia- may occur. The diagnosis is possible by bone biopsy. We have analyzed the bone metabolism-associated serochemical parameters in patients suffering from osteopenia in comparison with patients with normal bone volume. 21 patients were analyzed: 14 females, 7 males, duration of dialysis 44 +/- 29.9 months, age 47.3 +/- 12.5 years. The serum values of calcium, anorganic phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, pH and c-terminal parathormone are determined. The histological bone examination according to the Delling classification did show following distribution: Type I--0, type II--10, type III--10 (without renal osteopenia--1). A quarter of the patients did show a reduction of the bone mass. The parathormone value was significantly reduced in these patients in comparison with patients without osteopenia. No significant changes could observed in the comparison of alkaline phosphatase, serum calcium, anorganic phosphate and pH value. Our results show that in patients with osteopenia the serum parathormone level is reduced relatively. PMID- 2609802 TI - [Personal experiences with kidney transplantation in the elderly]. AB - From January 1987 to December 1988 226 cadaveric renal allotransplants were performed in the Kidney Transplant Center of the Friedrichshain Hospital. 38 of the recipients (17%) were older than 50 years. The results of transplantation are comparable with younger recipients, except a higher frequency of age-related urological complications of benign prostatic hyperplasia. PMID- 2609803 TI - [Physiologic performance of clinically non-functioning kidney transplants]. AB - The excretion capacity of 24 kidney allografts which had been dialyzed because of non-function was examined. It has been shown that only 4 out of 24 allografts (16.7%) were truly without function. All other transplants did show a slight or more improvement of the excretion capacity prior to irreversible loss of graft function. As a cause the non-identified graft rejection is discussed. PMID- 2609804 TI - Production of antibodies to canine distemper virus in chicken eggs for immunohistochemistry. AB - The present study describes the application of egg yolk antibodies in immunohistochemistry. In order to obtain specific antibodies against canine distemper virus (CDV), chickens were immunized with attenuated virus. Distinct antibody titres in serum and yolk could be detected by means of a modified plaque/focus immunoassay (ELISA) two weeks after a second immunization. The lower concentrations in corresponding yolk globulin preparations are attributed to the loss of antibodies caused by the isolation procedure (dextran and ammonium sulfate precipitation). After verification of the antibody specificity by indirect immunofluorescence technique high titred globulin fractions were employed in immunohistochemistry using the Avidin-Biotin-Complex method. A specific and distinct immunostaining in formalin fixed and paraffin embedded brain sections of CDV-infected dogs was obtained. The advantages of egg yolk antibodies for immunological purposes are discussed in detail. PMID- 2609805 TI - Plasmids and resistance to antimicrobial agents and heavy metals in Staphylococcus hyicus from pigs and cattle. AB - Staphylococcus hyicus-cultures, isolated from piglets and cattle with skin lesions were investigated for their plasmid content and their resistance to antimicrobial agents and heavy metals. Several plasmids of different sizes could be detected in most of the 32 "porcine" S. hyicus-isolates, whereas none of the 20 "bovine" S. hyicus-cultures possessed any plasmid. The "porcine" S. hyicus isolates were much more resistant to antimicrobial substances than the "bovine" S. hyicus-cultures. However, the "porcine" and "bovine" S. hyicus-cultures did not differ in their resistance to heavy metals. PMID- 2609806 TI - [The synergism of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and influenza A virus in experimentally-infected mice]. AB - Models for infecting mice with Influenza A-Virus (A/PR 8/34, H0N1) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (serotype 9) were developed in Han: NMRI-mice. After infecting mice with sublethal doses of one of the infectious agents, or both together as a mixed infection, animals were subsequently exsanguinated and the lungs washed by bronchoalveolar lavage. Clinical symptoms were recorded daily, examination of lung lavage fluid and sera as well as histology of the lungs were done. An increase in mortality, weight reduction and total cell yield of lung lavage fluid was observed after mixed infection. Compared to mixed infections total protein content and elastase in sera and lung lavage fluid after singular ones were raised not as much. In lung lavage fluid the total cell yield was increased more marked. These alterations indicate a synergistic effect of viruses and bacteria, developed by mixed infection as well as a bacterial infection on top of a viral one. Histopathologically the lung alterations were found to depend on the infectious agent and the mode of infection. PMID- 2609807 TI - Morbillivirus infection among seals (Phoca vitulina) during the 1988 epidemic in the Bay of Heligoland. II. Serogological investigations reflecting a previous phocine distemper epidemic in a seal orphanage. AB - Of 57 seals hospitalized in the Norddeich Orphanage, 37 (65%) had died until 22nd of August, 1988, when the first collection of blood samples from the survivors commenced. All the sera including those obtained at a later date from the remaining animals had invariably higher neutralizing antibody titres against a phocine distemper virus (PDV) isolate than against canine distemper virus (CDV). The difference of mean titres was calculated to be more than 1.5 x log10 serum dilution. Peak titres demonstrated by a direct neutralization peroxidase-linked antibody (NPLA) assay reached 1/90,000. Attempts to isolate PDV in seal kidney cell cultures from heparinized blood samples collected from convalescent animals were not successful. From the increase in antibody titre following the last fatal case it was concluded that the devastating epidemic sweeping through the Norddeich Orphanage was primarily due to phocine distemper. PMID- 2609808 TI - [The multidimensional character of the niches in Gause's law applicable to prokaryotes and the methods for the spatial separation of competing associates]. AB - The multidimensional niche in Gause's law includes, with respect to prokaryotes, the following factors: the alimentary factor, the symbiosis-antagonism complex, the respiratory function, the concentration of associants, mobility. Cultivation in U-shaped tubes is the optimum method for the detection of spatial separation on account of such factors as respiration and mobility. PMID- 2609809 TI - [Clinically conditional variants of the immune response in viral hepatitis A and B in children]. AB - The immunity characteristics of the T-, B- and A-systems have been studied on the basis of the data registered in the dynamics of the acute period of the disease and several times in catamnesis during 6-12 months of the convalescence period in 217 children with viral hepatitis A and 99 children with viral hepatitis B. The clinical course of viral hepatitis A and that of viral hepatitis B have been found to have certain parallels in their development, as well as specific features of immune response, which can be subdivided into 3 main groups: (a) immunological imbalance, (b) the phase of immunodepression and (c) secondary immunodeficiency. The distinguishing of the variants of immune response and their clinical interpretation are of practical importance for the early prognostication of the course and outcome of the processes and for the differentiated approach to the treatment of viral hepatitides in children. PMID- 2609810 TI - [The classification of infectious diseases in the light of new data on the subject of epidemiology]. PMID- 2609811 TI - [The immunization of adults against respiratory syncytial virus infection]. AB - The results of the comparative study of the immunological effectiveness of experimental samples of respiratory syncytial (RS) viral vaccine, prepared from a live attenuated strain and introduced in a single administration to young adults by the intranasal, intradermal and combined intranasal-intradermal) routes, are presented. The effectiveness of intranasal immunization was inversely related to the level of previously existing humoral (serum, secretory) antibodies. Intradermal immunization enhanced the frequency of the formation of serum antibodies in persons having had such antibodies before the introduction of RS vaccine. The most active formation of serum and secretory antibodies was ensured by the combined (intranasal-intradermal) method of the administration of live RS vaccine which proved to be particularly effective in persons having had antibodies in the blood and secretions prior to immunization. PMID- 2609812 TI - [The efficacy of vaccination and serotherapy in tick-borne encephalitis in the Maritime Territory]. AB - The use of different vaccines manufactured in the USSR under the condition of the Far East has revealed that killed vaccines do not produce a protective effect, sufficient for the prophylaxis of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). This is probably due to the circulation of a highly virulent population of TBE virus at the Territory. This virus population may produce a severe course of infection and aggravate the clinico-epidemiological characteristics of the effectiveness of vaccines. Besides, low levels of specific and nonspecific humoral resistance factors in the residents of the Far East, especially in spring and summer, contribute to this fact. The negative effect of specific serotherapy for persons over 40 years of age has been established. PMID- 2609813 TI - [The participation of the adrenergic receptors of the peritoneal leukocytes from white mice in the mechanism of the cellular control of the action of Yersinia pestis adenylate cyclase]. AB - Y. pestis extracellular adenylate cyclase suppresses the oxidation metabolism of peritoneal leukocytes in white mice. The character of the modulating action of the enzyme in its interaction with the target cell infers the participation of adrenergic receptors. PMID- 2609814 TI - [Influenza C: the immunological aspects of the problem]. AB - The use of the complex of methods for the characterization of cell-mediated and humoral immunity to influenza C virus has made it possible to establish that with the increase of the age of children and, simultaneously, with the increase of the number of persons found to be seropositive to influenza C the asymptomatic forms of this infection occur more frequently. Practically all examined adults selected by random choice have proved to be immune to this infective agent. The results of this investigation indicate that influenza C virus constantly circulates among the population. PMID- 2609815 TI - [The effect of antifungal agents on the chemoluminescence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes]. AB - The intensity of the formation of active forms of oxygen by Staphylococcus activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was registered according to the level of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. Peritoneal PMNL of rats were shown to be already in an activated state. Activation probably occurred in the process of their penetration into the abdominal cavity. For this reason, further studies of three chloral and griseofulvin derivatives with respect to their influence on the metabolic activity of phagocytes were made on PMNL of human peripheral blood. The compounds under study were found to produce a suppressive effect, which was probably linked with their influence of the enzymatic cell systems taking part on the formation of active forms of oxygen. PMID- 2609816 TI - [Mutual adaptation of elderly patients with schizophrenia and mentally healthy persons in a family (socio-psychological analysis)]. AB - Clinical and psychosocial examinations of 70 families of senile schizophrenic patients and 40 families of healthy persons showed that in the patients' and controls' families, the identical events were caused by the subjects' age itself: lower status and adaptation of senile persons, rationalistic attitude of the relatives toward them, conflicts, disintegrated families, dysharmonic relations. In line with the schizophrenic process, the patients have less frequently higher status, enjoy more care of siblings, more rationalistic attitude of the relatives, higher conflict rate, larger variety of familial cooperation disorders and adaptations. PMID- 2609817 TI - [BB creatine kinase isoenzyme activity in the blood serum of patients with senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia]. AB - Total creatine kinase (CPK) activity and the activity of brain-type creatine kinase (CPK BB) was determined in the blood serum of schizophrenic patients, senile dementia and Alzheimer disease patients and mentally sane individuals by means of bioluminescence assay. The increased activity of total CPK in the serum of schizophrenics and a 2-fold increase of CPK BB activity in the serum of patients with these mental diseases was demonstrated. The findings suggest the presence of destructive processes not only in demented brains but also in the schizophrenic brains. PMID- 2609818 TI - [Cytological structure of various subcortical and brain stem nuclei of human brain in the normal state and in Alzheimer's disease]. AB - The works provides a morphological analysis of lesions in central upper median reticular nucleus (nucleus raphe) of the midbrain and basal Meinert nucleus in patients with Alzheimer disease. Cytoarchitectonic investigation was performed on the series of 20 microns-thick frontal sections of the brain stained with cresyl violet. The neuronal cross-sectional areas were numerically assessed. Marked individual structural features of these nuclei were characteristic of normals, and not age-related. These structures were largely involved into the Alzheimer disease. PMID- 2609819 TI - [Status of cerebral ventricles and meninges in subarachnoid hemorrhage (clinico pathomorphological studies)]. AB - Long-term investigation of 64 patients with subarachnoidal hemorrhages (SH), 24 of which had subsequently died, and 2 series of experiments of animals with a single or repeated intracysternal infusion of various doses of autologous blood, yielded the description of the response of the meninges and ventricles at different terms after SH. The brain ventricles were measured by axial computer tomography and echoencephalography. A index of CSF resorption resistance and CSF pressure were determined. The cerebral meninges from experimental animals and autopsied human ones underwent the histological examination. The authors discuss the mechanisms of development of liquor dynamic disorders at different terms after SH. PMID- 2609820 TI - [EEG analysis in patients in the acute stage of cerebral infarction by the methods of image recognition]. AB - The brain bioelectric activity was studied in 280 acute stroke patients. Factor and cluster analyses were applied to 4 EEG groups: recordings of left and right hemispheres with and without a damaged foci. The hemispheral lesion contralateral to the damaged focus was shown to differ in reactive EEG shifts what the hemisphere is, namely left or right. This opens new theorical vistas on the studied of paired performance of human cerebral hemispheres. PMID- 2609821 TI - [Headache in autonomic-vascular dystonia]. AB - The clinical variants of headaches were observed in 83 patients with autonomic vascular dystonia. The diagnostic table was designed to differentiate between the latter and migraine. Bulbar conjunctiva and retinal microcirculation studies revealed multiple morphological and hemodynamic changes. These were especially marked during painful paroxysms. The substantial increase in red blood cell aggregation rates was observed within the entire headache exacerbation. The data provide grounds for using adrenergic blockers, antiaggregatory and venotonic drugs in these conditions. PMID- 2609822 TI - [Encephaloradiothermometry in the diagnosis of early stages of cerebrovascular insufficiency]. AB - Recording the intrinsic, thermal radiation of tissues and their associated blood supply makes it possible to diagnose cerebrovascular insufficiency at the early stage. Radiothermometry is safe and easy in operation and provides results in absolute values in some seconds, which makes it convenient during a screening. PMID- 2609823 TI - [Changes in energy metabolism in the brain in experimental cerebral ischemia of different degree of severity (nuclear magnetic resonance-spectroscopic study)]. AB - The peculiarities of brain energy metabolism were studied in male rats before and during cerebral ischemia of various severity elicited by bilateral common carotid arteries ligation. A multidimensional analysis was applied. In the rats which died after the ischemia, the NAD + NADH+/phosphocreatine (PCr) ratio and ATP content before ligation were higher than those in the surviving group. Also the strength of relationships between parameters of NMR spectra in each correlation matrix were 10 times higher and the variability of elements in each matrix was significantly lower in victims than those in the surviving group. The development of severe ischemia and the animals death were accompanied by an increase in the inorganic phosphate content, decrease in pH and stepwise disappearing of PCr and ATP. In animals surviving the same brain ischemia model, the changes in 31P spectra parameters pointed to some increase in the ratio of NAD + NADH+ only to ATP + ADP but not to PCr, and to an increase in summarized strength of correlation between 31P spectra parameters with the variability of elements decreased within each correlation matrix. Detection of these changes can be helpful in the diagnosis of mild ischemia without neurological deficit which already needs preventive therapy against more severe ischemia. PMID- 2609824 TI - [Transient disorders of cerebrovascular circulation in patients with heart defects operated on under extracorporeal circulation]. AB - A total of 94 cases were analyzed. Transient cerebral circulatory disorders in a majority of the patients with cardiac defects were caused by intraoperative factors. Clarification of these factors and the study of clinical course of the disorders made it possible to diagnose them timely and begin the differentiated treatment. PMID- 2609825 TI - [Fibronectin levels in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid in cerebrovascular diseases]. AB - A total of 106 patients with different forms of cerebral circulation disorders and 28 healthy donors were investigated for the contents of fibronectin and its proteolytic degradation products in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. In patients with cerebrovascular disorders the decrease in the blood fibronectin levels was accompanied by a decrease in its metabolite levels and increased R protein content, irrespective of the character and degree of clinical manifestations. The fibronectin CSF levels were increased in acute stroke with unconsistent rise in R-proteins. The authors suggest that fibronectin synthesis and degradation are evidently controlled by R-proteins being the products of destruction of cellular receptors. PMID- 2609826 TI - [Neurologic disorders in women during the pathologic climacteric period]. AB - A total of 306 women with pathological climax were investigated. Clinical features, electrophysiological, biochemical and hormonal changes were studied. Based on these data, 9 neurological syndromes were singled out. PMID- 2609827 TI - [Therapy of cerebral infarction by infusion of plasma substitutes]. AB - In a total of 152 cases of severe cerebral infarction intravascular infusion of plasma substitutes was a part of combined therapy. Hemostasis studies in these patients allowed us to detect various degrees of hypercoagulation as a response to hemodilution. In cases of most pronounced post-hemodilution++ hypercoagulation (77 patients) complications, including those of thrombohemorrhagic nature, were increased in rate (74%) with more severe course of cerebral infarction. Of these 77 patients 46 died (59.7%). In 75 cases with no substantial hypercoagulation, the disease had a more benign course with 2 casulties (2.7%). The hemodilution tests should precede the therapeutic use of plasma substitutes in cerebral infarct patients. PMID- 2609828 TI - [Prediction of the degree of restoration of motor functions in patients after cerebral stroke at the ambulatory stage of rehabilitation treatment by using prognostic tables]. AB - A table is offered for prediction of the degree of restitution of motor functions in stroke patients at the outpatient rehabilitation stage. The table was derived from consecutive statistical analysis and provides a reasonable reliability for prediction of the outcome of rehabilitative treatment. PMID- 2609829 TI - [Antioxidants in the prevention and treatment of cerebral arteriosclerosis]. AB - In animals with peroxide model of atherosclerosis and patients with cerebral atherosclerosis, the protecting effects of antioxidants were studied. These were shown to inhibit both humoral and local manifestations of experimental atherosclerosis. In the patients, lipid levels were lowered with peroxidation indices returning to normal levels and clinical state simultaneously improving. PMID- 2609830 TI - [Prognosis of mild dementia based on catamnestic study of the population]. AB - A clinico-catamnestic investigation of a group of patients with initial psychoorganic changes qualified at first examination as the "soft" dementia and "accelerated mental aging", attributed the states of "soft" dementia a high value in prediction of manifested senile dementia. Predictive value of a complex of signs classified as "accelerated mental aging" was ambiguous. PMID- 2609831 TI - [Clinical picture of initial manifestations and the characteristics of the subsequent course of senile dementia]. AB - Retrospective analysis of initial events in senile dementia was performed in patients examined while staying in hospital at the stage of clinically manifested dementia. The data indicated that psychopathological structure of initial stage of the disease is of prognostical value for later formshaping and the rate of progression of the disease. PMID- 2609832 TI - [Diagnosis of senile dementia using the method of computerized tomography]. AB - The authors investigated the impact of single CT investigation of senile dementia patients. CT was assessed visually. Investigated were 214 patients (23 with senile dementia, 29 with Alzheimer disease, 14 with Pick disease, 90 with vasculogenic dementia, 58 with other forms of dementia). The overall high efficiency of CT was shown in diagnosis of senile dementia. Depending on peculiar clinico-morphological relations different patterns of CT contribution to dementia diagnosis are determined: its verification, detection of concomitant (clinically latent) pathology, establishment of an alternative diagnosis, reduction of the number of diagnostic hypotheses, correction of a diagnostic error. PMID- 2609833 TI - [Relation between the changes in evoked and constant potentials of the brain and emotional disorders in Alzheimer's disease]. AB - The visual evoked potentials (VEP), brain DC potential (DP) mapping and emotional disorders were comparatively evaluated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-matched healthy individuals. In AD, the severity of emotional disorders correlated with the reduction of VEP late components P 4 N 4. In patients with frequent affect oscillations, the amplitude of N 3 component of the VEP and its variability was higher than in patients with rare undulations of the emotional state. In AD patients the DP levels were increased as compared to normal levels in all the brain sites investigated. The degree of emotional disorders in AD patients positively correlated with frontal DP levels. The rise in frontal DP levels and decrease in late VEP components were interrelated in AD patients. PMID- 2609834 TI - [Clinical characteristics of late manifestations of recurrent depressive psychoses]. AB - A total of 70 patients with recurrent depression manifested at the age over 45 were under investigation. Major clinical types of depressions were: adynamic, anxious, senesto-hypochondric, combined depressive-paranoic, endoreactive. Major types of the course of these disorders were: stereotype phases (cliche type), and polymorphic endogenous episodes. The impact of ageing factor increased with age, hence the modification of depressive phases, and changed interrelations of the types in different age periods, increased recurrence rates, shortened remissions and their worsening due to persisting residual depression. PMID- 2609835 TI - [Anatomo-clinical correlations of carotid plaques]. AB - Recently, much attention has been focused on pathologic plaque characteristics and their importance in producing cerebrovascular symptoms. There remains much controversy on the significance of plaque ulceration, mural thrombi, and intraplaque hemorrhage in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. We investigated 110 plaques, and the only significant correlation with preoperative symptoms was the presence of fresh mural thrombus, mostly intraluminal, associated with stenosis. Exulceration without fresh thrombus, intraplaque hemorrhage with intact endothelium and recanalized thrombus were also found in a considerable number of asymptomatic patients. PMID- 2609836 TI - Bronchogenic cysts in children. AB - Three children with symptomatic bronchogenic cysts are presented. Because of the variability in clinical presentation and the shortcomings of diagnostic procedures, bronchogenic cysts present a diagnostical problem. In view of the risk of serious complications an aggressive attitude towards all congenital cystic lung lesions is advised, even when they are asymptomatic. Surgical excision assures an excellent outcome in most cases, and is therefore the treatment of choice. PMID- 2609837 TI - Synchronous abdominal and transsacral approach for excision of sacrococcygeal chordoma. AB - Sacrococcygeal chordomas are rare retrorectal tumors. The authors have been faced with one such case. They used the synchronous combined abdominosacral approach for surgical resection. Details of the surgical aspects of the technique are described. Safe resection as high as the S1-S2 interspace can be performed. PMID- 2609838 TI - Choledochotomy: primary closure versus T-tube. A prospective trial. AB - From January 1986 until December 1988 twenty two patients entered a prospective trial comparing primary closure versus T-tube drainage after exploratory choledochotomy for lithiasis, giving 11 primary closures (P) and 11 on T-tube (T). Both groups were well matched for age and risk factors. Preoperative values of alkaline phosphatase on day 2 and 7 were significantly lower in case of primary closure (p less than .025). In case of primary closure there was 1 bile leakage without peritonitis. In 9 T-tube biles additional micro-organisms appeared without clinical importance. In each group 1 infectious complication occurred. Post-operative hospital stay was 12 days (P) versus 14 (T) (p less than .05). There was 1 residual lithiasis (P), without detrimental effect on the healing of the primary closure. Endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction was performed. Within the given exclusion criteria closing a choledochotomy primarily is a safe and attractive procedure. PMID- 2609839 TI - [Pneumoperitoneum solely diagnosed with CT scanning]. AB - The authors report 3 cases of pneumoperitoneum due to visceral perforation and whose diagnosis was not performed on plain abdominal radiographs. In the 3 cases, pneumoperitoneum diagnosis and laparotomy decision were based on the results of an emergency abdominal CT Scan. Each time, the origin of the pneumoperitoneum was also clearly evidenced. When visceral perforation is suspected, we advice to perform CT Scan of the abdomen if pneumoperitoneum diagnosis has not been made by plain abdominal radiographs. CT Scan is an accurate exam for pneumoperitoneum diagnosis that permits undelayed surgical treatment. PMID- 2609840 TI - [Recurrent sub-obstruction due to intermittent hiatal herniation of the transverse colon with intrathoracic stomach torsion]. AB - A patient is presented with repeated sub-obstructive symptoms due to a documented intermittent hiatal herniation of the transverse colon, accompanied by a volvulated and complete thoracic herniated stomach. The symptoms, the complications, and affirmative investigations, and the treatment are discussed. Surgical reduction, hernia repair and antireflux operation are always recommended in case of a massive hiatal hernia, since a conservative treatment stands for serious and frequent complications. PMID- 2609841 TI - Teaching clinical problem solving. PMID- 2609842 TI - [Generalized lymphangiomatosis. 25-year follow-up of a case of lymphangiomatosis]. AB - Lymphangiomatosis is a rare systemic lymphatic malformation with intra- and extraosseous lesions. The etiology is poorly understood. Presented is the case of a patient with a generalized lymphangiomatosis manifested by cystic formations in many bones and a large cavernous lymph sac behind her sternum. Clinical, diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic aspects are reviewed. The condition of the patient remained without complications for more than 25 years, except for two episodes of rather severe respiratory infections. PMID- 2609843 TI - [The prevention of beta-thalassemia in French-speaking Belgium. II. Proposal of a strategy]. AB - Medico-social surveys and pilot experiments, conducted by the authors in Wallonia and Brussels at the request of the Ministry for the French-Speaking Community, have allowed the definition of a community-scale prevention programme. High quality information, repeated at regular intervals and adapted to the different environments, is vital for effective voluntary screening. The contents of this information and distribution methods have been specified. Screening will take place on an occasional basis among people at risk who request it, or who accept it as an addition to other planned blood tests (curative or preventive consultations); microcytosis must be considered as a definite indication for further work up. Systematic screening is recommended in the framework of upper secondary education, through cooperation between volunteer teachers and the staff of school medical institutions; teaching methods and means have been reviewed. PMID- 2609844 TI - [Chronic meningitis associated with lymph node sarcoidosis]. AB - A 59-year-old woman with maturity-onset diabetes presented with symmetrical transient polyarthralgia and acido-cetosis. Bilateral hilar adenopathy and erythematous rash on lower limbs were demonstrated. While low-grade chronic meningeal irritation supervened, lymph node biopsy showed typical sarcoidosis. Administration of corticosteroids resulted in reduction of cerebrospinal fluid albumin content and of lymphocytosis in bronchoalveolar lavage. In this patient, sarcoidosis was therefore associated with Lofgren's syndrome and meningitis. PMID- 2609845 TI - Penetration of temocillin into prostatic tissue after intravenous dosing. PMID- 2609846 TI - [Myoclonus during a course with buflomedil treatment]. PMID- 2609847 TI - [Kala-azar. Apropos of a case report in a Belgian woman]. PMID- 2609848 TI - Third European Symposium on Psoriasis. Trieste, Italy, September 23-25, 1988. PMID- 2609849 TI - Ditrastick combined with UVB. An alternative regimen for plaque psoriasis. AB - Two comparable groups of 15 out-patients with symmetrical plaque psoriasis were included in an open right-left comparison study. Paraffin based, 3% dithranol (anthralin) sticks (Ditrastick), Orion Pharmaceutica, Espoo, Finland) and 0.5-1% dithranol in white petrolatum were used in combination with UVB. Both suberythema doses and MED doses were used and the effect of UVB-pretreatment was studied. Pretreatment with UVB and combination therapy with dithranol using suberythema doses of UVB seems to decrease dithranol irritation and shorten the treatment time. Preliminary results are given. PMID- 2609850 TI - Treatment of psoriasis vulgaris with a synthetic metalloporphyrin and UVA light. AB - Sn-protoporphyrin is a synthetic heme analogue which inhibits the catabolism of natural heme to bilirubin and can suppress a wide variety of experimentally induced or naturally occurring forms of jaundice in animals and man. Ten patients, 9 of whom were substantially or completely unresponsive to other forms of therapy, received 2.0 mumol/kg body weight of Sn-protoporphyrin on day 0 of this study followed by UVA light treatment for 21 days. Severity of psoriatic plaques, clinically scored (erythema 0-3; scaling, 0-3; infiltration, 0-3;) declined from a mean +/- score of 7 +/- 0.3 on day 0 to 3.6 +/- 0.7 on day 21. Psoriatic lesions were improved in all patients and in some the effect was dramatic. No deleterious side effects were registered. As shown in this study, one-day treatment with Sn-protoporphyrin followed by conventional UVA light treatment may be a useful therapeutic modality for psoriasis patients and merits further investigation. PMID- 2609851 TI - Peptide T and psoriasis. PMID- 2609852 TI - Bath-photo-therapy with the thermal water of Comano: treatment of psoriasis. AB - Association between baths with the thermal water of Comano Springs and selective photo-therapy UVB (bath-photo-therapy) has proved to be effective in 94% of psoriatic patients with non-extensive disease. Therefore bath-photo therapy represents a valid alternative to traditional topical treatments and can be used as a adjuvant in the interval periods of the aggressive modern therapy. PMID- 2609853 TI - Plasmapheresis. An additional treatment of psoriatic arthritis. PMID- 2609854 TI - The role of the T cell in psoriasis and the action of cyclosporin in this disease. PMID- 2609855 TI - Cyclosporin for psoriasis. Clinical and immunological studies. PMID- 2609856 TI - Long-term cyclosporin for psoriasis. PMID- 2609857 TI - Intralesional cyclosporin in psoriasis. PMID- 2609858 TI - Cyclosporin A and psoriasis: a thermographic study. AB - The thermographic method permits the making of a rigorous evaluation of the cutaneous blood flow by means of thermal recovery times after thermostimulation at 5 degrees C for 20 sec. The aim of the present study was to examine the blood flow of the psoriatic skin of 7 patients before and after a course of cyclosporin therapy, by means of this method. The results show a constant, initial hyperthermia with precocious thermal recovery times, in comparison with the healthy perilesional skin. Following therapy, a prolongation of the thermal recovery time was observed in all of the patients, together with a significant improvement of the dermatosis. PMID- 2609859 TI - Immunoregulation in epidermis. II. Immunostimulatory and immunoinhibitory products of keratinocytes. PMID- 2609860 TI - Effects of cyclosporin A on psoriatic monocyte functions and secretion. PMID- 2609861 TI - Three long-term regimens with cyclosporin for psoriasis vulgaris. PMID- 2609862 TI - Prevalence of psoriasis in Croatia. AB - The prevalence of psoriasis in Croatia was studied by the representative samples method. The total number of investigated persons was 8416. The authors detected 131 psoriatics (prevalence -1.55%). PMID- 2609863 TI - Epidemiology of psoriasis: case-control study in the province of Trentino (preliminary reports). AB - In the province of Trento a case-control study on the main environmental risk factors for psoriasis has been performed. No correlation has been demonstrated between the investigated factors and psoriasis, with the exception of familial predisposition. PMID- 2609864 TI - Dietary behaviour in psoriatic patients. AB - Two hundred and nineteen psoriatic in-patients and 747 non-psoriatic subjects were asked to report in a semiquantitative, self-administered questionnaire on the frequency of consumption of different foodstuffs and cooking and seasoning fats and the daily intake of alcohol (glasses/day) and coffee (cups/day). According to this a definite score was assigned to each of the 46 food items, which were divided into five groups: carbohydrates (CH), low-fat foods (LFF), high-fat foods (HFF), saturated fats (SF) and polyunsaturated fats (PUF) and the alcohol consumption in grams/day was calculated. The mean scores for each food group and the means of alcohol (grams/day) and coffee (cups/day) intake were compared in the two groups, after age-adjustment through ANOCOVA. Psoriatic patients showed higher scores for HFF and SF in males and for CH, HFF, SF and PUF in females and a higher intake of alcohol in both sexes. These dietary habits could explain the higher prevalence of metabolic abnormalities in psoriatic patients. PMID- 2609865 TI - The three-dimensional histological architecture of pustulosis palmo-plantaris. AB - Using computer reconstruction techniques, it is possible to study and understand the three-dimensional architecture of the histo-pathological changes in pustulosis palmo-plantaris (PPP). In PPP vesicles and pustules develop. As the vesicles move upwards, they may gain contact with a granulocytic lake above them. Through the roof of the vesicle, granulocytes then break into the vesicle thereby changing it into a pustule. The blood vessels in PPP exhibit a bulbous vascular network at the epidermal end of the dermal papillae. At lower levels, the capillaries may form loops and arches. It is suggested that this special architecture of the vascular system produces a marked retardation of the blood flow in the tips of the dermal papillae, allowing a longer contact of the blood with the capillary wall. The granulocytes can therefore easily immigrate. PMID- 2609866 TI - Changes in the water holding capacity of psoriatic stratum corneum in vivo. AB - This study investigated the functional capacity of the stratum corneum of psoriatic skin to bind water in vivo during a relatively long period of time (water holding capacity--WHC). An electrical capacitance test was applied to the psoriatic skin on the elbows, perilesional skin and apparently normal skin of 11 patients and the elbows of 10 controls. Measurements of electrical capacitance were performed using a Corneometer Schwarzhaupt for 25 min. The WHC levels were calculated for this period. Our results demonstrate that the WHC of psoriatic stratum corneum does not differ from controls in the first 10 min. Only after the 20th min do the WHCs differ significantly (p less than 0.02). Despite the biochemical keratin changes in psoriatic plaque, the latter is highly hygroscopic, in particular in the first minute after bathing. Perilesional skin binds water like the stratum corneum of controls, though not beyond the 20th minute after bathing. PMID- 2609867 TI - Humoral and cellular dysfunction in the peripheral blood in psoriasis. A psoriatic immunodeficiency syndrome (PIDS). PMID- 2609868 TI - Enhanced prevalence of red blood cell macrocytosis in psoriatic patients. A sign of ethanol abuse? AB - An enhanced prevalence of red blood cell macrocytosis without anaemia was found in 326 psoriatic patients as compared with 310 control subjects. The percentage of ethanol abusers was higher among the psoriatic patients. No difference in the prevalence of ethanol abuse was found when comparing psoriatic patients with controls who also had macrocytosis. PMID- 2609869 TI - Modifications of immunocompetent cells precede altered expression of epidermal differentiation antigens in psoriatic epidermis. PMID- 2609870 TI - "Ditrawash"--a novel remover of dithranol (anthralin) for short contact therapy of psoriasis. AB - A new washable ointment enables rapid and complete removal of surplus dithranol in the short contact therapy of psoriasis. It emulsifies the vehicles and dissolves dithranol into the washwater as fluorescent borate complexes. PMID- 2609871 TI - In vitro effects of Ro 10-9359 on lectin-induced activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes. PMID- 2609872 TI - Evaluation of the serum T cell population variations induced by PUVA therapy. AB - In the present study we evaluated the effects of UVA irradiation on the serum T cell subpopulations (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, NK, T lymphocytes/mm3) by means of a Fluorescence Activate Cell Sorter (F.A.C.S. 420, Becton Dikinson). Twenty-eight psoriatic patients, never previously treated with PUVA, received UVA radiations (cabin Waldman 8001 K). Blood samples were taken before therapy and after 60 J/cm2 and 120 J/cm2 irradiations. Results were compared with those of our healthy control group of volunteers. A decrease of CD4 positive cells was observed in the psoriatic group before therapy. PUVA did not induce any statistically significant modification of the populations studied, except for a progressively increasing trend of CD4 positive cells. These data seem to stress that a medium-term PUVA therapy does not significantly modify the serum level of the T cell populations. PMID- 2609873 TI - Bf and C4 phenotypes in patients with psoriasis. AB - Phenotype frequencies for the complement proteins Bf (factor B), C4A and C4B were performed in a sample of 49 Caucasian patients with psoriasis followed in Memphis, Tennessee. The genes for these proteins are located in the major histocompatibility complex between the HLA-B and HLA-DR loci. Bf phenotype frequency did not differ significantly for the patients as compared to regional controls. The C4*A6 allele was present in 26.6% of the patients as compared to 5.4% of the controls, p less than 0.001, relative risk = 4.93. The C4*A6 allele is known to be in linkage disequilibrium with the HLA B17 allele and produces a functionally defective gene product. The role, if any, of C4*A6 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis is uncertain. PMID- 2609874 TI - The clinical significance of dislipidemia in psoriasis patients. PMID- 2609875 TI - State and role of calcium homeostasis in pathogenesis of psoriasis. PMID- 2609876 TI - Disturbances of DNA repair in psoriatic patients. PMID- 2609877 TI - Further characterization of the "incipient lesion of chronic stationary type psoriasis vulgaris in exacerbation". The CD4-positive lymphocytes are the prominent cell population infiltrating the dermis. AB - In previous studies, others and we have demonstrated by immunohistological methods in light microscopy that the prominent cell population infiltrating the psoriatic lesional dermis is represented by CD4-positive cells, thus suggesting an implication of T4 lymphocytes in the development of psoriatic lesion. However, recent findings have indicated that not only T4 lymphocytes, but also macrophage like cells, are CD4-positive. In the present study, therefore, a highly specific and sensitive 'in situ' gold-immunoelectronmicroscopy procedure developed by us was performed to identify ultrastructurally with precision the nature of the CD4 positive cells infiltrating the dermis of the incipient psoriatic lesion. Although a consistent proportion (28%) of slightly CD4-positive macrophage-like cells was detected, the strongly CD4-positive lymphocytes were the prominent cell subset (51%). The important role presumably played by such CD4-positive lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of the psoriatic lesion is discussed. Our gold immunoelectronmicroscopy technique improved the study of psoriatic cell subpopulations in situ, since (a) in comparison with immunocytochemistry in light microscopy, it allowed us not only to recognize the ultrastructure of the labelled cells, but also to detect even small amounts of antigen on the cell surface; and (b) in comparison with the commonly used peroxidase immunoelectronmicroscopy techniques, it allowed us to quantitatively assess the expression of antigens (e.g. CD4) on different cell subpopulations (e.g. the low CD4 expression by macrophage-like cells versus the high CD4 expression by T4 lymphocytes). PMID- 2609878 TI - Antinuclear antibodies in psoriatic arthritis and its subgroups. AB - We tested serum samples from 48 patients with Psoriatic Arthritis (PA) for Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) using a highly sensitive substrate (Hep-2 cells). We obtained the following results: 1) in PA patients ANA positivity (16.6%) was significantly higher than in age-and sex-matched groups of healthy controls (4.1%; p less than 0.05) and uncomplicated psoriasis (2%; p less than 0.025). 2) ANA were more common in Symmetrical Polyarthritis (37.5%) and Arthritis Mutilans (25%) than in Asymmetrical Oligoarthritis and Spondarthritis (11.8%) and 'Classical' PA (0%). 3) We did not find any positivity for anti-DNA and anti-ENA antibodies among PA patients. PMID- 2609879 TI - Membrane fluidity changes in polymorphonuclear leukocytes and erythrocytes in psoriasis. AB - We studied membrane fluidity in living polymorphonuclear leukocytes and in erythrocytes of 8 psoriatic patients, using fluorescence polarization of 1-(4 trimethylaminophenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. In erythrocyte membranes of psoriatic patients we observed a decrease of fluidity, these changes were not associated to relevant modifications of the cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratio. Moreover, we observed a decrease in polymorphonuclear leukocytes membrane fluidity. Our results indicate changes in membrane fluidity involving membranes different from the epidermal cells and suggest the hypothesis of a defect in membrane-cytoskeleton interactions in psoriasis. PMID- 2609880 TI - Increased erythrocyte membrane arachidonate and platelet malondialdehyde (MDA) production in psoriasis: normalization after fish-oil. AB - Evidence exists of platelet activation and increased thromboxane B2 production in psoriasis. In 13 patients suffering from psoriasis, we determined the lipid composition of erythrocyte membrane, erythrocyte and platelet glutathione peroxidase activity (E-GSH-Px; Plt-GSH-Px), platelet MDA production and bleeding time. Compared with normal controls, psoriatics showed a significant increase in erythrocyte membrane arachidonic acid (AA) (p less than 0.001) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (p less than 0.001), platelet MDA production (p less than 0.01) and E- and Plt-GSH-Px activity (p less than 0.01; p less than 0.01). After 8 weeks of fish-oil supplementation (20 ml/day) we observed the following changes: a) marked amelioration of skin lesions; b) normalization of membrane lipid pattern and platelet MDA production; c) a further increase in E- and Plt-GSH-Px activity (p less than 0.01; p less than 0.01); d) significant prolongation of bleeding time (p less than 0.05). Our data demonstrate: 1) a generalized perturbation of membrane lipid pattern in psoriasis, characterized by an excess of AA; 2) an activation of AA metabolism in platelets suggested by increased MDA production and GSH-Px activity; 3) dietary fish-oil may normalize membrane lipid pattern and reduce platelet hyperactivity in psoriasis. PMID- 2609881 TI - Red blood cell membrane cation transport in normotensive psoriatics. AB - Psoriasis might be a widespread membrane disorder. To verify whether under the influence of psoriasis the red cell membrane cation metabolism is altered, we compared 46 psoriatics with 23 normotensive controls. A significant increase was observed in intracellular K+ content, in the maximal velocity of the Na(+)-K+ ATPase, of the Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- outward co-transport, of the Na+/H+ exchange, as well as in the outward passive permeability for Na+. No difference was seen between the two groups in Na+ content, Li+/Na+ exchange or in the passive permeability to K+. In 8 psoriatics treated with etretinate (10-75 mg/day for 1 36 months), Na(+)-K+ ATPase, Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- co-transport and the passive permeability for Na+ were not significantly different from controls. These results suggest that the primary abnormality might be an increased Na+ influx, in part through the Na+/H+ exchange, which is compensated by increased activity of outward transports, and confirm that the red cells are a useful model for the study of membrane transport in this disease. Our results indicate also that these membrane transport abnormalities can be corrected by etretinate treatment. PMID- 2609882 TI - Altered phosphorylation of erythrocyte membrane proteins in psoriasis. AB - Erythrocyte membrane protein phosphorylation is significantly higher in the psoriatic patients than in the controls. PMID- 2609883 TI - Reactive oxygen species production in circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes in psoriasis. AB - Metabolic burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was evaluated by means of a luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence assay. Patients affected with active psoriasis showed a higher response than patients with chronic disease and controls when the neutrophils were stimulated with opsonized zymosan or phorbol myristate acetate. PMID- 2609884 TI - Psoriatic microangiopathy modifications induced by PUVA and etretinate therapy. A nail-fold capillary microscopic study. AB - Histological and capillaroscopy alterations of capillary circulation in psoriasis are well known: the most common of them are the increase of "minor dystrophies", the higher haematic flux in the psoriatic plaques and the abnormal visibility of the venous subpapillary plexus (in arthropathic less than 65-year-old patients). The predisposition of psoriatic patients to a vascular damage has often been stressed in literature. In the present study, we have evaluated the effects of systemic etretinate or PUVA therapy on capillary functions. We examined the nail folds of 30 patients (ranging 15-64 years) affected by diffuse psoriasis for less than three years. This study has been performed by using a Leitz capillary microscopy. We evaluated the percentage of capillary minor dystrophies (type I IV) and the flow rate before and after 1 month of treatment. These parameters were assessed by means of a 1-4 rating scale. Our results underline that a significant percentage of 1st type dystrophies is a prognostic rather than a diagnostic parameter in the capillaroscopic evaluation of psoriasis. PMID- 2609885 TI - Evaluation of psoriatic plaques that spontaneously developed in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). PMID- 2609886 TI - HLA antigens and infantile psoriasis. AB - The frequency distribution of HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR antigens in a group of 52 unrelated psoriatic patients, aged from 0 to 12 years, selected according the following four clinical subsets: guttate, inverted, follicular and minimal, was evaluated. A statistical analysis on 85 infantile psoriatic patients, randomly selected, and divided into two groups according to the age of onset of the disease, was also performed. The results show an increase of HLA-B27 antigen in the minimal psoriasis, A2 in the guttate form and of B41 allele in the inverted psoriasis. A significantly prevalence of CW6 antigen either in follicular subset or in total psoriatic patients or in both groups of age was observed, showing a strict association with the disease. An increase of HLA-B17, CW6 and DR6 in the total psoriatic patients was also noticed. The authors underline the prognostic value of this analysis. PMID- 2609887 TI - Psoriasis in atopic children. PMID- 2609888 TI - Contact allergy in psoriatic patients with palmar and plantar lesions. PMID- 2609889 TI - Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Dermatological and rheumatological co operative clinical report. AB - Six hundred and forty-seven patients with psoriasis were studied in order to define prevalence and clinical features of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. After medical history review all patients were observed by a dermatologist and a rheumatologist. Successive laboratory tests and radiological and scintiscan examinations of joints were also performed. Diagnosis of arthritis was made according to Wright and Moll. In our district, the prevalence of psoriasis in respect to other dermatological diseases was 1.86%. Vulgaris pattern occurred in 85% of the total cases while eruptive was found in 10.5%. Erythrodermic and pustular forms were uncommon, occurring in 2.47% and in 1.23%, respectively. In 84.8% of the total cases, psoriasis onset was clinically evident while in 10.8% it affected non-evident cutaneous sites. Onycopathic onset occurred in 4.3%. Altogether 138 psoriatic patients exhibited arthritis and spondylitic and polyarticular patterns were very common (occurring in 42.7% and 33.3%, respectively). Psoriasis antedated arthritis in 68.4% of the cases but followed it in 21%. Synchronous onset occurred in 10.8%. The data obtained strengthen those of our previous reports. In particular, the marked articular involvement of psoriatic patients is confirmed. Moreover, our results, when compared with data of other authors, show a different distribution among the arthritic subtypes. PMID- 2609890 TI - Microbial associations of 167 patients with psoriasis. AB - Microbial findings were analyzed from a group of 167 patients with psoriasis in an attempt to discover specific associations. Positive findings include associations between Malassezia ovalis and scalp/ear/face psoriasis and between bacteria and bodyfold, nailfold, and gluteal/rectal psoriasis. PMID- 2609891 TI - Pustulosis palmoplantaris. How initial ultrastructural alterations change into vesicles and pustules. AB - The diagnosis pustulosis palmoplantaris describes a clinical aspect. Apart from the pustules, a different number of dyshidrotic vesicles characterize the clinical morphology. This study was carried out to elucidate a facultative relationship between vesicles and pustules. The first ultrastructural changes are small intercellular gaps in the basal layers of the epidermis containing one Langerhans' cell. Larger intraepidermal vesicles are filled with stimulated lymphocytes and interdigitating Langerhans' cells. Below the vesicle a dense infiltrate consisting predominantly of CD 8-positive cells was observed. Mature pustules are situated just beneath the stratum corneum and filled with a lot of granulocytes and only few lymphocytes. The subepidermal infiltrate is almost missing. Between vesicles and neighbouring pustules we could prove a direct connection below the stratum corneum, a direct subcorneal granulocyte pathway. The result is a vesicle with lymphocytes at the bottom and granulocytes at the top of its cavity--a transformed vesicle. The described intercellular cavities are considered as common evolutionary stages in the development of pustules and vesicles. PMID- 2609892 TI - Usefulness of surface topography analysis in psoriatic skin. AB - The study of skin reliefs attracted the attention of dermatologists because it may reflect development, assembly and functional activity of the stratum corneum- and therefore of the entire epidermis. Psoriasis is characterized by a deep alteration of surface texture: and this can be related to the severity of the disease. In this work we studied, by means of skin profilometry, the roughness parameters that better describe the distinctive features of psoriatic skin topography and the modification of psoriatic surface after topical therapy. For this purpose we analyzed psoriatic skin reliefs using silicone rubber replicas both before therapy and after coal-tar topical application. A statistically significant difference between uninvolved and psoriatic skin for Ra- but not for Rz- values was observed in replicas made before therapy. After therapy, replicas showed no significant difference either for Ra or for Rz values. The profilometric analysis of psoriatic skin can be considered a useful method to characterize psoriatic plaque and the improvement obtained by topical therapy. PMID- 2609893 TI - Psychoneurophysiological implications in the pathogenesis and treatment of psoriasis. PMID- 2609894 TI - Separation-individuation, aggression and alexithymia in psoriasis. AB - A psychosomatic study of psoriasis was conducted in order to: 1) assess the level of extra- and intra-aggression (cf. the conflicting results in Matussek et al. (1) and Lyketsos et al. (2)); 2) point out the presence of alexithymia, i.e. impoverished fantasy life and inability to describe the emotions (cf. some negative results in Fava et al. (3)); and 3) explore the interactional variables, connected with the pathology of the separation-individuation process. PMID- 2609895 TI - Two subpopulations of patients with early and late onset of psoriasis differ regarding alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor activity. AB - Two subpopulations of patients with psoriasis were identified when activity of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor was analysed according to the patient's age at onset of the disease. Patients with early onset had more active lesions, high incidence of familial psoriasis, and reduced alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor during flare similar to that activity in remission. In contrast, alpha 1-proteinase activity increased significantly during flare in patients with late onset (above 21 yrs of age) in response to the inflammatory process in the psoriatic skin. PMID- 2609896 TI - Psoriasis and alexithymia. AB - Alexithymia is a perceptive, affective, specific disturbance of the psychic functions characterized by the difficulty to verbalize emotions and sensations and by a pragmatic thought content. The presence of alexithymia has been evidenced many times as an essential element in the genesis and in the maintenance of the various psychosomatic pathologies. This has stimulated us to research the alexithymical component in subjects affected by psoriasis in order to take advantage, when it is found, of a more appropriate therapeutic response. PMID- 2609897 TI - The prevalence of psoriasis among residents of a residential community for the developmentally handicapped. PMID- 2609898 TI - Clinical response and side-effects in the treatment of psoriasis with UV-B and -A novel dithranol formulation. AB - A new dithranol formulation (Dithranol-Biogram), in which the dithranol is microencapsulated by crystalline monoglycerides, has been developed. This stable formulation has pharmaceutical and cosmetic properties which overcome several draw-backs associated with conventional dithranol preparations. The clinical efficacy and side-effects of Dithranol-Biogram were compared to a conventional ex tempore formulation in the treatment of 33 patients at a day-care centre. The study was designed as a randomized, single-blind, within-patient comparison. Patients were treated 4 times weekly for up to 6 weeks. Each session started with suberythematous UV-B doses followed by application of 1% dithranol for 20 min. There was no difference in clinical efficacy between treatments. Within 2-6 weeks the lesions in 21 of the 33 patients were classified as healed. The average reduction in severity score was 39%, 62% and 79% after 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively. The incidence of perilesional irritation was, however, several times higher for the ex-tempore treated sides. At the end of the study 21 patients preferred the Dithranol-Biogram formulation, 6 the ex-tempore formulation and 6 had no preference. The results of this study suggest that this novel formulation may become an important contribution to the management of psoriasis. PMID- 2609899 TI - Effect of gonadectomy on growth hormone, IGF-I and sex steroids in children with complete and incomplete androgen insensitivity. AB - IGF-I, testosterone and estradiol levels were evaluated in 8 girls with androgen insensitivity immediately before and from 1 to 3 months after bilateral gonadectomy. In 6 patients GH secretion was evaluated before and after gonadectomy by means of an arginine test and in 3 a sleep test was also performed. Mean IGF-I level before surgery was significantly higher than that of normal controls (2850 +/- 1230 vs 1680 +/- 1040 U/l, p less than 0.025). After gonadectomy a significant decrease was evident for testosterone, estradiol and IGF-I levels. A positive correlation between IGF-I and estradiol levels was present before surgery (p less than 0.005). The presence of a correlation with estradiol, but not with testosterone, and the knowledge that this syndrome is due to an insensitivity to androgens, but not to estradiol, support the hypothesis that the estradiol level is the major determinant for the control of IGF-I values in these patients. After gonadectomy, a substantial decrease of the 12-h nocturnal GH secretion was evident. Comparison of the nocturnal GH levels before surgery of the 3 patients with those of normal subjects of the same age showed hormonal values higher than 1 SD over the mean values of control subjects. Even if the number of patients studied is too small to draw any definitive conclusion, these data may suggest that sex hormones play a role in the control of IGF-I levels, a function which seems to be mediated through GH secretion. PMID- 2609900 TI - A case of normotensive primary aldosteronism with hypopituitarism, epilepsy, and medullary sponge kidney. AB - A 55-year-old man with normotensive primary aldosteronism, hypopituitarism, epilepsy, and medullary sponge kidney is reported. Seventeen years before admission, he had been noted to have hypokalemia associated with high potassium clearance, suppressed plasma renin activity, metabolic alkalosis, and normal blood pressure as well as low urinary excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids. He kept normotensive in spite of hyperaldosteronism until nine months after the initiation of replacement therapy with glucocorticoid and thyroxine for hypopituitarism, when he became hypertensive. Hypopituitarism seemed to play a role in keeping a normal blood pressure despite long-standing hyperaldosteronism. PMID- 2609901 TI - Decreased anterior pituitary T3 nuclear receptors in a Walker 256 carcinoma bearing rat model of nonthyroidal disease. AB - Rats bearing the Walker 256 carcinoma have decreased pituitary nuclear T3 but normal pituitary TSH content and response to experimental hypothyroidism. To elucidate further the role of T3 receptor occupancy and biological response in the tumor-bearing rat model of nonthyroidal disease, we measured the concentration of T3 nuclear receptors, rTSH and rGH and beta-TSH mRNA and GH mRNA in the anterior pituitary of euthyroid rats bearing the Walker 256 carcinoma. The abundance of T3 nuclear receptors was decreased in tumor-bearing rats and was associated with a decrease in mRNA content for beta-TSH and GH. alpha-tubulin mRNA was decreased to a comparable degree. The pituitary content of rTSH and rGH was, however, the same as in control animals. Since tumor rats have normal regulation of TSH secretion by thyroid hormone, the present findings suggest that TSH secretion in T rats is maintained by a lower T3 nuclear receptor occupancy than in controls. The decrease in beta-TSH mRNA may precede a decrease in TSH synthesis and changes in pituitary TSH stores. Since the decrease in GH mRNA was comparable to the decrease in alpha-tubulin mRNA, it does not appear to be specifically related to decreased T3 nuclear receptor occupancy. We conclude that, in the tumor-bearing rat model of nonthyroidal disease, decreases in beta TSH mRNA occur despite a decreased T3 receptor occupancy. Both thyroid-dependent and thyroid-independent factors may be involved in regulating beta-TSH mRNA. PMID- 2609902 TI - Neutrophil chemotaxis, random migration, and adherence in patients with hyperthyroidism. AB - We have examined neutrophil adherence, chemotactic activity, and random migration in 35 hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease and 106 normal volunteers. No statistically significant differences were found between granulocyte adherence of 17 hyperthyroid subjects (67 +/- 15.6%) and 81 healthy volunteers (63.1 +/- 17%). In 3 thyrotoxic patients, impaired neutrophil adherence was found, which resolved when thyroid function returned to normal. The neutrophil chemotactic activity of 32 normal controls was 107.5 +/- 21.4 cells, and the random migration 36 +/- 15.5 cells. No statistically significant difference was demonstrated in 13 hyperthyroid patients who had a neutrophil chemotactic activity of 102 +/- 14.6 cells and a random migration of 31.2 +/- 13.2 cells. Defective chemotactic activity and random migration was found in 2 patients. Neutrophil functions returned to normal in one of the two subjects who were re-evaluated when thyroid function recovered. In summary, 14% of hyperthyroid patients had impaired leukocyte functions. However, severe pyogenic infections are quite rare in hyperthyroid patients, indicating that the observed alterations in function of phagocytic cells are not clinically important. PMID- 2609903 TI - Changes of blood flow in the adenohypophysis of normal and estrogen pretreated Fisher rats by tamoxifen. AB - Blood flow was measured in the adenohypophysis and in the cerebral cortex of female F344 rats over a period of 90 min using the hydrogen clearance method. Tamoxifen, 1 mg/kg, administered iv reduced the blood flow in the adenohypophysis by 35%, whereas cerebral blood flow and arterial pressure remained unchanged. Seven days sc treatment with tamoxifen (1 mg/kg daily) had no demonstrable effect on blood flow. Anterior pituitary hyperplasia was induced in 15 rats with diethylstilbestrol containing implants. These rats responded to 7 days of sc tamoxifen treatment by 30% increase in adenohypophyseal blood flow. These results suggest that tamoxifen has a different effect on adenohypophysial circulation of the rat depending on whether it is administered in a low- or high-estrogen state. PMID- 2609904 TI - Long-term effects of radiotherapy for acromegaly on circulating prolactin. AB - In 61 acromegalic patients, serum PRL was assessed (off medical treatment) before and 2 to 12 (mean 6.4) years after external beam radiotherapy. Before radiotherapy elevated PRL levels were present in 22 of 35 males (63%) and 12 of 26 females (46%) and were above 1000 mU/l in 11 males and 5 females. When studied for up to 5 years after radiotherapy, 22 of 23 (96%) patients who had not had surgery and who had normal PRL pre-radiotherapy showed an increased PRL level and this was also seen in 17 of 27 (63%) who had been hyperprolactinaemic initially. In contrast, 10 of 27 patients (37%) who had elevated pre-radiotherapy levels (all greater than 1000 mU/l) had a reduction in PRL values after radiotherapy. In all 11 patients who underwent surgery before radiotherapy, an increase in PRL was seen after radiotherapy. In the 21 patients followed for 10-12 years, the peak PRL value occurred 1-6 years after radiotherapy. After this, a progressive reduction of PRL to normal was seen. Normal levels were reached 4 to 10 years after radiotherapy. No correlation was found between pretreatment PRL values and final GH values in the whole group, nor between changes in PRL and the development of impaired ACTH or TSH secretion. Thus, different patterns of PRL behaviour suggest that radiotherapy treatment may either produce hyperprolactinemia from mild hypothalamic damage or ablate PRL secreting cells if they were present in the tumour before treatment. These changes do not predict final GH results or the development of hypopituitarism after radiotherapy. PMID- 2609905 TI - Congenital anomalies in twins in Northern Ireland. II: Neural tube defects, 1974 1979. AB - In a large population-based study in Northern Ireland during the period 1974 1979, the rate of anencephalus in twins (9.1/10,000) was found to be less than that in singletons (24.3/10,000). This finding is in contrast with most other studies and the possibility of underascertainment of twin cases is considered, but it is concluded that chance is the likeliest explanation. The rate of spina bifida in twins (36.4/10,000) was similar to that in singletons (31.9/10,000). All of the twins with anencephalus were female and from pairs of like sex. Rates of spina bifida in twins from pairs of the two sex types were similar but, unusually, there was a male preponderance. As in previous studies, the great majority of twins with NTDs had unaffected cotwins. PMID- 2609906 TI - Congenital anomalies in twins in Northern Ireland. III: Anomalies of the cardiovascular system, 1974-1978. AB - Rates of congenital anomalies of the cardiovascular system were compared between twins and singletons in a population-based study in Northern Ireland during the period 1974-1978. Multiple sources of ascertainment were used. As in previous studies, the rate of anomalies of the cardiovascular system in twins (91.0/10,000) was higher than the rate in singletons (66.4/10,000). The excess was confined to twins from pairs of like sex and, in the main, anomalies of the circulatory system other than of the heart itself were involved. Problems in the interpretation of this excess are discussed. No twins were concordant for congenital cardiovascular anomalies of any type. PMID- 2609907 TI - Intrapair facial differences in twins. AB - Annual serial records in the form of facial contour maps were examined for 18 like-sexed twin pairs of near equal zygosity distribution. Zygosity diagnosis was based primarily on hematological reports for 26 of the 36 children and the remainder were diagnosed on a basis of the concordance or discordance of various physical characteristics: standing height, finger print ridge count, tooth size, and hair and eye colour. Thirteen facial parameters were measured on 274 maps. After age correcting and three-point smoothing, more than 1,150 intrapair differences of individual facial parameters were measured. In general, the dizygotic twin pairs had the larger mean intrapair differences in facial parameters and the monozygotic twin pairs had the smaller intrapair mean differences. The more important facial parameters for distinguishing the two groups were identified and used to calculate a "facial similarity index". PMID- 2609908 TI - Maternal alcohol and pentazocine abuse: neonatal behavior and morphology in an opposite-sex twin pair. AB - A pair of preterm, opposite-sex twins were examined during the lying-in period for behavioral and morphological effects of maternal alcohol and pentazocine abuse during pregnancy. A few morphological features typical of fetal alcohol syndrome were observed in each infant, and the male infant only was above the standardized mean in minor physical anomalies. The male's behavioral scores were more likely to be deviant from the standardized mean than the female's. Specifically, the male was more irritable, both spontaneously and in response to specific stimuli; highly active while awake and handled for the presentation of stimuli; more active than average during sleep; and low on ratings that reflect the attitude of the examiner toward the infant. These findings imply individual and gender differences in behavioral susceptibility to teratogens. PMID- 2609909 TI - Decline of the twinning rate in Brazil. AB - The twinning rate during a twenty-year period (1965-1985) was investigated at five-year intervals in four Brazilian hospitals. During this period the twinning rate has decreased significantly (from 10.68% to 8.11%), being highly negatively correlated with the five-year intervals (r = -0.97). This change was due mainly to the decline in dizygotic twinning, since the incidence of DZ twins has fallen from around 7% in 1965 to around 3.6% in 1985. The detected decline in DZ twinning seems to be due to the remotion of the fertility advantage of the more fecundable DZ twin-prone women by the introduction of effective birth control at the present, while some other mechanisms are causing the decline irrespective of the type of twinning. PMID- 2609910 TI - Stillbirth rate and weight at birth of quintuplets in Japan. AB - Nation-wide data in Japan on births and prenatal deaths of 16 sets of quintuplets during 1974-1985 were analysed. Among the 16 sets, 3 sets were liveborn, 8 were stillborn, and 5 were mixed, with a stillbirth rate of 0.64 (51/80). Effects of sex, maternal age and birth order on the stillbirth rate were not considered because of the small sample size. Effects of gestational age and birthweight on stillbirth rate were also examined. The mean weight of the 40 quintuplet individuals was 1,048 g. PMID- 2609912 TI - Sixth International Congress on Twin Studies. Rome, 28-31 August 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2609911 TI - Fertility in twins. AB - From the 474 twins born in 1950 in 100 Flemish cities and towns in Belgium, 85% reached the age of 20 yr, against 37% in Austria a hundred years ago. More female than male twins are married (P = 0.03), in particular nonidentical female twins (P = 0.02). Fertility seems to be lower in male, especially male-male twins (P less than 0.03), and most strikingly so in identical male twins (P = 0.05). There seems to be no influence of premature birth or low birthweight. PMID- 2609913 TI - Efficacy of intracavitary administration of cyclophosphamide, interleukin-2 and lymphokine activated killer cells against established intraperitoneal tumor. AB - In an established intraperitoneal tumor modell combination of chemo- and immunotherapy was tested in mice and shown to be superior to either treatment modell alone. This combination treatment is shown to prolong survival significantly in animals massively inoculated with tumor cells. PMID- 2609914 TI - Intracavitary therapy with radioactive yttrium: results of animal experiments. AB - The distribution of radioactive yttrium was studied in guinea-pigs. The injection of 1,5 mci of radioactive yttrium leads to a mean surface dose of 20 Gy which can be obtained within 5 days. An extrapolation of these findings to the peritoneal surface of human beings should lead to a corresponding dose of 64 mci. PMID- 2609915 TI - Intraperitoneal chemotherapy as treatment for ovarian carcinoma and gastrointestinal malignancies: the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center experience). AB - Several different chemotherapy trials via either combined systemic and intraperitoneal or only via the intraperitoneal route were investigated. The administration of systemically and intraperitoneally infused 5-fluorouracil (5 FU) in patients with ovarial carcinoma did not shown in any patient a complete or partial remission, but showed severe side effects. In a patient with a metastasizing adeno carcinoma of the appendix this chemotherapy protocol led to a complete remission. Investigations with intraperitoneally infused cisplatin showed that 50% of all patients came into remission with tumor nodules less than 0.5 cm, but showed only 20% objective remissions in patients with tumor nodules greater than 0.5 cm. The intraperitoneal administration of mitoxantrone showed in several patients with cisplatin refractory ovarial carcinoma tumor remission with, however, severe local toxicity. PMID- 2609916 TI - Intracavitary 5-fluoro-uracil (5-FU) in combination with systemic chemotherapy. AB - In 23 patients with peritoneal, pleural oder pericardial metastases the efficacy of intracavitary tumor therapy was investigated. 5-FU was administered intracavitary in all patients combined with systemic chemotherapy. 8 partial responses (34%) were achieved. PMID- 2609917 TI - Combined treatment with surgery and intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion (IPHP) for far-advanced gastrointestinal cancer with peritoneal seeding. AB - In 19 patients with advanced gastric carcinoma intraperitoneal hyperthermia combined with mitomycin C was administered. After this therapy in repeated cytological examinations of the peritoneal effusion malignant cells could be determined. From 19 patients 5 died innert the first 10 months. The other patients lived 12 months without recurrence. PMID- 2609918 TI - Intraperitoneal infusion of recombinant interleukin-2 in malignant ascites in patients with gastrointestinal and ovarian cancer. AB - In a phase-I-study recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in a dose from 0.01 to 0.3 mg/m2/day for 7 to 14 days was infused intraperitoneally. Side effects were fever and fluid retention. 2 patients showed a bacterial peritonitis after paracentesis. The investigations showed that the intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of interleukin-2 activates the whole lymphokine cascade. PMID- 2609919 TI - Clinical and pharmacokinetic study of intraperitoneal cisplatin at two dose levels: 100 mg/m2 alone or 200 mg/m2 with i.v. sodium thiosulfate. AB - In 22 patients cisplatin was infused intraperitoneally in 70 cycles using a dose of 100 and 200 mg/m2. The ratio between peritoneal and plasma AUC was between 10 and 20. No patient showed an objective remission. PMID- 2609920 TI - Treatment with locally applied mitoxantrone. AB - In 30 patients mitoxantrone was administered via an intracavitary route intraperitoneally, intrapleurally or intrapericardially. From 13 patients with malignant pleural effusion 5 showed a complete and 3 a partial remission. 2 of 2 patients with pericardial effusion showed a complete remission. From 16 patients with peritoneal carcinosis 4 showed a complete and 3 a partial remission. PMID- 2609921 TI - Fine structure of the excretory system of the deep posterior (Ebner's) salivary glands of the human tongue. AB - Human deep posterior lingual glands (von Ebner's glands) are located beneath the circumvallate papillae. They are formed by tubuloalveolar adenomeres, intercalated ducts and excretory ducts coming together in the main excretory duct. The tubuloalveolar cells, pyramid-shaped, show large and dense secretory granules (clear cored) throughout the cytoplasm, rare basal folds and packed cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) at the basal pole. The columnar cells of the intercalated ducts are arranged in a monolayer. They are characterized by dense, clear-core secretory granules (mostly in the apical cytoplasm), a basal nucleus, well-developed RER and Golgi apparatus, and thin filaments distributed in supra- and perinuclear cytoplasm. Striated ducts are absent. Excretory ducts, coming together in the main duct, are lined by a bistratified epithelium. The inner layer consists of columnar cells showing bundles of tonofilaments with scarce secretory activity. The outer layer is composed of basal cells lying on the basal lamina. The main excretory duct, which opens at the bottom of the vallum, shows a stratified epithelium. The outer side is composed of 2-3 layers of malpighian cells lying on the basal lamina. The inner side consists of a single layer of cuboidal-columnar cells with dense apical granules and well-developed organelles synthesizing and condensing secretions. These cells interpolate with goblet cells, rare mitochondria-rich cells, ciliated cells and numerous small globous cells showing a clear matrix and lacking secretory granules. The cilia show a 9 + 2 microtubular structure with basal bodies provided with striated rootlets. Myoepithelial cells surround with their processes the basal portions of the secretory cells and the intercalated ducts. The conclusions concern some comparative aspects and some hypothesis on the functional role of goblet cells, ciliated cells and epithelial cells lining the different ducts, also in relation to the final secretory product. PMID- 2609922 TI - Histochemistry of glycoconjugates in ovarian follicles of the adult house musk shrew, Suncus murinus. AB - In ovarian follicles of the adult house musk shrew, Suncus murinus, glycoconjugates have been studied by means of light- and electron-microscopic histochemistry. The results obtained are that: (1) glycoconjugates of the zona pellucida of oocytes are provided with vicinal diol and acidic groupings, and sialic acid-galactose dimer, alpha-D-mannose, alpha-D-glucose, beta-D-galactose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and alpha-L-fucose residues; (2) glycoconjugates of the intercellular matrix of the granulosa and theca folliculi are comparable in histochemical properties to those of the zona pellucida, except for the relatively smaller amount of vicinal diol and acidic groupings, and (3) the zona pellucida can be divided into outer and inner layers by the binding degrees of the lectins used. The possible histophysiological significances of all these glycoconjugates are discussed with special reference to the particular ovarian follicular structures. PMID- 2609923 TI - Pneumatization and mesenchyme in the human middle ear. AB - The normal pneumatization in human middle ears from Wittmaack's temporal bone collection (ENT Clinic, University of Hamburg Medical School) is investigated by means of light microscopy and compared with electron-microscopic findings in the rat. The fetal middle ear in man and rats is completely filled with mesenchyme. The compartmentalization of the middle ear by the associated mucosal folds of the ossicular chain and the middle ear pneumatization are results of the resorption of the mesenchyme present. Ultrastructural findings in the rat's middle ear reinforce light-microscopic studies and provide evidence of the fibrillogenesis which characterizes the transformation of the mesenchyme into the tunica propria of the middle ear mucosa. The microtopography of mesenchymal remnants in middle ears of neonates and in children during the first year of life, and their relevance as to the pathogenesis of the primary acquired keratoma (cholesteatoma) are discussed. PMID- 2609924 TI - Long-term studies on compensatory adrenal growth in the female hamster induced by unilateral adrenalectomy. AB - The study was designed to explain the cellular aspects of compensatory adrenal growth in the female hamster in the course of long-term unilateral adrenalectomy. Animals were autopsied 3, 6, 9, 18 and 36 days after unilateral adrenalectomy. Removal of the left adrenal gland within 36 days did not change both the absolute and relative adrenal gland weight of the female hamster. Also the volume of particular adrenocortical zones and the number of parenchymal cells in the zones and in the entire cortex were unchanged in unilaterally adrenalectomised hamsters. Moreover, in the course of experiments the volumes of the glomerulosa and fasciculata cells were unchanged in relation to the control group. On the contrary, a marked increase in the volume of the zona reticularis cells was observed, with the highest rate of increase within the first 9 days after unilateral adrenalectomy. PMID- 2609925 TI - Collagen fiber arrangement of the human shoulder joint capsule--an anatomical study. AB - The polariscopic examination of isolated shoulder joint capsules shows that the entire capsule does not have a homogeneous collagen structure. Most of the capsule is characterized by regular collagen fibers which cross at an obtuse angle in the area of the musculus supraspinatus and at an acute angle in the area of the m. infraspinatus. The density of the collagen network increases from the medial to the lateral part. Deviating from this basic pattern of the joint capsule, there is a different collagen texture in the area between the m. supraspinatus and the m. subscapularis. This texture has dissociated, rarefied and irregular collagen fibers. This means that the area--in comparison with the remainder of the capsule--is characterized not only by missing reinforcing ligaments but also by a deviating pattern of the collagen fibers. This different collagen structure is already existent in the fetus. PMID- 2609926 TI - Degeneration of adrenergic nerves in the urinary bladder during pregnancy. AB - The adrenergic innervation of the urinary bladder of normal female and pregnant rats has been studied using a fluorescence histochemical method. The bladder is richly innervated by adrenergic nerve fibres as is evidenced by the presence of numerous adrenergic nerves in the adventitia, musculosa and submucosa. However, adrenergic nerve cells could not be observed. During pregnancy, adrenergic nerve fibres showed signs of degeneration, as most of the nerve fibres disappeared and the surviving fibres were much swollen. 10 days after parturition the pattern and density of adrenergic innervation became almost similar to those of the control animals. PMID- 2609927 TI - The inguinal region: anatomic differences in men and women with reference to hernia formation. AB - Fifty inguinal regions were dissected in anatomic human adult specimens, of which 26 were males and 24 females. The comparison of anatomic variations in both sexes showed that the distance between the public tubercle and the internal ring was larger, and the rectus muscle significantly wider in females. The diameter of the internal ring was larger in males, however, with significant variability. No differences were found regarding the presence or absence of the conjoint tendon. The anatomic variations may explain the sex differences in hernia formation. PMID- 2609928 TI - Pineal 'synaptic' ribbons in sympathectomized rats. AB - The melatonin metabolism in the mammalian pineal gland is under the clear influence of sympathetic fibers originating in the superior cervical ganglia (SCG). Previous studies suggested that also pineal 'synaptic' ribbons (SR) are regulated by the gland's sympathetic innervation. To gain more insight into the mechanisms involved, SR numbers were determined in adult rats which were chemically sympathectomized as newborns by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6 OHDA). In control animals (saline injections), a clear day/night difference in the number of SR is present. In sympathectomized animals, SR are higher in number throughout the 24-hour cycle but are not significantly elevated at night. The present results further strengthen the hypothesis that SR are involved in intercellular communication in the mammalian pineal gland. PMID- 2609929 TI - Anomalous course and branches of human coronary arteries. AB - 132 hearts obtained from cadavers were dissected in order to study anomalies in the course and branches of human coronary arteries. Only in 1 heart was a deviation of the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery taking a course inferior to the coronary sulcus observed. The right coronary artery travelled the entire length of the coronary sulcus on the back of the heart and gave both a posterior ventricular and a collateral branch. Circumflex branches of the right and left coronary arteries did not anastomose. PMID- 2609930 TI - The vasa nervorum: microcorrosion casts for scanning electron microscopy. AB - Studies on the vasa nervorum have a long history, not least because of their beneficial application in surgical practice and in understanding the pathogenesis of some neuropathies. In the present study a method is described for the preparation of microcorrosion casts of the vasa nervorum suitable for examination by scanning electron microscopy. The results confirm the findings of earlier investigations but also demonstrate the advantages of an immediate three dimensional representation of the vascular architecture together with the additional magnification and resolving power of electron microscopy. PMID- 2609931 TI - Origin of the ultimobranchial body and its colonizing cells in human embryos. AB - The early development of the ultimobranchial body and its colonizing cells was studied in human embryos (O'Rahilly's stages 14 and 15). In our studies we have obtained evidence that permits us to propose a new hypothesis on the origin of both the ultimobranchial body and its colonizing cells. Based on our interpretation of the morphogenetic features in human development, we think that the ultimobranchial body derives from the fifth endodermal pharyngeal pouch, which is colonized, from O'Rahilly's stage 14 on, by cellular material of ectodermal placodial nature that originates in the most caudal portion of the epicardiac branchial placode. PMID- 2609932 TI - [The arterial supply of the muscle biceps brachii]. AB - The bicipital arteries (Rami bicipitales) were classified according to the part of the muscle they supply, to the artery from which they originate and to their relative position to the median, musculocutaneous and ulnar nerves. The maximal density of bicipital arteries can be found in the middle of the upper arm and slightly distal to the greater tubercle. PMID- 2609933 TI - Occurrence of 15-nm-wide straight tubules in neocortical neurons in progressive supranuclear palsy. AB - Ultrastructural investigations were carried out on the cerebral neocortex in two cases of progressive supranuclear palsy. In both cases, characteristic 15-nm-wide straight tubules were observed in the neurons. The numbers of cells containing the straight tubules and of tubules in individual cells were small. However, the occurrence of the tubules strongly suggests that the cerebral neocortex is also exposed to the disease process in progressive supranuclear palsy. PMID- 2609934 TI - Glomeruloid blood vessels in ethylnitrosourea-induced rat gliomas. Histological and immunohistochemical studies. AB - Glomeruloid blood vessels (GBVs), a characteristic histological feature of most human malignant gliomas, were recognized with high incidence in autochthonous rat gliomas induced by transplacental administration of ethylnitrosourea. To evaluate some of the biological properties of these GBVs, we carried out a study using histological methods and immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein, factor VIII-related antigen (VIII Ag) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd). Of 22 animals with large, massively growing gliomas in the CNS, GBVs including conglomerate aggregations of small blood vessels with endothelial hyperplasia and strong VIII Ag expression were observed in 13 large gliomas histologically consisting of primitive neuroepithelial neoplasms (PNN; so called ependymoma) and mixed-type gliomas in combination with astrocytoma and PNN or anaplastic astrocytoma. The anaplastic gliomas in our series were devoid of GBVs. These findings indicate that GBV formation takes place in a histological variety of experimental gliomas. Furthermore, the GBVs were frequently associated with the vasculo-mesenchymal stroma in the parent gliomas, suggesting an intimate relationship with the morphogenesis of GBVs. In addition, it was shown that the GBVs had a higher BrdUrd-labelling index than that of other blood vessels in gliomas and also that of neoplastic cells in most parent gliomas, except for anaplastic gliomas. Based on these results, the possible mechanism of GBV morphogenesis is discussed with regard to the roles of macromolecules in the induction and regulation of GBVs. PMID- 2609935 TI - An immunohistochemical study of the primitive and maturing elements of human cerebral medulloepitheliomas. AB - Four examples of human cerebral medulloepithelioma were studied immunohistochemically with a panel of antibodies and antisera to neuronal and glial proteins. The tumors, in addition to primitive medullary epithelium, contained areas of neuroblastic, ganglionic, astrocytic, ependymoblastic and ependymal differentiation, and in one tumor, areas resembling polar spongioblastoma. Tumor cells throughout the primitive medullary epithelium displayed focal immunoreactivity for vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein and for the neuron-associated class III beta-tubulin isotype. Neuroblasts showed immunoreactivity for the class III beta-tubulin isotype, microtubule associated protein 2 and neuron-specific enolase. Immunoreactivity for neurofilament epitopes and synaptophysin was detected in areas of ganglionic differentiation and coincided with the demonstration of neurofibrils in Bielschowsky's silver impregnations. Vimentin was the only marker detected in ependymoblastic and ependymal rosettes or in areas of polar spongioblastoma, as well as in mesenchymal cells. The results indicate that, even in very primitive neoplastic neuroepithelium, immunocytochemical evidence of early commitment of some of the cells to a neuronal or glial lineage can be demonstrated. The neuron associated class III beta-tubulin isotype appears to be one of the earliest markers indicative of neuronal differentiation in normal and neoplastic primitive neuroepithelium. PMID- 2609936 TI - Germanium myopathy: clinical and experimental pathological studies. AB - Pathological examinations were carried out on the skeletal muscle of a patient with germanium intoxication. The prominent histochemical finding was vacuolar myopathy with lipid excess, increased acid phosphatase activity and decreased cytochrome c oxidase activity. Ultrastructural lesions revealed a mitochondrial abnormality, autophagic vacuoles and accumulation of high electron-dense materials in deformed mitochondria and at the periphery of lipid droplets. Furthermore, the toxic effect of germanium on skeletal muscle was confirmed by the experimentally induced germanium myopathy, which showed autophagic degeneration, decreased cytochrome c oxidase activity and a mitochondrial abnormality with high electron-dense materials. PMID- 2609937 TI - Gliosarcoma: an immunohistochemical study. AB - Gliosarcomas contain both neuro-ectodermal and mesenchymal elements. Its histogenesis has been much debated and endothelial and adventitial fibroblast origins have been suggested, as has a "histiocytic" origin following the demonstration of antiprotease activity. Eight gliosarcomas have been examined with a panel of ten monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to investigate the origin of the sarcomatous element. Glial fibrillary acid protein expression showed a sharp distinction between gliomatous and sarcomatous tumour components. Contrary to some previous reports factor 8-related antigen and Ulex europeus agglutinin stained vascular luminal endothelium but no tumour cells. Vimentin and fibronectin expression was extensive and confined largely to sarcomatous areas. Desmin and neurofilament protein could not be demonstrated in any of the cases. Numerous cells, particularly in the sarcoma areas, expressed alpha-1-antitrypsin and -chymotrypsin. A proportion of these stained for the monocyte/macrophage marker MAC 387. Four cases focally exhibited a true storiform pattern and this and the immunohistochemical results suggest analogies with the fibrous histiocytomas. These tumours contain reactive histiocytes but are now thought to be derived from fibroblasts or from pluripotent mesenchymal cells in perivascular adventitia. This resembles the pattern exhibited in the sarcomatous component of gliosarcomas. PMID- 2609938 TI - Tubuloreticular structures (TRS) and cylindric confronting cisternae (CCC) in childhood dermatomyositis. AB - Tubuloreticular structures (TRS) and cylindric confronting cisternae (CCC) have been observed in circulating lymphocytes and in the muscle of six children with dermatomyositis. The presence of TRS was seen in all cases investigated, the number of CCC increased in various cells with the severity of the disease. Extensive formation of TRS and CCC in childhood dermatomyositis probably reflects local or systemic alpha-interferon production and suggests that some viral factor is responsible for the disease. PMID- 2609939 TI - GD3 expression by cultured human tumor cells of neuroectodermal origin. AB - Seven monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reactive with ganglioside II3(NeuAc)2-LacCer (GD3) were generated; four of these mAbs (DMAb-21, DMAb-22, DMAb-23, and DMAb-24) by immunizing mice with GD3 adsorbed to Salmonella minnesota and the remaining three (DMAb-7, DMAb-8, and DMAb-17) with melanoma line SK-MEL 28, which contains 1.4 nmol sialic acid of GD3 per mg protein. The specificities of the mAbs were defined by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) immunostain and solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SP-RIA) with a panel of purified gangliosides. DMAb 7 and DMAb-8 reacted with GD3, IV3(NeuAc)2nLcOse4Cer(3',8'-LD1), and very weakly with IV3(NeuAc)2II3NeuAcGgOse4Cer (GT1a), but not with II3NeuAc-LacCer (GM3), II3NeuAcGgOse3Cer(GM2), II3NeuAcGgOse4Cer (GM1), II3NeuAc, IV3NeuAcGgOse4Cer (GD1a), II3(NeuAc)2GgOse3(GD2), II3(NeuAc)2GgOse4Cer (GD1b), IV3NeuAcII3(NeuAc)2, GgOse4Cer(GT1b), suggesting the binding epitope to be a terminal tetrasaccharide NeuAc alpha 2-8NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4(Glc or GlcNAc). DMAb-7 and DMAb-8 were used to investigate the expression of GD3 on cultured human tumor cells of neuroectodermal origin. Thirteen of 19 gliomas, 3 of 5 medulloblastomas, 5 of 5 neuroblastomas, 2 of 2 melanomas, and 1 of 3 teratomas were shown to react with DMAb-8 and/or DMAb-7 by cell surface-RIA (CS-RIA) and immunofluorescence (IF) assays. HPTLC and densitometric analysis confirmed these results, as positive immunostains in the GD3 region were obtained with oligoganglioside fractions from 9 glioma, 1 medulloblastoma, 2 neuroblastoma, 1 melanoma, and 1 teratoma cell line. Glioma cell line U-105 MG and medulloblastoma cell line Daoy contain GD3 as shown by HPTLC immunostain analysis of extracts, although GD3 was undetectable on the cell surface as determined by CS-RIA and IF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2609940 TI - Methotrexate-related multifocal axonopathy. Report of an autopsy case. AB - A case of multifocal axonopathy associated with intrathecal methotrexate (IT MTX) and radiation therapy is presented. A 33-year-old woman suffering from meningeal carcinomatosis of breast cancer origin had developed prominent multifocal axonal degeneration in the cerebral white matter after treatment with IT MTX therapy and cranial irradiation. The principal features of this axonal degeneration were segmental hydropic swellings, macrophage infiltration of swollen axons, and scattered spheroid formation associated with reactive astrocytosis. These features were similar to those observed in our previous experimental study using cats treated with IT MTX alone. This "multifocal axonopathy" without necrotizing lesions seems to be different from disseminated necrotizing leukoencephalopathy, and, therefore, may be another form of MTX-related leukoencephalopathy. IT MTX and cranial irradiation seem to have exerted synergistic effects in producing the "multifocal axonopathy" in this case. PMID- 2609941 TI - Melanotic paraganglioma of the orbit: a case report. AB - A paraganglioma of the orbit in a 21-year-old woman is presented, containing oculo-cutaneous melanin in many tumor cells, occasionally adjacent to neurosecretory granules, and in macrophages. This tumor expands the list of neuroectodermal tumors with potential melaninization. PMID- 2609942 TI - Pre-school children with uncooperative behavior in the dental situation. Some characteristics and background factors. AB - One hundred and eighty-six generally healthy pre-school children referred to a pedodontic clinic because of uncooperativeness in the dental situation were surveyed with regard to some characteristics and background factors considered of importance as possible origins of the uncooperative behavior. Information was gained from interviews with the referring dentists and the parents, from a developmental test of the child, and from dental records. In spite of a high prevalence of caries, dental treatment before referral was characterized by few restorative measures. The results also showed that the children constituted a heterogeneous group with regard to the variables studied. Further, the referring dentists represented various resources in terms of self-reported knowledge and time for treating this category of children. The data provide a basis for comparisons with a reference group, to be presented in a subsequent study. PMID- 2609943 TI - Effect of chewing training on masticatory efficiency. AB - A special, hard chewing gum was used to study the effects of chewing training on masticatory efficiency. An experimental group of 17 individuals used this chewing gum 1 h daily for 28 days, while a control group of 8 individuals performed no chewing-gum training. The percentage of masticatory efficiency was measured with a special sieve system, and the time for 10 chewing cycles was taken from EMG recordings. These measurements were made in trained and untrained condition before and after 30 min of intense chewing. The results indicate that intense chewing for 30 min decreased the masticatory efficiency and increased the frequency of the chewing cycles significantly in both trained and untrained individuals, possibly due to fatigue of the masticatory muscles. However, chewing training for 28 days did not influence these factors significantly. PMID- 2609944 TI - The effect of chlorhexidine supplementation in a periodontal dressing. AB - Most commercial periodontal dressings claiming antibacterial activity lose this activity shortly after application. Chlorhexidine (CH) is an antibacterial agent with long-term activity in the oral cavity owing to its substantiveness and slow release properties. In a double-blind split-mouth-designed clinical trial the effect of incorporating CH acetate in periodontal dressing was tested on wound healing after gingivectomy. Eleven patients, each needing at least two gingivectomies, constituted the test panel. Wound healing, as assessed by bleeding tendency after removal of dressing 7 days postoperatively was significantly delayed when control dressings were applied as compared with test dressings. Variables with regard to patient comfort also yielded results in favor of the test pack. Incorporation of antibacterial agents with high retention and slow release properties in the mouth in surgical dressings seems advantageous. PMID- 2609945 TI - Comparison of three techniques for measuring wear of dental restorations. AB - Measurements of impression profiles, profilometer registrations, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photogrammetry of metal dies simulating worn restorations were compared as possible techniques for measuring and recording the wear rate of tooth restorations. The results showed that measurements of impression profiles and SEM photogrammetry gave the most accurate results adjacent to regions simulating steep cavity margins, whereas the profilometric technique gave erroneous results in these regions. These errors were related to interference between the conical stylus tip and the steep edges. Moreover, photogrammetry was time-consuming and complex and did not result in better overall precision than with the other evaluation techniques. These drawbacks with SEM photogrammetry were related to complex use of software and low precision of crucial hardware components such as SEM tilt stage and digitizer. PMID- 2609946 TI - Remaining teeth in Finnish adults related to the frequency of tooth-brushing. AB - The number of teeth remaining in adults was evaluated with specific reference to the frequency of tooth-brushing. The sample consisted of 5028 dentate subjects, representing the Finnish population aged 30 years and older. Their mean age was 47.5 years. The presence or absence of each individual tooth was recorded. A total of 91,332 teeth was registered. Forty-eight per cent of the women had retained no fewer than 21 teeth, 20% had 20-11 teeth, and 32% had 10-1 teeth. For men the percentages were 52%, 23%, and 25%, respectively. The number of a subject's remaining teeth was strongly related to the frequency to tooth-brushing (p less than 0.001). The more frequent it had been, the more teeth the subjects, both women and men, had retained. This trend was also seen for the teeth in each jaw, and even for type of tooth. The trend was also present when the number of teeth was analyzed in accordance with a subject's income. PMID- 2609947 TI - Mercury, selenium, and glutathione peroxidase in dental personnel. AB - Eighteen persons, dentists and nurses, with urinary mercury levels higher than the group median value of all dental personnel in the country of Vasterbotten were compared with a group consisting of 15 persons with low urinary mercury levels working in the same clinics. A statistically significant difference between the high urinary mercury group and the low urinary mercury group could be seen in the plasma mercury level. In each group a statistically significant relation could be seen between the plasma mercury level and the total number of amalgam surfaces. The two groups did not differ with regard to the levels of plasma selenium and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, and no correlation between these two variables and the plasma mercury levels could be found. To evaluate organ functions, a large number of supplementary analyses were performed. These analyses did not indicate any influence on organ functions. Although the persons in the present study were occupationally exposed to mercury, none of the biologic variables analyzed seemed to be affected. Even among dental personnel who handle amalgam professionally the number of amalgam surfaces is a major contributory factor to the P-mercury level. PMID- 2609948 TI - An evaluation of the radiopacity of composite restorative materials used in Class I and Class II cavities. AB - The radiopacity of 28 shades of 18 composite brands, recommended for use in Class I and Class II cavities, and one amalgam were tested in accordance with the instructions in the latest draft standards of ISO for resin-based filling materials. The composition of the inorganic fillers in the materials was analyzed by optical emission spectroscopy. Twelve composites showed radiopacity greater than enamel, for five the radiopacity was lower than that of dentin, and for two materials the radiopacity was between that of enamel and dentin. The optical emission spectroscopy analyses showed a large variety in the composition of the fillers. The elements added to increase radiopacity in the composite materials are barium, strontium, zinc, zirconium, and ytterbium. PMID- 2609949 TI - Torus mandibularis: an estimation of the degree of genetic determination. AB - Torus mandibularis has frustrated several attempts to make family patterns of variation fit modifications of Mendelian models. It is suggested that the quasi continuous model of inheritance provides a rational explanation for the diverging opinions. The model implies an underlying continuous and normally distributed variable, 'liability', with a threshold value beyond which individuals will be affected. Both genetic and environmental factors determine liability, making the system multifactorial. The incidence of variable degrees of torus was examined in two groups of patients with different stresses on the jaws: one group with bruxism and one comparison group. The transformation of incidences to group means and variances of liability was demonstrated. Muscular forces during bruxism were shown to influence liability. The relative importance of environmental and genetic components of variance could, however, not be estimated directly from the entire groups, since both were mixed with regard to the genetic predisposition. To achieve materials with uniform genotypes, all individuals without torus were omitted. The estimate of the genotypic variance (VG) was obtained by subtracting the variance of the bruxism sub-group--the environmental component associated with bruxism (VEB)--from the total phenotypic variance of the comparison sub group (VP). The estimate of the genetic determination of torus (VG/VP) turned out to be about 30%, whereas approximately 70% of the causes seemed to be attributable to environmental influence in terms of occlusal stress. Gene effects on the morphologic level are usually pleiotropic, and it is suggested that the correlation of torus mandibularis with other clinical variables might make an interesting subject for further investigation. PMID- 2609950 TI - Beneficial and adverse effects of various types of early infant nutrition. Berzelius Symposium XIII. Umea, June 9-10, 1988. Proceedings. PMID- 2609951 TI - Human milk and neonatal infections. PMID- 2609952 TI - Protein and energy requirements of low birth weight infants. PMID- 2609953 TI - Human alpha-lactalbumin as a marker of macromolecular absorption in early infancy. PMID- 2609954 TI - Effects of recombinant human epidermal growth factor on the intestinal growth of fetal rhesus monkeys. PMID- 2609955 TI - Colchicine-induced inhibition of fat globule development in hepatocytes of rats injected with ethionine. AB - To examine the effect of colchicine on ethionine-induced fatty liver, adult female rats were starved overnight and then injected i.p. with 1 g/kg ethionine at 11th hour of fasting; then a half of the rats were also injected i.p. with 2.5 mg/kg colchicine twice at 3 and 6 h after the single administration of ethionine. Similarly, fasted control rats were injected i.p. with vehicle alone at the above times. All of the rats were sacrificed after a 20-h fast, and the hepatocytes in periportal areas were observed ultrastructurally. In addition, total lipids in the liver tissue were extracted and determined biochemically. Although similar significant increases of triglyceride were observed in the liver tissue of all ethionine-injected rats, the hepatocytes in the group treated with both chemicals had fewer cytoplasmic fat globules (CFG) than those in the group treated with ethionine only. On the other hand, the diameters of markedly increased membrane bound lipid particles (MLP) in the double-treated group were distributed mainly in the range 0.2-0.4 micron, compared with those (0.1-0.2 micron) in the other groups. These findings indicate that colchicine inhibits the development of CFG in ethionine-injured hepatocytes. PMID- 2609956 TI - Evidence of delayed mesangial transport of human IgA in glomeruli of ddY mice pretreated with sheep anti-type IV collagen serum. AB - In order to investigate whether mesangial transport by glomeruli is delayed in ddY mice pretreated with sheep anti-type IV collagen serum, the mice were administered an overload of human IgA myeloma serum. Non-pretreated ddY mice used as controls and both experimental and control BALB/c mice were also processed in a similar manner. The intensities of mesangial deposition of human IgA were examined periodically and were found to correlate well with deposition of mouse IgA. Both mouse and human IgAs showed a gradual increase for up to 8 experimental weeks. In the control young ddY mice, however, the overloaded mesangial human IgA quickly disappeared, presenting no appreciable mesangial deposition of autologous IgA. In sharp contrast, both the experimental and control BALB/c mice showed an initially prolonged and rather heavy mesangial deposition of human IgA, followed by a gradual decrease and somewhat light mesangial deposition of autologous mouse IgA. These results obtained using experimental ddY mice appear to confirm the possibility that non-immunological local trapping, due to retardation of mesangial transport function, causes mesangial deposition of autologous mouse IgA in this particular strain. PMID- 2609957 TI - The reactive cellular population and expression of blood group substance in human colorectal cancer. AB - The correlation between the expression of blood group substance (BGS) and the host's immune response was studied in 23 samples of human colorectal carcinoma tissue. Several monoclonal antibodies against lymphocyte subsets and histiocytes were used for immunostaining of frozen sections, and MoAbs against BGS (A, B, H) for paraffin sections. In proximal colon cancers (10 cases), the cancer tissues showing expression of BGS revealed a greater increase in cells reactive for OKT11, Leu-7, and Leu-M3 than those with deletion of BGS. However, in distal large bowel cancers (13 cases), there was no significant difference between the cancer tissues without BGS expression and those with BGS re-expression. In all locations of the large bowel, cancer tissue showing expression of incompatible antigen revealed a greater reduction of reactive cells than those with expression of compatible antigen. These results suggest that there are disparities in the host's immune response to proximal colon and distal bowel carcinoma, and that factors other than BGS (A, B, H) might influence the immune response in cases with expression of incompatible antigen. PMID- 2609958 TI - Clear cell sarcoma. An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. AB - The histogenesis of clear cell sarcoma was investigated by immunohistochemical examination of five tumors (two melanotic and three amelanotic) and electron microscopic examination of two of these tumors (one melanotic and one amelanotic). Melanin production was observed histologically in two of the tumors. The cytoplasm of cells in both types of tumor contained various numbers of melanosomes. Melanoma-specific antibody (HMB-45), anti-S-100 protein, and anti vimentin antibodies gave positive reactions in four tumors, while all tumors showed Leu-7 immunoreactivity. No cytokeratin or epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) was detected immunohistochemically in any tumor. The immunoreactivity of this type of tumor with HMB-45 antibody strongly suggests melanocytic differentiation rather than schwannian or synovial differentiation. The reaction of the cells of one tumor with only Leu-7 indicates the existence of undifferentiated clear cell sarcoma of neuroectodermal origin that does not show definite melanocytic differentiation. PMID- 2609959 TI - Leiomyosarcoma of the thoracic aorta associated with dissecting aneurysm. AB - An autopsy case report of leiomyosarcoma of the thoracic aorta is presented. The patient was a 75-year-old Japanese woman who complained of hypertension, melena and lumbago. The autopsy revealed severe occlusion of the thoracic aorta due to the tumor. Histologically the tumor consisted of fascicular proliferation of atypical fusiform cells. Metastases were seen in the bilateral adrenal glands, pancreatic tail and bones (vertebrae and femur). At the distal portion of the aortic tumor, there was a secondary dissecting aneurysm. PMID- 2609960 TI - An autopsy case of interlobar arterial dissection of the kidney following long term hemodialysis. AB - An autopsy case of massive renal hemorrhage in a 49-year-old male who had undergone maintenance hemodialysis for 8 years, is reported. No bleeding tendency had been noticed, and blood pressure had been reduced to within the normal range. Histological investigation with semiserial sections revealed that hemorrhage had occurred in four arteries, corresponding to the interlobar, arcuate, and interlobular levels, which existed in the same ruptured cyst wall. Acute dissection had occurred in two of the four arteries, leading to rupture of the cyst; this led to destruction of the remaining arteries. Both kidneys, which were markedly shrunken and had numerous cysts in the cortex and medulla, fell into the category of acquired cystic renal disease of long-term hemodialysis. It was suspected that renal vascular change during hemodialysis, mechanical factors compressing the protruding artery in the cyst with scanty renal interstitium, and relatively radical hemodynamic changes during dialysis had contributed to the hemorrhage. PMID- 2609961 TI - Immunocytochemical evidence of amyloid-enhancing factor (AEF) in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. AB - Amyloid-enhancing factor (AEF) was extracted from spleens of mice that had received amyloidogenic stimulation. Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration of the crude AEF yielded five fractions, among which strong AEF activity was present in the first peak (F1), and confirmed by an amyloid induction experiment. An anti-AEF antiserum was obtained from a rabbit by immunization with F1. This antibody reacted strongly with splenic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PML) from mice given amyloidogenic stimulation, and weakly with those from normal untreated mice. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) analysis of both F1 and sera from mice given amyloidogenic stimulation was performed. A single band was observed on IEF analysis of F1, whereas many bands were seen on IEF analysis of the sera. After the substances in the gel had been transferred to nitrocellulose membranes by capillary blotting, the membranes were made to react with the anti-AEF antiserum. The results suggested that AEF is a high-molecular-weight substance derived from PML and increases in the serum at the time of, or shortly prior to, amyloid deposition in the spleen. PMID- 2609962 TI - Studies on the relationships of IgA to human liver. IgA deposition in non alcoholic liver diseases. AB - An investigation was conducted to clarify the relationships of IgA to the human liver. Immunocytochemical studies were performed on biopsy specimens from patients with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis without any apparent history of alcohol abuse. The results showed that 1) a large amount of IgA is associated with the sinusoidal surface of hepatocytes, endothelial cells and Kupffer cells, 2) this IgA contains J chain and can form a complex with secretory component, and 3) this mainly belongs to the IgA1 subclass, 4) IgA in vesicles within hepatocytes and Kupffer cells is always associated with acid phosphatase activity, and 5) IgA containing vesicles within ductular epithelial cells always lack such enzyme activity. We conclude that 1) the IgA bound to the surface of hepatocytes, sinus endothelial cells and Kupffer cells is polymeric IgA1 uncomplexed with SC, and 2) this IgA occasionally enters these cells, and may be degraded in the lysosomes. 3) Polymeric IgA combines with SC in the ductular epithelium and may be secreted into bile. These findings suggest that J chain linked polymeric IgA bound to the surface of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells has a certain pathological significance in liver diseases and might be involved in the clearance of excess IgA from the circulation. PMID- 2609963 TI - Lectin- and immunohistochemical studies on acquired cystic kidney and associated renal cell carcinoma. AB - Nine specimens of acquired cystic kidney were studied by means of lectin- and immunohistochemistry. The cysts appeared to originate from any part of the nephron, but mostly from the proximal tubule. The cause of multicyst formation is still unclear, but the results of this study suggested that obstruction of the lower nephron might play an important role. Many microscopic carcinomas or dysplastic epithelial cells were observed in the cyst wall. All these carcinomas originated from the proximal tubule, except for one which was of Bellini duct origin and showed papillary growth. The reasons why almost all of the carcinomas originated from the proximal tubule were: 1) the majority of the cysts originated from the proximal tubule, and 2) dysplastic epithelial cells in the cysts originating from the proximal tubules were more frequent in number than those in cysts originating from other parts of the nephron. Histological observation showed that stimulation due to oxalate crystals in the proximal cysts was one of the causes of dysplastic epithelial cell hyperplasia. PMID- 2609964 TI - Ciliated cells in the cardiac gland of the human stomach. Evidence of metaplastic change. AB - In a study on 12 Japanese patients, many ciliated cells were found in the human cardiac mucosa in association with intestinal metaplasia. Two cases were studied by electron microscopy, which revealed the presence of cilia and basal bodies in the apical portion of the mucosal cells. The ciliated cells sometimes contained prominent autophagosomes in the supranuclear region and abundant filaments in the cytoplasm, but neither mucus nor neuroendocrine granules were evident. Ciliated cells have commonly been found in human pyloric mucosa showing intestinal metaplastic changes in aged Japanese patients. In the cardiac mucosa, the incidence of ciliated cells was relatively low. Ultrastructural study revealed that the metaplastic gastric cilia were almost the same as those of respiratory cilia. The presence of ciliated cells in the adult human gastric mucosa was always associated with intestinal metaplasia; therefore our interpretation is that this is a type of metaplasia, for which we propose a new term, "ciliated metaplasia" of the stomach. PMID- 2609965 TI - Endotracheal neurilemoma with a lymphoid cuff. An ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study. AB - A neurilemoma occurred in the trachea of a 63-year-old woman complaining of dyspnea. Microscopically, the excised tumor was composed predominantly of cellular areas of Antoni type A tissue and had a peripheral lymphoid cuff. The schwannian origin was confirmed both immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally. This tumor without nuclear palisading and Verocay bodies differed somewhat from a conventional soft tissue neurilemoma and closely resembled a particular form of neurilemoma of the stomach, previously reported as a unique entity. Thus, this type of neurilemoma does occur in sites other than the gastrointestinal tract. PMID- 2609966 TI - [Mechanism of analgesic action of hyperin]. AB - In previous works, we reported that Hyp (hyperin) showed strong analgesic effect, and inhibited discharges induced by multianalgesics, but without anesthetic action. In this study, the analgesic mechanism of Hyp was further investigated. In the tail-flick test in mice, EGTA was shown to markedly enhance the analgesic effect of Hyp and shift the dose-effect curve to the upper-left. CaCl2 significantly antagonized the effect of Hyp and shifted the dose-effect curve to the lower-right. In the afferent discharges induced by analgesics, EGTA markly elevated while cacl2 lowered the effect of Hyp. It was also found that A23187, which promote influx of Ca2+, could antagonize the effect of Hyp. In the frog sciatic nerves, we found that Hyp could significantly inhibit influx of Ca2+. This finding suggests that the analgesic effect of Hyp may have close relationship with the reduction of calcium in afferent nerve endings. PMID- 2609967 TI - [The synthesis and pharmacological activities of analogs of erycibe alkaloid II]. AB - The C2 deoxy and C6 electron isosteric analogs of a new antiglaucoma agent, erycibe alkaloid II, were designed and synthesized. The main pharmacological results were as follows: 1. The C2-OH in erycibe alkaloid II was one of the key groups for its myotic activity; 2. It was worth noting that compounds 2 and 4 showed cholinergic and anticholinergic activities, respectively. This phenomenon in tropane alkaloids was not reported before; 3. The C6 electron isosteric compounds 16 and 17 showed neither anticholinergic nor cholinergic activities. PMID- 2609968 TI - [Identification of tanshinones with related compounds by high performance thin layer chromatography and mass spectrometric analysis]. AB - 28 compounds isolated from Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and S. przewalskii Maxium) were identified by both HPTLC and mass spectrometric analysis. The mass spectra of tanshinones and related terpenoids have been examined and a number of characteristic features noted which might be helpful in the identification of these compounds. The Rf values of five groups of tanshinones and related compounds in six solvent systems were given. They can be used for identifying several epimeric compounds which are difficult to identify by mass spectra alone. PMID- 2609969 TI - [The structure of glyuranolide, a new triterpene of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch]. AB - Using a medium pressure liquid chromatographic system, a new triterpene lactone named glyuranolide [3 beta, 22 alpha-dihydroxy-11-oxo-delta 12-oleanene-27 alpha methoxy carbonyl-29-oic acid (29, 22 alpha-) lactone.] was isolated from the crude sapogenins of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. Its structure was elucidated by IR, UV, FAB-MS, and various NMR spectra (including NOE, BBD, INEPT, SR, COSY, NOESY etc.). PMID- 2609970 TI - [Studies on the chemical constituents of Curcuma kwangsiensis]. AB - A new sesquiterpene lactone named gweicurculactone, along with beta-sitosterol, germacrone, daucosterin and palmitic acid, was isolated from Curcuma kwangsiensis. Its structure has been confirmed by means of spectral and X-ray diffraction analysis. PMID- 2609971 TI - [Studies on multiwavelength absorbance ratio difference spectrophotometry and its application]. AB - This paper provides a new method to determine mixed component system by multiwavelength absorbance ratio difference spectrophotometry and summarized the basic principle and experimental technique of this method. This method was applied to assay the contents of two kinds of mixed component system of diphenhydramine hydrochloride and ephedrine hydrochloride, amidopyrine and caffeine without separation. The mean recoveries with coefficient of variation (%) was 101.0% (1.0%) for ephedrine hydrochloride; 94.86% (0.56%) for diphenhydramine hydrochloride; 100.3% (0.70%) for amidopyrine and 100.1% (0.75%) for caffeine. The results obtained are satisfactory both in recovery and in precision. It is a simple and rapid method to determine mixed component system. PMID- 2609972 TI - [Studies on the chemical components and anti-tumour action of the volatile oils from Pelargonium graveoleus]. AB - Three geranium oils were separated, identified and compared by high resolution cross-linked fused silica capillary GC and GC-MSD. It was found that their chemical constituents are very similar, but the contents of some components (linalool, citronellol, cis-caryophyllene and guaiene) differ appreciably. Pharmacological experiments showed that citronellol, citronellyl formate, geraniol and citronellyl acetate exhibited marginal antitumour activities. The activity of the latter two components has not been reported in the literature. PMID- 2609973 TI - [Study of the effect of etoposide on the fluidity of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposome by differential scanning calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy]. AB - The interaction of the anticancer drug, etoposide (VP16-213), with DPPC bilayer vesicles was investigated by DSC and Laser Raman techniques. The results present the fact that the incorporation of VP16-213 into aqueous dispersion of DPPC not only shifted the temperatures of phase transition towards higher value but also broadened the half-height width. The Raman spectra of the DPPC liposome in the C H symmetric strech vibration lost intensity near 2850cm-1, therefore, it can be predicted that VP16-213 is localized at C1-C9 methylene region of the bilayer, which leads to the increase of the membrane's regularity and the decrease of its fluidity. PMID- 2609974 TI - [Development and pharmacokinetic study of metoprolol tartrate controlled-release tablet remaining-floating in stomach]. AB - An oral controlled-release system (M-HBS) of metoprolol was developed based on the hydrodynamically balanced controlled drug delivery system. It was found that the in vitro release characteristics showed basically first-order kinetics (K'r = 0.1651 h-1); a tentative two-year expiration date on M-HBS was established; the gamma-scintiphotographic study after oral ingestion showed that M-HBS was retained in human stomach for longer time (5-6 h) than the conventional metoprolol tablet (1-1.5 h). The blood concentration-time course of M-HBS was demonstrated to fit a one-compartment model with apparent first order absorption and first order elimination. The parameters were calculated using a NONLIN computer program with the values of Ka, K, Vd, tmax, cmax, being 0.1944 h-1, 0.1867 h-1, 2.813, 5.247 h, 125.1 ng/ml, respectively. Moreover, the fraction of the dose absorbed from M-HBS in vivo well correlated with dissolution rate in vitro. PMID- 2609975 TI - [Pharmacokinetic studies on actinodaphine hydrochloride in rabbits by UV secondary derivative spectroscopy]. AB - A specific method of analysis for actinodaphine HCl in plasma by UV secondary spectroscopy was established. The actinodaphine in plasma was extracted with chloroform, then the combined extracts were evaporated to dryness under room temperature. The residue was dissolved in 5 ml of 95% ethanol and the secondary derivative spectra was measured at wavelength of 400 nm to 240 nm Select their 316 nm and 330 nm as analytical wavelength. The D values of the derivative amplitude were measured with peak-peak method between 316 nm and 330 nm. The standard curve was linear over 0.5-20 micrograms/ml. The average recovery was 97.6 +/- 5.5%, the coefficient of variation was 5.64%. After intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg, the plasma concentration vs time data were fitted to curves employing a non-linear method based on a simple method in optimization theory. The statistical comparison (r2, F-test and AIC) of fits of one and two compartment model to plasma concentration time data indicated that the data would be described best by an open two compartment model. The pharmacokinetic parameters (mean +/- SD) were T1/2 (alpha), 0.705 +/- 0.142 min; T1/2 (beta), 17.869 +/- 5.383 min; K21, 0.292 +/- 0.035 min-1; K10, 0.145 +/- 0.054 min-1; K12, 0.621 +/- 0.153 min-1; Vc, 0.152 +/- 0.029 L/kg; Vp, 0.367 +/- 0.045 L/kg; Vd, 0.518 +/- 0.062 L/kg; Clr, 0.021 +/- 0.004 ml/kg; AUC, 492.263 +/- 101.574 micrograms.min.ml-1. These results show that actinodaphine HCl is distributed and eliminated rather rapidly without marked accumulation and the distribution is mainly in the blood. PMID- 2609976 TI - [The hypoglycemic effect of clausenacoumarine]. AB - Clausenacoumarine is a compound isolated from the leaves of Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels which grows widely in South China. The studies show that clausenacoumarine can lower blood glucose level in normal mice and alloxan diabetic mice at 200 mg/kg.d for three days orally, and antagonize the elevation of blood glucose caused by injecting adrenaline in normal mice. No effect on blood lactic acid was observed. PMID- 2609977 TI - [Synthesis of pyrido [1,2-a] pyrimidinone series of compounds, potential agents on the nervous system]. AB - In an effort to modify the structure of edulinine so to seek compounds exhibiting higher potency toward inhibition of central nervous system, we designed and synthesized several analogous compounds: 2-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-4-oxo-4 H-pyrido [1,2-a] pyrimidine (IV), 3-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-2-oxo-2H pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine (V), 2-methoxy-3-(2,3-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1-butyl)-4-oxo 4H-pyrido[1,2-a] pyrimidine (VI), and 4-methoxy-3-(2,3-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1 butyl)-2-oxo-2H-pyrido[1,2-a] pyrimidine (VII). Animal experiments revealed that compound (IV) has anticonvulsant activity, compounds (V) and (VI) have far lower activity than compound (IV). PMID- 2609978 TI - [Determination of bile acids in bear gall drainage by thin layer chromatographic scanning]. AB - A method for the quantitative determination of three main bile acids, cholic acid (CA), ursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA) and chenodesoxycholic acid (CDCA), in bear gall, drainage from bear gall and bear gallstone is described. Experimental conditions: TLC Scanner CS-910, fluorescence scanning, lambda ex 470 nm and lambda em 550 nm for CA; lambda ex 380 nm and lambda em 450 nm for UDCA and CDCA. The results showed that the contents of UDCA and CDCA in bear gall drainage were higher than those in bear gall. The method is simple, rapid and sensitive. The reproducibility is good. The average recovery is 98.4%, CV is 1.4%. PMID- 2609979 TI - [Determination of aspirin and nicotinic acid in plasma when used in combination]. AB - An ultraviolet spectrophotometric method has been developed for indirect determination of aspirin (ASA) using the difference between total salicylic acid and free salicylic acid in rabbit plasma. Recoveries of salicylic acid were found to be above 98.4% and the method was linear from 8-160 micrograms with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999. The coefficient of variation was less than 3.85%. Using this method for ASA and Carlson's method for nicotinic acid (NA), the plasma concentrations of these two drugs were determined when they were used iv alone or in combination in rabbits. The results analysed by a micro-computer were fitted to a two compartment open model with first-order elimination. Among the pharmacokinetic parameters of NA, T1/2 (beta) and AUC0-infinity for the group (n = 6) treated with NA 50 mg/kg in combination with ASA 50 mg/kg were 2.3374 h and 361.63 micrograms.h/ml, respectively, both significantly different from those for the group (n = 6) treated with NA 50 mg/kg alone which were 0.9846 h and 157.71 micrograms.h/ml, respectively (p less than 0.01). For ASA, no significant differences were demonstrated. The mechanism and significance of the prolonged T1/2 (beta) of NA were discussed. PMID- 2609980 TI - [An empirical correlation between optical rotation and absolute configuration of optically active alpha-methylbutyrylphloroglucinols and its synthesis]. AB - Fourteen new compounds were synthesized of which twelve are (S)-(+)-alpha methylbutyrylphloroglucinols. On the basis of optical rotation data and theoretical analysis, an empirical correlation between optical rotation and absolute configuration of optically active alpha-methylbutyrylphloroglucinols has been established by means of Brewster's rule of atomic asymmetry. It can be served as a means of absolute configuration assignment of optically active alpha methylbutyrylphloroglucinols. PMID- 2609981 TI - [Synthesis and cardiovascular activities of peptidyl dopamine derivatives]. AB - Amino acids and small peptides with different steric configurations and lipophilicities were appended to dopamine. Eighteen compounds have been synthesized. The attachment of D-amino acids or N-methyl amino acids onto the dopamine molecule caused a marked decrease in cardiovascular activity by intravenous injection, while the introduction of lipophilic amino acids caused a marked increase in myocardial contractility and blood pressure in anesthetized dogs. The durations of action were also prolonged. PMID- 2609982 TI - [Studies on the chemical constituents from the root-sprouts of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb]. AB - Five compounds were isolated from the petroleum ether extract of the root-sprouts of Agrimonia pilosa Ledob. A new compound, (R)-(-)-agrimol B (III), was elucidated by means of physical and chemical properties, spectroscopy (MS, IR, PMR, UV) and total synthesis. Four known compounds were identified as agrimophol (I), n-nonacosane (II), beta-sitosterol (IV) and pseudo-aspidin (V), the last one being previously known only as a synthetic entity. (S)-(+)-Agrimol B also was synthesized. PMID- 2609983 TI - [The isolation and identification of PAF inhibitors from Piper wallichii (Miq.) Hand-Mazz and P. hancei Maxim]. AB - Platelet activating factor (PAF) is a highly potent endogenous phospholipid mediator, involved in various inflammatory and cardiovascular disorders. As part of a research program dealing with PAF inhibitors isolated from Piper plant species, we have isolated kadsurenone (I), denudatin B (II), and N-isobutyl-deca trans-2-trans-4-dienamide (III) from Piped wallichii (Miq.) Hand-Mazz. and P. hancei Maxim. In a continuing search for potential PAF inhibitor from plants, using PAF induced platelet aggregation as a guide, a new neolignan named hancinone D (IV) was isolated from P. hancei maxim. By X-ray analysis it was identified as a racemate. The X-ray analysis led to a revision of the previously made structure assignment of hancinone C. Another new neolignan named wallichinine (V), which was identified as an analogue of (IV), along with the known compounds hancinone C (VI), galgravin (VII), dihydropiperlonguminine (VIII) and crotepoxide (IX) were isolated from P. wallichii (Miq.) Hand-Mazz. The structure determination was based upon spectroscopic analysis. All of the compounds were for the first time obtained from both plants. In the test of platelet aggregation caused by PAF, I, II, V, VI, VII showed inhibitory activity, whereas III, IV, VII, IX showed no activity. PMID- 2609984 TI - [The structures of yemuoside YM10 and YM12 from Stauntonia chinensis]. AB - Two new nortriterpenoid saponins, named yemuoside YM10 (I) and YM12 (II), were isolated from Stauntonia chinensis Decne. A new prosaponin (VI) was isolated from the cleavage of ester-glycoside linkage. Their chemical structures were elucidated by means of chemical and spectrometric analysis. Yemuoside YM10 (I): C58H92O25, a white powder, mp 215-219 degrees C (dec), [alpha]D20-4.41 degrees (c 0.272, CH3OH). Its structure was found to be 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl- (1--- 4) -beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----6) -beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester of 3-O-alpha-L rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-30-+ ++norolean-12, 20 (29) dien-28-oic acid. Yemuoside YM12 (II): C52H82O21, a white powder, mp 200-204 degrees C (dec.), [alpha]D20 + 10.12 degrees (c 0.346, CH3OH). Its structure was found to be 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----6) -beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester of 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl- (1----2) -alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-30-norolean-12, 20 (29)-dien-28-oic acid. Prosaponin (VI): C40H62O11, a white powder, mp 243-246 degrees C (dec.), [alpha]D22 + 12.13 degrees (c 0.128, CH3OH). Its structure was found to be 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl- (1----2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-30 norolean-12, 20 (29)-dien-28-oic acid. PMID- 2609985 TI - [Characteristics of ion selective electrodes with hetero-poly anion sites]. AB - Drug ion-selective electrodes made with hetero-poly anion as exchange site exhibit better performances than the respective electrodes of conventional tetraphenylboron type, yielding low detection limits and fast responses. Functions of propantheline, berberine, dibazol, thiamine, streptomycin, moroxydine, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, carbetapentane, benzydamine, tetramisole and trifluoperazine electrodes are reported. The electrodes can be used in potentiometric determinations of the respective drugs in aqueous solutions, urine and mixture of water and organic solvents. PMID- 2609986 TI - [Study on quality of gossypol recrystalized from chloroform]. AB - In this paper, the chemical properties of gossypol recrystalized from chloroform are described. Samples were dried at different temperatures at reduced pressure, and stored under room temperature for different times. They were identified and determined by melting point, thin layer chromatography, UV spectrophotometry, IR spectrophotometry, thermo-gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, elementary analysis and also for the content of gossypol. The results of these tests proved gossypol to be solvated with chloroform at low temperature. This phenomenon decreased gradually with increase of drying temperature or storage time, and the content of gossypol increased accordingly. The presence of chloroform in the crystal interferes with the purity of gossypol. Thus, it is necessary to identify the presence of chloroform with oxygen flask ombustion-mercurimetry beforehand. PMID- 2609987 TI - [Effect of dehydrocorydaline on formation of thromboxane B2 in platelets and 6 keto-pgf1 alpha in rabbit aorta]. AB - Dehydrocorydaline (DHC) was shown to reduce the production of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) in platelets and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) in the aorta of rabbits in vitro. The effect of DHC increased with the increase of dose. DHC 0.41 mg was found to inhibit the formation of TXB2 markedly while not reduce the content of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. DHC also exhibited obvious inhibitory effect on the arachidonic acid (0.66 mmol/L) induced formation of platelet malondialdehyde (MDA). These effects were similar to the specific cycloxygenase inhibitor, aspirin (0.03 mg/ml). The results suggest that (1) DHC reduced both contents of TXA2 and PGI2 in vitro. (2) DHC markedly inhibited the system of cycloxygenase in cell microsomes. (3) As to whether TXA2 synthetase or cycloxygenase was inhibited in these experiments is still to be elucidated. PMID- 2609988 TI - [Synthesis of acylates of niridazole and its analogs as schistosomicides]. AB - In order to decrease the toxicity and enhance the curative effect of niridazole against Schistosomiasis japonica, a series of acylates of niridazole has been prepared through acylation of niridazole, 2-substituted acetamido-5 nitrothiazoles and 1-(5-nitro-2-thiazolyl)-4-acylpiperazine were also prepared. The products has been tested against Schistosomiasis japonica in mice. Preliminary test results showed that the majority of aliphatic acylates of niridazole exhibited marked schistosomicidal effect against adult worms as well as larva (compounds 2, 4-8, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19), a few of aromatic and heterocyclic acylates (compounds 14, 22) and the analogs of niridazole (compounds 26, 39, 49) showed weak activity. PMID- 2609989 TI - [Effects of ohmefentanyl on rat respiration]. AB - The respiratory depression in rats induced by sc ohmefentanyl showed a ceiling effect, but a linear relation with log dose when applied into the dorsal medulla. It elicited, however, a marked excitation on respiration when applied to dorsal pons. This excitatory effect of ohmefentanyl was antagonized by naloxone, and it antagonized to some extent the respiratory depressant effect induced by ohmefentanyl itself applied on dorsal medulla. It was postulated that the respiratory excitatory effect of sc ohmefentanyl on dorsal pons may have a bearing on the ceiling effect of its respiratory depression. PMID- 2609990 TI - Stimulation of [3H]norepinephrine release from hippocampal slices by excitatory amino acids. AB - [3H]norepinephrine efflux from preloaded rat hippocampal slices was increased in a dose-dependent manner by excitatory amino acids (EAA) in the following potency order: N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) greater than kainic acid greater than L glutamic acid greater than or equal to D,L-homocysteic acid greater than L aspartic acid greater than quinolinic acid greater than quisqualic acid. The effect of EAA was blocked by physiological concentration of Mg2+, with the exception of kainic acid. D,L-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (APH) dose dependently inhibited NMDA effect (IC50 = 69 mumol/L), whereas at 1 mmol/L it was ineffective versus kainic acid. The release of [3H]norepinephrine induced by quinolinic acid was blocked by APH 0.1 mmol/L. gamma-D-glutamylglycine dose dependently inhibited kainic acid effect with an IC50 = 1.15 mmol/L. Tetrodotoxin 2 mumol/L reduced NMDA and kainic acid effects by 40 and 20%, respectively. The data indicate a possible involvement of central noradrenergic system in the modulation of excitotoxic action of EAA and offer a reliable system for testing new compounds acting at EAA-receptors by measuring norepinephrine release in vitro. PMID- 2609991 TI - Antianginal effects of atenolol and pindolol in patients with stable effort angina pectoris. AB - A double blind, randomised crossover study with 20 patients was performed to compare the antianginal effects of atenolol 100 mg once daily and pindolol 5 mg thrice daily. After a placebo run-in period, 2 treatments were given for 2 wk each. The number of anginal attacks and the nitroglycerin (NTG) consumption were determined. During bicycle exercise testing, the systolic blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), double product and exercise tolerance were measured. Both drugs reduced the number of anginal attacks and NTG consumption relative to the placebo, with atenolol being more effective than pindolol. During exercise, both beta-blockers produced a slight increase in BP and HR compared to the placebo. HR attained with atenolol was lower than pindolol at the same workload. The total duration of exercise and the maximal tolerated workload were greater in atenolol than pindolol experiment. The special properties of beta-blockers, such as cardioselectivity or intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA), may have clinical importance in the treatment of angina pectoris. PMID- 2609992 TI - [Electrophysiologic effects of sophocarpine on papillary muscle in guinea pig]. AB - Sophocarpine prolonged the action potential duration of guinea pig papillary muscle in a dose-dependent manner. After the preparations were exposed to sophocarpine 50 mumol/L for 30 min, APD50 and APD90 were prolonged from 189 +/- 21 and 216 +/- 24 ms to 205 +/- 27 and 241 +/- 25 ms (P less than 0.01). Simultaneously, ERP was prolonged from 202 +/- 14 to 211 +/- 16 ms, although the ERP/APD90 ratio was not changed. Sophocarpine had no significant effects on other AP parameters. Propranolol did not block sophocarpine effects. PMID- 2609993 TI - [Effects of ranitidine and cimetidine on ventricular fibrillation threshold and dispersion of refractory period in early myocardial ischemia]. AB - The effects of two H2-receptor antagonists, ranitidine (Ran) and cimetidine (Cim), on the ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) and dispersion of the refractory period in animals with early acute myocardial ischemia induced by coronary artery ligation (CAL) were studied. The measurement of VFT was obtained in anaesthetized rats. The control group showed a decrease in VFT from 6.7 +/- 0.4 to 3.1 +/- 0.7 V 5 min after CAL, while Ran (15 mg/kg iv) and Cim (40 mg/kg iv) increased VFT from 2.8 +/- 0.7 to 5.4 +/- 1.7 V and from 3.1 +/- 0.8 to 8.1 +/- 2.7 V, respectively. By means of suction electrodes, FRP in different ischemic zones were recorded in anaesthetized rabbits, and differences between FRP in different zones were taken as the dispersion of FRP. After CAL, the control group exhibited a prolongation of FRP in central ischemic zone and a shortening of FRP in boundary zone, i.e., a dispersion of FRP was increased. Both Ran (5 mg/kg iv) and Cim (25 mg/kg iv) markedly decreased the extent of dispersion of FRP. It is concluded that the anti-arrhythmic effects of Ran and Cim may be attributable to increases in VFT and decreases in dispersion of FRP. PMID- 2609994 TI - [Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of nifedipine in patients with congestive heart failure]. AB - Twenty-seven cases of congestive heart failure (CHF) were treated with nifedipine (Nif) 20 mg po. Significant improvements in resting hemodynamics were found in 22 cases. The higher the basal systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and pulmonary artery end diastolic pressure (PAEDP) were, the greater the magnitudes of reduction found (r = 0.84 and 0.77, P less than 0.01, respectively). Exercise hemodynamic investigation showed that Nif led to a lowering of SVR, PAEDP and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), with increases in SV and concentration of 5 10 ng/ml, with a maximum being observed at the concentration of 20 ng/ml. No further vasodilation was found when the plasma concentration exceeded 20 ng/ml. No remarkable deviations from the normal ranges of Nif pharmacokinetics were found in CHF patients. The plasma norepinephrine level decreased markedly 2 and 7 h after Nif. Thus, it is concluded that oral Nif is beneficial in severe CHF patients having low cardiac output and high SVR. PMID- 2609995 TI - [Effects of 2[p-(dimethylamino)styryl] pyridine methiodide on mouse and rabbit]. AB - The effects of 2[p-(dimethylamino)styryl] pyridine methiodide on mouse and rabbit ECG and on the contraction of isolated rabbit atrial muscles were studied. DSPM produced long-lasting bradycardia and A-V block in a dose-dependent manner, but did not effect intraventricular conduction. DSPM antagonized the positive chronotropic and dromotropic effects of isoprenaline (Iso) in vivo, and antagonized the inotropic effects of Iso and CaCl2 non-competitively in vitro. The pD'2 were 4.49 and 4.52, respectively. It is suggested that DSPM may be a Ca2+ antagonist. PMID- 2609996 TI - [Hemodynamic effects of zinc sulfate on anesthetized open-chest dogs]. AB - ZnSO4 3-5 mg/kg iv decreased systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure, +dP/dtmax, -dP/dtmax, VCE- +dP/dtmax, and left ventricular systolic pressure. However, ZnSO4 had no significant effects on T values and total peripheral resistance. In addition, ZnSO4 obviously decreased heart rate and cardiac index. These results suggest that iv ZnSO4 may cause hypotension via cardiac inhibition. PMID- 2609997 TI - [Stereoselectivity of arrhythmogenic effect of praziquantel in conscious rabbits]. AB - Praziquantel (PQT) is a chiral compound with an asymmetric center at the 11 b position. The recemic mixture is usually used as an antischistosomal drug, however the antischistosomal activity is mainly concentrated in the R (-) enantiomer. This study was undertaken to investigate the stereoselectivity of the arrhythmogenic effect of PQT in conscious rabbits. Arrhythmias, as well as bradycardia, were induced in rabbits by iv (+/-) PQT or its enantiomers at 45 mg/kg. The frequency of ectopic rhythms in the (+), (+/-) and (-) PQT groups were 100, 60 and 20%, respectively. Statistically, the frequency of ectopic rhythms in the (+) PQT group was significantly higher than those in the (-) PQT group and in the (+/-) PQT group, although there was no significant difference between the (+/ ) and (-) PQT groups. The severity of the arrhythmias induced by (+) PQT was much higher than that induced by (-) PQT. The bradycardia action of (+) PQT was much more intense than that of (-) PQT. (+/-) PQT or its enanthiomers (icv) at a dose of 2 or 3 mg/kg also induced arrhythmias. The frequency of ectopic rhythms in the (+) PQT group was significantly higher than that in the (-) PQT group. The results suggest that there is a stereoselectivity of the arrhythmogenic effects of PQT in rabbits. Arrhythmias induced by PQT may partly mediated via the central nervous system, and the arrhythmogenic effects of (+/-) PQT may be caused mainly by (+) PQT. PMID- 2609998 TI - Biological N-oxidation of piperidine in vitro. AB - The biological N-oxidation of piperidine, a pharmacologically active biogenic amine of mammals and human beings, was studied in vitro. After incubation of piperidine-HCl in a fortified rat liver microsomal preparation (9000 x g supernatant) at 37 degrees C for 30 min, 2 metabolites were detected. They were identified as N-hydroxy piperidine and 2, 3, 4, 5-tetrahydro-pyridine-1-oxide as evidenced by TLC, GLC, HPLC, GC-MS and MS. PMID- 2609999 TI - DNA-protein, DNA interstrand cross-links induced by camphoramine chloroacetic platinum in vitro. AB - Effects of camphoramine chloroacetic platinum (CCP) on DNA migration and transcription, DNA-protein and DNA interstrand cross-links induced by CCP were investigated by using agarose gel electrophoresis, alkaline elution and enzymatic techniques, respectively. Chromosome break down and migration alteration of DNa modified by CCP were observed. Plasmid pAR 436 DNA transcription was also blocked when the DNA was treated with CCP. The cross-links took place 8 h after HeLa cells were exposed to CCP 10 mumol/L and higher number of cross-links were obtained after treatment with the agent 20 mumol/L. The number of cross-links was also found to be decreased when the cell lysis was digested with proteinase K. These results suggest that CCP can also induce DNA-protein cross links. Enzymatic studies indicated that CCP preferentially attacks guanine in DNA and restriction enzymes are unable to cleave G-platinated at interval of one base to the restriction sequence. PMID- 2610000 TI - Enhancement of interleukin-1 production in mouse peritoneal macrophages by methionine-enkephalin. AB - Methionine-enkephalin, an endogenous opioid, has been reported to have some effects on immune responses. By thymocyte proliferation method, we herein report that methionine-enkephalin over a wide range of concentrations (1 pmol-0.1 mumol/L) significantly increases both extracellular interleukin-1 release and intracellular interleukin-1 production from peritoneal macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice. Naloxone, having no effect per se on interleukin-1 production, does not block the enhancing effect of the neuropeptide. Interleukin 1 production was also elevated following ip methionine-enkephalin into mice. The results suggest that methionine-enkephalin mediates the enhancement of interleukin-1 synthesis and release as well, and that the effect is not mediated through classical opioid receptors. The results also provide the further links between immune and nervous systems. PMID- 2610001 TI - [Ultrastructural study on effect of primaquine on sporogonic stage of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis]. AB - Ultrastructural changes of oocysts and sporozoites of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis was observed. Anopheles stephensi were allowed to obtain blood meal from the mice which had been administered with primaquine diphosphate at different doses and times. Mosquitoes were directed and prepared 6-13 d following infection. Electron microscopy showed that the development and morphology of a number of oocysts and sporozoites in infected mosquitoes after treatment became abnormal. The cytoplasma of the oocysts were partially or totally dissolved and formed vacuoles. The walls of oocysts were thicken. The nuclei and organelles of oocysts and sporozoites were destroyed or damaged. The nuclei and organelles of oocysts and sporozoites were destroyed or damaged. The extent of damage of the oocysts and sporozoites related to the dose of primaquine and the time after the drug administration. PMID- 2610002 TI - [Effect of praziquantel and albendazole on ultrastructure of protoscolex of Echinococcus granulosus]. AB - When protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus, maintained in 20% calf serum-RPMI 1640 were exposed to praziquantel 1 microgram/ml for 1-48 h, severe damages to the ultrastructure of protoscoleces were observed. The main lesions of the tegument included indistinct of the matrix, vacuolization and peeling, while vacuolization of perinuclear cytoplasma in tegumental cells, focus lysis in muscle bundles, and destruction in collection ducts and flame cells were also seen. The results suggest that the damages to the tegument, collection ducts and flame cells may interfere with the nutrition and defence functions of protoscoleces, and destroy the osmoregulatory system, which may be the major causes of death in protoscoleces during treatment with praziquantel. When protoscoleces were exposed to albendazole 20 micrograms/ml for 24-72 h, no apparent damage to the tegument was detected, except that some network-like structures appeared in the cytoplasma of tegument and parenchyma cells. PMID- 2610003 TI - Preparation of a volatile derivative of taurine and application to gas chromatographic determination of urinary taurine. AB - A new volatile derivative of taurine, N-isobutoxycarbonyltaurine methyl ester (methyl 2-(N-isobutoxycarbonylamino)ethanesulfonate), was prepared by a three step procedure for the gas chromatographic determination of taurine in urine. First, taurine was converted to its silver salt by reaction with silver oxide; next the silver salt was reacted with isobutyl chloroformate to form the N isobutoxycarbonyl derivative, and finally the derivative was reacted with methyl iodide to form N-isobutoxycarbonyltaurine methyl ester. The volatile derivative was analyzed by gas chromatography using a column of 3% OV-101 on Chromosorb W. When methyl 3-(N-isobutoxycarbonylamino) propanesulfonate was used as an internal standard, the calibration curve was linear between 0.5 and 5.0 mumol of taurine/ml and showed a good reproducibility. This method was applied to the determination of taurine in human urine. Recovery was 98.6 +/- 5.2%, when 1.25 to 5.0 mumol/ml of taurine was added to human urine. PMID- 2610004 TI - Analysis of chironomid allergens using specific T cell lines and clones in humans. AB - To analyze the possible major T cell recognition site(s) of chironomid antigens, we established human T cell lines and clones (CD3+ 4+ 8-) reactive to soluble extracts of the adult midge of Tokunagayusurika akamusi (TAA) and/or Chironomus yoshimatsui (CYA). All T cell lines and clones proliferated heavily in response to relatively large molecular weight fractions of TAA (MW greater than or equal to 15,000). Nine clones reactive to TAA were classified into 3 groups according to reactivity, indicating the existence of at least 3 distinct T cell recognition sites in TAA. Five T cell clones responded to both TAA and CYA, although the two chironomid antigens were serologically distinct. We conclude that T cell recognition sites of chironomid antigens are different from B cell recognition sites in humans. PMID- 2610005 TI - Sulfate and taurine excretion in rats after L-cysteine administration. AB - Excretion of sulfate and taurine, two major metabolites of sulfur, was examined in rats to study the nutritional status of sulfur metabolism in the mammals. Rats maintained on a conventional laboratory diet excreted 1.83 +/- 0.14 mmol of free sulfate and 229.0 +/- 75.3 mumol of taurine/kg of body weight per day. When the diet was changed to a synthetic 25% casein diet, the taurine excretion decreased to 15% of the previous daily excretion, but sulfate excretion decreased only slightly. These decreased levels returned to the original levels when 5 mmol of L cysteine/kg of body weight was administered into the stomach through a catheter. One week after the first L-cysteine administration, when sulfate and taurine excretion had returned to the original levels, 5 mmol of L-cysteine/kg of body weight was administered likewise. The rats excreted sulfur corresponding to about 95% of L-cysteine administered in the form of free sulfate and taurine within a few days following L-cysteine administration, and sulfate excretion was 3.5 times more than taurine excretion. These results seem to suggest that, in rats, sulfur metabolism is in a state of equilibrium and that sulfate is formed preferentially to taurine. PMID- 2610006 TI - The effect and distribution of a protein-bound polysaccharide preparation, PSK (Krestin), intratumorally injected prior to surgery into gastric cancer patients. AB - In order to improve the postoperative prognosis of gastric cancer patients we have performed preoperative endoscopic intratumoral administration of various biological response modifiers. In the present study we have investigated the kinetics and the immune response augmenting effect of intratumorally injected PSK, a protein-bound polysaccharide preparation, by immunohistochemical methods using anti-PSK antibody and various other antibodies. PSK-containing cells were located in the tumor tissues and follicular marginal zones of regional lymph nodes. Intratumorally administered PSK appeared to be phagocytized by the histiocytes and to cause them to become antigen-presenting cells. These cells may play a major role in augmenting immune responses in gastric cancer patients. PMID- 2610007 TI - A case of unilateral adrenal medullary hyperplasia. AB - We report a case of unilateral hyperplasia of the adrenal medulla. The patient showed clinical features suggestive of pheochromocytoma. Removal of the hyperplastic adrenal gland resulted in complete disappearance of all prior symptoms, decrease of the plasma and urinary catecolamine levels and no high uptake in [133I] metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy. A histological study revealed diffuse hyperplasia of the adrenal medulla. Up to now, there are relatively few reports of adrenal medullary hyperplasia in English literatures. PMID- 2610008 TI - The impact of lifestyle factors on serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in older adults: a preliminary study. AB - We studied 49 adults between the ages of 60 and 91 to determine the impact of lifestyle factors on serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels. The subjects were interviewed to determine their sunscreen use, sun exposure, dietary and supplemental vitamin D intake, current medical problems, and medications used. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (D2 and D3) were measured. Forty-six percent of our subjects had a total vitamin D intake less than 400 IU/day and 49% never used sunscreen. Sunscreen use was positively correlated with 25-hydroxy vitamin D serum levels. Total vitamin D intake was more significant than sun exposure in determining 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels. PMID- 2610009 TI - Radiology in family practice: a descriptive study of office practice. AB - This study examined all x-rays from five family practice clinics for the year 1987, recording x-ray type together with the age and sex of the patient x-rayed. A total of 4,024 x-rays was obtained from 71,192 patient visits--an x-ray utilization rate of 5.65 percent. Most office x-rays were of the chest (39.6 percent), upper extremities (21.3 percent) or lower extremities (21.0 percent). These three categories predominated for all age groups of both sexes, for all months of the year, and for all clinics studied. Males utilized x-rays much more frequently than did females (8.86 percent overall rate for males; 3.95 percent overall rate for females) at all ages except for the age group 0-10 (2.19 percent for males, 3.04 percent for females). The gender combined age group with the highest utilization rate was between 51-60 (8.39 percent) whereas the gender combined age group 0-10 had the lowest utilization rate (2.61 percent). Uniformity was demonstrated from clinic to clinic on type of x-rays obtained, frequency of x-rays by gender, and frequency of x-rays per month. A major difference, however, was noted in utilization rates between clinics. There was a two-fold difference in x-ray utilization between the clinic with the highest utilization rate and the one with the lowest. This data is useful for focusing the content of residency training and continuing medical education in radiology, for providing a content base to evaluate family physicians in radiology, and for providing a foundation upon which further investigations into office radiology can be constructed. PMID- 2610010 TI - Fee structure as a determinant of patient's choice to undergo mammography. AB - Mammography, although an effective screening tool, has generally been underutilized. Although many factors may contribute to low utilization rates, the degree to which fee structure influences women's decision to have mammography has not been determined. This study compared women having mammography at the regular fee with those women having mammography at a special reduced rate. The study group consisted of all women having mammography for eight consecutive months at a new mammography screening clinic. The clinic had specifically been established for self-referral. Women from both groups when compared to the general population in the surrounding area tended to be in a higher educational/socioeconomic level. Women in the regular fee group reported physician influence as being most important in their decision to have mammography while women in the reduced fee group reported the reduced fee of mammography itself as the most important factor. Books and magazines were the second most important factor for both the regular and reduced fee group with regard to their decision to have mammography. PMID- 2610011 TI - Creativity in clinical research. PMID- 2610012 TI - When family practice residents are parents: effect on in-training examination scores. AB - This study examines the effect of parenthood on family practice residents' knowledge of pediatrics by evaluating their performance on the pediatric portion of the American Board of Family Practice in-training examination. The 1986 examination results for five Army family practice residencies were obtained. A faculty member at each program noted on the test report whether or not each of 109 residents had children at the time of the exam. Overall, residents with children had slightly higher scores than those without children on the pediatric portion of the in-training examination. The exception was the PGY1 group where residents with children scored markedly lower than those residents without children. However, none of these differences were statistically significant. Although these results do not refute the possibility of special insight possessed by physicians who are also parents, these physicians do not appear to have any particular advantage on written tests over residents without children. PMID- 2610013 TI - Physicians' attitudes about their professional appearance. AB - Thirty-five residents and 77 staff physicians from three residency programs in Minnesota and Wisconsin completed questionnaires about their attitudes toward various components of the physician's appearance. Most participants showed positive responses to traditional physician attire such as white coat, name tag, shirt and tie, dress pants, skirt or dress, nylons, and dress shoes. Negative responses were associated with casual items such as sandals, clogs, athletic shoes, scrub suits, and blue jeans. Cronbach's alpha analysis identified four cohesive appearance scales: traditional male appearance, casual male appearance, traditional female appearance, and casual female appearance. Older physician participants favored a more traditional appearance than did younger physicians, and of the physicians who were 35 years and younger, staff physicians tended to show more conservative views toward professional appearance than did residents. PMID- 2610014 TI - The relationship between self-esteem and physical health in a family practice population. AB - This study explored the relationship between self-esteem and physical health in a primary care setting. Sixty-eight adult patients (33 males and 35 females) at a Family Practice Center completed a questionnaire assessing self-esteem and physical health. Multiple regression analysis was used in exploring the effects of self-esteem, and the control variables age, gender, employment and marital status on health status, as assessed from the patient's chart, and on number of symptoms, as assessed through patient self-report. The regression on health status was significant overall (F = 4.12, p less than .001) with each of the predictors yielding significant coefficients. Those with high self-esteem, younger people, men, and employed people had significantly higher health status scores as assessed from the patient's chart. The regression on number of symptoms was marginally significant overall (F = 2.28, p less than .06) with self-esteem emerging as a significant predictor (p less than .05). Those with high self esteem had significantly fewer symptoms as reported on the Hopkins Symptom Check List. These results support the existence of a positive relationship between self esteem and physical health in a family practice patient population. PMID- 2610015 TI - Compliance training in a child with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: a case study. AB - Compliance management was taught to the mother of a 6-year-old girl with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder who had not responded to methylphenidate. Compliance improved from 13% during baseline to better than 80% during training. When methylphenidate was terminated during compliance training the child's behavior simultaneously improved in one setting and temporarily decreased in another setting. Child behavior remained positive during two years of follow-up. Possible reasons for these findings and implications for practice are discussed. PMID- 2610016 TI - The effect of life style on subsequent well-being during old age: a research frontier for family medicine. PMID- 2610017 TI - Teaching patients coping behaviors: an essential part of successful management of osteoporosis. PMID- 2610018 TI - The effect of tartrate on bone cell acid phosphatase activity: a quantitative cytochemical study. AB - Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity (TRAPase) is widely used as a cytochemical marker to distinguish osteoclasts from macrophages and other related cell types. The degree of tartrate resistance, however, may depend on which reaction methods, tissues, or species are used. To investigate this further, we have measured the amount of cytochemical reaction product by microdensitometry. We compared osteoclast acid phosphatase (APase) activity in fresh frozen sections of neonatal rat calvaria using two different reaction methods; one is commonly employed for qualitative histochemistry and includes alpha naphthyl phosphate as substrate, simultaneous coupling to the chromagen Fast Garnet, and a 30-minute reaction time (method A). The other may be used to measure enzyme reaction rates in cells in situ and employs conditions suitable for initial velocity kinetics, namely naphthol-ASBI phosphate as substrate, post coupling to Fast Garnet, and a 2-minute reaction time. Although enzyme reaction rates differed greatly between the two methods, significant inhibition of APase activity by tartrate was observed in calvarial osteoclasts (69% and 59% with methods A and B, respectively), osteoblasts, and spleen macrophages. Using method B, mouse calvarial osteoclasts had similar APase activity to that seen in the rat. Tartrate produced little inhibition in these mouse cells, in contrast to the observations made with rat tissue, but murine spleen macrophages were significantly tartrate sensitive (40% inhibition with tartrate). On this basis, conclusions regarding the cell specificity of TRAPase should be treated cautiously. PMID- 2610019 TI - Influence of body habitus and race on bone mineral density of the midradius, hip, and spine in aging women. AB - Osteoporosis and fractures of the hip are less common in black women and in obese white women than in nonobese white women. To determine the effects of race, age, and body weight on bone mineral density (BMD), BMD of the lumbar spine, trochanter, and femoral neck were determined by dual-photon absorptiometry in 131 nonobese white women and 34 nonobese black women, all of whom were within 30% of their ideal body weight, and in 24 obese white women and 27 obese black women, all of whom weighed more than 30% of their ideal body weight and were in the same age range as the nonobese women. All of them were 51 years of age or older, and most of them were postmenopausal. BMD of the midradius was measured by single photon absorptiometry. Whereas body weight was significantly higher in the black as compared to the white women, the ages of the two groups were not different from each other. BMD declined with age and increased with body weight in both the black and white women at each of the four sites measured. After adjusting for age and weight by covariate analyses, black women had greater BMDs than white women at the midradius, lumbar spine, and femoral neck (p less than 0.001), but not at the trochanter (p = 0.18). The increases in BMD observed in the obese and black women in the present study are consistent with the previous findings that osteoporosis and fractures of the hip are less common in black and in obese white women than in nonobese white women. PMID- 2610020 TI - High extracellular calcium increases the production of a parathyroid hormone-like activity by cultured Leydig tumor cells associated with humoral hypercalcemia. AB - Cultured Leydig tumor cells produce a parathyroid hormone (PTH)-like activity, but little is known about the regulation of the release of this factor. In the present work, we investigated the influence of the extracellular calcium concentration on the production of adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity, as evaluated in the osteoblast-like PTH-responsive cell line UMR 106. Medium conditioned in the presence of 0.4 mM or 3 mM Ca elicited a 5.8 +/- 0.4-fold and 10.3 +/- 0.9-fold increase over basal of cAMP production, respectively (p less than 0.001, n = 11 experiments). This effect, which was selective for PTH-like activity, was detectable after 2 h of incubation and maximal at 6-14 h. It was abolished by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, but not by actinomycin D or cordycepin, suggesting a post-transcriptional site of action. Thus, the production of a tumoral circulating factor implicated in the pathogenesis of humoral malignant hypercalcemia may be influenced in a positive way by an increase in extracellular calcium concentration. PMID- 2610021 TI - Bone remodeling in predialysis chronic renal failure: how does the choice of index for mineralizing surface influence the interpretation? AB - To study how calculating bone dynamics with different indices of mineralizing surface (MS) may influence the interpretation of bone remodeling in chronic renal failure (CRF) and to discuss which of three often used indices may be closest to the true MS, we compared bone histomorphometry in predialysis patients with moderate (se-creatinine less than 400 mumol/liter) and advanced CRF. All were double-labeled with tetracycline and had no stainable bone aluminum. Bone dynamics were calculated with MS = double-labeled (dLS) + single-labeled surface (sLS), MS = dLS + sLS/2, and MS = dLS. As sLS was twice that of dLS in both groups and the label interval was only 10 days, most single labels were probably double labels, but unseparable due to wide and unsharp labels resulting from high rather than low bone turnover. Bone volume was the same in both groups, while osteoid and resorption indices, sLS, and bone formation rate (with MS = dLS + sLS) were increased in advanced CRF. dLS + sLS is higher than the true MS, but more representative for MS than dLS + sLS/2, with the true value between these two indices. Bone resorption, osteoid formation, and mineralization remain in balance even in advanced CRF. Osteomalacia is hardly the consequence of CRF alone. PMID- 2610022 TI - The partial degradation of osteonectin by a bone-derived metalloprotease enhances binding to type I collagen. AB - Cultured neonatal rat calvaria produce latent metalloproteases capable of degrading collagen, gelatin, and osteonectin. The osteonectin-degrading activity was further characterized and found to be optimally active between pH 6 and 8 and inhibited with EDTA and 1, 10-phenanthroline but not phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. Analysis of the degradation products of osteonectin by SDS-PAGE in the presence of dithiothreitol showed the generation of a somewhat stable 32,000 mw cleavage product. Comparison of the binding properties of this cleavage product with intact osteonectin indicated that the fragment retained its ability to bind hydroxyapatite in the presence of high salt (2 M NaCl). Importantly, the binding of osteonectin to type I collagen fibrils was enhanced by limited proteolysis. PMID- 2610023 TI - Mild versus definite osteoporosis: comparison of bone densitometry techniques using different statistical models. AB - The purpose of this investigation was to determine the ability of three bone densitometry techniques to discriminate subjects with mild vertebral deformities from those with definite compression fractures. We determined bone mineral density (BMD) in 68 postmenopausal women by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) of the spine, as well as single-photon absorptiometry (SPA) of the radius. Forty four individuals were classified as having mild deformities of the spine and 24 were considered to have definite vertebral compressions. Several statistical approaches were used to compare these subgroups and to estimate the relative risk of vertebral fracture. Included among these were percent decrements and zeta-scores, ROC curves, odds ratio estimations, and logistic regression analysis. Individuals with definite vertebral fractures had lower bone mineral density at all sites, but measurement of radial compact bone by SPA failed to reach significance. Using ROC analysis to distinguish mild deformities from true compressions, we found that measurement of spinal trabecular bone by QCT to be the most sensitive discriminator; although measurement of spinal integral bone by DPA also gave satisfactory discrimination, whereas assessment of radial compact bone did not adequately differentiate patients with mild deformities from those with definite compressions. Likewise, we found determination of spinal trabecular bone to be the most robust predictor of relative risk of definite fracture using either odds ratios or logistic regression analysis. Measurement of BMD in the peripheral cortical skeleton offered no predictive power for true vertebral fracture. We concluded that direct assessment of the spine, particularly of the trabecular portion, offered the strongest discrimination and relative risk prediction for definite osteoporotic fractures compared with milder forms of this condition. PMID- 2610024 TI - Regulation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 by calcium in the parathyroidectomized, parathyroid hormone-replete rat. AB - Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a major stimulus for the renal production of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3]. Elevated arterial blood ionized calcium ([Ca2+]) depresses serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 in nonparathyroidectomized rats even when serum PTH is maintained at high levels by infusion. However, suppression by [Ca2+] of endogenous PTH, causing the fall in 1,25-(OH)2D, cannot be excluded. To determine whether [Ca2+] regulates 1,25-(OH)2D3 in the absence of a variation in PTH, we parathyroidectomized (PTX) rats (post-PTX calcium levels less than 7.0 mg/dl), inserted arterial and venous catheters, and then replaced PTH using an osmotic pump. We varied [Ca2+] by infusing either 75 mM sodium chloride (control), 0.61 mumol/min of EGTA (EGTA), or calcium chloride at 0.61 mumol/min (low calcium) or 1.22 mumol/min (high calcium) for 24 h 5 days after surgery. Blood was then drawn from the rat through the arterial catheter. Compared with the control, [Ca2+] fell with EGTA, remained constant with the low-calcium infusion, and rose with the high-calcium infusion. 1,25-(OH)2D3 was correlated inversely with [Ca2+] in all four groups together (r = -0.635, n = 34, p less than 0.001), within the control group alone (r = -0.769, n = 11, p less than 0.002), and within the EGTA group alone (r = -0.774, n = 10, p less than 0.003). Serum phosphorus, PTH, and arterial blood pH were not different in any group, and none correlated with serum 1,25-(OH)2D3. We conclude that 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels are regulated by [Ca2+] independently of serum PTH, phosphorus, and acid-base status, all of which support the hypothesis that [Ca2+] is a principal regulator of serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 in the rat. PMID- 2610025 TI - A fifteen-somite human embryo. AB - The morphological features of a well-preserved human embryo having 15 pairs of somites are described and illustrated with a complete set of photomicrographs. This embryo was found during a forensic dissection of a Japanese woman, fixed in 10% formalin for 5 days, and embedded in an epoxy resin mixture according to routine procedures. Serial sections about 0.75 microns thick were made and stained with toluidine blue. The most important features were as follows: 1. The embryo measured 4.1 mm in greatest length and was quite symmetrical viewed dorsally. 2. Closure of the neural tube took place from the level of the first branchial groove, corresponding to the level of the anterior one-third of the rhombencephalon, to that of about 0.4 mm posterior to the 15th somite, coming across the anterior end of the cloacal membrane. The neural plate and the wall of the neural tube consisted exclusively of a pseudostratified columnar epithelium, and neither the mantle nor marginal layers were identified anywhere. 3. At the anterior end of the embryo there was a conspicuous optic evagination, and at the dorsal end of the second branchial groove a round otic placode. 4. Of the three segments of the entodermal tract the midgut was the largest, constituting about half the entire length, and opened ventrally into the large yolk sac, whose surface was covered by a meshwork of highly developed blood vessels. In the foregut two branchial pouches were seen, corresponding to the branchial grooves. Primordia of the thyroid gland and of the liver were also recognized. Among the entodermal epithelial cells lining the ventral half of the hindgut anterior to the origin of the allantois were found numerous primordial germ cells. 5. Among the 15 pairs of somites, the first two were small and consisted of dermomyotome of epithelial cell arrangement and of sclerotome mingled into mesenchyme. The next three were large, triangular on transverse section, and consisted of dorsolateral dermomyotome and ventromedial sclerotome representing a densely packed mesenchymal cell aggregation. The sixth to the tenth somites showed a well defined triangular contour, each containing a lumen, the myocoele. The last five somites were progressively smaller and were quadrangular in shape. 6. The intermediate mesoderm was encountered at levels from the 7th to the 15th somite, but no indications of pronephric differentiation were detected. 7. The heart tube was relatively large, took an S-shaped tortuous course, and occupied almost the entire pericardiac cavity. It consisted of the bulbus cordis, the ventriculus, and the atrium, each of which consisted of a thick myocardial tube and a thin endocardial tube.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2610026 TI - Occult participation: its impact on adolescent development. AB - This study investigated the relationship between occult participation, substance abuse, and level of self-esteem in adolescents. Data were collected from 50 adolescents who ranged in age from 12 to 19 years and who spoke English as their primary language. The combined group of adolescents consisted of 25 clinical and 25 nonclinical youth. Participants completed a three-part questionnaire package which included Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, the Adolescent Magic Questionnaire, and the Drug and Alcohol Assessment Scale. Results indicated that adolescent substance abuse and occult participation were significantly related. High and low occult participation groups were determined, and significant differences were found between the high versus low occult groups when compared on the primary variables of self-esteem and substance abuse. Significant differences were also noted when comparing the high versus low occult groups with various psychosocial developmental variables. Included is a discussion of the impact of occult participation on the psychosocial elements of adolescent self-esteem, self concept, tolerance for deviance, and religious involvement. PMID- 2610027 TI - Colombian street children: gamines and chupagruesos. AB - Through the use of participant observations and the collection of standardized psychological test scores from a sample of 56 street children, their characteristics were examined. The Kohs Block Design measured their intelligence; the Human Figure Drawing and the Bender-Gestalt tests were used to measure emotional and neurological functioning. The data indicated that their mental health was adequate, which is postulated to be the result of intense friendships between the children. Two different styles of street life are presented--the gamines and chupagruesos. Because of their public lives and because they live without parental supervision, their developmental periods have been altered. The paper illustrates how child development is dependent on societal reactions to aberrant children. PMID- 2610028 TI - Adoption vs. parenting decisions among pregnant adolescents. AB - The choice of adoption is rare among pregnant adolescents. This exploratory study used regression analyses to ascertain which demographic, social, and intervention variables were related to this decision. The adolescents with mothers who favored adoption and/or had few parenting peer models were more likely to choose adoption. Age, knowledge of peers who had chosen adoption, grades in school, level of involvement in a comprehensive adolescent pregnancy program, and participation in individual therapy or Decision-Making Group were not significantly related to the decision. Decision-Making Group is a once-a-week therapy session that focuses on adoption vs. parenting decisions for pregnant adolescents. Eighty-seven percent of the adolescents who participated in these sessions found them helpful. The policy implications for adolescent pregnancy programs are explored. PMID- 2610029 TI - Peer group influence as a factor in smoking behavior of adolescents. AB - Adolescents, as the fastest growing group of smokers, have been a focus and concern of health educators and researchers. Adolescent smoking is of particular interest because initiation and early habits are known to have important implications for lifetime smoking or cessation. Despite the well-known centrality of the peer group in adolescent behavior, smoking cessation programs have been largely directed toward individuals rather than groups, with emphasis on encouraging the individual to say "no." In this paper, smoking behavior and peer group patterns among a sample of 1,689 Grade 8 students from southern Ontario were analyzed to ascertain possible patterns of indirect influence by friends and acquaintances. Gender differences also were assessed. It was found that peer groups are crucially important in the initiation of smoking among young adolescents, particularly females. The patterns of indirect peer influence on girls is such that girls are less likely to stop smoking once they have begun than are boys. PMID- 2610030 TI - Treatment of adolescents in a residential facility: a study of three approaches. AB - This study examined the preferred professional treatment approach at a residential treatment center for socially and emotionally maladjusted girls. The dorm child-care workers and the clinical and educational staff responded to a questionnaire composed of statements reflective of three theoretical orientations: psychoanalytic, person-centered, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. No significant differences were found between the three departments (clinical, school, dorm) for each model of therapy. The results also indicated that the professional personnel employed at this treatment facility were all in agreement that the cognitive-behavioral model of therapeutic intervention is the one preferred. Implications of these findings are discussed. PMID- 2610031 TI - Comprehensive employment preparation for adolescents with developmental disabilities: an empirical paradigm. AB - This paper presents a comprehensive employment preparation intervention for adolescents with developmental disabilities. Vocational preparation is viewed in terms of the development of job and related psychosocial skills. The Comprehensive Employment Preparation program is designed to help youth and young adults with developmental disabilities acquire the skills necessary to prepare them for effective functioning as self-sustaining, working members of society. Substantial research indicates that social, problem-solving and employment seeking skills are significant factors in attaining and maintaining employment. At this time, relevant literature clearly reveals that progress is being made in assessing individual deficiencies and programs for development of improved social competency. Future policy and research issues are reviewed. PMID- 2610032 TI - Effects of early alcohol use on adolescents' relations with peers and self esteem: patterns over time. AB - Strain or problem-solving models posit that deviance persists because it enhances youths' psychosocial properties and is therefore functional for adolescents. However, empirical tests of this assumption have been limited to determining whether a moderately social activity like delinquency produces time-ordered changes in self-esteem. This research examines whether a highly social activity like alcohol use improves adolescents' relations with peers and self-esteem over time. The results of a four-year panel study show that the effects of early alcohol use are limited to enhancing peer relations only among adolescents who use alcohol in order to be part of the group. Early alcohol consumption also has a delayed effect on boosting self-esteem, but this effect is restricted to youths who equate drinking with sophistication. The lack of generality of these findings and how the psychological functions of drinking might cancel these effects are discussed. PMID- 2610033 TI - Cocaine and crack users compared. AB - Because crack use is such a recent phenomenon, little is known about users of this highly addictive drug, the harmful effects of which have been widely publicized. This study hypothesized that crack users would be more depressed and more alienated from family, friends, and school staff than would cocaine users, and would consider as less important reasons not to use crack and cocaine. The authors compared 411 users of cocaine (but not crack) to 156 crack users, all but 22 of whom had also used cocaine. The sample was derived from a larger random survey of 7th- through 12th-grade students in North Carolina. Results indicated that crack users were younger than cocaine users, made poorer grades, were more depressed, and were more likely to be alienated from family and friends. However, cocaine and crack users were equally unlikely to confide in anyone in their school if they had a drinking or drug problem. Further, crack users were more likely to have talked once to a teacher or counselor in the past year about their problems. The implications of these seemingly inconsistent findings are explored. Crack users appear to be a particularly vulnerable population. PMID- 2610034 TI - Sports competition and its influence on self-esteem development. AB - Competition and its influence upon the adolescent is the primary concern of many recreational agencies. In the past ten years, many youth agencies have de emphasized competition in their programs because of its negative influence upon self-esteem. There is a need to examine the relationship between competition and self-esteem so that recreational programs can be better designed to utilize competition as a positive factor. A study was undertaken to examine self-esteem in relation to competition in a basketball program. It was found that the coach's assessments of ability and intention of participation are important factors in positive self-esteem development. The social aspects of peer interaction and parent influence also contribute to positive self-esteem. These are minor elements, however, in comparison to the impact of the coach. There needs to be intensive training for coaches on how to develop positive self-esteem and how to deal with the range of participation styles. PMID- 2610035 TI - Adolescent school performance following parental divorce: are there family factors that can enhance success? AB - Most research on the effects of divorce on children has focused on delineation of specific areas of child maladjustment. A more optimistic approach seeks to identify variables that may mediate negative effects of a stressor, such as parental divorce. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between one area of child adjustment, school achievement, and family factors which may mediate the negative influence of divorce. The subjects were 71 early adolescents and their recently divorced mothers. The adolescents were divided into low, medium, and high grade achievement groups. Analyses of variance and subsequent Newman-Keuls tests revealed that adolescents with high grade point averages had mothers with a lower level of depression, a higher educational level, less conflict with their ex-spouse, and less intense levels of conflict between mother and adolescent than those in the low grade point average group. A discriminant analysis resulted in a two-variable equation which accounted for 33% of the variance between low and high grade achievers. The two variables were mother's report of conflict between her and her ex-spouse in front of the adolescent and the adolescent's report of the intensity of arguments between him/herself and mother. These results indicated that school performance following divorce is not uniform for all adolescents and that family factors may mediate scholastic achievement problems. PMID- 2610036 TI - Rats and bunnies: core kids in an American mall. AB - Although adolescents use shopping malls as important places of congregation, very little attention has been paid to this phenomenon by social scientists. This paper reports on a qualitative, interview-based study of adolescents in a New England shopping mall. Regular, day-to-day frequenters (N = 23) were identified and interviewed extensively over a six-week period in 1988. These "core kids" exhibited a good deal of alienation from both family and school, and used the mall as a neutral ground on which to create a fragile but mutually supportive community of kind. PMID- 2610037 TI - Therapeutic versus traditional foster care: theoretical and practical distinctions. AB - This article explores the conceptual and practical differences between traditional and therapeutic foster care. Most important is that therapeutic foster care is linked to an emerging philosophy referred to as postmodernism. If this philosophical basis is not understood, the thrust of therapeutic foster care may be seriously misconstrued, and a community-based style of treatment may be destroyed. PMID- 2610038 TI - Suicide in a middle-born child. AB - A case of suicide in a 17-year-old boy is described. Extracts from an interview with his mother are used to illustrate his violent behavior, delinquency, relationships with his family and peers, efforts to seek treatment, and the clues he gave to his impending suicide. His life-style and subsequent suicidal behavior are related to his middle-born sibling position. PMID- 2610039 TI - The changing nature of the parent-adolescent relationship from early to late adolescence. AB - This research analyzes changes in the parent-child relationship that help clarify the balance between individuation and cohesiveness over the period from age 11 to 17. Data were collected from mothers, fathers, and oldest children in 110 families whose oldest child was 11, 14 or 17. Three methods were involved: a survey of attitudes about family decision making, independence, love, understanding, and satisfaction with parenting; Loevinger's measure of ego level for parents and children; and an open-ended assessment of qualities family members admired in one another. The results provide insight into expectations and processes involved in revising the quality of parent-child relationships during early adolescence. PMID- 2610040 TI - A comparison of personality characteristics, family relationships, and drug taking behavior in low and high socioeconomic status adolescents who are drug abusers. AB - Low socioeconomic status (SES) and high SES adolescents who met the DSM-III criteria for drug abuse were compared with respect to personality characteristics, family relationships, and drug-taking behavior. SES was determined by parents' income, education, and occupation. The two groups did not differ significantly with respect to self-esteem, quality of family relationships, impulse control, moral development, and drug-taking behavior. However, high SES adolescents were more depressed (p less than .009) and more anxious (p less than .02) than low SES adolescents, and these findings lent support to the argument that low and high SES drug abusers differ in personality and therefore require different kinds of treatment interventions. PMID- 2610041 TI - Adolescents' peer orientation: changes in the support system during the past three decades. AB - Identical questionnaires were administered to samples of high school students (N = 570) in 1963, 1976, and 1982. The purpose was to determine to what extent they relied on their peers on a number of important issues. The findings revealed no monolithic orientation, but showed that the nature of the issue determines which reference group is activated: peers or parents. While educational, career, and financial concerns are more parent oriented, almost all social activities are peer oriented. However, the strength of the orientation has been fluctuating over the past decades: the teenagers showed lowest peer orientation in 1963, highest in 1976, and intermediate in 1982. PMID- 2610042 TI - Loneliness among late adolescents. AB - The extent of loneliness among late adolescents was assessed by means of the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Findings suggest that although moderate loneliness was reported by most participants, a number of young people evidenced a high degree of loneliness. A comparison of lonely and nonlonely adolescents yielded relatively few significant differences. Of particular interest, however, was the finding that lonely and nonlonely adolescents use different strategies to deal with feelings of loneliness. Implications for working with lonely adolescents are offered. PMID- 2610043 TI - Reading and formal thinking in Quebec high school students. AB - According to Piaget, the development of formal thinking is one of the primary tasks of adolescence. Reading is also a developmental task. The failure of adolescents to develop formal thinking skills and increasing levels of illiteracy led the investigators to conduct a pilot study to see whether there is a correlation between high school students' scores on a test of formal thinking and those on a test of reading. Students' success on both tests was disappointingly low. Lack of motivation seems to be a major problem, and requires further investigation. Correlations between scores on the two tests were relatively low, although there is a suggestive similarity between the distribution of scores for formal thinking and those for vocabulary. General success on visual exercises suggests that graphic methods using computer-assisted instruction may be useful for developing formal thinking skills of adolescents. PMID- 2610044 TI - Personality characteristics of adolescent marijuana users. AB - A group of high school students from middle- to upper-middle-class backgrounds was studied to investigate the relationship between marijuana use, marijuana misuse, and personality. The California Personality Inventory and a version of the Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale (adapted for the assessment of marijuana involvement) were the primary instruments used. Analysis of variance and regression analysis were performed on the data. Results indicated a relationship between the personality characteristics of adolescents who are involved in marijuana use and misuse and adolescents who are not; there are discernible differences in the personalities of the adolescents who are involved with marijuana. The intervention and prevention implications of these results are discussed. PMID- 2610045 TI - Grade, pubertal status, and gender-related variations in conflictual issues among adolescents. AB - The purpose of this study was to describe adolescent perceptions of conflictual family issues, and to ascertain if the intensity of these issues is associated with adolescent grade in school, pubertal status, and gender. The sample was comprised of 279 junior high and senior high school students. Each participant completed a self-report measure of pubertal status, a demographic questionnaire, and the Issues Checklist. Principal factor analysis with varimax rotation of the Issues Checklist resulted in the retention of four factors accounting for 71.59% of the variance. Stepwise regression analyses were conducted for each emergent factor with grade in school, pubertal status, and gender serving as predictors. The results of these analyses indicated that the intensity of School Issues and Household Behavior Issues is greater among seventh and ninth graders than among eleventh graders. Self-Responsibility Issues were perceived as being most intense among transpubertal adolescents. Finally, boys perceived more intense conflict over Persistent Issues and Concerns than did girls. PMID- 2610046 TI - An appeals system for fines received by adolescents in a token economy. AB - A system is described wherein adolescents participating in a token economy at a state hospital were allowed to appeal fines received from staff. Appeals were heard by a board composed of three residents and a psychology intern. The board met weekly and had full power to rescind or uphold fines. Before initiation of the appeal system, residents complained vigorously about fines received and about the "unfairness" of the staff and the token system, frequently denying responsibility for the infractions involved. Although almost half the fines were upheld, there were practically no more complaints of unfairness, and denials of responsibility declined drastically. The number of residents appealing fines fell from an average of four per week to less than one per week after the system had been in effect for one and one-half months. When asked why the system was not being used more often, residents grudgingly volunteered that most of the fines received were fair. It was not possible to determine whether this was due to changes in residents' attitudes or to actual changes in fining behavior by staff. Results are discussed in terms of effects on residents, acceptance by staff, and implications for further research. PMID- 2610047 TI - Kinins V. Part B. Proceedings of the Fifth International Kinin Congress. November 29-December 3, 1987, Tokyo, Japan. PMID- 2610048 TI - T-kinin in human ovarian carcinoma ascites. PMID- 2610049 TI - Plasma kinin levels in experimental hypertension in rats. PMID- 2610050 TI - Role of renal kallikrein in the regulation of blood pressure in the rat remnant kidney model of chronic renal failure. AB - We studied urinary excretion of active and inactive kallikrein every day for 3 weeks in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6), 1/2-nephrectomy (1/2) or sham-operation (Sham). We determined urinary active and inactive kallikrein by measuring kallikrein activity using a kininogenase assay before and after treatment with trypsin (200 micrograms/ml). In the SHR group, blood pressure was significantly elevated in 5/6-animals as compared with 1/2 or sham, whereas in the WKY group blood pressure was not changed after either operation. Urinary active and total kallikrein excretion were decreased in 5/6-SHR to 34% and 59%, respectively, as compared with values of sham-SHR, and in 1/2-SHR to 70% and 70%, respectively. Similarly, they were also decreased in 5/6-WKY to 36% and 55%, respectively, as compared with values of sham-WKY. In 1/2-WKY urinary active kallikrein excretion was decreased to 88% as compared with the value of sham-WKY, but urinary total kallikrein excretion was not different from that of sham-WKY. Thus, the suppressed renal kallikrein activity due to reduced renal mass was not associated with any significant change in blood pressure in WKY, although it induced an elevation of blood pressure in SHR. These results indicate that the decreased production of renal active kallikrein may not play a significant role in the regulation of blood pressure in the rat remnant kidney model of chronic renal failure. In addition, it is suggested that the elevation of blood pressure in this model of SHR may be due to other factors than renal kallikrein. PMID- 2610051 TI - The renal kallikrein-kinin system in renoparenchymal hypertension. AB - In order to investigate the pathophysiological role of renal kallikrein (KK) kinin system in renoparenchymal hypertension (RHT), urinary excretion of KK was measured in 15 patients with RHT and compared with that in 16 normotensive subjects (NT). The urinary kininase excretion was also determined in some subjects. KK quantity and activity was measured by direct radioimmunoassay and kininogenase assay, respectively. Kininase activity was determined as a bradykinin-degradating activity. The urinary excretion of KK quantity and activity as well as the fractional excretion of KK were significantly lower in RHT than in NT. Significantly positive correlations were observed between urinary excretion of KK quantity or KK activity and creatinine clearance. The fractional excretion of kininase was significantly higher in RHT than in NT while no significant difference was found in the urinary kininase excretion between these groups. These results suggest that renal KK-kinin system is suppressed not only in the whole kidney but in each nephrone which is still functioning, and the suppression of this system may contribute to the pathophysiology of RHT. PMID- 2610052 TI - Effect of oral potassium on urinary kallikrein excretion in essential hypertension. AB - Urinary kallikrein and potassium were excreted in parallel in not only static but also dynamic sodium states. Oral potassium load stimulated the release of urinary kallikrein in normotensive subjects and WHO stage I essential hypertensive patients. Stage II essential hypertensive patients had the lowest value of basal level of urinary kallikrein and showed no increase in urinary kallikrein by oral potassium load. These results suggest that the functional activity of renal kallikrein-kinin system decreases with the development of essential hypertension. PMID- 2610053 TI - Purification and immunological properties of human urinary kallikrein and prokallikrein. AB - Human urinary prokallikrein and kallikrein have been purified from the same source of urine simultaneously. The anti-kallikrein and anti-prokallikrein antibodies were raised in rabbits using the purified preparations. With respect to solid phase enzyme immunoassay (EIA), immunoaffinity column chromatography, and single radial immunodiffusion, reactivity of each antibody with kallikrein was distinctly different from that with prokallikrein. Kallikrein could be determined by anti-kallikrein antibody-immobilized EIA below 20 ng per ml, whereas prokallikrein was undetectable. Prokallikrein became detectable at higher concentrations, although it was less reactive than kallikrein. The anti prokallikrein antibody-immobilized EIA detected both kallikrein and prokallikrein with the same sensitivity. However, the binding capacity for kallikrein was about one-third less than that for prokallikrein. The results show that kallikrein in human urine may be determined directly and selectively. Similar difference in reactivity was observed with immunoaffinity column chromatography and single radial immunodiffusion. The presence of 3-4 antigenic sites per molecule was indicated by quantitative precipitin reaction, and it is suggested from analysis of amino acid sequence of kallikrein by the method of Hopp and Woods that four hydrophilic regions exist in kallikrein molecule. PMID- 2610054 TI - Characterization of N-linked oligosaccharides of human urinary kallikrein molecules. AB - The micro-heterogeneity due to varied N-linked oligosaccharides of both active- and pro-types of human urinary kallikrein (HUK) in normal subjects and some patients were investigated by the methods of serial lectin affinity chromatography and crossed affino-immunoelectrophoresis. In the case of both types of normal HUK, the species carrying tri- and/or tetra-antennary oligosaccharide(s), corefucosylated bi-antennary oligosaccharide(s), and bi antennary oligosaccharides containing outer galactose residues and an N acetylglucosamine residue linked beta 1,4 to a beta-linked mannose residue (bisecting N-acetylglucosamine residue) amounted to approximately 36, 33 and 17% of the total of each type of HUK, respectively. On the other hand, in some diseases, i.e. essential hypertension, Bartter's syndrome and acute pancreatitis, alterations of the chromatographic and electrophoretic patters were observed and are assumed to correspond to glycosylation changes in each HUK molecule. PMID- 2610055 TI - Rat submandibular gland kallikreins A and B: isolation, purification and properties. PMID- 2610056 TI - Human salivary kallikrein and submaxillary glands kallikreins. PMID- 2610057 TI - Characterization of human pancreatic kallikrein. AB - Human pancreatic kallikrein (H.Panc.K.) was purified from human pancreas by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatographies on p aminobenzamidine Sepharose 6B and aprotinin aminocellulofine, followed by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200. The final preparation had a specific activity of 9.2 AU/A280 (AU; amidase unit for H-Pro-Phe-Arg-MCA) and its N-terminal sequence coincided with the reported sequence for H.Panc.K.. In HPLC (gel filtration), one symmetrical peak corresponding to a molecular weight of 48,000 was obtained. In SDS-PAGE without 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), one band corresponding to a molecular weight of 52,000 was obtained, but with 2-ME, 2 bands, 52,000 and 30,000, were obtained. Km value for MCA was 4.9 x 10(-2) mM. Proteinase inhibitor specificities of H.Panc.K. were the same as those of human urinary kallikrein (HUK) and hog pancreatic kallikrein (hog Panc.K.), while anti-HUK antibody inhibited the activities of H.Panc.K. and HUK, but not that of hog Panc.K.. From the analysis of affinity for concanavalin A (Con A) and erythroagglutinating phytohemagglutinin (E-PHA), the carbohydrate parts of H.Panc.K. are relatively rich in biantennary complex type sugar chains with bisecting GlcNAc compared with those of human salivary kallikrein (H.Saliv.K.) and HUK. PMID- 2610058 TI - Immunocytochemical identification of glandular kallikrein in the rat anterior pituitary. PMID- 2610059 TI - Localization of kallikrein in human male genital organ. AB - Male genital organs (testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and vas deferens) were stained by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method to clarify the localization of kallikrein. Sertoli cells of the testis, epithelial cells of the epididymis, and adenocytes of the prostate gland were specifically stained showing that endogenous kallikrein was localized in these cells. PMID- 2610060 TI - Isolation and partial characterization of rabbit urinary kallikrein. PMID- 2610061 TI - Tissue kallikreins of the guinea-pig. PMID- 2610062 TI - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for human tissue kallikrein and analysis of immunoreactive kallikrein in the plasma by them. AB - In order to study immunoreactive tissue kallikrein (TK) in human plasma, three kinds of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems for human urinary kallikrein (HUK) were developed. All three types of TK in the plasma, i.e., active kallikrein, prokallikrein and kallikrein-alpha 1 antitrypsin (alpha 1 AT) complex, could be measured by the competitive ELISA (C-ELISA). However, the sandwich ELISA (S-ELISA) showed more strict specificity. Namely, both active and prokallikreins were able to be measured by the S-ELISA, while kallikrein-alpha 1 AT complex was hardly measurable. Measurement of this kallikrein-alpha 1 AT complex was made possible by using horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled anti alpha 1 AT IgG instead of HRP-labeled anti-HUK Fab' as the second antibody (HS ELISA). Using these ELISAs we studied TK in plasma and the following observations were made. 1) The greater part of TK in the plasma was found in a form of a complex with alpha 1 AT. 2) The amount of free type TK was very small and the most part of this type TK in normal plasma was prokallikrein. PMID- 2610063 TI - Glandular kallikrein-like enzyme in adrenal glands. AB - A kallikrein-like kininogenase was identified in the rat adrenal gland. Most of the enzyme was present in an inactive form, since pre-incubation with trypsin markedly increased kininogenase activity from 54.8 +/- 11.8 to 230 +/- 23.0 pg bradykinin/mg protein/min. Adrenal kininogenase was inhibited 90% by phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride, 92% by D-Phe-Phe-Arg-chloromethylketone, 91% by aprotinin, and only 15% by soybean trypsin inhibitor. Pre-incubation with antibodies against rat urinary kallikrein resulted in 85% inhibition. The apparent molecular weight of adrenal kininogenase on gel filtration chromatography was 33 Kd. The enzyme was strongly adsorbed to immobilized rat urinary kallikrein antibodies and required drastic conditions for elution. In canine adrenal glands, we found that there was no difference in the cortical and medullary distribution of active and inactive SBTI resistant kininogenase activity. We conclude that an enzyme which closely resembles glandular kallikrein is present in adrenal glands. PMID- 2610064 TI - Further characterization of monoclonal antibodies against rat plasma kallikrein, rat low molecular weight kininogen and synthetic bradykinin. AB - Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to rat plasma kallikrein, rat plasma low molecular weight kininogen and synthetic bradykinin were characterized further. The MAbs were obtained after the immunization of BALB/c mice with the purified reagents and synthetic bradykinin coupled to ovalbumin. The MAbs were very useful in characterizing components of the kallikrein-kininogen-kinin system. Plasma kallikrein MAbs bound specifically to both rat and human plasma kallikrein but did not interact immunologically with either rat or human glandular kallikrein. The MAbs immunoprecipitated about 75% of the kallikrein enzyme activity. Five stable hybridomas were obtained that produced MAbs against bradykinin. These MAbs cross-reacted with bradykinin, bradykinin analogues, purified rat plasma kininogen and tryptic digests of rat plasma kininogen. The MAbs also neutralized the smooth muscle contractile activity of bradykinin. The specificity of MAbs against rat plasma kininogens was confirmed by immuno-precipitation of 125I kininogen with MAbs followed by SDS-PAGE. These MAbs were used successfully to develop immunoassays (ELISA) and immunoadsorbents to purify components of the kallikrein-kininogen-kinin system. PMID- 2610065 TI - An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for kinins in tryptic digests. PMID- 2610066 TI - Hydrolysis of synthetic peptides and natural substrates by plasma kallikrein and its light chain. PMID- 2610067 TI - Purification of factor XII from porcine plasma and its activation by porcine plasma kallikrein. PMID- 2610068 TI - Study on the in vitro assay method for evaluating the inhibitory effect of various substances on the production of plasma kallikrein. AB - The assay method based on the principle of kallikrein-kinin cascade was established for evaluating the inhibitory effects of various substances on the production of plasma kallikrein. In this in vitro assay, it was found that indomethacin, ketoprofen, ibuprofen and an extract obtained from inflamed rabbit skin inoculated with vaccinia virus (NSP) had the inhibitory effect on the production of plasma kallikrein. Kinins generated in the reaction mixture were measured by RIA. It was shown that the generation of kinins was also inhibited by these substances. From these results, it is hoped that this assay method may be useful for screening the substances which inhibited the production of kinin. PMID- 2610069 TI - A new analytical system for the proteases and antiproteases assessment. PMID- 2610070 TI - cDNA cloning of kininase 1. PMID- 2610071 TI - Cysteine protease inhibitors with S-(3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl)-cysteine residue in affinity analogs of peptide substrates. PMID- 2610072 TI - Studies on new synthetic inhibitors of kallikreins and chymotrypsin. PMID- 2610073 TI - Inhibition of human and rat tissue kallikreins by peptide analog antagonists of bradykinin. AB - Three representative bradykinin receptor antagonists have been examined for their capacity to inhibit purified human and rat urinary kallikreins. In an amidolytic assay, the Ki values for the inhibition of human urinary kallikrein were 0.5, 0.3, and 2.5 microM for B4307 (DArg-Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Thi-Ser-DPhe-Thi-Arg), B4308 (Lys-Lys-Arg-Hyp-Hyp-Gly-Thi-Ser-DPhe-Thi-Arg) and B3852 (Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Phe-Ser DPhe-Phe-Arg), respectively. B4308 and B3852 inhibited rat urinary kallikrein with Ki's of 1.0 and 5.5 microM, respectively. B4308 (0.4 to 1.6 microM) also inhibited the kininogenase activity of human urinary kallikrein on human low molecular weight kininogen in a dose-dependent fashion. These bradykinin receptor antagonists may inhibit the kallikrein-kinin system both by blocking the binding of kinins to B2 receptors and by inhibiting the cleavage of kinins from kininogens. PMID- 2610074 TI - Changes of T-kininogen levels in plasma and liver during development of rats. AB - T-kininogen levels of plasma and liver were measured in rats during development by RIA. We found that higher levels of T-kininogen in plasma and liver of neonates and of the mother rats at around term. The plasma level of mature male rats was as low as 1/5 to 1/2 of that of mature female rats. T-kininogen levels in male and female rats increased after treatment with estradiol, indicating that sex hormones may regulate the physiological level of T-kininogen in rats. PMID- 2610075 TI - Leukocyte-induced regulation of hepatic production of T-kininogen. PMID- 2610076 TI - Highly selective synthetic inhibitors with regard to plasma-kallikrein activities. AB - The synthetic inhibitors of plasma kallikrein (PK) were found, which are called PKSI-1007, PKSI-0180 and PKSI-0527 in our laboratories. (1) The inhibitors inhibited PK competitively with D-Pro-Phe-Arg-pNA and the Ki values obtained were considerably small, 10(-6) M-10(-7) M. However, the Ki values for glandular kallikrein (GK), plasmin (PL), thrombin (TH) and factor Xa (FXa) were larger. In particular, a selectivity of PKSI-0527 towards PK was very high and the toxicity was weak (i.v. LD50 for mice is over 100 mg/kg). (2) The inhibitors were effective (a) to prevent the bradykinin formation in the kaolin-activated human plasma and the acid-treated ascites taken from the mice bearing Sarcoma 180, (b) to prolong the coagulation time by contact activation, and (c) to inhibit the enhancement of ADP-platelet aggregation by PK. The results indicated that the some PKSI-inhibitors will be much useful for the basic studies, furthermore they deem to be even promising towards the clinical application. PMID- 2610077 TI - Identification of thiol-activated T-kininogenases in the rat and mouse submandibular glands. AB - T-kininogen is a unique protein(s) which is directed for synthesis following inflammation such as that caused by adjuvant arthritis and carrageenin. The properties of the protein include thiol-protease inhibition and the potential to act as a substrate to release Ile-Ser-bradykinin (T-kinin). During the inflammatory response, free T-kinin is found in the blood and inflammatory fluids indicating that T-kininogenase (T-kgnase) enzymes exist that release T-kinin and perhaps related T-kinins involved in inflammation. We report here that T kininogenases have been found in the rat and mouse submandibular glands and in rat peritoneal white cells. The pH optimum is about 8.0. The enzymes must be thiol-activated. Thus, the rat has the complete T-kgnase-T-kinin system. Since T kininogen is a member of the superfamily of cysteine protease inhibitors, members of the superfamily may be directed for synthesis in inflammatory diseases including ascites in other species including humans. PMID- 2610078 TI - Sex dimorphism and estrogen regulation of kininogens in rat serum, adrenal gland and kidney. PMID- 2610079 TI - Kinin-containing kininogen is present in human seminal plasma. PMID- 2610080 TI - Radioimmunoassay of kinins and its application to purification of kininogens. PMID- 2610081 TI - Characterization of an SH-proteinase inhibitor from Bothrops jararaca plasma. PMID- 2610082 TI - A new type of ultrasensitive bioluminescence enzyme substrates for kininases. PMID- 2610083 TI - Development of bradykinin antagonists: structure-activity relationships for new categories of antagonist sequences. PMID- 2610084 TI - Tissue selectivity of novel specific and competitive antagonists of neurokinin B on isolated smooth muscles. PMID- 2610085 TI - Competitive antagonists of bradykinin: in vitro (jugular vein) and in vivo (blood pressure response) studies. PMID- 2610086 TI - Long-term effects of aldosterone on kallikrein and sodium in rats. PMID- 2610087 TI - Activation of inactive kallikrein in the rat kidney during low sodium intake. AB - A method was developed to measure the protease responsible for activation of inactive kallikrein in the rat kidney. The renal protease was evaluated by incubating the purified rat urinary inactive kallikrein with the renal cortical extract in the presence of cysteine at pH 5.0. The renal cortical extract produced a dose- and time-dependent activation of the inactive kallikrein. Levels of the renal protease responsible for activation of inactive kallikrein remained unchanged with dietary sodium restriction. On the other hand, urinary excretion of total, active, and inactive kallikrein increased significantly during low sodium intake, with no change in the ratio of active to total kallikrein. These results suggest that low sodium intake stimulates the biosynthesis of inactive kallikrein but not the activation of this kallikrein precursor in the kidney. PMID- 2610088 TI - Role of renal kallikrein in the increased fractional sodium excretion in the rat remnant kidney model of chronic renal failure. AB - To assess the potential role of renal kallikrein-kinin system in enhancing sodium excretion per nephron in chronic renal failure, we studied urinary excretion of active and inactive kallikrein for 3 weeks in Wistar-Kyoto rats subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6), 1/2 nephrectomy (1/2) or sham operation (Sham). We determined urinary active and inactive kallikrein by measuring kallikrein activity using a kininogenase assay before and after treatment with trypsin (200 micrograms/ml). Fractional sodium excretion was significantly increased in 5/6-rats as compared with 1/2- or sham-rats. On the contrary, urinary active kallikrein excretion per nephron was not different in the three models whereas a significant rise in urinary inactive kallikrein excretion per nephron was found in 5/6-rats as compared with 1/2- or sham-rats. Urinary total kallikrein excretion per nephron was significantly increased in 5/6-rats as compared with sham-rats. In addition, no correlation was found between fractional sodium excretion and urinary active kallikrein excretion corrected for creatinine clearance (Ccr) in 5/6-rats. These results indicate that decreased excretion of renal active kallikrein may not play a significant role in the increased sodium excretion per nephron in the rat remnant kidney model of chronic renal failure. Furthermore, it is suggested that in this model of rat there might be impaired production of renal active kallikrein although its exact mechanism remains to be determined. PMID- 2610089 TI - Factor XII levels in patients after abdominal surgery. PMID- 2610090 TI - Mechanism of activation of the kallikrein-kinin system in plasma of patients with atopic allergic diseases. PMID- 2610091 TI - Role of bradykinin generating and degrading systems in the vascular permeability response induced with kaolin in rats. PMID- 2610092 TI - Endotoxin shock, kinin system and PAF-acether in the rat. PMID- 2610093 TI - Estimation of plasma kallikrein in sickle-cell anemia, and its relation to the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems. PMID- 2610094 TI - Elastase release in plasma with increased C1-inhibition capacity during recirculation of blood. PMID- 2610095 TI - Plasma kallikrein clearance by the liver of normal and injured rats. AB - We report the clearance of rat plasma kallikrein (RPK) by the perfused livers of normal rats and from others at 2 and 4 days after subcutaneous injection of turpentine oil. RPK removal from the perfusate follows a logarithmic curve (y = a+b lnx) and from this equation its half-life of removal can be calculated. RPK clearance rate followed the potential equation y = axb. Both the half-life of RPK removal and RPK clearance rates were similar in the 3 groups of perfused livers. We conclude that, at the initial concentration of RPK used (approximately 3 nM), its liver clearance is not affected during the acute-phase response to inflammation. PMID- 2610096 TI - Studies on the mechanism of the sedational state; "tranquilization" evoked by bradykinin or kallikrein in rats. AB - The mechanism of the sedative state "tranquilization" evoked by bradykinin(BK) or kallikrein(Kal), was studied. The drugs were injected intracerebroventricularly(icv) into the lateral ventricle, according to Yaksh's procedure. The behavior of a rat was estimated comparatively by the spontaneous movement. Two groups of animals were examined; one group was pretreated with prostaglandin (PG)-synthesis inhibitors, and the other group was not pretreated. The tranquilization was observed at the period of 12 to 16 min after BK or Kal injection. Almost of the PG-synthesis inhibitors reduced the tranquilization. On the contrary, eugenol or guaiacol, elongated the tranquilization. The levels of monoamines and PGs in the rat brain at the tranquilization, 15 min after BK injection detected with HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography). The levels of almost monoamines in the rat brain were decreased, however, PGE2 was increased considerably. Those results suggest that PGs is greatly involved in tranquilization evoked by BK or Kal. PMID- 2610097 TI - Does kallikrein improve the brain function in dementia? AB - Forty biological units of Kallikrein were administered intramuscularly to nine persons suffering from multi-infarct dementia. With automatic analysis equipment, the wave-form recognition method was used to analyze EEG before injection, immediately after injection, and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after injection. The results of analysis done the five times after injection were then compared with the analysis results before injection. With the passage of time after injection, delta and theta waves showed a gradually decreasing tendency, while alpha and beta waves showed a gradual increase. It was inferred that these changes in the EEG were caused by an increase in the flow of cerebral blood, which in turn was the effect of the dilatation of cerebral blood vessels resulting from the action of the Kallikrein. PMID- 2610098 TI - Circulatory effect of kallikrein; with special reference to cerebral circulation. PMID- 2610099 TI - Studies on the inhibition of plasma kallikrein, C1-esterase and beta-FXIIa in the presence and the absence of heparins. PMID- 2610100 TI - Serial measurement of bradykinin and fibrinopeptide A of cerebrospinal fluid and plasma in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. PMID- 2610101 TI - Studies of sweat kallikrein in normal human subjects. PMID- 2610102 TI - Studies on the intestinal absorption of tissue kallikrein. PMID- 2610103 TI - The major plasma kallikrein inhibitor in guinea pig plasma with contrapsin-like nature. AB - Kallikrein inhibitor in plasma (KIP) was purified, and the share in the kallikrein inhibitory capacity of guinea pig plasma was estimated by depletion of the inhibitory activity of KIP with anti-KIP IgG. And KIP was characterized the inhibitory activity using various proteases. The purified KIP exhibited a single band on SDS-gel electrophoresis and the molecular weight was 64,000. KIP inhibited plasma kallikrein dose-dependently and time-dependently, forming a complex with kallikrein with the molecular weight of 137,000. Since the kallikrein inhibitory capacity of guinea pig plasma was completely depleted by anti-KIP IgG that inactivated kallikrein inhibitory activity of KIP, KIP was likely to be the major kallikrein inhibitor in guinea pig plasma. KIP inhibited trypsin and elastase, but not chymotrypsin. The Inhibitory spectrum of KIP was different from the spectrum of each protease inhibitor in human plasma, but was similar to the spectrum of contrapsin in mouse plasma. These results indicated that guinea pig plasma had a different mechanism for kallikrein inhibition, compared with human plasma. PMID- 2610104 TI - In vivo function of C1-inhibitor and pathophysiology of edema attack in patients with hereditary angioneurotic edema. PMID- 2610105 TI - Effect of thyroidectomy on rat plasma T-kininogen concentration as demonstrated by a new and direct T-kininogen radioimmunoassay. PMID- 2610106 TI - The design of specific inhibitors of tissue kallikrein and their effect on the blood pressure of the rat. PMID- 2610107 TI - The peculiar T-kininase activity of rat mast cell chymase. PMID- 2610108 TI - Kinin formation from T-kininogen by spleen acid kininogenases. PMID- 2610109 TI - Vaccines. Mechanisms, design, and applications. Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on the Immunobiology of Proteins and Peptides. October 2 5, 1988, Alberta, Canada. PMID- 2610110 TI - Vaccine-containing biodegradable microspheres specifically enter the gut associated lymphoid tissue following oral administration and induce a disseminated mucosal immune response. AB - Biodegradable and biocompatible microspheres have been investigated for their usefulness as a vaccine delivery system for both parenteral and enteral immunization. Microspheres composed of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) which contained a toxoid vaccine of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B were found to strongly potentiate the circulating anti-toxin antibody response following intraperitoneal injection. Following oral administration, microspheres less than 10 microns in diameter were specifically taken up into the Peyer's patches of the gut associated lymphoid tissue, where those greater than or equal to 5 microns remained fixed for an extended period. Microspheres less than 5 microns were disseminated within macrophages to the mesenteric lymph nodes, blood circulation and spleen. Oral immunization with enterotoxoid-containing microspheres induced circulating toxin-specific antibodies and a concurrent secretory IgA anti-toxin response in saliva, gut wash fluids and bronchial-alveolar wash (BAW) fluids. In contrast, soluble enterotoxoid was completely ineffective as an oral immunogen. PMID- 2610111 TI - Purine and pyrimidine metabolism in man VI. Part B: Basic research and experimental biology. Proceedings of the VIth International Symposium on Human Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism. Hakone, Japan, July 17-21, 1988. PMID- 2610112 TI - Interconversion between NAD-dependent and O2-dependent types of rat liver xanthine dehydrogenase and difference in kinetic and redox properties between them. PMID- 2610113 TI - Mammalian xanthine oxidoreductase--a unique enzyme among hypoxanthine hydroxylating enzymes in vertebrates. PMID- 2610114 TI - Improved assay method of dTMP synthase in rat liver and its application to human lung cancer cells. PMID- 2610115 TI - Adenosine deaminase activity in recipients of bone marrow from immunodeficient mice homozygous for the wasted mutation. PMID- 2610116 TI - Purification of rat liver amidophosphoribosyltransferase. PMID- 2610117 TI - Artefacts due to radiation-induced cell damage in pulse-labeling experiments using tritiated nucleic acid precursors. PMID- 2610118 TI - The mechanism of deoxyguanosine mediated toxicity in proliferating human peripheral blood T lymphocytes. PMID- 2610119 TI - Metabolism of guanosine and its C-8 substituted analogues in human lymphocyte cytoplasm. PMID- 2610120 TI - Incorporation of 5-fluorouracil into nucleotide sugars and the effect on glycoconjugates in rat hepatoma cells and hepatocytes. PMID- 2610121 TI - Intracellular pharmacokinetics of N4-behenoyl-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine. PMID- 2610122 TI - Sequential combination of methotrexate and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine shows synergistic effect on the generation of DNA strand breaks in a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line. PMID- 2610123 TI - Synergistic interaction between etoposide and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine. AB - The sequence-dependency of the antitumor effect of etoposide (VP-16) and 1-beta-D arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) and its mechanisms were investigated in L1210 ascites tumor. Treatment with VP-16 (15 mg/kg) and ara-C (25 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally on days 1, 4, and 7 after tumor inoculation. Three hour pretreatment with VP-16 followed by ara-C produced 70% of cure rate, but only 20% of cure rate was obtained with the reverse sequence. Simultaneous administration led to the worst therapeutic result. To clarify this sequence dependent interaction of the both drugs, the effect of VP-16 on incorporation of ara-C into DNA was investigated in vivo. On day 3 after intraperitoneal transplantation of 1 x 10(6) L1210 cells, 15 mg/kg of VP-16 and 1 microCi of (3H)ara-C was administered intraperitoneally with or without time interval. The effect of VP-16 on ara-C incorporation was also strikingly schedule-dependent and compatible with the schedule dependency of the antitumor effect. At 1 hr after injection of ara-C, simultaneous administration of 15 mg/kg of VP-16 reduced ara C incorporation by 67% of ara-C injection alone. But in sharp contrast to simultaneous-administration, 3 hour preadministration of VP-16 increased ara-C incorporation up to 247%. From 1 to 6 hour after intraperitoneal administration of 15 mg/kg of VP-16, the sedimentation rate of L1210 DNA was increasing on alkaline sucrose gradients. This repairing period from VP-16 induced DNA damage might be the vulnerable time to ara-C through an increase in ara-C incorporation into DNA. PMID- 2610124 TI - Ara-CTP metabolism following hydroxyurea or methotrexate treatment in human leukemia cell lines. PMID- 2610125 TI - Relationship between intracellular dCTP/ara-CTP ratio and cytotoxic effect of ara C. PMID- 2610126 TI - Estimation of the in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects of antifolates upon thymidylate synthase (TS) in whole cells. PMID- 2610127 TI - 2-halo-2',3'-dideoxyadenosines: metabolically stable dideoxynucleosides with activity against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). PMID- 2610128 TI - 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and acyclovir: antiviral nucleoside analogues with unusual cell membrane permeation properties. PMID- 2610129 TI - A1 and A2 adenosine receptors in synovial cells from patients with rheumatic diseases. PMID- 2610130 TI - Influence of succinylpurines on the binding of adenosine to a particulate fraction of rat cerebral cortex. PMID- 2610131 TI - Protective effects of cyclohexyladenosine following cerebral ischemia in the gerbil hippocampus. PMID- 2610132 TI - Differential expression of ecto-nucleotide metabolic enzymes during immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in human pre-B-cells. PMID- 2610133 TI - Optimised conditions for the routine HPLC separation of nucleotides in cell extracts. PMID- 2610134 TI - Qualitative and quantitative studies on the nucleotides of intestinal mucosa. PMID- 2610135 TI - Relationship between extracellular and intracellular nucleotide metabolism in human lymphocytes. PMID- 2610136 TI - Effect of some purine metabolites contained in oyster on platelet aggregation. PMID- 2610137 TI - Enzymes of purine nucleotide metabolism in mature cultures of rat brain neurons. PMID- 2610138 TI - Regulation of purine nucleotide metabolism in hypoxic liver and intestine of rats: radical scavenging effects of allopurinol and oxypurinol. AB - The relationship between nucleotide catabolism and generation of activated oxygen species was investigated in liver, hepatocytes and small intestine of rats. In severe hypoxia nucleotide degradation via xanthine oxidase and urate oxidase requires about half of the oxygen consumed. Data on the changes of nucleobase compounds in rat hepatocytes and small intestine during ischemia and reoxygenation and the effects of allopurinol and oxypurinol thereon are presented. From EPR measurements it is concluded that OH. radicals induce reactions of allopurinol yielding long-living products which are able to react with DMPO-OH with loss of its radical properties. PMID- 2610139 TI - Localization of xanthine dehydrogenase in liver. PMID- 2610140 TI - Determination of allantoin in mammalian tissues. PMID- 2610141 TI - Characterization of nucleoside transport during leukemic cell differentiation. PMID- 2610142 TI - Expression of a novel high affinity purine base transport system in mutant mouse S49 cells does not require a functional nucleoside transporter. AB - A novel type of somatic mutation that causes the expression of a high affinity purine base permease has been inserted into murine S49 lymphoma cells that are deficient in nucleoside transport. Two classes of mutants expressing this nucleobase permease were generated. The first, as exemplified by the AE1HADPAB2 cell line, possesses an augmented capacity to transport low concentrations of the three purine bases, hypoxanthine, guanine, and adenine. The second class of mutants, as typified by the AE1HADPAB5 clone, possesses an augmented capability to translocate low levels of hypoxanthine and guanine, but not adenine. Neither the AE1HADPAB2 nor the AE1HADPAB5 cells can transport nucleosides suggesting that the expression of the high affinity base transporter did not revert the mutation in the nucleoside transport system. Fusion of the AE1HADPAB2 and AE1HADPAB5 cell lines with wild type cells indicated that the expression of the high affinity base transporter behaved in a dominant fashion, while the nucleoside transport deficiency was a recessive trait. These data suggest that the high affinity purine base transporter of mutant cells and the nucleoside transport function of wild type cells are products of different genes and that expression of the former probably requires the unmasking or alteration of a specific genetic locus that is silent or different in wild type cells. PMID- 2610143 TI - Characterization of a mutant clone of Leishmania donovani deficient in folate transport. PMID- 2610144 TI - Influence of the temperature on hypoxanthine transport through human erythrocyte membranes. PMID- 2610145 TI - Adenine uptake by human erythrocytes. PMID- 2610146 TI - A study of adenosine deaminase and its conversion factor in human serum. PMID- 2610147 TI - Cytidine deaminase from human spleen. PMID- 2610148 TI - AMP deaminase and thymidine kinase deficiencies in a mutant mouse S49 cell clone. AB - From a mutagenized population of wild type S49 cells, a clone was isolated in a single step that possessed functional and biochemical deficiencies in both AMP deaminase and thymidine kinase activities. This mutant cell line, DTB6, was selected in semi-solid medium containing 1mM thymidine and 1mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP. In comparative growth rate experiments, DTB6 cells were considerably less sensitive than parental cells to the growth inhibitory effects of thymidine. In contrast, DTB6 cells were much more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of adenine and adenosine. The supersensitivity of DTB6 cells toward adenine could be ameliorated by the addition of hypoxanthine to the culture medium. The growth phenotype of the mutant cells could be attributed to deficiencies in two enzyme activities. First, DTB6 cells possessed a 60-70% deficiency in AMP deaminase activity, although the residual activity appeared kinetically similar to the wild type enzyme. Second, DTB6 cells possessed a virtual complete deficiency in thymidine kinase activity. Both enzyme deficiencies behaved in a recessive fashion in intraspecies hybrids. Revertants of DTB6 cells possessed wild type levels of AMP deaminase activity but remained deficient in thymidine kinase activity, while another revertant of DTB6 cells expressed 11% of the wild type thymidine kinase level but did not perceptibly change its AMP deaminase activity. The ability to isolate single step mutants with two seemingly independent biochemical abnormalities raises the speculation that there may be some link between cellular functions responsible for purine nucleotide and thymidine metabolism. PMID- 2610149 TI - Phosphocreatine as a possible modulator of the adenylate pool. PMID- 2610150 TI - [Computerized digital image analysis of optic nerve heads with a three dimensional image analyzer, IMAGEnet and a comparison with the Optic Nerve Head Analyzer]. AB - Computerized digital image analysis of the optic nerve heads of 17 eyes with various sizes of optic disc cupping was performed using two kinds of three dimensional image analyzers, the IMAGEnet and the Optic Nerve Head Analyzer (ONHA). Intraphotographic error variances of measurements with both instruments were evaluated by measuring each image of the optic discs twice. The mean coefficient of variation (CV) with the IMAGEnet for the vertical cup/disc ratio, the horizontal cup/disc ratio, the cup volume, the rim area, and the rim area/disc area ratio were 3.75%, 3.03%, 7.89%, 2.55% and 1.36%, respectively. With the ONHA, the mean CV for the total cup/disc ratio, the cup volume, the rim area, and the rim area/disc area ratio were 0.82%, 0.21%, 2.39%, and 1.56%, respectively. The value of the cup/disc ratio and the cup volume obtained by the IMAGEnet was smaller than those by the ONHA (p greater than 0.1). Conversely, the rim area and rim area/disc area ratio measured by the IMAGEnet were statistically significantly larger than those by the ONHA (p = 0.01). Statistically significantly positive correlation was demonstrated for measurements made by both instruments in all disc parameters (p less than 0.01). These results seem to indicate the high reliability of the two instruments, however, further investigation is needed for the evaluation of the accuracy of measurements. PMID- 2610151 TI - [Reepithelialization of keratolens in the wound healing process following epikeratophakia in rabbits]. AB - Most of the complications of epikeratophakia are minor and can be treated successfully. However, approximately 5 to 10% of cases of epikeratophakia result in removal of keratolenses mainly because of the failure to reepithelialize or chronic epithelial defects. In this study, in order to solve this problem we investigated the process of reepithelialization of epikeratophakia in rabbits. Epikeratophakia was performed on rabbit corneas using cryolathed keratolens. Ten, 16, 45, 63 and 90 days after the operation, corneas were excised, labeled with 3H thymidine and examined histologically using light and electron microscope and autoradiography. 10 to 16 days after the operation, keratolenses were reepithelialized with a very thin epithelium of one or two layers. Epithelium thickened gradually, but was still thinner than normal controls at day 90. At days 10 and 16, basal cells of the epithelium showed high activity of 3H thymidine incorporation, suggesting active proliferation. After that the proliferating activity decreased gradually and was no longer seen at day 90. Electron microscopic examination revealed no desmosomes or interdigitation between epithelial cells and poorly developed hemidesmosomes between basal cells and basement membrane at day 10, immediately after reepithelialization. At day 90, the epithelium over the keratolens showed areas where the basement membrane was irregular and extensively interrupted. These results indicated that in epikeratophakia, reepithelialization, recovery of epithelial thickness, formation of differentiated desmosomes or hemidesmosomes and normalization of ultrastructural abnormalities took longer than reepithelialization of usual epithelial defects. These results may explain the reason for of clinical problems of chronic epithelial defects or failure of reepithelialization in epikeratophakia. It was suggested that one of the factors causing delayed reepithelialization in epikeratophakia might be the cryolathing process of the keratolenses. PMID- 2610152 TI - [Postnatal development of corneal endothelial cells in normal children]. AB - Fifty-five eyes of normal children from 2 days to 11 years old were examined with specular microscopy image analyzing system, and the mean cell density (cells/mm2), mean cell area (micron2), coefficient of variation (S.D./mean), percentage of hexagonal cells, and total endothelial cell counts were calculated. The mean cell density, which statistically decreased with age varied from 5305 to 3067. The mean cell area varied from 189 microns2 to 331 microns2. Coefficient of variation and percentage of hexagonal cells varied from 0.13 to 0.26, and from 91 to 72, respectively. Generally children showed lower endothelial cellular pleomorphism and irregularity. Estimated total endothelial cell counts, in consideration of corneal enlargement, varied from 297,000 to 554,000, and showed no remarkable decrease with age. This suggested that the main reason for postnatal decrease of cell density was not cell loss but corneal enlargement. PMID- 2610153 TI - [Neuroanatomical distribution of motor and internuclear neurons within the cat abducens nucleus demonstrated by a double labeling study]. AB - The abducens nucleus contains two types of neurons which are motor and internuclear neurons. The neuroanatomical control system and the distributions of these two neurons were studied by simultaneous retrograde labeling with two different tracer substances in the cat. The tracers were Fluoro-Gold (FG) and wheat germ agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). The types of cells were clearly identified by separate injections of FG or WGA-HRP into the right lateral rectus muscle and the left medial rectus muscle. The motor neurons labeled with FG were intermingled among the neurons which were labeled with WGA HRP. No double-labeled neuron was detected within the abducens nucleus. These results indicate that motor and internuclear neurons in the abducens nucleus have their own projections and no neuron has dual projections. PMID- 2610154 TI - [Specular microscopy of corneal epithelium]. AB - Wide-field specular microscopy was used to examine the morphologic appearance of normal human corneal epithelium. A drop of sodium hyaluronate (Healon) on the applanation cone of the microscope minimized injury to the corneal surface and enabled clear observation of the epithelial cells. Not only the details of surface cells, but also deep epithelial layers which consist of wing and basal cells were recognized in this study. Dark cells in specular microscopy, we presume, originate from young surface cells becoming exposed after desquamation of old cells. PMID- 2610155 TI - [Aspects of exophthalmos in relation to treatment for dysthyroid ophthalmopathy]. AB - 257 eyes of 135 patients with dysthyroid ophthalmopathy were treated with steroids and/or radiation. Steroid therapy consisted of 100-150 mg betamethasone given intravenously and orally. Radiation therapy was conducted with 1.5 Gy Lineac delivered to the retrobulbar tissue from two directions once a day for a period of 10 days. In combination therapy, the above two therapies were performed simultaneously. Exophthalmos and the new index of the c/o ratio (c/o ratio; defined as the content of the orbit divided by the capacity of the bony orbit) were measured on CT films and followed for 1 or 2 years in order to evaluate the effectiveness of these therapeutic modalities. Combination therapy yielded the best results among these therapies. Steroid therapy yielded good results for 3 or 6 months, but rebound phenomenon was recognized after a course of 1-2 year. PMID- 2610156 TI - [Extraocular muscle aspects of the treatment in dysthyroid ophthalmopathy]. AB - The Maximum width of four rectus muscles (MR, LR, IR, SR) was measured on CT films and followed for 1-2 years in 304 eyes of 160 patients with dysthyroid ophthalmopathy. Based on these parameters, steroid therapy with 100-150 mg betamethasone, intravenously and orally, 1.5 Gy Lineac radiation therapy was given to the retrobulbar tissue from two directions repeated for 10 days and combination therapy consisting of the above two therapies given at the same time were evaluated. Combination therapy yielded the best results. Steroid therapy showed little effect on MR, but remarkable effect on SR. It was speculated that different portions of the rectus muscles may be related to different responses of rectus muscles to different treatment regimen. PMID- 2610157 TI - [Study on choroidal blood flow at dark and light adaptation. 1. Choroidal blood flow at dark adaptation]. AB - The effect of dark adaptation on choroidal blood flow (CBF) was studied in albino rabbits. CBF was measured by the hydrogen clearance method. There was no significant change of CBF at dark adaptation in both short term dark adaptation, in which CBF had been expected to increase due to increased oxygen demand of the outer retina, and long term dark adaptation, in which CBF had been expected to decrease due to depressed function of visual cells and retinal pigment epithelium. The results show that dark adaptation does not influence CBF, in spite of the close relationship between the outer retina and the choroidal circulation. The large blood flow of the choroidal circulation may not need the reaction mechanism for the functional changes of the outer retina. PMID- 2610158 TI - [A cataract classification and grading system]. AB - A cataract classification and grading system developed for cataract epidemiological survey was introduced. Cataractous opacities were classified into cortical, nuclear and subcapsular types. Gradings of cataract progression were divided into early (Grade I), moderate (II) and advanced (III) stages. The grading of cortical opacity was judged by the opaque area in a maximally dilated pupillary zone of which findings were obtained from a red-reflex image. The grading of nuclear opacity was judged from the intensity of scattering light at the nucleus. Three grading steps were based on the densitometrical analysis of photographed images. Subcapsular opacities were classified into three gradings by extensions up to the normal, moderately dilated and maximally dilated pupil size. Regarding cortical and unclear cataracts, standard images indicating border findings between Grades I and II and Grades II and III were provided to help with classification. Nuclear coloration was classified into pale yellow, yellow, brownish yellow and brown including reddish brown and black brown. To document cataractous findings, a recording chart was made. PMID- 2610159 TI - [Simulation of the electroretinographic slow P III component by injection of K+ free Ringer's solution in the frog retina]. AB - A decrease in extracellular potassium concentration [( K+]o) was caused by injecting a small amount of K+ -free Ringer's solution into the photoreceptor layer of the isolated frog retina. The response induced by K+ -free Ringer's solution was receptor side-positive, and the depth profile of the response resembled that of the response (slow P III) induced by spot illumination. This result supports the notion that the slow P III is generated by Muller cells as they hyperpolarize in response to a light-induced decrease in [K+]o in the photoreceptor layer. PMID- 2610160 TI - [Role of the vitreous in retinal neovascularization evaluated by a comparison of central retinal vein occlusion and branch retinal vein occlusion]. AB - Thirty three patients (33 eyes) with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and 80 patients (81 eyes) with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) were studied in an attempt to investigate the role of the vitreous in the formation of retinal neovascularization. All these eyes had some areas of capillary nonperfusion confirmed by fluorescein angiography and no scatter photocoagulation before the first examination. The incidence of new vessels at the optic disc (NVD) in CRVO was not significantly different from that in BRVO. However, the incidence of new vessels elsewhere (NVE) in CRVO was significantly less than that in BRVO. Follow up vitreous examination of 36 cases while they had not developed NVD and/or NVE showed a higher incidence of posterior vitreous detachment from the mid peripheral retina (MP-PVD) in CRVO than in BRVO. On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of posterior vitreous detachment from the optic disk (D-PVD) between CRVO and BRVO. The high incidence of MP-PVD in CRVO may explain the low incidence of NVE in CRVO. PMID- 2610161 TI - [Ultrastructural observations of the retinal pigment epithelial cells and the outer segments of the rod visual cells after vortex vein occlusion in rabbit eyes]. AB - The effect of occlusion of the vortex vein to the retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) and the outer segments of the rod visual cells (OS) of albino rabbits was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Three vortex veins of the left eye and two vortex veins of the right eye in each rabbit were ligated with 6-0 silk suture. The morphological changes were observed at 24 hours, 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the ligation. The changes of RPE showed no significant difference between ligation of 2 and 3 vortex veins. The RPE showed degenerative changes 1 week after the ligation and the degenerative changes became severe after 2 weeks. The OS, showed no change after 2 vortex veins occlusion, while after occlusion of 3 vortex veins OS revealed degenerative changes after 1 week and the degenerative changes reached a maximum after 2 weeks. The changes of both RPE and OS tended to return to normal at 4 weeks. The changes of both RPE and OS may be caused by reduction of the blood flow in the choroidal circulation. PMID- 2610162 TI - [Effects of an anti-prostaglandin agent added to the irrigation solution on damage to the anterior segment in monkey eyes induced by pars plana vitrectomy]. AB - Flurbiprofen is a water-soluble, non-steroid anti-inflammatory agent and is capable of marked inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. In a previous study by the authors, it was determined that the optimum concentration of flurbiprofen for intraocular irrigation solution in monkey retinas is 4 to 40 micrograms/ml. The present study was conducted to determine the optimum concentration of flurbiprofen for the irrigation solution, as well as to evaluate its toxic effects on the anterior segment tissues. In a pilot experiment, flurbiprofen was injected directly into the anterior chamber of pigmented Japanese rabbits to investigate its overall toxicity and to quantify the concentration at which it could become toxic to the cornea. This experiment showed that aqueous concentrations of flurbiprofen greater than 1,000 micrograms/ml were toxic. In a subsequent study, the twelve eyes of six Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) underwent vitrectomy using balanced salt solution (BSS) containing concentrations of flurbiprofen from 4 to 800 micrograms/ml and BSS alone. This experiment showed that BSS containing 4 to 100 micrograms/ml of flurbiprofen prevented post operative occurrence of edema in non-pigmented epithelial cells in the ciliary body. Furthermore, it was observed that infiltration of inflammatory cells into the trabecular meshwork and swollen mitochondria in the corneal endothelial cells were likewise prevented. This is thought to be due to the pharmacological action of flurbiprofen; which has an inhibitory effect on leucocyte migration and prostaglandin synthesis as well as stabilization of the cell membrane. However, these effects were not observed in the eyes vitrectomized with flurbiprofen concentrations between 400 and 800 micrograms/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610163 TI - [Histochemical evaluation of the distribution of chloride ion around retinal pigment epithelium in various animal species]. AB - In order to clarity the distribution of chloride ion around pigment epithelium, chloride ion was deposited as silver chloride (AgCl) in the tissue and observed electron microscopically. Eyes of albino rabbits, bullfrogs, mature chick embryos immediately before hatching and a human patient were used. In the albino rabbit eyes, the chick embryo eyes and the human eye, the concentration of chloride ion in the cytoplasm of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) was high, and in the bullfrog eyes, the concentration was low. The difference among animal species is probably due to the difference of the ion transport mechanism by retinal pigment epithelium among species. In all the animals examined, chloride ion was concentrated in the intercellular space, which may be related to the isotonic absorption of water by RPE according to the standing-gradient osmotic flow theory of Diamond and Bossert. PMID- 2610164 TI - [Surgical treatment of torticollis in cases of congenital nystagmus with strabismus]. AB - To correct compensatory head turn in twelve cases with congenital nystagmus, they were classified into two types according to the relative visual lines of both eyes to each other with respect to the sagittal axis of the head or the median plane of the body. One was termed the symmetrical pattern and the other was termed the asymmetrical pattern. In cases of the symmetrical pattern, a neutral zone exists in which the dominant eye in in the adducted position of gaze with esotropia and in the abducted position of gaze with exotropia. However, in the case of the asymmetrical pattern the neutral zone of the dominant eye is located in the abducted position of gaze with esotropia and in the abducted position of gaze with exotropia. Surgery was performed by shifting the dominant eye to the direction of the sagittal axis of the head in accordance with the degree of ocular deviation in the primary position. In asymmetrical pattern cares, both eyes were surgically shifted in parallel to the direction of the sagittal axis of the head without regard to the types of strabismus. The operation was based on the degree of compensatory head turn. We compared the surgical results the two types. In symmetrical cases, decreasing strabismus was disappointing compared to the head turn, while in asymmetrical cases decreasing head turn was disappointing as compared to strabismus. From these results surgery should be confined to the dominant eye in symmetrical cases, taking as the basis for operation the degree of head turn and not the ocular deviation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610165 TI - [The effect of melanin and hemoglobin on the dye laser photocoagulation in pigmented and albino rabbits]. AB - Photocoagulation was performed in pigmented and albino rabbits using four different wave-lengths of the dye laser (577 nm, 590 nm, 610 nm and 630 nm), and each photocoagulated lesion was examined histologically. The 577 nm dye laser produced chorioretinal coagulation in albino rabbits, which was almost the same as that in pigmented rabbits. This result confirmed that the 577 nm dye laser was well absorbed by hemoglobin in the choriocapillaris, and could produce the sufficient coagulation even if there was no melanin pigment. The 590 nm dye laser produced chorioretinal coagulation in albino rabbits, but it was weaker than that in pigmented rabbits. It was considered that this was because the absorption by hemoglobin of the 590 nm dye laser was less than that of the 577 nm dye laser. The 610 and 630 nm dye laser could not yield appropriate coagulation in albino rabbits under the same conditions as in the 577 nm dye laser. More intense coagulation, that is longer duration and higher power, was required to make chorioretinal coagulation in albino rabbits using the 610 and 630 nm dye laser. In photocoagulation of normal fundus, melanin is the main substance of laser absorption, but in various disorders lacking melanin, the differences of the hemoglobin absorption rate becomes important. PMID- 2610166 TI - [Optic disc measurements with computerized image analysis in experimental chronic glaucoma]. AB - We quantitatively analyzed morphological changes of the optic disc of ten Japanese monkey eyes exposed to sustained intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation by repeated argon laser application to the trabecular meshwork. Using a computerized image analyzer (Topcon IMAGEnet), we measure the cup-disc ratio (CDR), disc area (DA), cup volume/disc area (CV/DA), and rim area/disc area (RA/DA). The duration of IOP elevation was 48.4 +/- 0.8 (mean +/- SD) weeks, and the mean IOP during the experiment was 26.3 +/- 2.6 mmHg [the mean IOP during the experiment/pre treatment IOP was 2.05 +/- 0.55 (IOP ratio)]. In advanced glaucomatous eyes (the duration of IOP elevation of approximately one year), comparing pretreatment, the CV/DA increased 4.96 times, the vertical CDR increased 1.78 times, the horizontal CDR increased 1.69 times, the DA increased 1.42 times, and the RA/DA decreased 0.54 times. A significant positive correlation was found between the IOP ratio and, both the vertical CDR (gamma = 0.65) and the CV/DA (gamma = 0.68). These results suggested that the development of glaucomatous optic disc cupping correlated with the degree of IOP elevation in monkey eyes. Using this computer image analyser, the longitudinal quantitative follow-up of disc changes of experimental glaucoma may be useful for understanding the mode of human glaucomatous optic nerve damage. PMID- 2610167 TI - [Analysis of vergence functions by step stimulus]. AB - Step responses of fusional vergence i.e. convergence and divergence were elicited by a computer-controlled phase-different haploscopic device. Eye movements of convergence and divergence were recorded by a limbus tracker. Elicited responses were analyzed using the repetitive linearization method of nonlinear curve fitting to exponential approximation. The results showed that the time constant of the exponential curve was identical between convergence and divergence. The destination of curves, i.e., the bias term of the exponential equation, always coincided with the stimulus position. These results were different from the behavior of accommodative step response which has been reported previously. PMID- 2610168 TI - [Clinical management of diabetic retinopathy]. AB - Factors to be checked concerning local and systemic condition were studied statistically in order to clarify the methodology for clinical management of diabetic retinopathy. NIDDM (n = 1517) and IDDM (n = 30) persons participating in baseline and follow-up examinations were included. The vitreous fluorophotometric values were selected for local check factors. Glycosylated hemoglobin was selected for systemic check factors. To determine the retinopathy status at both the baseline and follow-up examinations, all fundus photographs were graded in a masked fashion, using the author's classification scheme (1983) which specified six levels of retinopathy for each excepted from the interrupted proliferative retinopathy. Level 0: no retinopathy, Level 1: microaneurysms only (AI), Level 2: microaneurysms and retinal hemorrhages (AII), Level 3: preproliferative retinopathy (soft exudates, increased capillary occlusion and intraretinal microvascular abnormalities) (BI), Level 4: neovascularization elsewhere (BII), Level 5: neovascularization of the disc (BIII), Level 6: vitreous hemorrhages or proliferative tissue (BIV, V). A positive correlation between the progression of retinopathy and glycosylated hemoglobin or vitreous fluorophotometric values were observed. The coefficient of correlation was 0.67 between posterior vitreous fluorophotometric values and levels (scores) of retinopathy. The coefficient of correlation was 0.41 between glycosylated hemoglobin and levels of retinopathy. These data suggest that these two factors can predict the progression of diabetic retinopathy. PMID- 2610169 TI - [Macular diseases in the elderly person]. AB - Macular diseases in the elderly, such as age-related macular degeneration, idiopathic senile macular hole and epiretinal membrane of the macular area were studied. In 75 normal subjects aged from 20 to 78 years, retinal sensitivity in the central 10 degree visual field were examined using automated static quantitative perimetry. For background luminance of 31.5 asb, a significant reciprocal correlation was demonstrated between individual mean sensitivity and age. The influence of age on the decrease in sensitivity was proved to differ according to different test locations. To enhance contrast, an image processing procedure was applied for fluorescein angiographs of age-related pathologies which resulted in better recognition of age-related RPE pathologies were recognized. The senile disciform macular degeneration (SDMD) study group sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare performed an epidemiological survey to estimate the number of patients with SDMD. The epidemiological estimation was 6,000 to 13,000 patients in the entire Japanese population. 133 eyes of uni- or bi-lateral senile macular degeneration without choroidal neovascularization and 156 opposite eyes of patients with unilateral SDMD were followed-up for choroidal neovascularization development. Choroidal neovascularization development was confirmed in 15 eyes, 5.2%. In 13 of the 15 eyes, choroidal neovascularization was proved to develop through serous RPE detachment. Also, serous drusen were shown to be to predisposed to choroidal neovascularization through serous RPE detachment. Therefore, it was concluded that senile macular degeneration should be classified into the atrophic form, predisciform or intermediate form and disciform form. In the author's previous paper, it was reported that the navel-like lesion would be a macular lesion predisposing to a senile macular hole. 49 opposite eye of patients with one eye affected by a macular hole were follow-up for macular hole development. At the initial examination, the navel-like lesion was observed in 5 of the 49 eyes. During the course of observation, navel-like lesions developed in one of the other 27 eyes with other abnormalities and in 4 of the 17 eyes without any abnormality. Finally, macular holes developed in 11 of the 49 eyes; in 10 eyes with a navel-like lesion and one eye with another abnormality. We found a 17 year old female Japanese monkey with pre-macular holes in both eyes and clinicopathological correlative study was carried out. In her right eye, photoreceptor cell loss at the foveola, circumferential retinal detachment around the area of cell loss, cystoid spaces in the detached retina, and very thin residual tissue covering the foveolar lesion were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2610170 TI - [Study on serum levels of immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) as a marker of renal cell carcinoma]. AB - Immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) exhibits various types of immunosuppressive activity and is said to increase in cancer hosts. Based on measurements of IAP levels in normal subjects, cases of renal cysts and 46 cases of renal cell carcinoma we reached the following conclusions: The IAP levels in normal subjects ranged from 250-530 micrograms/ml, with a mean +/- S.D. of 362.5 +/- 68.9 micrograms/ml, which was comparable to the values in renal cyst cases (250-470 micrograms/ml, mean +/- S.D.: 353 +/- 70 micrograms/ml). 475 micrograms/ml was taken as the upper limit of the normal range. The pretreatment IAP values for cases of renal cell carcinoma ranged from 330-1,780 micrograms/ml, with a mean +/- S.D. of 820 +/- 820 and 73% were considered positive (i.e. beyond the 475 micrograms/ml limit). There was a statistical significance of p less than 0.01 between normal subjects and renal cell carcinoma cases and also between renal cyst cases and renal cell carcinoma cases. When the cases of renal cell carcinoma were divided into those with a pretreatment IAP level of 475 micrograms/ml or less and those with more than 475 micrograms/ml, the 3-year survival of the former was 90%, whereas that of the latter group was 39%, showing a statistically significant difference with p less than 0.05. Comparison of the IAP levels in the group of total nephrectomy cases that did not develop recurrence and those in which recurrence was recognized, revealed significantly higher IAP levels in the latter (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610171 TI - [Flow cytometric bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)/DNA analysis--study with urogenital tumors]. AB - We performed the simultaneous flow cytometric bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)/DNA analysis in combination with in vitro BrdU labeling method using seven human urogenital tumors. The DNA content and incorporated BrdU content of each tumor cell was analyzed quantitatively using this flow cytometric method. The cell kinetics of each cell line of heterogeneous tumor could be analyzed by this combined method. In the near future, by establishing a procedure decreasing non specific staining of cells, the development of this flow cytometric two-color analysis in clinical fields is expected. PMID- 2610172 TI - [Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor in urothelial cancer]. AB - Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) levels are known to increase in some kinds of cancer. We determined the PSTI levels in patients with urothelial cancer to evaluate its usefulness as a tumor marker. The subjects were 101 patients who had bladder cancer (n = 81) or renal pelvis and ureter cancer (n = 20). Twenty-six healthy volunteers were used as controls. PSTI was measured by an RI kit using the double antibody method, and levels above 20 ng/ml were taken as positive. Serum tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) levels were also measured in 32 cases. None of the controls, 65% of the patients with renal pelvis and ureter cancer, and 30.9% of bladder cancer had positive levels of PSTI. The positive rate for each stage was 22.3% for Tis, Taand T1, 38.5% for T2, 73.3% for T3 and 100% for T4. The rate tended to increase with the progress of tumor infiltration. All subjects with positive readings above 30 ng/ml had progressive cancer. The usefulness of PSTI as a tumor marker was similar to that of TPA. PSTI is not a specific marker of urothelial cancer, but it showed an association with the progression of cancer. Therefore, it is considered to be a useful marker to determine postoperative metastasis, recurrence, and disease progression. PMID- 2610173 TI - [A clinicopathological study on tumor of the renal pelvis and ureter]. AB - We report 42 patients with urothelial tumors in upper tract admitted to our hospital between August, 1969 and August, 1988. The patients consisted of 33 males and 9 females; their ages ranged from 42 to 85 years with a mean of 66.2 years. Total nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff resection was employed as the surgical method in 24 cases, total nephroureterectomy without bladder cuff resection in 11 cases, total nephroureterectomy with total cystectomy in 2 cases and partial ureterectomy only in 2 cases. Tumor lesions had a positive correlation with grade and stage. The survival rate for all the patients at 1, 3 and 5 years was 76.0, 58.8 and 54.6%, respectively, as measured by the Kaplan Meier's method. The prognosis of the patients with renal pelvic tumor and ureter tumor was dependent upon grade, stage and intravascular tumor-emboli. Vesical recurrence was observed in 10 cases and found frequently in low grade tumor and/or low stage tumor cases. The frequency of vesical recurrence was not positively correlated with cuff resection The 5-year survival rate was not different between the patients with vesical recurrence and those without vesical recurrence. PMID- 2610174 TI - [Results of the treatment of carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter]. AB - Twenty-one patients with renal pelvic carcinoma and eighteen patients with ureteral carcinoma were treated with surgical therapy. In 14 of the 39 patients, we performed nephroureterectomy with a bladder cuff (NUpB), nephroureterectomy with total cystectomy (NUtB) in 12, nephrectomy with partial ureteric resection (NpU) in 8 and others in 5. Following surgery, 8 had recurrences and metastasis and 21 died with carcinoma and 10 survived without evidence of disease. The 5 year survival rate of the patients with renal pelvis carcinoma is 33.5% and 52.0% in ureteral carcinoma. PMID- 2610175 TI - [Study of oval crystals in urine]. AB - Urinary crystals were collected by repeated centrifugation from two outpatients with calcium oxalate crystalluria where oval forms predominated and were studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Fibrous structure, biconcave surface and prismatic appearance of oval crystals were shown. The side view of oval forms may be prismatic X-ray diffraction patterns of urinary crystals indicated that oval crystals consist of calcium oxalate monohydrate. PMID- 2610176 TI - [Endourological management of ureteral strictures]. AB - Endourological management was employed in five cases with ureteral strictures. The cause of stricture included ureteroileal anastomoses in two cases, open pyeloplasty in one, radical hysterectomy in one and retroperitoneal fibrosis in one. In four cases, strictures were dilated using a balloon dilation catheter (diameter 4 to 8 mm), followed by placement of ureteral stent (6 to 8.3 Fr), for from 8 days to 43 days. In one case, graduated flexible dilator was passed until a 10 Fr opening was obtained. A 6 Fr ureteral stent was placed for 42 days. Of the 5 strictures 3 were dilated successfully as judged by excretory urogram. Followup ranged from 7 months to 19 months. Unsuccessful dilation occurred in 2 cases. In one case, subsequent exploratory operation revealed retroperitoneal fibrosis. In another case, subsequent CT scan disclosed the metastasis of rectal cancer obstructing the site of ureteroileal anastomosis. Endourological procedure is valuable in the treatment of benign post-operative ureteral stricture. PMID- 2610177 TI - [Pathohistological comparison of biopsy specimens with all-layer cystectomy specimens in bladder cancer]. AB - We studied the ratio of agreement between biopsy specimens and all-layer specimens in regard to growth pattern, histological classification, staging, grading, lymphatic invasion, intravenous invasion and infiltrating type of 42 cases in which it was possible to make a comparison among radical cystectomy cases treated between November 1976 and October 1988. The above 7 categories were studied according to the General Rule for Clinical and Pathological Studies on Bladder Cancer (Japanese Urological Association and Japanese Pathological Society). The result showed that the ratio of agreement between the biopsy specimens and the all-layer specimens was 90.5% according to growth pattern. The ratio of agreement was 85.7% according to histological classification but 76.2% according to staging. When grading was not based on the lower grade of cells occupying the major portion, but the higher grade of cells occupying the minor portion the ratio of agreement was 88.1%. The ratio of agreement was 76.2% according to lymphatic invasion. However, when lymphatic invasion was seen on the all-layer specimens, the ratio of agreement was 74.4% according to lymphatic invasion. The ratio of agreement was 76.2% according to intravenous invasion. However, when intravenous invasion was seen on the all-layer specimens, the ratio of agreement was 58.3% according to intravenous invasion. The ratio of agreement was 76.8% in regard to infiltrating type. Staging, grading, and vascular invasion are important prognostic factors in bladder cancer. According to our study, biopsy specimens alone are not enough to evaluate the staging and the presence of vascular invasion. For more accurate diagnosis, we must resect deep and multiple biopsy specimens. PMID- 2610178 TI - [Studies on prognosis of prostate cancer with bone metastasis by using pretreatment bone scintigraphy]. AB - The pretreatment bone scans on 40 patients with prostate cancer with bone involvement were reviewed and the prognostic impact of the initial extent of bone metastasis was evaluated. On the bases of the number or extent of bone metastasis, the patients were divided into 2 groups and survival for each group was compared. We also assessed the correlations between the extent on bone metastasis and other pretreatment characteristics: age, symptoms, serum acid phosphatase, serum alkaline phosphatase, and the histological differentiation of primary tumor. At the same time, the prognostic impacts of these pretreatment characteristics were evaluated. The extent of bone metastasis on the scan correlated with survival, but other characteristics did not have a predictive value except for histological grade. Though the histological differentiation of primary tumor was related to survival, the survival rates differed by the initial extent of disease among the same histological grade patients. Thus the extent of bone metastasis was shown to predict survival in metastatic prostate cancer. PMID- 2610179 TI - [Studies on prostatism of males fifty years of age and older--analysis on results of a second mass screening for prostatic diseases in Tanno town]. AB - We conducted a second mass screening for prostatism on males 50 years of age and older in the Tanno town area, to determine the incidence of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and prostatic carcinoma. We also studied how often elderly males had symptoms related to prostatism according to their age. The incidence of BPH was 10.0% in these males who were received the first and/or second mass screening as well as those treated previously, when BPH was defined as the prostate with a moderately or greater enlarged size upon digital palpation. The incidence of BPH was 8.9% in males fifty years of age and older who lived in Tanno town. The figures tended to elevate with the advance of age. Two new patients with prostatic carcinoma were discovered during this second mass screening, which resulted in a total of 8 patients discovered in this area. Of these 8 patients, 6 had been found in the first screening. The incidence of prostatic carcinoma was 1.4% in those males who received the first or second mass screening as well as those treated previously, and that in all the males who lived in the town was 1.0%. Further efforts will be necessary to establish a more convenient system that can provide less costly screening procedures and more effective diagnostic procedures to detect localized prostatic carcinoma. With advance in age the male tended to have a higher incidence of prostate with a moderately or markedly enlarged size, and symptoms related to prostatism. In addition, the urinary flow rate tended to decrease, irrespective of the prostate size. The results supported the significance of mass screening for prostatism. PMID- 2610180 TI - [A case of infantile virilizing adrenocortical tumor]. AB - The patient was a 16-month-old girl, born by mature natural delivery and weighing 3,320 g. Hirsutism was noted on birth. Development of pubic hair and hypertrophy of the labia minora were noted after 8 months. At the time of admission, the height was 80 cm and body weight 14.5 kg. Systemic obesity, facial acne, systemic hirsutism, low pitched voice and hypertrophied clitoris were observed. Androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate and cortisol showed high levels in the blood, and the urinary 17-KS was obviously high, along with an increase in urinary 17-OHCS. The subject did not respond to either the dexamethasone inhibition test or ACTH load test. The abdominal CT revealed a tumor in the front upper position of the left kidney, and adrenal scintigraphy disclosed an obvious accumulation image in the adrenal gland on the left side. Based on the diagnosis of a left adrenal tumor, left adrenalectomy was performed. The tumor measured 5.0 x 4.5 x 3.7 cm, and weighed 57 g. Histopathologically it was diagnosed as adrenocortical adenoma. The infantile virilizing adrenocortical tumor is reported together with some discussion of the literature. PMID- 2610181 TI - [Renal abscess: complication of transcatheter arterial embolization of renal cell carcinoma]. AB - Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has been widely used in the treatment of tumors as well as other lesions of the kidney. Complications most commonly encountered are post embolization syndrome, such as flank pain, fever, leucocytosis, nausea, vomiting, or ileus. They occur mostly in 24 to 48 hours and its treatment is symptomatic. We experienced a renal abscess developed in a patient of renal tumor with preexisting silent urosepsis. Precise examination of silent infection is recommended as a preprocedure test to avoid such complications. PMID- 2610182 TI - [A case of bilateral renal cell carcinoma]. AB - A case of bilateral renal cell carcinoma is reported. The patient was a 82-year old male with a chief complaint of hematuria. Echogram, pyelogram and computed tomogram of abdomen revealed a left renal tumor, in addition right renal tumor also was found. Then, he underwent a radical right nephrectomy and a left partial nephrectomy. After the operation renal function was transiently impaired, but recovered two months later. The patient was followed up without any adjuvant therapy. Lung metastases were found at 1 year after the operation, and he died in spite of administration of alpha-interferon. In the present case, the bilateral renal tumors are presumed to have been caused by metastasis from contralateral tumor, since lung metastases were found. PMID- 2610183 TI - [A case of metastatic tumor of the spermatic cord from gastric carcinoma]. AB - A case of metastatic tumor of right spermatic cord in a 54-year-old man is reported. He visited our department with the complaint of a painless mass in right inguinal lesion. The initial diagnosis was a right spermatic cord tumor, and then orchiectomy was performed. Since pathological findings showed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, further examinations were done, postoperatively. An upper gastrointestinal series revealed the presence of gastric carcinoma. Thus, these results suggested that the spermatic cord tumor was a metastatic lesion from the gastric carcinoma. Forty eight cases of metastatic tumor of the spermatic cord have been reported in our country. In 26 of these cases, gastric carcinoma metastasized to the spermatic cord. PMID- 2610184 TI - [Postoperative pyuria after TUR-P: the study of postoperative pyuria by using NFLX]. AB - The postoperative duration of pyuria was studied in 35 patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P). The average postoperative duration of pyuria was 58.0 +/- 23.6 days. The age over 70 years, preoperative indwelling of urethral catheter and the preoperative urinary tract infection did not make the duration of pyuria longer. The volume of resected prostatic tissue over 20 g and the existence of diabetes mellitus make it significantly longer. It is effective and safe to use a low-dose antibacterial agent such as NFLX which has a broad spectrum and hardly develops bacterial resistance after TUR-P. It is suggested unnecessary to change the anti-bacterial agent even when pyuria continues. PMID- 2610185 TI - The value of total IgE determination in mite allergy. AB - Our aim was to study the behaviour of patients with perennial respiratory allergy in relation to total IgE production. We chose patients allergic to house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, because this is the most representative perennial antigen. The total IgE in a wide group of patients was evaluated in relation to diagnosis, clinical activity, and seasonal changes. We also studied the possible changes in relation to immunotherapy. The total IgE was measured through enzyme immunoassay (Kallestad). To compare the results, a Student's test for independent data was performed and a statistically significant difference (p less than 0.001) in the IgE levels was found between the rhinitis and asthma groups with or without associated rhinitis. We did not obtain any differences between the groups in relation to clinical activity or seasonal changes. In relation to the possible changes in IgE levels according to the duration of immunotherapy, we observed a mild elevation before 7 months and between 13 and 24 months of treatment, without any significant differences with respect to basal levels. The determination of total IgE seems to us a valid and necessary test to complete the diagnosis of the existence of a cytotropic hypersensitivity mechanism in respiratory pathology. However, it seems to be less sensitive because it does not detect changes with respect to clinical activity, seasonal changes or duration of immunotherapy when dealing with perennial antigens. PMID- 2610186 TI - Granulocyte migration ability in subjects hypersensitive to aspirin. AB - The reported study was carried out on 32 patients with atopic asthma. Twenty seven patients had atopic asthma and were hypersensitive to aspirin. Twenty patients were hypersensitive only to aspirin. At the time of the investigation the patients were in the remission period at the beginning of the investigations and the lowest aspirin dose producing hypersensitivity symptoms was established in each case. It ranged from 0.05 to 0.5 g. In the group of patients hypersensitive to aspirin were included those in whom spirometric measurements demonstrated a FEV1 fall below 20% of the initial level. In all the patients and controls studied the "in vitro" granulocyte migration test was done by Clausen's method and "in vivo" by Southam's method. As shown in the presented results, patients with aspirin hypersensitivity have a defect in the migration of granulocytes of the vascular and tissue pools. PMID- 2610187 TI - Seasonal and diurnal variation of pollen from Gramineae in the atmosphere of Cordoba Spain. AB - We have carried out a study on the annual and diurnal variation of pollen from the Gramineae family in the atmosphere of Cordoba (Southern Spain) during three consecutive years. This family, according to its high sensitizing capacity and to data from allergologists, is responsible for most of the pollenoses diagnosed in the city. Pollen grains from Gramineae were found to occur in the atmosphere virtually throughout the year, starting in February. Yet, they reach their highest levels in spring, particularly in May and the first fortnight of June. Such levels decrease gradually during the summer and become virtually imperceptible from October. The concentration of pollen grains from Gramineae were found to be positively correlated with the average temperature, and negatively correlated with the average humidity. The diurnal variation pattern of the concentration of pollen grains from this family was rather homogeneous throughout the three years studied, with a marked increase early in the morning, a moderate decrease in the afternoon and stable values throughout the night. PMID- 2610188 TI - Granulocyte abnormalities in parenteral drug-addicts. The influence of HIV infection. AB - In the present paper we studied the phagocytic capacity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and their capacity to adherence to substrates, in parenteral drug addicts with or without HIV infection. Our results show a significant decrease in the phagocytic index of drug-addicts, which is independent of the coexistence of an HIV infection. The simultaneous presence of this virus leads to the emergence of alterations in the leukocytic adhesiveness, with a decrease in adhesiveness that is more marked in AIDS patients. The simultaneous association of drug addiction with AIDS leads to the impairment of these two stages in the leukocyte defense. PMID- 2610189 TI - Cytotoxic and proliferative effect of tobacco products on Lewis lung adenocarcinoma cells and spleen lymphocytes. AB - The effect of tobacco products (TP) on the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma cells (3LL) and mice spleen lymphocytes as well as on tumor growth and metastasis was analyzed. High concentrations of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) or tobacco extract (TE) were cytotoxic for tumoral and lymphoid cells; in contrast smaller amounts of TP increased thymidine incorporation in both cell types. Lymphocytes were more susceptible to the toxic effect of TP than 3LL cells. When CSC or TE were mixed with 3LL cells and then inoculated into mice, they did not modify either the size of the local tumor induced by 3LL cells, or the number or appearance time of lung metastasis, although there was an increase in spleen weight. PMID- 2610190 TI - Contact dermatitis by sensitization to amine-type antioxidants. AB - Numerous reports had been published implicating IPPD and other amine-type antioxidants as the causative agents in patients with allergic sensitization following the use of industrial and household products that have black rubber in their composition. The amine-type antioxidants, used to stabilize the polymer chains and to prevent rubber from cracking, are the agents more frequently implicated in this type of contact allergic dermatitis. Based on a case of a patient who had erythematous edematous and vesiculous processes in the periocular region that appeared a few hours after the use of a video camera with a black rubber eyepiece, we reviewed the clinical features, and the etiological agents of this infrequent form of contact dermatitis. This patient represents the first described case in the literature of allergic sensitivity after the use of a video camera eyepiece. PMID- 2610191 TI - Improving diagnostic accuracy in appendicitis. AB - After reviewing all 123 of these patients, here are some suggestions which may improve the accuracy of diagnosis of appendicitis. 1. Proceed slowly with any patient with equivocal history and physical exam +/- WBC less than 10,000. 2. Seriously consider U.T.I. or other renal pathology in patients with greater than 20 RBC +/or greater than 30 WBC/hfp (w/bacteria) as cause of RLQ pain, rather than appendicitis; i.e. only 1 of 81 patients with appendicitis had a coexistent U.T.I. 3. Be aware that pain starting in the RLQ is less common in appendicitis than in other conditions mimicking appendicitis. 4. Be wary of all women presenting with RLQ pain on days 1 through 10 of their menstrual cycle. 5. Consider a barium swallow or enema study in patients in categories 1-4 above looking for a normally filled appendix while a) observing patient and b) awaiting outstanding lab results (i.e. ur. cult., cerv. os cult., etc.). 6. Follow closely all patients in all of the above categories and operate for worsening condition. 7. Require classic or near classic history and physical findings in patients with WBC less 10,000 suspected of having appendicitis, prior to surgery. Footnotes to these suggestions are as follows: 1. Understand that following these suggestions may result in an increase in the incidence of perforation coincident with an increase in diagnostic accuracy. 2. Be less hesitant to operate on patients over 50 y.o. because of a) their frequent atypical presentations, and b) the known higher incidence of perforation in this age group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610192 TI - Intracranial hemorrhage associated with quinidine induced thrombocytopenia. AB - Quinidine is commonly used in the treatment of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Such patients are at increased risk for embolic strokes and may require concurrent anticoagulation therapy. We report here the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage as a complication of thrombocytopenia in two patients on quinidine. PMID- 2610193 TI - Adolescent health AMA clinical update. PMID- 2610194 TI - ACIP releases supplementary report on measles prevention. PMID- 2610195 TI - AAFP issues joint guidelines on adolescent health care privacy. PMID- 2610196 TI - AAP releases statement on infant circumcision. PMID- 2610197 TI - ACIP updates recommendations for pneumococcal vaccine. PMID- 2610198 TI - Future cholesterol levels can be predicted to assess coronary disease risk. PMID- 2610199 TI - CDC releases new reference criteria for anemia screening. PMID- 2610200 TI - AAP issues statement of exercise-induced asthma in children. PMID- 2610201 TI - Career stability in public service professionals: a longitudinal investigation based on biographical interviews. AB - Conducted a long-term follow-up study of 25 professionals who had started their careers working in public service 12 years before. The study employed biographical interviewing (Levinson, 1978), a qualitative research method, and focused on reasons for choosing to stay in or leave public service. Financial independence, encouragement from others, work dissatisfaction, and a moratorium period were associated primarily with the decision to leave public service. Challenging precareer experiences and a desire to minimize stress were associated with staying. Family obligations could encourage change or stability, depending on the circumstances. The findings suggest that situational forces, as opposed to just intrapsychic issues, should be considered in thinking about career change and adult development. PMID- 2610202 TI - The farm crisis: an analysis of social psychological distress among North Carolina farm operators. AB - Using data from a statewide survey of North Carolina farm operators collected during a period of economic and ecological crisis, the relationships between perceived social psychological distress, social support, and demographic, farm structure, and socioeconomic characteristics were analyzed. Younger operators showed higher distress levels, and age and social support interact so that social support lowered distress levels more for younger than for older operators. Results also showed that total family income has a curvilinear relationship with perceived distress: low and high income farm operators manifest higher levels of distress than middle income operators. By identifying the farm operators that show the highest levels of distress, the results have implications for policy intervention and farm crisis support programs. PMID- 2610203 TI - Natural and professional help: a process analysis. AB - Differences in the helping interactions formed by mental health professionals, divorce lawyers, and mutual help group leaders were examined. Fourteen members of each of these three helper groups (N = 42) met independently with a coached client presenting marital difficulties. Using ratings of ability to ameliorate the personal and emotional problems presented, the 42 helpers were divided (using a median split) into successful and less successful outcome groups. The responses of each of the pairs were coded using the Hill Counselor Verbal Response Category System. The sequence of client-helper responses were examined using log-linear analysis as they varied by type of helper and outcome. Results indicated that successful helpers (regardless of type of helper) tended to use directives (e.g., guidance and approval-reassurance) differently from less successful helpers. Successful helpers used directives following client emotional expression and not following factual description. In addition, clear differences in helper responses by helper type and outcome were found. Each helper type had unique patterns of responses that differentiated successful from less successful outcomes. Client responses were found to vary across helper type even when given the same helper preceding response. Results are discussed with respect to the unique goals of each helping relationship and the different shaping process involved in each. PMID- 2610204 TI - Life strains, coping, and emotional well-being: a longitudinal study of recently separated and married women. AB - The stress and coping paradigm was used as the framework for a longitudinal study of recently separated and married women. Data were gathered at three different interviews over a period of 18 months. Comparing the two groups of women, it was found that life strains in the areas of financial concerns and spouse relations were related to both income level and marital status, with low-income and separated women experiencing the highest levels of these strains. Also, the separated women used coping strategies emphasizing personal change and reported more positive changes related to their family, work, and material conditions. Regression analyses on the entire sample showed that life strains were inversely related to emotional well-being and that coping served a stress-buffering function. It was concluded that the emotional well-being of separated and married women must be considered in the context of stress, coping, and change processes. PMID- 2610205 TI - Social support of children of divorce: direct and stress buffering effects. AB - This study examined the direct and stress-buffering effects of support from family adults, nonfamily adults, family children, and nonfamily children on the adjustment of 104 children of divorce. For children's reports of adjustment, significant stress-buffering (i.e., Stress x Support) interactions for support from family adults and support from nonfamily adults occurred. The lower the level of social support, the stronger the positive relation between stress and adjustment problems. In addition, at high levels of stress, children with high support from nonfamily and family adults reported fewer adjustment problems than did children with low support. However, at the lowest level of stress, children with high support from nonfamily adults were significantly more poorly adjusted than were children with low support. For parental reports of children's adjustment, support from family adults was marginally positively related to adjustment whereas support from nonfamily adults was inversely related to adjustment. Implications for intervention programs for children of divorce are discussed. PMID- 2610206 TI - Impact of a television film on attitudes toward mental illness. AB - The possible impact of a prime time television film portraying a mentally ill killer was investigated. Groups of college students were shown the film with and without a film trailer reminding viewers that violence is not characteristic of mentally ill persons. A third group viewed a film not about mental illness. Postfilm responses to the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill scale indicated that those who saw the target film expressed significantly less favorable attitudes toward mental illness and community care of mentally ill persons than did those who saw the control film, regardless of whether of not they received the trailer along with the target film. Results support concerns that media depictions add to mental illness stigma and also suggest that corrective information alone may be sufficient to counteract the stigmatizing impact of such audience-involving mass media portrayals. PMID- 2610207 TI - Assessing the scope of occupational disease: a candle in the darkness. PMID- 2610208 TI - Further follow-up and adjustment for smoking in a study of lung cancer and acid mists. AB - Follow-up of a cohort of 1,165 steelworkers exposed to acid mists has been extended from 1981 to early 1986 for most cohort members, and information on smoking has also been collected. We obtained an SMR for lung cancer (unadjusted for smoking) of 1.56 (95% CI 1.12-2.11, 41 observed). For those with 20 years or more since first exposure, the SMR was 1.72 (1.21-2.39). However, no trend was found with duration of exposure. To adjust for smoking, we used an indirect adjustment as suggested by Axelson to account for the fact that the exposed cohort smoked slightly more than the U.S. referent population. The SMR for the whole cohort dropped to 1.36 (0.97-1.84), while for those with more than 20 years since first exposure, the SMR was 1.50 (1.05-2.07). These results indicate that an excess risk for lung cancer persists after control for confounding by smoking. PMID- 2610209 TI - Geographic distribution of deaths due to sentinel health event (occupational) causes. AB - This report describes the Compressed Mortality File available from the National Center for Health Statistics that can be used to easily and efficiently generate annual mortality rates for geographic areas as small as counties for any period from 1968 to 1985. Several ways of presenting geographic variation in mortality rates due to potentially work-related deaths and changes in these rates over time are discussed for the 15-year period from 1969 through 1983. Causes of death that are potentially work-related were identified using the sentinel health events (occupational) [SHE(O)] concept. Data are given for nine diagnostic groups of occupationally related disorders, and maps are presented for bladder cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, and pneumoconioses. Significant changes in age-adjusted mortality rates were noted for pneumoconioses and acute myeloid leukemia that could not be due to changes in the disease coding of death certificates. Racial differences in mortality rates due to pneumoconioses may be due to differences in employment patterns. The use of SHE(O) codes to search the Compressed Mortality File may be helpful in identifying areas for public health concern, even if only as a monitoring signal for subsequent time periods. This file also provides an easy way to generate reference population mortality rates for epidemiologic studies. PMID- 2610210 TI - Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma in an urban hospital: clinical spectrum and trend in incidence over time. AB - This retrospective analysis reviews the clinical experience of a major urban referral hospital with diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma during the 14-year period from 1973 through 1986. Seventy-five cases of definite or equivocal mesothelioma were identified. There were four cases of primary malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, seven cases of benign fibrous mesothelioma, and 64 cases of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma. In 43 cases (67%) of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma, there was historic evidence of asbestos exposure. In 21 cases (33%), there was no known history of asbestos exposure. An increase in annual incidence of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma was observed over the study period, from three cases in 1973 to ten cases in 1986. Despite greater awareness of this disease, the diagnosis remains a difficult one to establish given the nonspecific symptoms, signs and radiographic appearance, variable histologic appearance, and poor diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of thoracentesis and closed pleural biopsy. Thoracotomy, thoracoscopy, and CT-guided needle biopsies gave higher yields and are the diagnostic measures of choice when diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma is suspected. PMID- 2610211 TI - Benzene in the blood and breath of normal people and occupationally exposed workers. AB - Benzene was measured in blood and alveolar air of 168 men, aged 20-58 years, subdivided into four groups: blood donors, hospital staff, chemical workers occupationally exposed to benzene, and chemical workers not occupationally exposed to benzene. The group of exposed workers was employed in work places with a mean environmental exposure to benzene of 1.62 mg/M3 (8 hr TWA). Non-exposed workers were employed elsewhere in the same plant, with an environmental exposure to benzene lower than 0.1 mg/M3. Blood and alveolar air samples were collected in the morning, before the start of the work shift for the chemical workers. The group of exposed workers was found to be significantly different from the other three groups, both for blood and alveolar benzene concentrations. The mean blood benzene concentration was 789 ng/l in the exposed workers, 307 ng/l in the non exposed workers, 332 ng/l in the hospital staff, and 196 ng/l in the blood donors. Apart from the exposed workers, blood benzene concentration was significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers. The mean alveolar benzene concentration was 92 ng/l in the exposed workers, 42 ng/l in the non-exposed workers, 22 ng/l in the hospital staff, and 11 ng/l in the blood donors. Alveolar benzene concentration was significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers in the groups of the hospital staff and non-exposed workers, but not in the blood donors and exposed workers. In the three groups without occupational exposure considered altogether, the alveolar benzene concentration correlated significantly with environmental benzene concentration measured at the moment of the individual examinations, both in the smokers (r = .636; p less than .001) and non-smokers (r = .628; p less than .001). In the same three groups and in the exposed workers, alveolar benzene concentration showed a significant correlation with the blood benzene concentration. PMID- 2610212 TI - Occupational health in the Negev: a model for regional planning. AB - In the Negev region of Israel, I tested a model approach to occupational health planning. This model included components assessing exposures, measuring adverse health outcomes, and evaluating health services. I analyzed employment survey data, compiled an exposure data base, and carried out site visits covering 10,707 employees (over 50% of the regional industrial work force). Site visits identified exposure hazards of inorganic and organic dusts, heavy metals, chemicals, pesticides, and noise. I identified elevated relative regional injury rates by Standard Morbidity Ratios (SMRs) in a variety of industries, including sixfold increases for mining and non-metallic minerals manufacture (SMR 6.8, 99% CI 6.1-7.7). Review of biological monitoring data suggested deficiencies in pesticide and heavy metals surveillance. A survey of primary care clinics estimated 13,707 cases of occupational injury and illness untreated by existing occupational medical services. Based on these findings, I formulated regional occupational health planning goals, including targeting high-risk industries for increased preventive activities. This regional approach, combining multiple measures of occupational health status, can serve as a model for assessing local public health planning needs. PMID- 2610213 TI - Occupational disease in New York State: a comprehensive examination. AB - In order to obtain information on the current magnitude of occupational disease in New York State, four data sources were reviewed: Workers' Compensation records, disease registries maintained by the state department of health, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and data from the California's physician reporting system. A proportionate attributable risk approach is used to develop estimates of mortality due to occupational diseases. The distribution of occupational hazards was assessed using data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC). Finally, econometric estimates of the direct and indirect costs of occupational illness were developed. The best available data indicate that 5,000 to 7,000 deaths are caused each year in New York State by work-related illnesses, and at least 35,000 new cases of occupational illness develop each year in the State. It is also estimated that between 150,000 and 750,000 workers in New York State are employed in the 50 most hazardous industries. OSHA standards regulating exposure to selected chemicals were found to have been violated frequently. The annual costs of occupational disease in New York State are approximately $600,000,000; only a small fraction is covered by workers' compensation insurance. Of the 52,000 physicians in New York State, only 73 are board certified in occupational medicine. Most of these are involved in administrative, teaching, and research aspects of occupational medicine. Of the 300 industrial hygenists in New York State, two-thirds are employed by major corporations. Recommendations are described to improve the recognition of occupational disease in New York State and to reduce the burden of this disease. A statewide network of occupational health clinical services is proposed and has been funded by the New York State Legislature. Other recommendations are also given. PMID- 2610214 TI - Health costs of occupational disease in New York State. AB - Occupational diseases and deaths are costly events. They are responsible for: 1) direct medical costs; 2) indirect costs, resulting from lost production, foregone opportunities, and diminished investment; and 3) non-economic costs, including pain and suffering, disrupted careers, and devastated families. To develop a partial estimate of the total costs of occupational disease in New York State, we have examined four categories of illness: occupational cancer, chronic respiratory disease and the pneumoconioses, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease, and end-stage renal failure. We base our partial estimate on the human capital approach to the costs of these illnesses. Using the best measures available, including both incidence and prevalence statistics, mortality records, and a variety of financial data, we employ two cost accounting techniques of the human capital approach, the incidence method, and the prevalence method. Our analysis shows that these four occupational illnesses are costing New York over $600 million per year. This figure is a pragmatic but conservative, lower-bound estimate of the relative magnitude of total economic costs of occupational disease in New York State. The largest proportion of these costs (80%) is due to occupational cancer. The failure of the health care system to recognize the costs of occupational disease precludes recognition of the economic benefits which would result from preventing these illnesses. This study, it is hoped, will stimulate advances in epidemiological and economic approaches to resolve this important measurement problem. PMID- 2610215 TI - Shrinking pleuritis with atelectasis. PMID- 2610216 TI - Medical and legal ramifications of HIV transmission to hospital employees. Proceedings of a symposium. June 5, 1989, Nashville, Tennessee. PMID- 2610217 TI - Role of pharmacists in reducing occupational exposure to HIV. AB - The role of pharmacists in reducing the occupational hazard of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission via needle-stick injuries is described. Some 40% of all pharmaceuticals used in hospitals are now administered by injection, and sales of large-volume injectable drug products continue to grow. Most needle-stick injuries in which health-care workers are exposed to HIV contaminated blood occur during recapping of used needles, picking up and carrying the needle, or placing it in a receptacle. Pharmacists are responsible not only for the purchase, storage, dispensing, and use of drug products but also for providing information about their administration and safe disposal. Single use vials, ampuls, and prefilled syringes must all be evaluated for availability, ease of use, and disposal. A major factor in drug-purchasing decisions must be the safety of nurses. Syringes that have been redesigned to eliminate the need for recapping offer a major safety advantage. Needle disposal units should be made more conveniently accessible. Pharmacists can help prevent the transmission of HIV to health-care workers by using their influence as educators and decision makers to reduce the risk of needle-stick injury. PMID- 2610218 TI - Risk of exposure to HIV infection for clinical pharmacists. AB - The increased risk for exposure of clinical pharmacists to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is described, and their role in minimizing the risk to themselves and others is delineated. Increasingly, pharmacists are becoming involved in patient care activities that place them at risk for HIV exposure. These activities include participation on cardiac resuscitation teams, monitoring concentrations of drugs in patient samples that they themselves may collect, administering intravenous drugs, and performing a wide variety of primary-care duties in such outpatient settings as anticoagulation, diabetes, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-oncology clinics. Pharmacists can protect themselves against HIV infection by following established infection control procedures; at the same time, they must exercise responsibility for the safety of their associates, of pharmacy technicians, students, and residents, and of other health-care workers. In many institutions this responsibility is shared with nurses. As educators, pharmacists must play a leading role in the dissemination of correct, up-to-date information about HIV infection, body substances precautions, and new product use and availability in both the hospital and the community. The expanded role of pharmacists places them at higher risk for HIV infection but also creates opportunities for them to exercise leadership in the fight against AIDS. PMID- 2610219 TI - Medical and legal ramifications of HIV transmission to hospital employees: introduction. PMID- 2610220 TI - Infection of the health-care worker by HIV and other blood-borne viruses: risks, protection, and education. AB - Transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other blood-borne viruses in hospitals is discussed, and the infection control system and worker protection and education plan at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) are described. The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic has led to increased concern about occupationally acquired infections in health-care workers. As the number of HIV-infected persons increases, so does the risk of infection. Occupationally acquired HIV infection of health-care workers occurs principally in nurses, phlebotomists, and laboratory technicians through accidental subcutaneous injection of contaminated blood; splashing of blood onto open skin lesions, the eyes, and mucous membranes represents another route of exposure. The risk of infection from a single needle-stick exposure to HIV infected blood is about 0.4%. Other blood-borne viruses to which employees are vulnerable include hepatitis B virus and human T-cell lymphotropic viruses, which may cause leukemia and lymphoma. SFGH has a comprehensive infection control system. Specimen containers are enclosed in transparent secondary containers, the worker is encouraged to wear protective clothing when necessary, and specific needle-stick precautions are promoted. There is also a health-care worker protection and education plan. The employee health services department provides immunizations, keeps records on accidental exposures, and operates a hot line. The education committee disseminates educational materials and arranges lectures. Infection control and education provide simple but effective measures for protecting hospital employees against HIV and other occupationally acquired infections. PMID- 2610221 TI - Nationally speaking. Directions for the future. PMID- 2610222 TI - The meaning of daily activity in family caregiving for the elderly. AB - Sixty ethnographic interviews with 15 family caregivers for frail older people living in the community were analyzed to understand the meaning of activity in caregiving. Schon's (1983) reflection-in-action framework was used to organize the data. Three goals of caregiving activity were derived: (a) getting things done, (b) achieving a sense of health and well-being for the care receiver, and (c) achieving a sense of health and well-being for the caregiver. The family caregiver was conceptualized as a lay practitioner involved in the clinical reasoning and ethical dilemmas integral to the provision of health care for the care receiver. The caregivers' judgments regarding the prioritization and attainment of goals determined the forms of caregiving activities. Implications for occupational therapy practice and the relationship between the caregiver and the professional are discussed. PMID- 2610223 TI - An analysis of the relationship between proximal and distal motor control. AB - The purpose of this investigation was to test the ontogenetic principle that the development of proximal postural stability precedes, and is necessary for, the development of distal fine motor control. The Posture and Fine Motor Assessment of Infants (Case-Smith, 1987) was used to examine the relationship between proximal and distal motor function in 60 normal infants. Low positive partial correlations were found between components of posture and fine motor control. Although all partial correlations, except those between the head component of postural control and the fine motor scores, were significant, they were not strong enough to support the validity of the proximal-distal principle. They appear instead to reflect a functional rather than an ontogenetic relationship. These findings have implications for treatment and further research. PMID- 2610224 TI - Knowledgeability of theories of occupational therapy practitioners in Israel. AB - A reflective occupational therapist is conceived as one who values theory and uses it as a tool for setting and solving problems in clinical situations. In this study, we investigated the extent of knowledge ability of theories of occupational therapy practitioners in Israel. Data were collected in two stages: (a) through personal interviews with a representative sample of all occupational therapists (n = 98) with the use of a semistructured questionnaire and (b) through telephone interviews of recent graduates of one school (n = 40) with the use of a shortened version of the original questionnaire. The findings from an open-ended question concerning knowledgeability theories reflected (a) the degree of the theories' scientific development, (b) the differentiation between models conceived as theories and those seen as techniques for treatment, and (c) the changes in professional curricula resulting from scientific and clinical developments in the field. In addition, a more general knowledge level, termed recognition, showed a consistent understanding of the theories and treatment modalities relevant in the practitioners' specialty areas. The results of this study indicate a need for further articulation of theory in clinical practice as well as better educational preparation of the "reflective practitioner" (Scbon, 1983). PMID- 2610225 TI - Development of a level I fieldwork evaluation. AB - The Wisconsin Council on Education (Wiscouncil) developed and pilot tested an evaluation of student performance for Level I fieldwork to be use for both occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students. Data were gathered from 259 students, fieldwork supervisors, and faculty who rated the form on a number of variables. The majority of students and clinical faculty believed the form was good to excellent in meeting their needs, in being useful in a variety of settings, in being applicable for both occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students, and in overall efficiency. On the basis of the results of the 1-year pilot study, short (23-item) and long (38-item) versions of the form were developed. Implications for use and the importance of future research to determine reliability and validity are discussed. PMID- 2610226 TI - Changes in preschool children's IQ scores as a function of positioning. PMID- 2610227 TI - Occupational therapy for a patient with a bilateral Krukenberg amputation. PMID- 2610228 TI - Single-stage surgery for cholesteatoma: an actuarial analysis. AB - Single-stage surgery was used for 215 operations for cholesteatoma. The results were analyzed using months at risk (actuarial) statistics. The methods of data collection and of creating a life-table for cholesteatoma follow-up are described. Ninety-one canal-down procedures are compared with 124 canal-up procedures as to the recidivism rate as well as hearing results. The actuarial tables showed a 45% cumulative success rate for canal-up procedures versus a 90% rate for canal-down operations. The successful canal-up procedures demonstrated slightly better hearing results, however. These success rates seemed to be comparable to those using planned staged surgery. It was concluded that, if single-stage canal-up procedures were used with larger mastoids and canal-down procedures with smaller mastoids, 80% of patients could be controlled without either residual or recurrent disease appearing. For the others, it was felt safe to wait for the disease to reappear rather than to do planned two-stage procedures for all patients. It was further urged that actuarial statistics be employed when reporting the results of surgery for cholesteatoma. PMID- 2610229 TI - Evaluation of a three-stage management program for Meniere's disease. AB - A three-stage program for management of Meniere's disease, consisting of diuretics, endolymphatic sac surgery, and intratympanal installations of gentamicin was tested in a peripheral county without neurosurgical facilities during 1981-1985. All 106 patients in the program were admitted at least once to the only ENT department of the area. The authors believe that these cases represented the most serious part of a total incidence estimated to be about 6.5 times higher than what the present material represent. When evaluated at the end of the period according to the AAOO 1972 classification , only 12 patients turned out to be suffering from vertigo. However, among other factors, the possible placebo effect on a population whose Meinere-related problems were for the first time focused upon and treated must be kept in mind. PMID- 2610230 TI - Cartilage palisade tympanoplasty. AB - Recurrent tympanic membrane perforations are usually caused by underlying conditions such as an adhesive process with a poorly aerated middle ear space, a thermal perforation, infection, or technical error at the time of graft placement. Despite surgical treatment these reperforations pose a significant otologic problem that may lead to the development of chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma. The purpose of this study is to detail the use of a new cartilage palisade tympanoplasty technique that has yielded a 100% tympanic membrane closure rate without recurrent perforations in 52 operated ears over a 2-year period. The acoustic properties of the rebuilt tympanic membrane were analyzed for types I, II, and III tympanoplasty and revealed a significant improvement in the postoperative air bone gap. PMID- 2610231 TI - NaCl deposition in the vestibule: a simple, safe, and effective method of cochleovestibular deafferentation. AB - Chemical cochleovestibular deafferentation was performed on 21 individuals suffering from disabling vertigo caused by unilateral Meniere's disease. Patients ranged in age from 31 to 60 years, with a mean age of 47.4. The duration of the disease spanned 3 to 14 years, mean duration being 5.8 years. Subjects displayed pure-tone thresholds higher than 50 dB HL in the affected ear and better than 25 dB HL in the contralateral ear. The frequency of vertigo, evaluated during the 6 months before surgery, ranged from 1 crisis a month to 2 a week; mean duration of crises was 1 to 6 hours. Medical treatment had failed in all cases. The surgical procedure consisted of stapedectomy, deposition of several crystals of NaCl in the vestibule, and sealing of the oval window with a vein graft. Postoperative recovery was rapid, allowing patients to be discharged 4 to 6 days after surgery. All subjects reported complete relief of vertigo. Tinnitus disappeared in 47.6% of the subjects, was reduced in 33.3% and unchanged in 19.1%. Most patients complaining of aural fullness preoperatively reported relief of this symptom after surgery. The outcomes of the present study indicate that NaCl deposition into the vestibule is a simple, safe, and effective technique of cochleovestibular deafferentation. PMID- 2610232 TI - The prevalence of middle ear pathologies in Jerusalem school children. AB - In the years 1984-85, 2,664 Jerusalem school children aged between 8 and 13 years were checked for middle ear pathologies. This pilot study was part of a preventive medicine project that was also on the alert for cases where hearing problems had led to academic underachievement. The children were checked at school by an otolaryngologist using a pneumatic otoscope. 1.5% of them suffered from secretory otitis media, 3% from attic retractions, 0.3% from chronic otitis media, and 0.07% from cholesteatoma. The total number of children who had middle ear pathologies was 132 (4.95%). In a parallel group of 2,486 children checked by the routine pass/fail portable audiometry test performed by a nurse, only 1% were found to have middle ear pathologies. According to these middle ear findings, we concluded that the vast majority of the pathologies can be detected by a simple tympanometry and we recommend routine audiometric and tympanometric examinations for school children in grades A and B, and a repeated tympanometry at age 10 years. PMID- 2610233 TI - Chronic otitis media: surgical failures and management. AB - Failure of primary tympanomastoid surgery to control chronic otitis is a difficult otologic problem. The facial nerve, middle fossa dura, and inner ear structures are at high risk because of distorted anatomy from the primary surgery and/or recurrent disease. In this article our techniques and experience with 42 revision procedures for recurrent chronic otitis with and without cholesteatoma are presented. Control of otorrhea and/or cholesteatoma was achieved in 93% of the cases; however, this might be less after 5 years of follow-up. The mean postoperative air-bone gap was 25 dB, and this is a 6 dB improvement from the preoperative level. Revision tympanomastoid surgery was very effective and safe in the management of this difficult problem. For cholesteatoma in particular, the canal wall down technique is our procedure of choice. PMID- 2610234 TI - Audiologic pathology in Behcet syndrome. PMID- 2610235 TI - Phenomenologic aspects of the acoustic reflex following noise exposure. AB - Thirty-seven normal hearing subjects were exposed to broadband noise for 2 hours at 90 dB (Lp). Measures of behavioral thresholds and acoustic reflex activity were completed prior to and following the noise exposure. As expected, temporary threshold shift was obtained at several different frequencies (1.0-6.0 kHz). In addition, reflex threshold shift occurred for all pure-tone elicitors under evaluation (0.5 to 4.0 kHz). The observed shift in acoustic reflex threshold at 0.5 kHz without a concomitant change in behavioral sensitivity reveals the limitation of utilizing behavioral threshold testing as the sole measure of cochlear disruption. Changes in acoustic reflex onset latency and magnitude were not observed after compensating for shifts in acoustic reflex threshold. PMID- 2610236 TI - Stapes surgery in osteogenesis imperfecta. AB - Between 1968 and 1986 stapes surgery has been performed in the Nijmegen University Department of Otorhinolaryngology in 11 patients (14 ears) with osteogenesis imperfecta. Detailed information about pre- and postoperative hearing levels, findings at surgery, and the follow-up period are presented. In most cases the stapedectomy has been successful. PMID- 2610237 TI - A complex case of cochlear implant electrode placement. AB - Cochlear implantation is becoming an increasingly accepted rehabilitative procedure for post lingually deafened adults. The testing, evaluation, and surgery have become standardized procedures. In this case results of two different promontory tests were contradictory. A constant voltage stimulation test was negative, while a later constant current stimulation test indicated good residual function. The CT scan accurately predicted the location of the round window remanent. In order to gain access to the cochlea, a partial labyrinthectomy was performed. Successful implantation was ultimately achieved. This implies that a previous labyrinthectomy may not be an absolute contraindication to cochlear implantation. PMID- 2610238 TI - The N.I.F. classification of ossicular disorders. AB - The authors present their classification of ossicular disorders. It is felt to be easy to use, and self-explanatory, and it lends itself conveniently to analysis of data by computer. Examples are shown of its use in analyzing data in relationship to the ossicular status, in quantifying the effects of different ossicular situations, and in comparing our results with those of other authors. Using the N.I.F. classification, these factors are surprisingly easy to manipulate. It is hoped that this classification will be of use to others engaged in the same type of studies. PMID- 2610239 TI - Facial paralysis following bilateral mandibular osteotomy. PMID- 2610240 TI - Recurrent facial paralysis with parotitis. PMID- 2610241 TI - Controversies in pediatric otology: point/counterpoint--perilymph fistula. PMID- 2610242 TI - Perilymph fistulas in children: experience of the Otologic Medical Group. AB - We reviewed records of 86 consecutive fistula explorations over 12 years. Four cases were children under age 18. There were 35 fistulas, all in adults. Since this series, we have identified five more children with fistula explorations for a total of nine patients. Two had bilateral explorations. Presenting symptoms were hearing loss and dizziness. None of the children had a definite fistula. Of the nine patients, one patient had a significant improvement in hearing postoperatively, five had no change, and two had worse hearing. There was no follow-up in two patients or in the second ear of a bilateral case. We feel that a fistula should be considered in any case of progressive or fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, especially in cases with a congenital inner ear deformity. In such cases, an exploration may be reasonable to rule out a fistula. Otherwise, we are hesitant to explore patients for fistulas regardless of whether they are children or adults. Sudden, progressive, and fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, dizziness, and meningitis have been attributed to perilymph fistulas in both adults and children. The literature reports fistulas in all types of conditions. The incidence and degree of success of treatment have varied widely. When Goodhill first reported round window rupture as a cause of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), the Otologic Medical Group (OMG) began routine exploration of all cases of sudden SNHL for the presence of fistulas. After 50 consecutive cases were explored and no fistulas were found, we became selective in our exploration candidates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610243 TI - Congenital perilymphatic fistula: an overlooked diagnosis? AB - Congenital perilymphatic fistula (CPLF) often is the sole cause of sensorineural hearing loss in children that is both progressive and subtle and, therefore, can elude detection by physicians. A 3-year prospective study of 244 children with sensorineural hearing loss of unknown etiology demonstrated that at least 6% (15/244) had CPLF. Close audiologic monitoring and radiologic imaging of the temporal bone of children with sensorineural hearing loss are recommended to detect CPLF. PMID- 2610244 TI - Perilymphatic fistula in pediatric patients with a preexisting sensorineural loss. AB - A specific group of 28 children (38 ears) with a preexisting sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was studied to determine if a perilymphatic fistula (PLF) was the cause of a progression in their hearing loss. A PLF was identified surgically in six of these ears, but there was no evidence of any defect found in 32 ears. The symptoms shared by the cases in which a fistula was found included a traumatic event (including exertion), CT scan evidence of inner ear defects, hearing threshold decreases of 25 to 30 dB, and vertigo or postural instability. PMID- 2610245 TI - An in vivo examination of rat brain during sepsis with 31P-NMR spectroscopy. AB - Neurological symptoms including lethargy, obtundation, and confusion are early and common findings in patients with sepsis. The etiology of the mental status changes that occur during severe infection is not known. We investigated the effects of sepsis on the levels of high-energy phosphates to determine whether decreased energy metabolism was a factor in the depressed neurological state. The time course of changes in brain pH and brain high-energy phosphate metabolites during an Escherichia coli infusion was determined from sequential phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) spectra of ketamine-xylazine-anesthetized rats. A second group of rats received 0.9% saline infusion and served as a control group. Despite severe obtundation and near loss of righting reflex, the rats in the septic group had no significant differences in the brain pH, the ratio of phosphocreatine (PCr) to beta-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (beta-ATP), or in the ratio of PCr to Pi. The only significant decrease in brain high-energy phosphates or pH occurred terminally in the septic rat group and corresponded with a rapidly falling arterial blood pressure. We conclude that the severe neurological depression that is characteristic of sepsis is not due to decreased levels of brain high-energy phosphates or brain acidosis. PMID- 2610246 TI - Aequorin luminescence, myosin phosphorylation, and active stress in tracheal smooth muscle. AB - During muscarinic activation of canine tracheal smooth muscle with carbachol, myosin phosphorylation is significantly more sensitive than stress to the external Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) [W. T. Gerthoffer. Am. J. Physiol. 250 (Cell Physiol. 19): C597-C604, 1986]. To determine whether the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) correlated more closely with changes in phosphorylation or force, we measured isometric force and light emitted by the luminescent intracellular Ca2+ indicator aequorin as [Ca2+]o was increased in the presence of 1 microM carbachol or 60 mM K+. Myosin phosphorylation was measured using an immunoblot assay in a second set of muscle strips treated identically. Stimulation with carbachol increased aequorin luminescence slightly in strips incubated in Ca2+-free solution. Active stress and aequorin luminescence subsequently increased in parallel as [Ca2+]o was increased. Myosin phosphorylation at 0.05 mM [Ca2+]o (0.30 +/- 0.04 mol Pi/mol light chain) was significantly higher than phosphorylation in Ca2+-free solution with no carbachol (0.12 +/- 0.048 mol Pi/mol light chain) and increased to a maximum of 0.56 +/- 0.03 mol Pi/mol light chain at 1.6 mM [Ca2+]o. In contrast, active stress and aequorin luminescence remained low at low [Ca2+]o and reached a maximum at 2.4 mM [Ca2+]o. Stimulation with carbachol produced greater increases in myosin phosphorylation and active stress for a given change in aequorin luminescence than did K+ depolarization. Stimulation with carbachol also produced a different phosphorylation-stress relationship than did K+ depolarization. These observations are consistent with the possibility that carbachol induces increases in the Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile proteins in tracheal smooth muscle. PMID- 2610247 TI - Effects of cysteine protease inhibitors on rabbit cathepsin D maturation. AB - To examine the effects of cysteine protease inhibitors on cathepsin D intracellular transport, proteolytic processing, and secretion, primary cultures of rabbit cardiac fibroblasts were grown to confluence and exposed (24 h) to media containing leupeptin (0-10 mM), E 64 (0-10 mM), or chloroquine (0-50 microM). Cathepsin D maturation was then evaluated in pulse-chase biosynthetic labeling experiments. None of the three agents affected the charge modification of procathepsin D (Mr 53,000) within the Golgi apparatus. However, all three agents interfered with the subsequent proteolytic processing of procathepsin D isoforms to active cathepsin D (Mr 48,000). Both leupeptin and E 64 caused the intracellular accumulation of large amounts of a Mr 51,000 processing intermediate (not detectable in control fibroblasts). Trace amounts of this intermediate were also detected in chloroquine-treated cells. Combined activity assay and radioimmunoassay of cell lysates indicated that this partially processed form of cathepsin D possessed proteolytic activity. Whereas low medium concentrations of leupeptin (10-100 microM) but not E 64 appeared to stimulate procathepsin D secretion, neither agent appeared to have a major effect on the rate of proenzyme secretion at doses required to inhibit proteolytic maturation (1-10 mM). Furthermore, pretreatment of cells with 10 mM leupeptin appeared only to delay, but not prevent, the intracellular transport of cathepsin D to lysosomes. In contrast, chloroquine increased procathepsin D secretion in a dose dependent manner, diverting the majority of newly synthesized procathepsin D from the intracellular protease(s) responsible for proteolytic processing. These results suggest that cysteine proteases participate in the proteolytic maturation of procathepsin D during the transport of newly synthesized enzyme to lysosomes, but cysteine protease-mediated proteolytic processing is not required for cathepsin D activation or lysosomal translocation. PMID- 2610248 TI - Impaired control of respiration in iron-deficient muscle mitochondria. AB - Dietary iron deficiency (ID) decreases iron-containing proteins and hence respiratory capacity of skeletal muscle mitochondria (SMM), but noniron components are much less affected. Using a hexokinase plus glucose ATP-utilizing system, we studied control of respiration in isolated SMM from rats of variable iron status: ID, ID 3 days after intraperitoneal treatment with iron dextran, and control. We found that sensitivity of respiratory control (e.g., ATP/ADP at a given oxygen consumption) was positively related to state 3 respiratory capacity. Titration studies with carboxyatractyloside, a noncompetitive inhibitor of adenine nucleotide translocase (AdNT), revealed that AdNT concentration was unaffected by iron status. However, the turnover number of AdNT was markedly reduced by ID and improved with iron treatment. We conclude that in ID SMM, decreased maximal respiratory capacity is paralleled by impaired sensitivity to putative controllers of oxidative phosphorylation at any respiratory rate, despite normal levels of AdNT. A second study was designed to determine possible consequences of impaired sensitivity of respiratory control on motor unit recruitment during exercise. ID and normal rats were subjected to a program of walking treadmill exercise. Although exercise failed to induce any changes in oxidative enzyme levels in control rat, ID animals and exhibited substantial mitochondrial enzyme adaptation in hindlimb skeletal muscle. Furthermore, the most consistent enzymatic changes were observed to occur in fast glycolytic muscle fibers. These results suggest marked alterations in the pattern of muscle fiber recruitment during mild exercise in ID rodents and support the hypothesis that sensitivity of respiratory control in SMM is an important determinant of motor unit recruitment during aerobic exercise. PMID- 2610249 TI - Delayed K+ current and external K+ in single cardiac Purkinje cells. AB - The effect of external K+ on the delayed K+ current was investigated in rabbit single Purkinje cells. Whole cell voltage clamp and intracellular dialysis were used. At K+ concentrations less than 1 mM the kinetics of the delayed K+ current were not changed, but the conductance was markedly reduced. This effect was due to a direct change at an extracellular site and not due to secondary changes in intracellular Na+ or Ca2+ concentrations. A rise in intracellular Na+ or Ca2+ rather increased the delayed K+ current. The decrease in the delayed K+ current in low external K+ was absent when the experiments were done in Na+-free solution. It is concluded that external Na+ exerts an inhibitory effect on the conductance of the delayed K+ current. PMID- 2610250 TI - Proximal tubule volume regulation in hyperosmotic media: intracellular K+, Na+, and Cl-. AB - Nonperfused proximal S2 segments from rabbit kidney cortex have been shown to keep cell volume constant as medium osmolality is slowly raised but to shrink and not exhibit regulatory volume increase (RVI) if medium osmolality is abruptly elevated (J. Lohr and J. Grantham. J. Clin. Invest. 78: 1165-1172, 1986). In the current study, 0.5 mM butyrate in the medium 1) extended the range from 361 to 450 mosmol/kgH2O over which cells maintained volume constant as osmolality was gradually raised and 2) restored RVI after cell shrinkage when osmolality was rapidly raised from 295 to 400 mosmol/kgH2O. Volume regulation was associated with net increases in intracellular Na+ and Cl- but no change in K+ (measured by electron probe). The increments in Na+ and Cl- were insufficient to account for the total addition of osmolytes required for volume maintenance or restoration. The fraction of the expected increase in intracellular osmoles accounted for by the increase in [(K+)i + (Na+)i + (Cl-)i] was 52 and 21% for gradual and rapid osmotic changes, respectively. We conclude that butyrate enhances the capacity of S2 segments to regulate volume in hyperosmotic medium by promoting addition of Na+ and Cl- and by other undermined factors. PMID- 2610251 TI - Glucose transport in skeletal muscle membrane vesicles from control and exercised rats. AB - Skeletal muscle responds to exercise by increasing the rate of glucose uptake. Recent studies have indicated that these changes occur via mechanisms modulating the number of transporters in the plasma membrane and/or transporter intrinsic activity. In the present study, a protocol was developed for measuring the initial rate of glucose uptake by rat hindlimb skeletal muscle plasma membrane vesicles. Membranes were isolated from sedentary (control) and acutely exercised rats, and the initial rates of D- and L-glucose influx were assayed under equilibrium exchange conditions to obtain the kinetic constants for carrier mediated transport. These values were compared with the values for transporter number measured by cytochalasin B binding, and the carrier turnover numbers were calculated. The maximum velocity (Vmax) for carrier-mediated glucose influx was increased 3.7-fold by exercise, from 3.5 nmol.mg protein-1.s-1 for the membranes from control rats to 13 nmol.mg protein-1.s-1 for the membranes from exercised animals. The mean affinity constant (K0.5; approximately 20 mM) was not different between the two groups. The number of transporters in the plasma membrane was increased to a lesser degree, 5.4 to 9.4 pmol/mg protein. As a result, the average carrier turnover number was increased almost twofold by exercise, 719 s-1 in the controls vs. 1,380 s-1 in the exercised rats. These data indicate that the response of glucose transport to exercise involves an increase in the average carrier intrinsic activity as well as a recruitment of transporters to the plasma membrane. Whether the increase in carrier turnover number is due to activation of the transporters or recruitment of a more "active" form of the carrier is unknown. PMID- 2610252 TI - Linear dependence of muscle phosphocreatine kinetics on total creatine content. AB - Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra and twitch tension were recorded during stimulation of gastrocnemius muscles of pentobarbital sodium anesthetized rats which had been fed the creatine analogue beta guanidinopropionic acid (beta-GPA, 2% diet) for periods from 0 (control) to 8 wk. Total creatine content of unstimulated muscles decreased by 42, 67, 82, and 88% compared with controls after 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-wk feeding, respectively. The staircase effect observed in control muscles during 8 min of twitch stimulation at 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 Hz was reduced after 2- to 8-wk beta-GPA feeding. However, after 6- to 8-wk feeding, the twitch force at the end of 8 min of stimulation was not different from controls. The time constant for phosphocreatine (PCr) changes at the onset of and during recovery after stimulation was proportional to total creatine content. The relationship between PCr content and twitch rate times force at the end of stimulation was linear, with slope proportional to total creatine content. PCr content in beta-GPA-fed animals was transiently greater during recovery than before stimulation, suggesting a regulatory effect of the inorganic phosphate released by hydrolysis of phosphorylated beta-GPA. The results are consistent with linear models of respiratory control in which the creatine kinase reaction acts as a simple buffer of adenine nucleotide levels. PMID- 2610253 TI - Growth hormone secretory rates in children as estimated by deconvolution analysis of 24-h plasma concentration profiles. AB - The kinetics of growth-hormone (GH) distribution and elimination was estimated in five GH-deficient children who received 11 intravenous single injections of GH. The plasma disappearance data were analyzed in terms of a two-compartment model. The kinetic parameters obtained were then used in calculating the GH-secretory rate by a numerical deconvolution technique. A simple formula was derived for calculation of the cumulated secretion from the area under the concentration curve of 145 healthy children of various ages, heights, and stages of puberty. The estimated 24-h GH secretion increased with age, corresponding to a two- to fourfold increase during the adolescence period. The highest secretions were found in pubertal stages 3-4. In prepubertal children the heights correlated markedly with the secretion of GH (r = 0.83). Thus an indication of the range of the GH secretion in normal growing children is found, which is important to estimate substitution doses for treatment of GH-deficient children. PMID- 2610254 TI - Ion microprobe analysis of bone surface elements: effects of 1,25(OH)2D3. AB - When neonatal mouse calvariae are incubated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] there is net calcium efflux from the bone into the medium. The effect of this enhanced cell-mediated Ca efflux on the relative concentrations of mineral 23Na, 39K, and 40Ca has not previously been studied. We used an imaging scanning ion microprobe, utilizing secondary ion mass spectrometry, to compare the relative ion concentrations of Na, K, and Ca on the surface, subsurface, and cross-section of cultured bone incubated in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3 with the ion concentrations in similar regions of bone incubated in unaltered control medium. Changes in mineral ion concentration were correlated with net fluxes of Na, K, and Ca relative to bone. Calvariae incubated in control medium (24 h at pH approximately 7.40) have abundant surface Na and K relative to Ca (Na/Ca, 85 and K/Ca, 68), whereas the subsurface has less Na/Ca (21) and K/Ca (23), and on cross section the ratios of both Na/Ca (2.0) and K/Ca (1.9) decrease further. After incubation with 10(-8) M 1,25(OH)2D3, there is a significant increase in bone surface Na/Ca (154) and K/Ca (141) without a change in these ratios on the subsurface and a small fall in both ratios on cross section. The linear relationship between Na/Ca and K/Ca across the three regions of bone observed in control calvariae did not change with 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment. As determined by flux measurements there is a net efflux of Ca but not Na or K from bone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610255 TI - Response of serum triglycerides of endogenous origin to the administration of triglyceride-rich lipid particles. AB - Studies were performed in rats to quantitate the changes in the concentration of serum triglycerides (TGs) of endogenous and exogenous origin after the acute intravenous injection of TG-rich emulsion particles. Emulsions were prepared to approximate chylomicrons and to contain a TG with a single fatty acid that could be traced during its clearance from the serum. After injection of emulsions, there was a rapid increase of not only the emulsion TG but TGs that contained a variety of other fatty acids of endogenous origin. Endogenous TGs were cleared from the serum at a slower rate than the emulsion TG and accounted for the major increase in serum TGs, especially during the latter phase of the clearance period. The increase in endogenous TGs was completely abolished by hepatectomy, which had no effect on the clearance of the emulsion TG. Results thus show that TGs of hepatic origin accumulate in the serum in response to the introduction of new TG-rich lipoproteins. Feeding rats a specific TG produced a similar result, with a pronounced rise in endogenous TGs that, like the changes after emulsion administration, was particularly evident once the TG that was fed was largely cleared from the serum. These findings are consistent with a process in which the preferential clearance of chylomicron TGs interrupts the clearance of very low density lipoprotein TGs that are produced by the liver. Consequently, the composition of serum TGs that accumulate after a meal may not reflect the composition of the meal itself. PMID- 2610256 TI - A comparison of amino acid arteriovenous differences across the liver and placenta of the fetal lamb. AB - Amino acid and ammonia concentrations as well as oxygen content were measured in either the right or left hepatic vein, the umbilical vein, and the umbilical artery in 13 fetal lambs in late gestation. There was an uptake of all of the essential and most of the nonessential amino acids by both lobes of the fetal liver. The umbilical venous-hepatic venous amino acid concentration differences were similar in the two hepatic lobes. While glutamine and glycine were taken up by both hepatic lobes, their metabolically related amino acids, glutamate and serine, were released by the fetal liver into the systemic circulation. There was a reciprocal net placental uptake from the umbilical circulation of glutamate and serine and a net fetal of glutamine and glycine, suggestive of interorgan cycling of these amino acids between the placenta and fetal liver. Total fetal umbilical nitrogen uptake was 0.91 g N.kg-1.day-1. The umbilical venous-hepatic venous differences of ammonia were positive and not significantly different in the two lobes. There was a significant umbilical uptake of ammonia (12.8 +/- 1.8 microM; 0.0078 microM NH3/microM O2). However, 0 the ratios of NH3 to O2 were much higher in each lobe (right, 0.060; left, 0.079; each P less than 0.01) than in the umbilical circulation. PMID- 2610257 TI - Growth hormone effects on hepatic glutamate handling in vivo. AB - Growth hormone administration affects growth in hypophysectomized animals by depressing urea synthesis and redistributing nitrogen into protein. Because the liver is the site of ureagenesis and glutamine is the major interorgan nitrogen vehicle, we studied hepatic glutamine uptake in relation to urea release in hypophysectomized and growth hormone-supplemented, 100 micrograms/100 g body wt hypophysectomized rats. In vivo hepatic balances for glutamine, glutamate, alanine, and urea were performed on anesthetized animals by simultaneous measurement of flow through the liver and the respective arteriovenous and portovenous concentration differences. On the whole animal level, growth hormone administered hypophysectomized rats exhibited restored growth and decreased urea excretion associated with a reduction in arterial urea and elevation in arterial glutamate, but glutamine and alanine concentrations were unchanged. On the organ level, growth hormone treatment reduced hepatic urea release from 3,145 +/- 432 to 1,954 +/- 320 nmol.min-1.100 g-1. However, neither glutamine uptake, 342 +/- 110 and 494 +/- 135 nmol.min-1.100 g-1 nor alanine uptake, 522 +/- 120 vs. 363 +/ 109 nmol.min-1.100 g-1 were altered by growth hormone treatment. In marked contrast, net glutamate uptake by the hypophysectomized rat liver, 71 +/- 15 nmol.min-1.100 g-1, was reversed by growth hormone administration to a striking net release rate of 960 +/- 229 nmol.min-1.100 g-1, suggesting that glutamine nitrogen is spared incorporation into urea by shunting into glutamate and release into the blood. PMID- 2610258 TI - Effect of epidermal growth factor on the ontogenic response of rat gastric mucosa to H+. AB - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an important role in the development of the neonatal intestinal tract and affects the integrity of adult stomach. This study examined the effects of EGF on the development of mucosal responses to luminal H+ in rats of various ages. Mucosal response to luminal acid (300 mN) was measured in rats between 10 and 60 days after birth. Permeability changes were expressed as H+ loss and Na+, K+, and protein appearance in the luminal instillate. Losses of H+ and luminal appearances of Na+, K+, and protein were greater in animals older than 20 days of age compared with younger rats. Mucosal permeability responses to 300 mN HCl were reduced by enteral or parenteral treatment with EGF (5-50 or 10-100 micrograms/kg sc) in rats 20 days of age and older. EGF did not consistently affect ion and protein fluxes in 10- and 15-day-old rats treated with HCl. Likewise EGF did not stimulate gastric HCO3- secretion in any of the age groups examined. Injection of 8-day-old rats with corticosterone acetate (250 mg/kg) did not affect ion or protein fluxes in EGF-treated 10-day-old rats. However steroid treatment did result in a reduction in Na+ and K+ fluxes in 15 day-old rats receiving EGF. EGF was detected in salivary and duodenal tissue of rats and in the maternal milk of rat dams.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610259 TI - Tissue origin of peptide-responsive eicosanoid production in rabbit intestine. AB - Different layers of rabbit large and small intestine display different peptide sensitivity and different profiles of eicosanoid release. Isolated perfused mesenteric pedicle alone, with muscularis/submucosa or with muscularis and mucosa from normal small bowel, normal colon, or inflamed colon were stimulated with bradykinin (BK) or n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). Released prostaglandin (PG)E2, thromboxane (Tx)B2, and leukotriene (LT)B4 were assayed using extensively validated radioimmunoassays. In rabbit colon, PGE2 arises primarily from the mesentery, while in small intestine the muscularis/mucosa releases 70-80% of the total PGE2. BK releases no significant thromboxane from healthy colon, although both muscularis/submucosa and mucosa respond in inflamed colon. In contrast, fMLP stimulates thromboxane from muscularis/submucosa and mucosa of even healthy colon, while release is greatly potentiated in inflammation. Lipoxygenase in the colon is regulated differently than cyclooxygenase; it is not stimulated by BK in either healthy or inflamed colon. fMLP releases equal amounts of LTB4 from healthy and inflamed colon, but release was primarily from healthy colonic mucosa, whereas it was distributed throughout mesenteric pedicle, muscularis, and mucosa in inflamed colon. The ability of normal colonic mucosa to release proinflammatory LTB4 in response to a chemotactic factor (fMLP) produced by enteric bacteria suggests a possible role for these compounds as a stimulus for inflammation in some patients with inflammatory bowel disease. PMID- 2610260 TI - Albumin enhances unidirectional fluxes of fatty acid across a lipid-water interface: theory and experiments. AB - The effect of albumin concentration on the unidirectional fluxes of [3H]oleate across a lipid-water interface was measured by using a new model system consisting of a lipid phase (n-decane) separated from a stirred buffer phase by a planar interface. Albumin (0.15 mM) enhanced the flux of oleate from the lipid phase more than 30-fold. A similar increase in the oleate flux into the lipid was seen when the aqueous oleate and albumin concentrations were increased while keeping the unbound oleate concentration fixed. The ratio of the unidirectional fluxes was constant over the range of albumin concentrations investigated (1-100 microM). Analysis using rigorous rate theory indicated that the permeability of the interfacial surface was flux-limiting at high albumin, whereas diffusion across the unstirred water layer was flux-limiting at low albumin. The observed kinetic patterns are similar to results previously reported in cellular transport systems and attributed to specialized mechanisms for cellular uptake from the albumin-bound pool. PMID- 2610261 TI - Modulation of agonist-activated calcium influx by extracellular pH in rat pancreatic acini. AB - The biochemical and Ca2+ transport pathways involved in generating the hormone evoked Ca2+ signal are reported to be influenced by pH. The present study was designed to determine the effect of extracellular pH (pHo) and intracellular pH (pHi) on hormone-stimulated Ca2+ transport. We used rat pancreatic acini and measured free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) with fura-2, pHi with 2,7 bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF), and Ca2+ fluxes with 45Ca2+. In the presence of external Ca2+, increasing pHo increased steady-state [Ca2+]i during sustained agonist stimulation; in the absence of external Ca2+, this increase in [Ca2+]i did not occur. The addition of an antagonist or blocking plasma membrane Ca2+ influx with La3+ in stimulated cells suspended at pHo 8.2 resulted in a reduction in [Ca2+]i. Increasing pHo increased the rate and extent of 45Ca2+ uptake into stimulated cells and the rate and extent of Ca2+ reloading of intracellular stores. The increased Ca2+ content of the intracellular stores with increased pHo indicated that at physiological pHo and pHi the agonist mobilizable internal stores are not saturated with Ca2+. Changes in pHo affected pHi. However, changes in pHi at constant pHo had no effect on hormone-evoked [Ca2+]i increase, reduction in [Ca2+]i after hormone stimulation, or reloading of intracellular stores. We conclude that the hormone-activated plasma membrane Ca2+ entry pathway responsible for Ca2+ reloading is directly modulated by external H+. PMID- 2610262 TI - Intramural neural control of opossum sphincter of Oddi. AB - We evaluated the intramural neural control of the opossum sphincter of Oddi (SO) in an in vitro preparation. Force transducers were used to record contractions at four sites along the sphincter segment. To stimulate intramural nerves, 10- to 120-s trains of pulses (4-10 V amplitude, 0.5 ms duration, and 5 Hz frequency) were delivered to one of three electrode pairs implanted along the SO. Electrical stimulation in the proximal, mid, or distal SO elicited phasic contractions that invariably originated in the proximal SO and propagated antegrade along the entire length of the sphincter segment. Stimulus-evoked contractions resembled spontaneous antegrade peristaltic contractions, but occurred at a higher rate (12 20/min). Atropine completely blocked this excitatory response to nerve stimulation. After atropine, nerve stimulation in the proximal, mid, or distal SO abolished spontaneous contractions at and distal to the site of stimulation for the duration of the stimulus. The inhibitory response to nerve stimulation was completely blocked by tetrodotoxin but was unaffected by phenoxybenzamine, tolazoline, or propranolol. We conclude that 1) the opossum SO is innervated by intramural cholinergic excitatory nerves and nonadrenergic noncholinergic inhibitory nerves; 2) cholinergic excitatory nerves are organized in ascending neural pathways, whereas nonadrenergic noncholinergic inhibitory nerves descend along the length of the SO; and 3) these neural pathways may modulate SO peristalsis in vivo and participate in ascending excitatory and descending inhibitory reflexes. PMID- 2610263 TI - Theophylline inhibits transcellular Ca transport in intestine and Ca binding by CaBP. AB - Theophylline, when added to the incubation medium of everted duodenal sacs prepared from rats on a low-calcium diet, was found to inhibit transcellular Ca transport in a concentration-dependent manner, with an inhibitor constant (Ki) of 10.8 mM theophylline. Neither the rate of cellular Ca entry, as evaluated with the aid of brush-border membrane vesicles, nor the rate of cellular Ca extrusion, assessed by measuring ATP-dependent Ca uptake of basolateral membrane vesicles, was significantly altered by the addition of theophylline to the uptake media. However, Ca-binding by calcium-binding protein (CaBP; calbindin D9k), Mr approximately 8,800) was depressed by theophylline in a concentration-dependent manner, with Ki = 3.2 mM theophylline. Theophylline had no effect on Ca binding by calmodulin and the theophylline-induced inhibition of transcellular calcium transport was independent of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate levels. Theophylline also had no effect on paracellular Ca movement. Since the theophylline-induced inhibition of Ca-binding by CaBP paralleled the inhibition of transcellular Ca transport, it is concluded that CaBP functions in transcellular Ca transport via its ability to bind Ca. PMID- 2610264 TI - Analysis and comparison of sigmoidal curves: application to dose-response data. AB - A number of physiological or pharmacological studies generate sigmoidal dose response curves. Ideally, data analysis should provide numerical solutions for curve parameters. In addition, for curves obtained under different experimental conditions, testing for significant differences should be easily performed. We have reviewed the literature over the past 3 years in six journals publishing papers in the field of gastrointestinal physiology and established the curve analysis technique used in each. Using simulated experimental data of known error structure, we have compared these techniques with nonlinear regression analysis. In terms of their ability to provide accurate estimates of ED50 and maximal response, none approached the accuracy and precision of nonlinear regression. This technique is as easily performed as the classic methods and additionally provides an opportunity for rigorous statistical analysis of data. We present a method of determining the significance of differences found in the ED50 and maximal response under different experimental conditions. The method is versatile and applicable to a variety of different physiological and pharmacological dose response curves. PMID- 2610265 TI - The meaning of n. PMID- 2610266 TI - Spermidine uptake by type II pneumocytes: interactions of amine uptake pathways. AB - Uptake of exogenous spermidine by type II pulmonary epithelial cells in primary culture is inhibited by several amines. The present studies further detail the interaction of those alternative substrates with the pathway for spermidine (SPD) transport. Transport activity was measured on the first day of primary culture in type II cells isolated by elastase digestion, followed by density gradient centrifugation and differential adherence in vitro. Spermidine uptake was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by the polyamines putrescine (PUTR) and spermine (SPM), by the drug methylglyoxal bis-(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), and by the herbicide paraquat (PQ). The order of effectiveness of these competitors was SPM greater than PUTR approximately MGBG much greater than PQ. The kinetics of inhibition by SPM were mixed, with an increase in the apparent Michaelis constant and a reduction in the maximal velocity of the SPD uptake pathway. Cellular uptake of SPD and PUTR was inhibited by replacement of extracellular sodium with choline or lithium (PUTR greater than SPD), but SPM uptake was unaffected. PQ appeared to interact with the polyamine transport pathway with low affinity. Compared with SPD and SPM, PQ was most effective as an inhibitor of PUTR uptake, and like PUTR, uptake of the herbicide was sharply inhibited as extracellular sodium was reduced. These observations suggest the presence of diverse pathways for uptake of exogenous polyamines by type II pulmonary epithelial cells and indicate that PQ probably enters the cells by the sodium dependent transport system favored by PUTR. PMID- 2610267 TI - Glucocorticoids regulate surfactant protein synthesis in a pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell line. AB - Synthesis of pulmonary surfactant proteins SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C was demonstrated in a cell line derived from a human adenocarcinoma of the lung. The cells contained numerous lamellar inclusion bodies and formed organized groups of cells containing well-developed junctional complexes and apical microvillous membranes. Synthesis of SP-A was detected in the cells by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay and by immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine-labeled protein. SP-A was identified as an Mr 31,000-36,000 polypeptide containing asparagine-linked carbohydrate. Northern blot analysis detected SP-A mRNA of 2.2 kb. Dexamethasone (1-10 nM) enhanced the relative abundance of SP-A mRNA. Despite stimulation of SP A mRNA, intracellular SP-A content was unaltered or inhibited by dexamethasone. SP-B and SP-C mRNAs and synthesis of the SP-B and SP-C precursors were markedly induced by dexamethasone. ProSP-B was synthesized and secreted primarily as an Mr 42,000-46,000 polypeptide. Proteolysis of the proSP-B resulted in the generation of endoglycosidase F-sensitive Mr = 19,000-21,000 and 25,000-27,000 peptides, which were detected both intra- and extracellularly. SP-C proprotein of Mr = 22,000 and smaller SP-C fragments were detected intracellularly but were not detected in the media. Mature forms of SP-B (Mr = 8,000) and SP-C (Mr = 4,000) were not detected. Glucocorticoids directly enhance the relative synthesis and mRNA of the surfactant proteins SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C. Discrepancies among SP-A mRNA, its de novo synthesis, and cell content suggest that glucocorticoid may alter both pre- and posttranslational factors modulating SP-A expression. PMID- 2610268 TI - Effects of selenium deficiency on glutathione-induced protection from hyperbaric hyperoxia in rat. AB - Exposure of rats to 100% O2 at high pressure (greater than 2.0 ATA) results in generalized convulsions and death within several hours. The tripeptide, glutathione, has been shown to protect rats exposed to hyperbaric hyperoxia with delayed onset of seizures and prolonged survival. To investigate the hypothesis that glutathione exerts its protective effects via the glutathione redox cycle, we injected selenium-deficient rats and their selenium-supplemented controls with either glutathione (1 mmol/kg) or an equivolume of saline before exposure to 100% O2 at 4 ATA. Selenium-deficient rats exhibit marked reduction in liver glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px). Glutathione administration significantly delayed both the onset of seizures and time to death in the control animals. In selenium-deficient rats, however, glutathione administration was not protective, having no significant effects on time to seizure or time to death. We also measured changes in glutathione concentrations in lung, liver, and brain of these same groups of animals exposed either to hyperbaric hyperoxia or to room air. In control rats, lung and brain glutathione concentrations did not change with the hyperbaric exposure regardless of glutathione pretreatment status, but hepatic glutathione concentration declined significantly during the exposure when glutathione was not supplied. If these animals were pretreated with glutathione, the decline in hepatic glutathione concentrations did not occur. In selenium deficient rats, the hyperbaric exposure did not result in changes in lung, brain, or liver glutathione concentrations either in the glutathione-pretreated or in the saline-pretreated animals. Exogenous GSH administration does not protect selenium-deficient rats from hyperbaric hyperoxia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610269 TI - Tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1 alpha increase vascular endothelial permeability. AB - Endotoxic shock is associated with acute vascular endothelial injury resulting in edema. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) are cytokines produced by endotoxin-stimulated mononuclear phagocytes that are potential mediators of endotoxic shock. In this study, we investigated the effects of TNF and IL-1 alpha on vascular endothelial cell permeability in vitro. The movement of radiolabeled macromolecules of different sizes (57Co-vitamin B12, 125I cytochrome c, and 131I-albumin; 6.5-35A) across bovine aortic endothelial cell monolayers was measured after exposure to these cytokines. TNF induced a time- and dose-dependent increase in endothelial cell monolayer permeability that was enhanced in the presence of serum. The peak increase was noted after 12 h of incubation with less alteration of permeability with longer incubations. IL-1 alpha caused a similar time-dependent increase in endothelial cell monolayer permeability, but the peak effect of IL-1 alpha was seen after 24 h. Therefore the increased permeability seen with TNF cannot be explained by release of endogenous IL-1 alone. Neither TNF nor IL-1 alpha increased release of [14C]adenine, and the only effect on lactate dehydrogenase release was a small, but statistically significant, increase after 24 h of incubation. From these studies, we conclude that TNF and IL-1 alpha directly increase vascular endothelial cell permeability in vitro and speculate that these cytokines may be involved in the acute vascular endothelial injury associated with endotoxic shock. PMID- 2610270 TI - Studies of the structure of lung surfactant protein SP-A. AB - SP-A, a glycoprotein of pulmonary surfactant, consists of an NH2-terminal domain containing a collagen-like sequence and a COOH-terminal domain with sequence homology to several Ca2(+)-dependent lectins. We have compared the size, thermal stability, and secondary structure of recombinant SP-A, the product of a fibroblast line transfected with a single human gene encoding SP-A, with natural SP-A isolated from canine and human lungs. Our results suggest both recombinant and natural SP-A are assembled as large oligomers. More variability in the degree of oligomerization was observed with recombinant human SP-A than with natural canine SP-A. As shown by collagenase digestion, the full assembly of protein subunits was dependent on an intact collagen-like domain. The cysteines in the noncollagen domain of SP-A form intrachain bonds between residues 135-226 and 204 218. The circular dichroism spectra of both recombinant and natural SP-A were consistent with the presence of a collagen-like triple helix. As determined by the change in ellipticity at 205 nm, the thermal transition temperatures of canine, natural human, and recombinant SP-A were 51.5, 52.3, and 42.0 degrees C, respectively. These results suggest differences in the assembly and stability of the natural and recombinant proteins. PMID- 2610271 TI - Evidence for active H+ secretion by rat alveolar epithelial cells. AB - A plasma membrane proton-translocating adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) has been identified in rat alveolar pneumocytes in primary culture using the pH-sensitive fluorescent probe 2',7'-biscarboxyethyl-5,6-carboxyfluorescein. Intracellular pH (pHi) was acutely lowered by NH3 prepulse in HCO3(-)-free medium buffered with 6 mM N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid, and its recovery was measured thereafter under control conditions, in the presence of amiloride to inhibit Na(+)-H+ antiport, and in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase inhibitor. Initial rate of pHi recovery was reduced by 67% in the presence of amiloride, 52% in the presence of NEM, and 96% in the presence of both. Recovery was decreased but not abolished in Na(+)-free buffer, was essentially abolished when NEM was present in the absence of Na+, and was also abolished by addition of the metabolic inhibitor KCN in glucose- and Na(+) free medium. These data suggest that alveolar epithelial cells possess a plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. In Na(+)-containing buffer at pH 7.4, steady-state pHi was 7.50. This value was unaffected by amiloride but decreased to 7.01 in the presence of NEM, suggesting active H(+)-ATPase and inactive Na(+)-H+ antiport at steady-state pHi. We conclude that this plasma membrane proton-translocating ATPase in alveolar pneumocytes may be an important mechanism contributing to regulation of steady-state pHi, recovery from acute intracellular acidification, and modulation of extracellular alveolar fluid pH. PMID- 2610272 TI - Human lymphocyte reaction to freeze-dried allograft and xenograft ligamentous tissue. AB - Decisions made before reconstruction of the ACL include patient selection, choice of operative procedure, and selection of proper reconstructive material. Research in the use of allograft material for reconstructive grafts is of great interest for many reasons, including the advantage of not violating the patient's normal anatomy for donor tissue. A group of eight patients who received arthroscopically inserted freeze-dried bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft tissue for ACL reconstruction were selected for a prospective study. These patients were matched against a group of four autograft controls. Immunologically, the lymphocyte blast transformation test was used to evaluate the host reaction to implanted donor graft. Lymphocytes drawn from each patient were tested for their reaction against a panel of human allograft tendon and goat xenograft tendon homogenates. A stimulation index of greater than 3 was considered a positive reaction. It was hypothesized that a consistent lack of antigenicity would be observed with allograft extracts and that an antigenic reaction would be observed with the xenograft extracts. Six patients (75%) showed an immunologic reaction to the goat xenograft, and four patients (50%) showed an immunologic reaction to at least one human allograft test cell after allograft insertion. One patient had such an intense clinical immunologic response that she required removal of the allograft. All four of the autograft controls had a nonimmunogenic response to testing, as had been expected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610273 TI - The results of conservative management of juvenile osteochondritis dissecans using joint scintigraphy. A prospective study. AB - A prospective clinical study used joint scintigraphy to investigate conservative treatment of juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) of the femoral condyle. The predictive value of scintigraphic evaluation and various parameters (age at onset, sex, location and size of lesion) were analyzed. Over a 10 year period, the senior author followed 92 knees in 76 patients, 60 of whom were male and 16 female (11 and 5 bilaterals, respectively). All patients were participants in athletics or exercise programs. All patients had orthopaedic assessment, roentgenographic studies (AP, lateral, and tunnel views), 99m-Technetium phosphate compound joint scintigraphy, and instruction in a symptom-free existence (with all athletic activity proscribed). Patients were reevaluated and scanned every 8 weeks. No casts or braces were used, although crutches were sometimes necessary to maintain symptom-free levels. Based on specific indications for failure of conservative treatment, 50% of these patients failed and underwent surgery. Of the 92 knees, 52 were successfully treated conservatively, while 40 failed. Average followup was 4.2 years. Average age at onset was 12.5 years; the success group averaged 12.1 years and the failure group 13.0 years. The average lesion size was 363.2 mm2, with 309.5 mm2 in the success group and 436.0 mm2 in the failure group. Parameters of location, sex, and scan classification were not statistically significant as predictive factors. This study found no predictors for the success or failure of treatment beyond a moderate correlation of larger lesion size with failed conservative treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610274 TI - The accident-prone and overuse-prone profiles of the young athlete. AB - A 1 year prospective study was done to develop an accident-prone and overuse prone profile of young athletes. A group of 185 freshman physical education students (118 males; 67 females of the same age (18.3 +/- 0.5 years) trained under the same conditions and were exposed to similar extrinsic risk factors. Using a descriptive statistical technique, an analysis of correspondence, the complex interrelation between the criterium variables (acute injuries and overuse injuries) and the predictor variables (intrinsic risk factors; physical characteristics--anthropometric data, physical fitness parameters, flexibility aspects and malalignment of the lower extremities; and psychological factors--16 personality traits) was estimated for males and females separately. Although dynamic strength seems to be an important risk factor in acute injuries, sports accidents must be seen in relation to psychological factors. However, the overuse prone profile is mainly based on physical traits: a combination of muscle weakness, ligamentous laxity, and muscle tightness predisposes to stress injuries. In addition, these overuse effects are intensified by large body weight and length, a high explosive strength, and malalignment of the lower limbs. Nevertheless, it has to be kept in mind that psychosomatic factors play a role in how one experiences these overuse phenomena. PMID- 2610275 TI - Occult intraosseous fracture: magnetic resonance appearance versus age of injury. AB - Twenty-two cases of occult intraosseous fracture in the region of the knee are presented. Occult intraosseous fractures have been incidentally detected in the magnetic resonance (MR) evaluation of the knee in the setting of a recent physical injury and normal radiographic studies. There is no unique mechanism of injury, but occult intraosseous fracture presumably results from direct impaction or axial overloading. MR shows speckled or band-like areas of low signal in the intramedullary space of the epiphyses, and occasionally, the adjacent metaphyses. In most cases, T2-weighted images show high signal in corresponding regions of variable size. The relative extent of high signal findings is shown to vary significantly with the age of injury. Individual variability within groups, however, precludes the actual prediction of lesion age on the basis of the MR appearance. Our observations provide indirect evidence that the findings on T2 weighted images resolve earlier than the corresponding findings on T1-weighted proton density images. The primary differential diagnosis in cases of occult intraosseous fracture is stress fracture. The diagnosis of occult intraosseous fracture may be important in explaining persistent pain after injury in otherwise normal knees. PMID- 2610276 TI - The Bankart repair illustrated in cross-section. Some anatomical considerations. AB - The Bankart repair for chronic anterior shoulder instability effectively addresses the pathologic components responsible for repeated dislocation or subluxation. However, contrary to popular belief, the Bankart repair does not precisely restore the premorbid anatomy. The capsule is reattached to the boney rim of the anterioinferior glenoid deep to and lateral to the torn cartilagenous labrum, thus excluding the labrum from the joint anteriorly. This was demonstrated by cross-sectional cadaver dissections performed to illustrate this complex surgical anatomy to orthopaedic residents in training. In addition, when correlated with double-contrast computerized axial tomography, we noted five predominant patterns of anatomical lesions which by common use have been collectively termed the "Bankart lesion." These are: 1) the rare "classic" Bankart lesion in which the cartilagenous labrum and capsular origin are torn from the glenoid rim; 2) the capsule stripped from the scapular neck and the labrum detached from the glenoid rim remaining fixed to the overlying capsule; 3) the capsule stripped from the scapular neck and the labrum separated from the glenoid rim, but separately; 4) the labrum abraded away and no longer radiographically detectable; and 5) glenoid rim fracture. PMID- 2610277 TI - Evaluation of arthrography and arthroscopy for lesions of the posteromedial corner of the knee. AB - Injuries of the posteromedial corner of the knee joint were evaluated using the results of clinical, arthrographic, and arthroscopic examinations in 137 surgically treated patients (137 knees) with injuries of the ACL (acute in 61, chronic in 76). The accuracy of each diagnosis was confirmed by determining the site of the injury during the arthrotomy. A tear of the posteromedial corner of the medial meniscus was present in 40 patients, and an accurate diagnosis was made in 29 patients by clinical examination, in all 40 patients by arthrography, and in 38 patients by arthroscopy. Injury of the posterior oblique ligament was noted in 37 patients, and an accurate diagnosis was made in 15 patients by clinical examination, in 35 patients by arthrography, and in 8 patients by arthroscopy. Lesions of the posterior oblique ligament which were not detected in the arthroscopic examination alone were either rupture at the attachment to the femur or longitudinal tears in the meniscofemoral or meniscotibial portion. The results revealed that arthrography is an important means of evaluation in the diagnosis of injuries of the posteromedial corner of the knee joint. PMID- 2610278 TI - Electromyography in voluntary posterior instability of the shoulder. AB - Electromyographic (EMG) activity of selected shoulder girdle muscles was analyzed during voluntary posterior subluxation of the glenohumeral joint in four subjects. Although there was a great deal of variation in the muscle activation patterns during subluxation, subjects either pushed the humeral head backwards with the anterior muscles (deltoid, biceps) or pulled the humeral head backwards with the infraspinatus and/or posterior deltoid. In all cases, inhibition of the scapular rotators and winging of the scapula accompanied this maneuver. The method used in this study is presented as an objective technique for quantifying EMG activity during subluxation and relocation phases of shoulder instability. PMID- 2610279 TI - The Stryker knee arthrometer in clinical practice. AB - The Stryker knee arthrometer was assessed in the environment of a nonspecialized National Health Service clinic by junior doctors in training. Forty percent of proven anterior cruciate deficient knees had a measured anterior excursion of 2 mm or less compared with the normal side under the same circumstances. Twenty percent of normal knees tested showed more than this variation between knees when different observers were compared and also when the same observers were compared at three week intervals. There is thus a question about the use of this machine in a general orthopaedic clinic with different observers. PMID- 2610280 TI - Surgical treatment of the iliotibial band friction syndrome. AB - A selected group of 23 patients underwent surgery for iliotibial band friction syndrome. Among the patients presenting with this exertional pain syndrome were runners, football players, and cyclists. Diagnosis was clinical since radiographs were negative and an ultrasound examination was positive in only one case, showing an aberrant picture around the lateral femoral epicondyle. Although conservative treatment is effective in most cases, an alternative is needed for patients with complaints that are resistant to conservative means. Surgery was done with the knee held in 60 degrees of flexion and consisted of a limited resection of a small triangular piece at the posterior part of the iliotibial band covering the lateral femoral epicondyle. The uniform good results, low morbidity, and quick return to sports demonstrate that this type of surgery offers a solution for selected cases of failed prolonged conservative treatment. PMID- 2610281 TI - Acute brachial neuropathy in athletes. AB - Acute brachial neuropathy is an uncommon etiology of shoulder pain and disability. It can, however, present in association with athletic activity and therefore must be included in the differential diagnosis of athletes with such symptomatology. Findings that should alert the examiner to the possible presence of acute brachial neuropathy include 1) onset with noncontact as well as contact sports, 2) rather acute onset of pain without specific inciting trauma, 3) persistent, often severe pain that continues despite rest, 4) patchy brachial plexus and/or peripheral nerve involvement, and, 5) dominant arm predominance of symptoms and signs. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies often can confirm the diagnosis. Treatment begins with rest and continues through a rehabilitation phase. Followup of athletes with acute brachial neuropathy discloses that weakness may persist in the affected muscles. Absolute strength parity may be difficult to achieve, so permission to participate in athletics must be given on a case by case basis. PMID- 2610282 TI - Reflex sympathetic imbalance. Response to epidural blockade. AB - Eleven patients (two male, nine female) were treated with epidural sympathetic blockade for reflex sympathetic imbalance, an incomplete manifestation of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Each had developed severe pain, sensitivity, and disability disproportionate to associated trauma. One patient injured an ankle, and the remaining 10 patients one or both knees (12 knees). Seven patients had undergone previous surgery. All but one had a favorable response to initial blockade. This individual eventually failed treatment despite surgical sympathectomy. Seven have required readministration of a block for clinical relapse. Mean followup was 22 months (range, 10 to 41 months). Five underwent extensive psychological testing. All have required adjunctive forms of therapy including physical therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), antiinflammatory or other nonnarcotic agents. Recovery is typically prolonged, particularly if the diagnosis is delayed. Close attention to, and therefore prevention of, situations that trigger its recurrence is essential for successful rehabilitation. PMID- 2610283 TI - A mechanical model of metatarsal stress fracture during distance running. AB - A model of metatarsal mechanics has been proposed as a link between the high incidence of second and third metatarsal stress fractures and the large stresses measured beneath the second and third metatarsal heads during distance running. Eight discrete piezoelectric vertical stress transducers were used to record the forefoot stresses of 21 male distance runners. Based upon load bearing area estimates derived from footprints, plantar forces were estimated. Highest force was estimated beneath the second and first metatarsal head (341.1 N and 279.1 N, respectively). Considering the toe as a hinged cantilever and the metatarsal as a proximally attached rigid cantilever allowed estimation of metatarsal midshaft bending strain, shear, and axial forces. Bending strain was estimated to be greatest in the second metatarsal (6662 mu epsilon), a value 6.9 times greater than estimated first metatarsal strain. Predicted third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal strains ranged between 4832 and 5241 mu epsilon. Shear force estimates were also greatest in the second metatarsal (203.0 N). Axial forces were highest in the first metatarsal (593.2 N) due to large hallux forces in relationship to the remaining toes. Although a first order model, these data highlight the structural demands placed upon the second metatarsal, a location of high metatarsal stress fracture incidence during distance running. PMID- 2610284 TI - Overuse injuries in triathletes. A study of the 1986 Seafair Triathlon. AB - A questionnaire was mailed to 600 to 657 finishers in the Seafair Triathlon (July 20, 1986); 45% of those polled returned the questionnaire. Over the preceding year, 49% of the respondents suffered a training-related injury serious enough to cause them to stop training for at least 1 day, seek medical care, or take medicine, Seventy percent of the injuries were due solely or partly to running. The knee, shoulder, and ankle were most frequently affected. Female triathletes and those more than 40 years of age showed a similar injury incidence and distribution. Elite triathletes averaged more miles per week in each sport than the athletes as a whole and showed a higher incidence of injury (60%), although this was not a significant difference. Higher weekly swimming, cycling, and running mileages did not lead to a higher incidence of injury. The likelihood of injury was independent of age, sex, body mass index, mileage per week, or other training factors evaluated in the study. PMID- 2610285 TI - High school football injuries: a prospective study and pitfalls of data collection. AB - A 4 year prospective study (1982 to 1985) of high school varsity football injuries from the four Peoria high school football teams was undertaken. Two hundred fifty-one injuries were recorded among a player population of 598, resulting in an injury rate of 42.1% per 100 players. All of the players followed a prescribed preseason summer conditioning program that was endorsed by the Illinois High School Athletic Association. The injuries were recorded on an athletic injury profile and entered into a computer for data analysis and retrieval. The injury distribution by player position showed that halfbacks, tackles, linebackers, and guards had a higher risk of injury than other positions. The knee was the body part injured most frequently (20.3%). A matrix of injuries to halfbacks was set up to examine the relationship of body part injured to type of play, time of injury, and activity during injury. An anthropometric study using the Quetelet index did not reveal any correlation between injury and body size when the injured players were compared with the non injured players. Experience since 1969 has taught us many of the errors and pitfalls involved in injury surveillance. Strict adherence to recording of data will ensure an accurate and useful injury surveillance program. PMID- 2610286 TI - Morphologic and histologic abnormalities in female and male rats treated with anabolic steroids. AB - A two-part study was performed to determine the effects of high doses of anabolic steroids on weight, appetite, and organ histology. Initially, 30 white Wistar rats, 15 males and 15 females, were treated weekly with either 0.52 cc of physiologic saline or nandrolone decanoate. After 6 weeks, female treated and control rats had comparable weight gains, but male treated rats were significantly lighter than controls. Rats were sacrificed and organs dissected for histologic preparation. Treated male livers had less lipid than control males. The uteri of treated females displayed abnormal vacuolization, stromal edema, and peliosis. In Part II, 12 male rats, 6 treated and 6 control, were given the drug or saline in a manner identical to that in Part I. Treated rats had lower weights from Weeks 1 through 6 and ate less than controls. Upon sacrifice, treated rats' kidneys were heavier, and testes and liver were lighter compared to controls. Roentgenographic studies of tibias from Parts I and II showed no significant differences in tibial length or height of growth plate between treated and control groups. In summary, when anabolic steroid use is studied in the rat model, numerous pathological and anatomical changes occur. PMID- 2610287 TI - Players' attitudes to mouthguards and prevalence of orofacial injuries in the 1987 U.S. Rugby Football Team. AB - This report shows that although 95.4% of players in the U.S. Rugby Team believed mouthguards provided local protection, only half wore a mouthguard. However, 90.9% of mouthguard wearers would not play without their mouthguard and 54.5% believed wearing mouthguards should be made compulsory in rugby football. Approximately one-third of the team had sustained an orofacial injury that required treatment and none were wearing a mouthguard at the time of injury. These and other results are compared to an identical study of the 1984 Australian Rugby Team, the only previous such study reported. PMID- 2610288 TI - Isolated traumatic avulsion of the flexor digitorum sublimis. A case report. AB - Like the FDP, the FDS may be avulsed at its insertion. The diagnosis can be made based on a history of resisted extension, palmar pain and tenderness, lack of FDS function, and inability to completely extend the DIP joint secondary to the looping affect of the FDS. In the seven reported cases of FDS rupture no surgical intervention was required. This case represents a case in which surgical intervention was required secondary to an isolated avulsion of the FDS in a football player. PMID- 2610289 TI - Irreducible dislocation of the great toe following a sports injury. A case report. AB - The increasing number of competitive and recreational athletes has resulted in more sports-related foot injuries. An understanding of the sesamoid anatomy of the foot will facilitate management of these injuries. We recommend use of the dorsal approach in the surgical treatment of irreducible interphalangeal dislocations. PMID- 2610290 TI - Combined acromioclavicular dislocation with coracoclavicular ligament disruption and coracoid process fracture. PMID- 2610291 TI - Isolated infraspinatus atrophy. A common cause of posterior shoulder pain and weakness in throwing athletes? PMID- 2610292 TI - The effect of pentobarbital and ether anesthesia on rat brain PGD2 content. AB - Effects of pentobarbital and ether anesthesia on PGD2 contents in brain and plasma levels of compound beta, A.C.TH. epinephrine (E) norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine were investigated in 39 male Wistar strain rats weighing 280-300 g. They were divided into 3 groups: pentobarbital anesthesia group (P.A.), ether anesthesia group (E.A.) and control. Anesthesia or not the rats were decapitated the heads were frozen with liquid nitrogen and PGD2 were extracted and assayed by radioimmunoassay. In the group of P.A. and E.A., PGD2 contents of the brain were decreased by 69.6% and 77.8% of the control group respectively. In the group PA, plasma levels of Comp-beta, ACTH, E and NE were significantly decreased. In the EA group, plasma levels of Comp-beta was not changed but that of ACTH, E and NE were significantly increased. In the EA and PA groups, plasma levels of dopamine were not significantly changed. Intraventricularly injected PGD2 has been reported to induce the natural sleep in rat, increase or decrease the pain threshold and lower the body temperature in rat. On the other hand, intravenous injection of PGD2 has been reported to prolong the duration of pentobarbital anesthesia in rat or changed the EEG pattern to slow wave in cat. Stresses including restrain and foot shock have been reported to increase the PGE2 and PGF2a in the brain of rat. The present findings demonstrate that pentobarbital and ether anesthesia decreased the PGD2 contents in the brain of rat. PMID- 2610293 TI - Neurotropin effect on the deformability and electrophoretic mobility of rabbit erythrocytes. AB - The effect of neurotropin (a drug with antioxidant action) on the deformability and electrophoretic mobility (EM) of rabbit erythrocytes was investigated and compared to that of endotoxin from E. Coli (0111:B4) using an electrooptical technique. Endotoxin decreased the erythrocyte deformability in vitro. Upon incubation with neurotropin the endotoxin effect was reversed, i.e. the deformability of the erythrocytes increased. The electrophoretic mobility of red blood cells exposed to the simultaneous action of endotoxin and neurotropin was substantially closer to that of the control cells, as compared to the one of erythrocytes incubated with endotoxin alone. Neurotropin (1 mg.kg-1 given 1 hour after endotoxin administration) decreased the mortality of the animals, injected with endotoxin (2 mg.kg-1) namely by in the first day 63.6% versus 9.1%. PMID- 2610294 TI - [Comparative development of sympathetic and sensitive blocks during spinal anesthesia]. AB - The extent and duration of sympathetic and sensory blockade were compared in 13 patients after spinal anaesthesia with 0.5% tetracaine (20 mg) in either isobaric (n = 6) or hyperbaric solution (n = 7). Sensory blockade was assessed by pin prick and sympathetic blockade by the sympathogalvanometric method respectively at L5/S1, L2, T8 and C8/T1 levels. The time to onset and the duration of sensory or sympathetic blockade was identical. The mean extent of sympathetic blockade was 6 segments greater than that of sensory blockade. Hypotension was related to the extent of sensory but not sympathetic blockade. This study confirms that sympathetic blockade is more extended than sensory blockade during spinal anesthesia but does not allow to predict the occurrence of hypotension. PMID- 2610295 TI - [Role of the hospital pharmacy in the preparation of an emergency plan. Experience of the central pharmacy of Angers Regional University Hospital Center]. AB - In case of disasters, an emergency plan has been set up in Angers hospital, to conform to the law. This plan concerns many partners including the hospital Pharmacist. The two principal roles of the Pharmacist are the elaboration of a checklist of drugs, medical and hospital supplies necessary for the care of the victims and the sep up of emergency containers. The computerization of this plan will facilitate its management. Thus the Hospital Pharmacist contributes to the rationalization of a health care necessity in a constrained economic context. PMID- 2610296 TI - Echocardiographic evaluation of vagolytic effects of hyoscine butylbromide in paediatric halothane anaesthesia. AB - The effects of vagolysis with hyoscine butylbromide on left ventricular function were evaluated by echocardiography during halothane anaesthesia in children. Echocardiography showed deterioration of the following values after halothane induction; pre-ejection period, systolic time interval, left ventricular shortening fraction and ejection fraction. The first two values were improved by vagolysls with hyoscine butylbromide. However, relatively rate-independent indices, i.e. left ventricular shortening fraction and ejection fraction, still remained depressed even after vagolysis with hyoscine butylbromide. This implies that halothane-induced myocardial depression can only be partially antagonized by vagolysis. PMID- 2610297 TI - [How to remain healthy in a society of increasing numbers of senior citizens]. AB - After the second World War, Japan made surprising economical progress reaching the second highest level in the world. Health care systems, including medical treatment for the elderly, also improved remarkably. As a result, the average life span of the Japanese has increased rapidly and, by the early twenty-first century, Japan is expected to become a Society with the highest number of senior citizens than any other country in the world. Still, the fact that many people are reaching a good old age does not necessarily mean that they are healthy. To live a healthy life in such a Society, effective measures against the diseases of adulthood are very important. The causes of such diseases are not always simple and are extensively combined with a large number of different factors which include a wrong life style. Early discovery and treatment of disease through group physical examinations (secondary prevention) are valuable, but more important than these is the prevention of disease (primary prevention). In order to grow old healthy, it is necessary to maintain a correct life style and, from youth on, an effort should be made to increase one's own health. It is important to be aware of the fact that one's own healthy life is created by one's own health care, and that keeping healthy while growing old is the duty of every individual living in a Society with a growing number of senior citizens. PMID- 2610298 TI - [Effect of methotrexate-induced neutropenia on the periodontal lesion in rats]. AB - The purpose of the present study was to investigate histologically the effect of methotrexate-induced neutropenia on the periodontal lesion in rats. In the experiment I, seventy rats were used. A suturing nylon thread was inserted between the maxillary 1st and 2nd molars for 3 weeks to produce a slight inflammation of the gingival tissue. Then, the animals were divided equally into the control and experimental groups. The animals of the experimental group were injected with 7.5 mg/kg of methotrexate once a day for 3 days. The animals of the control group were injected with saline in the same manner. The animals were killed at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 days after the last injection. During the sacrifice, peripheral blood was taken from all animals. White blood cells and neutrophils were counted and the periodontal tissues were examined by light microscopy. In the experiment II, ten rats were used. The animals were inserted with a suturing nylon thread as in the experiment I and then they were divided into the control and experimental groups. the animals of the experimental group were injected with 7.5 mg/kg of methotrexate once a day for 3 days, whereas the animals of the control group were injected with saline in the same manner. At 7 days after the last injection, peripheral blood was taken from all animals and then the animals were killed. Neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood and the chemotaxis of these neutrophils were examined with the 48-well micro chemotaxis chamber. The periodontal tissues were examined by light microscopy. In the experiment I, the white blood cell count (WBC) and neutrophil count (NC) of the control animals did not show any changes. However, WBC and NC of the experimental animals decreased at 5 and 7 days. The control animals did not show any changes except for a slight inflammatory cell infiltration of the gingival connective tissue. The experimental animals exhibited remarkable resorption of the alveolar bone and inflammatory cell infiltration of the periodontal ligament at 5, 7 and 9 days. In the experiment II, WBC and NC of the experimental animals decreased compared with those of the control animals. The periodontal tissues of the control animals showed the changes similar to those of the control animals at 7 days in the experiment I. The periodontal tissues of the experiment animals also showed the changes similar to those of the experimental animals at 7 days in the experiment I.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2610299 TI - [Taxonomic studies of the Streptococcus intermedius strains isolated from human oral cavities]. AB - Human oral isolates of Streptococcus intermedius, which were biochemically identified, have been classified into 5-Serogroups (I-V). Selecting some representive stock cultures together with the type strain ATCC 27335, comparisons were carried out between them in terms of cell extractable proteins, G + C mol% values, DNA-DNA homology and DNA restriction fragments. Since the taxon of S. intermedius has not been clarified, comparison was also made between the above strains and the type strains of the "Streptococcus anginosus-milleri Group", Streptococcus anginosus, "Streptococcus milleri" and Streptococcus constellatus, which were thought to be related to S. intermedius. 1. G + C mol% of S. intermedius ATCC 27335 was 38.0 +/- 0.28. The values of all the isolates tested ranged from 37.0 to 38.8. On the other hand, the values of the type strains of the "S. anginosus-milleri Group" were 38.0-38.8. 2. Under stringent conditions of DNA-DNA hybridization, all the isolates showed more than 66.7% homology with S. intermedius ATCC 27335, demonstrating that these strains belonged to the same species. On the other hand, S. anginosus ATCC 33397, "S. milleri" NCTC 11169 and S. constellatus ATCC 27823 hybridized at levels of 50%, 53% and 28%, respectively. Consequently, it was impossible to classify these strains as being the same species as S. intermedius. 3. When the DNA restriction fragments were compared by PAGE, the strains of Serogroups I and V showed the same pattern, respectively. The strains of Serogroups II and III, however, showed two different patterns, and these of Serogroup IV showed five different patterns. DNA fragments specific to S. intermedius could not be identified. 4. When cell extractable groups were compared by SDS-PAGE, the strains of Serogroups I and V showed identical patterns. The strains of Serogroup III showed 2 different patterns and those of Serogroup IV showed 5 patterns. These results reflected those of the DNA restriction analysis. However, the strains of Serogroup II showed the same protein pattern, although 2 different patterns were observed in DNA restriction fragments. Unique proteins, which were not detected in the proteins extracted from the type strains of the "S. anginosus-milleri Group", were observed in the cell proteins of S. intermedius strains. 5. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization and the existence of unique extractable proteins together with the chondroitinase productivity suggest that the strains of S. intermedius might represent a particular taxon among the strains of the "S. anginosus-milleri Group".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2610300 TI - [Occlusal pattern factors influencing masticatory efficiency]. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between occlusal pattern factors and masticatory efficiency. 50 subjects with normal dentition were tested to obtain the occlusal pattern standard. The simplified particle counting method, which was previously reported by Imaoka et al., was used to determine the masticatory efficiency. Measurements included 5 factors of the occlusal pattern of the habitual chewing side, including the canine of each subject: the number of occlusal contact areas, the size of each area, the number of occlusal facets of the projected area, the size of the factors of the projected area and the inclination of the occlusal facets. The correlation between the 5 factors of the occlusal pattern and the masticatory efficiency were analyzed to obtain a standard for the restoration of occlusal patterns. The results were as follows: 1. The number of occlusal contacts and the number and inclination of occlusal facet were the main factors which to influenced the masticatory efficiency. 2. The standard number of occlusal contacts and occlusal facets were 15 and 25 respectively. 3. Although the inclination of the occlusal facets of premolars was slightly bigger than those of molars, the standard inclination of the occlusal facets was 25-30 degrees. 4. There was no significant correlation between the masticatory efficiency and the projected area of the occlusal contacts and facets. 5. The classification of occlusal facets should be considered, because of the inclination of the occlusal facets which appear at the same areas of the cusp point, the fossa and the marginal ridge was 10-15 degrees, and the inclination of the other areas of occlusal pattern was bigger. PMID- 2610301 TI - [Anatomical study on the root apex in the maxillary anterior teeth]. AB - This study was undertaken to anatomically investigate the apical portion of root canal. Teeth used in this study were thirty maxillary central incisors, thirty maxillary lateral incisors and thirty maxillary cuspids extracted from patients between the ages of 11 and 73. All of the teeth had periodontal disease, but none had periapical disease. Resorption of the root surface could not be seen with the naked eye. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Deviations of the root apex and the apical foramen. Both of the root apex and apical foramen of the central incisors and cuspids were displaced distolabially from the tooth axis. Those of the lateral incisors were displaced distolingually from the tooth axis. The coincidence between the root apex and apical foramen was found in 16.7 per cent of both the central incisors and the cuspids, and in 6.7 per cent of the lateral incisors. 2. Diameters of the apical foramen and perpendicular distances between the root apex and apical foramen. The labiolingual diameters in the apical foramen of the central incisors, the lateral incisors and the cuspids were 0.504 mm, 0.452 mm and 0.425 mm respectively. Those diameters were larger than the mesiodistal diameters in the maxillary anterior teeth. Both the labiolingual and mesiodistal diameters in the central incisors were the largest. The perpendicular distances between the root apex and the apical foramen of the central incisors, lateral incisors and cuspids were 0.450 mm, 0.440 mm and 0.510 mm respectively. Those in the cuspids were the largest. The apical foramen in the cuspids was located slightly closer to the cervical side. 3. Diameters of the apical constriction and perpendicular distances between the root apex and apical constriction. The apical constriction of the root canal was located in either cementum or dentin. The labiolingual diameters of the root canal in the apical constriction of the central incisors, the lateral incisors and the cuspids were 0.425 mm, 0.369 mm and 0.425 mm respectively. The root canal labiolingual diameters in the maxillary anterior teeth was approximately 0.050 mm larger than mesiodistal diameters. The shapes of the root canal in the apical constriction were mostly the circular, oval and ovoid, while a few irregular shapes were observed. The perpendicular distances between the root apex and the apical constriction of the root canal in the central incisors, the lateral incisors and the cuspids were 0.863 mm, 0.825 mm and 1.010 mm respectively. 4. The stricture ratio of diameter between the apical foramen and the apical constriction of the root canal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2610302 TI - [Corrosion of Ag-Pd-Cu alloys in saline solution. Amount of released elements and electrochemical corrosion]. AB - The effect of the Pd content on corrosion and tarnish resistance in twelve experimental alloys was investigated. The alloys were prepared with a composition of Pd content from 20.1 to 30.1 at %. The composition of the alloys Ag-20% Pd, Ag 25% Pd and Ag-30% Pd was varied by adding Cu 5 wt%, 10 wt% and 15 wt% to each of them. The corrosion resistance was estimated by the amount of the released Ag, Cu and by electrochemical corrosion behavior in 0.86% NaCl solution at 37 degrees C. The tarnish resistance was assessed using a spectrophotometer. The test solutions included 0.86% NaCl solution, 0.1% Na2S solution and a mixture of 1.0% lactic acid and 0.1% Na2S, all at 37 degrees C, in sealed containers. The results are summarized as follows. The larger the amount of Pd in Ag-Pd binary alloys and Ag Pd-Cu ternary alloys, the more stable was the release and the release rate of Ag, Cu and corrosion resistance increased in 0.86% NaCl solution. The addition of Cu to Ag-Pd binary alloys increased the release and release rate of Ag, but there was a shift of the rest potential in the noble direction. A relationship was found between the amount of Ag and Cu released from Ag-Pd-Cu ternary alloys. In this study, an increase in corrosion resistance was observed when the content of Pd in Ag-Pd binary alloys was 25 wt%. Furthermore, it was also observed that Ag Pd-Cu ternary alloys need an additional 30 wt% Pd for corrosion resistance. Moreover, the addition of Cu must be kept lower than 10 wt%. The tarnish resistance of the twelve experimental alloys was good in 0.86% NaCl solution but was barely improved with increased in the Pd content in sulfide solution. The correlation between electrochemical corrosion behavior and tarnish resistance was not significant, but the correlation between the amount of Ag, Cu release from Ag Pd-Cu ternary alloys and tarnish resistance was remarkable. PMID- 2610303 TI - [Effect of adriamycin on the mandibular condyles of growing rats]. AB - The purpose of the present study was to investigate histologically and ultrastructurally the effect of adriamycin on the mandibular condyles of growing rats. Eighty rats, one day old, were used. The animals of Group 1 (Control Group) were given distilled water once a day for five days by intraperioneal injections, and the animals of Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4 were given 0.6 mg, 0.9 mg and 1.2 mg of adriamycin/kg (total amount: 3 mg/kg, 4.5 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg), respectively, once a day for five days. At 1, 4, 7 and 10 days after the last injection, the left mandibular condyles were examined histologically. At 1 and 4 days, the right mandibular condyles were examined ultrastructurally. 1. Light Microscopic Observation. 1) Group 2. At 1 and 4 days, the condyles did not differ significantly from those of Group 1. At 7 and 10 days, the zone of differentiation decreased in thickness as compared with those of Group 1. 2) Group 3. At 1 and 4 days, the zones of articular surface, proliferation and differentiation showed decreased in cell number and in thickness as compared with those of Group 1. At 7 and 10 days, the zones of articular surface and proliferation showed the recovery, although it was not complete. However, the zone of differentiation still decreased in cell number and in thickness. The zone of hypertrophy showed an increase in thickness. 3) Group 4. At 1 and 4 days, the zones of articular surface, proliferation and differentiation were almost similar in cell number and in thickness to those of Group 3 at 1 and 4 days. There was an irregularity in cell shape in the zone of proliferation. At 7 and 10 days, the zone of proliferation decreased in thickness and the zone of differentiation decreased in cell number and in thickness. The zone of hypertrophy was greatly thinned. 2. Electron Microscopic Observation. 1) Group 1. At 1 day, the zone of articular surface was composed of fibroblasts and collagen fibrils, and the zone of proliferation contained many oval mesenchymal cells. The zone of differentiation consisted of both differentiating chondrocytes and cartilage matrix, and the zone of hypertrophy consisted of both enlarged chondrocytes and cartilage matrix. At 4 days, all zones were similar to those of the condyle of this group at 1 day. 2) Group 4. At 1 day, the zone of articular surface showed decreased number of collagen fibrils.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2610304 TI - [Light and electron microscopic studies on experimental oral precancerous lesions. Wounding and Trp-P-2 application]. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate histologically and ultrastructurally the changes of epithelial cells in the tongue which was wounded twice and treated with Trp-P-2 (3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido [4,3-b] indole). Light Microscopy. Hamsters were divided into 10 groups (Groups A-J). In all 10 groups, the tip (2 mm) of the tongue was excised with scissors. In Groups A and F, the wound was painted trice weekly with DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) for 8 weeks. In Groups B, C, D, G, H and I, the wound was painted trice weekly with a 0.5% solution of Trp-P-2 in DMSO for 8 weeks. In Groups E and J, the wound was not treated for 8 weeks. At the end of 8 weeks, in Groups A, B, C, D and E, the tip of the tongue was again excised, while in Groups F, G, H, I and J, the tip was not excised. In Groups A, C, F and H, the tongue was painted daily with DMSO until the animals were killed. In Groups B and G, the animals received no treatment until they were killed. In Groups D, E, I and J, the tongue was painted daily with Trp-P-2 until the animals were killed. Animals of all groups were killed at 11 and 15 days after the second excision or after the end of 8 weeks. The tongue was examined histologically. Electron Microscopy. In Groups a, c and d, the animals received the same treatment as those of Groups A, C and D, respectively. The animals were killed at 15 days after the second excision. The tongue was examined ultrastructurally. 1. Light Microscopic Observation. 1) In Group A, at 11 and 15 days, the tongue showed only hyperkeratosis. 2) In Group B, at 11 and 15 days, the tongue showed the changes of the mild epithelial dysplasia. 3) In Groups C and D, at 11 and 15 days, the tongue showed the changes of the marked epithelial dysplasia. These changes were disorientation of cells, cellular and nuclear pleomorphisms, nuclear hyperchromatism, increased number of mitotic figures, abnormal keratinization and elongation of epithelial projection. 4) In Group E, at 11 and 15 days, the tongue showed the changes of the mild epithelial dysplasia. 5) In Groups F, G, H, I and J, the tongue showed only hyperkeratosis. 2. Electron Microscopic Observation. 1) In Group a, the cells in the basal cell layer were round or ovoid in shape with large centrally-located nuclei.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2610305 TI - [Effect of caffeine or NaCl on wound healing of the rat gingiva. Light and electron microscopic studies]. AB - The present study was carried out to investigate histological and ultrastructural changes, particularly changes of the epithelium-connective tissue junction, in rat gingival wounds treated with Caffeine or NaCl. Light Microscopy The animal had an incision in the lingual gingiva of lower incisors. Immediately after incision, the wounds of Groups A, B and C were treated with distilled water, caffeine (2.5%) and NaCl (25%), respectively. The gingivae were examined histologically at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 28 days after treatment. Electron Microscopy Groups a, b and c received the same treatment as those of Groups A, B and C, respectively. The gingivae were examined ultrastructurally at 4 and 28 days after treatment. 1. Light Microscopic Observations (1) Group A. On all experimental days, the wounds were covered by the epithelium. At 1 and 2 days, the connective tissues exhibited depositions of fibrin, but, at 4, 6 and 8 days, they showed the granulation tissues. At 12 and 28 days, the connective tissues appeared normal. (2) Group B. On all experimental days, the wounds were covered by the epithelium. At 1 and 2 days, the connective tissues exhibited depositions of fibrin. At 4, 6 and 8 days, they displayed granulation tissues. At 12 and 28 days, the connective tissues appeared normal. (3) Group C. On all experimental days, the wounds were covered by the epithelium. At 1 and 2 days, the connective tissues exhibited depositions of fibrin. At 4, 6, 8 and 12 days, they displayed granulation tissues. At 28 days, the connective tissue was normal. (4) Histometrically, at 6 days, Groups A, B and C exhibited the highest, intermediate and lowest number of fibroblasts per unit area, respectively. There were no differences in the number of inflammatory cells between all three groups. 2. Electron Microscopic Observations (1) Group a. At 4 days, the normally-formed gingival basal lamina was observed rather frequently just beneath the basal surfaces of basal cells. On occasions, the basal lamina exhibited various changes such as detachments, breaks, thickenings and duplications. Moreover, absence of the basal lamina was observed. At 28 days, the irregular types of basal laminae decreased in number, and most of the basal laminae appeared normal in structure. (2) Group b. At 4 days, the normally-formed gingival basal lamina was observed less frequently as compared with those of Group a. The above-mentioned various changes of the basal lamina were found rather frequently.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2610306 TI - [Distribution pattern of fluoride concentration in the bones of the rabbit and the rat]. AB - The authors previously reported that the concentration of fluoride in the thigh bone of the rat was higher at the endosteum than the periosteum (Narita et al., Aichi-Gakuin J. Dent. Sci., 26(1): 213-221, 1988). This result was opposite from the findings the rabbit by Weidmann and Weatherell (1959). The present study, therefore, was undertaken to determine whether or not the fluoride distribution profile in the bones of the rabbit and the rat really differed from each other. The animals used were four 4-month-old rabbits and five 4-month-old rats. The fluoride distribution of the femur bone in each specimen was analysed from the periosteum to the endosteum by using the abrasive micro-sampling technique described by Weatherell et al. (1985). The results obtained were as follows: 1) In both the rabbit and the rat, fluoride concentration in the bones was high at the periosteum and the endosteum, and then decreased gradually towards the interior of the bone tissue. In harvasian and interstitial lamellae, it was lower than the outer and inner lamellae. 2) The distribution pattern of fluoride concentration in the cortical bone was roughly the same in both the rabbit and the rat, while their fluoride levels differed, probably due to the fluoride content of each diet. 3) The discrepancy between Weidmann and Weatherell's results and our previous paper, was evidently due to the difference in thickness of the analysed samples: the former being thick and the latter being thin. PMID- 2610307 TI - [Strengthening for dental porcelain surface]. AB - Although the metal crown is aesthetically improved when porcelain is fused to it, a large number of different factors often cause the porcelain to break. Here we report a method to prevent this from happening. As a hardening treatment for the porcelain surface, the Na-ions in the porcelain, which have a short radius, were replaced by K-ions having a long radius to strength the surface against compressive forces. RESULTS: 1. The bending test showed that the strength of the porcelain had increased from 20 to 38%. 2. The hardness test indicated that the strength had increased from 23 to 24%. 3. The breaking test showed that although the strength of the porcelain had not increased to any great extent, the strength of the veneer shell had increase by more than 30%. 4. The EPMA measurement showed that ion replacement had penetrated to as much as 50 to 80 microns. 5. Clinical tests indicate that even after 19 months, the surface of the porcelain remains the same and that the condition is quite stable. PMID- 2610308 TI - [Bacteriological examination of saliva of institutionalized severely mentally retarded persons with chronic rumination]. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate dental caries prevalence, the pH and the presence of bacteria in the saliva of institutionalized severely mentally retarded persons with chronic rumination. The results obtained were as follows: The prevalence of dental caries among the group with chronic rumination was higher than among the group not suffering from rumination. The viable cell number of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and yeasts in the group with chronic rumination was significantly higher than that of group without rumination. These results suggested that the saliva of the group with chronic rumination creates a favourable environment for aciduric bacterial growth. PMID- 2610309 TI - [Dental application of superplastic forming for titanium complete denture bases]. AB - In order to investigate the application of superplastic in forming dental prosthesis, the sheets of titanium and its alloy were deformed to the complete denture bases by using a trial hot press and ceramic die. The results are summarized as follows: 1) By the hot press. It was possible to deform the sheet at a deformation speed ranging from 1 x 10(-3) to 3 x 10(-2) mm/sec at a temperature up to 900 degrees C under a vacuum down to 10(-3) Torr. 2) The trial ceramic die was prepared by sintering the green of the CaO-TiO2-ZrO2-MgCl2 system at 1150 degrees C for 6 hours in the atmosphere. The compressive strength, the thermal expansion, and the surface roughness of the test piece of the die were 11 kg/cm2, 0.8%, Ra = 1.4 microns and Rz = 6.8 microns, respectively. 3) Both the sheet of pure chemical titanium and commercial superplastic titanium alloy Ti-6Al 4V were deformed under the conditions of about 0.1 mm/min, 850 degrees C, and 10( 3) Torr. The deformed surface of the complete denture bases appeared to be nearly the same metallic color of each raw sheet and the pattern was the same as the detail of the die. The oxygen enriched layer of the article determined by EPMA was far thinner than that of a dental cast. PMID- 2610310 TI - [Mitral commissurotomy during pregnancy]. AB - Relying on studies into the features of the gestation course, immediate and late results, instrumental investigation findings in 91 patients with mitral stenosis prior to a surgery and in the readaptive period, indications and relative contraindications for mitral commissurotomy during pregnancy were specified and supplemented. Differential strategy was also developed for delivery of such patients. PMID- 2610311 TI - [The use of a digital x-ray diagnostic unit in the obstetrical clinic]. AB - The paper gives account of advantages and disadvantages of ultrasonic and conventional X-ray pelvimetries for diagnosing the contracted pelvis in obstetrics. It also describes a basically new X-ray pelvimetry by using a digital X-ray unit one of whose basic advantages is a low maternal and fetal load (one twentieth as high as routine X-ray pelvimetry). X-ray pelvimetry with the use of the digital X-ray unit was performed in 366 pregnant and parturient women, of them 188 showed various forms of the anatomically contracted pelvis. Out of them 47% had deliveries by cesarean operation. The potentialities of this unit make it possible to predict both the biomechanism of labor and its outcome. PMID- 2610312 TI - [The sympathetic-adrenal system during reflex analgesia used in the treatment of a pathological preliminary period]. AB - Effects of reflex analgesia on the activity of the sympathetic-adrenal system (SAS) were examined in pregnant females with an abnormal preliminary period. The status of SAS was judged by the results of urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine excretion tests. A session of reflex analgesia performed by electric acupuncture (3-30 Hz) in the pregnant women with an abnormal preliminary period and relative readiness of the generative passage for labor led to activation of SAS and childbirth induction. A session of combined exposure to electric acupuncture (3-7 Hz) and transcutaneous electric neurostimulation (60-80 Hz) in the pregnant women with a more prolonged preliminary period and unreadiness of the maternal passage for labor caused a decrease in SAS activity, which was followed by a therapeutic rest. PMID- 2610313 TI - [Congenital and hereditary defects in hemostasis predisposing to recurrent thromboses and pregnancy (a clinical lecture)]. PMID- 2610314 TI - [Uterine contractile activity in parturients of a group at risk for prolonged pregnancy prepared for labor by acupuncture reflexotherapy]. AB - Prenatal preparation by using acupuncture was studied for effects on the clinical course and uterine contractility in 181 parturients who were at a high risk for prolonged pregnancy. With prenatal acupuncture, labor occurred in time in most parturients. Seven (3.8%) labors were delayed, 4 babies were born having signs of postmaturity. Antenatal amniotic fluid discharge was seen in 19% of the parturients, uterine inertia occurred in 19.8%, Cesarean deliveries were observed in 24 parturients. Internal tocographic assessment of uterine contractility revealed higher amplitudes, which contributed to the favorable course of labors. Acupuncture favored term labor in the pregnant females, the pattern of uterine contractility showed no changes during the delivery. PMID- 2610315 TI - [Changes in the biochemical indices of parturients with uterine inertia against the background of therapy]. AB - A comparison was made of some biochemical parameters for energy metabolism, acid base balance, blood gases and uterine contractility in parturients with uterine inertia who were on therapy with or without hyperbaric oxygenation. The presence of hypoxemia and metabolic acidosis in the parturients was found to intensify the processes of lipid peroxidation, to affect the functional status of myometrial biomembranes, to result in hyperenzymemia and disturbed tissue metabolism and lower myometrial contractility. The use of hyperbaric oxygenation in the multimodality therapy for uterine inertia was ascertained to eliminate oxygen deficiency, to increase tissue respiration, contributing to normal labor. PMID- 2610316 TI - [Electrostimulation of the uterus in uterine inertia]. AB - The paper provides the results of electrostimulation application to the therapy for uterine inertia. Monopolarization current action on the cervix was shown to be beneficial in 83.34% females with abnormal labor. No negative effects of the method was found on the status of a fetus and a parturient. PMID- 2610317 TI - [The combined and separate use of prostaglandin and adrenergic agents for the purpose of the experimental correction of uterine contractile activity]. AB - Experiments on pregnant rats revealed that a combination of low doses of partusisten and clophelin (1.25 mg/kg and 0.15 ml of 0.001% solution, respectively) potentiated a tocolytic effect. A combination of prostenon and oxytocin given in half doses (0.15 mg/kg and 0.25 IU in 0.1 ml, respectively) summarized their stimulant effect on the myometrium. Premedication with partusisten (2.5 micrograms/kg) failed to change the stimulant effect produced by a combination of prostenon and oxytocin given in half doses. PMID- 2610318 TI - [Hysterectomy following a cesarean section complicated by hypotonic hemorrhage]. AB - The features of histories, course of pregnancy and delivery were analyzed in 65 females with hypotonic bleeding developed during cesarean section. The bleeding resulted in uterine extirpation. The factors that predisposed to the abnormality were revealed. Morphological examination of uterine specimens demonstrated that in 95% hypotonic bleedings had been due to profound pathomorphological changes in the myometrium as ones occurred prior to pregnancy and developed during pregnancy and labor. Accordingly, long-term and ineffective treatment of hypotonic bleeding is frequently unfounded as in most cases only ablation of the uterus may be the sole means of hemostasis. PMID- 2610319 TI - [Laser exposure of the blood as a method of preventing inflammatory complications following cesarean section]. AB - Blood laser action (red spectrum, a wavelength of 628 nm, pulsed periodic quasi continuous duty), a noninvasive tool, was demonstrated to stimulate the immune forces of the body, which showed a 2-fold or more decrease in the incidence of inflammatory complications after cesarean operation. PMID- 2610320 TI - [Changes in the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme activity in parturients with chronic fetal hypoxia during different types of anesthesia in surgical delivery]. AB - During cesarean delivery, the isoenzymic spectrum of lactate dehydrogenase and lactic acid levels were examined in 109 parturients with chronic fetal hypoxia. For initial anesthesia, sombrevin, kalipsol, hexenal were applied, basal anesthesia was performed with neuroleptic analgetics and combined electric anesthesia. The findings make it possible to choose the optimal anesthetic agents in this group of parturients in order to make the status of a fetus and a neonate stable and better. PMID- 2610321 TI - [The use of ketamine in cesarean section]. AB - During cesarean section and basal nitrous oxide anesthesia ketamine was given to 31 parturients in an intravenous, drop fashion at a rate of 2 mg/kg/min concurrently with atropine, pipolphen, and droperidol premedication. The objective monitoring of anesthesia by using electroencephalography and blood adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol levels showed that ketamine added to the complex of anesthetics provided a good analgesia and caused no drug-induced fetal depression. PMID- 2610322 TI - [The support of adequate maternal and fetal gas exchange during abdominal delivery under endotracheal anesthesia]. AB - Fetal gas exchange and a neonate's status were found to be closely related to the capacity of controlled maternal pulmonary ventilation during abdominal delivery. To calculate the minute volume of ventilation, correction factors were proposed. The optimization of gas exchange during an operation was provided by sombrevin. The proposed procedure decreased the incidence of fetal hypoxia and neonatal asphyxia. PMID- 2610323 TI - [The natural cellular cytotoxicity of endometriosis patients]. AB - In the cytotoxic test, the level of natural cellular cytotoxicity (NCC) and activity of natural killers (NK) was determined in 16 patients with genital endometriosis and 36 healthy women in the time-course of a menstrual cycle. During the menstrual cycle, no substantial variations in NK activity were found in the healthy women and patients with endometriosis. There was a decrease in NCC only in patients with internal endometriosis, which correlated with severity of endocrine diseases. PMID- 2610324 TI - [The treatment of primary uterine inertia with the beta-adrenomimetic bricanyl]. PMID- 2610325 TI - [Promoting the health of pregnant women and gynecological patients at a sanatorium-preventorium]. PMID- 2610326 TI - [Bronchial asthma in pregnant women]. PMID- 2610327 TI - [The management of physiological labor]. PMID- 2610328 TI - Reproducibility of the skin prick test. AB - Reproducibility of the skin prick method of testing for allergy was studied in 20 subjects examined by four nurses. Hypodermic needles were used for pricking and the test panel included a histamine control, a diluent control, and nine allergens. The reproducibility of the method was best when the size of the weal reaction caused by an allergen was expressed as the geometric area of the weal. When the weal reaction was expressed as the ratio of the weal reaction caused by an allergen to that caused by histamine, the reproducibility of the method was decreased considerably. When the ratios were further classified into three class ratings, reproducibility was very low. The reduction in reproducibility was due to the low reproducibility of histamine reactions. According to these results, at least in epidemiological studies the weal reactions should be expressed as geometric areas. In clinical practice it might also be preferable to express prick test results as the diameters of the weals without adjusting them by histamine reactions. PMID- 2610329 TI - Modulation of type I immediate and type IV delayed immunoreactivity using direct suggestion and guided imagery during hypnosis. AB - Cutaneous reactivity against histamine skin prick test (Type I) and purified tuberculin protein derivative (Mantoux reaction, Type IV) was studied in eight volunteers under hypnosis. Types I and IV immunoreactivity were modulated by direct suggestion (Type I) and guided imagery (Type IV). The volunteers were highly susceptible subjects, selected by means of the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A. When the volunteers underwent hypnotic suggestion to decrease the cutaneous reaction to histamine prick test, a significant (P less than 0.02) reduction of the flare reaction (area of erythema) was observed compared with control histamine skin prick tests. The wheal reaction did not respond to hypnotic suggestion. Neither wheal nor flare reaction could be increased in size by hypnotic suggestion compared with control histamine skin prick tests. A hypnotic suggestion of increasing the Type IV reaction on one arm and decreasing the reaction on the other revealed a significant difference in both erythema size (P less than 0.02) and palpable induration (P less than 0.01). In two cases the reactions were monitored by laser doppler blood flowmetry and skin thickness measurement by ultrasound. The difference between the suggested increased and decreased reaction was 19% for the laser doppler bloodflow (in favor of the augmented side), and 44% for the dermal infiltrate thickness. This study objectively supports the numerous uncontrolled case reports of modulation of immunoreactivity in allergic diseases involving both Type I and Type IV skin reactions following hypnotic suggestions. PMID- 2610330 TI - Sensitization to aeroallergens depends on environmental factors. AB - Respiratory allergies and subclinical sensitization to aeroallergens were investigated in 129 rural and in 222 urban probands. The incidence of respiratory allergies was not significantly higher in the urban residents. Sensitization to aeroallergens was investigated with Phadezym RAST (house dust mite, Cladosporium, orchard grass, birch pollens) and the Phadiatop multi RAST and found to be significantly more frequent in polluted than in unpolluted areas. Allergen specific IgE was detected n 37.8% of urban probands and in 25.6% of rural probands with Phadezym RAST (P less than 0.025) and a positive Phadiatop multi RAST was found in 43.7% versus 32.6 (P less than 0.05). PMID- 2610331 TI - Prevalence of non-allergic nasal complaints in an urban and a rural population in Sweden. AB - By questionnaire, 1469 randomly selected persons between 16 and 82 years of age were asked whether they had suffered from such nasal complaints as obstruction, sneezing and discharge, at least during the previous 6 months. Seventy-five per cent answered the questionnaire, two thirds of whom were city dwellers and one third lived in a rural district. No difference was found between the urban and the rural populations regarding the prevalence of symptoms. Twenty-one per cent suffered from non-allergic nasal complaints, and 5% from allergic nasal complaints. The prevalence of non-allergic nasal complaints was highest in the 20 30-year age group, and lowest in the 50-60-year age group. Contributory factors were of greater importance among the younger individuals than among the more elderly. PMID- 2610332 TI - Food and food additives in severe atopic dermatitis. AB - In this study the role of food additives, tyramine and acetylsalicylic acid, was investigated by double-blind placebo-controlled challenges (DBPCC) in 25 children with severe atopic dermatitis (AD). All children challenged with foods (n = 24), except one, showed one or more positive reactions to the DBPCC with foods. Positive reactions presented as different combinations of flares of skin symptoms, intestinal symptoms and respiratory symptoms. Seventeen children (70.8%) showed a positive challenge to egg, 12 to wheat (50%), eight to milk (33.3%) and eight to soya (33.3%). Six children underwent DBPCC with food additives, tyramine and acetylsalicylic acid. All were found to demonstrate positive skin and/or intestinal reactions to at least one of the food additives. Two children reacted to tartrazine, three to sodium benzoate, two to sodium glutamate, two to sodium metabisulfite, four to acetylsalicylic acid and one to tyramine. It is concluded that some foods, food additives, tyramine and acetylsalicylic acid, can cause positive DBPCC in children with severe AD. PMID- 2610333 TI - Bronchial hyperresponsiveness in atopic dermatitis. AB - We investigated the prevalence of bronchial asthma, immediate skin reactivity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in 40 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Eight patients reported to have asthma while 29 were found responders to methacholine test (PC20 Mch less than 64 mg/ml) and 21 were skin reactors. The prevalence of skin positive reactions did not differ in responder and non-responder (PC20 Mch greater than 64 mg/ml) groups. Males were more likely both to have bronchial asthma and be responders to methacholine test than females. Moreover, responders had an earlier age of onset of AD than the non-responders. We suggest that bronchial responsiveness should be evaluated in children with AD. PMID- 2610334 TI - Dietary manipulation for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. A new approach to therapy. AB - To evaluate the role of food antigens in idiopathic nephrotic syndromes, we used dietary manipulations in 26 cases in whom steroid therapy had failed. In the six reported, restricted diets according to clinical and biological data were followed by complete remissions, suggesting that food can be responsible for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in selected cases, and leading to a new therapeutic approach. The mechanism by which such antigens can be implicated in the pathogenesis of this glomerular disease is discussed. PMID- 2610335 TI - Adaptation of the Nelson-Somogyi reducing-sugar assay to a microassay using microtiter plates. AB - The Nelson-Somogyi assay for reducing sugars was adapted to microtiter plates. The primary advantages of this modified assay are (i) smaller sample and reagent volumes, (ii) elimination of boiling and filtration steps, (iii) automated measurement with a dual-wavelength scanning TLC densitometer, (iv) increased range and reproducibility, and (v) automated colorimetric readings by reflectance rather than absorbance. PMID- 2610336 TI - Simultaneous measurement of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography using both endogenous and exogenous [4-14C]cholesterol as substrate. AB - The HPLC-spectrophotometric method (T. Ogishima and K. Okuda (1986) Anal. Biochem. 158, 228-232) for measuring cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was modified by using a C-18 reverse-phase column to separate 7 alpha-hydroxy-4 cholesten-3-one and 4-cholesten-3-one and by adding 7 beta-hydroxycholesterol to each reaction mixture as an internal recovery standard. With this method, we were able to simultaneously measure cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity using endogenous cholesterol and exogenous [4-14C]cholesterol as substrate. Rat liver cytosol differentially stimulated (286%) the 7 alpha-hydroxylation of exogenous [4-14C]-cholesterol. In contrast, total cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was stimulated only 35% by cytosol. This method should prove useful for studying mechanisms of cholesterol delivery to cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase. PMID- 2610337 TI - Preparative free solution isoelectric focusing of human erythrocyte uroporphyrinogen I synthase in an ampholyte pH gradient. AB - A free solution electrofocusing method for uroporphyrinogen I synthase (EC 4.3.1.8) in an Ampholine pH gradient on a preparative scale is described. Partial purification of the enzyme was achieved in a 4-h focusing run. Enzyme activity was found in the pH range of pH 5.1 to pH 7.0. Complete separation of the most basic and most acidic isozyme from the control and the acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) patient was obtained in this single-step procedure. The level of enzyme activity has been shown to be reduced to about half the normal value in erythrocytes of two patients from a family with AIP. A shift of maximal activity toward the acidic side of the pH gradient was observed with the abnormal enzyme. In contrast to the normal isozyme set with seven isozyme bands, the fluorescence of the three basic bands and the second acidic band was greatly reduced, whereas the intermediate forms showed increased fluorescence intensity. PMID- 2610338 TI - Comparative effect of microwaves and boiling on the denaturation of DNA. AB - The effect of heat and microwave denaturation of small volumes of double-stranded plasmid DNA has been compared. Samples of intact plasmid DNA had plasmid DNA linearized by digestion with EcoRI were conventionally denatured in a boiling water bath or denatured by 2450 MHz of microwave energy for 0-300 s. Heat denaturation for periods longer than 120 s caused breakdown of linearized plasmid DNA; however, microwave denaturation for 10-300 s caused no apparent degradation of linearized DNA. Breakdown of DNA forms II and III was noted in plasmid DNA subjected to 300 s of either heat or microwave denaturation but breakdown of forms II and III occurred more quickly with heat than with microwave treatment. Microwave treatment was also found to be better than heat to denature 32P-labeled DNA probes subsequently used to detect homologous DNA samples immobilized on nitrocellulose filters. A microwave-treated 32P-labeled DNA probe was able to hybridize to DNA samples 20 times more dilute than a heat-treated 32P-labeled DNA probe. Depending on the form of DNA to be analyzed, these results indicate that small volumes of DNA solutions and radiolabeled DNA probes can be effectively denatured in a conventional microwave oven. PMID- 2610339 TI - Measurement of endogenous lithium levels in serum and urine by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry: a method with potential clinical applications. AB - A highly sensitive flameless atomic absorption method has been adapted for the determination of endogenous trace lithium levels in serum and urine. With ammonium nitrate as the only matrix modifier, serum levels of Li as low as 0.03 mumol/liter are measured accurately and there is no requirement for standard additions. The need for background correction during analysis was clearly established, and tungsten and Zeeman-effect background corrections were compared. The tungsten correction offered superior sensitivity and linearity of standards. Recoveries in urine and serum average 94.8 +/- 7.7 and 95.3 +/- 6.1% (+/- SD), respectively. The endogenous serum Li levels were 0.16 +/- 0.08 mumol/liter for normal subjects dwelling in the Denver metropolitan area. The mean 24-h excretion rate was 5.24 +/- 1.4 mumol/day. The mean fractional excretion of endogenous Li (clearance Li/clearance creatinine) was 23.2 +/- 3.0%, a value similar to values published for exogenously administered Li and measured by conventional methods. PMID- 2610340 TI - A method for detection of cellulases in polyacrylamide gels using 5-bromoindoxyl beta-D-cellobioside: high sensitivity and resolution. AB - The assay of endo-1,4-beta-glucanases (cellulases) from Trichoderma reesei, T. longibrachiatum, and Sporotrichum pulverulentum by 5-bromoindoxyl-beta-D cellobioside is described. The substrate is enzymatically cleaved to afford 5 bromoindoxyl and latter undergoes immediate azo coupling with Fast Red or oxidation by nitroblue monotetrazolium chloride, various forms of endoglucanases which can thus be assayed in polyacrylamide gel. PMID- 2610341 TI - A nonuniform electrical field electroporation chamber design. AB - We show an inexpensive design for an electroporation chamber which subjects electroporated cells to a nonuniform electrical field. Our design, which we call an electroporation cylinder, improved transfection efficiency over that of a uniform field design (electroporation cuvettes) by about sixfold when tested in five mouse cell lines with a transient gene expression assay. Electroporation cylinders subjected cells to electrical field strengths at least as powerful as those of electroporation cuvettes, as judged by comparing the percentages of cells killed by electroporation. Cylinder and cuvette designs were similar in their effect on the variability of transfection efficiency. Electroporation cylinders may be particularly useful when the optimal electrical field strength for a cell line is not known or is unattainable with a given power supply. PMID- 2610342 TI - Superabsorbent polymers--media for the enzymatic detection of ethyl alcohol in urine. AB - Superabsorbent polymers are shown to be an excellent medium for the detection of enzymes used in enzyme assays. They offer increased sensitivity of 2-10 times over conventional blotter medium. Their usefulness is demonstrated with a quick, inexpensive, visual test for alcohol in urine with sensitivity approaching 0.001% (w/v). Alcohol levels in 500 random urine samples were determined and the levels ranged from 0.06 to less than 0.001%, with the majority of positives being near 0.005%. PMID- 2610343 TI - Ascorbic acid suppresses the deconjugation of noradrenaline but not dopamine in plasma. AB - The characteristics of hydrolysis of sulfoconjugated noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) in plasma using sulfatase were investigated. Ascorbic acid has been used as an antioxidant during the hydrolysis of conjugated NA or DA. Hydrolysis of NA sulfates was considerably inhibited by adding ascorbic acid (0.5-10 mM), and slightly inhibited by adding dithiothreitol (1-10 mM). In contrast, the hydrolysis of DA sulfates was not affected after either ascorbic acid or DTT treatment. On the basis of these findings, the levels of NA sulfates previously reported are found to be markedly lower than the actual levels of NA sulfates in human plasma. PMID- 2610344 TI - Hydrophobic interaction chromatography in alkaline pH. AB - Hydrophobic interaction chromatography is a very powerful protein purification technique which is dependent on strong salting-out salts to increase the hydrophobic interactions between the protein and the ligand. Ammonium sulfate is the salt most commonly used for this purpose, but it cannot be used at very alkaline pH. Monosodium glutamate was therefore tested as a salt for hydrophobic interaction chromatography at pH 9.5. When ribonuclease A, ovalbumin, and beta lactoglobulin were individually applied to a phenyl superose column in 2 M monosodium glutamate, all three proteins bound to the column and could be subsequently eluted by decreasing the salt concentration. Using this salt, it was possible to separate commercially obtained beta-lactoglobulin into authentic protein and contaminants and to purify the individual proteins from a mixture of ovalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin. These results demonstrate that monosodium glutamate is a useful salt for hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Guanidine and sodium sulfate and sodium aspartate were also examined at the same pH, demonstrating that they also resulted in the binding and elution of the proteins examined. PMID- 2610345 TI - An assay for quantitative nucleic acid hybridization on membrane filters. AB - A quantitative nucleic acid hybridization assay based on a 6-mm-diameter nitrocellulose membrane filter and only 20 microliters of hybridization mixture per determination is described. As a consequence of the small ratio of hybridization volume to membrane surface, the hybridization rates reached in this system are higher than those obtained at volume to surface ratios of conventional protocols, allowing even RNA at very low concentrations to complete hybridization. This advantage, together with the high reproducibility and hybrid stability obtained with the assay, increases the ability of the filter hybridization technique to analyze quantitatively minute amounts of RNA. PMID- 2610346 TI - A new method for hydrolyzing sulfate and glucuronyl conjugates of steroids. AB - A new method for hydrolyzing steroid conjugates (both sulfates and glucuronides conjugates) that is efficient, effective, and inexpensive is described. This method comprises incubation of the conjugates--after salting-out into ethyl acetate or elution from a C18 cartridge--with anhydrous methanolic hydrogen chloride (methanolysis) for 10 min. It has been successfully applied to our routine radioimmunoassay screening and GC/MS confirmation studies of steroids in prerace and postrace equine urine samples. Comparative GC/MS studies on entire (male horse) urine samples showed that methanolysis gave amounts of free steroids (estrone, estradiols, testosterone, estrenediols, nandrolone, androstanediols) at least as large as those obtained by solvolysis. Similar studies on urine samples from a gelding that had been administered nandrolone phenylpropionate showed that methanolysis gave larger amounts of free steroids (nandrolone, estranediols) than Helix pomatia enzymatic hydrolysis or solvolysis. Also, TLC studies on methanolysis of corticosteroid conjugates such as hydrocortisone 21-sulfate and hydrocortisone 21-phosphate showed that free corticosteroid was released in 5 min. PMID- 2610347 TI - Resolution of epoxyeicosatrienoate enantiomers by chiral phase chromatography. AB - A chromatographic method is described for the direct enantiomeric characterization of all four regioisomeric epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) metabolites generated by the cytochrome P450 arachidonate epoxygenase pathway. Following esterification, the individual methyl or pentafluorobenzyl esters are resolved by chiral phase HPLC utilizing a Chiralcel OB or OD column. This methodology will find analytical and preparative applications for chiral epoxides since it is convenient and efficient and does not destroy the epoxide functionality. PMID- 2610348 TI - NAD and NADH values in rapidly sampled dog heart tissues by two different extraction methods. AB - To clarify the most quantitative extraction method for the determination of NAD and NADH in dog heart tissues, both pyridine dinucleotides were extracted from normal and ischemic heart tissues by the Klingenberg method and the Karp method and determined by bacterial luciferase. Tissues from normal beating hearts were sampled by a specially developed freeze-clamping device in 120 ms to minimize ischemic NADH production during sampling. Samples were obtained from both the subendocardium and the subepicardium of the frozen heart tissues. In the Klingenberg method, NAD and NADH were separately extracted with 0.6 M HClO4 and 0.5 M KOH in 50% ethanol, respectively. Both pyridine dinucleotides were simultaneously extracted with 70% ethanol in 0.01 M phosphate buffer in the Karp method. The mean values of NAD and NADH in the normal tissues were 5.08 +/- 0.84 and 0.18 +/- 0.10 nmol/mg protein, respectively, with a NAD/NADH ratio of 25-30 by the Klingenberg method. While the values by the Karp method were 4.37 +/- 0.68 and 0.09 +/- 0.04 nmol/mg protein, with a NAD/NADH ratio of 55-65. The efficiency of extraction of both pyridine dinucleotides by the Karp method was lower than that by the Klingenberg method in all tested samples and states of the tissues. These results suggest that the Klingenberg method is preferable for the extraction of both pyridine dinucleotides from dog heart tissues and that the mean NAD/NADH ratio in normal dog heart tissues is 25-30. PMID- 2610349 TI - Calculation of protein extinction coefficients from amino acid sequence data. AB - Quantitative study of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions in solution requires accurate determination of protein concentration. Often, for proteins available only in "molecular biological" amounts, it is difficult or impossible to make an accurate experimental measurement of the molar extinction coefficient of the protein. Yet without a reliable value of this parameter, one cannot determine protein concentrations by the usual uv spectroscopic means. Fortunately, knowledge of amino acid residue sequence and promoter molecular weight (and thus also of amino acid composition) is generally available through the DNA sequence, which is usually accurately known for most such proteins. In this paper we present a method for calculating accurate (to +/- 5% in most cases) molar extinction coefficients for proteins at 280 nm, simply from knowledge of the amino acid composition. The method is calibrated against 18 "normal" globular proteins whose molar extinction coefficients are accurately known, and the assumptions underlying the method, as well as its limitations, are discussed. PMID- 2610350 TI - Sensitive assay of cytochrome P450scc activity by high-performance liquid chromatography. AB - We have developed a simple procedure for analyzing the reaction intermediates and product of the cholesterol side-chain cleavage system by high-performance liquid chromatography with uv absorption monitoring. After the cholesterol side-chain cleavage system had been incubated and the reaction then halted by heat treatment, the product was converted into 3-one-4-en steroid showing intense absorption at 240 nm upon reaction with cholesterol oxidase. The converted steroids were then analyzed by normal-phase HPLC. In consequence, the catalytic activity of the reconstituted adrenocortical cytochrome P450scc system was readily assayed with a sensitivity more than 10-fold higher by this conversion. Also, it was shown that 22R-hydroxy-cholest-4-en-3-one could serve as a good substrate for cytochrome P450scc and that the 20R,22R-dihydroxy derivative could be clearly detected as a reaction intermediate in the reconstituted system. PMID- 2610351 TI - Histochemical localization of cysteine-rich proteins by tissue printing on nitrocellulose. AB - A rapid technique for the histochemical localization of cysteine-rich proteins in plant tissues was developed. It is based on the immediate transfer of proteins to nitrocellulose membranes when a fresh cut organ is pressed against the membrane surface. The print was labeled for cysteine-rich proteins by reduction and alkylation of cysteinyl residues with dansylated iodoacetamide [N-iodoacetyl-N'-( 5-sulfo-1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine]. The S-carboxymethylated proteins were visualized by their fluorescence when excited with 360 nm light. PMID- 2610352 TI - Radioassay of bile acid coenzyme A:glycine/taurine: N-acyltransferase using an n butanol solvent extraction procedure. AB - A rapid, specific, and sensitive radioassay for measuring bile acid CoA:glycine/taurine: N-acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1) has been developed. In this assay, 3H-labeled amino acids (glycine or taurine) are conjugated with unlabeled bile acid CoA derivatives to form 3H-labeled bile acid amidates. Following incubation, the 3H-labeled bile acid amidate is separated from the unreacted amino acid by an n-butanol extraction method. The extraction procedure was developed by evaluating the effects of buffer concentration and pH on the recovery of radiolabeled bile acid amidate standards in the presence of human hepatic cytosol. Highest recovery (greater than 90%) of bile acid amidate standards occurred under acidic conditions (pH 2) in the presence of 1% (w/v) SDS. When the radioassay and accompanying n-butanol extraction procedure were utilized to study the amidation of glycine or taurine with cholic acid in human hepatic cytosol, a single peak of radioactivity corresponding with either authentic glycocholate or taurocholate was detected in the n-butanol phase by high-performance liquid chromatography. This assay for bile acid CoA:glycine/taurine: N-acyltransferase activity was linear with incubation time and protein concentration. This assay should be useful in the biochemical studies of this enzyme, as well as in the examination of bile acid amidation in clinical liver specimens. PMID- 2610353 TI - Distribution and forms of fluorine in whole blood of human male. AB - Distribution and absolute concentration of three kinds of fluoride/fluorine, i.e., free ionic, ionizable, and organic fluorine, in human whole blood and serum were determined. The method is based on low temperature oxygen plasma ashing, acid hydrolysis, gas chromatography using chlorotrimethylsilane, and fluoride ion specific electrode. A large part (40%) of the total F is distributed in clot of the whole blood and 74% of the total F is in the form of organic fluorine. PMID- 2610354 TI - Hydrolysis of proteins and peptides in a hermetically sealed microcapillary tube: high recovery of labile amino acids. AB - A method for the hydrolysis of peptides and proteins in a hermetically sealed microcapillary tube has been developed. The method is based on the concept that oxidative degradation of labile amino acids during acid hydrolysis of proteins and peptides at high temperature can be reduced to a minimum by limiting the ratio of air to liquid (v/v, less than 1:10) in a microcapillary tube. Furthermore, the physical constraints imposed by the capillary tube will restrict the exposure of the protein solution to air at a very limited area at the meniscus of the liquid. This method eliminates the necessity of time-consuming sealing under vacuum and/or flushing with nitrogen to remove oxygen in the hydrolysis tube. High recovery of labile amino acids can be obtained in a reproducible manner. Because of the simplicity and high reproducibility of the method described, it could be the method of choice for the hydrolysis of protein and peptide intended for quantitative amino acid analysis. Performic acid oxidation is performed at 50 degrees C for 10 min instead of 4 to 20 h at 0 degrees C to achieve an equally good yield of cysteic acid and methionine sulfone from peptides and proteins. PMID- 2610355 TI - Immunoassay employing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. AB - Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was used to measure binding between biomolecules with mutual affinity, including antigen-antibody interactions. The conjugation of nitro groups onto bovine serum albumin enhanced their specific SERS activity 10(4)-fold. A dye, 2-[4'-hydroxyphenylazo]benzoic acid (HABA), with a major absorption at the Raman excitation frequency, demonstrated surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) when captured from solution by avidin coated silver films. Individual peak intensities showed a logarithmic relationship to the HABA concentration in solution over the range 10(-8) to 10( 5) M. Another resonance dye, p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB) was covalently attached to an antibody directed against human thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), without loss of antibody activity. The resultant conjugate was used in a sandwich immunoassay for TSH antigen: silver surfaces coated with anti-TSH antibody captured TSH antigen which in turn captured the DAB-anti-TSH antibody conjugate. A linear relationship was observed between the intensity of the resultant SERRS signals and the TSH antigen concentration over a range of from 4 to 60 microIU/ml. These results demonstrate the potential utility of the SERRS effect as a readout in a one-step, no wash immunoassay system. PMID- 2610356 TI - Assay of creatine kinase in microtiter plates using thio-NAD to allow monitoring at 405 nM. AB - An assay system for creatine kinase using microtiter plates and a plate reader that records absorbancies at 405 nM has been devised. The system is an adaptation of well-established assays that couple creatine kinase with the reactions catalyzed by hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), to give a measurable increase in reduced pyridine nucleotide quantitated by absorbance at 340 nM. Two features of this system are modified for reading at 405 nM: (i) The thioamido derivative of NAD is used because its reduced form exhibits a substantial increase in absorbance at 405 nM, the most commonly available wavelength on microplate readers; and (ii) glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides is used because it can reduce either NAD or NADP (unlike most other G6PDH enzymes, which require NADP), thus making it unnecessary to use the more expensive thio-NADP. The rate of thio-NAD reduction is linear with enzyme concentration and time over a 20-fold range of concentrations of purified creatine kinase, and the assay also works well with myogenic cells allowed to grow and differentiate in the 96-well plate in which the assay is performed. This system offers considerable savings in cells, time, and material in studies of muscle cell differentiation, for which creatine kinase levels are frequently measured. It also provides a potential method for the convenient and economical measurement of activities of many other enzymes that can be coupled to reduction of thio-NAD. PMID- 2610357 TI - Analysis of underivatized glycosphingolipids by high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry. AB - Analytical conditions for underivatized glycosphingolipids by using high performance liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/API-MS) were investigated. The analysis was performed by using an ordinary reversed-phase column (4.6 X 150 or 4.6 X 250 mm) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The glycosphingolipids could be characterized from the HPLC/API-MS in terms of molecular weight, ceramide composition, and partial oligosaccharide sequence. In order to obtain an adequate spectrum the amount of material needed is in the range of a few micrograms of lipid. By selected ion monitoring the sensitivity of the method allowed characterization of only 60 ng of glycosphingolipid. The method will be very useful in the characterization of small quantities of glycosphingolipids from biological samples. PMID- 2610358 TI - Variation in enzymatic transient gene expression assays. AB - We examined causes for high variability in data from enzymatic transient gene expression assays. Our results strongly suggest that variation in transfection efficiency is the major cause of data variation and can seriously compromise valid interpretation of data. We compared averaging data from multiple transfections and cotransfection of a second reporter gene as methods for correcting for variation in transfection efficiency. We found that transfection efficiency can be so highly variable that neither method necessarily overcomes the resulting bias in data. Depending upon the degree in variation in transfection efficiency, a combination of the two methods may be advisable. The need to normalize data for transfection efficiency is dependent upon the difference in strengths of promoters being tested and the relative variability of the transfection method used. We also show that the level of reporter gene expression between transfection experiments performed on different days can vary by more than 10-fold. PMID- 2610359 TI - Quantitation of paf-acether by release of endogenous platelet serotonin assessed by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. AB - A new method to quantitate paf-acether (paf) was developed. It is based on the measurement of serotonin released from washed rabbit platelets challenged with paf. Platelets (1 X 10(8)/ml) were exposed with or without stirring to various concentrations of paf (26-130 pM) at 37 degrees C or at room temperature. Supernatants were submitted to a 4-min liquid chromatography run and serotonin was measured by electrochemical detection. We quantitated paf from three different biological sources, human neutrophils, mouse peritoneal macrophages, and cultured mast cells, comparing a classical method, i.e., platelet aggregation with the electrochemical detection of endogenous serotonin. We found similar results since, when compared with the aggregation method, the results differed by 12 to 47%. The sensitivity of both methods was 26 pM. The between-day variation coefficient was 23 and 14% (n = 12) for the aggregation method and the serotonin release, respectively, whereas the within-day variation coefficient for serotonin quantitation was less than 5% (n = 12). The superiority of the new method lies in its simplicity, the economy of platelets, and its possibility of automation. It can be applied to any agonist or any mechanism capable of releasing serotonin from platelets and more generally when a simple and fast method for measuring serotonin is desirable. PMID- 2610360 TI - Determination of pyrimidine dimers in DNA by high-performance liquid chromatography/gas chromatography and electron capture detection. AB - Exposure of DNA to uv radiation results in the formation of a number of photoproducts including the cyclobutyl pyrimidine dimers. At low uv fluences the concentrations of these dimeric compounds are only a small fraction of the corresponding DNA pyrimidine concentration (e.g., as low as 0.02% or less of the total thymine content). Sensitive methods of analysis are therefore required for accurate determinations. Analytical methodology based upon HPLC fractionation and electrophore labeling followed by GC/electron capture detection (ECD) has been developed to quantitate these species. Separation of thymine-thymine, thymine uracil, and uracil-uracil from the monomeric bases and from other constituents present in acid-hydrolyzed DNA is achieved by reversed-phase HPLC. Isolation of the dimeric fractions is followed by off-line derivatization to form pentafluorobenzyl products for analysis by GC/ECD. All active hydrogens are alkylated, yielding products with high response factors and detection limits in the low femtomole range. The overall analytical scheme for the determination of pyrimidine dimers in DNA is presented. PMID- 2610361 TI - The use of gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the characterization of permethylated oligosaccharides with molecular mass up to 2300. AB - Gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were adapted for the analysis of large permethylated oligosaccharides of different types. Permethylated isomaltooligosaccharides with up to 11 sugar residues and a mass of 2291 Da and two branched blood group H-type decasaccharides derived from the corresponding glycosphingolipids with masses of 2150 Da were successfully analyzed. The capillary columns used have extremely good resolution exemplified by the separation of the two decasaccharides which only differed by one internal linkage position and by the separation of four isomeric tetrasaccharides. The combined information of retention times and mass spectra gave detailed information of 22 neutral oligosaccharides from porcine intestinal mucin and the approach thus allow quick screening of O-linked-type glycans. The procedure for permethylation of oligosaccharides using solid NaOH has been investigated and adapted for structures having a glucose alditol as in reduced oligosaccharides derived from milk and glycosphingolipids. PMID- 2610362 TI - Improved gas chromatographic determination of nicotine in environmental tobacco smoke. AB - A rapid gas chromatographic procedure with an analysis time of 5 min was developed for the determination of environmental nicotine collected on sorbent tubes containing XAD-4 resin. In validating this procedure, severe temporal losses of nicotine were observed for solutions in glass sample vials waiting in a queue in an autosampler tray for analysis. These losses were traced to adsorptive interactions of nicotine with the glass surface of the vials. The use of N ethylnornicotine as the internal standard or the addition of triethylamine to all solutions were both successful in producing constant response ratios of nicotine to internal standard. Owing to the limited availability and expense of N ethylnornicotine, our current procedure calls for the addition of triethylamine to all nicotine solutions at the 0.01% V/V level and the use of quinoline as internal standard. PMID- 2610363 TI - Thermal degradation of polyester coating powders: 1,4-dicyanobenzene as an occupational marker compound. AB - A method for the determination of emissions in workroom air as a result of the thermal degradation of polyester coating powders is described. The method is based on the determination of certain marker compounds only. Polyester coating powders were degraded thermally in laboratory experiments and 1,4-dicyanobenzene was chosen as the marker compound. An air sampling method and a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the marker compound are proposed. The detection limit for a 48-I air sample was 0.4 microgram m-3. PMID- 2610364 TI - Determination of nitroxynil residues in tissues using high-performance liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry. AB - A method is described for the determination of nitroxynil residues in muscle, liver and kidney. The samples were extracted into diethyl ether and cleaned-up using a simple liquid-liquid extraction step. Any nitroxynil present was separated from interfering compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography and detected using thermospray mass spectrometry. The assay is specific and sensitive, with a detection limit of 2 ng g-1 in tissues. PMID- 2610365 TI - Liquid membrane electrodes for the selective determination of nicotine in cigarette smoke. AB - Five liquid membrane electrode systems responsive to the nicotinium cation are described. These electrodes are based on the use of the ion-association complexes of the nicotinium cation with tetraphenylborate, 5-nitrobarbiturate, flavianate, reineckate and picrolonate counter anions in nitrobenzene solvent as ion-exchange sites. The performance characteristics of these electrodes, evaluated according to IUPAC recommendations, reveal fast, stable and near-Nernstian responses for 10(-2)-10(-5) M nicotine over the pH range 3.5-7. Many inorganic and organic cations do not interfere. The direct potentiometric determination of 3 micrograms ml-1-1.6 mg ml-1 of nicotine in aqueous solutions showed an an average recovery of 99.5% and a mean standard deviation of 1.2%. The electrodes were also used for monitoring the titration of nicotine with sodium tetraphenylborate, measuring the pK of nicotine and determining nicotine in the smoke from different cigarettes. The results compare favourably with those obtained by the standard gas chromatographic method. PMID- 2610366 TI - Simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid, caffeine and paracetamol in drug formulations by differential-pulse voltammetry using a glassy carbon electrode. AB - A simple, rapid and accurate method for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid, caffeine and paracetamol in drug formulations has been developed. Peak currents were measured with a glassy carbon electrode at +0.350, +0.618 and +1.425 V versus a saturated calomel electrode for ascorbic acid, paracetamol and caffeine, respectively. Perchloric acid (0.1 M) - methanol (1 + 1) was used both as a solvent and supporting electrolyte. The optimum modulation amplitude, pulse repeat time and scan rate of the polarographic analyser were found to be 50 mV, 0.5 s and 5 mV s-1, respectively and the linear calibration ranges for ascorbic acid, caffeine and paracetamol were 0-35, 0-50, and 0-55 micrograms ml-1, respectively. The relative standard deviations for 9.30 micrograms ml-1 of ascorbic acid, 8.50 micrograms ml-1 of caffeine and 7.30 micrograms ml-1 of paracetamol were 1.3, 2.5 and 0.7%, respectively. Results are reported for several commercially available drugs. PMID- 2610367 TI - Group-selective determination of total N-nitroso compounds in nitrate-containing human urine samples. AB - A group-selective method for the determination of total N-nitroso compounds (NOC) has been adapted for analysing human urine samples. Nitrate was first removed from urine by an anion-exchange procedure that prevented the significant loss of various added reference NOC and unidentified urinary NOC. The total NOC were then determined by injecting the urine sample (nitrate content less than 1 mmol l-1) or anion-exchange eluate into refluxing ethyl acetate containing either acetic acid for determining heat and acetic acid labile thermal energy analyser responsive compounds (TAC) or into hydrogen bromide for the determination of TAC and NOC. The nitrogen monoxide levels released were measured using thermal energy analysis with chemiluminescence detection, and the differnce between the two determinations represented the concentrations of NOC. The optimum conditions for preventing artefactual nitrosation in urine samples by the addition of sodium hydroxide or sulphamic acid without decomposition of NOC were determined. The influence of time and storage conditions on NOC stability was investigated. Fifteen urine samples collected from volunteers dosed with proline were analysed for total NOC and N-nitrosamino acids revealing a preponderance of unknown NOC. The determination of total NOC in human urine using this group-selective method offers a new approach to the estimation of human exposure to NOC and to isolate hitherto unknown NOC and their metabolites. PMID- 2610368 TI - Determination of oxytetracycline and doxycycline in pharmaceutical compounds, urine and honey by derivative spectrophotometry. AB - Derivative spectrophotometric methods have been developed for determining oxytetracycline and doxycycline and for resolving their binary mixtures. Oxytetracycline and doxycycline were determined in pharmaceutical samples, urine and honey without any pre-treatment of the samples. In all instances, first derivative spectra were used. PMID- 2610369 TI - Morphogenesis of the digestive tract in the fetuses of the southern minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata. AB - Gross and histological observations on the digestive tract in 15 fetuses of the southern minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) with C.R.L. from 37.2 to 1,940mm revealed that the fetal stomach formation in this species resembled that of the ruminant, i.e., the compartment 1 arose from the stomach bud, but not from the esophagus to form the forestomach. The differentiated gastric glands, the parietal cells, were detected in fetuses with more than 213.0mm C.R.L. The circular folds resembling intestinal haustra like circular folds without tenia were detected on the cecum in fetuses with more than 650mm C.R.L. and less than 1,070mm C.R.L. The similar structure was seen in large intestine in fetuses with more than 650mm C.R.L. PMID- 2610370 TI - [The occurrence and behavior of the goblet cells in the intestinal canal of swine]. AB - After a short survey of the literature the form, distribution and histochemistry of the goblet cells in the duodenum, jejunum and colon were investigated on pigs of different age. There are much goblet cells in the colon than in the parts of the intestine. The goblet cells occur in a great number in the crypts of Lieberkuhn, but their evidence is relatively rare in the superficial epithelium. Histochemically the goblet cells are alcian blue- and PAS-positive, where by the alcian blue reaction is dominant, therefore the secret contains more acid than neutral glycoproteins. PMID- 2610371 TI - Non-metric cranial variants in Brazilian skulls. AB - The incidence of 27 non-metric cranial variants is studied in a sample of 124 skulls from Brazil. The unilateral and bilateral frequencies of the variants are determined. The Brazilian population sample was compared with 28 population samples from different parts of the world. PMID- 2610372 TI - An interesting case of extreme microcephaly. AB - The collections of the Museum in the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, J. E. Purkyne University in Brno, include a skull of about 25 to 30-year-old individual with extreme microcephaly that has been so far described rarely in the morphological literature. The skull capacity is 355 cm3, which is only 26.1% of the skull capacity in a "normal" individual. While the facial skeleton is reduced only by 10-15% if compared with the norm, the cerebral part is striking by its extraordinarily small dimensions (smaller by 30-40% in comparison with the norm), particularly in the area of the frontal bone squama. The size of the skull is characterized best by the values of the basic metric measurements: maximal length of the skull 122 mm (norm: 172 mm), maximal breadth of the skull 94 mm (norm: 140 mm), height of the skull 96 mm (norm: 130 mm), circumference of the skull through the glabella 351 mm (norm: 510 mm). Foramen occipitale magnum is shifted strikingly to the dorsal direction. The cause of the microcephaly described cannot be explained explicitly just on the basis of the findings in the skull. For finding the actual cause a number of other data should be known. Authors' hypothesis that the problem is primary microcephaly has been supported even by roentgenological finding. PMID- 2610373 TI - The biomechanical congruent system of occlusion. AB - The comparative analysis of the morphological shape of the occlusal surfaces in the stomatognathic system is only correct if those curves are compared which belong to one and the same movement of the mandibula. Starting with this requirement the method of analysis of the sagittal-vertical-cuts is explained. The thus obtained protrusive occlusal contours prove to have identical shapes. They can mathematically be described by just one constant. The geometry of the protrusive, occlusal surfaces can therefore be understood as congruent system of always identical sagittal curvatures. PMID- 2610374 TI - [Morphometric and histologic studies of the significance of the paraventricular nucleus for the thyroid gland axis after ganglionectomy and cold exposure with special consideration of the pineal gland]. AB - To analyse the role of the peripheral sympathetic fibres for the nucleus paraventricularis, the nuclear size and the neurosecretory material were studied 30 d after bilateral cervical ganglionectomy (GX). In order to examine the influence of GX at normal temperature (24 degrees C) and exposure to cold (10 degrees C), rats were subjected to a 72 h exposure to cold before killing. Additionally thyroxine (T4), serum thyrotropin (TSH), and pituitary TSH were investigated. 4 times a day (light-dark cycle: 14L:10D, light on 05h00), the rats were sacrificed: middle light, middle darkness, 1 h after "light on" and 1 h after "light off". Ganglion removal resulted in a highly significant decrease of serum-T4 and increase of serum- and pituitary-TSH (primary hypothyroidism). Under these circumstances, the morphometric findings are showing a statistically significant magnification of the paraventricular nuclear volume and a loss of neurosecretory material. On the other hand, exposure to cold increased the T4- and TSH-levels and diminished the nuclear size of nucleus paraventricularis. The neurosecretory material was enhanced. Finally, GX diminished the effect of exposure to cold of the T4- and TSH-levels. The average nuclear size of the paraventricular nuclei was similar to the volume of the GX alone, so that the effect of exposure to cold was put out. These results indicate that there exists a negative correlation between T4 (but not TSH) and nucleus paraventricularis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610375 TI - Studies on the thyroid and thymic arteries of Japanese adults and fetuses. AB - The arterial system of the thyroid gland and the thymus was reinvestigated in 43 fetuses and 77 adults. The textbook-type was low in frequency, being 2.3% in fetuses and 20.8% in adults. It is largely due to the existence of many abnormalities in constant arteries and of the anomalous arteries. Most of them were more abundant in fetuses than in adults with a few exceptions. Among the anomalous arteries, the middle thymothyroid artery showed the highest frequency of 44.2% in fetuses and of 27.3% in adults. The superior thymic artery and the middle thymic artery were also abundant, being 33.7%, 18.8% and 32.6%, 14.3% in fetuses and adults respectively. On the other hand, the supreme thymic artery and the thyroid ima artery arising from the internal thoracic artery were extremely rare. From these results, the basic arterial pattern of both glands and its transition to the textbook-type were discussed. It is suggested that if the thyroid and thymic arteries arising from the aortic arch or brachiocephalic artery are considered to be almost constant, the frequencies of the textbook-type increase to 14% in fetuses and 41.6% in adults respectively. PMID- 2610376 TI - Three dimensional observations of the palisade-shaped nerve endings of normal hair of rat's snout. AB - The nerve endings of normal hair of the rat's snout, partially digested with trypsin and hydrochloric acid, were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Each lanceolate structure measured ca. 10 microns in length and was arranged around the hair follicle. These palisade-shaped nerve endings were situated almost beneath the sebaceous glands, ran upward, parallel to the axis of the hair follicle, and terminated in pointed shape. 2 kinds of cells, Teloglia cell Type I showing flat profile, and Teloglia cell Type II showing spherical profile and possessing numerous caveolae in its surface were observed at the basal portion of the palisade-shaped endings. The axon was enclosed by Schwann cells in its course to the hair follicle, and was covered with Type I cells at the beginning, and with Type II cells at the end, and constituted the palisade-shaped nerve endings. The palisade structure in silver impregnated tissues observed by backscattered electron microscopy and X-ray analyzer was characterized as comprising neuronal elements. Cytochemically, the nerve endings showed cholinesterase and Mg-ATPase activities. They may be involved in the reception of the mechanical stimulation of the hair. The palisade nerve endings thus possessed appropriate 3-dimensional structure as mechanoreceptor. PMID- 2610377 TI - Nerve supply to and the true nature of anterior supracostal muscle: three cases of the anterior supracostal muscle innervated by the external muscular branch of the first intercostal nerve having lateral cutaneous branch. AB - 316 body-halves were examined in order to clarify nerve supply to human anterior supracostal muscle and to reveal the true nature of this particular muscle. 14 body-halves were found to have this muscle. It was innervated by the external muscular branch of the first intercostal nerve having lateral cutaneous branch in 3 out of 14 cases, and by the external muscular branch of the first intercostal nerve lacking lateral cutaneous branch in the remaining 11. As the former 3 cases have not been reported yet, we have examined the anatomy of these muscles in detail, and nerve supply to the anterior supracostal muscle and the true nature of this muscle were discussed in the present study. As a result, it was found that the anterior supracostal muscle is innervated essentially by an element of the components of the external muscular branch, and the muscle is derived from the first external intercostal muscle or rarely from the first and second external intercostal muscles. Moreover, it was inferred that the frequency of occurrence of the anterior supracostal muscle innervated by the intercostal nerve having lateral cutaneous branch is very low. PMID- 2610378 TI - Neural tube defects in early rat embryos following maternal treatment with ethanol and caffeine. AB - Alcohol and caffeine consumption during pregnancy are risk factors for fetal outcome. Their combined effects on the early development of the central nervous system were investigated in the rat. Neuralation was severely affected, resulting in a wide spectrum of developmental defects. PMID- 2610379 TI - Action of laser light on the ocular development of chick embryos. AB - The effects of low-power 632.8 nm coherent light (laser) on the ocular development of chick embryos were studied in stages 10-20 (Hamburger-Hamilton). Irradiation zones were located in the optic vesicles and the mesencephalo diencephalic border region. A total number of 30 embryos were irradiated and the morphological alterations 48 to 96 h after irradiation were described. Teratogenic alterations observed were divided in 4 groups: 1) anophthalmic, 2) microphthalmic, 3) abnormal localization of the crystalline lens and 4) folded retina. PMID- 2610380 TI - Quantitative study of the heart in human embryo at 17 mm C-R (stade 19). AB - The heart of 3 human embryos at 17 mm C-R (stade 19) was studied by means of light microscopy and quantitative methods. The serial sections of the embryos were projected for the measurement of the cardiac diameters and cardiac profile areas (point-counting planimetry). The calculated heart volume for each embryo was 7.92; 19.39 and 7.84 mm3 respectively. These data were compared with the data of our precedent works in stages 17 and 18, and can be considered an accessory index for embryonic classification. PMID- 2610381 TI - The cardiac, oxyntic and pyloric glands in the developing opossum (Didelphis virginiana). AB - In the opossum the fundic area of the gastric mucosa develops first, and oxyntic glands show early division into gastric pits and glandular components which then grow simultaneously. At 40 d postnatum the oxyntic glands are longer than the gastric pits but in the pyloric glands the pits still are longer than the glands and it is not until the 73rd postnatal day, that pyloric glands are longer than their pits. Development of the cardiac glands is delayed even more and the length of the gland does not surpass that of the pit until about 95 d postnatum. Argyrophil cells are concentrated in the cardia and fundus at birth and during early postnatal life, but the population of these cells shifts to the pylorus in the adult. Argyrophil cells of the cardiac, oxyntic and pyloric glands are concentrated in glandular regions with the highest mitotic activity. PMID- 2610382 TI - Autonomic denervation effects on the kallikrein and striated duct cells of the rat and cat submandibular glands. AB - Chronic preganglionic parasympathetic denervation in the rat submandibular gland increases kallikrein activity whereas post ganglionic sympathetic denervation has no effect. Ultrastructural morphology of the striated duct following either denervation remains unaltered. Chronic preganglionic parasympathetic denervation in the cat gland dramatically reduces kallikrein activity and causes disruption and disappearance of subcellular organelles. Chronic sympathetic denervation has no effect. PMID- 2610383 TI - Changes in the synapses of rat hippocampus following pre- and postnatal alcohol exposure. AB - Quantitative and qualitative changes in the synapses in stratum lacunosum moleculare of rat hippocampus following pre- and postnatal alcohol exposure were studied. Dense and lamellar bodies, damaged mitochondria, autophagic vacuoles and dilatated cisterns of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum were seen in axons and dendrites. The enlarged glial processes were also found. The area and the vesicle number of presynaptic terminals were decreased in CA1 and CA3 hippocampal fields, while the vesicle number per area of synaptic contact zones (SCZ) was decreased only in field CA3. The relative and absolute lengths of the SCZ, the total length and total surface of the SCZ were quite differently changed in both fields. The synaptic density was insignificantly increased. The synaptic changes are thought to be due to the impaired development of the pyramidal cell dendrites in the hippocampus and their afferents. PMID- 2610384 TI - The anomalous origin of the circumflex artery (ramus circumflexus) in the right aortic sinus: a case study. AB - The anomalous origin of the circumflex artery in the right aortic sinus was recognized in one out of 123 human hearts. Its independent ostium, located below the valve 2.5 mm behind the ostium of the right coronary artery, and 3.0 mm in front of the dorsal attachment of the sigmoid valve. It follows a retro-aortic course and its terminal distribution is exiguous, compensated by a coronary pattern of right predominance. There are no associated cardiac anomalies. Finally, this knowledge is shown to be important in coronary arteriographic interpretation, in addition to having anatomical-surgical relevance in valve replacement. PMID- 2610385 TI - Expression of cholinergic markers in transplants of immature mouse neocortex into adult mouse parietal cortex. AB - Cerebral cortex of embryonic and newborn mouse was removed and transplanted into adult mouse neocortex to investigate whether the development of cholinergic markers would proceed normally after transplantation. It is shown that both AChE and muscarinic receptors developed in transplanted mouse neocortex. However, while muscarinic receptor binding increased to adult levels in transplants from both pre- and postnatal donors AChE staining intensity only achieved adult levels in tissue from postnatal donors. These results are in accordance with the normal developmental time course of the two different cholinergic markers, since muscarinic receptors appear prenatally in cortex while AChE becomes histochemically detectable after birth. These data suggest that the prenatal donor tissue, unlike the postnatal transplants, lacks an environmental signal for the appearance of AChE stained elements, that is, presumably host AChE fiber ingrowth. Transplantation of immature donor CNS tissue into adult host thus appears to be a useful paradigm to study the regulation of differentiation processes. PMID- 2610386 TI - Primary cilia associated with striated rootlets in granulated and folliculo stellate cells of the avian adenohypophysis. AB - During observation of the ultrastructure of adenohypophyses of normal and experimentally-manipulated quails, primary cilia were found in secretory cells as well as in non-granulated, folliculo-stellate cells of both cephalic and caudal lobes of the gland. These solitary cilia shared morphological characteristics with those observed in other cell types and species, i.e. they arose from a basal body, which basically had a centriolar structure and 9 doublets of microtubules and no central tubules in their axoneme. A 8 + 1 arrangement of microtubules was exceptionally observed. A 9 + 2 pattern, which is commonly described in motile cilia, was never found. The cilia extended in extracellular spaces between secretory cells, but not in the follicular cavities nor in the blood vessels. In addition to the basal body, a single centriole was frequently present in its vicinity. The basal body was often associated with a basal foot or satellite from which microtubules radiated, and with ladderlike structures corresponding to the classical description of striated rootlets. The presumptive roles of primary cilia in general, and of their morphological features in particular, are discussed in view of our results and compared to the several observations reported in mammalian adenohypophyses. As the evidence gained in favour of a given function of primary cilia has, so far, always been circumstantial, extreme caution in interpretation must be exercise. PMID- 2610387 TI - The hyaloid vascular system of the pig. A light and scanning electron microscopic study. AB - The hyaloid vascular system of the pig was studied from 4 weeks of gestation until 2 weeks after birth by means of semithin sections and vascular corrosion casts. The vascular tunic of the lens is supplied by the posterior lens branches of the hyaloid artery (at the posterior lens pole), by the intermediate lens branches of the proper hyaloid arteries (at the lens equator) and by the anterior lens branches of the radial iridial arteries (at the anterior lens pole). Venous drainage takes place via the venous lens branches which leave the lens anteriorly and drain into the radial iridial veins. Regression of the vascular tunic of the lens occurs during the second half of fetal life and is nearly completed in the first postnatal days. The involution first affects the proper hyaloid arteries and their intermediate lens branches. Subsequently, the posterior lens branches regress, whereas the anterior lens branches in the pupillary membrane disappear in the perinatal period only. PMID- 2610388 TI - The control of directed myogenic cell migration in the avian limb bud. AB - Interspecific grafting experiments between chick and quail embryos were carried out in order to investigate the mechanism controlling myogenic cell migration in the avian limb bud. In six series, various experimental set-ups were prepared involving different age combinations of donor and host. The migration of the myogenic cells contained in the quail donor could be traced due to the prominent perinucleolar heterochromatin of the quail nucleus. Irrespectively of the presence or absence of the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), myogenic cells were found to migrate distally when implanted at a more distal site or into a younger host. They were even found to migrate in the reverse direction when younger host tissue was located proximal to the graft. From these findings, we conclude that the state of differentiation ("juvenility") of the limb bud mesenchyme controls the directed migration of myogenic cells. PMID- 2610389 TI - The distribution of cell surface glycoconjugates during mouse secondary neurulation. AB - During secondary neurulation in the mouse, the neural tube develops from the tail bud by caudal extension of the primary neurocoele. The mesenchymal cells of the tail bud become radially arranged around the neurocoele and undergo a mesenchymal to epithelial transformation to form a neuroepithelium. In order to study the expression of glycoconjugates during the morphogenesis of the secondary neural tube, 14 lectins were applied to serial sections of tail buds at various stages of development. In general, binding was fairly homogeneous during the early stages of tail bud development. However, as development progressed, several lectins became localized to specific structures. The changes were observed to parallel the ongoing development of the secondary neuraxis. sWGA, which is N acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) specific, bound mainly to the luminal surface of the secondary neurocoele and to a lesser extent, the notochord. WGA, which has both GlcNAc and sialic acid specificities, showed most intense binding at the luminal and abluminal surfaces of the secondary neurocoele. Binding by the lectin PNA was restricted to the extracellular matrix around the developing secondary neural tube. A comparison of the lectin binding patterns in mouse with those previously reported in chick, demonstrates a less elaborate pattern of lectin binding in murine embryos. This may suggest a less complex expression of glycoconjugates in rodents, in keeping with their comparatively simpler mechanism of secondary neurulation. PMID- 2610390 TI - The morphogenesis of human sphincter urethrae muscle. AB - The morphogenesis of the sphincter urethrae muscle was studied in human ontogeny. Muscles of 65 embryos and fetuses, 7 newborns, 3 children and 3 adults of both sexes were examined histologically and by means of microdissection. Three developmental stages can be recognized in terms of morphogenetic events, histogenesis and development of sexual dimorphism. In the sexually indifferent stage (up to approximately 50 mm crown-rump length), the sphincter urethrae primordium is formed by a shallow arch apposed only to the ventrolateral wall of the urethra. The primordium extends from the level of the urogenital diaphragm up to the vesicourethral transition. It consists of a condensation of mononuclear cells. Myotubes appear in fetuses of 30 mm crown-rump length. During the second stage (until birth) sexual dimorphism develops in conjunction to the formation of the prostate and vagina. In this stage, the sphincter urethrae muscle fibres gradually extend to the posterior wall of the urethra. At the same time cranially situated muscle fibres project to the lateral wall of the prostate, whereas in females caudally located muscle fibres attach to the lateral wall of the vagina. In this way the sphincter achieves the sexually distinct form. The definitive arrangement develops in the third morphogenic stage (after birth), in which a complete muscle ring is formed by encircling the urethra in the infraprostatic part in males and in the upper, larger part of the sphincter in females. The sphincter urethrae muscle is located inside the sling of the puborectalis muscle in both sexes, but no muscle fibres connect them to one another.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610391 TI - A Golgi deimpregnation study of neurons in the rhesus monkey visual cortex (areas 17 and 18). AB - The morphological features of 298 neurons impregnated according to Golgi-Kopsch in areas 17 and 18 of Macaca mulatta were analyzed, and the same neurons were deimpregnated to visualize structural details of the somata in different types of neurons. The following cell types were investigated: Pyramidal and pyramid-like cells, spiny stellate cells, double bouquet cells, bipolar cells, chandelier cells, neurogliaform cells, basket and related cells. This procedure allows the evaluation of the nuclear-cytoplasmic proportion and the position of the nucleus besides shape and size of the cell body. Pyramidal and pyramid-like cells (N = 43), spiny stellate cells (N = 26), basket and related cells (N = 126) are variable in these features. A positive correlation between soma size and width of the cytoplasm is found in pyramidal, pyramid-like cells and spiny stellate cells. With the exception of some large somata in both these types of neurons the nucleus is found in a central position. Double bouquet cells (N = 6), bipolar cells (N = 13) and chandelier cells (N = 11) exhibit small cytoplasmic rims and centrally located nuclei. The small somata of neurogliaform cells (N = 37), however, and the small to very large somata of basket and related cells show broad cytoplasmic portions surrounding the eccentrically located nuclei. These findings allow the identification of different neuronal types in Nissl-stained sections on the basis of these soma features. This is a prerequisite for further detailed quantitative studies on the laminar distribution of different neuronal types in the visual cortex of the monkey. PMID- 2610392 TI - [Determination of the steno-occlusive degree using non-invasive methods in diabetic patients with peripheral arterial insufficiency]. AB - 58 diabetic patients with peripheric arteriopathy are studied by means of segmentary pressure and oscillometry. Best results for proximal levels were those obtained with segmentary pressure index, whereas oscillometry was better for distal level (ankle and foot). The application of these criteria would facilitate the detection of arterial occlusions without need arteriography. PMID- 2610393 TI - [Hypertensive phleboarthrosic syndrome of menopause]. AB - A frequent syndrome observed in Angiology, constituted by phlebopathy, joint degeneration, arterial hypertension and menopause, is presented. Clinics and therapeutics are commented on. PMID- 2610394 TI - [Intra-thoracic aneurysm of the right subclavian artery]. AB - The aneurysm of subclavian artery is uncommon, and its differential diagnosis is posed with other mediastinal expansive processes in a conventional RX level. A case of right subclavian aneurysm is presented. PMID- 2610395 TI - [A by-pass to the internal jugular. An original method to salvage a dysfunctional vascular prosthesis in the arm for hemodialysis]. AB - A case of PTFE straight prosthesis in arm, causing an ipsilateral subclavian vein thrombosis, is presented. An original method of treatment (by-pass to internal jugular) allowed to save the vascular access for hemodialysis. PMID- 2610396 TI - [Compression of the iliac vein and occult neoplasm]. AB - Three cases demonstrating the possible venous system compression by some neoplasias, feigning an nonexistent thrombosis, are presented. Author stands out the fitness of to investigate possible neoplasias in thrombosis without apparent causality. PMID- 2610397 TI - [Post-amputation pain in patients with vascular diseases: clinical characteristics]. AB - On the base of a study performed on 34 patients who underwent an amputation since 1981 to 1987, we evaluated the incidence of postamputation syndromes such as phantom limb, phantom pain, stump pain analyzing their variations during 6 years. The patients were divided in 6 groups according to the time gone by from the date of operation. The results reveals a not significant decrease of incidence of postamputation syndromes even though their frequency and intensity show a relative improvement. PMID- 2610398 TI - [Ruptured mycotic aneurysm of the femoral artery]. AB - After several commentaries about mycotic aneurysms related to drug addicts, author exposes the case of a young man attached to heroin, presenting a ruptured femoral mycotic aneurysm, surgically treated. Surgery in these cases is commented on. PMID- 2610399 TI - [The course of varicose disease. Parallel retrospective study of 2 ethnic groups (Catania-Basel)]. AB - Authors presents a retrospective study with two different ethnic groups, one of them from Catania and the other from Basilea, with varicose veins and subjected to a saphenectomy. They studies the following parameters: age at the entrance, and when varicose veins appeared; correlation between varix appearance date and subjective symptomatology; and rapport between varix complications and its duration. The possible incidence of "ambiental factor" and contrasts between the two groups are considered. PMID- 2610400 TI - [Relation of social support, stress level and intermittent claudication]. AB - The possible action, as risk factor of peripheral arteriosclerosis, of the emotional stress; the effect of the social support to deaden this stress, and some aspects of the personality as fundamental regulator of the individual behaviour, are analyzed. 23 atherosclerotic patients, II degree, were valued and compared with a control group of the same age and sex. PMID- 2610401 TI - [Loco-regional fibrinolysis with urokinase in the treatment of deep venous thromboses]. AB - The importance of the fibrinolytic treatment in deep venous thrombosis, to avoid the mortal pulmonary embolism, among other complications, is commented on. The results in 32 patients, presenting deep venous thrombosis and treated with loco regional Urokinase, are presented. Author carries out some commentaries about surgical and medical treatment. PMID- 2610402 TI - Cloning of the bovine major histocompatibility complex class II genes. AB - Class II genes of the bovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) have been cloned from a genomic library. The library was constructed in the bacteriophage lambda vector EMBL3 and comprises approximately 10 times the equivalent of the haploid genome. Half the library was screened with the human DQA, DQB, DRA and DRB cDNA probes. Of the 100 positively hybridizing phage clones, 37 were eventually fully characterized and mapped by means of Southern blot analysis. The exons encoding the first, second and transmembrane domain of all different A and B genes were subcloned and mapped in more detail. These analyses showed that these 37 clones were derived from five different A and 10 different B genes. The hybridization studies indicate that we have cloned and mapped two DQA genes, one DRA gene, two other A genes, four DQB genes, three DRB genes and three other B genes. Since the library was made from a heterozygous animal, this would suggest that there are at least one DQA, one DRA one other undefined A, two DQB, two DRB and one or two other undefined B genes in the haploid genome of Holstein Friesian cattle. PMID- 2610403 TI - Blood groups and biochemical polymorphism in the Namaqua sheep breed. AB - The Namaqua is an indigenous fat-tailed African breed of sheep which has remained relatively isolated and which at one time dwindled to near extinction. Frequency data are given for blood group antigens, red cell glutathione and potassium types, for electrophoretic variants of red cell haemoglobin, 'X' protein, nucleoside phosphorylase, NADH-diaphorase, lysine and carbonic anhydrase and of plasma esterase, transferrin and albumin. Of particular interest was the occurrence of the i blood group, a bimodal distribution in red cell glutathione concentrations and red cell potassium concentrations of around 57 mmol/l cells, i.e. neither typically LK nor HK type. PMID- 2610404 TI - Genetic variants of phosvitin in egg yolk of the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica. AB - Phosvitin polymorphism in egg yolk of the Japanese quail was found by horizontal polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Six phenotypes of yolk phosvitin designated A, B, C, AB, AC, and BC were observed in a population of 281 birds. Analysis of family data revealed that the phenotypic variation of quail yolk phosvitins was controlled by an autosomal Pv locus with three codominant alleles, Pva, Pvb and Pvc. The gene frequencies of Pva, Pvb and Pvc were 0.064, 0.824 and 0.112, respectively. PMID- 2610405 TI - Plasma alpha-protease inhibitors in Norwegian Landrace and Czech Landrace pigs. AB - The studies on alpha-protease inhibitors systems, controlled by four tightly linked loci, were performed within 159 families of Norwegian Landrace (NL) and 40 families of Czech Landrace (CL) pigs. Significant differences in allele and haplotype frequencies between the two breeds were shown. The SE-F and SSsS haplotypes (Pi1, Po1A, Po1B, Pi2 loci) appeared to be the most frequent haplotypes in NL and CL breeds respectively. This system of blood plasma proteins can be very useful for studying the relationship between breeds. PMID- 2610406 TI - Linkage between the loci for transferrin and ceruloplasmin in pigs. AB - Evidence for genetic linkage between the loci for transferrin (Tf) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) in pigs was presented. The results were based on a study of a single sire family comprising 35 informative offspring. No recombinants were observed. The recombination frequency was estimated to be in the range of 0 to 8%. This indicated that the recombination frequency between Tf and Cp loci in pigs may be much lower than that reported previously between these two loci in cattle and in human. PMID- 2610407 TI - Polymorphism in porcine somatotropin cDNA sequences. AB - Three new full-length cDNAs coding for porcine somatotropin (PST) have been cloned. The sequence data indicate a high degree of polymorphism in the PST sequence. All six known PST sequences are different. PMID- 2610408 TI - 21st International Conference on Animal Blood Groups and Biochemical Polymorphisms. Turin, Italy, 4-8 July 1988. Invited papers. PMID- 2610409 TI - Use of transgenic animals in livestock improvement. PMID- 2610410 TI - Strategies for the development of a bovine gene map. PMID- 2610411 TI - Molecular genetics of the human HLA complex, including evolutionary aspects. PMID- 2610412 TI - MHC restriction and cytotoxic T cells in East Coast fever. PMID- 2610413 TI - Isoelectric focusing in immobilized pH gradients in studies of biochemical polymorphism. PMID- 2610414 TI - Growth factor receptors and class 1 oncogenes in cancer. PMID- 2610416 TI - Recent advances in impedance cardiography. PMID- 2610415 TI - [Assay of total mercury in blood, plasma and erythrocytes by emission spectrometry-induced plasma HF (SEPIHF)]. AB - The mercury quantification in blood can be performed by ICPAES after dilution in an ammonia buffer and reduction by sodium borohydride. The proposed method does not need mineralization. The sample is not nebulized in the torch but the mercury vapor, after collection in a reactor vial, is swept into the plasma by the carrier gas (argon) using the described glass apparatus, and quantified at lambda = 253.65 nm. PMID- 2610417 TI - On the source of peak first time derivative (dZ/dt) during impedance cardiography. AB - This paper deals primarily with the timing and source of peak (dZ/dt). In observations on human volunteers and anesthetized dogs, the peak (dZ/dt) occurred during the rapid ejection phase of the ventricles. Evidence is presented that the ascending aorta is the source of peak (dZ/dt). PMID- 2610418 TI - Electric properties of flowing blood and impedance cardiography. AB - An effective resistivity is defined for axisymmetric flow through a circular tube with a uniform electric field in the longitudinal direction. The resistivity of flowing blood is found to be a function of the shear rate profile. Under axisymmetric conditions shear rate profiles are a function of a single parameter: the reduced average velocity, which is the average velocity divided by the radius of the tube. The resistivity of human blood was investigated while the blood was in laminar flow in a circular tube with different constant flow rates. The relative change in resistivity in % is given by: -0.45.H.(1 - exp[ 0.26.((v)/R)0.39]); where H is the packed cell volume in % and (v)/R is the reduced average velocity in s-1. In accelerating flow the resistivity change is synchronous with the change in flow rate, but in decelerating flow there is an exponential decay characterized by a relaxation time tau. For packed cell volumes of 36.4% and 47.5% tau was estimated to be 0.21 s, for a packed cell volume of 53.7% tau was estimated to be 0.29 s. The resistivity changes in elastic tubes are influenced by both velocity changes and changes in diameter, but in opposite directions. PMID- 2610419 TI - Simultaneous measurement of stroke volume by impedance cardiography and nuclear ventriculography: comparisons at rest and exercise. AB - We have conducted four major impedance cardiography (ZCG) studies to provide data on validity, reproducibility, and sensitivity of response to interventions. The reference technique was quantitative nuclear ventriculography (NVG). Subjects were healthy young men in situations where minimally invasive and unobtrusive techniques were preferred. Interventions used included caffeine ingestion and exercise. Validity of ZCG estimates of stroke volume index (SVI, ml/m2) was tested in 35 men at rest. SVI was 49 +/- 9 by ZCG and 46 +/- 7 by NVG (r = 0.82). Measurements of SVI during bicycle exercise showed no overall difference by the two methods (F = 0.26, P = NS). Vascular resistance index (mean BP/CI) increased comparably by both techniques (+9.6% by ZCG and +9.7% by NVG) following caffeine (3.3 mg/kg). The reproducibility of ZCG was demonstrated in the day-to-day consistency of caffeine's effect on vascular resistance in 3 other studies (+11.9%, 12%, and 8.9%). Reliability across and within days was shown by repeated tests in the same subjects (SVI, r's = .96, .92). CONCLUSION: Impedance cardiography was shown to be a useful noninvasive technique for evaluation of cardiodynamics in biomedical research since it was highly reproducible and yielded equivalent results of relative changes produced by pharmacological and physical challenge. In addition, there was good agreement with NVG in absolute values for grouped data. PMID- 2610420 TI - The current status and future directions of impedance cardiography in ICU. AB - Impedance cardiography has not achieved popularity in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to date probably because of the limitations in technique and interpretation associated with the altered physiology of critically ill patients, and also because of interference from other machinery in the ICU. The current climate of questioning the existing technology for bedside cardiovascular assessment however spurs the need to evaluate impedance cardiography as a noninvasive alternative. Validation in noncritically ill patients is good when compared to other technologies (e.g., thermodilution, Fick, dye dilution (r greater than 0.9)). Reliability is good with a coefficient of variation in an ICU population of 8.9%, (compared to 18.6% for thermodilution). It has also shown promise in detecting the clinically significant changes of central intravascular volume. Impedance cardiography appears to be useful for measurement of stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF). From these, left ventricular end-diastolic volume (VED) can be calculated, probably a more reliable estimate of left ventricular filling than pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PW), measured by pulmonary artery (PA) catheter. In addition, VES can be calculated and with the knowledge of left ventricular end-systolic pressure (PES) (from invasive arterial monitoring), an end-systolic pressure-volume (ES-PV) relationship can be derived. This is thought to be a measure of contractility that is independent of preload and afterload. The ultimate test in the ICU for impedance cardiography is whether clinical outcome of critically ill patients is altered by the use of this technology. Such outcome testing is essential before the true value of impedance cardiography in the management of critically ill patients can be determined. PMID- 2610421 TI - Comparison of two impedance cardiographic techniques for measuring cardiac output. AB - The purpose of the present study was to compare cardiac outputs obtained by both the Kubicek (MIC) and Sramek (NCCOM3) impedance cardiographic techniques with thermodilution (TD) in critically ill patients. The two impedance techniques were also compared in normal subjects. Seven healthy subjects and ten patients in the intensive care unit were enlisted in the study. Only those subjects with successful measurements by all three methods were used in the data analysis. Three measurements of cardiac output were made in each subject. In patients, there were no significant differences in cardiac outputs as measured by TD (6.61/min), MIC (6.3 1/min), NCCOM3 (6.4 1/min). MIC and NCCOM3 cardiac outputs were correlated and approximated the line of identify when compared to TD. In normals, however, the NCCOM3 overestimated the cardiac output (NCCOM3, 9.2 1/min; MIC, 6.2 1/min). Because of these inconsistent results, caution is urged when interpreting the values obtained by the NCCOM3. In contrast, the use of the MIC in both populations has been reaffirmed. PMID- 2610422 TI - Impedance-derived cardiac indices in supine and upright exercise. AB - Impedance cardiography was used to determine the classical systolic time intervals (STI's) (i.e., pre-ejection period (PEP), left ventricular ejection time (LVET) and the quotient PEP/LVET), in young, healthy, male subjects during supine and seated exercise. With increasing exercise, there was a tendency toward decreases in PEP, LVET, and PEP/LVET. In the seated position, there was an increase in transthoracic Zo incident to the caudal migration of thoracic blood- a result of the postural change. With seated exercise, there were--in contrast to supine exercise-greater decreases in PEP/LVET and greater increases in the Heather index. Similarly, there was a tendency toward increases in dZ/dtmin and the Rapid Ejection Index. We suggest that these differences are related to increased myocardial contractility resulting from the postural augmentation of cardio-sympathetic activity, added to that of exercise per se. This study, as well as previous ones, indicates that impedance cardiography is reliable, effective, and more practicable than the arteriographic method for monitoring STI's. We also believe that certain impedance-derived indices (i.e., transthoracic Zo, dZ/dtmin and the Heather Index) have considerable potential value for physiologic and clinical investigation. PMID- 2610423 TI - New signal processing techniques for improved precision of noninvasive impedance cardiography. AB - Impedance cardiographic determination of clinically important cardiac parameters such as systolic time intervals, stroke volume, and related cardiovascular parameters has not yet found adequate application in clinical practice, since its theoretical basis remains controversial, and the precision of beat-to-beat parameter estimation has until recently suffered under severe shortcomings of available signal processing techniques. High levels of noise and motion artifacts deteriorate signal quality and result in poor event detection. To improve the precision of impedance cardiography, new techniques for event detection and parameter estimation have been developed. Specifically, matched filtering and various signal segmentation and decomposition techniques have been tested on impedance signals with various levels of artificially superimposed noise and on actual recordings from subjects in a laboratory study of cardiovascular response to a cognitive challenge. Substantial improvement in the precision of impedance cardiography was obtained using the newly developed signal processing techniques. In addition, some preliminary evidence from comparisons of the impedance cardiogram with invasive aortic electromagnetic flow measurement in anesthetized rabbits is presented to address questions relating to the origin of the impedance signal. PMID- 2610424 TI - An impedance cardiography system: a new design. AB - An IBM compatible impedance cardiac output monitoring prototype system has been developed for use at the bedside on patients in the ICU, CCU, ER, Cath. Lab, and OR, etc. This impedance cardiographic (ICG) system, whose operation is completely technician-free, provides a continuous display with digital results and four channel color waveforms on an Enhanced Graphics Display screen. The software is written in C language with several special segments in assembly code where speed is essential. In this prototype system, a real-time algorithm was introduced to modify the ensemble averaging technique so that it averages nonperiodic signals such as: ECG, dZ/dT, delta Z, etc. Also, a real-time algorithm was developed to adaptively detect R spikes from conventional ECG signals. A signal preprocessor was developed to process signals digitally before any further work is done. This procedure reduces muscle noise, 60 Hz interference, and ventilatory movement. A special digital filter was designed to cope with the cases in which pacemakers are used. A special algorithm was also developed to further reduce the ventilation artifacts so that a period of apnea is unnecessary during the performance of the measurements. An anatomically specified electrode configuration has been defined enabling precise and reproducible positioning of the electrodes--hopefully leading to electrode standardization. At the present time, this prototype system has been compared with standard hand calculation and correlated with the clinical "gold standard," the Swan-Ganz thermodilution cardiac output. Using 144 sets of data from 10 healthy volunteers, 4 critically ill patients, and 8 healthy exercising volunteers, calculations of cardiac output were made using our system and the standard hand calculation of stroke volume, based upon Kubicek's equation; there was a relatively high and stable correlation: r = 0.93, p less than 0.005 (healthy); r = 0.94, p less than 0.002 (ill), r = 0.95, p less than 0.002 (exercise). From 20 patients at two different hospitals all with Swan-Ganz catheters in their hearts, 65 correlation studies between our system and the standard thermodilution technique were performed; the results were encouraging in terms of accuracy and consistency (r1 = 0.84, p less than 0.01, n = 10 CCU patients), and (r2 = 0.93, p less than 0.01, n = ICU patients). These results along with a growing body of data from other investigators indicate that this noninvasive and technician-free system for measuring cardiac output could have a significant role in patient care. PMID- 2610425 TI - Effect of vaccination with a pentavalent leptospiral vaccine containing Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis on type hardjo-bovis infection of cattle. AB - Effectiveness of 2 pentavalent leptospiral vaccines containing Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo was evaluated for protection of steers from infection with serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis. The hardjo component of 1 vaccine was prepared from serovar hardjo type hardjoprajitno. The hardjo component of the other vaccine was prepared from serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis. Two steers were vaccinated once and 4 steers were vaccinated twice with the pentavalent vaccine containing type hardjoprajitno. Four steers were vaccinated once and 4 steers were vaccinated twice with the pentavalent vaccine containing type hardjo-bovis. Four steers were maintained as non-vaccinated controls. Steers given vaccine containing type hardjo-bovis developed higher mean serum microscopic agglutination titers against serovar hardjo than steers given vaccine containing hardjoprajitno. Six months after the first vaccination, all steers were challenge exposed on 3 occasions by conjunctival instillation of 10(7) serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis organisms, and on 1 occasion by conjunctival instillation of urine from a steer shedding hardjo-bovis. All control and all vaccinated steers became infected and shed serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis in the urine. Lesions were detected in kidneys of 3 of 4 nonvaccinated control steers, 5 of 6 steers given hardjoprajitno vaccine, and 6 of 8 steers given hardjo-bovis vaccine. Leptospires were detected in kidneys of 4 of 4 control steers and 13 of 14 vaccinated steers. PMID- 2610426 TI - Comparison of the effect of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, corticosteroids, and sodium hyaluronate in the potentiation of a subinfective dose of Staphylococcus aureus in the midcarpal joint of horses. AB - Four groups of 8 horses each had 1 midcarpal joint injected with 33 colony forming units (CFU) of viable Staphylococcus aureus plus: 1 ml of saline solution (group 1, control), 250 mg of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG, group 2), 100 mg of methylprednisolone acetate (group 3), or 20 mg of sodium hyaulronate (group 4). Horses were euthanatized, and samples were obtained on the basis of clinical signs of septic arthritis that were nonresponsive to phenylbutazone administration. One group-1 horse, all 8 group-2 horses, 3 group-3 horses, and 4 group-4 horses were culture-positive for S aureus and had clinical signs, results of synovial fluid analysis, and histopathologic findings that were consistent with sepsis. The addition of 250 mg of PSGAG increased the development of sepsis significantly (P = 0.001), compared with results in control horses. Differences in the development of sepsis between horses injected with methylprednisolone acetate or sodium hyaluronate and control horses were not significant. PMID- 2610427 TI - Further investigations into the potentiation of infection by intra-articular injection of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan and the effect of filtration and intra-articular injection of amikacin. AB - Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG) recently have been reported to potentiate the infectivity of Staphylococcus aureus in horses with experimentally induced septic arthritis. Four groups of 8 horses each had 1 midcarpal joint injected with approximately 33 viable colony-forming units (CFU) of S aureus plus either 1 ml of saline solution (group 1), 250 mg of PSGAG (group 2), 250 mg of PSGAG passed through a 0.6-microns filter (group 3), or 250 mg of PSGAG plus 125 mg of amikacin (group 4). Horses that developed clinical signs consistent with sepsis were euthanatized, and samples were collected at necropsy. Horses that survived had samples obtained by use of arthroscopy at days 13 and 14 after injection. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 1 group-1 horse, 8 group-2 horses, and 7 of 7 group-3 horses that met protocol, but was not isolated from any group-4 horses. All 16 aforementioned horses had clinical signs, results of synovial fluid analysis, and gross pathologic and synovial membrane histopathologic findings that were consistent with septic arthritis. Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (250 mg) increased the infectivity of 33 CFU of S aureus (P = 0.001); filtering the PSGAG had no effect. Intra-articular injection of 125 mg of amikacin immediately after inoculating the joint with 33 CFU of S aureus significantly (P = 0.001) decreased potentiation of infection by the PSGAG. PMID- 2610428 TI - Infectivity and antigenicity of Anaplasma marginale from tick cell culture. AB - The infectivity and immunogenicity of Anaplasma marginale grown in a tick cell culture from embryonic Dermacentor variabilis ticks were assessed in splenectomized and intact calves, respectively. Culture 1 consisted of the cell line inoculated with midguts of adult ticks infected with the Mississippi isolate of A marginale and dissected 5 to 10 days after repletion and detachment from an experimentally infected calf. Cultures 2 and 3 consisted of the cell line inoculated with midguts of ticks infected with the Virginia isolate of the organism. Inoculum for culture 2 was derived from nymphal ticks dissected 5 to 10 days after repletion and detachment from the infected calf; inoculum for culture 3 was midguts from adult ticks that were fed as nymphs, allowed to molt in the laboratory and dissected 21 to 24 days after molting. In trial 1, cultures 1, 2, and 3 were maintained at pH 6.9 and incubated at 28 C; in trial 2, cultures 1 and 3 were maintained at pH 7.4 and incubated at either 28 C or 37 C. Cultures 1, 2, and 3 failed to induce infection when injected IV and SC into 6 calves in 2 separate trials. Pre-challenge sera from these calves reacted with 2 purified Anaplasma antigens in the ELISA, but failed to react in the complement-fixation test. Results of a trial to use cultures 1 and 3 in combination with an oil-in water adjuvant to immunize intact calves against A marginale were inconclusive. However, pre-challenge sera from immunized calves reacted with the 2 purified Anaplasma initial body antigens in the ELISA but failed to react in the complement-fixation text.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610429 TI - Serum biochemical indicators of liver function in neonatal foals. AB - Serum biochemical indicators of liver function were determined in healthy, age matched foals during the first 270 days of life. Values were compared with those of healthy adult horses and with those determined on the day of birth (less than 12 hours old). Serum alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and L iditol dehydrogenase activities were increased during the first 2 weeks of life. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and total and unconjugated bilirubin concentrations peaked during this same period. During the early neonatal period (less than 12 hours old), globulin concentrations (mainly beta 2 and gamma fractions) were low and albumin/globulin ratios were high. However, individual values for all analytes were varied. PMID- 2610430 TI - Cytologic and bacteriologic evaluation of tracheobronchial aspirates from clinically normal foals. AB - Thirty-eight tracheobronchial aspirates (TBA) were collected from twenty 1 to 6 month-old foals, which were free of clinical signs of respiratory tract or other infectious disease. We collected TBA from 9 of the foals 3 times when they were approximately 8, 16, and 24 weeks old. Aspirates were examined cytologically after staining with modified Wright-Giemsa, Gram, toluidine blue, and prussian blue stains. Aerobic bacterial culturing was performed on all aspirates. Of the 20 initial TBA, 4 (20%) were normal cytologically on the basis of previously defined criteria for TBA from clinically normal horses, 6 (30%) had a high percentage of eosinophils (greater than 5%), 8 (40%) were classified as indicative of subacute inflammation, and 2 (10%) were classified as indicative of acute inflammation. Nine (45%) were positive for mast cells and none were positive for hemosiderin-laden macrophages (hemosiderophages). Of the 9 foals from which samples were collected at 16 and 24 weeks of age, results were similar, except for an increase in the number of TBA classified as indicative of chronic inflammation (33% and 22% respectively) and the number positive for hemosiderophages (33% and 88%, respectively). One TBA was considered nondiagnostic because of pharyngeal contamination. Culturing of 12 of the 37 aspirates (32%) yielded a potential microbial pathogen. Only 2 were positive cultures from the same foal. The following organisms were isolated: beta hemolytic Streptococci spp (4), Actinobacillus/Pasteurella spp (4), Rhodococcus equi (2), unidentified nonenteric Gram-negative rod (1), and Escherichia coli (1). Thirty-four of the 37 aspirates (92%) yielded light growth of various organisms considered to be nonpathogenic and normal inhabitants of the upper respiratory tract. PMID- 2610431 TI - Reference ranges for hematologic and serum biochemical values in llamas (Lama glama). AB - Hematologic and serum biochemical values were determined in 174 llamas of all age groups and both sexes from ranches in California and Nevada. Compared with hematologic values for horses and cattle, llama erythrocytes were more numerous (10.1 to 17.3 x 10(6)/microliters), but the PCV was lower (25 to 45%) because the smaller elliptical cells pack tighter. The mean corpuscular volume was half that of horses and cattle (22 to 29.5 fl). The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration was higher (38.9 to 46.2 g/dl), and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin slightly lower (9.6 to 12.6 pg). Most serum biochemical values were similar to those of cattle and horses, with the exception of triiodothyronine (48 to 468 ng/dl) and thyroxin (9.8 to 30 micrograms/dl), which are up to 10 times higher than values for other domestic species. PMID- 2610432 TI - Concentration and degree of polymerization of hyaluronate in equine synovial fluid. AB - In addition to its well-known physicochemical properties, hyaluronate (HA) has recently been shown to have important biological and pathophysiologic regulatory effects on granulocytes, monocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, as well as on the healing of wounds and various joint disorders. Many of these effects depend on or are reflected in the concentration and degree of polymerization of HA. Therefore, high-performance liquid chromatography with size-exclusion column was used to characterize the concentration and degree of polymerization of HA in equine synovial fluid (SF). The mean (+/- SD) HA concentration was 0.47 +/- 0.19 mg/ml and there was no difference between control joints and those with positive response to local anesthetic administration (0.61 +/- 0.20 mg/ml vs 0.42 +/- 0.17 mg/ml), suggesting that in horses with acute traumatic synovitis causing lameness, HA concentration in SF cannot be used as a marker for the condition. High-performance liquid chromatograms disclosed considerable variation between horses in the degree of polymerization reflected in the peak area to height ratio (mean +/- SD, 3.207 +/- 0.447; range, 2.229 to 3.915), indicating differences in local synthesis, degradation, or mobilization into lymph of SF HA. In addition, the correlation between SF HA concentration and degree of polymerization was 0.760 (P less than 0.01; linear regression analysis), suggesting that HA concentration and chain length are independently regulated. PMID- 2610433 TI - Microvascular circulation of the ascending colon in horses. AB - Microvascular circulation of the ascending colon in healthy horses was studied using microangiography, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The pelvic flexure with 30 cm of ventral and dorsal colon attached was removed from 14 adult horses immediately after horses were euthanatized. The lumen was flushed with warm water, and this section of the ascending colon was placed in a 37-C bath of isotonic NaCl. In sections from 8 horses, colic vessels were perfused with a radio-opaque medium for microangiography. After angiographic evaluation, tissue sections were prepared for light microscopic observation, using standard histologic methods. In sections from 6 horses, injection replicas were made by perfusing the vessels with 2 types of plastics. The results of microangiography, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy of vascular replicas were correlated, providing a comprehensive documentation of the microvasculature of the ascending colon at the pelvic flexure. Arteries branched from mesenteric colic vessels approximately every 2 cm toward the colonic tissue. Immediately after branching, arterial vessels formed an anastomotic plexus, the colonic rete. However, each branch from the colic vessel eventually continued into the colonic tissue. A second set of vessels originated from the colonic tissue. A second set of vessels originated from the colonic rete and supplied the mesenteric lymph nodes. Arterial vessels penetrated the tunica muscularis into the submucosa 3 to 4 cm toward the antimesenteric border forming a submucosal vascular network. From the submucosal arterioles, branching took place at right angles to supply the mucosal capillaries. Capillaries surrounded the colonic glands and anastomosed at the luminal surface, forming a superficial luminal honeycomb-appearing vascular plexus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610434 TI - Postnatal development of the photoreceptor inner segment of the retina in dogs. AB - In dogs, the retina develops during the postnatal period in a manner similar to that in other animals born with closed eyelids. Photoreceptor inner segments are initially observed as a cytoplasmic bulge protruding sclerad through the external limiting membrane. Outer segment formation begins when a centriole within the inner segment attaches to the distal inner segment cell membrane. A few round mitochondria are observed within the early inner segments. As maturation proceeds, the number of mitochondria within the inner segments increases and the mitochondria elongate, orienting parallel to the long axis of the inner segment. PMID- 2610435 TI - Vitamin E, selenium, and polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activity in tissues from pigs with dietetic microangiopathy (mulberry heart disease). AB - Tissues of 27 pigs with spontaneous dietetic microangiopathy (DM) and of 27 control pigs that died of causes unrelated to vitamin E and selenium (E-Se) deficiency were analyzed for alpha-tocopherol, Se and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations and for glutathione perioxidase (GSH-Px) activity. These variables (except for GSH-Px) also were measured in rations fed to control pigs and pigs with DM. Swine with DM had lower heart and liver alpha-tocopherol concentrations than did control pigs. Heart and kidney Se concentrations and heart and liver PUFA concentrations were similar in pigs of either group. Diets fed to both groups of pigs contained similar content of alpha-tocopherol, Se, oil, and PUFA; alpha-tocopherol and Se concentrations in the diets of both groups of pigs were high. In spite of apparently adequate amount of dietary alpha tocopherol, results indicate that pigs with DM had lower tissue alpha-tocopherol concentration than did control pigs. Spontaneous DM is associated with altered alpha-tocopherol metabolism, but is unrelated to alterations in dietary Se and PUFA contents and tissue Se and PUFA concentrations and GSH-Px activity. PMID- 2610436 TI - Relationship between dietary protein concentration and serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity in dogs. AB - Serum trypsinogen concentration was studied in 6 adult mixed-breed dogs randomly fed diets containing 6.8, 31.4, or 39.7% protein (dry weight) for 3 weeks each. Blood was collected on days 20, 21, and 22 of each feeding period, and serum trypsinogen concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay of trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI). Mean serum TLI concentrations for each dog fed each diet were compared. A significant (P less than 0.05) positive linear relationship (P less than 0.02) was determined between serum TLI concentrations and the percentage of dietary protein. Mean serum TLI concentrations for each dog fed all diets ranged from 5.7 to 20.2 micrograms/L. PMID- 2610437 TI - Effects of ivermectin on control of gastrointestinal nematodes and weight gain in weaner-yearling beef cattle. AB - Four groups of 16 crossbred beef calves were used in evaluating different anthelmintic treatment schedules: group 1 was given ivermectin (IVM) at weaning only (October 31) and grazed on initially safe pasture; group 2 was given IVM at weaning, on January 28, and on April 22, and grazed on contaminated pasture; and group 3 was given IVM at weaning and on April 22, and grazed on contaminated pasture; and group-4 was group treated with fenbendazole (FBZ) at weaning only, with provision for individual salvage treatment, and grazed on contaminated pasture. The investigation was from Oct 31, 1984, to Oct 9, 1985. Initially high fecal egg counts at weaning were more effectively reduced by IVM than by FBZ, and the effect of safe pasture was evident in minimal worm burdens in tracer calves grazed with group-1 cattle during November and least amount of weight loss in group-1 yearlings during winter. Fecal egg counts, pasture larval counts, and plasma pepsinogen concentrations remained low in group 2 after the January treatment. Fecal egg counts of the other groups increased substantially during late winter and spring, but pasture larval counts increased only on group-1 and group-4 pastures. During spring, highest worm burdens were found in group-1 and group-4 tracer calves (grazed in April) and in group-3 and group-4 yearlings (slaughtered in early April). Six cattle of group 4 were salvage treated with FBZ in February and April. Greatest gains were observed from March through June, with group-2 and group-1 cattle gaining the most.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610438 TI - Effects of colostral antibody on susceptibility of calves to Cryptosporidium parvum infection. AB - Effects of colostral antibody on susceptibility of calves to Cryptosporidium parvum infection were examined. Six calves were fed pooled colostrum that contained C parvum antibody, 6 times daily (at 4-hour intervals) for 7 days and then milk replacer for 7 days. Colostrum was obtained from healthy cows or cows inoculated parenterally with C parvum oocysts before parturition. Antibody content was determined in serum and colostrum whey, using an ELISA for anticryptosporidia immunoglobulin. Six calves were fed colostrum from healthy cows 1 time, and then milk replacer 6 times daily for 14 days. On day 1, all calves were challenge exposed with C parvum, PO, and were monitored daily for diarrhea and oocyst shedding. Bovine colostrum containing specific antibody to C parvum, at ELISA titers up to 10,240, was not effective in protecting calves against challenge exposure to C parvum. PMID- 2610439 TI - Efficacy of ivermectin against experimental and natural infections of Gasterophilus spp in ponies. AB - Antiparasitic efficacy of ivermectin against migrating Gasterophilus intestinalis was evaluated in 36 treated and 24 nontreated (n = 12) or vehicle-treated (n = 12) ponies experimentally and naturally infected with G intestinalis and naturally infected with G nasalis. Each pony was experimentally infected with 500 G intestinalis 1st instars in 2 divided doses on days -14 and -7 before treatment. On day 0, ivermectin was administered at the rate of 200 micrograms/kg of body weight by IV (n = 12) or IM injection (n = 12) or given as an oral paste (n = 12). Ponies were euthanatized and necropsied 21 days after treatment. In each nontreated or vehicle-treated pony, late 1st-, 1st- to 2nd- instar molt, and early 2nd-instars of G intestinalis were found in the mouth, and 2nd- and 3rd instars of G intestinalis and 3rd instars of G nasalis were found in the stomach. Bots were not found in any ivermectin-treated pony and, thus, ivermectin was 100% effective against oral and gastric stages. Adverse reactions were not observed in ponies given ivermectin by IM injection or orally, but 1 pony given the vehicle IV and 1 pony given ivermectin (in the vehicle) IV had an anaphylactic reaction, resulting in death of the ivermectin-treated pony. It was speculated that the adverse reaction was caused by histamines released in response to vehicle components given by IV injection. PMID- 2610440 TI - Effects of atracurium administered by continuous intravenous infusion in halothane-anesthetized horses. AB - Atracurium (0.4 mg/ml in isotonic NaCl solution) was administered by IV infusion to 7 healthy adult horses for 2 hours. Over the 2-hour period, a 95 to 99% reduction of train-of-four hoof-twitch response was maintained by 0.17 +/- 0.01 mg of atracurium/kg of body weight/h, for a total of 161 +/- 6 mg of atracurium (mean +/- SEM) for horses 1 to 4, 6, and 7. Horse 5, a mare in estrus, required 0.49 mg of atracurium/kg/h to maintain comparable relaxation. Hoof-twitch recovery time from 10 to 75% of baseline strength was 19.8 +/- 2.5 minutes for all horses. The 10 to 75% recovery time for horse 5 was 18 minutes. Recovery time from discontinuation of halothane until standing was 86 +/- 14 minutes (range, 55 to 165 minutes). Horse 5 had a 165-minute recovery. Regarding recovery from anesthesia, 3 recoveries were rated as excellent, 1 recovery good, and 2 recoveries as fair. Horse 5 laid quietly until she stood with 1 strong, smooth effort. PMID- 2610441 TI - Effects of halothane and isoflurane on baroreflex sensitivity in horses. AB - Baroreflex sensitivity (BS) was used to quantitatively assess the effects of halothane and isoflurane on the heart rate/arterial pressure relationship during steady-state (10 minutes) and dynamic pressure changes in adult horses. Arterial pressure was decreased in response to nitroglycerin or sodium nitroprusside and increased in response to phenylephrine HCl. Mean (+/- SEM) BS in awake horses was 28.9 +/- 2.6 and 13.2 +/- 2.0 ms/mm of Hg during steady-state decreases and increases in systolic arterial pressure (SAP), respectively. Halothane and isoflurane either significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased or eliminated BS during steady-state decreases in SAP, with no significant differences detected between anesthetic agents. During steady-state decreases in SAP, significant (P less than 0.05) correlation between R-R interval and arterial pressure was not observed for 6 of 10 and 4 of 11 halothane and isoflurane anesthesia periods, respectively. Halothane significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased BS during steady-state increases in SAP to 7.9 +/- 0.6 and 6.5 +/- 1.1 ms/mm of Hg during low and high minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) multiples, respectively. Isoflurane decreased BS during steady-state increases in SAP to 9.6 +/- 1.5 and 6.6 +/- 1.1 ms/mm of Hg during low and high MAC anesthesia, respectively, with high MAC of isoflurane decreasing BS significantly (P less than 0.05), compared with awake and low MAC values. Plasma catecholamine (epinephrine and norepinephrine) concentrations increased significantly (P less than 0.05), compared with baseline values during steady-state vasodilator infusions in halothane- and isoflurane-anesthetized horses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610442 TI - Tracheal mucus transport rate in healthy horses. AB - Tracheal mucus transport rates were measured over a 10-minute period in 20 healthy horses twice in 24 hours. The mean rate was 1.93 +/- 0.55 cm/min on day 1 and 1.99 +/- 0.49 cm/min 24 hours later. The mean difference between day 1 and day 2 (0.06 +/- 0.42 cm/min) was not significant (P = 0.55). The range on day 1 was 1.12 to 2.9 cm/min and 1.11 to 2.89 cm/min on day 2. PMID- 2610443 TI - In vitro transport of L-alanine by equine cecal mucosa. AB - When sheets of mucosa from the cecum of clinically normal horses were incubated in vitro with radiolabeled L-alanine, they could accumulate this amino acid against an apparent concentration gradient after 60 to 150 minutes of incubation. The active transport system for L-alanine was on the serosal surface of the mucosal sheet only. L-Alanine accumulation at 60 minutes was partly inhibited by 20 mM glycine (P less than 0.01), 0.5 mM ouabain (P less than 0.05), and Na deprivation (P less than 0.02). Anoxia for 60 minutes increased L-alanine accumulation, but had adverse effects on cell structure and intracellular cation distributions. Transmucosal fluxes induced a small, but significant (P less than 0.05), net secretion of L-alanine, and the mean (+/- SEM) transmucosal potential difference was 7.3 +/- 0.7 mV over the period of flux measurement. It was concluded that L-alanine was accumulated by the serosal surface of the cecal mucosa, possibly to provide substrate for tissue metabolism. There was no evidence that the cecal mucosa could actively transport this amino acid from the luminal bathing medium. PMID- 2610444 TI - Clinical electromyographic studies of canine X-linked muscular dystrophy. AB - Clinical electromyographic studies were performed in dogs (6 weeks to 5.5 years old) with a degenerative myopathy analogous to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Spontaneous activity, consisting primarily of complex repetitive discharges (pseudomyotonic discharges), was found in all dogs tested, but was most prominent in dogs greater than or equal to 10 weeks old. Myotonic discharges also were found, but were less frequent. Motor unit potentials were generally abnormally brief and frequently polyphasic. Ulnar nerve conduction velocities determined in two 4-month-old dogs were similar to those of unaffected littermates. It was concluded that canine X-linked muscular dystrophy is a primary myopathic process in which complex repetitive discharges and myotonic discharges are a prominent feature. The basis for this spontaneous activity is not known. PMID- 2610445 TI - Mathematic model for the population biology of rabies in raccoons in the mid Atlantic states. AB - A series of coupled differential equations was used to model the temporal dynamics of rabies in raccoons in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The model takes explicit account of the development of natural immunity to rabies and was used to evaluate culling and vaccination elimination strategies. For habitats typical of the mid-Atlantic states, and given the assumptions of the model, it was estimated that elimination of rabies in raccoons by culling may involve the annual removal of over 32% of the raccoon population or the yearly vaccination of up to 99% of the susceptible fraction. Assuming a constant marginal cost for both culling and vaccination, the model suggests that, whatever the actual cost of each method, the cheapest strategy will always involve either culling or vaccination alone. A combined strategy of culling and vaccination will be cheaper than culling alone only when the per capita cost of vaccination is around one-fifth or less the per capita cost of culling. PMID- 2610446 TI - Serum uric acid concentrations in horses heterozygous for combined immunodeficiency. AB - Serum uric acid concentrations were determined in horses known to be carriers of combined immunodeficiency gene(s) and in presumed noncarrier horses. Uric acid concentrations were significantly higher (P less than 0.005) in carrier horses than in presumed noncarrier horses. However, there was some overlap in serum uric acid concentrations between carrier and presumed noncarrier horses. PMID- 2610447 TI - Prevention of leucaena toxicosis of cattle in Florida by ruminal inoculation with 3-hydroxy-4-(1H)-pyridone-degrading bacteria. AB - Ruminal microorganisms in cattle at a Florida agriculture research station did not have the ability to detoxify leucaena by degradation of 3-hydroxy-4(1H) pyridone (3,4,-DHP), but a DHP isomer (2,3-DHP) was degraded in some cattle. Cattle with microorganisms that degraded 2,3-DHP were mostly Senepol cattle imported from St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, where leucaena is an indigenous species. Hereford cattle at the research station in Florida generally did not degrade 3,4-DHP or 2,3-DHP. An experiment was conducted in which a pure culture of 3,4-DHP-degrading bacteria was inoculated into Hereford cattle (with ruminal fistula) grazing leucaena. The bacteria successfully colonized the rumen of recipient cattle and persisted through the following winter when there was no leucaena in the diet. PMID- 2610448 TI - Comments on furosemide and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in horses. PMID- 2610449 TI - [Transesophageal echography. Value of the technic apropos of a preliminary experiment in 320 patients (385 examinations)]. AB - The authors discuss the clinical utility and feasibility of trans-esophageal echocardiography. Between April and October 1988, 385 examinations were performed in 320 patients (mean age: 54 yr, range: 17-89). In 9 patients (2.4 p. 100), the transesophageal transducer could not be introduced. The only complication was one case of bacteremia without sequela, that occurred early in our use of this technique. Transesophageal echocardiography proved to be useful in the following indications: mitral stenosis (n = 50), mainly by detecting thromboses of the left atrium (n = 5); infectious endocarditis (n = 21), especially for diagnosing aortic ring abscesses (n = 3); severe mitral insufficiency (n = 26), to assess the mechanism of regurgitation and to visualize chordal rupture (n = 13). We conclude from this preliminary study that transesophageal echocardiography is particularly useful in the pathologies described above as a complementary procedure to conventional echocardiography. PMID- 2610450 TI - [Significance of IGA antigliadin antibodies during primary glomerulonephritis with mesangial IGA deposits]. AB - The association of IgA anti-gliadin antibodies and IgA glomerulonephritis (IgA GN) was first reported in 1987 (Am J Nephrol, 1987, 7, 178-183) and has since been confirmed by other groups. We have developed a second generation ELISA (alkaline phosphatase, biotin-avidin) and used it to test 45 adult IgA GN, 34 idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN), 31 idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), and 11 idiopathic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPG) patients. IgA anti-gliadin antibodies were found in 24 IgA GN (53%), 1 MN (3%), 1 INS (3%), and 1 MGP (9%) patients. The presence of these antibodies in a patient with proteinuria strongly suggests IgA GN, with a sensitivity of 53%, a specificity of 96%, a positive predictive value of 88% and a negative predictive value of 77%. The presence of IgA anti-gliadin antibodies in IgA GN did not necessarily indicate coeliac disease because: a) neither IgG nor IgA anti-reticulin nor IgA anti-endomysium antibodies were found; b) intestinal absorption tests (folates, EDTA) were normal; c) biopsies of the small intestine were normal; and d) a gluten-free diet did not alter the evolution of the disease. Immunochemical analysis (footprinting after separation of the gliadins by rocket electrophoresis) showed the variability of the fractions recognized by the IgA antibodies from patients and controls, in addition to the absence of a typical profile. Gliadin does not have a lectin effect, since mannan and mannose did not inhibit the ELISA. Immunofluorescent labeling of human kidney with purified rabbit IgG anti-gliadin antibodies did not reveal a common epitope shared by gliadin and renal structures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610451 TI - [Drug-induced complications and professional responsibility]. AB - The authors collated the drug-induced side effects reported by subscribers to the malpractice insurance company, Sou Medical. The figures give an idea of the frequency of such events but their reflection of reality should not be overestimated. These presumed incidents represent only 9% of the reports filed (approximately 300 in 20 yr), thus showing their relative rarity. Radiological dyes and general anesthetics comprise two separate groups, as do the exceptional reactions to vaccines. Antibiotics, neuroleptics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticoids are most frequently implicated, while anticoagulants are rarely cited. These findings underline the rarity of litigation for drug-induced side effects. PMID- 2610452 TI - [Drug-induced pneumopathies (excluding cytostatic drugs)]. AB - Establishing the diagnosis of drug-induced pneumonitis is always difficult and requires that the following criteria be met: administration of the drug on a long term basis; knowledge that the drug is able to induce pulmonary disorders; occurrence during therapy of interstitial pneumonitis with clinical, radiological and functional characteristics of this type of lung disease; exclusion of all other causes of interstitial pneumonitis (cardiac failure, infections, collagen vascular diseases, malignancies); bronchoalveolar lavage specimen, revealing lymphocytosis with an inverted CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio, isolated or associated with neutrophil and/or eosinophil alveolitis; finally, full recovery within several weeks or months after drug withdrawal unless irreversible pulmonary fibrosis has occurred. Certain specific characteristics correspond to the therapeutic class of the drug, i.e. antimicrobial, cardiovascular, antiinflammatory, neurological, metabolic, antiallergy or some other drugs. PMID- 2610453 TI - [Drug-induced cardiovascular complications]. AB - Many drugs, including those prescribed in cardiology, can induce adverse cardiovascular side effects. Most of the anti-arrhythmia drugs have a negative inotropic action and proarrhythmic effects. Estroprogestative contraceptive drugs favor thromboembolitic events and increase the incidence of hypertension. Due to the risk of coronary insufficiency, substitutive hormonotherapy in hypothyroidism must be introduced gradually. Tricyclic anti-depressive drugs and neuroleptics can induce orthostatic hypotension. However, all these adverse effects can usually be avoided if every drug-specific contra-indication is respected, if doses are individually adjusted to the patient's age and physical condition and if the patient is closely monitored. PMID- 2610454 TI - [Drug-induced nephropathies]. AB - The list of nephrotoxic drugs is long. The kidney is particularly susceptible to the nephrotoxic action of drugs, because of its functional properties, including: a) the high volume of renal blood flow, which brings large amounts of toxin; b) the large area in contact with the drug, either in the glomerulus or the tubule epithelium, which enables toxin interaction or uptake; c) the kidney's ability to transfer active substances, which provides specific transfer mechanisms that mediate cellular uptake; d) drug breakdown, which may occur in renal tubules and lead to the formation of toxic metabolites from non-toxic parent substances; e) the kidney's concentrating mechanisms, which can increase urinary and interstitial concentrations of non-absorbed products; f) the high metabolic rate of tubule cells required for normal function, which is subject to perturbation. Indeed, nephrotoxins affect every aspect of renal pathology, from acute renal failure due to functional alterations to that resulting from tubule cell necrosis. These anomalies may occur suddenly or after a long period of exposure to the toxic agent. They may be localized in the cortex or the medulla and affect all parts of the nephron: the glomeruli, the tubules, the interstitium or the vessels. How then is the topic of a brief expose to be chosen? It was made based upon the results of a questionnaire addressed to French nephrologists. PMID- 2610455 TI - [Undesirable psychiatric effects of drugs]. AB - The aim of this review of the literature is to indicate several characteristics of undesirable drug-induced psychiatric side effects and give a non-exclusive list of the responsible agents. For more detailed information and to facilitate the identification of iatrogenic effects, the clinician can consult available manuals, computerized data banks or specialists from pharmacological control centers. PMID- 2610456 TI - [Mechanisms of undesirable effects of drugs]. AB - Better prevention against adverse drug reactions could be obtained by improving our knowledge of pathological mechanisms and particularly risk factors. Because it is a medical act, the diagnosis must be made by a clinician who must then report it to his Drug Control Center. PMID- 2610457 TI - [Miller-Fisher syndrome. Presence of high signal foci in the cerebral white substance visible with magnetic resonance imaging]. PMID- 2610458 TI - [Panhypopituitarism secondary to cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis]. PMID- 2610459 TI - [Preoperative chemotherapy in breast cancer. Results based on the size of the tumor and multiple foci (95 patients)]. PMID- 2610460 TI - [Mediastinal liposarcoma appearing 10 years after an adenocarcinoma of the breast]. PMID- 2610461 TI - [Purpura revealing nephritis of a shunt]. PMID- 2610462 TI - [The syndrome of blood hypereosinophilia and multianeurysmal arterial disease]. PMID- 2610463 TI - [Teaching of internal medicine: first a teaching about relationships]. PMID- 2610464 TI - [Primary oxalosis and livedo reticularis. Apropos of a case]. PMID- 2610465 TI - [Trichophyton rubrum dermatophytic disease. A new case]. PMID- 2610466 TI - [What is your diagnosis? Reiter's syndrome]. PMID- 2610467 TI - [Retinoids and skin aging]. PMID- 2610468 TI - [Spanish talcs for pharmaceutical use. Mineralogic, chemical composition, physico chemical properties]. AB - A study has been carried out on the possible pharmaceutical use of 4 spanish talcs by direct estimation of the mineral purity by means of X-ray diffraction techniques, chemical analysis and quantification of some physico-chemical properties. There is a high level of talc in the samples 2 and 4, except in the talc 1 and the talc 3, with a relatively high content of chlorides. Quartz, calcite, feldspar, smectite, inter-stratified phases, kaolinite, amphibole, muscovite and dolomite are other contaminating minerals. The negative effects of these minerals on the pharmaceutical use of the talc include changes in the physical properties (colour), in the chemical ones (contained in heavy metals) as well as in the physico-chemical ones (adsorption properties). The data concerning cation exchange capacity and total specific surface are slightly higher than those concerning the pure mineral, and this is due to the occurrence of some contaminating minerals. PMID- 2610469 TI - [Ambrosia maritima L.: study of molluscicidal properties of several generations originating in Egypt and cultivated in Senegal]. AB - The authors experiment molluscicidal properties of Ambrosia maritima L. from Egypt and cultivated in Senegal. Four generations are tested. Six plants, on eight tested, had same molluscicidal activity as the strain in Egypt. PMID- 2610470 TI - [Synthesis of 2-aryl benzothiazoles and research on its antiparasitic activity]. AB - Several 2-aryl benzothiazoles (with phenyl, naphthyl, thienyl and some oxygenated heterocycles) were synthesized. The anti-parasitic properties of these compounds were evaluated, in vitro and in vivo, against one Nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and, in vitro against two Protozoaires Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis. Only two compounds exhibited, in vitro a low nematicidal activity. PMID- 2610471 TI - [Antibacterial activity of some lichens from southern Spain]. AB - Antibacterial activity of some lichens from south Spain has been studied. High activity against Gram+ bacteria has been observed, although Parmelia caperata, Evernia prunastri and Usnea sp. are also active against Gram- bacteria. PMID- 2610472 TI - [Polyphenolic substances of Cynara scolymus L. leaves]. AB - From the leaves of Cynara scolymus the following substances where isolated: apigenin, luteolin, luteolin-4'-glucoside, cynaroside, scolimoside, cosmoside, quercetin, rutin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, isochlorogenic acid, luteolin-7 gentiobioside, along with the more uncommon scopoletin, hesperitin, hesperidoside, esculetin-6-O-beta-glucoside; more over maritimein was for the first time isolated and identified in the genus. PMID- 2610473 TI - Surgical audit: a review. Proceedings of an audit symposium. AB - The work of surgical departments involves varying proportions of investigation, diagnosis and treatment and the object of audit is to measure and monitor the outcome of this activity. It also serves as a secondary but important role in education, research and resource planning. The different methods of audit described in this symposium gave varying contributions to the definition of workload and outcome and to the education of the surgical staff. Irrespective of the audit system used, there is little doubt that weekly meetings specifically designed for the purpose are of prime importance, and the contributors used it in a variety of different ways. For Messrs. Eltringham and Espiner this meeting was seen much more as an educational exercise for the firm as a whole than a ritualistic method of collecting numerical information. Where other systems which rather more fastidiously collect numerical information are used, the weekly meeting becomes more important in ensuring the accuracy of the data collected. Some authors review the proforma on which the patient information is collected before it is entered into the computer, a point strongly made by Mr. Dunn and it does seem likely that as audit information is collected and challenged, then considerable efforts will have to be made to ensure the accuracy of the information being entered, for there is little point in defending an audit result by suggesting that the houseman who made the original entry did not do so very accurately. Many auditors used a lunch or coffee break as a convenient time to meet, but in some cases a lot of extra work was required for validation and if clinical audit is to represent a very accurate record of the work of a surgical department, this point requires careful consideration. If audit information is to be easily processed, then its means of collection is important.Most contributors used a single record card on which the information was recorded during the patient's stay and this record card can be designed to make entry into a computer system easy for a secretary.It is alos much easier to take records to a weekly meeting than 30 sets of patients' notes. In broad terms the audit systems discussed fell into 2 groups: those which used computers and those which did not. There is no doubt that the use of a computer helps in marshalling the information collected. Although a card system was very cheap and easy to use,it was very much difficult to retrieve information rapidly from it than from a computer based system.It seems that the use of computer entails the consumption of more time for entry and validation of data than a card based system, and there may be a temptation not to spend so much time on the educational aspects of audit. This problem can be overcome by holding regular meetings at which only results presented, perhaps firm by firm, in a hospital, so that discussions on policies relating to thromboembolic prophylaxis, the use of prophylactic antibiotics and similar topics can be discussed. Indeed if this kind of meeting does not take place, then it would seem that one of the principal objectives of audit is lost. For this meetings to take place a computer based system is almost certainly going to be essential. In setting up a clinical audit there is clearly a requirement for financial investment. This means first buy in a computer based system and several options are open to the prospective auditor. A simple desk top computer with a modified database system can be used but Messrs. Baird and Horrocks found it required a great deal of programming using a database programme that was already commercially available to obtain a workable system.Two or three commercial systems are now available using personal computers and it seems likely that in many hospitals this will be a popular choice. When introduced in Colchester General Hospital by Mr. Motson where such a facility had not existed in the past, computerisation has been well received and has achieved the desired result.As more hospitals develop their own sophisticated information systems, it may be possible to graft clinical audit information onto the hospital programmes in a way outlined by Mr. Marsland and Mrs. Tyndall. The advantage of this system is that there is often experienced help available for the design and implementation of the system and very powerful computers to use. The information yielded by audit needs to be kept in a confidential system. If this fails to occur,then the users of the system will cease to have confidence in it and the accuracy of the information put into the audit will lessen. As the whole object of audit is an attempt to collect accurate and detailed information about patients,then another prime objective could easily be lost. There is little doubt from the experiences presented in this review that audit is feasible.The benefits fall into two broad groups.Firstly by reviewing cases at regular weekly meeting evolving problems can be dealt with so there is an immediate benefit for that one patient and a useful learning experience for the staff.It is important not to lose sight of this in the wish to collect data on a computer.The second benefit is the ease of handling large amounts of information about patient activity. Only the Cambridge experience gave any longer term view and there was an impact on the complications of surgical treatment.It will be most important in the years to come, as audit systems are introduced, that their value is critically regarded because in order to establish and run clinical audit, a considerable amount of time will need to be devoted by everybody involved. The determination fo longer term response to surgical treatment in terms of graft patency,tumour recurrence and patient survival is not possible by any of the methods currently described. It is an undertaking of great importance and proportions and clearly has a bearing on clinical practice. Short term clinical audit will therefore be only one part of the evaluation of surgical care. PMID- 2610474 TI - Research and surgical training. PMID- 2610475 TI - [Transluminal coronary angioplasty at the same time as or separate from coronarography. Comparative results]. AB - Frequency of PTCA performed at the time of initial coronary angiography has increased to 47% of all PTCA performed in 1988. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of this strategy by comparing the results in 2 groups of patients: in group 1 (179 patients), PTCA was performed at the time of initial coronary angiography and in group 2 (549 patients) PTCA was performed, 15 to 30 days after initial coronary angiography. Clinical differences between the two groups concerned: stable angina (25.1% vs 41%; p less than 0.001) and myocardial infarction treated with thrombolytic therapy (23.7% vs 7.7%; p less than 10(-9)). The extent of coronary artery disease was similar in the two groups but the incidence of single vessel PTCA was higher in group 1 (96% vs 90%; p less than 0.01). The immediate results of PTCA were similar and led us to develop this strategy for unstable angina, myocardial infarction treated with thrombolytic therapy, as well as total coronary obstruction and restenosis whatever their symptoms and signs. This strategy requires high quality fluoroscopic and video replay images, and allows a reduction in hospital costs. PMID- 2610476 TI - [Anatomy of the temporal lobe with 1.5 Tesla MRI]. PMID- 2610477 TI - [Interactions between prolactin with its receptor]. AB - The prolactin (PRL) receptor has recently been sequenced. The rat PRL receptor is a linear glycosylated polypeptide of 291 amino-acids. The major part of the molecule is located on the external part of the cellular membrane. Recently, a larger form of the receptor has been evidenced in rabbit, and man, which presents some partial structural homology with the sequence of the growth hormone receptor. The PRL receptor, distributed in various tissues, is located in equivalent quantities in the peripheral and internal membranes of the cells. The transduction mechanism(s) from the activated receptor to the genes controlling the expression of different prolactin-induced-proteins is not yet well understood. Prolactin is the main hormone involved sequentially in the down and up-regulation of the PRL receptors number. Such a long-term induction of receptors by PRL is evidenced under physiological conditions such as pregnancy and lactation. The recent demonstration of different molecular forms of PRL generated after the transduction of the hormone (glycosylated PRL, cleaved PRL, 16K fragment) introduces the hypothesis that the interaction between the hormone and its receptor is probably more complex. These different prolactins are still capable of binding to the receptor and their biological activities are more or less conserved. The physiological or pathological significance of such an heterogeneity of the PRL molecule needs to be further confirmed. PMID- 2610478 TI - [Growth hormone receptors]. AB - Specific binding sites for growth hormone (GH) have been found in a variety of tissues. The rabbit liver GH receptor has recently been purified, sequenced and cloned. It is a polypeptide chain of 620 aminoacids with a single transmembrane domain. The sequence of the extracellular hormone binding domain of the receptor is identical to the sequence of the serum binding protein. The intra-cellular signalling mechanism is not known. The GH receptor gene(s) has to be studied. Rapid and great changes in the number of GH receptors have been demonstrated in situations of growth defect in rats. GH and insulin both play an important role in the regulation of GH sites, but the mechanisms of regulation remain to be clarified. Studies with monoclonal antibodies against the GH receptor and also sequence analysis and cloning of cDNA from different tissues should help to answer the question of the multiplicity of the GH receptors. PMID- 2610479 TI - [Cancer of the esophagus after mediastinal radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. Apropos of a case]. AB - Malignant solid tumors induced by radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease are uncommon. We report one case of thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma diagnosed 19 years after mediastinal irradiation. The criteria usually accepted for the diagnosis of radiation cancer were all present in this case. An oesophagectomy was performed and the patient made a good recovery from the operation. PMID- 2610480 TI - [Exogastric cystic schwannoma. Observation of a case]. AB - The authors report a case of giant gastric schwannoma with dominating extra gastric development and a cystic component simulating a pancreatic pseudo-cyst on ultrasound and computed tomography examination, the diagnosis was made only at surgery that consisted in total gastrectomy. The rarity of these tumors, their diagnostic difficulties and the particularities of their surgical treatment are outlined. PMID- 2610481 TI - [Rectal angiodysplasia]. AB - We report 6 cases of rectal angiodysplasia. 2 patients were treated successfully laser coagulation. PMID- 2610482 TI - [Ulcerated esophagitis after a dose of spiramycin]. PMID- 2610483 TI - [Propranolol and the risk of hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis]. PMID- 2610484 TI - Synaptonemal complexes analysis in a bull carrying a 4;8 Robertsonian translocation. AB - Synaptonemal complexes analysis was performed using electron microscopy on surface-spread spermatocytes of a bull heterozygous for the 4;8 Robertsonian translocation. In 19 cells examined, the longest autosomal complex showed kinetochores in a central position whereas the remaining autosomal complexes showed terminal kinetochores. Synapsis in the trivalent appeared complete in all cells, and the trivalents usually showed a CIS configuration. The arm ratio varied from 1.05 to 2.04 with an average of 1.32 +/- 0.43. Out of 47 cells showing X-Y bivalents, 34 showed a small synaptonemal complex at one extremity of the X chromosome, and an unstained gap in the Y chromosome. There was no association between the X-Y bivalent and the trivalent. The absence of association would explain the normal spermatogenesis noted in this bull, in contrast to human and mouse carriers of translocations which show impaired spermatogenesis due to the association between the rearranged chromosomes and the sex vesicle. Further studies involving bulls carrying one or more Robertsonian translocations are needed to determine whether this absence of association is a constant feature in cattle. PMID- 2610485 TI - The G- and C-banding karyotype of the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx). AB - The chromosomes of the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) were investigated using GTG and CBG banding technique. Their banding patterns were compared to those of goat and cattle. PMID- 2610486 TI - [Diagnosis of minor chromosome modifications by molecular cytogenetics]. AB - Chromosomal in situ hybridization with radioactive probes allows the detection of single copy DNA segments of very small size. In two phenotypically normal individuals, classical chromosomal analysis revealed a small partial deletion of chromosome 18 short arm. In situ hybridization of probe D18S3, located at 18p13, showed in both instances a balanced reciprocal translocation: 46,XY,t(5;18) (p153;p112) and 46,XX,t(18;22)(p111;p11), respectively. PMID- 2610487 TI - Molecular deletion patterns in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients. AB - We have studied 30 French patients with X-linked muscular dystrophy of the Duchenne (DMD) and Becker (BMD) types for intragenic deletions, using the cDNA probes of the DMD/BMD gene. Sixteen patients (53%) had molecular deletions in one or several of the 65 Hind III fragments containing exons detected with the DNA probes; in four deletion cases junction, fragments of altered size were seen. Fourteen (87%) of the deletions were detected using only two (1-2a and 8) and fifteen with 8+(2b-3) of the cDNA subclones. In our limited sample, BMD was caused by deletions in the 5' end of the gene, and in two instances of DMD, deletions of similar types resulted in diseases of similar severity. Of two patients with mental retardation, both had deletions comprised exons contained in probe 8, but other patients without mental retardation are also deleted with probe 8. We conclude that cDNA hybridization studies provide a powerful diagnostic tool in DMD and BMD families. PMID- 2610488 TI - Post-mortem studies on two patients with 1-2 band cytogenetic deletions: 10q26--- qter and r(9)(p24q34). AB - Two severely retarded males with unbalanced karyotypes Case 1--(45,XY,--10,--15, + der(10)t,(10; 15) (q26; q13) and Case 2--46,XY,r(9) (p24q34) died at the ages of 24 and 38 years respectively. At post-mortem, a post-ductal coarctation of the aorta and a lump kidney were found in the first case. Brain pathology was normal in the first case and apart from a smaller size, was structurally normal in the second case. PMID- 2610489 TI - A new family with extra material on proximal 15q. AB - Proximal extra material in the long arm of chromosome 15, has been described in individuals with different phenotypes (isolated mental retardation, multiple malformations, repeated miscarriages), and with apparently normal phenotype, in which cytogenetic analysis was invariably carried out on the basis of clinical indications. The paper describes a child with mental retardation, and his father, who both had proximal extra material in 15q. Caution is advised in the study of karyotype-phenotype correlation. PMID- 2610490 TI - An unusually large 5q duplication in an adult female subject: spreading of inactivation and in vitro instability of the derivative Xp/5q chromosome. AB - An unbalanced translocation resulting in an unusually large partial 5q trisomy (5q11-5qter) and partial Xp monosomy (Xp11-Xpter) is reported in a 24 yr old woman with phenotypic abnormalities including gonadal dysgenesis and mental retardation. The karyotypes of the parents and the brother were found normal. Peripheral blood stimulated lymphocytes and cutaneous fibroblasts of the proband exhibited constantly, after BrdU incorporation, selective inactivation of the derivative X;5 chromosome spreading to the 5q duplicate segment. A variety of numerical and structural changes involving the derivative chromosome were observed in about 10% of cells of the cultured lymphoblastoid line established from the subject's lymphocytes. The extended 5q duplication, according to the literature, is generally accompanied by a severe phenotype and by developmental failure; it is therefore believe that genetic inactivation of the 5q duplicated region permitted the proband's development to adult age, despite the profound chromosomal imbalance. PMID- 2610491 TI - Clinical consequences of a human non-fluorescent Y chromosome (Ynf). AB - A new case of ambiguous genitalia and immature tissue in the left gonad is presented. Cytogenetic findings with various techniques demonstrated that the distal two-thirds of the long arm of the Y chromosome is deleted. Q-banding showed a non-fluorescent Y; three positive bands were however noted when the DA/DAPI technique was applied. After a review of the literature, it was concluded that the non-fluorescent Y chromosome (Ynf) when inherited from generation to generation is a heteromorphism in normal males. However, in our case, where the proband's Y is lacking the fluorescent segment, a simple deletion does not appear to adequately explain the DA/DAPI positive bands. Possibly, a deletion followed by a structural rearrangement of the non-fluorescent segment had occurred de novo. The highly Y-specific DNA sequences present in the fluorescent segment are absent in these patients. The abnormal development in these cases is due to the presence of the 45,X cell line. The gene responsible for spermatogenesis has been localized to the non-fluorescent region in the long arm of the Y chromosome. Furthermore, it is concluded that two types of non-fluorescent Y chromosomes can be found in the population; one is a normal inherent heteromorphic variant, while the other appears to be an abnormality, especially in cases with azoospermia. Such distinctions should clearly be established prior to genetic counseling for patients with so called Ynf or del (Yd). PMID- 2610492 TI - Sotos syndrome with a balanced reciprocal translocation t(2;12)(q33.3;q15). AB - A balanced reciprocal translocation, 46,XY, t(2;12), was detected in a male infant who had the characteristic features of Sotos syndrome. His father's karyotype was normal, but his mother and an older brother had the same chromosomal abnormality without a history or clinical features of Sotos syndrome. PMID- 2610493 TI - Trisomy 20p from maternal translocation and anencephaly. Case report and genetic review. AB - This paper concerns the case of an anencephalus male fetus with partial trisomy 20p product of a maternal translocation 46,XX, t(15;20) (p11.2;p12), ascertained by prenatal diagnosis. A cytogenetic review of previous cases is presented. Several hypotheses are discussed in order to explain the recurrent abortions of the mother and the aetiology of anencephaly in this last pregnancy. PMID- 2610494 TI - Effect of ferrous sulfate and multivitamins with zinc on absorption of ciprofloxacin in normal volunteers. AB - Cations such as magnesium and aluminum significantly impair the absorption of ciprofloxacin. Twelve healthy adult male volunteers participated in this four-way crossover study to investigate the effects of ferrous sulfate and multivitamins with zinc on the absorption of ciprofloxacin. Doses of ciprofloxacin (500 mg) were given 7 days apart and after an overnight fast. Dose 1 was administered alone (regimen A). The subjects then received either a ferrous sulfate tablet (325 mg three times a day; regimen B) or a once-daily multivitamin with zinc (regimen C) for 7 days; dose 2 of ciprofloxacin was then given with the last dose of regimen B or C. Subjects were crossed over to the alternate regimen for 7 days, and dose 3 of ciprofloxacin was again administered with the last dose of regimen B or C. After a 7-day washout, dose 4 of ciprofloxacin was given (regimen D). Ciprofloxacin concentrations were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The areas under the concentration-time curve (AUCs) of ciprofloxacin for regimens A and D were not significantly different (14.5 +/- 2.3 versus 15.7 +/- 2.8 micrograms.h/ml, mean +/- standard deviation). The AUCs for regimen B (5.4 +/- 1.7 micrograms.h/ml) and regimen C (11.3 +/- 2.4 micrograms.h/ml) were significantly different from the AUCs for regimens A and D. Peak concentrations of ciprofloxacin with regimen B were below the MIC for 90% of strains of many organisms normally considered susceptible. Ferrous sulfate and multivitamins with zinc significantly impaired the absorption of ciprofloxacin. The effect of ferrous sulfate is likely to be clinically significant; the responsible component of multivitamins with zinc requires additional study. PMID- 2610495 TI - Antimicrobial susceptibility in gram-negative bacteremia: are nosocomial isolates really more resistant? AB - Bloodstream isolates of gram-negative aerobic bacilli from nosocomial infections are more likely to be resistant to antimicrobial agents than isolates from community-acquired cases are. It is not clear, however, how much this is due to the markedly different distribution of organisms in the two groups. We compared the susceptibilities of organisms of a given species which caused community acquired bacteremia with the susceptibilities of isolates from nosocomial cases. Nine antimicrobial agents were tested against 1,077 isolates which were obtained during a 4-year nonepidemic period. Marked differences in crude rates of resistance were noted for all isolates from nosocomial cases versus all isolates from cases acquired in the community. When results were adjusted for the different organism distributions in the two groups, statistically significant differences were found for only six drug-organism pairs; in each of these, resistance rates were higher in nosocomial isolates. However, when results were further adjusted for the effect of multiple analyses, no significant differences were seen. The major factor leading to the greater prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in our hospital organisms was the markedly different distribution of organisms in the nosocomial and community-acquired groups. For individual organisms, greater resistance in nosocomial strains was confined to certain drugs. Factors that influence differences in organism distribution may not be solely the result of antimicrobial use. PMID- 2610496 TI - Antileishmanial activities of 2,4-diaminoquinazoline putative dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors. AB - 2,4-Diaminoquinazoline analogs of folate were assessed as antileishmanial agents and as dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors. Against Leishmania major in human macrophages in vitro, two compounds with tertiary amines attached directly to the quinazoline ring were remarkably active. The 50% effective doses were in the picogram per milliliter range (12 to 91 pg/ml), and the in vitro therapeutic indices were approximately 10(5). These compounds were 1,000 times more active on an absolute basis and had a 100 times more favorable therapeutic index than any compound previously tested in this model. Antileishmanial activity was not correlated with activity against Leishmania mexicana promastigote reductase, which suggests that folate utilization in general, rather than reductase activity specifically, was being inhibited. PMID- 2610497 TI - New mechanism for methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus: clinical isolates that lack the PBP 2a gene and contain normal penicillin-binding proteins with modified penicillin-binding capacity. AB - Seventeen clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (from the United States and Europe) selected for low (borderline)-level methicillin resistance (MIC of methicillin, 2 to 4 micrograms/ml; MIC of oxacillin, 0.5 to 8 micrograms/ml) were examined for their mechanisms of resistance. Five strains were typical of heterogeneous S. aureus: they gave positive reactions with a DNA probe specific for mec and contained a small fraction (10(-6] of highly resistant cells (MIC, greater than 100 micrograms/ml). The rest of the 12 strains were homogeneous with respect to their methicillin resistance: the MIC of methicillin for all cells was 2 to 4 micrograms/ml, and no cells for which MICs were 50 micrograms/ml or higher were detectable (less than 10(-9]. None of these strains reacted with the mec specific DNA probe. One representative strain of each group was characterized in more detail. Strain CDC-1, prototype of heterogeneous methicillin-resistant S. aureus, contained penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2a; its DNA could transform a methicillin-susceptible and novobiocin-resistant recipient to methicillin resistance with ca. 35% linkage to Novr. Introduction of the "factor X" determinant (K. Murakami and A. Tomasz, J. Bacteriol. 171:874-879, 1989) converted strain CDC-1 to high, homogeneous resistance. Strain CDC-6, prototype of the second group of isolates, showed completely homogeneous MICs of methicillin, oxacillin, and cefotaxime. The strain contained modified "normal" PBPs: PBPs 1 and 2 showed low drug reactivity (and/or cellular amounts), and PBP 4 was present in elevated amounts. No PBP 2a could be detected. DNA isolated from strain CDC-6 could transform the methicillin-susceptible and novobiocin-resistant strain to methicillin resistance in a multistep fashion, but this resistance showed no genetic linkage to the Nov marker. We suggest that staphylococci with borderline resistance may contain at least three different classes of mechanism: heterogeneous, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, PBPs of modified drug reactivities, and the previously reported hyperproduction of beta-lactamase (L.K. McDougal and C. Thornsberry, J. Clin Microbiol. 23:832-839, 1986). PMID- 2610498 TI - Effects of ciprofloxacin on testosterone and cortisol concentrations in healthy males. AB - Several inhibitors of oxidative drug metabolism inhibit the synthesis of endogenous compounds such as testosterone and cortisol. Since ciprofloxacin is a potent inhibitor of the metabolism of a number of drugs, we studied its effect on serum testosterone and cortisol concentrations in eight healthy male subjects. Blood samples were collected over a 12-h period under baseline conditions and following the first and final doses of ciprofloxacin (500 mg orally every 12 h for 4 days). No significant differences in concentrations or area under the concentration-time curve were found when baseline values were compared with those observed for either testosterone or cortisol after ciprofloxacin administration. These results suggest that ciprofloxacin is unlikely to have either antiandrogenic side effects or clinical utility in lowering testosterone or cortisol concentration. PMID- 2610499 TI - In vitro activities and targets of three cephem antibiotics against Haemophilus influenzae. AB - The antimicrobial activities of cefixime, cefpodoxime, and ceftibuten were determined with 18 ampicillin-susceptible (Amps), 13 ampicillin-resistant beta lactamase-producing (AmprBLP), and 7 ampicillin-resistant non-beta-lactamase producing (AmprNBLP) strains of Haemophilus influenzae. An effect of inoculum density on apparent MIC, the bactericidal activity of these agents, and the targets of the three cephems were determined. The MICs of cefixime, cefpodoxime, and ceftibuten for 90% of the Amps and AmprBLP isolates were 0.04, 0.08, and 0.08 microgram/ml, respectively. In contrast, the MICs for 90% of the AmprNBLP strains were 0.96, 1.92, and 7.68 micrograms/ml. No significant inoculum effect was observed for any group of strains comparing inocula of 10(3) and 10(5) CFU, whereas only the AmprNBLP isolates showed a marked effect at an inoculum of 10(6) CFU. Although bactericidal levels were achieved for the Amps and AmprBLP strains, tolerance to cefixime and ceftibuten was observed. The bactericidal activity for the AmprNBLP strains was limited, with cefixime showing the highest activity of the three cephems. Penicillin-binding proteins 2, 4, and 5 revealed high affinity, with 50% inhibitory concentration levels below the MIC for all three cephems, suggesting that these are important targets of these agents in H. influenzae. We conclude that the cephems are highly active in vitro against Amps and AmprBLP strains of H. influenzae, but less so against AmprNBLP isolates. PMID- 2610500 TI - Gentamicin pharmacokinetics, nephrotoxicity, and prediction of mortality in febrile neutropenic patients. AB - The pharmacokinetics of gentamicin in 34 febrile neutropenic patients (40 courses) were compared with those in 40 nonneutropenic patients receiving the drug. No pharmacokinetic differences were seen in half-life, volume of distribution (liter per kilogram; total and ideal body weight), or clearance (milliliter per minute per 1.73 m2). The incidences of nephrotoxicity in the two groups were not statistically different. Because of the small number of patients with positive cultures, no relationship between initial peak serum gentamicin concentration and mortality could be determined. Mortality risk factors that were determined to be statistically important included presence of pneumonia, persistent fever in the presence of anti-infective therapy of more than 1 week duration, and peak serum creatinine of greater than 1.2 mg/dl. Initial aminoglycoside dosing in the febrile neutropenic patient should be similar to that in the nonneutropenic patient, with concentrations in serum monitored and doses adjusted accordingly. PMID- 2610501 TI - In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of KB-5246, a new tetracyclic quinolone. AB - The in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of KB-5246, a tetracyclic quinolone, were compared with those of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and norfloxacin. KB-5246 demonstrated a broad antibacterial spectrum. The in vitro activity of KB 5246 against gram-negative bacteria was higher than that of ofloxacin or norfloxacin and was comparable to that of ciprofloxacin. KB-5246 demonstrated the greatest activity against gram-positive bacteria of the four agents tested. Among Streptococcus pyogenes strains resistant to 1.56 micrograms of norfloxacin per ml, there were 26 strains susceptible to 0.2 micrograms of KB-5246 per ml. Similarly, among the Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains resistant to 3.13 micrograms of norfloxacin per ml, there were 23 S. aureus and 11 S. epidermidis strains susceptible to 0.39 micrograms of KB-5246 per ml. Among the Streptococcus pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis strains resistant to 12.5 micrograms of norfloxacin per ml, there were 5 S. pneumoniae and 10 E. faecalis strains susceptible to 0.39 micrograms of KB-5246 per ml. KB-5246 had bactericidal activity at the MIC. KB-5246 demonstrated excellent antibacterial activity against various systemic infections in mice. After oral administration, KB-5246 was as active as ofloxacin and about two times more active than norfloxacin. PMID- 2610502 TI - Influence of ranitidine, pirenzepine, and aluminum magnesium hydroxide on the bioavailability of various antibiotics, including amoxicillin, cephalexin, doxycycline, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. AB - Two randomized double-blind crossover studies and one randomized crossover study were performed to document possible drug-drug interactions between antacids (aluminum magnesium hydroxide, 10 ml per dose for 10 doses), antimuscarinic drugs (pirenzepine, 50 mg per dose for 4 doses), and H2-blockers (ranitidine, 150 mg per dose for 3 doses) and amoxicillin (1,000 mg), cephalexin (1,000 mg), doxycycline (200 mg), and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (625 mg). Ten healthy volunteers participated in each study. Concentrations in serum and urine were measured by bioassay, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by the usual open one- or two-compartment models (statistics were determined by the Wilcoxon test). The antacid, pirenzepine, and ranitidine had no influence on the bioavailability of amoxicillin, cephalexin, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Only small differences could be observed in the pharmacokinetic parameters, but they are not of therapeutic importance. However, the antacid caused a significant (P less than 0.01) reduction in the gastrointestinal absorption of doxycycline (area under the concentration-time curve, 38.6 +/- 22.7 mg.h/liter, fasting; 6.0 +/- 3.2 mg.h/liter, with antacid), resulting in subtherapeutic levels of doxycycline. PMID- 2610503 TI - Steady-state pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral ciprofloxacin in elderly patients. AB - The steady-state pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin were evaluated in nine elderly patients with lower respiratory tract infections after an intravenous dosage regimen of 200 mg every 12 h (n = 9) and an oral dosage regimen of 750 mg every 12 h (n = 6). Ciprofloxacin concentrations in serum and urine were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The peak concentration in serum, total body clearance (CLs), steady-state volume of distribution (Vss), and terminal elimination half-life after intravenous dosing were 3.5 +/- 0.8 micrograms/ml, 4.38 +/- 1.80 ml/min per kg, 1.6 +/- 0.6 liters/kg, and 5.8 +/- 2.4 h, respectively. The peak concentration in serum, time to peak concentration in serum, absorption lag time, and absolute bioavailability (F) after oral dosing were 7.6 +/- 2.2 micrograms/ml, 1.9 +/- 1.0 h, 0.4 +/- 0.5 h, and 7.7 +/- 24.2%, respectively. The elevated drug concentrations in serum samples from the elderly after oral dosing, compared with data obtained from younger subjects, appear to be a function of reduced CLs, renal clearance, and Vss. The increased F observed in some patients may be due to the effect of concomitant or proximate administration of tube feedings, medications which may alter gastric motility or acidity, or decreased first-pass metabolism. The results demonstrate that factors related to age and declining renal function, rather than infectious disease state, may be primary in determining alterations in pharmacokinetic parameters in the elderly. In elderly patients with normal renal function for their age, no dosage adjustment for intravenous or oral ciprofloxacin is necessary. PMID- 2610504 TI - Pharmacokinetics and tissue penetration of Sch 39304 in granulocytopenic and nongranulocytopenic rabbits. AB - We studied the plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue penetration of Sch 39304 (SCH), a new antifungal triazole, in granulocytopenic [G(+)] and nongranulocytopenic [G( )] rabbits. Five female New Zealand White G(-) rabbits were given a single oral dose of 2 mg of SCH per kg of body weight. Levels in plasma, determined by gas liquid chromatography-electron capture, were obtained for 6 days. This procedure was repeated 2 weeks later with the same rabbits, which were induced and maintained G(+) with cytosine arabinoside. There were no significant differences between the pharmacokinetic parameters of G(+) and G(-) rabbits. Among all animals studied, the maximum concentration of the drug in plasma was 1.4 +/- 0.11 micrograms/ml at 4 +/- 0.5 h, the half-life was 25 +/- 1.4 h, the volume of distribution at steady state was 3.8 +/- 0.3 liters, and the area under the concentration-time curve was 44 +/- 3.4 micrograms.h/ml. SCH was detectable in plasma up to day 6. Levels of SCH in tissue were studied at steady state in six G(+) and six G(-) rabbits receiving 2 mg of the drug orally per kg per day for experimental disseminated candidiasis. Tissue SCH levels equalled or exceeded those in plasma (at steady state) at all sites examined, and these ratios were similar in both G(+) and G(-) rabbits. Thus, plasma pharmacokinetics of orally administered SCH were similar for G(+) and G(-) rabbits, and SCH achieved high levels of penetration into multiple tissues, including the liver and the central nervous system. PMID- 2610505 TI - Study of the metabolism of flucytosine in Aspergillus species by 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. AB - The metabolism of flucytosine (5FC) in two Aspergillus species (Aspergillus fumigatus and A. niger) was investigated by 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In intact mycelia, 5FC was found to be deaminated to 5-fluorouracil and then transformed into fluoronucleotides; the catabolite alpha-fluoro-beta alanine was also detected in A. fumigatus. Neither 5-fluoroorotic acid nor 5 fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-monophosphate was detected in perchloric acid extracts after any incubation with 5FC. 5FC, 5-fluorouracil, and the classical fluoronucleotides 5-fluorouridine-5'-mono-, di-, and triphosphates were identified in the acid-soluble pool. Two hydrolysis products of 5-fluorouracil incorporated into RNA, 5-fluorouridine-2'-monophosphate and 5-fluorouridine-3' monophosphate, were found in the acid-insoluble pool. No significant differences in the metabolic transformation of 5FC were noted in the two species of Aspergillus. The main pathway of 5FC metabolism in the two species of Aspergillus studied is thus the biotransformation into ribofluoronucleotides and the subsequent incorporation of 5-fluorouridine-5'-triphosphate into RNA. PMID- 2610506 TI - Pharmacokinetics of intravenous cefetamet and oral cefetamet pivoxil in patients with renal insufficiency. AB - The pharmacokinetics of cefetamet after a short intravenous infusion of cefetamet (515 mg) and oral administration of 1,000 mg of cefetamet pivoxil were studied in 9 healthy subjects and in 38 patients with various degrees of renal impairment. The results showed that cefetamet elimination was dependent on renal function. After intravenous dosing, total body (CLS), renal (CLR), and nonrenal (CLNR) clearances were linearly related to creatinine clearance (CLCR; r = 0.95, 0.92, and 0.59, respectively). Elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) was prolonged from 2.46 +/- 0.33 h in normal subjects to 29.1 +/- 13.9 h in patients with CLCR of less than 10 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Correspondingly, CLS and CLR decreased from 1.77 +/- 0.27 and 1.42 +/- 0.25 ml/min per kg to 0.14 +/- 0.04 and 0.04 +/- 0.03 ml/min per kg, respectively. The volume of distribution at steady state (0.298 +/ 0.049 liter/kg) for cefetamet was not altered by renal insufficiency (P greater than 0.05). After oral administration, the elimination parameters, t1/2 beta and CLR, were insignificantly different from the intravenous data (P greater than 0.05). Furthermore, the bioavailability (F) of cefetamet pivoxil (45 +/- 13%) was not altered by renal failure (P greater than 0.05). However, maximum concentration in plasma and the time to achieve this value were significantly increased (5.86 +/- 0.74 versus 14.8 +/- 6.14 micrograms/ml and 3.9 +/- 1.1 versus 8.4 +/- 1.7 h, respectively; P less than 0.05). Based on these observations, it is recommended that patients with CLcr of <10 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and between 10 and 39 ml/min per 1.73 m2 be given one-quarter of the normal daily dose either once or twice daily. Patients with CLcr between 40 and 80 ml/min per 1.73 m2 should receive one-half of the normal dose twice daily. For patients with CLcr of <10 ml/min per 1.73 m2, it would be recommended that they receive a normal standard dose as a loading dose on day 1 of treatment. PMID- 2610507 TI - Biliary excretion and choleretic effect of cefmetazole in rats. AB - The effect of cefmetazole, a broad-spectrum cephalosporin, on bile flow and composition in rats was studied. Intravenous injection of cefmetazole at doses ranging from 40 to 400 mumol/kg of body weight led to an increase in its biliary concentration and excretion rate, with a maximum at 30 min after injection. Excretion of cefmetazole into bile was associated with a marked choleresis. The magnitude of the increase in bile flow was dose dependent, with a maximal increase at a dose of 200 mumol/kg. Cefmetazole administration did not affect the secretion of bile acids or their osmotic activities, whereas the bile acid independent bile flow increased by 49% at a dose of 200 mumol/kg. Cefmetazole administration at a dose of 200 mumol/kg significantly increased the biliary outputs of sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate (+36, +56, +28, and +31%, respectively) compared with outputs of controls. A linear relationship was observed between bile flow and cefmetazole excretion, 44 microliters of bile being produced per mumol of cefmetazole excreted into bile. Our results demonstrate that cefmetazole induces choleresis by stimulating bile acid independent bile flow. This effect appears to be partly due to the osmotic properties of cefmetazole transported into bile. PMID- 2610508 TI - Pharmacokinetics of amphotericin B in children. AB - Amphotericin B is the most effective agent for the majority of systemic fungal infections but often causes toxicity, and specific dosage guidelines for amphotericin B in pediatric patients are lacking. The purpose of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of amphotericin B in children. Twelve patients (mean age, 6.6 years; range, 4 months to 14 years) receiving amphotericin B, 0.68 +/- 0.34 mg/kg per day (mean plus or minus standard deviation), were studied. Four to eight blood samples were collected during a 24 h period and analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The peak concentration of amphotericin B in serum was 2.9 +/- 2.8 micrograms/ml. The mean total clearance, apparent volume of distribution, and elimination half-life were 0.46 +/- 0.20 ml/min per kg, 0.76 +/- 0.52 liters/kg, and 18.1 +/- 6.6 h, respectively. Total clearance decreased with age (p less than 0.01). In children aged 8 months to 9 years, the mean total clearance was 0.57 +/- 0.15 ml/min per kg, and in children older than 9 years, it was 0.24 +/- 0.02 ml/min per kg. Interpatient variation in the clearance and volume of distribution of amphotericin B was greater than threefold and greater than eightfold, respectively. However, pharmacokinetic parameters did not change in two stable patients who were studied again. Because clearance decreased substantially with age, older children may require lower doses of amphotericin B per kilogram to decrease the potential for toxicity. PMID- 2610509 TI - Influence of an antacid containing aluminum and magnesium on the pharmacokinetics of cefixime. AB - Interaction studies in dogs have indicated that antacids significantly decrease the oral bioavailability of cefixime. Twelve healthy adult male volunteers participated in a randomized, four-way crossover trial to evaluate the influence of an aluminum-magnesium antacid (Maalox; 20 ml) on the pharmacokinetics of cefixime (400 mg). Regimens were (i) cefixime alone; (ii) cefixime simultaneous with antacid; (iii) cefixime 2 h before antacid; and (iv) cefixime 2 h after antacid. Serial blood and urine samples were collected over a 24-h period following each dose of cefixime. There was a 1-week washout interval between regimens. Cefixime concentrations in serum and urine were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Maximum cefixime concentrations in serum for regimens i through iv were (mean +/- standard deviation) 4.9 +/- 1.4, 5.7 +/- 1.3, 5.1 +/- 1.0, and 5.5 +/- 1.5 micrograms/ml, respectively. Corresponding values for area under the serum concentration-time curve extrapolated to infinity were 38.3 +/- 14.5, 42.8 +/- 13.9, 38.5 +/- 9.8, and 41.6 +/- 16.7 micrograms.h/ml. There was a trend toward increased concentrations in serum and area under the curve of cefixime when it was administered concomitantly with antacid; however, these differences were not statistically significant (P greater than 0.05; analysis of variance). We conclude that single-dose administration of an aluminum-magnesium antacid does not significantly decrease the oral bioavailability of cefixime. PMID- 2610510 TI - Effect of age on the intracortical accumulation kinetics of gentamicin in rats. AB - We have evaluated the influence of age on the intracortical accumulation kinetics of gentamicin in conscious male rats by using a short-term infusion model. Animals were infused with gentamicin over a 6-h period and achieved individual steady-state levels in serum ranging from 0.5 to 12 micrograms/ml. Young rats were about 3 months old, and old rats were about 6 months old. The steady-state elevation of concentrations of gentamicin in serum was associated with a linear increase of the cortical concentrations in both groups. However, the accumulation of gentamicin was lower in the renal cortex of the old rats than in the renal cortex of the young rats. We conclude that the intrarenal uptake of gentamicin is modified during aging. Further studies must be undertaken to better understand the role of age on the mechanism of uptake and the toxicity of aminoglycosides. PMID- 2610511 TI - Mechanism of La Crosse virus inhibition by ribavirin. AB - The effect of ribavirin on the growth and replication of La Crosse virus was examined. The data suggest that low concentrations of ribavirin have a marked effect on the initial steps of La Crosse virus transcription. The therapeutic potential of ribavirin in the treatment of human California encephalitis serotype infections is discussed in light of these findings. PMID- 2610512 TI - In vitro susceptibilities of oral bacterial isolates to spiramycin. AB - Four hundred strains of oral bacteria were tested for their susceptibility to spiramycin. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and most species of Lactobacillus were resistant to the antibiotic. All strains of cariogenic Streptococcus mutans and most strains of bacterial species implicated in adult chronic periodontitis (Bacteroides gingivalis, B. intermedius, and Treponema denticola) were susceptible to spiramycin. PMID- 2610513 TI - Intraluminal colonization as a source of catheter-related infection. PMID- 2610514 TI - D-lactate dehydrogenase. Substrate specificity and use as a catalyst in the synthesis of homochiral 2-hydroxy acids. AB - This note compares the substrate specificity of D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH, EC 1.1.1.28) to that of L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH, EC 1.1.1.27), illustrates three procedures that use D-LDH in synthesis and two methods for recycling NADH, and provides experimental details illustrating the use of D-LDH in organic synthesis. PMID- 2610515 TI - Pollution potential reduction of cheese whey through yeast fermentation. AB - Batch and continuous pilot-scale aerobic fermenters of 4.8 L operating volume were designed and constructed from plexiglass materials. The fermenters were used to study the kinetics of cheese whey fermentation using the yeast K. fragilis for pollution potential reduction and single cell protein production. Four retention times (6, 12, 18, and 24 h) were used in this study. The fermentation process was successful in reducing the total chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 42%, the soluble COD by 65%, the total solids by 53%, and the ammonium nitrogen by 90%. There were also gains in the suspended solids and the organic nitrogen of 60 and 17%, respectively. The reductions in the COD, total solids, and ammonium nitrogen, and the gains in the suspended solids and organic nitrogen were affected by the hydraulic retention time. More soluble material was converted to insoluble microbial cells at the 12-h hydraulic retention time, whereas greater pollution potential reduction was achieved at the 24-h hydraulic retention time for both batch and continuous operations. PMID- 2610516 TI - Demonstration of intra- and extracellular localization of bullous pemphigoid antigen using cryofixation and freeze substitution for postembedding immunoelectron microscopy. AB - Using low-temperature postembedding techniques for immunoelectron microscopy, we succeeded in demonstrating the precise localization of bullous pemphigoid antigen (BP-Ag) in normal human skin. Small pieces (less than 1 mm3) of normal adult skin were rapidly frozen in liquid propane at -190 degrees C and subjected to freeze substitution with 100% methanol at -80 degrees C. Specimens were embedded in Lowicryl K11M at -60 degrees C which was polymerized under ultraviolet radiation at -60 degrees C. Ultrathin sections were incubated with BP sera followed by rabbit anti-human IgG and colloidal-gold conjugated anti-rabbit IgG. Epidermal ultrastructure was generally well preserved: the basal cell plasma membrane and intra- and extracellular components of hemidesmosomes could be resolved. Gold particles were mainly distributed on and around the hemidesmosomes in both intra- and extracellular sites, with most of the labelling being inside the basal keratinocytes and within about 300 nm of the basal plasma membrane. No specific labelling was observed beneath melanocytes or when normal human serum was used as a control instead of BP serum. Our observations indicate that BP-Ag is localized in and around hemidesmosomes in normal human skin and that the antigen has both intracellular and extracellular domains with the major component occurring inside the cells. PMID- 2610517 TI - In vitro cell-free synthesis of bullous pemphigoid polypeptide. AB - We investigated the genetic expression of bullous pemphigoid (BP) antigen (230 kD) synthesized by Pam cells using an in vitro cell-free translation assay followed by immunoprecipitation. Prior to the study, we showed that (1) the 230 kD polypeptide does not undergo further processing after it is produced by cells in the short pulse experiment; (2) the 230 kD polypeptide is not degraded at least within the 18 h of the chase experiment; and (3) with tunicamycin treatment the underglycosylated BP antigen still interacts specifically with BP serum. The polypeptide of molecular size slightly greater than 230 kD was identified in the translated proteins directed by ribonucleic acid (RNA) isolated from Pam cells. The size of the mRNA was estimated to be approximately 34S-40S (7.7-10.9 kilobase) using the fractionation method with sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation of RNA. These results indicate that bullous pemphigoid antigen (230 kD) is a primarily translated product, genetically expressed by Pam cells. PMID- 2610518 TI - Light-induced skin lesions in lupus erythematosus: photobiological studies. AB - To investigate the light sensitivity to various wavelength regions in lupus erythematosus (LE), phototests were performed in 24 LE patients with clinical photosensitivity (7 had systemic LE, 9 discoid LE, and 8 subacute cutaneous LE). Skin areas (measuring 40-60 cm2) were irradiated daily, maximally six times. With all three light sources used (emitting UVB, UVA, and visible light respectively) abnormal papular or papulosquamous reactions could be induced. In four of the 20 patients reacting abnormally, lesions occurred 10 or more days after cessation of the phototests; this indicates that the problem of photosensitivity in LE may be greater than appreciated so far. PMID- 2610519 TI - Demonstration of neutrophil chemotactic anaphylatoxins in human dandruff. AB - In contrast to scales collected from the scalps of nine healthy individuals where a few parakeratotic cells are observable, a large number of parakeratotic cells associated with some infiltrated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) were found in the scales obtained from 11 individuals complaining of dandruff. Therefore, we determined the neutrophil chemotactic properties of the water-soluble extracts of dandruff scales and normal control scalp scales. Aqeous extracts fractionated by Sephadex G-75 showed a potent chemotactic activity only in the fractions of the dandruff patients that eluted with cytochrome C marker (cyt C; molecular weight, 12 kDa). It was comparatively stable to heat but was greatly inhibited by the addition of anti-C5 antiserum. Radioimmunoassay demonstrated that, although small amounts of C5a and C4a anaphylatoxins were demonstratable even in the extracts of normal scalp, they were found in significantly increased amounts in the extracts of dandruff. Moreover, there was a significantly positive correlation between C5a and C4a concentrations in these extracts. These results suggest that classical complement pathway activation with resultant production of C5a anaphylatoxin is involved in the migration of PMNLs into the lesional skin of dandruff. PMID- 2610520 TI - Studies on acute toxic effects to keratinocytes induced by hematoporphyrin derivatives and laser light. AB - Human epidermal keratinocytes were grown in culture and the uptake of hematoporphyrin derivatives (HPDs) used in photodynamic therapy was estimated. Keratinocytes loaded with HPDs were irradiated with laser light of 632 nm generated by a helium-neon laser and cell toxicity was determined by the trypan blue exclusion test and the measurement of enzyme release. With increasing intracellular concentration of HPDs and with increasing intensity of the laser light, an increasing number of cells took up trypan blue and released the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase and the lysosomal enzyme acid phosphatase after 1 h incubation of the irradiated cells at 37 degrees C. Cytotoxicity was less pronounced when the irradiated cells were incubated at 0 degree C indicating the involvement of enzyme reactions in cell death. No lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde and ethane formation was detectable. Our results suggest that during photodynamic therapy with HPDs and laser light epidermal keratinocytes may be seriously damaged. The data indicate that not lipid peroxidation but rather the activation of lysosomal enzymes is responsible for the cytotoxicity observed. PMID- 2610521 TI - Increase in the expression of the ornithine decarboxylase gene in mouse skin by ultraviolet light. PMID- 2610522 TI - Is the human nervous system most sensitive to environmental toxins? PMID- 2610523 TI - Acute health effects of community exposure to cotton defoliants. AB - In September and October of 1987, the California Department of Health Services responded to community complaints by investigating the relationship between health symptoms and community exposure to cotton defoliants. Symptoms experienced during the 1987 cotton defoliation season by 232 residents of cotton-growing communities were compared with symptoms of 175 residents of non-cotton-growing agricultural communities. Fatigue, eye irritation, rhinitis, throat irritation, nausea, and diarrhea were statistically elevated in rates adjusted for age, sex, and race and were reported 60-100% more frequently by respondents living or working near sprayed cotton fields than by the comparison group. These symptom rate elevations were substantially unchanged even after adjustment by a model of potentially confounding factors that included cigarette smoking, chronic illness, and some additional demographic variables. PMID- 2610524 TI - Respiratory symptoms and lung function in jute processing workers: a primary investigation. AB - This paper presents the results of an investigation of respiratory symptoms and lung function of 404 workers who had been exposed to jute dust in a jute mill. Measurement of total dust concentration and analysis of dust composition were also conducted. Most workers in the jute mill were exposed to jute dusts containing less than 5% silica, whereas a few workers were exposed to dusts containing approximately 10-15% silica. Male smokers and nonsmokers in the dust exposed group had a higher prevalence of cough and chest tightness compared with those in the control group. Among dust-exposed workers, female nonsmokers had a significantly higher prevalence of cough, chronic bronchitis, chest tightness, and dyspnea than those in the control group. Lung function tests showed that dust exposed workers had a greater incidence of abnormal lung function than did control workers, as measured by percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0), and FEV1.0/FVC. Dust exposure was the main cause of respiratory symptoms and abnormal values of FEV1.0, but both cigarette smoking and dust exposure contributed to the abnormal values reported for FEV1.0. PMID- 2610525 TI - Biochemical and biological markers: implications for epidemiologic studies. AB - Given that a major task for environmental epidemiology is to provide clear evidence of immediate and long-term health risks so that appropriate preventive measures can be taken, biochemical and biological markers of potentially hazardous environmental exposures are of great interest and possibly of great value. Such markers fall into two discrete classes: (1) those quantitatively related to the exposure itself, reflecting the magnitude of such exposures or the body burden of the pollutants, and (2) those markers that reflect the biological response to such exposures. In this paper we discuss the use of biochemical and biological markers in epidemiologic studies. Methods are presented for the use of markers to decrease misclassification errors in exposure studies. Relationships are derived that give minimum required values for laboratory sensitivity and specificity. Markers are also discussed in terms of some of the inherent problems in their use (e.g., ethical and legal considerations) and the likelihood of acceptance by participants in epidemiologic studies, researchers, regulators, and health professionals. PMID- 2610526 TI - Acute pulmonary edema in a storehouse of moldy oranges: a severe case of the organic dust toxic syndrome. AB - A woman who was 41 y of age developed pulmonary edema after massive fungal inhalation at an orange storehouse. A provocation test by exposure in the work place was positive. Neither immunological studies with fungi isolated nor other clinical and histological examinations showed any evidence of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This is the first report of a subject with organic dust toxic syndrome who developed pulmonary edema associated with the handling of moldy oranges. PMID- 2610527 TI - Acute arsenic intoxication from environmental arsenic exposure. AB - Reports of acute arsenic poisoning arising from environmental exposure are rare. Two cases of acute arsenic intoxication resulting from ingestion of contaminated well water are described. These patients experienced a variety of problems: acute gastrointestinal symptoms, central and peripheral neurotoxicity, bone marrow suppression, hepatic toxicity, and mild mucous membrane and cutaneous changes. Although located adjacent to an abandoned mine, the well water had been tested for microorganisms only and was found to be "safe." Regulations for testing of water from private wells for fitness to drink are frequently nonexistent, or only mandate biologic tests for microorganisms. Well water, particularly in areas near mining activity, should be tested for metals. PMID- 2610528 TI - Decreasing blood lead in Swedish children, 1978-1988. AB - The geometric mean of the blood lead concentrations in 1,781 samples obtained from children during 1978 to 1988 was 46.9 micrograms/l (0.23 mumol/l) (range: 14 250 micrograms/l [0.07-1.2 mumol/l]). There was a significant (p less than .001) decrease in blood lead concentrations of 7%/y in rural and urban areas. In 134 children who were sampled twice, the decrease over 2-y periods was 14%. The striking decrease in blood lead levels is most likely the result of a reduction of lead additives in motor fuel during this period. PMID- 2610529 TI - Evaluation of the perinatal and postnatal effects of uranium in mice upon oral administration. AB - Perinatal and postnatal studies were performed in Swiss mice given uranium--as uranyl acetate dihydrate--at daily dosages of 0, 0.05, 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg from day 13 of pregnancy until weaning of the litters on day 21 post-birth. Postnatal development was monitored after 0, 4, and 21 d of lactation. At doses of 0, 0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/kg.d, treatment with uranium had no significant effect on sex ratios, mean litter size, pup body weight, or pup body length throughout lactation. Significant decreases in the mean litter size on postnatal day 21, and in the viability and lactation indices were observed at the 50 mg/kg.d dose level. When comparing the "no observable effect level" (NOEL) for reproductive effects of uranium, with the concentrations of the metal usually ingested by men, a safety factor below 1,000 can be estimated. PMID- 2610530 TI - [Impact of the spraying of deltamethrin in a focus of leishmaniasis in Bolivia]. AB - After one month of entomological observations to record pretreatment data, a sub Andean village of Yungas, Bolivia (alt. 1500 m) was sprayed at the beginning of the rainy season (January 1987). Houses were treated inside and outside with deltamethrin at 0.025 g/sq.m.; kennels, hen-houses and stacks of adobe were also sprayed in the same way. As a result of the treatment, Lutzomyia longipalpis, the local vector of visceral leishmaniasis, disappeared from houses and animal shelters for 9 and 10 months respectively. The impact of the treatment on the populations of Lu. nuneztovari and anglesi, the presumed vector of tegumentary leishmaniasis, was not obvious. As compared with pretreatment data, the rate of engorged females in houses decreased by two, and their density was also reduced. But these data are difficult to interpret due to the natural seasonal variation in density in this species. Moreover, the information from the control village did not correspond as expected. Lu. n. anglesi is a highly exophilic species in this area, a behaviour which could explain the limited impact of the treatment on this sandfly. PMID- 2610531 TI - A twelve year follow-up of iodine deficiency in Bulape, Zaire. AB - In a defined population of Bulape, Zaire, the prevalence of simple goitre was 42.4 +/- 1.3%. Compared with studies in the same population done twelve years previously, the prevalence of simple goitre had increased by 13.9% (P less than 0.05). Urinary iodine determination remained approximately the same. We conclude that over the twelve year period, the prevalence of iodine deficiency has not improved in the Bulape population. PMID- 2610532 TI - Eurytrema coelomaticum infection in bovines in an abattoir in south Brazil. AB - Two and a half per cent of the 200 bovines examined in an abattoir in South Brazil had pancreatic gross lesions associated with Eurytrema coelomaticum infection. The lesions were mainly subacute periductular pancreatitis and the accompanying alterations in the adjacent parenchyma. Relevant literature is reviewed and compared with the results of the present study. PMID- 2610533 TI - [Sensitivity spectrum of Francisella tularensis to antibiotics and synthetic antibacterial drugs]. AB - Sensitivity of 6 F. tularensis strains to 57 antibiotics and synthetic antibacterial drugs was studied. It was shown that the strains were highly sensitive to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, anzamycins, quinolones, chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin, nitroxoline, novobiocin and fusidin and resistant to penicillins, cephalosporins, polypeptides, vancomycin and sulfanylamides. The interrace differences in F. tularensis could be detected only by sensitivity to erythromycin, oleandomycin and spiramycin. There was observed no cross resistance to streptomycin and other aminoglycosides in F. tularensis. Assay of F. tularensis sensitivity to antibacterial drugs of various groups with the rapid photometric procedure and the agar diffusion method revealed that the results were highly comparable. PMID- 2610534 TI - [Effect of antibiotics on excretion of various microbial metabolites with feces]. AB - Concentrations of volatile fatty acids, free amino acids, ammonia, protein, carbohydrates, carboxylic acids and some cations were determined in feces of intact animals (rats) chromatographically and spectroscopically. Oral administration of 8 chemotherapeutic drugs in the therapeutic doses to the animals resulted in changing excretion of the majority of the above compounds associated with vital activity of the large intestine microflora which depended on the drug type. Investigation of metabolic activity of normal microflora of the gastrointestinal tract is shown promising for estimation of intestinal microbial biocenosis. PMID- 2610535 TI - [Microflora of gastric juice and its sensitivity to antibiotics in post gastrectomy gastritis]. AB - Fifty four patients with postresection gastritis and 13 healthy adults were examined. 141 microbial cultures belonging to 33 species were isolated from the gastric juice of the patients. In the healthy persons 27 cultures belonging to 7 species were isolated from the gastric juice. In the gastric juice of the patients there predominated enteric bacteria and enterococci (64.8 +/- 6.5 and 57.4 +/- 6.7 per cent respectively). Among the enteric bacteria Escherichia coli and Proteus spp. were the most frequent. Contamination of the gastric juice by such microbes amounted to 10(5)-10(9) microbial bodies per 1 ml. The isolates were mainly sensitive to gentamicin (84.8 +/- 2.9 per cent). PMID- 2610536 TI - [Quantitative analysis of rifampicin and 25-desacetylrifampicin in the plasma using high performance liquid chromatography]. AB - A procedure for determination of rifampicin and 25-desacetylrifampicin in plasma by HPLC was developed. The plasma proteins are precipitated by acetonitrile and the supernatant layer (50 microliters) is used for the assay under isocratic conditions on an analytical column 250 x 4.6 mm in size containing the reversed phase sorbent (C18). The size of the precolumn is 50 x 4.6 mm. An UV detector (at lambda 335 nm) is used. For preparing the mobile phase 630 ml of methanol and 370 ml of 0.058 M sodium nitrite solution are mixed. The flow rate of the mobile phase is 40.7 ml/min. The assay duration is about 10 min. The retention time is 9.6 min for rifampicin and 6.5 min for 25-desacetylrifampicin. The minimum detectable amount of the antibiotic and its metabolite is 0.10 micrograms/ml. The standard curves of rifampicin and 25-desacetylrifampicin are linear within the concentration ranges of 0.5-100 and 0.5-10 micrograms/ml respectively. The procedure is useful in studies on pharmacokinetics of rifampicin and 25 desacetylrifampicin. PMID- 2610537 TI - [Individual schedule of administration of aminoglycosides with reference to anatomo-physiological and pathological factors]. AB - Potentiality of designing individual dosage of sisomicin and gentamicin in regard to "patient factors" was estimated. 62 adult patients with various pulmonary diseases at the background of volemic disorders of diverse degrees were treated with the aminoglycosides under monitoring of their blood levels. Concentrations of sisomicin and gentamicin in serum 1, 3 and 6 hours after their single administration in a dose of 1 mg/kg were determined by HELC. The antibiotic pharmacokinetics was characterized by pronounced individual variability. The ratio of the difference between the upper and lower confidence limits to the average values of the steady-state volume of distribution, the total clearance and the mean residence time amounted to 70, 60 and 57 per cent respectively. To elucidate the cause of the variability multiple correlation analysis of the pharmacokinetic parameters by the "patient factors" was performed. The highest coefficient of the multiple correlation (r = 0.690) defined relation between the aminoglycoside concentration 1 hour after the injection and the hematocrit, globular volume and phase of the volemic disorders which was expressed in coded variables. The coefficient of the multiple correlation between the total clearance and the body surface area, concentrations of creatinine and urea in serum, hematocrit, circulating blood volume and the phase of the volemic disorders was equal to 0.439. Therefore, the consideration of the above factors allowed to explain only 20 per cent of the observed individual variability of the pharmacokinetic parameters. In this connection mediated prediction of total clearance and subsequently individual dosage of the aminoglycosides by the "patient factors" was expedient only until the primary data on the pharmacokinetic monitoring were obtained. PMID- 2610538 TI - [Interferon preparations in the complex treatment of bacterial infections]. PMID- 2610539 TI - [Combined antibacterial therapy of infectious complications in oncological patients]. AB - Rational antibacterial therapy of infections in oncological patients in relation to the polyetiological nature of the infections and polyresistance of their causative agents contemplates the use of drug combinations. The necessity of long term antibacterial therapy in many oncological patients also predisposes to it. The choice of drugs for every patient should stem from bacteriological findings: isolation of the pathogen, its identification and assay of its antibiotic sensitivity. When isolation of the causative agent is not possible or could not be done immediately the drug should be chosen according to the general data on the etiological structure of infectious complications in the particular department and particular pathological process as well as antibiotic sensitivity of the bacteria isolated under such conditions. PMID- 2610540 TI - [Use of cephalosporins in pediatric practice with the study of the immunoleukolysis (leukocytolysis) reaction]. AB - The aim of the study was to determine the value of preliminary assay of hypersensitivity to cephalosporin antibiotics such as cephazolin, cefuroxime and cefotaxime with the immunoleukolysis test (ILT). 130 children at the age of 2 months to 7 years treated with one of the antibiotics for various inflammatory diseases of the bronchopulmonary system were examined. Hypersensitivity (the ILT indices over 30 per cent) was observed in 9.2 per cent of the children with respect to cephazolin (kefzol), in 3.9 per cent of the children with respect to cefuroxime (ketocef) and in 0.8 per cent of the children with respect to cefotaxime (klaforan). The results of the ILT combined with those of the conjunctival test allowed to increase the number of indications to differential use of the cephalosporins in children with various pathological processes in the bronchopulmonary system. PMID- 2610541 TI - [Use of cephalosporins for the prevention of mixed infection during surgical treatment of rectal cancer]. AB - Cephalosporin antibiotics such as cephaloridine, cephazolin and cephalothin++ were used during operations for rectum cancer. The antibiotics were administered intravenously and immediately into the superior rectal artery. It provided high levels of the antibiotics in blood and discharge of the small pelvis cavity and prevented development of infectious complications during the postoperative period. PMID- 2610542 TI - [Fucidin: its value and place in current antibiotic therapy of bacterial infections (information from the All-Union Center for the study of Antibiotics and Chemotherapy)]. PMID- 2610543 TI - [Resistance to antibiotics of Lactobacillus isolated from the intestines of healthy persons]. AB - Lactobacilli constitute a significant part of the microbial population in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. Sensitivity of intestinal lactobacilli to 11 chemotherapeutic drugs was tested with the method of serial dilutions in the solid medium MRS under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Criteria for dividing the organisms into sensitive and resistant ones with respect to the drugs are proposed. Prevalence of lactobacilli polyresistant strains in the intestine contents of healthy persons at the age of 25 to 50 years being in prolonged constant contact with antibiotics was shown. On the whole 77 various combinations of the antibiotic resistance markers were detected in 141 tested strains. The most frequent were isolated simultaneously resistant to 6 or 7 antibiotics. Different levels of the antibiotic resistance in the strains tested under the aerobic and anaerobic conditions were observed. PMID- 2610544 TI - [Second national symposium on public health. Health for all in the year 2000]. PMID- 2610545 TI - [Morbidity-mortality related to domestic accidents in Belgium: Epidemiology and strategy of prevention]. AB - Home accidents, especially those occurring in children in the younger age group, are a considerable concern to the public health authorities. In addition to the informations registered on the death certificates, the EHLASS-program, i.e. European Health and Leisure Accident Surveillance System, was organized since 1986 by the European Community in order to collect data on the morbidity related to this type of accidents. In Belgium, the collection of data started in 1987, and actually four hospitals provide information. Each year, several thousands of cases are reported. This poster will summarize the Belgian situation from the two sources of data. General strategies for prevention of home accidents are proposed, and some types of intervention are suggested. PMID- 2610546 TI - Indoor radon exposure and lung cancer in Belgium. AB - Indoor radon is the most important source of ionising radiation for the general public and is estimated to be a causal factor for lung cancer. Most risk assessment for low doses are based upon extrapolations of the observations among high exposed groups. As the validity of such procedure is still a controversal matter and in order to obtain direct epidemiological evidence, a case-control study about radon and lung cancer was set-up in southern Belgium. All subjects are recruited at the department of pneumology of the clinic of the catholic university of Louvain at Mont Godinne. In the first year some 130 persons entered the study. Preliminary analysis of the data gives an odds ratio of 4.2 for the exposed group of male smoking cases compared to the matched non exposed control group. PMID- 2610547 TI - [Psychological profile of young tobacco, alcohol and/or drug users]. AB - Focusing the 17th target of WHO related to health-damaging behaviour, an inquiry about Health Behaviour in Schoolchildren in the French Community of Belgium has been done in 1986. An anonymous questionnaire, sent to 3,600 young people 11, 13 and 15 years old, asked about their life behaviours (food, tobacco, alcohol, medicine consumption, leisure activities, social life, school...). Items such as tobacco, alcohol and/or medicine use have been crossed with items related to psychological well being. It appears, statistically significant, that young consumers differ from others young people because they often feel lonely, not healthy, not very happy, they don't like school, they underestimate themselves, they don't have plans for the future, they seldom speak with their parents who often are separated. We think that consumption of such harmful substances could be a compensatory behaviour to a bad Ego-representation. We suppose that parental education based on child respect and feelings expression could lead to a better self-perception and, in some degree, prevent some health-damaging behaviours. PMID- 2610548 TI - [Evaluation of the basic health care pilot project of the Turnhout area]. AB - A primary health care project was started two years ago by the PIH in collaboration with the health councils of ten municipalities in the region of Turnhout. The objective was to promote actions on better health that were beyond the capacity of existing regional health care facilities. The project is managed by representatives of the province and of the ten municipalities. The first subject for coordinated action was healthy eating. Three practical projects were developed: a salt concentration analysis of bread from 150 bakeries; a quality evaluation of the deep fat from 110 french fry stands and a secondary school programme entitled "Eat Healthy". A new concept of project development was proposed after the first study. 4 steps have to be considered in the future, which are: first to quantify the amount of the suspected health care problem in the region; secondly to activate an intervention strategy which tends to limit to suggest and initiate long term policy actions. Findings of the to suggest and initiate long term policy actions. Findings of the first project show that to obtain the desired results a well conceived information campaign is essential. PMID- 2610549 TI - [Cancer in children--relationship with the occupational exposure to physical, chemical and/or biological agents of the parents?]. AB - Although cancer in children is uncommon, it represents the second cause of death before the age of 15. One of the determinants in the development of malignancies in children may be formed by the parental occupational exposure to mutagenic or carcinogenic agents. In November 1988, the Department of Public Health of the Free University Brussels, started a case-control study to look for an association between parental occupational exposure and the development of cancer in their offspring. The cases are formed by all patients with leukemia, a brain tumors or a neuroblastoma treated in three pediatric hospitals in Brussels. For each case, two controls matched for age and sex, are recruited from the same hospitals. One control group is formed by all other cancer patients and a second group includes children hospitalized in the departments of surgery. The parents of the cases and the controls are interviewed about their occupations and occupational exposure in the past and the present. The occupational physicians are asked to supply a questionnaire about the occupational history of the employee. At the end of March 1990 the study will be closed. 20 parents of cases and 8 parents of control persons are already interviewed but we have no results yet. PMID- 2610550 TI - [The influence of menopause on blood pressure]. AB - The association between menopause and systolic and diastolic blood pressure was explored in a random sample of 278 pre- and 184 post-menopausal women. In 64 subjects menopause had been surgically induced. Post-menopausal women had a higher systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure than pre-menopausal subjects (p greater than 0.001). Hypertension, defined as being on antihypertensive medication, regardless of blood pressure, or as having a pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg, was more frequently observed following menopause (40 vs 10%; p greater than 0.001). After stratification by age and body mass index, the odds of having hypertension for pre- as compared with post-menopausal women were 2.2 (95% confidence interval from 1.1 to 4.4; p = 0.03). After adjustment of blood pressure for significant covariates, such as body mass index, pulse rate and contraceptive pill intake, the slope of systolic pressure on age was 0.5 mmHg/year (p less than 0.05) steeper in women with natural and surgical menopause than in pre-menopausal subjects. The relation of diastolic blood pressure with age showed a similar slope among pre- and post-menopausal subjects, but in women with natural and surgical menopause taken together, the regression line was shifted upward by an average of 2.3 mmHg (p = 0.03). The relationships of diastolic blood pressure with body mass index and with the urinary sodium: potassium ratio were also 0.2 mmHg/kg/m2 and 0.8 mmHg/unit steeper (p less than 0.05) in post- than in pre-menopausal subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610551 TI - [Rabies, a public health problem]. AB - In West-Europe, rabies is mostly reported in foxes, and in less extend in different domestic animals including dogs, cats, cattle, sheep, goats and horses. The contamination to humans occurs through contact with rabid animals by bite, scratch and even contact with the wound. This paper reports upon the current situation of rabies disease in Belgium and the prophylactic means routinely applied and those actually under experiment. In 1988, 514 animals were found positive, among which 366 foxes (71%), 95 cattle (18%), 46 sheep (9%), 14 cats (3%) and 15 dogs (3%). Due to this epizootic situation, 1391 human vaccinations (845 curative- and 546 preventive vaccinations) were given. Recently, few cases have been encountered at the north side of the Sambre-Meuse. This streamline has hitherto been considered to offer an adequate natural barrier against the rabies disease spreading. Further discussed is the prophylactic oral vaccination in foxes using two vaccines types: the live attenuated rabies vaccine and the rabies virus glycoprotein gene- vaccinia virus recombinant vaccine. PMID- 2610552 TI - [The spatial organization of health care in Flanders]. AB - This study aims at gaining a better insight into the (complex) way health care is organized in Flanders. With this purpose in mind the spatial component has been analysed. Forty maps are brought together into an "Atlas van de gezondheidszorg in Vlaanderen" ("Atlas of health care in Flanders"). They present a picture of the spatial location of medical and paramedical professions, of health care institutions, medical services, health organizations and health insurance organizations. Although every type of health care supply has its own, unique location pattern, most of them show common characteristics. As the highest concentrations of services and professions are usually located in the largest cities and as similar regional inequalities very often reappear, most maps present an explicit resemblance to the map of the urban network. The spatial organizational structure of most services coincides with the official (administrative) territorial division (especially in provinces). Provinces seems to play an important role in the spatial determination of the operation radius of medical services as well. Individual patient behaviour on the contrary is not influenced by this factor. PMID- 2610553 TI - [Action research on the place of work]. PMID- 2610554 TI - [Accessibility of medical services reachable by telephone. The example of the 100 service of Brussels]. AB - The study examines in which degree the belonging to different groups of the population (groups of age, of nationality, socio-economics) influences the interpretability of the help's calls made by telephone to the service 100. The good interpretation of the help's call is evaluated by mean of the decision, good or not, to reinforce the ambulance by a medical team. The analysis considers the phone calls for patients at home. The analysis shows that the accessibility to the service 100 depends on: --the nationality: some groups of nationality don't call the service 100, or not often, because the use of the telephone needs a rather good knowledge of one of the national languages, --the age: the number of calls grows with the age of the victim; the under-evaluation of the state of the victim is significantly more important for older people, --the socio-economic level: the belonging to a low socio-economic group appears as a partial obstacle to verbal communication. The phone calls coming from the poor districts allow a less good evaluation of the state of the victim. To conclude, we may say that: 1. when help's call arrives to the service 100, the operator appreciates the gravity of the situation with a fairly good precision. 2. for people who don't call the service 100 because they don't master enough one of the two national languages, a better accessibility to the service 100 needs a global policy of integration of the strangers (language courses...). PMID- 2610555 TI - [The Flemish Information System Drugfree Centers]. AB - The Flemish Information System for Drugfree Therapeutic Programs (VLIS-DC) is a computerised information system designed for residential treatment programs for drug addicts. The input is data from the therapeutic centers and the output is information for management, research and treatment. The system was installed in 1988. The final report for this first year has not yet been published, except for some preliminary results presented here. VLIS-DC generates information from clients admitted during 1988 in 8 departments in 6 centers for the whole Flemish region. Data of 623 admissions in these centers can be analysed. 411 were drug addicts (opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis, hallucinogens, solvents), 119 alcohol addicts and 75 addicted to medication. Of the total, 478 were daily users. The VLIS-DC is well functioning because all centers take part. Within a short time, more detailed information will become available from these centers. PMID- 2610556 TI - [Prevention of AIDS in secondary schools. Adaptation of the peer's education process]. AB - Peers education is a processus potentially relevant for the prevention of AIDS in secondary schools. This paper describes the public health, institutional and educational aspects of the adaptation and evaluation of peers education. The action-research consists of: building an institutional framework in order to ensure the decision-making for the project by consensus, the selection and training of peers; carrying a survey before and after the intervention in the 3 pilot and the 3 control schools. Results in May 89 emphasizes: the relevance and urgency of the prevention of AIDS in secondary schools; the importance of the institutional aspect for the continuity of the project; the involvement of the pupils and the trainers for the processus; the feasibility of an intervention using only local resources. There is still three months to wait to know if this method is relevant for the prevention of AIDS. PMID- 2610557 TI - [Prevention of substance dependence in primary school: work implement]. PMID- 2610558 TI - [Home care services: working together of interdependent family and professional assistants' networks]. AB - 1. Definition of one population need homecare for instance get assistance by a family's helper. 2. What are the diseases of that population, what about reductions of the mobility, what are the needs in terms of helping or assistance for: --the daily works, --the heavy household activities, --the essential activities in case of illness. 3. If the patients are not able to do one or several works, who help? Are there one or several professionals or/and one or several members of the social environment? 4. Are all the patients helped in the same way by the same helpers, for the same works? What kind of persons help the patients and for what work? 5. Is the situation similarly for the totality of the population? 6. No, there are many differences, for instance according to the patient living alone or not. 7. Evaluation of the cost for the patient of homecare. PMID- 2610559 TI - [Relative risk areas in the Louvain region. An ordinal geographical analysis of the health status and the distribution of health care]. AB - The analysis of the absolute figures of 21 socio-economic, hygienic and demographic indicators for the 30 communes of the district of Leuven did not show significant differences. A fourfold ordinal analysis, however, revealed a systematic pattern of differences for wealth, hygienic amenities, migration, birth rate and SMR. Six types of communes with two relative risk areas were described: cities and city-like communes, residential areas, rural villages with high emigration rates, poor economic areas, and transition areas between rural villages and cities and between wealthy and poor economic areas. The same pattern was found, though to a lesser degree, in the distribution of the facilities for health care and social welfare. The more wealthy communes were very well provided by these services, while the relative risk areas were overlooked. PMID- 2610560 TI - [Maternal and child health in the Fourth World. Initial results of a socio epidemiological survey]. AB - This paper presents the results of a qualitative survey of young mothers in deprived conditions, which was conducted as a part of a broader socio epidemiological research on health inequalities amongst mother and child. This survey reveals that this group is not solely distinguished in terms of socio economic categories. Cultural dimensions play also an important role in explaining their health related behaviour. The survey was aimed at determining the logic and principles of coping with health and sickness. The specific attitudes and behaviour of the survey group was described through fourteen dimensions (definition and perception of health, prevention, relations with professionals, networks used...). The results show that any approach of the health problems of this group has to take its specific health culture into account and that this approach is inevitable in any effort to promote health and reduce social inequalities for the so-called "Fourth World". PMID- 2610561 TI - [The integrated family health center of Ath. Current approach in the organization of health services]. PMID- 2610562 TI - [AIDS Hotline Flanders: results in 1988]. AB - The Stichting Aids Gezonheidszorg informs the general public about the disease via the Aids hotline. The aims are twofold: 1. We want to inform and support people; if necessary, we also refer to more adequate organisations for assistance; 2. We want to know who calls us and what are the needs so that we can help in organizing prevention campaigns. In 1988 we answered 1.987 authentic calls, about the same as in 1987. To allow more people to call, the opening hours of the hot-line will be increased from September 1989 onwards. 70% of the callers are men, 28% women. We notice two important subgroups: people who visit prostitutes and male homosexuals. Most callers are between 26 and 40 years old. Also more young people under 25 called last year. Prostitutes and I.V. drug users however rarely called. A lot of people call because they think to have run some risk. Therefore most questions deal with sexual transmission and blood tests. The number of people who had their blood tested is rather small. Most of them are homosexuals or visitors of prostitutes. This last group is most acquainted with the use of a condom, more than homosexuals and heterosexuals. Still a rather big percentage of people from all groups never use a condom. Therefore efficient campaigns are highly necessary. PMID- 2610563 TI - [Approach to the acceptability of the capitation fee system by the population in 3 integrated health centers of the Liege region]. AB - Capitation payment developed rapidly in the Liege area. The 1983 regulations were adopted by an existing health centre (Seraing) and two new health centres financed on capitation basis were created (Ougree, Liege). It is now possible to distinguish amongst the theoretical factors those who had significant impact on the speed of growth. This is thus a kinetics study. The factors taken into consideration are, on demand side: demographic, sociographic, cultural, economic; and on supply side: quantity, quality of supply (diversity: age, sex, culture), organization of permanent care. The temporary conclusion is that demography of demand and quality of supply seem to be dominant factors for the kinetics. Viability of a health centre depends strongly of growth kinetics. There is a provisional instrument for creation of new health centres and their success. PMID- 2610564 TI - [Primary health services, financing and research]. AB - The capitation method of payment is presently used in five health centres in Belgium, in accordance with the 1963 health insurance law. The position of this experience in the field of primary health care, with its direct impact on concrete and subjective dimensions, implies that its evaluation, even quantitative, should rely on action research methodology. Action-research includes concern for change and involvement of concerned actors with the objectives and the field of the research. The study protocol developed by the Federation of Health Centres is presented. It proposes the parameter "mean total cost by insured person". Presently the study does not progress; reason for this are examined. PMID- 2610565 TI - [Regional differences in the Belgian national campaign for a citizen CPR education "3 minutes for a life"]. AB - In 1986-1988 the Belgian Red Cross and the Belgian Heart Association organised a nationwide citizen-CPR campaign. In this report regional differences in attitude towards CPR, in perception of promotion and in CPR instruction are studied. In two telephone inquiries (study sample n = 2400) organised with one year interval perception of the promotional efforts of the campaign was studied. During the campaign date on 102,249 trainees (study sample n = 17491) and 9927 courses were collected. For each individual CPR course and trainee an evaluation form was generated, describing the profile of instructor, course and trainee. The telephone inquiries demonstrated that french speaking responders were less prone to personal active involvement in case of an unconscious victim (30% vs 47%) and less frequently planned to attend a CPR course (31% vs 22%) as compared to Flemish responders. Concerning CPR instruction, in the Flemish community 72613 citizens were trained in 5505 courses by 768 instructors. In the french community 29636 people were trained in 4425 courses by 524 instructors. Flemish instructors were less experienced than french instructors in CPR teaching (greater than 25 courses: FI 27%, Fr 41%). The profile of CPR instructors and CPR courses were markedly different in both communities but the trainee and teaching results were identical. PMID- 2610566 TI - [Carbon monoxide poisoning in the Brussels metropolitan area. Home survey technics and proposals for action]. AB - A previous study, preliminary to the organisation of a prevention campaign against carbon monoxide poisoning in Brussels, has confirmed the magnitude of this problem and shown the following two main risk indicators: the "age of the building" and the "nationality of the resident". Therefore, the actions conducted as part of this campaign, were principally focused on run down areas with high concentrations of immigrants. What's more, the possibility has been offered to every diagnosed victim to benefit from a free expertise of his equipment, in order to get a technical diagnosis. The analysis of our data related to all visits conducted from october 87 to april 88 shows that: 1. "resident's nationality" is not a risk factor, strictly speaking. When socio-economic standard is held constant, the risk appears to be identical in all nationalities; 2. most of the victims are underprivileged families; 3. among all apparatuses having been considered responsible for the accidents, around 2/3 are water heaters; 4. if all kinds of apparatuses are considered, the most frequent faults seems to imply the users' responsibility, lack of maintenance, defective connection with the smoke evacuation system), but for water-heaters, which are responsible for the majority of accidents, the main cause appears to be linked to a defective installation, namely the ventilation of the room not being in accordance with the officials norms. PMID- 2610567 TI - [Depressive symptoms in adolescents (1). Prevalence - remedy]. AB - This study concerns a population of 900 Belgian adolescents aged 16 to 21, i.e. 300 students, 300 workers and 300 unemployed. They accepted to answer a detailed questionnaire including a French version of the CES-D scale (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression). The prevalence rates of depressive symptoms observed in Belgium are higher than those found in the US. Moreover the Belgian adolescents observed in this study reach more often than U.S. adolescents the level of "clinical depressions" (18.9%). The rates are still higher when "occasional depressive symptoms" are also considered (occurrence: 1-2 days during the last week). However comparisons of this kind cannot be interpreted in a simplistic way. The rates vary with the social status of the adolescents: the unemployed present the highest level, followed by students; the workers have, comparatively, the lowest rates. These high prevalence rates require in depth analyses. The adolescents may need medical, psychological or social assistance which should be offered, at the primary care level. However their own choice leads them to get help elsewhere: close friends, partners (couple), simple friends (in French: "copain" and "copine"), siblings etc. Adolescents consult their doctor only exceptionally. This raises important questions, namely in the field of the training of health personnel. PMID- 2610568 TI - [Political refugees: an important risk group for AIDS and hepatitis B?]. AB - This prospective study shows that the prevalence of HIV and HBV in political refugees who arrived in Belgium between November 1988 and January 1989 was as follows: --Africans (mostly coming from Central Africa) 3.7% positive for HIV antibodies; 12.4% positive for HBsAg. --Asians (mostly coming from Middle and Southeast Asia) 0.2% positive for HIV antibodies; 8.4% positive for HBsAg. - Europeans (mostly coming from Southeast Europe) 0% positive for HIV antibodies; 14.8% positive for HBsAg. These figures indicate that all political refugees arriving in Belgium belong to a high-risk group for HBV infections and that, in addition, Africans also are in the high-risk group for HIV infection. It seems appropriate to test all persons wishing to take up residence in Belgium for the presence of HIV, HBV and HTLV-I, not so much because these viral infections are less frequent in that country but rather to offer the carriers of these infections adequate counselling. PMID- 2610569 TI - [Caries prevalence and dental hygiene in a group of school-age children]. AB - The results of a cross-sectional study of the prevalence of caries in a sample of 3,237 children aged 5 to 21 are described in relation to some objectives of the WHO program. The prevalence of caries is high in the sample: 1. 31.5% of the children aged 5 to 6 are free of caries (according to the WHO objectives, 50% of the children aged 5 to 6 should have no caries), 2. the mean number of decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMF/T index) in children aged 11 to 12 is 6.6 (The DMF/T should be less than or equal to 3). The frequency of toothbrushing is distributed as follows: 23% of the children brush their teeth once a week or less, 46% brush their teeth once a day, and 31% brush their teeth twice a day or more. The purpose and the frequency of the consultations at the dentist's office have been examined: 15% of the children never consult the dentist, 44% consult the dentist in case of toothache, and 41% go to the dentist's office for screening or control. Only 3.2% of the children use regularly and appropriately fluoride tablets. Since the variance of the results is large, it is difficult to distinguish explaining variables or determinants. However, the data indicate that social groups show differences in DMF indices as well as in the behaviors associated with dental hygiene and prevention. PMID- 2610570 TI - [Sympathetic modification of the relationship between salt intake and blood pressure in the general population]. AB - Using pulse rate and urinary sodium as indices of sympathetic tone and salt intake, respectively, we investigated whether both an increased sympathetic activity and a high salt consumption are needed to increase blood pressure in the population at large. A random population sample of 2081 subjects with a minimum age of 18 years was stratified by tertiles of pulse rate. In subjects with a slow and in those with a fast pulse rate, a significant curvilinear relation between blood pressure and urinary sodium was found, while in the middle pulse rate third the correlation was not significant. A significant interaction between pulse rate and urinary sodium indicated that, when urinary sodium increased from 160 to 300 mmol/24 h, both systolic and diastolic pressure rose in subjects with a fast pulse rate, but declined in those with a slow pulse rate. In conclusion, our results suggest that a high salt intake is associated with an elevated blood pressure in subjects with a high sympathetic tone, but with a decreased pressure in individuals with a low sympathetic activity. PMID- 2610571 TI - [Utilization of the International Classification of Primary Care, a new family practice classification]. AB - It is difficult to find an appropriate classification to describe first-line epidemiology adequately. The general practitioner cannot always use the existing classification such as ICD-9-CM: as he is dealing with illness in an early stage, he often uses "hypotheses" and not "diagnoses". The "International Classification of Primary Care", (I.C.P.C.), which has been developed by the World Organisation of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of general practitioners/Family Physicians is one primary health care classification. This classification has two axes with 17 chapters and 7 components. It classifies the reason for encounter, the diagnosis as well as the interventions of the general practitioner. The author reports on a first-trial using I.C.P.C. in Belgium. By means of participating observation by student-trainees, 5.478 encounters between general practitioner and patient of 94 general practitioners have been registered and centrally encoded. The possibilities to analyse the data are illustrated. At the same time, the author developed a nomenclature of medicine (6-figure code) which has been integrated in the I.C.P.C. Finally, the importance of this kind of epidemiologic first-line research has been pointed out. PMID- 2610572 TI - [Are the international changes in coronary mortality since 1968 incidental?]. AB - Important negative and positive changes in coronary mortality have been observed since 1968 in several industrialized countries. It is extremely important to know if those changes are spurious or real. It is the aim of this paper to try to resolve the problem by comparing coronary mortality with all causes mortality and other causes of death in 29 countries in the period 1968 to 1987, in men and women. The comparison was done not only as means obtained over the years, but also as slopes estimated in each country by linear regression of mortality versus the years of observation, and finally as yearly % changes in mortality. The comparisons were done between coronary mortality of men with other causes of death from men or women: all causes, cancers from colon, rectum, prostate and breast, and finally total cardiovascular, stroke and diabetes under three different conditions: means, slopes and % changes. The overall result was that when coronary mortality changed similar changes were observed for all causes mortality and the other causes of death. The majority of the data point to saturated fat intake as the common factor in the observed changes in different types of mortality. Those findings make a spurious origin of the change in mortality very unlikely and underscore the importance of vital statistics for monitoring public health. PMID- 2610573 TI - [Anthropometric factors in the prevention of osteoporosis]. AB - Osteoporosis, an important health problem, essentially concerns postmenopausal women since women have a lower peak bone mass than men when they reach adulthood and since the menopause is associated with an accelerated bone loss. We retrospectively analysed the bone measurements of 318 women, age less than 50. The bone mineral contents and densities of the mid- and distal radius (BMC m-rad, BMD m-rad, BMC d-rad, BMD d-rad) and of the lumbar L2-L4 vertebra (BMC L2-L4, BMD L2-L4) were measured using single and dual photon absorptiometer, respectively. The relations between age, height, weight, body mass index and the bone measurements were studied using multiple regression analyses. The anthropometric factors were accepted as first factors in the equations. R2 were respectively 17%, 17%, 28% for BMC m-rad, BMC d-rad, BMC L2-L4 and 7%, 5%, 8% for BMD m-rad, BMD d-rad, BMD L2-L4. These data suggest that anthropometric factors have an important influence on the different bone measurements. They also draw attention on the importance of preventive measures to achieve and to maintain an optimal bone reserve in premenopausal women. PMID- 2610574 TI - [Computers and contact dermatitis]. AB - A computerized database with the complete composition of pharmaceutical products and some cosmetics helps the patient with an allergic contact dermatitis reaction to avoid his specific allergens. Together with a database with patient information (12000 cases) this product, file serves as the basis for an expert system that assists the dermatologist during his every day clinical practice. The use of the computer in the field of contact dermatitis has gained much interest in the course of the last decade. In fact, the computer can be a particularly helpful tool in: 1. The storage of large amounts of data that can help to identify the patient's allergen microenvironment: --literature: articles related to contact dermatitis problems; --product information such as, for example, the composition of pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and industrial materials; --the dermatologist: the filling in of a standardized anamnesis from also helps to assure that relevant clinical data is not overlooked. 2. The diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis: on the basis of all these data stored, an expert system can be developed to provide targeted information to assist the physician with the anamnesis of a new patient. Depending on the profile of the patient, several factors that could be at the source of the contact dermatitis, such as the patient's profession, hobbies, and use of pharmaceutical products and cosmetics, can be considered, thus increasing the efficiency of the allergological examination considerably. 3. Research in contact dermatitis: --The data can be used for epidemiological analyses in behalf of the patients, the medical profession, the industry, and the authorities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610575 TI - [The impact of a new strict obstetrical strategy on maternal mortality and obstetrical results]. AB - In an attempt to reduce the caesarean section rate without an adverse effect on the obstetrical outcome, new guidelines for the management of dystocia, previous caesarean delivery, fetal distress, and breech presentation were introduced in September 1984 in a provincial hospital in Zimbabwe, Africa. Comparison of the two-year periods before and after September 1984 showed that the caesarean section rate had dropped from 16.8 to 8.0%, the maternal mortality rate from 2.0 to 0.5%, and the perinatal mortality rate from 71.9 to 56.2%. During the latter period use of oxytocin increased from 3.4 to 17.4%. These findings suggest that the adoption of strict guidelines can lead to a decrease of the caesarean section rate and an improvement of the obstetrical outcome in the absence of new technology. PMID- 2610576 TI - [The effect of a cardiac rehabilitation program on return to work]. AB - Return to work (RW) of patients (pts) after AMI or CABG was compared between a center with (I) and one without (II) Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) (outpatient; accelerated over 2-3 months; with ECG-monitored dynamic exercises 3 x 1 h/week; multidisciplinary). Over a 6 (I) and 4 (II) year period, 554 (I) and 555 (II) pts were examined; only pts who were active prior to the event, i.e. 61% in I and 21% in II, were considered for this study. Of the active subgroup, 79% returned to work in I compared to only 62% in II. Major differences were found depending on profession, i.e. selfemployers (I) 89% -- (II) 75% professionals (I) 82% -- (II) 71% and blue collars (I) 67% -- (II) 52%. From correlations between time to return to work (TRW) and professional reclassification (PR) with the type of cardiovascular disease (CVD), occupation (O) and age (A) the following conclusions could be made: --TRW vs O: blue collars returned later; there was also a high % in this group who did not return: 36% (I) and 48% (II). --TRW vs A: in I the majority returned to work within 6 months, regardless of A. In II a higher % of younger pts (-50 y) returned within 6 months. In case of no return, the higher the age of the pts, the lower the % of RW. --TRW vs CVD: in I return to work was later after CABG than after AMI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610577 TI - [ECG abnormalities in the MONICA Gent-Charleroi study population]. AB - In a survey of a random sample of the adult population (aged 25-64 yr) from Ghent and Charleroi (n = 1693), 103 (6.1%) showed ECG-abnormalities suggestive of coronary heart disease (Minnesota code I, IV, or V); prevalence was equal in men (6.2%) as in women (6.0%). In men, 30% of ECG-abnormalities suggested an old myocardial infarction as compared to 23.4% in women. Men with abnormal ECG had a positive history of acute myocardial infarction in 23%, as compared to 23.4% in women. Multivariate discriminant function analysis shows that men with abnormal ECG are older, have a higher systolic blood pressure and were more often married. Women with ECG abnormalities were significantly older, had a lower HDL-level and were less educated. So, although the prevalence of ECG abnormalities is almost similar between sexes, they correlate differently with antecedents of infarction and are poorly related to different sets of risk factors in men as compared to women. PMID- 2610578 TI - [Prevention of analgetics nephropathy]. AB - Abuse of analgesics is associated with the development of renal damage which can lead to end stage renal failure. Moreover, an increased incidence of urothelial cancer is reported in abusers of analgesics. In Belgium, AN still remains a serious problem with a prevalence of 18% in dialysis patients. However AN is a preventable disease but in Belgium no adequate measurements were taken for prevention. The results of our study showed that AN is caused by the abuse of analgesic mixtures. Apart from the analgesic components, most mixtures contained caffeine. This component is considered as the principal causative agent in creating a psychic dependence to analgesics. Initially phenacetin was implicated as the nephrotoxic culprit. In recent years, however, it has become increasingly clear that phenacetin is unlikely to be the primary cause of AN. Moreover, abuse of phenacetin-containing analgesics does not exist any longer because the product is disappeared from the Belgian market. In view of the actual knowledge concerning AN, we will recommend that analgesic mixtures be put under prescription, limiting over-the-counter medication to single analgesics, in order to eliminate the occurrence of AN in Belgium. PMID- 2610579 TI - [The Communaute francaise' eradication plan for measles, mumps and rubella]. AB - The combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella provides an efficient tool for the elimination of these three diseases in a community. In the French Community of Belgium the MMR vaccine is commercially available since 1984 and was officially included in the immunization schedule in 1985. The present coverage rate is estimated at 60% of the children under 24 month. To improve the situation, the "Conseil Consultatif Communautaire de Prevention pour la Sante" of the French Community of Belgium has proposed a programme of MMR immunization promotion based on a coordinated mobilization of the various structures involved i.e. MCH organization, school medicine, general practitioners, pediatricians, Faculties of medicine and Health Administration. The programme has been adopted by the political authority and has started on February 1st 1989. PMID- 2610580 TI - [The use of the cervix brush for early diagnosis of cervix uteri cancer: quality of the smear]. AB - From may 1988 till may 1989, a cervix-brush has been used to take smears by a group of general practitioners involved in a cervical cancer screening program. These smears are compared--retrospectively--with a selection of smears from previous cervical cancer screening programs. The collection devices previously used were an Ayre spatula and an Ayre spatula combined with a cotton tipped swab. All smears have been cytologically examined by the Center for Cancer Prevention of the UIA and have been described using the standardized KOPA-method. 3 Groups of smears have been included in the study: --group 1 (n = 299): use of a cervix brush --group 2 (n = 1315): use of an Ayre spatula --group 3 (n = 1450): use of an Ayre spatula + cotton tipped swab. Concerning their previous experience in taking smears, all the participating GP's are considered to be comparable. There was a slight difference in the age distribution of the women examined, between group 1 and the other 2 groups. From this study, we concluded: --a larger number of smears from the group using the cervix-brush (group 1) has been described as having "good quality". This result was confirmed after matching for age group. - the number of abnormal smears detected was comparable for all groups. PMID- 2610581 TI - [Pollution and human exposure: proposal of criteria for meeting the WHO recommendations in the matter of risk reduction related to the environment]. AB - Risk assessment methods do not refer to the dynamical processes at the back of observed values of parameters, when relating an effect to one evaluation of doses, or bio-indicator values to external contamination levels. This results in decreasing responses of the human organism as a function of increasing exposure levels. On the contrary, the ecotoxicological approach, applied to the case of lead, shows that a first order kinetics holds until blood lead of 80 micrograms/dl blood, either for the relation between tooth and blood lead, or for this between blood lead and the flux of lead absorbed daily (micrograms/day). Then, the max. admissible concentrations for various sources of Pb should be lowered strongly, for maintaining the Pb body burden below limit values. The method is proposed for application to a series of other pollutants, and for risk reevaluation. PMID- 2610582 TI - [Follow-up of a cohort of premature infants: identification of factors associated with hospital death]. AB - A cohort of premature babies (i.e. under 2.000 g and/or less than 32 weeks of gestation) born in Brussels in 1987, was followed-up during and after their stay at the neonatal unit. Among the 181 babies, 27 hospital deaths were recorded (a rate of 14.9%). Some of the variables significantly associated with hospital deaths (p less than 0.005) are well known, i.e.: birthweight, gestational age, respiratory distress, intraventricular hemorrhage. The strength of the link is measured by the relative risk (RR). For each factor with a significant RR, the positive predictive value (PPV) was also calculated. Not surprisingly, respiratory distress and intraventricular hemorrhage have the highest RR and PPV. More interesting, however, is the relatively high RR of Apgar score at five minutes (the value of which is determined at an early stage). Furthermore, the positive predictive value reaches a level of 35% and may therefore be used for the early detection of babies with a high risk of hospital death. PMID- 2610583 TI - [Determinants of fat consumption in a general population]. AB - In a random sample of the adult population (aged 25-64 yr) from Ghent and Charleroi in Belgium, dietary fat consumption was estimated using both qualitative and quantitative dietary methods. A fat consumption score (FCS) was constructed from the qualitative method and correlated significantly with the dietary P/S ratio calculated from the quantitative method. Differences in FCS were then studied using univariate and multivariate analyses. In both men and women FCS was higher in Charleroi than in Ghent. In men FCS was inversely related with educational level and with age and positively related with BMI. In women no significant correlations were observed. In the middle-aged group (aged 45-64 yr) significant correlations were found between FCS and the fatty acid composition of the cholesterol-esters, in particular with the linoleate/oleate ratio. PMID- 2610584 TI - Chemical composition of a lipopolysaccharide from Legionella pneumophila. AB - Lipopolysaccharide isolated from Legionella pneumophila (Phil. 1) was examined for chemical composition. The polysaccharide split off by mild acid hydrolysis contained rhamnose, mannose, glucose, quinovosamine, glucosamine and 2-keto-3 deoxyoctonate, in molar proportions 1.6:1.8:1.0:1.5:4.1:2.7. Heptoses were absent and glucose was probably mainly phosphorylated. The carbohydrate backbone of the lipid A part consisted of glucosamine, quinovosamine and glycerol, in the molar ratios 3.9:1.0:3.4, with glycerol as a phosphorylated moiety. A complex fatty acid substitution pattern comprising eight O-ester-linked, exclusively nonhydroxylated acids, and nineteen amide-linked, exclusively 3-hydroxylated acids was revealed. Both straight- and branched (iso and anteiso) carbon chains occurred. The major hydroxy fatty acid was 3-hydroxy-12-methyltridecanoic acid and six others were of a chain-length above 20 carbon atoms, with 3-hydroxy-20 methyldocosanoic acid as the longest. Two dihydroxy fatty acids, 2,3-dihydroxy-12 methyltridecanoic and 2,3-dihydroxytetradecanoic acids, were also detected. These results suggest that L. pneumophila contains a rather complex and unusual lipopolysaccharide structure of considerable biological and chemotaxonomic interest. PMID- 2610585 TI - [In vitro studies of the antitumor effect of melphalan and analogous aniline mustard derivatives]. AB - Melphalan and analogous aniline mustard derivatives were tested on antitumor activity in vitro. All compounds showed similar antiproliferative effects against melanoma B16, sarcoma 180 and leukemia P388D1. Thus, the singular clinical efficiency of melphalan may not simply be explained by a selective uptake employing amino acid carrier systems of tumor cells. PMID- 2610586 TI - Antifungal activity of novel 5-carbonyl derivatives of 3-phenyl-3-(1H-imidazol-1 ylmethyl)-2-methylisoxazolidines. AB - The synthesis and antifungal activity of a series of novel 5-carbonyl derivatives of 3-phenyl-3-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-methylisoxazolidines (4) are discussed. The preparation of the title compounds involved a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of alpha-substituted ketonitrones with either acrylic esters, acrylamide or methyl vinyl ketone to furnish cis/trans-diastereomeric mixtures of the desired 5-carbonyl isoxazolidines 4. The anifungal activity was evaluated in vitro in solid agar cultures. Some of the compounds tested exerted moderate to potent activity against a wide variety of dermatophytes and yeast and systemic fungi. PMID- 2610587 TI - Diethylaminopropionamido-hydroxy-anthraquinones as potential anticancer agents: synthesis and characterization. AB - A number of new 9,10-anthracenediones were obtained, bearing one or two hydroxyl groups and one positively charged side chain at different positions of the aromatic ring system (compounds 1-5 in Chart 1). These derivatives resemble the anticancer agents mitoxantrone and ametantrone. The synthesis started from dihydroxy- or amino-hydroxy-9,10-anthracenediones, which were converted into the nitro-derivatives. After reduction to the corresponding amines and acylation with 3-chloropropionyl chloride, substitution with diethylamine led to the final diethylaminopropionamido derivatives. The new anthracenediones cause a quite relevant inhibition of cell growth in vitro and will be tested as possible anticancer agents. PMID- 2610588 TI - [Synthesis, stereochemistry and analgesic action of 3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1] nonan 9-ones and 1,3-diazaadamantan-6-ones]. AB - The 1,3-diazaadamantan-6-ones 13-18 are synthesized from the 4-piperidones 1-3. Different conditions lead to stereoisomeric structures. The 3,7 diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ones 8 and 9 show similar geometrical isomerisms. The configuration is determined by means of 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic data. Whereas the diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanones 7 and 12 show opioid-like effects, the diazaadamantanone 13 is a peripheral analgesic. PMID- 2610589 TI - [Potential CNS-active tricyclic compounds with a bridged middle ring. 9,10-Epoxy 9,10-dihydroanthracenes with dialkylamino side chain]. AB - As a continuation of our efforts on the synthesis of 9,10-epoxy-9,10 dihydroanthracene compounds with basic side chain several substituted 9-amino methyl derivatives have been prepared by Diels-Alder cyclization of substituted benzo[c]furanes with benzyne. The benzo[c]furanes were obtained by vacuum flash thermolysis of 1,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-1-carbonamides which were produced by Diels-Alder reaction of 2-furan-carbonamides with benzyne and by subsequent hydrogenation. PMID- 2610590 TI - [Methodic recommendations for the determination of whole body protein synthesis rates in tracer studies]. AB - Methodical recommendations are suggested--predominantly for laboratory and small animals (rats and young chickens)--for the determination of parameters of the protein metabolism of the whole body after single doses of a mixture of 15N labelled amino acids by means of the determination of the temporal course of cumulative 15N excretion in urine and the assessment of the tracer kinetic data in a compartment model. These recommendations are to make it possible to carry out purposefully such experiments under comparable conditions. The advantages of this method are: the non-invasive character of the method; the possibility of repeating the experiment with the same animal; the adaptability to other methods of investigation (e.g. measuring energy metabolism); the relatively low expenditure of labour and requirement of test animals; the relatively good reproducibility of the method. Thus this method is a good supplement to the flooding and permanent infusion methods and should be used wherever the determination of parameters of the protein metabolism of the total body is sufficient. PMID- 2610591 TI - [The effect of different centrifugation conditions in the isolation of mixed rumen bacteria on their content of nitrogen and diaminopimelic acid: use of duodenal content as raw material]. AB - The objective of the present study was, to investigate the effect of varying conditions of differential centrifugation of duodenal content on the isolation of bacteria (B-fraction) and feed particles + protozoa (FP-fraction). The treatments at low-speed centrifugation were as follows: 100 x g/5 min, 400 x g/10 min, 1000 x g/10 min and 2000 x g/10 min, high speed conditions were 30,000 x g/30 min/4 degrees C. The results of three experiments are given. Analytical examination gave similar results for N-contents for all treatments, the mean values being 7.90 +/- 0.27% (n = 12) for B-fractions and 6.53 +/- 0.73% (n = 12) for FP fractions. Increasing the low-speed from 100 x g to 2000 x g lead to increasing DAP-contents and decreasing N:DAP-ratios of the bacterial isolates, the values being 2.43, 3.02, 3.22 and 3.39 mg DAP/g DM and 32.0, 27.4, 25.0 and 23.0 N:DAP ratio. Decreased isolation of bacterial material in the B-fraction in conjunction with increased incorporation in the FP-fraction resulted in rising the speed of the low speed centrifugation. The rates of loss of DAP, measured by comparison with the total amount were 10, 32, 48 and 70% respectively. It was concluded to prefer the isolation of bacteria from rumen fluid. PMID- 2610592 TI - [Methodical influences on the determination of prececal digestibility]. AB - With ileum-cannulated sows (flexible, large-luminal T-shape cannulas after method of Kesting et al., 1986) the influence of level of intake, individuality of animal and relation of additional feed in the diet on the determination of precaecal digestibility were tested. The results showed that precaecal values of digestibility were affected by method. The authors recommend the isogravimetrical determination (exchange trial) of additional feeds. PMID- 2610593 TI - [The merit of using untreated, HCl-treated amd partly-hydrolyzed straw meal in the feeding regime for piglets after early weaning. 3. Parameters of protein, fat, carbohydrates and mineral metabolism in the blood serum of the piglet]. AB - In parallel studies with piglets of the country race the applicability of variously treated straw materials was tested in comparison with the conventional feeding of concentrate (I) after an early weaning date (30th-35th day of life) over a feeding period of 8 weeks (1st-8th week of keeping). In the rations containing 10% straw (concentrate-straw mixtures), untreated (II), HCl treated (III:HCl treatment without steaming) and partly hydrolyzed straw meal (IV:HCl treatment with subsequent steaming) were tested. In the 2nd and 8th weeks of keeping blood samples were taken from 4 animals of each group and selected parameters of the protein, fat, carbohydrate and mineral metabolism were subsequently ascertained from the blood serum. About half of the total of the 13 selected parameters showed reactions of the intermediary metabolism of the test groups caused by the feeding. With the parameters on the whole varying in the normal physiologic range, a decrease in the blood urea and creatinine concentration and an increase in the blood glucose level were detected after the use of the concentrate-straw mixtures (III and IV) in comparison with the sole feeding of concentrate (I) and partly also in comparison with untreated straw meal (II), their intensity varying in dependence on feeding and test duration. Particularly towards the end of the experiment, an increase of the activity of alkaline phosphatase was also characteristic, which was in negative correlation with the P content of the serum and in positive correlation with growth performance. The physiologic parameters are discussed in connection with the higher growth performance at reduced concentrate expenditure achieved in III and IV in comparison to I and II. PMID- 2610594 TI - Morphological characterization of chicken anaemia agent (CAA). AB - Chicken anaemia agent (CAA) was characterized as a virion with 25 nm in diameter, with a buoyant density in CsCl of 1.36-1.37 g/cm3, and containing a circular, single-stranded DNA genome. The virus is composed of 32 hollow morphological units representing a regular T = 3 icosahedron. PMID- 2610595 TI - Differential modulating effects of retinoic acid on interferon antiviral activity. AB - The effect of retinoic acid (RA) on the antiviral activity of interferons (IFNs) alpha and beta in the U937 and WISH cells was examined to ascertain whether or not RA could reduce the effectiveness of IFN-induced resistance to viral infection. Our results indicate that in the U937 cells, RA (0.1-1.0 microM) had neither enhancing nor suppressive effect on the antiviral activity of IFN-alpha or beta against the Semliki Forest virus (SFV). However, in the WISH cells, RA had different effects on IFNs alpha and beta. Thus, while RA (0.1-50 microM) invariably suppressed the activity of IFN-alpha, it enhanced the action of IFN beta at low dose (0.1-1.0 microM) but became suppressive at higher concentrations (greater than or equal to 10 microM). Furthermore, higher antiviral activity was consistently obtained when RA (0.1-10 microM) was added prior to either IFN-alpha or IFN-beta comparing to cultures with IFN alone. In addition, direct correlation between antiviral activity and the amplitude of 2-5 oligoadenylate (A) synthetase activity was not observed. These results suggest that modulation of IFN antiviral activity by RA varies with different systems and is dependent on the sequence of treatment. PMID- 2610596 TI - Stable expression of hepatitis B virus genome in a primate kidney cell. AB - Transfection of Vero cells with cloned hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA resulted in the secretion of hepatitis B surface protein (HBsAg) and core proteins (HBc/eAg). Syntheses of both viral antigens in the transformed Vero cells continued for at least 50 days after cultivation. HBsAg particles were composed of many spherical and some filamentous particles containing both pre-S1 and pre-S2 domains. Restriction analysis of the transfected cellular DNA showed that one copy of HBV DNA was integrated in the cells. Some species of HBV-specific RNA were detected by Northern blot, and among these a major transcript was found to migrate at 2.1 kb by S1-mapping analysis. Viral core proteins present in the culture medium were fractionated and characterized by cesium chloride gradient and found to form particles. PMID- 2610597 TI - A comparative study on the cell-free translation of the genomic RNAs of two aphid picorna-like viruses. AB - The genomic RNAs of aphid lethal paralysis virus (ALPV) and Rhopalosiphum padi virus (RhPV)--two distinct picorna-like viruses found in aphids [Williamson et al. (1988) J Gen Virol 69: 787-795]--were both efficiently translated in rabbit reticulocyte lysates. ALPV RNA was translated into primary products with molecular weights ranging from 92 kDa to 170 kDa. These underwent time-dependent post-translational cleavage to produce smaller polypeptides including some with molecular weights comparable to those of the viral structural proteins. A 92 kDa polypeptide as well as smaller proteins were immunoprecipitated with capsid protein antisera, indicating the presence of at least one large capsid subunit protein precursor. RhPV RNA was translated into products of molecular weights ranging from 45 kDa to 175 kDa. There was no evidence for time-dependent post translation cleavage of RhPV translation products. However, a 60 kDa polypeptide was precipitated with antiserum to RhPV virions, indicating that at least one capsid protein of RhPV is derived by proteolysis of a precursor protein, like those of ALPV and most other picornaviruses. PMID- 2610598 TI - Characterization of viral proteins of Oryctes baculovirus and comparison between two geographical isolates. AB - Bacilliform Oryctes baculovirus particles have been visualized in electron micrographs of midgut sections from virus infected Oryctes rhinoceros beetles. Morphologically the Indian isolate (Oryctes baculovirus, KI) resembled the previously reported Oryctes baculovirus, isolate PV505. The constituent proteins of baculovirus KI have been analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and by Western blots using polyclonal antibodies raised against the complete viral particles, as probes. A total of forty eight viral proteins have been identified. Fourteen viral proteins were located on the viral envelope. Among the proteins constituting the nucleocapsid, three were located internally within the capsid. A 23.5 kDa protein was tightly associated with viral DNA in the nucleocapsid core. Two envelope and seven capsid proteins of KI and PV505 revealed differences in SDS-PAGE profiles and glycosylation patterns. Immunoblotting of KI and PV505 proteins with anti KI antiserum demonstrated antigenic differences between the two viral isolates. PMID- 2610599 TI - [The ultrastructure of the ciliary epithelium in patients with the Zivert Kartagener syndrome, bronchiectasis and cystic hypoplasia of the lungs]. AB - Ultrastructure of the cilia of the bronchial epithelium was studied in 26 patients with Zivert-Kartagener syndrome, 12 patients with bronchiectasis and 10 patients with cystic lung hypoplasia. All changes of the cytolemma and cytoskeleton are found to be of a combined type. The degree of the bronchial inflammation was of the decisive influence on the state of the ciliary cells. Common features of the ultrastructural alterations are noted in the groups of patients compared. Ultrastructural defects characteristic for the patients with the Zivert-Kartagener triad were not found. It is concluded that all the ultrastructural defects of the ciliary epithelium were of the acquired character. PMID- 2610600 TI - [Liver morphology in delta virus hepatitis]. AB - Biopsy material from two groups of patients with liver diseases is studied. 12 patients with a high titer of total anti-delta (D)-antibodies are included into the 1st group. In this group, among patients with total antibodies to D-infection D-antigen in the liver tissue is found in 6 cases with a pronounced chronic aggressive hepatitis (CAH) and active liver cirrhosis (ALC). The 2nd group consisted of 30 patients with CAH and ALC and D-antigen was observed in 10 cases. Hepatocyte degeneration and pronounced lobular infiltration were the only distinctive feature of liver morphology in D-positive cases as compared to the D negative ones. The presence of D-antigen always correlated with an active inflammatory process. PMID- 2610601 TI - [The role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the mechanisms of ulcerogenesis]. AB - The functional activity displayed by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PL) of the peripheral blood and gastric mucosa, including ulcer margins, was studied in 50 rabbits with ulcer experimentally induced by the Okabe method and in 25 intact animals. The peripheral blood PLs were found to show substantially increased lysosomal cation proteins (LCP), enhanced alkaline phosphatase and decreased peroxidase activity. The changes in the gastric mucosa, particularly in its damaged area, were characterized by a marked microcirculatory bed response and formation of lymphocytic and, later on, pronounced neutrophilic infiltrates. The tissue PL therewith contained abundance of glycogen and LCP and intensively secreted granules. The maximum of these manifestations as viewed from PL coincided with the ulcer formation period (on days 2-3 of the experiment). When the ulcer had developed, the levels of LCP and glycogen in PL became lower. It was concluded that PL made an important contribution to ulcerogenesis. PMID- 2610602 TI - [The morphology of the adrenals and kidney incretory structures in arterial hypertension]. AB - Glomerular and fascicular zones of the adrenal gland and the incretory renal structures of patients who had died from benign (20) and malignant (10) forms of essential hypertension, chronic glomerulonephritis (10) and of rats with a genetic hypertension (10) were examined by morphometric methods. Hypertrophy of glomerular and fascicular zones is observed in both forms of the hypertension disease, spontaneous hypertension and chronic glomerulonephritis. Correlation analysis revealed moderate and strong links between the volumes of nuclei and nucleoli; within each zone and between the zones. This may indicate an increased functional activity of the two zones and their close interaction. Factorial analysis revealed a sign indicator--nucleus volume of the glomerular zone cells. Numerous moderate and strong correlations between the incretory renal structures and the adrenal cortex in the malignant form of the hypertension disease may indicate not only the involvement of the renin-angiotensin-aldosteron- and prostaglandin-synthesizing systems in the pathogenesis of this disease but their interaction as well. PMID- 2610603 TI - [The hypothalamo-hypophyseal neurosecretory system in rats with hereditary arterial hypertension]. AB - Histochemical and cytometrical analysis of the peptidergic Gomori-positive or hypothalamo-hypophyseal neurosecretory system (HHNS) was made in the 3 strains of rats: spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), rats with inherited stress-induced arterial hypertension (ISIAH), and normotensive Wistar rats. A significant increase in the production of the peptide neurohormones by the supraoptic nuclei was found in two hypertensive strains (SHR and ISIAH) compared to the normotensive Wistar rats. For ISIAH-rats, the excretion of neurohormones was more pronounced in the region of median eminence, and for SHR--in the posterior hypophyseal lobe. It was concluded that hyperfunction of HHNS can play an important role in the hypertension development in two strains or rats studied. PMID- 2610604 TI - [Morphologic changes of the cranial nerves, spinal cord ganglia and roots in botulism]. AB - Peripheral nervous system was studied morphologically in 4 patients who had died from botulism. The results indicate considerable alterations in cranial and spinal nerves as well as in spinal cord ganglia. This may explain a neurological symptoms (radiculoneuritis, radiculoganglionitis) in botulism. PMID- 2610605 TI - [An analysis of the quality of the clinical diagnosis based on autopsy data]. AB - The findings from 4359 autopsies made in 4 Moscow hospitals during 1986 were analyzed with two proposed tables. The primary materials were processes with a computer. Table 1 includes data on the total number of unrecognized cases by the main disease, major complications, concomitant and underlying diseases in terms of their category and cause of diagnosis discrepancy. The rate of the discrepancy between clinical and postmortem diagnoses averaged 21.6 +/- 4.7% by the main disease, that of unrecognized fatal complications and major concomitant and underlying diseases was found to be 7.6 and some 2%, respectively. By the categories, the analysis of diagnosis discrepancy indicated 35, 58.6, and 6.4% in Categories I, II, and III, respectively. Table 2 (combined correlational one) makes it possible to study the range of diagnostic errors in various diseases and to find typical mistakes made by clinicians. Analyzing the quality of clinical diagnosis according to the given pattern is of advantage in routine practice to obtain comparable consistent data, to make a thorough examination, and to generalized discrepancy cases of clinical and postmortem diagnoses. PMID- 2610606 TI - [Rapid diagnosis of celiac-sprue syndrome]. AB - A rapid method was developed to diagnose celiac-sprue disease, which was based on the detection of serum antibodies to gluten and simultaneous assessment of the histological structure of the upper small intestinal mucosa. Examinations of labelled lectin binding in the cryostat sections of the small intestinal mucosa, assessment of the status of the regional T-lymphocyte system, and identification of blood autoantibodies to reticuline or epithelial cells of the small intestine provide additional information on the course of the disease. The diagnosis is made within 2-3 hours. PMID- 2610607 TI - [Hypoplastic dysplasia as one of the forms of nephropathy]. AB - Hereditary and congenital nephropathies constitute a substantial proportion among diseases of the urinary system. Renal biopsies from 3 patients showing clinical symptoms of chronic glomerulonephritis were examined. Morphological studies were made of semithin and serial ultrathin sections of the biopsy specimens. This revealed the racemosely arranged glomeruli with single capillary loops, abundant rounded cells freely lying in the cavity of a capsule; single mesangial cells; irregular enlargement, loosening, and thinning of the basement membrane. The analysis of the findings makes it possible to consider them to be a manifestation of hypoplastic dysplasia, to differentiate nephropathy developing at this background from other renal diseases and to use a more efficient and sparing therapy. PMID- 2610608 TI - [Necrotizing sarcoid-like granulomatous vasculitis of the lung in a female patient with liver cirrhosis]. AB - A case of necrotizing sarcoid-like granulomatous vasculitis (NSGV) in a female with liver cirrhosis (probably of virus etiology) complicated with systemic manifestations (skin vasculitis, syndromes of Raynaud and Sjogren). NSGV was diagnosed on the basis of the autopsy findings. Giant cell, epithelioid and macrophagal granulomas that differed from those in sarcoidosis by the presence of central necrosis, were found histologically in the walls of lung vessels and bronchi of various caliber. Keeping in mind a possible immuno-complexed pathogenesis of vasculitis in liver cirrhosis and NSGV as well as a probable viral etiology of liver cirrhosis it is likely that NSGV resulted from the vascular damage by immune complexes containing hepatitis virus antigens. Another peculiar feature of this observation was development of pulmonary hypertension. PMID- 2610609 TI - [Amebiasis in Transcaucasia and in mountainous desert locales]. AB - The history of the amebiasis investigation in Transcaucasia is presented. 16 cases of amebiasis are described. Data for 1982-1988 on the amebiasis in the moorland are given (41 fatal case). PMID- 2610610 TI - [The use of a histochemical method for detecting iodine in studying the thyroid]. AB - The authors developed a method for histochemical determination of the iodine content. The method was used in studying a distribution and content of SH groups and iodine in the connective tissue, follicular thyrocytes and intrafollicular colloid of the thyroids of an infant and patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Basedow's disease and thyroid adenoma. The accessibility and high information value of the method is shown. PMID- 2610611 TI - A comparison of the biomechanical properties of the periodontal ligaments of erupting and erupted teeth of non-continuous growth (ferret mandibular canines). AB - Extrusive loads of 0.01-0.2 N were applied to the permanent mandibular canine teeth of two groups of ferrets. In one group, aged approx. 7 weeks, the tooth had only recently emerged into the mouth. In the second group, comprising adult animals, the tooth had fully erupted and had been in function for a considerable time. Biphasic, viscoelastic-like responses followed both the application and removal of the load in both groups. However, there was significantly more mobility for all phases of the loading and recovery cycles in the erupting teeth. The data were compared with previous findings for continuously growing teeth. They highlight the marked periodontal changes which take place when tooth erupts into the mouth, provide some evidence against the generation of a tractional eruptive force, and show some differences in response between teeth of limited or continuous growth. PMID- 2610612 TI - Incorporation of magnesium into rat dental enamel and its influence on crystallization. AB - The incorporation of magnesium into the enamel of immature rats was studied by chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction. Magnesium solutions were injected subcutaneously and later intra-orally into growing rats. Increased magnesium was detected in the enamel at the late developmental stage, and a delay in enamel mineralization resulted from increased magnesium uptake. Incisal enamel from the Mg-injected rats had significant line-broadening on X-ray diffraction, characteristic of poorly crystallized enamel. PMID- 2610613 TI - The permeability of dentine from bovine incisors in vitro. AB - The permeability of coronal dentine was investigated by measuring the hydraulic conductance of dentine discs. Reductions in dentine thickness from the enamel side of disc resulted in a greater increase in permeability than reductions from the pulpal side. Scanning electron microscopy revealed fewer dentinal tubules with smaller diameters in superficial dentine than in deep dentine. The permeability of coronal incisor bovine dentine is six to eight times less than that of unerupted coronal human third molar dentine but similar to that of human root dentine. PMID- 2610614 TI - Incidence of selected ureolytic bacteria in human dental plaque from sites with differing salivary access. AB - Saliva is the main source of urea in the human mouth and may be responsible for the predilection of ureolytic bacteria for certain tooth sites. As a test of this hypothesis, the ureolytic bacteria, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Actinomyces naeslundii, Actinomyces viscosus and coagulase-negative oral staphylococci, were enumerated in supragingival plaque from various sites in each of 10 subjects. The sites sampled included the maxillary and mandibular incisors (chosen because the lower incisors are more exposed to the submandibular-sublingual secretion than the upper) and the maxillary and mandibular molars (the upper molars being closer to the source of parotid saliva). After dispersion of the plaque samples in saline, subsamples of each suspension were plated on appropriate selective media and other subsamples were taken for nitrogen analysis to measure the amount of plaque sampled. H. parainfluenzae that used urea was present in the largest numbers, A. viscosus was next and A. naeslundii and coagulase-negative staphylococci were least. The staphylococci and H. parainfluenzae were more numerous from mandibular than from maxillary incisors and from maxillary than mandibular molars, a pattern which suggests that salivary access favours their selection. The numbers of A. viscosus and A. naeslundii were not related to salivary access: A. viscosus was most numerous from the maxillary incisors, possibly because this site is normally the most acidic of the four studied and A. viscosus is strongly acidogenic and aciduric; the incidence of A. naeslundii had no relationship with site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610615 TI - A transmission electron microscopy study of the adsorption patterns of early developing artificial pellicles on human enamel. AB - Adsorption patterns of pellicles formed in a flow cell system under a moderate shear rate of 21 s-1, were studied with a replica technique. Characteristic features of the bare enamel surface disappeared within seconds after exposure to reconstituted saliva, indicating the adsorption of a homogeneous film. After that, three to four distinct homogeneous films were adsorbed on top of each other within 10 s and an uneven, knotted structure developed with stalky projections on the outer surface. This heterogeneous adsorption pattern determined the structure of the pellicle surface for at least 2 h. PMID- 2610616 TI - Plaque fluid pH, calcium and phosphorus responses to calcium food additives in a chewable candy. AB - Fourteen subjects between 7 and 17 years of age with an equal distribution of low and high caries activity were given: (1) a 10% sucrose rinse, (2) a reference candy, (3) a reference candy with 3% dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, and (4) a reference candy with 0.75% calcium lactate on four different occasions. Plaque samples were collected before and at 15-min intervals after the sucrose rinse or food challenge for a period of 1 h on each occasion. Plaque samples were centrifuged and the extracellular plaque fluid analysed by a microtechnique for pH, total calcium and inorganic phosphorus concentration. There was no significant increase in calcium and phosphorus in plaque fluid for the group using candy with added calcium compared to the reference candy or sucrose rinse. There was no significant difference between the measurements in subjects grouped as caries active or inactive. The results suggest no benefit can be expected from adding dicalcium phosphate dihydrate and calcium lactate to candy to decrease demineralization during a cariogenic challenge. PMID- 2610617 TI - Comparative cariogenicity and dental plaque-forming ability in gnotobiotic rats of four species of mutans streptococci. AB - The four species, each represented by two strains, all produced high levels of fissure caries in the upper and lower jaws of gnotobiotic Fisher rats. Streptococcus rattus strains and Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10832 gave low levels of approximal caries, whereas Streptococcus cricetus, Streptococcus sobrinus and Strep. mutans NCTC 10449 gave high levels. The only strains to produce buccal surface lesions were Strep. sobrinus and Strep. cricetus. All strains were able to form dense plaque in the central fissure of the second molar. Strep. cricetus, Strep. rattus and Strep. sobrinus strains were capable of producing smooth surface plaque. This difference in plaque-forming ability did not correlate precisely with differences in cariogenicity, and such differences occurred between strains of the same species. PMID- 2610618 TI - Changes in human parotid salivary protein and sialic acid levels during pregnancy. AB - Saliva was collected with a Carlson-Crittenden device, under citric acid stimulation, in 107 pregnant women, 9 puerperal and 7 non-pregnant controls. No significant changes were found in salivary flow rate, pH and amylase levels. The total protein levels were decreased during pregnancy and the puerperium. The sialic acid levels decreased gradually but markedly during pregnancy, returning to normal levels in the puerperium. These changes in parotid saliva may be related to the hormonal changes of pregnancy. PMID- 2610619 TI - Endurance and recovery from a sustained isometric contraction in human jaw elevating muscles. AB - Ten males sustained maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of the jaw elevators. Unilateral bite force and electromyographic (EMG) activity were recorded from the right masseter and temporalis. The experiment comprised three endurance trials, and each trial consisted of two sustained 100% MVC clenching tasks. Between the two tasks, the subjects took a randomly assigned rest of either 30, 120 or 300 s. Immediately after each task, they performed an additional brief 100% MVC to check for contractile failure. EMGs were taken from the beginning and end of each sustained 100% MVC and used to determine and compare the EMG centre frequency. The difference in endurance times between the first and second clenchings was greatest for the 30-s rest and progressively decreased as the rest period increased. The beginning EMG centre frequency was significantly greater than the end for each clenching. These findings strongly support the proposal that even though the jaw elevators are resistant to a contractile element failure, a contraction-induced pain is produced, which limits a sustained jaw-closing effort. Recovery from this effort pain is related to the post-contraction blood flow. PMID- 2610620 TI - The expression of anchorage independence by malignant rat oral keratinocytes after colony formation in vitro and tumour formation in vivo. AB - The expression of anchorage independence in malignant oral epithelial cells retrieved from colonies formed in agarose and tumours formed in athymic mice was examined. The original epithelial cell lines were derived from lingual and palatal squamous cell carcinomas induced in rats by the carcinogen 4 nitroquinoline N-oxide. The capacity to express anchorage independence varied considerably between the original cell lines and essentially increased with passage in culture. In three out of four colony-derived subpopulations, the colony-forming efficiency was significantly greater than that of the original cell lines. Xenograft subpopulations expressed higher colony-forming efficiencies than their original counterparts in only two of five cell lines. Undifferentiated tumour xenografts resulted in more homogeneous tumour-derived subpopulations, in contrast to the more heterogeneous cell lines from well-differentiated tumours. The findings demonstrate functional diversity within and between malignant rat oral epithelial cell lines and their colony- and xenograft-derived subpopulations. PMID- 2610621 TI - Ultrastructure of a new generation of odontoblasts in grafted coronal tissues of mouse molar tooth germs. AB - Third molar tooth germs were removed from 14-day-old mice and freed from the enamel organ and follicle. After section of the apical tissues, including Hertwig's sheath, they were transplanted in 1-day-old newborn mice of the same lineage. Electron microscopy of grafts removed 7, 14 and 21 days later showed that, following the disappearance of the initial layer of odontoblasts and a period of adaptation, 14 days after transplantation newly differentiated odontoblasts deposited tubular dentine. The dentine matrix production was increased over that of controls, demonstrating that synthesis was accelerated, possibly because of lack of nerves in the grafts. Numerous characteristic structures that might be involved in the transit of proteoglycans from the Golgi apparatus were seen, as far as the extremity of the odontoblast processes. The particular experimental conditions allowed the observation in the neck region of the odontoblast of a concentration of coated vesicles which might be involved in cellular lengthening. Thus, in the presence of a fine and regular vascular network, a new generation of odontoblasts may differentiate, even in the absence of epithelial and nervous elements, and so predentine may contain inductive factors that allow the odontoblastic differentiation of pulp cells in contact with it. PMID- 2610622 TI - The distribution of fluoride of prenatal origin in the rat--a pilot study. AB - Sixteen female, Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four equal groups. Two groups served as controls receiving low or regular concentrations of fluoride (F); animals in the other two groups were given drinking water, containing 100 parts/10(6) F, for 3 weeks either during or immediately before pregnancy. Thirteen days after delivery, the pups and dams were killed and various tissues analysed for F content. Prenatal F supplementation increased F concentrations in plasma, mandibular incisors and femoral epiphyses of pups by 25, 36 and 38% respectively, when given during pregnancy. Only a slight increase of 9 and 11% in the respective F concentrations of incisors and epiphyses occurred when the supplement was given before pregnancy. The fluoride level of milk was consistently higher than that of the maternal plasma. These results suggest the need for further study of prenatal F supplementation. PMID- 2610623 TI - A comparison between the elemental surface compositions and electrokinetic properties of oral streptococci with and without adsorbed salivary constituents. AB - In order to characterize the functional cell surface, isoelectric points and elemental surface concentration, the ratios of nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus to carbon of saliva-coated strains were determined by pH-dependent zeta potential measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and compared with those of uncoated strains. The measurements of potential were carried out on completely hydrated cells, whereas the spectroscopy was on freeze-dried micro-organisms. The small increase in the nitrogen:carbon surface concentration ratio of saliva coated streptococci in comparison to uncoated strains varied from 0.001 (Streptococcus mitis BA) to 0.029 (Streptococcus sanguis CH3) and was concurrent with an increase of the isoelectric point, ranging from 0.0 to 0.9. Increases in the oxygen:carbon ratio ranged from 0.006 (Strep. mitis BA) to 0.041 (Streptococcus mutans NS), whereas the phosphorus:carbon surface concentration ratio was unchanged after saliva treatment. Despite the fact that isoelectric and compositional measurements were made in different states of surface hydration, a decrease in the nitrogen:carbon ratio accompanied by an increase in oxygen:carbon ratio, was related to a decrease of the isoelectric point of the saliva-coated strains, and so analogous with previous observations for uncoated strains. Although there were changes in the physico-chemical properties of the strains upon saliva coating, all more or less kept their own surface identity despite adsorption of salivary constituents, possibly indicating some capacity to protect their own physico-chemical identity. PMID- 2610624 TI - Single motor unit and surface electromyogram analysis of human jaw-closing muscle reflexes after tapping an upper tooth. AB - The mechanical stimulation of an upper tooth elicited reflex responses in masseter and temporalis motor units, which were recorded with both surface and needle electromyograms (EMGs) simultaneously. The subjects maintained one of the recorded motor units, which was the latest recruited unit, at a constant firing frequency, varying from 12 to 25 Hz. After a latency of 10 ms, all 19 motor units were inhibited for a period, the duration of which depended on the prestimulus firing frequency. A motor unit with a low firing frequency was inhibited for a longer time than a faster firing one. At the end of this inhibition there was an increased probability of firing recorded, in the form of a time-locked clustering of action potentials. Furthermore, in three motor units, all firing at a frequency of about 25 Hz, the first interspike interval after the inhibition was regularly half the duration of the mean prestimulus interspike interval. The timing of the last action potential before the stimulus influenced significantly the reflex responses in all motor units. PMID- 2610625 TI - Regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ in resting and stimulated rat submandibular salivary gland acini. AB - To determine the range over which cytosolic Ca2+ concentration (Cai2+) is regulated, Cai2+ was measured in salivary acini loaded with Fura-2. With extracellular Ca2+ (Cao2+) = 2.5 mM, mean resting Cai2+ (+/- SD) was 103 +/- 20 nM (n = 29). Carbachol increased Cai2+ immediately to 288 +/- 81 nM, which then declined to a sustained level of 253 +/- 58 nM. When Cao2+ was less than 10 nM, the immediate response to carbachol was little affected but the sustained response was abolished. Atropine abolished all responses to carbachol. Changes in Cai2+ were not due to Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release or to Ca2+ influx via voltage dependent channels. With Cao2+ = 2.5 mM, epinephrine raised Cai2+ initially to 196 +/- 57 nM (n = 6), which soon declined to stable levels of 178 +/- 40 nM. When Cao2+ was less than 10 nM the prolonged response to epinephrine was abolished but the initial increase was relatively unaffected. All epinephrine induced changes in Cai2+ were abolished by prazosin. The range of Cai2+ measured corresponds to that over which non-mitochondrial Ca2+ transport is stimulated in permeabilized submandibular gland acini suggesting that such a Ca2+ transport system may regulate physiological changes in Cai2+ in these acini in the rat. PMID- 2610626 TI - Effect of condylotomy on matrix synthesis and mineralization in the rat mandibular condylar cartilage. AB - Little information is available about the influence of biomechanical factors on the rate of matrix synthesis and mineralization in the condylar cartilage. In an attempt to temporarily disrupt articular forces at the temporomandibular joint, bilateral condylotomies were performed on 29 day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals which underwent a similar surgical procedure except for actual condylotomy comprised a sham-operated control group; a non-operated third group served as further controls. Incorporation of [35S]-sulphate did not differ among the groups at 18 h and 2 days after condylotomy, but was significantly reduced in condylotomy animals at 7 and 14 days. Total alkaline phosphatase activity was reduced at 18 h and increased at 14 days by condylotomy, with no differences at the intermediate time intervals; similarly 45Ca-uptake was increased at the 14 day interval. Thus both matrix synthesis and mineralization of the condylar cartilage were altered in the 2 weeks after condylotomy. The changes are in general similar to those noted in other studies after a lessening or removal of articular forces from the condyle. PMID- 2610627 TI - Differences in tooth wear as an indicator of changes in jaw movement in the guinea pig Cavia porcellus. AB - Patterns of tooth wear have frequently been used to make inferences about jaw movements and tooth use in modern and extinct mammals. However, there has been relatively little experimental work to define the limits of usefulness of tooth wear studies. In the present study, electrolytic lesions in the left trigeminal motor nucleus of five guinea pigs resulted in significant changes of jaw movement. Scanning electron microscopy revealed significant differences in tooth wear between the lesion and non-lesion sides of these animals. Control animals showed no significant differences in tooth wear between right and left sides. The differences in tooth wear in the experimental animals were readily interpretable in terms of the induced changes in jaw movement. PMID- 2610628 TI - The effect of tooth extraction on periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors represented in the mesencephalic nucleus of the cat. AB - When a force is applied to a tooth, mechanoreceptors in the periodontal ligament are stimulated. When teeth are extracted the remnants of the periodontal ligament break down and disappear, but it is not known what happens to the mechanoreceptor neurones that innervated it. The present study seeks to determine the effect of tooth extraction on the population of periodontal ligament mechanoreceptor neurones represented in the mesencephalic nucleus of the fifth cranial nerve. The incisor and canine teeth were extracted from adult cats; terminal experiments were performed between 7.5 months and 2 yr later. Recordings were made in the mesencephalic nucleus with microelectrodes, and neurones were identified in the inferior alveolar nerve that previously innervated the periodontal ligament of one of the extracted mandibular teeth. The majority of these neurones responded only to electrical stimuli applied to the edentulous ridge of the mandible in the area where the incisor or canine teeth had previously been. It was not possible to stimulate them mechanically, despite the use of large forces. A small number had reinnervated new soft-tissue sites. They could be mechanically stimulated and were found adjacent to the area in which the mandibular incisor and canine teeth had been. Thus the population of periodontal ligament mechanoreceptor neurones represented in the mesencephalic nucleus do not all degenerate after tooth extraction. As the majority of those still present do not appear to reinnervate new tissues in which they can be mechanically stimulated, it is unlikely that they have any functional role after tooth loss. PMID- 2610629 TI - A comparison of the masseteric silent period in temporomandibular joint dysfunction and normal human subjects by surface electromyography and single motor-unit recordings. AB - Single electric stimuli were delivered to the lower lip and the reflex effects were monitored in the ipsilateral masseter. Two strengths of stimulus were delivered at two levels of background excitation (defined in terms of the firing frequency of a single motor unit). Although the threshold stimulus intensity required to produce a silent period in the single motor units was the same for the patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction and normal subjects, there were qualitative differences in the pattern of reflex responses between the two groups. Of the two phases of inhibition elicited by the stimulus, the short latency inhibitory period was the more prominent and more resistant to changes in the background excitation levels in the dysfunction group. In normal subjects, however this was true of the long-latency inhibition. This difference may be due to the changes in the inputs to one or more of the interneurones linking the afferent limb of the reflex to the masseteric motoneurones. PMID- 2610630 TI - Inhibition of palatal fusion in vitro by indomethacin in two strains of mice with different H-2 backgrounds. AB - Susceptibility to glucocorticoid-induced cleft palate in mice has been related to the H-2 histocompatibility complex on chromosome 17. Indomethacin administered in vitro to palatal processes from 13.5-day-old mouse embryos inhibited palatal fusion. Strains with the A background and the H-2a haplotype had significantly higher rates of inhibition than their partners with the H-2b haplotype. The inhibition was prevented in both strains by the addition to the media of prostaglandin E2, but this corrective effect was greater in the A strain with the H-2a haplotype. Thus, blockade of palatal fusion involves prostaglandins, suggesting a similar genetic and biochemical pathway for the different susceptibilities to cleft palate induced by both indomethacin and glucocorticoids. PMID- 2610631 TI - Stability and mutual conversion of enamel apatite and brushite at 20 degrees C as a function of pH of the aqueous phase. AB - By calculation, apatite is more soluble than brushite at low pH and less soluble at high pH. Apatite, therefore should be able to transform spontaneously to brushite at low pH and brushite to apatite at high pH. The aim was to describe this mutual conversion as related to the aqueous phase composition. Powdered enamel, brushite or 1:1 mixtures of the two salts were suspended in distilled water for up to 12 weeks at 20 degrees C, pH was adjusted to 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 by drops of perchloric acid or potassium hydroxide. The calcium and the phosphate concentrations and pH were determined, and the nature of the calcium phosphate powder was examined by X-ray diffraction. At pH 8 and above, brushite was invariably converted to apatite, whilst it was transformed to octacalcium phosphate at pH 7. In the pH range 6-4 brushite was not converted to apatite and enamel apatite was not transformed to brushite spontaneously within 2 months. In the enamel apatite suspensions, the apatite ion product altered with pH, which explained why apatite did not transform to brushite at pH 5-4. At pH 3.7, however, the enamel apatite was converted to brushite. No transformation of apatite to brushite was identified in apatite-brushite mixtures at pH 6-4. Supplementary experiments showed that ethanol, used as an agent for removal of water, salted out the water-free dicalcium phosphate, monetite. PMID- 2610632 TI - Effect of protein malnutrition on the composition of submandibular glands of aged rats. AB - Fifty 22-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed for 8 weeks ad libitum with either a 20% protein diet (control) or a 5% protein diet (protein malnourished group). Submandibular glands were removed, weighed and homogenate prepared. After the low protein diet, there was a slight but significant decrease in body weight, glandular content of total protein (mg/g tissue), kallikrein activity/mg protein and glutamine-rich peptide. In contrast, the gland weight, DNA and mucin content were not changed by feeding a low protein diet. Thus in aged rats submandibular glands are only modestly affected by protein malnutrition and the effects on gland-specific proteins vary. PMID- 2610633 TI - Cyclical incorporation of 33P into rat incisor enamel in vivo as visualized by whole-mount radioautography. AB - Phosphorus uptake during amelogenesis was investigated in the continuously erupting rat incisor. Five minutes after intravenous injection of 33P-labelled ortho phosphoric acid, whole-mount radioautography of entire incisors revealed heavy labelling in the form of bands and narrow parallel stripes at the surface of the enamel in the maturation zone. There was relatively little labelling over enamel in the secretion zone and over pigmented enamel. Thus 33P is incorporated cyclically into maturing enamel and is visualized as (1) a banded pattern that reflects the modulation of ruffle-ended and smooth-ended maturation ameloblasts and (2) a striped pattern that reflects the distribution of newly-formed protein secreted by maturation ameloblasts. Presumably these P incorporation patterns are closely related to other cyclical events known to occur during enamel maturation. PMID- 2610634 TI - The rapid measurement of fluoride concentrations in stored human saliva by means of a differential electrode cell. AB - For the purpose of rapid measurement, the performance of a differential cell, consisting of a combination pH electrode and a F- electrode and used at low pH (1.2), was compared with the use of a single F- electrode at pH 5.0. The differential cell proved to be as accurate and consistent as the single electrode: its response time was 2 min for a saliva volume of 50 microliters; the response time of the single electrode was 20 min with a saliva volume of 1000 microliters. Analysis of salivary supernatant fluid provided an unreliable guide to the original salivary F- concentrations but if fresh whole saliva was acidified to pH 1.2 immediately upon collection, the original baseline values were repeatedly obtained when measurements were made at intervals over a storage period of 14 days at 4 degrees C. Immediate acidification thus provides a satisfactory method for collecting samples from separate populations and then transporting them at leisure to a laboratory for direct measurement at pH 1.2 with the differential cell. PMID- 2610635 TI - Focus on incontinence. Overview. PMID- 2610636 TI - Focus on incontinence. PMID- 2610638 TI - Women's Health Policy challenges nurses to continence. PMID- 2610637 TI - Focus on incontinence. Nursing care. PMID- 2610639 TI - Biomedical/clinical engineering. PMID- 2610640 TI - Dose computations for three-dimensional radiation treatment planning. AB - The knowledge of radiation dose at all points of interest within a patient's body is essential for the evaluation of treatment plans and for the judicious selection of the best one from among a set of competing plans. This paper discusses the physical and geometric aspects of radiation dose distribution calculations necessary for three-dimensional treatment planning. A practical method of obtaining dose distributions for a given arrangement of beams and beam modifiers is with the aid of computer calculations based on mathematical formalisms derived from the principles of physics. The most accurate method of computing dose is by Monte Carlo stimulation of radiation transport. However, this method is extremely CPU time intensive and too complicated to implement for routine radiation treatment planning. Approximate semi-empirical methods have to be employed to compute dose distributions within reasonably short times. Conventional approximate methods do not yield results of adequate accuracy. Newer methods that are better able to take into account the three-dimensional nature of radiation transport have been introduced but require considerably greater computing capacity. Furthermore, computing power needs for dose calculations for three-dimensional treatment planning are one to two orders of magnitude greater than the corresponding needs of two-dimensional treatment planning. However, the concern for greater computing power requirements is being lessened somewhat with the advent of high speed computers and specialized hardware, and with the development of clever algorithms for speeding up dose calculations. For three dimensional treatment planning some geometric issues, such as the calculation of dose at points in three-dimensional space, the incorporation of three-dimensional patient and beam geometry into a system for dose calculations, the choice of optimum grid spacing, radiological pathlength calculations, and algorithms for speeding up dose calculation, take on added importance compared to the corresponding issues for conventional two-dimensional planning. These issues are also discussed here briefly. PMID- 2610641 TI - A quality assurance programme for mass screening in mammography. PMID- 2610642 TI - Psychoanalysis: a creed in decline. PMID- 2610643 TI - Quality assurance project. PMID- 2610644 TI - Changing patterns of suicide in Australia. PMID- 2610645 TI - Origins and establishment of the schizophrenia research programme at Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital. AB - This paper documents the initial phase of a new research direction which began in 1984 at Royal Park Hospital. Attention is focussed on the place of the university and the research institute in the psychiatric hospital and on the perceived need for concerted research on the major psychoses in Australia. The focal point of the Royal Park research programme, the Aubrey Lewis Clinical Research Unit, has been open since October 1984. The development of the unit's research activities during the initial few years of its existence required an awareness of specific scientific, administrative and political issues. These are discussed in detail in order to convey something of the process, as well as the content of such development, and in an attempt to provide some assistance to others undertaking similar developments. PMID- 2610646 TI - Sources of public prejudice against electro-convulsive therapy. AB - Recent legislation in NSW betrays a prejudice against electro-convulsive therapy. Factors probably contributing to popular prejudice against ECT are discussed. PMID- 2610647 TI - Use of private psychiatric services in Australia: an analysis of Medicare data. AB - An analysis of Medicare data for the 1985-86 financial year showed that the distribution of private psychiatric services varied greatly by age and sex. Females were greater users than males, except in childhood where the opposite was true. Service use was lowest for children and for the elderly and highest for the 35-44 year old group. Amongst patients receiving psychiatric services, elderly people were more likely to receive short consultations and ECT. These findings carry considerable implications for health service policy and for medical education. PMID- 2610648 TI - Quantum metaphors in deep psychotherapy. AB - Most psychodynamic theories are based on Freud's models of mental dynamics which were significantly influenced by Newtonian physics. Freud's attempts to use the then current scientific metaphors led to theoretical and clinical dilemmas particularly in deep psychotherapy and especially with borderline patients. The author argues that as Newtonian principles are useful for describing macroscopic reality, so Freud's Newtonian constructs are useful to a certain depth of therapy. Beyond that point, scientific metaphors can be retained but the appropriate metaphors are those of quantum physics. Quantum metaphors are used to explore duality, free will and patient-therapist interaction. PMID- 2610649 TI - The limitations of multivariate statistical methods in the mensuration of human misery. AB - Multivariate statistical methods have been widely used in the analysis of the multiple symptom data which are routinely collected in psychiatric research on the classification of depressive illnesses. The most commonly used methods, those of factor analysis and discriminant function analysis, were introduced into research on the classification of depressive illness with unreasonably high expectations about what they could achieve. The failure to realize these expectations has produced scepticism in some quarters about the usefulness of multivariate methods in psychiatric research. When evaluated more circumspectly, multivariate statistical methods have made a contribution to our understanding of depressive illnesses, and they will continue to do so, if they are used with more reasonable expectations. PMID- 2610650 TI - Grasping the nettle: forensic child psychiatry. AB - Child psychiatry is becoming increasingly involved with the law. Other professionals have expertise in interpreting children's needs and behaviours to the courts, but child psychiatrists have unique skills and lawyers should be helped to understand what they have to offer. Difficulties in the dialogue between child psychiatry and the law are discussed. Training child psychiatrists to function efficiently in the legal system must be given priority by the newly established Faculty of Child Psychiatry. PMID- 2610651 TI - Post-traumatic stress disorder: some diagnostic and clinical issues. AB - The development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a group of 42 individuals exposed to a multiple homicide was examined. A comparison of DSM-III and DSM-III-R indicated that 74% qualified for a diagnosis of PTSD using DSM-III, but only 33% met the criteria outlined in DSM-III-R. The most commonly reported symptoms were found to be intrusive recollections of the event and exaggerated startle response. In general, those symptoms that are new additions in the revised version were the least frequently reported, whilst guilt, which has been excluded from DSM-III-R, was experienced by 38% of the sample. It is suggested that the new criteria may not cluster with the core syndrome of PTSD. PMID- 2610652 TI - Ethical issues and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AB - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has received much publicity and medical attention. Interest has focused on education, epidemiology, treatment and prevention of the syndrome. This paper raises other issues for consideration, including problems associated with HIV testing, confidentiality, informed consent and the dilemmas facing those involved in the treatment of patients suffering from HIV infection. PMID- 2610653 TI - Psychiatric illness in the New Zealand Maori. AB - This paper compares psychiatric illness in the contemporary Maori with that in the non-Maori New Zealander. The ethnic data available are all from secondary sources. The limitations of this and the problems of achieving a satisfactory definition of "a Maori" are discussed. The data suggest that the Maori have a slightly greater risk of psychiatric hospitalization than the non-Maori. First admission rates for schizophrenia are higher for the Maori, as are the readmission rates. First admission rates for major affective illness are roughly comparable in the two groups, and those for neuroses and neurotic depression are lower in the Maori. Rates of admission for alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence and personality disorders are much higher for the Maori male aged 20-40 years and this group is at greatest risk of psychiatric hospitalization. A larger proportion of Maori are admitted involuntarily, especially under the Criminal Justice Act. The median stay in hospital is not longer for the Maori but their re admissions are more frequent. The Maori have shown an increase in first psychiatric admission rates since the 1950s, with rapid increases in the early 60s and the 80s. The rates for psychotic disorders have been relatively constant and the most significant changes have been for alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence and personality disorders. The author relates this historical change to socioeconomic and politico-cultural factors, particularly the stress of rapid urbanization. PMID- 2610654 TI - Comprehensibility of patient education literature. AB - A survey of the mental health information literature available in NSW was made using the Flesch Formula for Reading Ease. It was found that ten out of thirteen were written at a level of complexity unintelligible to up to 60% of the general public. The literature is therefore falling far short of its potential. It is recommended that a serious attempt be made to write pamphlets in Plain English style. This process should include a Reading Ease estimation. PMID- 2610655 TI - The stereotype of the mad psychiatrist. AB - The stereotype of the mad psychiatrist is examined. There is initial consideration of the "popular" model of madness. It is suggested that there is no firm evidence that psychiatrists suffer more frequently from "popular madness" than other medical practitioners. The paper subsequently explores the stereotype's functions, origins, means of propagation and range of effects. It emerges that members of "the first generation" of psychiatrists were labelled as mad. It is inferred that the stereotype may not be about to change. The paper invokes the conceptually closely-related literatures and attendant terminologies of stereotyping, mythology, labelling, deviance, prejudice and stigma. PMID- 2610656 TI - Psychosis in sleep apnoea. AB - A 30-year-old man presenting with intellectual impairment and recurrent psychotic episodes was subsequently found to have suffered from a chronically untreated obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Polysomnography revealed sleep fragmentation, slow wave sleep deprivation and abnormal arterial oxygen desaturation. Tonsillectomy led to complete resolution of sleep apnoea and remission of psychosis at 2 years' follow-up, but his apparent intellectual impairment persisted. The limited literature on psychosis associated with sleep apnoea is briefly reviewed. PMID- 2610657 TI - Procrastination, busyness and bingeing. AB - The first inquiry employed repeated surveys and direct observations of procrastinators to question two traditional assumptions about procrastinators- that they are reliable reporters of how they spend workweeks, and that they are not easily observed in the act of procrastinating. The second inquiry tested an intervention for procrastination (helping new faculty find brief, daily sessions in which to write) that proved effective and relatively unaversive. The effectiveness of the intervention helped to confirm the notion that procrastination of a relatively unstructured activity like scholarly writing has at least two central components, bingeing and busyness. PMID- 2610658 TI - Predicting and remembering recurrent pain. AB - Two groups of Ss suffering from recurrent episodes of pain (headache or menstrual) were studied over a period of weeks in order to determine if they tend to over-predict aversive events (pain in this instance). The results are consistent with earlier findings on fear/pain. Contrary to earlier findings, however, after an under-predicted pain the menstrual Ss decreased their following prediction--suggesting the operation of a superordinate predictive pattern in this group. The Ss in both groups successfully predicted the qualities of their pain episodes, but tended to recall the episodes as being more painful than they had reported at the time of the pain episode. The explanation for the erroneous magnifications of predictions and reports of pain is not obvious. Over-predicting a potential pain, and remembering an episode as having been more painful than it was, may serve a protective function, but if so, these are not the most economical ways of achieving protection. The Ss who used medication expected to obtain moderate relief and they were not disappointed. PMID- 2610659 TI - The role of modeling in prevention and extinction of phobic behaviour in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). AB - In previous studies surrogate reared cynomolgus monkeys have been shown to become phobic of an unprepared harmless object. In the present study an attempt was made to prevent the development of phobic behaviour in young monkeys and to extinguish avoidance behaviour in phobic monkeys. In the first experiment subjects were exposed to the object in company of their (surrogate) mothers which approached the object. In the second experiment phobic subjects were exposed to the object in company of non-phobic conspecifics which approached the object. The results of the first experiment show that modeling was unsuccessful in preventing the acquisition of phobia in the surrogate-reared monkeys but seemed successful in accelerating approach in the mother-reared subjects. The results of the second experiment show that during the modeling treatment the phobic subjects followed the model and approached the object. However, in post treatment tests all subjects but one relapsed into avoidance. The effect of modeling during treatment is interpreted in terms of coactive facilitation. PMID- 2610660 TI - Conditioning experiences and phobias. AB - A retrospective study was conducted to examine the extent to which phobias are associated with a conditioning pathway to fear. The Phobic Origin Questionnaire (Ost and Hugdahl, Behav. Res. Ther. 19, 439-477, 1981) was administered to a sample of 91 phobic outpatients (patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia, social phobics, simple phobics). Results show clearly that conditioning experiences occur more frequently than either vicarious or informational, learning experiences, which confirms the findings previously reported by Rimm, Janda, Lancaster, Nahl and Dittmar (Behav. Res. Ther. 15, 231-238, 1977) and by Ost and Hugdahl (1981; Behav. Res. Ther. 21, 623-631, 1983). Yet, conditioning experiences consist mainly of panic attacks in confirmed environments. The findings also suggest that a considerable number of phobias are based on a combination of different pathways to fear. PMID- 2610661 TI - Salkovskis on obsessional-compulsive neurosis: a critique. AB - Salkovskis (Behav. Res. Ther. 23, 571-583, 1985) offers of cognitive-behavioural analysis of obsessional-compulsive disorder and the treatment implications of the analysis are discussed by Salkovskis (1985) and Salkovskis and Warwick (Behav. Psychother. 13, 243-255, 1985). A number of criticisms and objections to this work are set out. PMID- 2610662 TI - Cognitive-behavioural factors and the persistence of intrusive thoughts in obsessional problems. AB - Jakes' critique fails to consider (i) the importance of appraisal of responsibility in initiating neutralising activity, and that (ii) obsessional patients negatively evaluate the occurrence as well as the content of intrusive thoughts. These factors are crucial because neutralising is presumed to be central to the development and maintenance of obsessional disorders. The current form of the hypothesis is outlined and recent data reviewed. Possible experimental investigations on the focus of therapeutic interventions are considered. PMID- 2610663 TI - Cognitive moderators of alcohol's effects on anxiety. AB - The present study was designed to test the prediction from the attention allocation model that intoxication in the absence of a pleasant distractor will fail to produce anxiolytic effects. A second prediction, that the sequence of intoxication and exposure to the anxiety-producing situation would influence alcohol's effects, was also tested. Subjects were male social drinkers who received an 0.85 g/kg dose of alcohol or a placebo. Conventional statistical analysis of the results indicated an anxiolytic effect of alcohol on heart rate but a problem with this analysis is identified. An alternative interpretation provides no support for an anxiolytic effect. Exposure to the anxiety-producing stimulus prior to intoxication led to greater heart rate reactivity than if it followed intoxication. PMID- 2610664 TI - [Diagnostic and therapeutic problems with capsule and ligament lesions of the knee joint--Results of an epidemiological study from 1981 to 1985 in the DDR]. AB - In 75% of 1078 cases with male to female relation of 3:1, studied in 19 clinics of GDR, the age range from 16 to 41 years. The most frequent injuries have been due to sport- (52%) and traffic accidents (22%). Among sport accidents we could obtain a priority of injuries in organized sport (54%) in contrast to the leisure sport (30%). One third of all capsular and ligamentous injuries have been diagnosed in the first 24 hours. The development of the arthroscopy has had no influence on part of acute diagnostics. The best results of treatment have been in cases of acute and early treatment. Postoperative immobilisation has no positive effect for better stability of joint. Uncertainty of gait and signs of instability were less in patients with postoperative application of splints with limited range of motion. PMID- 2610665 TI - [Optimal therapy for isolated collateral ligament lesions at the knee joint]. AB - Based upon a retrospective (1968-1978) and a prospective (1979-1987) clinical study (n = 581) the treatment with immediate protected active motion as a methode of choice is recommended. Our 3-fix-point-splint is a ideal device for simple and complexe valgus- and varus-instabilities at the quantitative stage of a monad and duad A. The treatment can be performed non-operatively. The range of motion is limited to 0/20/80 for 6 weeks. Conditio sine qua non is a precise diagnose without any lost of time. Contraindications of this treatment are discussed. PMID- 2610666 TI - [Clinical and radiological results of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with vascularized, pedunculated patellar tendon grafts]. AB - From June 1983 to May 1985 we used pediculated, vascularized patellar tendon grafts in reconstructions of the anterior cruciate ligament. The results according to the Zarius/Rowe scoring scale are reported. In 76% of the patients the results were good and excellent two years postoperatively. From 49 replacements 4 times avulsion of the femoral bone block occurred. These patients had a poor clinical result. A literature review reveals better results in replacement than in refixation cases. PMID- 2610667 TI - [Secondary replacement reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using pediculated gracilis tendons from the proximal musculature (Lindemann)]. AB - Between 1976 and 1987 350 reconstructions of the ACL in accordance to Lindemann have been undergone. 81% were injuries caused by sport accidents. Only 3.5% have had relative acute injuries at the time of operation. 344 patients were followed up. 50% have had good results, in 38% of patients no distinction was possible to the controlateral healthy knee joint. The advantages of the dynamic reconstruction of the ACL seemed to be in easy extraction of autogeneous graft, the dynamic function, the circulation and proprioception of the proximal pediculated gracilis tendon and the good results withoutloosening of the muscular pediculated graft. PMID- 2610668 TI - [Primary and secondary augmentation reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with the gracilis tendon]. AB - In both immediate and secondary surgical treatment for teared anterior cruciate ligament an additional augmentation procedure protecting the reinserted original ligament structures seems to be consequent. Main indications for augmentation are the gravity of destruction, an intermediate type of rupture, fibre displacement and atrophy. Respecting the quite good long term results of 40 isolated Lindemann procedures (1975-1982) 6 to 14 years after treatment, and the results of 43 primary and 77 secondary augmentation procedures performed in a 4 year's period (1984-1988) the Lindemann dynamic transfer technique can be recommended for replacement and augmentation as well. PMID- 2610669 TI - [Microtrauma and cartilage injury]. AB - In addition to macrotraumas resulting from single and heavy impact, recurrent microtraumas are probably frequently the cause of cartilage damage. The risk of a microtraumatic cartilage damage exists especially in activities involving a high load frequency. Epidemiological studies and dynamometric measurements in race events support this assumption. Based on experimental investigations it is shown how the different components of the articular system-cartilage, synovial membrane and subchondral bone react to microtraumatic stress. In the elimination of microtraumatically induced joint damage special emphasis should be placed on prophylaxis. PMID- 2610670 TI - [Fibrin adhesion of cartilage surfaces]. AB - Basing on encouraging results with the fixation of pure articular cartilage with the fibrin sealant in animal experiments, pure cartilage fragments were replanted in human patients using fibrin sealant. From individual cases biopsies could be taken from macroscopically not well healed areas during arthroscopic examination. The histological results from these cases are presented together with overall clinical experiences. Six weeks after operation one side of the graft showed no union with the subchondral bone and was also separated from the cartilage bed. However, after three and six months, the grafted cartilage had fused with subchondral bone, but pannus-like tissue was covering the surface and filling the cleft at the border to the bed. After one and five years, complete fusion with the subchondral bone and the surrounding cartilage can be demonstrated. There is always covering pannus at the larger observation times. In the majority of the 73 cases treated so far excellent clinical results were obtained, enabling the patients to take up their sporting activities again. PMID- 2610671 TI - [Trends in meniscus surgery]. AB - Meniscus surgery underwent a change in methods by the development of arthroscopy. Nowadays it must be recommended to take off not more from the damaged meniscus than necessarily determined by pathological findings. The refixation of bucket handle tears close to the fibrous capsule is worthwhile, having a success rate of about 90%. After refixation we recommend no immobilization, but a functional treatment within a limited range of motion (20 degrees-50 degrees) and restriction of load for 8-12 weeks. PMID- 2610672 TI - [Tibial condylar fractures--conservative or surgical management? A retrospective study]. AB - In the period from January 1983 to June 1986 were treated 141 patients with tibial condylar fractures in our institute. We wanted to compare the results of conservative versus surgical treatment. The results of 40 patients were analyzed, both clinically and X-rayed, and then compared according to Courvoisier scheme. The obtained results were better with conservative treatment in cases of fractures of both condyles. The reasons were discussed. The infection rate was 12.9%. It is stressed the importance of modern methods as early functional treatment and minimal osteosyntheses combined with arthroscopy controls. PMID- 2610673 TI - [Idiopathic scoliosis in the sagittal plane]. AB - Experimental investigations in animals allow seeing the primary lesion of idiopathic scoliosis in it's lordotic tendency. Modified x-rays in sagittal plane show the lordsification more distinct than conventional lateral views. Lordosification of the scoliotic spine is linked with restricted anteflexion. The disturbance of bending forward is to measure in x-rays. The incidence of disturbed anteflexion is found significant greater in patients than in controls. The contracture of Mm. spinales explains this feature and also the deficit of growth in posterior vertebral column suggested at neuromuscular imbalance. There are conclusions for an early treatment and providence. PMID- 2610674 TI - [Results of follow-up studies following proximal corrective osteotomy of the tibia]. AB - Indication and method of proximal tibial corrective osteotomy in varus or valgus gonarthrosis are represented on the basis of a follow-up examination (after a period of 5.6 years on an average). PMID- 2610675 TI - [Results of the surgical treatment of habitual and recurrent patella dislocation using Ali Krogius' method]. AB - Follow-up examination were carried out on 43 patients with habitual or recurrent dislocation of the patella. The operation had been performed according to Ali Krogius. The subjective and objective results were summarized and the indication given hitherto was examined and corrected. PMID- 2610676 TI - Some hormonal characteristics of high and low yielding Holstein cows and water buffaloes located in temperate and subtropical environments. AB - The present study was carried out on 18 Holstein cows located in Missouri, USA (Holstein-M), 32 Holstein cows located in Egypt (Holstein-E), and 32 Egyptian water buffaloes (Buffaloes-E). Half of each group was high yielders and the other half was low with a mean daily milk yield of 32.2 and 18.6 kg for Holstein-M, 14.6 and 6.7 kg for Holstein-E, and 7.2 and 1.8 kg for Buffaloes-E, respectively. Blood samples were collected after the morning milking. Mean plasma thyroxine and triiodothyronine concentrations were significantly higher in Holstein-M than those in Holstein-E or Buffaloes-E. In all animal groups, the high yielders generally had lower plasma thyroxine and antidiuretic hormone but higher plasma triiodothyronine contents than the low yielders. Buffaloes had lower plasma cortisol and 9-fold higher plasma antidiuretic hormone as compared with the two Holstein groups. PMID- 2610677 TI - Helminth development stages isolated from cattle faeces and herbage in pastures of rural areas in Imo State, Nigeria. AB - Examination of faecal and herbal samples from pastures of 6 villages in various parts of Imo State exhibited a preponderance of helminth eggs and infective larva. The percentage of the various genera present was assessed. These genera include: Oesophagostomum, Trichostrongylus, Cooperia, Strongyloides, Neoascaris, Haemonchus, Trichuris (nematodes), Fasciola, Cotylophoron, Paramphistomum (trematodes), Moniezia (cestodes). The results of investigation showed that the abundance of these developmental stages was seasonal, that there was no significant difference between pastures from different localities, and that there was a significant difference within samples due to the varying degree of accessibility. PMID- 2610678 TI - Presence of glucagon-(1-21)-Like immunoreactive substance in the dog small intestinal mucosa. AB - By using an antiserum (K291) specifically directed to the C-terminal of glucagon (1-21)-peptide, we demonstrated the presence of glucagon-(1-21)-like immunoreactivity (G21-IR) in the dog intestine. G21-IR was found to be widely distributed throughout the small intestine and colon in parallel with the distribution of glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI), measured by N-terminal glucagon antiserum (OAL196). The subsequent analyses by gel filtration and three HPLC columns (reverse phase, ion exchange and further reverse phase columns) showed that G21-IR consisted of three main peaks, and the smallest molecular form of G21-IR is identical to glucagon-(1-21)-peptide. PMID- 2610679 TI - Purification and N-terminal sequence of two tartrate-resistant acid phosphatases type-5 from the hairy cell leukemia spleen. AB - Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatases types 5a and 5b were purified from human hairy cell leukemia spleen by sequential chromatography on Phenyl-Sepharose, CM Sepharose, concanavalin A-Sepharose, FPLC Superose-12 and FPLC Mono-S. The purification over the original tissue extract was 1150- and 3300-fold, with a yield of 2.1% and 2.5%, respectively. Gel filtration indicated an Mr of about 30000 for both forms. There was a N-terminal sequence identity between the two enzymes. However, they appeared to be different as assessed by cation exchange chromatography and amino acid composition. PMID- 2610680 TI - Assembly properties of two CNBr fragments of avian desmin that correspond to the headpiece domain and helix 1B. AB - To study how different domains of the muscle-specific intermediate filament protein, desmin, contribute to its polymerization, two of its CNBr fragments were examined as to their oligomeric structure under assembly conditions. One of these, D88, covers residues 1-88 and represents almost the entire headpiece; the other, D109, covers residues 145-254, and includes the entire Helix 1B and part of linker L12 of the intact molecule. Chemical cross-linking followed by SDS PAGE, and analytical gel filtration, revealed that in 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5, conditions that favor tetramerization of intact desmin D88 formed only dimers. D109, on the other hand, formed primarily a dimeric species but low levels of trimeric and tetrameric species were also detectable. These data are consistent with the proposal that, during assembly of intact protein molecules into IF, the headpiece and Helix 1 contribute to dimerization of two polypeptides into a parallel, in-register coiled-coil. However, additional interactions, including headpiece-to-rod binding and hydrophobic interaction along the entire rod domain, are required to stabilize the tetramers and full-size IF. PMID- 2610681 TI - NIH3T3 transforming gene not a general feature of atherosclerotic plaque DNA (atherosclerosis/oncogene/NIH3T3 transfection assay). AB - A recent study indicated that the DNA isolated from human coronary atherosclerotic lesions is capable of transforming NIH3T3 cells in culture. Using DNA isolated from rabbit aortic and human carotid atherosclerotic lesions, we failed to observe such transforming activity. Thus, NIH3T3 transforming activity does not appear to be a general feature of atherosclerotic lesions. PMID- 2610682 TI - A novel 17 kD heparin-binding growth factor (HBGF-8) in bovine uterus: purification and N-terminal amino acid sequence. AB - We have purified to near homogeneity a novel 17 kD growth factor from bovine uterus which we designated heparin-binding growth factor-8 (HBGF-8). The growth factor binds tightly to cation exchange resins and to Heparin-Sepharose and is stable to acetone precipitation and labile in acid. Based upon total activity in acetone extracts of bovine uterus stimulating 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA of serum-starved NIH 313 cells, a 6940 fold purification was achieved with an overall yield of HBGF-8 activity of 0.4%, using extraction of acetone powders and chromatographic separations at neutral pH. Approximately 18 micrograms protein was obtained from 1.2 kg wet weight of tissue. HBGF-8 was clearly separated from 17.5 kD bovine uterus basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) by purification and its N-terminal amino acid sequence analyzed. A polypeptide with a unique 25 N terminal amino acid sequence was found. HBGF-8 was as active as acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and slightly less active than bFGF in the mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblast mitogenic assay system with an intrinsic specific activity of 5000 dpm/ng under standard assay conditions. PMID- 2610683 TI - Reversibility of the ionomycin promoted synaptosomal hydrogen peroxide production. AB - We previously reported on the release of hydrogen peroxide from guinea pig cerebral cortex synaptosomes (13). An important finding was that in glutathione depleted synaptosomes a linear release of hydrogen peroxide is rapidly induced on addition of the Ca++ -ionophore ionomycin (in the presence of Ca++) or upon depolarization of the plasma membrane. We report here that the ionomycin induced hydrogen peroxide is reversed following the addition of bovine serum albumin which strongly binds the ionophore, to be reactivated by further addition of excess ionomycin, or of the depolarizing agent KC1. Similarly, the effect of ionomycin is removed on decreasing the concentration of free Ca++. Bovine serum albumin, which counteracts the effect of ionomycin on the release of H2O2, also counteracts the effect of the ionophore on the movements of Ca++ and the release of gamma-aminobutyrate. These findings support the idea that the synaptosomal production of H2O2 is a carefully controlled important physiological event. PMID- 2610684 TI - In vivo treatment with erythroid differentiation factor (EDF/activin A) increases erythroid precursors (CFU-E and BFU-E) in mice. AB - The in vivo effect of human EDF on erythroid precursors (CFU-E and BFU-E) was investigated in normal and bled mice. In anemic (bled) mice, EDF treatment led to significant dose-dependent rises in the CFU-E and BFU-E levels of bone marrow. An elevation in the level of CFU-E was also seen in the spleen. In normal mice, a significant elevation in the level of bone marrow BFU-E was observed. Thus, EDF has an effect on erythropoiesis in anemic and normal mice in vivo. PMID- 2610685 TI - Magnetic circular dichroism studies of the active site structure of hemoprotein H 450: comparison to cytochrome P-450 and sensitivity to pH effects. AB - Ferric, ferrous and ferrous-CO hemoprotein H-450 from rat liver have been examined with magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy under alkaline (pH 8.0) and acidic (pH 6.0) conditions. The spectral properties of these species require that one of the axial heme iron ligands in the alkaline ferric and ferrous states must be a thiolate sulfur, presumably from cysteine. The data are most consistent with the ligand trans to thiolate being either histidine or methionine. The reversible pH effects on the spectral properties of the ferrous protein, but not of the ferric protein, appear to involve protonation or displacement of the thiolate. As treatment of the ferrous protein with CO does not yield a thiolate ligated ferrous-CO adduct, CO either displaces the thiolate or its addition is accompanied by protonation of the thiolate. PMID- 2610686 TI - Sphingolipid hydrolase activator proteins and their precursors. AB - Activator proteins for sphingolipid hydrolases (saposins) are small acidic, heat stable glycoproteins that stimulate the hydrolysis of sphingolipids by lysosomal enzymes. The molecular mass of each stimulator is about 10 kDa, but glycosylated forms of higher mass exist too. The distribution and developmental changes in two saposins and their precursor proteins were studied with the aid of monospecific antibodies against saposin-B and saposin-C. They show a wide distribution in rat organs and forms intermediate between saposin and prosaposin (the precursor protein containing four different saposin units) could be seen. The amount of saposin and the degree of processing from prosaposin are quite different in different tissues. The saposins are the dominant forms in spleen, lung, liver, and kidney, while skeletal muscle, heart, and brain contain mainly precursor forms. In human blood, leukocytes contain mainly saposin, while plasma contains mainly precursor forms and platelets show many forms. Their subcellular distribution was studied using rat liver. The saposins of approximately 20 kDa are dominant in the light mitochondrial, mitochondrial, and microsomal fractions, following the distribution of the activity of a lysosomal marker enzyme. The nuclear fraction exhibits bands corresponding to non-glycosylated saposin. The soluble fraction contained much precursor forms. A developmental study of rat brain showed that the concentration of saposin precursors increased with age. PMID- 2610687 TI - Vascular endothelial growth factor: a new member of the platelet-derived growth factor gene family. AB - Using applications of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, cDNA clones have been isolated encoding bovine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a mitogen with specificity for vascular endothelial cells. Analysis of the clones indicates that VEGF can exist in two forms, probably due to alternative RNA splicing. The amino acid sequences predicted from the clones also show that VEGF shares homologies of about 21% and 24% respectively with the A and B chains of human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and has complete conservation of the eight cysteine residues found in both mature PDGF chains. The homology is not reflected in function, however, since the cell types responsive to VEGF are distinct from those responsive to homo- and heterodimers of the PDGF chains. PMID- 2610688 TI - Biphasic increasing effect of angiotensin-II on intracellular free calcium in isolated rat early proximal tubule. AB - In the freshly isolated early proximal tubule (S1), the effect of angiotensin II (ANG II) on cytosolic Ca++ concentration ([Ca++]i) was determined using the fluorescent indicator fura-2. In order to establish an adequate experimental system, we investigated firstly the relationship between cellular ATP and [Ca++]i under various conditions in late proximal tubule, the most fragile nephron segment, and cortical collecting tubule, a relatively stable one. We found out that cellular ATP depletion caused [Ca++]i to rise, and ANG II response to [Ca++]i under high ATP condition was higher than that under low ATP condition. ANG II-induced [Ca++]i rise in S1 was biphasic, demonstrating the two peaks corresponding to the 10(-11) and 10(-7) M ANG II. This study suggests for the first time 1) the necessity of high intracellular ATP to evaluate a high affinity ANG II actions and 2) the biphasic characteristics of [Ca++]i increase by ANG II in intact S1. PMID- 2610689 TI - Apparent sequence preference in cleavage of linear B-DNA by the Cu(II):thiol system. AB - Cleavage of a linear tyr T fragment of duplex DNA by Cu(II):thiol combinations occurs with apparent sequence preference. The sequence selectivity was unaffected by the size, chirality or substitution pattern of the monothiol partner, presumably indicating that the Cu(II):RSH system is probing some local conformational/dynamic aspect of the DNA. PMID- 2610690 TI - Cloning, sequencing and expression of the human thyrotropin (TSH) receptor: evidence for binding of autoantibodies. AB - A human thyroid cDNA library was screened by hybridization with a dog thyrotropin receptor (TSHr) cDNA. Sequencing of the resulting clones identified a 2292 residue open reading frame encoding a 744 amino acid mature polypeptide presenting 90.3% similarity with the dog TSHr. Two major transcripts (4.6 and 4.4 kilobases) were identified in the human thyroid which suggests that alternative splicing could generate multiple forms of human TSHr. Transfection of the coding sequence in COS-7 cells conferred to a membrane preparation of these cells the ability to bind specifically TSH. TSH binding was completely displaced by immunoglobulin preparations from patients with idiopathic myxoedema. PMID- 2610691 TI - Effects of phorbol ester and teleocidin on Ca2+-induced fusion of liposomes. AB - The effects of different types of lipid membrane defects on Ca2+-induced fusion of liposomes containing phosphatidylserine (PS) were investigated using fluorescent probes. Teleocidin enhanced the fusion of phospholipid vesicles in an assay system using terbium/dipicolinic acid during mixing of internal aqueous phases of vesicles upon fusion. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) suppressed the fusion. This latter phenomenon was also observed by measuring the excitation energy transfer. The promotion of membrane fusion by teleocidin was ascribed to dehydration of the membrane surface, the suppressive effect of TPA to desorption of Ca2+ from the membrane surface. Thus, Ca2+-induced fusion of PS vesicles was shown to be sensitive to defects of the membrane surface, but insensitive to defects of the hydrophobic core of the lipid membrane. PMID- 2610692 TI - Highly efficient immunoliposomes prepared with a method which is compatible with various lipid compositions. AB - Monoclonal antibody was conjugated to N-glutaryl-phosphatidylethanolamine in the presence of octylglucoside by using N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide as a carboxyl activation reagent. The conjugated antibody was then incorporated into liposomes by a simple dialysis method. The method is mild and is compatible with various lipid compositions of the liposomes. We have prepared immunoliposomes containing a lung endothelium-specific monoclonal antibody and showed excellent target binding (approximately 75% injected dose) of the immunoliposomes in mouse. Immunoliposomes can be prepared to contain other acidic lipids such as phosphatidylserine and various amounts of cholesterol. The presence of 20% or more cholesterol in liposomes resulted in high level of target binding. We have used in these experiments a new radioactive lipid-phase marker, 111In-DTPA-SA, which was very stable in vivo. The halflife of clearance in mouse exceeded 3 weeks. PMID- 2610693 TI - Coomassie Brilliant Blue G is a more potent antagonist of P2 purinergic responses than Reactive Blue 2 (Cibacron Blue 3GA) in rat parotid acinar cells. AB - The ability of Brilliant Blue G (Coomassie Brilliant Blue G) and Reactive Blue 2 (Cibacron Blue 3GA) to block the effects of extracellular ATP on rat parotid acinar cells was examined by evaluating their effects on ATP-stimulated 45Ca2+ entry and the elevation of [Ca2+]i (Fura 2 fluorescence). ATP (300 microM) increased the rate of Ca2+ entry to more than 25-times the basal rate and elevated [Ca2+]i to levels more than three times the basal value. Brilliant Blue G and Reactive Blue 2 greatly reduced the entry of 45Ca2+ into parotid cells, but the potency of Brilliant Blue G (IC50 approximately 0.4 microM) was about 100 times that of Reactive Blue 2. Fura 2 studies demonstrated that inhibitory concentrations of these compounds did not block the cholinergic response of these cells, thus demonstrating the selectivity of the dye compounds for purinergic receptors. Unlike Reactive Blue 2, effective concentrations of Brilliant Blue G did not substantially quench Fura 2 fluorescence. The greater potency of Brilliant Blue G suggests that it may be very useful in identifying P2-type purinergic receptors, especially in studies which utilize fluorescent probes. PMID- 2610694 TI - Plantagoside, a novel alpha-mannosidase inhibitor isolated from the seeds of Plantago asiatica, suppresses immune response. AB - A hot-water extract from the seed of Plantago asiatica showed a potent inhibitory activity against jack bean alpha-mannosidase, and a flavanone glucoside, plantagoside, was isolated as the inhibitor. Plantagoside was a specific inhibitor for jack bean alpha-mannosidase (IC50 at 5 microM) and appeared to be a non-competitive inhibitor of the enzyme. Whereas, negligible or weak inhibitory activities were observed for beta-mannosidase, beta-glucosidase, and sialidase tested. Plantagoside also inhibited alpha-mannosidase activities in mouse liver lysosomal and microsomal fractions, and the enzyme inhibitory activity in microsomal fraction was enhanced in the presence of glucosidase inhibitor, castanospermine. Plantagoside suppressed antibody response to sheep red blood cells and concanavalin A induced lymphocyte proliferation which was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. PMID- 2610695 TI - Visualization of interleukin-2-like molecules in MPP(+)-lesioned rat brain. AB - The tissue distribution of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in normal and 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium (MPP+)-lesioned brains of rats was investigated. Intrastriatal administration of MPP+ caused visible damage in the vicinity of the injected region two weeks after injection. Autoradiography of the tissue section with anti IL-2 antibodies plus trace amounts of radiolabeled IL-2 showed that the antibodies treatment elicited a selective radiolabeling of the brain tissues localized at the MPP(+)-lesioned region but not at normal cryo-sliced sections. Addition of radiolabeled IL-2 alone or normal rabbit immunoglobulins did not show any labeling effect. These autoradiographic imaging results suggest that there is an accumulation of cells bearing IL-2-like molecules at the MPP(+)-induced lesion sites. PMID- 2610696 TI - Mass spectrometric identification and quantification of 5-methoxytryptophol in quail retina. AB - The occurrence of 5-methoxytryptophol (5-MTL) in the quail retina was investigated by capillary column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/selected ion monitoring using a deuterated internal standard. Based on ion intensity ratios in the mass spectra of pentafluoropropionyl and heptafluorobutyryl derivatives of 5-MTL and deuterated 5-MTL, 5-MTL was unequivocally identified in the quail retina. Similar to the circadian rhythm of retinal melatonin, retinal 5 MTL also exhibited a diurnal variation with high levels at mid-dark. However, no significant correlation between the diurnal levels of 5-MTL and melatonin was observed in the quail retina at mid-light or mid-dark. PMID- 2610697 TI - Cloning and cDNA sequence of the rat X-chromosome linked phosphoglycerate kinase. AB - This paper reports the isolation and the sequence determination of rat phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) cDNA clones. This cDNA, derived from an X-linked PGK gene transcript, contains a reading frame of 1254 nt and 5' and 3' non coding regions of 40 and 380 nt respectively. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence at the three codon position shows a biased codon usage with a prevalence of the triplet G non G N. Comparison of the inferred rat amino acid sequence with that of other organisms makes possible the calculation of the unit evolutionary period (UEP) for this enzyme, placing it at around 40 million years (My). Thus PGK is one of the oldest housekeeping enzymes. PMID- 2610698 TI - Inhibition of Clostridium difficile toxin A and B by 1,2-cyclohexanedione modification of an arginine residue. AB - Toxin A (enterotoxin) and toxin B (cytotoxin) of Clostridium difficile were both inactivated by the arginine specific reagent 1,2-cyclohexanedione. Molecular stability during the inactivation process was demonstrated by SDS-PAGE analysis showing the same migration rates for modified and unmodified forms of the 230 kDa toxin A and of the 250 kDa toxin B. Cytotoxicity of both toxins as well as mouse lethality of the enterotoxin were drastically decreased as a result of the arginine modification. The reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Analysis of the data suggested that modification of a single arginine residue was sufficient to abolish the activity of both toxins. PMID- 2610699 TI - Neurogenic vasodilation and release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from perivascular nerves in the rat mesenteric artery. AB - The effect of perivascular nerve stimulation (PNS) on the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was examined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in isolated, perfused rat mesenteric arteries. The released CGRP-like immunoreactivity (CGRP LI) was identified to be CGRP itself and its oxidized form by combined analysis with RIA and high performance liquid chromatography. CGRP-LI was localized in the perivascular nerves of the large mesenteric artery and its branches. In the preparation precontracted by methoxamine, and perfused with a solution containing guanethidine, an adrenergic neuron blocker, PNS induced vasodilator responses and an increase of CGRP-LI in the perfusate in a frequency-dependent manner. Both the responses were attenuated by tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M), suggesting that they were neurogenic in origin. Removal of Ca2+ from the perfusing solution also abolished the PNS-induced release of CGRP-LI. These findings suggest that CGRP plays a transmitter role in the neurogenic vasodilation in the rat mesenteric vascular bed. PMID- 2610700 TI - Increased immunoreactive neuropeptide Y in platelets of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). AB - A high concentration of immunoreactive neuropeptide Y was observed in rat platelets using a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay for neuropeptide Y. Three kinds of high performance liquid chromatography combined with radioimmunoassay for neuropeptide Y showed that immunoreactive neuropeptide Y in rat platelets is identical to rat authentic neuropeptide Y. To investigate the pathological role of platelet neuropeptide Y in genetic hypertensive rats, the platelet content and plasma concentration of neuropeptide Y were measured by a sensitive radioimmunoassay for rat neuropeptide Y in 5-, 10- and 15-wk old spontaneously hypertensive rat and age-matched Wistar Kyoto rat. Platelet content of immunoreactive neuropeptide Y in 5-, 10- and 15-wk old spontaneously hypertensive rat was higher than that in Wistar Kyoto rat at each age. No difference was observed in plasma concentration of immunoreactive neuropeptide Y between spontaneously hypertensive rat and Wistar Kyoto rat at each age. PMID- 2610701 TI - Liver mitochondrial respiratory functions decline with age. AB - Human liver mitochondrial respiration rates in Chinese populations of various ages were assayed with an oxygraph. In this study, State 3 and State 4 respiration rates, respiratory control ratio (RCR), and ADP/O ratio were measured for 35 Chinese subjects of 31 to 76 years old. We found a significant negative correlation between age and respiratory control and ADP/O ratios tested. Moreover, the respiratory control and ADP/O ratios decreased with the increase of age. These findings suggest that a substantial fall in mitochondrial oxidative capacity in ageing liver may be an important contributor to the ageing process. PMID- 2610702 TI - Tumor promotion and depletion of protein kinase C in epidermal JB6 cells. AB - Promotion of JB6 epidermal cells to anchorage-independent growth requires exposure to TPA for greater than 4 days. Over a similar time span, a practically complete loss of enzymic and immunoreactive proteinkinase C (PKC) equivalents was observed at greater than 10 nM TPA. Promotion did not appear to require (transient) activation of PKC since PKC inhibitors H7 and HA1004 did not prevent but enhanced colony formation in soft agar at concentrations greater than IC50 values. The efficacy of the inhibitors in vivo was shown by their ability to suppress PKC-induced transcription of c-fos gen. PKC inhibitors that interfered with cell proliferation at lower concentrations than those required for PKC inhibition (sphingosine, staurosporin, sangivamycin, trifluoperazine) did not stimulate anchorage-independent growth. As H7 as well as HA1004 were able to promote JB6 cells in the complete absence of TPA, and induced neither depletion nor processing of PKC we postulate that depletion/inactivation rather than activation of PKC correlates with the promotion of epidermal JB6 cells to anchorage-independent growth. PMID- 2610703 TI - Presence of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxide in human blood plasma. AB - An analytical method for quantitating the cholesteryl ester hydroperoxide and ubiquinols-9 and 10 in biological samples, especially plasma, was described. About 3 nM cholesteryl ester hydroperoxide, 20 nM ubiquinol-9, and 620 nM ubiquinol-10 were found in the hexane extract of healthy human plasma. Cholesteryl ester hydroperoxide was identified by its retention time, which was the same as that of standard hydroperoxide, its reduction with triphenylphosphine, and its splitting by cholesterol esterase. Since cholesteryl ester hydroperoxide was stable and no significant oxidation took place during the extraction procedure, cholesteryl ester hydroperoxide is most likely to be present in healthy human plasma. PMID- 2610704 TI - Mechanical and electrical effects of high-frequency and high-intensity stimulation of muscle. AB - A unique tension response can be obtained by stimulating an isometrically held skeletal muscle or a single muscle fiber by a train of high-frequency pulses (2,000 pps) at higher-than-normal intensity, or by a long DC pulse. It is called the tetanoid response, and it is composed of three well-defined stages. Initially, tension develops rapidly, and mechanical output (Po) reaches about 0.35. Subsequently, this tension is maintained at a nearly steady level for the remainder of stimulation. After stimulation, a final increase of tension takes place. Intracellular electrical recordings show that the initial development of tension is elicited by two or three action potentials generated at the beginning of the stimulation, and that no additional action potentials are generated for the remainder of stimulation. During stimulation, part of the fiber membrane (regarded in cross-section) is depolarized, which generates tension, and part of the membrane is hyperpolarized. With termination of stimulation, a single action potential is elicited via anode-break excitation (ABE) on the hyperpolarized portion of the membrane, which gives rise to the final increase of tension. PMID- 2610705 TI - EMP simulators and public safety: an analysis. AB - Effects produced by electromagnetic fields from exoatmospheric nuclear detonations, known as electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) and devices, which simulate these EMPs are analyzed for their potential danger to human beings in contact with large energy collectors. Comparison is made with ANSI guidelines established for radio-frequency electromagnetic fields. PMID- 2610706 TI - In vitro fertilization of mouse ova by spermatozoa exposed isothermally to radio frequency radiation. AB - Mouse spermatozoa were exposed in vitro for 1 h to 27- or 2,450-MHz CW RF radiation at SARs of 0 to 90 W/kg under isothermal (37 +/- 0.2 degrees C) conditions. Exposure at either frequency to RF radiation at SARs of 50 W/kg or greater resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the ability of irradiated sperm to fertilize mouse ova in vitro (P less than .05). Over the range of SARs there was no apparent difference in the effects of 27- vs. 2,450 MHz RF radiation. There were no readily detectable exposure effects on spermatozoan morphology, ultrastructure, or capacitation. The reduction of in vitro fertilization is attributed to a direct effect of RF radiation on spermatozoa rather than to heating. PMID- 2610707 TI - Studies on the alignment of fibroblasts in uniform applied electrical fields. AB - Uniform electrical fields have been applied to human gingival fibroblasts by means of uniform ionic currents passed through a thin chamber. Cells were observed to align in fields between 0.1 and 1.5 V/mm but did not display directed motion toward the anode or the cathode of the chamber. Statistical analysis of directional data was used to distinguish threshold levels of orientation at low field intensities, to quantify the dependence of alignment on time and field intensity, and to analyze differences between alignment of cells treated with the Ca2+ transport modifiers A23187, verapamil, and lanthanum. Alignment occurred at a steady rate and was dependent in a saturating fashion on field strength. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 had a significant inhibitory effect on cell alignment in applied electrical fields; however, the Ca2+ channel blockers lanthanum and verapamil did not have a significant effect on alignment. PMID- 2610708 TI - Rats reproduce and rear litters during chronic exposure to 150-kV/m, 60-Hz electric fields. AB - Mature female rats and their subsequent litters were exposed either to 112- or to 150-kV/m, 60-Hz electric fields or sham-exposed for 19 h daily through pre breeding, breeding, and rearing periods of experimentation. Exposed females mated in equal percentages and reared litters of equal numbers, and mean body masses of pups were the same as those of sham-exposed animals. Thus, experiments to investigate electric-field effects on reproduction and development in rats are feasible at effective field strengths of 112 and 150 kV/m. PMID- 2610709 TI - New potential immunoenhancing compounds. Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of new long-chain 2-amido-2-deoxy-D-glucose derivatives. AB - A series of long-chain fatty acids and the corresponding 2-hydroxy, 2-oxo, 3 hydroxy acid glucosamides were evaluated as immunomodulating compounds. In a preliminary screening, 2-[(2-ethoxycarbonyloxy)tetradecanoylamino]-2-deoxy-D glucos e (2b) and 2-(3-hydroxydodecanoylamino)-2-deoxy-D-glucose (5a) resulted to be the most effective in enhancing the glucosamine activity. The findings of in vitro-ex vivo tests (unidirectional mixed lymphocyte culture reaction and primary antibody production) and in vivo tests (delayed type hypersensitivity, protection against bacterial or fungal infection and against Sarcoma 180 or Lewis lung carcinoma transplants) were very encouraging and allowed to assume for the two substances a protective activity, presumably through the ability of activating phagocytic and NK cells. PMID- 2610710 TI - Synthesis and antiviral activity of thiosemicarbazone derivatives of pyridazinecarbaldehydes and alkyl pyridazinyl ketones. AB - Various novel thiosemicarbazones (TSCs) 15b-e, 16b-e, 17b-e, 18b-e, and 19b-e derived from 4-pyridazinecarbaldehyde, 3-pyridazinecarbaldehyde, 4 acetylpyridazine, 3-acetylpyridazine, and 3-propionylpyridazine were prepared and their cytotoxic and antiherpetic potentials were evaluated. It was found that the replacement of the 2-pyridylmoiety in aldehyde derived compounds 20a-c by a 4 pyridazinyl group (compounds 15b-d) abolishes biological activity. However, in TSCs derived from 3-pyridazinecarbaldehyde (16b-d) the cytotoxic potency was considerably reduced (factor approximately 300), while the antiviral activity was largely retained. A total loss of biological activity occurred when the pyridyl group in TSC 20d, derived from 2-acetylpyridine, was replaced by the 4 pyridazinyl system (17d). By employment of the 3-pyridazinyl unit for isosteric modification, however, the cell toxicity could be reduced significantly (factor 100) without impairing the antiherpetic potential also in the series of TSCs derived from N-heteroaromatic ketones. It was observed that there is no obvious influence of the size of the cycloamino substituent on the biological activities in compounds 20a-d, 15b-d, 16b-d, 17b-d, and 18b-d. While the pyridine derived TSCs in our experiments proved clearly cytotoxic at lower concentrations than those being antivirally active, the aza-analogous compounds derived from 3 acetylpyridazine (18b-e) inhibited plaque formation at concentrations equal to those causing cytotoxic effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610711 TI - Novel 5-substituted 3-(2-naphthalenyl)-3-(1H-imidazol-l-ylmethy)-2 methylisoxazolidine derivatives. AB - The synthesis and antifungal activity of a series of novel 5-substituted 3-(2 naphthalenyl)-3-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2- methylisoxazolidine derivatives are described. When tested in vitro in solid agar assays, some of the compounds demonstrated moderate to potent activity against Trichophyton rubrum and Candida albicans. PMID- 2610712 TI - [The effect of anti-inflammatory agents on the granulocyte enzymes elastase and cathepsin G]. AB - Effect of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs on the Activity of Elastase and Cathepsin G from Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes. Several anti-inflammatory drugs display qualitative and quantitative different effects upon elastase and cathepsin G. Phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone, sulfinpyrazone and diclofenac sodium proved to be the most efficient inhibitors of elastase and cathepsin G. A less marked inhibition of the proteinases of granulocytes was observed when indomethacin, ketoprofen, naproxen, pirprofen and tiaprofenic acid were tested. Acetylsalicylic acid, dexamethasone and oxaceprol were ineffective. Marked inhibition by these drugs was only observed at concentrations greater than those found naturally in the synovial fluid. Therefore it remains unknown, wether or to what extent an inhibition of the elastase and cathepsin G contributes to or participates in the therapeutic effects of nonsteroidal antirheumatic drugs. PMID- 2610713 TI - Histomorphological and lectin-histochemical confirmation of the antidegenerative effect of diclofenac in experimental osteoarthrosis. AB - The integrity of cartilage matrix depends on the homeostasis of synthetic and degradative processes. Any disturbance of the rate of synthesis and catabolism may alter the amount of matrix components (e.g. proteoglycans). Based upon a biochemically induced osteoarthrosis (OA) in the knee joints of rats we investigated the histomorphological alterations under therapy with diclofenac sodium by histological-histochemical grading. Lectin-binding techniques using labelled wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), concanavalin A (Con A), Ulex europeus agglutinin I (UEA I), soybean agglutinin (SBA), and peanut agglutinin (PNA) were applied to analyze the cellular as well as the extracellular glycoconjugates in situ. Lectin-binding patterns quantitatively describe the topographical localization of structural components of the cartilage matrix which carry certain sugar residues. The therapy of the experimental OA with diclofenac sodium (2.0 mg/kg s.c.) led to a marked reduction of cartilage degenerations. Our results indicate antidegenerative properties of this compound. These findings are consistent with the fluorescent analytical data which show a stimulating effect on the anabolic activity of chondrocytes in the osteoarthritic joints under the treatment with diclofenac sodium. Fluorescein isothiocyanate labelled lectins are useful histochemical tools to determine alterations in the integrity of cartilage by their specific binding patterns, because zonal differentiation in physiological function and morphological structure of cartilage tissue as well as cellular, pericellular, and interterritorial local events are characterized.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610714 TI - Reversal of scopolamine-induced alterations of choline transport across the blood brain barrier by the nootropics piracetam and pramiracetam. AB - The choline transport across the blood-brain barrier was studied in nine brain regions of male Wistar rats after treatment with scopolamine, piracetam and pramiracetam, respectively. 14-Day treatment with scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg/d) elicited an increase of the extraction and the PS-product (permeability-surface area) of choline which was prevented by coinjection of piracetam or pramiracetam (100 mg/kg/d). In addition, the cerebral blood flow was increased by both nootropics. Differences between various brain regions were found in both choline transport and cerebral blood flow. It is supposed from the results that the choline transport is regulated by cholinergic innervation of the brain endothelial cells and that the nootropics used may act via alterations of the brain choline metabolism. PMID- 2610715 TI - Vibration stress and pharmacokinetics of rifampicin. AB - The influence of horizontal vibration stress on pharmacokinetics of rifampicin (RFP) 20 mg.kg-1 on rabbits was investigated. RFP was given orally or intravenously. The experiments were repeated one week later. The drug was administered immediately after 60 min of vibration like in control experiments on the same animals. Another group of animals was exposed to daily vibration for two weeks. The arrangement otherwise was the same as above. Serum levels of orally administered RFP were significantly decreased after a single vibration session. Repeated vibration exposure abolished the observed differences. The single vibration session had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of intravenously applied RFP. PMID- 2610716 TI - Radiosynthesis of [14C]acarbose. AB - Acarbose (O-4,6-dideoxy-4-[[(1S, 4R, 5S, 6S)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-3- (hydroxymethyl) 2-cyclohexen-1-yl]amino]-a-D-glucopyranosyl-(1---- 4)-O-a-D- glucopyranosyl-(1--- 4)-4-glucopyranose, Bay g 5421), an a-glucosidase inhibitor from Actinoplanes, has been developed for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. To investigate the pharmacokinetics and the biotransformation, 14C-labelled acarbose ([14C]Bay g 5421) was required. About 37 GBq (1 Ci) D-[U-14C]glucose was used as a precursor to obtain [14C]acarbose with a radiochemical yield of between 1.58 and 2.56%. For fermentation purposes resting cells of the Actinoplanes mutant SN 1667/47 were used under cometabolism conditions with a 10-fold excess of maltose. The specific radioactivities achieved in individual preparations were 7.77 MBq/mg (210 microCi/mg), 8.03 MBq/mg (217 microCi/mg), and 9.14 MBq/mg (247 microCi/mg), with a radiochemical purity of greater than 98% in each case. By hydrolysis and subsequent investigation of the hydrolysis products it was shown that [14C]carbon atoms originating from the radioactive glucose are present only in the core and not in the maltose unit of [14C]acarbose. PMID- 2610717 TI - Pharmacokinetics of acarbose. Part I: Absorption, concentration in plasma, metabolism and excretion after single administration of [14C]acarbose to rats, dogs and man. AB - The absorption, disposition, metabolism, and excretion of acarbose (O-4,6-dideoxy 4-[[(1S, 4R, 5S, 6S)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-3- (hydroxymethyl)-2- cyclohexen-1 yl]amino]-a-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----4)-O-a-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----4) -D glucopyranose, Bay g 5421) have been studied following a single administration of the 14C-labelled compound to rats and dogs via different routes (intravenous, oral, intraduodenal) in the dose range of 2-200 mg.kg-1 as well as to man in a single oral dose of 200 mg. After intravenous administration [14C]acarbose was eliminated rapidly and completely via the renal route. There was no indication for a systemic metabolization of [14C]acarbose. The (renal) clearance for [14C]acarbose was in the range of the glomerular filtration rate. After oral administration [14C]acarbose was very poorly absorbed (1-2% of dose in rats and man and 4% in dogs). Additionally, up to 35% of the radioactivity of [14C]acarbose were absorbed after degradation by digestive enzymes and/or intestinal microorganisms. The delayed and biphasic absorption of the radioactivity strongly influenced the plasma concentration vs time profiles of total radioactivity. Maximum concentrations dependent on the degree of microbial degradation (dog less than rat, man) and on the intestinal transit time were reached at 1.2 h (dogs), 8 h (rats) and 14-24 h (man). The excretion of the radioactivity absorbed occurred rapidly and completely mostly via the renal route.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610718 TI - Pharmacokinetics of acarbose. Part II: Distribution to and elimination from tissues and organs following single or repeated administration of [14C]acarbose to rats and dogs. AB - Acarbose (O-4,6-dideoxy-4-[[1S,4R,5S,6S)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-3- (hydroxymethyl)-2 cyclohexen-1-yl]amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl (1----4)-D-glucopyranose, Bay g 5421) labelled with 14C was administered to male rats, pregnant and lactating rats as well as to female dogs with single intravenous or oral doses (2 or 4 mg.kg-1) and with repeated oral doses of 2 mg.kg-1 to male rats for 3 weeks. The distribution of radioactivity to organs and tissues, the placental transfer and the secretion into milk was studied using whole-body autoradiographic methods and/or quantitative determination of total radioactivity after autopsy. Unchanged [14C]acarbose was distributed predominantly in the extracellular space, as observed after intravenous dosing to rats. According to the main excretion route, high concentrations were found in kidneys and urine and additionally in blood, lung, and connective tissue or interstitial space. The permeability of the blood/brain barrier for [14C]acarbose and/or its metabolites was very low. No indication was found for distinct differences in the distribution patterns in rats and dogs after intravenous and also in dogs after oral administration. In contrast, in rats after oral dosing the distribution pattern of radioactivity was different with relatively high concentrations in liver, kidney, adrenal gland, spleen, and intestinal mucosa. Due to the slow absorption of the microbial degradation products of [14C]acarbose from the intestine maximum concentrations in the different tissues were reached 8 24 h after dosing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610719 TI - Differential effects of the new central adrenergic agonist modafinil and d amphetamine on sleep and early morning behaviour in elderlies. AB - Modafinil (CRL 40476) is a new central alpha-adrenergic agonist with vigilance promoting properties. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled sleep laboratory study its single-dose effects on sleep and early morning behaviour were investigated and compared with d-amphetamine. Ten elderly healthy volunteers (mean age: 68 years) spent 12 nights in the sleep laboratory: one adaptation night, one baseline night, five drug nights (100 mg and 200 mg modafinil; 10 mg and 20 mg d-amphetamine; placebo) and five subsequent washout nights. The drugs were administered orally in one week intervals at 10:00 p.m., and all-night somnopolygraphic investigations were performed between 10:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. A self-rating scale for sleep and awakening quality as well as psychometric tests were completed in the morning. d-amphetamine caused a dose-dependent impairment of sleep maintenance and sleep architecture, while modafinil did not. Thus, a significant reduction of total sleep time, REM-sleep and sleep stage 2 was seen after d-amphetamine when compared to placebo and 100 mg modafinil. Corresponding with these objective results, subjective sleep quality deteriorated significantly only after 20 mg d-amphetamine as compared to placebo. Morning investigations revealed an increase of CFF after 20 mg d-amphetamine. Pulse rate, evening and morning blood pressure remained unchanged. These findings suggest a different mode of action of the two compounds. PMID- 2610720 TI - [Bioavailability of sustained-release and nonsustained-release isosorbide-5 mononitrate]. AB - Bioavailability of Sustained Release and Non Sustained Release Isosorbide-5 Mononitrate. In a randomized, open cross-over study in 18 healthy subjects plasma concentration of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN) after oral administration was determined over 24 h by gas chromatography. A single dose of three sustained release and two standard preparations was given: (A) a capsule (Elantan), 50 mg; (B) a development tablet, 50 mg and (C) a development capsule, 100 mg; furthermore (D) and (E) non sustained release tablets, 40 and 2 x 20 mg, of two different producers. (D) was considered as reference preparation. Standard preparations (D) and (E) were bioequivalent. But maximum plasma concentrations (cmax) of all sustained release preparations were significantly lower from 13% (C) to 53% (A). Also the moment of maximum plasma concentrations (tmax) occurred significantly later between 2 h 40 min and 3 h 50 min. A significant loss in relative bioavailability was observed for (A) with 82.5% and for (C) with 81.4%. (B) achieved the highest relative bioavailability (93.9%) of the sustained release preparations (n.s.). "Therapeutic concentrations" above 100 ng/ml over 24 h were maintained only by (C). Terminal elimination half-lives were calculated between 5.5 and 6.5 h (mean). Plasma concentration-time curves were simulated in steady state. PMID- 2610721 TI - Vascular effects of naftidrofuryl in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study. AB - In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study in 10 volunteers it was demonstrated that intravenous administration of 200 mg naftidrofuryl (Dusodril, Praxilene) produced a slight but significant increase in the erythrocyte column diameters of conjunctival arterioles (mean diameter 17.5 +/- 7.6 microns) of 6.9% which persisted until 1 h after administration. The venules (mean diameter of the erythrocyte column 35.4 +/- 11.5 microns) are not significantly affected at the concentration tested. In their time course the results are in good agreement with the former measurements of the peripheral resistance and with the kinetic characteristic of the drug. PMID- 2610722 TI - Pharmacokinetics of tilidine and metabolites in man. AB - Tilidine is a prodrug from which the active metabolite nortilidine is formed by demethylation. The pharmacokinetics of tilidine (T), nortilidine (NT) and bisnortilidine (BNT) were studied in nine healthy subjects following single intravenous (10 min infusion) and oral 50 mg T-HCl dose as well as following multiple 50 mg T-HCl oral doses. Systemic availability of the parent substance was 6% and of the active metabolite NT 99%. The terminal half-life of NT was 3.3 h following single oral administration, 4.9 h following intravenous administration and 3.6 h following multiple dosing. Following intravenous infusion, concentrations of unchanged substance were found which were 30 times higher than following oral administration. BNT was eliminated with half-lives of 5 h after oral administration and 6.9 h after intravenous administration. Renal elimination of unchanged substance was 1.6% of the dose following intravenous administration and less than 0.1% of the dose following oral administration. Approximately 3% were recovered in urine as NT and 5% as BNT following both routes of administration. PMID- 2610723 TI - Effect of simvastatin on receptor-dependent low density lipoprotein catabolism in normocholesterolemic human volunteers. AB - Simvastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase was given to 7 normolipidemic healthy volunteers for 1 month at a dose of 20 mg/day. Measurements of turnover of low density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B (LDL-apo B) were determined before and after drug treatment using intravenous injection of 125I-labeled LDL and 131I labeled cyclohexanedione-treated LDL to quantify the receptor pathway. In addition to a 13% increase in HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I concentrations, plasma cholesterol was reduced by 20%, LDL-cholesterol by 32%, and apolipoprotein B by 23%. Assuming a heterogeneous pool of LDL, the new model presented in the companion paper was built to calculate the contribution of the receptor-dependent and the receptor-independent pathways and the corresponding fractional catabolic rates. Simvastatin did not modify constantly the synthetic rate of LDL-apo B but increased the fractional catabolic rate of the receptor dependent pathway and the contribution of this pathway in the catabolism. The fall in LDL plasma levels observed in normocholesterolemic subjects can be then entirely explained by an enhanced fractional removal of LDL from the circulation by the receptor route. PMID- 2610724 TI - Endothelium-dependent relaxation, cholesterol content and high energy metabolite balance in Watanabe hyperlipemic rabbit aorta. AB - Functional and metabolic parameters of thoracic aorta from Watanabe heritable hyperlipemic (WHHL) rabbits (aged 11-14 months) were investigated in vitro. The aortic preparations, normally responsive to noradrenaline, showed a diminished response to the endothelium-dependent agent, acetylcholine, in comparison with control preparations from age-matched New Zealand rabbits (maximal relaxation: 33 +/- 4% in WHHL vs. 52 +/- 2% in controls: P less than 0.005). ATP relaxant effect (only partially endothelium-dependent) was unimpaired in WHHL aorta, and it was much higher than in controls (maximal response: 63 +/- 6% vs. 37 +/- 3%, respectively; P less than 0.005). The response to NaNO2, an endothelium independent relaxant, was unchanged in WHHL aortas. Acetylcholine-induced response was found to be inversely related to the degree of total cholesterol infiltration in aorta (r = -0.62, P less than 0.05). No correlation was observed between either total serum cholesterol or triglycerides and ACh-induced response. Furthermore, the concentration of adenine nucleotides and nucleosides in the aortic tissue of WHHL rabbits was lower than in controls, indicating a loss of energy balance. The results indicate a functional damage induced by genetic hyperlipidemia on endothelium-dependent relaxation and an impairment of energy rich phosphate metabolism of the aortic wall. The relationship between functional and metabolic parameters is not yet clarified. PMID- 2610725 TI - Effect of metoprolol on plasma lipids and arterial intimal lipid deposition in spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - The purpose of the present study was to characterize possible effects of dietary induced plasma lipid elevations on the development of arterial lesions in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and to reveal any influence of treatment with metoprolol on these parameters. Metoprolol treatment caused an 8% decrease in heart rate and a 13% decrease in blood pressure and led to a rise in plasma triglycerides, 24%, 17% and 34% after 1, 3 and 6 months of metoprolol treatment, respectively. However, no effect on plasma triglycerides was observed after 9 months of metoprolol treatment while a reduced cholesterolemic response was observed. Intimal proliferations containing accumulations of lipids were observed in small intramural branches of coronary arteries (greater than 100 microns) in 11 of 31 control rats fed the atherogenic diet for 9 months. In contrast, similar changes were observed in only 1 of 34 metoprolol-treated rats fed an otherwise identical diet. The corresponding figures for the frequency of lipid containing intimal plaques in aorta were 6/19 in controls and 2/24 in the metoprolol-treated group. PMID- 2610726 TI - Biodistribution of 131I-radiolabelled plasma low density lipoprotein in hyperlipidaemic vervet monkeys. AB - Low density lipoprotein (LDL) labelled with 131I has been administered to 6 Vervets 2 of which were high responders to an atherogenic Western diet in terms of plasma cholesterol, 2 were low responders and 2 were fed a high carbohydrate control diet. The ratio of hepatic to cardiac activity was recorded for up to 10 days after administration of the labelled LDL. Liver activity had a longer biological half life in the high-responders and this can be interpreted in terms of a variation of hepatic metabolism of LDL, with direct relevance to the human situation. PMID- 2610727 TI - Increased plasma and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation in hyperlipidemic individuals. PMID- 2610728 TI - Kinetics of a heterogeneous population of particles in low density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B. AB - This paper examines the kinetics of low density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism following the in vivo injection of native and chemically-modified lipoproteins in an attempt to assess the relative importance of receptor-dependent and receptor independent catabolic pathways. The shape of the urinary/plasma ratio curve suggested heterogeneity of the LDL-apolipoprotein B pool and excluded homogeneity. This heterogeneity required the building of a more complex model that allowed the simultaneous fitting of plasma and urinary data. This new model permits the precise quantification of both receptor and non-receptor pathways. PMID- 2610729 TI - Concurrence of limb girdle muscular dystrophy and myasthenia gravis. AB - We describe a case of limb girdle muscular dystrophy with associated myasthenia gravis. This association has not been previously noted in the literature. The unusual feature of the case was that symptoms coexisted for several years before a correct diagnosis was made. The diagnosis was based on the clinical picture and the results of the muscle biopsy and electrophysiologic testing. This case serves to illustrate the fact that a separate problem should be considered when the clinical picture is not compatible with the underlying diagnosis. PMID- 2610730 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging in a family with hereditary cerebral arteriovenous malformations. AB - Because of a family history of neurologic problems and the documentation of three vascular lesions in one patient, we evaluated 18 members representing three family generations with magnetic resonance imaging. Of these, eight were normal, two had abnormalities probably not related to arteriovenous malformation, one scan was suboptimal, and the remaining eight had evidence of hemorrhagic lesions characteristic of arteriovenous malformation. Four of these patients had multiple lesions, and three patients with lesions had no neurologic symptoms. The findings suggest an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance in this unique case of familial cerebral arteriovenous malformation. PMID- 2610731 TI - Outbreak of sheep pulmonary adenomatosis in the Irish Republic. PMID- 2610732 TI - Treated incidence data. PMID- 2610733 TI - Medical disaster management in the United States. PMID- 2610734 TI - Formation of a single primary care specialty. PMID- 2610735 TI - Pituitary apoplexy presenting as monocular blindness. AB - The case of a 56-year-old man with sudden onset of retrobulbar headache and progressive loss of vision in his left eye is described. The anatomical position of the chiasm noted during surgical resection of a necrotic pituitary adenoma accounted for this patient's presentation of monocular blindness. We discuss the typical features of pituitary apoplexy and provide a pathophysiological explanation of these signs and symptoms. A differential diagnosis is given and appropriate treatment is described. PMID- 2610736 TI - Anterior spinal tuberculosis: paraplegia following laminectomy. AB - Of 16 patients with anterior spinal tuberculosis treated in this unit during the period 1979-1984, five presented with neurological complications following laminectomy at another hospital. After the decompressive laminectomy all five patients developed an increasing kyphosis, and four of the five patients had deteriorated neurologically. They were transferred to our unit where the four with neurological deterioration underwent surgical stabilisation. This paper illustrates the dangers of posterior spinal surgery in the presence of anterior disease. PMID- 2610737 TI - Visual, refractive, and keratometric results of radial keratotomy. Five-year follow-up. AB - This article presents five-year findings on the first 156 radial keratotomies in our series. Results are compared with findings on these same eyes at one and three years and with results from other studies. Follow-up at five years was on 123 eyes (79%). Before surgery, the mean spherical equivalent was -5.0 diopters (D). Five years after surgery, the mean change in the spherical equivalent was 5.17 D, and 53% of eyes were within 1 D of emmetropia. Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/200 or worse in 96% of eyes before surgery. At five years, 36% had 20/20 acuity or better, and 75% were 20/40 or better. Best corrected acuity was at least 20/20 in 90% of eyes before surgery. At five years, 85% retained at least 20/20 best corrected acuity. Although some patients still have shown refractive and visual acuity changes through five years after surgery, the overall group has been stable. PMID- 2610738 TI - Absence of immunoreactive vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in tissue from the lungs of patients with asthma. AB - Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide present in the nerve fibers of normal lungs, where it acts to relax bronchial smooth muscle. To determine its presence or absence in the lungs of patients with asthma, we examined lung tissue obtained at autopsy or lobectomy from five patients with asthma and nine without asthma. The avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique was used to stain tissue for immunoreactivity to VIP. At least 80 tissue sections from each patient were examined microscopically; the airway diameter ranged from 100 microns to 1.2 cm. Immunoreactive VIP was seen within nerves in more than 92 percent of the sections from the lungs of patients without asthma. No VIP was seen in any of 468 sections we could evaluate that were obtained from the lungs of patients with asthma. As a control for the nonspecific destruction of neuropeptides, immunostaining for substance P was also carried out. Abundant amounts of this neuropeptide were seen within nerves in tissue from the lungs of all patients. We conclude that in patients with asthma there is a loss of VIP from the pulmonary nerve fibers that may diminish neurogenically mediated bronchodilation. Whether this loss is a cause or a result of asthma is unclear. PMID- 2610739 TI - Stiffness of systemic arteries in patients with myocardial infarction. A noninvasive method to predict severity of coronary atherosclerosis. AB - The static elastic properties of arterial tree (abdominal aorta and common carotid artery) were studied in 19 normal subjects and in 49 patients with myocardial infarction with an ultrasonic phase-locked echo-tracking system that allows continuous transcutaneous measurement of the arterial diameter. The stiffness index beta, which represented the mechanical properties in the arterial wall, was calculated from the relation between systemic blood pressure and the diameter of the artery. Patients with myocardial infarction underwent coronary angiography in their convalescent period to determine involved vessels. In 11 patients, coronary artery was patent; 15 patients had one-vessel disease, 12 had two-vessel disease, and the remaining 11 patients had three-vessel disease. In normal subjects, increasing age was associated with an increase in arterial stiffness. An average value of the stiffness index of the abdominal aorta was 8.58 +/- 3.02 (mean +/- SD) and that of common carotid artery was 9.17 +/- 2.22. In patients with three-vessel disease, these values were significantly higher (22.37 +/- 4.29 in abdominal aorta and 13.17 +/- 4.56 in common carotid artery) than those in normal subjects. Stiffness index of patients with two- or one vessel disease was also increased but lower than those in patients with three vessel disease (p less than 0.05). Forty-four of 49 patients with infarction had an arterial stiffness index of abdominal aorta higher than the 95% confidence limits of the normal data (p less than 0.05). Twenty-eight patients were outside the nomogram of common carotid artery (p less than 0.05). The mechanical properties of these elastic arteries provided sufficiently reliable information on changes caused by atherosclerosis. PMID- 2610740 TI - 'The effect of latex gloves on setting time of vinyl polysiloxane putty impression material'. PMID- 2610741 TI - Economical fissure sealing. PMID- 2610742 TI - Adult B-cell ALL, Burkitt type. PMID- 2610743 TI - Positive symptoms of schizophrenia. PMID- 2610744 TI - Radiology and history. PMID- 2610745 TI - Pemphigus vulgaris immunogenetics. PMID- 2610746 TI - Thromboembolic risk of tamoxifen in patients with stage II breast cancer. PMID- 2610747 TI - Inflammatory reaction from Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. PMID- 2610748 TI - Strengthening nursing's international focus. PMID- 2610749 TI - Limb defects with cutis marmorata teleangiectatica congenita: Adams-Oliver syndrome. PMID- 2610750 TI - Polygraph lecture: what did students learn? PMID- 2610751 TI - 'Oral medicine in practice: angular cheilitis'. PMID- 2610752 TI - Continuous monitoring of O2 saturation. PMID- 2610753 TI - Repeated observations of yawning, clitoral engorgement, and orgasm associated with fluoxetine administration. PMID- 2610755 TI - Hepatic veno-occlusive disease and drinking of herbal teas. PMID- 2610754 TI - Immunophenotypic profile of CNS lymphoma: a review of eighteen cases. AB - The cell surface antigenic phenotype of 18 cases of central nervous system (CNS) large-cell lymphoma (14 primary, four secondary) was examined by an immunoperoxidase technique using antibodies that identify B cell restricted and associated antigens. All cases were shown to be of B cell origin by virtue of the expression of monotypic immunoglobulin (Ig) (16 IgM, two IgG) and the pan B cell antigen B1 (CD20). A panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against B cell restricted and associated activation antigens including B5, Blast-1, Blast-2 (CD23), BB1, interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R, CD25), T9 (transferrin receptor) and TNK-TAR (4F2) was used on 12 of the cases. The majority expressed T9 and TNK-TAR. Blast-1 was expressed by less than half the cases and Blast-2 and B5 by one of 12 cases each. This is in contrast to 10 non-CNS diffuse large cell lymphomas where B5 and Blast-1 were present on all cases. This study confirms previous observations that primary CNS large cell lymphomas are of B cell derivation. Moreover, the differences in expression of B cell activation antigens on CNS large cell lymphomas as compared to non-CNS lymphomas raise the possibility that a subset of neoplastic B cells may have unique tropism for the CNS. PMID- 2610756 TI - Periodontal diagnosis. PMID- 2610757 TI - Measurement of tumor pH with in vivo MR spectroscopy. PMID- 2610758 TI - Bayesian analysis of case-control studies. PMID- 2610759 TI - Diseases that lower blood pressure. PMID- 2610760 TI - Type III collagen mutations and cerebral aneurysms. PMID- 2610761 TI - Nouns versus adjectives in accounting for discordance. PMID- 2610762 TI - The use of cyclosporine in high-risk keratoplasty. PMID- 2610763 TI - Aggressive middle ear tumor. PMID- 2610764 TI - Citing the differential diagnosis. PMID- 2610765 TI - Surgical intervention in severe acute pancreatitis: 476 cases in 20 years. PMID- 2610766 TI - Freezing and acanthamoeba. PMID- 2610767 TI - Visual field interpretation with empiric probability maps. PMID- 2610768 TI - Depression and attempted suicide. PMID- 2610769 TI - Patients requesting facial surgery. PMID- 2610770 TI - Radiographic features and functional status in rheumatoid arthritis. PMID- 2610771 TI - Buspirone and transvestic fetishism. PMID- 2610772 TI - Caution: television may be hazardous to a child's mental health. PMID- 2610773 TI - Benefits of databases. PMID- 2610774 TI - Migraine and mitral valve prolapse. PMID- 2610775 TI - Continuous intravenous morphine for pain relief after abdominal surgery. PMID- 2610776 TI - [Growth fraction (Ki67), ploidy balance and proliferation index in tumors of the urogenital tract and breast]. AB - The practical applications of computer-assisted image analysis systems are multiple in oncology. The computerized system of image analysis referred to as SAMBA (TITN) is particularly relevant to analyse coloured images resulting from immunostaining or histochemical procedures assessed either on tissue sections of any type or cytological preparations (imprints, smears). The SAMBA analysis of positive Ki67 surfaces in tissue sections from breast, endometrial, ovarian, cervical or urinary bladder samples enables a multiparametric evaluation of the growth fraction (GF) in intraepithelial, borderline or invasive proliferations. Moreover, the SAMBA analysis after Feulgen staining procedures provides a parametric evaluation of the nuclei densitometry and morphological features and of the chromatin texture, which serve to compute the ploidy balance (BP) and the proliferation index (PI). In benign tumors, GF and PI are low and tumor cells are diploid with an overall high positive PB values. In malignant tumors, GF, PI and the percentage of aneuploid cells increase with tumor grade and stage whereas PB decreases. In borderline proliferations, FC, PI and PB intermediate values are recorded. These new criteria of prognosis should be assessed routinely in pathology departments and the results from these new investigations are likely to be soon implicated in the selection of patient therapy. PMID- 2610777 TI - [Association of thymus carcinoma, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and polymyositis. Anatomoclinical case with autopsy findings]. AB - A 67-year-old woman presenting with a 9-month history of polymyositis, suddenly worsened her clinical state and died. An autopsy was performed, finding a tumor measuring 8 x 6 x 1 cm, located in the left pulmonary hilum. The thyroid gland, of normal volume, was firm. The histological analysis of the tumor, the thyroid gland and several skeletal muscles led to the following diagnoses: thymic carcinoma, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and polymyositis. The aim of the discussion is this thymic carcinoma, the originality of which are firstly its ectopic location, secondly its association with immune diseases usually described during the course of thymomas rather than thymic carcinomas. PMID- 2610778 TI - [Malignant transformation of an intracranial epidermoid cyst]. AB - We report the case of a 56-year-old man who underwent removal of an intracranial epidermoid cyst 16 years ago. The cyst recurred 12 years later and was once again almost completely removed. A new recurrence 4 years later proved to be due to malignant change in the form of squamous cell carcinoma. Only 17 other cases of malignant change in an intracranial epidermoid cyst have been reported. Moreover, three other cases presented as primary intracranial squamous carcinoma. PMID- 2610779 TI - [Rhabdomyosarcomas discovered in newborn infants. Study of markers of muscle differentiation]. AB - Rhabdomyosarcomas were observed at birth in two premature infants. The evolution of these tumors was both rapid and fatal. One case was a botryoid sarcoma of the bladder and the second was a cervical alveolar sarcoma of Riopelle and Theriault. A cytological differentiation of the tumor was observed in the first case spontaneously and in the second following chemotherapy. In the second case histology, immunocytochemistry and a novel biochemical analysis of the contractile proteins demonstrated this differentiation of the tumor. The cellular reactivity varies according to the degree of muscular differentiation that can be defined either by studying the type of intermediate filaments present or the expression of specific muscle contractile proteins. PMID- 2610780 TI - [Clear cell carcinoma of the thyroid; diagnostic difficulties]. AB - Thyroid carcinomas with clear cell change are rare neoplasms, and always bring up the possibility of a metastasis from another primary clear cell carcinoma. We report the case of a 33-year-old woman operated on for a solitary cold thyroid nodule. Histologic and ultrastructural studies showed a clear cell carcinoma with a trabecular and follicular pattern. Neoplastic cells included lipid droplets, glycogen granules and intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, and were stained with one of the two antithyroglobulin polyclonal antibodies used. Radiologic investigations then showed a tumor mass of the right kidney. Surgical management proved it to be a benign cyst, and assessed the absence of kidney neoplasm. Thus, this case exemplifies the pitfalls in the diagnosis of clear cell thyroid neoplasms, and points out the fact that immunohistochemical staining for thyroglobulin should be systematically performed. PMID- 2610781 TI - A randomized trial of the effects of monitrice support during labor: mothers' views two to four weeks postpartum. AB - One hundred three women who were randomized to receive either routine nursing care (controls) or routine care plus one-to-one support by an experienced monitrice (experimental) were compared as to obstetric outcomes and their memories of types of support they had from nurse, monitrice, and mate. Women assigned a monitrice arrived at the hospital significantly further along in labor, and nearly twice as many had no medication during labor and delivery. Significantly fewer of these women used stirrups during delivery, and more had intact perineums. There was no difference between groups in use of forceps or cesarean sections. Length of labor was confounded by use of medications. Mothers in the experimental group remembered receiving more physical comfort measures, emotional support, and advocacy from monitrices compared to control mothers who received intrapartum care from nurses. PMID- 2610782 TI - Maternity Information Act passes in New York. PMID- 2610783 TI - Revised U.S. certificate of birth--new opportunities for research on birth outcome. AB - The 1989 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth includes a number of new items on medical and life-style risk factors of pregnancy and birth, obstetric procedures performed, method of delivery, abnormal conditions and congenital anomalies of the infant, expanded information on birth attendant and place of birth, and questions on the Hispanic origin of the parents. This major enhancement of medical and health data available on mothers and infants can greatly expand the scope of research on pregnancy outcome in the United States. PMID- 2610784 TI - Revised U.S. certificate of birth: a view from England. PMID- 2610785 TI - Cesarean section in the United States: has it changed since 1979? AB - From 1965 to 1979 the cesarean section rate in the United States increased 264 percent. An analysis in 1979 identified several contributing factors, including fear of malpractice suits, the custom of repeat cesareans and operative delivery for breech-presenting infants, increased diagnoses of dystocia and fetal distress, physician training, economic incentives, and the concept of "premium babies." From 1979 to 1987 the cesarean section rate increased 48.8 percent to an annual rate of 24.4 percent. Current analysis finds the same factors still interacting to continue the upward trend. Growing use of vaginal birth after a previous cesarean, increased recognition of the imprecision of electronic fetal monitoring, greater public awareness, and professional peer review activities are beginning to slow the rate of increase. PMID- 2610786 TI - Cesarean childbirth in New York state: trends and directions. AB - During 1987 the New York State Department of Health prepared a report that showed trends in cesarean childbirth from 1970 through 1986 and analyzed related factors for the period 1984-1986. As a result, a joint task force was formed consisting of members of the state health department, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Hospital Association of New York State. The task force met regularly through 1988 to discuss obstetric care in New York state. These discussions led to a joint education and research project intended to improve the understanding of the patterns of obstetric care in the state, to assess a method of quality-of-care review of obstetric programs to improve maternal and fetal outcomes, and to establish an educational framework within this review process. The project will continue through June 1990, when recommendations will be made leading to a more formal, continuing review process for ongoing improvements in quality of obstetric care and institutional management. PMID- 2610787 TI - Surgical and nonsurgical procedures associated with hospital delivery in the United States: 1980-1987. AB - Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey were used to examine changes in the rates of procedures performed on women hospitalized for delivery from 1980 to 1987 in the United States. The rate of procedures reported per 100 deliveries increased 42 percent. Much of this increase was reported from 1984 to 1987, when there may have been more complete recording of secondary procedures due to the implementation of prospective payment systems. The reported rates of cesarean sections, repair of current obstetric lacerations, artificial rupture of membranes, and vacuum extraction increased throughout the whole period from 1980 to 1987, however, and thus are less likely to have risen because of changes in reporting practices. PMID- 2610788 TI - Current findings in the pathological evaluation of breast reduction specimens. AB - A study of the histopathologic findings in the specimens of 100 consecutive cases of reduction mammoplasty was performed. The current classification of premalignant breast changes using the presence or absence of atypia in specimens with epithelial hyperplasia was employed. Of the group studied only 1% showed atypical ductal hyperplasia and no cases of lobular carcinoma in situ or ductal carcinoma in situ were found. Fifty percent of the specimens showed simply fibrosis of the stroma dominating the gross and microscopic picture. The other pathological findings in descending order of frequency were cysts (30%) epithelial hyperplasia without atypia (6%), adenosis (5%) and apocrine metaplasia (5%). PMID- 2610789 TI - Osteogenic sarcoma in a child. AB - Osteogenic sarcoma is a malignant bone tumor that occurs more frequently in long bones of the extremities, mainly in the second and third decades of life. It rarely occurs in children younger than 5 years of age. We describe the case of a 3 9/12 years old boy, who is one of the youngest patients described in the literature. This patient had an aggressive disease, with pulmonary metastases at the time of diagnosis. The disease progressed rapidly despite surgery and chemotherapy. Diagnosis was delayed probably because of the unusual presentation of this disease at this age. PMID- 2610790 TI - An unusual endourethral foreign body. PMID- 2610791 TI - Post-graduate surgical education in Puerto Rico. PMID- 2610792 TI - Drugs, hospitals and a quality assurance answer. PMID- 2610793 TI - [Long-term results of gentamycin therapy of Meniere's disease]. AB - During the years 1976 to 1987, 82 patients with Meniere's disease received a tympanoclysis with gentamicin on a daily basis. Dosage was titrated up to the initial symptoms of vestibular or cochlear intoxication. Sixty-four patients filed for a complete follow-up examination; it was possible to interview 15, while three patients were lost. Vertigo was eliminated in 70 (89%) cases. Nine patients (11%) remained disabled, while demonstrating typical paroxysmal positional vertigo in three cases. Speech discrimination improved in 13%, stabilized in 54%, and deteriorated in 33%. Hearing improved significantly better if, preoperatively, there had been low frequency loss rather than a flat audiogram. HALLPIKE's caloric test demonstrated residual vestibular activity in 72 percent. In the author's opinion, tympanoclysis with gentamicin offers a technically simple, riskless, and effective method to rehabilitate patients with disabling Meniere's disease. PMID- 2610794 TI - [Clinical use of click evoked oto-acoustic emissions at the Freiburg ENT clinic]. AB - Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions appear to be an efficient way to assess cochlear function in infants and neonates. A new technique developed by Bray and Kemp (1987) enables data to be gathered under clinical conditions. A total of 310 children aged between one day and five years were examined in a realistic clinical situation: 204 of them were admitted to the authors' outpatient department for evaluation of a hearing impairment and 106 were special-care babies or normal newborns. Otoacoustic emissions were successfully tested in 244 of these 310 children at the first attempt after performing behavioural tests. A classification of the emissions by the coefficient of the cross-correlation function and the frequency response spectrum was used. Emissions were observed in 95% (n = 181 ears) of the three- to five-year-old children with a mean behavioural threshold better than 20 dB. In 82% (40/49) of the special-care babies and in 89% (51/57) of the normal newborns a successful emission recording was be obtained. Such findings suggest that this technique for detecting emissions may be useful in early diagnosis of hearing impairments, especially when combined with simple behavioural tests. PMID- 2610795 TI - [Duplication of the auditory canal. A vestige of the 1st branchial cleft]. AB - Anomalies of the first branchial cleft appear as duplicated auditory canals; they are rare clinical entities. Patients will present with a history of recurrent fistulas of the neck or parotid gland close to the angle of the mandible. There are two distinct malformations associated with the first cleft: A simple sinus which is lined with squamous epithelium and runs parallel to the auditory canal (Type I); the Type II anomaly, on the other hand, has a close, though variable relationship to the facial nerve and contains cartilage, a mesodermal derivate, within the wall. Embryologically it appears that the point of time at which the disorder developed dictates whether the malformation is of Type I or II. The authors present six cases of first branchial cleft anomalies, two patients with Type I and four with Type II lesions. The sex distribution was striking: all the patients were female. In case of a Type II defect, three variations of the facial nerve with split main trunks were found. Recurrent operations and infections lead to scar tissue and subsequent surgery is more difficult, with serious hazard to the facial nerve. Where positive identification of the facial nerve is a major problem it is advisable to identify the nerve in the mastoid cavity and trace it to the stylomastoid foramen and parotid gland. PMID- 2610796 TI - [Functional and morphologic findings following chronic vitamin A deficiency in young rats]. AB - Pregnant rats were fed a vitamin A-depleted diet. After weaning, 40 litters (10 controls, 30 experimental) were divided into eight groups, four female and four male. All groups were given the same diet. The control groups (male and female) received 100 IU vitamin A/day, the deficient groups only a maintenance dose of 1 2 IU vitamin A/day. One female and one male group were repleted with vitamin A after the 27th day of life and two further groups of both sexes were repleted after the 49th day of life. After the 23th day of life all litters were trained for the Rail Test and after the 27th day the time on the rotating bar was recorded. After the 15th week all the animals were anesthetized and decapitated and the cochleas prepared for histologic and electronmicroscopic examinations. The vitamin A-deficient animals displayed delayed development of the visual, auditory, vestibular and motor systems in both sexes. Early repletion with vitamin A after the 27th day of life normalized the motor and vestibular systems to normal in the experimental animals. Late repletion with vitamin A, after the 49th day, does not normalize function in the Rail Test. In histologic studies some of the experimental animals showed dysplasia of the bony and membranous labyrinths. Others had signs of degeneration of the organ of Corti and the spiral ganglion of the cochlea. In the electron-microscopic studies an accumulation of lysosomes in the sensory cells and supporting cells, and dystrophic neuronal fibers and ganglion cells were found in the spiral ganglions of the vitamin A deficient groups and to a lesser extend also in the groups with late repletion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610797 TI - Nurse practitioners in the accident and emergency department. AB - The theoretical management of walking wounded patients by experienced nurses was compared with that of middle-grade doctors. Out of 400 patients seen, 332 were assessed by the nurses. The theoretical management by the nurses of 298 of these patients was satisfactory. The nurses mismanaged 12 of the patients according to local practice. They also requested X-rays in 22 more patients than the doctors, none of whom returned with a fracture. Out of the patients suitable to be seen by the nurses 94% said that they would use a nurse practitioner system if introduced. The theoretical waiting-time saving for the patients during the trial was 11 min. The authors recommend that if nurse practitioners are introduced in this country there should be an adequate training programme along nationally debated guidelines. PMID- 2610798 TI - Does the warming of local anaesthetic reduce the pain of its injection? AB - One hundred and fifty-seven patients who warranted the injection of local anaesthetic were divided into two groups. One group received local anaesthetic at room temperature (21 degrees C) and the other at body temperature (37 degrees C). The pain resulting from the injection was assessed using a visual analogue scale. There was no significant difference in the level of pain experienced by the two patient groups. It is concluded that no advantage is gained by the warming of local anaesthetic before its administration. PMID- 2610799 TI - The erroneous use by an accident and emergency department of plain abdominal radiographs in the diagnosis of constipation. PMID- 2610800 TI - Cantharis in the early treatment of minor burns. AB - The analgesic action of the homeopathic preparation Cantharis in the treatment of minor burns was assessed in a series of 34 patients. Under double blind conditions no statistically significant difference was found between Cantharis and a placebo. PMID- 2610801 TI - The impact of the America's Cup on Fremantle Hospital. AB - The first defence of the America's Cup outside of the USA took place off Fremantle, Western Australia, between October, 1986 and February, 1987. Fremantle Hospital, the nearest hospital to the marinas, was involved in the planning for disasters and for the provision of clinical services to the syndicates involved and the projected crowds of tourists and spectators. The impact of this unique sporting event on the hospital was measured by collecting data from all patients whose presence in Fremantle was related to the yachting. The America's Cup resulted in only 654 attendances and 31 admissions over the 5 months of the event. The figures fell far short of those predicted. A number of conclusions have been drawn. PMID- 2610802 TI - Violence in a community emergency room. AB - Violence in both community and county hospitals in the USA is increasing. It caused significant physical, emotional and economic hardship to many emergency department employees. We describe an incident that caused significant injury to an innocent bystander in a quiet upper-class community emergency department and outline procedures that hospitals and emergency department employees can take to combat this violence. Policy, procedures, planning and methods must be available for appropriately trained and equipped police officers to respond to such incidents. The effects of such violent episodes on the emergency department staff are discussed. Methods to prevent such incidents are presented. PMID- 2610803 TI - An arresting injury. AB - Three cases of branchial plexus injury due to handcuffing with the hands behind the back are presented. PMID- 2610804 TI - Life-threatening stridor presenting in a patient with rheumatoid involvement of the larynx. AB - A case of a female patient with extensive rheumatoid arthritis who presented to the Accident and Emergency Department with life-threatening stridor is described. Although clinical involvement of the larynx is found in over a third of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis, acute airways obstruction is fortunately a very rare complication. Stridor is probably precipitated in the acute situation in such patients as a result of upper respiratory tract infection. PMID- 2610805 TI - Anaesthetics: a year out. PMID- 2610806 TI - Conjunctival oxygen monitoring during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. PMID- 2610807 TI - The appearance of urine as a diagnostic aid. PMID- 2610808 TI - Serum potassium response to nebulized salbutamol. PMID- 2610809 TI - Trauma audit. PMID- 2610810 TI - Marinefish stings. PMID- 2610811 TI - Rapid identification of Haemophilus influenzae serovar b by gas liquid chromatography using carbohydrate fingerprints. AB - Carbohydrates from whole-cell hydrolysates of 18 strains of the species Haemophilus influenzae (5 strains belonging to serovar b) were analysed by gas liquid chromatography. The identity of the carbohydrate components was confirmed by comparison with the retention times of reference sugars and by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Evidence was obtained that Haemophilus influenzae serovar b can easily be identified by the presence of one large peak representing ribitol. The method described can be routinely applied in bacteriological laboratories equipped with a gas chromatograph. It gives results within approximately 4 h, it is reproducible and easy to perform. Even single colonies isolated directly from agar plates can be used for analysis without further subculturing. PMID- 2610812 TI - Chemiluminescence and phagocytic responses of rat polymorphonuclear neutrophils to leptospires. AB - The interaction of leptospires with polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) was examined by the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) test. Whole blood CL changed in relation to the stage of leptospiral infection both in susceptible (SUS) and resistant (RES) rats. The intensity of CL grew with an increasing number of leptospires in the blood. CL responses were observed in isolated PMN upon exposure to living leptospires. In contrast, the same bacteria, having been inactivated by formalin, did not stimulate PMN. A variation was found in the CL response by different living strains of Leptospira. The CL intensity was arranged as follows: L. illini greater than L. biflexa greater than L. interrogans avirulent strains greater than L. interrogans virulent strains. The CL response was markedly enhanced by an opsonization of leptospires. Specific opsonization was shown to increase the rate of phagocytosis of leptospires with relation to the CL response. PMID- 2610813 TI - Evaluation of different calculation methods for anti-HBs titration. AB - Anti-HBs titre calculations should be standardized to make comparison between various vaccination programmes and between immunogenicity tests in animals more meaningful. For this purpose, we compared four methods of titre calculation in human and animal sera and in the IgM and IgG fractions of these sera. The four calculation methods are parallel line bioassay, Hollinger method, RIA units and regression-calibration curve. From our results, the following can be concluded: The titration curves of anti-HBs/IgM, anti-HBs/IgG and of animal sera do not always run parallel to the WHO standard curve. Thus, the objective quantification of these anti-HBs cannot be obtained with the WHO standard. The Hollinger method and the RIA units method are identical within the range S/P less than 1. They only differ by a factor of 4. Only dilutions giving results in the linear part of the dose-response curve should be considered for titre calculations. The mean of the results for different dilutions should be used to determine the titre. Within the restrictions mentioned, comparable results were obtained with the four methods. PMID- 2610814 TI - Salmonella in snakes of the Gran Chaco, Paraguay. Description of the "new" flagellar antigen RZ72. AB - Twenty-three snakes of nine different species were investigated. Of these, 21 were carriers of a total of 22 different Salmonella serovars (subspecies I 14 types, subspecies IIIb 6 types, subspecies IV 2 types). A triphasic variant of S. IIIb 48:i:z:Rz72 was identified for the first time. Numerous serovars of subspecies I strains have previously been demonstrated in humans and animals in large areas of South America. It is concluded that these snakes may constitute a potential reservoir for human infections. Biochemically variant strains occurred as a lactose-positive variant of S. michigan, an indole-positive isolate of S. IIIb 61:r:z53 as well as a dulcitol-positive strain of S. IIIb 48:i:z:Rz72. The method of preparation of the specific diagnostic Rz72 factor serum for determination of this antigen is described. PMID- 2610815 TI - Assisting staff nurses in patient teaching. PMID- 2610816 TI - Managing male incontinence with external collection systems: some alternatives. PMID- 2610817 TI - Hospital and home care of sutureless percutaneous catheters. AB - Percutaneous catheter drainage of the biliary tree, kidney pelvis, and abdominal abscess cavities has become increasingly prevalent over the last ten years. These procedures, along with percutaneous gastrostomies, are safer to perform and can be accomplished when the patient is not a candidate for surgical placement. Because patients are usually discharged with the catheter in place, it is necessary to have a simple but effective dressing procedure. Catheters placed through the skin have traditionally been sutured to the skin to prevent displacement. This sutureless method employs a technique that is safely managed, not only by hospital staff but by patients and/or their home care givers as well. The written instruction for this procedure were developed by an ET Nurse in collaboration with the Radiologists who insert the catheters. PMID- 2610818 TI - Calcium alginate topical wound dressings: a new dimension in the cost-effective treatment for exudating dermal wounds and pressure sores. AB - Sorbsan Topical Wound Dressing maintains a physiologically moist microenvironment that promotes healing and the formation of granulation tissue. In addition, Sorbsan is extremely absorbent, making it particularly useful for rapid and effective removal of exudate. Since Sorbsan can be rinsed away with saline irrigation, removal of the dressing does not interfere with healing granulation tissue, a factor that makes dressing changes virtually painless. Sorbsan also provides a physical barrier against inadvertent contamination of the wound. No adverse reactions to the dressing have been reported in any of the studies published to date. Sorbsan is also cost-effective because the frequency of dressing change is significantly reduced. These qualities add up to an ideal, easy to use dressing for moderate to heavily exudating wounds. PMID- 2610819 TI - The impact of isolation on an AIDS patient. PMID- 2610820 TI - Tissue interface pressure (TIP) PMID- 2610821 TI - Evidence for common alterations in cerebral glucose metabolism in major affective disorders and schizophrenia. AB - Regional glucose metabolic rates were measured in affectively disordered patients during the performance of auditory discrimination. Those regions previously observed as abnormal in schizophrenia were examined to see if similar alterations might be associated with affective disorder. The abnormalities observed in the mid-prefrontal cortex, an area that appears to be an important biologic determinant of the sustained attention required of subjects in this task, are similar to those previously observed in schizophrenia. Moreover, the abnormalities do not appear to relate directly to symptomatology or the subject's performance. The authors discuss the possibility that this abnormality may reflect dysfunction in the integrating component of the attention network critical for the maintenance of goal-directed behavior and thus represent a psychosis vulnerability factor in some patients. PMID- 2610822 TI - Characterization of the inducible serotonin-sensitive dihydroalprenolol binding sites with low affinity for isoproterenol. AB - The previous findings that the inducible [3H]-dihydroalprenolol (DHA) binding sites with low affinity for isoproterenol (RL) could be regulated by serotonin (5 HT) in vitro and by 5-hydroxytryptophan and the 5-HT uptake inhibitor fluoxetine in vivo, prompted the present pharmacologic characterization of these receptor sites, using nonlinear regression analysis of competition binding curves. If isoproterenol was used as the displacing agent, lesioning with 5,7 dihydroxytryptamine selectively increased [3H]-DHA binding sites with low micromolar affinity. By contrast, if 5-HT was used as the displacing agent, the receptor population with high agonist affinity showed a fourfold increase whereas the density of [3H]-DHA sites with low micromolar affinity for 5-HT was not altered. Neither the 5-HT1A agonist, 8-OH-DPAT, nor mianserin, a 5-HT2 and 5-HT1C antagonist, altered the induced RL receptor population, whereas the selective 5 HT1B agonist CGS-12066B reduced the increase in the RL receptor population with a potency equal to that of 5-HT. These results strengthen the notion that the [3H] DHA sites with low agonist affinity for isoproterenol represent 5-HT1B receptors induced following a reduction of serotonergic neuronal function. PMID- 2610823 TI - Central corticotropin releasing factor reduces natural cytotoxicity. Time course of action. AB - Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) administered intracerebroventricularly produced both a rapid, greater than 50% reduction in splenic natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity and a prolonged elevation in plasma corticosterone levels. In the first 60 minutes following CRF, fivefold increases in corticosterone levels were associated with the suppression of NK activity. However, NK activity returned to control levels at later time points even though elevated plasma corticosterone levels persisted. These data augment the findings that central CRF reduces natural cytotoxicity and establish a time course for the effect in acutely treated rats. PMID- 2610824 TI - Potentiation of acoustic startle by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and by fear are both reversed by alpha-helical CRF (9-41). AB - A series of experiments were performed to investigate the effects of alpha helical CRF [9-41] (AHCRF), a structural analogue and functional antagonist of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), on CRF- and fear-potentiated acoustic startle amplitude. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of the CRF antagonist AHCRF reversed the potentiation of startle amplitude that was produced by ICV administration of CRF (1.0 micrograms). Doses of AHCRF that antagonized CRF-potentiated startle amplitude also reversed the potentiation of startle produced by conditioned "fear" but failed to lower startle baseline or antagonize strychnine-potentiated acoustic startle. These results suggest that CRF and "fear" may potentiate acoustic startle through overlapping neural substrates. PMID- 2610825 TI - Effects of ethanol on fight- or swim-stressed mice in Porsolt's swim test. AB - The effects of ethanol in Porsolt's swim test on mice preexposed to fight- or swim-stressors were investigated. The control mice did not change their behavior in the swim test after an acute injection of 0.4 or 0.8 g/kg ethanol; 1.2 g/kg ethanol increased their immobility in one but not in another experiment. The mice exposed to continuous fight-attacks in their home cage by one dominant mouse shortened immobility after 0.8 g/kg ethanol as well as tended to shorten it after 0.4 g/kg ethanol. The mice that were forced to swim in the water twice before the actual swim test responded to 0.4 g/kg ethanol by shortening immobility; 0.8 g/kg tended to have the same effect; 1.2 g/kg ethanol just failed to lengthen immobility of the fight-stressed mice and had no effect on the swim-stressed mice. Because antidepressant drugs decrease and stressors increase immobility in the swim test, the test may serve as a putative animal model of depression. The present findings showed that low doses of ethanol reverse lengthened immobility of mice preexposed to a stressor. This suggests that ethanol either has antidepressant-like properties, or it improves animal's ability to cope with a stressful situation, or both. PMID- 2610826 TI - Modulation of cancer patients' immune responses by administration of anti idiotypic antibodies. AB - Thirty patients with Dukes stage D colon carcinoma who had undergone operative removal of the primary tumor and had growing hepatic metastases each received four intradermal injections of 0.5-4 mg of alum-precipitated goat anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-Id). The anti-Id had been produced against murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) CO17-1A, which defines a human colon carcinoma associated antigen. All patients elaborated anti-anti-Id that shared idiotopes with mAb CO17-1A, bound to tumor cells and isolated tumor antigen, and competed with the mAb for binding to tumor cells. The clinical response was monitored by ultrasonography, CT, radionuclide scanning, and serum marker assays. Six patients had partial tumor responses; five of these had received additional booster anti-Id injections along with chemotherapy. Seven patients had stabilized tumor; six had received additional anti-Id, with chemotherapy also in four. Conclusions about the clinical role of such immunization await further study, but in demonstrating a specific response to anti-Id, our results support the use of this approach in human immunotherapy against tumors or pathogens. PMID- 2610827 TI - Health for today's youth, hope for tomorrow's world. AB - What is the best way to ensure the highest possible level of health among young people? Sound public policies, supportive environments, community action, and the reorientation of health services all have a part to play. Of particular importance, however, is the direct involvement of youth in the promotion of its own health. PMID- 2610828 TI - Health promotion with the help of the world's postal services. AB - The dissemination of information and the raising of funds are vital in the struggle to achieve health for all. A useful contribution towards meeting both of these requirements can be made through the imaginative use of postage stamps, cancellations and seals on items of mail. PMID- 2610829 TI - Elderly people as health promoters. AB - Organized groups of senior citizens in Thailand are being encouraged to adopt life-styles beneficial to their health and to pass on information about healthy living to other people. Particular attention is being given to the value of exercise. PMID- 2610830 TI - Health care in Sarawak's jungles. AB - A primary health care system is being developed in Baram District, Sarawak, Malaysia, for the benefit of the Penans, who, until recently, were largely nomadic. Many of them are now attempting to adopt a settled mode of existence, and this in itself creates special health problems because the people lack the skills needed for living in one place. Substantial progress has already been achieved in mother and child care and in immunization coverage. PMID- 2610831 TI - A new look at traditional medicine in Morocco. AB - Traditional medicine is still popular in Morocco since it is an important form of health care for many people. Its positive aspects could be encouraged if it were officially recognized and given a place in the health system. PMID- 2610833 TI - A city aims to rid itself of drink-driving. AB - The city of Coventry in the United Kingdom aims to be free of drink-driving by the year 2000. The recommendations of a seminar held to consider this goal are presented below. PMID- 2610832 TI - A boost for family planning. AB - In Ghana, pharmacists and sellers of non-prescription medicines are distributing contraceptives and giving family planning advice within the framework of a demonstration programme which, it is hoped, will lead to a significant improvement in the health of rural populations. PMID- 2610834 TI - Better prospects for child survival. AB - Infant and childhood mortality rates in Sao Paulo fell by about 50% and 70% respectively between 1973 and 1983. However, surveys in 1973-74 and 1984-85 showed no change in the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition, nor were there marked changes in the socioeconomic characteristics of the population. Improvements in water supply and the duration of breast-feeding possibly accounted for a 20% decrease in the infant mortality rate. It is proposed that the markedly improved coverage of health services may have played a large role in explaining the rest of the decrease. The control of malnutrition may not always be essential for lowering infant and child mortality in developing societies. PMID- 2610835 TI - Human organ transplantation. AB - In terms of rehabilitation and extended years of survival, transplantation is a good treatment if vital organs are affected by end-stage disease. Rejection is one of the most serious complications, although advances in molecular biology may well lead to specific immunosuppression with few or no side-effects. The unique metabolic functions of the heart, liver and kidney make it doubtful whether artificial replacements will become available in the foreseeable future. In the present state of knowledge, metabolic feedback between artificial organs probably cannot be accomplished, and organ transplantation is therefore likely to remain an evolving technology for many years to come. PMID- 2610836 TI - The right equipment ... in working order. PMID- 2610837 TI - Quality control of drugs. PMID- 2610838 TI - A correspondence course in primary health care. PMID- 2610839 TI - Community-based rehabilitation for disabled children in rural Guyana. PMID- 2610840 TI - Know your community. PMID- 2610841 TI - Home care for persons on life-support systems. PMID- 2610842 TI - Clinical teachers can contribute to health education. PMID- 2610843 TI - Prevention of night-blindness in rural Bangladesh. PMID- 2610844 TI - Veterinary public health in Cyprus: a success story. PMID- 2610845 TI - Motherhood, an end and a means. AB - With particular reference to Egypt, the author outlines the hazards facing women during pregnancy and childbirth in developing countries, and discusses the measures needed to improve the situation. PMID- 2610846 TI - Child-rearing--a task for fathers as well as mothers. AB - A father can make a useful contribution to caring for his children. In so doing, he not only helps to ease the burden on his partner but also enriches the lives of all members of his family, including his own. PMID- 2610847 TI - Getting the best value for money in health care. AB - A study of the implications of a proposal to establish a college of medicine and an associated 600-bed teaching hospital in Lesotho has convinced the government that its scarce resources could be more effectively spent on primary care and other programmes directly capable of improving health status. PMID- 2610848 TI - Two steps forward--and one back? AB - In Croatia, as in Yugoslavia as a whole, the immense economic progress achieved since the Second World War has been accompanied by a marked decline in the prevalence of infectious and parasitic diseases. On the other hand there has been an upsurge in chronic diseases, attributable to changes in life-styles. Third World countries now undergoing rapid development should see this as a timely warning. PMID- 2610849 TI - Declaration against AIDS discrimination. PMID- 2610850 TI - AIDS and sport. PMID- 2610851 TI - HIV-infected children should be immunized against measles. PMID- 2610852 TI - Sperm cells as vectors for transferring DNA into mouse eggs: a breakthrough for immunologists? PMID- 2610853 TI - The processing of antigen and anti-Ig by antigen-specific B cells. AB - B lymphocytes are very efficient antigen-presenting cells when they bear surface receptors for the antigen in question. However, there is very little known about the intracellular events occurring between the time B cells bind native antigen and present it in processed form to T cells. To analyze internalization and degradation of antigen versus anti-Ig or anti-MHC antibodies by B cells, we have used highly purified resting antigen-specific B lymphocytes that bind the hapten, trinitrophenyl. These cells were treated with [125I]-labeled trinitrophenylated antigens or with [125I]-labeled antibodies reactive with either cell surface immunoglobulin or major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (class I or class II) molecules. The fate of these proteins was followed by measuring the amount of acid soluble and insoluble radioactivity associated with the cells or released into the incubation medium. The cell-associated and released radioactivity was further analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Our results demonstrate that the kinetics of degradation of specific antigen into acid soluble fragments which are released into the culture medium closely parallel those with which B cells acquire the ability to specifically conjugate to carrier-specific T cells. In contrast, degradation of anti-Ig is more complete than the degradation of antigen but requires a longer period of time to reach completion. Furthermore, the initial release of soluble fragments of anti-Ig as compared to antigen into the culture medium is marginally slower. Finally, there is significant intracellular accumulation of degradation intermediates when anti-Ig is processed, but this is not the case with antigen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610854 TI - Interleukin 6 is the principal cytolytic T lymphocyte differentiation factor for thymocytes in human leukocyte conditioned medium. AB - The formation of CD8+ killer cells from nonlytic thymocyte precursors is mediated by interleukin 2 and a cytokine termed CTL differentiation factor (CDF). While several reports have focused on the effects of recombinant molecules on the development of CTL, the natural protein responsible for CTL development that is produced by normal leukocytes has not been conclusively identified. A 24 kD native protein with CDF activity was enriched from leukocyte conditioned medium and neutralizing antibodies were produced. Utilizing immunoaffinity chromatography and reverse phase chromatography, we purified this CDF to homogeneity. All 21 amino acid residues at the NH2-terminus of CDF were found to be identical to that of IL-6. Natural CDF and IL-6 share many of the same biological properties, including costimulation of thymocyte proliferation with IL 1. Antibodies against CDF or IL-6 can block the activity of either cytokine, and anti-CDF blocks the activity of bulk leukocyte conditioned medium. These results indicate that IL-6 is the principal CTL differentiation factor produced by stimulated human leukocytes. PMID- 2610855 TI - Dynamic structures of globular proteins with respect to correlative movements of residues calculated in the normal mode analysis. AB - Dynamic structures of globular proteins are studied on the basis of correlative movements of residues around their native conformations, which are computed by means of the normal mode analysis. To describe the dynamic structures of a protein, the core regions moving with strong positive or negative correlations to other regions of the polypeptide chain are detected from the correlation maps of the movements of residues. Such core regions are different, according to the definition, from the regions defined from a geometrical point of view, such as secondary structures, domains, modules, and so on. The core regions are actually detected for four proteins, myoglobin, Bence-Jones protein, flavodoxin, and hen egg-white lysozyme, with different folding types from each other. The results show that some of them coincide with the secondary structures, domains, or modules, but others do not. Then, the dynamic structure of each protein is discussed in terms of the dynamic cores detected, as compared with the secondary structures, domains, and modules. PMID- 2610856 TI - Circular dichroic study of conformational changes in ovalbumin induced by modification of sulfhydryl groups and disulfide reduction. AB - Sulfhydryl groups of ovalbumin were chemically modified under denaturing conditions in the absence and presence of dithiothreitol, and effects on the secondary structure of the protein were investigated by circular dichroic (CD) measurements. The contents of alpha-helix, beta-structure, and "random coil" (unordered, nonrepetitive structure) were estimated by simulation of the CD spectra and using the parameters established by Chen et al. The principal findings were these: (1) Modification of the four free sulfhydryl groups [with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), iodoacetate, or iodoacetamide] caused ovalbumin molecule to unfold partially and to undergo primarily helix-to-beta structure transition. (2) Cleavage of the disulfide bond did not lead to a further conformational change in the sulfhydryl-modified ovalbumin. (3) The remaining helical structure existed in a destabilized state with increased chain flexibility, as the modified protein was very susceptible to denaturation by guanidine and urea. (4) Further evidence for increased chain flexibility was provided by the finding that sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) induced helix formation in the sulfhydryl-modified, but not native, ovalbumin. And (5), since both nonreduced and reduced proteins, with their sulfhydryl groups blocked, displayed similar transitions in solutions of guanidine, urea, and SDS suggested that the single disulfide bond did not physically constrain the ovalbumin molecule. PMID- 2610857 TI - Primary structure of hemoglobin alpha-chain of Columba livia (gray wild pigeon). AB - Primary structure of hemoglobin of alpha-chain of Columba livia is presented. The separation of alpha-chain was obtained from globin by ion-exchange chromatography (CMC-52) and reversed-phase HPLC (RP-2 column). Amino acid sequence of intact as well as tryptic digested chain was determined on gas-phase sequencer. Structure is aligned homologously with 21 other species. Among different exchanges, positions alpha 24 (Tyr----Leu), alpha 26 (Ala----Gly), alpha 32 (Met----Leu), alpha 64 (Asp----Glu), alpha 113 (Leu----Phe), and alpha 129 (Leu----Val) are unique to pigeon hemoglobin. The various exchanges in alpha-chain are discussed with reference to evolution and phylogeny. The results show that the order Columbiformes is evolutionarily closer to the order Anseriformes. Since the pigeon is homogeneous, having HbA (alpha A-chain) and lacks alpha D-chain, its phylogenetic placement could be established among birds having single hemoglobin components. PMID- 2610858 TI - Primary structure of hemoglobin from gray partridge (Francolinus pondacerianus, Galliformes). AB - The complete amino acid sequence of the alpha A-chain of major hemoglobin component from gray partridge Francolinus pondacerianus is presented. The major component HbA accounts for 75% of the total hemolysate. Separation of the globin subunits was achieved by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Cellulose in 8 M urea. The sequence was studied by automatic Edman degradation of the native chain and its tryptic peptides in a gas-phase sequencer. The phylogenetic relationship of Galliformes with other avian orders is discussed. PMID- 2610859 TI - Conformational change of bovine serum albumin by heat treatment. AB - The thermal denaturation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied at pH 2.8 and 7.0 in the range of 2-65 degrees C. The relative proportions of alpha-helix, beta structure, and disordered structure in the protein conformation were determined as a function of temperature, by the curve-fitting method of circular dichroism spectra. With the rise of temperature at pH 7.0, the proportion of alpha-helix decreased above 30 degrees C and those of beta-structure and disordered structure increased in the same temperature range. The structural change was reversible in the temperature range below 45 degrees C. However, the structural change was partially reversible upon cooling to room temperature subsequent to heating at 65 degrees C. On the other hand, the structural change of BSA at pH 2.8 was completely reversible in the temperature range of 2-65 degrees C, probably because the interactions between domains and between subdomains might disappear due to the acid expansion. The secondary structure of disulfide bridges-cleaved BSA remained unchanged during the heat treatment up to 65 degrees C at pH 2.8 and 7.0. PMID- 2610860 TI - On the mechanism of the cold ethanol precipitation method of plasma protein fractionation. AB - Given the negligible difference in the value of the dielectric constant of water at 20 degrees C and that of ethanol solutions at low temperatures, the often advanced explanation for the precipitation of plasma proteins by the cold ethanol process, as being due to a reduction of the dielectric constant and the resulting increase in interprotein charge interactions, is not tenable. It is shown by a surface-thermodynamic approach that, upon dehydration by ethanol, isoelectric serum albumin molecules as well as isoelectric serum gamma globulin molecules will attract each other to a sufficient degree by van der Waals forces to become insoluble in the ethanol-water mixtures used. PMID- 2610861 TI - The limited proteolysis of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. AB - The limited proteolysis of human recombinant TNF-alpha by trypsin yields two stable products resulting from cleavage after Arg6 and Arg44. In solution these two products remain associated together in a trimer with a Stokes' radius slightly greater than the radius of intact TNF-alpha and, therefore, could not be separated from each other under nondenaturing conditions. This limited digest retains at least 20% of the activity of the original TNF-alpha sample, and has a tertiary structure that is similar to that of the native protein by circular dichroism. On the other hand, incorrectly folded, inactive TNF-alpha undergoes extensive digestion following similar treatment with trypsin. These results indicate that the active form of TNF-alpha has a tight core structure which is maintained after N-terminal cleavage and removal. PMID- 2610862 TI - Studies on the structure of HBV DNA. AB - The structure of HBV adr NC-1 DNA is analyzed and compared with another five strains of HBV DNAs. Some of the prokaryotic promoter-like sequences, palindrom sequences and ATAA are found. An enhancer core sequence and some other characteristics are also shown. In considering the frame and its regulatory sequence as a transcriptional unit some of the possible new frames are discussed. PMID- 2610863 TI - Effect of simulated weightlessness on the response characteristics of human brain. AB - In order to systematically investigate the effects of simulated weightlessness on the function state of human brain, 15 degrees head-down tilt (HDT) was used to simulate weightlessness, and the response changes of event-related EEG power spectra, medium-frequency synchronous potentials and slow-waves were examined in the present study. It was found that HDT had characteristic effects on the above EEG responses, suggesting that the effects mainly occurred in the brain's regulatory system, therefore, resulting in changes of the brain function state. PMID- 2610864 TI - Human chromosome banding with restriction endonucleases HaeIII, HinfI and PstI. AB - Human chromosome banding was carried out with restriction endonucleases (REs) HaeIII, HinfI, PstI and the effects of some factors on it were examined. HaeIII induced C and G banding patterns, HinfI induced negative C bands but the centromeric heterochromatin of chromosomes 3 and 4 remained selectively dark stained. A new heteromorphism of C banded region was discovered in chromosome 4. PstI induced G-like banding pattern. The duration of enzymatic digestion, the concentration of glycerol in the reaction buffer, as well as the ageing and heating of chromosome preparations all had a significant influence on the banding effects of the REs. PMID- 2610865 TI - Study on some biologically active coordination compounds of metal ions (I)- Synthesis, characterization, structure and antitumor activity of complex of 3,6 di-(dimethylamino)-dibenzopyriodonium lanthanum EDTA. AB - The title coordination compound has been synthesized by the reaction of HLaEDTA.7H2O with (formula; see text) in ethanol aqueous solution. The single crystal has grown from aqueous solution and has been characterized by IR, TG-DTA, X-ray powder diffraction, molar conductance, UV and 1H-NMR. The determination of its crystal and molecular structure shows that it crystallizes in space group P21/n with lattice parameters: a = 14.735A, b = 29.335A, c = 16.409A, beta = 99.24 degrees, v = 7009.30A3, z = 4, F(000) = 3488, molecular weight M = 1756.90, Dc = 1.665g/cm3. It has been refined by the full matrix least squares method to final discrepancy factor R = 0.096. The anion [La2(EDTA)2(H2O)4]2- turns out to be a dimer, in which each of the two EDTA4- ions is coordinated to a La3+ ion with five of its six coordinating sites and the remaining sixth one--the oxygen atom of carboxylis bridged to two La3+ ions, thus forming a parallelogrammic four membered ring La2O2. The nine coordinations about each metal are completed by two water molecules. The average bond length is 2.560 A for La-O and 2.833A for La-N. Approximately, the dimer belongs to point group Ci with the centre of inversion at the centre of La2O2 parallelogram. The antitumor activity of the coordination compound was studied by observing its effect on the incorporation of 3H-TdR into DNA of leukemia (L7712) cells in vitro. The degree of inhibition reached 83.9% after exposing 2 X 10(5) cells per millilitre to 4 X 10(-5) mol/L of the compound for 24 h, being higher than those of its precursors. PMID- 2610866 TI - Studies on bio-antioxidants--micellar effects on the reduction of nitroxides by vitamin C. AB - The kinetics of reduction of nitroxides including 4-hydroxy-TEMPO, 4-methoxy TEMPO and 4-hexanoyloxy-TEMPO, which are of different lipophilicities, by vitamin C in cationic, non-ionic and anionic micelles, i.e. CTAB, Triton X-100 and SDS, respectively, have been studied by FSR spectroscopy by a stopped-flow technique. A mechanism for the reaction conducted in micelles is proposed and the rate constants for the elementary reactions are evaluated. It is found that the rates of single electron transfer reactions involving the nitroxides are dependent on the nature of the micelle and the lipophilicity of the nitroxide. The rates are increased in CTAB, decreased in SDS, whereas unaffected in Triton X-100. And the greater the lipophilicity of the nitroxide, the more pronounced the rate variation. As high as a 3600-fold increase in the rate was observed for 4 hexanoyloxy-TEMPO in CTAB over that in SDS. The micellar effects are rationalized on the basis of analysis of parameters and line shape of the ESR spectra for the nitroxides in the micelles. PMID- 2610867 TI - Flow and passage rate studies at the ileal level in the rabbit. AB - Six female rabbits fitted with a simple glass cannula in terminal ileum and a further 6 non-cannulated rabbits were used to perform digesta flow and transit measurements. The animals received ad libitum a diet based mainly on lucerne meal. Flow and transit measurements were carried out using two particulate markers: ytterbium (Yb) fixed on lucerne meal cell-walls by soaking, and chromium (Cr) fixed by mordancing. Both markers were incorporated in the same diet before pelleting. The digestibility coefficient or total mean retention time (MRTt) in the whole tract was not affected by cannulation. MRT values between cecum and rectum could be obtained in cannulated rabbits: 9.6 h. The MRTt values estimated with Yb were higher than those obtained with Cr because the size of particles labelled with Cr was probably greater and thus the particles were excreted more rapidly in hard feces. Flow measurements were not affected by the choice of marker, confirming indirectly the validity of ileal digesta samples. These first ileal flow measures obtained on cannulated rabbits indicate that about half (49%) of the digestible organic matter and two-thirds of the digestible crude protein apparently disappeared before the cecum. Cell-walls (CW), determined as NDF fraction, were totally recovered at the terminal ileum, although hemicellulose (NDF-ADF) digestion could occur in both the small intestine and the cecocolic parts. These results are discussed in relation to the specificity of the Van Soest method for digesta cell-wall analysis. PMID- 2610868 TI - [Digestion of pea and soya proteins in the preruminant calf. I. Circulating levels of nutrients, antibody formation and intestinal permeability to macromolecules]. AB - Three milk-substitutes (control, pea and soya-bean)were given to 6 preruminant calves. In the control diet protein was almost entirely provided by skim milk powder. In the pea diet a pregelatinized dehulled pea flour provided 33.5% of the protein, the remainder being supplied by skim milk powder. In the soya-bean diet, 73.2% of the protein were provided by a soya-bean isolate and the remainder by whey powder. The concentrations of plasma triglycerides and the free alpha-amino nitrogen in the peripheral blood were lower with the pea and soya-bean diets than with the control diet before the morning meal, but became higher after feeding. That suggested a faster abomasal emptying of fat and protein with the pea and especially the soya-bean diet. Systemic antibody responses were induced against pea protein but not against soya-bean protein. No effect of the diet on the plasma concentration of immunoreactive beta-lactoglobulin was apparent after 6 days, suggesting there was no important change in gut permeability at least at that time. PMID- 2610869 TI - Effect of serotonin on D-galactose transport across the rabbit jejunum. AB - The patterns of storage and release of serotonin found in the enterochromaffin cells of the intestinal mucosa suggest that this hormone may be an important modulator of intestinal functions. Serotonin has been shown to produce secretion of water and electrolytes in rabbit ileum, but the hormone does not appear to interact significantly with other transport processes. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of serotonin on D-galactose absorption in rabbit jejunum. The results obtained show that serotonin (10(-8) and 10(-6)M) partially reduced (by 20 and 40% respectively) D-galactose uptake across the mucosal border. This effect was concentration-dependent, and it seemed to be caused by the inhibition of Na+-dependent sugar transport. Methysergide, an antagonist of serotonin which binds with receptor 2 of serotonin, blocked the effect of serotonin. These findings suggest that serotonin may act as a regulator of sugar intestinal absorption, and that this serotonin regulation could be mediated by a direct or indirect action of the complex serotonin-receptor, which may inhibit the Na+-dependent transport system of sugars located in the brush border membrane. PMID- 2610870 TI - Serial maternal plasma concentrations of progesterone and estradiol during the morning, the afternoon and at night throughout normal pregnancy in the cynomolgus macaque. AB - Total progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) were determined in plasma from 10 pregnant cynomolgus macaques, Macaca fascicularis. A non-invasive blood collection technique utilizing a squeeze-cage and a catheter fixed momentarily in the brachial or saphenous vein allowed a 10-min serial blood sampling (SBS) for 3 h in the morning, the afternoon or at night at 30, 50, 70, 90, 110, 130, 150 and 165 days of pregnancy and on the day after delivery, without modifying gestation length or damaging fetal health. During an SBS session, extensive fluctuations of high P4 levels (greater than 10 ng/ml) were sometimes observed and infrequent pulses might occur, while E2 levels fluctuated only slightly but increased progressively. It is concluded that, even with the SBS method, individual differences in hormone patterns still occur throughout pregnancy. We suggest that a single daily P4 or E2 determination is not an accurate indicator of pregnancy normality. PMID- 2610871 TI - [Absence of effect of the incorporation of a milk phosphopeptide on the utilization of calcium and phosphorus in the young pig]. AB - Casein phosphopeptides are known to influence calcium absorption. A 50-day study was performed in 6-week old pigs fed either a control diet or a 5% casein phosphopeptide-containing diet (PP group). Both diets provided similar amounts of Ca (0.8%), P (0.5%), proteins, energy and vitamins. PP diet provided near 1/2 of total Ca, 1/3 of total P and 1/5 of proteins in the form of casein phosphopeptide. Ca and P excretion, absorption and retention were evaluated during a 10-day balance study. Bones were collected at slaughter to determine density, bending moment and bone mineral content. Calcium absorption and bone parameters (urinary hydroxyproline included) were not influenced by the type of diet. P absorption, but not retention, was slightly higher in the control group. Urinary Ca was higher and urinary P lower in PP pigs than in controls. These changes might result from the different kinds of dietary phosphorus, inorganic versus phosphopeptide, rather than from the difference between dietary proteins. PMID- 2610872 TI - Relation between in vitro and in vivo assessment of amino acid availability. AB - Even though the availability of dietary amino acids is the result of integrated phenomena of digestion, absorption and transport, it may be mainly affected by the stage of luminal digestion. In this case, amino acid availability could be predicted by an in vitro method designed to reproduce in vivo proteolysis conditions. In order to check this hypothesis, the essential amino acid (EAA) profiles of digesta collected at 8 intervals during a 24-h in vitro enzymatic proteolysis of casein and rapeseed proteins were compared to the pattern of appearance of dietary EAA in portal vein of pigs fed the same proteins, determined at each hour over a 8-h postprandial period by coupling blood flow rate with porto-arterial differences in plasma EAA concentrations. Comparisons of in vitro and in vivo data first bore on overall EAA profiles measured at each interval, and then on the individual kinetics of each EAA. Regarding total profiles, the highest correlations for casein (r: 0.80-0.98) were found when comparing EAA patterns determined during the first half of in vitro digestion and in vivo absorption periods. Similar r values were obtained with rapeseed proteins, but over longer periods of measurement. Concerning individual kinetics, the highest correspondences were found with rapeseed proteins, with 5 out of 9 EAA (methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and arginine) having their in vitro sequence of release significantly correlated with their in vivo sequence of absorption. With casein, correlations were significant for threonine, valine, isoleucine and leucine. These results suggest that sequential hydrolysis in the digestive tract, as reproduced by the in vitro technique, is a key determinant of amino acid appearance in the portal blood to a degree varying with the protein source and with the nature of the amino acid. PMID- 2610873 TI - Influence of experimental acidosis on the concentrations of thyreostimulin (TSH) and iodothyronines (total T4, free T4, T3) in the plasma of the newborn lamb. AB - The effects of acute acidosis on neonatal thyroid function were studied by infusing HCl for 4 h in 42 to 54-h-old lambs. Animals of the same age, used as controls, were simultaneously infused with physiological saline. HCl infusion induced a sharp decrease in blood pH and total restoration did not occur before 48 h. When compared to control lambs, this experimental acidosis was associated with slight, but significant, decreases in plasma TSH, total T4, free T4 and total T3 levels, and in values of the free T4/total T4 ratio; the T3/FT4 ratio was not affected. The values of RT3/FT4 ratio were significantly increased in acidotic lambs. It is concluded that acidosis induced only modest secretory changes in neonatal thyroid function and slightly reduced the proportion and the amount of free T4. PMID- 2610874 TI - [Achievement and experience in the introduction of medicinal plants]. AB - In this paper the author has reviewed in retrospect the introduction of medicinal plants in China since the liberation in 1949. Ecological factors, biological characteristics and cultivation techniques involved in the introduction are analysed to provide proper reference for further introduction. PMID- 2610875 TI - [Resources of Chinese materia medica in shennonjia]. AB - There are 2023 species of Chinese materia medica in Shennonjia, belonging to 300 families and 974 genera, of which 1800 (including subspecies) are plants, 213 animals and 10 minerals. Protection, exploitation and utilization of these resources have been discussed. PMID- 2610876 TI - [Studies on the histology and essential oils of the adulterant sharen in Alpinia]. AB - Morphological studies on eighteen adulterants of Sharen in Alpinia had been carried out previously. In this paper, a report on the histology and essential oil of their seeds is presented. According to our TLC analysis and microscopical examination, the differences between genuine Sharen and its adulterants are distinct in histological characters and constituents of the essential oil. A description of identification of these eighteen seeds is given together with line drawings, chromatograms and a table for comparison. PMID- 2610877 TI - [A study of the quality of Fujian native Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. var. biloba Rehd. et Wils]. AB - This study reports on the connexion of the content of the efficacious constituents, magnolol and honokiol of Magnolia officinalis var. biloba with age, diameter of the trunk and various parts of the tree, thus presenting a basis for its collection, quality control and clinical applications. PMID- 2610878 TI - [Studies on the quantitation of trace elements in complex prescription decoctions of ochre and calcined ochre]. AB - The present paper reports the determination of Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and As in complex prescription decoctions of ochre and calcined ochre by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The experimental result shows that in most complex prescription decoctions the contents of Fe, Mn and As are lower in these with calcined ochre than with ochre. The contents of Zn and Cu are higher in the decoctions with calcined ochre than those with ochre. PMID- 2610879 TI - [Identification and determination of borneol in liyan gao by TLC and GC]. AB - Identification and determination of borneol and isoborneol in ointment Liyan Gao by TLC and GC were carried out. L-borneol standard substance and external standard one-point method were used for the determination. The recommended method is precise and simple. PMID- 2610880 TI - [Studies on the chemical constituents of the roots of Aralia continentalis Kitag]. AB - Seven compounds were isolated from the roots of Aralia continentalis. Four of these compounds were identified as ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, beta-sitosterol glucoside (daucosterol), beta-sitosterol and 16 alpha-hydroxy-(-)-kauran-19-oic acid. It is the first time that 16 alpha-hydroxy-(-)-karan-19-oic acid and beta sitosterol glucoside were isolated from this plant. PMID- 2610881 TI - [Ultraviolet spectrophotometric determination of cantharidin in Mylabris]. AB - In this study the content of cantharidin in Mylabris was analyzed quantitatively by UV. Analytical results thus obtained agree well with those by the neutralization method set forth in ChP. The average recovery of cantharidin is 99.98% and the coefficient of variation is 0.719%. PMID- 2610882 TI - [Anti-inflammatory effect of fructus Ligustri Lucidi]. AB - Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) inhibits the edema of hind Paw induced by injection of 1% carrageenin 0.1 ml, fresh egg 0.1 ml or 2.5% formaldehyde 0.1 ml in rats, and suppresses the increased vascular permeability induced by 0.7% acetic acid in mice and the proliferation of granuloma induced by cottonpellet in rats. The swelling of ear induced by xylene in mice and the content of prostaglandin E in inflammatory tissue of rats are also decreased by FLL. FLL increase the weight of adrenal in rats, but has no marked effect on the weight of thymus of rats. PMID- 2610883 TI - [Effects of Ziziphus spinosa Hu on serum lipoprotein and experimental atherosclerosis]. AB - Rabbits of experimental group were fed synthetic food, cholesterol (0.4 g/day/rabbit) yolk powder (4 g/day/rabbit), and additionally pulp of Suanzao (10 g/kg/day). Three months later, compared with the results of the control group (TC 1334.8 +/- 327.8 mg; LDL 1261.9 +/- 356.6 mg and TG 270.8 +/- 66.9 mg), TC (574.6 +/- 271.8 mg), LDL (490.6 +/- 247.1 mg) and TG (89.7 +/- 7.8 mg) of the experimental group were significantly decreased, but in the experimental group HDL increased significantly (42.2 +/- 22.5 mg to 14.2 +/- 3.9 mg), and the AS degree of coronary artery was markedly reduced. PMID- 2610884 TI - Aspects of dosimetry in the buccal cavity. PMID- 2610885 TI - Closure of patent ductus arteriosus using the Rashkind PDA occluder system. PMID- 2610886 TI - Continuity and change in orthopaedic radiology. PMID- 2610887 TI - The HDCR--coping with the HDCR: a counsellor's view. PMID- 2610888 TI - Coping with the HDCR--a superintendent's view. PMID- 2610889 TI - The HDCR--where has it been and where is it going? PMID- 2610890 TI - Radiographers and childbirth. PMID- 2610891 TI - SPET of the brain--patient positioning. PMID- 2610892 TI - A practising faith--Judaism. PMID- 2610893 TI - Radionuclide phallography in the investigation of the impotent patient. PMID- 2610894 TI - Applications of monoclonal antibodies in diagnostic nuclear medicine. PMID- 2610895 TI - The increasing role of video thermal printers. PMID- 2610896 TI - Case study. PMID- 2610897 TI - Judet's views of the acetabulum. PMID- 2610898 TI - Coronary angioplasty of re-stenosed lesions: a case history. PMID- 2610899 TI - Government approves report on AIDS and drug misuse. PMID- 2610900 TI - Structure and functions of low affinity Fc receptors. PMID- 2610901 TI - In vitro release of anthralin from white petrolatum and an o/w cream. AB - A method to study the in vitro release of anthralin from ointments was developed. A diffusion cell with an artificial membrane (dialysis membrane) was used. As the solubility of anthralin in water is extremely low, methanol was chosen as receptor phase. The temperature at the membrane was kept constant at 32 degrees C during the release study. At appropriate intervals samples were withdrawn and assayed by HPLC. The in vitro release of anthralin from white petrolatum and a cream containing 70% oil in water (Locobase) was studied in a concentration range of 0.04-3.0%. Both ointments showed a faster release with increasing concentration of anthralin. The in vitro release of anthralin from the cream was significantly faster than from white petrolatum. PMID- 2610902 TI - Influence of ageing on hydrocortisone particles in o/w creams. AB - The influence of ageing on hydrocortisone crystal growth and particle location in nine o/w-creams was examined microscopically over a period of 48 weeks. The creams consisted of ionic or non-ionic surfactants as emulgators, contained different amounts of water, and had a hydrocortisone concentration of 1%. In the dispersed state, the hydrocortisone particles were found to migrate to the liquid paraffin-water interface, in some cases covering the whole oil droplet in the cream. During storage the hydrocortisone particles also grew slightly larger. These enlarged hydrocortisone particles tended to lie parallel to each other. The location of hydrocortisone particles at the liquid paraffin-water interface can be discussed in terms of attainment of the minimum free energy state. PMID- 2610903 TI - On the design of urokinase-labile prodrugs II. Structure-activity relationships in the urokinase catalyzed hydrolysis of H-GluGlyArg-anilides and -benzylamide. AB - Six H-GluGlyArg-anilides with different ortho or para substituents in the aniline group, and H-GluGlyArg-benzylamide were synthesized. KM and kcat for the urokinase-catalyzed hydrolysis of the compounds were determined at 37 degrees C and pH 7.40. In the initial rate measurements, HPLC was used for product quantitation. KM varied between 0.20 mM and 8.9 mM, whereas kcat varied between 0.8s-1 and 16.5s-1 for the investigated substrates. A Hammett plot and a "Charton plot" of the rate data are presented. kcat were, to a minor extent, dependent on the pKa of the leaving group, whereas steric effects had a more marked influence on the overall rate constant. A o-benzyl substituent in the aniline-leaving group exerts less sterical hindrance to the enzymatic hydrolysis than expected from the Charton plot. The significance of the results in relation to the development of urokinase labile dextran prodrugs in discussed. PMID- 2610904 TI - Migration of plastic additives from soft polyvinyl chloride bags into normal saline and glucose infusions. AB - Samples of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fluid bags containing normal saline and glucose 50 mg/ml were analyzed for plastic additives. The bags were shaken for 24 hours before analysis. The PVC plastic materials contained di(2 ethylhexyl)phthalate, epoxidized vegetable oils and stearates as the main additives. The same components were found in the solutions. Mono(2 ethylhexyl)phthalate was detected only in the solutions. PMID- 2610905 TI - A simple flow injection analysis for studies of drug-protein binding interactions in serum. AB - Studies of drug-protein binding constants (ka) and of the degree of binding (%B) in biological fluids have been carried out by means of flow injection analysis (FIA). The association constants found for clinically relevant concentrations agree with the literature data. The degree of binding found for discoumarol, phenytoin and sulfisoxazole is also in agreement with the literature whereas that of warfarin is slightly lower. PMID- 2610906 TI - Handling of psilocybin and psilocin by everted sacs of rat jejunum and colon. AB - Psilocybin and psilocin at luminal concentrations of about 20 nmol/ml were incubated aerobically with everted sacs from rat jejunum and colon. When incubation was terminated, samples of the lumen and blood side solutions and of the intestinal tissue were analyzed for parent drug and metabolites by HPLC using a multidetector system. Both sacs caused hydrolysis of psilocybin to psilocin, but the rate was much faster in the jejunum than in the colon. Tissue uptake of intact psilocybin was negligible or absent, and no transfer to the contraside of the parent drug could be demonstrated. In contrast, psilocin, whether formed by hydrolysis or added as a substrate, was well taken up by both intestinal segments and transferred to the blood side. In the colonic psilocybin experiments, this uptake and transfer was limited by a low hydrolytic rate. The results indicate that psilocybin under in vivo conditions is absorbed predominantly as psilocin. No further metabolism of either drug was observed, as opposed to the complex metabolism pattern that has been reported for serotonin, a close chemical relative to psilocin. PMID- 2610907 TI - Metabolism of femoxetine, its enantiomer and the racemate in rat liver microsomes. AB - The substrates were incubated at various concentrations for 30 minutes with rat liver microsomes. FG 4962 was metabolized more rapidly than femoxetine, i.e. approximately 20% more FG 4962 was degraded during 30 min incubation at saturating substrate concentration. Femoxetine was metabolized predominantly by O and N-demethylation, almost equally, whereas FG 4962 was metabolized mainly by N demethylation. Chiralphase HPLC studies revealed that incubation of the racemate with rat liver microsomes resulted in the impairment of the N-demethylating metabolic route for femoxetine, while the metabolism of FG 4962 was not impaired. Induction of the rat livers with sodium phenobarbital gave almost the same qualitative results but with increased rates of metabolism. PMID- 2610908 TI - Identification of chloroform formed by disinfection with sodium hypochlorite and spirit. PMID- 2610909 TI - Patterned (single) alternation in infant rats after combined or separate lesions of hippocampus and amygdala. AB - The role of the developing hippocampus and the amygdala on patterned (single) alternation (PA) in the infant rat was investigated in 4 experiments. In Experiments 1 and 2, pups were given 2 bilateral electrolytic hippocampal lesions or sham surgeries at 10 or 11 days of age and were trained 6 days later in a straight runway. In Experiment 1, there were 120 trials in 1 day, with an 8-, a 15-, or a 30-s intertrial interval (ITI). PA learning occurred in lesion and sham pups at the 8- and 15-s ITIs, but it was reduced in both groups at the 30-s ITI. In Experiment 2, training was extended to 240 trials over 2 days, with a 30- or 60-s ITI. Sham and lesion pups showed PA at the 30-s ITI, but the emergence of PA was delayed in the lesion pups at the 60-s ITI. In Experiment 3, amygdaloid lesions had no effect on PA learning at the 8-s ITI. However, when pups with hippocampal and amygdaloid lesions were trained at the 8-s ITI, the emergence of PA was delayed, and its size was reduced (Experiment 4). The results of these experiments argue for a role of the hippocampus in PA learning at long ITIs and suggest that, even in 16-day-old pups exposed to an 8-s ITI, the combined hippocampal and amygdaloid lesion produces a deficit greater than either the hippocampal or the amygdaloid lesion. The results are discussed in relation to current theories that distinguish between 2 levels of memory function. PMID- 2610910 TI - Selective sparing after lesions of visual cortex in newborn kittens. AB - Previous findings are discordant regarding the effects of perinatal lesions of Cortical Areas 17 and 18 on visual discrimination learning in cats. Three potential determinants of such sparing were investigated: age at lesion (4 or 181 days), age at testing (3 or 9 months), and stimulus complexity. Age at testing was not significant, but performance varied with stimulus complexity and cortical damage, and there was an interaction between stimulus complexity and age at lesion. Both operated groups were transiently impaired in discriminating objects and subsequently learned to discriminate simple 2-dimensional patterns as well as done by controls, but the lesion groups were permanently impaired in discriminating similar patterns circumscribed by irrelevant lines. The age-at lesion groups differed, however, in discriminating patterns masked by superimposed lines. The group lesioned at 181 days was severely impaired at both acquisition and subsequent intercurrent performance; the group lesioned at 4 days was impaired only at intercurrent performance. This study suggests that sparing after early postnatal damage of Areas 17 and 18 occurs only under limited circumstances. PMID- 2610911 TI - Visual discrimination by cats given lesions of visual cortex in one or two stages in infancy or in one stage in adulthood. AB - Sparing of visual function was studied in cats with bilateral cortical damage to Areas 17 and 18 and most of Area 19. Cats with lesions made in 2 stages, on Postnatal (P) Days 3 and 6, in 1 stage on P6, or in 1 stage in adulthood were compared with sham-operated controls on 10 visual discrimination tasks. On some tasks, both groups of cats that underwent surgery as infants showed considerable sparing of function compared with cats that had surgery as adults; the latter group showed a marked impairment. However, on several of the discriminations, 2 stage lesions permitted almost total sparing of pattern vision, whereas 1-stage lesions made neonatally were almost as debilitating as those incurred in adulthood. The findings suggest that differential behavioral consequences can follow physiological or anatomical changes, or both, that occur within a 4-day neonatal interoperative period. PMID- 2610912 TI - Preventing and alleviating hypothermia-induced amnesia in weanling and young adult rats. AB - Reminder (Experiment 1) and familiarization (Experiment 2) treatments were found to have similar effects on the 24-hr retention performance of 24- to 26- and 90- to 100-day-old rats that either did or did not undergo an amnesic treatment (hypothermia) immediately after training. Similar degrees of retrograde amnesia and normal forgetting were evident in both trained age groups that were not subjected to familiarization or reminder treatments. These results suggest that memory processes in weanling and adult rats are similar in susceptibility to disruption by an established amnesic treatment (hypothermia) and in the ease of prevention of and recovery from amnesia by recognized preventive (familiarization) and alleviation (reminder) measures. The similarity of the effects of these preventive and alleviation treatments on normal forgetting and induced amnesia suggests that experimentally induced amnesia may be a fruitful approach to studying the ontogeny of memory processes and, more specifically, to studying factors that influence infantile amnesia. PMID- 2610913 TI - Further studies of hippocampal representation during odor discrimination learning. AB - The contribution of hippocampal and nonhippocampal memory processing to simultaneous-cue odor discrimination learning was assessed. In this task, rats with hippocampal system damage consequent to fornix lesions (fornix rats) were severely and persistently impaired in discrimination learning, acquisition of learning set, and concurrent discrimination, although they occasionally solved some problems at a normal rate. By using those problems on which fornix rats succeeded, to permit comparisons of performance strategies with normal rats, differences between groups were shown on response latency measures and on probe trials involving the novel pairing of familiar odors. Normal rats had a bimodal distribution of response latencies, and their latency depended on where the S+ was presented. Fornix rats had short response latencies and responded equally quickly wherever the S+ was presented. Furthermore, when the representation of familiar S+ and S- odor pairs was challenged in probe trials, normal rats responded appropriately to the correct stimulus, whereas fornix rats behaved as if presented with a new odor pair. These data provide support for the view that the hippocampus participates in the representation of relations among odor (and other) stimuli and among other experiences and that it permits the flexible use of these representations in new contexts. In contrast, memory processing outside the hippocampal system can represent only the significance of individual stimuli and can be revealed only in a repetition of the original learning event. PMID- 2610914 TI - 2-[3H]deoxyglucose uptake patterns in rats exploring a six-arm radial tunnel maze: differences between experienced and nonexperienced rats. AB - In an automated tunnel maze, rats were allowed to explore either a 6-arm radial configuration ("experienced") or an alley maze configuration ("nonexperienced"). The activity of control rats was restricted to the center of the maze. After 8 daily sessions and a 5-day break, catheters were implanted into the jugular vein. Two days later, 2-deoxyglucose was administered before both experimental groups were exposed to the 6-arm radial configuration. Nonexperienced rats differed from experienced rats in terms of efficiency of exploration, but not in locomotor activity. Compared with experienced animals, nonexperienced rats showed an increase in 2-deoxyglucose uptake in prefrontal and cingulate cortices and in mediodorsal and laterodorsal thalamic nuclei. Exposure of rats to familiar and unfamiliar maze patterns resulted in different patterns of brain metabolic activity. PMID- 2610915 TI - Exploratory behavior and reaction to novelty in rats: effects of medial and lateral septal lesions. AB - This study was carried out to investigate whether medial septal (MS) or lateral septal (LS) lesions may differentially affect rats' ability to react to novelty or environmental change. Three types of task were used based on various sets of stimuli: visual and tactile, olfactory only, and visual only. The results showed that MS and LS lesions reduced preference for novelty, with different effects. The MS group displayed decreased exploration of both neutral and novel objects, whereas the LS group exhibited increased exploration of the objects compared with the control group. A reduced level of locomotor and rearing activity was initially seen among the MS animals. These results were compared with previous findings of behavioral changes after regional hippocampal perforant path lesions in the same test as used in this study. The comparisons imply that disruption of setal input to the hippocampal formation produces cognitive deficits different from those seen after disruption of entorhinal input. PMID- 2610916 TI - Organizational changes in cholinergic activity and enhanced visuospatial memory as a function of choline administered prenatally or postnatally or both. AB - This experiment was an examination of the effects of supplemental dietary choline chloride given prenatally (to the diet of pregnant rats) and postnatally (intubed directly into the stomachs of rat pups) on memory function and neurochemical measures of brain cholinergic activity of male albino rats when they became adults. The data demonstrate that perinatal choline supplementation causes (a) long-term facilitative effects on working and reference memory components of a 12 arm radial maze task, and (b) alternations of muscarinic receptor density as indexed by [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) binding and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of adult rats. An analysis of the relationship between these organizational changes in brain and memory function indicated that the ChAT-to-QNB ratio in the hippocampus is highly correlated with working memory errors, and this ratio in the frontal cortex is highly correlated with reference memory errors. PMID- 2610917 TI - Allocentric spatial and tactile memory impairments in rats with dorsal caudate lesions are affected by preoperative behavioral training. AB - Rats with caudate lesions and pretrained for 36 trials demonstrated impaired performance on the "reference memory" or invariant aspect of a 12-arm radial maze and normal performance on the "working memory" or variable aspect of the maze. Rats with caudate lesions and no pretraining were also impaired on an invariant tactile discrimination in a T maze, but they were not impaired on the variable goal-arm choice of the T maze. More extensive preoperative training ameliorated behavioral deficits of rats with caudate lesions in the T maze and radial arm maze. Results showed that behavioral impairment after damage to the caudate is not restricted to egocentric tasks as previously suggested, but the caudate seems to be involved in the initial acquisition of information that is invariant over many trials. PMID- 2610918 TI - Inheritance of spatial learning ability in inbred mice: a classical genetic analysis. AB - The inheritance of spatial learning ability in inbred mice was examined by performance of a classical genetic cross between the 2 inbred strains C57BL/6Ibg and DBA/2Ibg. The inbreds were crossed to produce the 1st filial generation (F1) hybrids. F1 mice were bred to each other and were backcrossed to the parental strains to produce 3 hybrid generations with recombinant genotypes. The animals were tested for spatial learning ability in the Morris water task. All hybrid generations showed greater spatial learning ability than the inbreds, with F1 hybrids showing the greatest degree of spatial learning. The inheritance pattern for spatial learning differed between male and female mice, with males showing a type of inheritance in which dominant genes made the major contribution to the expression of the behavior. Females showed equal contributions of dominance deviation and additive genetic effects. The results are discussed in terms of fitness value to the animals. PMID- 2610919 TI - Ethanol and spatial localization. AB - Water (Exp. 1) and radial maze (Exp. 2) tasks permitted an evaluation of the relative degree of impairment imposed by ethanol (0, 0.75, 1.5, and 2.0 g/kg) on cognitive mapping vs. cued place learning. The tasks did not require working memory. A strong tendency emerged for ethanol-treated rats to persist in cognitive mapping strategies after the strategies were no longer useful, but there was no indication of a mapping impairment per se. When performance deficits appeared, they were equivalent across mapping and cued place tasks and may have reflected motivational effects of ethanol. In most instances, neither mapping nor cued place tasks were difficult for ethanol-treated animals unless the tasks required abandoning one strategy for another. The tenacity of ethanol-treated rats to use cognitive mapping strategies, particularly rats receiving the highest dose, proved consistent and theoretically decisive. The behavioral invariance of ethanol-treated rats is not caused by a cognitive mapping deficit. Rather, mapping is another domain in which ethanol reduces flexibility. PMID- 2610920 TI - Response characteristics of neurons in the medial component of the medial geniculate nucleus during Pavlovian differential fear conditioning in rabbits. AB - Recent evidence suggests that the amygdaloid central nucleus (ACE) may contribute significantly to Pavlovian fear-conditioned bradycardic responses during the presentation of conditioned emotional stimuli. Because the medial component of the medial geniculate nucleus (MGm) is a major source of input to the region of the ACE, the extracellular single-unit responses of MGm neurons were examined during Pavlovian differentially conditioned bradycardic responding in rabbits. Conditioning involved pairing one tone (CS+) with paraorbital shock and presenting another tone (CS-) in the absence of shock. Two general classes of MGm neurons were identified based on their conditioned-response characteristics. Both groups responded differentially to the CSs. One group responded with greater increases in activity and at a shorter latency to the CS+ compared with the CS-, whereas the other group responded with greater increases in activity and at a shorter latency to the CS- compared with the CS+. Recordings from MGm neurons in naive rabbits prior to conditioning provided evidence that the acoustic stimuli used subsequently as the CS+ and CS- did not evoke differential responses. These results suggest that the MGm along with the ACE may be forebrain components of a neural circuit involved in the acquisition and/or expression of Pavlovian fear conditioned bradycardic responses. PMID- 2610921 TI - Gonadal hormones influence the emergence of cortical function in nonhuman primates. AB - The role of gonadal hormones in the maturation of the orbital prefrontal cortex (ORB) was studied in normal male and female rhesus monkeys, monkeys given ORB lesions at 50 days of age, and female monkeys given androgen at different ages. Monkeys were tested on an object discrimination reversal task at 75 days of age. Gender influenced the performance of monkeys on the task during normal development and after ORB lesions. Normal males made fewer errors than did normal females. Females treated with androgen performed similarly to normal male monkeys. ORB lesions produced deficits in male monkeys and in females given androgen during late prenatal or early postnatal life, but not in normal females. These findings suggest that gonadal hormones may play an inductive role in the differentiation of higher cortical function in nonhuman primates. PMID- 2610922 TI - Poststress effects of danger and safety signals on gastric ulceration in rats. AB - Gastric ulceration of rats stressed by restraint in 19 degrees C water for 75 min was markedly increased by allowing a 75-min postrestraint room-temperature rest period during which the rat was exposed to cues that had previously been associated with the delivery of 80 5-s uncontrollable electric shocks distributed over four sessions. This effect obtained equally without regard to whether the "danger cues" were punctate signals or constant contextual cues or whether contextual ones were interrupted by punctate safety signals. The experimental treatments used were unusual in that they equated the groups on their total conditioning history and thus allowed a more pure look at the poststress effect than heretofore. Other groups provided controls for prior shocks, rest, and their interaction as well as handling. Analyses of corticosterone after the stress or stress-rest cycle revealed only a general decline in corticosterone levels with rest undifferentiated across groups. PMID- 2610923 TI - Conditioning and experiential factors affecting the development of sensitization to apomorphine. AB - In 3 experiments, the role of conditioning and experiential factors in producing behavioral sensitization to apomorphine (APO) was examined. In each experiment, male rats received intermittent injections of APO (5.0 mg/kg s.c.) or vehicle (VEH) and were tested for locomotor activity in photocell arenas. Activity test experience was paired or unpaired with drug exposure or not given. After the pretreatment phase in each experiment, all rats were tested for activity after an APO injection. The results indicated that behavioral sensitization to APO develops with repeated treatments in the absence of drug-associated contextual environmental stimuli. The magnitude of the sensitization effect observed, however, was always greater in rats for which specific environmental cues were reliably associated with drug exposure. These findings indicate that behavioral sensitization to APO develops through both associational and non-associational mechanisms. PMID- 2610924 TI - Taste reactivity to alcohol in rats. AB - Rats were infused intraorally with 4 concentrations of ethanol (3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%), and their subsequent oral, facial, and bodily responses were videotaped and analyzed. Naive rats did not display significant changes in ingestive-type responding over the concentrations tested. A significant increase in aversive responses was noted, with the largest number of aversive responses found with the 12% solution. Initial reactivity failed to predict subsequent consumption when rats were given free access to the same alcohol concentrations during 2-bottle tests. Reactivity testing after the period of alcohol access indicated that only the aversive responding changed significantly from the initial reactivity, with rats showing fewer aversive responses. The results indicated how the taste of alcohol is perceived by naive rats and how this perception is changed after consummatory experience with alcohol. PMID- 2610925 TI - Ingestion of environmentally contaminated Lake Ontario salmon by laboratory rats increases avoidance of unpredictable aversive nonreward and mild electric shock. AB - To determine what behavioral changes are caused by consumption of Lake Ontario salmon, a 30% diet of Lake Ontario or control Pacific Ocean salmon was fed to rats for 20 days. In Experiments 1 and 2 (preference-for-predictability E-maze test), rats fed Lake Ontario salmon developed a preference for predictable food rewards more quickly than did the control rats. In Experiments 3 (passive avoidance) and 4 (conditioned suppression), rats fed Lake Ontario salmon suppressed responding to food far more after the introduction of mild electric shocks than did control rats. All results supported the hypothesis that ingestion of Lake Ontario salmon, contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, lead, etc., increases the reactivity of rats to aversive events. The results were successfully simulated by DMOD, a mathematical model of learning, using the assumption that rats fed Lake Ontario salmon find unpredictable nonreward and mild shock more aversive. PMID- 2610926 TI - Complete sequence of the coding region of human elongation factor 2 (EF-2) by enzymatic amplification of cDNA from human ovarian granulosa cells. AB - The use of two primers allowed the specific enzymatic amplification of elongation factor 2 starting with total double-stranded cDNA from human ovarian granulosa cells. The amplified DNA fragment with a length of 1765 bp was restricted and sequenced by the shot gun approach. From the sequences obtained from the amplified fragment and the cDNA insert of pHGR81 [Rapp et al. (1988) Biol. Chem. Hoppe-Seyler 369, 247-250] respectively, the DNA sequence containing the complete coding as well as the 3'-untranslated region was assembled. PMID- 2610927 TI - Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor. AB - Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been produced, without the use of a supporting carrier, against bovine basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI or aprotinin), a mini-protein composed of 58 amino acids. Both MAbs obtained were found to be IgM. One of them was purified and further characterized. This MAb (ICI) binds to the immunogen with an association constant of 1.6 X 10(6)M-1 at pH 7.4. Competition experiments with trypsin or inactivated trypsin demonstrate that ICI MAb interacts with BPTI at, or near, the proteinase-binding site. ICI MAb binds, with a much lower association constant (approximately 200M-1), to an isoinhibitor (spleen inhibitor II) which differs from BPTI in seven amino-acids; three of these substitutions are at the active site, in the contact area with the proteinase. PMID- 2610928 TI - Human placental sterylsulfatase: immunocytochemical and biochemical localization. AB - Human placental sterylsulfatase was localised in situ by light and electron microscope immunocytochemical techniques as well as in homogenate and tissue extract fractions by enzyme assays. Light microscope observations on frozen sections of term and preterm placenta revealed sterylsulfatase immunoactivity primarily in the syncytiotrophoblast. Electron microscope observations confirmed the light microscope findings; in addition, they showed that the sulfatase is present in the endoplasmic reticulum of endothelial cells, too. In the syncytiotrophoblast, the enzyme was detectable in the cytoplasmic membrane of the nuclear evelope, in the membranes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, in the plasma membrane with predominant localisation in coated pits, and in the membranes of endosomes and multivesicular bodies; little or no reactivity was detectable over the membranes of the Golgi complex and of lysosomes. Sterylsulfatase immunoactivity was absent in placentas with hereditary sterylsulfatase deficiency. The observations indicate that human placental sterylsulfatase is normally present in the membranes of compartments along the secretory pathway and the endocytic route of cells lining the fetal and maternal blood. Homogenates of normal term placenta as well as membrane vesicle preparations obtained by extraction of trophoblast tissue with isotonic saline were fractionated by differential centrifugation; the fractions were assayed for specific activities of sterylsulfatase and several marker enzymes of cellular topography. In agreement with our immunocytochemical findings, the results of these biochemical localisation experiments indicate the repeatedly described association of the placental sterylsulfatase with microsomal membranes but also point to the presence of the enzyme's activity in the microvillous plasma membrane of the syncytiotrophoblast. This localisation of sterylsulfatase may have functional implications in the placental uptake of circulating steroid sulfates. PMID- 2610929 TI - Stimulation of growth and polyamine biosynthesis of the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. Regulation by L-arginine. AB - Tetrahymena thermophila cells grown in a synthetic nutrient medium for 9 h removed 97% of the free L-arginine but less than 50% of any of the other essential amino acids. The major portion of the arginine was degraded rapidly (76 92%) whereas 5-15% was conserved as intact and only 2.5-10% were incorporated into protein. However, if bovine serum albumin (BSA) was present in the medium as a macromolecular arginine source the incorporation of free arginine into protein was reduced to less than 1% but the degraded fraction was increased. Apparently, the uptake mode of arginine determines its fate: arginine taken up by phagocytosis is bound for protein biosynthesis, arginine taken up by membrane receptors is chanelled to degradation. Media without arginine did not support growth of Tetrahymena. Citrulline and ornithine, the precursors of arginine biosynthesis in yeast and vertebrates, were not able to substitute for arginine. Pronounced morphological changes, e.g. greatly reduced ribosome content, were observed in Tetrahymena cells after 24 h of arginine starvation in otherwise complete medium, but not in cells starved in water, salt solution, or buffer. Thus, arginine is an essential nutrient component for Tetrahymena and the rapid degradation of this compound involving the enzymes arginine deiminase (ADI) and citrulline hydrolase (CH) might be of regulatory importance for the unicellular, as it is the case with acetylcholine and catecholamines in mammalian organisms. Since the product of these enzymes, L-ornithine, is the substrate for the regulatory key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the effects of the presence of absence of arginine on the activities of each particular enzyme of the pathway were studied, including ODC and the enzyme ornithine-oxo-acid aminotransferase (O delta T), which is a competitor of ODC for the common substrate. The arginine-degradative pathway was stimulated by extracellular free but not by peptide-bound arginine and was modulated by extracellular protein which induced phagocytosis; O delta T was stimulated with a time lag. The stimulation of ODC was in a reciprocal relation to the arginine concentration and enhanced by phagocytosis and previous arginine starvation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2610930 TI - Inhibition of L-arginine iminohydrolase (EC 3.5.3.6) from Tetrahymena thermophila by putrescine and spermidine: feedback control of polyamine biosynthesis. AB - L-Arginine iminohydrolase (arginine deiminase, ADI) from Tetrahymena thermophila was purified approx. 75-fold by means of gel permeation chromatography. The Km of the purified enzyme for L-arginine was 412 +/- 25 microM and L-ornithine inhibited the reaction competitively with a Ki of 985 +/- 105 microM. D-Ornithine was a weak inhibitor with a Ki of greater than 10mM. The polyamines putrescine and spermidine inhibited ADI incompetitively with a Kii of 2.8mM for putrescine and 4.3mM for spermidine. Since the concentrations required for inhibition were within the range of the normal intracellular polyamine concentrations in Tetrahymena (maximally 14mM putrescine and 4mM spermidine), it is suggested that the polyamine effects on ADI are of regulatory nature. Thus, polyamine biosynthesis in Tetrahymena thermophila is regulated not only on the level of ornithine decarboxylase activity, but also on an earlier step, the supply of ODC with substrates. PMID- 2610931 TI - Carnivora: the primary structure of the alpha-chains of ferret (Mustela putorius furo, Mustelidae) hemoglobins. AB - Ferret erythrocytes contain two hemoglobins differing only by their alpha-chains. The primary structure of the common beta-chain has been previously described; the complete sequence of the two alpha-chains are reported in this paper. The globin chains were separated by ion-exchange chromatography; the alpha-chains (42 steps), their tryptic peptides as well as the prolyl-peptides were subjected to automatic liquid- and gas-phase Edman degradation. The two alpha-chains are very similar, differing at only one position (Asp15----Gly15). Comparison with human hemoglobin alpha-chain shows 16 and 17 exchanges, for alpha 1 and alpha II chains, respectively; two substitutions involve alpha 1/beta 1 contacts and one the heme contacts. A high degree of homology was noted when the alpha-chains were compared to the corresponding chains of other representatives of the Carnivora order. PMID- 2610932 TI - A new type of low-molecular mass cysteine proteinase inhibitor from pig leukocytes. AB - A new low-molecular mass cysteine proteinase inhibitor (CPI) was purified from the cytosol of peripheral pig leukocytes. The isolation procedure included DEAE chromatography, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and fast-protein liquid chromatography on Mono Q. The procedure resulted in the isolation of a homogeneous protein with a molecular mass of approximately 12 kDa and a pI of 4.8. The amino terminus is blocked. The amino-acid composition and the sequence of the C-terminal part of the molecule are suggestive of a new family of cystatins. The CPI was found to be a tight-binding inhibitor of both papain and cathepsin L, with Ki values of 0.1 nM and 1 nM, respectively. PMID- 2610933 TI - Human cationic and anionic trypsins: differences of interaction with alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor. AB - Human cationic (trypsin 1) and anionic (trypsin 2) trypsins were obtained by controlled activation of purified trypsinogens 1 and 2, respectively. The interactions of trypsin 1 and trypsin 2 with human alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1PI) were analysed and compared by studies in vitro. The enzymatic activity and inhibitory capacity measurements were assessed using Glp-Gly-Arg-Nan as substrate. The association rate constants showed that the inhibition of trypsin 2 occurred more than 10 times faster than that of trypsin 1. The equimolar complexes obtained between either trypsin and alpha 1PI were visualized by electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting. The inhibition of the two trypsins was temporary i.e. the complexes trypsin 1-alpha 1PI and trypsin 2-alpha 1PI broke down with time yielding inactive alpha 1PI (Mr 50,000) and active enzyme. But the stability time for trypsin 1-alpha 1PI was much larger than that of trypsin 2-alpha 1PI. In vivo, alpha 1PI is not able to control the activity of trypsin 1 except when alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) is already saturated. According to the delay times of inhibition calculated from normal concentrations in serum, alpha 1PI inhibits trypsin 2 as fast as alpha 2M inhibits trypsin 1. These results suggest that a significant role can be assigned to alpha 1PI in the inhibition of trypsin 2 in physiological conditions and of trypsin 1 in pathological ones. PMID- 2610934 TI - Degradation of 2-chlorobenzoate by Pseudomonas cepacia 2CBS. AB - A bacterium was isolated from water by enrichment on 2-chlorobenzoate as sole source of carbon and energy. Based on morphological and physiological properties, this microorganism was assigned to the species Pseudomonas cepacia. The organism was designated Pseudomonas cepacia 2CBS. During growth on 2-chlorobenzoate, the chlorine substituent was released quantitatively, and a small amount of 2,3 dihydroxybenzoate accumulated in the culture medium. Mutants of Pseudomonas cepacia 2CBS were induced by treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Some of these mutants produced catechol from 2-chlorobenzoate. Other mutants accumulated the meta-cleavage product of catechol, 2-hydroxy-cis,cis-muconic acid semialdehyde. In crude cell-free extracts of Pseudomonas cepacia 2CBS, an enzyme was detected which catalysed the conversion of 2-chlorobenzoate to catechol. Molecular oxygen, NADH and exogenous Fe2+ were required for activity. Stoichiometric amounts of chloride were released. Experiments with 18O2 revealed that both oxygen atoms in the hydroxyl groups of the product were derived from molecular oxygen. Thus, the enzyme catalysing the conversion of 2-chlorobenzoate was identified as 2-chlorobenzoate 1,2-dioxygenase (1,2-hydroxylating, dehalogenating, decarboxylating). 2-Chlorobenzoate 1,2-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas cepacia 2CBS was shown to be a multicomponent enzyme system. The activities of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase were detected in crude cell-free extracts. The activity of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase was 60 times higher than the activity of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, indicating that catechol is mainly degraded via meta-cleavage in Pseudomonas cepacia 2CBS. No enzyme was found which converted 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, suggesting that this compound is a dead-end metabolite of 2-chlorobenzoate catabolism. A pathway for the degradation of 2-chlorobenzoate by Pseudomonas cepacia 2CBS is proposed. PMID- 2610935 TI - Microbial metabolism of quinoline and related compounds. III. Degradation of 3 chloroquinoline-8-carboxylic acid by Pseudomonas spec. EK III. AB - Bacteria have been isolated with the ability to use 3-chloroquinoline-8 carboxylic acid as sole source of carbon and energy. According to their physiological properties, these bacteria have been classified as Pseudomonas spec. Two metabolites of the degradation pathway have been isolated and identified. The first metabolite was 3-(3-carboxy-3-oxopropenyl)-2-hydroxy-5 chloropyridine, the meta-cleavage product of 3-chloro-7,8-dihydroxyquinoline. The second metabolite, 5-chloro-2-hydroxynicotinic acid, was not further metabolized by this organisms. PMID- 2610936 TI - Amino-acid sequences and functional differentiation of hemoglobins A and D from swift (Apus apus, Apodiformes). AB - The blood of the adult swift contains one major (HbA = alpha 2A beta 2) and two minor components (HbD = alpha 2D beta 2 and HbD'). The components were separated by FPLC with a TSK SP-5 PW-column in phosphate buffers, and were eluted with a linear NaCl gradient. HbD' could be detected only in freshly prepared hemolysates with the sensitive FPLC separation method. The globin chains were separated on a cation exchanger (CM-cellulose), the tryptic peptides by HPLC with a RP-2 LiChrosorb column. Their amino-acid sequences were determined by automatic Edman degradation with the film- or gas-phase method. For the alpha A-, alpha D- and beta-chains, peptide alignment was achieved by homologous comparison with the corresponding chains of the greylag goose (Anser anser). The structural significance of the substitutions was examined with the aid of molecular graphics. The oxygen-binding properties of the stripped hemolysate and of HbA and HbD and their dependence on pH, temperature and inositol polyphosphate are presented and discussed with reference to molecular structures and hypothermy that occurs during torpidity. PMID- 2610937 TI - Muramyl-peptide/gastrin conjugates as potential immunogens. AB - For a selective covalent linkage of muramyl-peptides with human-little-gastrin the maleimide-thiol reaction principle was adopted. For this purpose thiol functionalized muramyl-peptide derivatives, i.e. N-acetyl-muramyl-alanyl-D isoglutaminyl-cysteamine and N-acetyl-muramyl-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl-N epsilon palmitoyl-lysyl-cysteamine, were reacted with N alpha-maleoyl-beta-alanyl-[15 methoxinine]-human-little-g ast rin-I-[2-17]. The resulting gastrin conjugates were used in immunization experiments on rabbits and mice. Unexpectedly, these gastrin derivatives proved to be poorly immunogenic despite the built-in immunoadjuvanticity. The titers of the antipeptide antibodies as well as of the unspecific immunoglobulins were in the range of those of the control group. PMID- 2610938 TI - Decreased intramolecular turnover of L-fucose in membrane glycoproteins of rat liver during liver regeneration. AB - In plasma membrane glycoproteins of rat liver L-fucose undergoes a rapid intramolecular turnover in that fucose residues are removed from the glycoproteins (Tauber, R., Park, C.S. & Reutter, W. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 4026-4029). The present paper demonstrates that the intramolecular turnover of L-fucose is markedly decreased during liver regeneration. Turnover half-lives of L-fucose were measured in regenerating liver by pulse-chase experiments in five plasma membrane glycoproteins (Mr 60,000 (gp60), 80,000 (gp80), 120,000 (gp120), 140,000 (gp140), and 160,000 (gp160). The glycoproteins were isolated from plasma membranes by concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography and semipreparative NaDodSO4 polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. L Fucose turned over in the five glycoproteins with heterogeneous half-lives ranging from 22 h (gp160) to 49 h (gp120). The protein moieties of the glycoproteins were degraded with half-lives ranging from 56 h (gp80) to 107 h (gp140). Relative to the half-life of the protein backbone the half-live of L fucose was increased in the five membrane glycoproteins by 70% (gp60), 150% (gp80), 182% (gp120), 60% (gp140) and 16% (gp160) during liver regeneration when compared to normal liver. The data show that L-fucose turns over in different membrane glycoproteins with individual rates, and that loss of L-fucose from plasma membrane glycoproteins is reduced in rapidly proliferating liver after partial hepatectomy. PMID- 2610939 TI - Proteinchemical and kinetic features of gramicidin S synthetase. AB - The amino-acid compositions of both enzymes of gramicidin S synthetase were determined. These proteins contain a high number of acidic amino-acid residues. Phenylalanine racemase, the light enzyme, was sequenced from the N-terminus until position 10. The kinetics of the thioester formation reactions were studied. The half-life times of these processes under substrate saturation conditions were found in the range between seconds and a few minutes. The valine activation at the heavy enzyme was detected as one of the rate-limiting steps of the biosynthesis of gramicidin S. PMID- 2610941 TI - Autumn meeting of the Gesellschaft fur Biologische Chemie. 13-15 September 1989, Osnaruck. Abstracts. PMID- 2610940 TI - Complete amino-acid sequence of subfragment-2 in adult chicken skeletal muscle myosin. AB - Although the complete amino-acid sequence of the short subfragment-2 (short S-2) and the partial sequence of the hinge region derived from adult chicken skeletal muscle myosin have been reported previously, the sequence of the N-terminal portion of subfragment-2 (S-2) and the connective portion between the above two regions could not be determined. In this study, the amino-acid sequence of these undetermined portions were completely sequenced. Furthermore, overlaps of cyanogen bromide (CNBr) peptides in the hinge region were also isolated and sequenced. Peptides obtained by hydrolysis with dilute formic acid and by digestion with lysyl endopeptidase of S-2 were purified and sequenced. These results established the complete amino-acid sequence of S-2 composed of 429 amino acid residues. This sequence of adult chicken skeletal muscle myosin was compared with that of chicken embryonic skeletal muscle, chicken gizzard muscle and rabbit cardiac muscle myosin (alpha-myosin heavy chain) and shows degrees of 96%, 38% and 84% sequence identities, respectively. The frequency with which hydrophobic residues are present at position "a" in seven-residues repeats of the hinge region was markedly reduced when compared to the short S-2 sequence of the chicken skeletal muscle myosin. PMID- 2610942 TI - International meeting on carboxylesterases and lipases. 77. Konferenz der Gesellschaft fur Biologische Chemie. Osnabruck, September 11/12, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2610943 TI - Hobson's choice. PMID- 2610944 TI - Disposition and metabolism of 1-nitropropane in rats and chimpanzees. AB - The metabolic fate of 1-nitropropane (1-NP) has not been previously reported. In this study male rats and chimpanzees were given single doses of 40 mg/kg ip and 5 mg/kg iv 1-[1-14C]NP, respectively. The quantitative extent of urinary and fecal elimination was similar in both species. The rats excreted 16.5% of the dose in urine and 1.7% in feces. For chimpanzees the respective values were 14.8 and 1.2%. Experiments with rats demonstrated that the major route of elimination was by exhalation. With a total elimination via the lungs of 72.6%, rats expired 10.3% of the dose as unchanged 1-NP. Five polar metabolites were isolated from the urine of chimpanzees. The two major metabolites were identified as 3 hydroxypropionic acid and N-methyl-N-2-(methylsulfinyl)ethylpropionic acid amide (NMPA). Both substances were also excreted in rat urine. The two identified metabolites indicate that 1-NP was degraded to propionic acid, part of which was modified to 3-hydroxypropionic acid or NMPA. A hypothetical pathway for the biochemical generation of NMPA is suggested. PMID- 2610945 TI - Pesticide residue control in the years 1983-1985. AB - Levels of organochlorinated, organophosphate, dithiocarbamic, benzimidazolic, and phthalimidic compounds, as well as some other pesticide residues obtained from Regional Laboratories in the years 1983-1985, were assembled and presented as a part of a study aimed at evaluating food contamination. Approximately 2000 samples of vegetables, fruits, cereals, and food of animal origin were analyzed by local laboratories during the years 1983, 1984, and 1985. Samples were randomly obtained from the market, at production levels, or sometimes at custom sites. Approximately 10,000 determinations of single compounds or classes of compounds were carried out. The analytical results are presented and compared with the Italian maximum residue limits. In the majority of the samples analyzed, either there were no residues or the residues were below the permitted level for the specific pesticide in each commodity. High levels of residues were present in a few cases, mainly with respect to some fungicides in fruits and vegetables and chlorinated compounds in some animal products. PMID- 2610946 TI - Effects of diisopropylfluorophosphate on brain acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and neurotoxic esterase in rats. AB - The inhibition and the recovery of brain AChE, BuChE, and NTE activities after acute and subacute administration of DFP were studied in the rat. DFP displayed different specificities in inhibiting these enzymes; inhibition was greatest for BuChE followed by AChE and NTE. Recovery was most rapid for BuChE followed by NTE and AChE. The recovery rates of AChE and BuChE following acute and subacute treatment were similar. However, the recovery rate of NTE in subacutely treated rats was significantly faster than that in acutely treated rats. The results suggest that DFP inhibits these three enzymes and the rates of regeneration of these enzymes are significantly different. PMID- 2610947 TI - Mediation of changes in paraventricular vasopressin and oxytocin mRNA content to the medullary vagal complex and spinal cord of the rat. AB - Retrograde tracing was combined with in situ hybridization to demonstrate that a small percentage of neurons of the paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei (PVN) which project to the spinal cord or the medullary vagal complex contain the mRNA to produce the peptides vasopressin or oxytocin. These projection neurons respond to salt loading with an upregulation of mRNA for these peptides. The present study provides an anatomical basis for a direct regulatory influence of PVN neurons on preganglionic neurons in the spinal cord and medulla. PMID- 2610948 TI - Immunocytochemical evidence for calcitonin gene-related peptide-like neurons in the dorsal horn and lateral spinal nucleus of the rat cervical spinal cord. AB - Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the dorsal horn of the rat spinal cord was assumed until now to be principally of primary afferent origin. It is shown here, on the basis of both light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical evidence, that some cell bodies of the dorsal horn and lateral spinal nucleus (LSn) of the rat cervical spinal cord contain a CGRP-like immunoreactivity. At the light microscopic level, immunoreactive cell bodies were observed in animals pretreated with colchicine injected intraventricularly, CGRP-like cell bodies were morphologically heterogeneous and distributed in the three superficial layers of the dorsal horn. They were very rare in lamina I and more numerous in laminae II and III. A group of immunoreactive cell bodies was also observed in the LSn. Using electron microscopic techniques, a few immunoreactive cell bodies were observed even in control animals. In addition, relatively numerous immunoreactive dendrites were observed in lamina II. The specificity of the reaction and the physiological implications of the results are discussed. PMID- 2610949 TI - Induction of surface marker changes and monoclonal idiotypic immunoglobulin secretion in lymphoma/leukemia cells: comparative study with interleukin-1, interleukin-2, interleukin-4, 8-bromo-guanosine, pokeweed mitogen, and tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate. AB - Induction of differentiation in B lymphoma/leukemia cells with interleukins was compared with differentiation induced by phorbol ester (TPA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) or by 8-bromo-guanosine. Both cell surface changes and monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion were followed as markers of differentiation. The results indicate great similarity in the differentiation patterns induced by interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interleukin-4 (IL-4), with regard to Ig secretion and changes in surface markers. Induction of Ig secretion and surface marker changes by 8-bromo-guanosine was similar to that induced by TPA and PWM; however, for some markers, cell surface changes induced by TPA and PWM or by 8-bromo-guanosine were quite different from those induced by the three interleukins tested. Whereas all three interleukins stimulated the expression of CD5, PWM and TPA and 8-bromo-guanosine substantially decreased CD5 expression on B lymphoma cells. Differences were also observed in the effect on the expression of surface Ig and on the expression of CD19 and CD20. Interestingly, the three interleukins tested and 8-bromo-guanosine induced differentiation and Ig secretion within 24 to 48 hours with no prior activation by B-cell activators, such as anti-surface Ig antibody. These results suggest that leukemic B cells are arrested at a point distal to activation and first cell division. Moreover, the similarity in Ig secretion and surface changes induced by TPA and PWM or 8-bromo guanosine suggest a similar pathway; however, this pathway is different from the differentiation signal induced by the three interleukins. PMID- 2610950 TI - Augmentation of murine lymphokine (rIL-2)-activated killer cell activity by indomethacin. AB - The effect of indomethacin on murine lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity was investigated using a natural killer-resistant, spontaneously developed, weakly immunogenic, and highly tumorigenic syngeneic murine mammary adenocarcinoma, mimicking that of human disease, as the target. When used in combination with human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), indomethacin was found to augment LAK cell activity, which was generated from culture of the normal mouse splenocytes with rIL-2, as compared to that with rIL-2 alone. This increase in LAK cell activity was shown to be indomethacin dose-dependent, and was demonstrated only when indomethacin was added to the rIL-2-containing medium at the beginning of culture. The enhancement of LAK cell activity by indomethacin was abrogated when the nylon-wool nonadherent "macrophage-poor" splenocytes were incubated with rIL-2 plus indomethacin. These results indicated that the rIL-2 induced LAK cell activity generated from murine splenocytes could be augmented by indomethacin, and the macrophages may be involved as the mediator. PMID- 2610951 TI - Augmentation of ADCC and cytotoxic T-cell activity with ImuVert. AB - We previously reported that natural killer cell activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy human subjects was augmented following in vitro incubation in ImuVert, a biologic response modifier derived from the bacterium Serratia marcescens. In the current investigation, we found that exposure of PBMC to ImuVert, 3-40 micrograms/ml, for 18 hr, resulted in significant and dose-dependent augmentation of three other types of cell-mediated cytotoxicity: K cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), monocyte-mediated ADCC, and cytotoxic T-cell activity against allogeneic PBMC. These and previous findings suggest that ImuVert may have a broad range of stimulatory effects on immune function. PMID- 2610952 TI - Establishment and characterization of a malignant lymphoid cell line from a chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient. AB - A long-term culture Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-negative malignant lymphoid cell line (NAK) was established from a lymph node biopsy of a chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient. This cell line is of particular interest because it grows as an adherent cell line and depends on the presence of autologous conditioned medium for growth. After 6 months of growth in vitro, doubling time and cell cycle parameters were derived. Doubling time was 48 hours with over 45% cycling cells. Cell viability was over 90%. Expression of B-cell markers (CD19 and CD20) and surface immunoglobulin of the original tumor cell biopsy were roughly the same as in passage 14 (3 months in culture), including the expression of the original patient idiotype and IgM-lambda. Furthermore, binding of antiidiotypic antibodies was only slightly decreased at passage 14. Cytogenetic studies of chromosomal abnormalities in the primary tumor tissue and in later passages indicated similar abnormalities, with no translocations t(8;14), t(14;22), or t(2;8). However, frequent trisomies, deletions, and t(1;4) translocations were observed. Negative results for EBV nuclear antigen indicate that this cell line is an EBV-negative cell line. PMID- 2610953 TI - Structure of (-)-1-phenylethylammonium hydrogen (+)-tartrate. AB - C8H12N+.C4H5O6-, Mr = 271.27, monoclinic, P21, a = 6.352 (2), b = 14.195 (5), c = 7.507 (2) A, beta = 107.08 (2) degrees, V = 647.0 (8) A3, Z = 2, Dx = 1.39 g cm 3, lambda (Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu (Mo K alpha) = 1.05 cm-1, F(000) = 288, T = 294 K, R = 0.037 for 941 observed reflections [F greater than 2 sigma (F)]. This (+)-tartrate structure is very similar to its meso-tartrate analogue. O(6) occupies an unusual antiperiplanar position relative to the carboxyl group. A strong hydrogen-bond network stabilizes the crystal packing. PMID- 2610954 TI - 3-(1-Methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrid-4-yl)indole. AB - C14H16N2, Mr = 212.3, orthorhombic, Pca2(1), a = 19.424 (3), b = 6.770 (1), c = 8.899 (1) A, V = 1170.2 (3) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.20 g cm-3, Mo K alpha, lambda = 0.71073 A, mu = 0.7 cm-1, F(000) = 456, T = 296 K, final R = 0.043 for 1162 observed reflections. The pi systems in the title compound (1), a serotonin mimic, are in a 'near-planar' conformation (actually twisted 21 degrees from the transoid conformation) as has been postulated to be essential for activity. Molecular-mechanics calculations indicate that the inactive 2-methyl derivative of (1) has near-planar forms of much higher energy in accordance with expectation. PMID- 2610955 TI - Structure of tinosporide, a diterpenoid furanolactone from Tinospora cordifolia Miers. AB - (1S,2S,3R,4R,5R,8S,10R,12S)-4-Hydroxy-2,3:15,16-diepoxycleroda-13( 16),14- dieno 17,12:18,1-biscarbolactone, C20H22O7, Mr = 374, m.p. = 509-511 K, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 9.191 (2), b = 13.8230 (6), c = 26.956 (2) A, V = 3424.50 A3, Z = 8, Dx = 1.450, Dm (by flotation) = 1.446 g cm-3, lambda (Cu K alpha) = 1.5418 A, mu = 8.20 cm-1, F(000) = 1584, T = 295 K, R = 0.0464, wR = 0.0579 for 3437 observed reflections. The asymmetric unit contains two molecules. The structure resembles that of a similar compound [Swaminathan, Sinha, Bhatt & Sabata (1988). Acta Cryst. C44, 1421-1424] with atom H(15) replacing the tertiary hydroxyl group at C(8). Atoms H(4) and H(15) are alpha- and beta-oriented respectively at sites C(12) and C(8). The terpene ring A is locked into a boat conformation by the C(1) C(4) lactone bridge. The hydroxyl at C(4) is involved in hydrogen bonding. PMID- 2610956 TI - Structural characterization of the manganese(IV) Schiff-base complex MnIV(5-Cl SALAHP)2. AB - Bis[3-(5-chlorosalicylideneamino)propanolato-O,N,O']manganes e(IV) methanol solvate, [Mn(C10H10ClNO2)2].CH3OH, Mr = 510.3, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 11.949 (2), b = 7.530 (2), c = 25.777 (6) A, beta = 105.75 (2) degrees, V = 2232.4 (8) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.518 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.7107 A, mu = 7.98 cm-1, F(000) = 1502, T = 300 K, R = 0.0343, wR = 0.032 for 2113 unique reflections with (I) greater than 3 sigma(I). The title complex MnIV(5-Cl-SALAHP)2 [5-Cl-SALAHP = 3-(5-chlorosalicylideneamino)propanolato] displays a regular octahedral geometry. The 5-Cl-SALAHP ligand is tridentate, forming a meridional chelate with one phenolato oxygen (Mn-Oavg = 1.90 A), one alkoxide oxygen (Mn-Oavg = 1.85 A) and one imine nitrogen (Mn-Navg = 2.02 A) coordinated to the metal. Important angles described by the six atoms bound to manganese are all very close to either 180 or 90 degrees except the N-Mn-N angle which is 174.7 degrees. Previous studies have shown that MnIV(5-Cl-SALAHP)2 displays a rhombic EPR spectrum with well-resolved 55Mn hyperfine structure on gx, gy and gz. In contrast, Mn(SALADHP)2 [SALADHP = 2 methyl-2-(salicylideneamino)-1,3-propanediolato] shows a broad, ill-defined signal at g = 5.15 and a weak g = 2 component. The different spectral forms result from the extent of distortion of the MnIV octahedron. The reported structure is of potential importance to the understanding of the photosynthetic water-oxidizing system. PMID- 2610957 TI - Structure of ethyl 2-chloro-4-methyl-6-(1-pyrrolidinyl)benzoate. AB - C14H18ClNO2, Mr = 267.7, orthorhombic, Pbca, a = 10.571 (3), b = 12.081 (5), c = 21.384 (6) A, V = 2731 A3, Z = 8, Dx = 1.30 g cm-3, Mo K alpha, lambda = 0.71069 A, mu = 3.59 cm-1, F(000) = 1136, T = 293 K, R = 0.0357 for 716 observed reflections. In molecules of the title compound the ester substituent is forced from conjugation with the aromatic ring and nitrogen long pair by steric interaction with the adjacent chlorine. PMID- 2610958 TI - Structure of methyl 5-phenyl-2-propionyl-3-pyrrolecarboxylate. AB - C15H15NO3, Mr = 257.4, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 10.070 (2), b = 5.335 (3), c = 24.23 (1) A, beta = 91.60 (3) degrees, V = 1301 (2) A3, Z = 4, Dm (flotation) = 1.312 (3), Dx = 1.314 g cm-3, Cu K alpha (lambda = 1.5418 A), mu = 6.64 cm-1, F(000) = 544, T = 295 K, final R(F) = 0.037, wR = 0.035 for 850 significant reflections, I greater than or equal to 2.5 sigma(I). The phenyl ring and the pyrrole ring are planar, and the dihedral angle between them is 18.6 degrees. The nitrogen of the pyrrole ring exhibits N-H tautomerism and forms N-H...O type hydrogen bonds with the screw related carbonyl oxygen. In the unit cell the molecules form dimers across the centres of inversion and infinite spirals across the screw axis. PMID- 2610959 TI - Structure of tris(benzothiazole-N)trichlororhodium(III) nitromethane solvate. AB - mer-[RhCl3(C7H5NS)3].CH3NO2, Mr = 675.87, monoclinic, P21/n, a = 10.915 (2), b = 19.869 (4), c = 12.328 (3) A, beta = 103.13 (7) degrees, V = 2604 (1) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.724 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71037 A, mu = 12.15 cm-1, F(000) = 1352, T = 298 K, final R = 0.0297 for 4459 unique observed reflections. The complex was prepared as part of a series of complexes of RhIII with heterocyclic ligands of the type RhL3X3. On the basis of spectral data alone, the assignment of the geometry as mer or fac and the mode of coordination through N or S were ambiguous, so the X-ray structure of the title complex was determined. The Rh is coordinated to three Cl and three N atoms to give an approximately octahedral, meridional complex. The potentially ambidentate benzothiazole coordinates to the metal through the N atom of the thiazole ring. The average Rh--N and Rh--Cl distances are 2.064 (5) and 2.34 (2) A, respectively. PMID- 2610960 TI - Structure of a protected C(1)-C(10) subunit of C(2)-epi-erythronolides A and B. AB - 1-[5-(2-Hydroxy-1,3-dimethyl-4-pentenyl)-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3- dioxolan-4-yl]-2 methyl-3-pentanone, C19H34O4, Mr = 326.48, monocline, P2i, a = 11.409 (3), b = 7.889 (2), c = 11.690 (3) A, beta = 109.24 (2) degrees, V = 993.4 (4) A3, Z = 2, Dx = 1.09 g cm-3, Mo K alpha, lambda = 0.71069 A, mu = 0.6963 cm-1, F(000) = 360, T = 194 K, R = 0.0595 for 1496 reflections [Fo greater than or equal to 4 sigma(Fo)]. Molecules stack into columns parallel to the screw axis. Molecules are hydrogen bonded within each column. A hydrogen bond involving the hydroxyl group of one molecule and the carbonyl O of a second molecule (related by - x, 1/2 + y, - z) with an O...O distance of 2.859 (7) A, an H...O distance of 2.01 (7) A and an O--H...O angle of 164 (6) degrees is observed. PMID- 2610961 TI - Structure of undecacarbonyl[tris(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine]-triangulo- triosmium, a substituted osmium cluster containing a fluorinated triphenylphosphine ligand. AB - [Os3(CO)11[P(C6F5)3]], Mr = 1410.87, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 19.058 (1), b = 9.109 (1), c = 20.424 (2) A, beta = 105.53 (1) degree, V = 3416 (1) A3, Z = 4, Dm = 2.74 (2), Dx = 2.743 g cm-3, mu(Mo K alpha, lambda = 0.71073 A) = 113.3 cm-1, F(000) = 2560, T = 297 (1) K, RF = 0.022 for 3529 reflections. The Os atoms form an approximate isosceles triangle. Each Os atom exhibits a distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The carbonyl groups are all terminal and the bulky phosphine ligand is coordinated equatorially. PMID- 2610962 TI - Structure of tris(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine. AB - C18F15P, Mr = 532.1, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 7.194 (2), b = 17.930 (4), c = 13.834 (2) A, beta = 94.29 (2) degrees, V = 1779 A3, Z = 4, Dm = 2.00, Dx = 1.99 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 3.3 cm-1, F(000) = 1032, T approximately equal to 296 K, final R = 0.055 for 2352 unique observed reflections. The three planar C6F5 groups are twisted about the C-P bonds to give extensive deviations from molecular C3 symmetry similar to those in the crystal structure of triphenylphosphine. The P-C bond lengths and C-P-C bond angles are 1.834 (4), 1.832 (4), 1.824 (4) A and 104.4 (2), 106.0 (2), 99.6 (1) degree, respectively. There are two short C...F non-bonded distances in the structure (2.99, 2.79 A). PMID- 2610963 TI - Structure of the calcium channel antagonist, nimodipine. AB - Isopropyl 2-methoxyethyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-3,5- pyridinedicarboxylate, C21H26N2O7, Mr = 418.45, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 12.5897 (6), b = 14.6410 (9), c = 11.636 (1) A, V = 2144.8 (2) A3, Z = 4, Dm = 1.29, Dx = 1.30 g cm-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.54178 A, mu = 7.77 cm-1, F(000) = 888, T = 298 K, R = 0.047 for 1629 observed reflections. The structure of the title compound is similar to that of related analogs, the nitrophenyl ring being roughly normal to the dihydropyridine ring, which is in a boat conformation (N1 is 10.75 degrees out of the C2-C3-C5-C6 plane; C4 is 19.55 degrees out of plane). The 3,5 substituents are in an extended conformation, away from the 2,6 methyl groups. The nitro group is distal to N1. Structure/activity relationships of 1,4 dihydropyridines are discussed in light of this structure. PMID- 2610964 TI - Structure of a non-planar flavonol, 5,7,2'-trihydroxy-3,6,8,4',5' pentamethoxyflavone. AB - C20H20O10, Mr = 420.37, triclinic, P1, a = 8.771 (3), b = 13.508 (3), c = 15.970 (4) A, alpha = 86.04 (2), beta = 81.77 (2), gamma = 84.17 (2) degrees, V = 1860.0 (8) A3, Z = 4 (two molecules per asymmetric unit), Dm (by flotation in ZnCl2/H2O solution at 298 K) = 1.491, Dx = 1.503 g cm-3, Mo K alpha radiation, lambda = 0.71069 A, mu = 1.14 cm-1, F(000) = 880, T = 163 K. Full-matrix least-squares refinement converged to R = 0.039 and wR = 0.037 using 5198 reflections with I greater than 3 sigma (I). The two molecules in the asymmetric unit differ in the torsion angles involving the methoxy groups and in the dihedral angle between the planes of rings B and C, 33.31 (7) and 40.83 (7) degrees in molecules (I) and (II), respectively. This compound belongs to a class of 3,2'-dioxygenated flavonoids whose ultraviolet (UV), mass spectroscopic (MS) and chromatographic properties indicate that in solution these compounds have reduced planarity (and thus reduced conjugation) of the B-ring chromophore with the A, C-ring chromophore. PMID- 2610965 TI - Structure of strychnine hydrochloride sesquihydrate. AB - C21H23N2O2+.Cl-.1.5H2O, Mr = 397.90, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 7.617 (1), b = 32.463 (2), c = 7.849 (1) A, beta = 90.40 (2) degrees, V = 1940.8 (4) A3 Z = 4, Dm = 1.39, Dx = 1.36 g cm-3, lambda (Cu K alpha) = 1.5418 A, mu = 19.724 cm-1, F(000) = 844, final R = 0.047 for 3368 observed reflections. Strychnine hydrochloride is a naturally occurring alkaloid in its protonated form. One of the N atoms accepts the proton from hydrochloric acid changing its hybridization to sp3. The indole N atom is sp2 hybridized with its lone-pair electron involved in conjugation with the carbonyl group. The hydrogen bonds form a complex zigzag network which stabilizes the structure. PMID- 2610966 TI - Structure and conformational analysis of the opioid antagonist (-)-(1R,5R,9R)-5,9 diethyl-2-(3-furylmethyl)-2'-hydroxy-6,7-benzomorpha n (Mr2266). AB - C21H27NO2, Mr = 325.449, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 16.3916 (7), b = 12.7460 (5), c = 8.9806 (5) A, beta = 107.191 (4) degrees, V = 1792.5 (2) A3, Z = 4, Dm = 1.22 (2), D chi = 1.206 Mg m-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.54178 A, mu(Cu K alpha) = 0.566 mm-1, F(000) = 704, T = 291 K, final R = 0.048 for 4225 observed reflections. The two molecules present in the asymmetric unit adopt a different conformation with respect to the N-side chain. Starting from the asymmetric carbon and proceeding along the allyl moiety the conformations are antiperiplanar/(-)-anticlinal for molecule 1 and antiperiplanar/(+)-synclinal for molecule 2. The furyl rings engage in aromatic-aromatic interactions which are compared with results from a theoretical study from the literature. Finally, the 3-furyl geometry is evaluated through a Cambridge Structural Database search and CNDO/2 calculations. PMID- 2610967 TI - 1-Chloro-3-ethynyl-2,4-dimethoxybenzene. AB - C10H9ClO2, Mr = 196.6, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 10.8146 (6), b = 8.8883 (8), c = 10.4110 (9) A, beta = 103.101 (6) degrees, V = 974.7 (3) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.340 g cm-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.54184 A, mu = 32.27 cm-1, F(000) = 408, T = 296 K, R = 0.061 for 1405 observations (of 2004 unique data). The molecule contains two methoxy groups; one is nearly coplanar with the benzenoid ring, with C-C-O-C torsion angle -5.2 (5) degrees, and the other, which resides between the chloro and the ethynyl groups, is nearly orthogonal, with the corresponding torsion angle 86.5 (4) degrees. The coplanar methoxy has an angle about O of 118.3 (2) degrees and the orthogonal, 114.7 (1) degrees. The O-CH3 distance in the coplanar methoxy is 1.426 (2) A compared to 1.439 (2) A in the orthogonal. The six membered ring is planar, with maximum deviation 0.008 (3) A. The C-Cl distance is 1.734 (2) A, and the triple-bond distance is 1.179 (3) A. The ethynyl group forms a nearly linear C-H...O contact with the O atom of the orthogonal methoxy on a glide-related molecule, having C...O distance 3.293 (3) A and angle at H of 167 (3) degrees. PMID- 2610968 TI - Structure of (3S)-3-tert-butyloxycarbonylamino-2-piperidone. AB - C10H18N2O3, Mr = 214.27, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 15.515 (2), b = 6.730 (1), c = 12.541 (2) A, beta = 113.6 (2) degrees, V = 1200.0 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.186 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu = 0.54 cm-1, F(000) = 464, T = 295 K. The final R value for 1611 observed (3139 unique) reflections is 0.055. In both the independent molecules A and B of the asymmetric unit of the title compound, the conformation of the urethane moiety is trans. The lactam group of molecule A is non-planar, the C(9)-N(2)-C(10)-C(6) torsion angle being 12.4 (14) degrees. One main difference between molecules A and B is in the value of the phi[C(5)-N(1) C(6)-C(10)] torsion angle [52.3 (11) degrees for molecule A while -86.5 (10) degrees for molecule B] as a consequence of a rotation of the ring relative to the tert-butyloxycarbonylamino substituent. A second major difference is the delta-lactam ring conformation which is approximate half-chair for molecule A while boat for molecule B. PMID- 2610969 TI - Structure of 6-amino-4,4,5,7,8-pentamethyldihydrocoumarin. AB - C14H19NO2, Mr = 233.3, triclinic, P1, a = 9.925 (2), b = 11.193 (3), c = 11.915 (3) A, alpha = 95.39 (2), beta = 91.09 (2), gamma = 97.38 (2) degrees, V = 1304.7 (3) A3, Z = 4, F(000) = 480, Dx = 1.19 (1), Dm = 1.18 (1) g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu(Mo K alpha) = 0.43 cm-1, T = 292 K. Final R = 0.045 for 3099 observed reflections. The statistically significant difference in bond length C(6)-N between the two independent molecules can be explained in terms of the differences in the intermolecular interactions of the N atoms. The conformation of the lactone ring in both independent molecules is intermediate between half-chair and sofa and very similar to that observed in 4,4,5,7,8 pentamethyldihydrocoumarin. In both these compounds similar large distortions of valency angles occur in the phenyl rings to accommodate the overmethylation. PMID- 2610970 TI - Structure of an ether dimer of deoxydihydroqinghaosu, a potential metabolite of the antimalarial arteether. AB - C30H49O7, Mr = 518.69, triclinic, P1, a = 9.013 (2), b = 10.520 (2), c = 15.187 (3) A, alpha = 93.3 (2), beta = 93.73 (1), gamma = 95.88 (2) degrees, V = 1426.2 (5) A3, Z = 2, Dx = 1.21 Mg m-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.54178 A, mu = 0.65 mm-1, F(000) = 564, T = 295 K, final R = 0.043, wR = 0.042 for 3842 observed reflections. The dimer is formed such that the deoxyarteether moieties are cis to one another. Attempts to determine the absolute configuration of the molecule were inconclusive so the conformation corresponding to that found for qinghaosu was used for the refinement. Both halves of the dimer have the same chirality with five of the seven asymmetric carbons having an S conformation and two (C5 and C6) having an R conformation. PMID- 2610971 TI - Platelet activating factor antagonist design: structure of methyl trans-5-(3,4 dimethoxyphenyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2-oxo-4- furancarboxylate. AB - C14H16O6, Mr = 280.28, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 6.070 (2), b = 9.526 (5), c = 22.418 (5) A, beta = 94.32 (2) degrees, V = 1293 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.44 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 0.71 cm-1, F(000) = 592, T = 293 K, final R = 0.043 for 1400 observed [F0 greater than or equal to 5 sigma(F0)] reflections. The observed structure confirms a trans stereorelationship for the two substituents and an envelope conformation for the lactone ring. There is no crystallographically imposed symmetry. An analysis of the closest contacts in the cell lattice reveals two types of intermolecular interactions for this compound. PMID- 2610972 TI - Structure of columbin, a diterpenoid furanolactone from Tinospora cordifolia Miers. AB - (1S,4R,5R,8S,10R,12S)-4-Hydroxy-15,16-epoxycleroda-2,12(16),14- trieno-17,12: 18,1-biscarbolactone, C20H22O6, Mr = 358.2, m.p. = 453-454 K, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 7.3869 (6), b = 11.986 (1), c = 19.896 (2) A, V = 1761.65 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.351, Dm(by flotation) = 1.349 g cm-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.5418 A, mu = 8.36 cm-1, F(000) = 760, T = 295 K, R = 0.0432 for 1662 observed reflections. Two terpene rings, two delta-lactones, two methyl groups, a tertiary hydroxyl group and a beta-substituted furan ring are present in the structure. The H atoms at C(12) and C(8) are alpha- and beta-oriented. The terpene ring A is locked into a boat conformation by the C(1)-C(4) lactone bridge. The furan ring is attached equatorially at atom C(12). The hydroxyl group is involved in intramolecular hydrogen bonding. PMID- 2610973 TI - Short S...O contacts: structure of 2,5-bis(p methoxyphenylhydroxymethyl)thiophene. AB - C20H20O4S, Mr = 356.4, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 5.045 (3), b = 29.115 (7), c = 11.924 (2) A, beta = 94.82 (3) degrees, V = 1745.2 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.357 g cm-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.5418 A, mu = 17.86 cm-1, F(000) = 752, T = 298 K, R = 0.038, wR = 0.044 for 1212 reflections, I greater than 3 sigma(I). In the crystal, the molecule adopts a conformation in which one of the two hydroxymethyl fragments is synplanar to S and the other is anticlinal to S. Although the two fragments are otherwise equivalent, the C-C-O bond angles in the two hydroxymethyl fragments are significantly different from each other [106.7 (3) and 110.7 (3) degrees]. The decrease of 4 degrees in the bond angle is for the C C-OH fragment that makes a short S...O contact and must indicate a non-bonded attractive interaction between the two atoms. PMID- 2610974 TI - Structure of (+-)-threo-9,10,16-trihydroxypalmitic acid. AB - 9,10,16-Trihydroxyhexadecanoic acid, C16H32O5, Mr = 304.4, triclinic, P1, a = 4.871 (1), b = 8.801 (1), c = 21.121 (2) alpha = 89.54 (1), beta = 84.88 (2), gamma = 76.35 (2) degrees, V = 876.14 (4) A3, Z = 2, Dx = 1.154 g cm-3, Mo K alpha, lambda = 0.71069 A, mu = 0.26 cm-1, F(000) = 336, T = 295 K. Final R = 0.055 for 1556 reflections with I greater than or equal to 3 sigma(I). The 16 C atoms form an all-trans zigzag chain. Each molecule is linked to seven neighboring molecules via eight possible hydrogen bonds with O...O distances varying from 2.591 (6) to 2.673 (3) A. Each carboxyl group is potentially hydrogen-bonded to the carboxyl and C16-OH groups of other molecules with O...O distances of 2.591 (6) and 2.644 (4) A. The conformation around the C9-C10 bond is gauche with an O3-C9-C10-O4 torsion angle of 66.4 (5) degrees. PMID- 2610975 TI - Structure of cycloguanil hydrochloride by neutron diffraction. AB - 4,6-Diamino-1-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,2-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-s-triazine hydrochloride, C11H15-CIN5+.Cl-, Mr = 288.20, monoclinic, P21/c, a = 8.783 (2), b = 10.267 (2), c = 17.234 (3) A, beta = 115.72 (1) degrees, U = 1400.1 (5) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.337 Mg m-3, lambda = 1.15882 (7) A for unit-cell determination and 1.04702 (7) A for collection of intensity data, mu = 0.191 mm-1, T = 15.0 (5) K, final R(F2) = 0.050 and wR(F2) = 0.063 for 3099 independent reflections. Five atoms of the triazine ring are nearly coplanar. The sixth, the quaternary C(2), is displaced from this plane (P1) so that the bond to one of its methyl substituents is nearly perpendicular to P1 while the other methyl substituent lies almost in the plane. The chlorophenyl-ring plane is nearly perpendicular to P1. The heterocycles form cyclic dimers via hydrogen bonds from the 6-amino group to ring atom N(5) of an adjacent molecule. All other N-H units are hydrogen bonded to the Cl- counter ion. The ring is protonated at position N(3). PMID- 2610976 TI - Structure and absolute configuration of (E)-(-)-2-cyclododecenyl camphanate. AB - C22H34O4, Mr = 362.51, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 7.371 (1), b = 10.571 (1), c = 13.538 (2) A, beta = 90.36 (1) degree, V = 1054.84 A3, Z = 2, Dx = 1.141 Mg m-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.5418 A, mu = 0.577 mm-1, F(000) = 396, T = 296 K, R = 0.057 for 1550 unique reflections with I greater than or equal to sigma(I). The crystal conformation of the 12-membered ring in the title compound and its absolute configuration (1R) have been determined. The ring adopts a conformation with a necessarily approximate twofold axis in the crystal but it appears to be highly flexible. PMID- 2610977 TI - Structure of hexakis(N-methylimidazole-N')iron(II) tetraphenylborate dichloromethane solvate. AB - [Fe(C4H6N2)6][B(C6H5)4]2.CH2Cl2, Mr = 1271.88, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 20.5320 (6), b = 15.113 (3), c = 23.611 (7) A, beta = 109.01 (3) degrees, V = 6926.9 (1) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.23 g cm-3, mu(Mo K alpha) = 0.70966 A, graphite monochromator, mu = 3.37 cm-1, F(000) = 2680, T = 298 K, R = 0.057 for 2310 unique observed reflections. The asymmetric unit consists of a single [Fe(C4H6N2)6]2+ cation, two distinct BPh-4 anions, and one CH2Cl2. The Fe atom is octahedrally coordinated by six N-methylimidazole ligands. The six Fe-N bond distances per cation range from 2.174 (11) to 2.228 (10) A, the average being 2.207 (12) A. This average distance is within the range previously observed for high-spin ferrous complexes. The ring planes of N-methylimidazole ligands that lie trans to each other have interplane angles of 17.56, 18.48 and 157.56 degrees. These ring planes lie approximately either parallel or perpendicular to equatorial Fe-N bonds. PMID- 2610978 TI - Structure of elsinochrome A: a perylenequinone metabolite. AB - trans-1,2-Diacetyl-1,2-dihydro-5,10-dihydroxy-3,7,8,12- tetramethoxybenzo[ghi]perylene-4,11-dione, C30H24O10, Mr = 544.51, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), Z = 4, a = 12.428 (3), b = 13.048 (3), c = 14.933 (3) A, V = 2421.5 (9) A3, Dx = 1.494, Dm (by flotation) = 1.48 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu = 1.057 cm-1, F(000) = 1136, T = 293 K, R = 0.046 (2065 observed reflections). Elsinochrome A is shown to exist in the solid state as a nonplanar quinone tautomer; the pigment adopts a helical conformation, in analogy with the related cercosporin, but the perylenequinone moiety in elsinochrome A appears to be significantly less skewed. PMID- 2610979 TI - Structure of droperidol-ethanol (1/1). AB - 1-(1-[4-(4-Fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl]-1,2,-3,6-tetrahydro-4-pyridyl)-1,3- dihydro 2H-benzimidazol-2-one ethanol solvate, C22H22FN3O2.C2H6O, Mr = 426.3, triclinic, P1, a = 6.083 (3), b = 10.296 (1), c = 16.018 (2) A, alpha = 100.93 (1), beta = 92.72 (2), gamma = 96.27 (2) degrees, V = 976.7 A3, Z = 2, Dx = 1.45 g cm-3, Mo K alpha, lambda = 0.71073 A, mu = 0.97 cm-1, F(000) = 452, T = 90 (2) K, final R = 0.046 for 2261 observed reflections. The title compound crystallizes with the droperidol skeleton extended and a solvated ethanol molecule disordered about an inversion center. The ethanol molecule forms a hydrogen bond to the droperidol skeleton at ketone atom O(1) on the imidazole ring. PMID- 2610980 TI - Methyl 3,4-dihydro-1-oxo-2(1H)-naphthylidenehydroxyacetate. AB - C13H12O4, Mr = 232.2, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 8.499 (2), b = 13.798 (4), c = 9.652 (2) A, beta = 98.25 (2) degrees, V = 1120.1 (9) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.377 g cm 3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.54184 A, mu = 8.12 cm-1, F(000) = 488, T = 295 K, R = 0.042 for 1916 observations (of 2296 unique data). The molecule contains an enol subunit, the hydroxy group of which forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond to the cyclic carbonyl group, with an O...O distance of 2.4782 (14) A and an O-H...O angle of 143 (3) degrees. The refined position of the hydrogen atom is 1.16 (4) A from the hydroxy oxygen and 1.44 (4) A from the carbonyl oxygen, and the isotropic thermal parameter is large; B = 13 (1) A2. The enol C = C bond distance is 1.371 (1) A and its C-OH distance is 1.312 (1) A. PMID- 2610981 TI - Structures of cis-amminedichloro(cyclopentylamine)platinum 0.25-hydrate and potassium trichloro(cyclopentylamine)platinate 0.5-hydrate. AB - cis-Pt(NH3)(cyclopentylamine)Cl2.1/4H2O, C5H14Cl2N2Pt.0.25H2O, Mr = 372.7, tetragonal, P-4b2, a = 11.456 (4), c = 16.172 (6) A, V = 2122 (1) A3, Z = 8, Dx = 2.333 Mg m-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu = 13.83 mm-1, F(000) = 1380, T = 295 K, R = 0.040 for 725 unique observed reflections. Pt has cis square-planar coordination with bond distances Pt-Cl = 2.31 (1), 2.33 (1) A and Pt-N = 2.02 (3) and 1.99 (2) A. The C atoms in the cyclopentylamine ligand, especially C(4), show very high thermal motion. The structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonding involving the ammine ligand and the amino group with the chloro ligands. K[Pt(cyclopentylamine)Cl3].1/2H2O, K+.C5H11Cl3NPt-.0.5H2O, Mr = 434.7, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 33.169 (21), b = 5.881 (4), c = 12.280 (8) A, beta = 102.45 (5) degrees, Z = 8, V = 2339 (3) A3, Dx = 2.468 Mg m3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu = 13.13 mm-1, F(000) = 1608, T = 295 K, R = 0.043 for 1399 unique observed reflections. Pt has square-planar coordination with Pt-Cl = 2.313 (4), 2.309 (4), 2.304 (4) A, and Pt-N = 2.03 (1) A. The carbon atoms of cyclopentylamine are disordered and two positions were refined for C(1). The compound crystallizes with a molecule of water located on a twofold axis. The water molecule is exceptionally close to the K+ ion [O...K = 2.756 (9) A]. The compound is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the amino group and one chloro ligand. PMID- 2610982 TI - Structure of oxobis(phenolato)[tris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl) hydroborato]molybdenum (V). AB - C27H32BMoN6O3, Mr = 595.34, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 16.376 (6), b = 10.438 (5), c = 17.016 (8) A, beta = 107.25 (3) degrees, V = 2777.8 A3, Z = 4, Dm = 1.37, Dx = 1.43 g cm-3, Mo K alpha,lambda = 0.71073 A, mu = 5.02 cm-1, F(000) = 1228, T = 296 K, R = 0.038, wR = 0.045 for 2457 reflections. This molecule is the first structurally characterized mononuclear molybdenum complex containing a terminal aryl oxide ligand. The central molybdenum atom adopts a distorted octahedral coordination geometry with one face of the octahedron occupied by the tridentate pyrazolylborate ligand and the opposite face by the oxo and the two phenolato ligands. The structure is compared with that of the analogous benzenethiolate complex. PMID- 2610983 TI - X-ray crystallographic analysis of the structural distortions induced by substitution and annulation of the dodecahedrane nucleus. AB - Methyl dodecahedranecarboxylate, C22H22-O2, (4), Mr = 318.42, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 12.600 (2), b = 7.992 (4), c = 28.975 (7) A, beta = 101.79 (2) degrees, V = 2856 A3, Z = 8, Dx = 1.48 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K-alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 0.84 cm-1, F(000) = 1360, T = 294 K, R = 0.044 for 2109 unique reflections with Fo2 greater than 3 sigma(Fo2). 21-Phenylcyclopropadodecahedrane, C27H24, (5), Mr = 348.49, tetragonal, P4(2)/n, a = 17.528 (3), c = 10.752 (2) A, V = 3303 A3, Z = 8, Dx = 1.40 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K-alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu = 0.85 cm-1, F(000) = 1488, T = 295 K, R = 0.053 for the 1773 unique reflections with Fo2 greater than 1 sigma(Fo2). The molecular geometries of methoxycarbonyldodecahedrane (4) and 21 phenylcyclopropadodecahedrane (5) are compared to those of the parent C20H20 hydrocarbon (1) and its 1,16-dimethyl derivative (2). For both (2) and (4), the framework is modestly distorted by the substituents, the intracavity distance being more extended along the axis that contains the pendant group(s). Remarkably for (5), its cyclopropane ring has all C-C bonds and internal angles essentially equal, and those dodecahedrane bonds in the immediate vicinity of the ring fusion are extensively perturbed. PMID- 2610984 TI - 11 beta-hydroxy-9 beta-estrone. AB - C18H22O3, Mr = 286.37, trigonal, P3(2), a = 10.091 (1), c = 12.271 (1) A, V = 1082.1 A3, Z = 3, Dx = 1.318 Mg m-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.5418 A, mu = 0.667 mm 1, T = 298 K, F(000) = 462, final R = 0.056 for 1468 observed reflections. The pattern of intermolecular interaction associated with 11 beta-hydroxy substitution differs from that observed in more potent estrogens. PMID- 2610985 TI - Structure of a protected C(1)-C(10) subunit of erythronolides A and B. AB - C19H34O4, Mr = 326.48, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 7.949 (2), b = 14.880 (5), c = 17.047 (5) A, V = 2016 (1) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.08 g cm-3, mu = 0.6861 cm 1, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, F(000) = 720, T = 163 K, R = 0.0644 for 1476 reflections [Fo greater than or equal to 4 sigma (Fo)]. There is an intermolecular H bond involving the hydroxyl group and the carbonyl O (related by 1/2 + x, 3/2 - y, 1 - z) with an O...O distance of 2.838 (5) A, an H...O distance of 2.06 (5) A and an O-H...O angle of 172 (6) degrees. There are no such intramolecular contacts. PMID- 2610986 TI - Structure of thiolactomycin. AB - [4R,(2E,5E)]-3-Hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethyl-2,5,7-octatriene-4-thiol ide, C11H14O2S, Mr = 210.30, hexagonal, P6(5), a = b = 9.8514 (6), c = 19.954 (1) A, V = 1677.1 A3, Z = 6, Dx = 1.249 g cm-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.5418 A, u = 23.07 cm-1, F(000) = 672, T = 298 K, R = 0.028 for 1021 unique reflections [Fo2 greater than 2 sigma(Fo2)]. The absolute configuration was determined by the Bijvoet method. The thiolactone ring is planar with S-C bond distances of 1.774 (3) and 1.856 (3) A, and C-S-C angle of 93.3 (1) degrees. The angle between least-squares planes for the thiolactone and butadienyl groups is 101.7 degrees. PMID- 2610987 TI - Structure of a propynyl adduct of an oxa-bridged octalin. AB - C20H30O6, Mr = 366.45, monoclinic, P2l/n, a = 10.411 (2), b = 16.084 (3), c = 11.991 (1) A, beta = 100.98 Mg m-3, Mo Ka, lambda V 0.71069 A, mu = 0.097 (2) degrees, V = 1971 (6) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.23 Mg m-3, Mo Ka, lambda = 0.71069 A, mu = 0.097 mm-1, F(000) = 792, T = 296 K, R = 0.050, wR = 0.065 for 3430 observed unique reflections. The structure of a key synthetic intermediate for use in a total synthesis of the nargenicin antibiotics has been established by X ray single-crystal methods. Its structure is characterized by an essentially strain free tricyclic oxa-bridged octalin nucleus, low-energy methoxymethyl ether side chain conformations and an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl group hydrogen atom and a methoxymethyl ether oxygen atom. Intermolecular packing contacts less than the sum of van der Waals radii consist of weak C-H...O interactions. PMID- 2610988 TI - Structure of antischistosome compounds. V 1,6-Hexanediylbis(triphenylphosphonium) dibromide. AB - C42H42P2(2+).2Br-, Mr = 768.6, triclinic, P1, a = 13.328 (2), b = 23.110 (3), c = 9.417 (1) A, alpha = 90.75 (1), beta = 109.62 (1), gamma = 91.23 (1) degrees, V = 2730.86 A3, Z = 3, Dx = 1.402 g cm3, graphite-monochromatized Cu K alpha radiation, lambda = 1.5418 A, mu = 52.0 cm-1, F(000) = 1182, T = 292 K. Final R = 0.051 for 5225 reflections with I greater than 3 sigma (I). Structure solved by Patterson methods and delta F syntheses. One molecule is located at the center of symmetry of the unit cell. The hexane moieties of all three molecules are in the trans extended conformation. However, one of the P-C-C-C torsion angles in the complete molecule in the asymmetric unit is 118.4 (6) degrees, the corresponding P-C-C-C torsion angle about the other P atom being 178.7 (5) degrees. This creates a conformational asymmetry in an otherwise symmetric molecule. This conformation permits the formation of a nearly square, planar, noncovalent interaction involving this P atom with one of the Br- ions and a symmetry-related Br--P interaction. The remaining P atoms and Br- ions are noncovalently linked to this square, approximately along the alpha axis. This noncovalent network is nearly parallel to the [011] plane, but does not extend beyond the [020] and [020] planes. The half-molecule in the asymmetric unit is approximately 45 degrees to the whole molecule, with two of its phenyl rings directed toward and perpendicular to one of the phenyl rings of the asymmetric triphenylphosphonium group of the whole molecule.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610989 TI - Platelet activating factor antagonist design. 2. X-ray structure of dimethyl 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-5 beta-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-oxo-3 beta-(3,4,5 trimethoxybenzoyl)-3 alpha,4 alpha-furandicarboxylate. AB - C25H24O12, Mr = 516.46, triclinic, P-1, a = 8.780 (3), b = 11.298 (4), c = 13.271 (6) A, alpha = 71.77 (4), beta = 70.31 (3), gamma = 72.66 (3) degrees, V = 1189 A3, Z = 2, Dx = 1.44 g cm-3, lambda (Mo K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 0.74 cm-1, F(000) = 540, T = 293 K, final R = 0.046 for 2495 observed [Fo greater than or equal to 5 sigma (Fo)] reflections. The observed structure reveals a trans disposition for the methoxycarbonyl and aryl substituents at positions 4 and 5 of the heterocycle and a cis-3,4-bis(methoxycarbonyl) relationship. There is no crystallographically imposed symmetry. Several intermolecular van der Waals interactions occur in the cell lattice of this compound. PMID- 2610990 TI - 3-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-1H-2-benzopyran-1-one. AB - C16H12O3, Mr = 252.3, orthorhombic, Pna21, a = 6.633 (3), b = 13.367 (2), c = 14.056 (2) A, V = 1246.3 (9) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.344 g cm-3, lambda (Cu K alpha) = 1.54184 A, mu = 7.17 cm-1, F(000) = 528, T = 296 K, R = 0.027 for 2337 observations (of 2508 unique date). The average deviation from planarity is 0.013 (1) A with a maximum of 0.028 (1) A for the fused-rings system, and 0.003 (1) A with a maximum of 0.005 (1) A for the methoxyphenyl ring. The dihedral angle between the two systems is 4.7 (3) degrees. The methoxyphenyl ring is pushed away from the vinyl proton and towards the endocyclic O atom; the bond angles are 130.13 (9) and 110.13 (8) degrees, respectively. PMID- 2610991 TI - A simulated annealing approach to the search problem of protein crystallography. AB - With the growing availability of computer power it has become routine to perform exhaustive multidimensional searches in protein crystallography. Specifically, in cases where homologous or partially homologous structures are available, the initial interpretation of poor electron density maps is done by performing computer-intensive rotational and translational searches in real space. Often such calculations of the best fit between structure and map cannot even be attempted owing to the vast computing effort involved (years of MicroVax II time). Here, the combinatorial optimization method, simulated annealing, is shown to reduce substantially the computing effort involved and also to permit computations that are beyond the reach of current algorithms. This is illustrated with practical examples involving the structure determinations of the human histocompatibility antigen HLA-A2 and an influenza virus hemagglutinin-sialic acid complex. PMID- 2610992 TI - Left ventricular structural changes in young men at increased risk of developing essential hypertension. Assessment by echocardiography. AB - Left ventricular structural changes were assessed by echocardiography in young men at increased risk of developing essential hypertension. Four groups were investigated: 28 normotensive offspring of hypertensives (NTO), 20 borderline hypertensive offspring of hypertensives (BHO), 12 borderline hypertensives with normotensive parents (BH) and 28 normotensive subjects with normotensive parents (NT). The septum-posterior wall ratio was increased in the risk groups (NT, BHO, BH). The increased ratio could be explained by both heredity and elevated blood pressure. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) correlated strongly with physical activity in the NT group, so LVMI was adjusted accordingly. The adjusted LVMI was significantly increased in the risk groups. The increase in the adjusted LVMI could best be explained by the elevated blood pressure and not by heredity. Multivariate analysis of variance showed that physical activity is an independent predictor of LVMI only in the NT group and that systolic blood pressure is an independent predictor of LVMI only in the risk groups. PMID- 2610993 TI - Echo-Doppler assessment of left ventricular filling in borderline hypertension. AB - The aim of this study was to evaluate left ventricular anatomy and diastolic function in borderline essential hypertension. To this aim, 16 borderline hypertensive patients underwent echocardiographic and pulsed-wave Doppler evaluation. As control groups, 20 normotensive controls and 20 patients with established hypertension were evaluated by the same procedure. By the Doppler assessment of transmitral blood flow, the following indices of left ventricular diastolic function were obtained: early (E) and late (A) peak flow velocity, late to early velocity ratio (A/E), early filling fraction (EFF) and acceleration and deceleration times of early and late flow peaks. Borderline hypertensives had an interventricular septum and posterior wall thickness significantly higher than normotensives and lower than established hypertensives. As regards the diastolic indexes, borderline hypertensive patients had significantly higher A peaks (P less than .02) and A/E ratios (P = .05) and lower EFF (P less than .02) as compared to normotensive controls. No significant differences were on the other hand observed with established hypertensive patients. This resultant diastolic pattern was independent of age, as indicated by the analysis of age-matched subgroups. The presence of diastolic function changes in borderline hypertension confirms the early appearance of this kind of abnormality in hypertensive heart disease. On the other hand, the finding of increased left ventricular wall thickness in borderline hypertensives does not allow us to conclude that, as suggested by other authors, diastolic function changes in the early stage of hypertension are independent on anatomical modifications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2610994 TI - Parathyroid origin of a new circulating hypertensive factor in spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - The parathyroid gland has been causally associated with some forms of hypertension, yet parathyroid hormone (PTH) has been shown to possess hypotensive properties. Recently, we described the presence of a circulating hypertensive factor in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) plasma, the expression of which is associated with a novel cell type in the parathyroid gland. In order to determine whether this hypertensive factor might be produced by the parathyroid gland, the effects of parathyroidectomy and parathyroid transplantation on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and hypertensive factor activity were studied. Parathyroidectomy, but not sham operation, decreased MAP in SHR and resulted in the disappearance of the hypertensive factor from the plasma. Transplantation of SHR parathyroid glands into Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats resulted in an increase in MAP and the appearance of the factor in the plasma, whereas transplantation of SD parathyroid glands into SHR had exactly the opposite effect. SD to SD transplantation had no effect on MAP or hypertensive factor activity. Infusions of PTH gave opposite effects to hypertensive factor infusions. These results suggest that the hypertensive factor is parathyroid gland-dependent but is not PTH. On this basis, we have proposed that the factor be referred to as "Parathyroid Hypertensive Factor," or "PHF." PMID- 2610995 TI - Taurine lowers blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat by a catecholamine independent mechanism. AB - Taurine, a sulfur aminoacid, has been studied for a role in blood pressure regulation since it functions as a generalized inhibitory neurotransmitter and is found in high concentrations in the myocardium. We reinvestigated the magnitude of the hypotensive effect of chronic taurine administration to the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the role of catecholamines in such an action. The SHR received either a 1% taurine solution or tap water to drink for 16 weeks. Taurine treatment caused a significant persistent reduction in blood pressure by 4 weeks that was maximal at 16 weeks (146 +/- 6 [exp.] v 182 +/- 5 [control] mm Hg, P less than .01). While this taurine-induced decline in blood pressure in the SHR was not accompanied by alterations in plasma epinephrine levels, there was a steady 235% increment in the norepinephrine concentration from 231 +/- 31 pg/mL initially to 542 +/- 126 pg/mL at completion of the study, P less than .02. The reduction in blood pressure was associated with decreased proteinuria in the taurine-treated SHR (9.6 +/- 4 [exp.] v 21.5 +/- 7 [control] mg/24 h, P less than .02) and less cardiac and renal hypertrophy. We conclude that taurine administration results in a 20 to 25% reduction in blood pressure in the SHR. The mechanism of this hypotensive action requires further study but is independent of changes in plasma catecholamine levels. The vasodepressor effect of taurine leads to less hypertensive injury to the kidney and heart in the SHR. PMID- 2610996 TI - Reduced cardiovascular efficiency and increased reactivity during exercise in borderline and established hypertension. AB - In this study, exercise capacity was evaluated in patients with borderline and established, uncomplicated, essential hypertension as compared to normal subjects. To this aim, the response of blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac work to a multi-stage exercise test was investigated by analyzing the results of linear regression fitting of cardiovascular parameters (ie, heart rate, systolic blood pressure and rate-pressure product (RPP)) versus time of exercise. Compared to normal patients, both essential and borderline hypertensive patients had a shorter average duration of exercise test (ie, a decreased exercise capacity), always negative for transient myocardial ischemia. This was in spite of a mild increment of maximal RPP (+19% and +10% v normal patients, respectively). Reduction of exercise duration in borderline and established hypertensive patients was related to the higher RPP at rest (+26% and +56% related to normal patients, respectively) and to the steeper slopes (rates of increment) of heart rate systolic pressure and RPP during exercise. Interestingly, in the overall population of normal and hypertensive subjects, the slopes of heart rate and RPP were directly correlated with basal blood pressure. In conclusion, these data indicate a decreased exercise tolerance in both established and borderline hypertensive patients without documented myocardial ischemia. This abnormality, which appears to be due to a disproportional increment during exercise not only of systolic pressure but also of heart rate, could reflect abnormalities in the autonomic control of heart function. PMID- 2610997 TI - Clonidine-displacing substance is present in peripheral tissues of the rat. AB - Clonidine-displacing substance (CDS) is biologically active in the brain, as well as the gastric fundus, platelets and vas deferens. We sought to determine whether CDS is contained within peripheral tissues in the rat. Using competitive radioimmunoassay with a clonidine-specific antiserum and 3H-p-aminoclonidine rat adrenal gland and gastric fundus were shown to contain significantly greater amounts of CDS-like radioimmunoactivity than the brain; intermediate-to-low activity was present in the heart, small intestine, serum, kidney and liver. Lung and skeletal muscle exhibited near-background levels. CDS may not be unique to the brain, but also may be synthesized and stored in peripheral organs. PMID- 2610998 TI - Noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure control in normotensive pregnant women. AB - Twenty-four hour noninvasive, automatic and ambulatory control of blood pressure (BP) was carried out on 11 normotensive pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy with a Del Mar Avionics Model 1978 Pressurometer III System at 7.5 min intervals during 24 h. The patients kept a detailed record of their activities during those 24 h. BP increased from 9 AM to a peak between 7 and 10 PM. Mean (+/ SD) waking and sleeping values were 110.56 +/- 6.68 mm Hg and 96.5 +/- 10.01 mm Hg, respectively, for systolic BP, and 71.41 +/- 5.35 mm Hg and 62.82 +/- 5.47 mm Hg, respectively, for diastolic BP. There was a significant difference in systolic and diastolic BP between sleeping hours and waking hours. We believe that 24-h control of BP behavior in normotensive pregnant women allows us to adequately diagnose hypertensive disease in pregnancy. PMID- 2610999 TI - The effects of calcium channel blockade on blood pressure and calcium metabolism. AB - To study the relation of calcium channel blockade to calcium metabolism, we measured serum ionized calcium (Ca++i0), magnesium (Mg), calcitonin (CT), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-D) before and after short-term therapy with verapamil 120 mg three times daily in essential hypertensive subjects on low (10 mEq) and high (200 mEq) dietary sodium intakes. Salt-sensitive compared with salt insensitive subjects on high v low dietary salt intake had lower Ca++i0 (P less than .05), higher 1,25-D (P less than .02), and a greater hypertensive responsive to verapamil (% delta DBP = 17.7 v -8.2, P less than .05). The % delta DBP was related to the initial CT (r = 0.68, P less than .05), initial 1,25-D (R = -0.89, P less than .01), and to the drug-induced % delta 1,25 D (R = .60, P less than .05). Thus, lower initial calcium and calcitonin levels, higher initial levels of 1,25-D, and a greater drug-induced suppression of 1,25-D were associated with an enhanced hypotensive response to verapamil. Verapamil elevated Ca++i0 (2.46 +/- 0.04 to 2.53 +/- 0.04 2.00 mEq/L, P less than .05), and suppressed Mg (2.00 +/- 0.03 to 1.84 +/- 0.03 mEq/L, P less than .01) and 1,25-D levels (66.7 +/- 8.1 to 51.6 +/- 5.7 pg/mL, P less than .05). These results suggest interactive effects of sodium and calcium metabolism in essential hypertension, especially among salt sensitive individuals. We conclude that alterations of calcium metabolism may underlie the sensitivity to verapamil therapy and may contribute to its hypotensive effects. PMID- 2611000 TI - Polymorphonuclear oxygen free radical production and complement activation induced by dialysis membranes as assayed in an experimental model. AB - Activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes with subsequent production of reactive oxygen metabolites has been reported to occur during hemodialysis related to a membrane bioincompatibility. We used an experimental dialysis model to evaluate, by chemiluminescence, the production of reactive oxygen metabolites and, by C3a, complement activation induced by cuprophan, cellulose acetate, hemophan, polysulfone, polyacrylonitrile, polymethylmethacrylate or polyvinyl chloride blood lines alone. No differences were obtained in the system, at time 30 min compared to initial values, as far as zymosan-activated chemiluminescence is concerned; resting chemiluminescence increased markedly with cellulose acetate (+71%), cuprophan (+49%), polymethylmethacrylate (+22%), hemophan (+21%) but had no variation with polysulfone, polyacrylonitrile and blood line. The time course of C3a levels up to 120 min showed a marked rise with cuprophan and cellulose acetate, a moderate increase with hemophan, polysulfone and blood line, and a decrease with polymethylmethacrylate and polyacrylonitrile. The results obtained documented a different behavior of the production of reactive oxygen metabolites compared to complement activation and support the hypothesis that the production of reactive oxygen metabolites by polymorphonuclear leukocytes is stimulated not only by complement activation but also by a direct dialysis membrane interaction. PMID- 2611001 TI - Effect of a calcium antagonist (verapamil) on the permeability of the peritoneal membrane in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. AB - Peritoneal clearances of small solutes, mass transfer, ultrafiltration, and the mass transfer area coefficient were measured in order to evaluate the effect of calcium antagonists on the permeability of the peritoneal membrane in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. We studied 10 patients before and after the instillation of 10 mg (5 mg/l) of verapamil into the peritoneal cavity. Our results showed a significant increase of urea, creatinine, and uric acid clearances. A significant increase in ultrafiltration and mass transfer coefficient area was also observed (p less than 0.05), while the mass transfer of K+, Na+, and Ca2+ was essentially unchanged. These findings indicate that the intraperitoneal use of verapamil may induce an increase in the peritoneal permeability in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. PMID- 2611002 TI - Comparison of clinical and neurological status in elderly patients treated with two different hemodialysis techniques. AB - Five patients with a mean age of 63.4 years (range 62-67) who had frequent episodes of intradialytic intolerance during acetate hemodialysis (HDA) received biofiltration (BF). For each period of study (6 months on HDA and 6 months on BF), the patients underwent a complete clinical assessment, with evaluation of the electroencephalographic (EEG) pattern and acid-base status. During BF, we observed a reduction of hypotensive episodes (10% on BF vs. 26% on HDA) and EEG disturbances (18% on BF vs. 70% on HDA), with a more physiological correction of uremic acidosis. We conclude that BF improves clinical status and neurological tolerance with a better compensation of acidosis in the elderly. PMID- 2611003 TI - The use of Gore-Tex implants in nasal augmentation operations. PMID- 2611004 TI - Monitoring of intraoperative auditory brainstem responses. AB - Intraoperative ABR monitoring provides a measure of reassurance when a surgical procedure places the cochlear nerve or its blood supply in jeopardy. ABR monitoring has demonstrated its place in the operating room during retrolabyrinthine vestibular nerve section for vertigo, and in acoustic neuroma operations, when hearing preservation is a high priority in surgical outcome. PMID- 2611006 TI - An "expert fitting system" for hearing aids. PMID- 2611005 TI - The oronasal speculum. AB - The oronasal speculum is a standard nasal speculum with a metal tongue depressor incorporated into one of the handles. It permits the physician to examine the oral cavity and pharynx immediately after examination of the nose without changing instruments. PMID- 2611007 TI - Serotonin in behavioural disorders. A symposium of the XVIth Collegium Internationale Neuro-psychopharmacologicum. Munich, 15-19 August 1988. Proceedings. PMID- 2611008 TI - HPLC determination of K-hetacillin and Na-dicloxacillin in oily suspension. AB - A simple and rapid high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for separation and identification of K-hetacillin and Na-dicloxacillin in oily suspensions for veterinary practice. The method is precise, accurate and applicable to the analysis of commercial dosage form. PMID- 2611009 TI - Cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose as a carrier for dissolution rate improvement of drugs. AB - The dissolution rate is often the limiting step in gastrointestinal absorption of water insoluble drugs from solid oral dosage forms. The aim of this work was to use a swellable polymer chosen among superdisintegrants, for improving the dissolution rate of a sparingly soluble drug, loaded on its surface. Nifedipine, which has a very low water solubility, was chosen as a model drug, while cross linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Ac-Di-Sol) was chosen as the swellable polymer. The Nifedipine/Ac-Di-Sol systems were prepared using two different techniques: evaporation and spraying; in some preparations polyethylene glycol (PEG 1500), or sucrose palmitate (Sucrodet), or dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (Aerosol OT) were added. The results of the dissolution tests showed that the dissolution rate of Nifedipine from the systems prepared increases, particularly in the case of the preparation composed of Ac-Di-Sol plus surfactant agents. PMID- 2611010 TI - [Pharmacy in the 90's: the modern process of drug registration]. AB - The 5 phases of the development of a drug are reviewed in the light of the modern scientific guide-lines. The needed documentation (master-file) and technical scientific data are (and will be) constantly more demanding. Therefore, the drugs will undergo a hard selection. The Regulations for Marketing Authorizations, already of a high regulatory level, are increasingly in agreement. Therefore, the gap existing in the past among countries with a different technological evolution is filled. The measures of the Health Authorities before and after the authorization to the marketing of the medicinal specialties are always more systematic. Many procedures clearly pointing out the process of the study of a substances destined to become a drug (GMP - GLP - GCP - DMF) are now established on an international level. The drugs of the nineties will undergo a very hard selection, to warrant a positive risk-benefit balance and a profitable cost benefit ratio. The compound under study are numbered in hundreds, whereas those which pass the screening and can be used as specialties are very few. The costs of development can be estimated in tens of billion liras and the times required on average are of about 10 years for each project. The attention of the scientists and the pharmaceutical companies is directed especially to the development of innovative drugs for the treatment of the most important diseases. PMID- 2611011 TI - [Various sensitivities of yeasts to lycorine]. AB - Lycorine, an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid, is a powerful inhibitor of growth in higher plants and algae. Thirty-one strains of yeasts, belonging to different genera and species, were screened to study the effect of lycorine on their growth. The strains were incubated at 25 degrees C in a 2% glucose medium with different concentrations of lycorine (10, 50 and 100 microM), and their growth after 72 hours was evaluated. Most of the strains showed no sensitivity to lycorine. However, in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (IMAT-V Pbx) and Aureobasidium pullulans (DBV A77) lycorine significantly inhibited growth (59-73%), while, on the contrary, in Saccharomycopsis fibuligera (DBV 3812) and Cryptococcus terreus (CBS 1895) it was clearly stimulated (76-140%). The fact that lycorine inhibits growth in some yeasts while it stimulates it in others means that neither of the two previously formulated interpretations on the molecular mechanism of action of alkaloid can explain all cases. In other words, it does not seem that lycorine just inhibits protein synthesis, as claimed by Kukhanova et al. (1983), nor, on the other hand, do the data presented here prove that lycorine specifically inhibits ascorbic acid biosynthesis (Arrigoni et al., 1975). We must now check the ability of yeasts to split lycorine and study whether yeasts do actually have an ascorbic acid system. PMID- 2611012 TI - [Phytochemical and biological study of Uncaria tomentosa]. AB - The investigation on steroidic fraction of Uncaria tomentosa, commonly called Una de gato, showed the presence of beta-sitosterol (60%), stigmasterol, and campesterol. The percentage of sterols have been carried out by GLC. The spectroscopic data 1H-NMR and MS of the three compounds are also reported, with the beta-sitosterol as the main sterol. Preliminary pharmacological investigations prove a moderate antiinflammatory activity. PMID- 2611013 TI - On the effects of tranexamic acid and its isobenzedrine ester on plasminogen activation and streptokinase induced fibrinolysis. AB - A comparison between the inhibitory capability of Tranexamic acid (AMCA) and its isobenzedrine ester (IB-AMCA) on the streptokinase and urokinase induced plasminogen activation, indicated in vitro a higher potency of the ester derivative. A peculiar activatory rather than inhibitory effect on the plasminogen activation was exerted by AMCA and aminocaproic acid at relatively low concentrations. Attempts to show in vivo the in vitro observed differences between AMCA and IB-AMCA action are reported. PMID- 2611014 TI - [Computerized determination of pharmacokinetic constants in a biocompartmental model aimed at the optimal clinical use of drugs]. AB - On the basis of sodium Naproxene plasma wash-out curve a computerized system to obtain pharmacokinetic constants in an open bi-compartment model is described. The system could be used to optimize and enhance drug administration in clinics and anaesthesiology. PMID- 2611015 TI - Studies on heterocyclic compounds: 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one derivatives. III. Biological activity of halogenated 2,3-diaryl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones. AB - In previous communications from these laboratories, thiazolidinone derivatives of general formula (A) were synthesized and screened for antimicrobial activity. (formula; see text) where: X = H, CH3 Ar = phenyl Ar' = fluorinated or chlorinated phenyl The present communication is in part concerned with further extension of these studies to variously halogenated thiazolidinones of general formula (B). (formula; see text) where: X = H, CH3 R = H, 2-F, 3-F, 4-F, 3-Cl, 4 Cl R' = H, 4-F, 4-Cl These compounds were prepared by the general synthetic procedure previously reported for the 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one derivatives already prepared and screened in this SARs program. The general synthetic approach involves the cyclocondensation of the appropriate Schiff bases with alpha mercaptoalkanoic acids such as thioglycolic and thiolactic acid. The prepared compounds were tested for their possible activity by a disk-diffusion assay (Kirby-Bauer modified). The organisms used were: S. aureus, S. beta-haemoliticus, B. subtilis, M. paratuberculosis 607, S. typhi, Kl. pneumoniae, E. coli Bb, Ps. aeruginosa, C. albicans, A. niger, S. cerevisiae. The results of this antimicrobial screening showed that the prepared compounds exhibited varying degrees of activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. The second half of this report deals with the structure-activity relationships in all the compounds prepared and studied in this research program. For comparison of antimicrobial activity, the growth inhibitory activity of all the halogenated thiazolidinones of type (A) and (B), prepared and screened in this SARs study, were tabulated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611016 TI - Adrenergic pattern of aorta and superior mesenteric arteries in young and senescent rats. AB - The noradrenergic innervation of two portions of the aorta (thoracic and abdominal) was studied by the fluorescence method in rats belonging to two different age groups (3 and 28 months). Adrenergic fibres were clearly visible only in the abdominal tract of the aorta, and appeared to be more distinct and more numerous in young rats compared with the older ones. By contrast, the superior mesenteric artery was regularly found to possess a rich adrenergic plexus, even if catecholamines were more densely present in younger animals. PMID- 2611017 TI - [Presence of epithelial crypts in the chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra L.) epididymis. Preliminary note]. AB - The Authors refer the presence of epithelial crypts in the epididymis of chamois, previously described only in the bull by Nicander, in the camel by Singh, in the cat by Arrighi and in the roe-buck by Gentile et al. These crypts consist of cavities bored into the epithelium lining the epididymis and are rounded by the epithelial cells which are, sometimes, squamous and thin. Some crypts open into the lumen of the epididymis, some others crypt are filled with floccular, gelatinous material and, at times, with spermatozoa. The Authors think to undertake other morphological researches to find out the physiologic meaning of crypts, which could have an important role in the seasonal reproductive biology of wild ruminants. PMID- 2611018 TI - [Cytofluorometric analysis of thymic lymphocytic subpopulations in mice with B-16 melanoma]. AB - Two colour flow cytometric analysis of the Lyt2 and L3T4 T-cell surface antigens on thymocytes from B16 melanoma bearing mice, reveal an altered cell phenotype. At the early stage of the neoplasia and during the growth, the phenotypes Lyt2+/L3T4- (T suppressor) and Lyt2+/L3T4+ (T immature) decrease. Conversely, Lyt2-/L3T4+ (T helper) increase. These findings suggest the hypothesis that impairment of the immune functions in B16 melanoma bearing mice could be due to a primary thymic alteration. PMID- 2611019 TI - [Test anxiety: various aspects]. AB - "Academic achievement anxiety" (or "test anxiety") is a situation-specific anxiety. In this research, 53 medical student were subjected to the McNair et al. POMS (an inventory assessing six identifiable mood or affective states) during their psychology examination; 31 of them had been tested with the POMS also 50-70 days before the examination and the other 22 repeated the test 50-70 days after it. All the emotional states increased significantly during the examination, except the Anger-Hostility factor; the significance of the "period effect" for the Confusion-Bewilderment factor shows there is a state of confusion due to the novelty of the test. PMID- 2611020 TI - [Effect of high altitude on the psychic function of amateur alpinists]. AB - A group of 12 amateur alpinists have been tested for mental performance at 4560 m and two months later at sea level. No impairment was detected for the concentration-attention test and the subtraction test. Only for the short-term verbal recall test a statistical significant difference between high altitude and sea level was ascertained. PMID- 2611021 TI - Expression of a new mucin-type glycoprotein in select epithelial dysplasias and neoplasms detected immunocytochemically with Mab A-80. AB - We studied by immunocytochemistry 573 tissue and 106 cytologic samples of human tumors, non-neoplastic proliferative lesions and normal tissues with the monoclonal antibody (Mab) A-80 that recognizes a mucinous glycoprotein from the colon carcinoma cell line LS-174T. The spectrum of benign and malignant breast lesions was studied as were epithelial tumors of the colon, stomach, pancreas, lung, salivary glands, thyroid, prostate, kidney, endometrium, skin and mesothelium; non-epithelial tumors included lymphomas, melanomas, gliomas, meningiomas, and sarcomas of soft tissue and bone. With a single exception, breast carcinomas regardless of histologic type were reactive while few fibroadenomas stained weakly and focally. In fibrocystic disease, the presence and intensity of the reactivity paralleled the severity of the epithelial proliferation, e.g. staining was strong in foci of severe or atypical hyperplasia, borderline lesions and carcinomas in situ; apocrine metaplasia stained often but less strongly. Barrett's mucosa, colonic polyps and most gastric and colonic carcinomas stained regardless of glandular features while small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas did not. Adenocarcinomas of the pancreas and lung, and a subset of large cell lung carcinomas reacted whereas neuroendocrine carcinomas of those sites did not. Carcinomas of endometrium, ovary and prostate reacted variably whereas thyroid and renal carcinomas and mesotheliomas were either negative or weakly reactive despite the presence of glands. Lymphomas, skin adnexal tumors, nevi, schwannomas, melanomas, gliomas and sarcomas generally did not react but occasional A-80-positive cells were seen in rare sarcomas and meningiomas. Immunostaining patterns in cytologic specimens were similar to the aforementioned. We conclude that Mab A-80 is an excellent marker for breast carcinomas, and for certain proliferative forms of fibrocystic disease that may precede or be associated with carcinomatous transformation. In colonic, pulmonary and gastric carcinomas, staining with Mab A-80 revealed exocrine features regardless of the absence of glands whereas in renal and thyroid carcinomas and in mesotheliomas staining was focal and weak or absent irrespective of glandular features. We suggest that Mab A-80 is a very promising immunolabel for select exocrine carcinomas, and for some of the dysplasias that may precede their development; its ease of application on tissue sections and cytologic specimens should broaden its usefulness. PMID- 2611022 TI - CEA in colonic adenocarcinomas and precancerous lesions. An immunohistochemical study with a novel monoclonal antibody. AB - Using a new anti-CEA (CB-CEA-1) murine monoclonal antibody, the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was studied in normal, premalignant and malignant human adult tissues with particular emphasis on colorectal mucosa. The CB-CEA-1 epitope was poorly expressed in normal adult tissues but was consistently found in colon cancers and adenomas in distinctive immunohistochemical patterns. Some apical staining was found with CB-CEA-1 in cells of normal colon mucosa whereas colon adenocarcinomas had a predominantly cytoplasmic staining pattern. Colonic adenomas presented a varied staining pattern. Some showed apical staining, others a CEA distribution pattern similar to that of adenocarcinomas, particularly those with a villous component. Our findings indicate a differential expression of CB CEA-1 in adenoma cells in relation to their potential for malignant transformation. The possible usefulness of this Mab defined epitope for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes is indicated. PMID- 2611023 TI - Surface hydrophobicity and electrophoretic mobilities of staphylococcal exotoxins with special reference to toxic shock syndrome toxin-1. AB - The surface hydrophobicities of eleven staphylococcal toxins were estimated and compared with those of standard proteins on an octyl agarose column by high performance hydrophobic-interaction chromatography (HP-HIC). Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) D, C3, C2, C1 and B showed a low surface hydrophobicity whereas alpha-toxin and gamma-toxin had a moderate surface hydrophobicity. SEA, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) and staphylococcal epidermolytic toxin (SET) showed high surface hydrophobicity and delta-toxin was the most hydrophobic protein. The electrophoretic mobility of the toxins was determined by free zone electrophoresis (FZE). All toxins except SEC1 and one of the two SEA species showed negative charge at pH 8.6. Charge heterogeneity was observed in SEA, SEC1, SEC3 and TSST-1: SEA and SEC1 had two overlapping components, whereas SEC3 and TSST-1 were resolved into two distinct components. The mobilities of the two TSST 1 components were estimated at -2.12 x 10(-5) and -3.60 x 10(-5) cm2v-1s-1, respectively, at 10 degrees C, and both fractions were immunologically indistinguishable as tested by specific TSST-1 antibodies with ELISA. An asymmetric peak was obtained in hydrophobic-interaction chromatography of TSST-1 indicating heterogeneity. PMID- 2611024 TI - Plasmids and serogroups in Campylobacter jejuni. AB - For epidemiological purposes identification of Campylobacter strains is usually based on surface antigen characteristics. Two different systems, one for heat stable (HS) and one for heat-labile (HL) antigen have dominated. In earlier studies we found a great variability in the two antigen systems. The aim of the present investigation was to analyse the frequency of plasmids in Campylobacter strains in the light of their possible use as an epidemiological tool as well as the relation between the presence of plasmids and surface antigens (HS and HL). Two hundred and forty-two strains from the same number of patients with diarrhea were analysed. In 70 (28.9%) plasmid(s) were found, in general one or two. Most of the plasmids were found in the molecular weight interval between 21-40 Md. There was no relation between the presence or size of plasmids and serogroup. We conclude that plasmid determination can be used as a complement to serotyping in epidemiological studies. PMID- 2611025 TI - Protective properties of a human IgG preparation rich in antibodies to a wide spectrum of lipopolysaccharides. AB - Naturally occurring human IgG, rich in antibodies to different lipopolysaccharides was investigated for possible protective effects against lethal endotoxin shock and lethal gram-negative infection in mice. The IgG preparation was obtained from pooled serum of selected blood donors with high concentrations of antibodies to 11 different LPS as measured by ELISA. The human IgG (5 mg/mouse) protected C3H/TifF mice against an otherwise lethal infection with Salmonella typhimurium. The human IgG also inhibited the lethality induced by purified LPS in D-galactosamine sensitized C57B1/6 mice. The protection was dependent on the IgG dose given. However, protection was not obtained against all the LPS preparations tested. Absorption of the IgG with different LPS, showed the protection to be caused by serotype-specific anti-LPS antibodies. Protection against a given LPS was not related directly to the corresponding anti-LPS titer as measured by ELISA and passive hemolysis. The interpretation of these results is discussed. PMID- 2611026 TI - Erythromycin resistance in Danish Staphylococcus aureus hospital strains with emphasis on erythromycin consumption. AB - Erythromycin resistance was analyzed in 280,415 Danish Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from hospitalized patients and phage-typed in the period 1967 to 1987. Multiresistant, erythromycin-resistant strains decreased during the whole period, while strains resistant only to penicillin and erythromycin increased after 1972. This increase coincided with an increase in erythromycin consumption in Denmark from 0.4 DDD/1000 persons/day in 1978 to 1.9, in 1987. Erythromycin consumption in nine large Danish hospitals was significantly associated with the level of erythromycin-resistant S. aureus at the hospitals. PMID- 2611027 TI - Interstitial nephritis and glomerulonephritis in visceral leishmaniasis in a dog. A case report. AB - Renal involvement characterized by interstitial nephritis and glomerulonephritis is reported in a case of visceral leishmaniasis in a dog. Focal interstitial inflammatory infiltrates including lymphocytes and plasma cells together with collections of histiocytes containing Leishmania donovani organisms were found in the renal cortex. The glomeruli showed diffuse mesangial cell proliferation, thickening of the capillary wall and focal, segmental glomerulosclerosis. By electron microscopy, finely granular electron dense deposits were shown in subendothelial, intramembranous as well as subepithelial locations. It is suggested that the interstitial nephritis was caused by the presence of parasitic elements in the renal interstitium, whereas the glomerular involvement may have been due to deposition of antigen-antibody complexes. PMID- 2611028 TI - The whole-mount method as a technique for measuring experimental changes in airway goblet cell number. AB - The whole-mount staining method for mucous membranes was introduced as an experimental technique for measuring goblet cell density and for estimating the degree of goblet cell hyperplasia in the trachea of experimental animals. By this technique it was demonstrated that a single intratracheal instillation of lysed extract from human neutrophilic granulocytes in rats after 3 weeks caused a three fold increase in the density of tracheal goblet cells as compared to control animals receiving saline. The increase is of 3-6 times greater magnitude than previously reported in similar experiments where the number of goblet cells was calculated from cross sections in a traditional manner. It was further shown that the increase in goblet cell density could be prevented if prednisone was given to the animals prior to and during the experiment. It is concluded that the whole mount preparation method is a useful tool in the quantitation of airway goblet cells in experimental settings, and that it appears to be a more sensitive method than the traditionally used cross section techniques. PMID- 2611029 TI - Cancer mortality trends in Sweden 1960-1986. AB - Time-related trends in age-standardized cancer mortality have been suggested to be the best single measure of the progress--or lack of progress--in cancer control measures. The paper presents data on trends in Sweden during 1960-1986. From the middle of the 1970s, total cancer mortality decreased significantly among both males and females. The estimated annual decrease between 1975 and 1986 was 0.5-1.2%. Current Swedish trends are thus in keeping with the goal stated in the European Community's action programme 'Europe against cancer': a 10-15% decrease in total age-standardized cancer mortality by the year 2000. This goal might even be too conservative, because most of the cancer control measures in 'Europe against cancer' will not be able to enhance the current downward trends until the early 1990s. PMID- 2611030 TI - Papillary thyroid carcinoma in Iceland. A study of the occurrence in families and the coexistence of other primary tumours. AB - This paper presents evidence from Iceland which indicates that papillary thyroid carcinoma occurs in certain families more often than expected. Thyroid carcinoma was also seen to coexist with some other cancer types more often than expected. We studied all families (n = 373) with papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosed between 1955 and 1984 in Iceland. Familial papillary carcinoma occurred in 3.8% of these families. This frequency was higher than expected but not significantly increased. Second primaries in women, and especially the incidence of kidney and breast cancer, were significantly increased. Cancer of the kidney and CNS tumours were significantly increased in propositi when both sexes were taken together. No increase in the incidence of other malignancies was observed in first degree relatives of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. PMID- 2611031 TI - Mortality in a cohort of radiation treated childhood skin hemangiomas. AB - Mortality was studied in 18,357 patients (33% males and 67% females) with skin hemangioma admitted to Radiumhemmet between 1920 and 1959. The treatments of the hemangiomas were performed by radium-226 sources (13,094 patients) or x-ray therapy (2,540 patients). In 2,723 patients no radiotherapy was given. The median age was 6 months for the treated patients and 8 months for the patients not receiving radiotherapy. Between 1920 and 1951 a total of 154 patients were reported dead. The cohort was matched with the Swedish Cause of Death Register between 1952 and 1985. During that period 504 died, in 146 patients the cause of death was cancer or leukemia. The total number of person-years at risk was 587,426. In patients treated with radium-226 or orthovoltage x-rays, 410 deaths occurred (standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 1.07; ns). In patients given contact therapy 34 deaths occurred (SMR = 0.82; ns) and in the not irradiated group 60 deaths occurred (SMR = 0.78; ns). Patients treated with radium-226 or orthovoltage x-rays had an SMR of 1.34 for all cancers combined (p less than 0.05). For patients treated between 1920 and 1939 the SMR for cancer was 1.53 (p less than 0.05) as compared to an SMR of 1.16 (ns) for those treated between 1940 and 1959. PMID- 2611032 TI - Body size and menopausal status in relation to the pattern of spread in recurrent breast cancer. AB - The prognosis and pattern of spread were related to body size and menopausal status in 863 patients with recurrent breast cancer. These patients were all enrolled in the adjuvant protocols of the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group. The pattern of spread was illustrated by the number of metastases, the anatomical location of recurrence, and the rate of progression. Body size was estimated as height, weight, Quetelet index (QI), and body surface area (BSA). The body size was unassociated with both recurrence-free interval (RFI) and survival after recurrence (SAR). The groups of patients with different body size had both the same number and the same location of metastases. The tumour growth rates were estimated as clinical rates of progression (i.e. the time elapsed from a single distant metastasis until dissemination). The progression rate was unaffected by body size. Postmenopausal patients had a significantly shorter RFI and SAR compared to premenopausal patients. The number of metastatic sites, the anatomical location of metastases, and the rate of progression were similar in pre- and postmenopausal patients. The study could not confirm most findings from the literature which report a poor prognosis for patients with large body size. Moreover, the results do not suggest interactions between body size, menopausal status, and the clinical course of recurrent breast cancer. PMID- 2611033 TI - Cytophotometric estimation of cell proliferation in breast cancer. Correlation to the clinical course during long-term follow-up. AB - Tumours from 117 patients with breast cancer operated during a 5-month period 1975-1976 were investigated by absorbance scanning cytophotometry. The relations of these data to breast cancer recurrence and death during a follow-up period of 8.5 years were analysed using Cox's proportional hazards model. When individually tested, nodal status, grade of malignancy and high rates of proliferation, as indicated by cells in S-phase, were statistically significant predictors of the clinical outcome. The risk ratio associated with S-phase decreased significantly over time from primary treatment. No significant relation was found between DNA ploidy or tumour size and the clinical course. In the multivariate analysis, based on 76 patients, nodal status alone was a significant prognostic factor. PMID- 2611034 TI - Steroid receptor levels in breast cancer. Relationships with age and menopausal status. AB - The paper presents descriptive data concerning relationships between age, menopausal status and steroid receptor content in primary breast carcinoma. The study was based on 2,329 women with primary breast carcinoma diagnosed in Stockholm county during 1980-1983. Oestrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) content was determined using the isoelectric focusing technique. All analyses were done in one laboratory. There was a gradual increase in mean ER values with age. Premenopausal patients had lower mean ER values than peri- and postmenopausal patients of the same age. In contrast, PgR levels were similar in different age-groups. This could be a result of an insufficient stimulation of the tumour cells via the ER pathway. It is also possible that the PgR stimulation is maximal already at ER values below those found in old patients. It is concluded that steroid receptor content measured with commonly used ligand assays may reflect both biological properties of the tumour cells as well as influences by nontumoural factors, e.g. the endogenous levels of sex hormones. PMID- 2611035 TI - Hyponatraemia following cisplatin chemotherapy. PMID- 2611036 TI - Papers from the Third Scandinavian Breast Cancer Symposium. June 2-4, 1988, Orenas Castle, Sweden. PMID- 2611037 TI - The Nottingham breast self-examination project. AB - The Nottingham breast self-examination (BSE) project forms a part of the British Trial of Early Detection of Breast Cancer which compares mammographic screening, BSE and control areas. Presented here is an analysis of the Nottingham figures. A total of 89,000 women aged 40-64 were invited for lectures in BSE and 28,000 attended (42%); the corrected attendance allowing for register inaccuracies is around 55%. In women invited for education since the scheme began in 1979 (study) 751 cancers have been diagnosed. The 751 cancers occurring in the same health district and age group, working chronologically backwards from 1979 have been identified (control). Prognostic factors (size, node involvement and grade) are improved in the study group; however, at the present time of follow-up the case survival curves do not separate. A case control study shows that women aged 50-65 who attended for education have a relative risk of death from breast cancer of 0.66 (0.45-0.97) in comparison with those who did not attend (p = 0.025). The figure for women aged 40-49 is 0.85 (0.50-1.46). A programme of BSE is cheap to run, may give a survival advantage and should be added to mammographic screening programmes, especially when the interval is beyond 18 months. PMID- 2611038 TI - Pharmacokinetics of anthracyclines. AB - The plasma pharmacokinetics of the two commonly used anthracyclines doxorubicin and 4'epi-doxorubicin have been studied by reversed phase liquid chromatography with photometric detection. After intravenous administration the plasma pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin and 4'epi-doxorubicin are characterized by the three compartment open model. Typically, the half-life time of the alpha-phase is 3-5 min and the terminal half-life time in the order 20-30 h. An almost 10-fold inter-individual variation of the dose normalized area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC/mg/m2) has been observed, underlining the need for an individualization of the dose. The chemical structures of doxorubicin and 4'epi-doxorubicin are very similar. Comparative pharmacokinetic studies were carried out by simultaneous administration of the drugs using a highly selective analytical technique. By this approach it was possible to reduce the influence by the large intra- and inter-individual pharmacokinetic variations. The values of AUC and Cmax were on the average 1.6 and 1.2 times larger for doxorubicin than for 4'epi-doxorubicin. Side effects, reported to be related to the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), include cardiac toxicity, nausea and vomiting, while the antitumour effect has been associated with the area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC). A 10-fold decrease of Cmax without a decrease of AUC was observed when doxorubicin was administered as a 4-h infusion as compared to an intravenous bolus injection. A further increase of the administration time had only a minor effect on Cmax. Intrahepatic administration of doxorubicin reduced the values of AUC and Cmax by 1.5 and 1.7 (mean values) respectively. The combination of doxorubicin and 4'epi-doxorubicin with biodegradable starch microspheres (Spherex) resulted in a further decrease of Cmax, while AUC was unaffected. The observed increase of the mean residence time (MRT) supports the assumption of an increased drug exposure of the tumour caused by Spherex. PMID- 2611039 TI - Oral idarubicin in the treatment of advanced breast cancer. AB - Idarubicin (IDA), a more lipophilic derivative of daunorubicin, has shown activity after oral administration. In November 1983 we initiated a phase II study administering IDA, 45 mg/m2, in a 3 weekly schedule as first line chemotherapy to postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. Among 50 eligible patients a response rate of 36% (95% confidence interval (CI): 23-51) was obtained. Median time to treatment failure was 22 weeks (95% CI: 15-32). In November 1986, a sequential phase II study with IDA given in a weekly schedule was initiated. Patient characteristics was comparable to the first study. Among 53 evaluable patients, the response rate was 34% (95% CI: 22-48), and median time to treatment failure was 19 weeks (95% CI: 13-33). Therapeutic efficacy in the two studies was comparable and similar to published data on doxorubicin. Hematologic toxicity was equal while non-hematologic toxicity was considerably lower in the weekly schedule. A phase III comparison of IDA to doxorubicin or epi doxorubicin is warranted, in order to clarify the role of IDA in the treatment of advanced breast cancer. PMID- 2611040 TI - Prolonged adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. The Scandinavian Adjuvant Chemotherapy Study 2. AB - Eleven hundred and sixteen primary female breast cancer patients received one short perioperative chemotherapy course. The node negative patients were randomised between immunotherapy (corynebacterium parvum s.c. around the scar 2 weeks after mastectomy), or no further adjuvant therapy. A moderate, but significant delaying effect was observed, without side effects. The node positive patients were randomised to four groups: 1) the same immunotherapy as in the node negative patients, 2) CMF for 1 year, 3) combination of these two treatments, or 4) no further adjuvant therapy. The prolonged chemotherapy had a significant positive effect, but also considerable and distressing side effects. The immunotherapy had a non-significant negative effect in the node positive patients, but without side effects. PMID- 2611041 TI - Flow cytometry DNA ploidy and number of cell populations in the primary breast cancer and their correlation to the prognosis. AB - In a prospective study on 516 breast cancer patients flow cytometry DNA ploidy and number of cell populations (defined as number of DNA stem lines) detected in the primary tumor were evaluated for prognostic purposes. The median follow-up time was about 5 years. In the 241 node negative cases, those patients with three or more cell populations had the worst prognosis, with a distant recurrence-free survival rate of about 60% at five years compared to 90% in cases with only one cell population detected in the primary tumor. The number of tumor involved axillary lymph nodes was the outstanding prognostic indicator which was confirmed in 275 node positive patients; DNA ploidy and number of cell populations did not give any significant prognostic information in this group of patients. PMID- 2611042 TI - Genomic divergence of HIV-2 from Ghana. AB - Genetic variability in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been studied extensively, but the total nucleotide sequence of the HIV-2 genome has been reported only in two strains. For phylogenetic analyses of HIV, the genetic variability of HIV-2 should be investigated. This paper reports the complete nucleotide sequence of an HIV-2 isolate from Ghana, HIV-2[GH-1]. This virus showed approximately 85% homology in overall nucleotide sequence with HIV-2ROD. The amino acid sequence of the gag and pol proteins of HIV-2[GH-1] showed 90% homology with those of HIV-2ROD, but its env gene and central regions were highly variable (more than 20% divergence in amino acids), indicating the presence of extensive genetic heterogeneity in HIV-2. However, the sequences with specific functions were relatively well conserved in these HIV-2 isolates. PMID- 2611043 TI - HIV-1-specific antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid mediate cellular cytotoxicity and neutralization. AB - Antibodies mediating HIV-1-specific cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and virus neutralizing activity were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and, as previously reported, in sera of subjects with varying severity of HIV-1 infection, including patients with or without neurologic or psychiatric symptoms. ADCC-mediating antibodies against target cells infected with the HTLV-IIIB strain of HIV-1 were less frequently present in CSF than in sera, 32 and 60%, respectively. The frequency of ADCC-positive CSF was comparable for the different clinical stages of the disease and was apparently not influenced by the presence or absence of neurologic/psychiatric symptoms. Virus-neutralizing activity was tested against HTLV-IIIB and one CSF-derived viral isolate. Serum antibodies neutralized HTLV-IIIB more frequently than the CSF isolate, 53 and 35%, respectively. In contrast, only three (7%) of the CSF specimens contained neutralizing activity to the CSF-derived isolate and none to HTLV-IIIB. Despite an intact blood-brain barrier in many subjects, the serum/CSF ratios of ADCC or neutralizing antibodies were lower than normally expected. This indicates that both ADCC-mediating and virus neutralizing antibodies may be intrathecally synthesized. Whether these antibodies are protective against or contribute to the histopathologic changes in the brain is not known at present. PMID- 2611044 TI - Analogs of 3'-amino-3'-deoxyadenosine inhibit HIV-1 replication. AB - Several different nucleoside analogs have been demonstrated to inhibit retroviral RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity in preference to cellular DNA-dependent DNA polymerases. 3'-Amino derivatives of 3-deoxyadenosine was analyzed for their antiviral activity toward HIV-1 and for their host cell toxicity. Puromycin aminonucleoside (PANS), PANS 5'-monophosphate, and 3'-amino-3'-deoxyadenosine triphosphate all inhibited HIV-1 replication in acutely infected cells. No significant antiviral effects of PANS were demonstrated in chronically infected cells. The effect of PANS was demonstrated at an early step in HIV-1 replication, most likely reverse transcription. 3'-Aminonucleoside analogs are a novel class of inhibitors of HIV-1 replication that require further analysis in cell culture and animal studies. PMID- 2611045 TI - Key issues for membranes used in hepatic assist. PMID- 2611046 TI - The possibility of improving biocompatibility by removing anaphylatoxins from the circuit of blood-perfused artificial organs. AB - The possibility of reducing bioreactivity during extracorporeal circulation by removing bioactive substances "turned on" in the devices is described in this paper. The bioreaction and bioactive products, as represented by neutrophil reaction and activated complement fragments generated during the use of a blood perfused artificial organ, were studied as a model. Hemoperfusion with activated charcoal (AC) was used to remove the activated complement fragments. The adsorption of anaphylatoxins (C3a, C4a, and C5a) was evaluated following plasma perfusion through AC in vitro, all three of which were satisfactorily adsorbed. Six kinds of AC (three HEMA coated AC, two uncoated AC, and one cellulose coated AC) were compared with respect to adsorption of C5a in vitro. Uncoated AC adsorbed well and rapidly, but the coating with HEMA made adsorption take place slowly. The cellulose coating activated complement and did not decrease plasma C5a levels. After the adsorption of anaphylatoxins was confirmed, each of the AC columns was placed on-line after a cuprophan dialyzer in five chronic hemodialysis patients. C3a levels and neutrophil counts were compared with those obtained during usual hemodialysis (HD). By using heparin treated, uncoated AC, elevation of C3a levels and transient neutropenia were suppressed. Peak C3a with AC was reduced by 150% compared with prevalues, and the neutropenia nadir increased from 20% to 40% of baseline. The adsorption ability influenced the reduction in neutropenia. The heparinized uncoated AC and the column with large volumes of HEMA-coated AC had the best effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611047 TI - The relevance of urea kinetic modeling to CAPD. PMID- 2611048 TI - The anion gap of patients receiving bicarbonate maintenance hemodialysis. AB - To compare the effect of maintenance bicarbonate hemodialysis on the serum anion gap (AG) and the serum HCO3, the authors retrospectively evaluated the data of 28 patients using the first-of-the-month blood chemistries. Data were available for at least 9 of the previous 12 months in each case. For the entire group, the average AG was 15.8 +/- 0.1 mEq/L and the HCO3 21.7 +/- 0.2 mEq/L. Comparing these values with the data compiled recently by three different groups of investigators in undialyzed patients with severe chronic renal failure indicates that the AG of the dialyzed patients was similar to that of untreated patients, but the HCO3 levels of dialyzed patients averaged 2 to 3 mEq/L higher. Separate prospective evaluation of the acute effect of two consecutive bicarbonate dialyses in 31 patients revealed that the average acute (immediate postdialysis) decrease (from predialysis values) in AG was only about 40% of that of the increase in HCO3. The authors conclude that bicarbonate dialysis is more effective in improving serum HCO3 than AG. PMID- 2611049 TI - Limulus amebocyte lysate reactivity, complement activation, and patients' symptoms. Comparison of dialyzer membranes. AB - This study was undertaken to clarify the role of Limulus amebocyte lysate reactive material (LAL-RM) in the activation of complement in patients during hemodialysis with cuprophan membranes. The authors measured LAL-RM and complement C3a levels predialysis and at 15 and 60 minutes of dialysis in 16 patients dialyzed for 8 weeks on cuprophan membranes and then for a succeeding 8 weeks on cellulose acetate membranes. Patients' symptoms on dialysis with each membrane were assessed. The LAL-RM levels of these patients were compared to those of six patients dialyzed on cellulose acetate membranes only. The LAL-RM and C3a levels rose significantly in the 16 patients while on dialysis with cuprophan membranes, but there was no correlation between the LAL-RM and C3a levels. C3a levels rose significantly in the 16 patients while on dialysis with cellulose acetate membranes, but there was no rise in LAL-RM levels. C3a levels were significantly lower while the patients were on dialysis with the cellulose acetate membranes. The six patients on dialysis with the cellulose acetate membranes only had no detectable LAL-RM in their blood. Patients' symptoms were less while on dialysis with the cellulose acetate membrane, but the difference did not achieve statistical significance. We conclude that LAL-RM plays a very minor role, if any, in the complement activation caused by cuprophan membranes and that cellulose acetate membranes do not release LAL-RM. PMID- 2611050 TI - Computed tomography in T1 carcinoma of the larynx. AB - The findings at computed tomography (CT) were reviewed in 33 patients with laryngeal carcinoma classified as T1 at clinical examination. CT revealed extralaryngeal growth and thus changed the classification to T4 in 6 of the 20 patients with a supraglottic primary tumor, but in none of the 13 patients with a glottic tumor. PMID- 2611051 TI - Size of normal hilar lymph nodes measured in autopsy specimens. AB - The normal size of lymph nodes for each region of the hilum was determined by direct measurement of the short and long diameters of each node in the transverse plane of the node and the longitudinal diameter in the vertical plane of the node in 30 adult cadavers. The mean short transverse diameters ranged from 3.2 to 6.4 mm, the mean long transverse diameters ranged from 4.9 to 10.0 mm, and the mean longitudinal diameters ranged from 5.7 to 11.3 mm. The largest mean transverse diameters were found in the anterior upper lobe (AUL) and the inferior interlobar (IIL) regions. We noted a different maximum normal size for lymph nodes in each region of the hilum and determined the standard maximum normal short transverse diameters to be as follows: 12 mm for nodes in the right AUL and IIL regions, 10 mm for nodes in the right superior interlobar region and the left AUL and IIL regions, and 8 mm for nodes in other regions. Both the maximum normal long transverse diameters and the longitudinal diameters showed a wider variation, ranging from 18 to 10 mm and from 20 to 12 mm, respectively. PMID- 2611052 TI - Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Six years experience. AB - In a six-year period (1982-1987), 248 patients were treated with 297 procedures (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, PTCA) on 282 vessels. Two hundred and fifty-nine (87.2%) of the procedures in 210 (76.7%) of the patients appeared successful angiographically. Thirty-eight procedures were unsuccessful due to failure to pass the stenosis in 18 patients, dissection or occlusion of the treated vessel in 11, and significant residual stenosis in 9 patients. Emergency operations were performed after 11 (3.7%) of the procedures. Two patients died postoperatively. Myocardial infarction was seen in 13 patients, of whom 4 developed pathologic Q-waves in their ECG. Restenosis occurred in 60 (28.6%) of the patients. In the last year of the study, the patients selected for PTCA were in a poorer state angiographically, but the results of PTCA were better, without any increase of the complication rate. Our results, which are in accordance with others, support the concept that PTCA is a relatively safe procedure with a primary success rate of almost 90 percent. However, approximately one third of the patients developed restenosis, which in most cases occurred within 3 months. PMID- 2611053 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging and angiography for the assessment of coarctation of the aorta. AB - Fifteen patients ranging in age from 9 to 25 years (median age 10 years), with coarctation of the aorta, were investigated with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging pre- and postoperatively. Three patients were examined because of suggested re stenosis. Both MR examination and cineangiography were performed in 11 patients. The two techniques were comparable concerning the evaluation of both the site and the severity of coarctation as well as of the occurrence of collateral vessels. MR was considered suitable to replace angiography in the pre- and postoperative assessment of coarctation. The patients were preferably examined with a surface spine coil with ECG-gated sagittal, transverse and parafrontal images. The parafrontal images were necessary in order to minimize mistakes due to partial volume effects at the coarctation site. A surface coil placed over the sternum considerably improved the visualization of the internal mammary arteries. PMID- 2611054 TI - Paravertebral arteriovenous malformation with venous connection to left iliac vein. Report of a case. AB - An unusual systemic arteriovenous malformation arising from the left 9th intercostal artery, taking a caudal course through the left paravertebral veins, eventually drained into the left ascending lumbar vein, as illustrated at computed tomography and angiography. An embryologic maldevelopment of the azygos venous system is not the only possible explanation for venous drainage in the caudal direction. We believe that predominant venous drainage can take place in either direction because of the potentially bidirectional flow in the vertebral venous systems. PMID- 2611055 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging of an epidural spinal arachnoid cyst. AB - The myelography, CT and MR imaging findings in a patient with an epidural spinal arachnoid cyst are discussed. MR imaging excellently demonstrated cyst size, cyst location and cord compression, and should be the method of choice in these cases. PMID- 2611056 TI - Detection of soft-tissue and skeletal infections with ultra low-field (0.02 T) MR imaging. AB - To evaluate the use of ultra low-field (0.02 T) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal infection, MR examinations with T2 weighted sequences were performed in 61 patients thought to be suffering from one of four major diagnostic categories: Soft-tissue abscesses (n = 22), osteomyelitis (n = 21), septic arthritis (n = 9) and spondylitis (n = 9). Infection was confirmed for 37 of these 61 patients. The verified abscesses, arthritis, spondylitis and acute osteomyelitis could be detected by 0.02 T MR. The sensitivity was poor in cases of chronic osteomyelitis. There was one false positive finding in a patient with a possible soft tissue infection. The 0.02 T MR examination failed four times. Two patients were too heavy and another 2 patients had magnetic material in or near the scanning field. Compared with computed tomography and isotope scanning, 0.02 T MR proved a little more informative, but without any statistical significance. PMID- 2611057 TI - Radiologic assessment of humeral head retroversion. Description of a new method. AB - A radiologic method for assessment of the humeral head retroversion angle has been developed using one radiograph obtained in the semi-axial view. Validity and reliability of the method has been tested. In five healthy volunteers both shoulders were examined both with CT and with the new radiographic method. The average difference in angle determinations between the methods was 1.5 degrees and the maximum difference was 2 degrees. Angle determination on radiographs from 22 healthy shoulders was performed by two independent radiologists. The coefficient of variation for intraobserver measurements was 2.8 per cent and for interobserver measurements it was 4.6 per cent. Three isolated humerus bones were examined in multiple semi-axial projections and the humeral head retroversion was measured. The effect of humeral position (flexion, extension, abduction) on angle assessments was analyzed. A method error exceeding 2 degrees was only seen when the specimens were in an extended or extremely abducted position. It is concluded that with the arm in the correct position measurements of humeral head retroversion can be performed with this method with high accuracy. PMID- 2611058 TI - Calcifications in the breast in Filaria loa infection. AB - A 40-year-old patient underwent mammography for evaluation of a mass. Atypical calcifications were observed in the opposite breast. Two types of calcification were observed: one type was spiral-shaped and the other type rod-shaped. These calcifications were caused by Filaria loa. Parasitic calcifications in the breast are uncommon. PMID- 2611059 TI - Effect of diatrizoate on renal extraction of PAH in man. AB - The effect of diatrizoate on the renal extraction of para-amino hippurate (EPAH) was studied in 8 healthy male volunteers. The contrast medium was injected into an antecubital vein and into a renal vein in each individual. A single-injection technique for the determination of EPAH was used and EPAH was measured before and over a period of 30 min after each contrast medium injection. In addition, the renal extraction of diatrizoate was measured simultaneously. Small but significant and similar decreases in EPAH were observed after both antecubital and renal venous administrations of the contrast medium, with a duration of less than 30 min after the injection. The renal extraction ratio for the diatrizoate was 0.20. It is concluded that diatrizoate should not be used before the determination of EPAH, at least not until 30 min after the administration of the contrast medium. The decrease in EPAH caused by diatrizoate seems to be due to a direct tubular depressant effect. PMID- 2611060 TI - Computed tomography for localization of intra-abdominally dislocated intrauterine devices. AB - CT with scanogram and selected scans was performed in 7 women aged 23 to 46 years where an extrauterine localization of intrauterine devices (IUD) had been considered present at ultrasonography in 6 patients and a questionable intrauterine position of the device in one. Abdominal radiography and hysterosalpingography gave conclusive evidence of extrauterine device dislocation in 5. CT provided good information about the relation of the IUD to adjacent organs and was thus helpful when planning for the mode of extraction. The gonadal radiation exposure at CT was not less than that given by the conventional radiologic methods but may be reduced with a slight change of technique. It is suggested that a CT examination should be the next step in the diagnostic follow up when US fails or is equivocal in demonstrating an IUD. PMID- 2611061 TI - Effect of ethanol induced occlusion of the renal artery in rabbit kidney implanted with VX2 carcinoma. AB - The effects of injection of absolute ethanol into the renal artery were investigated in 13 rabbit kidneys previously implanted with VX2 carcinoma. Eight rabbits with implanted tumors served as controls. The effects were evaluated by angiography and histology. Three days after implantation, tumors were demonstrated by angiography as relatively hypovascular areas in the subcapsular cortex of the kidneys. Following angiography, absolute ethanol (0.3 ml/kg) was injected into the renal artery. Repeat angiography with barium sulphate was performed after an additional 3 days (10 ethanol treated animals, 2 controls), 10 days (2 treated, 1 control) or 14 days (1 treated, 0 control). In treated animals the tumors were markedly smaller in comparison with those of the control group. The occlusion procedure, however, did not completely eradicate tumor cells. The histologic study of the implanted tumor confirmed the findings previously reported that viable tumor cells still remained in the peripheral portions of infarcted areas. This study demonstrated the beneficial, though not curative, short-term effects of transcatheter renal artery treatment with absolute ethanol in malignant renal tumors. PMID- 2611062 TI - Effects on the ATP content of cultured cells after radiographic contrast media exposure. Evidence for accumulation of contrast media in cultured cells. AB - The ATP content of cultured cells after exposure to meglumine-calcium metrizoate, sodium metrizoate, iohexol, iopamidol and saline was studied. Initially, the ATP content diminished rapidly for a short period and thereafter slowly during the incubation. After incubation with contrast media or saline, the ATP content slowly increased to normal when the cells were reincubated with fresh nutrient medium. Different contrast media and saline with the same final osmolality produced a similar effect on the ATP content of the cultured cells. Cellular association of meglumine-sodium diatrizoate, sodium metrizoate, sodium iothalamate, iohexol and iopamidol was also examined. The established cell line NHIK 3025 as well as primary cultures of human umbilical endothelium were found to accumulate contrast media in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. When the incubation was carried out at 4 degrees C, the cellular accumulation of contrast medium was less than 35 per cent of that seen at 37 degrees C. It therefore seems that energy-dependent processes are involved to some degree. PMID- 2611063 TI - Dependence of ankle joint width on plantar flexion. AB - Joint space narrowing is the first roentgenologic sign of osteoarthrosis of the ankle. In this report the dependence of ankle joint width on plantar flexion was investigated. In 30 adult volunteers without ankle symptoms, standardized anteroposterior views of the left ankle joint in neutral position and in 25 degrees plantar flexion were obtained. The average width of the joint space in neutral position was 2.7 mm in women, and 3.0 mm in men. A 25 per cent increment of the joint width following 25 degrees plantar flexion was observed. Accurate standardized positioning of the ankle appears to be decisive for the estimation of ankle joint width. PMID- 2611064 TI - Demonstration of pedal arterial arcades in occlusive arteriosclerotic disease. PMID- 2611065 TI - Episodic arterial oxygen desaturation and heart rate variations following major abdominal surgery. AB - In 20 patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery, heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation were monitored continuously during the night 2 days before operation and during the first and second nights after operation (23:00 to 07:30). Mean heart rate increased by 16 beat min-1 (P less than 0.0006) and mean oxygen saturation decreased by 3.2% (P less than 0.0002) after operation. Four patients had 21, 27, 120 and 372 episodes of sudden desaturation to a value less than 80% on the second night after operation. The patient with 372 episodes of sudden desaturation had severe cardiac arrhythmias on the morning of the third day after operation. In another patient the episodes of desaturation correlated with increases in heart rate. There was no correlation between administration of opioids and heart rate and saturation disturbances. The mechanism and clinical relevance of episodic desaturation in the late postoperative period remain unknown, but may be important in the pathogenesis of post-operative cardiac, cerebral and wound dysfunction. PMID- 2611066 TI - Pharmacokinetics of atracurium and laudanosine in the elderly. AB - The pharmacokinetics of a bolus dose of atracurium 0.6 mg kg-1 and its metabolite laudanosine were studied in 11 elderly (mean age 80.9 yr) and 10 young patients (mean age 23.8 yr) undergoing elective surgery. The elimination half-life (T1/2 beta) of atracurium was significantly longer in the elderly group (23.1 v. 20.1 min), but there was no significant difference between the two groups in clearance (Cl), the volume of distribution (V beta) or the mean residence time (MRT) of atracurium. Laudanosine T1/2 beta was also significantly longer (229.1 v. 173.1 min) and the clearance significantly slower (4.85 v. 7.29 ml min-1 kg-1) in the elderly. There was, however, no significant difference in V beta for laudanosine between the two groups. These data suggest that atracurium depends to a small extent on the liver or the kidney for its metabolism and excretion, and that, as these routes of excretion are less efficient in the elderly, T1/2 beta is prolonged in this age group. The deteriorating function of these organs with increasing age may also explain the altered pharmacokinetics of laudanosine. PMID- 2611067 TI - Pharmacokinetics of propofol in young children after a single dose. AB - The pharmacokinetics of propofol were studied following a single bolus injection (2.5 mg kg-1) in 10 healthy children (4-7 yr). Propofol was distributed rapidly and extensively (Vss 10.9 (1.2) litre kg-1) and cleared rapidly from the body (Cl 30.6 (2.9) ml min-1 kg-1). With the exception of a larger central compartment volume (V alpha 722 (113) ml kg-1), these data are similar to those reported for young adults who received an identical dose and who underwent sampling over the same period. The larger value of V alpha is consistent with the higher induction dose requirement reported for children. PMID- 2611068 TI - Pharmacokinetics of rectal ketamine in children. AB - We have studied the pharmacokinetics of ketamine administered rectally in a dose of 10 mg kg-1 to five children aged 6-9 yr and mean weight 28.80 (SD 6.55) kg. An acceptable level of anaesthesia was not obtained in any patient. Despite this, the degree of analgesia obtained was good and no child required further administration of analgesics during the postoperative period. Tolerance to the suppositories was excellent. The absorption of ketamine was found to be relatively fast, with a median peak concentration of 160 ng ml-1 (range 96-250 ng ml-1) at 0.75 h (range 0.50-1.00 h) after administration. The plasma concentrations of norketamine were greater than those of the parent drug, with a maximum of 510 ng ml-1 (range 450-810 ng ml-1) at 0.81 h (range 0.50-1.00 h) after administration. The medians of the half-lives of ketamine and norketamine were 3.15 h and 2.56 h, respectively (range 1.57-4.95 h and 1.47-5.30 h, respectively). PMID- 2611069 TI - Effect of fluid preloading on cardiovascular variables after spinal anaesthesia with glucose-free 0.75% bupivacaine. AB - We studied the effect on systemic arterial pressure of fluid preloading with 1 litre of crystalloid fluid before spinal anaesthesia in 40 patients undergoing minor lower abdominal or lower limb surgery. Fluid was given at a rate of either 1 ml min-1 (no preload group), or 1000 ml in the 15 min (preload group) immediately before induction of spinal anaesthesia with 3 ml of 0.75% glucose free bupivacaine. There was no difference between the groups in the character of anaesthesia or motor block in the lower limbs. The cephalad spread of analgesia ranged from L1 to C8. Analgesia was insufficient for surgery without supplementary analgesia in three patients in each group. The group not given a fluid preload had significantly lower arterial pressures (P less than 0.05) when anaesthesia extended above the T5 dermatome. The mean time before the lowest arterial pressure was recorded was twice as long in the preloaded group as in the non-preloaded group. Glucose-free 0.75% bupivacaine did not give a reliable extent of anaesthesia for lower abdominal surgery. PMID- 2611070 TI - Modification by fentanyl and alfentanil of the intraocular pressure response to suxamethonium and tracheal intubation. AB - We have measured in a double-blind study the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) in 40 consecutive patients (pretreated with fentanyl or alfentanil) who received suxamethonium and tracheal intubation. Although IOP increased significantly following administration of suxamethonium, mean IOP in both groups remained significantly less than control values (P less than 0.002). Tracheal intubation caused a further significant increase in IOP in the fentanyl, but not the alfentanil group. There were no significant differences in mean IOP between the fentanyl and alfentanil groups. Both opioids reduced, but did not abolish the haemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation. PMID- 2611071 TI - Effects of ketamine on isolated human bronchial preparations. AB - The bronchodilator effects of ketamine were examined in human bronchial preparations contracted maximally with histamine, acetylcholine, barium chloride or potassium chloride. Antagonism between ketamine and either histamine or acetylcholine was examined also. Ketamine caused bronchial relaxation irrespective of the constricting agent, and exerted a partial and non-competitive antagonism to histamine and acetylcholine. Propranolol and indomethacin did not inhibit the effect of ketamine, excluding the involvement of beta activation and of prostaglandins. PMID- 2611072 TI - Effects of lung surgery and one-lung ventilation on pulmonary arterial pressure, venous admixture and immediate postoperative lung function. AB - We studied 17 patients, with unilateral lesions in lung or thoracic wall, during thoracotomy performed in the full lateral position. Balanced anaesthesia was used with pethidine and 50% nitrous oxide, in oxygen. The procedure included a period of one-lung ventilation (OLV). Haemodynamic and gas exchange measurements were performed before and after pleurotomy, during OLV, after re-expansion of the lung and after closure of the thoracic wall. The function of each lung was assessed separately during the first and last stages. Mean venous admixture was 9-12% before and after OLV and 31% during OLV. There was a positive correlation between venous admixture and pulmonary arterial pressure during OLV. End-tidal PCO2, carbon dioxide elimination and compliance of the operated side were reduced significantly at the end of the procedure; this is consistent with reduced blood flow and increased water content in that lung. PMID- 2611073 TI - Effects of thiopentone on immunoglobulin production in vitro. AB - Thiopentone is known to depress several granulocyte and lymphocyte functions. This study assessed the effects of thiopentone on IgG, IgM and IgA production by pokeweed mitogen-activated lymphocytes as a measure of B-lymphocyte function. Thiopentone decreased IgG production at greater than or equal to 25 micrograms ml 1 (91 mumol litre-1) concentrations and that of IgM and IgA at greater than or equal to 50 micrograms ml-1 (182 mumol litre-1) concentrations over 7 days of culture. Preincubation of lymphocytes for 1 h with thiopentone 0-500 micrograms ml-1 (0-1820 mumol litre-1) had no effect on immunoglobulin production, whereas incubation for 2 and 3 h decreased IgG and IgM production with toxic thiopentone concentrations of 500 micrograms ml-1. Hydrocortisone-sensitive suppressor cells and concanavalin A-inducible suppressor cells were more sensitive to high concentrations of thiopentone than the other cell populations. These findings may be important in patients receiving barbiturate treatment for cerebral protection. PMID- 2611074 TI - Effect of adrenaline on the distribution of bupivacaine in the rabbit fetus. AB - Adrenaline may decrease uterine blood flow and influence transplacental distribution of bupivacaine. Sixteen pregnant rabbits received an i.v. infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine either plain (n = 8) or with adrenaline 1.25 microgram ml 1. At 15-min intervals following the start of the infusion, rabbit fetuses were removed serially and bupivacaine concentrations measured in maternal arterial plasma, fetal plasma and brain, amniotic fluid and placenta. The presence of adrenaline was associated with increased bupivacaine concentration in placenta; there was no other significant effect on fetal bupivacaine concentrations or ratios. Fetal:maternal plasma ratios increased (P less than 0.05), while fetal brain:fetal plasma ratios decreased (P less than 0.05) significantly with time. PMID- 2611075 TI - Comparison of diazepam with midazolam as i.v. sedation for outpatient gastroscopy. AB - We studied 26 patients in a double-blind investigation to compare psychomotor and cognitive recovery for 30 h after sedation for day-case gastroscopy with i.v. diazepam 0.15 mg kg-1 or midazolam 0.07 mg kg-1. Significantly more patients reported side effects at 7, 10 and 30 h post-gastroscopy after diazepam than after midazolam (P less than 0.05). Compared with baseline, the midazolam group was significantly impaired in critical flicker fusion threshold, reaction time, dexterity and visualization tasks up to 4 h after administration (P less than 0.05). There was a significant association between midazolam and amnesia for the procedure (P less than 0.001). PMID- 2611077 TI - Symposium on high frequency jet ventilation. 2d international workshop. Munster, February 16-17, 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2611076 TI - Analgesia after hip replacement surgery: comparison of nalbuphine with morphine. AB - Two groups of 40 patients undergoing hip replacement received either nalbuphine 0.3 mg kg-1 or morphine 0.15 mg kg-1 i.m. on up to three occasions: 1 h before operation, as soon as requested after operation, and 3 h subsequently if required. Pain intensity was assessed by the patient as severe, moderate or none, and pain relief by a "blind" nurse observer as slight, moderate or complete. Assessments of pain and sedation were carried out at 30-min intervals for 2 h and at 1-h intervals thereafter for up to 6 h. Six patients who received nalbuphine and eight who received morphine before operation required no postoperative analgesia. Ten patients in the nalbuphine group and two in the morphine group failed to obtain adequate pain relief (P less than 0.05) and were given i.v. morphine. PMID- 2611078 TI - Clinical uses of high frequency jet ventilation in anaesthesia. AB - Since 1981, high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) has been used in 300 patients undergoing surgery, most commonly during i.v. general anaesthesia for endoscopy and surgery of the airways: laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, laryngeal microsurgery and laser surgery (more than 230 patients); repair of tracheal stenosis, tracheal sleeve pneumonectomy and tracheal sleeve lobectomy. HFJV was administered through a narrow injection catheter inserted in the airway, with a second rigid catheter positioned distally to the injector in the airway for gas sampling and measurement of airway pressure. In all subjects gas exchange was satisfactory, even during tracheoplasty and bronchoplasty. PMID- 2611079 TI - Influence of high frequency ventilation at different end-expiratory lung volumes on the development of lung damage during lung lavage in rabbits. AB - The effects of high frequency ventilation in combination with sustained inflations was studied in the surfactant-deficient lungs of 18 New Zealand White rabbits (weight 1.9-2.1 kg) during anaesthesia with urethane and neuromuscular block with pancuronium. Lung damage was induced by repeated lung lavage. In nine rabbits (group I) baseline ventilator settings were maintained constant throughout the study and airway pressure was readjusted to achieve a constant tidal volume. In the other nine rabbits (group II), ventilation was reinstituted after lung lavage with one period of four sustained inflations followed immediately by high frequency ventilation. In group I there was a significant decrease in gas exchange for oxygen and deterioration in pulmonary mechanics, whereas in group II there was little change in baseline blood-gas values or pulmonary mechanics. These data suggest that, with adequate ventilatory management during the period of lung lavage, the lung damage produced by this manoeuvre may be obviated. PMID- 2611080 TI - Increase in tracheal pressure during jet ventilation. AB - Gas injection systems used in several techniques of ventilation cause increases in airway pressure and physiological changes which are frequently overlooked. The momentum flux theory describes such phenomena most appropriately. We have defined and measured the characteristics of such increases in airway pressure, using a lateral tracheal injection system which has been described previously. In such a system, wall friction is a major source of loss in jet momentum flux, in contrast with the changes in axis-symmetrical systems. This process results in a potentially beneficial increase in airway pressure and in greater mixing, which might be clinically useful. PMID- 2611081 TI - Mathematical model of jet ventilation. AB - The design of jet ventilators has always been empirical because no theory linked jet geometry, driving pressure, gas density and lung mechanics. A mathematical means has been developed linking these parameters to model jet ventilation. The mathematical model predicts the flow into a physical lung model, but under estimates flow into the lungs when used to predict the effects of jet ventilation on an animal model at high rates of ventilation. This is attributed to a reduction in compliance with increasing ventilatory frequency. PMID- 2611082 TI - Respiratory input impedance during high frequency oscillatory ventilation. AB - Total respiratory input impedance (Zrs) measured by forced excitation may be computed easily from pressure and flow measurements recorded at the airway opening. The purpose of this paper was to analyse how the information provided by Zrs may be used for monitoring ventilatory mechanics during high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). We measured impedance (0.125-32 Hz) in six dogs, and in four dogs after infusion of histamine. We interpreted Zrs data in terms of a linear resistance-inertance-elastance (R-I-E) model to estimate the pressure decrease in the airways and the pressure amplitude in the alveolar region. We modelled airways non-linearities and analysed their effect at high flow oscillation amplitudes. We concluded that Zrs measurements may be useful to monitor ventilatory mechanics and to determine the optimum settings of the ventilator during HFOV. PMID- 2611083 TI - Computer simulation of respiratory impedance and flow transfer functions during high frequency oscillations. AB - The usefulness of measuring respiratory flow in the airway and at the chest wall and of measuring respiratory input impedance (Z) to monitor high frequency ventilation was investigated by computer simulation using a monoalveolar 10 coefficient model. The latter included a central airway with its resistance (Rc) and inertance (lc), a resistive peripheral airway (Rp), a lumped bronchial compliance (Cb), alveolar gas compliance (Cgas), lung tissue with its resistance (RL) and compliance (CL), and chest wall resistance (RW), inertance (lw) and compliance (Cw). Gas flow in the peripheral airway (Vp), shunt flow through Cb (Vb), gas compression flow (Vgas) and rate of volume change of the lung (VL) and of the chest (VW) were computed and expressed as a function of gas flow in the central airway (Vc). For normal values of the coefficients, Vp/Vc was found to decrease moderately with increasing frequency and was still 0.75 at 20 Hz. Peripheral airway obstruction (Rp x 5) considerably decreased Vp/Vc, particularly at high frequency. It did not change the relationship between the two measurable flows, Vc and Vw, but increased the effective resistance at low frequency and shifted the reactance curve to the right. A reduced lung or chest wall compliance produced little change in Vp/Vc and Z except at very low frequencies; however, it decreased the phase lag between Vw and Vc. Finally, an increased airway wall compliance decreased Vp/Vc, but had little effect on Z and Vw/Vc. It is concluded that measuring respiratory impedance may help in detecting some, but not all of the conditions in which peripheral flow convection is decreased during high frequency oscillations. PMID- 2611084 TI - Cardiogenic mixing: mechanisms and experimental evidence in dogs. AB - Cardiogenic mixing was studied in seven anaesthetized closed-chest dogs undergoing mechanical ventilation by comparing single-breath washout of two poorly soluble inert gases of widely differing diffusivities (helium (He) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)) in normal conditions with the heart beating (control), and during reversible temporary myocardial arrest (heart arrest). Cardiac arrest of approximately 20 s duration was induced repeatedly (8-15 times) by intracoronary injection of acetylcholine (approximately 35 mg) facilitated by a non-occluding 7-French gauge angiographic catheter maintained in the left coronary artery. After equilibration of lung gas with 1% helium and 1% SF6, single breath, constant flow expirograms were recorded in the tracheal tube by mass spectrometry after inspiration of test gas-free air. Series deadspace (VD) and relative alveolar slope (S) (increment of expired partial pressure, normalized to mixed expired-inspired partial pressure difference per increment of expired volume (S = (delta P/(PE-P1]/delta VE litre-1], were determined as indices for intrapulmonary gas mixing. The effects attributable to the action of the heart were quantified by the heart arrest: control ratio of VD and S, which were not significantly different from unity (P greater than 0.05) (VD: 0.95 (SD 0.05) for helium and 0.94 (0.07) for SF6; S:1.03 (0.10) for helium and 1.05 (0.14) for SF6. The He:SF6 ratios of VD and S (0.90 and 0.64, respectively), indicating diffusion dependent separation of gases, also were unaffected by the mechanical action of the heart. The data indicate that convective mixing by the mechanical action of the heart did not significantly enhance intrapulmonary mixing and transport. PMID- 2611085 TI - Interindividual and interethnic differences in the demethylation and glucuronidation of codeine. AB - 1. The 8 h urinary excretion of codeine and seven of its metabolites was compared in 149 healthy Swedish Caucasians and 133 healthy Chinese following a single oral dose of 25 mg codeine phosphate. 2. The total 8 h urinary recovery of drug related material was 74 +/- 24% in the Caucasians and 60 +/- 14% in the Chinese (P less than 0.001). The excretion of unchanged codeine was significantly higher in the Chinese (7.2%) compared with the Caucasians (4.3%, P less than 0.001). 3. The Caucasians excreted significantly greater proportions of codeine-6 glucuronide (C6G) (62%) than the Chinese (44%) (P less than 0.001). The frequency distribution of the log metabolic ratio (MR) for glucuronidation (codeine/C6G) was shifted towards higher values in the Chinese population. Males in both groups and Chinese smokers had significantly lower glucuronidation MRs than females and non-smokers in the respective populations (P less than 0.001). 4. The frequency distribution of the MR for O-demethylation (codeine/morphine (M) + M-3 and M-6 glucuronide (M3G and M6G) + normorphine (NM) was highly skewed in the Caucasians, suggestive of a bimodal distribution. There was a 160-fold interindividual variation in this MR. A unimodal distribution of the log O-demethylation MR was observed in Chinese. The Caucasians excreted less M and more M6G than did the Chinese (P less than 0.001). 5. Significantly more norcodeine (NC) and less NC glucuronide (NCG) were excreted in the Chinese compared with the Caucasians (P less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611086 TI - Codeine O-demethylation co-segregates with polymorphic debrisoquine hydroxylation. AB - 1. A single oral dose of codeine (25 mg) was given to 132 healthy Swedish Caucasians who had previously been phenotyped with respect to debrisoquine hydroxylation. The 'metabolic ratios' (MR) in urine of codeine O-demethylation (codeine/(morphine (M) + morphine-3- and 6-glucuronides (M3G and M6G) + normorphine], N-demethylation (codeine/(norcodeine (NC) + norcodeine glucuronide + normorphine (NM]) and glucuronidation (codeine/codeine-6-glucuronide (C6G] were calculated following h.p.l.c. analysis of urine samples collected over 8 h. 2. There was a significant correlation between the log MR for debrisoquine hydroxylation and the log MR for codeine O-demethylation (rs = 0.77, P less than 0.001). The poor debrisoquine hydroxylators had MRs of codeine O-demethylation between 8.3 and 55.1, while the values for extensive hydroxylators were between 0.4 and 5.5. 3. The poor debrisoquine hydroxylators excreted significantly less M, M3G, M6G and NM, while the urinary recovery of C6G and NC was significantly higher in these subjects compared to the extensive hydroxylators. 4. The MRs for glucuronidation and N-demethylation did not exhibit a bimodal distribution, and were not related to the MR of debrisoquine hydroxylation. 5. No associations were found between sex, body-weight, smoking habits, age, urine volume or urine pH and the O-demethylation of codeine. 6. The O-demethylation of codeine to form M appears to be under the same polymorphic genetic control as the 4-hydroxylation of debrisoquine. PMID- 2611087 TI - Testing for bimodality in frequency distributions of data suggesting polymorphisms of drug metabolism--histograms and probit plots. AB - 1. The shape of histograms used to illustrate density distributions of indices of polymorphic drug metabolism was shown to be sensitive to the position of the cell divisions. 2. Non-linearity of the probit plot was shown not to indicate bimodality of the original density distribution. Computer simulation was used to generate examples of unimodal density distributions with curvilinear probit plots. 3. Using the same technique probit plots for bimodal density distributions were constructed. Some were shown to differ less from the probit plots of certain unimodal distributions than did the original density distributions. 4. The position of the antimode was shown not to coincide with inflections seen in the probit plots. 5. A new method for determining the linearity of probit plots is suggested. PMID- 2611088 TI - Testing for bimodality in frequency distributions of data suggesting polymorphisms of drug metabolism--hypothesis testing. AB - 1. The theory of methods of hypothesis testing in relation to the detection of bimodality in density distributions is discussed. 2. Practical problems arising from these methods are outlined. 3. The power of three methods of hypothesis testing was compared using simulated data from bimodal distributions with varying separation between components. None of the methods could determine bimodality until the separation between components was 2 standard deviation units and could only do so reliably (greater than 90%) when the separation was as great as 4-6 standard deviation units. 4. The robustness of a parametric and a non-parametric method of hypothesis testing was compared using simulated unimodal distributions known to deviate markedly from normality. Both methods had a high frequency of falsely indicating bimodality with distributions where the components had markedly differing variances. 5. A further test of robustness using power transformation of data from a normal distribution showed that the algorithms could accurately determine unimodality only when the skew of the distribution was in the range 0-1.45. PMID- 2611089 TI - The influence of renal insufficiency and haemodialysis on the kinetics of ciprofibrate. AB - 1. The kinetics of the hypolipidaemic drug, ciprofibrate, were studied after a single oral dose (100 mg) in subjects with normal renal function (n = 6), patients with mild (n = 6) and severe (n = 6) renal insufficiency as well as in haemodialysed patients (n = 5). 2. Under fasting conditions, ciprofibrate, was absorbed rapidly in subjects with normal renal function, and its apparent elimination half-life was approximately 81 h. Both renal clearance (0.15 ml min 1) and cumulative renal excretion (less than 7% of the administered dose) were low. 3. Mild renal insufficiency did not alter the pharmacokinetics of ciprofibrate, but severe renal impairment significantly reduced both its renal clearance and cumulative urinary excretion and increased the apparent elimination half-life. 4. A 5 h haemodialysis session did not lower the plasma concentrations of ciprofibrate. 5. It is concluded that, from a pharmacokinetic point of view, a reduction in the dosage of ciprofibrate should be considered in patients with a glomerular filtration rate below 30 ml min-1/1.73 m2. PMID- 2611090 TI - Concentration-response relationships for salicylate-induced ototoxicity in normal volunteers. AB - 1. Ototoxicity is a common and troublesome side-effect of high-dose aspirin treatment but there has been little previous study of the relationships between the degree of ototoxicity and the plasma concentrations of salicylate. 2. In order to investigate the relationships between aspirin dose, total and unbound plasma salicylate concentrations and ototoxicity, eight normal volunteers were dosed with aspirin 1.95, 3.25, 4.55 and 5.85 g day-1 for 1 week at each dose level, the doses being administered in random order and double-blind, 2 weeks apart. 3. Ototoxic effects measured were hearing loss in decibels (dB) over six frequencies and tinnitus intensity, estimated both by electronic matching and a fixed interval scale (FIS). Measurements were taken after steady-state concentrations of salicylate had been achieved. 4. Total and unbound plasma salicylate concentrations increased disproportionately with increasing daily doses of aspirin. The increase in the unbound salicylate was relatively greater since the percentage of salicylate unbound in plasma increased over the dose range investigated from a mean of 3.9% to 10.4%. 5. Hearing loss and tinnitus intensity increased progressively with the aspirin dosage and increasing concentrations of total and unbound plasma salicylate concentrations. These ototoxic symptoms were observed at lower concentrations of total salicylate than previously reported. 6. There was a linear relationship between hearing loss and unbound salicylate concentrations. 7. Further work is required to test the hypothesis that unbound plasma salicylate concentration is a better predictor of salicylate-induced ototoxicity than total plasma salicylate concentration. PMID- 2611091 TI - Lithium inhibits human sperm motility in vitro. AB - Lithium is a widely prescribed drug used for the treatment of bipolar affective illness. Previous reports on its effects on sperm motility and male fertility are conflicting. The effect of lithium on human sperm motility was examined in vitro using the modified transmembrane migration method. This technique takes account of the dilution of lithium that occurs during the incubation. Lithium inhibits human sperm motility in vitro in concentrations comparable with those reported to be achieved in semen after oral administration. PMID- 2611092 TI - The bioavailability of intranasal lignocaine. AB - Six healthy males participated in a single-dose two-way crossover study of the bioavailability of intranasal vs intravenous administration of lignocaine (lidocaine) hydrochloride. Subjects received a single 100 mg dose of lignocaine HCl intranasally from a gel preparation on one occasion and intravenously by a 3 min infusion on another occasion. Multiple plasma samples drawn during 8 h following each dose were analysed for lignocaine by gas chromatography using nitrogen phosphorous detection. The mean (+/- s.e. mean) peak plasma concentration of lignocaine following intranasal administration was 144 +/- 48 ng ml-1, and the time to peak was 0.92 +/- 0.12 h. The mean AUC values for intranasal and intravenous routes were 421 +/- 121 vs 1616 +/- 30 ng ml-1 h, respectively, and the mean bioavailability of the intranasal formulation (AUC ratio) was 0.26 +/- 0.08. In all subjects, intranasal absorption was less than 50% complete, and bioavailability varied from 0.05 to 0.48 between individuals. Thus lignocaine is variably and incompletely absorbed when administered by the intranasal route, in the dosage formulation and according to the method used in this study. PMID- 2611093 TI - Gastroenterology: the first 40 years. AB - Functional gastroenterological disorders were diagnosed in over 50 per cent of patients aged 40 years and under, referred to a district general hospital combined gastroenterology clinic. Peptic ulceration, gastro-oesophageal reflux, biliary tract disease and inflammatory bowel disease accounted for almost 70 per cent of the organic disorders encountered. Malignant disease was rare. The implications for diagnostic investigation in this age group are discussed. PMID- 2611094 TI - Botulinum toxin in treating spasticity. AB - The value of locally injected botulinum toxin is emphasised. The toxin was injected directly into the skeletal muscles of eight patients with severe spasticity due to stroke-related hemiplegia. It produced both subjective and objective improvement. The toxin injections were well tolerated and no significant side effects were noted. PMID- 2611095 TI - Ventilation perfusion lung scans in the management of suspected pulmonary embolism. AB - The purpose of the study was twofold: (a) to relate the degree of clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism (PE) to the findings of isotope ventilation perfusion (V/Q) scans, and (b) to determine the extent to which the scan results influence patient management. A questionnaire was completed by the requesting clinician before V/Q scanning in 60 consecutive in-patients in whom PE had, with varying degrees of probability, been considered possible. Retrospectively, the case notes were reviewed to determine whether or not the patients were anticoagulated when discharged. Prior to scanning, PE was considered probable or almost certain in 35 (58 per cent) patients and unlikely or very unlikely in 25 (42 per cent) patients. Thirty-seven (62 per cent) scans were confidently reported positive or negative for PE; in the remaining 23 (38 per cent) cases, the scan report was necessarily inconclusive. The clinical assessment was supported by the scan result in 23/25 (92 per cent) patients in whom PE was felt unlikely or very unlikely, but in only 14/35 (40 per cent) in whom this diagnosis was felt probable or almost certain. Twenty (33 per cent) patients were already anticoagulated when scanned; this treatment was initiated in nine (15 per cent) and discontinued in eight (13 per cent) in the light of the scan result. Isotope V/Q scans are not always useful in confidently confirming or excluding the presence of PE. Nevertheless, the scan reports, even when necessarily guarded and somewhat at variance with the clinical assessment of the probability of PE, strongly influence clinicians in their decisions as to whether to anticoagulate their patients. PMID- 2611096 TI - Omeprazole. PMID- 2611097 TI - EDC: a microcomputer program to record and calculate expected date of confinement. AB - A microcomputer program was developed to compute the expected date of confinement (EDC) and to record the clinical parameters used in its calculation. In obstetrical care, it is important to establish the EDC. However, the last menstrual period on which the EDC is usually determined may be unknown, inaccurate or disagree with other clinical estimators of the gestational age. Useful predictions of the EDC can be derived from a number of clinical examinations. The program can be used to maintain a register from which the EDC is calculated by averaging the EDCs estimated from up to 19 parameters. The result is also displayed as the gestation age in number of weeks. The register containing information on a large number of pregnancies can be used to calculate the dispersion of estimated EDCs from the various clinical methods. PMID- 2611098 TI - Severe brain damage following general anaesthesia. PMID- 2611099 TI - Mycobacterium tuberculosis pneumonia in two HIV antibody positive patients. AB - The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is associated with the development of opportunistic infections. We report the cases of two HIV antibody positive male partners who developed pneumonia responding to antituberculous therapy. PMID- 2611100 TI - Gastric outflow obstruction: an unusual complication of cholelithiasis. PMID- 2611101 TI - Juvenile basal cell carcinoma. PMID- 2611102 TI - Nephrotic syndrome in temporal arteritis. AB - Renal abnormalities are highly unusual in temporal arteritis. The association of temporal arteritis with nephrotic syndrome has been reported previously in only one patient. This report describes another case. PMID- 2611103 TI - Overwhelming infection occurring in the immediate post-splenectomy period. AB - Overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI) is a serious condition associated with a high mortality rate. Occurring most often in the first two years after splenectomy, it has also been described up to 47 years after this operation. We report a further occurrence of this syndrome and stress the importance of early detection and aggressive treatment of this type of infection. PMID- 2611104 TI - Chickenpox in the elderly. AB - Chickenpox (varicella) is primarily a childhood disease. Few escape infection until adulthood. We report three cases of chickenpox infection in elderly patients. They all developed the illness in December 1985. PMID- 2611105 TI - Carcinoma of the bronchus presenting as mastoid swelling. PMID- 2611106 TI - Use of chloramphenicol in a hospice. AB - Chloramphenicol has been the antibiotic of first choice at St Christopher's Hospice for over 20 years. Its use has been justified on the grounds of efficacy and tolerability in a patient group with a short prognosis in whom good symptom control is the priority. The sensitivities of hospice bacterial cultures to chloramphenicol and other antibiotics were recorded and were compared with the chloramphenicol sensitivities of cultures obtained from a series of hospital patients in the same area. Assessment of the occurrence of side effects attributed to chloramphenicol was made from hospice casenotes. Chloramphenicol was widely effective, but there was some evidence of the emergence of resistant strains, particularly of coliforms. Side effects were encountered less frequently than might have been expected from the use of popular alternative oral antibiotic drugs. PMID- 2611107 TI - Plasma lipids: when to measure after myocardial infarction? AB - Current medical textbooks do not give clear advice on the optimal time to measure plasma lipids following myocardial infarction. Many physicians still defer the measurement for three months. We studied the plasma lipids in 132 patients with myocardial infarction. Measurements were made on admission and 24, 48 and 72 hours later and 103 patients had their plasma lipids measured at three months. Forty-three patients had hypercholesterolaemia (cholesterol greater than 7 mmol/1) at admission. Total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein fell appreciably in the first three days after myocardial infarction. The former returned almost to its admission level by three months, whilst the latter did not. Triglycerides showed no important changes, whilst high density lipoprotein levels had significantly increased at three months. Total cholesterol levels at three months were different from the 24, 48 and 72 hour values. Our findings suggest that plasma lipids should be measured on admission after myocardial infarction. Deferring the measurement by one or two days will give results which may not reflect pre-infarction levels. PMID- 2611108 TI - Diagnostic investigations in the elderly: the clinical usefulness of serum iron and transferrin measurements in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia. An audit. AB - Many biochemical tests evaluated in young adults are widely used in the elderly without further evaluation. This study, designed to assess the clinical use of transferrin and transferrin saturation in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia in the elderly, illustrates how these tests have a lower specificity in this age group, limiting their clinical use. Reasons for the altered results are discussed. If resources are to be used effectively, the usefulness of many investigations in the elderly needs to be examined and suitable age-adjusted reference ranges produced. PMID- 2611109 TI - Gastric cancer: a continuing diagnostic challenge--a district general hospital's experience. AB - We present the results of 87 consecutively referred patients with malignant gastric tumours who presented to the North Middlesex Hospital between 1980 and 1984, inclusively. The results of this prospective study showed a high incidence of adenocarcinoma situated in the cardia (16 per cent of patients), and antral carcinomas presented more commonly with chronic blood loss. Delay in diagnosis was still a serious problem and weight loss remained an underestimated symptom, especially when combined with other upper gastrointestinal symptomology. The majority of tumours were adenocarcinomas. Six patients had unusual tumours which had special therapeutic and prognostic implications. The results of the above study are compared with the European experience of the management of malignant gastric tumours. PMID- 2611110 TI - Mycosis fungoides. PMID- 2611111 TI - Primary liposarcoma of the omentum: a rare intra-abdominal tumour. AB - Two cases of primary omental liposarcoma are described, each presenting in a different manner, thus emphasising the spectrum of clinical features associated with this condition. Treatment guidelines are laid down based upon a review of the world literature. The role of radical surgical excision in the management of this often well-encapsulated but highly malignant tumour is emphasised. PMID- 2611112 TI - Hepatic artery aneurysm and acute cholecystitis. PMID- 2611113 TI - Massive pulmonary thromboembolism after tranexamic acid antifibrinolytic therapy. PMID- 2611114 TI - If my wife had osteoporosis. PMID- 2611115 TI - Porcine skin inguinal hernioplasty. AB - Sixty inguinal hernias were repaired using a porcine dermis to reinforce the posterior wall of the inguinal canal. This study mentions the criteria for the use of this xenograft and the technique used. A follow-up of two years is reported without any recurrences so far. An average patient has a 10 to 15 per cent risk of recurrence after an operation for indirect hernia and about 20 per cent after direct hernioplasty. It has been reported that 50 per cent of the recurrences appear during the first year post-operative period, and most of these in the first three to six months. Although inguinal hernia is one of the most common conditions encountered by a general surgeon, no prospective randomised study has yet been undertaken to evaluate the most widely used techniques. Many operative procedures for the treatment of inguinal hernias have been reported since Bassini and Halstead first reported upon this 90 years ago. While the late results of many methods have been presented, there is no unanimity concerning the procedure of choice. Recurrence rates differ according to the technique used and the expertise of the operating surgeon. Porcine dermis was used as it is the best available biological material. It does not have the problem of rejection and fragmentation like other prostheses. PMID- 2611116 TI - Congenital dermoid cyst over the anterior fontanelle. PMID- 2611117 TI - Primary hypothyroidism followed by thyrotoxicosis. PMID- 2611118 TI - Chronic active hepatitis associated with diclofenac sodium therapy. AB - Diclofenac sodium (Voltarol, Geigy Pharmaceuticals) is a non-steroidal anti inflammatory derivative of phenylacetic acid. Although generally well-tolerated, asymptomatic abnormalities of liver function have been recorded and, less commonly, severe hepatitis induced by diclofenac. The patient described developed chronic active hepatitis after six months therapy with diclofenac sodium which progressed despite the withdrawal of the drug, a finding not previously reported. PMID- 2611119 TI - Comparative study of alginate and non-alginate antacids concurrently administered with H2 antagonists in cases of duodenal ulcer. AB - In an open comparative study in endoscopically proven cases of duodenal ulcer, concomitant therapy of H2 antagonist was initiated in two randomly allocated, homogenous patient groups, ie, H2 A + RF alginate antacid (Riflux Forte, Sol Pharmaceuticals Ltd) or H2 A + S non-alginate antacid (Siloxogene, Searle Ltd), both Riflux Forte and Siloxogene having similar compositions of antacids. Overall clinical assessment, percentage improvement, assessment of individual clinical symptoms, global assessment and endoscopic assessment all showed that Riflux Forte and Siloxogene together with H2 antagonist are significantly effective in providing a progressive symptomatic relief in duodenal ulcer cases over an evaluable period of eight weeks. Although differences between Riflux Forte and Siloxogene were not statistically significant, a definite trend of more rapid and favourable responses was seen with Riflux Forte, demonstrating the role played by therapy in preventing reflux and stopping the acid pain cycle. PMID- 2611120 TI - Skin reactivity to neuropeptides in atopic dermatitis. AB - Adults with atopic dermatitis (AD), with respiratory atopy only and healthy non atopic controls were given intradermal injections of substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), neurotensin (NT), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and histamine into the normal-appearing skin on the back. The weal and flare responses were evaluated after 3, 5 and 15 min and the areas calculated using an automatic image analyser. With the three different concentrations used (1, 3 and 30 pmols) a statistically significant (P less than 0.05) reduction in both the weal and flare response to SP, NKA, NT and histamine and a reduced flare to CGRP was observed only in AD patients. Among those with AD there was no uniformity of response to the individual neuropeptide and in general the more severely affected showed a lower reactivity. Dose-response relationships were evaluated for SP and NT (10-320 pmols) in AD and healthy controls. In AD dose-response curves and time-course relationships were similar to controls, but at significantly reduced levels. The itch response to the neuropeptides and histamine was not different in atopics and controls. We suggest that this hyporesponsiveness in AD is the result of natural tachyphylaxis of the target structures (mast cells and blood vessels) and possibly due to a higher availability of neuropeptides in the skin or to a primary abnormal sensitivity of the blood vessels and mast cells to these peptides. PMID- 2611121 TI - Systemic interleukin I administration suppresses arachidonic acid-induced ear oedema in the mouse. AB - Recombinant human interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), given intraperitoneally to mice as a single injection, significantly suppressed the development of arachidonic acid (AA)-induced ear oedema. This effect was noted 2 h after administration and for at least 5 days afterwards. IL-1 beta was effective in the dose range of 250 ng-20 micrograms/mouse. Injection of IL-1 beta per se resulted in erythema of the ears, and thus, IL-1 beta has the capacity not only to induce and augment but also to suppress inflammatory responses. Indomethacin administered as subcutaneously-implanted pellets did not influence the IL-1 beta induced-ear erythema, but suppressed to some extent the effect of IL-1 beta on the AA-induced ear oedema. PMID- 2611122 TI - Potential for irritation increases from the wrist to the cubital fossa. AB - The effect of site on the irritant dermatitis potential was studied in 10 subjects using the volar surface of the forearm. Erythema scoring and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements were used to assess irritation at different levels on the forearm. A sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS 2 g/v%) solution was used as a standard irritant in a patch test procedure and on open tests. Both the erythema scores and measurements of the TEWL of exposed skin showed significant localization differences, and demonstrated that the same sites on the forearm should be used for irritancy tests and possibly physiological studies. PMID- 2611123 TI - Pigmented spindle cell naevus and its variants: distinction from melanoma. AB - We report seven examples of pigmented spindle cell naevus (PSCN) and variants, emphasizing their histopathologic differentiation from malignant melanoma (CMM). Confusion with CMM may occur because of upward migration (pagetoid spread) of cells, prominent lateral extension of lentiginous melanocytic hyperplasia, and cytological atypia in spindle cell naevi. However, these proliferations are usually associated with a symmetrical and orderly growth pattern, confinement of the pagetoid spread to the lower epidermis, 'maturation' of the dermal component, and lack of marked cytological atypia. PMID- 2611124 TI - Mucosal involvement in systemic and chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. AB - The prevalence and pattern of mucosal involvement in 121 patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) was investigated. Fifty-three patients had systemic LE (SLE) and 68 patients had chronic cutaneous LE (CCLE). Twenty-one per cent (11/53) of patients with SLE and 24% (16/68) of patients with CCLE had signs of mucosal involvement, but the pattern of involvement differed in the two groups. Nasal mucosal lesions were a feature in 2% (I/53) of patients with SLE and 9% (6/68) of patients with CCLE. Hyperkeratotic lichen planus-like plaques on buccal mucosa and the palate occurred in 9% (6/68) of patients with CCLE and 4% (2/53) of patients with SLE. Episcleritis occurred in 9% (5/53) of patients with SLE and not seen in CCLE. Erythematous plaques on the lower eyelids were present in 6% (4/68) of patients with CCLE and these were associated with conjunctival scarring in two patients. Vulval lesions were present in 5% (2/42) of female patients with CCLE. Oral plaques may occur when the disease is relatively quiescent elsewhere. The prevalence of mucosal involvement in lupus is underestimated as the lesions may be asymptomatic. PMID- 2611125 TI - The lupus band test in oral mucosa, conjunctiva and skin. AB - The prevalence and clinical significance of subepithelial immunoglobulin and complement deposition (the lupus band) were examined in the uninvolved sun protected skin of the forearm, the uninvolved sun-protected lip mucosa and sun protected bulbar conjunctival mucosa in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE). In SLE, linear deposition of an immunoreactant at the BMZ was detected in 32% (6/19) of skin biopsies; 21% (4/19) of lip mucosal biopsies and 42% (5/12) of conjunctival biopsies. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity of the test at different sites in SLE and no correlation between a positive test in skin, lip or conjunctiva and clinical mucosal involvement. In CCLE, linear deposition of an immunoreactant at the BMZ was found in 3% (1/32) of skin biopsies; 3% (1/29) of lip mucosal biopsies and 50% (10/20) of conjunctiva and clinical mucosal involvement. In the conjunctiva, IgG was present in all but one of the biopsies and was the only immunoreactant in 90% (9/10) of positive CCLE biopsies and 60% (3/5) of positive SLE biopsies. In lupus erythematosus immunoreactants may be deposited in the basement membrane zone beneath non-keratinizing mucosal surfaces of the lip and the eye as well as the skin. In CCLE, the test may be positive in conjunctiva when skin and lip are negative. PMID- 2611126 TI - A comparative trial of Clinitar versus hydrocortisone cream in the treatment of atopic eczema. AB - Thirty patients with mild to moderate bilateral atopic eczema were treated on one side of the body with a new purified coal tar cream (Clinitar) and on the other side with 1% hydrocortisone cream, for 4 weeks. The degree of infiltration of the skin erythema, lichenification, excoriations and dryness were assessed. Both treatments were equally effective in reducing symptoms and there was also no difference in patient preference and cosmetic acceptability. PMID- 2611127 TI - Xeroderma pigmentosum and refractory anaemia in two first cousins. AB - We report two first cousins with xeroderma pigmentosum who developed a refractory anaemia with excess of blasts which resulted in their deaths. PMID- 2611128 TI - Symptomatic zinc deficiency in breast-fed premature infants. AB - We report two breast-fed premature infants who developed transient symptomatic zinc deficiency with scaly erythema of cheeks and napkin area, 9-13 weeks after birth. Serum zinc concentrations were 3.6 and 4.8 mumols/l, and the lesions healed rapidly in response to oral zinc supplements. Both mothers had low breast milk zinc levels (2.3 and 3.2 mumols/l at 21 and 15 weeks respectively). The infants were both initially misdiagnosed as having eczema and infection. Premature infants are in negative zinc balance and though the additional factor of a low maternal breast milk zinc concentration may be necessary to provoke symptoms, rashes developing in such infants in the months following premature birth should raise the suspicion of zinc deficiency. PMID- 2611129 TI - Proceedings of the 245th meeting of the Netherlands Society for Dermatology and Venereology. Leiden, 28 January 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2611130 TI - Palmar and plantar pitting in psoriasis. PMID- 2611131 TI - Nicardipine interacts with cyclosporin. PMID- 2611132 TI - Pityriasis rubra pilaris in Indians. PMID- 2611133 TI - The development of spatial distributions of CFU-S and in-vitro CFC in femora of mice of different ages. AB - The radial distributions of spleen colony forming units (CFU-S) and in-vitro colony forming cells (in-vitro-CFC) were measured in the diaphyseal marrow cavity of femora removed from 3-, 5- and 11-week-old mice. The distributions observed in 11-week-old mice confirm earlier findings that the highest concentrations of CFU S exist near bone surfaces whereas the concentration of in-vitro-CFC increases to a peak value approximately 300 microns from the femoral axis with a low value at the bone surface. The gradients of the distributions in all three age groups are very similar suggesting that spatial organization in marrow is established by 3 weeks at the latest and, as the marrow cavities grow, so the distributions extend into the new space following their respective gradients. The peak of CFU-S concentration at the bone surfaces in all age groups coincides with increased rates of DNA synthesis and a low self-renewal capacity. Conversely, CFU-S nearer the centre of the cavity maintain a low turnover but have a high self-renewal capacity. Measurements made on 1-week-old mice show that the marrow contains a lower average concentration of CFU-S in the femoral cavity compared to older mice. However, these CFU-S have both a high rate of turnover and a high self renewal capacity. It appears that these better quality CFU-S remain in a central location while the rest of the population ages and expands in association with growing bone regions. PMID- 2611134 TI - Slow evolution of chronic myeloid leukaemia relapsing after BMT with T-cell depleted donor marrow. AB - Thirty-three patients with Philadelphia positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) treated in chronic phase by bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with T-cell depleted HLA-identical sibling marrow were evaluable for relapse at a median follow up of 41 months (range 16-59 months). Twenty-six (78%) had Ph+ marrow metaphases demonstrated at some time post BMT. The subsequent pattern of disease was variable. In 15 of these cases haematological relapse occurred within 24 months of BMT. Four patients proceeded to haematological relapse more slowly. Seven patients had only cytogenetic evidence of relapse. Of the 19 patients with haematological relapse, five received second transplants and two survive; 13 of the other 14 survive in chronic phase at median times from allografting and from recognition of haematological relapse of 41 months (range 25-59 months) and 18 months (range 5-36 months) respectively. For these 13 patients disease progression after relapse seems to be relatively indolent. In the four patients we could study, blood lymphocytes were almost all of donor origin. We suggest that even in patients with cytogenetic or haematological evidence of relapse after T-cell depleted BMT, leukaemic cell proliferation may still be restrained to some extent by a graft-versus-leukaemia effect mediated by donor-derived lymphoid cells. PMID- 2611135 TI - Mechanism of action of alpha interferon in chronic granulocytic leukaemia: evidence for preferential inhibition of late progenitors. AB - The effect of alpha interferon (alpha IFN) on colony forming unit, granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM) formation by normal bone marrow (BM) as compared with chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL) BM and peripheral blood (PB) was tested in semi solid assay systems employing either 5637CM or recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to support growth. alpha IFN (greater than 125 U/ml) caused consistent inhibition (P = 0.02) of day-7 (late progenitor) colonies, but had little or no effect on either day-7 clusters or day-14 colonies/clusters. This selective effect on day-7 colonies was quantitatively similar for both normal and CGL (P greater than 0.5). Similar results were obtained whether or not the mononuclear preparations were depleted of potential accessory cells, suggesting that the alpha IFN-suppression is directly mediated. Morphological examination of colonies and clusters showed that IFN had no effect on cell maturation and that colony inhibition is not, therefore, a consequence of blocked maturation. Since the late-progenitor compartment is preferentially expanded in CGL, we suggest that our demonstration that alpha IFN selectively inhibits this compartment is relevant to the clinical effects of the cytokine in the disease. PMID- 2611136 TI - No preferential use of the VH(V) family in human multiple myeloma. AB - A recently described immunoglobulin VH family (the VH(V) family) close to the DH and JH genes is preferentially rearranged in immature B-cell tumours. The question of the emergence of multiple myeloma (MM) from a tumorous pre-B cell is not yet resolved. To draw a comparison with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), we studied the VH(V) rearrangements in 28 MM patients. A rearranged Hind III-Bam HI fragment of 9.5 kb was detected in only one patient instead of the rearranged fragment of 8.5 kb described in CLL. Rearrangements of a member of the VH(V) family in a 9.5 kb fragment were also observed in two out of 20 lymphoblastoid cell lines obtained from peripheral blood of MM patients. We report here that the VH(V) family is not preferentially involved in this pathology and that the size of the only rearrangement obtained is larger than the 8.5 kb fragment observed in CLL. These results do not favour the hypothesis of a pre-B cell involvement in MM. PMID- 2611137 TI - Decreased stability and structural heterogeneity of the residual platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex in a variant of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. AB - A patient is described with a disturbance of platelet function comparable to that in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. Platelet aggregation and binding of fibrinogen to the patient's platelets were defective and thrombin-induced clot retraction was absent. The platelet fibrinogen content was only moderately reduced. As measured by monoclonal antibody binding in the presence of divalent cations, the platelets contained about 15% of the normal amount of GPIIb and GPIIIa and only 6% of the normal amount of intact GPIIb/IIIa complex. The residual GPIIb/IIIa complex exhibited a decreased stability as shown by the lack of binding of a complex dependent anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody to platelets incubated with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) at 22 degrees C. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) in the presence of divalent cations showed partial dissociation of GPIIb/IIIa as well as the presence of two forms of the residual intact GPIIb/IIIa complex. In addition, both CIE in the presence of the EDTA and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) gel electrophoresis showed the presence of two forms of GPIIb. This form of thrombasthenia is characterized by a defective platelet function, a marked reduction of GPIIb and GPIIIa, decreased stability of the residual GPIIb/IIIa complex and structural heterogeneity of GPIIb. PMID- 2611138 TI - Bepridil protects sickle cells against the adverse rheological effects of cyclical deoxygenation. AB - Calcium influx into sickle cells, with consequential activation of the Ca2(+) activated K+ efflux (Gardos) channel, is a potential cause of cellular dehydration and loss of deformability. Bepridil, a recently described inhibitor of the Gardos channel, was found at pharmacological concentration (1 mumol/l) to inhibit significantly (P less than 0.01) the loss of deformability when sickle cells were subjected to cycles of oxygenation-deoxygenation for 15 h at 37 degrees C. Bepridil also inhibited significantly (P less than 0.005) the formation of irreversibly sickled cells. Drugs that preserve the K+ and therefore water content of erythrocytes are of potential value for hydrotherapy of sickle cell disease. PMID- 2611139 TI - Pregnancy associated aplastic anaemia: a report of five cases and review of current management. AB - The occurrence of aplastic anaemia in pregnancy has been long recognized but its rarity has made it difficult to establish the relationship between the two conditions and the optimal management. We now report five cases of aplastic anaemia in pregnancy and offer some recommendations for treatment. In two patients the pregnancy was allowed to continue to term and the disease persisted post-partum leading to death in one case. The other three patients had their pregnancies terminated; one subsequently deteriorated and died, two had spontaneous remissions of their aplasia. We suggest that patients presenting with severe aplastic anaemia in early pregnancy should be offered termination because this may be followed by haematological improvement. If haematological improvement does not occur allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) may be considered. Aplastic anaemia presenting in late pregnancy should be treated with supportive care until delivery. On the basis of our experience, antilymphocyte globulin may safely be given during pregnancy. PMID- 2611140 TI - Red blood cell aggregation and sedimentation: the role of the cell shape. AB - The influence of erythrocyte shape changes on the sedimentation rate was studied in vitro and in vivo. In vitro the highest sedimentation rate was observed with a slight degree of stomatocytosis (morphological index-0.3; i.e. one red cell out of three being a stomatocyte I). With increasing degrees of stomatocytosis the sedimentation rate gradually decreased. Echinocytosis reduced the aggregation and sedimentation very drastically; the sedimentation rate was virtually zero when echinocytosis I or higher degrees were present. The influence of abnormal cell shapes occurring in vivo was studied in patients with an abnormal blood smear. It was found that a severely abnormal red cell morphology reduced the sedimentation rate in a standardized, fibrinogen-rich plasma to about half. These results indicate that the shape plays a crucial role in the aggregation and sedimentation of red cells and they may contribute to the understanding of the interaction of red cells with other cells such as endothelium. PMID- 2611141 TI - The rapid and decremental change in haem oxygenase mRNA during erythroid differentiation of murine erythroleukaemia cells. AB - Changes in mRNA for haem oxygenase (HO), the rate-limiting enzyme for haem catabolism, were examined in murine Friend-virus transformed erythroleukaemia (MEL) cells while they were induced to undergo erythroid cell differentiation by treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). When MEL cells were treated with 1.5% (v/v) DMSO, a rapid decrease in HO mRNA content was observed (less than 12 h) which reached the lowest value at 18 h (18% of the untreated control). HO mRNA levels remained at substantially lower levels (approximately 50%) than those in untreated controls thereafter. A rapid decline in HO mRNA may be involved in the cellular events that determine the onset of erythroid differentiation. PMID- 2611142 TI - Blood from healthy animals and humans contains nondiscocytic erythrocytes. AB - Blood samples (three drops) from healthy animals and humans were fixed in a 2.5% solution of glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer at pH 7.4 within seconds of being drawn. Dehydrated and gold-coated preparations were photographed at x 600 in a scanning electron microscope, then printed at x 1200. Erythrocytes were classified according to their shape and surface features into six classes, namely, normal red cells, flat cells, cells with surface changes, early cup forms, late cup forms, cells with altered margins. The size of each shape determined class was expressed as a percentage of the total number of cells counted. Data relating to 23 healthy females and to a mouse, rat, rabbit and horse are reported. Although the presence of nondiscocytic erythrocytes in peripheral human blood has been described, the presence of similar cells in animal blood has not been reported previously. PMID- 2611143 TI - Association of congenital protein C deficiency and latent myeloproliferative disease as cause of splanchnic venous thrombosis in a 34-year-old woman. PMID- 2611144 TI - Detection and characterization of the Hb lepore (Boston) defect by the polymerase chain reaction. PMID- 2611146 TI - Lack of correlation between cell surface activation antigen expression and clinical stage in B-CLL. PMID- 2611145 TI - Abnormal calcium transport of acanthocytes in acute myelodysplasia with myelofibrosis. PMID- 2611147 TI - Apparent removal of graft-versus-leukaemia effect by the use of leucocyte-poor blood components in patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia. PMID- 2611148 TI - Effect of pasteurization on the placental factor XIII concentrate. PMID- 2611149 TI - Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for primary myelofibrosis. PMID- 2611150 TI - Immunohistology for quantification of normal bone marrow lymphocyte subsets. PMID- 2611152 TI - The significance of ring eosinophils in humans. PMID- 2611151 TI - Interferon alpha-2b therapy in adult chronic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) PMID- 2611153 TI - Abstracts of papers selected for presentation at the joint meeting of the British Society for Haematology and the British Blood Transfusion Society. London, 10 November 1989. PMID- 2611154 TI - The sick doctor. PMID- 2611155 TI - Risk assessment of leukaemia and occupational exposure to benzene. AB - Experimental toxicological studies have offered clear evidence that benzene induces haematopoietic neoplasms, and it is generally accepted that exposure to benzene is a risk factor for leukaemia, in particular for acute non-lymphatic leukaemia. Quantitative aspects of benzene risk assessment are still a matter of controversy, however. In several risk assessments an estimated 50 deaths from leukaemia per 1000 deaths would arise from exposures to benzene of 10 ppm during a working life of 30 years. The assessment presented in this paper leads to lower estimates, which are more in agreement with the weak toxicological data. Furthermore, an approach is presented to incorporate the results of low exposure epidemiological studies into the process of quantitative risk assessment. PMID- 2611156 TI - Intra and interindividual variability in the kinetics of a poorly and highly metabolising solvent. AB - Human subjects were experimentally exposed three times simultaneously to tetrachloroethene (PER) and trichloroethene (TRI) under conditions of rest and exercise. In each subject the individual kinetics for both PER and TRI were determined three times by means of frequent sampling of alveolar air up to 70-500 and 20-310 hours respectively. For PER the following parameters were found: the weighted pulmonary clearance (Clpul) = 0.27-0.64 l/min, terminal half time (t1/2(z] = 54-250 hours, mean residence time (MRT) = 35-155 hours, and volume of distribution (Vdss) = 1100-3570 1. For TRI the apparent hepatic clearance (CLhep) = 0.5-1.7 l/min, weighted Clpul = 0.41-1.48 l/min, t1/2(z) = 13-55 hours, MRT = 2.3-22 hours, and the Vdss = 420-3100 1. The intra and intersubject variation in the kinetics were reflected in the predictions of the individual time course of the solvent in the blood at repeated exposure up to five weeks (eight hours a day, five days a week). For PER the intrasubject variation in the predicted concentrations on the Monday mornings was within 5-15% whereas the intersubject variation was about twofold. For TRI the intrasubject variation in the predicted morning concentrations was substantial (two to threefold), whereas the intersubject variation was about 10-fold. The intrasubject variation was probably caused mainly by the level of exercise during exposure. The Clhep was not greatly influenced by the level of exercise, whereas exercise during exposure increased the MRT. Exercise during exposure probably speeds up the process of distribution and, therefore, there is a lower concentration in the blood relative to the increased respiratory intake. As a consequence, despite the increased Clpul and the rather unchanged Clhep, pulmonary and metabolic excretion will be delayed and the MRT increased. The MRT is more suited to predict the individual cumulation of both PER and TRI than the terminal t1/2(z). PMID- 2611157 TI - Progression of irregular opacities in asbestos miners. AB - All white and mixed race men who were employed in South African asbestos mines and mills between 30 November 1970 and 30 November 1975 were studied. The men who had two radiographs available, the first taken some time between the above two dates and the latest available radiograph which had to be at least two years after the first one numbered 1454: 793 continued exposure after the first radiograph and 661 did not. The films were read by a panel of three readers. Data available included age, years of exposure to asbestos and other mining, intensity of exposure to asbestos and other dust, and smoking habit. Progression was expressed as the difference between the average readings of radiograph 2- radiograph 1 in minor categories per year of irregular opacities. Changes in pleural abnormality were also measured. No differences of progression in the profusion or change in size of the irregular opacities were found between the two groups or in the number of zones affected. "New attacks" appeared equally frequently between the two groups. No difference in the change in extent of any type of pleural change was seen. It appears that once a dose of asbestos sufficient to initiate the disease has been retained it is inexorably progressive. PMID- 2611158 TI - Excessive accumulation of asbestos fibre in the bronchoalveolar space may be a marker of individual susceptibility to developing asbestosis: experimental evidence. AB - Earlier studies have shown that only 60% of sheep exposed to a given chrysotile exposure developed asbestosis. Analyses of lung lavage (BAL) fibre content early in the disease showed that, despite identical injected doses, the subset of sheep with interstitial lung disease had significantly more fibre retention. To determine if the fibre retention preceded or followed early disease, 15 were exposed at 10 day intervals to 100 mg chrysotile by intratracheal injection. Animals were studied at three month intervals by chest radiograph (CR) and BAL. At month 15, 10 sheep had definitely abnormal CR (group B) and five had normal CR (group A). Fibre analyses of BAL reproduced earlier finding of a higher level of fibre retention early in the disease, month 15: 92 +/- 2 f/microliter in group B v 35 +/- 19 in group A. Moreover, at month 3, when no disease was detectable, group B already had a significantly higher fibre retention level: 84 +/- 2 in group B v 52 +/- 3 in group A (p less than 0.05). These data clearly imply that high alveolar dust retention precedes the disease process and that alveolar dust clearance capacity may be a major determinant of asbestosis. PMID- 2611159 TI - Manganese induced parkinsonism: an outbreak due to an unrepaired ventilation control system in a ferromanganese smelter. AB - Several cases of parkinsonism were found in a ferromanganese smelter after the ventilation system had broken down and had not been repaired for eight months in 1985. To determine the aetiology and prevalence of parkinsonism, 132 workers were submitted to thorough medical examination and estimated air concentrations of carbon monoxide and manganese at different worksites. Only six of eight workers performing electrode fixation or welding during 1985 developed parkinsonism. They were exposed for 30 minutes each day, seven days a week, to high concentrations of air manganese (greater than 28.8 mg/m3). There was a consistent trend between the index of exposure to manganese and signs and symptoms exhibited by extrapyramidal systems. After repair of the ventilation system, the air concentration of manganese during electrode fixation and welding decreased to less than 4.4 mg/m3; furthermore, no new cases of parkinsonism have been observed. Workers with parkinsonism recovered partially after removal from original worksites and treatment with levodopa. It is concluded that the outbreak resulted from exposure to high concentrations of manganese fumes through the breakdown of the ventilation system. PMID- 2611160 TI - Workers exposed to ethylene oxide: a follow up study. AB - A cohort study has been carried out of 2876 men and women with potential exposure to ethylene oxide. Subjects were identified from employment records at four companies that have produced or used ethylene oxide since the 1950s and at eight hospitals which have had ethylene oxide sterilising units since the 1960s. The cohort represents a substantial proportion of the British workforce with a history of occupational exposure to ethylene oxide. Industrial hygiene data were not available before 1977, but since then time weighted average exposures have been less than 5 ppm in almost all jobs and less than 1 ppm in many. Past exposures were probably somewhat higher. In contrast to some previous studies, no clear excess of leukaemia (three deaths observed, 2.09 expected) and no increase in stomach cancer (five deaths observed, 5.95 expected) were found. This discrepancy with earlier reports may be due in part to differences in levels of exposure. Total cancer mortality was similar to that expected from national and local death rates. Some specific cancers showed small excesses but their relevance to ethylene oxide exposure is doubtful. Again, contrary to some earlier reports, no excess of cardiovascular disease was found. This study does not exclude the possibility that ethylene oxide is a human carcinogen but suggests that any risk of cancer from currently permitted occupational exposures is small. PMID- 2611161 TI - Pulmonary dysfunction in gold miners with reactive airways. AB - In a cross sectional study of a working population of black South African gold miners a sample of 1197 older miners was examined. Airway reactivity determined by a greater than 10% response of the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to inhaled salbutamol was detected in 139 (12%) of the men. No relation was found between the extent of exposure to the underground environment and the frequency of airway reactivity. There was evidence of increased chronic airflow limitation in the men with reactive airways. This increase persisted after controlling for age, tobacco smoking, and for the presence and degree of silicosis. On average, the presence of reactive airways was associated with reduced (after bronchodilator) forced vital capacity (FVC) of 118 ml, 95% confidence interval (CI) 16 to 220 ml, FEV1 of 168 ml (95% CI 74-262 ml), FEV1/FVC% of 3% (95% CI 2.3-3.7%), and maximal mid-expiratory flow of 300 ml/s (95% CI 86-514 ml/s). Although there was no evidence that airway reactivity was induced by this occupational exposure, those with reactive airways appeared to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of the underground environment on the bronchial tree. PMID- 2611162 TI - Mortality pattern of silicotic subjects in the Latium region, Italy. AB - A mortality study was carried out on 595 workers who were compensated for silicosis in the Latium region, Italy, during the period 1946-84 who died between 1 January 1969 and 31 December 1984. Respiratory disorders, tuberculosis, lung cancer, bone cancer, and cirrhosis of the liver showed significantly increased risk ratios (4.1, 3.7, 1.5, 4.1, and 1.9 respectively); excesses of brain cancer and leukaemia did not reach statistical significance. Lung cancer mortality was further analysed by age, period of compensation, final degree of disability, and occupational activity. The possible confounding role of smoking was assessed by comparing the lifetime smoking habits of a sample of silicotic subjects with those of the general male population as estimated by a national health survey; the prevalence of ever smokers among silicotic subjects (70.7%) was similar to that estimated for the general population (68.5%). The present study indicates that silicosis is associated with lung cancer even though it does not clarify the respective roles of exposure to silica and silicosis. PMID- 2611163 TI - Relation of arsenic exposure to lung cancer among tin miners in Yunnan Province, China. AB - The relation of mining and smelting exposure to arsenic and lung cancer was studied among tin miners in Yunnan Province in the People's Republic of China. Interviews were conducted in 1985 with 107 living tin miners who had lung cancer and an equal number of age matched controls from among tin miners without lung cancer to obtain information on risk factors for lung cancer including detailed history of employment and tobacco use. Occupational history was combined with industrial hygiene data to estimate cumulative arsenic exposure. Similar methods were also used to estimate radon exposure for simultaneous evaluation in this analysis. The results indicate that subjects in the highest quarter of cumulative arsenic exposure have a relative risk of 22.6 compared with subjects without exposure after adjusting for tobacco and radon exposure, and a positive dose response relation was observed. Simultaneous evaluation of arsenic and tobacco exposure indicates a greater risk for arsenic, whereas simultaneous assessment of arsenic and radon exposure suggests radon to be the greater risk. There is no evidence of synergism between arsenic and tobacco exposure. Among arsenic exposed individuals, cases of lung cancer have longer duration but lower average intensity of arsenic exposure than controls, indicating that duration of exposure to arsenic may be more important than intensity in the aetiology of lung cancer. Finally, risk of lung cancer among workers exposed to arsenic only in mining is only slightly less than for miners whose exposure to arsenic was limited to smelting, although risks are highest when workers were exposed to both mining and smelting. PMID- 2611164 TI - Factors influencing endotoxin concentrations on cotton grown in hot, humid environments: a two year study. AB - Cotton leaf, bract, fibre from opened bolls, and soil samples were collected weekly during two growing seasons (1984, 1985). Total and Gram negative bacterial populations were determined for each sample. Representative bacterial isolates were identified and endotoxin concentrations determined. For both years total and Gram negative bacterial populations on all sample types remained relatively stable until plant senescence. Afterwards, until plant death by frost, counts for all samples increased dramatically. Enterobacter agglomerans was the predominant species on leaf and bract, whereas the "all other" Gram negative bacterial species classification was the most common on fibre, with E agglomerans a close second. Senescence affected the occurrence of the species isolated. Statistical analysis partitioned by sample type showed strong correlations between endotoxin concentrations and certain bacteriological and environmental variables. The data suggest that in hot, humid environments the concentration of endotoxin on cotton leaf, bract, and fibre may be predicted by total and Gram negative bacterial counts, daily high temperature, and week after plant germination. PMID- 2611165 TI - Maximal cutaneous blood flow in vibration white fingers. PMID- 2611166 TI - Occupational asthma due to tylosin tartrate. PMID- 2611167 TI - A comparison of three methods of assessing inter-observer variation applied to measurement of the symphysis-fundal height. AB - This study assesses the inter-observer variation of symphysis-fundal height measurements by three methods--the coefficient of variation, the correlation coefficient and the limits of agreement. The coefficient of variation was 4% and the correlation coefficient 0.959, yet the limits of agreement were very wide. Applying these limits to centile charts of symphysis-fundal height shows that the fundal height cannot be measured by different observers with sufficient agreement to separate small fundal heights from those which are not small, and this severely limits the usefulness of measurement of the symphysis-fundal height as a screening test for intrauterine growth retardation. We conclude that inter observer variation should be assessed by the method of limits of agreement, and not by calculating the coefficient of variation or the correlation coefficient. PMID- 2611168 TI - Mode of delivery and future fertility. AB - A cohort of 22,948 women from a stable homogeneous population who gave birth for the first time between 1964 and 1983 were followed up prospectively. Analysis by mode of delivery showed that of those delivered by caesarean section 23.2% fewer had another pregnancy than those who had a spontaneous vaginal delivery. Women delivered by forceps were in an intermediate group. Miscarriage was more common in women who had been delivered by caesarean section. The relative infertility after caesarean section could not be accounted for by early sterilization, was not associated with maternal height or social status, and was only partly attributable to age. PMID- 2611169 TI - Nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. An epidemiological study. AB - The association of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy with the outcome of pregnancy was investigated in a historical cohort of 903 women in Los Angeles, California, USA. Multivariable statistical methods were employed to control for the potential confounding effects of age, ethnicity, occupation, and anti-emetic use on pregnancy outcome. The analyses indicated that vomiting was associated with decreased risk of miscarriage (adjusted odds ratio 0.18, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53); women with nausea but no vomiting had a miscarriage risk equal to that in the sample overall. Among the subsample of women with signs of threatened miscarriage, those who had experienced vomiting had a decreased risk of miscarriage (10.3% vs 31.7% in the subsample). No statistically significant association was observed between nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and other pregnancy outcomes (perinatal mortality, fetal anomalies, neonatal anthropometric measures). PMID- 2611170 TI - Nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. A meta-analytical review. AB - The generalizability of the apparent decreased risk of miscarriage and perinatal mortality associated with early pregnancy nausea and vomiting was investigated by examining data available from 11 previous studies. Statistical reanalyses of these studies indicated a strong significant association of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy with decreased risk of miscarriage, and no consistent associations with perinatal mortality. A statistical meta-analysis confirmed the decreased risk of miscarriage associated with gestational nausea and vomiting (common odds ratio = 0.36, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.42) and indicated that the association with decreased fetal mortality was restricted to the first 20 weeks gestation. The meta-analysis also revealed that over 150 additional possibly unreported studies with contradictory evidence would be required to refute this observed association. PMID- 2611171 TI - A randomized study of a domiciliary antenatal care scheme: the effect on hospital admissions. AB - A preliminary randomized study has been made of a domiciliary management scheme which incorporates telephonic fetal heart rate monitoring for women with high risk pregnancies. In this paper we report effects of the scheme on the pattern of hospital admissions. Sixty women were randomized 2:1 for domiciliary surveillance or for conventional hospital care, with 40 and 17 records finally available for analysis. The groups were well matched for maternal, obstetric and socio-economic characteristics. In the domiciliary group, 21 (53%) of the women avoided hospital admission altogether, the admission rate was more than halved, and the mean proportion of the time spent in hospital was reduced from 50% to 16% of the observation period. The women who received domiciliary care were generally satisfied with the scheme. Our study confirms expectations that carefully planned domiciliary surveillance can reduce the number and duration of hospital admissions. PMID- 2611172 TI - The development and implementation of a computerized on-line obstetric record. AB - We developed and implemented a completely paperless and on-line obstetric record in the high-risk obstetric clinics at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. Patient care and interactions are input directly into the computer by the health care providers. Laboratory information is transferred automatically from the Laboratory Information Service into the computerized prenatal record. The system has been in continuous operation for 2 years and is highly regarded. Problems such as illegible handwriting, missing records, and missing laboratory data have disappeared. Research and data query capabilities have been facilitated. The feasibility and applicability of a computerized record replacing the paper record has been demonstrated. PMID- 2611173 TI - Do raised serum luteinizing hormone levels during stimulation for in-vitro fertilization predict outcome? AB - Previous reports associating raised LH concentrations with reduced fertilization and pregnancy rates in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) have assumed a Gaussian distribution of LH values with IVF treatment. We have determined the serum LH range during ovarian stimulation for IVF with a single regimen of clomiphene citrate/hMG from 102 consecutive IVF conception cycles. The results show a non-Gaussian distribution of LH values. Application of this LH range to a consecutive series of 596 women undergoing IVF treated with this single regimen showed no difference in pregnancy rates, fertilization rates, median number of oocytes fertilized or retrieved when analysed with respect to serum LH concentrations above the 75th or 95th centile for greater than or equal to 3 days of an IVF treatment cycle. We conclude that follicular-phase LH concentrations do not predict IVF fertilization rates or clinical outcome and are not clinically useful in individual patient management. PMID- 2611174 TI - Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia--management and outcome. AB - Forty-six patients with a primary diagnosis of vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) have been managed over a 10-year period. The prevalence of VIN has increased and the age at presentation has decreased over the last decade; 59% of our patients had histological evidence of human papillomavirus infection. Pruritus was the commonest symptom at presentation (59%). Of the 46 patients 44 were treated by laser skinning vulvectomy, local excision or simple vulvectomy. Symptomatic relief was best achieved by local excision. Clinical and definitive relapse occurred more often in the laser-treated group. The median time to relapse was 38 months in the laser-treated group and 74 months in the surgically treated group (excision and simple vulvectomy). Two patients have not been treated and their disease has not progressed. The carbon dioxide laser almost certainly has a role in conservative management and although our data possibly do not reflect its full potential they demonstrate a need for a controlled prospective study. PMID- 2611175 TI - Is it time for a reconsideration of the criteria for cone biopsy? AB - Between August 1985 and November 1988, 475 laser cone biopsies were performed at the Regional Gynaecological Oncology Unit in Gateshead. Of these, 332 were performed for abnormal cervical cytology and unsatisfactory colposcopy. The negative cone rate in this group was 34%. In those with cytological abnormalities up to and including mild dyskaryosis the figure was 64% and there were no cases of invasive disease. In this group the authors have reconsidered the criteria for cone biopsy and suggested biopsy of the visible ectocervical lesion combined with endocervical curettage or brushing. Those with negative histology or cytological abnormalities less than moderate dyskaryosis should be managed conservatively. PMID- 2611176 TI - Deep and acute vulval ulceration. Case report. PMID- 2611177 TI - Hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar syndrome complicating severe pregnancy-induced hypertension. Case report. PMID- 2611178 TI - A gynaecological complication of polymyalgia rheumatica/giant cell arteritis. PMID- 2611179 TI - Radiation dosage of the ovaries during hysterosalpingography. Is radionuclide hysterosalpingography justified? PMID- 2611180 TI - Pregnancy following simple repair of the ruptured gravid uterus. PMID- 2611181 TI - Retinochoroiditis in acute Epstein-Barr virus infection. AB - The case is reported of a 17-year-old male with secondary glaucoma and retinochoroiditis complicating acute clinical infectious mononucleosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by Epstein-Barr virus specific serology. Toxoplasmic infection was initially suspected. The differential diagnosis and relevant literature are discussed. PMID- 2611182 TI - The Pulfrich phenomenon and its alleviation with a neutral density filter. AB - A case is described in which a presumed vascular accident resulted in long standing visual difficulties in both reading and the analysis of vectors of moving objects. Clinical examination revealed minimal right optic atrophy with a relative superior altitudinal visual field defect associated with a positive Pulfrich effect. A partial head turn to the right in association with paresis of saccades and pursuit eye movements to the right was also evident. Spectacles for distance which incorporated a neutral density filter before the left eye were prescribed. These practically eliminated the Pulfrich effect and alleviated the problems of vector analysis. A near correction was provided which incorporated prisms with bases to the right. This eliminated the reading difficulties. The visual problems experienced by patients suffering from a positive Pulfrich effect are described and discussed. PMID- 2611183 TI - Clearing of corneal argyrosis by YAG laser. AB - A 75-year-old woman with corneal argyrosis was treated by a Q-switched Nd-YAG laser iridotomy after acute angle closure glaucoma. Each laser shot caused clearance of the argyrotic deposits anterior to the iridotomy site. The same effect was seen when a preventive iridotomy was performed in the other eye. The areas of clear cornea remained unchanged for a follow-up period of eight months. PMID- 2611184 TI - Case of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. I: Unusual ophthalmic features. AB - A case of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis is reported. In addition to the classical ophthalmic and systemic features the patient presented with unilateral proptosis. This feature has never previously been reported. The results of investigations are described and illustrated. PMID- 2611185 TI - Monocular infantile cataract, intraocular lenses, and amblyopia. PMID- 2611186 TI - How safe are intraocular lenses? PMID- 2611187 TI - Importance of early diagnosis in ocular leprosy. PMID- 2611188 TI - Complications of prosthetic intraocular lens implantation: a histopathological study. AB - A total of 104 eyes and 43 resected corneal discs from patients with failed intraocular lens implants (IOL) received over a period of 35 years were subjected to histopathological analysis. Eyes collected at necropsy from 18 people with clinically successful implants were also examined. Corneal decompensation leading to bullous keratopathy was the most frequent reason for failure, followed by glaucoma and intraocular inflammation. Of 18 cases in which inflammation was the principal clinical cause of failure 12 presented as infectious endophthalmitis, but minor degrees of sterile uveitis were fairly common. Retinal detachment was seen in seven cases. The interval between IOL implantation and the onset of serious complications varied from one month to 29 years, indicating that the presence of prosthesis will always entail a latent risk of an adverse tissue response, albeit slight. PMID- 2611189 TI - Ocular autonomic dysfunction and intraocular pressure in leprosy. AB - We examined 241 leprosy patients and 135 age-matched healthy controls in central South Korea, measuring intraocular pressure in the supine and the upright positions and measuring the size of the pupils in darkness as an indication of ocular autonomic dysfunction. The mean intraocular pressure was significantly lower in the patients and the mean size of pupils was significantly smaller in the patients than in the controls. However, there was no correlation between pupil size and intraocular pressure in our patients. Our findings show that leprosy patients have ocular autonomic dysfunction, but do not support previous speculation that this dysfunction is the primary cause for low intraocular pressure in leprosy. PMID- 2611190 TI - The demand incidence of cataract in Asian immigrants to Britain and their descendants. AB - Cataract is known to be more common in India than it is in the industrialised world, but there is little evidence to show whether people emigrating from India will continue to have a high incidence of the disease. Data have been collected from the outpatient clinics of a hospital in Leicester, England, that suggest that for people aged over 45 the demand incidence of cataract is more than five times higher in people of Indian descent than it is in the indigenous population. As well as measuring the demand incidence of cataract in Leicester's two main racial groups the data are used to investigate other risk factors. For both communities the demand incidence of cataract is significantly higher in women than in men, and it is significantly higher in people of Indian descent who emigrated directly from India than in those who emigrated from East Africa. Religious subgroups within the immigrant community also show small differences in their demand incidence. The possibility that these differences are linked to diet is considered. PMID- 2611191 TI - Relationship of cataract to radiation sensitivity. AB - Considerable exposure to radiation always causes posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC). This investigation was conducted to ascertain whether cellular hypersensitivity to radiation may be identified as a possible cause of cataract in persons exposed to low levels of radiation. Patients were studied in whom PSC had followed probable exposure to low levels of radiation or in whom PSC had developed before the age of 60 without known exposure. The patients with cataract were compared with age and sex matched controls without cataract. Radiation sensitivity was estimated by measuring clonal growth of skin fibroblasts and peripheral blood lymphocytes after exposure to graded doses of radiation and by measuring postirradiation reconstruction of separated nuclear material from lymphocytes. The results show variations in the level of radiation sensitivity between the patients, without significant differences from the controls. It is concluded that radiation hypersensitivity, as tested by the methods used in this study, is not normally associated with the development of posterior subcapsular cataract. PMID- 2611192 TI - Primary optic nerve sheath meningioma. AB - Fifty patients with optic nerve sheath meningiomas have been reviewed with a follow-up of up to 15 years. The median age at onset of their symptoms was 40.0 years. The majority were middle aged females with a slowly progressive lesion. More aggressive lesions were encountered in a younger, predominantly male group of patients with frequent intracranial involvement. Our experience indicates that a more aggressive surgical approach to these lesions is needed to prevent this sequence of events. Meningiomas in older individuals often do not need treatment, though radiotherapy can be beneficial. PMID- 2611193 TI - Optic nerve glioma and the management of optic nerve tumours in the young. AB - Thirty-one patients presenting as orbital optic nerve glioma have been reviewed with maximum follow-up of 14 years. Sixteen of these patients have been reported on previously and further follow-up is provided. Sixteen patients had a stable clinical course with little change over a period of up to 13.5 years. Neurofibromatosis was relatively common in this group (11/16). Fifteen patients had progressive enlargement of the tumour; the incidence of neurofibromatosis in this group was low (4/15). Eleven of these patients were explored neurosurgically and the optic nerve totally excised in 10 of them. The proximal cut end was normal in six patients and the chiasm has apparently remained free of tumour in all of them. We suggest a method of management of primary optic nerve tumours, both meningiomas and gliomas, in young patients. PMID- 2611194 TI - Prostaglandin F2 alpha-isopropylester eye drops: effect on intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma. AB - In 30 patients with previously untreated open-angle glaucoma an intraocular pressure (IOP) curve was taken before and during treatment with PGF2 alpha isopropylester (PGF2 alpha-IE) eye drops in one eye. Compared with the pretreatment IOP, the PGF2 alpha-IE induced a slowly increasing reduction in IOP. Just before the first dose the IOP was 31.4 (SEM 1.6) mm Hg. When corrected for the fall in pressure observed in the fellow eye the largest reduction, 5.8 (SEM 0.7) mm Hg (p less than 0.001), was obtained 24 hours later, that is, 12 hours after the second dose. In a subgroup of 10 patients the treatment was continued for one week. In this group the final pretreatment IOP was 25.9 (SEM 1.3) mm Hg. The reduction 24 hours later was 4.5 (SEM 0.6) mm Hg (p less than 0.001). The effect was maintained and even slightly increased during the week, and on the seventh day of treatment the IOP reduction ranged between 4.8 and 7.6 mm Hg compared with the pretreatment IOP. No serious subjective or objective side effects were observed. PMID- 2611195 TI - Transient corneal changes associated with the use of gold foil electrodes. AB - The corneas of 50 normal subjects were examined before and after electroretinography performed with gold foil electrodes. Examination included slit-lamp biomicroscopy and staining with sodium fluorescein. All corneas were normal on examination prior to electroretinography. Three types of transient corneal changes were observed--punctate epithelial keratitis, corneal erosions, and stromal thinning. Each cornea was assigned a numerical damage score based on a simple scoring system. Thirty one subjects (62%) had some degree of corneal change, and in three cases (6%) follow-up was required. Multiple regression analysis was performed to discover any risk factors. Both age of the subject and the use of local anaesthetic were strongly associated with corneal changes. PMID- 2611196 TI - Long-term follow-up of acute multifocal posterior placoid pigment epitheliopathy. AB - Eleven patients with acute multifocal posterior placoid pigment epitheliopathy were followed up for 47 to 175 months (mean 106 months). Seven of 18 affected eyes (39%) developed progressive mild alterations in the retinal pigment epithelium. Seventeen eyes (94%) had a final visual acuity of 20/30 or better. One eye with progressive retinal pigment atrophy involving the fovea lost visual acuity from 20/25 to 20/60. PMID- 2611197 TI - Fluorescein angiographic findings in three patients with long-term intravitreal liquid silicone. AB - The long-term retinal effects of intravitreal liquid silicone (ILS) remain controversial. In this study fundus fluorescein angiographic findings in three patients with long-term ILS are presented. Sluggish or absent blood flow was observed in retinal arterioles that lay in close proximity to the ILS, and the arterioles themselves appeared narrowed. It is suggested that ILS may have a long term effect on the retinal vasculature, owing either to direct vascular damage, secondary to damage to the neuroretina, or to the ILS preventing diffusion of oxygen into the vitreous cavity. PMID- 2611198 TI - Differences in the binding of aromatic substrates to horseradish peroxidase revealed by fluorescence line narrowing. AB - The heme in horseradish peroxidase (HRP) isoenzyme C was replaced by mesoporphyrin (MP), and the binding effect of the aromatic substrates benzo-and naphthohydroxamic acid (BHA, NHA), resorcinol (RE), isomeric resorcylic acids (alpha-, beta-, gamma-RE), and hydroquinone (HQ) was studied at pH 5 by conventional and laser-excited fluorescence spectroscopy on the basis of the signal of the porphyrin. Under laser excitation at cryogenic temperatures site selection was demonstrated, and the fluorescence line narrowing data were used to characterize the HRP/substrate complexes by the inhomogeneous distribution function for the S0----S1 (0----0) transition energy and the vibrational energies in the S1 electronic state. A comparison with ground-state vibrational energies for MP in chloroform/ether showed a downward shift in vibrational energies for S1 by approximately 20 cm-1. The association characteristics of the substrates were in accordance with previous literature data indicating NHA to be of the strongest binding affinity. For BHA, spectral evidence was obtained for a second type of binding site where hydrophobic interactions with the porphyrin ring may be possible. The effect of the RE's was similar to each other, but only beta-RE showed saturation. Complexation in every case caused the strong reduction of the splitting in the 0----0 transition energy for the tautomeric forms of MP and an increase in the 0----0 energy by 100-200 cm-1 depending on the substrate. The substrate binding also affected the phonon coupling of vibronic transitions exciting into the delta v = 927- and 976-cm-1 modes; in the latter case, the vibrational energy was also increased to 983 cm-1 for beta-RE. In the same energy range, however, the transition into the delta nu = 958-960-cm-1 mode was not affected by binding. Both the magnitude of the energy shifting and the change in the strength of phonon coupling gave the same relation, BHA less than NHA less than HQ less than RE's, indicating a common conformational origin. A reduction of the fluctuational freedom of the protein chain at room temperature within the heme pocket was suggested on the basis of the reduction of the width of the inhomogeneous distribution of 0----0 energies (from 60-70 to approximately 30 cm 1 in case of HRP/HQ) upon substrate binding. Ways to relate the transition energy splitting and shifting effects to conformational changes are discussed by invoking the Jahn-Teller effect. PMID- 2611199 TI - Conformational substates of myoglobin detected by extrinsic dynamic fluorescence studies. AB - The extent of conformational substates of two apomyoglobins, i.e., sperm whale and tuna apomyoglobin, was investigated by examining the fluorescence decay in the frequency domain of the extrinsic fluorophore TNS [6-(p-toluidino)-2 naphthalenesulfonic acid] bound to the heme binding site. Data analysis was performed in terms of a continuous, unimodal lifetime distribution having a Lorentzian shape. The results were compared with those for the free fluorophore in an isotropic nonviscous solvent. The incorporation of TNS into the protein matrix resulted in a broadening of the lifetime distribution due to the microenvironmental heterogeneity generated by structural fluctuations. The larger width of lifetime distribution observed for TNS bound to tuna apomyoglobin was related to a more extended conformational space accessible to the fluorophore in this protein compared to sperm whale myoglobin. A temperature increase from 15 to 40 degrees C produced a further broadening of the lifetime distributions of TNS bound to both proteins. This result can be explained by assuming the existence of conformational substates at high energy content or separated by high energy barriers, which are not populated at low temperature. The overall picture emerging from the reported data is that the lifetime distributions of TNS bound to apomyoglobins are determined largely by the number of conformational substates accessible to the protein matrix and, to a lesser extent, by the interconversion rates among these states. PMID- 2611200 TI - Dehydroquinate synthase: the use of substrate analogues to probe the early steps of the catalyzed reaction. AB - The early steps of the proposed mechanistic pathway for dehydroquinate synthase have been probed with a series of substrate analogues. These analogues, 3-9, are structurally prohibited from undergoing the beta-elimination of inorganic phosphate that represents the committed step in the conversion of the substrate 3 deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (1) to dehydroquinate (2). In agreement with previous observations, the analogues that possess shortened side chains (3,5, and 6) bind more tightly to the enzyme than those (4 and 7-9) that are more nearly isosteric with the substrate. Two hitherto unrecognized factors that influence binding have been identified: (i) carbacylic analogues bind 25-100 times more tightly than the corresponding oxacyclic materials (indeed, the carbacyclic phosphonate 5 has a Ki value of 8 x 10(-10)M) and (ii) the side chain appears to be bound in a gauche conformation similar to the most stable conformation of the cis-vinylhomophosphonate 8. These trends in binding can be rationalized by considering the behavior of the analogues in the first two chemical steps of the mechanism: NAD+-mediated oxidation at C-5 and enolization at C-6 (the first part of the E1cB elimination of inorganic phosphate). Direct spectrophotometric determination of the equilibrium level of enzyme-bound NADH indicates that the carbacyclic analogues are more readily oxidized than the oxacyclic compounds, and this predictable difference in redox behavior is reflected in the observed differences in binding. The gauche conformation of the C-7 side chain appears to be required for proton abstraction from C-6, since only those analogues that can adopt this conformation undergo enzyme-catalyzed exchange of the C-6 proton with the solvent. This conformation positions one of the peripheral oxygens of the phosphate (or phosphonate) group close to the C-6 proton. Taken together with other data, these results suggest that the enzyme exploits this substrate base in the enolization, which occurs through an intramolecular proton transfer. The loss of Pi then completes the beta elimination. PMID- 2611201 TI - Dehydroquinate synthase: the use of substrate analogues to probe the late steps of the catalyzed reaction. AB - The later steps of the proposed mechanistic pathway for the reaction catalyzed by dehydroquinate synthase have been probed by using three substrate analogues. Each of these analogues is structurally prohibited from undergoing the ring-opening reaction that necessarily precedes the carbon-carbon bond-forming step in the overall conversion of the substrate 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (1) to dehydroquinate (2). Two of the analogues (the 2-deoxy cyclic compound 3 and the carbacyclic material 4) are locked into a cyclic form, mimicking the pyranose form of the substrate DAHP. The third analogue, 5, contains no carbonyl group at C-2 and may thus resemble the open-chain form of DAHP. Analogues 3 and 4 each bind to the enzyme and are competitive inhibitors having Ki values of 35 and 0.12 microM, respectively. More importantly, however, incubation of these analogues with the enzyme leads to the catalytic production of Pi along with the corresponding exomethylene compounds that are analogous to the enol ether IV postulated for the normal synthase reaction. In contrast to these results, the acyclic analogue 5 is neither a substrate nor an inhibitor of the enzyme. These data suggest that the enzyme recognizes and acts upon the alpha-pyranose form of the natural substrate. The ready release of the exomethylene products from the processing of analogues 3 and 4 is consistent with the suggestion of Bartlett and his group that the enzyme may release the enol ether intermediate IV into solution, where the ring opening and cyclization occur nonenzymically. The use of 3 stereospecifically labeled with deuterium at C-7 allows the sterochemical course of the beta-elimination of phosphate to be established. This step proceeds with syn stereochemistry, which fits the pattern of enzyme-catalyzed elimination from substrates where the proton is lost from a position alpha to a ketone, an aldehyde, or a thiolester. Since the overall stereochemical course of the transformation mediated by dehydroquinate synthase had been shown to be inversion, the present finding of a syn elimination suggests that the transition state for the subsequent intramolecular aldol reaction has a chairlike geometry. PMID- 2611202 TI - Effect of the distal histidine modification (Cyanation) of myoglobin on the ligand binding kinetics and the heme environmental structures. AB - The kinetics of carbon monoxide (CO) binding to myoglobin (Mb) modified at the distal histidine (His) by cyanogen bromide (BrCN) has been studied. The CO association and dissociation rates of BrCN-modified Mb were obtained as 1.8 x 10(3) M-1 s-1 and 0.13 s-1, respectively (20 degrees C and pH 7.0). Thermodynamic parameters were obtained as well. These values are notable, compared with those for other hemoproteins, the slowest association and the fastest dissociation rates among various hemoproteins examined so far. On the basis of the available structural data obtained from the absorption, 1H NMR, and IR spectral measurements, these unique kinetic and thermodynamic properties were reasonably explained in terms of the steric restriction at the modified distal side. PMID- 2611203 TI - Crystal structure of the carbon monoxide-substrate-cytochrome P-450CAM ternary complex. AB - The crystal structure of the ternary complex formed between carbon monoxide (CO), camphor, and ferrous cytochrome P-450CAM has been refined to an R value of 17.9% at 1.9-A resolution. To accommodate the CO molecule, the substrate, camphor, moves about 0.8 A while at the same time remaining in nonbonded contact with CO. The average temperature factor of the camphor atoms is about 50% higher in the CO complex, suggesting that the camphor is more loosely bound in this ternary complex. The Fe-C-O angle is about 166 degrees, and thus, CO appears to be bent from the heme normal, as it is in various CO-globin complexes, due to steric interactions with active site groups. The oxygen atom of the CO molecule is nestled into a groove formed by an unusual helical hydrogen bond in the distal helix between the highly conserved Thr 252 and Gly 248 residues. In the transition from the ferric camphor-bound binary complex to the ferrous CO-camphor bound ternary complex, the heme iron atom moves into the plane defined by the pyrrole nitrogens by about 0.41 A. Although the axial Cys ligand also moves toward the heme, the S-Fe bond stretches from about 2.20 A in the absence of CO to about 2.41 A once CO has bound. PMID- 2611204 TI - Structural analysis of specificity: alpha-lytic protease complexes with analogues of reaction intermediates. AB - To better understand the structural basis of enzyme specificity, the structures of complexes formed between alpha-lytic protease, an extracellular serine protease of Lysobacter enzymogenes, and five inhibitory peptide boronic acids (R2 boroX, where R2 is methoxysuccinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro- and boroX is the alpha aminoboronic acid analogue of Ala, Val, Ile, Norleu, or Phe) have been studied at high resolution by X-ray crystallography. The enzyme has primary specificity for Ala in the P1 position of peptide substrates with catalytic efficiency decreasing with increasing side-chain volume. Enzyme affinity for inhibitors with boroVal, boroIle, and boroPhe residues is much higher than expected on the basis of the catalytic efficiencies of homologous substrates. Covalent tetrahedral adducts are formed between the active-site serine and the boronic acid moieties of R2 boroAla, R2-boroVal R2-boroIle, and R2-boroNorleu. Though R2-boroVal is a slowly bound inhibitor and R2-boroAla is rapidly bound [Kettner, C. A., Bone, R., Agard, D. A., & Bachovchin, W. W. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 7682-7688], there appear to be no structural differences that could account for slow binding. The removal from solution of 20% more hydrophobic surface on binding accounts for the improved affinity of alpha-lytic protease for R2-boroVal relative to R2-boroAla. The high affinity of the enzyme for R2-boroIle derives from the selective binding of the L allo stereoisomer of the boroIle residue, which can avoid bad steric interactions in the binding pocket.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611205 TI - Crystallographic analysis of the inhibition of porcine pancreatic elastase by a peptidyl boronic acid: structure of a reaction intermediate. AB - The crystal structure of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) complexed to carbobenzoxy-alanylisoleucine-boronic acid (ZAIB) is reported to 2.09-A resolution and refined to an R factor of 0.15. This is the first reported structural analysis of PPE with an isoleucine residu in the primary specificity pocket. The results include (1) marked displacement of the inhibitor out of the active site leading to (2) a close (2.2 A) direct contact between B (boron atom of the inhibitor) and N epsilon of His-57 and also (3) covalent bonding (1.5 A) to O gamma of Ser-195. A scheme for the mechanism of inhibition of PPE by ZAIB is proposed. A comparison with a peptidyl difluoromethyl ketone-PPE complex (Ki = 9.5 microns) is made to explain the strong inhibition of PPE by ZAIB (Ki = 0.3 micron). These results lead us to characterize this structure as a time- and space-averaged reaction intermediate, providing fresh insight into the cramped dimensions available in enzymatic catalyses. PMID- 2611206 TI - Cell-adhesive immunoglobulin M in human plasma. AB - Human plasma contains a cell-adhesive protein that has a structure related to immunoglobulins. This protein was purified by affinity chromatography on an elastin-Sepharose column and by Mono Q anion-exchange chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-reducing and reducing conditions revealed that this protein is a kind of immunoglobulin M (IgM). Antibodies against the mu chain and against the Fc region of IgM inhibited the adhesion of cells to this protein. Addition of the peptide GRGDS into media inhibited the adhesion, too. These results suggest that this protein is a special subset of IgM having a cell-binding sequence in the Fc region. We propose the name "cell-adhesive immunoglobulin M (CA-IgM)" for this protein. CA-IgM binds to alpha-elastin and laminin suggesting that it may play a role in the interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix. PMID- 2611207 TI - Low-affinity gamma-aminobutyric acid transport in rat brain. AB - The low-affinity (Km = 100-200 microM) gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter from membrane vesicles from rat brain has been characterized and found to be in many aspects similar to the well-known sodium- and chloride-coupled high-affinity gamma-aminobutyric acid transporter (Km = 2-4 microM). Influx by this system is sodium and chloride dependent and stimulated by an interior negative membrane potential. Steady-state levels obtained by both systems are lowered by the sodium channel openers veratridine and aconitine. However, while the channel blocker tetrodotoxin fully reverses this inhibition with the high-affinity system, this is not the case for its low-affinity counterpart. Furthermore, the toxin from the scorpion Androctonus australis Hector inhibited high-affinity transport only. Efflux of gamma-aminobutyric acid taken up by the high-affinity system displayed a Km of about 100 microM. Exchange catalyzed by the low-affinity system was observed in the absence of external sodium and chloride. Furthermore, both activities copurified in the fractionation procedure developed to purify the high affinity transporter. All these observations are consistent with the idea that both activities are manifestations of only one gamma-aminobutyric acid transporter. The high-affinity binding site represents the extracellular and the low-affinity site the cytosolic aspect of the transporter. In addition, it was found that right-side-out synaptosomes also contain a low-affinity GABA transporter. This apparently represents a different transport protein. PMID- 2611208 TI - Small, but not large, unilamellar liposomes composed of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine and oleic acid can be stabilized by human plasma. AB - Small unilamellar liposomes, composed of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and oleic acid (OA), prepared by sonication, were incubated in the presence of human plasma at 37 degrees C. The release of entrapped calcein after 8-h incubation was about 15% in plasma, compared with about 70% in phosphate-buffered saline under the same conditions. In contrast, dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC)/OA liposomes under the same conditions release about 70% in plasma and only 10% in PBS. Total release of calcein from the DOPE/OA liposomes was observed in a PBS solution containing bovine serum albumin, and the release was completely blocked by preincubation of the liposomes with plasma. These results indicate that the unstable DOPE/OA liposomes are stabilized by incubation with plasma. The stabilization process was very fast, being completed within 1 min. Only relatively small liposomes (d less than or equal to 200 nm) were completely stabilized by plasma; larger liposomes were progressively less stabilizable. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of liposomes which had been incubated with plasma and then washed indicated that several proteins were tightly associated with liposomes. Using liposomes containing [14C]OA, it was found that about 70% of the original OA was extracted after 1-h incubation with human plasma at 37 degrees C. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of the plasma-treated liposomes showed the presence of the plasma lipids in the liposomes. These results suggest that liposomes composed of DOPE/OA are stabilized by protein and/or lipid components from human plasma and that the composition of the liposomes is altered. The mechanism of stabilization is discussed in terms of the surface pressure of small vesicles with a high degree of curvature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611209 TI - Structure and function relationship of phosphatidylglycerol in the stabilization of the phosphatidylethanolamine bilayer. AB - Differential scanning calorimetry was used to examine the structure-function relationship of the phospholipids on the L alpha-phase stabilization of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) was chosen as a model stabilizer. Dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DEPE) was mixed with various PGs to study the effects of (i) chain length, (ii) chain unsaturation, and (iii) chain number of the stabilizer on the L alpha-phase stabilization. At low concentrations of stabilizer, both bilayer stabilization and destabilization were observed. Phase separations also were seen, as revealed by split peaks of the L beta----L alpha transition; these were particularly prone to occur in the destabilization cases. When saturated PGs were compared, shorter chains (C12:0 and C14:0) promoted bilayer stabilization whereas longer chains (C16:0 and C18:0) promoted bilayer destabilization. Unsaturated PG with larger hydrophobic volumes (C18:2) favored bilayer destabilization, relative to unsaturated PG with smaller hydrophobic volumes (C18:1). Lyso-PG (C14:0) showed higher bilayer stabilization activity than their double-chain counterparts. Thus, at low concentrations of stabilizer, the acyl chain composition plays a vital role in bilayer-phase stabilization. However, at higher concentrations (greater than or equal to 8 mol %), all PGs become active bilayer stabilizers. This is probably because the increased head-group hydration becomes the dominant factor in the stabilization. The effect of acyl chain composition of the stabilizer was also studied by using small unilamellar vesicles composed of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Fluorescence quenching of calcein entrapped in liposomes was used to monitor the stability of the liposomes. Similar acyl chain effects on liposomal stabilization were obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611210 TI - Interaction of the pore-forming domain of colicin A with phospholipid vesicles. AB - The interaction of the 20-kDa pore-forming domain of colicin A with phospholipid vesicles was investigated by gel permeation chromatography, analytical centrifugation, and electron microscopy. Under the experimental conditions of this study, this peptide was found to interact only with vesicles containing negatively charged phospholipids. It forms a well-defined disklike complex with phosphatidylglycerols with a preference for those containing 12-14 atoms of carbon in their fatty acid chain. This complex has a diameter of 120 A and is about one bilayer thick. It contains nine molecules of peptide and is formed both at acidic pH (pH 5.0) and at neutral pH (pH 7.2). PMID- 2611211 TI - Electric charge effects on phospholipid headgroups. Phosphatidylcholine in mixtures with cationic and anionic amphiphiles. AB - The influence of electric surface charges on the polar headgroups and the hydrocarbon region of phospholipid membranes was studied by mixing 1-palmitoyl-2 oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) with charged amphiphiles. A positive surface charge was generated with dialkyldimethylammonium salts and a negative surface charge with dialkyl phosphates. The POPC:amphiphile ratio and hence the surface charge density could be varied over a large range since stable liquid crystalline bilayers were obtained even for the pure amphiphiles in water. POPC was selectively deuterated at both methylene segments of the choline moiety and at the cis double bond of the oleic acyl chain. Additional experiments were carried out with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine labeled at the C-2 position of the glycerol backbone. Deuterium, phosphorus, and nitrogen-14 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were recorded for liquid-crystalline bilayers with varying concentrations of amphiphiles. Although the hydrocarbon region and the glycerol backbone were not significantly influenced by the addition of amphiphiles, very large perturbations of the phosphocholine headgroup were observed. Qualitatively, these results were similar to those observed previously with other cationic and anionic molecules and suggest that the electric surface charge is the essential driving force in changing the phospholipid headgroup orientation and conformation. While the P-N dipole is approximately parallel to the membrane surface in the pure phospholipid membrane, the addition of a positively charged amphiphile or the binding of cationic molecules moves the N+ end of the dipole toward the water phase, changing the orientation of the phosphate segment by more than 30 degrees at the highest amphiphile concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611212 TI - Spectroscopic and kinetic features of allocolchicine binding to tubulin. AB - Allocolchicine is a structural isomer of colchicine in which colchicine's tropone C ring is replaced with an aromatic ester. In spite of the structural differences between the two ligands, the association parameters for both molecules binding to tubulin are quite similar. The association constant for allocolchicine binding to tubulin was determined by fluorescence titration to be 6.1 x 10(5) M-1 at 37 degrees C, which is about a factor of 5 less than that of the colchicine-tubulin association. In particular, analysis of the kinetics of the association of allocolchicine with tubulin yielded nearly equivalent activation parameters for the two ligands. The activation energy of the allocolchicine binding reaction was found to be 18.4 +/- 1.5 kcal/mol, which is only slightly less than the activation energy for colchicine binding to tubulin. This finding argues against conformational flexibility of the C ring as the structural feature of colchicine responsible for the slow kinetics of colchicinoid-tubulin binding reactions. Tubulin binding promote a dramatic enhancement of allocolchicine fluorescence. Unlike colchicine, the emission energy and intensity of the tubulin-bound allocolchicine fluorescence can be mimicked by solvent, and a general hydrophobic environment for the ligand binding site is indicated. The excitation spectrum of the protein-bound species, however, is shown to possess two bands which center at higher and lower energy than the energy maximum of the spectrum of the ligand in apolar solvents, indicating that properties of the colchicine binding site in addition to a low dielectric constant contribute to the fluorescence of the bound species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611213 TI - Novel tri-and tetrasialosylpoly-N-acetyllactosaminyl gangliosides of human placenta: structure determination of pentadeca- and eicosaglycosylceramides by methylation analysis, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. AB - A series of highly polar neolacto series (poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl) gangliosides were isolated from human placenta tissue and purified by HPLC and preparative HPTLC. Two of these ganglioside fractions (G-12 and G-13) were analyzed by 500 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy, GC-EIMS, +FAB-MS, and sequential exoglycosidase treatments. Their structures have been identified as being of the repeating N acetyllactosamine type, multiply branched through GlcNAc beta 1----6/3 linkages, with every nonreducing Gal terminal alpha 2----3-sialosylated, as shown below. These are among the highest molecular weight glycosphingolipids whose detailed oligosaccharide structures are presently known. (formula; see text). PMID- 2611214 TI - Characterization and partial purification of an estrogen type II binding site in chick oviduct cytosol. AB - An estrogen binding site of moderate affinity (Kd approximately 10 nM) and high capacity (approximately 25-70 pmol/g of tissue) was measured in DES-stimulated chick oviduct cytosol. Saturation analysis by [3H]estradiol exchange demonstrated that this binding site displayed sigmoidal binding characteristics suggesting a cooperative binding mechanism. Competition analysis with a number of compounds demonstrated that the bioflavonoid luteolin was a better competitor for binding to type II sites in chick than either estradiol or DES. Steroid specificity was demonstrated by the inability of 17 alpha-estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, corticosterone, and the triphenylethylene antiestrogen nafoxidine (U-1100A) to compete for [3H]-17 beta-estradiol binding to chick oviduct cytosol preparations. In addition, the binding site appeared to be sensitive to sulfhydryl reducing reagents as evidenced by a 75% reduction in binding activity in the presence of dithiothreitol. Both prelabeling and postlabeling procedures used in conjunction with Sephacryl S-300 chromatography resulted in a single major peak of type II binding activity representing a molecular weight in the 40,000 range. Type II binding activity was recoverable after precipitation with ammonium sulfate, and this material was subjected to a variety of column chromatography procedures in order to achieve further purification of the type II site. Significant purification of the site was achieved with a bioflavonoid-Sepharose (quercetin Sepharose) affinity matrix. The purified type II sites eluted from quercetin Sepharose displayed the same sigmoidal binding curves characteristic of native cytosol. PMID- 2611215 TI - Substrate specificities of growth factor associated kallikreins of the mouse submandibular gland. AB - The kinetic constants for the hydrolysis of a series of tripeptide p-nitroanilide substrates by mouse epidermal growth factor binding protein (EGF-BP), the gamma subunit of mouse nerve growth factor (gamma-NGF), bovine pancreatic trypsin (BPT), and porcine pancreatic kallikrein (PPK) have been evaluated. These substrates correspond to the carboxyl-terminal three amino acids of the mature forms of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and beta-nerve growth factor (beta-NGF), as well as various substitutions in the penultimate and antepenultimate positions, and, as such, represent potential recognition sites for precursor processing. The mouse kallikreins (EGF-BP and gamma-NGF) preferentially hydrolyze the substrates with the sequences of their specifically associated growth factors; however, the constants derived from these reactions do not account for the association constants observed with the mature growth factors, and additional significant binding interactions between EGF-BP and EGF and between gamma-NGF and beta-NGF are predicted to exist outside of the catalytic binding site, i.e., the P3 to P1 positions. A comparison of the kinetic constants of BPT, PPK, and the mouse kallikreins indicates that EGF-BP and gamma-NGF display a hybrid catalytic character. A favorable substrate P1 arginine guanidinium group interaction exists for the mouse kallikreins, similar to that of BPT, but a preference for a hydrophobic side chain in the substrate P2 position makes the mouse kallikreins, especially EGF-BP, more closely resemble PPK than BPT. These findings have significant implications with regard to molecular modeling of the mouse kallikreins. PMID- 2611216 TI - Sequence dependence of DNA conformational flexibility. AB - By using conformational free energy calculations, we have studied the sequence dependence of flexibility and its anisotropy along various conformational variables of DNA base pairs. The results show the AT base step to be very flexible along the twist coordinate. On the other hand, homonucleotide steps, GG(CC) and AA(TT), are among the most rigid sequences. For the roll motion that would correspond to a bend, the TA step is most flexible, while the GG(CC) step is least flexible. The flexibility of roll is quite anisotropic; the ratio of fluctuations toward the major and minor grooves is the largest for the GC step and the smallest for the AA(TT) and CG steps. Propeller twisting of base pairs is quite flexible, especially of A.T base pairs; propeller twist can reach 19 degrees by thermal fluctuation. We discuss the effect of electrostatic parameters, comparison with available experimental results, and biological relevance of these results. PMID- 2611217 TI - NMR studies of triple-strand formation from the homopurine-homopyrimidine deoxyribonucleotides d(GA)4 and d(TC)4. AB - The complexes formed by the homopurine and homopyrimidine deoxyribonucleotides d(GA)4 and d(TC)4 have been investigated by one- and two-dimensional 1H NMR. Under appropriate conditions [low pH, excess d(TC)4 strand] the oligonucleotides form a triplex containing one d(GA)4 and two d(TC)4 strands. The homopurine and one of the homopyrimidine strands are Watson-Crick base paired, and the second homopyrimidine strand is Hoogsteen base paired in the major groove to the d(GA)4 strand. Hoogsteen base pairing in GC base pairs requires hemiprotonation of C; we report direct observation of the C+ imino proton in these base pairs. Both homopyrimidine strands have C3'-endo sugar conformations, but the purine strand does not. The major triplex formed appears to have four TAT and three CGC+ triplets formed by binding of the second d(TC)4 strand parallel to the d(GA)4 strand with a 3' dangling end. In addition to the triplexes formed, at least one other heterocomplex is observed under some conditions. PMID- 2611218 TI - Solution structure of the parallel-stranded duplex oligonucleotide alpha d(TCTAAAC)-beta-d(AGATTTG) via complete relaxation matrix analysis of the NOE effects and molecular mechanics calculations. AB - The solution structure of the duplex formed by the association of the unnatural oligonucleotide alpha-d(TCTAAAC) with its natural and parallel complementary sequence beta-d(AGATTTG) was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and constrained molecular mechanics calculations. The structure was refined on the basis of interproton distances determined by NOE measurements for a series of mixing times. The NOE values were converted to distances by using the complete 134 x 134 relaxation matrix including all proton dipole-dipole interactions and spin diffusion. The computation of the relaxation matrix requires the Cartesian coordinates of the oligonucleotide, which are not known, a priori. To avoid this ambiguity, we used an iterative procedure in which the new distance constraints are obtained by using the complete relaxation matrix calculated from the previous structure. After three iterations, the process converged. The unnatural duplex alpha-d(TCTAAAC)-beta-d(AGATTTG) adopts in solution a right-helical structure with Watson-Crick base pairing, an anti conformation on the glycosyl linkage on the beta-strand, a syn conformation on the alpha-strand, and a 3'-exo conformation of the deoxyriboses for both sugar anomers. The three-dimensional structure obtained allowed us to describe the local heterogeneity of the duplex. PMID- 2611219 TI - Fluorescence stopped-flow kinetics of the cleavage of synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides by the EcoRI restriction endonuclease. AB - We have investigated in fluorescence stopped-flow and temperature-jump experiments the EcoRI-catalyzed cleavage of synthetic palindromic tridecadeoxynucleotides which contain the EcoRI site but differ in the flanking sequences. The overall reaction can be resolved in several reactions which were analyzed by a nonlinear least-squares fitting procedure on the experimental data. The result of this analysis is a minimal scheme that describes the overall reaction in terms of the rate constants of the individual reactions. According to this scheme EcoRI and the tridecadeoxynucleotide substrates associate in the presence of Mg2+ in a nearly diffusion-controlled process. This is followed by a reaction which is or includes the cleavage of the first phosphodiester bond. There is no indication for a time-resolved conformational transition prior to catalysis. After cleavage of the first strand, dissociation of the nicked double strand can occur, which then rearranges to the original palindromic double stranded substrate and is bound again by the enzyme. Alternatively, the nicked double strand can be cleaved in the second strand. This reaction is followed by product release from the enzyme. The magnitude of the individual rate constants depends on the substrate used; the differences explain the preference of EcoRI for substrates that contain AT as compared to GC base pairs next to the recognition site. PMID- 2611220 TI - Range of the solvation pressure between lipid membranes: dependence on the packing density of solvent molecules. AB - Well-ordered multilamellar arrays of liquid-crystalline phosphatidylcholine and equimolar phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol bilayers have been formed in the nonaqueous solvents formamide and 1,3-propanediol. The organization of these bilayers and the interactions between apposing bilayer surfaces have been investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis of liposomes compressed by applied osmotic pressures up to 6 X 10(7) dyn/cm2 (60 atm). The structure of egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC) bilayers in these solvents is quite different than in water, with the bilayer thickness being largest in water, 3 A narrower in formamide, and 6 A narrower in 1,3-propanediol. The incorporation of equimolar cholesterol increases the thickness of EPC bilayers immersed in each solvent, by over 10 A in the case of 1,3-propanediol. The osmotic pressures of various concentrations of the neutral polymer poly(vinylpyrrolidone) dissolved in formamide or 1,3-propanediol have been measured with a custom-built membrane osmometer. These measurements are used to obtain the distance dependence of the repulsive solvation pressure between apposing bilayer surfaces. For each solvent, the solvation pressure decreases exponentially with distance between bilayer surfaces. However, for both EPC and EPC-cholesterol bilayers, the decay length and magnitude of this repulsive pressure strongly depend on the solvent. The decay length for EPC bilayers in water, formamide, and 1,3-propanediol is found to be 1.7, 2.4, and 2.6 A, respectively, whereas the decay length for equimolar EPC-cholesterol bilayers in water, formamide, and 1,3-propanediol is found to be 2.1, 2.9, and 3.1 A, respectively. These data indicate that the decay length is inversely proportional to the cube root of the number of solvent molecules per unit volume.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611221 TI - Stabilization, purification, and characterization of glutamate synthase from Clostridium pasteurianum. AB - Clostridium pasteurianum possesses a high level of glutamate synthase (EC 1.4.1.14) activity and cell yield when grown on 4 mM ammonium chloride and molasses as the sole nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively. The enzyme activity is stabilized by addition of alpha-ketoglutarate, EDTA, and 2 mercaptoethanol. Ammonium sulfate precipitation and single-step combined gel and ion-exchange chromatography followed by fractional dialysis yield a homogeneous protein with 40% recovery of the glutamate synthase activity. The native enzyme (Mr congruent to 590,000) gives five different subunits (as dimers) upon SDS gel electrophoresis. The enzyme has been characterized for pH and temperature optimum, substrate specificity, Kmapp values, energy of activation, half-life, and thermal stabilization. Metal ions and citric acid cycle metabolites do not affect the enzyme activity. Glutamate synthase shows fluorescence maximum at 370 nm when excited at 280 nm. The fluorescence is quenched upon the addition of NADH. Spectroscopic examination of the enzyme gave absorption maximum at 280 and none at 380 and 440 nm, indicating the absence of iron and flavin. The absence of iron and flavin was also confirmed by atomic absorption, chemical analysis, and fluoroscopy, respectively. The C. pasteurianum enzyme differs from that of other aerobic bacterial sources. PMID- 2611222 TI - Substrate oxidation by the heme edge of fungal peroxidases. Reaction of Coprinus macrorhizus peroxidase with hydrazines and sodium azide. AB - The peroxidase from Coprinus macrorhizus is inactivated by phenylhydrazine or sodium azide in the presence of H2O2. Inactivation by phenylhydrazine results in formation of the delta-meso-phenyl and 8-hydroxymethyl derivatives of the prosthetic heme group and covalent binding of the phenyl moiety to the protein but not in the detectable formation of Fe-phenyl- or N-phenylheme adducts. Alkylhydrazines are catalytically oxidized but do not inactivate the enzyme. Catalytic oxidation of sodium azide produces the azidyl radical and results in its addition to the delta-meso position of the prosthetic heme group. Comparison of the heme adducts obtained with C. macrorhizus peroxidase with those generated by horseradish peroxidase shows that the regiochemistry of the addition reactions is the same in both cases. The results suggest that substrates interact primarily or exclusively with the heme edge rather than the ferryl oxygen of C. macrorhizus peroxidase and indicate that the interaction occurs with the same sector of the heme edge as in horseradish peroxidase. The active-site topologies of this pair of plant and fungal peroxidases thus appear to be similar, although the observation that alkylhydrazines add to the heme edge of horseradish but not C. macrorhizus peroxidase clearly shows that there are significant differences in the two active sites. PMID- 2611223 TI - Isolation and complete structure of the lymphocyte serine protease granzyme G, a novel member of the granzyme multigene family in murine cytolytic T lymphocytes. Evolutionary origin of lymphocyte proteases. AB - A cDNA clone that is closely related to the granule-associated serine proteases of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL), called granzymes A-F, was isolated from a CTL expression library. The encoded serine protease, granzyme G, shows 70%-89% nucleotide identities to the granzymes C-F and, like those, consists of 228 amino acids preceded by the short propeptide Glu-Glu and a 18 residue long signal peptide. Granzyme G was identified by amino-terminal sequence analysis as a correctly processed and sorted protein stored in lysosome-like granules. The phylogenetic history of the granzyme multigene family was reconstructed by two tree-making methods and by Southern blot analyses of human, rat, and mouse DNA. Our results indicate differences in the evolutionary pathway between these species. The murine granzymes C-G descended from a progenitor present at the time of mammalian radiation. Granzyme C branched off first after the primate-rodent split and was involved in a recombination event with granzyme B before the rat mouse divergence. Granzymes D and E have diverged after the mouse-rat speciation. However, no experimental evidence for the existence of a granzyme C-D-E-F-G equivalent was found in humans, and loss of the ancestral gene in the primate lineage is discussed. In view of the species differences in the number of granzyme gene copies during recent evolution, we propose that the murine granzymes B-G play several distinct roles in CTL-mediated effector functions as a response to quite recent changes of the biochemical environment. PMID- 2611224 TI - Vanadium K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy of bromoperoxidase from Ascophyllum nodosum. AB - Bromoperoxidase from Ascophyllum nodusum was the first vanadium-containing enzyme to be isolated. X-ray absorption spectra have now been collected in order to investigate the coordination of vanadium in the native, native plus bromide, native plus hydrogen peroxide, and dithionite-reduced forms of the enzyme. The edge and X-ray absorption near-edge structures show that, in the four samples studied, it is only on reduction of the native enzyme that the metal site is substantially altered. In addition, these data are consistent with the presence of vanadium(IV) in the reduced enzyme and vanadium(V) in the other samples. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure data confirm that there are structural changes at the metal site on reduction of the native enzyme, notably a lengthening of the average inner-shell distance, and the presence of terminal oxygen together with histidine and oxygen-donating residues. PMID- 2611225 TI - Crystallization and characterization of human chorionic gonadotropin in chemically deglycosylated and enzymatically desialylated states. AB - Crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction studies at moderate resolution have been grown from two forms of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG): HF-treated hCG and neuraminidase-treated hCG. The enzymatically desialylated form of hCG produced crystals that diffract to 2.8 A as compared to the HF-treated hCG crystals that diffract to 3.0 A. Although it was assumed that the high and heterogeneous carbohydrate content of the glycoprotein hormones inhibited their crystallization, this report suggests that it is the negatively charged surface sugars and neither the total carbohydrate content nor its heterogeneity which interferes with crystal formation. Chemical deglycosylation resulted in significantly increased protein degradation during crystal growth. Such peptide bond cleavages were observed to a much lesser extent in the crystals grown from neuraminidase-digested hCG. Sequence analysis of the HF-treated hCG crystals suggested that up to 45% of the molecules within the crystal had an acid-labile peptide bond cleaved. In contrast, the neuraminidase-treated hCG exhibited less than 9% of this type of cleavage. The increase in heterogeneity of the polypeptide chains within both crystals over that existent in the starting proteins was apparently due to changes occurring during crystal growth. The manner in which hCG was treated prior to crystallization was found to be a very important factor in the extent of peptide bond cleavages occurring during crystal growth. HF treatment of glycoproteins may render glycoproteins more susceptible to peptide bond cleavages during crystal growth. PMID- 2611226 TI - Formation of an intramolecular cystine disulfide during the reaction of 8 azidoguanosine 5'-triphosphate with cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) causes inactivation without photolabeling. AB - Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (PEPCK) specifically utilizes a guanosine or inosine nucleotide as a substrate, yet it does not share extended sequence homology with other GTP-binding proteins, and the molecular basis for its nucleotide specificity is not understood. In an effort to locate the enzyme's nucleotide-binding site, we have studied the interaction of cytosolic PEPCK from rat liver with the photoprobe 8-azidoGTP, which fulfills the criteria of a specific photoaffinity label for PEPCK. The photoprobe binds reversibly to the enzyme prior to modification and at low concentrations causes greater than 60% inactivation (Ki = 1.2 microM). GTP provides nearly complete protection against inactivation by 8-azidoGTP, whereas phosphoenolpyruvate and metal ions provide partial protection. In addition, the photoprobe is a substrate for the enzyme and has a Km similar to that for GTP. However, the extent of covalent modification by [32P]8-azidoGTP as measured by three independent techniques is significantly lower than the extent of enzyme inactivation. Further investigation of this anomaly has revealed that the loss in enzymatic activity is caused by modification of a critical cysteine residue in a reaction that does not terminate with covalent attachment of the photolabel. Quantitation of the total free thiols of modified PEPCK shows that 2 mol of cysteine is lost per mole of inactivated enzyme. These results indicate that the photoinactivation of PEPCK by 8-azidoGTP is caused by the formation of an intramolecular cystine disulfide bridge, thus providing evidence for the existence of a pair of proximal cysteine residues within the GTP-binding site. The interaction of cysteine residues with the reactive photogenerated derivatives of 8-azidopurines is discussed. PMID- 2611227 TI - Introduction of a cysteine protease active site into trypsin. AB - Active site serine 195 of rat anionic trypsin was replaced with a cysteine by site-specific mutagenesis in order to determine if a thiol group could function as the catalytic nucleophile in serine protease active site environment. Two genetically modified rat thiol trypsins were generated; the first variant contained a single substitution of Ser195 with Cys (trypsin S195C) while the second variant contained the Ser195 to Cys as well as an Asp102 to Asn substitution (trypsin D102N,S195C) that more fully mimics the putative catalytic triad of papain. Both variants were expressed as his J signal peptide-trypsin fusion proteins to high levels under the control of the tac promoter. The mature forms of both variants were secreted into the periplasmic space of Escherichia coli. Trypsin S195C shows a low level of activity toward the activated ester substrate Z-Lys-pNP, while both trypsin S195C and trypsin D102N,S195C were active toward the fluorogenic tripeptide substrate Z-GPR-AMC. Esterase and peptidase activities of both thiol trypsin variants were inhibited by known Cys protease inhibitors as well as by specific trypsin inhibitors. The kcat of trypsin S195C was reduced by a factor of 6.4 x 10(5) relative to that of trypsin while the kcat of trypsin D102N,S195C was lowered by a factor of 3.4 x 10(7) with Z-GPR-AMC as substrate. Km values were unaffected. The loss of activity of trypsin D102N,S195C was partially attributed to an inappropriate Asn102-His57 interaction that precludes the formation of the catalytically competent His57-Cys195 ion pair although loss of the negative charge of D102 at the active site probably contributes to diminished activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611228 TI - Crystal structures of two engineered thiol trypsins. AB - We have determined the three-dimensional structures of engineered rat trypsins which mimic the active sites of two classes of cysteine proteases. The catalytic serine was replaced with cysteine (S195C) to test the ability of sulfur to function as a nucleophile in a serine protease environment. This variant mimics the cysteine trypsin class of thiol proteases. An additional mutation of the active site aspartate to an asparagine (D102N) created the catalytic triad of the papain-type cysteine proteases. Rat trypsins S195C and D102N,S195C were solved to 2.5 and 2.0 A, respectively. The refined structures were analyzed to determine the structural basis for the 10(6)-fold loss of activity of trypsin S195C and the 10(8)-fold loss of activity of trypsin D102N,S195C, relative to rat trypsin. The active site thiols were found in a reduced state in contrast to the oxidized thiols found in previous thiol protease structures. These are the first reported structures of serine proteases with the catalytic centers of sulfhydryl proteases. Structure analysis revealed only subtle global changes in enzyme conformation. The substrate binding pocket is unaltered, and active site amino acid 102 forms hydrogen bonds to H57 and S214 as well as to the backbone amides of A56 and H57. In trypsin S195C, D102 is a hydrogen-bond acceptor for H57 which allows the other imidazole nitrogen to function as a base during catalysis. In trypsin D102N,S195C, the asparagine at position 102 is a hydrogen-bond donor to H57 which places a proton on the imidazole nitrogen proximal to the nucleophile. This tautomer of H57 is unable to act as a base in catalysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611229 TI - Purification and substrate specificity of Staphylococcus hyicus lipase. AB - The Staphylococcus hyicus lipase gene has been cloned and expressed in Staphylococcus carnosus. From the latter organism the enzyme was secreted into the medium as a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 86 kDa. This protein was purified, and the amino-terminal sequence showed that the primary gene product was indeed cleaved at the proposed signal peptide cleavage site. The protein was purified from large-scale preparations after tryptic digestion. This limited proteolysis reduced the molecular mass to 46 kDa and increased the specific activity about 3-fold. Although the enzyme had a low specific activity in the absence of divalent cations, the activity increased about 40-fold in the presence of Sr2+ or Ca2+ ions. The purified lipase has a broad substrate specificity. The acyl chains were removed from the primary and secondary positions of natural neutral glycerides and from a variety of synthetic glyceride analogues. Thus triglycerides were fully hydrolyzed to free fatty acid and glycerol. The enzyme hydrolyzed naturally occurring phosphatidylcholines, their synthetic short-chain analogues, and lysophospholipids to free fatty acids and water-soluble products. The enzyme had a 2-fold higher activity on micelles of short-chain D-lecithins than on micelles composed of the L-isomers. Thus the enzyme from S. hyicus has lipase activity and also high phospholipase A and lysophospholipase activity. PMID- 2611230 TI - Evolutionary optimization of the catalytic effectiveness of an enzyme. AB - The kinetic and thermodynamic features of reactions catalyzed by present-day enzymes appear to be the consequence of the evolution of these proteins toward maximal catalytic effectiveness. These features are identified and analyzed (in detail for one substrate-one product enzymes) by using ideas that link the energetics of the reaction catalyzed by an enzyme to the maximization of its catalytic efficiency. A catalytically optimized enzyme will have a value for the "internal" equilibrium constant (Kint, the equilibrium constant between the substrates and the products of the enzyme when all are bound productively) that depends on how close to equilibrium the enzyme maintains its reaction in vivo. Two classes are apparent. For an enzyme that operates near equilibrium, the catalytic efficiency is sensitive to the value of Kint, and the optimum value of Kint is near unity. For an enzyme that operates far from equilibrium, the catalytic efficiency is less sensitive to the value of Kint, and Kint assumes a value that ensures that the rate of the chemical transformation is equal to the rate of product release. In each of these cases, the internal thermodynamics is "dynamically matched", where the concentrations of substrate- and product containing complexes are equal at the steady state in vivo. PMID- 2611231 TI - Internal thermodynamics of enzymes determined by equilibrium quench: values of Kint for enolase and creatine kinase. AB - The equilibrium constant (Kint) for the enzyme-bound substrate and product of a one substrate/one product enzyme (enolase) and for those of a two substrate/two product enzyme (creatine kinase) have been determined. The values of Kint were determined by the rapid quenching of equilibrium mixtures of enzyme and radiolabeled substrate and product, under conditions where all of the marker substrate and product are bound. The scope and limitations of this method are discussed. Values of Kint have been collected from the literature, and it is shown that these data are consistent with the theory for kinetically optimized enzymes that is developed in the preceding paper. PMID- 2611232 TI - Differences in the effects of phorbol esters and diacylglycerols on protein kinase C. AB - The binding of protein kinase C (PKC) to membranes and appearance of kinase activity are separable events. Binding is a two-step process consisting of a reversible calcium-dependent interaction followed by an irreversible interaction that can only be dissociated by detergents. The irreversibly bound PKC is constitutively active, and the second step of binding may be a major mechanism of PKC activation [Bazzi & Nelsestuen (1988) Biochemistry 27, 7589]. This study examined the activity of other forms of membrane-bound PKC and compared the effects of phorbol esters and diacylglycerols. Like the membrane-binding event, activation of PKC was a two-stage process. Diacylglycerols (DAG) participated in forming an active PKC which was reversibly bound to the membrane. In this case, both activity and membrane binding were terminated by addition of calcium chelators. DAG functioned poorly in generating the constitutively active, irreversible PKC-membrane complex. These properties differed markedly from phorbol esters which activated PKC in a reversible complex but also promoted constitutive PKC activation by forming the irreversible PKC-membrane complex. The concentration of phorbol esters needed to generate the irreversible PKC-membrane complex was slightly higher than the concentration needed to activate PKC. In addition, high concentrations of phorbol esters (greater than or equal to 50 nM) activated PKC and induced irreversible PKC-membrane binding in the absence of calcium. Despite these striking differences, DAG prevented binding of phorbol esters to high-affinity sites on the PKC-membrane complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611233 TI - Autoactivation of human recombinant coagulation factor VII. AB - Single-chain human recombinant factor VII produced by transfected baby hamster kidney cells was purified to homogeneity in the presence of benzamidine. The amidolytic activity of single-chain recombinant factor VII with a peptidylnitroanilide substrate, methoxycarbonyl-D-cyclohexanylglycyl-L-arginine-p nitroanilide, was less than 1% of that obtained with factor VIIa. Purified single chain recombinant factor VII spontaneously activated in the absence of inhibitor. The activation reaction was enhanced by at least 2 orders of magnitude in the presence of a positively charged surface, provided either as an anion-exchange matrix or as poly(D-lysine). The progress curve for factor VIIa generation was sigmoidal. Benzamidine inhibits recombinant factor VIIa activity and factor VII activation with identical inhibition constants (Ki) of 11 mM. In contrast, benzamidine inhibition of bovine factor Xa and bovine factor IIa was observed at Ki values equal to 0.3 and 0.5 mM, respectively. Bovine factors Xa and IIa are known activators of factor VII and the most likely contaminants of our recombinant factor VII preparations. Single-chain recombinant factor VII purified from cells cultured in the absence of bovine serum activated at the same rate as factor VII from cells cultured in the presence of bovine serum. This also excluded the possibility that the activation reaction was caused by contaminating bovine proteases. On the basis of these observations, we propose that factor VII is autoactivated in vitro in the presence of a positively charged surface. PMID- 2611234 TI - Gangliosides interact directly with plasminogen and urokinase and may mediate binding of these fibrinolytic components to cells. AB - Receptors for the fibrinolytic molecules plasminogen and urokinase are expressed at high capacity on a wide variety of peripheral blood cells and transformed cell lines. We have considered whether gangliosides, components of the outer leaflets of cell membranes, may modulate the interactions of these fibrinolytic ligands with cells. Radiolabeled plasminogen and urokinase bound directly to insolubilized gangliosides. The interactions were saturable and were 50% inhibited by 2.2 microM unlabeled plasminogen or 12 nM unlabeled urokinase, respectively. A panel of gangliosides inhibited binding of both ligands to U937 monocytoid cells, and the order of decreasing inhibitory effectiveness was GD1a greater than GM1 greater than GT1b greater than GM2, while GM3 was minimally effective. The individual components of gangliosides, hexoses, hexosamines, sialic acid, GM1 pentasaccharide, ceramides, and glucocerebrosides were ineffective in in inhibiting the binding of plasminogen and urokinase either to cells or to insolubilized gangliosides. Binding of both ligands to endothelial cells and granulocytes and binding of plasminogen to platelets were also inhibited by gangliosides. U937 cells were cultured with gangliosides to allow incorporation of these glycolipids into the cell membranes. After 3 days of culture, both urokinase binding and plasminogen binding to the cells became enhanced. These results suggest that gangliosides can directly bind to these fibrinolytic components and may mediate or modulate the interactions of plasminogen and urokinase with a variety of cell types. PMID- 2611235 TI - Solution structures of proteins from NMR data and modeling: alternative folds for neutrophil peptide 5. AB - The structure of neutrophil peptide 5 in solution has recently been reported (Pardi et al., 1988). The structure determination was accomplished by using a distance geometry algorithm and 107 interproton distance constraints obtained from 2D NMR data. In each of the eight independent solutions to the distance geometry equations, the overall fold of the polypeptide backbone was identical and the root mean square (rms) deviation between backbone atoms of the superimposed structures was small (approximately 2.4 A). In this paper we report additional NP-5 structures obtained by using a new structure generation algorithm: a Monte Carlo search in torsion angle space. These structures have a large rms backbone deviation from the distance geometry structures (approximately 5.0 A). The backbone topologies differ in significant respects from the distance geometry structures and from each other. Structures are found that are pseudo mirror images of part or all of the fold corresponding to that first obtained with the distance geometry procedure. For small proteins, the problem of distinguishing the correct structure among pseudo mirror images is likely to be greater than previously recognized. When a set of test distance constraints constructed from a novel Monte Carlo structure is used as input in the distance geometry algorithm, the fold of the resulting structure does not correspond to that of the target. The results also demonstrate that the previously accepted criteria (the magnitude of the rms deviation between multiple solutions of the distance geometry equations) for defining the accuracy and precision of a peptide structure generated from NMR data are inadequate. An energetic analysis of structures corresponding to the different folding topologies has been carried out. The molecular mechanics energies obtained by minimization and molecular dynamics refinement provide sufficient information to eliminate certain alternative structures. On the basis of a careful comparison of the different trial structures with the experimental data, it is concluded that the NP-5 peptide fold which was originally reported is most consistent with the data. An alternative fold corresponding to structures with low energies and small total distance violations is ruled out because for this fold predicted NOEs are not observed experimentally. PMID- 2611236 TI - Determination of the DNA sugar pucker using 13C NMR spectroscopy. AB - Solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy of a series of crystalline nucleosides and nucleotides allows direct measurement of the effect of the deoxyribose ring conformation on the carbon chemical shift. It is found that 3'-endo conformers have 3' and 5' chemical shifts significantly (5-10 ppm) upfield of comparable 3' exo and 2'-endo conformers. The latter two conformers may be distinguished by smaller but still significant differences in the carbon chemical shifts at the C 2' and C-4' positions. High-resolution solid-state NMR of three modifications of fibrous calf thymus DNA shows that these trends are maintained in high-molecular weight DNA and confirms that the major ring pucker in A-DNA is 3'-endo, while both B-DNA and C-DNA are largely 2'-endo. The data show that 13C NMR spectroscopy is a straightforward and useful probe of DNA ring pucker in both solution and the solid state. PMID- 2611237 TI - Hypelcin A, an alpha-aminoisobutyric acid containing antibiotic peptide, induced permeability change of phosphatidylcholine bilayers. AB - Interactions of hypelcin A, an alpha-aminoisobutyric acid containing antibiotic peptide, with phosphatidylcholine vesicles were investigated to obtain information on its bioactive mechanism. The peptide induced the leakage of a fluorescent dye, calcein, entrapped in sonicated vesicles. The leakage rate depended on both the peptide and the lipid concentrations. Analysis of this dependency indicated that the leakage was due to the monomeric peptide and that the membrane-perturbing activity of the monomer was higher for solid distearoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles than for fluid egg yolk phosphatidylcholine vesicles. Hypelcin A also affected the gel to liquid crystalline phase transition of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine multilamellar vesicles. The transition was broadened with a reduced transition enthalpy, suggesting the peptide strongly binds the surrounding lipids to perturb the bilayer lipid packing. A circular dichroism study revealed that the helical content of hypelcin A increases upon membrane binding. We concluded that the monomeric peptide with an increased helical content, complexed with the lipids, perturbs the lipid organization and induces the increased permeability. PMID- 2611238 TI - Dependence of the bilayer to hexagonal phase transition on amphiphile chain length. AB - Several series of amphiphiles of increasing chain length were tested for their abilities to modify the L alpha-HII transition of dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine using differential scanning calorimetry. Acylcarnitines, alkyl sulfates, alkylsulfobetaines, and phosphatidylcholines, with chain lengths between about 6 and 12 carbon atoms, show an increasing capacity to raise the L alpha-HII phase transition temperature of phosphatidylethanolamine. This is ascribed to increased partitioning of the added amphiphile from water into the membrane as the chain length increases. Alkyl sulfates and alkyltrimethylammonium bromides have diminished capacities to raise the L alpha-HII transition temperature as the chain length is increased from 12 to 16. This is caused by an increase in the hydrophobic portion of the amphiphile leading to a change in the intrinsic radius of curvature and a decrease in the hydrocarbon packing constraints in the HII phase relative to the shorter chain amphiphiles. The L alpha-HII transition temperature of phosphatidylethanolamine with acylcarnitines of chain length 14-20 carbon atoms, alkylsulfobetaines above 14 carbon atoms, and phosphatidylcholines with acyl groups having above 10 carbon atoms is relatively insensitive to chain length. We suggest that this is caused by a balance between increasing hydrocarbon volume promoting the HII phase through decreased intrinsic radius of curvature and greater relief of hydrocarbon packing constraints vs greater intermolecular interactions favoring the more condensed L alpha phase. This latter effect is more important for amphiphiles with large headgroups which can pack more efficiently in the L alpha phase. The phosphatidylcholines show a gradual decrease in bilayer stabilization between 10 and 22 carbon atoms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611239 TI - A new method for extraction of iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMoco) from nitrogenase adsorbed to DEAE-cellulose. 1. Effects of anions, cations, and preextraction treatments. AB - A convenient and rapid method of obtaining the cofactor of nitrogenase (FeMoco) with a low and apparently limiting Fe/Mo ratio has been developed. FeMoco can be extracted from the MoFe protein bound to DEAE-cellulose. The cofactor is eluted in either N-methylformamide (NMF), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), or mixtures of these solvents by use of salts such as Et4NBr,Bu4NBr,Ph4PCl, and Ph4AsCl. The method is simple, is rapid (45 min), yields concentrated cofactor, and, unlike the original method [Shah, V. K., & Brill, W. J. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 3249-3253] which requires anaerobic centrifugation, is easily scaled up. Furthermore, it gives yields of cofactor in excess of 70%. Its disadvantages are a high Fe:Mo ratio when DMF is the extracting solvent and a high salt concentration in the resultant FeMoco solution. These disadvantages are easily overcome by removing excess Fe by pretreating the cofactor with bipyridyl while still on the column. This gives Fe:Mo ratios of (6 +/- 1):1 (11 trials) with specific activities ranging from 170 to 220 nmol of C2H4/[min.(nmol of Mo)]. Chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 removes ca. 99% of the excess salt. The adsorption of MoFe protein to DEAE-cellulose seems to facilitate denaturation by organic solvents so that pretreatment of the protein with acid, used in earlier methods, is unnecessary. There is an apparent dependence on the charge density of the anion employed for elution of FeMoco bound to DEAE-cellulose, such that Cl- greater than Br- much greater than I-, PF6- is the order of effectiveness of the Bu4N+ salts of these anions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611240 TI - A new method for extraction of iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMoco) from nitrogenase adsorbed to DEAE-cellulose. 2. Solubilization of FeMoco in a wide range of organic solvents. AB - While the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMoco) of nitrogenase, a constituent of the active site for nitrogen reduction, can be extracted into N-methylformamide (NMF) and pyrrollidinone, the inability to solubilize it in any other organic solvents has hampered further understanding of its structure and chemical properties. A method to solubilize FeMoco, prepared in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) with Bu4N+ as counterion [McLean, P. A., Wink, D. A., Chapman, S. K., Hickman, A. B., McKillop, D. M., & Orme-Johnson, W. H. (1989) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)], in acetonitrile, acetone, methylene chloride, tetrahydrofuran, and benzene is reported. FeMoco evaporated to dryness in vacuo dissolves readily in good yield (55-100%) and with no significant loss in specific activity. In addition, FeMoco can be extracted directly into these solvents from MoFe protein bound to a DEAE-Sepharose column if the protein is pretreated with DMF. Methods have also been developed to extract fully active FeMoco into acetone and acetonitrile in the absence of any amide solvents (NMF or DMF). Extraction of FeMoco into acetone (30% yield) involves only pretreatment of column-bound protein with methanol, while extraction into acetonitrile (22% yield) requires pretreatment with methanol followed by THF. We conclude that the presence of a suitable soluble cation confers solubility to the cofactor in many common organic solvents and that the solubility of FeMoco in a given solvent may be independent of the ability of that solvent to extract the cofactor from column-bound protein. PMID- 2611241 TI - Effect of chloride ion on the thermal decay process of the batho intermediate of iodopsin at low temperature. AB - The photochemical and the subsequent thermal behaviors of iodopsin (Cl(-)-bound form) and N-iodopsin (iodopsin whose Cl- was replaced by NO3-) in CHAPS phosphatidylcholine (PC) were studied by low-temperature spectrophotometry. Irradiation of the iodopsin preparation at -185 degrees C produced a photo-steady state mixture composed of iodopsin, bathoiodopsin, and isoiodopsin. Bathoiodopsin was thermally reverted to the original iodopsin. These results were almost the same as those reported previously [Yoshizawa, T., & Wald, G. (1967) Nature 214, 566-571] in which iodopsin was extracted with 2% digitonin. Therefore, photochemical and subsequent thermal behaviors of iodopsin were independent of the detergent to solubilize iodopsin. Irradiation of N-iodopsin at -185 degrees C produced the similar photo-steady-state mixture. However, N-bathoiodopsin was thermally converted to the next intermediate, presumably N-lumiiodopsin. These results suggest that the batho-lumi transition of iodopsin at low temperature is likely to be inhibited by the Cl- bound to the protein moiety of iodopsin, while at room temperature the Cl- bound to iodopsin could be released on the conversion process of batho- to lumiiodopsin. PMID- 2611242 TI - Developmental changes of ferret tracheal mucin composition and biosynthesis. AB - We characterized the chemical composition of mucins secreted by ferret tracheal explants and the activities of key mucin glycosyltransferases in ferret tracheal epithelium during a period of rapid postnatal maturation of the mucin-secreting structures. Ferret tracheal explants secrete three major groups of high molecular weight glycoconjugates: (1) those susceptible to bovine testicular hyaluronidase; (2) those resistant to hyaluronidase and exhibiting high density (p greater than or equal to 1.60 g/mL); and (3) those resistant to hyaluronidase and exhibiting low density (1.45 less than or equal to p less than 1.60 g/mL). The hyaluronidase resistant, low-density glycoconjugates have typical mucin properties and constitute 36% of total glycoconjugates released in newborns but only 8% in adult ferrets. Mucin secretory rate per unit surface area of trachea progressively decreases with age. Mucin amino acid and total carbohydrate contents do not vary; however, the sialic acid content increases, and fucose content as well as blood group A activity of the mucins decreases with age. Four glycosyltransferases involved in mucin biosynthesis [Gal beta 3GalNAc:(GlcNAc-GalNAc)beta 6 N acetylglucosaminyl-, GalNAc:beta 3 galactosyl-, Gal:alpha 2 fucosyl-, and GalNAc alpha 2----6 neuraminyltransferase] are present in tracheal epithelium of ferrets at all ages. Activities of all but the neuraminyltransferase decrease with age. The relatively greater neuraminyltransferase activity is consistent with increased incorporation of sialic acid into secreted mucins over the same age span. Conversely, diminution of fucosyltransferase relative to galactosyltransferase activity may contribute to the lower fucose content and lower blood group A activity of mucins secreted by mature ferret tracheas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611243 TI - Human platelet factor 4 monomer-dimer-tetramer equilibria investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. AB - As a function of protein concentration, proton NMR spectra of human platelet factor 4 (PF4) differ. Correlation with low-angle laser light scattering data has allowed identification of concentration-dependent NMR spectral changes to PF4 aggregation, with tetramers being the largest aggregates formed. Well-resolved aromatic ring proton NMR resonances were assigned to Tyr-60, His-I, and His-II in monomer, dimer, and tetramer states. Since Tyr-60 3.5 ring proton resonances are well resolved from state to state, estimation of fractional populations in each state was possible. By varying the PF4 concentration, changes in these populations when plotted according to the Hill equation show a bimolecular mechanism of aggregation which proceeds from monomers to tetramers through a dimer intermediate. Equilibrium constants for dimer association (KD) and tetramer association (KT) have been estimated as a function of pH and ionic strength. At pH 4, where KD and KT approach the same value, resonances associated with all three aggregate states are observed. Lowering the pH shifts the equilibrium to the monomer state, while raising the pH shifts the equilibrium to dimer and tetramer states. Analysis of the pH dependence of KD and KT suggests that electrostatic interactions, probably arising from Glu/Asp and Lys/Arg side chains, play a role in the binding process. Increasing the solvent ionic strength stabilizes the tetramer state especially at low pH, suggesting that intersubunit, repulsive electrostatic interactions probably between/among cationic side chains (Lys/Arg) attenuate the aggregation process. Information based primarily on histidine pKa values and photo-CIDNP 1H NMR data suggests that Tyr-60 and His-I, but not His-II, are significantly affected by the aggregation process. PMID- 2611244 TI - CD measurements show that fd and IKe gene 5 proteins undergo minimal conformational changes upon binding to poly(rA). AB - Circular dichroism (CD) measurements were made on both fd and IKe gene 5 proteins in solution. The difference between the CD spectra of these two proteins was interpreted as being the result of an enhanced tyrosine contribution in the IKe gene 5 protein spectrum. There was no spectral evidence for significant alpha helical structures in either of the two gene 5 proteins. CD measurements were also made on complexes of the two gene 5 proteins with poly(rA). The long wavelength region (300-250 nm) of the CD spectra of both complexes was essentially like that of free poly(rA) at a high temperature. With the assumption that the poly(rA) components of the complexes had the same CD at all wavelengths as did free poly(rA) at a high temperature, it was possible to separate the CD spectra of the complexes into protein and nucleic acid components. Except for the tyrosine CD band at 229 nm, there were no significant changes in the CD bands of either protein upon binding to poly(rA). Thus, each protein appeared to maintain essentially the same overall secondary conformation when complexed with poly(rA) as when in its free state. PMID- 2611245 TI - The missing nucleoside experiment: a new technique to study recognition of DNA by protein. AB - We report a new technique for quickly determining which nucleosides in a DNA molecule are contacted by a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein. Our method is related to the recently reported "missing contact" experiment [Brunelle, A., & Schleif, R. F. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 6673-6679]. We treat the DNA molecule with the hydroxyl radical to randomly remove nucleosides. The ability of protein to bind to gapped DNA is assayed by gel mobility shift. Nucleosides important to protein binding are identified by sequencing gel electrophoresis. The missing nucleoside experiment can be used to scan a DNA molecule at single-nucleotide resolution in one experiment. The bacteriophage lambda repressor-OR1 and cro-OR1 complexes were analyzed to evaluate the method. For both proteins, the most important contacts are located in the protein monomer that binds to the consensus half of the operator. These contacts correspond well to those found by mutational studies, and in the cocrystal structure of the lambda repressor-operator. The missing nucleoside data show that the amino terminal arms of lambda repressor make energetically important contacts with positions 7 and 8 and the central dyad base pair of the operator. The amino terminal arm that makes the most extensive contacts to DNA appears to be the one that emanates from the repressor monomer that binds to the consensus half of the operator, in agreement with the cocrystal structure. The lambda cro protein does not have an amino-terminal arm, and the missing nucleoside experiment clearly shows a lack of contacts to DNA in the central region of the operator in this complex. PMID- 2611246 TI - Helix-coil transition of parallel-stranded DNA. Thermodynamics of hairpin and linear duplex oligonucleotides. AB - The stabilities have been determined of different DNA double helices constructed with the two constituent strands in a parallel orientation. These molecules incorporate polarity-inverting loop structures (hairpins) or nucleotide sequences (duplexes) which impose the desired polarity on the two strands constituting the sugar-phosphate backbone. The hairpins consisted of d(A.T)n stems (n = 8 or 10) and either a 5'-p-5' linkage in a d(C)4 loop (ps-C8 and ps-C10) or a 3'-p-3' linkage in a d(G)4 loop (ps-G10). The linear duplexes had 21-nt (ps-C2.C3) and 25 nt (ps-D1.D2, ps-D3.D4) mixed A,T sequences and normal chemical linkages throughout. Reference molecules with normal antiparallel helical orientations (hairpins aps-C8, aps-C10, and aps-G10 and duplexes aps-C3.C7, aps-D1.D3, and aps D2.D4) were also synthesized and studied. Hydrogen bonding in ps-DNA is via reverse Watson-Crick base pairs, and the various constructs display spectroscopic, chemical, biochemical, and electrophoretic properties distinct from those of their aps counterparts. For example, both the ps and aps molecules show a pronounced UV absorption hyperchromicity upon melting, but the spectral distribution is not the same. Thus, the difference spectra (ps-aps) in the native state are characterized by a positive peak at 252 nm, an isosbestic point at 267 nm, and a negative peak at 282 nm. Temperature-dependent absorbances were recorded at selected wavelengths and in the form of complete spectra to derive the thermodynamic parameters for the helix-coil transitions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611247 TI - Spectroscopic properties and helical stabilities of 25-nt parallel-stranded linear DNA duplexes. AB - DNA strands with appropriate sequences of dA and dT can form a stable duplex in which the two strands adopt a parallel (ps) instead of the conventional antiparallel (aps) orientation. Four 25-nt dA.dT-containing deoxyoligonucleotides (D1-4) were synthesized. D1 has the sequence 5'-dA10TA2T4A3TAT3-3'. Viewed with the same polarity, D2, D3, and D4 are the complement, inverted complement, and inverse of D1, respectively. The two combinations D1.D3 and D2.D4 form conventional antiparallel duplexes (aps-D1.D3, aps-D2.D4). D1.D2 and D3.D4, however, constitute stable parallel-stranded duplexes (ps-D1.D2, ps-D3.D4), as established by various criteria including the following: (i) The electrophoretic mobilities of ps-D1.D2 and ps-D3.D4 are similar to those of the antiparallel stranded duplexes. (ii) The ultraviolet absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the ps duplexes are indicative of a base-paired structure, but differ systematically from those of the aps helices. (iii) Similar salt-dependent thermal transitions are observed for the four duplexes, but the melting temperatures of the ps molecules are lower by 13-18 degrees C. PMID- 2611248 TI - A 2-deoxyribonolactone-containing nucleotide: isolation and characterization of the alkali-sensitive photoproduct of the trideoxyribonucleotide d(ApCpA). AB - It has been reported that ACA sequences in DNA are mutagenic hot spots in UV induced mutagenesis and are sites of an alkali-sensitive lesion produced by UV irradiation. In order to characterize the UV-induced lesion of an ACA site, chemically synthesized trideoxyribonucleotide d(ApCpA) was irradiated with UV light and the alkali-sensitive photoproduct was isolated. The structure of this photoproduct was characterized as the trinucleotide containing 2 deoxyribonolactone at the internal residue by 2D DQF-COSY, FT-IR, FAB-MS, and chemical properties. It is known that this lesion is also produced by gamma irradiation, neocarzinostatin, the 1,10-phenanthroline-copper complex, and hydrogen peroxide and is highly mutagenic because of its resistance to cleavage by certain apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases. Thus, 2-deoxyribonolactone may be one of the lethal DNA lesions induced by UV irradiation to organisms and one of the intermediates of UV-induced DNA strand breaks because the DNA strand is cleaved at this site with beta- and subsequent delta-elimination mechanisms. PMID- 2611249 TI - Anisotropic 2H NMR spin-lattice relaxation in L alpha-phase cerebroside bilayers. AB - A series of 2H NMR inversion recovery experiments in the L alpha phase of the cerebroside N-palmitoylgalactosylsphingosine (NPGS) have been performed. In these liquid crystalline lipid bilayers we have observed substantial anisotropy in the spin-lattice relaxation of the CD2 groups in the acyl chains. The form and magnitude of the anisotropy varies with position in the chain, being positive in the upper region, decreasing to zero at the 4-position, and reversing sign at the lower chain positions. It is also shown that addition of cholesterol to the bilayer results in profound changes in the anisotropy. These observations are accounted for by a simple motional model of discrete hops among nine sites, which result from the coupling of two modes of motion--long-axis rotational diffusion and gauche-trans isomerization. This model is employed in quantitative simulations of the spectral line shapes and permits determination of site populations and motional rates. These results, plus preliminary results in sphingomyelin and lecithin bilayers, illustrate the utility of T1 anisotropy measurements as a probe of dynamics in L alpha-phase bilayers. PMID- 2611250 TI - Mode of interaction of aminooxy compounds with sheep liver serine hydroxymethyltransferase. AB - The interaction of aminooxy compounds such as aminooxyacetate (AAA), L-canaline, and hydroxylamine with sheep liver serine hydroxymethyltransferase (EC 2.1.2.1) was studied by absorption spectra and stopped-flow spectrophotometry and compared with the unique feature of interaction of O-amino-D-serine (OADS) with the enzyme [Baskaran, N., Prakash, V., Appu Rao, A. G., Radhakrishnan, A. N., Savithri, H. S., & Appaji Rao, N. (1989) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. The reaction of AAA (0.5 mM) with the Schiff base of the enzyme resulted in the formation of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) and was biphasic with rate constants of 191 and 19 s-1. The formation of the PLP-AAA oxime measured by decrease in absorbance at 388 nm on interaction of AAA with the enzyme had a rate constant of 5.2 M-1 s-1. On the other hand, the reaction of L-canaline with the enzyme was slower as measured by the disruption of enzyme-Schiff base than the reaction of OADS and AAA. In contrast, the formation of PLP as an intermediate could not be detected upon the interaction of hydroxylamine with the enzyme. The reaction of D cycloserine with the enzyme was much slower (1.6 x 10(2) M-1 s-1) than the aminooxy compounds. These observations indicate that the aminooxy compounds that are structural analogues of serine (OADS, AAA, and canaline) formed PLP as an intermediate prior to the formation of oxime, whereas with hydroxylamine such an intermediate could not be detected. PMID- 2611251 TI - Carboxypeptidase A: mechanism of zinc inhibition. AB - Zinc ions competitively inhibit carboxypeptidase A from bovine pancreas. The state(s) of hydroxylation of zinc and their possible site(s) of interaction with the enzyme have been investigated by determining the strength of zinc inhibition over pH range 4.6-10.5. The inhibition kinetics were recorded under stopped-flow conditions using the alpha-Val isozyme and the peptide substrate Dns-Gly-Ala-Phe in 0.5 M NaCl at 25 degrees C. The pH dependence of pKI follows a pattern which indicates that the enzyme is selectively inhibited by zinc monohydroxide, ZnOH+ (KI = 7.1 X 10(-7) M). The formation of the inhibitory ZnOH+ complex from fully hydrated Zn2+ is characterized by an ionization constant of 9.05, and the consecutive conversion of ZnOH+ to Zn(OH)2, Zn(OH)3-, and Zn(OH)4(2-) complexes takes place with ionization constants of 9.75, 10.1, and 10.5, respectively. Ionization of a ligand, LH, in the enzyme's inhibitory site (pKLH 5.8) is obligatory for binding of the ZnOH+ complex. The enzymatic activity (kcat/Km) is influenced by three ionizable groups: pKEH2 5.78, pKEH 8.60, and pKE 10.2. Since the values of pKLH and pKEH2 are virtually identical, it is possible that the inhibitory ZnOH+ complex interacts with the group responsible for pKEH2. Previous studies have suggested that pKEH2 reflects the ionization of Glu-270 and its interaction with a water molecule coordinated to the catalytic zinc ion. It is proposed that the inhibitory zinc ion binds to the carboxylate of Glu-270 and that the inhibition process is specific for zinc monohydroxide because it allows the formation of a stabilizing hydroxide bridge between the inhibitory and catalytic zinc ions. PMID- 2611252 TI - Characteristics of retinol accumulation from serum retinol-binding protein by cultured Sertoli cells. AB - The uptake of retinol was examined in cultured Sertoli cells when retinol was provided as a complex with the transport protein retinol-binding protein (RBP). Sertoli cells accumulated [3H]retinol in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. At 32 degrees C, the rate of retinol accumulation was biphasic. Accumulation was linear for approximately 1 h, but then accumulation continued at a linear but decreased rate for 23 h. The change in rate of retinol accumulation occurred when the cells had accumulated approximately 0.53 pmol of retinol/micrograms of cellular DNA. This amount of retinol was approximately equal to the cellular content of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP). Extraction and HPLC analysis of the cell-associated radioactivity yielded retinol and retinyl esters, indicating that a significant proportion of the accumulated retinol was esterified. Excess unlabeled retinol-RBP competed with [3H]retinol RBP for [3H]retinol delivery to the cells, indicating that RBP delivery of retinol was a saturable and competable process. However, free [3H]retinol associated with Sertoli cells in a noncompetable manner. The transport constant for specific retinol accumulation from RBP was 3.0 microM, suggesting that any change in the normal circulating retinol-RBP level (approximately 2 microM) would directly affect the rate of retinol accumulation. Neither iodinated nor reductively methylated RBP was accumulated by or tightly bound to Sertoli cells. In addition, energy inhibitors and lysosomal poisons had no effect on [3H]retinol accumulation, indicating that RBP delivery of retinol to Sertoli cells did not occur by endocytosis of the retinol-RBP complex. Competition studies indicated, however, that protein recognition is important in the retinol uptake process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611253 TI - Retinol esterification in Sertoli cells by lecithin-retinol acyltransferase. AB - Esterification of retinol occurs during the metabolism of vitamin A in the testis. An acyl-CoA:retinol acyltransferase (ARAT) activity has been described for microsomes isolated from testis homogenates. That activity was also observed here in microsomal preparations obtained from cultured Sertoli cells from 20-day old (midpubertal) rats. ARAT catalyzed the synthesis of retinyl laurate when free retinol and lauroyl-CoA were provided as substrates. However, in the absence of exogenous acyl-CoA, retinol was esterified by a different activity in a manner similar to the lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) activity described recently for liver and intestine. Microsomal preparations obtained from enriched Sertoli cell fractions from the adult rat testis had 75-fold higher levels of LRAT than the preparations from midpubertal animals, but ARAT activity was the same in both these preparations. LRAT utilized an endogenous acyl donor and either unbound retinol or retinol complexed with cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) to catalyze the synthesis of retinyl linoleate, retinyl oleate, retinyl palmitate, and retinyl stearate. The addition of exogenous dilaurylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) resulted in the synthesis of retinyl laurate. The esterification from both exogenous DLPC and endogenous acyl donor was inhibited by 2 mM phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF). ARAT activity was not affected by similar concentrations of PMSF. Furthermore, retinol bound to CRBP, a protein known to be present in Sertoli cells, was not an effective substrate for testicular ARAT. When retinol uptake and metabolism were examined in cultured Sertoli cells from 20-day-old rats, the cells synthesized the same retinyl esters that were produced by microsomal LRAT in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611254 TI - A differential scanning calorimetric study of the bovine lens crystallins. AB - Differential scanning calorimetry was performed on the five major lens crystallin fractions [HM-alpha, alpha, beta H, beta L, and (beta s + gamma)] of the bovine lens as well as on more purified forms of alpha- and gamma-crystallins. All were found to be relatively thermally stable although the alpha-crystallin were found to at least partially unfold at an approximately 10 degrees C lower temperature than the beta and gamma fractions. Increasing protein concentration had little effect on gamma-crystallin thermograms but had marked effects on those of the alpha- and beta-crystallins. Increases in the thermal stability with increasing protein concentration for the beta-crystallins can be explained most simply by the known beta L/beta H equilibrium, but, in the case of the alpha-crystallins, excluded volume effects may be an important factor. In both cases, the increased stability at high concentrations could be of physiological relevance. As well as the expected endothermic unfolding transitions, all of the lens crystallins revealed exothermic peaks that correlate with protein precipitation. Interestingly, this phenomenon occurs only after extensive structural alteration in the case of the alpha-crystallins but is present very early in the initial stages of structural perturbation of the beta- and gamma-crystallins. PMID- 2611255 TI - Facile interconversion of duplex structures formed by copolymers of d(CG). AB - Correlations between DNA sequence and reactivity have often been drawn with an implicit or explicit connection to duplex structure. An in vitro model using oligonucleotides of defined sequences has been developed to characterize a potential source of the hypersensitivity that naturally occurring regions of redundant sequence exhibit with many nucleases. S-1 nuclease was used here to diagnose the unusual hybridization of copolymeric DNA, d(CG)6, and related oligomers, through product and kinetic analysis. Fully complementary but redundant sequences reacted with this enzyme almost an order of magnitude faster than did heterogeneous fragments of DNA. Hydrolysis products of the copolymers indicated that conformations with unpaired termini were the sole substrates under these studies, and only a facile equilibrium between aligned and extended structures was required to explain the heightened reactivity of this DNA. For example, d(CG)6 was converted to d(CG)5 and d(CG)4 whereas d(CG)4C was initially processed to an octamer and then only later to a hexamer. Catalysis by S-1 exhibited no other substrate or product specificity; even the disordered bases in the loop region of a hairpin structure, d(CG)3T4(CG)3, did not provide sites of enhanced enzyme action. The rate of DNA consumption under standard conditions was proportional to the expected concentration of overhanging sequences rather than the absolute amount of DNA present. All initial attempts to saturate enzyme activity failed, and therefore, the rate of substrate formation through strand slippage was always faster than the catalytic depletion of unpaired bases. Only a low-energy transition state(s) must then separate the various hybridized species since this structural equilibration proceeded readily under conditions of 10 mM potassium phosphate, pH 7, 100 mM NaCl, and 22 degrees C. PMID- 2611256 TI - Transbilayer movement of phosphatidylserine in nonhuman erythrocytes: evidence that the aminophospholipid transporter is a ubiquitous membrane protein. AB - A 31-32-kDa integral membrane protein has been previously identified in erythrocytes as the protein most likely to be responsible for the transbilayer movement of phosphatidylserine (PS) [Connor & Schroit (1988) Biochemistry 27, 848 851]. Using similar techniques, we have identified analogous proteins of identical molecular weights in bovine, equine, ovine, porcine, canine, caprine, and rhesus red blood cells. Similar to human red blood cells, all of the mammalian cells were able to specifically transport an exogenously supplied fluorescent PS analogue from their outer-to-inner membrane leaflet. In addition, transport could be reversibly inhibited with the sulfhydryl-specific inhibitor pyridyldithioethylamine (PDA). PDA-sensitive PS transport was also observed in nucleated human and murine cell lines. Analysis of isolated plasma membranes from 125I-PDA-labeled cells revealed marked labeling of a 32,000-Da component. Attempts to inhibit PS transport by treating the cells with proteases, lectins, or antibody suggested that the 32-kDa polypeptide is an integral membrane protein that does not contain sites critical to its function at the cell surface. PMID- 2611257 TI - IGF-1-dependent subunit communication of the IGF-1 holoreceptor: interactions between alpha beta heterodimeric receptor halves. AB - Examination of 125I-IGF-1 affinity cross-linking and beta-subunit autophosphorylation has indicated that IGF-1 induces a covalent association of isolated alpha beta heterodimeric IGF-1 receptors into an alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric state, in a similar manner to that observed for the insulin receptor [Morrison, B.D., Swanson, M.L., Sweet, L.J., & Pessin, J.E. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 7806-7813]. The formation of the alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric IGF-1 receptor complex from the partially purified alpha beta heterodimers was time dependent with half-maximal formation in approximately 30 min at saturating IGF-1 concentrations. The IGF-1-dependent association of the partially purified alpha beta heterodimers into an alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric state was specific for the IGF-1 receptors since IGF-1 was unable to stimulate the protein kinase activity of the purified alpha beta heterodimeric insulin receptor complex. Incubation of the alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric IGF-1 holoreceptor with the specific sulfhydryl agent iodoacetamide (IAN) did not alter 125I-IGF-1 binding of IGF-1 stimulation of protein kinase activity. In addition, IAN did not affect the Mn/MgATP-dependent noncovalent association of IGF-1 receptor alpha beta heterodimers into an alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric state. However, IAN treatment of the alpha beta heterodimeric IGF-1 receptors inhibited the IGF-1 dependent covalent formation of the disulfide-linked alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric complex. These data indicate that IGF-1 induces the covalent association of isolated alpha beta heterodimeric IGF-1 receptor complexes into a disulfide-linked alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric state whereas Mn/MgATP induces a noncovalent association.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611258 TI - The DNase I sensitive state of "active" globin gene chromatin resists trypsin treatments which disrupt chromatin higher order structure. AB - Active genes in higher eukaryotes reside in chromosomal domains which are more sensitive to digestion by DNase I than the surrounding inactive chromatin. Although it is widely assumed that some modification of higher order structure is important to the preferential DNase I sensitivity of active chromatin, this has so far not been tested. Here we show that the structural distinction between DNase I sensitive and resistant chromatin is remarkably stable to digestion by trypsin. Chick embryonic red blood cell nuclei were subjected to increasing levels of trypsin digestion and then assayed in the following three ways: (1) by gel electrophoresis for histone cleavage, (2) by sedimentation and nuclease digestion for loss of higher order structure, and (3) by dot-blot hybridization to globin and ovalbumin probes for disappearance of preferential DNase I sensitivity. We have found that chromatin higher order structure is lost concomitantly with the cleavage of histones H1, H5, and H3. In contrast, the preferential sensitivity of the globin domain to DNase I persists until much higher concentrations of trypsin, and indeed is not completely abolished even by the highest levels of trypsin we have used. We therefore conclude that the structural distinction of active chromatin, recognized by DNase I, does not reside at the level of higher order structure. PMID- 2611259 TI - Ordered synthesis and mobilization of glycogen in the perfused heart. AB - The molecular order of synthesis and mobilization of glycogen in the perfused heart was studied by 13C NMR. By varying the glucose isotopomer ([1-13C]glucose or [2-13C]glucose) supplied to the heart, glycogen synthesized at different times during the perfusion was labeled at different carbon sites. Subsequently, the in situ mobilization of glycogen during ischemia was observed by detection of labeled lactate derived from glycolysis of the glucosyl monomers. When [1 13C]glucose was given initially in the perfusion and [2-13C]glucose was given second, [2-13C]lactate was detected first during ischemia and [3-13C]lactate second. This result, and the equivalent result when the glucose labels were given in the reverse order, demonstrates that glycogen synthesis and mobilization are ordered in the heart, where glycogen is found morphologically only as beta particles. Previous studies of glycogen synthesis and mobilization in liver and adipocytes [Devos, P., & Hers, H.-G. (1979) Eur. J. Biochem. 99, 161-167; Devos, P., & Hers, H.-G. (1980) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 95, 1031-1036] have suggested that the organization of beta particles into alpha particles was partially responsible for ordered synthesis and mobilization. The observations reported here for cardiac glycogen suggest that another mechanism is responsible. In addition to examining the ordered synthesis and mobilization of cardiac glycogen, we have selectively monitored the NMR properties of 13C-labeled glycogen synthesized early in the perfusion during further glycogen synthesis from a second, differently labeled substrate. During synthesis from the second labeled glucose monomer, the glycogen resonance from the first label decreased in integrated intensity and increased in line width.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611260 TI - Redox cycles of vitamin E: hydrolysis and ascorbic acid dependent reduction of 8a (alkyldioxy)tocopherones. AB - Oxidation of the biological antioxidant alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E; TH) by peroxyl radicals yields 8a-(alkyldioxy)tocopherones, which either may hydrolyze to alpha-tocopheryl quinone (TQ) or may be reduced by ascorbic acid to regenerate TH. To define the chemistry of this putative two-electron TH redox cycle, we studied the hydrolysis and reduction of 8a-[(2,4-dimethyl-1-nitrilopent-2 yl)dioxy]tocopherone (1) in acetonitrile/buffer mixtures and in phospholipid liposomes. TQ formation in acetonitrile/buffer mixtures, which was monitored spectrophotometrically, declined with increasing pH and could not be detected above pH 4. The rate of TQ formation from 1 first increased with time and then decreased in a first-order terminal phase. Rearrangement of 8a-hydroxy-alpha tocopherone (2) to TQ displayed first-order kinetics identical with the terminal phase for TQ formation from 1. Both rate constants increased with decreasing pH. Hydrolysis of 1 in acetonitrile/H2(18)O yielded [18O]TQ. These observations suggest that 1 loses the 8a-(alkyldioxy) moiety to produce the tocopherone cation (T+), which hydrolyzes to 2, the TQ-forming intermediate. Incubation of either 1 or 2 with ascorbic acid in acetonitrile/buffer yielded TH. Reduction of both 1 and 2 decreased with increasing pH. In phosphatidylcholine liposomes at pH 7, approximately 10% of the T+ generated from 1 was reduced to TH by 5 mM ascorbic acid. The results collectively demonstrate that T+ is the ascorbic acid reducible intermediate in a two-electron TH redox cycle, a process that probably would require biocatalysis to proceed in biological membranes. PMID- 2611261 TI - Conformational change of the heme moiety of the ferrous cytochrome P-450scc phenyl isocyanide complex upon binding of reduced adrenodoxin. AB - Reduction of cytochrome P-450scc(SF) (SF, substrate free) purified from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria with sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4) or with beta-NADPH mediated by catalytic amounts of adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase in the presence of phenyl isocyanide produced a ferrous cytochrome P-450scc(SF)-phenyl isocyanide complex with Soret absorbance maximum at 455 nm having a shoulder at 425 nm. On the other hand, when a preformed cytochrome P-450scc(SF)-adrenodoxin complex was reduced chemically or enzymatically under the same conditions, the absorbance spectrum showed drastic changes, i.e., an increase in intensity at 425 nm and a concomitant decrease in intensity at 455 nm. Similar spectral changes could be produced by addition of the same amount of reduced adrenodoxin afterward to the ferrous cytochrome P-450scc(SF)-phenyl isocyanide complex. Titration experiments with adrenodoxin showed that (1) a 1:1 stoichiometric saturation of the spectral change was obtained for both the absorbance increase at 425 nm and the absorbance decrease at 455 nm, (2) there was no spectral change in the presence of 0.35 M NaCl, and (3) there was no spectral change for cytochrome P 450scc(SF) whose Lys residue(s) essential to the interaction with adrenodoxin had been covalently modified with PLP. These results suggest that ternary complex formation of ferrous cytochrome P-450scc(SF)-phenyl isocyanide with reduced adrenodoxin caused a conformational change around the ferrous heme moiety. By analysis of temperature and pH dependencies of the spectral change of the ternary complex, it was suggested that this conformational change may reflect the essential step for electron transfer from reduced adrenodoxin to the ferrous dioxygen complex of cytochrome P-450scc. PMID- 2611262 TI - High-resolution differential scanning calorimetric study of myosin, functional domains, and supramolecular structures. AB - High-resolution differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been employed to study the thermal stability of myosin, its major constitutive fragments (S-1, light chains, and rod), and also reconstituted thick filaments. The thermal denaturation of soluble myosin was complex and was characterized by a multistep endothermic process for the temperature range from 41 to 60 degrees C. The shape of the endotherm was highly dependent on the pH and the ionic strength of the solution, although the delta Hcal (calorimetric enthalpy) of denaturation (1715 +/- 75 kcal/mol) was insensitive to these changes for the solvent conditions used in this study. This value also agrees, within experimental error, with the sum of the denaturation enthalpies obtained for isolated fragments (1724 +/- 79 kcal/mol). In identical conditions of ionic strength, pH, and heating rate, the computer-calculated differential endotherms of domains belonging to S-1 and light chains were superimposable with those of the isolated fragments. Their responses to changes in the solvent condition were also similar. We suggest that the observed functional independence of the major domains in myosin reflects also the independence of their structural stability. The thermal unfolding of the isolated rod was multiphasic and readily reversible (95%). It occurred between 41 and 60 degrees C, with an delta Hcal of 1058 +/- 59 kcal/mol. The melting of S-1 showed a single peak at 46.3 +/- 0.1 degrees C with an delta Hcal of 255 +/- 12 kcal/mol. Light chains melted at 51.0 +/- 0.2 degrees C with an delta Hcal of 85 +/- 15 kcal/mol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611263 TI - Zinc release from Xenopus transcription factor IIIA induced by chemical modifications. AB - Xenopus transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) contains two tightly bound intrinsic Zn2+ ions that are released through treatment with either p (hydroxymercuri)benzenesulfonate (PMPS) or diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEP) as monitored by the metallochromic indicator 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR). The inactivation of TFIIIA by DEP as detected by an in vitro 5S RNA gene transcription assay was correlated with the extent of modification of histidine residues and Zn2+ release. Following reaction with PMPS, the 7S particle was dissociated into free TFIIIA and 5S RNA. This dissociation could be correlated with the extent of modification of cysteine residues as well as the Zn2+ release. The dissociation of the 7S particle was reversed by the addition of excess thiol reagent. However, the reversibility could be inhibited by EDTA, suggesting that Zn2+ was required for the binding of TFIIIA to 5S RNA. In the presence of PMPS- or DEP-modified TFIIIA or Zn2+-depleted TFIIIA, the fluorescence emission maximum of the hydrophobic probe, 8-anilinonaphthalenesulfonate, was blue-shifted by 30 nm, while only less than a 10-nm blue shift was observed in the presence of either the 7S particle or TFIIIA. These results indicate that the two Zn2+ ions in TFIIIA are coordinated with the cysteine and histidine residues and are required for maintenance of the proper conformation of TFIIIA. PMID- 2611264 TI - Complex formation between the adenovirus DNA-binding protein and single-stranded poly(rA). Cooperativity and salt dependence. AB - The complex formed between adenovirus DNA-binding protein (AdDBP) and poly(rA) was investigated with circular dichroism spectroscopy. The binding process was studied at a variety of salt concentrations, and the titration curves were analyzed according to the contiguous cooperative binding model given by McGhee and von Hippel [McGhee, J.D., & von Hippel, P.H. (1974) J. Mol. Biol. 86, 469 489]. The cooperativity factor omega of the binding process is low (omega approximately 20-30) and independent of the salt concentration. This in contrast to the binding constant K for which a moderately strong salt dependence is observed: delta log (K omega)/delta log [NaCl] = -3.1. The size of the binding site was consistently calculated to be about 13. We also studied the C-terminal 39-kDa fragment which is sufficient for DNA replication in vitro. Complex formation between this fragment of AdDBP and poly(rA) appeared to be characterized by spectroscopic and binding properties similar to those of the intact protein. Only, the binding constant in 50 mM NaCl is a factor of 5 lower. PMID- 2611265 TI - Complete sequence of the lamprey fibrinogen alpha chain. AB - The complete amino acid sequence of the lamprey fibrinogen alpha chain has been determined by a combination of peptide sequencing and cDNA and genomic cloning. The chain, which has an apparent molecular weight by dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of ca. 100,000, is composed of 961 amino acid residues and has a calculated molecular weight of 96,722. It is distinguished by a large number of 18-residue repeats in a region where mammalian fibrinogens have 13-residue repeats. The data are in accord with our previous finding that the lamprey alpha chain has a distinctive amino acid composition, almost half the residues being glycine, serine, or threonine. The chain differs from mammalian alpha chains in that there are no cysteines in the carboxy-terminal half, and thus no intrachain loop, nor are there any RGD sequences in the lamprey alpha chain. Taken together with previous data on the sequences of the beta and gamma chains, the findings bear significantly on our understanding of fibrin formation. The alpha chain also provides an interesting case of structural convergence during evolution. PMID- 2611266 TI - Primary structure of a ribonuclease from porcine liver, a new member of the ribonuclease superfamily. AB - In most tissues, ribonucleases (RNases) are found in a latent form complexed with ribonuclease inhibitor (RI). To examine whether these so-called cytoplasmic RNases belong to the same superfamily as pancreatic RNases, we have purified from porcine liver two such RNases (PL1 and PL3) and examined their primary structures. It was found that RNase PL1 belonged to the same family as human RNase Us [Beintema et al. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 4530-4538] and bovine RNase K2 [Irie et al. (1988) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 104, 289-296]. RNase PL3 was found to be a hitherto structurally uncharacterized type of RNase. Its polypeptide chain of 119 amino acid residues was N-terminally blocked with pyroglutamic acid, and its sequence differed at 63 positions with that of the pancreatic enzyme. All residues important for catalysis and substrate binding have been conserved. Comparison of the primary structure of RNase PL3 with that of its bovine counterpart (RNase BL4; M. Irie, personal communication) revealed an unusual conservation for this class of enzymes; the 2 enzymes were identical at 112 positions. Moreover, comparison of the amino acid compositions of these RNases with that of a human colon carcinoma-derived RNase, RNase HT-29 [Shapiro et al. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 7255-7264], suggested that these three proteins are orthologous gene products. The structural characteristics of RNases PL1 and PL3 were typical of secreted RNases, and this observation questions the proposed cytoplasmic origin of these RI-associated enzymes. PMID- 2611267 TI - NMR studies of Arc repressor mutants: proton assignments, secondary structure, and long-range contacts for the thermostable proline-8----leucine variant of Arc. AB - Arc repressor is a 53-residue sequence-specific DNA binding protein. We report the assignment of the proton NMR spectrum and the secondary structure for the thermostable PL8 variant of Arc. This mutant, which differs from wild type by a Pro-8----Leu substitution, was chosen for study because its enhanced stability allows spectra to be acquired at elevated temperatures where spectral resolution is higher. The first five residues of the protein play important roles in DNA binding but appear to be disordered in solution. Residues 6-14 form the remaining part of the N-terminal DNA binding region of the protein and assume an antiparallel beta-conformation. This indicates that Arc is a member of a new class of DNA binding proteins. The observed interresidue nuclear Overhauser effects are consistent with a beta-strand, gamma-turn, beta-strand structure for the residue 6-14 region, although other structures are also consistent with the data. The remaining portion of the protein is predominantly alpha-helical. Residues 16-26 and 35-50 form amphipathic alpha-helices which may pack together in a four-helix bundle in the protein dimer. PMID- 2611268 TI - Sequence-specific 1H NMR assignment and secondary structure of the Arc repressor of bacteriophage P22, as determined by two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy. AB - The Arc repressor of bacteriophage P22 is a DNA binding protein that does not belong to any of the known classes of such proteins. We have undertaken a 1H NMR study of the protein with the aim of elucidating its three-dimensional structure in solution and its mode of binding of operator DNA. Here we present the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) assignments of all backbone protons and most of the side-chain protons of Arc repressor. Elements of secondary structure have been identified on the basis of networks of characteristic sequential and medium range nuclear Overhauser enhancements (NOEs). Two alpha-helical regions have been found in the peptide regions 16-29 and 35-45. The ends of the helices could not yet be firmly established and could extend to residue 31 for the first helix and to residue 49 for the second. Immediately before the first helix, between residues 8 and 14, a region is present with beta-sheet characteristics dominated by a close proximity of the alpha-protons of residues 9 and 13. Because of the dimeric nature of the protein there are still two possible ways in which the NOEs in the beta-sheet region can be interpreted. If the NOEs are intramonomer, this requires a tight turn involving residues 10-12. Alternatively, if the NOEs are intermonomer, then and antiparallel beta-sheet would be implicated comprising two strands of different Arc monomers. While the data presently do not allow an unambiguous choice between these two possibilities, some evidence is discussed that favors the latter (beta-sheet between monomers).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611269 TI - Intramolecular electron transfer in proteins. Radiolysis study of the reductive activation of daunorubicin complexed in egg white apo-riboflavin binding protein. AB - Daunorubicin, an anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, can be complexed in egg white apo-riboflavin binding protein. The reduction of this complex was studied by gamma-radiolysis and pulse radiolysis using COO.- free radicals as reductants. The final products are 7-deoxydaunomycinone intercalated in the protein and thiol groups coming from the reduction of disulfide bonds of the protein, in the respective proportions of 90% and 10%. One-electron reduction of the complex gives daunorubicin semiquinone radical and a disulfide anion. The rate constants of the reactions of COO.- ions with the complex and with the disulfide bond in the protein alone are respectively equal to 2.4 x 10(8) mol-1.L.s-1 and 6.4 x 10(7) mol-1.L.s-1. Daunorubicin semiquinone decays by a first-order process, the rate constant of which is independent of the initial protein and radical concentrations. Without protein, daunorubicin semiquinone undergoes a disproportionation-comproportionation equilibrium [Houee-Levin, C., Gardes Albert, M., Ferradini, C., Faraggi, M., & Klapper, M. (1985) FEBS Lett. 179, 46 50]. We propose that a protein residue reduces semiquinone by an intramolecular path. This creates an electron hole in the protein which may alter its function. This reduction process is very different from the reduction mechanism of riboflavin binding protein by the same reductant [Faraggi, M., Steiner, J.P., & Klapper, M.H. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 3273-3279]. These results suggest a new deleterious pathway to explain the antitumor and/or cytotoxic effect of this drug. PMID- 2611270 TI - [Acid-base, tautomeric and isomeric equilibrium of pyridoxal oximes, pyridoxal-5' phosphate and some of their analogs]. AB - Success has been achieved in detailed understanding of tautomeric and isomeric equilibria and search for the new tautomeric and isomeric forms of oximes of pyridoxal, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate and some of their analogs, their presence is explained. This is due to a careful deconvolution of absorption spectra of different ionic forms of oximes into bands corresponding to separate electronic transitions. The spectroscopical data and the results of quantum-chemical calculations are compared for all the forms of compounds under investigation. As it has been found to be valid for other vitamin B6 derivatives as well, quantum chemical calculations can be used for analytical purposes. PMID- 2611271 TI - [Conformational analysis of 5-substituted uracil]. AB - The high-resolution IR-spectra of 5-nitrouracil and 5-bromouracil isolated in Ar matrices at 11 K were obtained for the first time. The conformational structure of uracil 5-substituents--thymine, 5-bromouracil, 5-nitrouracil--is calculated by the molecular mechanics and quantum--chemical MINDO/3 methods. The possibility of thymine transition to nonplanar conformations is observed. PMID- 2611272 TI - [Mechanisms of photodestruction of the eye structure. Formation of polypeptide aggregates upon UV-irradiation of lens proteins]. AB - UV-light injury of individual crystallins (water soluble proteins of the cattle eye crystalline lens) were studied by SDS PSSG technique. Photodamage resulted in oligomer formation. The appearance of high molecular aggregates with the molecular mass as large as 10(5) D were seen in all fractions of the crystalline. PMID- 2611273 TI - [Nuclear magnetic resonance and protein structure]. AB - NMR provides a wealth of structural information about proteins in solution, but does not, by itself, permit an unambiguous determination of a unique structure. A rigorous interpretation of NMR data to obtain the entire family of structures compatible with a given data set requires extensive, systematic and unbiased sampling of the conformational space of the polypeptide chain. Methods of sampling based on the exclusion paradigm--i. e. those that generate structures, check constraints and accept or reject members of the family on that basis, avoid the problem of generating erroneous structures by converging on local minima, which is a common pitfall of methods based on the optimization paradigm. Their much higher computational cost can be reduced by solving the structure in stages, using abstract representations of partial structures, and guiding the computation by control heuristics. The heuristic refinement method developed at Stanford and encoded in the expert system PROTEAN yields more or less extensive families of structures, depending on the size of the NMR data set, and defines the "allowed volume" in which each atom (or other substructure) may lie, with all experimental constraints satisfied. The allowed volume is a measure of the uncertainty of our knowledge of the structure, to which both the limitations of the data and the uncertainty of position resulting from molecular motion may contribute. Prediction of the experimental NMR spectra by solving the generalized Bloch equations (or the Redfield density matrix) for the protein, using atomic coordinates that lie within the allowed atomic volume, provides the final test for the correctness of the proposed structure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611274 TI - [The "block" approach in x-ray diffusion dispersion as a method of studying the packing of secondary structure elements in globular proteins]. AB - To calculate large angle scattering intensity of biopolymers in solution a "block" method of modeling the globular proteins structures is suggested: conformation of protein alpha-helical and beta-structural parts are described in detail, whereas the remaining part of the macromolecule is substituted by a continuum with homogeneous electron density. A comparison of large-angle scattering curves on the basis of the "block" method and the exact structure was made for a number of alpha-helical and beta-structural globular proteins. It is shown that there is a qualitative agreement between the "exact" and model curves. PMID- 2611275 TI - [Description of cartilage tissue structure in solution by the mean field theory]. AB - The connection between geometrical characteristics of the proteoglycan (its thickness Hp and the mean stretch of Rp) and the parameters of the initial chemical structure of proteoglycan molecule constituents are established. The calculations are carried out by a mean field method. PMID- 2611276 TI - [The role of boundary lipids in phase transitions of biological membranes]. AB - In terms of the Landau thermodynamic expansion the model of lipid-protein interaction is considered for the case of relatively low protein concentrations. It is established that the proteins inserted into the lipid membrane can change its phase transition temperature. The expression determining the region size of the "boundary" lipids is obtained and the connection between the ordering extent of the "boundary" lipids and the sign and the value of the temperature shift of the phase transition is calculated. PMID- 2611277 TI - [Theory of metabolism regulation: a complete system of equations for regulation coefficients]. AB - Basic quantitative parameters of control in a metabolic system are considered: control coefficients of enzymes with respect to metabolic fluxes and concentrations, and in the case when there are conservation laws, the response coefficients of metabolic fluxes and concentrations to changes in the conserved sums of metabolite concentrations (e. g. conserved moieties). Relationships are obtained which generalize the well known connectivity relations for the case of metabolites binding by conservation laws. Additional relationships are obtained which complement the set of connectivity relations up to the complete system of equations for determining all the control coefficients. The control coefficients are expressed through the enzyme elasticity coefficients, steady state metabolic fluxes and concentrations. Formulas are derived which express response coefficients of flux and concentrations through the enzyme control and elasticity coefficients and metabolite concentrations. PMID- 2611278 TI - [The effect of temperature on the chemical resistance of erythrocytes]. AB - The kinetics of haemolytic process was analysed in terms of the hyperbolic tangent. The effect of acid hydrochloride and sodium hydroxide on temperature dependence of human erythrocyte haemolysis was evaluated by regression analysis. It has been found that high concentration of acid hydrochloride and low temperature result in cooperative effects. In contrast to sodium hydroxide, neither cooperative, nor anticooperative effects were revealed at all temperatures under study. A general scheme for chemical haemolysis was proposed. PMID- 2611279 TI - [Thermohemolysis of erythrocytes. Model representations and mathematical processing of kinetic curves]. AB - A mathematical model of erythrocyte thermohemolysis valid also for other types of hemolysis with S-shape kinetics is proposed. A formula is derived which, when entered into the computer programme, allows to obtain the distribution of erythrocytes according to the parameter reflecting their thermostability automatically from the experimental kinetic curve of erythrocyte thermohemolysis. PMID- 2611280 TI - [The role of Ca2+ ions in a phage infection of Corynebacterium glutamicum]. AB - It was shown that neither uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation, nor lack of Ca2+ ions affected the normal MC-2 phage absorption on Corynebacterium glutamicum cells, while the phage development was repressed under these conditions. Simultaneous measurement of Ca2+, K+ and H+ ion flows, as well as measurement of membrane potential showed that the addition of the phage into the experimental medium led to significant depolarization of the membrane from -160 mV to -100 mV due to the penetration of Ca2+ ions into the cells followed by K+ and H+ efflux. The (Ca2+) to (K+ + H+) ratio was shown to be 1 : 1. Phage DNA is supposed to be injected into the host cells as a positively charged (Ca2+-DNA) complex. PMID- 2611281 TI - [The dose dependence of various loads using the rosette formation method]. AB - A method of the loading tests in rosette-formation was used to study the rosette formation of lymphocytes and phagocytosis of neutrophils depending on different concentrations of T-activin (and levamysol) after preincubation of leucocytes in vitro with these medicines. It is shown that significant effect of the cells is observed up to the concentrations of the medicines 10(-10)-10(-13) g/l. PMID- 2611282 TI - [A possible role of myosin conformers in provision of dual-stage superprecipitation kinetics of natural actomyosin]. AB - It has been shown that synchronous starting and successive accomplishment of superprecipitation on the two types of actomyosin complexes lead to the two-stage kinetics of this reaction. By means of a temperature change different balance of two types of actomyosin macromolecules can be achieved. We conclude that two different structural forms (conformers) of myosin cause two non-equivalent functional states of the whole actomyosin complex. PMID- 2611283 TI - [Aggregation of isolated myofibrils stimulated by their contraction. II. Aggregation mechanism]. AB - Aggregation of contracted myofibrils was studied as a function of experimental conditions at myofibril contraction. The aggregation rate increased at higher concentrations of suspensions and at increased ionic strength of the medium to achieve the maximum at 0.1 M KCL in the last case. The aggregate sizes grow with an increase of ionic strength and concentration of MgATP and reduce with addition of F-actin. Aggregation of myofibrils develops only in the case of their complete or significant contraction. It was suggested that aggregation is stimulated by dehydration of myofibril at contraction. PMID- 2611284 TI - [Muscles as a chain of the Hill three element model for calculating asynchronicity of excitation in assessing the "active state" during isotonic contraction]. AB - The muscle is described by the chain of Hill three-element models. The expression is obtained of the index of chemical energy transformation into the mechanical one ("active state") as a function of the velocity of the excitation wave propagation along the chain under isotonic contraction. PMID- 2611285 TI - [The state of water in intervertebral disks from data of relaxation analysis using an NMR-tomogram]. AB - Distribution and dynamical characteristics of water molecules in normal and degeneratively changed rabbit intervertebral discs (ID) are estimated basing on the biexponential relaxation analysis of MR-images. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in a rabbit spine were modelled via a spine segmental blood supply injury and, in some cases, removal of ID nuclei. Extreme distributions of relaxation parameters in the ID plane characteristic of intact IDs are shown to be disturbed in cases of ID degenerative changes. These results allow to link ID fibrosis to a water balance disorder and to give a method for estimating the spine destruction degree for clinical MR-imaging. PMID- 2611286 TI - [Luminescence, induced by UV-irradiation, of intact human skin]. AB - UV-C induced chemiluminescence of human skin was investigated in vivo by means of an image-producing system using photon-counting camera and computer PERICOLOR 1000. Luminescence after UV-C application is shown to decline nonexponentially, the parameters of the decline depending on irradiation dose, skin specimen and previous irradiations. If the same skin specimen is irradiated second time 3-36 hours after the first irradiation, the luminescence decline time increases from one-two minutes to more than half an hour. During the time when the decline is slow the images produced by irradiation through the diaphragm do not sustain distinct contours due to the luminescence of nonirradiated skin. The luminescence is shown to be under the organisms' control and to diminish significantly after the application of acetylsalicylic acid. PMID- 2611287 TI - [Shape and amplitude of stimulating postsynaptic potentials in a neuronal model with an N-shaped volt-ampere characteristic of the dendritic membrane]. AB - We developed a model of a neuron with N-shaped current--voltage characteristic of dendritic membrane and studied the change of shape and amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) when changing the place of synapses on dendrites. Local EPSP can activate slow inward current. Consequently, the EPSP amplitude does not always diminish when the rise- and decay-time increases. In some cases the rise- and decay-time of a more distant synapse may become shorter than that of the more approximate one. The common method of judging about the location of synapses by means of the shape of EPSPs may be wrong. PMID- 2611288 TI - [Information characteristics of dual-layer neuronal networks with binary plastic synapses]. AB - Information properties of bilayer neuron nets which fulfil the function of hetero or autoassociative memory were investigated. It was shown that with optimal choice of the net parameters its efficiency coefficient is close to the earlier calculated one for a single associative-neuron-like element, and the quality coefficient is near 1. PMID- 2611289 TI - [Dissipative functions of processes of electromagnetic radiation interaction with biological objects]. AB - Entropy generation rate inside the biological systems due to internal irreversible processes of the interaction with electromagnetic radiation is calculated for the processes of chemical free-energy increase. The irreversibility of several processes (photosynthesis in plants, eyesight of man, bioresonance effects of high frequencies of microwaves) is estimated under concrete experimental conditions. It is shown that the irreversible of five biological processes differs very much (by 10(8) times). PMID- 2611290 TI - [The effect of decreasing erythrocyte membrane permeability for oxygen during oxygenation]. AB - It was shown that erythrocyte membranes permeability for oxygen decreases at least a few tens of times during oxygenation. PMID- 2611291 TI - [Jump-like change in the heat capacity of denatured biological macromolecules]. AB - Study of temperature dependence of heat capacity in denatured biopolymers (collagen, elastin, lysozyme, DNA) with 10-15% of bound water revealed a characteristic jump at some critical temperature Tc. It is argued that such behavior reflects glass transition in biopolymers. PMID- 2611292 TI - [The effect of cholesterol on the function of staphylotoxin channels]. AB - Bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) formed from lecithin and lecithin-cholesterol mixtures by Mueller and Montal were used. It was found that the parameters of ST channel functioning did not depend on the presence of the carbohydrate solvent. The 0.5 molar cholesterol in BLM markedly influenced the characteristic relaxation time depending on the electric field vector direction through the membrane, and increasing them only when the potential from the side of added channel-former was negative. PMID- 2611293 TI - [Level of microelements in urinary stones after the action of surface-active agents]. AB - Effect of non-ionogenic surfactant LF-57 on concrements from uric acid was studied. It was shown that the litholytic effect of this chemical was also directed on microelements. Composition of concrements and LF-57 was determined. PMID- 2611294 TI - [One result in the task of simulating a human electroencephalogram]. AB - The problem is discussed concerning possible loss of dynamic stability of the source of man's alpha-rhythm, as well as one of psychoneurological aspects of this phenomenon. With the aim of modeling man's EEG on animals an experimental criterion is suggested which makes it possible to state that definite spectral peak of animal EKoG cannot serve as a model for studying the properties of man's alpha-rhythm. PMID- 2611295 TI - [Physicochemical parameters of rat liver chromatin during nonhormonal induction]. AB - The changes of RNA-polymerase activity of hepatocytes nuclei, chromatin circular dichroism (CD) spectra and differential melting curves of hepatocytes of rats which were injected hydrocortisone or amino acid mixture intraperitoneally have been studied. Actinomycin D reduces essentially RNA-polymerase activity and maximum of CD spectra. Under the influence of hydrocortisone or amino acid mixture the inhibiting action of antibiotic is taken off but the RNA-polymerase activity and maximum of CD spectra don't achieve the meanings found under the influence of inductors only. The antibiotic injection changes essentially the chromatin melting parameters. A conclusion has been drawn that the amino acid mixture and hydrocortisone effect the transcription process affecting the different levels of chromatin structure. PMID- 2611296 TI - [The effect of limiting neuronal energy metabolism on the level of impulse activity and membrane potentials]. AB - The changes of the membrane potential and the frequency of impulse activity of the crayfish stretch receptor neuron have been studied under condition of energy supply deficiency. The energetic metabolism inhibitors have been found not to exert a significant effect on the membrane potential. The activity of the glycolysis process and the Krebs cycle have different effect on the sensitivity of the generating mechanism. PMID- 2611297 TI - [Protein kinase C is not involved in regulating the short-term cholinoreceptor plasticity of the PPa3 and LPa3 neurons of the edible snail]. AB - A voltage clamp technique on identified Helix lucorum's RPa3 and LPa3 neurons has been used to negate the effect of protein kinase C on extinction of response to repeated iontophoretic applications of acetylcholine to soma. Extracellular influence of phorbol ether, protein kinase C activator (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, 0.1-10 mumol/l), or polymyxin B, its blocker (100-500 mumol/l), do not affect the extinction of acetylcholine-induced neuronal response. The data show that protein kinase C is not involved into molecular mechanisms responsible for the regulation of short-term plasticity of RPa3 and LPa3 neuronal cholinoreceptors in Helix lucorum. PMID- 2611298 TI - [The distribution of labelled iodine in the tissues of wild and laboratory animals with differing functional activity of the thyroid]. AB - The dynamics of radioactive iodine accumulation in some organs and tissues of experimental and wild rodent has been studied. The data obtained indicate the seasonal changes in accumulation investigated. These changes correlate with the dynamics of thyroid gland functional state. PMID- 2611299 TI - [The structure and patterns of support in the encounters of the brown macaque (Macaca arctoides)]. AB - Aid and cooperation in agonistic encounters have been studied in two groups of stumptail macaques keeping in the open-air cages of nature type. The basic agonistic ranks are found and the cases of aid in encounters are classified. A quantitative analysis using the coefficient reflecting the individual rank, kin and frequency of different aids is carried out. The existence of mechanisms of aggression removal within group is revealed, the role of individual ranks and kin in keeping stability in group is shown. PMID- 2611300 TI - Food allergy in preterm infants fed human milk. AB - In 80 preterms aged 9-24 months (mean age: 15.9) and in 80 sex- and age-matched full-terms the frequency of atopic diseases and of positive skin tests to 8 food and 6 inhalant allergens was determined. The two groups did not differ as to overall percentages of cutipositive subjects and patients with atopic diseases. In particular, frequencies of positive skin tests to foods and of atopic dermatitis (the peak prevalence of which occurs early in infancy) were similar in preterm (16.2 and 7.5%, respectively) and full-term (13.7 and 5.0%, respectively) infants. We suggest that preterm infants fed human milk are not at increased risk of developing food allergy and related diseases and that the absorption of antigens through the immature intestine does not seem to favor the development of an IgE sensitization to foods. PMID- 2611301 TI - Effects of rocking on neuromuscular development in the premature. AB - It has been postulated that motion stimulation accelerates postnatal development. To test this hypothesis, 26 premature infants participated in a randomized controlled study of the effects of rocking on body weight gain and measures of neuromuscular development. Treatment infants were exposed to 15-min sessions of sinusoidal oscillation about the longitudinal axis, three times a day for 2 weeks. Infants were evaluated at the beginning and end of the 2-week treatment period and 2 weeks later. Neuromuscular development at these three times was measured with the comprehensive Dubowitz examination. Following treatment, large as compared with small premature infants showed a marked, but not statistically significant increase in weight gain. Duration of treatment appears to be a critical factor in influencing weight gain. All infants exposed to motion stimulation showed significant gains over controls in overall neuromuscular development. Passive muscle tone (posture, arm recoil and popliteal angle) and active motility (arm traction, head lag and ventral suspension) showed significant improvement in the treatment group at posttest. Similar results were recorded with auditory and visual orientation, alertness and defensive reaction. These specific areas of behavior have been recognized to be delayed in premature infants not exposed to a program of sensory stimulation. PMID- 2611302 TI - Circadian blood pressure pattern in full-term newborn infants. AB - A fully automatic noninvasive device (Dinamap) was used for monitoring blood pressure (BP) and heart rate repetitively over 48 h in 21 full-term newborn infants (9 males and 12 females), aged 4 days in order to clarify the occurrence of a circadian rhythm (CR). The data collected were analyzed by computer statistical analysis. Mean values and standard error of BP and heart rate measured at hourly intervals in males and females were computed and plotted as chronograms. However, each newborn infant was analyzed for a CR of BP and heart rate by the single cosinor fit of a 24-hour cosine curve. The analysis of the chronograms revealed that the values of systolic and diastolic BP show an hour-by hour significant fluctuation in male infants, but not in female infants. CR development of BP is present only in a minority of newborn infants and reveals sex and interindividual differences. CR of heart rate is absent in all infants. The physiological significance of these findings was discussed, and the importance of knowing the physiological variances of BP in infants in order to obtain a correct clinical evaluation was stressed. PMID- 2611303 TI - Effects of testosterone on morphology and on progestin and estrogen receptor levels in the mouse uterus and mammary gland. AB - The effects of androgen on the morphology and levels of cytosolic estrogen and progestin receptors (ER and PR) were studied in the mouse uterus and mammary gland. Testosterone neonatally and/or continuously in the adult lowers ER and PR levels particularly at early ages (40-60 days of age) in both the uterus and mammary gland. At older ages, less prominent changes in ER and PR levels are observed. Neonatal androgen treatment appears to exert both direct effects on the uterus and mammary gland and indirect effects (via the hypothalamo-hypophysio ovarian axis). At all ages, neonatal testosterone in combination with continuous adult testosterone consistently depressed PR levels in both uterus and mammary gland, indicating that testosterone is a negative modulator of PR in these tissues. PMID- 2611304 TI - Presence of endopeptidase 24.11 during the ontogeny of the small intestine in different species. AB - The presence of endopeptidase 24.11 has been demonstrated at different periods of development in the small intestine of rat, rabbit and human, by immunoblotting using monoclonal antibodies raised against the rabbit kidney enzyme. The kinetic characteristics of the rabbit intestinal enzyme were determined after its purification by immunoaffinity column using the same antibodies. The endopeptidase 24.11 appears in the suckling rabbit as a low-affinity, high capacity form, suggesting a role of this enzyme in the extracellular digestion of proteins in the young animal. PMID- 2611305 TI - Solubilization of hydroxyapatite crystals by murine bone cells, macrophages and fibroblasts. AB - Calcium phosphate ceramic is widely used as implant material. It is made up of hydroxyapatite, beta-tricalcium phosphate or various combinations of both. In the present study, we use an in vitro model to examine the role of cell-mediated resorption of calcium phosphate ceramic implant material. We compare the abilities of two sequential enzymatic released populations of bone cells from murine calvaria (Population II and Population V), macrophages and dermal fibroblasts to solubilize 45Ca-labelled hydroxyapatite crystals. These crystals were incubated with each of the cell types for 24 h in the presence or absence of parathyroid hormone, prostaglandin E2, calcitonin, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The amount of cell-mediated hydroxyapatite solubilization was determined by measuring the radioactivity in an aliquot of the supernatant after centrifugation. Using dermal fibroblasts as a baseline, relative abilities of macrophages, Population II and Population V to degrade crystals were 10.5, 5 and 2 times that of fibroblasts. Crystal-cell contact was required. While none of the bone resorption agents tested had any effect on this process, crystal dissolution by bone cells was inhibited by two lysosomotropic agents, NH4Cl and chloroquine. PMID- 2611306 TI - Effect of glass-ceramic implants on primary calcification in rat tibial bone after injury. AB - Using histomorphometry and transmission electron microscopy the distribution of extracellular matrix vesicles around bone-bonding and non-bonding glass-ceramic implants in tibial bone healing was studied. Grouping of vesicles was performed according to type, diameter and distance to the calcified front. Most vesicles were 0.06-0.22 microns in diameter in both implants tested. The mean vesicular distance of matrix vesicles to the calcified front was statistically significantly lower in non-bonding material compared with KG Cera. The sequence of vesicle arrangement according to diameter was: 'empty', 'amorphous', 'crystal', 'rupture'. Empty vesicles were the smallest and rupture vesicles the largest. Distances of vesicles to the calcified front showed the same sequence of arrangement, while the rupture type was located nearest to the front. The findings support the widely acknowledged hypothesis on the role of matrix vesicles in mineralization. It was shown that mineralizing tissue around bone bonding glass-ceramics contains more matrix vesicles, which are distributed further from the front with a lower degree of calcification. The parameters studied could serve as standard criteria for the evaluation of implant materials. PMID- 2611307 TI - Effect of diabetes on the healing process of synthetic grafts implanted in dogs: a preliminary study. AB - The deleterious effects of diabetes in peripheral vascular surgery and blood access are generally considered to be associated with the greater failure rate of vascular prostheses. To understand better these phenomena, we investigated the healing characteristics of an ePTFE graft in dogs. The animals were made diabetic after total pancreatectomy and the grafts implanted for scheduled periods of 24 h, 48 h, 1 wk and 1 month, either as thoracic (series I) or abdominal (series II) aortic substitutes. The same implantations were performed in non-diabetic dogs used as controls. The luminal surfaces of grafts implanted in diabetic dogs, either as thoracic or abdominal bypasses, proved to be more invaded by platelets as a result of the blood's increased platelet aggregation properties. The presence of endothelial-like cells spreading over the pannus after 1 month implantation was strikingly different in diabetic versus non-diabetic dogs. In the first group, the cells were fragile and less abundant, whereas in the second they were more adhesive, elongated and orientated in the direction of the blood flow. PMID- 2611308 TI - Reconstruction of parodontal tissue with chitosan. AB - Chitosan ascorbate, obtained by mixing chitosan with ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate, was produced in a gel form suitable for the treatment of periodontitis according to current dental surgery. While chitosan ascorbate underwent degradation in vitro, especially in the presence of atmospheric oxygen and at pH 6.0, the protection from oxygen offered by the surgical cements and the physiological pH value permitted chitosan ascorbate to play an important biological role in vivo, where it kept a honeycomb structure, as indicated by SEM on biopsies taken on 10 patients. The proliferation and organization of the cells were thus favoured with a subsequent enhanced capability of reconstructing a histoarchitectural tissue. Chitosan was progressively reabsorbed by the host, with very satisfactory clinical recoveries of the 52 defects treated, for which tooth mobility and pocket depths were significantly reduced. PMID- 2611309 TI - Effect of surface treatments on attachment and growth of epithelial cells. AB - The objective of this study was to enlarge the understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying epithelial tissue implant reaction by means of in vitro experiments with epithelial cell cultures. For the experiments, rat palatal epithelial cells were cultured on various implant materials. The implant surfaces were treated by different procedures. The possible influence of these treatments on the attachment percentage and growth rate of the cells was studied. The results of the experiments demonstrate no significant relation between surface treatment and the behaviour of rat palatal epithelial cells cultured on the various kinds of substrates relevant for implants. PMID- 2611310 TI - Influence of steroid hormones on protein-platelet interaction at the blood polymer interface. AB - To develop artificial materials for prolonged use in the vascular system, the complicated process of surface-induced thrombosis needs to be better understood. Steroidal hormones have a profound role in thrombosis and haemostasis, although adequate studies are not available to demonstrate their part in the thromboembolic phenomena that occur at the blood-foreign material interface. We studied the interfacial phenomena of five steroid hormonal drugs, Sustanon, Menstrogen, Mixogen, Durabolin and Ovral and their interaction with proteins and platelets toward an artificial surface using contact angle, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, trace labelling methods, etc. This study demonstrates the effect of these hormones to modulate platelet-surface attachment in the presence of platelet inducers. The addition of steroid hormones to the polymer-protein system can inhibit the level of surface-bound albumin where the fibrinogen binding to an artificial surface has been enhanced or unaltered. Steroids also increase platelet-surface attachment to variable degrees. Prolonged use of steroids or the oestrogen-containing oral contraceptive agents may not be advisable for patients having an artificial implant in contact with blood. PMID- 2611311 TI - Methylprednisolone inhibits granulocytopenia induced by infusion of complement activated serum but not of complement-activated plasma in rabbits. AB - The effect of methylprednisolone was examined on complement-induced granulocytopenia in vivo following infusion of zymosan-activated autologous plasma or serum into rabbits. Methylprednisolone only inhibited granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia when zymosan-activated serum or fibrinogen-depleted plasma were infused. It was ineffective at preventing granulocytopenia in animals infused with zymosan-activated plasma. Only zymosan-activated plasma contained fibrin monomers which could directly cause granulocytopenia independently of the generation of C5a. Hence, during complement activation in whole blood in vivo, little or no effect of methylprednisolone should be expected in preventing granulocytopenia. PMID- 2611312 TI - Bioactive polymers. LX. Kinetics of delayed release neomycin-xanthan complex. AB - The kinetics of delayed release neomycin-xanthan complex, and its antimicrobial activity, were studied. Delayed release neomycin (53.13% free neomycin) had zero order release kinetics, when artificial tear solution was used as eluent. Microbiological tests revealed an activity of 380 units/mg, 10% higher than neomycin in its free form. PMID- 2611313 TI - Application of an empirically derived growth curve model to characterize Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm development on silicone elastomer. AB - An in vitro model permitting the development of a staphylococcal biofilm on silicone elastomer is described. Biofilm was determined over time by viable cell quantitation for S. epidermidis strains 8-14B, RP62 and SP2. The log10 viable count data were analysed empirically as a function of time using a negative exponential growth curve model. Although initial colonization and biofilm 72 h cell density of silicone was significantly higher for strain RP62 than SP2, biofilm growth rates did not differ. Strain 8-14B demonstrated a faster biofilm growth rate for the initial 24 h than did RP62 or SP2. The statistical model described was sensitive enough to detect strain differences in biofilm development on silicone elastomer and can be further employed to evaluate the ability of selected biomaterials to retard biofilm development, and the ability of various antimicrobial agents to influence biofilm microbe development. PMID- 2611314 TI - Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis of dental polymers. III. Heterocyclic methacrylates. AB - Four heterocyclic methacrylates were investigated with respect to their loss tangent and activation energy using a dynamic mechanical thermal analyser over a limited frequency range of 0.033 to 90 Hz. The linear regression lines obtained showed an Arrhenius-type relationship between transition temperature and frequency. Their low activation energies in comparison to poly(methyl methacrylate) and bis-phenol A based methacrylates was thought to be a direct consequence of their low molecular weights. PMID- 2611315 TI - Calcium phosphate cements: action of setting regulators on the properties of the beta-tricalcium phosphate-monocalcium phosphate cements. AB - Various additives were tested as setting retarders of the beta-tricalcium phosphate-monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (beta-TCP-MCPM) cements. Calcium pyrophosphate (CPP), calcium sulphate dihydrate (CSD) and calcium sulphate hemihydrate (CSH) were found to increase the setting time from 30 s to about 10 min. Moreover, the use of CSH resulted in a marked increase of the final diametral strength of the cement, which could be raised from 1 MPa to about 3 MPa. The best results were obtained when CSH and CPP were added together to the cement, while the addition of CSD and CPP alone only retarded the setting, without improving the final strength. A particular cement composition (64 wt% beta-TCP, 16 wt% MCPM, 15 wt% CSH and 5 wt% CPP), selected for its optimum final strength, was aged in vitro for 8 d at 37 degrees C in saline solution (0.9 wt% NaCl in water). After a moderate decrease, the diametral strength of the specimen was found to level off at about 60% of its initial value (3.2 MPa), for ageing times beyond 1 d. This behaviour has been ascribed to the progressive dissolution of the CSD fraction of the hardened cement, compensated by the crystallization of further amounts of DCPD. PMID- 2611316 TI - Hemashield vascular graft. PMID- 2611317 TI - Effects of cluster sampling on epidemiologic analysis in population-based case control studies. AB - We consider population-based case-control designs in which controls are selected by one of three cluster sampling plans from the entire population at risk. The effects of cluster sampling on classical epidemiologic procedures are investigated, and appropriately modified procedures are developed. In particular, modified procedures for testing the homogeneity of odds ratios across strata, and for estimating and testing a common odds ratio are presented. Simulations that use the data from the 1970 Health Interview Survey as a population suggest that classical procedures may be fairly robust in the presence of cluster sampling. A more extreme example based on a mixed multinomial model clearly demonstrates that the classical Mantel-Haenszel (1959, Journal of the National Cancer Institute 22, 719-748) and Woolf-Haldane tests of no exposure effect may have sizes exceeding nominal levels and confidence intervals with less than nominal coverage under an alternative hypothesis. Classical estimates of odds ratios may also be biased with non-self-weighting cluster samples. The modified procedures we propose remedy these defects. PMID- 2611318 TI - Semiparametric Marshall-Olkin models applied to the occurrence of metastases at multiple sites after breast cancer. AB - It is noted that the bivariate exponential distribution introduced by Marshall and Olkin (1967, Journal of the American Statistical Association 62, 30-40) allows semiparametric generalizations along the lines of the Cox regression model for survival data. Partial likelihoods for the regression parameters may be derived (here illustrated by the use of the profile likelihood construction), and in most cases standard Cox regression model software may be applied for the analysis with minor modification of the input files. The study was initiated by data on occurrence of metastases from breast cancer. Metastases may occur at various sites, here grouped into ten categories, and simultaneous as well as consecutive occurrence at several sites in common. It is desired to identify and compare risk factors for development of metastases at each site, and we illustrate on some of these data that the above models may be useful for this purpose. PMID- 2611319 TI - Designs for synthetic case-control studies in open cohorts. AB - Several designs are proposed for case-control studies within cohorts when the cohort is open to late entry. These and previously proposed designs are examined with respect to consistency and efficiency of relative risk parameter estimation, and a small simulation study is reported. If study costs increase in proportion to the total number of "at-risk" controls, the most efficient design, Design C, is as follows. For a case failing at time t, controls are selected at random (and without regard to "at-risk" status) from among cohort members who are (i) known not to have failed prior to t and (ii) have not been previously selected as controls. At each t, control sampling proceeds until a prespecified number of controls who are "at risk" at t have been obtained. The efficiency advantage of Design C over that of the standard case-control design proposed by Thomas (in Appendix to Liddell, McDonald, and Thomas, 1977, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B 140, 469-490) will often be small. If, on the other hand, the costs increase in proportion to the number of distinct "at-risk" controls, Design C is no longer the most efficient design. In this case, several alternative designs are proposed. PMID- 2611320 TI - The probability of causation under a stochastic model for individual risk. AB - In this paper we offer a mathematical definition for the probability of causation that formalizes the legal and ordinary-language meaning of the term. We show that, under this definition, even the average probability of causation among exposed cases is not identifiable from epidemiologic data. This is because the probability of causation depends both on the unknown mechanisms by which exposure affects disease risk and competing risks, and on the unknown degree of heterogeneity in the background disease risk of the exposed population. We derive the maximum and minimum values for the probability of causation consistent with the observable population quantities. We also derive the relationship of the "assigned share" (excess incidence rate as a proportion of total incidence rate) to the probability of causation. PMID- 2611321 TI - Testing whether an identified treatment is best. AB - We consider the problem of testing whether an identified treatment is better than each of K treatments. Suppose there are univariate test statistics Si that contrast the identified treatment with treatment i for i = 1, 2,...., K. The min test is defined to be the alpha-level procedure that rejects the null hypothesis that the identified treatment is not best when, for all i, Si rejects the one sided hypothesis, at the alpha-level, that the identified treatment is not better than the ith treatment. In the normal case where Si are t statistics the min test is the likelihood ratio test. For distributions satisfying mild regularity conditions, if attention is restricted to test statistics that are monotone nondecreasing functions of Si, then regardless of their covariance structure the min test is an optimal alpha-level test. Tables of the sample size needed to achieve power .5, .8, .90, and .95 are given for the min test when the Si are Student's t and Wilcoxon. PMID- 2611322 TI - Monitoring accumulating data in a clinical trial. AB - A clinical trial is monitored for efficacy or safety; the variable of interest is death or a similarly serious event. The probability that one therapy has a greater mortality rate than the other is calculated ad libitum during the trial. Adjustments are made for differing patients' prognoses and for survival times. PMID- 2611323 TI - A note on approximating the cumulative distribution function of the time to tumor onset in multistage models. AB - The general multistage theory of carcinogenesis is a very special type of interconnected birth and death process in which the final state is absorbing and all states except the first one are empty at time zero. An approximation proposed by Whittemore and Keller (1978, SIAM Review 20, 1-30) is assessed. It is shown that the adequacy of this approximation depends on the number of malignant cells resulting from a single normal cell. If more than one malignant cell is likely to occur, the approximation will fail. PMID- 2611324 TI - Simultaneous imaging of cell and mitochondrial membrane potentials. AB - The distribution of charged membrane-permeable molecular probes between intracellular organelles, the cytoplasm, and the outside medium is governed by the relative membrane electrical potentials of these regions through coupled equilibria described by the Nernst equation. A series of highly fluorescent cationic dyes of low membrane binding and toxicity (Ehrenberg, B., V. Montana, M. D. Wei, J. P. Wuskell, and L. M. Loew, 1988. Biophys. J. 53:785-794) allows the monitoring of these equilibria through digital imaging video microscopy. We employ this combination of technologies to assess, simultaneously, the membrane potentials of cells and of their organelles in situ. We describe the methodology and optimal conditions for such measurements, and apply the technique to concomitantly follow, with good time resolution, the mitochondrial and plasma membrane potentials in several cultured cell lines. The time course of variations induced by chemical agents (ionophores, uncouplers, electron transport, and energy transfer inhibitors) in either or both these potentials is easily quantitated, and in accordance with mechanistic expectations. The methodology should therefore be applicable to the study of more subtle and specific, biologically induced potential changes in cells. PMID- 2611325 TI - Orientational exchange approach to fluorescence anisotropy decay. AB - Fluorescence depolarization is a powerful technique in resolving dynamics of molecular systems. Data obtained in fluorescence depolarization experiments are highly complex. Mathematical models for analyzing data from depolarization due to rotational motion have been largely based on the rotational diffusion equation. These results have been verified by Monte Carlo simulations. It has been implicitly stated that a 90 degrees jump model between predefined orientations such as presented by G. Weber (1971. J. Chem. Phys. 55:2399-2411) should, for the specific case of fluorescence depolarization, give the same answer as the diffusion equation. Since the highly symmetric cases considered by G. Weber gave the same result as the diffusion equation, it has been desirable to use this method in cases where depolarization arises from both discrete processes and rotational diffusion. We have derived, in a compartmental formalism, the general result for excitation and emission dipoles not necessarily coincident with any of the principal rotational axes of the fluorophore from this exchange model, and have found it to be different from that of the diffusion equation approach. We have also verified this difference with a Monte Carlo simulation of our exchange model. This derivation allows us to define the limits of validity of the 90 degrees exchanges to model rotational diffusion. Also, for systems where movements may be jumps between a few preferred orientations, the actual physical mechanism of depolarization may not be accurately represented by continuous diffusion. The compartmental formalism developed here can be used to easily combine rotational motions with discrete position jumps or other level kinetics. While the difference between the diffusion equation and random walk of finite step size derivations has been presented for observations of different order properties for the compartmental formalism, we discuss the possibility of finding this difference by using the ratio of relaxation rates from a single experiment. Also,the temperature dependence of the exchange rates is calculated in relation to the Kramer's theory. PMID- 2611326 TI - Transition dipole orientations in the early photolysis intermediates of rhodopsin. AB - The linear dichroism spectrum of rhodopsin in sonicated bovine disk membranes was measured 30, 60, 170, and 600 ns after room temperature photolysis with a linearly polarized, 7-ns laser pulse (lambda = 355 or 477 nm). A global exponential fitting procedure based on singular value decomposition was used to fit the linear dichroism data to two exponential processes which differed spectrally from one another and whose lifetimes were 42 +/- 7 ns and 225 +/- 40 ns. These results are interpreted in terms of a sequential model where bathorhodopsin (BATHO, lambda max = 543 nm) decays toward equilibrium with a blue shifted intermediate (BSI, lambda max = 478 nm). BSI then decays to lumirhodopsin (LUMI, lambda max = 492 nm). It has been suggested that two bathorhodopsins decay in parallel to their products. However, a Monte Carlo simulation of partial photolysis of solid-state visual pigment samples shows that one mechanism which creates populations of BATHO having different photolysis rates at 77 K may not be responsible for the two decay rates reported here at room temperature. The angle between the cis band and 498-nm band transition dipoles of rhodopsin is determined to be 38 degrees. The angles between both these transition dipoles and those of the long-wave-length bands of BATHO, BSI, and LUMI are also determined. It is shown that when BATHO is formed its transition dipole moves away from the original cis band transition dipole direction. The transition dipole then moves roughly twice as much towards the original cis band direction when BSI appears. Production of LUMI is associated with return of the transition dipole almost to the original orientation relative to the cis band, but with some displacement normal to the plane which contains the previous motions. The correlation between the lambda max of an intermediate and its transition dipole direction is discussed. PMID- 2611327 TI - Mathematical analysis of mural thrombogenesis. Concentration profiles of platelet activating agents and effects of viscous shear flow. AB - The concentration profiles of adenosine diphosphate (ADP), thromboxane A2 (TxA2), thrombin, and von Willebrand factor (vWF) released extracellularly from the platelet granules or produced metabolically on the platelet membrane during thrombus growth, were estimated using finite element simulation of blood flow over model thrombi of various shapes and dimensions. The wall fluxes of these platelet-activating agents were estimated for each model thrombus at three different wall shear rates (100 s-1, 800 s-1, and 1,500 s-1), employing experimental data on thrombus growth rates and sizes. For that purpose, whole human blood was perfused in a parallel-plate flow chamber coated with type l fibrillar human collagen, and the kinetic data collected and analyzed by an EPl fluorescence video microscopy system and a digital image processor. It was found that thrombin concentrations were large enough to cause irreversible platelet aggregation. Although heparin significantly accelerated thrombin inhibition by antithrombin lll, the remaining thrombin levels were still significantly above the minimum threshold required for irreversible platelet aggregation. While ADP concentrations were large enough to cause irreversible platelet aggregation at low shear rates and for small aggregate sizes, TxA2 concentrations were only sufficient to induce platelet shape change over the entire range of wall shear rates and thrombi dimensions studied. Our results also indicated that the local concentration of vWF multimers released from the platelet alpha-granules could be sufficient to modulate platelet aggregation at low and intermediate wall shear rates (less than 1,000 s-1). The sizes of standing vortices formed adjacent to a growing aggregate and the embolizing stresses and the torque, acting at the aggregate surface, were also estimated in this simulation. It was found that standing vortices developed on both sides of the thrombus even at low wall shear rates. Their sizes increased with thrombus size and wall shear rate, and were largely dependent upon thrombus geometry. The experimental observation that platelet aggregation occurred predominantly in the spaces between adjacent thrombi, confirmed the numerical prediction that those standing vortices are regions of reduced fluid velocities and high concentrations of platelet activating substances, capable of trapping and stimulating platelets for aggregation. The average shear stress and normal stress, as well as the torque, acting to detach the thrombus, increased with increasing wall shear rate. Both stresses were found to be nearly independent of thrombus size and only weekly dependent upon thrombus geometry. Although both stresses had similar values at low wall shear rates, the average shear stress became the predominant embolizing stress at high wall shear rates. PMID- 2611328 TI - Photoreactions of bacteriorhodopsin at acid pH. AB - It has been known that bacteriorhodopsin, the retinal protein in purple membrane which functions as a light-driven proton pump, undergoes reversible spectroscopic changes at acid pH. The absorption spectra of various bacteriorhodopsin species were estimated from measured spectra of the mixtures that form at low pH, in the presence of sulfate and chloride. The dependency of these on pH and the concentration of Cl- fit a model in which progressive protonation of purple membrane produces "blue membrane", which will bind, with increasing affinity as the pH is lowered, chloride ions to produce "acid purple membrane." Transient spectroscopy with a multichannel analyzer identified the intermediates of the photocycles of these altered pigments, and described their kinetics. Blue membrane produced red-shifted KL-like and L-like products, but no other photointermediates, consistent with earlier suggestions. Unlike others, however, we found that acid purple membrane exhibited a very different photocycle: its first detected intermediate was not like KL in that it was much more red-shifted, and the only other intermediate detectable resembled the O species of the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle. An M-like intermediate, with a deprotonated Schiff base, was not found in either of these photocycles. There are remarkable similarities between the photoreactions of the acid forms of bacteriorhodopsin and the chloride transport system halorhodopsin, where the Schiff base deprotonation seems to be prevented by lack of suitable aspartate residues, rather than by low pH. PMID- 2611329 TI - Phase tracking: an improved phase detection technique for cell membrane capacitance measurements. AB - We describe here a technique called phase tracking that greatly improves the accuracy of measurements of the membrane capacitance of single cells. We have modified the original phase detection technique to include a method for creating calibrated changes in the resistance in series with the cell. This provides a method to automate the adjustment of the phase detector to the appropriate phase angle for measuring membrane capacitance. The phase determination depends only on the cell's electrical parameters and does not require matching of the cell impedance with that of the slow capacitance cancellation circuitry of the patch clamp amplifier. We show here that phase tracking can accurately locate the phase of the capacitance signal and can keep the detector aligned with this signal during measurements of exocytosis in mast cells, irrespective of the large drifts which occur in cell membrane resistance, membrane capacitance, or series resistance. The phase tracking technique is a valuable tool for quantifying exocytosis and endocytosis in single cells. PMID- 2611330 TI - Tissue electroporation. Observation of reversible electrical breakdown in viable frog skin. AB - Experiments by others have used isolated cell or bilayer membrane preparations to study the dramatic phenomena associated with electroporation. The present study observes electroporation behavior in an intact tissue. Viable samples of frog skin (Rana pipiens) were exposed to short electrical pulses of varying width and magnitude under "charge injection" conditions. After a pulse, the transtissue potential decayed with two distinct time constants, one short (tau approximately 0.3 ms) and the other longer (tau L approximately 2 ms). Above thresholds for the pulse magnitude and for the pulse width tau L decreased significantly, with progressively smaller tau L as the pulse magnitude and width increased. The postpulse potential, delta Utissue (t), and resistance, Rtissue, also decreased progressively. The tissue subsequently recovered to its original resistance and open circuit potential, delta U tissue,oc, within 2-3 min after a pulse. At that time another pulse experiment could be carried out, demonstrating repeatability and reversibility. No significant permanent changes in Rtissue and delta Utissue,oc were found. This is interpreted as avoidance of significant tissue damage. Taken together, these dramatic phenomena are characteristic of the reversible electrical breakdown previously observed in charge injection experiments with artificial planar bilayer membranes and with isolated cell membranes by similar very short pulses. The present experiments therefore demonstrate that electroporation can be repeatedly caused and observed in a viable tissue without apparent damage. PMID- 2611331 TI - Infrared spectroscopic investigations of pulmonary surfactant. Surface film transitions at the air-water interface and bulk phase thermotropism. AB - The molecular structure of the phospholipid component of intact pulmonary surfactant isolated from bovine lung lavage has been examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Two different physical states of the surfactant were examined by means of different infrared spectroscopic sampling techniques. Transmission infrared experiments were used to study the surfactant in the bulk phase. In these experiments, the thermotropic behavior of the bulk surfactant was monitored by temperature-induced variations in the phospholipid acyl chain CH2 stretching frequencies. A broad phase transition (confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry) was noted with an onset temperature near 15 degrees C and a completion temperature near 42 degrees C. In addition to the bulk transmission experiments, external reflection infrared spectroscopy was used to examine surfactant films in situ at the air-water interface. As surface pressure was increased from 0 to 43 dyn/cm, a gradual and continuous decrease in the CH2 stretching frequency was noted for the surfactant. Thus, under surface pressures which correspond to large lung volumes in vivo, the surfactant acyl chains exist mostly in the ordered (trans) configuration. The frequency shift in the CH2 stretching mode is consistent with a continuous ordering of the acyl chains upon compression over the pressure range 0-43 dyn/cm, and implies that a weakly cooperative phase transition occurs in the hydrocarbon region of the surface film. The surface film transition is especially noted in the pressure-area curve of the surfactant and approximates in two dimensions the broad thermotropic phase transition of the bulk phase surfactant. Substantial differences were observed between the response to surface pressure changes of intact surfactant compared with the main surfactant phospholipid, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn--glycero-3 phosphocholine. The changes in response are attributed to the presence of additional surfactant components. The current work demonstrates the ability of infrared spectroscopy to obtain structural information on the surfactant in physical states that directly relate to those in vivo. PMID- 2611332 TI - Diffusional dynamics of an active rhodamine-labeled 1,4-dihydropyridine in sarcolemmal lipid multibilayers. AB - A "membrane bilayer pathway" model, involving ligand partition into the bilayer, lateral diffusion, and receptor binding has been invoked to describe the 1,4 dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium channel antagonist receptor binding mechanism. In an earlier study (Chester et al. 1987. Biophys. J. 52:1021-1030), the diffusional component of this model was examined using an active fluorescence labeled DHP calcium channel antagonist, nisoldipine-lissamine rhodamine B (Ns-R), in purified cardiac sarcolemmal (CSL) lipid multibilayers. Diffusion coefficient measurements on membrane-bound drug and phospholipid at maximum bilayer hydration yielded similar values (3.8 x 10(-8) cm2/s). However, decreases in bilayer hydration resulted in dramatically reduced diffusion coefficient values for both probes with substantially greater impact on Ns-R diffusion. These data suggested that hydration dependent diffusional differences could be a function of relative probe location along the bilayer normal. In this communication, we have addressed the relative effect of the rhodamine substituent on Ns-R diffusion complex by examining the diffusional dynamics of free rhodamine B under the same conditions used to evaluate Ns-R complex and phospholipid diffusion. X-ray diffraction studies were performed to determine the Ns-R location in the membrane and model the CSL lipid bilayer profile structure to give a rationale for the differences in probe diffusional dynamics as a function of interbilayer water space. PMID- 2611333 TI - Orientation of retinal in purple membrane determined by polarized Raman spectroscopy. AB - The orientation of the retinal molecule in the purple membrane was determined by polarized Raman spectroscopy for stacked purple membranes. The depolarization ratios of C = C stretching vibration mode were measured for three scattering geometries of purple membrane films. From the depolarization ratios we estimated the tilt angle of the transition dipole moment of retinal to the membrane normal and the rotational angle of the molecular plane along the transition dipole moment of retinal. The molecular plane of M intermediate was found to be almost perpendicular to the membrane plane. We confirmed that the tilt angle was 65 +/- 2 degrees for both bR and M intermediates. PMID- 2611334 TI - Fluorescence lifetime distributions of diphenylhexatriene-labeled phosphatidylcholine as a tool for the study of phospholipid-cholesterol interactions. AB - Fluorescence lifetimes of 1-palmitoyl-2-diphenylhexatrienylpro-pionyl phosphatidylc hol ine in vesicles of palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC) (1:300, mol/mol) in the liquid crystalline state were determined by multifrequency phase fluorometry. On the basis of statistic criteria (chi 2red) the measured phase angles and demodulation factors were equally well fitted to unimodal Lorentzian, Gaussian, or uniform lifetime distributions. No improvement in chi 2red could be observed if the experimental data were fitted to bimodal Lorentzian distributions or a double exponential decay. The unimodal Lorentzian lifetime distribution was characterized by a lifetime center of 6.87 ns and a full width at half maximum of 0.57 ns. Increasing amounts of cholesterol in the phospholipid vesicles (0-50 mol% relative to POPC) led to a slight increase of the lifetime center (7.58 ns at 50 mol% sterol) and reduced significantly the distributional width (0.14 ns at 50 mol% sterol). Lifetime distributions of POPC cholesterol mixtures containing greater than 20 mol% sterol were within the resolution limit and could not be distinguished from monoexponential decays on the basis of chi 2red. Cholesterol stabilizes and rigidifies phospholipid bilayers in the fluid state. Considering its effect on lifetime distributions of fluorescent phospholipids it may also act as a membrane homogenizer. PMID- 2611335 TI - Stimulus-response coupling in mammalian ciliated cells. Demonstration of two mechanisms of control for cytosolic [Ca2+]. AB - Changes of cytosolic [Ca2+] have been proposed to couple stimulation of ciliary movement, however, quantitative measurements of fluctuations of intracellular free [Ca2+] associated with stimulation of ciliated cells have not been investigated. In primary cultures of rabbit oviductal ciliated cells, the stimulation of ciliary activity produced by micromolar concentrations of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) was associated with a transient increase of intracellular [Ca2+]. Whereas the increase of cytosolic [Ca2+] and beat frequency produced by ATP were inhibited by the Ca-channel blocker LaCl3, the rise of cytosolic [Ca2+] and frequency of ciliary beat produced by PGF2 alpha was not affected by LaCl3. These results are the first direct demonstration that fluctuations of cytosolic [Ca2+] are associated with increased ciliary beat frequency in mammalian epithelial cells. The present findings suggest two different calcium-dependent mechanisms for stimulus-coupling in ciliary epithelium: ATP acting via purinergic receptor coupled to transmembrane influx of Ca2+, and PGF2 alpha acting via receptor mediated release of intracellular sequestered Ca. PMID- 2611336 TI - Factors affecting the absorption maxima of acidic forms of bacteriorhodopsin. A study with artificial pigments. AB - The absorption maximum (568 nm) of light-adapted bacteriorhodopsin bR568 undergoes reversible changes after acidification. At pH 2.9, the absorption shifts to 605 nm (forming bR605) and it blue shifts to 565 nm, after further acidification to pH approximately 0.5 (forming bR565). Molecular models accounting for such acid-induced changes are relevant to the structure and function of bacteriorhodopsin. In the present study we approached the problem by applying artificial bR pigments based on selectively modified synthetic retinals. This may allow direct identification of the specific regions in the retinal binding site where the above changes in the protein-retinal interactions take place. We investigated the spectroscopic effects of acid in a variety of artificial pigments, including cyaninelike retinals, retinals bearing bulky groups at C4, short polyenes, and retinals in which the beta-ionone ring was substituted by aromatic rings. The results provide direct evidence for the hypothesis that the generation of bR605 is due to changes in polyene-opsin interactions in the vicinity of the Schiff base linkage. The second transition (to bR565) was not observed in artificial pigments bearing major changes in the ring structure of the retinal. Two approaches accounting for this observation are presented. One argues that the generation of bR565 is associated with acid induced changes in retinal-protein interactions in the vicinity of the retinal ring. The second involves changes in polyene-opsin interactions in the vicinity of the Schiff base linkage. For both bRw and bRN5, our results do not discriminate between the direct titration of negative or dipolar protein groups in the binding site and changes in the retinal-protein interactions induced by changes in the protein structure outside of the binding site. PMID- 2611337 TI - Effect of protein side chain amide group on the hydrogen-bond equilibrium in nucleobases studied by infrared and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. AB - Infrared spectra of 1:1 hydrogen-bonded complexes formed by derivatives of adenine and model molecules bearing the protein side chain amide group have been measured in chloroform solution. From the temperature dependence of hydrogen-bond formation, thermodynamic data on these complexes are determined. On the basis of these data, it is shown that the complexes consist of cyclic heterodimers, those that use the adenine N(1)H bond being favoured. Similarly infrared and 13C-NMR spectroscopy reveals that uracil-amide cyclic heterodimers formed through the uracil 4-carbonyl group are predominant. All of these results predict that Watson Crick hydrogen bonds in adenine-uracil base-pairs may be opened to some extent, as proved in this work. The possible biological importance of these observations is also discussed. PMID- 2611338 TI - Information theory and the analysis of ligand-binding data. AB - The phenomenological principles of information theory are used in the analysis of ligand-binding phenomena in biological macromolecules. Information maps are constructed to visualize regions of ligand chemical potential with maximum amount of information and to devise suitable experimental strategies therefrom. Extensive simulation studies and analysis of experimental data also point out the properties of information used as a weighting procedure in nonlinear least squares analyses. PMID- 2611339 TI - Hydrolytic reaction catalyzed by poly[N-(substituted)glycine]s having imidazolyl groups in side chains in the presence of liposome. AB - Hydrolytic reactions in the presence of liposomes catalyzed by N epsilon benzyloxycarbonylhistidine groups introduced into the side chains of poly[N-(3 aminopropyl)glycine] were studied. On increasing the hydrophobicity of the polypeptide catalyst by introducing dodecyl groups into the side chains, and in the presence of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer membranes, p nitrophenyl palmitate (PNPP) was hydrolyzed more rapidly than p-nitrophenyl acetate (PNPA). The addition of cholesterol or phosphatidylserine to lipid bilayer membranes accelerated the hydrolysis of PNPP catalyzed by the polypeptide catalyst more strongly than that of PNPA. The substrate selectivity and catalytic efficiency of the polypeptide catalyst were found to be controlled by the physical state of the lipid bilayer membranes. PMID- 2611340 TI - Distribution of tumor promoters in lipid membranes and changes in membrane structure. AB - The interaction of tumor promoters differing in molecular structure, namely, 12-O tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and teleocidin, with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles was studied. Investigation by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy clarified the differences between the tumor promoters in the mode of interaction with lipid bilayer membranes. The temperature dependence of the bandwidth of the C-H or C = O stretching absorption of lipid molecules in the presence of tumor promoters relative to that in pure DPPC vesicles indicated that TPA is incorporated into the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer membrane whilst teleocidin binds predominantly to the membrane surface. However, both tumor promoters tend to restrict the motion of lipid molecules in membranes. The same conclusion was derived from measurements of steady-state fluorescence polarization, which showed that tumor promoters decreased the membrane fluidity. On the other hand, carboxyfluorescein (CF) leakage from vesicles was enhanced by the addition of TPA below the phase transition temperature, whereas the effect of teleocidin on steady-state CF leakage was not as significant. It is considered that the difference in the profile of the TPA-induced increase in CF leakage compared to that of teleocidin might be ascribable to a different binding site for each tumor promoter in the membranes. PMID- 2611341 TI - Probing of DNA structure with osmium tetroxide. Effect of ligands. AB - Fourteen OsO4 complexes with different ligands were tested as probes of DNA structure. Of these complexes, only OsO4-2,2'-bipyridine (Os-bipy), OsO4 bathophenanthrolinedisulfonic acid (Os-bpds) and OsO4-N,N,N',N' tetramethylenediamine (Os-TMEN) site-specifically modified the ColE1 cruciform in a supercoiled plasmid pColIR215 at millimolar concentrations. Os-bipy, Os-bpds and Os-TMEN also displayed site-specific modification of the B-Z junctions in the supercoiled plasmid pRW751 containing (dC-dG)n inserts. PMID- 2611342 TI - The maximum and minimum water content and cell volume of human erythrocytes in vitro. AB - The maximum and minimum water contents of human erythrocytes were measured after exposure to various osmotic pressures. Within a range of osmolarities, at which no haemolysis occurred, the water content reached its maximum, 78.1%, at 180 mosM and its minimum, 54.8%, at 800 mosM. Simultaneously, the mean cell volume increased to 98.5 microns 3 at 180 mosM and decreased to 77.2 microns 3 at 800 mosM. PMID- 2611343 TI - Conformational study of poly(L-lysine) interacting with acidic phospholipid vesicles. AB - Circular dichroism measurements were carried out on poly(L-lysine) in the presence of vesicles of the negatively charged phospholipids, phosphatidylserine (PS; from bovine brain), phosphatidic acid (PA; prepared from egg yolk lecithin) and dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG). PS vesicles induced a conformational change in poly(L-lysine) from random coil to alpha-helix structure in 5 mM Tes (pH 7.0), whereas PA vesicles gave rise to beta-structure in the same buffer. The fraction of alpha-helix, F alpha (or beta-structure, F beta), increased with increasing PS (or PA) concentration, reaching a saturation value of about 0.7 (or about 1). Mixed vesicles comprising PS and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) also induced alpha-helix conformation, however, the saturation value of F alpha diminished with decreasing PS content in mixed vesicles. On the other hand, the spectral patterns for poly(L-lysine) in DMPG vesicle suspensions exhibited the coexistence of alpha-helix and beta-structure. Both F alpha and F beta increased with DMPG concentration and reached saturation values of about 0.5. Mixed vesicles composed of DMPG and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) led to a reduction in F beta, while F alpha remained almost constant. The diversity in ordered structure induced by different phospholipid vesicles suggests the participation of lipid head groups in determining the secondary structure of poly(L-lysine) adsorbed on the vesicular surface. PMID- 2611344 TI - Configurational and dynamic properties of different length superhelical DNAs measured by dynamic light scattering. AB - The solution conformation and internal motions of five superhelical DNAs between 2100 and 10200 base-pairs in length have been characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Variations in the diffusion coefficients and rotational relaxation times with molecular weight are both indicative of an anisotropic extended structure of these DNAs; we therefore conclude that under our conditions the interwound superhelical structure prevails. The internal dynamics can be described by a superposition of rotational diffusion and internal relaxation. The latter process is characterized by the internal diffusion of persistence length size segments within the DNA chain and faster bending motions within these segments. PMID- 2611345 TI - Formation of unique structure in polypeptide chains. Theoretical investigation with the aid of a replica approach. AB - A replica approach analogous to that used in spin glass systems is implemented to study the configurational space of a heteropolymeric model of protein with a quenched, disordered sequence of links in the limit of a large number of link types. It is shown that there exists a threshold value of chain heterogeneity which separates two qualitatively different types of behavior. For a low degree of heterogeneity the protein globule is like a homopolymer in a collapsed state without definite chain folds: an exponentially large number of folds make a significant contribution to the partition function in this regime. After the threshold heterogeneity has been overcome, the chain freezes drastically but without latent heat; few (approx. 1) frozen states with definite chain folds are thermodynamically dominant in this state. The relation of these results to thermodynamic aspects of protein folding is discussed. PMID- 2611346 TI - Characteristic response to taste stimuli of the intensities of higher harmonics in an electrochemical oscillatory system. AB - In general, the electrochemical characteristics of solid/liquid or liquid/liquid interfaces are highly nonlinear, i.e., the capacitance changes markedly according to the applied voltage. In this paper, we propose a novel method for evaluating these nonlinear characteristics quantitatively. That is, a sinusoidal voltage source is applied to a test solution and the waveform of the output current is analyzed by Fourier transformation. It is shown theoretically that higher harmonic components in the Fourier transformation afford us useful information on nonlinear behavior. It is stressed that our technique is entirely different from the classical impedance method, i.e., nonlinear components of the impedance can be evaluated in our method, having been ignored previously in the classical impedance measurement. As an application of this method, we have studied the effect of taste compounds on the intensities of the higher harmonics, using an electrochemical cell containing an aqueous solution of sodium oleate. It has been found that the intensities of the higher harmonics exhibit characteristic changes upon the addition of taste compounds, the change being dependent upon the taste category. The characteristic response to taste compounds in the electrochemical nonlinearity is discussed in relation to the experimental trend of the dynamic isotherm for oleic acid at an air/water interface. PMID- 2611347 TI - A stopped-flow kinetic study of the interaction of potential-sensitive oxonol dyes with lipid vesicles. AB - The interaction of the dyes oxonol V and oxonol VI with unilamellar dioleoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles was investigated using a fluorescence stopped-flow technique. On mixing with the vesicles, both dyes exhibit an increase in their fluorescence, which occurs in two phases. According to the dependence of the reciprocal relaxation time on vesicle concentration, the rapid phase appears to be due to a second-order binding of the dye to the lipid membrane, which is very close to being diffusion-controlled. The slow phase is almost independent of vesicle concentration, and it is suggested that this may be due to a change in dye conformation or position within the membrane, possibly diffusion across the membrane to the internal monolayer. The response times of the dyes to a rapid jump in the membrane potential has also been investigated. Oxonol VI was found to respond to the potential change in less than 1 s, whereas oxonol required several minutes. This has been attributed to lower mobility of oxonol V within the lipid membrane. PMID- 2611348 TI - Point perturbation analysis of experimental data. AB - A new method of data analysis is proposed. The method is based on discrete perturbation of experimental data points, which is used to probe the metric of the parameter hyperspace. Perturbation-induced fluctuations in the residual values are analysed by discrete Fourier transform to yield the autocorrelation function and a relaxation length for each experimental point. This parameter provides a quantitative measure of correlation and hence nonrandomness of residuals. The method is applied to the analysis of measurements of the shear viscosity of a 2,6-lutidine/water mixture near the critical point, and to the oxygen and carbon monoxide binding reactions to human hemoglobin. Relaxation profiles are constructed for several experimental data sets. Departure from random behavior in the residuals is discussed in connection with the theoretical interpretations of the phenomenon under consideration. PMID- 2611349 TI - Changes in the molecular topography of the light and heavy chains of type A botulinum neurotoxin following their separation. AB - Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A, an approx. 150 kDa protein, is composed of two subunits, the light and heavy chains (approximately 50 and approximately 100 kDa, respectively). The neurotoxin's mode of action is believed to depend on coordinated but independent actions of the two subunit chains. The molecular environments of the aromatic amino acid residues of the dichain neurotoxin and the two isolated subunit chains were analyzed using near-ultraviolet circular dichroism (CD) (between 250 and 320 nm) and second-derivative ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy (between 240 and 320 nm) to investigate the conformational variations of the subunit chains in separated and conjugated forms. The mean residue weight ellipticities showed virtually no change (i.e., 1.7%) in the vicinities of Phe (268 nm), and only a small change (11%) around Tyr (279 nm) residues following dissociation of the subunit chains. However, significant changes (23-26%) at 286 nm as well as at 292 nm were noted, suggesting considerable alteration in the conformation of the subunits. Second derivative ultraviolet absorption spectra indicated the degree of Tyr exposure in the dichain neurotoxin, isolated heavy and light chains at 70.7, 81.5 and 46.4%, respectively. A weighted mean of the degree of exposed Tyr residues in the separated heavy and light chains was 69.6%, virtually same as the 70.7% exposed Tyr residues observed in the intact dichain neurotoxin, indicating no difference in their Tyr exposure upon separation of the two chains. This was corroborated by the CD data which revealed only small changes in the CD signals of Tyr residues, and no alteration in those of the Phe residues following separation of the subunit chains. However, a change in the CD signal at 292 nm suggested that the conformations of Trp-containing segments of the two chains were significantly influenced upon their separation. The heavy and light chains of the neurotoxin therefore appear to exist as two semi-independent domains, in spite of being linked by disulfide and noncovalent bonds, and at least part of their conformations depends on interactions between them. PMID- 2611350 TI - Application of method of moments analysis to fluorescence decay lifetime distributions. AB - In fluorescence decay work, distributions of exponential decay lifetimes are anticipated where complex systems are examined. We describe here methods of gaining information on such distributions using the method of moments analysis approach. The information obtained may be as simple as the average and deviation of the lifetime distribution, quantities which we show may be estimated directly from the results of a multiexponential analysis. An approximation to the actual distribution shape may also be obtained using a procedure we call the variable filter analysis (VFA) method without making any assumptions about the shape of the distribution. Tests of VFA using both simulated and experimental data are described. Limitations of this method and of distribution analysis methods in general are discussed. Results of analyses on experimental decays for ethidium intercalated in core particles and in free DNA are reported. PMID- 2611351 TI - On the use of self-quenching fluorophores in the study of membrane fusion kinetics. The effect of slow probe redistribution. AB - In glycoprotein-mediated pH-induced fusion of virus to animal cells, the mixing of materials between membranes or between cytoplasmic spaces occurs after the virus-cell complex has gone through a number of activation reactions. The monitoring of the fluorescence changes measured in a fusing system using self quenching probes could reflect not only the kinetics of activation, but also the redistribution reaction of probes. For instance, time delay seen in the onset of fluorescence changes after triggering the fusion reaction (S.J. Morris, D.P. Sarkar, J.M. White and R. Blumenthal, J. Biol. Chem. (1989) 3972), could be due to rate-limiting probe redistribution kinetics. In this paper we examined in detail the effect of probe redistribution rates on fusion kinetics. Simulations were performed using a very simple model with two fusion-activation steps and an exponential probe redistribution kinetics. We conclude that if the rates of probe redistribution are faster than or equal to those of viral glycoprotein activation, the kinetics of the fusion reaction are not significantly affected. PMID- 2611352 TI - Salt precipitation during the freeze-concentration of phosphate buffer solutions. AB - Salt precipitation during the freeze concentration of phosphate solutions was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), in view of its practical importance in the cryopreservation or freeze-drying of biological materials. It was found that the fraction of salt precipitated depends on the initial salt concentration; it began to decrease with decreasing concentration at approx. 1 M. Salt precipitation also depends on the cooling rate. In some cases, cooling at approx. 10(3) degree min-1 inhibited salt precipitation which had been observed during slow cooling (0.62 degree min-1), without, however, affecting the shape of the ice melting endotherm. In the case of ternary phosphate buffers, the fraction of salt precipitating depends on the salt composition as well as the initial concentration and cooling rate. Near the composition of the ternary eutectic or the composition where two salts are present at the same concentration, salts were prevented from precipitation. PMID- 2611353 TI - Sol-gel processing of actin to obtain homogeneous glasses at low temperatures. AB - The lethal effects of freezing on cells are currently attributed to the crystallization of extracellular water which leaves concentrated solutions of salts, macromolecules and so forth in the extracellular space. This concentrated fluid establishes a strong osmotic gradient which draws water from the cells. Thus, a cell surrounded by ice can survive only if means can be found for reducing the osmotically driven outflow of cellular water. This is usually attempted through vitrification of the extracellular space, but may also be attained through suitable modifications of cellular plasms. Starting from microscopic observations on early rabbit embryos and related cryotolerance, we investigated purified actin solutions under similar conditions, and found that sol-gel processing could result in the formation of homogeneous glass, and through drying, give rise to monolithic solids, glasses and composites. The first process may be at least partially responsible for the induced cryotolerance of cells, while the second may be representative of new and useful biomaterials. PMID- 2611354 TI - The effect of domperidone on theophylline disposition in the rat. AB - The effect of domperidone (2 mg kg-1) on the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of theophylline (25 mg kg-1) was studied in the rat. Theophylline concentrations were measured serially for 12 h using an HPLC technique. Domperidone did not have any significant effect on any of the four parameters studied: peak plasma levels (Cpmax), the time these were attained (tmax), elimination half-life (t1/2) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC). Our data preliminarily suggests that domperidone may be safely coadministered with theophylline but clearly further studies in patients or relevant animal models of gastric motility disturbances are needed to reliably rule out any potential interaction between these agents. PMID- 2611355 TI - Stability, human blood distribution and rat tissue localization of promazine and desmonomethylpromazine. AB - The stability in human blood and urine, partitioning into red blood cells and plasma protein binding of promazine and desmonomethylpromazine were investigated. Tissue localization was investigated in rats. Promazine and desmonomethylpromazine were stable in human plasma and urine for at least 64 days at -20 degrees. The percentage of promazine not bound to protein in plasma was 10.4 +/- 2.43 as estimated by equilibrium dialysis with correction for volume shift, and 11.6 +/- 0.43 per cent as estimated by ultracentrifugation. Data for the mean plasma/red blood cell concentration ratio and the red blood cell/plasma distribution coefficient for promazine were 1.19 +/- 0.13 and 8.21 +/- 0.40, respectively. There was no evidence of time-dependence in plasma/red blood cell partitioning. Ten rat organs and tissues were examined. The concentrations of promazine and desmonemethylpromazine were highest in lung. For promazine, the rank order of tissue localization was lung greater than liver greater than kidney greater than intestine greater than brain greater than spleen greater than red blood cell greater than voluntary muscle greater than plasma greater than stomach greater than heart. For desmonomethylpromazine, the order was reversed in the cases of spleen and brain and interchanged in the cases of stomach and muscle. The brain/plasma concentration ratios for promazine and desmonomethylpromazine in rat were 4.69 and 3.87, respectively. PMID- 2611356 TI - Effects of obesity and ancillary variables (dialysis time, drug, albumin, and fatty acid concentrations) on theophylline serum protein binding. AB - The effect of obesity on the serum protein binding of theophylline was investigated in man and rat along with other ancillary variables such as dialysis time, theophylline concentration, albumin concentration, and fatty acid type and concentration. The percent binding of theophylline first increased with dialysis time, reached equilibrium over 2 to 6 h, then diminished. This decrease was not due to instability of theophylline. Theophylline binding was linear over a concentration range of 15 to 150 micrograms ml-1. A similar degree of binding was found in normal humans (44.4 +/- 1.0%) and rats (41.5 +/- 0.5%). The binding ratio (bound/free) of theophylline was proportional to the albumin concentration (1 to 5%) and yielded a binding parameter (NK) of 1.47 x 10(-3) M-1. Over a normal physiological range, individual and mixed fatty acids had minimal effects on theophylline binding to albumin. However, binding significantly decreased as fatty acid (FFA) concentrations increased. The magnitude of the effect appeared to parallel the carbon chain number of the fatty acid. Theophylline binding in obese subjects decreased to a mean (SD) of 35.8 +/- 8.0 per cent compared to 43.0 +/- 6.1 per cent in normal subjects (p less than 0.05). Similar decreases were found in normal versus obese rats and in the saliva: serum ratio following theophylline administration to normal and obese human subjects. Obesity causes a moderate decrease in serum binding of theophylline which may be attributed to increased FFA rather than in vitro artifacts. PMID- 2611357 TI - Investigation of mezlocillin disposition with a porcine model. AB - The suitability of the pig as an animal model for mezlocillin disposition was assessed. Serum, urine, and bile were collected after the administration of 50, 100 and 200 mg kg-1 mezlocillin to pigs and drug pharmacokinetics were characterized. Mezlocillin concentrations in biological fluids were determined by HPLC and free mezlocillin was determined by ultrafiltration. The pharmacokinetics of mezlocillin appeared to be independent of dose over the dosage range studied. Total clearance, renal clearance, and biliary clearance were 0.18 (0.05) 1 h-1 kg 1, 0.13 (0.03) 1 h-1 kg-1, and 0.07 (0.02) 1 h-1 kg-1, respectively. The steady state volume of distribution was 0.29 (0.08) 1 kg-1. The pharmacokinetic parameters determined in the porcine model are similar to those reported for health human volunteers. Therefore, this model appears suitable for the study of mezlocillin disposition, and may be applied to the study of other agents that are appreciably biliary excreted. PMID- 2611358 TI - Lack of effect of co-trimoxazole on the pharmacokinetics of orally administered theophylline. AB - Eight healthy, male subjects participated in a balanced randomized crossover study to investigate the effect of a course of co-trimoxazole (CT; combination of sulphamethoxazole 800 mg and trimethoprim 160 mg, twice daily for 5 days) on the pharmacokinetics and urinary metabolite profile of an orally administered dose of theophylline (TH). There were no significant differences (p greater than 0.05) between the control and treatment phases with respect to any of the following pharmacokinetic parameters of TH: area under the plasma total TH concentration time curve; fraction unbound in plasma; area under the plasma unbound TH concentration time curve; terminal half-life; apparent volume of distribution; apparent total plasma clearance and renal clearance. The urinary recoveries of 1 methyluric acid, 1.3-dimethyluric acid and of theophylline were not significantly different (p greater than 0.05) between the two study phases. There was a significant difference (p less than 0.05), however, in the urinary recovery of 3 methylxanthine (11.3 +/- 2.6 per cent TH alone versus 13.9 +/- 3.6 per cent TH CT) and in the total urinary recovery of TH and its metabolites (76.5 +/- 8.2 per cent versus 85.3 +/- 7.0 per cent), the latter finding suggesting that CT may have caused a small increase in the extent of TH absorption. The results of the study indicated that CT did not inhibit the biotransformation of TH. PMID- 2611359 TI - Absorption kinetics of cyclosporine in healthy volunteers. AB - The absorption kinetics of cyclosporine were studied in eight healthy volunteers following oral and intravenous administration. Bioavailability of cyclosporine was observed to be 20.8 +/- 5.5 per cent. Absorption of cyclosporine was found to be better described by first order processes rather than by a zero order process as previously reported. PMID- 2611360 TI - Pharmacokinetic interaction between flurbiprofen and antacids in healthy volunteers. AB - Gastrointestinal distress resulting from drug intake is often remedied by administering the drug with antacids. However, antacids have been shown to modify the absorption and excretion of many drugs. This study was designed to delineate the effects of aluminium and magnesium hydroxide antacid suspension (Maalox) on the pharmacokinetics of flurbiprofen. Since this drug is often used in the elderly, not only young healthy but also geriatric healthy male volunteers participated in the study. A group of twelve young and a group of seven geriatric volunteers received, in a crossover design, a single oral dose of 100 mg of flurbiprofen with and without Maalox. A non-stereospecific assay was used to determine the total (R + S enantiomers) of flurbiprofen in plasma. The relative pharmacokinetic parameters of total flurbiprofen determined from plasma samples were Cmax, tmax, Kel, t1/2, and AUC infinity. The results indicate that the co administration of Maalox with flurbiprofen had no effect on the rate and extent of total flurbiprofen absorption in young volunteers. In geriatric volunteers, the results indicate no effect of the antacid on the extent of drug absorption. There was a trend for lower plasma concentrations of total flurbiprofen with antacid in the geriatric group and hence a reduction in rate of flurbiprofen absorption although differences were not significant. The study also included a steady state determination of the influence of antacid administration on flurbiprofen pharmacokinetics. The group of young volunteers received, from Day 3 to Day 8, 100 mg of flurbiprofen every 12 h with and without Maalox.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611361 TI - Simplified approach for determination of hepatic drug-oxidizing capacity using trimethadione metabolism as an indicator. PMID- 2611362 TI - Characteristics of L-proline and sodium transport in renal brush border membranes isolated from 7-day-old and adult rats. AB - To explore the nature of differences in uptake by renal brush border vesicles from animals of different ages, vesicles were isolated from 7-day old and adult rats by a Mg-aggregation method. A number of criteria were compared in vesicles from the young and mature animals. The vesicles isolated from animals of both ages appear similar on electron microscopy, in response to osmotic changes, and in uptake kinetics for L-glucose. Despite these parameters which indicate no basic differences between the membranes of young and mature kidney, differences in proline and sodium handling are seen. When compared to the uptake pattern seen in vesicles from adult animals, the height of the sodium gradient-stimulated proline overshoot is diminished and sodium entry is faster in vesicles of the 7 day old rats. These are the same differences which were found in vesicles prepared by differential centrifugation from 7-day old animals. In addition, although sodium efflux was faster from vesicles of immature kidney and mirrored the faster sodium entry, proline efflux was slower. The data indicate a dissociation of proline and sodium fluxes in brush borders of the young rat kidney. PMID- 2611363 TI - Characterization of metachronal wave in beating cilia: distribution of phases in space. AB - We have examined phase differences between beating cilia measured in different directions on the surface. The measurements were performed on tissue cultures taken from frog palate epithelium. This experiment was based on a method developed earlier, which measures simultaneously scattered light from two different and relatively small areas. Moreover, the distance between the two small areas can be accurately defined and varied. Rotating the stage around the optical axis permits us to repat these measurements at different space angles. It was found that: a) the phase gradient is a periodic function of the angle of rotation; b) the periodicity can be described quantitatively by a cosine function; c) good agreement exists between Machemer's findings in protozoa and our results, despite the differences between the two systems and techniques used. PMID- 2611364 TI - A theoretically-based experimental approach for identifying vascular constitutive relations. AB - We employ a structurally-motivated phenomenological formulation to identify biomechanical experiments which can be used to determine a vascular constitutive relation directly from data. Large deformations, nonlinear material behavior, load-dependent anisotropy, material heterogeneity and incompressibility are accounted for in the analysis. For purposes of illustration, we outline a procedure for studying elastic arteries wherein the behavior of the media and adventitia is considered separately. This general approach for identifying vascular constitutive relations can be applied to any vessel or airway, however, and should provide certain advantages over previous microstructural or purely phenomenological formulations. PMID- 2611365 TI - The flow rate of blood in an environment of weightlessness. AB - To discuss the decrease in the flow rate of blood experienced by astronauts, a theory of blood flow is presented taking account of the effect of gravity. The theory of two-dimensional Poiseuille flow is adopted. It is assumed that the flow is horizontal and that the width of the upper marginal layer filled with plasma thickens as gravity increases. The parameter xi which mainly indicates the effect of thickening of the upper marginal layer is introduced. The extent of decrease in the flow rate of blood in the environment of weightlessness compared to that in the gravitational field is calculated for various values of xi. The decrease is more remarkable in the flow rate of the cell fraction than that of whole blood for the same value of xi. PMID- 2611366 TI - A new red blood cell filtration device with improved time resolution and its application to the impaired RBC deformability in the diabetic ob/ob mouse. AB - A new filtration device and blood handling technique for the assessment of RBC deformability in small blood samples is described and used to study RBC deformability in adult obese-hyperglycemic ob/ob-mice and normoglycemic controls. The new filtration device was designed to improve the time resolution during RBC incubation. Test and control RBC suspensions were directly filtered from two identical incubation chambers under a constant pressure of 1200 Pa. Nuclepore filters (3 microns) were mounted on top of several standard test tubes into which the filtrate was subsequently collected and weighed. Because the RBCs were resuspended to a very low (0.01%) hematocrit, the average number of RBCs passing each pore was less than 10. Therefore, any detectable difference must reflect the physical properties of RBCs, e.g. shape or viscoelasticity, whereas the role of white blood cells is negligible. When ob/ob-mouse RBCs were studied with the new technique they showed impaired filtrability as compared with control RBCs, both when incubated without glucose and with glucose present at the same concentration as that recorded in the RBC donating mouse. PMID- 2611367 TI - The role of mucus gel viscosity, spinnability, and adhesive properties in clearance by simulated cough. AB - We investigated the role of the viscoelastic and adhesive properties of mucus gel simulants on the clearance of mucus by simulated cough. Mucus-like gels with widely varying viscoelastic properties were prepared from polysaccharides crosslinked with sodium borate. Cough was simulated by opening a solenoid valve connecting a model trachea to a pressurized tank. The clearance of gels lining the model trachea was quantified by observing marker particle transport. Viscosity elastic modulus, relaxation time and yield stress were measured with a steady-shear viscoelastometer. Spinnability (thread formation) was determined with a filancemeter. Adhesivity (surface tension) was measured by the platinum ring technique. The viscoelastic and adhesive properties of the mucus gel simulants spanned the ranges observed for bronchial secretions from patients with COPD. The relationship between simulated cough clearance and the viscoelastic and adhesive properties of the gels was analyzed by stepwise linear regression of the non-zero data matrix. The major independent variable relating to clearance was viscosity. Secondary, but highly significant dependences, were also found for spinnability and adhesivity. Elastic modulus, relaxation time and yield stress had no independent effect on cough clearance over the investigated range. The results indicate that, in the absence of airway surface liquid, cough-type clearance relates primarily with mucus gel viscosity. For a given viscosity, clearance is also impaired by spinnability, i.e. the capacity of the mucus to form threads. At constant viscosity and spinnability, clearance is further impaired by an increase in the adhesivity of the mucus. The negative dependence of each of these physical factors can be rationalized in terms of their inhibitory effect on wave formation in the mucus lining layer during high velocity airflow interaction. PMID- 2611368 TI - The role of mucus sol phase in clearance by simulated cough. AB - Using a simulated cough machine, we analyzed the effect of adding tensio-active liquids as sol phase simulant on the clearance of gel mucus simulant by cough. Polysaccharides crosslinked with sodium tetraborate were used at different concentration as gel mucus simulant. A drop of gel mucus simulant was deposited either directly on the model trachea or on a sol phase layer simulant (2% sodium dodecyl sulfate in water). The clearance of the mucus simulants was quantified by observing the movement of marker particles in the gel layer. The viscoelastic properties of gel mucus simulants were determined by using a viscoelastometer (SEFAM). The adhesive properties were analyzed by means of the platinum ring technique. The wettability of the mucus simulants was quantified by the automatic measurement of the contact angle of the drop of gel on the model trachea. We found that the addition of a sol phase significantly decreased by about 50% the adhesivity and wettability of the gel mucus simulants. This decrease was associated with a marked enhancement of cough clearance, whatever the viscoelastic properties of the gel mucus simulants. These results suggest that the sol phase is essential in bronchial respiratory mucus clearance by the cough mechanism. PMID- 2611369 TI - Steady flow of couple stress fluid through tubes of slowly varying cross-sections -application to blood flows. AB - Steady laminar flow of a non-Newtonian fluid based on couple stress fluid theory, through narrow tubes of varying cross-sections has been studied theoretically. Asymptotic solutions are obtained for the basic equations and the expressions for the velocity field and the wall shear stress are derived for a general cross section. Computation and discussions are carried out for the geometries which occur in the context of physiological flows or in particular blood flows. The tapered tubes and constricted tubes are of special importance. It is observed that increase in certain parameters results in erratic flow behaviour proximal to the constricted areas which is further enhanced by the increase in the geometric parameters. This elucidates the implications of the flow in the development of vascular lesions. PMID- 2611370 TI - Filterability of sickle cells as a function of pO2: role of physico-chemical factors. AB - A rigidity index (RI) related to red blood cell deformability was measured by using the hemorheometre. The RI for 13 patients homozygous for sickle cell disease was 109 +/- 44 at 37 degrees C and at atmospheric pO2. The filtration time curve as a function of pO2 is biphasic for sickle cell suspensions. The pO2 at which filtration time is maximum, pO2max., correlated with the rigidity index measured at atmospheric pO2. This pO2max. value was very sensitive to small changes in physico-chemical parameters such as osmolality, pH, temperature, hematocrit, and cell density. Conditions which reduced the Hb S polymerization induced a leftward shift of pO2max.. The experimental curves are in agreement with theoretical models based on the presence of two abnormal cell types: filtrable "slow cells" and infiltrable "sickled cells". PMID- 2611371 TI - Evaluation of a method to assess red blood cell aggregation. AB - Reversible aggregation of red blood cells (RBC) plays an important role in determining the flow properties of blood. To study different factors affecting RBC aggregation we used a new commercially available erythro-aggregameter (SEFAM, Nancy, France). The method allows the photometric quantitation of the kinetics of RBC aggregation and the estimation of the shear resistance of the aggregates. Modification of the hematocrit acts mostly on the determination of the disaggregation shear rate, while plasma composition strongly affects all measurements. Anticoagulants per se do no influence the aggregation process, but can alter the value of the parameters through a plasma dilution effect. Presence of white blood cells and platelets in the sample did not modify the data. Study on the effects of low concentration of heparin and low molecular weight heparin showed that at therapeutical doses these drugs did not alter the values of the aggregation parameters. Provided that precise guidelines are followed for the processing of blood samples, this method may serve to investigate RBC aggregation in various diseases and to search for adequate hemorheologic treatment. PMID- 2611372 TI - Hydrodynamics of arterial branching--the effect of arterial branching on distal blood supply. AB - A study was conducted to investigate the hydrodynamics of branching flow in relation to the blood supply to the basal part of the brain. A series of measurements of the branching loss-coefficients under laminar steady flow were conducted using model branches with various geometries, and the effect of branching on blood supply to distal areas was described using a lumped-parameter model of the vascular structure. It was revealed that in the blood circulation, branching loss is important where a small artery divides off with a large branching angle from a large trunk. It was also indicated that the effect of such branching on the distal blood supply might become more significant when the peripheral resistance is reduced, thereby increasing the blood velocity in the trunk. PMID- 2611373 TI - Comparative rheological profile of rat gastric and duodenal gel mucus. AB - Methods for measuring the adhesiveness, plasticity, viscoelasticity and spinnability of mucus microsamples have been developed. The rheological properties of the rat gastric and duodenal gel mucus have been analyzed and compared. Using a controlled stress rheometer (Carri-Med), flow and creep experiments showed that gastroduodenal mucus exhibits a typically non-newtonian, pseudoplastic and viscoelastic behaviour. The apparent viscosity (7,800 +/- 11,000 Pa.s) and yield stress (24.9 +/- 8.5 Pa) of gastric mucus were significantly higher than the duodenal mucus viscosity (39 +/- 160 Pa.s) and yield stress (12.9 +/- 2 Pa). Spinnability of gastric mucus, measured with a Filancemeter (SEFAM), was significantly lower (4.9 +/- 2.5 mm) in comparison to duodenal mucus (6.9 +/- 1.5 mm). Adhesive properties of gastric mucosa (analyzed with the platinum ring method) were not significantly different in comparison to duodenal mucus (99.9 +/- 31.5 mN/m and 92.8 +/- 11.2 mN/m, respectively). PMID- 2611374 TI - Shear stress-induced detachment of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes from endothelial cell monolayers. AB - We employed a static-incubation assay to determine the intensity of wall shear stress (tau) needed to detach human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (HPMNs) from human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVE) monolayers. Confluent monolayers of HUVE were placed in a parallel-plate flow chamber which was mounted on the stage of an inverted tissue culture microscope, attached to a perfusion system and maintained at 37 degrees C. All events in the selected fields were recorded using videomicroscopy. HPMNs were co-incubated for 15 minutes with the HUVE monolayers under control conditions or in the presence of 10(-7) M formyl-methionyl-leucyl phenylalanine (FMLP). Following this static incubation, a series of five individual flows, each 1 minute in duration, were driven through the flow channel, exposing the cells to 1.0, 2.0, 3.8, 7.6 and 14.8 dyn/cm2 wall shear stresses. Under control conditions, the percentage of HPMNs remaining attached to the HUVE monolayers following exposure to each shear stress was 61, 38, 25, 12 and 5, respectively. In the FMLP-treated condition, the percentage of HPMNs remaining attached to the monolayers was significantly greater than control at all five levels of tau. Thus, under control conditions, adherent HPMNs can be detached from endothelial cell monolayers in vitro with levels of shear stress normally found in the microcirculation (18). In the presence of FMLP, the level of shear stress needed to overcome the adhesions is increased significantly. PMID- 2611375 TI - Microcontinuum model for pulsatile blood flow through a stenosed tube. AB - The effects of polar nature of blood and pulsatility on flow through a stenosed tube have been analysed by assuming blood as a micropolar fluid. Linearized solutions of basic equations are obtained through consecutive applications of finite Hankel and Laplace transforms. The analytical expressions for axial and particle angular velocities, wall shear stress, resistance to flow and apparent viscosity have been obtained. The axial velocity profiles for Newtonian and micropolar fluids have been compared. The interesting observation of this analysis is velocity, in certain parts of cycle, for micropolar fluid is higher than Newtonain fluid. Variation of apparent viscosity eta a with tube radius shows both inverse Fahraeus-Lindqvist and Fahraeus-Lindqvist effects. Finally, the resistance to flow and wall shear stress for normal and diseased blood have been computed and compared. PMID- 2611376 TI - Osmolality- and hematocrit-mediated flow behavior of RBC suspensions in 33 micrometer ID tubes. AB - The effects of suspending medium osmolality (166 to 736 mosm/kg) on relative viscosity (eta r) and tube hematocrit (HT) measured in 33 microns diameter tubes were studied for 40, 47 and 57% feed hematocrit (HF) suspensions of human RBC in buffer. At all feed hematocrits, eta r increased sharply for the hypertonic media, but was essentially insensitive to hypotonicity. HT/HF was less affected by osmolality (13% change over the entire range of osmolality and feed hematocrit). Viscosities could not be calculated from the experimental HT values. However, eta r could be predicted from RBC number concentration and the tube diameter/RBC volume ratio via a semi-empirical model. RBC transport efficiency depended on both feed hematocrit and osmolality, and was maximal at or near isotonic conditions. Our results appear applicable to non-isotonic regions of the microcirculation, and to estimation of flow resistance for RBC with abnormal cellular mechanical properties. PMID- 2611377 TI - [Rhythms of slow-wave sleep and wakefulness in fluctuations of the potential of the oxidative-reductive status of the cerebral cortex]. AB - A method of recording slow ROSP's changes of the brain in chronic animals was used. It has been shown that wakefulness was accompanied by quasisinusoidal oscillations of ROSP (periods--several seconds). During slow sleep, oscillations of ROSP became more complicated and their periods were longer. It is suggested that transitions from sleep to wakefulness and vice versa are connected with removal of maximums of oxidative metabolism tension between biochemical systems characterized by different rhythms of self-regulation. Rhythmic oscillations of ROSP reveal the possibility of separate functional system of the ROSP of the brain cortex to synchronize their oscillations in the brain tissue (biochemical synergism). PMID- 2611378 TI - [The role of Treitz' ligament in regulating the evacuation of solid food from the duodenum]. AB - In the chronic experiments on dogs by means of modified method of multiple drainage of the intestinal fistulas, the effect of the Treitz ligament transection on dynamics of solid carbohydrate food evacuation from the duodenum was studied. It was established that in the norm, evacuation from the duodenum was submitted to exponential law and depended on absolute quantity of food evacuated from the stomach. After the Treitz ligament transection, the evacuation through intestine had a non-exponential character. The operation led to disturbance in co-ordination between evacuatory function of the stomach and that of duodenum, and also had the depressive effect on intestinal emptying. The conclusion is made of the functional role of the Treitz ligament as active regulator of solid food evacuation from the duodenum. PMID- 2611379 TI - [The energy mechanism of phasic changes in the spontaneous electrical activity of the neurons during hypoxia]. AB - The functional activity of the neurons directly depends on the energy metabolism of the cell, and as the hypoxic effect grows there takes place an interreplaceability of metabolic flows supplying the respiratory chain with energy substrates and reducing equivalents participating in the compensatory maintenance of the energy status of the cell (glycolysis, NAD-dependent oxidation and succinate oxidation in the terminal phase). Due to this, in a vast area of pO2 values there is retained a high degree of impulse activity of neurons characteristic of the specific electrogenic neuron function. PMID- 2611380 TI - [The relation of tryptophan hydroxylase activity in the brain and the manifestation of catalepsy in mice]. AB - Pinch-induced catalepsy and thyptophan hydroxylase (TPH) activity in striatum and midbrain were determined in male mice of 6 inbred strains. Pronounced catalepsy was found in the only mice strain--CBA. TPH activity in midbrain and especially in striatum of CBA mice was higher than in the strains, which did not display catalepsy. The experimental situation, which promotes the development of highly aggressive CBA males, caused a decrease in TPH activity in striatum and these mice did not express genetic predisposition to catalepsy. The results indicate that TPH activity in striatum is involved in the mechanism of catalepsy in mice. PMID- 2611381 TI - [The relation of abstinence analgesia to the development of cardiac disorders in the ethanol withdrawal syndrome in rats]. AB - Ethanol was administrated intragastrically (25%, w/v) to Wistar male rats. They received 7-10 g ethanol/kg b.wt. daily in 2 fractional doses for 6 days. In 20-24 hours after the last ethanol administration behavioral and neurological signs of withdrawal syndrome and pain latent period were measured. Analgesia was determined using the tail flick and hot plate tests. Two days later systolic function of the isolated perfusing heart and creatine phosphokinase outflow were examined. Rats had longer latent pain period than in control. Heart perfusion revealed a decrease of systolic pressure, dp/dt of systolic and diastolic pressure, increase of enzyme outflow. Kendall's correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between intensity of withdrawal symptoms and analgesia index in the hot plate test (tau = +0.343, p. 0.01) and a lack of relationship in the tail flick test. There was negative relationship between the analgesia index and the indices of heart disorders. It is proposed that analgesia index can be used as a predictor of the cardiac muscle injury caused by the alcoholic abstinent syndrome. PMID- 2611382 TI - [A morphologic analysis of changes in the lungs and kidneys caused by acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine and limited by verapamil]. AB - Histological analysis of lung and kidney after multiple PAF i.v. injection into rabbits was performed. Under these conditions the effect of previously injected of verapamyl, calcium channel blocker, was studied. It was shown that RAF causes inflammatory reaction with cell infiltration, microcirculation disorders and thrombosis in lung and kidney, which may classify as interstitial nephritis, pneumonitis and vasculitis. Verapamyl inhibits vasospasm, abolishes fibrinogen but does not affect cell infiltration and oedema development. Thus, Ca channel dependent mechanism of vasospasm and thrombogenesis induced by PAF in vivo is confirmed. Perhaps, another possibilities for realising PAF action in vivo may occur. PMID- 2611383 TI - [Ribonuclease in the experimental therapy of pancreatitis]. AB - The influence of ribonuclease on the morphogenesis of experimental pancreatitis in the albino rats has been studied. The drug injected during edematous stage of pancreatitis caused some decrease of pancreatic enzymes level in the blood at hemorrhagic stage and its normalization at necrotic stage of pancreatitis. The development of hemorrhagic and necrotic stages of pancreatitis did not change under the influence of ribonuclease. The maturation of connective tissue of pseudocyst capsule was delayed and inflammatory infiltration of necrotic tissues and their elimination were increased under the influence of the drug. There were extensive tubular transformations of acini and early fibrosis and lipomatosis in the frontier zone. In the viable parts of pancreas moderate hypertrophy of exocrine pancreatocytes developed and chronic pancreatitis features appeared with use of ribonuclease. PMID- 2611384 TI - [The myoelectrical activity of the gastroduodenal area in ulcer formation due to serotonin]. AB - The effects of prolonged subcutaneous administration of serotonin on the myoelectric activity of the gastroduodenal junction were investigated in conscious rabbits. Serotonin produced the duodenogastric discoordination by increasing duodenal activity and decreasing the activity of stomach and pylorus. This discoordination resulted in gastric ulceration. Atropine prevented both duodenogastric discoordination and ulceration. These results indicate that serotonin ulceration is related to duodenogastric discoordination. PMID- 2611385 TI - [Psychotropic effects of glutamic acid diethyl ester in mice]. AB - In 1 hour after intraperitoneal injection glutamic acid diethyl ester (GED) in doses 200 and 500 mg/kg decreased locomotor activity and exploratory patterns of mice in "open field" test. GED in doses 100 and 200 mg/kg diminished the immobilization period of animals in forced swimming test, that proves the reversal interaction of glutamatergic and catecholaminergic systems in CNS. Glutamate receptors antagonist--GED in doses 100-200 mg/kg disrupted passive avoidance reaction at 30 min before acquisition and retrieval, therefore glutamate receptors are involved into fixation and retrieval of memory engram. PMID- 2611386 TI - [Genetic control of interleukin-2 production in inbred mice]. AB - BALB/c mice (H-2d haplotype) produced IL 2 better than C57BL/6 mice (H-2d haplotype). However genetic analysis in F2 generation demonstrated independent segregation of the IL 2 production intensity and H-2 haplotype. Investigation of the IL 2 production intensity in BALB/c, C57BL/6 and their F1 and F2 generation revealed that this was controlled by only one gene. PMID- 2611387 TI - [Immunobiological activity of platinum coordination compounds in a complex with immunoglobulin fragments]. AB - The investigation of biological activity of two coordination platinum (II) compounds covalently linked with Fab-fragments of nonspecific immunoglobulin donors on mononuclears of peripheral man blood in vitro and blood elements of mice BALB/c has been done in this paper. There have been stated the decrease of cytotoxic activity of platinum reagents after complexing and modulating influence of platinum-globulin complexes on immunocompetent cells. The prospects of increasing biological activity of immunological preparations on the basis of directed modification by platinum reagents has been also discussed. PMID- 2611388 TI - [The level of autoantibodies to thrombin in the plasma of healthy subjects detectable using an immunochemical analyzer]. AB - The existence of autoantibodies to the active factors of blood coagulation was confirmed by the usage of immunochemical analyzer. Autoantibodies to thrombin were stated to exist both in IgG and IgM and IgA fractions of immunoglobulins. Dose-effect of thrombin was determined. The greatest binding of autoantibodies by thrombin takes place in antigen of 0.125 mg/ml concentration. PMID- 2611389 TI - [Characteristics of lymphoid subpopulations isolated from healthy subjects and those suffering from nonspecific ulcerative colitis]. AB - Results of the studies of functional activity of lymphocyte subpopulations T+G, T G, "O" subpopulations isolated peripheral blood of healthy persons and those with nonspecific ulcerative colitis (NUC) have been presented in this paper. The functional activity of the cells was assessed by means of local xenogeneic graft vs-host reaction performed on CBA mice and by determination of nonspecific esterase enzyme. It has been established that analogous lymphocyte subpopulations influence the graft-vs-host reaction development in different ways depending on the condition of cell donor state: health/pathology. "O" subpopulations isolated from healthy persons hampered the graft-vs-host reaction development, and on the contrary stimulated it in patients with NUC. The assay of nonspecific esterase in lymphocytes showed that the least activity was noted in T+G and "O" cells in nonspecific ulcerative colitis. PMID- 2611390 TI - [Pharmacologic properties of cholinoreceptor antibodies]. AB - The study of pharmacological properties of cholinoreceptor antibodies is of definite interest due to the possibility of simulation of some myasthenic conditions. In 1986 the authors obtained antibodies by means of immunization of rabbits with antigenic material from skeletal muscles of the extremities of Balb/c mice. It was shown that incubation of the muscle with cholinoreceptor antibodies decreased its contraction under the effect of various concentrations of acetylcholine. PMID- 2611391 TI - [The role of adherent cells in supporting natural cytotoxicity reactions]. AB - The cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells and interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) production by NK cells were studied. It was shown that in healthy donors adherent cells (AC) play an important role in reactions of natural cytotoxicity: they provide the main IFN production in the NK system. AC suppresses the cytotoxic activity of NK cells in patients with scleroderma and AC has a high cytotoxic activity in patients with multiple sclerosis. The role of AC in appearance and development of NK immunodeficiency in these pathologies was discussed. PMID- 2611392 TI - [The oral neutrophil alteration test in drug allergy]. AB - Oral leukocyte alteration method was established for the diagnosis of drug allergy. This method is 68% positive in patients with drug allergy and 7% positive in healthy persons. The whole procedure is simple and takes only an hour and a half. PMID- 2611393 TI - [Changes induced by sarcolysine in vivo in the composition of DNA-bound lipids in sarcoma 37]. AB - The two DNA fractions were isolated from sarcoma 37 by the use of the phenol method: supramolecular complex of DNA (SC DNA, 60%) and "phenol" nuclear matrix DNA (PNM DNA, 40%). The lipids in SC DNA represented of light and tightly bound components, the latter was similar to the lipid composition of PNM DNA. SC DNA contains 20 micrograms of neutral lipids (NL) and 6.5 micrograms of phospholipids (PL), while PNM DNA contains 9.8 micrograms of NL and 3.5 micrograms of PL per mg DNA. SC DNA-bound lipids of sarcoma 37 are deficient in free cholesterol (FC, 13%), but rich in cholesterol esters (CE, 39%) and free fatty acids (FFA, 23%); very rich in cardiolipin (CL, 43%) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE, 28%), but deficient in phosphatidylcholine (PC, 12%). The tumor contains triglycerides (TG) that is absent in DNA of the normal cells. The injection of sarcolysine (10 micrograms/kg) markedly increased (1.5-3 times) the content of all LN and PL fractions in SC DNA, which was accompanied by both the accumulation of FC, TG, PC and the reduction of the remaining lipid fractions in PNM DNA. It is supposed, that DNA-bound lipids may be the target for the action of sarcolysine. PMID- 2611394 TI - [Induction of the tumoricidal activity of human and murine peritoneal macrophages under the action of antitumor chemical preparations]. AB - Platidiam, cyclophosphamide and adriamycin induced tumoricidal activity of peritoneal macrophages from patients with disseminated ovarian carcinoma when applied in the autologous tumor cells in vitro. This effect was not observed with 10 micrograms/ml concentration of 5-fluorouracil. The mice peritoneal macrophages after incubation in vitro with 0.01-1.0 micrograms/ml of aclarubicin showed cytostatic action on syngeneic and semisyngeneic P388 cells. The peritoneal macrophages from mice treated with 2.5 mu/kg of aclarubicin intraperitoneally 1-4 days before were cytotoxic for tumor cells too. PMID- 2611395 TI - [A method for recording the motor activity of the cilia of ciliated epithelium]. AB - The article deals with the television system which registers the lash movements on the screen of TV monitor. The natural moving activity (frequency of whipping) and lashes' activity after the action of different concentration of surface active substance Triton-H-305 and potassium chloride were investigated on the example of the epithelium of two-folding molluscum. It observes the following type of lashes reaction: unbroken (continuous) whipping, mechanically induced stopping of whipping ("stop effect"), spontaneous "stop effect", starting of whipping due to mechanic action-specific "sorting" lashes (the last are described for the first time). PMID- 2611396 TI - [Experimental lymphokine treatment of the wound process]. AB - It is shown in experiment on the rabbits that the autologous supernatants of the culture of stimulating lymphocytes and the fractions of lymphokines with mol. weight 40000-20000 and 60000-70000 considerably reduced the periods of wound healing. PMID- 2611397 TI - [Characteristics of specific adaptation to cold and their relation to aggressive behavior and the stress level in house mice]. AB - Change of calorigenic effect of noradrenaline after 5 week cold exposition (at 6 8 degrees C) as a criteria of specific adaptation was used. Individual differences of calorigenic reaction after cold exposition were negative correlation with blood corticosterone and positive correlation with aggressiveness in dyadic test. PMID- 2611398 TI - [The effect of liposomes containing cholesterol or 7-ketocholesterol on the capacity of cultured cells to form colonies]. AB - The experiments with the cultivated Chinese hamster cells showed that the incubation of cells with (phosphatidylcholine+cholesterol+7-keto-cholesterol)- containing liposomes (4:3:1 by weight) during two hours leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of colony-forming up to zero, while the (phosphatidylcholine+cholesterol-containing liposomes (1:1 by weight) reduce the effectiveness by 90%. Furthermore, the cholesterol-containing liposomes cause the decrease of the number of colonies with maximal size, accompanied by the increase of the number of colonies with middle size. PMID- 2611399 TI - [The effect of carnosine on the healing of a lung wound]. AB - The influence of carnosine (beta-alanine, alpha-histidine) on the process of lung wound reparation was studied in 90 guinea-pigs. Its efficacy was evaluated microscopically, histologically and by means of electronic microscope. It was established that carnosine, as compared to controls nearly twice accelerates reparative processes in the injured lung by activation of fibroblast proliferation, connective tissue generation and intracellular regeneration. In type II epithelial cells more intensive formation of osmiophilic bodies and lamellar bodies contained in them is observed. The alveolus formation in the wound lips by the 7-8th day after lung injury is going on under the carnosine influence, which is due, probably, to massive excretion of osmiophilic contents from type II epithelial cells and surfactant production. This may be connected with rapid decrease of atelectasis and rapid restoration of lung airness within the wound. PMID- 2611400 TI - [Pathology of the reproductive apparatus of cells under the action of remantadine and deitiforin]. AB - The antiviral effect of chemical agents remantadine and deutephorine on the reproductive apparatus of MDCK-cells was studied. It was established that the action of the chemical agents during 3-4 days induced enhancement in pathologically transformed mitoses. This enhancement was in direct proportion to the doses used and to the cultivation time. Dose dependent enhancement of the total pathological mitoses number was simultaneous with the redistribution of mitoses into groups: the relative number of pathologies connected with chromosome damage became lower and the number of degenerating mitoses grew. Computer regression analysis showed the linear dependence between the chemical agent dose and the number of mitoses in the metaphase, that gives an indirect evidence of statmokinetic action of the agents under study. PMID- 2611401 TI - [A cell population analysis of the initial period of hepatocyte proliferation in the regenerating mouse liver]. AB - Morphological autoradiography was used to determine the hepatocyte percentage in the regenerating liver of mice in S-, G-, M-, post-M phases at various times after partial hepatectomy, namely at 24, 30, 36 and 42 hours. The total number of cells in the above mentioned phases turned out to be very little at 24 and 30 hours. At 36 h., the percentage of cells in S phase (labelled nuclei) as well as in G2 phase (unlabelled morphologically obvious premitotic nuclei) appeared to be high. The two alternative explanation of G2 hepatocytes emerging at 36 hours were verified to find out if they are a) that is called "a reserved G2 population", or b) a population characterized by a shorter (down to 2 or 3 h) time of S phase. PMID- 2611402 TI - [Morphologic changes of the pancreas in hemorrhagic shock and the postresuscitation period]. AB - The canine pancreas (20) in the terminal period of hemorrhagic shock and postresuscitation period was studied histologically and electronmicroscopically. There were detected ultrastructural signs of the plasmatic membranes of pancreatocytes and membranes of secretory granules with "leakage" of pancreatic ferments in the interstitial tissue. The incretion of pancreatic ferments in the vascular bed is conditioned by the elevation of proteolytic activity of blood serum in hemorrhagic shock and postresuscitation period. PMID- 2611403 TI - [Ultrastructural characteristics and succinate dehydrogenase activity of the hepatocyte mitochondria in cholestasis]. AB - Ultrastructure and activity of CDG mitochondria hepatocytes were investigated in 40 patients and 20 rats with extrahepatic cholestasis. In the early period of cholestasis changing hepatocytes mitochondria takes stereotypic character. Prolonged cholestasis, adducting to accumulation of components of bile in patients was accompanied by destructive changes and decreasing activity of CDG in mitochondria. In animals a decreased activity of CDG was detected on 10th day. PMID- 2611404 TI - Metachronous seeding of lymph node metastases in rats bearing the MT-100-TC mammary carcinoma: the effect of elective lymph node dissection. AB - Following the introduction of cancer cells into the lymphatic system, metastases in 'down-stream' lymph nodes often appear in a sequential manner. This could be due to synchronous seeding of the in-line nodes with progressively diminishing numbers of tumorigenic cancer cells, or alternatively, by discrete, stepwise (metachronous) seeding of 'down-stream' nodes by 'up-stream' nodal metastases acting as 'generalizing' sites. Metachronous seeding to local lymph nodes is potentially curable by elective lymph node dissection; synchronous seeding is not. Synchronous versus metachronous seeding of lymph node metastases was investigated using the MT-100-TC mammary carcinoma injected into the hind foot webs of rats. When the primary tumor was removed by amputation one week after injection, 1/15 animals survived; in contrast, removal of the draining popliteal lymph node in addition to the primary lesion, resulted in 8/19 long-term survivors. At this time, occult metastases detectable by bioassay but not by conventional histology, were present in all draining popliteal nodes and in 60 percent of lungs. The fact that some amputees were cured when the popliteal node was removed, indicated the metachronous nature of nodal metastases in this system. Further, recurrence of nodal and lung metastases in those amputees in which the popliteal node was left intact, identified the popliteal node as a 'generalizing' site. By the time popliteal node involvement was evident by conventional histology, micrometastases were present in 'down-stream' nodes, and accordingly, removal of the popliteal node and the primary lesion at this time was not curative. PMID- 2611405 TI - Influence of S-phase fraction on metastatic pattern and post-recurrence survival in a randomized mammography screening trial. AB - Using static cytofluorometry, S-phase was determined on the primary tumors of 421 patients with breast carcinomas in stages I-III diagnosed 1981-85 during the second and third screening rounds of a randomized trial evaluating the effect of mammographic screening. Through December 1988, 82 patients had developed local and/or distant recurrence, 51 of whom had died of cancer during the same period. The distribution among sites of recurrence differed between patients with tumors detected by mammography screening and cancers diagnosed due to clinical symptoms. The mean S-phase fraction was highest in patients with liver or brain metastases and lowest in patients with metastases in subcutaneous and cutaneous tissue and lymph nodes only. In univariate analysis, survival after first recurrence was significantly associated with the site of primary recurrence, the disease-free interval, and node status and tumor size at diagnosis, as well as the S-phase level. The median survival period was 31.3. months for patients with a S-phase fraction below 6%, and 10.7 months in cases with S-phase exceeding 10%. Neither ploidy nor the estrogen receptor content had significant influence on post recurrence survival. In Cox's multiple regression analysis, only metastatic site, disease-free interval, and S-phase fraction showed significantly independent prognostic value. PMID- 2611406 TI - Polypeptide composition of normal and neoplastic human breast tissues and cells analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. AB - The protein populations of epithelial cells cultured from two neoplastic and five non-neoplastic human breast tissues were resolved and displayed by two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver-staining. With a computer-based image analysis system, we identified eight polypeptides which are present in both of the neoplastic cell lines, but absent from all five of the cultures of non-neoplastic breast cells. The eight polypeptides are not unique to cells cultured from neoplastic breast, because they are also found in cells cultured from non-breast tissues, both neoplastic and non-neoplastic. Two of the eight polypeptides (approximately Mr 25,000/pI 4.4 and approximately Mr 31,000/pI 5.5) are present in the patterns of whole tissue samples from infiltrating ductal carcinomas and absent in most normal breast tissue. PMID- 2611407 TI - Tissue ferritin concentration and prognosis in carcinoma of the breast. AB - Seven year follow-up data were available on 36 of 40 breast carcinoma patients in whom breast tissue ferritin concentrations at the time of surgery were known. 18 patients were alive and free of recurrence or second tumor (Group 1) and 11 died with breast cancer (Group 2). Patients with lower tissue ferritin concentrations defined as less than 319 ng/mcp (nanograms of ferritin/milligram of cytosol protein) were at reduced risk: 86% of patients with low tissue ferritin concentration survived free of recurrence or second tumor vs. 40% of patients with high tissue ferritin concentration (P = 0.0056). Mean breast carcinoma tissue ferritin concentration was 295 +/- 52 ng/mcp in Group 1 and 444 +/- 55 ng/mcp in Group 2 (P = 0.036). Lymph node involvement was predictive of mortality from breast carcinoma (P = 0.0003), but did not correlate with mean tissue ferritin concentration (P = 0.082). 10/10 (100%) patients who had both low tissue ferritin concentration and absence of lymph node involvement were in Group 1. The correlation of breast tissue ferritin concentration with histopathologic dedifferentiation and with prognosis suggests tumor tissue ferritin as a marker of malignant potential. PMID- 2611408 TI - Colorectal cancer. PMID- 2611409 TI - Expression of HLA-class II antigens and proliferative capacity in autologous mixed lymphocyte reactions of human T lymphocytes exposed in vitro to alpha endorphin. AB - alpha-Endorphin (aEP) inhibited the expression of HLA-Class II antigens by PHA primed T lymphocytes and reduced mitogen-induced T-cell proliferation up to 35%. This action was time related and not naloxone sensitive. When aEP was added to autologous and allogeneic lymphocyte cultures (both of non-T/T and T/T type), it inhibited lymphocyte blastogenesis up to 40%. These findings, indicating that aEP can influence some functions of immunocompetent cells, provide evidence for the functional interrelationship between the neuroendocrine and the immune systems. PMID- 2611410 TI - Social confrontation "stress" in aggressive fish is associated with an endogenous opioid-mediated suppression of proliferative response to mitogens and nonspecific cytotoxicity. AB - We have previously shown that social confrontation between aggressive fish (e.g., Tilapia) produces a suppression of several immunological parameters--nonspecific cytotoxicity and mitogen-stimulated proliferation in pronephric leukocytes--in the subordinate fish. By using the opioid antagonist, naltrexone, we now demonstrate indirectly that this immunosuppression is in part mediated by the endogenous opioid system. Evidence is presented that naltrexone-mediated reversal of immunosuppression may be limited to the populations of the cytotoxic and T cell lineages. The proliferation response to lipopolysaccharide is unaffected by naltrexone. Our data also demonstrate that serum from subordinate (immunosuppressed) fish is immunosuppressive in normal fish--an effect that can be reversed by naltrexone. These results support a link between the neuroendocrine and immune systems in fish, the lowest vertebrate. PMID- 2611411 TI - Effects of psychosocial stressors on mouse mammary tumor growth. AB - We describe a sensitive and replicable animal model which demonstrates that psychosocial variables both increase and decrease tumor growth rate. The effects of social housing condition and daily exposure to novel environments were investigated in mice bearing the transplantable androgen-responsive Shionogi mouse mammary carcinoma (SC115). Being reared individually housed and remaining individually housed or being reared in a sibling group and then singly housed following tumor cell injection markedly increased tumor growth compared to that in mice remaining in their standard sibling rearing groups (n = 2-3 per group), if animals were also exposed to acute daily novelty stress. In contrast, being reared individually and then moved to a larger social group (n = 4-5 nonsiblings per group) markedly reduced tumor growth, both in the presence and absence of acute daily novelty stress. PMID- 2611412 TI - Voluntary consumption of cyclophosphamide by Mrl mice. AB - Fluid-deprived, lupus-prone Mrl-lpr/lpr and congenic Mrl +/+ mice were provided with a single drinking bottle containing varying concentrations of cyclophosphamide (CY) dissolved in chocolate milk. Eighteen- and 20-week-old Mrl lpr/lpr males with manifest symptoms of autoimmune disease voluntarily consumed more of the CY solution than Mrl +/+ mice of the same age after 1 week of 1 hr/day exposures. The volume of CY-laced chocolate milk consumed was sufficient to attenuate lymphadenopathy and the elevated anti-DNA antibody titers in these animals. When testing began before the development of manifest symptoms of autoimmune disease, there were no differences between the two substrains. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that behavioral processes can act to correct homeostatic imbalances within the immune system. PMID- 2611413 TI - Mating suppresses splenic natural killer cell activity in male golden hamsters. AB - The possibility that sexual behavior is associated with changes in natural killer cell activity was explored using a 4-h chromium-51 release assay. Mated male Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) showed a significant suppression of natural killer cell activity 2 h after sexual activity relative to matched Virgin controls. Natural killer cell activity returned to control levels by 16 h postmating. The suppression of natural killer cell activity did not correlate with changes in plasma cortisol, transcortin, or testosterone levels, or with ejaculatory or intromissive behaviors. Administration of 0.40 mg/100 g of testosterone also suppressed natural killer activity at 2 h. PMID- 2611414 TI - Innervation of the spleen in the rat: evidence for absence of afferent innervation. AB - Catecholaminergic fibers in the spleen have been well characterized in the rat and this innervation is believed to be an important source of modulation of the immune system. The presence or role of afferent feedback from the spleen has not been systematically investigated. We have examined whether the spleen receives afferent innervation from sensory ganglia and also have assessed the sources of efferent innervation to the spleen in the rat. The fluorescent retrograde anatomical tracers fluoro-gold (FGo) or fast blue (FB) were injected into the spleens of adult female rats and dorsal root, sympathetic chain, nodose, and celiac-mesenteric plexus ganglia were collected. In additional animals, the spleen was either injected with the anatomical tracer wheat germ agglutinin horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) or else regular HRP was applied to the cut end of the splenic nerve. Also, we examined the effects of cutting the splenic nerve on the retrograde labeling of cell bodies in the ganglia and on the catecholamine histochemistry of the spleen. The neuroanatomical results were based primarily upon the tracer FGo and verified that the celiac-mesenteric plexus ganglia provide a major efferent input to the spleen. Furthermore, lower thoracic sympathetic chain ganglia provide an additional and substantial efferent supply to the spleen. Cutting of the splenic nerve prevented retrograde labeling of cell bodies in the celiac-mesenteric plexus ganglia and sympathetic chain ganglia of rats injected with tracers into the spleen and also eliminated catecholamine histofluorescence in the spleen. In terms of afferent labeling, the results with FGo indicated that there were no cell bodies labeled in afferent ganglia following splenic injections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611415 TI - Antibody reactivity to brain membrane proteins in serum from schizophrenic patients. AB - Antibody reactivity to rat brain components in sera from schizophrenic patients and healthy controls was determined using ELISA and Western immunoblotting. Crude membranes prepared from striatum, hippocampus and cortex were used as antigens. The degree of ELISA reactivity varied between individuals but no significant difference was seen between the patient and control groups in any of the different preparations. With a blocking-type of ELISA, in which a pool of dopamine receptor antagonists/neuroleptica was used to compete with the antibody binding, inhibition of IgG reactivity was seen in half of the patient and a quarter of the control sera. When the antagonists were added individually, 25% of the patients but none of the controls showed an inhibited IgG response due to haloperidol and sulpiride. In Western immunoblotting there was a complex background pattern overlaid with a variety of individual bands that could not be related to disease. However a few bands specific for the schizophrenic group were found in more than 50% of the patients. The molecular weights of the two most prominent polypeptides were 86 and 68 kD. The three major Ig-classes G, A, and M showed a partly overlapping and variable degree of reactivity in the patient group. By screening, it was found that 3 out of 50 control sera reacted with either the 86 or the 68 Kd polypeptide. The results do not exclude the possibility that schizophrenic patients do have antibodies reactive to the dopamine receptor. PMID- 2611416 TI - Desorption of ions from rat membranes: selectivity of different ionization techniques. AB - Complex lipid biomarkers, including phosphatidylcholines, cerebrosides and sulfatides, are shown to be desorbed intact from rat brain myelin and rat liver microsomes by liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry, by plasma desorption and by laser desorption. Different polar lipids are favored by the different desorption techniques and as negative or positive ions. These selectivities support current theories about ionization for the different techniques. PMID- 2611417 TI - Analysis of glycolipids by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. AB - The positive and negative ion fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectra of four glycolipids obtained from microbial cultures are reported. The spectra of the glycolipids in the positive ion mode are characterized by abundant [M + Na]+, [M + Na + matrix]+ and [M + 2Na - H]+ species. In negative FAB conditions the molecules yield [M - H]-. Our understanding of the FAB behaviour of glycolipids in both positive and negative modes has been considerably aided in the structure elucidation, without any derivatization or degradation reaction of the compounds studied. The technique allows unambiguous molecular weight determination of low microgram amounts of these glycolipids purified from biological sources and provides useful fragmentation information. PMID- 2611418 TI - Molecular species analysis of phospholipids by negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry: application of surface precipitation technique. AB - Eight phospholipidic classes from bovine brain cortex and soybean were prepared and purified by preparative high-performance and liquid chromatography, and their molecular species were identified by negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry using the 'surface precipitation' method. Its main advantages are: (i) clear-cut and abundant diagnostic ions for structural elucidation of the species; (ii) fragments characteristic of the main fatty acids, the polar head group and the molecule frame in phospholipids; (iii) less background caused by the liquid matrix. PMID- 2611419 TI - Metabolism of a thromboxane A2 antagonist in isolated rat hepatocytes. AB - Metabolism of a thromboxane A2 antagonist (+/-)-5-(Z)-7-(3-endo phenylsulphonylaminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2- exoyl)- heptenoic acid (S-145) in isolated rat hepatocytes was examined by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. As the hydrophobic metabolites, bis-nor S-145, tetra-nor S-145 and bis-nordihydro S-145 were identified, and two other products were estimated to be monohydroxylated S-145 and dehydrogenated S-145. On the basis of kinetics of S-145 metabolism, a metabolic pathway of S-145 in isolated hepatocytes is tentatively proposed. PMID- 2611420 TI - Deuterium-labeled 3-nitrobenzyl alcohol as a matrix for fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. AB - The utility of deuterium-labeled 3-nitrobenzyl alcohol (DNBA) as a fast atom bombardment (FAB) matrix for establishing the number of exchangeable hydrogens present in a molecule is illustrated by the analysis of five selected antitumor agents. A method for the simple preparation of this labeled matrix is described. The use of DNBA may be of value for samples which provide no FAB spectra when deuterium-labeled glycerol is used as a matrix. PMID- 2611421 TI - Collision-induced dissociation mass spectrum of polyamino alcohol derivative of a bacterial lipopeptide. PMID- 2611422 TI - Tobacco: world action on the pandemic. PMID- 2611423 TI - Towards freedom: treatment approaches to drug dependence at TTK Hospital. AB - A well organized, structured programme with facilities for follow-up and after care helps the addict and his family to recover from addiction. Recovery from addiction is a continuous process from the time of initial treatment. Recovery is a multiphased problem. Hence various treatment modalities have to be included in the treatment regime of addicts. The disease model helps the addicts to accept their dependency and reduce their shame and guilt. It helps the community to accept the problems and also helps the community to take responsibility in preventive programmes. It reduces the stigma attached to addiction. It also helps the family and the addict seek professional help. When the treatment agency recognizes 'abstinence' as the goal of the therapy, the agency should provide enough scope for dealing with sobriety-based problems for the addicts. With varied follow-ups, after-care and relapse prevention programmes, relapses could be minimized. PMID- 2611424 TI - Primary health care and the addictions: where to start and where to go. AB - The development of community services for problem drinkers is briefly traced over the last 40 years. The numbers of drinkers in need of advice and treatment far exceeds the available resources. Family practice would be an ideal place in which to further primary care and prevention but lack of time, knowledge and motivation for probing into patients' drinking habits detract from the potential. A pilot study of opportunistic screening in general practice is described whereby a yellow label affixed to a patient's medical record card registers the average weekly alcohol intake. In a sample of 400 patients, 16% were high or intermediate risk drinkers. Each high risk drinker presented with a medical condition which could, in either aetiology or management, be related to high consumption. By discussing this, patients were often motivated to drink less or abstain. Various suggestions are made how better medical training and education could improve the diagnosis and treatment of drinking problems. PMID- 2611425 TI - Alcohol advertising in developing countries. AB - Alcohol consumption appears to be increasing in some developing countries. Groups who previously did not drink alcohol, such as young people and women, are now increasingly beginning to drink. Recent anecdotal observations by researchers in Lesotho suggest that aggressive advertising may play a part in encouraging drinking among the young. This commentary suggests that surveys of alcohol advertising and youthful drinking in developing countries would be particularly useful in monitoring the influence of alcohol advertising in rapidly expanding markets. Recent studies have described simple measures of awareness and appreciation of alcohol advertising which discriminate between under-age drinkers and non-drinkers. These measures could be readily adapted by researchers responsible for the design of surveys of youthful drinking. PMID- 2611426 TI - Use of alcohol among high school students in Lesotho--a health promotion perspective. AB - A recently published article on alcohol use among young people in Lesotho highlighted an important public health issue--the changing pattern of alcohol consumption in many Third World countries. In this commentary I wish to consider some of the factors which might be contributing to this growing problem and some of the steps that need to be taken to address this issue. In particular I will focus on the role of the alcohol industry and the tactics used to create and develop new markets. PMID- 2611427 TI - Severity of opiate dependence in an Australian sample: further validation of the SODQ. AB - The Severity of Opiate Dependence Questionnaire (SODQ) was administered to 114 subjects attending an Australian drug dependency treatment centre. The psychometric properties of the SODQ were examined and compared with previous findings reported on American and British samples of opiate addicts. Severity of opiate dependence was assessed independently using a structured clinical interview based on DSM-III-R criteria (i.e. SCID-R). Together those analyses suggested (i) measurement difficulties with some aspects of the opiate dependence syndrome and (ii) only a modest relationship between subjects' self-report and clinicians' judgements of severity of opiate dependence. PMID- 2611428 TI - Changing trends in drug use: the second follow-up of a local heroin using community. AB - The first Seadown study documented the way in which police action in closing down the cohort's central point for meeting and drug distribution had effectively destroyed the long established heroin distribution network. Throughout the period of low heroin availability the social network of the cohort was preserved as members developed a whole range of alternative coping styles (displacement activities) in compensation for the enforced abstinence caused by the heroin drought. During the period of observation heroin returned to Seadown initially through a small, unstable and informal distribution co-operative and stayed in this phase until a new central meeting place had been established. Thereafter once a pyramidal distribution network developed, most cohort members were able to modify or stop their displacement activities to accommodate the re-availability of heroin. PMID- 2611429 TI - Heroin users' careers and perceptions of drug use: a comparison of smokers and injectors in the Mersey region. AB - To date few studies have compared heroin users who smoke heroin with those who inject it. In the present study a sample of 38 heroin users, half smokers and half injectors, was investigated using several drugs career indices. Results showed that users display preferences, with the use of some drugs being favoured over time. Injectors used all drugs more frequently than smokers. Although there was much variability in frequency of use the trend over the initial 3 years of use showed no increase in heroin use for either smokers or injectors. Although the majority of smokers had injected heroin there was no evidence that this group favoured injecting over time; rather the data suggested that smoking became the increasingly preferred method of consumption. Smokers were more likely than injectors to use other drugs post-heroin. Contrary to expectation, few periods of abstinence were reported by the subjects in either group. PMID- 2611430 TI - Class A drug users: prevalence and characteristics in greater Nottingham. AB - This paper reports on the prevalence of known Class A drug use in Greater Nottingham, a large urbanized area with a population of 472,285 in 1981. Use of a multi-agency enumeration technique identified only 170 users during 1985-86, giving an annual prevalence of 0.45 per 1000 of the adult population. The rates for opioid use and injected amphetamine use were 0.27 and 0.14 per 1000. Geographical analysis of the intra-urban residential distributions of the drug users identified statistically significant variations with the greatest concentrations occurring in the inner city residential areas, in neighbourhoods fringing major suburban shopping centres, and several council estates. Ecological analysis established statistically significant links between drug use and multiple deprivation, adult unemployment and crime. PMID- 2611431 TI - HIV-related risk behaviour among a non-clinic sample of injecting drug users. AB - This paper focuses upon HIV-related risk behaviour among a sample of injecting drug users purchasing injecting equipment at a retail pharmacy in Glasgow. It is shown that the majority of the individuals interviewed were concerned about HIV/AIDS and that many were optimistic about their chances of avoiding contracting the virus. However, it is shown that the shared use of injecting equipment was continuing and that many individuals were prepared to provide their own injecting equipment to others, even if they were unprepared to re-use it again themselves. We also consider here the possibility of encouraging drug injectors to switch to non-injecting drug use and the potential basis for any sexual transmission between drug injectors and others. The paper concludes with a consideration of some of the policy implications of this work. PMID- 2611432 TI - The diagnosis of alcohol and cannabis dependence in cocaine dependents and alcohol dependence in their families. AB - Genetic research in alcoholism has made major advances in recent decades. Twin, adoption, high-risk and familial studies have demonstrated an inheritance factor in alcoholism. Few studies have demonstrated a genetic predisposition to cocaine and cannabis dependence. Two hundred and sixty-three inpatients were given a structured psychiatric interview retrospectively (150) and prospectively (113) to obtain DSM-III-R diagnosis of cocaine, alcohol and cannabis dependence disorders in the inpatients and of alcohol dependence in family members. Our study reveals a large number of cocaine dependents with a positive family history for alcohol dependence. Approximately 50% of cocaine addicts had at least a first or second degree relative with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence when studied by the family history and study methods. As many as 89% of cocaine dependents diagnosed by DSM III-R criteria for cocaine dependence qualified for other alcohol and drug dependence diagnoses. Our study finds a high prevalence of alcohol (67% and 89%) and cannabis dependence (51% and 46%) in patients with cocaine dependence. Previous reports regarding alcohol and other drug dependence among cocaine dependents and their families are few and inconclusive. The diagnosis of other drug and alcohol dependence in cocaine dependence and in family members of cocaine dependents has important impact on etiology, prognosis and treatment. PMID- 2611433 TI - Urine screening for abused drugs in new admissions to a VA hospital. AB - The urine samples from two groups of Veteran's Administration patients newly admitted to general psychiatry units were screened in 1985 and in 1987-88 for abused drugs. The results were compared with urine samples from controls with similar age distributions admitted to an alcohol and drug abuse unit or to medical-surgical units. About 40% of all newly admitted patients were positive for one or more controlled drugs, but there were no significant differences among patient groups in the percentage of urine samples positive for these drugs. Marijuana and benzodiazepines were detected frequently in all patient groups and often in combination, although opiates also were frequently detected in the urine samples from the medical-surgical patients. There was a clear decrease in drug positive samples with age in all patient groups, much of which could be accounted for by decreased marijuana detection. PMID- 2611434 TI - The effect of alcohol intoxication on primary and secondary processes in male social drinkers. AB - The acute effects of alcohol intoxication on cognitive style and on locus of control was investigated in an experimental setting. Sixty male subjects were randomly assigned to either an Alcohol, a Placebo, or a Control group. The alcohol dose was 1.0 ml of 100% alcohol/kg body weight. Subjects filled out a modified version of Rotter's locus of control scale and reported their perceptions to Street's Gestalt Completion Test. The latter test was scored in a standardized way for stimulus closeness, indicating a reality oriented and rational functioning, and stimulus distance, indicating a more primitive, irrational and pleasure oriented functioning. Alcohol made subjects less internally controlled and decreased the reality oriented functioning while the pleasure oriented functioning was not affected. Results were discussed in terms of pharmacological mechanisms, disinhibition, and creativity. PMID- 2611435 TI - Changes in the psychological defence system as a function of alcohol intoxication in men. AB - Social drinking young men participated in an experiment exploring whether acute alcohol intoxication affects the characteristics of the psychological defence structure. It was found that a moderate alcohol dose (1.0 ml of 100% alcohol/kg body weight) increased the overall level of defence activity compared to a sober Control group and as measured by the Defence Mechanism Test. This increase was mainly due to a significant increase in the defence mechanism Isolation. Gender differences in this respect and the implications of this shift in the defence structure for the understanding of intoxicated behavior and motives for drinking were discussed. PMID- 2611436 TI - Alcohol and death certification: influencing current practice and attitudes. AB - Forty housemen were sent a letter informing them of changes to the coroner's rules and emphasizing the importance of recording alcohol abuse. All relevant death certificates signed by the housemen over the next 3 months were selected for case note review to check details of the alcohol history taken and the consequent accuracy of the death certificate. A questionnaire was also sent to the housemen covering reasons for not recording alcohol abuse and knowledge of the coroner's rules. Comparison of the results with those from an earlier group of housemen who received no informatory letter suggest that minimal educational intervention can effect housemens' attitudes and practice. PMID- 2611437 TI - Gamblers' self-perceptions of the determinants of impaired control. AB - Impaired control occupies a focal position in the medical model perspective of pathological gambling and is central to the concept of addictive processes generally. Nonetheless there have been few studies on self-control in gambling behaviour. A questionnaire was developed to measure subjectively assessed self control in poker machine players. This Self-Control Scale comprised a framework adopted from Cameron (1985) distinguishing between (i) the likelihood of starting a session and continuing a session, and (ii) internal and external determinants. The Scale and a descriptive questionnaire on demographics and actual gambling behaviour was administered to 26 problem gamblers and 40 players of different levels of involvement. The results indicated that the Scale had acceptable internal consistency and validity. The Scale effectively discriminated between problem and non-problem players. The differences on specific items between low frequency, high-frequency and problem groups were incorporated into a hypothetical developmental progression. Negative emotions such as frustration and depression and the belief in chasing (Lesieur, 1979, 1984) were perceived to be the most significant determinants of impaired control problem gamblers. PMID- 2611438 TI - Undergraduate medical school training in psychoactive drugs and rational prescribing in the United Kingdom. AB - The present study examines the extent and form of teaching on psychoactive drugs and the rational prescribing of them given to undergraduate medical students in the United Kingdom. All the 21 schools which replied taught on psychoactive drugs. The average was 15.4 hours of formal teaching (lectures, seminars, tutorials). The teaching on psychoactive drugs compares favourably with the average of 4.2 hours teaching given on alcohol related problems and 3.5 hours on drug dependence. It emerged that there was a great deal of variation in the amount of teaching on psychoactive drugs and many schools felt their teaching on rational prescribing was inadequate. There is a need to promote better co ordination between medical school departments and to identify the key concepts which all medical schools teach. These steps would help to ensure improved teaching on psychoactive drugs and rational prescribing. PMID- 2611439 TI - Antenatal urinary screening for drugs of addiction: usefulness of sideroom testing? AB - Based on a pilot study of 400 samples at our Antenatal Clinic (which yielded 3.5% positives when assessed for amphetamines, cannabinoids and opiates) 600 consecutive patients attending Antenatal Booking Clinic had urine samples tested in the sideroom for amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine metabolites, methadone and opiates using the Syva EMIT ETS apparatus. Positive samples were checked in the West Midlands Regional Laboratory for Toxicology, initially by EMIT-dau on a second ETS instrument and then by thin layer and gas chromatography. Two per cent produced a total of 14 positive EMIT results. Cocaine metabolites and methandone were not detected. Four specimens could not be confirmed as positive. In one sample, amphetamine-like compounds were isolated but not identified. Positive identification was made in the remaining seven specimens (two cannabinoid, two pseudoephedrine, one pseudoephedrine plus dihydrocodeine and two dihydrocodeine). There was a serious problem of false positive results observed in the initial sideroom testing. The value of sideroom testing for drugs of abuse was assessed in relation to the technical problems and to the small rate of drug positive samples. PMID- 2611440 TI - Needle sharing in residential drug treatment units. PMID- 2611441 TI - The misuse of oral steroids by an asthmatic drug addict. PMID- 2611442 TI - Methamphetamine psychosis in Japan: a survey. PMID- 2611443 TI - US heterosexual HIV. PMID- 2611444 TI - An acidic fibroblast growth factor stimulates DNA synthesis, inhibits collagen and alkaline phosphatase synthesis and induces resorption in bone. AB - We have examined the effects of an acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) on bone cell growth and differentiation and on osteoclastic resorption using rat fetus organ cultured calvariae and long bones, respectively. Low concentrations of this aFGF stimulated DNA synthesis (1.28 ng/ml) and inhibited collagen formation (1.28 ng/ml) and alkaline phosphatase activity (0.64 ng/ml) in the isolated calvariae. The inhibition of collagen synthesis was independent of the aFGF's mitogenic effect, and was evident in periosteum-containing and periosteum-free bones, pointing to osteoblasts as the aFGF-responsive cells. Our preparation of aFGF enhanced resorption in the long bones by a calcitonin-inhibitable mechanism. PGE2 release accompanied and indomethacin prevented the enhancement of resorption. By contrast, indomethacin did not block the stimulation of DNA and collagen synthesis caused by our aFGF. These results indicate that our aFGF exerts a PGE2 independent effect on DNA synthesis and collagen synthesis and a PGE2-dependent effect on resorption in bone tissue in vitro. PMID- 2611445 TI - Regulatory effect of endogenous zinc and inhibitory action of toxic metal ions on calcium accumulation by matrix vesicles in vitro. AB - Matrix vesicles (MV) isolated from chicken growth plate by collagenase digestion and incubated in 45Ca-labelled synthetic cartilage lymph (SCL) rapidly induce mineral formation. 45Ca uptake occurs in three distinct stages: (1) an initial lag period of limited accumulation, (2) a period of rapid ion uptake and (3) an extended period of slower uptake. Treatment of MV with buffered aqueous 1,10 phenanthroline (OP), a metal ion chelator, eliminated the lag period, promoting immediate, enhanced Ca2+ uptake. Analysis of MV for trace metals showed them to contain relatively high concentrations of Zn (1.58 mumol/g MV) and lesser amounts of Cu (0.07 mumol/g MV). At least 30-40% of the Zn was readily extractable in isosmotic buffers. Addition of Zn to SCL at levels as low as 5 microM completely inhibited MV mineralization; addition of OP to Zn-inhibited MV restored their ability to mineralize. The findings suggest that Zn2+ ions act as an endogenous regulator of MV Ca2+ uptake and that the normal lag period results from a competition between Zn2+ and Ca2+ for high affinity Ca2+ binding sites in the MV membrane or within the MV lumen. Other metals tested included Cu2+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ which had little or no effect on MV mineralization, Mn2+, which had an intermediate effect, and Al3+, which was found to be almost as inhibitory as Zn2+. This finding may have implications for aluminum-associated osteomalacia. PMID- 2611446 TI - Acute effect of the intranasal administration of salmon calcitonin in osteoporotic women. AB - Eleven women with primary osteoporosis (mean age, 63.1 years; range, 57-78) received in a random schema: placebo, 200 and 400 IU of salmon calcitonin nasal spray (sCT-NS) during 3 successive days. Total and ionized calcium and phosphate in serum were determined before and 5 h after calcitonin. Total hydroxyproline (THP) and creatinine excretion were measured in urine in three periods of 8 h each after calcitonin administration. The THP excretion after placebo administration showed a circadian rhythm with peak excretion during the night. This rhythm was not altered by sCT-NS administration at 8 a.m. but a sustained diminution of the THP/creatinine excretion was observed. The average decrease after 400 IU of sCT-NS was 9, 16 and 6% during the first, second and third periods of urine collection. Although the average effect of the 200 and 400 IU doses was similar, only the diminution induced by the latter dose on the 24-h period was statistically significant: placebo, 24.8 +/- 2.9; 200 IU, 20.8 +/- 2.9 (P n.s.); 400 IU, 20.1 +/- 2.2 mg/24 h (P less than 0.01). No significant changes were observed on serum except a fall provoked by the 400 IU dose upon ionized calcium (4.44 +/- 0.08 to 4.37 +/- 0.06 mg/dl; P less than 0.05). The administration of 200 or 400 IU of sCT-NS provoked a sustained but moderate decrease of bone resorption on osteoporotic females of a lesser degree than the one observed in a previous study after the parenteral administration of 100 IU. PMID- 2611447 TI - Endemic skeletal fluorosis in children: hypocalcemia and the presence of renal resistance to parathyroid hormone. AB - Although endemic skeletal fluorosis has been reported in children, hypocalcemia has not been previously noted. In a prevalence study of 260 schoolchildren living in an endemic fluorosis area in South Africa (water fluoride content 8-12 ppm), hypocalcemia was documented in 23%. Furthermore in a separate study of nine children with skeletal symptoms due to endemic fluorosis, hypocalcemia was found in six. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D levels were elevated in the seven children in whom it was measured. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulation tests on admission revealed evidence of impaired phosphaturic responses, typical of acquired pseudohypoparathyroidism type II, and a direct correlation between serum calcium values and the degree of phosphaturia was noted. Repeat tests performed in two of the children after correction of the hypocalcemia by dietary means, revealed a return of normal renal responsiveness. Serum calcium values also correlated inversely with the degree of osteomalacia on iliac crest bone histomorphometry. It is suggested that low dietary calcium intakes might exacerbate the severity of the bone lesions in children living in areas of endemic fluorosis. PMID- 2611448 TI - Perimenopausal bone mass and risk factors. AB - We studied the effect of menopausal status and risk factors on lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) and metacarpal cortical thickness (MCT) in 286 women of 46 55 years of age. Body mass index (height/weight) was measured and the family history of osteoporosis, reproductive history, menopausal status, calcium intake, amount of physical activity and the consumption of tobacco and alcohol were assessed. Lumbar BMD and MCT decreased substantially in the perimenopausal and postmenopausal period. In the premenopausal women a significant (P = 0.03) lower lumbar BMD was observed in the lowest tertile of calcium intake (less than or equal to 900 mg/day) compared to the highest tertile (greater than or equal to 1200 mg/day). This difference was not apparent in the peri- and postmenopausal women. This suggests that dietary calcium intake is more important in the development and/or maintenance of peak bone mass, than in the modulation of postmenopausal bone loss. Apart from menopausal status and low calcium intake, no other significant determinant of bone mass could be identified. We conclude, therefore, that the assessment of risk factor status is not an efficient tool for the identification of perimenopausal women with low bone mass. PMID- 2611449 TI - Short-term effects on bone and mineral metabolism of 4-amino-1-hydroxybutylidene 1,1-diphosphonate (ABDP) in Paget's disease of bone. AB - To study the short-term effects on mineral and bone metabolism of a recently introduced amino-diphosphonate (4-amino-1-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-diphosphonate or ABDP), 10 patients suffering from active Paget's disease were examined. Each subject received intravenously 5 mg/day of ABDP for 4 days and the effects of treatment were monitored for 12 days. ABDP administration was followed by an early and significant decrease of the urinary hydroxyproline and calcium excretion, of the theoretical renal threshold for phosphate of the serum calcium. Serum phosphate also decreased, while its urinary excretion increased. Intact parathyroid hormone levels at the end of treatment were four times higher than basal levels. Total and bone alkaline phosphatase tended to decrease only slightly at the end of the observation, whereas serum osteocalcin, tended to increase. These findings indicate that the earlier effect of ABDP is a profound inhibition of bone resorption, which brings about a compensatory parathyroid hormone response. The decrease of urinary hydroxyproline follows an exponential curve, with a calculated half-life of 2.2 days, suggesting an approximate equivalency of 5 mg/day ABDP to slightly more than 30 mg/day 3-amino-1 hydroxypropylidene-1,1-diphosphonate. Bone formation seems scarcely influenced in the short-term, but osteoblastic indices show a contrasting behaviour, which may reflect a different biological origin and/or significance. PMID- 2611450 TI - Symposium on drug testing in the workplace. Committee on public health and the Section on Occupational Medicine, New York Academy of Medicine, February 3, 1988. PMID- 2611451 TI - Drug testing in the private and public sectors. PMID- 2611452 TI - Alcohol and drug abuse in the workplace in broad perspective. PMID- 2611453 TI - Methodology, efficacy, and validity of drug testing. PMID- 2611454 TI - Legal and ethical aspects of drug testing. PMID- 2611455 TI - Performance appraisal: an antidote for substance abuse? PMID- 2611456 TI - Drug testing in the workplace. Return to work issues. PMID- 2611457 TI - Case studies of drug testing in the workplace. PMID- 2611458 TI - Statement on treatment of gonorrhea--penicillin is passe. Committee on Public Health. The New York Academy of Medicine. PMID- 2611459 TI - New approaches for epidemiologic studies of mortality statistics. AB - Finding and analyzing multiple causes of death-rather than single causes-has major epidemiologic advantages. Besides helping to reveal the magnitude of the causes or morbid conditions leading to death, it also demonstrates that deaths are usually the result of several simultaneous or sequential causes. This article reviews ways that multiple cause of death data have been analyzed in order to improve our knowledge of these causes and other relevant health factors. PMID- 2611460 TI - Epidemiology in health promotion: a Canadian perspective. AB - During the second half of this century, Canada has made major organizational advances in providing universal hospital and medical care programs. Although these advances have largely overshadowed public health issues, the focus is now shifting back to public health with an emphasis on health promotion as a guiding philosophy. Epidemiology has played a key role in these developments. However, as we seek to address matters such as "enhancing people's capacity to cope," "healthy public policy," and "self-care," we find ourselves with a limited data base. So it is now necessary for epidemiology to integrate concepts that have their origins in the social and behavioral sciences, and also to deal with new measures of functional and self-assessed health status. A scientific approach to all this is essential, especially in developing and evaluating health promotion initiatives. In addition, national health goals and objectives are needed to help allocate resources rationally and hold health promotion activities accountable for their own performance. PMID- 2611461 TI - Surveillance for dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever. AB - Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever are emerging as major public health problems in most tropical countries. Effective prevention and control programs will depend on improved surveillance designed to provide early warning of dengue epidemics. This article outlines a reasonable approach to dengue surveillance of this kind. Virologic surveillance should be considered the most important element in any such early warning system. Dengue virus transmission should be monitored to determine which serotypes are present, their distribution, and the type of illnesses associated with each. Other key components of an active surveillance system should include monitoring of fever activity and clinical surveillance for cases of severe and fatal disease associated with viral syndromes. Collectively, these three surveillance components can provide an early warning capability permitting emergency mosquito control measures to be implemented and major epidemics to be averted. PMID- 2611462 TI - A case-control study of tobacco-related cancers in Colombia. AB - The work reported here examined the effects of smoking cigarettes made predominantly of dark tobacco, alcohol consumption, and coffee drinking upon the risk of developing cancers of the bladder, larynx, lung, and oral cavity/hypopharynx in Medellin, Colombia. For this purpose 439 subjects with newly diagnosed cancers at the indicated sites were selected. Each subject was then matched by age, sex, and socioeconomic status with at least one control. Data from interviews with the selected subjects, upon analysis, showed both the intensity and duration of cigarette smoking to be statistically significant predictors of cancer at all four sites. In addition, heavy alcohol consumption and coffee drinking in excess of seven cups daily were associated with some elevation of cancer risk at most of the sites studied. Multivariate analyses of cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and coffee drinking showed that adjustment for coffee and alcohol consumption did not change the observed associations between elevated cancer risks and cigarette smoking. However, adjustment of the coffee and alcohol consumption data for cigarette smoking reduced most of the observed relative risks of coffee and alcohol consumption and eliminated the statistical significance of certain associations. PMID- 2611463 TI - Selection of mothers with increased risk of delivering low birthweight newborns at a public maternity hospital in Rosario, Argentina. AB - A retrospective analysis was made of births occurring over a six-month period at a public maternity hospital in the city of Rosario, Argentina, with a view to planning actions reducing the likelihood of low birthweight deliveries. Fifteen risk factors were assessed. While a history of delivering a low birthweight infant was the leading risk factor for both intrauterine growth retardation and preterm delivery, the other leading risk factors for these two types of low birthweight newborns differed. Many variables relating to socioeconomic and cultural levels that have traditionally been considered risk factors for low birthweight did not display any significant association. Risk calculations for the study population were made using data gathered at the patients' first prenatal checkup. These calculations indicated that mothers with one or more of four leading risk factors (a history of delivering low birthweight newborns, smoking more than two cigarettes a day, weighing less than 46 kg, and being less than 148 cm tall) constituted only 26.6% of the study population but accounted for 51.6% of the low birthweight deliveries. Such screening can provide an effective way of selecting high-risk mothers, and simple analyses of this sort are essential in planning health actions relating to low birthweight deliveries. PMID- 2611464 TI - Epidemiology of cancer of the uterine cervix in Costa Rica, 1980-1983. AB - A study was made of all cervical cancer cases that were entered in Costa Rica's National Register of Tumors for the period 1980-1983. The country's average rates of invasive and in situ cervical cancers in these years were 33.6 and 36.3 cases per 100,000 women, respectively. The incidence of invasive cases varied notably in different geographic regions. The approximate cumulative risk of developing invasive cervical cancer by age 74 was 6.3% for women in certain very high risk areas as compared to 1.4% for those in certain low risk areas. Most of the very high risk areas were relatively inaccessible regions located far from the capital city of San Jose. These findings suggest that the regional differences in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer resulted from better early detection of cervical cancers and precancerous states in the areas of lower risk. More extensive epidemiologic studies will be needed in order to determine the proper weight to assign such factors as race, promiscuity, socioeconomic level, and customs in the incidence and behavior of this cancer in Costa Rica. PMID- 2611465 TI - Food and nutrition surveillance systems. PMID- 2611467 TI - Student elective award winners! PMID- 2611466 TI - Food and nutrition surveillance in the English-speaking Caribbean. PMID- 2611468 TI - NHS indemnity: good news for hospital doctors? PMID- 2611469 TI - How to minimize litigation. PMID- 2611470 TI - Urinary tract infection in old age. PMID- 2611471 TI - Ovum donation. AB - Recent advances in assisted conception and reproductive endocrinology have provided novel avenues for the treatment of couples previously thought to be irreversibly sterile. PMID- 2611472 TI - The management of adult respiratory distress syndrome: 1. AB - Since its description 20 years ago, the mortality from ARDS has remained largely unchanged despite improved intensive care techniques. This article reviews the rationale underlying the current management of ARDS. In part 2 of this article some of the more recent and novel therapies that are being applied in the treatment of this condition will be described. PMID- 2611473 TI - How to insert a pulmonary arterial flotation catheter. AB - In some cases of acute cardiorespiratory failure rational therapy is only possible with detailed information about the circulation, including pulmonary vascular pressures and cardiac output. This information can be obtained from a pulmonary arterial flotation catheter but the associated complications are potentially lethal. This article gives a concise guide to the insertion of pulmonary arterial flotation catheters with the emphasis on points of safety that should minimize the risk to the patient. PMID- 2611474 TI - Primary health care for the children of Sarawak. AB - Rosalind Benster and Judith Stanton went to Sarawak to study child health care. Their aim was to highlight areas of most need so that the tiny health budget could be channelled in the relevant directions. They found cultural and environmental differences to account for significant differences in the nutritional status of children from different tribes. They suggest remedies to this situation. PMID- 2611475 TI - The plantar response: caution in the elderly. PMID- 2611476 TI - Children and the state. PMID- 2611477 TI - Today's students and doctors need career counselling as well as vocation. PMID- 2611478 TI - Community care for the seriously mentally ill. PMID- 2611479 TI - Management of self-inflicted stab injury. PMID- 2611480 TI - Safety in numbers for cordocentesis. PMID- 2611481 TI - Arachidonic acid-induced bronchomotor responses are partially mediated by release of sensory neuropeptides from capsaicin-sensitive structures. AB - Administration of arachidonic acid (AA) both in vitro and in vivo elicited prominent contractile responses in guinea-pig airways, which were markedly reduced after capsaicin desensitization. Furthermore, AA superfusion elicited a significant calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity release from isolated bronchi. It is suggested that at least part of the bronchomotor actions of AA rely upon stimulation of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents. PMID- 2611482 TI - The effects of L-arginine and NG-monomethyl L-arginine on the response of the rat anococcygeus muscle to NANC nerve stimulation. AB - The effect of the competitive inhibitor of L-arginine, NG-monomethyl L-arginine (L-NMMA) on the response of the rat anococcygeus muscle to non-adrenergic, non cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory nerve stimulation has been examined. L-NMMA causes a rise in muscle tone and inhibition of the response to nerve stimulation. The stereoisomer D-NMMA is without effect. The rise in tone and inhibition of the nerve response is reversed by L-arginine. Another analogue, L-canavanine, which is effective against L-arginine utilization in the macrophage, was without effect on the rat anococcygeus. These results provide indirect evidence for nitric oxide (NO) or a substance releasing NO as the transmitter of the NANC nerves in this tissue. PMID- 2611483 TI - Electrical and mechanical responses of guinea-pig bladder muscle to nerve stimulation. AB - 1 The electrical and mechanical responses to transmural stimulation of intrinsic nerves have been recorded from smooth muscle strips dissected from the dome of the guinea-pig bladder, by use of intracellular microelectrodes, and conventional tension recording techniques. 2 Stimulation of intrinsic nerves evoked action potentials in all cells studied. Hyperpolarization of the cells by extracellular current injection revealed subthreshold excitatory junction potentials (e.j.ps) in about a quarter of the cells studied. 3 Action potentials could still be evoked in the presence of atropine and neostigmine, but were abolished after desensitization of the cells to alpha, beta-methylene ATP, a stable analogue of ATP. 4 In the presence of neostigmine, the evoked action potential was followed by a slow depolarization of the membrane. The mechanical response increased in amplitude and duration. 5 The contractile response to transmural nerve stimulation was reduced but not abolished in the presence of either atropine or desensitizing doses of alpha, beta-methylene ATP. Atropine was more effective at high frequencies of stimulation (greater than or equal to 30 Hz), and alpha, beta methylene ATP at low frequencies (less than or equal to 15 Hz). In combination the drugs abolished the response. 6 The results suggest that the mechanical response to excitatory nerve stimulation is biphasic. The early transient response is elicited by e.j.ps and evoked spikes, is resistant to atropine, but sensitive to desensitization of purinoceptors. The late response is mediated through muscarinic receptors, involves little membrane depolarization, and is unaffected by desensitization of purinoceptors. These responses are analogous to the responses seen in rabbit bladder, and in the sympathetically innervated rat tail artery and guinea-pig vas deferens. PMID- 2611484 TI - Vasodilator actions of HA1077 in vitro and in vivo putatively mediated by the inhibition of protein kinase. AB - The in vitro and in vivo vasorelaxant effects of HA1077, 1-(5 isoquinolinesulphonyl)-homopiperazine HCl, a novel vasodilator were examined. The inhibitory effects of HA1077 on contractile responses to various agonists were examined on strips of rabbit aorta. The concentration-response curves to 5 hydroxytryptamine, prostaglandin F2alpha, histamine, angiotensin II, noradrenaline and dopamine were concentration-dependently shifted to the right in the presence of HA1077 (0.3-3.0 microM). The in vivo vasodilator effects of HA1077 were examined in the constant-pressure autoperfused coronary vascular bed of dogs. Intra-coronary administration of HA1077 (3-30 micrograms per dog) dose dependently increased coronary blood flow (CBF), with no effect on mean blood pressure (MBP) or heart rate (HR). Intra-coronary infusion of atropine, propranolol or diphenhydramine did not modify the in vivo coronary vasodilator response to HA1077. To determine the flow profile for HA1077 in dogs, blood flow in four vascular beds was measured, by use of noncannulating electromagnetic flow probes. HA1077 (0.01-0.3 mg kg-1, i.v.) dose-dependently decreased MBP and increased vertebral blood flow (VBF), CBF, renal blood flow (RBF) and femoral blood flow (FBF). A haemodynamic analysis showed that continuous i.v. infusion of HA1077 (0.01 and 0.033 mg kg-1min-1) dose-dependently decreased peripheral vascular resistance and increased cardiac output. There were no significant changes in right atrial pressure, dP/dt or ventricular minute work. The effects of HA1077 on various enzymes considered to be related to the regulation of smooth muscle contraction were examined. HA1077 had little effect on cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, yet it potently inhibited protein kinases such as cyclic nucleotide dependent protein kinases and Ca2+/calmodulin dependent myosin light chain kinase. The present study demonstrates that HA1077 is a novel type of arterial vasodilator. PMID- 2611485 TI - The effects of verapamil upon noradrenaline-induced contraction of the rat isolated aorta following acute and prolonged alterations in PO2. AB - 1. Noradrenaline (NA;ED90) caused a contraction of the rat aorta which could be separated into two components, a rapid response mediated by release of intracellular Ca2+ and a more slowly developing contraction which relied principally upon Ca2+ influx. 2. Exposure to acute (30 min) hypoxia has been previously shown to reduce the NA-induced contraction (by 28.0 +/- 2.7%, n = 168) which recovered completely upon re-oxygenation (recovery response). In the present study, prolonged exposure to hypoxia (70 h) caused a more pronounced reduction (39.7 +/- 3.0%, n = 90) of the NA-induced contraction, but, re oxygenation then produced incomplete recovery to 77.9 +/- 3.9% (n = 90) of the control response. 3. Prolonged exposure to 95% O2 caused a 36.5 +/- 3.1% (n = 42) reduction of NA-induced contractions, whereas prolonged exposure to 21% O2 only caused a small (12.6 +/- 3.4%, n = 6) depression of these responses. 4. The component of the NA-induced contraction mediated by release of intracellular Ca2+ is 39.8 +/- 1.3% (n = 83) of the NA contraction in Ca-containing Krebs solution and was previously found to be unaffected by acute hypoxia. However, following prolonged exposure to either hypoxia or 21% O2, this component only reached 30.7 +/- 2.2% (n = 32) or 28.3 +/- 0.9% (n = 6) of the control response, respectively. Prolonged exposure to 95% O2 caused a more pronounced reduction of this component of contraction which then reached 19.1 +/- 2.1% (n = 12) of the control response. 5. Verapamil (10nM-10 microM) produced similar concentration-dependent reductions of NA-induced contractions elicited during control conditions or acute hypoxia; under these conditions, 1 microM verapamil caused a 34.1 + 6.9% (n = 6) and a 41.8 + 2.9% (n = 18) reduction of these responses respectively. However, recovery responses caused by re-oxygenation of tissues exposed to acute hypoxia were more sensitive to verapamil which, at a concentration of 1 microM, caused a 59.2 + 2.7% (n = 18) reduction of these responses. Verapamil (10 nM-10 microM) also caused similar pronounced concentration-dependent reductions of contractions elicited during prolonged exposure to normoxia or hyperoxia and of recovery responses obtained following re-oxygenation of tissues exposed to prolonged hypoxia; 1 microM verapamil caused a 62.5 + 1.1% (n = 6), 77.2 + 3.8% (n = 12) and a 68.0 + 4.3% (n = 12) reduction of these responses respectively. In contrast, contractions elicited during prolonged hypoxia were less sensitive to verapamil which at a concentration of 1 microM only caused a 16.2 + 2.2% (n 12) reduction of these responses. 6. The present study indicates that prolonged exposure of the rat aorta to either hypoxic or oxygenated conditions causes attenuation of NA-induced contraction. However, these effects are also accompanied by changes in tissue Ca2+ handling which differ under each condition and might account for the observed modifications in tissue sensitivity to the calcium-entry blocker verapamil. PMID- 2611486 TI - The mechanism of tetrahydroaminoacridine-evoked release of endogenous 5 hydroxytryptamine and dopamine from rat brain tissue prisms. AB - 1 Tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) is an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor which may have a greater therapeutic effect in Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD) than other cholinergic agents. This suggests possible non-cholinergic properties. We have therefore studied the effects of THA on the release of endogenous 5 hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) from rat cortical prisms and dopamine from striatal prisms. 2 In the presence of K+ (1 mM), THA stimulated release of both 5-HT and dopamine. THA (100 microM)-evoked monoamine release was comparable, but not additive with the release produced by K+ (35 mM). The effect was not maximal at 1 mM THA. THA-evoked release of 5-HT was independent of the presence of Ca2+ in the external medium. 3 Drugs acting on the cholinergic system, nicotine, mecamylamine, atropine, oxotremorine, physostigmine and neostigmine (all 10 microM) had no effect on 5-HT and dopamine-release. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP), a potent acetylcholine-releasing agent, had no effect on 5-HT release and was approximately 100 fold less active than THA on dopamine release. 4 Both THA and reserpine enhanced the release of 5-HT in the presence of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, pargyline. Reserpine- but not THA-evoked release was abolished in the absence of pargyline. Reserpine (5 mg kg-1, i.p.) markedly depleted brain monoamine concentrations 3 h after injection, while THA (15 mg kg-1, i.p.) had no effect. 5 Chloroamphetamine and fenfluramine both released 5-HT in a Ca2(+) independent manner and with a similar potency to THA, while (+)-amphetamine released dopamine with a similar potency to THA. The effects of the amphetamines were not maximal at 1 mM. However, unlike THA, chloroamphetamine-evoked release of 5-HT was additive with release evoked by K+ (35 mM). 6 Clomipramine (IC50 = 0.036 microM) and THA (IC50 = 19.9 microM) all inhibited the uptake of [3H]-5-HT into a P2 membrane preparation. However, none of these compounds inhibited [3H]-5 HT uptake into tissue prisms during the release experiments in which the reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (5 microM) was present. 7 We conclude that THA does not release endogenous 5-HT through a cholinergic, reserpine- or amphetamine-like mechanism or through inhibition of reuptake. The possibility exists that the release may occur via blockade of 4-AP-insensitive K+ channels. PMID- 2611487 TI - The antiarrhythmic efficacy of intravenous anipamil against occlusion and reperfusion arrhythmias. AB - 1. Anipamil, a long acting analogue of verapamil, was tested for its actions against arrhythmias induced by ischaemia and reperfusion in conscious and anaesthetized rats, as well as for effects on epicardial intracellular action potentials. 2. When given 15 min or 4 h before coronary occlusion, 1 and 5 mg kg 1 anipamil reduced ischaemia-induced arrhythmias in conscious rats. The same doses also reduced arrhythmias when given 15 min before occlusion in acutely prepared anaesthetized rats. ED50 values were between 1 and 5 mg kg-1. 3. The incidence of reperfusion arrhythmias depended upon the period of regional ischaemia prior to reperfusion such that the peak incidence occurred after 5-7 min of ischaemia. Anipamil (2.5 mg kg-1, i.v.) selectively abolished the reperfusion arrhythmias induced by short periods of ischaemia, although some antiarrhythmic effects were seen for all periods of ischaemia. 4. Anipamil slowed the rate of development of R-wave increases and S-T segment elevations induced by ischaemia, but did not reduce the maximum values they attained. 5. Anipamil (2.5 mg kg-1 i.v.) lacked Class I or III electrophysiological actions on intracellular action potentials recorded in vivo from the epicardium of rat hearts. 6. In conclusion, the antiarrhythmic actions of anipamil appeared to depend upon calcium antagonism which may have reduced arrhythmias by a combination of anti ischaemic and direct anti-arrhythmic actions. Presumed anti-ischaemic actions changed the relationship between the duration of preceding ischaemia and resulting reperfusion arrhythmias. PMID- 2611488 TI - Effects of anipamil on cardiovascular status and regional blood flow in anaesthetized rats. AB - 1. Anipamil, a long-acting analogue of verapamil, was tested at 1, 2.5 and 5 mg kg-1 i.v. for its effects on cardiovascular status and blood flow in different organs and vascular beds in rats anaesthetized with pentobarbitone. 2. Blood flow was determined by microsphere (57Co or 113Sn) injection before, and 1 h after, administration of anipamil at the above doses. 3. Anipamil produced a dose dependent fall in blood pressure and heart rate. This was associated with a fall in peripheral resistance. At the highest dose there was, in addition, evidence of myocardial depression. 4. Both blood flow and conductance (flow corrected for blood pressure) were notably increased by anipamil in heart, liver and skeletal muscle beds, but were decreased, especially at the high doses, in kidneys, intestine and spleen. 5. The profile of the actions of anipamil on haemodynamic performance and flow was consistent with its proposed calcium antagonist actions. This profile was similar to that of verapamil. PMID- 2611489 TI - EDRF-mediated dilatation in the rat isolated perfused kidney: a microangiographic study. AB - 1. X-ray microangiographic techniques were used to study the influence of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) on vasomotion in the isolated, intact, buffer-perfused kidney of the rat. The main renal (R0), segmental (R1) and interlobar (R2) arteries (control diameters ca. 600, 400 and 300 microns respectively) were studied quantitatively. 2. Inhibition of basal EDRF activity by haemoglobin (1 microM) did not elevate perfusion pressure or constrict R0, R1 and R2 in control preparations, implying a low level of spontaneous myogenic tone. In preparations preconstricted by 0.3 microM methoxamine, haemoglobin caused a further rise in perfusion pressure and amplified constrictor responses in R1 and R2 while also inducing 'paradoxical' dilatation of R0. 3. A spatially heterogeneous pattern of diameter responses (constriction of R2 and R1 with minimal dilatation of R0) was observed with two concentrations of methoxamine (0.3 microM and 3 microM). The magnitude of these responses was, however, smaller with 3 microM than 0.3 microM methoxamine, even though it increased perfusion pressure to a greater extent (88 mmHg cf. 24 mmHg). This 'paradoxical' behaviour indicates more pronounced constriction of distal arteries (which could not be resolved quantitatively) with 3 microM methoxamine. 4. In contrast to the heterogeneity of constrictor responses induced by methoxamine, the dilator action of acetylcholine was spatially homogeneous: log IC50 values calculated from the diameter changes induced in R0, R1 and R2 were similar and, moreover, equivalent to that calculated from the corresponding alterations in perfusion pressure. The fall in perfusion pressure induced by an approximately median effective concentration of acetylcholine (0.3 microM) was completely reversed by haemoglobin, consistent with the involvement of EDRF, although, reversal of the acetylcholine-induced dilatation of R0, R1 and R2 was not observed. 5. The results are consistent with the idea that constriction of distal vessels can attenuate and even directionally reverse intrinsic constrictor responses in the proximal R0, RI and R2 'feed' arteries by producing an overriding increase in 'upstream' pressure. This effect explains the paradoxical dilatation of Ro induced by haemoglobin in the presence of 0.3 microM methoxamine, the smaller magnitude of the diameter changes induced in R0, RI and R2 by 3 microM as compared to 0.3 microM methoxamine, and the failure of haemoglobin to reverse the acetylcholine-induced dilatation of R0, R1 and R2. PMID- 2611490 TI - Regional haemodynamic effects of human alpha- and beta-calcitonin gene-related peptide in conscious Wistar rats. AB - 1. A comparative study was carried out to assess the regional haemodynamic effects of intravenous infusion of human alpha- and beta-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP; 0.006, 0.06 and 0.6 nmol h-1) in conscious, unrestrained Wistar rats. 2. With human alpha-CGRP, tachycardia was always accompanied by a fall in mean arterial blood pressure (MBP), but human beta-CGRP at the middle dose caused tachycardia with no significant hypotension. 3. Human alpha- and beta-CGRP both caused dose-dependent falls in MBP accompanied by common carotid and hindquarters vasodilatations and increased flows. The highest dose of alpha- and beta-CGRP caused mesenteric vasoconstriction and renal vasodilatation, but the latter was not associated with an increase in flow. 4. With the intermediate dose, human alpha-CGRP caused more significant haemodynamic changes than did human beta-CGRP. In addition, comparison with previous experiments involving infusion of rat alpha CGRP indicated that human alpha-CGRP had more potent haemodynamic effects than the former. PMID- 2611491 TI - Decrease in internal H+ and positive inotropic effect of heptaminol hydrochloride: a 31P n.m.r. spectroscopy study in rat isolated heart. AB - 1. The cardiotonic effect of heptaminol hydrochloride (Hept-a-myl, Delalande) was studied using 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy and left ventricular pressure (LVP) measurements in rat isolated hearts. The possibility of this effect being mediated by an intracellular realkalinisation was tested. 2. Isolated hearts were perfused at 10 ml min-1 by the Langendorff method with Krebs Henseleit solution at 37 degrees C and stimulated at 5 Hz. Mechanical activity was measured as variations of left ventricular pressure (LVP). 31P-n.m.r. spectra were recorded every 2 min. Changes in cardiac adenosine triphosphate (ATP), phosphocreatine (PCr) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) were followed and intracellular pH (pHi) was estimated from the chemical shift of Pi. 3. The effects of heptaminol were tested in different conditions: normoxia, moderate ischaemia, severe ischaemia, and moderate ischaemia in the presence of amiloride or guanidinium chloride as inhibitors of the Na-H exchange. 4. In normoxia, heptaminol induced a cyclic increase of systolic LVP, associated with an increase in Pi. No significant effect on pHi was observed. In changing from normoxia to moderate ischaemia, PCr and systolic LVP decreased; a mild intracellular acidification (pHi 6.96) was obtained. Heptaminol induced a restoration of pHi and increased LVP. In severe ischaemia, the realkalinization effect and the restoration of LVP induced by heptaminol were no longer observed. During moderate ischaemia, Na-H exchange inhibitors decreased pHi and LVP. Heptaminol applied in the presence of these inhibitors was unable to restore pHi and LVP. In severe ischaemia, the realkalinization effect and the restoration of LVP induced by heptaminol were no longer observed. During moderate ischaemia, Na-H exchange inhibitors decreased pHi and LVP. Heptaminol applied in the presence of these inhibitors was unable to restore pHi and LVP. 5. These results suggest that the positive inotropic effect of heptaminol during moderate ischaemia could be related to a restoration of internal pH, possibly mediated by a stimulation of the Na-H exchange. PMID- 2611492 TI - The spontaneous electrical and mechanical activity of human bronchial smooth muscle: its modulation by drugs. AB - 1. Tissue taken at operation was used to study the electrical and mechanical properties of human bronchial smooth muscle with intracellular microelectrodes and isometric recording of tension changes. 2. Over 90% of the muscle strips exhibited spontaneous tone and 70% produced spontaneous phasic contractions. The resting membrane potential of the smooth muscle cells ranged between -40 to -50 mV with a mean value of -44.9 +/- 5.2 mV (n = 92 +/- s.d.). Spontaneous oscillations of the membrane potential (slow waves) were observed in 90% of the cells examined. 3. The electrical slow waves, phasic contractions and spontaneous tone were greatly reduced by FPL 55712 (10(-6)-10(-5) M). Indomethacin (1-5 x 10( 5) M), atropine (10(-6) M) or a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, AA 861 (5 x 10(-6) M) each reduced spontaneous mechanical tone. Indomethacin and atropine each caused minor reduction in the amplitude of electrical slow waves. 4. Leukotriene C4 (10( 8) M), physostigmine (10(-6) M) and K+-rich physiological salt-solution (containing atropine 10(-6) M) each caused tone development in tissue treated with AA 861 (5 x 10(-6) M). In the case of leukotriene C4 and physostigmine, phasic contractions were superimposed on the developed tone. 5. Electrical field stimulation evoked an excitatory junction potential (e.j.p.) followed by a small group of slow waves. Repetitive field stimulation (2-20 stimuli at 20 Hz) markedly enhanced the amplitude of oscillatory slow waves. FPL 55712 (1.9 x 10( 6) M) abolished the oscillatory slow waves following the e.j.p., and physostigmine (10(-6) M) enhanced the amplitude of the e.j.p. and slow waves. 6. These results indicate that, under in vitro conditions, the electrical activity of human bronchial smooth muscle comprises slow wave discharge which may be related to the spontaneous contractions and generation of basal tone. PMID- 2611493 TI - Effects of okadaic acid on cytosolic calcium concentrations and on contractions of the porcine coronary artery. AB - 1. We investigated the effects of okadaic acid (OA), a phosphatase inhibitor derived from a 38-carbon fatty acid and isolated from the black sponge, genus Halichondria, on cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and tension developed in porcine coronary arterial strips loaded with fura-2. 2. Both in the presence (1.25 mM) and absence of extracellular Ca2+, OA (over 10(-6) M) induced a concentration-dependent, slow and progressive increase in tension. Calcium removal had no effect on the maximum level of tension, time between application of the drug and the onset of tension, or the time required to reach the maximum tension. However, there was a slight concentration-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i, only in the presence of extracellular Ca2+. 3. At a lower concentration that did not cause contraction or increase [Ca2+]i, OA (10(-6) M) inhibited tension development but not the Ca2+ transient on readmission of Ca2+ in 118 mM K+ depolarizing solution. OA inhibited the maximum levels of the developed tension, without affecting the KD value (598 +/- 204 nM for control vs 678 +/- 464 nM after OA treatment) or the Hill coefficient (1.78 +/- 0.10 for control vs 1.98 +/ 0.47 for OA treatment). 4. It is concluded that high concentrations of OA induce a contraction independent of extracellular Ca2+ and without any changes in [Ca2+]i. Lower concentrations of OA inhibit the Ca2+-dependent contractions. The lack of effect on KD values suggests that the [Ca2+]i-sensitivity of the contractile apparatus is not affected by this inhibition of contraction. PMID- 2611494 TI - Effect of D,L-carnitine on the response of the isolated heart of the rat to ischaemia and reperfusion: relation to mitochondrial function. AB - 1. The effect of 100 microM (20 micrograms ml-1) of D,L-carnitine was studied on the isolated heart of the rat subjected to 30 min of low flow ischaemia followed by reperfusion. 2. In untreated hearts (n = 30) ischaemia produced an almost total loss of contractility (P less than 0.05 compared with non-ischaemic time control) which was accompanied by an increase in resting tension of approximately 235% (P less than 0.05). Ventricular arrhythmias developed during ischaemia in 100% (P less than 0.05) of untreated hearts studied. Following reperfusion, untreated hearts recovered 16.3% of contractile function and demonstrated a 60% elevation in resting tension. The incidence of reperfusion-associated ventricular fibrillation was 60%. 3. Carnitine treatment produced no effect on either the contractile depression or the elevation in resting tension during ischaemia but did significantly decrease the incidence of arrythmias at the termination of ischaemia to 63.3% (n = 30, P less than 0.05). In the presence of carnitine, contractile recovery at the end of reperfusion was significantly increased to 30.2% (n = 10, P less than 0.05) and the elevation in resting tension was decreased to 30% (n = 10, P greater than 0.05). The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias during reperfusion was significantly reduced by carnitine. 4. Two populations of mitochondria, subsarcolemmal (SLM) and interfibrillar (IFM) isolated at the end of the ischaemic period exhibited an overall increase in oxidative phosphorylation rates as well as uncoupled oxygen consumption; both phenomena were more pronounced with IFM. Carnitine generally potentiated this response. A 29% and 38% inhibition in atractyloside-sensitive ADP uptake was observed in SLM and IFM, respectively, following ischaemia, which was partially prevented by carnitine. 5. After 10min of reperfusion, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) uptake in SLM was further reduced to 55% of control whereas with IFM, uptake was not different from that seen at the end of ischaemia. Mitochondria isolated from hearts after 30 min of reperfusion revealed a significantly depressed oxidative phosphorylation as well as ADP/ATP translocase activity. These defects were partially reversed in hearts perfused with carnitine. 6. Our study demonstrates that D,L-carnitine protects the rat isolated heart against injury associated with ischaemia and reperfusion through a mechanism associated with improved mitochondrial function. PMID- 2611495 TI - Electrophysiological effects of bepridil and its quaternary derivative CERM 11888 in closed chest anaesthetized dogs: a comparison with verapamil and diltiazem. AB - 1. The electrophysiological effects of bepridil, its quaternary derivative, CERM 11888 (methylpyrrolidinium bromide) (both 2.5 mg kg-1 i.v.) and those of verapamil and diltiazem (0.2 mg kg-1 i.v.) were studied in closed chest anaesthetized dogs at doses used in clinical studies. 2. The four drugs caused a bradycardia with the following order of potency: bepridil greater than CERM 11888 greater than diltiazem greater than verapamil. 3. All the compounds slowed conduction in the AV node, increased the refractory period (RP) and decreased Wenckebach rates with the following order: verapamil much greater than diltiazem greater than bepridil greater than CERM 11888. 4. Verapamil and diltiazem did not affect conduction or the RP in atria while bepridil weakly slowed the former and markedly increased the latter. CERM 11888 caused a lengthening of RP but this was a delayed effect. 5. In the ventricle, bepridil and CERM 11888 caused a small increase in the QRS and a more pronounced increase in the RP. Both compounds increased QTc but did not modify HV. Verapamil and diltiazem had no significant effects at the ventricular level. 6. Our results confirm that the main sites of action of calcium antagonists are the SA and AV nodes. Bepridil has a broader spectrum of activity and also acts at the atrial and ventricular levels. A comparison of the effects of bepridil with those of its quaternary derivative suggests the involvement of an intracellular action in the electrophysiological effects of bepridil. PMID- 2611496 TI - Endothelium-dependent vasodilator effects of platelet activating factor on rat resistance vessels. AB - 1. To elucidate the mechanisms of the powerful and long-lasting hypotension produced by platelet activating factor (PAF), its effects on perfusion pressure in the perfused mesenteric arterial bed of the rat were examined. 2. Infusion of PAF (10(-11) to 3 x 10(-10) M; EC50 = 4.0 x 10(-11) M; 95%CL = 1.6 x 10(-11) - 9.4 x 10(-11) M) and acetylcholine (ACh) (10(-10) to 10(-6) M; EC50 = 3.0 +/- 0.1 x 10(-9) M) produced marked concentration-dependent vasodilatations which were significantly inhibited by treatment with detergents (0.1% Triton X-100 for 30 s or 0.3% CHAPS for 90 s). 3. Pretreatment with CV-6209, a PAF antagonist, inhibited PAF- but not ACh-induced vasodilation. 4. Treatment with indomethacin (10(-6) M) had no effect on PAF- or ACh-induced vasodilatation. 5. These results demonstrate that extremely low concentrations of PAF produce vasodilatation of resistance vessels through the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). This may account for the strong hypotension produced by PAF in vivo. PMID- 2611497 TI - The protein kinase C inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H 7) disinhibits CA1 pyramidal cells in rat hippocampal slices. AB - 1. The effects of the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor 1-(5 isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) on evoked synaptic potentials were investigated in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices by use of extracellular and intracellular recording techniques. 2. Extracellular recordings showed that superfusion with H-7 (10-100 microM) increased the amplitude of the population spike and the initial slope of the dendritic field e.p.s.p. H-7 also produced the appearance of multiple population spikes in the somatic region and in the dendritic field e.p.s.p. 3. H-7 (30 microM) induced the disappearance of intracellularly recorded inhibitory potentials elicited by orthodromic stimulation of CA1 pyramidal cells. At this concentration H-7 had no effect on resting membrane potential, input membrane resistance, and spike threshold. In voltage-clamped neurones H-7 blocked the antidromically evoked inhibitory currents and the spontaneous miniature inhibitory currents. 4. The hyperpolarizing effect of bath applied gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA, 500 microM) or isoguvacine (30 microM) was not affected by 30 microM H-7. 5. Neither the PKC activity regulator sphingosine (10-40 microM) nor the H-7 analogue N-(2 guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide (HA-1004, 20-50 microM) which is devoid of activity on PKC at these concentrations, affected the extracellularly recorded dendritic field e.p.s.p. or population spike. 6. It is concluded that the disinhibitory effect produced by H-7 is due to the block of a H-7-sensitive PKC which is involved in the spontaneous and evoked release of GABA. PMID- 2611498 TI - The role of microsomal phospholipids and their fatty acid composition in the control of hepatic metabolism of lignocaine. AB - 1. Sex differences exist in the metabolism of lignocaine by the rat liver. Microsomal phospholipids have been implicated in the control of these sex differences. Induction of diabetes in the male rat abolishes these sex differences. The difference in drug metabolism between the male and female rat is, thus, the same as that between the control and diabetic male rat. 2. By using reconstitution of delipidated male microsomal proteins with male-, female- and diabetic-derived phospholipids as well as synthetic phospholipids, it should be possible to delineate the role of phospholipids in the control of drug metabolism. 3. Female- and diabetes-derived phospholipids decrease the activity of the male-specific lignocaine N-deethylase specifically by between 35 and 52%. 4. Analysis of the phospholipid classes and fatty acid content of the various fractions indicated that stearic acid content was increased and arachidonic acid content decreased in both female- and diabetic-derived lipids as compared to control males. Linoleic acid content was decreased in female- but increased in diabetic-derived lipids as compared to control males. Subsequent correlation to N deethylase activity, however, rules out all but the arachidonic acid content of the phospholipids as a controlling factor of lignocaine metabolism. 5. Use of synthetic phosphatidylcholine (PC) species for reconstitution indicates that diarachidonyl-PC is the most efficient at activating the N-deethylase and indicates that the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acyl side-chains of PC is of major importance in the regulation of this enzyme activity. 6. The presence of unsaturated fatty acids, and especially arachidonic acid, in the phospholipids is, thus, a major controlling influence on the specific activation of lignocaine N-deethylase in the rat liver. PMID- 2611499 TI - Selective antagonism to succinylcholine-induced depolarization by alpha bungarotoxin with respect to the mode of action of depolarizing agents. AB - 1. The interactions of alpha-bungarotoxin or tubocurarine with the neuromuscular block and endplate depolarization induced by succinylcholine (SCh) in the phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation of mice were studied in order to elucidate the role of depolarization by SCh in the neuromuscular blockade. 2. The SCh concentrations required to depress the indirect twitch response by 20% and the evoked endplate potential in cut muscle preparations by 80% were 10 microm and 6 microM, respectively, while only 2 microM SCh was needed to induce maximal endplate depolarization from -80 mV to about -60 mV. 3. SCh blocked the neuromuscular transmission synergistically with either alpha-bungarotoxin or tubocurarine. There was an initial partial reversal of the neuromuscular inhibition caused by tubocurarine, but not that by alpha-bungarotoxin. 4. alpha-Bungarotoxin (0.025 microM) antagonized SCh (10 microM)-induced depolarization more effectively than it depressed miniature endplate potentials and the antagonism was insurmountable by increasing SCh concentration. By contrast, tubocurarine preferentially depressed miniature endplate potentials and antagonized SCh-depolarization competitively. 5. The above difference was attributed to the irreversible nature of alpha-bungarotoxin binding to acetylcholine receptors, to the slow diffusion of the toxin molecule into the synaptic cleft and thus to the more rapid binding with perijunctional receptors compared with junctional ones. 6. It is concluded that the sustained depolarization of the endplate by SCh results largely from an action on the perijunctional receptor in mice and, unlike cats, the neuromuscular block by SCh is not due to the depolarization per se but rather to a direct attenuation of endplate potential. PMID- 2611501 TI - Do phorbol myristate and phorbol dibutyrate enhance noradrenaline release by the same mechanisms? PMID- 2611500 TI - Proceedings of the British Pharmacological Society. University of Manchester, 13 15 September 1989. PMID- 2611502 TI - Variation in estimates of selectivity at muscarinic receptors in guinea-pig ileum and atria. PMID- 2611503 TI - Muscarinic agonists and guinea-pig perfused tracheal tubes: effects of epithelial removal and route of administration. Smooth Muscle Research Group. PMID- 2611504 TI - Sensory nerve depletion potentiates non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves in guinea-pig trachea. PMID- 2611505 TI - Modulation of rat gastric blood flow during PAF challenge by opiate-sensitive afferent neurones. PMID- 2611506 TI - Epithelium removal increases airway smooth muscle sensitivity to vasoactive intestinal peptide: effects of peptidase inhibitors. PMID- 2611507 TI - Effect of a bradykinin B2 antagonist on responses of intact and rubbed guinea-pig trachea in vitro. PMID- 2611508 TI - Characterization of stereospecific binding sites for [3H]-inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate in airway smooth muscle. PMID- 2611509 TI - Mechanical responses to inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate in permeabilised strips of guinea-pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle. Smooth Muscle Research Group. PMID- 2611510 TI - Characterisation of the intracellular calcium response to vasopressin in A7r5 smooth muscle cells. PMID- 2611511 TI - ADP-beta-F is not a selective P2y-receptor agonist in rabbit jugular vein. PMID- 2611512 TI - Comparison of P2 receptors of aortic endothelial cells with those of adrenal medulla non-chromaffin cells. PMID- 2611513 TI - Relaxant potencies of prostaglandin E analogues on rabbit jugular vein. PMID- 2611514 TI - Pharmacological effects of haem biosynthetic intermediates: actions of delta aminolaevulinic acid in the rat jejunum. PMID- 2611515 TI - Further characterisation of the 5-HT receptor mediating smooth muscle relaxation in rat oesophagus. PMID- 2611516 TI - Atypical 5-HT receptors in guinea-pig isolated ileum. PMID- 2611517 TI - Bronchodilator and tracheal relaxant effects of potassium channel openers in the guinea-pig. PMID- 2611518 TI - Evaluation of inhaled cromakalim and its active enantiomer BRL 38277 as bronchodilators in the guinea-pig. PMID- 2611519 TI - 5-HT1A receptors mediate a hyperpolarisation of rat ventromedial hypothalamic neurones in vitro. PMID- 2611520 TI - Evidence that the reflex vagal bradycardia caused by i.v. phenyl biguanide is mediated by central 5-HT1A receptors. PMID- 2611521 TI - Behavioural indices of the interaction of clozapine with D1 and D2 dopamine receptors. PMID- 2611522 TI - D1 or D2 receptor-induced purposeless chewing in rats is differentially modulated by cholinergic drugs. PMID- 2611523 TI - Fluctuations in response to L-dopa in Parkinson's disease may be explained by changes in striatal dopamine turnover. PMID- 2611524 TI - Cortical muscarinic receptors in demented patients with Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. PMID- 2611525 TI - Extracellular amino acid levels in the globus pallidus of the conscious primate studied by intracerebral microdialysis. PMID- 2611526 TI - Preclinical studies on L-671,152, a topically effective ocular hypotensive carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. PMID- 2611527 TI - The effect of cromakalim on kidney function in the anaesthetised rat. PMID- 2611528 TI - The natriuretic and diuretic efficacy of atriopeptidase inhibitors following intravenous and oral administration. PMID- 2611529 TI - The effects of UK-79,300, an orally-absorbed atriopeptidase inhibitor, in a conscious dog model of cardiac insufficiency. PMID- 2611530 TI - The natriuretic and diuretic responses to the atriopeptidase inhibitor UK-69,578 in volume expanded rats. PMID- 2611531 TI - Electron transport and protection of liver slices in the late stage of paracetamol injury of the liver. PMID- 2611532 TI - Bradykinin activation of primary afferent terminals in the neonate rat spinal cord in vitro. PMID- 2611533 TI - Actions of sulfonylureas on neurones of rat ventromedial hypothalamus in vitro. PMID- 2611534 TI - Pravadoline and aminoalkylindole (AAI) analogues: actions which suggest a receptor interaction. PMID- 2611535 TI - The 2-chloroadenosine inhibition of histamine-induced inositol phosphates accumulation in mouse brain and calcium ions. PMID- 2611536 TI - Chronic lithium treatment enhances inositol polyphosphate formation in mouse brain in vivo. PMID- 2611537 TI - The effects of calcium channel antagonists in an in vitro cortical slice model of epilepsy. PMID- 2611538 TI - Comparison of GR32191, R68070 and CV-4151 upon U-46619- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in vitro and ex vivo. PMID- 2611539 TI - Characterisation of platelet-activating factor-induced diacylglycerol generation in rabbit platelets. PMID- 2611540 TI - Translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) in stimulated platelets: a role for aggregation in PKC degradation. PMID- 2611541 TI - The Guy's/Age Concern survey. Prevalence rates of cognitive impairment, depression and anxiety in an urban elderly community. AB - A sample of 890 people aged 65 years and over living at home in the Lewisham and North Southwark Health District was interviewed using a structured schedule containing CARE organic brain syndrome and depression scales, and items dealing with anxiety symptoms. Total prevalence rates were 4.6% for cognitive impairment, 13.5% for depression, 3.7% for generalised anxiety, and 10.0% for phobic disorders. Cognitive impairment increased exponentially with age, and was associated with lower occupational class. There was no significant association between occupational class and depression, generalised anxiety, or phobic disorder in this sample. Cognitive impairment, depression and agoraphobia were associated with significantly higher levels of dependency in the tasks of daily living. PMID- 2611542 TI - Depression before and after age 65. A re-examination. AB - Systematic and detailed psychopathological examination of 400 consecutive primary major depressives failed to confirm common clinical stereotypes which ascribe greater somatisation, hypochondriasis, agitation, psychotic tendencies, and chronicity to old age. Those above 65 were more likely to suffer from single episodes of depression that were often precipitated, whereas subjects whose illness began earlier were more likely to express depression as part of a recurrent unipolar or bipolar disorder, with higher rates of affective temperamental pathology and familial affective illness. The acute clinical picture was relatively uniform in older and younger depressives and, taken together with the other findings, tends to favour a spectrum model of primary mood disorders. PMID- 2611543 TI - Socio-cultural parameters in Yoruba Nigerian patients with affective disorders. AB - One hundred and ten consecutive new patients presenting with major affective disorders were divided into five categories according to pattern of presentation: recurrent manic disorder, recurrent depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, single episodes of manic disorder, and single episodes of major depressive disorder. Manic patients predominated, and recurrent manic disorder was much more frequent than either recurrent depressive or bipolar disorder. The manic and bipolar patients were younger. Females predominated in all five groups of patients. The two manic groups were less likely to be married, but this was probably a reflection of their younger age. No differences were demonstrated with regard to educational status or occupation. There were no significant differences with regard to sibship position, family size, or polygamous/monogamous parents. Manic patients were more likely to have suffered permanent separation from one or both parents before the age of 12 years. A relatively low proportion of the patients had a positive history of mental disorder among first- or second-degree relatives. Manic and bipolar patients tended to present in hospital relatively early in their illness. PMID- 2611544 TI - A study of the effects of desipramine treatment alone and in combination with L triiodothyronine on 6-sulphatoxymelatonin excretion in depressed patients. AB - Urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (alpha MT6s) excretion was measured after one day and one, two and three weeks of desipramine treatment in eight depressed patients. There was significant increase in the urinary excretion of alpha MT6s after one week of treatment, and at no time was there any decrease in alpha MT6s excretion. These findings are opposed to the hypothesis that desipramine reduces noradrenergic neurotransmission in the human pineal. In a further five patients whose depression was resistant to desipramine alone, urinary alpha MT6s excretion was measured during treatment with adjunctive L-triiodothyronine (T3). There was no change in alpha MT6s excretion, and thus the previously reported potentiation of the efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants in combination with T3 does not appear to be mediated through an alteration in noradrenergic neurotransmission. PMID- 2611545 TI - The Scottish survey of new chronic in-patients: five-year follow-up. AB - Patients aged 18-64 years, in hospital more than one but less than six years, were followed up five years after identification: 22% had died, 50% remained in patients, and 28% had been discharged; only 10% of first admissions with organic brain disease had left hospital. Of those discharged, 37% had no contact with after-care services. Of those remaining in hospital, 39% did not require in patient care. Patients' level of functioning had improved over the five years. PMID- 2611546 TI - The significance of stupor in the long-term outcome of chronic schizophrenia. AB - The admission records of 271 long-stay chronic schizophrenic patients, resident in a large psychiatric hospital, were examined in order to identify those who had presented in stupor at the onset of their illness. Twelve patients were found (ten men and two women). When compared, in terms of current mental state and behaviour, with a similar sample of schizophrenics in whom stupor had been absent, significant differences between the two groups were detected, with those presenting in stupor demonstrating a less favourable outcome. PMID- 2611547 TI - Maternity blues. I. Detection and measurement by questionnaire. AB - The studies reported had two purposes: (a) to identify psychological symptoms commonly experienced by mothers in the first few days after childbirth; (b) to use psychometric methods to develop a questionnaire for detecting and measuring these symptoms. A draft 49-item questionnaire was derived by asking 100 newly delivered mothers to volunteer suitable items. The number of items was systematically reduced to 28 while testing the questionnaire on two further samples of newly delivered mothers (n = 100 and n = 50). Cluster analysis of the 28 items yielded seven clusters, the robustness of which was established in a further sample of 87 newly delivered mothers. The validity of the 28-item questionnaire was established. The questionnaire was quick and easy to administer, suitable for repeated administration on consecutive days, and well accepted by mothers. PMID- 2611548 TI - Maternity blues. II. A comparison between post-operative women and post-natal women. AB - A new scale for the detection and assessment of maternity blues was completed by 56 women daily for ten days after elective gynaecological surgery. When their responses were compared with those of 87 post-natal women, they differed significantly in frequencies of different symptoms at different times. The findings suggest that post-natal mood changes ('maternity blues') are characteristic of the puerperium and not simply non-specific reactions to physical and emotional stress. PMID- 2611549 TI - Maternity blues. III. Associations with obstetric, psychological, and psychiatric factors. AB - One hundred and six women were assessed psychiatrically in the 14-16th and 36 38th weeks of pregnancy and the 12th week after childbirth. They also completed a maternity blues questionnaire daily in the ten days after delivery. Blues scores were significantly associated with: neuroticism; anxiety and depressed mood during pregnancy; fear of labour; poor social adjustment; and retrospective severity of pre-menstrual tension. Blues scores were not associated with obstetric factors, with previous history of psychiatric disorder, or with case status on the PSE in pregnancy or 12 weeks after delivery. PMID- 2611550 TI - Sexual anxiety in sexual dysfunction. AB - Sexual anxiety was examined in 98 patients presenting with sexual dysfunction and 68 of their partners at a psychosexual clinic using the SOMA questionnaire. All patients had raised values for heterosexual anxiety. Female partners had raised values while male partners did not. This provides further evidence for the role of heterosexual anxiety in the aetiology and treatment of sexual dysfunction. PMID- 2611551 TI - Measuring behaviour disorder in mental handicap. AB - By use of latent-trait item analysis (the Rasch model), the internal validity of the behaviour section of the MRC-HBS schedule was analysed. The set of behavioural symptoms in this rating scale was found to measure a one-dimensional structure. Thus addition of item scores provides a meaningful index. Such a numerical measure for the degree of behaviour disorder facilitates comparison between different patients or groups, and furthermore, forms the basis for quantitative description of the outcome of therapeutic intervention. A diagnosis of behaviour disorder was established in 17.2% of 302 mentally-handicapped adults. However, some kind of deviant behaviour was found in 41%, and was correlated with origin and degree of retardation, epilepsy, and place of living. The distribution of the symptoms strongly indicates that organic brain damage is a major aetiological cause. PMID- 2611552 TI - Violence by psychiatric in-patients. AB - A register of violence incidents showed a progressive increase in in-patient violence from 1976 to 1984, followed by a slight decline to 1987. The case notes of all 137 in-patients committing assaults during 1982 were analysed and compared with those of matched controls. Violence was often repetitive. The most common victims were nurses and then patients. The violent patients were more likely to be schizophrenic, deluded and hallucinated, and to have been repeatedly admitted. The violent and control groups had similar backgrounds, and both showed high levels of social isolation and unemployment. Violence tended to be repetitive, and the violent patients were usually identifiable from previous aggressive and disturbed behaviour. There was a high proportion of Afro-Caribbean patients who tended to be younger, more psychotic, and more seriously violent. Afro-Caribbeans were particularly likely to be detained compulsorily and treated in a locked ward. PMID- 2611553 TI - Hysteria, belief, and magic. PMID- 2611554 TI - Paedophilia: a cognitive/behavioural treatment approach in a single case. AB - Our confidence in being able to offer successful treatment of paedophilia remains low. A multifaceted cognitive/behavioural treatment approach is described in the hitherto successful treatment of a man with a 13-year history of sexually interfering with young children of both sexes. PMID- 2611555 TI - Musical hallucinations in a deaf elderly woman. AB - Musical hallucinations had caused an 86-year-old deaf woman to become anxious and depressed. She was admitted, and tranquilizing and hypnotic drugs afforded some slight improvement. The use of her hearing aid to increase ambient noise levels reduced the intensity of the hallucinations, and the patient improved. PMID- 2611556 TI - Social phobia secondary to pathological sweating. AB - An individual with agenesis of the corpus callosum associated with recurrent severe sweating and hypothermia developed a social phobia. Phobias may be adaptations to real and potentially dangerous physiological events. PMID- 2611557 TI - A family with Alzheimer's disease. AB - A family with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease in three siblings is described. The inheritance of Alzheimer's disease in this pedigree is consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance. PMID- 2611558 TI - Pericentric inversion chromosome 9 and personality disorder. AB - A case of pericentric inversion chromosome 9 with an associated personality disorder is reported. There is justification for a more widespread cytogenetic screening of psychiatric disorders of this type. PMID- 2611559 TI - Psychiatric features of adult GM2 gangliosidosis. AB - The report describes three unrelated Ashkenazi Jewish women with adult GM2 gangliosidosis in whom mental symptoms were prominent, mimicking different psychiatric disorders, and thus delaying accurate diagnosis. PMID- 2611560 TI - Adverse interaction between cimetidine and chlorpromazine in two cases of chronic schizophrenia. AB - The treatment of two chlorpromazine-medicated chronic schizophrenics with cimetidine resulted in excessive sedation, which necessitated a reduction in chlorpromazine dosage. Eventual discontinuation of cimetidine therapy led to a return of schizophrenic symptoms, which responded to an increase in chlorpromazine dosage to previous levels. PMID- 2611561 TI - Assessment of outcome. PMID- 2611562 TI - Toxicity of antidepressants. PMID- 2611563 TI - Toxicity of hospital water? PMID- 2611564 TI - Phobia and childhood parental loss. PMID- 2611565 TI - The damnation of benzodiazepines. PMID- 2611566 TI - Compulsory HIV testing in psychiatry. PMID- 2611567 TI - Delusions of pregnancy in men. PMID- 2611568 TI - Computerised tomography in schizophrenia. Familial versus non-familial forms of illness. AB - Findings on CT and demographical or clinical data in 80 patients with DSM-III schizophrenia and 45 medical controls were evaluated. Multiple-discriminant analysis showed that the enlargement of the third ventricle and frontal and parietal atrophy could significantly predict the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Widening of Sylvian fissures and parietal atrophy differentiated familial schizophrenics of both horizontal transmission (who had affected siblings) and vertical transmission (who had affected parents or/and offspring) from non familial patients. Parietal atrophy and a history of birth complications differentiated horizontal from vertical transmission. The CT findings together with some clinical characteristics could differentiate the three subgroups classified by the hereditary form; thus each of these subgroup may belong to a different disease entity, of a different pathophysiology. PMID- 2611569 TI - Prospects of rehabilitation for elderly schizophrenics. AB - The psychopathology and disabilities of a group of institutionalised elderly schizophrenics were compared with those of a group of non-schizophrenic elderly, and with younger schizophrenics reported in a parallel study and in the literature. Elderly schizophrenics showed significantly more psychopathology and disability than the non-schizophrenic elderly; however, they exhibited less psychopathology than younger schizophrenics. Disability among elderly schizophrenics was not correlated with chronicity of institutionalisation or psychopathology. There was a suggestion that disability among elderly schizophrenics may be due to organic deterioration. PMID- 2611570 TI - Disturbed endocrine function in the psychoses. I: Disordered homeostasis or disease process? AB - Plasma concentrations of prolactin, growth hormone, cortisol, TSH, and the neurophysins were measured over 17 hours in 98 newly admitted psychiatric patients and 35 control subjects. Seventy patients had been free of psychotropic medication for three months. Patients with schizoaffective mania (SAM) differed significantly from control subjects by increased plasma cortisol concentrations and decreased night-time TSH concentrations. The latter were also significantly lower than in both schizophrenic and manic disorder patients. Plasma cortisol was increased to a lesser extent in other psychotic subgroups, and increases in prolactin were most marked in the affective psychoses. There was little diagnostic specificity for psychoses other than SAM. Higher cortisol and prolactin levels may be due to the stimulatory effect of serotonergic pathways, but the neural mechanisms underlying lower night-time TSH levels in SAM are not known. The findings are not consistent with the view (a) that the hormonal changes of the psychoses simply reflect a non-specific response to stress, or (b) that the biological abnormalities of the psychoses can be accounted for by a single continuum of disturbance. PMID- 2611571 TI - Disturbed endocrine function in the psychoses. II: Discriminant function analysis of multihormone data. AB - Discriminant function analyses were performed on plasma concentrations of prolactin, growth hormone, cortisol, TSH, and the neurophysins measured over 17 hours in 70 newly admitted drug-free psychiatric patients and 35 control subjects. The hormone data distinguished between patients with different classes of drug-free psychosis (26 schizophrenic, 12 with manic disorder, 10 with major depressive disorder, psychotic subtype, 9 with schizoaffective mania (SAM]. Higher plasma cortisol and lower TSH concentrations separated eight of nine SAM patients from all others. PMID- 2611572 TI - Prodromes of depression and anxiety. The Stirling County study. AB - A longitudinal investigation of psychiatric epidemiology in a general population (the Stirling County study) has indicated that the incidence of depression and anxiety disorders is low relative to prevalence, because these disorders have long durations. In an average year approximately nine adults among 1,000 experience a first-ever episode of one of these disorders. Incident cases over the course of a 16-year follow-up were more likely to have had premonitory symptoms than to have been asymptomatic at the beginning of the study. Among the relatively small number of people who exhibited the clearest prodromal manifestations, incidence was 20 per 1,000 annually. It might be possible to intervene before such disorders become fully formed and persistent if the precursors are given attention. PMID- 2611573 TI - Role of modelling in in-patient suicide: a lack of supporting evidence. AB - An analysis of the temporal distribution of 115 in-patient suicides that occurred in two Swiss psychiatric hospitals in the years 1977-86 failed to reveal any statistically significant clustering of suicides. Thus, the modelling effect does not generally play a decisive role in psychiatric in-patient suicide. PMID- 2611574 TI - Abnormal eating attitudes in young insulin-dependent diabetics. AB - All insulin-dependent diabetics between the ages of 16 and 25 years attending the diabetic clinic at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, (152 women and 139 men) were asked to complete the EAT, the EDI, and the GHQ, and to provide a control subject (sibling or close friend) of similar age who would do likewise. Marked differences were found between diabetic women (but not men) and their controls in eating attitudes, in many of the psychological characteristics associated with eating disorders, and in GHQ scores. Although some of the women had classic anorexia nervosa or bulimia, others with abnormal eating attitudes did not fulfil the formal criteria. Overall, diabetics were significantly heavier than controls but the differences in eating attitudes were not eliminated by correcting for overweight. Abnormal scores were associated with high HbA1 levels and independently with retinopathy. The weight gain and psychological effects of diabetes are identified as probably of aetiological importance in the abnormal eating attitudes of young diabetic women. PMID- 2611575 TI - Clinical and therapeutic monitoring of epilepsy in a mental handicap unit. AB - Within a group of hospitals for the mentally handicapped serving the Leicestershire district, a cohort of 215 epileptic patients was identified, who were followed up for four years. The anticonvulsant medication of each patient was reviewed regularly until an optimal balance between seizure control, absence of medication side-effects, and reduction of polypharmacy was attained. After four years 172 patients remained in the study. A significant reduction in polypharmacy was attained overall. Some groups of patients showed a significant reduction in the frequency of seizures, while a small group of patients with frequent seizures remained difficult to control. PMID- 2611576 TI - Perceived parental rearing styles of agoraphobic and socially phobic in-patients. AB - The perceived parental rearing practices and attitudes of agoraphobics, social phobics and non-patient normal controls were investigated, employing the EMBU, an inventory for assessing memories of upbringing. Findings obtained previously with out-patients were replicated with in-patients as subjects. Compared with the controls, agoraphobics rated both their parents as having been less emotionally warm but only their mothers as having been rejective. Socially phobic in-patients rated both their parents as having been rejective, as having lacked emotional warmth, and as having been over-protective. Comparisons between agoraphobics and social phobics showed differences in certain aspects of parental rearing, with the socially phobic in-patients assigning ratings more negatively than the agoraphobic group. PMID- 2611577 TI - The evaluation of psychiatric illness in Asian patients by the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. AB - Twenty Asian psychiatric patients suffering from neurotic illness completed the Urdu version of the HAD Scale. The results were compared with the Clinical Interview Schedule. Somatic symptoms were significantly related to various measures of anxiety but not to those of depression. This finding contradicts the previously held view of linking somatic symptoms with the presentation of depression. PMID- 2611578 TI - Familial association of albinism and schizophrenia. AB - Of three siblings in a family, one brother and one sister have both tyrosinase negative oculocutaneous albinism and a psychotic disorder indistinguishable from schizophrenia. The two disorders may associate within families through genetic linkage or a failure of neurotransmitter homoeostasis. PMID- 2611579 TI - Erotomania in a Saudi woman. AB - A case of de Clerambault syndrome, secondary to paranoid schizophrenia, in a Saudi woman is documented. Cultural factors were found ineffective in modifying or preventing symptoms. Erotomania appeared to arise from the same dynamics as those of the Western patients and to follow the same pattern. PMID- 2611580 TI - Successful treatment of chronic delusional parasitosis. AB - A case of delusional parasitosis is presented in which a patient with classic symptoms of six years' duration responded to pimozide. Similarly chronic cases may be responsive to pimozide. PMID- 2611581 TI - Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presenting as schizophreniform psychosis. AB - A case of 21-year-old woman with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presenting with paranoid schizophreniform symptoms is presented. The relationship between viral encephalitis and psychiatric symptoms is briefly considered. PMID- 2611582 TI - Neurosyphilis presenting as psychiatric disorders. AB - The authors present two patients with neurosyphilis who presented with psychiatric disorders and who both benefited from penicillin therapy. Increases in such cases may be expected. PMID- 2611583 TI - Neuroleptic malignant syndrome with trifluperidol. AB - In a case of NMS subsequent to administration of trifluperidol to a young man, the patient responded remarkably quickly to bromocriptine. The authors point out the deficiencies in the diagnostic criteria, which need further refinement for a better understanding of the syndrome. PMID- 2611584 TI - Molecular genetics of alcoholism. PMID- 2611585 TI - Multiple personality disorder. PMID- 2611586 TI - CPK levels and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. PMID- 2611587 TI - Distress caused by miscarriage. PMID- 2611588 TI - Psychiatric despotism? PMID- 2611589 TI - Anorexia nervosa and Chinese food. PMID- 2611590 TI - Benign intracranial hypertension and repeated self-mutilation. PMID- 2611591 TI - Pre-morbid psychopathology in schizophrenia spectrum. AB - In a prospective, longitudinal study of high-risk offspring of schizophrenic mothers, of several dimensions of pre-morbid behaviour 'peculiarity' predicted subsequent schizophrenia or schizotypy. Peculiarity/eccentricity may represent a subtle marker of the schizophrenic genotype. 'Pre-schizophrenics', as compared with 'pre-schizotypes', were characterised by affective dyscontrol, reflected in less introverted and more disturbed behaviour. PMID- 2611592 TI - Patterns of psychotropic drug use in a Spanish rural community. AB - Psychotropic drug use was investigated using a two-stage survey of a random sample of persons aged 17 and over from a rural Spanish community. It was found that 6.9%, 11.8% and 25.1% of the population were consuming psychotropic, analgesic and somatic medicines respectively. Women presented a higher rate of psychotropic use than men (prevalence for women 10.7%, for men 2.6%). This female predominance was found to be significantly related to sociodemographic and medical factors. Psychotropic use was also associated with the physical health of the respondent. The coexistence of physical and mental illness generated an increase of consumption, whereas the absence of both types of illness was associated with a very low rate. The rates for physical and for mental illness alone were intermediate and were almost equal. PMID- 2611593 TI - Anorexia nervosa in a Swedish urban region. A population-based study. AB - The total population of 15-year-olds in Goteborg, Sweden, were screened in 1985 for anorexia nervosa using brief questionnaires, growth charts and individual school nurse reports. An accumulated frequency of anorexia of 0.84% for girls up to and including 15 years of age was obtained, with 85% of the cases fulfilling DSM-III-R criteria. Boys were affected just over one-tenth as often as girls. The frequency of anorexia nervosa appeared to be much higher in private than in comprehensive schools. The peak age of onset seemed to be 14 years. PMID- 2611594 TI - Prevalence of childhood and adolescent depression in the community. Ontario Child Health Study. AB - Data from a cross-sectional community survey of 2852 children were used to provide estimates of the prevalence of a 'DSM-III-like' major depressive syndrome in children aged 6 to 16. The severity of symptoms required to define a 'case' was varied to generate three levels of diagnostic certainty (DC). The overall estimates of prevalence made with high DC were 0.6% for pre-adolescents and 1.8% for adolescents. Corresponding rates determined with medium DC were 2.7% and 7.8%, whereas the figures for low DC were 17.5% and 43.9%. Utilisation of mental health and social services, comorbidity (combined disorders), poor school performance, problems in getting along with others and need for professional help all increased as diagnostic certainty increased. There was wide disagreement in data supplied by the different groups of respondents, i.e. parents, teachers and adolescents. PMID- 2611595 TI - Season of birth and childhood psychosis. AB - This paper reports a test of the hypothesis that winter birth is a risk factor for childhood psychosis. All psychotic children (n = 208) admitted to a day treatment facility in Paris from 1960 through to 1986 were compared with 1040 controls matched by sex and year of birth. Risk ratio estimates were computed for each month, and a significant increase was observed for boys born in December. This association was stronger in some years than in others. The fact that there were no excesses in contiguous months detracts from the persuasiveness of this association. PMID- 2611596 TI - Season of birth in Alzheimer's disease. AB - Variation in quarter of birth was examined in patients with a clinical diagnosis of AD. There was a significant excess of first-quarter births among AD patients as compared with the expected birth rates derived from an age-matched census sample. This finding was due entirely to the significant excess of first-quarter births in AD patients without a family history of dementia. No seasonal variation was found in the birth dates of other clinical groups. PMID- 2611597 TI - A comparison of early-onset and late-onset depressive illness in the elderly. AB - Elderly patients with early-onset and late-onset depressive illness presenting to psychiatrists for treatment were compared for social, demographic, and clinical measures. For most factors measured no statistically significant differences were found. In the early-onset cases, patients were significantly more severely depressed. There was some evidence for the hypotheses that family history is less important and biological factors more important in late-onset depression. It is suggested that the latter hypothesis should be tested by a range of the newer neuroanatomical and neurophysiological laboratory investigations. The findings indicate that neuroticism is an important underlying factor in both early-onset and late-onset depression in the elderly. PMID- 2611598 TI - Platelet monoamine oxidase activity and 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake in agoraphobic patients. AB - Platelet MAO activity and platelet serotonin uptake were determined in 20 agoraphobic and 16 neurotic depressive out-patients, and 19 healthy volunteers. Agoraphobic patients were characterised by significantly higher mean values of platelet MAO activity compared with the other two groups, while neurotic depressive patients exhibited significantly higher maximum platelet serotonin uptake velocity. These findings are compatible with an abnormality in the uptake and metabolism of serotonin. PMID- 2611599 TI - The classification of psychiatric morbidity in attenders at a dermatology clinic. AB - Of a random sample of new attenders at a dermatology out-patient clinic, 40% were classified as suffering from a psychiatric disorder. There was no correlation between psychiatric morbidity and the severity or site of skin disease. Self report measures of the behavioural impact of skin disease and attitudes to appearance were related to psychological morbidity. Except in subjects without visible skin pathology (5%) there was no evidence that psychiatric illness was an aetiological factor in the development of skin disease. Self-report measures were used to distinguish between those patients in whom psychiatric morbidity was closely related to skin disease (75%), and those in whom it may be coincidental (20%). Psychological care for the former group is most appropriately provided by physicians, who should be encouraged to improve their detection and management of psychiatric morbidity. PMID- 2611600 TI - Pervasive developmental disorders and psychoses in adult life. AB - Of five patients with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs), four developed psychotic illnesses in adult life. The other was treated with antipsychotic medication for many years following a mistaken diagnosis of schizophrenia. PMID- 2611601 TI - Is your 'double-blind' design truly double-blind? PMID- 2611602 TI - Abnormal involuntary movements. AB - The differential diagnosis of an athetoid arm movement in a 54-year-old lady with a psychiatric history of affective disorder was discussed. Further investigations after the conference yielded a firm diagnosis that unified both physical and mental symptoms. PMID- 2611603 TI - Fractured femurs in the mentally handicapped. PMID- 2611604 TI - US visas and 'insanity'. PMID- 2611605 TI - Pimozide in pathological jealousy. PMID- 2611606 TI - Syphilis screening. PMID- 2611607 TI - Nicotine and dementia. PMID- 2611608 TI - Physical morbidity of psychiatric patients. PMID- 2611609 TI - Remission of psychotic symptoms after burn injury. PMID- 2611610 TI - The role of causal sequence in the meaning of actions. AB - Single actions, taken out of context, typically have numerous meanings. Yet, when we observe such actions as part of a sequence of behaviour, we are often unaware of this multiplicity of possible meanings. In this article, we argue that the specific meaning of an action is the result of a process in which people, by making appropriate inferences, relate the actions in a sequence to each other and construct a coherent scenario from them. One implication of this position is that the meaning of actions should be extremely sensitive to the order in which they occur, since order affects which knowledge structures are currently active and is an important clue to the causal and means-end relations among actions. In fact, meaning should be so sensitive to order that it should be possible to construct sets of actions, such that merely by changing the order, the same set of actions could have two radically different meanings. Five sets of such actions were designed. Subjects read one of the two orders for each set of actions and then answered a number of open-ended questions about them. Subjects receiving different orders identified different causes and reasons for the actions, made different predictions about what would happen next, and came to different conclusions about the identities of actors and and objects in the sequences, thus indicating that they had constructed very different meanings for the same actions. PMID- 2611611 TI - Children's reactions to transgressions: effects of the actor's apology, reputation and remorse. AB - This experiment examined children's reactions to a transgression in which one child's property was damaged by another who (a) had a reputation as a good or bad child, (b) apologized or did not, and (c) later expressed remorse when talking about the incident or was happy and unremorseful. As expected, actors who had a good reputation or were remorseful were seen as more likable, as having better motives, as doing the damage unintentionally, as more sorry and as less blameworthy. Further, actors who were good and remorseful were punished least, suggesting that punishment was applied in a rehabilitative fashion. The actor's reputation determined how his or her actions were interpreted: bad actors were seen as more worried about punishment when they expressed remorse and older children thought they apoligized merely to avoid punishment. Interestingly, apologies were effective in reducing punishment and making the actor seem more likable, and this was true irrespective of the other factors. The apology forgiveness script may be such an ingrained aspect of social life that its appearance automatically improves the actor's position. The reactions of second and fifth graders were generally similar, although the younger children displayed less coherent relationships between judgements. PMID- 2611612 TI - Risk factors for urinary calcium oxalate crystals as revealed by their specific enzymatic assay. AB - Calcium oxalate crystal concentrations were assayed by a new highly specific enzymatic method in 1200 urine samples from normal subjects and stone formers. Examination of the crystals was also carried out by light microscopy and urines were analysed for oxalate, calcium, magnesium, citrate, urate, pH and osmolality. A striking positive correlation was established between urinary oxalate concentration and calcium oxalate crystal concentration as well as incidence of calcium oxalate crystals and aggregates seen by microscopy. A less striking relationship, also supported by light microscopy, was found between calcium oxalate crystal concentration and urinary calcium concentration. A small rise in calcium oxalate crystalluria was seen with increasing osmolality, but no relationship found between concentration or urinary urate, citrate or magnesium and that of calcium oxalate crystals. Higher levels of calcium oxalate crystal concentration appeared in alkaline urines in association with calcium phosphates. The dominance of urinary oxalate as a risk factor for calcium oxalate crystalluria is confirmed. PMID- 2611613 TI - Measurement of calcium phosphate crystalluria: influence of pH and osmolality and invariable presence of oxalate. AB - Calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate urinary crystal concentrations in normal and stone-forming subjects were measured. The urinary crystals were examined by light microscopy and urine samples were analysed for oxalate, pH and osmolality. Calcium phosphate crystal concentrations were clearly related to urine pH but unrelated to urine osmolality. An unexpected finding was co-precipitation of oxalate with calcium phosphate. Consequently, precipitated invariable oxalate increased with rising urinary pH. Possible explanations and implications are discussed. PMID- 2611614 TI - Possible role of Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein in calcium oxalate crystallisation. AB - The role of Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THGP) in the crystallisation of calcium oxalate was investigated. The results showed THGP to have a weak inhibitory effect on crystal growth. In contrast, urinary macromolecules showed a strong inhibitory effect. THGP should, therefore, not be considered the main component of urinary macromolecules which have a strong inhibitory effect on crystal growth. However, THGP did enhance crystal production in the early phase of crystallisation. It appears that THGP should be viewed as a promoter rather than an inhibitor of calcium oxalate crystallisation at physiological concentrations. PMID- 2611615 TI - Recombinant interferon-alpha with or without vinblastine in metastatic renal carcinoma. Results of a randomised phase II study. AB - In a randomised phase II study, 5 of 24 patients with metastatic renal carcinoma responded to treatment with interferon (IFN) (Roferon A, Roche, Basle, Switzerland) (18 x 10(6) u i.m. 3 times/week). The combination of IFN with vinblastine (0.1 mg/kg every third week) yielded a response rate of 16% (4 of 25 patients). Three patients continue to show a response (2 complete, 1 partial) more than 20 months after cessation of treatment. Flu-like symptoms represented the major side effect and often led to modification or discontinuation of treatment. It was concluded that IFN is the treatment of choice in patients with metastatic renal carcinoma who are candidates for medical treatment. The significance of additional vinblastine is uncertain. PMID- 2611616 TI - The fine structure of human pseudomembranous trigonitis. AB - The present investigation provides a histological and fine structural description of pseudomembranous trigonitis, an ill-understood metaplastic condition affecting particularly the female trigone. Normal trigonal urothelium consists of 3 cell layers (basal, intermediate and superficial), whereas pseudomembranous trigonitis constitutes many layers of stratified squamous epithelium. The basal cells contain prominent nuclei with condensed chromatin, nucleoli and nuclear bodies. The cytoplasm of these cells is rich in mitochondria. The profiles of the urothelial cells become progressively elongated, their nuclei increasingly smaller and their content of cell organelles gradually reduced as the luminal surface is approached. The squamous surface cells, linked by desmosomes, retain many longitudinally arranged fine filaments, together with an occasional degenerate nucleus. The mitotic index of pseudomembranous trigonitis is 0.17% (SD 0.09%), i.e. significantly higher than normal (0%). PMID- 2611617 TI - Is the treatment of urgency incontinence a placebo response? Results of a five year follow-up. AB - The treatment and symptomatic outcome were reviewed in 50 women who had presented with urgency incontinence as their main symptom 5 years previously. All had idiopathic urgency incontinence and, on the basis of urodynamic investigation, 40 were considered to have detrusor instability and 10 sensory urge incontinence. The results indicate that the natural history of sensory urgency is one of spontaneous resolution; all treatments of detrusor instability (including surgery) produced an unsustained short-term symptomatic response. This pattern of response to therapy may be interpreted as being largely of a placebo nature and this emphasises the need for long-term follow-up in the assessment of new treatment modalities. PMID- 2611618 TI - Comparison of Stamey and Pereyra-Raz bladder neck suspensions. AB - Endoscopic bladder neck suspension has become one of the more popular methods of surgical treatment of stress incontinence. The Pereyra technique was first described in 1959 and modified by Raz in 1981. Stamey first described his technique in 1973 and this has been modified in a number of ways. The reported cure rates are 54 to 94% for the Pereyra-Raz procedure and 61 to 92% for the Stamey procedure. We present a comparative review of the technical results of treatment of 30 patients with a modified Stamey procedure and 17 patients with a modified Pereyra-Raz technique. The age range of the 2 groups was comparable. A successful result, with either complete continence or only minor occasional leaks after surgery, was achieved in 80% with the Stamey techniques and 76% with the Pereyra technique. Those patients not helped by the procedure had nearly all undergone previous surgery for incontinence. The Pereyra technique was used more frequently in patients who had failed previous incontinence surgery (including the Stamey technique). Complications were minor; 5 buffer infections occurred (3 buffers were removed). Both techniques offer a significant improvement in continence, but previous surgery is associated with a higher failure rate. PMID- 2611619 TI - Bile acid malabsorption: a complication of conduit surgery. AB - We examined the possibility that use of a section of the terminal ileum for ileal conduit construction may impair bile acid absorption and cause choloretic diarrhoea. Nineteen normal subjects (mean age 41 years) and 16 patients with conduits (mean age 47 years) were investigated using the SeHCAT retention test. Conduit patients showed significant impairment of SeHCAT retention compared with normal subjects; 82% of patients had a retention below the lower limit of normal. The mean bowel frequency of patients during the test was 3 motions/day this being significantly different from their pre-operative bowel habit. It was concluded that the use of the terminal ileum in conduit construction may impair bile acid absorption, as measured by the SeHCAT retention test, and may cause an increase in bowel frequency. PMID- 2611620 TI - Assessment of the malignant potential of cystoplasty. AB - The study group comprised 34 patients with either an ileal augmentation cystoplasty or a colonic substitution cystoplasty. The histological appearance of the intestinal segment, suture line, bladder remnant and bacterial colonisation of the urine and urinary nitrosamine levels were recorded. There was a high incidence of histological abnormalities, the more significant of which correlated with heavy mixed bacterial growth on urine culture and with high levels of urinary N-nitrosamines. This group of compounds is thought to act as carcinogens in both bladder and bowel under certain circumstances. It was concluded that patients undergoing lower urinary tract reconstruction using intestinal segments should be considered at risk of developing malignant change either in the intestinal segment or in the bladder remnant. Close long-term follow-up of these patients is essential. PMID- 2611621 TI - Acid phosphatase levels in serum during transurethral prostatectomy. AB - Serum prostatic acid phosphatase (S-PAP), serum electrolytes, blood loss and volume of irrigating fluid absorbed were measured during 10-min periods in the course of 35 transurethral prostatic resections. Elevation of the S-PAP concentration occurred in association with a large blood loss, with absorption of irrigant followed immediately by hyponatraemia, and with a sudden drop in systolic blood pressure. The volume of blood lost during irrigant absorption was the most important index of the S-PAP level. A model for the transfer of PAP to the circulation during TURP is presented. PMID- 2611622 TI - Hot flushes are induced by thermogenic stimuli. AB - Hot flushes were caused by hot drinks, alcohol, radiant heaters and thermal blankets in men undergoing treatment for carcinoma of the prostate and in menopausal women. Avoiding or changing these commonplace stimuli appears to reduce the frequency of flushing. PMID- 2611623 TI - Early post-operative morbidity of total prostatectomy. AB - Complications were analysed in a contemporary series of 100 total prostatectomies performed, for carcinoma of the prostate, under the supervision of one surgeon. There were 7 major complications including 1 death. No patient had a rectal injury. Minor complications occurred in 33 patients. Severe stress incontinence persisted in only 2 patients and 12 had minor stress incontinence. Of 38 patients potent before surgery and in whom it was possible to preserve both "neurovascular bundles of Walsh", 45% retained post-operative potency. Preservation of potency was related to the pathological extent of the tumour. It was concluded that in selected patients, total retropubic prostatectomy can be performed safely with good quality of post-operative life. PMID- 2611624 TI - Sperm density measurement: should this be abandoned? AB - Sperm density measurement by means of the Makler chamber was performed on a single semen specimen from 2 groups: 104 proven fertile men and 53 infertile men; 11.5% of the fertile population had a sperm density less than 20 million/ml (median 84, mean 91.3, SD 60.5) and 33% of the infertile population had a sperm density greater than 20 million/ml (median 10, mean 26.9, SD 34.8). There was a statistically significant difference in median between the 2 groups, but when a discriminant analysis was applied, sperm density could predict fertile status with only 68% accuracy at optimum cut-off. Sperm density is valueless in distinguishing fertile from infertile men and is neither useful in diagnosis nor in monitoring the progress of treatment for male infertility. It should be abandoned as a quotable measurement of male fertility. PMID- 2611625 TI - Is routine pre-treatment cryopreservation of semen worthwhile in the management of patients with testicular cancer? AB - Post-treatment fertility was evaluated in 147 patients with testicular cancer, All had pre-treatment sperm cell analysis following orchiectomy during the years 1979 to 1987. For only 17 patients was the question of future fertility of no importance. Pre-treatment semen cryopreservation was requested by 91 patients, but poor semen parameters made this procedure impossible in 38. Of 99 evaluable patients, 44 had a post-treatment sperm count greater than or equal to 10 x 10(6)/ml and 22 of these fathered a child after treatment. Post-treatment fertility was observed to the same degree in patients who had pre-treatment semen cryopreservation as in those in whom this procedure could not be performed. Four of 53 patients used their deep-frozen semen but only 1 pregnancy resulted. The intensity of treatment, especially the extent of retroperitoneal surgery, had a significant effect on post-treatment fertility in the individual patient. Pre treatment cryopreservation of semen may be psychologically useful in patients with newly diagnosed testicular cancer, but its clinical significance is doubtful. PMID- 2611626 TI - Chemotherapy of advanced seminoma: clinical significance of radiological findings before and after treatment. AB - The predictive significance of the mass detected following chemotherapy was assessed in 46 patients with advanced seminoma. Patients with residual viable seminoma in the post-chemotherapy operation specimen or who developed recurrent disease were regarded as chemotherapy failures. This group included 1 of 20 patients in whom the retroperitoneal masses were less than or equal to 10 cm2 3 to 4 weeks after chemotherapy and 4 of 15 patients whose residual masses were greater than 10 cm2. Four of 11 patients with mediastinal tumours achieved a complete remission (mediastinal masses less than or equal to 1 cm2). However, 2 of these 4 patients relapsed, as did 2 of the 4 who achieved a partial remission. In no case was the original size of the tumour significantly related to treatment failure. Three patients had residual lung masses; 1 of these contained histological evidence of viable tumour. In one-third of the irradiated relapse free patients, slightly enlarged masses were visible on follow-up computed tomography scans taken several years after treatment, even in patients without tumour activity. There is a 25% risk of relapse in patients with advanced seminoma who have retroperitoneal masses greater than 10 cm2 following cisplatin based chemotherapy. They should be followed up regularly for many years. PMID- 2611627 TI - Deep dorsal vein arterialisation in vascular impotence. AB - A series of 12 patients with vasculogenic impotence (4 arterial lesions; 8 arterial and venous lesions) underwent deep dorsal vein arterialisation after pre operative assessment by a multidisciplinary approach. Cumulative graft patency was 58% (7 of 12 patients) up to 21 months but only 4 patients developed almost normal erections. Digital angiography, with and without the intracavernous injection of papaverine, was performed during follow-up to determine the vascular physiological status. At flaccidity, the corpora cavernosa were never opacified in the absence of a venocorporeal shunt. The penile glans was always visualised. Opacification of the deep dorsal vein and the circumflex system decreased with penile rigidity, resulting from their compression between Buck's fascia and the tunica albuginea. Intracavernous pressure recorded before and after the surgical procedure showed a marked increase when a caverno-venous shunt was performed. Hypervascularisation of the glans occurred in 2 cases. The relevance of this new surgical technique and its functional mechanism are discussed. PMID- 2611628 TI - Nodular peri-orchitis. PMID- 2611629 TI - Polyorchidism, bilateral double testis and unilateral testicular torsion. PMID- 2611630 TI - Urogenital myiasis caused by scuttle fly larvae (Diptera: Phoridae). PMID- 2611631 TI - Pyrexia of unknown origin. An atypical presentation of bladder carcinoma. PMID- 2611632 TI - Pelviureteric junction obstruction secondary to renal pelvic incarceration in a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. PMID- 2611633 TI - Large scrotal haematoma treated with medicinal leeches. PMID- 2611634 TI - Giant urethral calculus. PMID- 2611635 TI - Submeatal injection of polytetrafluoroethylene paste for the endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteric reflux in adults. AB - The injection of submeatal Teflon paste is often used for the treatment of paediatric vesicoureteric reflux (VUR). We present our results using this treatment in 7 adults and 1 female child; 11 ureters were injected with a 73% success rate. The simplicity of the procedure and the encouraging results make this a desirable treatment for adult VUR. PMID- 2611636 TI - Anatomical study of the innervation pattern of the sonic muscle of the oyster toadfish. AB - The sonic muscle of the oyster toadfish Opsanus tau contracts in almost perfect synchrony along its rostrocaudal extent. We explored some of the anatomical mechanisms underlying this synchronization. Cleared and stained wholemounts demonstrate that axons innervating the rostral portion of the muscle run caudally in the main nerve trunk before branching in the rostral direction, thus increasing their path length and potentially equalizing conduction time to different parts of the muscle. Differential axon diameter is not clearly important for synchronization because the mean diameter of axons innervating the caudal portion is not larger than that of axons from the entire nerve as it enters the muscle. Restricted injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into different regions of the sonic muscle result in similar uniform distributions of labeled motor neurons throughout the ipsilateral sonic motor nucleus (SMN), indicating that the SMN and sonic muscle each form a single compartment. Although there is a tendency for fewer labeled neurons to occur in the rostral and caudal poles of the nucleus, HRP labeling provides no evidence of a somatotopic pattern. PMID- 2611637 TI - 2-Deoxyglucose uptake following visual stimulation in squamate reptiles. AB - Unilateral visual stimulation following 2-deoxyglucose injection was used to delineate functional visual pathways in red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) and whiptail lizards (Cnemidophorus inornatus and C. uniparens). Stimulation enhanced both overall uptake and particularly uptake in visual pathways contralateral to the side of stimulation. Bilaterally symmetrical uptake was observed in retinae, septum, nucleus sphericus, and brainstem nuclei. Overall uptake and lateralization of uptake were consistently greater in garter snakes than in whiptail lizards. PMID- 2611638 TI - The hippocampal complex of food-storing birds. AB - Three families of North American passerines--chickadees, nuthatches and jays- store food. Previous research has shown that memory for the spatial locations of caches is the principal mechanism of cache recovery. It has also been previously shown that the hippocampal complex (hippocampus and area parahippocampalis) plays an important role in memory for cache sites. The present study determined the volume of the hippocampal complex and the telencephalon in 3 food-storing families and in 10 non-food-storing families and subfamilies of passerines. The hippocampal complex is larger in food-storing birds than in non-food-storing birds. This difference is greater than expected from allometric relations among the hippocampal complex, telencephalon and body weight. Food-storing families are not more closely related to each other than they are to non-food-storing families and subfamilies, and the greater size of the hippocampal complex in food-storing birds is therefore the result of evolutionary convergence. Natural selection has led to a larger hippocampal complex in birds that rely on memory to recover spatially dispersed food caches. PMID- 2611639 TI - Evolution of motor patterns: aquatic feeding in salamanders and ray-finned fishes. AB - Patterns of muscle activity (motor patterns) have generally been found to be strongly conserved during the evolution of aquatic feeding behavior within closely related groups of fishes and salamanders. We conducted a test of the generality of motor pattern conservation with a much broader phylogenetic scope than has been done previously. Activity patterns of three cranial muscles were quantified from electromyographic (EMG) recordings made during suction feeding in a salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum) and 4 widely divergent species of ray-finned fishes (Amia calva, Notopterus chitala, Micropterus salmoides and Lepomis macrochirus). General features of the motor pattern were the same in all species, but multivariate and univariate analyses of variance revealed highly significant differences among the 5 species in the average muscle activity pattern, indicating that the motor pattern has not been precisely conserved among these 5 taxa. Five of eight EMG variables that describe the intensity and timing of muscle activity differed among species. Only the intensity of activity of the adductor mandibulae appears to be a strongly conserved feature of the suction feeding motor pattern in anamniotes. A discriminant function analysis of the 8 EMG variables successfully classified about two thirds of the feeding incidents as belonging to the correct species. In contrast to the results of previous studies of closely related taxa, we found that numerous quantitative differences exist among species, indicating that functionally significant details of suction feeding motor patterns have changed during evolution, whereas several general features of the pattern have been conserved. PMID- 2611640 TI - Distribution of acetylcholinesterase in the granular layer of the cerebellum of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). AB - A nonuniform distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was identified in the granular layer of the cerebellum in rhesus monkeys. The distribution of darkly AChE-stained clumps in the granular layer was determined for each lobule of the vermis and the lateral cortex. The vermis contained a greater density of AChE reaction product than the lateral cortex. In the vermis, lobules IX and X had significantly the highest level of activity, followed by lobules VII and VIII, which were significantly higher than lobules II-VI. In the lateral cortex, the flocculus had the highest level of the AChE activity, followed by crus I and the dorsal paraflocculus, which had significantly higher levels than the remaining lobules. The high levels of AChE activity in the flocculonodular lobe and lobule IX may correspond to cholinergic mossy fiber transmission, but the high levels of AChE activity in other cerebellar regions probably involve noncholinergic functions. The significance of the nonuniform AChE distribution is not yet known, but may correspond to regional differences in neuronal or metabolic activity in the cerebellum that occur in conjunction with specific behaviors. PMID- 2611641 TI - An allometric analysis of the frequency of hippocampal theta: the significance of brain metabolic rate. AB - The dominant frequency of hippocampal rhythmic slow activity (RSA) is known to differ among species, even under similar experimental conditions. The cause of these species differences has not yet been identified. In this paper it is shown that RSA frequency is allometrically related to brain size for the 9 mammalian species for which data are available. It is further shown that the relationship between brain size and RSA frequency is similar to the relationship between brain size and specific brain metabolic rate. Based on these and other relationships, it is suggested that differences in the firing frequencies of the neuronal pacemakers underlying the generation of RSA reflect differences in specific brain metabolic rate, both within and among species. PMID- 2611642 TI - Manatee cerebral cortex: cytoarchitecture of the frontal region in Trichechus manatus latirostris. AB - Members of the order Sirenia are unique among mammals in being the only totally aquatic herbivores. They display correspondingly specialized physiological, behavioral and anatomical features. There have been few reports concerning sirenian neuroanatomy, and most of these have consisted of gross anatomical observations. Our interest in Sirenia stems from the desire to understand neuroanatomical specializations in the context of behavior and the effort to elucidate trends in mammalian brain evolution. The architecture of frontal regions of cerebral cortex was investigated in several brains of the Florida manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris. Through observation of sections stained for Nissl substance or myelinated fibers, several distinct cortical areas were identified on the basis of laminar organization. These range from areas with poorly defined laminae to those having 6 well-defined layers, some of which exhibit sublayers. Two cortical areas exhibit pronounced cell clusters in layer VI, and these stain positively for acetylcholinesterase and cytochrome oxidase. We hypothesize that these clusters may be involved in perioral tactile bristle function. Certain of our findings are consistent with previous observations in the literature on the brains of dugongs. On the basis of their lamination patterns, these frontal cortical areas appear to be organized into concentric zones of allocortex, mesocortex and isocortex. PMID- 2611643 TI - Effects of cooling parietal cortex on prefrontal units in delay tasks. AB - The effects of cooling posterior parietal cortex (areas 5 and 7) on behavior and on the activity of prefrontal neurons were assessed in monkeys performing two visual discrimination tasks with delayed choice. In both tasks, the visual cue for each trial was displayed for 0.5 s by rear projection through colored filters on a central 2.5-cm translucid button. After a variable delay, the choice stimuli were presented on two lower stimulus-response buttons; to obtain a reward, the animal had to press the correct button in accord with the cue. In one task, a red or a green cue called for the choice of that color when the two colors appeared after the delay; in the other task, a yellow or blue cue called for the choice of, respectively, the right or the left of the two white-illuminated choice buttons. Prefrontal single-unit activity (sulcus principalis area) and eye movements were recorded during task performance while parietal areas were at normal or subnormal (6-20 degrees C) temperature. Two-thirds of the units investigated showed significant spontaneous firing changes, most commonly a decrease, as a result of bilateral parietal cooling. A similar proportion of units showed cooling-related changes, excitatory or inhibitory, of their firing activity during the task; such firing changes could occur in any trial-epoch. Parietal cooling also induced misreaching, slow and inaccurate ocular movements, and longer choice reaction time, but did not alter performance in terms of correct responses. Our results suggest the involvement of posterior parietal cortex in spatial aspects of task performance (reaching speed and accuracy, eye movements, reaction time). They also suggest the existence of functional influences from parietal upon prefrontal cortex. Those influences, however, seem not essential for the basic role of the prefrontal cortex in the temporal integration of behavior. PMID- 2611644 TI - Myelination of axons within cytosine arabinoside treated mouse cerebellar explants by cultured rat oligodendrocytes. AB - Cell suspensions of cultured purified rat oligodendrocytes prepared by the differential substrate adhesion method were applied to neonatal mouse cerebellar explant cultures in which myelination and oligodendrocyte maturation had been irreversibly inhibited by exposure to cytosine arabinoside. Myelination of Purkinje cell axons within 92% of the host explants was observed 2-5 days after oligodendrocyte application. Ultrastructurally, mature oligodendrocytes and axons surrounded by compact myelin, as well as spherules of compact myelin membranes without axons, were present within the cerebellar explants. It is evident that cultured dissociated purified oligodendrocytes retain the ability to myelinate appropriate axons. Such oligodendrocytes may be hyperreactive with regard to myelin membrane formation, as suggested by the presence of spheres of compact myelin without axons. PMID- 2611645 TI - Medial hypothalamic serotonin: role in circadian patterns of feeding and macronutrient selection. AB - Hypothalamic serotonin (5-HT) is believed to have an inhibitory effect on food intake in a variety of species. To define more precisely the nature of this effect, this study investigated the effects of medial hypothalamic 5-HT injection on natural patterns of macronutrient intake in freely feeding rats. Serotonin (5 20 nmol) was injected directly into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of brain cannulated rats maintained ad libitum on pure macronutrient diets, protein, carbohydrate and fat, and measurements of nutrient intake were taken one hour later. To assess whether the action of 5-HT on macronutrient intake varies across the light-dark cycle, these tests were conducted at 3 different times in the nocturnal feeding period, during hours 1, 6 and 11 after lights out. The results demonstrate that the suppressive effect of PVN 5-HT on food intake is dose dependent, nutrient selective, as well as time dependent. Specifically, PVN injection of 5-HT, at all doses tested, was effective at only one time of the nocturnal cycle, namely, at the onset of the active, dark period. While no behavioral effect of 5-HT was detected in the middle and late phases of the dark, a strong, dose-dependent reduction of nutrient intake was revealed immediately after lights out. This suppressive effect was characterized by a highly selective decrease in carbohydrate intake, along with a significant enhancement in preference for protein, as well as for fat, and little change in total caloric intake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611646 TI - Activity of extrinsic tongue muscles during swallowing in sheep. AB - The participation of extrinsic muscles of the tongue in swallowing reflexly induced by stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve was studied in 7 anesthetized sheep. The tongue retractor muscles (styloglossus and hyoglossus) always discharged in synergy with the suprahyoid (geniohyoid) and jaw (anterior digastric and medial pterygoid) muscles. The main protrusor muscle of the tongue, the genioglossus, was inactive in 5 animals and active in 2. The significance of this muscular synergy is discussed. PMID- 2611647 TI - Innervation of the tooth pulp by the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus in the cat: a retrograde horseradish peroxidase study. AB - HRP was applied to the tooth pulp of 8 cats. Six were subjected to postoperative administration of the anti-inflammatory drug, prednisolone, whereas the remaining two were not. In all prednisolone-treated cats, labeled neurons were found in both the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus and trigeminal ganglion, ipsilaterally. On the other hand, no labeled neurons were observed in the mesencephalic nucleus in cats receiving no steroid. PMID- 2611648 TI - A magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent differentiates between the vascular properties of fetal striatal tissue transplants and gliomas in rat brain in vivo. AB - The tumors formed by rat C-6 glioma cells were isointense with the normal rat brain on precontrast T1 weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images. Following i.v. peripheral administration of the MR imaging contrast agent gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA, there was no significant change in the signal intensity from normal brain tissue. However, the tumor appeared as areas of high signal intensity demonstrating the abnormal vascular properties of the tumor. Fetal rat striatal tissue transplanted into unlesioned adult rat striatum appeared isointense with the host brain on precontrast T1 weighted images and there was no evidence for enhancement of the transplanted tissue relative to host brain following i.v. administration of Gd DTPA. Using this technique we found no evidence with respect to permeability of the contrast agent of an abnormal blood-brain barrier within the striatal transplant in vivo. PMID- 2611649 TI - Gain and spatial characteristics of human lip-muscle reflexes. AB - Mechanically evoked early and late excitatory reflexes (E1 and E2) and suppression responses (S) were studied in human lip muscle. Acceleration pulses were applied at 30-150 m/s2 independently to the upper and lower lips during lip rounding and lower-lip depression postures, and to both lips during a lip-press posture. E1 responses were prevalent during lip rounding and press gestures and S responses during lip depression. Reflex magnitudes were well correlated with stimulus acceleration for the 3 response components, with E1 responses showing the strongest association. The slopes of linear equations relating reflex and stimulus magnitudes, i.e. reflex gains, for E1 and E2 responses were highly variable across subjects. This variability was partially related to subject gender, females showing larger reflex gains. Two novel findings on the spatial aspects of lip-muscle reflexes are that: (1) S responses in lower-lip muscle are more prevalent to upper-lip versus lower-lip stimulation, and (2) E1 and E2 gains in lower-lip muscle are larger for stimulation of the lower lip compared to stimulation of the upper lip. Further testing suggested that this latter pattern differs with form of stimulation, with a laterally directed sliding stimulus on the upper lip producing predominant effects in both the upper- and lower-lip muscle, and an indenting stimulus producing the largest reflexes in muscle of the stimulated lip. PMID- 2611650 TI - The twitcher mouse: attenuated processes of Schwann cells in unmyelinated fibers. AB - Morphological alterations occurring in Schwann cells of unmyelinated fibers (unmyelinated Schwann cells) were investigated in the sciatic nerve of the twicher mouse, a murine model of human globoid cell leukodystrophy. After postnatal day 10, the number of Schwann cell-axon units gradually increased and the number of unmyelinated axons per unit progressively decreased in the twitcher mouse. However, the total number of unmyelinated axons showed no significant differences between twitcher and normal mice. Thus, these alterations of unmyelinated Schwann cells in the twitcher mouse suggest that attenuated branching of cellular processes develops at an early stage and progresses together with progression of demyelination in this mutant. PMID- 2611651 TI - Retinohypothalamic tract stimulation activates thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue in the rat. AB - We have shown that injecting glutamate into the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) stimulates interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) thermogenesis in rats. In the present study, electrical stimulation of the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT), a projection of retinal ganglion cell axons that course via the optic tract and terminate in the SCN, mimicked the effect of intra-SCN glutamate injection on IBAT thermogenesis. This effect could be blocked by prior injection of the local anesthetic procaine or the excitatory amino acid blockers kynurenic acid and delta-D-glutamylaminomethyl-phosphonic acid into the contralateral SCN, implicating the involvement of SCN glutamate receptors. The primary function of the RHT is to communicate photic information to the SCN, and it has been shown that glutamate might be involved in mediating this effect. On the basis of these observations and our finding of thermogenic responses to RHT stimulation or intra SCN glutamate, we conclude that photic signals transmitted to the SCN via release of glutamate from the RHT might be capable of acutely modulating thermogenesis in IBAT. PMID- 2611652 TI - Intracellularly injected inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate induces a slow inward current in identified neurons of Aplysia kurodai. AB - Micropressure injection of inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (IP5) into identified neurons (R9-R12) of Aplysia induced a slow inward current associated with a conductance increase. The IP5-induced inward current was decreased by depolarization and increased by hyperpolarization. The extrapolated reversal potential of the current was -11 mV. The IP5-induced inward current was sensitive to changes in [Na+]o, [Ca2+]o and [K+]o but not to changes in [C1-]o, and was resistant to tetrodotoxin. The current was not completely abolished by Ca2+ channel blocking cations, Co2+ and Mn2+. Ion substitution and pharmacological experiments suggest that microinjection of IP5 can activate a non-specific cation conductance in Aplysia neurons. PMID- 2611653 TI - A GABAergic axo-axonic cell in the fascia dentata controls the main excitatory hippocampal pathway. AB - Neuronal discharge is very efficiently blocked by inhibitory synapses on the axon initial segment. Here we describe a novel type of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) ergic inhibitory neurons in the rat fascia dentata that exclusively forms synaptic contacts with the axon initial segments of numerous dentate granule cells. This way the main excitatory pathway of the hippocampal formation which interconnects the fascia dentata with the hippocampus proper is controlled. We hypothesize that hypofunction of this inhibitory neuron causes overexcitation in the main excitatory pathway which could play a role in epilepsy. PMID- 2611654 TI - Reptilian dorsal column nucleus lacks GAD immunoreactive neurons. AB - Brains of reptiles, Caiman crocodilus, were processed by standard immunocytochemical methodology using a polyclonal antibody to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) as well as several monoclonal antibodies to GAD. No neurons immunoreactive for GAD, GAD(+), were observed in the dorsal column nucleus, although GAD(+) puncta were seen. These findings suggest that in Caiman, the dorsal column nucleus, like the dorsal thalamus, lacks local circuit neurons. PMID- 2611655 TI - Microinjections of cholinergic agonists into the intermediolateral cell column of the spinal cord at T1-T3 increase heart rate and contractility. AB - Cardiovascular responses to the microinjections of cholinergic agonists into the intermediolateral cell column (IML) of the spinal cord at T1-T3 level were studied. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), the rate of increase in the left ventricular pressure (dp/dt) and contractility index (CI) were monitored in immobilized and artificially ventilated male Wistar rats either anesthetized with pentobarbital or decerebrated at mid-collicular level. Microinjections (20 nl) of carbachol (110-660 pmol) into the right IML elicited a marked increase in HR and a small increase in CI. A marked increase in the CI with relatively little effect on the HR was observed when carbachol was injected into the left IML. The cardioacceleratory effects of carbachol, but not those of L-glutamate, were blocked by prior microinjections of scopolamine (18 nmol) into the IML. Intravenous injections of chlorisondamine (a ganglion blocker) also blocked these effects of carbachol. Spinal transections at C4 or T6 level did not alter these responses. Microinjections of acetylcholine (0.01-1 nmol) into the right IML also produced tachycardic effects. The responses to acetylcholine were blocked by prior injections of a muscarinic receptor blocker (atropine hemisulfate, 0.2 nmol). Microinjections of a selective M2 muscarinic receptor agonist, cis methyldioxolane (CD; 0.2-0.8 nmol), but not those of a relatively selective M1 receptor agonist (McN-A343; 2-3 nmol), into the right IML elicited an increase in HR. Previous microinjections of a selective competitive M2 receptor antagonist (AFDX-116; 0.8 nmol), but not those of a potent selective M1 receptor antagonist (pirenzepine; 2 nmol), into the IML blocked the effects of CD. Nicotine (0.25-1 nmol) when injected into the right IML also produced positive chronotropic effects. These responses were blocked by prior microinjections of hexamethonium (5 nmol). The above-mentioned results suggest that cholinoceptive neurons, interneurons or terminals are located in the areas of IML which control cardiac functions. Muscarinic as well as nicotinic receptors are present in this area. Muscarinic receptors are predominantly of the M2 type. The physiological significance of the presence of cholinergic receptors in this area in controlling cardiac functions remains to be established. PMID- 2611656 TI - The effects of morphine and traumatic brain injury on central cholinergic neurons. AB - This study examined the effects of morphine and fluid percussion traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the activity of cholinergic neurons in specific areas of the rat brain 12 min after injury. Acetylcholine (ACh) turnover, used as an index of cholinergic neuronal activity, was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Although morphine administration alone in general did not significantly affect ACh content and turnover in specific brain areas, morphine administered prior to TBI either prevented injury-induced changes in ACh turnover (dorsal pontine tegmentum) or actually reduced the rate constant for ACh utilization (kACh) and the turnover rate of ACh (TRACh) following injury (thalamus, amygdala, cingulate/frontal cortex, and hippocampus). Thus, the protective effects of morphine against enduring behavioral deficits following TBI may involve the inhibition of central cholinergic neurons. PMID- 2611657 TI - Brain forskolin binding in mice dependent on and tolerant to ethanol. AB - Chronic ethanol ingestion by mice was previously shown to result in decreased activation of adenylate cyclase by guanine nucleotides and beta-adrenergic agonists, and in the loss of the high affinity beta-adrenergic agonist binding site in frontal cortex and hippocampus but not in cerebellum. These results indicate a regional specificity of ethanol's actions on beta-adrenergic receptors, the guanine nucleotide binding protein (Gs) and/or adenylate cyclase. To further detail the anatomical specificity of the effects of ethanol ingestion on receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase (AC) systems we have quantified the binding of [3H]forskolin to brain sections of control and ethanol-fed mice. High-affinity forskolin binding, thought to represent the complex of the alpha-subunit of Gs (as) and AC, was decreased in several brain areas including frontal cortex and hippocampus, but not in cerebellum, nucleus accumbens and certain other brain areas of ethanol-fed mice. Guanine nucleotides, such as Gpp(NH)p, generally enhanced forskolin binding in control animals. In ethanol-fed mice, however, Gpp(NH)p failed to enhance forskolin binding in most brain regions. These findings suggest that chronic ethanol ingestion may decrease the amount or function of as-AC in certain brain regions. Moreover, the regulation of the formation of this complex in different brain regions may affect responses to ethanol ingestion in mice. PMID- 2611658 TI - Synapses of double bouquet cells in monkey cerebral cortex visualized by calbindin immunoreactivity. AB - In the monkey neocortex, immunoreactivity for the 28-kDa vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein (Calbindin) is contained in a set of GABAergic intrinsic neurons whose small size and laminar locations render them very distinct from a second set of GABAergic intrinsic neurons that show immunoreactivity for another calcium-binding protein, parvalbumin. A conspicuous feature of many calbindin immunoreactive cells is their possession of long, vertically oriented bundles of immunoreactive processes that descend or ascend vertically through several cortical layers. These are components of the radial fasciculi of the cortex and are here shown by correlative electron microscopic immunocytochemistry to consist of both immunoreactive dendrites and unmyelinated axons. The morphology of the bundles and the parent cells indicates that the cells are classical double bouquet cells. The calbindin-positive axons in the radial fasciculi in the present study formed symmetric synapses on unlabeled dendritic shafts (62%) and spines (38%). Despite the close-packed nature of the immunoreactive axons, relatively few terminals of the same axon converged on a single postsynaptic profile. The postsynaptic profiles were identified in certain cases as side branches of pyramidal cell apical and basal dendrites. Mainstem apical dendrites generally did not receive synapses derived from the calbindin-positive axons. These results indicate that double bouquet cells can be distinguished both by their GABAergic character and by their possession of calbindin immunoreactivity. They are probably major contributors to the vertical flow of inhibitory influences across laminae of the cerebral cortex. PMID- 2611659 TI - Synergy between membrane depolarization and muscarinic receptor activation leads to potentiation of neurotransmitter release (II) AB - Amplification of muscarinic agonist-induced [3H]noradrenaline ([3H]NE)-release by depolarizing agents, was studied in rat brain cortical slices. [3H]NE basal outflow was enhanced by either K+ (25 mM) or veratridine (2 microM) in a Ca2+ dependent manner and was potentiated beyond additivity in the presence of muscarinic agonists. Facilitation of the [3H]NE-induced release by the simultaneous presence of muscarinic agonists and depolarizing agents is calcium dependent with a maximal effective concentration of 0.6-0.8 mM. The efficacy of muscarinic agonist to induce basal outflow of [3H]NE is as follows: CCh greater than arecoline greater than oxotremorine M greater than bethanechol greater than pilocarpine, which is similar to their potentiatory effects observed in the presence of depolarizing agents. Potentiation of muscarinic agonist-induced release of [3H]NE by elevated K+ is more pronounced (up to 7-fold) in comparison to potentiation by veratridine (up to 4-fold), irrespective of the various muscarinic agonists. The sequential presence of muscarinic agonists followed by depolarizing agents is not sufficient for eliciting a synergy of [3H]NE outflow, whether receptor activation was initiated prior to depolarization or depolarization was initiated prior to receptor activation. Receptors which do not mediate phosphatidyl inositol (PI) turnover such as nicotine induced [3H]NE release which is not affected by the presence of depolarizing agents and yielded in their presence additive fractional release only. In this report we establish synergy of [3H]NE release by muscarinic agonists under depolarizing conditions, similar to synergism of inositol phosphate (IP) production which was observed by muscarinic agonists and depolarization agents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611660 TI - Duration of desensitization and ultrastructural changes in dorsal root ganglia in rats treated with resiniferatoxin, an ultrapotent capsaicin analog. AB - We have previously demonstrated resiniferatoxin (RTX) to be an ultrapotent analog of capsaicin. Like capsaicin, RTX initially induces neurogenic inflammation, pain, and hypothermia and then causes desensitization of these responses. We examine here the duration of desensitization following acute treatment with the maximal tolerated dose of RTX. Desensitization to neurogenic inflammation began to diminish by 7 days, whereas desensitization to pain and to induction of hypothermia persisted for several weeks. Interestingly, a partial hypothermic response returned within 24 h if challenge was with RTX at 500-fold its ED50 for control animals; the animals, moreover, maintained their ability to thermoregulate in a hot environment. The time course of the morphological changes -ultrastructure and calcium staining--of dorsal root ganglion neurons was examined in parallel. The ultrastructural changes were evident by 4 h and persisted for the duration of the experiments. Limited calcium staining was visible at 12 and 24 h after treatment but then diminished. In comparison with capsaicin treatment, RTX caused more long-lasting desensitization as well as a distinct spectrum of response. PMID- 2611661 TI - Modulation of memory processing by neuropeptide Y varies with brain injection site. AB - Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36 amino acid peptide which was shown to enhance memory retention, recall and prevent amnesia induced by either scopolamine or anisomycin. In this study, we examined the effects of NPY administration into 6 areas of the mouse brain on memory retention for footshock avoidance training in a T-maze. NPY was injected into the rostral and caudal hippocampus, amygdala, caudate, septum and thalamus shortly after training. NPY improved retention when injected into the rostral portion of the hippocampus and septum, impaired retention in the caudal portion of the hippocampus and amygdala and had no effect in the thalamus and caudate. NPY was ineffective at either improving or impairing retention when injected 24 h after training, thus demonstrating that the effects of NPY on retention were time-dependent and not due to proactive effects on retention test performance per se. In addition, NPY had no effect on retention when injected into overlying cortical areas. NPY antibody impaired retention when administered into the rostral hippocampus and septum; it improved retention in the caudal hippocampus and amygdala. Thus NPY antibody had the opposite effect to that of NPY on memory retention suggesting that NPY has a physiological role as a modulator of memory processing within specific anatomical areas of the central nervous system. PMID- 2611662 TI - Photoperiodic changes in opiate binding and their functional implications in golden hamsters. AB - Daylength modulates gonadotropin secretion, gonadal steroid hormone feedback, sexual behavior and body weight in male golden hamsters. Endogenous opiates regulate each of these phenomena, and the ability of opiate receptor blockade to elevate serum LH secretion is photoperiod-dependent. We used in vitro autoradiography to localize and quantify effects of daylength in golden hamsters. Hamsters were exposed to stimulatory (14 h light: 10 h dark) or inhibitory (10 h light: 14 h dark) photoperiods for 10 weeks before specific [3H]naloxone binding was assessed. Short days significantly decreased binding in medial amygdala and the intercalated amygdaloid nucleus. This effect was reversed by superior cervical ganglionectomy. No significant effects of daylength were observed in other amygdaloid, hypothalamic or preoptic areas. Lesions of the medial amygdala decreased copulatory behavior, short day-induced weight loss, and anogenital chemoinvestigation but did not affect gonadal regression or other forms of chemoinvestigation. These lesions facilitated testosterone's negative feedback on luteinizing hormone in long days but did not interfere with the potentiation of negative feedback by short days. PMID- 2611663 TI - In vivo studies on the enhancement of cholecystokinin release in the rat striatum by dopamine depletion. AB - The release of cholecystokinin-8-like (CCK) immunoreactivity from the rat striatum has been studied in vivo using brain microdialysis. A basal efflux of CCK-like immunoreactivity was not detectable in the majority of experiments. Intrastriatal infusion of veratrine (100 micrograms/ml) increased striatal dialysate levels of CCK-like immunoreactivity above detection limits, representing an overflow into the interstitial fluid. High concentrations of potassium caused similar but less consistent effects. Extracellular dopamine depletion using alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine or reserpine also increased the dialysate content of CCK-like immunoreactivity. In contrast, inhibition of peptidases reported to hydrolyse CCK in vitro did not affect either basal or evoked efflux of CCK-like immunoreactivity. These data demonstrate that CCK-like immunoreactivity may be released from neuronal elements within the striatum by depolarizing stimuli in vivo, and suggest that increased overflow of CCK-like immunoreactivity is associated with dopamine depletion. PMID- 2611664 TI - Effects of uniform and non-uniform synaptic 'activation-distributions' on the cable properties of modeled cortical pyramidal neurons. AB - Knowledge of the resting potential and input resistance reveal little about the electrotonic structure of nerve cells since that structure is governed by the background distribution of activated conductances. The background distribution of activated conductances (or 'activation-distribution') is commonly assumed to be uniform, but there is much evidence to suggest that the 'activation-distribution' of cortical pyramidal cells in non-uniform. We investigated effects of uniform and non-uniform activation-distributions with simulations employing passive cable models of an HRP-injected cortical pyramidal neuron. The consequences of 5 different activation-distributions on the effectiveness of synaptic inputs and the electrophysiological properties of the neuron were compared. With non-uniform activation-distributions, (i) the resting membrane potential was non-uniform (with difference of 10-15 mV or more found between soma and distal dendrites), (ii) the electrotonic distances to distal synapses were smaller than with a uniform distribution, and (iii) a two-fold range of variation was seen in the effectiveness of distal synaptic inputs. Differences in time constants, tau 0 and tau 1, obtained from an analysis of transients and in electrotonic length, L, were also found with different activation-distributions. These differences were difficult to assess due to the inherent difficulty in estimating tau 1 (as demonstrated here) and the inappropriateness of the usual formula for L for these cells. Reducing afferent activity (as might happen in tissue slice) increased the effectiveness of distal inputs and reduced the differences in resting potential seen in the neuron. It is concluded that the effectiveness of synaptic inputs and the electrophysiological properties of a neuron can be quite different when the activation-distribution is non-uniform rather than uniform. PMID- 2611665 TI - Effects of high-dose methamphetamine administration on serotonin uptake sites in rat brain measured using [3H]cyanoimipramine autoradiography. AB - Repeated administration of high doses of methamphetamine (15 mg/kg given for 5 doses over 24 h) resulted in long-term decreases in the binding of [3H]cyanoimipramine ([3H]CN-IMI) to serotonin uptake sites measured using quantitative autoradiography. Seven days after termination of drug administration decreases were seen in 23 of 28 regions examined. This is consistent with previous studies indicating that methamphetamine and related amphetamines are neurotoxic to serotonin neurons. Significant decreases were still present in many brain areas on the same dosage schedule 30 days after drug administration. However, the number of areas affected was considerably less, consistent with some regrowth of serotonin neurons. At a lower dosage (7.5 mg/kg on the same schedule) no effects on [3H]CN-IMI binding were seen. The results of this study provide support for the serotonergic neurotoxicity of repeated methamphetamine administration in rats. They also show that the neurotoxicity is highly regional and dose dependent. PMID- 2611666 TI - Seizures decrease regional enzymatic hydrolysis of N-acetyl-aspartylglutamate in rat brain. AB - Previous results have shown that kindled seizures increase N-acetyl aspartylglutamate (NAAG) levels in the entorhinal cortex, while non-kindled convulsions have no effect. To further explore possible relationships between epilepsy and the physiology of NAAG, the effect of amygdaloid kindling on the activity of a NAAG-hydrolyzing enzyme was examined in specific brain regions associated with limbic seizures. NAAG is hydrolyzed into glutamate (Glu) and N acetyl-aspartate (NAA) by N-acetylated-alpha-linked acidic dipeptidase (NAALADase), a membrane-bound peptidase. We found that convulsions decreased NAALADase activity and these effects were generalized to several brain regions. While small decreases in the hippocampus were specific to kindling, the decreases in other limbic regions were larger, non-specific, and appear to be aftereffects of convulsions; i.e. not specific to kindling. Although there is evidence that NAAG may be an excitatory neurotransmitter, it could also function as a storage form of Glu. Thus, a reduction in NAALADase activity could reduce the availability of Glu at certain synapses, which might be a homeostatic mechanism for lessening susceptibility to further seizures. PMID- 2611667 TI - Medullary neurons with projections to lamina X of the rat as demonstrated by retrograde labeling after HRP microelectrophoresis. AB - Brainstem neurons were retrogradely labeled with microelectrophoresis of HRP or WGA-HRP into lamina X of the cervical or lumbar cord of rats. The results reveal that lamina X of the lumbar cord receives bulbar projections originating mainly within the nucleus raphe magnus and the nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis (including the medial or alpha-ventral part and lateral part) and that lamina X of the cervical cord receives projections from similar but more extensive regions in the lower brainstem. These findings provide a neuroanatomical substrate for medullary descending modulation of nociceptive transmission in lamina X. PMID- 2611668 TI - Effects of prolonged administration of triazolam on adenosine A1 and A2 receptors in the brain of rats. AB - Continuous subcutaneous administration of triazolam, a benzodiazepine with short plasma half-life, for 10 days either decreased (31%, 2 mg/day) or increased (15%, 0.5 mg/day) radioligand binding to adenosine A2 receptors in the rat striatum. In a similar manner, we have shown previously that diazepam (5-10 mg/day), a benzodiazepine with a long plasma half-life attenuated radioligand binding to adenosine A2 receptors in the rat striatum by 45-25%. PMID- 2611669 TI - Effects of contralateral superior laryngeal nerve stimulation on dorsal medullary inspiratory neurons. AB - The effects of superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) stimulation on phrenic (PHR) nerve activity and on activity of dorsal respiratory group (DRG) inspiratory (I) neurons contralateral to the stimulus were examined in decerebrate, paralyzed cats. Stimulation caused bilateral PHR suppression followed by recovery at ca. 30 ms. Most DRG neurons (70%) contralateral to the stimulus were inhibited, but average onset of inhibition lagged that of PHR suppression. This contrasts sharply with the observation in an earlier study that inhibition of ipsilateral I neurons on the average preceded PHR suppression. The remaining neurons (30%) were not inhibited. Only 22% of contralateral neurons were excited by SLN stimulation, in contrast to 52% of ipsilateral neurons. Thus, contralateral DRG I neurons do not mediate the onset of bilateral PHR suppression by SLN stimulation and are probably inhibited through a longer pathway than that for the ipsilateral unit responses. PMID- 2611670 TI - Pulsatile release of acetylcholinesterase from the substantia nigra following electrical stimulation of the striatum. AB - The spatio-temporal characteristics of release of acetylcholinesterase from the in vivo substantia nigra can now be described using a chemiluminescent reaction. Electrical stimulation of the striatum caused an increase in release of acetylcholinesterase within the ipsilateral substantia nigra; however, this increase in release of protein was non-uniform and pulsatile. The findings suggest that release of acetylcholinesterase within the substantia nigra has a fine space-time resolution never before appreciated. PMID- 2611671 TI - Selective regulation of different muscarinic receptors in septum and hippocampus neuronal cultures. AB - The question whether chronic membrane depolarization regulates selectively the expression of different muscarinic cholinergic receptors has been studied in primary neuronal cultures prepared from two regions of embryonic rat brain. Chronic (3 or 6 days) but not acute (3 or 24 h) membrane depolarization of cultured septal neurons with 40 mM potassium chloride have increased the number of muscarinic receptors by 168 +/- 28%, but no such effect has been observed with hippocampal cultures. Displacement experiments with the M1 selective antagonist pirenzepine have shown that muscarinic receptors in the septum of adult rat have 3-5 times lower affinity to this compound than hippocampus receptors. The results suggest that chronic membrane depolarization selectively increases the number of presynaptic muscarinic receptors, expressed by septal neurons, whereas hippocampal neurons expressing postsynaptic receptors have no such response. PMID- 2611672 TI - A physiological and morphological study of premotor interneurones in the cutaneous reflex pathways in cats. AB - Implantation of an HRP-pellet into motor nuclei at the T1 segment resulted in retrograde labelling of laminae V-VII neurones densely at C6-C8 in cats. Electrophysiological experiments showed the presence of neurones in this region that received inputs from skin afferents and cortico- and rubrospinal tracts, sent axons descending in the lateral funiculus, and distributed in the motor nucleus at T1. Termination in T1 motor nuclei was also verified by intra-axonal staining with HRP. The input and output properties of these neurones indicated that they can be premotor neurones of skin reflex pathways to T1 motoneurones. PMID- 2611673 TI - Functional identification of last-order interneurones of skin reflex pathways in the cat forelimb segments. AB - Premotor neurones mediating skin reflex actions onto cat forelimb motoneurones at T1 were identified by observing their monosynaptic effects on motoneurones by means of spike-triggered averaging. Both excitatory and inhibitory premotor neurones, with mono- or polysynaptic inputs from skin afferents, were identified at C7 to rostral C8, and were found mostly in laminae V-VI. They received excitatory inputs from corticospinal and rubrospinal tract fibres. PMID- 2611674 TI - Fluoro-Gold injected either subcutaneously or intravascularly results in extensive retrograde labelling of CNS neurones having axons terminating outside the blood-brain barrier. AB - Subcutaneous or intravascular injections of the dye Fluoro-Gold resulted in widespread labelling of neurones with a distribution and appearance consistent with their being motoneurones, preganglionic autonomic neurones and hypothalamic neurones projecting to the pituitary. Peripheral nerve ligation prevented labelling of neurones whose axons travelled in that peripheral nerve. These observations suggest that Fluoro-Gold diffuses extensively in the body tissues but does not cross the blood-brain barrier and that it is taken up by peripheral terminals and transported retrogradely by motoneurones. PMID- 2611675 TI - A columnar arrangement of dendritic processes of entorhinal cortex neurons revealed by a monoclonal antibody. AB - Immunohistochemical screening of the cat limbic system using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) revealed that MAb R2D5 specifically labeled a subset of layer 3 cells in the entorhinal cortex, while leaving layer 2 cells unlabeled. The apical dendrites of the R2D5-positive layer 3 cells tended to gather and formed columnar structures which penetrated layer 2 and climbed to the surface of entorhinal cortex. PMID- 2611676 TI - 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced hyperglycemia: role for direct sympathetic nervous system activation of liver glucose output. AB - The hypothalamus plays an important integrative role in the control of peripheral metabolism, achieved by modulation of autonomic outflow to the endocrine pancreas, the liver and the adrenal medulla. This study examines the role of direct sympathetic nervous system control of hepatic glucose output during neuroglycopenia induced by the non-metabolizable glucose analogue 2-deoxy-D glucose (2-DG). Steady-state tracer methodology was used to directly measure hepatic glucose output (Ra) in pentobarbitone-anesthetised male Wistar rats (220 320 g). Administration of 500 mg/kg 2-DG i.p. produced an increase in Ra from a control value of 7.3 +/- 0.3 mg/kg.min (n = 4) to 15.2 +/- 2.2 mg/kg.min-1 (n = 8), corresponding to an increase in plasma glucose (PG) from 6.4 +/- 0.1 mmol/l to 10.1 +/- 0.4 mmol/l. This rise was countered by the sympathetic noradrenergic blocker guanethidine (100 mg/kg i.p.), reducing Ra to 10.4 +/- 0.9 mg/kg.min-1 and PG to 6.1 +/- 0.3 mmol/l (n = 8), despite markedly lower plasma insulin (PI) levels (2-DG: PI = 94.7 +/- 18.6 mU/l (n = 7), 2-DG + guanethidine: PI = 41.4 +/- 3.3 mU/l (n = 8). Hyperglycemia and elevated liver glucose output were maintained in ADX animals treated with 2-DG, indicating an absence of adrenal-medullary influence (2-DG: Ra = 15.2 +/- 2.2 mg/kg.min-1, 2-DG + ADX = 15.6 +/- 1.0 mg/kg.min-1). Elevated Ra in the 2-DG + ADX was maintained despite markedly elevated insulin levels 349.3 +/- 72.6 mU/l (n = 7)).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611677 TI - Sensitization to pressor effects by repeated central injections of vasopressin in conscious rats. AB - Arginine vasopressin (AVP) injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) in the nanogram range elicits increases in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and efferent sympathetic nerve activity (SpNA) via central V1 AVP receptor stimulation. In this study in conscious rats we investigated, whether the cardiovascular and sympathetic responses can be augmented by repeated central applications of AVP, as has been previously shown for the convulsive responses to higher i.c.v. doses of the peptide. The AVP-induced pressor (0.1 and 1.0 ng) and the SpNA (0.1 ng) responses were significantly enhanced by a second AVP challenge 24 h after the first injection. With higher doses of the peptide (3 ng), the blood pressure responses were not different between two subsequent injections, but barrel rotation occurred in 21% of the animals upon the second challenge. The pressor responses to a threshold i.c.v. dose of 1 ng angiotensin II (ANG II) were not enhanced upon a second ANG II challenge. Our results demonstrate that AVP, unlike ANG II, can sensitize central mechanisms leading to increased MAP and SpNA responses. PMID- 2611678 TI - Site-specific postural and locomotor changes evoked in awake, freely moving intact cats by stimulating the brainstem. AB - Locomotor behaviors evoked by stimulating the hypothalamus and the brainstem were studied in freely moving, awake cats. To do this, stimulating microelectrodes were chronically implanted into the subthalamic locomotor region (SLR) in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) corresponding to the nucleus cuneiformis, the dorsal tegmental field (DTF) and the ventral tegmental field (VTF) of caudal pons along its midline. After recovery from surgery (2-3 days), open field tests were performed to study stimulus effects upon posture and locomotor movements. The stimuli consisted of pulses of 0.2 ms duration of less than 80 microA delivered at 50 pulses/s for 5 20 s. DTF stimulation resulted in suppression of postural support by the hindlimbs. When the cat was in a standing posture, DTF stimulation simply resulted in a sequential alteration of posture to a squatting and then to a final lying posture. In contrast, VTF stimulation evoked an almost opposite series of postural changes to those induced by DTF stimulation. With VTF stimulation, the cat changed from a lying or a squatting position, and then started to walk during continuation of the stimulation. With MLR stimulation, the cat invariably exhibited fast walking and then running movements. It ran straight forward, avoiding collision with walls or other obstacles, and even tried to jump over a fence placed in front of it. With LHA stimulation, the cat started to walk slowly extending its head forward and looking around repeatedly. It tended to walk with a stoop and stealthy steps along the corners of the room. Induced postural and locomotor changes were always accompanied by behavioral arousal reactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611679 TI - Cocaine stimulates rat hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone secretion in vitro. AB - Acute or chronic cocaine administration exerts multiple behavioral and physiologic effects including stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Pharmacologically, cocaine shares major properties with at least 2 classes of pharmaceuticals. It is a local anesthetic and also a potent psychomotor stimulant. The psychomotor stimulant properties of cocaine are thought to be related to its ability to modify the metabolism and the activity of many neurotransmitter systems, such as acetylcholine (ACh), serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA). We and others have shown that all these neurotransmitters are potent stimulants of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) secretion. The present study was undertaken to examine whether cocaine stimulates hypothalamic CRH secretion and whether or not such an effect is mediated by any of the above neurotransmitters. To accomplish this task, we employed a rat hypothalamic organ culture system, in which CRH secretion form single explanted hypothalami was evaluated by specific radioimmunoassay (iCRH). Cocaine stimulated iCRH secretion in a dose-dependent fashion with peak of activity at 10(-8) M. Isolated or simultaneous pharmacologic blockade of cholinergic (atropine plus hexamethonium), serotonergic (ritanserin), alpha adrenergic (phentolamine) and/or dopaminergic (compound SCH 23390) receptor subtypes failed to inhibit cocaine-induced iCRH secretion. On the other hand, cocaine-induced iCRH secretion was inhibited by GABA, a potent inhibitor of CRH secretion, dexamethasone, verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, tetrodotoxin, a sodium channel blocker, and carbamazepine, an antiepileptic and antidepressive agent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611680 TI - The topographical and laminar organization of a commissural-associational entorhino-entorhinal projection in the guinea pig. AB - A commissural-associational entorhino-entorhinal projection in the guinea pig was analyzed using anterograde and retrograde axonal tracing techniques. The projection originated in layer II and terminated in layer Ia of both the medial entorhinal area (MEA) and the lateral entorhinal area (LEA). A few cells in other layers, especially layer III, also contributed to the commissural system. The projection was largely homotopic with the exception of the most medial MEA, which projected ventrally like previously described projections from the para- and presubiculum to the superficial layers of the entorhinal area. The commissural fibers crossed the midline in the dorsal hippocampal commissure. The antero posterior position of the fibers within the commissure reflected the ventrodorsal position of their origin in the entorhinal area. PMID- 2611681 TI - Reserpine enhances amphetamine stereotypies without increasing amphetamine induced changes in striatal dialysate dopamine. AB - Indirect evidence suggests that amphetamine (AMPH) releases dopamine (DA) from an extravesicular, cytoplasmic pool. Disruption of vesicular DA storage by reserpine has been hypothesized to increase the concentration of extravesicular DA available for release by AMPH, which is consistent with the observation that reserpine does not prevent but augments the behavioral response to AMPH. In order to more directly test this hypothesis, the in vivo microdialysis technique was used to concurrently examine the behavioral and striatal dopaminergic response to AMPH (1.25 or 2.5 mg/kg) 24 h following reserpine pretreatment (2.5 mg/kg). Reserpine decreased tissue levels of DA by approximately 90% and reduced baseline dialysate DA concentrations by approximately 80%. Reserpine augmented the behavioural effects of AMPH, particularly increasing the occurrence and intensity of stereotypies. In contrast, reserpine did not alter the amount or duration of AMPH-induced DA release. This observation confirms that DA release by AMPH does not depend on vesicular stores but is inconsistent with the hypothesis that augmentation or behaviour by reserpine results from increased striatal DA release. PMID- 2611682 TI - Physiological and morphological characteristics of periodontal mesencephalic trigeminal neurons in the cat--intra-axonal staining with HRP. AB - Intra-axonal recording and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injection techniques were employed to define the response properties of periodontal mechanoreceptive afferents originating from the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus (Vmes) and their morphological characteristics. The periodontal Vmes neurons were classified into two types: slowly adapting (SA) and fast adapting (FA) types. The central terminals of 7 SA and 4 FA afferents were recovered for detailed analyses. The whole profile of SA and FA neurons were unipolar in shape and their cell bodies were located in the dorsomedial parts of the Vmes. The united (U) fiber traveled caudally from the soma to the dorsolateral aspect of the trigeminal motor nucleus (Vmo), where it split into the peripheral (P) and C fibers with a T- or Y-shaped appearance. The P fiber joined the trigeminal sensory or motor tract. The C fiber descended caudally within Probst's tract. All 3 stem fibers issued main collaterals. The main collaterals of all neurons examined formed terminal arbors in the supratrigeminal nucleus (Vsup) and all but two SA neurons projected to the intertrigeminal region (Vint), while the projections to other nuclei of the trigeminal motor nucleus (Vmo), juxtatrigeminal region (Vjux), main sensory nucleus (Vp) and oral nucleus (Vo.r) differed between SA and FA afferents and between neurons of the same type. The SA and FA neurons were classified into three and two subgroups, respectively. The major differences in central projections between the two types were that all the FA neurons projected to the Vp or Vo.r but none of SA type and this relation was reversed in the projection to the Vjux, and that more than half of SA neurons projected to Vmo but only one FA neuron to the Vmo. The Vmes neurons which sent their collaterals into the Vmo had the P fiber passing through the tract of the trigeminal motor nerve. The average size of somata and mean diameters of U fibers and main collaterals from C fiber were significantly larger in SA neurons than FA neurons. The average size of fiber varicosities became smaller in the following nuclei, Vmo, Vsup, Vp, Vint and Vo.r, but not significant between the two functional types. The functional role of the periodontal Vmes afferents to jaw reflexes was discussed particularly with respect to their central projection sites in the brainstem nuclei. PMID- 2611683 TI - Catecholaminergic projections to tuberoinfundibular neurones of the paraventricular nucleus: I. Effects of stimulation of A1, A2, A6 and C2 cell groups. AB - Extracellular electrical activity was recorded from 203 paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurones antidromically identified as projecting to the median eminence. Spontaneous activity and the effects of stimulation of the A1, A2, A6 and C2 catecholaminergic cell groups upon the PVN neurones were examined. Cells were located at a mean height 2.29 +/- 0.03 mm above the base of the brain, corresponding with the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) rich component of the nucleus. The mean firing rate was 3.2 +/- 0.3 Hz and antidromic invasion latency was 9.9 +/- 0.3 msec. Seventy-six % of cells tested were activated by painful somatosensory stimuli. Electrical stimulation of the A1 or A2 region evoked excitatory responses from the majority of cells tested (76% and 85%, respectively), whilst stimulation of the A6 and C2 regions evoked more inhibitory responses (43% and 59%, respectively). Most responses (56%), whether excitatory or inhibitory, were not clearly defined in terms of latency, and were only observed following delivery of 5-10 single shocks at 0.5 Hz. Excitation recorded following A1 and A2 stimulation suggests a facilitatory role for noradrenaline in the regulation of PVN activity. Inhibitory responses following C2 stimulation indicate that adrenaline may serve to inhibit such activity, whilst the more mixed responses following A6 stimulation suggest that the projections of this region differ in some way from those of the A1 and A2 cells. Response reversals were observed, after delivery of higher frequency stimulation, for a substantial proportion (20%) of the cells tested. PMID- 2611684 TI - Nociceptive responses in nucleus parafascicularis thalami are modulated by dorsal raphe stimulation and microiontophoretic application of morphine and serotonin. AB - Single-cell experiments were undertaken to examine the hypothesis that serotonin (5-HT) and morphine participate in ascending pain suppression phenomena. The observations demonstrate that: 1) dorsal raphe stimulation (DRS) modulates the spontaneous activity and the noxious-evoked responses of parafasciculus (PF) neurons, and the modulating effects of DRS are altered by either naloxone or methysergide; 2) morphine ejection into the PF alters the spontaneous activity and the noxious-evoked responses of PF neurons, and naloxone prevents morphine effects; and 3) serotonin ejection into the PF alters the spontaneous activity and the noxious-evoked responses of PF neurons and methysergide prevents the serotonin effects. These findings support the hypothesis that opioid and serotonin participate, at least in part, in the control of ascending pain mechanisms. PMID- 2611685 TI - Bidirectional transport of interleukin-1 alpha across the blood-brain barrier. AB - Circulating interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) has multiple effects on the central nervous system. We investigated the ability of radioiodinated IL-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha) to cross the rodent blood-brain barrier and found its entry rate to be 43.9 times greater than that predicted by leakage alone. The rIL-1 alpha entered multiple regions of the brain, with over 40% entering at the cortex. The hypothalamus had the highest entry rate on a weight basis but only accounted for 2% of total entry. In all experiments, the entry rate of rIL-1 alpha greatly exceeded that of simultaneously injected radiolabeled albumin. The half-time disappearance of rIL-1 alpha from the brain after central injection was 21.9 min, a time that exceeds the reabsorption rate of cerebrospinal fluid. Pretreatment of animals with aluminum decreased both entry and exit rates, which is compatible with a saturable component of transport. Thus, rIL-1 alpha has access to many regions of the brain with bidirectional transport rates across the blood-brain barrier exceeding those predicted by nonspecific mechanisms. PMID- 2611686 TI - Effect of subcutaneous formalin treatment on responses to bulboreticular nociceptive neurons in the rat. AB - The effect of subcutaneous formalin (5%, 0.05 ml) on responses to nociceptive neurons in the medial bulboreticular formation was studied in barbiturate anesthetized rats. In general, the activity in the studied neurons was not increased following the application of formalin, except for the first few minutes. Concomitantly, no formalin-induced prolonged increase in spontaneous impulse discharge was seen in nociceptive spinal cord neurons with antidromically identified projections to the bulboreticular formation. Also, following formalin application no hypersensitivity was seen in responses of bulboreticular neurons to high-intensity electric stimuli applied to the paw contralateral to the formalin-treated paw. The results suggest that it is not a general property of nociceptive neurons in the medial bulboreticular formation that they are activated in a prolonged fashion by subcutaneous formalin. It is possible that the medial bulboreticular formation is involved in the first rapid phase but not the second prolonged phase of formalin-induced pain. PMID- 2611687 TI - Vasotocin increases quiet sleep and suppresses active sleep in newborn cats. Opposite effects after vasotocin immunoneutralization. AB - One picogram of synthetic arginine vasotocin (AVT) administered into the lateral ventricle of newborn cats aged 7-9 days, increased the amount of quiet sleep and markedly decreased the amount of active sleep. Ten pg AVT completely suppressed active sleep during the recording time of 3 hr. The increase in the quiet sleep occurred within 5-7 min and lasted for the entire recording time of 3 hr. An undiluted specific AVT antiserum (10 microliters) administered into the lateral ventricle, induced opposite effects suppressing quiet sleep and increasing active sleep. It is concluded that in newborn cats both AVT and the AVT antiserum induce the same hypnogenic effects as in the adult cats. PMID- 2611688 TI - Oxypurinol attenuates ischemia-induced hippocampal damage in the gerbil. AB - Oxypurinol, an inhibitor of the enzyme xanthine oxidase, reduced ischemic hippocampal damage and the associated hypermotility in Mongolian gerbils. Cerebral ischemia was induced in unanesthetized gerbils by a bilateral 5-min occlusion of the carotid arteries. Oxypurinol (40 mg/kg, IP), administered 20 min prior to carotid occlusion, prevented the increase in locomotor activity observed in saline-injected ischemic animals and significantly reduced the damage to, and loss of, CA1 hippocampal neurons observed 5 days postischemia. These findings suggest that oxypurinol may be useful for the prevention of cerebral ischemic damage. PMID- 2611689 TI - Hypothalamic action of cachectin to alter pituitary hormone release. AB - Cachectin (tumor necrosis factor, TNF) is a macrophage hormone which is released during infection and after injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharides. We have already demonstrated that the peptide has direct action on the pituitary to alter pituitary hormone release in vitro. To evaluate its action in vivo, we injected it into the third ventricle (3V) of conscious, male rats and measured its effect on various anterior pituitary hormones. The peptide produced an elevation in rectal temperature measurable on first measurement at 1 hour postinjection which was maintained for 3 hours. The maximal increase in body temperature was 1-1.5 degrees C and maximal effect was obtained by a dose as low as 1 ng (0.3 pmol) of the peptide. Preinjection of indomethacin into the 3V 1 hour prior to injection of TNF completely blocked the effect on body temperature without producing an alteration in rectal temperature itself which suggests that the elevation in body temperature may be mediated by prostaglandins. Following the intraventricular injection of various doses of TNF, there was no significant effect on plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) except with the highest, 100 ng dose tested, which evoked a small but significant increase in plasma ACTH with a delay of 1 to 2 hours. Thus, the dose necessary to release ACTH was much higher than that required to elevate body temperature. The effect was no longer significant in indomethacin-pretreated animals suggesting a role for prostaglandins in the effect. This highest dose of intraventricularly administered TNF also produced a relatively modest, but significant, delayed increase in plasma GH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611690 TI - Evidence for the presence of PNMT-containing cell bodies in the hypothalamus. AB - The presence of intrinsic neurons in the hypothalamus containing the enzyme phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), was investigated by selective destruction of the local cell bodies with kainic acid (KA), a potent excitotoxin. The unilateral stereotaxic injection of 2 micrograms of KA into the lateral hypothalamus produced a 30-35% decrease in the hypothalamic PNMT activity in the lesioned side compared with the contralateral uninjected side. The difference was statistically significant for up to 4 days after the lesion. The unilateral lesion did not have a unilateral effect on epinephrine or norepinephrine content as there was a significant reduction on both sides (50% for epinephrine and 30% for norepinephrine compared with saline injected). These data suggest the presence of intrinsic cell bodies in the lateral hypothalamus, containing the epinephrine-forming enzyme but lacking epinephrine storage sites. Our results support the previous hypothesis of the dissociation between epinephrine present in the hypothalamus and hypothalamic PNMT activity. PMID- 2611691 TI - Lesions of the SDN-POA inhibit sexual behavior of male Wistar rats. AB - Discrete bilateral lesions in the SDN-POA of sexually naive adult male rats were found to decrease the number of animals ejaculating and/or to increase latencies to the first mount, intromission and ejaculation. The deleterious effects of the lesions disappeared after 4 tests for sexual behavior but were reinstated when the males were tested under suboptimal conditions, i.e., when they were tested with a marginally receptive female or when they had only limited access to the stimulus female. It was subsequently shown that males with a bilaterally lesioned SDN-POA still showed an increase in plasma testosterone. LH and prolactin levels in response to sexual stimulation. Effects of the lesions on scent marking were not found. Together with previous data indicating that SDN-POA-lesions disrupt masculine sexual behavior in females, these data are taken as evidence that the SDN-POA plays a role in the regulation of masculine sexual behavior. The data further suggest that previously reported negative results of SDN-POA-lesions on masculine sexual behavior in male rats might be attributed to the use of sexually experienced instead of sexually inexperienced animals. PMID- 2611692 TI - Parvalbumin- and calbindin D28k-immunoreactive neurons in the superficial layers of the spinal cord dorsal horn of rat. AB - Immunohistochemical techniques were utilized to investigate the distribution and morphology of neurons containing the calcium binding proteins parvalbumin (PV) and calbindin D28k (CaBP) in the superficial layers of rat spinal cord. Most PV immunoreactive (PV-IR) neurons were restricted to a 25 to 60 microns thick band straddling the border between lamina II and III. Positive somata had long rostrocaudally oriented dendrites confined to narrow sagittally arranged sheets within this band and axons that entered lamina II or the superficial portions of lamina III. Long varicose axons, presumed to originate from these cells, were moderately distributed in Lissauer's tract and lamina II. CaBP-immunoreactive (CaBP-IR) neurons were found within lamina I and throughout lamina II. Large calibre PV-IR and CaBP-IR axons were seen in the dorsal column and the lateral funiculus. Dorsal rhizotomy or neonatal capsaicin treatment appeared to have no effect on PV-IR and CaBP-IR elements in the superficial lumbar dorsal horn. However, dorsal rhizotomy reduced the number of positive axons in the dorsal column and in deeper lamina of the dorsal horn. These results add to the known lamination patterns of the superficial dorsal horn and point to the existence of a lamina defined by PV-positive neurons at the lamina II/III border. These neurons may have electrophysiological characteristics attributed to PV- or CaBP containing neurons elsewhere in the CNS. PMID- 2611693 TI - The canine nucleus tractus solitarii: light microscopic analysis of subnuclear divisions. AB - The nucleus tractus solitarii (nTS) is a complex structure situated in the dorsal medulla oblongata. This region receives primary visceral and gustatory sensory afferent fibers and has widespread interconnections with brainstem structures, hypothalamus, and limbic forebrain. In both rat and cat distinct subnuclei correlate with specific functions of the nTS. Since the canine model is used extensively for physiological study and evidence from this laboratory supports a critical role for the canine nTS in cardiovascular function, we examined its morphological organization. Light microscopic analysis of cellular and fiber patterns of the nTS revealed nine discrete regions based on cytoarchitecture: the commissural, lateral, ventral, dorsal, intermediate, interstitial and medial subnuclei, the subnucleus gelatinosa, and the dorsal parasolitary region. Analysis of each subnucleus revealed that both the lateral and ventral subnuclei contained two distinct neuronal groups based on cell size. Neurochemical and functional correlates are being provided by ongoing analyses of each subnucleus of the nTS. PMID- 2611694 TI - Cholinergic systems in the rat brain: IV. Descending projections of the pontomesencephalic tegmentum. AB - Descending projections from cholinergic neurons in the pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei, collectively referred to as the pontomesencephalotegmental (PMT) cholinergic complex, were studied by use of the fluorescent retrograde tracers fluorogold, true blue, or Evans Blue in combination with choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunohistochemistry of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) pharmacohistochemistry. Pedunculopontine somata positive for ChAT or staining intensely for AChE were retrogradely labeled with fluorescent tracers following infusions into the motor nuclei of cranial nerves 5, 7, and 12. ChAT-positive cells in both the pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei demonstrated projections to the vestibular nuclei, the spinal nucleus of the 5th cranial nerve, deep cerebellar nuclei, pontine nuclei, locus ceruleus, raphe magnus nucleus, dorsal raphe nucleus, median raphe nucleus, the medullary reticular nuclei, and the oral and caudal pontine reticular nuclei. Fluorescent tracers used in combination with AChE pharmacohistochemistry corroborated these projections and, in addition, provided evidence for cholinergic pontomesencephalic projections to the lateral reticular nucleus and inferior olive. The majority of retrogradely labeled neurons demonstrating ChAT like immunoreactivity were found ipsilateral to the injection site, but, in all cases, tracer-containing cholinergic cells contralateral to the infused side of the brain were detected also. More retrogradely labeled cells containing ChAT were observed in the pedunculopontine tegmental than in the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus following tracer injections at all sites with the exceptions of the locus ceruleus and dorsal raphe nucleus where the converse profile was observed. None of the pedunculopontine or laterodorsal tegmental cells immunopositive for ChAT or stained intensely for AChE contained retrogradely transported tracers following dye infusions into the cerebellar cortex or cervical spinal cord. Triple-label experiments using two tracers infused into different sites in the same animal revealed that individual ChAT-immunoreactive cells in the PMT cholinergic complex projected to more than one hindbrain site in some cases and had ascending projections as well. Certain ChAT-positive somata in the pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei were found in close association with several fiber tracts, including the superior cerebellar peduncle, lateral lemniscus, dorsal tegmental tract, and medial longitudinal fasciculus. PMID- 2611695 TI - PVN steroid implants: effect on feeding patterns and macronutrient selection. AB - The glucocorticoid corticosterone (CORT) plays a major role in feeding behavior, body weight regulation and metabolism. Recent work has demonstrated an interaction between circulating CORT and the alpha 2-noradrenergic feeding system of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the existence of two different subtypes of glucocorticoid receptors in this nucleus. To examine the function of these specific PVN receptors, crystalline CORT and other steroid hormones were implanted directly into the PVN, and feeding patterns and macronutrient selection, of freely feeding adrenalectomized (ADX) and sham rats, were monitored at the beginning and end of the nocturnal feeding cycle. Results indicate that PVN CORT implants stimulate carbohydrate intake in ADX rats, at the onset of the dark cycle when the feeding-suppressive effects of ADX are strongest. Corticosterone was ineffective in sham rats and was also ineffective in potentiating food intake in ADX rats at the end of the dark phase. In contrast, implants of the mineralocorticoid aldosterone (ALDO) stimulated the ingestion of the fat diet, in both sham and ADX rats and during both the early and the late dark periods. Implants of ALDO also enhanced carbohydrate intake, but only in ADX rats and at dark onset. While the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, had a small carbohydrate stimulatory effect similar to CORT, other steroids (deoxycorticosterone, progesterone and estrogen) were without effect. These results indicate a central site of action for the adrenal hormones in modulating nutrient intake. Based on a variety of evidence, it is suggested that the stimulatory effects of ALDO and CORT on macronutrient intake may be differentially mediated by Type 1 and Type 2 steroid receptor subtypes within the brain. PMID- 2611696 TI - High frequency discharges of gerbil hippocampal CA1 neurons shortly after ischemia. AB - It has been postulated that the central neurotoxicity of glutamate participates in the pathogenesis of the ischemia-induced neuronal death and the process of the neuronal death is initiated by overexcitation or depolarization of postsynaptic neurons induced by increased extracellular glutamate during ischemia. In the present study, in order to know whether ischemic neurons show the overexcitation, we studied changes of CA1 neuronal discharges in gerbil hippocampus induced by transient forebrain ischemia (1-5 min) using an extracellular unit recording technique. CA1 neurons showed the high frequency discharges shortly after ischemic insult of 90 sec, however, these discharges did not induce neuronal death. Delayed neuronal death in the CA1 sector was observed in animals with 5 min ischemia which did not induce high frequency discharges. Neuronal depolarization with no spike discharge may persist during and shortly after 5-min ischemia and initiate the delayed neuronal death. PMID- 2611697 TI - The Bristol Children's Hospital experience of tracheobronchial foreign bodies 1977-87. AB - In the 11 years 1977 to 1987, 36 confirmed cases of tracheobronchial foreign body were seen in the Bristol Children's Hospital. The distribution of ages, sites, and natures of the objects inhaled are similar to those in other reviews. Complications of removal of the foreign body once diagnosed were few, and have been absent since the Storz rod lens system was introduced in 1982. Eleven patients experienced delay of at least 7 days between the beginning of the symptoms and diagnosis, of whom 3 subsequently required open thoracotomy. Six of these had sought medical advice during this period, of whom 4 had a positive history of choking or inhalation. Inhaled foreign bodies remain a source of diagnostic difficulty, although this should be improved by greater attention to history and appropriate investigation. Technical advances have ensured their safe bronchoscopic removal in most cases. PMID- 2611698 TI - GPs and consultants: is there agreement on patient management? AB - General practitioner attitude questionnaires were sent in May 1987 to 525 general practitioners (GPs) within Avon. A year later a section dealing with the management of clinical situations was sent to 198 Avon consultants, to determine how they would ideally expect a GP to respond to these situations. The majority of both the GPs and consultants held a common viewpoint, but significant differences were noted between the consultants and GPs in six out of the ten situations. Consultants with more than six months' GP experience had fewer significantly different views than their colleagues with little or no GP experience. GPs and specialists under the age of 45 years also had fewer significant differences in management than older GPs and specialists. The differences seem to reflect the clinical focus and interests of each professional group. We believe vocational training is a contributory factor to the differences and support the General Medical Council's proposal of a broader post registration training for all doctors. PMID- 2611699 TI - Shakespeare--a new discovery. PMID- 2611700 TI - A study on the level of knowledge of health matters among patients in a rural practice. AB - How much do patients know about everyday matters that can affect their health? A study of 200 patients attending a rural G.P. surgery was undertaken to find out. It revealed some ignorance about the link between smoking and heart disease especially among female smokers (22% for this group). It showed a great deal of ignorance about alcohol in relation to health. Patients had a poor understanding of the relative alcohol content of different beverages, diseases related to excessive drinking and safe limits of alcohol consumption. PMID- 2611701 TI - Regeneration of cat posterior temporalis muscle in culture. AB - Cat posterior temporalis muscle has a rapid speed of contraction associated with a unique superfast myosin isoform. Superfast myosin expression appears to be an intrinsic property of the muscle fibres and satellite cells, though in culture they failed to express superfast myosin. We have, therefore, cultured this muscle in a system which had previously been shown to encourage the expression of an adult phenotype. The presence of nerve cells resulted in effective regeneration of cat posterior temporalis muscle and even the formation of functional neuromuscular junctions. However, superfast myosin was not found even in mature, contracting, innervated cultures. Thyroid hormone, a known regulator of myosin isoform expression, also failed to elicit superfast myosin expression. Different culture conditions may allow a different outcome, but under circumstances in which mouse muscle expresses an adult phenotype, cat posterior temporalis muscle fails to do so. PMID- 2611702 TI - [Social sciences in the face of AIDS: between silence and too much talk?]. AB - During the recent years, many behavior surveys have been performed, for instance in San Francisco, Chicago, New York (U.S.A.), Ile-de-France (France), or elsewhere. They have evidenced profound change in sexual behavior among certain high-risk groups. Such a change is probably unprecedented and could contribute efficiently to the struggle against the AIDS epidemic. Nevertheless the problem is far from simple. AIDS infection risk growth is much higher when the number of sexual partners rises to 5 from 1 than to, say, 50 from 5. In the same way infection risk reduction is much lower when coming to "occasional use of condom" from "absence of use" than when passing to "systematic use" from "occasional use". Furthermore, it appears that no direct causal relationship exists between increased information on risks and change in sexual behavior. In fact the probability of an individual integrating the provided information into his/her sexual practice depends to a large extent on the acceptance of the information by his/her group. Norms within and leadership of the group are crucial for accepted preventive practices. Other factors, more personal, play also their role, the question of their impact in the long run is raised. In France, and other countries as well there is a tradition for social sciences to restrict their activities to observation and analysis, mainly in view of theory-building. Certain social scientists are extremely reluctant to commit themselves to work for supporting decision-making. Nevertheless, for the time being, social sciences must be present at the debates on how to manage, and stop, the AIDS epidemic. PMID- 2611703 TI - Epidemiological twin research in Belgium: a pilot study. PMID- 2611704 TI - The migrant physician and European integration. PMID- 2611705 TI - [A scenario for future trends in French physicians (1985-2040)]. PMID- 2611706 TI - Computer anxiety among nursing students, educators, staff, and administrators. AB - This article reports the results of a study of computer anxiety among a large (n = 638), diverse sample of nurses (undergraduate and graduate students, educators, staff nurses, and nurse managers). Data were collected using the Oetting Computer Anxiety Scale (COMPAS). Although there was significant variability within and between groups, most nurses exhibited only "mild" computer anxiety and expected to be using computers within three years. Correlates of computer anxiety are also discussed. PMID- 2611707 TI - Medical ethics: where to from here? PMID- 2611708 TI - Unicanalicular stent for nasolacrimal duct obstruction. AB - The authors describe a method for silicone intubation of a single patent canaliculus associated with a nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Although bicanalicular intubation is always preferable when possible, unicanalicular stenting is necessary when only one canaliculus is patent. A chief advantage of this technique is that the lacrimal stent is inaccessible to the child and thus cannot be accidentally pulled out. PMID- 2611709 TI - Effect of subconjunctivally administered antineoplastics on experimentally induced intraocular malignant tumour. AB - Twice-weekly subconjunctival injections of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 6 mercaptopurine (6-MP), cytarabine (ARA-C) and methotrexate (12.5 mg, 20 mg, 75 mg and 12.5 mg per dose respectively) were used to treat Greene melanoma implanted in the anterior chamber of the eyes of three groups of New Zealand rabbits: group 1 (14 animals), the control group, received saline, group 2 (16 animals) received treatment beginning immediately after tumour implantation and group 3 (15 animals) received treatment starting 1 week after implantation. Both 5-FU and 6 MP were effective in delaying iris tumour growth, as judged by daily clinical examination, histopathological study and reduction in tumour weight compared with control eyes after 17 days (group 2: p less than 0.001, p less than 0.05; group 3: p less than 0.025, p less than 0.05). The delay was correlated with earlier onset of treatment (group 2 v. 3: 5-FU, p less than 0.025; 6-MP, p less than 0.05). ARA-C and methotrexate were ineffective at the dosages used. Our results suggest that subconjunctivally administered 5-FU and 6-MP significantly delay tumour growth in this experimental model of iris melanoma and that efficacy is correlated with earlier initiation of treatment. PMID- 2611710 TI - The use of silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery. AB - Silicone oil is used with increasing frequency to treat complex vitreoretinal disorders. We report our results in 48 consecutive cases (50 eyes) with at least 6 months' follow-up. Postoperatively the retina was completely attached in 76% of eyes. A final visual acuity of 5/200 or better was achieved in 66% of eyes. Complications seen with silicone oil injection include recurrent detachment, corneal decompensation, cataract formation and increased intraocular pressure. The use of sophisticated vitreoretinal surgical techniques in addition to silicone oil injection allowed successful management in eyes that would otherwise have had a poor prognosis. PMID- 2611711 TI - Epidemiologic features of cancer of the eye, orbit and related adnexa in Canada. AB - Canadian patterns of the incidence of and mortality from malignant neoplasms of the eye, orbit and related adnexa were examined for the periods 1970-82 and 1965 85 respectively. Age-standardized incidence rates remained stable for both males and females, at about 0.81 and 0.60 per 100,000 population per year respectively. However, age-standardized death rates declined significantly for both males and females (p = 0.0008 and 0.0035 respectively). The decrease in age-specific incidence rates for males aged 75 to 84 years was marginally significant (p = 0.096). The significant reductions in age-standardized death rates for males and females were mainly attributable to significant reductions for males aged 24 years or less, 45 to 54 and 65 to 74 and for females aged 24 years or less and 55 to 64 (p less than 0.015 and 0.05 respectively). PMID- 2611712 TI - Absent and anomalous superior oblique and superior rectus muscles. AB - Anomalous or absent superior oblique or superior rectus muscles have usually been reported in the context of craniofacial disorders. We report a case of absent superior oblique and superior rectus muscles in the right eye and anomalous superior oblique and superior rectus muscles in the left eye in an otherwise healthy 4-year-old boy. The possibility of anomalous or absent extraocular muscles should be considered in unusual and complex presentations of strabismus, and alternative surgical strategies should be considered preoperatively. The clinical triad of levator palpebrae superioris, superior rectus and superior oblique dysfunction should suggest embryologic abnormalities of these muscles. PMID- 2611713 TI - Formation of pseudodiscs in chronic recurrent Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. AB - We report an unusual form of chorioretinal anastomosis in a 20-year-old man with chronic recurrent Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. Several subretinal optic disc like lesions of subretinal fibrosis were found in the vicinity of the equator. No evidence of neovascularization or arteriovenous shunt was noted. PMID- 2611714 TI - Vertical congenital ocular motor apraxia. AB - The authors describe a case of vertical congenital ocular motor apraxia (COMA). The pathways of vertical saccades and pursuits are briefly outlined, and a possible cause of vertical COMA is suggested. A neuropathological correlate is needed to confirm the cause of both vertical and horizontal ocular motor apraxia. PMID- 2611715 TI - Manpower Study Four implies future supply and demand for ophthalmologists is balanced. PMID- 2611716 TI - Can vision training improve athletic performance? PMID- 2611717 TI - Effect of acidification on the bacterial flora of lakes and of the rabbit eye. PMID- 2611718 TI - Involvement of different mechanisms in the stimulatory effects of cholecystokinin octapeptide on gastrointestinal and colonic motility in dogs. AB - The effects of an intravenous infusion of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8, 1 microgram.kg-1.h-1) were investigated in conscious fasted dogs chronically fitted with strain-gauge transducers on the antrum, the jejunum, and the colon. Attempts to antagonize the increase of motility appearing at the three levels during CCK infusion were made using different blockers to elucidate the mechanisms involved. Asperlicin (a specific CCK antagonist) blocked the effects of CCK-8 at the three levels, while atropine and somatostatin were only effective in the jejunum and colon. Methyl-levallorphan (a mu-opiate antagonist that poorly crosses the blood brain barrier) antagonized the CCK-induced colonic stimulation when intracerebroventricularly administered. Serotonin, histamine, substance P, and K antagonists as well as a benzodiazepine did not modify the CCK-8 induced stimulation. It was concluded that the stimulatory effect of CCK-8 resulted from (a) a direct stimulation of the smooth muscle cells at gastric level, (b) a cholinergic activation of the jejunum and the colon, and (c) the involvement of a mu-opioid central component in the colonic response only. PMID- 2611719 TI - Derecruitment in cat liver: extension of undistributed parallel tube model to effects of low hepatic blood flow on ethanol uptake. AB - Previous studies showed two deviations from the predictions of the undistributed parallel tube model for hepatic uptake of substrates: a small deviation at high flows and a large deviation at low flows. We have examined whether these deviations could be described by a single correction factor. In cats anesthetized with pentobarbital, a hepatic venous long-circuit technique with an extracorporeal reservoir was used to vary portal flow and hepatic venous pressure, and allow repeated sampling of arterial, portal, and hepatic venous blood without depletion of the cat's blood volume. Hepatic uptake of ethanol was measured over a wide range of blood flows and when intrahepatic pressure was increased at low flows. This uptake could be described by the parallel tube model with a correction for hepatic blood flow: Uptake = Vmax max.(1 - e-kF).c/(Km + c). In 22 cats, Vmax max = 90 +/- 5 mumols/(min.100 g liver), k = 0.021 +/- 0.0015 when flow (F) was in millilitres per minute per 100 g liver, and Km = 150 +/- 20 microM when c is the log mean sinusoidal concentration. (1 - e-kF) represents the proportion of sinusoids perfused and metabolically active. A dynamic interpretation of this proportion is related to intermittency (derecruitment) of sinusoidal flow. Half the sinusoids were perfused at a flow of 33 mL/(min.100 g liver) and the liver was essentially completely perfused (greater than 95%) at the normal flow of 150 mL/(min.100 g liver). Derecruitment was not changed by raising hepatic venous pressure, and it was not related to hepatic venous resistance. PMID- 2611720 TI - Effects of acetylcholine, propranolol, and verapamil on sinus node refractoriness of the rabbit. AB - At a critical premature interval, atrial premature beats encounter sinus node refractoriness and are blocked on entering and fail to reset the sinus node, resulting in interpolation of the premature beat. The transition from reset to interpolated response has been used to define the effective refractory period of the sinus node (SNERP). In an in vitro preparation of rabbit sinus node, we evaluated the effects of acetylcholine, propranolol, and verapamil on SNERP. Results obtained in the control state were compared with those obtained during superfusion with drugs, all of which prolonged refractoriness: acetylcholine from 233 +/- 41 (SD) to 325 +/- 88 ms; propranolol from 215 +/- 60 to 241 +/- 67 ms; and verapamil from 192 +/- 69 to 254 +/- 79 ms (p less than 0.005 with all drugs). The site of block of premature beats was mapped between sinus node and crista terminalis with an intracellular microelectrode. All three drugs resulted in block of premature beats at sites farther from the primary pacemaker site. Thus, acetylcholine, propranolol, and verapamil prolong sinus node refractoriness. PMID- 2611721 TI - Effects of inhaled cadmium on breathing in the mouse. AB - Effects of intranasally administered cadmium (3.67 micrograms Cd approximately 36.7 mg per mouse) on breathing were investigated in mice under pentobarbital anesthesia. Cd levels found in the respiratory tract were dependent on the amount administered. Cd mainly caused degeneration and desquamation of the bronchial epithelium and pulmonary congestion, while the carrier solvent had no effects. On the other hand, the carrier solvent decreased respiratory frequency and enhanced its amplitude. These effects were absent 24 h later. However, Cd strongly affected respiration; frequency and amplitude were decreased and recovery at 24 h was not complete at the higher concentrations. These effects by Cd on respiration were dependent on the concentration of administered Cd and the Cd level in lung. Therefore, these results suggest that intranasally administered Cd has inhibitory effects on mouse respiration, perhaps owing to its acute toxicity to pulmonary tissues. PMID- 2611722 TI - Effects of long-term exposure to hydrostatic pressure per se (101 ATA) on eel metabolism. AB - Oxygen consumption, MO2, has been measured in yellow freshwater eels (Anguilla anguilla L.) exposed in normoxic conditions for 31 days at a hydrostatic pressure of 101 ATA (atmosphere absolute; 1 ATA = 0.1 MPa) using a high pressure water circulation system. The results (series I) show that from a maximal value observed at the end of compression, MO2 decreases exponentially with time (tau congruent to 1.4 days) then reaches a steady state (MO2 = 0.67 +/- 0.05 mmol.h 1.kg-1) at a lower level than observed at 1 ATA before compression (MO2 = 1.04 +/ 0.03 mmol.h-1.kg-1). These observations are in agreement with the hypothesis that shallow water fish are able to adapt to pressure; the possible mechanisms of this adaptation are discussed. Results from a second experimental series show that fish previously submitted to pressure for 1 month (then decompressed to 1 ATA) adjust faster to a new pressure exposure (4 days later) than fish that have never experienced pressure exposure. This observation suggests that the mechanisms triggered by long-term pressure exposure could persist, at least in part, for several days after decompression to atmospheric pressure. PMID- 2611723 TI - Effect of plasma from hypertensive patients on contractile response of vascular smooth muscle from normotensive rat. AB - This study examines whether incubation with plasma from essential hypertensive patients increases the contractile activity of vascular smooth muscle from rats in response to noradrenaline (NA) and potassium (K+). Plasma samples were obtained from age- and sex-matched essential hypertensive patients and normotensive people. Vascular strips were prepared from aorta and portal veins of normotensive rats and placed in physiological solution in muscle baths for measurement of mechanical response. Aortic strips exposed to hypertensive plasma showed increased responsiveness to NA compared with normotensive plasma, but K+ caused an opposite effect. Portal vein exposed to normotensive or hypertensive plasma did not produce any response to NA, but the responsiveness produced in the presence of normotensive plasma to K+ was higher than that of hypertensive plasma. Portal vein exposed to normotensive plasma or hypertensive plasma showed a dose-dependent increase in the spontaneous activity up to 50% concentration of the plasma samples, but further increase in the concentration of plasma inhibited the spontaneous activity. Spontaneous activity at any given concentration of hypertensive plasma was significantly higher than that of normotensive plasma. The spontaneous activity in the presence of heated or unheated normotensive plasma or unheated normotensive serum was not significantly different from each other. These results indicate that the plasma factor from hypertensive patients, which alters the reactivity of vascular smooth muscle from normotensive rat, is present in the serum fraction and is not heat sensitive. PMID- 2611724 TI - The effect of adenosine and adenosine analogues on methylxanthine-induced hypercalciuria in the rat. AB - The chronic effects of dietary caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine on urinary calcium excretion were investigated in the adult male rat. The effect of acutely administered adenosine and adenosine analogues on methylxanthine-induced hypercalciuria was concurrently investigated. When rats were fed equimolar amounts of theobromine, caffeine, and theophylline, it was found that urinary calcium excretion increased; on day 7 values were increased over controls (p less than 0.05) by 54, 146, and 208%, respectively. On day 20, an injection of adenosine reduced calcium excretion in methylxanthine-treated rats to levels not different from control values. In another series of experiments, theophylline was fed to a group of rats to establish hypercalciuria. Three adenosine analogues N6 (L-2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine (R-PIA), N6-(D-2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine (S PIA), and 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)adenosine (NECA) with different adenosine receptor specificities (A2,A1, and weakly A2, respectively) were administered to different groups of theophylline-fed and control rats, and their calcium excretions were measured. It was found that the order of efficacy of the analogues in reducing calcium excretion was NECA greater than R-PIA greater than S-PIA, which is consistent with the receptor being A2. A proportion of the methylxanthine-induced hypercalciuria may be due to adenosine antagonism. PMID- 2611725 TI - Effect of cycle frequency and excursion amplitude on work done by rat diaphragm muscle. AB - Strips of isolated rat diaphragm muscle were attached to a servomotor-transducer apparatus, and the muscle length was cycled in a sinusoidal fashion about the length at which maximum isometric twitch force was developed, Lo. The amplitude of the length displacement (excursion amplitude) and rate of cycling were varied between 3 and 13% Lo and 1-4 Hz respectively. The muscle was tetanically stimulated (100 Hz, supramaximal voltage, stimulus duration (duty cycle) 20% of the length cycle period) during the shortening stage of the imposed length cycle at the phase that yielded maximum net positive work. The force and displacement of the muscle were recorded. Work per cycle was calculated from the area of the loop formed by plotting force against length for one full stretch-shorten cycle. Work per cycle decreased, but power increased, as cycle frequency was increased from 1 to 4 Hz. Maximum work done per cycle was about 12.8 J/kg at a cycle frequency of 1 Hz. Maximum mean power developed was about 27 W/kg and occurred at a cycle frequency of 4 Hz. Work and power were maximum at an excursion amplitude of 13% of Lo (i.e., Lo +/- 6.5%). Measured work and power output are considerably less than values estimated from length-tension and force-velocity curves. PMID- 2611726 TI - Characterization of a calcium-activated potassium channel in human fibroblasts. AB - The cell-attached and inside-out patch clamp techniques were used to record single-channel currents from human epidermal fibroblasts. A large-conductance channel (320 pS in symmetric 140 mM KCl) with high potassium selectivity was observed in many patches, particularly those located at the borders of the cells. The channel exhibited both voltage and calcium sensitivity and, therefore, was regarded as a variety of the large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels reported in many preparations. Probability density functions, fitted to histograms of open and closed time durations at 35 degrees C, usually displayed a minimum of one open state and two closed states. However, kinetic analysis by the fractal method suggested more complicated behavior, particularly for the closed condition. It was not uncommon to observe several channels in one patch. This was distinguishable from the presence of subconductances, which were also observed. Although this channel could have many roles, it seems likely to mediate the calcium-activated conductance that underlies the hyperpolarizing response of fibroblasts to mechanical, electrical, or chemical stimuli. PMID- 2611727 TI - The effect of intestinal anaphylaxis on postprandial motility in the rat. AB - We have previously utilized a rat animal model to demonstrate that challenge of fasted sensitized animals with antigenic food protein is associated with diarrhea and altered intestinal myoelectric and motor activities. In this paper we examine the effect of intestinal anaphylaxis on postprandial motility in the same animal model. Hooded Lister rats were sensitized (S) by intraperitoneal injection of 10 micrograms egg albumin (i.e., antigen (Ag) and compared with sham-sensitized controls (C). Seven days later, three bipolar jejunal electrodes and a jejunostomy tube, for motility recording and Ag administration, were implanted. On day 14, intestinal myoelectric and motor activities were measured in fed animals before and after intraluminal challenge with Ag (100 mg egg albumin/0.5 mL saline) or placebo (P; 0.5 mL saline). Specific immunoglobulin E serum titres were greater than or equal to 1:64 in S animals, while C animals showed no response. None of the C animals challenged with P or Ag and none of the S animals challenged with P defecated after challenge, but all the S animals challenged with Ag developed diarrhea (p less than 0.001). There was no disruption or alteration of the fed motility pattern in C animals challenged with P or Ag, or S animals challenged with P. In fed S animals challenged with Ag the fed motility pattern persisted, but there was a significant (p less than 0.05) increase in the number of high-amplitude aborally propagating clustered contractions, where the phasic contractile activity was superimposed on a sustained tonic elevation of intraluminal pressure lasting 5-10 s.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611728 TI - Stimulus-dependent pacemaker activity in the distal canine lower esophageal sphincter. AB - Electrical and mechanical properties of the distal canine lower esophageal sphincter were studied in vitro to investigate possible means of inducing pacemaker activity. Both direct excitation and block of potassium conductance were investigated. The acetylcholine analog, carbachol, induced tissue depolarization and increase in tone but no electrical slow waves. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) chloride induced depolarization and evoked continuous spiking activity and increase in tone. BaCl did not depolarize the tissue but low amplitude spiking activity developed and increased tone. The putative potassium channel blocker, aminacrine at 2 X 10(-4) M, induced electrical slow wave activity in the distal lower esophageal sphincter, with or without superimposed spikes, accompanied by phasic contractile activity. This activity closely resembled the spontaneous pacemaker activity observed previously in the proximal lower esophageal sphincter. The aminacrine-induced activity was abolished by calcium influx blockers. Aminacrine, but not TEA or BaCl, abolished the nonadrenergic nerve-mediated inhibitory junction potentials. In conclusion, block of inhibitory innervation, and induction of electrical slow waves as a control mechanism for phasic contractile activity, seems to require blockade of an aminacrine- but not TEA-sensitive potassium conductance. PMID- 2611729 TI - Ethosuximide affects both pentylenetetrazole- and kainate-induced clonic seizures but differentiates between tonic-clonic seizures. AB - Young (25-day-old) and adult (90-day-old) rats pretreated with ethosuximide (62.5 or 125 mg/kg i.p.) were injected with either s.c. pentylenetetrazole (100 mg/kg) or i.p. kainate (10 or 14 mg/kg). The incidences and latencies of minor (clonic) and major (tonic-clonic) seizures were registered. Ethosuximide (125 mg/kg) completely blocked clonic seizures induced by the lower dose of kainate, and slightly suppressed or delayed those induced by the higher dose of kainate or pentylenetetrazole in both age groups. The effect of ethosuximide on major kainate-induced seizures (elicited in young rats only) was insignificant (ethosuximide only partially decreased the incidence of major seizures), whereas ethosuximide abolished major pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in both age groups. Ethosuximide also failed to affect the latencies of kainate-induced automatisms (e.g., scratching, wet dog shakes). Similarities between kainate- and pentylenetetrazole-induced clonic seizures, as well as a similar action of ethosuximide on both, suggest a common generator for the pattern of clonic seizures. PMID- 2611730 TI - Hemodynamic effects of a combination of clonidine and propranolol in conscious cirrhotic rats. AB - The hemodynamic effects of the combination of clonidine and propranolol were studied in conscious rats with portal hypertension owing to secondary biliary cirrhosis. Pressure and blood flow measurements (radioactive microsphere method) were performed in three groups of eight rats before and after drug administration. The combined effects of clonidine (2 micrograms/100 g body wt., i.v.) and propranolol (0.2 mg/min for 10 min) were compared with those observed after administration of either clonidine alone or propranolol alone. The association of clonidine and propranolol induced significant decreases in portal pressure (30%) and portal tributary blood flow (43%), the magnitude of these changes being significantly more marked than that after administration of either clonidine alone (12 and 20%, respectively) or propranolol alone (16 and 17%, respectively). After the combination, no significant change in arterial pressure was observed, but cardiac output significantly decreased and systemic vascular resistance significantly increased. Renal blood flow decreased to a similar extent (40%) in the three groups. These findings indicate that the combination of clonidine and propranolol is more effective for reversing splanchnic hemodynamic changes than clonidine alone or propranolol alone. The additive effects of this association are in agreement with the action of clonidine and propranolol at different levels (central and peripheral) and on different receptors (alpha and beta). It suggests that an increase in sympathetic activity may play a major role in hemodynamic changes observed in experimental cirrhosis. PMID- 2611731 TI - Skin reaction to lipids from avirulent strain Shibaura of Leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni. AB - Sonically disrupted cells from avirulent strain Shibaura of Leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni induced a skin reaction characterized by infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) associated with some edema in guinea pigs. To determine the substance inducing infiltration of PMN, lipids of avirulent strain Shibaura were extracted with chloroform--methanol--water after washing with acetone. The lipids comprised 28% of the dry weight of the cell. When the lipids were further separated into water--methanol and chloroform fractions, the most severe PMN infiltration of all samples was seen in the skin inoculated with extract recovered from the chloroform fraction. Neutral and polar lipids were detected after thin-layer chromatography of the chloroform extract. Neutral lipids were detected as free fatty acids (FFA). Fatty acids contained in polar lipids were mainly palmitic acid and palmitoleic acid, whereas FFA comprised 66.5% oleic acid. Skin reactions consisting of marked edema with mild infiltration of PMN were elicited by FFA. There was no obvious difference between a commercially available FFA mixture and the FFA from avirulent strain Shibaura. These observations suggest that FFA may play some role in the pathogenesis of leptospirosis. PMID- 2611732 TI - Bacterial colonization of domestic reverse-osmosis water filtration units. AB - We have analyzed the bacterial content of water from the reservoirs of 300 reverse-osmosis units installed in households. The heterotrophic plate counts on R2A medium (20 and 35 degrees C) ranged from 0 to 10(7) colony forming units per millilitre (cfu/mL). Most reservoirs contained water with bacterial counts between 10(4) and 10(5) cfu/mL. The bacteria identified were Pseudomonas (not aeruginosa), Alcaligenes or Moraxella, Acinetobacter, Flavobacterium, and Chromobacterium. This report emphasizes the importance of bacterial colonization by heterotrophic bacteria in water reservoirs from domestic reverse-osmosis units. PMID- 2611733 TI - Mitotic mapping in linkage group V of Aspergillus niger based on selection of auxotrophic recombinants by Novozym enrichment. AB - This paper describes a procedure which allows the quantitative selection of auxotrophs of the fungus Aspergillus niger by enzymatic killing of immobilized germinating prototrophic conidiospores. We have applied this procedure to linkage analysis on the basis of mitotic cross-over in this fungus. Starting with a heterozygous diploid strain, we could select auxotrophic homozygous diploid recombinants quantitatively. We estimated the frequency of crossing-over after correction for clonal distribution of recombinants, and localized four auxotrophic markers as well as the centromere on chromosome V of this fungus. The Novozym enrichment procedure proved to be useful in genetic analysis and for the construction of recombinant genotypes in the case of closely linked auxotrophic markers. The determination of gene order and the estimation of distances on the basis of benomyl-induced recombinant haploid segregants may lead to incorrect conclusions. Genetic analysis on the basis of homozygous recombinants, however, can provide reliable estimates of map distances. PMID- 2611734 TI - Public health in the 80s and 90s. PMID- 2611735 TI - Evaluation of bereavement intervention. AB - We report the first phase in a research program aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of bereavement counselling as a health promotion strategy. The Lindemann Model of grief management is used as an effectiveness measure of bereavement counselling via the Heimler Scale of Social Functioning. Thirty key persons of cancer patients cared for on a palliative care unit were involved in a longitudinal randomized experiment. Analysis of the data suggests further work is required regarding the timing of bereavement intervention. The traditional idea of bereavement intervention beginning after the death of the patient is challenged. In addition, the data suggest further tool development specific to a bereaved population. Strengthening community health services for the survivors of the terminally ill is supported. PMID- 2611736 TI - Blood pressure screening clinics: an opportunity for health promotion. AB - A blood pressure clinic was organized in a newly developed community in an urban setting. While the primary purpose was to measure and interpret blood pressure (BP), special emphasis was placed on creating awareness of normal/abnormal BP. The study was also designed to identify health education activities performed by nurses in a BP clinic. Following an orientation program and using standardized protocol, volunteer nurses screened 671 adults with a mean age of 43.7 years. The additional activities performed by nurses are described and include 72 documented instances of health teaching, 111 referrals for elevated BP, and 32 referrals for other health problems. The results indicate that nurses provided valuable services in meeting consumer health care needs, and suggest that a BP clinic can be an effective and efficient vehicle for health promotion activities. PMID- 2611737 TI - Estimation of the incidence of acute myocardial infarction using record linkage: a feasibility study in Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan. Nova Scotia-Saskatchewan Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology Group. AB - The impact of cardiovascular disease prevention and therapeutic interventions may be reflected in the incidence and case-fatality of acute myocardial infarction. Relevant data can be obtained from carefully planned surveillance studies or from existing administrative data. Utilization of the latter is facilitated by record linkage of computerized provincial, regional and national databases. The validity of these data, particularly with respect to diagnostic codes, must be ensured. We estimated the incidence of fatal and non-fatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan for 1977. Hospital discharge records from the two provinces for 1977 were linked with the Canadian Mortality Database (Statistics Canada) for residents of the two provinces. Whether an episode was a recurrent or initial one, was determined by a retrospective search through 1974. A random sample of hospital charts was examined for diagnostic validity. A higher incidence of acute myocardial infarction was found in Nova Scotia than in Saskatchewan. The proportion of fatal episodes was higher in Nova Scotia with the greatest difference in mortality occurring in deaths before formal hospitalization. Evaluation of cardiovascular health in the community, including an assessment of time trends as well as regional and provincial differences, is possible using routinely collected administrative data. PMID- 2611738 TI - Decline of acute myocardial infarction death rates not due to cause of death coding. AB - The recent decline in coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality has been attributed to reduction in risk factors, improved management and the possibility of statistical artifacts. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of geographic and time variation in the coding of cause of death from death certificates into ICD codes upon CHD mortality rates in Canada. Equal samples of death certificates were recoded for Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan for each of the years 1970 and 1984: 1) a first set of 1,600 death certificates originally coded as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 2) a second set of 800 death certificates from all causes of death. The coding error rates increased with age and with the number of contributing and underlying causes of death reported on the death certificates. The net effect of false positive and false negative AMI codes on death certificates did not vary significantly by province or year. Thus, variation of death certificate coding over time and geographic regions do not contribute toward the explanation of the AMI mortality rate decline. PMID- 2611739 TI - Increasing the understanding of industrial accidents: an analysis of potential major injury records. AB - Understanding the causes of industrial accidents will be limited if only incidents which produce injury are studied. We examined the records of 514 Potential Major Injury events over a 20-year period in one plant. Injuries were sustained in 228 (44%) of them; 286 (56%) could be classed as "near-miss" incidents and were not associated with injury. Human error accounted for most incidents and was a more important factor among those with less experience on the job. Overall, third party injuries resulted from only 5% of incidents but from 11% of those caused by human error. Although the number of human error incidents fell by 19.5% between the first and second 10-year periods, their relative importance increased as the company managed to reduce incidents of equipment and structural failure even more. We suggest that the term Critical Incident is the most fitting for the first of a series of events in the spectrum of accidents. PMID- 2611740 TI - Components of a minimum data set. PMID- 2611741 TI - The application of morbidity data in the Massachusetts Statewide Childhood Injury Prevention Program. PMID- 2611742 TI - Survey of comprehensive accident and injury experience of high school students in Saskatchewan. AB - Accidents and injuries typically have been studied on the basis of hospital and coroners' reports, by age group, activity, and accident location. The comprehensive accident experience of population groups has not been reported, although Guyer and Gallagher have attempted an estimate for childhood injuries. The accident and injury experience during one year (1982) of all 746 grade 11 and 12 students in three Saskatchewan high schools was surveyed by the Saskatchewan Child Safety Committee. In Part A of the survey, comprehensive information was gathered on the extent and types of accidents and injuries and modes of medical treatment. In Part B of the survey, employment injuries from the summer of 1982 were reviewed. When Part B injuries were used to represent occupational injuries in Part A of the survey, work became the primary source of injuries to students during the year. PMID- 2611743 TI - An historical prospective mortality study of the Sarnia Division of Dow Chemical Canada Inc., Sarnia, Ontario (1950-1984). AB - We examined the mortality experience of 3,479 male Dow Canada employees who were employed at Sarnia Division for at least 12 continuous months during the years 1945 through 1983, utilizing the Canadian Mortality Data Base maintained by Statistics Canada, covering 1950-1984. We analyzed cause-specific mortality using male, age and calendar-year-adjusted death rates for Canada and Ontario. Total mortality was significantly below expectation whether the entire follow-up period (240 observed vs. 366.9 expected) or a 15-year latency period (171 observed vs. 290.4 expected) was considered. Statistically significant fewer observed deaths were found for all respiratory cancer, cancer of the bronchus and lung, circulatory disease, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, digestive disease, cirrhosis and other liver disease and deaths due to accidents, poisonings and violence. The observation of three deaths due to mesothelioma, a rare cancer often associated with asbestos exposure, was a significant finding as was a statistically significant elevation of observed deaths in the category "other forms of heart disease". PMID- 2611744 TI - Pelvic inflammatory disease: an unpublicized public health problem in Alberta. AB - This paper presents the trends in hospitalization for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in Alberta between 1974 and 1982. In 1974 and 1982, respectively, there were about 1,900 and 2,620 cases in the province of hospital separations for PID of women aged 15 to 44 years. During this period, the PID rate increased by 16% among women aged 15 to 19. This group posted an average annual rate of about 60% above the Canadian rate for the same period. Women aged 20 to 24 years evidenced the greatest rates for PID in Alberta throughout 1974 to 1982. PMID- 2611745 TI - Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) and universal precautions: a sensible approach. PMID- 2611746 TI - Preventing smoking and other drug use: let the buyers beware and the interventions be apt. AB - Those concerned with smoking prevention programs in the schools may be misled by a recent report that "we know what works; now let's make it happen." The advocated "social influences" programs appear to have no reliable effects on regular (greater than or equal to weekly) smoking and only short-term and small effects (5-8 percentage points) on "experimental" (less than weekly) smoking. To prevent smoking and other drug abuse among the children most at risk, it may be crucial to use broad-based, multidisciplinary interventions that go well beyond the health education classroom. PMID- 2611747 TI - Drug use in British Columbia adolescents. PMID- 2611748 TI - Socio-demographic study of areas served and not served by the New Brunswick Extra Mural Hospital. PMID- 2611749 TI - Control of headlice: using parent volunteers. PMID- 2611750 TI - Fighting HIV in the 1990s--can we rejuvenate the effort in the second decade? PMID- 2611751 TI - Grape boycott--healthy public policy? PMID- 2611752 TI - AIDS: clinical and ethical issues on a psychiatric unit. AB - Using a case illustration, this paper describes how AIDS has affected psychiatric practice on an inpatient unit. The clinical, ethical and administrative issues are discussed from a multi-disciplinary perspective. The issues are discussed as 1. clinical issues (diagnostic and management), 2. effects on ward milieu, 3. staff issues, 4. family counselling and discharge planning and 5. administrative issues. It is important for inpatient staff to discuss these issues and develop clinical guidelines and administrative procedures that will help staff provide the highest level of care possible. Because every patient is potentially an HIV carrier, many of the solutions developed around AIDS related concerns should apply to all patients on a psychiatric ward. PMID- 2611753 TI - Intravenous chlorimipramine therapy in obsessive-compulsive disorder. AB - A brief summary of the etiological factors and pharmacological approaches to therapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder is given. Evidence for the serotonergic hypothesis is reviewed. Three case reports of patients with severe OCD who had not responded to traditional chemotherapeutic approaches and electroconvulsive therapy are presented. All three responded to a series of 14 intravenous chlorimipramine infusions with a maximum dose of 350 mgms per infusion. The technique of infusion therapy and possible mechanisms of action are discussed. It is concluded that OCD is no longer accepted as a rare disorder and that effective treatment exists. For patients who do not respond to oral chlorimipramine, the treatment of choice, intravenous chlorimipramine is suggested as a viable alternative. PMID- 2611754 TI - Symposium. Female sexuality and identity. Toronto, Canada, November, 1987. Proceedings. PMID- 2611755 TI - Working in arctic and sub-arctic conditions: mental health issues. AB - As Canada expands its activities in the North, it becomes necessary to understand the mental, emotional and health consequences of working in harsh, isolated environments. This paper reviews the pertinent literature and reports on a study, commissioned by Environment Canada, of the working conditions of meterological technicians in 33 isolated stations who were surveyed by questionnaire. Numerous personal interviews and visits to five Arctic stations were also carried out. GHQ scores of psychological distress were significantly higher than in a Saskatchewan community sample but not higher than in male air transport shift workers in Ontario. Sleep disturbances and anergia were the two most prominent symptoms in our sample. The literature also stressed these symptoms as well as alcoholism and a number of curious cognitive phenomena. The importance and problems of group functioning are stressed. Our subjects showed fewer problems than the literature would have predicted, but it is generally agreed that there are few, if any, irreversible sequela of life in the North. PMID- 2611756 TI - [Eating disorders in a population of students of a college environment: correlation with 2 psychosocial characteristics]. AB - The aims of this study were to measure the extent of severe eating disorders among female college students, to verify if there is a correlation with two indicators of "pressure to perform" while evaluating a screening instrument. Of 1144 female students, 16.3% scored 20 or above on the EAT-26 scale. Interviews allowed to determine that the positive predictive value of the EAT-26 when coupled with a low self-reported weight is considerably heightened. It was possible to estimate that over the last three years one girl out of 12 has presented severe eating disorders and one in 65 has suffered from anorexia nervosa. The EAT score was significantly correlated with the mother's level of schooling but not with the student's academic discipline. PMID- 2611757 TI - [Are depression perceived by the public and depression described by DSM-III the same?]. AB - The public usage of the word depression does not correspond to the descriptions of depression proposed by classifications such as the DSM-III. Data from the pilot survey of Sante-Quebec covering 3,291 persons distributed in two areas, one rural (D.S.C. of Rimouski) and other urban (D.S.C. of Verdun), allow to compare the use of the term depression between an informant reporting on a family member when this expression is included in a list of chronic illnesses, and an informant reporting on a self-administered questionnaire, symptoms similar to the diagnostics of depression and dysthymia of the DSM-III. Result show a low degree of correspondance between the term of depression as used by lay persons and as applied by medicine (14%); the small overlap mainly concerns the serious cases. Depression in its lay usage is refering less often to the psychic manifestations of the medical depression, i.e. lack of positive experiences, hopelessness, boredom, but it is often applied to persons who are not able any more to achieve social roles. The usage of the lay label varies according to sex and rural-urban origin. It applies more often to urban women under 40, even though these women are not showing the DSM-III signs of depression. On the other hand, rural men are almost never associated with this label even though a certain proportion meet the DSM-III criteria for depression. The discussion offers explanations for the different use of the label in urban and rural areas. PMID- 2611758 TI - Comparative plasma levels of doxepin and desipramine in the elderly. AB - Although tricyclic antidepressants remain a principal mode of treatment of depression in the elderly, concomitant medical illness in this subgroup creates particular concern regarding the safety of these drugs. Doxepin has gained favour for use in the geriatric population due to claims of low cardiovascular side effects. This perceived safety has been questioned, however, since few investigators have actually reviewed plasma levels. A recent finding of interest revealed that two patients on 150 mg of doxepin daily with assured compliance had undetectable levels of doxepin or desmethyldoxepin in their plasma. A prospective study was consequently undertaken to compare oral doses and plasma levels of doxepin with desipramine as a standard reference compound. Data was collected for 19 females (12 on doxepin, seven on desipramine) and 12 males (five on doxepin, seven on desipramine) with a mean age of 76. Eight patients on doxepin showed undetectable plasma levels as compared with none on desipramine. This is a highly significant difference. Although the therapeutic plasma range for doxepin remains controversial, it is unlikely that patients can respond to levels of zero. The authors recommend routine monitoring of doxepin levels in the elderly and question poor bioavailability or absorption of this tricyclic antidepressant in some patients. PMID- 2611759 TI - Passing the oral examination for specialist qualification in psychiatry: Part II. AB - The nature of the relationship between candidates and their examiners is explored, and suggestions made as to how candidates might comfort themselves during the oral examinations. In addition, the authors describe some of the organizing principles for responding to questions during the question and answer portion of the examination. PMID- 2611760 TI - Four cases of progressive supranuclear palsy in patients exposed to organic solvents. AB - Four cases are described in which Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is associated with the use of organic solvents. Two of them are a housewife and an exbanker who had multiple exposure to insecticides (with organic solvent base), followed years later with a diagnosis of PSP. The other two are of lithographers, both of whom worked at the same industrial firm where solvent exposure took place with subsequent development of PSP. The hypothesis that PSP is linked to an environmental toxin is supported by these cases. PMID- 2611761 TI - The ethics of involuntary hospitalization and treatment of mentally ill persons. PMID- 2611762 TI - Sexual dysfunction associated with diazepam but not with clonazepam. PMID- 2611763 TI - Magnitude of response to levodopa in Parkinson disease as it relates to peripheral and central measurements of levodopa and associated metabolites. AB - The relationships between magnitude of response to orally administered carbidopa/levodopa (CD/LD) and serum/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of levodopa (LD), 3-O-methyldopa (3-O-MD), and homovanillic acid (HVA) were studied in 15 patients with chronic LD-treated Parkinson disease. The degree of clinical benefit derived from a 25/250 tablet of CD/LD could not be correlated with absolute serum levels of LD, 3-O-MD or LD/3-O-MD ratios. CSF levels of LD and 3-O MD were also not associated with improvement. CSF levels of HVA, however, did significantly correlate with magnitude of response to LD. Furthermore, CSF HVA levels were not dependent on previous LD dosage. Our data suggest that in chronic LD-treated patients, central factors related to the integrity of the nigrostriatal tract may be a more important determinant of magnitude of response to LD than peripheral elements affecting the amount of LD entering the central nervous system. PMID- 2611764 TI - NB-355: a novel prodrug for L-DOPA with reduced risk for peak-dose dyskinesias in MPTP-treated squirrel monkeys. AB - Prodrugs may be used to improve the absorption and bioavailability of certain active compounds. We have examined the ability of a novel catechol monoester of L DOPA, NB-355 [L-3-(3-hydroxy-4-pivaloxyloyphenyl)alanine], to stimulate locomotor activity and induce dyskinesias in MPTP-treated primates. In the presence of carbidopa, a dose-dependent increase in locomotor activity over 4 1/2 h was observed following administration of L-DOPA (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg p.o.) or NB-355 (20, 40 or 80 mg/kg p.o. dopa equivalent). The dose-response curve for NB-355 was shifted to the right such that approximately twice the dopa equivalent dose of NB 355 was required to stimulate locomotor activity to the same level observed for L DOPA. At doses matched for total locomotor stimulation over the 4 1/2-h period (20 mg/kg L-DOPA and 40 mg/kg NB-355), there was a more gradual rise and increase in the duration of motor stimulation by approximately 40% using NB-355. At these doses, drug-induced dyskinesias were less severe following treatment with NB-355 than with L-DOPA. Our findings suggest that NB-355 may be a useful therapeutic agent for increasing the duration of action of L-DOPA and reducing the severity of peak-dose dyskinesia. PMID- 2611765 TI - Glycine adjuvant therapy to conventional neuroleptic treatment in schizophrenia: an open-label, pilot study. AB - In an open-label study, glycine was administered orally (10.8 g/day in three divided doses) to six chronically psychotic patients, as an adjunct to conventional neuroleptic therapy, for periods extending from 4 days to 8 weeks. Glycine was administered in an effort to facilitate endogenous glutamatergic transmission at the level of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex, since a glutamatergic deficiency in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia has been postulated. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed with standardized psychiatric rating scales. Beneficial effects on behavioral symptomatology were observed in two patients, whereas two others worsened. In one of the two responders, clinical deterioration occurred after glycine withdrawal consistent with a positive adjuvant effect in this patient. However, glycine rechallenge in this patient was not associated with the clinical improvement seen during the initial glycine period. Clinical worsening was not observed after glycine discontinuation in the second responder. Glycine administration reduced neuroleptic-induced muscle stiffness and extrapyramidal dysfunction in three of the six patients. All patients tolerated the clinical trial. The limited penetrability of glycine across the blood-brain barrier is a major limitation of this approach to facilitating glutamatergic transmission at the level of the NMDA receptor complex. PMID- 2611766 TI - Striatal homogenates from animals chronically treated with haloperidol stimulate dopamine and GABA uptake in cultures of rostral mesencephalic tegmentum. AB - The effect of pharmacologic denervation of striatal tissue on the production of growth promoting factors was examined in a cell culture system. Relative to saline-treated controls, rats were rendered behaviorally hypersensitive to a subsequent apomorphine challenge by 2 months of chronic treatment with haloperidol. Four days following chronic treatment, the animals were killed and the striata and cerebella were homogenized in Hank's Balanced Salt solution. The supernatants of these crude homogenates were then added to E-13 rostral mesencephalic tegmentum cultures for 6 days. Within 24 h, the haloperidol-treated striatal supernatants induced an overt increase in culture growth relative to all other supernatants. After 6 days, cultures incubated with haloperidol-treated striatal supernatants exhibited a significant increase in dopamine and GABA uptake relative to cultures incubated with all other supernatants. This effect was observed in the presence and absence of glia. The relative degree of this increased uptake was dependent upon the amount of haloperidol-treated striatal supernatant added. Boiling the supernatant removed the growth promoting effect. These results suggest that pharmacologic denervation of striatal tissue leads to a "target-specific" increase in growth promoting activity that may play a role in the pharmacologic and behavioral effects of haloperidol. PMID- 2611767 TI - The influence of levodopa in the pharmacokinetics of bromocriptine in Parkinson's disease. AB - The administration of bromocriptine in addition to levodopa in Parkinson's disease produces beneficial results. Several hypotheses have explained the advantage of the combined treatment by a pharmacodynamic interaction in the striatum. However, no study has considered the possibility that levodopa modifies the kinetics of bromocriptine. In the present study performed with parkinsonian patients, we measured blood levels of bromocriptine (by radioimmunoassay) at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 min after the oral administration of bromocriptine alone and together with 250 mg levodopa plus 25 mg DCI. After loading of bromocriptine alone, we found mean peak levels at 60 min (1.42 ng/ml) and at 90 min (1.82 ng/ml). These values were reduced by levodopa (0.97 ng/ml at 60 min and 0.93 ng/ml at 90 min). Although we did not observe substantial clinical differences among the groups after the drug challenge (Webster scale), this study supports our previous findings and suggests that one of the advantages of a combined treatment may result from a modification of the plasma levels of bromocriptine by levodopa. A "smoothing" of the plasma bromocriptine curve possibly avoids sudden oscillations of the drug and enables a more "stable" penetrability of the medication into the central nervous system. Therefore long term combined treatment is advised in preference to bromocriptine alone. PMID- 2611768 TI - Management of cerebral cavernous angiomas in children presenting with seizures. AB - Until recently intracranial cavernous angiomas were thought to be rare vascular malformations that usually presented in adulthood as an intracerebral hemorrhage, an expanding mass lesion, or with the new onset of seizures. Prior to the advent of computed tomography (CT), and more recently magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), their diagnosis in childhood was extremely rare. However, the CT and MRI features of cavernous angioma are quite distinctive and allow early diagnosis and treatment. Advances in surgical techniques permit successful removal of these potentially devastating lesions and amelioration of the associated seizure disorder. Seven children with cerebral cavernous angiomas have been treated at the Children's Hospital Medical Center since 1980. Six children presented with seizures and one with an intracerebral hemorrhage. All had characteristic findings on CT and/or MRI and underwent surgical excision of symptomatic lesions. Intraoperative sonography, electrocorticography, and cortical mapping were used when indicated and were found to be helpful in the surgical management of these patients. Our experience suggests that symptomatic cerebral cavernous angiomas in children are not as rare as previously thought and that surgical treatment using modern neurosurgical techniques is both safe and appropriate and can be helpful in the management of associated seizures. PMID- 2611769 TI - Quantification of cerebrospinal fluid shunt flow rates. Assessment of the programmable pressure valve. AB - Shunt placement diverting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been the treatment of choice for hydrocephalus for the past several decades. However, the procedure often requires revisions owing to excessive drainage, low CSF flow rates, or infections within the system. With regard to valve pressure, selection of an appropriate valve for a specific patient prior to surgery is not always a simple task. Further, an optimal valve selected at the time of implantation may no longer be appropriate given changing pathophysiological conditions as time passes. It is thus desirable to provide a single valve in which the pressure may be modified when necessary without revision. A programmable pressure valve (designed by Sophysa of France) comes in one model which accommodates different pressure settings obviating revision when pressure changes are needed. Pressure changes can be achieved externally by means of a special magnet which allows precise adjustments in valve pressure to be made through the scalp. The authors introduce the mechanism and describe the cases treated using this valve. PMID- 2611770 TI - Therapeutic criteria in hydrocephalic children. AB - The xanthine, hypoxanthine, and total oxypurine levels were determined in the CSF of 28 hydrocephalic patients (age from newborn to 2 years) and 8 healthy controls using HPLC. The Evans' index, the mean weekly increase in cranial circumference, and the intracranial pressure were also measured. Of the hydrocephalic patients 13 were self-compensated and the other 15 had a shunt implanted during the course of the study. The mean xanthine, hypoxanthine, and total oxypurine levels in the normal children were 5.20, 5.94, and 11.29 mumol/l, respectively. In the self compensated hydrocephalics these levels were 5.17, 5.71, and 10.79 mumol/l, respectively. In the noncompensated hydrocephalics, they were 9.90, 9.91, and 19.82 mumol/l. The differences between the latter group and the first two are statistically significant (P less than 0.001). The mean Evans' index and the mean weakly increase in cranial circumference in the self-compensated hydrocephalics were 0.35 and 0.25 cm, respectively. In the noncompensated hydrocephalics, they were 0.55 and 0.95 cm. The differences between the two groups are statistically significant (P less than 0.001). Two weeks after implantation of shunts in the noncompensated cases, the mean xanthine, hypoxanthine, and total oxypurine levels fell to 4.22, 4.57, and 8.80 mumol/l, respectively. These changes are statistically significant (P less than 0.001). We think that the two criteria (clinical and biochemical) are equally useful for the prediction of self compensation in hydrocephalic children and that the oxypurine values after shunt implantation can be used to monitor progress in noncompensated cases. PMID- 2611771 TI - Congenital unilateral hydrocephalus. AB - An 848-g infant delivered after a 30-week gestation had been diagnosed by ultrasonic examination as having a unilateral ventriculomegaly from the 29th week of gestation. Computerized tomography (CT) demonstrated a greatly dilated right lateral ventricle with no apparent space-occupying lesion within the ventricle and no passage of the contrast medium (metrizamide) through the foramen of Monro. The child was diagnosed as having unilateral hydrocephalus due to congenital obstruction of the foramen and underwent a ventriculoperitoneal shunt operation on day 49 (37 weeks and 5 days of amended gestation age; 1,420 g body weight). The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on day 126 with no marked developmental retardation. Angiography carried out at 8 months postpartum revealed displacement and hypoplasia of the deep cerebral veins. The pathogenesis and treatment of unilateral hydrocephalus are discussed. PMID- 2611772 TI - An unusual case of temporal encephalocele. AB - An unusual case of temporal encephalocele is presented in this report. A large temporal mass was detected prenatally by ultrasound and following delivery by caesarian section. It was determined to be a large temporal encephalocele with extensive invasion into the subtemporal, facial and cervical regions. This case is presented because of the unique pathology of this congenital malformation and the extensive surgery that was required. The management and the clinical and radiological features are discussed. PMID- 2611773 TI - Synthesis of a trisaccharide of the inner core region of Citrobacter PCM 187 lipopolysaccharide that contains L-glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptopyranosyl units. PMID- 2611774 TI - The synthesis of an active derivative of cyclomaltoheptaose for the hydrolysis of esters and the formation of amide bonds. AB - The synthesis is described of a derivative of cyclomaltoheptaose (beta cyclodextrin) to which the tripeptide Ser-His-Asp, the catalytic triad found in chymotrypsin, has been coupled. The derivative enhanced the rates of hydrolysis of activated esters, as measured by the release of p-nitrophenol, and the formation of amine bonds. PMID- 2611775 TI - Alkylation of cyclomalto-oligosaccharides (cyclodextrins) with dialkyl sulfate barium hydroxide: heterogeneity of products and the marked effect of the size of the macrocycle. AB - The alkylation of cyclomalto-oligosaccharides (cyclodextrins, CDs) with dialkyl sulfate-barium hydroxide has been claimed to yield 2,6-di-O-alkyl derivatives. Re investigation by plasma desorption-m.s. of the products of laboratory methylation of alpha CD, beta CD, or gamma CD and ethylation of beta CD and several commercial preparations revealed them to be mixtures with broad and roughly symmetrical distributions of the degree of substitution. Recrystallization separated the components only partially. Analysis of the product of methylation of a mixture of CDs established the order of reactivity gamma much greater than alpha greater than or equal to beta. The reactivity of gamma CD thus resembles that of amylose. PMID- 2611776 TI - O-carboxymethyl-O-ethylcyclomaltoheptaose as a delayed-release-type drug carrier: improvement of the oral bioavailability of diltiazem in the dog. AB - The utility of O-carboxymethyl-O-ethylcyclomaltoheptose (carboxymethyl-ethyl-beta cyclodextrin, CME-beta CD) as a delayed-release-type drug carrier was investigated in vitro and in vivo, using diltiazem hydrochloride as a model drug. The aqueous solubility of CME-beta CD showed a marked dependency on pH, because of the ionization of the carboxyl group (pKa 3.75). The formation of an inclusion complex between diltiazem and CME-beta CD in aqueous solution and in the solid state was assessed by a solubility method and by X-ray diffractometry, respectively. The rate of release of the drug from the compressed tablet containing the complex was significantly retarded in solutions at low pH and increased with increase in pH, and this was reflected in the blood levels in the dog after the oral administration. The results suggested that the use of CME-beta CD could improve the oral bioavailability of diltiazem and release the drug preferentially in the intestinal fluid but only slightly in the gastric fluid. PMID- 2611777 TI - Complexation of single- and double-chain surfactants by cyclomalto oligosaccharides. PMID- 2611778 TI - Formation of a cycloinulo-oligosaccharide from inulin by an extracellular enzyme of Bacillus circulans OKUMZ 31B. AB - A strain of Bacillus circulans OKUMZ 31B, isolated from soil, has been shown to produce an extracellular enzyme that converts inulin into cycloinulo oligosaccharides. The main product was identified as cycloinulo-hexaose. The enzyme is arbitrarily designated as cycloinulo-oligosaccharide fructanotransferase. PMID- 2611779 TI - Lactonization of GD1b ganglioside under acidic conditions. AB - Gangliosides that contain the disialosyl residue alpha-Neu5Ac-(2--8)-alpha-Neu5Ac (2--3)- can lactonize in the presence of traces of acid and this reaction has been studied in detail on GD1b [beta-Gal-(1--3)-beta-GalNAc-(1 --4)-[alpha-Neu5Ac (2--8)-alpha-Neu5Ac-(2 --3)]-beta-Gal-(1--4)-beta-Glc-1--1)-Cer]. Lactonization occurs rapidly at a proton-ganglioside molar ratio of less than 1. At equilibrium, the ratio of GD1b to its lactone is 3:7. The data suggest the possibility that a proton-driven lactonization of gangliosides may occur in vivo. PMID- 2611780 TI - A re-investigation of the structure of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella K10. AB - The capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella K10 was investigated by methylation analysis and 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, and the deacetylated bacteriophage-degraded polysaccharide by 1D- and 2D-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The repeating unit was shown to be a branched hexasaccharide (see text). OAc substituents were located on the terminal and 2-linked galactopyranosyl residues by Prehm methylation of a low molecular-weight fraction obtained by bacteriophage degradation. PMID- 2611781 TI - Structure of an anti-complementary arabinogalactan from the root of Angelica acutiloba Kitagawa. AB - Mild acid hydrolysis of an anti-complementary arabinogalactan (AGIIb-1), isolated from the roots of Angelica acutiloba Kitagawa, gave one neutral (N-I) and two acidic arabinogalactan (A-I and A-II) units and one neutral arabinan unit (N-II). The methyl-esterified rhamnogalacturonan cores of A-I and A-II were subjected to base-catalysed beta-elimination in the presence of sodium borodeuteride to give the neutral side-chains. Gel filtration showed that A-I contained a high molecular-weight arabinogalactan and two oligosaccharides consisting of Ara and Gal or Ara as the side chains, and that A-II was composed of two high-molecular weight arabinogalactans. Similar treatment of the acidic fraction, obtained by partial acid hydrolysis of A-I, gave mono- to tetra-galactosylgalactitol-1-d. Partial acid hydrolysis showed that the rhamnogalacturonan core of A-I contained the sequences --4)-GalA-(1--2)-Rha-(1-- and --4)-GalA-(1--4)-Rha-(1--. Digestion with exo-beta-D-galactosidase and Smith degradation indicated that N-I contained a (1--3)-linked galactan backbone with 6-inked galactosyl side-chains. The galactan components of A-I and A-II contained chains that were rich in 3-linked Gal. Fluorescent-labelling with 2-aminopyridine indicated that Ara was the reducing terminal in N-II, whereas it was Rha in A-I and A-II. The mild acid treatment of a different AGIIb-1 preparation gave an oligosaccharide fraction which consisted mainly of terminal and 3-linked Arap, 4- or 5-linked Ara, terminal, 4-linked, and 4,6-linked Gal, and terminal GlcA, and contained Gal and Rha as the reducing terminals. PMID- 2611782 TI - Relationship between structure and activity of the "ramified" region in anti complementary pectic polysaccharides from Angelica acutiloba Kitagawa. AB - One of the anti-complementary pectic polysaccharides (AR-2IIa) isolated from the root of Angelica acutiloba Kitagawa gives the "ramified" region (PG 1a,rhamnogalacturonan with neutral side-chains) in addition to oligogalacturonides on digestion with endo-alpha-D-(1--4)-polygalacturonase. When the neutral side-chains in PG-1a were digested with both exo-alpha-L arabinofuranosidase and exo-beta-D-galactosidase, approximately 70% of the arabinosyl chains and approximately 30% of the galactosyl chains were released. The resistant product E-PG-1a had the same anti-complementary activity as PG-1a. E-PG-1a gave long (d.p. greater than or equal to 5) and short (d.p. less than or equal to 4) neutral galactosyl chains after degradation of the GalA moiety by base-catalysed beta-elimination in the presence of sodium borodeuteride followed with lithium-mediated degradation. Methylation analysis showed that the long galactosyl chains consisted mainly of terminal, 6-linked and 3,6-disubstituted Gal, and that the short chains were rich in 6-linked Gal. Degradation of the GalA moieties in PG-1a markedly decreased the anti-complementary activity, but the long and short galactosyl chains still expressed approximately 50 and approximately 20%, respectively, of the anti-complementary activity of E-PG-1a. PMID- 2611783 TI - Purification of an antitumor-active, branched (1----3)-beta-D-glucan from Volvariella volvacea, and elucidation of its fine structure. AB - A (1--3)-beta-D-glucan branched by O-6 substitution (FCAP), obtained from the cold-alkali extract of the fruiting body of V. volvacea, exhibited potent growth inhibitory activity against implanted tumors in mice. It contained protein and appeared to be heterogeneous. Fractionation by DEAE-Toyopearl column chromatography yielded an unbound, protein-free glucan fraction ([alpha]D - 30 degrees in M NaOH, mol. wt. 1.5-2 x 10(6)), which showed the highest antitumor activity. The polysaccharide had a moderately branched structure, consisting of a backbone chain of beta-(1--3)-linked-D-glucose residues, one out of five or six being substituted at O-6 with single glucosyl of beta-(1--6)-linked diglucosyl groups. Digestion of the glucan with exo-(1--3)-beta-D-glucanase yielded glucose and ++gentiobiose (molar ratio, 8:2:1.0), and a highly branched (d.b. 1/3), degraded glucan. Digestion with endo-(1--3)-beta-D-glucanase gave D-glucose, laminarabiose, a trisaccharide beta-D-Glcp-(1--6)-beta-D-Glcp-(1--3)-D-Glc, a tetrasaccharide beta-D-Glcp-(1--3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1--3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1--6)]-D-Glc, and a highly branched (d.b. 1/2), enzyme-resistant glucan. The results suggest that the Volvariella glucan is structurally heterogeneous with regard to the distribution of branches, having less branched, moderately branched, and highly branched segments. PMID- 2611784 TI - A plant fucosyltransferase with human Lewis blood-group specificity. AB - A fucosyltransferase from mung bean seedling was found to transfer L-fucose from GDP-fucose to the Type 1 disaccharide beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-OR [R = (CH2)8COOMe]. The product, which was detected by an anti-Lea antibody in a novel ELISA assay, was isolated and shown to be the human Lea blood-group determinant beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-[alpha-L-Fucp-(1----4)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc-OR by 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. This enzyme activity is distinct from that of the human Lewis fucosyl-transferase since alpha-L-Fucp-(1----2)-beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-beta-D-Glcp OR is a very poor substrate, while the Type 2 disaccharide beta-D-Galp-(1----4) beta-D-GlcpNAc-OR is not an acceptor. In common with the Lewis fucosyltransferase, the H-Type 1 trisaccharide alpha-L-Fucp-(1----2)-beta-D-Galp (1----3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-OR was an excellent substrate for the enzyme. This new enzyme activity was further characterized with respect to pH, nucleotide, Mn2+ dependence, and acceptor specificity against a panel of synthetic oligosaccharides. PMID- 2611785 TI - A simple, one-step synthesis of N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid by enzymic transesterification mediated by porcine pancreas lipase in pyridine. PMID- 2611786 TI - A convenient synthesis of the branching-point trisaccharide of starch and glycogen. PMID- 2611787 TI - Confirmation of the structures of the products obtained on acylation of 2-amino-2 deoxy-D-gluconic acid. AB - Acetylation of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-gluconic acid (1) with acetyl chloride-pyridine gave 2,3-unsaturated six- and five-membered lactones (2 and 3). Their benzoylated analogs (4 and 5) were obtained by benzoylation of 1 with benzoyl chloride pyridine. Reaction of 1 with hot acetic anhydride-sodium acetate gave a approximately 1:2 mixture of (E)- and (Z)-2-acetamido-6-acetoxyhexa-2,4-dien-4 olide (6-E and 6-Z). Treatment of 3 with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene also gave as the main product 6-Z, which was isolated crystalline from the reaction mixture. The same reaction applied to compound 5 gave selectively the Z-isomer of the benzoylated furanone 7. Partial and total hydrogenation (H2-Pd-C) of the mixture 6-E, Z gave, respectively, a racemic monounsaturated lactone (8) and a dideoxy lactone (9), for which the threo-configuration for the chiral centers at C-2 and C-4 was determined. Acidic removal of the acetyl groups from 9 afforded the 2-amino-6-hydroxy-1,4-lactone hydrochloride 10. On the other hand, acetylation at high temperature of the 4,6-O-benzylidene derivative of 1 (11) gave the 2,3-unsaturated, six-membered lactone (12), precursor of 2-acetamido-6 acetoxyhexa-2,4-dien-5-olide (14). PMID- 2611788 TI - Institutionalization of the elderly and characteristics of nursing home patients. AB - To characterize nursing home patients and to study the prevalence of institutionalization 191 patients living in four somatic nursing homes in western Sweden were investigated. Of the total population over 65 years 7.8% were institutionalized, 2.6% in somatic nursing homes. The need for care increased markedly after 80 years of age. Most commonly (45%), the patients were admitted from emergency somatic wards. The mean age was 82.5 years, 74% were single and 60% were women. The mean period of care was 1.82 years. 87% had more than one diagnosis. The most common diseases concerned the circulatory system (51%) and the musculoskeletal system (43%). Dementia was diagnosed in 41% at admittance, but functional tests revealed a much higher frequency (72%). Conclusions. The nursing home patient was very old, was mostly single and had multiple diseases. The prevalence of dementia was high. PMID- 2611789 TI - Quantitative analysis of current trends in the development of biology of aging: scientometric and expert values. AB - Modern trends in the development of biology of aging have been assessed quantitatively by means of the scientometric and collective expert values methods as a part of the science-of-science analysis. The main regularities in the development of biology of aging during the period 1975 to 1985 are established and their comparative significance determined. The proposed complex approach as part of a science-of-science analysis allows an objective quantitation of the development dynamics of present basic research in gerontology. PMID- 2611790 TI - Intermittent nursing home care. Development of an alternative to institutional care. AB - Intermittent care was offered as an alternative to 178 patients who were at risk of permanent nursing home care, and this proved to be feasible for 55% of these patients. Non-participation was most common due to a pronounced deterioration of health status, hesitance or sick relatives. A more detailed evaluation of this form of long-term care was made for the 27 patients who were in the programme at a specific time and were able to participate in an interview. Although the patients had advanced medical problems and disabilities (80% had balance problems, 74% urinary incontinence, etc.) the majority had a positive outlook on life and appreciated intermittent care. Also from a clinical aspect this form of long-term care proved acceptable, although a decline in performance of activities of daily living and health status was frequently observed during the periods at home. PMID- 2611791 TI - The home care patient. A comparison with the nursing home patient. AB - Forty-two patients receiving medical home care (MHC) were studied and compared with a group of 191 nursing home (NH) patients in the same area. Most MHC patients were over 65 years old. In both groups the illnesses that dominated were mainly circulatory and musculoskeletal diseases. The NH patients had significantly lower test results concerning intellectual, motor and ADL functions. The frequency of dementia was 3 times higher for both MHC and NH patients than for the average population in the same age groups. Depressed mood, anxiety, fear and panic were common symptoms for MHC as well as for NH patients. Both groups of patients investigated had frequent communication with relatives and friends. MHC patients took part in activities outside the home less frequently than NH patients. The results of this study indicate that MHC and NH patients constitute two different groups, that both NH and MHC care are needed, and that one form cannot replace the other. The high frequency of dementia in both groups stresses the point that mental impairment is a strong factor for the need of care. PMID- 2611792 TI - The caregiving role: dimensions of burden and benefits. AB - Rapidly increasing public expenditures for nursing home care raise the policy question of how to support community care of disabled elderly persons and postpone admissions to nursing homes. It is crucial that research clearly identify the burdens of community caregivers in order to devise appropriate support programs. Data from the Caregiver Survey of the 1982 Long Term Care Survey are used here to understand dimensions of caregiver burdens and benefits, to develop reliable scales, and to identify sources of variation in burden and benefits. Using factor analysis, two dimensions of caregiver burden were identified, including role strain and role conflicts indicated by items comprising Guttman scales. Caregiver characteristics associated with variations in total perceived caregiver burdens, role strain and role conflict include the extent of caregiving work (disabled person's ADL, IADL scores), caregiver resources (age, health status, employment), latent social characteristics (gender), and the need to make adjustments in living (e.g. among employed caregivers, having to change work schedule to care for the disabled person). Caregiver benefits of two types - help with tasks and socio-emotional support - related inversely to objective burden as well as to relationship to the caregiver (spouse/nonspouse, primary caregiver/other). PMID- 2611793 TI - Effects of aging on mucociliary clearance. AB - Preliminary results from the relationship between aging and mucociliary clearance of inhaled 99-Tc human albumin particles (0.92-2.5 microns) are reported from two groups of healthy non-smokers: 1) 20-61-year-old (mean 42 years) and 2) 71-90 year-old (mean 79.5 years). The analytical procedure is presented, and on the basis of the analysis it is concluded that there is evidence for an age-related decline of the mucociliary clearance by a bi-phasic curve, similar to those reported in the literature for other physiological functions. PMID- 2611794 TI - Drugs prescribed for elderly patients in nursing homes or under medical home care. AB - The consumption of drugs was registered for 191 nursing home patients (NH, median age 84) and for 42 medical home care patients (MHC, median age 74). Drug treatment was common in both groups and somewhat higher in MHC (4.4 and 4.9 drugs, respectively per patient). The proportion of men/women on drugs and the average number of drugs prescribed differed between the sexes only exceptionally. Drugs for cardiovascular diseases, psychotropic drugs, laxatives and analgesics were the most frequently used. Although psychotropic drugs were frequently prescribed, symptoms of emotional disturbances appeared undertreated. Demented patients received anxiolytic drugs less frequently than non-demented. The NH group received inadequate pain relief, there were few prescriptions for infectious diseases, and intravenous infusions were rare. PMID- 2611795 TI - In vivo myocardial bioenergetics during acute volume and/or pressure loading in a canine model: a 31P NMR study. AB - The effects of acute volume and/or pressure loading on myocardial metabolic and mechanical function were studied in 13 dogs. Volume loads were applied by shunting the abdominal aorta to the vena cava using polyethylene tubing (5 mm inner diameter). A plastic regulator allowed shunts to be opened or closed. Dogs were heparinized (100 units/kg) to prevent shunts from clotting. To study the effects of pressure loading, a norepinephrine infusion (1 microgram/kg/min) was administered. Mechanical function of the heart was evaluated using heart rate X systolic blood pressure (HR X SBP), cardiac output (CO), pressure X volume work (systolic blood pressure X stroke volume); (P X V), and oxygen consumption (MVO2) to estimate external myocardial work. Metabolic function was evaluated by 31P NMR. Phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate (PCr/ATP) ratios were used to estimate the bioenergetic regulation of oxidative phosphorylation during increased work load. HR X SBP, CO, P X V, and MVO2 were correlated with PCr/ATP. Although there was some variability, generally volume loading was associated with an increase in HR X SBP, CO, P X V, and MVO2 accompanied by no change, or small increases or small decreases in PCr/ATP throughout the loading period. These data indicate that the heart bioenergetics are quite stable during volume and/or pressure loading and that 31P spectroscopy methods can document this stability and tight metabolic regulation during in vivo loading conditions. PMID- 2611796 TI - Evaluation of the autonomic nervous system of the heart in male patients with mitral valve prolapse syndrome using respiratory sinus arrhythmia and dynamic exercise. AB - The autonomic nervous system of the heart was evaluated in two male groups composed of 11 patients with mitral valve prolapse and of 10 normal subjects, using the heart rate response in two types of tests: respiratory sinus arrhythmia at rest and dynamic exercise. Sinus arrhythmia was of higher magnitude in patients with mitral valve prolapse when compared to the control group; however, the differences reached statistical significance only at a respiratory frequency of 7 cycles/min. With respect to dynamic exercise (25, 50, 100, 150 W during 4 min), the heart rate response, either in terms of the early, vagus-dependent fast tachycardia (first 10 s), or the late, sympathetic-dependent tachycardia (1-4 min) was normal in both groups studied, the same occurring with aerobic exercise capacity evaluated by measurement of the anaerobic threshold. Thus, our results show that in the group of male patients with mitral valve prolapse studied here, the parasympathetic abnormalities, if present, are of questionable physiological significance and do not affect the sympathetic and parasympathetic control of heart rate during dynamic exercise. PMID- 2611797 TI - The mechanism of the obstruction in calcific aortic stenosis with bicuspid valve: a reason for failure of balloon aortic valvuloplasty in the elderly. AB - Percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty failed to relieve the obstruction in 2 elderly patients with calcific aortic stenosis. Intraoperative and pathologic examination showed bicuspid aortic valve with symmetric cusps, straight and fibrotic cusp edges and fractured calcific nodules of the aortic valve. Failure of balloon valvuloplasty in these patients, in spite of successful fractures of calcific nodules, was due to inability to influence the spring-like action of the thickened edges of the valve which represents a specific additional cause of obstruction in calcific bicuspid aortic valve of the elderly. PMID- 2611798 TI - Coronary artery-left ventricular fistulae with atrial septal defect. AB - We describe a 65-year-old woman who had coronary artery-left ventricular fistula associated with atrial septal defect of the sinus venosus type, and left-sided heart failure. Although a cardiac valve anomaly associated with coronary artery fistula has been described, atrial septal defect has not been reported previously in this condition. PMID- 2611799 TI - Recurrence of rheumatic fever after valve replacement. AB - While recurrence of rheumatic fever is common, recurrence after valve replacement has not been reported. A 15-year-old Ethiopian boy returned from America after mitral valve replacement in May 1986. He did not take antibiotic prophylaxis and, in February 1987, had recurrent rheumatic fever. The literature on recurrence of rheumatic fever and prophylaxis is reviewed. Monthly injections of benzathine penicillin have been shown to be the most effective drug to prevent rheumatic fever recurrences. It is recommended that patients with rheumatic heart disease in the developing world should take prophylaxis for life. PMID- 2611800 TI - The effects of long term administration of prazosin on the microcirculation in skeletal muscles. AB - The effect on the microcirculation of long term administration of the alpha 1 blocker prazosin, which increases peripheral blood flow, was studied in skeletal muscles with differing metabolic profiles. Prazosin (50 mg.litre-1), given ad libitum for 5 weeks in the drinking water, resulted in an increase in capillarity in both fast glycolytic tibialis anterior cortex and slow oxidative soleus muscles of the rat. In tibialis anterior, the velocity of red blood cells through capillaries was increased, a smaller proportion of capillaries had intermittent flow, less time was spent stationary by red blood cells, and hence the calculated volume flow per capillary was increased. In soleus, capillary diameters were larger, but velocity, intermittency and calculated volume flow were unchanged. Therefore, suggested mechanisms for capillary growth induced by prazosin are different for the two muscles studied: increased shear stress and blood/endothelial cell interaction in the case of tibialis anterior, and increased capillary wall tension in the soleus. PMID- 2611801 TI - A method to quantitate cell numbers of muscle cells and non-muscle cells in homogenised heart cell cultures. AB - Neonatal rat heart cell cultures are popular research models in cardiovascular investigations. A major disadvantage is the variable contribution of non-muscle cells to the cultures. As biochemical and pharmacological quantities are generally measured in homogenised cultures, we looked for a method to calculate numbers of muscle cells and non-muscle cells per culture after homogenisation. By means of a model based on the presence of one diploid nucleus per myocyte and per non-muscle cell, a nuclear DNA content of 7.5 pg, and a constant ratio of DNA content and sum of the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes LDH-4 and LDH-5 (DNA/LDH4+5 = 11.6 +/- 1.5 micrograms.U-1) in non-muscle cells, we calculated that in 21 neonatal rat heart cell cultures, cultured for 0-6 days, the number of muscle cells was 1.5 X 10(6) per culture, independent of time; and the number of non-muscle cells was low at day 0 (1.6 X 10(5) per culture), increasing to 4 X 10(6) per culture at day 6. Based on a time dependent increase in lactate dehydrogenase content per muscle cell we showed that muscle cells in culture underwent progressive hypertrophy: in 6 days myocyte volume increased fourfold. Thus, by measurement of DNA content and the activities of lactate dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes in a homogenised culture the cellular composition of the culture can be assessed quantitatively. PMID- 2611802 TI - Influence of applied stress on mitotic response of arteries to injury with a balloon catheter: quantitative study in rat thoracic aorta. AB - Proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells is an important feature of atherosclerosis, and a well documented reaction to intimal injury. To assess the influence of the intensity of injury to rat thoracic aorta, we studied the effects of a soft or hard friction with a moderately or tightly inflated balloon catheter at 2, 14 and 30 d after operation. As compared with soft injury, hard injury (1) strongly enhanced the proliferating response of the aortic intima and media (median incorporation of tritiated thymidine into deoxyribonucleic acid on day 2 increase 2.8-fold, 95% confidence interval 2.3-3.3; median deoxyribonucleic acid content on day 14; 102.1 v 72.1 micrograms); (2) markedly delayed endothelial regeneration (median percentage of intimal area stained by Evans blue on day 14: 33.1 v 0.6%). On day 2, transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed that endothelial denudation was complete after a hard injury, but only partial after a soft one. However, macroscopic staining of the intima with Evans blue was complete in both instances. The extent of endothelial denudation appears to be a major determinant of the mitotic reaction of arteries to injury. In the experimental search for drugs to reduce muscular proliferation (of potential value in the prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty), endothelial injury with balloon catheters should be carefully standardised, and applied "blindly" to afford valid comparisons between treated and control groups of animals. PMID- 2611803 TI - Effects of antibiotics on cellular viability in porcine heart valve tissue. AB - The purpose of this study was to find an antibiotic disinfecting solution for cardiovascular tissues which would allow maximal cellular viability while maintaining antibacterial and antifungal activity. Cellular viability of porcine heat valves sterilised using antibiotics was assessed by radiolabelled proline transport assays. The results show that storage of valve tissues in RPMI 1640 tissue culture medium (4 degrees C) alone decreases the cellular viability by 50%, 60% and 90% within 12, 24, and 72 h, respectively. Amphotericin B was shown to be the toxic component of the antibiotic sterilising solution recommended by Strickett and coworkers, accounting for all the observed antibiotic toxicity. It reduced the cellular viability by 100% within 12 h of storage at 4 degrees C. Our study also showed that streptomycin is responsible for the loss of cellular viability in the antibiotic medium utilised by O'Brien's group. The results show that after storage of valve tissues for 12 h in O'Brien's antibiotic solution, the cellular viability was reduced by 60%, and after 24 h by 90%. Cefoxitin, lincomycin, polymyxin B, vancomycin and penicillin had no apparent effects on viability of cells in the cardiovascular tissues utilised in this study. In conclusion, heart valve tissue may be sterilised effectively using selective antibiotics without causing significant damage to cellular viability. PMID- 2611804 TI - Altered sympathoadrenal response to dynamic exercise in cardiac transplant recipients. AB - The cardiac denervation produced by heart transplantation modifies the physiological response to exercise. The cardiorespiratory and sympathoadrenal response of seven "healthy" orthotopic heart transplant recipients was compared to seven age matched normal subjects during progressive dynamic exercise. The initial venous noradrenaline concentration tended to be higher in the transplant group, at 3.6 (SEM 0.6) v 2.9(0.2) nmol-litre-1 (NS). Noradrenaline concentrations were significantly higher in the transplant group during exercise (p less than 0.05, by analysis of variance). The transplant recipients reached a lower maximum workload than the normal subjects, at 102(8) v 170(10) watts (p less than 0.01) and the peak noradrenaline concentrations were similar in the two groups. The fall in noradrenaline concentrations after exercise was similar in the two groups. This showed that noradrenaline clearance was normal in the transplant recipients and the higher noradrenaline level reflected increased sympathetic activity. Despite the normal peak noradrenaline concentration, the transplant recipients achieved lower maximum heart rates than the normal subjects, at 142(3) v 181(5) beats min-1 (p less than 0.01). Adrenaline concentrations were similar in the two groups during submaximal exercise and tended to be lower in the transplant recipients at maximal exercise. The increased sympathetic activity may be a response to altered cardiac performance because of efferent cardiac denervation or to loss of tonic inhibition of sympathetic activity by cardiac receptors due to afferent denervation. Both circulating noradrenaline and adrenaline appear to play a significant role in the heart rate response to exercise after cardiac transplantation. PMID- 2611805 TI - Measurements from light and polarised light microscopy of human coronary arteries fixed at distending pressure. AB - With the long term goal of improving our understanding of the mechanisms involved in coronary artery spasm, we have undertaken a two part study of the artery structure. We have made a comparison of the relative proportions of the different layers in proximal and distal regions of the main coronary arteries, and have quantitatively assessed their three dimensional structural fabric. Major coronary arteries from nine hearts were prepared for histological examination after fixation at a transmural pressure of 120 mm Hg. Measurements from 14 proximal and distal pairs of the cross sectioned arteries showed a dominant subendothelial layer, which diminished in thickness distally, with a small fraction of muscle cells interspersed with collagen. Three dimensional orientation measurements of the collagen and muscle components, which are birefringent, were obtained from one pair of segments from each of the left anterior descending, circumflex and right coronary arteries, using the polarising light microscope and Universal stage. Findings showed (1) a single circumferential order of adventitial collagen, with a mean circular standard deviation (CSD) of 22.3 degrees; (2) very highly ordered medial smooth muscle, mean CSD of 5.0 degrees (both findings are quantitatively similar between proximal and distal segments of artery, and between arteries); and (3) a multilayered fabric of collagen in the subendothelium in all vessel segments. The principal contributor to functional differences between proximal and distal regions may be the prominent and structurally varied subendothelial layer of the coronary arteries. PMID- 2611806 TI - Arrhythmogenic effect of high blood pressure: some observations on its mechanism. AB - An increase in aortic pressure is a reproducible way of causing ventricular ectopic rhythms. This study sought to determine whether it is the aortic pressure per se or the concommitant increase in afterload or preload that has a direct arrhythmogenic effect. Experiments were carried out in 17 anaesthetised dogs. For each 10 s period the pressure and the presence of a ventricular arrhythmia (at least one ectopic beat) were noted. In nine animals an aortic valve gradient was created (and released). The results were compared to those obtained by impeding the aortic flow at the ascending aorta. The mean systolic left ventricular pressure was significantly higher in the arrhythmia associated periods in 8/9 experiments when there was an aortic valve gradient and in 5/9 experiments when there was not. In 4/9 experiments the mean aortic pressure associated with arrhythmia was significantly lower with an aortic valve gradient than when there was no gradient and no arrhythmia. In 7/9 of these experiments, coronary sinus flow was measured volumetrically during the manoeuvres applied. The coronary flow was significantly lower when there was neither arrhythmia nor aortic valve gradient than when there was an arrhythmia (with or without an aortic valve gradient). In another eight experiments a pressure reservoir in the aorta was either raised or lowered while another pressure reservoir in the left atrium was moved in the opposite direction. Thus the mean aortic pressure could be increased while the left atrial pressure was decreased and vice versa. If the left atrial pressure was taken into account, the mean difference of the aortic pressure from its expected value, derived from the aortic v left atrial pressure regression equation, was significantly higher when there was an arrhythmia than it was when there was no arrhythmia in all eight experiments. On the other hand, the mean difference in the left atrial pressure from its expected value was significantly higher when there was an arrhythmia in 1/8, lower in 2/8 and not significantly different in 5/8 experiments. It is concluded that when the blood pressure is raised, it is the increase in afterload rather than an increase in aortic pressure itself or in the preload that has an arrhythmogenic effect on the ventricles. PMID- 2611807 TI - Effects of strophanthidin on intracellular Ca2+ concentration and cellular morphology of guinea pig myocytes. AB - To study the role of cytosolic calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) in the pathophysiology of Ca2+ overload, we used a digital image of calcium indicator signals (fura-2 fluorescence) from guinea pig myocytes. [Ca2+]i increased from 69(SEM 5) nmol.litre-1 (n = 15) to 204(45) nmol.litre-1 (n = 14) after 10 min perfusion with 100 mumol.litre-1 strophanthidin. The effects of strophanthidin on cellular morphology were associated with variable increases in [Ca2+]i of myocytes. [Ca2+]i was 263(9) nmol.litre-1 in the spontaneous contracting cells with "Ca2+ wave", and 784(103) nmol.litre-1 in rounded cells. There was a significant relationship (r = 0.77, p less than 0.001) between elevation of [Ca2+]i and shortening of longitudinal length of the cells. After 20 min pretreatment with 10 mumol.litre-1 ryanodine, strophanthidin (100 mumol.litre-1) did not cause spontaneous contractile activity, and induced a slower increase in [Ca2+]i than found previously with strophanthidin alone. We suggest that [Ca2+]i played a primary role in mediating irreversible injury in this study, and that the absolute value of [Ca2+]i was correlated with morphological changes. We also suggest that the Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum was related to the increase in [Ca2+]i and the spontaneous contracting activity. PMID- 2611808 TI - On the mechanism of barium induced diastolic depolarisation in isolated ventricular myocytes. AB - Barium can induce spontaneous activity in cardiac non-pacemaker cells. The mechanism of barium induced diastolic depolarisation was studied in isolated ventricular myocytes, using a microelectrode technique. Barium (0.05-0.2 mmol.litre-1) decreased resting potential and caused the membrane potential at the end of the action potential to undershoot the diminished resting value temporarily, thereby inducing diastolic depolarisation. Resting membrane resistance was increased by Ba but at the end of phase 3 repolarisation the resistance temporarily decreased below its steady state diastolic value. In presence of Ba, hyperpolarisation abolished or reversed diastolic depolarisation. At the end of phase 3 repolarisation, membrane resistance was decreased, whether diastolic depolarisation was present, absent or reversed. A high [K]o (15.4 mmol.litre-1) decreased Ba effects on action potential, membrane resistance and diastolic depolarisation. Caesium decreased the Ba induced diastolic depolarisation and the associated increase in membrane resistance, but had little effect on spontaneous activity at depolarised levels. Barium induced an oscillatory potential, with increased membrane resistance. Noradrenaline plus low [Ba]o, and high [Ba]o alone (1-5 mmol.litre-1), can induce spontaneous activity. Thus, in myocardial cells barium induces diastolic depolarisation at polarised levels by a voltage and time dependent block of potassium conductance, which is modulated by action potential voltage changes. However, as [Ba]o is increased, spontaneous activity at a depolarised level may be related to the decay of potassium currents and to oscillatory potentials. PMID- 2611809 TI - Biochemical and morphological changes in myocardium during coronary occlusion and reperfusion in canine hearts: effects of propranolol on myocardial damage. AB - To clarify the mechanism of irreversible myocardial damage, we studied the relationship between ischaemic mitochondrial dysfunction and leakage of lysosomal enzymes, and the effects of propranolol on myocardial damage. Open chest anaesthetised dogs were divided into six groups: 30 min occlusion of the left anterior coronary artery (LAD); 2 h LAD occlusion; 2 h LAD occlusion after premedication with 0.3 mg.kg-1 propranolol; 30 min LAD occlusion/l h reperfusion; 2 h LAD occlusion/l h reperfusion; and 2 h LAD occlusion/l h reperfusion after propranolol premedication. After occlusion or reperfusion, heart mitochondria were prepared from normal and occluded or reperfused areas, and mitochondrial function (rate of oxygen consumption in State III, and respiratory control index) was measured polarographically. Myocardial tissue was fractionated and activities of lysosomal enzymes (N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase) were measured. Electron microscopic studies were performed. Thirty min occlusion induced mitochondrial dysfunction without leakage of lysosomal enzymes. Reperfusion for 1 h reversed these changes. However occlusion for 2 h induced mitochondrial dysfunction associated with the leakage of lysosomal enzymes, and mitochondrial dysfunction was not reversed by 1 h reperfusion. Propranolol reduced mitochondrial dysfunction after 2 h occlusion and prevented leakage of lysosomal enzymes. Mitochondrial function was fairly well maintained after 1 h reperfusion in dogs premedicated with propranolol. Structural changes in mitochondria were observed in the 2 h occlusion/l h reperfusion group, and were reduced by premedication with propranolol. These results suggest that irreversible injury of ischaemic mitochondria is closely linked with instability of lysosomal membranes, and that propranolol prevented irreversible myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction. PMID- 2611810 TI - Variability of coronary blood flow measurements with microspheres in the rat: role of injection site and sphere number. AB - Although fully explored in larger animals, the role of injection site and sample microsphere content on variability of coronary blood flow (CBF) measurement using the microsphere technique remains controversial in rats despite the fact that this species is extensively used in cardiovascular research. We therefore investigated these variables in two studies. In a first study, we established that the precision of the method, assessed by the variability of four simultaneous CBF determinations, was a function of the sample microsphere number. Coefficient of variation (CV) averaged 4-10% when the tissue and reference samples received greater than 1000 and greater than 100 spheres, respectively, and did not improve appreciably with larger numbers of microspheres. In a second study, flow CV was measured following left atrial (LA) or left ventricular (LV) microsphere injections performed nearly simultaneously in the same conscious animal or in two similar groups of animals. CBF variability was lower by 22-62% after LA than after LV injections. Estimates obtained from separate analysis of the main variability components indicated that, with one exception, the variability associated with LV injections was at least 1.4 to 2.8 times higher than that due to LA injections. These findings establish the minimum number of microspheres needed to obtain precise blood flow determinations in the rat model and confirm previous reports, in anaesthetised rats, that LA microsphere injections generally yield more precise coronary blood flow determinations than LV injections. PMID- 2611811 TI - Cardiac responses to head up tilt during early extrauterine life: relevance of active acquisition of erect posture. AB - Mammals must adapt to gravity on passing from the intrauterine to the extrauterine environment. In order to evaluate the cardiovascular effects of gravity in the first phases of extrauterine life, the effects of passive orthostatism on the cardiac filling volume were investigated through longitudinal haemodynamic studies in 14 normal healthy males before (6 months) and after (18 months) acquiring the ability to stand. Left ventricular diameter (by echocardiographic measurement), arterial blood pressure (by sphygmomanometry) and heart rate were measured in the supine and upright position at both ages. At 6 months the left ventricular end diastolic volume was not modified by a change in posture [supine 6(SEM 3) ml, upright 6(3) ml], so heart rate was minimally altered [supine 128(9), upright 130(11) beats.min-1] and blood pressure remained stable [supine 74(6), upright 73(5) mm Hg]. After the acquisition of the erect posture (18 months) left ventricular end diastolic volume was reduced [supine 14(3), upright 8(2) ml], heart rate increased [supine 110(11), upright 127(12) beats.min-1] and blood pressure remained constant [supine 80(6), upright 79(7) mm Hg]. The assumption of the erect posture therefore represents a phase when, for the first time in the natural history of the cardiovascular system, translocation of intravascular volume from the cardiopulmonary area to the periphery stimulates nervous and humoral responses to control the dynamics of body fluids and arterial blood pressure in a gravitational environment. PMID- 2611812 TI - Endothelium dependent control of arterial diameter by blood viscosity. AB - The local control of arterial diameter by blood flow rate has been attributed to the ability of the endothelial cells to sense the shear stress exerted on them by flowing blood. Since shear stress is proportional to the product of flow rate and fluid viscosity, an increase in the latter will augment shear stress and lead to arterial dilatation as well. We therefore designed experiments to reveal the control of the arterial lumen by blood viscosity and to compare it with the control by blood flow rate. Changes in external diameter of a segment of feline femoral artery caused by variations in blood viscosity and/or flow rate were recorded during the perfusion in situ under stabilised transmural pressure. Decrease in blood viscosity evoked by haemodilution at a constant flow rate led to arterial constriction whereas an increase in viscosity due to haemoconcentration caused arterial dilatation. These viscosity induced changes in arterial diameter depended on intact endothelium. Responses to the changes in blood viscosity and flow rate of the same magnitude were practically identical. These results show that blood viscosity is a factor affecting vascular smooth muscle tone and confirm the suggestion that shear stress is the key signal in the endothelium dependent control of the arterial lumen by blood flow rate. PMID- 2611813 TI - Comparison of the effects of inotropic interventions on isometric tension and shortening in isolated ferret ventricular muscle. AB - In this study, we have compared the effects of a range of positive and negative inotropic interventions on isometric tension and shortening at low load in isolated ferret papillary muscles. It was found that the majority of interventions produced broadly similar effects on tension and shortening. Positive inotropic interventions which behaved in this way included increasing extracellular calcium and increasing frequency at moderate stimulation rates. Acidosis, the addition of cyanide, and metabolic blockade produced by the addition of iodoacetic acid and cyanide, all produced negative inotropic effects which showed a similar pattern. For all these interventions, it was noted that the fractional effect on tension was 1.5-2 times larger than the fractional effect on shortening. This was attributed to the shape of the tension-length relation for cardiac muscle in different inotropic states. When frequency was increased to a high rate, tension rose to an initial peak, but then showed a marked decline, while shortening rose to a new level and was then well maintained. When protocols consisting of varying amounts of isometric and isotonic contraction were applied, the amount of the secondary decline for both tension and shortening was related to the period spent doing isotonic contractions, and hence to the energy consumption of the muscle. Thus the difference in the behaviour of tension and shortening under these conditions can be accounted for by the lower energy requirements of shortening, rather than by other factors. Over the range of inotropic interventions studied, peak shortening velocity was a more sensitive index of contractility than shortening, being roughly comparable to isometric tension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611814 TI - Cardiovascular and metabolic effects of caesium chloride injection in dogs- limitations as a model for the long QT syndrome. AB - Caesium chloride administration has been used in an animal model to reproduce the acquired long QT syndrome observed in man, but the transient nature of the arrhythmogenic action of caesium has made systematic study difficult. We developed a loading and maintenance infusion regimen to produce stable caesium effects for over 30 min. The results of sustained caesium administration were compared to those of bolus dose caesium and found to be similar in terms of changes in metabolic, electrophysiological, and haemodynamic variables, and the nature of resulting ventricular arrhythmias. Caesium administration by either method consistently induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias that were either monoform or polymorphic, rarely had the morphological features of Torsades de Pointes, and frequently degenerated to ventricular fibrillation. Both forms of caesium administration produced substantial increases in arterial pressure [from 131(SEM12)/63(SEM8) to 246(30)/138(20) mm Hg with sustained infusion; from 120(8)/55(2) to 263(19)/178(16) mm Hg with bolus caesium; p less than 0.01 for each] and serum potassium concentration [from 3.6(0.2) to 8.6(0.8) mmol.litre-1, and from 3.2(0.1) to 7.8(0.7) mmol.litre-1 respectively; p less than 0.01 for each]. Ventricular overdrive pacing transiently accelerated the spontaneous arrhythmia in 48/60 (80%) trials, with overdrive suppression occurring in only five trials. The morphological features of these caesium induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias, their response to overdrive pacing, and their occurrence despite substantial hyperkalaemia are quite different from the properties of the clinical long QT syndrome, which is overdrive suppressible, favoured by hypokalaemia, and rarely degenerates to ventricular fibrillation. We conclude that stable ventricular tachyarrhythmias can be produced by loading and maintenance infusions of caesium in dogs and that the effects of sustained caesium infusion are similar to those of bolus dose caesium, but that caution is necessary in using caesium administration as a model for the clinical long QT syndrome. PMID- 2611815 TI - Effects of hydrogen peroxide on action potentials and intracellular Ca2+ concentration of guinea pig heart. AB - Oxygen free radicals and Ca2+ overload have been implicated in the genesis of reperfusion induced arrhythmia and injury. Effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on action potentials and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were studied using guinea pig papillary muscles and ventricular myocytes. High concentration of H2O2 (10 mmol.litre-1) caused delayed afterdepolarisations in all six papillary muscles, and induced triggered activity in 3/6 preparations. Pretreatment with ryanodine (1 mumol.litre-1) abolished delayed afterdepolarisations and triggered activity induced by H2O2. [Ca2+]i and morphological changes in isolated ventricular myocytes of guinea pig were measured using fura-2. Quiescent and rod shaped myocytes became shortened and rounded (contracture) after the application of 0.1 and 1 mmol.litre-1 H2O2. [Ca2+]i increased from the control values of 53 (SEM 4) and 62(8) nmol.litre-1 to 110(29) and 105(24) nmol.litre-1 (p less than 0.05 v control) when cells were shortened during perfusion with 0.1 and 1 mmol.litre-1 H2O2, respectively. The values were 130(26) nmol.litre-1 (p less than 0.05 v control) and 100(18) nmol.litre-1 (p less than 0.05 v control) when the cells became rounded during perfusion with 0.1 and 1 mmol.litre-1 H2O2. We suggest that the arrhythmia caused by Ca2+ overload was induced by H2O2, possibly by lipid peroxidation of cell membrane. H2O2 was also shown to shorten cells and cause cell contracture (rounding). The mechanism of cell injury is not likely to be due to the Ca2+ overload, since the increase in [Ca2+]i during perfusion with H2O2 was not large. PMID- 2611816 TI - Relative importance of intracellular glutathione peroxidase and catalase in vivo for prevention of peroxidation to the heart. AB - The relative importance in vivo of catalase and the selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase for protection against peroxidation was assessed in the rat heart. Each of these enzymes was modulated by feeding animals a low selenium diet either unsupplemented or supplemented with 0.5 parts per million of selenium, with or without the catalase inhibitor, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, in their drinking water. After 8 weeks, selenium deficient rats had 88% reductions in cytosolic and mitochondrial glutathione peroxidase activities. These reductions were accompanied by increased peroxidation in heart homogenates and mitochondrial suspensions. Since increased mitochondrial peroxidation only occurred when both the cytosolic and mitochondrial glutathione peroxidase activities were compromised, these selenoenzymes appear to work in tandem and reductions in both are a prerequisite for increased peroxidation in this organ. Peroxidation did not occur in aminotriazole treated animals even though cytosolic catalase activity was inhibited by 65-80%. Moreover, inhibition of catalase activity did not exacerbate the level of peroxidation in selenium deficient animals depleted of glutathione peroxidase activity. Because increased peroxidation was only associated with reductions in glutathione peroxidase activity irrespective of catalase activity, the selenoenzyme appears to be more important for detoxification of hydrogen peroxide in the heart. PMID- 2611817 TI - The effect of flunarizine on intracellular calcium in isolated rat cardiomyocytes. A digital image processing study. AB - The molecular mechanisms associated with the effects of various pathological stimuli on myocardial tissue, as well as the mechanisms by which Ca2+ antagonists exert their protective effect, are poorly understood. With the use of digital image processing of Fura-2 fluorescence, we have shown that the mean intracellular free Ca2+ concentration of single isolated rat cardiomyocytes is increased upon exposure to various pathological stimuli (high extracellular Ca2+, veratrine). This increased Ca2+ content coincided with an increased number of hypercontracted cells. Pretreatment with flunarizine under these experimental conditions lowered the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration, thereby reducing the number of hypercontracted cells. Verapamil had no effect. The kinetics of changes in intracellular Ca2+ in electrically paced cardiomyocytes were not affected by flunarizine, but were significantly altered by the beta agonist isoprenaline. In addition, isoprenaline increased the mean diastolic intracellular free Ca2+ concentration of paced cardiomyocytes, whereas it remained unchanged in flunarizine treated cells. We conclude that flunarizine reduces intracellular free Ca2+ levels in isolated cardiomyocytes under pathological conditions, but does not affect physiological processes mediated by Ca2+. The report also illustrates the possibilities of digital imaging microscopy in the study of ion distributions in living cells. PMID- 2611818 TI - Reversal of dyskinesis by increased end diastolic segment length in ischaemic reperfused myocardium. AB - Persistent dyskinesis is universally observed after reperfusion of a severely ischaemic segment. Although inotropic stimulation shows a latent contractile reserve, it is not known whether this reserve can be recruited by increasing end diastolic segment length (local length-tension relation). To investigate this, six anaesthetised open chest dogs were placed on right heart bypass to increase end diastolic segment length independently of mean arterial pressure. Instantaneous left ventricular pressure-segment length relations and fractional systolic shortening were determined by sonomicrometry in the centre of the region perfused by the left anterior descending coronary artery during sequential increases in end diastolic segment length. Measurements were made before occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, during 1 h of occlusion, and after 2 h of reperfusion. Before ischaemia, segmental shortening increased from 11.0(SEM 1.6)% to 23.5(1.5)% (p less than 0.05) as end diastolic segment length increased. Dyskinesis developed during occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery [12.1(2.6)% control v -7.2(1.6)% occlusion, p less than 0.05] and was present over the entire range of end diastolic segment lengths. Following reperfusion, segmental dyskinesis [-2.5(2.4)%] persisted at the lower end of the range of end diastolic segment length, but was progressively replaced by active shortening, averaging 7.3(3.2)% (p less than 0.05) as end diastolic segment length was sequentially increased. We conclude that segmental function following reperfusion is sensitive to changes in end diastolic segment length, and that active shortening is recruited from an apparently dyskinetic segment as end diastolic segment length progressively increases. PMID- 2611819 TI - Complications of NSAIDs for patients over age 65. PMID- 2611820 TI - Sodium hyaluronate in the repair of perforations of the tympanic membrane. AB - Hyaluronic acid is the most abundant mucopolysaccharide in connective tissue. Because of its high viscous elasticity, it lubricates joints and can hold cells together in the intercellular spaces in connective tissue. The administration of exogenous hyaluronic acid can increase the repair potential of damaged tissue. A study was conducted to verify whether or not hyaluronic acid enhances the repair process in perforations of the tympanic membrane and to evaluate the quality of the tympanic membrane after healing. The 17 patients, aged 22 to 63 years, had small, medium, or large perforations of the tympanic membrane that were treated locally with sodium hyaluronate until a reduction in the area of the perforation was observed. The patients were examined with an otomicroscope and completed evoked-response and impedance tests. Of the 17 perforations treated, 12 (eight small and four medium) healed after two to 11 days of treatment. None of the large perforations healed. Treatment was less effective in patients with secretions from the middle ear. In the 12 patients whose perforations were healed, three months after treatment the tympanic membrane was normal in most cases; hearing threshold, measured with the evoked-response test, had improved; and the tympanometric curve, measured with the impedance test, had returned to normal. PMID- 2611821 TI - Antimicrobial activity of ofloxacin and other agents against mycobacterial isolates from postoperative sternotomy wounds. AB - In 1987 and 1988, 16 patients in a cardiothoracic hospital developed median sternotomy wound infections from Mycobacterium fortuitum or Mycobacterium chelonei (M fortuitum, 14 patients; M chelonei, two patients). For M fortuitum isolates, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (by agar dilution) of ofloxacin was 0.32 to 1.25 mg/L; of amikacin, 0.5 to 1 mg/L; of sulfadiazine, 16 to 256 mg/L; of imipenem, less than or equal to 2 to 4 mg/L; of cefoxitin, 4 to 16 mg/L; of ampicillin, 64 to greater than 256 mg/L; of cephapirin, 64 to 128 mg/L; of cefoperazone, greater than 256 mg/L; and of ceftazidime, greater than 256 mg/L. Addition of sulbactam to ampicillin and cefoperazone resulted in at least a four- to eight-fold reduction of their respective MICs. For M chelonei isolates, the MIC of ofloxacin was greater than 20 mg/L; of amikacin, 8 mg/L; of sulfadiazine, 64 mg/L; of imipenem, 8 mg/L; of cefoxitin, 16 mg/L; of ampicillin, 128 mg/L; of cephapirin, 128 mg/L; of cefoperazone, greater than 256 mg/L; and of ceftazidime, greater than 256 mg/L. Addition of sulbactam resulted in much smaller reductions of the MICs of ampicillin and cefoperazone. Synergism was noticed between ofloxacin and amikacin against M chelonei but not against M fortuitum. The results indicate that ofloxacin alone is as effective as the combination of ofloxacin and amikacin in treating M fortuitum, but not M chelonei, infection. PMID- 2611822 TI - Parkinsonism induced by indeloxazine hydrochloride in the elderly. AB - Two elderly patients, aged 74 and 77 years, had typical symptoms of parkinsonism when treated with 60 mg of indeloxazine hydrochloride daily; the symptoms disappeared when indeloxazine was withdrawn. Results of animal studies indicate that indeloxazine increases slightly the dopamine content in the frontal cortex and striatum and markedly decreases levels of the dopamine metabolites 3,4 dihydroxy phenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid in most brain areas. In the two cases of parkinsonism, indeloxazine probably depressed dopamine release by inhibiting dopamine-containing nerve function, producing the parkinsonian symptoms. Since the brain dopamine content decreases in elderly persons, due care should be exercised when treating elderly patients with indeloxazine. PMID- 2611823 TI - Parkinsonism induced by indeloxazine hydrochloride. AB - Three patients, aged 60, 70, and 82 years, developed symptoms of parkinsonism after treatment with 60 mg or 120 mg of indeloxazine hydrochloride daily. The symptoms disappeared when the indeloxazine was withdrawn and recurred in one patient when treatment with indeloxazine was reinstated. It is postulated that the symptoms might have occurred as a result of an imbalance in brain norepinephrine, dopamine, and acetylcholine levels induced by the indeloxazine. PMID- 2611824 TI - Effect of inoculum size and medium on activity of seven antimicrobial agents against Bacteroides fragilis strains. AB - Antimicrobial activity of cefoxitin, cefotetan, cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, ceftazidime, imipenem, and clindamycin against four inocula of Bacteroides fragilis strains was determined on three different media. The inoculum sizes were 10(4), 10(5), 10(6), and 10(7) colony forming units (CFU) per spot. On all three media, substantial effects of inoculum size on minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of cefotaxime and ceftizoxime were found: the doubled dilution differences in MICs between inocula of 10(7) and 10(4) CFU/spot were 2.2, 2.3, and 2.1 micrograms/ml of cefotaxime and 1.8, 4.4, and 4.0 micrograms/ml of ceftizoxime on Brucella base-laked blood agar, Wilkins-Chalgren agar, and a brain-heart infusion medium, respectively. An inoculum difference found on all three media with ceftazidime may also be of practical significance. There was evidence of larger differences between inocula on the Wilkins-Chalgren agar and brain-heart infusion than on the Brucella agar. PMID- 2611825 TI - Effect of lovastatin on serum lipids in patients with nonfamilial primary hypercholesterolemia. AB - The effect of lovastatin on serum lipids and its tolerability in patients with non-familial primary hypercholesterolemia (type II-A and type II-B) during a six month period were evaluated in this open-label study. Thirty-eight patients were enrolled in the study; tolerability was assessed in all 38 patients. Thirty patients completed the study, and the effect of lovastatin on serum lipids in these patients was assessed. Some patients had been treated for hypercholesterolemia with long-term dietary and other non-pharmacologic means before entry into the study. All patients were unresponsive to a six-week program of intensive dietary therapy and other nonpharmacologic treatment to lower their blood cholesterol levels before receiving lovastatin. While maintaining intensive dietary therapy, administration of lovastatin was instituted at a dosage of 20 mg/day, which was increased by 20-mg increments monthly, as necessary, to a maximum of 80 mg/day. In an effort to achieve goal levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), ten patients received a daily dosage of 20 mg, 12 patients received 40 mg, seven patients 60 mg, and one patient 80 mg. Twenty nine of the 30 patients achieved significant lowering of serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, and apolipoprotein (apo) B-I; this was demonstrated after the first month of therapy with lovastatin and was maintained throughout the six-month treatment period. One patient failed to demonstrate lowering of these serum lipids, despite receiving the maximum recommended dosage of lovastatin of 80 mg/day. Comparative measurements of serum lipids during dietary therapy alone and after six months of diet plus lovastatin therapy were as follows: TC, 289 +/- 5 versus 216 +/- 9 mg/dl (P less than 0.0005); LDL-C, 206 +/ 4 versus 141 +/- 5 mg/dl (P less than 0.0005); and apo B-I, 112 +/- 3 versus 89 +/- 2 mg/dl (P less than 0.0005). Serum levels of very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and triglycerides decreased slightly during lovastatin therapy, but the changes were not statistically significant. There were slight but statistically insignificant increases in serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apo A-I, and apo A-II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2611826 TI - Effects of helio-neon laser radiation upon cellular cycle in a plant model. AB - The scope of this study was to investigate possible relationships between He-Neon laser radiation and mitotic and phase indices in meristematic cells of Allium cepa L. bulbs. Our results indicate that mitotic index increased after irradiation depending this modification on the time exposure and the potency of the He-Neon beam. Phase indices were also modified: frequency of prophase increased, while inter- meta- and anaphase decreased: telophases remain unchanged. These variations were significative only when the preparations were irradiated a) with 5 mW for 10 min. or more, b) with 10 mW or c) when the preparations were processed 60 min. after irradiation. These findings could not be attributed to thermal changes. Modifications in RNA or protein synthesis could be responsible. PMID- 2611827 TI - Effect of maternal fatty acid deficiency on lipid content and composition of rat liver during prenatal development. AB - Two groups of female rats were fed a diet with high (5.9 cal % of linoleate + linolenate) or low (0.78 cal % of linoleate + linolenate) essential fatty acid (EFA) concentration. The effects of the EFA concentration during gestation on liver lipid and fatty acid composition were studied in the fetuses at 15 and 20 days of intrauterine life. Fetal and liver weights were identical in the two groups; at day 20 the contents of proteins, total cholesterol, phospholipids and glycolipids were significantly decreased (p less than 0.01) with the low EFA diet while at day 15 only total cholesterol was affected (p less than 0.05). At both gestational ages the triacylglycerol content was increased in the low EFA group (day 15 p less than 0.05, day 20 p less than 0.01). The maternal EFA deficiency resulted in higher levels of 16:1 n-7 in the phospholipid fractions and 16:1 n-7 and 18:1 n-7 in the neutral lipids. The increase in these monoenoic derivatives partially compensated the decrease of the polyunsaturated species 18:2 n-6 and 20:4 n-6. In conclusion the low EFA diet results in important modifications of the fetal hepatic lipids during intrauterine development. PMID- 2611828 TI - Characterization of mouse salivary glands by water content and type. AB - The thermoanalytical analysis was applied to samples of sublingual, submandibular and parotid glands from sexually mature mice of both sexes. Findings indicated that the three salivary glands show a behaviour of water release characteristic for each type of gland. Derivative thermogravimetry curves concerned with the sublingual and parotid glands belonging to male and female subjects exhibited overlapped results. As regards submandibular gland, instead, some differences emerged between subjects of different sex. Water content and types in sublingual, submandibular and parotid glands were discussed and related to the different morphological expression, histochemical reactivity and chemical composition of these organ tissues. PMID- 2611829 TI - Lonidamine effect on male rat germ cells. AB - Lonidamine, a dichlorinated derivative of indazole-3-carboxylic acid, has recently been indicated as an antiproliferative agent being able to reduce mitotic activity of tumor cells. We have evaluated lonidamine effect on proliferating, non tumor cells choosing as a model the male germ cells obtained from cultured seminiferous epithelium explants. The obtained germ cells are able to duplicate in vitro and we have found that lonidamine, at low doses, induces a significative inhibition of the incorporation of labelled thymidine into the duplicating germ cells. The effect seems to be specific for the germ cells since lonidamine does not affect duplicative ability of the somatic cells of the seminiferous tubules and of muscle fibroblasts. PMID- 2611830 TI - The activation of factor X by hepatocyte plasma membranes. AB - Synthesis and secretion of blood coagulation factor X was studied during incubations of hepatocytes prepared by perfusion of rat livers with collagenase. The apparent molecular weight of factor X isolated from the incubation medium was about 14,000 less than factor X isolated from rat plasma. The extracellular form of factor X was a two-chain polypeptide and the observed difference in molecular weight was reflected in the heavy chain. Since these properties were more characteristic of factor Xa than factor X, experiments were designed to determine if factor X activation occurred during the incubations. Clotting factor assays indicated that factor X secreted by hepatocytes was present as factor Xa. Also, when purified plasma factor X was added to incubations of hepatocytes the added factor X was converted to factor Xa. Plasma membranes prepared from isolated hepatocytes or from liver homogenates contained an enzyme that converted factor X to factor Xa in a calcium-dependent reaction. The results suggest that the activity is due to the presence of thromboplastin (tissue factor) and factor VII in the membrane preparations. PMID- 2611831 TI - Immobilized fluorogenic substrates for proteinases: a method for visualization and quantitation of elastase release from human monocytes. AB - An elastase-specific fluorogenic substrate, 6-(N-carbo-benzoxy-L-alanyl-L-alanyl L-alanylamido)-qu inoline, was synthesized and immobilized via the fluorophoric group to an alkylatable derivative of polyacrylamide microspheres. Upon hydrolysis by elastase, the proteolytic product of the reaction fluorescences with a characteristic greenish-yellow light corresponding to the presence of the 1-alkyl-6-aminoquinolinium ion. This method has been applied to detect the elastase activity released from monocytes grown on the microspheres. Because the fluorescent product is covalently attached to the microsphere and cannot diffuse away from the site of reaction, it is possible to identify individual cells releasing the proteinase molecules. These experiments demonstrate that covalently immobilized fluorogenic substrates can be used for direct visualization and quantitation of proteinase activity from individual cells in culture. PMID- 2611832 TI - HPLC analysis of supernatant soluble factors from tumor cell variants with defined metastatic status. AB - In the present study, we report a simple and sensitive procedure to study supernatant soluble factors of short time cultured cells by high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC). This procedure enables a direct analysis with no preparatory procedures prior to application in the chromatographic column and eliminates tedious and often low reproducible techniques, required during conventional assay of culture medium. In addition, we show that HPGPC analysis is suitable for discriminating between two variants of a rhabdomyosarcoma with different metastatic potential, while two distinct cell lines (3LL carcinoma and B16F10 melanoma), which do not differ in their metastatic potential, do not present noticeable qualitative differences in their chromatographic secretion pattern. PMID- 2611833 TI - Immunohistochemical study of types I, III and IV collagen in diseased human gingiva of patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis: a light and electron microscopic study. AB - The distribution of type I, III and IV collagens and their ultrastructural organization have been studied in diseased gingival connective tissue of patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis. This disease is characterized by acute destruction of the gingival collagenous components. The use of an immunofluorescent procedure has shown that the diseased connective tissue was made up of both type I and III collagens but that type III collagen was less resistant to acute inflammation. Ultrastructural immunolabelling, using the peroxidase procedure has shown that the large, dense bundles of type I collagen of PI, the main pattern of organization of the gingival connective tissue offered a better resistance to acute destruction than PII, a loose pattern of organization mainly composed of type III collagen. Type IV collagen was exclusively located in degraded lamina densa of basement membrane. PMID- 2611834 TI - Immunohistochemical localization of type IV collagen fibronectin and laminin in the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the rat kidney. AB - The juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) is a complex structure containing several components: the vessels, the extraglomerular mesangium and the distal tubule. These structures include cellular elements and an extracellular matrix (ECM). Collagenous (type IV collagen) and noncollagenous components of the basement membranes were studied. The localization of type IV collagen and of two extracellular glycoproteins (laminin and fibronectin) was investigated using immunofluorescent and immunoperoxidase labelled antibodies. Type IV collagen and laminin have the same localization on the JGA basement membranes. On the other hand, fibronectin is limited to the entrance of the glomerular stalk. On electron microscopy, type IV collagen is found in the basement membrane while fibronectin is restricted to certain areas of the extracellular matrix. These findings confirm data concerning the distribution of these three components in basement membranes and allow a better understanding of the histoarchitecture of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. PMID- 2611835 TI - Antioxidant enzymes and proliferative activity of cell lines of different origin. AB - The effects of catalase treatment were studied in two in vitro passaged ascites tumour lines (ATP C+ and EAT) and in three in vitro established human myeloid leukemia cell lines (HL-60; KG-1; KG-1a) characterized by the arrest of cells at different stages of maturation. The results demonstrate that catalase treatment favoured proliferation in the in vitro passaged ascites tumour cells, but not in the in vitro established leukemia lines. Enzyme assays on five in vitro cell lines revealed that catalase was only present in HL-60. Although glutathione peroxidase activity was initially found in all five cell lines, it disappeared from two ascites tumour cells when they were transferred in culture. It is hypothesized that catalase treatment favours ascites tumour cell proliferation because it replaces glutathione peroxidase in eliminating H2O2. PMID- 2611836 TI - Heterogeneous activity of rodent and lagomorph parotid gland extracts on the hemocoagulation process. AB - Anticoagulant properties of parotid glands belonging to four species of mammals (rat, mouse, rabbit and hare) were investigated on the hemostatic system of human being. Heterogeneous effects of the glycoconjugates extractable from different species were demonstrated by means of thromboelastography and hemocoagulation screening tests. In fact, glycoconjugates isolated from the rodent (rat and mouse) parotid glands changed all the thromboelastographic parameters and the hemocoagulation tests (Thrombin Time, Prothrombin Time, Partial Thromboplastin Time). Glycoconjugates extracted from the rabbit parotid gland strongly affected the thromboelastogram parameters in addition to the Partial Thromboplastin Time. Finally, glycoderivatives obtained from the hare parotid gland only influenced the Partial Thromboplastin Time. PMID- 2611837 TI - Effect of Zn(II) and Mg(II) on phosphohydrolytic activity of rat matrix-induced alkaline phosphatase. AB - Rat matrix-induced alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme which requires magnesium and zinc ions for its maximal activity. Two Zn(II) ions and one Mg(II) ion are bound to each subunit of native dimeric enzyme. The presence of magnesium ion (10-100 microM) or zinc ion (7-20 nM) alone is sufficient to stimulate apoenzyme activity. However maximal activity (264 U/mg) requires the presence of both ions. Binding of Zn(II) ions to the Mg(II) binding site causes a strong inhibition of the apoenzyme while the binding of Mg(II) on Zn(II) binding site is not sufficient to stimulate PNPPase activity of the apoenzyme. Binding of both ions to the enzyme molecule did not change the apparent dissociation constant for PNPP hydrolysis. PMID- 2611838 TI - Separation of polypeptides which induce a mitogen response of thymocytes from the culture supernatant of a thymic epithelial cell line. AB - To examine thymic hormonal factors, four polypeptide fractions (estimated molecular weight: I, 10 K; II, 7 K; III, 3 K; IV, 2.5 K) were separated from the culture supernatant of a rat thymic epithelial cell line by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a gel-filtration column. The effects of the fractions on response to mitogens of three small-lymphocyte subsets were studied. All fractions enhanced response to concanavalin A (Con A) of the lighter subset containing mainly immature thymocytes, but only fractions II and IV increased response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) of the heavier subset containing relatively mature thymocytes. When fraction IV was subfractionated by reversed-phase HPLC, the polypeptides that enhanced response to Con A and PHA were separated into hydrophobic and hydrophilic subfractions, respectively. Fraction I was subfractionated by a similar method, and the inducing activity of Con A response was found in a relatively hydrophobic subfraction. These data suggested that the cell line secretes several kinds of bioactive polypeptides that affect the thymocytes at different stage of maturation. PMID- 2611839 TI - Separation of rosette formation-inducing polypeptides from the supernatant of cultures of rat thymic epithelial cell line. AB - Four polypeptide fractions were isolated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) from culture supernatant of rat thymic epithelial cell line (IT-45R1). Biological activity of these fractions was examined according to the capacity inducing rosette-formation between rat thymocytes and guinea pig erythrocytes. A relatively rich population of non-rosette-forming cells (non-RFC), one of targets for thymic hormones, was separated from rat thymocytes by combining rosette formation method with differential centrifugation. Non-RFC consists of outer cortical and medullary thymocytes. Medullary thymocytes treated with the polypeptide fraction did not differentiate into RFC. Therefore, the cells, which rosette-forming capacity was induced, seem to derive from outer-cortical area. One of the polypeptide fractions (estimated molecular weight: 3 K) possessed the activity endowing non-RFC with rosette-forming capacity. Since its molecular weight was similar to that of thymosin alpha 1, the fraction was pretreated with anti-thymosin alpha 1 antiserum. The pretreatment suppressed the activity of the fraction. Thus, the fraction must contain thymosin alpha 1 or a polypeptide possessing an antigenic determinant similar to that of thymosin alpha 1. Moreover, two of four subfractions, which were divided from the active fractions by reversed-phase HPLC, showed the biological activity. PMID- 2611840 TI - Antifreeze protein gene transcription in winter flounder is not responsive to temperature. AB - Although the endogenous rhythm of antifreeze protein gene expression in winter flounder is primarily regulated through the pituitary, the effect of water temperature on the annual cycle is poorly understood. In order to determine the specific effects of temperature on antifreeze gene transcription we did a series of experiments with intact and hypophysectomized winter flounder kept at various temperature regimes. Our results demonstrate that temperature shifts do not induce or suppress antifreeze gene transcription as determined by "run-on" transcription assays or by Northern blot analysis of liver mRNA in hypophysectomized flounder. However, warm temperature reduces the amount of antifreeze protein in the plasma, and apparently reduces the half-life of antifreeze protein mRNA. PMID- 2611841 TI - Quantitative responses of the digestive-lysosomal system of winkles to sublethal concentrations of cadmium. AB - The effects of the experimental exposure to sublethal concentrations of cadmium on the digestive gland lysosomal system of the marine prosobranch Littorina littorea have been studied by means of stereology in fresh frozen cryotome sections after demonstration of beta-glucuronidase activity. The volume density of secondary lysosomes was demonstrated to be independent of both the external concentration of the metal and the exposure-time. However, some punctual increases in this parameter have been related to the alternate renewal of the tissular population of this organelle. The lysosomal surface density showed a dose- and time-dependent significant decrease over the controls. The lysosomal surface to volume ratio increased over the time in the control series whilst decreased significantly in Cd-exposed animals at each sampling period. Lysosomal numerical density was strongly dependent on the external concentration of the metal, changes in this parameter showing the highest signification. It is concluded that sublethal exposure to cadmium leads to fusion of secondary lysosomes to give larger ones. This process is related to lysosomal membrane destabilisation, which could take place after the storage capacity of the organelles have been overloaded. PMID- 2611842 TI - An endogenous lectin "CSL" interacts with glycoprotein components in peripheral nervous system myelin. AB - An endogenous mannose binding lectin isolated from the rat cerebellum, CSL, was localized using immunocytochemical techniques in adult and in developing rat sciatic nerve. The lectin is present in Schwann cell cytoplasm and in compact myelin. It is present very early in Schwann cells and persists throughout postnatal sciatic nerve development. Endogenous ligands for the lectin were detected using iodinated-CSL binding to proteins blotted after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Probably PO and MAG glycoproteins are specifically bound by CSL in contrast with numerous other Concanavalin A binding glycoproteins. A 31 kDa glycoprotein identified in purified preparations of axons of young rats also reacts with CSL. Based on the present developmental biochemical and immunochemical studies, an hypothetical scheme is proposed for the molecular basis of axon-Schwann cell interactions and of stabilization of compact myelin. PMID- 2611843 TI - [The significance of morbidity and mortality in geriatric surgery]. AB - The authors evaluated the surgical morbidity, early and late mortality of 485 operated patients above the age of 70 years. In general surgical practice operations of the gallbladder, biliary pathways and pancreas predominate, followed by oncosurgical operations and affections of the blood vessels of the lower extremities, mostly in the stage of septic complications. Acute surgery predominates, in 84% operations with urgent indications. During hospitalization 7.8% of the operated patients died and 9.16% of the hospitalized ones. The authors evaluated separately a group of 78 patients who died after they were discharged. Within three months after the operation 49% died and 92% of those who died, died within one year after operation. For these reasons the authors consider the following aspects most important in gerontosurgical practice: 1. to reduce the disproportion between acute and elective operations in favour of planned operations, in particular in abdominal surgery 2. to extend perioperative care in this age group to the fourth stage of postoperative disease, for at least three months, by providing protracted interdisciplinary socio-medical care. PMID- 2611844 TI - [Dermatoglyphic analysis of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]. AB - Complete dermatoglyphic analysis of the hands in 69 men and 31 women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy revealed only two significant abnormalities. In both sexes the total frequency of double loops on the fingers was increased (table 1) and the main palmar line had a more longitudinal course on the palm with its termination more frequently in area 3, less frequently in area 5 than in both compared controls (table 2). The differences are, however, not marked enough to use them in practice to screen affected individuals in families at risk. No differences were revealed in relation to the severity of the disease and the genealogical situation in the pedigree. PMID- 2611845 TI - [Experience with the lateral lumbar approach in epidural anesthesia]. AB - Based on a detailed analysis of X-ray pictures of the lumbo-sacral spine and experience assembled during epidural anaesthesia in 116 men, mean age 67 years, and 84 women, mean age 68 years, the authors describe in more detailed the formerly recommended method of a lateral lumbar approach. To make it as successful and as safe as possible it is essential during puncture to be aware of the typical resistance of the yellow ligament, frequently after previous contact with bone and to obtain the positive sign of the "hanging drop" after penetration of the ligament. If in exceptional instances in the depth the elastic resistance of the yellow ligament is lacking before the positive sign of the "hanging drop", it is better to perform the puncture of the epidural space in another intervertebral space. This practically rules out the false positive sign of the "hanging drop" in case of the possible presence of a tougher ligamentous septum in the paravertebral muscles in older patients. This rules out also the even rarer possible penetration of the needle to the dura mater, exactly in the middle of the yellow ligament through the opening for the blood vessel where are only individual elastic fibres, practically without resistance, with a positive "hanging drop". PMID- 2611846 TI - [The importance of screening for hepatitis B surface antigens in pregnancy]. AB - Transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from mother to infant during the perinatal period represents very efficient mode of HBV infection and often leads to severe long-term sequelae. Perinatal transmission can occur when an infant is born to mother positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), frequency of transmission is high if the mother is also HBeAg positive. Prevention of perinatal transmission of HBV is important since the majority of these infants who are infected at birth become chronic carriers and can subsequently develop chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Routine screening for HBsAg of all pregnant women attending prenatal clinic at the Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague in the third trimester of pregnancy by Sevatest ELISA HBsAg Micro I. method (Sevac, Prague) began in June 1986. HBsAg positive patients were subsequently tested for HBeAg and anti-HBe hepatitis markers. Of the 2744 women examined 22 were found HBsAg positive, of these mostly asymptomatic carrier mothers 2 were positive for HBeAg, 14 for anti HBe and 6 were negative for both HBeAg and anti-HBe. All infants were given passive HBIG prophylaxis in conjunction with HB vaccine after birth regardless of HBeAg status of mother. At present no infant were found HBsAg positive at 6 month of age, observation of this risk group infants continues. PMID- 2611847 TI - [HLA antigens on erythrocytes. II. A successful attempt to bind HLA serum antigens to erythrocytes]. AB - In experiments in vitro it proved possible to bind HLA antigens in serum on erythrocytes after 4 to 48 hours incubation at 20 degrees C and 4 degrees C. With the period of incubation the amount of bound HLA antigens increased. The absorption and neutralization test revealed that the HLA antigen content of erythrocytes, thrombocytes and serum in a given subject is the same. HLA antigens present on the erythrocytes of some subjects were not removed from their surface even after nursing 15 times with saline. Based on the results of the experiment it is not possible to decide whether HLA antigens detected on red blood cells are an integral part of their membrane or whether they are bound to the red cells from plasma. PMID- 2611848 TI - [Pseudoaneurysm of the heart. Report on 4 patients]. AB - A cardiac pseudoaneurysm (PA) is a rare complication of myocardial infarction. It may occur isolated, after cardiosurgery or after an accident. Echocardiography is of fundamental importance in its diagnosis. Coronarography provides important data on the state of the coronary arteries which is essential for planning further, in particular surgical treatment of the condition. The authors describe from four patients with PA. PMID- 2611850 TI - [A study trip to the People's Republic of China]. PMID- 2611849 TI - [Injuries of the vascular system in drug addicts in Kladno]. PMID- 2611851 TI - The streaming of the submandibular gland. II: Parenchyma and stroma advance at the same velocity. AB - Thirty young male rats aged 7 weeks, weighing 200 g, were injected with 18.5 kBq g-1 (0.5 microCi g-1) body weight tritiated thymidine [3H]TdR (specific activity 185 GBq). The rats were then killed in groups of five, at the following times: 1 hour, and 14, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. Autoradiograms of sections through the submandibular gland were prepared, and the location of labelled cells in tubular and acinar cross sections was recorded. The nuclear content of each cross section was defined as its 'class'. In this numbering system, narrow tubuli, e.g. intercalated ducts are of low class, and wider tubuli, e.g. striated ducts, of high class. One hour after labelling most labelled tubular cells were found in low class cross sections, i.e. intercalated ducts and narrow granular ducts. Striated ducts were not labelled. From then onward labelled cells entered wider tubuli, e.g. striated ducts. The advancing labelled epithelium was accompanied by labelled stroma. Both cell types traversed 0.089 classes per day. In acini, labelled cells advanced in the opposite direction, starting from acinar cross sections of high class and ending in class-1 cross sections. PMID- 2611852 TI - Sodium-N-butyrate induces cytoskeletal rearrangements and formation of cornified envelopes in cultured adult human keratinocytes. AB - The technique developed in our laboratory allows us to culture multilayered, stratified sheets of human keratinocytes, which can be used to cover the burn wounds of patients. Organization of cells in these cultures resembles stratum germinativum and stratum spinosum but there are only a few fully keratinized cells and the stratum corneum is not developed. Since the fully differentiated sheets may offer additional advantages as epidermal transplants, attempts were made to enhance the degree of differentiation in vitro. In the present study sodium-N-butyrate (NaB) was used as a differentiating agent and its effect on the cell cycle and cytoarchitecture of epidermal cells was investigated. Incubation of keratinocytes in the presence of 2.5 mM NaB induced the appearance of enucleated cornified envelopes, covering approximately 70-80% of the surface of the cultures. Their appearance correlated with a decrease in expression of keratin K13, previously shown to be inhibited during terminal differentiation of human keratinocytes. An increase in transglutaminase transferase activity was also observed. The induction of cornified layers also correlated with an increase in the amount of microfilament (MF)-associated actin. NaB also induced changes in the cell cycle distribution of the keratinocyte cultures. A decrease in the proportion of S and G1B phase cells was paralleled by an increase in G1A cells, maximally expressed 30-48 h following addition of the inducer. Interestingly, NaB also induced a cell arrest in G2 phase. These cell cycle perturbations preceded the onset of keratinocyte differentiation. The results indicate that the enhanced differentiation of human keratinocytes in the presence of NaB may serve as a means to produce epidermal sheets with improved properties for transplantation in a clinical setting. It also serves as an in vitro model system to study the interrelationships between biochemical events and cell cycle changes accompanying differentiation. PMID- 2611853 TI - DNA-synthesizing cells in oral epithelium have a range of cell cycle durations: evidence from double-labelling studies using tritiated thymidine and bromodeoxyuridine. AB - Mouse tongue epithelium is characterized by a circadian variation in the number of DNA-synthesizing cells (labelling index, LI). Cells undergoing DNA synthesis were labelled with tritiated thymidine [( 3H]TdR) at 0300 (peak LI) or 1200 h (low LI). The fate of these cells was assessed by injecting animals with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) at intervals from 12-48 h after [3H]TdR, to follow them from one cell cycle to the next. Labelling was revealed by combining [3H]TdR autoradiography with immunoperoxidase detection of BrdU in the same sections. A single peak in the appearance of double-labelled cells was seen at 44 h, if [3H]TdR was given at 1200 h; following [3H]TdR at 0300 h, a peak of double labelling was seen at 48 h with the possibility of smaller peaks at 24 h and 36 h. These results show that the 24 h periodicity in LI in this tissue is associated with a predominant cell cycle duration of 44-48 h, but that a few cells cycle more quickly. Double labelling with [3H]TdR and BrdU provides a useful method for establishing cell cycle duration by labelling S-phase cells in successive cell cycles. PMID- 2611854 TI - Double labelling of tissue combining tritiated thymidine autoradiography with immunodetection of bromodeoxyuridine: the autoradiographic significance of inhibition of thymidine incorporation into DNA by bromodeoxyuridine given simultaneously. AB - We describe a reproducible method for combining tritiated thymidine ([H]TdR) autoradiography with immunoperoxidase detection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in paraffin-embedded tissues. The technique has been used to examine, in mouse tongue epithelium, the inhibition of incorporation into DNA of [3H]TdR by a simultaneous injection of BrdU in the doses that both compounds are likely to be used in cell proliferation studies. The significance that this inhibition has on prolongation of autoradiograph exposure times, to ensure that all cells that incorporate [3H]TdR are scored as positive, in particular the most lightly labelled cells, has been quantified. The inhibition of uptake into DNA of [3H]TdR from 0.23 to 1.85 MBq (6.25 to 50 mu Ci) per animal, produced by a simultaneous injection of 2.5 mg BrdU shows a linear, dose-dependent relationship. Provided the injected dose (in mu Ci per animal) multiplied by the autoradiographic exposure time (in days) is greater than a value of 700, then all cells that are labelled after incorporation of [3H]TdR alone are also labelled after simultaneous double labelling, despite the latter producing a lower average grain count. PMID- 2611855 TI - The measurement of villus cell population size in the mouse small intestine in normal and abnormal states: a comparison of absolute measurements with morphometric estimators in sectioned immersion-fixed material. AB - From a functional viewpoint, the most important part of the small intestinal mucosa is the villus epithelium; in the experimental study of intestinal adaptation it is often necessary to estimate the size of the population. For these reasons, a systematic study of methods of measuring the size of the villus cell population was undertaken in villi of normal morphology from control animals, and in villi of abnormal morphology as produced by treatment of mice with cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C). The villus cell population can be measured with precision and accuracy in both normal and abnormal mucosal states, with a relative standard error usually less than 5%, with good reproducibility, and with very low counting errors. In the mouse a practically linear relationship between the villus cell population size and position in the small intestine can be shown. In normal, control animals, linear estimates of villus population, for example the villus height, the villus core height, and the villus row count measured in sections of immersion-fixed material, were found to be rough approximations as indicators of the villus cell population, and were highly correlated with it. Product variables, comprising the products of a height with a width measurement, show a large improvement over the linear variables as estimators of villus cell population. In populations of abnormally shaped villi produced by Ara-C, both linear and product variables showed a considerable decrease in correlation with the villus cell population. Consequently, indirect, linear measurements of the villus population size do not accurately reflect the size of the villus population in abnormal villi. Finally, a method comparing theoretical and measured surface: volume indices was used to indicate that the most appropriate shape for normal mouse villi is a simple cylinder; this method would also be applicable for other villus cell populations. PMID- 2611856 TI - Circadian synchronization of liver regeneration in adult rats: the role played by adrenal hormones. AB - The role played by the adrenal hormones in the regulation of liver proliferation in adult rats was investigated under various experimental conditions. In untreated control groups, cell growth was very low and endogenous corticosterone levels showed a clearly-defined circadian rhythm with a peak in the evening. Adrenalectomy depressed the level of endogenous corticosterone immediately and the growth rate of the liver increased significantly. We were able to prevent this effect by repeated injections of corticosterone at physiological doses. After a 1/3 hepatectomy and a sham-operation, the corticosterone blood level maintained its normal circadian pattern with the exception of a transient increase during the first two post-operative hours. After a hepatectomy of this kind, a negative correlation was found to exist between the adrenal hormone level and the waves of DNA synthesis; the subsequent mitoses appeared in two successive circadian waves of decreasing amplitude, a maximum value being reached in the morning. In rats submitted to a 1/3 hepatectomy and an adrenalectomy simultaneously, the endogenous corticosterone level fell significantly after a post-operative peak. The regenerating pattern was completely different from that induced by 1/3 hepatectomy alone. The rise in the labelling index began earlier and rose to significantly higher values; it was then followed by a single large mitotic wave without any circadian rhythm. These results favour the hypothesis that adrenal hormones have a significant effect on the negative control of liver regeneration. Circadian changes in the corticosterone level were responsible for the nycthemeral pattern observed in the regenerating liver after a partial hepatectomy. The results show a marked inhibition of the G1-S transition, particularly in the evening, when the endogenous corticosterone concentration was at its highest. Also discussed is the relationship between corticoids and 'chalones', which synergetically inhibit the passage from G0 into the cell cycle. PMID- 2611857 TI - Electron-microscopic study on the anterior pituitary gland of spontaneous dwarf rats. AB - The spontaneous dwarf rat is a novel experimental model animal on the study of pituitary dwarfism. The fine structure of the anterior pituitary cells was studied in the immature and mature dwarf rats. Pituitary glands were removed from 5-, 10-, 20-day-old immature dwarfs, adult (45 days-16 weeks) dwarfs and normal 3 month-old rats and processed for electron-microscopic observation. In the control animals, growth hormone cells were readily identified by their ultrastructural characteristics, such as the presence of numerous electron-dense secretory granules, 300-350 nm in diameter, well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and a prominent Golgi complex. In contrast, growth hormone cells were not found in the anterior pituitary gland of the spontaneous dwarf rat at any age examined. Other pituitary cell types, i.e., luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone and prolactin cells, appeared similar in their fine structure to those found in the control rats. In the pituitary gland of dwarf rats, a number of polygonal cells were observed either with no or relatively few secretory granules. The rough endoplasmic reticulum was arranged in parallel cisternae and the Golgi complex was generally prominent in these cells. In addition, many were found to have abundant lysosomes. A few minute secretory granules were occasionally observed; however, the immunogold technique failed to localize growth hormone or prolactin in the granules. The nature of these cells remained obscure in this study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611858 TI - Transneuronal degeneration in the Rolando substance of the primate spinal cord evoked by axotomy-induced transganglionic degenerative atrophy of central primary sensory terminals. AB - Transection of the sciatic nerve in Rhesus monkeys and the consequent transganglionic degenerative atrophy (TDA) of central terminals of primary afferents result in transneuronal degeneration of substantia gelatinosa (SG) cells. Severe degeneration is characterized by an increased electron density of the nucleus and by conspicuous shrinkage of the cytoplasm, mitochondrial swelling, dilation of cisterns of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, accumulation of free ribosomes and an electron-dense material in the cytoplasm. In the mild form, dilation of cisternal elements of the endoplasmic reticulum, swollen mitochondria and accumulation of free ribosomes takes place. About 10% of SG cells in segment L5 undergo the severe form whereas the rest shows signs of the mild form. Cytoplasmic alterations that occur during transneuronal degeneration seem to start at the level of subsurface cisterns. Dendrites and axons of transneuronally degenerating SG cells also show a conspicuous electron density. By analyzing the synaptic relationships of such "darkened" dendrites, connections in the upper dorsal horn can be deciphered. Modular units of the primary nociceptive analyzer that evaluate noxious and innocuous inputs on the basis of thin versus thick (A delta C/A beta) afferent activity and subjecting them to descending control appear to be recruited from structurally dispersed elements of synaptic glomeruli. These are arranged alongside dendritic processes of large antenna cells which relay impulses to projection cells of the spinothalamic tract. PMID- 2611859 TI - Collagen and proteoglycan in a sea urchin ligament with mutable mechanical properties. AB - The "problematic ligament" of sea urchins is a connective tissue which crosses the ball-and-socket joint between spine and body wall. The problem of this ligament is that it is composed of parallel collagen fibrils, yet normally undergoes rapid and dramatic alterations in mechanical properties and in length. Previous work has suggested that the collagen fibrils of the ligament are able to slide past one another during length changes but are inhibited from sliding when the ligament is in "catch". In this model of the ligament both the collagen fibrils and the interfibrillar matrix are mechanically important. We have found that the collagen fibrils of the spine ligament of the pencil urchin Eucidaris tribuloides are discontinuous and end by tapering within the body of the ligament. Intact fibrils that have been isolated from the ligament vary by more than an order of magnitude in length and in radius but have a constant length/radius (aspect) ratio of about 5,300. This is the first determination of the aspect ratio of collagen fibrils from any source. The constant aspect ratio of the fibrils is consistent with their functioning as the discontinuous fiber phase in a fiber-reinforced composite material, while the high value of the aspect ratio indicates that the nonfibrillar matrix, which must act to transfer stress between fibrils, can produce a stiff and strong ligament even if it is several orders of magnitude weaker and more compliant than the fibrils. Moreover, the tensile properties of the ligament may be determined by the properties of the matrix. A prominent component of the interfibrillar matrix is a proteoglycan which associates with specific bands at the surface of the collagen fibrils through noncovalent binding of its core protein. The glycosaminoglycan moiety of this proteoglycan is partly comprised of chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate polymers. These results are consistent with the "sliding fibril" hypothesis and suggest that the proteoglycan may be an important component of the stress transfer matrix. PMID- 2611860 TI - Electron-cytochemical localization of alkaline phosphatase to G cells of Necturus maculosus antrum. AB - Electron-cytochemical localization of alkaline phosphatase activity was performed on G cells of Necturus maculosus antral mucosa. Alkaline phosphatase activity was localized to the nuclear membrane, the Golgi/endoplasmic reticulum, and the limiting membranes of G cell peptide-secretion vesicles. There was no specific localization of alkaline phosphatase activity to the plasma membrane. Treatment of the tissues with levamisole (an alkaline phosphatase inhibitor) did not markedly reduce the specific alkaline phosphatase activity. Specific lead deposition was reduced by removal of the substrate from the reaction mixture. The results from this study on N. maculosus G cells demonstrate that alkaline phosphatase activity can be found in a non-mammalian gastric endocrine cell and that specific activity was localized primarily to those intracellular structures involved with protein biosynthesis. PMID- 2611861 TI - Pre-natal development of the adrenal gland in the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos). AB - The differentiating nephrotome in the 10-day-old mallard duck embryo is able to synthesize corticosterone, aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone even though an adrenal anlage cannot be identified histologically until the 12th day of incubation. At this time, sudanophilic cells containing much smooth endoplasmic reticulum and numerous mitochondria with tubular cristae are located adjacent to the developing mesonephros. Chromaffin cells appear in this region on about the 14th day of embryogenesis. A discrete glandular structure containing measurable quantities of corticosteroids can be identified on the 15th day, and during the next 2 days the tissue becomes encapsulated. Concomitantly, the ACTH-inducible rates of corticosteroid hormone synthesis increase several fold. The corticotropic responsiveness of the developing adrenal steroidogenic tissue increases progressively during the remainder of embryogenesis. PMID- 2611862 TI - Membrane proteins of synaptic vesicles and cytoskeletal specializations at the node of Ranvier in electric ray and rat. AB - Binding sites for antibodies against membrane proteins of synaptic vesicles have been shown to be enhanced at nodes of Ranvier in electromotor axons of the electric ray Torpedo marmorata and sciatic nerve axons of the rat, using indirect immunofluorescence and monoclonal antibodies against the synaptic vesicle transmembrane proteins SV2 and synaptophysin (rat) or SV2 (Torpedo). In the electric lobe of Torpedo, vesicle-membrane constituents occurred at higher density in the proximal axon segments covered by oligodendroglia cells than in the distal axon segments where myelin is formed by Schwann cells. Antibody binding sites were enhanced at nodes forming the borderline of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Filamentous actin was present in the Schwann-cell processes covering both the nodal and the paranodal axon segments as suggested by the pattern of phalloidin labelling. Furthermore, in rat sciatic nerve, Schmidt Lanterman incisures were intensely labelled by phalloidin. A similar nodal distribution was found for binding sites of antibodies against actin and myosin. Binding of antibodies to tubulin was enhanced at nodes in Torpedo electromotor axons. The apparent nodal accumulation of constituents of synaptic vesicle membranes and the presence of filamentous actin and of myosin are discussed in relation to the substantial constriction of the axoplasm at nodes of Ranvier. PMID- 2611863 TI - Thymic nurse cells: division of thymocytes within complexes. AB - Thymic nurse cell complexes (TNC-c), isolated from mouse thymuses at 1 and 2 h after i.v. injection of 6-(3H)thymidine, were analyzed in autoradiographs of semithin serial sections with regard to their size and the distribution of labeled thymocytes in individual types of complexes. The total number of thymocytes per complex reflects the type of complex. In a parallel study, localization of labeled thymocytes within individual zones of thymic cortex was examined. Thymocyte division within complexes may yield sequential complex generations differing in number per complex. However, thymocytes within complexes differ from each other in division kinetics. Half of the thymocytes that had been labeled 1 h after injection divided within 2 h. The rapidly dividing fraction of thymocytes were distributed within small complexes containing 2-8 cells and corresponded to the distribution of labeled cells in the outer thymic cortex. The proportion of labeled cells within large complexes resembled the distribution of labeled cells in the deep cortex. The data support the view that microenvironmental factors within TNC-c are responsible for both inducing thymocytes to enter the cell cycle and the negative selection (cell death) of some thymocytes. PMID- 2611864 TI - Calcium release induced by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in thymocyte microsomes. Inhibition by barium and strontium. AB - The properties of calcium transport in microsomes and the effect of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) on accumulated calcium were studied in rat thymocytes. Active calcium transport shows an apparent affinity constant for calcium of 0.2 +/- 0.01 microM and a maximal velocity of 2.3 +/- 0.6 nmol/mg/30 min (mean +/- SD). IP3 was able to induce release of calcium only in the absence of oxalate. At 6 microM ambient free calcium, half-maximal effect of IP3 was attained at 2 microM and maximal calcium release was produced by IP3 concentrations over 5 microM. Barium and strontium did not modify calcium uptake by microsomes but markedly inhibited the action of IP3. PMID- 2611865 TI - [Household survey of diarrhoeal disease control in P.R. china]. AB - 126,965 population, including 10,987 children less than 5 years in 20 provinces were visited, and 7,681 cases due to diarrhoea, including 1 800 cases less than 5 years were found during the survey in Aug 1988. According to the calculating methods recommended by WHO, the morbidity is 0.70 episodes/person/per year in China, 1.90 episodes/per child/per year in children less than 5 years. The highest morbidity, 2.44 episodes/per child/per year, is in the age group from 6 months to 2 years. 37.86% of all cases went to health facilities, among them 62.24% were treated in village health facilities. 63.36% of all cases received treatment. The use rate of ORT was 14.24%, including 1.98% of using ORS and 12.26% of using home fluids. The use rate of antibiotics was 55.16%. The use rate of traditional medicine was 8.07%. From Sep 1987 to Aug 1988, there were 605 deaths in 102,470 population. The death rate was 5.9 per 1,000 population. With 15 deaths due to diarrhoea, the mortality of diarrhoea was 0.002% 76.18% of 1,247 children under 7 months were breast-fed, and 19.49% of them were partially breast fed, and 4.33% of them were bottle-fed. The result of the survey indicates that diarrhoeal disease is a major constraints to people's health and social development, and the character of high morbidity and low mortality determines that the strategy of diarrhoeal diseases Control will be prevention, and the situation of low ORT use rate and abuse of antibiotics should be improved, and it should be emphasized to train health workers of village facilities. PMID- 2611866 TI - [Investigation of Lyme disease in northeast of China]. AB - In 1987-1988, we conducted investigation of Lyme disease in Northeast of China. The disease was widespread in the forest areas of Heilonjiang and Jilin provinces where Ixodes persulcatus population thrives. The disease occurred at Daqing tree farm where 628 people were inquired and examined among them, 37 cases including 23 cases of ECM, 6 cases of neurological abnormalities, 7 cases of arthritis and 1 case of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans were confirmed being Lyme disease. The sera of patients suspected with the disease and that of the residents at Xiaobai tree farm were tested for antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi (B31) by ELISA. Seventeen out of 22 patients were positive and 54 out of 240 residents had significant IgG titers. Samples of tick midgut were inoculated into BSK medium and cultivated. Three isolates of spirochetes were cultivated from Ixodes persulcatus. One of them (M7) was confirmed being Borrelia burgdorferi. Recently another isolate was cultivated from a patient with ECM. PMID- 2611867 TI - [Dietary survey and biochemical study of blood and urine among Yi and Han nationality farmers in low prevalent district of hypertension]. AB - This paper reports the dietary investigation (55 persons) and nutrient biochemical analysis of blood and urine (173 persons) among Yi and Han nationality farmers with low incidence of hypertension in Weinin, Guizhou. The results suggest that the three main nutrients as protein, fat and carbohydrate had no uniform relationship to the blood pressure, but high potassium and low sodium diet was intimately correlated to the low incidence of hypertension. The Na/K ratio of dietary intake and urine was more closely related to blood pressure. The relationship between calcium and blood pressure was quite complicated. The appropriate ratio of calcium and magnesium intake may be significant in the prevention and treatment of hypertension. It also indicates some intrinsic connection between lipid metabolism and blood pressure, while the degree of smoking is definitely correlated to blood pressure. PMID- 2611868 TI - [Virologic and serologic observations in an outbreak of infantile bronchopneumonitis]. AB - From December 1985 to February 1986 in Si Hong County, Jiang Su Province an outbreak of bronchopneumonitis occurred. In December the number of admitted infant cases with bronchopneumonitis was 32% of total hospitalized cases. The youngest infant was 28 days in age and the oldest was one and half years. 71.5% percent occurred in children less than six months in age. From nasopharyngeal washing of acute cases were isolated 6 strains of viruses. The result of identification of them revealed that they were respiratory syncytial virus. 3 pairs of serum sample were collected from acute and convalescent periods for neutralizing antibody titrations. The result showed that specific neutralizing antibody titers increased 8-64 fold in comparison between the acute and the convalescent. PMID- 2611869 TI - [Hypertension and angiographically defined coronary heart disease]. AB - The associations of CHD, as defined by coronary arteriography, with hypertension history and causal blood pressure in 103 CHD cases and 103 non-CHD controls matching on sex, race, age(within 3 years)was studied. The odds ratio (i.e.OR) of CHD for patients with hypertension history is 4.64. For patients with higher causal blood pressure, it is 3.53 with both 99% confidence intervals not include 1. There are significant dose-response relationships between level of systolic hypertension and duration of hypertension with regards to odds ratio of CHD or the degree of coronary atherosclerosis. The relative risk of CHD may reduce 70 80% for hypertension patients by taking drugs to lower blood pressure. There are significant correlation between hypertension and myocardial infarction in clinical types of CHD. The CHD average incubation period caused by hypertension is 10 years. It is concluded that the relationship between hypertension and CHD is seemingly causality with part of patients suffering from other consequences. PMID- 2611870 TI - [Preliminary study on intestinal microflora in patients with cirrhosis]. AB - Intestinal microflora were studied in 62 patients with cirrhosis, 14 with hepatitis and 30 normal subjects. The fecal anaerobes, total viable organisms, E.coli, enterococcus, bifidobacterium, lactobacillus and clostridium were significantly greater in number in cirrhotic patients than in normal subjects and hepatitis. Significant increase in fecal enterococcus and clostridium was observed in the patients recently recovered from hepatic coma as compared with the patients without hepatic coma. Bifidobacterium was increased in cirrhotic patients between patients with or without LLT (+). These data suggest that there was a tendency of the intestinal microorganisms to be increased in cirrhotic patients and the existence of possible relationship between the severity of liver function impairment and quantity of intestinal flora. PMID- 2611871 TI - [An epidemiological study on erythromelalgia]. AB - Erythromelalgia occurred in middle schools of many counties in Hubei province from February to March. A survey in 2 senior middle schools revealed that the total incidence of the disease was 13.1% (248/1892) the incidence of female was 30.7% (138/449) and that of male 7.9 (110/1443). The average course of the illness was 6.56 +/- 4.3 days. The study of meteorologic phenomenon, biological agents, nutrient etc shows that the factors of cold and humidity might play a leading role. PMID- 2611872 TI - [A study on latex agglutination for serological diagnosis of brucellosis]. AB - A latex agglutination test was first used for the serological diagnosis of Brucellosis. Results of tested sera obtained from patients with a clinical diagnosis of Brucellosis and cows infected with Brucella showed that this test was specific and sensitive. Meantime the procedure of this test was easily and rapidly to perform. In addition, preparation of immuno-latex, the procedure of this test and some factors which affected the result of this test were also described in the paper. PMID- 2611873 TI - Homozygous alpha+ thalassaemia in Zimbabwe: an unrecognized cause of hypochromia and microcytosis. AB - The prevalence of probable homozygous alpha+ thalassaemia in Zimbabwe was found to be 3.25 percent in a survey of hospital patients (n = 2,000), 7.6 percent in a Batonga village (n = 66), and 5.3 percent in 16 kindreds (n = 94) investigated for iron overload. The diagnosis was based on finding a reduced mean cell volume (MCV), reduced mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), increased red cell count (RBC), and a normal Haemoglobin. These cases usually had a normal red cell distribution width (RDW), and of three discriminant functions tested the MCV2 x MCH was the most useful. Iron deficiency was excluded in the community based surveys. The importance of recognizing these changes is emphasized so that inappropriate iron therapy is not given. PMID- 2611874 TI - Bacteriology and drug sensitivity of chronic suppurative otitis media at a central hospital in Zimbabwe. AB - A retrospective study was done on 173 cases of chronic suppurative otitis media at Harare Central Hospital. Using conventional pus swabs from the discharging ears only aerobic organisms were isolated in 155 cases. These were, in order of frequency, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lactose fermenting, Coliforms and Proteus. There were no anaerobes reported, unlike in other studies. Mixed infections were present in 48 percent of the cases. Penicillin G, Ampicillin, Tetracycline Sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprin which are commonly used when culture and sensitivity results are not available, were found to be less useful. Gentamyoin, Chloramphenical, Clindamyoin and erythromycin were more useful. More research needs to be done on the role of topical drugs in chronic suppurative otitis media. PMID- 2611875 TI - Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) as carriers of agents of bacterial diarrhoea in Accra, Ghana. AB - Bodies and intestinal contents of 208 cockroaches (Periplaneta americana), collected from kitchens in Accra and some surrounding villages were cultured for enteric bacterial pathogens. Six of them harboured three different serogroups of Salmonella, one had Shigella dysenteriae, 64 had Coliforms, 13 had Proteus species, two had Pseudomonas species and the rest (122) carried none of the bacterial species mentioned above. The presence of Salmonella species Shigella dysenteriae and Coliforms in these insects, which were collected from kitchens where foods are kept, points to the facts that these insects could play an important role in the transmission of these pathogenic organisms, especially in our environment. Permanent solution to these bacterial diarrhoea disease problems could only be solved when food, animals and the environments are free of these microbes. PMID- 2611876 TI - Carbohydrate tolerance in pregnant Nigerian women--comparison of 75 gms and 100 gms glucose loads. AB - Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) with 75 gms. and 100 gms. glucose loads were performed two weeks apart in each of 20 healthy Nigerian women in the third trimester of pregnancy. The mean (+/- SD) blood glucose values (venous whole blood in mgs/100 ml) during the tests with the two loads were as follows: 75 gms. -fasting -71.1 (12.6), 30 min. -96.9 (19.1), 60 mins. -99.5 (19.8), 120 mins. 92.3 (19.3), 180 mins. -79.6 (17.2); 100 gms. -fasting -60.5 (7.4), 30 mins. 93.4 (13.8), 60 mins. -94.9 (21.7), 120 mins. -82.3 (10.3), 180 mins. -72.7 (12.2). The differences were statistically significant for the fasting and 120 mins. values, p less than 0.05. These results suggest that increasing the glucose load above 75 gms. does not necessarily increase the maximum glycemic response. Therefore, criteria for the interpretation of the OGTT in pregnancy based on a 75 gms. dose. It would be desirable to establish reliable criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes in pregnancy based on a 75 gms. dose OGTT. This would foster a uniform standard for the performance of this test in all adult population groups and it may also mean a little saving in cost for those working in the less developed countries of the world. PMID- 2611878 TI - AIDS--mass media campaigns don't change behavior. PMID- 2611877 TI - Sentiment vs success and cost. PMID- 2611879 TI - Changes in epidemiology of cancer of the stomach in Zimbabwe. PMID- 2611880 TI - Haemostasis in migraine. AB - There has been much discussion about the role of platelets in the pathogenesis of migraine. A new in vitro technique using a custom built device called the Haemostatometer measures haemostasis, thrombolysis, and coagulation from non anticoagulated, undiluted (native) blood. Using this device, data were analysed from blood samples taken from 10 migraineurs between attacks and 10 control subjects. Results showed no difference in haemostasis, spontaneous thrombolysis or coagulation between migraineurs and control subjects. PMID- 2611881 TI - The pressor hyperresponsiveness to phenylephrine unmasks sympathetic hypofunction in migraine. AB - The pressor responsiveness to phenylephrine, an almost pure agonist of peripheral alpha-1-adrenoceptors, was studied in 32 migraine patients in headache-free intervals. Eighteen healthy volunteers served as a control group. Fourteen patients and 14 controls also underwent the tilt test. The following observations were made: (1) the pressor response to phenylephrine was significantly greater and longer lasting in patients than in controls; (2) the reflex decrease of heart rate did not differ in the two groups; (3) a normal orthostatic increase of blood pressure and heart rate occurred in migraineurs with hyperresponsiveness to phenylephrine. These findings suggest a supersensitivity of vascular adrenoceptors which is compatible with a chronic adrenergic deficiency in migraineurs. Since patients did not show an orthostatic hypotension in attack free periods, the compensatory character of receptoral supersensitivity and the possible mechanisms of cardiovascular dysautonomia, which may occur during migraineous attack, were discussed. PMID- 2611882 TI - Ischemic stroke in young adults: the relevance of migrainous infarction. AB - Sixty-one consecutive patients, less than or equal to 40 years old, were hospitalized for cerebral infarction between 1977 and 1985. Evaluation included computed tomographic brain scan, arteriography, echocardiography, and blood tests. A probable migrainous infarction was diagnosed in six patients (10%) (all women with a history of migraine) who survived the initial stroke and were followed-up for an average of four years. In five patients the stroke occurred during a common migraine attack and in one patient during a classic migraine attack. The site of infarction was invariably the occipital lobe. During the follow-up, no subject had a further stroke. All six women had a permanent hemianopic deficit. PMID- 2611883 TI - Reduced serotonin vascular sensitivity in ergotamine abusers. AB - The action of ergotamine on the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) venous sensitivity was studied in ergotamine abuser and non-abuser migraine patients. Ergotamine abusers showed reduced 5-HT hand vein contraction during abuse, compared to seven days after ergotamine withdrawal. In non-ergotamine users, the 5-HT venoconstriction was not significantly modified 12 h after a single intramuscular ergotamine (0.25 mg) administration. Even the administration of ergotamine locally into the vein did not change the venospasm of 5-HT given acutely in the same vein. Therefore, it seems that the 5-HT antagonism does not contribute to the therapeutic effect of ergotamine during the migraine attack. Moreover, the reduced 5-HT responsiveness during ergotamine abuse may possibly be compatible with the chronic headache present in some abusers, the withdrawal headache attacks and the abuse itself. PMID- 2611884 TI - A case of parasellar meningioma mimicking cluster headache. AB - A medical history of a 46-year-old male is reported. At 23 years of age, he started having diffuse pain in the left side of his head for up to 30 min once or twice a month. At 28, the pain changed into left-sided cluster headache-like attacks with 2-3 h duration and with ipsilateral conjunctival injection, lacrimation, and rhinnorhea, but with short-lasting free intervals of about two to three weeks. At 36, the pattern of the attacks corresponded to chronic migrainous neuralgia. At 40, the symptoms changed to painful ophthalmoplegia picture. A left-sided parasellar meningioma was then diagnosed. Removal of the tumor caused complete amelioration. The case history is suggested to support the hypothesis that the cavernous sinus region is involved in cluster headache. PMID- 2611885 TI - Electronystagmographic investigations in migraine and cluster headache during the pain-free interval. AB - An involvement of vestibulocochlear functions has been assumed to occur in migraine even in headache-free intervals. To obtain further information on this subject, we investigated an unselected group of patients with various forms of migraine (n = 94) and cluster headache (n = 8) during pain-free periods by means of electronystagmography (ENG). The investigation showed a normal ENG in all patients with cluster headache and in 85 (90.4%) patients with migraine. Five patients showed increased occurrence of horizontal deviations, indicating an impairment of vigilance. A pathological ENG was observed in only four patients, of whom one with "basilar migraine" showed a disturbance of central vestibular functions. Based on the employed methods, it is concluded that vestibular dysfunctions, and in particular those of central origin, are not common in cluster headache and in migraine-with the possible exception of basilar artery migraine. PMID- 2611886 TI - Fatal stroke in migraine: a case report with autopsy findings. AB - A 50-year-old woman with migraine was admitted to hospital shortly after having abruptly developed hemiparesis. CT scan revealed infarction in the territory of the right middle cerebral artery. Death ensued after three days due to cerebral edema with herniation. Autopsy revealed no pathologic findings in the heart or in the extra- or intracranial arteries. It is suggested that the fatal stroke may have resulted from arterial spasm caused by ergotamine overdosage and possibly complicated by thrombosis. PMID- 2611887 TI - The dose of propranolol for migraine prophylaxis. Efficacy of low doses. AB - Although propranolol is still the drug of first choice for migraine prophylaxis, the optimal antimigraine dose of this drug is still unknown. The main aim of our study is to clarify this point. Fifty-three patients suffering from severe migraine attacks were given propranolol at low doses, close to or up to 1 mg/kg body weight daily, for one month. If the patient responded, then treatment was maintained unchanged for a further two months. If the patient did not respond, propranolol was progressively increased until control was obtained. Thirty-nine (73.5%) patients responded to low doses, and 7 of the 17 patients whose dose had been increased, because of poor or absent response, showed improvement. Five patients did not finish the study because of intolerable side effects, which intensified as the dose was increased. Tolerance was not noticed. In addition to confirming the well-known utility of propranolol in migraine prophylaxis, our results show that low doses are effective in controlling serious migraine bouts in many patients. Fewer than a third of patients will need higher doses in controlling migraine attacks. PMID- 2611888 TI - Serotonergic hypofunction in migraine: a synthesis of evidence based on platelet dense body dysfunction. AB - We studied the platelet dense body as a model for serotonergic vesicular function. Headache-free migraine sufferers had increased numbers of dense bodies, decreased dense body secretion, a defective link between cytosolic ionized calcium and platelet activation, an abnormal sensitivity to activation by platelet-activating factor and decreased serotonin metabolism in the presence of an unactivated platelet. These findings are interpreted as evidence for low platelet serotonin turnover. Also an abnormality in coupling of secretion to cytosolic ionized calcium caused by a membranal defect results in reduced platelet secretory function. A similar abnormality is postulated for serotonergic vesicles in central neurons. Central serotonergic hypofunction in migraine sufferers may reduce this normally present inhibitory influence on the intrinsic noradrenergic system, the activation of which may initiate the neuronal mechanisms of migraine. PMID- 2611889 TI - Hemicrania continua: a case report. AB - The first case of Hemicrania continua in Greece is reported; a female of 47 years with a 17-year history of right-sided headache. For the last year, she had a moderate pain on the left side (amounting to 10-15% of the right-sided one and occurring only occasionally, i.e. when the right-sided pain was severe). After 17 years the pain still had a remitting course with pain periods of around three weeks interrupted by pain-free periods of approximately ten days. The indomethacin effect is complete. PMID- 2611890 TI - Altering the vector of polarity of BHK syncytia changes their motile behavior. AB - We have previously shown that BHK syncytia have the ability to locomote provided the centrospheres are clustered and located adjacent to the cluster of nuclei. This article reports that experimental reorganizations of the centrospheres or the nuclei change the motile behavior of BHK syncytia in a way that is consistent with our previous observations: When fusion of the multiple nuclei occurred in stationary syncytia whose multiple nuclei encircled the centrosphere cluster, the centrospheres were expelled from the ring of nuclei. Consequently, locomotion was initiated in these syncytia even if they had been previously stationary for up to 5 days. Conversely, when a 2-hour incubation in 5 micrograms/ml cytocholasin B caused the cluster of nuclei to surround the centrosphere cluster, the locomotion of the syncytia was inhibited. Similarly, the dispersal of the centrosphere cluster induced by a 4-hour incubation in 1 microgram/ml of colcemid resulted in the long-term cessation of locomotion in motile syncytia. PMID- 2611891 TI - Selective reduction of anaphase B in quinacrine-treated PtK1 cells. AB - Quinacrine, an acridine derivative which competitively binds to ATP binding sites, has previously been shown to cause the reorganization of metaphase spindle microtubules (MTs) due to changes in interactions of non-kinetochore microtubules (nkMTs) of opposite polarity (Armstrong and Snyder: Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 7:10 19, 1987). In the study presented here, mitotic PtK1 cells were treated in early anaphase with concentrations of quinacrine ranging from 2 to 12 microM to determine energy requirements for chromosome motion. The rate and extent of chromosome-to-pole movements (anaphase A) were not affected by these quinacrine treatments. The extent of anaphase B (kinetochore-kinetochore separation) was reduced with increasing concentrations of quinacrine. Five micromolar quinacrine reduced the extent of kinetochore-kinetochore separation by 20%, and addition of 12 microM quinacrine reduced the kinetochore-kinetochore separation by 40%. To determine the role of nkMTs in anaphase spindle elongation, quinacrine-treated metaphase cells were treated with hyperosmotic sucrose concentrations, and spindle elongation was measured (Snyder et al.: Eur J. Cell Biol. 39:373-379, 1985). Metaphase cells treated with 2-10 microM concentrations of quinacrine for 2-5 min reduced spindle lengths by 10-50% prior to 0.5 M sucrose treatment for 5 min. This treatment showed a significant reduction in the ability of sucrose to induce spindle elongation in cells pretreated with quinacrine. As spindle length and birefringence was reduced by quinacrine treatment, sucrose-induced elongation was concomitantly diminished. These data suggest that quinacrine-sensitive linkages are necessary for anaphase B motions. Reduction in these linkages and/or MT length in the nkMT continuum may reduce the ability of the nkMTs to hold compression at metaphase. This form of energy is thought to drive a significant proportion of normal anaphase B in PtK1 cells and sucrose-induced metaphase spindle elongation. PMID- 2611892 TI - Characterization of renatured profilin purified by urea elution from poly-L proline agarose columns. AB - We present evidence that native profilin can be purified from cellular extracts of Acanthamoeba, Dictyostelium, and human platelets by affinity chromatography on poly-L-proline agarose. After applying cell extracts and washing the column with 3 M urea, homogeneous profilin is eluted by increasing the urea concentration to 6-8 M. Acanthamoeba profilin-I and profilin-II can subsequently be separated by cation exchange chromatography. The yield of Acanthamoeba profilin is twice that obtained by conventional methods. Several lines of evidence show that the profilins fully renature after removal of the urea by dialysis: 1) dialyzed Acanthamoeba and human profilins rebind quantitatively to poly-L-proline and bind to actin in the same way as native, conventionally purified profilin without urea treatment; 2) dialyzed profilins form 3-D crystals under the same conditions as native profilins; 3) dialyzed Acanthamoeba profilin-I has an NMR spectrum identical with that of native profilin-I; and 4) dialyzed human and Acanthamoeba profilins inhibit actin polymerization. We report the discovery of profilin in Dictyostelium cell extracts using the same method. Based on these observations we conclude that urea elution from poly-L-proline agarose followed by renaturation will be generally useful for preparing profilins from a wide variety of cells. Perhaps also of general use is the finding that either myosin-II or alpha-actinin in crude cell extracts can be bound selectively to the poly-L-proline agarose column depending on the ionic conditions used to equilibrate the column. We have purified myosin-II from both Acanthamoeba and Dictyostelium cell extracts and alpha-actinin from Acanthamoeba cell extracts in the appropriate buffers. These proteins are retained as complexes with actin by the agarose and not by a specific interaction with poly-L-proline. They can be eluted by dissociating the complexes with ATP and separated from actin by gel filtration if necessary. PMID- 2611893 TI - Nonuniform behavior of multiple isoactins in the same cell is a cell-dependent phenomenon. AB - The functional significance of multiple isoactins in the same cell is still not understood. To address this question, we examined the response of smooth muscle and cardiac muscle alpha-isoactins to a serial extraction procedure applied to both muscle and nonmuscle cell types. We compared these extraction results with results obtained with the beta- and gamma-nonmuscle actin isoforms from the same cells. In differentiated BC3H1 nonfusing muscle cells (smooth muscle alpha isoactin), in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells (cardiac alpha-isoactin), and in chick skeletal muscle cells (cardiac alpha-isoactin), different fractions were found selectively enriched in either the nonmuscle or the muscle-specific actin isoforms compared with their relative abundance in whole cell extracts. Conversely, when these same isoactins were examined either in undifferentiated BC3H1 cells or in mouse nonmuscle cells stably transfected with a cardiac alpha isoactin gene, no enrichment of these isoforms above their relative abundance in whole cell extracts was observed. These results indicate that within the muscle or muscle-like cells examined, the different actin isoforms were either selectively utilized or localized. These results further show that isoactin specific responses observed were apparently related to the cell type in which they were found and not to differences in inherent physical properties such as solubility of the different isoactins examined. PMID- 2611894 TI - Recommended guide to the evaluation of permanent impairment of the temporomandibular joint. AB - This paper provides a method to evaluate the extent of permanent injury to the temporomandibular joint. The authors, working as the Committee on Permanent Impairment for the American Academy of Head, Facial, Neck Pain and TMJ Orthopedics, have used the same values as the American Medical Association has used in their Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment for other disk protected and functional joints. These Guides may then serve as a tool to help physicians and dentists who treat temporomandibular joint injuries to rate the degree of permanent injury. These Guides may be combined with other areas of impairment that are already described and valued in the Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment published by the AMA. These Guides provide a range and each injury should be evaluated on an individual basis. We urge you to use these Guides conservatively and in harmony with good clinical judgement. PMID- 2611895 TI - Anatomic study of the angulation of the lateral and midpoint inclined planes of the articular eminence. AB - The purpose of this investigation was to study the anatomy of the articular eminence of the temporomandibular joint. Direct angulation measurements of the lateral and midpoint inclined planes were made in 100 adult Asiatic Indian skulls using a headholder (craniophore) apparatus. The results showed that left and right side measurements did not differ significantly. The mean angulation of the midpoint inclined plane was significantly greater than that of the lateral inclined plane. The mean lateral inclined plane was 41.2 degrees +/- 10.7 degrees, with a range of 20 degrees-72 degrees; at the midpoint inclined plane, the mean was 54.2 degrees +/- 11.4 degrees, with a range of 17 degrees-77 degrees. Three morphologic articular eminence types were identified: (1) protuberant, (2) moderate, and (3) flat. These findings need to be considered when making clinical correlations. PMID- 2611896 TI - Physical therapy in the postoperative management of temporomandibular joint arthroscopic surgery. AB - Arthroscopic surgery of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is now commonly employed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Literature regarding the rehabilitation of patients who have undergone therapeutic anthroscopy is essentially nonexistent. This article presents basic rehabilitation principles based on the authors' experience in the postoperative care of 100 TMJs treated anthroscopically over a two-year period. PMID- 2611897 TI - Orthopedic/orthodontic therapy for anterior disk displacement: unexpected treatment findings. AB - Craniomandibular pain dysfunction (CMPD) is of increasing clinical concern to all fields of dentistry, especially orthodontics. One of the more common manifestations of CMPD is anterior disk displacement. Orthodontic/orthopedic treatment for anterior disk displacement using anterior repositioning of the mandible has been suggested by several clinicians as the treatment of choice. Returning the mandible back toward the original occlusion or habit centric has also been suggested by several reports. Functional jaw orthopedic (FJO) appliances would appear to be ideally suited for the treatment of anterior disk displacement due to the anterior repositioning nature of these appliances. In growing individuals, among other changes, the condyle is supposed to grow back into the fossa (which would serve as the walkback procedure). This article presents three young patients who had anterior disk displacement and posterior condylar displacement before treatment. Each patient was treated using a functional appliance and each patient ended treatment still having a posterior condylar displacement and anterior disk displacement. These findings were unexpected and no explanation is offered. This occurrence is rare in the author's practice (approximately 2-3%), but this is a real concern and the patients should be made aware of this possibility before starting treatment, so that their expectations are realistic. These enigmatic findings also emphasize the complexity of TMJ as well as FJO treatment and indicate the need for further research and study. PMID- 2611898 TI - Functional disturbances of the masticatory system in an elderly population group. AB - The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of craniomandibular disorders in a geriatric population in Israel, and to study morphometric and functional parameters as well. One hundred ten elderly subjects (61-90 years old) were interviewed and examined clinically for the following parameters: general health history, dental comfort and masticatory performance, anthropometric measurements, functional performance of the stomatognathic system, dental status, static and dynamic occlusion, and signs and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders. The results indicate that (1) loss of hearing was the most common debilitating functional disturbance reported, with rheumatoid or rheumatoid-like chronic diseases also common among this age group; (2) chewing performance was compromised and tongue thrust was common; (3) range of mandibular movement was decreased; (4) prevalence of signs and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders in the elderly were compatible with or higher than those in younger subjects, but the older individuals were not disturbed by the problem enough to seek help; (5) there was no association between impaired general health and the prevalence of craniomandibular disorders; and (6) interocclusal distance was large and negatively related to the lower third of the face and positively related to the presence of full dentures. PMID- 2611899 TI - Masseter and temporalis electromyographic activity in asymptomatic, subclinical, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction patients. AB - The research and clinical literature on biofeedback treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction is devoid of normative or comparative electromyographic (EMG) studies examining muscle activity in either patient or normal samples. For the present study, resting EMG levels for each masseter and temporalis were obtained from three groups of subjects: asymptomatic (female, N = 24, mean age = 26.4); subclinical (female, N = 31, mean age = 28.6); and patient (N = 61, female 70%, mean age = 31.9). A Biocomp 2001 biofeedback system was used to gather the EMG data from each of the four sites during a six- to eight-minute resting baseline period. The patient group demonstrated significantly higher EMG activity than the asymptomatic or subclinical groups for all variables except the right masseter (F (8,220) = 6.65, p less than 0.001). The temporalis was found to be the site of greatest EMG activity more frequently than the masseter. These findings strengthen diagnostic and assessment procedures and criteria, as well as suggest alternate treatment and research protocols. PMID- 2611900 TI - A brief self-administered questionnaire for craniomandibular disorders (CMD): rationale, patient complaints, and craniomandibular symptoms. PMID- 2611901 TI - A proposed classification of temporomandibular disorders based on synovial joint pathology. AB - Classifying temporomandibular disorders is essential for descriptive and diagnostic reasons. The etiology of many temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders is unknown and lack of scientific agreement about etiologic concepts contributes to controversies about the real nature of TMJ disorders. Although many classifications have been suggested, mostly based on etiologic assumptions, a generally accepted classification is not yet available. Considering the TMJ as a true synovial joint, comparable to all other joints in the body, implies that the classification of disorders of the masticatory system should be consistent with the approach to musculoskeletal disorders in other parts of the body. Based on this criterium and on the considerable amount of information available in the literature, a classification of TMJ disorders is here proposed for general use. PMID- 2611902 TI - Biting forces in patients with craniomandibular disorders. AB - Treatment for 10 female patients having craniomandibular disorders of neuromuscular origin showed a reduction in dysfunctional symptoms and improvement in their condition. In response to treatment, a standardized recording method was used to measure alterations to bite force values. In about 60 percent of categories representing various positions in the dental arch from which maximal and submaximal biting forces were measured, there was significant variation between replicate registrations. This persisted after treatment, indicating some loss of sensory acuity for fine bite-force adjustments in these patients. Discriminatory ability for large force adjustments was not, however, observed to be affected. Bite force values showed considerable fluctuation both before and after treatment. The lack of substantial increase in force values after a reduction in muscular dysfunction with treatment appears to suggest that an inhibitory mechanism controlling jaw-closing activity and pressure persists as a protective reflex for these patients. PMID- 2611903 TI - A physical therapy protocol for orthognathic surgery. AB - Physical therapy has become standard procedure for treatment of many aspects of temporomandibular joint dysfunction. In the area of orthognathic surgery, there appears to be a significant gap in the use of physical therapy. This article offers a suggested protocol of treatment to improve the overall outcome and provide for consistency of treatment. PMID- 2611904 TI - Pain assessment in temporomandibular disorders. AB - Pain characteristics, symptoms, medication use, demographic and psychological variables were assessed in 85 patients diagnosed with temporomandibular (TM) disorders. Results showed that 46 myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD) patients responded differently from 39 temporomandibular joint (TMJ) patients for numerous measures of pain-related variables. MPD patients perceived more generalized facial pain of longer duration and were able to identify more specific symptoms associated with their pain. The only symptom variable rated higher by TMJ patients was the presence of bothersome joint noise. When asked to rate their pain at its worse, the unpleasantness of pain was significantly higher in MPD patients than reported by TMJ patients. MPD patients might be considered more psychologically distressed than TMJ patients, as shown by their higher ratings for anxiety and inability to endure the pain. Although both types of pain patients took the same categories of medications, MPD patients consumed a larger total number. Such findings suggest that the prognosis of the dysfunction for MPD patients would be less favorable than for TMJ patients. PMID- 2611905 TI - Acupuncture: a possible therapeutic modality in the treatment of craniomandibular dysfunctions. AB - The purpose of this article is to propose an alternative form of therapy for craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) patients. The author suggests the use of acupuncture to aid in the treatment of CMD patients, especially those with chronic pain. In the past, acupuncture has been overlooked or used as a last resort. Through documentation, method of treatment, and technique discussed in the following article, more interest will hopefully be stimulated about acupuncture and may make it more practical for practitioners. PMID- 2611907 TI - A brief questionnaire for craniomandibular disorders, Part II: Etiology. PMID- 2611906 TI - Postmeniscoplasty occlusal management. PMID- 2611908 TI - [Philosophic reflections on the pharmaceutical profession. V. Pharmaceutical technology]. PMID- 2611909 TI - [Use of in vivo methods in the immunotoxicologic evaluation of drugs]. AB - The immunity system is structurally and functionally multiform; in immunotoxicological screening therefore a larger number of manifestations of immunity response must be examined. Administration of drugs must be chosen in such a way as to enable studying the influence on the functions of immunity in the period prior to immunization, simultaneously with it, and after it. From this aspect the effect of subtoxic doses of cisplatinum, carboplatinum, oxoplatinum and iproplatinum administered to mice at different times with regard to the antigen was evaluated. In the case of antibody response (the cells forming antibodies in the spleen, serum haemagglutinins) as well as in the manifestations of cellular immunity (reaction of delayed hypersensitivity) the largest inhibition was registered on the administration from days 2 to 6 after the first contact with the antigen. Administration prior to immunization or simultaneously with it produced either mild stimulation or insignificant inhibition. The drugs most probably act by alkylating mechanism and the time course of the effect is similar to that in cyclophosphamide. The antibody response is inhibited most by oxoplatinum, cellular immunity by carboplatinum. When investigating phagocytic activity (Indian ink clearance from the blood circulation) only insignificant deviations were found. Immunity processes not requiring immediately cell division are substantially less influenced by platinum complexes. PMID- 2611910 TI - [Antifungal activity of 6-acetamido-2-alkylthiobenzothiasoles in vitro]. AB - The antifungal activity of 6-acetamido-2-alkylthiobenzothiazoles (altogether 13 derivatives) against Aspergillus niger, Candida guilliermondii and against the yeast-like and mycelial forms of Candida albicans was determined. No efficacy of more significance was found against A. niger. 6-Acetamido-2-n butylthiobenzothiazole, which with the ED50 = 23 micrograms/ml ranks among the agents of medium efficacy, was most effective against C. guilliermondii. Good efficacy was found in 6-acetamido-2-n-pentylthio- and 6-acetamido-2-n hexylthiobenzothiazole against the mycelial form of C. albicans IC95(M) = 40 mumol/dm3 = 12 micrograms/ml), which is minimally five times higher efficacy than in the case of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole. PMID- 2611911 TI - [The control of purity and stability of penicillin antibiotics and its therapeutic importance]. PMID- 2611912 TI - A ribosomal protein gene family from Schizosaccharomyces pombe consisting of three active members. AB - Recently, we have reported the isolation and characterization of a ribosomal protein gene from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. This gene was called K37. Here we describe the isolation of two genes which are related to the K37 gene. Sequence analysis of these genes revealed open reading frames encoding proteins which are almost identical to the ribosomal protein K37. Furthermore, all three genes are functional as determined by Northern analysis using transformed and wild type cells. The results indicate that S. pombe contains a ribosomal protein gene family, designated the K-family, consisting of three active members. The promoter regions of the three members are compared and several common motifes are identified which might serve as transcriptional activators in these genes. PMID- 2611913 TI - DNA sequence analysis of the apocytochrome b gene of Podospora anserina: a new family of intronic open reading frame. AB - The 5,969 bp (base pair) DNA sequence of the apocytochrome b mitochondrial (mt) gene of race A Podospora anserina was located in a 8.5 Kbp region. This gene contained a 2,499 bp subgroup IB and a 1,306 bp subgroup ID intron as well as a 990 bp subgroup IB intron which is present in race A but not race s. The large subgroup IB intron and the race A specific IB intron both contained potential alternate splice sites which brought their open reading frames into phase with their upstream exon sequences. All three introns were compared with regard to their secondary structures and open reading frames to the other 30 group I introns in Podospora anserina, as well as to other fungal introns. We detected a new family of intronic ORFs comprising seven P. anserina introns, several N. crassa introns, as well as the T4td bacteriophage intron. Sequence similarities to intron-encoded endonucleases were noteworthy. The DNA sequences reported here and in the accompanying paper complete the analysis of race s and race A mitochondrial DNA. PMID- 2611914 TI - A petite positive strain of Kluyveromyces lactis has a 300 kb deletion in the rDNA cluster. AB - By employing Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis we have shown that the chromosomal DNA pattern of a petite-positive strain of Kluyveromyces lactis, designated KF4, differs from the karyotype of the reference strain. Digestion with SfiI and hybridization with an rDNA probe, demonstrate that a novel chromosomal band in KF4 results from a deletion of 35-40 rDNA cistrons from the rDNA cluster. The significance of this finding to possible alterations in cell physiology and the ability to generate "petite" mutants is discussed. PMID- 2611915 TI - Characterization and sequence of lupin mitochondrial plasmid-like DNA. AB - Two minicircular DNAs of 1.2 kb (K1) and 1.4 kb (K2) were found in mitochondria of fertile lupin (Lupinus albus). The plasmid-like DNA, K1, was cloned, labelled and hybridized with mitochondrial DNA from three different species of lupin. We have found no evidence for integrated copies of K1 in any of the mitochondrial genomes probed in this study. No sequence homology between plasmid K1 and K2, and no homology of either with chloroplast DNA, has been detected. The K1 DNA is two fold more abundant than the K2 DNA and about seven-fold more abundant than a unique segment of the mtDNA. The entire nucleotide sequence of the K1 DNA has been determined. This sequence exhibits a 340 base pair region with highly organized repeats. The sequence of K1 shows no substantial homology with sequence of other mitochondrial plasmids of higher plants. PMID- 2611916 TI - Influenza outbreaks in long-term care facilities, 1988-1989 season. PMID- 2611917 TI - Two influenza A outbreaks in long-term care facilities--Alberta. PMID- 2611918 TI - Eosinophilia myalgia syndrome: cases in Canada. PMID- 2611919 TI - Influenza outbreak in the United Kingdom. PMID- 2611920 TI - Trends in gonorrhea in Canadians 15-24 years of age, 1981-1988. PMID- 2611921 TI - Lyme disease vector, Ixodes dammini, (the northern deer tick) identified in Prince Edward Island. PMID- 2611922 TI - A case of western equine encephalitis--Alberta. PMID- 2611923 TI - AIDS surveillance in Canada. PMID- 2611924 TI - AIDS surveillance--worldwide. PMID- 2611925 TI - 1989 Canadian guidelines for screening for Chlamydia trachomatis infection. PMID- 2611926 TI - Crystal structure and molecular conformation of E-64, a cysteine protease inhibitor. AB - In order to elucidate the conformational characteristics of cysteine protease inhibitors contributing to their inhibitory activities, the conformation of E-64 (N-[N-(L-3-trans-carboxyoxiran-2-carbonyl)-L-leucyl]-agmatine), a potent inhibitor of papain, was determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The molecules were packed in the crystal through electrostatic forces and hydrogen bonding between the oppositely charged terminal groups and between the amide groups. Two crystallographically independent E-64 molecules both took a flattened and slightly curved structure, which is similar to that of loxistatin, a related cysteine protease inhibitor. Based on the present results, a possible inhibitory mechanism of E-64 is proposed, with reference to the binding mode observed in the crystal structure of papain-substrate analogue complex. PMID- 2611927 TI - Reticuloendothelial system-activating polysaccharides from rhizomes of Panax japonicus. I. Tochibanan-A and -B. AB - From rhizomes of Panax japonicus (Araliaceae), two polysaccharides named tochibanan-A and -B, which show reticuloendothelial-potentiating activity in the carbon clearance test in mice, were isolated. The structure of tochibanan-A (molecular mass: 23,000) was elucidated as a linear beta-1,4-D-galactan. Tochibanan-B (molecular mass: 40,000) consists of D-galactose (87.1%), L arabinose, D-glucose and D-galacturonic acid and has a beta-D-(1----4)-linked galactopyranosyl backbone possessing GalA-(1----6)-Gal, Ara-(1----5)-Ara, Gal, and Glc side chains. The structure around the branching points and the repeating unit were investigated and a possible structure of tochibanan-B is proposed. PMID- 2611928 TI - Motilides, macrolides with gastrointestinal motor stimulating activity. I. O substituted and tertiary N-substituted derivatives of 8,9-anhydroerythromycin A 6,9-hemiacetal. AB - Chemical modifications of 8,9-anhydroerythromycin A 6,9-hemiacetal (1), which showed gastrointestinal motor stimulating (GMS) activity 10 times more potent than that of erythromycin A (EM-A), were undertaken to search for derivatives having stronger GMS activity and no antimicrobial activity; details are described in this and a subsequent paper. Displacement of a methyl group of the dimethylamino group of 1 with an ethyl group and an isopropyl group provided de(N methyl-N-ethyl-8,9-anhydroerythromycin A 6,9-hemiacetal (55) and de(N-methyl)-N isopropyl-8,9-anhydroerythromycin A 6,9-hemiacetal (58), respectively. They showed significant GMS activity and no antibacterial activity. In particular, the GMS activity of 58 was increased to 248 times that of EM-A. EM-A and the derivatives obtained in this study mimic exogenous motilin in the dog. The name "motilide", meaning a motilin-like macrolide, is proposed for this new family of macrolide compounds. PMID- 2611929 TI - Motilides, macrolides with gastrointestinal motor stimulating activity. II. Quaternary N-substituted derivatives of 8,9-anhydroerythromycin A 6,9-hemiacetal and 9,9-dihydroerythromycin A 6,9-epoxide. AB - A series of quaternary ammonium derivatives of 8,9-anhydroerythromycin A 6,9 hemiacetal (1) and 9,9-dihydroerythromycin A 6,9-epoxide (2) has been prepared and tested for antimicrobial activity and gastrointestinal motor stimulating (GMS) activity in the dog (in vivo). The GMS activity is enhanced markedly when small alkyl halides and unsaturated alkyl halides such as allyl bromide and propargyl bromide are added to the dimethylamino group of 1. Among them, N propargyl-8,9-anhydroerythromycin A 6,9-hemiacetal bromide (3) exhibits GMS activity 2890 times stronger than that of erythromycin A and is completely devoid of antimicrobial activity. The potency of 3 is comparable to that of synthetic motilin both in vitro and in vivo. PMID- 2611930 TI - Synthesis, structure and cytostatic activity of a series of N-substituted 3,4 diphenyl-1H-pyrrole-2,5-diones. AB - A series of N-substituted 3,4-diphenyl-1H-pyrrole-2,5-diones (diphenylmaleimides) (IV) were synthesized and tested for cytostatic activity. Compounds IVa--k were prepared from diphenylmaleic anhydride or its dinitro derivative (V or VI) and the corresponding amine. Compounds IVl--n were obtained by reaction of 3-(p nitrophenyl)-4-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione potassium salt with the appropriate chloroalkylamine. Hydrogenation of IVl,n gave the the corresponding cis-3-(p aminophenyl)-4-phenylsuccinimides (VIIIa,b). The structure-cytostatic activity relationship of these compounds is discussed. PMID- 2611931 TI - Condensed thienopyrimidines. IV. Synthesis and gastric antisecretory activity of 2,3-dihydro-5H-oxazolothienopyrimidine derivatives. AB - 2,3-Dihydro-5H-oxazolo[3,2-a]thieno[3,2-d]-(2a--d), [3,4-d]-(2e--h), and [2,3 d]pyrimidine derivatives (2i,j) were synthesized and evaluated for gastric antisecretory activity. These analogues (2) were prepared stepwise starting from formylthiophenecarbamates (4). The structure-activity relationships of these compounds are discussed. PMID- 2611932 TI - Corticosterone secretion-inducing activity of saikosaponin metabolites formed in the alimentary tract. AB - The corticosterone secretion-inducing activities of saikosaponin a, saikosaponin c and saikosaponin d, isolated from the root of Bupleurum falcatum L., and 27 metabolites formed in the murine alimentary tract were studied in mice. Serum corticosterone was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Intraperitoneal administration of saikosaponin a and its intestinal metabolite, prosaikogenin F, showed corticosterone secretion-inducing activity at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg, and maximally increased it at a dose of 0.4 mmol/kg. On the other hand, the genuine sapogenin, saikogenin F, was inactive. Saikosaponin b1 and saikosaponin g, gastric metabolites of saikosaponin a, and their intestinal metabolites, prosaikogenin A, prosaikogenin H, saikogenin A and saikogenin H, were also inactive. Serum corticosterone was increased by the administration of saikosaponin d and its intestinal metabolite, prosaikogenin G, at a dose of 0.04 mmol/kg, and it reached the maximal level at the dose of 0.1 mmol/kg. Saikogenin G also showed a slight activity. A gastric metabolite of saikosaponin d, saikosaponin b2, and its intestinal metabolites, prosaikogenin D and saikogenin D, were inactive. In the experiments on saikosaponin c and its metabolites, saikosaponin c was inactive but its intestinal metabolites, especially prosaikogenin E-2, showed activity almost equal to that of saikosaponin a. Saikosaponin h and saikosaponin i, gastric metabolites of saikosaponin c, were also inactive, but their prosaikogenins showed slight activities. When these compounds were orally administered, their corticosterone secretion-inducing activities were similar to those obtained in the intraperitoneal experiment. These results suggest that a proper polar balance between the sugar moiety and the aglycone is important for the corticosterone secretion-inducing activity of saikosaponins and their metabolites. PMID- 2611933 TI - The sennoside constituents of rhei rhizoma and sennae folium as inhibitors of serum monoamine oxidase. AB - Four (in total) compounds with inhibitory effects on the activity of bovine serum monoamine oxidase were isolated from the methanol-water extracts of Rhei Rhizoma (Daiou) and Sennae Folium (Senna), and identified as sennosides A, B, E and F. Among them, sennosides A and B were obtained from both Rhei Rhizoma and Sennae Folium, while sennosides E and F were detected only in the former. The 50% inhibitory concentrations of the four sennosides were 17, 9, 24 and 13 microM, respectively, and the type of inhibition by seenosides A and B with respect to allylamine as the substrate was non-competitive. PMID- 2611934 TI - Effect of host lattice on antigenicity of glycophorin in membranes. AB - The influence of the host lattice on the antigenicity of glycophorin in membranes was confirmed by complement-dependent immune lysis of liposomes with two rabbit antisera, which were prepared by immunization with either human red blood cells or isolated glycophorin A. The immune lysis by either antiserum depended on the kind of phospholipid in the liposomes. Anti-glycophorin antiserum more strongly recognized glycophorin in egg-lecithin membranes than in dipalmitoyl-lecithin membranes, as did anti-red blood cell antiserum. Cholesterol in the liposomal membranes influenced the antigenicity of glycophorin. The relationship between the state of glycophorin in membranes and recognition by antibody is discussed. PMID- 2611935 TI - Metabolism of 32-oxo-24,25-dihydrolanosterols by partially purified cytochrome P 450(14DM) from rat liver microsomes. AB - Metabolism of 32-oxo-24,25-dihydrolanosterols (3 beta-hydroxylanost-8-en-32- al (4,delta 8-CHO) and 3 beta-hydroxylanost-7-en-32-al (5,delta 7-CHO)) was studied in a reconstituted system consisting of rat liver partially purified cytochrome P 450, which catalyzes lanosterol 14-demethylation (P-450(14DM)), and reduced nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-cytochrome P-450 reductase. The reconstituted system converted delta 8-CHO to 4,4-dimethyl-5 alpha-cholesta 8,14-dien-3 beta-ol (2, 8, 14-Diene), which corresponds to the 14-deformylated product. delta 7-CHO, the isomer of delta 8-CHO, was not converted to the corresponding 14-deformylated product. The apparent Km value of cytochrome P 450(14DM) for delta 8-CHO was about 1/20 of that for 24,25-dihydrolanosterol (1, DHL). The metabolism of delta 8-CHO was inhibited by 7-oxo-24,25 dihydrolanosterol (6, 7-oxo-DHL), which is a potent inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis from lanosterol or DHL. However, the metabolism of delta 8-CHO was less inhibited by 7-oxo-DHL than that of DHL. PMID- 2611936 TI - Effect of magnesium lithospermate B on urinary excretion of arachidonate metabolites in rats with renal failure. AB - The effect of magnesium lithospermate B isolated from Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix on excretion of urinary arachidonate metabolites was examined in both normal rats and those given adenine. Urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) decreased while urinary thromboxane B2 (TXB2) excretion increased markedly with the progression of renal failure. Rats administered magnesium lithospermate B showed an increase of urinary PGE2 excretion at the 6th and 12th days. Excretion of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha also showed a significant increase on the 6th and 12th days in rats with renal failure induced by the administration of adenine. However, these effects were lower than the corresponding values in normal rats. In addition, urinary PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha excretions showed no appreciable difference in rats that exhibited progressive renal failure with continuation of the adenine administration period, as shown on the 18th and 24th days. There were no significant changes in TXB2 excretion between the control and magnesium lithospermate B-treated groups throughout the experimental period. PMID- 2611937 TI - Glassy state of pharmaceuticals. IV. Studies on glassy pharmaceuticals by thermomechanical analysis. AB - The glassy state of indomethacin was examined by thermomechanical analysis (TMA). The influences of the method of preparation and the measurement conditions of the sample on the TMA curves were investigated. The TMA curves of glassy indomethacin having hemispherical and plane surfaces were examined. Expansion was observed on the TMA curves in the region of glass transition temperature (Tg), which had been confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry. The TMA curves for the sample with the plane surface showed distinct expansion. It was further found that the glass transition shifted to lower temperatures as the heating rate was decreased and the loading increased. The TMA curves of brucine, griseofulvin and phenobarbital were similar to that of indomethacin. The relaxation process of glassy indomethacin below Tg was followed in terms of the variation of mechanical properties of samples. PMID- 2611938 TI - Epimerization and racemization of some chiral drugs in the presence of cyclodextrin and liposomes. AB - The effects of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrins (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and DM-beta-CyDs) and liposomes on epimerization or racemization of etoposide, ethiazide and carbenicillin were examined kinetically. alpha- and beta CyDs accelerated both epimerization and hydrolysis of carbenicillin. They had no effect on epimerization of etoposide, and did not affect racemization and hydrolysis of ethiazide. DM-beta-CyD retarded epimerization of etoposide, hydrolysis of picroetoposide (which is an epimer of etoposide), and racemization and hydrolysis of ethiazide, but had no effect on epimerization and hydrolysis of carbenicillin. gamma-CyD retarded epimerization of etoposide and hydrolysis of picroetoposide. On the other hand, gamma-CyD accelerated epimerization of carbenicillin. It is suggested that the formation of inclusion complexes between CyDs and etoposide, picroetoposide and ethiazide inhibited the attack of bases such as OH- and buffer components, thereby retarding epimerization, racemization and hydrolysis. On the other hand, alpha-, beta- and gamma-CyDs increased the reactivity of carbenicillin through the OH group, accelerating its epimerization and hydrolysis. Liposomes retarded epimerization of etoposide, hydrolysis of picroetoposide and racemization of ethiazide. Liposomes did not affect epimerization and hydrolysis of carbenicillin. These differences in the effect of liposomes on reactivity may be interpreted in terms of the solubility of the drugs. PMID- 2611939 TI - A possible mechanism of fever induced by Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (N CWS) in experimental animals. AB - The characteristics of fever elicited by the cell wall skeleton of Nocardia rubra (N-CWS) and by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were compared in rabbits, and the possible involvement of the antigenicity of N-CWS was investigated in guinea pigs. In rabbits, fever of more than 0.5 degree C developed after an intravenous (i.v.) injection of 10 micrograms/kg or more of N-CWS, and was monophasic with 30 100 micrograms/kg but biphasic with the highest dose of 300 micrograms/kg. LPS elicited fever with similar characteristics at doses of 0.01-0.1 microgram/kg. With both compounds, the fever was inhibited by indomethacin. Tolerance to N-CWS and LPS appeared after dosing with 30 or 0.1 micrograms/kg, respectively for 10 d. In guinea pigs sensitized with N-CWS, challenge with 1 or 10 micrograms/kg of N-CWS 10 d later, which did not induce fever in the nonsensitized animals, caused fever of more than 0.5 degree C, and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) appeared. N-CWS also elicited fever in nonsensitized guinea pigs bearing N-CWS sensitized lymphocytes or anti-N-CWS antibody; the fever was higher in the guinea pigs sensitized with the lymphocytes than in those with the anti-N-CWS antibody. In brief, single injections of N-CWS and of LPS elicited fever with similar characteristics, although the potency of N-CWS was weaker. With N-CWS, the fever is proposed to be triggered by the antigenicity of the compound itself, because doses as low as 1 or 10 micrograms/kg elicited fever along with immunological response in N-CWS-sensitized animals, but not in nonsensitized ones. PMID- 2611940 TI - Possible involvement of a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like mediator as an endogenous pyrogen in fever induction by Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (N CWS). AB - Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a cytokine produced in macrophages, also acts as an endogenous pyrogen (EP). To investigate whether TNF has a role in the fever induced by Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (N-CWS), the relationship between fever and TNF production was studied in guinea pigs. N-CWS injected i.v. to guinea pigs caused biphasic fever and had L-929 cell-killing activity which resembled that of TNF in the sera 30 min before the first phase of fever appeared. In vitro, L-929 cell-killing activity was demonstrated in the culture supernatant of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages pretreated with N-CWS, and the activity increased dependently on N-CWS concentration or culture duration. When the supernatant of the macrophages was fractionated by gel filtration and each fraction was assayed for fever-inducing and L-929 cell-killing activities, the fraction with the cell-killing activity also induced fever with characteristics similar to that by i.v. injection of N-CWS in guinea pigs. These results suggest that TNF acts as an EP on the fever induced by N-CWS in guinea pigs. PMID- 2611941 TI - Antiinflammatory effect of Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff. AB - The red leaves of Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff. (G. pictum) are used in Indonesian folk medicine. The present study was carried out to elucidate the antiinflammatory effect of the ethanol extract obtained from this crude drug. The extract was partitioned between ether and water, and then the water-soluble fraction was extracted with 1-butanol. The 1-butanol-soluble fraction was extracted with chloroform-acetone, hot methanol and water, successively, and the hot methanol-soluble fraction (fr.) was chromatographed (frs. I-III). The antiinflammatory activity of these fractions was investigated on carrageenin induced edema in rats and acetic acid-induced vascular permeability as well as the writhing symptom in mice. The ethanol extract (p.o.) showed an antiinflammatory activity as well as an analgesic activity and these activities shifted to the water-soluble fraction, 1-butanol-soluble fraction, methanol soluble fraction and fr. II, successively. It was found that fr. II contained flavonoids. These results suggest that these flavonoids are at least partly responsible for the antiinflammatory effect of the ethanol extract of G. pictum. PMID- 2611942 TI - Binding of sulfonamides to erythrocyte proteins and possible drug-drug interaction. AB - The mode of binding of sulfonamides to erythrocyte proteins and possible drug drug interaction between those compounds in erythrocytes resulting in changes in tissue levels were studied in rats using zonisamide (a novel antiepileptic agent possessing a sulfonamide group), several other sulfonamides and some antiepileptics without a sulfonamide group. In Michaelis-Menten plottings, the sulfonamide was found to be concentrated into erythrocytes in vitro and in vivo in a saturable high-affinity mode and in a linear low-affinity mode at ordinary therapeutic plasma levels through a simple diffusion process. Concentration in erythrocytes was affected by the presence of albumin in the extracellular medium. The cellular sulfonamide was readily replaced by extracellular sulfonamides in vitro. Even in vivo, erythrocyte levels of zonisamide were lowered by administration of other sulfonamides, although the plasma and tissue levels were not significantly changed since the plasma and tissue compartments of zonisamide were large relative to the erythrocyte compartment at ordinary therapeutic dose levels of zonisamide in animals and man. Therefore, disposition of zonisamide was not significantly influenced by other sulfonamides, but it is suggested that drug drug interaction affecting the tissue levels may occur for a combination of sulfonamides with extremely different affinities for erythrocytes and low therapeutic plasma levels. PMID- 2611943 TI - Reaction of (R)-(-)-2-aminomethylpyrrolidine(1,1 cyclobutanedicarboxylato)platinum( II) with guanosine. AB - The reaction of a new antitumor platinum complex, (R)-(-)-2 aminomethylpyrrolidine(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato++ +)platinum(II) (1) with guanosine at room temperature in an aqueous solution was followed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at intervals. Both techniques showed that a new compound was formed by displacement of the 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylate moiety of 1 with two guanosines, and its 1H-NMR spectrum and HPLC chromatogram were proved to be identical with those of [(R)-(-)-2-aminomethylpyrrolidine]bis(N7 guanosine)platinum(II) (2), which was obtained upon successive treatment of (R)-( )-2-aminomethylpyrrolidinedichloroplatinum(II) (3) with AgNO3 and 2 mol eq of guanosine in water. The binding sites of the platinum to the two guanosine moieties in 2 were confirmed by the pH dependence of the two G-H8 signals. PMID- 2611944 TI - Syntheses and antitumor activities of N6,N6-dimethyladenosine carboxylate analogues. AB - Several analogues substituted with fatty acid at the 2'-, 3'-, or 5'-position of the ribose moiety of N6,N6-dimethyladenosine were synthesized and tested for antitumor activity against cultured cells of L1210 leukemia and/or Ehrlich ascites. The cytotoxicity and increase of life span obtained with congeners in the N6,N6-dimethyladenosine 3'- or 5'-substituted series were comparable to in vitro or several times better in vivo than those of the mother compound. PMID- 2611945 TI - Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of N-substituted 4,6-diaryl-3 pyridazinones as analgesic, antiinflammatory and antipyretic agents. AB - The synthesis and the pharmacological evaluation of 19 new 4,6-diaryl-3 pyridazinones are reported. All compounds were screened for analgesic, antiinflammatory and antipyretic activities. Introduction of an arylpiperazinomethyl moiety in the 2-position of the pyridazinone ring resulted in the most potent activities. Compounds 2a, 2b, 2h and 2i exhibited a higher analgesic activity than did aspirin or noramidopyrine in the hot plate test. PMID- 2611946 TI - Kinetic study on the mechanism of inhibition of trypsin and trypsin-like enzymes by p-guanidinobenzoate ester. AB - It was found that [4-(2-succinimidoethylthio)phenyl 4 guanidinobenzoate]methanesulfonate (E-3123) inhibits trypsin, thrombin and kallikrein, and its inhibitory activity is most potent toward trypsin. The interactions of these enzymes with E-3123 were studied mainly by using stopped flow spectrophotometry. E-3123 behaved as a quasi-substrate of the enzymes and the inhibitory property was due to the efficient production of the stable acyl enzyme. The acylation process with trypsin was exceedingly effective, and the resulting acyl-enzyme was the most stable among the three enzymes tested. This observation affords a rational basis for explaining the action of E-3123, which is a transient inhibitor most active toward trypsin. PMID- 2611947 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the simultaneous determination of norfloxacin, fenbufen and felbinac in rat plasma. AB - A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of norfloxacin, fenbufen and felbinac extracted from 50 microliters of rat plasma is described. Chromatography was performed on a reversed-phase column with ultraviolet detection. By the present method, quantitative and reproducible determinations were possible for norfloxacin, fenbufen and felbinac over the concentration ranges of 0.2-20, 0.2-120 and 0.4-40 micrograms/ml, respectively. The recoveries of norfloxacin, fenbufen and felbinac added to plasma were nearly 100% with a coefficient of variation of less than 8.0%. This method was found to be applicable to pharmacokinetic studies of each drug after the concomitant administration of norfloxacin and fenbufen. PMID- 2611948 TI - 5-Fluorouracil derivatives with serum protein binding potencies. AB - To develop an optimal delivery system for 5-fluorouracil (5FU) using serum protein as a drug carrier, a series of its benzyl derivatives was synthesized. Then their binding to the serum protein was investigated by equilibrium dialysis. The benzyl derivatives of 5FU were strongly bound to rat plasma protein or human serum albumin. The bound percentage increased with increasing hydrophobicity. It was suggested that the benzyl derivative of 5FU existed in the blood as a complex with serum albumin and circulated for a long time as a polymeric drug does. PMID- 2611949 TI - Structure and synthesis of FK409, a novel vasodilator isolated from Streptomyces as a semi-artificial fermentation product. AB - The structures of FK409 (1), a semi-artificial fermentation product and its precursor (2) have been established on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence and confirmed by conversion of 2 to 1 via a synchronous nitrosation nitration reaction. PMID- 2611950 TI - [Effect of an essence-restoring decoction on DNA repair capacity]. AB - In order to observe the effect on organism DNA repair capacity after administration of Essence-Restoring Decoction (ERD), the level of peripheral lymphocyte unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in 20 healthy young men, 23 healthy old men and 13 old men given ERD were detected, while the frequency of sister chromosome exchange (SCE) of mice marrow cells in 80 ICR strain male mice were detected. Ultraviolet (UV) and mitomycin-C (MMC) were used as agents to induce injury of DNA. Experimental results showed that the level of UDS in the aged person was lower than that of the young person. Comparing the level of UDS of the aged before and after medication, it was shown that the level of UDS after medication was increased, approaching that of the young. Within a range of lower doses (less than 5mg/kg weight), the SCE value of mice marrow cells raised with the increase of MMC concentration, while this values was markedly lowered in the medicated mice as compared with that of the control. It is thus suggested that ERD could enhance the DNA repair capacity and this might be a part of the mechanism of "Invigorating Kidney and retarding aging" as indicated in TCM. PMID- 2611951 TI - [Effects of shengmaiyin and danshen-chuanxiong decoction on preventing cardiopulmonary changes in adults caused by a high-altitude environment]. AB - Compared with the cardiopulmonary function of the healthy adults on the plateau at an altitude of 4475 m and of 2500 m, the HR was faster, LVET was shorter, PEP/LVET rate was larger (P less than 0.05 or P less than 0.01) in the former. Besides the FEV1% and FEF25%, the FVC, FEV1.0, MMF, PEFR, FEF75% and FEF50% were all elevated (P less than 0.05 or P less than 0.01). After the villagers at the altitude of 2500 m area entered the area at the altitude of 4475 m, their LVETI became shorter, PEPI became longer, and PEP/LVET rate was increased (P less than 0.05 or P less than 0.01). Besides FEV1% and PEFR, other values of pulmonary function were increased obviously (P less than 0.05 or P less than 0.01). The Shengmaiyin could efficiently protect the villagers from the plateau reaction described above, while the Danshen-Chuanxiong decoction was not satisfactory. PMID- 2611952 TI - [Clinical research on 50 cases of stable stage apoplexy treated by acupuncture using brain activating and consciousness regaining principles]. AB - This paper reports 50 cases of stable stage apoplexy (the disease course ranged from 3 weeks to 3 months) treated by acupuncture treatment with Activating-Brain and Regaining-Consciousness Principle from March to November of 1986. The basic curative cases were 2T (42%), the marked effective cases were 12 (24%), the effective cases were 13 (26%), the ineffective and died cases were 4 (8%), the total effective rate was 92%. The acupoints mainly were in Yin-channels, secondarily in Yang-channels, which were different from the traditional method in which the points mainly in Yang-channels, secondly in Yin-channels. The experimental research also indicated that this therapeutic method could improve blood rheology, microcirculation, increase the content of HDL and resist thrombosis. Thus, it could promote the injured cerebral cells to be recovered. PMID- 2611953 TI - [Measurement of MEFV in 66 cases of asthma in the convalescent stage and after treatment with Chinese herbs]. AB - This paper reported the measurement of maximal expiratory flow-volume curve (MEFV) for 66 cases of asthmatics in the convalescent stage. Among which the data of FEV, PEF, V75, V50, V25 in 35 cases (53.03% of the total) gave different abnormal as compared with healthy persons. It showed that in the convalescent stage, most of the asthmatics still possessed obstruction of airways and chiefly of small airways. 35 cases of asthmatics in the convalescent stage was given the Chinese herbal decoction of chiefly invigorating Kidney (Viscum coloratum 15g, Psoralea corylifolia 15g, Eucommia ulmoides 15g, Lycium chinense 9g, Tussilago farfara 15g, Artemisia capillaris 9g, and Pogostemon cablin 9g as daily dosage) for treatment of 10 weeks and measuring MEFV curves to observe their changes before and after treatment. The results showed that different parameters of MEFV was improved in some extent which suggested that the airway obstruction of asthmatics in the convalescent stage was reversible. In discussion, the authors indicated that the prompt treatment for asthmatics in the convalescent stage was conductive early to prevent emphysema and confirmed that the treatment with Chinese herbs of chiefly invigorating Kidney deserved to be propagated. PMID- 2611954 TI - [Some parameters of blood-stasis, yin deficiency, and yang deficiency in patients with remote myocardial infarction]. AB - This paper demonstrates some investigations on the differentiation of symptom complex for old myocardial infarction patients (OMI). Among total 100 cases, 20 cases of blood-stasis type, 28 cases of Yin deficiency type and 52 cases of Yang deficiency type. Several laboratory investigations had been carried out for them. The results indicated the level of HDL-C was decreased, LDL-C was increased, ratio of HDL-C/TC was also decreased, platelet aggregation test (PAgT) was increased, factor VIII related antigen (VIII R: Ag) was elevated, among the above 3 types, especially in Yin deficiency group, showed statistically significant. In Yin deficiency group, the ACG tracing demonstrated late bulge type or in a plateau form, A/E-O greater than or equal to 15%. Yang deficiency group, SV, CO, CI were decreased, when compared with Yin deficiency all P value less than 0.01. Among 3 differentiation symptom-complex, microcirculation changes and degree of blood-stasis were in same appearance. PMID- 2611955 TI - [Immunologic changes in active pulmonary tuberculosis treated with a fuzheng guben pill]. AB - This paper reports the changes of immunity in treatment of active pulmonary tuberculosis with Fuzheng Guben Pill (FGP). The chemotherapy group consisted of 11 cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis and was cured by streptomycin (SM) and isonicotinylhydrazide (INH). The FGP group consisted of 14 cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis and was cured by SM and INH in combination with FGP. After 60 days of treatment, the subtype T-cell mediated immunity in the FGP group was recovered to normal level. (OKT3: 46.07 +/- 6.92 to 54.86 +/- 8.74; OKT4: 36.14 +/- 4.79 to 41.00 +/- 4.13, etc). The chemotherapy group had no obvious immunological change after medication. It was shown that FGP had an immunological modulation in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients. PMID- 2611956 TI - [Ilexonin A may be a slow calcium channel blocker]. AB - Ilexonin A is an effective compound isolated from Ilex pubescens Hook. et Arn. It has been used in the clinic to treat cardiovascular diseases such as cerebral embolism and myocardial infarction. Experimental studies have shown that it inhibited thrombosis, platelet adhesion, and platelet aggregation and 5-HT release induced by collagen, ADP or A23187 in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory effect of platelet aggregation induced by A23187 was reduced by adding CaCl2 (1mM) to the medium. It suggests that the effects of llexonin A on platelet function are possibly related to calcium. The present experiments were designed to investigate the effects of Ilexonin A on thrombin-induced Ca2+ fluxes of platelets, in which quin-2 was used to measure the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration. The results indicated that the free calcium concentrations of resting platelets and the platelets activated by thrombin were 78.65 +/- 7.74 nM and 871.10 +/- 123.63 nM respectively. After adding EGTA (lmM) to the medium, the calcium concentrations reduced to 34.75 +/- 7.77 nM and 50. 86 +/- 7.44 nM. Ilexonin A and verapamil markedly inhibited the thrombin induced Ca2+ influx. The IC50 was 76.8 microM and 67.5 microM respectively. But both had no effect on thrombin-induced Ca2+ release from dense tubular system. It suggests that Ilexonin A acts most likely as a calcium slow channel blocker. PMID- 2611957 TI - [Pathologic effect of lipid-lowering and vessel-softening medication in adult and aged rats]. AB - The Wistar's male rats of six months and fifteen months of age were divided randomly into three groups: the Lipid-lowering and Vessel-softening medication (LVM) group, the vitamin E group and the control group. The rat aorta in morphology was observed to study the effects of these medication. The results showed that in the LVM group, the thickening of aorta intima with age was postponed, the thickening ratio of intima to tunica media was reduced, the reduction of smooth muscle cells was inhibited, while the synthesis of collagen fibril and the formation of plaque were also inhibited and the perfection of artery intima was protected. PMID- 2611958 TI - [Antitumor effect of Limax in tumor-bearing mice]. AB - Limax is a mollusk with lung, the whole body of which has manifested medicinal values. It can be taken orally and used externally. The experimental studies on the antitumor effect of Limax on NIH mice bearing ARS (ascites type) or Lewis lung carcinoma were carried out by using tumor inhibitory rate, tumor mean diameter doubling time, tumor growth delay time or the host existence time as the experimental indexes. The initial results indicated that the mixed suspension liquid of Limax had an obviously inhibitory effect upon the above mentioned experiment tumors. PMID- 2611959 TI - [Views on integrating traditional and Western medicine in ophthalmology]. PMID- 2611960 TI - Polyprenyl phosphates: synthesis and structure-activity relationship for a biosynthetic system of Salmonella anatum O-specific polysaccharide. AB - A series of polyprenyl phosphates with modified structure of polyprenyl residue was prepared through phosphorylation of polyprenyl trichloroacetimidates with phosphoric acid. Interaction of polyprenols with tetra-n-butylammonium dihydrogen phosphate and trichloroacetonitrile was found to represent a very efficient, simple and general method for the synthesis of polyprenyl phosphates. A procedure was developed for smooth conversion of polyprenyl pyrophosphates into the monophosphates through hydrolysis in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine. The polyprenyl phosphates prepared were studied as substrates for the enzymes of Salmonella anatum O-specific polysaccharide biosynthesis. Correct stereochemistry of alpha- and beta-isoprenic units was found to be essential for substrate efficiency. At the more remote positions of the hydrocarbon chain just the presence of isoprenic units of any configuration seems necessary. Some changes in position of the phosphate group may be permissible without significant loss of substrate properties. PMID- 2611961 TI - Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of polyisoprenols in model membranes. AB - 2H-NMR investigation of polyisoprenols (PIs) in model membranes has revealed information about their motions, relative order, and locale within the membrane. Initial 2H-NMR studies of the organization of the shorter chain homologues geraniol (C10), farnesol (C15), and solanesol (C45) were carried out by incorporating 2H-acetyl esters of the alcohol or the di-perdeuterome-thylated derivatives of the omega-labeled prenols into multilamellar phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles. 2H-NMR powder patterns interpretable in terms of quadrupole splittings and spin-lattice relaxation times were obtained. Similar experiments have now been carried out with the labeled free alcohol, acetyl ester, and phosphate ester of dolichol (C95) and undecaprenol (C55). 2H-NMR results show that the head and tail 2H-labeled sites of C55 and C95 exhibit a fast motion isotropic signal only; no slower motion anisotropy, as exhibited by the short chain PIs, was observed. These data suggest that C55 and C95 either have substantially different (faster) motions and/or conformations relative to the shorter chain PIs within the membrane, and that the longer PIs alter the membrane host packing matrix. This conclusion was supported by 31P-NMR studies of C55 and C95 derivatives in PC and PE/PC membranes, which showed new pronounced spectral changes relative to the results obtained with the shorter chain PIs. These spectral changes indicate that undecaprenol and dolichol derivatives appear to induce a non-bilayer (isotropic) organization of phospholipid molecules in PE/PC (2:1) vesicles. The possible physiological consequences of this perturbation remains to be determined. PMID- 2611962 TI - Bilayer membrane destabilization induced by dolichylphosphate. AB - Small vesicles containing the fluorescent probe calcein were used to investigate the effect of dolichyl phosphate (Dol-P) on phospholipid bilayer stability. In the absence of Dol-P, phospholipid vesicles retained the fluorescent probe upon the addition of divalent cations. Small vesicles containing Dol-P, however, exhibited calcein leakage when incubated in the presence of divalent cations. This effect was observed in liposomes composed of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and Dol-P, but not in PC/Dol-P liposomes. The rate of calcein leakage was proportional to divalent cation concentration and to temperature, but was independent of vesicle concentration. These results demonstrate that Dol-P has significant effects on the stability of PE containing phospholipid bilayers. Vesicle leakage was also promoted by the addition of rat liver Dol-P-mannose synthase (EC 2.4.1.83) to intact PE/PC/Dol-P vesicles. Enzyme induced leakage from phospholipid vesicles required the presence of both unsaturated PE and Dol-P. The phospholipid composition of leaky vesicles could be correlated with the lipid matrix required for maximal transferase activity of the rat liver synthase. The destabilizing effects of Dol-P on phospholipid bilayers may therefore be involved in the translocation of activated sugars across biological membranes. PMID- 2611963 TI - Membrane properties of dolichol in different age groups of mice. AB - Dolichol content and the effects of dolichol in vitro on synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) structure of different age groups of C57BL/6NNIA mice were examined. SPM of aged mice had higher amounts of dolichol as compared to younger animals. Age differences also were observed in dolichol isoprenologue distribution. In older animals, dolichol isoprenologue chain length was shifted towards shorter chain length values. The structure of SPM was determined by differential polarized phase fluorometry of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). The SPM of old mice were more rigid, as indicated by higher limiting anisotropy, than those of young mice. Dolichol administered in vitro to SPM fluidized the membranes. However, dolichol administered in vitro fluidized SPM of younger mice significantly more than SPM of aged mice. The functional role of increased dolichol content in aged individuals is not known. Dolichol may act to regulate membrane fluidity of aged animals. PMID- 2611964 TI - A rapid procedure for the separation and analysis of metabolites of the sterol and dolichol pathways. AB - We have previously shown that of several methods examined, the maximum yield of dolichyl phosphate (Dol-P) from rat liver was achieved by saponification of the tissue and subsequent extraction with diethyl ether (R.K. Keller et al. (1985) Anal. Biochem. 147, 166-173). In the present report, we have developed a rapid procedure using non-toxic solvents which resolves the ether extract on a C18 cartridge column into four major fractions: (1) fatty acids; (2) squalene and sterols; (3) dolichol; (4) Dol-P. The utility of the new procedure was demonstrated by preparing the four fractions from liver slices which had been incubated with [3H]acetate. HPLC analysis of the sterol, dolichol and Dol-P fractions yielded well resolved elution profiles, thereby allowing determination of radioactivity incorporated into the major isoprenoids and their metabolites. PMID- 2611965 TI - [Closed thorax esophagectomy in caustic stenosis of the esophagus]. AB - The technique of oesophagectomy without thoracotomy using a stripper for oesophageal eversion has been applied to 6 cases of caustic stenosis of oesophagus in infants. This technic has been realized 6 to 18 months after the initial lesion in 5 cases, 13 years in a case. There is neither morbidity nor mortality. This procedure seems well adapted to pediatric indications of oesophagectomy. PMID- 2611966 TI - [The surgeon facing malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the abdomen in children]. AB - From February 1981 to December 1988, 30 children with Abdominal Malignant Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) have been followed and treated in the Department of Pediatric Surgery of Saint Vincent de Paul's Hospital. The place of surgery in the Diagnosis, Evolution and Treatment of NHL is defined. In the diagnostic Stage, Surgery should be a fortuitous event, as in some cases of acute Intestinal Intussusception, or Appendicectomy, where lymphoma is an unexpected discovery. In all other cases, a cytologic study of ascites and/or pleural effusion that should be searched, can give a quick and reliable Diagnosis. Exceptionally, a complication of chemotherapy, as a peritonitis, with or without intestinal perforation, require an intervention. Most often in cases of already diagnosed and treated NHL, an abdominal residual mass have to be removed surgically and submitted to careful pathologic examination, to determine further treatment. If in some cases, initial Diagnosis is an unexpected discovery, the treatment of NHL is essentially medical. Surgery takes place in the Remission Evaluation after conventional chemotherapy. PMID- 2611967 TI - [Significance of percutaneous nephrostomy in calculous anuria in children. Apropos of 3 cases]. AB - Percutaneous nephrostomy is a new and very efficient technique of the drainage of the obstructed kidney. It is better indicated to treat obstructive anuria in the child especially if the obstructive agent is a bilateral stone. Having performed such method successively in 3 patients suffering of calculus anuria, the author tries to point out its advantages and review literature data. Thus, this technique allows prompt drainage of urine and removes emergency in case of infected intra-renal retention. It takes an important part in diagnosis by permitting dye injection in the drained upper urinary system. It could also inform about residual value of the desobstructed kidney and predict changes of its potential recovery. It represents lastly, a first step for in-situ treatment of the stone. PMID- 2611968 TI - [Bone healing after oblique osteotomy of the metacarpus in 6-week-old calves after conservative treatment or osteosynthesis]. AB - Bone healing in infants treated by a rigid osteosynthesis of AO type showed mostly a marked periosteal and endosteal callus formation. In adults a callus formation is seldom seen and primary bone healing is mainly based on direct conduction of Havarian channels. Periosteal callus formation is even judged as a sign of instability in adults. We did a 2:1 osteotomy of the right metacarpal bone in 48 calves of 6 weeks of age. The treatment consisted in reposition and a plaster (6) in osteosynthesis with a metal screw of AO type (6) or a biodegradable screw of polylactid (36). The animals were sacrified 1-6 weeks postoperatively and a histological study was done in a comparative way based on the most common criteria in the literature of osteology and traumatology. In calves bones healing takes about 4-6 weeks even if the treatment is conservative or if there is a progressive dislocation in the first two postoperative weeks. A periosteal and endosteal callus formation is seen in every instance, even after interfragmentary compression by metal or biodegradable screws. All the results of biodegradable screws are at least as good as with metallic screws, at least in the growing skeleton. The force applied for interfragmentary compression does not lead to primary bone healing in the growing skeleton of young calvess. PMID- 2611969 TI - [Congenital sternal cleft. Closed with a periosteal graft]. AB - Three cases of sternal cleft are treated. In two cases direct approximation of the two sternal halves have been possible in neonatal period. The third case was seen later at 11 months: the cleft was 5 cm wide, we used autogenous periostal graft in two layers, the first in depth, the second above the sternal halves. This technique have given a good clinical and radiological result for two years. She must be reserved for the wide and "old" sternal cleft. PMID- 2611970 TI - [Complete traumatic rupture of the cervical trachea. A case in a 7-year-old boy]. AB - The authors report a case of a 7-years-old boy who sustained a complete rupture of the cervical trachea during a blunt cervico-thoracic trauma. The clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment are discussed. PMID- 2611971 TI - [Congenital mega-urethra. Comments apropos of a case report]. AB - Congenital megalourethra is a malformation of the male urethra with a major dilatation of its penile part without obstruction downwards. It is either due to hypoplasia ore agenesia of spongy tissue. Two types are described, scaphoide and fusiform types, according to the presence or the absence of erectile tissue. Megalourethra is a rare condition, and 55 cases were previously reported until 1987. A new case of this severe anomaly is reported and management discussed. PMID- 2611972 TI - Epidemiology and control of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum. AB - From a public health point of view gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum (GCON) is important as it can rapidly lead to blindness. The frequency of GCON is determined by the prevalence of maternal gonococcal infection. In most industrialized countries the prevalence of gonorrhoea in pregnant women is less than 1%; in developing countries the rates are between 3% and 15%, more than 50% being due to penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains (PPNG). The rate of transmission from mother to newborn is between 30% and 50%. Strategies for the control of GCON include: (1) prevention of gonococcal infection in women of childbearing age, (2) detection and treatment of gonococcal infection in pregnant women, (3) eye prophylaxis in the newborn at birth, and (4) diagnosis and treatment of GCON. Eye prophylaxis by the instillation immediately after birth of either 1% silver nitrate eye drops or 1% tetracycline eye ointment is very effective. This reduces the GCON incidence by 80% to 95% and is highly cost effective, particularly in high-risk settings. PMID- 2611973 TI - Approaches to prevent acute bacterial meningitis in developing countries. AB - Endemic acute bacterial meningitis of childhood appears to be neglected as a cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, probably because it has been overshadowed by the dramatic epidemics of meningococcal disease in sub Saharan Africa. The available data based on reviews of hospitalized patients suggest that endemic meningitis is mostly a disease of young infants, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b being the most important etiologic agents. The epidemiological pattern appears to be different in developing countries, compared with northern Europe or the USA, and closely resembles the early age of onset and high incidence of meningitis observed among the native American populations in Alaska. The mortality from meningitis appears to be much higher in developing countries than in industrialized countries. The availability of vaccines against the pneumococcus and haemophilus, particularly those in which the bacterial polysaccharide is conjugated to a protein, promises protection against systemic bacterial infection from these organisms. The assessment of the efficacy of such vaccines will have to include a close examination of meningitis as an outcome. It is suggested that before such vaccines become available careful clinical and epidemiological studies of meningitis will help both to define the impact of this disease and how to design an intervention strategy. PMID- 2611974 TI - 1989 guidelines for the management of mild hypertension: memorandum from a WHO/ISH meeting. AB - The present guidelines were prepared by a subcommittee of the WHO/ISH (International Society of Hypertension) Mild Hypertension Liaison Committee, and wee finalized after discussion at the Fifth WHO/ISH Mild Hypertension Conference. They include the definition of mild hypertension, and describe blood pressure measurement, factors influencing the decision to begin treatment, methods of treatment, and follow-up. These guidelines are a revision of those published in 1986; they are based on the best available scientific evidence, and will be updated in the future to keep abreast of further developments in this field. PMID- 2611975 TI - In-flight disinsection as an efficacious procedure for preventing international transport of insects of public health importance. AB - Aircraft disinsection with aerosol insecticides during flight has generally been held to be inadvisable because it was assumed that the insecticides would be rapidly removed by the cabin air-conditioning system. We have developed protocols to deliver 2% d-phenothrin at a dose of 35 g per 100 m3 in various aircraft, and trials undertaken on Boeing 747 and 767 aircraft showed that their air conditioning systems do not preclude effective disinsection. Mortality levels of 100% for Culex quinquefasciatus and Musca domestica test insects were recorded under normal operating conditions during routine scheduled passenger flights with disinsection procedures undertaken at "blocks-away" or at "top-of-descent". As a result, "top-of-descent" disinsection has been introduced as the recommended procedure for aircraft landing in Australia. PMID- 2611976 TI - [Knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases and attitudes towards them in populations at risk in Djibouti]. AB - Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are an increasing public health problem in Djibouti. The authors have attempted to obtain basic information on the level of knowledge concerning STDs and on the sexual behaviour of highly sexually promiscuous individuals for use in the organization of future STD control programmes; the information was obtained from a population of 213 bar hostesses, 66 unlicensed prostitutes, and 115 male sufferers from STDs. The level of knowledge of these diseases was very high among the prostitutes and the bar hostesses, except that little was known about syphilis by the bar hostesses; the male sufferers were relatively ignorant concerning both syphilis and AIDS. Medical and paramedical personnel do not figure among the sources given for knowledge of STDs. On the other hand, friends play an important role in this knowledge, especially among unlicensed prostitutes. The second most frequently instanced source was radio and TV. The bar hostesses and the unlicensed prostitutes often exhibited distinct social characteristics. Neither education nor marriage appeared to prevent men from contracting STDs. The use of condoms is extremely rare among STD patients and not very common among unlicensed prostitutes. Half the bar hostesses report their frequent use. PMID- 2611977 TI - A simple, inexpensive thin-layer chromatography method for the analysis of theophylline tablets. AB - A simple, low-cost thin-layer chromatography (TLC) procedure to estimate the quality of simple pharmaceuticals in tablet form is described together with easily built equipment to carry out the test in the field. The approach is demonstrated for theophylline, but can be used to assay the drug content of any tablet or to determine its dissolution or disintegration characteristics. The procedure can be used in the field without the need for any instrumentation. PMID- 2611978 TI - An international survey of the educational activities of schools of pharmacy on psychoactive drugs. AB - A survey of the educational activities of schools of pharmacy on psychoactive drugs in 92 countries was carried out. All the schools which replied felt that there was a need for specific education on psychoactive drugs, and the majority felt that the rational use of such drugs should also be taught. Both the amount of teaching given and the methods used varied. This was particularly true for related subjects such as alternatives to psychoactive drug use. Almost a third of schools considered that they did not devote adequate time to psychoactive drugs and their rational use, and many would be grateful for specific educational guidelines in this area. PMID- 2611979 TI - An index for assigning priority for cancer control within the health care delivery system in developing countries. AB - As a result of better control of communicable diseases in the developing countries, life expectancy at birth has risen and the population is increasingly becoming exposed to higher cancer risks. This brief communication shows that the cumulative cancer incidence rate estimated for the age range equivalent to average life span is a suitable index for health planners to determine priorities in the allocation of funds for cancer control. PMID- 2611980 TI - Influence of an experimental hindlimb maldevelopment on axon number and nodal spacing in the rat sciatic nerve. AB - In neonatal rat pups the femoral and tibial epiphyseal cartilages on the left side were coagulated with a microcautery device. The subsequent femoral and tibial growth in length was markedly restricted on the left side, but the foot and the pelvic region exhibited normal longitudinal growth. After 6 months the sciatic nerves were removed from both sides. Electron microscopic analysis of nerve specimens from the stunted side revealed that the number of axons was 20% less compared to control specimens. Light microscopic examination of teased preparations showed a normal nodal spacing in the pelvic segment but abnormally short internodes in the femoral segment of the left sciatic nerve. These results suggest that the number of axons in the rat sciatic nerve adapts to a target maldevelopment that sets in neonatally, and that internodal elongation during development proceeds according to the local growth in length of the nerve rather than to the length growth of the whole nerve. PMID- 2611981 TI - Distribution of GABAergic neurons in late fetal and early postnatal rat hippocampus. AB - The ontogenesis of GABAergic neurons in the rat hippocampus was studied using an anti-GABA serum. GABA immunoreactivity appeared at the 18th day of gestation. At this stage, GABA-immunoreactive (GABA-IR) cells are grouped in two layers, one located deeply in the intermediate zone near the ventricular zone, and the other found superficially in the marginal zone near the hippocampal fissure. During the late embryonic and early postnatal life, GABA-IR neurons progressively disappeared from these two layers. The transient appearance of an abundant network of GABAergic neurons might be due to transient expression of GABA in some neurons or to cellular death. Later on, from the third postnatal day, the GABA-IR neurons appeared throughout the whole hippocampus according to a dorsoventral and lateromedial gradient. The setting of neuronal bodies preceded that of GABA-IR puncta (supposed to be mainly synaptic boutons) around the neuronal cell bodies and along the dendritic shafts. The puncta are only visible from the sixth day onwards and their number increased rapidly during the first 3 postnatal weeks. Our results indicate that GABA may have a role in neurotransmission in the hippocampus from a very early stage of development. PMID- 2611982 TI - Estrogen receptors in the rhesus monkey brain during fetal development. AB - Estrogen receptor (ER) levels were measured in brain tissue cytosol from fetal male and female rhesus monkeys at Days 70, 100 and 160 postconception. The brain regions which were examined included medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), amygdala (AMG), cerebral cortex (CTX) and cerebellum (CB). For comparison, brain tissues were also obtained from an adult female, and muscle (MUS) and genital tract (GEN, ovaries + uterus) ER values were measured in several Day 70 fetuses. Tissues were dissected and homogenized as previously described. Cytosol was passed through a microcolumn of Lipidex 1000 to remove interfering lipids and incubated with [3H]Moxestrol (4 nM) in the presence or absence of 500 nM Moxestrol. Incubations were carried out for 24 h at 4 degrees C, and free and bound ligand separated by Sephadex LH-20 gel filtration. In one case (Day 160 male fetus), saturation analysis yielded an estimate of apparent Kd of 0.46 x 10(-9) M and indicated that maximal specific binding was achieved at a ligand concentration of 1-2 nM. There was no sex difference at any stage of development (ANOVA). A significant age effect (P less than 0.002) was noted for the MBH and CB but not for any of the other tissues examined. In the MBH the significance of this effect was due to a progressive increase in ER levels with fetal age and into adulthood. In contrast, CB levels exhibited a progressive decline with age. These studies revealed that the ER is present during brain development. Thus any estrogens derived from the aromatization of circulating fetal androgens could potentially exert an influence upon brain development.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611983 TI - Calbindin-immunoreactive sensory neurons in dissociated dorsal root ganglion cell cultures of chick embryo: role of culture conditions. AB - Immunoreactivity to calbindin D-28k, a vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein, is expressed by neuronal subpopulations of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in the chick embryo. To determine whether the expression of this phenotypic characteristic is maintained in vitro and controlled by environmental factors, dissociated DRG cell cultures were performed under various conditions. Subpopulations of DRG cells cultured at embryonic day 10 displayed calbindin immunoreactive cell bodies and neurites in both neuron-enriched or mixed DRG cell cultures. The number of calbindin-immunoreactive ganglion cells increased up to 7 10 days of culture independently of the changes occurring in the whole neuronal population. The presence of non-neuronal cells, which promotes the maturation of the sensory neurons, tended to reduce the percentage of calbindin-immunoreactive cell bodies. Addition of horse serum enhanced both the number of calbindin positive neurons and the intensity of the immunostaining, but does not prevent the decline of the subpopulation of calbindin-immunoreactive neurons during the second week of culture; on the contrary, the addition of muscular extract to cultures at 10 days maintained the number of calbindin-expressing neurons. While calbindin-immunoreactive cell bodies grown in culture were small- or medium sized, no correlation was found between cell size and immunostaining density. At the ultrastructural level, the calbindin immunoreaction was distributed throughout the neuroplasm. These results indicate that the expression of calbindin by sensory neurons grown in vitro may be modulated by horse serum contained factors or interaction with non-neuronal cells. As distinct from horse serum, muscular extract is able to maintain the expression of calbindin by a subpopulation of DRG cells. PMID- 2611984 TI - Developmental changes in serotonin levels in the chick spinal cord and brain. AB - Developmental changes in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the developing chick spinal cord and brain were examined using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and immunohistochemistry. On embryonic day (E)6 only small amounts of 5-HT (0.086 ng) and 5-HIAA (0.0144 ng) were found in the spinal cord. By contrast, large amounts of 5-HT (x30) and 5-HIAA (x60) were detected in non-neuronal tissue outside the spinal cord; a similar distribution of 5-HT was also detected by immunohistochemistry. Up to E10, the highest concentrations of 5-HT in the spinal cord were found in the cervical region, followed by the thoracic and lumbar regions. In embryos older than E16, as well as in posthatched chicks, however, the highest and lowest concentrations of 5-HT were found in the lumbar and thoracic spinal cord, respectively. The concentration of spinal cord 5-HT reached maximal values on posthatching day (P)7, after which there was a marked decrease. By P120, 5-HT levels in the spinal cord decreased to the same level as on E10 E16. Concentrations in the brain, however, gradually increased with development. The basic pattern of development of 5-HIAA was similar to that of 5-HT. PMID- 2611985 TI - Effects of undernutrition on the serotonin neuron system in the developing brain: an immunohistochemical study. AB - The effects of undernutrition during the first 3 weeks of postnatal life on the serotonin neuron system were investigated using a peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemical method. Undernourishment was induced by increasing the litter size from 6 to 18 mice during the first 3 weeks of postnatal life. At 15 days of age a morphological change (large swelling of serotonin-immunoreactive axons) was noted in various parts of the brain of the undernourished mice with no remarkable changes in dendrites and cell bodies. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis at 60 days of age showed a significant decrease in serotonin-immunoreactive cell bodies in the nucleus linearis intermedius, the nucleus raphe obscurus, the total raphe system and the subpyramidal region. These results suggest that undernutrition during early postnatal life affected the serotonin neuron system with regional differences. PMID- 2611986 TI - Afferent regulation of neurotransmitter metabolism in perikarya and terminals of developing sympathetic neurons. AB - Steady-state levels and turnover of the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine (NE), were measured in sympathetic perikarya and in two sympathetic target organs in the rat at various times during postnatal development. NE content in sympathetic perikarya in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) increases 15-fold from birth to reach adult levels by 60 days. This increase in NE content parallels the increase in total protein in the ganglion. The rate of turnover of NE in the sympathetic perikarya increases slightly from birth to adulthood. Since the perikarya in the SCG project to a variety of different targets in the head and neck, NE metabolism was also examined in two terminal sympathetic plexuses, in the iris and in the submandibular gland (SMG). The terminal noradrenergic plexuses within these target organs do not mature with the same time course. In the iris, levels of NE increase 24-fold from birth until 90 days postnatally. Turnover of NE in sympathetic terminals in the iris at the time of birth is equivalent to that in the adult. In contrast, both the content and turnover of NE in sympathetic terminals in the SMG are very low at birth, and increase dramatically in the first month postnatally. Deafferentation of the SCG at birth impairs the development of normal levels of NE in sympathetic perikarya by approximately 40%, and total ganglionic protein is similarly affected. NE turnover in sympathetic perikarya deafferented at birth is only slight reduced from normal. The response to neonatal deafferentation differs in the two terminal sympathetic plexuses. In neurons that project to the iris, no detectable NE turnover could be measured, although the content of transmitter attains 64% of control values after deafferentation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2611987 TI - Absence of impulse activity in cortical neurons with transient projections to the cerebellum. AB - During the second postnatal week of development in cats, neurons in layer V of the primary sensorimotor cortex project transiently, by way of collaterals of pyramidal tract axons, to the cerebellum. All cerebrocerebellar collaterals are subsequently eliminated, while the collaterals in the pyramidal tract persist into the adult. To determine if the transience of the projection to the cerebellum could be due to the lack of functional activity in cerebrocerebellar projection neurons, single-unit extracellular recordings were made from neurons in the primary somatosensory cortex (S-I) in 8-14-day-old kittens. Projection neurons were identified by their antidromic activation from pyramidal tract or cerebellum. Collision experiments confirmed that some neurons had collateral projections to both structures. Recordings from both generally anesthetized as well as locally anesthetized, but awake preparations, indicated that pyramidal tract and cerebrocerebellar projection neurons never fired action potentials spontaneously or were orthodromically activated following stimulation of the medial lemniscus. Stimulation of the medial lemniscus did synaptically activate neurons in the cortex, but these were always located superficial to the antidromically activated projection neurons. These findings indicate that pyramidal tract and/or cerebrocerebellar S-I projection neurons are physiologically silent during the period of development that cortical axons are transiently present in the cerebellum, suggesting that cerebrocerebellar projections may be eliminated because of the lack of impulse activity. PMID- 2611988 TI - Observations on the early development of the dorsal root ganglia and ventral root in quail embryos. AB - Early development of the dorsal root ganglia and ventral roots in quail embryos was observed by using HNK-1 antibodies. The dorsal root ganglia showed a dumbbell form in the horizontal plane, i.e. one dorsal root ganglion was constituted by two groups arranged craniocaudally. These observations suggest that the complex form of the dorsal root ganglia is brought about by a subsegmentation of the neutral tube and peripheral nerve supply. Further, it was observed that the segmental boundaries of the neural tube, which were indicated by the individual ventral roots, differed from the boundaries indicated by mesodermal segmentation. These findings seem to provide us with a new viewpoint for analyzing the nervous system. PMID- 2611989 TI - Automated immunoturbidimetric methods for the determination of retinol binding protein, prealbumin and transferrin in urine. AB - We describe the development of rapid and simple automated methods for the estimation of retinol binding protein (RBP), prealbumin (PA) and transferrin (TRF) in urine. These methods measure the turbidity formed as a result of reaction between the protein and a specific antibody in a phosphate buffer containing 70 g/L polyethyleneglycol as accelerator for the antigen antibody reaction. The method for retinol binding protein (RBP) correlated well when compared with a method based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (r = 0.978). The recoveries were 93-104%, 84-95% and 84-100% for RBP, PA and TRF respectively. The between-batch coefficients of variation were 2.6-10.6, 2.8-12.6 and 4.2-8.7% respectively. The analytical range of the method was 0.0625 to 40 mg/L for RBP, 0.28 to 45 mg/L for PA and 0.14 to 70 mg/L for TRF. The methods can be performed manually using a simple spectrophotometer or can be easily automated. PMID- 2611990 TI - A double monoclonal time-resolved immunofluorometric assay of carcinoembryonic antigen in serum. AB - A non-isotopic heterogeneous non-competitive immunoassay for carcinoembryonic antigen is described. CEA present in serum binds simultaneously to two monoclonal antibodies specific for different antigenic determinants of CEA. One antibody is immobilized on a solid-phase (microtiter well) and the other is biotinylated. The amount of biotinylated antibody bound is measured on the dried solid-phase by time-resolved fluorometry after adding streptavidin labeled with the europium chelate 4,7-bis(chlorosulfophenyl)-1,10 phenanthroline-2, 9-dicarboxylic acid (BCPDA) in the presence of excess Eu3+. The assay is simple to perform, its characteristics are similar to those of other isotopic and non-isotopic techniques, and it is suitable for routine clinical use. PMID- 2611991 TI - A new analytical method for stereoisomers of methamphetamine and amphetamine and its application to forensic toxicology. AB - We have developed a rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of low concentrations of the stereoisomers of methamphetamine (MAMP) and the demethylated metabolite, amphetamine (AMP). The acetyl derivatives of the stereoisomers (d and l-form) of MAMP and AMP smuggled by gangsters or extracted from biological specimens (hair) of drug addicts were clearly separated on two stereoisomer-analytical columns (Chiralcel OB and OJ, Daicel Ind. Co., Japan) connected in series at 50 degrees C. The mobile phase was a mixture of n-hexane and isopropanol (9:1, v/v) and the UV detector was set at 220 nm. The practical limit of sensitivity for the analysis was 62.5 ng of the stereoisomers of MAMP and AMP. Our analytical method for MAMP and AMP in human hair is very useful for the diagnosis of abuse of the drug. The determination of the d/l ratio of MAMP and AMP (the fingerprint of MAMP and AMP) is applicable to the investigation of smuggling routes of these drugs. PMID- 2611992 TI - Determination of free testosterone fraction of human serum by gel bead dialysis. AB - The gel bead dialysis technique is an application of the steady-state gel filtration method. Preswollen gel beads are used as microdialysers. The gel is incubated for 3.5 h at 22 degrees C with 2.5 mL of serum and 3H-testosterone. During incubation, the equilibrium between free and protein-bound fractions is reached and the concentration of testosterone in the bead dialysate is equal to the free testosterone concentration in the incubation medium surrounding the beads. After incubation, the gel is separated from the medium by using a rigid filter and the radioactivity within the gel is counted. The effect on the assay of serum dilution and incubation time were studied. Within-batch imprecision (CV) was 3% (N = 30) and between-batch imprecision computed from lyophilized quality controls run over a one year-period, was 7%, 13% and 17% for free testosterone fractions (free over total) of 0.043, 0.032 and 0.021 respectively. An excellent correlation between this technique and the equilibrium dialysis method was found (r = 0.944, N = 59). Reference intervals were determined for men, women and pregnant women; mean +/- SD were 0.0216 +/- 0.0067 (N = 20), 0.0106 +/- 0.0020 (N = 20) and 0.0077 +/- 0.0017 (N = 19) respectively. Patients suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome had significantly higher free testosterone ratio (mean of 0.0285 +/- 0.0074, N = 20) than normal females. PMID- 2611993 TI - The rapid and sensitive diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis by the detection of tuberculostearic acid in cerebrospinal fluid using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selective ion monitoring. AB - Tuberculostearic acid (10-Methyloctadecanoic acid) is a lipid component of the mycobacterial cell wall and its presence in cerebrospinal fluid can serve as a diagnostic marker for tuberculous meningitis. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selective ion monitoring, tuberculostearic acid (TBSA) was detected in nine different mycobacterial reference strains. Analysis of derivatised cerebrospinal fluid specimens from 35 patients showed the presence of TBSA in 5/6 culture-positive samples and 0/19 negative control patients (diagnosed as bacterial or viral meningitis). In addition 4/10 clinically suspected cases of tuberculous meningitis showed the presence of TBSA in the absence of other confirmatory laboratory results. A routine method has been developed for the detection of TBSA, which allows the fast and sensitive diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis within 5 h of receiving the cerebrospinal fluid specimen, compared to the 3 to 8 weeks required to culture the bacteria. PMID- 2611994 TI - Plasma membrane potential of lymphocytes from ataxia telangiectasia patients. AB - The plasma membrane potential of lymphocytes prepared from ataxia telangiectasia (AT) patients and normal subjects was assessed using the optical indicator bis-(3 phenyl-5-oxoisoxazol-4-yl) pentamethineoxonol (oxonol-V). AT lymphocytes had a potential of -46 +/- 9 mV and normal lymphocytes had a potential of -63 +/- 4 mV. The intracellular cation content (Na+ and K+) of AT and normal lymphocytes was similar. AT and normal lymphocytes were both depolarized by extracellular K+ and to a similar extent. This study indicates that one feature characterizing ataxia telangiectasia is a modification of the ability of the lymphocyte cell membrane to sustain a normal membrane potential. PMID- 2611995 TI - Amplification of the proto-oncogenes int-2, c-erb B-2 and c-myc in human breast cancer. AB - int-2 is a proto-oncogene that is partially homologous to angiogenesis-inducing fibroblast growth factor and is believed to play a role in mouse mammary carcinogenesis. Recent evidence has suggested that this proto-oncogene may also play a role in human breast cancer. In the present study, we used Southern hybridization analysis to examine DNA from 79 primary and 11 recurrent human breast cancers for evidence of activation of int-2 through either gene rearrangement or amplification. A similar analysis was performed for two other proto-oncogenes, c-erbB-2 and c-myc, also suspected of playing a role in the development of human breast cancer. Proto-oncogene status was correlated with estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor status, patient age, and lymph node (LN) status at the time of surgery. Gene rearrangement was not a frequent occurrence with any of the proto-oncogenes. However, amplification of int-2 occurred at a significantly higher frequency in recurrent breast cancers than in primary cancers and in patients with primary cancers who were less than or equal to 50 years of age versus greater than 50 years of age at surgery. Although amplification of all three proto-oncogenes occurred at a greater frequency in primary tumors from patients with lymph node metastases than from those without lymph node metastases, a significant difference was noted only in the case of c myc amplification. These findings confirm and extend earlier results of studies of int-2, c-erbB-2 and c-myc amplification in human breast cancers and point to a role for int-2 activation in certain cases of recurrent breast malignant neoplasia. PMID- 2611996 TI - The estimation of total serum lipids by a completely enzymatic 'summation' method. AB - Expressing serum organic toxicant concentrations per weight of total lipid rather than by volume of serum is often advantageous, but it requires a reliable and convenient method for determining the total serum lipids. We compared a completely enzymatic 'summation' method for estimating serum total lipids with a traditional gravimetric analysis. Serum total cholesterol (TC), nonesterified cholesterol (FC), triglycerides (TG), and phospholipids (PL) were assayed by automated, enzymatic methods and total lipids (TL) were calculated from the expression TL = 1.677 * (TC-FC) + FC + TG + PL. Examining three reference serum pools by both summation and gravimetric methods yielded results that agreed within 1-3%. The evaluation of thirty serum samples resulted in similar mean total lipid values (697 mg/dl gravimetric; 675 mg/dl summation) with excellent correlation between the two methods (r2 = 0.978). We conclude that the enzymatic summation procedure is a useful method for routinely estimating serum total lipid content. PMID- 2611997 TI - Determination of succinylacetone and succinylacetoacetate in physiological samples as the common product 5(3)-methyl-3(5)-isoxazole propionic acid using an isotope dilution method and mass spectrometry. AB - A stable isotope dilution method was developed for the determination of succinylacetone and succinylacetoacetate in physiological samples. Succinylacetone and succinylacetoacetate were both converted to 5(3)-methyl-3(5) isoxazole propionic acid by treating them with a solution of hydroxylamine-HCl at a pH less than 3 and at 80 degrees C. After extraction with diethyl ether tertiary butyldimethyl silyl derivatives were prepared using N-methyl-N-t. butyldimethyl silyl-trifluoro acetamide and analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Selective ion monitoring was carried out at m/z 138.1 (M-131) and m/z 212.1 (M-57) for the natural, and at m/z 139.1 and 213.1 for the labelled compound. (15N)-5(3)-methyl-3(5)-isoxazole propionic acid was synthesized and used as internal standard for the isotope dilution analysis. Concentrations in physiological samples as low as 10 nmol/l could be accurately measured. PMID- 2611998 TI - Abnormally-fucosylated serum haptoglobins in patients with inflammatory joint disease. AB - The fucosylation of haptoglobins is altered in rheumatoid arthritis. In order to investigate the clinical usefulness of this finding, serum levels of abnormally fucosylated haptoglobins (FHp) have been assessed in defined and matched groups of patients with different inflammatory joint diseases. FHp was elevated in 16/17 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA); 1/20 patients with inactive rheumatoid arthritis; 1/11 patients with osteoarthritis; and 4/10 patients with seronegative polyarthritis. Raised FHp levels, therefore, are not disease specific. There was no relationship between the duration of RA and the FHp level. The FHp expression in RA was also compared with other biochemical indices of disease activity. The degree of correlation between FHp and articular index, joint score and early-morning stiffness was very similar to that obtained for C reactive protein (CRP), and better than that obtained for erythrocyte sedimentation rate and haemoglobin. FHp, however, gives fewer false-positives than CRP in cases of inactive disease. until FHp can be measured more easily and cheaply, CRP estimation is still the biochemical test of choice in RA. PMID- 2611999 TI - Glutathione S-transferase in human bile. AB - Glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes have been measured by specific radioimmunoassay in human bile samples. GST Mu was found in 50% of samples while GST Pi, GST B1 and GST B2 were present in all samples; GST Pi constituted the major isoenzyme identified. The findings of the radioimmunoassay were confirmed by a one-step purification of GST from bile, using affinity chromatography, followed by their identification using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAGE). Inhibition studies showed that, at the concentrations of bile salts found in bile, GST Pi would have little or no enzymic activity. It is proposed that GST Pi acts as a carrier protein of toxic, non-substrate, ligands to remove as yet unidentified substances from biliary epithelial cells and prevent their reabsorption. PMID- 2612000 TI - Determination of bone Gla protein (osteocalcin) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. AB - Bone Gla protein (BGP, osteocalcin) is a marker of bone formation. We present a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring BGP in plasma and serum. The antibody used was raised in rabbits following immunisation with highly purified bovine BGP conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The binding of the antibody to BGP was calcium-dependent. The sensitivity, inaccuracy, and imprecision of the assay equal or exceed existing radioimmunoassays, and the present assay is less tedious. Plasma BGP in 249 healthy adults, aged from 20 to 93 yr, was 8.3 +/- 6.6 micrograms/l (mean +/- 2 SD). A significant decrease was seen in both sexes from the third to the forth decade of life. A subsequent significant increase was seen with age in women. but not in men. Plasma BGP was significantly higher in young men than in young women, and significantly higher in elderly women than in elderly men. Values were in the same range as those found with existing radioimmunoassays. PMID- 2612001 TI - Enhanced net mass transfer of HDL cholesteryl esters to Apo B-containing lipoproteins in patients with peripheral vascular disease. AB - In vitro net mass transfer of HDL cholesteryl ester to apolipoprotein (Apo) B containing lipoproteins (HDL-CET) was found to be nearly twofold higher in plasma from 35 male patients with peripheral vascular disease compared to the values of 27 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (P less than 0.001). Differences in HDL CET were predominantly observed between normolipidemic patients and controls, and were also demonstrable in pairs of patients and controls with similar HDL cholesterol, VLDL + LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations. Within the control group, higher HDL-CET was found in individuals with enhanced triglyceride or VLDL + LDL cholesterol levels. This dependence was not observed in the patient group. Consequently, enhanced HDL-CET in the patients seems to be independent of plasma lipid levels. PMID- 2612002 TI - Effect of low dose acetylsalicylic acid upon plasma thromboxane B2 levels and platelet aggregation in ischemic stroke patients. PMID- 2612003 TI - Age-associated decrease of total dolichol in human serum. PMID- 2612004 TI - A simple method for the measurement of total and glycated apolipoprotein B and its relevance to apolipoprotein-B metabolism in diabetes mellitus. AB - By the combination of boronate affinity chromatography on micro columns and immunoturbidimetry, a method was developed for the measurement of glycated apoliprotein B (Apo-B). The overall precision of the method was 11%. The sensitivity was 0.3 mg/l Apo-B or 0.05% glycated Apo-B, which is far below physiological levels. The recovery after column separation was 95 +/- 7%. In vitro incubation of plasma with 90 mmol/l D-glucose showed an increase in the percentage glycated Apo-B of 0.58% per hour. The simplicity of the method makes it suitable for screening purposes. Non-diabetic patients (n = 21) and diabetic patients (n = 35) were screened for glycated and total Apo-B. Total Apo-B in diabetics (1.02 +/- 0.53 g/l) was increased (controls: 0.75 +/- 0.18 g/l; p less than 0.05) and a positive correlation between HbA1 and Apo-B (r = 0.36, p less than 0.05) was present in this group. However, no significant difference of glycated Apo-B was measured between diabetics and controls (10.4 +/- 2.8 and 11.5 +/- 1.4%, respectively). The possible implications of these findings are discussed. PMID- 2612005 TI - Immunochemical characterization of corticosteroid-binding globulin in human bronchoalveolar fluid. AB - The corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) is a plasma protein which is present both in liver, where it is mainly synthesized, and in cells of different target tissues for glucocorticoids. Using monospecific antibodies raised against human CGB, we could demonstrate the antigenic identity of the protein in human bronchoalveolar fluid. We found that the bronchoalveolar fluid/serum concentration ratio of CBG was similar to that of albumin. Since albumin is not synthesized in pulmonary cells, it was concluded that, in healthy human, CBG enters bronchoalveolar fluid by diffusion through alveolar cells. It is suggested that the expression of the CBG gene in pulmonary cells could occur during the pathological state. PMID- 2612006 TI - Ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency. A new variant with subnormal enzyme activity. AB - A new ornithine carbamoyltransferase variant is described with a nearly normal specific enzymatic activity. This new variant is characterized by a ten-fold increased Km value for L-ornithine (3.75 vs. 0.33 mmol/l in control) and by a normal Km value for carbamoylphosphate (0.42 vs. 0.29 mmol/l). Its pH optimum is shifted towards the alkaline side. This enzyme is highly unstable at 55 degrees C. PMID- 2612007 TI - Measurement of the unbound fraction of long chain nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) in serum: methodological considerations. AB - Long-chain nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) are extensively bound to albumin; knowledge of their unbound concentrations is important in evaluating the numerous biologic effects attributed to these compounds. We measured the unbound fraction of five long-chain NEFA in serum using the equilibrium partition of 14C-NEFA between heptane and aqueous phases. Commercial 14C-NEFA preparations gave non linear estimates of unbound fraction with serum dilution, consistent with the presence of polar tracer impurities, but 14C-NEFA purified by alkaline ethanol extraction gave an approximately linear relationship between unbound fraction and serum dilution over a 4096-fold range of dilution, provided that pH of the aqueous phase remained stable. Mean unbound percentages were: myristic acid 0.0066, linolenic acid 0.0019, arachidonic acid 0.0017, oleic acid 0.00078 and palmitic acid 0.00061. These data suggest that some previous studies appear to have overestimated the free fraction of long-chain NEFA at physiological albumin concentrations by at least one order of magnitude. PMID- 2612008 TI - Origin of serum catalase activity in acute pancreatitis. AB - Serum catalase activity was examined in 96 patients with the oedematous form and in 15 patients with the necrotic form of acute pancreatitis. Total catalase release into plasma was estimated to be 2,140 +/- 947 kU and 4,764 +/- 1,505 kU, respectively. The g equivalents of pancreas were 163 +/- 72 g and 362 +/- 133 g, being 2.03-fold and 4.52-fold higher than the whole mass of pancreas indicating the nonpancreatic origin of the total increase of serum catalase. In both types of acute pancreatitis serum haemoglobin, haematin, haptoglobin and LDH values supported the presence of haemolysis. The volumes of blood were 22.6 +/- 10.1 ml and 50.4 +/- 15.9 ml which are only 0.41% and 0.91% of the total blood volume. Taking these findings into account, in acute pancreatitis the major part of increase of serum catalase can be explained by its release from the erythrocytes. PMID- 2612009 TI - A rapid and sensitive method for estimating low concentrations of albumin in human urine. AB - A chemiluminescence immunoassay has been developed for the measurement of albumin concentrations in human urine, as an indicator of diabetic nephropathy. The assay involved competition between analyte albumin and an acridinium ester labelled albumin tracer for binding to a rabbit (anti-human albumin) antibody. Immune complexes were separated using sheep (anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G) antibodies coupled to paramagnetic particles. The total incubation time was ninety minutes at room temperature followed by sedimentation and washing of the solid-phase using a magnetic rack. Chemiluminescence emission was quantified rapidly (2 s) using a commercially available luminometer. The assay was sufficiently sensitive (10 ng/ml) for the detection of microalbuminuria with the advantages of rapidity and use of stable reagents. The assay correlated well with both RIA and rate nephelometry. PMID- 2612010 TI - Octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a colposcopic study. AB - 488 women were studied to evaluate the use of the molar ratio (%MR) of octadeca 9,11-dienoic acid (18:2(9, 11] to linoleic acid (18:2(9, 12] as a new screening method for cervical cancer and pre-cancer. A combination of Papanicolaou cytology, colposcopy and %MR 18:2(9, 11)/18:2(9, 12) were employed. 86 women (17.6%) were found to have histologically proven cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The %MR was obtained in 452 cases (92%). There was no significant difference in %MR in cervical cell scrapes from women with or without CIN. The %MR of cervical scrapes in some women with anaerobic vaginosis was significantly elevated suggesting bacterial generation of 18:2(9, 11). The %MR of 18:2(9, 11)/18:2(9, 12) is unsuitable for the diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. PMID- 2612011 TI - Microheterogeneity of the carbohydrate moiety of human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in two benign liver diseases: alcoholic cirrhosis and acute hepatitis. AB - To determine whether alterations of the carbohydrate moiety of human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein constitute a marker of hepatic damage we studied purified alpha 1 acid glycoprotein from healthy individuals and two groups of patients with benign liver diseases: alcoholic cirrhosis and acute viral hepatitis. The results indicate: (1) increased concanavalin A-non reactive forms in cirrhosis and hepatitis, (2) a markedly increased proportion of fucosyl residues in all cirrhotic and some hepatitis patients. Although hyperfucosylation is generally considered to be a tumor marker, the observation here in the two benign liver diseases indicates that an increased fucosyl content should be considered as a more general expression of pathological glycoconjugate metabolism. PMID- 2612012 TI - The evaluation of a chemiluminescent assay for free thyroxine by comparison with equilibrium dialysis in clinical samples. AB - We have investigated the diagnostic performance of a chemiluminescence immunoassay for free thyroxine (Ciba Corning Magic Lite) in comparison with equilibrium dialysis. Agreement between the methods was satisfactory across a wide range of samples including those from patients with non-thyroidal illness. The results suggest that the chemiluminescence immunoassay is not subject to the artefacts of widely used analogue tracer methods for free thyroxine estimation. PMID- 2612013 TI - On optimising the diagnostic yield of secretin pancreozymin tests. AB - The results of 407 secretin-pancreozymin tests were analysed by a variety of statistical methods, in an attempt to optimize diagnostic yield. The best diagnostic yield accrued from selection of a point corresponding to 95% specificity and 60% sensitivity on each of two virtually superimposable receiver operator curves--using either bicarbonate output or a discriminant function derived from multivariate analysis--and the anticipated yield approximated to that realised in a further prospective series of 150 cases. At a 25% hypothetical local prevalence of chronic pancreatic disease (including chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer), the positive predictive value was 80%, the negative predictive value 88% and the efficiency was 86%--values that are not dissimilar to those reported in a study in which both hormones were given simultaneously by constant intravenous infusion for 105 min with multivariate analysis of the results. We conclude that (a) measurement of bicarbonate output in 30 min after an appropriate dose of secretin given as a bolus injection yields results that are comparable to those obtained when secretin and pancreozymin are given by constant intravenous infusion in doses to evoke maximal secretory responses; and (b) the yield of hormone tests using duodenal intubation is far from ideal. PMID- 2612014 TI - Body composition in acromegaly. AB - Total body water (TBW) and potassium (TBK) were measured in untreated acromegalic patients seen between 1956 and 1984 and the results were compared to values predicted from height (BH), weight (BW), age and sex, using data from a large number of healthy subjects (n = 476). Normal body weight for each patient (BWnorm) was predicted from BH and sex, the regression equations being derived from a representative population sample (n = 4017). The BH for each patient was compared with data on BH in 15,000 Swedes. The patients were significantly taller than the control population (P less than 0.001). In 107 (70%) of the 156 patients BH was above the median. Patients with an early onset of the disease were taller than those with a later onset. TBK and TBW were significantly higher than predicted from observed BW (P less than 0.001) and so was the quotient extracellular water (ECW)/intracellular water (ICW). Body fat (BF), on the other hand, was lower than predicted (P less than 0.001). Observed BW in male acromegalics was 8.1 kg higher than predicted from healthy subjects of the same BH (BWnorm), a difference explained by an average increase of 4.7 kg in body cell mass (BCM) (P less than 0.001) and 7.1 kg in extracellular water (P less than 0.001) simultaneously with a mean decrease of 3.7 kg in BF (P less than 0.01). Female acromegalics weighed on average 6.4 kg more than healthy women, a difference explained by an increase in BCM of 3.3 kg (P less than 0.001) and in ECW of 4.6 kg (P less than 0.001) concomitantly with a decrease in BF of 1.5 kg. Mean hGH concentration at diagnosis correlated inversely with the quotients observed/predicted BF (P less than 0.01) and BW/BWnorm (P less than 0.05) but not with the quotients observed/predicted TBK, TBW or ECW/ICW. PMID- 2612015 TI - Prolactinomas presenting as primary amenorrhoea and delayed or arrested puberty: response to medical therapy. AB - Fourteen patients presented with arrested pubertal development associated with prolactin-secreting pituitary tumours; serum prolactin ranged from 4000-104,300 mU/l in the ten females and 920-68,000 in four males. Skull X-ray showed a markedly expanded pituitary fossa in eight patients. CT scan and/or air encephalography showed macroadenomas in nine, of whom seven had large suprasellar extensions to their tumours, yet only five had complained of headache and only two had visual field defects. All were treated with bromocriptine (7.5-60 mg/day) which lowered prolactin substantially in all and into the normal range in 11 (range less than 60-3090, median 105 mU/l). Puberty thereafter progressed spontaneously in 13, but in one patient, whose prolactin did not suppress completely, menarche could be induced only with clomiphene. Anterior pituitary function improved on bromocriptine. In seven patients with macroadenomas, tumour shrinkage into the pituitary fossa was complete and in two others incomplete shrinkage was followed by transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. Seven patients received pituitary irradiation, six after bromocriptine-induced shrinkage and one after transsphenoidal surgery. At follow-up 6 months to 10 years (median 5 years) after presentation, ten remain on bromocriptine with a suppressed serum prolactin, one has a normal prolactin after surgery, and three are off bromocriptine with residual hyperprolactinaemia (418-4680 mU/l). To date, four females have become pregnant and one male has fathered two children. Prolactinomas are an important, albeit rare, cause of arrested puberty and should therefore be sought. Most patients respond well to bromocriptine, with or without pituitary irradiation. PMID- 2612016 TI - Bilateral testicular tumours in congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a continuing diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. AB - Bilateral testicular tumours are a rare but well described complication of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). It can be extremely difficult to distinguish histologically between Leydig cell tumours and adrenocortical rest hyperplasia which may lead in some cases to unnecessary orchidectomy in young men. A 26-year-old male in whom CAH had been diagnosed neonatally, was referred for further investigation of a craggy mass in the left testis. Six months earlier, right orchidectomy had been performed after presentation with bilateral enlarged, hard testes and azoospermia. The tumour was interpreted to be a malignant interstitial cell tumour of the testis. Our investigations revealed that his CAH was inadequately controlled and that the hormonal secretion from the remaining left testicular mass was ACTH dependent. Percutaneous venous sampling revealed high concentrations of cortisol and other adrenocortical hormones coming from the gonadal vein. Dexamethasone suppressed these adrenal hormones and reduced the size and softened the consistency of the testicular mass. Total disappearance of the mass was achieved by using dexamethasone, given in a reverse circadian rhythm regimen. Spermatogenesis returned and the patient's wife became pregnant after 6 months; she gave birth to a normal male infant. To our knowledge, this is the first time in this clinical setting that fertility has been achieved. This case highlights the need for both a functional and histological assessment of such 'tumours' in CAH prior to orchidectomy. PMID- 2612017 TI - Leucocyte sodium content and sodium pump activity in overweight and lean hypertensives. AB - Leucocyte sodium content and sodium pump activity was studied in overweight and lean hypertensive subjects and normotensive controls, all in the fasting state. In lean subjects (body mass index less than 27 kg m-2), hypertensives did not have altered leucocyte sodium content or pump activity. In the overweight (mostly obese) subjects, the leucocyte sodium content was higher in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects (median (range) 56.1 (42.0-84.1) vs 32.0 (18.2-59.4) mmol kg-1, P less than 0.001). This raised sodium content in overweight hypertensives was associated with a lower (ouabain-sensitive) 22Na efflux rate constant (2.25 (1.15-3.01) vs 2.64 (1.98-3.61) h-1, P less than 0.05) and a higher passive (or ouabain-insensitive) 22Na efflux rate constant (0.90(0.53-1.18) vs 0.63 (0.21 1.09) h-1, P less than 0.01). The systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly correlated to intracellular Na+ in the overweight group (r = 0.41 and 0.56, P less than 0.02 and 0.001 respectively). Thus, hypertension in the overweight subjects is associated with accumulation of intracellular sodium that may be due to abnormalities of the active sodium pump, though changes in ouabain insensitive mechanisms also occur. PMID- 2612018 TI - Evaluation of programs for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of hypertension in work site population. AB - Hypertensives screened among a work-site male population were treated either with or without antihypertensive drugs according to WHO stage of hypertension, and followed up by medical teams at the work site. The outcome during 8 years of follow-up was compared between two hypertension cohorts; one (cohort 1) instituted in 1970 included 1,092 hypertensives from 11,860 employees, while the other (cohort 2) made in 1975 contained 1,190 from 10,789 persons. Age-adjusted mortality or morbidity rate from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) was lower in cohort 2 than in cohort 1. Multiple regression analysis was used to adjust inter cohort differences in factors to influence the prognosis, showed that CVD occurred less frequently in cohort 2 than in cohort 1. The results suggest that this system of controlling blood pressure is useful in preventing CVD in a large population. PMID- 2612019 TI - In vivo potentiation of vasopressors by spontaneously hypertensive rat plasma: correlation with blood pressure and calcium uptake. AB - Previous studies have shown that plasma from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR) can potentiate the action of various vasopressors. Recently, we described a novel circulating hypertensive factor in the plasma of SHR rats which increases calcium uptake in vascular smooth muscle. In order to determine whether this factor might be responsible for the previously described pressor potentiation, the effect of dialyzed SHR plasma on the in vivo sensitivity of normotensive rats to norepinephrine, angiotensin II and arginine vasopressin was examined. Results of this study showed that SHR plasma potentiated the effects of all three pressor agents with peak potentiation occurring approximately 45-60 min post-plasma injection. The time course of pressor potentiation was similar to those for the hypertensive and cellular calcium effects of the plasma. These results suggest that a single factor may be responsible for the hypertensive, calcemic and pressor-potentiating effects of SHR plasma. PMID- 2612020 TI - Increased hematocrit with normal red blood cell mass in early borderline essential hypertension. AB - Hematocrit, red blood cell mass, plasma volume and plasma renin activity were evaluated in 33 (15 women) young patients with borderline hypertension and in 30 (15 women) age- and sex-matched normotensive control subjects. Mean hematocrit values were slightly but significantly higher (P less than 0.05) at this early stage of hypertension and it correlated with the elevation of arterial hypertension (r = 0.39, P less than 0.05). Red blood cell mass was normal indicating normal bone marrow production. Plasma volume was significantly contracted (p less than 0.05) and it can account in part for the increased hematocrit and plasma renin activity. These results indicate that the alterations in circulating fluid components and in hematocrit described in moderate to severe forms of hypertension are also present in early borderline hypertension. PMID- 2612021 TI - Influence of parathyroidectomy on blood pressure and vascular reactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - We investigated the influence of parathyroidectomy (PTX) on blood pressure (BP) and hindlimb vascular reactivity to noradrenaline (NA) and vasopressin (AVP) in male spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKR). Three groups of SHR and WKR, respectively, were investigated: Sham-operated (SO) rats on a normal calcium intake (0.95%), SO rats on moderately elevated calcium intake (1.6% calcium diet) and PTX rats on the 1.6% calcium diet. At the end of the experiment (3 months), directly or indirectly measured BP was significantly lower in the PTX-SHR group on the 1.6% calcium diet than in SO-SHR on the same diet. In WKR groups, no changes of BP were recorded. Hindlimb perfusion with oxygenated Tyrode's solution for cumulative dose response curves with NA (0.1 1000 x 10(-6) M) and AVP (0.5-500 x 10(-9) M) showed no differences between PTX and SO groups. Maximal pressures and ED50 for agents used were significantly higher in SHR than WKR groups (p less than 0.05). The results support the hypothesis that the parathyroid glands contribute to high blood pressure in SHR. However, the antihypertensive action of PTX was not mediated by a change in hindlimb vascular reactivity. PMID- 2612022 TI - Bilateral renal denervation can prevent the development of stress-induced hypertension in the borderline hypertensive rat. AB - The borderline hypertensive rat (BHR) shows large blood pressure responses to either stress or a high salt diet. Since the renal nerves have been shown to play a role in several animal models of hypertension, the current study sought to determine the effect of bilateral renal denervation on the development of stress induced hypertension in the BHR. BHR were deprived of renal nerves under ether anesthesia after either 5 or 11 weeks of daily 2-hour stress sessions. Additional BHR received sham surgery. Unstressed BHR, age-matched to stressed groups, received denervation or sham surgery. Following a 3 week recovery period, the protocol (stress or no stress) was continued for 10 additional weeks. Tail cuff systolic blood pressures were obtained weekly. BHR stressed for 5 weeks prior to denervation failed to develop hypertension in response to continued stress. Although BHR stressed for 11 weeks prior to denervation showed a temporary reduction in pressure following denervation, blood pressure returned to the hypertensive levels of sham-operated controls after several weeks. Thus, there may be a critical period during which the renal nerves are necessary for the expression of stress-induced hypertension in the BHR. These observations are discussed in relation to the effects of renal denervation on hypertension in various animal models. PMID- 2612023 TI - Impairment of modulating role of testosterone in growth hormone response to clonidine in essential hypertension. AB - To investigate the effects of endogenous testosterone (T) on the responsiveness of plasma growth hormone (GH) to central alpha 2 adrenergic stimulation, we administered clonidine (0.15 mg, p.o.) to 16 male patients with essential hypertension (EHT) and 13 age-matched male normotensive controls (NT). Although the basal T level was correlated with the peak GH increment (r = 0.709, p less than 0.01) and with the area under curve of GH (r = 0.714, p less than 0.01) in the NT group, no such correlations were seen in the EHT group. The present study confirmed the potentiating role of endogenous T in GH responsiveness to clonidine in male NT. The lack of correlation between T and GH response in EHT suggests a neuroendocrine disturbance in modulation by T of the GH response to central alpha 2 adrenergic stimulation. PMID- 2612024 TI - Cardiovascular responses to alpha adrenergic agents in chronically-exercised spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - The influence of treadmill exercise training on cardiovascular regulation was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of Okamoto strain during their 8th to 18th week of life. Non-exercising age-matched SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats served as cage controls. Resting systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR) and weight changes were measured in the three groups during the training period. At the completion of the training period (week 18), the trained SHR had SBP values of 164 +/- 4 mm Hg and HR values of 388 +/- 8 beats per minute, which were significantly less than (P less than 0.05) those values recorded for the control SHR (SBP = 186 +/- 3 mm Hg; HR = 422 +/- 11 bpm). The influence of exercise on baroreceptor regulation of HR was evaluated in anesthetized animals from all three groups. Phenylephrine-induced increases in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) produced significantly greater (P less than 0.05) reflex decreases in HR in the trained SHR versus the sedentary SHR. No significant difference in baroreflex sensitivity values were noted between the WKY and trained SHR. Additionally, norepinephrine infusion produced significantly smaller (P less than 0.05) pressor responses in trained versus sedentary SHR. We conclude that exercise training significantly reduces resting SBP and HR while modifying the baroreceptor regulation of HR and cardiovascular responses to adrenergic agents in the SHR. PMID- 2612025 TI - GPs and the fitting of hearing aids. PMID- 2612026 TI - Effect of betahistine dihydrochloride compared with cinnarizine on induced vestibular nystagmus. AB - The effect of betahistine compared with cinnarizine on induced vestibular nystagmus was evaluated using a rotating chair, in 6 healthy volunteers. The subjects underwent a slow acceleration followed by a sudden stop. Electronystagmograph tracings were taken initially as pretreatment control values, and after betahistine 8 mg t.i.d. and cinnarizine 15 mg t.i.d. had been taken. The duration of nystagmus and average eye speed were measured. No difference was recorded in either parameter between the pretreatment rotation and that following betahistine (P greater than 0.05). A significant difference (P less than 0.05) was seen in the duration of nystagmus during initial acceleration, and in average eye speed following the sudden stop after treatment with cinnarizine. PMID- 2612027 TI - Acute infectious epiglottitis in children and adults: annual incidence and mortality. AB - The incidence and mortality of acute epiglottitis were retrospectively analysed covering a 12-year period, 1975-1987. The diagnosis was made by the laryngoscopic findings in 95% of patients. Based on 902 hospitalized patients, a mean annual incidence of 4.9 cases per 100,000 children and adults was found. Although adult patients predominated (60%), the incidence was far higher in children, 13.8 per 100,000 compared with 3.9 per 100,000 in adults. Two peaks in incidence were identified, one for the youngest children, and the second for young adults (15-29 years). Over the years the incidence varied little in adults, but decreased significantly in children over the last 6 years studied. The data presented indicate acute epiglottitis to be a more frequent disorder than previously believed but with less risk of a fatal outcome. The mortality rate was below 1% in children and adults and the annual incidence of death from acute epiglottitis was estimated at 0.5 cases per million. The primary admission of these patients to ENT units seems to be the single factor having the most powerful impact on mortality. PMID- 2612028 TI - Surgical glove perforation rates in otolaryngology. AB - Nine-hundred and eleven pairs of surgical gloves used by Ear, Nose and Throat surgeons and their scrub nurses were tested for perforations over a 6-week period. We studied the perforation rate for different surgical procedures and found the average rate to be 4.8%. The rates varied from endoscopy with a perforation rate of zero to major head and neck resections with a rate of 28.5%. PMID- 2612029 TI - Results of middle ear ventilation with Goode's tubes. AB - The results of a retrospective study of the effect and outcome of middle ear ventilation by Goode's tubes are presented. 83 ears from 50 patients were analyzed both as a group and in age-related sub-groups over a mean follow-up period of 1.83 years. The mean period of ventilation by Goode's tubes before removal or extrusion was 18.4 months. The tubes became infected in 70.4% and were spontaneously extruded in 44.9% of patients. Permanent perforation of the tympanic membrane ensued in 47.5% of patients and significantly more often in those aged between 10 and 20 years (P less than 0.002). Patients aged less than 10 years were significantly less likely to develop a retraction of their tympanic membranes after removal of the Goode's tube than those older (P less than 0.02). No significant relationship was found between the development of these complications and the period of ventilation, past experience of otitis media, consistency of effusion, degree of tympanosclerosis or the preoperative presence of tympanic retraction. PMID- 2612030 TI - A clinical and audiological investigation of osteogenesis imperfecta. AB - Fifty-six patients with osteogenesis imperfecta underwent clinical and audiological assessment. They completed questionnaires regarding their physical and otological disabilities, and attended various centres for audiological testing. It was found that 31 patients had a hearing loss. Hearing loss began in the second and third decades as a conductive loss, and progressed to a mixed loss. Eight patients, found in all age groups, had a pure sensorineural loss in one or both ears. Patients with osteogenesis imperfecta congenita suffered more fractures, became more physically disabled and had more severe hearing loss than those with osteogenesis imperfecta tarda. Tympanometry was found to give unpredictable results and was unhelpful in assessing middle ear function in these patients. PMID- 2612031 TI - Facial paralysis in chronic suppurative otitis media. AB - Sixty-four patients with a facial paralysis due to chronic suppurative otitis media were treated by surgical decompression during the 10-year period 1973 to 1982. Paralysis was clinically complete in 66% and incomplete in 34% of the patients. Cholesteatoma was found in 80%. Otogenic facial paralysis was more common as an isolated lesion not associated with other complications. When present, bone destruction of the facial canal was most frequently seen in its tympanic portion. The occurrence of facial paralysis did not depend on the extent of destruction of the facial canal. Facial nerve function recovered completely in 70%, partially in 24% and failure occurred in 6% of the patients. PMID- 2612032 TI - Tympanic membrane perforation following the removal of ventilation tubes in the presence of persistent aural discharge. AB - This study considers the effect of the removal of a ventilation tube from the tympanic membrane of an ear which has been affected with persistent mucopurulent discharge for at least 3 months. The records of 332 patients were reviewed. Thirty-three patients with 34 ears satisfied the entry criteria. Tube removal cured 27 out of 34 ears (79%) of aural discharge within 1 month. The tympanic membrane healing rates were: at 1 month, 14 (41%); at 3 months, 23 (68%); at 6 months, 24 (71%); and at 1 year, 28 (82%). A table is presented comparing perforation rates from different ventilation tube studies. PMID- 2612033 TI - Nasal mucosal temperature and the effect of acute infective rhinitis. AB - Nasal mucosal temperature was measured in 71 healthy subjects with an electronic thermometer. No correlation was found between the nasal mucosal temperature and age or sex. An increased mucosal temperature was found in patients with acute rhinitis, an effect which is supposed to assist in the defence system against microorganisms. When measuring nasal mucosal temperature over a 7-h period at the same time as nasal airway resistance, there was no correlation between these factors, indicating that the temperature is independent of the state of the capacitance vessels. PMID- 2612034 TI - Clinical masking with tragal rubbing and the Barany noise-box. AB - When assessing hearing by free-field voice testing, it is essential to mask the non-test ear. An appropriate method of masking must be chosen to suit the stimulus used. This study demonstrates that tragal rubbing is an effective means of masking a whispered or conversational voice, but a Barany noise-box is required to mask a loud voice. However, a Barany noise-box should not be used routinely as it is likely to overmask a normal or mildly impaired ear. PMID- 2612035 TI - Complications of microlaryngeal surgery. AB - Patients requiring direct laryngoscopy or microlaryngeal surgery are usually admitted to hospital and observed for at least one night post-operatively. To assess whether these procedures are suitable for day-case surgery a series of 294 patients was reviewed. In 288 patients the post-operative course was entirely uncomplicated. Two patients died in the early post-operative period, one of causes unrelated to surgery or anaesthesia and one of a post-operative myocardial infarction. Four patients developed a non-fatal complication. It is concluded that significant post-operative problems are rare after direct laryngoscopy, and in selected patients it may be performed as a day-case procedure. PMID- 2612036 TI - A modified dosage schedule for increased efficiency in PUVA treatment of psoriasis. AB - Ten patients with chronic widespread plaque psoriasis, all of whom had previously completely cleared and suffered a subsequent widespread relapse after conventional PUVA therapy, were treated with a modified UVA dosage schedule, with psoralen formulation and dosage unchanged. Initial and incremental UVA doses were maximized to near-erythemogenic levels as determined by weekly testing for minimal phototoxic dose (MPD), treatment being given three times a week. A comparison of complete psoriasis clearing between the modified treatment and the last PUVA course showed a geometric mean reduction in treatment duration of 55% (P less than 0.001) for a similar number of treatments each week, and a cumulative UVA dose of 31% (P less than 0.05), representing a reduction in treatment duration from 9.1 to 4.1 weeks and cumulative UVA dose reduction of 100.8 to 69.9 J/cm2. Such an improvement in efficiency permits a marked increase in treated patient numbers for the same cost, and is more convenient. The reduction in the total cumulative UVA dose given as larger individual doses also seems likely to lead to a lower incidence of cutaneous long-term, especially carcinogenic, adverse effects. PMID- 2612037 TI - Blastomycosis in Namibia--report of a case successfully treated with itraconazole. AB - The clinical, histological, mycological, radiological and scintigraphic features of a 42-year-old Namibian male with blastomycosis are described. This appears to be the first documented incidence of blastomycosis in Namibia. Leucocyte myeloperoxidase deficiency was evident. Treatment with itraconazole led to dramatic resolution of lesions. A reactive xanthogranulomatous response was present in a healed clavicular lesion. PMID- 2612038 TI - Eczematous dermatitis in relation to carbon ligamentoplasty. AB - Carbon biomedical devices are widely used in prosthetic surgery; their biocompatibility is excellent and cutaneous or mucosal adverse effects of carbon material remain exceptional. We describe a patient who developed an eczematous dermatitis on the right knee in the vicinity of a ligamentoplasty performed 2 months earlier. Patch testing with the carbon ligament was positive. Although the scattering of carbon material in the surrounding tissues is well known, cutaneous complications have, to our knowledge, never been reported. PMID- 2612039 TI - Creeping eruption stopped in its tracks by albendazole. PMID- 2612040 TI - Reduction in undesired sexual hair growth with anandron in male-to-female transsexuals--experiences with a novel androgen receptor blocker. AB - The effect of Anandron, a novel non-steroidal anti-androgen, on the reduction in sexual hair growth of 14 male-to-female transsexuals was investigated. Anandron (300 mg/day) alone for 8 weeks increased serum testosterone levels (mean: 19.2 +/ 6.1 to 44.9 +/- 11.5 mmol/l) and serum oestradiol levels (mean: 0.08 +/- 0.02 to 0.24 +/- 0.06 nmol/l). From Weeks 9 to 20, ethinyloestradiol (100 micrograms/day) was co-administered. Hair growth scores, hair weight and the number of terminal hairs decreased significantly in the first 8 weeks and continued to decrease during the second period in the areas assessed (the trunk and the limbs). In addition, there was a subjective decrease in hair growth on the limbs and the trunk, but not on the face. We suggest that Anandron alone and in conjunction with oestrogens is effective in reducing sexual hair growth on the limbs and the trunk. PMID- 2612041 TI - Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita with soft-tissue herniations on the lower legs. AB - Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita is a rare vascular anomaly, producing a flat or depressed reticular erythema of variable extent, giving rise to a marbled effect. There is a predilection for females, and there is a frequent association with other congenital anomalies, of which a large number and variety have been described. A female neonate is reported with cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita and two associated soft-tissue lesions on the anterior lower legs, which developed several weeks after birth. We believe these lesions, which have not been previously described, to be soft-tissue herniations with surrounding subcutaneous tissue atrophy. PMID- 2612042 TI - Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia associated with extensive linear epidermal naevi. AB - Albright's syndrome is characterized by the combination of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, precocious puberty and cafe-au-lait spots. We describe a patient with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia who also had extensive linear epidermal naevi, an association that has not been previously described in the English literature. PMID- 2612043 TI - Pyoderma gangrenosum in an allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipient. AB - We present the case of a 15-year-old boy who developed facial pyoderma gangrenosum following an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of a 'blast' crisis developing in the course of chronic myelogenous leukaemia. The lesion appeared 7 months before any evidence of relapse. The discussion is focused on both the presentation of pyoderma gangrenosum associated with myelo proliferative disorders and its pathogenesis via the underlying immunosuppression. PMID- 2612044 TI - Recurrent blistering distal dactylitis of the great toe associated with an ingrowing toenail. AB - We report a case of recurrent blistering distal dactylitis in a child. Although the skin returned to normal following antibiotic therapy, blistering later recurred. This recurrence was probably related to an associated ingrowing nail affecting the same digit. PMID- 2612045 TI - Scleredema. AB - We report a classical case of scleredema which pursued a chronic progressive course and was associated with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. PMID- 2612047 TI - Abstracts from the 15th annual meeting of the Society for Cutaneous Ultrastructural Research. Nice, 20-21 May 1988. PMID- 2612046 TI - Cutaneous gangrene secondary to focal thrombosis--an important cutaneous manifestation of ulcerative colitis. AB - We describe a patient who developed cutaneous gangrene secondary to microvascular thrombosis, an uncommon complication of inflammatory bowel disease with potentially serious manifestations. PMID- 2612048 TI - Chronic psoriasis and repeat admissions--do we do enough for our patients? PMID- 2612049 TI - Production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) in patients with AIDS. Enhanced level of TNF-alpha is related to a higher cytotoxic activity. AB - We measured simultaneously circulating and cell-generated TNF-alpha and IL-1 after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in HIV-infected individuals at different stages of infection, classified according to CDC classification. TNF-alpha production, both in vitro and endogenous in sera, remained at the normal level in group II patients but was significantly increased in most patients in group IV (P less than 0.05). Most patients of group II and IV displayed normal level of IL-1 in their sera, whereas the level of this monokine generated in vitro was significantly reduced in both groups (P less than 0.05). The cytotoxic effect of factor(s) secreted by PBMC from HIV-infected individuals was evaluated towards a fibroblast cell line L929. The higher titre of cytotoxicity was directly related to a higher production of TNF-alpha by the cells from group IV patients and the effect could be removed by pre-absorption with anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody. PMID- 2612050 TI - Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of vascular endothelium: characterization and pathogenic associations in systemic sclerosis. AB - Ten sera from 48 patients with systemic sclerosis were found to be capable of producing cytotoxicity of human umbilical venous and arterial endothelium when co cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Fractionation of sera on Ultrogel and the preparation of monomeric IgG by ion exchange and affinity chromatography suggested that the cytotoxicity was mediated by anti-endothelial antibodies capable of pre-sensitizing target cells in a mechanism that resembled antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. These anti-endothelial antibodies together with C1q-binding immune complexes and anti-cardiolipin antibodies were found in 18 of 28 patients so investigated, suggesting that multiple immunological mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of the vascular lesion of systemic sclerosis. PMID- 2612051 TI - Heterogeneity of human eosinophil glucocorticoid receptor expression in hypereosinophilic patients: absence of detectable receptor correlates with resistance to corticotherapy. AB - Assessment of steroid receptor content in human neoplastic lymphoid cells or mammary tumour cells has been previously used to predict steroid sensitivity in various types of cancers. In the present study, we have evaluated the relationship between glucocorticoid receptor content and the glucocorticoid sensitivity of human eosinophils, since hypereosinophilic patients do not always respond favourably to glucocorticoid, particularly in the hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). Blood or alveolar eosinophils obtained from seven patients (four with HES without leukaemic markers; two with parasitic diseases; and one with eosinophilic pneumonia) displayed the same specific glucocorticoid receptor content as normal eosinophils (7.58 +/- 1.31 x 10(3) versus 7.76 +/- 0.74 x 10(3) sites/cell). In contrast, glucocorticoid-binding sites were undetectable in purified eosinophils collected from seven HES patients with (n = 3) or without (n = 4) leukaemic markers, whilst their mononuclear cells and/or neutrophils bound glucocorticoid. In one HES patient, kinetic studies showed that blood eosinophils initially positive in glucocorticoid binding assays became negative with the subsequent appearance of leukaemic markers. The absence of specific glucocorticoid binding sites was correlated with the absence of glucocorticoid receptor proteins by the use of a specific anti-glucocorticoid receptor monoclonal antibody. Eosinophil sensitivity to glucocorticoid was investigated by the evaluation of glucocorticoid inhibition of eosinophil chemotaxis and by the clinical outcome of in vivo glucocorticoid therapy. Our data provide evidence of the heterogeneity of eosinophil glucocorticoid receptor expression. In addition, the presence of glucocorticoid receptors is a prerequisite for glucocorticoid activity, in vitro and in vivo, on cells of the eosinophil lineage. PMID- 2612052 TI - Immune status and response to immunization with polysaccharide vaccines of a healthy, congenitally asplenic woman. AB - We describe the immune status of a congenitally asplenic, otherwise healthy and anatomically normal 30-year-old woman. As in surgically asplenic subjects, she had Howell-Jolly bodies in a blood smear, increased B lymphocyte and decreased T helper and suppressor lymphocyte percentages, and a slightly lower than average T helper/suppressor ratio. Because of the increased risk of infection with capsulate bacteria in asplenic patients, the subject was immunized with Pneumovax and meningococcal vaccine and her serum antibody responses were investigated. She was found to have subnormal IgG antibody titres which did not increase on immunization, although the subclass distribution of anti-pneumococcal antibody was normal with IgG2 predominating. IgM antibody titres were higher than in a pool of normal adult human sera, while IgA levels increased substantially as in normal subjects. PMID- 2612053 TI - Role of IgG and complement component C5 in the initial course of experimental cryptococcosis. AB - Although cellular immunity has a crucial role during cryptococcosis, several in vitro studies have pointed out the importance of IgG anti-Cryptococcus neoformans antibodies and complement components during phagocytosis of the yeast by polymorphonuclear leucocytes and monocytes. We investigated the role of complement and specific antibodies in host defences against experimental cryptococcosis, using a monoclonal IgG1 antibody (E1) specific for cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide, and mice congenitally sufficient or deficient in the fifth component of complement (C5). During in vitro experiments, E1 and the normal mouse serum from C5-sufficient and -deficient mice were unable to inhibit the growth of C.neoformans. However, E1 was an efficient opsonin for the ingestion of C. neoformans by mouse peritoneal macrophages, acting in synergy with normal mouse serum. In vivo, E1 was protective in heavily infected C5 deficient mice (DBA/2) dying from an early acute pneumonia, but not in C5 sufficient mice (BALB/c) and in DBA/2 mice infected with a smaller inoculum dying from a late progressive meningo-encephalitis. Although protection against pneumonia is attributed to a local recruitment of phagocytes in C5-sufficient mice, this was not observed in C5-deficient mice protected with E1. In this case, IgG anti-C. neoformans antibodies seem to be an alternative for an efficient opsonization of the yeasts. Altogether, these data suggest that two main mechanisms may protect infected mice from an early fatal pneumonia: the efficient opsonization of the yeast by complement and the recruitment of phagocytes in infected tissues. PMID- 2612054 TI - Relative contributions of chemo-attractant and terminal components of complement to anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) glomerulonephritis. AB - The relative contributions of chemo-attractant and terminal components of complement to heterologous phase glomerular injury was studied in anti-GBM glomerulonephritis in rabbits. Normal rabbits (complement intact) were given anti GBM antibody at a dose which resulted in 140 micrograms specific kidney-fixed antibody per gram of renal cortex, and developed significant proteinuria (1910 +/ 327 mg/24 h; control 18.2 +/- 6.1 mg/24 h; P less than 0.01). Leucocyte depletion significantly reduced but did not abolish proteinuria (574 +/- 186 mg/24 h, P less than 0.05). Complement depletion of neutrophil-depleted rabbits resulted in a further significant reduction in proteinuria 50.1 +/- 12.2 mg/24 h, P less than 0.05; versus neutrophil-depleted, complement-intact rabbits), indicating that both neutrophil accumulation and complement activation independent of neutrophils contribute to injury in this model. Rabbits congenitally deficient in the sixth component of complement (C6D) developed similar levels of proteinuria (2099 +/- 796 mg/24 h) to normal rabbits given an identical dose of antibody. However, after leucocyte depletion, C6D rabbits developed significantly less proteinuria (135 +/- 56 mg/24 h) than did leucocyte depleted, complement-intact rabbits (P less than 0.05). These studies show that terminal complement components are not necessary for the full expression of acute anti-GBM antibody-initiated injury in leucocyte-intact rabbits. However, in the absence of leucocytes, C6 and the terminal complement components are apparently responsible for the majority of the complement-dependent glomerular injury. PMID- 2612055 TI - Murine chronic graft-versus-host disease as a model of systemic lupus erythematosus: effect of immunosuppressive drugs on disease development. AB - The effect of a number of drugs commonly used to treat the more severe exacerbations of the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in humans has been investigated in the murine chronic graft-versus-host (GVH) induced model of lupus. This was undertaken in order to determine the value of this model for the investigation of immunomodulant drugs, with particular regard to the reproducibility of disease induction and methods of monitoring disease progression. The drugs were azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin A and dexamethasone. All of these, except for azathioprine, reduced disease severity, assessed as the development of lupus nephritis. Anti-ssDNA autoantibodies were also reduced in titre in the dexamethasone-treated group. Overall, these findings, combined with the reproducible induction of disease seen in this model, support the use of chronic GVH disease as a model for SLE and show that the induced disease can be ameliorated by drugs effective in the treatment of SLE in humans. PMID- 2612056 TI - Rapid clearance of the lupus antigen Sm is delayed by autoantibody: a possible mechanism of autoimmunity perpetuation. AB - Sm ribonucleoprotein complex was immunopurified and labelled with 125I. After i.v. injection into normal mice 125I-Sm was cleared with a half life of less than 3 min, mainly to the liver (54% at 15 min). With time there was a progressive reduction in liver uptake (13.3% at 1 h), and this was associated with the appearance of increasing amounts of trichloroacetic acid soluble 125I in serum, suggesting complete Sm catabolism. Injection of 125I-Sm as a preformed immune complex with human anti-Sm antibody was associated with slower antigen removal from the circulation (half life 15 min), more gradual liver uptake (27% at 1 hr), and less degradation products in the serum than after injection of antigen alone. These data suggest that release of 125I-Sm into the circulation is followed by specific organ uptake and antigen degradation. In the form of an immune complex, the rapid removal mechanism is impaired, and antigen persists in the circulation in an undegraded form. Simultaneous production of anti-Sm antibody and Sm antigen release following tissue destruction could lead to amplification of any primed immune response as a result of autoantigen drive in systemic lupus erythematosus. PMID- 2612057 TI - Proliferative responsiveness of B cells from autoimmune NZB mice to anti immunoglobulin and interleukin-4. AB - Proliferative responses of B cells to anti-IgM antibody and recombinant interleukin-4 (rIL-4) were studied in autoimmune NZB mice. While anti-IgM antibody and rIL-4 act synergistically on resting B cells to induce proliferation in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, they failed to produce synergistic effect on NZB B cells, although these NZB B cells responded better to the individual stimulus with anti-IgM antibody or rIL-4. Cell-fractionation analysis of NZB splenic B cells using Percoll density centrifugation showed marked increase in low-density B cells and decrease in high-density B cells. Proliferative response patterns of each subpopulation of NZB B cells were not different from those of control BALB/c B cells, except for higher response of NZB B cells to anti-IgM antibody. Thus, the accumulation of large low density B cells, probably resulting from in vivo activation, may partly account for the altered responsiveness of NZB B cells as a whole. PMID- 2612058 TI - Anti-fibrillarin autoantibodies in mercury-treated mice. AB - Using indirect immunofluorescence (IF) with HEp-2 cells as a substrate serially bled SJL mice were found to gradually develop a high titre of anti-nucleolar antibodies (ANuA) after 3-5 weeks of s.c. injections of 1.6 mg HgCl2/kg body weight every third day. The ANuA showed a clumpy nucleolar pattern of localization and were composed of all IgG subclasses, but contained, in comparison with the antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in MRL-lpr/lpr mice, significantly lower titres of IgG2a and only traces of IgG3. Immunoblotting analysis using purified mouse liver nucleoli revealed that the sera with ANuA identified the same 34-kD nucleolar protein which was targeted by a human scleroderma serum containing autoantibodies monospecific for fibrillarin. In addition, a fraction of the mercury-treated SJL mice developed serum antibodies reacting with 10-15 and 60-70 kD nucleolar proteins in immunoblotting. The presence of serum autoantibodies reacting with the 10-15 kD proteins correlated with significantly increased titres of anti-histone antibodies of the IgG class in ELISA. Some mercury-treated SJL mice also developed a significantly increased titre of anti-histone antibodies of the IgM class. B10.S mice treated with mercuric chloride consistently developed ANuA, which also targeted a 34-kD nucleolar protein. Since anti-fibrillarin antibodies are specific markers of scleroderma, the present animal model may be valuable for studies of the immunological aberrations which are likely to induce this autoimmune response. PMID- 2612059 TI - Cells bearing granulocyte-macrophage and T lymphocyte antigens in the rat uterus before and during ovum implantation. AB - There is little detailed information on the distribution of granulocytes macrophages and lymphocytes at the pre- and peri-implantation period of the embryo in the uterus. Using two monoclonal antibodies (MAS-099C and MRC-OX41) we found that cells labelled with antibodies specific to either T lymphocytes and thymocytes or granulocytes-macrophages were present in the endometrium and myometrium before ovum implantation. Both types of labelled cells appeared to migrate from the uterine lumen to the deep endometrium, where their number peaked on day 4. At the early implantation period (days 5 to 7), there was a total lack of labelled cells around the conceptus. Specific changes before ovum implantation in the distribution or activation state of T lymphocytes and granulocyte macrophages may favour early embryo acceptance. PMID- 2612060 TI - Enzyme induction by eating charcoal-grilled steak with no effect on blood lipids. AB - 1. There has been interest in the suggestion that enzyme-inducing drugs, such as anticonvulsants, may produce beneficial changes in lipoprotein levels, in particular a rise in the ratio of high density lipoprotein cholesterol to total cholesterol. 2. This controlled study observed the effects of diets of charcoal or oven-cooked beef on antipyrine clearance (a commonly used measure of drug metabolizing capacity), the apparent oral clearance of phenacetin (a measure of cytochrome P448-dependent enzyme activity) and blood lipids in 18 healthy volunteers. 3. Charcoal-cooked beef increased antipyrine clearance by an average of 20% (P less than 0.059) and increased the apparent oral clearance of phenacetin fivefold (P less than 0.01). In contrast, oven-cooked beef did not significantly alter either measure of microsomal function. Neither diet had any effects on blood lipids. 4. We conclude that the type and degree of enzyme induction achieved by this type of dietary manipulation does not produce beneficial changes in lipoprotein profiles. A previously noted rise in high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in volunteers fed charcoal-cooked beef may have been due to the effects of charcoal formed by charring of the beef during cooking. PMID- 2612061 TI - Maternofetal transfer of phenytoin, p-hydroxy-phenytoin and p-hydroxy-phenytoin glucuronide in the perfused human placenta. AB - 1. Transplacental transfer of the anti-epileptic agent phenytoin (PHT), its phase I metabolite, p-hydroxy-phenytoin (p-OH-PHT), and its phase II conjugate p-OH-PHT glucuronide, was studied in term placental lobules perfused single pass in both maternal and fetal circuits. 2. Ratios of clearance of PHT, p-OH-PHT and p-OH-PHT glucuronide to clearance of antipyrine were 1.08 +/- 0.03, 0.52 +/- 0.02 and 0.12 +/- 0.01 (mean and s.e.m.), respectively. 3. Transfer was positively correlated with lipophilicity as measured by the apparent partition coefficient determined between octanol and pH 7.4 buffer. PMID- 2612062 TI - Effect of diltiazem, verapamil and dantrolene on the contractility of isolated malignant hyperpyrexia-susceptible human skeletal muscle. AB - 1. Diltiazem (10 mumol/L) and verapamil (10 mumol/L) inhibited the hypercontractility induced by 3% halothane and 2 mmol/L caffeine in malignant hyperpyrexia susceptible (MHS) muscle. Diltiazem also inhibited 80 mmol/L KCl contractures. 2. Like the skeletal muscle relaxant dantrolene sodium (6 mumol/L), diltiazem not only prevented but reversed the abnormal contractures induced by halothane and caffeine. 3. The effect on caffeine contractures of diltiazem and dantrolene in combination was additive. 4. The ability of diltiazem and verapamil to inhibit the hypercontractility of MHS muscle suggests that Ca2+ influx across the transverse tubular membrane may be important in the aetiology of the malignant hyperpyrexia syndrome. 5. These results also suggest an abnormality in transverse tubule-sarcoplasmic reticulum communication. PMID- 2612063 TI - Measurement of net sodium intake by the ovine fetus with oesophageal ligation. AB - 1. If the fetal sheep is in sodium balance, then the net intake of sodium is equal to the sum of the losses of sodium in fetal urine and lung liquid plus the rate of deposition of sodium with growth. 2. In seven fetal sheep with oesophageal ligation net sodium intake was 23.1 +/- 2.8 (s.e.m.) mumols/min per kg; 11.8 +/- 1.4 mumols/min per kg was excreted by the lungs and 8.7 +/- 2.3 mumol/min per kg was excreted by the kidneys. The excretion of sodium by the lungs accounted for 52.8 +/- 4.8% of the total amount of sodium; the excretion of sodium by the kidneys accounted for 34.9 +/- 5.4% and the calculated variable, that is, sodium deposited due to growth was 12.3 +/- 1.4%. 3. All but one fetus excreted more sodium from the lungs than from the kidneys. There was no relationship between the clearance of sodium by the lungs and net sodium intake but there was a direct relationship between renal sodium clearance and net sodium intake (r = 0.92, P less than 0.005). This suggests that fetal urinary sodium excretion is dependent upon net sodium intake by the fetus. This animal model shows that normally there must be sodium fluxes from allantoic and/or amniotic cavities to either the fetus or the ewe. PMID- 2612064 TI - Changes in hepatic cytosolic glutathione S-transferase enzymes induced by clotrimazole treatment in rats. AB - 1. The influence of the antifungal agent clotrimazole on cytosolic glutathione S transferase activities was studied in male Wistar rats. 2. Animals received clotrimazole by gastric lavage for 3 days (75 mg/kg per day). Hepatic glutathione S-transferase activity was determined with five different substrates: 1-chloro 2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene (DCNB), p-nitro-benzyl chloride (PNBC), ethacrynic acid (EA) and trans-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one (TPBO). 3. The largest increases in glutathione S-transferase activity were found with CDNB, DCNB and PNBC (+61%, +50% and +50%, respectively, when expressed per mg of cytosolic protein). Enzyme activity toward EA was induced to a lower extent (+33%). Changes in the formation of the conjugate of TPBO were relatively small (+22%). 4. These data indicate a differential induction of glutathione S transferase isoenzymes and suggest that clotrimazole is a phenobarbital-type inducer of enzyme activity. PMID- 2612065 TI - Role of GABAergic system in prolactin analgesia. AB - 1. The role of the GABAergic system in the analgesic action of prolactin was investigated using a pharmacological approach. 2. THIP, a GABAmimetic, per se produced an analgesic effect and potentiated the analgesic effect of prolactin and morphine. 3. Bicuculline, in subconvulsive doses, per se did not alter the number of writhings, while it attenuated the analgesic effect of prolactin. 4. These results indicate a positive role for the GABAergic system in prolactin induced analgesia. 5. Since THIP resembles morphine and because prolactin possesses several other morphine-like functions, it is possible that the role played by GABA may be an opioid-related one. PMID- 2612066 TI - In vitro time course studies on train-of-four fade induced by hexamethonium, pancuronium and decamethonium in the rat hemidiaphragm. AB - 1. In vitro time course studies on the effects of hexamethonium (7 mmol/L), pancuronium (5 mumol/L) and decamethonium (220 mumol/L) on nerve-evoked (2 Hz for 2 s every 20 s) maximal twitches (T1, T2, T3, T4) of the rat hemidiaphragm were conducted. All three drugs progressively depressed all four twitches in a given train but at different rates (T4 greater than T3 greater than T2 much greater than T1). 2. The response-time profiles for T1 and T4 varied widely for the three drugs such that, for the same degree of T1-block, each drug produced a different magnitude of T4-block during the onset of and recovery from neuromuscular blockade. 3. Analysis of the T1 versus T4/T1 plot showed that, at 50% T1-block, the corresponding T4/T1 (i.e. train-of-four ratios) during the onset (and recovery) phase were 0.16 (0.29), 0.46 (0.40) and 0.66 (0.53) for hexamethonium, pancuronium and decamethonium, respectively. Thus, for the same degree (i.e. 50%) of twitch (T1) tension depression, the three drugs differed widely in their ability (hexamethonium much greater than pancuronium greater than decamethonium) to produce fade as reflected in the respective train-of-four ratio. 4. Our results therefore show that the train-of-four ratio (T4/T1) at 50% T1-block obtained from such in vitro time course studies is a useful quantitative index of the potential of various drugs to cause train-of-four fade. Based on this index a classification of various compounds already studied is proposed as follows: hexamethonium much greater than pancuronium approximately (+)-tubocurarine greater than decamethonium approximately succinylcholine much greater than alpha bungarotoxin. PMID- 2612067 TI - Elimination of diflunisal as its acyl glucuronide, phenolic glucuronide and sulfate conjugates in bile-exteriorized and intact rats. AB - 1. The disposition of diflunisal (DF) was investigated in both bile-exteriorized and intact rats given 10 and 100 mg/kg doses intravenously (i.v.). 2. In addition to the phenolic glucuronide (DPG) and acyl glucuronide (DAG) conjugates, the sulfate conjugate (DS) was found to be a major metabolite. The glucuronides were excreted preferentially in bile, whereas DS was excreted almost exclusively in urine. 3. In bile-exteriorized animals, recoveries of DPG, DAG and DS in bile were 12.2%, 23.8%, 0.4%, respectively, and in urine, 10.3%, 5.6% and 15.2%, respectively, at the 10 mg/kg dose; and in bile, 11.3%, 41.6% and 1.0% respectively, and urine 2.9%, 1.1% and 17.0%, respectively, at the 100 mg/kg dose. 4. Total plasma clearance of DF and formation clearance of DF to DPG were reduced at the higher dose, suggesting saturation of this glucuronidation pathway. Formation clearances of DF to DAG and DS were little affected by the dose change. 5. Considerable enterohepatic recirculation of DF was apparent from the prolongation of DF and its conjugates in plasma of rats with an intact bile flow into the gut. The net metabolic effect of such cycling was enhancement of overall DS formation, from 15.6% and 18.0% of the 10 and 100 mg/kg doses, respectively, in bile-exteriorized rats to 28.5% and 42.1% of the doses respectively, in the intact animals. PMID- 2612068 TI - Sequential development of systemic vasculitis with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies complicating anti-glomerular basement membrane disease. AB - Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (cANCA) were detected in 3 patients with anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease. All 3 cases presented late in their clinical course, with severe renal involvement and alveolar hemorrhage. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were associated with clinical features outwith the lungs and kidneys; in one case cANCA were initially absent but subsequently developed concurrently with the clinical appearance of systemic vasculitis as the anti-GBM antibody titer was falling. These findings confirm that cANCA can complicate anti-GBM disease and suggest that cANCA may identify a distinct subset of patients with anti-GBM disease, supporting a pathogenic role for cANCA in the development of systemic vasculitis. PMID- 2612069 TI - Renal allografts in cystinosis and mesangial demography. AB - Twenty-four biopsies of generally cadaveric renal allografts from 20 patients with cystinosis were examined by light, polarization, phase contrast and electron microscopy. Cystine crystals, or cytoplasmic crystalline spaces compatible with cystine, were observed in interstitial cells in 23 of the 24 biopsies and in glomeruli in six. Among the six, crystalline spaces were identified by electron microscopy in cells compatible with macrophages in the mesangium in two, and, in one of the latter, dark, presumably cystine-containing cells were also present in the mesangium. On the premise that cystine-containing cells derive from the host, these findings support the thesis that in man cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system of extrarenal origin may exist in the mesangium. However, in comparison with infiltration of the interstitium, infiltration of the glomerulus by macrophages from extrarenal sources is scant, as studied under conditions of renal transplantation. PMID- 2612070 TI - Bilateral renal artery stenosis: presenting as a case of scleroderma renal crisis. AB - A patient with long-standing scleroderma who developed malignant hypertension is presented. Renal insufficiency aggravated by the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition prompted renal angiography. The latter demonstrated bilateral renal artery stenosis, an uncommon coexistence of two infrequent disorders. PMID- 2612071 TI - The acute effect of growth hormone on GFR is obliterated in chronic renal failure. AB - Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has become available for treatment of growth failure in uremic children. Since GH raises the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in healthy individuals, there has been concern that treatment with rhGH, by its action on glomerular hemodynamics, may adversely affect the progression of renal failure. To further address this issue, inulin clearance (enzymatic steady state infusion technique) was measured in 7 healthy normotensive adult volunteers and 7 patients with chronic renal failure from glomerular or non-glomerular causes. Subjects were given 4.5 U bid of rhGH by s.c. injection for 3 days. In volunteers, a significant increase in Cin was noted 72 h after start of rhGH administration from 120 ml/min/1.73 m2 (range 91-158) to 133 (108-167) (p less than 0.02). In contrast, no significant increase in Cin was noted in patients with chronic renal failure (baseline Cin 21 ml/min/1.73 m2, 15-32; after rhGH 22 ml/min/1.73 m2, 15-32) despite pronounced effects of GH on S-cholesterol and urea excretion rate. The results show that stimulation of GFR by short-term administration of rhGH is obliterated in chronic renal failure. PMID- 2612072 TI - Studies on T-cell colony formation in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. AB - In order to study the possibility of abnormal differentiation and proliferation of T-cell precursors in chronic renal failure (CRF), we studied T-cell colony formation in CRF patients. The two-step monolayer method, with phytohemagglutinin P as the inducer, was used for T-cell colony formation. In our results, colony formation was markedly reduced in CRF patients in comparison with normal controls, with about half of the former showing no colony growth. All cases showed a significant increase in colony numbers with in vitro plasmapheresis (the replacement of autologous plasma in the culture system with normal AB plasma). A significant increase in colony numbers was also seen with the addition of exogenous interleukin-2 (IL-2). The addition of IL-2 in the presence of normal plasma, in particular, induced an increase in colony numbers to near the levels in normal subjects. These results suggest that T-cell precursors exist in near normal numbers in CRF patients and that there are uremic inhibitors in the plasma. A reduced production of IL-2 is also indicated. These factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of immunodeficiency in CRF patients. PMID- 2612073 TI - Intestinal pseudo-obstruction due to dialysis amyloidosis. AB - Marked gastric dilatation and the carpal tunnel syndrome developed concurrently in a 58-year-old man treated with hemodialysis for 14 years. Despite extensive examinations, no attributable organic lesion was demonstrated in the gastrointestinal tract. However, amyloid deposition, which was immunohistochemically identified as beta-2 microglobulin, was demonstrated in the stomach and the synovia excised from the right carpal tunnel. Intestinal pseudo obstruction due to dialysis amyloidosis was considered to be the cause of the gastric dilatation. There have been a few recently reported cases with dialysis amyloidosis in which extra-articular amyloid deposition resulted in overt clinical problems. The present case provides additional evidence that dialysis amyloidosis can develop serious extra-articular complications; intestinal pseudo obstruction is a very rare gastrointestinal manifestation. PMID- 2612074 TI - Mitral leaflet motion: age and implications for the diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse. PMID- 2612075 TI - Systolic tricuspid leaflet prolapse in asymptomatic young men. AB - The degree of systolic movement of the tricuspid valve (TV) leaflets was measured in 100 consecutive apparently healthy men 18-20 years old at the time of maximum posterosuperior motion toward or into the right atrium. Backward bowing of greater than 0.20 mm2 of the anterior leaflet, and greater than 0.15 mm2 of either the posterior or septal leaflets beyond the plane of the tricuspid annulus was found in 5% or less of the cohort irrespective of the echocardiographic view in which it was recorded. The upper 5% of these young men had greater than 0.80 mm2 of backward bowing when the leaflet motion was summed from all three views. The anterior leaflet demonstrated more bowing than either the septal or posterior leaflets. The systolic TV prolapse area correlated highly with the degree of mitral leaflet prolapse (r = 0.654, p less than 0.001). We conclude that there is a wide continuous spectrum of tricuspid valve leaflet prolapse area in healthy young men. This quantitative approach may help standardize the echocardiographic evaluation of tricuspid leaflet motion. PMID- 2612076 TI - The relationship between intraoperatively assessed atrial and ventricular insertions of accessory pathways. AB - To gain insight into the complex problems regarding the extension of the atrial and ventricular insertions of anomalous pathways, the activation patterns obtained from intraoperative epicardial mapping in 23 patients with Wolff Parkinson-White syndrome were carefully analyzed. The atrial and ventricular activation times along the atrioventricular groove were measured at 15 predefined anatomical landmarks. The width of the region of earliest atrial and ventricular activation times and the extent of atrial and ventricular overlap were assessed. The relationship between the atrial and ventricular insertions was studied by predicting the ventricular insertions from the observed atrial insertions and vice versa. The mean extension of an atrial and a ventricular insertion at surgery was 1.9 +/- 0.2 (SE) and 1.6 +/- 0.2 (SE) anatomical landmarks, respectively. The width of the region of early atrial and ventricular activation times measured 2.7 +/- 0.3 (SE) landmarks, thus indicating an overlap of the atrial and ventricular insertions. The lateral distance between the sites of earliest atrial and ventricular activation times was, on average, 1.7 +/- 0.3 (SE) landmarks. The predicted atrial insertion from a known ventricular insertion, and vice versa was found to cover 4 to 6 anatomical landmarks. These observations suggest that wide surgical dissections along the atrioventricular groove are warranted even if epicardial mapping discloses only a single accessory pathway. PMID- 2612077 TI - Sudden coronary death. AB - Many reports have described the amounts of atherosclerotic plaque in victims of sudden coronary death, defining the number of coronary arteries narrowed at some point greater than 75% in cross-sectional area (XSA). In order to quantitate more precisely the amount and distribution of plaque, 70 victims of sudden coronary death aged 22-81 years (mean 50) were studied. The four major epicardial coronary arteries (left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right) from each of 70 victims were cut into 5-mm segments (average 50 per patient) and a histologic section prepared from each segment. The amount of luminal narrowing by plaque was categorized into five groups (0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, 76-95%, 96-100%). Of 3,484 five-mm segments, 950 (27%) were narrowed 76-100% in XSA. Comparison of 31 previously symptomatic victims (angina pectoris and/or myocardial infarction) to 39 victims who had been asymptomatic disclosed a higher mean percent of severely narrowed segments (30% vs. 25%, p = less than 0.005) and a lower mean percent of minimally narrowed segments in the symptomatic group. Comparison of the 31 patients with a healed myocardial infarction at necropsy with 39 patients with no left ventricular scar disclosed a higher mean percent of segments severely narrowed (33% vs. 24%, p = less than 0.001) and a lower mean percent of segments narrowed minimally in those with a left ventricular scar (13% vs. 26%, p = less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612078 TI - Multiple coronary thrombosis in a patient with thrombocytosis. AB - A 59-year-old woman was admitted with acute inferior myocardial infarction. Cardiac catheterization revealed total occlusion in the right coronary artery and thrombus-like filling defect in the left anterior descending coronary artery. With simultaneous intracoronary urokinase infusion to the right and left coronary arteries, the right coronary artery became patent and the thrombus in the left anterior descending coronary artery was released to the distal coronary artery. Thrombocytosis was disclosed by laboratory examination. The relationship between myocardial infarction and thrombocytosis is discussed. PMID- 2612079 TI - Reversible dilated cardiomyopathy induced by methamphetamine. AB - This brief report details the case of a woman who was thought, after extensive evaluation, to have idiopathic congestive cardiomyopathy. It was subsequently found that systolic ventricular dysfunction was due to amphetamine abuse, and that ventricular function normalized after discontinuation of this drug. PMID- 2612080 TI - Estrogen receptor levels in a murine model of systemic lupus erythematosus. AB - Offspring of a cross between the NZB and NZW mice (F1) develop a disease similar to SLE in humans. Female mice of the F1 strain develop the disease at a younger age and die earlier than the males. In order to test the hypothesis that estrogen receptor concentrations in the lymphoid organs of these mice may correlate with increased female susceptibility, estrogen receptor assays were performed on cytosol from the uterus, thymus, spleen, and liver of affected animals and the parental stock using the dextran-charcoal method. Specific binding of the receptor was analysed by Scatchard analysis. There were no differences among receptor concentrations in the uterus, thymus, and spleen of NZB, NZW, and F1 mice. However, the estrogen receptor concentrations in the liver from NZW and F1 mice were twice that of NZB mice. This observation may be of importance since the liver is involved in steroid metabolism and abnormalities of estrogen metabolism have been reported in human SLE. PMID- 2612081 TI - Increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity in Behcet's disease. AB - Raised serum alkaline phosphatase (Al-P) levels were found in 23 of 213 patients (10.8%) with Behcet's disease (BD). Al-P isoenzyme studies showed an increased liver fraction. Increased Al-P levels were well correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP). It is concluded that Al-P is a good indicator for the activity of BD. PMID- 2612082 TI - Elevated level of IgA gliadin antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. AB - The possibility that dietary antigens contribute to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been proposed. Moreover, occasional patients have been described in whom coeliac disease and RA coincide. Furthermore, most RA patients are treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are known to increase gut permeability. For these reasons antibodies against gliadin were measured in a group of 43 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a group of 43 age- and sex-matched controls. The median IgA antigliadin ELISA index was 7.1 (range 2.1-22.4) for the RA group and 3.1 (range 0.3-34.9) for the controls (p = 0.0001). The median IgG and IgM antigliadin indexes for the RA group didn't differ significantly from those of the controls. In the RA group, the level of antigliadin antibodies did not correlate with the daily dose of NSAIDs. The elevated IgA antigliadin titre in the RA group might be ascribed to the use of NSAIDs, which are harmful to the gut, but the immunological trigger effect of gluten cannot be ruled out. PMID- 2612083 TI - Late presentation and microcrystalline arthropathy in primary hyperoxaluria. AB - A 66 year-old woman was referred in 1981 because of renal insufficiency and pronounced nephrocalcinosis. The urinary oxalate excretion was elevated. Secondary hyperoxaluria was excluded. End-stage renal disease necessitated hemodialysis from late in 1982 up to her death in 1986, at the age of 71 years. During the course of the disease, an aggressive arthropathy developed in the fingers. Classical signs of oxalosis were found: deposits of calcium oxalate crystals in bone tissue, the pancreas, myocardium, subcutaneous tissue and especially in the kidneys. This rare case documents the possible occurrence of late clinical presentation and long survival in primary oxalosis. PMID- 2612084 TI - Low-dose methotrexate in systemic onset juvenile chronic arthritis. AB - Twelve children with severe systemic juvenile chronic arthritis, all requiring high dose corticosteroids, have been admitted to a pilot study to evaluate the effect of low-dose methotrexate (mean dose: 8.5 mg/M2) on disease activity over a 6 month period. Definite improvement occurred in 4 children, allowing reduction of the steroid dose in 2 cases. Two children showed an acute flare of disease activity during the treatment period and in three, steroids had to be increased. Overall, side effects were rare with a rise in transaminases only occurring once. MTX blood levels taken on 14 occasions in 8 children documented absorption in all cases with a mean level of 3.45 x 10(-7) mol/l on a mean dose of 9 mg/M2. Low dose MTX appears to be a safe drug in the short term treatment of severe systemic JCA with beneficial effect in about a third of patients. Long-term controlled trials will be needed to evaluate its role in the treatment of systemic disease as well as side effects. PMID- 2612085 TI - Maternal autoantibodies and fetal disease. AB - We have examined the relationships between maternal connective tissue disease (CTD), fetal and neonatal health, and the presence of specific autoantibodies: antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-Ro, antiLa, anti-Sm, anti-RNP, anti-DNA, and anticardiolipin (ACL) in 27 mothers with CTD (Group A), and 10 asymptomatic mothers of babies with complete congenital heart block (CCHB), or cardiac arrhythmias (Group B). Compared to 100 normal pregnant controls, autoantibodies were significantly more common in both Group A (96.3%, p less than 0.0005) and Group B (70%, p less than 0.0005), although the prevalence of autoantibodies in the Group A mothers having abnormal babies compared with those who had normal babies did not differ. Anti-La was present only in mothers with abnormal babies (7 of 17 compared to 0 of 10, p less than 0.025). Anti-La did not occur without anti-Ro, but anti-Ro occurred in 9 mothers without anti-La. Anti-Ro was present in the serum of all mothers of infants with CCHB and occurred alone in 3 of 4 instances. Titers of anti-Ro did not differ between abnormal and normal infants or their mothers. ACL occurred alone in the serum of 10 of 38 mothers, and was present in 7 mothers who had infants with cardiac abnormalities other than CCHB. PMID- 2612086 TI - Horton's disease and Sjogren's syndrome. A case report. PMID- 2612087 TI - Ethanol enhances the hemodynamic effects of felodipine. AB - The acute hemodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions between the vasodilating/diuretic drugs ethanol and felodipine, a 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium entry blocker, were assessed in 10 patients with untreated borderline hypertension. A non-intoxicating dose of ethanol or placebo was administered in a randomized, crossover, double-blind manner followed by felodipine 5 mg. Maximum hemodynamic effects occurred at four hours. Felodipine plus ethanol decreased mean (+/- SE) supine total peripheral resistance (13 +/- 2 vs 17 +/- 2 mmHg/L/min, p = 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (68 +/- 3 vs 75 +/- 2 mmHg, p less than 0.05) associated with increased heart rate (72 +/- 3 vs 67 +/- 2 bpm, p less than 0.05) and cardiac index (3.7 +/- 0.4 vs 3.0 +/- 0.3 L/min/m2, p less than 0.05) more than felodipine alone. Greater differences were apparent in standing blood pressure. Co-administration of ethanol decreased standing systolic (113 +/- 8 vs 126 +/- 5 mmHg, p less than 0.01) and diastolic (69 +/- 5 vs 82 +/- 3 mmHg, p less than 0.01) blood pressure to a greater degree, but heart rate was not altered (87 +/- 6 vs 84 +/- 3 bpm). Substantial four hour diuresis occurred with both treatments (807 +/- 126 vs 806 +/- 169 ml). Adverse effects were frequent but most often occurred with felodipine plus ethanol (17 vs 11) as a result of postural lightheadedness (5 vs 1) related to hypotension. Felodipine bioavailability was not influenced by ethanol. However felodipine plasma concentrations greatly exceeded the expected concentrations, possibly due to a pharmacokinetic interaction with the grapefruit juice vehicle. Ethanol can enhance felodipine hemodynamics to produce clinically relevant adverse effects. PMID- 2612088 TI - Synergistic effect of ketoconazole and antineoplastic agents on hormone independent prostatic cancer cells. AB - Ketoconazole has been recently used in the primary treatment of patients with metastatic cancer of the prostate and is identified as a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450-dependent adrenal and testicular androgen production. The drug has also shown activity in patients failing conventional hormonal manipulation. We subsequently showed that ketoconazole in vitro has a direct cytotoxic effect on human androgen-independent prostatic cancer cell lines. In order to better define the possible role of ketoconazole on hormone-independent prostatic cancer, we incubated the cells from human androgen-independent prostatic cancer lines in a methylcellulose tumour colony assay with different doses of the drug and increasing doses of conventional cytotoxic agents (etoposide, bleomycin, vinblastine, methotrexate, and teniposide). We demonstrated synergistic suppression of prostate cancer clonogenic cell growth by ketoconazole in the presence of vinblastine or etoposide. This observation may assign a new and important role for ketoconazole as part of combination chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with advanced prostatic cancer. PMID- 2612089 TI - Kaposi's sarcoma and AIDS: a variable spectrum. AB - A cohort of 61 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and AIDS was seen in the Oncology Unit of the Toronto General Hospital between 1982 and 1986. In an attempt to identify prognostic variables, laboratory and clinical parameters were examined using Kaplan-Meier estimates and the Cox Regression Model. All patients were male, median age 36 years (range 23-52). In 49 patients KS was diagnosed before any AIDS-associated opportunistic infection (OI). Three patients had concurrent KS and OI, and nine patients developed KS one or more months after an OI. Only 11 patients had stage I or II disease, 34 stage III, and 15 stage IV. Only 18 patients (30%) were asymptomatic. Twenty-six percent had fever, night sweats, or weight loss, 11% had minor opportunistic infections, and 33% had both symptom complexes. The median overall survival was 10.5 months. The survival of patients who received chemotherapy for their KS was not significantly different from the survival of non-treated patients (p = 0.7). Although significant differences in survival could not be seen between stages, patients with both systemic symptoms and minor opportunistic infections had significantly shorter survival (p = 0.03). Survival from the onset of KS was significantly shorter for patients who had experienced a previous OI, but their overall survival from the date of diagnosis of AIDS was not significantly different from those patients presenting with KS alone. When analyzed separately the laboratory parameters of hemoglobin (p less than 0.0001), absolute lymphocyte count (p = 0.03), platelet count (p = 0.04), and T4 level (p = 0.05) demonstrated a significant relationship with survival.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612090 TI - Relation of high plasma triglyceride levels associated with obesity and regional adipose tissue distribution to plasma lipoprotein-lipid composition in premenopausal women. AB - Abdominal obesity is associated with high plasma triglyceride (TG) and with low plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (CHOL) levels. As plasma TG and HDL-CHOL are negatively correlated, the associations between obesity, the regional distribution of body fat, plasma TG levels, and plasma lipoprotein concentration and composition were studied in a sample of 76 premenopausal women (52 obese and 24 non-obese). Obese women had significantly higher plasma levels of VLDL-TG, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-CHOL, LDL-TG, LDL-apolipoprotein (apo) B and reduced HDL-CHOL levels compared to non-obese controls (p less than 0.01). However, plasma concentrations of HDL-apo A-I and HDL-TG were not different between obese and non-obese women. Partial correlation analyses revealed that both fat mass and abdominal fat accumulation significantly contributed to VLDL-TG and HDL-CHOL variances. After control for body fat mass, the waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR) remained significantly correlated with plasma LDL-apo B levels and with the LDL-apo B/LDL-CHOL ratio (0.01 greater than p less than 0.05). Body fat mass was, however, associated with TG enrichment of LDL (p less than 0.01). After control for WHR, body fat mass showed no significant association with plasma HDL-TG levels, whereas the WHR was positively correlated with HDL-TG levels (p less than 0.05). Partial correlation analyses indicated that adjustment for fat mass or for the WHR failed to eliminate the associations between plasma VLDL-TG levels and lipoprotein lipid composition. This study emphasizes the importance of plasma VLDL-TG level as a correlate of plasma LDL and HDL lipid composition in abdominal obesity. PMID- 2612091 TI - Effect of cyclosporin A on serum lipids in primary biliary cirrhosis patients. AB - Hyperlipidemia is a common complication of PBC. Ten patients with serologically and histologically defined PBC were randomized to receive either oral cyclosporin A (CyA) or placebo for one year. Fasting blood samples were obtained from subjects at the beginning, and following one year of treatment, for plasma lipids, apolipoproteins AI (apo AI) and B (apo B), and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity. On entry to the study there were no significant differences between groups for serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), free cholesterol (FC), total phospholipids (TPL), apo AI, apo B and LCAT activity. Compared to normal laboratory values, baseline TC was elevated in 5/10, LDL-C in 5/10, TPL in 6/10, while LCAT activity was decreased in 8/10 patients. The percent change after one year for CyA group vs the placebo group are as follows: total cholesterol, -22 vs -8%; LDL cholesterol -33 vs -25%; free cholesterol, -39 vs -14%; total phospholipids, -46 vs -23%; and LCAT activity, +/ 236 vs +/- 43%. The decrease in TC, LDL-C, FC, TPL with increase in LCAT activity suggests that CyA administration is associated with improvement in the lipid abnormalities of PBC. PMID- 2612093 TI - Breast cancer and the gynecologist. PMID- 2612092 TI - Challenging consults: application of principles of physiology and biochemistry to the bedside. A case of chronic hyponatremia. PMID- 2612094 TI - Physician breast examination and breast self-examination. PMID- 2612095 TI - Indications and technique of breast conservation surgery in the treatment of breast carcinoma. PMID- 2612096 TI - Dysfunctional uterine bleeding and menorrhagia. PMID- 2612097 TI - [Muscle fiber type abnormalities in bulbospinal muscular atrophy. Comparison with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]. AB - Bulbospinal muscular atrophy (BSA) is a distinct clinical type of chronic spinal muscular atrophy of adult onset, which was first reported by Kennedy et al. Histochemical findings of involved muscles are poorly described. In the present study, the muscle fiber type was studied on biopsied specimens by the histochemical method. The results were compared with those of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Muscle specimens were obtained mainly from biceps brachii muscles of 7 cases of BSA and 10 cases of ALS. Both group of patients were matched in respect to age, sex and stage of muscle weakness. The following results were obtained. Histopathological findings of BSA are classed as stage 4 abnormalities of Jennekins. Both fiber type grouping and type 2B deficiency are more frequent in BSA than in ALS. Type 2C fiber seems to be more in ALS than in BSA. Atrophy factor of Dubowitz is the same in BSA and in ALS. Hypertrophy factor is more prominent in BSA than in ALS. Significant correlation between fiber type grouping and type 2B deficiency was confirmed in muscles from other neurogenic atrophy. Since there is a significant association of the type 2B deficiency with fiber type grouping, type 2B fiber might be transformed to type 2A during the reinnervation process. The adaptation to the increased activities of the survived muscles and motoneurons might be contributory to the transformation, which is already known to occur in normal subjects during the endurance training. PMID- 2612098 TI - [Isolated angitis of the central nervous system--case report and review]. AB - Isolated angitis of the central nervous system (IACNS) is rare condition with inflammation limited to vessels supplying the brain. This IACNS has been a poorly characterized and infrequently reported illness since it was first described as a separate entity in 1959. However, a patient with IACNS has not been reported in Japan. A patient, 39-year old-male, with IACNS limited to small and middle vessels is described. Recurrent, transient consciousness disturbances, focal myoclonus, papilloedema and temporal lobe epilepsy were observed during disease course. CSF finding of this patient showed lymphocytosis with marked increased protein. Carotid and vertebral angiogram showed irregular luminal outline in branches of all arteries. The most specific finding is that of alternating areas of focal stenosis and ectasia giving a "sausage" pattern. These characteristic findings showed in the branch of external carotid arteries. There was no evidence of systemic vasculitis by systemic angiography. Biopsy of temporal artery showed lymphocyte infiltration, fibrinoid necrosis without giant cell and granuloma. Formation of A-V malformation in the branch of external carotid artery was also observed. This histopathological finding was compatible with necrotizing angitis, not granulomatous angitis. Isolated angitis of the central nervous system was diagnosed. In spite of his administration of corticosteroid, cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities has not responded markedly. Abnormal findings of carotid and vertebral angiogram also has not changed. After 7 years from his onset, his neurologic signs and symptoms were well controlled with administration of anti epileptic drugs. PMID- 2612099 TI - [Gaze-evoked eyelid closure. Report of two cases]. AB - Various types of associated movements of eyeballs with other cranial muscles have been described in the literature. Only a few observations, however, have been reported on the relation of ocular movements and facial muscles innervated by the facial nerve, especially the orbicularis oculi muscles. We report two cases presenting gaze-evoked involuntary contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle and unilateral eyelid closure. Case 1 was a 38-year-old housewife who was admitted to our hospital because of gait disturbance and sensory deficits below the neck. She had a 5-year history of left facial palsy, disturbed horizontal eye movements, retrobulbar optic neuritis, spastic paraparesis and bladder and rectal disturbances, some of which had relapsed a few times. Neurological abnormalities were summarized as follows: bilateral pale discs, right Horner's sign, horizontal nystagmus, left facial nerve palsy of peripheral type, spastic paraparesis with left-sided predominance, sensory disturbances below the third cervical segment, truncal and limb ataxia, and bladder and rectal disturbances. Gaze-linked synchronized contraction of the left facial muscles was observed and on the left lateral gaze marked spasm of the left orbicularis oculi muscle with occasional lid closure was evoked. Case 2 was a 72-year-old female with cerebellar hemorrhage. Neurological abnormal findings included mild disorientation, meningeal irritation signs, horizontal nystagmus on lateral gaze, reduced response of reflex eye movement to the left, minimal weakness of the left facial muscles, ataxic dysarthria, mild left hemiparesis and hemisensory deficits with face, truncal and limb ataxia. She could move eyeballs to any direction but with effort to the left.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612100 TI - [Clinical and etiological study of crossed cerebellar diaschisis. Report of two cases]. AB - With the great progress in the imaging technique of cerebro-cerebellar perfusion and metabolism, it has been revealed that supratentorial cerebrovascular disorders often cause some reduction of contralateral cerebellar blood flow and metabolism. The phenomenon, termed crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD), is interpreted to be brought about by transneuronal deactivation of cerebellum via the corticopontocerebellar pathway and usually not to accompanied by limb incoordination. We have experienced 2 cases presenting ataxia clinically and CCD in positron emission tomography (PET) which are thought to be caused by the interruption of two distinctive neural pathways, the corticopontocerebellar and cerebellorubrothalamic pathways. Case 1 was a 34-year-old housewife with cerebral infarction which magnetic resonance imaging disclosed in the left parietal cortex and subcortical white matter. She showed mild right-sided hemiataxia featured by dysarthria, hypermetria, dysrhythmia, decomposition, dysdiadochokinesis and rebound phenomenon. Cheirooral syndrome, a hand-pronation sign and defects of combined sensation were present on the right but not accompanied by any disturbances of deep sensation. PET with 15O-labeled CO2 and O2 demonstrated the left frontoparietooccipital and contralateral cerebellar hypoperfusion and hypometabolism. Case 2 was a 69-year-old female suffering from aftereffects of old thalamic hemorrhage. Neurological examination revealed moderate degree of right-sided hemiataxia suggesting a cerebellar type of dysfunction like in case 1. Muscle power and sensory system were well-preserved. Brain CT revealed a small and restricted low density area in the left posterolateral thalamus indicating destruction of the Vim nucleus. PET study confirmed reduced blood flow and oxygen metabolism in the left thalamus and contralateral cerebellar hemisphere.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612101 TI - [A case of adrenomyeloneuropathy with localized cerebral white matter degeneration]. AB - A male with an atypical adrenomyeloneuropathy is described, who developed spastic paraparesis at the age of 37. Because his gait deteriorated further and he had a bladder dysfunction, he was admitted to National Sanatorium Hyogo Central Hospital at the age of 51. A diagnosis of adrenomyeloneuropathy was supported by increased level of very long chain fatty acids in plasma. He became demented and suffered from grand mal seizures during the last one year of his life. CT scan showed symmetrical hypodense lesions in the centrum semiovale. He died of pneumonia and renal failure at the age of 53. Autopsy revealed symmetrical degeneration throughout the corticospinal tracts from cerebral white matter to lumbar spinal cord. Degeneration of the optic radiation, posterior half of the corpus callosum, thalamus, cerebellar white matter, and gracile tract in high cervical segments were also observed. In these area, there was a loss of myelin and axon with marked gliosis and foamy macrophages, as well as mild perivascular cuffing. In our case, symmetrical and well-defined lesion in cerebral white matter is atypical for adrenomyeloneuropathy, while destruction of the gracile tracts is not a feature of adrenoleukodystrophy. In addition, well-demarcated "pseudosystemic" type of fiber tract degeneration appears to be different from a feature of primary demyelination which has been considered to be an essential alteration of adrenoleukomyeloneuropathy-complex. We propose another hypothesis, therefore, that neurons are primarily altered, thereby leading to the degeneration of myelins in this disease. PMID- 2612102 TI - [Development of Alzheimer neurofibrillary changes in two autopsy cases of myotonic dystrophy]. AB - Histopathological examination of two autopsy cases of myotonic dystrophy (MyD), a 65-year-old man (case 1) and a 61-year-old woman (case 2), revealed Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) in the limbic system without concomitant presence of senile plaque as well as cavum septi pellucidi and thalamic inclusion body. The NFT were particularly abundant in the mesolimbic cortex. In addition to these, small traumatic scars were observed in the frontal lobe of case 1, who had clinically shown severe dementia. From these findings, it might be assumed that both premature aging and head trauma played an important role in the pathogenesis of NFT in these patients with MyD. The dementia of case 1 could be correlated well with abundance of NFT in the mesolimbic cortex. PMID- 2612103 TI - [An autopsy case of carcinomatous sensory neuropathy associated with gastric adenosquamous carcinoma]. AB - A 61-year-old man was admitted on May 1986 with complaints of hypesthesia and pain in the both legs, and of progressive difficulty in walking. Physical examination was unremarkable. On neurological examination, deep tendon reflexes were decreased in all extremities without pathological reflexes. Vibration sense was decreased severely at the medial malleolus and moderately at the anterior superior iliac spine. Joint sensation of the toes was moderately decreased. Light touch, temperature discrimination, and pinprick sensation were slightly decreased on fingers bilaterally and distal to the middle part of both legs. Muscle strength was normal. His gait was unsteady and Romberg's sign was positive. Finger to nose test and heel to knee test were mildly disturbed bilaterally. The sural nerve action potential was not elicited on electrical stimulation. Laboratory studies for malignancy showed gastric cancer. Only July 4, he underwent subtotal gastrectomy. Histologically it showed adenosquamous carcinoma. Postoperatively gait disturbance and pain in both legs improved slightly. Peak latencies of P2 of SEP following right and left posterior tibial nerve stimulation were 47. 9 msec and 48.8 msec on February 14, and 44.5 msec and 43.9 msec on October 6, 1986, respectively, and their postoperative shortening was evident. He died of multiple liver and lung metastasis of the gastric cancer in November 28, 1986. At autopsy, tumor metastasis were noted in liver, lung and perigastroduodenal and retroperitoneal lymph nodes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612104 TI - [Electrophysiological studies in siblings of De Sanctis-Cacchione syndrome]. AB - Multi-modality evoked potentials in two cases, who were siblings, of De Sanctis Cacchione syndrome were reported. The case 1, who was elder sister of the case 2, was a 25-year-old female. And the case 2 was a 23-year-old female. They have the history of consanguinity. They were first noted to have skin erythema on exposure to sunlight, and a diagnosis of xeroderma pigmentosum was made. At the childhood neurological manifestation, such as mental retardation, deafness and muscular weakness developed gradually. The case 2, who was a elder sister, was operated on for squamous cell carcinoma of the eyelid at the age of 20 and 21 years old. Motor conduction velocity obtained from lower limbs were severely reduced and that from upper limbs were moderately delayed. Sensory conduction velocity of median nerve were severely diminished. Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) of the case 1 showed the prolongation in interpeak latency of I-V. ABR of the case 2 could not be obtained. N19 and N13 of short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) to median nerve stimulation with case 2 could not be obtained too. N13-N19 latency of case 1 was remarkably prolonged compared to the normal subjects. Central motor conduction time (CMCT) was studied in case 2 by using the magnetic stimulator. CMCT of case 2 was within the upper limit of normal control. Interpeak latency of I-V in ABR represents the brainstem dysfunction in auditory pathway, and interpeak latency of N13-N19 in SSEP was recognized as central conduction time from medial lemniscus to primary sensory area of cortex. So the prolongation of these interpeak latency in this cases may mean the dysfunction in the central nervous system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612105 TI - [Wallenberg's syndrome in a case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease]. AB - A 45-year-old Japanese man, who had had bilateral visual disturbance due to Vogt Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease 17 years before entry, was admitted to this hospital because of headache, vertigo and vomiting. On examination at entry, no abnormalities except for poliosis, patches of vitiligo on his left shin, sunset glow fundus, and positional nystagmus with Frenzel glasses were found. Laboratory data other than leukocytosis and elevated level of gamma-GTP were normal and the results of brain CT scan were within normal limits. On the following day, diplopia was developed and the neurological symptoms including loss of bilateral visual acuity, Horner's syndrome on the right side, right facial palsy, bilateral sensorineural hearing disturbance, palsy of the soft palate on the right side with swallowing difficulty, and dissociated sensory disturbance on the right face and the upper and lower extremities on the left side appeared with a few days. He couldn't get up. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was clear and had pleocytosis with normal sugar content. The protein, immunoglobulin G and myelin basic protein (MBP) were elevated but the tests for oligoclonal band and antiviral antibodies were negative. Brain CT scan showed low density areas in right cerebellar hemisphere and in left putamen without abnormality with contrast material and evoked potentials were normal. Prednisolone was prescribed and his symptoms were subsided but his gait remained ataxic. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 4 months later showed an atrophy of the lower half of bilateral cerebellar hemisphere supplied by posterior inferior cerebellar artery, suggesting cerebellar infarction, and high intensity areas on T2 image in bilateral cerebral white matters, basal ganglia, and left cerebral peduncle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612106 TI - [A case with polymyositis associated with primary hyperparathyroidism]. AB - A 67-year-old woman was admitted to our department because of 5 years' duration of proximal muscle weakness. Serum CK was high, and EMG showed myogenic pattern, and muscle biopsy revealed remarkable inflammatory cells infiltrating around the destroyed muscle fibers. Her muscle weakness and hyperCKemia markedly improved by corticosteroid therapy, suggesting that the diagnosis was compatible with polymyositis (PM). In addition, serum calcium was high and phosphate was low. Serum parathormone level significantly elevated. The findings of diagnostic imaging procedures including echography, scintigraphy, and computed tomography of the parathyroid glands suggested presence of parathyroid adenoma with cystic degeneration in the thyroid tissue. There was only one case report of PM associated with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) as the literature referred. In this case, we could not prove direct relationship between PM and PHP. The association might have been coincidental. However, PHP might have played some role in the pathogenesis of muscular involvement, or there might be a similar immunological mechanism as seen between PM and malignancy. It is possible that association of PM and PHP is more frequent than generally considered. It may be necessary to pay more attention to find out the association of PM and PHP. PMID- 2612107 TI - [Cerebral white matter bundle measurements by magnetic resonance imaging]. AB - The width of the anterior whole white matter bundle (AWM), interhemispheric (AWM TER), and intrahemispheric (AWM-TRA) components at the level of the foramen of Monro on horizontal inversion recovery (IR) magnetic resonance (MR) scans were measured in 32 healthy males. The mean age of subjects were 54.4 +/- 18.8, ranged 25 to 83 years old. MR scans were performed using a 0.5 Tesla superconductive magnet, with inversion time of 400 msec, repetition time of 2.1 sec and echo time of 35 msec. The slice thickness was 10mm. Horizontal maximum internal skull diameter (HISD) at the same level was also measured and normalized values of AWM, AWM-TER, AWM-TRA were calculated by dividing the width of AWM, AWM-TER, AWM-TRA by the width of HISD. When absolute values of each AWM width were compared between right and left sides, there were no differences in AWM and AWM-TER. However, AWM-TRA of the right side was significantly wider than that of the left side (t = 4.28, p less than 0.001). The width of AWM was not correlated with age, but the width of AWM-TER showed a significant decline in the left (r = -0.36, p = 0.04) and non-significant trend to decline in the right side (r = -0.33, p = 0.07). The width of AWM-TRA of the left side was tended to decrease with age. Normalized values of AWM, AWM-TER, AWM-TRA showed a similar results as that of the absolute values. The measurement of the white matter bundle width provide some insights into the connectivity of the brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612108 TI - [Supranuclear vertical gaze palsy: bilateral thalamo-mesencephalic lesions demonstrated by MRI]. AB - The exact location for the major control center of the vertical gaze, which is referred to as rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (riMLF), has been documental in a few autopsy studies. However, CT in some of the case reports of vertical gaze palsy have not clearly delineated this nucleus and its nearby complex anatomical structures. Discrete small, bilateral, symmetric infarcts in the thalamo-mesencephalic junction were demonstrated by MRI in a 59 year-old female patient who had sustained vertical gaze palsy over a period of nine years. Neurological examination revealed severe supranuclear combined downward and upward vertical gaze palsy, incomplete convergence, and slight limitation in adduction of the right eye. There was neither ptosis, pupillary disturbance, nor any further abnormalities of horizontal eye movements. The vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex was maintained, being similar to the other reported cases of vertical gaze palsy. MRI has advantages over CT in demonstrating lesions in the thalamo-mesencephalic junction in the cases of vertical gaze palsy, because clearer sagittal images can be obtained. PMID- 2612109 TI - Drug disposition in infancy and childhood. PMID- 2612110 TI - Urinary IgG4: an additional parameter in characterizing patients with incipient diabetic nephropathy. AB - In the natural history of diabetic nephropathy there is a progressive impairment of protein permselectivity. The early increased excretion of anionic proteins may be explained by the initial loss of charge selectivity of the filtration filter. In comparison to other immunoglobulin subclasses, IgG4 has the same molecular weight but an acid isoelectric point: its possible selective urinary elimination could indicate a charge selectivity impairment in the preclinical stage of diabetic nephropathy. To verify this hypothesis, 53 Type 1 diabetic patients, grouped according to their albumin excretion rate (AER) (23 showed an AER less than 35 micrograms/min, Group I; 19 between 35-200 micrograms/min, Group II; 11 an AER greater than 200 micrograms/min, Group III), and 20 normal subjects were tested for urinary IgG4, total IgG, and other nephrological and metabolic parameters. Urinary IgG4 and IgG were detected with solid phase methods (ELISA and RIA respectively) developed in our laboratory. Urinary total IgG values were significantly higher in Group III in comparison with Group I and II and with normal subjects. Urinary IgG4 values were significantly increased in Group III, as well as in Group II, in comparison with Group I and normal controls. IgG4/IgG ratio values were significantly increased in both Groups II and III in comparison with Group I and control subjects. Whereas IgG values were within the normal range in Group II, IgG4 values were clearly elevated, thus demonstrating a selective elimination of this acid, medium-sized protein. Urinary IgG4 could be an additional parameter to characterize more precisely and subgroup microalbuminuric patients. PMID- 2612111 TI - Early alterations of renal function in insulin-dependent diabetic pregnancies and their importance in predicting pre-eclamptic toxaemia. AB - Renal function, blood pressure and glycaemic control were assessed during gestation in 23 non-azotaemic insulin-dependent diabetic women. Pre-eclamptic toxaemia (PET) developed in nine cases, and was predicted by higher levels of albuminuria excretion, mean blood pressure and serum urate early in pregnancy, as well as by the primigravid state. Mean blood pressure, serum creatinine and urate remained stable in the first trimester and rose thereafter in women who developed PET. Levels of mean blood pressure were significantly higher in the second (p less than 0.005) and third (p less than 0.0001) trimesters, serum urate was higher in the first, second (p less than 0.04) and third (p less than 0.0001) trimesters, as was AER (p range less than 0.02-0.0001), and serum creatinine levels were higher in the third trimester (p less than 0.02) in comparison to those women who did not develop PET. Glycaemic control was similar in both groups. In addition, physiological alterations in creatinine clearance, and in serum levels of creatinine and urate were attenuated in cases uncomplicated by PET. Insulin-dependent diabetic pregnancies are characterized by disturbances of renal function early in pregnancy which may be predictive of PET, particularly in primigravidae and/or when accompanied by increases in mean blood pressure. PMID- 2612112 TI - The pupillary light reflex in diabetes mellitus: evaluation of a newly developed infrared light reflection method. AB - Pupillary light reflexes were measured in 18 diabetic patients without clinical signs of neuropathy and in 18 control subjects, using a newly developed infrared light reflection technique called IRIS. This method has some important advantages. Apart from being non traumatic, it enables the recording of dynamic pupillary light reflexes simultaneously in both eyes. Furthermore, it has a large amplitude and time resolution (1 ms), permitting accurate determination of latency values. It was found that 78% of the diabetic patients show a significantly prolonged latency of the constriction reaction, while 39% of the diabetic patients show an abnormally prolonged dilatation latency. All patients with an abnormally prolonged dilatation latency also show a prolonged constriction latency. This finding suggests that in diabetes mellitus the parasympathetic system is affected before abnormalities of the sympathetic nervous system can be demonstrated. Assessment of the pupillary light reflex, using the sensitive IRIS method, is an easily applicable and reliable method for detection of subclinical autonomic nervous system dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus. The method may also provide an objective tool for the assessment of therapy results in diabetic neuropathy. PMID- 2612113 TI - How common is diabetic nephropathy? AB - In a study of 1,356 diabetic patients attending a clinic in a 12 month period, 28 (2.1%) were considered to have definite diabetic nephropathy by strict diagnostic criteria. This suggests that the prevalence of overt nephropathy is less than has been previously reported. This may be because many patients with microalbuminuria or early proteinuria do not survive to develop the syndrome of established diabetic nephropathy. PMID- 2612114 TI - Treatment of articular effusions with local deep microwave hyperthermia. AB - Local deep microwave hyperthermia (LDMWH) may be considered as a therapeutic tool for joint diseases because it has the advantage of heating the target organ e.g. synovium, while sparing the adjacent tissues, as demonstrated in animals. The effect of this new microwave device has been evaluated on seven rheumatoid arthritis patients with knee effusion. The hyperthermia apparatus consists of a 915 MHz power source with a cooling system to the skin. LDMWH was operated for one hour, twice a week for two weeks. Intra-articular knee temperature reached the level of 40.6 +/- 1.1 degrees C within 15 minutes, raised to 41.2 +/- 0.7 degrees C after 30 minutes and to 41.3 +/- 0.9 degrees C at one hour. The skin temperature over the heated knee joints remained at 24.3 +/- 1.1 degrees C during treatment. All patients noted a sensation of warmth in the treated knee. Aspiration of synovial fluid was performed before and immediately after each treatment. Walking time was improved (p = 0.04) and significant decrease in pain (p = 0.01) was noted following treatment. Synovial fluid leukocyte count and prostaglandin E2 level, knee circumference and range of motion did not change. Severity of pain, walking time, knee circumference and range of motion remained stable in the six weeks following the last hyperthermia application. No adverse reaction could be observed. These results suggest LDMWH to be safe and successful as an adjuvant treatment of chronic inflammatory joint effusions. PMID- 2612115 TI - Measurement of pain threshold in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and healthy controls. AB - Pain threshold was measured using a pressure algometer in 126 subjects, of whom 54 were females and 72 males. These subjects included 18 males and 18 females with rheumatoid arthritis, 18 males and 18 females with osteoarthritis, 18 males with ankylosing spondylitis, and 18 male and 18 female healthy control volunteers. Six points were studied on each side of the body: 2 cm above the eyebrow on the forehead, lateral aspect of the arm at the insertion of the deltoid muscle, midpoint of the ulna, hypothenar eminence in the palm, midpoint of the quadriceps muscle, and midpoint of the antero-medial aspect of the tibia. None of these points corresponded to the "trigger" points in fibromyalgia. The pain threshold was statistically significantly higher in patients with ankylosing spondylitis than in patients with osteoarthritis, and these in turn were statistically higher than in the normal subjects. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis had significantly lower pain thresholds than the normal subjects. No laterality in pain threshold was identified, but females had in general a lower pain threshold. PMID- 2612116 TI - Anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with autoimmune diseases: isotype distribution and clinical associations. AB - A prospective study of IgG and IgM isotypes of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) was performed in a series of 167 patients with various autoimmune diseases, including rheumatic and nonrheumatic disorders, and in a group of 100 healthy blood donors. The IgG aCL serum was regarded as positive if a binding index (BI) greater than 2.85 (3.77 SD) was detected and a BI greater than 4.07 (3.90 SD) was defined as positive for IgM aCL. Forty patients (24%) were found to be positive for IgG and/or IgM aCL. IgG aCL were detected in 23% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in 9% with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, in 7% with progressive systemic sclerosis, and in 6% with dermatomyositis-polymyositis. IgM aCL were present in 43% patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, in 33% with rheumatoid arthritis, in 22% with SLE, and in 8% with giant-cell arteritis. IgG aCL were found to have a significant association with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia, and IgM and aCL with haemolytic anaemia and neutropenia, in SLE but not in the other autoimmune diseases. The identification of these differences in the aCL isotype associations, depending on the autoimmune disorder, may improve the clinical usefulness of these tests. PMID- 2612117 TI - Anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. AB - Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) were assayed by ELISA in 73 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Twelve (16.48%) patients showed levels of ACA three standard deviations above the value of the control group and were considered positive; these patients were compared to the group with ACA within the normal levels regarding the following clinical and laboratorial characteristics: spontaneous abortions, central nervous system involvement, systematization and activity of disease, alterations in platelet counts, presence of antinuclear antibodies and rheumatoid factor. Significant statistical association could be demonstrated between systematization and presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and positiveness to ACA (IgG, IgM or both). These findings might indicate that ACA in patients with RA could have relevance to morbidity of disease or perhaps to its pathogenesis. PMID- 2612118 TI - Serum osteocalcin as an index of bone turnover in active rheumatoid arthritis and in active psoriatic arthritis. AB - Juxtaarticular osteoporosis is a recognized clinical feature in both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PA), while generalised osteopenia seems to be characteristic of RA only. To assess differences in bone turnover in the two forms of disease, we measured serum osteocalcin levels and other parameters of bone metabolism in two groups of female, ambulant, age-matched patients suffering from active RA or active PA and never treated with steroid therapy. Serum osteocalcin levels were significantly higher in RA patients than in PA patients (13.05 +/- 1.27 ng/ml vs 4.83 +/- 0.88 ng/ml; p less than 0.001), with a significant positive correlation between osteocalcin and serum alkaline phosphatase in both groups. These data suggest that bone turnover is higher in active RA than in active PA. Juxtaarticular osteoporosis could be mediated by local disease mechanisms both in RA and in PA, while factors specifically related to active RA seem to determine a more generalized impairment of bone turnover. PMID- 2612119 TI - Hidden psoriatic arthritis in seronegative oligoarthritis: a 14-year follow-up study. AB - Out of a cohort of 64 patients with seronegative oligoarthritis (SO), 8 patients with HLA-B13, 5 with Bw16 and 3 with HLA-B17 were invited to participate in a 14 year check-up. Thirteen patients showed some features of psoriatic arthritis, including 5 with suspected skin or nail disease, 5 with a family history of psoriasis, 3 with DIP joint affliction, and 2 with aortic valve insufficiency. It is concluded that a quarter of the patients with SO may have hidden psoriatic arthritis. PMID- 2612120 TI - Palindromic rheumatism in Israel--a disease entity? A survey of 34 patients. AB - Over a period of 10 years 34 patients were diagnosed as suffering from palindromic rheumatism. Eighty-one percent of the patients were of North African origin. This is significantly higher (p = 0.01) than the age-adjusted origin of the general population in the region. Attacks were usually monoarthritic or oligoarthritic in nature. The joint most often involved was the knee. Prophylactic therapy with colchicine was ineffective. Gold salts brought about partial remission in three of six patients. Despite a relatively long average follow-up period of 9.3 years and the finding of a positive rheumatoid factor in 12% of the patients, not one of the patients developed rheumatoid arthritis. In 50% of the patients we detected an unexplained elevation in serum globulins and immunoglobulins. The possible association between this syndrome and Familial Mediterranean Fever is discussed. PMID- 2612121 TI - Pseudoxanthoma elasticum and angioid streaks in two cases of beta-thalassaemia. AB - Two cases of beta thalassaemia with pseudoxanthoma elasticum and angioid streaks (Gronblad-Strandberg syndrome) are reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a combination between these two genetically determined disorders. The possible theories of the pathogenesis of pseudoxanthoma elasticum and angioid streaks are discussed. PMID- 2612122 TI - Recurrent acute proptosis in atypical systemic lupus erythematosus. AB - A patient is described who developed acute proptosis, a rare complication of systemic lupus erythematosus, 16 years after the onset of the disease. Treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone produced rapid improvement, but swelling recurred a few days later. Intravenous corticosteroid was again effective and was continued orally without further episodes of proptosis. This patient is unusual in the long period of mild disease before the development of systemic complications, and in having antibodies to nuclear ribonucleoprotein but persistently normal titres of DNA-binding antibodies in her serum. PMID- 2612123 TI - Subacute cutaneous lupus-erythematosus in childhood. AB - Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) has been described in adults in the last decade and represents a particular homogenous subgroup in which the skin lesions can be distinguished from scarring discoid lupus lesions both on a morphologic and histopathologic basis. This entity, however, seems to be very uncommon in childhood. In the present study we describe the clinical, immunological and histopathologic characteristics of a young girl who, at the age of 3, developed SCLE. PMID- 2612124 TI - Cholestasis and pneumonitis induced by gold therapy. AB - The authors describe the association of gold salt-induced cholestasis and lymphocytic alveolitis proved by liver biopsy and broncho-alveolar lavage. To our knowledge this is the third case report on the combination of liver disease and pulmonary infiltration induced by gold compounds. PMID- 2612125 TI - Adult onset still's disease complicated by endocarditis with fatal evolution. PMID- 2612126 TI - Elevated procollagen-III-peptide in myositis ossificans progressiva. PMID- 2612127 TI - Detection of staphylococcal resistance to penicillinase-resistant penicillins. A comparison of two widely used disk diffusion methods. AB - One hundred Staphylococcus spp. strains were used to compare the results of two single potency disk diffusion methods (oxacillin and methicillin disks). The NCCLS disk diffusion and dilution methods correctly categorized all strains resistant to penicillinase-resistant penicillins (PRPs). The SHOWA disk method (Showa Yakuhin Kako Co., Ltd., Japan) produced false-susceptible results with approximately half of the PRP-resistant strains. The errors by the SHOWA method seemed to be the result of an excessive amount of drug (30 micrograms) in the disks, a light inoculum, and a high susceptible breakpoint (less than or equal to 25-50 micrograms/ml). Until these and other major technical differences between these two methods are resolved by internationally accepted testing standards, susceptibility statistics, and/or clinical trials, information from the United States and Japan cannot be reliably compared. PMID- 2612128 TI - Comparative evaluation of the MRS test. A 4 to 6 hour screening test for detecting oxacillin-resistant staphylococci. AB - A total of 131 strains of S. aureus and 25 strains of unspeciated coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) initially tested by automated methods for susceptibility to oxacillin were concurrently retested using standardized disk diffusion, reference 2% NaCl-supplemented broth microdilution, oxacillin salt agar, and the MRS test (a commercially prepared broth screening method). Compared to the reference broth microdilution test results, the MRS test was 97% sensitive for S. aureus, 95% sensitive for CNS, and 100% specific for all staphylococci. Results were available in 4 hr for S. aureus and less than 6 hr for CNS. The oxacillin salt agar screen had sensitivities of 93 to 99% with a specificity of 100%. Although the disk diffusion method was the most sensitive method (100%), it was the least specific (83% for S. aureus and 80% for CNS). Differences in manufacturers' agar affected results with most discrepancies resulting in a false resistant interpretation. Although inoculum standardization was important for accurate susceptibility test results, overinoculation alone could not account for the 30 isolates falsely-resistant to oxacillin by the Vitek AMS or Abbott MS-2. Contaminants or card-fill problems may have also have been responsible for some of the discrepancies. The MRS test was considered to be an acceptable alternative screen or a supplement to other methods for same-day testing for ORS. PMID- 2612129 TI - Statistical criteria for selecting quality control limits for broth microdilution susceptibility tests with 39 different antimicrobial agents. Collaborative Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Group. AB - Multilaboratory studies have been carried out to establish quality control limits for broth microdilution susceptibility tests with 39 different antimicrobial agents and four different control strains. For each drug-microorganism combination, 100 MIC values were recorded (20 from each of five laboratories). An acceptable range of MICs was defined as values that included greater than 95% of those 100 MICs. In a series of consecutive tests, less than or equal to 5% of the MIC values might be expected to be one doubling dilution interval above or below the limits defined in that way: at least 95% of those MIC determinations should be within the narrow control limits. The 39 antimicrobial agents provided 111 drug-microorganism combinations for which usable quality control limits could be defined. The greater than 95% rule yielded a narrow range (including only two dilution steps) with 58 of the 111 control limits, and 53 control limits permitted a more traditional three-dilution step range of MICs. PMID- 2612130 TI - In vitro comparison of cefoperazone/sulbactam with selected antimicrobials against 300 bacteroides isolates. Inhibitory activity and time-kill kinetic studies. AB - The susceptibilities of 258 Bacteroides fragilis group isolates and 42 other Bacteroides species isolates against cefoperazone, cefoperazone/sulbactam (2:1 ratio) and selected other antimicrobials were determined by broth microdilution method. All isolates were susceptible to cefoperazone/sulbactam, ampicillin/sulbactam, ticarcillin/clavulanate, metronidazole, and imipenem. Other antibiotics showed variables levels of resistance (5-30%). Killing curves with the cef/sulb against selected B. fragilis group isolates were performed and showed excellent bactericidal activity at two to four times the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) after 12 hr incubation, even against the isolates with high cefoperazone MICs (greater than or equal to 64 micrograms ml). There was no regrowth at 24 hr. Cefoperazone/sulbactam is a compound with excellent inhibitory and bactericidal activity against B. fragilis group isolates. PMID- 2612131 TI - Invasive hyalohyphomycosis caused by Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in a patient undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplant. AB - Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is a common soil saprobic mould. Occasionally, S. brevicaulis has been reported as an etiologic agent of human disease. The spectrum of human mycoses includes toenail infection, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, fungus ball formation in a preformed pulmonary cavity, and, most recently, documented deep tissue infections in immunocompromised hosts. A case of invasive hyalohyphomycosis of the great toe caused by S. brevicaulis is reported in an allogeneic bone-marrow transplant recipient. PMID- 2612132 TI - PBP profiles of Haemophilus influenzae, H. aegyptius, and the H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius associated with Brazilian Purpuric Fever. AB - We questioned if PBP analysis could differentiate strains of Haemophilus influenzae, H. aegyptius, and H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius associated with Brazilian Purpuric Fever. A relatively homogeneous PBP pattern was observed for all strains. The amount of penicillin bound to PBP 5 appeared to separate H. influenzae and H. aegyptius isolates, whereas PBP 5 of those strains associated with Brazilian Purpuric Fever bound an intermediate amount. We conclude that based on PBP profiles, the strains tested appear to be difficult to separate taxonomically and may represent a common species. PMID- 2612133 TI - Further data to the aetiology, pathogenesis and therapy of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis. AB - Out of a total of 224 bovine eye secretions, 126 Moraxella bovis and 64 Neisseria ovis strains were isolated. The pathogenesis and histological lesions caused by Neisseria ovis have been studied on the eyes of three calves naturally affected with IBK, using electron microscopy. Neisseria ovis caused in 1-12 weeks old calves acute, transient and mostly benign serous conjunctivitis with only slight affection of the cornea. More rarely erosions and even ulceration of the cornea have been observed. Moraxella bovis and Neisseria ovis strains proved nearly unanimously sensitive in vitro to chloramphenicol, neomycin, oxytetracyclin, nitrofurantoin, erythromycin and cefoperazone. Other antibiotics and chemotherapeutics inhibited the growth of these agents only partly or were ineffective. Experimental therapy has been carried out using a single i.m. injection of Terramycin/LA inj. (Pfizer) in a dose of 20 mg/kg body mass, repeated if necessary after 72-96 h. This formulation proved more effective and practical than treatments used earlier. PMID- 2612134 TI - Effect of temperature on the sodium sulphite precipitation test for assessment of goat serum immunoglobulin. AB - Total serum immunoglobulin concentrations of apparently normal indigenous goats were estimated by a sodium sulphite precipitation test which utilized 3 concentrations of the salt (i.e. 14%, 16%, 18%). A total of 210 goat serum samples comprising five phenotypically different breeds were examined. Immunoglobulin precipitation was greatly influenced by the incubation temperature. Using different concentrations of the sodium sulphite salt solution, serum samples incubated at either 4 degrees C or 38 degrees C consistently gave clear and rapid precipitation reaction in all samples with immunoglobulin concentrations of over 15 mg/ml. Tests carried out at normal tropical room temperature (28 degrees-30 degrees C) gave inconsistent results and only 52% gave clear precipitation. Neither breed nor sex had any statistically significant effect on either the precipitation rate or the immunoglobulin values (P less than 0.05). It was concluded that this test if performed at either 4 degrees C or 38 degrees C can be used under field conditions to evaluate immune status of neonatal goats in the tropics. PMID- 2612135 TI - Purification of IgG from serum with caprylic acid and ammonium sulphate precipitation is not superior to ammonium sulphate precipitation alone. AB - Immunoglobulin G (IgG) from bovine serum raised against Aeromonas Salmonicida was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation (ASP) or caprylic acid treatment followed by ammonium sulphate precipitation (CAAS). Purity of IgG samples prepared by both methods were examined by High Performance Gel Permeation Chromatography, electrophoresis and antibody activity assay. Results suggest that IgG prepared by ASP is better than that obtained by CAAS method in terms of the yield of the IgG monomers and the recovery of the antibody activity. PMID- 2612136 TI - Development of a leukocytopenic baby guinea pig model with azathioprine and cyclophosphamide. AB - Immunosuppressive agents were given to baby guinea pigs to develop a leukocytopenic baby guinea pig model. Azathioprine in different doses, and cyclophosamide and methylprednisolone combinations did not result in predictable leukocytopenia without significant mortality. A combination of azathioprine 20 mg and cyclophosphamide 20 mg administered once daily for 5 days to 42 baby guinea pigs resulted in a mean white blood cell count of 2531/mm3 +/- 1198 (a reduction of 3931 +/- 1413 from pretreatment values). The mean counts for polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes on day 6 were 398/mm3 and 2035/mm3, respectively. Only 7% mortality was seen in these animals. This model can be utilized to study a variety of bacterial and viral infections in "immunocompromised hosts". PMID- 2612137 TI - [Questions on modern medicine (5). I. Critique on Guyton's physiology]. PMID- 2612138 TI - [In search of logic in cognition by children--a theory of cognition in child care]. PMID- 2612139 TI - [Seminar on nursing science: case study series. 14. A case report by nurses, a comment by a leader, and discussion]. PMID- 2612140 TI - [Definition of psychiatry--establishment of scientific psychiatry (15)]. PMID- 2612141 TI - [Analysis of the nursing factors responsible for expanding the sphere of daily activities of patients with Parkinson's disease]. PMID- 2612142 TI - A three-year report of the medical helicopter transportation system of Connecticut. AB - Over 63% of the patients transported by the LIFE STAR crew are the victims of trauma. The system has transported 2,215 ill and/or injured patients, the majority of whom are critical, either from the scene of an injury or from a medical facility to another of greater specialization. With the audit procedure indicating a 95% positive predictive value for summoning this service, LIFE STAR has contributed to the care of critically ill or injured persons in Connecticut and surrounding areas. PMID- 2612143 TI - Lumbar sympathectomy: a place in clinical medicine. AB - Currently lumbar sympathectomies are infrequently performed because the effectiveness of the procedure is unclear. The previous indication of limb threatening ischemia has been usurped by distal arterial reconstruction. Some vascular surgeons feel there is no remaining clinical role. This paper suggests four categories of patients, represented by five case reports, where lumbar sympathectomy may prove beneficial: 1) Hypertensive patients with painful leg ulcers; 2) Toe and foot amputations in which arterial reconstruction is not feasible; 3) Posttraumatic causalgia (sympathetic dystrophy); 4) As an adjunct to distal graft bypass. PMID- 2612144 TI - Fifty hours for the poor? PMID- 2612145 TI - To smell the rose above the mould. A dynamic challenge for the aging. PMID- 2612146 TI - Messages in bottles. PMID- 2612147 TI - The chemistry and biology of mineralized tissues. Part I. Proceedings of the third international conference. Chatham, Massachusetts, October 16-21, 1988. PMID- 2612148 TI - Osteoclastic invasion and mineral resorption of fetal mouse long bone rudiments are inhibited by culture under intermittent compressive force. AB - To study the effect of low-magnitude mechanical stimuli on mineralized matrix metabolism, fetal mouse long bone rudiments were cultured for 5d in the absence or presence of intermittent (0.3 Hz) compressive force (ICF) of 132 g/cm2. ICF treatment stimulated mineralization of the diaphyseal bone collar as well as hypertrophic cartilage, but inhibited the release of 45Ca from prelabeled rudiments. ICF also inhibited the migration of osteoclasts and their precursors from the periosteum into the diaphysis and the subsequent excavation of a primitive marrow cavity. These data suggest that osteoclasts are sensitive to mechanical stimuli. Mechanical stimulation seems to protect the bone rudiment against osteoclastic attack and has a strong anabolic effect on mineral metabolism. PMID- 2612149 TI - SV-40 large-T immortalization of embryonic bone cells: establishment of osteoblastic clonal cell lines. AB - Cells derived from embryonic rat calvariae were immortalized by retroviral delivery of cDNA for the SV-40 large T antigen and the bacterial neomycin resistance gene. After selection with G418, cells were cloned by limiting dilution and screened for expression of osteoblast characteristics. One clone (RCT-3), derived from cells collected during the third period of enzymatic digestion, showed high constitutive expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), synthesized type I collagen in the virtual absence of type III and exhibited a parathyroid hormone (PTH)-responsive adenylate cyclase (EC50, 10 nM). Messenger RNAs for osteonectin and osteopontin were present in RCT-3 cells and osteopontin mRNA was enhanced by 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 treatment. The other cell line (RCT 1), derived from cells released during the first 10 min of digestion, expressed osteoblast features only after 3 d treatment with 1 microM retinoic acid (RA). ALP activity increased from 0.003 to 0.25 mumole/min/mg protein, there was a substantial increase in the steady-state level of type I collagen mRNA and a dose dependent and saturable response to PTH was induced (EC50, 10 nM). Osteopontin mRNA was induced by 1,25 (OH)2D3. This study has provided two new cell lines which may be useful models for studies of differentiation-related gene expression in bone cells. PMID- 2612150 TI - Matrix collagen of devitalized bone is resistant to osteoclastic bone resorption. AB - The resorption of devitalized bone by isolated osteoclasts in culture was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Osteoclasts attached to the bone and resorbed mineral but left most of matrix collagen undigested in the resorption pits. Postculture-treatment of bone substrate with collagenase completely removed the matrix collagen in the resorption pits, whereas trypsin did not. The results suggest that native matrix collagen is resistant to osteoclastic attack in this in vitro model using devitalized bone. PMID- 2612151 TI - Dystrophic calcification and mineralization during bone induction: biochemical differences. AB - The calcification of implants of glutaraldehyde-cross linked collagenous tissues and collagen was studied in young and old rats and compared to bone induction by non-crosslinked osteogenically active demineralized bone matrix (DBM). Glutaraldehyde-crosslinked implants of DBM, tendon, and cartilage calcified in young but not in old animals and accumulated only trace amounts of BGP (Bone Gla protein, osteocalcin). Alkaline phosphatase activity and BGP was high in implants of DBM and undetectable in crosslinked implants. To try and understand why bone formation is so significantly reduced in older Fischer 344 rats, we developed a system which consists of cylinders of DBM sealed at the ends with a Millipore filter. Cells originating from 20 day old embryo donors were introduced into the chambers prior to subcutaneousmplantation. After 4 weeks of implantation in 26 month old rats, the cylinders containing embryonic calvaria or muscle cells were found to be full of bone and/or cartilage. PMID- 2612152 TI - Collagen protein abnormalities produced by site-directed mutagenesis of the pro alpha 1(I) gene. AB - Site-directed mutagenesis of collagen genes offers a powerful new approach for studying structure-function relationships. The construction of engineered mutant collagen genes coding for glycine substitutions and their expression giving rise to the osteogenesis imperfecta type II phenotype in cells and transgenic mice has recently been achieved. This paper further defines the molecular abnormalities of collagen and bone pathology resulting from the expression of the mutant genes. PMID- 2612153 TI - Chains of matrix-derived type X collagen: size and aggregation properties. AB - Type X collagen was isolated from extracts of embryonic chick cartilages by immunoprecipitation and subsequently analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Most of the chains migrated with a molecular weight of 59 kDa, suggesting that the matrix form of type X collagen has not undergone post-secretory proteolytic processing. Minor amounts of material were also observed at 120 kDa, 70 kDa and 50 kDa. These were dimers or limited proteolytic products of type X chains. PMID- 2612154 TI - Effects of cell shape on type X collagen gene expression in hypertrophic chondrocytes. AB - During endochondral ossification, small flat resting and proliferating chondrocytes mature into large round hypertrophic chondrocytes that synthesize a unique collagen, type X. We have asked whether this change in cell shape during chondrocyte maturation regulates type X collagen gene expression, using immature chick vertebral chondrocytes grown in monolayer or in suspension. The freshly isolated chondrocytes contained no type X collagen RNA, but after 30 days of culture, both attached and suspended cells contained a similar large amount. However, in cells that were grown in monolayer and then resuspended three days before harvest, type X collagen gene expression increased a further 6 fold. These results suggest that the change from a flat to a round shape that occurs during chondrocyte maturation in vivo may be important for maximal expression of the type X collagen gene. PMID- 2612155 TI - Transforming growth factor beta mediates the estrogen induced inhibition of UMR106 cell growth. AB - A mitogenic response to transforming growth factor beta (TGF) occurred in the UMR106 cells cultured in serum-free medium and exposed serially to estradiol and TGF. This mitogenic response was lost when insulin was removed from the medium. TGF inhibited growth and increased the alkaline phosphatase content in the UMR106 cells cultured in medium lacking insulin. Prior exposure of the cells to estradiol enhanced this response. Monoclonal antibodies against TGF blocked the estradiol induced inhibition of growth after a two day incubation in medium devoid of insulin. PMID- 2612156 TI - Characterization of multiple forms of small collagenous apatite-binding proteins in bone. AB - A number of small (Mrs 25-28 kDa) collagenous apatite-binding (SCAB) proteins that stain blue with 'Stains-All' have been isolated from fetal porcine bone by sequential extractions with 4M GuHCl (G1), followed by 0.5M EDTA (E), and again with 4M GuHCl (G2). Following purification under dissociative conditions, two types of SCAB proteins both with approximately one-third of their structure being collagenous, were identified in the EDTA extract. One type, which appears to be a novel protein, was revealed in two forms (SCABs 1 and 2, Mrs 25 and 28 kDa) that were recognized by a monoclonal antibody (MBP-322). The second type, SCAB 3, was also present in two forms; one form (SCAB 3a) having a lower affinity for hydroxyapatite than the other (SCAB 3b). These proteins were resistant to CNBr and displayed the chemical and immunochemical properties of the alpha 1 pN propeptide of type I collagen. A third form of the propeptide (G2-28K) was a prominent component of the second 4M GuHCl extract. The chromatographic properties of serum alpha 1 (I) pN-propeptide were similar to SCAB 3a, indicating that SCAB 3b and G2-28K are post-translationally modified forms of the propeptide produced by bone cells. These propeptides may provide a link between the hydroxyapatite and collagen fibrils, and also have the potential to suppress collagen synthesis during bone resorption. PMID- 2612157 TI - Covalent interactions of type IX collagen in cartilage. AB - The cross-linking of type IX collagen in fetal bovine cartilage was investigated. The main cross-link was dihydroxy-lysinonorleucine (borohydride-reduced) with a lesser amount of the mature cross-link, pyridinoline. Dihydroxylysinonorleucine was present in all three chains of the COL2 domain of the type IX molecule, but only two of them contained pyridinoline even in mature cartilage. Amino acid sequence analysis of individual tryptic peptides that contained 3H-labeled cross links showed that they had derived from sites of covalent interaction between type IX collagen and the telopeptide sequences of type II collagen. One two chained peptide was a helical sequence of alpha 2 (IX) COL2 linked to an alpha 1 (II) N-telopeptide. A second peptide was a different helical sequence from another type IX chain linked to an alpha 1(II) c-telopeptide. This latter helical sequence was also the principal site of pyridinoline cross-linking in type IX collagen. PMID- 2612158 TI - Bone type V collagen: chain composition and location of a trypsin cleavage site. AB - The component alpha-chains of type V collagen from bovine bone were isolated and structurally characterized by gel electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and amino acid sequence analysis. Three distinct alpha chains were identified. Two of these were the well described alpha 1 (V) and alpha 2 (V) chains; the third proved to be identical to the cartilage alpha 1 (XI) chain. In adult bone the ratio between the three chains was about 1:1:1. Native type V collagen was cleaved by trypsin at 33 degrees C or 37 degrees C into 3/5 fragments. Aminoterminal sequence analysis of the alpha 1 (V) and alpha 1 (XI) fragments showed they both resulted from trypsin cleavage between residue 434 and 435. Trypsin apparently cleaves the type V molecule within a relatively unstable domain of the triple helix which presumably may also be a natural site of initial cleavage by a protease in vivo. PMID- 2612159 TI - Effects of acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors on osteoblastic cells. AB - Acidic (a) and basic (b) fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are two related mitogenic and angiogenic factors. They are multifunctional in that they can affect proliferation and induce or delay differentiation. Both aFGF and bFGF were shown to stimulate proliferation of calvaria cells in situ as well as osteoblast enriched calvaria-derived cells. bFGF was also found to suppress the expression of alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone stimulatable adenylate cyclase, osteocalcin, and type I collagen in the osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 cells. To explore a possible role for guanine nucleotide binding proteins we assessed the effects of pertussis toxin (PT) on FGF action. PT had opposite effects to those of bFGF on all parameters examined. PMID- 2612160 TI - Transforming growth factor beta: an autocrine regulator of chondrocytes. AB - Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a ubiquitous regulator of cellular growth and differentiation. The present study investigated the effects of TGF beta on chick growth plate chondrocyte proliferation, matrix synthesis, and alkaline phosphatase activity in short term cultures. TGF-beta markedly stimulated DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner, while collagen synthesis and cellular and matrix vesicle alkaline phosphatase activity were inhibited. Biologic effects of TGF-beta were correlated with binding to specific receptors, and both high and low affinity receptors were identified. Countercurrent centrifugal elutriation was used to fractionate growth plate chondrocytes to obtain populations of cells in different stages of maturation (effectively from different zones of the growth plate). TGF-beta showed increasing mitogenicity with increasing cellular maturation in the growth plate, with maximal stimulation in the proliferating and early hypertrophic cells. The smallest cells expressed only the high affinity receptor, while with hypertrophy there was increasing expression of the low affinity receptor and a progressive increase in the number of both receptors per cell. Furthermore, the dose-response curves for TGF-beta stimulated DNA synthesis were not biphasic in the smaller cells, but became progressively more biphasic with cellular hypertrophy and expression of the low affinity receptor. Finally, TGF-beta activity was identified in partially purified chondrocyte conditioned medium by specific bioassay, indicating TGF-beta production by growth plate chondrocytes. The data suggests a potentially important autocrine function for TGF-beta in modulating chondrocyte proliferation and matrix synthesis in endochondral calcification. PMID- 2612161 TI - The onset and progression of osteoblast differentiation is functionally related to cellular proliferation. AB - The relationship of proliferation to the developmental sequence associated with bone cell differentiation was examined in primary osteoblast cultures derived from fetal rat and embryonic chick calvaria. A reciprocal and functional relationship exists between the decline in proliferative activity which occurs during the initial stages of the developmental sequence and the induction of genes encoding osteoblast phenotype proteins associated with matrix maturation and mineralization. This relationship is supported by 1) a temporal sequence of events in which there is an enhanced expression of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and osteopontin (OP) genes immediately following the proliferative period and expression of osteocalcin with the onset of mineralization, and 2) increases in AP and OP when DNA synthesis is inhibited. By determining cellular mRNA levels and rates of mRNA synthesis in isolated nuclei, we found that the down-regulation of cell growth-related genes is modified at both the levels of transcription and mRNA stability. For a histone gene where down-regulation is transcriptionally mediated, we have observed that the shutdown of osteoblast proliferation is associated with the selective loss of the interaction of a promoter binding factor (HiNF-D) with a proximal regulatory element (Site II). A relationship between Site II occupancy by HiNF-D and the onset of osteoblast differentiation is supported by the persistence of Site II-HiNF-D interactions when proliferating rat osteoblasts are growth arrested under conditions that do not induce differentiation; and additionally, by the loss of Site II-HiNF-D interactions during the shut-down of proliferation when HL60 promyelocytic leukemia cells are induced to differentiate into monocytes. Our results are consistent with a requirement of proliferation for expression of genes involved with production, deposition and possibly organization of the osteoblast extracellular matrix. It is also reasonable to postulate that properties of the mineralizing matrix are related to the shut-down of proliferation. PMID- 2612162 TI - Purification and molecular cloning of a novel group of BMPs and localization of BMP mRNA in developing bone. AB - Using a novel purification scheme, we have characterized BMP as a 30kD fraction. After reduction, which destroys biological activity, this fraction was shown to be comprised of individual polypeptides with molecular weights of 30kD, 18kD and 16kD. Molecular cloning of these polypeptides resulted in the identification of 4 previously undescribed genes (BMP-1, BMP-2A, BMP-2B, and BMP-3) each of which is capable of directing de novo cartilage formation in vivo. While BMP-1 appears to be unrelated to other known growth factors, the derived amino acid sequence of BMP-2A, 2B, and 3 indicate that they are new members of the TGFb gene family. BMP 1, 2A and 2B are expressed in rat embryos during morphogenesis and can be localized by in situ hybridization to developing limb buds. BMP-3 localizes to neural ectoderm and later on in development to newly forming periosteum. Comparisons to other members of the TGFb family suggest that these newly identified BMPs are involved in pattern formation during early skeletal development. PMID- 2612163 TI - Evidence of steroid receptors in human osteoblast-like cells. AB - A nuclear binding assay was used to demonstrate steroid receptors in normal human osteoblast-like cells. Nuclear binding of [3H]estradiol was found in 27 of 30 (90%) cell strains and nuclear binding of [3H]androgen was identified in 21 of 25 (84%) separate osteoblast cell strains. The nuclear binding was saturable and steroid-specific. Estrogen and androgen receptor gene expression was confirmed by RNA blot analysis. These data suggest that circulating sex steroids may act directly on normal human osteoblasts through receptor-mediated mechanisms. PMID- 2612164 TI - Calvaria derived osteogenic cells: phenotypic expression in culture. AB - The osteoblast phenotype is characterized by its ability to (a) synthesize a well defined mineralized collagenous matrix, (b) regulate the remodeling process by synthesizing local hormones (PGE2) and specific molecules (osteocalcin) and enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and collagenase), (c) respond to a variety of hormones (PTH, PGs, vitamin-D metabolites, steroids and growth factors), (d) respond to mechanical stimulation. Most of osteoblast culture systems meet many of the above qualifications though most fail to show the PTH effect on DNA synthesis, (c), and mechanical stimulation (d). Here we show that by using trypsin digestion and serum-containing low calcium medium (0.25 mM), all the above listed osteoblast phenotypic characteristics are demonstrated including their responsiveness to mechanical stimulation and the PTH effect on DNA synthesis. PMID- 2612165 TI - Discrete stages within the osteogenic lineage are revealed by alterations in the cell surface architecture of embryonic bone cells. AB - Specific markers for cells of the osteogenic lineage would be valuable in studies on the differentiation and maintenance of skeletal tissue. In order to better characterize the lineage of cells responsible for the formation and remodeling of bone, we immunized mice with a heterogeneous population of chick embryonic bone cells and subsequently generated and selected for monoclonal antibodies against cell surface determinants. We report here on the generation of three cell lines, SB-1, SB-2, and SB-3, which each secrete a unique antibody against a subset of differentiating osteogenic cells. Differences in immunoreactivity of osteogenic cells at precise stages of embryonic tibia development suggest the existence of an osteogenic cell lineage which is characterized by a series of discrete functional cell states progressing from osteoprogenitor cell to secretory osteoblast. PMID- 2612166 TI - Bioequivalence of two oral contraceptive drugs containing norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol. AB - Two oral contraceptive drugs, Formulation A and Formulation B, both of similar hormonal content, were compared with each other to determine if they were bioequivalent. Both drugs contain 1 mg of norethindrone (NET) and 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol (EE). Application of an interval test for the ratio of the computed parameter means demonstrated equivalence for the two formulations with respect to the 0-24 hour area under the plasma level versus time curve (AUC24), the total area under the curve (AUCtot) and for the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) for both ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone. The data support the hypothesis for bioequivalence of the two formulations with respect to total absorption. PMID- 2612167 TI - The in vivo release characteristics of a multi-compartment vaginal ring releasing 3-keto-desogestrel. AB - The results of a stage I study of a new vaginal ring releasing 3-keto-Desogestrel [3kDOG] is reported. The study design consisted of one study cycle, where the ring was used continuously for 21 days and then removed. Twenty healthy volunteers were randomly allocated to each of two study groups. On day 5 of the menstrual cycle, group A used a vaginal ring releasing 30 micrograms 3kDOG per 24 hours and group B used a 15 micrograms 3kDOG per 24 hours ring. After initial absorption of the 3kDOG a plateau phase was reached in 46 hours [group A] and 49 hours [group B]. On reaching the plateau phase, the overall decline in plasma levels during the 21 days of use was 5.24% for group A and 5.27% for group B. This represents a daily decline in plasma levels of 0.27% and 0.28% for the 30 micrograms and 15 micrograms per 24 hours rings, respectively. The plasma levels achieved by the rings were significantly different throughout (p = 0.011). On removal after 21 days, the mean removal half-life for both ring types was similar at 20.9 hours for group A and 21.1 hours for group B. It is concluded that the characteristics of the delivery system are worthy of further study as a potential means of contraception using 3kDOG delivered from a vaginal ring. PMID- 2612168 TI - Epidemiology of atherogenic dyslipoproteinaemias in pubertal children (a prospective study). AB - The study presents the results of a two-year prospective study of a random representative sample of 772 Moscow pupils, aged 10-13 years. Response rate at entry was 95%, one year later--83%, and 80% two years later. The epidemiological situation regarding various atherogenic dyslipoproteinaemias in pubertal children was studied. The most threatening, i.e., stable dyslipoproteinaemias were detected most often in children with an increased number of risk factors of ischaemic heart disease. Dyslipoproteinaemia stabilization is affected mainly by physical and sexual development of children and their physical activity. These findings can be used for targeted non-medicamentous prevention in pubertal children. PMID- 2612169 TI - Creatine kinase kinetics and myocardial infarction in different regions of the left ventricle. AB - The interval from the onset of infarction pain to culmination of plasma creatine kinase activity (t-peak) was measured in 68 patients with their first myocardial infarction. There is a major difference in this parameter in patients with infarction in the area of the right coronary artery and that supplied by the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). While, in 29 patients with infarction in the right coronary artery area, t-peak was 17.7 +/- 4.7 hours, in 39 subjects with infarction in area supplied by the LAD, t-peak was 13.2 +/- 4.6 hours (p less than 0.001). The type of thrombolytic treatment (intravenous or intracoronary, used no difference, just as the time from onset of pain to start of therapy, infarct size and presence or absence of collaterals. A detailed analysis of creatine kinase culmination in relation to the type of artery recanalization is given. The authors conclude that, besides the known factors, creatine kinase culmination is influenced also by the necrosis site, a fact somewhat modifying the informative value of this parameter. However, explanations of this phenomenon are only hypothetical at the present time. PMID- 2612170 TI - A comparison of the haemodynamic effect of isosorbide-5-mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate administered in intravenous injection to patients with acute myocardial infarction. AB - The haemodynamic effects of 10 mg of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN) and 10 mg of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN), administered in intravenous injection, were compared in 16 patients with acute myocardial infarction. The study, using the balloon thermodilution catheter, took 4 hours to complete. Both drugs produced a decrease in pulmonary and peripheral arterial pressure, cardiac index, stroke and stroke work indexes; the effect was present immediately after administration to reach a maximum 3-15 minutes later, after which the values gradually returned to baseline levels. While IS-5-MN resulted in an increase in peripheral arterial resistance, heart rate rose briefly following the administration of ISDN. After IS-5-MN, pulmonary diastolic pressure decreased by 15% and peripheral arterial pressure by 5%, and stroke work index by 12%; the magnitude of decrease was double following the administration of ISDN (30%, 15% and 23%, respectively). The decrease in cardiac and stroke indexes was likewise less pronounced after IS-5-MN than after ISDN, the difference, however, was not statistically significant. Duration of the haemodynamic effect of both drugs was about the same- approximately 3 hours. PMID- 2612171 TI - A method of extended myoventriculoplasty with programmable cardiosynchronized electroneurostimulation: description and initial clinical results. AB - Description and results of the first clinical use of a new method of extended myoventriculoplasty with the simultaneous implantation of a cardiosynchronized programmable electroneurostimulator are presented. Stepwise training of skeletal muscle in order to adapt it to fulfilling the function of the contracting heart was studied. The technique of myoventriculoplasty was used in patients with severe ischaemic heart disease and dilated cardiomyopathy. During the study, an original Soviet-made implanted programmable and cardiosynchronized electroneurostimulator was tested for the first time in clinical practice. Early postoperative results are satisfactory. PMID- 2612172 TI - The electrostabilizing effect of a combination of midazolam and fentanyl: an experimental study in the dog. AB - Using a model of local myocardial ischaemia in the dog, the authors studied the electrostabilizing effect of a combination of the benzodiazepine midazolam (Dormicum Hoffman--La Roche) and the strong narcotic analgesic drug Fentanyl (Richter). The electrostabilizing effect was assessed using the method of ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) measurement. The same increase in the fibrillation threshold as that induced by the administration of midazolam or fentanyl alone was achieved by a combination of both drugs given, however, in reduced doses. The electrostabilizing effect of benzodiazepines and potent analgesics is enhanced by their simultaneous administration. At the same time, the adverse side effects observed on the administration of fentanyl alone (bradycardias, hypotension, cardiac blockade) due to the prevalence of parasympathetic drive, are reduced. Simultaneous administration of a benzodiazepine and an analgesic has become a modern technique, in anaesthesiology, so-called analgosedation. Experiments have shown the technique, in addition to the generally recognized analgesia, sedation and anxiolysis, exerts electrostabilizing effects on the myocardium damaged by ischaemia. The authors therefore recommend analgosedation in the drug treatment of acute myocardial infarction. PMID- 2612173 TI - Nile red fluorescence response from the aortic arch to serum cholesterol changes. AB - Histologic sections of the aortic arches from guinea pigs were stained with nile red to verify the possibility of quantitating the earliest changes in the arterial wall. Nile red fluorescence intensity was quantitated by conversion to electric signal. Fluorescence in a group fed cholesterol and casein was significantly higher than that in a control group. Its dependence on the logarithm of serum cholesterol concentrations between 1.33 and 7.67 mmol/l was found. Small fluorescence intensity differences far beyond the possibilities of visual observation were detected by the method. PMID- 2612174 TI - Conceptual encoding following severe closed head injury. AB - This investigation examined whether survivors of severe closed head injury encode semantic properties of to-be-remembered words and the relationship of such processing to frontal lobe functioning. Fourteen patients enrolled in rehabilitation and 12 controls were administered the Release from Proactive Inhibition paradigm involving trials of recalling words from the same category followed by a shift to a new category or continued presentation of identical material. Similar to the controls, patients demonstrated a facilitation in recall when the category shifted. An association between the amount of release and frontal lobe functioning (as evaluated by neuropsychological tests and magnetic resonance imaging) was not compelling and depended upon the particular measure of release that was utilized. Pending replication in a larger, more representative sample, we suggest that conceptual encoding is relatively preserved in long-term survivors. The failure to find a robust relationship between frontal lobe pathology and semantic encoding is discussed in light of other investigations suggesting an association. PMID- 2612175 TI - The role of the right hemisphere in recovery from aphasia. Two case studies. AB - We report two female patients who became global aphasic following a large left hemisphere lesion. With passage of time they recovered to a considerable extent, but three years and six months, respectively, after the former CVA, a new stroke lateralized to the right hemisphere occurred and they showed a definite worsening of language disturbances. Possibilities and limits of the right hemisphere in "taking over" language functions are discussed. PMID- 2612176 TI - Intact absolute pitch ability after left temporal lobectomy. AB - A 17-year old pianist who possessed absolute pitch underwent an anterior left temporal lobectomy for the relief of intractable seizures. Prior to surgery he showed some fluctuation in the pattern of errors in notating single piano tones. Postoperatively he improved on this task, and one year later his performance was essentially perfect. On a short-term retention task given postoperatively he showed the expected effect of a left temporal-lobe and hippocampal lesion: he was impaired in the recall of a three-letter sequence after 18 sec with an interpolated verbal task. In contrast, retention of the names of three piano notes was excellent under the same conditions, as it is for control subjects with absolute pitch. The results are interpreted in terms of the dissociation between verbal mechanisms and those involved in the coding of pitch, and the seeming immunity of many musical abilities to the effects of left-hemisphere lesions. PMID- 2612177 TI - Inverted handwriting posture in left handers is related to familial sinistrality incidence. AB - McKeever (1979) reported that left handers who wrote with an inverted handwriting posture (IHP) had a higher incidence of left handedness in their families than did left handers who wrote with a non-inverted handwriting posture (NHP). Parlow and Kinsbourne (1981), however, failed to find a relationship between handwriting posture (HWP) and positive familial sinistrality (FS+). McKeever had classified his left handed subjects according to whether they had several, one, or no left handers among their first degree relatives and biologically-related second degree relatives. Parlow and Kinsbourne classified subjects as FS- or FS+ on the basis of first degree relatives and did not inquire about the handedness of second degree relatives. In the present study, handedness for writing of all first and second degree relatives was recorded for 216 NIP and 255 IHP left handers. Results showed a significant association of HWP and FS factors when second degree relatives were considered, but not when second degree relative handedness was ignored. The relationship was strongest within the maternal family line, where the proportion of left handers was more than twice as high for the IHP as for the NHP group. These findings suggest that HWP may well be of some importance for a complete understanding of the cerebral organization of left handers. PMID- 2612178 TI - The influence of semantic and perceptual factors on lexical comprehension in aphasic and right brain-damaged patients. AB - We investigated whether the errors made by aphasic patients and right brain damaged (RBD) patients on a word-picture matching test were differently related to the semantic and perceptual difficulties of the task. To this effect, the target picture was presented in one condition along with two semantically similar distractors, in another condition with two perceptually similar distractors, and in a third condition with two distractors that were both semantically and perceptually similar. There were also two control conditions in which part of targets that had been originally shown with semantic distractors were now presented with perceptual distractors and vice versa. The findings were consistent with the hypothesis that aphasics mainly fail when the task involves semantic discrimination and RBD patients when it involves perceptual discrimination. In aphasics the semantic perceptual condition produced the highest number of errors, but this was due, it was argued, to an increase of the semantic demands of the task. PMID- 2612179 TI - Handedness and anxiety in normal and clinical populations. AB - Previous research has yielded inconclusive evidence as to the relationship between handedness and anxiety. In order to further examine this relationship, two studies were carried out. In the first study, university students (N = 167) completed the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, the Fear Questionnaire, and the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory. No evidence was found to suggest that phobic fears are more prevalent or more severe among individuals with a tendency to left-handedness than among pure right-handers. Statistical tests reveled a marginally significant positive association between social phobia scores and right-handedness. In the second study, handedness was assessed in 77 anxiety disorder patients and compared with handedness patterns in normal controls. Again, no support was found for the claim that anxiety and left-handedness are related to each other. However, the normal pattern of women being more right handed than men was reversed in the anxiety disorder group. PMID- 2612180 TI - Hemispheric differences in odour recognition. AB - Two experiments were designed in order to study hemispheric differences in odour recognition in normal subject. In the first experiment subjects first smelled an odour and then a visual stimulus (a picture or a word related or unrelated to the odour) was flashed either to the left or to the right hemisphere for 150 milliseconds. Subjects had to press a key if the two stimuli (olfactory and visual) matched and another key if they did not. Reaction time analysis showed that the responses were faster when the second stimulus (either picture or word) was presented to the right hemisphere. In a second experiment the first stimulus was auditory rather than olfactory. Subjects were instructed to listen to names of odorants and then to respond to pictures or written names as in the first experiment. In this case a left hemisphere advantage emerged, presumably related to the priming of the left hemisphere by the auditorially presented verbal stimulus. PMID- 2612181 TI - Space exploration with and without the aid of vision in hemisphere-damaged patients. AB - Space exploration carried out under visual control and in its absence (blindfolded condition) was investigated in 20 RBD patients, 10 LBD patients and 20 normal controls with a modified version of Chedru's test (pressing the keys of a keyboard). Conventional tests for visual hemi-inattention permitted to classify RBD patients in a group with visual neglect (RBD VN+) and a group without visual neglect (RBD VN-). On the visual version of the test both RBD groups showed a preference for pressing the keys ipsilateral to the lesion side, but this tendency was more marked in the RBD VN+ group than in any other brain-damaged group. On the tactile version of the test only RBD VN+ patients showed a gradient favouring the pressing of the ipsilateral half of the keyboard. This ipsilateral preference was, however, significantly less marked than that found when the performance was assisted by vision. No relation between neglect in the blindfolded condition and tactile extinction was found. The nature of space exploration in the absence of vision is discussed and the existence of tactile neglect is questioned. PMID- 2612182 TI - Posed emotional expression in unilateral brain damaged patients. AB - The facial expressions of six basic emotions were posed by two groups of right (N = 23) and left (N = 34) brain damaged patients and by a control group of normal subjects (N = 28). The posed expressions were examined by means of the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) which provides analytical and objective scoring, as by a subjective scale of appropriateness of expression. Results indicated no difference between controls and patients with a lesion in the right or left hemisphere. These findings are inconsistent with the hypothesis that the right hemisphere plays a specific role in the control of posed facial expression. No relationship was observed between posed emotional expressions and facial paralysis or the presence of oral apraxia. PMID- 2612183 TI - Assessment of everyday memory after severe head injury. AB - This study investigates two everyday memory questionnaires: the Subjective Memory Questionnaire (SMQ) and the Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ). Both self ratings and relatives' ratings were collected from a severe head injured group and a control group. Head injured subjects were also assessed on the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT). On the SMQ, there was a significant difference between the head injured and control groups for both self and relatives' ratings. On the EMQ only relatives' ratings differed significantly between the two groups. When head injured subjects, which were rated as non-impaired by the RBMT, were excluded from group comparisons, all questionnaire measures showed significant differences between groups. Both EMQ and SMQ scores for relatives and self ratings correlated significantly with RBMT scores. The utility of the everyday memory measures is discussed. PMID- 2612184 TI - Birth stress, handedness and cognitive performance. AB - Information regarding conditions during pregnancy and delivery was obtained by extensive interviews with mothers to left-handed and right-handed students. Using the same criterion as van Strien, Bouma and Bakker (1987) for defining birth stress, the present study did not replicate their findings of higher frequency of reported birth stress in left-handers. The difference in outcome was ascribed to differences in recruitment of subjects, the present sample constituting a majority of left hand writers from a population of 921 students, while the van Strien sample was less well defined. The present study was extended by comparing left-handed and right-handed subjects (separated for sex) with and without birth stress, on verbal and nonverbal abilities, and on eye dominance, early learning difficulties and familial sinistrality. Left eye dominance was more frequent in male left-handers with birth stress. Birth stress alone had negative effects on cognitive performance, different for males and females. PMID- 2612185 TI - Writing posture in right hemiplegic children. AB - The handwriting posture of 29 children with congenital right hemiparesis was classified according to standard criteria. All 29 children, who ranged in age from 4 to 14 years, were classified unambiguously as noninverted writers. The prevalence of noninverted writing in this sample differs significantly from that reported for the general population of children. The data thus support the claim that neural factors contribute to handwriting posture. PMID- 2612186 TI - A reticulo-frontal disconnection syndrome. AB - Persistent executive deficit, usually seen following prefrontal damage, is reported in a patient recovering from head trauma. Repeated neuroradidological examinations failed to reveal a lesion within the frontal lobes, but a circumscribed lesion in the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum was found. It is proposed that the observed syndrome was caused by damage to mesencephalic reticular nuclei and their projections into prefrontal cortex. The concept of a "reticulo-frontal disconnection syndrome" is introduced and its possible role in head trauma and schizophrenia discussed. PMID- 2612187 TI - Learning of a complex arithmetic skill in dementia: further evidence for a dissociation between compilation and production. AB - An amnesic Alzheimer's Disease patient was tested on his ability to learn an algorithm to square two-digit numbers. The results indicated a dissociation in the patient's ability to execute the individual steps of the algorithm and his ability to combine the steps of the algorithm, the former accounting for almost all of the improvement in response time. The results are discussed in conjunction with findings from Charness et al. (1988) and Milberg et al. (1988) and suggest that skill learning in Alzheimer's Disease may be compromised due to an inability to combine individual steps of a procedure. PMID- 2612188 TI - A question of medicine answering. Health commodification and the social relations of healing in Sri Lanka. AB - Biomedicine although institutionally powerful in Sri Lanka has not been able to depersonalize illness or promote a notion of treatment efficacy disconnected from social relations. An ideology of healing crosscuts the trend toward health commodification. This paper focuses on three concepts fundamental to the interactive dynamics of treatment efficacy: constitution, habit, and power of the hand. A movement between two distinct types of health care seeking behavior is described. One is inspired by finding the right medicine fix, the other by finding a practitioner having a sensitivity toward one's sense of person and all this entails. PMID- 2612189 TI - Anxiety disorders in Japan: a review of the Japanese literature on shinkeishitsu and taijinkyofusho. AB - As culture-bound syndromes, Japanese shinkeishitsu ("constitutional neurasthenia") and taijinkyofusho ("anthropophobia") have received considerable attention in the Japanese literature. While these disorders are viewed as diagnostically distinct from Western psychiatric categories, recent studies by the Japanese suggest some affinity with Western social phobias, depression, and schizophrenia. The paper reviews this literature and offers suggestions for further cross-cultural research. PMID- 2612190 TI - Illness behavior of housewives in a rural area in Japan: a health diary study. AB - A health diary study was conducted to examine the incidence and nature of health problems and illness behavior among rural residents in Japan. Attention was paid in particular to the utilization of folk medicine or alternative practitioners in the context of illness behavior. One hundred and sixty-one health problems were recorded over a 4-week diary period by 28 housewives aged 35-64 years. Headache, tiredness and gastrointestinal problems were among the most common problems. Emotional/psychological problems, the most frequently recorded problems in the health diary studies conducted in the United States or England, were recorded by only 3 participants. Only 6 problems (3.7 percent) resulted in consulting a doctor. Three women utilized an acupuncturist, shinkyushi, during the diary period. Self-care, such as resting by lying down, using home remedies and self medication including household drugs, Toyama kusuri and folk medicine, was practiced for 101 problems (62.7 percent). Folk medicine or alternative practitioners played important roles in the health seeking process. The health diary method was shown to be suitable not only to Western communities but also in a rural Japanese context. PMID- 2612191 TI - Approaches to psychotherapy in Africans: do they have to be non-medical? AB - Efforts at medical psychotherapy in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital are appraised. Six popular generalisations that have tended to discourage attempts at medical psychotherapy in Africa are presented and illustrated by thirteen vignettes derived from our experience in psychotherapy among Nigerians in the last six years. The vignettes encourage reappraisal of these popular generalisations with a view to modifying them and stimulating more effort by others in the same direction. Methods used are discussed and relevant literature is reviewed. PMID- 2612192 TI - Epilepsy: the myth of a contagious disease. AB - The belief among Nigerians that epilepsy is infectious is widely reported in the relevant professional literature. This belief, however, has not been subjected to scientific investigation and its magnitude has not been assessed, despite the fact that it is one of the most serious obstacles to the care and rehabilitation of epileptics. The study reported here attempted to provide such information interviewing a wide spectrum of the Nigerian population, including medical students. It was found that most Nigerians, including some medical students, share the belief that epilepsy is contagious. They would therefore not eat, drink, or sleep in the same room with an epileptic, or touch him during his fit. The origin of the belief is now lost in obscurity, but traditional healers seem to be its current respository and propagators. The views of the latter are reinforced and sustained by people fleeing in panic from a patient experiencing a grand mal attack. These findings suggest treatment and rehabilitative strategies. PMID- 2612193 TI - Meaningful life therapy. PMID- 2612194 TI - Kesambet may be a culture-bound syndrome of North-Bali. PMID- 2612195 TI - Aging and sex-related changes in the outer retina of Japanese quail. AB - Age-related changes in the outer retina of Japanese quail 3 months to 3 years of age have been assessed with light and electron microscopy. A major difference was observed between males and females in the accumulation of lipofuscin in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Females showed greater densities of lipofuscin granules, larger granules, and more lipofuscin per RPE cell than did males of comparable ages. In addition, a small but significant decrease (14-16%) in photoreceptor nuclear densities occurred in the temporal retina of both 1-year females and 3-year males. An overall correlation of -.77 between photoreceptor densities and amount of lipofuscin was observed, with a correlation of -.88 for females, alone. No male/female differences were observed with regard to age related changes in height of RPE cells. Major differences in calcium metabolism and demand associated with egg-laying in females may underlie the observed sex related differences that occur in the outer retina of this relatively short lived, domestic species. PMID- 2612196 TI - Ultrastructural immunocytochemical localization of elastin in normal human trabecular meshwork. AB - Previous studies have suggested that hydrophobic moieties within the aqueous outflow channels might interact with certain aqueous components to retard outflow. While elastin is among the most hydrophobic proteins in the trabecular meshwork, it reacts poorly with conventional ultrastructural staining methods, so its potential role in regulating outflow could not be assessed. It was our goal to specifically localize elastin ultrastructurally using polyclonal antibodies against alpha elastin and its soluble precursor, tropoelastin. Human aorta served as a positive control. Preadsorption of the primary antibodies or their substitution with either normal rabbit serum or Tris buffer resulted in negligible labelling. With either antibody, only the electron-lucent elements in the center of elastic fibers of the trabecular meshwork were labelled, indicating that only these elements truly represent elastin. The pattern of elastin distribution within these fibers is most consistent with that found in tendons elsewhere in the body. PMID- 2612197 TI - Histotypic differentiation of neonatal mouse retina in organ culture. AB - Retinae from neonatal mice were explanted in toto, with or without the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and adjoining mesenchymal cells, and maintained in organ culture for up to 3 weeks. The explants remained flat, rosette formation was minimal and histogenetic changes followed in the normal sequence. After 11, 14 and 21 days in vitro the three cellular layers--the outer nuclear layer including well differentiated rod and cone perikarya, the inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer--with the intervening plexiform layers were comparable to those of the in vivo eyes. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that in the explants without RPE the nuclear layers developed as in vivo, but receptor outer segments (ROS) were not formed. When the RPE was present, receptor inner segments appeared normal and ROS including profuse disc structures were developed. Presence of synaptic elements was also recognized. Mesenchymal cells, when present differentiated into choroidal and scleral tissues and appeared to play a supportive role for the RPE cells. The system is described in detail and its suitability for the analysis of various cellular and metabolic factors in the development of the retina is discussed. PMID- 2612198 TI - Development and degeneration of retina in rds mutant mice: altered disc shedding pattern in the heterozygotes and its relation to ocular pigmentation. AB - In the heterozygous mutant (rds/+) mice, receptor outer segments (ROS) are irregular in form and are shed as abnormally large phagosomes. In the albino rds/+ mice, peak frequency of pigment epithelial (RPE) phagosomes is higher than normal and is recorded near the end of the light period, instead of at the time of light onset as in the normal (+/+) albino mice. In pigmented mice of both genotypes, the maximum numbers of phagosomes in the RPE remain lower than in the albinos. In pigmented +/+ mice the number of phagosomes is already high at the time of light onset. The number rises to peak after one hour and then declines slowly. The lowest frequency is reached after the end of the light period. In pigmented rds/+ mice, the number of phagosomes in the RPE is lowest at the time of light onset. The number rises rapidly to peak level within two hours, then declines and remains low until light onset. If the dark period is prolonged, phagosome frequency in the rds/+ RPE remains lower than in +/+ RPE. If the light period is prolonged, phagosome frequency in the rds/+ RPE remains at a higher level than in the +/+ RPE. This differential response to altered light regimen in the rds/+ and +/+ mice is less pronounced in the pigmented than in the albino individuals. The phagosomes in the rds/+ RPE are larger than in the +/+ RPE in all light regimens. These results show that ocular pigmentation may modify the circadian pattern of ROS disc shedding in the rds/+ retina. PMID- 2612199 TI - The fate of gamma L crystallins in rat lens during diabetic cataractogenesis as determined by a monoclonal antibody. AB - We developed a monoclonal antibody against HPLC purified rat lens gamma L crystallins. This antibody was specific to both the polypeptides (19,000 and 21,000 daltons) which constituted the HPLC gamma L peak. Least reactivity was shown against gamma H (24,000 daltons). This antibody was used as a probe to detect the presence of and quantitate gamma L crystallins in lens soluble, insoluble and urea-insoluble fractions during diabetes. Utilizing a direct binding immunoassay (ELISA) we calculated the absolute quantities of gamma L crystallins present in these fractions. Our results show, in normal animals there was a minimal change in total quantities of gamma L crystallins in soluble fraction from 1 month to 5 months of age, but a slow accumulation of these crystallins in insoluble and urea-insoluble fractions was seen during the same period. Diabetes resulted in a depletion of gamma L crystallins from the soluble fraction, both in terms of relative proportion and absolute quantities. In insoluble and urea-insoluble fractions the relative proportions of these crystallins were increased dramatically up until 60 days followed by a decrease during 90-120 days of diabetes, whereas, the absolute quantities remained more or less steady after reaching the maximum on 60 days. Although the relative proportions of gamma L crystallins in the insoluble fraction seem to be less when compared to urea-insoluble fraction, the total quantity of these crystallins was much higher due to abundance of this fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612200 TI - Trabecular meshwork recovery after phagocytic challenge. AB - The short and long term response of the trabecular meshwork to a phagocytic challenge and the response of the meshwork to different types of foreign particles was studied by injecting one eye of 25 adult cats with a phagocytic agent (zymosan, blood, or latex microspheres) while the fellow eye received a control solution. Eyes were examined histologically at various intervals from one day to five months after infusion. Active trabecular cell phagocytosis and changes in cell shape were found with all agents. The extent of these changes varied with the agent used. Zymosan caused marked changes and inflammation, with numerous macrophages found throughout the meshwork. Trabecular cell migration and cell loss occurred, although it was often difficult to distinguish macrophages from rounded trabecular cells. The meshwork eventually recovered from this inflammatory insult, as trabecular lamellae became less edematous and once again acquired a lining of trabecular cells. Blood and latex microspheres caused less disruption, with microspheres often found in otherwise normal appearing cells. Trabecular cellularity was quantitated after the blood and the zymosan infusions. No cell loss was observed after the blood infusion, while zymosan-infused eyes had an initial 15% cell loss (p less than .04) when compared with fellow control eyes. This zymosan-associated trabecular cell loss may have been due to phagocytosis, inflammation, or a combination of both. The cell loss had recovered by the end of 150 days (p less than .02), as trabecular cell numbers in experimental eyes became comparable to fellow control eyes. PMID- 2612201 TI - Pharmacokinetic and autoradiographic studies of basic fibroblast growth factor on de-epithelialized and intact rabbit eye. AB - In a previous work, we showed and compared the wound healing properties of aFGF and bFGF topically administered on totally de-epithelialized rabbit corneas. Pharmacokinetic and autoradiographic studies were then performed to investigate the sites of accumulation of bFGF in ocular structures, both on de-epithelialized and intact rabbit eyes. After one single instillation of 125I-bFGF, all the ocular structures were dissected and the measurement of the radioactivity allowed to establish kinetic curves. The results showed a very important and early fixation of bFGF on denuded cornea (10 minutes) and a posterior distribution of the drug between 10 and 30 minutes. A second accumulation of bFGF in the anterior segment appeared 8 hours after application and then decreased till the 48th hour. These findings were confirmed by the macroautoradiographies and the microautoradiographies pointed out the fixation of bFGF not only at the location of the Bowman membrane, but also on the corneal endothelium. These experiments also demonstrated the systemic diffusion of bFGF into the untreated controlateral eye. The integrity of bFGF in the cornea and other structures was then confirmed by SDS PAGE followed by autoradiography. In the intact eye, bFGF was shown to penetrate in extremely low amounts, illustrating the major role of the corneal barrier. For a therapeutic use bFGF may be recommended as an efficient wound healing agent for epithelial but also endothelial defects. Its eventual unwanted side effects must be kept in mind to perfect an efficient low dose and short term clinical treatment. PMID- 2612202 TI - Immunogold localization of extracellular matrix molecules in Bruch's membrane of the rat. AB - The distribution of extracellular matrix molecules in Bruch's membrane of the rat was studied by a post-embedding immunogold labeling method. These molecules included laminin, types I, III and IV collagen, fibronectin and heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Laminin and type IV collagen were localized in the basal lamina of the pigment epithelium and choriocapillaris; types I and III collagen, to the inner and outer collagenous zones; fibronectin, to the elastic layer; heparan sulfate proteoglycan was found diffusely throughout the entire Bruch's membrane. These results not only agree with previous biochemical and immunofluorescence studies of these molecules in Bruch's membrane of other species but also provide a more precise localization of these molecules in the various layers of Bruch's membrane. PMID- 2612203 TI - An open, comparative evaluation of amoxycillin and amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid ('Augmentin') in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia in children. AB - One hundred children with clinically diagnosed bacterial pneumonia were assigned at random to receive treatment with either amoxycillin (250 or 500 mg) or amoxycillin (250 or 500 mg) plus clavulanic acid (62.5 or 125 mg) 3-times daily, dosage and duration of treatment being determined by the severity of the condition. There were no clinically significant differences between the two groups on entry and the mean duration of treatment was 6.8 days in both. By Day 3 of treatment, significant differences in improvement in chest pain, dyspnoea, pyrexia and sputum production were noted in favour of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid. The response to treatment was significantly better in the combination group with an excellent or good response recorded in 60% and 30% of patients, compared with 26% and 36% in the amoxycillin group. Only 2 adverse reactions were reported, 1 case each of skin rash and diarrhoea in the combined group. The overall clinical efficacy rate of 93.8% in amoxycillin/clavulanic acid-treated patients was significantly better than the 60.4% clinical success recorded in the amoxycillin group. PMID- 2612204 TI - Sequence of onset of different drug use among opiate addicts. AB - The temporal sequence of drug use should reveal which drugs are precursors to heroin and which drugs are used subsequent to the establishment of heroin addiction as adjunctive drugs. This temporal sequence was examined in an epidemiological study. Out of 249 opiate addicts interviewed in the area of Penang, Malaysia, this sequence of drugs could be obtained in 248 cases. The mean (median) age for first use of nicotine is 15.5 (15) years, alcohol 18.4 (18) years, cannabis 17.8 (17) years, heroin 21.8 (21) years, opium 22.8 (22) years, and benzodiazepines 25.8 (25) years. The age of first use of different drug types is presented in some detail. The patterns of sequence of drug use was analyzed for the five major and most frequently reported drugs, i.e. alcohol, cannabis, heroin, opium and benzodiazepines. Nicotine, used as first drug in almost all cases, was omitted in this analysis. A clear trend to multiple drug abuse emerges from this analysis; the biggest number of cases were users of 4 drugs (81 cases), followed by 3 drugs (59 cases) and 5 drugs (58 cases). Thus, nicotine, alcohol and cannabis are precursors of heroin addiction. Other adjunctive drugs become important only after heroin addiction. Among these substances, opium and benzodiazepines are numerically preponderant. PMID- 2612205 TI - Elastotic nodules of the ears. AB - A case of bilateral elastotic nodules of the ears is reported. This distinctive entity occurs on the ears in response to chronic actinic damage and is seen infrequently. Elastotic nodules of the ears may therefore be misdiagnosed clinically as basal cell carcinoma or some infiltrative process such as gout or amyloid. Although the lesions are usually found on the anthelix, they may also arise on the helix, and can then simulate chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis. PMID- 2612206 TI - Occurrence of Demodex in nose follicles of outpatients attending an otorhinolaryngology clinic. AB - The occurrence of Demodex in sebum from nasolabial folds was studied in fifty outpatients attending an otorhinolaryngology clinic. Thirty-one male and nineteen female patients aged fifteen to eighty years were examined. Twenty percent (eight men and two women) showed positive findings, demonstrating one to six parasites per specimen. A higher detection rate was found in older patients, and more mite particles were seen in subjects with otitis media. It is suggested that examination of nasolabial folds may serve as a screening test for the possible presence of Demodex in the ears. PMID- 2612207 TI - Porphyria cutanea tarda and AIDS. AB - Two male patients, each of whom had one or more risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus, subsequently developed findings of porphyria cutanea tarda preceding diagnosis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). PMID- 2612208 TI - A somatic cell hybrid mapping panel for regional assignment of human chromosome 13 DNA sequences. AB - We have constructed somatic cell hybrids containing different overlapping deletions involving human chromosome 13. Cytogenetic characterisation of the breakpoints allowed division of the chromosome into six distinct regions. Molecular characterisation of these hybrids allowed regional assignment of anonymous DNA sequences, cDNAs, and isoenzyme variants and these hybrids should prove valuable in the analysis and isolation of genes and disease loci on chromosome 13. PMID- 2612209 TI - Assignment of human pepsinogen C (PGC) gene to chromosome 6. AB - cDNA of rat pepsinogen C (PGC) hybridizes to, among others, a 3.2-kb band in Southern blot analysis of BamHI-cleaved human genomic DNA. This property was employed to localize the human PGC gene. Use of flow-sorted human chromosomes and 12 human x mouse somatic cell hybrid lines demonstrated that the gene is located on chromosome 6. PMID- 2612210 TI - Post-implantation development and cytogenetic analysis of diandric heterozygous diploid mouse embryos. AB - Diandric heterozygous diploid mouse embryos were produced by standard micromanipulatory techniques using eggs from female mice with a normal chromosome constitution and fertilised by homozygous Rb(1.3)1Bnr males containing a pair of large metacentric marker chromosomes in their karyotype. The constructed diandric eggs were transferred to the oviducts of pseudopregnant recipients and subsequently autopsied midday on the eighth day of gestation. From a total of 85 eggs transferred to females that subsequently became pregnant, 30 implanted. Eighteen implantation sites were found to contain resorptions, and 12 egg cylinder stage embryos were recovered. These were cytogenetically examined. In two cases, no mitoses were observed, and in a third embryo of normal size, only a single paternally-derived marker chromosome was present in its mitoses, indicating that this embryo had a normal chromosome constitution. This presumably resulted from a technical error during the micromanipulatory procedure. The remaining nine morphologically small but normal embryos were diploid, and each had two paternally-derived marker chromosomes, thus establishing their ploidy and confirming their diandric origin. G-banding analysis revealed that all of these embryos had an XY sex chromosome constitution. Since the expected XX:XY:YY ratio of 1:2:1 was not observed, it is clear that the XX class embryos were lost at some stage during the pre- or early post-implantation period, though whether they are represented by the resorption sites is not yet established. The YY class would not be expected to be recovered in any case, as these embryos are believed to be lost during early cleavage. The cytogenetic findings reported here are therefore similar to the results of the chromosomal analyses of the human complete hydatidiform moles of dispermic origin, all of which apparently have an XY karyotype. It is unclear why, both in the human and in the mouse, the XX diandric heterozygous diploid group should develop poorly compared to similar embryos with an XY karyotype. PMID- 2612211 TI - Synaptonemal complex study in some species of Gerbillidae without heterochromatin interposition. AB - Synaptonemal complexes were studied in Gerbillus campestris, Meriones libycus, M. shawi, M. crassus, and in two hybrids M. shawi x M. libycus (Gerbillidae, Rodentia). In both the pure species and hybrids, there was no pairing of X and Y chromosomes, as was previously observed in Psammomys obesus and other Gerbillidae species with gonosome-autosome translocations. A pair of autosomes was also located in proximity to the sex chromosomes in pachytene and showed unusual meiotic behavior with no, incomplete, or much delayed pairing. This chromosome pair, composed of late replicating heterochromatin, exists in most Gerbillidae species and is constant in number, but variable in size across the species. Both meiotic and mitotic characteristics indicate that this pair may correspond to a new type of chromosome which is different from B chromosomes. We do not know if there is a relationship between the presence of this chromosome and the unusual behavior of the sex chromosomes. In Gerbillidae species, the lack of pairing of both sex and heterochromatic chromosomes obviously does not prevent their correct meiotic segregation. PMID- 2612212 TI - Regional assignment of nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) of the CEA gene family to chromosome 19 at band q13.2. AB - Nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) is a member of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene family. Recently, a DNA segment for part of the human NCA gene was isolated and sequenced. We mapped this gene by Southern blot analysis of hybrid cells and by in situ hybridization. The Southern blot analysis indicated that the NCA gene is on human chromosome 19 and the in situ hybridizations localized the gene to band 19q13.2. PMID- 2612213 TI - X-chromosome inactivation in the human cytotrophoblast. AB - Preferential paternal X-chromosome inactivation occurs in the cell lineages that differentiate first within the female rodent blastula (trophectoderm and extraembryonic endoderm). The present studies were designed to test the nature of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) in the earliest differentiating cell lineage of the human placenta, the cytotrophoblast. Using glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) polymorphisms as a marker system, term placentae were obtained from 13 female heterozygotes where parental allelic contributions could be determined. Chorionic villi were enzymatically digested and centrifuged in a Percoll density gradient to isolate a pure population of cytotrophoblasts, which was ascertained by cell culture, differentiation to syncytiotrophoblasts, and histochemical staining for alpha-human chorionic gonadotrophin (alpha-HCG). On electrophoresis, all 13 samples exhibited exclusive or near exclusive expression of the maternally derived X-linked enzyme variant, regardless of whether it was G6PD A or G6PD B. No intermediate bands were seen, indicating a single active G6PD locus per cell. The stromal cells of the villi, which derive from the mesoderm and differentiate later than the cytotrophoblast, exhibit random XCI. These findings establish preferential paternal XCI in the cytotrophoblast, the cell type first to differentiate within the human blastula. PMID- 2612214 TI - Spectrum of karyotypic aberrations in cultured human meningiomas. AB - Twenty-two unselected cases of meningioma were initiated in tissue culture on an extracellular matrix derived from bovine corneal endothelial cells. The cultures were available for karyotypic analysis at passages 1 to 5, representing cultivation periods of up to two months. Histologically, the meningiomas were meningiotheliomatous (16 cases), fibrous (1 case), angiotheliomatous (1 case), microcystic (2 cases), and parenchymatous (2 cases). Two of the meningotheliomatous cases had histological signs of malignancy, another case showed increased signs of proliferation, and two cases were recurrences, one after a complete course of irradiation. In five cases no structural chromosome aberrations were found. Monosomy of chromosome 22 was found in six cases and was associated with other random aberrations. Clonal or random aberrations without monosomy 22 were present in 11 cases, including one case with trisomy 7 and another case with a stable translocation marker, t(4;7). In these latter two cases, EGF-receptor binding was not elevated, compared to other meningiomas. Our results illustrate that, in addition to the frequent involvement of chromosome 22, numerous other individual clonal karyotype aberrations exist in meningioma cell populations, reflecting the heterogeneity of biological and pathological findings. PMID- 2612215 TI - Multiple sex-chromosome system in a loach fish. AB - This study shows an X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y type of multiple sex-chromosome system in the genus Cobitis (Pisces, Ostariophysi). Observation of C-banded male meioses revealed that one arm of the neo-Y always associates end-to-end with one of the X chromosomes. This finding implies that a mechanism might be present that has prevented crossing-over between the ancestral X and Y chromosomes without morphological differentiation. This is the first reported case of multiple sex chromosomes among cyprinoid fish. PMID- 2612216 TI - Precise in situ localization of NCAM, ETS1, and D11S29 on human meiotic chromosomes. AB - In order to sublocalize NCAM, ETS1, and the anonymous DNA fragment D11S29 within 11q23, in situ hybridization was performed on pachytene bivalents. Analysis of the grain distribution within the band 11q23 indicated that the chromosomal sublocalization of both NCAM and D11S29 was in 11q23.1, whereas ETS1 was found to be localized in 11q23.3. These results clearly demonstrate the usefulness of in situ hybridization applied to pachytene bivalents to obtain accurate gene sublocalization. PMID- 2612217 TI - Loss of heterozygosity in human germinal tumors. AB - The frequency of losses of heterozygosity has been investigated in 14 germinal tumors of the testis. Nonrandom deletion of whole or part of chromosome 11 was observed in four cases. In addition, loss of heterozygosity of all the informative loci analyzed was detected in one ovarian teratoma, indicating its post-meiotic origin. These results suggest that different genetic mechanisms (chromosomal deletions or meiotic segregation) that unmask putative recessive mutations are involved in the onset of germinal tumors. PMID- 2612218 TI - Factor XI gene (F11) is located on the distal end of the long arm of human chromosome 4. AB - Chromosomal localization of the gene for human coagulation factor XI (F11) was determined by in situ hybridization using a genomic DNA probe which contained exons VIII, IX, and X of the gene. The results indicate that the gene is located at 4q35. PMID- 2612219 TI - Sister chromatid exchanges in the human active and inactive X chromosomes. AB - Four human female fibroblast strains with an i(Xq) or derivative X chromosome as a cytological marker for the inactive X chromosome were used to determine the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in the active and inactive X chromosomes. No significant difference in SCE frequency between the active and inactive X chromosomes was observed. Therefore, the state of chromatin condensation and the late DNA replication in the facultative heterochromatin of the inactive X chromosome do not appear to influence the SCE frequency. PMID- 2612220 TI - The human genes for calbindin 27 and 29 kDa proteins are located on chromosomes 8 and 16, respectively. AB - Genomic clones coding for the brain calcium-binding protein, calbindin 29 kDa, were isolated from a human library. A fragment containing exon 2 was used as a probe to investigate the presence of the gene in human x rodent somatic cell hybrids. The gene was unambiguously assigned to chromosome 16. The closely related calbindin 27 kDa gene was previously assigned to chromosome 8. These two genes, deriving from a common ancestor, thus appear to have been separated during vertebrate evolution. PMID- 2612221 TI - Cryogenic preservation of mammalian testicular material for synaptonemal complex analysis. AB - Synaptonemal complex (SC) analyses have been used in mammalian cytogenetics to investigate the effects of chromosome heterozygosity on meiotic processes. To date, these analyses have been limited largely to the study of humans, livestock, or species which are easily maintained in the laboratory. The development of a method for the cryogenic preservation of testicular tissue for SC analyses allows for the application of this approach to field-oriented biological problems. This new method is described and data are presented which demonstrate its utility to mammalian cytogenetic studies. PMID- 2612222 TI - In situ methylation of human chromosomes with methylase-AluI. AB - A method for in situ DNA methylation with the prokaryotic methylase AluI has been developed for use on fixed human chromosomes. Incorporation of methyl groups into the chromosomal DNA has been shown by autoradiography using a labeled substrate. The methylation prevents the digestion of chromosomal DNA by AluI, allowing direct visualization of clusters of nonmethylated AGCT targets along the human complement. PMID- 2612223 TI - Regional localization of the gene encoding pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein 1 (PSBG1) to human chromosome 19q13.1. AB - Pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein (PSBG), a major product of the human placenta, is encoded by multiple genes. Southern blot hybridization of human x rodent somatic cell hybrid DNAs with a cDNA specific for one member of the PSBG gene family allowed us to map this gene to human chromosome 19. Further analysis using hybrids with subchromosomal segments of 19q revealed that the gene maps to the distal segment of region 19q13.1. PMID- 2612224 TI - A case of X-trisomy in the mouse. AB - An X-trisomy individual, which was found in the phenotypically normal female offspring of an XO mouse, is described. This mouse was infertile, and the ovaries were small and contained only primordial and primary follicles. PMID- 2612225 TI - Community care for elderly diabetics: the Fredericia Survey of diabetic and fasting hyperglycaemic subjects aged 60-74 years. AB - A study was undertaken of the use of community care services by 228 known diabetics and 87 subjects with one fasting blood glucose greater than or equal to 7 mmol/l (fasting hyperglycaemics) found during population screening of a geographically well-defined population aged 60-74 years. The two groups were compared with non-diabetic control groups with the same sex and age distribution as the study groups. The group of known diabetics comprised 52 insulin treated, 101 treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents + diet, 66 diet treated, and nine untreated. Information on community care services (pensions, home help, home nursing care, sick benefit, rent allowance, and technical aids) during the 12 months before ascertainment was obtained from the municipality office. Fasting hyperglycaemics did not receive more community care services than controls other than with regard to home help. More known diabetics received community care services than non-diabetics. Insulin treated diabetics received disability pension, aids, and home nursing care more often than the non-insulin treated. The mean number of hours of home help per person per year was 3-4 times higher for known diabetics in all antidiabetic treatment groups than for controls. The mean number of visits by home nurses/person/year for insulin treated diabetics was 83, for the non-insulin treated 6-7, and for controls 1-2 visits. Insulin injections and treatment of ulcers were the main reasons for the visits.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612226 TI - Serum selenium concentration in patients with ulcerative colitis. AB - Selenium deficiency may be implicated in the pathogenesis of some human diseases, including colon cancer. The incidence of carcinoma of the colon is increased in patients with ulcerative colitis. We measured the serum concentration of selenium (S-Se) in 20 patients with ulcerative colitis and 20 sex-, age-, height- and weight-matched controls. Although no significant difference was found in mean S Se between patients and controls (patients: S-Se = 0.93 mumol/l, controls: S-Se = 0.98 mumol/l), the S-Se level decreased with increasing extension of the disease (p less than 0.02). No correlation was found between S-Se and the sex, age, height, or weight of the person or between S-Se and the activity or duration of the disease. The inverse correlation between S-Se and the extension of the disease may be caused by a decreased absorption of selenium from the diseased colon in ulcerative colitis. The significance of the decreased S-Se in patients with extensive disease is unknown, but the possibility exists that this may further increase their risk of developing colonic cancer. PMID- 2612227 TI - Vital indication for erythropoietin in a chronic haemodialysis patient. A case report. AB - A markedly anaemic, haemodialysis patient with a mixed deficiency of erythropoietin (EPO) and iron developed a life-threatening worsening of anaemia during an episode of severe rectal bleeding. Despite frequently recurring episodes of considerable ischaemic cardiac pain, the patient's religious conviction did not permit blood transfusion. Consequently, combination therapy with both recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) and oral iron was instituted. In this haemodialysis patient, the vitally significant replacement therapy of rhEPO and iron was followed by a steady and uncomplicated restoration of subnormal hematocrit and complete disappearance of cardiac ischaemia. PMID- 2612228 TI - Elimination of ciprofloxacin and three major metabolites and consequences of reduced renal function. AB - The pharmacokinetics and elimination of ciprofloxacin and its three major metabolites desethylene ciprofloxacin (M1), sulfonylciprofloxacin (M2), and oxociprofloxacin (M3) were determined in 18 volunteers with normal and varying degrees of reduced renal functions. One dose of 500 mg ciprofloxacin was given orally. Samples were assayed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Serum concentrations of both ciprofloxacin and its metabolites were only slightly influenced by the renal function. The serum concentrations of the metabolites were less than 10% of the ciprofloxacin levels, even in reduced renal function, and were overlapping within groups of patients arranged according to renal function. Dialysis reduced the serum concentration of the parent compound and its metabolites. The serum half-life of ciprofloxacin in normal renal function was 5.8 +/- 1.2 h; this rose to 10.8 +/- 2.3 h in the group with clearances of 10-30 ml/min. Compared to the latter group, the t1/2 was lower (7.0 +/- 2.9 h) in the patients with terminal renal failure. The period of monitoring has a distinct consequence for the t1/2 of ciprofloxacin. The shorter t1/2 values emanate if monitoring had stopped after 10 or 12 h. A slower gamma-phase of elimination was observed and this was particularly distinct in subjects with renal functions within the normal range. The total renal elimination of the parent compound and its metabolites was approximately 60% over the 48-hour collection period in normal renal function and was reduced by about 20% in the group with clearances within the range of 10-30 ml/min. In renal impairment, there was a shift towards a higher proportion of the dose being eliminated as M2. M1 contributed only up to 2% of the dose in urine. Irrespective of the renal capacity, the amount of M3 recovered in urine was 3-4%. PMID- 2612229 TI - Antibiotic levels in aqueous and vitreous humor after intraocular administration. AB - Antibiotics poorly penetrate the vitreous humor after periocular or systemic administration. Sometimes a direct intravitreal injection is necessary for the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis. The kinetics of the intravitreally injected antibiotics, netilmicin (500 micrograms/0.1 ml), piperacillin (2,000 micrograms/0.1 ml), ampicillin (2,000 micrograms/0.1 ml) and aztreonam (2,000 micrograms/0.1 ml), were examined in rabbits. Aqueous and vitreous antibiotic concentrations were assayed by microbiological methods. The results show that active levels of all drugs studied are present in the vitreous body for 48 h. In aqueous humor beta-lactam antibiotics are present in very small concentrations, whereas the aminoglycoside netilmicin (vitreous/aqueous ratio) have higher levels (%) than other drugs. PMID- 2612230 TI - Pharmacokinetic study on adenomatous prostate tissue concentrations of cefoperazone. Clinical efficacy and patient tolerance of intramuscular cefoperazone treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis. AB - Cephalosporins do not reach active therapeutical concentrations in the prostatic tissue in patients suffering from chronic bacterial prostatitis. Cefoperazone is an exception. Its efficacy in the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis in 20 patients was studied and the concentrations, obtained after intramuscular administration, evaluated in patients who underwent transurethral operation due to prostatic hypertrophy (in 14 patients). The cefoperazone concentrations in the prostate have been evaluated 60, 90 and in some cases 120 min after the administration of the drug and compared to those obtained in serum. The clinical cure has been obtained in 16 patients. The average drug concentration in the prostate after 60 min was 22.8 +/- 13.6 versus 39.8 +/- 20.0 micrograms/ml in serum; 90 min after administration the average concentration in the prostate was 23.2 +/- 14.1 versus 35.7 +/- 18.1 micrograms/ml in serum. The correlation was significant both at 60 min (r = 64, p less than 0.05) and at 90 min (r = 64, p less than 0.05). PMID- 2612231 TI - Pharmacokinetics of cefpiramide in healthy volunteers, patients with various degrees of renal dysfunction, and patients on hemodialysis. AB - The elimination kinetics of cefpiramide, a parenteral semisynthetic cephalosporin derivative, were studied in 6 healthy volunteers and 31 patients with renal dysfunction after a single 500-mg intravenous injection. Cefpiramide concentrations in serum and urine were determined by an agar-well diffusion method. The serum levels in patients with renal impairment were slightly higher than those in volunteers during the period from 30 min to 24 h after the administration. The mean serum half-life during the beta-phase was 4.06 h in the volunteers and was slightly prolonged in the patients. The mean urinary recovery during 24 h amounted to 21.5% in the volunteers and decreased with reduced renal function. Hemodialysis did not enhance the clearance of cefpiramide. PMID- 2612232 TI - Ototoxic effects of a pseudodisaccharide aminoglycoside antibiotic, dactimicin, on the inner ears of guinea pigs. AB - The effect of dactimicin on the inner ear of guinea pigs was investigated by comparing it with the effects of ribostamycin, astromicin and amikacin. At doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks, no pinna reflex loss was observed, but 2 animals receiving 400 mg dactimicin/kg/day showed unilateral loss of the outer hair cells in the cochlea and very scattered loss of the hair cells in the vestibular organ. At doses of 400 and 500 mg dactimicin/kg/day for 5 weeks, all surviving animals showed no abnormality of the outer hair cells, the inner hair cells and the spiral ganglion cells in the cochlea except for scattered unilateral loss of the outer hair cells and loss of the stria vascularis. Based on these observations, it is concluded that the ototoxicity of dactimicin on the inner ear of guinea pigs is the same as or a little stronger than that of ribostamycin, weaker than or the same as that of astromicin and weaker than amikacin. PMID- 2612233 TI - Cephapirin-induced neutropenia. AB - Five cases (3.5%) of reversible cephapirin-induced neutropenia were observed in 132 patients receiving this antibiotic. The disorder was severe (agranulocytosis) in 3 cases. Simultaneous maculopapular rash was observed in all of them and in 4 cases fever occurred. All the cases observed were female (p not significant). Neutropenia developed only after administration of high doses of the antibiotic for a prolonged period of time. In contrast to another 127 patients treated with cephapirin who did not develop neutropenia, neutropenic patients had received a mean daily dose, total dose, mean daily dose per kilogram and total dose per kilogram of body weight significantly larger (p = 0.05, 0.02, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). The duration of therapy was significantly longer in the neutropenic group (p = 0.001). Neutropenia did not occur below 90 g of total dose, but when this amount was exceeded, the incidence of the disorder reached 26.3% (p less than 0.001). We conclude that when this drug must be used either for long periods of time or at high doses, a hematologic vigilance is recommendable. PMID- 2612234 TI - Third generation cephalosporins in the treatment of severe infections. Workshop held during the 16th ICC. Jerusalem, June 11-16, 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2612235 TI - Ceftriaxone versus imipenem/cilastatin as empirical monotherapy for infections in cancer patients. AB - We conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial to compare the efficacy and tolerability of monotherapy with ceftriaxone (active ingredient of Rocephin) (CRO) versus imipenem/cilastatin (I/C) in febrile cancer patients with or without neutropenia. 120 febrile episodes were randomized and 89 (75%) were evaluable for efficacy analysis. The overall response rates to both regimens were good (86 and 79% improved in response to CRO and I/C, respectively). Overall mortality was low and similar in the two groups. Both regimens were well tolerated. Our preliminary data corroborate the efficacy of CRO or I/C as empirical monotherapy for febrile episodes in cancer patients. It will be up to future investigations to show whether one of these regimens is superior to the other. PMID- 2612236 TI - Use of ceftriaxone in the treatment of bacterial infections in cirrhotic patients. AB - Sixty-two episodes of bacterial infection were studied in 51 cirrhotic patients. 2 g of ceftriaxone (active ingredient of Rocephin) were given intravenously once daily for 7-10 days. The infections were pneumonia, bacteremia, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, urinary infection and others. Good responses were seen in 90% of the cases. PMID- 2612237 TI - Ceftriaxone monotherapy for severe bacteremic infections. Spanish Ceftriaxone Study Group. AB - We tested the efficacy of a single daily dose of ceftriaxone (active ingredient of Rocephin) for the treatment of severe bacteremic infections in 125 non neutropenic adult patients. A single daily dose of ceftriaxone ranging from 1 to 4 g was given. Surgical procedures were performed if needed. Seventy-six (60.8%) were males and bacteremia was nosocomially acquired in 45 (36%). Microbiologically proven bacteremia was demonstrated in all patients. The most common microorganisms isolated were Escherichia coli (46 episodes), Streptococcus pneumoniae (17 episodes), Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae, Serratia marcescens, Salmonella sp., and Staphylococcus aureus (9, 7, 6, 6, respectively). The urinary tract was the source of the bacteremia in 45 cases (36%), and the lower respiratory tract in 33 (26.4%). Mean duration of treatment was 10.8 days (range 3-21 days). One hundred and six patients (84.8%) recovered completely, 11 (8.8%) improved, but needed an alternative antibiotic treatment. An alternative treatment was also given to a patient whose condition had initially deteriorated. Seven patients (5.6%) died. Death was directly related to the infection in 2 cases. Three patients (2.4%) developed a superinfection, and 5 (4%) a severe (1 case) or mild (4 cases) adverse effect. In summary, a single daily dose of ceftriaxone proved to be useful for the treatment of selected severe bacteremic infections. PMID- 2612238 TI - Therapy of lower respiratory tract infections: a comparison of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime. AB - The objectives of this open, prospective, randomized and comparative study were to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous ceftriaxone (active ingredient of Rocephin) and cefotaxime in treatment of bacterial pneumoniae. Forty-three patients were enrolled in the study and in 40 (21 in the ceftriaxone group and 19 in the cefotaxime group) we were able to make an evaluation. Bacteriological results were essentially based on a positive culture obtained with transtracheal aspirate (TTA) - 34 out of 40 cases; in the remaining patients, at least an initial positive sputum culture was obtained. Most of the lower respiratory tract infections were secondary to previous chronic respiratory diseases or were nosocomial infections; 25 out of 40 cases were considered to be severe or critical situations. The overall efficacy (bacteriological eradication plus clinical cure or clear improvement) of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime were 90.5% (19/21) and 73.7% (14/19), respectively (p less than 0.05). The tolerability of both drugs was good: 16 (76.2%) patients in the ceftriaxone group and 12 (63.2%) in the cefotaxime group had no adverse events, while in 5 and 7 patients, respectively, tolerability was considered satisfactory (minor side effects, none of which required discontinuation or even reduction of dosage). PMID- 2612239 TI - Ceftriaxone versus cefotaxime in the treatment of septicemia in adults. AB - Two potent third-generation cephalosporins with similar antibacterial spectra but different pharmacokinetics were compared in patients suffering from septicemia due to different organismus. Sixty patients with a variety of underlying diseases were included in the study. They received either 2-4 g ceftriaxone (active ingredient of Rocephin) once a day or 2 g cefotaxime every 8 h for 10-15 days. Our data confirm that a single dose of 2 g ceftriaxone should be sufficient to treat septicemia. PMID- 2612240 TI - Small-scale deceit: deception as a marker of two-, three-, and four-year-olds' early theories of mind. AB - This research report summarizes the results of a study into the abilities of 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old children to deceptively lead others into false beliefs, and is intended to help arbitrate a growing controversy as to when young persons first acquire some theory-like understanding of other minds. Utilizing a novel hide-and seek board game as a context within which to observe children's spontaneous use of deceptive strategies, a total of 50 subjects between the ages of 2 1/2 and 5 were tested. In contrast to the competing findings of others, which are claimed to establish that children younger than approximately 4 suffer a cognitive deficit that wholly blocks them from the possibility of entertaining any sort of contrastive beliefs about beliefs, the results of this study show that even 2 1/2 year-olds are capable of already successfully employing a range of deceptive strategies that both trade upon an awareness of the possibility of false beliefs and presuppose some already operative theory of mind. PMID- 2612241 TI - Developing theories of the mind: children's and adults' concepts of mental activities. AB - 8-year-olds', 10-year-olds', and adults' concepts of mental activities involved in acts of knowing were examined in an attempt to gain insight into developmental changes in underlying theories of mind. Subjects rated the similarity of how the mind is used in a variety of common activities, each of which primarily involved either memory, comprehension, attention, or inference. Analyses of conceptual structure revealed 2 developmental changes. Between 8 and 10 years of age, children came to see the most important relation among mental activities to be the degree to which they involved memory. Between 10 years of age and adulthood, Comprehension and Attention first appeared as distinct, coherent concepts. At all ages, Memory and Inference were seen as distinct types of mental activities. These findings suggested that a sophisticated understanding of the representational nature of the mind might not be acquired before the latter part of middle childhood and might be mediated by an understanding of the central role played by memory. PMID- 2612242 TI - Priorities in children's expectations about object label reference: form over color. AB - Young children show considerable interest in color similarity; thus we might expect them to use color as a basis for generalizing object labels. However, natural language observations suggest they do not: children tend to overextend labels based on form similarity and rarely, if ever, overextend labels to objects that share only color. Perhaps, then, children give form priority over color in their expectations about object-label reference. This hypothesis was investigated in 2 studies. In a first study, 40 2- and 3-year-olds sorted 10 sets of 3 pictures that contrasted form with color. Children participated in 1 of 2 conditions: half of the children were shown a target object and asked to "find another one" from among the two choice objects, while the other children heard a novel label for the target (e.g., "See this zom?") and were asked to extend the label (e.g., "Can you find another zom?"). 3-year-olds sorted almost exclusively on the basis of form in both conditions, while 2-year-olds performed differently in the 2 conditions: they frequently chose the color match when labels were absent, but selected by form rather than color when asked to extend a novel label. A second study replicated these findings with novel objects that were real rather than pictured. This study also suggested that 3-year-olds grant color some role in their decisions about object-label reference as long as form differences are reduced to a tolerable level. In sum, young children expect form to be more important than color for guiding object-label reference, even though they may find color interesting when not asked to extend labels. This expectation helps explain the speed and relative ease with which children acquire object labels. PMID- 2612243 TI - Concepts of potency and resistance in causal prediction. AB - This study examined the development of causal prediction using physical systems with effects of continuous magnitude. Accurately predicting the magnitude of an effect (ME) requires integration of information about the potency (P) of the causal agent and the resistance (R) of the effect. 10 5-year-olds, 10 9-year olds, and 10 adults each viewed 36 instances of each of 2 causal mechanisms in which 6 levels of P were crossed with 6 levels of R. For every (P, R) pair, subjects were asked to predict ME. For one mechanism (the balance), an accurate combination of P and R would correspond to a subtraction model (ME = P-R), whereas for the other mechanism (the ramp), a division model (ME = P/R) would yield accurate predictions. Subjects' theoretical models of the roles of P and R were inferred from (a) correlations of their predictions with ideal answers, (b) multiple regression analyses, and (c) analysis of the number of categories P and R that each subject employed. Relative to older subjects, 5-year-olds treated P and R as having fewer categories of intensity. Although 5-year-olds did not generally achieve high correlations with ideal answers, many systematically used P and/or R to influence their predictions. Subjects used P and R more systematically on the balance problem than on the ramp problem. 9-year-olds employed the correct model (subtraction) on the balance problem but applied the subtraction model to the ramp problem as well. Adults converged on the correct models for each mechanism. The results are interpreted in terms of the progressive refinement of a rough, qualitative theory. PMID- 2612244 TI - Personal responsibility antecedents of anger and blame reactions in children. AB - The potential cognitive basis for anger in children was investigated by having 5 , 6-, 9-, 11-, and 15-year-old children offer moral evaluations and anger judgments about 8 incidents of property damage that differed in terms of the perpetrator's personal responsibility. Personal responsibility was manipulated by varying the events in terms of 3 dimensions: avoidability, intentionality, and motive acceptability. Results showed that these dimensions similarly affected children's moral- and anger-related judgments. Children's use of the personal responsibility dimensions was also associated with giving lower anger judgments, which suggests that anger instigation to property damage is moderated by the ability to take a normative perspective on transgressions. PMID- 2612245 TI - Developmental changes in children's awareness of strategies for coping with uncontrollable stress. AB - Children at 3 age levels (5-6 1/2, 7 1/2-9, and 10-12 years) were interviewed to determine their spontaneous suggestions of coping strategies designed to manage frustration caused by waiting for a desired object (positive valence) and fear caused by waiting for an unpleasant event (negative valence) in uncontrollable situations. Subjects' responses were grouped into categories based on coping techniques discussed in the adult coping literature on a continuum from approach to avoidance techniques. The avoidance tactics, the main focus of interest, were further divided into 4 distinct forms. In contrast to investigations of children's coping in more controllable situations, approach strategies were very infrequently mentioned. An age increase was found in the proportion of cognitive distraction strategies suggested, but behavioral distraction strategies were most frequently suggested by children at all age levels and did not differ significantly across age. The developmental differences were particularly evident for the negative valence scenarios and, within the negative valence scenarios, for the story likely to be the most stressful to young children--getting a shot. The results are discussed in terms of possible reasons for age differences in cognitive but not behavioral distraction and their implications for children's ability to cope with uncontrollable stress. PMID- 2612246 TI - Mastery versus ability appraisal: a developmental study of children's observations of peers' work. AB - This study was designed to test the hypothesis that there is an age-related shift from mastery enhancement to relative ability assessment in the goal of social comparison. Children at ages 5, 7, and 10 made pictures with stickers under conditions of high or low concern with relative performance (competition/no competition) and high or low procedural ambiguity (free design/copying a drawing). The effects of the manipulations on frequency of glancing at the experimenter and the drawing were similar at all ages; competition enhanced glancing at peers, however, only at ages 7 and 10. The hypothesized shift in the function of social comparison was further supported by age differences in children's explanations for glancing at peers and by the pattern of intercorrelations between glances at the 3 targets and between glances and picture quality. The results indicate how mastery-based comparisons can promote mastery and performance and illustrate some costs older children may pay for their tendency to observe others primarily to assess relative ability. PMID- 2612247 TI - Conceptions of athletic excellence among children and adolescents. AB - Youth in grades 3, 6, 9, and 12 were interviewed about their beliefs regarding athletic excellence. A set of open-ended questions assessed beliefs about the source of athletic ability and the differences between excellent athletes and others. Respondents also rated excellent athletes on a checklist containing various physical, cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal traits. Younger children were less likely than adolescents to differentiate excellent athletes. All participants, but especially adolescents, attributed greater physical skills to highly competent athletes. All but the third graders thought excellent athletes were different from others in terms of cognitive skills (e.g., attention, concentration), and adolescents believed excellent athletes also differed from others in terms of attitudes (e.g., motivation, determination). Older males were more likely to believe that athletic excellence was due to natural ability, whereas older females were more likely to attribute excellence to early social support and facilitation. PMID- 2612248 TI - Children's responses to different forms of expression of anger between adults. AB - Anger is not a homogeneous stimulus, but can vary on a variety of dimensions and domains. This study examined children's responses to anger as a function of: (a) the mode of expression of anger (nonverbal, verbal, verbal-physical), and (b) whether or not anger between others was resolved. Children were presented with videotaped segments of angry and friendly interactions and asked questions concerning their responses. All angry interactions, including non-verbal anger, were perceived as negative events and elicited negative emotions. Unresolved anger was perceived as a far more negative event than resolved anger and induced greater feelings of anger and distress in children. Verbal-physical anger was perceived as the most negative form of expression of anger. Boys reported more angry feelings in response to anger than girls. Distress responding was greater in children from homes in which there was interparent physical aggression and in children with behavior problems. Finally, the utility of this methodology is supported by relatively high test-retest reliability and limited evidence of context effects. PMID- 2612249 TI - Maternal responsiveness and child compliance: the role of mood as a mediator. AB - Parpal and Maccoby demonstrated that responsive maternal play increases children's compliance. They suggested that positive mood induction might be one mechanism mediating this effect. Study 1 tested the hypothesis that a responsive maternal play procedure would indeed induce a positive mood. 32 4-year-olds and their mothers participated. Half of the mothers were trained in a responsive play technique prior to a laboratory play session; half of them were not trained. Postplay self-reports of mood indicated that responsive play increased positive mood but did not affect arousal levels. Study 2 tested the hypothesis that experimentally induced positive mood increases compliance in the types of tasks reported in the Parpal and Maccoby's research. 24 4-year-olds were randomly assigned to either a positive or negative mood induction and then tested for response to maternal compliance demands. Children induced into positive moods complied more and complied with shorter latencies than children induced into negative moods. The fact that maternal responsiveness induces a positive mood points to a mechanism that may be significant in both attachment and socialization beyond infancy. PMID- 2612250 TI - The relation between stressful life events and adjustment in elementary school children: the role of social support and social problem-solving skills. AB - This study investigated the relation between stressful life events and adjustment in elementary school children, with particular emphasis on the potential main and stress-buffering effects of social support and social problem-solving skills. Third through fifth graders (N = 361) completed social support and social problem solving measures. Their parents provided ratings of stress in the child's environment and ratings of the child's behavioral adjustment. Teachers provided ratings of the children's behavioral and academic adjustment. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed significant stress-buffering effects for social support and problem-solving skills on teacher-rated behavior problems, that is, higher levels of social support and problem-solving skills moderated the relation between stressful life events and behavior problems. A similar stress-buffering effect was found for problem-solving skills on grade-point average and parent rated behavior problems. In terms of children's competent behaviors, analyses supported a main effect model of social support and problem-solving. Possible processes accounting for the main and stress-buffering effects are discussed. PMID- 2612251 TI - Authoritative parenting, psychosocial maturity, and academic success among adolescents. AB - The over-time relation between 3 aspects of authoritative parenting--acceptance, psychological autonomy, and behavioral control--and school achievement was examined in a sample of 120 10-16-year-olds in order to test the hypothesis that authoritative parenting facilitates, rather than simply accompanies, school success. In addition, the mediating role of youngsters' psychosocial maturity was studied. Results indicate that (1) authoritative parenting facilitates adolescents' academic success, (2) each component of authoritativeness studied makes an independent contribution to achievement, and (3) the positive impact of authoritative parenting on achievement is mediated at least in part through the effects of authoritativeness on the development of a healthy sense of autonomy and, more specifically, a healthy psychological orientation toward work. Adolescents who describe their parents as treating them warmly, democratically, and firmly are more likely than their peers to develop positive attitudes toward, and beliefs about, their achievement, and as a consequence, they are more likely to do better in school. PMID- 2612252 TI - Early school dropout: configurations and determinants. AB - This longitudinal study examined behavioral, cognitive, and demographic factors associated with early school dropout. Follow-up assessments were completed on a sample of girls (n = 248) and boys (n = 227) who had first been seen when they were in the seventh grade. School status was determined for all living subjects; 99% of them were interviewed individually in the fifth annual test wave. Overall, 14% of the group had dropped out of school prior to completing grade 11. The clusters of males and females most vulnerable to early school dropout were characterized in grade 7 by high levels of aggressiveness and low levels of academic performance (82% early dropout in males; 47% early dropout in females). In seventh grade, subjects who subsequently dropped out tended to affiliate with persons who were also at risk for dropout. Socioeconomic status, race, and early parenthood were also associated with school dropout. The primary outcomes were supported by convergent variable-oriented and person-oriented analyses. Some developmental dynamics of the phenomena are discussed. PMID- 2612253 TI - Masculinity and femininity in twin children: genetic and environmental factors. AB - Genetic and environmental origins of individual differences in masculine and feminine personality attributes were investigated in a sample of 38 monozygotic and 32 dizygotic twin pairs (total N = 140) during pre- and early adolescence. Self-report measures of both masculine and feminine characteristics were obtained for each child using 2 standardized instruments: the Children's Personality Attributes Questionnaire (CPAQ) and the Adolescent Self-Perception Inventory (ASPI). Multivariate biometrical analyses revealed significant genetic influences in all measures, accounting for 20%-48% of the observed variation in each. Environmental influences, which explained the remaining 52%-80% of variance in masculinity and femininity, were apparently specific to each individual and not shared by members of the same twin pair. The results underscore the importance of considering both genetic and environmental factors in gender-role development, particularly in studies of family resemblance. PMID- 2612254 TI - Social contingency effects on subsequent perceptual-cognitive tasks in young infants. AB - 3 experiments with 3-month-old infants compared the effects of contingent and noncontingent adult-infant social interactions on subsequent infant-controlled habituation and choice tasks. Infants who experienced a prior noncontingent social interaction tended to adopt response strategies that reduced the density of stimulation during these subsequent nonsocial tasks. The results are discussed in terms of their generality and the types of mechanisms that might mediate these transfer effects from social to nonsocial procedures. PMID- 2612255 TI - Intonation and communicative intent in mothers' speech to infants: is the melody the message? AB - This study explores the power of intonation to convey meaningful information about the communicative intent of the speaker in speech addressed to preverbal infants and in speech addressed to adults. Natural samples of infant- and adult directed speech were recorded from 5 mothers of 12-month-old infants, in 5 standardized interactional contexts: Attention-bid, Approval, Prohibition, Comfort, and Game/Telephone. 25 infant-directed and 25 adult-directed vocalizations were electronically filtered to eliminate linguistic content. The content-filtered speech stimuli were presented to 80 adult subjects: 40 experienced parents and 40 students inexperienced with infants. The subjects' task was to identify the communicative intent of the speaker using only prosodic information, given a 5-alternative forced choice. Listeners were able to use intonation to identify the speaker's intent with significantly higher accuracy in infant-directed speech than in adult-directed speech. These findings suggest that the prosodic patterns of speech to infants are more informative than those of adult-adult speech, and may provide the infant with reliable cues to the communicative intent of the speaker. The interpretation of these results proposed here is that the relation of prosodic form to communicative function is made uniquely salient in the melodies of mothers' speech, and that these characteristic prosodic patterns are potentially meaningful to the preverbal infant. PMID- 2612256 TI - The effect of context and age on social referencing. AB - The present study investigated social referencing in 2 settings, familiar child care centers and an unfamiliar university laboratory. 48 children from 6 to 40 months, divided into 3 age groups (6-12, 13-23, and 24-40 months), participated with 1 parent. Looking at parents varied with age and setting. Younger children looked more often when parents expressed positive reactions, whereas middle children looked more at fearful expressions, and the oldest children looked equally at positive and fearful expressions. Children looked at their parents sooner and were more involved with parents in the child-care setting. Behavioral regulation--less play with the fearful-message than the positive-message toy--was observed in both settings. Affect was not influenced by setting and showed regulation only for the oldest children. These results indicate that some effects of social referencing, such as behavior regulation, may be generalizable across some settings, but that parent proximity and looking at parents are sensitive to the context in which referencing occurs. PMID- 2612257 TI - Security of attachment and infant-sibling relationships: a laboratory study. AB - The relation between infant-sibling affective involvement and the attachment security of each child to the mother was examined in the present laboratory investigation. In mothers' presence, securely attached infants were less likely to protest and aggress against mothers and older siblings when mothers played only with the older child. In mothers' absence, more secure older siblings were more likely to respond to infant distress with caregiving than were less secure older siblings. Although infant attachment behavior to older siblings was rare, it occurred only when the older sibling was more secure. Sibling dyads with a secure infant and a more secure older child appeared to be most likely to develop nonantagonistic relationships, whereas sibling dyads with an insecure infant and a less secure older child appeared least likely to do so. These findings were discussed in terms of the putative role of attachment security in shaping sibling bonds. PMID- 2612259 TI - [A more explicit message]. PMID- 2612258 TI - [Toward a new concept in modern endodontics. A unique catheterization instrument for manual and automated preparation]. PMID- 2612260 TI - [Transplants. Reflections on the role of the periodontal ligament and resorption risk]. PMID- 2612261 TI - [Joint and muscular pathology before, during and after treatment of total edentulousness]. AB - Firstly, the author raises the question related to dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint that should not be considered any longer as an epiphenomenon in patients with full dentures. Then he deals with the diagnostic procedures: palpation and measurement of muscular activity, mechanical evaluation of muscular and articular dysfunction. Finally, he describes the therapeutical aspects of bite guards with their specifications. PMID- 2612262 TI - [The problem of maxillary and mandibular mucosal condition before, during and after insertion of complete dentures]. AB - The buccal mucosa recouvring the edentulous ridges is composed with two tissues limited by a basal membrane: a stratified squamous keratinized epithelium overlying the connective tissue. After insertion of complete denture, the most common pathology is the inflammation of the mucosa in front dentures from several causes (infection, trauma, allergy). The bacterial deposit control and effective hygiene are able to treat prosthetic stomatitis. Nevertheless it must be emphasize that prosthetic treatment must be correctly conducted and often controlled. PMID- 2612263 TI - [A modified Putti-Platt surgical method in the treatment of habitual luxation of the anterior shoulder: our experience]. AB - Fifty cases of recurrent dislocation of the shoulder operated according to the Putti-Platt method modified by lateralization of the insertion of the coracoid processes are reported. Excellent results were obtained in 86% of the cases. There was neither incidence of recurrence, nor degenerative joint alteration. Mild limitation in extrarotation (less than 10 degrees) was observed in 7 cases. PMID- 2612264 TI - [Fracture of the tibial plateau: results of surgical treatment]. AB - The different types of tibial plateau fractures have similar problems. Today most of them are treated surgically to obtain the adequate reduction. Ninety-three fractures of the tibial plateau have been reviewed. The clinical and X-ray examinations were performed from 7 to 13 years after surgery. Poor results with ligamentous instability and posttraumatic arthritis seem to be related to insufficient reduction of the fracture, loose fragments in the joint, axial angulation and insufficient repair of ligaments and menisci. PMID- 2612265 TI - [Treatment of fractures of the distal quarter of the leg using Ilizarov's method: preliminary results]. AB - The authors report their experience about the treatment of the fractures of the distal end of the leg, by means of the method of Ilizarov. The type of apparatus used and the technique of assembling are presented. The authors point out the validity and advantage of this method, especially when compared to A.O. osteosynthesis. PMID- 2612266 TI - [Post-traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee]. AB - A clinical survey of 130 patients suffering from acute traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee shows that hemarthrosis is a significant symptom of knee injury. The evaluation of stability under anesthesia was misleading in 45% of the cases. Arthroscopy allows a more accurate diagnosis of the injury. PMID- 2612267 TI - [Long-term results of the conservative treatment of thalamic fractures of the calcaneus]. AB - We have inspected 79 heel thalamic fractures, that have been treated conservatively, at an average follow-up of 8.8 years since trauma. In addition to the clinical examination, every patient was subjected to podoscopy and radiographic examination in two projections. The functional result was extremely positive in 80% of cases, without a significant relation with the severity of anatomic deformations, that are almost always present. We conclude therefore that the functional result is only partly related to the entity of clinical and radiographic pictures and that the conservative treatment gave good results in most cases, without the risks of a surgical treatment in this anatomic site. PMID- 2612268 TI - [Conservative treatment of acromioclavicular luxation]. AB - The authors consider the conservative treatment of acromioclavicular dislocation and present a revision of 59 cases treated by Desault bandage and thoraco brachial cast (mean follow up 46 mos). The indications to conservative treatment are pointed out and the good functional results are stressed. PMID- 2612269 TI - [Rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the thumb: clinical considerations]. AB - The authors report 40 cases of lesions of the ulnar part of the first metacarpo phalangeal joint. In their experience only the main collateral ligament's lesions (alone or associated) need a surgical treatment. Only a correct diagnosis and early treatment lead to a complete functional recovery. PMID- 2612270 TI - [Auto- and homoplastic grafts in the treatment of osteolytic lesions]. AB - Based on 32 cases of neoplastic and degenerative lesions, the indications and limits of auto- and alloplastic grafts are discussed. Grafting was successful in all of the cases, obtaining excellent clinical and radiographic results. An auto graft may be used to more rapidly fill cavities which remain after curettage has been performed, but the limited availability of grafts, the need for a second operation, and the weakening of the donor site encourage us to develop more practical methods of removal and preservation of the allograft. PMID- 2612271 TI - [The practice of surgery in France. Current state, fears for the future]. AB - After a study of the number of surgeons practising in France, the author presents data which may have a poor effect on the future of the specialty: increasing constraints, reduced numbers of interns, decreased income and disappearance of general surgery, etc. The discipline is poorly prepared for future technical innovations. In the near future the population may no longer be served by an adequate number of surgeons, due to lack of interest in the specialty. PMID- 2612272 TI - [Colonic cancer. Indications and results apropos of a continuous series of 223 patients]. AB - The authors report a retrospective study of 223 surgical colonic carcinoma (1978 1987), the rectal carcinoma left out of them because of disparity in technical aspects. The total post-operative mortality rate was 9.4 per cent, made of great mortality in emergency (31 per cent) and in palliative surgery (17 per cent). Out of emergency, the mortality of curative surgery is 3.7 per cent. Surgical procedure was mechanical in 96 per cent with incidence of leakage in 3.9 per cent. The total survival rate is 53 per cent after 5 year follow-up, 70 per cent after curative surgery and 89 per cent for the first level (A) in DUKE'S classification. There is only a problem for the choice in size of resection for the sigmoid side (50 per cent of the cases). Contrary to recent studies, in our experience the post-operative mortality rate and survival rate are different with sigmoidectomy or left colectomy. Then the authors think that every model of resection has to be choice according age of patient and classification of carcinoma. PMID- 2612273 TI - [Recurrence after intestinal resection for Crohn's disease]. AB - Although recurrence is one of the major problems in the surgical management of a patient with Crohn disease, the factors that influence recurrence rate remain controversial. To elucidate some of this controversy, the records of a consecutive series of 100 patients, who underwent resectional surgery for Crohn's disease, were analyzed to evaluate the effect of several clinical and histologic features on the recurrence rate. In this study, recurrence was defined as clinical and or laboratory findings of re-emergent disease confirmed by objective means after resection of all lesions. Recurrence rate seems lower in colitis than ileitis or ileocolitis, but this data did not reach statistic significance; the site of recurrence was conditioned by the initial location of the disease and the extent of resection into healthy tissue above and below the lesions and the histological findings of section lines did not modify the risk of recurrence. In conclusion the recurrence is almost inevitable. The multifactorial aspect of the recurrence cannot be ignored, however some clinical factors were more closely related to the recurrence. A part from Crohn's colitis, type of surgery (radical vs limited resection) had little chance of minimizing the risk of recurrence. PMID- 2612274 TI - [Diffuse esophageal leiomyomatosis. Apropos of 5 cases with 2 familial cases]. AB - Diffuse esophageal leiomyomatosis is characterized by diffuse muscular hypertrophy chiefly marked in the lower end of the esophagus looks at a large tumor. It involves the entire length of the esophagus and down to the upper part of the stomach (esogastric leiomyomatosis). Diffuse leiomyomatosis is a extremely rare pathology encountered in children (13 previous report cases) and young adults. Il may be isolated or found in association with other intrathoracic and genital localisations or Alport syndrome (nephropathy, sensorineural deafness, ocular lesions). Extensive leiomyomatosis, engulfing the trachea and stem bronchi, may involve acute respiratory insufficiency. Genital localisations, exclusively in women (clitoral hypertrophy, vulvar leiomyomatosis), in association with esophageal leiomyomatosis, realize the esophago vulvar syndrome. Recently, familial diffuse leiomyomatosis cases were described with, in association, esophageal and extra-esophageal leiomyomatosis and Alport syndrome. The majority of the patients developed esophageal or respiratory symptoms. The radiological appearance is that of a mediastinal tumor or achalasia. CT Scans findings can give evidence diffuse muscular thickening of esophageal wall. Prognosis depends on the associated lesions. In that reports, two young adults (27 and 39 years old) died of inhabitual carcinomas (esophageal and gallbladder carcinoma). The only surgical treatment for symptomatic esogastric leiomyomatosis is subtotal esophagectomy with proximal gastrectomy and esocoloplasty. Myotomy is ineffective (2 cases). Five cases of esophageal leiomyomatosis are described (3 children, 2 young adults). Among these, two are familial leiomyomatosis cases. An esophageal resection was performed in four patients. PMID- 2612275 TI - [Pain in the trochanteric region caused by tunnel compression of the lateral cutaneous perforating branch of the ilio-hypogastric nerve. Indications for neurolysis]. AB - After consideration of anatomical and clinical studies, the authors describe a new tunnel syndrome involving the lateral cutaneous branch of the iliohypogastric nerve as it emerges above the iliac crest. Irritation of the strangulated nerve produces pain over the lateral aspect of the hip. In 7 cases where local infiltration failed, neurolysis was carried out and produced excellent results in 5 patients, thus confirming the pathophysiology of this syndrome. PMID- 2612276 TI - [Effect of age on the results of surgical treatment of cancer of the gallbladder]. AB - The aim of the study was to define the influence of age on the surgical treatment of cancer of the gall bladder. From a population of 731 patients: 104 were over 80 years (14%) and 230 were between 70 ant 80 years (32%). The histological stages T1, T2, T3, T4 were also distributed throughout the various age groups. There were however significantly more in situ lesions before the age of 70 years than after. The incidence of resection was similar in the various age groups but extended right hepatectomy was only carried out in patients under 70 years. The mortality rate was low for patients who underwent surgery for lesions graded Tis, T1 and T2. High survival rates were only obtained in the Tis and T1 patient groups. T2 grade cancers had a significantly improved prognosis when resection was carried out. Duration of survival after bilio-intestinal anastomosis was very short regardless of the age of the patient. In summary, age did not appear to constitute a contraindication to resection for early lesions, but it did have an effect for the lesions graded T1, T2, on the degree of hepatic resection around the gall bladder. Lesions graded Tis were all treated by simple cholecystectomy regardless of age. Patients with T3 or T4 lesions did not benefit from resection, regardless of age, and in these cases the value of bilio-intestinal anastomosis is debatable. PMID- 2612277 TI - [Mechanical anastomosis on the second duodenum. Value, technics and indications]. AB - The authors present 50 anastomoses on the second part of duodenum after gastrectomy, that were done for gastro-duodenal ulcer in 24 patients, gastric carcinoma for 20 patients and post-gastrectomy syndromes in 5 patients. The mechanical procedure provide excellent security (without leakage) and was easy to perform. When it is necessary to make the restoration of duodenal continuity, this device is a good technical solution. PMID- 2612278 TI - [Extracorporeal lithotripsy of biliary lithiasis. 160 patients treated with an EDAP apparatus]. AB - Since February 1987, we have been using extracorporeal lithotripsy for certain cases of chronic biliary lithiasis, using an EDAP lithotripter. The technique is reserved for patients with less than four radiotransparent, or partially calcified calculi, less than 25 mm in size, within the context of a functioning gall bladder with no evidence of lithiasis in the C.B.D. Dissolution of the fragments after lithotripsy is ensured by bile salts, this treatment being continued for at least 3 months after the gall bladder has been completely cleared. 160 patients were treated using a total of 181 treatment sessions. Hospitalisation lasted on average 3 days, 1/5th of the patients suffered right hypochondrial pain and nausea for 24 hours. 17% of patients showed a transient elevation in alkaline phosphatase and 12% an elevation in amylase after the procedure. The rate of gall bladder clearance was 24% at 1 month, 40.7% at 3 months ans 50% at 1 year. 11 cholecystectomies were carried out (6.8%), 8 of which were essential. Bile duct migration occurred in 2 cases and produced oedematous pancreatitis in one case. Recurrent lithiasis was noted in 4 cases between 6 and 18 months after gall bladder clearance. 75% of cured patients had a single, radiotransparent stone less than 20 mm in diameter. PMID- 2612279 TI - [Uncommon arterial and venous reconstruction in liver transplantation]. AB - The aim of this work was to define the best technical options of reconstruction that we can proposed in front of an anatomical or parietal anomalies of venous or arterial system in hepatic transplantation. Through a retrospective study of 10 reconstructions performed between 1978 and 1989, we observed 5 cases of right hepatic artery from superior mesenteric artery of the donor. The two basic methods of reconstruction were either the "fold over" technic of Gordon or the realization of an end to end anastomosis between donor's right hepatic artery and donor's splenic artery. In 3 cases, the insufficiency of the hepatic arterial blood flow after classic anastomosis, led us to employ an arterial iliac graft between the recipient's aorta and the donor's coeliac patch. 2 patients with portocaval shunt or portal parietal defect underwent reconstruction by venous iliac graft. In conclusion, we emphasize the importance of a perfect reconstructed reconstruction as much on the anatomical level than functional. PMID- 2612280 TI - [Funnel chest: objective and subjective aspects]. AB - Forty cases of funnel chests were observed in a majority of 15-20 years old male youngsters. Twenty-six had respiratory or cardiac symptoms. A surgical correction was done for 22 patients; 12 had symptoms. Eighteen patients had no surgery and were advised to undertake physical therapy: 6 had symptoms. With a 1 to 25 years follow-up 12 operated patients were checked up: 10 were satisfied with the correction. None had any symptom. This subjective results were superior to the morphologic and functional criteria. As for non operated patients, 12 were contacted: 7 had followed our advice and felt a functional amelioration in 6 cases and a morphological amelioration in 4 cases. Five patients had no therapy: 4 considered themselves in a stable situation an 1 thought it was worse. Funnel chest symptoms are the expression of anxiety in a majority of cases. The subjective as well as the formal matters are to be considered to appreciate the results of treatment. Physical exercises are an important part of the therapy, either with or without surgery. PMID- 2612281 TI - [Extracorporeal lithotripsy in the treatment of biliary calculi]. AB - The authors present their experience from February 1988 with biliary lithotripsy in 125 patients. They review the protocol inclusion criteria and the various forms of complementary medical treatment. From this group, 30% of the patients underwent cholecystectomy, 45% received medical treatment and only 25% did not eventually require complementary medical therapy. PMID- 2612282 TI - [Analysis and results of total hip replacement with femoral cortical fixation]. AB - The present report describes an original conception of a total hip prosthesis. The implant is applied upon the lateral cortical of the shaft of the femur. The implant is screwed on by the mean of a plate. There is no adjunction of cement. The design tries to reach as close a possible the natural physiology of a long bone during life. The purpose is to gain a better longevity of the implant and, consequently, its utilisation to young patients for whom a total hip prosthesis is the only solution. PMID- 2612283 TI - [Treatment of splenic injuries. Retrospective study of 101 cases]. AB - 101 patients with splenic trauma were treated during the period 1978 to 1988. They included 76 men and 25 women aged between 16 and 85 years, with a mean age of 38 years 6 months. Exclusively splenic lesions were present in 33 cases (32.67%) and bony or visceral lesions were also present in 68 cases (67.33%). 61 cases (60.39%) suffered from multiple trauma. 97 patients underwent laparotomy, 86 (85.1%) subsequently underwent total splenectomy and 11 (10.8%) conservative surgical treatment (10 partial splenectomies and 1 splenorrhaphy). Four patients did not undergo surgery and were kept under surveillance in a surgical ward for 3 weeks. The majority of partial splenectomies were carried out after 1985 though the first was performed in 1981. There was no operative mortality and post operative mortality was 9.9% (10 deaths). The overall mean duration of hospitalisation was 20.2 days: 15.6 days for patients who underwent partial splenectomy, 19.6 days for patients who underwent total splenectomy and 21 days for cases involving simple surveillance. Operative complications occurred in 28 patients who underwent laparotomy. Complications did not occur in the 4 patients who received simple surveillance. The most frequent complications were sepsis, pneumonia, thrombo-embolic complications and four patients required reoperation for hemoperitoneum. Conservative surgical treatment is increasingly being used in splenic trauma. The criteria for avoidance of surgical intervention remain difficult to define at the present time. PMID- 2612284 TI - [Conservative coloproctectomy: the advantages of a circular trans-suture staple anastomosis after linear stapling of the everted rectum. Preliminary results]. AB - Technical alternatives in conservative proctocolectomy are presently investigated to improve the functional results of the operation. To avoid 2 difficult steps in the procedure, mucosectomy and transanal manual suturing, is of interest to retain the entire and canal and to reduce anal stretching duration. A new technique of stapled anastomosis is described: after full mobilization and eversion of the rectum, this latter is closed using a linear stapler and cut immediately above the anal canal; a 18 cm long J pouch is constructed and the anastomosis is stapled using the new premium EEA instrument*. Clinical experience begun in 1989 january, concerns 6 patients (2 U.C., 4 polyposis): at this time, 5 of these had their ileostomy closed, functional results being under evaluation. This method allows 1) to retain all the anal canal, 2) to avoid prolonged anal dilatation, 3) to perform a rapid and safe stapled anastomosis. PMID- 2612285 TI - Presence of female-specific bent-repetitive DNA sequences in the genomes of turkey and pheasant and their interactions with W-protein of chicken. AB - Two female-specific repetitive DNA units, the 0.4 kb PstI and 0.5 kb TaqI sequences, were detected in the genomic DNA of turkey and pheasant, respectively, by Southern blot hybridization under non-stringent conditions with the W chromosome-specific 0.7 kb XhoI repetitive unit of chicken as a probe. Cloning and sequencing of these two repetitive units revealed that they shared features with the XhoI family repetitive unit of chicken although the overall similarities of the nucleotide sequences were less than 60%. In common with the chicken XhoI family they consisted of tandem repeats of about 21 bp, the majority of which contained (A)3-5 and (T)3-5 clusters separated by six or seven relatively G + C rich sequences, and they behaved as bent DNA molecules on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at room temperature. W-protein, purified from chicken liver nuclei and shown to bind with high affinity to the XhoI family repetitive unit, also bound with the cloned repetitive units from turkey and pheasant DNase I footprint analysis suggested that the mode of interaction of W-protein with these units was similar to that with the 0.7 kb XhoI sequence. On the other hand, W protein did not bind to the female-specific 0.4 kb BamHI repetitive unit from the Bobwhite quail. The 0.4 kb BamHI sequence contained some A and T clusters but these clusters did not appear in phase with the pitch of DNA helix and the repetitive unit did not show DNA bending. PMID- 2612286 TI - Oligonucleotide-priming methods for the chromosome-specific labelling of alpha satellite DNA in situ. AB - It is demonstrated that either general staining of the centromeric regions of all primate chromosomes, or selective staining of the centromeric region of specific chromosomes, may be obtained in preparations of metaphase chromosomes by probing specifically for different regions within the alpha satellite DNA monomer. In order to exploit observed patterns of sequence variation within the monomer for this purpose, we have developed two new DNA analysis methods. In PRimed IN Situ labelling (PRINS), synthetic oligonucleotides derived from subsections of the monomer are hybridized to the chromosomes. The oligonucleotides then serve as primers for the in situ incorporation of biotin-labelled nucleotides catalysed by Klenow polymerase. Incorporated biotin is visualized with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled avidin (FITC-avidin). In Primed Amplification Labelling (PAL), biotin-labelled hybridization probes are produced in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR, Saiki et al. 1985), in which two synthetic oligonucleotide primers anneal within the same monomer. With the right choice of primers libraries of labelled probes derived from most monomers present as templates are produced. If DNA from a specific chromosome is used as template, then the resulting probe mixture gives stronger and more chromosome-specific signals in in situ hybridization experiments than does a cloned alpha satellite DNA probe derived from the same chromosome. The results obtained indicate that the alpha-repeat monomer is composed of regions with different degrees of chromosome specificity. PMID- 2612287 TI - Electron microscopy of liquid crystalline DNA: direct evidence for cholesteric like organization of DNA in dinoflagellate chromosomes. AB - Freeze-fracture-etch replicas of concentrated DNA solutions which appeared, by polarized light microscopy, to be in a cholesteric-like liquid crystalline state were examined by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Individual DNA molecules were resolvable, and the microscopic morphologies observed for such replicas confirmed the cholesteric organization of DNA molecules in this liquid crystalline state. Furthermore, replica morphologies were strikingly similar to TEM images of dinoflagellate chromosomes in both thin section and freeze-etch replicas, providing strong support for the cholesteric DNA packing model proposed for the organization of DNA in these chromosomes by Bouligand and Livolant. PMID- 2612288 TI - Satellite DNA I in chromatin loops of rat pachytene chromosomes and in spermatids. AB - Biotinylated rat satellite DNA I probe p93-50 was used to visualize the chromatin of surface-spread rat pachytene chromosomes. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated avidin produces a beaded fluorescence pattern along the chromatin loops that insert in the centromeric region of the synaptonemal complex (SC), the paired cores of homologous chromosomes. The number of fluorescent beads ranges from zero for centromeres without satellite DNA I homologous to probe p93-50, to several hundred for satellite-rich centromeric regions. For the chromosomes that can be identified, the relative amount of satellite DNA is chromosome specific. No satellite DNA I was detected at the non-centromeric ends of the chromosomes or interstitially. DNase-digested nuclei or isolated SCs did not have detectable amounts of satellite DNA in the centromeric regions of the chromosomes or in the residual SCs. The fate of the satellite DNA was followed during spermiogenesis. In the round spermatid the centromeric regions, which appear to be attached to the nuclear envelope, are still distinct and have converging loops of fluorescent chromatin. At later stages there are fewer but still bright fluorescent patches. Satellite DNA I is still detectable in the mature sperm head. These results demonstrate the organization of satellite DNA I in the chromatin loops at the centromeric regions, and they forecast the analysis of chromosome organization in unprecedented detail with a variety of probes in surface spreads of meiotic prophase chromosomes. PMID- 2612289 TI - The chromosomes of Schoutedenia lutea (Homoptera, Aphidoidea, Greenideinae), with an account of meiosis in the male. AB - Somatic chromosomes of both sexes and chromosome behaviour during spermatogenesis were studied in the aphid Schoutedenia lutea (van der Goot). Four long but unequal chromosomes in females were interpreted as X chromosomes (X1X1X2X2) with one member of an autosome pair attached to one X1, and the other member to one X2, so that the four long chromosomes were actually X1 + A, X1, X2 + A, X2. Males (normally XO in aphids) received X chromosomes corresponding in relative length to the two longest (X1 + A, X2 + A) in females. During spermatogenesis parallel pairing occurred in prophase 1 and the X1 and X2 chromosomes became associated via their autosomal segments. In anaphase I, the autosomal segment became detached from one of the X chromosomes and entered the non-viable (non-X-bearing) spermatocyte, while the viable spermatocyte received both X1 and X2 (either one of which still carried an autosome) and the haploid set of free autosomes. The consequences for sex determination and zygote formation of this unusual system are discussed; a stable chromosomal constitution for the zygote can be achieved only at the expense of considerable gamete wastage. PMID- 2612290 TI - Transmission of three radiation-induced translations in the Syrian hamster. I. Chromosome studies of male meiosis: pachytene to metaphase II. AB - Chromosome behaviour during meiosis in male Syrian hamsters heterozygous for one of three translocations was analysed as part of a study of the transmission of these structural changes. Synapsis was studied using preparations of synaptonemal complexes, and chiasmate associations and the results of anaphase I segregation were studied in air-dried preparations of metaphases I and II respectively. The main findings were: (i) that, at least in the two trivalent-forming translocations, there is no simple relationship between either the frequency or the extent of synapsis and chiasma formation between the chromosomes involved in the translocation; (ii) that the presence of a univalent in a substantial proportion of metaphase I cells does not necessarily lead to irregular segregation as judged by analysis of metaphase IIs; and (iii) conversely, that in translocation heterozygotes in which metaphase I contains the chromosomes involved in the translocation as a quadrivalent or as two bivalents, with no univalents or trivalents, unexpected numerical segregation can be found. The observations of meiotic chromosomes behaviour reported here show that it is not always possible to predict the effects of structural change, or to determine the basis of these effects, from an analysis of any stage of meiosis taken in isolation, or from an analysis of an apparently similar change. PMID- 2612291 TI - Composition and chromosomal localization of cetacean highly repetitive DNA with special reference to the blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus. AB - Three highly repetitive DNA components--the common cetacean component, the heavy (GC-rich) satellite and the light (AT-rich) satellite--were were studied in the blue whale. Consensus sequences of the common component and the heavy satellite were determined on the basis of three repeats of the common component and eight repeats of the heavy satellite. The tandemly organized common cetacean component, which comprises a large portion of all cetacean--both odontocete (toothed whale) and mysticete (whalebone whale)--genomes has a repeat length of 1,760 bp and the three clones analysed showed a high degree of conformity. The repeat contains a 72 bp sequence with dyad symmetry and striking intrastrand complementarity. The rest of the repeat comprises a unique sequence. The repeat unit of the heavy satellite of the blue whale is 422 bp. Also this component is tandemly organized. About half the length of the repeat constitutes a unique sequence and the other half is made up of subrepeats with TTAGGG as a frequent motif. The light satellite has not been sequenced and its basic repeat unit has not yet been identified. The chromosomal localization of the three components was determined by in situ hybridization using 3H-labelled cloned fragments as probes. The common cetacean component was located in most interstitial and terminal C-bands. The heavy satellite occurred primarily in terminal C-bands. When the two components hybridized to the same terminal C-bands, the localization of the heavy satellite was distal to that of the common cetacean component. Neither component shared localization with the light satellite which is located in centromeric C-bands in just a few chromosome pairs. PMID- 2612292 TI - Analysis of chromosome replication by a BrdU antibody technique. AB - Chromosome replication was studied without synchronization in human lymphocyte and amniotic cell cultures visualizing very short 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) pulses by an immunologic technique (BAT). The findings agree in general with those facts known from earlier BrdU staining techniques. The very high sensitivity of BAT was shown to allow the detection of replication in a band where 1 in 200 nucleotides is replaced by BrdU. The main observations are: though the replication patterns after BAT appear strange the bands correspond to those described by the Paris Conference (1971). At the beginning of the S-phase a stepwise onset of replication in only a subset of R-bands is confirmed. There is a considerable difference in the sensitivity between early and late S (SE and SL) for the detection of BrdU pulses. This difference probably reflects a different spatial arrangement of chromatin in R-bands as compared with G-bands below the level of cytogenetic analysis. The use of short pulses did not reveal any additional subdivision of SE or SL. The correspondence between chromosomal bands and replicon clusters is discussed briefly with respect to the different time they need for replication. PMID- 2612293 TI - Cytological localization and organization of dispersed middle repetitive DNA sequences of Drosophila subobscura. AB - To study the middle repetitive fraction of the Drosophila subobscura genome, 26 phage clones containing repetitive sequences were examined by Southern DNA blot analysis and by in situ hybridization to polytene chromosomes. These results led to a classification of the clones according to five different types of hybridization patterns. Two types, each containing seven clones, are characterized by hybridization at 100 to 300 sites dispersed over the euchromatic parts of the chromosome band. One of these two classes also showed strong labelling of the chromocentre. The remaining types of hybridization pattern lacked a prominent band but showed hybridization either to the euchromatic regions or to the chromocentre or both. Chromosome A (= X) was the preferred location of prominently labelled bands and it also showed an excess of labelling by some clones. Some of the cloned dispersed sequences were localized cytologically on chromosomes of larvae from crosses between different strains of D. subobscura and between two closely related species, in order to detect heterozygosity at hybridization sites. Comparisons of the chromosomal distribution of labelling sites showed differences in number and location, indicating the possibility of transposition events. PMID- 2612294 TI - Centromeric dots in crane-fly spermatocytes: meiotic maturation and malorientation. AB - During the first meiotic division in crane-fly spermatocytes, the two homologs of a metaphase bivalent each bear two sister kinetochores oriented toward the same pole. We have previously reported treatments that increase the percentage of metaphase bivalents in which one or both homologs have bipolar malorientations: kinetochore microtubules extending from a homolog toward both poles. The maloriented homologs lag at anaphase. Treatments that induce this behavior include: (a) recoverey from exposure to low temperatures or Colcemid or Nocodazole concentrations that prevent spindle formation but allow nuclear membrane breakdown, and (b) exposure to 6 degrees C, a temperature that permits spindle assembly but slows progression through meiosis. Giemsa staining methods reveal two 0.5 micron diameter dots at the centromeric region of each metaphase homolog; these often are more separated in maloriented homologs. This investigation was undertaken to assess whether this separation precedes the establishment of bipolar malorientation, and hence may be a cause of it, or is only a consequence of forces resulting from bipolar malorientation. Analysis showed that, in untreated cells, the average center-to-center distance between sister centromeric dots increases during the course of meiosis I. After the above mentioned treatments, center-to-center distances similar to those normally seen in untreated half-bivalents at anaphase I were seen in bivalents, both after and before nuclear membrane breakdown. Longer exposure to temperatures that arrested meiosis increased the degree of dot separation. Based on our data, we conclude that normal orientation during the first meiotic division is aided by the close apposition of centromeric dots, and that a time-dependent maturation occurs causing centromeric dots to separate for the second meiotic division and facilitating orientation of sister kinetochores to opposite poles. If centromeric maturation occurs either prior to or during early stages of the first meiotic division, then it may contribute to persisting bipolar malorientation. PMID- 2612295 TI - Immunolocalization of DNA at nucleolar structural components in onion cells. AB - Intranucleolar DNA, including ribosomal DNA (rDNA), was localized in situ in proliferating onion cells under the electron microscope using an anti-DNA monoclonal antibody and a postembedding indirect immunogold procedure. In the interphase nucleolus of this species, characterized by a very high amount of rRNA genes, we found DNA concentrated mostly in fibrillar centres (FCs) and in the region of the dense fibrillar component (DFC) immediately surrounding them. Clusters of gold particles were frequently seen covering both of these structural components of the nucleolus at the same time. Moreover, the same technique, applied to transcriptionally arrested quiescent onion cells, showed the nucleolar DFC devoid of DNA. Also, in mitotic cells at telophase, the prenucleolar material, which has the same morphological and cytochemical features as the DFC, does not contain DNA. These data suggest the existence of at least two subcomponents of the DFC in the onion cell nucleolus, one associated with pre rRNA synthesis, and the other, with further processing of transcripts, already released from the rDNA template. We conclude that the first subcomponent forms part of the "transition between FC and DFC", which is the in situ structural counterpart of pre-rRNA synthesis. This transition is morphologicaly sizeable in onion cells, because of their high number of rRNA genes and the large size of the DFC mass; however, it would be largely detectable in situ in other cell systems, where the whole DFC comprises only a thin layer and the amount of rDNA is considerably reduced. PMID- 2612296 TI - S-adenosylmethionine, S-adenosylhomocysteine and adenosine system. Age-dependent availability in rat brain. AB - The changes in activity of N-methyltransferase 1 and [3H]-S-adenosylhomocysteine binding were determined in cortical membranes preparations from newborn and 1-, 2 and 10-month-old rats. These parameters were significantly higher: +130 and 200%, respectively, in 1-day compared to 2-month-old rats (adult). With maturation, S-adenosylmethionine levels decreased (-24%) whereas adenosine levels increased gradually from 0.17 to 6.10 nmol/mg protein in forebrain or whole brain between 1-day and 10-month-old rats. The ontogenesis of adenosine receptors was studied. The A2 receptors were not detectable at 1 day. For A1 receptors, Kd and Bmax increased with age while for A2 receptors Kd and Bmax were similar between 9 days and 2 months of age. PMID- 2612297 TI - Autoregulation of cerebral blood flow. Effect of phenobarbital and pancuronium in the newborn piglet. AB - The effect of phenobarbital and pancuronium on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and CBF autoregulation are studied in newborn piglets after chemically induced seizures with bicuculline. Given 3 or 15 min after the onset of seizures, phenobarbital significantly reduces CBF (59 +/- 11 and 56 +/- 17 vs. 84 +/- 24 ml/min/100 g - p less than 0.01). Moreover, during graded hypotension induced by graded haemorrhage, phenobarbital provides reestablishment of CBF autoregulation altered by seizures. In the same experimental model, pancuronium induces in control animals a rise of CBF (61 +/- 15 vs. 38 +/- 11 ml/min/100 g - p less than 0.001). During graded hypotension pancuronium is associated to a loss of CBF autoregulation (r = 0.76, p less than 0.001). Given as an adjunct treatment, in case of seizures, pancuronium has no significant effect on changes in cerebral haemodynamics. From these data, we conclude that pancuronium jeopardizes the haemodynamic adaptation to the induced hypovolemia and that phenobarbital may present a protective effect on cerebral haemodynamics and the subsequent risk for ischaemia or haemorrhage. PMID- 2612298 TI - Endogenous opioids may protect the perinatal brain in hypoxia. AB - Endogenous opioids are released in great amounts in perinatal asphyxia. The role of this release has been unclear. In a study of cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in 5 hypoxic newborn lambs, naloxone blocking of opioid receptors resulted in a proportional increase in telencephalic cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism. It is suggested that endogenous opioid release protects the neonatal brain in hypoxia by diminishing the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen. PMID- 2612299 TI - Influence of anesthetics on cerebral blood flow velocity in infancy. Effects of halothane versus thiopental-fentanyl. AB - We studied the effects of 2 anesthetic protocols on blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery, measured with a pulsed Doppler sonograph in infants. A first group of 10 infants (mean age 64 days) was anesthetized with halothane and nitrous oxide. A second group of 10 infants (mean age 88 days) was anesthetized with thiopental-fentanyl i.v. and nitrous oxide. Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and mean velocity (MV) decreased during both types of anesthesia. Decrease of MV was of the same magnitude in the 2 groups but MABP decreased more under halothane. After skin incision MABP and MV increased in both groups but MV followed MABP more closely under halothane than under thiopental. These results suggest cerebral blood flow (CBF) reduction after both inductions but by a different mechanism. In spite of cerebral arteriolar dilation with halothane, CBF decreases by means of severe reduction of MABP: CBF is pressure-passive and autoregulation seems to be impaired. In contrast, thiopental induces cerebral arteriolar constriction but CBF is less dependent of MABP changes. PMID- 2612300 TI - Prophylactic treatment of premature babies with artificial surfactant (ALEC). AB - Artificial surfactant (ALEC) made from DPPC and uPG 7:3 w/w has been given at birth to babies under 30 weeks of gestation in three trials. The first trial enrolled 62 resuscitated babies: 28 treated with 25 mg ALEC powder and 34 controls. The mortality fell from 41 to 7% (p = 0.0005). In the second trial babies were randomized to receive 1 ml of 100 mg ALEC suspension into the pharynx at birth and up to 3 more endotracheal doses in 24 h. Controls received 1 ml of saline. There were 69 ALEC-treated babies and 67 controls. The mortality due to complications of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) fell from 31 to 9% (p less than 0.01); periventricular haemorrhage was reduced from 40 to 19% (p less than 0.01). The third trial involved 328 babies randomized in 10 centres. ALEC treatment reduced the neonatal mortality from 27 to 14% (p less than 0.002); intracerebral haemorrhages fell from 24 to 16% (p = 0.06) and severe RDS by 27% (p less than 0.03). Regression analysis showed a significant reduction in hours receiving ventilation and greater than 30% oxygen during the first 10 days. PMID- 2612301 TI - Proceedings of the first congress of the European Society for Developmental Pharmacology. Les Diablerets, Switzerland, April 21-23, 1988. PMID- 2612302 TI - Effect of diabetes education on self-care, metabolic control, and emotional well being. AB - Participants (n=165) entering a week-long outpatient education program completed a protocol measuring self-care patterns, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, and emotional well-being. Emotional well-being was reassessed at the end of the program, and the entire protocol was completed again at 6 mo (n=124). At the program's end, participants improved on all measures of emotional well-being (P less than .01). Self-esteem and diabetes self-efficacy rose, whereas anxiety and depression fell. At 6 mo, improvement in emotional well-being continued, and important self-care behaviors improved from preprogram levels. Self-monitoring of blood glucose and exercise rose (both P less than .001), and bringing (P less than .01) and glycosylated hemoglobin levels (P less than .001) fell. Program effects were unrelated to demographic or disease characteristics but strongly related to initial status. Participants who entered the program with high levels of emotional well-being or good self-care patterns or glycemic control tended to change little, if at all, at later measurements. On the other hand, people who entered the program with low levels of emotional well-being or with poor self care patterns or glycemic control improved substantially. Our findings suggest that diabetes education can promote long-term benefits in self-care, metabolic control, and emotional status if the program is specifically designed to provide these benefits. Aspects of the program that contribute to its efficacy are discussed. PMID- 2612303 TI - Contribution of diabetes duration before puberty to development of microvascular complications in IDDM subjects. AB - The contribution of diabetes duration, both pre- and postpuberty, to the development of microvascular complications and mortality in diabetic subjects was investigated in three study populations from the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) Registry. Life-table analyses by total and postpubertal IDDM duration were used to evaluate differences in the prevalence of microvascular complications and diabetes-related mortality in subjects diagnosed before and during puberty, as defined by an age at IDDM onset marker of 11 yr for girls and 12 yr for boys. The prevalence of retinopathy and overt nephropathy in 552 White adult diabetic subjects (population 1, mean IDDM duration 20.8 yr was significantly greater in subjects diagnosed during puberty compared with those diagnosed before puberty. However, similar analyses by postpubertal duration showed no difference in microvascular complication prevalence between the two groups. These findings did not appear to be due to a confounding effect of age. Additional analyses of 239 adolescent diabetic subjects (population 2, mean duration 8.3 yr) revealed the same trend for the prevalence of retinopathy. Finally, results concerning the risk of diabetes-related mortality in a cohort of 1582 subjects (population 3, mean duration 12.9 yr) indicated that postpubertal duration of IDDM may be a more accurate determinant of the development of microvascular complications and diabetes-related mortality than total duration, and it is suggested that the contribution of the prepubertal years of diabetes to long-term prognosis may be minimal. PMID- 2612304 TI - Diabetes complications and glycemic control. The Pittsburgh Prospective Insulin Dependent Diabetes Cohort Study Status Report after 5 yr of IDDM. AB - The relationship between glycemic control and complications of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) remains controversial. With the use of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) to assess glycemic control from diagnosis onward, the Pittsburgh Prospective Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Cohort Study prospectively evaluated 80 new cases of IDDM diagnosed at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. This study presents findings in 62 patients at 5 yr postdiagnosis. Only 7 patients, all girls, had any retinopathy (microaneurysms). These subjects had an elevated 5-yr mean HbA1 compared to those with no retinopathy (13.0 vs. 11.7%; P less than .05). Six female subjects who had an elevated albumin excretion rate (AER; greater than or equal to 20 micrograms/min) had a higher 5 yr mean HbA1 (13.3%) than the 26 subjects with AER less than 20 micrograms/min (11.8%; P less than .05). Current HbA1 was correlated with AER (r = +.36, P less than .05) and systolic blood pressure (r = +.49, P less than .01) in females. However, these associations were not observed in males. Positive correlations were found between HbA1 (5-yr mean and current) and serum triglyceride and cholesterol, but only in females was HbA1 inversely related to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, HbA1 was independent of sex, HLA-DR type, and urine C-peptide status. Age adjustment did not change the above results. These analyses suggest that glycemic control is related to AER, systolic blood pressure, presence of microaneurysms, and serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations during the first 5 yr of IDDM. However, these associations appear to be predominant in girls. PMID- 2612305 TI - Colorado IDDM Registry: lower incidence of IDDM in Hispanics. Comparison of disease characteristics and care patterns in biethnic population. AB - The Colorado IDDM Registry identifies newly diagnosed cases of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) throughout the state. Hispanics in Colorado are a racial mixture of American Indian and White populations. Because American Indians have a low risk of IDDM, and differing frequencies of HLA antigens and haplotypes are reported for Hispanics and non-Hispanics, we compared incidence rates and disease characteristics. Eligible participants were less than 18 yr of age and Colorado residents at time of diagnosis, diagnosed between 1 January 1978 and 31 December 1983, and on insulin within 2 wk of diagnosis. Subjects were reported by their physicians, and statewide validation of reporting was conducted through review of hospital discharge indexes. Incidence rates for Hispanics (n = 76) were significantly lower than those for non-Hispanics (n = 628), although 95% confidence intervals overlapped for children aged 10-17 yr. Age-adjusted rates were significantly lower in Hispanic than non-Hispanic males, whereas age adjusted rates for females did not differ. The cumulative risk of IDDM was less for Hispanic males aged 0-17 yr than for non-Hispanic males (P less than .001); cumulative risk among females was males (P less than .001); cumulative risk among females was not different (P = .10). Clinical onset characteristics and medical care at diagnosis were similar. After diagnosis, hospitalizations per 100 person yr appeared higher in Hispanics, but ketoacidosis and insulin reactions per 100 person-yr were similar. Difference in rate of hospitalizations may have been due to lower response rates among older non-Hispanics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612306 TI - Cardiovascular conditioning in individuals with diabetic retinopathy. AB - The benefit of exercise for individuals with diabetes mellitus and high-risk complications of retinopathy has been questioned. Thirty-nine individuals with diabetes and visual impairment completed a 12-wk rehabilitation program that included cardiovascular conditioning. Pre- and postprogram assessment of exercise training in 30 subjects included a graded stress test with a bicycle ergometer. There were improvements in exercise tolerance as measured by the work load achieved (from 248 +/- 27 to 303 +/- 31 kilopond meter [kpm], P less than .05). There was a trend toward improvement in METS achieved (from 3.3 +/- 0.2 to 3.8 +/ 0.3, P = .06). There was no correlation of improvement in exercise tolerance with improvements in glycemic control, lipoprotein balance, and change in body weight. Individuals with diabetic retinopathy may be given the option of entering cardiovascular training programs with appropriate modifications to fit specific needs. PMID- 2612307 TI - Sperm function and structure and seminal plasma prostanoid concentrations in men with IDDM. AB - Semen from 18 men with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) aged 20-40 yr was compared with that from 15 age-matched control subjects. Although semen volume, sperm count, and spermatozoal motility were similar in the two groups, semen from diabetic men had significantly greater numbers of abnormal spermatozoa and significantly lower ability to penetrate hamster eggs. Concentrations of prostaglandins E2, F2 alpha, and I2 and thromboxane A2 were significantly elevated in the seminal plasma from semen of diabetic subjects compared with control subjects. These observations indicate the need for a careful assessment of fertility in diabetic men, the mechanisms underlying the abnormalities in spermatozoa, and the relationship of these abnormalities to the increase in prostanoid concentrations in diabetic men. PMID- 2612308 TI - Preventive care in diabetes mellitus. Current practice in urban health-care system. AB - Early identification and treatment of complications of diabetes mellitus may reduce the severity of the complications. As part of a program to reduce these complications in the Denver Department of Health and Hospitals patient population, our study determined how frequently preventive care, e.g., fundoscopic examinations, referral to an ophthalmologist, foot examinations, and assessment of cardiovascular risk factors, was provided to diabetic patients. With the use of billing records to identify a large sample of diabetic patients, a chart review of 544 patients was conducted. During the study year, the mean +/- SE number of visits to primary-care clinics was 5.7 +/- 0.22, with 86.4% having at least one visit. Most diabetic patients were seen by primary-care physicians; only 9% received care in a specialized diabetes clinic. Despite frequent primary care visits, most diabetic patients in this county health-care system did not have documentation of care to detect complications of diabetes mellitus, and referral services for detection and treatment of these complications were infrequently used. Moreover, among patients seen on greater than or equal to 10 occasions in a primary-care setting, preventive care was not provided to 30% of the patients. Preventive care does not appear to be a regular part of a primary care visit for most of the diabetic patients in this study. PMID- 2612309 TI - Impact of computer simulation on diabetes research and practice. PMID- 2612311 TI - Readability of diabetes self-report measures. PMID- 2612310 TI - Does moderate hyperglycemia adversely affect mentation? PMID- 2612312 TI - Lymphocytic thyroiditis in fine-needle aspirates: differential diagnostic aspects. AB - This study assessed the morphological criteria for the diagnosis of various types of lymphocytic thyroiditis in fine-needle aspirates. Of 950 aspirates, 121 revealed lymphocytic thyroiditis, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis (partly confirmed by serological or histological examination) and focal thyroiditis adjacent to neoplasms. The diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis was easy when the aspirated material was adequate and contained oxyphilic cells; in the fibrous type, diagnosis was rather difficult. Focal thyroiditis may be confused with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, especially when adjacent to neoplasm. Surgical exploration should be performed in cases of severe lymphocytic thyroiditis revealed by fine-needle aspiration with repeatedly negative antibody titers in order to exclude neoplasm. PMID- 2612313 TI - Endoscopic biopsy and cytology in the diagnosis of malignant gastric ulcers. AB - Endoscopy significantly improves the diagnosis of tumors of the stomach; however, its value may be limited in differentiating benign from malignant gastric ulcers (MGUs). The accuracy of endoscopy was compared in 20 patients with MGU studied by endoscopy, biopsy, and cytology. Endoscopy correctly diagnosed 13 cases (65%), with endoscopic signs being benign or indeterminate in the remaining seven. However, all 20 MGUs were accurately diagnosed since biopsy and cytology increased the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopy in the remaining seven patients. The combination of biopsy and cytology yielded a positive diagnosis in 19 patients (95%); the remaining patient was operated on with only the endoscopic diagnosis of MGU. The complementarity of these three techniques was highlighted in five cases where only one of the procedures unequivocally diagnosed malignancy. It is concluded that biopsy and cytology are useful complementary techniques and should always be performed together in categorizing the nature of all gastric ulcers despite a benign macroscopic appearance at endoscopy. PMID- 2612314 TI - Role of fine-needle aspiration cytology in childhood malignancies. AB - During the last 4 yr, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been employed in 1,474 patients in 0-15-yr age group at our institute. Of these, 245 patients were found to have malignant disease, including primitive neuroectodermal tumors, hepatoblastoma, nephroblastoma, sarcoma, and epithelial malignancies. Four metastases from medulloblastoma and two each from astrocytoma and meningioma were confirmed without open biopsy. FNAC interpretation was easy when cytologic findings were correlated with relevant clinical and radiologic data. PMID- 2612315 TI - Significance of giant cells in fine-needle aspiration biopsies of benign and malignant lesions of the pancreas. AB - The cytologic results of 44 consecutive fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies of the pancreas are reported. The series consisted of 27 women and 17 men with an age range of 31-89 yr (mean, 61.5). Excluding insufficient cases, the sensitivity of the procedure was 88%, specificity was 100%, positive predicative value (PV) was 100%, negative PV was 69%, and efficiency of the test was 90%. There were 29 true-positive, four false-negative, and nine true-negative diagnoses. Two specimens were insufficient for diagnosis. Giant cells of varying types were seen in both the malignant and benign cases. Two of the benign cases demonstrated rare multinucleated foreign body-type giant cells, most likely representing the changes seen in pancreatitis. In 13 malignant cases, multinucleated tumor cells were present, while six additional cases had multinucleated benign histiocytes reflecting the associated pancreatitis. Two malignant cases each had tumor giant cells and benign multinucleated histiocytes. Three of the malignant cases had numerous multinucleated tumor giant cells arranged in a dissociative fashion with evidence of cytophagocytosis consistent with a pleomorphic giant-cell carcinoma of the pancreas. One additional case demonstrated numerous multinucleated osteoclastic-like cells consistent with an osteoclastic tumor of the pancreas. This article documents the accuracy of FNA biopsy of the pancreas and notes that giant cells of varying types can be found in pancreatic FNA biopsies. Appreciation of the various types of giant cells in pancreatic FNA biopsy is important for diagnostic accuracy and prognosis. PMID- 2612316 TI - Metastatic metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: diagnosis by bronchial brush cytology. AB - Metaplastic carcinoma of the female breast is an uncommon lesion that may metastasize to body sites. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pulmonary metastasis diagnosed on bronchial brush cytology. The patient presented with pulmonary symptomatology 1 yr and 3 mo after a left modified radical mastectomy for breast carcinoma. Bronchoscopic examination revealed an endobronchial lesion partially obstructing the bronchus intermedius. Bronchial brush cytology showed the presence of nonkeratinizing squamous tumor cells admixed with a few scattered clusters of tumor cells with glandular features. Histologic review of the original breast lesion showed a metaplastic carcinoma of the breast with a predominant squamous-cell component. Accurate knowledge of a patient's clinical history is necessary to differentiate a second primary lesion from a metastatic one, particularly when the original lesion is so uncommon. PMID- 2612317 TI - Transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy in inflammatory pseudotumors of the lung. AB - The cytologic findings on transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy in four patients with pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor are described. These findings have not been previously illustrated in the literature. The main cytologic components of this lesion are histiocytes, lymphocytes, fibroblasts, pneumocytes, and plasma cells. Familiarity with these features is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and possible overtreatment. PMID- 2612318 TI - Fine-needle aspiration cytology of sacrococcygeal chordoma. AB - The fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of four cases of chordoma that were diagnosed preoperatively is presented. One of the cases showed anaplastic components along with the classical features of chordoma; this is probably the second case diagnosed with these features on FNAC. The cytologic features of classical chordoma include conspicuous extracellular matrix in the background. Polygonal cells, dissociated and in small groups, were identified in all cases. Physaliphorous cells were also prominently found in these cases. In addition, the case with anaplastic features showed very bizarre cells with profound multinucleation and the presence of intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions. The diagnosis of chordoma was possible because of a high index of suspicion on clinical grounds and the use of special staining for confirmation. PMID- 2612319 TI - Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration cytology. AB - Two cases of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas are described in which the diagnosis was made from the material obtained by a computed tomography-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology examination. It is strongly felt that aspiration cytology, when performed under imaging guidance, is sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and allows for a relatively simple yet confident diagnostic interpretation of this uncommon pancreatic tumour. PMID- 2612320 TI - Mites in pulmonary cytology specimens. AB - Mites were observed in 55 pulmonary specimens examined routinely over a 4.5-yr period. The 55 specimens included 33 spontaneous and 12 aerosol-induced sputum samples, nine bronchial washings, and one fine-needle aspirate. Two specimens contained only fragments of mites; however, in most cases the mites were relatively intact. Many were identified as Tyrophagus sp, but a few were definitely not Tyrophagus sp. Although only a single mite was noted in most instances, eight specimens contained more than one, with the maximum being six. No patient was found to have a mite in more than one specimen. Mite eggs were found in five of the specimens containing mites. One specimen contained adults and a larval form. Mites appeared to be surrounded by acute inflammatory cells in 13 cases. Specimens were processed by the Saccomanno blending technique with smears prepared by pipetting a portion directly onto a slide or by utilizing a cytocentrifuge. No mites were found in nonpulmonary specimens. Both a seasonal variation and an interobserver variability were found. Mites often resemble specimen contaminants, such as food, and may be overlooked on routine screening. Mites are known to represent or produce a respiratory allergen, but the significance of their presence in pulmonary cytology specimens has not been determined. PMID- 2612321 TI - Morphometric analysis of hyperthermia-induced nuclear and nucleolar size modifications in a human melanoma cell line. AB - Although no prominent morphologic alterations were observed by light microscopy in a human melanoma cell line (M-14) exposed at 42 degrees C for 4 hr, the computerized image analysis demonstrated a significant enlargement of both nuclei and nucleoli. The mean nuclear and nucleolar areas were found to be 32% and 94% increased, respectively, in comparison with normal controls. The gaussian distribution of absolute frequency of the measures demonstrated that this nuclear and nucleolar enlargement was distributed among the whole cell population, taking place in clonogenic cells and in "sterilized" cells, ultimately doomed to die. This finding, not previously described in the context of the heat shock response, may be regarded as morphological evidence of an increase in the protein content of the nuclei of heat-treated cells, as determined by biochemical methods. PMID- 2612322 TI - Cytopathological detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in vaginopancervical (Fast) smears. PMID- 2612323 TI - Analysis of possible repressor elements in the 5'-flanking region of the human beta-globin gene. AB - Human beta-globin gene expression is confined predominantly to the adult with little or no expression of this gene occurring during embryonic or fetal life. The lack of expression of this gene in embryonic and fetal erythroid tissue could be due to the absence of required positive regulatory factors in these cells or the presence of negative regulatory factors which prevent expression of the adult globin gene. To test the repressor model, we have used a gel electrophoretic mobility shift assay to identify regions in the human beta-globin gene which bind proteins found in K562 cells, a cell line that expresses embryonic and fetal globins but not adult beta-globin. DNA fragments comprising the entire human beta globin gene were assayed using nuclear proteins from K562 cells, and four regions were found that bind proteins. These are located within the 5'-flanking region, within the first and second introns, and at the 3'-flanking region of the gene. Previous studies have suggested the presence of potential repressor sites 5' of exon 2. For this reason, we examined whether the lack of the binding regions in the 5'-flanking sequence allow expression of the human beta-globin gene in transgenic mice during embryonic life. beta-globin gene expression was confined to adult life, indicating that if a transcriptional repressor is responsible for inactivating this gene in embryonic tissue, it is not regulated solely by sequences upstream from -122 bp in the 5'-flanking region of the human beta globin gene. PMID- 2612324 TI - Structure of the human RD gene: a highly conserved gene in the class III region of the major histocompatibility complex. AB - We cloned and determined the DNA sequence of a novel gene (termed RD or D6S45) situated in the class III region of the human major histocompatibility complex (HLA) between the Bf and C4A complement genes. The coding region of the gene is contained in 10 exons spread over approximately 6 kb of DNA. The encoded protein is predicted to contain 371 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 41,000. The predicted amino acid sequence is notable for a central region containing 24 consecutive pairs of alternating basic (Arg) and acidic (Asp or Glu) residues similar to, but more strictly alternating than, those seen in the 70K protein of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP). There is a high degree of homology both at the amino acid and DNA level between the human RD gene and its murine homology. Although the central region is highly repetitious and contains a high proportion (13%) of CpG dinucleotides-both features that might predispose to frequent mutations-sequence analysis of this region in genes amplified from six individuals revealed no polymorphism. PMID- 2612325 TI - Determination of exon-intron structure: a novel application of the polymerase chain reaction technique. AB - We describe a novel application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique of DNA amplification to study the exon-intron structure of the rat plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) gene. This technique is relatively simple and also allows the isolation of introns for sequencing. Primers were selected based on a knowledge of the cDNA sequences of human and rat PAI-1 and of the gene structure of human PAI-1. However, knowledge of a cDNA sequence and/or the structure of a gene in another species is not a prerequisite. Sequences selected from positions along the cDNA of interest could be used to amplify the DNA either from an isolated but uncharacterized gene or directly from genomic DNA, making this technique generally applicable. Thus, this method is a useful advance in the study of gene structure and evolution. PMID- 2612326 TI - [Angiogenesis activity of tissues and cells of different malignancies]. AB - Cancer cells are able to produce tumor angiogenesis factors (TAF), by which the tumor growth could be maintained. Angiogenetic activity of 12 kinds of cells and tissues with distinct character from different sources were detected by chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane. The results indicated that all the cells and tissues tested showed angiogenetic activity but they differed from one another, some were strong and other weak. Of them, the breast cancer was the strongest. The ascitic tumor didn't show any angiogenetic activity, but it reappeared when the ascitic cells were transformed to solid tumors. The level of angiogenetic activity of tumors was closely related to their biological properties and form of existence. PMID- 2612327 TI - [Influence of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) polysaccharide FB on immunologic function of human periphery blood lymphocyte]. AB - Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are believed to further lower the already low cellular immunologic response of cancer patients giving poorer prognosis. A number of Chinese medicinal herbs known as Fuzheng therapy (FZT), in which AM is an active one, are being used to enhance the natural host defence function in cancer patients. Among some fractions of AM polysaccharide extracts, FB was the strongest. In vitro restorative effects of FB in 18 normal healthy individuals and in 9 previously untreated advanced cancer patients are reported. Local graft versus host (GVH) reaction and blastogenic response of lymphocytes in vitro (BRL) were used as test index for T-cell function. GVH reaction nodules with a volume greater than or equal to 50 mm3 were considered as positive GVH reaction. FB 100 micrograms/ml induced a restored reaction in 18 normal donors with an increase in local GVH reaction from 69.6 +/- 20.8 mm3 to 148.9 +/- 40.8 mm3 (P less than 0.001) and in 9 cancer patients with an increase in local GVH reaction from 29.3 +/- 9.5 mm3 to 137.2 +/- 35.8 mm3 (P less than 0.001). The local GVH reaction of the 9 cancer patients went from negative to positive. FB on BRL was detected. 10 micrograms/ml of FB augmented the spontaneous 3H-TdR incorporation in the lymphocyte of 18 normal subjects from 310.2 to 910.9 counts per minute (cpm) and of 9 patients from 248.5 to 642.2 cpm, but the effects were not strong. The effect of single mitogen was not remarkable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612328 TI - [Histopathologic and immunohistochemical study of rhabdomyosarcoma]. AB - Histopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 120 cases of soft tissue malignancy diagnosed as rhabdomyosarcoma is reported. There were 65 males and 55 females including 62 adults (greater than or equal to 15 years) and 58 children (less than 15 years). In the adult group, the tumor was common in the limbs and the trunk, whereas in the children group, the urogenital system and regions in the head and neck. Histologically, they were divided into three types: 1. embryonic type (65 cases), 2. alveolar type (28 cases) and 3. polymorphic type (27 cases). Fifty-two cases of proved rhabdomyosarcoma and 21 cases of misdiagnosed rhabdomyosarcoma were stained immunohistochemically with myoglobin antiserum. Forty seven of those 52 cases were positive to various degrees, whereas all the misdiagnosed cases were negative. It was evident that these doubted cases were misdiagnosed in previous histopathologic interpretation. Our study suggests that the immunohistochemical myoglobin stain be an important method for the differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma. The cause of histopathologic misdiagnosis and the significance of myoglobin antiserum in the histopathologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this tumor are discussed. PMID- 2612329 TI - [Pathologic comparison between gastric carcinoma and lesions in peri-cancerous mucosa from two districts with different mortality rates in Gansu Province]. AB - A pathologic comparative study on gastric carcinoma and lesions in peri-cancerous mucosa was done in 222 resected specimens of gastric carcinoma from two districts with different mortality rates in Gansu province. The adjusted mortality rates were 46.41 per 100,000 and 21.64 per 100,000 respectively. There were no significant difference in the histologic type and the gastric, intestinal and mixed types classified according to mucin histochemical stain and no significant difference in the detection rate of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), intestinal metaplasia (IM) and dysplasia in peri-cancerous mucosa either. These findings suggest that the type of gastric carcinoma be not related to the mortality rates either high or low and neither was there any apparent correlation between the CAG, IM and gastric carcinoma. PMID- 2612330 TI - [Distribution and diagnostic role of COTA in mucinous ovarian tumors]. AB - The localization and diagnostic value of colon-ovarian tumor antigen (COTA) were studied by immunohistochemical S-P method. COTA was found in all 18 cases of mucinous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma (100%) and 3 border line cystadenomas (100%). Yet in 18 cases of ovarian benign mucinous cystadenoma, only 3 were positive (16.6%). These results indicate that COTA is a highly sensitive and specific antigen for mucinous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma and has potential for the early detection of malignant changes in mucinous ovarian cystadenoma. PMID- 2612331 TI - [Clinical value of radionuclide whole body bone imaging in the diagnosis of skeletal metastasis]. AB - Of 628 patients with extra-osseous malignancies diagnosed by surgery and/or pathology, 207 (33.0%) were identified as having skeletal metastasis by bone imaging. There was statistical significant difference in the incidence of metastasis in in different malignancies (P less than 0.02). The metastatic rates of nasopharyngeal, lung, prostate and breast cancers were higher than gastrointestinal, kidney, and other malignancies. There was significant differences in the different sites of skeletal metastasis (P less than 0.01). They were thorax, spine, pelvis, limbs and skull in order of incidence. Solitary metastatic rate was 15.9%. Biopsy is advised for patients suspected to have metastatic disease but with only one single "hot spot" in skeletal imaging, particularly in the rib. PMID- 2612332 TI - [Bone imaging in the detection of skeletal metastasis]. AB - Tc-99m-HMDP bone imaging was performed in 114 patients with various carcinomas. Ninety-four patients gave positive results. In 65 patients, bone imaging was compared with radiograms. The two methods were both positive in 40 patients (62%). Of these 65 patients, 17 (26.1%) had negative radiograph but positive bone imaging. Bone metastases were mainly found in the axial skeleton. It is important to differentiate bone fracture from metastasis when only one single lesion is found. The best differentiation is bone imaging follow-up. PMID- 2612333 TI - [Free vascular pedicle iliac bone graft for reconstruction of mandibular defect with ECT scan monitor]. AB - Thirteen patients with mandibular defects after radical resection of mandibular cancer from Apr. 1984 to May 1987 are reported. There were 9 males and 4 females. The defects were repaired by free vascular pedicle iliac bone grafts. Of these patients, 11 satisfactorily healed as the grafted bone was examined by ECT scan autoradiography. The latter is considered as a reliable objective monitor and a scientific parameter to evaluate the viability of the grafted bone. Wide surgical indication, improved post-operative function, shortened treatment course in one stage repair are favorable to the patients. PMID- 2612334 TI - [Screening for upper G-I tract cancer by gastroscopy in a 2,000 suspected population]. AB - Mass screening for upper G-I tract cancer was performed by Qin's occult blood bead detector from Nov. 1986 to Apr. 1987 in Yangzhong county, Jiansu province. Of the examined subjects, 2,000 were positive for occult blood. There were 887 males and 1,113 females. The ages ranged from 23 to 75 years, 58.2% were over 40 years. Gastroscopic examinations were performed for all the positive subjects. Sixty-four patients with G-I tract cancers were discovered by gastroscopy with detection rate of 3.2%. Of these 64 patients, 19 had cancer of esophagus, 27 cancer of gastric cardia and 19 gastric cancer in which one patient had double primary cancers with 65 foci. In this series, there were 65.6% early cancers. It may be concluded that the occult blood test in cancer screening had definite value in early detection of the upper G-I tract cancer. The authors suggest that annual test with this bead detector be done for the adult male. PMID- 2612335 TI - [Cause and surgical management of local recurrence of rectal cancer following radical resection retaining the anus]. AB - Of seventy-one patients with rectal cancer after radical resection retaining the anus, 15 developed local recurrence with a recurrence rate of 21.1%. Local recurrence was correlated with improper safety margin from the lower edge of cancer to the anal end. There was statistical significant difference between 3 cm or more and 2 cm or less. The local recurrence was also related to the pathologic stage, histologic differentiation and implant of free cancer cells. It is suggested that the surgical indication of saving the anus be strict and without stretching, the safety margin from the lower edge of cancer to the anal end should not be less than 2 cm in early rectal cancer and not less than 4 cm in advanced lesions. During the operation, no touching tumor technique, thorough rinsing of the peritoneal cavity and pre- or post-operative radiotherapy are important for prevention of local recurrence. Early local recurrent rectal cancer can be detected by periodic examinations. PMID- 2612336 TI - [Radiotherapy of testicular infiltration in childhood leukemia]. AB - 330 boys with acute leukemia treated from 1978 to 1987 are reported. Of these patients, 24 (7.3%) developed testicular leukemia and 23 were treated by local irradiation with doses of 20-50 Gy on both sides of the testis. Swollen testis returned to normal size at the end of therapy in 10 patients whereas 13 still had enlarged testis. 18 patients were followed for 3-75 months with a mean survival time of 16.8 months. The incidence, treatment, dose of radiation, and results of therapy of testicular leukemia in children are discussed and biopsy of testis is suggested. PMID- 2612337 TI - [Various doses cisplatin combined with multi-drug chemotherapy of malignant solid tumors]. AB - 236 patients with various advanced malignant solid tumors treated by combined chemotherapy with routine doses of cisplatin (DDP) from 1980 to 1986 are presented. According to different doses of cisplatin everyday, the patients were divided into 4 groups: 1. 20 mg/day x4-5, 80 cases; 2. 30 mg/day x3-5, 91 cases; 3. 40 mg/day x3-4, 37 cases; 4. 50 mg/day x2-3, 28 cases. Each group was repeated for 3 weeks. The effect and toxicity were analysed and compared with 22 cases treated by single DDP in 1975. The response (CR + PR) rate was 39.2% in 194 evaluated patients. The response rate was similar in group 20 mg and single DDP (29.2% and 27.3%). The response rate was lower than that of group 30 mg, 40 mg, and 50 mg (43.4%, 42.4%, and 50%) (P less than 0.05). The remissions in various groups were not significantly different. The toxicity of combined chemotherapy was not severe. 91.1% of patients had nausea and vomiting. There was no statistical difference in the various groups. Bone marrow suppression was less in single DDP group than that of combined chemotherapy group, (P less than 0.05). DDP 30 mg-50 mg 1/d x5-3 was better than HD-DDP in some patients. PMID- 2612338 TI - [Cryosurgery in rectal carcinoma--report of 41 cases]. AB - Fourty-one patients with rectal carcinoma treated by cryosurgery in our hospital from 1973 to 1982 are presented. The 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1-year survival rates were 34.1%, 41%, 56%, 66% and 90%, respectively Eighteen patients who underwent radical cryosurgery gave a 5-year survival rate of 66%. The results showed that cryosurgery inhibited the multiplication of cancer cells and improved immune response through observing the changes of DNA content, ultrastructures, anti bodies (IgG, A, M), T-cell subpopulations (OKT3, OKT4, OKT8) and so on. Cryosurgery could avert colostomy when used for rectal carcinoma. PMID- 2612339 TI - [Surgery and radiotherapy of early glottic carcinoma]. AB - 167 patients with early glottic carcinoma treated by surgery or radiotherapy in the past 25 years are analysed. Of these patients, 74 with T1 N0 M0 glottic carcinoma treated by surgery gave a 5-year survival rate of 93.2%. In these 74 patients, 5 who received total laryngectomy and 69, partial laryngectomy gave 5 year survival rates of 80% and 94.2%. In this series, 93 patients treated by radiotherapy gave a 5-year survival rate of 87.4%. There was no significant difference between the two groups (X2 test P greater than 0.05). The above results showed that the results of surgery and radiotherapy are similar. The authors suggest that radiotherapy be considered as the first choice for this type of cancer for its advantages over surgery. PMID- 2612340 TI - [Spindle cell lipoma--light and electron microscopic studies of two cases]. AB - Two spindle cell lipomas, one in the subcutis of the posterior neck and the other in the deeper site of the right supraclavicular fossa below the brachial plexus, were studied by light and electron microscopy. Both were histologically composed of a mixture of mature lipocytes and uniform spindle cells within mucinous matrix associated with scattered birefringent collagen fibers. Ultrastructural observation revealed lipid droplets and discontinuous extracellular lamina in the small part of the spindle cells, indicating the earliest differentiation towards adipocyte. PMID- 2612341 TI - [Eosinophilic granuloma of the stomach]. AB - Two patients with eosinophilic granuloma of the stomach are reported with review of associated literatures. Neither of the patients had a history of allergy. The diagnosis of these two patients was not confirmed by barium-meal examination, endoscopy and biopsy before operation. One lesion was localized to the distal part and another to the near part of the stomach. The resected specimens were microscopically typical of eosinophilic granuloma of the stomach. PMID- 2612342 TI - The relative value of glycated albumin, hemoglobin A1c and fructosamine when screening for diabetes mellitus. AB - We compared the usefulness of three glycated serum proteins, glycated albumin (GA), glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) and fructosamine (FA), for diabetic screening purposes. We measured these indices in 302 adults, most of whom underwent yearly physical examinations. We measured GA and HbA1c with high precision using high performance liquid chromatography (interassay coefficients of variation 4.9 and 4.0%, respectively) and FA using commercial reagents (interassay coefficient of variation 1.65%). All the individuals underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, which revealed significant correlations between the values of the three glycated proteins and the four plasma glucose concentrations measured as well as the sum of these glucose concentrations, sigma BS (GA, r = 0.80; HbA1c, r = 0.80; FA, r = 0.65). On the basis of the test, 130 of the subjects were classified as normal (N), 123 as borderline and 49 as having diabetes mellitus (D) according to the criteria of the Japan Diabetes Society. Of the 123 borderline cases, 26 showed impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) according to the WHO criteria. The normal group values of GA, HbA1c and FA were 17.8 +/- 0.17% (mean +/- SEM), 5.02 +/- 0.03%, and 2.55 +/- 0.02 mM/l, respectively. Borderline and IGT subjects had significantly more GA and HbA1c than normal but not more FA (P less than 0.01). We divided the subjects into 10 groups on the basis of their sigma BS values; those with values higher than 671 +/- 4.7 mg/dl had significantly more GA and HbA1c than normal, while those with values higher than 1068 +/- 40.9 mg/dl (the most extreme cases) had significantly more FA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612343 TI - Drug consumption in elderly diabetics. AB - The drug use in 228 persons with diabetes was studied and compared with that of sex- and age-matched non-diabetic controls--all of whom were found by the screening of a well-defined Danish population aged 60-74 years. Ninety per cent of the diabetics had non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), as evaluated by a glucagon-C-peptide test. Information on daily use of prescribed and non-prescribed drugs was obtained by questionnaires and interviews. More than 80% of the diabetics used drugs daily, compared to 55% of control subjects (P less than 0.00001). Among subjects using drugs diabetics, on average, used 70% more defined daily doses (DDD) than controls, even when antidiabetics were excluded. There was no difference in the number of drug users among subgroups of diabetics when divided according to antidiabetic treatment but tablet-treated diabetics, on average, used 20% fewer DDD than other diabetics. Cardiovascular drugs were the most commonly used drugs. Diabetics in all antidiabetic treatment groups used significantly more cardiovascular drugs than non-diabetics. Diabetics treated with oral antidiabetics used fewer cardiovascular drugs than insulin- and diet-treated diabetics. The estimated cost of drug therapy was more than 2.5 times higher for diabetics than for the control group. Our results reflect the increased morbidity among elderly diabetics and emphasise, together with other aspects of costs of diabetes in the elderly, the need for allocating resources for the prevention of NIDDM instead of the treatment of its complications. PMID- 2612344 TI - Persistent albuminuria as an index of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients in Osaka, Japan-incidence, risk factors, prognosis and causes of death. AB - A group of 1196 type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients was followed for a mean of 10 years to determine the incidence of persistent albuminuria, its associated risk factors and prognosis, as well as causes of death in patients. None of the patients studied had albuminuria on entry. The mean annual incidence rate of persistent albuminuria per 1000 person-years in the patients was higher in males than in females (18.42 and 12.57, respectively). Development of persistent albuminuria was associated with age at entry, duration of known diabetes, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose level, presence of diabetic retinopathy and type of treatment. Among 193 patients who developed persistent albuminuria during the observation period, 66 (34.2%) died before the end of the observation period, with a mean survival period (+/- SD) of 3.0 +/- 3.1 years after the onset of persistent albuminuria, indicating an extremely poor prognosis. Renal disease was the predominant cause of death in patients who developed persistent albuminuria, followed by heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. PMID- 2612345 TI - A screening test for microalbuminuria in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. AB - In this study we evaluated the acceptability of using the first morning urine albumin concentration (FMAC) and the first morning urine albumin/creatinine (FMA/C) ratio as an indirect estimation of timed albumin excretion in order to screen for microalbuminuria in a large diabetic population. Urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) was determined in samples from 4-h urine collection in 99 type 1 diabetic patients aged 30 +/- 10 years with a mean duration of diabetes of 15 +/- 8 years. The results of timed albumin excretion were successively compared with single-void first morning samples. On the basis of AER, 46 patients were normoalbuminuric (AER less than 20 micrograms/min), 28 microalbuminuric (AER 20 200 micrograms/min), and 25 proteinuric (AER greater than 200 micrograms/min). The relationship of 4-h AER to FMAC and FMA/C ratio was highly significant (r = 0.96 and r = 0.98 respectively). High sensitivity and specificity were found when cut-offs of 20 micrograms/ml and 2.5 mg/mmol were selected for albumin concentration and albumin/creatinine ratio respectively to discriminate between normal and elevated albuminuria. It is concluded that the measurements of albumin concentration and albumin/creatinine ratio in first morning urine samples are highly representative of 4-h timed albumin excretion. Because of their sensitivity, specificity and simplicity to perform, the tests proposed might be used in routine diabetic care and as a screening test for microalbuminuria in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. The not negligible day-to-day variability in albumin excretion confirms the need of several measurements to establish the presence of abnormal levels of albuminuria above all in patients with borderline values and/or clinically unstable metabolic control. PMID- 2612346 TI - [Study of the proliferation block in nuclear erythrocytes by a cellular hybridization method]. PMID- 2612347 TI - [A new interpretation of the role of temperature in the formation of bioelectric potential and genetic functions of the cell nucleus]. PMID- 2612348 TI - [A study of the process of supplying pigment to the hair in lambs of various breeds and genotypes]. PMID- 2612349 TI - [Rapid evaluation of nucleotide sequence homology by frequencies of oligonucleotides]. PMID- 2612350 TI - [A new mechanism for realization of radiation-induced chromosome aberrations]. PMID- 2612351 TI - [Killer protein, formed by the yeast Hansenula Anomala (Hansen) H. et P. Sydow]. PMID- 2612352 TI - [Pumping function of lymphangion depending on various hydrostatic gradients]. PMID- 2612353 TI - [Interaction of opioid peptides and monoamines in the mechanism of respiratory behavior regulation of Helix pomatia: analysis of isolated neurons]. PMID- 2612354 TI - [pH dependence of ionic currents caused by cotransport with nutrients through the small intestinal wall in the rat]. PMID- 2612355 TI - [Secretion of midventral glands of male Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus campbelli thomas, 1905) contains a factor regulating sexual maturation of the offspring]. PMID- 2612356 TI - [Cloning and structural analysis of the operon of ribosomal RNA of Corynebacterium glutamicum]. PMID- 2612357 TI - [The external function of the transmembrane potential]. PMID- 2612358 TI - [Primary structure of the gene of restriction endonuclease EcoRII]. PMID- 2612359 TI - [Inter-hemisphere asymmetry in perception of volume (a study using holoscopic tachistoscopy)]. PMID- 2612360 TI - Non-genic inheritance of cellular handedness. AB - Ciliates exhibit an asymmetry in arrangement of surface structures around the cell which could be termed handedness. If the usual order of placement of structures defines a 'right-handed' (RH) cell, then a cell with this order reversed would be 'left-handed' (LH). Such LH forms appear to be produced in Tetrahymena thermophila through aberrant reorganization of homopolar doublets back to the singlet condition. Four clones of LH forms were selected and subjected to genetic analysis to test whether this drastic phenotypic alteration resulted from a nuclear genetic change. The results of this analysis indicate that the change in handedness is not due to a genetic change in either the micronucleus or macronucleus. The LH form can, under certain circumstances, revert to the RH form, but typically it propagates itself across both vegetative and sexual generations with similar fidelity. While this analysis does not formally rule out certain possibilities of nuclear genic control involving regulatory elements transmitted through the cytoplasm, when the circumstances of origin and propagation of the LH condition are taken into account direct cortical perpetuation seems far more likely. Here we outline a conceptual framework centred on the idea of longitudinally propagated positional information; the positive evidence supporting this idea as well as further application of the idea itself are presented in the accompanying paper. PMID- 2612361 TI - Relationship between vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and haemopoiesis during avian ontogeny. AB - Quail-chick intracoelomic grafts of organ rudiments were used to study the origin of endothelia and haemopoietic cells during avian organogenesis in conjunction with the monoclonal antibody QH1 which recognizes the quail haemangioblastic lineage. Results differed according to the germ-layer constitution of the grafted rudiments. In the case of the limb buds, endothelial cells from the host invaded the graft through an angiogenic process. Haemopoietic progenitors from the host also colonized the grafted bone marrow. In contrast, rudiments of internal organs provided their own contingent of endothelial precursors, a process termed vasculogenesis. Nevertheless, haemopoietic cells in these organs were all derived from the host. In the lung, this extrinsic cell population appeared regularly scattered around the parabronchi and had a macrophage-like phenotype. In the pancreas, the granulocytes which differentiate as dense aggregates located in the wall of the largest vessels were extrinsic. Similarly in the spleen, a mesodermal primordium that develops in close association with the pancreatic endoderm, endothelial cells were intrinsic and haemopoietic cells host-derived. This study demonstrates that, in ontogeny, vascularization obeys different rules depending on which germ layer the mesoderm is associated with: in mesodermal/ectodermal rudiments angiogenesis is the rule; in mesodermal/endodermal rudiments, vasculogenesis occurs. However, in these internal organs undergoing vasculogenesis, endothelial and haemopoietic cells have separate origins. We put forward the hypothesis that the endoderm induces the emergence of endothelial cells in the associated mesoderm. Formation of blood stem cells may also involve interactions between endoderm and mesoderm, but in this case the responding capacity of the mesoderm appears restricted to the paraaortic region. PMID- 2612362 TI - Distribution and possible interactions of actin-associated proteins and cell adhesion molecules of nerve growth cones. AB - Actin filaments and their interactions with cell surface molecules have key roles in tissue cell behaviour. Axonal pathfinding during embryogenesis, an especially complex cell behaviour, is based on the migration of nerve growth cones. We have used fluorescence immunocytochemistry to examine the distribution in growth cones, their filopodia and lamellipodia of several actin-associated proteins and nerve cell adhesion molecules. The leading margins of chick dorsal root ganglion nerve growth cones and their protrusions stain strongly for f-actin, filamin, alpha-actinin, myosin, tropomyosin, talin and vinculin. MAP2 is absent from DRG growth cones, and staining for spectrin fodrin extends into growth cones, but not along filopodia. Thus, organization of the leading margins of growth cones may strongly resemble the leading lamella of migrating fibroblasts. The adhesion mediating molecules integrin, L1, N-CAM and A-CAM are all found on DRG neurites and growth cones. However, filopodia stain relatively more strongly for integrin and L1 than for A-CAM or N-CAM. In fact, the 180 X 10(3) Mr form of N-CAM may be absent from most of the length of filopodia. DRG neurones cultured in cytochalasin B display differences in immunofluorescence staining which further emphasize that these adhesion molecules interact differentially with the actin filament system of migrating growth cones. Several models for neuronal morphogenesis emphasize the importance of regulation of the expression of adhesion molecules. Our results support hypotheses that cellular distribution and transmembrane interactions are key elements in the functions of these adhesion molecules during axonal pathfinding. PMID- 2612363 TI - Genetic analysis of developmental mechanisms in hydra. XIX. Stimulation of regeneration by injury in the regeneration-deficient mutant strain, reg-16. AB - A mutant strain of Hydra magnipapillata, reg-16, has a very low regenerative capacity. After head removal, it usually restores 10-20% of the original number of tentacles in 7 days. A procedure was found to markedly improve tentacle regeneration in this strain. The closed wound located at the apical regenerating tip of the decapitated polyp was gently reopened using a pair of forceps. Reg-16 polyps treated in this way at 24 and 48 h after head removal restored nearly all of the original number of tentacles in 7 days. A lateral tissue transplantation procedure was employed to examine the effect of wound reopening on the morphogenetic potential of decapitated reg-16 polyps. Wound reopening produced a significant increase in head activation level without producing a preceding decrease in head inhibition level. This and other observations suggest that the coupled activation-inhibition changes that normally occur after head removal from the wild-type hydra do not occur in this strain. Mechanisms responsible for the wound reopening effect and the absence of activation-inhibition coupling in the mutant strain reg-16 are discussed. PMID- 2612364 TI - Molecular differences between the rostral and caudal halves of the sclerotome in the chick embryo. AB - It is known that both neural crest cell migration and motor axon outgrowth in most vertebrate embryos are segmented because of restrictions imposed upon their distribution by the neighbouring sclerotomes, each of which is divided into a rostral and a caudal half. The caudal half does not allow crest migration or axon outgrowth, while the rostral half does. In this paper, we investigate the expression of proteins and glycoproteins in the two halves of the sclerotome of the chick embryo at stages between 20 and 32 pairs of somites by two-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We find that the patterns of expression are complex, and that polypeptides and glycoproteins vary both spatially and temporally: of those that are expressed differentially by the sclerotome, some differ quantitatively and others qualitatively. Some macromolecules change their spatial distribution with developmental age, and some appear or disappear as the embryos become older. PMID- 2612365 TI - Potentiation by the lithium ion of morphogenetic responses to a Xenopus inducing factor. AB - We have cultured explants of Xenopus blastular animal cap tissue from embryos that had received an earlier treatment with LiCl and from their untreated siblings, in various concentrations of XTC-cell-derived mesoderm-inducing factor (XTC-MIF, Smith, 1987; Smith et al. 1988). The pretreatment with lithium that we used transforms later morphogenesis in the whole embryo to give radialized body forms with anterior/dorsal levels of structure grossly over-represented. In addition, animal caps from 'Li+' embryos were allowed to develop without exposure to in vitro MIF (Li+ controls) and compared with normal uninduced control explants, and explants were made from normal early blastulae but given various initial treatments with LiCl in culture. The results confirm that the lithium ion itself will not induce mesoderm in competent, animal cap tissue of Xenopus. It does, however, enhance the responsiveness of this tissue to XTC-MIF, in a way that parallels its recently reported effect in the case of another mesoderm inducer of different character, bFGF (Slack et al. 1988). The effects observed are sufficient to imply that the altered body pattern that follows lithium treatment, in whole embryos, could be caused by modulation of the responses to an unaltered pattern of in situ inductive stimuli. We also observe evidence that appreciable inductive signals reach animal pole tissue beyond the limits of mesoderm formation in normal development. Relatively low concentrations of MIF prevent the development of an epidermis-specific marker in dissociated blastular animal cap cells (Symes et al. 1988). When such experiments are repeated in relation to the lithium pretreatment of embryos, such treatment is seen to have sensitized the cell population, so that the MIF concentration range that assures complete suppression of the marker is reduced. The results are discussed in relation to induction considered as pattern formation. PMID- 2612366 TI - Organization of connective tissue patterns by dermal fibroblasts in the regenerating axolotl limb. AB - A set of tendons, aponeurotic sheets and retinaculae, which transduce muscle action from proximal limb levels to flexion and extension of the digits, is found in limbs of many vertebrates. This set of structures, here termed the digit tendon complex, is described for the axolotl forelimb. We show that the complex forms autonomously in muscleless axolotl limb regenerates produced from a cuff of unirradiated dermis surrounding an irradiated limb stump, and persists for up to a year after amputation. The pattern of other connective tissue structures, including the skeleton, is also normal. Fibroblast condensations that may represent sets of these cells normally associated with muscles in the extensor and flexor compartments of the carpal region also form in muscleless limbs. The results are discussed in terms of the importance of the dermis in pattern regulation, selforganization of connective tissues in general and autonomous development of the digit tendon complex in particular. PMID- 2612367 TI - Patterns of engrailed protein in early Drosophila embryos. AB - By the onset of gastrulation during nuclear cycle 14 of Drosophila embryogenesis, the engrailed gene is expressed in fourteen one-cell-wide stripes. Each stripe defines the anlagen of the posterior compartment of a metameric segment. We report here several observations relating to the role and disposition of the engrailed protein during the embryonic stages that precede cellularization. We demonstrate that in embryos mutant for the engrailed gene, there were characteristic morphological abnormalities as early as the 6th cleavage cycle. In addition, the engrailed protein was detected in pre-cycle-9 embryos by Western blot analysis. When localization of engrailed protein begins during cycle 14, engrailed expression was first present in broad anterior and posterior regions before the fourteen-stripe pattern appeared. PMID- 2612368 TI - Targeted ablation of alpha-crystallin-synthesizing cells produces lens-deficient eyes in transgenic mice. AB - Genetic ablation techniques were used to study the role of the lens in mammalian eye development. Ablation was accomplished by microinjecting murine eggs with chimeric DNA constructs in which the alpha A-crystallin gene regulatory sequence (-366 to +46) was fused to the highly cytotoxic diphtheria toxin gene coding sequence. For genetic ablation to be successful the promoter regulating expression should be specific and completely silent in cells necessary for normal mouse development. In this report, we describe the generation and analysis of transgenic mice with this readily discernible phenotype: aphakia or eyes without lens. Of the 109 live-born pups, eight carried the transgene and could be grouped according to the apparent severity of eye malformations. Lines 4, 5 and 6 founder (F0) mice had the most severe phenotype. Histological analysis revealed: marked reduction in eye size, total absence of lens, increased retinal cell density and extensive whorling of the retinal fibre layers. The line 1 F0 mouse displayed a distinct lens opacity and lines 2, 3 and 8 F0 mice were mosaics with a relatively mild, but most unusual phenotype. Their eyes contained a small, highly vacuolated lens. The progeny of these mosaics that inherited the transgene, however, again exhibited the severe phenotype. The aberrant structures of the eyes in which complete genetic ablation of the lens has been achieved suggest that the lens plays a pivotal role in the development of multiple components of the murine eye. PMID- 2612369 TI - Re-expression of 117 antigen, a cell surface glycoprotein of aggregating cells, during terminal differentiation of Dictyostelium discoideum prespore cells. AB - 117 antigen is a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of D. discoideum cells at aggregation. It then disappears and is later re-expressed on the surface of a subpopulation of cells at culmination, the terminal differentiation stage (Sadeghi et al. 1987). A cDNA clone was used to show that the appearance of cell surface 117 antigen accurately reflects the expression of the 117 gene as measured by mRNA levels. It was also shown that during multicellular development there is a reciprocal relationship between the levels of 117 mRNA and the mRNA which codes for prespore surface glycoprotein, PsA. Dual parameter flow cytometry was used to demonstrate that the 117 antigen is found on the surface of maturing prespore cells after the PsA glycoprotein disappears, but that it is not found on mature spores. Using three monoclonal antibodies which identify respectively 117 antigen, PsA, and MUD3 antigen (a spore coat glycoprotein--probably Sp96), two new stages of final spore maturation were defined. These results indicate that there is a recapitulation of at least one aggregative cell surface glycoprotein in the prespore subpopulation of cells as they rise up the stalk during final spore development. This raises the possibility that culmination, which involves complex three dimensional morphogenetic movements not unlike those observed during animal embryogenesis, involves components of the two-dimensional pattern seen during aggregation. PMID- 2612370 TI - Mitogenic effect of muscle on the neuroepithelium of the developing spinal cord. AB - A previous study revealed that segments of bowel grafted between the neural tube and somites of a younger chick host embryo would induce a unilateral increase in cellularity of the host's neural tube. The current experiments were done to test the hypotheses that muscle tissue in the wall of the gut is responsible for this growth-promoting effect and that the spinal cord enlargement is the result of a mitogenic action on the neuroepithelium. Fragments of skeletal (E8-15) or cardiac muscle (E4-14) were removed from quail embryos and grafted between the neural tube and somites of chick host embryos (E2). Both skeletal and cardiac muscle grafts mimicked the effect of bowel and induced an increase in cell number as well as a unilateral enlargement of the region of the host's neural tube immediately adjacent to the grafts. The growth-promoting effect of muscle containing grafts was restricted to the neural tube itself and was not seen in proximate dorsal root or sympathetic ganglia. The action of the grafts of muscle was neither species- nor class-specific, since enlargement of the neural tube was observed following implantation of fetal mouse skeletal muscle into quail hosts. Grafts of skeletal muscle or gut increased the number of cells taking up [3H]thymidine in the host's neuroepithelium as early as 9 h following implantation of a graft. The increase in the number of cells entering the S phase of the cell cycle preceded the increase in cell number. These observations demonstrate that muscle-containing tissues can increase the rate of proliferation of neuroepithelial cells when these tissues are experimentally placed together. PMID- 2612371 TI - Collagen fibril bundles: a branching assembly unit in tendon morphogenesis. AB - The assembly, deposition and organization of collagen fibril bundles and their composite fibrils were studied during morphogenesis of the chick embryo tendon using electron microscopy, serial sections and computer-assisted three dimensional reconstruction techniques. The 14-day chick embryo is a stage when tendon architecture is being established and rapid changes in the mechanical properties occur between days 14 and 17 of development. Tendon matrix structure develops from discrete subunits, bundles of collagen fibrils. The bundles branch; undergo a gradual rotation over several micrometers; are intimately associated with the cellular elements of the developing tendon; and form arborizing networks within and among fascicles. The organization of discrete fibril segments into bundles, during the establishment of tendon architecture and function, where the segmental fibrillar components could interact with the interfibrillar matrix as well as with adjacent fibrils would contribute to the stabilization of this structure. The observed gradual rotation of the bundles would serve to stabilize the immature bundle through the physical twining of the composite fibrils while the extensive branching of the bundles observed at 14-days of development and their intimate association with the cellular elements would provide a higher order of structure stabilization. PMID- 2612372 TI - Another role for melanocytes: their importance for normal stria vascularis development in the mammalian inner ear. AB - The stria vascularis of the mammalian cochlea is composed primarily of three types of cells. Marginal cells line the lumen of the cochlear duct and are of epithelial origin. Basal cells also form a continuous layer and they may be mesodermal or derived from the neural crest. Intermediate cells are melanocyte like cells, presumably derived from the neural crest, and are scattered between the marginal and basal cell layers. The marginal cells form extensive interdigitations with the basal and intermediate cells in the normal adult stria. The stria also contains a rich supply of blood vessels. We investigated the role of melanocytes in the stria vascularis by studying its development in a mouse mutant, viable dominant spotting, which is known to have a primary neural crest defect leading to an absence of recognisable melanocytes in the skin. Melanocytes were not found in the stria of most of the mutants examined, and from about 6 days of age onwards a reduced amount of interdigitation amongst the cells of the stria was observed. These ultrastructural anomalies were associated with strial dysfunction. In the normal adult mammal, the stria produces an endocochlear potential (EP), a resting dc potential in the endolymph in the cochlear duct, which in mice is normally about +100 mV. In our control mice, EP rose to adult levels between 6 and 16 days after birth. In most of the mutants we studied, EP was close to zero at all ages from 6 to 20 days. Melanocyte-like cells appear to be vital for normal stria vascularis development and function. They may be necessary to facilitate the normal process of interdigitation between marginal and basal cell processes at a particular stage during development, and the lack of adequate interdigitation in the mutants may be the cause of their strial dysfunction. Alternatively, melanocytes may have some direct, essential role in the production of an EP by the stria. Melanocytes may be important both for normal strial development and for the production of the EP. We believe this is the clearest demonstration yet of a role for migratory melanocytes other than their role in pigmentation. PMID- 2612373 TI - Genetic differences in glucose phosphate isomerase activity among mouse embryos. AB - We have compared mouse embryos of three heterozygous, congenic genotypes (with high, medium and low levels of oocyte-coded glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI-1) activity respectively) to test whether 1) the survival time of oocyte-coded GPI-1 activity in the early embryo is affected by its activity level in the oocyte and 2) whether embryo-coded GPI-1 is detected earlier in embryos that inherit low levels of oocyte-coded GPI-1. The oocyte-coded GPI-1 was entirely GPI-1A allozyme in the high and medium groups but was the less stable GPI-1C allozyme in the low group. We determined total GPI-1 activity and the ratio of different GPI-1 allozymes in early embryos and calculated the activity of oocyte-coded and embryo coded GPI-1. In all three groups, the oocyte-coded enzyme activity remained at a more or less constant level for the first 21 1/2 days. Some oocyte-coded GPI-1 remained in 4 1/2 day embryos from the high and medium groups but was gone by 5 1/2 days. Very little remained in 4 1/2 day embryos that inherited low levels of a less stable form of the enzyme (GPI-1C allozyme). Despite a 4- to 5-fold difference in initial oocyte-coded GPI-1 activity, no differences were seen among the three genotypically distinct groups of embryos in the time of activation of the embryonic Gpi-1s genes. The embryo-coded GPI-1 was first detectable in 3 1/2 day compacted morulae in all three groups. The level of oocyte-coded GPI-1, in the high group, when embryo-coded GPI-1 was first detected was higher than the level in the low group at any stage prior to detection of embryo-coded GPI 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612374 TI - Bone formation following intrarenal transplantation of isolated murine chondrocytes: chondrocyte-bone cell transdifferentiation? AB - Isolated syngeneic epiphyseal chondrocytes transplanted into a muscle formed cartilage in which matrix resorption and endochondral ossification began at the end of the second week after transplantation. After 56 days cartilage was converted into an ossicle. In 7-day-old intrarenal transplants, epiphyseal chondrocytes formed nodules of cartilage. In 10-day-old transplants, islands of bone appeared. Slight resorption of cartilage was first noted in 14-day-old transplants of chondrocytes. After eight weeks, transplants contained mainly bone. Intramuscularly transplanted rib chondrocytes formed cartilage which did not ossify. Nevertheless, bone islands appeared in intrarenal transplants of rib chondrocytes. Bone was not formed in allogeneic intrarenal transplants of epiphyseal or rib chondrocytes, but appeared in such transplants in animals immunosuppressed by anti-thymocyte serum and procarbazine. When spleen cells from animals immunized with allogeneic chondrocytes were transferred to immunosuppressed chondrocyte recipients two weeks after intrarenal chondrocyte transplantation, the majority of osteocytes in bone islands was dead. On the other hand, endochondral bone formed in intramuscular transplants of allogenic epiphyseal chondrocytes in immunosuppressed recipients was not damaged by sensitized spleen cells. This suggested that bone in 10- to 14-day-old intrarenal transplants of chondrocytes arose from injected cells and not by induction. To see whether bone was formed by chondrocytes or by some cells contaminating the chondrocyte suspension, the superficial layer of rib cartilage was removed by collagenase digestion and only more central chondrocytes were used for transplantation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612375 TI - Spatial control of hairy protein expression during embryogenesis. AB - We have used a polyclonal antiserum specific for the Drosophila segmentation gene, hairy (h), to analyse its expression during embryogenesis. The pattern of wild-type expression resembles that of h transcription, being expressed in stripes at the blastoderm stage. h is also expressed later in the stomodaeum, proctodaeum, tracheal pits and mesoderm. We demonstrate that h protein stripes show consistent phase relationships to those of the even-skipped (eve) pair-rule gene. We examine h protein patterns in embryos mutant for other segmentation genes, including h itself. We show that lack of h activity appears not to affect h striping, arguing that h expression is not under autoregulatory control. We also show that h activity is not needed for tracheal invagination. Mutations that are rearranged upstream of the h gene cause the loss of specific stripes, indicating that the h promoter includes activating elements that respond to specific spatial cues. Our observations suggest that pair-rule striping may be under redundant control, and we discuss possible implications for hierarchical models of pair-rule gene action. PMID- 2612376 TI - Sex determination in the germ line of Drosophila depends on genetic signals and inductive somatic factors. AB - We have analyzed the mechanism of sex determination in the germ line of Drosophila by manipulating three parameters: (1) the ratio of X-chromosomes to sets of autosomes (X:A); (2) the state of activity of the gene Sex-lethal (Sxl), and (3) the sex of the gonadal soma. To this end, animals with a ratio of 2X:2A and 2X:3A were sexually transformed into pseudomales by mutations at the sex determining genes Sxl (Sex-lethal), tra (transformer), tra-2 (transformer-2), or dsx (double-sex). Animals with the karyotype 2X;3A were also transformed into pseudofemales by the constitutive mutation SxlM1. The sexual phenotype of the gonads and of the germ cells was assessed by phase-contrast microscopy. Confirming the conclusions of Steinmann-Zwicky et al. (Cell 57, 157, 1989), we found that all three parameters affect sex determination in germ cells. In contrast to the soma in which sex determination is completely cell-autonomous, sex determination in the germ line has a non-autonomous component inasmuch as the sex of the soma can influence the sexual pathway of the germ cells. Somatic induction has a clear effect on 2X;2A germ cells that carry a Sxl+ allele. These cells, which form eggs in an ovary, can enter spermatogenesis in testes. Mutations that cause partial loss of function or gain of function of Sxl thwart somatic induction and, independently of the sex of the soma, dictate spermatogenesis or oogenesis, respectively. Somatic induction has a much weaker effect on 2X;3A germ cells. This ratio is essentially a male signal for germ cells which consistently enter spermatogenesis in testes, even when they carry SxlM1. In a female soma, however, SxlM1 enables the 2X;3A germ cells to form almost normal eggs. Our results show that sex determination in the germ line is more complex than in the soma. They provide further evidence that the state of Sxl, the key gene for sex determination and dosage compensation in the soma, also determines the sex of the germ cells, and that, in the germ line, the state of activity of Sxl is regulated not only by the X:A ratio, but also by somatic inductive stimuli. PMID- 2612377 TI - The development of the Xenopus retinofugal pathway: optic fibers join a pre existing tract. AB - The developing optic nerve and tract have received considerable attention in recent years, but the cellular and subcellular microenvironment of the growing axons has not been described. In the belief that such a description is essential (though certainly not sufficient) for an understanding of pathway formation, we have examined the normal development of the retinofugal projection of Xenopus laevis. Optic fibers were labeled anterogradely at the retina with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or the carbocyanine dye, DiI, at stages 32 to postmetamorphosis. The brains were examined both as whole mounts and in sections, light- and electron-microscopically, with the emphasis on tracts associated with the route of the optic fibers. At stage 32, two ventral commissures were present, the anterior and postoptic. They were immediately subjacent to the pia. All tracts and even isolated axons were in similarly superficial locations. The first deep pathway (separated from the pia by cell nuclei) was seen at stage 46; it was a dorsal commissure, probably the posterior. The first retinal axons passed from the optic stalk into the ventral part of the diencephalon, where they coursed along the rostral edge of the postoptic commissure, and maintained this position, relative to the other fibers in the tract of the commissure, throughout the remainder of their contralateral trajectory. They reached the presumptive thalamic and tectal termination sites and arborized. Subsequent optic axons followed this same route, thus enlarging the optic pathway relative to the more slowly growing nonoptic part of the commissure and its tract. Electron microscopy revealed, as early as stage 35, specialized contacts between cellular processes in the neuropil. These contacts had the form of symmetric membranous thickenings; some were associated with vesicles and were presumed to be synapses. We conclude that the early forebrain and midbrain have only two ventral commissural pathways, and most axons that grow out after these pathways have formed add to them rather than establish new tracts. The optic axons travel a stereotyped pathway alongside a pre-existing tract associated with the postoptic commissure. The possibility that optic fiber outgrowth is normally influenced by pre-existing tracts is discussed in relation to recent experimental investigations of fiber growth from ectopic eyes. PMID- 2612378 TI - The human blastocyst: cell number, death and allocation during late preimplantation development in vitro. AB - The development of 181 surplus human embryos, including both normally and abnormally fertilized, was observed from day 2 to day 5, 6 or 7 in vitro. 63/149 (42%) normally fertilized embryos reached the blastocyst stage on day 5 or 6. Total, trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM) cell numbers were analyzed by differential labelling of the nuclei with polynucleotide-specific fluorochromes. The TE nuclei were labelled with one fluorochrome during immunosurgical lysis, before fixing the embryo and labelling both sets of nuclei with a second fluorochrome (Handyside and Hunter, 1984, 1986). Newly expanded normally fertilized blastocysts on day 5 had a total of 58.3 +/- 8.1 cells, which increased to 84.4 +/- 5.7 and 125.5 +/- 19 on days 6 and 7, respectively. The numbers of TE cells were similar on days 5 and 6 (37.9 +/- 6.0 and 40.3 +/- 5.0, respectively) and then doubled on day 7 (80.6 +/- 15.2). In contrast, ICM cell numbers doubled between days 5 and 6 (20.4 +/- 4.0 and 41.9 +/- 5.0, respectively) and remained virtually unchanged on day 7 (45.6 +/- 10.2). There was widespread cell death in both the TE and ICM as evidenced by fragmenting nuclei, which increased substantially by day 7. These results are compared with the numbers of cells in morphologically abnormal blastocysts and blastocysts derived from abnormally fertilized embryos. The nuclei of arrested embryos were also examined. The number of TE and ICM cells allocated in normally fertilized blastocysts appears to be similar to the numbers allocated in the mouse. Unlike the mouse, however, the proportion of ICM cells remains higher, despite cell death in both lineages. PMID- 2612379 TI - Control of cell type proportions by a secreted factor in Dictyostelium discoideum. AB - It has been shown that, in Dictyostelium discoideum, conversion of prestalk cells to prespore cells in suspension cultures is inhibited by coexisting prespore cells. To examine whether the inhibition of conversion requires direct cell contact or is mediated by substances secreted by the cells, prestalk cells and prespore cells were incubated in shaken suspension, separated from each other by a dialysis membrane, and conversion of the prestalk cells to prespore cells scored after 24 h. Prestalk-to-prespore conversion was significantly inhibited if the density of the prespore cells was sufficiently high. In contrast, prestalk cells had little influence on prestalk-to-prespore conversion. Media conditioned by prespore cells, but not by prestalk cells, also inhibited the conversion of prestalk cells. Adenosine, propionate, diethylstilboestrol and differentiation inducing factor (DIF), all of which are known to influence the prestalk/prespore differentiation, were examined for their effects on prestalk-to-prespore conversion. Among these, all except adenosine significantly inhibited the conversion. Based on these results, possible mechanisms for maintenance of the constant cell-type ratio in D. discoideum slugs were discussed. PMID- 2612380 TI - Cell-specific metallothionein gene expression in mouse decidua and placentae. AB - Oligodeoxyribonucleotide excess solution hybridization, Northern blot and in situ hybridization were used to analyze metallothionein gene expression in mouse decidua and placentae during gestation. Metallothionein (MT) -I and -II mRNA levels were constitutively elevated, 11- and 13-fold, respectively, relative to the adult liver, in the deciduum (D8), and decreased coordinately about 6-fold during the period of development when the deciduum is replaced by the developing placenta (D10-16). Coincident with this decline, levels of MT mRNA increased dramatically in the visceral yolk sac endoderm. In situ hybridization established that MT-I mRNA was present at low levels in the uterine luminal epithelium (D4), but was elevated at the site of embryo implantation exclusively in the primary decidual zone by D5, and then in the secondary decidual zone (D6-8). Although low levels of MT mRNA were detected in total placental RNA, in situ hybridization revealed constitutively high levels in the outer placental spongiotrophoblasts. Analysis of pulse-labeled proteins from decidua and placentae established that these tissues are active in the synthesis of MT. The constitutively high levels of MT mRNA in decidua were only slightly elevated following injection of cadmium (Cd) and/or zinc (Zn), whereas in placentae they increased several-fold. MT mRNA levels were equally high in decidua and experimentally induced deciduomata (D8) which establishes that decidual MT gene expression is not dependent on the presence of the embryo or some embryo-derived factor. Although the functional role of MT during development is speculative, these results establish the concept that, from the time of implantation to late in gestation, the mouse embryo is surrounded by cells, interposed between the maternal and embryonic environments, which actively express the MT genes. This suggests that MT plays an important role in the establishment and maintenance of normal pregnancy. PMID- 2612381 TI - Complex spatio-temporal accumulation of alternative transcripts from the neurogenic gene Delta during Drosophila embryogenesis. AB - Delta (Dl) function is required for proper specification of epidermal and neural lineages within the neurogenic ectoderm of Drosophila melanogaster. We have determined the spatial accumulation of five Dl transcripts that arise as the result of alternative RNA processing during embryogenesis. We find that these transcripts accumulate in all cells of the neurogenic ectoderm immediately preceding neuroblast segregation, indicating that transcription of Dl does not differ between presumptive neuroblasts and presumptive dermoblasts. Dl transcripts also accumulate transiently in mesodermal and endodermal cells, suggesting that Dl may function in developmental processes in addition to differentiation of the neurogenic ectoderm. We find that three of the Dl transcripts are localized to the base of the nucleus during cellularization. The apparent association of these three transcripts with polysomes suggests that they accumulate within the cytoplasm at the nuclear periphery and is consistent with the hypothesis that Dl encodes multiple translational products. PMID- 2612382 TI - The development of asymmetry: the sidedness of drug-induced limb abnormalities is reversed in situs inversus mice. AB - We are studying the development of handedness, in particular the relationships between handed structures with bilateral symmetry, for example the limbs, and those with lateral asymmetry, such as the heart, lungs and gut. Asymmetric (unilateral) developmental limb abnormalities can be induced by chemical treatment of mouse embryos, either in utero by acetazolamide, or in culture by misonidazole. We have examined these effects in mice homozygous for the iv gene. The development of bilateral symmetry in iv/iv mice is normal, but the control of asymmetry appears to be random, that is 50% develop normally (situs solitus), 50% with laterally inverted viscera (situs inversus). We find that the handedness of induced asymmetric limb defects is highly correlated with embryonic visceral situs. Right limb defects are induced in situs solitus embryos, left-sided defects in situs inversus. This suggests that the mechanism of induction of asymmetric defects is not related to any intrinsic difference between the development of left and right limbs, but is connected to visceral asymmetry. In addition, the high correlation of limb defects with situs was observed in culture as well as in utero suggesting that the maternal environment plays no role in the development of asymmetry. PMID- 2612383 TI - Analysis of maternal effect mutant combinations elucidates regulation and function of the overlap of hunchback and Kruppel gene expression in the Drosophila blastoderm embryo. AB - The metameric organisation of the Drosophila embryo is generated early during development, due to the action of maternal effect and zygotic segmentation and homeotic genes. The gap genes participate in the complex process of pattern formation by providing a link between the maternal and the zygotic gene activities. Under the influence of maternal gene products they become expressed in distinct domains along the anteroposterior axis of the embryo; negative interactions between neighboring gap genes are thought to be involved in establishing the expression domains. The gap gene activities in turn are required for the correct patterning of the pair-rule genes; little is known, however, about the underlying mechanisms. We have monitored the distribution of gap and pair-rule genes in wild-type embryos and in embryos in which the anteroposterior body pattern is greatly simplified due to combinations of maternal effect mutations (staufen exuperantia, vasa exuperantia, vasa exuperantia, bicoid oskar, bicoid oskar torsolike, vasa torso exuperantia). We show that the domains of protein distribution of the gap genes hunchback and Kruppel overlap in wild-type embryos. Based on the analysis of the maternal mutant combinations, we suggest an explanation of how this overlap is generated. Furthermore, our data show that different constellations of gap gene activities provide different input for the pair-rule genes, and thus strongly suggest that the overlap of hunchback and Kruppel in wild-type is functional in the formation of the patterns of pair-rule genes. PMID- 2612384 TI - The zygotic control of Drosophila pair-rule gene expression. I. A search for new pair-rule regulatory loci. AB - The examination of pair-rule gene expression in wild-type and segmentation mutant embryos has identified many, but not necessarily all, of the elements of the regulatory system that establish their periodic patterns. Here we have conducted a new type of search for previously unknown regulators of these genes by examining pair-rule gene expression in blastoderm embryos lacking parts of or entire chromosomes. This method has the advantage of direct inspection of abnormal pair-rule gene patterns without relying upon mutagenesis or interpretation of larval phenotypes for the identification of segmentation genes. From these experiments we conclude that: (i) most zygotically required regulators of the fushi tarazu (ftz), even-skipped (eve) and hairy (h) pair-rule genes have been identified, except for one or more loci we have uncovered on chromosome arm 2L; (ii) the repression of the ftz and eve genes in the anterior third of the embryo is under maternal, not zygotic control; and (iii) there are no general zygotically required activators of pair-rule gene expression. The results suggest that the molecular basis of pair-rule gene regulation can be pursued with greater confidence now that most key trans-acting factors are already in hand. PMID- 2612385 TI - The zygotic control of Drosophila pair-rule gene expression. II. Spatial repression by gap and pair-rule gene products. AB - We examined gene expression patterns in certain single and double pair-rule mutant embryos to determine which of the largely repressive pair-rule gene interactions are most likely to be direct and which interactions are probably indirect. From these studies we conclude that: (i) hairy+ and even-skipped (eve+) regulate the fushi tarazu (ftz) gene; (ii) eve+ and runt+ regulate the hairy gene; (iii) runt+ regulates the eve gene; but, (iv) runt does not regulate the ftz gene pattern, and hairy does not regulate the eve gene pattern. These pair rule interactions are not sufficient, however, to explain the periodicity of the hairy and eve patterns, so we examined specific gap gene mutant combinations to uncover their regulatory effects on these two genes. Our surprising observation is that the hairy and eve genes are expressed in embryos where the three key gap genes hunchback (hb), Kruppel (Kr), and knirps (kni) have been removed, indicating that these gap genes are not essential to activate the pair-rule genes. In fact, we show that in the absence of either hb+ or kni+, or both gap genes, the Kr+ product represses hairy expression. These results suggest that gap genes repress hairy expression in the interstripe regions, rather than activate hairy expression in the stripes. The molecular basis of pair-rule gene regulation by gap genes must involve some dual control mechanisms such that combinations of gap genes affect pair-rule transcription in a different manner than a single gap gene. PMID- 2612386 TI - Partial proceedings of the symposium on trimipramine in depression and sleep disorders. Munich, 14 August 1988. PMID- 2612387 TI - Sleep polygraphic effects of trimipramine in depressed patients. Preliminary report. AB - Preliminary results are presented from an ongoing study in hospitalised depressed patients. Changes in sleep parameters were assessed on days 1 to 3 and 12 to 14 of a 4-week study in which patients received trimipramine 150 mg on day 1 and 100 mg thereafter. On days 1 to 3 and 12 to 14, 7 depressed patients had a significantly increased total sleep time and sleep efficiency index and a significantly decreased total wake time and number of intrasleep wake episodes per hour of sleep. Trimipramine treatment had no significant effect on REM sleep, percentage of REM sleep, REM duration and REM sleep stability index. However, a significant increase in REM latency was noted on days 1 to 3 but not on days 12 to 14. These polygraphic data suggest that trimipramine effects a very rapid and maintained sleep improvement in these depressed patients without significant alterations to the parameters of REM sleep. PMID- 2612388 TI - Action of trimipramine on sleep and pituitary hormone secretion. AB - Trimipramine is unlike other antidepressants in that it does not suppress REM sleep and possesses an atypical pharmacological profile. This antidepressant was administered in the evening to 10 depressed patients at a dosage of 75 mg on night 1 with 25 mg increments each night, up to 200 mg on night 6 and at this dosage thereafter. Sleep parameters were measured at baseline and on nights 2, 11 and 21. On nights 11 and 21, there was a significantly improved sleep pattern as shown by increases in sleep period time, total sleep time and sleep efficiency, and there was a decrease in sleep onset latency. No suppression of REM sleep occurred, and an increase was even noted; this, however, may have been due to a particularly low baseline value. Subjective assessments in which self-ratings of sleep quality were used also demonstrated an improvement in sleep. In addition, the neuroendocrine effects of trimipramine were investigated in 8 healthy volunteers after a single oral 75 mg dose. After 3 hours, a significant fall in plasma cortisol concentration from 117 to 43 micrograms/L and a significant rise in plasma prolactin concentration from 6 to 16.3 micrograms/L were observed, but there was no significant effect on plasma human growth hormone concentration. These results further support the effectiveness of trimipramine therapy in normalising a disturbed sleep pattern in depressed patients, and it may be of use in non-depressed insomniacs. The acute neuroendocrine effects of trimipramine are similar to those observed with neuroleptics and further indicate its atypical pharmacological profile. PMID- 2612389 TI - Oral lesions as a cause of glossodynia. AB - A number of oral lesions may be responsible for the symptoms of glossodynia. A thorough examination of the tongue and the mouth is of paramount importance to eliminate specific oral manifestations that may result in a burning or painful tongue. Ultimately, this may require consultation with an oral diagnostician for a definitive diagnosis. PMID- 2612390 TI - Management options for the drooling patient. AB - Drooling is a considerable disability in the neurologically disabled, but it will respond to treatment. For more than 10 years, a team approach has been successfully used in more than 400 such patients to assess and recommend appropriate therapy and its outcome. Bilateral submandibular duct relocation with simultaneous removal of the sublingual glands has evolved as the surgical procedure of choice and is associated with a satisfactory outcome in the majority of these cases. PMID- 2612391 TI - Alport's syndrome. AB - We review Alport's syndrome based on the description of seven members of a family whose disease was confirmed by percutaneous biopsy of renal specimens. The importance of genetic counseling and of the prophylaxis of hearing losses through cochlear protection is emphasized. PMID- 2612392 TI - Frontal bone reconstruction with split calvarial and cancellous iliac bone. AB - An autogenous split-thickness calvarial bone graft that was used to correct a marked depression in the frontal region of the forehead resulted in excellent cosmesis. Cancellous bone from the iliac crest, which was applied between the posterior wall of the frontal sinus and the anterior calvarial bone graft, eliminated the dead space and made infection less likely in an area prone to such infections. PMID- 2612393 TI - Paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by an extracapsular thyroid adenoma. AB - We treated a patient with an ectopic thyroid adenoma that caused recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and upper aerodigestive tract compression. After excision of the mass and release of the compressed recurrent nerve, the true vocal cord function returned almost to normal. We review the literature, diagnosis, and management of thyroid disease associated with vocal cord paralysis. PMID- 2612394 TI - Isolated Castleman's disease in the neck. AB - It can be difficult for the clinician to diagnose Castleman's disease when cervical lymphadenopathy is its only manifestation. The diagnostic challenge may be compounded by the presence of a profound fibrotic reaction secondary to multiple biopsy attempts that are frequently required to establish a diagnosis. Castleman's disease is a benign lymphoproliferative disorder and it most frequently involves the mediastinal lymph nodes. The recognition of an occasional variant of this disorder with a potential malignant course and its association with AIDS calls for a greater awareness of this disease among all clinicians. PMID- 2612395 TI - Nasal manifestations of yaws. AB - Yaws is an infectious, non-venereal disease of the tropical countries, which is caused by Treponema pertenue. Gangosa and goundou were seen commonly in cases of yaws in Africa, particularly in the early part of this century. After successful WHO mass treatment campaigns, these conditions are rarely seen now. A case of yaws with gangosa, goundou, and a nasopharyngeal carcinoma is presented here for its rarity. PMID- 2612396 TI - Lipoma of the tongue. PMID- 2612397 TI - The harpoon-shaped nasal implant. PMID- 2612398 TI - Acid reflux presenting as a persistent cough. PMID- 2612399 TI - Pathogenesis of Campylobacter infection. PMID- 2612400 TI - Serum immunoglobulins A and M in sickle cell patients in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. AB - Serum immunoglobulins A (IgA) and M (IgM) titres were determined in 25 patients with sickle sickle cell anaemia (HbSS) in steady state and in 25 age and sex matched normal controls. The mean serum immunoglobulins A and M titres (221 +/- 65.2 and 177.4 +/- 62.7 mg/dl respectively) were significantly higher (p less than 0.01) in the patient group than in the controls (148.3 +/- 55.6 and 132.6 +/ 45.9 mg/dl respectively). Above the age of 10 years however, no statistically significant difference exists between the mean serum IgM titres of the patient and control groups. Chronic haemolysis and state of splenic function seem to play some role in the determination of serum immunoglobulin titres in sickle cell patients. The study shows that the proneness of SS patients to infections cannot be explained on the premise of low titres of serum immunoglobulins alone. PMID- 2612401 TI - Waning significance of anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titres in diagnosing streptococcal infections in Lagos, Nigeria. AB - A total of 200 serum specimens comprising 100 specimens from patients with streptococcal disease conditions, 50 from patients with other diseases and another 50 specimens from apparently healthy individuals were collected from Lagos University Teaching Hospital and from various areas of Lagos metropolis and screened for the presence of anti-streptolysin O (ASO). For streptococcal disease conditions, other diseases and for apparently healthy persons, anti-streptolysin O titres above 250 iu/ml recorded for each category of clinical conditions in terms of the number examined were 34%, 36% and 28% respectively. It is therefore suggested that high anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titres occur in apparently healthy individuals with no history of streptococcal infection and individuals with disease conditions other than those of streptococcal origin. Consequently the diagnosis of streptococcal diseases based on high titres of ASO in Lagos, is not pathognomonic, should be interpreted with caution and must not be definitive since healthy individuals and others without streptococcal infections develop high ASO titres. PMID- 2612402 TI - The rarity of chronic atrophic pyelonephritis in adults Nigerians. AB - A study was designed to investigate and define the true incidence of chronic atrophic pyelonephritis; its contributing role as a cause of chronic renal failure. The study was designed to investigate and define the true incidence of chronic disease in affected individuals in a hospital based population. We relied on radiological and postmortem histopathological evidences of the disease. The results showed that radiologically detectable unilateral chronic atrophic pyelonephritis was found in only 15 out of 391 intravenous pyelograms performed on patients referred to the renal clinic (3.8 per cent) during the five-year study period; bilateral disease was not found. Histopathological evidence from postmortem studies showed evidence of chronic atrophic pyelonephritis in 12 out of 250 autopsies (4.8%). In a short term follow up of women with unilateral pyelonephritic scars, it was found that antihypertensive treatment and meticulous treatment of urinary tract infection prevented a decline in renal function and the outcome of pregnancy was satisfactory. Chronic atrophic pyelonephritis is a rare disease in adult Nigerians and seems to be a benign disease. It may be indolent and unrecognised in many patients. PMID- 2612403 TI - Synopsis of nuclear medicine. AB - The application of radionuclides to medical diagnosis and treatment has a relatively short history. The phenomenon of radioactivity was originally discovered by Henri Bacquerel in 1896, whereas Pierre and Marie Curie isolated the naturally occurring element radium in 1899. The use of radium in the treatment of malignant disease was first introduced at the turn of this century, and was established by 1920. It was not until 1938, however, that the discovery of nuclear fission made possible the subsequent development of the nuclear reactor, and the large-scale production of artificial radioactive nuclides. It was immediately realised that the latter opened up great possibilities in the medical field. The radioactive isotope was chemically indistinguishable from the stable isotopes of the element, and minute quantities of it in the body could be detected externally by virtue of the radiation they emitted; it could be used as a "tracer" to follow the metabolism of a substance throughout the body. The following synopsis is a brief attempt to introduce the Kenyan medical personnel into the scope of nuclear energy in medicine. PMID- 2612404 TI - Neurological disorders in Nigerian children with homozygous sickle cell anaemia. AB - The pattern of associated Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders in children with homozygous sickle cell anaemia was studied over a 12-month period at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu. The relative incidence of associated neurological disorders was 1.3%, and the major varieties were cerebrovascular accidents (57.5%), meningitis (22.5%) and recurrent convulsions (10%). Intellectual impairment did not feature as a separate entity, but was observed in 27.5% of children with CNS complications. Although recurrent strokes were not frequently encountered, the hypertransfusion therapy was not practised because of relative scarcity of blood donors. PMID- 2612405 TI - Frequency of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) at Kenyatta National Hospital Dental Outpatient Clinic--a retrospective study. AB - The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of alveolar osteitis at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), most affected age group and the reasons for underlying extractions. Out of 8,393 extractions 273 (3.3%) developed alveolar osteitis. 98.5% of the teeth that developed alveolar osteitis were molars and premolars. 52% of the patients that developed alveolar osteitis were females and 48% were males. The mandible was more affected than the maxilla. The percentage distribution of alveolar osteitis according to age groups 10-19 year, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years and 60-69 years were 6.2%, 53.1%, 23.8%, 5.5%, 4.8% and 2.9% respectively. On the average, patients reported with alveolar osteitis 5.7 days following extraction. Out of 8,393 extractions, 72.5% were due to dental caries, 18% were due to periodontitis and the rest were due to other causes. It was concluded that the frequency and average, patients reported with alveolar osteitis 5.7 days following extraction. Out of 8,393 extractions, 72.5% were due to dental caries, 18% were due to periodontitis and the rest were due to other causes. It was concluded that the frequency and pattern of development of a alveolar osteitis at KNH was similar to that reported in developed countries. PMID- 2612406 TI - Comparative bioavailability of two brands of chlorpropamide in Kenyans. AB - The relative bioavailability of two brands of chlorpropamide, Dibonis, and Diabinese has been evaluated in four healthy male volunteers in a randomized, balanced, cross-over study. No statistically significant differences were observed in the absorption rate constant, ka, time to reach peak serum concentration, tp, maximum serum concentration, Cmax, the overall elimination rate constant, kel, and the area under the curve, AUC, at 95% confidence level. PMID- 2612407 TI - Neurological complications associated with sickle cell anaemia: an experience at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi. AB - Over a period of 18 months, six patients with sickle cell anaemia and neurological complications were seen. Four had acute hemiplegia, one had epilepsy and mental changes and the sixth had cerebral haemorrhage and died in the acute phase. Two patients with hemiplegia had recurrences and three were associated with convulsions and/or aphasia. Three of the patients had fever at presentation while the other three were well at the time of the neurological complication. Two patients had not been diagnosed as sicklers previously. A brief review of the literature on neurological disease in sickle cell anaemia is included. PMID- 2612408 TI - Sacrococcygeal teratomas in Lagos, Nigeria: relationship of age, sex, clinical type and histopathology to prognosis in 30 cases. AB - From 1973 to 1986, 30 cases of sacrococcygeal teratomas were seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). 67% of the tumours were benign and 33% malignant. There were 25 girls and 5 boys. Majority of the benign cases were operated before the age of 3 months and all had types I & II lesions. All the patients with malignant tumours had significant presacral and endopelvic components; some of these presented clinically with urinary retention, constipation, inability to walk and neurologic deficit. Our surgical experience is compared with the reports from other centres both within and outside Africa. PMID- 2612409 TI - The occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in faecal samples submitted for routine examination at Kenyatta National Hospital. AB - One hundred and thirty-three loose or diarrhoeic stool specimens from patients admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital were examined for cryptosporidiosis. Oocysts were detected in 5(3.8%) of the total in which Cryptosporidium was the sole pathogenic agent. In addition to Cryptosporidium, other pathogens isolated included bacteria, protozoa and helminths. We therefore report that Cryptosporidium is a cause of diarrhoea and should be looked for in the absence of other pathogenic organisms. PMID- 2612410 TI - Inhibition of AFB1-induced liver cancer and induction of increased microsomal enzyme activity by dietary constituents. AB - A long-term study, using male Wistar rats, was initiated to determine whether the effects of dietary constituents on AFB1-induced liver cancer could be associated with altered microsomal enzyme activity. They were maintained on mice pellets mixed with specific dietary constituents for 7 days and then given a single carcinogenic dose of AFB1 (500 micrograms/rat). After three months, the dietary constituents were discontinued and the animals were left on mice pellets and drinking water only for a period of about 20 months. At the end of the trial period, it was observed that dietary mixtures containing small quantities of either beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, GSH, vitamin E, selenium salt, or uric acid, effectively inhibited the development of AFB1-induced liver cancer and induced increased microsomal enzyme activity. Whereas beta-carotene and uric acid were the most effective inhibitors, vitamin E was the least, yet a significant inhibitor of liver cancer. Hepatic levels of cytochrome P-450, aniline hydroxylase and chlorpromazine demethylase were significantly induced in rats fed fortified food followed by AFB1 treatment than in control animals. The inhibition of liver cancer by dietary factors was probably due to their ability to induce the activity of hepatic microsomal enzymes. Increased enzyme activity could lead to rapid activation of AFB1 metabolism, resulting in loss of activated AFB1 metabolites that attack cell components. Inhibition of liver cancer is therefore associated with induction of increased microsomal enzyme activity. PMID- 2612411 TI - Hypopharyngeal and oesophageal foreign bodies. AB - Foreign bodies in the food passages are quite common in Jos Community. Majority of 119 cases seen over a period of four years were children 92.4% and a coin was the commonest foreign body (86.5%). The site of lodgement of the foreign body was hypopharynx and abdomen in 11 cases each while 97 were held in oesophagus, mainly in its upper part. Removal of the foreign body by oesophagoscopy was difficult in patients who presented late. The coins formed a pouch in posterior oesophageal wall in six cases while their anterior surfaces got discoloured in 14 cases causing difficulty in their identification. Besides coins in children and dentures in adults, nine patients accidently swallowed a wide variety of foreign objects of different shapes and sizes. Management of such cases has been discussed. PMID- 2612412 TI - The pattern of tuberculosis in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AB - Two hundred and forty available charts of medical patients treated for tuberculosis at Tikur Anbessa Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia over 2 years (9/83-9/85 were studied. TB was diagnosed in 11.2% of medical admissions. The average age of TB patients was 30.5; 58% were males; 53% were classed as poor. TB patients were poorer than other medical patients and averaged 38.9 days in hospital, non-TB patients averaged 31.9 days. Pulmonary disease was most common (47% of total), followed by spondylitis (12.1%), peritonitis (11.5%), and disseminated disease (11.1%). There were no cases of renal or cutaneous disease. 6% of admissions were diabetic, 16.4% had defaulted from previous TB treatment. Only 45% of patients had the diagnosis proven by histology or bacteriology. Pleural biopsy, lymph node biopsy, peritoneal biopsy, and sputum AFB stain were the most useful procedures in proving the diagnosis. A variety of drugs were given, 53% received INH-EMB-SM, 26% INH-SM-Thiacetazone; 32% received no form of vitamin supplements. The overall death rate was 8%, including 9% of pulmonary cases and 22% of patients with disseminated disease. Comparison is made with Ethiopian and other African data. It is suggested that patients receive definitive diagnostic tests earlier, along with earlier therapy and more consistent use of pyridoxine. PMID- 2612413 TI - Outcome of term breech presentation. AB - Three hundred and ninety five cases of breech presentation at Harare Maternity Hospital, Harare revealed that caesarean section either electively or in labour resulted in good fetal outcome. Vaginal breech delivery was associated with a perinatal mortality of 74 per 1,000. Fifty four (25%) out of 216 infants delivered vaginally required admission to the Neonatal Unit and thirteen of these had a five minute Apgar Score of 5 or less. Various reasons for this unacceptably high morbidity and mortality are discussed in order to develop a protocol for management of breech presentation in a developing country. The protocol includes the advocation of external cephalic version. PMID- 2612414 TI - Haematological status of blood-donors with sickle cell trait and alpha thalassaemia in northern Nigeria. AB - Northern Nigeria is an endemic area for sickle haemoglobin (HbS), and it is common practice in many hospitals to accept blood for transfusion from donors with sickle cell trait (HbAS). In 212 healthy HbAS blood donors, the proportion of HbS was found to range between 24-47%. The HbS levels less than 38% were presumably due to the interaction of sickle-cell gene with the alpha + thalassaemia gene. Low HbS levels and presumed alpha + thalassaemia were associated with significant microcytosis and relatively low Hb A2 and Hb F, but differences were minimal. Carriers of sickle cell trait, with or without alpha + thalassaemia, appear to be acceptable as blood donors. Beta thalassaemia was not detected amongst 710 blood-donors. PMID- 2612415 TI - Focal epithelial hyperplasia (Heck's disease) in a Sudanese girl: case report. AB - Focal epithelial hyperplasia is a rare oral mucosal condition with ethnic and familial patterns of prevalence. The exact aetiology is unknown, but a viral aetiology was suggested. The condition does not require any treatment and will regress spontaneously. A recent report considered the condition one of the oral manifestations of HIV infection. The present case report is on focal epithelial hyperplasia affecting a 9 year old Sudanese girl. The case is discussed with special emphasis on the importance of a correct diagnosis. PMID- 2612416 TI - Creatinine clearance revisited--simplified for calculation. PMID- 2612417 TI - Expert systems survey on biodegradation of xenobiotic chemicals. AB - To determine the feasibility of developing an expert system for biodegradability assessment, a survey was conducted in which biodegradation experts were asked to estimate rates and products of degradation for 50 chemicals. These chemicals, which varied widely in structure, were considered representative of the spectrum of premanufacture notice chemicals subject to EPA review under the Toxic Substances Control Act. There was substantial agreement among the 22 experts on both sites of initial attack and rates of degradation. The approximate order in which various groups were viewed as contributing to aerobic biodegradability is as follows: ester, amide, anhydride greater than hydroxyl greater than carboxyl, epoxide, site of unsaturation greater than benzene ring, methyl, methylene. Hydrolyzable groups, azo bonds, halogens, and nitro groups were preferred sites of anaerobic attack. Among the negative influences on aerobic biodegradability were molecular mass, branching, halogenation, and nitrogen heterocycles. Results also indicate that estimates of removal by biodegradation in aerobic wastewater treatment and time for aerobic ultimate and primary degradation were well correlated, and that the predictive value of such correlations could be improved using correction factors for certain classes of chemicals. The results lend support to existing rules of thumb, but also offer additional insight that will prove useful in designing a prototype system. PMID- 2612418 TI - Correlation of cadmium-induced nephropathy and the metabolism of endogenous copper and zinc in rats. AB - Female Wistar rats were injected (sc) every second day for 8 weeks with Cd (0.25 mg/kg) as CdCl2. After only a 2-week exposure, when cadmium (Cd) concentration in liver was about 13 micrograms/g, ultrastructural examinations revealed some irregular ergastoplasm systems and significant proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the hepatocyte ultrastructure. The increase in Zn content occurred simultaneously with the increase in Cd concentration in the liver (Zn to Cd ratio was 1:1). In the kidneys after a 3-week exposure, when Cd concentration was 7 micrograms/g, the concentration of endogenous Cu increased. At the same time the urinary excretion of that metal was considerably higher than that of the control group. In the kidneys after a 4-week exposure, when Cd concentration in this organ exceeded 10 micrograms/g tissue, injured brush border microvilli and swollen mitochondria in the proximal convoluted tubular cells were seen. In renal corpuscules, fusion between the podocyte pedicles was also found. The changes in renal cortex ultrastructure became more pronounced when Cd concentration in kidney was increasing. Necrotic changes in the examined organ were observed when Cd concentration increased to about 30 micrograms/g tissue. The critical concentration in renal cortex of about 200 micrograms/g tissue should be revised. The present margin of safety with regard to risk of renal effects is small. PMID- 2612419 TI - Freshwater fish cytochrome P450-dependent enzymatic activities: a chemical pollution indicator. AB - Fish mixed function oxidase activities were measured during four sampling campaigns in the river Durance in the southeast of France. Six hundred fish belonging to four species were caught for this study; the use of factorial analysis emphasizes the strong pollution dependence of the P450-dependent enzymatic activities which vary with the season, the species, and the sex of the fish. Regression analysis of the data allowed prediction of the type of location from which the fish came (polluted or unpolluted) for 80% of the fish. This supports use of such activities as chemical pollution indicators. PMID- 2612420 TI - Planarians in toxicology. I. Physiology of sexual-only Dugesia dorotocephala: effects of diet and population density on adult weight and cocoon production. AB - A rare sexual-only race of Dugesia dorotocephala produces offspring from cocoons rather than by fissioning, allowing individuals to be accurately aged. Because each animal possesses fully developed male and female reproductive systems and a true brain with synapses, many types of toxicological studies which normally use vertebrates are possible with these animals. Prior to using this race for toxicological studies, a 3(3) factorial study was carried out to determine the effects of environmental conditions on reproduction and growth. The factors studied were crowding (2, 4, or 8 animals/50 ml medium), age (17, 19, 21 months), and type of dietary protein (soy, liver, cooked egg yolk). Protein composition dramatically affected the numbers of cocoons deposited per planarian, mean weight, and temporal patterns of weight changes. During 65 days of observation, planarians fed liver deposited an average of 3.28 cocoons/planarian while those fed soya or egg yolk deposited an average of 0.24 cocoon/planarian. Crowding, but not age, affected the numbers of cocoons deposited. Statistical analysis showed that protein composition, age, and crowding, alone and in factorial combinations, affected both the absolute weight changes and the temporal patterns in weight changes in each group. PMID- 2612421 TI - A preliminary study of the translocation of aldicarb across the duck eggshell. AB - The duck eggshell has the reputation of being more permeable than that of the domestic hen. If this is true, the developing embryo could be at greater risk from xenobiotic agents, since toxicants picked up on the feathers could be transferred to the embryo during incubation. This study looked for such an effect on the developing embryo after the application of aldicarb to the eggshell. At 72 hr, the eggs were painted with 3, 7, 11, or 15 microM aldicarb in 500 microliters water. The eggs were then incubated to Day 24. The gross morphological measurements were then recorded. A similar study was made using domestic hen eggs; these were treated after 36 hr incubation and incubated to Day 17. Direct injection into the yolk sac of both species was used for further comparison. There was a statistically significant reduction (P less than 0.01) in the middle web toe length with 11 and 15 microM aldicarb and the tarsometatarsus length with 7, 11, and 15 microM. Compared with the duck control group, the group given 15 microM aldicarb had reductions of approximately 8% in the tarsometatarsus and approximately 9% in the middle web toe. No statistically significant changes were produced in the chick embryos. PMID- 2612422 TI - Development of a standardized reproduction toxicity test with the earthworm species Eisenia fetida andrei using copper, pentachlorophenol and 2,4 dichloroaniline. AB - This article describes a standardized test method for determining the effect of chemical substances on the reproduction of the earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei. It is based on the existing guidelines for acute toxicity testing with earthworms, and for reasons of standardization the same artificial soil substrate and earthworm species were chosen as prescribed by these guidelines. After being preconditioned for one week in untreated soil, earthworms are exposed to the chemical substances for 3 weeks. The number of cocoons produced is determined, and cocoons are incubated in untreated artificial soil for 5 weeks to assess hatchability. Results are presented from toxicity experiments with pentachlorophenol, copper, and 2,4-dichloroaniline. For these compounds no-effect levels (NEL) for cocoon production were 32, 60-120, and 56 mg.kg-1 dry soil, respectively. Hatching of cocoons was influenced by pentachlorophenol (NEL, 10 mg.kg-1), but not by copper and dichloroaniline. Following exposure, earthworms were incubated in clean soil again to study the possibility of recovery of cocoon production. For copper and dichloroaniline earthworms did recover cocoon production to a level as high as the control level or even higher; in case of pentachlorophenol, cocoon production was still reduced after 3 weeks in clean soil. PMID- 2612423 TI - On the terrestrial toxicity of the fungicide imazalil (enilconazole) to the earthworm species Eisenia foetida. AB - The toxicity of imazalil (enilconazole), of its sulfate salt, and of a principal environmental transformation product to the earthworm species Eisenia foetida was determined. The 48-hr contact test and the 14-day artificial soil test as described by OECD guideline 207 were carried out. Concentrations of the parent substance in earthworm tissues at the end of the exposure in soil were determined by gas chromatography. The LC50 of imazalil was 12.8 micrograms/cm2 in the contact test and 541 micrograms/g in the artificial soil test. The LC50 values of the sulfate salt were 11.6 micrograms/cm2 and 532 micrograms/g, respectively. The transformation product had a LC50 of 108 micrograms/cm2 in the contact test, and the survival in the soil test exceeded 90%, even at levels of 1000 micrograms/g. Tissue levels of imazalil in surviving worms were always lower than the concentrations in corresponding soil. The LC50 values largely exceeded the levels expected after normal use. Therefore, the fungicide is not considered to be harmful to earthworms in the soil environment. PMID- 2612424 TI - Ecotoxicological characterization of industrial wastewater--sulfite pulp mill with bleaching. AB - Different process wastewaters from a sulfite pulp mill with bleaching were characterized by chemical analysis and toxicity tests. The amount of adsorbable organically bound halogen (AOX) from the bleachery was 3.6 kg per ton pulp. The extractable organically bound chlorine was 15% of AOX. Some identified organochlorine compounds in the effluent could be traced in the receiving water. Effluents from the chlorination and alkaline extraction stages and the condensate were the main contributors to the effluent toxicity. The effluents were particularly toxic to the alga Skeletonema costatum. The EC50 value for growth of the alga was 24-29 ml/liter of the total effluent. The toxicity cannot be ascribed to single chemical components in the effluents. Degradation of toxic components occurs after dilution of the effluents in the receiving water. The toxicity may be reduced to 30-50% of the initial toxicity within 1 week. Predictions of toxic effects in the receiving water, based on results of toxicity tests and estimated dilution, indicate that large areas are affected by the discharges. Som observations of the distribution of organisms in the receiving water indicate that predictions from the toxicity tests may be valid. PMID- 2612425 TI - Uncoupling properties of a chlorophenol series on Acer cell suspensions: a QSAR study. AB - A series of 22 chlorinated phenols was investigated for their uncoupling effect on Acer cell suspensions. All the studied molecules were able to enter the cell and had instantaneous uncoupling properties: pentachlorophenol was the best uncoupler of the series (the concentration required to uncouple by 50% was 5 microM), being 200-fold more effective than 3-Cl or 2-Cl phenol, which were the molecules having the lowest activity. The QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationship) study gave good equations for the uncoupling activity with the steric and electronic parameters taken together. The electronic parameter sigma was always present with a positive sign, whereas A, the angular parameter, was always negative. The general steric parameters (sigma D, 1 chi v, MR) represented the third component of the equations and each of them played practically an equivalent role. Equations of quality (r greater than 0.9), which were statistically significant, could be obtained after four compounds in F (2,5-diCl phenol; 2,4,5-triCl phenol; 2,4-diCl 6-NO2 phenol; and 2-Cl 4,6-diNO2 phenol) had been excluded and when quadratic terms were not present. The best equation (r = 0.940) was obtained with sigma D, A, and sigma 1. The comparison of the significant equations with those previously established with isolated mitochondria led us to suppose that there were no selective limiting steps during the transfer of the studied compounds from the reaction medium to mitochondria inside the cells. The major difference between the uncoupling results obtained with isolated mitochondria and with cells was that the concentrations needed to uncouple by 50% were always higher in cells. PMID- 2612426 TI - [Tyrer's Brief Scale for Anxiety used with outpatients. First validation in the French language]. AB - The brief scale for anxiety of Tyrer is a subdivision of the comprehensive psychopathological scale. We studied a serie of 105 anxious outpatients treated for chronic or reactive anxiety, without depressive or psychotic symptoms. We confirm its sensitivity to change, prove its concurrent validity in regard to the Hamilton anxiety rating scale and demonstrate that the brief scale for anxiety is a reliable instrument to assess anxiety with outpatients. Nevertheless the assessment of its internal validity raises the question of the item's selection at the time of the elaboration of the rating scales according to the scale's purpose. Indeed, must we attempt to register all the symptoms of the anxious syndrome, with the risk of including less specific items? Or must we choose the most characteristic and specific items with the risk of obtaining a more reductionist inventory, but more reliable in a "transnosographic" perspective? PMID- 2612427 TI - [The Psychotic Anxiety Scale (PAS). Evaluation of inter-rater reliability and correspondence factorial analysis]. AB - We recently proposed the first scale for evaluating anxiety in psychotics: the "Psychotic Anxiety Scale" (PAS). The first version of this scale was tested in 45 psychotic patients. The multiple correspondence factorial analysis revealed that 4 factors account for respectively 50%, 18%, 17% and 10% of the variance. This scale thus evaluates anxiety along 4 axes: severity of the symptomatology, evolution in time, hetero-aggressiveness and self-aggressiveness. This analysis supports the hypothesis of the lack of specificity for the anxiety in psychotics, but distinguishes the nevrotic anxiety from the psychotic anxiety. The inter rater reliability was assessed by a method which compared a rater with the others along 2 axes: the severity, and the profile of the assessment. The interrater reliability was unsatisfactory for only three items. They have been modified and a new version of the PAS is proposed. PMID- 2612428 TI - Methods of disinfecting endoscopic material: results of an international survey. AB - A questionnaire on the methods of cleaning and disinfecting endoscopic equipment was mailed to 120 centers in Western Europe. Seventy-four questionnaires (61%) were returned. The centers were classified into three groups according to the number of endoscopic procedures performed per year. This survey has shown that precautions are more rigid in specialized centers than in units doing fewer than 1,500 endoscopic investigations a year. Complete disinfection is done by almost all the centers after ERCP in infected patients or in the case of HBsAg and HIV positive patients, but only by 70% of centers after completion of endoscopies performed in patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage and unknown immunological status. After endoscopic examination performed in presumably non-infected subjects, complete disinfection is not done in any center after gastroscopy, in 13% after colonoscopy and in 30% after ERCP. Continued education of endoscopic personnel and greater availability of adequate endoscopic equipment is mandatory for minimizing the risk of endoscopy-related infections. PMID- 2612429 TI - Laser treatment of upper gastrointestinal tract carcinoma: determinants of survival. AB - Fifty-nine consecutive patients with stenosing carcinoma of the upper gastrointestinal tract were entered into a prospective study defining parameters of survival during laser treatment. A total of 322 laser sessions were performed, 56% of which on an outpatient basis. Life table analysis revealed that survival was poor in the presence of metastases, and in patients under 60 years of age. Survival was statistically independent of tumor histology, location, length or previous treatment of any kind. In contrast, the degree of stenosis both before and after laser treatment was related to survival in a significant fashion. The best separation into groups was achieved with the parameter dysphagia after laser treatment. Thus, the data are compatible with an important role of adequate enteral nutrition in these debilitated patients. PMID- 2612430 TI - Does a detailed explanation prior to gastroscopy reduce the patient's anxiety? AB - The object of this study was to investigate the assumption that a detailed explanation and description of gastroscopy to a patient reduces his fears of the procedure. In order to check this assumption, 243 consecutive patients who underwent elective gastroscopy were randomly distributed to 4 groups: Group A received a standard brief description of upper G-I endoscopy by the treating physician; Group B patients were given a detailed description by the endoscopist himself; Group C was given a comprehensive explanation and was shown an album of pictures illustrating each stage of the procedure; Group D saw a specially prepared video film of the procedure. A fifth group, E, consisted of patients who had previously undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patient anxiety was measured using the "Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Scales". According to the scoring on these scales there was no significant difference between the groups, thus showing that increasingly detailed description of the procedure did not diminish patients' fear. Neither did ethnic background or age have any significant influence on these results. Higher education had marginal influence on patients' apprehension about the procedure. However, female patients had significantly higher anxiety state and trait anxiety scoring than men. If endoscopy can be taken as typically representative of all invasive procedures, these results may have a much more general application. PMID- 2612431 TI - Technical aid for facilitating emergency endoscopy. AB - Emergency endoscopy is usually complicated by unfavorable examination conditions. The irrigating capability of the instrument is inadequate. The use of an easy-to operate volume- and pressure-driven irrigation pump has proved very efficient and safe in the hands of an experienced endoscopist, and helps establish the correct diagnosis or provide proper treatment. PMID- 2612432 TI - Bronchoscopic photodynamic therapy of bronchial carcinoma. AB - Photodynamic therapy with photosensitizers is a new method of treating malignant tumors. In the area of bronchoscopy it is employed for the selective therapy of early carcinomas at central localizations. We report on our first attempts at treatment with hematoporphyrin derivative in an inoperable patient. The modalities of irradiation and the recurrence-free progress of, to date, 2.5 years, are described. PMID- 2612433 TI - Role of colonoscopy in gallstone ileus:--a case report. AB - This paper reviews the role of colonoscopy in large-bowel obstruction by a gallstone. We report the case of an elderly female with a cholecystocolonic fistula who had a large-bowel obstruction caused by a gallstone that migrated to the level of narrowing in the large bowel. After multiple attempts at removal of the stone with a snare and basket retriever, the patient was taken to the operating room and the stone was removed. Colonscopy in these circumstances can be diagnostic and possibly therapeutic. PMID- 2612434 TI - Gastric metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy--report of a case. PMID- 2612435 TI - The rigid rectoscope in the colostomy. PMID- 2612436 TI - Sphincter of Oddi and filling of the gallbladder--a necropsy study (endoscopy 21 (1989) 131) PMID- 2612437 TI - Hydration structure in natural DNA observed by thermal neutron scattering. AB - Films of highly oriented Na- and LiDNA showing the typical X-ray diffraction patterns for the A-, B-, and C-conformation have been investigated by elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering. Information concerning the question of the DNA water interaction has been obtained by varying the parameters H2O/D2O contrast, humidity, and temperature. Main observations are: A coexistence of one- and three dimensionally correlated DNA which shifts towards the one-dimensionally correlated C-conformation for high humidity; a coexistence of A-, B-, and C conformation for NaDNA with a similar humidity dependence; a factor of two increase between the average degree of localization of water hydrogens compared with DNA hydrogens at 75% r.h. for NaDNA; a strong water contribution to layer peaks which are close to the susceptibility maximum of water; a strong temperature dependence of the axial repeat distance for C-DNA; broad quasielastic spectra around the inverse of this distance. The observations are interpreted in terms of a competition between finite three-dimensional correlation and an optimized spatial resonance of nearly one-dimensionally correlated DNA with the correlation of bulk water. The observations are compatible with the concept of water spine formation (Dickerson 1983). The interpretation emphasizes the dynamic character of this mechanism in the region of nearly one-dimensionally correlated DNA. PMID- 2612438 TI - Enhanced fluctuations in small phospholipid bilayer vesicles containing cholesterol. AB - Ultrasonic and calorimetric studies of small homogeneously-sized DMPC unilamellar vesicles showed two thermal transitions at temperatures Tc1 and Tc2 (Tc2 greater than or equal to Tc1); Tc2 is close to the phase transition temperature, Tc, of large vesicles. The process at Tc2 is not a fusion of vesicles and is interpreted as characterizing an order-disorder transition essentially similar to that of large vesicles. The temperatures Tc1 and Tc2 become increasingly similar as the cholesterol content is increased, while the clusters at Tc2 (congruent to 85 lipid molecules in pure DMPC) increase in size up to approximately 180 lipid molecules at 12 mol% cholesterol. Incorporation of cholesterol thus brings about enhanced fluctuations in this model system of a membrane. PMID- 2612439 TI - Measurement of an intracellular pH rise after fertilization in crab eggs using 31P-NMR. AB - The effect of fertilization upon the intracellular pH, pHi, in crab ovulated eggs was examined by 31P-NMR. The pHi values were obtained from the chemical shift differences between the phosphoarginine PA resonance and the inorganic phosphate Pi resonance. The detection of the Pi peak was accomplished by Hahn spin-echo experiments in order to cancel the broad signal arising from phosphoproteins which overlaps the Pi signal. The average pHi of the unfertilized unactivated eggs was 6.55 and a rise of 0.12 pH unit occurred after fertilization. PMID- 2612440 TI - On the mechanism of ligand binding to myoglobin. The role of structural fluctuations. AB - The association reaction of CO and O2 with heme is expected to reflect the differences in the electronic structures of the two ligands. CO binding should be controlled by a high spin/low spin transition while oxygen binding is spin allowed. Dioxygen should thus bind substantially faster than CO. The experimental association rates of the two ligands are, however, almost identical. We propose that the reaction is triggered in both cases by a fast structural intermediate which allows the CO molecule to bind adiabatically. A suitable structural transition has been identified recently by inelastic neutron scattering. PMID- 2612441 TI - Determination of internal dynamics of deoxyriboses in the DNA hexamer d(CGTACG)2 by 1H NMR. AB - The conformations and internal dynamics of the deoxyriboses of d(CGTACG)2 have been determined by NMR measurements at 15 degrees C. The conformations of the sugars were determined using coupling constants and time-dependent NOE measurements. The J-splitting patterns of the H1', H2' and H2" resonances show that the sugars exist as mixtures of conformations near C2' endo (south) and C3' endo (north). The population of the south conformation was larger for the purines than for the pyrimidines. The overall tumbling time of the molecule in 2H2O was determined from measurements of the cross relaxation rate constant for the H6-H5 vectors of the two cytosine residues. Order parameters were determined for the H1'-H2", H2'-H2" and H2'-H3' vectors from measurements of cross relaxation rate constants, making use of multi-spin analysis of the NOE build up rates. These order parameters are weakly dependent of the base sequence, and except for the terminal Cyt 1 residue, the H2'-H2" and H2'-H3' vectors are near unity, indicating the absence of rapid pseudorotation on the nanosecond time scale. However, the order parameter for the H1'-H2" vector is significantly smaller than expected for rapid pseudorotation indicating the presence of other motions of the sugars. This motion must be about an effective axis parallel to the H2'-H2" vector, and to occur with an angular fluctuation of about 30 degrees. The results show that to obtain highly refined structures for nucleic acids by NMR the effects of spin diffusion and motional averaging cannot be ignored. PMID- 2612442 TI - Effect of aminoacylation on tRNA conformation. AB - Translational diffusion coefficients have been simulated for various conformations of tRNA(Phe) (yeast) by bead models, in order to analyze data obtained by dynamic light scattering on the free and the aminoacylated form. The 18% increase of the translational diffusion coefficient upon deacylation, reported by Potts et al. (1981), could not be represented by any change of the L hinge angle, but could only be simulated by a conformation change to an extended form with extensive dissociation of base pairs. Since extensive unpairing is not consistent with evidence accumulated in the literature, the change of the diffusion coefficient must be mainly due to processes other than intramolecular conformational changes. PMID- 2612443 TI - Autofluorescence in human alveolar macrophages from smokers: relation to cell surface markers and phagocytosis. AB - Flow cytometry was used to study the influence of smoking histories on autofluorescence, expression of surface markers, and phagocytic ability in alveolar macrophages (AM) recruited by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from healthy smokers (n = 13) and nonsmokers (n = 13). Alveolar macrophages have an autofluorescence that can be quenched by a recently developed technique. In the present study, this technique was used in combination with flow cytofluorometry. Alveolar macrophages from smokers (mean 10.6 +/- 7.6 pack-years) showed a significantly (p less than .001) increased autofluorescence compared to nonsmokers. This autofluorescence was associated with an increased complexity of the cells but not with altered cell volumes. No correlation was seen between the mean fluorescence intensity and the cigarette consumption among smokers. Despite the difference in autofluorescence, no altered expression of surface markers known as markers of cell activation (HLA-DR, CR3) was detected in AMs from smokers compared to nonsmokers. The functional ability of AMs to ingest C3b coated particles analyzed with a fluorescence quenching assay did not differ between the groups. The lack of correlation between the cigarette consumption and the autofluorescence suggests a maximal fluorescence intensity in the present population of smokers. The biological mechanism behind this autofluorescence needs to be further investigated. PMID- 2612444 TI - Kinetics of pulmonary platelet deposition and clearance during thrombin-induced microembolism in rabbits. AB - Using 111In-labeled autologous platelets, we studied the kinetics of pulmonary platelet deposition and clearance in relation to hemodynamic and structural events during thrombin-induced pulmonary microembolism in rabbits. Autologous platelets were radiolabeled and returned to animals prior to infusion of thrombin (100 units/kg over 15 min) (n = 20) or saline (n = 6). All animals were pretreated with tranexamic acid, an inhibitor of fibrinolysis. Thrombin-treated animals manifested progressive increases in mean pulmonary platelet activity, reaching a maximum of 38% above baseline (p less than .0001), whereas no change was observed in saline-treated controls. Animals that died during, or immediately following, thrombin infusion manifested significantly greater increases in pulmonary platelet uptake (mean 1.55 +/- 0.47 times baseline), compared to surviving animals (1.14 +/- 0.16; p less than .05 survivors vs. nonsurvivors). In surviving animals, following cessation of thrombin, pulmonary platelet activity cleared gradually, with a half-time of approximately 12 min. Thrombin reduced circulating platelet counts (p less than .001), increased mean pulmonary artery pressure (13 +/- 3 mm Hg to 18 +/- 6 mm Hg; p less than .0001), and reduced mean systemic arterial pressure (55 +/- 10 mm Hg to 44 +/- 7 mm Hg; p less than .001). The time courses of these events approximated that of thrombin-induced pulmonary platelet uptake. Furthermore, the increase in pulmonary artery pressure occurred predominantly in the group of animals in which the increase in pulmonary radiolabeled platelet activity exceeded the median value of 20%. Postmortem histology showed extensive pulmonary thrombus extending from small arterial to capillary levels in animals that died during, or immediately following, thrombin infusion, but not in surviving animals. Our findings suggest that platelet aggregation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hemodynamic change following thrombin-induced pulmonary embolization. PMID- 2612445 TI - Immunoreactive interleukin-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of high-risk patients and patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome. AB - The adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by increased neutrophils and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), an inflammatory mediator produced by macrophages, has been shown to be chemotactic for neutrophils and to stimulate lymphocyte activation and proliferation of fibroblasts. BAL was performed in patients with ARDS, patients at high risk to develop ARDS, and in normal nonsmokers. After removal of cells and surfactant-complexed lipids by centrifugation, the remaining supernatant was concentrated by ultrafiltration utilizing membranes retaining substances greater than 5000 daltons. The concentrate was assayed for immunoreactive IL-1 beta by a radioimmunoassay method. Patients with ARDS (n = 9) had an IL-1 level of 184 +/- 67 pg/ml, high-risk patients (n = 9) had 172 +/- 62 pg/ml, and normals (n = 10) had 4 +/- 1 pg/ml. There was a significant (p less than or equal to .05) increase in IL-1 in the ARDS and risk groups compared to normals. IL-1 was detected in serum from patients with ARDS (n = 19), high risk (n = 19), and normals (n = 8), but no difference was noted among the three groups. BAL cell differentials revealed that neutrophils were increased (p less than .05) in both the ARDS (59 +/- 10%) and high-risk (65 +/- 8%) groups compared to normals (2 +/- 1%). There was a correlation (r = 0.64, p less than .001) between IL-1 levels and BAL protein concentration. BAL IL-1 levels were highest in patients with the fully developed syndrome but were also elevated in patients at high risk. The absence of significant amounts of IL-1 in serum suggests that it may be produced within the lung. PMID- 2612446 TI - Membrane perturbations and mediation of gap junction formation in response to taurine treatment in normal and injured alveolar epithelia. AB - Nitrogen dioxide is an air pollutant that causes pulmonary alterations. Employing light and transmission electron microscopy, we examined plastic sections and freeze-fracture replicas of alveolar epithelium of groups of hamsters exposed to nitrogen for 24 h to determine taurine-induced changes in intercellular junctions. Prior to exposure, one group of hamsters was given 0.5% taurine in their drinking water for 2 weeks. A second group of hamsters was given taurine free water. The taurine-treated group was divided into three subgroups. The first subgroup was exposed to nitrogen dioxide at a concentration of 7 ppm for 24 h, the second subgroup was exposed to nitrogen dioxide at a concentration of 30 ppm for 24 h, and the third subgroup was exposed to normal room air for 24 h. The nontaurine-treated animals were similarly divided into three subgroups and treated as described above. The lungs of the hamsters exposed to nitrogen dioxide without the taurine pretreatment exhibited extensive inflammatory cell infiltration in the walls of the terminal bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and peribronchiolar alveoli. The degree of infiltration was proportional to the degree of nitrogen dioxide concentration. The taurine-treated animals exposed to nitrogen dioxide and the nontaurine-treated animals exposed to room aid did not show any inflammatory infiltrate. Freeze-fracture replicas of the tight junctional regions of the type I and type II pneumocytes revealed significant fragmentation in the nitrogen dioxide-exposed lungs. It was also observed that the tight junctions between the type I pneumocytes of the taurine-treated groups, whether exposed or not, revealed gap junction-like aggregates among the tight junction fibrils. The 30-ppm nitrogen dioxide exposed group exhibited larger and more frequent gap junctions between the pneumocytes than those observed in the 7 ppm nitrogen dioxide exposed group. The evidence suggests that taurine may have an effect on plasma membranes and intercellular communications. Changes in intercellular communication may contribute to decreased susceptibility to injury and increased pneumocyte survival. PMID- 2612447 TI - Effect of lung collapse on alveolar surfactant in rabbits subjected to unilateral pneumothorax. AB - To determine whether atelectasis might modify lung surfactant, we injected N2 into the right pleural space of adult rabbits. Daily, under sedation, pleural gas volume and pressure were measured and adjusted to 20 ml/kg and 0 to +2 cm H2O with N2. On the sixth day, pHa, PaCO2, PaO2, and FRC were measured. Pressure volume diagrams or bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) were performed separately on right and left lungs. Surfactant subfractions were obtained from BAL fluid, and total protein, LDH, and cell counts were determined. Phospholipid (PL) was assayed in lung homogenate, BAL fluid, and subfractions, and PL composition was determined on the largest BAL subfraction (P4). On the sixth day the pleural gas volume was 19.7 +/- 2.7 (SD) ml/kg, and PaO2 and FRC were significantly decreased. Air volume in excised right lungs at 30 cm H2O was 13.1 +/- 2.8 (SE) ml/kg with pneumothorax (PN) and 22.8 +/- 1.9 (SE) ml/kg in controls. Total PL was decreased 43% in BAL and 59% in P4 of collapsed lungs. Phosphatidylglycerol to phosphatidylinositol (PI) plus phosphatidylserine (PS) ratio of P4 was substantially decreased in both lungs of PN animals. Cell counts, LDH, and protein in BAL did not suggest inflammation or epithelial damage. We conclude that pneumothorax decreases the quantity of alveolar surfactant in the collapsed lung and alters its phospholipid composition toward the fetal pattern in both lungs, possibly due in part to the proliferative response of the lungs to pneumothorax. PMID- 2612448 TI - Pathophysiology of the ciliated epithelium of the respiratory mucosa in humans. Disorders of ciliogenesis. AB - If we want to interpret morphological alterations of the ciliated epithelium of the respiratory tract, we have to consider the physiological differentiation of ciliated cells and cilia. For this, we suggest a system in which disorders are distinguished at three distinct arrest levels of the ciliary development: (1) Disorders in the production of procentrioles (secondary centrioles) lead to partial or total aplasia of the ciliary apparatus. (2) Disorders in the development of kinetosomes from secondary centrioles result in a reduced number of cilia and malformations of ciliary components. (3) Disorders in the outgrowth of cilia result in morphological abnormalities of the peripheral ciliary shaft (i.e., immotile cilia syndrome). We suppose that at all three arrest levels hereditary factors may be important, whereas at levels 2 and 3 exogenous influences may cause these alterations too. Correlation between morphology and clinical status is made difficult by conditions of auxiliary mechanisms, like cough, which compensate the mucociliary dysfunctions. For the purpose of morphometric evaluation of the biopsies we established a method of light microscopical semiquantitative analysis of brush biopsies. The regenerative power of the ciliary apparatus with respect to these frequently observed abnormalities is discussed. PMID- 2612449 TI - Regional difference in airway epithelial response to neutrophil elastase: tracheal secretory cells discharge and recover in hamsters that develop bronchial secretory-cell metaplasia. AB - Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) causes secretory granule discharge and conversion of many Clara cells to mucous cells in hamster bronchi. We investigated whether the trachea responds to HNE in a similar manner because of its abundance of Clara cells. By light microscopy, the tracheal epithelium of animals exposed to a single intratracheal injection of HNE was normal at 21 days, although bronchial secretory-cell metaplasia (SCM) was present. An ultrastructural differential cell count showed no increase in the proportion of granulated secretory cells in HNE treated animals at 8 and 21 days postinjection compared to saline or untreated controls. At 2 h, the percentage of granulated secretory cells was lower and that of granulated secretory cells was higher in HNE-treated animals than in controls. The HNE-treated animals had fewer secretory granules per cell profile and more surface undulation than controls. By 1 day, the differential cell count and number of granules per cell profile were normal. Saline did not affect the differential cell count or granule number at any time. Ultrastructural study of untreated trachea disclosed the same three types of Clara cell that are found in the bronchus, but their frequencies, with one exception, are significantly different in the two regions. We conclude that HNE acts as a secretagogue in both trachea and bronchus but that an amount of enzyme sufficient to cause bronchial SCM does not induce a similar lesion in trachea. Heterogeneity of Clara cell types in hamster airways may explain the regional variation in secretory-cell modulation by HNE. PMID- 2612450 TI - Effects of postnatal dexamethasone treatment on development of alveoli in adult rats. AB - We compared the effects of dexamethasone given to rats from age 4 to 14 days, on alveolar development at age 99 days. Judged by similar nose-to-tail length and body weight, somatic growth was not altered by dexamethasone treatment. Lung volumes in both air- and saline-filled lungs and mean chord length (Lm) were increased, whereas alveolar surface area (Sa) and surface-to-volume ratio (S/V) were diminished in dexamethasone-treated adult rats. These changes were associated with a significant reduction in DNA content and concentration but larger protein/DNA and RNA/DNA ratios in the lungs of treated rats. We conclude that dexamethasone treatment during the critical period of septation in rats impairs alveolar formation, which persists until adulthood and leads to larger and less complex gas-exchange regions. Inhibition of DNA synthesis due to dexamethasone may be responsible for its effects on alveolar development. Larger lung volumes in treated rats are, most likely, related to larger air space dimensions. PMID- 2612451 TI - Pathophysiological variations in the rat liver plasma membrane serine proteinase activity. AB - The effects of fasting, diabetes, cholestasis, two-third hepatectomy and adrenalectomy on the rat liver plasma membrane serine proteinase activity were studied. Our results show a significant decrease of the enzyme activity during fasting (-50%), during experimental diabetes (-50%), in regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy (-70%) and after extrahepatic cholestasis (-70%). No modifications are noted when the rats are bilaterally adrenalectomized. These findings suggest that the enzyme activity may be linked to the level of circulating insulin, and may be regulated in physiological cellular proliferation so as to prevent undesirable protein degradation. PMID- 2612452 TI - Anionic glutathione S-transferases of human erythrocytes, placenta, and lung: evidence for structural differences. AB - Studies were undertaken to elucidate the structural interrelationships among glutathione S-transferase (GST) isozymes of human placenta, lung, and erythrocytes. Results of the high-performance liquid chromatography of the trypsin digests of the three isozymes indicate minor but significant differences in their elution profiles. Although a number of peptides generated by proteolysis were common for either 2 or 3 of the isozymes, significant differences were observed in elution profiles of other peptides. Qualitative as well as quantitative differences were also observed in the electrophoretic peptide maps of these isozymes. These studies suggest that there may be fine structural differences among the pi class GST isozymes of human tissues. PMID- 2612453 TI - Purine and oxypurine production in mitochondria of ischemic and reperfused myocardium. AB - The present study was undertaken to determine whether significant breakdown of adenine nucleotides to purine bases and oxypurines occurred in mitochondria following myocardial ischemia and ischemia followed by reperfusion, and whether allopurinol prevented this effect. The adenine nucleotides adenosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid were measured in the mitochondria and the results suggest that breakdown did occur. Malondialdehyde concentration was determined to gauge lipid peroxidation. This substance did not increase during ischemia or reperfusion, but did so in the presence of allopurinol. Xanthine dehydrogenase was converted to xanthine oxidase during reperfusion and the activity of both enzymes were inhibited by allopurinol. The results also suggested the presence of a mitochondrial 5'-nucleotidase. We conclude that significant breakdown of adenine nucleotide took place in myocardial mitochondria during ischemia and ischemia followed by reperfusion and that allopurinol may have a protective effect. PMID- 2612454 TI - Alkaline phosphatase in cholestatic and cirrhotic rats. A biochemical and histochemical study. AB - Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was studied by enzyme histochemical methods and by biochemical quantitations in rat livers with chronic bile duct obstruction and experimental cirrhosis. The most evident ALP increase was histochemically found in portal tracts of rats with bile duct obstruction and localized to the walls of proliferating blood vessels. Furthermore, a slight canalicular membrane enzyme increase was histochemically found in both groups, most evident in cirrhosis, whereas the biochemical assay of ALP in serum and liver from both pathological groups showed 3 times higher values compared to controls. The portal tracts did not seem to contribute to the serum increase, since the rise of serum ALP was similar in chronic bile duct obstruction and in experimental cirrhosis without changes of the portal tracts. It is concluded that the increase ALP activity in serum from rats with bile duct obstruction and cirrhosis mainly has a hepatocytic origin. PMID- 2612455 TI - Human lung membrane-bound neutral metallo-endopeptidase-catalyzed hydrolysis of bradykinin. AB - Human lung membrane-bound neutral metallo-endopeptidase (NME; EC 3.4.24.11) has been purified; this enzyme occurred in two forms, NME-I and NME-II. The total NME activity was purified 2,143-fold with the final specific activities for NME-I and NME-II being 750 and 1,124, respectively. The two NME forms were resolved in the final purification step involving ion exchange; in all earlier steps including gel filtration and affinity chromatography (phenyl sepharose) both forms behaved similarly and eluted simultaneously. NME-I and NME-II both had a Mr value of 97,000, and neither form dissociated into subunits. Catalytic actions of NME-I and NME-II upon bradykinin were identical; the Gly4-Phe5 and Pro7-Phe8 bonds of bradykinin were cleaved with the final hydrolytic products for each enzyme being the tetrapeptide, Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly, the tripeptide, Phe-Ser-Pro, and the dipeptide, Phe-Arg. The intermediate products were the heptapeptide, Arg-Pro-Pro Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro, and the pentapeptide, Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg. Neither NME-I nor NME II were inhibited by the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril. Both enzymes were inhibited by phosphoramidon, dithiothreitol and EDTA. Other peptidase inhibitors and heavy metals were not effective NME inhibitors. Both NME I and NME-II cleaved angiotensin-I at the Pro7-Phe8 bond, and substance-P at the Glu6-Phe7 bond, with the latter being much slower than the former. PMID- 2612456 TI - A comparison of methods of dietary assessment in Australian children aged 11-12 years. AB - A total of 225 children attending year 7 classes in state primary schools in Perth, Australia, participated in the study. Nutrient intakes were determined by a number of low-intensity methods and compared with intakes determined by a reference method based on 14 24-h diet records collected over several months and covering each day of the week twice. The low-intensity methods were (i) a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) administered to the children in school, (ii) the same FFQ administered to the children's parents by post and (iii) a small number (one, two or three) of 24-h diet records completed by the children. The FFQ included 175 food items, the time frame was 'during the previous week' and information on size of servings was not requested. The results indicated poor agreement between the reference method and the FFQ methods. In contrast, agreement between the reference method and methods based on two or three diet records in the series was relatively good. PMID- 2612457 TI - Effect of suckling and diurnal influences on the concentrations of taurine and other free amino acids in milk. AB - Factors affecting the taurine and free amino acid content of human milk from a single donor have been examined. Taurine concentration was highest during the transition from colostrum to milk, attaining 400 microM. Concentrations fell thereafter, reaching 150 microM at 115 d post partum. Other free amino acids showed an opposite developmental pattern. Samples collected immediately after infant feeding were systematically lower in taurine than those collected immediately before feeding, but the differences were relatively small. Concentrations of other amino acids were unaffected by suckling on day 4. On day 6, however, decreases ranged from 16 per cent for glutamate to 46 per cent for threonine. Samples collected every 2 h over a 72-h period on days 113 to 115 post partum showed no diurnal variation in taurine content, neither did samples collected over a 24-h period on days 4, 6, 11, and 12. Serine and glycine showed a similar lack of periodicity. Aspartate, alanine, glutamine, threonine and glutamate levels, on the other hand, were lowest in the early morning, and highest in the early afternoon. High to low ratios ranged from 1.7 for glutamate to 4.1 for aspartate. Sample collection for taurine, serine and glycine analysis can probably be made without concern as to time of day or relationship to infant feeding. For the other amino acids, however, these factors need to be considered. PMID- 2612458 TI - Relationships among lactation performance, maternal diet, and body protein metabolism in humans. AB - The relationships between lactation performance and maternal diet and body protein metabolism were determined at 1, 5, and 12 months postpartum in lactating women who consumed a controlled diet of measured protein and energy. Milk production was measured by the 24-h test weighing procedure. Maternal body protein metabolism was evaluated by nitrogen balance and a primed, constant infusion of [1-13C]leucine and [alpha-15N]lysine. Milk production was associated positively with lysine flux (P less than 0.05, r = 0.59), leucine incorporation into body protein (P less than 0.05, r = 0.58), nitrogen intakes (P less than 0.05, r = 0.56), and energy intakes (P less than 0.01, r = 0.69). When adjusted for postpartum time, significant associations between total nitrogen concentrations in milk and nitrogen balance also were present (P less than 0.05, r = 0.77). These observations document associations among lactation performance, maternal diet, and the metabolic responses of body protein stores in well nourished women and suggest strategies for the improvement of milk production in settings where nutrient insufficiency and malnutrition prevail. PMID- 2612459 TI - Plasma somatomedin-C in Nigerian malnourished children fed a vegetable protein rehabilitation diet. AB - Plasma somatomedin-C (pSm-C) was measured by immunoassay in Nigerian malnourished children treated with a mainly vegetable diet. In oedematous children, the mean intake was 4.31 +/- 0.23 g protein and 611 +/- 46 kJ per kg body weight per day, and in marasmic children 5.22 +/- 0.62 g protein and 795 +/- 131 kJ/kg body weight/d. PSm-C concentration (U/ml) was measured at weekly intervals to determine the response to this rehabilitation diet. By our assay the value for 39 normal children (age range 6-36 months) was 0.315 +/- 0.035 U/ml. The average initial level of pSm-C in the malnourished children was 0.19 +/- 0.03 (n = 24). The values were higher (P less than 0.05) in the 7 marasmic children (0.26 +/- 0.1) than in the 11 with oedema (0.15 +/- 0.02). Eight days after admission pSm-C had risen to 0.20 +/- 0.02 (n = 24) and at discharge after approximately 19 d, pSm-C concentration was normal, 0.30 +/- 0.05. In oedematous malnutrition, pSm-C level at discharge was lower than in marasmus, 0.27 +/- 0.06 (n = 17) compared with 0.37 +/- 0.06 (n = 7) (P less than 0.05). Because the childrens' stay in hospital was short (average 19 d), they were far from attaining normal weight for height by the time of discharge. However, they had gained on average 0.9 kg and their clinical condition was satisfactory. It is concluded that the vegetable based diet produced satisfactory recovery, at least in the initial stages. Increases in pSm-C compared well with those found in an earlier study with milk based diets. PMID- 2612460 TI - Nutritional status, age and survival: the muscle mass hypothesis. AB - The relevance of nutritional indices derived from comparison with growth standards to assess the risk of dying was evaluated in a 2-year prospective study in rural Senegal. An average of 3151 children aged 6-59 months were measured twice a year and followed up during the intervening 6-month periods. Children who survived and those who died during follow-up were found to differ more by anthropometric measures directly related to absolute muscle mass (viz. weight, height or arm circumference) than by nutritional indices obtained from comparison with growth standards (weight-for-age, weight-for-height and height-for-age). The findings could not be explained by a confounding effect of age. This brings into question the current approach used to identify high-risk children. PMID- 2612461 TI - The constancy of basal metabolic rate in free-living male subjects. AB - The object of this work was to investigate the constancy of basal metabolic rate (BMR) over time. The BMR was measured in a group of healthy free-living adult men on three separate occasions over some 2 years. Analysis of variance showed that the coefficient of variation within subjects was 4 per cent and between subjects 8 per cent. The results are compared with those of earlier workers, from Zuntz onwards, who made serial measurements of BMR on the same subjects. PMID- 2612462 TI - IUNs and the food processing industry. PMID- 2612463 TI - Computer-assisted evaluation of polydisperse two-dimensional gel patterns of polysaccharide-protein conjugate preparations with regard to size and net charge. AB - Native Hemophilus influenzae polysaccharide-protein conjugate particles were analyzed by a two-dimensional agarose electrophoresis procedure. In view of their preparation by random chemical crosslinking, the conjugates necessarily exhibit a polydisperse two-dimensional gel pattern which varies depending on the conditions of the particular preparation. The polydisperse patterns were interpreted with regard to the size and surface net charge density of the conjugate on the basis of the extended Ogston model. Data processing was performed by a new program, designated ZWEIDI.DO, written in the language of M-LAB (modeling laboratory). The program computes particle and gel fiber specific parameters from the positions of standards and unknown(s) on the two-dimensional gel using a simultaneous linear least-square curve fitting routine. Based on these calculations, the program serves to compute a nomogram of iso-size and iso-free-mobility profiles. Superimposing these profiles on the gel patterns, the size and free mobility range of the polydisperse conjugate mixtures is obtained. Potentially, the procedure could serve as a tool for quality control in the production of conjugates as vaccines and for the physical characterization of polydisperse subcellular particles and vesicles. PMID- 2612464 TI - Characterization of bacterial genospecies by computer-assisted statistical analysis of enzyme electrophoretic data. AB - A computer-assisted statistical treatment of the electrophoretic data obtained from the analysis of two dehydrogenases and 27 kinds of esterases produced by strains belonging to the taxonomically complex genus Acinetobacter is described. The 12 genospecies were clearly separated from each other by correspondence analysis. For each genospecies the distances of the strains from their barycenter were computed and typical isolates suitable for use as reference strains were determined. This approach is suitable for the systematic study of other procaryotic or eucaryotic organisms. PMID- 2612465 TI - Electrophoresis in one buffer at two pH values. AB - A theory for discontinuous electrophoresis in a polyacrylamide gel is presented for one buffer at two pH values. It is shown that polyions stack between identical leading and trailing ions, and resolve in a gel of constant polyacrylamide concentration. The theory is illustrated by the separation of serum protein polyions in a Tris-glycinate buffer of pH 8.19 in the well-forming gel, and pH 9.16 in the resolving gel. The selected concentrations and electrolyte ionization degrees of Tris and glycine have values at which the serum protein polyions stack between the resolving and electrode buffers, followed by separation in the resolving gel. PMID- 2612466 TI - Determination of the electrophoretic mobility of chromosomes by free flow electrophoresis. I. Morphology and stability. AB - Isolated metaphase chromosomes of several fibroblastoid cell lines (Chinese hamster, Chinese hamster x human hybrid) were subjected to free flow electrophoresis (FFE) to study their electrophoretic mobility (EM). The morphology and stability of the chromosomes were unaffected by FFE as examined by cytogenetic methods and flow cytometry. The chromosomes of the complement all showed similar EM under most of the conditions applied. At neutral pH the EM of the chromosomes had the same sign as free DNA and about 2/3 of its magnitude. The variation of EM with buffer parameters such as ionic strength, valence of counterions, buffer capacity and dielectric constant of the solvent were investigated. Thermal denaturation increased the EM of the chromosomes by 20%. Partial denaturation might offer a possibility to separate or enrich large amounts of chromosomes by FFE. PMID- 2612467 TI - Distortion of the electrophoretic titration curves of some proteins. AB - The electrophoretic titration curves of complex mixtures of vitamin K-dependent human blood proteins and proteins of Bothrops asper venom were investigated. In both protein mixtures some curves exhibited marked distortions such as additional maxima and minima when Pharmalyte 3-10 carrier ampholytes were used for isoelectric focusing in agarose gels. The distortions result from an unspecific interactions between some carrier ampholyte constituents with particular proteins. The interacting carrier ampholyte components could be completely removed by binding to albumin and ultrafiltration through a UM-2 Amicon membrane with resultant regular titration curves. The interacting carrier ampholyte species were only partially removed by ultrafiltration through a UM-2 membrane without incubation with albumin. PMID- 2612468 TI - Simultaneous phenotyping of erythrocyte acid phosphatase and esterase D by nonequilibrium agarose isoelectric focusing. AB - Nonequilibrium agarose isoelectric focusing in a pH 4.5-7 gradient with 3-(N morpholinopropanesulfonic acid (MOPS) and taurine as chemical separators presents a fast, easy and reliable method for the simultaneous determination of the common erythrocyte acid phosphatase and esterase D phenotypes in hemolysates and dried bloodstains. The application of the method to experimental and casework bloodstains is described. PMID- 2612469 TI - Gel electrophoresis of native actin and the actin-deoxyribonuclease I complex. AB - Electrophoresis of monomeric actin (G-actin) on 8-25% acrylamide Pharmacia PhastGels was carried out using gels and agarose buffer strips preequilibrated in buffer containing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), calcium ions (Ca2+) and dithiothreitol. On these gels G-actin ran as a sharp band at an apparent molecular mass of 45 kDa relative to standard proteins which is slightly greater than its actual molecular mass of 42 kDa. Electrophoresis in the absence of these solutes led to denaturation and aggregation of the protein, as reflected by a long streak. Filamentous actin (F-actin) did not enter the gel. The actin monomer binding protein, deoxyribonuclease I, (DNase I) forms a binary complex with G actin. The purity and apparent molecular mass 74 kDa of this complex were determined by native gel electrophoresis. By the simple procedure of preequilibrating both gel and buffer strips with appropriate ligands, this technique could be extended to investigate interactions between actin and other G actin-binding proteins and other proteins whose stability is ligand dependent. PMID- 2612470 TI - A thin-layer multistrip polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis apparatus for Ferguson plot analysis at the submicrogram load level. AB - A procedure was developed for casting thin-layer multistrip polyacrylamide gels and using them for the simultaneous gel electrophoresis at several gel (Ferguson plot analysis) at the sub-microgram load level, using silver staining, autoradiography and, potentially, blotting for detection. The lower viscosity of polymerization mixtures, compared to agarose gelation mixtures, required the redesign of the multistrip cassette with separation of channels by rubber gaskets and the application of a cassette press. The lowered viscosity also required addition of 35% sucrose and an increased rate of polymerization in application to multistrip gels formed on a common NetFix backing. The present design allows one to obtain Ferguson plots exemplified by those of 32P-labeled DNA followed by autoradiographic detection. PMID- 2612471 TI - Rapid and sensitive silver-lipopolysaccharide staining using PhastSystem in fast horizontal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. AB - A rapid and sensitive silver-lipopolysaccharide staining method has been developed by using PhastSystem. The total time of the procedure (including time of Phastgel electrophoresis) is within 2 h. It is at least 10 times faster than the previous reported methods and the sensitivity is also increased. PMID- 2612472 TI - Isotachophoretic determination of herbicides prometryne, desmetryne, terbutryne and hydroxy-derivatives of atrazine and simazine in extracts of milk. AB - A method is described for the determination of the triazine herbicides prometryne, desmetryne, terbutryne, OH-atrazine and OH-simazine in purified extracts of milk using analytical capillary isotachophoresis. The reproducibility of isotachophoretic analyses was 3.5% and the detection sensitivity reached 2 ng. Recovery of triazines from fortified samples of homogenized full milk (0.05 mg/L) was about 65%. PMID- 2612473 TI - Study of grasshopper meiosis-associated proteins using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. AB - Premeiotic and meiotic whole testes from grasshoppers were compared for the presence of meiosis associated proteins using one- and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. One-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gels detected differences between premeiotic and meiotic samples but two-dimensional gels gave more precise results. Isoelectric focusing revealed only one meiosis-associated protein, while nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis detected five more. It is not known whether these proteins relate to the nuclear aspects of meiosis, or associated cellular changes. These proteins have been electrophoretically purified and monoclonal antibodies are being prepared. PMID- 2612474 TI - Rehydratable agarose gels: application to isoelectric focusing in 9 molar urea. AB - A method is described for the preparation of rehydratable agarose gels, with specific application to the direct incorporation of 9 M urea and carrier ampholytes into rehydratable agarose gels for use in isoelectric focusing. After drying the agarose gel containing an uncharged linear polyacrylamide, one gel volume of a 9 M urea-carrier ampholyte solution is absorbed directly into the gel in 60 min, eliminating equilibration or dialysis of the gel in larger volumes of the 9 M urea-carrier ampholyte solution. Proteins with a molecular mass of 970,000 Da can be separated by isoelectric focusing in these rehydratable gels. The focused proteins can then be quantitatively transferred to nitrocellulose in less than 10 min, and any immunostaining procedure can be used to probe the blotted proteins. These agarose gels are easy to make, they rehydrate rapidly and they can be used in applications other than isoelectric focusing. PMID- 2612475 TI - The PhastSystem equipment used for crossed immunoelectrophoresis combined with immunoblotting of coprecipitated monoclonal antibodies as studied with platelet membrane receptor proteins. AB - The Pharmacia PhastSystem equipment has been used for crossed immunoelectrophoresis combined with a technique for immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies. This miniaturized gel system is compared to the conventional approach using platelet membrane receptor proteins as a model. Whereas in the conventional system the electrophoretic procedure takes place within 20 h, 3 h are adequate for the small gel system. Because of the short second-dimensional electrophoresis, and only one overnight incubation, the total electrophoretic and blotting procedure could be reduced from about 48 h to 24 h. The amount of antiserum used during the second-dimensional electrophoresis could be reduced roughly by a factor of 5. The examples with electrophoresis and immunoblotting using platelet extracts in 1% Triton X-100 demonstrate that membrane receptor proteins can be studied even when present as noncovalent complexes. The immunoblotting can be used with monoclonal antibodies that do not function in Western blotting. PMID- 2612476 TI - The use of PhastSystem crossed immunoelectrophoresis with immunoblotting to demonstrate a complex between glycoprotein Ib and the actin-binding protein (ABP) of human platelets. AB - The study shows how a technique described in an accompanying paper can be applied to solve a biological problem. The technique makes use of the observation that a monoclonal antibody that has been coprecipitated with its antigen during crossed immunoelectrophoresis can be transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane and visualized. Previous studies using crossed immunoelectrophoresis of Triton X-100 extracts of platelets have indicated that a particular immunoprecipitate (peak III) of the membrane receptor glycoprotein Ib (GP Ib) might contain a complex between the receptor and the actin-binding protein (filamin). When a monoclonal antibody (PM6/317) directed towards the actin-binding protein was added to a platelet extract prior to immunoelectrophoresis and blotting, this was visualized on the blot as a replica of the peak III immunoprecipitate. This demonstrates a colocalization of GP Ib and the actin-binding protein in the precipitate, and thus the existence of a complex between the membrane receptor and the cytoskeletal protein. PMID- 2612477 TI - A native, affinity-based protein blot for the analysis of streptavidin heterogeneity: consequences for the specificity of streptavidin mediated binding assays. AB - Commercial preparations of streptavidin, a bacterial biotin-binding protein, were analyzed by isoelectric focusing combined with an affinity-based protein blot using biotinylated, protein-saturated nitrocellulose. The colorimetrical detection of streptavidin with biotinylated alkaline phosphatase allows the selective visualization of streptavidin molecules with at least two active biotin binding sites. Dependent on the preparation, seven to sixteen streptavidin forms were found with isoelectric points ranging from 5 to 8. Molecular weight analysis of the subunits of streptavidin showed that the observed heterogeneity was mainly due to limited proteolysis, which does not destroy the biotin-binding activity. The preparations differed also in the nonspecific reactivity of streptavidin with single-stranded DNA, bovine serum albumin and Tween 20. No relationship was observed between heterogeneity and non-specific binding activity. Data obtained from protein blots onto nitrocellulose saturated with single-stranded DNA showed that it cannot be excluded that streptavidin with only a single active biotin binding site is mainly responsible for the nonspecific reactivity of some streptavidin preparations. PMID- 2612478 TI - Detection of human serum amyloid A protein in very low density--and high density lipoproteins of patients after acute myocardial infarction. AB - Two acute-phase proteins have been identified in very low density (VLDL)- and high density lipoproteins (HDL) of patients after acute myocardial infarction. Both proteins have a relative molecular weight of 11,000 and isoelectric points pI 6.08 and 6.27, and do not contain cysteine or sugar residues. Polyclonal antibodies to these acute phase reactants did not cross-react with other serum apolipoproteins. Evidence is given that both proteins are polymorphic forms of the human serum amyloid A protein. PMID- 2612479 TI - Two-dimensional electrophoresis aided by personal computer analysis for screening of mutant proteins in inherited diseases. AB - A rapid and reproducible method of two-dimensional electrophoresis was developed for screening of abnormal proteins expressed in fibroblasts from patients with inherited diseases. After silver staining, the electrophoresis gel was subjected to semiautomatic digitizer-personal computer analysis: scanning with an image sensor video camera connected to a digitizer, followed by quantitative determination and statistical analysis with a personal computer. The protein spots analyzed by this method showed quantitative variations of various degrees, particularly in 2 of 247 spots examined. Seven spots were not always detected in control and pathological cells in this study. Slight variations in molecular weight were observed in 3 different spots. PMID- 2612480 TI - Determination of 4-methylimidazole in caramel color by capillary isotachophoresis. AB - A method for the determination or 4-methylimidazole in caramel color, based on cationic separation of the sample by capillary isotachophoresis, is described. No pretreatment of the sample is necessary and the detection limit was found to be 5 ppm. PMID- 2612481 TI - Step change of counterion--a new option in capillary zone electrophoresis. AB - In contrast to common capillary zone electrophoresis, with a constant composition of the background electrolyte, a new method is described, based on a change of the ionic matrix composition during the migration of the sample components. The proposed method expands the scale of pK's of analyzed compounds in a single run and affords new potential for optimizing the separation. The step change of the ionic matrix composition was achieved by displacing the primary matrix by the modified ionic matrix (electrolyte) which migrated against the movement of the sample components. The separation thus proceeded in the primary ionic matrix (electrolyte) while the detection was performed in the modified matrix with resultant shortening of the analysis time and convenient quantitation. A model mixture of five compounds, with a difference of four units in pK could be well resolved. PMID- 2612483 TI - Affinity electrophoresis: paper symposium. PMID- 2612482 TI - Formulations for immobilized pH gradients including pH extremes. AB - Formulations are given both for narrow (less than 2 pH units) and for wide range (up to 8 pH units) immobilized pH gradients, spanning between pH 2.5 and pH 11. The contribution from water to the buffering power (beta) at these pH extremes requires the recipes to be optimized (in terms of gradient linearity) for each desired level of beta av. PMID- 2612484 TI - Complete separation of anti-hapten antibodies by two-dimensional affinity electrophoresis. AB - A high resolution two-dimensional affinity electrophoresis has been developed, using capillary isoelectric focusing as the first electrophoresis and slab gel affinity electrophoresis as second electrophoresis. By this method 1-2 micrograms of anti-dinitrophenyl antibodies have been separated completely into several hundred homogeneous IgG spots. They are grouped into a number of families which are composed of several IgG spots of the same affinity to the hapten but of a different pI. It is suggested that each individual family is derived from one monoclonal antibody producing cell line. PMID- 2612485 TI - Studies on the heterogeneity of anti-hapten antibodies by means of two dimensional affinity electrophoresis. AB - The molecular heterogeneity of rabbit anti-hapten antibodies has been investigated by two-dimensional affinity electrophoresis (2D-AEP). Anti-dansyl and anti-arsanilic diazo-antibodies were separated into several hundred IgG spots as in the case of anti-DNP antibodies. They were grouped into a number of monoclonal IgG families. At the beginning of immunization, IgG spots having low pI and low affinity were predominant but one or two weeks after immunization the IgG spots with high affinity and high pI increased. After the second or third immunization, the 2D-AEP patterns became stable and constant. Anti-arsanilic diazo and anti-DNP antibodies exhibited only weak cross-reactivity with other aromatic haptens. In contrast, anti-dansyl antibodies cross-reacted to a considerable degree with DNP-hapten. A few anti-dansyl IgG families which have cross-reactivity with DNP-hapten were separated. Their apparent dissociation constants to the haptens and their affinity ratios were calculated from their 2D AEP patterns, according to the affinity theory. PMID- 2612486 TI - Concanavalin A crossed affinity immunoelectrophoresis and image analysis for semiquantitative evaluation of microheterogeneity profiles of human serum transferrin from alcoholics and normal individuals. AB - The microheterogeneity profile of human serum transferrin from normal and alcoholic subjects was investigated qualitatively and quantitatively by means of Concanavalin A crossed affinity immunoelectrophoresis and an image analysis program. Differences in amounts of nonreacting transferrin molecules were found, suggesting an increase in triantennary glycosylation of transferrin from alcoholics compared with normal individuals. The increased amount of a highly retarded fraction in crude sera from alcoholics was demonstrated to be artefactual, probably due to entrapment or coprecipitation as the fraction disappeared after repeating the analysis with immunosorbent-purified transferrin. In conclusion, affinity electrophoresis represents a simple approach for demonstration of variations in the neutral monosaccharides of glycans and can discriminate between transferrin from alcoholics and normal individuals. PMID- 2612487 TI - Lipopolysaccharide-protein interactions: determination of dissociation constants by affinity electrophoresis. AB - An affinity electrophoresis system is described to allow determination of dissociation constants of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-protein complexes. The LPS ligand is incorporated into polyacrylamide gels by addition to the polyacrylamide N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide polymerization mixture. Quantitative evaluation revealed formation of immobile protein-ligand complexes. The method was applied both to R- and S-form LPS from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. For a heat-modifiable outer membrane protein with Mr 18,000 from strain 69V the dissociation constant was determined to be 0.5 mM (EDTA-salt extracted R-LPS) and 0.3 mM (phenol chloroform-petrolether extracted R-LPS). In comparison, for another A. calcoaceticus strain, CCM 5593, a higher dissociation constant of 1.0 mM (phenol chloroform-petrolether extracted R-LPS) -indicative of lower affinity - was obtained. When S-LPS from A. calcoaceticus 69V was incorporated into the affinity gels, a dissociation constant of 0.02 mM was determined which indicates much stronger interactions than those exerted by R-LPS forms. PMID- 2612488 TI - Effect of ligand-affinity differences of human hemoglobin variants on electrophoretic behavior and their isolation and functional characterization. AB - A natural sulfated polysaccharide (agaropectin), contained in crude agar, can be used as a medium for electrophoretic separation of hemoglobin mutants, constituting a particular class of protein-ligand interactions. Mutations which either modify the electrostatic charge at the surface of the hemoglobin molecule or not, have been studied according to their putative interaction with the medium. Using conformational specificities of the hemoglobin molecule, we have also demonstrated that isoelectric focusing on a polyacrylamide gel in the absence of heme ligands represents a useful, convenient and rapid procedure for isolating silent Hb variants in their native form, provided that they exhibit an abnormal Bohr effect. PMID- 2612489 TI - Affinophoresis of red blood cells: surface antigen-specific acceleration of electrophoresis. AB - A method employing the technique of affinophoresis to increase the electrophoretic mobility of specific cells according to their surface antigens was developed. Red blood cells were treated consecutively with the maximum subagglutinating dose of an anti-red blood cell serum, a biotinylated second antibody, avidin and finally with a negatively charged biotin-affinophore which was prepared by coupling biotin to polylysine (average degree of polymerization, 270 or 1150), followed by complete succinylation. The electrophoretic mobility of cells was analyzed with an automatic cell electrophoresis analyzer. The use of a homologous anti-serum increased the electrophoretic mobility of rabbit, human and rat blood cells by 2.9, 1.7 and 1.6 times, respectively. A larger affinophore containing fewer biotin moieties was more effective. In the case of a mixture of red blood cells from two species, cells from only one species could be accelerated by using homologous antiserum, e.g., affinophoresis of a mixture of human and rat red blood cells by using either homologous antiserum gave two separate peaks on the histogram, whereas a single peak would be obtained in usual electrophoresis because there is little difference in the original migration velocities of the two cell types. PMID- 2612490 TI - Differences in dopamine beta-hydroxylase immunoreactivity between the brains of genetically epilepsy-prone and Sprague-Dawley rats. AB - Biochemical studies have indicated that norepinephrine is present in lower levels in certain brain regions of genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR-9s) as compared to non-epileptic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. In this study, the immunocytochemical localization of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), the synthesizing enzyme for norepinephrine, was compared between GEPR-9s and SD rats. Brain regions caudal to the inferior colliculus, such as the cerebellum and locus coeruleus, showed no differences in the distribution of DBH-like immunoreactive (DBH-I) neurons and fibers. In contrast, differences in the distribution of DBH-I fibers were observed in more rostral brain regions including the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus, thalamus, piriform, orbital and somatosensory cortices and hippocampus. In these areas, the number, and often the staining intensity, of DBH I processes was lower in GEPR-9s as compared to SD rats. It was interesting to note that other cortical regions displayed no differences in DBH immunoreactivity between GEPR-9s and SD rats. These results provide anatomical data that support previously described biochemical results. Furthermore, the reduced number of fibers and their decreased staining intensity in specific brain regions provide greater details to resolve the localization of deficiencies in the noradrenergic fiber plexus of GEPR-9s. PMID- 2612491 TI - Model of spontaneous hippocampal epilepsy in the anesthetized rat: electrographic, [K+]0, and [Ca2+]0 response patterns. AB - These experiments present a model of spontaneous epileptiform activity that can be produced acutely in the urethane-anesthetized rat. Extracellular potential changes were recorded in CA1 or the dentate gyrus along with measurements of extracellular potassium ([K+]0) and calcium ([Ca2+]0) throughout 90 min of continuous stimulation to the contralateral CA3 region and for up to 4 h afterwards. During the continuous stimulation, both brain regions showed a cyclic pattern of electrographic seizures. Immediately upon stopping the stimulation, spontaneous epileptiform activity continued for up to 90 min in both CA1 and dentate gyrus. A quiescent period without electrographic activity was followed by the return of spontaneous epileptiform activity an average of 2 h after the end of stimulation. The excitability of the system was depressed after the continuous stimulation and gradually recovered during the quiescent period before the onset of the spontaneous epileptiform activity. [K+]0 increased during, not before, each seizure (both during the continuous stimulation and during the delayed spontaneous epileptiform activity) and remained elevated as long as neuronal discharges occurred. [Ca2+]0 transiently decreased with the onset of electrographic activity and never decreased before the appearance of epileptiform discharges. PMID- 2612492 TI - Parenteral magnesium sulfate fails to control electroshock and pentylenetetrazol seizures in mice. AB - Magnesium sulfate has been used as an anticonvulsant in the treatment of eclampsia, but efficacy of magnesium in other types of seizure disorders is poorly documented. We examined the effects of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) on seizures produced in mice by maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), MgSO4 injection (6.7 mEq/kg i.p.) caused weakness in all animals. With suprathreshold electroshock, 10/10 controls and 11/12 treated animals had seizures with tonic hind limb extension (P = NS). Electroshock threshold was unaltered by magnesium treatment (n = 48; P = 0.47). PTZ induced clonic seizures in 12/12 controls and 5/14 treated animals (P less than 0.05). This difference was likely due to muscular weakness because frequency of EEG spikes was the same in PTZ and PTZ + MgSO4 groups. Mean serum magnesium levels were 2.3 +/- 0.3 mEq/l in animals not given MgSO4; 10.9 +/- 1.4 mEq/l and 12.8 +/- 2.2 mEq/l in treated animals with and without seizures (P = NS). We conclude that magnesium sulfate had no significant anticonvulsant activity in mouse MES and PTZ models for epilepsy. The relevance of these findings to the possible efficacy of magnesium sulfate in eclamptic seizures and other types of epilepsy remains to be determined. PMID- 2612493 TI - Estradiol replacement facilitates the acquisition of seizures kindled from the anterior neocortex in female rats. AB - Estradiol replacement facilitates kindling from a limbic region, the amygdala. This study determined if estradiol also interacts with kindling from a non-limbic region, the anterior neocortex. Ovariectomized female rats with estradiol replacement required 24 +/- 1.6 trials to kindle and accumulated 434 +/- 28 sec of afterdischarge (AD), significantly less than the 38 +/- 2.2 trials and 840 +/- sec in rats without estradiol. Estradiol replacement did not significantly alter the long series of focal cortical seizures preceding generalized seizures in spite of the early appearance of AD in the contralateral amygdala. Estradiol significantly advanced the onset of generalized seizures compared to rats without estradiol (19 +/- 0.6 versus 24 +/- 1.9 trials). Following secondary seizure generalization, estradiol rats rapidly completed late kindled seizure acquisition. In contrast, late kindling in rats without estradiol was slower as reflected by a 3-fold greater number of AD trials and AD seconds to complete kindling compared to rats with estradiol. One factor in the slower late kindling of rats without estradiol was the instability of generalized seizures which frequently regressed to focal or partial responses. The results provide further experimental evidence for a role for estradiol in catamenial epilepsy and suggest that the process of secondarily generalization of seizures is especially sensitive to estradiol. PMID- 2612494 TI - Phenobarbital treatment of status epilepticus in a rodent model. AB - Although phenobarbital is frequently used in the treatment of status epilepticus, little has been published concerning the dose or serum concentration which effectively control adult status. We studied the efficacy of phenobarbital in controlling status in a rat model which induces generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) which respond to other drugs at serum concentrations similar to those reported to be effective in human status. We found that phenobarbital is rapidly absorbed following intraperitoneal injection, but entry into brain is delayed. Brain entry was facilitated during uncontrolled status epilepticus. The ED50 values for control of seizures in this model rose in a dose-dependent manner for increasing levels of seizure control, from 14.2 mg/kg for control of GTCS to 76.6 mg/kg for control of all motor and electrographic ictal activity. Raising serum concentrations above the 20 micrograms/ml required to control GTCS produced increasingly better control of the various types of ictal activity seen in this model. PMID- 2612495 TI - Double-blind crossover trial of lamotrigine (Lamictal) as add-on therapy in intractable epilepsy. AB - A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is reported of lamotrigine as add-on treatment in therapy-resistant epilepsy. A within-patients serial design was used, with two 3-month treatment periods and an intervening 6-week washout/crossover period. An unblinded investigator adjusted lamotrigine dosage to achieve a plasma concentration within a previously predicted therapeutic range. All patients had therapy-resistant partial seizures, some in combination with other seizure types and were without serious neurological or intellectual deficit. Of 34 patients recruited only one was withdrawn because of an adverse experience (maculo-papular rash) probably related to the experimental drug and 30 completed the trial. The other 3 withdrawals were due to default during baseline, dispensing error and cholecystectomy. There was a modest statistically significant reduction in total and partial seizures on lamotrigine compared to placebo treatment. There was no difference in adverse experiences or abnormal biochemical or haematological findings between the lamotrigine and placebo periods. The plasma concentrations of concomitantly administered antiepileptic drugs were not affected by lamotrigine treatment. It is concluded that lamotrigine shows promise as an antiepileptic drug with low toxicity. PMID- 2612496 TI - Flunarizine does not delay the development of generalized seizures by amygdala kindling. AB - Adult rats underwent amygdala kindling after the administration of vehicle, flunarizine 20 mg/kg/day, or flunarizine 40 mg/kg/day. Stimuli were delivered thrice daily at current intensities twice after-discharge threshold (ADT). Flunarizine did not alter initial or post-kindling ADT and did not affect the latency (number of stimuli) to the first stage 5 seizure. Apart from a tendency to increase the latency between the first and the 4th stage 5 seizures, flunarizine had little if any effect on amygdala kindling in this protocol. PMID- 2612497 TI - Deposition and ultrastructural organization of collagen and proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix of gel-cultured fibroblasts. AB - Human skin fibroblasts were cultivated within the three-dimensional space of polymerized alginate and collagen, respectively. The in vitro synthesis of collagens and proteoglycans was measured during the first 3 days of culture, and the deposition as well as the ultrastructural organization of newly synthesized extracellular matrix components were examined by electron microscopy. The amount of collagens and proteoglycans synthesized by fibroblasts, embedded in calcium alginate gels as well as in collagen lattices, was lowered as compared to monolayer cultures. Furthermore, it was found that collagen synthesis was reduced to a greater extent in alginate gels than in collagen lattices. On the contrary, total proteoglycan biosynthesis was similarly reduced either in alginate gels or in collagen lattices. At the end of a 3-day-culture period, filamentous material as well as cross-striated banded structures were found extracellularly in the alginate gel. According to their periodicity, their banding pattern, their association with polyanionic matrix components and their sensitivity towards glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzymes we could distinguish (1) sheets of amorphous non-banded material consisting of irregularly arranged filaments and containing dermatan sulfate-rich proteoglycans (type I structures), (2) sheets of long spacing fibrils consisting of parallel orientated filaments and containing chondroitin sulfate-rich proteoglycans (= zebra bodies; type II structures), and (3) fibrillar structures with a complex banding pattern different from that of native collagen fibrils (type III structures). In fibroblasts cultured in collagen lattices, we only sporadically found depositions which are identified as type I structures. Using indirect immunoelectron microscopy and monospecific polyclonal antibodies, we localized type VI collagen in type I structures and type II structures. Type III structures can be identified as type I collagen derived as becomes obvious by comparison with segment long spacing crystallites of type I collagen. PMID- 2612498 TI - Increased affinity to concanavalin A and enhanced secretion of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein by hepatocytes isolated from turpentine-treated rats. AB - Hepatocytes were isolated from adult rats at various times after subcutaneous injection of turpentine (1 ml). The affinity to concanavalin A (Con A) of alpha 1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) and the intracellular content and rate of secretion of AGP and albumin were evaluated over a period of 19 days. Inflamed hepatocytes secreted mainly the Con A-reactive form of AGP whereas control hepatocytes secreted a higher amount of the Con A-non-reactive form. The intracellular content and rate of secretion of AGP by inflamed hepatocytes increased markedly whereas those of albumin decreased. However, when the residence time (ratio of intracellular content to rate of secretion) was evaluated, it appeared that the efficiency of secretion of both proteins was higher than in control hepatocytes. The changes in the affinity of AGP to Con A and in the secretion of AGP and albumin were reversible. These findings indicate that acute inflammation leads to posttranslational alterations during the intracellular transit of these secretory proteins. PMID- 2612499 TI - Involvement of protein kinase C in signal transduction during fibroblast chemotaxis to platelet-derived growth factor and a fragment of fibronectin. AB - The involvement of protein kinase C in chemotaxis of normal dermal fibroblasts to a mitogenic and a non-mitogenic attractant was investigated. Neomycin, an inhibitor of phosphoinositide metabolism, H7, staurosporine, and sphingosine, inhibitors of protein kinase C, as well as amiloride, an inhibitor of the Na+/H+ antiport, all abrogated chemotaxis of fibroblasts to platelet-derived growth factor and to a chemotactically active fragment of fibronectin. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by phorbol ester likewise diminished the capacity of fibroblasts to move directionally to these attractants. Therefore, all three of these signal transduction steps are required for the chemotactic response of this type of cells. PMID- 2612500 TI - In situ hybridization at the electron microscope level: an improved method for precise localization of ribosomal DNA and RNA. AB - In situ hybridization using biotinylated rDNA probes and secondary antibody coupled to gold particles was developed on ultrathin sections of Lowicryl embedded Ehrlich tumor cells for precise localization of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and ribosomal DNA (rDNA). For the detection of rDNA, an immunocytochemical approach involving an antibody against single-stranded DNA was used in order to determine the more efficient denaturation procedure. Using this technique, rDNA can be visualized in the fibrillar centers of nucleoli, especially in their peripheral regions at the proximity of both the dense fibrils and the nucleolar interstices as well as within the latter. rDNA was occasionally detected in some clumps of dense nucleolus-associated chromatin. Besides the presence of rRNA in the ribosome-rich cytoplasmic areas and in the dense fibrillar component and the granular component of the nucleolus, rRNA was also found in the fibrillar center areas close to the boundary region to the dense fibrillar component. These results are discussed in the light of the present knowledge on the functional organization of the nucleolus. PMID- 2612501 TI - The nucleolus, in the spotlight. Meeting on the nucleolus, Toledo (Spain), December 15-18, 1988. PMID- 2612502 TI - Osteonecrosis of vertebrae in a child with acute lymphocytic leukaemia during L asparaginase therapy. AB - We report a child with acute lymphocytic leukaemia who developed simultaneous osteonecrosis of vertebrae and cerebral thrombosis during L-asparaginase therapy. Fibrinogen, antithrombin III and plasminogen were decreased. Fresh frozen plasma in addition to antithrombin III concentrates were used to replenish these haemostatic proteins. L-asparaginase induced coagulopathy may cause osteonecrosis. PMID- 2612503 TI - IgG2/IgG4 subclass deficiency in a patient with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and bronchiectases. AB - A 22-year-old man with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) and hypothyroidism developed severe bronchiectases following recurrent bronchopneumonia. Immunological investigations revealed IgG2/IgG4 subclass deficiency and absence of antibodies against pneumococcal and Haemophilus polysaccharides. Under regular immunoglobulin substitution every 3 weeks pulmonary symptoms improved markedly. PMID- 2612504 TI - Possible association of sudden infant death with partial complement C4 deficiency revealed by post-mortem DNA typing of HLA class II and III genes. AB - Based on evidence of an increased rate of respiratory infections in sudden infant death (SID) infants as well as the observation of familial occurrence, we analysed in a retrospective study class II and class II genes of the major histocompatibility complex in 40 cases of SID by Southern blot analysis of DNA obtained post mortem from tissue samples. In 24 cases, the parents were interviewed and confirmatory human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) and DNA typing was carried out. Using HLA-DR beta and -DQ beta probes, no evidence of an abnormal HLA-DR frequency distribution in SID infants was detected (P = 0.97). Using DNA probes for the tandemly arranged complement C4 and steroid 21-hydroxylase genes, an increased number of C4B gene deletions in SID cases was found. The increase in C4 gene deletions was significant (P = 0.0125) in infants with recurrent infections. These data indicate a possible role of partial C4 deficiency as a genetically predisposing risk factor in SID. PMID- 2612505 TI - Development of hypogammaglobulinaemia in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency. AB - A 3-year-old boy who developed common variable immunodeficiency was investigated for the development of hypogammaglobulinaemia. During a period of 4 years, the combined deficiency of IgA, IgG2 and IgG4 proceeded to include IgG1 and finally IgG3 and IgM. This order of isotypes of IgG subclass deficiencies corresponded to the gene order for the heavy chain constant region for immunoglobulins on chromosome 14. PMID- 2612506 TI - Fatal infectious mononucleosis with staphylococcal pyoderma in a girl with hereditary immunological dysregulations. AB - We describe a 14-year-old girl with fatal infectious mononucleosis with high fever, pancytopenia, and multiple skin ulcers due to Staphylococcus aureus. Immunological studies revealed low serum IgM, low natural killer (NK) activity, and high CD4/CD8 ratio. Her father had also low NK activity and high CD4/CD8 ratio. It is suggested that she had a dominantly inherited immunodeficiency predisposing to severe Epstein-Barr virus infection. PMID- 2612507 TI - Facial dysmorphia, parathyroid and thymic dysfunction in the father of a newborn with the DiGeorge complex. AB - A boy born at full-term died after 14 days from cardiac failure. At autopsy DiGeorge complex was diagnosed. The father was found to have facial dysmorphia and hypocalcaemia. Investigations revealed no cause other than hypoparathyroidism associated with normal serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations and normal renal handling of phosphate. Immunological tests, performed on two occasions with an interval of 9 months, revealed a decrease in the number of CD8+ lymphocytes, compatible with a partial thymus deficiency. The combination of facial dysmorphia with dysfunction of the thymus and the parathyroid glands can constitute a partial DiGeorge complex. The findings in this family are compared with reports of four other families with DiGeorge complex in two generations. In genetic counseling DiGeorge complex should be considered a heterogenous disorder. Screening of the parents for somatic stigmata, hypocalcaemia, disturbed cellular immunity, cardiac and chromosomal abnormalities is essential. PMID- 2612508 TI - No reduction of high density lipoprotein2 during weight reduction in obese children and adolescents. AB - The effects of a 3 week weight reduction regimen on lipids and lipoproteins, in particular high density lipoprotein (HDL)-subfractions in 61 grossly obese children and adolescents (37 females and 26 males) aged 11-15 years were studied. Dietary treatment resulted in a significant weight reduction of initial body weight of 9.6 +/- 2.1%, a highly significant decrease in cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL-C (P less than 0.001), as well as a significant reduction in triglycerides, HDL3 and Apolipoprotein B concentrations (P less than 0.01). HDL2 concentrations remained almost constant. It is concluded that HDL reduction during a weight reducing regimen in adolescents does not result in a decrease of the antiatherogenic HDL2 subfraction. PMID- 2612509 TI - Tracheal agenesis: a case report. AB - Tracheal agenesis is described in a premature infant. Absent cry, failure of tracheal intubation despite adequate ventilation with a face mask, and ventilation of both lungs after oesophageal intubation suggested the diagnosis. The infant's condition deteriorated rapidly because of severe pulmonary hyaline membrane disease 12 h later due to intractable cardiac failure. At post-mortem examination, large bilateral broncho-oesophageal fistulae were found. PMID- 2612510 TI - Frequent relapser minimal change nephrosis: an unrecognized X-linked disorder? AB - We report three brothers who developed nephrosis between the age of 3-10 years. The parents were nonconsanguineous and of Arab descent. The mother's sister had a son with a similar condition. Patients were steroid responders and frequent relapsers. Renal biopsies in the three brothers showed findings of minimal change nephrosis. This family may suggest the existence of an X-linked recessive nephrosis which provides further evidence for genetic heterogeneity of familial nephrosis. PMID- 2612511 TI - Exogenous prostaglandin administration and pseudo-Bartter syndrome. AB - Biological abnormalities simulating Bartter syndrome were observed in a preterm neonate with complex cyanotic congenital heart disease, for which ductus arteriosus was maintained open by high doses of prostaglandin (PG) until a Blalock shunt could be performed. These abnormalities spontaneously disappeared after cessation of PG administration. We postulate that the natriuretic effect of exogenous administered PG could further increase sodium wasting already induced by the cardiopathy thus leading to pseudo-Bartter syndrome. PMID- 2612512 TI - Role of protein C in childhood cerebrovascular occlusive accidents. AB - A group of 23 children with cerebrovascular occlusion of unknown etiology were re evaluated 6 months-2 years later. Plasma protein C levels were determined with the coagulation method and were low in 10 cases. The role of this deficiency and the necessity of this test in cerebrovascular occlusion is discussed. PMID- 2612513 TI - Blood concentrations after accidental cyclosporin overdose. AB - Two cases of children are reported with an accidental oral overdose of cyclosporin in whom blood concentrations were monitored. Despite a tenfold oral overdose, the peak blood concentrations of cyclosporin in both patients were only moderately increased above therapeutic levels. Apart from a transient rise in blood pressure in one patient, no toxic effects of cyclosporin were noticed. PMID- 2612514 TI - Sauna habits and related symptoms in Finnish children. AB - Fifteen hundred randomly chosen Finnish children aged 0-15 years were studied by a questionnaire about their sauna habits and possible abnormal symptoms during or immediately after the sauna. A total of 1247 families (83%) answered. Almost all children visited the sauna (98.5%), most of them "with pleasure" (83%). Nearly half of the children were in the sauna as often as 2-3 times a week, and over 90% at least once a week. The children's sauna visits began quite early, in 70% during infancy. The time spent in a hot steam bath increased with age. Symptoms were rare and were not serious. Transient symptoms (dizziness, nausea etc.) were the most common. Of the children, 17% had some chronic or recurring disorder, most commonly atopic dermatitis or middle ear infections. In half of the cases of atopic dermatitis it became worse in the sauna. Sauna is a very common practice in Finland, also among children. It does not seem to cause any significant immediate harm to healthy children. PMID- 2612515 TI - The comparison of some pharmacokinetic parameters of sulphadimethoxine estimated by high performance liquid chromatography and three spectrophotometric methods. AB - The influence of the method used for determination of drugs in biological fluids on the pharmacokinetic parameters of sulphadimethoxine was investigated in healthy adult human subjects. Sulphonamide concentrations were determined by four chemical methods: high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and three spectrophotometric techniques, i.e. Bratton-Marshall original method as well as Rieder's modification and author's modification of the Morris technique. The compatibility of pharmacokinetic parameter values calculated from these results was good, the correlation coefficients between HPLC and all spectrophotometric methods were high. It has also been shown that the phenotype of acetylation as well as moderate cigarette smoking which can induce some enzymes responsible for the formation of glucuronide conjugates, i.e. main metabolic pattern for sulphadimethoxine, does not affect the half-time of this drug. PMID- 2612516 TI - Mephenytoin stereoselective elimination in the rat: I. Enantiomeric disposition following intravenous administration. AB - The stereoselective disposition of mephenytoin was characterized after an intravenous bolus dose of racemic mephenytoin to rats being infused with 50% polyethylene glycol 400/50% saline via the jugular and hepatic portal vein. No significant influence on mephenytoin disposition was noted due to the site selected for the administration of the 50% polyethylene glycol 400 solution. The mean (+/- SD) clearance of R- and S-mephenytoin were 171 +/- 58 ml/hr (R) and 110 +/- 37 ml/hr (S), and the mean (+/- SD) volumes of distribution were 325 +/- 75 ml (R) and 359 +/- 72 ml (S). The clearance of R-mephenytoin was significantly larger than the clearance of S-mephenytoin, but this stereoselective difference is of opposite stereochemistry and of much smaller magnitude than the stereoselective difference reported for these enantiomers in man. The difference in the volumes of distribution of R- and S-mephenytoin was not significant. PMID- 2612517 TI - Kinetics and brain uptake of S 9795, a new xanthine derivate, in rats. AB - The relationships between plasma and brain concentrations of S 9795 and its main metabolites after single intravenous doses of S 9795 were examined in rats by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. S 9795 disappeared from plasma and brain almost in parallel, with comparable elimination t1/2 of about 0.8 h, regardless of the dose administered. The volume of distribution was high (about 3 1/kg) but total clearance was also high (about 40 ml/min/kg) and this explains the relatively short plasma and brain t1/2 of the drug in the rat. Among the possible metabolites examined, the N-dearylated metabolite S 10238 rapidly appeared in both plasma and brain. Thereafter, S 10238 was likewise eliminated in parallel from both compartments, although at a slower rate (t1/2 of about 1.4 h) than its parent compound. Norcyclizine, a metabolite resulting from cleavage of the parent drug side-chain, was detected only in the brain and only at the highest dose tested. The brain AUC to plasma AUC ratio was slightly less than 1 for S 9795, about 0.1 for S 10238 and possibly more than 2 for norcyclizine, this latter being present in rat plasma at concentrations below the limits of sensitivity of the method (0.08 nmol/ml). The results indicate that S 9795 and some of its metabolites enter the central nervous system, although to different extents, and support the hypothesis that the lack of central effects of S 9795 is probably the consequence of the poor adenosine brain receptor antagonism by this compound. PMID- 2612518 TI - The disposition of SK&F L-94901, a selective thyromimetic in rat, dog and cynomolgus monkey. AB - SK&F L-94901 is a novel thyromimetic, structurally related to thyroxine. The absorption, distribution, excretion and metabolism of radiochemically labelled [14C]-SK&F L-94901 has been investigated in the rat, dog and cynomolgus monkey. Oral absorption from solution was low or moderate in all three species. The compound was widely distributed and rapidly excreted, although traces of radioactivity were still evident in some tissues at 7 days post-dose, particularly in the kidney where radioactivity was located in an area approximating to the corticomedullary junction. Elimination of [14C]-SK&F L-94901 was both metabolic, mediated by the liver, and renal. The major metabolic routes of elimination were via oxidative deamination to lactate and acetate derivatives. PMID- 2612519 TI - The effect of a single treatment with cigarette smoke on the blood levels and hemodynamic effects of propranolol in rats. AB - The effect of a single treatment with cigarette smoke on the blood levels and hemodynamic effects of propranolol in rats was studied. Pentobarbital sleep time was not affected whereas zoxazolamine paralysis time was shortened 72% in rats, 24 h after the cigarette smoke exposure. The beta-adrenoceptor blocking effect of propranolol observed at 10 and 20 min time intervals was abolished in rats exposed to cigarette smoke 24 h after the exposure. The blood propranolol concentrations were decreased in rats pretreated with phenobarbital, 3,4 benzpyrene and ethanol as well as in cigarette smoke exposed rats. Among several factors that could influence propranolol metabolism, in this study, enzyme induction is suggested to be dominant. PMID- 2612520 TI - Inhibition of ethoxy- and pentoxy-resorufin dealkylases of rat liver by flavones and flavonols: structure-activity relationship. AB - The inhibitory effects of 17 flavones and flavonols on ethoxy- and pentoxy resorufin dealkylases of rat liver were investigated. Several findings concerning the relationship between structure and activity can be pointed out. The presence or lack of hydroxyl groups on the flavane nucleus has no influence on the efficiency of inhibition. Flavone and quercetin result in the same degree of inhibition. For polyhydroxylated moleculse, the position of hydroxyl groups on A and B rings was an important factor. The more powerful inhibitors were the flavones having hydroxyl groups only on the A ring (e.g. chrysin) and the inhibitory effect was decreased by addition of hydroxyl substituents on the B group (e.g. quercetin). EROD activities were more responsive than PROD activities. Flavone and quercetin were competitive inhibitors of EROD activity whereas chrysin and morin were mixed type inhibitors. In the case of PROD activity, all four flavones were of the mixed type inhibitors. PMID- 2612521 TI - A novel isocratic HPLC method to separate and quantify acetanilide and its hydroxy aromatic derivatives: 2-, 3- and 4-hydroxyacetanilide (paracetamol or acetaminophen). AB - Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography on a microBondapak C-18 Column has been used to separate and quantify acetanilide and its aromatic monohydroxy derivatives in the 2-, 3- and 4- positions. Separation was achieved within 22 min by using an isocratic mixture of 2-propanol: methanol: water, 8:18:74 (v/v). This method compares very favourably with other HPLC techniques already reported to separate acetanilide from the monohydroxy aromatic derivatives. PMID- 2612522 TI - Symposium on Lacunar Infarcts: Clinical Aspects and Diagnostic Examinations. Ravenna, April 29, 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2612523 TI - Lacunar infarcts: a personal series of 92 consecutive cases. AB - A series of 92 patients with lacunar infarcts identified by CT brain scan are described. Risk factors for cerebrovascular disease, clinical aspects and outcome are analyzed. Our cases show unusual clinical syndromes in a remarkable number of subjects, indicating the usefulness of performing a CT brain scan. PMID- 2612524 TI - Lacunar thalamic infarcts and amnesia. AB - Six cases with CT scan evidence of paramedian thalamic lacunar infarcts in the region of the paramedian thalamic arteries (4 unilateral left and 2 bilateral) are described. The main acute symptoms included disorders of consciousness, hypersomnia and sometimes vertical gaze paresis. An amnesic syndrome of variable degree and duration was observed in all cases, and in 1 of them was still present 2 years after the onset. In addition, we report a case of lateral thalamic infarction, which showed a predominantly aphasic (transcortical sensory type) clinical picture. PMID- 2612525 TI - Neuropathologic study of lacunae and cribriform cavities of the brain. AB - One hundred and ninety-one brains were examined for lacunae and other cavitary cysts. Histologic and immunohistochemical studies by means of the peroxidase antiperoxidase method for glial fibrillary acidic protein were carried out. Lacunae are small cavitary softenings observed on pathological examination and must be differentiated from cribriform cavities which are dilatations of perivascular space with or without impairment of the surrounding nervous tissue. A large number of cribriform cavities surrounded by rarefied perivascular nervous tissue and located in the basal ganglia can be accounted for pseudobulbar palsy or extrapyramidal syndromes. PMID- 2612526 TI - Histopathological correlates of leuko-araiosis in patients with ischemic stroke. AB - A neuropathological study was carried out in 4 cases of ischemic stroke with leuko-araiosis (LA), 3 cases of clinically suspected Binswanger's subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy (SAE) also showing LA, and 3 cases without LA. Unlike the SAE cases, in 3 of the cases in the first group the white matter changes corresponding to LA could not be explained by ischemic mechanisms related to small vessel changes. PMID- 2612527 TI - Single photon emission tomography findings in lacunar lesions. AB - 99-Tc hexamethyl propylene amine oxime single photon emission tomography was performed in 18 patients showing typical lacunar hypodensities on CT scan (3 with Binswanger's disease and 3 with acute-stage lacunar syndrome). Reduced radiouptake in the site of the lacunar lesions was observed in 7 out of the 18 patients, while all of the patients with Binswanger's disease showed a bilateral reduced whithe matter uptake. Two of the three acute-stage lacunar syndrome patients showed a reduced radio uptake in the cortical areas of the hemisphere, in which the lacunar lesion was detected (diaschisis), followed by subsequent normalization and clinical improvement. PMID- 2612528 TI - Somatosensory-evoked potentials in the diagnosis of lacunar syndromes: comparison with EEG findings. AB - Somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) and EEG were recorded in 45 patients with lacunar syndrome due to CT-verified lacunar infarcts. Abnormalities of SEP chronological parameters were observed in 22 subjects. SEP changes occurred independently of clinical features and were related more to the lesion location than to its size. PMID- 2612529 TI - Lacunar infarctions: preliminary data on clinical features and natural history. AB - Fifty consecutive patients with ischemic lacunar syndrome are described. Seventeen of them had a negative CT brain scan and 33 had CT evidence of lacunar infarcts. These data are compared with previous reports. PMID- 2612530 TI - Alzheimer disease - new horizon. Tokyo, November 22, 1988. PMID- 2612531 TI - Familial factors in Alzheimer's disease (IMAGE project). A case-control study in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region (Quebec, Canada). AB - Alzheimer's disease is now recognized as a major public health problem. Many hypotheses have tried to explain the etiology of Alzheimer's disease and, among them, genetic factors are considered one of the most plausible. A case-control study of familial factors, including sex distribution, age at onset, birth order, parental age, fertility, mortality, inbreeding and kindship, was conducted on 130 clinically diagnosed patients born in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region (Quebec, Canada). The cases were screened by the IMAGE project. Our results showed that most factors studied are not associated with Alzheimer's disease. Inbreeding was found to be slightly increased in the Alzheimer group. Kindship was higher in the Alzheimer group than in the control groups, therefore confirming that familial predisposition is a very important risk factor. PMID- 2612532 TI - Sensitivity and specificity of positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies in Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia. AB - Positron emission tomographic (PET) scans using [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were quantitatively analyzed for metabolic and structural abnormalities in normal subjects and patients classified as having Alzheimer's disease (AD), mixed dementia and multi-infarct dementia (MID) according to Hachinski ischemic scores. MRI-detected abnormalities in the periventricular white matter and in subcortical locations increased in incidence with age in normals and increased markedly in AD and especially in MID. Upper limits for the severity of these white matter lesions could be defined only for normal young and elderly subjects, but not for AD, mixed or MID patients. PET scan abnormalities occurred in about 90% of demented patients and in 54% of elderly and 34% of young normals. There was no characteristic pattern of abnormality that distinguished MID from AD patients. It is concluded that PET and MRI studies in demented patients are useful ancillary tests especially in evaluating the mild, questionably demented subject and for assessing the functional impact of structural disease. PMID- 2612533 TI - Management of infections in immunocompromised patients. Based on a symposium. Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, 17-18 February 1989. PMID- 2612534 TI - Effect of pindolol on changes in serum lipids induced by hydrochlorthiazide. AB - Forty-two patients with essential hypertension, WHO I-II, and a diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 100 mm Hg, were initially given 25 mg hydrochlorthiazide alone. After treatment for 3 months 10 mg pindolol was also given to 16 of them as the diastolic blood pressure had not been reduced to less than or equal to 90 mm Hg. After 3 months treatment on hydrochlorthiazide alone there was a significant increase in serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, and a decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, and this pattern persisted after a further 3 months on the single drug regimen. In contrast, in those patients who received additional treatment with pindolol after the first 3 months, there was a significant decrease in the low density lipoprotein cholesterol and an increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol during the following 3 months. Thus, the addition of pindolol to hydrochlorthiazide therapy appeared to reverse the negative effects on the lipid profile induced by the diuretic alone. PMID- 2612535 TI - Activated charcoal in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia: dose-response relationships and comparison with cholestyramine. AB - The dose-response relationship of activated charcoal in reducing serum cholesterol was determined and the effects of charcoal and cholestyramine were compared in patients with hypercholesterolaemia. In a cross-over study 7 patients ingested charcoal 4, 8, 16 or 32 g/day, and finally bran, each phase lasting for 3 weeks. Serum total and LDL-cholesterol were decreased (maximum 29% and 41%, respectively) and the ratio of HDL/LDL-cholesterol was increased (maximum 121%) by charcoal in a dose dependent manner. Ten further patients with severe hypercholesterolaemia ingested daily for 3 weeks, in random order, activated charcoal 16 g, cholestyramine 16 g, activated charcoal 8 g + cholestyramine 8 g, or bran. The concentrations of total and LDL-cholesterol were reduced by charcoal (23% and 29%, respectively), cholestyramine (31% and 39%) and their combination (30% and 38%). The ratio of HDL/LDL-cholesterol was increased from 0.13 to 0.23 by charcoal, to 0.29 by cholestyramine, and to 0.25 by their combination. Serum triglycerides were increased by cholestyramine but not by charcoal. Other parameters, including the serum concentrations of vitamin A, E and 25(OH)D3 remained unaffected. The changes in lipids only partly subsided during the 3-week bran phase. In general, the acceptability by the patients and the efficacy of activated charcoal, cholestyramine and their combination were about equal, but there were individual preferences for particular treatments. PMID- 2612536 TI - Antipyrine metabolism is not affected by terbinafine, a new antifungal agent. AB - The potential to inhibit drug metabolism of the new antifungal agent terbinafine has been studied using antipyrine (single oral dose of 10 mg/kg) as a probe drug. In a cross-over study in 8 healthy volunteers, antipyrine was administered prior to, during and after 8 days of oral terbinafine 125 mg b.d. Antipyrine, its major metabolites 4-hydroxyantipyrine (4-OH-AP), 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (3-OH-CH3 AP) and norantipyrine (Nor-AP) were analyzed by specific HPLC assays in multiple plasma and urine samples. During all three parts of the study, the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine viz. t1/2 (11.7 h), total plasma (38.5 ml.h-1.kg 1) and renal clearance (1.6 ml.h-1.kg-1), and its clearance rates to metabolites (CLM), eg. CLM for 4-OH-AP (12.3 ml.h-1.kg-1), CLM for 3-OH-CH3-AP (4.2 ml.h-1.kg 1) and CLM for Nor-AP (6.7 ml.h-1.kg-1) did not differ from the control values. Thus, all the cytochrome P-450-dependent isozymes involved in the metabolism of antipyrine and many other drugs should not be affected by therapeutic doses of terbinafine. PMID- 2612537 TI - Monoamine uptake inhibition by plasma from healthy volunteers after single oral doses of the antidepressant milnacipran. AB - In a placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over study, we gave 12 healthy male volunteers placebo or milnacipran orally, such that each volunteer received placebo and two doses of milnacipran. Blood samples taken before and at various times after dosing were analysed for plasma concentrations of unchanged milnacipran and the inhibitory effect of the plasma on the uptake of 3H-5 hydroxytryptamine (5HT) into normal human platelets or of 3H-noradrenaline into rat hypothalamus homogenate. The mean maximal inhibition of 5HT and noradrenaline uptake was correlated with drug dose. The inhibition of 5HT uptake was correlated with the inhibition of noradrenaline uptake and both were correlated with plasma concentration of unchanged drug at all times and doses tested. Thus, milnacipran, when given orally to man, circulates in a biologically active form with similar potency for the inhibition of 5HT and noradrenaline uptake. PMID- 2612538 TI - Human scalp hair as evidence of individual dosage history of haloperidol: method and retrospective study. AB - Hair samples and morning pre-dose plasma were collected from 40 patients who had received fixed daily doses of haloperidol for more than four months and whose compliance was good. After washing, 1 to 2 cm-long portions nearest to the roots of 2 to 3 strands of hair were completely dissolved in 2.5N NaOH. Haloperidol in that sample or alkalinised plasma was extracted and measured by RIA. Haloperidol concentrations in hair correlated well both with the trough concentration in plasma at steady-state (r = 0.772, n = 39) and with the daily dose (r = 0.555, n = 40). Another keratinized tissue, nail, was also collected from 20 of the 40 patients and the haloperidol level was compared with that in hair. The former was only about 4.3% of the latter and was significantly correlated only with the daily dose (r = 0.525, n = 20). Hair from 10 other patients in whom the dosage of haloperidol had been changed within a few months prior to sampling the hair was cut into 0.5 or 1 cm-long portions from the roots and the drug concentration in each portion was measured. If hairs were assumed to grow at 1 cm/month, a history of individual dosage could be deduced in 9 of the 10 patients from the distribution of drug level along the length of the hair. The results suggest that human scalp hair could serve as a useful tool for monitoring individual dosage history over several months, or in demonstrating exposure or non-exposure of a patient to a drug. PMID- 2612539 TI - Zolpidem excretion in breast milk. AB - Five, lactating, healthy white women were treated with a single 20 mg tablet of zolpidem 3-4 days after the delivery of a full term baby. The drug was administered at 20.00 h, 30 min after dinner, and milk samples were collected before and 3, 13 and 16 h. Venous blood 5 ml was taken before and 1.5, 3, 13, 16 h after zolpidem administration. The apparent elimination half life, estimated from plasma zolpidem concentrations was 2.6 h. The amount of zolpidem excreted in the milk at 3 h ranged between 0.76 and 3.88 micrograms, which represented 0.004 to 0.019% of the administered dose; no detectable (below 0.5 ng/ml) zolpidem was found in the milk at subsequent sampling times. The ratio of the zolpidem concentrations in breast milk and plasma at 3 h was 0.13. The apparent breast milk clearance of zolpidem, calculated from the ratio of the total amount of zolpidem excreted in milk to its AUC in plasma was 1.48 ml/h. The results show that the excretion of zolpidem in human milk is very low (below 0.02%) and that most of it takes place during the first 3 h following drug intake. PMID- 2612540 TI - Influence of nifedipine therapy on indocyanine green and oral propranolol pharmacokinetics. AB - Nine healthy adults were administered indocyanine green (ICG) 0.5 mg.kg-1 IV alone and after the administration of the following oral drugs: nifedipine 10 mg, propranolol 80 mg, propranolol 80 mg and nifedipine 10 mg, and propranolol 80 mg after nifedipine 10 mg every 8 h for 5 days. Heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were also determined. Nifedipine increased ICG clearance by 14% and decreased t1/2 by 26%. Propranolol decreased ICG clearance by 21% and increased t1/2 42%. Nifedipine and propranolol given together increased ICG clearance 63% and decreased t1/2 by 19%. All changes were statistically significant. Propranolol given after multiple doses of nifedipine did not change ICG kinetic parameters. Propranolol Cmax, tmax, oral clearance, and t1/2 did not change after nifedipine therapy. However, partial propranolol AUC values between 0-0.33, 0-0.5, 0-1.0 and 0-1.5 h were significantly larger after single and multiple doses of nifedipine indicating higher propranolol concentrations during the absorption phase. Heart rate and MAP did not change after nifedipine treatment. Similar declines in heart rate and MAP occurred after propranolol alone and propranolol after single and multiple doses of nifedipine. PMID- 2612541 TI - Oral pharmacokinetics and ascitic fluid penetration of ofloxacin in cirrhosis. AB - Plasma and ascitic fluid concentrations of ofloxacin were determined in 12 cirrhotic patients after a single dose and repeated 200 mg oral doses. The single dose kinetics were compared to those obtained in 12 healthy volunteers. Mean plasma elimination half-life was 11.6 h in cirrhotics and 7.0 h in controls. Mean total clearance was 2.3 times lower in patients than in controls, due to a significant decrease of renal clearance of the drug, unrelated to creatinine clearance. Mean apparent volume of distribution was 1.2 l/kg in patients and 1.8 l/kg in controls. Estimated by the ratio of AUC in peritoneal fluid and plasma, ascitic fluid penetration was 80% after the first oral dose. Ascitic fluid concentrations equaled corresponding plasma concentrations after 10 h, without pronounced accumulation of ofloxacin in ascites. We may conclude that, in cirrhotic patients with normal serum creatinine, a significant impairment of renal tubular handling of ofloxacin could be observed and led to a delayed elimination half-life of the drug. Because of its broad spectrum of activity, low side-effect profile, and large ascitic fluid penetration after oral administration, ofloxacin appears to be a new therapeutic approach of severe infections in cirrhotic patients, in particular spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. PMID- 2612542 TI - The pharmacokinetics of midazolam in paediatric patients. AB - A serum concentration profile study on midazolam in children was done. Fifty six children aged 3-10 years took part. The routes investigated were intravenous, intramuscular, rectal and oral at 0.15 mg.kg-1, and the oral at 0.45 mg.kg-1 and 1 mg.kg-1. Serum concentration levels for 5 h were studied using gas liquid chromatography. The volume of distribution, Vss, was 1.29 l.kg-1, the elimination half-life 1.17 h and the serum clearance 9.11 ml.kg-1.min-1. Peak serum concentrations for the intramuscular, rectal and oral routes were at 15 min, 30 min and 53 min respectively. Bioavailability was 87%, 18%, 27% respectively at a dose of 0.15 mg.kg-1. The oral route bioavailability halved to 15% at the two higher doses. Bioequivalence was present between the 0.15 mg.kg-1 intramuscular dose and the 0.45 mg.kg-1 oral dose from 45 to 120 min. PMID- 2612543 TI - Effect of ketoconazole and terbinafine on the pharmacokinetics of caffeine in healthy volunteers. AB - The effects of single oral doses of ketoconazole 400 mg and terbinafine 500 mg on the hepatic microsomal system have been investigated in 8 healthy male volunteers. Microsomal activity caffeine was assessed by following the metabolism of 3 mg/kg bodyweight i.v. administered 1 h after the drug. The inhibitory effect of terbinafine was more pronounced than that of ketoconazole: clearance was decreased from 1.34 ml.kg-1.min-1 in controls to 1.06 and 1.21 ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively, and the corresponding half-life was increased from 5.8 h in controls to 7.6 and 6.7 h, respectively. The apparent volume of distribution remained unchanged. The serum levels of the antimycotics were within the therapeutic range in each subject. Although all three substances are metabolised by microsomes, the kinetic parameters (Cmax, half-life, elimination constant) of the antimycotics were poorly if at all correlated with the elimination of caffeine. PMID- 2612544 TI - Transdermal delivery of nicotine in normal human volunteers: a single dose and multiple dose study. AB - The absorption of nicotine delivered by a transdermal delivery system (TDS) was investigated in two separate studies, (A) a dose proportionality study and (B) a multiple dose study. In the dose range of 15-60 mg nicotine, the AUC and Cmax values were proportional to the dose. The levels achieved were in the same range as reported in smokers, following absorption from nicotine chewing gum. The TDS used in the present study produced sustained levels of nicotine for 24 h. No significant accumulation of nicotine was evident as a result of multiple dose administration using a 30-mg nicotine patch. Absorption of nicotine from the TDS was 80-90% and the rate of delivery was similar during both studies. PMID- 2612545 TI - Haemodialysis of pyrazinamide in uraemic patients. AB - The pharmacokinetics of PZA during haemodialysis were determined in 6 patients with chronic renal impairment after a single oral dose of 25.7 (1.9) mg.kg-1. The dialysis clearance of PZA and of its metabolites were: pyrazinamide 132 ml.min-1; pyrazinoic acid 121 ml.min-1; 5-hydroxy-pyrazinamide 107 ml.min-1; 5-hydroxy pyrazinoic acid 118 ml.min-1. The average amount extracted during a dialysis session of 4.1 h was 926 mg after an oral dose of 1700 mg. The high dialysability shows that PZA can properly be administered at the end of each dialysis session in the usual dose of 25 to 30 mg.kg-1. PMID- 2612546 TI - Pharmacokinetic characterization of the antiarrhythmic drug diprafenone in man. AB - The pharmacokinetics of the antiarrhythmic drug diprafenone have been investigated in 6 healthy volunteers following single intravenous (50 mg) and oral doses (50 and 150 mg). Diprafenone was mainly eliminated by metabolism in the liver. Following i.v. infusion of 50 mg diprafenone, the terminal half-life of elimination was 1.50 h, the volume of distribution at steady-state was 1.23 l.kg-1, and the free fraction in plasma was 1.68%. Mean total plasma clearance was 741 ml.min-1.70 kg-1, which approaches normal liver blood flow after correction for the blood/plasma concentration ratio. Thus, diprafenone can be classified as a high extraction drug. Following oral administration, a dose dependent increase in bioavailability from 10.9 (50 mg dose) to 32.5% (150 mg dose) was observed. The data suggest that diprafenone is subject to saturable hepatic first-pass metabolism. PMID- 2612547 TI - Distribution of 2-naphthol sulphotransferase and its endogenous substrate adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulphate in human tissues. AB - The activity of sulphotransferase towards 2-naphthol and the concentration of its endogenous substrate, adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulphate (PAPS), have been measured in five specimens of human liver, lung, and kidney, and the mucosa from the ileum and the ascending, descending and sigmoid colon. The activity of 2 naphthol sulphotransferase (mean nmol.min-1.mg-1 protein) was 1.82 (liver); 0.034 (kidney); 0.19 (lung); 0.64 (ileum); 0.47 (ascending colon); 0.50 (descending colon); 0.40 (sigmoid colon). The concentration of PAPS (mean nmol.g-1 wet tissue) was 22.6 (liver); 4.8 (kidney); 4.3 (lung); 12.8 (ileum); 8.1 (ascending colon); 7.5 (descending colon); 6.2 (sigmoid colon). The concentration of PAPS and the activity of 2-naphthol sulphotransferase were higher in the liver than in the extrahepatic tissues. There was significant difference between ileum and ascending colon, both the activity of sulphotransferase and the concentration of PAPS being higher in the former. 2-Naphthol sulphotransferase activity and the concentration of PAPS have consistent distribution patterns. Differences between the tissues studied were more marked for sulphotransferase than for its endogenous substrate. PMID- 2612548 TI - Penetration of cyclosporin into synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis. PMID- 2612549 TI - Once daily nisoldipine in hypertension: cuff and ambulatory intra-arterial blood pressure. AB - Cuff blood pressure data has suggested that the calcium channel antagonist nisoldipine has full twenty four hour efficacy. To test this, 24 h ambulatory intra-arterial blood pressure monitoring was performed on 18 untreated hypertensive subjects (12 men, 6 women) (cuff blood pressure greater than 150/95 mm Hg) before and after chronic treatment with 10-20 mg oral nisoldipine taken daily at 08.00 h. Twelve patients completed the study, six being withdrawn, four because of side-effects. After baseline intra-arterial monitoring patients were started on 10 mg nisoldipine daily. Response was assessed by cuff pressures taken 24 h after dosing at fortnightly intervals, and if not controlled (less than 150/95 or at least 10 mm Hg reduction in diastolic BP) the dose was increased to 20 mg. All patients received at least six weeks' therapy before the second intra arterial blood pressure monitoring. There was a slight but insignificant reduction in mean daytime heart rate of 3 beats.min-1. Mean significant reduction in daytime systolic and diastolic BP was 19 mm Hg and 13 mm Hg respectively but there was no significant mean night-time reduction. By comparison 8 out of 12 patients were apparently controlled more than 24 h post dose according to cuff pressures. This study suggests that this formulation of nisoldipine does not control blood pressure over a full 24-h period, and emphasises the importance of 24 h ambulatory monitoring in assesing the efficacy of once-daily antihypertensive agents. PMID- 2612550 TI - Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring during sustained treatment with conventional and extended-release felodipine in mild-to-moderate hypertension. AB - To assess the duration of the antihypertensive effect of the dihydropiridine calcium antagonist felodipine in conventional (C-F) and slow-release (ER-F) formulations, 12 patients with essential hypertension underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) at the end of a 2-week treatment period with C-F 5 mg b.d., ER-F 10 mg once daily (o.d.) and placebo. C-F, ER-F and placebo were given in a double-blind 3 x 3 latin square design 4 times replicated. There was no systematic change in the ABP profile over the three study periods regardless of the treatment. In comparison to placebo, the mean 24-h systolic and diastolic blood pressures showed a significant and similar reduction after both formulations of F. Compared to placebo, C-F and ER-F induced a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure for 15 and 21 h, respectively, and of diastolic blood pressure for 16 and 21 h, respectively. Three patients complained of headache (mild in 2, moderately severe in 1), and two patients of nocturia, with either formulation of F. PMID- 2612551 TI - Ethnic differences in the renal sodium-dopamine relationship: a possible explanation for regional variation in the prevalence of hypertension? AB - Twenty-four-h urinary sodium and dopamine output by normotensive adults from 5 different ethnic groups have been measured. The groups differed substantially in the correlation between the urinary output to sodium and dopamine. Those with a traditionally salt rich diet (Thais, Caucasians, Zimbabweans) showed a strong positive correlation (p less than 0.001), whereas no such relationship was found in West Africans and Iranians, who come from traditionally salt scarce environments. It is hypothesised that in some races the lack of or uncoupling of the renal sodium-dopamine relationship, possibly as a mechanism to help conserve dietary sodium, predisposes to the development of hypertension when the individuals encounter a salt rich diet. PMID- 2612552 TI - A simple technique for predicting maintenance dosage of warfarin--is it better than empirical dosing? AB - In a prospective, randomised trial the clinical utility of a predictive warfarin maintenance dosing technique was compared with the more commonly employed empirical dosing method. A preliminary study in 35 patients established the applied technique for predicting the maintenance dosage of warfarin from the prothrombin activity on Day 4 of initial standardised warfarin administration. Forty-three patients admitted with venous thrombotic disease were investigated. All received the same loading dose of warfarin (10 mg daily) until the prothrombin percentage activity (Normotest) was less than 25%. Significantly more patients were correctly stabilised when warfarin doses were based on prediction than when they were empirically adjusted (86% vs 50%). Also, the median number of days to achieve stable anticoagulation was lower (8 vs 11 days). It is concluded that this simple predictive technique to determine the maintenance dosage of warfarin is superior to empirical dosing. PMID- 2612553 TI - Penetration of cefoperazone into ascites. AB - The pharmacokinetics of cefoperazone was studied in eleven cirrhotic patients with ascites after i.v. administration of a single dose of 15 mg.kg-1 (n = 7) or after three doses of 15 mg.kg-1 given at 12 h intervals (n = 4). The concentrations of cefoperazone in serum and ascitic fluid were determined by HPLC. The peak serum cefoperazone concentration after a single i.v. injection of 15 mg.kg-1 was 96.0 mg.l-1. The serum elimination half-life was longer (5.0 h) than in normal subjects. The penetration of cefoperazone into ascites was satisfactory (32.3% and 58.3% after single and repeated injections, respectively). Ascitic fluid concentrations of cefoperazone exceeded 5.4 mg.ml-1 from 0.5 to 6 h after the single i.v. injection, levels which are well above the MIC of most pathogens found in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Adjustment of the dose of cefoperazone in cases of severe hepatic insufficiency does not appear to be necessary provided that renal function is normal. PMID- 2612554 TI - Genetically determined N-acetylation and oxidation capacities in Japanese patients with non-occupational urinary bladder cancer. AB - Genetically determined polymorphisms of N-acetylation and oxidative capacity have been studied using dapsone and metoprolol in 51 Japanese patients with spontaneous bladder cancer and 203 healthy control subjects. The results for N acetylation pharmacogenetics were against the initial expectation that there would be a preponderance of slow acetylators in the cancer group, as 3 such patients (5.9%) were found as compared to 13 (6.4%) in the healthy group. There was no poor metabolizer (PM) of metoprolol in the cancer group, whereas in the healthy group one (0.5%) was a PM. There were no significant differences between the groups in the frequency of slow acetylator and poor oxidiser phenotypes, or in the frequency distribution profiles of acetylation (monoacetyldapsone/dapsone) and oxidative metabolic ratio (log metoprolol/alpha-hydroxymetoprolol). The results indicate that neither N-acetylation nor the debrisoquine/sparteine-type oxidative phenotype and/or capacity represent a genetic predisposition to spontaneous bladder carcinogenesis in Japanese patients. In the normal Japanese population there is a great predominance of rapid acetylators and extensive oxidisers. PMID- 2612555 TI - Pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen enantiomers in cholecystectomy patients: influence of probenecid. AB - Ketoprofen (KT), a 2-arylpropionic acid nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, is administered as a racemate. Previous reports suggest stereoselective biliary excretion of KT enantiomers. This hypothesis was tested by administering 50 mg racemic KT to five patients who required bile drainage following cholecystectomy surgery. Subsequently, to study the influence of probenecid (PB), an inhibitor of KT renal elimination, on the biliary excretion, 1000 mg PB was administered 1.5 h before KT to the same patients. The unchanged and conjugated (as glucuronides) KT enantiomers were measured in plasma, urine and bile. In general, KT enantiomers had different plasma concentration-time curves. As compared to normal subjects, these patients had comparable AUCs and shorter t1/2s. Biliary concentrations of conjugated S-KT were greater than R-KT. Nevertheless, the total cumulative biliary excretion of conjugated KT did not exceed 2% of the dose ruling out this pathway as a significant route of KT elimination. There was a positive and significant correlation between the cumulative urinary excretion of conjugated KT enantiomers and creatinine clearance. Although PB did not influence the pattern of stereoselectivity of KT, it increased AUC and prolonged t1/2 of the enantiomers. While reducing cumulative urinary excretion, PB increased total biliary elimination of conjugated KT enantiomers. This, however, did not totally compensate for the reduced urinary excretion. It is suggested that the impaired conjugation of KT caused by PB administration may result in the augmentation of other, otherwise minor, metabolic pathways. PMID- 2612556 TI - Amitriptyline: linear or nonlinear kinetics in every day practice? AB - The linearity of the (AMT) kinetics of amitriptyline has been tested in 135 depressed dosed twice daily by measuring plasma. Their (AMT) and nortriptyline (NT) levels under steady-state conditions. The AMT concentration/dose ratios at low and high dosages were not significantly different and there was a linear relationship between the dose ratios and the concentration ratios. No change in the metabolic ratio (AMT/NT) was observed between the two dosages. Although the results are consistent with linear AMT kinetics, there may have been nonlinear kinetics in some patients as the ratio between the concentration/dose ratios in them at low and high dosages was greater than one. Those patients were characterized by a low concentration/dose ratio at low dosage. No clinical adverse effect appeared in the study. PMID- 2612557 TI - Oesophageal injury associated with pivmecillinam tablets. AB - Thirty-one cases of pivmecillinam-associated oesophagitis or ulceration verified at endoscopy have been reported in Sweden between 1978 and 1987. There were 29 women and two men of average age 30 years (range 15-77 years). Dysphagia and retrosternal pain often developed within the first days of treatment and resolved without complications within days of stopping treatment. Based on sales and prescription data, this complication appears to be rare, with 25-36 reported cases per million treatment courses. Further galenical development of the tablets and better patient information should reduce the number of patients injured. PMID- 2612558 TI - Circadian variation in the pharmacokinetics of verapamil. AB - Circadian variation in the metabolism of verapamil was investigated in 10 patients with stable angina pectoris during treatment with sustained-release verapamil 360 mg at 08.00 h or 22.0 h. No major difference in exercise parameters was found. During the evening dosage schedule a significantly greater bioavailability (AUC) and a prolonged time to peak concentration was found. During the night (24.00 h-06.00 h) the half-life of verapamil was significantly longer than during the day (16.00 h-22.00 h). These differences in pharmacokinetics may be due to reduced hepatic blood flow at night or to circadian variation in hepatic microsomal metabolism. PMID- 2612559 TI - Isosorbide dinitrate in the treatment of silent myocardial ischaemia in patients after myocardial infarction: an open pilot study. PMID- 2612560 TI - DOI is a mixed agonist-antagonist at postjunctional 5-HT2 receptors in the pithed rat. AB - The maximal pressor effect induced by DOI in the pithed rat was smaller than that induced by 5-HT, suggesting partial agonistic properties of DOI. DOI shifted the dose-pressor response curve of 5-HT to the right. It is concluded that, in addition to its 5-HT2 agonistic properties, DOI also possesses 5-HT2 antagonistic properties in the pithed rat. PMID- 2612561 TI - Discrimination of angiotensin II receptor subtypes by dithiothreitol. PMID- 2612562 TI - NG-monomethyl L-arginine is a non-specific inhibitor of vascular relaxation. PMID- 2612563 TI - Inhibition by loperamide of mucus secretion in the rat colon in vivo. AB - The effect of loperamide on mucus secretion and the net transport of fluid, sodium and potassium was investigated in the perfused rat colon in vivo. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, 1 mg/kg per h intraarterially) and deoxycholic acid (2 mM intraluminally) were used as secretagogues. Mucus secretion was determined as the total amount of protein-bound hexose in the effluent. Under basal conditions, loperamide (6 mg/kg subcutaneously) slightly decreased mucus secretion and increased the absorption of fluid and sodium. PGE2 and deoxycholic acid stimulated mucus secretion about 4- and 9-fold, respectively. Loperamide abolished the mucus secretory response to PGE2 and reduced the response to deoxycholic acid by 50%. It also reduced the fluid secretion following PGE2 but did not affect the diminished fluid absorption following deoxycholic acid. Potassium secretion was not significantly influenced by loperamide and therefore was independent of the secretion of mucus. The data suggest that loperamide is a potent inhibitor of colonic mucus secretion, a property that possibly contributes to the antidiarrheal effect of this opiate analogue. PMID- 2612564 TI - Calcium influx and protein kinase C activation involved in uterine vasoconstriction in guinea pigs. AB - The mechanical responses of circular segments of uterine arteries to different combinations of vasoactive agents and putative inhibitors of calcium fluxes were examined using a sensitive in vitro method. Exposure to high potassium (127 mM) or to noradrenaline (NA; 0.1 mM) resulted in a rapid, initial increase in tension of the vascular preparation to reach a sustained level of contraction (approximatively 12 mN) which lasted for at least 15 min. The protein kinase C activator, 4-beta-phorbol-12,13-esther-dibutyrate (10 microM), induced a slowly developing but sustained contractile response with a maximum (PDBumax) of only 4 mN. Addition of the calcium ionophore, A23187, to PDBu-contracted vessels did not increase tension, while the maximum tension evoked by A23187 per se (3 microM) was 5 mN. Ionomycin had only a small contractile effect on the uterine artery. The contraction evoked by depolarization (potassium) or alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation (NA) was decreased in nominally calcium-free medium containing EDTA (0-100 microM) or EGTA, while uterine arteries loaded intracellularly with the calcium chelator, quin-2, responded to the vasoconstrictors almost as well as the control preparations. Blockade of calcium influx with Cd2+ (greater than 0.01 mM), nifedipine (greater than 3 microM), verapamil (greater than 1 microM) and TMB-8 (greater than 10 microM) reduced the tension evoked by potassium somewhat more than it reduced the contractions induced by NA, while the opposite was seen in the presence of Ni2+ (greater than 0.1 mM). Inhibition of calmodulin-dependent enzymes by W7 (greater than 10 microM) reduced the maximum tension evoked by potassium and NA to a similar extent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612565 TI - Peripherally administered serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists reduce inflammatory pain in rats. AB - Intraplantar administration of serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists ICS 205-930 and MDL 72222 (1-100 micrograms; 50 microliters) produced dose-related analgesia against formalin-induced acute- and Freunds adjuvant-induced chronic-inflammatory pain in rats. 5-HT3 receptor antagonists had greater effect in the chronic pain test than in the acute paradigm. In both tests, ICS 205-930 was more potent than MDL 72222. These data further support the involvement of peripheral 5-HT3 sites in inflammatory pain, and suggest the utility of selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonists as peripheral analgesics. PMID- 2612566 TI - Indomethacin (i.c.v.) reverses the inhibitory action of peptides on gastric secretion. AB - Central administration of diverse peptides, such as dermorphin (100 ng), salmon calcitonin (250 ng), human-corticotropin-releasing-factor (10 micrograms) and human-calcitonin-gene-related-peptide (10 micrograms) inhibited gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. With the exception of salmon calcitonin this suppressive effect was significantly reversed by the central administration of 400 micrograms indomethacin. These data suggest that the gastric inhibitory effect of dermorphin, human-corticotropin-releasing-factor and human-calcitonin gene-related-peptide might be mediated by the central synthesis of a cyclooxygenase product(s). PMID- 2612567 TI - Differential modulation of [3H]flunitrazepam binding in female rat brain by sex steroid hormones. AB - Quantitative autoradiographic analysis revealed changes in [3H]flunitrazepam (a benzodiazepine agonist) binding in the anterior hypothalamus nucleus, the medial preoptic area and the cortico-medial amygdala nucleus following in vivo estradiol. The administration of 4 mg of progesterone, but not 1 mg, increased the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam in the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus and in the oriens-pyramidalis CA1 layer of the hippocampus. Exposure of brain sections in vitro to the potent, naturally occurring progesterone metabolite, 3 alpha-hydroxy 5 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, induced GABA-dependent changes in flunitrazepam binding, similar to the changes induced by progesterone, thus suggesting that different steroid mechanisms are implicated in the control of flunitrazepam binding. PMID- 2612568 TI - Interaction of psychotropic drugs with central 5-HT3 recognition sites: fact or artifact? PMID- 2612569 TI - Effects of the novel compound, Hoe 065, upon impaired learning and memory in rodents. AB - The effects of Hoe 065 (n-octyl 2-[N-[(S)-1-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenylpropyl]-L alanyl]-(1S,3S, 5S)-2-azabicyclo [3.3.0]octane-3-carboxylate maleate salt) were studied on the performance of mice and rats in different learning tasks. Hoe 065 prevented the disruption of memory induced by scopolamine administered before training. The results indicate that Hoe 065 improves cognitive function in different tasks. PMID- 2612570 TI - The 5-HT1-like receptor mediating reduction of porcine carotid arteriovenous shunting by RU 24969 is not related to either the 5-HT1A or the 5-HT1B subtype. AB - Using the radioactive microsphere technique in anaesthetized pigs, we studied the systemic and carotid haemodynamic effects of intracarotid infusions (0.3, 1, 3 and 10 micrograms/kg.min) of 5-methoxy-3-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-pyridinyl)-1H indole succinate (RU 24969), a drug with high affinity for 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B recognition sites. Unlike in the rat, RU 24969 did not elicit hypotension in the pig. Instead, the two highest doses of the drug caused a slight increase in blood pressure. RU 24969 reduced common carotid artery blood flow by decreasing the non nutrient, arteriovenous anastomotic blood flow; the nutrient, arteriolar blood flow was mildly increased. The decrease in common carotid and arteriovenous anastomotic blood flow was only slightly attenuated in animals pretreated with the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, ketanserin (0.5 mg/kg i.a.), but was markedly reduced in animals pretreated with the 5-HT1-like and 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, methiothepin (1.0 mg/kg i.a.). However, these responses were not modified after pretreatment with the putative 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor antagonist, (+/-) pindolol (4.0 mg/kg i.v.). The slight increase in arteriolar blood flow was attenuated in the animals pretreated with either ketanserin, methiothepin or (+/ )-pindolol. It is concluded that the RU 24969-induced reduction in common carotid and arteriovenous anastomotic blood flow is mediated mainly by 5-HT1-like receptors, which do not seem to correspond to either the 5-HT1A or 5-HT1B receptor subtypes. PMID- 2612571 TI - The action of corticosterone on schedule-induced wheelrunning. AB - Previous studies have shown that schedule-induced wheelrunning is dependent on an intact pituitary-adrenal axis, and thus the presence of circulating corticosterone. In the present study, the mechanism of action of corticosterone on schedule-induced wheelrunning was explored in two ways. In the first series of studies, the effect of different levels of corticosterone on schedule-induced wheelrunning in adrenalectomized rats was investigated; the results of this study show a dose-response relationship between levels of corticosterone and schedule induced wheelrunning. In the second study, the glucocorticoid receptor subtype involved was determined by examining the effect of dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, on schedule-induced wheelrunning in adrenalectomized rats. A low dose of dexamethasone effectively reversed the suppressant effect of adrenalectomy, suggesting that the behavioural action of glucocorticoids is mediated through classical (Type II) glucocorticoid receptors, and not through Type I, corticosterone-preferring receptors. PMID- 2612572 TI - The depressant effects of some amiloride analogues on the slow outward K+ current and contraction of voltage-clamped frog muscle fibres. AB - The effects of 4 derivatives of amiloride, which are known to block the Na+/H+ antiporter, were studied on the slow outward current (Iso) and on tension development of voltage-clamped single muscle fibres of the frog Rana ridibunda. Each compound tested induced a strong depressant effect on tension and Iso in a voltage-, time- and dose-dependent (10(-8) to 10(-5) M) manner at physiological pH. The effects exhibited a strong pH dependence (the greater the pH in the range between 6.6 and 8.0, the greater the depressant action). This seems to exclude the involvement of the Na+/H+ antiport and alterations of surface membrane charges as mediators. The current block was not observed after the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum was blocked with 75 microM tetracaine. It is concluded that the primary effect of the 4 compounds used was to inhibit the internal release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and that this inhibition blocked the Ca2+-dependent slow outward current. PMID- 2612573 TI - Developmental aspects of muscarinic-induced inositol polyphosphate accumulation in rat cerebral cortex. AB - The ability of carbachol to stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis in developing brain was examined by assaying [3H]inositol phosphates in the presence and absence of lithium. Lithium (5 mM) enhanced carbachol-stimulated [3H]inositol monophosphate and [3H]inositol bisphosphate accumulations at every age tested but the enhancement of both [3H]inositol phosphates was greater at 7 days than at 40 days. A marked, time-dependent inhibition of [3H]inositol trisphosphate and [3H]inositol tetrakisphosphates accumulations, i.e. 29-33 and 76-79%, respectively, was produced by lithium at every age tested. Lithium also inhibited both [3H]inositol-1,3,4-trisphosphate and [3H]inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate by 29 38%. There were no developmental differences in the EC50 values for lithium induced potentiations of [3H]inositol mono- and bisphosphate accumulations (i.e. 0.4-0.6 and 4-6 mM, respectively). Similarly, negligible changes in the EC50 values for carbachol-induced [3H]inositol mono- and bisphosphate accumulations were observed in the presence or absence of lithium at every age tested. Models of receptor coupling and the sensitivity of inositol polyphosphate dephosphorylation to lithium block during development are considered. PMID- 2612574 TI - Modulatory effects of adenosine on baroreflex activation in the brainstem of normotensive rats. AB - The effects of the adenosine antagonists, 1,3-dipropyl-8-p-sulphenylxanthine (DPSPX) and caffeine, on baroreflex activity were tested in normotensive Sprague Dawley rats. The microinjection of DPSPX (0.92 nmol) into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of urethane-anesthetized animals did not modify basal blood pressure or heart rate but inhibited the reflex bradycardia elicited by phenylephrine. Similar inhibitory effects on baroreflex activation were observed after intracisternal administration of caffeine to conscious or anesthetized animals. These results suggest that central endogenous adenosine is involved in the medullary regulation of blood pressure and that adenosine antagonists such as caffeine can inhibit baroreflex activation. PMID- 2612575 TI - Systemic treatments with GM1 ganglioside reduce quinolinic acid-induced striatal lesions in the rat. AB - The administration of GM1 ganglioside, 30 mg/kg per day i.p., begun 3 days prior to an intrastriatal injection of the excitotoxic tryptophan metabolite quinolinic acid (QUIN) and continued for 8-16 days thereafter, significantly decreased QUIN induced striatal damage, as evaluated by measuring the activity of the marker enzymes, choline acetyltransferase and L-glutamic acid decarboxylase. Since an increased production of QUIN has been demonstrated in Huntington's chorea patients it is possible that repeated GM1 administration could reduce the occurrence of progressive striatal neuronal loss in this neurological disorder. PMID- 2612576 TI - Localization of 5-HT3 receptor binding sites in human dorsal vagal complex. AB - Binding of the 5-HT3 receptor ligand [3H]BRL 43694 was investigated in the human medulla oblongata using in vitro autoradiography. High levels of saturable, displaceable binding (Bmax 1.88 pmol/mg protein, Kd 1.21 nM) were seen in the dorsal vagal complex but in no other medullary region. The results provide evidence for the existence of 5-HT3 receptor binding sites in a brain region involved in the control of vomiting in man. PMID- 2612577 TI - Hyperpolarizing action of cromakalim on the rat aorta. AB - Cromakalim alone at 1 microM had no effect and at 10 microM hyperpolarized the rat aorta. The rat aorta was depolarized by KCl (20 mM), noradrenaline (0.3 microM) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (1 microM). In the presence of depolarization with KCl, noradrenaline or 5-hydroxytryptamine, cromakalim at 1 and 10 microM hyperpolarized the rat aorta. Thus the antispasmogenic actions of modest concentrations of cromakalim is compatible with potassium channel opening. PMID- 2612578 TI - Neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells contain clonidine-displacing substance. AB - Clonidine-displacing substance (CDS) isolated from bovine brain potently inhibits clonidine binding and elicits contraction of gastric smooth muscle. We sought to determine if CDS was contained in neuron-like clonal cells (neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid NG108-15). Extracts were prepared from osmotically shocked P2 fractions of NG108-15 cells. One unit of CDS, as defined by a [3H]p aminoclonidine radioreceptor assay using bovine frontal cortex membranes, was obtained from each 1.3 million cells processed. CDS isolated from NG108-15 cells was biologically active on gastric smooth muscle. NG108-15 cells may serve as a model system for the study of this endogenous clonidine-like ligand. PMID- 2612579 TI - Discriminative stimulus effects of enkephalin analogs, EK-209 and EK-399, in rats. AB - The discriminative stimulus effects of two enkephalin analogs, Tyr-D-Ala-Gly MePhe-NHNHCOCH2CH3.AcOH (EK-209) and Tyr-D-Met(O)-Gly-EtPhe-NHNHCOCH3.AcOH (EK 399), were assessed in a drug discrimination experiment with rats. The animals were trained to discriminate between the effect of morphine (3 mg/kg s.c.) and saline in a two-lever choice, water reinforced procedure. After the discrimination training had been completed, the animals were used in stimulus generalization tests. A test drug was administered subcutaneously before the test session, and the animals were allowed to select the morphine or saline lever. The animals completely generalized to the effects of codeine, fentanyl and EK-209, but did not generalize completely to the effect of ethylketocyclazocine. After receiving an injection of pentazocine, levallorphan, N-allynormetazocine, or EK 399, the animals pressed the morphine lever, but did not generalize completely to the effects of these drugs. These results suggest that the discriminative stimulus effect of EK-209 is similar to that of morphine, whereas the effect of EK-399 may be different from that of morphine. PMID- 2612580 TI - Dual effects of charged amphiphiles on depolarization-contraction coupling in denervated rat soleus muscle. AB - Ionic currents and contraction were recorded under voltage clamp conditions in single fibres isolated from rat soleus muscles denervated for more than 20 days. The effects of amphiphiles on depolarization-contraction (d.c.) coupling in Na free TEA-containing solutions were analyzed. An anionic amphiphile, sodium dodecyl sulfate (1-10 microM), caused a dose-dependent reduction of the contractile response at all amplitudes of depolarization while a cationic amphiphile, dodecyltrimethylamine (1-10 microM), increased the maximum developed tension with a shift in the contractile threshold. A neutral amphiphile, lauryl acetate (20 microM), induced no significant variation. The effects of charged amphiphiles were found to be strongly dependent on the external calcium concentration and on membrane potential. The effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate to decrease tension was reduced or changed to positive inotropy following hyperpolarization of the membrane by, respectively, +10 and +20 mV. In hyperpolarized (+20 mV) cells, dodecyltrimethylamine reduced the amplitude of the contraction. The results demonstrated that changes in Ca-binding properties of surface membrane modified d.c. coupling in denervated slow twitch skeletal muscle. PMID- 2612581 TI - Atropine- and scopolamine-resistant subtypes of muscarinic receptors in the rabbit aorta. AB - Tritiated acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) binds specifically to different muscarinic binding sites in the rabbit aorta. The binding of [3H]ACh to endothelial membranes was displacable by nanomolar concentrations of scopolamine but only by micromolar concentrations of atropine and homatropine. The reverse was true for smooth muscle membranes, i.e. [3H]ACh binding was displacable by nanomolar concentrations of atropine and homatropine but only by micromolar concentrations of scopolamine. Pirenzepine, AF-DX 116 and 4-diphenyl-acetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methobromide (4-DAMP) displaced the binding of [3H]ACh from both tissues in the nano- to micromolar range. Our findings indicate that endothelial receptors are characterised by a high affinity for scopolamine, which possesses a scopine base, and that muscle binding sites have a high affinity for antagonists possessing a tropine base (atropine, homatropine). Both the endothelial and smooth muscle binding sites have a low affinity for AF-DX 116, indicating that they are not of the cardiac type. PMID- 2612582 TI - Cornea fluid dynamics. I: measurement of hydrostatic and colloid osmotic pressure in rabbits. AB - Interstitial fluid pressure (Pi) has been measured in vivo in ocular tissues of rats and rabbits, and in vitro in corneas of cows and humans with micropipettes connected to a servocontrolled counterpressure system. The in vivo measurements were performed after anaesthesia and careful immobilization of the head. In all species Pi became gradually more negative from the limbus to the cornea centre; in rabbits the change was from -17.8 mmHg 0.5 mm centrally to the limbus to -42.7 mmHg in central cornea. Cornea and sclera interstitial fluid was isolated by centrifugation, and was used for analysis of colloid osmotic pressure (both tissues) and Na(+)-concentration and electrophoresis (cornea only). During low speed centrifugation (3000 rpm), a wet weight fraction of 2-4% was isolated from cornea, having a colloid osmotic pressure not significantly different from that of plasma (18.9 mmHg). Na+ analysis suggested that the isolated fluid did not derive from corneal cells. Electrophoresis showed a protein pattern in cornea fluid similar to that of plasma except for a band with MW corresponding to 39,000 found in cornea only. The present study demonstrates a pressure gradient from sclera to cornea, and along cornea from periphery to centre, and suggests that proteins in cornea fluid contribute significantly to swelling pressure. PMID- 2612583 TI - Mechanically stripped pigmented and non-pigmented epithelium of the shark ciliary body: morphology and transepithelial electrical properties. AB - Sections of intact ciliary epithelium and mechanically stripped non-pigmented (NPE) and pigmented (PE) cell layers of adult sharks (Squalus acanthias) were mounted in Ussing-type chambers (area 0.1 cm2). Addition of 10(-5) M forskolin to the aqueous side of intact epithelium significantly increased short-circuit current (Isc) within 15 min and a maximum of approx. 30 microA cm-2 was reached after 45-60 min. Transepithelial potential difference (V) increased from -0.8 mV (aqueous side negative as compared with blood/stromal side) to -1.5 mV, whereas resistance (R) was unchanged (50 omega cm2). Forskolin was without effect when applied to the blood side. In stripped PE preparations (R 15 omega cm2), 10(-5) M forskolin applied to the apical side induced a qualitatively similar change of Isc and V compared with the intact tissue. The forskolin-induced effects were fully reversed by 10(-4) M bumetanide and were not dependent on pretreatment of the tissue with 10(-3) M BaCl2. In stripped NPE preparations resistance was usually less than 10 omega cm2 and was not stable. This is consistent with the morphologic observation that although tight junctions were still demonstrable in stripped NPE cells, the apical membranes were damaged. In preparations taken for light and electron microscopy the stripped PE layer revealed intact epithelial cells. In particular, the basal thirds of the stripped PE cells were in very close contact with each other. These attachment zones may have the appearance of tight junctions. Thus the PE cells of the shark ciliary epithelium can be successfully isolated for transepithelial transport studies. The adenylate cyclase system is present in PE cells, and transepithelial transport of chloride may be regulated by intracellular cAMP. PMID- 2612584 TI - Temperature-dependent birefringence patterns in Xenopus rod outer segments. AB - Results reported here show that the birefringence of disk membranes in Xenopus rod photoreceptors depends upon the temperature at which the disks were assembled. Portions of the outer segments produced by the assembly of new disks while frogs are exposed to constant darkness and an ambient temperature of 25 degrees C have a higher birefringence than portions assembled at 18 degrees C. The intensity of birefringence reflects molecular-level structure and macromolecular-level organization of the disk membranes. It has been shown previously that increasing the ambient temperature enhances the rate of assembly of disk membranes in Xenopus rod outer segments. It also has been shown that disk membranes are assembled most frequently in the hours following light onset, and that disks assembled in the light have a lower birefringence than disks assembled in the dark. Therefore, although light and increased temperature both enhance the rate of disk membrane assembly, they have opposite effects upon the birefringence of Xenopus rod outer segments. PMID- 2612585 TI - Selective presence of acid hydrolases in the interphotoreceptor matrix. AB - Adler and Martin (1983, Curr. Eye Res. 2, 359-66) found cathepsin D to be present in crude preparations of bovine interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM). The purpose of the present study was to determine, by investigating several acid hydrolases in purer IPM samples, whether hydrolytic enzymes abundant in RPE lysosomes were present also as normal components of the IPM. IPM was prepared from bovine eyes by the introduction of a small bleb of buffer between the neural retina and the RPE. These IPM samples were free from significant contamination by surrounding tissues; they contained IRBP as their only major protein, and had negligible amounts of lactate dehydrogenase and ROS-specific proteins. Most acid hydrolases were assayed fluorometrically by measuring the 4-methylumbelliferone released upon hydrolysis of appropriate derivatives; the substrate for cathepsin was hemoglobin. The amounts of the enzymes found in the IPM were far from uniform and could not be correlated with enzyme activities in either RPE or retina homogenates. The hydrolases in the IPM varied in amount from beta-galactosidase (28% of the RPE level), through N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (20%), alpha fucosidase (15%), beta-glucuronidase (12%), alpha-glucosidase (8%), cathepsin D (7%), alpha-mannosidase (7%), down to beta-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, and acid lipase (trace amounts, less than 1%). These results agree with the relative amounts of enzymes found by Wilcox (1987) to be secreted into the medium by cultured human RPE cells. Furthermore, the rank order of hydrolases in the IPM is the same as that for hydrolases secreted (but not recaptured) by human fibroblasts in I-cell disease. The conclusion from these correlations is that lysosomal enzymes are probably secreted, as a normal process, by the RPE into the IPM, where they may have a role in digesting shed outer segments and in catabolizing IPM components. PMID- 2612586 TI - HIOMT-like immunoreactivity in the vertebrate retina: a species comparison. AB - Localization of the melatonin-synthesizing enzyme, hydroxyindole-O methyltransferase (HIOMT)-like immunoreactivity was examined by light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, in the retinas of several species that have been used as animal models to study the retinal melatonin system. HIOMT-like immunoreactivity was observed in the retinal photoreceptors of rabbit, pigmented rat, guinea-pig, chick, goldfish. African clawed toad, and leopard frog. Additionally, most species displayed HIOMT immunoreactivity in a population of bipolar cells in the inner nuclear layer. At the ultrastructural level, HIOMT like immunoreactivity was localized to the cytoplasm of rod and cone photoreceptors, and a population of cone bipolar cells. These observations are identical to earlier observations in the human retina. The similar pattern of HIOMT-like immunoreactivity among species suggests a phylogenetic conservation of the melatonin-synthesizing capability of retinal photoreceptors and some bipolar cells. PMID- 2612587 TI - Posterior penetrating injury in the rabbit eye: effect of blood and ferrous ions. AB - The effects of intravitreal injections of blood or ferrous chloride solutions on experimental posterior penetrating eye injury in the rabbit are described. An 8 mm standard posterior penetrating wound, without additional manipulation, healed without retinal detachment or membrane formation. Injection into the vitreous cavity of blood or ferrous chloride solution in addition to the wound resulted in fibroblastic proliferation with membrane formation. A critical amount of blood or iron solution was associated with marked traction and traction retinal detachment. Severe inflammation in association with the development of thick intravitreal membranes was also observed in eyes receiving the ferrous chloride solutions, the extent of which was related to the severity of the retinal detachment. These results show that iron is an important stimulus to inflammation and to intravitreal fibroblastic proliferation in rabbit eyes with posterior penetrating eye injuries. PMID- 2612588 TI - Induction of de novo synthesis of crystalline lenses in aphakic rabbits. AB - The mammalian lens, like other ectodermal tissues, can regenerate itself given the proper environment. Endocapsular phacoemulsification of adult rabbit lenses was performed. A lens capsular bag with posterior and anterior lens capsule relatively intact was left in the eye. Regrowth of material in the capsular bag was followed by slit lamp biomicroscopy and photography over a 12-month period. Histopathology of the new material showed regions of relatively normal epithelial cells and lens fibers as well as regions where growth was irregular. All major lens crystallin classes were present in the regenerated lens. Several specific crystallin subunits, known to arise by post-translational modification of primary gene products, were absent or present in abnormally low concentrations. PMID- 2612589 TI - UV laser photodamage to whole lenses. AB - Lenses from rat or calf were exposed in vitro to UV radiation from a nitrogen laser operated at 337.1 nm or from an excimer laser operated at 3.8 nm. Visible light transmission was monitored during calf lens irradiations at 308 nm and found to decrease. Proteins were extracted from the irradiated rat or calf lenses, separated into water soluble and insoluble fractions, and analysed using SDS-PAGE. Comparison of these gels with dark controls showed that, following photolysis, there was loss of polypeptide material in the 20-30 kDa region and concomitant formation of polymers at 40 and 60 kDa, and at greater than 100 kDa in calf lens (308 nm irradiation) and rat lenses (337.1 nm irradiation) in vitro. In addition, there was evidence for formation of lower molecular weight polypeptides at 10 kDa in the protein from irradiated rat lenses. The rat SDS PAGE gels were challenged against anti-calf gamma crystallin serum. There was clear evidence that the polymeric material, in the water insoluble protein fraction from the 337.1 nm photolyzed rat lenses was derived in part from gamma crystallin. The macromolecular changes detected in these photolyzed rat and calf lens proteins were similar to those previously reported to accompany aging in the human lens. Biochemical changes of the type observed in UV irradiated rat and calf lenses may be responsible for the loss of visible light transmission seen in calf lenses. PMID- 2612590 TI - Binding pattern of anti-rhodopsin monoclonal antibodies to photoreceptor cells: an immunocytochemical study. AB - A panel of anti-rhodopsin monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) of defined epitope specificity has been evaluated by immunocytochemistry. Most of the IgG class MAbs (23/27) gave positive results, but only a few of the IgM class MAbs (2/21) were useful for this application. MAbs specific to the N-terminal region stained rod outer segments most strongly, with progressively less staining in the Golgi, perikarya, plasma membrane of the inner segment, and synaptic region. Phagosomes located basally in the pigment epithelium were stained; cone cells were consistently negative. Antibodies to the C-terminus of rhodopsin labeled the same cell structures (except for phagosomes) but showed diversity in their binding pattern. Many of these MAbs bound to cone outer segments in addition to rods, and showed different patterns of binding to red/green and blue cones. Antibodies specific for rhodopsin sequence 340-348 labeled different types of cone cells, indicating differences in their binding sites. Two MAbs were found to label hydrophilic loop sequences which connect rhodopsin's transmembrane segment: MAb K42-41 which binds loop 5-6, and MAb A1-55 which binds loop 2-3. At least these two regions of the rhodopsin sequence in addition to the C- and N-termini, are available for antibody reaction in fixed retina. PMID- 2612591 TI - Prefrontal cortex and spatial sequencing in macaque monkey. AB - 1. Single neuron activity was recorded from the prefrontal cortex of two macaque monkeys during the performance of a task involving spatial sequencing. The monkeys faced a panel displaying a central fixation point and three fixed targets (two lateral and one above the point of fixation). In the first phase of each trial, the three targets were turned on in random order: in the second phase, the animal had to press each target, still lighted, in the order of their illumination. Thus, successful performance of the task depended strongly on temporal memory. The animals were fitted with DC-EOG electrodes. 2. Three hundred and two task-related neurons were recorded in the superior arcuate area and caudal part of sulcus principalis. Among the cells whose pattern of activity appeared to be related to the sequencing task, five classes were distinguished: Visual tonic (VT), fixation, context, saccade related and visual phasic cells. In addition, a small number of cells appeared to be related to other aspects of the behavior, but not to the sequencing task. Our present analysis concentrates on two groups of sequencing task-related cells (VT and context cells). 3. The VT cells (35/302-11.5%) were recorded exclusively from the superior arcuate area. All VT cells increased their firing rate (sustained activation) during fixation of the central fixation point (FP) following onset of one of the three targets used, specific for a given cell (directional or spatial selectivity). In one group of VT cells, a shift in the eye position towards the specific peripheral target resulted in the return of the cells' firing rate to the pre-trial level. In the other group of VT cells, reset of the firing rate to pre-trial level was not related to the onset of fixation of the peripheral target. Sustained activation of the VT cells depended also on the sequential order of illumination of the specific target (temporal selectivity). In twenty-four cells (68.5% of VT cells) sustained activation was observed when the target came first in the sequence. Onset of the target in the second or third rank elicited either no response or only a short lasting phasic activation. In the remaining eleven cells (31.5% of VT cells), sustained activation was only observed when the target came second in a given sequence. The firing of the VT cells was correlated with the animals' performance of the task.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2612592 TI - Pattern of projections of group I afferents from forearm muscles to motoneurones supplying biceps and triceps muscles in man. AB - 1) Two independent methods were used, in man, to assess the modifications of the excitability of biceps and triceps brachii motoneurone pools following the stimulation of group I afferents coming from muscles acting at the wrist: a) the modifications of the excitability of a motoneuronal population were studied using a reflex technique, b) the modifications of the excitability of an isolated motor unit were estimated using a post-stimulus time histogram (p.s.t.h.) method. 2) The activation of group I afferents contained in the median nerve, originating from wrist flexors and pronators, resulted in a strong, short-latency facilitation of the biceps brachii motoneurones. A similar effect was also evoked by stimulation of group I afferents in the radial nerve, distally to the branch supplying the brachio-radialis muscle. The latency of both median and radial induced facilitations is compatible with a monosynaptic linkage. 3) The stimulation of group I afferents in the median or the radial nerves produced inhibition of triceps motoneurones, with a latency compatible with a disynaptic linkage. 4) The prolonged vibration of the tendon of the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) or of the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) raised the threshold for both the facilitation of biceps and the inhibition of triceps motoneurones. The same pattern of excitatory and inhibitory convergence could also be obtained when the electrical conditioning stimulus to the median or radial nerves was replaced by a tap applied to the tendons of FCR or ECR respectively. Both results suggest that the conditioning fibres were Ia fibres. 5) The pattern of distribution of Ia afferents from muscles acting at the wrist onto motoneurones of muscles acting at the elbow has been compared to that described in the cat and monkey. A comparison has also been made between Ia connections of muscles acting at different joints in the upper and lower limb in man. The differences are discussed in relation to the manipulating capacity of the hand. PMID- 2612593 TI - Tachykinin immunoreactivity in terminals of trigeminal afferent fibers in adult and fetal monkey thalamus. AB - Immunocytochemistry of fetal and adult monkey thalamus reveals a dense concentration of tachykinin immunoreactive fibers and terminals in the dorsolateral part of the VPM nucleus in which the contralateral side of the head, face and mouth is represented. The immunoreactive fibers enter the VPM nucleus from the thalamic fasciculus and electron microscopy reveals that they form large terminals resembling those of lemniscal axons and terminating in VPM on dendrites of relay neurons and on presynaptic dendrites of interneurons. Double labeling strategies involving immunostaining for tachykinins after retrograde labeling of brainstem neurons projecting to the VPM failed to reveal the origin of the fibers. The brainstem trigeminal nuclei, however, are regarded as the most likely sources of the VPM-projecting, tachykinin positive fibers. PMID- 2612594 TI - The distribution of intrinsic cortical axons in area 3b of cat primary somatosensory cortex. AB - The morphology of single neurons in area 3b of cat primary somatosensory (SI) cortex was examined after horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injections. Neurons were labeled either by intracellular injection of HRP following intracellular recording or by small extracellular iontophoretic HRP injections. Both pyramidal and nonpyramidal neurons were labeled and reconstructed from serial sections. Their axons had local, interlaminar and interareal patterns of termination. Most neurons formed local axonal fields around their cell bodies and dendrites. Pyramidal neurons in cortical layer IV sent axons up into layers II and III, neurons in layers II and III sent axons down to layer V, and layer V neurons sent axons to layer VI as well as back to the upper layers. Layer VI neurons sent axons back to the upper cortical layers in a unique bowl-shaped pattern. The horizontal distribution of axons of pyramidal cells in layer III was extremely widespread. Axons of layer III neurons in area 3b terminated within 3b and area 1, but not in other areas of SI. Layer III neurons in area 1 distributed axon collaterals to all fields of SI as well as projecting a main axon to motor cortex. In general, the axon collaterals of area 3b pyramidal cells outside layer III remained confined to area 3b. Most of the nonpyramidal neurons labeled were basket cells in layers III and VI. These neurons formed dense axonal fields around their cell bodies, and none of their axons could be followed into the underlying white matter. The results of the present study demonstrate that area 3b somatosensory cortical neurons and their axons are vertically organized in a manner similar to that reported for other sensory cortical areas. They also show that widespread horizontal connections are formed by pyramidal neurons of layer III, and that these horizontal axons can travel for great distances in the cortical grey matter. PMID- 2612595 TI - Quantitative measurements of receptive field changes during antagonism of GABAergic transmission in primary somatosensory cortex of cats. AB - In cortical area 3b of cats, responses of 76 single neurons to punctate indentations were recorded before and during iontophoretic administration of bicuculline methiodide (BMI), a GABAergic antagonist, at levels that did not affect spontaneous activity. Constant amplitude indentations were applied to selected sites along distal-proximal and radial-ulnar axes that intersected the most sensitive area in the receptive field. Profiles of response magnitudes were used to measure receptive field dimensions before and during antagonism of GABAergic inhibition. Blockade of GABAergic transmission caused receptive field dimensions of 48 rapidly-adapting neurons to increase an average 141%, or nearly 2.5 times their original size. Analysis of the spatial distribution of inhibition indicated that in-field inhibition was larger than surround inhibition. During BMI administration, response latency was significantly longer for response elicited from the expanded territory than for responses elicited from within the original receptive field, suggesting that receptive field expansion might be mediated by multisynaptic intracortical connections. The magnitude of receptive field expansion was independent of receptive field size or peripheral location. In a substantial number of neurons, however, BMI produced asymmetric expansions that extended only in the proximal direction. For 9 slowly-adapting neurons. BMI produced measurable increases in receptive field dimensions, but these changes were significantly smaller than the changes in rapidly-adapting neurons. PMID- 2612596 TI - Evidence that dorsal locus coeruleus neurons can maintain their spinal cord projection following neonatal transection of the dorsal adrenergic bundle in rats. AB - In adult rats, locus coeruleus neurons which extend axons to the spinal cord are found only at mid-rostrocaudal levels of the nucleus, where they are essentially confined to its ventral, wedge-shaped half (Satoh et al. 1980; Westlund et al. 1983; Loughlin et al. 1986). However, during early postnatal development, coeruleospinal cells are found throughout the locus coeruleus (Cabana and Martin 1984; Chen and Stanfield 1987). This developmental restriction of the distribution of coeruleospinal neurons is due to axonal elimination rather than to cell death, since neurons retrogradely labeled through their spinal axons perinatally are still present in the dorsal portion of the locus coeruleus at survival periods beyond the age at which these cells lose their spinal projection (Chen and Stanfield 1987). I now report that if axons ascending from the locus coeruleus are cut by transecting the dorsal adrenergic bundle on the day of birth, a more widespread distribution of coeruleospinal neurons is retained beyond the perinatal period. These results not only indicate that the absence of the normally maintained collateral of a locus coeruleus neuron is sufficient to prevent the elimination of a collateral which would otherwise be lost, but also may imply that during normal postnatal development the presence of the maintained collateral is somehow causally involved in the elimination of the transient collateral. PMID- 2612597 TI - Invariant temporal characteristics of manipulative hand movements. AB - The measurement of eight manipulative serial hand movements showed a clear distribution of their temporal characteristics into two distinct groups. When the hand was used as a sense organ during active touch the finger movements across objects were restricted to a slow performance range below 2 Hz. Recordings from single mechanoreceptive afferents and calculations of their receptor densities indicated that these movements have to be slow to match the temporal requirements of the sequential sampling process from the mechanoreceptor populations. In contrast, manual skills not associated with the collection of sensory information like handwriting, typing or pencil shading, were performed rapidly. Their frequencies were close to those of fastest possible tapping. Evidence is provided that the different frequency groups are associated with distinct sensory control processes. The low frequency group represents movements involving focal sensory control (Julesz 1984). The high frequency group is not performed open-loop but monitored by preattentive sensory processes. The results indicate a dual sensory control mode operating in separate frequency domains of movement. PMID- 2612598 TI - A kinematic comparison of single and multijoint pointing movements. AB - Rapid pointing movements (no accuracy or reaction time requirements) were performed under three conditions which limited motion to the shoulder, elbow or a combination of these two joints. Velocity profiles of the hand's trajectory differed during single and multijoint movements. For the same magnitude of displacement, the hand always had a higher peak velocity, shorter rise time (time to peak velocity) and shorter movement time during single joint movements. However, when the profiles were normalized with respect to amplitude and movement time, no significant differences were observed between these three movement conditions. The velocity profiles of the elbow and/or shoulder were also compared under single and multijoint movement conditions. Analysis of these profiles revealed that the relationships between peak velocity and displacement and between movement time and displacement remained the same at the shoulder joint during single and multijoint movements. In contrast, the elbow joint velocity profiles were significantly affected by movement conditions. These relationships (peak velocity/displacement and movement time/displacement) changed during multijoint movements and became the same as those observed at the shoulder joint. The shape of the hand velocity profile and its invariance across movement conditions can best be explained by dynamic optimization theory and supports the notion that movement of the hand is of primary importance during rapid pointing. However, the consistency of the shoulder velocity profile and the highly significant relationships between the movement of the elbow and shoulder joints indicates that a subordinate joint planning strategy is also used. The purpose of this strategy is to functionally decrease the available degrees of freedom and to simplify coordination between the moving joints. Thus, the organization of arm movements is hierarchically structured with important, but different contributions being made on both the hand planning and joint planning levels. PMID- 2612599 TI - Stance dependence of automatic postural adjustments in humans. AB - This study investigated the effect of initial stance configuration on automatic postural responses in humans. Subjects were tested in both bipedal and quadrupedal stance postures. The postural responses to horizontal translations of the supporting surface were measured in terms of the forces at the ground, movement of the body segments, and electromyographic (EMG) activity. Postural responses to the same perturbations changed with initial stance posture; these responses were biomechanically appropriate for restoring centre of mass. A change in stance configuration prior to platform movement led to a change in both the spatial and temporal organization of evoked muscle activation. Specifically, for the same direction of platform movement, during bipedal stance muscles on one side of the lower limb were activated in a distal to proximal sequence; during quadrupedal stance, muscles on the opposite side of the lower limb were activated and in a proximal to distal sequence. The most significant finding was an asymmetry in the use of the upper limbs and the lower limbs during postural corrections in quadrupedal stance. Whereas antagonists of the upper limb were either co-activated or co-inhibited, depending on the direction of translation, lower limb antagonists were reciprocally activated and inhibited. Human subjects in a quadrupedal stance posture used the lower limbs as levers, protracting or retracting the hips in order to propel the trunk back to its original position with respect to the hands and feet. Postural responses of the subjects during quadrupedal stance were remarkably similar to those of cats subjected to similar perturbations of the supporting surface. Furthermore, the same predominance of lower limb correction is characteristic of both species, suggesting that the standing cat is a good model for studying postural control in humans. PMID- 2612600 TI - Trajectories of reaches to prismatically-displaced targets: evidence for "automatic" visuomotor recalibration. AB - The present study examined the kinematics of unrestricted reaches to prismatically-displaced targets. The kinematic analysis allowed us (1) to document how and where in the reach adjustments were made to compensate for the prismatic displacement. (2) to detail the changes that occur in the characteristics of reaches during the course of adaptation to the prisms, and (3) to look at the effects of providing information (or not) to the subject about the presence and nature of the prismatic distortion. The experiment differed from classic studies of prism adaptation in that subjects were permitted full visual feedback of their moving limb at all times, and entire reaching movements were recorded in addition to terminal errors. Experimental subjects were tested either with large-displacement prisms of the sort typically used in such experiments (20 diopters) or with small-displacement prisms (5 diopters) the properties of which went undetected in uninformed subjects. By using small displacements, it was possible to examine the process of visuomotor recalibration directly, free of contamination by "conscious" correction strategies. There were no differences in the terminal accuracies of the reaches made by subjects in any of the conditions. The availability of visual feedback allowed subjects to place their finger accurately on the target, despite the fact that in some cases their vision was displaced by as much as 11.4 degrees to the right. When the entire reach was examined, however, it was found that the amount of curvature in the path increased when large or small diopter prisms were unexpectedly introduced, with the subjects showing large deviations to the right. This rightward deviation was corrected in the final approach with a larger terminal correction. On some occasions, nonetheless, corrections were observed very early in the course of the reaching movement and appeared to be part of a natural process of trajectory fine tuning. Uninformed subjects exposed to either large or small prismatic displacements also showed evidence of adaptation through an increased number of on-line corrections which compensated for a tendency to reach into the side of space opposite to the direction of the displacement (a "negative after-effect" in the path of the reach). Moreover, when questioned after the experiment, it became clear that uninformed subjects exposed to small prismatic displacements had apparently failed to detect any visual displacement whatsoever. Taken together, these results suggest that visuomotor recalibration can take place "automatically" without feedback from terminal errors and without the use of conscious strategies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2612601 TI - Role of the sensorimotor cortex in postural adjustments accompanying a conditioned paw lift in the standing cat. AB - The role of the sensorimotor cortex in the postural adjustments associated with conditioned paw lifting movements was investigated in the cat. Cats were trained to stand quietly on four strain gauge equipped platforms and to perform a lift off movement with one forelimb when a conditioned tone was presented. The parameters recorded were the vertical forces exerted by the paws on each platform, the lateral and antero-posterior displacements of rods implanted on the T2, T12, L5 vertebrae as well as their rotation, and the EMG of triceps and biceps of both forelimbs. Before lesion, the postural adjustment consisted of a "non-diagonal" pattern where the CG was displaced laterally inside the triangle formed by the three remaining supporting limbs. Here a lateral bending of the thoracic column toward the supporting forelimb could be observed. The associated EMG pattern consisted of an early activation of the triceps lateral head in the moving limb which was probably responsible for the body displacement toward the opposite side, and a late biceps activation associated with the lift. In the supporting forelimb, a coactivation of the biceps and triceps was usually present. After contralateral sensorimotor lesion, the conditioned lifting movements were lost for 4-15 days after the lesion, before being subsequently recovered. The same lateral CG displacement and bending of the back was seen after lesion as before, which indicates that the goal of postural adjustment was preserved. However, the means of reaching it were modified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612602 TI - Complete spinal cord transection at different postnatal ages: recovery of motor coordination correlated with spinal cord catecholamines. AB - The ability of rats that are cordotomized at different times between postnatal day (PN) 0-28, to recover four-limb motor coordination, varies as a function of the time of cordotomy. The rats were evaluated at 37 independent observers for four-limb coordination, scored on a scale of 10 (best) to 0 (worst). The rank order of recovery from best to worst is: PN7 greater than PN0 greater than PN14 greater than PN21 greater than PN28. The hindlimbs are active only when they receive proprioceptive sensation from contact with a surface. They appear completely paralyzed when, for example, the rats are challenged to climb an inclined surface of spaced metal bars (Fig. 4). The content of both dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) in the adult spinal cord rostral to the transection, also varied as a function of transection time. DA was present in the lumbar (that is, caudal to the transection) region of the cord in the PN0, PN7 and PN14 groups, with the highest concentration in the PN7 group. NE was not present in the lumbar region in any of the experimental groups. It is concluded that rats can recover a substantial degree of four limb motor activity after cordotomy, provided the cord is transected before the fourteenth postnatal day. Moreover, this recovery of motor coordination, apparently correlates closely with the presence of DA in the lumbar region of the cord. Whether there is a causal relationships between recovery of motor coordination and the content of DA in the lumbar cord is not known. PMID- 2612603 TI - Neuromagnetic fields accompanying unilateral finger movements: pre-movement and movement-evoked fields. AB - Neuromagnetic fields accompanying voluntary flexions of the right index finger were studied in five subjects. In all subjects, slow magnetic fields were observed over the central scalp beginning about 1 second prior to movement onset. These fields displayed a similar time course to the electrically recorded "readiness potential", but with reversals of field direction over regions of the rolandic fissure over both hemispheres. Least-squares fitting of two current dipole sources for the pre-movement fields resulted in a consistent localization of one source in the region of the rolandic fissure contralateral to the side of movement in four subjects. Ipsilateral dipole sources fitted inconsistently at deeper locations or outside the head indicating the inability of a single dipole source to account for the ipsilateral fields. A large field reversal was also observed over the contralateral (left) hemisphere, 90-130 ms after onset of EMG activity in the active muscles. In some subjects, single dipole sources could be fitted to this "movement-evoked" field at locations slightly deeper and posterior to the pre-movement source locations in the contralateral hemisphere, possibly indicating unilateral activation of somatosensory cortex related to sensory feedback during the onset of this movement. Subtraction of pre-movement field activity from post-movement fields improved the ability to fit a single contralateral rolandic source for all subjects suggesting that pre-movement sources continue to be active during movement onset. These findings confirm previous reports that voluntary finger movements are preceded by slow magnetic fields.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612604 TI - Vibration-evoked reciprocal inhibition between human wrist muscles. AB - Reciprocal inhibition of the voluntarily contracting wrist extensor (extensor carpi radialis, ECR) evoked by proprioceptive afferent input from the flexor (flexor carpi radialis, FCR), was studied in healthy human subjects. Vibration of the FCR tendon was used to elicit Ia-dominated afferent discharge whilst inhibition of ECR was assessed as the reduction in asynchronous, on-going EMG. A small early phase of inhibition (I1) was evident in 25% of trials. The latency (ca. 25 ms) of this component suggested that it was mediated by an Ia oligosynaptic. possibly 'classical' disynaptic, inhibitory pathway. A later and apparently separate phase of reduced activity (I2, ca. 40 ms) was, however, far more consistently observed (96% of trials) and of greater magnitude. The I2 component was usually followed, some 20 ms later, by a phase of elevated activity (E1, 72% trials). Reductions in simultaneously recorded net extensor torque commenced at about 60 ms following the onset of flexor tendon vibration, i.e. some 20 ms after the main I2 EMG component. These mechanical responses must have almost exclusively resulted from reciprocal inhibition of extensor EMG since vibration of the relaxed FCR evoked minimal excitatory flexor activity. The reflex pattern, in any individual subject, was relatively unaffected by altering the duration of the vibration train between one and nineteen cycles (125 Hz). This suggests that the entire response complex resulted largely from the initial afferent volley. The sizes of both the I1 and I2 reductions in ECR activity increased with increasing voluntary extensor contraction so that their depths remained constant proportions of background EMG. Very similar results were obtained when reciprocal inhibition of FCR was produced by vibration of the belly of ECR. Thus, reciprocal inhibition between wrist muscles is mainly expressed as a rather stereotyped, short duration reduction in EMG whose depth is determined by the pre-existing level of motor activity. Some functional implications of this form of reflex behaviour are discussed. PMID- 2612605 TI - Evidence for respiratory interneurones in the C3-C5 cervical spinal cord in the decorticate rabbit. AB - In mammals, it has long been considered that the bulbo-spinal inspiratory drive provided a direct (monosynaptic) excitation of phrenic motoneurones (Phr Mns). Although such connections have been demonstrated, recent indirect data strongly suggested that the main inspiratory drive is polysynaptic. We tried to directly demonstrate relay respiratory interneurones at the C3-C6 spinal cord level where the Phr Mn pool is located. The experiments were performed on decorticate, unanaesthetized, bilaterally vagotomized and curarized rabbits and the firing pattern of spinal interneurones was compared to the phrenic bursting. Dorsally and dorso-medially to the Phr Mn pool, different classes of inspiratory (54%) and expiratory (46%) interneurones could be identified in the ventral horn. Three classes of inspiratory interneurones were characterized and classified as "I all" (26%), "I late" (43%) and "I tonic" (29%) according to the terminology used by other authors for the bulbospinal inspiratory neurones which drive the spinal respiratory motoneurones. The expiratory interneurones could also be divided into 3 classes: "E all" (48%), "E late" (10%) and "E tonic" (41%). This first direct evidence of inspiratory interneurones at the C3-C6 spinal cord levels can account for the major polysynaptic excitation of the Phr Mns while the presence of numerous expiratory interneurones at this level suggests a polysynaptic bulbo spinal inhibitory action onto the Phr Mns. These classes of inspiratory and expiratory interneurones did not always coincide with the bulbo-spinal classes of neurones described elsewhere.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612606 TI - Profiles enriched in GABA-like immunoreactivity participate in serial synapses in the pontine nuclei of baboon (Papio anubis). AB - Using a postembedding immunogold procedure with an antiserum against glutaraldehyde-fixed GABA, we demonstrate GABA-like immunoreactivity in two classes of synaptic profiles in the pontine nuclei of baboon. One is an axon terminal in symmetrical synaptic contact with small or medium-sized GABA immunonegative dendrites, the other is a pale, vesicle-containing profile resembling a dendrite or dendritic process which participates in serial synaptic arrangements. These synaptic arrangements, or triads, consist of a GABA-like immunoreactive, pale vesicle-containing profile being postsynaptic to a GABA immunonegative axon terminal, and presynaptic to a small or medium-sized GABA immunonegative dendrite. In at least some of these triads, the GABA immunonegative axon terminals also contact the GABA-immunonegative dendrite directly. PMID- 2612607 TI - Calcium-dependent potassium current following penicillin-induced epileptiform discharges in the hippocampal slice. AB - Penicillin-induced paroxysmal depolarization shifts (PDS) are followed by prolonged afterhyperpolarizations of about 2 seconds duration. Intracellular injection of EGTA blocked a late component of the afterhyperpolarizations; an early one lasting up to one second was only slightly reduced by EGTA. It is concluded that afterhyperpolarizations following penicillin-induced PDS comprise different components: an initial one lasting up to one second which is not Ca2+ dependent and a slow one lasting up to two seconds which is caused by a Ca2+ dependent K+ current. PMID- 2612608 TI - Wipe and flexion withdrawal reflexes display different EMG patterns prior to movement onset in the spinalized frog. AB - We investigated the hypotheses (1) that the initial flexion part of the wipe reflex elicited in the spinalized frog has the same EMG pattern for wipes to different target locations (Berkinblit et al. 1986), thereby reducing the complexity of the control of this task, and (2) that this initial flexion is the same as occurs in the flexion withdrawal reflex (Easton 1972). The activities of seven muscles of the hindlimb of the spinal frog were recorded via intramuscular electromyograms (EMGs) during the wipe reflex to two target locations and during the flexion withdrawal reflex. The EMGs were analyzed during the interval between stimulus placement and movement onset for mean integrated EMG and duration from EMG onset to movement onset. This analysis revealed significant differences (p less than 0.0001) in the EMG patterns that preceded the initial flexion posture for all three movements. These findings suggest that the spinal circuitry coordinating the initial flexion part of the wipe reflex to different target locations and the flexion withdrawal reflex may not be uniformly shared. PMID- 2612609 TI - Compensatory eye and head movements generated by the cat following stimulation induced perturbations in gaze position. AB - It is thought that saccades are controlled by signals representing target and instantaneous eye positions coded with respect to the head. To determine the frame of reference relevant to gaze (= eye + head) control, we extended to the cat whose head is unrestrained the original study of Mays and Sparks (Mays and Sparks 1980). We stimulated the superior colliculus (SC) to perturb initial gaze position before the onset of a gaze shift made in the dark to a flashed target. Gaze shifts compensated for this perturbation and reached the target with normal accuracy, despite the absence of visual feedback. This result indicates that gaze shifts were coded in either a body-centered or spatial frame but we could not distinguish between these two alternatives because the cat's body was fixed. PMID- 2612610 TI - Plasticity in the barrel cortex of the adult mouse: transient increase of GAD immunoreactivity following sensory stimulation. AB - Sensory experience during perinatal life and adulthood modifies physiological and anatomical characteristics of the central nervous system. So far, this phenomenon has been studied in situations of complete or partial sensory deprivation. We here report that increased sensory stimulation, during four days, of a number of whisker follicles on the face of the adult mouse results in an increased immunoreactivity of glutamic acid decarboxylase (the biosynthetic enzyme of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA) in the somatosensory cortex of the adult mouse. Effects were limited to a column of tissue corresponding to the representation of the stimulated follicles and lasted two days beyond stimulation. These findings suggest that sensory stimulation transiently modifies local cortical processing. PMID- 2612611 TI - Improved long-term survival in multiple myeloma. Finnish Leukaemia Group. AB - 50 patients were treated for multiple myeloma with 5-drug combination chemotherapy between Jan 1979 and Feb 1980. After 8 years 12 patients (24%) were alive. The relative age-adjusted survival rate was 27%. The risk of death was constant during the follow-up, and active myelomatosis was still the main cause of death during the 8th yr. Thus the treatment is not curative. All 7 long-term survivors initially at stages II or III had at least a 75% response to the primary treatment. The other 5 patients were initially in an early stage (I) of their disease. Acute leukaemia has developed in 2 patients. PMID- 2612612 TI - B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: clonal chromosome abnormalities and prognosis in 89 cases. AB - The results of cytogenetic studies are reported in 89 patients with B-cell CLL. LPS (E. coli lipopolysaccharide), PWM (pokeweed mitogen), PHA (phytohaemagglutinin), EBV (Epstein-Barr virus), TPA (phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate), and LA (leucoagglutinin) were used as mitogens. Mitoses were obtained from 78 cases. Clonal aberrations could be demonstrated in 26 cases. Trisomy 12 was the most frequent finding (8 cases) and was sole abnormality in 4 cases. Chromosomes #14, #17, and #11 were involved in structural aberrations in 5, 7, and 7 cases respectively, but a t(11;14)(q13;q32) was the only structural aberration seen more than once. The median observation time was 47 months (range 1-87). The presence of clonal abnormalities did not influence survival significantly, either when calculated from diagnosis or from cytogenetic analysis. Patients with more than one aberration, however, had a significantly shorter survival than patients with normal mitoses only (p less than 0.05). The survival of 8 patients with trisomy 12 (in 4 as sole abnormality) was not different from that of patients with normal mitoses only. PMID- 2612613 TI - Type-specific anti-pneumococcal antibody subclass response to vaccination after splenectomy with special reference to lymphoma patients. AB - The IgG and IgA antibody subclass responses to pneumococcal polysaccharide antigens type 6A and 19F were studied after immunization with a 14-valent vaccine (Pneumovax, MSD), in 53 splenectomized patients (11 Hodgkin's disease, 13 nonHodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), 9 immune haemolytic anaemia or idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura and 20 posttraumatic splenectomized patients) and 18 non splenectomized controls. The antibodies were mainly restricted to the IgG2 and IgA2 subclasses. NHL patients had lower pre-vaccination values to the studied antigens and lower antibody response to vaccination than the other patient groups in which the antibody responses did not differ from those of controls. 1 vaccinated NHL patient experienced two episodes of pneumococcal septicaemia, both occurring after chemotherapy which abolished the previously normal IgG2 antibody levels to the pneumococcal antigens. It is concluded that the antibody response to 6A and 19F antigens after pneumococcal vaccination is not reduced in splenectomized patients but is impaired in immunodeficiency states associated with B-cell lymphoma and treatment with cytostatic drugs. PMID- 2612614 TI - Mitoxantrone and etoposide: an effective regimen for refractory or relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia. AB - 23 adult patients with refractory or relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) received salvage chemotherapy with mitoxantrone and etoposide. The regimen consisted of mitoxantrone, 10 mg/m2/d by 30-min infusion, and etoposide 100 mg/m2/d by 30-min infusion, given 12 h apart for 5 consecutive d. Of 23 patients treated, 13 met the criteria for highly refractory disease (6 primary resistant; 4 with early relapse during maintenance; 3 relapsed and refractory to reinduction). 10 patients had relapsed off-therapy more than 6 months after achieving first CR. Overall, 14 patients (61%) achieved a complete remission (CR): 6/13 (46%) with refractory AML, and 8/10 (80%) with relapsed AML. 2 patients had a partial remission, 2 died in aplasia, and 5 were nonresponders. In responding patients, the median time for recovery of granulocyte count was 27 d. The most important nonhematologic side effect was oral mucositis, which was severe in 35% of cases. No signs of cardiac toxicity were observed. The median CR duration was 5 months (range, 2 to 12+ months). The combination of mitoxantrone and etoposide appears a highly effective and relatively well tolerated salvage regimen for refractory and relapsed AML. Its incorporation into first-line induction and consolidation programs for newly diagnosed AML patients should be considered. PMID- 2612615 TI - Use of the ferritin/alanine aspartate transaminase ratio as an iron overload marker independent of liver cell damage. AB - To define an iron overload index independent of liver cell damage, the mean annual levels of alanine aspartate transaminase (ALAT) and serum ferritin and their ratios were determined. Ferritin/ALAT ratio values were compared between two groups of patients with acute or chronic hepatitis without iron overload, and one group of thalassaemic patients with iron overload. The two groups without iron overload exhibited ferritin/ALAT ratio values of 2 and 1.2 respectively; a ratio value higher than 10 was always observed in those patients with iron overload. The ferritin/ALAT ratio is correlated with the degree of iron overload. This ratio increases in regularly-transfused patients without chelation treatment. It generally remains stable or decreases after initiation of iron chelation therapy. The ferritin/ALAT ratio thus appears useful in the follow-up of patients subjected to a long-term transfusional treatment particularly when acute or chronic liver cell damage may interfere with iron overload by increasing serum ferritin values. PMID- 2612616 TI - Radioprotection by murine and human tumor-necrosis factor: dose-dependent effects on hematopoiesis in the mouse. AB - Tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) has been shown to confer significant radioprotection in murine models. Herein, we demonstrate a dose-dependent enhancement of hematological recovery when single doses of either murine or human recombinant TNF are administered prior to irradiation. In addition to its action upon leukocytes and erythrocytes, TNF also alleviates radiation-induced thrombocytopenia in the mouse. These effects on circulating blood constituents are further reflected in increased numbers of both primitive (CFU-S) and more differentiated (CFU-GM, CFU-Mega) hematopoietic progenitors in TNF-treated animals. This suggests that TNF exerts it radioprotective effects on a pool of primitive multi-potential hematopoietic cells. PMID- 2612617 TI - Qualitative platelet defects in chronic myeloproliferative disorders: evidence for reduced ATP secretion. AB - 19 consecutive untreated patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders and thrombocytosis were subjected to comprehensive platelet function tests including platelet aggregometry. 12 patients had essential thrombocythaemia (ET) and 7 patients had polycythaemia vera (PV). Bleeding time was normal. Arachidonic acid, collagen and ristocetin aggregation were abnormal only in a minority of patients, whereas ADP aggregation was impaired in 16 out of 19 patients. The most conspicuous findings were abolished second-wave adrenalin aggregation, increased ADP aggregation threshold, and markedly reduced ATP secretion during collagen induced aggregation. This triad of qualitative platelet defects seems to be a good diagnostic marker of chronic myeloproliferative disease with thrombocytosis. PMID- 2612618 TI - Hexose monophosphate shunt activity in erythrocytes related to cell age. AB - Erythrocytes were separated by age using a combination of density centrifugation and counterflow centrifugation and tested for basal activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMP-shunt) as well as the methylene blue-stimulated maximal capacity by measuring CO2 production. No significant differences were found in basal HMP-shunt activity, but the maximal methylene blue-stimulated activity of old erythrocytes reached only half of the activity of the total cell population. The maximal HMP-shunt activity showed a significant correlation with hexokinase activity, but not with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in all but the youngest cells. The sensitivity to oxidative stress was tested by measuring the kinetics of pyruvate kinase isolated from erythrocytes incubated in presence and absence of methylene blue. Pyruvate kinase kinetics were affected more in the old cell population than in the total cell population: the K0.5 for phosphoenol pyruvate increased four times in the unseparated cells and eight times in old cells. PMID- 2612619 TI - Clonal cell surface structures related to differentiation, activation and homing in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and monoclonal lymphocytosis of undetermined significance. AB - Cell surface structures related to differentiation, activation and "homing" were identified on the leukemic cell clone in blood of 64 patients with a monoclonal B cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Patients were selected with regard to clinical signs and symptoms of the disease. 39 patients had progressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia of B-cell type (B-CLL): 16 with lymph node enlargement and 14 with progressive lymphocytosis as the most prominent symptom, respectively. 1 patient had an isolated splenomegaly and 8 had symptoms from enlarged lymph nodes, lymphocytosis and/or splenomegaly. 25 patients had an isolated monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis in blood and bone-marrow but no other signs or symptoms of the disease. The lymphocytosis in these patients was considered to be of "undetermined significance" and the term B-cell lymphocytosis of undetermined significance (B-MLUS) was used. Patients with a prominent lymphadenopathy and/or splenomegaly had CD22+ leukemic cells while in patients with a progressive lymphocytosis the B-cell clone expressed Leu-8. Thus, CD22 might be related to the homing capacity of B lymphocytes for lymphnodes and spleen, while Leu-8 might define a circulating B-cell subset. In B-MLUS about 50% of the monoclonal B cells co-expressed Leu8 which is consistent with a more differentiated phenotype compared to B-CLL with progressive lymphocytosis. The CD22 expression was mostly low in B-MLUS although a few patients showed high values. The expression of receptors for growth factors (CD23, CD25, CD71) was higher in B-CLL compared to B MLUS patients (p less than 0.001), which is consistent with a difference in lymphocyte activation stage and/or response to growth factors. PMID- 2612620 TI - [Effect of electric stimulation of the caudate nucleus on the foci of epileptic activity in the cerebral cortex]. AB - It was shown in the acute experiments on rats that caudate nucleus is one of the main structures of brain antiepileptic system. It was noted that reduction of the influence of activating cerebral structures is a tool for abolishing the proepileptic effects which occur in some cases under conditions of electrical stimulations of neostriatum. Results of the investigation confirm G. N. Kryzhanovsky theory of a role of system-antisystem interrelations in suppression of neuropathological syndromes as a result of system hyperactivity. PMID- 2612621 TI - [Stimulating effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid on rat hippocampal neurons in vitro]. AB - Effects of GABA on the background and electrically stimulated activity of single neurons and population spikes were investigated in isolated hippocampal slices. Application of relatively large GABA concentrations (10(-3) mol/l and more) depressed an antidromic population spike, field EPSP and neuronal background activity. Low concentrations of GABA (less than 10(-3) mol/l) added to the bath increased the population spikes amplitude and the late component of field EPSP, facilitated single neurone responses, their background activity and epileptiform discharges. GABA-evoked depolarization was observed in the majority of the studied neurons. The duality of the GABA action on central neurons are discussed. PMID- 2612622 TI - [Use of a microfluorometric method for measuring free calcium in the cytoplasm of isolated cultured rat cardiomyocytes]. AB - Dual wavelength microfluorometry was used to measure the cytoplasmic free calcium concentration [( Ca2+]in) in single cultured cells from ventricular myocytes of neonatal rats loaded with the indicator fura-2. At 2.5 nmol/l extracellular Ca2+ in the resting cells [Ca2+]in was between 80 and 110 nmol/l. Sometimes, spontaneous low-frequency (approximately 0.1 Hz) [Ca2+]in oscillations were observed. High-potassium depolarization led to a Ca2+-antagonists-sensitive rise of [Ca2+]in. Both caffeine++ (5-10 mmol/l) and thymol (lmmol/l) initialized transient increase of [Ca2+]in. Mechanisms of [Ca2+]in homeostasis in heart muscle cells were discussed. PMID- 2612623 TI - [Effect of reduced extracellular level of sodium ions on the intracellular level of calcium ions in the cytoplasm of cultured rat cardiomyocytes]. AB - Cytosolic free calcium [( Ca2+]in) was measured using fura-2 in isolated cultured ventricular myocytes of neonatal rat. Exposure of the cardiomyocyte to a solution in which all Na+ have been replaced by impermeable cations results in a 400-600 nmol/l increase of [Ca2+]in. This increase is followed by a slow decrease to the initial level. A decrease of the extracellular calcium concentration from 2.5 to 0.5 mmol./l or increase to 10 mmol/l produced, respectively, decrease and increase of the amplitude of [Ca2+]in rise in response to low-Na+ superfusion. Exposure of cardiomyocytes to low-Na+ solutions also led to a 2-3 fold increase of caffeine++-dependent Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Changes in [Ca2+]in can be attributed to the operation of a sodium-calcium exchanger in heart cells. PMID- 2612624 TI - [Mechanism of the effect of dibasol on the contractile and electric activities of the smooth muscle of the portal vein]. AB - The effects of dibasol on spontaneous electrical and contractile activities as well as on the reactions evoked by hyperkalemic solution and noradrenaline were studied in smooth muscle of rabbit portal vein. It was shown that dibasol blocked the potential-operated influx Ca2+ into smooth muscle cells. The noninactivating calcium channels were found to be more sensitive to dibasol than inactivating ones. Significant part of the tonic contraction induced by noradrenaline was resistant to dibasol suggesting its weak effect on Ca2+ influx through calcium channels operated by alpha 1-adrenoceptors. It is supposed that vasodilative effect of dibasol is associated with blocking the influx Ca2+ through potential operated noninactivating calcium channels into smooth muscle cells. PMID- 2612625 TI - [The role of chloride ions in histamine-induced electric reactions of the glandular cells of the stomach]. AB - The effect of Cl- ions on electrical response of gastric gland cells to histamine was investigated using intracellular glass microelectrodes. It was established that in chloride-free solution and in solution with a blocker of chloride transport the hyperprolarization evoked by histamine after 15-20 min decreased and then it was not observed. It is suggested that the chloride ions are necessary for hyperpolarization response of gastric gland cells to histamine actions. PMID- 2612626 TI - [Neurohumoral regulation of the secretory function of the pancreas during adaptation to protein-enriched food]. AB - It is established in the experiments on rats that the sensitivity of pancreas acinar cells to carbacholine and pentagastrin change under conditions of "protein" diet (40% of protein) if compared to the balanced diet (18% of protein). PMID- 2612627 TI - [Origin and the functional role of adrenergic fibers of the vagus nerve in cats]. AB - Origin of adrenergic fibres of vagus is studied. They are shown to appear in the thoracic vagus through caudal anastomosis introduction. The observations indicated that axons of spinal neurons and neurons of the ganglion stellate passed through caudal anastomosis and entered a thoracic vagus nerve. Stimulation of the thoracic vagus in cats after atropine sulphate injection increases the heart rate. PMID- 2612628 TI - [Effect of chronic denervation on blood flow and ultrastructural and functional status of the tubule system of the solitary kidney]. AB - The sodium kidney treatment, local blood flow in the cortex and medulla as well as ultrametric parameters of mitochondria of different regions of the rat kidney duct system were studied under compensatory hypertrophy of kidneys (CHK) and against a background of aftereffects of single kidney decentralization (SKD). In all 120 experiments have been conducted. In the course of the first two weeks of the experiment the local blood flows in the cortex of SKD increased by 30% as compared to those under CHK and natriuresis+ was thrice as high (due to a decrease in proximal reabsorption). In this case coefficients of structural organization Km and of energy efficiency (Ke) of mitochondria lowered in cells of proximal ducts. Later on the intensity of local blood flows in the cortex of SKC was not only lower progressively than that under CHK but also of the control, simultaneously local blood flows in medulla being increased. The complete equalization of the sodium transport parameters of SKD up to their values under CHK did not occur. The rise of ultrametric parameters of the medullary ducts of SKD segments is associated with the intensification of their hemoperfusion. PMID- 2612629 TI - [Excitation and inhibition of highly excitable reflex curves in chronically denervated albino rats]. AB - The animals were selected with spastic syndrome and enlarged amplitude of monosynaptic segmental reflex responses in 2-4 weeks after cutting of spinal cord at Th10 level. The processes of excitation and inhibition in lumbar segments of these animals were investigated. A reliable decrease of the presynaptic inhibition intensity was found after cutting of spinal cord. It is supposed that reduction of presynaptic inhibition plays a definite but not determinant role in developing hyperreflexia in chronically spinal white rat. PMID- 2612630 TI - [Effect of aminazine, caffeine and the intensity of mental stress on psychophysiological functions and work effectiveness of humans]. AB - The effect of CNS activation and mental load on human organism depends on the operator's working routine and is, to a great extent, connected with broad individual peculiarities of the tested subjects. The CNS activation increase is conducive to a favourable effect of activities under low mental loads and it also intensifies the appearance of erroneous actions under medium and high loads. The CNS activation decrease does not reduce the capacity to detect significant signals but tells on the speed and correctness of decision making. The application of the variance analysis while experimentally studying the combined effect of the CNS activation and mental load gives sufficient information on the effect of the CNS activation, load intensity and duration and the interaction thereof which can attain considerable values. PMID- 2612631 TI - [The role of peripheral cholinergic and adrenergic receptor systems in the action of histamine on the isolated coronary arteries]. AB - The action of peripheral cholinergic and adrenergic receptor systems on the histamine coronary vasospastic effects are investigated in the experiments on the isolated ring-shaped strips of coronary arteries of pigs with the aid of specific agonists and antagonists. It has been demonstrated that neuromediator systems play a significant role in the regulation of contractile activity of the coronary spasm pathogenesis. When medicines are prescribed to patients with ischemic heart disease it is necessary to take into account the character of the preparations interaction which affect the peripheral neuromediator processes such as histaminergic, cholinergic, adrenergic and others. PMID- 2612632 TI - [Effect of the endogenous peptide factor and vasopressin on the neurons of mollusks of different ages]. AB - Electric reactions of the identified neurons in adult (10-12 months) and old (22 24 months) molluscs Lymnaea stagnalis to endogenous peptide isolated from the water soluble fraction of the Helix Pomatia brain homogenate as well as to vasopressin are studied. The endogenous peptide causes a significant activation of the burst both in adult and old neurons of the molluscs. No significant age related differences in the pronouncement of the above shifts of the molluscan neurons are found. There is an increased sensitivity to the identified peptide, vasopressin, in the old individuals. A non-uniform change in the sensitivity of mollusk neurons to various neuropeptides may affect the synaptic conduction in old age. PMID- 2612633 TI - [Dental implications of AIDS]. PMID- 2612634 TI - [Use of an osteometer in the planning of a mandibular prosthesis]. AB - For series determining of small dimensions at high accuracy a pistollike measuring instrument has been devised which is well suitable for planning mandible prostheses, for instance for obtaining the with dimensions of the mandibula corpus basalis or for example for determining the mesio distal diameter of the teeth. PMID- 2612635 TI - [A rare case of hyperodontia associated with retention of geminated teeth]. AB - A dental an omaly causing complaints is described which was cleared up in the course of focus examination. The successful removal and identification of the surplus small molar dens geminatum after clinical and x-ray examinations are reported on. PMID- 2612636 TI - [Internal tooth resorption in an upper median incisor]. PMID- 2612637 TI - [Interhemispheric asymmetry of ipsilateral interzonal evoked potentials in the parietal and sensorimotor cortex of the cat]. AB - EPs recorded in response to electrical stimulation of ipsilateral visual or auditory cortex, revealed mostly a positive-negative configuration on the surface of parietal and sensomotor cortex in 66 immobilized cats. The positive phase amplitude of the EPs was higher in the parietal area. The latency of audio parietal and audio-motor EPs was longer than that of visual-parietal or visual motor EPs. The distribution of the EPs over the parietal cortex revealed a mirror effect for audio-parietal responses. Interzonal EPs were asymmetrical in parietal cortex of the two hemispheres. The right hemisphere dominated, at that. Some individual interhemispheric asymmetry was also revealed between sensomotor interzonal EPs, their latency dominating in the left hemisphere for both zones. The interhemispheric asymmetry of the parietal EPs was associated to some extent with the sex of the animals. PMID- 2612638 TI - [Post-tetanic potentiation of the primary response and the late negative wave in the somatosensory area of the cat brain]. AB - A single electrical stimulus applied to the thalamic VPL nucleus or to the subcortical white matter evoked a primary response in the cat g. sigmoideus posterior followed by delayed negative wave generated in the middle layers of the cortex and not reflected on its surface. The delayed negative wave seems to reflect mainly the excitation of stellate cells. Tetanization of the VPL nucleus or the white matter evoked a sharp and long-term (several hours) potentiation of the delayed negative wave. At the same time, the changes of the primary response were not so obvious. The effect of the posttetanic potentiation, therefore, seems to be more characteristic for stellate rather than for pyramidal cells, the former being the main generators of the primary response. PMID- 2612639 TI - [Electrophysiologic characteristics of the neurons in the rabbit sensorimotor cortex]. AB - Electrical parameters of the sensomotor cortex neurons were studied in unanesthetized rabbits. The values of mean interspike membrane potential, spike threshold, spike "failures" and duration were computed in 800-spike epochs. Scatter diagrams and the data obtained for the parameters provided additional usable information. PMID- 2612640 TI - [The effect of vibration on the impulse activity of cortical neurons and their reaction to stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus and Deiters' vestibular nucleus]. AB - The effect of vibration on spontaneous unit activity, oxygen consumption in cortical neurons and their responses to stimulation of posterior hypothalamus and vestibular Deiters' nucleus, were studied. Biphasic changes occurred in frequency of cortical unit activity and in the latter interrelationships with the level of oxygen consumption after 3-hour exposure to the vibration. The 15-day vibration enhanced the mean frequency of unit activity, facilitated the effect of subcortical neurons and eliminated bursts of discharges. The effect of long-term vibration upon cortical unit activity response to stimulation of subcortical structures was quite obvious. PMID- 2612641 TI - [Estrogen-sensitive neurons of the preoptic area of the hypothalamus]. AB - Microiontophoretic application of estradiol to the preoptic area of the hypothalamus enhanced the unit activity, the response being more obvious at the diestrus-2 stage and owing to the level of endogenous estrogens. PMID- 2612642 TI - [The effect of stimulation of the raphe nucleus on the electrical activity of the cerebellar nuclei]. AB - The stimulation of pontine raphe nucleus evoked field potentials in all the cerebellar nuclei in rats. The field potentials were weak in interpositus nucleus. The neuronal reactions in cerebellar nuclei were mainly inhibitory and quite obvious in fastigial and dentate nuclei. PMID- 2612643 TI - [The effect of neostriatal stimulation on diuresis under conditions of unrestrained behavior in cats]. AB - The electrostimulation of the caudate nucleus head and putamen reduced the amount of the urine whereas electrostimulation of the caudate nucleus corpus increased its amount in unrestrained cats. PMID- 2612644 TI - [Canal-otolithic interaction under conditions of otolithic asymmetry]. AB - Intact pigeons were exposed to horizontal rotations so that the horizontal canal afferents were activated either separately or simultaneously with macular afferents. When the pigeons, head was off the axis of rotation, the radial acceleration (0.5 g) acted either in sagittal or in frontal plane. In presence of otolith asymmetry, the radial acceleration modified the rotation-induced nystagmus depending on the direction: the duration of the rightward nystagmus was increased whereas the duration of the leftward nystagmus was decreased, and vice versa. These changes occurred irrespective of the source of the otolith asymmetries. Theoretical significance of this data is discussed and possible mechanisms of the canal-otolith interaction are considered. PMID- 2612645 TI - [Dynamics of blood flow in the brain in the lizard Phrynocephalus heliscopus under light and heat loading]. AB - The role of the parietal and that of the lateral eyes in mediating heat and light impacts on total cerebral blood flow (TCBF) was studied in the lizard. A reduction in the TCBF in response to heat and light effects occurred under control conditions. An extirpation of the parietal eye and screening of the lateral eyes modified the responses of the vascular system increasing the TCBF. PMID- 2612646 TI - [The effect of experimental infarct and emotional-pain stress on the endothelium dependent reactions of the isolated rat aorta]. AB - Emotional-nociceptive stress, stress induced with a myocardial infarction, and stress following sham operation increased the effect of endothelium on the force and velocity of the smooth muscle contraction. Within 2 hrs after stress and 3 hrs after the coronary artery ligation, a considerable drop occurred in the rat arterial pressure followed by a facilitation of the aorta endothelium-dependent relaxation. Both these parameters were restored to the control level within 24 hrs. The facilitation of the endothelium-dependent relaxation of vascular wall seems to play a role in the drop of the vessels tone, in decrease of arterial pressure and, finally, in development of the cardiogenic shock in myocardial infarction in humans. PMID- 2612647 TI - [Cardiovascular reflexes in acute occlusion of the coronary artery]. AB - The "flow-pressure" characteristics of vessels of the lower third of the body after acute occlusion of the coronary artery were studied in cats. The occlusion of the coronary artery in unstable systemic blood pressure led to a disorder in the vascular tone. If the blood pressure is stable, the vessel resistance changes due to acute occlusion of the coronary artery depend upon initial level of intravascular pressure. PMID- 2612648 TI - [Dynamics of the respiratory center activity during electrical stimulation of the diaphragmatic nerve]. AB - The adoption of artificial rhythm of electrical stimulation of diaphragmatic nerve was found to be determined by the force and rate of artificial contractions of the diaphragm, by the concentration of barbiturates in the blood and by gaseous composition of inspired air in anesthetized dogs. The time interval between the onset of artificial contraction and onset of natural one seems to characterize functional activity of respiratory center and to result from inhibitory afferent effect of the lungs' mechanoreceptors, on the one hand, and from activating effects of central and peripheral chemoreceptors, on the other hand. PMID- 2612649 TI - [Thermoregulatory parameters of normal and developmentally retarded newborn rat pups]. AB - The millicalorimetry with simultaneous recording of the motor activity, temperature of the brown adipose tissue and rectal temperature revealed a dysfunction of the brown adipose tissue and motor activity as the sources of additional heat production in the drop of ambient temperature in underdeveloped newborn rats. PMID- 2612650 TI - [An analysis of the participation of the microtubular apparatus of the neurons in the edible snail in forming a conditioned reflex analog]. PMID- 2612651 TI - [A device for measuring instantaneous values of arterial pressure and intersystolic intervals]. PMID- 2612652 TI - [The collateral branching of the axons of efferent neurons in the cat parietal cortex]. AB - Collateral branching of efferent neurons' axons in the cat parietal associative cortex was studied with intracellular recording of antidromic activity. Specific features of the axon collaterals projecting onto the sensorimotor cortex, pontine nuclei proper and red nucleus, were revealed and described. Information arriving from the parietal cortex simultaneously at the above two motor structures suggests their interrelationship to be actualized through the axon collaterals of efferent neurons. This kind of functional interrelationship of the structures via axon branching of efferent neurons of the parietal cortex provides synchronous arrival of signals at the structures participating in motor integration. PMID- 2612653 TI - [Changes in the spreading depression wave in rats in the postresuscitation period]. AB - Functional state of the rat brain cortex after a 10-minute arrest of blood circulation was studied by means of the spreading depression wave, the latter leading to significant energy expenditures and being accompanied by a transmitter output and changes in extra- and intracellular ion concentration. The changes in the spreading depression wave took place at different stages of the postresuscitation period (2 hours to 2 1/2 months), suggesting various pathological changes in functional state of the brain cortex induced by disturbances in neurological interrelationships. PMID- 2612654 TI - [Neuronal activity of the ventromedial hypothalamus in motivated, emotionally positive and negative states]. AB - In unrestrained rats, neuronal activity of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) was studied in fasting, satiation and motivational-emotional states induced with electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and VMH. Three types of nervous cells were distinguished. The 1st-type neurons decreased their firing rate in satiation and revealed no obvious tendency in response to LH and VMH stimulation. The 2nd-type neurons enhanced their firing rate in satiation, were inhibited under motivational and emotionally negative stimulation effects. The 3rd-type neurons showed no response to either satiation or motivational states induced with LH stimulation, and were activated in emotionally negative states. PMID- 2612655 TI - [The participation of the inhibitory locomotor system of the brain stem in regulating pain sensitivity]. AB - Electrical stimulation of medial parabrachial nucleus, nucleus cuneiformis, Raphe median nucleus and Raphe magnus nucleus induced cataleptic behaviour and analgesic effect in rats. Microinjections of 5,6-dihydroxytriptamine in n. Raphe magnus blocked the antinociception elicited by stimulation of these sites but did not affect the inhibition of locomotion. PMID- 2612656 TI - [Determination of the Hill coefficient in the action of various agonists on the N cholinoreceptors of the isolated mollusk neuron]. AB - The Hill coefficient (2.07-2.23) of the response to low concentrations of acetylcholine and its analogues was unrelated to their cholinomimetic activity and molecular structure. A much greater value (2.32) was found for the acetylcholine analogue without the ester oxygen. Lesser values (1.96 and 1.81) were found for suberildicholine and succinylcholine. These values seem to be underestimated as even their subthreshold concentrations were not low sufficiently to estimate the true value of their Hill coefficient. More than two agonist molecules seem to be necessary for the opening of the snail acetylcholine receptor channel. PMID- 2612657 TI - [The effect of adaptation to heat and increased motor activity on the thermoregulatory function of the motor neuron pool]. AB - An increase in the motoneuron frequency characteristics was found during adaptation to heat and enhanced motor activity in rats. The significance of such tendency in frequency variation of the motoneuron discharging for effectiveness of the shivering thermogenesis, is discussed. PMID- 2612658 TI - [Functional and biochemical reorganization in hyperfunction of the dopaminergic system]. AB - In dogs, cats, rabbits, the effects of unique and chronic administration of L DOPA (20-50 mg/kg daily) on central dopamine processes, behaviour, interrelations of sensory and motor regimens of the structures and on the transmitter metabolism, were studied. The interrelations of sensory and motor regimens became competitive, reciprocal changes occurred in dopaminergic and other transmitter (serotoninergic and acetylcholinergic) systems. The findings seem to be related to development of psychomotor excitation. PMID- 2612659 TI - [Behavioral characteristics of mouse pups during suckling. The oxytocin level in the blood of females during nursing]. AB - Some characteristics of neuroendocrine milk-ejection reflex were studied during lactation in unanesthetized mice. Periods of considerable motor activity repeated regularly in the litter. The development of first reaction demands a prolonged stimulation of the nipple receptors by the litter. During an enhanced motor activity of the litter, the oxytocin concentration growth was determined with the radioimmunoassay of blood samples. PMID- 2612660 TI - [The effect of neomycin on the contractile activity of the skeletal muscles in the frog]. AB - Neomycin, a selective inhibitor of the phosphoinositide metabolism, depending on its concentration and the incubation time, depressed the K+-contractures and contractions of m. sartorius R. ridibunda caused by a single or a tetanic electrostimulation. In the experiments on m. rectus abdominis, neomycin inhibited the Ach- and oubaine contractures but not the K+ ones. The contractures of both muscles induced with caffeine did not change in presence of the above antibiotic. The data obtained suggest a participation of phosphoinositides contractions of skeletal muscles induced by excitation of the plasma membrane. PMID- 2612661 TI - [Regulation of the duration of expiratory phases in decerebrate cats]. AB - The changes of durations of the first (postinspiratory, TPIA) and second (TE2) stages of expiration in hypercapnic hyperpnoea before and after bilateral vagotomy and after subsequent injection of pentabarbitone, were evaluated in 10 decerebrated cats. With vagal nerves intact, the hyperpnoea was accompanied by the diminution of the TPIA with no significant changes of the TE2. Vagotomy increased the TPIA. During the hyperpnoea, the TPIA did not change significantly in vagotomized cats whereas the TE2 increased. Pentobarbitone did not affect the TPIA but increased the TE2. Under these conditions, hypercapnia was accompanied by no significant changes of either the TPIA or TE2. The leading part in the regulation of expiratory duration in decerebrated cats seems to be played by the lung mechanoreceptors whose impulses reduce both the TPIA and TE2 in hyperpnoea. The lung stretch receptors impulses inhibit the postinspiratory activity. The TPIA and TE2 regulation is performed by separate central mechanisms. Postinspiratory activity is relatively resistant to pentabarbitone, although the latter delays the start of the next inspiration and obviously suppresses active expirations. PMID- 2612662 TI - [The effect of thrombocyte factor 4 on the nonenzymatic fibrinolytic activity of the blood plasma]. AB - The platelet factor 4 prepared from the platelet sediment of the albino rats blood plasma and having a molecular weight 6600 +/- 500 Dalton, revealed a strong antiheparine activity and depressed the nonenzymatic fibrinolytic activity of the blood plasma. PMID- 2612663 TI - [The process of heart ventricle depolarization and the formation of an electrocardiographic QRS complex in the frog]. AB - Using intramural multipolar electrode technique, the pattern of propagation of the heart ventricle depolarization was studied in the frog Rana temporaria. The depolarization wave from the middle part of subendocardial layers was shown to spread to the apex and base of the heart and, simultaneously, to the epicardium. The ECG complexes are formed by the electrical activity of the endocardial, intramural and epicardial layers. PMID- 2612664 TI - [Oxygen diffusion through the walls of arterial vessels]. AB - A newly developed mathematical model aided to study the regularities of the oxygen tension distribution in the wall of arterial vessels and in surrounding tissues at different physiological and morphological parameters determining the O2 transport in tissues. The model consists of a system of the second order differential equations. The maximal level of the oxygen tension in outer wall of the vessels was observed in arteriolar vessels of 80-160 mu diameter. The model computations suggest that the arteriolar vessels with the wall thickness over 120 mu, for normal functioning of their outer wall's cells, must obtain oxygen not only from their own blood but from an additional source, too. PMID- 2612665 TI - [The interrelations of arterial pressure, cardiac output and coronary blood flow during orthostatic reactions]. AB - The influence of hypotension induced with orthostasis, upon cardiac output and coronary flow was studied in anesthetized cats. The body tilt to 15-60 degrees lowered the mean arterial pressure parallel with reduction of cardiac output. Under the tilt up to 30 degrees and 60 degrees, a significant difference was found in decrease of systolic but not diastolic pressures. The degree of cardiac output reduction was two-fold greater than the degree of diastolic pressure reduction. The findings suggest a participation of vascular constrictor responses in the forming of orthostatic reactions. The coronary flow decrease only began with the tilt up to 30 degrees. Its extent did not depend on the intensity of hypotension being, probably, the result of the reduction of the heart work. PMID- 2612666 TI - [Temperature differences between the arterial and venous blood in the major vessels of the rabbit]. AB - In unanesthetized rabbits, arterial (abdominal artery) and venous (v. posterior cava) temperatures were recorded. The arterio-venous temperature differences attained: 0.03 degrees against 0.18 degrees C, resp. (in neutral conditions) and 0.1 degrees against 0.3 degrees C (in cold and warm environments). The findings suggest a constancy and effectiveness of the internal heat exchange. PMID- 2612667 TI - [Changes in the concentration of nonesterified fatty acids and magnesium in emotional stress]. AB - Stresses such as the anxiety neurosis, are the cause of the magnesium metabolism disorders in the heart, brain, liver, and induce an increase in the fatty acids/magnesium ratio in the blood at the expense of such NEFA as C16:0, C18:1, C20:4. PMID- 2612668 TI - [Correction of the thermal status of the human body in threatened overheating]. AB - The correction of the human organism thermal state was performed by means of the heat withdrawal from different parts of the body in conditions of overheating in a thermal chamber at 38-39 degrees C. Three series of trials were carried out. The 1st series involved blowing air of 18-24 degrees C at the hands in amount of 54 l/min which improved the thermal state of the subjects. The 2nd series involved passing of water through pipes put over shanks and feet (1.5 l/min), the temperature of the pipes surface being 15-18 degrees C. The improvement of the thermal state was the same as in the former series. The 3rd series combined both ways of cooling and induced the sensation of "comfort" or "coolness" in the subjects. The temperature in external auditory canal, the average skin temperature and the average body temperature dropped. PMID- 2612669 TI - Current problems in uveitis. PMID- 2612670 TI - An investigation of the general immune status and specific immune responsiveness to retinal-(S)-antigen in patients with chronic posterior uveitis. AB - Immunological abnormalities in endogenous posterior uveitis are widely reported but difficult to verify. We have therefore studied several immunological parameters in 14 patients with chronic posterior uveitis and compared the results with 14 healthy controls. Both the general immune status and the specific immune responsiveness to retinal S-antigen have been investigated. Results for the patient group as a whole were not significantly different from the control group. However the patients with severe eye disease (n = 4) had a reduced proliferative response to streptokinase-streptodornase antigen and two further individuals showed a general deficiency in functional cell mediated immunity. Circulating T helper cells were marginally but not significantly reduced in patients. Responsiveness to bovine retinal S-antigen varied to a similar degree in both the patient and control groups. These findings indicate that, although severe uveitis may be associated with functional defects in cellular immunity in certain cases, in general the measurement of immune responsiveness of peripheral blood lymphocytes is unlikely to aid in the diagnosis or management of chronic posterior uveitis. PMID- 2612671 TI - Indentation microsurgery: internal searching for retinal breaks. AB - Breaks responsible for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments in 78 eyes could not be seen preoperatively owing to opacities in the media, previous buckling or other causes. Deep kinetic indentation of the sclera combined with endoillumination enabled retinal breaks to be identified during closed microsurgery in 95% of these eyes, and retinal reattachment was eventually achieved in 85%. PMID- 2612672 TI - Low dose cyclosporin A therapy in chronic posterior uveitis. AB - Nine patients with chronic posterior endogenous uveitis of varying aetiology, not satisfactorily controlled with systemic corticosteroids alone, were treated with low dose oral Cyclosporin A (mean maintenance dose 4.0 +/- 1.1 mg/kg/day). Six of the nine patients also continued to receive oral prednisolone (15 mg/day or less). During a follow up period of 6-30 (mean 17) months, seven have shown sustained visual improvement. Nephrotoxicity was the major side effect with serum creatinine concentration (mean +/- 1SD) rising from 91 +/- 7 mumol/l to 115 +/- 13 mumol/l (0.01 less than p less than 0.05) after the first twelve months of treatment. Other observed side effects have included taste disturbance, hypomagnesaemia, and hypertension. Cyclosporin A treatment is of value in the management of severe intraocular inflammation, unresponsive to conventional therapy, but the optimum duration of therapy remains to be established and nephrotoxicity is the major dose limiting effect. PMID- 2612673 TI - Iris autonomic function in acute glaucoma. AB - Iris autonomic function was studied by binocular infrared pupillometry in 12 patients with acute primary angle closure glaucoma (APACG) and 28 control subjects. Light reflex amplitude and resting darkness pupil diameter were reduced and miotic response to pilocarpine 0.125% drops increased in APACG when compared to controls with anterior chamber depths (ACD) greater than 2.5 mm but not when compared to controls with ACD of 2.5 mm or less. These findings suggest relative autonomic dysfunction, predominantly parasympathetic, in the anterior segment of the eye in APACG. Correlation between results of pupil tests and ACD suggested reduced autonomic function in eyes with shallow anterior chambers. Iris autonomic dysfunction in patients with APACG appears to be a reflection of shallow anterior chambers rather than a specific feature of the condition. PMID- 2612674 TI - Corneal topography: a new photokeratoscope. AB - The assessment of the topography of the cornea is an important modality in the management of surgical procedures complicated by astigmatism. Additionally, the outcome of corneal refractive surgery is often best illustrated by photokeratoscopy. Currently available photokeratoscopes suffer from a number of deficiencies that include (i) the lack of topographic detail from the central cornea, (ii) the difficulty in transporting these units, (iii) the cost of such units. A photokeratoscope which addresses these shortcomings is described. PMID- 2612675 TI - Anterior segment vascular casting. AB - Vascular corrosion casting provides a permanent three-dimensional record of the deeper vasculature of the anterior segment whereas fluorescein angiography allows clinical examination of superficial vessels. Morphological findings on scanning electron microscopy of vascular casts of the anterior segment in sheep are presented and compared with that of man by casting techniques. Sheep illustrate the basic mammalian anterior segment vascular architecture but lack anterior ciliary arteries which connect with the deeper collateral arterial circles. The casting technique is described and its use to answer comparative anatomical, pathological and clinical questions explained. These techniques are being applied to examine changes to the anterior ciliary arteries and the deeper vessels following strabismus surgery in an animal model. Scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts has given a new dimension to micro-vascular anatomy. PMID- 2612676 TI - Bacterial contamination of intraocular and extraocular fluids during extracapsular cataract extraction. AB - Fluid aspirated from the anterior chamber and fluid drained from the conjunctival sac during 101 extracapsular cataract operations was examined for bacterial contamination. Bacteria were grown by enrichment culture from the conjunctival sac of 90 eyes and from the anterior chamber aspirate of 29 eyes. Conjunctival fluid, stained with fluorescein, was demonstrated to flow into the anterior chamber during the aspiration stage of extracapsular cataract extraction and during intraocular lens implantation. It is suggested that this fluid from the conjunctival sac, contaminated with bacteria, routinely enters the anterior chamber during extracapsular cataract extraction and is the likely source of some cases of post-operative endophthalmitis. PMID- 2612677 TI - The effects of strabismus surgery on anterior segment circulation. AB - Anterior segment circulation was assessed in 35 adults one day after squint surgery by clinical observation and low-dose fluorescein iris angiography. Seventeen patients had primary vertical rectus muscle surgery and all showed angiographic evidence of ischaemia. No ischaemia was found in the 15 patients who had secondary vertical rectus muscle surgery, or any horizontal rectus muscle surgery. The staged group had intermediate findings between the above two. Age, dysthyroid eye disease and type of conjunctival incision did not correlate with fluorescein iris angiographic sector-filling delay on the first post-operative day. The time taken for the sector with delay to fill becomes less during the first two post-operative weeks. Redistribution of iris filling persists, however. This data suggest that the safe interval before further muscle surgery can be done is shorter than has previously been assumed. Since the anterior ciliary arteries do not reform into canals the probable mechanism of redistribution of blood flow is from the long posterior ciliary arteries and increased capacity of the collateral circulation. PMID- 2612678 TI - Delayed suprachoroidal haemorrhage after glaucoma operations. AB - Delayed suprachoroidal haemorrhage occurred in 13 eyes in a consecutive series of 432 cases undergoing trabeculectomy or anterior chamber (A/C) tube drainage operations. Aphakia and vitrectomy were associated with an increased risk of haemorrhage, whilst advanced age, myopia, systemic hypertension and high preoperative intraocular pressure were not. Haemorrhage occurred more often after A/C tube drainage operations than after trabeculectomy. An explanation for this may be that eyes requiring A/C tube drainage operations have had multiple previous operations including lens extraction and vitrectomy, have a higher pre operative intraocular pressure and a greater fall in pressure after operation when compared to eyes undergoing trabeculectomy. Post-operative hypotony should be avoided in high-risk eyes. PMID- 2612679 TI - Comparison of a new non-contact tonometer with Goldmann applanation. AB - A comparison of a new non-contact tonometer (Keeler Pulsair: Keeler UK Ltd) with the Goldmann applanation tonometer is reported. Measurements of intraocular pressure were obtained from 182 eyes of 94 patients. At low pressures (less than 10 mmHg) the candidate tonometer tended to overestimate pressures obtained with the Goldmann tonometer whilst at high pressures (greater than 19 mmHg) those obtained by Goldmann applanation were underestimated. Between 10 and 19 mmHg there was no significant difference between readings obtained with either method. Up to 71% of averaged Pulsair measurements fell within +/- 3 mmHg of those obtained with the Goldmann tonometer increasing to 78% if pressures greater than or equal to 30 mmHg obtained with the Pulsair tonometer were excluded. Adopting a screening criterion of greater than or equal to 21 mmHg (Goldmann) resulted in a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 95%. Some evidence that serial Pulsair readings are influenced by the ocular pulse is presented. It is concluded that the Pulsair tonometer can provide clinically useful measurements of intraocular pressure. PMID- 2612680 TI - Silicone oil in the aphakic eye: the influence of a six o'clock peripheral iridectomy. AB - Complications after six months, in a series of 44 aphakic eyes treated by vitrectomy and fluid/silicone-oil exchange with six o'clock (Ando) peripheral iridectomy, are reported. Comparisons are made with the complications after six months in a similar series treated prior to the introduction of the six o'clock iridectomy. It is concluded that a patent six o'clock iridectomy is effective in reducing the complications of intraocular silicone oil in the aphakic eye. PMID- 2612681 TI - Autonomic denervation hypersensitivity in the primary glaucomas. AB - Autonomic denervation hypersensitivity of the iris was assessed in 44 patients with primary closed-angle glaucoma, 20 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, and 40 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Significantly increased pupillary constriction in response to 2.5% methacholine chloride, indicating parasympathetic denervation hypersensitivity, was present in both closed-angle (p less than 0.02) and open-angle glaucoma patients (p less than 0.001), compared with the control group. Significantly increased pupillary dilatation in response to 0.5 per cent phenylephrine hydrochloride, indicating sympathetic denervation hypersensitivity of the iris, was also present in both closed-angle glaucoma (p less than 0.01) and open-angle glaucoma patients (p less than 0.05). The association between autonomic neuropathy and the primary glaucomas is discussed, with particular reference to the potential effects of autonomic dysfunction on aqueous dynamics. PMID- 2612682 TI - Cysts of the optic nerve three cases associated with meningioma. AB - Cystic enlargement of the optic nerve sheath is extremely rare. Two cases secondary to a small meningioma in the orbital apex and one secondary to an intraorbital optic nerve sheath meningioma are described, a previously unreported association. High resolution CT scans or MRI can delineate quite small lesions in the orbital apex but a small meningioma within the dural sheath may be missed. Patients with an optic nerve cyst without an apparent cause should therefore be scanned over a number of years to exclude the presence of a meningioma. PMID- 2612683 TI - Nyctalopia and conjunctival xerosis indicating vitamin A deficiency in cystic fibrosis. AB - Thirty-one Cystic Fibrosis patients were investigated for clinical and biochemical evidence of Vitamin A deficiency. All had been prescribed oral pancreatic enzyme replacements and twice the recommended daily requirement of Vitamin A (5000IU). None were aware of any ocular symptoms, but 3 out of 31 (10 per cent) were found to have frank conjunctival xerosis and six (19 per cent) to have abnormal dark adaptation. There was no correlation between the above findings and abnormal liver function or clinical disease severity. All patients with cystic fibrosis should have regular Vitamin A estimations with ophthalmological assessment if serum levels fall below 30 microgram/dl. PMID- 2612684 TI - Karyotypes of Bembidion quadrimaculatum (L.) and Clivina fossor (L.) (Coleoptera: Carabidae). AB - Bembidion quadrimaculatum possesses 24 chromosomes: 2n male = 22 + XY, 2n female = 22 + XX; their structure is meta- and submetacentric and differences in length between them are slight. Achiasmatic meiosis has been identified in spermatogenesis. The diploid chromosome number in Clivina fossor is 44; 2n male = 42 + XY, 2n female = 42 + XX. The chromosome structure is meta-, submeta-, and subtelocentric and X is the longest element in the set. 1 to 2 chiasmata per bivalent occur in meiosis. PMID- 2612685 TI - Circadian rhythm of the thyroid mast cells in untreated and methylthiouracil treated rats. AB - Recent investigation have shown that mast cells of the rat thyroid participate in the regulation of thyroid function. Serotonin released from the mast cells influenced by thyrotropin promotes iodothyronine secretion by its effect on the thyroid follicle cells. The present histophysiological studies on the circadian rhythm in the normal rat thyroid reveal a close correlation between the number of the thyroid mast cells and the thyroid function. It has been shown that in the morning, when thyroid function is decreased, the number of the mast cells is low, but at noon it shows an increase an then is highest in the evening, when the thyroid activity is most intense. This phenomenon suggests a relationship between the mast cell function and the thyroid feedback mechanism. In methylthiouracil treated rats inhibition of the thyroid iodothyronine production and change of the feedback mechanism function induce development of a hypertrophic goitre in which degranulation of the mast cells accompanied by release of their bioamines induce dilatation of blood vessels and increase in the thyroid blood flow. Simultaneously the circadian rhythm of the thyroid mast cell occurrence is changed, i.e. their number found in the morning gradually decreases by the evening. PMID- 2612686 TI - Prolongation of H--Y incompatible skin grafts in mice by neonatal spleen cells. AB - Prolongation of H--Y incompatible skin graft survival can be achieved by the injection of adult female recipients with neonatal spleen cells. The suppressive effect depends mainly on the sex of neonatal syngeneic and allogeneic donors. PMID- 2612687 TI - Studies on the toxicology of fluorine compounds. I. Histological and histochemical investigations on the liver, heart, lungs, and stomach of rats exposed to hydrogen fluoride. AB - The liver, heart, lungs, and stomach of rats exposed to hydrogen fluoride were studied. Histological examination showed partial liver necrosis and emphysema. Using histochemical methods the effect of fluorine ions was found in: a reduction of the activity of succinic and beta-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenases in the liver, heart muscle, superficial and glandular epithelium cells, and in lamina propria of the gastric mucosa; an increase in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in liver cells; an increase in the activity of acid phosphatase in the liver, heart muscle, bronchus epithelium, bronchioli, and interalveolar septum cells; an increase in the activity of alkaline phosphatase in the liver, lungs, and heart muscle connective tissue, and in all gastric epithelium cells. The results obtained mainly point to the inhibition of oxidative metabolism by fluoride ions. PMID- 2612688 TI - Temporary changes in arylsulphatase activity in mouse liver after gamma irradiation. AB - Temporary changes in arylsulphatase (EC 3.1.6.1) activity in the liver of adult male Swiss mice after gamma-irradiation were studied. The animals were whole-body irradiated with a single dose of 10 Gy from a 60Co source, always at 19.00. The enzyme activity in crude liver homogenates was assessed every four hours during the 24-hour period, starting at 20.00. The enzyme activity with p-nitrocatechol sulphate as a substrate was related to mg of protein, gram of fresh tissue, and the whole organ weight. Protein concentration in the liver was calculated both per gram of fresh tissue and for the whole organ weight. The body and liver weights were also analysed. No fluctuations in the activity of arylsulphatase in the control mice were observed. Gamma-irradiated mice showed enzyme activity changes expressed in nkat per mg protein with a maximum at 4.00 and minimum at 20.00, twenty-five hours after irradiation. As compared with non-irradiated controls, the arylsulphatase activity calculated in nkat per g of fresh tissue and nkat per whole liver weight differed in irradiated animals which were killed at 4.00, while there was also a difference in the protein concentration in mg related to the whole organ weight in those killed at 12.00. PMID- 2612689 TI - Low intensity tetanic stimulation induces long-term potentiation in hippocampal neurons. AB - A minimal intensity of the stimulation necessary for the induction of long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission (LTP) was investigated by intracellular recording in guinea pig in vitro hippocampal slices. High frequency stimulation of afferent fibres at intensities evoking in CA 1 neurons control excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) of amplitudes 1-5 mV, resulted usually in a long lasting increase in response amplitude. LTP was not observed at lower stimulus strength. The coactivation of a certain, though small number of synaptic contacts is thus necessary for the production of LTP. PMID- 2612690 TI - Accumulation of lipofuscin in the brain of the frog, Rana temporaria, subjected to treatment with ultrasound. AB - Sexually mature male and female frogs, Rana temporaria L., taken from their natural habitat at the end of the hibernation period, were subjected to treatment with ultrasound of various duration. The ultrasound (frequency, 24 kHz, intensity 0.35 W/cm2) was applied over the whole body in a suitable water bath. Neurons of the nucleus infundibularis dorsalis, medulla oblongata, and the subfornical organ were studied. A considerable increase in the amount of autofluorescent lipofuscin pigment was observed in nerve cells of various regions of the brain of the treated animals. The largest amounts of the lipofuscin pigment were found in those treated for one hour and killed on the fourteenth day following sonication. PMID- 2612691 TI - Cytochemical alterations of adrenals in lead-treated rats. AB - Cytochemical investigations of steroid 3 beta-delta 5-OHD, sudanophilic substances, adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), and adenosine monophosphatase (AMPase) activities in the adrenal of male young rats that had received lead acetate daily at dosages of 1 mg, 2 mg, 4 mg and 6 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 30 days revealed that lead treatment with low dosages (1 mg and 2 mg/kg) accelerated both cortical and medullary functions. Treatment with high dosages (4 mg and 6 mg/kg), however, inhibited the function of adrenals in both regions. Histochemical studies showed that the alteration in enzymatic activities in cortical and medullary regions revealed the possible mechanism of action of lead on the adrenals. PMID- 2612692 TI - The development of activity of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) in the areas of nigro-striatal pathway during the ontogenesis of pig. AB - The development of activity of lactate dehydrogenase was investigated by histochemical methods under the light and electron microscopes and also by biochemical methods. The studies were carried out in the areas of the nigro striatal pathway of 7 foetal groups, two days-old piglets, three weeks old piglets and adult pigs. It was demonstrated that the activity of LDH appears early in the prenatal ontogenesis. High activity of the enzyme appears in the studied areas of the brain already in foetuses about 60 days old (100 mm) afterwards it rises and the highest activity is observed in about 86 days old foetuses. It then decreases just before birth. After birth in two days and three weeks old piglets the LDH activity decreases further. In adults a high activity of the examined enzyme was confirmed. PMID- 2612693 TI - Morphometry of normal, regenerating and cancerous hepatocytes. AB - During the morphometric analysis of liver cell carcinomas arising in cirrhotic livers, the sizes and shapes of 2200 cancerous and 1800 regenerative hepatocytes were measured and compared to normal hepatocytes. The neoplastic population showed significantly higher polymorphism, nucleocytoplasmic ratio and the percentage of multinucleated cells, whereas the sizes of cancerous cells were the smallest. Values for regenerative cells were mainly between those of neoplastic and normal cells. The exception was constituted by the group of very large regenerative cells which met the criteria of large liver cell dysplasia (LLCD). Low nucleocytoplasmic ratio achieved by these cells is consistent with the hypothesis of regenerative character of LLCD. PMID- 2612694 TI - Calcium influence on the dry mass content and surface area of nuclei and cytoplasm during differentiation of cortex cells in pea (Pisum sativum L.) roots treated with heavy metals. AB - The effect of Ca addition to Cd, Cr and Pb solutions on the nuclear and cytoplasmic dry mass content and its concentration as well as on these organelles dimensions were studied in cortex cells of pea roots. Ca alone, at the concentration 10(-8)M brought about a decrease (in comparison to water) in the dry mass content of nuclei and its concentration, but the increment was almost twice in the dry mass content of cytoplasm; however, it has no significant effect on its concentration. Ca ions addition does not change the surface area of nuclei except the 1st and 5th mm segments but causes a doubling of the area occupied by cytoplasm. In response to Ca addition to Cd or Cr solutions a further diminution of nuclear dry mass content takes place. Only in the case of Pb nuclear dry mass increases in the 7th mm or is similar in remaining root segments. The diminution of nuclear dry mass content due to Ca presence in metal solutions is accompanied by a lowering in its concentration, although in the presence of Cd and Pb the diminution is not significant. Ca ions addition results in an increase in cytoplasmic dry mass content. No such regularities were observed in the 1st (Cd, Pb) and 3rd (Cr) root segments. In response to Ca ions the concentration of cytoplasmic dry mass content increased insignificantly in differentiation zone and underwent reducation in the meristematic zone--in the 1st mm (Cr) and 3rd (Cd). After Ca addition to studied metal solutions the decrease in nuclear dimensions was visible only in Cd or Pb treated cells in the 3rd and 7th or in the 1st mm, respectively. An increase in nuclear size occurred only in Cr treated cells in the 7th mm. Enrichment of heavy metals with Ca caused the marked enlargement in cytoplasmic area in differentiation zone but the increment in it in meristematic zone was observed only in Cd (1st, 3rd) and Cr (1st) treated cells. PMID- 2612695 TI - Effect of Staphylococcus aureus serine proteinase on human lymphocyte impairment. AB - Assessment of lymphocyte surface membrane integrity by means of trypan exclusion test and longer term survival studies based on 3HTdR uptake and Con A stimulation test were used to estimate effect of Staphylococcus aureus serine proteinase on human lymphocytes in vitro. At concentration of proteinase as high as 10 micrograms/ml, the percentage of trypan-stained lymphocytes increase with enzyme level. In contrast, decrease of 3HTdR level and Con A stimulation is already apparent at concentrations of proteinase ten times lower. Autologous serum exerts strong protective effect. Observed impairment is discussed as significant for local response in inflammation. PMID- 2612696 TI - Radiation-induced changes of fibroblasts in the squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. AB - The regrowth of mesenchymal tissue (stroma) surrounding the malignant epithelium is an important step in tissue remodelling during and after irradiation. The radiation-induced fibroblastic changes were studied on tissue samples taken before, during and after the radical irradiation of the squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Elongated fibroblasts with large amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum were seen around the tumor epithelium before radiation. The fibrosis increased during irradiation and at the same time the shape of the fibroblasts changed so that they became more triangular and nuclear structures became more prominent together with hyperchromasia. The amount of cell organelles declined although there was a large amount collagen present. Epithelial cells invaded through the basal lamina. In most samples the basal lamina could not be seen at all and the tumor cells were dispersed between stromal elements. On the other hand there were close contacts between epithelial and mesenchymal cells throughout the study in places where the basal lamina was broken, which might indicate epithelio-mesenchymal interaction. Also the connective tissue formed by fibroblasts and collagen might be part of the radiation induced healing and destruction of the tumor cells. PMID- 2612697 TI - The cell walls of Chara aspera Willd. (Charophyta) vegetative cells. AB - The ultrastructure of the vegetative cell walls of the charophyte Chara aspera Willd was studied with TEM. Thallus cells, rhizoid bulbil and rhizoidal node cells were investigated. The internodal cells transverse walls contained plasmodesmata. The longitudinal walls of the internodal cells were uniform, fibrillar, with two thin structurally distinct layers with different structure facing the cytoplasm. The outermost layers of internodal, cortical and rhizoid bulbil cells were composed of randomly orientated fibrils. The longitudinal walls of the cortical cells were helicoidal in structure. In the rhizoid bulbil cell walls, six different layers could be distinguished, but their occurrence seemed to depend on the fixation, staining and cutting procedures. A middle lamella and osmophilic deposits were found in the wall between rhizoidal node cells. The cytoplasmic structure of the internodal and cortical cells was not found to differ from other species of Chara. Charasomes were observed only in cortical cells. PMID- 2612698 TI - Cellular activities associated with the transition of chick embryo fibroblasts from stationary to proliferation state. AB - Chick embryo fibroblasts on the 5th day of culture in proteinfree medium were stimulated to accelerated growth by supplementation of the medium with ATP (50 mumol/l, insulin (0.16 I.U./ml) or chick serum (5% v/v). Kinetics of the entry of cells into the S phase and later into the logarythmic phase of growth were found to be different in cultures treated with these three factors in spite that the final saturation densities reached after 30 days of culture were similar. No direct correlation between cell spreading and the cell transition from the stationary to the proliferation state was found. The proliferating cells showed the higher rate of locomotion than in stationary cultures. The initial protein free medium, supporting the long survival of chick embryo fibroblasts and their susceptibility to growth accelerating factors, was further simplified by replacement of ADA buffer with EDTA (0.4 mmol/l). PMID- 2612699 TI - Scoliosis evaluation and management. AB - Specific guidelines for the management of scoliosis must be individualized based on a number of factors. It is important to be sure that a patient who appears to have ordinary idiopathic scoliosis does not have some underlying disease process or congenital anomaly, which if undiscovered, may complicate that patient's management. The management of scoliosis has changed in the past few years due to significant advances in blood banking, anesthesia, and spinal instrumentation. Scoliosis fusions are performed regularly throughout the country with a great degree of safety. By combining early detection and modern management techniques, significant untreated curvature of the spine can be eliminated, and functional and cosmetic deformity can be avoided. PMID- 2612700 TI - Hospital ethics committees and the physician. PMID- 2612701 TI - Costs vs. quality. PMID- 2612702 TI - Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. PMID- 2612703 TI - Applications of functional SPECT brain imaging in clinical practice. PMID- 2612704 TI - An ounce of prevention.... PMID- 2612705 TI - Combatting the drug problem--a suggested bold legal experiment. PMID- 2612706 TI - Mammography. PMID- 2612707 TI - More on mammography. PMID- 2612708 TI - Study of granulocyte function of peripheral blood in recurrent erysipelas. AB - The Boyden chamber technique, the NBT reduction and Candida killing test were carried out on 51 patients with recurrent erysipelas to investigate the non specific immune response. A statistically significant difference was not observed between the patients and the controls. It is suggested, that the infected individual is not able to increase his resistance via the more effective functioning of the non-specific line, which in effect promotes the possibly multiple occurrence of the disease. PMID- 2612709 TI - [Chronic atrophic acrodermatitis]. AB - All the 18 patients with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) showed the specific borrelia antibody at the indirect immunofluorescence assay. The patients exhibited a large spectrum of arthritic and neurologic complaints besides the typical cutaneous symptoms. Changes of proteins, of liver-typical parameters and of the electrocardiogram are also assigned to the Lyme-borreliosis. The penicillin therapy - three times accompanied by a Jarisch-Herxheimer-reaction - led to regression of the clinical changes. The secessions of borrelia-antibody titers happens only very delayed. That is why it can not be used for the direct therapy control. The increased documented polysymptomatic of Lyme-borreliosis requires a wider knowledge and the country-wide possibility of specific diagnostic. PMID- 2612710 TI - [The rabbit ear model as an acnegenicity test. 2. Effect of coal tar on follicle and sebaceous gland epithelium tumor induction]. AB - Tar produced from hard coal was found to be acanthogenic to the interfollicular epiderm of rabbit ear skin and comedogenic to follicular epithelium in short-term (two weeks) and long-term (12 weeks) tests. Histological and autoradiographic experiments revealed a hyperproliferative effect in all cases in long-term tests. This contrasts with the atrophying effects reported by other authors. Tar application reduced the sebaceous gland area per follicle. Benignant epidermal tumours consisting of papillomas with a striking degree of sebaceous gland proliferation appeared on the rabbit ear skin after 8 weeks at the earliest. PMID- 2612711 TI - [Effect of a single mild infrared A hyperthermia on body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and blood viscosity in healthy probands and patients with stage I and II arterial hypertension]. AB - Report on mild and single whole body-irradiations with near infrared (IRA). The central body temperature went up to 38.5 degrees C in 9 healthy subjects and 9 patients known as having essential arterial hypertension of the stages I or II. In case of hypertensive patients a single exposure decreased significantly both arterial and venous blood pressure as well as the resulting mean arterial blood pressure. This beneficial effect lasted for at least 24 hours. Besides that, improvement of peripheral hemodynamics and plasma viscosity also was proven. Obviously, improved peripheral hemodynamics is linked to that blood pressure lowering effect which happens due to dilatation of peripheral blood vessels. PMID- 2612712 TI - [Hemodynamics of patients with essential hypertension in mild infrared hyperthermia]. AB - Hyperthermia therapy in hypertensive patients is been discussed as an effective treatment. The aim of this study was to control the behaviour of circulation in conditions of hyperthermia. A group of 6 males, 32-53 years old, suffering from essential hypertension stage I-II underwent a single whole body-irradiation with near infrared (IRA), lasting over one hour. The body temperature rises up to maximal 38.5 degrees C. Before, during and after treatment the blood pressure (BP), the heart rate (HR), the stroke volume (SV), the cardiac output (CO) and the ejection fraction - measured by radionuclide ventriculography - where estimated and the peripheral arterial mean pressure (Pm), the ejection resistance (AW) and the Total peripheral resistance (TpW) were calculated. During irradiations there was a significant decrease of BP, AW and TpW. HR, SV, CO and EF increased significantly. Due to IRA irradiations there was a change in microcirculation with the consequence of lowering the blood pressure. The concomitant stimulation of the heart was well compensated as shown by CO, SV and EF. PMID- 2612713 TI - [Photodynamic therapy of psoriasis palmaris et plantaris using a topically applied hematoporphyrin derivative and visible light]. AB - Two different hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) containing ointments were checked for their photodynamic efficacy in 17 patients suffering from palmoplantar psoriasis. Following topical application and subsequent irradiation with visible light, in all the patients psoriatic plaques resolved either to some substantial degree or totally. That method of treatment so far is recommendable for treating psoriasis of markedly hornifyed skin regions. However, further efforts are needed to perfect therapeutical circumstances like preparation time, spectral distribution of light and galenics of HpD-containing ointment. PMID- 2612715 TI - Hypertension in diabetes mellitus: pathogenesis and clinical impact. Proceedings of an international symposium. Munich (Germany), May 3rd, 1989. PMID- 2612714 TI - [Report on the fifth International AIDS Congress of June 4-9, 1989 in Montreal, Canada]. PMID- 2612716 TI - Elevated blood pressure predicts the development of persistent proteinuria in the presence of poor glycemic control, in patients with type I diabetes. AB - The risk of developing persistent proteinuria was studied prospectively in 376 patients, enrolled in the Diabetic Retinopathy Study, who did not have proteinuria at entry to the study. The subjects had insulin-dependent diabetes with onset before age 30, more than 5 years duration of diabetes, and a median of 3 years of follow-up for proteinuria. Persistent proteinuria developed in 55 patients, giving an overall incidence rate of 61/1000 person-years; however, the incidence rate decreased markedly after 20 years of diabetes, from 117/1000 to 23/1000 person-years. Regardless of duration, it also decreased after age 40. Among those with less than 20 years of diabetes, it decreased from 126/1000 to 28/1000 person-years; and among those with duration 20 or more years, it decreased from 44/1000 to 7/1000 person-years. High mean blood pressure quadrupled the risk of persistent proteinuria among patients with high plasma glucose levels but had little effect on the risk in patients with glucose levels below the median for the group. In conclusion, hypertension predicts the development of nephropathy particularly in those with poorly controlled diabetes. This is consistent with our hypothesis that, in individuals with predisposition to hypertension, severe hyperglycemia interacts with some mechanism underlying that predisposition and causes injury to the kidneys. The marked decrease in risk after age 40 suggests that the development of diabetic nephropathy may be limited to a window of vulnerability. While the mechanisms for these associations remain unclear, these findings have important implications for managing patients with Type I diabetes to prevent renal failure. PMID- 2612717 TI - Hypertension and microalbuminuria as predictors of diabetic nephropathy. AB - Renal disease affects approximately 35% of insulin-dependent diabetic patients with a maximal incidence of approximately 25 per 1 000 patient-years after a duration of about 16 years, declining thereafter to less than 7 per 1 000 patient years after 35 years of diabetes and suggesting that only a particular subset of patients is at risk. The renal disease is characterized by a triad comprising increased albuminuria, arterial pressure and volume fraction of mesangium and leads to a decline in the glomerular filtration rate and ultimately to end stage renal failure or premature cardiovascular mortality. Individuals at risk can be detected before the development of persistent proteinuria by screening for microalbuminuria which has proven predictive of clinical nephropathy in about 80% of cases. Microalbuminuria is accompanied by subclinical increases in arterial blood pressure and plasma lipids and may be associated with increased glomerular filtration rate. It is not usually apparent within the first five years of diagnosis of diabetes. Microalbuminuria thus appears to be a marker for the presence of early renal disease rather than a predictor of susceptibility to it and its many associations indicate it to be a marker of systemic rather than merely renal disease. Recent evidence suggests that diabetic renal disease may be linked to a familial, possibly genetically determined predisposition to arterial hypertension or to some factor closely related to the risk of hypertension. Such a predisposition may help to explain why clinical renal disease occurs in only a subset of diabetic patients. PMID- 2612718 TI - The effect of blood pressure intervention on renal function in insulin-dependent diabetes. AB - Fig. 5 provides a summary of the natural history of diabetic nephropathy in IDDM patients. The figure also includes the possibilities of intervention in the various stages of diabetic nephropathy. GFR values in normals are shown by the hatched area in the upper part of the figure. The lower part shows development of albuminuria. The level 20-200 micrograms/min is the microalbuminuric range. At present it is not possible to predict a malignant course either from the parental history (1), or from the prediabetic course (2). Neither at clinical diagnosis of diabetes, can complications be predicted (3). The figure shows a typical course in a patient developing diabetes at the age of 14 years. The patient showed poor metabolic control as indicated by the high level of GFR (greater than 150 ml/min) (4) and the increasing albumin excretion rate (4). At the age of 22 years the patient developed microalbuminuria (5) and later clinical nephropathy at age 30 years, typically after 16 years of diabetes. Blood pressure rises, and GFR starts to decline during incipient diabetic nephropathy with increasing microalbuminuria (greater than 70 micrograms/min) (5) (6), and end-stage renal failure reached at the age of 40 years,--if intervention is not undertaken. Intervention is possible as follows: A) hyperfiltration may be reduced by non-glycemic intervention such as a moderate reduction of protein intake, treatment with aldose reductase inhibitors (work in progress) or acute administration of a somatostatin analogue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612719 TI - On the impact of hypertension on the prognosis of NIDDM. Results of the Schwabing GP-Program. PMID- 2612720 TI - The rationale for the choice of antihypertensive treatment in diabetic patients. PMID- 2612721 TI - Effect of chronic ethanol treatment on lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate and subcellular fractions. AB - 1. The effect of chronic ethanol treatment on the level of lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate and subcellular fractions was measured using chemiluminescence technique and malondialdehyde formation. 2. It was shown that after chronic ethanol treatment the level of Fe/ADP-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation was decreased in the whole and "postnuclear" liver homogenates. Dilution of the homogenates prevented depressive effect of ethanol on lipid peroxidation. 3. Chronic ethanol treatment did not affect the intensity of the Fe/ADP-ascorbate-induced process in rat liver mitochondria and microsomes. 4. Peroxidative alteration of the liver lipids in vivo was evaluated by measurement of conjugated dienes (absorbance at 233 nm). It was shown that ethanol did not increase the level of u.v. absorption of lipids from mitochondria and microsomes. Chronic alcohol treatment did not influence the steady-state concentration of malonic dialdehyde in the whole liver homogenate. 5. The data obtained indicate that cytosol from the ethanol treated rat liver contains a factor(s) which prevents Fe/ADP-ascorbate-dependent lipid peroxidation in biological membranes. PMID- 2612722 TI - Effect of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on polyamine metabolism in human monocyte cell line-U937. AB - 1. Pretreatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] caused an increase in ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) (ODC) activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human monocyte cell line, U937. 2. The increase in ODC activity was dose-dependent and preincubation-time dependent. 3. 26,26,26,27,27,27 Hexafluoro-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was ca 7 times more potent than 1,25-(OH)2D3 in increasing ODC activity. 4. Pretreatment with 1,25-(OH)2D3 also potentiated the activity of spermidine/spermine-N1-acetyltransferase in LPS-stimulated U937 cells. 5. Putrescine levels in cells pretreated with 1,25-(OH)2D3 increased ca 2 fold 4-8 hr after LPS addition. 6. However, pretreatment with 1,25-(OH)2D3 did not cause any increase in ODC mRNA level, suggesting that 1,25-(OH)2D3 may modulate polyamine metabolism at the posttranscriptional level rather than the transcriptional step. PMID- 2612723 TI - Purification and characterization of two human liver carboxylesterases. AB - 1. Two carboxylesterases (EC 3.1.1.1) purified from human livers were distinguished by pI (isoelectric point), nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, molecular weight, catalytic activity, N-terminus and immunological cross-reactivity. 2. The low pI carboxylesterase has not been reported previously. 3. Numerous bands seen when each enzyme was focused on analytical IEF gels could not be separated. 4. When sections of the band pattern was refocused, the original complete band pattern was generated. 5. Both the mid and low pI carboxylesterases had catalytic activity for xenobiotics as well as medium and long chain fatty acid esters. PMID- 2612724 TI - Effect of chronic ethanol, catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and clofibrate treatment on lipid peroxidation in rat myocardium. AB - 1. The effect of chronic alcohol consumption, catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4 triazole (amino-triazole) and peroxisome proliferator clofibrate on the level of Fe/ADP-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation has been studied in the rat myocardium. The intensity of lipid peroxidation was measured using chemiluminescence technique and malondialdehyde formation. 2. Combined us well as separate treatment with ethanol (36% of dietary calories) and aminotriazole caused elevation of the rate of lipid peroxidation in the nuclear-free homogenate or total particulate fraction of the rat heart. The most pronounced effect was noted during combined application of ethanol and aminotriazole. 3. Prolonged clofibrate treatment significantly increased the level of nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation in the rat myocardium. 4. Peroxidative alteration of the myocardial lipids in vivo was evaluated by measurement of conjugated dienes (absorbance at 233 nm). Separate ethanol, aminotriazole or clofibrate treatment did not affect the level of u.v. absorption of lipids from the total particulate fraction. However, when ethanol and aminotriazole were administered simultaneously an increase of conjugated diene formation was observed. 5. The data obtained confirm the hypothesis that ethanol or clofibrate-induced activation of the myocardial lipid peroxidation may be due to the increase of hydrogen peroxide-generating capacity of the heart microperoxisomes. PMID- 2612725 TI - Characterization of urinary proteinase inhibitors with segments of amino acids sequences identical to sequences of pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor. AB - 1. Slow migrating proteinase inhibitors were isolated from pathological human urine. 2. The N-terminal amino acid sequence including 23 amino acids was identical to the one in pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor. 3. The slow migrating proteinase inhibitors occurred in 3 forms with different electrophoretic mobility. 4. Time of flight mass spectrometry showed that the Mw of one of the forms was 6241 while the Mw of another form was 5923. 5. The Ki of complexes with trypsin was determined to be 1 x 10(-10) M, with chymotrypsin and plasmin Ki was 1 x 10(-7) M. Elastase, kallikrein and thrombin were not inhibited. PMID- 2612726 TI - Purine nucleotide production in normal and HPRT- cells. AB - 1. Both normal cells and cells deficient in hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) are able to produce adenine and guanine nucleotides from aminoimidazole carboxamide (AICA) or its ribonucleoside (AICAR), but not from formaminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleoside (FAICAR). 2. The level of purine nucleotide production from AICA in HPRT- cells is at least equal to the production of purine nucleotides from hypoxanthine in normal cells. 3. The concentration of AICA or AICAR at which nucleotide production was half-maximal was between 30 and 100 microM in various cell lines. 4. Adenosine kinase is required to convert AICAR to its nucleotide; adenine phosphoribosyltransferase is required to convert AICA to its nucleotide. Cells lacking either of these enzymes are unable to produce purine nucleotides from the respective precursor. 5. Purine production from AICAR in HPRT- cells is not greatly increased by the addition of formate, folate or leucovorin. PMID- 2612727 TI - Effect of phorbol esters on the distribution and total activity of protein kinase C in the perfused rat heart. AB - 1. The perfused rat heart was treated with the tumour-promoter and protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and the distribution of protein kinase C activity between cytosolic and particulate fractions determined. 2. Phorbol ester treatment led to a rapid loss of protein kinase C activity from the cytosol (t0.5 = 2 min) with a corresponding translocation into the particulate fraction. Translocated protein kinase C activity was tightly bound to the particulate fraction, could only be extracted with buffers containing 2% Triton X 100 and could therefore be misinterpreted as being down-regulated. 3. Claims of rapid down-regulation of protein kinase C activity by phorbol esters need to be supported by rigorous procedures for extraction of the particulate material. PMID- 2612728 TI - Isolation and characterization of the major phospholipase A2 from the venom of Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus (shore pit viper). AB - 1. The major phospholipase A2 (PLA-DE4) of the venom of Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus (shore pit viper) has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. 2. The isoelectric point of the purified enzyme was determined to be 4.20, and the mol. wt was 31,700 as estimated by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography; and 14,000 as estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme hydrolyzed phosphatidylcholine (PC) faster than phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), whereas phosphatidylserine (PS) was not hydrolyzed at all (PC greater than PE greater than PS =0). However, in reaction system consisted of mixtures of PC and PS, phosphatidylserine was effectively hydrolyzed by the enzyme. 4. The phospholipase A2 exhibited edema-forming activity but not hemolytic, hemorrhagic or anticoagulant activities. It was not lethal to mice at a dosage of 10 micrograms/g by i.v. route. PMID- 2612729 TI - Avian growth hormone receptor assay: use of chicken and turkey liver membranes. AB - A sensitive avian growth hormone (GH) radioreceptor assay (RRA) was developed using recombinant chicken growth hormone (rcGH) and a membrane receptor preparation of chicken or turkey livers. The specific binding of 125I-labeled rcGH to a 47,800 X g pellet was 33-36% in a 16-20 h incubation period at 4 degrees C. Binding was time, temperature and pH dependent. Scatchard analysis indicated a single class of high affinity GH binding sites in chicken and turkey livers, with binding affinities of 1.03 X 10(10) liter/M and 1.11 X 10(10) liter/M, respectively, and corresponding binding capacities of 10.7 fmol and 21 fmol per mg protein. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.41 ng of rcGH. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 5.3% and 9.7%, respectively. Bovine GH, ovine GH, and porcine GH competed effectively for the GH binding sites in chicken and turkey livers. Turkey prolactin (PRL) and porcine PRL showed little cross-reaction (less than 0.07%), while cross-reaction of ovine and bovine PRL was greater (less than 10%). Standard rcGH (0.5-30 ng) was added to sera from hypophysectomized chickens and turkeys (hypox sera) and to tissue culture medium and was measured quantitatively. Untreated medium (10-100 microliters) and hypox sera (5-40 microliters) did not inhibit rcGH binding. These studies report the existence of specific binding sites for avian GH in chicken and turkey liver and validate a sensitive RRA for measurement of bioactive GH in sera and tissue culture medium. PMID- 2612730 TI - Changes in rat pituitary nuclear and cytoplasmic pro-opiomelanocortin RNAs associated with adrenalectomy and glucocorticoid replacement. AB - While the transcriptional effects of glucocorticoid hormone manipulation on the pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene have been documented, it is not yet clear whether glucocorticoids activate additional post-transcriptional mechanisms to regulate POMC gene expression. We have used RNA probes that span exon/intron junctions in sensitive nuclease protection assays in order to examine changes in POMC precursor RNA as well as mature mRNA in nucleus and cytoplasm following both adrenalectomy (ADX) and administration of exogenous glucocorticoids. ADX led to a rapid and sustained 8- to 10-fold increase in the level of POMC primary transcript in the anterior lobe (AL), from 1 to 14 days after ADX. Stimulation of mature POMC mRNA in the nucleus was also rapid, with 7- to 8-fold increases evident by 1 day after ADX. In sharp contrast, the time-dependent accumulation of POMC mRNA in the cytoplasm was slow in comparison, reaching levels approximately 2-fold higher than sham-operated animals by 1 day post-ADX and 12-fold higher by 14 days after ADX. Despite the constant elevated level of nuclear POMC precursor RNA, the rate of accumulation of POMC mRNA in the corticotroph cytoplasm after ADX was not linear, with the greatest increase occurring within the first 1-4 days post-ADX. This led to alterations in the molar ratio of POMC primary transcript: nuclear mRNA: cytoplasmic mRNA in the AL at 1 and 4 days after ADX and showed a relative increase in the proportion of POMC RNA transcripts within the nucleus. Acute administration of dexamethasone to ADX rats resulted in rapid 80-90% inhibition of POMC primary transcript levels in the AL that was maximal by 30 min but with no associated change in mature mRNA. No significant changes in POMC RNA were seen in neurointermediate lobe in any of these studies. These studies suggest that following ADX, time-dependent alterations in nuclear transport of mature POMC mRNA and/or changes in POMC mRNA stability, in addition to changes in gene transcription may account for the overall level of POMC mRNA expressed in the AL. Furthermore, we have illustrated the use of exon/intron probes for accurately quantitating rapid alterations in steady-state levels of nuclear precursor RNA that may reflect transcriptional responses and/or changes in post-transcriptional processing of the primary transcript. PMID- 2612731 TI - Non-classical antiestrogenic actions of dexamethasone in variant MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture. AB - The aim of this work was to determine whether dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid, counteracts the stimulatory effects of estradiol (E2) on MCF-7 cells. We have shown that Dex inhibits in a dose-dependent fashion the estradiol stimulated cell proliferation. This inhibition (ID50 congruent to 5-10 nM), which is complete at 100 nM Dex, is prevented by the antiglucocorticoid RU 486 and is clearly different from that found with trans-4-OH-tamoxifen because the inhibition due to a fixed concentration of Dex is not abolished by a high concentration of estradiol. This inhibitory effect displays some degree of specificity. Progesterone and the progestins R 5020 and ORG 2058 are without effect and Dex does not alter the triiodo-L-thyronine-stimulated cell growth. To characterize further the antiestrogenic action of Dex, the effects of this drug on specific responses to estradiol were studied. (1) Among the positive responses to estradiol two are prevented by Dex (the increase of concentration of progestin receptors and that of immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor I, IR-IGF-I, in conditioned medium) and two are insensitive to Dex (the enhancement of the secretion of 52,000 and 160,000 Mr proteins). (2) A negative response to estradiol (the down-regulation of estrogen receptor) is not prevented but rather accentuated by Dex. Thus, Dex counteracts the stimulatory effects of estradiol on the proliferation of MCF-7 cell variants characterized by progestin insensitivity. This non-classical antiestrogenic effect could be due in part to the attenuation of the E2-induced IR-IGF-I secretion and, less probably, to the accentuation of the down-regulation of E2 receptors. It could account for certain therapeutic and/or side effects of glucocorticoids on estrogen target cells. PMID- 2612732 TI - Iodination of newly synthesized thyroglobulin by FRTL-5 cells is selective and thyrotropin dependent. AB - This study shows that the Fisher rat thyroidal cell line (FRTL-5) can iodinate newly synthesized thyroglobulin. Iodinated thyroglobulin was found intra- and extracellularly. Both the synthesis of thyroglobulin and its subsequent iodination were found to be thyrotropin (TSH) dependent, with optimal activity at 10-100 microU TSH/ml. Thyroglobulin was the only protein in the culture medium, that was iodinated with high specificity and in a TSH-dependent fashion. Albumin, which was abundantly present in the culture medium, was only weakly iodinated. Various proteins, including thyroglobulin, were found to be iodinated intracellularly. Of these iodoproteins only thyroglobulin appeared in the medium suggesting selective secretion of iodinated thyroglobulin. It was shown that the other intracellular iodoproteins were no thyroglobulin breakdown products. Their function is as yet unknown. PMID- 2612733 TI - Differential regulation of cathepsin D by sex steroids in mammary cancer and uterine cells. AB - The precursor of cathepsin D, a lysosomal acidic protease, is secreted by human breast cancer cells, where its synthesis is specifically induced by estrogens and growth factors. In this study, we investigated the hormonal regulation of cathepsin D and its mRNA in uterine cells. In the Ishikawa endometrial cancer cell line, epidermal growth factor (EGF) increased the level of cathepsin D and its mRNA 2- to 3-fold. Although expression of the transiently transfected estrogen-responsive recombinant (Vit. tk. CAT) and the endogenous progesterone receptor was markedly increased by estradiol in Ishikawa cells, estradiol did not alter the level of cathepsin D or its mRNA. The progestin R5020 induced the expression of the LTR sp65 CAT, which contains the progesterone-responsive element of the MMTV but it too was without effect on cathepsin D. By contrast, the expression of cathepsin D gene, in normal rat uterus, was increased by R5020 but not by estradiol. We conclude that cathepsin D gene expression is regulated differently by sex steroid hormones in endometrial and breast cancer cell lines, whereas it is similarly induced by EGF in these cells. PMID- 2612734 TI - Expression of the human relaxin gene in the corpus luteum of the menstrual cycle and in the prostate. AB - DNA-RNA hybridization has been used to assess the presence of relaxin gene transcripts in human luteal tissues of pregnancy and the menstrual cycle, as well as in the human testis and prostate. The results imply a substantial capacity for hormone biosynthesis in the mid to late luteal phase of the ovary in non-pregnant women. In men the prostate has been shown also to express relaxin gene transcripts, though levels are low. The testis appears negative. The results suggest that functions for relaxin must be sought also outside pregnancy. PMID- 2612735 TI - Production of parathyroid hormone-related protein by a rat parathyroid cell line. AB - Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), the peptide associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, has been identified in fetal and adult parathyroid glands. We here report a sub-clone of a rat parathyroid cell line which secretes a single peptide species corresponding in size to PTHrP(1-84). Biological activity of the secretion product was blocked by a specific antiserum against PTHrP, but not by parathyroid hormone (PTH) antiserum. Secretion of PTHrP by these cells was regulated by extracellular calcium in the physiological range. A single messenger RNA species for PTHrP was identified, though PTH mRNA could not be shown in these cells. Hybrid CAT genes containing 700-1000 bp of 5'-flanking DNA from the human PTH or PTHrP genes were transfected into these cells, and the PTHrP gene was expressed at 10-fold higher levels than the PTH gene. These cells thus provide a valuable model system for investigation expression of PTHrP in a non-transformed cell line. PMID- 2612736 TI - Ontogeny of prolactin mRNA in the rat pituitary gland as evaluated by in situ hybridization. AB - We have studied the ontogeny of prolactin (PRL) messenger RNA (mRNA) in male and female rats. Quantitative in situ hybridization was performed on sections of fixed pituitaries using a 32S-labeled PRL cDNA probe. With this technique, hybridization signal was first detected on day 19 of gestation. The PRL mRNA levels were very low in foetuses and newborn animals. Higher PRL mRNA levels were found in 5-day-old animals. Thereafter, mRNA concentrations regularly increased to reach a plateau at 60 and 90 days of age in males and females, respectively. Sexual dimorphism was first observed in 20-day-old animals, the PRL mRNA levels being higher in the female than in the male. This difference in PRL mRNA became more marked after puberty such that in 90-day-old animals the amounts of PRL mRNA in females were 2.7 times those observed in males. Since sexual dimorphism in PRL mRNA levels occurs well before sexual dimorphism in PRL secretion, which takes place first during puberty, it is suggested that during sexual maturation PRL secretion is regulated translationally as well as transcriptionally. PMID- 2612737 TI - Assessment of the contribution of Leydig cells to the secretion of inhibin by the rat testis. AB - Cultured Leydig cells secreted 1.3-4.3 ng 1-26 alpha-inhibin/10(6) cells/24 h, and although this was unaffected by human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), these cells could contribute to the intratesticular and blood levels of inhibin. The present study evaluated this contribution in rats in which the Leydig cells were destroyed by injection of ethane dimethane sulphonate (EDS). In these animals, inhibin levels increased in testicular interstitial fluid (IF), and in testicular (TV) and spermatic (SV) venous blood. In EDS-treated rats supplemented for 21 days with 1 or 25 mg testosterone esters to maintain full spermatogenesis and/or suppress the elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and prevent Leydig cell regeneration, significant changes occurred in the levels of inhibin in IF, in TV and SV plasma and in the route of secretion of inhibin from the testis (i.e. via IF or seminiferous tubule fluid). However, none of these changes was related to the presence or absence of Leydig cells. It is concluded that Leydig cells make little contribution to the intratesticular and blood levels of inhibin in the adult rat. PMID- 2612738 TI - Morphometric analysis of corpus allatum cells in adult females of three cockroach species. AB - The number of cells and their sizes in the corpus allatum (CA) of adult female Blattella germanica, Supella longipalpa and Diploptera punctata were determined during oocyte maturation. Cell number and size were directly measured in cell suspensions following enzymatic dissociation of freshly excised CA. Cell numbers were verified by total cell counts in whole-mount CA monolayers and by hemocytometric sampling. In all three species, cell number did not change during the period of CA activation, averaging ca. 2000 cells per gland in B. germanica, 3500 cells per gland in S. longipalpa and 11,000 cells per gland in D. punctata. Cell diameter increased significantly in all three species during this period from a mean value of 8.9 microns to 11.7 microns in B. germanica, from 9.2 microns to 14.6 microns in S. longipalpa and from 10.0 microns to 15.6 microns in D. punctata. During a 4 h incubation period, dissociated CA cells incorporated L [methyl-3H]-methionine into juvenile hormone-III at rates comparable to intact glands. These data suggest that CA activation in the first ovarian cycle of these species is associated mainly with an increase in cell size with minor changes in cell number. PMID- 2612739 TI - Hormonotoxins: conjugation of human choriogonadotropin with the ribosome inactivating protein gelonin and comparison with a lutropin conjugate. AB - The properties of two hormonotoxins, human choriogonadotropin and ovine pituitary lutropin, each conjugated to the ribosome inactivating protein gelonin, have been compared. In both cases the linkage is effected through a disulfide bond provided by the cross-linker N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate. In each conjugate the hormone and toxin were calculated to be present in a ratio of 1:1. Immunological reactivity, receptor binding activity and steroidogenic activity of the hormonotoxins in radioimmunoassay or in membranes or cells containing LH receptors were reduced but not abolished in comparison with the thiolated hormones. Purified hormonotoxins were characterized by immunoassays specific for both interaction components, viz. the hormone (LH/hCG) and gelonin. Binding of the toxic component (gelonin) to the mouse Leydig tumour cells (MA-10 cells) was shown to occur via the hormone part of the hormonotoxins. This was effectively competed by the native hormone but not free gelonin. Both hormonotoxins were cytotoxic to MA-10 cells as protein synthesis was inhibited in their presence. This was associated with destruction of tumor cells in culture. PMID- 2612740 TI - Characterization of thyroid hormone transport in synaptosomes from rat brain. AB - In this study we examined the mode of triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) transport in synaptosomal preparations from cerebral hemispheres of adult rat brain. Our results show that these hormones are transported by different mechanisms: T3 uptake is a saturable process and Hofstee analysis of the data reveals two transport components--a high affinity (Kt approximately 50 pM), low density and a low affinity (Kt approximately 3.1 nM) high density system. The Vmax of both components is influenced by the extracellular/intracellular Na+ gradient. T3 uptake decreases in the presence of ouabain and gramicidin. T3 uptake also shows a temperature dependence and decreases in the presence of KCN. In contrast, T4 uptake is a nonsaturable process and is not influenced by metabolic inhibitors or Na ions. It is proposed that T3 entry into neurons is a carrier-mediated process and depends on Na ions. In contrast, T4 is transported by diffusion which is driven by high extracellular/intracellular differences in T4 concentration, maintained by the high rate of cellular deiodination of T4 to T3, characteristic of this tissue. PMID- 2612741 TI - Effect of glucagon on sphincter of Oddi motor activity. AB - In this study the effects of glucagon 1-29 peptide and the metabolically inactive portion glucagon 1-21 have been evaluated on sphincter of Oddi (SO) motor activity. A triple lumen catheter perfused by a minimally compliant infusion system was used to record intraoddian pressures at endoscopy. A strictly blind evaluation of tracings was performed. Neither peptide administration appeared to induce any relevant variation of SO resting pressure nor frequency, amplitude and duration of phasic contractions. Data of the present study would not support the use of glucagon whenever a spasmolytic effect on the SO is looked for. PMID- 2612742 TI - Exaggeration of the cholecystokinin-induced motor response in the cat gastrointestinal tract. AB - A stimulation of distal colonic motor activity was produced in anesthetized cats following intravenous administration of cholecystokinin. The contractile response elicited by cholecystokinin was not reduced following pretreatment with atropine. However, when animals were treated with agents which increased the net cholinergic input to the colon, a marked exaggeration of the subsequent cholecystokinin-induced response occurred. This cholinergically mediated exaggeration was produced following administration of the cholinergic agonist bethanechol, or after removal of tonic inhibitory systems mediated by prostaglandin or alpha-adrenergic input, whose blockade results in atropine sensitive colonic stimulation. Cholecystokinin was also found to produce stimulation of motor activity in the pylorus, jejunum, proximal colon and gallbladder. Cholinergically mediated exaggeration of the cholecystokinin response was also present in the pylorus and proximal colon, but not gallbladder or jejunum. An inhibition of spontaneous motor activity was produced in the ileum or duodenum following cholecystokinin administration. PMID- 2612743 TI - Effects of porcine pancreastatin on postprandial pancreatic exocrine secretion and endocrine functions in the conscious rat. AB - The inhibitory effect of a newly discovered polypeptide, pancreastatin, on postprandial pancreatic exocrine secretions and endocrine functions was examined in the conscious rat with a chronic external bile, pancreatic and gastric fistula. The infusion of 100 and 200 pmol/kg/h of pancreastatin significantly inhibited meal-stimulated pancreatic secretion of fluid and protein but not bicarbonate in a dose-dependent manner. The infusion of 100 and 200 pmol/kg/h of pancreastatin increased plasma pancreastatin concentrations (mean +/- SE) up to 133.5 +/- 15.9 and 209.8 +/- 14.5 pM, respectively. However, the same doses of pancreastatin failed to inhibit postprandial insulin and gastrin releases and did not affect blood glucose levels. It is suggested that pancreastatin may be an inhibitor of postprandial pancreatic exocrine secretion. However, the doses used in the present study may not have been high enough to affect endocrine functions. PMID- 2612744 TI - Effect of ranitidine on taurocholate-, ethanol-, and indomethacin-induced damage to gastric epithelial cells in vitro. AB - We evaluated whether ranitidine protects gastric epithelial cells against damage induced by sodium taurocholate, ethanol or indomethacin, under conditions independent of its acid inhibitory effect as well as of systemic factors. We also studied the role of prostaglandins and sulfhydryls in any such protection. Ranitidine significantly reduced the amount of damage induced by taurocholate, but did not afford protection against ethanol- and indomethacin-induced damage. Incubation with ranitidine did not increase PGE2 production by cultured cells nor did it affect the cellular content of sulfhydryls. The protective effect of ranitidine against taurocholate was not prevented by indomethacin or by the sulfhydryl blocker, N-ethylmaleimide. In conclusion, this in vitro study confirms that H2 blockers such as ranitidine have a limited cytoprotective ability independent of acid secretion, which is not as extensive as agents such as prostaglandins and sulfhydryls. This may be because prostaglandins and sulfhydryls play no role in the protective effect of ranitidine. PMID- 2612745 TI - Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: a series of 19 cases. AB - The clinical data, diagnostic procedures and survival are reported in 19 cases diagnosed as malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. All patients were men and 74% had an occupational exposure to asbestos, whereas in 26% no information about asbestos exposure was available. The median interval between asbestos exposure and the diagnosis appeared to be 44.7 years (range 18-49 years). The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain, weight loss and dysphagia. Most patients presented with a large amount of ascites. In the majority of patients no therapy except pain relief was given and the median survival from the time of diagnosis was 6 months (range: 0-29 months). Some patients received surgery or chemotherapy, which however did not prolong survival. Only in 2 patients survival exceeded 1 year, although these patients did not receive therapy. The autopsy findings of some patients showed that there were positive abdominal lymph nodes in 2 of them, while in no case positive thoracic lymph nodes were found. The relative short survival period from the time of the first diagnosis in contrast to malignant pleural mesotheliomas is probably the reason for the absence of distant metastases. In this series only in a minority of patients cytology of the ascites was positive and often a laparotomy had to be done. Since cytologic specimens are often negative, we suggest that in patients suspected of a malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, laparoscopy with directed biopsies is the diagnostic procedure of first choice. PMID- 2612746 TI - Increase in permeability and phospholipase A2 activity of colonic mucosa in Crohn's colitis. AB - Patients with Crohn's colitis were investigated regarding the relationship between intestinal inflammation, mucosal activity of phospholipase A2 and intestinal permeability to different-sized polyethylene glycols (PEG). Mucosal specimens for phospholipase A2 were obtained at colonoscopy and PEG (590-942 daltons) were deposited in the descending colon. Colonic absorption was measured as urinary output of deposited PEG. Colonic absorption of PEG was higher in these patients, even when the colitis was in remission at colonoscopy, than in ileal Crohn's disease or control patients. Mucosal phospholipase A2 activity was increased in active colitis, but in the patients with endoscopic remission it was at the same level as in the controls or in the patients with ileal Crohn's disease. The observations suggest that increased intestinal permeability may be a primary factor in activation of mucosal phospholipase A2 activity and in intestinal inflammation. PMID- 2612747 TI - Classifications of pancreatitis and definition of pancreatic diseases. PMID- 2612748 TI - Campylobacter-like organisms, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and gastric lesions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. AB - A histological study was performed in order to evaluate the prevalence of Campylobacter-like organisms (CLO) and gastric antral lesions in 85 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients using NSAIDs, and in 100 nonrheumatoid outpatients comparable in terms of sex and age, not using NSAIDs. Histological evidence of gastritis was a common finding both in RA patients (88.2%) and in nonrheumatoid outpatients (89.0%). On the other hand, CLO were detected in a significantly lower proportion (p less than 0.001) of RA patients than outpatients (30.6 and 59.0%, respectively). Considering each NSAID used separately (aspirin, diclofenac sodium and ketoprofen), no significant difference in the presence of CLO in the three groups was found; in the small group of patients treated with aspirin, however, bacteria were never detected. MICs of each NSAID used against 15 isolates of Campylobacter pylori were also determined. PMID- 2612749 TI - Influence of CCK antagonist L-364,718, pancreastatin (33-49) and a somatostatin analogue on camostate-induced rat pancreatic hypertrophy. AB - Since endogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) is released after oral administration of camostate, it has been suggested that camostate-induced pancreatic growth is mediated via circulating CCK. To test this concept, we investigated the effects of three potentially inhibitory substances on rat pancreatic hypertrophy caused by feeding of camostate over 2 weeks: (1) L-364,718, the novel specific highly potent nonpeptide CCK receptor antagonist, (2) octreotide (SMS 201-995), a potent long-lasting somatostatin analogue and (3) pancreastatin (33-49), the biologically active C-terminal fragment of the novel gastrointestinal peptide pancreastatin. Camostate feeding (200 mg/kg) once daily for 14 days induced a significant increase in pancreatic weight, total protein, trypsinogen and polyamine levels, whereas total amylase content was substantially diminished. Simultaneous oral or subcutaneous treatment with L-364,718 (0.3 mg/kg twice daily) completely suppressed all trophic effects of camostate. Octreotide (25 micrograms/kg twice daily s.c.) and pancreastatin (33-49) (10 micrograms/kg twice daily s.c.) did not change any trophic parameter. In case of octreotide it could be shown that two daily injections only partially suppressed elevated CCK levels. Pancreatic DNA and putrescine levels were slightly reduced in rats receiving the CCK antagonist alone. These results demonstrate that camostate-induced pancreatic hypertrophy in rats is caused by the release of endogenous CCK which may contribute to the maintenance of normal pancreatic DNA and putrescine concentrations. PMID- 2612750 TI - Effects of dietary linoleic acid on mucosal adaptation after small bowel resection. AB - We have shown that dietary long-chain triglycerides and 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 enhance and aspirin impairs postresection mucosal adaptation in rats. The present studies examined the hypothesis that supplemental linoleic acid (LA) above the minimum requirement may enhance postresection mucosal adaptation through altered prostaglandin (PG) synthesis. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats (105 +/- 5 g) were fed purified diet containing either 5% LA or 4% palmitic acid and 1% LA. After 2 weeks, 12 rats from each dietary group underwent 70% proximal jejunoileal resection and the remainder were sham-operated. Dietary regimens were continued for an additional 13 days. Mucosal fatty acid analysis of 1% LA group revealed a ratio of 20:3 n-9/20:4 n-6 lower than 0.2, indicating normal essential fatty acid status. Mucosal protein per centimeter bowel was higher in the 5% LA group compared to the 1% group, but mucosal DNA, maltase, and ex vivo PG synthesis were not affected. These results indicate that LA stimulates postresection mucosal hypertrophy, which does not appear to be related to PG synthesis. PMID- 2612751 TI - Mental health for Canadians: striking a balance. National Health and Welfare Canada. PMID- 2612752 TI - Saving money by reusing dialyzers. PMID- 2612753 TI - Developing effectiveness indicators for hospitals. PMID- 2612754 TI - Social work and discharge planning. PMID- 2612755 TI - A technology assessment study design. AB - Randomized controlled trials of drug therapies are now required before the licensing and use of almost all medications. Other health care technologies should be similarly evaluated. The area of competing technologies requires more research, and cemented and noncemented hip prostheses have recently been identified as an important example of such a technology. Although trials such as ours require considerable care in their planning and execution, they can be conducted on a busy clinical teaching ward without adversely affecting the quality and quantity of clinical care. PMID- 2612757 TI - A year of decision. PMID- 2612756 TI - Amalgamating services: anatomy of change. PMID- 2612758 TI - Albuminuria in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in Pima Indians. AB - The prevalence of abnormal urinary albumin excretion, defined by a urine albumin to creatinine ratio greater than or equal to 30 mg/g (approximately equivalent to an albumin excretion rate of greater than or equal to 30 mg/24 h), was determined in 2728 Pima Indians aged greater than or equal to 15 years from the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona, a population with a high prevalence of Type 2 (non insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Excessive albumin excretion was present in 8% of subjects with normal glucose tolerance, 15% of those with impaired glucose tolerance, and 47% of subjects with diabetes. The intermediate prevalence of abnormal albuminuria in those with impaired glucose tolerance suggests that hyperglycaemia even at levels below those diagnostic of diabetes is associated with renal abnormalities in some subjects and that these abnormalities may precede the onset of diabetes. Abnormal albuminuria at levels not reliably detected by the usual dipstick methods was commonly observed in Pima Indians with diabetes, even those with diabetes of recent onset. Associations were found with age, duration of diabetes, level of glycaemia, blood pressure, and treatment with insulin. PMID- 2612759 TI - Altered islet amyloid polypeptide (amylin) gene expression in rat models of diabetes. AB - The response of the islet amyloid polypeptide gene to chronic dexamethasone treatment in adult rats was investigated. After 12 daily injections, rats were severely underweight and fasting blood glucose levels were elevated. When pancreatic mRNA was analysed, a 16-fold elevation in islet amyloid polypeptide mRNA was observed with only a four-fold increase in insulin mRNA levels. Pancreatic islet amyloid polypeptide and insulin mRNA levels were also determined 12 days after streptozotocin treatment. In these rats, which were not severely diabetic, the reduction in islet amyloid polypeptide mRNA levels was sixfold less than the reduction in insulin mRNA levels. In both these models of diabetes the ratio of islet amyloid polypeptide to insulin mRNA levels was raised. This would not be expected if the physiological role of islet amyloid polypeptide is as a simple hyperglycaemic agent opposing insulin action or release. PMID- 2612760 TI - Improved survival in patients with diabetic nephropathy. AB - The effect of early antihypertensive treatment on survival of patients with diabetic nephropathy was evaluated by studying two cohorts of Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetic patients developing persistent proteinuria in I: 1957-1973 (late treatment group n = 49) and II: 1979-1983 (early treatment group n = 71). At onset of nephropathy, the two cohorts were comparable with regard to age (29(8) vs 30(8) years, mean (SD], duration of diabetes (16(6) vs 18(7) years), blood pressure (132(16)/85(11) vs 134(16)/86(8) mm Hg), proteinuria (0.8(0.5-1.2) vs 0.8(0.6-1.2) g x 24 h-1, median (quartiles] and serum creatinine (87(14) vs (85(16) mumol x 1(-1]. The patients were followed frequently at the outpatients' clinic until death or for a median duration of 8 years. In the first cohort antihypertensive treatment was seldom used, whereas, in the second cohort antihypertensive treatment was started when blood pressure reached 144(18)/93(7) mm Hg. The probability of survival with a functioning kidney for more than 8 years was 48% in the first cohort and 87% in the second cohort, p less than 0.001. The improvement of survival was due mainly to a decreased mortality from uraemia. Early antihypertensive treatment is the most likely explanation for this improvement. PMID- 2612761 TI - Acetylcholinesterase in chick embryo latissimus dorsii muscles: effects of curarization and electrical stimulation. AB - The accumulation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the changes in AChE-specific activity and in AChE molecular form distribution were studied in slow-tonic anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) and in fast-twitch posterior latissimus dorsi (PLD) muscles of the chick embryo. From stage 36 (day 11) to stage 42 (day 17) of Hamburger and Hamilton, the AChE-specific activity decreased, while the relative proportion of asymmetric A 12 and A 8 forms increased. Repetitive injection of curare resulted at stage 42 (day 17) in a decrease in AChE-specific activity, in the accumulation of the synaptic AChE and in the expression of AChE asymmetric forms. Electrical stimulation at a relatively high frequency (40 Hz) of curarized ALD and PLD muscles resulted in a normal increase in AChE asymmetric forms, whereas a lower frequency (5 Hz) resulted in a dominance of globular forms. Both patterns of stimulation partly prevented the loss in synaptic AChE accumulations. These results suggest that in chick embryo muscles, muscle activity and its rhythms are involved in the normal evolution of AChE. PMID- 2612762 TI - Regulated expression of muscle-specific genes introduced into mouse embryonal stem cells: inverse correlation with DNA methylation. AB - Pluripotent embryonal stem cell lines (ES) were isolated from cultured normal mouse blastocysts. These cells retained their capacity to differentiate into a great variety of cell types in cell cultures or in tumors formed after subcutaneous injection of the cells into nude mice. A chimeric actin/globin gene containing about two-thirds of the rat skeletal muscle actin gene and 730 bp of its 5' flanking region fused to the 3' end of the human embryonic epsilon-globin gene, was inserted into a plasmid containing a neomycin resistance gene (neor) whose transcription is regulated by the SV40 early control elements. The prokaryotic vector DNA sequences of this plasmid (pAG-Neo) were deleted and the two linked genes were introduced into the ES cells by electroporation. G418 resistant clones were isolated, amplified and injected subcutaneously into nude mice. From the teratocarcinoma-like tumors which developed we isolated myogenic as well as nonmyogenic cell lines. In cell lines derived from three independent transfected ES clones, expression of the actin/globin gene was developmentally regulated in myogenic cells. In contrast, in a number of experiments in which the actin/globin gene or other muscle-specific genes were introduced into the ES cells without the removal of the pBR sequences, no expression could be detected at any stage. Moreover, in the differentiated lines derived from these clones, G418 resistance was lost, and no neor transcripts could be detected. Southern blot analysis of MSPI- or HpaII-digested DNA revealed extensive methylation in the clones that did not express the foreign DNA, whereas no significant methylation of the inserted DNA was observed in clones which expressed the transfected genes. Examination of the DNA extracted from transgenic mice carrying the same actin/globin gene revealed an inverse correlation between methylation of the exogenous gene and its potential to be expressed in the transgenic strain. However, no tissue-specific differences in methylation, related to the tissue specificity of expression of the exogenous gene, could be detected in these experiments. These results suggest that the process of methylation reported here is causally related to constitutive inactivation of the exogenous genes. PMID- 2612763 TI - Isolation of subpopulations of murine epidermal cells using monoclonal antibodies against differentiation-related cell surface molecules. AB - Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against epithelial cells were prepared by immunization of rats with lyophilized murine epithelia. Screening against tissue sections and epithelial cell suspensions permitted identification of mAbs against surface molecules that are expressed early in cell differentiation. Staining with these mAbs followed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting enabled isolation of subpopulations of basal epithelial cells. Staining these subpopulations with antibodies against known differentiation markers (cytokeratins and bullous pemphigoid antigen) and measurements of cell size indicated that they represented fractions of the basal cell population in sequential stages of early differentiation. Labeling mice with bromodeoxyuridine at various times prior to cell isolation showed that the least-differentiated basal cells cycle more slowly than those at later stages, data which support the concept of a differentiation related, hierarchical pattern of organization of the proliferative compartment. PMID- 2612764 TI - The initial accumulation of carbamoylphosphate synthetase in embryonic rat hepatocytes, and the cell cycle. AB - The hormone-induced expression of the hepatocyte-specific enzyme carbamoylphosphate synthetase can take place in each phase of the cell cycle and is not restricted to the G1 or the G0 phase. To arrive at this conclusion, the cell cycle parameters of embryonic day 14 rat hepatocytes in vitro were determined by autoradiography after labeling with (3H)-TdR or with (3H)- and (14C)-TdR. An S-phase of approximately 14 h, a G2 + M-phase of 8 h, a G1-phase of 8-13 h and a total cell cycle of 30-35 h were measured. Freshly isolated embryonic hepatocytes have exponential growth parameter values, but shift to a steady state growth under culture conditions in the presence of hormones (glucocorticosteroids, thyroid hormones and cyclic AMP). The length of the S phase and of the total cell cycle remain constant during the culture time. The time course of accumulation of carbamoylphosphate synthetase protein in embryonic hepatocytes is identical in all phases of the cell cycle. It is suggested that hormones, in particular glucocorticosteroids, simultaneously and independently regulate growth mode and gene expression in developing hepatocytes. The nucleotide-analogue 5-bromodeoxyuridine inhibits the hormone-induced expression of carbamoylphosphate synthetase only in cells that are exposed to the drug during early S-phase, indicating replication of the carbamoylphosphate synthetase gene in that part of the cell cycle. PMID- 2612765 TI - Cultivation of adult rat hepatocytes on 3T3 cells: expression of various liver differentiated functions. AB - Adult rat hepatocytes were maintained in culture for at least 1 month without losing the expression of their differentiated functions; they were cultured on lethally treated 3T3 fibroblasts inoculated at 35,000 cells/cm2 with medium containing 10-25 micrograms/ml hydrocortisone. Hepatocytes showed their typical morphology; they formed bile canaliculi, microvilli, and intercellular junctions with desmosomes and nexus; some formed structures that may resemble the perisinusoidal space of Disse. In addition, they showed DNA synthesis and expressed some liver-specific functions. They synthesized albumin and other proteins, which were exported to the culture medium. Like parenchymal liver cells in vivo, de novo fatty acid synthesis and esterification took place, and more than 80% of the lipids synthesized by the hepatocytes were secreted into the medium as triglycerides; they also showed cytochrome-P450 activity that was inducible with phenobarbital, suggesting that the hepatocytes have the capacity to metabolize drugs. These culture conditions allow the study of various hepatocyte differentiated functions, and they may provide the means to analyze the effect on liver of hormones, viruses and hepatotoxic chemicals and drugs; they may also indicate conditions adequate for serial growth of hepatocytes. PMID- 2612766 TI - Developmental changes in protein composition and the actin-binding protein ponticulin in Dictyostelium discoideum plasma membranes purified by an improved method. AB - We have used a new combination of previously-described methods to obtain a 29 fold purification of plasma membranes from Dictyostelium discoideum. In this procedure, the pellet from a cell lysate is centrifuged through a high-pH sucrose gradient and then through a Renografin gradient. Electron microscopy shows that the resultant "Renografin membranes" are essentially homogeneous. As measured by enzymatic marker assays, contamination with mitochondria, lysosomes, and endoplasmic reticulum is minimal. As assayed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the protein composition of Renografin membranes is similar to that of highly purified membranes isolated using concanavalin A stabilization and detergent extraction. Using Renografin membranes, we have examined developmental changes in the membrane protein composition. In agreement with previous investigations, we observe major changes in lectin-binding glycoproteins and cell-surface-labeled proteins during the first 18 h of D. discoideum development. In contrast to most previous work, which may have employed plasma membranes of lesser purity, we also observe major changes in silver-stained membrane proteins. We conclude that many developmentally regulated proteins, previously thought to be minor membrane constituents, are a larger proportion of the plasma membrane than originally believed. The observed changes in membrane protein composition may correlate with changes in plasma membrane functions during development. For instance, ponticulin, the major salt-sensitive F-actin-binding protein in plasma membranes from vegetative cells, increases at least twofold in plasma membranes during early development when the cells are chemotaxing into large aggregates. The amount of plasma membrane ponticulin then decreases during the pseudoplasmodial stage. PMID- 2612767 TI - Transition of starving Dictyostelium cells to differentiation phase at a particular position of the cell cycle. AB - The relationship between proliferation and differentiation in Dictyostelium discoideum Ax-2 was analyzed with reference to the cell-cycle position at the onset of starvation, using cells synchronized by temperature shift (11.5 degrees C-22.0 degrees C). To examine how far Ax-2 cells at any particular phase of the cell cycle are able to progress through the cycle in response to nutritional deprivation, we measured temporal changes in cell number and nuclearity after starvation. Nuclear DNA synthesis in synchronously developing cells was also monitored by pulse-labeling with [methyl-3H]thymidine. Increase in cell number and subsequent DNA synthesis occurred in cells just before mitosis (referred to as T0.5 cells and T1 cells; 0.5 h and 1 h after the shift-up from 11.5 degrees C to 22.0 degrees C respectively), but not in T3, T5, or T7 cells. When T1 cells were incubated for 6 h in the absence of external nutrients, they (T1 + 6 cells) exhibited developmental features similar to T7 cells, which most rapidly acquired chemotactic sensitivity to 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and EDTA resistant cohesiveness after starvation. Thus, it is quite likely that Ax-2 cells may progress through the cell cycle to a particular point (possibly the cell cycle position of T7 cells), irrespective of the presence or absence of nutrients, and enter the differentiation phase from this point under conditions of nutritional deprivation. There was no difference in the ratio of prestalk to prespore cells in migratory pseudoplasmodia derived from cells that had been starved at other cell-cycle positions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612768 TI - Low incidence of tumourigenicity in agarose colonies from spontaneous murine mammary tumours. AB - In these experiments individual colonies growing in agarose seeded with monocellular suspensions from freshly disaggregated naturally-occurring mouse mammary tumours, induced by the murine mammary tumour virus (MMTV), were reimplanted into mammary fat pads of virus-free mice. It was found that only a small proportion of these colonies generated tumours and that the implantation of multiple colonies in each site did not result in disproportionate, synergistic, increase in tumour takes. It was also observed that the proportion of colonies which were tumourigenic on reimplantation differed for each donor tumour and represented only a small fraction of the total cell population (0.001%-0.1%). However, this value was significantly higher in tumours which produced large numbers of deposits in lung colony assays following i.v. injections, than in tumours of low pulmonary colonisation potential. A point of particular interest was that tumours derived from agarose colonies of spontaneously metastatic donor tumours were substantially more spontaneously metastatic themselves than those from nonmetastatic donors, indicating that this property is heritable through numerous cell divisions, manipulations in vitro and transplantation procedures. From these results it is concluded that measurement of clonogenicity in agar is useful as an index of the capability of a tumour to propagate itself and to colonise new sites, but that individual agarose colonies are not all the progeny of potentially immortal stem cells. PMID- 2612769 TI - Spectrin, fodrin and protein 4.1-like proteins in differentiating rat germ cells. AB - The presence and the distribution of proteins of the membrane skeleton in differentiating germ cells of the rat has been investigated. Immunofluorescence and immunoblotting analysis, performed using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to human erythroid alpha-spectrin and protein 4.1 and to brain spectrin (fodrin), demonstrated the presence of analogues of spectrin and fodrin in spermatocytes and round spermatids and of protein 4.1-like molecules in spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa. Spectrin and fodrin showed molecular weights comparable to those of their analogues in erythrocytes but a distinct intracellular distribution. Fodrin was localized along the plasma membrane while spectrin appeared associated with the regions of the Golgi apparatus and of the developing acrosome. Antibodies to protein 4.1 recognized molecules with a molecular weight not comparable with that in erythrocytes, and their presence in spermatozoa was confined to specific regions of the head and of the tail. PMID- 2612770 TI - Determination of the developmental toxicity potential of butoxypropanol in rabbits after topical administration. AB - The developmental toxicity (embryofetotoxicity or teratogenicity) and maternal toxicity of butoxypropanol, a propylene glycol ether, was evaluated in New Zealand White rabbits. Dosages of 0 (water), 10, 40 or 100 mg/kg/day, selected on the basis of the water solubility of butoxypropanol and the results of a pilot study, were administered percutaneously to groups of artificially inseminated (Day 0) female rabbits on Days 7 through 18 of gestation. The dosage volume was 2 ml/kg. The control group contained 17 does and each test group contained 19 does. Does were observed for signs of test substance effect on abortion or premature delivery, body weight, and feed consumption. On Day 29, they were euthanized and examined for pregnancy, number and placement of implantations, early and late resorptions, and live fetuses. Pregnancy occurred in 15 control does (88%) and in 16 does in each test group (84%). There were no statistically significant differences between test and control groups for maternal body weight gain, feed consumption, number of corpora lutea per ovary, implantations, live fetuses, early and late resorptions, fetal body weights, gender, or gross external changes. There were no visceral or skeletal fetal alterations at any dose tested. No signs of maternal toxicity were observed; however, mild erythema occurred at the site of application at the 100 mg/kg/day dose level. The developmental no effect level was greater than 100 mg/kg/day. PMID- 2612771 TI - Toxicology studies of a chemical mixture of 25 groundwater contaminants. I. Chemistry development. AB - As part of an effort to evaluate the toxicology of a chemically defined mixture of 25 frequently detected groundwater contaminants, we report here the formulation and analytical chemistry of this mixture. Many problems were anticipated, including limitation of solubility, chemical interactions, and extreme volatility in the aqueous solution of 25 chemicals. The final technically achievable stock solution was prepared based on EPA survey concentrations of these chemicals in groundwater around hazardous waste disposal sites, their toxicity information, and solubility of the individual compounds in the matrix of the aqueous solution of these 25 chemicals. Because the anticipated animal studies were to be conducted at various laboratories, for ease of handling and maximum stability, the stock solution was stored or shipped as two substock solutions: an organic substock with 18 neat organic chemicals in a glass vial sealed with minimum headspace and an aqueous substock solution with 6 metals of various salt forms and phenol. The concentrations of the solutions were such that direct mixing of the organic and aqueous substocks produced the desired high dose level for the animal experiments. Analyses of all 25 chemicals in the drinking water mixture required six different chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. Some loss of organic volatiles during mixing of the substocks and during the first 24 hr following preparation did occur. However, the concentrations of acetone, phenol, and all the metals remained constant during preparation. Solutions held under simulated animal cage conditions for 96 hr showed losses of the organic volatiles; the majority of which occurred within the first 24 hr. This study shows that it is possible to conduct animal experiments on an aqueous mixture containing 25 groundwater contaminants. Furthermore, a reasonable estimate of intake of individual chemicals can be achieved provided that dosing solutions are prepared fresh at frequent intervals (e.g., 48 to 72 hr) and that comprehensive analyses are carried out. PMID- 2612772 TI - Toxicology studies of a chemical mixture of 25 groundwater contaminants. III. Male reproduction study in B6C3F1 mice. AB - A mixture of chemicals has been developed that models contaminated groundwater around hazardous waste sites. We investigated the effects of this mixture on spermatogenesis in B6C3F1 mice. The animals consumed three different concentrations of this mixture for 90 days, after which time they were euthanatized. Although there was a concentration-related decrease in the amount of fluid consumed at the higher two concentrations, there were no differences in body weight among the groups. Similarly, there was no effect of mixture consumption upon the histology of liver, kidney, testis, epididymis, or seminal vesicles or upon the absolute organ weights of these organs. Kidney weight relative to body weight was increased in the high dose group. Epididymal sperm number and testicular spermatid count were not affected by treatment. These studies show that, at exposure levels that decrease fluid intake and increase adjusted kidney weight, there were no effects of this mixture on gametogenesis in male mice. PMID- 2612773 TI - Subchronic inhalation toxicity of ethylbenzene in mice, rats, and rabbits. AB - Mice, rats, and rabbits (five/sex/group) were exposed by inhalation to ethylbenzene (EB) vapors for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks (20 exposures). Rats and mice received 0, 99, 382, or 782 ppm EB while rabbits received 0, 382, 782, or 1610 ppm. No changes were evident in mortality patterns, clinical chemistries, urinalyses, or treatment-related gross/microscopic (including ophthalmologic) lesions. Rats exhibited sporadic lacrimation and salivation, as well as significantly increased liver weights at 382 and 782 ppm, and small increases in leukocyte counts at 782 ppm. Males at this exposure level also showed marginal elevations in platelet counts. In mice, females showed statistically increased absolute and relative liver weights at 382 and 782 ppm, while males had statistically increased relative liver-to-brain weight ratios only at 782 ppm. Female rabbits at the high exposure level of 1610 ppm gained weight more slowly than controls (not statistically significant); males showed a similar transient downward trend after 1 week, but showed no differences from controls at study's end. A no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 382 ppm appears appropriate for rats and mice with a lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) of 782 ppm. A NOAEL of 782 ppm and LOAEL of 1610 ppm are appropriate for rabbits. PMID- 2612774 TI - Acute, subchronic, and chronic toxicity of the cardiotonic isomazole in rats. AB - Acute, subchronic, and chronic toxicity studies were conducted with isomazole, a new (investigational) inotropic agent with significant vasodilator properties. When given acutely to either young adult rats or mice, the oral median lethal dose was approximately 135 or 525 mg/kg, respectively. Clinical signs of toxicity were leg weakness, hypoactivity, tremors, clonic convulsions, and ataxia. Fischer 344 rats (15/sex/group) were fed diets containing isomazole in concentrations of 0, 0.03, 0.1, or 0.3% for 3 months with no resulting mortality or clinical signs of toxicity. The average daily intake of the compound was approximately 0, 20, 65, or 198 mg/kg in both sexes. Body weight gain, food consumption, and efficiency of food utilization were significantly reduced only in males in the 198 mg/kg dose group. There were no changes of toxicological significance in any of the hematology, clinical chemistry, or urine parameters. Isomazole produced significant increases in hepatic p-nitroanisole O-demethylase activity and relative liver weight primarily at the 65 and 198 mg/kg treatment levels. These effects were consistent with induction of the hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme system. Histopathologic findings consisted of centrilobular fat deposition in the livers of 9 of 15 males in the 198 mg/kg dose group, and periarteritis in the adventitia of small and medium-sized arteries in the mesentery in 3 of 30 and 12 of 30 animals from the 65 and 198 mg/kg dose groups, respectively. The plasma levels of isomazole had a tendency to drop after 90 days compared to Day 2 in all dose groups and was more apparent in male rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612775 TI - Toxicological evaluation of the cardiotonic isomazole in the dog. AB - Acute, subchronic, and chronic toxicity studies were conducted in dogs with the new vasodilator/cardiotonic drug isomazole (IMZ) to support, in part, clinical investigations of this agent in humans. Single oral doses of IMZ of 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg given to English pointer dogs (2/dose) caused a marked drop in systemic blood pressure and reflex-induced increases in heart rate to values well over 200 beats per minute. These responses were maintained for 12 to 22 hr depending on the dose given. One of the dogs receiving 100 mg/kg died at 4.5 hr postdose. Results of subchronic (3 months) and chronic (1 year) studies in beagle dogs (4/sex/dose group), in which measurable plasma levels of the drug and its metabolites were found, indicated that IMZ did not produce any discernible adverse findings when given in doses up to 16 mg/kg, other than expected cardiotoxic effects. The plasma t1/2 of IMZ at 16 mg/kg increased to between 4 and 8 hr from 2 hr noted at lower doses. In the 1-year study, at all doses and in both sexes, plasma levels of IMZ declined over the first month, stabilizing (at the 2 and 6 mg/kg doses) thereafter for the duration of the study. At the high dose of 16 mg/kg, after 1 year plasma levels of IMZ exceeded (females) or equaled (males) the 1-month values. At peak plasma levels of IMZ (2 hr postdose), plasma levels of parent drug increased linearly with the dose. The cardiotoxic effects consisted of substantial postdose increases in heart rate throughout the course of treatment (5 mg/kg and above), significant increases in heart weight (6 mg/kg and above), and multifocal myocardial fibrosis (6 mg/kg and above). There was a decline in basal heart rate at doses of 12.5 mg/kg and higher. The results of these studies demonstrated that repeated IMZ administration, as expected, was cardiotoxic to the dog, a species relatively sensitive to the pharmacological activity and hemodynamic changes induced by vasodilator/cardiotonic drugs. The no effect dose level for cardiotoxicity in the repeated dose studies was considered to be 2 mg/kg, the lowest dose tested. PMID- 2612776 TI - Deposition of cigarette smoke particles in the rat. AB - The fractional deposition of cigarette smoke particles in the respiratory tracts of rats was studied. Male and female rats were conditioned in nose-only exposure tubes 25 min/day for 2 days, exposed to cigarette smoke at mass concentrations of 95 or 341 mg/m3, 25 min/day for 3 days, and then exposed to smoke at mass concentrations of 212 and 657 mg/m3, 25 min/day for 5 days. Mainstream cigarette smoke was generated by a modified Walton smoking machine from two 1R3 research cigarettes burned sequentially for each exposure. Deposition studies were conducted by placing the rats in plethysmograph tubes to allow respiratory minute volume measurements during exposure, then exposing them to [14C]dotriacontane labeled cigarette smoke at mass concentrations of 202 or 624 mg/m3 for 25 min, using the same smoking machine. Size distribution, real-time concentration, and 14C activity of the smoke particles were determined using a multijet Mercer impactor, a real-time aerosol monitor, and filter samples, respectively. Immediately after the exposure, the rats were terminated to determine the distribution of the 14C. Individual lung lobes, trachea and lobar bronchi, head, larynx, kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood, and depleted carcass of each rat were analyzed for 14C content. Results showed that the GI tract contained 16-31% of the total activity, indicating significant clearance from the large airways and nose to the GI tract during the exposure and during the 10-15 min between the cessation of the exposure and the removal of the organs. Total deposition of the inhaled 14C activity was 20.1 +/- 1.6% for both exposure concentrations. The intrapulmonary deposition fractions (lung lobes plus airways below the lobar bronchi) were 12.4 +/- 0.9 and 15.9 +/- 1.4% for concentrations of 202 and 624 mg/m3, respectively, suggesting a slight enhancement in upper airway deposition for animals exposed to the higher smoke concentration. PMID- 2612777 TI - Effect of subacute low level dietary sodium arsenite on dogs. AB - Thirty female beagle dogs, 7 to 8 months old, were assigned to five groups. Control, low dosage, medium dosage, high dosage, and pair-fed groups were offered 0, 1, 2, 4 and 0 mg of sodium arsenite per killigram of body weight per day (mg/kg/day), respectively, in their feed. On Day 59, the dosage was doubled for the rest of the experiment, which ended on Day 183. Nominal dosages of 4 and 8 mg/kg/day caused a significant decrease in feed consumption. The initial decreased feed consumption was followed by increased intake over time. Nominal dosages of 4 and 8 mg/kg/day caused a significant decrease in body weight. Body weight loss of high dosage and pair fed groups were not significantly different. Serum aspartate aminotransferase was elevated in dogs exposed to 4 and 8 mg/kg/day of sodium arsenite. Serum alanine aminotransferase was elevated in dogs exposed to 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg/day. No gross or light microscopic lesions were present in the liver of any group. This study shows that dietary sodium arsenite causes a dose-dependent decrease of feed consumption and body weight. Weight loss is caused by decreased feed consumption, not by the direct effect of the sodium arsenite. PMID- 2612778 TI - An analysis of alveolar macrophage mobility kinetics at dust overloading of the lungs. AB - On the basis of a compartmental model, an analysis is presented to describe the alveolar clearance of insoluble particles from the rat lungs at excessive lung burdens. Expressions for the transport rate of the model are derived in terms of the alveolar macrophage mobility kinetics. It is shown that the reduction of alveolar clearance from the lungs at excessive burdens is caused by a reduction of macrophage mobility at high particle burdens and increasing number of deposited particles entering the interstitial space. On the basis of these hypotheses, and the results of other studies, calculations show that a macrophage maintains its mobility up to a certain particle burden and beyond this burden the mobility is dramatically reduced. PMID- 2612779 TI - Ninety-day inhalation study in rats, comparing smoke from cigarettes that heat tobacco with those that burn tobacco. AB - Eight groups of 30 male and 30 female rats were exposed 1 hr per day, 5 days per week for 13 weeks, to smoke from reference (tobacco burned) or test (tobacco only heated) cigarettes, at nicotine concentrations of 5, 15, or 30 micrograms/liter of air. Similar smoke concentrations of wet total particulate matter and carbon monoxide were produced in each of the test/reference comparisons. There was a pronounced depression of minute ventilation of animals in the reference groups, but not in the test animals. Blood carboxyhemoglobin concentrations were similar in animals exposed to smoke from test and reference cigarettes. Plasma concentrations of nicotine and cotinine in the test groups were higher than in the reference groups. There were no differences between the smoke-exposed groups in terms of body weight or feed consumption. At necropsy, an increase in heart weight was noted in both high exposure groups. There were notable differences in histopathology, with fewer and less-pronounced changes in the test groups than in the reference groups. Many of the histopathological responses induced in the reference groups were absent in the test groups. Overall, the study demonstrated a substantial reduction in the biological activity of smoke from the test cigarette when compared with the reference. PMID- 2612780 TI - Release and metabolism of dopamine in a clonal line of pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells exposed to fenthion. AB - The effects of an organophosphate (OP) pesticide, fenthion (FEN), on the release and metabolism of dopamine were evaluated in a clonal line of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. HPLC was used to determine media concentrations of DA and the DA metabolites norepinephrine (NE), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and homovanillic acid (HVA). The FEN formulation solvent did not significantly affect DA metabolism. In the first study, cultures were treated with 10(-5) or 10(-6) M FEN or 10(-5) M neostigmine, a non-OP acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Concentrations of both catecholamines were elevated in cultures treated with 10(-5) M FEN by 2.8-fold for DA and 3.5-fold for NE. Neostigmine effects were of smaller magnitude and DA was decreased after 24 hr. Cultures were also treated with depolarizing levels of K+, but the effect of FEN was not altered, suggesting that FEN does not act by increasing DA release. In the second study, the effect of 10(-6) M FEN was evaluated in cultures treated with the DA uptake inhibitor benztropine, the monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor pargyline, or the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor tropolone. Inhibitor effects were consistent with their known mechanisms of action. In all cultures treated with FEN, the ratio HVA/DOPAC was decreased after 3 and 6 hr of exposure. A decrease in HVA/DOPAC was also observed in cultures treated with neostigmine and tropolone. In combination with pargyline, FEN decreased DA in contrast to its usual effect of increasing DA. Neither the stimulation of DA release nor the inhibition of DA uptake affected the observed action of FEN in PC12 cultures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612781 TI - Effect in the rat of the interaction of dichloromaleic acid and carbon tetrachloride on renal and hepatic function. AB - Water purification generates a variety of chlorinated contaminants, one of which is dichloromaleic acid (DCMA). Exposure to this compound is likely to occur in combination with other drinking water pollutants, some of which are hepatotoxic. This study was designed to examine the interactive effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), a known hepatotoxin, with DCMA on liver and kidney function in the Sprague-Dawley rat. Administration of a single dose of DCMA (200-400 mg/kg, ip) caused modest dose-dependent increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and plasma urea nitrogen, as well as a marked depletion of nonprotein sulfhydryls (NPSH) in the liver, but not the kidney, by 24 hr. Pretreatment with inducers (phenobarbital or 3 methylcholanthrene) or an inhibitor (SKF 525A) of cytochrome P-450 activity failed to alter the response observed with DCMA alone. Alterations in 24-hr urine volume, osmolality, and water consumption also were observed. DCMA-mediated changes in plasma urea nitrogen and NPSH were reduced in magnitude with coadministration of CCl4 (1 ml/kg, ip), while anticipated CCl4-induced increases in ALT and AST were reduced with coexposure to DCMA. Renal slice experiments indicated that DCMA-treated rats were less able to accumulate the organic anion p aminohippurate (PAH), whereas DCMA had no effect on accumulation of the organic cation tetraethylammonium (TEA). The combination of CCl4 and DCMA produced only additive effects on organic ion accumulation. These results suggest hepatic interaction possibly related to the metabolism of CCl4 and DCMA, resulting in renal and hepatic toxicity diminished from that observed with exposure to either agent alone. PMID- 2612782 TI - Corneal toxicity studies in rabbits and dogs with hydroxyethyl cellulose and benzalkonium chloride. AB - Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is used as a viscosity-enhancing agent in ophthalmic formulations to prolong corneal contact time and increase intraocular drug levels. Benzalkonium chloride (BAK) is the preservative most frequently used in ophthalmic formulations. Corneal epithelial changes were seen by slit lamp and light microscopic examination in rabbits but not dogs after multiple instillations of an ophthalmic vehicle containing 0.01% BAK and 0.5% HEC. Microscopically, there was sloughing of superficial epithelial cells and a slight loss of polarity of the basal cells. Formulations with 0.01% BAK and HEC, at concentrations between 0.3 and 0.8%; caused these changes but not with BAK or HEC alone. It was concluded that hydroxyethyl cellulose increased the viscosity and prolonged the contact time of BAK with cornea resulting in corneal epithelial damage in the rabbit. Physiological and anatomical features of the rabbit combined with the increased contact time were concluded to favor these changes in this species. The results confirm that the rabbit is a sensitive and unique species in studies of ocular toxicity of drugs. PMID- 2612783 TI - Effects of acute lead acetate exposure on adult guinea pigs: electrophysiological study of the inner ear. AB - The effects on humans of lead acetate exposure may involve the cranial nerves, since vertigo and sensory neuronal deafness have been reported in lead workers; however, there exist only a few reports concerning the dose effects of lead acetate both on the cochlea and the eighth cranial nerve. The effects of lead acetate on the cochlea and the eighth nerve were investigated systematically using cochlear microphonics (CM), whole-nerve action potential (AP), and endocochlear potential (EP) in guinea pigs (male albino Hartley). Guinea pigs were injected with 2 ml of a 1% solution of lead acetate (20 mg) once a week for 1-5 weeks. The threshold of whole-nerve AP (N1) was elevated by injection of lead acetate, even 40 mg, and whole-nerve AP (N1) output voltage decreased after injection of 100 mg of lead acetate. On the other hand, no change was observed in CM after lead acetate injection (100 mg) or in EP after lead acetate exposure (40 mg). The blood concentrations of lead acetate were as follows (mean): control, 4.5 micrograms/dl; Expt 1, 80 micrograms/dl; Expt 2, 126 micrograms/dl; Expt 3, 142 micrograms/dl. We conclude that dysfunction of the eighth nerve is induced by high-dose lead exposure, but that lead exposure does not induce electrophysiological dysfunction of the organ of Corti and the stria vascularis. PMID- 2612784 TI - Ethyl chloride: 11-day continuous exposure inhalation toxicity study in B6C3F1 mice. AB - Groups of seven B6C3F1 mice per sex were exposed for 23 hr/day to 0, 250, 1250, or 5000 ppm ethyl chloride (EtCl) for 11 consecutive days to evaluate the potential toxicity of EtCl under near-continuous exposure conditions. On the day following the last exposure, a neurobehavioral observation battery was performed, samples were obtained for clinical chemistry and hematology, and necropsies were conducted. Histopathologic examination was subsequently performed. The only observed effects were increased relative liver weights and a slight increase in hepatocellular vacuolation (glycogen or fat) in 5000 ppm-exposed mice. Exposures to EtCl were well tolerated despite the unusually long exposure periods. PMID- 2612785 TI - Evaluation of a superactivated charcoal paste and detergent and water in prevention of T-2 toxin-induced local cutaneous effects in topically exposed swine. AB - T-2 toxin (6 mg) dissolved in 90% DMSO was topically applied to nine 9-cm2 sites on the dorsum of each of nine young, crossbred, specific pathogen-free, female pigs, 20.6 +/- 1.9 kg in weight. A superactive charcoal paste (SAC) and/or a soap and-water wash (SOAP) was applied to eight of the T-2-exposed sites on each animal. These treatments were applied at various times postexposure ranging from 5 to 65 min. The site that received T-2 alone served as a positive control. DMSO was applied to a tenth site on each pig as a negative control. Animals were killed 1, 3, or 6 days after treatment. Skin lesions were examined and graded grossly and histologically. No adverse systemic clinical signs were observed in any of the animals. Marked reddening and slight swelling of the T-2 toxin-treated positive control sites were present throughout the study. Ulceration of this site was first noted on Day 3. All therapeutic regimens effectively reduced lesion severity resulting from T-2 toxin application. Significant differences in relative effectiveness were also seen between treatments. In each significant pair, the ordering of mean lesion severity was SAC/SOAP less than SAC or SOAP and SOAP less than SAC. As a single treatment, SOAP appears to be more effective than SAC in reducing lesion severity. These results failed to provide unequivocal evidence of an additive therapeutic effect when SAC and SOAP were used sequentially on the same site. PMID- 2612786 TI - Variability of safe dose estimates when using complicated models of the carcinogenic process. A case study: methylene chloride. AB - Advances in understanding carcinogenesis have led to the development of mathematical models that have biologically interpretable parameters. These models utilize more of the available scientific data than the empirical models routinely employed for quantifying carcinogenic risk. They also require consideration of sources of uncertainty in risk estimates that were previously ignored, such as animal-to-animal variability of physiological and pharmacological constants. A numerical technique is proposed for studying the consequences of incorporating the intrapopulation variability of biologically interpretable parameters into the risk assessment process. To demonstrate the technique, the variability of safe dose estimates for exposure to methylene chloride is considered. The results suggest that intrapopulation variability of the model parameters can increase the variability of safe dose estimates an appreciable amount. PMID- 2612787 TI - Carcinogenic potential of gasoline and diesel engine oils. AB - Used gasoline engine oils are carcinogenic in mouse skin and mutagenic in Salmonella. The toxicity of fresh gasoline engine oils and that of fresh and used diesel engine oils are less well defined. The present studies examined the dermal carcinogenic potential of a series of fresh and used oils from both gasoline and diesel engines. The used oils represented a variety of operating conditions. The objective of the study was to assess the potential carcinogenic hazards associated with exposure to these materials. The majority of the used gasoline engine oils tested were carcinogenic although one oil, collected after a relatively short drainage interval, was inactive in the dermal carcinogenesis bioassay. Additionally, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations were elevated in the used oils in comparison to the fresh oils. The fresh gasoline engine oils and both the fresh and used diesel engine oil samples were noncarcinogenic, and there was little evidence of elevated PAH levels in the used diesel engine oils. The carcinogenic potency of used oils from gasoline engines was related to drainage interval, but other factors such as contribution of the fuel due to blowby and driving cycle may also have been important. The used diesel engine oils were not carcinogenic even after extended use. PMID- 2612788 TI - Subchronic inhalation and oral toxicity of hydrogenated terphenyls in rats. AB - The subchronic toxicity of a commercial blend of partially hydrogenated terphenyl was evaluated in rats by inhalation and oral routes of exposure. Animals were exposed to target concentrations of 0, 10, 100, or 500 mg/m3 for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week or were offered diets daily with concentrations of 0, 50, 200, or 2000 ppm. Each study lasted approximately 14 weeks. The study designs included observations for clinical signs, body weights, ophthalmic exams, hematology and clinical chemistry, major organ weights, and gross and histopathology. No treatment-related effects were noted in the ophthalmic exams. Body weights were slightly depressed in high-dose males from the inhalation study and high-dose females in the dietary study. Liver and liver/body weights were increased in high dose animals of both sexes and high- and mid-dose males in the dietary and inhalation studies, respectively. In the high-dose females of the dietary study, kidney and kidney/body weights were increased with increased adrenal and adrenal/body weights were also observed. No compound-related gross lesions nor pathological correlates to the organ weight changes were observed in either study. The no-adverse effect levels were considered to be 100 mg/m3 and 200 ppm (15.9 mg/kg) for the inhalation and dietary studies, respectively. These data indicate that a wide margin of safety exists for hydrogenated terphenyl workplace exposure. PMID- 2612789 TI - The effect of 2-(o-cresyl)-4H-1:3:2-benzodioxaphosphorin-2-oxide on tissue cholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities of the rat. AB - The dose-response (0.1 to 1000 mg/kg sc) effects of 2-(o-cresyl)-4H-1:3:2 benzodioxaphosphorin-2-oxide (CBDP; a metabolite of the organophosphorus compound tri-o-cresylphosphate) on total cholinesterase (ChE) and carboxylesterase (CaE) activities in tissues from the rat were examined. Doses of CBDP greater than 1.0 mg/kg inhibited CaE activity maximally (greater than 99%) in plasma and lung, two important sites for detoxification of organophosphorus toxicants. A biphasic dose dependent inhibition of ChE activity was seen in all tissues; the ED50 values showed a difference of two orders of magnitude between the first and the second phases of the dose-response curves. CBDP inhibited the blood esterases in the order plasma CaE much greater than plasma ChE much greater than red blood cell (RBC) ChE. The biphasic dose-response curve and preferential inhibition of the blood esterases may reflect the inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase in preference to acetylcholinesterase in these tissues. At doses of CBDP below 1.0 mg/kg, plasma, RBC, and brain regional ChE activities were inhibited by less than 10%, whereas at doses above 2.0 mg/kg, ChE activities were inhibited substantially (up to 80% in plasma, up to 60% in RBC, and greater than 90% in brain regions). On the basis of these results, a dose of CBDP between 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg should prove useful as a pretreatment for studies of OP toxicity in the rat. PMID- 2612790 TI - Enteric neuronal ablation: structure-activity relationship in a series of alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chlorides. AB - Serosal application of a commercial solution of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) has been shown to selectively ablate myenteric neurons in the rat jejunum. This experimental model has proven useful in the study of the role of the myenteric plexus in intestinal function. The commercial BAC is a mixture of at least three homologous N-alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chlorides (ADBAC). The purpose of this study was to determine neuronal ablative activity in a series of ADBAC homologs when applied on the serosa of rat jejunum. Homologs not commercially available were synthesized and purified. Seven ADBAC homologs with alkyl chain lengths ranging from C6 to C18 were tested. A solution of each homolog (2 mM in saline) was applied directly on the serosa of an exteriorized portion of jejunum from anesthetized rats. Fifteen days after treatment, animals were sacrificed and treated tissues were processed for neuronal cell counts and muscle thickness determinations. All ADBAC homologs, except C18, ablated neurons of the myenteric plexus and produced thickening of intestinal smooth muscle. The number of submucosal neurons was not affected by any of the homologs. The structure activity relationship observed in this study paralleled that of the reported antimicrobial activity of the ADBAC homologs, and is related to the aqueous solubility and relative surface activities of the homologs. The C14 homolog was found to be the most effective ablative agent, and reduced the number of myenteric neurons in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, the C14 homolog can be used to produce a selectively denervated jejunal model for use in acute or chronic in vitro or in vivo studies of intestinal function. PMID- 2612791 TI - A CCl4/CHCl3 interaction study in isolated hepatocytes: selection of a vehicle. AB - Emulphor, ethanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were evaluated as vehicles in studying the toxicity of CCl4 and CHCl3 in isolated hepatocytes. The appropriateness of the vehicle was determined by evaluating the following parameters: solubility of CCl4 and CHCl3 in the vehicle, cell injury (intracellular K+), cell death (LDH leakage), and lack of interaction (protection or enhanced toxicity) with CCl4 and CHCl3. The relative toxicity of the vehicles according to maximum no effect levels (v/v) was: emulphor (0.125%) greater than ethanol (1.0%) greater than DMSO (5.0%). Emulphor at toxic levels was inadequate to dissolve enough CCl4 to evaluate in this system. Ethanol (5.0, 2.5, 1.0, 0.5%) was more toxic than DMSO and interacted with both CCl4 and CHCl3 to enhance toxicity. DMSO (15.0, 5.0, 2.5%) did not significantly alter the toxicity of CCl4 and CHCl3; no interaction. These data suggest that DMSO should be the vehicle for evaluating the toxicity of CCl4 and CHCl3 and their mechanisms of action in the isolated hepatocyte. PMID- 2612792 TI - Cuba: on the road to a family medicine nation. AB - Beginning with an overview of developments during the last 30 years, this article focuses on the current Cuban plan to convert the country into a family practice nation by creating a new primary care system. The new system is based on the training and placement of no less than 20,000 family physician and nurse teams by 1992. Cuba has come a long way in 30 years, as demonstrated by major health indicators. PMID- 2612793 TI - Power in academic medicine. AB - The inherent strengths from which family medicine can gain power in the academic medical center include the following. 1. Family medicine is the ambulatory primary care discipline. Consider increasing your capabilities of teaching in ambulatory settings. With the changing nature of the hospital patient population, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a non-seriously ill patient who is alert and cooperative for simple teaching programs such as basic history taking and physical diagnosis. One can recruit more practicing family physicians as part time faculty. In some medical schools the Introduction to Clinical Medicine field experience is in the office of practicing physicians. One might consider assuming responsibility for a neighborhood health center, particularly if this is a designated U.S. Public Health Service Corps Site. There would be an advantage to having students experience firsthand this mechanism of financing the medical education of primary care physicians. One might consider developing a purely private teaching practice. One could take a university faculty salary and divide it among three or four people in a group practice. This would compensate for the extra time it takes to have students and/or residents seeing patients in private offices. 2. Graduates of family practice residency programs comprise the major primary care referral base for open staff hospitals. Energies devoted to recruiting residency graduates to use our teaching hospitals will be well spent. Imaginative joint ventures between the hospital and the departments and/or graduates would help these recruiting efforts. The gradual increase in this primary care referral base over several years would greatly strengthen the position of family medicine within the academic medical center.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612794 TI - A balance in research topics. PMID- 2612795 TI - The sore throat: a clinical research challenge for the family physician. PMID- 2612796 TI - Family medicine and community health centers: a natural alliance. PMID- 2612797 TI - The treatment of nonstreptococcal pharyngitis with erythromycin: a preliminary study. AB - This preliminary study evaluated the effectiveness of enteric-coated erythromycin in the treatment of adults with nonstreptococcal pharyngitis. Twenty-six patients, aged 12 or older, with nonstreptococcal pharyngitis were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to receive either enteric-coated erythromycin or placebo for 10 days. Each day the patients rated the soreness of their throats and how sick they felt. The use of erythromycin appeared to decrease the median number of days for the feeling of sickness to improve (two days versus four days, P less than .01) as well as to decrease the median number of days for the feeling of sickness to resolve (three-and-a-half days versus five days, P less than .05). This apparent improvement in sickness occurred even though there was no significant decrease in the soreness of the throat in patients treated with erythromycin compared to those patients treated with placebo. Treatment with enteric-coated erythromycin appeared to shorten the time until improvement in this group of adults with nonstreptococcal pharyngitis. PMID- 2612798 TI - Clinical and demographic factors associated with high levels of depression symptoms. AB - Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were analyzed from 427 consecutive, nonpregnant, adult family medicine patients to delimit demographic and clinical parameters which would predict high levels of depression symptoms. BDI scores at or above the chosen cutoff score of 17 were present in 51 patients (12%). Unemployment, less than high school education, high usage of inpatient and outpatient services, complaints of nervousness or of a functional nature, and chronic illness were shown by univariate and multiple regression analyses to be associated with BDI scores in the depressed range. Nearly half of patients with certain combinations of risk factors (eg, less than high school education and functional complaint) scored in the depressed range. The reason for the visit, as stated by the patient, only rarely provided a reason to suspect depression. Whether or not clinicians decide to use a depression screening test, the presence of these demographic and clinical factors should prompt a search for depression. Educational efforts to improve recognition of depression in primary care should focus on awareness of clinical and demographic factors rather than on stereotypic, but rare presentations of depression. PMID- 2612799 TI - Effect of computer-generated nurse/physician reminders on influenza immunization among seniors. AB - Despite long-standing recommendations by the Canadian and U.S. national immunization advisory committees that all persons aged 65 or older be vaccinated annually against influenza, vaccination rates among North American seniors remain approximately 20%. This paper reports a study of the effect of computer-generated nurse/physician reminders to offer influenza vaccine to elderly patients seen during the pre-influenza season in a community based group family practice. The study employed a pretest-post-test design strengthened by the use of a no intervention comparison practice and repeated pretest measures of vaccine coverage. Outcome was measured by clinical records review. The influenza vaccination rate increased by 165% from 10.1% to 26.8% following introduction of the computer-generated reminders. There was no increase in influenza immunization in the comparison practice during the corresponding time period. Over 60% of eligible patients were seen in the practice during the pre-influenza season; 41.6% of those received influenza vaccinations. PMID- 2612800 TI - The families of patients with somatization disorder. AB - This pilot study was undertaken to better understand the families of patients with somatization disorder. Two complementary methods were used to study six patients with somatization disorder and six control patients. The first method was a semistructured clinical family interview which was videotaped and independently reviewed by five raters. The second method was by the PAFS-Q, a standardized family questionnaire. The clinical interview distinguished cases from controls both in terms of individual relationships and behavior of the family as a whole. The PAFS-Q also distinguished cases from controls, showing significantly more dysfunction for the cases on five of its eight subscales. These two methods overlap in the content areas of intimacy and individuation, with correlation coefficients between the two methodologies ranging from 0.45 to 0.79. The authors conclude that the families of patients with somatization disorder are different than their unaffected counterparts. PMID- 2612801 TI - Integrating qualitative and quantitative research methods. AB - Researchers have traditionally worked within either a quantitative or a qualitative paradigm. The quantitative paradigm is dominant in biomedical research. This paper describes the differences between quantitative and qualitative methods and discusses the limitations of research which involves one approach to the exclusion of the other. The possible advantages of the combined use of both types of methods are outlined and highlighted with examples from the medical literature. PMID- 2612802 TI - Medical education: a neglectful and abusive family system. AB - Conceptualizing medical education as a family system facilitates recognition of the dynamics within the system which perpetuate many of the problems facing teachers, students, and practicing physicians. Neglectful and abusive families are often characterized by their unrealistic expectations, denial, indirect communication patterns, rigidity, and isolation. The medical education system has similar patterns of behavior that contribute to problems at all levels of the training process and include practicing physicians. The communication patterns within the teaching hospital reinforce trainees' strivings for perfectionism and devalue the contributions of nonphysician staff to the supervision of the physician-in-training. Excluding the potentially healing influence of "outsiders" contributes to the rigidity within the system. Like parents who raise their children as they themselves were raised, each generation teaches as they were taught, and the patterns are loyally perpetuated. Teachers will need to address their own training experiences, acknowledging the dysfunctional behavior patterns learned and the pain those behaviors cause. Then educators can begin to change how they teach and break the cycle of physical neglect and emotional abuse that has been inherited. PMID- 2612803 TI - Evaluation of an intervention to increase seat belt use. AB - People continue to travel without wearing seat belts despite their proven safety value. Numerous interventions in primary care physicians' offices to enhance the use of seat belts have met with limited success. In a rural neighborhood health center, an intervention using the language of self-responsibility was evaluated. Of 105 patients receiving the intervention, seat belt use increased from 20% before to 35.2% after the intervention (P less than .001). No change in seat belt use occurred in a control group of patients who did not receive the intervention. PMID- 2612804 TI - Diary of a residency watcher: July Fourth--"on call". PMID- 2612805 TI - [Drug-induced liver diseases]. PMID- 2612806 TI - [Changes in plasma myoglobin levels in ischemic heart disease]. AB - The aim of the present study is to evaluate the real need and the sensitivity of serum myoglobin levels as an early index for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. A total of 62 patients (38 suffering from acute myocardial infarction, 16 from "angina pectoris", 8 from heart failure) and 20 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The patients with acute myocardial infarction were divided in 3 subgroups according to the time passed between the beginning of the pain and their admittance to our Department (Coronary Care Unit), that was, less than 6 hours, between 6 and 12 hours, between 12 and 24 hours. Among the patients with "angina", 8 presented spontaneous crisis whereas 4 had crisis only during treadmill test. 8 of the healthy volunteers received intramuscular injections of physiological solution every 12 hours during the 3 days preceding the study. In all subjects serum myoglobin level were measured by radioimmunoassay; in patients with acute myocardial infarction serum CK and MBCK levels with enzymatic method were measured too. No variation of plasma myoglobin levels was seen in patients with angina, neither in healthy volunteers had they received or not intramuscular injections. The low increase in plasma myoglobin levels observed in patients with heart failure might be due to a deficit of renal function. Serum myoglobin levels were significantly elevated in all the patients with acute myocardial infarction, whereas plasma CK and MBCK levels were significantly high only 6 hours after the necrosis. In myocardial infarction the levels of myoglobin rise during the first hours, peak at 10 hours and return to normal in 20 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612807 TI - [Neuroendocrinology of male climacteric]. PMID- 2612808 TI - [Clinical case. Pulmonary embolism]. PMID- 2612809 TI - [Combination use of an automatic anti-tachycardia pacemaker and an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in sustained recurrent ventricular tachycardia resistant to drugs]. AB - We used the combination of an antitachycardia automatic ventricular pacemaker with the automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in two patients with sustained, recurrent, drug-resistant ventricular tachycardias in whom a surgical ablation was not indicated. The indications for the combined use of the two systems were the possibility to control: a) the ventricular tachycardias with ventricular programmed stimulation; b) the arrhythmias which might eventually degenerate into ventricular flutter or fibrillation (as a result of anti tachycardia pacing) with the defibrillator. To avoid any possible interference between the two systems we used the following protocol: a) endocardial bipolar pacing; b) the sensing electrodes of the defibrillator were placed as far as possible from the endocardial one; c) a suitable programming of the pacemaker output; d) a careful selection of the anti-tachycardia pacing programme (burst rate inferior to the cut-off rate of the cardioverter-defibrillator and/or a duration of the burst pacing inferior to the arrhythmia sensing time of the defibrillator); e) use of cardioverter-defibrillators with a high cut-off rate. We never observed, during the follow-up (11 and 4 months, respectively), interference between the two systems. Both patients had ventricular tachycardia recurrences (51 and 3 episodes, respectively). The arrhythmias were correctly detected and interrupted by the pacemaker without the intervention of the defibrillator. These data confirm the feasibility of the combined use of the two systems in patients with ventricular tachycardias and, in selected cases, this approach is preferable. The anti-tachycardia pacemaker counteracts some limitations of the defibrillators available at present. It offers a protection against bradyarrhythmias and allows a more precise storage of arrhythmic events. The anti-tachycardia pacemaker often controls ventricular tachycardias without the intervention of the defibrillator, thus giving the same a longer life-span and allowing patients to avoid the shock. PMID- 2612810 TI - [Histological substrate of ventricular tachycardias of the right bundle-branch block type (sensitive to verapamil)]. AB - In order to clarify the anatomic substrate of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia of right bundle-branch block morphology, responsive to verapamil, two patients with this type of arrhythmia were evaluated using hemodynamic studies, right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy as well as electrophysiological and pharmacological studies. Pressures, right and left ventriculography and coronary angiography were normal in both patients. Case 1 showed a prolonged sinus node recovery time and a histological pattern which was compatible with healed myocarditis. Case 2 presented a complete right bundle-branch block, intra-His conduction defects and histological features of aspecific cardiomyopathy. Our results underline the presence of diffuse ventricular histologic changes in patients with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia of right bundle-branch block morphology. These histologic changes seem unable to interfere with cardiac pump function but are sufficient to create significant abnormalities of impulse formation and conduction. PMID- 2612811 TI - [Well's syndrome with eosinophilic vasculitis, coronary aneurysms and myocardial infarction]. AB - This report describes a 40-year-old man suffering from Well's syndrome (recurrent granulomatous dermatitis with eosinophilia) who presented an anterior myocardial infarction complicated by shock and 3rd degree A-V block. The patient died within 12 hours of admission to the hospital. At autopsy, both main coronary arteries showed proximal aneurysms occluded by thrombi. On light microscopy, the aneurysmatic coronary walls were infiltrated by numerous eosinophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Similar cellulitis, mainly perivascular, was found in kidneys and anterior mediastinum. Because the patient had been treated with large doses of diclofenac and piroxicam owing to painful arthralgias, the Authors discuss the possible allergic pathogenesis of the vasculitis. PMID- 2612812 TI - [Myocardial dysfunction subsequent to supraventricular tachycardia]. AB - In a patient without a demonstrable heart disease a congestive heart failure developed during an atrioventricular tachycardia which persisted for 20 days at the rate of 180/b/m'. After conversion to sinus rhythm, by means of transesophageal pacing, a quick regression of the failure symptoms followed. The heart rate increase and the persistence of tachycardia may have determined the depletion of myocardial stores and therefore, the myocardial dysfunction responsible for the cardiac failure. In order to prevent myocardial dysfunctions, it is necessary to interrupt supraventricular tachycardias as early as possible, even when they are observed in patients without any heart disease. PMID- 2612813 TI - [Cardiological problems in heart transplantation. Organizational problems]. PMID- 2612814 TI - [Evaluation of patient candidates for heart transplantation]. PMID- 2612815 TI - [Heterotopic heart transplantation, today]. PMID- 2612816 TI - [Diagnostic problems associated with rejection]. PMID- 2612817 TI - [Therapy of rejection. Clinical consequences]. PMID- 2612818 TI - [Heart transplantation in children: the point of view of the cardiologist]. PMID- 2612820 TI - [National Conference on the Prevention of Ischemic Heart Disease. Guidelines for the 90's. Rome, 28-29 September 1987. Proceedings]. PMID- 2612819 TI - [Cardiological problems of heart transplantation. Results of the Italian experience]. PMID- 2612821 TI - [Ischemic heart disease in Italy: dimensions of the problem]. PMID- 2612822 TI - [The biological bases for prevention]. PMID- 2612823 TI - [Possibilities and strategies for prevention of ischemic heart disease. Risk factors, trials, mass and individual strategies]. PMID- 2612824 TI - [Methods of influencing life style and risk factors]. PMID- 2612825 TI - [The role of the Government, the National Health Service, the medical profession and the voluntary associations]. PMID- 2612826 TI - [Areas of intervention: production and preparation of foodstuffs, industry, sports, work, mass media]. PMID- 2612827 TI - [Secondary prevention and cardiac rehabilitation]. PMID- 2612828 TI - [Preventive interventions in national health programming]. PMID- 2612829 TI - [Classification and definition of pancreatitis. Marseilles-Rome 1988]. PMID- 2612830 TI - [Trends in the incidence of colorectal cancer at the Department of Cote-d'Or between 1976 and 1985]. AB - Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer morbidity in France when both sexes are considered together. There are few available data on time trends, although such data would prove both necessary for planning screening programs and usefull to construct hypotheses on etiological factors. Data from the Registre des Tumeurs Digestives de Cote d'Or permitted to establish time trends for the different locations of colorectal cancer during the 1976-1985 period. Changes in incidence rates as based on the world reference population were studied using a log linear model as well as the Armitage test. Overall colon cancer rates have increased in both sexes. The mean annual increase of left colonic cancer was 3.1 p. 100 in men (p less than 0.05) and 4.0 p. 100 in women (NS), whereas rectal cancer decreased by 2.4 p. 100 in men and 3.3 p. 100 in women (NS). In men, left colonic cancer rates increased mainly in rural areas (+ 7.3 p. 100; p less than 0.05) whereas it increased mainly in urban areas in women (+ 6.0 p. 100; NS). In both sexes, the left colonic cancer increase was particularly noticeable in the 45-64 age group, which could indicate that the observed trend is likely to become more important in the next years. As for rectal cancer, the decrease was most important in the 65-74 age groups. That inversed trend for colon and rectum cancer has already been observed in other countries including the USA and Canada. As the trends we observed for right colon, left colon and rectal cancer differ, colorectal cancer etiology should be studied separately. PMID- 2612831 TI - Isotype evolution in the follow-up study of patients with Campylobacter pylori associated gastritis. AB - Four sequential immuno-assays were performed from May to November 1988 to follow the levels of IgG, IgA and IgM to Campylobacter pylori in 16 infected patients with histologically proven gastritis, among which 12 received appropriate therapy. Histopathological examination of antral biopsies, bacteriological cultures and urease tests were performed on each occasion when serum was tested for antibodies to C. pylori. The detection and quantitative assessment of the various isotypes to this bacterium proved valuable to appreciate the response to therapy with, in case of success, a steady decrease of antibodies levels concomitant with clinical improvement. PMID- 2612832 TI - [Digital storage and semi-automatic analysis of esophageal pressure signals. Evaluation of a commercialized system (PC Polygraft, Synectics)]. AB - The aim of this work was to evaluate a new commercially available pressure recording system (PC Polygraf, Synectics) and to compare this system with a classical method using perfused catheters. The PC Polygraf uses microtransducers and allows direct digitized storage and semi-automatic analysis of data. In the first part of this study, manometric assessment was conducted using only perfused catheters. The transducers were connected to both an analog recorder and to a PC Polygraf. Using the two methods of analysis, contraction amplitudes were strongly correlated (r = 0.99; p less than 0.0001) whereas durations were significantly but loosely correlated (r = 0.51; p less than 0.001). Resting LES pressure was significantly correlated (r = 0.87; p less than 0.05). In the second part of this study, simultaneous recordings of esophageal pressure were conducted in 7 patients, by placing side by side the two tubes (microtransducers and perfused catheters) with the sideholes at the same level. The characteristics of the waves were determined both by visual analysis of analog tracing and by semi-automatic analysis of digitized recording with adequate program. Mean amplitude was lower with the microtransducers than with the perfused catheters (60 vs 68 cm H2O; p less than 0.05), but the duration of waves was not significantly different when using both systems. Values obtained for each of these parameters using both methods were significantly correlated (amplitude: r = 0.74; duration: r = 0.51). The localization and the measure of the basal tone of sphincter were found to be difficult when using microtransducers. These results show that PC Polygraf allows a satisfactory analysis of esophageal pressure signals. However, only perfused catheters offer an excellent reliability for complete studies of both sphincter and peristaltism. PMID- 2612833 TI - [Peritoneojugular shunt: progress in the treatment of refractory ascites?]. PMID- 2612834 TI - [Cost of the peritoneovenous shunt in patients with cirrhosis]. AB - The cost of peritoneovenous shunting was evaluated in 15 cirrhotic patients with intractable ascites. With the assessment presently used in French Public Hospitals which is based on a contractual reimbursement by the Social Security per day of hospitalization, the cost of peritoneovenous shunting was F 37,227.40. Using the more refined method of cost analysis, the cost of the operative procedure was F 9,564 and that of postoperative hospitalization was F 8,067. Total expenses calculated by the cost analysis method (F 17,631) were much less that the reimbursement paid by Social Security. This study allowed to determine the actual cost of Surgical treatment of ascites, where expenses were greatest, and how to reduce them. Results of this report should be used when comparing cost and efficacy of medical and surgical treatments. PMID- 2612835 TI - [Value of systematic endoscopic duodenal biopsy in the evaluation of isolated anemia]. PMID- 2612836 TI - [Polyamine metabolism errors in colorectal polyps and adenocarcinoma of human origin]. PMID- 2612837 TI - [Acetorphan, a potent enkephalinase inhibitor, does not modify orocecal and colonic transit times in healthy subjects]. PMID- 2612838 TI - [Severe chronic diarrhea during treatment with ticlopidine]. PMID- 2612839 TI - [Iatrogenic rectal stenosis caused by Veganine suppositories]. PMID- 2612840 TI - [Peroperative radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer of the pancreas. Preliminary results]. PMID- 2612841 TI - [Fatal hepatitis in a female patient treated with ranitidine]. PMID- 2612842 TI - [On the problem of simultaneous surgery of the lower abdomen]. PMID- 2612843 TI - [Preventive appendectomy in gynecologic surgery. Report of 1,718 cases]. AB - In the period between 1965-1986 with a collective sum of 5369 gynecological laparotomies, the appendix was removed as a preventive measure in 1718 cases (32%). In all these cases, the recovery period proceeded without any complications. The results of the histological studies on the appendices showed an acute appendicitis in 136 cases (7.9%). In 1118 cases (65.1%) a chronic appendicitis was found, with differing severity of fibroid scarring, including total obliteration. In 96 cases (5.6%), there was evidence of carcinoid, mucocele, and endometriosis. Only 368 appendices (21.4%) were normal morphologically. The large percentage of histopathological findings confirms, that the appendix--being a rudimentary lymphatic organ--appears to be predestined for inflammatory changes. For this reason, the risk of illness and death from appendicitis remains, especially for older people. It is usually possible, to perform a prophylactic appendectomy under optimal conditions and we experienced, that this additional operation does not increase the risk to the patient. We consider, that the routine practice of the prophylactic simultaneous appendectomy during gynecological laparotomies is justified, providing, that the contra indications mentioned are observed. PMID- 2612844 TI - [Immunohistochemical receptor findings in the endometrium and therapeutic consequences in endogenous and exogenous functional disorders and cancer]. AB - We studied immunohistochemically cryostat sections made from fresh endometrial tissue, immediately frozen after removal (86 hysterectomy specimens, 6 curettages) for their content of oestrogen receptors (ER) using the ER-ICA assay. Routine histological sections were prepared from parallel specimens of the endometria for determining endometrial functions. The evaluation of the immunohistiological preparations showed that the ER content in the endometrium was closely related to the endogenous hormone stimulation. A further refinement and differentiation of that relationship became possible and correlated well with the various forms of follicle and corpus-luteum insufficiencies. The results indicated that it is now possible to recommend therapy of functional disorders of the endometrium, esp. in sterility cases, without need or knowledge of serum hormone levels. As the endometrial glandular proliferation increases, the density of the ER becomes more intense. In contrast, under therapy with predominantly gestagenic preparations or after these are discontinued, the ER are decreased more than found in normal glands at that degree of proliferation. Whereas the atrophic endometria of old age contained greatly diminished but still detectable ER, no ER could be found in endometrial atrophy induced by oral contraceptives. Carcinomatous endometria revealed a heterogeneous distribution of ER. The better the tumour cells were differentiated, the greater was the density of the ER. By contrast, the carcinomas derived from metaplastic Mullerian epithelium contained few or no ER. This difference is of practical importance, since an adjuvant anti oestrogen therapy seems of value only with ER-positive carcinomas. The immunohistochemical determination of ER is more exact than the biochemical determination, for each single cell can be evaluated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612845 TI - [Problems and practical application of fibrin gluing in early premature rupture of the fetal membranes. 4 clinical single cases using various procedures]. AB - In four cases of early rupture of the amnial membranes between the 19, and 29, gestational week, the membranes were closed by fibrin sealing. The pregnancies were prolonged from 5 to maximal 15 weeks. The fetale weights grew from 600 to maximal 2800 g. The children were born vital without infection and a weight between 1300 and 3620 g. The fibrin sealing appears to be a useful method in the obstetrical management. PMID- 2612846 TI - [Duration of pregnancy in higher degree multiple birth]. AB - The relationship of birth-weight and gestational age was analyzed in 39 multiple pregnancies (27 x triplets, 9 x quadruplets, 3 x quintuplets). Prophylactic cerclage has no benefit for the duration of the pregnancy. Premature rupture of the membranes was the major indication to delivery (33.3%) followed by maternal (28.2%) and foetal (28.2%) causes. PMID- 2612847 TI - [Background information on contraception behavior of patients undergoing abortion as an indication of the psychosocial origin of unwanted pregnancies]. AB - 269 patients were interviewed in a private abortion clinic in Lindenfels, Hessen, West Germany on aspects of contraception and abortion. The results indicated three crucial points, which influence contraceptive behaviour: social barriers, which affect indirectly the access to and the handling of contraceptives; psychic, mainly unconscious barriers, which counteract contraception; an increasing distrust and rejection of modern medical contraception, especially in highly educated women. These barriers are evident in lack of information, differing in the various social groups; partly irrational and exaggerated fear of side effects, and lack of success of factual information. Furthermore, poor co operation is evident on the part of the husband or partner together with considerable shortcomings in medical counselling. PMID- 2612848 TI - [Localized syringoma of the vulva]. AB - A 26-year-old woman developed papular lesions symmetrically located on both labia majora during several years duration. Histopathological examination showed typical features of syringomas. In the literature, only 15 patients have been previously described. PMID- 2612849 TI - [Thrombotic-thrombocytopenic purpura (Moschcowitz syndrome) in a patient with EPH gestosis]. PMID- 2612850 TI - [Indicators of nonspecific immunity in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis]. AB - Parameters of nonspecific defence--complement protein function, circulating immune complex level, neutrophil phagocytic activity, completeness of the phagocytic reaction, C3c level, were evaluated in 162 carriers of hemochromatosis gene (114 homozygotes and 48 heterozygotes with respect to hereditary hemochromatosis) aged from 7 to 64 years. The analysis of the results obtained has permitted a conclusion that the suppression of the complement system function, according to the classic or alternative type, is associated with the disease pathogenesis--hyperferremia, and is caused by the damage of the immunocompetent organs and cells synthesizing individual proteins of the complement, as well as by infectious complications leading to hypocomplementemia with respect to separate components. PMID- 2612851 TI - [Roentgenologic studies of changes of the osteoarticular system in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis]. AB - As many as 11 patients suffering from hereditary hemochromatosis were examined on the bones and joints with the aid of X-rays. The given disease entity was marked by very suggestive x-ray sings of changes in the cranium, in the large and small joints, as well as in the long tubular bones, and so forth. PMID- 2612852 TI - [Identification of primitive hematopoietic stem cells in mice by the limiting dilution method]. AB - An absolute number of the primitive stem cells (PSC) providing for prolonged maintenance of hemopoiesis in culture was measured with the aid of the limiting dilution method. The number of the PSC was determined according to the magnitude of the "zero" class cultures, i. e. of the cultures in which CFUs could not be demonstrated after 5-8 weeks. The fitness of the method can be proved by the presence of the linear relations between the number of the explanted stem cells and the number of the PSC as well as by the passage of the regression curve through the origin of coordinates. The data on the content of the PSC functioning in vivo and in vitro turned out similar, amounting to about 100 cells per mouse femur. PMID- 2612853 TI - [Systematic approach to transfusiology]. AB - Possible methods of systemic approach to transfusiology as an independent science have been considered. It has been noted that, despite a great interrelation with other branches of science, transfusiology has its theoretical basis, and therefore the methods of other sciences, when used for transfusiologic purposes, acquire a definite tendency and specificity. As an example, the authors describe the main features of the systemic approach to controlling blood and circulation with the aim of selecting optimal tactics and strategy. PMID- 2612854 TI - [2 cases of combined pathology: leukemia and AIDS]. PMID- 2612855 TI - [Identification of immune anti-A and anti-B antibodies]. PMID- 2612856 TI - [Substantiation, tactics and effectiveness of frozen plasma-enzyme inhibitor therapy in septicemia and infectious-destructive processes]. AB - Nonvalidated transfusions of fresh frozen plasma (with the aim of blood loss substitution, for parenteral feeding, etc.) are widely used in the current clinical practice. In disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome (DICS) its use is undoubtedly indicated, but only by jet-injection, combined with low doses of heparin, and simultaneous administration of high doses of protease inhibitors (kontrikal, etc.); such treatment should be conducted at the early stages of the process, and not in the period of complete noncoagulation and profuse hemorrhage. The treatment was applied to 194 patients with sepsis and 147 patients with acute infectious-destructive diseases of the lungs; in 12 patients plasmapheresis was used simultaneously. More rapid, than in the compared group, arrest of fever and decrease of intoxication, recovery of microcirculation in the organs, increased accessibility of the infection foci for antibiotics, more than twofold reduction of lethality were recorded during this treatment. The data obtained have evidenced that infectious-septic DICS is an indication for cryoplasma-antienzyme therapy. Expenditure of fresh frozen plasma for many other purposes could be significantly diminished. PMID- 2612857 TI - [Detection of the heterozygote carrier state and prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A using DNA probes]. AB - Southern blot analysis of DNA samples from 110 persons related to 30 high risk hemophilia A families was carried out using intergenic probe St-14 and intergenic probes p 51-61 and p 1.8. Thirty-five hemophilia A patients, 24--their mothers- obligatory carriers and 51 close proband relatives were studied altogether. 16 female proband relatives were diagnosed as hemophilia A carriers, hemophilia A heterozygosity was rejected in three persons. Twenty five families were found to be at risk for prenatal hemophilia A diagnosis. One case of hemophilia A diagnosis in a 10-week fetus has been presented. PMID- 2612858 TI - [The prognostic significance of parameters of bone marrow blast cell proliferation in patients with acute leukemia]. AB - Percentage of bone marrow blasts in S-phase (S%) in acute leukemia patients was evaluated by 3H-thymidine autoradiography or Feulgen cytophotometry at the initial acute period before chemotherapy. In acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) patients who showed complete remission (CR) S% was 8.6 +/- 1.8% versus 2.1 +/- 0.4% in cases without CR (p less than 0.001). In acute non-lymphoid leukemia (ANLL) the corresponding values were 11.4 +/- 1.4% and 8.3 +/- 1.8%, p greater than 0.05. A negative correlation was observed between S% and the duration of CR in ALL: S% was 13.0 +/- 0.7% in CR, more than 12 months, and 6.9 +/- 1.1% in CR less than 12 months (p less than 0.01). The duration of life also correlated negatively with S%. In ALL S% was 9.5 +/- 1.5% for patients with survival less than 12 months versus 6.2 +/- 0.6% for patients with survival more than 12 months (p less than 0.05). In ANLL the difference (10.3 +/- 1.6% and 6.8 +/- 1.2, respectively) was not significant (p greater than 0.05). Thus in ALL the correlations between S% and the probability to achieve CR is positive, while the correlations between S% and survival and remission duration are negative. In ANLL these correlations are statistically insignificant. PMID- 2612859 TI - [Heart involvement in multiple myeloma]. AB - The results of the myocardial functional capacity study in 54 patients with multiple myeloma were compared with the data of clinical and anatomopathologic investigations. No specific clinico-functional signs of cardiac affection in multiple myeloma, having differential diagnostic importance, were revealed. Specific affection of the heart was detected in 30% of cases during anatomopathologic investigations. PMID- 2612860 TI - [The differential diagnosis of splenic angiosarcoma and idiopathic myelofibrosis]. AB - The authors have made an analysis of literature and their own data on the differential diagnosis between angiosarcoma of the spleen and idiopathic myelofibrosis that is considered to be necessary due to the similarity of laboratory and clinical symptoms of these diseases. PMID- 2612861 TI - [Rheologic properties of the erythrocytes and hemostatic system in patients with polycythemia vera]. AB - Rheologic properties of red blood cells and hemostasis were investigated in 25 patients with polycythemia vera (PV). Manifest hemorheologic and hemocoagulation disorders attended by thrombohemorrhagic complications were revealed in this group of patients. It has been shown that hemorheologic disorders play an important role in the mechanisms of thrombohemorrhagic complications in PV, therefore they should be corrected with antiaggregation agents. In some cases disorders in the rheologic phenomena of red blood cells are a triggering mechanism in the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) syndrome. A correlation has been revealed between the parameters of red blood cell rheologic properties and hemostasis and the disease severity. It is suggested that rheologic properties of red blood cells should be studied for the diagnosis of DIC syndrome. PMID- 2612862 TI - [Blood rheologic disorders in patients with polycythemia vera and their correction by therapeutic erythrocytapheresis]. AB - The rheologic blood properties were studied in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) before and after erythrocytapheresis. The patients with PV showed a complex of hemorheologic disorders (high blood viscosity at different rates of deviation, intensified red blood cell aggregation, decreased deformability of these cells) found to be implicated in the disease pathogenesis. Erythrocytapheresis promoted the improvement of the rheologic characteristics such as dynamic blood viscosity and the red blood cell aggregation ratio. PMID- 2612863 TI - [Neuroleukemia in mice with leukemia L1210 treated with methotrexate]. AB - Histological investigations were conducted in 33 methotrexate-treated mice with leukemia L1210. It has been found that in nonsuppressed systemic leukemia process the development and progressing of initial morphologic signs of neuroleukemia takes place as a result of perivascular growth of leukemic infiltrates from the bone marrow of the cranial and vertebral bones into the adjacent structures of the central nervous system. PMID- 2612864 TI - [Antioxidant enzyme activity of the erythrocytes in anemia in children]. AB - Theoretical prerequisites have been submitted for possible alteration in the activity of erythrocytic antioxidant enzymes in children with anemia. The results are presented of the investigation of children with varying anemias for activity of erythrocytic superoxide dismutase and catalase. PMID- 2612865 TI - [Erythrocyte morphology in leukemia]. PMID- 2612866 TI - [Methemoglobinemia in newborn infants after using almagel]. PMID- 2612867 TI - The isometric twitch of rabbit papillary muscle: reflection of the cellular calcium movements? AB - The cycling of the activator-Ca of the myocardium is mediated by the sarcolemma (SL) and the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Both the extent and the time course of the release as well as of the removal of the activator-Ca by the SL differ from that by the SR. The visualization of these differences in the isometric myograms of isolated myocardium (Bogdanov et al. 1979; Gunther et al. 1986; King and Bose 1983; Malecot et al. 1986) prompted the conclusion that distinct cellular Ca movements determine distinct parts of the isometric contraction-relaxation cycle. To test this hypothesis the effects of Ca, isoprenaline and ouabain on the isometric contraction-relaxation cycle of rabbit papillary muscles were re evaluated. The similarities and differences in the effects of the interventions on the twitch measures could be explained by their effects on the cellular Ca movements. PMID- 2612868 TI - Positive inotropic effect of ryanodine on rabbit ventricular muscle: dependence on the intracellular calcium load. AB - Two types of electrical and mechanical responses to 1 mumol/l ryanodine, depending on the intracellular calcium load, were observed in rabbit papillary muscles. In a normal calcium solution, ryanodine induced a transient decline followed by a stable increase in the developed force (by 20 +/- 5% of the pretreatment level; n = 30) and prolonged the action potential (AP). The positive ryanodine response showed an increased time-to-peak force and was completely suppressed by 2 mumol/l nifedipine, partially blocked by 50 mumol/l tetracaine (Ca2+ release blocker), but greatly potentiated by 20 mmol/l CsCl or (-) Bay R 5414 which prolonged the AP. The prolonged time-to-peak force of the positive ryanodine response was shortened by procedures raising the content of Ca2+ in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). It is suggested that the initial decline in the force amplitude results from Ca2+ leakage from the SR which is further compensated for by an elevation of both the transmembrane Ca2+ entry and intracellular Ca2+ release. In calcium overloaded myocardium, 1 mumol/l ryanodine caused irreversible contracture and dramatic AP shortening, explained by a massive Ca2+ release from the overloaded SR into the cytoplasm. It is concluded that the calcium content in the SR is the main modulator of the electrical and mechanical effects of ryanodine in ventricular myocardium. PMID- 2612869 TI - Some properties of glycerinated skeletal muscle fibers containing phosphorylated myosin. AB - The structural changes of phalloidin-rhodamin labelled F-actin at relaxed and contracted skeletal muscle fibre containing phosphorylated myosin and at contracted state after dephosphorylation were investigated by measuring of polarized fluorescence of the fluorophore. The mechanical properties (isometric tension development) of fibre were studied in parallel. At submaximal concentration of Ca ions (0.6 mumol/l) the isometric tension was decreased after dephosphorylation of fibre myosin. The changes in polarization of fluorophore bound to actin filament were correlated with isometric tension developed by the muscle fibre. The angles between the actin filament long axis and the absorption and emission dipoles for contracted and relaxed fibre were different, suggesting changes in the organization of the actin monomers in thin filament, dependent on the physiological state of the fibre. The flexibility of the thin filaments during transition of the fibre from relaxed to "contracted" state increases as indicated by greater average angle between the F-actin long axis and the fibre axis. PMID- 2612870 TI - Thrombin-stimulated effects on megakaryocytopoiesis and pulmonary-platelet interactions. AB - The effects of thrombin stimulation on megakaryocytopoiesis and pulmonary platelet interactions were investigated before and after administration of the compound to 15 mongrel dogs. Each dog served as its own control. Thrombin was given to encourage the traffic of megakaryocytes into the lung and to study the thrombin-stimulated effects on megakaryocytopoiesis in the bone marrow. Our results showed that thrombin increased the numbers of bone marrow cells in general and megakaryocytes (MK) in particular. In addition, the maturation cycle of megakaryocytes was accelerated and the number of MK migrating into the central venous circulation was nearly doubled. Most of the circulating MK ultimately became sequestered in pulmonary capillaries, where platelets were shed into the arterial circulation. We conclude that thrombin has a major stimulatory effect on megakaryocytopoiesis in the bone marrow and that the lung plays an important role as a vascular filter and regulator of circulating platelet count. PMID- 2612871 TI - The effect of temperature on the age-dependent stability of rat erythrocyte membrane. PMID- 2612872 TI - Microincubator for voltammetry. PMID- 2612873 TI - The effect of glucose on the expression of extracellular protein genes by Staphylococcus aureus strain V8. AB - The bacteria from overnight cultures (20 h) of S. aureus V8 and exp negative mutant K6812-1, grown, aerobically, in 3% (w/v) Tryptone Soya Broth, at 37 degrees C, were resuspended in fresh medium, in the case of the parent strain +/- 1% (w/v) glucose, without change in bacterial density. During a 6 h incubation period there was an approximate doubling of bacterial density, to the same level, in each case. However, exoprotein production by the mutant was only 20% that of the parent whilst the addition of glucose to the V8 strain resulted in a tenfold reduction in the exoprotein formed. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the exoprotein patterns of both organisms after 6 h incubation were the same as those observed in the overnight cultures whilst the presence of 1% (w/v) extra glucose changed the pattern produced by the parent to one similar to that of the mutant. The results showed that conditions which lead to the rapid formation of glucose catabolites produced an effect consistent with the inhibition of the activity of the exp gene product. PMID- 2612874 TI - Susceptibility of erythrocytes from several animal species to Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin. AB - The hemolytic activity of Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin (VVH) against erythrocytes from several animal species (sheep, horse, cow, rabbit, chicken) was investigated. VVH was active against erythrocytes from all species, but the amount of VVH causing 50% hemolysis under identical conditions (hemolytic susceptibility to VVH) differed. The degree of 125I-labeled VVH (125I-VVH) binding to each erythrocyte species correlated with the susceptibility of the cells to hemolysis. However, marked differences in the binding ability of 125I VVH were not observed against liposomes constructed with lipids from each erythrocyte membrane. On the other hand, release of hemoglobin (Hb) differed for each of the erythrocyte species despite administration of approximately the same hemolytic VVH concentration to each species. Furthermore, under hypotonic conditions, the stability of each erythrocyte species varied markedly; the more susceptible the erythrocyte to VVH, the more unstable it was under such conditions. These results, therefore, suggest that the susceptibility of erythrocytes to VVH may be closely associated with the binding ability of VVH and erythrocyte membrane stability. PMID- 2612875 TI - Bacterial colony screening with a Streptomyces DNA probe. AB - Restriction fragments of 1.5 kb-3.5 kb length were selected from a SalI digest of Streptomyces coriofaciens ISP5485 DNA. After radiolabelling, these fragments were used as a molecular probe. A number of actinomycetes was screened in colony hybridization. Streptomyces and Streptoverticillium strains were recognized by the probe and the hybridization sensitivity was high with isolated DNA. PMID- 2612876 TI - Detection of apramycin resistant Enterobacteriaceae in hospital isolates. AB - Apramycin is a recently developed aminoglycoside restricted to veterinary therapy. Production of a 3-aminoglycoside acetyltransferase type IV (AAC(3)-IV) conferring cross-resistance to this drug and to gentamicin was detected in 1984 in France in bacteria of bovine origin. This mechanism of resistance was apparently confined to animals. We have studied 17 strains resistant to apramycin and gentamicin isolated in 5 hospitals in Belgium. Conjugative plasmids encoding an AAC(3)IV were present in 14 isolates. Comparison of the restriction fingerprints revealed 6 different plasmid patterns: 8 plasmids belonged to 2 groups sharing extensive intragroup homology and 4 were not related to the other replicons. These results indicate dissemination of plasmids within and between hospitals, but also of the gene encoding an AAC(3)IV. PMID- 2612877 TI - Poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid in staphylococci. AB - Poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) was extracted from various species of staphylococci isolated from different sources. IR and UV spectrophotometry and NMR analysis revealed that the compound consisted only of the beta hydroxybutyrate. The PHB level in the richest strain among investigated staphylococci is about 64-fold less than in bacilli. The intrinsic viscosity number of this polymer is more than twice greater in the case of the staphylococcal product than that of bacilli. PMID- 2612878 TI - Determination and evolutionary significance of nucleotide sequences near to the 3'-end of 16S ribosomal RNA of mycobacteria. AB - The nucleotide sequence at the 3'-end of 16Sr-RNA (nucleotides 1305-1508) was determined, by the primer extension method, for Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium vaccae, in addition to Mycobacterium leprae. No differences in nucleotide sequence were detected, indicating that this region of 16SrRNA is highly conserved among mycobacteria. The nucleotide sequence common to the four above-mentioned mycobacteria differs from that reported for species of other genera. For example, for helix 39 (nucleotides 1408-1491) the mycobacterial sequence has 58% similarity with the Escherichia coli sequence, 74% similarity with the Bacillus subtilis sequence and 93% similarity with the Streptomyces sequence. The observations support the assignment of M. leprae to the genus Mycobacterium. PMID- 2612879 TI - Assimilation of methylamine by Paracoccus denitrificans involves formaldehyde transport by a specific carrier. AB - Assimilation of methylamine by Paracoccus denitrificans involves the following enzymes: a periplasmic methylamine dehydrogenase, a formaldehyde transport system, cytoplasmic formaldehyde and formate dehydrogenase. Formaldehyde transport follows saturation kinetics with a high substrate affinity (Km = 7 microM), and is severely inhibited by iodoacetate, cyanide and p-trifluoromethoxy carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazone. Expression of the formaldehyde carrier is regulated by the carbon source. PMID- 2612880 TI - DNA uptake in competent Streptococcus pneumoniae requires ATP and is regulated by cytoplasmic pH. AB - DNA uptake in competent Streptococcus pneumoniae was strongly dependent on intracellular pH. Ionophore treatments that either acidified or alkalinized the cytoplasm reduced DNA transport. This indicates that the optimum pH for DNA uptake corresponds to the intracellular pH of competent bacteria which is 8.3 +/- 0.2. In addition, the ATP pool of the bacteria appeared to be a critical parameter in the process. The pattern of inhibition by arsenate, when the culture was treated at different steps of the competence cycle, suggested firstly, that a threshold ATP level was required to trigger transport and secondly, an ATP requirement for the process itself. This may indicate an ATP involvement in the activation of an uptake machinery functioning at the expense of ATP. PMID- 2612881 TI - Experimental rat vaginal infection with Candida parapsilosis. AB - The experimental vaginopathic potential of Candida parapsilosis was determined in ovariectomized rats maintained under pseudoestrus by estrogen administrations. Of the 3 strains of C. parapsilosis tested, that isolated from the vagina of a woman affected by vulvovaginal candidosis gave a prolonged and sustained experimental vaginitis, not different in extent and duration from that caused by a vaginal isolate of C. albicans from a vaginitis patient. The other two isolates of C. parapsilosis (one from the vagina of an asymptomatic subject and another from soil) were unable to infect rat vagina. Microscopic observations of PAS-stained vaginal smears from rats infected with the vaginopathic isolate of C. parapsilosis showed pronounced adherence of yeasts to exfoliated cells. In addition, this isolate of C. parapsilosis produced an elevated quantity of acid proteinase in vitro. PMID- 2612882 TI - Characterisation of a monoclonal antibody and its use in the immunoaffinity purification of penicillin-binding protein 2' of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. AB - The additional penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2' that is important in determining intrinsic resistance in methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been purified by affinity chromatography using monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibody 1/423.10.351 reacted in ELISA with detergent extracts of membranes from resistant organisms, but not in immunoblots with PBP 2' separated by SDS-PAGE. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that antibody 1/423.10.351 reacted with PBP 2' in detergent extracts. The latter antibody, covalently coupled to protein A-Sepharose through the Fc region, served as an affinity matrix to purify PBP 2'. The PBP was detected in immunoblots using a second monoclonal antibody, 2/401.43. Conjugation of this antibody with alkaline phosphatase afforded more rapid detection of PBP 2' for the immunological detection of PBP 2' both in affinity-purified fractions and in resistant strains. PMID- 2612883 TI - Sequence analysis of the major outer membrane protein gene of an ovine abortion strain of Chlamydia psittaci. AB - The major outer membrane protein (MOMP) gene from an ovine abortion strain of Chlamydia psittaci (S26/3) has been cloned and sequenced. The gene shows the features of other chlamydial MOMPs but comparison with the previously reported sequence for the ovine abortion isolate A22/M has revealed substantial sequence divergence which is clustered into the same four intramolecular regions as the sequence variation found between C. trachomatis serovars. Subsequent restriction enzyme analysis of A22/M DNA has shown that it has an avian-type genomic profile and thus the comparison is between types rather than between strains. PMID- 2612884 TI - Purification and some properties of thiosulphate-cleaving enzyme from Thiobacillus novellus. AB - A thiosulphate-cleaving enzyme was purified from Thiobacillus novellus and some of its properties studied. The enzyme showed an absorption peak at 279 nm and no peaks between 300 and 650 nm. Its Mr was 38,000. Although the crude enzyme cleaved thiosulphate to form sulphite without addition of cyanide, the purified enzyme required cyanide to cleave thiosulphate. The Km values for thiosulphate and cyanide of the purified enzyme were 1.0 mM and 0.3 mM, respectively. One mol of the enzyme formed 10 mol of thiocyanate per s from thiosulphate and cyanide. The thiosulphate-cleaving activity of the enzyme was strongly inhibited by cysteine, while beta-mercaptoethanol was less inhibitory. The factor which accepted sulphur from thiosulphate in the crude preparation of thiosulphate cleaving enzyme seemed to be a relatively labile compound with an Mr of 10,000 x 20,000. PMID- 2612885 TI - Infection of Streptococcus oralis NCTC 11427 by pneumococcal phages. AB - We have found a group of pneumococcal bacteriophages (Cp-1, Cp-7) that can successfully infect and replicate in Streptococcus oralis, whereas Dp-1 was unable to infect this species. We have also developed conditions that allowed transfection of S. oralis using Dp-1 DNA. Our results support the direct involvement of the phage-coded lysins in the liberation of the phage progeny from infected S. oralis cells. Since S. oralis and S. pneumoniae are bacteria that share the same ecological niche in humans, the availability of the system described here should allow to extend our current studies on the modular organization of the lytic enzymes and might serve as a tool to study the evolutionary relationships between host and parasite. PMID- 2612886 TI - Dioxygenolytic cleavage of aryl ether bonds: 1,10-dihydro-1,10-dihydroxyfluoren-9 one, a novel arene dihydrodiol as evidence for angular dioxygenation of dibenzofuran. AB - Two dibenzofuran degrading bacteria, Brevibacterium strain DPO 1361 and strain DPO 220, were found to utilize fluorene as sole source of carbon and energy. Cells which were grown on dibenzofuran, transformed fluorene into a number of products. For five of the seven metabolites isolated, the structure could be established unequivocally. Accumulation of one metabolite, 1,10-dihydroxy-1,10 dihydrofluoren-9-one, indicated the presence of a novel type of dioxygenase, attacking polynuclear aromatic systems in the unusual angular position. Debenzofuran degradation is proposed to likewise proceed via initial angular dioxygenation. One aryl oxygen ether bond, which normally is extremely stable, is thus transformed to a hemiacetal. After spontaneous cleavage and subsequent rearomatization by dehydration, 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl [3-(2-hydroxyphenyl) catechol] thus results as the immediate product of the first enzymatic reaction in the degradation sequence. PMID- 2612887 TI - Polysaccharides production by Rhizobium phaseoli and the typing of their excreted anionic polysaccharides. AB - The pattern of polysaccharide production amongst strains of Rhizobium phaseoli appear very varied: some strains produce anionic exopolysaccharides (EPS) as major polysaccharides (EPS) as major polymer without any other product, but most strains exhibit greater polysaccharide diversity. Apart from EPS they excrete capsular polysaccharides (CPS) and accumulate poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) and/or glycogen in their cells. The latter can then be used as C-sources for further synthesis of EPS and CPS. Some strains are only very poor producers or do not produce at all. Nine strains of R. phaseoli have been analysed and shown to possess the K-36 type of polysaccharide (EPS), as do strains of R. leguminosarum (6 strains) and R. trifolii (9 strains). Three strains of R. phaseoli have been found to possess the K-87 type of polysaccharide and types K-38 and K-44 polysaccharides have only been found in their own type strains. PMID- 2612888 TI - Evidence for a dissimilatory plasmid in Azotobacter chroococcum. AB - Dissimilation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in Azotobacter chroococcum is plasmid mediated. This dissimilatory plasmid designated pMSB1, was effectively cured by mitomycin C. The plasmid was transferred to another strain of Az. chroococcum at a frequency of 2.4 x 10(-3) transconjugants/donor cell. The cured cells did not utilize 2,4-D and its intermediates and lacked the plasmid DNA. PMID- 2612889 TI - Culture conditions promoting dispersed growth and biphasic production of actinorhodin in shaken cultures of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). AB - Media and culture conditions were developed for experiments on the physiology of secondary metabolism in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). Well dispersed mycelial growth was obtained in a buffered starch-glutamate-salts medium; a high (5%) starch concentration and addition of glass beads aided dispersal. Under the conditions developed, production of actinorhodin was suppressed during trophophase growth and began abruptly near the growth maximum. PMID- 2612890 TI - Purification and properties of a 1,3-beta-glucanase from Penicillium oxalicum autolysates. AB - High 1,3-beta-glucanase activity was detected during autolysis in a culture medium containing Penicillium oxalicum. It was due to the combined action of four enzymes. The purification process for the major enzyme produced a homogeneous band in the SDS polyacrylamide gel that corresponded to a molecular weight of 79,400 daltons. The enzyme pI was 6.3 and it was only active against 1,3-beta glucans, with a S0.5 of 0.23 mg ml-1 against laminarin. The enzymatic optima were found at pH 4 and 55 degrees C, and instability was evident when pH and temperature were altered. The enzyme was not active against oxidated laminarin and was barely inhibited by glucono-D-lactone. Hg2+, Ag+ and Fe2+ were effective inhibitors. The enzyme was adsorbed by concanavalin-A-sepharose. PMID- 2612891 TI - Chlamydia trachomatis 60 kDa cysteine rich outer membrane protein: sequence homology between trachoma and LGV biovars. AB - An 820 bp AccI-PstI fragment of the 60 kDa cysteine rich outer membrane protein (CrP) gene from C. trachomatis serovar L1 was used as a probe to locate the 60 kDa CrP gene of a recent serovar B trachoma isolate (Jali 20/OT). The probe hybridized to a single 1.8 kb SpeI fragment in Southern blot analyses of different restriction endonuclease digests of C. trachomatis serovar B DNA. This fragment was ligated into Lambda Zap II arms and Bluescript SK(-) recombinants, released by infection with the helper phage R408, were used as template for DNA sequence determination. Sequence analysis demonstrated a very high level of homology between the Jali 20/OT 60 kDa CrP and the previously published serovar L1 60 kDa CrP with only 8 out of 507 amino acid substitutions between the two proteins. PMID- 2612892 TI - High efficiency electroporation of intact Corynebacterium glutamicum cells. AB - High-frequency electroporation of whole Corynebacterium glutamicum cells without enzymatic pretreatment was achieved. Under optimized conditions concerning growth stage, washing of cells, cell concentration and pulse parameter transformation efficiencies of far more than 10(7) transformants per microgram pWST4B plasmid DNA were reached. Using electroporation, linearised and subsequently religated plasmid as well as chimeric ligase reaction products were directly introduced into C. glutamicum with reasonable efficiencies. Electrotransformation efficiency was reduced about 10(5)-fold for plasmid DNA cycled through E. coli JM83. Restriction deficient mutants of C. glutamicum were isolated which could be efficiently transformed with foreign DNA. PMID- 2612893 TI - Characterization of a methyl-specific restriction system in Clostridium acetobutylicum strain N1-4081. AB - A type II restriction endonuclease, named CacI, was detected in Clostridium acetobutylicum strain N1-4081. CacI cleaved the tetranucleotide sequence [5' decreases -GATC-3']. The modification system consisted of the methylation of the adenine present in this sequence. CacI, an isoschizomer of MboI, is inactive on dam methylated substrates. PMID- 2612894 TI - Identification of a gene that shortens clonal life span of Paramecium tetraurelia. AB - We have isolated a Paramecium tetraurelia mutant that divides slowly in daily reisolation cultures and repeats short clonal life spans after successive autogamies. Here we show, using breeding analysis, that a recessive mutation is responsible for the low fission rate and that this low rate is closely related to the short clonal life span. We conclude that a single pleiotropic gene controls these traits and have named it jumyo. In an attempt to further characterize the jumyo mutant, we have revealed that it has a culture life span similar to that of the wild-type cells and that, when mass cultured, it can divide as rapidly as wild-type cells. There was strong evidence that the mutant cells excreted into culture medium some substance that promotes their cell division. These findings may not only present supporting evidence for the hypothesis that the cellular life span is genetically programmed but also give a material basis for the study of the controlling mechanism of cell division in relation to the clonal life span. PMID- 2612895 TI - Analysis of the role of tra-1 in germline sex determination in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. AB - In wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans there are two sexes, self-fertilizing hermaphrodites (XX) and males (XO). To investigate the role of tra-1 in controlling sex determination in germline tissue, we have examined germline phenotypes of nine tra-1 loss-of-function (lf) mutations. Previous work has shown that tra-1 is needed for female somatic development as the nongonadal soma of tra 1(lf) XX mutants is masculinized. In contrast, the germline of tra-1(lf) XX and XO animals is often feminized; a brief period of spermatogenesis is followed by oogenesis, rather than the continuous spermatogenesis observed in wild-type males. In addition, abnormal gonadal (germ line and somatic gonad) phenotypes are observed which may reflect defects in development or function of somatic gonad regulatory cells. Analysis of germline feminization and abnormal gonadal phenotypes of the various mutations alone or in trans to a deficiency reveals that they cannot be ordered in an allelic series and they do not converge to a single phenotypic endpoint. These observations lead to the suggestion that tra-1 may produce multiple products and/or is autoregulated. One interpretation of the germline feminization is that tra-1(+) is necessary for continued specification of spermatogenesis in males. We also report the isolation and characterization of tra-1 gain-of-function (gf) mutations with novel phenotypes. These include temperature sensitive, recessive germline feminization, and partial somatic loss of-function phenotypes. PMID- 2612896 TI - Ecological aspects of the heritability of body size in Drosophila buzzatii. AB - The heritability of thorax length in the cactophilic Drosophila buzzatii was determined for flies from each of 10 rotting cactus cladodes. For each rot, emerging flies were used as parents of progeny reared in the laboratory. The methods used were full sib analysis with the parents mated assortatively and also offspring-parent regression. From this, heritabilities were measured for the laboratory environment and for the natural environment of the rotting cladode. For the laboratory environment, h2 = 0.3770 +/- 0.0203 and for the natural environment h2 = 0.0936 +/- 0.0087 within rots and h2 = 0.0595 +/- 0.0123 for a population drawn randomly from different rots. Because of the possibility of genotype-environment interaction between the laboratory and rot environments, the methods of B. Riska, T. Prout and M. Turelli were used to show it is possible that there is no such interaction, but if there is, the above natural heritabilities are approximate lower bounds. These results are related to the general problem of determining heritabilities in nature where it is impractical to measure both parents and progeny in nature. Determining heritability not only in nature but in relation to subdivision into ephemeral patches (cladodes in this case) has an important bearing on natural selection response and to general theories of stabilizing selection proposed to explain the existence of genetic variation. Attempts were made to detect selection by using the size of emerging adults as an indicator of various levels of larval stress. No selection was detected, but the power to do so was very weak. Differences between progeny means from different rots indicated some genetic differences between rots which can be adequately explained by small numbers of founders. This suggests a random fine scale subdivision amounting to FST = 0.1483 +/- 0.0462. PMID- 2612897 TI - Mitochondrial DNA in the bark weevils: size, structure and heteroplasmy. AB - Mitochondrial DNA of higher animals has been described as an example of extreme efficiency in genome structure and function. Where exceptionally large size molecules have been found (greater than 20 kb), most have occurred as rare variants within a species, suggesting that these variants arise infrequently and do not persist for long periods in evolutionary time. In contrast, all individuals of at least three species of bark weevil (Curculionidae: Pissodes) possess a mitochondrial genome of unusually large size (30-36 kb). The molecule owes its large size to a dramatically enlarged A + T-rich region (9-13 kb). Gene content and order outside of this region appear to be identical to that found in Drosophila. A series of 0.8-2.0-kb repeated sequences occur adjacent to the large A + T rich region and have perhaps played a role in the generation of the large size as well as an unprecedented frequency of size variant heteroplasmy. Every weevil sampled in all three species (n = 219) exhibits anywhere from two to five distinct size classes of mtDNA. The persistence of this large amount of size polymorphism through two speciation events combined with the abundant size variation within individuals suggests that these molecules may not be subject to strong selection for small overall size and efficiency of replication. This pattern of variation contrasts strongly with the conservation of gene content and arrangement in the coding region of the molecule. PMID- 2612898 TI - On the origin of meiotic reproduction: a genetic modifier model. AB - We study the conditions under which a rare allele that modifies the relative rates of meiotic reproduction and apomixis increases in a population in which meiotic reproduction entails selfing as well as random outcrossing. A distinct locus, at which mutation maintains alleles that are lethal in homozygous form, determines viability. We find that low viability of carriers of the lethal alleles, high rates of selfing, dominance of the introduced modifier allele, and lower rates of recombination promote the evolution of meiosis. Meiotic reproduction can evolve even in the absence of linkage between the modifier and the viability locus. The adaptive value of meiotic reproduction depends on the relative viabilities of offspring derived by meiosis and by apomixis, and on associations between the modifier and the viability locus. Meiotic reproduction, particularly under selfing, generates more diverse offspring, including those with very high and very low viability. Elimination of offspring with low viability generates positive associations between enhancers of meiotic reproduction and high viability. In addition, partial selfing generates positive associations in heterozygosity (identity disequilibrium) between the modifier and the viability locus, even in the absence of linkage. The two kinds of associations together can compensate for initial reductions in mean offspring viability under meiotic reproduction. PMID- 2612899 TI - The "hitchhiking effect" revisited. AB - The number of selectively neutral polymorphic sites in a random sample of genes can be affected by ancestral selectively favored substitutions at linked loci. The degree to which this happens depends on when in the history of the sample the selected substitutions happen, the strength of selection and the amount of crossing over between the sampled locus and the loci at which the selected substitutions occur. This phenomenon is commonly called hitchhiking. Using the coalescent process for a random sample of genes from a selectively neutral locus that is linked to a locus at which selection is taking place, a stochastic, finite population model is developed that describes the steady state effect of hitchhiking on the distribution of the number of selectively neutral polymorphic sites in a random sample. A prediction of the model is that, in regions of low crossing over, strongly selected substitutions in the history of the sample can substantially reduce the number of polymorphic sites in a random sample of genes from that expected under a neutral model. PMID- 2612900 TI - Acrosin activity in spermatozoa from sterile t6/tw32 and fertile control mice. AB - Spermatozoa from sterile t6/tw32 and control fertile +/+, T/tw32, T/t6 mice were compared for their abilities to hydrolyse protein matrices and for their levels of acrosin activity. The data show that the immature and mature gametes from both the experimental and control males hydrolyse protein matrices. The quantitative acrosin assays show, however, that the mature gametes from the intercomplement males have significantly less total acrosin activity than any of the control groups of gametes. These findings suggest that this reduced acrosin activity is an additional phenotypic expression of the intercomplement genotype which results in male sterility. PMID- 2612901 TI - Analysis of lines of mice selected for fat content. 1. Correlated responses in the activities of NADPH-generating enzymes. AB - Estimates of the activities (Vmax) of four enzymes that generate the coenzyme NADPH, an absolute requirement for tissue fatty-acid synthesis, and of the concentration of NADP plus NADPH were made in lines of mice differing in fat content. These lines had been selected from the same base population for 20 generations, and 3 high, 3 low replicates and 1 unselected control were used. Analyses were performed on liver and gonadal fat pad (GFP) of males at 5 and 10 weeks of age. In both the liver and the GFP, measurable activities of the four enzymes: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and malic enzyme (ME) expressed per mg soluble protein were, with minor exceptions, higher in the Fat (F) than in the Lean (L) lines at both ages; the highest ratio being 2.2 for ME in the GFP. The relationships between these measurable activities (Vmax) and in vivo lipogenesis are not however known. When expressed per gram tissue, the ratios for F to L in the GFP were less than 1 in most cases, presumably because of the very different adipocyte numbers and/or sizes between the lines. There were no significant differences between the lines in the concentration of NADP plus NADPH per gram tissue in liver or GFP, suggesting that F lines converted NADP to NADPH faster than L lines. It is predicted that selection on the enzyme activities would be less efficient than direct selection at changing fat content. PMID- 2612902 TI - The limb deformity gene is required for apical ectodermal ridge differentiation and anteroposterior limb pattern formation. AB - To gain insight into the role of the limb deformity (ld) gene in limb morphogenesis, we examined the morphologic details of early embryonic limb formation in the mutant ld/ld mouse. Initial morphological differences between wild-type and homozygous ld embryos are apparent during early gestational day 10, a time period during which anteroposterior limb morphogenesis occurs. As a result of a shortened anteroposterior axis, the mutant limb bud appears more pointed than its wild-type counterpart. In addition, the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), a structure crucial to both proximodistal and anteroposterior limb development, fails to differentiate properly in mutant ld embryos. Consistent with these observations, molecular analysis of the limb promordia shows that the limb ectoderm contains a level of ld transcripts fivefold higher relative to its mesenchyme. Furthermore, expression of ld transcripts in other parts of the developing embryo and in primitive streak embryos (gestational day 7) suggests possible roles for this gene in the earliest determinative events of morphogenesis. These data lead us to conclude that ld gene products are required for both proper AER differentiation and anteroposterior pattern formation in limb mesenchyme. PMID- 2612903 TI - Spatial regulation of zerknullt: a dorsal-ventral patterning gene in Drosophila. AB - zerknullt (zen) is one of approximately 10 zygotically active genes that control the differentiation of the dorsal-ventral (D/V) pattern during early embryogenesis in Drosophila. Past genetic analyses suggest that maternal factors repress the expression of zen in ventral regions, thereby restricting zen products to dorsal and dorsal-lateral regions of precellular embryos. Subsequent interactions with other zygotic D/V regulatory genes refine the zen pattern, restricting expression to the dorsal-most ectoderm. Here we describe the use of zen promoter fusions and P-element transformation to identify cis elements that are responsible for the complex spatial pattern of zen expression. The zen promoter shows a two-tier organization: Distal sequences mediate its initial response to maternal factors, whereas proximal sequences are responsible for the refinement of the pattern in older embryos. The distal regulatory element has the property of a silencer (or anti-enhancer) element and can act over a distance to repress ventral expression of a heterologous promoter. Also, we discuss evidence that proximal promoter sequences interact with factors that may be modulated by a cell-cell communication pathway. PMID- 2612904 TI - A compensatory base change in human U2 snRNA can suppress a branch site mutation. AB - We have developed an assay to test whether U2 snRNA can base-pair with the branch site during mammalian mRNA splicing. The beta 110 point mutation (GG----AG) within the first intron of human beta-globin generates a new 3' splice site that is preferentially used. We show here that use of the normal 3' splice site can be restored either by improving the match of a cryptic branch site to the branch site consensus or by introducing mutant U2 snRNAs with greater complementarity to the cryptic branch site. These data indicate that human U2 snRNA can form base pairs with the mRNA precursor; however, base pairing appears to be optional because some mammalian branch sites do not match the consensus. PMID- 2612905 TI - Mammalian U2 snRNP has a sequence-specific RNA-binding activity. AB - The RNA branch formed during pre-mRNA splicing occurs at a wide variety of sequences (branch sites) in different mammalian pre-mRNAs. U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) binds to the pre-mRNA branch site following the interaction of a protein, U2AF, with the 3' splice site/polypyrimidine tract. Here we show that despite the variability of mammalian branch sites, U2 snRNP has a sequence-specific RNA-binding activity. Thus, RNA branch formation is regulated by two sequence-specific interactions: U2AF with the 3' splice site/polypyrimidine tract, and U2 snRNP with the branch site. The affinity of the branch site for U2 snRNP affects the efficiency of spliceosome assembly and splicing. PMID- 2612906 TI - High-level, erythroid-specific expression of the human alpha-globin gene in transgenic mice and the production of human hemoglobin in murine erythrocytes. AB - Using the dominant control region (DCR) sequences that flank the beta-globin gene locus, we have been able to achieve high-level expression of the human alpha globin gene in transgenic mice. Expression in fetal liver and blood is copy number dependent and at levels comparable to that of the endogenous mouse alpha globin genes. Transgenic fetuses with high-copy numbers of the transgene suffer severe anemia and die before birth. Using a construct with both the human alpha- and beta-globin genes and the beta-globin DCR, live mice with low-copy numbers were obtained. Both human globin genes are expressed at high levels in adult red cells to give human hemoglobin HbA in amounts equal to or greater than endogenous mouse hemoglobin. Expression of HbA in murine red cells is not accompanied by any increase in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) or mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). However, these transgenic mice tend to have an increased number of reticulocytes in peripheral blood; consistent with some degree of hemolysis. Metabolic labeling experiments showed balanced mouse globin synthesis, but imbalanced human globin synthesis, with an alpha/beta biosynthetic ratio of approximately 0.6. Thus, these mice have mild anemia. These results are discussed with relation to the coordinate regulation of alpha- and beta-globin synthesis in erythroid tissues. PMID- 2612907 TI - The cell-specific transcription factor PTF1 contains two different subunits that interact with the DNA. AB - The cognate sequence of transcription factor PTF1, which plays a key role in pancreas-specific gene expression, has a bipartite organization. Two separate DNA domains, the A and the B boxes, are required for efficient binding of the factor. The structure of PTF1 was elucidated by cross-linking purified PTF1 to DNA templates that had been differentially substituted with azido-deoxyuridine (N3.dU). This site-directed UV cross-linking shows that PTF1 contains two DNA binding proteins, distinct in size and sensitivity to Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. A 64-kD protein is cross-linked with DNA containing N3.dU substitutions in the A box, and a 48-kD protein is cross-linked with DNA containing N3.dU substitutions in the B box. Both proteins bind simultaneously to the same DNA molecule. The data indicate that PTF1 is a heteromeric oligomer and that its cell specific DNA-binding potential is the result of a concerted activity of two DNA binding subunits. PMID- 2612908 TI - The Oct-2 protein binds cooperatively to adjacent octamer sites. AB - Recombinant proteins derived from the cloned human oct-2 gene were used to investigate cooperative binding by Oct-2 to adjacent DNA-binding sites. Oct-2, a B-cell-specific transcription factor, binds tightly to the octamer sequence in immunoglobulin promoters. A second apparently unrelated consensus sequence in heavy chain promoters, the heptamer site, also is recognized by the Oct-2 protein but with 1000-fold lower affinity. Simultaneous occupancy of both the octamer and heptamer sites is favored by cooperative interactions. The heptamer site is probably recognized by the same binding surface in the Oct-2 protein as the octamer site and thus is conserved as a lower-affinity binding site. This permits the immunoglobulin promoter to respond to a much broader range of levels of Oct-2 protein. Substitution of prototype octamer sequences for heptamer sequences yields a probe with two octamer sites spaced by 2 nucleotides, which also binds Oct-2 protein cooperatively. Only the POU domain in the Oct-2 protein is required for this cooperative interaction. Similar protein-protein interactions between bound Oct-2 proteins may promote promoter-enhancer synergism in the heavy chain gene. PMID- 2612909 TI - Specific expression of a novel cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein gene in lateral root initiation. AB - A gene encoding a novel cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (HRGPnt3) was isolated from a genomic library of tobacco. The deduced protein (620 amino acids, Mr, 65,406) contains an amino-terminal hydrophobic signal peptide, is highly basic, and is rich in proline, although characteristic Ser-Pro4 repeats are found only beyond residue 204. At the carboxyl terminus, there is a 34-amino-acid unit repeated three times. Arginine is the predominant basic amino acid rather than lysine, as in other HRGPs. A second gene homologous to HRGPnt3 was revealed by Southern blot hybridization of tobacco genomic DNA. Northern blot hybridization identified a 1.9-kb transcript present at low levels in roots. To determine the underlying spatial pattern of expression, the HRGPnt3 promoter and the first 27 nucleotides of the open reading frame were fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene and transformed back into tobacco. Histochemical localization of GUS activity showed that the HRGPnt3 promoter was transiently induced in the pericycle and endodermis, specifically in the discrete, small subset of cells involved in the initiation of lateral roots. This pattern of expression, in cells destined to form the tip of the emerging lateral root, indicates that the encoded cell wall protein has a specialized structural function, possibly in the mechanical penetration of the cortex and epidermis of the main root, and that the HRGPnt3 promoter responds to an early morphogenetic signal for lateral root induction. PMID- 2612910 TI - Mapping Z-DNA tracts in plasmid DNA using electron microscopy and gold-labeled antibodies. AB - Using alternating poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) and electron microscopy (EM), a method has been developed for detecting regions of Z conformation in DNA preparations. The procedure was developed with poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) which had been converted to the Z conformation with MnCl2 and mild heat treatment. Conditions were found for reaction of this DNA with polyclonal anti-Z antibodies from rabbit, and further reaction of this mixture with gold-labelled anti-rabbit antibodies from mouse. Spreading of these samples onto air-water interfaces and examination by EM revealed gold particles aligned along strands of poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC). The method was refined and simplified using monoclonal antibodies and tested with the 2.2-kb plasmid, pDHg16, carrying a single tract of alternating d(G-C)23. Treatment with MnCl2 and mild heat was not necessary, as the superhelicity of this molecule ensured that the d(G-C) tract was in the Z conformation. Conditions were found for successful conjugation of mouse monoclonal anti-Z antibodies with colloidal gold (G10), 10.7-nm average diameter. The conjugate was then reacted with superhelical pDHg16, stabilized in polyethylene glycol and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. Examination by EM showed gold particles at one site on the negatively superhelical circular DNA molecule. When these molecules were linearized with PstI, gold particles were found to occur at an average position 35% +/- 3% from one end. This location agrees well with the known position of the center of the alternating d(G-C) tract with respect to the PstI restriction site (36.8%). PMID- 2612911 TI - Isolation of a cDNA encoding Aspergillus oryzae Taka-amylase A: evidence for multiple related genes. AB - Complementary and genomic DNAs encoding Aspergillus oryzae Taka-amylase A (Taa) were cloned and sequenced. The coding sequence of the cDNA comprised the signal peptide [21 amino acids (aa)] and mature Taa (478 aa). The deduced aa sequence agrees well with the published aa sequence, except for one insertion, one deletion and ten aa substitutions. These differences might be due to the difference in the strains used. Sequence comparison of the cDNA and genomic DNA indicates the presence of eight introns ranging in size from 55 to 86 bp. Southern-blot analysis showed the presence of at least two Taa genes, and the second gene (Taa-G2) was isolated. All the intron/exon junctions follow the 'GT AG' rule, except for intron I of the first gene (Taa-G1). The 5'-noncoding region was well conserved among the genomic genes and contained sequences similar to 'CAAT' and 'TATA' boxes at nucleotides -121 and -31, counted from the transcription start point, respectively. The 3'-noncoding regions, however, differed significantly from each other. Taa-G2 contains a sequence identical to that of several independent cDNA clones, suggesting that it may be the major transcribed gene in A. oryzae. PMID- 2612912 TI - Genomic organization of the region encoding guinea pig lipoprotein lipase; evidence for exon fusion and unconventional splicing. AB - The coding sequence of guinea pig lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is organized into nine exons and spans a region of approximately 14 kb of the guinea pig genome. A non conforming 5'-splice site is located on the first intron, which exhibits a 12 nucleotide perfect match with the 5'-end of the second exon. A previously described tryptic cleavage site is located on exon V, close to the 3' end of this exon. A similarity to vitellogenin resides on exons IV and V, and a putative active site is found on exon IV. A novel similarity to a fatty-acid-binding protein is noted on exon VI, adjacent to the postulated heparin-binding region. We suggest that free fatty acids (FFA) and heparin to some extent share the same site of interaction on the LPL molecule; and that a high local concentration of FFA can displace LPL from its site of action--the vascular endothelium--by competing for binding to heparan sulfate. PMID- 2612913 TI - Retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into embryonal carcinoma and hemopoietic stem cells: expression from a hybrid long terminal repeat. AB - Retroviral vectors can be used as an efficient gene delivery system in a wide variety of cell types. However, in some cell types, such as embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells or normal bone-marrow cells the expression of genes introduced by retroviral vectors has been very inefficient. This expression block has severely hampered the application of retroviral vector systems in those cell types. The enhancer sequences present in the long terminal repeat (LTR) of retroviruses are known to be responsible for the tissue specificity of viral expression. Therefore, we set out to construct a vector in which this enhancer element has been replaced. A recombinant retrovirus was constructed in which the enhancer from the Moloney murine leukemia virus LTR was replaced by the enhancer of a mutant polyoma virus (PyF101) that was selected to grow on EC cells. A neomycin resistance marker (neoR) was placed under the transcriptional control of the hybrid LTR. Following infection with this virus, neoR was expressed in EC cells, as well as in the hemopoietic progenitor cells present in normal murine bone marrow. Moreover, upon transplantation of infected bone marrow cells into lethally irradiated mice, neoR expression was sustained in hemopoietic cells of the engrafted recipients. PMID- 2612914 TI - Structure and expression of the human gene encoding plasminogen activator inhibitor, PAI-1. AB - The gene (pai1) encoding human plasminogen activator inhibitor, PAI-1 was cloned from a lambda EMBL3 genomic library and was found to span approx. 12 kb and to contain eight introns. Primer extension and S1 nuclease analyses both showed the transcription start point to be located 142 nt upstream from the start codon. The 5'-flanking region was sequenced and found to contain a TATA box, but no CAAT sequence. When a fragment containing 730 nt of 5'-untranslated region was placed upstream from a promoterless cat gene, it was shown to function as a promoter when transfected into COS cells. Northern-blot analysis was consistent with low level expression of the endogenous pai1 gene in COS cells. When the pai1 gene structure was compared to those of other members of the serine-protease-inhibitor encoding gene family, little conservation of intron positions was observed. PMID- 2612915 TI - Structure of 3'-downstream segment of the human smooth muscle (aortic-type) alpha actin-encoding gene and isolation of the specific DNA probe. AB - We isolated the 3'-downstream part of the human aortic smooth muscle alpha-actin (SM alpha A)-encoding gene and determined the nucleotide sequence, including the ninth (last) exon and 3'-untranslated (UT) region. From the comparison of the human 3'-UT region with rat and chicken 3'-UT regions, its homology is lower than those in 3'-UT regions of other actin isoforms such as cardiac alpha-actin and cytoskeletal beta-actin. Therefore, by using the 3'-UT region of the human SM alpha A gene as an actin isoform-specific probe, this gene was detected as a single copy only in the human genome, which expressed the 1.7-kb RNA transcript in an aortic tissue-specific manner. PMID- 2612916 TI - The promoter structure and complete sequence of the gene encoding the rabbit erythroid cell-specific 15-lipoxygenase. AB - We report the isolation and complete sequence of the gene encoding the rabbit erythroid-cell-specific 15-lipoxygenase (RBC 15-LOX), containing 14 exons spanning 8.0 kb. The transcription start point was mapped by S1 nuclease protection experiments and comparison with the sequence of the RBC 15-LOX mRNA, as defined previously by primer extension experiments. The promoter contains a TATA-like motif, but no CCAAT motif in the canonical position, and lies within a 'CpG-rich island'. Functional analysis of the immediate 5'-flanking DNA by transfection experiments shows that a 150 nucleotide (nt) 5' fragment linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene acts as a functional promoter in both erythroid and nonerythroid cell lines and responds in an erythroid-specific manner to the enhancer from the Friend murine leukaemia virus long terminal repeat, whereas a 40-nt fragment is inactive. Intron 7 contains eight copies of a 54-nt repeat containing a region with homology to the simian virus 40/immunoglobulin gene enhancers. PMID- 2612917 TI - Synthesis and expression of the gene encoding human interleukin-3. AB - To perform structure-function studies of human interleukin-3 (hIL-3) we have synthesized a cDNA encompassing the complete coding region of 484 bp. The strategy we employed involved construction of the cDNA in four sections. Each fragment contained six to ten oligodeoxyribonucleotides. Unique restriction sites were engineered to flank the natural sequence for cloning. Naturally occurring restriction sites were placed internally to these, to allow ligation of the four fragments. The gene was cloned into a modified pJL4 vector and expressed in COS cells. Biological assays of supernatants collected from these cells, for both mature cell function and proliferative activity, showed that synthetic hIL-3 had the same activity as that previously determined for recombinant hIL-3. PMID- 2612918 TI - Cloning and characterization of the 5' end (exon 1) of the gene encoding human factor X. AB - Human blood-coagulation factor X (hBCFX) is a serine protease zymogen which participates in the middle phase of blood coagulation. Recently, we and others have reported the cDNA sequences. At present, partial hBCFX gene structure is available. In this paper, we report the isolation of two genomic clones, the X emb lambda phage clone encoding exons 1 and 2 of the hBCFX gene, and the X-cos cosmid clone encoding exons 2-8. The restriction map of the hBCFX region spans 55 kb. The gene itself was found to be 27 kb long. The sequence of the 5' region of the hBCFX gene has been determined and reveals an ATTTG pentanucleotide, which also occurs in a similar location in the genes encoding factors VII, IX, protein CC and C prothrombin, suggesting that this motif might be of importance in the regulation of these genes. PMID- 2612919 TI - Nucleotide sequence of a transcriptional enhancer located 2.2 kb 3' of a human placental lactogen-encoding gene. AB - The nucleotide sequence of the human placental lactogen-encoding gene enhancer was determined. This tissue-specific enhancer is contained in a region flanked by a 284-bp Alu repeat. PMID- 2612920 TI - [Occupational health in water-soluble vitamin production plants]. AB - The article presents an hygienic assessment of synthetic water-soluble vitamin production shops, reveals the technological process' specificity with regard to its multi-stageness, discreetness, usage of non-hermetic equipment, manual labour prevalence, discharge of hazardous ingredients of different physical and biological characteristics in the working zone air. Outpatient examinations of the workers engaged in the production revealed changes in the upper respiratory organs and the skin. Health-related improvement of the working conditions lies in the elaboration of non-stop technological processes, introduction of hermetic automatic equipment, socio-medical problem solution. It is proposed to standardize the vitamins produced with taking into account their biological properties. PMID- 2612921 TI - [Clinical aspects of vibration disease caused by general vibration]. AB - The clinico-functional examination of agricultural machine-operators, truck drivers, excavator and boring machine operators revealed that, under low frequency general vibration, polymorphic pathologic changes occur in human organism. Those include peripheral vascular and neuritic disorders and changes in the vertebral column. The most peculiar symptoms of VD are dealt with. The data obtained show to the importance of further elaboration of differential diagnostic criteria of VD, specifying its pathogenic mechanisms and prevention measures working out. PMID- 2612922 TI - [Dimethyl sulfoxide in the therapy of vibration disease]. AB - The article contains results of clinical studies of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) therapeutic application at vibration disease (VD) cases caused by local vibration and in comparison with the generally accepted complex therapy. 30% DMSO water solution skin compresses were used applied to the affected zones of the upper extremities for 1-1.5 hours daily with 12-15 procedures in the whole course. It was established that DMSO effects are positive in most VB manifestations: regional angiodystonia, sensor and vegetative--sensor polyneuropathy, arthroses, and particularly in cases of muscle dystonia and myodistrophy, humeroscapular periarthrosis. This kind of technique simplifies VD therapy as it excludes physiotherapy procedures and limits medication to a great extent, doing with no drugs at all in some cases. Treatment costs and clinical course duration are also lowered. PMID- 2612923 TI - [Evaluation of the effectiveness of health-related improvement in working conditions of postal services employees]. AB - Basing on the physiological and hygienic research performed after a series of prophylactic measures, it was established that the introduction of rational working conditions in combination with physically active rest influences most postively the functional neuro-muscular state of upper extremities in telephone operators and mail sorters, and has a positive bearing on the hemodynamic indices, CNS and regulatory mechanisms status of operators and mail sorters. PMID- 2612924 TI - [Characteristics of the immune status of female cattle breeders with chlamydia infections]. AB - Chlamydia urogenital infections cause significant changes in the immune status which can be regarded as immunopathologic disorders. Taking into account the wide prevalence of infections of this kind, particularly among female agriculture workers, as well as their pathogenicity and health-related consequences, Chlamydia Trachomatis cases must be properly revealed in women affected with inflammatory diseases of genitalia with subsequent etiotropic treatment. PMID- 2612925 TI - [A system of introduction of the results of scientific research on hygiene into practical health care and national economics]. AB - The country's socio-economic development necessitates further elaboration of new approaches to the introduction of hygienic research results into practice. The main criterion for choosing proper research techniques lies in their economy-type efficiency, both social, medical and economic. A new system of hygienic research introduction should be based on financial and economic stimuli, establishment of a network of inventive firms, as well as supported by an effective mechanisms of information feed-back with due account of health indices. PMID- 2612926 TI - [Preventive and therapeutic effects of air ionization in industrial plants]. AB - The article provides an analysis of data on the effects of continuous negative air ionization on the cardiovascular system in workers engaged in weaving and spinning industries. The authors indicate a possibility of applying the proposed technique in hypertensive disease prevention. PMID- 2612927 TI - [Physiologic-hygienic characteristics of work conditions of female workers engaged in applying coats of paint]. AB - The process of paint coating (female workers being mostly engaged in the technological process) is characterized by hazardous health-related effects (organic solvents and coating components) and those of the working process (forced uncomfortable postures and multiple local stereotype movements). The performed complex of physiological and hygienic research made it possible to reveal the dynamics of fatiguability, hygienic properties of the technological process at its different stages, as well as to elaborate health improvement measures to lower the negative effects of the industrial environment. PMID- 2612928 TI - [Complex assessment of working conditions of painters in industrial plants and their improvement]. AB - The working conditions of the female workers engaged in industrial painting do not correspond to the optimal criteria and exceeds the permissible levels in some respects. Considerable muscle loads which cause the workers' fatigue and corporal pain lead to the overstain of the locomotor system. A complex of health improving measures is proposed to create more favorable labour conditions, lower fatiguability and promote prevention of locomotor system disorders. PMID- 2612929 TI - [Practical experience in the detection and investigation of acute occupational diseases and poisoning]. PMID- 2612930 TI - [Characteristics of morbidity of physicians]. AB - The research data proposed is based on outpatient admittance patterns including temporary disability cases, and on chronic diseases' prevalence in 11 major professional groups of physicians. The data revealed a relationship between morbidity indices and certain medical professions. The morbidity indices show high-level prevalence and necessitate elaboration of a system of current control of physicians' health status, with due account of the working conditions of different professional groups. Optimal recommendations for health-related improvements of the working conditions are also needed. PMID- 2612931 TI - [A method of studying tactile sensitivity in workers using manual pneumatic mechanized instruments]. PMID- 2612932 TI - [A photometric method of measuring polyethylene polyamines in the work zone air]. PMID- 2612933 TI - [Determination of lipase in the air]. PMID- 2612934 TI - [Toxicity of a glue compound, Armlok]. PMID- 2612935 TI - [Comparative toxicologic-hygienic assessment of polyoxypropylenamines and substantiation of their MAC in the work zone air]. PMID- 2612936 TI - [Use of the tetrapolar chest rheography method and Starr's formula in physiological studies]. PMID- 2612937 TI - [Comments on A. V. Levina's article, "Dosimetry of laser radiation". Gigiena Truda i Prof. Zabolevaniia, 1988. No. 7, p. 48-49]. PMID- 2612938 TI - [Physiological and hygienic assessment of work process and working conditions in processing sugar beets on mechanized MSK-15 production lines]. AB - The MSK-15 mechanized line for white-beet processing corresponds to the 2nd class (permissible conditions) with regard to the work-load of female beet-sorters, and to the 3rd class of labour intensity (1st degree of unhealthy conditions of work). By the end of the working shift the women-sorters were displaying functional overstrain of CNS and CVS, neuro-muscular overstrain of the upper extremities. Measures for working conditions improvement should include an ergonomic perfection of the working sites, improvement of the regimen of work and rest, means of individual technical safety. PMID- 2612939 TI - [Effects of moderate alcohol consumption on the cardiovascular system of male operators]. AB - It was established that among male workers of an energy enterprise there were 53.7% of moderate consumers of alcohol, absolute and relative abstainers- respectively 5.4% and 26.4%, regular consumers--14.7%. Alcohol addicts were not revealed. At rest, the pulse arterial pressure (PAP) in operators--moderate consumers of alcohol was by 10.9% lower (P less than 0.005) and was by 16.3% higher (P less than 0.005) than those in the sample group. The heart rate indices were tending to increase both in standing and sitting positions. The diastolic (DAP) and systolic (SAP) arterial pressure levels did not significantly change. In response to a moderate physical load the SAP and PAP indices in alcohol consumers vividly increased as compared with those in the sample group- respectively by 7.2% (P less than 0.005) and 41.4% (P less than 0.005). PMID- 2612940 TI - [Hygienic bases, goals and structure of data banks on hazards of polymers]. AB - The first phase of data bank of hazard (DBH) of polymers has been developed and put into operation on the basis of CM-computers. DBH is a factographical computer based system of data collection, storage and processing aimed at complex assessment of material and substance hazard. Systems approach to the analysis of material's characteristics serves as a methodological basis. DBH data base includes a set of input and output documents according to 5 types of biological hazards involving sanitary and chemical surveillance, fire hazard and thermodestruction, the data on material's microbiologic resistance, their electrifying and toxicohygienic characteristics. DUAMC-3 operational system, DUAMC. DBH software are included into the system of data banks of materials' technological properties. PMID- 2612941 TI - [Data on the establishment of group MPEL for natural and modified colophony in the workplace air]. AB - The results of the toxico-hygienic study of 12 types of rosins are presented. It is established that these compounds are moderately hazardous products with slightly pronounced local irritating and skin resorptive effect accompanied by moderate sensitizing activity. Rosins' cumulative characteristics are not manifested at the lethal level. Lim(ac) are within 110-193 mg/m3 and Lim(ch) within 38.0-42.0 mg/m3. The analyzed types of rosins possess polytropic general toxicity with primary impact on the functional state of liver, kidneys and the nervous system. The above studies have enabled one to recommend group MAC for rosins in the workplace air at the level of 4 mg/m3 and their marking as allergens. PMID- 2612942 TI - [Hazards of development of occupational fluorosis in manufacture of phosphorus containing mineral products]. AB - Complex studies pertaining to the production of phosphorus-containing mineral products detected no cases of occupational fluorosis among workers. The reasons for fluorosis absence in fluorine-exposed workers were analyzed. The total fluorine load was calculated in workers of the main professions. It was demonstrated that fluorine annual intake of 2-4 g corresponding to the mean-shift concentration of 1-2 mg/m3 (critical levels) required various activities aimed at prevention of occupational fluorosis. PMID- 2612943 TI - [Chronic effects of fluorides on the pituitary-thyroid system in industrial workers]. AB - Radioimmunologic study of thyrotropin and thyroid hormones in the blood of those engaged in fluorine production showed moderate functional changes of the hypophysis-thyroid gland system, not accompanied by clinical manifestations of hypo- or hyperthyreosis and caused by disorders of the regulatory chain and fluorine impact on thyroid hormones' metabolism at the level of target cells. Elevation of calcitonin concentration in workers' blood indicated stimulation of thyroid gland parafollicular cells. Phase states in the hypophysis-thyroid gland system were detected along with the dependence of some hormones' concentration on the duration of workers' contact with fluorine compounds and the stage of fluorosis. PMID- 2612944 TI - [A comparative study of morbidity with temporary disability and hygienic assessment of working conditions of workers engaged in major occupations at the Dneproshina tire-manufacturing plant]. AB - Comparative study (1979-81, 1965-67) of temporary disability showed its upward trend in tire vulcanizers by 20%. This fact was associated with unfavourable working conditions, workers' stability and aging, elevated physical work load. In the disease structure there occurred some changes: the share of osteomuscular diseases showed a rise and that of nervous and digestive diseases declined. All the studied professional groups (assemblers, millers, vulcanizers) experienced a rise in osteomuscular morbidity and only vulcanizers had higher rates of respiratory, skin and subcutaneous diseases. PMID- 2612945 TI - [Immunologic status of women cattle breeders during pregnancy]. AB - The study was designed to analyze the content of CIC of the main classes of immunoglobulins (A, M, G, E), R-proteins and hemolytic activity of the complement system and its components (C3, C4, C1) in 1980 pregnant women engaged in agricultural activity. Imbalance of the body protective indicators was detected in the pregnant women engaged in animal husbandry. An infectious process aggravated the above changes. Decrease of body protective characteristics elevated the risk of acute conditions of the chronic infectious process and the emergence of postnatal infectious and inflammatory diseases. PMID- 2612946 TI - [Hygienic evaluation of substrata of contamination of ventilation and air conditioning systems]. AB - Modern ventilation and air conditioning systems are complex technological objects in environment which can be sources of health-hazardous factors, including biological ones. Ventilation and air conditioning contact systems with water and partial air recirculation have construction prerequisites for environmental accumulation and dispersal of organic substances of microorganism and anthropogenic origin. Pollution substrates of inner surfaces of the above systems contain specific antigens causing immune response in persons working in air conditioned premises. PMID- 2612947 TI - [Hygienic significance of studying gaseous discharge during production of polyvinylchloride resin items]. AB - Experimental study demonstrated no vinyl chloride (VC) emanation from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins in environment under indoor temperature (20 degrees). VC emanation was detected during resin heating to 50 degrees C and higher, its concentration increasing along with temperature elevation. Total decomposition of resin samples was observed at 140 degrees C. When analyzing VC emanation from stabilizer-containing compositions it was pointed out that VC concentration even at 180 degrees C was significantly lower than in the experiment with PVC resins. VC was not detected in the work zone air during PVC film manufacture where the temperature of mixture heating didn't exceed 140 degrees C. One could greatly reduce and even completely avoid VC emanation into the work zone air by means of heating temperature limitation according to the lowest technological limit and introduction of appropriate quantity of stabilizers into the mixture. The study showed that at the examined production of PVC films, footwear and cable coating VC content was significantly lower than MAC (5 mg/m3). VC wasn't detected in the most of samples presented. PMID- 2612948 TI - [Expert assessment of the quality of periodic medical examinations of workers employed in hazardous working conditions]. AB - The results of the complex assessment of labour conditions were of great importance for the efficacy of medical check-ups of workers exposed to unfavourable occupational factors. Significance of all the available data on temporary disability rates was also underlined along with an expert evaluation of medical check-ups enabling one to determine appropriate measures of prevention of initial forms of occupational diseases. PMID- 2612949 TI - [Mechanisms of toxico-kinetic interactions of metals in the body and their health related significance]. AB - From the point of view of modern bio-coordination chemistry the study of metal toxicokinetics showed that changes in metal metabolism within biological media under their combined body intake were closely related to their competition for biologic ligands. Formation of readily and hardly soluble metal complexes, governing their behavior in biologic media, depended not only on ion charge, range, and hydratation energy but also on rigidity and softness of interacting compounds. The constant of each element was also significant in metal competition for bio-ligand capture. It was proposed to use a complex of physical and chemical characteristics of metals in toxicokinetics prediction under their combined body intake. PMID- 2612950 TI - [Detection of adenine synthesis intermediate products in the air]. AB - Photometric procedures of monitoring the content of adenine synthesis intermediate products were developed and optimum conditions of air sample analysis and selection determined. Thus it became possible to establish general exposure levels for (phenylazo) malondinitryl and 4,5,6 triaminopyrimidine sulfate, sensitivity of determination being 0.25 mg/l. PMID- 2612951 TI - [Gas chromatographic detection of sebacic acid in the air]. AB - The study described the technique for gas chromatographic identification of sebacic acid in the work zone air in the form of diethyl ether produced due to sebacic acid etherification by absolute ethyl alcohol in the presence of 0.3 ml of concentrated sulphuric acid during heating up to 70 degrees C for 15 min. 1 ml of decane extract of diethyl ether was analyzed by means of gas chromatograph on the column of Im X 0.3 cm, filled with chromosorbe. When sampling 40 l of air the range of measured concentration constituted 2-20 mg/m3. Relative standard variation didn't exceed 0.032. PMID- 2612952 TI - [Detection of trivalent chromium in the air]. AB - The study was designed to develop an accelerated technique of air identification of trivalent chromium. The technique for alkali melting at 800-850 degrees, traditionally used for sample preparation, was replaced by acid treatment by a mixture of nitric, hydrochloric and chloric acids. Thus trivalent chromium was oxidized into hexavalent one, which was determined by means of the photocolorimetric technique by its reaction with diphenylcarbazite. The technique enabled one to lower the time for the analysis by 4 hours. PMID- 2612953 TI - [Photometric determination of butyl "aeroflot" flotation agent (sodium dibutyl dithiophosphate) in the air of work zone and skin washings]. AB - Photometric procedure of butyl "aeroflot" identification in the work zone air and in wash-out from workers' integument was developed, The procedure was based on the formation of yellow- and orange-dyed copper dibutyl dithiophosphate under butyl "aeroflot" interaction with copper sulphate with the subsequent photometry of dyed solutions for the wavelength of 420 nm in the 10-mm cell. Buffer solution with pH-9.2 was used as an absorbing solution for the workplace air sampling and integument wash-out. PMID- 2612954 TI - [Value of immunologic studies in the assessment of the effects of the dust factor based on the example of artificial mineral fiber substances (silicon carbide)]. PMID- 2612955 TI - [Platinosis and foot mycoses]. PMID- 2612956 TI - [Comparative sensitivity of human and animal erythrocytes to the effects of chemical factors (in vitro)]. PMID- 2612957 TI - [Effectiveness of the action of liposomal pentacin preparation in acute cadmium chloride poisoning in experimental animals]. PMID- 2612958 TI - [Method of gas chromatographic determination of gaseous hydrogen in water]. PMID- 2612959 TI - [Protection of the respiratory organs in production of dicyclopentadiene]. PMID- 2612960 TI - [Status of oxygen-detoxicating system of blood plasma in persons having contact with hydrogel in industrial establishments]. PMID- 2612961 TI - [Problems related to regulation of toxic substances]. AB - Intensification of chemical load on humans and nature requires a complex approach to regulation of hazardous substances. Extensive setting-up of sanitary standards has no significant positive effect on natural and technological environment. Due to more thorough approaches to research it is necessary to establish MACs for major pollutants. It is advisable to regulate substances having no actual risk of intoxication. Regulation activities need the development of the All-Union Data Base. Epidemiological studies accompanied by active participation of practising sanitary physicians should be said for MAC development. PMID- 2612962 TI - Glutathione metabolism of human vascular endothelial cells under peroxidative stress. AB - Glutathione (GSH) plays an important role in the cellular defense against (per )oxidative stress. The capacity of this cellular defense system may be related to the oxygen tension, cells are normally subjected to in vivo; therefore, we studied the de novo synthesis of glutathione, and the redox turnover under peroxidative stress, in human umbilical vein and artery endothelial cells (HUVEC, HUAEC) and human skin fibroblasts. De novo synthesis in these cell types was studied in vitro by measuring the time course of intracellular GSH recovery after depletion with diamide. For fibroblasts, the initial rate of de novo synthesis after GSH depletion was twice that of the endothelial cell strains. In the endothelial cells (HUVEC, HUAEC) the original intracellular GSH level is reached within 40 min. while in the same time span, the GSH level in fibroblasts returned to 75% of control level. The activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) was determined under oxidative stress as a measure for the coupled redox turnover of intracellular GSH. Under control conditions the HMS in endothelial cells was twice as high as in fibroblasts. Cumene hydroperoxide (40 microM) induced a three fold increase in HMS in both HUVEC and HUAEC, while fibroblasts exhibited an increase of 83%. During the same peroxidative stress, the intracellular GSH concentration of HUVEC, HUAEC and fibroblasts stayed at control level. So with respect to GSH metabolism there were no differences between the two endothelial cell strains. In comparison with the endothelial cells, the fibroblasts were less susceptible toward oxidative stress.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2612963 TI - [Development of clinical physiology in heart surgery]. AB - The article deals with the analysis of the monograph Evaluation of Performance and Analysis of Cyclic Work of the Heart written by B. A. Konstantinov, V. A. Sandrikov, and V. F. Yakovlev. It discusses the possible mechanism of the maintenance of the stability of hemodynamic indices--switching into action the contractions of nonfunctioning cardiomyocytes (the factor of functional heterogeneity). PMID- 2612964 TI - [Surgical correction of multivalvular defects in patients who had earlier undergone heart surgery]. AB - The article analyses the results of surgical treatment of 45 patients with multivalvular acquired heart diseases which had been previously treated by operation. Stage III (terminal) circulatory disorders were diagnosed in 11 (24.1%) patients. A pathological condition of the tricuspid valve was found in almost all patients with the terminal stage of circulatory disorders. Eleven (24.4%) patients died after the operation. The most frequent causes of the fatal outcomes were: cardiac failure (in 6 patients) and hemorrhage (in 2 patients during the operation and in 1 patients on the 6th post-operative day; the bleeding occurred from varicose veins of the stomach and esophagus). Severe initial circulatory insufficiency was the main factor of operative risk. The criteria of operability must be elaborated for this contingent of patients suffering from severe cardiac insufficiency on the eve of the operation. PMID- 2612965 TI - [Central hemodynamics during correction of acquired aortic defects without artificial blood circulation]. AB - The article discusses the results of study of central hemodynamics in patients with acquired aortic valvular diseases who were operated on under conditions of hypothermia without perfusion. The minute circulation volume reduced at a temperature of 26.8 degrees C to 63% of the initial level. The stroke volume did not change practically. The changes of the values of central hemodynamics in the stages of hypothermia (active and passive cooling) were irregular in character. No essential inhibiting effect of hypothermia on the cardiovascular activity was noted. PMID- 2612966 TI - [Angiographic semeiotics and pathophysiology of congenital fistulas of the coronary arteries]. AB - From analysis of the findings of intracardiac examination of 35 patients with congenital fistulas of the coronary arteries the authors discuss the angiographic semeiotics of the anomaly and the mechanism of disorders of coronary circulation. The pathophysiology of the anomaly is determined by the amount of blood shunted through the fistula, the location of the fistula (whether in the proximal or distal segment of the artery), and the perfusion deficit of the distal segment of the involved artery. Fistulas with a large volume of the shunt may be accompanied both with ischemic changes in the basin of the affected coronary artery and with regional disorders of myocardial perfusion in the adjacent basins (intact coronary arteries). The last named is due to the phenomenon of "stealing" the adjacent coronary trunk. The absence of electrocardiographic signs of focal disorders cannot be considered a sign of a hemodynamically insignificant fistula because an ECG of rest does not always reflect the state of the coronary blood flow in the basin of the involved vessel. Evidence of this are asymptomatic coronary insufficiency and disorders of myocardial perfusion which are revealed by exercise tolerance tests and scintigraphy of the myocardium in patients with a normal ECG. PMID- 2612967 TI - [Angiocardiographic and echocardiographic diagnosis of complete transposition of great vessels in association with pathology of the aorta]. AB - The article analyses experience in the diagnosis of a pathological condition of the aorta in complete transposition of the great vessels (CTGV) in infants. Pathology of the aorta was revealed in 9 (2.6%) of the 350 patients who were examined. Six patients with CTGV had coarctation of the aorta (CA), 2 had subaortic stenosis, and one patient had complete interruption of the arch of the aorta. Our experience provides evidence that two-dimensional echocardiography allows the region of the thoracic aorta to be located from a suprasternal or a high right parasternal approach. Subaortic stenosis was diagnosed in 2 patients during autopsy. Retrospective analysis of the echocardiograms and angiocardiograms revealed characteristic signs of subaortic obstruction. Absence of the continuity of the arch and descending aorta is an echocardiographic sign of interruption of the arch of the aorta which was recognized retrospectively only after angiocardiography. Right and left ventriculography must be performed for precise anatomical diagnosis of CTGV with an intact interventricular septum combined with coarctation of the aorta. In patients with concomitant interventricular septal defect this examination is supplemented by antegrade and retrograde aortography from the ascending aorta to exclude patent ductus arteriosus and for better visualization of CA. Catheterization of all heart cavities, right and left ventriculography, aortography, and pulmonary arteriography must be carried out in all patients with total interruption of the continuity of the arch of the aorta. PMID- 2612968 TI - [Comparative hemodynamic characteristics of Soviet-made mechanical heart valve prostheses in the mitral position]. AB - The article deals with hemodynamic evaluation of Soviet-made, and heart valve prostheses in late-term periods after operation for mitral valve replacement. Fourty-six patients were examined: a ball prosthesis was implanted in 21 patients (1st group), as disk prosthesis--in 15 patients (2nd group) and a prosthesis--in 10 patients (3rd group). A good clinical result of the operation was achieved in all patients, they were referred to functional class I and II. Catheterization of the left and right parts of the heart, left ventriculography, and test with dosed physical exertion were carried out. Loading was continued till cardiac output increased approximately by 60 per cent in 6 patients of the 1st group, 12 patients of the second group, and in all 10 patients of the 3rd group. The study showed that the prostheses do not yield to foreign models of heart valves in hemodynamic characteristics and cause a lower stenosing effect than the prostheses do. No essential differences were detected between the prostheses. PMID- 2612969 TI - [Morphofunctional criteria for the selection of patients with ischemic heart disease and associated arterial hypertension for surgical treatment]. AB - After examination of 255 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and concomitant arterial hypertension (AH) two groups were distinguished according the level of arterial pressure. Group 1 was formed of 89 patients (arterial pressure below 180/80 mm Hg), group 2--of 166 patients (arterial pressure above 180/100 mm Hg). Survival was determined according to certain morphofunctional indices (total affection of coronary arteries, left ventricular output fraction, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, tolerance to physical effort) in nonoperated on and operated on patients suffering from IHD and concomitant AH. It was found that the operation affects positively the "quality" of life more than the survival. PMID- 2612970 TI - [Surgical treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the sternum]. AB - The efficacy of surgical rehabilitation of patients with chronic osteomyelitis of the sternum is shown. Surgical treatment was divided in most cases into two stages: removal of the involved areas of the sternum and adjoining ribs and fixed muscular or musculocutaneous plastics. The obtained results are reassuring and promote further development of surgery of this region. PMID- 2612971 TI - [Diagnosis of hypoplasia of the heart ventricles: role of morphometry and morphology in its assessment]. AB - The article deals with the results of the study of the quantitative anatomy and morphology of hypoplastic ventricles. The object of study were 28 specimens of the heart: 15 with hypoplasia of the left ventricle and 13 with hypoplasia of the right ventricle. The control group was composed of 10 specimens of normal hearts. Morphometry was conducted in all of the 28 specimens. At the same time angiocardiometry and calculations of the volume characteristics of the ventricles were undertaken in the diagnosis of hypoplasia of the right ventricle. The morphometric criteria of hypoplasia of the heart ventricles and their morphological variants were determined as a result. It was found that the lineal characteristics of the heart yielded sufficient information both for the diagnosis of hypoplasia and for determining its degree. Morphometry showed that constant ratios exist between the diameters of the atrioventricular valves and the lineal sizes of the ventricles in normal and pathological hearts. Knowledge of the aforesaid is of much practical importance because having determined the sizes of the atrioventricular valves during echocardiography one may calculate all linear characteristics of the heart and evaluate the sizes of the ventricles by means of the quantitative criteria. The article gives the method of such calculation, while its results are evidence of the high precision of the suggested constants. PMID- 2612972 TI - [Endoscopic hemostasis in pulmonary hemorrhage]. AB - As the result of applying endoscopic occlusion of the bronchus in complex treatment of 95 patients with pulmonary, predominantly massive, hemorrhage recovery was achieved in 77.9% of cases. Twenty-one patients died. Hemorrhage was the direct cause of death of 5 patients, 16 patients died from advancement of the principal disease, background conditions, and complications of the postoperative period not associated with pulmonary bleeding. PMID- 2612973 TI - [Causes of repeated lung surgery]. AB - Up to 9% of patients need to be operated on the lungs for a second time. Repeated operations on the lungs should be conducted in specialized clinics and only by an experienced thoracic surgeon. Improvement of the results of repeated operations depends on the skill of the anesthesiologist, the thoroughness of the preoperative management and examination, and skilled postoperative management. PMID- 2612974 TI - [Plastic surgery of pleural empyema cavity using the latissimus dorsi muscle on a vascular pedicle]. AB - The article describes the method of operation for removal of a pyothorax cavity and a bronchial fistula with the use of the latissimus dorsi muscle which is mobilized from all sites of attachment to bone structures and separated to a neurovascular pedicle. The operation was carried out on 6 patients with tuberculous and unspecific pyothorax with a bronchial fistula and a defect in the thoracic wall. Due to its large size, the presence of a long main vascular pedicle, and anatomical position, this muscle can be used successfully in the management of such patients. A good effect was produced with minimum functional loss. PMID- 2612975 TI - [Organ-preserving surgery in patients with diffuse fibro-cavernous tuberculosis of the lungs]. AB - Diffuse fibro-cavernous tuberculosis was managed in 44 patients by interventions on the cavern, the bronchi draining it, and the thoracic wall. It is shown that these operations are combined and are organ-preserving in character. The choice of the type of the operation is determined by the character of the affection of the bronchi and the activity of the tuberculous inflammation in the wall of the cavern. The use of modern technical measures (laser, ultrasonics, hemosorption) is promising. PMID- 2612976 TI - [Experience in the treatment of expiratory stenosis of the trachea and main bronchi]. AB - In the period between 1970 and 1983 the authors had 242 patients (aged from 19 to 67) with expiratory stenosis of the trachea and main bronchi under observation. Complex bronchological examination was conducted with study of the mechanics of respiration at different levels of the tracheobronchial tree before and after treatment. The object of treatment was to arrest the inflammatory process in the tracheobronchial tree, restore the tonus of the membranous part, and reduce intrathoracic pressure. Respiration was controlled in 28 patients by means of a special tube with dosed resistance during inspiration. The indications and contraindications for surgical management of expiratory stenosis were determined. The choice of the graft for stenosis correction is guided by the severity of expiratory stenosis. PMID- 2612977 TI - [Immunological tests in the prognostication of postoperative complications in patients with chronic diseases of the lungs]. AB - The authors examined 50 patients with chronic diseases of the lungs in the pre- and post-operative period. Immunological indices, neutrophil phagocytic activity in the first place, in combination with the laboratory severity index make it possible to conduct effective control of preoperative management and the patients condition in the postoperative period. PMID- 2612978 TI - [Correction of complete transposition of great vessels in association with common atrium, partial form of patent atrioventricular canal, tricuspid insufficiency and accessory superior vena cava]. PMID- 2612979 TI - [Radical correction of isolated left ventricle-right atrium communication]. PMID- 2612980 TI - [Giant chondroma of the thoracic wall]. PMID- 2612981 TI - [Chronic abscess of the upper third of the posterior mediastinum in a child]. PMID- 2612982 TI - [Bronchogenic cyst of the esophagus]. PMID- 2612983 TI - [2 cases of diaphragmatic hernia]. PMID- 2612984 TI - Acute and chronic exposure to ethanol and the electrophysiology of the brush border membrane of rat small intestine. AB - In this study we have investigated the effects of (a) chronic ethanol intake on glucose and galactose absorption across the rat jejunum in vivo and on the potential difference across the isolated brush border membrane (Vm) and (b) acute exposure to ethanol (4% or 8%) and acetaldehyde (0.25%) on changes in Vm associated with Na(+)-dependent galactose absorption across the jejunum and ileum. Chronic ethanol intake was associated with hyperpolarization of Vm and an enhanced galactose but not glucose transport. Acute ethanol and acetaldehyde were without effect on Vm whether or not galactose was present. We conclude that while a greater electrochemical gradient across the brush border membrane is a likely explanation for the stimulation of galactose absorption induced by ethanol feeding, factors other than changes in Vm are responsible for the inhibitory effects of acute ethanol. PMID- 2612985 TI - Clot lysis by gastric juice: an in vitro study. AB - Gastric juice from patients with peptic ulcer disease and from patients with no upper gastrointestinal abnormality was studied in order to assess its effect on a formed fibrin clot. In both groups of patients gastric juice caused a marked increase in fibrinolysis as evidenced by a shortening of the euglobulin clot lysis time. This plasmin mediated fibrinolytic activity was found to be heat labile and only present in an acid environment. Addition of tranexamic acid or sucralfate to gastric juice almost completely reversed this effect, whereas pepstatin was only partially effective. It is probable that acid dependent proteases other than pepsin are responsible for the marked fibrinolysis. The ulcer healing agent sucralfate might be useful in those patients at risk of bleeding or rebleeding from active peptic ulcer disease. PMID- 2612986 TI - Gut hormone responses after reconstructive surgery for ulcerative colitis. AB - After colectomy, continent ileal reservoirs are an accepted alternative to conventional ileostomy for patients with ulcerative colitis. To assess the effect of these reservoirs on digestive function, circulating and morphologic gut endocrine responses were measured in patients with a continent ileostomy or with a pelvic pouch and compared to patients with conventional ileostomy, with active ulcerative colitis and healthy controls. Eight subjects were studied in each group. Basal and postprandial plasma gastrin, enteroglucagon, neurotensin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, insulin, pancreatic glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide in both groups with ileal reservoirs were equivalent to controls. Basal plasma motilin and postprandial plasma gastric inhibitory polypeptide were raised in ileal reservoir patients, but similar changes also occurred in ulcerative colitis patients and those with conventional ileostomy. In one half of patients, cell populations of enteroglucagon, peptide YY, and neurotensin were decreased in pouch mucosa that corresponded with the presence of mucosal inflammation. On the other hand, with pouch inflammation vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactive nerves were increased and a proportion of the fibres were moderately coarsened. Mucosal concentrations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide did not, however, exceed that of controls. After an ileal reservoir sufficient reserve remains for gut hormone release into the circulation, suggesting compensation for the presence of a reservoir and the absence of a colon; circulating hormone changes do occur but are consequent upon previous ulcerative colitis. Reservoirs may show neuromorphologic alterations that appear to be related to mucosal inflammation. PMID- 2612987 TI - Comparative DNA analyses in longstanding ulcerative colitis with aneuploidy. AB - In seven patients with longstanding ulcerative colitis, multiple mucosal biopsies taken at colonoscopy were assessed for DNA content and histological dysplasia. DNA analyses were performed using flow cytometric analyses in biopsies and microspectrophotometry in imprint slides prepared from the biopsies. Abnormal aneuploid DNA content was detected in five of the patients in eight separate locations in the colon. There was good conformity between the two methods in the detection of aneuploidy. Both methods of DNA analysis are considered to be applicable in mucosal biopsies from patients with ulcerative colitis. In two patients with significant low grade dysplasia in association with macroscopical lesions (DALMs), there was a relationship with aneuploid DNA pattern found by flow cytometric or microspectrophotometric analyses. Indefinite changes, probably dysplastic were found in three other patients and two of those also displayed aneuploidy, although only once in the same biopsy location. In five locations aneuploidy was detected without concomitant dysplasia. DNA-aneuploidy seems therefore to appear earlier than dysplasia and may be an early marker of malignant transformation of the mucosa in ulcerative colitis. Prospective trials are needed before the clinical significance of early findings of aneuploidy can be determined. PMID- 2612988 TI - Defecography in normal volunteers: results and implications. AB - Forty seven healthy young volunteers underwent defecographic examination to determine the range of normal findings. Normality was shown to encompass radiological features often considered pathological. These features included broad ranges of anorectal angle and pelvic floor descent which overlap with reported pathological states. Furthermore, the formation of rectocoeles during defecation was a very common finding in women. Finally, a subgroup of the volunteers had marginal anorectal function. The marginal anorectal function and certain radiological findings such as rectocoeles or intussusceptions may predispose to later problems, or contribute to clinical problems when combined with other factors such as dietary fibre deficiency. The radiological findings raise a number of questions with respect to different aspects of the functioning of the continence and defecation mechanisms. PMID- 2612989 TI - Biliary lipid composition in monozygotic and dizygotic pairs of twins. AB - The relative contribution of genetic factors to biliary and serum lipid composition was studied in 17 monozygotic and 18 dizygotic middle aged male pairs of twins. Cholesterol precursors, squalene and Methylated sterols which reflect the activity of cholesterol synthesis were also measured. Pairwise intraclass correlations were determined for monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs and heritability estimates were calculated. Molar % of biliary cholesterol and percentage distribution of biliary cholic acid and particularly deoxycholic acid showed significant pairwise correlations within the monozygotic but not the dizygotic pairs. Similar correlations were found for total biliary methylsterols and of the methylsterol subfractions for the two methostenols but not for squalene, lanosterol and dimethylsterols. In serum, the precursor sterols, but not squalene, showed even higher pairwise correlations in the monozygotic twins than the corresponding precursors in bile. Molar per cent of bile acids and phospholipids and cholesterol saturation index were not correlated significantly in either twin pairs, but the pairwise correlations tended to be higher in the monozygotic than in the dizygotic pairs. Gall stones were found in seven monozygotic and three dizygotic subjects. Two monozygotic twin pairs were concordant for gall stones; all the dizygotic pairs were discordant. Overall, these data suggest that molar percentage of biliary cholesterol, bile acid composition, cholesterol synthesis, bile cholesterol saturation, and gall stone formation may be under a significant genetic control. PMID- 2612990 TI - Predictors of variceal bleeding: an analysis of clinical, endoscopic, and haemodynamic variables, with special reference to intravariceal pressure. AB - To assist in the prediction of variceal bleeding we examined 12 clinical, endoscopic and haemodynamic variables in 126 patients with portal hypertension (72 bleeders and 54 non-bleeders). Multiple regression and discriminant analysis were utilised for 101 patients. Stepwise regression among the 12 variables explained only 54% of the variability existing between bleeders and non-bleeders. Six of the 12 variables accounted for 51% of the total bleeder/non-bleeder variability. A predicting equation was evolved [Yp = -0.60 + 0.19 X1 (colour of varices) + 0.16 X2 (cherry red spots) + 0.03 X3 (red wale, markings) + 0.01 X4 (haematocystic spots) + 0.15 X5 (Conn's grading of variceal size) + 0.03 X6 (intravariceal pressure)]. Of the six variables used, variceal size indicated 35%, and intravariceal pressure accounted for 12%, of the explained variability between bleeders and non-bleeders. The presence of the three red colour signs and the colour of the varices accounted for only 3% and 1% respectively of the total explained variation. Using the discriminant function analysis, we were able to correctly identify 85% of the bleeders and 81% of the non-bleeders. Additional studies are required to detect the variables responsible for the unexplained variability (46%) between bleeders and non-bleeders. PMID- 2612991 TI - Large melanoma metastases to the gastrointestinal tract. AB - It is well known that malignant melanoma can metastasize widely. Although these metastases in the gastrointestinal tract usually appear as small 'bull's-eye' or 'target' lesions, there are a few reports of relatively large melanoma metastases. We report five cases of large melanoma lesions metastatic to the alimentary canal. We also emphasise the consideration of a thorough gastrointestinal tract evaluation in patients with malignant melanoma especially if they are symptomatic. PMID- 2612992 TI - Interaction of Campylobacter pylori... PMID- 2612993 TI - Acid perfusion in the assessment of non-cardiac chest pain. PMID- 2612994 TI - Response of human intestinal epithelial cells to gastrointestinal hormones. PMID- 2612995 TI - Quality of life and inflammatory bowel diseases. PMID- 2612996 TI - [Annual meeting of the Bayerian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Austrian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics. May 1989, Innsbruck. Proceedings]. PMID- 2612997 TI - [Premature rupture of the fetal membranes from the clinical viewpoint]. PMID- 2612998 TI - [The value of the vaginal procedure in urinary incontinence]. PMID- 2612999 TI - [Premature rupture of the fetal membranes and vaginal infections]. PMID- 2613000 TI - [Premature rupture of the fetal membranes and threatened premature labor--fetal outcome in conservative management]. PMID- 2613001 TI - [Maternal mortality in premature rupture of the fetal membranes]. PMID- 2613002 TI - [The effect of premature rupture of the fetal membranes on maternal and infant morbidity (analysis of 219 very premature infants with a birth weight of 1,000 1,499 g)]. PMID- 2613003 TI - [Histologic diagnosis of amnion infection of the placenta]. PMID- 2613004 TI - [Leukocyte elastase as an indicator for early detection of neonatal infection]. PMID- 2613005 TI - [Nosocomial puerperal infections following vaginal delivery: pathogenesis, prevention]. PMID- 2613006 TI - [Obstetric management in premature rupture of the fetal membranes at the Linz Regional Gynecologic Clinic]. PMID- 2613007 TI - [Treatment of pyelitis gravidarum with pivmecillinam]. PMID- 2613008 TI - [Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnancy]. PMID- 2613009 TI - [Chlamydia infection in pregnancy: screening of mothers and their newborn infants]. PMID- 2613010 TI - [Incidence of pathogen colonization of the newborn infant with green amniotic fluid and/or premature rupture of the fetal membranes--birth interval over 12 hours]. PMID- 2613011 TI - [Significance of the latency period following premature rupture of the fetal membranes in small premature infants (500-1,500 g)]. PMID- 2613012 TI - [Prenatal procedures and postnatal status of children with a birth weight of less than 1500 g with premature rupture of the fetal membranes]. PMID- 2613013 TI - [Surgical procedures in a combination of vaginal prolapse and stress incontinence]. PMID- 2613014 TI - [Long-term tocolysis in premature rupture of the fetal membranes and premature labor]. PMID- 2613015 TI - [Does rupture of the fetal membranes determine the timing of labor?]. PMID- 2613016 TI - [The incidence of abortion in Steiermark 1985-87--(Chernobyl 26 April 1986)]. PMID- 2613017 TI - [Premature rupture of the fetal membranes--do neonatal maturity and risk of infection require an alternative decision or a compromise]. PMID- 2613018 TI - [Surgical aspects of breast-saving therapy of breast cancer--segment resection with simultaneous breast reconstruction]. PMID- 2613019 TI - [Breast-saving therapy of breast cancer, experiences up to now with the Wurzburg method in 141 patients]. PMID- 2613020 TI - [Breast-saving cancer surgery from plastic surgery and reconstructive viewpoints]. PMID- 2613021 TI - [Preoperative marking of non-palpable breast findings with the hole screen tube]. PMID- 2613022 TI - [Epidemiology of breast cancer in Austria 1983-1987]. PMID- 2613023 TI - [The significance of diaphragm-plasty in the treatment of stress incontinence]. PMID- 2613024 TI - [Prenatal diagnosis from the internal medicine viewpoint]. PMID- 2613025 TI - [Steiermark data of congenital abnormalities with regional classification and comparative international values]. PMID- 2613026 TI - [Prepartal puncture of fetal ovarian cysts--an alternative to ovariectomy in newborn infants?]. PMID- 2613027 TI - [Forms of fetal dwarfism--attempt at prenatal differential diagnosis]. PMID- 2613028 TI - [Prenatal diagnosis and therapy of thoracic developmental disorders]. PMID- 2613029 TI - [Chorionic biopsy]. PMID- 2613030 TI - [Proteinuria in pregnancy--a prognostic parameter]. PMID- 2613031 TI - [Increased spontaneous uterine activity caused by the anti-gestagen ZK 98.299]. PMID- 2613032 TI - [Correction of pelvic floor insufficiency--a domain of the vaginal surgical approach]. PMID- 2613033 TI - [The current status of microsurgical sterility operations in the treatment of tubal sterility]. PMID- 2613034 TI - [Extra-uterine pregnancy following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET)]. PMID- 2613035 TI - [295 children born following IVF/ET. An analysis of the course of pregnancy and labor]. PMID- 2613036 TI - [A new test system for evaluating the risk of thromboembolism in the use of hormonal contraceptives]. PMID- 2613037 TI - [Estradiol and progesterone secretion in relative hypophyseal LH pulsation rest in the mid-luteal phase of the cycle]. PMID- 2613038 TI - [Change in obstetrical risk in adolescent primiparous patients--a comparative study]. PMID- 2613039 TI - [Maternal mortality, its definition and concept]. PMID- 2613040 TI - [Early detection of hemolysis in HELLP syndrome as an important prognostic factor]. PMID- 2613041 TI - [The significance of clinical symptoms for early diagnosis and clinical course of HELLP syndrome]. PMID- 2613042 TI - [Microcomputer-assisted data detection and control in obstetrics]. PMID- 2613043 TI - [A case of macromastia in pregnancy]. PMID- 2613044 TI - [Pregnancy following heart valve surgery]. PMID- 2613045 TI - [Vaginal sacrospinal fixation of the vagina as treatment of prolapsed vaginal hernia]. PMID- 2613046 TI - [Functional forms of prolapse]. PMID- 2613047 TI - [Comparative study of the effectiveness of an intravesical administered lidocaine gel versus emepronium bromide in females with urge incontinence]. PMID- 2613048 TI - [The Tompkins metroplasty in uterine abnormality, technic and results]. PMID- 2613049 TI - [High CA-125 values in a patient with miliary tuberculosis and ascites]. PMID- 2613050 TI - [REGAJ diagnosis of recurrence of ovarian cancer]. PMID- 2613051 TI - [Ovarian cancer following hysterectomy]. PMID- 2613052 TI - [Prevention of hematomas and lymphoceles in radical surgery]. PMID- 2613053 TI - [Antiemetic therapy in cisplatin chemotherapy]. PMID- 2613054 TI - [Dystrophy of the vulva--nomenclature and clinical picture]. PMID- 2613055 TI - [Ceftriaxone concentrations in the subperitoneal space following hysterectomy]. PMID- 2613056 TI - [Simultaneous intra-urethral EMG and pressure measurement in assessing functional changes of the urethra]. PMID- 2613057 TI - [A computer-assisted urodynamic system: "Urodyn II"]. PMID- 2613058 TI - [HELLP syndrome in the Bregenz regional capital city hospital]. PMID- 2613059 TI - [Chlamydia screening in over 5,000 pregnant patients]. PMID- 2613060 TI - [Breast cancer: developments since 1963]. PMID- 2613061 TI - [Pre- and post-therapeutic serum concentrations of mucin-like carcinoma associated antigen in patients with breast cancer]. PMID- 2613062 TI - [Vaginal sacrospinal fixation of the vagina in eliminating a true vaginal hernia prolapse]. PMID- 2613063 TI - [Preoperative risk assessment of cancer patients]. PMID- 2613064 TI - [Cervical intraepithelial glandular neoplasia (adenocarcinoma in situ) of the cervix]. PMID- 2613065 TI - [Primary irradiated adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix]. PMID- 2613066 TI - [The course of squamous cell cancer antigen in chemotherapy as a prognostic criterion in cervix cancer]. PMID- 2613067 TI - [Chemotherapy and prognostic significance of the size of the remaining tumor in ovarian cancer]. PMID- 2613068 TI - [Changes in AT-III following hormone therapy of females in the climacteric]. PMID- 2613069 TI - [Experiences with vaginal hysterectomy]. PMID- 2613070 TI - [The effect of an intrauterine device on passive sperm transport in the uterus and fallopian tube at the time of ovulation]. PMID- 2613071 TI - [Initial results with intra-tubal embryo transfer (IVF-IT-ET) in patients with cervix antibodies to spermatozoa antigens]. PMID- 2613072 TI - [Development of a hysteroscopy transfer scope and initial experiences with its use in intratubal embryo transfer (IVF/IT-ET)]. PMID- 2613073 TI - [Amniotic fluid puncture for prenatal diagnosis in IVF pregnancy--1985-1987 results]. PMID- 2613074 TI - [30 years of vaginal hysterectomy at the 2d University Gynecologic Clinic in Vienna, an analysis of over 6,000 operations]. PMID- 2613075 TI - [The humanus amorphus (acardius)]. PMID- 2613076 TI - [Prenatal diagnosis in a routine program of 2-step screening]. PMID- 2613077 TI - [Results of the "light pill" action]. PMID- 2613078 TI - [2,121 vaginal hysterectomies 1979-1988]. PMID- 2613079 TI - [Postmenopausal risk of osteoporosis]. PMID- 2613080 TI - [Tradition as living responsibility]. PMID- 2613081 TI - [Indications for vaginal hysterectomy following a preceding gynecologic laparotomy]. PMID- 2613082 TI - [Hysterectomy: is the vaginal approach safer than the abdominal?]. PMID- 2613083 TI - [After-care of colpopoesis peritonei]. PMID- 2613084 TI - [Stool outlet obstruction in recto-enterocele. Incidence, diagnosis and postoperative results]. PMID- 2613085 TI - [Laser therapy of condylomata of the female genitals]. PMID- 2613086 TI - [Epikeratophakia surgery for refractive errors and keratoconus]. AB - Epikeratophakia surgery is a relatively new surgical technique which involves suturing of prelathed corneal tissue on top of the recipient's cornea. The epikeratophakia lens is lathed according to the recipient's refractive needs and therefore can correct myopia and hyperopia; a plano lenticle can be used to correct keratoconus. In the past 3 years we operated on 25 patients (27 eyes). There were 11 cases of myopia, 7 of aphakia and 7 of keratoconus. The aphakic (hyperopic) group included patients with aphakia and traumatic aphakia in whom secondary implantation of an intraocular lens was contraindicated or who were contact-lens intolerant. In the myopic group, the average correction of 18.3 diopters improved to -1.9 diopters after surgery, and in the hyperopic-aphakic group from +10.9 diopters to +1.1 diopters. In the keratoconus group there was also marked improvement after surgery. There was no major complication during or after surgery. Epikeratophakia surgery is a reversible, extraocular procedure, which is fairly simple technically, does not cause immunological rejection, and gives fairly good results in certain refractive errors and in keratoconus. PMID- 2613087 TI - [Blast injury of the ear]. AB - 147 soldiers, in whom 210 ears were blast-injured, were studied retrospectively during 1967-1986. The nature of eardrum perforations, hearing impairment, complications, changes over the course of time and different modes of treatment were reviewed. In 92.8 of the ears the perforation was up to half of the eardrum surface, most significantly of the lower part of the drum. In 75% the perforation closed spontaneously: in 40% within a month, in 59% within 2 months and in 73% within a year. Most had impaired hearing, of whom 74% had sensorineural or mixed hearing loss; 60% complained of tinnitus and/or vertigo. In 13% purulent discharge had accompanied the perforation and in 8% a cholesteatoma had developed 1-4 years after injury. The recommended treatment of blast injury is early patching of the perforation and surgical exploration a year later in cases with residual conductive hearing loss or cholesteatoma. PMID- 2613088 TI - [Pectus excavatum from chronic upper airway obstruction]. AB - 4 patients with enlarged tonsils and adenoids associated with pectus excavatum are presented. 2 also had signs of pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure. All 4 underwent adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy. Respiratory distress and congestive heart failure were rapidly relieved, while the pectus deformity improved gradually and completely disappeared in 6 months to 2 years after surgery. PMID- 2613089 TI - [Retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma]. AB - Ganglioneuroma is an infrequent tumor composed of sympathetic ganglion cells and sheathed neurites. It arises mainly from the large sympathetic chains, most frequently in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneum, but rarely may develop from the peripheral sympathetic chains. It is usually benign, and may grow asymptomatically to relatively large size. However, it can cause symptoms due to local expansion and pressure on adjacent structures. It does not seem to have hormonal activity. Some ganglioneuromas contain immature cells or elements of neuroblastoma or pheochromacytoma and can metastasize. The preoperative diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumors has now become more frequent due to the extensive use of imaging modalities, mainly computed axial tomography. Whenever the imaging correlates with the clinical presentation, or there is a reasonable suspicion of a malignancy, operation is indicated. Many retroperitoneal space occupying lesions are found in asymptomatic patients during attempts to diagnose other diseases. In these cases opinions differ as to therapeutic approach. Many adrenal tumors may be benign adenomas, and several therapeutic protocols have been proposed. The clinician can decide on the basis of clinical presentation and radiographic features whether a conservative approach rather than operation is indicated. Since the majority of retroperitoneal tumors are malignant, histologic diagnosis is essential and in such cases surgical intervention is warranted. A young patient with a retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma is presented. PMID- 2613090 TI - [Dieulafoy's lesion]. AB - Massive upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding from a ruptured abnormal gastric artery was reported by Gallard in 1884. The lesion is rare and its characteristics were only described 24 years later by the French surgeon Dieulafoy. It is characterized by an abnormal, tortuous, submucosal artery protruding from a small lesion in otherwise normal gastric mucosa, and is usually located in the posterior wall of the lesser curvature near the cardia. Preoperative diagnosis is very difficult and it is easily overlooked, even during operation. Hence, rebleeding and second laparatomy are common. Treatment is mainly surgical: by wedge resection or oversewing the lesion. A 30-year-old patient with this condition who was operated on for upper gastrointestinal bleeding is presented. PMID- 2613091 TI - [Locating and monitoring of the elderly by family physicians]. AB - A program to locate and monitor the elderly population registered at the East Talpiot Clinic in Jerusalem was set up. 93% of the 372 registered elderly were located, of whom 6.2% were not previously known to their assigned family physician at the clinic. The program established risk groups based on medical, social and psychological factors. These factors were elevated blood pressure, diabetes, psychiatric illness, tumors, confinement to home, isolation and recent bereavement. 68% of the elderly fell into at least one of these risk groups. There was positive response to the monitoring program in 2/3 of the cases. This method of locating and monitoring the elderly within the on-going work of the family physician in the clinic was practical and effective. It also indicates an appropriate role for the neighborhood clinic in its own setting. PMID- 2613093 TI - [The diaphragm--it's role at the end of the 1980's]. PMID- 2613092 TI - [Failure of specialization in geriatrics or in geriatric medicine itself?]. PMID- 2613094 TI - [Enteric nervous system]. PMID- 2613095 TI - [Cardiac involvement in inflammatory bowel disease]. AB - A 67-year-old man with ulcerative colitis of 1 year's duration was hospitalized with myopericarditis. Clinical manifestations were pleuritic pain, palpitation and fever. There was atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia with ST elevation in all leads. He recovered under treatment with indomethacin. No etiology other than the bowel disease was found. According to the literature, heart involvement in inflammatory bowel disease is rare; it is seen more frequently in men and in those with ulcerative colitis. This complication is not related to the activity of the bowel disease. The heart involvement responds well to either nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or to corticosteroids. PMID- 2613096 TI - [VIth nerve palsy associated with ipsilateral Horner's pupil]. AB - A rare syndrome which includes VIth nerve palsy associated with ipsilateral Horner's pupil was foreseen by Parkinson and Johnston in the mid-seventies. They anticipated the occurrence of this syndrome on the basis of the unique anatomical relationships discovered by them in the cavernous sinus. The main finding consisted of very close proximity between the VIth nerve and a branch emerging from the carotid sympathetic plexus. Recently, several reports of this syndrome caused by a variety of pathologic processes in the cavernous sinus, proved that Parkinson and Johnston were correct. Since it is quite difficult to identify lesions in the cavernous sinus by X-ray or CT scan, the neuroradiologist should utilize special techniques. It is expected that the number of cases of this syndrome will soon increase, due to increasing familiarity with the syndrome and to improved imaging techniques. PMID- 2613097 TI - [Toxicity to rodenticides and its treatment]. AB - A case is presented of exposure to a rodenticide which caused a severe disorder of hemostasis, including macroscopic hematuria, several months after the patient was exposed to it. Response to treatment with vitamin K and barbiturates came only after 70 days. The cause-and-effect relationship between exposure to the rodenticide and the disorder in hemostasis is based on the clinical course and on the late response to treatment. PMID- 2613098 TI - [Vestibular dysfunction and deafness complicating mumps parotitis]. AB - A 9-year-old boy developed severe positional vertigo, unsteadiness, vomiting and nystagmus during active mumps parotitis. Audiometric examination showed complete right sensorineural hearing loss. Brain stem evoked response to audiometric stimulation of the left ear was normal, but was absent on stimulation of the right ear. CT scan of the brain was normal. While vestibular symptoms gradually improved during 1 week, the deafness on the right was permanent. Acute vestibulitis during mumps is very rare, but permanent unilateral deafness might be a much more common, severe, persistent complication than is generally believed. Such cases call for an urgent change in Israel's vaccination policy so that vaccination against mumps is included. PMID- 2613099 TI - [Hepatitis A and pleural effusion in children]. AB - Pleural effusion associated with hepatitis A is rare and has not previously been reported in children. A 5-year-old girl who recovered from this association of diseases is presented. An immunological mechanism is suggested. PMID- 2613100 TI - [Darker side of tanning from artificial radiation source]. PMID- 2613101 TI - [Chest pain, cough associated with pain, loss of consciousness]. PMID- 2613102 TI - [Preparation of cerebral ischemia-induced amnesic model in mice and ameliorative effect of several compounds on the model]. AB - A simple and reliable method for the preparation of an ischemia-induced amnesic model was developed in mice and the model animals were employed for screening of the anti-amnesic effect of drugs. Under light thiopental anesthesia the bilateral carotid arteries were exfoliated from the surrounding tissues. Each artery was threaded through a small polyethylene tube, and the incision was sutured, leaving the tip of the tube and both ends of the thread out of the skin. To prevent the tube from falling off, both ends of the thread was ligated at the tip of the tube. Cerebral ischemia was attained by pulling the artery into the tube, and the occlusion was rapidly released by cutting the ligation in the thread and taking off the tube. Twenty-four hours after the surgery, the animals were used for the one trial passive avoidance learning test. In ddY strain mice, the amnesic state was obtained by 5 to 30 min cerebral ischemia, which was applied immediately after the acquisition trial. Mice of the ICR strain were more sensitive to the ischemic treatment and 2 min occlusion of the carotid arteries resulted in a high degree of amnesia. A potent prolyl endopeptidase inhibitor, Z-thiopro thiazolidine, and 2 novel pyrrolidone derivatives, p-chlorobenzyl-2-pyrrolidone-5 carboxylate and N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxamide, improved the acquisition of the passive avoidance response in the ischemia-induced amnesic models. PMID- 2613103 TI - [Effects of tricyclic antidepressant drugs on receptor binding sites and Ca2+ binding to sarcoplasmic reticulum in rat heart]. AB - The effects of tricyclic antidepressant drugs on cardiac receptor binding sites and Ca2+ binding to cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum were investigated in rats. 1) Quinupramine was found to possess higher affinity for muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding sites in brain and heart, compared with imipramine. 2) Repeated quinupramine treatment induced a significant increase in the Bmax value in cardiac muscarinic cholinergic receptors. 3) In imipramine treated heart, isoproterenol-induced stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity was significantly decreased compared with that in the vehicle control. 4) Repeated quinupramine and imipramine treatment caused a significant reduction of Bmax of 45Ca2+ binding in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum fractions. 5) After single quinupramine treatment, its concentrations in heart were higher than those in brain and plasma. 6) After the repeated quinupramine treatment, its concentration in heart was 2.4 times higher than that after single treatment. These results demonstrate that repeated tricyclic antidepressant drug treatment caused a functional impairment in Ca2+ binding sites of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum and adaptive changes of receptor binding sites. PMID- 2613104 TI - [Antithrombotic effects of low molecular weight heparin (FR-860) in rabbits]. AB - Effects of low molecular weight heparin (FR-860) were investigated on the arterio venous (A-V) shunt model and on the in vitro blood coagulation system compared to conventional unfractionated heparin (UF-heparin) in rabbits. In the A-V shunt model, FR-860 (12.5-50 U/kg, i.v.) and UF-heparin (25 and 50 U/kg, i.v.) dose related inhibited thrombotic formation in the tube of the A-V shunt at 30 min after starting blood circulation. Both FR-860 and UF-heparin dose-relatedly increased the anti-F.Xa activity at 5 min after starting blood circulation. However, FR-860 showed weaker effects in a prolongation of the aPTT, PT and thrombin time than UF-heparin in the A-V shunt model. Neither FR-860 nor UF heparin had any influence on platelet aggregation. FR-860 also had a weaker effect in the prolongation of the plasma recalcification time, aPTT and PT than UF-heparin in vitro. FR-860 showed equipotent efficacy on the anti-F.Xa activity and had weak anti-thrombin activity compared to that of UF-heparin in vitro. These results suggest that the antithrombotic effect of FR-860 mainly depends on its anti-F.Xa activity but not on the antithrombin activity. Therefore, FR-860 is more efficient and lower in bleeding risk than UF-heparin in hemodialysis and thrombotic disorders. PMID- 2613105 TI - [Effects of low molecular weight heparin (FR-860) on coagulative and fibrinolytic activities]. AB - We studied the effects of FR-860 on coagulative and fibrinolytic activities in human plasma compared to conventional unfractionated heparin (UF-heparin). Both FR-860 and UF-heparin dose-dependently prolonged the recalcification time, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, factor Xa (F.Xa) clotting time and thrombin time. These effects of FR-860 were weaker than that of UF-heparin. FR-860 showed equipotent efficacy on the anti-F.Xa activity, and weak antithrombin activity compared to UF-heparin. FR-860 had no effects on the activity of ATIII and fibrinolytic activity. UF-heparin shortened the urokinase activated euglobulin lysis time and showed antiplasmin activity, but did not influence the activities of ATIII, plasminogen and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor. UF heparin decreased the fibrinogen level at higher doses. These efficacies of FR 860 were weaker than that of UF-heparin. These results suggest that FR-860 is more efficient and lower in bleeding risk than UF-heparin in clinical use. PMID- 2613106 TI - [Vasodilator actions of felodipine, a new Ca2+ entry blocker]. AB - Felodipine [ethylmethyl 4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3,5- pyridinedicarboxylate], a new Ca2+ entry blocker, relaxed isolated canine arteries and veins precontracted with prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha, in a concentration-dependent manner. Felodipine dilated cerebral arteries predominantly over the other arteries. Relaxations by felodipine, in low concentrations, were greater in mesenteric vein strips than in mesenteric artery strips isolated from the same dogs. The inhibitory effect of felodipine in high concentrations (10(-7)M or higher) were not reversed by repeated washing. In coronary arteries exposed to Ca2+-free media under anoxia, PGF2 alpha and Ca2+ produced persistent contractions. Reoxygenation from anoxia elicited an additional contraction. Felodipine did not affect PGF2 alpha-induced contraction in Ca2+-free media, but significantly reduced the contractions caused by Ca2+ and reoxygenation. These findings suggest that felodipine is a potent, long-acting Ca2+ entry blocker with characteristics such as a greater action on cerebral arteries and mesenteric veins than coronary and mesenteric arteries. PMID- 2613107 TI - [Evaluation of the anti-ulcer drugs using image analysis technology: effect of aldioxa containing preparation on the experimental gastric ulcer in rats]. AB - Direct measurements under a microscope have been employed to evaluate experimental gastric ulcers, but the following problems have been left unsettled: it takes too much time, and much experience is required to perform accurate, objective measurements. The present study demonstrates the usefulness of image analysis technology for evaluating anti-ulcer drugs. With this newly developed method, the region of gastric mucosal injury can be automatically and/or mechanically chosen on the basis of three different factors: intensity, hue and purity. Consequently, this method can be used to rapidly obtain analytical data such as the number, area and length of gastric ulcers. Effect of NNP, a preparation containing aldioxa, on three different types of experimental ulcer formation (stress-induced, ethanol-induced, and pylorus-ligation) was studied by image analysis technology. In all cases, NNP (2,562 mg/kg, p.o.) almost completely inhibited the formation of rat gastric ulcer. From the finding that image analysis technology is very useful for evaluating anti-ulcer drugs, we conclude that this method will help further the development of anti-ulcer drugs. PMID- 2613108 TI - [A comparative study of human placenta hydrolysate (Laennec) by intravenous or subcutaneous injection on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in normal and CCl4-induced cirrhosis rats]. AB - The effect of human placenta hydrolysate (Laennec) on residual liver regeneration after about 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) in normal and CCl4-induced cirrhosis rats was examined. Both intravenous or subcutaneous injections of Laennec increased the regeneration rate of the residual liver after PH in normal rats. Intravenous injection of Laennec inhibited the decrease of liver total protein, and it decreased the level of serum transaminase (GOT, GPT). The regeneration rate of the residual liver after PH in CCl4-induced cirrhosis (CCl4-PH) rats increased by intravenous or subcutaneous injection of Laennec. Laennec also inhibited the increase of serum GOT caused by CCl4-PH. In the pathological examination of the regenerating liver, intravenous injection of Laennec minimized the pathological changes caused by PH or CCl4-PH such as vacuolation and necrosis in the hepatocytes. The enhancement of cytoplasma regeneration in hepatocytes was noticed by intravenous injection of Laennec, but that by subcutaneous Laennec was slight. Intravenous injection of Laennec also minimized the lipid deposition in liver caused by CCl4-PH. Laennec had no effect on the pseudolobule formation caused by CCl4. Thus, the effect of intravenous injection of Laennec on the liver regeneration in PH rats was much more potent than that by the subcutaneous injection. PMID- 2613109 TI - [Effects of CN-100 (2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo [b,f] thiepin-2-yl) propionic acid) on cardiovascular and autonomic nervous function in the dog and guinea pig]. AB - 1) In pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs, intravenous administration of CN-100 at 40 mg/kg exhibited a transient hypotension, accompanied with a slight respiratory excitation and a temporal increase of heart rate followed by slight and gradual decrease at 20 and 40 mg/kg. 2) In isolated guinea pig atria, CN-100 (10(-4), 10( 5) g/ml) decreased the heart rate, without influencing the myocardial contraction. 3) In anesthetized dogs, the vertebral and carotid blood flow slightly and gradually increased at 5-20 mg/kg and decreased at 40 mg/kg. The drug at 20 mg/kg similarly increased the femoral flow. 4) In anesthetized dogs, CN-100 (40 mg/kg) slightly potentiated hypertensive responses to noradrenaline and adrenaline, without affecting heart rate responses to these amines. 5) In anesthetized dogs, CN-100 (40 mg/kg) scarcely had effect on the blood pressure rise and bradycardia induced by respective proximal and distal end stimulation of the severed vagus nerve, but enhanced the hypertension due to the carotid sinus reflex. CN-100 augmented the tachycardia elicited by pre- and postganglionic stellate stimulation in spinal dogs. 6) In isolated guinea pig trachea muscle, CN 100 (3 x 10(-6) g/ml) reduced the resting tone and relaxation response to noradrenaline, but slightly enhanced contractile responses to field stimulation and acetylcholine. 7) These results suggest that CN-100 exerts weak cardiovascular and autonomic nervous actions. PMID- 2613110 TI - [Pharmacological study of kako-bushi-matsu: analgesic action and acute toxicity]. AB - The analgesic effect and the acute toxicity of a medical drug "kako-bushi-matsu" (S-01), which was produced through several processing of raw aconite roots, were examined in comparison with those of ibuprofen, indomethacin and aspirin. S-01 (p.o.) inhibited the acetic acid- and phenylquinone-induced writhing dose dependently. From the ED50 values, indomethacin showed more potent inhibitory action on the phenylquinone-induced writhing than on the acetic acid-induced writhing. Ibuprofen and aspirin showed the same tendency as indomethacin. The potency of the writhing inhibition by S-01 was almost to the same degree in both writhing methods. In the tail pressure method, S-01 raised the pain threshold ratio to almost the same degree as ibuprofen did. In Randall-Selitto's method, the analgesic effect of S-01 on inflamed foot was less than that of ibuprofen. In the normal foot, S-01 raised the pain threshold ratio dose-dependently, but ibuprofen did not influence the pain threshold ratio. On adjuvant-induced arthritic pain, S-01 and ibuprofen had an analgesic action, and this action of S 01 was less than that of ibuprofen. The oral LD50 value of S-01 was more than 10,000 mg/kg in mice and rats of both sexes. The above evidence indicates that S 01 has analgesic action and suggests that the mode of the analgesic action of S 01 may differ from those of ibuprofen, indomethacin and aspirin, which inhibit prostaglandin biosynthesis. PMID- 2613111 TI - [Pharmacological actions of S-145, a novel thromboxane A2 antagonist, in various smooth muscles]. AB - Antagonistic actions of S-145 ((+-)-5(Z)-7-[3 endo[(phenylsulfonyl)amino]bicyclo[2.2.1] hept-2-exo-yl]heptenoic acid) against U 46619, a thromboxane A2 mimic, were studied using isolated thoracic aorta of the rat and the trachea, lung parenchyma and ileum of the guinea pig. S-145 as well as SQ-29548 and ONO-3708 inhibited the contraction of aorta induced by U-46619 in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 value of each compound was 1.4, 14.5 and 52.6 nM. S-145 also inhibited contractions of the aorta induced by high concentrations of PGE1, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha, but failed to affect the responses to K+, Ca2+, NE, 5-HT, and angiotensin II. Contractions of trachea and lung parenchyma of the guinea pig induced by U-46619 were concentration-dependently inhibited by S-145, but those induced by histamine and leukotriene D4 were not affected. Ileac contractions by PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were not inhibited by S-145. The (+)-isomer of S-145 was more potent and the (-)-isomer was less potent than S 145 for antagonistic action against U-46619. These results suggest that S-145 is a potent and specific antagonist to the thromboxane A2 receptor; and in the aorta, the thromboxane A2 receptor may respond to high concentrations of PGs. PMID- 2613112 TI - Fish: a new addition to the diet of Japanese macaques on Koshima Island. AB - Recently, Japanese macaques on Koshima Island have begun to eat raw fish. This new habit was first observed in 1979, in adult males that live on the periphery of the group of macaques. The habit was first transmitted to the old dominant females in the group and then spread gradually to most other members of the group over the next 6 years. However, Koshima macaques do not appear to have a particular liking for fish. The eating of fish is discussed in relation to recent nutritional conditions in the macaques' habitat. PMID- 2613113 TI - Canine tooth size variability in primates. AB - I present an analysis of canine tooth size variability in male and female primates. The coefficient of variation (CV = SD X 100/mean) as an index of canine size variability proved to be dependent on mean canine size in males and, to a lower extent, in females. Therefore, variability tends to increase with increasing values of mean canine size. Using residuals from the regression of log SD on log mean canine size in male and female primates, I analysed the contribution of diet, habitat and mating system to canine size variability. Habitat and mating system are known to influence to a certain extent the degree of sexual dimorphism in canine size. Given the well-known relationship between sexual dimorphism and phenotypic variability, it was suggested that these factors might influence variability in canine size. Everything else being equal, males of polygynous species are characterized by more variable canine sizes than males of monogamous species. Habitat and diet did not contribute to the level of variability observed in either males or females. It is proposed that a high level of variability in canine size may be related to the likelihood that enlarged canines evolved as a result of male-male competition for mates in polygynous species. PMID- 2613114 TI - Mortality of wild and captive chimpanzees. AB - Mortality of chimpanzees in the wild (Gombe National Park) and in captivity (Taronga Zoo, Sydney and Melbourne Zoo) was compared using standard cohort life table techniques. Overall mortality probabilities up to age 30 were compared using a logrank test. No significant difference in overall mortality was revealed, and the mortality curves did appear to be surprisingly similar, but there were nevertheless some differences in the distribution of mortality. Perinatal mortality was higher in the zoo, while post-perinatal and infant mortality were higher in the wild. Survivorship in the older zoo animals (over age 27) was better than the wild. These differences were attributed to the more sheltered zoo environment, including the availability of veterinary care, which could be expected to improve survival in infants and older adults. The higher perinatal mortality experienced by zoo infants could be reflecting higher levels of inbreeding among the zoo animals. PMID- 2613115 TI - Structural convergence between silent bared-teeth display and relaxed open-mouth display in the Tonkean macaque (Macaca tonkeana). PMID- 2613116 TI - Significance of Mezzettia leptopoda fruits eaten by orang-utans for dental microwear analysis. PMID- 2613117 TI - Lifetime toxicity/carcinogenicity study of FD & C Red No. 40 (allura red) in Sprague-Dawley rats. AB - FD & C Red No. 40 was fed to Charles River CD (Sprague-Dawley) rats as a dietary admixture in a lifetime toxicity/carcinogenicity study. The study included a phase during which the colouring was administered to parental rats (30 of each sex per group) at concentrations of 0.0, 0.37, 1.39 and 5.19%, throughout the mating, gestation and lactation periods. The concurrent control group received the basal diet. After random selection of the first-generation rats, the lifetime phase was initiated using the same dietary concentrations with 50 rats of each sex per group. The maximum durations of exposure to the colouring were 118 and 121 for males and females, respectively. No compound-related adverse effects were observed, except for a reduction in body weight in high-dose females at the end of the study. The no-adverse-effect levels in this study were 5.19% (2829 mg/kg/day) for male rats, and 1.39% (901 mg/kg/day) for female rats. PMID- 2613118 TI - Study of the teratogenic potential of FD & C Red No. 40 when given by gavage to rats. AB - Osborne-Mendel rats were intubated with FD & C Red No. 40 at dose levels of 0, 30, 75, 150, 300, 600, or 1000 mg/kg body weight/day on days 0-19 of gestation. No developmental toxicity was observed when the animals were killed on day 20 of gestation. No dose-related changes were seen in maternal daily observations, food consumption, body-weight gain or implantations, or in foetal viability, body weight, body length, sex distribution or external variations. Skeletal and soft tissue development appeared similar in foetuses of all groups. The isolated increases that occurred in the number of male foetuses, number of females with two or more resorptions, number of litters with three or more sternebral variations and incidence of 14th rib bud are considered random occurrences and were not related to dosage. PMID- 2613119 TI - Sequential changes in hepatic and renal glutathione and development of renal karyomegaly in 1-cyano-3,4-epithiobutane toxicity in rats. AB - The effect of 1-cyano-3,4-epithiobutane (CEB) on glutathione (GSH) metabolism was investigated in rat liver, kidney and pancreas. Male Fischer 344 rats were gavaged with a single dose (125 mg/kg body weight or 50 mg/kg body weight) of CEB. Tissue samples were taken for histological examination, determination of GSH and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities. Urine samples were analysed for non-protein thiol (NP-RSH) content. The high dose of CEB induced hepatic GSH depletion followed by increased GSH. The low dose of CEB induced elevated hepatic GSH by 12 hr without depletion. Renal GSH was increased with both doses without an observed depletion phase. Renal tubule epithelial cell death was observed only with the high dose of CEB, but both doses caused renal proximal tubule karyomegaly. Pancreatic GSH content was unaffected. No alterations of GSSG were observed. GST activity was unaffected in any tissue. Renal GGT activity was decreased at 12 hr with both doses and at 24 and 48 hr with the high dose. Urinary NP-RSH excretion was increased with both doses. Depletion of hepatic GSH concurrent with increased urinary NP-RSH excretion suggests that conjugation with GSH is a significant pathway in CEB metabolism. PMID- 2613120 TI - Percutaneous absorption, biotransformation, retention and excretion of 1,3 diaminobenzene in the rat. AB - Groups of seven male Wistar rats were dermally exposed for 24 hr to 556 mumol [14C]meta-phenylenediamine (MPD; 1,3-diaminobenzene) in either aqueous solution (Group 2) or 4% hydrogen peroxide (Group 3). The percutaneous absorption and the amount of non-excreted radioactivity were significantly higher in Group 2 rats. Radioactivity associated with DNA purified from the liver and kidneys was demonstrated. Urine was the principal route of excretion, especially in Group 2 rats. Rats in Group 3 excreted significantly more MPD in the faeces than did Group 2 rats. Urinary excretion of material that constituted two of the peaks in the high-performance liquid chromatogram demonstrated first-order elimination kinetics. Three N-acetylated metabolites (N-acetyl-1,3-diaminobenzene, N,N' diacetyl-2,4-diaminophenol and N,N'-diacetyl-1,3-diaminobenzene) accounted for 49 and 37% of the urinary excretion of group 2 and 3 rats, respectively, indicating that such metabolites represent important pathways in the metabolism of MPD. Minor excretion of at least one highly hydrophilic, unidentified metabolite of MPD was demonstrated. High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of urine indicated that the XAD-2 purification procedure, which is usually used before mutagenicity testing in vitro, resulted in some of the radioactive materials being discarded. The percutaneous absorption of MPD in vivo was compared with the permeability of isolated epidermal membranes in vitro. These studies showed that such in vitro studies might be used to predict the dermal absorption by rats, in vivo, of MPD and similar, topically applied compounds. PMID- 2613121 TI - Carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines in Indian tobacco products. AB - Various Indian tobacco products--cigarette, bidi, chutta and their smoke, chewing tobacco and snuff (used for inhalation as well as a dentifrice) were analysed for their content of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and N'-nitrosoanatabine) by means of a gas chromatograph interfaced with a thermal energy analyser. These tobacco specific nitrosamines were detected at microgram/g levels in all products investigated and in ng quantities in tobacco smoke. The highest concentrations were in chutta tobacco and snuff used for inhalation. The use of these Indian tobacco products may lead to high exposure to the potentially carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines. PMID- 2613122 TI - Assessment of collicular fractures of the medial malleous. AB - Collicular fractures of the medial malleolus have been described in literature as early as 1950 by Bonnin and then by Pankovich in 1979, yet have been given relatively little attention in orthopaedic and radiologic literature. A precise knowledge of the anatomy of the deltoid ligament, and anterior and posterior colliculi in relation to obtained radiographs is important in the determination of whether a fracture is considered to be stable or unstable, and thus bears an impact on its treatment. The intent of this discussion is to review the structures which comprise the medial malleolus and the assessment of their involvement in acute injury. PMID- 2613123 TI - Avascular necrosis of lesser metatarsal heads following forefoot surgery. AB - Three cases of avascular necrosis of the lesser metatarsal heads following forefoot surgery are presented. The variable blood supply of the metatarsal heads is described. Interruption of this delicate circulation at the time of surgery is thought to be a major etiological factor. Repeated trauma following transference of load to the lesser metatarsal heads after operation may also play an important role. Although not previously described this may be a cause of persistent pain following surgery to the forefoot which is easily overlooked. PMID- 2613124 TI - Metatarsal osteotomy using a double-threaded compression screw: an adjunct to revision forefoot surgery. AB - A double-threaded compression screw (Herbert) was used as internal fixation of metatarsal neck osteotomy and nonunion repair in 16 patients (18 feet). Fifteen patients had associated symptomatic conditions of the foot. Twelve patients had one or more previous surgical procedures on the involved foot. Fourteen patients (15 feet) underwent 20 primary or revision lesser metatarsal osteotomies. Four of these patients had undergone previous lesser metatarsal osteotomies and had developed recurrent pain beneath six metatarsals and transfer metatarsalgia in one case. The remaining two patients (three feet), with six nonunions from previous metatarsal osteotomies, had repair with screw fixation and bone grafting. Follow-up for the series averaged 14 months. PMID- 2613125 TI - In vitro determination of midfoot motion. AB - Midfoot motion was determined using an in vitro model. Ten fresh-frozen below-the knee amputation specimens were instrumented by inserting reference pins into each of the bones of the hindfoot, midfoot and metatarsals. Dorsiflexion-planatar flexion and supination-pronation were simulated and the reference pin location in three dimensional space was determined. Comparing the location of the reference pins at each simulated position, motion was determined. Motion occurring through each articulation (dorsiflexion-plantar flexion/supination-pronation) in degrees was: talonavicular (7.0/17.7), calcaneocuboid (2.3/7.3), naviculo-medial cuneiform (5.0/7.3), naviculo-middle cuneiform (5.2/3.5), naviculo-lateral cuneiform (2.6/2.1), medial cuneiform-first metatarsal (3.5/1.5), middle cuneiform-second metatarsal (0.6/1.2), lateral cuneiform-third metatarsal (1.6/2.6), cuboid-fourth metatarsal (9.6/11.1), and cuboid-fifth metatarsal (10.2/9.0). PMID- 2613126 TI - Ewing's sarcoma of the foot. AB - Ewing's sarcoma is a rare, malignant neoplasm that is most common in children and adolescents. It is common in both the axial and appendicular skeleton but has been rarely reported in the foot. Historically, treatment has consisted of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The roll of surgery in the management of these lesions have recently been "rediscovered" and depends on the anatomic location. The purpose of this paper is to discuss five consecutive cases of Ewing's Sarcoma of the forefoot treated with below-the-knee amputation for local tumor control. Four of the five patients also underwent some systemic chemotherapy. After comparing the various forms of therapy for this tumor, the benefits of below-the-knee amputation make it an excellent primary treatment for Ewing's sarcoma of the foot. PMID- 2613127 TI - The etiology and repair of rotary ankle instability. AB - The ankle and subtalar joints form a coupling which acts like a universal joint. When the anterior talofibular ligament is disrupted, rotation of the talus about the long axis of the leg is permitted. This abnormal rotation in the transverse plane is the distinguishing feature of rotary ankle instability. The pathomechanics of rotary ankle instability are described. A simple and direct approach to repairing and reinforcing the anterior talofibular ligament and the results of 37 consecutive delayed reconstructions by this method are reported. Advantages of this procedure are felt to be a restoration of the original anatomy, preservation of the peroneal tendons, maintenance of the integrity of the subtalar joint and excellent postoperative results. Disadvantages include a lack of objective diagnostic criteria. PMID- 2613128 TI - A radiographic evaluation of the tibiofibular syndesmosis. AB - A radiographic evaluation of the normal as well as the progressively widened tibiofibular interval in the area of the syndesmosis was done using 12 fresh cadaver lower extremities. The width of the tibiofibular "clear space" and the amount of tibiofibular overlap was determined on accurately positioned anterior posterior and mortise radiographs. Based on a 95% confidence interval, measurements obtained for the intact specimens would support the following criteria as consistent with a normal tibiofibular relationship: (1) a tibiofibular "clear space" on the anterior-posterior and mortise views of less than approximately 6 mm; (2) tibiofibular overlap on the anterior-posterior view of greater than approximately 6 mm or 42% of fibular width; (3) tibiofibular overlap on the mortise view of greater than approximately 1 mm. The width of the tibiofibular "clear space" on both anterior-posterior and mortise views appeared to be the most reliable parameter for detecting early syndesmotic widening. PMID- 2613129 TI - Osteochondritis dissecans of the talus: long-term results of surgical treatment. AB - Twenty patients with osteochondritis dissecans of the ankle were reviewed for a clinical and radiographical follow-up 9 to 15 years after surgery including multiple drilling of the lesion combined with excision of loose fragments. The short-term results of surgery were satisfactory: 85 degrees of the patients were improved or cured. At follow-up, more than half of the patients had some degree of pain during activity, and swelling of the ankle, but only a few had locking or pain at rest. Only one of the 18 patients without osteoarthritis at the time of surgery had developed generalized osteoarthritis at the follow-up. Although the initial good results of surgery were demonstrated to deteriorate with time, the procedure can still be recommended in patients with longstanding symptoms. PMID- 2613130 TI - The painful accessory navicular: a clinical and histopathological study. AB - Twenty-two skeletally immature patients with 39 accessory tarsal navicular bones were seen over a 4-yr period. Twenty-five of the feet with accessory naviculars were symptomatic and, after failure of conservative treatment, were treated by excision of the accessory bone, the synchondrosis, and the prominent portion of the main navicular ossification process. No attempt was made to reroute the posterior tibial tendon. All 25 operative feet were completely relieved of the preoperative pain. The external oblique view was found to be the best radiographic view to demonstrate the accessory navicular. Histological findings in the surgical specimens included areas of micro-fracture through the cartilaginous synchondrosis, acute and chronic inflammation, and cellular proliferation indicative of attempted repair. These changes are consistent with the theory that chronic chondro-osseous tensile failure can occur in this condition and is responsible for the clinical findings. PMID- 2613131 TI - The four part triplane fracture: a case report of a new pattern. PMID- 2613132 TI - Lipoma as an etiology of tarsal tunnel syndrome: a report of two cases. PMID- 2613134 TI - A jig to use in the chevron osteotomy. PMID- 2613133 TI - Distraction lengthening for the congenitally short metatarsal: a case report. AB - Distraction lengthening has gained wide acceptance in general orthopedics and in upper extremity reconstructions. The application of this technique to the foot is presented. The congenitally short fourth metatarsal of a 16-yr-old girl was successfully lengthened by a two-stage procedure. At the first stage, an open diaphyseal osteotomy was performed and the distraction apparatus was secured. Over the ensuing 5 weeks, 36 mm of distraction was achieved. At the second stage, the distracted gap was filled with a fibular bone graft. Following uncomplicated healing, there was no gait, intrinsic muscle, or tendon abnormalities. Metatarsal distraction lengthening can be safely accomplished provided there is good bone stock, adequate soft tissue, and a cooperative patient. PMID- 2613135 TI - Proximal closing wedge osteotomy and adductor tenotomy for treatment of hallux valgus. PMID- 2613136 TI - Entomology, zoology and forensic science: the need for expansion. PMID- 2613137 TI - The detection of group-specific component from urine samples. AB - The detection of group-specific component (Gc) from serum and bloodstains has been widely used in the forensic laboratory. A recent increase in substituted or adulterated urine samples in various drug screening programs has necessitated methods to determine the donor. This paper discusses the detection of Gc from urine samples. The samples were concentrated and applied to ultrathin polyacrylamide gel and focused for 150 min. This method separates the samples into the three common phenotypes found in all human populations. A nitrocellulose membrane blotting technique was used to detect the Gc bands. Serum and urine samples were collected from each individual and were typed for Gc. Urine samples tested after 6 months of storage (4 degrees C) were still readable. This method provides the forensic laboratory with an additional test from a body fluid which, until recently, provided little information. PMID- 2613138 TI - The use of hybrid isoelectric focusing for the detection of polymorphic proteins in blood stains. AB - alpha1-Antitrypsin (Pi), transferrin (Tf) and orosomucoid (ORM) were determined in bloodstain extracts by isoelectric focusing (IEF) with carrier ampholytes (CA) and also with a mixture of immobilines (HIEF). HIEF yields superior results from proteins typing in bloodstain extracts, since phenotypes are better distinguished and the bands are straighter and sharper. Also the sensitivity of HIEF is similar to IEF with CA. PMID- 2613139 TI - Breath alcohol test precision: an in vivo vs. in vitro evaluation. AB - Random error is associated with breath alcohol measurements, as with all analytical methods. The total random uncertainty of a group of n measurements is typically determined by computing the standard deviation and requiring it to be less than some appropriate level (i.e., +/- 0.0042 g/210 l). The total random uncertainty has two primary sources; the instrumental method and the sample source. These are typically inseparable values. In breath alcohol testing the two primary sample sources are simulators and human breath. The present study evaluates ten groups of simulator samples consisting of ten measurements each on BAC Verifier Datamaster instruments. The data also includes ten breath alcohol measurements from each of 21 individuals following alcohol consumption. The range of standard deviations for the simulator samples was 0.0003-0.0022 g/210 l. The range of standard deviations for the human breath samples was 0.0015-0.0089 g/210 l. Two statistics that test for homogeneity for variances were applied. The simulator samples resulted in a Cochran's C test of 0.5000 and an Fmax test of 48.9. The human breath samples resulted in a Cochran's C test of 0.1519 and an Fmax test of 27.3. All were significant at P less than 0.001. The statistical tests demonstrated that the intragroup variability among the human subjects was comparable to the intragroup variability among the simulator samples. The data also demonstrates that the sample source (simulator or human) is probably the largest contributor to total random uncertainty. Therefore, when duplicate breath alcohol testing from individuals shows variability in the second decimal place the cause is differences in breath samples provided and not instrumental imprecision. PMID- 2613140 TI - Simultaneous determination of pethidine (meperidine), phenoperidine, and norpethidine (normeperidine), their common metabolite, by gas chromatography with selective nitrogen detection. AB - This article describes a selective gas chromatographic method for the resolution and quantification of phenoperidine and its two metabolites, pethidine (meperidine) and norpethidine (normeperidine). Drugs and SKF 525 A, the internal standard, are separated from plasma by solvent extraction under alkaline conditions. They are chromatographed on a 3% OV-17 Chromosorb Q glass column and detected with a nitrogen-phosphorous detector. Linearity is observed in the study range (5-200 ng/ml). No interference by endogenous substances is noted. PMID- 2613141 TI - M13 Bioprints: non-isotopic detection of individual-specific human DNA fingerprints with biotinylated M13 bacteriophage. AB - M13 bacteriophage was labelled by primer extension with biotin-11-dUTP and was successfully used as probe to study human hypervariable minisatellites (DNA fingerprints) in Southern blots. The method, which we called M13 Bioprints, presents two advantages over conventional DNA fingerprinting. First, it is easily accessible, since it utilizes the widely available M13 phage as a probe. Second, it makes use of biotin, which is safer, simpler and more economical than isotopic labels. PMID- 2613142 TI - Diaphragmatic muscle fibre necrosis in SIDS. AB - Observations of acute muscle fibre necrosis, as seen in 242 sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases is described. The lesion is a focal acute anoxic muscle fibre coagulative necrosis in some cases followed by myocytolysis, central vacuolation, macrophage and phagocytic cell infiltrate, stromal condensation and scarring. PMID- 2613143 TI - [Spheno-occipital synchondrosis--a fluorescence and polarization microscopy study in Cercopithecus aethiops monkeys]. AB - On 17 Cercopithecus aethiops monkeys we investigated with the method of the polychromic sequential dye marking system the histomorphology as well as the dynamics of growth and calcification of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis. The age of the animals ranged from change to teeth to late adolescence. The animals had been divided into four different groups: I: late change of teeth; II: young adult; III: fully grown; IV: late adolescence. In the first group the spheno occipital synchondrosis showed no ossification in the gap which is filled with cartilage. It showed the characteristic structure with a central zone of equally distributed chondrocytes. Adjacent to this we found a zone of proliferation cell hypotrophy and cell degeneration. With increasing age there is decrease of the density of cells (groups II to IV) and after change to teeth the synchondrosis starts to ossify (group II). Due to the ossification the synchondrosis subdivides into different cartilage regions. We found that the closing of the synchondrosis started in the cranial region and progressed toward the caudal region. During this procedure the synchondrosis never ossified completely. Several cartilage regions persisted uncalcified until late adolescence. Interstitial growth of the synchondrosis was found until the end of the change of the teeth (group I). This growth which was always found in a sagittal direction ceased after bony connections had been formed between both poles of the synchondrosis. The sphenoidal and occipital pole of the synchondrosis showed equal growth potential. PMID- 2613144 TI - [The mandibular action of individual treatment remedies depending on facial morphology]. AB - 56 patients with Angle's Class II malocclusion were treated by three different orthodontic methods, depending on facial morphology. They were examined with regard to displacement and growth of the condyle and pogonion. The changes in the area of the condyle and pogonion were differentiated by "local remodeling" and "superimposition translocation". The results show that condylar growth can be influenced by different methods of functional appliances or cervical traction, in contrast to local remodeling of pogonion which is totally independent of the type of treatment. PMID- 2613145 TI - [The positioner--a possibility for the fine adjustment of the occlusion objectively assessed by condylar measurements of the discrepancy between the ICP and RCP]. AB - A group of ten adolescents was treated with fixed appliances at the Department of Stomatology and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graz. Subsequently the patients were fitted with a gnathological positioner. On the day of band removal ten sets of models were made and subsequently two, four and twelve weeks later. They were mounted on an articulator and cephalometric measurements were taken three times by each of the examiners. These records served to provide evidence of discrepancies of the condylar position between ICP and RCP in all three planes. In the second part of the examination, the patients were instructed to wear the appliance at night for another year. Casting of models, mounting in articulators and condymetric measurements were repeated as above. After wearing the positioner for three months, we observed a definite improvement of the occlusion and a wide conformity of the RCP and ICP measurements. After one year of night-time retention there was a slight increase of the mean values. In addition, we could establish statistically that condymetric model measurements are independent of the examiner and the method employed. PMID- 2613146 TI - [The periodontal findings during orthodontic treatment. A cross-sectional study]. AB - The study was designed to evaluate the adverse influence of removable or fixed orthodontic appliances on the periodontal status of patients, thus predisposing to periodontal disease. PLI (Plaque Index), PBI (Papillary Bleeding Index), SFFR (Sulcus-Fluid-Flow-Rate) and probing depth were the parameters used to evaluate the periodontal health of the patients in the study group. The results of the investigation were: 1. There was no significant difference between wearers of removable appliances and the untreated control group. 2. Wearers of fixed orthodontic appliances showed increased values of the Papillary Bleeding Index (PBI) and the Sulcus-Fluid-Flow-Rate (SFFR) in contrast to the control group. 3. The small patient population did not allow for definite conclusions to be made on the relationship between the age of the patients and the results of the investigation. 4. The most striking observation of the study was a decreased ability to maintain oral hygiene with a consequent decline in periodontal health. Orthodontic movements however should be carried out basically on teeth with a healthy periodontium. PMID- 2613147 TI - [The type and frequency of hand skeletal anomalies and their significance for body height growth]. AB - The frequency of minor skeletal anomalies of the hand, such as brachymesophalangia, pseudo- and cone-shaped-epiphyses, as well as shortness of the fourth metacarpal bone were investigated in almost 5000 healthy children, undergoing orthodontic treatment. In addition body length was compared to the percentile curves of Kunze. Surprisingly, only 42% of all hand films demonstrated normal morphology. Certain anomalies could be found more frequently in girls than in boys and these seemed to exert an inhibitory effect on growth potential. PMID- 2613148 TI - [Syndrome patients within the framework of the early orthodontic treatment of infants with cheilognathopalatoschisis]. AB - The orthodontist's early orthopaedic treatment of the newborn focuses on cleft palate infants and children with Down's syndrome. In more than 100 malformation syndromes, orofacial clefting occurs. The problem of syndrome diagnosis is discussed by way of clinical examples (Robin syndrome, Stickler syndrome). A case of orofacial digital syndrome serves to demonstrate the orthodontists contribution to syndromic diagnosis in early cleft rehabilitation. PMID- 2613149 TI - [Dental caries in the support area and the therapeutic problem of the positioning of the canines and premolars in the dental arches]. AB - The purpose of this study was to analyse the health of teeth in the buccal segments following space loss resulting from approximal caries of deciduous molars. The sum of the mesiodistal diameters of unerupted cuspids and bicuspids was predicated with the help of tables and calculated on the basis of correlation with the total width of the lower incisors. On average boys had 5.1 carious deciduous cuspids and molars as compared with 4.8 for girls. The results concluded that 60 to 70% of the cases of space loss resulting from carious lesions of approximal surfaces of deciduous molars occurred in the maxilla and 46 to 54% in the mandible, when factors including which jaw, side and sex were taken into account. PMID- 2613150 TI - [AIDS. HIV infection: the silent phase evokes hope]. PMID- 2613151 TI - [Doping--also a problem in general practice?]. AB - In 1986, the Medical Commission of the IOC defined doping as the use of pharmacological substances belonging to disallowed groups of active substances (stimulants, narcotics, anabolic steroids, beta-blockers, diuretics). With certain restrictions, this applies also to alcohol, local anesthetics and corticosteroids. The use of disallowed methods (blood doping, manipulation of a urine sample) is also forbidden. These days the greatest importance is attached to anabolic steroids (including testosterone), since these substances- discontinued in good time--cannot be detected on the day of competition but still have a promoting effect on performance. Competitive sports prepared the way here for the use of anabolic steroids in general athletics and in particular usually non-olympic sports (such as bodybuilding). Against this background, effects, adverse effects and the risks of anabolic steroid use are discussed. The aim must be to prevent the use of doping, especially in uncontrollable general sports, by promoting proper awareness. PMID- 2613152 TI - [Psychologico-medical studies in intensive care]. AB - Depending to a certain extent on the nature and phase of the disease, or the duration of intensive care, by far the greater percentage of patients report positively on their experience in the ICU. In contrast, the members of the care providing team expect negative evaluations on the part of their patients, adopt a very critical attitude towards their own work, and are involved in numerous interpersonal conflicts. The studies reveal numerous stresses, with both internal and external causes, for patients and staff, impairment, or even disruption, of meaningful communication within the team, as also between members of the team and patients. A study of the various individual realities, challenges and possibilities for coping on the part of the patients, nurses and doctors confronted with disease, suffering, dying and death, or recovery, points to differences in the regulation of (interpersonal) closeness and distance as an important source of conflict. PMID- 2613153 TI - [Identification of the Goodpasture antigen. Discovery of a further autoantibody antigen system]. PMID- 2613154 TI - [Assessment of fine motor skills in young children and school children]. AB - With the - limited - exception of the Frostig test, a standardized assessment of fine-motor coordination in young children is not yet possible. Only handedness or visuomotor coordination can be examined with the Steingruber's hand dominance test (HDT) or, in schoolchildren, with the Gottingen form reproduction test (GFT). The semiquantitative neurological examination described by Touwen and Prechtl has only an orientational character. In adults, fine-motor coordination can already be measured electronically in a standardized manner with the Motorische Leistungsserie after Schoppe and the Viennese reaction device (VRD). In a normal population of 296 kindergarten and school children aged between 4 and 12 years, this method has now been standardized for use in children. Validation was effected in hyperactive children and children with fine-motor deficits prior to and during stimulation treatment, and also in hemiplegic children. The results demonstrate the good, age-dependent differentiation of Fleishman's nine factors of handedness. The procedure will be suitable for clinical diagnosis of fine motor disorders of varying genesis, and also for treatment and course monitoring in pre-school and school children. PMID- 2613155 TI - [Clinical aspects and treatment of spontaneous carotid artery-cavernous sinus fistula]. AB - 21 patients, who fulfilled the clinical and angiographic criteria of a spontaneous carotid cavernous fistula (CCF), were studied at the Alfried Krupp Hospital, Essen, Germany, between 1980 and 1988. Of these patients, 4 had direct shunts between the internal carotid artery and the cavernous sinus and 17 patients had unilateral or bilateral dural shunts between meningeal branches of the internal and/or external carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. The most common initial symptoms were eye redness, bruit and headache. 6 of 12 patients with double vision had mechanical disorders of eye movement. A rapid irreversible loss of vision occurred in 2 patients. In 9 of 21 patients either progressive visual deterioration, proptosis or severe orbital pain necessitated prompt institution of treatment. All direct fistulas could be occluded by the use of the detachable balloon technique. 5 patients with dural CCF were successfully treated with particle embolization of the external carotid artery blood supply. In dural CCF not requiring emergent treatment, combined carotid artery and jugular vein compression was preferred and resulted in complete cure or sufficient improvement in all but one patient. We recommend this method as the first stage of treatment in dural CCF with uncomplicated course. PMID- 2613156 TI - [Saccadic reaction times and visuospatial disorders of attention in schizophrenic patients with negative symptoms]. AB - Schizophrenics display various oculomotor disturbances. In this study we investigated saccadic reaction times in 47 unmedicated schizophrenics (ICD-9) as well as 28 age and sex matched normal controls. Using a cluster analysis according to the BPRS we determined two subgroups each with high and low negative symptoms; we expected poorer results from patients with negative symptoms on account of existing attentional deficits. The eye movements were recorded with electrooculography. Stimuli were presented at random with amplitudes of 5 degrees at a minimum and 20 degrees maximally; the distances between the angles were kept as short as possible, and we chose a fast stimulus rate (800, 1.000 and 1.200 ms). Only the group of schizophrenics with pronounced negative symptoms showed significantly delayed saccadic reaction times, whereas other schizophrenic patients did not differ from the controls. An unfavorable course of the illness also was associated with delayed reaction times. The saccadic reaction times were delayed in both the right and left visual field to the same degree. The poorer performance of the schizophrenics with pronounced negative symptoms are being discussed in relation to attentional deficits regarding visuospatial functions. PMID- 2613157 TI - [Disorders of learning and memory in focal cerebral tissue lesions]. AB - Memory and learning in man depend on complex cognitive systems, and thus on efficient associative information stores in different neocortical areas of our brain. In addition, phylogenetically older, "limbic" brain structures are needed, in order to manage these huge accociative stores in our telencephalon. This "operating system" manages memory and learning capabilities considering the "milieu interne", and especially biological and individual priorities. Our contribution attempts to sketch the anatomical outlines of this limbic operating system. Two interdependent neuronal networks may be of pivotal importance: 1. a medial limbic loop with Papez circuit as the main structure, and 2. a basolateral limbic loop including the amygdala, the subcallosal area (and the septum verum?) as well as the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus. Based on the anatomical evidence of (largely) selective, i.e. focal brain lesions the likelihood for all these relay stations as memory-related structures is discussed. Our working hypothesis assumes that combined, bilateral lesions of both limbic neuronal networks make severe, global and lasting deficits in memory and learning performance fairly likely. The lesion of only one of these limbic loops seems to cause modality specific deficits. Unilateral lesions of the retrocommissural hippocampal formation may also account for lasting amnesia. PMID- 2613158 TI - [Non-drug therapy of hypertension]. PMID- 2613159 TI - [Serum complement levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and vasculitis]. AB - It is known that serum complement levels are decreased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis associated with vasculitis, also called malignant rheumatoid arthritis (MRA). The complement profiles in patients with MRA were compared with those in uncomplicated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In MRA patients, serum CH50, C4 and C3 levels were all decreased as in SLE patients; and C3d, an activation product of C3, and the C3d/C3 ratio as a C3 activation index were increased. Serum B level was also increased as in RA patients, but AH50 level as the haemolytic activity of the alternative pathway was within the normal range. The regulatory proteins, H and I, were elevated in sera of MRA patients. Circulating immune complexes (CIC) detected by a solid phase C1q binding method were increased, whereas the serum activity to solubilize a performed immune complex (CRA) was decreased in MRA sera. It was suggested that increased consumption of complements, mainly through the classical pathway may be responsible for the complement profiles in MRA patients: a markedly consumed classical pathway and relatively preserved alternative pathway. PMID- 2613160 TI - Maturation of AFMU excretion in infants. AB - The maturation of the N-acetyltransferase-dependent AFMU production from caffeine was studied during infancy. The group of children (N = 14) consisted of 4 premature newborn infants and ten 1-19 month-old infants who received caffeine citrate solution for the treatment and prevention of apnea. Caffeine, AFMU, 1X and 9 other metabolites were measured in urine using HPLC. The AFMU/1X ratio did not vary significantly in this population with increasing age. In one of the infants serially studied, the AFMU/1X ratio increased dramatically between 6 and 12 months of age. This observation suggests that the maturation of N acetyltransferase activity is not completed before 1 year of age implying that acetylator status cannot reliably be determined before that age. Patients studied before 1 year of age whose AFMU/1X ratio was below 0.4 may be either true slow acetylators or still immature fast acetylators. PMID- 2613161 TI - Combined effects of midazolam and ethanol on sleep and on psychomotor performance in normal subjects. AB - A study was carried out on the effects of midazolam 15 mg in conjunction with ethanol 0.5 g/kg on objective and subjective sleep parameters and psychomotor performance in normal subjects. Midazolam significantly decreased total wake time. Total sleep time (TST) increase was related to larger amounts of stage 2 NREM sleep. Ethanol showed similar effects on sleep, although TST increase was associated with nonsignificant increments of NREM sleep and REM sleep. Ethanol slightly potentiated midazolam effects on sleep. Accordingly, total wake time, REM sleep time and number of wakes showed further depression than with midazolam alone. Subjective evaluations showed relatively good correlation with sleep laboratory findings. In addition, the different treatments did not impair subject's psychomotor performance the morning after their administration. PMID- 2613162 TI - Role of endothelium on phenylephrine-triggered contractile events in aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - The ability of basal release of endothelium derived relaxing factor (EDRF) to alter contractile events in phenylephrine (PE)-triggered contraction was tested on ring segments of the thoracic aorta removed from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). In normal medium, PE (1 microM) elicited similar whole contractions in endothelium denuded arteries of SHR and WKY. The presence of endothelium only reduced the WKY response. On aorta incubated in a Ca2+ free-medium, PE (1 microM) induced an initial phasic contraction due to intracellular Ca2+ release. This was followed by a tonic contraction after Ca2+ (2.5 mM) was restored to the bath. This sustained contraction was dependent on extracellular calcium influx. Identical phasic and tonic contractions were observed in endothelium denuded rings of SHR and WKY. However, the presence of endothelium only reduced the sustained contraction of WKY arteries. When experiments were carried out in medium containing D600 (1 microM), the presence of endothelium diminished the whole contraction of both SHR and WKY rings whereas the sustained but not the phasic contractions of WKY was also inhibited. This inhibitory effect of endothelium on WKY sustained contraction was significantly higher in the presence of D600. The calcium antagonist reduced both the whole and the tonic contractions of all preparations but was ineffective on the phasic one. The D600 inhibitory action on the sustained contraction was more pronounced in denuded SHR rings than in the corresponding WKY arteries. Thus it is concluded that there is a basal influence of endothelium in both SHR and WKY. Under our conditions, the endothelial function inhibited the extracellular Ca2+ influx and especially the part of Ca2+ influx insensitive to D600. This part of Ca2+ influx is diminished in SHR and thus the efficacy of endothelium products (e.g. EDRF) is reduced in this strain. PMID- 2613163 TI - Effect of sotalol against reperfusion-induced arrhythmias in Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats. AB - The effect of (+/-)-sotalol (a beta-blocker with class III antiarrhythmic activity) against reperfusion-induced arrhythmias was studied in artificially ventilated, open-chest, Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats. Coronary artery occlusion was produced for 5 min and reperfusion allowed for 10 min. A somewhat different arrhythmic profile was observed between saline-treated rats of the 2 strains studied, with more Sprague-Dawley rats experiencing an irreversible ventricular fibrillation (VF) upon reperfusion, compared to Wistar rats, in whom a combination of reversible ventricular tachycardia (VT) and VF was more frequently observed. No difference in action potential characteristics and ventricular effective refractory period determined in vitro, nor in myocardial noradrenaline content, was found between the 2 strains of rats. (+/-)-Sotalol (5 and 10 mg/kg, IV) showed marked beta-blocking activity and reduced the mean duration of VT-VF in both strains studied. It also produced similar increases in action potential duration and refractory period in vitro in these 2 strains. In a different series of experiments, the antiarrhythmic action of the racemic form was compared to that of (+)-sotalol using Wistar rats. (+)-Sotalol had much less beta-blocking activity, and was found to be similarly effective against reperfusion-induced VT VF. It is concluded that the antiarrhythmic effect of sotalol against reperfusion induced arrhythmias may not be related to beta-adrenergic blockade but probably to class III type activity. Despite differences in the profile of reperfusion induced arrhythmias between Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats, both strains were sensitive to the antiarrhythmic action of (+/-)-sotalol. PMID- 2613164 TI - Results of pancreatoduodenectomy for carcinoma of the head of the pancreas. AB - Seventy-eight patients underwent either pancreatoduodenectomy (88%) or total pancreatectomy (12%) for carcinoma of the head of the pancreas. The operative mortality decreased from 27% in 1968-1977 to 3% in 1978-1987. There was no operative mortality during the last 5-year period 1983-1987. Mortality (9% vs 7%) and morbidity (57% vs 42%) were similar in patients aged greater than or equal to 70 and less than 70 years. The pylorus-preserving technique did not increase mortality or operative blood loss, but it did reduce the operative time about by one hour (p less than 0.05). The actuarial 5-year survival for periampullary cancer was 40 +/- 9%, but none of the patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma survived for 5 years (p less than 0.001). The long-term survival for radical resection was 33 +/- 8%, whereas no patient who underwent palliative resection survived for 3 years (p less than 0.001). The actuarial 5-year survival rates for patients greater than or equal to 70 and less than 70 years of age were 18 +/- 12% and 31 +/- 12% (p greater than 0.2), respectively. It is concluded that age as such is not a limiting factor for pancreatoduodenectomy. It can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity rates even on patients over 70 years of age. The long-term prognosis is nevertheless related to tumor histology and radicality of resection. The recent decline in operative mortality is mostly due to the resections being performed by the same group of surgeons. The best biopsy, and also palliation, is radical removal of the suspicious mass, providing that this can be performed with minimal risk. PMID- 2613165 TI - Tumor markers in pancreatic cancer. Sensitivity and specificity of CA 19-9. AB - The tumor marker CA 19-9 is based on monoclonal antibody to colonic carcinoma cell lines. In this study, the utility of the tumor marker in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma was evaluated. CA 19-9 is strongly expressed in most tissue specimens obtained from pancreatic carcinomas. However, this antigen is also found in normal pancreas and specimens from chronic pancreatitis. The CA 19-9 is released into the circulation, and was found at increased concentrations (greater than 37 U/ml) in 87% of the patients with pancreatic carcinoma n = 145, as compared with only 13% in the group of patients with benign diseases n = 1,081 and 29% of those with extrapancreatic malignancies n = 691 (P less than 0.0001). The preoperatively raised CA 19-9 concentration in patients with stage I pancreatic carcinoma decreases after curative resection of the carcinoma to values within the normal range. However, in no CA 19-9 estimation following palliative surgical intervention of stage III and IV patients or in cases of inoperable carcinomas was a serum concentration of less than 37 U/ml recorded. Accordingly, the median survival of stage I patients was 29 months, and of stage III, IV and patients with inoperable carcinomas 6 months only. PMID- 2613166 TI - Cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. AB - During the period 1963 to 1988, we treated 45 patients with cystic neoplasms of the pancreas. The patients were divided into group 1, which included 26 patients treated between 1963 and 1983, and group 2, which included 19 patients treated between 1984 and 1988. The rate of resection for cystadenoma was 67% for group 1 (n = 15) and 100% for group 2 (n = 11). The operative mortality rate was 0% for both groups. Pathologically, 17 patients (69%) had serous cystadenoma and nine (31%) mucinous adenoma. Except for 5 of the 15 patients from group 1 who died of other causes, all patients are healthy. The resection rate for cystadenocarcinoma was 36% for group 1 (n = 11) and 100% for group 2 (n = 8). In 2 patients from group 1 and 1 patient from group 2, the tumors had been diagnosed previously as benign by operative biopsy of the cyst wall. There was no operative mortality in either group. Cystic neoplasm was suspected from the results of ultrasonography and computed tomography in 70% of the patients in group 2. In 2 patients (25%), the preoperative diagnosis of pseudocyst associated with chronic pancreatitis was made. Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in 3 patients by needle biopsy and cytologic examination of pancreatic juice. Eighty-two percent (9 patients) of group 1 died of recurrent carcinoma; 2 patients were alive without disease at 5 and 8 years. Thirty-eight percent (3 patients) of patients in group 2 died of recurrent carcinoma, two patients died of other causes, and 3 patients are still alive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613167 TI - Pseudocyst or cystic neoplasm? Differential diagnosis and initial management of cystic pancreatic lesions. AB - Owing to advances in pancreatic imaging, cystic lesions of the pancreas are being recognized with increasing frequency. A presumptive diagnosis of "pseudocyst", based upon CT appearance alone, will prove to be in error in as many as one-third of patients. Neoplastic cysts of the pancreas are particularly susceptible to this misdiagnosis, which can result in inappropriate drainage rather than resection. Using a combination of historical features and computed tomography, the differential diagnosis between pseudocyst and cystic neoplasm can usually be made. In borderline patients transcutaneous aspiration for cytology, and analysis of the cyst fluid for neoplastic markers may prove helpful. Final resolution of doubtful cases is achieved by biopsy of the cyst wall. PMID- 2613168 TI - Pancreaticoduodenal resection for pancreatic or periampullary tumors--a ten-year experience. AB - Between January 1978, and December 1987, 79 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenal resection for pancreatic (44) or periampullary tumors (ampulla 18, common bile duct 9, duodenum 8). Fifty-five patients were icteric (55/79: 70%); 33 of them underwent preoperative biliary decompression (endoscopic procedures 29, percutaneous transhepatic drainage 3, laparotomy and T-tube placement. 1) After biliary drainage, bilirubin levels decreased from 12.4 +/- 1.3 mg/dl at admission to 5.1 +/- 1.1 mg/dl before surgery. Pancreaticoduodenal resection was performed within a mean of 15 +/- 13 days after biliary decompression. Twenty-seven patients had no complications, others developed one or more complications. The postoperative mortality was 5% (4/79). The influence of various clinical, biological and pathological factors on postoperative complications and long-term survival was studied. Neither jaundice nor preoperative biliary drainage had a statistically significant effect on overall morbidity and mortality. However, septic and hemorrhagic complications appeared to be more frequent with preoperative bilirubin levels above 20 mg/dl (0.05 less than P less than 0.1), while all postoperative pancreatic and biliary fistulas occurred in patients with a bilirubin level below 6 mg/dl (P less than 0.01). Biliary fistulas were also more frequent when anastomosis was performed on a non dilated biliary duct (P less than 0.05). Overall actuarial survival was 58% at 1 year and 26% at 5 years. Node and/or contiguous tissue infiltration significantly decreased long-term survival (P less than 0.001). Seventy-one adenocarcinomas were reviewed and graded following a modified version of Kloppel's pathological classification.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613169 TI - Current status of pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary carcinoma. AB - Pancreaticoduodenectomy has undergone numerous modifications since the original description by Whipple et al. of a successful two-stage radical resection of the head of the pancreas and duodenum in 1935. For most of the 50 years that the Whipple procedure has been performed, the morbidity and mortality rates have been high, and few long-term survivors have been reported. Over the past decade, a number of institutions have reported a dramatic decline in operative morbidity and mortality as well as an improved survival for those undergoing pancreaticoduodenal resection. Between 1969 and 1986, 88 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenal resection for periampullary cancer at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. In an effort to detect recent trends in operative morbidity and mortality for those undergoing pancreaticoduodenal resection, the patients were divided into two groups on the basis of two time periods. Forty-one patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary cancer between 1969 and 1981, while 47 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between 1981 and 1986. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of mean age, sex distribution, duration of symptoms before presentation or mean weight loss. Likewise, preoperative laboratory data were similar for both groups of patients. In addition, mean tumor size was similar in both groups, as was the incidence of positive lymph nodes. Among the 41 patients operated upon during the first period, hospital morbidity and mortality rates were 59% and 24%, respectively. In contrast, hospital morbidity and mortality rates were 36% and 21%, respectively among the 47 patients operated upon during the recent period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613170 TI - Reconstruction after subtotal duodenopancreatectomy in patients with pancreatic duct, distal bile duct and ampullary carcinoma: further experience with a personal technique. AB - A total of 142 patients underwent pancreatic resection for malignant (128 patients) or benign (14 patients) pancreatic disease. Of these patients, 111 had subtotal duodenopancreatectomy and are discussed in this paper. Reconstruction in these patients was carried out with a special technique. In this technique, two jejunal loops are used. One for fashioning the gastric anastomosis, the other for fashioning the pancreatic and biliary anastomosis. Two patients died in the first 30 postoperative days. Twenty patients had severe complications necessitating early reoperation. The surviving patients had a good quality of postoperative life. Postoperative sequelae like diabetes, steatorrhea and motility disturbances were easily controllable. On the basis of the results obtained, the reported surgical technique of reconstruction of alimentary continuity after subtotal duodenopancreatectomy can be considered an alternative for the surgical management of some of the patients with malignant or benign pancreatic disease considered eligible for subtotal duodenopancreatectomy. PMID- 2613171 TI - Plasma gamma aminobutyric acid concentrations provide evidence of different mechanisms in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy in acute and chronic liver disease. AB - Plasma gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations were measured using a radioreceptor assay in 24 patients with acute liver disease with and without clinical encephalopathy; 15 patients with chronic liver disease with and without clinical encephalopathy, and 16 control subjects with no evidence of liver disease or hepatic dysfunction. Plasma GABA concentrations were significantly elevated in the patients with acute liver disease and clinical encephalopathy as compared with the controls. There was a positive relationship between the clinical grade of encephalopathy, the changes in the EEG and the plasma GABA concentrations. Plasma GABA concentrations in patients with chronic liver disease did not relate to the clinical grade of encephalopathy or the changes in the EEG. It is concluded that elevated plasma GABA concentrations are in keeping with the pathogenesis of encephalopathy in acute liver disease, but not in chronic liver disease. PMID- 2613172 TI - Reduction of highly elevated plasma levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid does not reverse hepatic coma. AB - The pathogenesis of coma in patients with fulminant hepatic failure is still unknown, but there is some evidence that decreased hepatic metabolism of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) may be involved. If this hypothesis is true, reduction of increased GABA levels in patients with hepatic encephalopathy should reduce the depth of hepatic coma. In the case described here, highly elevated plasma GABA levels were reduced by cross circulation with baboon liver. No amelioration of the coma was observed, thus suggesting that decreased hepatic metabolism of GABA is not critically involved in hepatic encephalopathy. PMID- 2613173 TI - Our experience with strictureplasty in the surgical treatment of Crohn's disease. AB - Strictureplasty is a recent surgical procedure that permits surgical cure of chronic intestinal strictures due to Crohn's disease without the need for bowel resection. The authors report the results of 19 stricture-plasties in eight patients, all of whom were affected by Crohn's disease in the chronic phase and showed subocclusive symptoms due to ileal strictures and fistulas. After surgery all patients improved, and none showed occlusive or subocclusive symptoms or signs of relapse after a mean follow-up of 16.5 months. Radiographic examination of the small bowel, when performed, showed normal transit in all patients. The authors stress the importance of performing strictureplasty only during quiescent periods of the disease and in patients in a good nutritional state, in order to avoid complications and recrudescences. If these requirements are met, stricureplasty can be very useful for saving bowel length in the surgical treatment of Crohn's disease. PMID- 2613174 TI - Campylobacter pylori in Saudi patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: prevalence and effect of conventional therapy. AB - Patients with symptoms of gastritis or peptic ulcer disease were recruited to study the prevalence of Campylobacter pylori. On the basis of the endoscopic diagnosis only, the isolation rates of the organisms in normal, gastritis or gastroduodenitis (GD), and peptic ulcer (PU) disease patients, were not significantly different among the 89 patients evaluated. However, analysis based on histopathological evaluation (in 73 out of these 89 patients) revealed a significant difference (p = 0.00016) in the isolation rate between histologically normal individuals (14%) and those with GD (89%). Also, a significant (p = 0.03) difference was observed in the C. pylori detection rate among patients with GD and those with PU disease (61%). After adjustment for multiple comparisons, only the difference in C. pylori prevalence between normal and GD patients was maintained. After conventional therapy, 23 patients who initially had GD or PU disease were submitted to re-endoscopy. In the latter group, a correlation between presence or absence of organisms and histological healing was noted. The potential pathogenesis of C. pylori in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, and designs for future trials are discussed. PMID- 2613175 TI - Results of esophagectomy and gastric bypass for cancer of the esophagus. AB - Improvements in operative technique and perioperative management have lowered hospital mortality of esophageal resection at our department from 31% to 8% during the past decade. Cumulative 5-year-survival rate depending on the tumor stage only remained unchanged at 21%. Neither extended resection nor perioperative chemo- or radio-therapy show any advantage compared to conventional resection or blunt dissection regarding long-term survival. PMID- 2613176 TI - High-dose intra-arterial urokinase for the treatment of hepatic artery thrombosis in liver transplantation. AB - Two recipients of orthotopic liver transplants (OLT) underwent intra-arterial thrombolytic treatment for hepatic artery thrombosis. Complete clot lysis was achieved in both using infusion of high-dose urokinase directly into the thrombus for 12 and 3 hours, respectively. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was later carried out successfully on various strictures. Doppler ultrasonography confirmed arterial permeability one month after treatment. Liver transplantation is now an accepted therapeutic option in some patients with irreversible liver failure. Although the results of this procedure have improved radically since cyclosporine was introduced in 1978, life-threatening postoperative complications still occur. The one with the worst prognosis is hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT), with 64% mortality despite retransplantation. HAT was found in 7.4% of liver transplant recipients in a recent review of the most important group of these patients. Fibrinolytic treatment using an exogenous plasminogen activator, urokinase (UK), is effective and safe in the thrombotic obstruction of acute pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarction, and graft or peripheral arterial occlusion. We used intra-arterial thrombolysis in two patients with HAT of the liver graft, to avoid retransplantation and to treat a complication secondary to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of an anastomotic stricture, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report of treatment of HAT by direct infusion of urokinase in liver transplantation. PMID- 2613177 TI - The effect of heat-stable extract from bovine sublingual salivary gland on serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in normal and hypercholesterolemic rabbits. AB - An extract of bovine sublingual glands (SLF3) reduced the serum cholesterol levels of normal rabbits 34.6% and serum triglyceride levels 19.6% when injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) at 20 mg/kg body wt on alternate days for 7 days. SLF3 also reduced serum cholesterol levels 69.0% and triglyceride levels 46.5% in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, while in similar rabbits injected with a control muscle tissue extract, the rate of decrease in serum cholesterol levels was 33.3% and triglyceride levels 26.7%. PMID- 2613178 TI - The effect of gossypol on serum lipoproteins of adult rats. AB - It has been shown that gossypol treatment brings about marked changes in plasma lipoproteins of certain species causing a marked fall in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. Using Helena electrophoretic system the lipoprotein pattern in serum of adult rats treated with gossypol was studied. Gossypol treatment for 1 day and 7 days continuously did bring about changes in serum lipoprotein profile. A marked increase in VLDL-cholesterol and fall in LDL cholesterol was observed in rats treated with gossypol which was more pronounced in the 7 days treated group. It did not bring about any marked change in total cholesterol level. It did cause an increase in serum triglyceride level. Heparin injection which brought about a fall in VLDL-cholesterol with a concomitant increase in HDL-cholesterol in control rats did not elicit changes in gossypol treated rats. Thus, gossypol treatment appears to alter serum lipoprotein metabolism in rats also. PMID- 2613179 TI - Concentrations of glycosylated prolactin in the pituitary gland and plasma of lean and obese barrows. AB - We measured glycosylated PRL (G-PRL) in the pituitary gland and plasma of lean and obese barrows (castrated male pigs) by immunoblotting. We found that G-PRL constituted 40% or more of total monomeric PRL in the pituitary gland of these animals. Furthermore, pituitary G-PRL concentrations in obese barrows averaged 58% higher than in those of lean controls. The non-glycosylated PRL concentrations were also higher in the pituitaries of obese barrows in comparison to lean controls, but the magnitude of the difference was smaller (42%). Plasma concentrations of the two forms, or total immunoreactive PRL measurable by radioimmunoassay, did not differ significantly between the two groups. The pituitary data suggest that the state of PRL secretion is altered in obese barrows, and that the alteration is more pronounced for G-PRL than for the non glycosylated counterpart. PMID- 2613180 TI - Effects of H1 and H2 histamine receptor antagonists on positive feed-back effect of estrogen on LH in prepubertal female rats. AB - The aim of the present study was to determine whether histaminergic central mechanisms which exert a well known effect on gonadotrophin secretion are involved in the development of the positive feed-back effect of estrogen progesterone (E-P) on LH secretion that normally occurs in female rats about 20 22 days old. The administration of histamine H2 (cimetidine and ranitidine) or H1 (diphenhydramine) receptor blocking agents did not modify the onset of the LH release response to E-P. Nevertheless cimetidine, ranitidine and diphenhydramine potentiated the LH release induced by ovarian steroids at 23 days of age. These results appear to indicate that histaminergic pathways are involved in the magnitude of the LH response to E-P in prepubertal female rats rather than in the maturation of this mechanism. PMID- 2613181 TI - Structure-activity relationship of calcitonin gene related peptide. AB - Chicken, human(alpha) CGRPs and their analogues were synthesized to investigate the relationship between structure and serum calcium and phosphate lowering effects. The native hormones contain 37 amino acid residues with only four positions (3, 14, 15 and 23) that differ. Chicken CGRP exhibits stronger and longer lasting activities than the human hormone. A chicken CGRP analogue with replacement of Asp at position 14 by Gly (as in human CGRP) showed great reduction of activity. The converse replacement of Gly at position 14 by Asp in human CGRP enhanced this analogue activity. Among the synthetic analogues, des-1 Ala-des-alpha-amino chicken CGRP, exhibited the most potent and long lasting biological activity. PMID- 2613182 TI - Serum fructosamine in assessment of diabetic control and relation to thyroid function. AB - Measurement of serum fructosamine using a Roche kit is a simple and reliable method for the estimation of glycated serum proteins. The value of serum fructosamine can be affected by hyperglycemia in diabetics and an abnormal turnover rate of serum protein in patients with thyroid dysfunction. We measured the serum fructosamine level in 18 normal control subjects, 71 diabetics (8 IDDM, 63 NIDDM) and 46 non-diabetic untreated patients with thyroid dysfunction (28 hyperthyroidism, 18 hypothyroidism). The serum fructosamine level was significantly increased in the diabetics compared with the normal control subjects (3.84 +/- 0.15 mmol/l vs 2.58 +/- 0.08; mean +/- SE, P less than 0.01). The serum fructosamine level in the diabetics was positively correlated with the fasting plasma glucose and HbAlc level, showing the highest correlation with fasting plasma glucose at 2 weeks before and with the HbAlc level at 2 weeks after serum fructosamine measurement. In the patients with thyroid dysfunction, the serum fructosamine level in hyperthyroidism (2.08 +/- 0.03 mmol/l) and hypothyroidism (3.11 +/- 0.07 mmol/l) were significantly lower (P less than 0.001) and higher (P less than 0.001) than the normal control subjects (2.58 +/- 0.08 mmol/l), respectively. Furthermore, the serum fructosamine level in these patients was negatively correlated with the level of serum thyroid hormones such as T3 (P less than 0.001) and T4 (P less than 0.001). It is concluded that measurement of serum fructosamine is clinically useful for the evaluation of shorter-term glycemic control in diabetics, but its level for diabetic patients with thyroid dysfunction must be cautiously interpreted. PMID- 2613183 TI - Separation of iodothyronines from iodinated metabolites in serum from reverse T3 tracer kinetic studies in man and dog: a comparison of two methods. AB - Iodothyronine separation from free iodide and iodoalbumin in serial serum samples obtained from 7 human and 5 dog studies following intravenous injection of radiolabeled reverse triiodothyronine (reverse T3) was compared using acidified ammonium acetate/tetrahydrofuran (THF) elution from C-18 SEP-PAK cartridges or ethyl acetate/butanol (EAB) extraction. Both methods excluded greater than 98% free iodide and greater than 99% iodoalbumin from the iodothyronine fraction. Recovery of labeled reverse T3 was higher for the THF/SEP-PAK (79.4 +/- 4.1%) than for the EAB method (43.2 +/- 6.1%, P less than 0.001), and intra-assay coefficients of variation were lower (2.1 +/- 0.6% and 4.4 +/- 2.0%, respectively, P less than 0.001); HPLC analysis of iodothyronine fractions revealed a single peak co-migrating with injected tracer. The THF/SEP-PAK technique allowed use of larger serum samples at later time points. Serum disappearance curves derived from these two methods were highly correlated in all cases (r = 0.998, P less than 0.001), as were fits of data to sums of exponentials and calculated serum kinetic parameters. PMID- 2613184 TI - Resistance to specialized services for AIDS patients within psychiatry. AB - Despite the opportunity of helpful intervention, palliation, and prevention in the form of psychosocial counselling, specialized services for AIDS patients and individuals-at-risk have met with resistance within psychiatry. Resistance can be understood as a reaction to the nature of the illness and its demographics. It can also be understood as an outgrowth of current psychiatric practice and theory, especially as it pertains to homosexuality. PMID- 2613185 TI - Correlations of substance abuse and self-image among socially diverse groups of adolescents and clinical implications. AB - Two culturally diverse groups of male youths, ages 16-18, were compared with respect to self-image correlates of alcohol and drug use. Self-image was measured through use of the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ), a reliable, well validated measure of adolescent self-image covering eleven separate areas of functioning. Alcohol and drug use were measured by means of the Delinquency Checklist (DCL), a self-report measure of delinquent behavior first developed by Short and Nye. The adolescents studied were culturally diverse: one group consisted of the entire junior class of an all-male, all-black Roman Catholic Parochial School located in an economically deprived urban neighborhood; the other group comprised a random sample of all the junior and senior boys in an almost all-white, upper-middle-class, suburban public high school. Results showed that in both groups drug use is associated with poor family relationships and impaired self-image. Selling drugs was more prevalent by self-report among the black, inner-city youths than it was among the white, suburban youths. Selling drugs was associated with poor impulse control, relatively low vocational and educational goals and poor coping skills. The research data is discussed in regards to its relevance to therapy of two culturally diverse groups of adolescents. PMID- 2613186 TI - Schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorders: likenesses and differences. AB - We pay tribute to Lew Robbins and Hillside Hospital for the opportunity given me to develop work in the psychopharmacological treatment of mental disorders. A historical review is given of early experience with antipsychotics and antidepressants and the failed attempts to relate therapeutic effect of psychoanalytic formulations. Work done at Hillside demonstrated the importance of developmental history for schizophrenic prognosis and drug responsivity. Surprising findings such as the positive antidepressant benefits of chlorpromazine are detailed and discussed. The resemblances between bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia are detailed and related to the peculiar finding that all anti-schizophrenic drugs are also anti-manic. The converse of this is also discussed. The psychopharmacological resemblances between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, as well as the relationship to genetic findings, lead to a two factor theory of schizophrenia and hypotheses concerning the nature of delusional and deteriorative processes. PMID- 2613187 TI - Early transferences and transference-like reactions. AB - Some patients manifest intense transferences or transference-like reactions in the earliest hours of psychotherapy. Although these reactions may actually represent transference, they may also arise from other sources, such as aspects of a patient's character, displacements from former therapists, impaired reality testing, information about the therapist, and therapist's behavior. Clinical examples are presented, and their management is discussed. PMID- 2613188 TI - A case of administrative conflict: observations on the dynamic framework. AB - A situation is described of suddenly erupting conflict in an interdisciplinary meeting of psychiatric hospital staff. The conflict is related to the systemic impact of recent changes in psychiatric hospital practice. The observed affect and interpersonal dynamics are reviewed in the context of different conceptual frameworks. These include Maslow's hierarchy of needs model, the group focal conflict paradigm and the concept of scapegoating. The use and integration of these three approaches toward understanding affectively laden administrative conflict are discussed. Specific reference is made to the utilization of such understanding in developing leadership skills in a multi-disciplinary mental health setting. PMID- 2613189 TI - The subacute hospital treatment of the borderline patient: III. Management of suicidal crisis by family intervention. AB - A family approach to suicidal crises in hospitalized borderline patients is described. The approach is aimed not only at the acute crises, but at the likelihood that repetitive, panic-inducing suicidal episodes provoke shame producing over-regulation in the short run or exhaustion of support systems (family and treatment team) in the long run. An emergency family session with a hospitalized patient in acute suicidal crisis is presented. Subacute hospital treatment must respond to these crises mindful of long-term as well as acute risks. Subacute hospitalization allows for family intervention to buttress support systems for the long term task of caring for the suicidal borderline patient. PMID- 2613190 TI - Neurohypophyseal ectopy in growth hormone insufficiency. AB - Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the hypothalamohypophyseal tract allows the detection and identification of ectopic posterior pituitary lobe tissue by its characteristic high signal intensity. We found this anomaly in 2 boys with growth hormone insufficiency. Neurohypophyseal ectopy may be misdiagnosed as subhypothalamic tumor and such patients risk to be subjected to unnecessary neurosurgery. PMID- 2613191 TI - Response of serine antiproteases to growth hormone therapy in growth hormone deficient children. AB - Growth hormone regulates the hepatic mRNA levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin and two contrapsin-like mRNAs in the rat. To determine whether growth hormone regulates similar serine protease inhibitors in humans, we measured serum alpha 1 antitrypsin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, and antithrombin III by radioimmunodiffusion in 16 growth hormone deficient children before and after growth therapy. Of the 19 determinations made, 17/19 showed an increase in alpha 1-antitrypsin after administration of growth hormone, 198.6 +/- 39.1 mg/dl before growth hormone and 239.4 +/- 44 mg/dl after growth hormone (p = 0.005). Specificity of the response for alpha 1-antitrypsin was indicated by the fact that neither alpha 1-antichymotrypsin or antithrombin III values changed after growth hormone (p = 0.6 and 0.5, respectively). These data are compatible with the hypothesis that growth hormone regulates serine protease inhibitors in humans and suggests that investigation of other members of the serpin gene family might prove fruitful in defining additional growth hormone target genes. PMID- 2613192 TI - Sodium ipodate in the preparation of Graves' hyperthyroid patients for thyroidectomy. AB - Sodium ipodate (SI) is an oral cholecystographic agent that also affects thyroid hormone metabolism. It inhibits the peripheral T4 to T3 conversion and the thyroidal hormone release. We investigated the safety and efficacy of SI (500 mg daily during 5 days) in the preparation for subtotal thyroidectomy of 7 Graves' hyperthyroid patients in whom treatment with thionamides was unsuccessful due to allergy or noncompliance. Plasma T3 levels (mean +/- SD) decreased from 4.90 +/- 1.80 nmol/l on day 0 to 1.70 +/- 0.30 nmol/l on day 4 of treatment. Thyroidectomy performed on day 5 of treatment was uneventful. In comparison with 14 Graves' hyperthyroid patients who underwent thyroidectomy during the same period after conventional preparation with thionamides and potassium iodide, the therapeutic outcome 1 year postoperatively was similar in both groups. However, in the mildly hypothyroid patients prepared with SI, the plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone level was transiently higher 3 and 6 months postoperatively. It is concluded (1) that SI is a safe and efficacious drug in the preparation of Graves' hyperthyroid patients for thyroidectomy; (2) the therapeutic outcome 12 months postoperatively is similar in SI and in conventionally prepared Graves' hyperthyroid patients, and (3) postoperative mild or subclinical hypothyroidism is more pronounced in SI than in conventionally prepared patients. PMID- 2613193 TI - Primary hyperparathyroidism: the surgical problems. A study of 1,300 operated patients. AB - In this short presentation the surgical management and then the possible vicissitudes of primary hyperparathyroidism are successively summarized: negative investigations, and the persistence or postoperative recurrence of hyperparathyroidism. Results obtained in a series of 1,300 patients who underwent surgical treatment confirm that a single cervicotomy procedure, without risk for the patient, ensures definitive cure of this disease in 95% of cases. PMID- 2613194 TI - Current concepts in primary hyperparathyroidism. AB - 622 patients were operated on between 1966 and 1988. Urolithiasis was the most common presenting symptom (26%) but routine measurements of serum calcium led to detect 50% cases. At present, the disease is three times more frequent in women than in men. Estrogenic deprivation, neck irradiation (3.4%) and lithium therapy favor the occurrence of hyperparathyroidism (HPT); frequent association with goiter (19.8%), diabetes (8.3%) and multiple endocrine neoplasia (3.5%) has been noticed. Bone Gla protein concentrations correlate with calcium and HPT blood concentrations but do not reflect the severity of bone damage. Dual photon absorptiometry is now available for quantification and follow-up of bone demineralization, especially in asymptomatic forms of HPT. PMID- 2613195 TI - Proceedings of the International Symposium on Endocrine Therapy. Monaco, November 19-21, 1988. PMID- 2613196 TI - Endocrinology of benign breast disease in relation to the severity of radiological dysplasia. AB - A link between benign breast disease and hormonal imbalance has not been conclusively determined. In women suffering from severe radiological dysplasia, it was found to be correlated with slightly raised serum hormone binding globulin (SHBG) binding capacity. SHBG is an oestrogen-sensitive protein, which may be a marker of enhanced oestrogen bioactivity. Such abnormality was not, however, detected by the measurement of peripheral steroid hormones. PMID- 2613197 TI - Histological and electron-microscopy studies on endometriosis. AB - Endometriosis is a gynaecological disorder with a poorly understood histogenesis. Morphological findings indicate that with respect to the type and degree of differentiation, and endocrine dependency, the endometrium and endometriosis are different tissues. PMID- 2613198 TI - The relevance of asymptomatic endometriosis. AB - The recent ability to diagnose asymptomatic endometriosis has produced dilemmas, particularly with respect to the need for treatment. The first placebo-controlled study of drug treatment in asymptomatic endometriosis shows that although spontaneous improvement occurs, it is more likely after treatment with gestrinone. PMID- 2613199 TI - Endometriosis: poster and literature review. AB - Posters on endometriosis at the International Symposium on Endocrine Therapy are reviewed and discussed. Mechanisms of various treatments are discussed, with a note on the possible immunological basis of endometriosis. PMID- 2613200 TI - Characterisation of cyclical symptoms. AB - The ovarian cycle has a fundamental effect on the lives of women, both in health and disease. Although the mechanism for this is presently unknown, the continuing study of the cycle will produce greater understanding. PMID- 2613201 TI - A comparison of two and three years of adjuvant tamoxifen. AB - The aim of the present investigation was to determine whether the administration of a third year of tamoxifen, following 2 years of L-phenylalanine mustard, 5 fluorouracil and tamoxifen, would benefit women with primary breast cancer. The data at 5 years indicate that in patients receiving a third year of tamoxifen treatment, a significant prolongation in disease-free survival occurs, when compared to patients who receive only 2 years of tamoxifen. This benefit is limited to patients older than 49 years of age, and is not apparent in women younger than 50. It is concluded that an additional year of tamoxifen therapy, following the completion of chemotherapy prolongs both disease-free survival and actual survival in node-positive, 'tamoxifen-responsive' patients. PMID- 2613202 TI - Adjuvant hormonal therapy: whom to treat. AB - Currently, available data suggest that patients with primary breast cancer, who are postmenopausal, node-positive and with receptor-positive tumours, should be offered adjuvant tamoxifen treatment. In other subgroups of patients with breast cancer, including premenopausal women, data are either insufficient or conflicting. The basis of these findings is discussed. PMID- 2613203 TI - Treatment of stage I breast cancer: the NSABP experience. AB - The results of two clinical trials carried out by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project are presented. A total of 559 histologically node negative patients were randomised and assigned treatment in the two protocols. In the oestrogen receptor-negative patients with breast cancer, treatment with methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil produced a 31% reduction in treatment failure at 4 years when compared to no systemic treatment. In the oestrogen receptor positive patients, treatment with tamoxifen produced a 26% reduction in treatment failure at 4 years in comparison to placebo treatment. In both protocols, this benefit was observed both in patients aged under and over 50 years. PMID- 2613204 TI - Breast cancer--which patients? AB - The question of which breast cancer patients to treat has been addressed by reviewing posters presented at the International Symposium on Endocrine Therapy. To date, tamoxifen therapy is the dominant type of adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal patients. The most promising results have been obtained in node positive disease where the effect may be influenced by the receptor status, although this may depend on the cut-off level used. PMID- 2613205 TI - Breast cancer--which treatment? AB - Posters presented at the International Symposium on Endocrine Therapy are reviewed to address the question of which adjuvant treatment should be used for early breast cancer. PMID- 2613206 TI - Management of advanced breast cancer. AB - The systemic treatment of advanced breast cancer is not curative in intent but steady progress is being made which should lessen the morbidity from metastatic disease. Reference has been made to relevant posters presented at the International Symposium on Endocrine Therapy. PMID- 2613207 TI - Cancer Research Campaign Adjuvant Breast Trial for patients under 50. AB - The objectives of the Cancer Research Campaign Adjuvant Breast Trial are to determine whether the administration of a course of adjuvant tamoxifen, or ablation of ovarian function, results in a prolongation of time to recurrence or death, for women aged under 50 years and treated for operable breast cancer. The basis and aims of the trial are discussed. PMID- 2613208 TI - The relationship between age and the effect of adjuvant therapies in women with primary breast cancer. AB - Apparent differences in the effectiveness of adjuvant therapies according to age, has led to controversy concerning the optimum treatment for women with breast cancer above and below 50 years of age. The data upon which this controversy is based and the possible reasons why chemotherapy appears more active in young women, whilst endocrine therapy appears more active in older women, is examined. PMID- 2613209 TI - Cell proliferative indices and DNA content as prognostic factors in primary breast cancer. AB - Cumulative data from several studies suggest that indices of cell proliferation, including tritiated thymidine labelling index, S-phase fraction and DNA ploidy are among the most powerful prognostic factors in patients with breast cancer. If the prospective trials currently in progress confirm these findings, then DNA flow cytometry may become standard in the management of breast cancer patients, particularly in selecting those node-negative patients who have a relatively high risk of relapse and who may benefit from adjuvant systemic therapy. PMID- 2613210 TI - Oncogene organisation and expression: prediction in breast cancer. AB - The aim of the present study was to identify genes whose expression and/or organisation are altered in the diseased breast, as compared to the normal breast. Alteration of one or more genes examined has been found to occur in over 60% of breast tumour samples. Changes to three cellular proto-oncogenes are frequent, and amplification of two of these genes correlates with poor short-term prognosis. Deletion of RB-1, a tumour suppressor gene, has been detected and although these deletions do not correlate with poor prognosis, they occur more commonly in advanced tumours. A loss of sequences encoding the progesterone receptors has also been found to be frequent. PMID- 2613211 TI - The potential for a novel pure anti-oestrogen. AB - ICI 164,384 is a novel agent, which has all the characteristics of a pure anti oestrogen in preclinical studies. It completely inhibited oestradiol or tamoxifen induced uterine growth in immature rats. In intact rats, ICI 164,384 produced a reduction in uterine weight, almost equivalent to that in ovariectomised rats. ICI 164,384 also demonstrated a peripherally selective action in intact rats. ICI 164,384 has a high affinity for the oestrogen receptor and was more effective than tamoxifen in blocking proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Extrapolation of these observations to the therapy of breast cancer would imply that a pure anti-oestrogen might provide additional benefit, compared with Nolvadex, in terms of onset, duration or completeness of response. PMID- 2613212 TI - Laboratory evidence to support the use of long-term adjuvant tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer. AB - Animal models all demonstrate that tamoxifen is tumouristatic in the case of breast tumours and long-term or indefinite therapy is required to prevent the appearance of tumours. When treatment is stopped, tumours appear spontaneously or can be encouraged to re-appear with oestrogen therapy. These data support the view that adjuvant clinical trials with tamoxifen should employ a 5- or 10-year treatment regimen. PMID- 2613213 TI - Hormonal and non-hormonal medical therapy of benign breast disease. AB - Mastopathy or nodular painful breast can be managed by several non-hormonal and hormonal treatments. Little data exist for effectiveness of the former. Whilst the hormonal treatments are considered to be very effective, their use can be limited by unpleasant side effects. PMID- 2613214 TI - Treatment of localised prostatic carcinoma. AB - Treating stage T3 prostatic carcinoma by surgery alone without adjuvant treatment, offers a potential 30% chance of curing these patients. In addition, the surgical approach offers an effective means of identifying patients not amenable to cure by local measures. PMID- 2613215 TI - ANDI--a clinicopathological basis for the classification and understanding of benign breast disorders. AB - Understanding of benign breast disorders has not been clear, and inaccurate nomenclature has failed to recognise the wide spectrum of histological changes found in the normal breast. The framework provided by the nomenclature ANDI is proposed as a useful basis for teaching the basic principles and management of benign breast disorders. PMID- 2613216 TI - Treatment of early prostate cancer. AB - For the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer, agents that induce androgen deprivation might be given several months prior to radical prostatectomy with the hope of reducing the size and extent of tumour prior to surgery. PMID- 2613217 TI - Workloads in genitourinary medicine clinics in England. AB - Work loads in venereal disease--sexually transmitted disease (STD)--genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics have risen greatly in recent years. The increase in viral infections which are more difficult and time consuming to manage than those caused by bacteria and the higher expectations and demands of patients have combined to increase workloads more than the case figures indicate. This prompted the Department of Health and Social Security in 1988 to set up a survey of clinics in England with the following terms of reference: "To examine current and forecast workloads on GUM clinics, taking account of AIDS and other STDs, and to recommend any action which may need to be taken on manpower (including nursing manpower), training, resources and accommodation". The team concluded that the GUM service was ill equipped to meet the demands for its services, and made 36 recommendations. The priority recommendations included: the need to provide more resources; government ministers should give a lead in developing the service; all health districts should provide care for STD and HIV infection; all new patients should be seen on the day of presentation or failing that on the next occasion the clinic was open. Other recommendations included: location of all GUM clinics in the general outpatient department of general hospitals; accommodation of the same standard as other outpatient departments; review of the distribution of clinics; review of staffing levels and roles; and coordination of care of HIV infection. Many of these recommendations have already led to action including a lead from government ministers and provision of more funds. Many of the problems and recommendations will apply in other countries. PMID- 2613218 TI - Bilateral sabre-like tibial deformity in secondary syphilis: case report. AB - A girl aged 12 years having early acquired syphilis with a rare bilateral sabre like tibial deformity is reported. PMID- 2613219 TI - Genital warts and the need for screening. PMID- 2613220 TI - Trichomonas vaginalis infection in a lesbian. PMID- 2613221 TI - Declining incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis in women attending a provincial genitourinary medicine clinic. PMID- 2613222 TI - Falling prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among female patients attending the Department of Genito-urinary Medicine, Bournemouth. PMID- 2613223 TI - Labial adhesions after genital herpes infection. PMID- 2613224 TI - Labial adhesions after genital herpes infection. PMID- 2613225 TI - Ayre v Aylesbury cervical spatulas. PMID- 2613226 TI - Allergic reactions to rubber condoms. PMID- 2613227 TI - Owl monkey gene map: evidence for a homologous human chromosome 7q region near the cystic fibrosis locus. AB - We have demonstrated the assignments of two gene loci (COLIA2, MET) and two noncoding DNA markers (D7S13, D7S8) to owl monkey chromosome 14 (K-VI) by hybridizing DNA probes from the cystic fibrosis (CF) region of human chromosome 7q21-32 to panels of rodent-owl monkey somatic cell hybrids. The assignments are substantiated by in situ chromosome hybridization of markers COLIA2, MET, and D7S13 to the distal long arm of chromosome 14 (K-VI). These results support genomic conservation of the human CF region, at least in the higher primates. PMID- 2613228 TI - Two distinct areas of unequal crossingover within the steroid 21-hydroxylase genes produce absence of CYP21B. AB - We mapped crossover sites in chimeric, recombinant CYP21 genes from six patients with salt-losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Nucleotide sequences unique to the CYP21A pseudogene or to the active CYP21B gene were mapped using gene-specific restriction sites and oligonucleotide hybridizations. Each chimeric CYP21 gene in the CYP21-deletion linked haplotypes contained sequences near the 5' end that were characteristic of CYP21A and only a single transition from sequences of CYP21A to those of CYP21B at the 3' end. The transitions all occurred within either of two discrete regions (+470 to +999 and +1375 to +1993). All eight chimeric CYP21 genes coupled with HLA-Bw47 in five unrelated patients had the CYP21A-CYP21B sequence transition within the same gene region (+1375 to +1993). One of the three other "CYP21B deletion" haplotypes (HLA-B7) had a sequence transition within this same region, while in the other two haplotypes (HLA-B61 and HLA-B18) the transition occurred between base pairs +470 and +999. By contrast, both CYP21 genes in a haplotype containing a gene conversion of CYP21B to CYP21A contained apparent transitions between sequences of CYP21A and CYP21B. We conclude that a single, unequal crossingover between the CYP21A and the CYP21B genes yields deletion of the active CYP21 gene and salt-losing CAH and that these crossingovers do not occur randomly within the CYP21 genes of our patients. PMID- 2613229 TI - Mouse major (gamma) satellite DNA is highly conserved and organized into extremely long tandem arrays: implications for recombination between nonhomologous chromosomes. AB - We have isolated and sequenced 30 independent clones derived from MnlI digestion of purified mouse major (gamma) satellite DNA. These clones contained between 0.9 and 1.1 gamma monomeric units derived presumably from random chromosomal sources. Individual clones showed a mean deviation from the mouse consensus satellite sequence of 3.9%, with a range of 0.9-9.1%. Cleavage of total mouse LTK cell genomic DNA with three different restriction enzymes (HindIII, BglII, BamHI) that do not cut within satellite monomers, followed by Southern and pulsed-field gel electrophoretic analyses, showed that the majority of monomers were organized into largely uninterrupted arrays that varied from a minimum of 240 kb to greater than 2000 kb in length. We suggest that the high degree of conservation of the mouse gamma-satellite sequences throughout the mouse genome results from frequent recombinational exchange between nonhomologous chromosomes. Further, this same process, facilitated by the all-acrocentric constitution of the typical mouse karyotype, and the extremely long and homologous gamma-satellite arrays, may be related to the common occurrence of Robertsonian translocation in mouse. PMID- 2613230 TI - Prp (proline-rich protein) genes linked to markers Es-12 (esterase-12), Ea-10 (erythrocyte alloantigen), and loci on distal mouse chromosome 6. AB - The closely linked proline-rich protein (Prp) genes, coding for abundant salivary proteins, are located on distal mouse chromosome 6. They are part of a conserved linkage group that is represented on human chromosome 12p. Two other markers, Ea 10 and Es-12, that were previously unassigned to a chromosome are closely linked to Prp genes in the mouse. PMID- 2613231 TI - A multigene deletion in the human IGH constant region locus involves highly homologous hot spots of recombination. AB - A simultaneous absence of the IgG1, IgG2, IgG4, and IgA1 immunoglobulins (Ig) was unambiguously demonstrated in six healthy individuals of two different families (family HASS and family TOU). These individuals were shown to be homozygous for a large deletion in the immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region locus. This deletion, which encompasses the G1-EP1-A1-GP-G2-G4 genes, allowed us to predict an order for the IgCH genes and to localize GP between A1 and G2. In this paper, we study the deletion-recombination point in the IGH locus of individual EZZ from the TOU family. We show that the distance between the G3 and the E genes on the EZZ recombinant chromosome is 24.7 kb and that the multigene deletion in the IgCH locus involves two highly homologous regions (hsg3 and hsg4) which are hot spots of recombination, outside of the switch sequences. PMID- 2613232 TI - Gene mapping by enzymatic amplification from flow-sorted chromosomes. AB - A new approach to gene mapping which combines enzymatic amplification with high resolution flow sorting of human chromosomes has been devised. Reliable amplification from as few as 200 chromosomes has been demonstrated. This method, with particular application to mapping the position of chromosomal translocations, has been used to show that the breakpoint for the constitutional translocation t(11;22)(q23;q11) lies proximal to the genes c-ets-1, Thy-1, and T3 delta and distal to the int-2 gene. The mapping was confirmed by Southern analysis to much larger numbers of chromosomes sorted from the same cell line. Control reactions for the bcl-2 gene on chromosome 18 and the C alpha gene of the IGH locus on chromosome 14 demonstrated the discrimination which can be achieved. PMID- 2613233 TI - Chromosomal assignment of genes encoding the alpha, beta, and gamma subunits of human complement protein C8: identification of a close physical linkage between the alpha and the beta loci. AB - The eighth component of human complement (C8) is a serum protein containing three nonidentical subunits (alpha, beta, gamma) that are arranged as a disulfide linked alpha-gamma dimer and a noncovalently associated beta chain. In earlier genetic studies, electrophoretic analysis of C8 protein polymorphisms revealed several allelic variants of alpha-gamma and beta. These were governed by separate loci designated C8A and C8B for alpha-gamma and beta, respectively. Genetic linkage analyses indicated that these loci were linked to each other and to chromosome 1 marker loci PGM1 and Rh, but it was unclear at the time if C8A was a single locus coding for a single-chain precursor form of alpha-gamma or if separate loci existed for alpha and gamma. Since evidence now indicates that alpha, beta, and gamma are encoded by separate genes, cDNA probes corresponding to each subunit were used to make direct assignments of the individual loci. Analysis of somatic cell hybrids revealed that only the alpha and beta loci are located on chromosome 1. Parallel analysis of genomic DNA digests using 5' and 3' specific cDNA probes showed they are physically linked (less than 2.5 kb) and oriented 5' alpha-beta 3'. Further probing of the hybrid panel revealed that gamma is located on chromosome 9q. Thus, the observed genetic linkage of alpha gamma to beta must be determined solely by alpha. In accordance with these findings, the C8 loci should now be designated C8A, C8B, and C8G for alpha, beta and gamma, respectively. PMID- 2613234 TI - Chromosomal localization of murine interleukin-1 alpha and beta genes. AB - DNA analyses of mouse X Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids and of recombinant inbred mouse strains have previously shown that the interleukin-1 alpha and beta genes are tightly linked on murine chromosome 2, approximately 4.7 cM distal to beta-2-microglobulin. In this study, using in situ chromosome hybridization, we show that the two interleukin-1 genes are located in the F region of murine chromosome 2 and discuss this physical map position in relation to conserved genetic linkage groups. PMID- 2613235 TI - Dispersed family of human genes with sequence similarity to farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase. AB - Prenyltransferases are a group of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of both sterol and nonsterol isoprene compounds. Somatic cell hybrid studies and in situ hybridization show that the human genome contains five distinct loci that hybridize to the cDNA for the enzyme farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase (FPS), a prenyltransferase that catalyzes the synthesis of an intermediate common to both the sterol and the nonsterol branches of the isoprene biosynthetic pathway. The loci identified in this report may correspond to unique prenyltransferase genes related to FPS or to pseudogenes. The loci mapped have been identified as farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase-"like"-1 (FPSL-1) on chromosome 1q24-31, FPSL-2 on chromosome 7, FPSL-3 on chromosome 14, FPSL-4 on chromosome 15q14-q21, and FPSL-5 on chromosome Xq21-22. Multiple copies of sequences similar to those of FPS are also present in both the mouse and the rat. PMID- 2613236 TI - Cloning and mapping of a testis-specific gene with sequence similarity to a sperm coating glycoprotein gene. AB - A testis-specific gene Tpx-1, located between Pgk-2 and Mep-1 on mouse chromosome 17, was isolated from a cosmid clone, and its cDNA sequences were determined. The predicted coding sequence of Tpx-1 isolated from BALB/c mice showed 64.2% nucleotide and 55.1% amino acid sequence similarity with that of a rat sperm coating glycoprotein gene, the protein product of which is secreted by the epididymis. To examine the evolutionary relationship between Tpx-1 and a sperm coating glycoprotein gene, the cDNA sequence of TPX1, the human counterpart of Tpx-1, was determined. The comparison of the predicted coding sequences of Tpx-1 and TPX1 showed 77.8% nucleotide and 70% amino acid sequence similarity. Since Tpx-1 (from mouse) is more similar to TPX1 (from man) than it is to a rat sperm coating glycoprotein gene, we conclude that Tpx-1 (TPX1) and a sperm-coating glycoprotein gene are closely related, but distinct, genes belonging to the same gene family. The predicted Tpx-1 protein of a t mutant mouse CRO437 differs from that of BALB/c mice by one amino acid insertion in the putative signal peptide. TPX1 was mapped to 6p21-qter by Southern blot analysis of interspecies somatic hybrid cell lines. PMID- 2613237 TI - Direct sequencing of the gene for Maryland/German familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy type II and genotyping by allele-specific enzymatic amplification. AB - Direct genomic DNA sequencing has been used to characterize the mutation associated with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy in the Maryland/German kindred. A mutation of thymine to adenine in the prealbumin (transthyretin) gene at the position corresponding to the second base of codon 58 in the prealbumin mRNA gives a histidine for leucine substitution in the plasma protein. Since the mutation does not result in a change in the restriction pattern of the prealbumin gene, a new method for the direct detection of single base changes in genomic DNA was developed using the polymerase chain reaction and an allele-specific oligonucleotide primer. PMID- 2613238 TI - Chromosomal localization of DBL oncogene sequences. AB - The DBL oncogene was generated by rearrangements involving three discontinuous regions of the human genome. Analyses of panels of human X rodent somatic cell hybrids demonstrated that the DBL proto-oncogene located on the X chromosome (just proximal or distal to bands q26-27.2) underwent recombination at its 5' and 3' ends with sequences derived from chromosomes 3 (p13q-ter) and 16 (p13-q22), respectively. DBL was localized to chromosome Xq27-q28 by in situ hybridization. Another oncogene, MCF2, was previously shown to contain sequences derived from Xq27 as well. Comparison of the restriction maps and nucleotide sequences of genomic and cDNA clones representing the chromosome X-specific sequences of the DBL oncogene and MCF2, taken together with their chromosomal localization, indicates that these oncogenes were derived from the same genetic locus. PMID- 2613239 TI - Localization of three DNA segments encompassing tRNA genes to human chromosomes 1, 5, and 16: proposed mechanism and significance of tRNA gene dispersion. AB - The chromosomal locations of three cloned human DNA fragments encompassing tRNA genes have been determined by Southern analysis of human-rodent somatic cell hybrid DNAs with subfragments from these cloned genes and flanking sequences used as hybridization probes. These three DNA segments have been assigned to human chromosomes 1, 5, and 16, and homologous sequences are probably located on chromosome 14 and a separate locus on chromosome 1. These studies, combined with previous results, indicate that tRNA genes and pseudogenes are dispersed on at least seven different human chromosomes and suggest that these sequences will probably be found on most, if not all, human chromosomes. Short (8-12 nucleotide) direct terminal repeats flank many of the dispersed tRNA genes. The presence of these flanking repeats, combined with the dispersion of tRNA genes throughout the human genome, suggests that many of these genes may have arisen by an RNA mediated retroposition mechanism. The possible functional significance of this gene dispersion is considered. PMID- 2613240 TI - Analysis of molecular deletions with cDNA probes in patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies. AB - In the course of a systematic survey of DMD and BMD patients with intronic probes and with cDNA probes covering three-fourths of the coding sequence, 45 molecular deletions within the DMD gene were investigated. Forty-two percent of the breakpoints were located in the intronic sequence containing probe P20, whereas the other deletions were widespread around the more proximal part of the gene. Most of the BMD deletions were in the P20 region. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis was used to determine the size of some deletions and allowed us to estimate the physical distance between the intronic probes JBir and P20. The reading frame was checked in 11 cases with proximal deletions and found to be disrupted in 6 of 7 DMD patients, in 1 intermediate case, and, unexpectedly, in 3 BMD patients. PMID- 2613241 TI - A reordering of human chromosome 19 long-arm DNA markers and identification of markers flanking the myotonic dystrophy locus. AB - The gene for myotonic dystrophy (DM), the most common form of adult muscular dystrophy, has previously been mapped to the proximal long arm of chromosome 19. We have conducted linkage analysis on 53 DM families (comprising 421 individuals) using seven DM-linked DNA markers. This analysis, combined with our somatic cell hybrid mapping panel data, places the DM locus more distal on the chromosome 19 long arm than previously thought. Further, we have been able to unequivocally identify DNA markers that flank the disease locus. The definition of a 10-cM region of chromosome 19 that contains the DM locus should prove useful in both the search for the causative gene and the molecular diagnosis of DM. PMID- 2613242 TI - Chromosomal mapping and nucleotide sequence of a human DNA autonomously replicating sequence. AB - A 1.1-kb human DNA fragment (ARSH1) capable of functioning as a putative origin of replication in yeast cells has been characterized both by in situ hybridization to human metaphase chromosomes and by DNA sequencing. Our hybridization studies show a preferential localization of ARSH1 in chromosome regions 1p34-36 and 2q34-37. DNA sequence analysis indicates that in addition to the consensus sequence required for ARS function in yeast cells, nuclear matrix associated DNA motifs are also present in the 1.1-kb fragment. These results suggest that ARSH1 sequences may serve as points of anchorage to the nuclear matrix for chromosomes 1 and 2. PMID- 2613243 TI - Autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa: exclusion of a gene from extensive regions of chromosomes 6, 13, 20, and 21. AB - Members of a large pedigree of Irish origin presenting with early onset Type I autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP) have been typed for polymorphic DNA markers from chromosomes 6, 13, 20, and 21. For each marker close linkage to ADRP has been excluded by pairwise analyses. Using distances fixed from well established genetic maps of these chromosomes and multipoint analyses with two or three contiguous markers, exclusion of ADRP was extended to the areas between markers, resulting in the exclusion of ADRP from extensive regions of each chromosome, totaling approximately 500 cM or 15% of the genome. The study indicates the large quantity of linkage/exclusion data obtainable using well spaced highly polymorphic markers. PMID- 2613244 TI - Autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP): localization of an ADRP gene to the long arm of chromosome 3. AB - Members of a large pedigree of Irish origin presenting with early onset Type I autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP) have been typed for D3S47 (C17), a polymorphic marker from the long arm of chromosome 3. Significant, tight linkage of ADRP to D3S47, with a lod score of 14.7 maximizing at 0.00 recombination, has been obtained, hence localizing the ADRP gene (RP1) segregating in this pedigree to 3q. PMID- 2613245 TI - Chromosomal localization and structure of the human P1 protamine gene. AB - The human P1 protamine gene and mRNA were amplified with the use of the polymerase chain reaction and cloned into PTZ19R. The sequences were determined which revealed the presence of an intron. Southern and Northern hybridization analyses showed that the gene was single copy and that the mRNA was approximately 450 bases long. The gene was mapped to chromosome 16 with the use of a somatic cell hybrid panel and localized to the 21 region of the q arm by in situ hybridization of the human P1 protamine probe to human metaphase chromosomes. PMID- 2613246 TI - Assignment of the interleukin-2 locus to mouse chromosome 3. PMID- 2613247 TI - The Human Genome Program at the National Institutes of Health. PMID- 2613248 TI - The Department of Energy (DOE) Human Genome Initiative. PMID- 2613249 TI - The Alta summit, December 1984. PMID- 2613250 TI - Heterogeneity in the biological and cultural determinants of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in five North American populations: the Lipid Research Clinics Family Study. AB - Heterogeneity in the source of familial resemblance for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in 5 different Lipid Research Clinics (Cincinnati, Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Stanford) was assessed using a general linear model for cultural and biological inheritance. No evidence of heterogeneity was found in any of the parameters of the model. Under the most parsimonious hypothesis, using data pooled over all clinics, genetic and cultural heritability were both significant and were estimated to be 0.52 +/- 0.04 and 0.09 +/- 0.02, respectively; there was cultural transmission but no maternal effects; marital and nontransmitted sibship environmental resemblance were significant. PMID- 2613251 TI - Group-specific component subtypes in the population of Tasmania, Australia. AB - Plasma specimens from 2,010 blood donors resident throughout the island State of Tasmania, Australia, were examined for group-specific component (GC) sub-types using polyacrylamide gel iso-electric focusing. Subdivision of the island into 8 geographic regions revealed no significant heterogeneity. Comparison of GC allele frequencies with those reported in mainland Australian populations indicated that Tasmanian values lie well within the ranges previously reported. PMID- 2613252 TI - Red cell enzyme and serum protein polymorphisms in South Korea. AB - Two population groups in South Korea, one from Kwangju and one from Kangreung, were studied in regard to the erythrocyte enzyme polymorphisms GPT, ACP, GLO, ESD, 6PGD, ADA, AK, PGP and subtypes of PGM1 as well as regarding the serum protein variants of C3, HP, BF, PLG, AMY and the subtypes of GC, TF and PI. The results were compared with data of the population groups from the area of Cheju Island, Taejon and Seoul. The Korean population showed a rather high degree of genetic homogeneity. PMID- 2613253 TI - Consanguinity and reproductive health in Iraq. AB - This study investigated the consanguinity rate of 233 families with severely disturbed reproductive health, and compared it to that of 227 families with normal (moderate) levels of reproductive wastage and to that of 155 families with no reproductive disturbance. The results showed that the inbreeding coefficients of the three groups of families were 0.0358, 0.0241 and 0.0208, respectively. Furthermore, the rate of congenital malformations was found to be highly correlated with the consanguinity rate of these families. PMID- 2613254 TI - Genetic relationships of Europeans, Asians and Africans and the origin of modern Homo sapiens. AB - To study the evolutionary relationships of the three major groups of humans, Europeans, Asians and Africans, the genetic distances between them were computed by using 4 different sets of genetic loci (84 protein loci, 33 blood group loci, 8 HLA and immunoglobulin loci, and 61 DNA markers). The results obtained indicate that the overall genetic distance between Europeans and Asians is significantly lower than that between Europeans and Africans of that between Asians and Africans and support the hypothesis of an African origin of modern humans. This seems to be the first study to establish the evolutionary relationships of the three major groups of humans at a statistically significant level. PMID- 2613255 TI - Human red-cell acid phosphatase (ACP1): a new mutant (ACP1*KUK) detected by isoelectric focusing, kinetics of thermostability and substrate activity. AB - A new rare mutant of the red-cell acid phosphatase (ACP1) is described using conventional gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing migration. According to the electrophoretic patterns obtained, the new mutant ACP1* KUK is different from the ACP* H and ACP1* A' variants already described. The enzyme activities and the thermostability curves definitively confirm the existence of a new variant. The transmission of this mutant was followed through a pedigree of three generations. The family originated from Czechoslovakia. The frequency of the variant is probably less than 0.001. PMID- 2613256 TI - Population study of apolipoprotein A-IV polymorphism and report of a new variant in Japanese. AB - Genetic variants of human apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV) were investigated in 614 healthy Japanese individuals. The allele frequencies were estimated as ApoA-IV*1 = 0.9984 and ApoA-IV*2 = 0.0016. In addition, a new variant ApoA-IV*Tokyo was observed in a paternity material. PMID- 2613257 TI - Glyoxalase I 'null' allele in the Polish population. AB - A silent allele of red-cell glyoxalase I was found in three generations of a Polish family. PMID- 2613258 TI - Frequency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase phenotypes and deficiency in Al Baha. AB - This investigation was conducted on 847 males and females in Al-Baha, the mountainous western province of Saudi Arabia, to determine the prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) phenotypes and G6PD deficiency. Among the G6PD phenotypes, G6PD B+, G6PD A+, G6PD A-, G6PD Mediterranean and G6PD Mediterranean-like were identified with a gene frequency in the male population of 0.7769, 0.0119, 0.0020, 0.1255 and 0.0817, respectively, and in the females with a frequency of 0.722, 0.003, 0.003, 0.1128 and 0.1311, respectively. Heterozygous females with the phenotypes of G6PD B+/A+ and B+/A- were identified with a frequency of 0.0183 and 0.0090, respectively. The frequency of severe G6PD deficiency in this population was 0.1275 and 0.1158 in males and females, respectively. PMID- 2613259 TI - No evidence for an association between glyoxalase 1 and haptoglobin in the white population of Victoria, Australia. AB - No association between the glyoxalase 1 (GLO1) and haptoglobin (HP) systems was found in a sample of 1,270 white blood donors in the State of Victoria, Australia. This finding is in contrast to previous data for blood donors in Newfoundland, Canada, a population also of Anglo-Irish descent. However, the differences between the joint phenotypic distributions of GLO and HP in the 2 data sets were statistically insignificant. PMID- 2613260 TI - Enzyme activity and distribution of adenosine deaminase types in a population of central Italy. AB - Blood samples from 718 unrelated individuals born in municipalities of the 'Alto Maceratese' region in central Italy were examined for adenosine deaminase (ADA). The allele frequencies for ADA*1 and ADA*2 were 92.48 and 7.45%, respectively. One case of the rare ADA 5-1 phenotype was observed. The observed phenotype distribution agreed well with the one expected assuming a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Enzyme activity was measured in red blood cells from individuals with different phenotypes. The relationships between the enzyme activity of the phenotypes was found to be ADA 1 greater than ADA 2-1 greater than ADA 2 greater than ADA 5-1. PMID- 2613261 TI - Complement phenotypes in patients with psoriasis. AB - Phenotype frequencies for the complement proteins C4A, C4B, Bf (factor B) and C3 were performed for 49 Caucasian patients with psoriasis. The C4*A6 allele was present in 26.6% of the patients as compared to 5.4% of healthy regional Caucasian controls, p less than 0.001, relative risk = 6.28. The C4*A6 allele is known to be in linkage disequilibrium with the HLA B17 allele and to produce a non-functional gene product when it occurs with the B17 allele. HLA B17 is known to be associated with psoriasis in many Caucasian populations. Additional findings in the present study were a significant reduction in the C4B*2 allele frequency, a non-significant increase in the Bf*F allele frequency and no difference for Bf or C3 phenotype frequencies in the patients with psoriasis as compared to the controls. PMID- 2613262 TI - Bulgarian Jews in Israel: genetic blood markers. Red-cell antigens, serum proteins and red-cell isozymes. AB - Two hundred and sixteen unrelated Bulgarian Jews were typed for the following genetic systems: ABO, MNS, Rh, Kell and Duffy of the blood groups; ADA, AK1, ACP1, ESD, GLO, PGD, PGM1 and PGM2 of the red-cell enzymes, and for the serum proteins HP, GC and PI. A comparison of observed gene frequencies with those of two other Sephardi Jewish groups, from Libya and Morocco, disclosed significant heterogeneity in several systems. This was mostly due to Moroccan Jews differing from Bulgarian or from both the Libyan and Bulgarian Jews. A comparison of gene frequencies in Bulgarian Jews with those in Oriental Jews from Iraq and in Ashkenazi Jews from Poland disclosed a similarity between the three groups in Rh, ADA, GLO, PGM1 and HP. The frequencies for the above systems in the three groups were closer to those of Middle Easterners than to those of Europeans. A different pattern was observed for GC and PI, in which Bulgarian resembled Polish Jews and differed significantly from Iraqi Jews. This probably reflects an outcome of convergent adaptive processes. PMID- 2613263 TI - Haptoglobin groups in acute myocardial infarction. AB - In patients with acute myocardial infarction, the haptoglobin (HP) groups were found to be associated with serum cholesterol levels. Heterozygotes (HP 2-1) showed serum cholesterol levels significantly higher (p less than 0.0001) than those of patients with HP 1-1 or HP 2-2. Furthermore, an association between HP type and infarction size was observed, HP 2-2 being associated with smaller infarctions. PMID- 2613264 TI - Plasminogen phenotypes in a Japanese population. Four new variants including one with a functional defect. AB - Human plasminogen (PLG) phenotypes were investigated by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing followed by immunoblotting. In 5,735 plasma samples from unrelated, healthy Japanese individuals, four new variants were detected and tentatively designated PLG AOsaka, PLG BOsaka, PLG MOsaka and PLG ANara. The plasminogen concentrations and activities of the PLG phenotypes were studied. In agreement with previous studies PLG M5 was found to have a decreased activity. The new variant PLG MOsaka had a very low activity and appears to be an abnormal plasminogen with a functional defect similar to that of PLG M5. PMID- 2613265 TI - No support for sex-esterase D phenotype association. AB - No distortion was found when the genetics of esterase D (EC 3.1.1.1) in family data was examined for sex-phenotype ratio. PMID- 2613266 TI - Bu-2, a novel avian cell surface antigen on B cells and a population of non lymphoid cells, is expressed homogeneously in germinal centers. AB - A monoclonal antibody (mAb), Hy30, was generated against bursal cells. Under reducing conditions, it immunoprecipitates a cell surface antigen with an apparent molecular weight of 66 kD that is distinct from immunoglobulin and MHC class II. The antigen recognized by Hy30 is found on greater than 95% of all bursal cells, on a population of thymus resident cells, and on blood, spleen, and marrow mononuclear cells. Immunohistological analysis of tissue sections revealed that the majority of the staining by Hy30 occurs in the B cell areas of the spleen and thymus. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the antigen recognized by Hy30 is found on both immunoglobulin positive (Ig+) and negative (Ig-) cells. Analysis of a chicken rendered B cell deficient by treatment with cyclophosphamide at hatch confirmed this observation. In these birds, the medullary dendritic cells of the bursa and Ig- cells of the "B-cell areas" of the spleen and thymus expressed the Hy30 Ag. Analysis of several avian tumor lines did not suggest an obvious lineage for these Hy30+ Ig- cells. However, analysis of germinal centers suggested that these cells may be tissue macrophages or dendritic cells. This is consistent with previously reported histology of these "B-cell areas". Flow cytometric analysis of the antigen recognized by Hy30 demonstrates that it is distinct from the Bu-1 B-cell surface antigen and we designate it as Bu-2. PMID- 2613267 TI - Pan natural killer cell monoclonal antibodies and their relationship to the NK1.1 antigen. AB - The study of natural killer (NK) has been difficult because they account for a small percentage of peripheral blood and splenic lymphocytes and the paucity of NK specific antigens that have been identified. We have isolated pure populations of C57BL/6 (H-2b) NK cells using the IgG2b monoclonal antibody PK136 (anti NK1.1). These NK1.1+ cells were used to immunize 129/J (H-2b) mice, and in this report, we describe three new NK specific monoclonal antibodies (SW3A4(IgM), SW4B12(IgG1), and SW2B4(IgG2b] and their relationship to the known murine NK antigen NK1.1. We have further characterized the NK1.1 antigen as a 39 kd molecule which is coded for by a gene which appears to map to chromosome 6. PMID- 2613268 TI - Production, characterization, and utility of monoclonal antibodies which react with a novel chimeric glycoprotein of human respiratory syncytial virus termed FG. AB - Primary immunization of mice with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the F or G glycoprotein of human respiratory syncytial virus followed by an intravenous boost with crude FG chimeric glycoprotein resulted in the generation of hybridomas each specific for either the F or G portion of FG. Characterization of each MAb was determined following binding to various viral and glycoprotein antigens, by immunoprecipitation, by competition binding and by subclass determination. Relative affinity was determined for each MAb following inhibition of binding by ammonium thiocyanate. PMID- 2613269 TI - Rat monoclonal antibodies to murine IgM determinants: application to antibody purification. AB - Two monoclonal rat antibodies (RAM11 and RAM12) were raised against mouse IgM antibodies. These 2 antibodies were isotype-specific since they bound murine IgM but not IgG or IgA antibodies; moreover, sera from mouse strains possessing different allotypic determinants inhibited the binding of RAM11 and RAM12. Both antibodies can be readily purified from culture supernatants on protein G-agarose (but not on protein A-agarose). After coupling to Sepharose 4B, RAM11 provided a useful affinity chromatography support for the purification of murine IgM antibodies from biological fluids. PMID- 2613270 TI - Characterization of a monoclonal antibody against a 24KD antigen from rat testis important for fertility regulation. AB - Monoclonal antibodies were raised against a 24KD antigen from rat testicular cytosol which was previously shown to produce antibody titres in rats with inhibitory effect on fertility. Of the 20 hybridoma clones selected for study, one clone HS-D5 was finally chosen for characterisation as it proved to be functionally promising. The clone was secreting IgM type of antibody. It produced strong agglutination of human sperm and prevented binding of hamster sperm to hamster oocyte. In localization studies it identified the acrosome of sperm of multiple species. Western blots with rat testicular cytosol and human sperm extracts showed a strong band at around 24KD with HS-D5. On Western blots from two dimensional gels, HS-D5 identified multiple spots at the region of 24KD. The mechanism of action of the antibody seemed to be at the level of interaction of the oocyte and spermatozoa. PMID- 2613271 TI - Induction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha release by lipopolysaccharide and defined lipopolysaccharide partial structures. AB - We have investigated the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by human mononuclear cells (MNC) and isolated human monocytes/macrophages stimulated with S- and R-form lipopolysaccharide (LPS), natural lipid A, and natural and synthetic partial structures thereof. We found that LPS of Salmonella minnesota (S. min.) Rb2, which represents a partial structure of wildtype LPS of Salmonella abortus equi (S.a.e.) lacking the O-chain and parts of the outer core region, was the most active inducer of all substances tested, even more active than the wildtype LPS. Lipid A also induced the production of TNF-alpha by monocytes/macrophages but was less active than wildtype LPS. The natural Escherichia coli (E. coli) type hexaacyl lipid A (compound 506) was more active than the natural S. min. type heptaacyl lipid A (compound 516). The 1- and 4' monodephospho partial structures (compounds 505 and 504) of E. coli lipid A were less active and represented the smallest structures tested that were able to induce TNF-alpha release by monocytes/macrophages. Synthetic tetraacyl lipid A precursor Ia of E. coli lipid A, lacking non-hydroxylated fatty acids (compound 406), and the monosaccharide precursor lipid X did not induce the release of TNF alpha in MNC or isolated monocytes/macrophages. This might indicate that the ability of a lipid A structure to induce the release of TNF-alpha is closely connected with the conditions to be at least hexaacylated and/or to contain hydroxylated fatty acids. These results demonstrate a structure-dependent hierarchy of LPS and natural or synthetic partial structures in their capacity of inducing TNF-alpha release by monocytes/macrophages. PMID- 2613272 TI - Quantitative aspects of the feeder cell phenomenon: direct assessment of enhanced cystine uptake by lymphocytes. AB - It has been suggested that feeder cells and 2-mercaptoethanol enhance the survival and growth of murine lymphocytes in culture by increasing cysteine availability. We previously reported that although feeder cells produce thiols, they support lymphocyte growth at densities too low for measurable thiol production. This suggested that increasing the availability of cysteine might not be the major mechanism of feeder cell action. In the present study, [35S] cystine was used to directly monitor cyst(e)ine uptake in lymphocyte-feeder cell co cultures. The results demonstrate that feeder cells substantially increase cyst(e)ine uptake by lymphocytes, even in the absence of detectable free thiols. Data are presented which suggest an explanation for this unexpected observation. PMID- 2613273 TI - Effects of pretreatment with protein kinase C activators on macrophage activation for tumor cytotoxicity, secretion of tumor necrosis factor, and its mRNA expression. AB - The effect of phorbol esters and mezerein pretreatment on macrophage (M phi) activation for tumor cytolysis, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion, and TNF alpha mRNA expression was investigated. Following pretreatment with various concentrations (0.01 to 10 micrograms/ml) of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), or mezerein for 16 h, murine peritoneal M phi were activated with M phi-activating factor (MAF) or calcium ionophore A23187 and tested for cytotoxicity in a 24-h cytolysis assay against 125-I-UdR-labeled P815 mastocytoma and NS-1 myeloma target cells. It was found that pretreatment with all three protein kinase C (PKc) activators inhibited M phi activation for cytotoxicity against P815 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Fifty percent inhibition was achieved at concentrations less than 0.1 micrograms/ml. The inhibition was partially reversible. In contrast, the pretreatment did not at all inhibit but significantly enhanced M phi activation for cytolysis against NS-1 cells. Furthermore, exposure to PMA augmented M phi activation by MAF and A23187 for TNF secretion upon stimulation with trace amounts of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Although the pretreatment neither enhanced nor significantly reduced the synergistic effect of MAF and A23187 on TNF-alpha mRNA expression, it did increase the expression stimulated by LPS alone. Finally, the PKc activity in M phi treated with PMA, PDBu, and mezerein was down-regulated to about 10% of control. Taken together, our results suggest that: 1) PKc plays an important role in the transduction of activating signals for M phi activation by MAF and A23187 to mediate cytotoxicity against some (P815) but not other (NS-1) tumor cells, 2) the induction of TNF-alpha mRNA expression and TNF secretion may be achieved via a PKc-independent pathway, and 3) M phi are equipped with more than one signal transduction pathways for affecting distinct functional activities. PMID- 2613274 TI - Accessory cells with a morphology and marker pattern of dendritic cells can be obtained from elutriator-purified blood monocyte fractions. An enhancing effect of metrizamide in this differentiation. AB - Human monocytic cell fractions obtained by counterflow elutriation centrifugation (with regard to specific monocyte/macrophage characteristics: 82-88% were positive for nonspecific esterase; 86-94% for CD14) were cultured (overnight, 37 degrees C) under nonadhering conditions (polypropylene tubes). Thirty to 40% of the cells were found to differentiate into large, monocytoid cells with a dendritic morphology. These cells expressed a marker of active dendritic cells RFD1 in 76-89% and were also positive for class II MHC antigens as identified by OKIa (95-97%). An exposure of the blood monocytic cells to metrizamide (30 min, 14.5%) prior to the overnight culture enhanced this differentiation, and 47-58% of cells with a dendritic morphology were found (of which 80-87% RFD1 positive, and 95-97% Class II MHC positive). The cultured cell populations containing the cells with the morphology and marker pattern typifying dendritic cells, appeared functionally more active as accessory populations when compared to freshly isolated blood monocytic cell fractions; the cultured cells had an enhanced stimulator capability in MLR, and cluster formation with lymphocytes was more prominent. At the same time, the cultured cell population showed a decreased bactericidal activity when compared to the freshly isolated monocytic populations, and in addition, all the cultured monocytoid cells had lost non specific-esterase activity, while only approximately 10% of cells were still positive for the CD14 marker. When U937 cells were exposed to metrizamide (14.5% concentration, 30 min) and cultured under nonadhering conditions for 36 hours, similar changes were observed (30-45% became dendritic, 20% RFD1 positive).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613275 TI - Response of microvascular endothelial cells to biological response modifiers. AB - This study investigated in vitro biological response modifiers (BRM) possibly involved in initiation and regulation of human capillary endothelial cell (HCEC) growth. An indicator assay was developed using tritiated thymidine to measure increased DNA turnover. Purified or recombinant BRMs tested singly and in combination included: interferon (IFN; alpha and gamma), tumour necrosis factor (TNF; alpha and beta), transforming growth factor (TGF; alpha and beta), rIL-1, rIL-2, pIL-2, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and retinoic acid. Under limiting serum conditions only rIL-2 (greater than or equal to 10 U/mL) caused proliferation of the cells. gamma IFN together with TNF alpha(500 U/mL of each) was cytotoxic. Under maximal stimulus conditions, a cytostatic effect resulted from exposing HCEC to: alpha or gamma IFN (greater than or equal to 1000 U/mL), TGF beta (greater than or equal to 5 ng/mL), rIL-1 (greater than or equal to 0.5 U/mL) and rIL-1 plus gamma IFN. gamma IFN (500 U/mL) plus TNF alpha exhibited synergism in the inhibition of proliferation and produced a cytotoxic effect at TNF alpha concentrations greater than or equal to 500 U/mL. By contrast, rIL-2 enhanced proliferation at greater than 5 U/mL. When rIL-2 was combined with gamma IFN, an inhibitory effect on proliferation was observed, although to a lesser extent than gamma IFN alone. Pretreating the cells with 100 U/mL gamma IFN prior to rIL-1 or IL-2 exposure produced no change in the trends observed above.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613276 TI - Inhibition of lymphocyte circulation in mice by pertussis toxin. AB - Pertussis toxin (PT), a protein toxin of Bordetella pertussis, also called pertussigen, has a wide range of biological activities, including the induction of lymphocytosis. This phenomenon was investigated by studying lymphocyte circulation in mice. Lymph node cell suspensions were exposed to PT in vitro and then injected intravenously. A double radiolabel technique was employed, in which PT-treated and control cells were injected into the same animals. The protocol used in these experiments was chosen to demonstrate a direct effect of PT on the injected cells. After exposure to PT in vitro, cells were profoundly excluded from lymph nodes over the succeeding six days. Entry into both mesenteric and peripheral lymph nodes, but not into the spleen was inhibited by PT, and there was an accumulation of the PT-treated cells in the blood. Cells were excluded from the lymph nodes after treatment with as little as 2 ng/mL of PT. This dose was over two orders of magnitude lower than the threshold dose of the same PT preparation required to induce lymphocyte mitogenesis in vitro. The findings in the present communication are consistent with studies using genetically modified PT in which the ADP-ribosylating capacity of the A-subunit was necessary for the effect of PT on lymphocytosis. PMID- 2613277 TI - Effect of donor specific transfusion (DST) is restricted to the rat combination used and closely related with alloantibody in heart transplantation. AB - The effect of donor specific transfusion (DST) in several donor-recipient combinations was examined using the rat heart transplantation model. In some donor-recipient combinations such as LEW to DA, LEW to ACI, LEW to PVG and PVG to DA, DST pretreatment could induce permanent graft survival (greater than 100 days). But in DA to LEW, ACI to LEW, LEW to BN, BN to LEW, PVG to LEW and BN to DA combinations DST pretreatment had no effect on graft survival. The effect of pre-immunization with several DA antigens (heart, liver, lymph node cells and red blood cells) was examined using the DA to LEW combination in which DST pretreatment was not effective. In no case was permanent graft survival obtained. Alloantibody levels (anti-class I and anti-class I + II, respectively) were analysed at the time of heart transplantation and in the post-transplantation period. The anti-class I antibody levels were low or not detected in rats with surviving grafts, but in the rats which failed to have the prolonged graft survival, anti-class I antibody levels were high. This study showed that the effect of DST was restricted to particular donor-recipient rat combination in the heart transplantation model. PMID- 2613278 TI - Studies on natural killer (NK) cells IV NK-3.1: a new NK cell specific alloantigen. AB - A new murine natural killer (NK) cell alloantigen, NK-3.1, has been identified by analysis of the complement dependent anti-NK cell activity of C3H anti-ST and BALB/c anti-DBA/2 alloantisera. Flow cytometric studies with a specific antiserum made in backcross mice indicate that this alloantigen is expressed by 2-3% of the spleen cells of NZB and C57BL/6 mice, positive strains, but is undetectable on the spleen cells of C3H mice, a negative strain. Since NK-1.1 and NK-2.1 are also expressed on 2-3% of spleen cells of positive strains we suggest that all three alloantigens identify the NK cells in normal mouse spleen which lyse the lymphoma target cell line YAC. PMID- 2613279 TI - Phosphorylation of cytoskeleton-associated proteins, pp58 and pp60, in tumouricidal murine peritoneal macrophages. AB - Two highly phosphorylated vimentin-like proteins, pp58 and pp60, are expressed in macrophages activated in vivo to tumouricidal activity. Resident and elicited, non-tumouricidal peritoneal macrophages displayed low and intermediate levels of phosphorylated pp58 and pp60, respectively. C3H/HeN macrophages became tumouricidal after incubation with 0.1 micrograms/mL A23187 plus 10 nmol/L 12 phorbol 13-myristate acetate (PMA), or 0.1 micrograms/mL A23187 plus 100 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and displayed increased phosphorylation of pp58 and pp60. LPS non-responder C3H/HeJ macrophages were not tumouricidal nor did they show increased phosphorylation of pp58 and pp60 after incubation with LPS plus A23187 in vitro. C3H/HeJ macrophages, however, did become tumouricidal and expressed increased phosphorylation of pp58 and pp60 after incubation with A23187 and PMA. Addition of PGE2 (10(-8) mol/L), resulted in down-regulation of macrophage tumouricidal activity and decreased pp58 and pp60 phosphorylation, which was reversed by addition of indomethacin (10(-6) mol/L) to cultures with PGE2. Phosphorylation increased within 5 min after adding activating stimuli while incorporation of [35S]-methionine into a 58 kD protein did not occur until 6 h later. No 60 kD protein synthesis was detected during the first 8 h after adding activating stimuli, indicating that previously synthesized proteins were phosphorylated during macrophage activation. These results signify a physiological role for the phosphorylation of cytoskeleton-associated pp58 and pp60 during macrophage activation to tumour cytotoxicity. PMID- 2613280 TI - Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to recombinant vaccinia viruses in mice. AB - Intravenous (i.v.) immunization of mice with recombinant vaccinia viruses stimulated the highest antibody and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses when i.v., intraperitoneal (i.p.), intranasal (i.n.), footpad (f.p.) and tail scarification (t.s.) routes were compared. Intraperitoneal immunization of mice resulted in high CTL activity, but low antibody responses. Antibody levels after i.n., f.p., and t.s. immunization were slightly lower than following i.v. immunization. Although very low levels of CTL primary activity were stimulated by i.n. or f.p. inoculation of recombinant vaccinia virus, levels of secondary CTL activity after in vitro restimulation of splenocytes were as high as those seen from i.v. immunized splenocytes. The effect of the thymidine kinase (TK) phenotype of the virus also was examined. Wildtype (TK positive) viruses replicated to a higher titre in vivo and stimulated higher antibody and CTL responses than a TK negative recombinant virus. A recombinant virus that expressed the TK gene from herpes simplex virus at a low level was intermediate between wildtype and TK negative virus, both in virus replication in vivo and in immunogenicity. PMID- 2613281 TI - Protective efficacy of a recombinant vaccinia virus in vaccinia-immune mice. AB - Recombinant viral vectors offer a potential means of vaccinating against diseases for which there are no current safe vaccines. One of the criteria on which a viral vaccine vector would be selected is that it either circulates in the human or livestock population without producing overt disease (e.g. adenovirus) or has a history as a safe vaccine (e.g. vaccinia virus). However, this selection criterion also means that the target population is likely to have circulating antibodies that are specific to the vaccine vector. Since a percentage of the world's population has been vaccinated during the World Health Organization's Smallpox Eradication Campaign, such antibody titres, which are likely to lower vaccine efficacy, have been raised as an objection to the use of recombinant vaccinia viruses as vaccines. We have tested the effect of vaccinia-specific immunity on the protective efficacy of a recombinant virus, VV-PR8-HA6 (1) which expresses the haemagglutinin of the influenza virus A/PR/8/34. PMID- 2613282 TI - [Kaposi's sarcoma and kidney transplant]. AB - Ex novo Kaposi's Sarcoma 4 months after renal transplantation in a young patient is described. Progression of the tumoral lesions has been observed during combined immunosuppressive treatment with Prednisone, Azathioprine and Cyclosporin. Stopping Azathioprine and Cyclosporin as well as reducing Prednisone prevented new lesions and made the preexistent skin lesions less extensive. Clinical case, possible pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies are discussed. PMID- 2613283 TI - [Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma: presentation of a case load and considerations on the current therapeutic management]. AB - The Authors report their experience in the management of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcomas observed in the last 5 years (3 cases). Clinical and instrumental findings are analyzed; their therapeutic planes and suggestions of National Protocol RMS 88 are compared. PMID- 2613284 TI - [Clinico-morphologic correlations of lesions induced by adriamycin administered in the thoracic aorta]. AB - The Authors, on the basis of 9 casual radiographic observations of thoracic aortic ectasy in subjects affected of neoplasms and previously treated with antitumoral drugs, hypothesize a possible correlation between the use of adriamycin and the appearance of the aortic lesion. So, they suggest an experimental study on 12 rabbits. They administered adriamycin 2 mg/kg twice weekly for 5 weeks to 8 rabbits. The other 4 rabbits are considered as control group. After 24 hours from the end of treatment the Authors sacrifice 4 treated rabbits and 2 controls, and they examine the heart and the thoracoabdominal aorta. This procedure is repeated at 21th day in the other 4 treated rabbits and in the controls. The histopathological examinations show in the treated group the appearance of lesions especially in the media. These lesions are the elastic fragmentation, the medionecrosis and the cystic necrosis, they can be responsible of aortic ectasy. PMID- 2613285 TI - The production of highly specific anti-testosterone antisera using acid-treated bacteria as immunogenic carrier. AB - A novel and effective procedure for the production of highly specific anti testosterone antibodies is described. It involved pretreatment of experimental animals with tolerogens followed by immunization with conjugates of testosterone covalently linked to acid-treated Salmonella minnesota R595 bacteria as immunogenic carriers. Antibodies elicited by this procedure showed minimal cross reactivity towards 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and some of them were successfully used in radioimmunoassays for the determination of serum testosterone levels, even without the need for prior extraction. PMID- 2613286 TI - In situ observation of lymphocyte-tumor cell interaction in human lung carcinoma. AB - Of thirty surgical specimens of human lung carcinoma examined with electron microscopy, eleven were found to contain killer cells (cytotoxic lymphocytes). Nearly one-third of the killer cells showed the polarization of their cytoplasm in which Golgi apparatus, dense granules or centrioles could be seen. The tumor cells conjugated by the killer cells showed lesions to varying degrees, including loss of cell membranes, alterations of cell organelles, even cell necrosis. The killer cells frequently penetrated into the cytoplasm, even the muclei of the tumor cells. The results of the present study suggest that the lymphocyte mediated tumor cell lysis may exist in the microenvironment of human lung carcinoma and that some of these cytotoxic lymphocytes may kill their target cells by a similar mechanism of the pore formation or granule exocytosis model, but some different aspects were also observed, as compared with the results of the in vitro studies. PMID- 2613287 TI - Stimulating effect of pemphigus antibodies upon interleukin inhibitor production by normal human epidermocytes. AB - The present study deals with the effect of pemphigus antibodies upon immunoregulatory activity of normal human keratinocytes. In vitro experiments were carried out to determine the effect of epidermal keratinocyte culture supernatants (EKCS) upon the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy subjects to give lymphoproliferative response to lectins, and to induce production of interleukin I and interleukin 2 activity, and exogenous interleukin 2 absorption. It was found that EKCS, obtained in response to epidermal keratinocyte cultivation in the presence of I mg/ml pemphigus antibodies, inhibit both interleukin cascade reactions and mitogen-induced lymphoproliferative response. It is supposed that the interleukin production deficiency in pemphigus may emerge as a result of suppressive effect made by autoantibodies on epidermal keratinocytes. PMID- 2613288 TI - Detection of antiphospholipid autoantibody in systemic lupus erythematosus is temperature-dependent. AB - Non-reactive SLE sera in an ELISA for anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) retested positive in the immunoassay when the sera were first heat-inactivated at 56 degrees C for 30 minutes. This was not a false positive phenomenon since the positive ELISA reactivity of the heated SLE sera was markedly reduced by inhibition with the cardiolipin antigen. Furthermore, the heat-potentiated ELISA reaction was abolished by prior IgG depletion of the SLE sera with Protein A preparation. The unmasked aCL in the heat-treated SLE sera also exhibited selective binding in ELISA to other negatively-charged phospholipids, namely phosphatidylserine and phosphatidic acid but not against either phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidyl-ethanolamine. The data strongly indicate an interaction between antiphospholipid antibodies and heat-sensitive serum component(s), a reduction of the latter resulting in the ELISA detection of the autoantibody. PMID- 2613289 TI - Central actions of angiotensin II on heart rate and blood pressure in mongrel dogs. AB - Angiotensin II is produced physiologically in response to renal ischaemia due to hypotension. It's effect on heart rate and blood pressure were studied on anaesthetised mongrel dogs. Angiotensin II was given in different concentrations, by intravenous, intraarterial in carotid artery and intracerebroventricular routes. Cervical vagotomy and carotid sinus inactivation were done is abolish the reflex inhibition produced by baroreflexes. Rise of B.P. is due to mainly peripheral vasopressor action of angiotensin II, however it is shown to have a central component as well. This is demonstrated by ICV injections. Tachycardia due to central action is also demonstrated in this study. Both actions are significant. This study also confirm the earlier findings that angiotensin II passes the blood brain barrier. PMID- 2613290 TI - Study on the outcome of pregnancies for one year in Dehradun city. AB - Data on the outcome of pregnancies and birth weight of neonates for one year from the government women hospital, Dehradun (U.P.) are analysed. The frequency of live births, stillbirths, twin births and abortions are found to occur higher in autumn. This may be due to higher number of marriages in winter months and higher conception rate in cooler months. The live birth sex ratio is found to be at par with the other world populations. The sex ratio for single live births as well as stillbirths is lowest in winter and for twin births, it is lowest in summer. Single live born neonates are heavier than the stillborn and twin born neonates. Summer live born and winter stillborn single neonates are heavier than those born in other seasons. PMID- 2613291 TI - Enhancement of normal neutrophil chemiluminescence by chronic granulomatous disease neutrophils. AB - Neutrophils and other phagocytic cells from patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) lack the ability to generate reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI), although other phagocytic functions appear to be intact. The effects of CGD neutrophils on the ability of normal neutrophils to produce ROI as measured by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) were examined. Normal neutrophils (2 x 10(5)) had a peak CL response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA; 20 ng/ml) of 6.5 +/- 0.9 mV, while the CL response to CGD neutrophils was completely absent. However, the addition of CGD neutrophils (8 x 10(5)) to normal neutrophils (2 x 10(5)) markedly increased the peak CL response to PMA to 11.0 +/- 1.1 mV (P less than 0.001). The peak response of normal neutrophils (2 x 10(5)) alone to the peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP; 10(-6) M) was 9.0 +/- 1.1 mV, and this increased to 22.2 +/- 3.5 mV (P less than 0.001) when 8 x 10(5) CGD neutrophils were added and to 18.9 +/- 3.6 mV (P less than 0.005) when 4 x 10(5) CGD neutrophils were added. Thus, CGD neutrophils increase the release of ROI from normal cells, suggesting nonoxidative regulatory factors in ROI production. PMID- 2613292 TI - Inflammatory response and antigen localization following immunization with influenza virus ISCOMs. AB - The inflammatory response, antigen retention, and antigen localization was studied in mice after immunization with influenza virus glycoproteins presented in two physically defined forms--micelles and ISCOMS (immunostimulating complexes). Two hours after intraperitoneal injection, the proportion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in peritoneal lavage cells increased from less than 1% to 82% in ISCOM-treated mice and from less than 1% to 41% of the total cell count in micelle-treated mice. For both treatment groups, the proportion of PMNs returned to around zero 24 h postimmunization. Total recovery of radioactive antigen was significantly greater (P less than 0.05) in ISCOM treated than in micelle-treated mice at one, two, and eight days postinjection. At all times tested, animals given ISCOMs had significantly more radioactive antigen in their spleens than animals given micelles. By electron microscopy ISCOMs were found to attach externally to the plasma membrane or within phagosomes of macrophages in close association with the membranes. PMID- 2613293 TI - Glutathione in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from smokers is related to humoral markers of inflammatory cell activity. AB - Cigarette smoking results in variable degrees of inflammation in the lower respiratory tract. Furthermore, smoking produces oxidant-mediated changes in the lung, important to the pathogenesis of emphysema. Since glutathione can neutralize reactive oxygen species and prevent peroxidation of unsaturated lipids, it may constitute an important component of the lung's defense against oxidant and inflammatory injury. In the present study, broncholaveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in 27 smokers, and the concentrations of total glutathione as well as the cellular and humoral markers of inflammatory activity were studied. There were significant correlations between total glutathione and neutrophils; two neutrophil granule components, myeloperoxidase and elastase; and chemotactic activity for neutrophils. Moreover, the total glutathione correlated with the eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), a granule constituent of the eosinophil, with two locally produced antiproteases, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and antichymotrypsin (ACHY), but not with an alpha 1-protease inhibitor and albumin. These data suggest that the total glutathione levels in BAL fluid may reflect a degree of oxidative and inflammatory stress caused by cigarette smoke, and they are therefore likely to contribute to the protection against this stress. PMID- 2613294 TI - Effect of acute experimental influenza A virus pneumonia on concentration of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in mouse serum. AB - In mice, the mean serum concentration of the acute-phase reactant alpha 1-acid glycoprotein increased 34-48% over 14 days following experimental induction of pneumonitis by intranasal inoculation of influenza A virus. Inoculation of undiluted (hemagglutination titer 640) and 10(-1) dilution of virus was followed by development of maximum concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in serum at seven days, of 334 micrograms/ml, compared to a concentration in control mice inoculated with irradiated inactivated virus of 225 micrograms/ml (P = 0.002). Infection with 10(-2) virus yielded a peak serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein of 301 micrograms/ml at four days, 34% higher than in control mice at four days (P = 0.04). There were no differences in alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentrations among virus-infected mice. Influenza A virus pneumonitis was confirmed histologically, by virus isolation, and by serologic testing, but no inoculum dependent differences were observed. On day 7, there was a direct relationship demonstrated between the severity of pneumonitis evaluated histologically and the serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentration (r = 0.50; P less than 0.02). Influenza A pneumonia in mice is associated with increased concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in serum; the increase may be directly related to the severity of the pulmonary inflammation. PMID- 2613296 TI - Gastrointestinal endocrinology. PMID- 2613295 TI - Dual effects of pertussis toxin on murine neutrophils in vivo. I. Pertussis toxin inhibits extravasation potential of mature neutrophils while simultaneously stimulating granulopoiesis. AB - Pertussis toxin (Ptx) has been employed as an adjuvant by many investigators to augment various types of cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. Recent work from our laboratory indicates that the exacerbation of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and contact hypersensitivity (CH) responses observed in Ptx-treated mice may be mediated by an absolute increase in the number of circulating neutrophils capable of migrating into tissue sites of antigen challenge. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effects of Ptx on neutrophils and neutrophil function in vivo. Evidence is presented here suggesting that Ptx has both direct and indirect effects on neutrophils following its in vivo administration to normal mice. Mature neutrophils that are directly exposed to the actions of Ptx in vivo exhibit a marked reduction in their ability to extravasate into tissue sites of inflammation. These findings are consistent with those that have been reported following the exposure of isolated neutrophils to the effects of Ptx in vitro (i.e., that Ptx has an inhibitory effect on many of the functional capabilities of isolated neutrophils). Moreover, we have also determined that Ptx can affect the kinetics of neutrophil production indirectly through its ability to stimulate granulopoiesis. Ptx-exposed mice develop a protracted peripheral blood neutrophilia following toxin administration. Although the mechanism(s) involved in stimulating increased neutrophil production is presently unclear, both dexamethasone and indomethacin (cyclooxygenase pathway inhibitors) are able to function synergistically with Ptx to produce a markedly enhanced neutrophilia in exposed mice. We propose that the capacity of Ptx to augment CH and DTH responses and act as a potent adjuvant may relate, in part, to its ability to alter the rate of neutrophil production in vivo. PMID- 2613297 TI - [Airborne contamination in the dental office]. PMID- 2613298 TI - [The role of tomodensitometry in oral implantology]. PMID- 2613299 TI - [Children at the dentist]. PMID- 2613300 TI - [Hygiene, decontamination and sterilization. Premises and large equipment]. PMID- 2613301 TI - [Dental examination and preventive medicine]. PMID- 2613302 TI - [Hygiene, disinfection and sterilization. Care of instruments]. PMID- 2613303 TI - Late sequelae of lung contusion. AB - Twenty-four patients with severe lung contusion and multiple rib fractures were studied at a mean 4.9 years (range 2-9 years) after injury. All patients had been in good health before the accident. After the accident 15 (63 per cent) patients had respiratory symptoms such as dyspnoea at rest or moderate exercise (4), pain (8), cough or increased expectoration (11) and frequent bronchopulmonary infections (5). Three patients had changed their job because of respiratory disturbance. The average vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, maximal voluntary ventilation and CO transfer factor were reduced respectively to 87, 88, 82 and 83 per cent of predicted values (P less than 0.01), while total lung capacity, residual volume and helium mixing time showed no definite changes (P greater than 0.05). Arterial blood gases at rest and at maximum exercise showed slight changes only. Maximal working capacity and ECG, as well as the ventilatory cost of moderate exercise were normal, where as the CO2 recovery time after moderate exercise was slightly increased (P less than 0.05). Overall there was a tendency towards poorer function in patients treated with artificial ventilation. Chest radiographs were normal in 10 patients (42 per cent), and moderate changes were seen in 14 patients. Diaphragmatic movements were essentially normal in all patients. Severe injury to the chest causes frequent respiratory symptoms. However, objective tests were only moderately reduced when compared with normal values. There was no unequivocal association between the subjective symptoms and the pulmonary function. PMID- 2613304 TI - Parachuting injuries during training descents. AB - An analysis of the injuries sustained during a series of 51,828 military training parachute descents and which were treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital is presented. The significant casualty rate was 0.22 in every 100 descents. There were 4 deaths, 5 multiple injuries and 104 single fractures, dislocations or head injuries. The injury rate is lower than that reported for training descents made by sports parachutists, despite more difficult conditions. Serious injuries and deaths were often the consequence of interactions between two jumpers. PMID- 2613305 TI - Severity of free-fall injury. AB - Free-falls frequently result in death in the United Kingdom. The injuries sustained by free-fall victims are often misdiagnosed. The severity of deceleration injuries sustained by 28 free-fall victims, as assessed by the Injury Severity Score, was shown to be related to the height of the fall. A high proportion of visceral injuries resulted when patients fell from a height of 6.1 m or more. It is recommended that patients injured as a result of a fall from such a height should be sent to a major accident centre. Only by appreciating the potential severity of injury sustained by free-fall victims, usually related to the height of the fall, may earlier and more accurate diagnosis be made and appropriate management instituted. PMID- 2613306 TI - Reduction in accident injury severity in rear seat passengers using restraints. AB - A prospective study of 441 rear seat occupants seen following road traffic accidents compared injury severity in the 411 unrestrained and 30 restrained subjects. Using ridit analysis, the injury severity score showed far less injury among restrained subjects (P = 0.0001). All 11 deaths and 176 of the 178 most severe injuries occurred in the unrestrained group. One restrained (3 per cent) subject was admitted overnight and 64 unrestrained (16 per cent) subjects required admission; two-thirds required a prolonged admission (mean = 13 days). Fractures, major bruises, abrasions and lacerations were almost confined to unrestrained passengers, 221 events compared with two among restrained passengers. Twenty-three unrestrained subjects were ejected, nine of whom were killed. We conclude that the use of rear seat restraints greatly reduces injury severity and should be compulsory for rear seat occupants as it is for front seat occupants. PMID- 2613307 TI - Scintigraphic findings in acute whiplash injury of the cervical spine. AB - A prospective scintigraphic and radiographic study was carried out in 35 patients with a whiplash injury of the cervical spine. The scintigraphic findings were within normal limits in 31 of the patients, while four had either a focal or multifocal increase in activity. Plain radiography revealed skeletal changes secondary to spondylosis in three patients and a localized bony spur with avulsion of a barely visible fragment in one. Our investigation shows that skeletal lesions after whiplash injury, although very few, are shown by plain skeletal radiography. Scintigraphy is not indicated for screening purposes. PMID- 2613308 TI - Serum somatomedin activity following adult tibial shaft fractures. AB - Serum somatomedin (SM) activity was measured serially in 27 adults with closed tibial shaft fractures. SM activity was found to be normal in all but one specimen. The results indicate that SM activity does not reflect severity of trauma or the ability to heal on time in these fractures. PMID- 2613309 TI - Fasciocutaneous flaps for lower extremity wounds. AB - The use of fasciocutaneous flaps to cover soft tissue defects of the lower leg following trauma, is discussed in this article. Our experience with 15 cases is presented. There have been no complications. We feel that fasciocutaneous flaps are a safe and reliable method for the management of difficult wounds of the lower leg. PMID- 2613310 TI - Non-operative management of acute grade III medial collateral ligament injury of the knee: a prospective study. AB - In a prospective study, 25 patients who had acute complete rupture of the medial collateral ligament of the knee with associated anterior cruciate ligament injury were treated by cast bracing and physiotherapy. Their average age was 27.6 years (range 15-53 years) with average follow-up of 24.2 months (range 12-48 months). All 25 patients had good or excellent results, with return to the pre-injury level of sporting activities by 1 year and with restoration of medial stability. This study shows that conservation treatment of this injury can restore stability to the medial side of the knee, even in the presence of anterior cruciate ligament damage. PMID- 2613311 TI - Acute ruptures of the cruciate ligaments: outcome of primary repair. AB - In the years 1977 to 1984, 56 patients underwent primary suture of acutely ruptured cruciate ligaments. Thirty-six (64.3 per cent) were regarded as excellent or good results and 20 (35.7 per cent) were regarded as fair or poor results. It is concluded that this is a satisfactory method of treatment and that this will reduce the number needing a late reconstructive operation. PMID- 2613312 TI - Fractures of the hook of the hamate. AB - Fractures of the hook of the hamate have been infrequently reported in the literature. A high index of suspicion is required if the correct diagnosis is to be established. We report three cases of fractures of the hook of the hamate and postulate a mechanism of injury in sportsmen. Once established, an excision of the hook is usually necessary to resolve the discomfort. PMID- 2613313 TI - Stiffness of bipolar hip prostheses. AB - Following the removal of a Bateman bipolar hip arthroplasty for displaced intracapsular fracture, the inner bearing was found to be stiff. After dismantling the acetabular component, high density polyethylene (HDP) debris was found in the inner bearing in association with wear and distortion of the HDP and fibrous tissue. To explore the hypothesis that movement does not occur at the inner bearing of bipolar prostheses because of absent lubrication, a mechanical model of the hip joint was devised incorporating a Hastings bipolar arthroplasty. The dynamic frictional forces at the inner bearing were found not to be significantly reduced when the joint was lubricated with either synovial or serosanguinous fluid. It is suggested that if the initial range of movement of the inner bearing is reduced because of debris, then loads are concentrated by the femoral component on a smaller area of the acetabular HDP component. This leads to increased shear forces, creep and distortion of the HDP, which further contributes to inner bearing stiffness. PMID- 2613314 TI - Anterior interosseous nerve paralysis: an underdiagnosed complication of supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children. PMID- 2613315 TI - Fractured coracoid process preventing closed reduction of anterior dislocation of the shoulder. PMID- 2613316 TI - Locked posterior fracture-dislocation of the shoulder. PMID- 2613317 TI - Axillary nerve rupture after closed anterior shoulder dislocation. PMID- 2613318 TI - Bilateral fracture-dislocation of the sacrum. PMID- 2613319 TI - Chance's fracture of the fourth lumbar vertebra. PMID- 2613320 TI - Stress fracture of the femoral neck in military recruits. PMID- 2613321 TI - Segmental fracture of the neck of the femur. PMID- 2613322 TI - Injury to the popliteal artery associated with dislocation of the knee: palpable distal pulses do not negate the requirement for arteriography. PMID- 2613323 TI - Serious vascular complication of locked tibial nailing. PMID- 2613324 TI - Survival of Borrelia burgdorferi in antibiotically treated patients with Lyme borreliosis. AB - The persistence of Borrelia burgdorferi in patients treated with antibiotics is described. The diagnosis of Lyme disease is based on clinical symptoms, epidemiology and specific IgG and IgM antibody titers to B. burgdorferi in serum. Antibiotic therapy may abrogate the antibody response to the infection as shown in our patients. B. burgdorferi may persist as shown by positive culture in MKP medium; patients may have subclinical or clinical disease without diagnostic antibody titers to B. burgdorferi. We conclude that early stage of the disease as well as chronic Lyme disease with persistence of B. burgdorferi after antibiotic therapy cannot be excluded when the serum is negative for antibodies against B. burgdorferi. PMID- 2613325 TI - The changing epidemiology of acute type B hepatitis: results of an 11-year prospective study in Padua (northern Italy). AB - The epidemiological pattern of acute type B hepatitis has been investigated in 1,107 consecutive patients during an 11-year prospective study conducted in Padua (Northern Italy) between 1978 and 1988. Remarkable changes were observed: 1) the attack rate of the disease increased significantly (p less than 0.05) between 1978 (18/10(5) inhabitants) and 1982 (29/10(5) inhabitants), particularly in male subjects and in the 15-19-year age group. The proportion of drug addicts also increased from 8.8 to 42% (p less than 0.05). These changes coincide in time with the spread of parenteral drug abuse in our area; 2) the attack rate dropped significantly (p less than 0.05) between 1983 and 1988 reaching the lowest levels ever observed before (4.7/10(5) inhabitants). The proportion of drug addicts decreased significantly (p less than 0.05), although the number of subjects starting narcotic abuse did not decline in recent years. Two major events could explain this pattern: a partial exhaustion of the susceptible population after spread of infection among drug abusers and, later on, the changing risk behaviours observed in our drug abusers after the AIDS prevention campaign. Other factors, including vaccination of some high risk groups, could have contributed to these changes. PMID- 2613326 TI - T lymphocyte disorder after Capnocytophaga ochracea endocarditis. AB - Capnocytophaga species are gram-negative rods which may cause disease in both non immunocompromised and immunocompromised hosts. We describe a case of endocarditis due to Capnocytophaga ochracea in a non-immunocompromised patient with a decrease of blood CD4/CD8 ratio and lymphocyte proliferative response to ConA during infection. In vitro experiments showed that C. ochracea decreased lymphocyte proliferation to mitogens (ConA, PHA), cell surface CD4 antigen and IL2 receptor expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal volunteers. PMID- 2613327 TI - Endocarditis caused by Gemella haemolysans. AB - Gemella haemolysans, a coccus related to the "Streptococcaceae", was isolated from the blood of a patient with endocarditis. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of penicillin G and tobramycin, followed by clindamycin. The taxonomy of this organism, especially its relationship to "Streptococcus morbillorum" is discussed and previously reported cases of Gemella infections are reviewed. PMID- 2613328 TI - Isolation of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 3 from pericardial fluid in a case of pericarditis. AB - A 43-year-old woman was hospitalized for fulminant pericarditis. During diagnostic work-up, an as yet unknown bronchial carcinoma was detected. In the pericardial exudate Legionella pneumophila serogroup 3 was demonstrated by direct fluorescent antibody technique and by culture. In a lung biopsy L. pneumophila serogroup 3 was found, too. Using an antigen-ELISA for L. pneumophila serogroup 1, antigenuria was demonstrated. In cases of pericarditis negative for common bacterial pathogens, all diagnostic tests for legionellae, e.g. culture, antigen detection in pericardial, pleural effusion and urine and antibody detection should be included in the diagnostic programme. PMID- 2613329 TI - Protracted necrotizing pharyngitis associated with an acquired defect of neutrophil chemotaxis in multiple myeloma. AB - A 69-year-old man presented with protracted necrotizing pharyngitis requiring prolonged antibiotic therapy. During immunologic evaluation he was found to have IgA multiple myeloma, low complement component C1q and extrinsic defect of neutrophil chemotaxis. The severity of his pharyngitis correlated with myeloma activity implying a causal relationship. The characteristics of the illness strongly suggest that it is related to the acquired defect in neutrophil chemotaxis. This case represents a previously undescribed infectious complication of multiple myeloma. PMID- 2613330 TI - Q fever meningoencephalitis associated with bilateral abducens nerve paralysis, bilateral optic neuritis and abnormal cerebrospinal fluid findings. AB - Q fever is an zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetti, the clinical features of which are often nonspecific and self-limited. Involvement of the central nervous system is rare and is usually seen as a complication of endocarditis caused by this rickettsial organism in the chronic disease. Specific neurological manifestations in the course of the acute illness aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, toxic confusional states, extrapyramidal signs, dementia and behavioral disturbances. We describe a patient who developed reversible bilateral abducens nerve paralysis and bilateral optic neuritis in the course of acute Q fever meningoencephalitis. PMID- 2613331 TI - Antimicrobial susceptibility of viridans group streptococci isolated from patients with acute leukemia receiving ofloxacin for antibacterial prophylaxis. PMID- 2613332 TI - Sensitivity to carbenicillin with resistance to ticarcillin, mezlocillin and azlocillin in a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PMID- 2613333 TI - Eradication of Salmonella dublin in an immunodeficient child by combined use of ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin after failure of either agent alone. PMID- 2613334 TI - Adoptive transfer of resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection by splenocytes and bone marrow cells from BALB/c mice immunized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin preparations. AB - BALB/c mice immunized by intraperitoneal injection of purified Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin preparations are fully protected against a lethal dose of the live bacteria. Intraperitoneal inoculation of splenocytes or bone marrow cells obtained from actively immunized mice into naive syngeneic mice was shown to significantly increase their resistance to P. aeruginosa infection. A similar transfer of splenocytes or bone marrow cells from untreated control mice did not provide protection against a lethal Pseudomonas challenge. Administration of immunocompetent cells from immunized animals to naive mice by the i.v. route was less efficient than the i.p. inoculation, probably due to different homing of the cells. Only the i.p. injection concentrated the immune cells to the site of infection. PMID- 2613335 TI - The role of systemic antibiotic prophylaxis in infection prevention in intensive care by SDD. AB - Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis is part of the regimen for selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) used for infection prevention in intensive care. It is given to prevent infections by potentially pathogenic microorganisms which are present in the oropharynx or gastrointestinal tract upon admission to the intensive care unit, i.e. primary endogenous infections. The topical non-absorbable antibiotics are given to prevent secondary endogenous infections. Exogenous infections are prevented by the conventional hygienic measures. An antibiotic used for systemic prophylaxis should have a spectrum covering both community-acquired microorganisms (e.g. pneumococci) and hospital acquired potentially pathogenic microorganisms, without affecting the indigenous flora. Furthermore, the penetration in bronchial secretions should be adequate and the incidence of side effects should be low. Cefotaxime being one of the few antibiotics which meet all these criteria has therefore been used in most SDD trials. The duration of systemic prophylaxis has been determined empirically and can generally be confined to the first four days. Emergence of resistance against cefotaxime is rare due to the combination with topical nonabsorbable antibiotics. PMID- 2613336 TI - Infections in gynaecology and obstetrics and cefotaxime. AB - Gynaecological infections range from vaginitis to septic shock. Postoperative infections are common sequelae of hysterectomy. Sexually transmitted infections start as vaginitis or rather as cervicitis. During pregnancy and delivery we find septic abortion, amnionitis, endometritis, wound infections, thrombophlebitis, sepsis, mastitis and urinary tract infections. In most infections cephalosporins are drugs of first choice because of their broad spectrum, their beta-lactamase stability and their lack of toxicity, which is especially important in pregnancy. PMID- 2613337 TI - Biochemical characteristics of extended broad spectrum beta-lactamases. AB - Extended broad spectrum beta-lactamases such as TEM-3 (CTX-1), TEM-5 (CAZ-1), TEM 10 and RHH-1 were purified and found to have lower specific activities than the TEM-1 or TEM-2 beta-lactamases. Total hydrolytic activity in crude extracts was also lower for the extended broad spectrum enzymes. These beta-lactamases hydrolyzed not only penicillins such as carbenicillin, cloxacillin and piperacillin, but also cephalosporins and monobactams. The most notable differences in substrate profiles between the extended broad spectrum enzymes and TEM-2 enzymes occurred with oxime-containing antibiotics. Although all the extended broad spectrum enzymes described above hydrolyzed cefotaxime, ceftazidime and aztreonam, the four enzymes could be easily differentiated: TEM-3 hydrolyzed cefotaxime preferentially, TEM-5 and RHH-1 hydrolyzed ceftazidime approximately three times faster than cefotaxime, whereas TEM-10 hydrolyzed ceftazidime 42 times faster than cefotaxime. All the enzymes were inhibited well by clavulanic acid, with I50 values ranging from 4.3 to 12 nM, compared to 130 nM for TEM-2. Inhibition by sulbactam was also better for the extended broad spectrum than for the TEM-2 beta-lactamases, with I50 values of 12-940 nM for the extended broad spectrum enzymes, compared to 1600 nM for the TEM-2 beta lactamase. PMID- 2613338 TI - Incidence of strains producing extended spectrum beta-lactamases in Argentina. AB - The incidence of strains producing transferable beta-lactamases capable of hydrolyzing third generation cephalosporins or aminothiazole-oximino substituted monobactams in five Buenos Aires hospitals during a four month period was studied. These enzymes were categorized by 1) MIC greater than or equal to 1 mg/l for third generation cephalosporins; 2) MIC less than 0.06 mg/l for third generation cephalosporins combined with clavulanic acid or sulbactam; 3) sensitivity to imipenem or cephamycins (excluding permeability mutants); and 4) transferable resistance by conjugation. Beta-lactamases hydrolyzing aminothiazole oximino substituted monobactams were produced by 17.2% of Enterobacteriaceae from intensive care unit patients; 3.6% from inpatients of other units and 1.2% from outpatients. Producers were mainly Klebsiella spp. (45/46) resistant to aminoglycosides (most of them AAC 3'-AAC 6' producers). Three strains had a an isoelectric point of 6.0, two of 6.5 and three of 7.7. TEM-1 beta-lactamase (isoelectric point 5.4) was detected in 6/8 strains. An inocolum effect was observed in 40/46 strains. A Klebsiella pneumoniae strain preserved since 1982 also produced a transferable beta-lactamase hydrolyzing aminothiazole-oximino substituted monobactams. PMID- 2613339 TI - Immunization of elderly people with polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine. AB - On March 28-30, 1988 the World Health Organization held a "Consultation on Immunization of Elderly People with Polyvalent Pneumococcal Vaccine". The meeting was held in Copenhagen and was sponsored by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and its Health of the Elderly programme. The meeting was attended by 18 temporary advisors and three observers. One of the main conclusions of the meeting was that pneumococcal vaccination should be recommended for all elderly persons and for all persons at high risk of acquiring pneumococcal infection, regardless of age. PMID- 2613340 TI - Passive air-pouch anaphylaxis in rats. I. Induction of anaphylaxis. AB - Induction of an experimental passive anaphylaxis of the air-pouch type, passive air-pouch anaphylaxis, was carried out in an attempt to induce a reproducible anaphylaxis model suitable for quantitative studies. Rats were injected subcutaneously with 10 ml of air into the dorsal skin to make an air-pouch and with 2 ml of antiserum at an appropriate dilution for passive sensitization, and then 5 ml of air was removed. The challenge with 5 ml of antigen solution into the air-pouch 48 h later provoked mast cell degranulation and increased vascular permeability induced by released histamine. Treatment with monovalent hapten prior to the antigen challenge almost completely inhibited histamine release and plasma exudation to levels similar to those in the nonsensitized group. In this model, mast cell-dependent late-phase allergic reaction, such as leukocyte migration or the increase of plasma exudation following mast cell degeneration, was not observed. PMID- 2613341 TI - Production of eosinophil-activating factor (EAF) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from asthma patients. AB - Mononuclear cells from blood samples from asthmatic patients were tested for their ability to produce two eosinophil activating factors, EAF and TNF. High levels of EAF were produced by some but not by all patients. The influence of external factors on EAF production was evaluated. Patients receiving prednisolone (10-30 mg/day) tended to produce only low levels of EAF. Prednisolone has been shown to inhibit production of EAF in vitro by isolated mononuclear cells, at concentrations of 0.1-1 micrograms steroid/ml. Incubation of mononuclear cells with certain allergens enhances EAF production in sensitive individuals. Little or no production of TNF was observed in the patients examined. PMID- 2613342 TI - Relation between splenic antibody formation and serum antibody levels to sheep erythrocytes as studied at the level of individual mice. AB - The relation between splenic antibody formation and serum antibody levels after intraperitoneal immunization of mice with sheep erythrocytes was studied in individual animals. A strong correlation between plaque-forming cell numbers in the spleen and haemolysin and haemagglutinin titres in the serum was observed. These results are at variance with recent data on the development of splenic auto haemolysin-forming cells and corresponding serum levels after injection of mice with Escherichia coli endotoxin. The background behind the discrepancy between the antigen-driven immune response and the more polyclonal stimulation of B cells with endotoxin is being discussed. PMID- 2613343 TI - Studies on the osmophilic fungus Wallemia sebi as an allergen evaluated by skin prick test and radioallergosorbent test. AB - Recently, Wallemia sebi, a species of osmophilic fungi, has been abundantly detected in house dust using low water activity media. In this study, allergenic activity of W. sebi was assessed by skin prick test and radioallergosorbent test (RAST) in 74 asthmatic patients ranging from 6 to 32 years of age. Aspergillus fumigatus and house dust were used for comparison. In skin prick test, W. sebi extract, A. fumigatus extract and house dust extract elicited positive reactions in 4 (5.4%), 4 (5.4%) and 51 (68.9%) patients, respectively. RAST showed positive results in 14 subjects (18.9%) for W. sebi extract, in 8 (10.8%) for A. fumigatus extract and in 59 (79.7%) for house dust extract. These results indicated that some asthmatic individuals showed immediate-type hypersensitivity to W. sebi, and which means this fungal species may be of importance to atopic diseases as a causative agent. PMID- 2613344 TI - Induction of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies with a single allergen separated from birch pollen extract by SDS-PAGE and nitrocellulose blots. AB - A Gold staining allergenic band, Bet v 1, was excised from a nitrocellulose blot following SDS-PAGE of birch pollen extract. This was used to raise a polyclonal rabbit antiserum and monoclonal mouse antibodies specific only for the Bet v 1. The method offers practical advantages for the production of antibodies to individual allergens in complex extract mixtures, without laborious purification methods. PMID- 2613345 TI - Bronchial sensitization in guinea pigs following ingestion of ovalbumin. AB - Local bronchial mucosal hypersensitivity following antigen feeding was studied in the guinea pig. Groups of 6 animals were fed 1% ovalbumin (OA) in tap water or tap water without antigen (control group) for different feeding periods (14, 28, 42, and 56 days). Inhalative provocations with increasing concentrations of OA (0.5-8% OA) were performed at the end of each feeding period followed by body plethysmographic measurement of airway obstruction. Specific bronchial hypersensitivity to inhaled OA was not found in the control group, whereas specific bronchial reactivity to OA, described as reactivity index, was significantly different from the control group after 14 (p less than 0.05), 28 (p less than 0.001) and 42 days (p less than 0.01) of feeding. No difference to the control group was found after 56 days of feeding. Anti-OA IgG total and IgG1 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were increased in OA-fed animals reaching maximal concentrations at day 28 of the feeding period. We conclude that oral feeding of a 1% solution of OA can induce a transient state of local hypersensitivity to inhaled antigen in the guinea pig as manifested by bronchoconstriction on OA inhalation and increased concentrations of local and systemic specific antibodies. This period of local hypersensitivity is followed by tolerance. PMID- 2613346 TI - High-incidence of C9 deficiency throughout Japan: there are no significant differences in incidence among eight areas of Japan. AB - From 92,686 sera sent from hospitals throughout Japan to the Special Reference Laboratories for CH50 assay, we were able to classify 80 patients as C9-deficient using a sensitive screening test, as well as hemolytic and immunochemical C9 assays. The incidence of C9 deficiency was determined to be 0.086%, and there were no distinct differences among the eight areas of Japan tested. Serum CH50 levels of these C9-deficient patients varied widely (9.4-63.8 U/ml), and exhibited a higher value (average: 34.1 U/ml) than that of healthy C9-deficient individuals, probably due to elevated C3, C4, and C5 levels. These patients suffered from a variety of autoimmune, renal, and infectious diseases, which, however, are thought to be only incidentally associated with C9 deficiency. PMID- 2613347 TI - Comparative immunochemical analysis of five Thermoactinomyces strains. AB - The antigen structures in mycelial extracts of 4 strains of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and 1 strain of Thermoactinomyces candidus were compared using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. For immunological characterization, antigens were transferred electrophoretically to nitrocellulose membranes and blotted with T. vulgaris strain-specific antisera and with sera of farmer's lung patients. Cross-reactions between the strains were also studied using immunodiffusion and crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Protein components between 50 and 60 kilodaltons were found to be the most immunogenic. Patient sera showed heterogeneous responses, but all reacted with an antigen at 55 kilodaltons that was also common to all strains studied. PMID- 2613348 TI - Involvement of tumor necrosis factor in human granulocyte-mediated killing of WEHI 164 cells. AB - Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) kill WEHI 164 clone 13 cells in an 18 hour 51Cr release assay. Antibody to human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocks the lysis of targets mediated by human granulocytes. PMNLs triggered by sensitive targets not only displayed cytotoxic activity, but also released a soluble factor capable of selectively lysing WEHI 164 cells. The killing of these cells by supernatants of triggered granulocytes was totally inhibited by anti-TNF antibody. These experiments suggest that the killing of WEHI 164 sarcoma cells by human PMNLs involves TNF or TNF-like molecules. PMID- 2613349 TI - The Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research. PMID- 2613350 TI - Regulatory processes in allergy and asthma. Proceedings of the symposium celebrating the foundation of the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research. Davos, June 17, 1989. PMID- 2613351 TI - Epidemiology of the allergic diseases: are they really on the increase? AB - Epidemiological studies on representative populations clearly demonstrate a significant general increase of atopic diseases during the last decades, mainly for pollinosis. For the manifestation of an atopic disease both allergen exposure, which leads to specific IgE antibody formation, and the presence of additional realization factors are required. The nature of the latter is still partially unknown. Careful interpretations of clinical and experimental observations show that besides indoor and outdoor pollution, increased exposure to allergens through changes in human way of living is an important cofactor responsible for the increased incidence of atopic diseases. PMID- 2613352 TI - Establishment of a memory in vitro murine IgE response to benzylpenicillin and its resistance to suppression by anti-IL-4 antibody. AB - Regulation of a memory IgE antibody response may be different from the induction of a primary response and may, therefore, be more relevant to the study of allergic diseases and the therapeutic manipulation of IgE antibody formation. In this paper a murine hapten-specific in vitro memory IgE antibody response to benzylpenicilloyl(BPO)-KLH is described. The response was analyzed by determining the number of antibody-producing cells (APC) in an ELISA spot assay. Of the total number of BPO-specific APC (10,000 APC/10(6) cultured spleen cells), about 1% were IgE-producing cells (100/10(6) cultured cells), as detected on day 6 of culture. The level of the antibody response is antigen dose-dependent, and the detected APC are BPO specific. The memory IgE response is not inhibited by the addition of anti-IL-4 antibody (11B11), even at a high excess. In the presence of the mitogen lipopolysaccharide, it has been shown that switch of B cells to IgE is induced by IL-4, a process which can be inhibited by anti-IL-4 antibody. Because the antigen-induced IgE response cannot be inhibited by anti-IL-4 antibody, in vitro responding cells derived from BPO-KLH-preimmunized mice may, therefore, have already switched in vivo to IgE. On the other hand, B cells switching to IgE in a situation of cognate T-B cell interaction might receive IL 4 in a transsynaptical way from T cells which might not be accessible to inhibition by anti-IL-4 antibody. The identification of the two possibilities in situations of established allergic disorders will be decisive for determining whether pharmacological inhibition of IL-4 (or IL-4-induced switch)--e.g., by putative low molecular weight compounds--will ever be a meaningful approach to suppress allergic diseases. PMID- 2613353 TI - Acute aluminemic encephalopathy in chronic renal failure: the citrate factor. PMID- 2613354 TI - Quantitative assessment of sodium and water metabolism in hemodialyzed patients. PMID- 2613355 TI - Defibrotide in extracorporeal circulation on healthy rabbits. AB - Defibrotide, a partially depolymerized DNA fraction obtained from mammalian lung, was found to have significant antithrombotic and fibrinolytic activities. On the basis of this evidence defibrotide could be of clinical value during hemoperfusive treatment. The present study was designed to evaluate the biological tolerance of this technique in a model of extracorporeal circulation, using an original Silastic apparatus, with defibrotide (0.83 mg/kg-1/min-1 after a 50 mg/kg-1 bolus injection) and heparin (0.66 IU/kg-1/min-1 after a 400 IU/kg-1 bolus injection) in ten rabbits (Group 1) and heparin only in ten others (Group 2, control group). In this study defibrotide produced a significantly lower pressure inside the circuit compared to the control group and gave a protective effect against those pathological changes which appeared during extracorporeal circulation and that may be considered omens of a state of shock. However the use of defibrotide in addition to heparin seemed to have a poor effect on platelet and leukocyte count alterations during application of this technique. PMID- 2613356 TI - Isolation of unusually composed sialyl-compounds from hemofiltrate. AB - Sialyl compounds are essential components of various biological fluids but relatively little is known about their occurrence in the extracellular fluid of patients with end-stage renal disease. As we have developed a macropreparative method for concentrating and desalting a wide range of fractions from diluted biological fluids we have been able to isolate and identify 5 sialooligosaccharides, 3 sialosugarphosphates, 2 monosialoglycopeptides and 1 disialoglycopeptide. The structures have been elucidated predominantly by one and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, enzymatic degradation and FAB mass spectrometry. The accumulation of these compounds in uremic sera may be of particular interest as they may interact in the molecular biology of diseases typically associated with the uremic state, e.g., immune deficiency, neurological disorders, receptor binding abnormalities, complement system disturbances and cell membrane alterations. PMID- 2613357 TI - The production of platelet-activating factor during hemodialysis. AB - Regenerated cellulosic membranes (CU) induced the aggregation of plasma-free human neutrophils when recirculated in a dynamic model of dialysis without the patient on the circuit. Neutrophil aggregation was linked to the production of PAF by these cells. In the absence of detectable PAF production, no neutrophil aggregation occurred, as observed during recirculation with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) membranes. With polycarbonate (PC), PAF production and aggregation of neutrophils were both almost half the values with CU. PAF production was studied in ten hemodialysis (HD) patients tested twice with CU and once with PC and PMMA membranes. PAF was extracted in the venous blood during filling of the dialyser for 9/20 of patients with CU (3.1 +/- 2.9 ng/ml, mean +/- 1 S.D.) a membrane that induced marked leukopenia (greater than 50% of basal values at 15 min), C3a des Arg generation (greater than 500% at 5 min), and plasma levels of the elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex (greater than 500% at the end of HD). Membranes such as PC and PMMA showing intermediate or low potential to induce leukopenia and C3a des Arg generation, respectively, did not trigger the production and release of PAF in detectable amounts at any interval. However, with PMMA, plasma neutrophil elastase was significantly higher than baseline at the end of dialysis. These levels were not significantly different (p less than 0.05) from those observed with CU and PC membranes. PMID- 2613358 TI - Dipyridamole thallium-201 perfusion imaging for the study of ischemic heart disease in hemodialysis patients. AB - To assess the usefulness of dipyridamole thallium perfusion imaging in the evaluation of myocardial perfusion in hemodialysis (HD), we studied 29 HD patients divided into three groups: A) 13 patients with clinical angina, B) 8 patients without angina but similar in age, sex, time on HD and hematocrit and C) 8 young asymptomatic patients (mean age 33 +/- 9.7 years). Dipyridamole thallium 201 (Tl-201) perfusion imaging revealed myocardial perfusion defects in 8 patients (61%) from group A, 4 (50%) from group B and 1 (12.5%) from group C. These defects were localized in the inferior, posterior and septal segments of the left ventricle. Abnormal myocardial perfusion was associated with age over 50 years and aortic calcifications (p less than 0.05). Eight patients died within the following four years. All had aortic calcifications (p less than 0.001). Our results show that myocardial perfusion defects are frequent even in non symptomatic HD patients. This suggests that ischemic heart disease could be more frequent than estimated by clinical symptoms alone. Tl-201 scintigraphy may be a useful non-invasive procedure in cardiological evaluation of HD patients. PMID- 2613359 TI - Lupus nephritis patients on maintenance dialysis in Hong Kong. AB - Eleven patients with lupus nephritis required maintenance dialysis. Two were on haemodialysis (HD), 9 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). One was subsequently transplanted and recurrence of lupus nephritis occurred at 9 months posttransplant. One discontinued CAPD after 6 months; 4 died and the remaining 7 were fully rehabilitated. There was marked regression of extra-renal lupus activity post-dialysis. PMID- 2613360 TI - Use of hepatocytes in adhesion and suspension cultures for liver support bioreactors. AB - Hepatocyte cultivation in bioreactors for hybrid liver support systems is possible under two conditions: attached to a substrate like membranes or microcarriers or in suspension culture. To compare the ammonia metabolism of hepatocytes cultivated under these two conditions, cultures of primary seeded rat hepatocytes were cultivated either attached to collagen coated tissue culture plastic or as a suspension culture. During the time course of culture, the ability of hepatocytes to reduce the ammonia content of the medium decreased in both adhesion and suspension cultures, though to different extents. In suspension cultures, ammonia content was reduced from 350 microM to about 100 microM (day 4) and to about 180 microM (day 6). No significant reduction was seen on day 8 of culture. In contrast, hepatocytes attached to collagen coated dishes remained viable and functional for at least 8 days after plating, reducing ammonia content from 350 microM to 70 microM (day 4), 90 microM (day 6) and 180 microM (day 8). The period of useful metabolism of hepatocytes in bioreactors for hybrid liver support systems appears to depend on the culture conditions. PMID- 2613361 TI - Isolation of vascular endothelial cells for investigations on hybrid prostheses. AB - Hybrid vascular prostheses are coated with vascular endothelial cells (EC) in an attempt to reduce thrombogenicity through the metabolic activities of living cells. The present studies were planned to develop a standardized method of isolating bovine aortic EC with high yield for studies of endothelial coating of vascular prostheses. The best results were achieved using a combination of incubation with collagenase and mechanically scraping the mobilised cells from the donor vessel. Isolated adult male bovine endothelial cells were identified by the typical "cobble stone" morphology in culture and characterized by factor VIII related antigen immunofluorescence microscopy. The cells were seeded successfully on PTFE vascular prostheses. PMID- 2613362 TI - Carpal tunnel syndrome in hemodialyzed patients. PMID- 2613363 TI - An introduction to the theory of NON-uniformity of hygrothermal constituent of the environment. AB - Non-uniformity of the hygrothermal constituent of the environment (NUN) causes problems not only of hot workplaces in industry, but also in lightweight buildings, and air-conditioned and even ventilated buildings. It is almost impossible to avoid cold draughts, unilateral thermal radiation etc. in such situations. The theory and definition of NUN in space and in time, and NUN climatic (convective, radiant, perspiratory) and NUN conductive are described. PMID- 2613364 TI - Cardiovascular deaths and temperature in subtropical Brisbane. AB - Analysis of 2-year myocardial infarct deaths in subtropical Brisbane shows an increase in mortality rate within a temperature range normally considered mild in mid-latitude locations. During both the coldest and warmest season, the relationship is a strong one, especially with temperatures that are below neutrality for the population. PMID- 2613365 TI - Effects of repeated short-term cold exposures on cold induced thermogenesis of women. AB - The effects of repeated exposures to resting cold air (10 degrees C) on the shivering and thermogenic responses of women to standard cold stress were investigated. Ten women, aged 18 to 34 years, were divided into two groups of five women each. One group, the acclimated (A) was exposed ten times within 2 weeks, the first and the last exposures being the pre- and post-tests, respectively. The second group, the control (C) was exposed twice within 18 days. Measurements of rectal and skin temperatures, oxygen uptake, time to onset of shivering (TOS), and perceived cold were performed during all exposures. Shivering responses were evaluated by electromyography and visually. A significant (P less than 0.05) increase was seen in TOS (from 26.2 min to 55.6 min), and a significant decrease was seen in thermoregulatory heat production (from 14.78 kcal/h to -2.64 kcal/h) in group A; these changes were evident after about five exposures. It is concluded that the women became cold acclimated as a result of the repeated short-term resting cold air exposures. PMID- 2613366 TI - Metabolic and hormonal responses during exercise at 20 degrees, 0 degrees and -20 degrees C. AB - This study was designed to clarify the effects of cold air exposure on metabolic and hormonal responses during progressive incremental exercise. Eight healthy males volunteered for the study. Informed consent was obtained from every participant. The following protocol was administered to each subject on three occasions in a climatic chamber in which the temperature was 20 degrees, 0 degree or -20 degrees C with relative humidity at 60% +/- 1%. Exercise tests were conducted on an electrically braked ergocycle, and consisted of a progressive incremental maximal exercise. Respiratory parameters were continuously monitored by an automated open-circuit sampling system. Exercise blood lactate (LA), free fatty acids (FFA), glucose levels, bicarbonate concentration (HCO-3), acid-base balance, plasma epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) were determined from venous blood samples obtained through an indwelling brachial catheter. Maximal oxygen uptake was significantly different between conditions: 72.0 +/- 5.4 ml kg 1 min-1 at 20 degrees C; 68.9 +/- 5.1 ml kg-1 min-1 at 0 degree C and 68.5 +/- 4.6 ml kg-1 min-1 at -20 degrees C. Workload, time to exhaustion, glucose levels and rectal temperature decreased significantly at -20 degrees C. Catecholamines and lactate values were not significantly altered by thermal conditions after maximal exercise but the catecholamines were decreased during rest. Bicarbonate, respiratory quotient, lactate and ventilatory thresholds increased significantly at -20 degrees C. The data support the contention that metabolic and hormonal responses following progressive incremental exercise are altered by cold exposure and they indicate a marked decrease in maximal oxygen uptake, time to exhaustion and workload. PMID- 2613367 TI - Record performances at the Boston Marathon: biometeorological factors. AB - Air temperature and relative humidity have long been suspected of affecting the performance of marathon runners. Though these factors are important in their extremes, we show that other factors are even more indicative of race performances. Performances of the top 3 finishers in the last 30 Boston Marathons were correlated with hourly meteorological data for each race day. These 90 individual performances were classified as: record breaking performances (31), average performances (35), and unusually slow performances (24). The factors that help predict record breaking and unusually slow performances are: (i) wet bulb temperature, (ii) percent sky cover, and (iii) presence or absence of a light precipitation. Record breaking performances are characterized by a wet bulb temperature of less than 7.8 degrees C, and 100% sky cover. A light drizzle is also conducive to better performances. On the other hand, unusually low performances are accompanied by a wet bulb temperature of greater than 7.8 degrees C, and a sky cover of 50% or less. No light precipitation was recorded on any of the unusually slow race days. A graphic analysis clearly shows these relationships to exist. In addition, a multiple regression analysis confirms the importance of these variables. The authors advise that these are reliable predictors; however, when considering marathon races held in various geographical regions and differing climatic regimes, the exact numerical thresholds used here may not apply. PMID- 2613368 TI - Effect of delivery season on subsequent birth interval in early 20th century in Japan. AB - Questionnaires of birth dates of family members (13,404 families in total) were analyzed in order to examine the effects of delivery season of a baby on the subsequent birth interval. Deliveries at maternal age of 20-34 years were used. In 1921-1935, the mothers who had been delivered of a baby in August-October showed the shortest (30.62 months geometric mean) and those in February-April the longest (34.05 months) non-last intervals, with a highly significant difference among the four delivery seasons (P less than 0.001, Kruskal-Wallis test, n = 5678). Although the intervals were abruptly prolonged just before the last birth, the above difference was also consistent in the last intervals. When seasonal distributions of last and non-last births were compared, last births tended to be concentrated in the summer half of a year (P less than 0.05) in 1921-1935. In 1951-1965, overall geometric mean of the interval shortened to 28.44 months, and the length of intervals did not differ appreciably according to the season of preceding delivery. Deliveries in late summer (August-October) in 1921-1935, therefore, were associated with increased risk of termination of reproduction, on one hand, but a lowered chance of prolongation of the subsequent interval, on the other hand. Possible environmental factors are discussed to explain this apparently paradoxical phenomenon. PMID- 2613369 TI - Development of sweating ability in winter- and summer-born Friesian calves aged 1 to 6 weeks. AB - Sweating rate, rectal and skin temperatures and respiration rate were measured at weekly intervals from 7 days of age (for 4 weeks in Experiment 1; 6 weeks in Experiment 2) in winter- and summer-born Friesian calves exposed to a temperature of 39 degrees C dry bulb and 32 degrees C wet bulb in a climate chamber. Four calves were studied in each season in both experiments. In Experiment 1, ambient temperatures were from 3 degrees to 9 degrees C higher in early summer than in late winter. During each 39 degrees C exposure, sweating rate increased from basal levels of 40-90 to plateau levels of 120-300 g/m2 per h after 90-120 min. The increase in sweating rate with age was most pronounced in winter-born calves, but summer-born calves had higher values at 1 week of age (167 +/- 52.4 vs 94.4 +/- 30.1 g/m2 per h). Seasonal differences in ambient temperature were greater in Experiment 2 (11 degrees to 17 degrees C). In this case summer-born calves had higher sweating rates at each age (plateau values of 220-320 g/m2 per h), and showed a more rapid increase in sweating rate during each 39 degrees C exposure than winter-born calves (plateau values of 100-250 g/m2 per h). The results demonstrate major changes in sweating competence during the first 4-6 weeks of life in Friesian calves, a quite pronounced effect of season (ambient temperature) on the levels of sweating achieved, and indicate that low sweating rates in newborn calves are a contributing factor in deaths due to hyperthermia in semi-arid grazing areas. PMID- 2613370 TI - The influence of negative ionization of the air on motor activity in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus Waterhouse) in light conditions. AB - The motor activity of Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus Waterhouse) under the influence of negative ionization of the atmosphere applied for 10, 20 or 30 min per day was investigated. An ionizer with output of 14,000 light negative ions per 1 cm3 of air was used. Studies carried out in the light phase of a 12:12 h light/dark regime revealed a relation between the reaction of the animal and the time of day at which ionization was applied. Ionization for 20 or 30 min in the light phase decreased motor activity, while 10 min of ionization increased it compared to control animals. Ionization in the dark phase gave a more distinct rise in activity than that applied in the light phase for all three durations of ionization. PMID- 2613371 TI - Ambient temperature: a factor affecting performance and physiological response of broiler chickens. AB - An experiment was conducted to elucidate the influence of four constant ambient temperatures (20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees and 35 degrees C) on the performance and physiological reactions of male commercial broiler chicks from 3 to 7 weeks of age. A 12 h light-dark cycle was operated, while relative humidity and air circulation were not controlled. Exposure of broiler chickens to the 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees and 35 degrees C treatments showed highly significant (P less than 0.0001) depression in growth rate, food intake and efficiency of food utilization, and a significant increase in water consumption for the 30 degrees and 35 degrees C groups. Mortality was, however, not affected by the temperature treatments. Changes in physiological status, such as increased rectal temperatures, decreased concentration of red blood cells, haemoglobin, haematocrit, and total plasma protein were observed in birds housed in the higher temperature (30 degrees and 35 degrees C) environments. Moreover, in these broiler chickens, there was an increased blood glucose concentration and a decreased thyroid gland weight. These results indicate that continuous exposure of broiler chickens to high ambient temperatures markedly affects their performance and physiological response. PMID- 2613372 TI - A suggested nomenclature for the developing heart. Working Group for Embryology and Teratology of the European Society of Cardiology. PMID- 2613373 TI - Effect of hypoxaemia on enzymes supplying myocardial energy in children with congenital heart disease. AB - The differences in energy metabolism of the myocardium in children with congenital cardiac malformations producing hypoxaemia (arterial oxygen saturation 77 +/- 2%) or normoxaemia (arterial oxygen saturation 94 +/- 2%) were analysed by measuring the activity of the representative energy-supplying enzymes. Right atrial and ventricular tissue samples were obtained during surgical interventions. We demonstrated that myocardial metabolism was significantly influenced by hypoxaemia: the aerobic capacity of the energetic metabolism was reduced both in the atriums and ventricles. Atrial myocardium was more affected: in addition to citrate synthase, the activity of enzymes connected with lactate uptake and carbohydrate catabolism was also significantly decreased. These results demonstrate that the human heart is able to adapt to hypoxaemia by changing its energetic metabolism. PMID- 2613374 TI - Assessment of bedside umbilical vein balloon septostomy using two-dimensional echocardiographic guidance in transposition of great arteries. AB - The effectiveness of "bedside" balloon atrial septostomy via the umbilical vein using 2-dimensional echocardiography was compared to the traditional femoral vein approach using fluoroscopy in a series of neonates with transposition of great arteries from March, 1984 to April, 1987. There were 7 neonates who had balloon septostomy performed at the "bedside" (Group I) compared to 13 who had the procedure performed in the catheterization laboratory (Group II). Group II consisted of 7 newborns who had elective femoral vein catheterization under fluoroscopy (Group IIA) and 6 who failed "bedside" umbilical vein balloon septostomy and subsequently had the femoral vein approach under fluoroscopy (Group IIB). Results showed that adequacy of balloon septostomy was not related to the approach used, with 4 of 7 in Group I and 9 of 13 in Group II with an adequate atrial tear and clinical response. The Delay time to septostomy (i.e. time elapsed from initial assessment to commencement of balloon septostomy) and Procedure time (i.e. time taken to complete the balloon septostomy) was significantly shorter for Group I (mean time = 0.7 hours and 0.26 hours respectively) compared with Group IIA (mean time = 2.6 hours and 1.8 hours) and Group IIB (mean time = 2.4 hours and 1.4 hours). Of note, there was no significant increase in Delay time between Group IIA and IIB.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613375 TI - The accuracy of fetal echocardiography in the diagnosis of congenital heart disease. AB - The accuracy of the echocardiographic diagnosis of fetal heart disease in an experienced centre was evaluated by analysing the results achieved during 1987 at the Perinatal Cardiology Unit, Guy's Hospital. In this one year, 978 high-risk patients were referred for fetal echocardiography. Of these, 74 cases were found to have cardiac malformation, 69 of which were predicted from the prenatal study. Of the 69, the autopsy specimen was available for correlative purposes in 41 cases. A postnatal echocardiogram was performed by us in a further 15 cases. The result of autopsy or of a postnatal echocardiogram was obtained from another hospital in 7 cases. Postmortem was refused in 5 cases, while one further case remains alive but has not had a postnatal echocardiogram. Close correlation was achieved between the predicted echocardiographic diagnosis and the anatomical results. Some minor errors in the complete interpretation of a defect were found, particularly in those fetuses in whom image quality was poor, due to early (less than 20 weeks) or late (greater than 34 weeks) gestation or to maternal obesity. Difficulty in echocardiographic interpretation was also experienced in unusual defects. There was one false positive prediction of coarctation of the aorta. One major (total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage) and 5 minor abnormalities (two atrial and three ventricular septal defects) detected after birth were overlooked on the fetal study. Although the echocardiogram in prenatal life is not as accurate as it can be postnatally, with suitable experience a high degree of precision can now be achieved. PMID- 2613376 TI - Response of large and small coronary arteries of pigs to intracoronary injection of acetylcholine: angiographic and histologic analysis. AB - With coronary arteriography we examined the effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on large and small coronary arteries. ACh (12.5 to 200 micrograms) was injected into the right coronary arteries of 10 pigs during left ventricular pacing. The percentage of narrowing of the epicardial major coronary artery was used as an indicator of the constriction of the large coronary arteries, and the time required for the contrast medium to reach the posterior descending coronary artery from the ostium of the right coronary artery (blood-flow delay) was used as an indicator of the constriction of the same coronary arteries. A small dose of ACh (12.5 to 100 micrograms) induced mild narrowing (14 to 41%) of the epicardial major coronary artery and a marked blood-flow delay of over 7.0 sec (control: less than or equal to 1.8 sec) in all 10 pigs. A large dose of ACh (100 to 200 micrograms) caused over 75% narrowing of the epicardial major coronary artery and a marked blood-flow delay in 4 of the 10 pigs. When the marked blood flow delay appeared, the perfused right ventricular myocardium became macroscopically anemic (ischemic). The constriction of large and small coronary arteries was not prevented by diphenhydramine (H1 blocker: 100 mg i.v.), but was prevented by pretreatment with atropine (1.0 mg i.v.). The intracoronary injection of histamine (1.5 mg) in 5 pigs constricted the epicardial major coronary artery over 75% in 2 pigs, 50 to 75% in 1 pig, and 25 to 50% in 2 pigs, but there was no evidence of blood-flow delay. Neither methoxamine nor norepinephrine caused any significant coronary artery narrowing. The histology of the large and small coronary arteries was examined quantitatively with an image analyzer. The coronary artery showed no intimal thickening, and the endothelium was intact on light microscopic examination. The % area of the smooth muscle layer (media) to the calculated total vascular area, and the ratio of the calculated medial thickness to the calculated inner radius (h/Ri) were 64 +/- 7% (mean +/- SD) and 0.69 +/- 0.16, respectively, in the small coronary arteries less than 100 microns in external diameter, 47 +/- 9% and 0.39 +/- 0.12 in the small coronary arteries 100 to 2000 microns in external diameter, and 34 +/- 4% and 0.24 +/- 0.03 in the large right coronary arteries over 2000 microns in external diameter; the % area of the media and the h/Ri showed a negative correlation with the size of the coronary arteries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2613377 TI - Assessment of hemodynamic changes in the early phase of uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction. AB - The purpose of our study was to evaluate the early phase hemodynamic changes in patients with clinically uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction. Detailed sequential hemodynamic evaluation is hardly available in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction in this group of patients as opposed to patients with complicated acute myocardial infarction. We evaluated sequentially the hemodynamics of 17 patients with uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (Kilip class I). Cardiac output and ventricular ejection period were determined by impedance cardiography. All patients had an uneventful recovery, without clinical evidence of derangement of myocardial function as assessed by physical examination, chest X-ray and blood gases. Despite the uniformly uncomplicated convalescence, different hemodynamic patterns were found. Based on the hemodynamic data, patients were divided into two groups. In 10 patients no significant change in hemodynamic parameters was observed, while in 7 patients a significant decrease in cardiac output was found during the early post myocardial infarction period. Total peripheral resistance was significantly elevated in the group with decreased cardiac output. No relationship was found among location of infarction, creatine phosphokinase levels and hemodynamic outcome. A considerable proportion of patients with asymptomatic and uneventful convalescence after acute myocardial infarction have a decrease in cardiac output and a significant increase in total peripheral resistance which is not detected by routine clinical evaluation. PMID- 2613378 TI - Clinical and laboratory signs of reperfusion: are they reliable? AB - We studied 101 patients (88 men and 13 women, mean age 54.5 +/- 10 years) who arrived at the hospital during the first 6 hours of acute myocardial infarction evolution. Our objective was to assess the reliability of clinical and laboratory signs of recanalization using intravenous streptokinase as a thrombolytic agent. The mean time between the beginning of infusion and coronary arteriography was 53.83 +/- 43 hours. The positive predictive values for pain, arrhythmia, ST segment and enzymes were 97.9%, 94.2%, 91.8% and 90.8%, respectively; the negative predictive values were 46.8%, 40.8%, 37.2%, and 50% in the same order. Sensitivity was 65.7%, 62.8%, 58.4% and 77.6% and specificity 95.6%, 86.9%, 82.6% and 73.9%, respectively. The positive predictive value, calculated on the basis of the presence of each variable alone or in association showed a probability of recanalization of 76.9% for one sign, 84% for two, 96.3% for three and 100% for all four. When we compared the positive predictive values of each variable according to the interval between the beginning of pain and admission to the hospital (during the first 3 hours or between 3 and 6 hours) our results were 100%/94% for pain (P = NS), 97%/88% for arrhythmia (P = NS), 100%/75% for ST segment (P = 0.004), and 97%/80% for enzymes (P = 0.019). The same analysis applied to negative predictive values showing 22%/62% (P = 0.007), 17%/55% (P = 0.008), 21%/47% (P = NS), 27%/61% (P = NS) for pain, arrhythmia, ST segment and enzymes, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613379 TI - The morbidity and mortality pattern of Brucella endocarditis. AB - Six cases of well-documented Brucella endocarditis are reported. All the patients gave a history of ingestion of raw milk and/or being in contact with sheep and/or camels during herding. The diagnosis was based in each case on a history of ingestion of raw milk, high titres of Brucella antibodies, a positive blood culture and echocardiography. A combination of tetracycline, rifampicin and streptomycin was found to be effective in eradicating the Brucella organism. Two cases required aortic valve replacement, and another two required replacement of both aortic and mitral valves. One case died before any surgical intervention could be performed and one patient did not require surgery. Although it was noted that the Brucella organism attacks mainly valves which are already damaged, it may also attack and infect normal valves. PMID- 2613380 TI - Digoxin or verapamil or metoprolol for heart rate control in patients with mitral stenosis--a randomised cross-over study. AB - The effect and choice of a drug to control heart rate for symptomatic improvement in patients with isolated mitral stenosis with normal sinus rhythm (n = 10) or atrial fibrillation (n = 10) were studied. Digoxin (0.25-0.5 mg daily), metoprolol (50-100 mg twice a day) and verapamil (40-80 mg three times a day) were evaluated for this purpose. An open randomised cross-over design was followed. The efficacy of a drug was evaluated by: (1) subjective improvement on a visual analog scale, and (2) objective improvement on repeated multi-stage symptom-limited treadmill exercise. In patients with sinus rhythm greater than or equal to 50% subjective improvement was seen in 90%, 40% and nil with metoprolol, verapamil and digoxin, respectively. The total work done by these patients was 1008 +/- 541 kpm (control), 2869 +/- 1418 kpm on metoprolol, 2369 +/- 884 kpm on verapamil and 1654 +/- 918 kpm on digoxin. In patients with atrial fibrillation greater than or equal to 50% subjective improvement was seen in 80%, 40% and 30% with verapamil, metoprolol and digoxin, respectively. The total work done by these patients was 555 +/- 232 kpm (control), 1379 +/- 553 kpm on verapamil, 1251 +/- 575 kpm on metoprolol and 716 +/- 340 kpm on digoxin. The degree of improvement on a drug appeared to be a function of its ability to control resting and exercise heart rates in two different rhythms in these patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613381 TI - Similarities and differences between the epidemiology and possible dietary causes of coronary arterial disease and strokes. AB - The findings of a previous statistical study of the relationship between food consumption and mortality from coronary arterial disease are compared with those of a new study of food consumption and cerebrovascular disease. The previous study found strong positive correlation between male mortality from coronary arterial disease and the consumption of two food items, milk and oats. Stroke mortality appears to be linked with the consumption of a wide variety of proteinaceous plants. These can be divided into two groups, one with an apparently strong and the other with an apparently mild effect. The strong group consists of the protein content of pulses, oats, maize and rye, the milder group of the protein content of wheat, rice, barley, potatoes and vegetables. The relative effect of the two groups of proteins is of the order of 6/1, but the proteins with a relatively mild effect are consumed in large quantities in comparison with those having a strong effect so that their effect is not negligible. The correlation coefficient between male cerebrovascular mortality in the younger age groups and the combined consumption of the two groups of plant proteins is 0.91. That between male mortality from coronary arterial disease and the consumption of milk and oats found in the previous study was 0.94. PMID- 2613382 TI - CHARGE association in two monozygous triplets. AB - In an unusual set of triplets, two monozygous girls presented with CHARGE association. Dissimilar surgical management of identical cardiovascular lesions has resulted in a disparate effect on their clinical state. Their case poses interesting questions concerning how CHARGE association may develop. PMID- 2613383 TI - The natural history of the hypoplastic left heart syndrome. AB - In a fetus, examined initially at 22 weeks gestation, we identified the echocardiographic features of a dilated, hypertrophied and poorly contracting left ventricle. The presumptive diagnosis was critical aortic stenosis. Subsequent scans at 32 weeks and at term showed that the left ventricle had not grown since the first study such that the left ventricle had developed the appearance of a hypoplastic and densely echogenic chamber. Thus, in some forms of the hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the left ventricle can be of normal size or even dilated in early pregnancy. This may mean that the more subtle sign of poor left ventricular contraction could be overlooked in a routine four-chamber view obstetric scan. PMID- 2613384 TI - Doppler echocardiographic findings in coronary-pulmonary fistula. AB - We describe a patient with a coronary-pulmonary fistula who had a syncopal attack. He had also pectus excavatum. Doppler echocardiography revealed late diastolic flow in the left high parasternal region which was not caused by pulmonary insufficiency, but by the jet through the fistulous communication. Selective coronary angiography demonstrated the fistula between the left anterior descending artery and the pulmonary trunk. PMID- 2613385 TI - Cross-sectional echocardiographic features of congenital submitral left ventricular aneurysms. AB - Congenital submitral left ventricular aneurysm is a rare entity, seen predominantly in the natives of South and West Africa. We report two cases, highlighting the cross-sectional echocardiographic features in each case. PMID- 2613386 TI - Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm after replacement of the mitral valve: long-term survival and spontaneous closure. AB - Left ventricular pseudoaneurysms, with or without overt ventricular rupture, are usually fatal in the absence of prompt surgical intervention. This report details the long-term survival of a patient who developed a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm following repair of ventricular rupture subsequent to replacement of the mitral valve, with spontaneous closure of the "neck" of the pseudoaneurysm. PMID- 2613387 TI - Influence of hemodialysis on zidovudine (AZT) and its glucuronide (GAZT) pharmacokinetics: two case reports. AB - Zidovudine (AZT) is a new anti retroviral agent widely used in the treatment of AIDS and related diseases. It has a short elimination half-life (1 h) in patients with normal hepatic and renal functions, and it is extensively metabolized to a glucuronide derivative (GAZT). In patients with end stage renal disease, the AZT elimination half-life is slightly increased (1.9 h) while for GAZT the very important increase of this parameter results in a major risk of accumulation. A 4 h hemodialysis is more efficient in removing GAZT than AZT. In these patients not only AZT but also GAZT plasma levels should be closely monitored. PMID- 2613388 TI - Serum gentamicin levels in traumatic paraplegics following intramuscular administration in non-paralyzed limbs. AB - Intramuscular administration of gentamicin in the paralyzed limb of subjects with spinal cord injury resulted in decreased maximum serum concentration, increased time to maximum serum concentration and decreased absorption rate constant. An investigation was, therefore, undertaken to study the serum gentamicin levels in paraplegics when it is administered intramuscularly in the non-paralyzed limb. Group 1 consisted of six male bed-ridden traumatic paraplegics with complete lesion at the level of T12-L1 and group 2 consisted of six healthy male adults. Following intramuscular administration of gentamicin (1.5 mg/kg) in deltoid muscle, blood samples were taken at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min for determination of serum gentamicin levels by solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Serum gentamicin levels at 15 min after drug administration were 2.2 +/- 0.78 micrograms/ml in group 1 and 4.81 +/- 0.94 micrograms/ml in group 2 (p less than 0.001); at 30 min, serum levels were 3.45 +/- 0.75 micrograms/ml in group 1 and 5.0 +/- 0.48 micrograms/ml in group 2 (p less than 0.01); at 45 min, serum gentamicin levels were 3.3 +/- 0.51 micrograms/ml in group 1 and 4.63 +/- 1.24 micrograms/ml in group 2 (p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum gentamicin levels at 60, 90 and 120 min between the two groups. The maximum serum concentration was 3.8 +/- 0.56 micrograms/ml in group 1 and 5.43 +/ 0.94 micrograms/ml in group 2 (p less than 0.01). The area under the curves in groups 1 and 2 was 315 +/- 41.1 and 451.25 +/- 88.3, respectively (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613389 TI - The influence of different formula diets and different pharmaceutical formulations on the systemic availability of paracetamol, gallbladder size, and plasma glucose. AB - The influence of two liquid formula diets on the systemic availability of paracetamol was investigated in 12 healthy normal volunteers using a liquid and a solid paracetamol dosage form. The diets contained the same balanced amounts, but different patterns of nutrients and different amounts of dietary fiber. Plasma glucose and gallbladder response to the standard meal were used as indicators of gastric emptying. Paracetamol plasma concentrations following application of the liquid dosage form also served as a marker for the gastroduodenal transport of liquid gastric contents. For the liquid dosage form, the plasma concentration time curves did not vary with diet composition. However, with the tablets, a differential effect was observed. Following coingestion with the fiber depleted diet, the rate of systemic availability was reduced more than with the liquid preparation. A further delay was obvious, when the tablets were combined with the meal enriched in dietary fiber. Plasma glucose and gallbladder response did not vary with diet composition. Variations of gastric emptying are unlikely to account for the variability of food effects. Consequently our results illustrate that an interaction of certain meal components with a particular drug dosage form determines the rate of intragastric release of the active compound. This could be shown due to a high standardization of nutrition by using liquid formula diets. Because of the variation of drug release, paracetamol cannot be used as a marker of gastric emptying without taking into account the vehicle necessary for drug application. In contrast to previous studies, our data provide evidence that even balanced test meals retard paracetamol absorption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613390 TI - The single dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics of a vadocaine tablet in healthy human volunteers. AB - Vadocaine hydrochloride (2',4'-dimethyl-6'-methoxy-3-(2-methyl-piperidyl) propionanilide hydrochloride; INN vadocaine) is a novel compound with antitussive and local anesthetic actions. In this study, the single dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics of vadocaine hydrochloride tablet were evaluated in 28 healthy volunteers. In part 1, the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of vadocaine hydrochloride tablet were compared with the pharmacokinetics of a vadocaine hydrochloride solution. The peak concentrations of vadocaine were achieved at 1 h both after the tablet and the solution and there were no statistically significant differences in serum concentrations or in pharmacokinetic parameters. In part 2, the steady-state pharmacokinetics of vadocaine tablet were studied using the dosage of 30 mg vadocaine hydrochloride t.i.d. for four days. The peak concentrations of vadocaine were achieved on the 1st day at 1 h (61.5 +/- 6.1 ng/ml) and on the 4th day at 1.5 h (64.5 +/- 7.9 ng/ml). According to the serum concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters, no cumulation of vadocaine was observed. Also no side-effects were reported during the study. In conclusion, vadocaine used in the tablet form is suitable for multiple dosing and the pharmacokinetic profile is almost similar to vadocaine administered in aqueous solution. PMID- 2613391 TI - A bioequivalence study of two dipyridamole products. AB - Bioequivalence of Antiplate 75 mg was assessed versus Persantine 75 mg in a two way crossover study. At the 5% confidence level, no significant difference was found between the area under the plasma concentration-time curves of the two products. The Cmax were comparable for both products. Quality control data including assay, content uniformity, disintegration and dissolution indicated that both products passed the pharmacopoeial requirements, USP XXI and BP 1980, Addendum 1983. It is concluded that Antiplate-75 is bioequivalent to Persantine. PMID- 2613392 TI - Theophylline pharmacokinetics in well-nourished and malnourished asthmatic children. AB - The influence of age, sex and nutritional status on theophylline pharmacokinetics was studied in stable asthmatic children. Theophylline was given at a dose of 6 mg/kg orally on an empty stomach and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from the estimated plasma concentration of theophylline. No significant difference in the elimination half-life (t1/2), volume of distribution (Vd), clearance (cl) and area under the time plasma curve (AUC) could be observed between the three pediatric age groups. Also, there was no influence of sex and nutritional status on the pharmacokinetic parameters. The notable observation was a 5-fold interindividual difference in the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) after a single dose. PMID- 2613393 TI - Influence of rifampicin, phenobarbital and cimetidine on mixed function monooxygenase in extensive and poor metabolizers of debrisoquine. AB - The effect of enzyme induction by rifampicin and phenobarbital and enzyme inhibition by cimetidine on the hepatic mixed-function monooxygenase (MFO) was investigated in 11 non-smokers, healthy male volunteers. Five were classified as extensive metabolizers (EM) of debrisoquine and 6 as poor metabolizers (PM). Rifampicin (600 mg/day), phenobarbital (100 mg/day) and cimetidine (1.2 g/day) were given for 8, 14 and 4 days, respectively. In PM on rifampicin, the debrisoquine metabolic ratio (MR) was significantly reduced, even reaching a value less than 12.6 in 2 subjects but on phenobarbital and cimetidine, the MR was not significantly modified. In PM on rifampicin and phenobarbital, the urinary excretion of 6 beta-hydroxycortisol was significantly enhanced but not in EM on these drugs. In both groups on cimetidine, salivary antipyrine half-life was lengthened and on rifampicin, it was shortened. In EM and PM on cimetidine, the total oral clearance of antipyrine was lowered but on rifampicin it was solely increased in PM. Regarding the metabolic clearance to the three main urinary antipyrine metabolites, that of norantipyrine (NORA) was significantly increased in PM on rifampicin. In PM on cimetidine, the metabolic clearance of NORA and hydroxymethylantipyrine (HMA) was reduced but in EM that of hydroxyantipyrine was additionally decreased. In PM on rifampicin, the induction of the hepatic mixed-function oxidase system, assessed by the urinary excretion of 6 beta-hydroxycortisol, the salivary antipyrine half-life and total oral clearance and the metabolic clearance of urinary NORA, were shown. On the other hand in PM, cimetidine, a probe drug used for inhibition of the MFO system, made it impossible to distinguish PM from EM. PMID- 2613394 TI - Interleukin-1-induced sleep and febrile responses differentially altered by a muramyl dipeptide derivative. AB - Muramyl dipeptide (N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine; AcMur-L-Ala-D-iGln; MDP) is a somnogenic, pyrogenic, and immunoadjuvant component of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan. It enhances the production of the cytokine interleukin 1 (IL 1) in vivo and in vitro; IL-1 itself is somnogenic and pyrogenic. The pyrogenic effects of IL-1 may be separated from its somnogenicity by the use of antipyretics. A methyl ester derivative of MDP (murametide; AcMur-L-Ala-D-Gln alpha-methyl ester) blocks IL-1-induced fever, but induces IL-1 production/release. Therefore, the effects of murametide on IL-1-induced sleep and fever responses were determined. Rabbits were pretreated with intravenous injections of murametide 0, 30 or 60 min before intravenous injection of a pyrogenic/somnogenic dose of recombinant IL-1 beta (rIL-1 beta). Murametide alone produced no effects on sleep or brain temperatures. Murametide given simultaneously with rIL-1 beta potentiated increases of brain temperatures, whereas when there was a 60 min delay between the injection of murametide and rIL 1 beta, responses were similar to those induced by rIL-1 beta alone. Murametide given 30 min before rIL-1 beta, blocked the expected IL-1-induced fevers but not the rIL-1 beta-mediated increases of slow-wave sleep and decreases of rapid-eye movements sleep. These results reinforce the conclusion that, in part, independent brain mechanisms are involved in the somnogenic and pyrogenic actions of IL-1. PMID- 2613395 TI - Bestatin, an inhibitor of aminopeptidase B, suppresses the proliferation and differentiation of human B-cells in vitro. AB - Bestatin, an inhibitor of aminopeptidase B, was examined for its effect on B-cell activation. Small, dense B-cells from human tonsil samples were isolated by Percoll density gradients from non-rosetted (E-) cells and were used as target cells. Although bestatin was not cytotoxic towards B-cells, it inhibited the proliferative response of B-cells induced by SAC- or PMA-stimulation. The inhibition of cell proliferation by bestatin was manifested as cell arrest caused by the selective block of G1b to S phase transition. This inhibitory effect was prevented by the addition of B-cell growth factor (BCGF) or interleukin-2 (IL-2). The presence of BCGF or IL-2 at the initiation of the culture prevented the bestatin-mediated suppressive effect on B-cell proliferation. Bestatin also has a direct inhibitory effect on the differentiation of B-cells independent of its suppressive effect on B-cell proliferation, which was not relieved by T-cell help. Conversely, bestatin suppressed neither proliferation nor Ig secretion of human B lymphoblastoid cell lines, although aminopeptidase activities on the membrane of these cell lines were strongly inhibited by bestatin. These results indicated that bestatin selectively suppressed normal B-cell proliferation and differentiation. Although several studies have demonstrated that bestatin has immunopotentiating effects in tumor-bearing subjects, the above results indicated that the mechanism of immunopotentiation by bestatin is not a direct stimulatory effect on B-cells. PMID- 2613396 TI - Leflunomide (HWA 486) inhibits experimental autoimmune tubulointerstitial nephritis in rats. AB - Experimental tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN), induced in Brown Norway rats, is an autoimmune disorder in which afflicted animals display high levels of serum autoantibodies directed against antigens present on the tubular basement membrane (TBM). Serious functional damage, due to lesions of the kidney cortex, is evident 10 days after disease initiation. In an earlier study, we could show that cyclosporin A (CsA), an immunosuppressive drug, effectively prevented the onset of this illness, although it did not inhibit the formation of TBM autoantibodies. In the present study, the protective effects of CsA in autoimmune TIN was compared to those of drugs currently used to combat inflammatory ailments (i.e. prednisolone, indomethacin, naproxen, azathioprine) and a novel immunomodulating agent, leflunomide (HWA 486). Leflunomide is known to specifically inhibit the formation of T-dependent antibodies and is effective in preventing and curing animal autoimmune diseases, i.e. adjuvant arthritis disease of rats and murine lupus-like disorders. We found that not only could leflunomide inhibit TIN, but the drug-effects seemed to be more effective than those of CsA. Further, leflunomide was extremely effective in inhibiting the formation of autoantibodies to TBM, whereas CsA displayed only partial suppression. Neither prednisolone, indomethacin nor naproxen were effective in reducing the autoantibody titer, and did not offer any protection to the development of this disease. Together with the known effects on other autoimmune diseases we conclude that leflunomide is a novel immunointerventive drug protecting against several types of autoimmunity. PMID- 2613397 TI - Inhibition of neutrophil locomotion, natural killer cell cytotoxicity and lymphocyte transformation by 1-methyl-3-phenyl-1,2,4-triazinium-5-olate, a novel triazinium zwitterion. AB - We studied a novel triazinium zwitterion compound for its effects on neutrophil locomotion and deoxyglucose uptake, Natural Killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation. The results show significant inhibition of neutrophil locomotion at concentrations of 10 micrograms/ml or greater; by contrast, there was no significant effect on neutrophil deoxyglucose uptake. Significant suppression of NK cell cytotoxicity occurred at similar concentrations in a dose-dependent fashion. Marked suppression of mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation was also observed for all three mitogens used in the assays. This effect was dose-dependent, reversible by washing and still evident even when it was added 37 h after the initiation of cultures. These results suggest that 1-methyl-3-phenyl-1,2,4-triazinium-5-olate may have application as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agent. PMID- 2613398 TI - Different inhibitory actions of immunomodulating agents and immunosuppressive agents on bone resorption of mouse calvaria. AB - In this study, we have investigated the in vitro effects of the immunomodulators lobenzarit and traxanox and a newly synthesized immunosuppressant, mizoribine, as well as cyclosporin A, on bone resorption using neonatal mouse calvariae labelled with 45Ca. As stimulators of bone resorption, bovine parathyroid hormone (PTH), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were used. Lobenzarit, traxanox, mizoribine and cyclosporin A inhibited or tended to inhibit bone resorption stimulated by PTH, LPS, IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha in a dose-dependent manner. Basal bone resorption was inhibited by immunosuppressant cyclosporin A or mizoribine, while immunomodulators lobenzarit and traxanox failed to inhibit basal bone resorption. Removal of lobenzarit from the culture medium resulted in the recovery of bone resorptive activity. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of immunomodulators on bone resorption is reversible and nonselective. Also, it raises the possibility that immunomodulators and immunosuppressants may affect bone resorption by different mechanisms. PMID- 2613399 TI - Oxidative injury amplifies interleukin-1-like activity produced by human monocytes. AB - Exposure of human monocytes to 95% normobaric oxygen (O2) was used as an in vitro oxidative injury model to study the effects of the O2-derived species produced by phagocytes at inflammatory sites on monocyte IL-1 production. Exposure to O2 enhanced production by monocytes of IL-1-like activity whether the adherent cells were cultured in the presence of opsonized zymosan, LPS or medium alone. This O2 induced increase in production of IL-1 activity was inhibited by cycloheximide and thus resulted from de novo protein synthesis. Furthermore, the increase was prevented by the addition of the protein kinase inhibitor N-2-methylaminoethyl-5 isoquinoline sulfonamide dihydrochloride (H8). Following exposure to O2, Ca2+/phospholipid-independent protein kinase activity increased in comparison to air-exposed monocytes, whereas the dependent form decreased. Since the Ca2+/phospholipid-independent form is known to derive from the dependent form (protein kinase C) by proteolysis in the presence of a thiol proteinase, our results suggest that oxidative injury stimulates thiol proteinase activity and enhances production of IL-1 activity by human monocytes partly by interfering with protein kinase C metabolism. Among the consequences of the generation of O2 derived species by phagocytes in inflammatory sites, the augmentation of the production of IL-1-like activity could amplify the inflammatory response. PMID- 2613400 TI - Selective killing of human monocytes by an immunotoxin containing partially denatured mistletoe lectin I. AB - The in vitro activity of an immunotoxin (IT) prepared by conjugating the monocyte specific RoMo-1 monoclonal antibody and partially inactivated Mistletoe lectin I (dMLI) containing inactivated B chain has been initially characterized. It is shown that while not affecting other mononuclear cells viability, this IT is capable of selectively destroying human monocytes after 24 h exposure thus resulting in the abrogation of monocyte support for PHA reactivity in mononuclear cell preparations. Therefore it seems to be possible to use this non-sugar binding holotoxin for immunotoxin preparation. PMID- 2613401 TI - 2nd European Congress of Obesity. Satellite conference. Very low calorie diets. (Cambridge, 28-30 March 1989). Proceedings. PMID- 2613402 TI - 24 hours electrocardiographic monitoring in obese children and adolescents during a 3 weeks low calorie diet (500 kcal). AB - Twenty-four hour electrographic recordings were made on 36 grossly obese children and adolescents during a 3-week weight reduction regimen with a 525 kcal (2196 kj) mixed diet at weekly intervals. One hundred and ten Holter ECGs were analysed. Weight loss during the treatment was calculated to be 5.7 +/- 1.6 kg. Average and minimal heart rate decreased constantly throughout the study period from 83.9 +/- 9 to 75 +/- 9/min and 53 +/- 6 to 45 +/- 6/min, respectively (P less than 0.01, P less than 0.005). During the second week maximal heart rate increased significantly but returned to baseline values in the third week. Neither before nor during the period of therapy were any dysrhythmias monitored. Dietary regimens containing 500-700 kcal, based on a mixed composition of foods with sufficient amounts of minerals, can be regarded as a safe therapeutic tool in the treatment of obese children and adolescents. PMID- 2613403 TI - Initial very low calorie diet (VLCD) improves ultimate weight loss. AB - Thirty-eight consecutive obese persons were treated as outpatients. The treatment commenced with VLCD formula diet NUPO (females 388 kcal, 1600 kJ, 56 g protein; males 446 kcal, 1864 kJ, 69 g protein). VLCD had no untoward effects and was continued for as long as the patient would accept. After that the formula diet was supplemented with ordinary items of food and drink to the level of 1000 kcal (4200 kJ) for women and 1100 kcal (4600 kJ) for men. After 5 months the data were analyzed separately according to the duration of VLCD: group 1 (n = 20): VLCD for less than 2 months, and group 2 (n = 18): VLCD for 2 months or more. The two groups were comparable with regard to height, absolute weight and percentual overweight, but group 2 was somewhat older than group 1 (49.5 vs 38.3 years, P less than 0.01). Group 2 lost significantly more weight, both totally (17.1 kg (7.8-40.1] and on VLCD alone (12.3 kg (4.1-28.8], than group 1 (8.7 kg (-1.1 to 19.1), P = 0.008; and 7.3 kg (0.9-18.2 P = 0.01). Weight losses in both groups eliminated or strongly reduced the need for a wide variety of expensive drugs: antidiabetics, diuretics, antihypertensives, analgetics, etc. It is concluded that VLCD is an effective and encouraging way of starting a dieting program, and that it should be continued for at least two months, as the length of the initial VLCD period related significantly to the amount of weight eventually lost. PMID- 2613404 TI - VLCD: future perspectives. PMID- 2613405 TI - Short and long term results of a progressive reintroduction of carbohydrates (PRCH) after a protein-sparing modified fast (PSMF). AB - Most studies report on a more than 50 percent weight regain 2-3 years after PSMF. We studied the effect of a progressive reintroduction of carbohydrates (PRCH) after a PSMF diet based on natural foods which delivered 800-1200 kcal, 1.2-1.4 g protein/kg of ideal weight, less than 40 g CHO/day. Among 1270 outpatients between 1981-1985, 87 (18M, 69F, age 41.3 +/- 13.8, BMI 32.9 +/- 5.1) followed both PSMF and PRCH. Follow-up was obtained for 57 patients, 1/3 by direct examination, 2/3 by letter. Weight remained stable during PRCH, in opposition to other reports. Best results during PRCH were found in patients with optimal compliance to PSMF, as measured by rate of weight loss (r = 0.284). Only about 40 percent of the obtained weight loss was regained 39.5 months after the treatment. Progressive reintroduction of carbohydrates prevents the expected weight regain after PSMF and even seems to have a positive effect on long term weight maintenance. PMID- 2613406 TI - Selection of appropriate exercise regimens for weight reduction during VLCD and maintenance. AB - Body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and physical work capacity (aerobic capacity) were measured in four groups of 10 overweight women during 8 weeks of VLCD (405 kcal/day (42 g protein] followed by 8 weeks of 1500 kcal/day maintenance with two additional non dieting groups as controls. Five groups, i.e. two control groups plus three dieting groups, undertook exercise in bicycle ergometry (aerobic) or isotonic resistance or 8 week ergometry followed by 8 week resistance. Weight loss and body composition patterns were similar in diet and diet and exercise groups but efficiency of residual FFM in isotonic resistance groups improved significantly (P less than 0.05). Strength gains/kg body weight significantly improved (P less than 0.05) in the isotonic and dieting group. We conclude that exercise with VLCD is beneficial particularly isotonic resistance training, in improving muscular efficiency and RMR/lean. PMID- 2613407 TI - Three year hospital experience with control of major obesity by VLCD in medically compromised individuals. AB - A very low calorie formula diet (VLCD) with physician and dietitian support was used to achieve and maintain weight loss in 408 overweight patients, referred by consultants because of concurrent health problems. The patients had failed to lose weight on conventional diets, and their obesity was considered a significant risk factor in their health. Using 330 or 405 kcal formula diets, the mean rate of weight loss in men was 1.87 kg/week and in women 1.27 kg/week. Women sustained the dieting process over longer periods, with a time to maximum weight loss of 5 72 weeks (mean 24) compared to the achievement in men of 4-40 weeks (mean 12.5). Sixteen per cent of the patients dropped out in the first 3 weeks. Of the remaining 84 per cent, weight loss to within 80-100 per cent BMI 25 (target weight) was achieved by 53 per cent men and 46 per cent women who had completed more than 5 weeks dieting. Women were more complaint than men at weight maintenance follow-up and 58 per cent of the start group were observed for more than 50 weeks (50-164), only 10 per cent experiencing weight regain of 20-70 per cent. Physician support was required to adjust medication in patients attending. Complications of obesity were remarkably improved after weight loss. PMID- 2613408 TI - Weight loss outcome and health benefits associated with the Optifast program in the treatment of obesity. PMID- 2613409 TI - The myth of the yo-yo: consistent rate of weight loss with successive dieting by VLCD. AB - Four subjects in a recent trial of eight weeks dieting with the 405 kcal/day, 42 g protein formula (Cambridge diet extra), had participated 18 months previously in an 8-week trial using the 330 kcal/day Cambridge diet formula. This permitted a quantitative comparison of two similar dieting episodes, but following substantial weight loss and variable weight regain after a successful experience with a very low calorie diet. Within the reasonable bounds of comparison between outpatient dieting experiences, there was no suggestion of impairment in ability to lose weight in subsequent dieting after weight loss on a VLCD. The experience of these subjects would not support the contention that lasting metabolic debilitation had occurred that could be attributed to repeated dieting experiences with VLCD. PMID- 2613410 TI - Cardiac stroke work output during a short term very low calorie diet, noradrenaline-induced thermogenesis and T3 supplementation. PMID- 2613411 TI - The effect of very low calorie diet on liver morphology. PMID- 2613412 TI - Body composition analysis: a defense of anthropometry in overweight female dieters and controls. PMID- 2613413 TI - Very low calorie diets--clinical trial. PMID- 2613414 TI - Restoration to normal body composition by VLCD: a comparison of post obese and lean subjects questions BMI 25 as diet limit. AB - Body composition was assessed in naturally lean female subjects who never had need to diet. At BMI 21-22 their body weight distribution of 75 per cent FFM and 25 per cent fat was compared with subjects who had dieted below BMI 25 by various conventional self-selected diets; subjects who had dieted to BMI 21-22 by VLCD and subjects who were dieting with VLCD but were still above BMI 25. These body composition studies support values of BMI 22-22 as a better estimate of desirable weight in women than BMI 25. At BMI 21-22 the distribution of body weight between fat and FFM of post VLCD dieters matches that of normal lean women. PMID- 2613415 TI - Long term effects of a very low calorie diet on metabolic control and cardiovascular risk factors in the treatment of obese non-insulin-dependent diabetics. PMID- 2613416 TI - Changes in blood rheology of grossly obese individuals during a very low calorie diet. AB - A group of grossly obese individuals were put on a 300 kcal diet for 15 days. Blood rheology was quantified by measuring blood and plasma viscosity, haematocrit, red cell aggregation and deformability, fibrinogen and ESR. After 15 days blood viscosity had decreased and red cell deformability increased. The results suggest that the rheological deficit in obesity can be partly normalized by low calorie diets. PMID- 2613417 TI - Effects of exercise during VLCD diet on metabolic rate, body composition and aerobic power: pooled data of four studies. PMID- 2613418 TI - A comparison of body fat estimation methods. PMID- 2613419 TI - Very low calorie diet induces opposite effects on sympathetic nervous system and adrenomedullary responses. AB - The effect of very low calorie diet (VLCD) on catecholamine excretion during 24 h was examined in nine obese men, with normal blood pressure, maintained on low sodium balance, after 3 days and 14 days of the diet period. A significant decrease in the total daily noradrenaline (NA) excretion was observed at the end of the diet (P less than 0.05). The daily excretion of adrenaline (A) increased (P less than 0.05) with a fall in the NA/A ratio (5.1 +/- 2.6 vs 12.5 +/- 3.7; P less than 0.03). The results demonstrate that the sympathetic nervous system is influenced to a greater extent by caloric intake than sodium homeostasis and that the VLCD exerts different effects on SNS and adrenomedullary secretion. PMID- 2613420 TI - Short term effect of a very low calorie diet on body composition and fat distribution. PMID- 2613421 TI - Rapid weight loss and lean tissue: evidence for comparable body composition and metabolic rate in differing rates of weight loss. AB - In assessing the desirability of very low calorie diets (VLCD) it is important to assess whether the additional calorie deprivation associated with a VLCD is within the range of physiological adaptation of normal people: specifically that the overweight person will return to normality in terms of body composition and metabolic rate. Comparison of fat free mass (FFM) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) change was made between two groups of dieting female subjects, whose weight loss was 1.9 kg/week (group A) and 1.1 kg/week (group B) over 8 weeks of diet. Body composition studies showed an equivalent FFM/Wt loss of 0.42 and 0.44 in the high and low weight loss groups respectively. As expected from the greater loss of weight, resting metabolic rate fell further in group A, but the RMR/FFM ratio remained the same (group A 21.3; group B 22.1). There is no evidence to suggest that the rate of weight loss achieved by VLCD is associated with any detriment to body composition or metabolic rate. PMID- 2613422 TI - Effects of very low calorie diet (VLCD) on body weight, blood glucose and serum lipid metabolism in severe obesity with glucose intolerance. AB - VLCD was useful and effective not only for body weight reduction but also for improvement of glucose intolerance in the treatment of obese non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). PMID- 2613423 TI - Very low energy formula diet in the treatment of obesity. AB - A new very low energy formula diet containing 1560 kJ (373 kcal) per day was employed in the treatment of 49 obese patients. The treatment, of 4 weeks duration, included aerobic physical exercise and behavioural intervention. This kind of therapy resulted in a significant decrease (P less than 0.001) of both weight (-10.60 +/- 0.46 kg) and body mass index (-3.36 +/- 0.16). The fat stores represented 90.5 per cent of weight loss in women and 60.0 per cent of weight loss in men. The first very low energy formula diet produced in Czechoslovakia proved to be an efficient and safe tool for the treatment of obesity, positively affecting high blood pressure, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in the absence of serious side-effects. PMID- 2613424 TI - Maintenance of weight loss with recovery of resting metabolic rate following 8 weeks of very low calorie dieting. AB - The challenge to maintain lost weight is particularly relevant for advocates of VLCD, since these induce a high rate of weight loss. It has been argued that excessive lean body mass is lost with very restricted energy intake regimens which compromises metabolic rate and sabotages weight maintenance. Thirty-nine subjects who had lost an average of 12.3 +/- 2 kg during an 8-week VLCD trial were transferred immediately to a 1500 kcal per day maintenance formula which included solid foods. RMR was determined at four intervals: (1) before dieting; (2) after 2 weeks of VLCD; (3) end of 8 weeks dieting; (4) end of 8 weeks maintenance period. It was observed that the metabolic rate dropped to 86 per cent of original by the end of the 8 weeks of VLCD. Metabolic rate recovered to 93 per cent of prediet values by the end of 8 weeks of weight maintenance on 1500 kcal/day. Following an average 2 kg weight regain within the first week of maintenance, there was no further weight regain. VLCD did not produce losses of RMR beyond that expected from the loss of weight. No difficulty was observed in maintaining weight for 8 weeks on 1500 kcal/day. PMID- 2613425 TI - Weight control using the Lean Plan diet: short and long term effects. PMID- 2613426 TI - A model for group therapy in major obesity using VLCD. PMID- 2613427 TI - Treatment of obesity by very low calorie diet, behavior therapy, and their combination: a five-year perspective. AB - Seventy-six obese women with a mean age of 42.1 years and weight of 106.0 kg were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: (a) very low calorie diet alone; (b) behavior therapy alone; or their combination (i.e. combined treatment). Weight losses for the three conditions at the end of treatment were 13.1, 13.0, and 16.8 kg, respectively, with losses for combined treatment significantly greater than those for the two other conditions. Weight losses 1 year after treatment were 4.7, 6.6, and 10.6 kg, respectively. A significantly greater percentage of subjects in the behavior therapy alone (36 percent) and combined treatment conditions (32 percent) maintained their full end-of-treatment weight losses than in the very low calorie diet alone condition (5 percent). Five years after treatment, a majority of subjects in all three conditions had returned to their pretreatment weight, and 55 percent of the total sample had received additional weight reduction therapy. The short and long term effects of treatment are discussed in terms of their implications for practice and research. PMID- 2613428 TI - The effect of very low energy diets on the fatty acid composition of serum lipids. AB - The fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids, cholesteryl esters and triglycerides was measured in 11 obese individuals before and after 2 and 4 weeks treatment with a liquid diet providing about 600 kcal and 70 g protein per day. The patients received 20g of lipid, which was either maize oil and safflower oil (6 patients) or maize oil and evening primrose oil (5 patients). During treatment serum phospholipid linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) concentration remained constant, the dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (C20:3n-6) concentration decreased by 44 percent in the safflower oil group and by 37 percent in the evening primrose oil group and the arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) increased by 26 percent in the safflower oil group and by 20 percent in the evening primrose oil group. The increase in phospholipid arachidonate showed a significant positive correlation with total weight loss during the treatment period. These results suggest that during weight reduction there is a increased mobilization of arachidonic acid from tissues and a decreased rate of linoleic acid desaturation and elongation, which was not significantly influenced by providing gamma-linolenic acid in the diet. PMID- 2613429 TI - Effects of low (LCD) and very low (VLCD) energy diets on metabolic rate and body composition in obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. AB - This study was designed to test the effects of reducing body weight by restricting the energy intake of obese rats to levels equivalent to human low (LCD) and very low (VLCD) calorie diets. Two groups of weight-matched obese Zucker rats were fed either 3 g/day of the Cambridge diet (VLCD group), or 11 g/day of a stock diet (LCD group) until their body weight had fallen to that of an age-matched group of lean Zucker rats. The rate of weight loss was twice as fast in the VLCD group. Daily energy expenditure and resting metabolic rate was depressed equally (by 55-60 per cent) in both groups. The percentage of fat and fat-free mass of VLCD rats was unchanged by weight loss, but fat (per cent) was increased and fat-free mass (per cent) decreased in LCD rats. It is concluded that the depression in metabolic rate and changes in body composition induced by severe energy restriction are no greater, or even less than that produced by more modest energy restriction. PMID- 2613430 TI - Formulation change in VLCD in response to DHSS recommendations: comparative evaluation. AB - Response to recommendations of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy prompted reformulation of the 330 kcal Cambridge diet to 405 kcal per day with 42 g protein. Developmental trials demonstrated that clinical performance of VLCD formulations at comparable calorie levels could not be assumed. Studies using the formulation commercially produced as Cambridge diet extra with female subjects showed no significant difference in weight losses between the original and the new diet products over 2 or 8 week study periods. The percentage of body weight represented by FFM rose in the 8-week trial by 5 per cent in each group. Blood analyses were carried out before and after 8 weeks dieting with the 405 kcal formula. All parameters remained in the normal range, except iron, which was slightly below normal prior to the trial and rose into the normal range by week 8. These findings compared favourably with previous blood profiles of subjects using the 330 kcal formula. Modifications of the formula which increased the protein and calorie content to 42 g and 405 kcal respectively did not significantly alter the efficacy and safety of the product. PMID- 2613431 TI - The long term effectiveness of combined therapy by behavior modification and very low calorie diet: 2 years follow-up. AB - Seventy refractory obese subjects were assigned to one of three treatments; (a) very low calorie diet (VLCD) alone; (b) behavior modification alone; and (c) combined therapy by VLCD and behavior modification. Fifteen obese patients were treated by VLCD for 1-2 months on the outpatient clinic; 16 obese patients were treated by a combined therapy and 39 subjects were treated by behavior modification alone. Formula diet used in this program was Optifast 70 (420 kcal/day). The behavior modification had been performed for 4 months with eight group meetings, using the revised textbook based on the Learn Program (University of Pennsylvania). Effects on weight reduction and its maintenance during 2 years follow-up were compared in each treatment group. There were no significant differences between average weight loss of patients treated by VLCD (7.5 +/- 2.1 kg/month) and that attained by the combined therapy (8.3 +/- 2.3 kg/month). At 2 years after the termination of the VLCD treatment, 67 percent of patients had regained more than half of their reduced weight, with an average weight regain of 4.3 +/- 3.5 kg. In contrast, 12 of 16 (75 percent) and 33 of 39 (85 percent) patients had maintained their reduced weight for 2 years after the combined therapy or the behavior modification program. Continuing weight loss of 1.0 +/- 0.7 kg by the combined therapy and 1.3 +/- 2.2 kg by the behavior modification were observed at 2 years of follow-up. Weight reducing effect of combined therapy by behavior modification and VLCD was almost identical with that obtained by VLCD alone in a short term observation of one month.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613432 TI - The efficacy and metabolic effects of two different regimens of very low calorie diet. AB - Eighteen refractory obese patients received a formula diet of 240 kcal per day using Modifast (VLCD 240) for 1-2 months of patient treatment. Another 22 obese patients were treated by Optifast 70, which supplies 420 kcal per day (VLCD 420), for 1-2 months on an inpatient or outpatient basis. The weight losses attained through these VLCD regimens during the first month of treatment were compared. In addition, the metabolic effects of each VLCD regimen were investigated in 21 inpatients, of whom 11 received the VLCD 240 and 10 received the VLCD 420. The nitrogen balance, levels of serum rapid turnover proteins and serum total ketone bodies concentration of each individual treated by the two different VLCD regimens were also investigated. The VLCD 420 showed an identical weight reduction effect (7.6 +/- 2.4 kg/month) to that attained by the VLCD 240 (8.9 +/- 3.1 kg/month). The nitrogen balance turned out to be negative in each VLCD regimen for the first week of treatment. The VLCD 240 negative nitrogen balance continued to the end of the fourth week, but the VLCD 420 negative nitrogen balance recovered to a state of equilibrium around the third or fourth weeks. The serum prealbumin and retinol-binding protein levels decreased rapidly after the initiation of each VLCD regimen; however, a prominent decrease of the serum retinol-binding protein level was observed with the VLCD 240. A positive correlation between the total nitrogen loss and the decrease of serum prealbumin concentration was observed during the first month of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613433 TI - Short and long term effects of a very low calorie diet on resting metabolic rate and body composition. AB - Short and long term effects of a protein sparing modified fast (PSMF) diet on resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body composition were investigated. During a period of 6 months on diet, RMR decreased significantly, both in absolute value and after correction for fat-free mass (FFM). Short term evaluation with this type of diet showed no decrease in RMR. The results from this study indicate that the fall in RMR associated with a PSMF diet (weight loss) is not due to an acute adaptation to the lower energy intake. Changes in FFM are important in the change in RMR, but other factors have to be involved. PMID- 2613434 TI - Prolonged use of a very low calorie diet (Cambridge diet) in massively obese patients attending an obesity clinic: safety, efficacy and additional benefit from dexfenfluramine. PMID- 2613435 TI - Cardiovascular changes in obese subjects on very low calorie diet. AB - The effect of 330 kcal/day diet on cardiac function, blood pressure and cardiac chambers was studied in 34 obese subjects, using radionuclide ventriculography, intra-arterial ambulatory blood pressure recording and echocardiography. The group included 15 hypertensives and nine with coronary artery disease. After 4 weeks dieting, mean body weight fell from 105.6 +/- 22 kg to 96.1 +/- 19 kg (P less than 0.001), mean blood pressure fell from 157 +/- 23 to 144 +/- 21 mmHg systolic and 90 +/- 15 to 85 +/- 13 mmHg diastolic (P less than 0.001). The resting left ventricular ejection fraction after dieting fell significantly only in the hypertensive group (P less than 0.0005). Left ventricular ejection fraction response to exercise was impaired in all subjects. After weight loss this returned to normal except in the coronary artery disease group. There was a significant reduction in left ventricular internal dimensions, left ventricular fraction shortening and left ventricular mass after weight loss. PMID- 2613436 TI - Synthesis and biological activities of oxytocin and lysine vasopressin analogs containing glutamic acid gamma-hydrazide in position 4. AB - Solution methods, using N-hydroxysuccinimide esters, were used to synthesize [Glu(NHNH2)4] oxytocin and [Glu(NHNH2)4, Lys8] vasopressin. In these analogs of neurohypophyseal hormones, the side-chain carboxamide function of a glutamine residue is formally replaced by a hydrazide group at position 4. The hormone analogs were assayed for uterototonic activity, milk ejection activity, antidiuretic activity, and rat pressor activity. The specific biological activities of the oxytocin and vasopressin analogs were decreased compared to the respective parent hormones in all assay systems. PMID- 2613437 TI - N.m.r. study on conformation of Ac-Thr(alpha-GalNAc)-Ala-Ala-OMe as a model for mucin type glycoprotein. AB - This study report on the results of high resolution 1H n.m.r. investigations on Ac-Thr(alpha-GalNAc)-Ala-Ala-OMe 1 as a mucin type model glycopeptide of antifreeze glycoprotein (AFGP) in both dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and H2O. The temperature dependence of amide proton chemical shifts strongly suggested the presence of the intramolecular hydrogen bond between the amide proton of GalNAc and the carbonyl oxygen of the Thr residues. Due to this bond, the orientation of the sugar residue of 1 appears to be fairly restricted relative to its peptide backbone. Despite the lack of the clear evidence for such intramolecular hydrogen bond in H2O, 1H coupling constant data suggested the structural similarity of 1 in DMSO and H2O, indicating the presence of the intramolecular hydrogen bond even in H2O, which may play an important role in determining the orientation of the sugar moiety with respect to the peptide backbone in glycoprotein. PMID- 2613438 TI - Effects of thioamide substitution for the enkephalin conformation. Crystal structure of Boc-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe psi [CSNH]Leu-OBzl. AB - The crystals of Boc-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe psi[CSNH]Leu-OBzl monohydrate (C40H51N5O8S.H2O), a monothionated Leu-enkephalin analogue, were obtained with space group P2(1), a = 12.616(3), b = 9.347(2), c = 18.548(5) A, beta = 96.31(4) degrees. The structure was elucidated by X-ray diffraction analysis, and refined to the R value of 0.091 for the observed 3294 reflections. Two antiparallel molecules related by a pseudo twofold symmetry were stabilized to each other by four intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The molecular conformation was bent at the Phe residue, and the extended moiety of the Tyr-Gly-Gly fragment was almost perpendicular to that of the Phe-Leu residues. Consequently the molecule, as a whole, formed an L-shape conformation with a slightly left-handed helicity. PMID- 2613439 TI - Complete primary structure of statherin, a potent inhibitor of calcium phosphate precipitation, from the saliva of the monkey, Macaca arctoides. AB - Human saliva, which is supersaturated with respect to basic calcium phosphate salts, is stabilized primarily by the presence of two classes of phosphoproteins, statherin and the acidic proline-rich proteins (PRP). These molecules act by inhibiting both primary (spontaneous) precipitation of calcium phosphates in saliva and secondary (surface induced) precipitation of these salts onto dental enamel. The complete amino-acid sequences of several human PRP and the N-terminal sequence of PRP from saliva of M. arctoides have been determined. Similarly, the complete sequence of statherin from human and M. fascicularis saliva is known. We now report the complete structure of statherin from the saliva of the stump tailed monkey, M. arctoides. The structure was determined by gas-phase sequencing of intact statherin, elucidating positions 1-26, and sequencing an unpurified mixture of tryptic peptides which elucidated the remaining positions through the C-terminus (residue 42) of the molecule. This latter degradation produced an eight amino-acid overlap with that of intact statherin and was confirmed by C terminal analysis and amino-acid composition of native statherin. The complete amino-acid sequence of M. arctoides statherin is: NH2-Asp-PSer-PSer-Glu-Glu5-Lys Phe-Leu-Arg-Arg10 -Leu-Arg-Arg-Phe-Asp15-Glu- Gly-Arg-Tyr-Gly20-Pro-Tyr-Gln-Pro Phe25-Val-Pro-Pro- Pro29Leu30-Tyr- Pro-Gln-Pro-Tyr35-Gln-Pro-Tyr-Gln-Pro40-Gln Tyr-COOH This sequence differs from human statherin at positions 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 25-27, 38-40 and from M. fascicularis statherin at positions 26 and 28. PMID- 2613440 TI - 1H-n.m.r. studies of squash seed trypsin inhibitor. AB - 1H-n.m.r. studies at 500 MHz have been performed on a trypsin inhibitor (CMTI III) found in squash seed (Cucurbita maxima). The sequential resonance assignments have been made using two-dimensional techniques. The chemical shifts for the assigned protons are reported at 30 degrees, pH 2.8 and form a basis for the determination of the solution structure of CMTI-III. Analysis of the NOE data, NH-alpha CH vicinal coupling constants and pattern of slowly exchanging amide protons indicates that the predominant feature of the solution conformation is a triple stranded beta sheet consisting of residues 8-10, 21-23, and 26-29. Residues 12-15 appear to form a beta turn. PMID- 2613441 TI - Role of hydrophobicity in protein structure is overestimated. AB - Some microcalorimetrically measured and theoretically calculated thermodynamic interaction coefficients of amino acid compounds in aqueous and peptidic systems have been collected, and are reported here. They indicate that although hydrophobicity contributes to the stability of the native structure of proteins, its influence on their exact configuration is limited. PMID- 2613442 TI - Crystal structure, conformation, and potential energy calculations of the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-L-Met-L-Leu-L-Phe-OMe. AB - The tripeptide N-formyl-L-Met-L-Leu-L-Phe-OMe (FMLP-OMe) crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group P 2(1)2(1)2(1), with the following unit-cell parameters: a = 21.727, b = 21.836, c = 5.133 A, Z = 4. The structure has been solved and refined to a final R of 0.068 for 1838 independent reflexions with I greater than 2 omega (I). The peptide backbone is folded at the Leu residue (phi L = -67.7, psi L = -49.1 degrees) without intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Considering each peptide plane, the Leu side-chain is oriented on the same side of that of the Phe residue and on the opposite side of that of the Met residue, respectively. The crystal conformation differs from all the other conformations proposed for FMLP-OMe and the anionic form of N-formyl-L-Met-L-Leu-L-Phe-OH (FMLP) in solution accounts for the amphiphilic character of the peptide, giving rise, through intermolecular hydrogen bonds, to a stacking of molecules which could be maintained in the aggregation states experimentally observed in solvents of low polarity. Intramolecular potential energy calculations have been carried out in order to compare the energies of the various backbone conformers. PMID- 2613443 TI - Effect of divalent cations on structure-function relationships of the antitumor protein alpha-sarcin. AB - alpha-Sarcin binds one Zn(II) cation per protein molecule, with a Kd value of 0.9 mM, determined by equilibrium dialysis experiments. Ca(II), Mg(II), and Mn(II) do not bind to alpha-sarcin. Cd(II) and Co(II) also behave as Zn(II). The binding produces local modifications on the protein conformation affecting the microenvironment of tryptophan residues. The three cations modify the fluorescence emission of the protein. The near-u.v. circular dichroism spectrum of the protein is also altered. The binding of Zn(II) and related cations does not modify the secondary structure of the protein. The ribonucleolytic activity of alpha-sarcin is inhibited upon Zn(II) binding, but no alteration of the ability of the protein to aggregate phospholipid vesicles has been observed. PMID- 2613444 TI - Solid-phase synthesis of bombesin by continuous flow procedure using Fmoc-amino acids. AB - Bombesin has been synthesized by the continuous flow solid-phase procedure on the derivatized Kieselguhr-supported polydimethylacrylamide resin. Preformed Fmoc amino acid symmetrical anhydrides (Met, Leu, and Arg) and Fmoc-amino acid active esters were used for amine acylation. The Mtr and the Pmc groups have been alternatively used for masking the side chain function of Arg-3. The progress of the synthesis was monitored by different analytical methods including quantitative solid-phase Edman degradation. Cleavage from the resin and simultaneous formation of the C-terminal amide function were achieved with a methanolic ammonia solution yielding indistinguishable crude peptides which have been purified by HPLC and fully characterized. Preliminary pharmacological experiments indicated that the activity of the synthetic peptides is similar to that previously measured for other synthetic bombesins. For comparison bombesin has also been prepared by solid-phase synthesis on 4-methyl benhydrylamine resin using the Boc chemistry. The results of the two strategies are discussed and compared. PMID- 2613445 TI - Integrated optical fiber systems--some theoretical aspects. AB - The specific advantages of a number of integrated optical systems, consisting of optical probes of various shapes and materials, coupled to a number of optical fibers are described. The radiation fields of the various systems vary significantly in their performance and the clinical effects may be expected to vary correspondingly. This is a step forward in the theoretical evaluation of optimal laser microsurgical tools for specific applications. PMID- 2613446 TI - Enucleation combined with orbital implants for malignant melanoma of the uvea. AB - Advanced malignant melanomas of the uvea unsuited for an eye salvaging approach require enucleation of the tumor containing eye. A series of 68 patients is reported who underwent enucleation combined with insertion of a spherical dura encased implant after 30 Gray pre-irradiation therapy of the orbit. Postoperative results with special attention to cosmetic outcome and motility of the prosthesis suggest that the insertion of an orbital implant should be preferred to the enucleation with no implant. PMID- 2613447 TI - Clinical detection of early glaucomatous foveal involvement. AB - The aim of our study was to verify whether threshold testing of the central area with a common automated perimeter could detect early glaucomatous damage. We selected 9 eyes of 9 patients with suspected primary open angle glaucoma and normal visual fields and 18 eyes of 18 age-matched normal subjects. They underwent the Macula Threshold Test of the Humphrey Field Analyzer using white and blue targets. We found no significant difference in retinal sensitivity to white targets between the two groups. Sensitivity to blue targets was significantly lower among glaucoma suspects (18.43 +/- 1.14 dB) than in the control group (22.37 +/- 0.94 dB) p less than 0.001). Blue thresholds related significantly to age only in normals (p = 0.028) while in glaucoma suspects they were strongly related to vertical cup/disc ratios (p less than 0.001). These results suggest that it is possible to detect early central visual disturbances from glaucoma using an automated perimeter and its built-in color filters. PMID- 2613448 TI - False positive magnetic resonance imaging of a choroidal nevus simulating choroidal melanoma. AB - A 68-year-old white male had a pigmented choroidal tumor associated with progressive loss of vision. Clinical studies with fluorescein angiography and magnetic resonance imaging suggested a diagnosis of choroidal melanoma. Specimens obtained by internal eye wall resection revealed a choroidal nevus. PMID- 2613449 TI - A new automatic computerized deviometer. AB - An automatized computerized deviometer is presented based on an infrared TV camera, an image analyzer and a computer. With this instrument it is possible to follow step-by-step the various diagnostic procedures in strabismus and to answer the following questions: is there a strabismus? is it convergent, divergent or vertical strabismus? what is the angle of deviation? which is the paralytic or paretic muscle in the case of incomitant strabismus? PMID- 2613450 TI - Work performance by persons with multiple sclerosis: conditions that impede or enable the performance of work. AB - This study queried 508 persons diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) regarding what conditions made performing their work or tasks 'difficult' and 'easier'. The subjects represented four groups: employed outside the home, homemakers, unemployed, and retired. Their written responses were content analysed. Conditions reported to impede the performance of work and tasks were related to three categories: physical restrictions, person-environment interaction, and MS related symptoms. Conditions reported to enhance the performance of work and tasks were related to five categories: assistive devices, human support, personal attributes, health promotion behaviors, and person-environment adjustment. Study findings provide useful information for families, health service providers and employers of persons with MS in assisting them enhance their ability to perform work or tasks. PMID- 2613451 TI - Caring for the living and dying: a study of role transition. AB - The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the ways a group of hospice nurses met the needs of both terminally and acutely ill patients, two groups with seemingly disparate needs. Constant comparisons revealed similarities and differences between nursing interactions with patients, generalizations with regard to overt and covert norms and behaviors, and relationships between expressive and instrumental behaviors. An explanation for the findings was found within the framework of nursing as caring in combination with the nurses' cognitive and affective preparation for their work. PMID- 2613452 TI - Occupational stress in nursing. AB - This article reports the results of a study of occupational stress undertaken with a large sample of Northern Ireland nurses, including qualified staff (both community and hospital based) up to and including sister/charge nurses. This study formed part of a wider interprofessional study of nurses, social workers and teachers. Publications for the latter two professions, along with interprofessional comparisons, are in preparation and this present article focuses on the nursing cohort. The design and methods are described and demographic characteristics of the nursing sample are provided with their views about nursing. Stressors are identified in both professional and private lives. The effects of stress as manifested through the General Health Questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory are examined and nurses' views on various stress coping strategies are discussed. PMID- 2613453 TI - The quality of nursing care on wards working eight and twelve hour shifts: a repeated measures study using the MONITOR index of quality of care. AB - Interest in 12 hr nursing shifts has renewed in response to demands for improved cost effectiveness in the NHS, but the effects of this shift on patient care are unclear. A repeated measures study of 10 wards comparing quality of care, measured by MONITOR, under 8 and 12 hr shifts was conducted. The overall MONITOR scores were significantly lower under the 12 hr shift, with planning, non physical care and evaluation of care scales showing significant decreases. The pattern of results when data were analysed by patient dependency levels reveals that whilst the quality of care overall for the four dependency categories was significantly poorer under the 12 hr shift, the lower dependency categories were less adversely affected in terms of physical and non-physical care delivered. PMID- 2613454 TI - Haematoporphyrin and atherosclerosis in the broad-breasted white turkey: distribution and quantitation in thoracic and abdominal aorta. AB - Rapidly replicating tissues such as malignant neoplasms accumulate porphyrins and often display a typical fluorescence. Previous authors observed a selective fluorescence due to injected porphyrins also in atheromatous plaques, while no fluorescence was observed in the plaque-free arterial wall. We have performed quantitative studies on the distribution of haematoporphyrin in the broad breasted white turkey, in which hypertension and atherosclerosis occur spontaneously. In this experimental model the aortic atherosclerotic lesions are confined to the abdominal tract, and the thoracic tract exhibits a hypertrophic media. After haematoporphyrin injection, larger porphyrin concentrations were observed in the inner than in the outer portion of the abdominal aorta. An opposite behaviour was observed in the thoracic tract. Notably, haematoporphyrin was progressively cleared from the thoracic media, while its concentration remained relatively stable in the inner portion of the abdominal aorta up to four days after the injection. This indicates a selective and prolonged retention of haematoporphyrin within the atherosclerotic lesions. PMID- 2613455 TI - Factor released from human lymphocytes stimulated cholinergically in vitro: an E rosetting inhibitor. AB - Human lymphocytes submitted to the influence of acetylcholine in vitro presented an early increase in the content of E-rosettes. These cells also reacted to this cholinergic stimulation in vitro by releasing a factor affecting E-rosetting formation. The factor was found to be released to the medium after 2 hours of stimulation and decreased the E-rosette formation. The nature of the factor is not yet known, but it can be assumed that it is a polypeptide with a molecular weight of less than 2 min. The inhibition of E-rosetting was found to be dose dependent, and the factor also affects muscarinic cholinergic binding (3H-QNB) to the rat brain membranes. PMID- 2613456 TI - Rhein reduces proteoglycan loss during the autolytic breakdown of cultured cartilage. AB - Rhein (R: 1,8-dihydroxy-3-carboxyanthraquinone) is the active metabolite of the drug diacerhein (DAR), an anthraquinone molecule which has recently been proposed for the long-term treatment of osteoarthrosis. In the present study we have examined the effects of rhein, as compared to indomethacin or hydrocortisone, on an in-vitro model of cartilage degradation, represented by the autolytic breakdown of the articular cartilage excised from rabbit knee and cultured for seven days. During this period there is a spontaneous loss of proteoglycans. At the end of the period we measured the amount of proteoglycans which remained bound to the cartilage. The samples treated with R revealed dose-dependent modifications in the amounts of cartilage-bound proteoglycans, with a 40% increase as compared with non-treated samples at the dose of 7 x 10(-5) M. We conclude that R shows a protective effect on the articular cartilage, and that at least a part of the beneficial effect that DAR has shown in the course of clinical trials in osteoarthrosis may be due to direct effects of its active metabolite (R) on cartilaginous tissue. PMID- 2613457 TI - Blood-nerve barrier of endoneural vessels in experimentally-induced hypothyroidism in rats. AB - Hypothyroidism may cause peripheral nerve damage, even if the pathophysiology of these changes is still unclear. It has been suggested by some that an increased vascular permeability is involved in hypothyroidism, while others have suggested a "compressive" mechanism caused by mucinous material deposited in the endoneurium. We have studied histologically the endoneurium and evaluated endoneural-vessel permeability in sciatic nerve by means of the leakage of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in pharmacologically-induced hypothyroidism in rats. We did not find any substantial differences between the hypothyroid group of animals and the controls with respect to endoneural-vessel permeability. In particular, no macromolecular deposits were present in the extracellular space of the endoneurium in either the treated or the control rats. We therefore believe that a "vascular" hypothesis is unlikely for nerve involvement during hypothyroidism, nor was the "compressive" hypothesis supported by our histological findings. PMID- 2613458 TI - Cytolytic activities of benfluron metabolites and loss of transplantability. AB - The cytolytic activity of two benfluron metabolites, namely 7-dihydrobenfluron (DBF) and benfluron N-oxide (NOBF), has been studied using both Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and P388 leukaemia cells. DBF showed a considerable cytolytic activity (activity of lactate and malate dehydrogenases, release of protein from the cells into the culture medium, morphological changes) particularly at higher concentrations. The highest concentrations caused a significant prolongation of the survival time of the experimental animals. PMID- 2613459 TI - Whither ICN on its 90th birthday. AB - ICN was 90 years old this year and, from all accounts, is still viable and will continue to be meaningful for nurses and nursing well into the year 2000. As it nears its 100th birthday it is only appropriate that we look back in retrospect at accomplishments, take stock of the present situation of nursing worldwide and contemplate future goals. ICN has its longterm plan (page 168), but it is flexible so that it can adapt to changing needs. Below, present and former (one as far back as 1961) members of the ICN team evaluate ICN's worthiness and suggest how it can better serve the nursing profession. PMID- 2613460 TI - Making ICN a catalyst of change. AB - With their own philosophy and personal approach, ICN presidents have each left an indelible mark on ICN's history. Moreover, ICN progress made during each quadrennium has depended on the impetus provided by the president and the Board of Directors. Mo-Im Kim, ICN's new helmswoman, below gives an insight on her view of the challenges ahead and just where she hopes ICN will place its emphasis over the next four years. PMID- 2613461 TI - ICN--past and present. AB - When Dame Sheila Quinn became director of ICN's newly established Social and Economic Welfare Division in 1961, Daisy Bridges retired as general secretary, only to emerge later on as an ICN historian. It was during the years that Bridges spent delving into ICN archives that Quinn passed many hours with her reminiscing about ICN's fascinating past. Quinn's interest in ICN's history grew when she became executive director and was later refueled by her eight years on the ICN Board. Quinn's real chance came when the Board in 1985 gave her a new assignment: updating ICN's history, the result being ICN--Past and Present, which was launched at the 19th Quadrennial Congress in Seoul in 1989. Below, her reflections. PMID- 2613462 TI - Nurses in management: new challenges, new opportunities. AB - Nurses are often constrained by the past as they grapple with the present and reach for the future. They must have a vision of the future, and nursing's place in it. Below is a glimpse of a new tomorrow that promises a significant role for nurses as nurse managers and as leaders in health policy development, general management and the broader health service. But, as Sally Shaw emphasizes, nurses must fullheartedly believe in that role and go after it. PMID- 2613463 TI - The child: a pragmatic instrument in primary health care. AB - Children can be regarded as an integral community group--rather than as passive recipients of health care services--and can be a valuable asset in primary health care programmes, as demonstrated in the following report based on years of field experience by the first author Ego Onyejiaku and a recent project in Eastern Nigeria among the Igbo people. The cultural attitudes of parents in Igbo society made the success of PHC through these children more likely. PMID- 2613464 TI - Usefulness of digital subtraction angiography for diagnosis of renal tumours. AB - DSA (digital subtraction angiography) is a new, highly effective method for visualization of kidney vascular system. By means of a digital subtraction angiography unit the image of bones and soft tissues is blotted out, and a subtractive picture of contrasted vessels alone emerges. Intra-arterial DSA is a less invasive and more comfortable method when compared to conventional angiography. Only 2-4 ml of contrast medium is administered, thinner catheters being employed at the same time. The examination can also be performed through intravenous administration of contrast medium. The DSA unit Angiotron CMP was installed at the Department of Radiology, Military Medical Academy of Lodz, in 1984. In the present material a diagnostic DSA investigation was performed in 22 patients with renal tumours. In 21 of them the tumour was correctly diagnosed on grounds of pathological vascularization and the result was dubious in only 1 patient with benign tumour. PMID- 2613465 TI - Possibilities of extending the indications for application of single antibacterial doses in urological practice. AB - The authors report very good results of the application of single antibacterial doses in the therapy of acute bacterial cystitis and asymptomatic bacteriuria and point out that in addition to these already established indications, single doses can be applied successfully in some other forms of urinary infection, too. They share the clinical results and on the basis of some experiments maintain the standpoint that postoperative urinary infections are also suitable for this therapy (if no evidence of pyelonephritis is available), as well as the infections of the upper urinary tract (if the isolated microorganisms are not charged with antibodies). A scheme of the so-called "long-term therapy with single dose once a week" is proposed instead of the systematic 3-6 months therapy. The results are compared to the routine 7-10 day course of treatment; as a matter of fact, they are the same. The advantages of the single-dose therapy are discussed. PMID- 2613466 TI - On the relation between citrate and calcium in normal and stone-former subjects. AB - The aim of this work is to evaluate citrate in a group of patients with calcium oxalate urolithiasis and in a control group for detecting possible differences between the two groups. The mean urinary concentration in groups of stone-formers was found significantly lower than in the control group. Particularly interesting was the correlation study between citrate and calcium. It was found that patients with hypocitraturia have hypercalciuria. Thus, it is particularly interesting to point out the importance of citrate in preventing the risk of lithiasis in stone formers studied by us. PMID- 2613467 TI - Blood lymphocyte magnesium in kidney stone formers. AB - Blood lymphocyte, serum and urinary magnesium analyses were performed in a randomized group of 36 kidney stone-formers with the aim to determine the incidence of intracellular and extracellular magnesium depletion in urolithiasis. Lymphocyte magnesium depletion was found in 10 patients, serum magnesium depletion in 5 and concomitant lymphocyte and serum magnesium depletion in another 3 patients. Thus intracellular and/or extracellular magnesium depletion was found in 15 patients (41.7%). Oral magnesium supplementation (5-10 mmol Mg2+ daily) was found in some patients ineffective in both lymphocyte and/or serum magnesium repletion. PMID- 2613468 TI - Orbital metastasis, by transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. AB - We report a new case of a patient with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and a solitary metastasis to the orbita. A review of the literature shows two cases described previously. This case is interesting for the clinical features and evolution. PMID- 2613469 TI - Cytophotometric investigations on atypical epithelial cells of the human seminal vesicle. AB - Normal seminal vesicles were studied histologically in 80, and by Feulgen's cytophotometric method in 10 autopsied cases (males, 44-82 years of age). In every case large, hyperchromatic nuclei were found. By cytophotometry euploid polyploid atypia was also shown in every case, which is characteristic of benign hormonal dysplasia. PMID- 2613470 TI - Phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes during haemodialysis in relation to some immunological findings. AB - The present study demonstrated prolonged decreases of phagocytic activity by neutrophils in comparison to transitory neutropenias during haemodialysis with cuprophane membranes, remaining in connection with non-equalization immunological findings as C3 complement levels, circulating immune complexes and lysozyme activity at the end of haemodialysis. PMID- 2613471 TI - Electrophysiologic evaluation for carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with angioaccess for haemodialysis. AB - The corrected distal motor latency along the median nerve in 50 upper limbs with the forearm Cimino-Brescia fistula for haemodialysis, when compared to that of the contralateral limb and the control value, showed no evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) ascribed to angioaccess. Haemodialysis-associated CTS seems to be related to the predisposing factors, rather than the haemodynamic effects of the arteriovenous fistula or dialysis. PMID- 2613472 TI - Effect of methylprednisolone therapy on lipoprotein metabolism in human nephrotic syndrome. AB - Changes in the lipoprotein metabolism of 15 patients with nephrotic syndrome concomitant with various types of the underlying renal disease after methylprednisolone therapy were investigated. Following methylprednisolone therapy, nephrotic syndrome remission was achieved only in three patients with minimal change disease. In these patients, total cholesterol (TC) and free cholesterol (FC) decreased and an increase in HDL-C and the HDL-C/TC ratio was found. In the remaining 12 patients, while marked proteinuria persisted after therapy, a significant increase in HDL-C (from 1.38 to 1.83 mmol/l) was noted with no significant changes in TC, FC and TG. Our results suggest that methylprednisolone may affect lipoprotein metabolism without necessarily exerting a favourable effect on the course of kidney disease. PMID- 2613473 TI - The relationship between calcium content and aluminum and silicon content in uraemic rats. AB - The relationship between calcium (Ca) content and aluminum (Al) and silicon (Si) content in uraemic rats was examined. Significant correlations with serum [Ca] x [Pi] products and serum Al levels and serum Si values were found (r = 0.73, p less than 0.01). There were significant (r = -0.26, p less than 0.05; r = -0.46, p less than 0.05) relationships between corpuscular [Ca] x [Pi] products and corpuscular Al levels and corpuscular Si values. We found that renal tissue [Ca] x [Pi] products tend to increase with the increase of renal tissue Al content and renal tissue Si content. Serum and corpuscular Al content and Si content can be used as one of the indicators of renal osteodystrophy. PMID- 2613474 TI - Patterns and management of urinary tract cancers among Nigerian Igbos. AB - Eighty-three cases of histologically diagnosed urinary tract cancers treated within 5 years at the Urology Unit of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, among Nigerian Igbos have been reviewed. Whereas cancer of the prostatic gland is the commonest, urethral and ureteric cancers are the rarest. Treatment modality except for cancer of the prostate is largely surgical. PMID- 2613475 TI - Acute renal failure among a Syrian population. Incidence, aetiology, treatment and outcome. AB - This prospective study involved 102 patients who had acute renal failure and were treated at Aleppo University Hospital during the period 1980-1986. Acute renal failure in this group was categorized, according to the aetiology, into 12 causes. Obstructive uropathy, surgery, and crush injuries constituted 64% of all cases in males. In females, 56% of all cases were due to obstetrical trauma, acute glomerulonephritis and eclampsia. Haemodialysis was used for the treatment of 77 patients, with 65% cure, and 33% mortality. Conservative treatment was adopted for 21 patients with 62% cure, and 38% mortality. Four patients were treated by peritoneal dialysis, and they all survived. The prognosis in the studied group depended on the aetiology of acute renal failure, and accompanying risk factors such as infection, electrolyte disturbances, encephalopathy, failure of other end organs, etc. It was also found that patients presenting with anuria or oliguria had worse prognosis when compared with patients who had normal urine output. PMID- 2613476 TI - Experiments with extracorporeal shock wave nephrolithotripsy. AB - Two sets of experiments were carried out on 14 live rabbits having renal calculi from nephrolithiasis patients implanted in their kidneys. Shock waves were used to disintegrate the implanted concrements. It took 100 to 150 sound pulses to crush struvite stones to fragments less than 2 mm in size, with 400 to 800 pulses needed to destroy calcium oxalate stones. After multiple exposures to shock waves there were no indications of any gross damage to the soft tissues of the experimental animals. Mechanisms for destruction of kidney stones by shock waves were considered. PMID- 2613477 TI - Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of staghorn calculi. AB - A total of 260 patients underwent treatment with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Staghorn calculi were found in 32 cases. In carrying out ESWL for staghorn calculi, double pigtail stent was previously retained in principle. When the ureter was occluded by stone street in case a fever of more than 38 degrees C lasted for 4-5 days after the first treatment with ESWL, percutaneous nephrostomy (PNS) was performed. In ESWL treatment alone a large number of shock waves were required, but double pigtail stent and PNS were used in combination individually, and larger stones were treated by the same waves. When combination therapy was used, hospital stay was short and the rate of remaining stones was low. Our therapeutic conclusions are discussed. PMID- 2613478 TI - Partial obstruction of the sigmoid colon by surgical implantation. AB - Invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is known to extend directly to other organs in the pelvis. When metastases occur they almost always adhere to a rather consistent pattern of dissemination. We present an unusual case of partial obstruction of the sigmoid colon due to a metastatic transitiocellular bladder tumour four months after transurethral resection of the tumour complicated with a perforation into the peritoneal cavity. Direct implantation of the tumour with the resectoscope is the most possible explanation, but seeding on an intact serosa cannot be excluded either. PMID- 2613479 TI - Surgical treatment of impotence due to venous outflow. AB - Coital impotence was studied in 94 patients. In 14 of them the history, as well as the papaverine-induced erection, penile Doppler test and dynamic cavernosography suggested venous outflow as a basic process. In 13 who underwent surgery, the draining vein visualized by dynamic cavernosography was tied down. Seven patients now have spontaneous erection, four present it upon intravenous papaverine injection. Two operations failed: one for an existent spongiocavernous fistula, the other for the development of collateral circulation in the early phase. PMID- 2613480 TI - Complicated male urethral strictures: presentation and management. AB - Among 104 patients with urethral strictures treated over a period of 3 years, sixty-five (63%) had complications such as inflammatory periurethral mass, watering-can perineum with discharging sinuses and fistulas, associated urethral calculi, periurethral abscesses and urethral diverticula. Seventy-four per cent of the strictures were of inflammatory origin and they predominated in the region of the bulbar urethra. Thirty-two patients were treated by visual internal urethrotomy, 11 had two-stage urethroplasty and 9 had perineal urethrostomy. Other methods of treatment and their results are discussed. PMID- 2613481 TI - Urological complications in gynaecological diseases. Review of 18 cases requiring diversion or reconstruction of the urinary tract. AB - In 18 gynaecological patients requiring diversion or reconstruction of the urinary tract, the relationship between the urological treatments and their influences on the renal function based on DIP were studied. Double-J catheterization and percutaneous nephrostomy drainage with Fr 8 catheter are easily obstructed due to infection of the urinary tract, so a thicker catheter should be used to maintain drainage. Ureterocutaneostomy is considered to be a suitable method to divert urine in cases of poor general condition and poor prognosis in order to preserve renal function for a longer time. PMID- 2613482 TI - Lipids and testicular function. AB - We studied 19 male patients with primary hyperlipoproteinaemia, a control group of 28 healthy men and 44 infertile males before any treatment was undertaken. Spermiogram, seminal biochemical studies, measurements of plasma hormone levels and lipid determinations were carried out. Most hyperlipoproteinaemic patients showed abnormalities in the spermiograms and the mean values were lower than in the controls except for semen volume. Seminal biochemical determinations were normal in the majority and the hormone profile showed some abnormal values, mainly for E2. Lipid abnormalities were more common in azoospermic infertile men and mean lipid levels were higher. Correlation studies suggest that high levels of C and/or Tg are associated with poor semen quality and higher FSH levels. The results of our studies suggest that high lipid levels exert adverse direct effects at the testicular level. PMID- 2613483 TI - Broken piece in the lungs: a complication of haemodialysis via subclavian cannulation. AB - For a total of 349 haemodialysis sessions in 35 patients, 50 special subclavian cannulations were performed. The catheters were implanted infraclavicularly by the Seldinger technique. The average duration of the cannulation period was 26.6 days and the number of dialysis sessions per catheter was 7. Aspects of subclavian cannulation together with indications and complications are described. In three chronically uraemic patients, after 1, 5, and 6 weeks of single-needle haemodialysis, it was noticed that the catheter tip (3-5 cm) inserted into the subclavian vein had broken off. The broken pieces, lodged in the segmental pulmonary arteries, never caused any complication during the observation periods as long as 6, 14 and 33 months. Therefore their removal, either open or transluminal, seemed unnecessary. To prevent complications of similar type it is advisable to avoid single-needle dialysis. Recommended instead is either the double-needle method or the use of a double-lumen catheter. PMID- 2613484 TI - Assessment of liver ability to biotransformation of antipyrine in uraemic patients on regular peritoneal dialysis treatment. AB - It was the aim of this work to establish whether biotransformation of drugs by the liver expressed by antipyrine kinetics is disturbed in peritoneally dialysed patients with end-stage renal failure. The investigations were carried out in 10 uraemic patients using the antipyrine test and comparing the parameters of antipyrine kinetics with those obtained in 13 healthy persons. Our results indicate that in uraemic patients on regular peritoneal dialysis treatment antipyrine kinetics are generally in the normal range, suggesting the microsomal content of cytochrome P-450 being not evidently reduced. PMID- 2613485 TI - Long-term follow-up of the remaining kidney in living related kidney donors. AB - In this work 45 living related kidney donors (LRD) and 20 healthy sex and age matched controls were examined. Donors were evaluated up to 122 months after donation. Hyperfiltration was observed in the remaining kidney with a mean one kidney GFR value of 82.9 +/- 36.8 ml/min while the control value was 71.04 +/- 31.5 ml/min. The kidney was significantly larger in the donor group than in the controls. In the LRD group, 3 were hypertensive, 7 showed microscopic haematuria and 5 had mild proteinuria. In the control group 3 were mildly hypertensive, and 2 showed microscopic haematuria. Serum creatinine of the donor group was found to be significantly higher than in the controls, yet it was stable and within the normal range (0.89 +/- 0.28 mg/dl). Examination for microalbuminuria showed that 11% of the donor group excreted higher amounts of albumin, being above the upper limit of the control group. We have concluded that kidney donation will result in minor abnormalities in kidney functions which will not affect the donor morbidity or mortality. PMID- 2613486 TI - The course of renal amyloidosis with uraemia. AB - The course of uraemia in 47 patients with renal amyloidosis has been studied. The median survival with a S-creatinine of 150 mumol/l was approximately 18 months, but 15% survived for more than 3 years. Deterioration arose often suddenly and was of unclear cause. Approximately 25% of the patients improved for a while and the reason for this temporary improvement is also unclear. The unsteady course during the uraemia period for amyloidosis patients makes prognosis calculations very much less accurate than for patients with cystic kidneys. PMID- 2613487 TI - Live donor renal transplantation--the experience of the Belfast Renal Unit. AB - Live donor renal transplants are often preferred to cadaver grafts because of better graft survival. In a retrospective study of 41 live donor transplants performed in the Belfast Renal Unit from 1971 until November 1988, actual graft survival at 2 and 5 years was 84% and 69% respectively. Corresponding patient survival rates were 87% and 81%. These results are no better than those of cadaver grafts. A subdivision of patients considered to be relatively poor risk for transplantation showed less favourable results than those who were good risk. 15% of the donors suffered post-operative complications, which occurred more often in older donors. Live donor transplantation is not necessarily preferable to cadaver organ graft, and is not recommended for poor risk recipients or donors aged over 50 years. PMID- 2613488 TI - Marital adjustment and behaviour problems in children. AB - Previous research has suggested links between marital unhappiness and behaviour problems in children. A survey was carried out in a community based Child Psychiatric clinic in Ireland to investigate these links. Methods used involved self report questionnaires administered to mothers of forty-eight children attending the clinic. A control group was selected for comparison. Tests of correlation indicate significant associations between marital adjustment and behaviour problems for both clinic and control populations. Some possible mechanisms are suggested. PMID- 2613489 TI - Prophylactic antibiotic use in four Dublin teaching hospitals. AB - A retrospective study of 266 surgical patients revealed that 55% received antibiotics. Of these, 71% had prophylactic and 29% therapeutic courses. Twenty five per cent of prophylactic courses were started post-operatively, 65% were continued for more than 24 hours, 28% were administered by an inappropriate route and 10% were started more than two hours pre-operatively. Of all courses of antibiotics ordered, 67% had no record of intended duration on the prescription. In 4% of courses the surgeon's orders were not followed. This study demonstrates widespread suboptimal use of antibiotic prophylaxis in a variety of surgical specialties. PMID- 2613490 TI - Effect of exogenous collagen I on tissue repair in the rabbit ear and regeneration of the rat liver. AB - Collagen type I from rat tail was tested for its effect on wound healing of 6 male rabbits and on the regeneration of liver after partial hepatectomy in 15 male rats. It had a negligible effect on the rate of wound healing and a statistically significant acceleratory effect on regeneration of the rat liver. PMID- 2613491 TI - Retained glass fragment in the spinal canal. PMID- 2613492 TI - Does autonomy require informed and specific refusal of life-sustaining medical treatment? PMID- 2613493 TI - Rationing health care: will it be necessary? Can it be done without age or disability discrimination? PMID- 2613494 TI - In the matter of Cabrera. PMID- 2613495 TI - Spontaneous hemiballism and disappearance of parksinsonism following contralateral lenticular lacunar infarct. AB - Hemiballism was observed in a 77-year-old woman with Parksinson disease after a contralateral lenticular infarct without apparent involvement of the subthalamic nucleus. Parkinsonian signs ipsilateral to the hemiballism remained abolished despite subsequent nearly complete recovery from the hyperkinesias. It is argued that clinical events were due to a single ischemic lesion of the putamen-pallidum complex. PMID- 2613496 TI - Spontaneous intracerebral hematoma in a adolescent with factor XIII deficiency. Case report. AB - A case of a spontaneous cerebral hematoma in the left capsulo-nuclear area in an adolescent girl with congenital deficiency of coagulation Factor XIII is described. PMID- 2613497 TI - Unusual radiological presentation of a primary CNS lymphoma. AB - The Authors report a case of primary cerebral lymphoma occurred in a 62 years old lady, who came to observation for headache and mood alterations. An enhanced CT showed a lesion recalling a meningeal sarcoma. Points of interest in this case are the unusual radiological appearance and the infrequent localization. Main anatomical and clinical characteristics of primary CNS non-Hodgkin lymphomas are recalled, even with regard to modern immunohistochemical techniques. PMID- 2613498 TI - Prevention of lupus nephritis by antigens that cross-react with DNA. PMID- 2613499 TI - Some reflections on autoimmunity. PMID- 2613500 TI - Peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients in southern Israel. AB - We report our experience of peritonitis in a group of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients in the south of Israel during a 3-year period. During this period, 51 patients were treated with CAPD, comprising a total of 999 patient months of treatment. One hundred and forty-three episodes of peritonitis occurred in 42 patients. When the patients were divided into high risk and low risk groups, the overall incidence was one episode every 5.7 months in the high risk group and one episode every 13.2 months in the low risk group. Gram-positive organisms accounted for 62.2% of the infections, and coagulase negative Staphylococcus for 35% of infections. The recurrence rate was 12%. Catheter removal was required in seven patients, and three patients were transferred to hemodialysis because of recurrent infections. We conclude that CAPD is a safe and viable modality of treatment for end-stage renal disease in our patient population. PMID- 2613501 TI - Malignant mesenchymoma of spermatic cord: a case report with intermediate filament typing. AB - A malignant mesenchymoma arising in the spermatic cord of a 79-year-old patient is described. The radiologic appearance was that of a predominantly calcified mass. Histologically the tumor was composed primarily of malignant cartilage. In other areas there were spindle-shaped cells and large eosinophilic and multinucleated giant cells. Staining for intermediate filaments revealed vimentin throughout the neoplasm with some areas showing positive staining for desmin, the latter confirming the muscular origin of some of the neoplastic elements. No cytokeratins were identified, effectively ruling out the possibility of a malignant teratoma. PMID- 2613502 TI - Clinical application and results of ureteral ileal substitution. AB - Three cases in which an ileal segment was used to replace the ureter are reported. Indications included irreparable damaged ureters in two of the cases and recurrent calculi with extrinsic ureteral obstruction in one. Excellent results were noted, and at 18 months follow-up renal function was unchanged, pyelographic appearance was improved and the patient with stone disease had no recurrent or residual stones. PMID- 2613503 TI - Round pneumonia. PMID- 2613504 TI - Chronic rheumatic disorder as the primary manifestation of hypopituitarism caused by a pituitary tumor. PMID- 2613505 TI - IgM and IgA rheumatoid factors detected by ELISA in seronegative rheumatoid arthritis patients. PMID- 2613506 TI - Primidone as a treatment for cerebellar tremor in multiple sclerosis--two case reports. PMID- 2613507 TI - Lack of effect of omeprazole on rat hepatic blood flow. PMID- 2613508 TI - Effect of bile drainage from the choledochus on bacterial concentration. PMID- 2613509 TI - Passing rates skyrocket with Hawaii's "Operation Nightingale" program. PMID- 2613511 TI - 1990 marks start of field testing for computerized adaptive testing project. PMID- 2613510 TI - Initiation of a bias sensitivity review panel. PMID- 2613512 TI - The NCLEX measurement system. PMID- 2613513 TI - Practical/vocational nurse test plan revised. PMID- 2613514 TI - Platelet norepinephrine and serotonin balance in migraine. AB - Platelet serotonin (5 hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) were measured in common and classic migraine patients and healthy controls. Common migraine sufferers had high NE levels and a low 5-HT/NE ratio. Classic migraine patients had a high 5-HT level and a high 5-HT/NE ratio. The data suggest disparate NE and 5-HT metabolism between common and classic migraine. PMID- 2613515 TI - Headaches in insulin-dependent diabetic patients. AB - Headaches affecting 117 insulin-dependent diabetic patients were studied. 50 developed 3 varieties of headaches associated with clinical hypoglycaemic episodes: (1) Brief headaches, contemporaneous with cerebral and autonomic symptoms, were relieved within minutes of ingesting carbohydrates (8 patients). (2) Prolonged headaches outlasting hypoglycaemic symptoms by 1-48 (average 4.3) hours, not relieved by food, occurred in 36 patients; 12 of these also had nausea, vomiting or photophobia. (3) Migraine headache. 11 of the 117 patients were migraineurs: in 6 of the 11 their typical migraines (2 classical and 4 common) were induced by hypoglycaemic episodes. 9 of the 50 had 2 types of headaches, easily distinguished by each subject. In the whole series of 117 patients, 9 had never had a headache in their life. The remainder had headaches associated with premenstrual tension, anxiety, alcohol or other causes. PMID- 2613516 TI - Evidence for an immune-mediated mechanism in food-induced migraine from a study on activated T-cells, IgG4 subclass, anti-IgG antibodies and circulating immune complexes. AB - Various immunological studies have revealed controversial outcomes on pathogenetic mechanisms of food-induced migraine. In order to better define the immune status of this disease we studied 21 patients for circulating immune complexes (CIC). Six out of them were also studied for lymphocyte subpopulations, IgG4 and anti-IgG antibodies, before (TO), 4 hours after (T4), and 72 hours after (T72) a specific challenge with 250 ml of milk. The ClqSp assay was used to determine CIC. Lymphocyte subpopulations were defined by the following monoclonal antibodies (Mab): OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, 4F2, H366, TAC, 5E9, L.243 and DA6.231. IgG4 subclass was assessed by using a mouse specific Mab. Anti-IgG antibodies were determined by using HPLC. The result showed an increased incidence of CIC (28.6%) when compared to the control group (10%). Total T-cells (OKT3+) showed a marked increase at T4 (p less than 0.01) and a subsequent decrease at T72 (p less than 0.02). Interestingly, T-activated cells (4F2+ and TAC+) showed a parallel trend at T4 (respectively p less than 0.02 and less than 0.01) and a subsequent decrease at T72 only for the Tac+ cells (p less than 0.05). Also K and NK cells (H366+) showed an early increase at T4 (p less than 0.05). No significant variation was observed in the study of the expression of DR antigens (L.243 and DA6.231) at the three times. IgG4 and anti-IgG antibodies values showed no variation in their time-course.+ PMID- 2613517 TI - [The number and distribution of nevus cell nevi in patients with malignant melanoma]. AB - Total-body cutaneous examination of 211 patients with malignant melanoma (MM) and 157 controls showed that patients with MM had significantly more nevi. Among MM patients, men had more nevi on the trunk than women, and women had more nevi on the lower extremities than men. Men had an MM distribution that was similar to their nevus distribution. Women, however, had proportionately more MM on the legs and fewer MM on the neck. The "nevus density," defined as the number of nevi per unit surface area of skin, was higher in male MM patients. The nevus density was highest on the head and neck, and lower on the lower extremities and anterior trunk. Patients with nodular melanoma had more nevi than those with superficial spreading melanoma. MM patients with a family history of many nevi had more nevi than those without such a history. Patients with a family history of MM did not show an increased number of nevi, but they had larger numbers of suggestive nevi removed than those without a family history of MM. We believe that many of these observations are consistent with the view that MM is caused by a genetic predisposition to an overactive melanocytic system in combination with an external stimulant, such as UV radiation. PMID- 2613518 TI - [Desmoplastic trichoepithelioma with nevus cell nevi]. AB - Among a total of 270,000 skin biopsies, 87 desmoplastic trichoepitheliomas were identified, 11 (12.6%) of which were associated with nevocytic nevi. Histopathologically we found nevocytes next to horn cysts and thin strands of monomorphous basaloid neoplastic cells in a dense desmoplastic stroma. The frequency of this association suggests that it may be a combined malformation rather than a chance occurrence. On clinical examination most cases had been misdiagnosed as basal cell carcinomas. Most biopsies were taken from the faces of fairly young women. PMID- 2613519 TI - [Cystic Kaposi's sarcoma]. AB - A patient with the rare, cystic variant of classic Kaposi sarcoma is presented. The immunohistochemical and enzyme-histochemical phenotype of the cells lining the cysts is the same as that of lymphoendothelial cells. The response to electron beam radiation therapy is good. PMID- 2613520 TI - [Eccrine hidrocystoma]. AB - Most eccrine hidrocystomas are solitary, asymptomatic lesions. Multiple hidrocystomas are very rare and are probably caused by dilatation of eccrine ducts. Immunohistochemical investigations are helpful in distinguishing whether a solitary or multiple form is present. An isolated hidrocystoma can be treated by surgery or electrocautery. Multiple eccrine hidrocystomas are more difficult to treat. Topical atropine may be successful for multiple lesions. We observed a patient with more than 100 lesions associated with significant hyperhidrosis. Although several systemic drugs were used, no relief of the hyperhidrosis could be achieved. During topical administration of atropine some shrinkage of cysts was seen. PMID- 2613521 TI - [Hereditary angioedema--substitution therapy with C1-inhibitor concentrate]. PMID- 2613522 TI - Labeling proteins using aryl iodide acylation agents: influence of meta vs para substitution on in vivo stability. AB - The effect of para vs meta substitution on the biological behavior of an intact antibody and an F(ab')2 fragment was investigated. Paired-label studies were performed using 81C6 IgG and OC 125 F(ab')2 labeled using the N-succinimidyl esters of both p-[125I]- and m-[131I]iodobenzoate as well as with the potential catabolites, p-[125I]- and m-[131I]iodobenzoic acid. In all 3 studies, up to 55% lower uptake of 131I in thyroid and stomach was observed, suggesting that the m substituted species were more inert to dehalogenation in vivo. PMID- 2613523 TI - Thiophenes as phenyl bio-isosteres: application in radiopharmaceutical design--I. Dopamine uptake antagonists. AB - Possible applications of thiophenes in radiopharmaceutical chemistry have been explored. Thiophene for benzene ring substitution was applied to the synthesis of thienyl-[18F]GBR 13119, an analog of the potent and selective dopamine uptake inhibitor [18F]GBR 13119. In vivo regional brain distribution in mice shows essentially identical results for the thienyl and phenyl compounds (striatum/cerebellum ratios of greater than 4 at 60 min), suggesting successful substitution by the thiophene ring. The extension of this concept to the synthesis of no-carrier-added, high specific activity [18F]fluorothiophenes was examined: 5-[18F]fluoro-2-2-thiophene carboxaldehyde was prepared in 10-20% yields by an unprecedented [18F]fluoride-for-bromo substitution of 5-bromo-2 thiophenecarboxaldehyde. The possible advantages of thiophenes (lower log P, altered metabolism) in radiopharmaceutical chemistry are discussed. PMID- 2613524 TI - Rubidium and zinc fluctuations in selected tissues during the development of the BW7756 murine hepatoma. AB - In separate studies, radioisotopes 65Zn and 86Rb were used to monitor trace element fluctuations from normal in C57L/J mice throughout the progression of a murine hepatoma. Amounts too small to upset normal levels were injected directly into the blood stream. After an equilibration period, the whole mouse and various resected organs and tissues were counted. Compared to normal levels, rubidium in diseased mice was lower in kidney and blood, and elevated in skin and muscle. Diseased mice showed depressed levels of zinc in skin and muscle. Large fluctuations during different stages of tumor growth were observed for various other tissues and organs of diseased mice. PMID- 2613525 TI - Stability of radioiodinated monoclonal antibodies: in vitro storage and plasma analysis. AB - The in vitro stability and immunointegrity of four radioiodinated monoclonal antibodies was evaluated in various storage conditions and also in plasma samples. The monoclonal antibodies studied included T101, B72.3, Lym1, and 16.88. Stabilities of typical monoclonal antibody therapy solutions, with radioactivities ranging from 2220 to 3700 MBq (60-100 mCi) were assessed using conventional instant thin layer chromatography and size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography. Radioimmunoreactivity was assessed using a live cell attenuated cell, or mucin-linked bead assay. Results of the study demonstrated that therapy solutions were stable to degradation, if properly stored in 5 or 10% human serum albumin at 4 degrees C for the duration of the study (5 days). Minor losses in immunoreactivity were also measured in stabilized therapy solutions. When incubated in plasma samples, radioiodinated monoclonal antibodies generally remained stable for the duration of the study (3 days). However, significant decreases in immunoreactivity were measured for specific radioiodinated monoclonal antibody preparations. PMID- 2613526 TI - Nuclear medicine studies of aging--IX. Resting left ventricular ejection fraction diastolic area relationship in the "oldest old". AB - We retrospectively investigated the relationship between left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and end diastolic cross sectional area (DCS), by means of gated cardiac blood pool studies, in 62 individuals (68 studies) who were of age 85 y or older. In these "oldest old", a plot of log ejection fraction as a function of log cross sectional area revealed good correlation (r = 0.66). The graph demonstrated the increase in heart size with a falling ejection fraction. Of the "oldest old", 38% had EF values at or above 55%. By comparison, in a group of 100 patients of ages 55-75 y, 32% had EF values of or above 55%. In the "oldest old" 13/68 (19%) had "hyperdynamic" EF values over 65%; in the 55-75 y old group, this value was 16%. The log-log plot was divided into four quadrants by two lines (one at a DCS of 26 cm2 and the other at EF of 55%). Possible prognostic significance of each of these four categories will have to be determined by following the patients and sorting out the contributions of such factors as hypertension, coronary artery disease and medications. PMID- 2613527 TI - Clinical and radiographic correlates of femoral artery visualization on bone scan. AB - In order to determine if the linear pattern of thigh uptake medial to the femur often seen on a 99mTc diphosphonate bone scan (DiP) is caused by calcification of the femoral artery, 42 patients with and without this pattern were studied by a combination of conventional radiographs, radioisotope angiography and/or computed tomography. Risk factors for arteriosclerotic disease were recorded for all patients. These techniques identified the postulated femoral artery pattern on bone scan as always corresponding to calcified femoral arteries. The prevalence of diabetes, cigarette use, hypertension and a family or clinical history of arteriosclerotic vascular disease was the same in the groups with or without DiP uptake. PMID- 2613528 TI - Technetium-99m dithiocarbamates as potential brain agents: evaluation of aliphatic and amine-containing analogues. AB - Technetium-99m forms a lipophilic complex with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) but this complex is not retained in the brain as is thallium-201 DDC. We therefore prepared a series of aliphatic and amine-containing analogues of DDC and evaluated the properties of their 99mTc complexes in vitro and in vivo. The ethyl acetate/buffer partition coefficients of the amine-containing derivatives showed a response to pH. Four of the five complexes were less stable than DDC in vitro and showed greater retention in rabbit brain. These agents warrant further investigation for cerebral perfusion imaging with SPECT. PMID- 2613529 TI - Synthesis of 125I labeled N-succinimidyl p-iodobenzoate for use in radiolabeling antibodies. AB - A new method is reported for the synthesis of N-succinimidyl p ([125/127I]iodobenzoate (NS-p-IB) from N-succinimidyl p-(tri-n butylstannyl)benzoate via an iodination-destannylation reaction. The tin precursor was obtained in 70% overall yield from p-bromobenzoyl chloride after a four-step synthesis. The radiochemical yield of NS-p-[125I]IB was 75%. Conjugation of NS-p-[125I]IB to rabbit IgG or bovine serum albumin gave yields of 52 and 60% respectively. In vitro the radiolabeled proteins in serum at 37 degrees C showed less than 1% deiodination by 24 h. In vivo the stability of mouse IgG (MIgG) labeled with NS-p-[125I]IB was superior to MIgG radioiodinated in the presence of chloramine-T. PMID- 2613530 TI - Metabolic fate of the heart agent [18F]6-fluorometaraminol. AB - Studies were performed to determine whether [18F]6-fluorometaraminol (18F-FMR), a new neuronal heart radiopharmaceutical, is metabolized in vivo and if the metabolites are taken up in heart. Rat, dog, baboon and guinea pig were injected with 18F-FMR and tissue samples were analyzed for metabolites by HPLC. Liver contained the most metabolites of the tissues studied with 25-90% of the radioactivity present as metabolites at 1 h in all the species studied. While metabolites of 18F-FMR are found in blood, no significant accumulation of these metabolites is found in heart (less than or equal to 0.3%) 1 h after i.v. administration in any species except rat. These studies suggest that 18F-FMR is a suitable agent for quantitative imaging of the heart by positron emission tomography. PMID- 2613531 TI - Synthesis of [11C]sodium thiocyanate for in vivo studies of anion kinetics using positron emission tomography (PET). AB - Sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) was labelled with carbon-11 for in vivo studies of anion kinetics using positron emission tomography (PET). The synthesis was complete in 35 min from end of bombardment using [11C]ammonium cyanide as the labelled precursor. [11C]NaSCN was produced by the reaction of [11C]sodium cyanide with elemental sulfur and subsequently separated by semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Radiochemical yields (isolated) were of the order of 25%. The specific activity was 18 GBq/mmol and the radiochemical purity better than 99%. A PET study performed in a healthy volunteer showed distribution of [11C]SCN- to areas corresponding to cortical fluid spaces known to be accessible to inorganic ions such as Cl-. An accumulation of the tracer was observed during the 70 min investigation, indicating at least three compartments of distribution. PMID- 2613532 TI - Correlation of Cu(PTSM) localization with regional blood flow in the heart and kidney. AB - In a dog model of myocardial ischemia, i.v. injection of [67Cu]Cu(PTSM) leads to an excellent linear correlation for both the heart and kidney between regional tissue radiocopper concentration and regional blood flow measured by radioactive micropheres. The 62Cu-labeled complex may serve as a generator-produced position emitting perfusion tracer for these organs. PMID- 2613533 TI - The effect of anti-inflammatory agents on the uptake of 67Ga into experimental granuloma. PMID- 2613534 TI - Genetical variation and polyphyletic origin in Japanese Mus musculus. AB - Previous reports of mitochondrial DNA variation in Japanese mice have revealed the occurrence of two components, a M. m. musculus mtDNA type in central Japan and a M. m. castaneus one at both northern and southern ends. In the present study, we explore the genetic composition of nuclear genes from Japanese wild mice. Protein electrophoresis at 16 polymorphic loci was used to characterise mice from 20 localities and to compare them with samples from the surrounding countries. The results revealed a predominant M. m. musculus nuclear gene component on the main Japanese Islands. A M. m. castaneus contribution was detectable in south Kyushu, but, interestingly, not evident in Northern Honshu were the castaneus mtDNA predominates. On the other hand, the mouse populations from Ogasawara (Chichi Islands) showed a threefold origin with a strong M. m. domesticus component, probably resulting from a very recent admixture. This clearcut example of reticulate evolution, which does not give rise to an homogeneous gene distribution, is however very different from the situation observed in the European hybrid zone. This raises questions concerning the mechanisms that either impede or favour gene admixture when differentiated gene pools are brought together. PMID- 2613535 TI - Longevity enhances selection of environmental sex determination. AB - Environmental sex determination (ESD) is a mechanism in which an individual develops as male or female largely in response to some environmental effect experienced early in life. Its forms range from sex determination by egg incubation temperature in reptiles to sex determination of photoperiod in amphipods. Previous theoretical work as suggested that ESD is favored by natural selection if the fitness consequences of the early environmental experience differ for males and females, so that an individual benefits by being male under some conditions and female under others. A drawback of ESD is that it enables climatic changes to influence the population sex ratio, and such fluctuations select against ESD. This study employed numerical analyses to investigate the balance between these two opposing forces. The negative impact of climatic fluctuations appears to depend greatly on species longevity: substantial between year fluctuations are of little consequence in selecting against ESD in long lived species because annual sex ratio fluctuations tend to cancel and thus alter the total population sex ratio only slightly. Thus, if a species is sufficiently long-lived, extreme ESD can be maintained despite only a weak advantage. This result offers one explanation for the failure to demonstrate an advantage for the extreme forms of ESD observed in reptiles. PMID- 2613536 TI - Maximum likelihood estimation of linkage between a marker gene and a quantitative locus. AB - A maximum likelihood approach is developed for estimating the recombination fraction in a segregating population (F2), between a marker gene and a locus affecting a quantitative trait as well as estimating the means and variances of the three genotypes of the quantitative trait. The experimental results from computer simulations show that even with experimental sizes of 500, estimates of the parameters can be obtained by aid of the codominant marker gene as long as the heritability of the quantitative trait in question is not less than 0.10. However at low heritabilities the variances of estimates are very large. PMID- 2613537 TI - Affinity and hydrophobic interactions of penicillin amidase. AB - Binding of penicillin amidase from E. coli 436 to aniline-, benzylamine- and phenylethylamine-Sepharose was studied. Binding of the enzyme to aniline Sepharose was exclusively due to hydrophobic interactions. Benzylamine-Sepharose binds the enzyme due to affinity interactions in the absence of ammonium sulphate and due to hydrophobic interactions in the presence of ammonium sulphate. A conformational change in the penicillin amidase molecule due to ammonium sulphate there by exposing the side chain binding site as a hydrophobic core is suggested. PMID- 2613538 TI - Free amino acids production by some species of Fusarium. PMID- 2613539 TI - Fungitoxic studies on bark extract of Lawsonia inermis against ringworm fungi. AB - During screening of barks of 30 plants species against Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, only Lawsonia inermis exhibited absolute toxicity. The Lawsonia bark extract was found to possess fungistatic nature at its maximum inhibitory dilution of 1:30 (W/V) against both the test pathogens but, become fungicidal at 1:10 (W/V). The extract showed broad fungitoxic spectrum when tested against 13 ring worm fungi. Further the fungitoxicity of the extract remained unaltered at high temperature, on autoclaving and after long storage. PMID- 2613540 TI - Effect of some antibiotics on Macrophomina phaseolina, a charcoal rot fungus of soybean. AB - Effect of agrimycin-100, ampicillin, griseofulvin and tetracycline on colony growth of Macrophomina phaseolina, incitant of charcoal rot of soybean has been studied in vitro. Amongst them tetracycline posed most effective inhibiting the growth by 73.9% at 1000 micrograms/ml concentration. On the basis of effectiveness antibiotics have been listed as tetracycline greater than ampicillin greater than griseofulvin greater than agrimycin-100. PMID- 2613541 TI - A new Streptomyces sp. PMID- 2613542 TI - Identification and immunohistochemical localization of various bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor-isoforms in bovine pituitary gland. AB - Three isoinhibitors of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) have been identified and isolated from bovine pituitary gland. The results of the purification process by affinity chromatography on immobilized trypsin, the electrophoretic mobility in non-denaturing conditions, the antiproteolytic activity and the immunochemical reactions indicate that these inhibitors correspond to those previously isolated from bovine spleen and lung. In addition, immunohistochemical experiments show that the isoinhibitors and BPTI are exclusively localized in the mast cells, and not in the endocrine cells, of the pars intermedia and posterior lobe (neurohypophysis) of the pituitary gland. The physiological implications of these findings are discussed. PMID- 2613543 TI - Fine structure of neurons synthesizing vasoactive intestinal peptide in the human colon from patients with Hirschsprung's disease. AB - The fine structure of neuronal perikarya and processes containing VIP-like immunoreactive material in the colon of patients with Hirschsprung's disease was investigated by immunoelectron microscopy. No VIP-like immunoreactive terminals were found in Auerbach's plexus of the ganglionic segment. However, VIP-like immunoreactive preterminal axons were frequently found to make synaptic contact with both immunoreactive and non-immunoreactive elements within Meissner's plexus. Therefore, the function of the VIP neurons in Auerbach's plexus seems to differ from that in Meissner's plexus. In the oligoganglionic segment, there were a few VIP-like immunoreactive processes, but no VIP-like immunoreactive synaptic formations. VIP-like immunoreactive processes were rarely encountered in the aganglionic segment. In both the oligo- and aganglionic segments, bowel relaxation is considered to be disturbed due to the lack of synaptic contacts of VIP-like immunoreactive neurons with other neuronal components. PMID- 2613544 TI - Visualization of the cytoskeleton in Leydig cells in vitro. Effect of luteinizing hormone and cytoskeletal disrupting drugs. AB - Effect of LH, vinblastine and cytochalasin B on the cytoskeleton of cultured Leydig cells was investigated using monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence microscopy. After LH addition and treatment with cytoskeletal disrupting drugs, three main effects were observed: 1) increase of androgen level secreted by cultured mouse Leydig cells, 2) changes of cell-shape towards regular and rounded, 3) increase of delta 5,3 beta-HSD activity. The results are discussed in respect to possible involvement of cytoskeleton in the regulation of steroidogenesis. PMID- 2613545 TI - Successive histochemical differentiation steps during postnatal development of the collecting duct in rabbit kidney. AB - Immunohistochemical experiments with monoclonal antibodies (mabs) on the kidney of neonatal rabbits revealed that the primary expression of collecting duct typic structures does not occur in a continuous and parallel, but in a subsequent developmental process. Only mabs RCT-30 A, and CD 4-V revealed immunoreactivity at the ontogenetically oldest parts of the collecting duct, the ampullae, while the other used markers (CD 1-3, CD 5-V, RCT-30 and RMCX) did not. In contrast, all of the tested antibodies showed positive reactions at the medullary and cortical collecting duct of the neonatal kidney as well as of the adult kidney. Additional incubations with wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA) a marker of terminal differentiated collecting duct cells demonstrated weak-labelled ampulla cells beside intensively labelled ampullary neck and medullary collecting duct cells. With peanut agglutinin (PNA) labelling a 3 step transition could be illuminated: weak-labelled ampulla cells were found beside continuously bright labelled ampullary neck cells and finally a punctuate pattern downwards to the papilla. If the ampullary neck is the zone of proliferation, our findings of WGA- and PNA-co labelling in this zone indicate, that in early developmental stages characteristic structures of different mature cells, probably principal and intercalated cells, are co-expressed within one single cell type. Thus intercalated cells might derive from principal cells. PMID- 2613546 TI - Immunolocalization of type IV collagen and laminin during rat gonadal morphogenesis and postnatal development of the testis and epididymis. AB - The distribution of type IV collagen and laminin was studied by immunocytochemistry during rat gonadal morphogenesis and postnatal development of the testis and epididymis. Immunostaining appeared as early as the 12th day of gestation along the basement membranes of the mesonephric-gonadal complex. The connection between some mesonephric tubules and coelomic epithelium was seen between the 12th and 13th day of gestation. Discontinuous immunostained basement membranes delineated the differentiating sexual cords in 13-day-old fetuses; this process probably began in the inner part of the gonadal ridge. The seminiferous cords surrounded by a continuous immunoreactive basement membrane are separated from the coelomic epithelium by the differentiating tunica albuginea in 14-day old fetuses. During the postnatal maturation of epididymis and testis, the differentiation of peritubular cells is accompanied by a progressive organisation of the extracellular matrix into a continuous basement membrane. This change is associated with a gradual condensation of peritubular cells inducing an increase of immunostaining. In adult animals, the tubular wall of epididymis is thicker than the lamina propria of seminiferous tubules. Both type IV collagen and laminin immunostaining paralleled during ontogenesis at the light-microscope level. PMID- 2613547 TI - Localization of a putative cell adhesion molecule (gp110) in Wistar and Fischer rat tissues. AB - A plasma membrane glycoprotein (gp110) involved in cellular adhesion was studied in Wistar and Fischer rats. For quantitative analysis of the gp110 molecule a sandwich-ELISA was used. High quantities of gp110 were found especially in the liver, small intestine, submandibular gland and lung. The distribution and localization of the gp110 were investigated by immunohistochemistry utilizing soluble complexes of alkaline phosphatase and monoclonal anti-alkaline phosphatase antibodies. Immunoreactivity was present in plasma membranes of vascular endothelial cells of some organs. Furthermore, immunostaining also occurred in plasma membranes of lymphocytes, exocrine gland cells, excretory duct cells, hepatocytes, epithelial cells of the small intestine, kidney and vesicular gland and in the cytoplasm of renal connecting and collecting duct cells. The localization of gp110 in the luminal domain of the plasma membrane at many sites suggests that this glycoprotein is also involved in processes distinct from cell adhesion. PMID- 2613548 TI - Uptake of exogenous protein tracer in cells of the rat renal papilla. AB - In order to study the phagocytic potential of different cell types of the rat renal papilla with special emphasis on interstitial cells, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) (8 mg/100 g body weight) was injected intravenously into adult rats. The distribution of peroxidase was studied in animals perfusion-fixed 60 and 180 min after injection and was found to be similar after both time intervals. The epithelial cells of the collecting ducts took up the largest amounts of the tracer. HRP was mainly located in large lysosome-like bodies in the basal part of the cytoplasm, suggesting peritubular uptake from the interstitial space. However, small amounts of the tracer were also seen in apical vesicles close to the luminal plasma membrane. The interstitial cells of peroxidase-injected animals were ultrastructurally altered and had large irregular invaginations of the cell membrane. The cells had taken up only small amounts of the tracer which were located in small round lysosome-like bodies. Thus, the interstitial cells displays no macrophage characteristics, either in the native state or when challenged with an extracellular protein. PMID- 2613549 TI - Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and related isoinhibitors in bovine liver. A biochemical and histochemical study. AB - A Kunitz-type inhibitor family has been biochemically and histochemically characterized in bovine liver. This family includes the well-known pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and three BPTI-related molecular forms (isoinhibitors I, II and III). The purification of the inhibitors was performed by affinity chromatography on immobilized trypsin followed by fast protein liquid chromatography. The inhibitors were identical to those identified previously in bovine spleen and lung. Light immunohistochemical experiments were done by a streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method using two different immunoglobulin preparations, which selectively discriminated between BPTI and the other isoinhibitors. BPTI-related immunoreactivity was found exclusively at the level of isolated cells, of which many were identified as mast cells by toluidine blue staining. By contrast, isoinhibitor-related immunoreactivity showed a more widespread distribution, including hepatocytes, mast cells and biliary duct epithelial cells. Finally, specific immunoreactivity was also present in plasma. These results suggest that: i) BPTI and related isoinhibitors may be involved in the regulation of the activity of some mast cell proteases, as it happens in other bovine organs (Businaro et al. 1987, 1988); ii) BPTI isoinhibitors, but not BPTI itself, may also control proteolytic activities in hepatic specific structures (hepatocytes and biliary duct epithelial cells). PMID- 2613550 TI - Light and electron microscopic localization of GABA-like immunoreactivity in myenteric plexus of chicken. AB - Whole-mounts of 1-day-old chicken midgut were incubated with an antiserum against GABA-glutaraldehyde-BSA conjugate. The immunoreaction was visualized by using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method, and processed for consecutive light and electronmicroscopic observation. GABA was selectively localized in some of the varicose and nonvaricose nerve fibres of the myenteric plexus. The varicose fibres formed dense networks within the myenteric ganglia, some of which--mainly in duodenum--also contained immunopositive nerve cell bodies. Some of the varicose fibres projected out from the myenteric plexus into the circular muscle layer. At the electronmicroscopic level, labelled axon terminals formed synaptic contact with unlabelled perikarya and vica versa. At the same time, no labelled terminals were found on immunostained cells. In a few cases, axon terminals with GABA positivity were situated close to the smooth muscle cells in the circular muscle layer, suggesting a prejunctional GABA effect on the neighbouring nerve terminals on the release of their transmitters. PMID- 2613551 TI - Immunofluorescent visualization of DNA replication sites within nuclei of Chinese hamster ovary cells. AB - The spatial distribution of replication sites was studied by a sensitive method in cells cultured in vitro. Exponentially growing Chinese hamster ovary cells were permeabilized and pulse labeled in the presence of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates, dTTP being replaced by biotin-11-dUTP as a substrate for DNA replication. The distribution of replication sites was visualized in isolated nuclei by fluorescent microscopy of samples taken periodically after short-term (2 min) in vitro labeling and pulse-chase experiments. Propidium iodide and 4,6 diamino-2-phenylindole served as fluorescent probes for total cellular DNA. Avidin-fluorescein isothiocyanate and biotinylated goat antiavidin antibody were used in an amplification procedure to fluorescently label the incorporated biotin 11-dUTP. Similar experiments using synchronized cells showed the distribution of replicons at different stages of S phase. PMID- 2613552 TI - Improved bromodeoxyuridine/DNA analysis by anti-BudR monoclonal antibody versus right angle light scatter. AB - Dynamic cell cycle analysis is based on the incorporation of labelled precursors into DNA. Although antibodies to BrdU are very useful for analysing in flow cells which synthesize DNA, this approach has two main limitations. First, the detection of low incorporating cells is often difficult; second, four parameter flow cytometry is not able to correlate cell cycle to any other cellular marker. We have developed a methodology that, employing an IgGH + L as a second antibody and side scatter instead of propidium iodide fluorescence, allows a better discrimination of BudR+ cells. This approach allows the collection of an extra fluorescent signal, and the analysis of specific cellular markers within the cell cycle. PMID- 2613553 TI - Immunocytochemical demonstration of the binding of growth-related polypeptide hormones on chick embryonic tissues. AB - The presence of endogenous growth-related polypeptide hormones, such as growth hormone (GH), somatomadin-C/insulin-like growth factor-1 (SM-C/IGF-1), prolactin (PRL) and Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) on chick embryonic tissues have been detected by electron microscopic (EM) immunocytochemistry. Antiserum against GH, anti-SM-C/IGF-1, anti-PRL and anti-MIS were used respectively as primary antibodies for immunolabeling probes by peroxidase (PO) and avidin-biotin complex (ABC)-gold ligands. Cross-reaction studies by ELISA showed negative or weak antigen-antibody interactions. Chick embryos, gonads, and Mullerian ducts (Mds) of various ages were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde for 30 min. Washes in phosphate buffer were administered between each of the following incubations: (i) 2% BSA; (ii) primary antibody; (iii) biotinylated or PO-conjugated secondary antibody; (iv) avidin conjugated with gold particles. SM-C/IGF-1 bindings were negative on 1d embryonic disc, heavily stained on 2d endoderm. However, the GH bindings were found on the embryonic layers of 1d and 2d embryos, and increasing on the luminal epithelial cells of Mds during development. PRL was found in parallel with GH, but in less amount. The 10d Mds were double labeled with anti-SM-C/IGF-1-gold and anti-MIS-PO (MIS-PO), and the results showed SM-C/IGF-I negative, but MIS-PO positive bindings. This study provides the first immunocytochemical evidences for: (i) The presence of GH, SM-C/IGF-1, PRL and MIS bindings on chick embryonic tissues, and further supports their potential role as growth mediators during embryonic development. (ii) The amount of GH and MIS bindings were found correspondingly to their physiological status of Md growth or regression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613554 TI - Protein-gold complexes as neuronal markers for long-term tracing studies. AB - In this study, we have tested the possible use of protein-gold complexes as neuronal markers for long-term tracing studies in rat. The tracer we have used consisted of colloidal gold particles coupled to wheat-germ agglutinin apohorseradish peroxidase conjugate (WGA-apoHRP). The neuronal labeling was studied for survival periods of up to nineteen months following injection in the central nervous system. Maximal visualization of the gold particles was achieved through gold silver intensification. The tracer could be detected throughout the entire range of periods considered. The injection site consisted of a dense black core and retrogradely labeled cells were characterized by round black granules over the cell body. The retrogradely labeled cells were cytochemically characterized by demonstrating their transmitter content. Thus protein-gold complexes may be used as long-term neuronal markers compatible with the persistance of the vital functions of the labeled cells. PMID- 2613555 TI - Changes in acid phosphatase activity in rat liver after ischemia. AB - The effect of ischemia on the stability, i.e. the permeability of the lysosomal membrane of rat liver has been studied using quantitative histochemical analysis of acid phosphatase activity. Ischemia in vitro was performed for 0-240 min at 37 degrees C and ischemia in vivo for 60 min was followed by 1, 5, 24 and 48 h of reperfusion. Acid phosphatase activity was demonstrated in cryostat sections using naphthol AS-BI phosphoric acid as substrate and polyvinyl alcohol was added to the incubation medium to counteract diffusion phenomena. Ischemia in vitro up to 240 min did not affect the localization nor the total activity of acid phosphatase activity. After 60-min ischemia in vivo followed by 1-h reperfusion distinct areas showed decreased acid phosphatase activity. A further decrease in activity was observed after 5 h reperfusion. Final reaction product generated by acid phosphatase activity was rather diffusely distributed in border zones between normal and damaged tissue after 24 and 48 h of reperfusion following 60 min ischemia in vivo. It is concluded that not ischemia itself but rather reperfusion affects the stability of the lysosomal membrane due to the occurrence of oxygen-derived free radicals and/or imbalanced Ca2+ concentration. Restoration of the blood flow causes leakage of acid phosphatase from the lysosomes into the cytoplasm of liver parenchymal cells and from there to the blood. PMID- 2613556 TI - Non-isotopic RNA probes. Comparison between different labels and detection systems. AB - Several studies have shown the use of non-radioactive labelled DNA probes for in situ hybridisation, mainly to identify cellular DNA. In this study mRNA in situ hybridisation was performed on rat pituitary with biotinylated complementary (c) RNA probes for rat prolactin and growth hormone (GH), and compared with radioactive 35S-radiolabelled probes. Biotinylated cRNA probes were labelled with either biotin-11-UTP or with allylamine-UTP, the latter method being able to produce a higher yield of labelled RNA. Different detection systems were tested, and hybridisation signal was seen in cells of anterior pituitary with both types of biotinylated probes. The signals were detected using either avidin-biotin complex with peroxidase (ABC), peroxidase-anti-peroxidase (PAP) or gold-silver methods. ABC peroxidase detected using glucose oxidase-diaminobenzidine (DAB) nickel solution appeared to be the best method for detecting labelled RNA probes, with very strong signal and low background. The biotinylated probes were comparable in sensitivity to the radiolabelled probes in detecting prolactin and GH mRNAs in the anterior lobe of the rat pituitary. These results indicate an alternative methods of labelling and detection of biotinylated probes which could have a potential role in research and diagnostic techniques. PMID- 2613557 TI - Evidence against the existence of acetylated Sudan Black B. AB - The nature of acetylated Sudan Black B (aSBB) has been investigated, and it has been found, by thin layer chromatography, that each fraction of aSBB has an Rf which is the same as that of a similar fraction of Sudan Black B (SBB). However, aSBB has been found to have fewer fractions, 9-12 than SBB, 14-16. The two major fractions from aSBB and SBB were examined, and a great similarity was found between the absorption spectra of the respective fractions of aSBB and SBB. The major fraction of aSBB was investigated by mass spectroscopy and found to have a similar molecular weight to that expected of SBB. This demonstrates that aSBB is not in fact acetylated, and that the components of aSBB are chemically no different from the corresponding components of SBB. PMID- 2613558 TI - Relationship between perceived job-stress and glycosylated hemoglobin in white collar workers. AB - Cesana et al. (1985) have indicated that glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) may be a potential measure of job-stress. To examine this observation further, a questionnaire study on job-stress and health-related behaviors together with measurement of HbAlc and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were conducted for 129 male white-collar workers at a multiphasic health examination. It was found that a total of 102 subjects with the FPG level lower than 110 mg/dl had received no medical treatment; the score of job-dissatisfaction was significantly correlated with their HbAlc level (p less than 0.05). None of possible confounders, i.e., age, job-overload, overtime, number of cigarettes per day, alcohol consumption, obesity and blood tests other than FPG, were significantly correlated with HbAlc; the score of job-dissatisfaction was not significantly correlated with the FPG level. It is indicated that HbAlc may be a sensitive measure of job dissatisfaction; further studies are needed to clarify psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the effects of job-dissatisfaction on the HbAlc level. PMID- 2613559 TI - Lymphocyte transformation with cobalt in hard metal asthma. AB - Lymphocyte transformation tests with cobalt were done in 9 hard metal asthma patients diagnosed on the basis of a positive bronchial provocation test with cobalt. Positive lymphocyte proliferation in response to the metal was defined statistically from the results of 18 controls comprising 12 hard metal-exposed and 6 non-exposed controls. Out of the 4 patients who had been reported to have IgE antibody specific to cobalt, the lymphocytes of 2 proliferated with metal: one showed positive lymphocyte transformation to free cobalt, the other to both free cobalt and cobalt-conjugated human serum albumin. These results suggest that cobalt-sensitized lymphocytes play a role in some hard metal asthmatics. However, the mechanism underlying the hard metal asthma in the other 5 asthmatics who had neither cobalt-specific IgE antibody nor cobalt-sensitized lymphocytes remain to be elucidated. PMID- 2613560 TI - Noise exposure and permanent hearing loss of textile workers in Thailand. AB - Hearing loss induced by noise exposure in a large scale textile mill (number of workers = 1,611) in Thailand was investigated on the basis of interviews, noise measurements, and audiometric tests. The frequency of subjective symptoms relating to noise exposure was higher in the weavers than among other mill workers and office workers. The average noise levels in the weaving sections and other sections were 101.3 +/- 2.7 dBA and 89.8 +/- 5.3 dBA, respectively. The results of the audiometric tests revealed the significantly higher noise-induced hearing loss among workers in the weaving section compared to other mill workers and office workers (P less than 0.01). Among weavers, hearing levels decreased with the longer years of work. Concerning personal noise protective devices, 38.6% of the weavers never used them. It was concluded that hearing loss status in the workers of the mill was serious. Improvements by means of integrated work organization activities were recommended. PMID- 2613561 TI - A case of thinner sniffing: Part 2. Urinary excretion of cresols and methanol after inhalation of toluene and methanol. PMID- 2613562 TI - Biological exposure monitoring of methyl bromide workers by determination of hemoglobin adducts. PMID- 2613563 TI - Responses of single cells in the cat inferior colliculus to binaural masking level difference signals. AB - Neurones with low best frequency (less than 2 kHz) and sensitive to interaural phase differences were recorded in the dorsal part of the central nucleus of the cat inferior colliculus. Best frequency tone (S) and noise (N) bursts were delivered binaurally via closed field sound systems either in phase (S0, N0) at both ears or inverted at one ear (SII, NII). The responses to tone + noise bursts in the stimulus configurations S0N0, SIINII and SIIN0 and noise bursts (N0 and NII) were compared. The latter two tone + noise configurations (S0NII and SIIN0) give a binaural masking level difference (BMLD) of up to 15 dB in psychophysical experiments, i.e. an increase in noise level is necessary to mask perception of the tone. Most cells responded better to in phase stimuli (here called 0 cells). A minority of cells responded better to out of phase stimuli (here called II cells). Each cell's response was correlated with the level of acoustic stimulus (tone or masker) in the preferred configuration and not with the BMLD situation: for the 0 cells, the responses were therefore maximal for S0N0 and minimal for SIINII. For II cells, the gradation was reversed: the response to SIINII was maximal and that to S0N0 minimal. For both populations, the responses to S0NII and SIIN0 were intermediate between the S0N0 and SIINII responses. Cells that responded best to S0NII or SIIN0, i.e. cells selectively coding BMLD, were not found. This was also true for the synchronized spike rates of those cells showing phase locked responses to the stimulus frequency. Some cells appeared to be strongly suppressed by the addition of an non-preferred masker (i.e. in the configuration that resulted in less response to a noise-alone burst; e.g. NII for the 0 cells). Other cells were more suppressed by the addition of a preferred masker (N0 for the 0 cells). The difference in the number of spikes evoked by the tone + noise and the noise burst was analyzed according to signal detection theory and neuronal masked threshold determined. Some 0 cells showed lower thresholds in the configuration S0NII whereas others had higher thresholds in this configuration. This correlated with the binaural suppression effects noted above: when the noise in the preferred configuration (N0) gave more suppression, the threshold was lower for S0NII; when NII gave more suppression the threshold was higher for S0NII. Over the whole population, these effects cancelled out and the neuronal threshold was not significantly affected by the BMLD configuration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2613564 TI - Analysis of the human auditory nerve. AB - In human temporal bones of patients with normal hearing or sensory neural deafness, the cochlear neurons were quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated at the level of the osseous spiral lamina, the spiral ganglion and the cochlear nerve. We found from 32,000 to 31,000 myelinated nerve fibres in the cochlear nerve of normal hearing individuals and any lower number in cases of sensory neural deafness. There was in general a good correspondence between the counted numbers of the myelinated nerve fibres in the osseous spiral lamina, the spiral ganglion cells and the myelinated nerve fibres in the cochlear nerve in the inner acoustic meatus. The diameter of the peripheral axons of the type I neurons are about half the diameter of the central axons. The average diameter of the central axons is 2.5 millimicrons with a narrow distribution in children, but an increasingly larger range of fiber calibers with increasing age (0.5 to 7 microns in the 40 to 50 year age group adults). PMID- 2613565 TI - Cochlear ablation in deafness mutant mice: 2-deoxyglucose analysis suggests no spontaneous activity of cochlear origin. AB - Deafness mutant mice show no stimulus-related cochlear potentials as well as abnormal electrically-evoked responses recorded from the inferior colliculus. Abnormal spontaneous activity in the auditory periphery could result in abnormal development and/or maintenance of the central auditory pathways. We therefore assessed spontaneous activity of cochlear origin in the central nuclei of the mutants by ablating one cochlea and subsequently using the 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) technique to study metabolic activity. Any asymmetries in labeling in a given nucleus should be due to spontaneous activity in the cochlear nerve on the unoperated side. In control animals (+/dn mice undergoing unilateral cochlea ablation), statistically significant decreased 2DG labeling was observed in the ipsilateral PVCN and AVCN, and contralateral MNTB and IC; all receive primary excitatory input from the ablated ear. No significant differences in labeling between right and left sides were observed in any of the nuclei studied in the mutant animals. These findings suggest that there is no spontaneous activity of cochlear origin in these mutants, even though many cochlear nerve fibers and spiral ganglion cells survive. PMID- 2613566 TI - Structural changes in hair cells after incubation in tissue culture medium. AB - A great deal of work is presently being pursued with in vitro preparations of isolated single hair cells or isolated segments of the cochlear sensory surface. In this study we evaluate the appearance of hair cells along the neonatal chick basilar papilla that have been freshly dissected and placed in culture medium for between one and six hours. Quantitative measures of the apical hair cell surface revealed that the number of cytoplasmic protrusions was minimal and that surface area was well preserved in the one and three hour samples. By 6 h, the proportion of hair cells showing cytoplasmic protrusions significantly increased, as did the surface area of the hair cells. In this preparation, it appears that physiologic studies can be conducted on cells with a healthy appearance for at least 3 h after sacrifice. PMID- 2613567 TI - The responses of cochlear hair cells to tonic displacements of the sensory hair bundle. AB - Hair bundle displacements and receptor potentials were recorded from outer hair cells (OHCs) in organotypic cultures of the mouse cochlea during force steps applied to the bundles with a silica probe of known stiffness. The receptor potentials of some OHCs adapt for excitatory displacements and the time constants of receptor potential adaptation and hair bundle force relaxation for excitatory displacements are very similar. Thus in these OHCs, the receptor potentials correspond to the applied force for excitatory displacements. For inhibitory displacements, the receptor potentials correspond to hair bundle displacement. Some OHC receptor potentials are nonadapting and follow displacement in both the excitatory and inhibitory directions. The hair bundles of nonadapting OHCs are less stiff than those of adapting OHCs and nonadapting OHCs are an order of magnitude less sensitive to hair bundle displacement than adapting OHCs. In response to a combination of excitatory, tonic, hair bundle displacement and current injection, the receptor potentials of nonadapting OHCs decline as the membrane potential is made more positive and reverse near 0 mV. When the receptor potentials of adapting OHCs measured during current injection are compensated for constant input resistance and driving voltage across the transducer conductance, the receptor potential amplitude at the offset of the step displacement is independent of the level and polarity of the injected current. Before adaptation, at the onset of the step displacement of the hair bundle, the amplitude of the receptor potential increases as the injected current becomes more positive. For adapting OHCs, the receptor potential amplitude is a linear function of excitatory bundle displacement for amplitudes less than 50 nm. With negative, but not positive, current injection the receptor potentials at the onset of the displacement tend to saturate and the slope of the function decreases. This voltage dependent control of OHC transducer operating range is proposed to have a role in regulating the sensitivity of the cochlea. PMID- 2613568 TI - Distortion products in early stage experimental hydrops in the guinea pig. AB - The swelling of the endolymphatic spaces in experimental hydrops is likely to induce mechanical changes all along the cochlea. The selective atrophy of short and middle stereocilia on the outer hair cell above the first cochlear turn is expected to alter micromechanics and transduction. Two tone stimuli were employed in the present study to investigate cochlear distortion products in hydropic ears. Despite a substantial low frequency sensitivity loss on the CAP audiogram, 2f1-f2 distortion products recorded in the RWCM and the CAP were similar in hydropic ears and normal control ears which reflect the probable common origin of these responses--the base of the cochlea where no threshold shifts can be detected. On the other hand this distortion product in the otoacoustic emissions was considerably reduced in hydropic cochleas when the primary tones lay within the pathological part of the audiogram. The reduction of CDT emissions cannot be accounted for by hair cell loss since at the early stage of hydrops described here there is only discrete hair cell loss which is restricted to the apex of the cochlea. On the other hand the reduction in the amplitude of the CDT might reflect disturbance in hair cell function and/or cochlear mechanics above the first cochlear turn. PMID- 2613569 TI - Ganglion cell loss continues during hair cell regeneration. AB - Hair cells and ganglion cells were counted in young adult quail (Coturnix coturnix) after acoustic trauma at 10, 30, 60 and 90 day survival times. Following sacrifice the basilar papillae, along with the ganglia, were fixed, embedded in plastic and sectioned serially at 100 mu intervals from basal to apical tip. Hair cells and ganglion cells were counted from 3 mu thick sections at each interval. Hair cells were designated as tall or short within the area 30 70% of length from basal tip of the papilla. Both tall and short hair cells were significantly reduced in number 10 days following trauma. Tall hair cells recovered to within 96% of normal after 60-90 days. Short hair cells recovered but to a lesser extent. Ganglion cell loss did not begin until 30 days after trauma and continued without recovery 90 days after trauma. A good correlation was found for position of both types of hair cell loss and position of ganglion cell loss. These results suggest that the initial loss of hair cells, both tall and short, results in retrograde degeneration of neural fibers and ganglion cells. PMID- 2613570 TI - Adapting best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) for timely genetic evaluation: I. Progeny traits in a single contemporary group for each sex. AB - The first step of a procedure to partially circumvent the voluminous calculations with extremely large matrices for the usual algorithms for a BLUP (best linear unbiased prediction) approach is presented. This procedure, specific for a hierarchical portion of a model relevant to many animal breeding populations, is pertinent especially for polytocous species such as swine and poultry. For these, the occurrence of full-sib families makes the inclusion of dam effects in the model more necessary than in dairy or beef cattle models, where dam effects often are omitted. The formulas are derived for the hierarchical model for sires, dams within sires, individuals within full-sib family, and records within individuals, showing a relatively simple structure for such predictors. These formulas provide the basis for an alternative computing algorithm for obtaining evaluations having the statistical properties of best linear unbiased prediction. Formulas also are developed to approximate the prediction error variances for such models. Following this, the methodology for combining separate BLUP predictors, both error-independent and correlated, is developed. PMID- 2613571 TI - Adapting best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) for timely genetic evaluation: II. Progeny traits in multiple contemporary groups within a herd. AB - The second step of a procedure to partially circumvent the voluminous calculations for some BLUP (Best Linear Unbiased Prediction) computing algorithms for genetic evaluation is presented. In addition, the procedure allows timely evaluations of each contemporary group. This procedure is pertinent especially for polytocous species such as swine and poultry, for which the occurrence of full-sib families makes the inclusion of dam effects in the model necessary and tests are completed throughout the year. Formulas are developed for a model including sires, dams, individuals within full-sib families and records within individuals. This model has a fundamentally hierarchical structure but includes some cross-classification. The formulas for predictors combine information across contemporary groups within a herd and incorporate relationships between sires and(or) dams in that herd. Formulas to approximate prediction error variances also are developed. PMID- 2613572 TI - Factors influencing calving difficulty in beef heifers. AB - Records of 547, 2-yr-old heifers of three breed groups were used to evaluate the relative influence of dam's body and pelvic measurements, calf birth weight, sire birth weight and some relative measures (ratios) of calf birth weight and dam weight at calving on calving difficulty. The data were analyzed by regression and least squares procedures. The full model explained 32.5% of the variation in calving difficulty score. The linear effect of calf birth weight was the most important variable, accounting for 17.8% reduction in the coefficient of determination, and together with dam weight at calving and the quadratic effect of calf birth weight it accounted for 92% for all the variation explained by the full model. Dam weight at calving was negatively related to calving difficulty. Breed, year and sex of calf did not influence calving difficulty score, except when the calf birth weight or dam weight or both were excluded from the model. When calf birth weight was expressed as a ratio of the dam's weight at calving, hip height and pelvic measurements, the total model explained 34.8% of the variation in calving difficulty score. The ratio of calf birth weight to dam weight was the most important variable (R2 = 26.8%). Ratios of calf to dam weight at calving and calf weight to the vertical pelvic diameter (R2 = 29.3%) were the only significant factors when the effects of calf birth weight and dam weight were removed from the model. Pelvic measurements, on their own, did not influence calving difficulty score in this study (P greater than .1), but small pelvic dimensions tended to be associated with higher calving difficulty scores. PMID- 2613573 TI - Genetic parameters for ewe productivity traits in the Columbia, Suffolk and Targhee breeds. AB - Estimates of repeatability and heritability were obtained for the following productivity traits of ewes: litter weight at birth (LWB) and weaning (LWW), litter size at birth (LSB), litter size alive at birth (NBA), litter size at weaning (LSW), neonatal survival rate (SRB) and preweaning survival rate (SRW). Phenotypic and genetic correlations were estimated for litter traits. The data set contained 6,394 ewe breeding records from three state stations over 10 yr on 1,731 ewes that were the progeny of 488 sires among three breeds (Columbia, Suffolk and Targhee). Pooled intra-station estimates of repeatability ranged from .11 to .22 for LWB and LWW among the three breeds. For litter size at birth, number born alive and litter size at weaning these estimates varied from .09 to .17 and for the survival traits (SRB and SRW) the variation was from .11 to .20. Intra-station estimates of heritability for the three breeds varied from .12 to .28 for LWB and LWW, and for LSB, NBA and LSW estimates varied from .05 to .35. Heritability estimates for survival traits (SRB and SRW) were low, ranging from .00 to .14. Phenotypic correlations among LWB, LWW, NBA and LSW ranged from .35 to .92 among the breed-station subclasses, with higher correlations occurring where a part-whole relationship existed. The study suggests that selection of ewes with high litter size at birth or at weaning and(or) litter weight at birth or at weaning will genetically improve total litter weight at weaning per ewe lambing. PMID- 2613574 TI - Lifetime production of 1/4 and 1/2 Finnsheep ewes from Rambouillet, Targhee and Columbia dams as affected by natural attrition. AB - Lifetime production of first-generation 1/4 and 1/2 Finnsheep crossbred ewes from Rambouillet (R), Targhee (T) and Columbia (C) dams was compared with that from randomly selected purebred R, T and C ewes. All 1,190 ewes, representing nine breed groups, were managed under range conditions and mated annually to Suffolk rams. Lifetime production was evaluated as the total lamb and total wool production per ewe from the time each entered the breeding flock at 7 mo of age through the period each remained in the flock (potentially seven producing years). Culling was for debilitating unsoundness only. The study was designed to determine the average lifetime production per breed group as affected by natural ewe attrition. Orphan-reared lambs were not included in lamb production nor were foster lambs, except those actually born in and reared by the groups. Differences among pooled breed groups (1/4 Finns, 1/2 Finns and purebreds) were not significant for average final age in the flock (5.1, 5.1 and 4.9 yr, respectively), but differences were significant (P less than .01) for lifetime lamb and wool production. Average lifetime fleece weights of 1/4 and 1/2 Finn ewes were only 95 and 82% as high, respectively, as those of purebreds. However, 1/4 and 1/2 Finn ewes had 34 and 46%, respectively, higher numbers of lambs weaned (at 130 d) and 30 and 38% higher total weight of lamb weaned than purebreds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613575 TI - Behavioral responses of periparturient sows and juvenile pigs to prostaglandin F2 alpha. AB - Within minutes after prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) injection on d 112 postcoitum and again in the last few hours before delivery of the first piglet around 22 h later, sows in pens intensely rooted and pawed, which is typical prepartum nestbuilding behavior. Control sows engaged in most such typical prepartum activity (TPA) within 16 h before delivery. The overall frequencies and durations of TPA for the 48-h prepartum period were not influenced by injection, but injection of PGF2 alpha did alter the temporal pattern of behavior and resulted in a bimodal profile of activity. The PGF2 alpha injected 24 h postpartum immediately induced TPA in sows, but it was less intense and shorter than prepartum TPA. Postpartum only, some PGF2 alpha sows rubbed or kicked at their abdomens and seemed to experience discomfort. Because PGF2 alpha elicited TPA both pre- and postpartum, TPA probably was not directly triggered by changes in plasma progesterone concentration or in the estrogen:progesterone ratio. After injection of .5 or 1 mg PGF2 alpha, prepubertal pigs (approximately 10 kg) lay more but also changed posture more often. After PGF2 alpha, slight or no TPA was seen, but pigs pawed more often, showed signs of abdominal discomfort, defecated more often, stretched and arched their backs and scratched or kicked at their sides or abdomens. Most PGF2 alpha-induced TPA by prepartum sows probably is not caused by some general peripheral effect, but rather by some neural or endocrine change that stimulates nestbuilding specifically in animals primed by the endogenous endocrine environment of late pregnancy. PMID- 2613576 TI - Effects of natural mating stimuli on serum luteinizing hormone, testosterone and estradiol-17 beta in yearling beef bulls. AB - The objective of this study was to determine the effect of natural mating stimuli on serum concentrations of LH, testosterone (T) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) in beef bulls. Twenty sexually experienced, yearling beef bulls were bled every 15 min during a 9-h period, 4 h before and 5 h after exposure to estrual females. For exposure, each bull was placed individually in an isolated pen with two restrained estrual heifers for 10 min or until one service was achieved. Timing and number of all behavioral events, including flehmen responses, abortive mounts and services, were recorded for each bull by two independent observers. Of the 20 bulls, 9 bulls mounted and were removed immediately after achieving a service, 8 bulls mounted without achieving a service and 3 bulls exhibited no interest during exposure. Twelve bulls achieved fewer than three and eight bulls achieved three or more flehmen responses during exposure. Postexposure responses in LH, T and E2 were not consistently correlated with number of mounts or presence or absence of a service. However, postexposure LH and T, but not E2, responses were highly correlated with number of flehmen responses achieved (r = .40 to .66; P = .08 to .001). In bulls that achieved three or more flehmen responses, serum LH increased within 30 min after exposure (P = .02) and serum T was increased dramatically within 1 h after exposure (P less than .01), compared with preexposure hormone concentrations, regardless of the number of mounts and regardless of the presence or absence of a service. Natural mating stimuli had no effect on serum E2, and mounting activity alone and mounting that culminated in a service did not necessarily result in increased LH or T in beef bulls. However, number of flehmen responses achieved during exposure to females dramatically influenced postexposure serum LH and T concentrations in beef bulls. PMID- 2613577 TI - Chronic heat stress and prenatal development in sheep: I. Conceptus growth and maternal plasma hormones and metabolites. AB - Pregnant ewes were chronically exposed to thermoneutral (TN; 20 degrees C, 30% relative humidity) or hot (H; 40 degrees C 9 h/d, 30 degrees C 15 h/d, 40% relative humidity) environments between d 64 and 136 to 141 of pregnancy. They were sampled for blood at 14-d intervals during this period for measurement of plasma metabolites and hormones, then slaughtered and dissected to measure conceptus weights, dimensions and fetal organ weights. Rectal temperatures of H ewes were elevated .3 to 1.0 C degrees above those of TN ewes throughout the experiment. Voluntary feed intakes were not altered by heat exposure except after 120 d of pregnancy, when feed intake was about 25% lower (P less than .10) by H than by TN ewes. Blood 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were not affected by heat, but plasma glucose concentrations were greater in H than in TN animals after 120 d (P less than .05). Placental weight, reduced by 54% (P less than .001) by heat exposure of ewes, was correlated positively with fetal weight and correlated negatively with fetal/placental weight ratio, fetal brain/liver weight ratio and fetal relative heart weight. Late in pregnancy, plasma concentrations of progesterone, cortisol and placental lactogen were reduced (P less than .01) in H ewes, whereas triiodothyronine levels were markedly lower (P less than .03) at all stages of pregnancy. Plasma concentrations of prolactin were elevated dramatically (P less than .01) and a modest increase (P less than .03) in somatotropin levels was recorded in H ewes. These results are consistent with our hypothesis that heat-induced fetal growth retardation is secondary to a primary reduction in placental growth; this could be mediated partly by reduced peripheral activity of thyroid hormones. Heat-induced reductions in secretion of progesterone and ovine placental lactogen more likely were a consequence than a cause of placental stunting. PMID- 2613578 TI - The effects of bovine growth hormone and thyroxine on growth rate and carcass measurements in lambs. AB - The effects of bovine growth hormone (GH) and thyroxine (T4) on growth and carcass characteristics were assessed in Dorset ram lambs. Lambs in four groups (n = 10/group) were treated for 30 d as follows: controls, 3.33 mg (6 IU) GH/d (s.c.); 5-mg T4 implant (s.c.) on d 1 and a 10-mg T4 implant 21 d later; GH + T4. Blood samples were collected at 3-d intervals for analysis of GH, T4, triiodothyronine, somatomedin-C and testosterone concentrations. Six lambs/group were slaughtered for carcass measurements and composition. Daily GH injections increased (P less than .005) baseline plasma GH levels 10-fold, whereas plasma T4 concentrations were increased 10% (P less than .10) by the implants. Somatomedin C increased with time in all groups, but the increments from d 0 to d 30 were higher (P less than .05) with GH treatment. Average daily gain (mean = 352 g/d), feed consumption and feed to gain ratio were not affected (P greater than .1) by GH or T4 treatment in ram lambs. Hot carcass weight and dressing percentage were increased (P less than .05) by T4. Growth hormone increased carcass protein content (P less than .005) and muscle weights while reducing carcass fat (P less than .05). Carcass composition was not altered by T4 alone, and the T4 x GH interaction was not significant; however, the combination of T4 and GH resulted in greater muscle and protein weight than did either hormone alone or no hormone administration. There were no differences in bone length or in the metacarpal growth plate width among groups. The beneficial effects of GH on carcass composition were not further enhanced by administration of thyroxine. PMID- 2613579 TI - Utilization of medium-chain triglycerides by neonatal piglets: I. Effects on milk consumption and body fuel utilization. AB - Two experiments were conducted utilizing neonatal piglets. In the first experiment, 18 piglets were used to determine the effect of an oral supplement of 0, 12 or 24 ml of a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) product on subsequent milk consumption. Results from the weight-suckle-weight experiment showed that force feeding 24 ml of the MCT decreased (P less than .05) milk intake but 12 ml did not. In the second experiment, two trials (each with 24 piglets) were used to investigate the effect of 12 ml of MCT or 12 ml of MCT plus .6 mmol of L carnitine on the concentration of blood glucose, ammonium N and urea N at 0, 12 or 24 h and liver and biceps femoris glycogen at 24 h post-treatment. Blood urea N decreased (P less than .05) in piglets receiving the MCT. Blood ammonium N and glucose concentrations were not different (P greater than .10) among treatments. In Trial 1, the predicted loss of liver glycogen was less (P less than .05) in pigs given the MCT treatment, but this response was not repeated in the second trial. In general, supplemental carnitine provided no added benefit over the MCT treatment alone. The results from this study indicate that MCT is utilized as a fuel by the newborn piglet and that its use may spare critical fuels, glycogen and protein, that were stored in the piglet prior to birth. PMID- 2613580 TI - Utilization of medium-chain triglycerides by neonatal piglets: II. Effects of even- and odd-chain triglyceride consumption over the first 2 days of life on blood metabolites and urinary nitrogen excretion. AB - In two experiments, 144 neonatal pigs were force-fed 12 ml of triglyceride containing fatty acids of even (C8, C10) or odd (C7, C9) medium-chain length (even-MCT, odd-MCT, respectively) or long- (greater than or equal to C16) chain length (LCT). Pigs were individually caged for measurement of urinary N excretion and(or) blood metabolites over 24 h. In Exp. 1, pigs were force-fed immediately after birth and were not allowed to suckle. Supplementation with triglyceride decreased 24-h N excretion compared with control animals given 12 ml of water, suggesting decreased breakdown of body protein and improved energy status. Blood glucose increased over 24 h in all pigs (P less than .05), but more in pigs given MCT (1.38 mM) than in those given LCT (.61 mM) or in controls (.85 mM) and more in animals given even-MCT (1.87 mM) than in those given odd-MCT (1.14 mM). In Exp. 2, pigs were allowed to suckle and were force-fed at 6, 18 or 48 h of age. An apparent improvement in utilization of even-MCT was observed between 6 and 18 h, as evidenced by a twofold vs a sixfold increase in 3-OH-butyrate (BHBA) concentration 1 h after dosing and a twofold vs 12-fold increase in plasma fatty acid concentration. This was not seen in pigs given odd-MCT. The BHBA response with odd-MCT was approximately half that observed with even-MCT in pigs 18 and 48 h old, but not in pigs 6 h old. No change in BHBA concentration (P greater than .1) was observed in pigs after force-feeding LCT at either 6, 18 or 48 h of age. Collectively, these data suggest that MCT may be better utilized than LCT and that there may be a differences in the utilization of even-MCT vs odd-MCT, depending on the age of the neonate. This could be related to chain length effects on digestion and absorption because plasma decanoate concentration changed very little, even though it composed 25% of the even-MCT supplement. PMID- 2613581 TI - Estimation of sow milk nutrient output. AB - Ten replicates of two littermate gilts were used during a 21-d lactation in order to calculate relationships between milk nutrient intake and piglet growth rate and composition of gain. Gilts were fed 14.2 or 10.4 Mcal ME/d and litter size was standardized to 9 or 10 piglets. Piglets had no access to creep feed. Milk production was measured on 10 sucklings over 12 h on d 1, 5, 9, 13, 17 and 21 by the weigh-suckle-weigh method. Heat production of the piglets was measured (RQ method) on the same days in a confinement chamber. Milk composition was determined on the days following milk production measurements. Four to ten piglets/litter were slaughtered at weaning and their body composition was determined. Milk nutrient production during part of lactation was related closely to piglet weight gain and body weight (R2 = .80 to .96). Milk DM, energy and N output over the entire lactation were predicted from piglet ADG (R2 = .87 to .90) when, for each litter, the difference between energy in piglet daily weight gain measured by the slaughter technique and energy in piglet daily weight gain estimated by the RQ method was included in the model. This variable corrects for milk production measurement errors. The relationships were slightly improved, especially for energy output, when the composition of piglet weight gain was taken into account (R2 = .93 to .97). PMID- 2613582 TI - Effect of dietary folic acid supplementation on sow performance through two parities. AB - One hundred fifty-three gilts were maintained in three breeding groups and fed gestation-lactation diets supplemented with either 0 (control), 1.65 or 6.62 mg of supplemental folic acid/kg of diet for two consecutive parities. Serum folate concentrations of sows were linearly (P less than .05) increased by dietary additions of folic acid during both gestation and lactation, but serum glucose and urea concentrations were unaffected by treatment. Serum folate concentrations decreased from breeding to d 60 and 90 of gestation and then increased through lactation for all treatments. Number of pigs born and live pigs at birth, d 14 and d 21 were quadratically (P less than .05) increased by folic acid additions. Average pig weights were similar among treatments (P greater than .10) on both d 0 and 14 of lactation but were less (P less than .01) than the other treatment groups on d 21 for pigs from sows fed the 1.65 mg/kg treatment. Litter weights were quadratically (P less than .01) increased on d 0 and d 14 by folic acid supplementation. Sow weight gain and backfat thickness loss were unaffected by treatment during gestation (P greater than .06); sow weight loss and backfat thickness loss increased quadratically with increasing level of folic acid during lactation (P less than .06 and .05, respectively). More control sows exhibited estrus by d 7 postweaning than sows receiving folic acid supplementation in parity I (P less than .05); however, no differences (P greater than .10) were detected among treatments by d 14, nor were any differences observed by d 7 in parity II. Conception rate was unaffected by folic acid additions. Dietary folic acid supplementation improved sow reproductive performance by increasing the number of pigs born alive. PMID- 2613583 TI - Effects of endophyte-infected fescue and cimetidine on respiration rates, rectal temperatures and hepatic mixed function oxidase activity as measured by hepatic antipyrine metabolism in sheep. AB - The effects of endophyte-infected fescue (Kentucky 31) hay and cimetidine on respiration rates, rectal temperatures and hepatic antipyrine uptakes of three mature ewes were measured in 15 experiments. Hepatic antipyrine uptake was measured as an indirect indicator of hepatic mixed-function oxidase (MFO) activity. Five experiments on each ewe were conducted during consumption of endophyte-free (one exp/ewe, control), endophyte-infected (two exp/ewe, EIF) and endophyte-infected fescue hay plus cimetidine (800 mg/d i.v., two exp/ewe, EIFC). Respiration rates increased (P less than .05) 2.6-fold after 11 d on EIF from 26 to 68 and decreased (P less than .025) to 27 breaths/min after 4 d of cimetidine treatment. Rectal temperatures increased (P less than .05) 1.1 degrees C after 8 d on EIF. Cimetidine lowered temperatures to control levels by d 4. Endophyte infected fescue hay increased (P less than .05) hepatic antipyrine uptake 70% after 11 d, but uptake was lowered to control levels by cimetidine by d 4. Increased respiration rates and rectal temperatures in animals consuming EIF seem to be related to increased MFO activity. Cimetidine reversed some of these effects. PMID- 2613584 TI - Effects of changes in frequency of reticular contractions on fluid and particulate passage rates in cattle. AB - Four ruminally cannulated Hereford steers (531 +/- 32 kg) without weights (control; C) or with 24-kg weights (W) in the rumen were used in a double crossover design experiment to determine the effects of changes in frequency of reticular contractions at maintenance feed intakes on passage rates of particulate matter and fluid from the rumen. Duration of reticular contractions, apparent digestibilities and heat and methane productions were also determined. Weights in the rumen had no effect (P = .07) on frequency of reticular contractions before feeding; however, frequencies of reticular contractions were higher in C than in W steers during feeding (P = .03) and after feeding (P = .05). Weights in the rumen increased the average duration of contractions before feeding (P = .04), during feeding (P = .01) and after feeding (P = .05) by 12, 15 and 15%, respectively. Fractional outflow rates of ruminal and whole gastrointestinal particulate matter were 38% and 49% lower (P = .001) in C than in W steers, respectively. Weights in the rumen reduced (P = .001) methane production (liters/d) by 29%. Methane production was inversely correlated with fractional outflow rate for ruminal particulate matter (r = -.53; P = .034). Heat productions for W and C steers were 12.3 and 12.6 Mcal/d, respectively. Weights in the rumen had no effect on apparent digestibility. Duration of reticular contractions, in contrast to frequency of contractions, was the important factor influencing passage rates of both ruminal fluid and particulate matter. Methane production was decreased when passage rates were increased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613585 TI - The effect of zeranol on live weight gain, feed intake and carcass composition of steers during compensatory growth. AB - To evaluate the effect of zeranol implants in steers on compensatory ++growth, 80 steer calves (9 mo of age; 200 kg) were fed at two feeding levels (RO = 9.2 MJ ME/kg DM; R1 = 6.9 MJ ME/kg DM) for 119 d (Period 1). During Period 2, steers were full-fed to 400 kg BW with (Z1) or without (ZO) zeranol implants. Ten steers were slaughtered at the end of Period 1 to estimate carcass composition. Differences of 100 kg in BW were achieved by restriction in Period 1. Subsequent to restriction, cumulative ADG remained greater (P less than .05) up to the 24th wk of recuperation and implants increased (P less than .001) BW gain by 31% and 24% for RO and R1, respectively. The average daily energy intake (ME/W(.75) in Period 2 was similar for all treatments. Feed conversion was improved by 21.5% (P less than .05) by implants. At the end of Period 2 the R1ZO had 8.6 kg less muscle (P less than .001), 2.9 kg less bone (P less than .001) and 5.9 kg more fat (P less than .05) than the ROZO. In comparison, the carcasses of the implanted animals did not show significant differences (P greater than .05) due to restriction. Carcass daily gains were increased by previous restriction (P less than .01) and implants (P less than .05). Zeranol increased daily live weight gain and feed conversion in animals in continuous growth as well as in those observed in compensatory growth an tended to eliminate a tendency for higher content of fat in carcasses of nonimplanted animals making compensatory growth. PMID- 2613586 TI - Eating and ruminating behavior of steers fed Coastal Bermudagrass hay at four levels. AB - Effects of feeding level on chewing behavior and physical reduction of particles during ingestive mastication and rumination were examined in four ruminally cannulated steers fed Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) hay in the long form. The experimental design was a 4 x 4 latin square with 18-d periods. Treatments based on previous intakes were set at 50, 70, 90 and 110% of feed consumed per animal. Steers were fed at 12-h intervals. Chewing behavior was monitored over 4 d with a computerized system. Boli of ingested, masticated hay (MH), collected at the cardia, and serial samples of digesta taken from the ruminal upper strata (RUS) were wet-sieved. Dimensions of MH particles retained on 4.0- and 2.0-mm sieves were determined by image analysis. Increasing feeding level resulted in a linear increase in the number of boli ruminated (P less than .01) and in linear increases in eating (P less than .01), ruminating (P less than .05) and total chewing time (P less than .01). Linear increases in number of eating (P less than .01), ruminating (P less than .01) and total chews (P less than .01) also were observed. Feeding level had no effect on bolus duration, number of chews/bolus, number of boli/min rumination time and number of chews/min rumination time. The extent of particle breakdown during ingestive mastication was a determinant of the number of boli ruminated daily and their associated number of chews. Number of boli ruminated daily also was related to the RUS mean particle size. Eating time did not provide a reliable indication of how well feed was chewed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613587 TI - Dose-response relationship of tetronasin administered to grazing steers. AB - Two grazing experiments were conducted to evaluate the dose-response relationship of steers to the ionophore tetronasin. Bermudagrass-based pastures were grazed 126 d in Exp. 1, and annual ryegrass or an annual ryegrass-berseem clover mixture was grazed 112 d in Exp. 2. Tetronasin was administered in ground corn (.91 kg/hd) fed daily to provide dosages of 0, 7.5, 15, 30, 60 or 90 mg. One hundred forty-four steers (220 kg, Exp. 1; 196 kg, Exp. 2) were allocated to treatment groups of six steers within four initial weight blocks in Exp. 1 and within two initial weight blocks, assigned to two forage types in Exp. 2. Initial weight blocks were confounded with four pasture blocks, divided in six 1.35-ha paddocks. Treatment groups were rotated among paddocks within pasture block every 2 wk. Stepwise tetronasin addition resulted in a linear increase (P less than .05) in the proportion of propionic acid and a linear decrease (P less than .05) in the proportion of acetic acid and the acetic to propionic acid ratio in both experiments. Total VFA concentrations were not altered in Exp. 1 but they decreased linearly in Exp. 2 with tetronasin addition. Maximal observed improvement in daily gain (.1 kg) occurred at a dosage of 30 mg.hd-1.d-1 in Exp. 1 and 90 mg.hd-1.d-1 in Exp. 2. Daily gain increased linearly (P less than .06) with tetronasin level in both experiments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613588 TI - Feed intake, digestion and digesta characteristics of cattle fed Bermudagrass or orchardgrass alone or with ground barley or corn. AB - Feed intake, digestion and digesta characteristics of cattle fed bermudagrass (BG) or orchardgrass (OG) alone or with supplemental ground corn or barley were determined in two 6 x 6 latin squares with 2 x 3 factorial treatment arrangements. In Exp. 1, beef cows (Hereford, Angus and Hereford-Angus; 452 kg) cannulated in the rumen and duodenum were fed BG (7.9% CP, 79% NDF and 8.7% ADL) or OG (9.8% CP, 79% NDF and 7.2% ADL) hays at 1.2% of BW per day either alone or with added ground barley (.64% BW) or ground corn (.60% BW daily). The increase in microbial OM flow with corn was greater for OG than for BG; corn elevated microbial OM flow more than did barley with OG but less than with BG (forage type x grain source interaction; P less than .10). The increase in total tract OM digestion with grain was greater for BG than for OG (supplementation effect and forage type x supplementation interaction; P less than 05). In Exp. 2, Holstein steers (228 kg) were fed BG and OG hays ad libitum either alone or with addition of either 1.07% of BW per day of barley or 1.00% BW of corn. Total DM intake was 2.19, 3.03 and 2.82% BW for BG and 2.14, 2.80 and 2.52% BW for OG alone or with barley or corn supplements, respectively, being affected by forage type, grain supplementation, grain type and a forage type x grain supplementation interaction (P less than .05). Organic matter digested daily (g/d) was higher for OG than for BG, higher with than without grain and higher for barley than for corn (P less than .05). PMID- 2613589 TI - Elevation of a specific mRNA in longissimus muscle of steers fed ractopamine. AB - To address the hypothesis that some classes of growth promoters stimulate muscle protein synthesis in growing cattle, 23 crossbred steers were fed diets containing the phenethanolamine growth promoter ractopamine in a 140-d feeding trial. Steers received either no ractopamine, .18 or .36 mg.kg BW-1.d-1 ractopamine for 140 d or .36 or .72 mg.kg BW-1.d-1 ractopamine for 56 d. Longissimus muscle was obtained at slaughter and frozen in liquid N2. RNA was extracted by homogenization of pulverized frozen muscle in guanidinium isothiocyanate and centrifugation through cesium chloride. Polyadenylated mRNA was extracted by capture on oligo-dT columns. Ractopamine had no effect on total RNA or mRNA concentrations (P greater than .25). Hybridization of the RNA to a putative myosin light chain-1/3 (MLC-1/3) cDNA clone in a Northern blot indicated one heavy band (approximately 1 kb) with no evidence of extensive destruction of the RNA. A second, minor band (approximately 3 kb) also was observed in some samples. The MLC-1/3 cDNA clone was hybridized to 1- or 5-micrograms samples of total RNA, and the intensity of the resultant autoradiographs was quantified by laser densitometry. There was a statistical correlation between MLC-1/3 mRNA micrograms RNA-1 and longissimus cross-sectional area (P less than .05) and average daily gain (P less than .025). The results suggest that ractopamine either increased the transcription of the putative MLC-1/3 gene and(or) increased the stability of MLC-1/3 mRNA in bovine longissimus muscle, either of which could result in an increase in specific myofibrillar protein synthesis. PMID- 2613590 TI - Production and characterization of a compound inhibitory to Vibrio parahaemolyticus from Proteus vulgaris. AB - The production and characteristics of a compound in Proteus vulgaris G cultures which was capable of inhibiting Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other food-borne pathogens was investigated. Production was influenced by medium composition, pH and temperature but not by the extent of aeration. The compound was most inhibitory at the optimum temperature for growth of V. parahaemolyticus. The inhibitor was most stable at pH 7.0 and inhibition occurred even after heating at 70 degrees C for 30 min and after autoclaving. Ultrafiltration showed that the inhibitor had a molecular weight less than 1000. Thin layer chromatography of filtrates and subsequent peptidase digestion indicated that it was at least in part a peptide. The inhibitor purified by Sephadex G-15 gel filtration had a calculated molecular weight of 731 and contained only six amino acids. PMID- 2613591 TI - The effects of chlorhexidine on the maximum specific growth rate, biomass and hydrolytic enzyme production of Bacteroides gingivalis grown in continuous culture. AB - Bacteroides gingivalis was grown in continuous culture in the presence of chlorhexidine. Maximum specific growth rates and biomass levels initially increased but then decreased as the chlorhexidine level increased from 0 to 30 micrograms/ml. Total inhibition of growth occurred when the chlorhexidine concentration reached 60 micrograms/ml. The steady-state levels of cell-bound, extracellular vesicle and extracellular soluble enzymes, trypsin-like protease, alkaline phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase were measured. With increasing sub-lethal concentrations of chlorhexidine, levels of alkaline phosphatase increased noticeably in all three fractions of culture, whilst cell bound and extracellular vesicle levels of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase remained approximately constant. Extracellular soluble levels of alkaline phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase increased with increasing levels of chlorhexidine. The levels of trypsin-like protease decreased significantly in all fractions of the culture when cells were grown in the presence of chlorhexidine. Thus, chlorhexidine has a differential effect on the production of B. gingivalis hydrolytic enzymes. PMID- 2613592 TI - Performance profiles of topical antimicrobials in vitro. AB - The in-vitro efficacy of commercially available topical antimicrobial products against control strains and those from clinical material are compared with an agar diffusion model. The MICs of the constituent antimicrobial compounds have been determined for the same organisms. Plotting the inhibition zone diameters produced by the topical products against the log10 MICs of their constituent antimicrobial compound(s) gives overall product performance profiles for a range of organisms. These profiles confirm that the formulation of a topical product clearly modifies the response obtained with a specific antimicrobial compound. PMID- 2613593 TI - Detection of salmonellas in animal feeds by electrical conductance. AB - A comparison was made between standard culture methods and electrical conductance using a Malthus AT Microbiological Analyser for the examination of animal feeds for salmonella. Conductance testing with a selenite cystine/trimethylamine-N oxide/dulcitol medium resulted in the detection of salmonellas in 49 of 55 known positive animal feeds, 13 of 19 spiked feed samples and 36 of 47 salmonella cultures. Testing with a lysine decarboxylase/glucose medium gave significantly better results (P less than 0.05) than with selenite cystine medium but five lysine decarboxylase negative strains of salmonella were undetected. When both media were used in parallel all salmonella positive samples were detected. No difference was found between preenrichment in buffered peptone water containing trimethylamine/mannitol and that containing lysine/glucose. Positive detection criteria for selenite medium of conductance peak at greater than or equal to 500 microsiemens (microS) with a rate of change of greater than or equal to 60 microS/h or 400-499 microS with a rate of change of greater than or equal to 40 microS/h and for lysine medium with a peak of greater than or equal to 100 microS have been established. The method offers savings in media and operating costs over conventional standard culture methods, provides results within 48 h and is recommended for statutory feed monitoring purposes. PMID- 2613594 TI - Incidence of aeromonads in samples from an abattoir processing lambs. AB - Two hundred and thirty three samples of lamb carcasses, livers, kidneys and faeces, collected at a local abattoir, were examined to determine the incidence of motile Aeromonas spp. Wash water from the abattoir was also tested. Direct plating on starch ampicillin agar and enrichment in alkaline peptone water were used. The incidence of aeromonads was low. They were detected only after enrichment in 5/47 faecal samples and 11/50 carcass samples. The 41 strains of Aeromonas isolated were identified to species level and 93% of them were able to grow at 5 degrees C. The ability to produce both haemolysin and enterotoxin was species-related and was more common in Aeromonas hydrophila and A. sobria strains than in A. caviae strains. PMID- 2613595 TI - The bactericidal effect of isoascorbic acid combined with mild heat. AB - The thermal inactivation of Salmonella thompson, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Candida zeylanoides, Enterococcus faecium and E. faecalis was accelerated by the addition of sodium isoascorbate (1 mmol/l) to phosphate-buffer heating medium but not to complex food mixtures. The lethal effect of isoascorbate was nullified by heating under anaerobic conditions or by the addition of catalase. The scavengers of hydroxyl radicals, mannitol and formate were not protective whereas histidine was. Histidine may have protected by slowing the rate of isoascorbate autoxidation, a property common to other amino acids tested. Superoxide dismutase was not protective. Dehydroascorbic acid also enhanced heat killing and its action was also reversed by catalase. The bactericidal effects of mild heat plus isoascorbate or dehydroascorbic acid both apparently depend on oxidative processes but their relative effectiveness was not related to their respective rates of oxygen consumption or peroxide production. We speculate that site-specific redox reactions, involving amino-carbonyl intermediates are involved in the inactivation mechanism. PMID- 2613596 TI - Special issue on supported employment. Philosophical, legal and scientific basis for vocational integration. PMID- 2613597 TI - Teaching supported employees with severe mental retardation to solve problems. AB - Two individuals with severe mental retardation, employed by a janitorial supply company, were taught to use self-instruction in combination with multiple exemplar training to solve work-related problems. Use of the combined strategy resulted in generalization of the effects of independent variables, as well as generalization to nontrained problems. Use of the strategy is discussed in terms of promoting independent performance among supported employees. PMID- 2613598 TI - A problem-solving approach to social skills training in employment settings with mentally retarded youth. AB - The present study examined two approaches to teaching social behaviors to 3 developmentally disabled youths in work contexts. In one approach, a problem solving procedure was learned and transferred to different materials. Conversational probes monitored interactions between disabled employees and their co-workers and customers. A multiple baseline design demonstrated that the training produced generalization and maintenance of the targeted social behaviors to the work settings: A second approach based on a role-playing intervention produced no substantial generalization in the work setting. A social validation questionnaire administered to co-workers supported the efficacy of the problem solving training procedure. The efficacy of social problem-solving training was discussed in terms of sufficient exemplars, common stimuli, and self-mediations. PMID- 2613599 TI - Co-worker implemented job training: the use of coincidental training and quality control checking on the food preparation skills of trainees with mental retardation. AB - In two studies, co-workers of persons with disabilities were taught to use coincidental training procedures while completing their own jobs. In Study 1, the effects of coincidental training on the salad-making skills of 3 trainees with mild and moderate mental retardation were evaluated. Coincidental training by co workers resulted in improved accuracy of the salad-making skills of the trainees. In Study 2, trainees were also coincidentally taught to make quality-control checks of their salads. An alternating treatments and multiple baseline design indicated that the trainees more readily acquired the skills when taught to check the correctness of their work. PMID- 2613600 TI - An analysis of the procedural components of supported employment programs associated with employment outcomes. AB - This study examined the relation between the procedural components of supported employment programs and employment outcomes for 120 individuals with disabilities. These individuals were involved in supported employment programs established through the Utah Supported Employment Project. The results suggest that successful implementation of supported employment services led to ongoing employment of study participants in community work sites, increased wages, and ongoing opportunities for workers to interact with nondisabled peers. In addition, several procedural components were found to be strongly associated with successful employment outcomes for workers. Results of the study are discussed in terms of the training needs of supported employment program staff and future research for the dissemination of a cohesive technology of supported employment. PMID- 2613601 TI - Supported employment as an intervention package: a preliminary analysis of functional variables. AB - In this two-experiment investigation, the long-term (at least 6 months) employment of 51 moderately mentally retarded clients who were placed into 64 supported employment positions was first evaluated relative to 10 training and posttraining components that comprised a supported employment training package. In Experiment 1, chi-square analyses were used to identify three components that differentiated successful (employed for at least 6 months) from unsuccessful clients. In Experiment 2, 4 successful clients were further evaluated in a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design to determine whether the three variables identified during the group analysis (client advocate, collateral behavior, and follow-up plan) were included in the training packages. These results are discussed in terms of the need to establish better the functional variables of supported employment training programs. PMID- 2613602 TI - Antifungal activity of saperconazole (R 66 905) in vitro. AB - Saperconazole, a novel orally active triazole antifungal, inhibited Candida spp., Aspergillus spp. and dermatophyte fungi in vitro. Its minimal inhibitory concentrations for Candida spp. and dermatophytes were relatively high, like those of comparable triazole antifungals, but all of the Aspergillus isolates tested were inhibited by less than 0.1 mg/l. Relative inhibition factors of saperconazole were in the range 31-76% for Candida isolates, 6-18% for Aspergillus isolates and 5-10% for dermatophytes. These figures predict a good inhibitory activity of saperconazole for all the fungi tested, with particularly strong activity against Aspergillus spp. and dermatophytes. Saperconazole inhibited hyphal branch formation in C. albicans at concentrations as low as 10(8) M. PMID- 2613603 TI - In-vitro activity of cefetamet (Ro 15-8074) compared with other oral agents. AB - The bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of cefetamet (Ro 15-8074) were compared with those of cefadroxil, cefaclor, ampicillin, doxycycline, chloramphenicol and erythromycin against a total of 400 bacterial strains isolated from nosocomial respiratory tract and auditory canal infections. The broth macrodilution method was used to determine antimicrobial susceptibility. None of the compounds was effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Cefetamet was very active against ampicillin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli strains with the minimal inhibitory concentrations for 90% of the strains tested ranging from 0.25 to 1 mg/l. Cefetamet at a concentration of 8 mg/l inhibited 90% of Enterobacter aerogenes and 60% of S. epidermidis strains. In biophotometric studies, subinhibitory concentrations of cefetamet greatly lengthened the lag-phase and flattened the log-phase, the extent varying with the concentrations and species tested. It did not cause detectable lysis in the stationary-phase of the cultures. Adding two to 32 times inhibitory concentrations of cefetamet to middle-log cultures, no or moderate lysis occurred., except with Esch. coli. This observation suggests that cefetamet is primarily bacteriostatic for some of the strains tested. PMID- 2613604 TI - In-vitro activity of DR-3355, an optically active isomer of ofloxacin, against bacterial pathogens associated with travellers' diarrhoea. AB - The in-vitro activity of DR-3355, the S-(-)-isomer of ofloxacin, was determined against bacterial pathogens associated with travellers' diarrhoea. DR-3355 was highly active against isolates of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (MIC90 0.05 mg/l), Salmonella spp. (MIC90 0.10 mg/l), Shigella spp. (MIC90 0.10 mg/l), Campylobacter jejuni (MIC90 0.39 mg/l) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (MIC90 0.39 mg/l). The activity of DR-3355 against these bacteria was generally two- to eight fold greater than that of ofloxacin and equal to, or only two-fold less than, that of ciprofloxacin with the exception of isolates of C. jejuni, which were two fold less susceptible to ciprofloxacin than to DR-3355. PMID- 2613605 TI - Single-dose pharmacokinetics of intravenous ampicillin plus sulbactam in healthy elderly and young adult subjects. AB - The pharmacokinetics of intravenous ampicillin and sulbactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor, were evaluated in two different age groups. Twelve healthy elderly subjects (age 65-93 years) and 12 healthy young adult subjects (age 20-35 years) received both a dose of ampicillin 1 g plus sulbactam 0.5 g and a higher dose of ampicillin 2 g plus sulbactam 1 g after a one-week period between doses. A reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography method was used for the quantitation of ampicillin and sulbactam in serum and urine. The pharmacokinetic parameters for both ampicillin and sulbactam were calculated by computer-based two-compartment nonlinear model. After a 30-min infusion, serum concentrations of both drugs declined in a biexponential manner for both doses. Elderly subjects demonstrated significantly lower total clearances (Clt) than young adult subjects of ampicillin 1 g (220.0 +/- 104.2 vs 360.0 +/- 95.8 ml/min/1.73 m2), ampicillin 2 g (72.6 +/- 36.6 vs 306.8 +/- 109.77 ml/min/1.73 m2), sulbactam 0.5 g (122.3 +/ 47.8 vs 263.9 +/- 93.7 ml/min/1.73 m2), and sulbactam 1 g (171.2 +/- 85.8 vs 391.7 +/- 70.8 ml/min/1.73 m2), respectively. Significance was defined as P less than 0.05. Renal clearance was also significantly reduced in the elderly subjects. Area under the curve was found to be significantly increased in the elderly subjects compared to the young subjects for both ampicillin and sulbactam as were the beta elimination half-lives. No significant difference in the apparent volume of distribution, when adjusted for body weight, was found for either sulbactam (P greater than 0.95) or ampicillin (P greater than 0.95) between the two groups. Linear regression analysis revealed that age was significantly correlated with the Clt of ampicillin 1 g (r = 0.85, P less than 0.001), ampicillin 2 g (r = 0.90, P less than 0.001), sulbactam 0.5 g (r = 0.80, P less than 0.001), and sulbactam 1 g (r = 0.93, P less than 0.001). A multivariate analysis showed a slight improvement in correlation when creatinine clearance was added to age and compared with Clt. Urinary recovery of both ampicillin and sulbactam was approximately 60% after 14 h. PMID- 2613606 TI - The effect of new broad-spectrum antibiotics on faecal flora of cancer patients. AB - The effects of newly available broad-spectrum antibiotics, used for infection prophylaxis and therapy in cancer patients, on faecal aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were investigated. Quantitative and qualitative aerobic and anaerobic cultures were performed in 34 patients before therapy and between the sixth and eleventh day of therapy. Of the two prophylactic regimens norfloxacin plus amphotericin-B eliminated Enterobacteriaceae and enterococci without encouraging growth of yeasts or Clostridium difficile whereas trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole did not eliminate enterococci and colonization with toxin producing C. difficile occurred in two of ten patients. The effect of the two infection prophylaxis regimens on counts of faecal anaerobes was comparable. Monotherapy with ceftazidime and combination therapy with ceftazidime plus tobramycin did not result in major changes (greater than or equal to 3 log increase or decrease) in faecal anaerobic bacteria. Enterobacteriaceae were eliminated except in one patient treated with ceftazidime. The effect of these therapeutic regimens on enterococci was variable. Colonization by yeasts or by toxin negative C. difficile (two of three patients) were found in the ceftazidime group only. During combination therapy with piperacillin plus amikacin for fever during granulocytopenia signs of a disturbed faecal flora were found in one of three patients. Changes in faecal anaerobic bacteria were most marked in the ceftazidime plus piperacillin group. Moreover the isolation of a toxin positive C. difficile occurred in this group, in a patient who was colonized with toxin negative C. difficile before treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613607 TI - Comparison of TEM-E3 and TEM-5 beta-lactamases. PMID- 2613608 TI - In-vitro activity of the quinolone, PD 127,391. PMID- 2613609 TI - In-vitro activity of 13 antibiotics against clinical isolates of Streptococcus milleri. PMID- 2613610 TI - Intraperitoneal treatment of CAPD peritonitis with ciprofloxacin. PMID- 2613611 TI - Beta-lactamase activity in bronchial sputum and treatment failure against penicillin-sensitive bacteria in pulmonary infections. PMID- 2613612 TI - Comparison of video cameras used for computer-aided image analysis. PMID- 2613613 TI - An automatic timed-exposure control device. PMID- 2613614 TI - A template for a database photographic images catalog. PMID- 2613615 TI - Principles of portable videography. PMID- 2613616 TI - Aspirin how much? PMID- 2613617 TI - Risk factors in extracranial carotid disease. AB - One hundred patients with ischaemic cerebro vascular disease (TIA/RIND--67% and completed stroke--33%) were evaluated for various clinical and biochemical risk factors. Evidence of extra-cranial carotid vascular disease (ECCVD) was looked for by using Doppler scan and carotid angiography. Of the 28 patients with abnormal Dop scan, 27 were confirmed to have ECCVD by angiography. Though the history of hypertension was elicited in 40%, only 28% had BP of 160/95 mm Hg or more during hospital stay. Hypertension was twice more common in ECCVD group compared to the group with normal carotid vessels. Obesity was seen in 15%, diabetes mellitus in 10% and 1% had hyperuricaemia. Total cholesterol was elevated in 29% and HDL cholesterol fraction was decreased (less than 35 mg%) in 43%. The reduction of HDL cholesterol was more frequent in ECCVD group (63%) and in hypertensive (73%) patients. Lipoproteins, triglycerides, free fatty acids and phospholipids were not significantly affected. PMID- 2613618 TI - Morphometric analysis of thyroid gland in adult north Indian population by nuclear imaging. AB - A detailed retrospective morphometric analysis of thyroid gland in adult north Indian subjects using scintillation imaging has been done. Many parameters were found to be significantly different as compared to non-Indian population. Utility of this analysis has been discussed. PMID- 2613619 TI - Adult tuberculous meningitis. An immunological study. AB - In adult tuberculous meningitis (10), delayed skin hypersensitivity to DNCB was significantly impaired, whereas to tuberculin not altered. Lymphocyte migration (LMI) index was lower in comparison with pulmonary tuberculosis (20) and healthy adults (20). Lower LMI index was statistically not significant than pulmonary tuberculosis. Serum IgG and IgM levels were higher than in healthy adults. In comparison with pulmonary tuberculosis, only IgM levels were raised. We conclude that in adult tuberculous meningitis, cell mediated immune response is impaired and non-specific antibody response is increased than pulmonary tuberculosis and healthy adults. PMID- 2613620 TI - Adult respiratory distress syndrome following aluminium phosphide ingestion. Report of 4 cases. AB - Four cases of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following aluminium phosphide ingestion (ALP) are being reported. The dose of the intoxicant varied from 2 tablets (6.0 gm) to 3 tablets (9.0 gm). All patients had shock at admission and developed ARDS within 6 hours. The exhalation of Phosphine, (PH3) detected by positive silver nitrate paper test, was the possible noxious triggering factor in our cases. The cases are being reported because of their rare occurrence. PMID- 2613621 TI - Medical myotomy for achalasia cardia. Long term results. AB - Pneumatic dilatation was effective in relieving dysphagia in 16/17 subjects with achalasia cardia. It was also effective and safe in those with sigmoid oesophagus, although dilatation persisted in them. Recurrences were noted in one quarter of cases which were managed satisfactorily with subsequent dilatations. There were no complications. Pneumatic dilatation appears very useful in the management of achalasia cardia. PMID- 2613622 TI - Intestinal pseudo obstruction with galactorrhoea. PMID- 2613623 TI - Kawasaki syndrome. AB - Kawasaki and associates first described a mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome from Japan. Since then this febrile illness has been reported from several countries. The patient described in this report had all the clinical manifestations of this entity excepting coronary aneurysms. PMID- 2613624 TI - Factitious haematuria. A report of two cases. AB - Two patients who presented with recurrent gross haematuria are described. Both underwent extensive invasive investigations including renal biopsies before it was discovered that they had factitious haematuria produced by contaminating urine with blood from self inflicted skin wounds. PMID- 2613625 TI - Respiratory distress in scorpion bite. AB - A 9 year old boy with history of scorpion bite presenting with respiratory distress is described. PMID- 2613626 TI - Oduvanthalai poisoning. PMID- 2613627 TI - Nephrotic syndrome--experience with 148 patients. PMID- 2613628 TI - Diabetic heart. PMID- 2613630 TI - Enteric fever complicated by myocarditis, hepatitis and shock. PMID- 2613629 TI - Reply from author. PMID- 2613631 TI - Absence of HIV infection in an Indian prison. PMID- 2613632 TI - Polymyositis myoglobinuria and renal failure. PMID- 2613633 TI - Praziquantel in neurocysticercosis. PMID- 2613634 TI - Coronary artery disease in young. PMID- 2613635 TI - Rapid diagnostic test of Campylobacter pylori infection in patients of gastritis, duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer. A study of 100 cases. AB - Campylobacter pylori has been cultured from 85-90% of antral biopsies of patients of gastritis, duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer at different centres in the world. It has been now firmly implicated in the aetiology of active gastritis as well as suspected to cause repeated recurrences of peptic ulcers. However, the organism is very fastidious and is difficult to grow by standard culture methods as a result of which low positivity is often obtained even in well equipped centres. The rapid biopsy urease test for the diagnosis of C pylori infection, in which the biopsy is directly cultured in a solid medium containing urea, is a very simple test. A change in colour indicates the growth of the organism. This test is 100% specific and 98% sensitive. We performed this test in 100 patients; 93 of gastritis, 6 of DU and 1 of GU during a three month period. 87 of 93 cases of gastritis (90%) and all 6 cases of DU (100%) were positive. The single case of gastric ulcer was negative. Treatment of C pylori positive cases showed that they responded poorly to 4 weeks therapy with tinidazole; 33% were cured after 2 weeks of 1.5 g amoxycillin daily, but all responded when the therapy was continued for 4 weeks. PMID- 2613636 TI - Delta hepatitis infection in north India. A preliminary report. AB - There is a paucity of data on occurrence of delta hepatitis in India. We here present our preliminary data showing that delta coinfection and superinfection occur quite frequently in our set up. The coinfection rate was found to be 15% and superinfection rate 26.6% in the initial screening of 69 patients of acute and chronic liver disease. PMID- 2613637 TI - Coronary artery disease pattern in the young. AB - Ninety-two patients aged 40 years or less with documented coronary artery disease were studied with special emphasis on risk factors, coronary angiographic patterns and left ventricular function. Tobacco consumption was the most common risk factor (54%) followed by family history of coronary artery disease (40%). Hyperlipidaemia was not a frequent risk factor. Significant single vessel disease was present in 29% of patients. The incidence of double vessel and triple vessel disease was much higher. The left anterior descending artery was the most commonly involved vessel followed by right and circumflex coronary arteries. Left ventricular function as determined by ejection fraction was abnormal in 51% of patients; left ventricular end diastolic pressure was abnormal in 28% of patients. Sixty-eight percent of patients with no risk factors had either zero vessel or single vessel disease indicating a positive relationship between occurrence of risk factors and significant coronary artery disease in the young. PMID- 2613638 TI - Experience with activity sensing rate responsive ventricular pacing. A study based upon assessment of exercise tolerance. AB - Fourteen patients (mean age 41 years) who received rate responsive activity sensing VVI pacemakers were studied to evaluate the relationship between the rate response and exercise tolerance by analysing the symptom limited maximum treadmill time both during fixed rate VVI oacubg abd dyrubg VVI + activity mode pacing (RRP). The proper functioning of RRP mode was confirmed by Holter monitoring in all. The indications for pacing were, sino-atrial block with high grade AV block, tachybrady syndrome, atrial fibrillation with complete heart block, congenital complete heart block and persistent slow junctional rhythm. Basic rate was programmed to 70 PPM in both pacing modes; rate response and activity threshold were programmed to 5 and medium respectively. The order in which two pacing modes were tested was chosen randomly. The maximum treadmill time (MTT) was 25.4% longer in the RRP than in VVI mode with a mean of 11.4 minutes in RRP and 8.5 mins in VVI(p less than 0.01). for the subgroup of patients who demonstrated paced only rhythm the average increase in MTT was 31.4% with a mean of 11.8 minutes in RRP and 8.1 mins in VVI (p less than 0.01). Five patients who showed intermittent spontaneous rhythm, increased their average MTT by 22.3% with a mean of 11.2 minutes in RRP and 8.7 mins in VVI mode (p less than 0.05). During RRP a significance positive correlationship was seen between MTT and the increase in heart rate (N = 14, r = 0.85, p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613639 TI - Paraquat poisoning with acute renal failure--a case report. AB - Paraquat poisoning is relatively rare and is associated with mortality varying from 35 to 50%. A patient who consumed paraquat developed features of non oliguric acute renal failure and recovered following haemodialysis. Renal biopsy done during the early recovery phase showed features of acute tubulo-interstitial nephritis with no disruption of tubular basement membrane. On recovery the patient had no evidence of proximal renal tubular dysfunction. PMID- 2613640 TI - Fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes in the elderly. AB - Fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) is a form of diabetes seen in tropical countries. It is secondary to chronic, calcific, non-alcoholic pancreatitis. FCPD is usually a disease of youth. This paper reports on two elderly onset cases of FCPD. Macrovascular complications are usually rare in FCPD patients. These two patients had evidence of macrovascular diseases probably due to the older age group of the patients. PMID- 2613641 TI - A sporadic case of dengue encephalopathy. PMID- 2613642 TI - Acute Budd-Chiari syndrome. PMID- 2613643 TI - Pan masala: why not ban it? PMID- 2613644 TI - Viggo phlebitis. PMID- 2613645 TI - Thrill and murmur from vertex to coccyx in mitral regurgitation. PMID- 2613646 TI - AERB safety codes, guides and manuals. PMID- 2613647 TI - Subacute sequelae of carbon monoxide poisoning. PMID- 2613648 TI - Withdrawal and disposal of radium. PMID- 2613649 TI - A new environmental neurotoxin? PMID- 2613650 TI - Leprosy and blood groups. PMID- 2613651 TI - Intrathecal methotrexate toxicity. PMID- 2613653 TI - Alzheimer's disease. PMID- 2613652 TI - Duodenal tuberculosis presenting as duodenal obstruction. PMID- 2613654 TI - Reply from authors. Praziquantel in neurocysticercosis. PMID- 2613655 TI - Opsoclonus in tuberculous meningitis. PMID- 2613656 TI - Aluminium phosphide poisoning. PMID- 2613657 TI - Tubercular cold abscess over the manubrium sterni. PMID- 2613658 TI - Typhus myocarditis. PMID- 2613659 TI - Renal lesions in snake bite. PMID- 2613660 TI - Effect of treatment on systolic time intervals in systemic arterial hypertension. AB - Twenty six hypertensive patients and 25 control subjects were studied and their systolic time intervals (STI) were measured. It was found that an alteration in STI, signifying left ventricular dysfunction sets in most of the hypertensives earlier than any evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by clinical, radiological or electrocardiographic criteria. The parameters affected are the PEP interval which shows prolongation and PEP/LVET ratio which is increased. After treatment the left ventricular performance was found to improve in those who did not reveal evidence of LVH. Thus STI may be a sensitive indicator of early left ventricular dysfunction in hypertensives and a useful guide to assess improvement after treatment at a stage when other non-invasive methods are not so useful. PMID- 2613661 TI - Clinicopathological study of acute renal failure following viperine snake bite. AB - Fifty patients of acute renal failure following Viperine snake bite were studied. Oliguria (100%), local swelling (48%) and bleeding tendencies (42%) were the predominant clinical features encountered. Of the 25 patients in whom detailed coagulation studies were done, 24 patients had disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and 1 had primary fibrinolysis. DIC was commoner with Russell's viper bite (62%) in comparison to Echis carinatus bites (40%). Renal histology obtained in 29 cases revealed tubular necrosis (35%), cortical necrosis (24%) tubular degeneration (17%) and glomerular changes (17%). Ballooning of glomerular capillaries (59%), splitting of glomerular basement membrane (40.7%), swelling of endothelial cells (29.6%), and focal proliferation of mesangial cells (17%) were the significant glomerular changes encountered. 20 (40%) patients succumbed, DIC (50%), irreversible shock (30%) and septicaemia (20%) being the immediate causes of death. Development of oliguria within 24 hours of snake bite and cortical necrosis were associated with higher mortality. PMID- 2613662 TI - Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in portal hypertension. Is an emergency endoscopy necessarily required? AB - Early fibre-optic oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy was performed in 23 portal hypertensive patients with acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage to evaluate the source of bleeding. Oesophageal varices grade II or more were documented in all patients. None of the patients showed a source of bleeding other than the ruptured oesophageal varices, probably because, unlike western countries, the alcoholic cirrhosis as a source of portal hypertension is rather uncommon in India. Hence, we could presume that most of the emergency endoscopies are unnecessary in bleeding patients with portal hypertension. PMID- 2613663 TI - Erythroleukaemic blast crisis in chronic granulocytic leukaemia. AB - A rare instance of erythroleukaemic blast crisis in chronic granulocytic leukaemia is described in a 22 years old male. A combination of morphology and a battery of cytochemical stains helped us to make this diagnosis. PMID- 2613664 TI - Congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia. AB - A case of congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia presented with recurrent jaundice and painful splenomegaly. There was binuclearity, internuclear chromatin bridges, megaloblastic changes in erythrocyte precursors and positive acidified serum test with normal serum. PMID- 2613665 TI - Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as Mikulicz's syndrome. PMID- 2613666 TI - Crescentic glomerulonephritis and cerebellar ataxia in a patient with enteric fever. PMID- 2613667 TI - Largactil in pyogenic meningitis (relapse case) PMID- 2613668 TI - Non Q-wave myocardial infarction--individualized approach prudent. PMID- 2613669 TI - Renal transplantation--magnitude of the problem. PMID- 2613670 TI - Smoking, gastric acid secretion duodenal ulcer healing, and H2 receptor antagonists. PMID- 2613671 TI - Leptospirosis--need for urgent action. PMID- 2613672 TI - Asthma and vasculitis. PMID- 2613673 TI - Subarachnoid haemorrhage in drug induced thrombocytopenic purpura. PMID- 2613674 TI - Epidemiology of coronary heart disease. PMID- 2613675 TI - Halothane associated hepatitis and phenobarbitone. PMID- 2613676 TI - Haemodialysis using percutaneous internal jugular vein catheter as a haemoaccess. PMID- 2613677 TI - Two fatalities following ammonia (NH3) gassing leaked during transport. PMID- 2613678 TI - Magnesium sulphate in aluminium phosphide poisoning. PMID- 2613679 TI - CT scan in cerebral abscess. PMID- 2613680 TI - Need for a strong medical council. PMID- 2613681 TI - Intravenous benzyl penicillin. PMID- 2613682 TI - Primary structure of a ribonuclease from bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) liver. AB - A pyrimidine base-specific ribonuclease was purified from bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) liver by means of CM-cellulose column chromatography and affinity chromatography on heparin-Sepharose CL-6B, which gave single band on SDS-slab electrophoresis. The primary structure of the bullfrog liver RNase was determined. It consisted of 111 amino acid residues, including 8 half-cystine residues. From the sequence, it was concluded that three disulfide bridges in RNase A were conserved in the bullfrog RNase, that a disulfide bridge in RNase A [Cys65-Cys126 (RNase A numbering)] was deleted, and that a new disulfide bridge was created in the C-terminal part of the enzyme. In this frog RNase, the amino acid residues thought to be essential for catalysis in bovine pancreatic RNase A were conserved except for Asp121 (RNase A numbering). The sequence homology of the bullfrog liver RNase with bovine pancreatic RNase A was 30.6%. The sequence of bullfrog liver RNase was very similar to those of lectins obtained from bullfrog egg by Titani et al. [Biochemistry (1988) 26, 2189-2194] and R. japonica egg by Kamiya et al. [Seikagaku (in Japanese) (1989) 60, 733; and personal communication from Kamiya, Y., Oyama, F., Oyama, R., Sakakibara, F., Nitta, K., Kawauchi, H., and Titani, K.]. The sequence homology between the bullfrog liver RNase and the two lectins was 70.2 and 64.8%, respectively. PMID- 2613683 TI - Physicochemical properties of a human glycoprotein bearing blood group A activity. AB - A human erythrocyte glycoprotein was isolated and purified from blood of group A+1 by a procedure involving chloroform-methanol extraction and affinity chromatography on Helix pomatia lectin-Sepharose 6MB, and some of its physicochemical properties were determined. The resulting preparation was homogeneous as indicated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The glycoprotein contained nearly 60% carbohydrate and 40% protein. It was water-soluble and inhibited the agglutination of A-erythrocytes. Its molecular weight was 41,900 (amino acid analysis) or 55,200 (light scattering), whereas electrophoresis revealed two bands of 43,000 and 76,000 Da. The ORD spectrum was consistent with 30% alpha-helix, 20% beta-sheet, and 50% random coil. Intrinsic viscosity was 14.61 ml.g-1, partial specific volume was roughly 0.66, isoelectric and isoionic points were 6.90 and 6.95, respectively. The glycoprotein differs from glycophorin and appears to be one of the minor glycoproteins of the human erythrocyte membrane. PMID- 2613684 TI - Amino acid sequence studies on cyanogen bromide peptides of chicken caldesmon which bind to calmodulin. AB - Three major calmodulin-binding cyanogen bromide peptides (fragments A, B, and D) were isolated from chicken gizzard muscle caldesmon and their amino acid sequences were determined. The molecular masses of fragments A, B, and D were estimated to 16, 12, and 9 kDa, respectively, by SDS-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Fragment A was composed of 102 amino acid residues and contained homoserine at the C terminus. The amino acid sequence from the 37th residue of fragment A corresponds to the N-terminal sequence of the 15 kDa peptide which was obtained by thrombin digestion [Mornet, D., Audemard, E., & Derancourt, J. (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 154, 564-571]. Thrombin 15 kDa peptide binds to F actin but does not bind to calmodulin. Thus the N-terminal 36 residues and the C terminal part from the 37th residue of fragment A are supposed to bind to calmodulin and F-actin, respectively. The sequences of fragments B and D were identical, but fragment D was composed of 64 amino acid residues and ended with tryptophan, whereas fragment B was of 98 or 99 amino acid residues and ended with proline. Both fragments B and D are supposed to be the C-terminal peptides of chicken caldesmon. Fragment B had heterogeneous sequences at the C-terminal region. These results can explain the reported heterogeneity of chicken caldesmon in charge and molecular mass. PMID- 2613685 TI - Turnover of proteoglycans by chick lens epithelial cells in cell culture and intact lens. AB - Chick lens epithelial cells were cultured on plastic and type IV collagen substrata, and the confluent cultures were labeled continuously with [35S]sulfate for 20 h. Intact lenses were also labeled in the same way. 35S-Proteoglycans isolated from those cultures were compared for their molecular sizes and glycosaminoglycan compositions. The results have shown that: 1) Proteoglycans synthesized by cells on type IV collagen were significantly smaller than those by cells on plastic. 2) Proteoglycans of intact lens showed a broad distribution of molecular size and contained a high proportion of chondroitin sulfate in the medium fraction compared to those of the two cell cultures. In order to explain such differences between proteoglycans from cultures, label-chase experiments with [35S]sulfate were done for proteoglycans synthesized. 35S-Proteoglycans isolated at each chase time 0, 2.5, and 17 h) were compared and the following results were found: 1) The cell layers of both "plastic" and "type IV collagen" cultures contained glycosaminoglycan species predominantly at each chase time rather than proteoglycans. 2) Changes in the glycosaminoglycan compositions of medium fractions of cell cultures were observed during the chase period; in medium of the "plastic" culture, proteoheparan sulfate increased with chase time, whereas in medium of the "type IV collagen" culture, chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan (not proteoglycan) increased with chase time. 3) In intact lens culture, lens capsule fraction at every chase time contained a proteoglycan unique in molecular size, which was not found in cell culture fractions. 4) All fractions from intact lens cultures contained a higher content of chondroitin sulfate at every chase time than the respective fractions from cell cultures. These results suggest that adhesion of the cells to type IV collagen or lens capsule influences the degradation and secretion of proteoglycans. In addition, they can account partially for the above-described differences in molecular sizes and glycosaminoglycan compositions between 35S-proteoglycans from various cultures continuously labeled with [35S]sulfate. PMID- 2613686 TI - Biochemical mechanisms of aminoglycoside cell toxicity. II. Accumulation of phospholipids during myeloid body formation and histological studies on myeloid bodies using twelve aminoglycoside antibiotics. AB - Cultured human skin fibroblasts take up aminoglycoside antibiotics into lysosomes to form myeloid bodies. Gentamicin (GM), one such antibiotic, was taken up until the cellular concentration reached an estimated 64 mM on the 3rd day when cells were incubated with 2 mM gentamicin. The rate of release of intracellular GM was high on the first day of incubation and gradually slowed down over the next 4 d. About 50% of the GM remained in the cells even on longer incubation in GM-free medium, suggesting it may irreversibly bind to cellular components. With myeloid body formation, the cellular phospholipid content increased 1.5 times. Bis(monoacyl-glyceryl)phosphate, which is known as a marker of lysosomal phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine showed 250, 162, and 153% increases, respectively. Sphingomyelin was not accumulated, while lysosomal sphingomyelinase was dramatically inhibited. Of 12 different aminoglycoside antibiotics, paromomycin is the most prominent myeloid body-forming antibiotic. The myeloid body-formation is not directly correlated to human nephrotoxicity. On the other hand, the number of myeloid bodies is well correlated to the affinity to the brush border membrane, suggesting that such aminoglycoside antibiotics are taken up easily through cellular endocytosis. The cytotoxic effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics may be due to by their binding to cellular organelles other than lysosomes. PMID- 2613687 TI - Thermal stability as a probe of S-1 structure. AB - The stabilizing effect of nucleotides against thermal denaturation of subfragment 1(S-1) was studied quantitatively. We showed that ATP- (ADP.P1) and AMPPNP-bound species are very stable, while ADP- and PPi-bound species are much less so (after ligand affinities are accounted for); these two stability classes correspond to the two CD and UD spectral classes. We further showed that the result of PPi- and ADP-binding is a weakening of the affinity between S-1 heavy chain and light chains, resulting in turbidity due to formation of aggregates of naked S-1 heavy chain. We also showed that while PPi- and ADP-binding decrease the inactivation rate of S-1 ATPase by protecting the 50-kDa fragment, they actually increase the denaturation rate of the remaining moieties (27 and 20 kDa); the rate of decrease of the 27- and 20-kDa tryptic fragments is much slower than that of the 50-kDa fragment with ligand-free S-1; however, the rate of decrease of these two fragments is fast and equal to that of the 50-kDa fragment with ADP- and PPi bound S-1. Therefore, nucleotide binding to S-1 strongly affects the structure of the light chain binding site on the heavy chain, and it seems that the domain structure of S-1 is maintained by light chain binding. PMID- 2613688 TI - A novel blood coagulation factor IX/factor X-binding protein with anticoagulant activity from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake): isolation and characterization. AB - Using affinity chromatography on a column of factor X-Cellulofine, we have isolated a novel blood coagulation factor X-binding protein with anticoagulant activity from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake). This anticoagulant protein was also purified by chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and S Sepharose Fast Flow. The yield of the purified protein was approximately 16 mg from 400 mg of crude venom. The purified protein gave a single band on both analytical alkaline disc-gel electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE. This protein had a relative molecular weight (Mr) after SDS-PAGE of 27,000 before reduction of disulfide bonds and 14,000 after reduction of disulfide bonds. The protein prolonged the clotting time induced by kaolin or factor Xa. In the presence of Ca2+, it formed a complex with factor X, the molar ratio being 1 to 1. Similar complex formation was observed with factor Xa and factor IX/factor IXa, but not with other vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors, i.e., prothrombin, factor VII, protein C, protein S, and protein Z. The interaction of this anticoagulant protein with factor IX/factor X was dependent on gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) domains, since Gla-domainless derivatives of factor X and factor IXa beta' did not interact with this anticoagulant protein. PMID- 2613689 TI - Calibration curves for size-exclusion chromatography: description of HPLC gels in terms of porous fractals. AB - We have tested the proposition that porous media used in protein size exclusion chromatography are surface fractals. The data obtained in the calibration of classical gels (Sephacryl and Sepharose) and of HPLC gels (TSK SW and PW) using a wide range of protein sizes, have been analyzed within the framework of this theory. While the model does not apply to classical gels, it seems that HPLC gels can be described as fractals in the range of protein sizes. This finding has interesting implications for the calibration procedure. PMID- 2613690 TI - Cloning and nucleotide sequences of NADH-putidaredoxin reductase gene (camA) and putidaredoxin gene (camB) involved in cytochrome P-450cam hydroxylase of Pseudomonas putida. AB - Pseudomonas putida PpGl, which carries the CAM plasmid encoding enzymes involved in the degradation pathway of D-camphor, can utilize D-camphor as a sole carbon source. Cytochrome P-450cam and related enzymes participate in the early oxidation steps of D-camphor degradation metabolism. We cloned from a HindIII DNA library of PpGl a 2.9 kbp CAM segment which carries the major part of camA gene encoding NADH-putidaredoxin reductase and the entire camB gene encoding putidaredoxin. The 2.9 kbp CAM segment was adjacent to the 4.27 kbp HindIII CAM segment which has been previously cloned (Koga et al. (1986) J. Bacteriol. 166, 1089-1095). Thus, the total 7.17 kbp HindIII CAM directed all the genes responsible for early steps of D-camphor degradation, i.e. 5-exo-hydroxycamphor dehydrogenase (camD gene), cytochrome P-450cam (camC), NADH-putidaredoxin reductase (camA), and putidaredoxin (camB). These cam genes form an operon, camDCAB, and are under negative control by the gene camR located immediately upstream from the camD gene. The total number of amino acids deduced from the nucleotide sequence is 422 for putidaredoxin reductase, and 106 for putidaredoxin. PMID- 2613691 TI - Mechanisms of the interleukin 5-induced differentiation of B cells. AB - Interleukin 5 (IL5), a lymphokine produced by T cells, induces differentiation of B cell chronic leukemia BCL1-B20 cells into IgM-producing cells accompanied with growth arrest. To elucidate the intracellular mechanisms, the roles of Ca2+ mobilization and protein phosphorylation in the activation of the cells were examined. F(ab')2 fragment of anti-immunoglobulin (anti-Ig), which cross-links membrane-bound Ig, and calcium ionophore A23187 caused a rapid increase in the intracellular free calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i), whereas these stimulants did not give rise to differentiation of the cells. In contrast, treatment with IL5 did not affect either [Ca2+]i or the rates of Ca2+ uptake from the outside and release from the inside of the cells. Analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that the in vitro phosphorylation of acidic 80-, 60-, and 45-kDa proteins was induced upon stimulation with IL5. Treatment with IL5 also caused a marked decrease in the in vitro phosphorylation of an acidic 100 kDa protein which was highly phosphorylated in the unstimulated state. Addition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to the culture inhibited IL5-mediated differentiative responses. Therefore, these results suggest that Ca2+ mobilization is not involved but activities of stimulatory and inhibitory kinases may be involved in the IL5-mediated differentiation process. PMID- 2613692 TI - Human spleen histone H1. Isolation and amino acid sequences of three minor variants, H1a, H1c, and H1d. AB - Following the previous determination of the main variant H1b of human spleen histone H1, we have determined the complete amino acid sequence of another variant, H1d. Limited chymotryptic digestion of H1d produced four fragments, I to IV, and one partial fragment I-II, as in the case of H1b. These fragments were aligned with two overlapping peptides, produced by another enzyme from the intact H1d. We also confirmed the C-terminal sequence of H1d by carboxypeptidase digestion. This H1d has an acetylated N-terminal serine, equimolar alanine or valine residue at 17, and is composed of 212 residues. The molecular weight was 21,233 for the alanine variant and 21,261 for the valine variant in the unmodified form. We also deduced the total sequences of H1a and H1c in a similar way, considering the maximum homology with H1b and H1d. Each N-terminal serine residue is acetylated, too. H1a consists of 222 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 22,178 in its unmodified form; the H1c consists of 220 residues and has a molecular weight of 22,218 in that form. The human spleen H1 sequences varied to about the same extent in the N-terminal 40 and C-terminal 110 residues. However, the sequences of the about 70 internal residues are well conserved between the variants. The extent of differences among the human H1 variants is similar to, or rather smaller than, those among the mammalian somatic H1 species. The implications of these differences in the sequence for H1 function are discussed from the evolutionary viewpoint. PMID- 2613693 TI - Effects of anion binding on the conformations of the two domains of ovotransferrin. AB - A previous paper (Harris (1985) Biochemistry 24, 7412-7418) reported the occurrence of two classes of anion binding sites in transferrin. To evaluate the locations of the two anion binding sites in relation to the two major domains of transferrin we determined the binding constants of whole ovotransferrin and its two half-molecules by means of the difference UV spectroscopic technique. Anions induced strong negative absorbance at 245 nm in the order: citrate greater than phosphate greater than bicarbonate for whole ovotransferrin and the N-terminal half-molecule; and: phosphate greater than citrate greater than bicarbonate for the C-terminal half-molecule. The anion dissociation constants of the N-terminal half-molecule were consistent with lower dissociation constants, and those of the C-terminal half-molecule, with higher dissociation constants of whole ovotransferrin, indicating that the two classes of anion binding sites correspond to the binding sites in individual structural domains. Anion binding markedly protected the N-terminal half-molecule, but not the C-terminal half-molecule from digestion with trypsin and disulfide reduction with dithiothreitol. As to the far and near ultraviolet CD spectra data, however, there was no significant difference between in the presence and absence of an anion. Therefore, the binding of an anion would induce some conformational changes which were not reflected by the CD spectrum. PMID- 2613694 TI - Myosin may stay in EADP species during the catch contraction in scallop smooth muscle. AB - Myosin (opaque myosin) isolated from the opaque portion of scallop smooth muscle, a catch muscle, was subjected to limited digestion by trypsin during the steady state ATPase reaction. The 200-kDa heavy chain of opaque myosin was cleaved into 125- and 74-kDa fragments. The proteolytic rate in the absence of Ca2+ was lower than that in the presence of Ca2+, and was similar to that in the presence of ADP and absence of Ca2+. The results suggest that the steady-state intermediate of opaque myosin ATPase in the absence of Ca2+ is EADP, which is consistent with the previous results based on the difference UV-absorption spectrum (Takahashi, M., Sohma, H., & Morita, F. (1988) J. Biochem. 104, 102-107). In the presence of F actin, the proteolytic rates were decreased, but the digestive patterns by trypsin were similar to those of myosin alone. Even in the presence of F-actin, the proteolytic rate during the ATPase reaction in the absence of Ca2+ was lower than that in the presence of Ca2+, and was similar to that in the presence of ADP and absence of Ca2+. In addition, there was another trypsin-susceptible site which is probably located at 18 kDa from the N-terminal of the heavy chain. The site in the absence of Ca2+ was hardly cleaved when ATP or ADP was present. Similar tendencies were observed even in the presence of F-actin. These findings suggest that the intermediate of opaque myosin ATPase at the steady state in the absence of Ca2+ is EADP even in the presence of F-actin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613695 TI - Phosphorylation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. AB - The phosphorylation of canine cardiac and skeletal muscle ryanodine receptors by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase has been studied. A high molecular-weight protein (Mr 400,000) in cardiac microsomes was phosphorylated by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. A monoclonal antibody against the cardiac ryanodine receptor immunoprecipitated this phosphoprotein. In contrast, high-molecular-weight proteins (Mr 400,000-450,000) in canine skeletal microsomes isolated from extensor carpi radialis (fast) or superficial digitalis flexor (slow) muscle fibers were not significantly phosphorylated. In agreement with these findings, the ryanodine receptor purified from cardiac microsomes was also phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor in microsomal and purified preparations occurred at the ratio of about one mol per mol of ryanodine-binding site. Upon phosphorylation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor, the levels of [3H]ryanodine binding at saturating concentrations of this ligand increased by up to 30% in the presence of Ca2+ concentrations above 1 microM in both cardiac microsomes and the purified cardiac ryanodine receptor preparation. In contrast, the Ca2+ concentration dependence of [3H]ryanodine binding did not change significantly. These results suggest that phosphorylation of the ryanodine receptor by cAMP dependent protein kinase may be an important regulatory mechanism for the calcium release channel function in the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. PMID- 2613696 TI - C6 glioma cells produce basic fibroblast growth factor that can stimulate their own proliferation. AB - With purified preparations of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), we studied the effect of its growth-promoting activity on C6 glioma cells. We also examined with its antibody whether the cultured glioma cells could produce it. It was shown that bFGF stimulated the DNA synthesis and proliferation of C6 glioma cells in serum-free medium, and that the activity was potentiated by heparin, the bFGF concentrations for half-maximal stimulation being 0.2 and 5 ng/ml in the presence and absence of heparin, respectively. This effect of heparin was dose-dependent and was half-maximal at 0.5 microgram/ml. Next, we raised the antiserum against bFGF and detected a single immunoreactive band from extracts of C6 glioma cells by immunoblot analysis. The immunoreactive substance was partially purified on a heparin-Sepharose column and was shown to stimulate the DNA synthesis of C6 glioma cells. On the basis of its immunoreactivity, molecular weight, affinity for heparin, and growth-promoting activity, this substance was identified as bFGF. The content of bFGF in the cells was elevated as the cell density increased, but no immunoreactivity was detected in the conditioned medium of the cells. These results suggest that C6 glioma cells produce and store bFGF which is potent in stimulating their own growth. PMID- 2613697 TI - Purification and characterization of a pyridine nucleotide glycohydrolase from rabbit spleen. AB - A particulate NMN glycohydrolase of rabbit spleen was solubilized with Triton X100 and purified approximately 100-fold. The enzyme was shown to have a pH maximum of 6.5, a Km of 0.25 mM, a Vmax of 5.3 mumol/min/mg protein, an activation energy of 7.9 kcal/mol, and a molecular weight of approximately 400,000. Both of the purified and the particulate enzymes exhibited identical catalytic properties with respect to substrate specificity, activation energy, pH profile and exchange reaction with nicotinic acid, except that the purified enzyme was highly activated with Triton X100 as compared with the particulate enzyme; it appears that the purified enzyme possesses the same catalytic properties as the enzyme present in the tissue and that solubilization does not significantly alter the native protein. In addition to catalytic activity with NMN, the rabbit spleen enzyme catalyzed an irreversible hydrolysis with NAD and NADP, exhibiting catalyzing activity ratios of NMN:NAD:NADP = 1.00:1.45:0.44 and Vmax/Km ratios of 1.00:1.7:2.3, respectively. These ratios of activity remained constant throughout purification of the enzyme and no separation of these activities was detected. Mutually competitive inhibition of the enzyme with Ki values similar to Km, and identical rates of thermal denaturation of the enzyme and activity-pH profiles with NMN or NAD indicated the hydrolysis of the C-N glycosidic linkage of the pyridine nucleotides to be catalyzed by the same enzyme. The enzyme was less specific for the purine structure of the substrate dinucleotides but was stereospecific for the glycosidic linkage cleaved. Nicotinamide riboside, the nicotinic acid analogs and the reduced forms were not hydrolyzed. A linear noncompetitive inhibition of NMN hydrolysis with nicotinamide indicated an ordered Uni-Bi mechanism in which nicotinamide was the first product released from the enzyme. A property that the rabbit spleen enzyme appears to share with other NAD glycohydrolases is the transglycosidation reaction. The ratio of transglycosidation reaction vs. hydrolysis catalyzed by the enzyme in the presence of NMN and nicotinic acid indicated that the enzyme could function as a primary transglycosidase rather than a hydrolytic enzyme in vivo. PMID- 2613698 TI - Kinetic analysis of the transglycosidation reaction catalyzed by rabbit spleen pyridine nucleotide glycohydrolase. AB - Properties of the transglycosidation reaction catalyzed by rabbit spleen pyridine nucleotide glycohydrolase were characterized using a modified cyanide addition method by which initial velocities of the transglycosidation (vT) and hydrolysis (vH) of pyridine nucleotides could be monitored simultaneously. (1) The vT was routinely determined with NMN and nicotinic acid used as substrates and was observed to be maximal at pH 6. Arrhenius plots of vT and vH indicated that the activation energies for transglycosidation and hydrolysis were 8.7 and 10.7 kcal/mol, respectively. (2) The enzyme showed a broad spectrum of substrate specificity with respect to both pyridine nucleotides and bases. Of the compounds tested, NMN and nicotinic acid were shown to be the best substrates when compared on the basis of Vmax/Km values. Kinetic constants for the enzyme-catalyzed transglycosidation reaction were as follows; Km(NMN) = 0.53 mM, Km(nicotinic acid), as acid form = 15 mM, apparent Vmax = 7.8 mumol/min/mg protein, in the presence of 0.2 M nicotinic acid. (3) The ratio of vT/vH was shown to be dependent on both pH and nicotinic acid concentration. However, transglycosidation versus hydrolysis partition at a fixed pH was constant regardless of the nicotinic acid concentration employed and approximated to be 1.2 x 10(4) at the maximal pH. (4) Nicotinamide, one of the most potent inhibitors for the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis, was shown to function as an antagonist for the transglycosidation reaction with NMN and nicotinic acid used as substrates. The inhibition mechanism with nicotinamide was purely noncompetitive with respect to nicotinic acid; on the other hand, the double reciprocal plot of the transglycosidation velocity against NMN concentration at a fixed concentration of nicotinamide was concave downwards. (5) The equilibrium constant of the reaction, NMN + 3-acetylpyridine----3-acetylpyridine mononucleotide + nicotinamide, was 0.61, whereas the conversion of NMN with nicotinic acid to nicotinic acid mononucleotide was essentially irreversible. These enzymatic properties of rabbit spleen pyridine nucleotide glycohydrolase suggested that the enzyme should not function as a glycohydrolase but as a transglycosidase and could serve in an important mechanism for an alternative biosynthetic pathway of nicotinic acid mononucleotide, one of the precursors for NAD synthesis, when nicotinic acid is supplied. PMID- 2613699 TI - Visualization of predentine matrix components and endocytic structures in rat incisor odontoblasts with tannic acid. AB - Rat incisor odontoblasts and predentine fixed with tannic acid-glutaraldehyde osmium tetroxide (Tago) were compared with those obtained by prior incubation in tannic acid-Ringer before conventional fixation with glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide (Tari) The Tago method allowed visualization of complex glycoconjugates along the plasma membrane, in the pericellular spaces and in the intercellular predentine matrix. The non-collagenous proteins, proteoglycans and lipids were seen as granules and thin filaments located between the collagen fibers and at their surface. The collagen fibers themselves were also stained. The Tari method which was used to visualize exocytosis, mainly revealed endocytosis in the form of large intracellular vacuoles containing tannic acid and stained proteoglycans. It is suggested that tannic acid-Ringer incubation prior to fixation increases the endocytosis of the matrix components, which acculumates in these large vesicles. PMID- 2613700 TI - Fluctuation of the biochemiluminescence from PMN leukocytes in a family with a high prevalence of severe periodontitis. AB - Rapidly progressive periodontal disease was found in three patients belonging to three different generations of the same family. Beyond the clinical inspection, blood examination allowed measurements of the luminol enhanced biochemiluminescence from the circulating PMN leukocytes. Abnormally low values were recorded in the affected individuals (75, 84 and 138 mVolts per 10(6) cells) whereas a sample of healthy individuals exhibited photonic values from 240 up to 910 mVolts per 10(6) cells. These abnormal values, however, were not constantly recorded. They gave way to higher PMN activity indices after the patients had been treated either by antibiotics, scaling, debridement or classical pocket cleaning. PMID- 2613701 TI - [Substitute model of an in-vitro biological trials. I. Standardized method using human pulp cells]. AB - To ascertain the biocompatibility of dental materials, an in vitro biological test using cultures of human pulp cells was designed as an alternative to the in vivo method using human teeth. The cells were cultured from fresh explants of pulp germs and the 4th generation of cells (P4) was shown to be very similar to the controls. The comparison between the results of the in vitro cell cultures (obtained by rating the cells' growth and the histomorphology) and those of the controls (histologic rating of the pulpal response) indicated that the developed cell culture method was suitable for the preliminary evaluation of pulpal protective materials. PMID- 2613702 TI - [Substitute model for in-vitro biological testing. II. Quantitative evaluation of the biocompatibility of dental products]. AB - A biological model for evaluating pulpo-dentinal capping materials is described. The model uses cultures of human pulp cells which are explanted to form cell monolayers. Four products already tested in vivo on teeth subsequently extracted for orthodontic reasons were laid directly over these cultures and observed after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, corresponded to the in vivo test periods. The growth and morphology of the cells were similar for both test systems, indicating comparability between the two biological models as well as the validity of the developed in vitro method. A preliminary scale of biological activity is proposed which could be useful for preliminary screening of materials. PMID- 2613703 TI - Viscosity of human salivary mucins: effect of pH and ionic strength and role of sialic acid. AB - The viscosity of isolated human salivary mucins has been studied as a function of shear rate, mucin concentration, pH, and ionic strength. At neutral pH, viscosity increased proportionally with mucin concentrations between 0 and 14 mg/ml. Increasing the ionic strength from 35 to 235 mM resulted in an approximately 50% decrease in specific viscosity. A part from the ionic strength effect, no specific effect of calcium ions was observed. Under low ionic strength conditions, viscosity of mucin solutions reached a maximum value at pH 4.2. The extent of the viscosity increase was dependent on ionic strength, mucin concentration and shear rate. Increase of the ionic strength up to 200 mM almost completely abolished the pH-optimum, suggesting that electrostatic interactions underlie the pH-dependent behaviour. The position of the pH-optimum was not changed upon desialization of the mucin, indicating that terminal sialic acid residues do not determine the pH-dependence of human salivary mucin viscosity. PMID- 2613704 TI - Isolation of high molecular weight mucins from human whole saliva by ultracentrifugation. AB - A high molecular weight mucin fraction was prepared from human whole saliva using relatively mild conditions. The method involves ultracentrifugation of human whole saliva in the presence of 7.2 M urea and 0.5 M sodium chloride. The resulting preparation consists of a highly purified salivary mucin fraction, as judged by several purity criteria: molecular weight analysis of the final preparation by gel electrophoresis and analytical gel filtration indicated an apparent molecular weight greater than 10(6). Analytical isopycnic density centrifugation demonstrated that the preparation consisted of a mucin fraction with a buoyant density of approximately 1.47 g/ml. The final preparation comprised 12.8% protein, 31.8% N-acetylglucosamine, 11.5% N-acetylgalactosamine, 9.5% fucose, 21.4% galactose, 0.8% mannose, 10.3% N-acetylneuraminic acid, 1.7% sulphate and 0.16% fatty acids. PMID- 2613705 TI - Standardization of an enzyme immunoassay for the in vitro potency assay of inactivated tissue culture rabies vaccines: determination of the rabies virus glycoprotein with polyclonal antisera. AB - A non-competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) has been standardized to supplement the in vivo potency test used for the quality control of inactivated tissue culture vaccines against rabies. The essentials of the ELISA were: fixation of the virus in different dilutions of vaccine on the surface of microtitre plates; testing of the reference and up to six test vaccines on one plate; incubation with polyclonal antisera to rabies virus glycoprotein containing an excess of antibody; further incubation with a species-specific anti IgG coupled to peroxidase; a final incubation with a substrate. The incubation periods were 1 h, 1 h and 30 min both at +37 degrees C. The relative potency determinations were made graphically or by a computer using a parallel line bioassay in which the potencies of the vaccines of unknown potency were tested against the reference preparation on a single microtitre plate. Under these conditions inactivated rabies vaccines of different types (virus strains, cell substrates, inactivation and concentration procedures) were tested for potency. Furthermore, it was possible with this in vitro method to assay adjuvanted vaccines, in process samples such as tissue culture supernatants with live or inactivated rabies virus, concentrates, and vaccines undergoing thermal stability tests. The rabies glycoprotein antigen-antibody reaction was highly specific according to the results and the glycoprotein content was measured quantitatively. The potency determined by the in vitro ELISA correlated with the in vivo NIH protection potency test. The lower limit of detection of the ELISA was 0.015 IU/ml. Quantitative antigen determination was possible with both homologous and heterologous antisera to rabies virus glycoprotein when vaccines of the same virus strain were tested. When the potencies of vaccines of different virus strain specificity were calculated, it was necessary to take into account the strain-specific antigenicity. Even so vaccines of high potency were found to give a stronger reaction with a heterologous serum than did weak vaccines with a homologous antiserum. Stability tests made on inactivated tissue culture vaccines such as vaccine from the human diploid cell strain (HDCS), from purified chicken embryo cell (PCEC) or from purified Vero cell rabies vaccine (PVRV), showed high stability of the glycoprotein antigen even after four months of storage at +37 degrees C or 24 h at +56 degrees C, provided that the vaccines were stored in a lyophilized state. The antigenicity of liquid vaccines was inactivated after a few hours at +56 degrees C. For tropical areas, therefore, only lyophilized vaccines should be considered. PMID- 2613706 TI - In vitro induction of a diphtheria toxoid specific antibody response in human peripheral blood lymphocytes cultivated in the presence of diphtheria toxoid. AB - In comparison with the presently used potency test for diphtheria vaccine, in vitro examination of the immunogenicity of the vaccine would have great advantages. For this reason in vitro induction of diphtheria toxoid specific antibody synthesis in human peripheral blood lymphocytes cultivated in the presence of diphtheria toxoid was investigated. The results showed that a dose dependent synthesis of diphtheria antibody was induced by adsorbed diphtheria toxoid and combined vaccines containing the diphtheria toxoid component. Plain diphtheria toxoid appeared to be less immunogenic in comparison with adsorbed toxoid. There is some indication that the pertussis component had a stimulating effect on the diphtheria antibody synthesis. In conclusion, these results are promising for in vitro examination of the immunogenicity of diphtheria vaccines. The model will be validated for the routine control of diphtheria vaccine. PMID- 2613707 TI - Preclinical investigations of the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a purified, inactivated tick-borne encephalitis vaccine. AB - A new tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine for human use has been developed. TBE virus (TBEV) was propagated in primary chick embryo cells, inactivated by formalin and purified by continuous-flow density gradient centrifugation. The TBE vaccine was tested for innocuity, immunogenicity and protective capacity in a series of laboratory tests. The results indicated that the vaccine is outstandingly well tolerated, highly immunogenic in various laboratory animals, and induces protective immunity in mice. These data suggest that this new vaccine should be studied in clinical trials. PMID- 2613708 TI - [Study of diphtheria and tetanus anatoxins by electrofocusing on an agarose gel]. PMID- 2613709 TI - Salmonella typhi vaccine strain in vitro; low infectivity in human cell line U937. AB - Salmonella typhi strain Ty21a has been used for live oral vaccine. The infectivity of Ty21a, in comparison with S. typhi Ty2, was evaluated using the human monocyte-macrophage cell line U937. Assays were performed by quantitative microscopy and viable count technique. Ty2 infected approximately 100% of the cells, multiplied extensively within these cells and caused cell death. The same dose of Ty21a infected only about 15% of the cells, resulting in a low number of intracellular bacilli and cell survival. The use of gentamicin in the test confirmed intracellular multiplication of Ty2 but not Ty21a. The system described may be suitable as a test system for characterization of the degree of virulence of Ty21a and other live, oral typhoid vaccines. PMID- 2613710 TI - Monoclonal antibodies for therapy, prevention and in vivo diagnosis of human disease. International Association of Biological Standardization Symposium. PMID- 2613711 TI - Statistical analysis of knee ligament lengths. AB - Absolute locations of the main knee ligamentous structures' insertion sites on the femur, the tibia and the patella have been obtained for 30 knees originating from 18 fresh human cadavers. For each knee, the length of ten selected structures was deduced. These length data form the input of the statistical analysis presented in the paper. The correlations between the ligament lengths are presented. A comparison of the lengths from the left and right (laterality) knees of the same specimen is also done and shows no significant difference. The sex difference is also studied and does not seem to be a determinant parameter for the sample investigated. Prediction equations are proposed to estimate the ligament lengths for the knee in extension with respect to the three external parameters: height, weight and femoral condyle width. The menisco-femoral length, the patellar tendon length and the patellar length are not related to the external parameters and predictions are based on mean values. For the other six ligament lengths, the square multiple correlation coefficient with the external parameters ranges between 0.22 and 0.43. The condylar width is the most often used external parameter in these equations while the weight parameter is never present. PMID- 2613712 TI - Cortical pelvic strains with varying size hemiarthroplasty in vitro. AB - Four human pelves were dissected of soft tissues and instrumented with rosette strain gages. The pelves were left intact (not separated at the pubic symphysis or sacroiliac joints) although each of the eight hemipelves was tested separately. The pelves were loaded to simulate single leg stance with use of a wire mesh cemented to the wing of the ilium, representing the abductor muscles. Loading was carried out with the intact hip joint and 1 mm undersized, correct sized, and 1 mm oversized hemiarthroplasty. The correct sized component produced a strain pattern closet to normal. The oversized component was associated with an increase in strain at the medial acetabular dome. PMID- 2613713 TI - Calibrating joint capsule mechanoreceptors as in vivo soft tissue load cells. AB - A method has been developed whereby the discharge of mechanically sensitive neurons from the cat knee joint capsule can be calibrated and used as load cells. The neurons are located in the upper edge of the capsule which has been previously modeled as a suspension cable and where the loading has been shown to be one dimensional. The calibration procedure relies upon applying known point loads to the cable and measuring its shape. The biomechanical model is then used to compute the cable tension at the neuron location. Results for 20 neurons showed a strong linear relationship between the tension and the frequency of neuronal discharge (r = 0.96, S.D. = 0.05). For 11 of these neurons the in vivo calibration was verified by subsequently excising the posterior capsule and recording from the same neuron while subjecting the cable to measured uniaxial loads. Results showed good agreement between the in vivo and in vitro calibrations. Once calibrated these neurons can be used as load sensors to study in vivo joint loading. PMID- 2613714 TI - Measurement of joint capsule tissue loading in the cat knee using calibrated mechanoreceptors. AB - The vertical loading in the posterior capsule of the cat knee has been measured while the knee is rotated into hyperextension. Tissue loading was determined using a previously verified model of the capsule that represents its upper edge as a catenary suspension cable. Tensile loads in the cable were measured using the discharge of mechanoreceptive sensory neurons that had been calibrated as load sensors. The results revealed that the capsule is very lightly loaded in extension rotations. Less than 4% of the applied moment is sustained by the capsule. PMID- 2613715 TI - Mathematical shape optimization of hip prosthesis design. AB - The long-term success of artificial-joint replacement depends partly on the chances for acrylic cement failure and interface disruption. These chances can be diminished by an optimal load-transfer mechanism, whereby stress concentrations are avoided. The present paper introduces a method for numerical shape optimization, whereby the finite element method is used iteratively to determine optimal prosthetic designs, which minimize interface stresses. The method is first applied in a simplified one-dimensional model of a cemented femoral stem fixation, using acrylic cement. The results show that 30-70% cement and interface stress reductions can be obtained in principle with an optimized design. Although the actual optimal shape is susceptible to the characteristics of the joint load, the stem length, stem modulus, cement modulus and bone properties, its general geometrical characteristics are consistent, featuring proximal and distal tapers, and a belly-shaped middle region. These general characteristics are confirmed in a more realistic two-dimensional FEM model. It is concluded that this method of shape optimization can provide a meaningful basis for prosthetic design and analysis activities in general. PMID- 2613716 TI - Changes in limb dynamics during the practice of rapid arm movements. AB - In our study we examined Bernstein's hypothesis that practice alters the motor coordination among the muscular and passive joint moments. In particular, we conducted dynamical analyses of a human multisegmental movement during the practice of a task involving the upper extremity. Seven male human volunteers performed maximal-speed, unrestrained vertical arm movements whose upward and downward trajectories between two target endpoints required the hand to round a barrier, resulting in complex shoulder, elbow, and wrist joint movements. These movements were recorded by high-speed cine film, and myopotentials from selected upper-extremity muscles were recorded. The arm was modeled as interconnected rigid bodies, so that dynamical interactions among the upper arm, forearm, and hand could be calculated. With practice, subjects achieved significantly shorter movement times. As movement times decreased, all joint-moment components (except gravity) increased, and the moment-time and EMG profiles were changed significantly. Particularly during reversals in movement direction, the changes in moment-time and EMG profiles were consistent with Bernstein's hypothesis relating practice effects and intralimb coordination: with practice, motor coordination was altered so that individuals employed reactive phenomena in such a way as to use muscular moments to counterbalance passive-interactive moments created by segment movements. PMID- 2613717 TI - Linear and nonlinear one-dimensional models of pulse wave transmission at high Womersley numbers. AB - The accuracy of nonlinear and linear one-dimensional models in describing pulse wave propagation in a uniform cylindrical viscoelastic tube, with Womersley's parameter alpha equal to 7.6 at 1 Hz, was evaluated. To this end calculations of wave propagation using these models were compared with the experimentally determined propagation of the pressure wave in the tube. The experimentally generated pressure pulse had an amplitude of 9.0 kPa and caused a relative radius change of about 17%. The static pressure vs cross-sectional area relation was found to be nonlinear for these pressure changes. Maximum fluid velocity was about 2.9 ms-1, while the phase velocity was about 5.4 ms-1. The radius change and the ratio of fluid and phase velocities violated the linear model assumptions. The nonlinear model with viscous fluid friction modelled on the basis of Poiseuille's law and treating the tube wall as purely elastic, underestimated the damping of the pulse wave and predicted the formation of shock waves, which were not found experimentally. In the linear models, the viscous friction of the blood was modelled according to either Poiseuille's law or Womersley's theory and the tube wall was treated as either linearly elastic or linearly viscoelastic. A description of the viscous friction of the blood based on Poiseuille's law underestimated damping. Disregarding the viscoelasticity of the tube wall resulted in an underestimation of both phase velocity and damping. In spite of the nonlinearity of the system, the linear viscoelastic Womersley model described the pulse wave propagation satisfactorily. PMID- 2613718 TI - Compressive axial strain distributions in cancellous bone specimens. AB - The compressive axial strain distribution in cylindrical trabecular bone specimens was studied using digitized images of the specimen surface. Specimens were tested with strain rate 0.00015 s-1. Images were taken at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10% strain. Using an optical illusion of movement by rapidly changing succeeding images, failures were classified as transverse (33%) or oblique collapses (67%). The location of failure was not determined by the specimen density gradient. Local axial strain in the distal, intermediate and proximal third was measured throughout the compression in the transversely failing specimens, whereas local strain in the obliquely failing specimens was measured in the pre-failure phase only. Axial strain inhomogeneity was observed in the pre failure as well as in the post-failure phase. In the pre-failure phase the intermediate third was strained significantly less than the thirds near the ends. In the post-failure phase specimen strain occurred solely in the collapsed part. Ultimate strain of the transversely failing specimens was 2.5% and ultimate strain of the failing third was 3.7%. At failure less than 1% strain was observed in the intermediate third and at 10% specimen strain 1.5% local strain was found in the intermediate third. The results indicate unreliability of conventional stiffness and strain measurements in trabecular bone specimens probably due to lack of trabecular constraint at the end surfaces. Conventional measurements tend to underestimate stiffness and, by giving an average value of strain in spite of considerable strain inhomogeneity, to underestimate failure strain. PMID- 2613719 TI - X-ray quantitative computed tomography: the relations to physical properties of proximal tibial trabecular bone specimens. AB - Cylindrical bone specimens from the proximal epiphysis of ten normal human proximal tibiae were randomly assigned to a destructive axial compression test series (N = 94) or to a protocol of standardized mechanical conditioning followed by non-destructive repeated testing to 0.6% strain and a final destructive test (N = 121). Specimen X-ray quantitative computed tomography (QCT) obtained at different scanning energies (100, 120 and 140 kVp) yielded closely related results (r = 1.00). Accordingly, predictions of physically measured densities or mechanical properties were not improved by using more than one scanning energy. QCT and physically measured densities were intimately related (QCT at 140 kVp to apparent density using linear regression: r = 0.94, and to apparent ash density: r = 0.95) and did not differ significantly in their ability to predict the mechanical properties, thus favouring the more easily implemented QCT for routine work. Evaluation of the relation of apparent density to Young's modulus and ultimate strength suggested that a power law regression model is preferable to a linear model, although linear model prediction of mechanical properties does not have significantly worse accuracy within the narrow density range investigated. The effect of conditioning on the behaviour of bone specimens subjected to destructive compression tests was to increase the stiffness and strength by approximately 50 and 20% respectively. PMID- 2613720 TI - The effect of swimming activity on bone architecture in growing rats. AB - The effect of non-habitual physical activity on bone architecture in the rat humeral shaft was examined. Two groups of rats were trained to swim for 1 h a day, for 20 weeks, at two training levels. The control group consisted of sedentary rats. Parameters of cross-sectional bone morphology (cross-section areas, principal area moments of inertia and their ratio) were used to evaluate the response of bone architecture to mechanical loading. The strength of bone was assessed by measuring the ultimate compressive force and stress. The cortical cross-section area and principal moments of inertia were found to be significantly higher in the swimming groups than in the controls. Examination of the ratio between the major and minor moments of inertia revealed a pronounced change in the shape of the bone cross-section which became more rounded following swimming training. The ultimate compressive force was significantly higher in the swimming rats while the changes in ultimate stress were not significant. Our results indicate a gain of bone strength due to increased periosteal apposition and modified bone tissue distribution. The marked changes in bone morphology are attributed to the different nature of the forces and moments exerted on the humerus during swimming compared to those prevailing during normal locomotion. PMID- 2613721 TI - Biphasic indentation of articular cartilage--II. A numerical algorithm and an experimental study. AB - Part I (Mak et al., 1987, J. Biomechanics 20, 703-714) presented the theoretical solutions for the biphasic indentation of articular cartilage under creep and stress-relaxation conditions. In this study, using the creep solution, we developed an efficient numerical algorithm to compute all three material coefficients of cartilage in situ on the joint surface from the indentation creep experiment. With this method we determined the average values of the aggregate modulus. Poisson's ratio and permeability for young bovine femoral condylar cartilage in situ to be HA = 0.90 MPa, vs = 0.39 and k = 0.44 x 10(-15) m4/Ns respectively, and those for patellar groove cartilage to be HA = 0.47 MPa, vs = 0.24, k = 1.42 x 10(-15) m4/Ns. One surprising finding from this study is that the in situ Poisson's ratio of cartilage (0.13-0.45) may be much less than those determined from measurements performed on excised osteochondral plugs (0.40-0.49) reported in the literature. We also found the permeability of patellar groove cartilage to be several times higher than femoral condyle cartilage. These findings may have important implications on understanding the functional behavior of cartilage in situ and on methods used to determine the elastic moduli of cartilage using the indentation experiments. PMID- 2613722 TI - Orientation dependence of the fracture mechanics of cortical bone. AB - The fracture mechanics parameter of the critical stress intensity factor (Kc) was determined by a modified compact tension test method, for the fracture of bovine tibia cortical bone at orientations of 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 75 degrees and 90 degrees to the bone axis. It was established that, for a given loading rate, a variation in orientation from 0-90 degrees produced average increases in Kc from 3.2 to 6.5 MN m-3/2. PMID- 2613723 TI - A model study of muscle forces and joint-force direction in normal and dysplastic neonatal hips. AB - Orthopaedic treatment of congenital hip dysplasia does not always give the desired result. With the present model, prediction of the effects of various treatments on the force direction in the hip joint could help to improve and select treatment (the force direction is presumed to control the collum growth direction). The model contains three-dimensional mathematical descriptions of all muscles passing the hip joint, for various degrees of femoral dysplasia, and for various hip postures. Muscles run straight or curve round some skeletal parts. Muscle forces (all isometric) are calculated from muscle mass, density, pennation angle, mean fibre length, muscle elongation, and assumed activation levels. The latter serve as parameters for optimization. Resting lengths are taken from an assumed fetal posture, and from the observed neonatal posture. Differences between force directions before and after birth, as calculated with the model, agree with collum direction changes described by von Lanz and Mayet (1953). PMID- 2613724 TI - A three-dimensional musculoskeletal model for gait analysis. Anatomical variability estimates. AB - Three-dimensional coordinates defining the origin and insertion of 40 muscle units, and bony landmarks for osteometric scaling were identified on dry bone specimens. Interspecimen coordinate differences along the anterior-posterior axis of the pelvis and the long bone axes of the pelvis, femur and leg were reduced by scaling but landmark differences along the other axes were not. The coordinates were mapped to living subjects using close-range photogrammetry to locate superficial reference markers. The error of predicting the positions of internal coordinates was assessed by comparing joint centre locations calculated from local axes defining the orientation of segments superior and inferior to a joint. A difference was attributed to: anatomical variability not accounted for by scaling; errors in identifying and placing reference landmarks; the accuracy of locating markers using photogrammetry and error introduced by marker oscillation during movement. Anatomical differences between specimens are one source of error in defining a musculoskeletal model but larger errors are introduced when such models are mapped to living subjects. PMID- 2613725 TI - Mathematical modelling of trabecular bone structure: the evaluation of analytical and quantified surface to volume relationships in the femoral head and iliac crest. AB - The three-dimensional architecture of trabecular bone has structural trends related to physical function as described by Wolff's law. Mathematical modelling provides a means of analysing these structures through the use of simplified representations. A single measure of mineralized bone volume per unit volume of structure (Vv) and the surface area of mineralized bone per unit volume of structure (Sv) does not identify a particular architecture in any detail; the way in which Sv changes in relation to Vv does provide this information as the structure remodels. A series of structures using the elements of plates and rods were created. The rates of change of Sv with respect to Vv for trabecular structures give insight into differences in such models. Structures in the femoral head and iliac crest were analysed by power curve regression. In the principal compressive region, just above the medial cortex, advanced osteoarthritis was associated with a preferential loss of rods from the normal trabecular structure, resulting in a more plate-like architecture. The iliac crest remodelling that takes place in the osteoporotic appears to be the result of a generalised bone loss with some of the thinner elements of the structure being removed completely, resulting in an increase in unit cell dimension. The consequence of changing unit cell size has a major impact on surface availability for osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity. The simple plate model as a basis for the stereological analysis of trabecular structures is therefore limited because of the mixed plate and rod nature of trabecular architecture. PMID- 2613726 TI - An iterative procedure to estimate muscle lines of action in vivo. AB - A method is described to estimate the line of action of muscles in the three dimensional space from serial images of parallel muscle sections obtained in vivo by means of CT or MRI scanning. The external shape of a muscle, reconstructed from the series of parallel sections, is mathematically divided into a series of imaginary slices directed arbitrarily in the three-dimensional space. The line of action is estimated initially as a regression line through the centroids of these mathematical slices. A new series of mathematical slices is constructed perpendicular to the regression line and a new estimate of the line of action is obtained from their centroids. This procedure is repeated until the estimated line of action is perpendicular to the mathematical slices; it can then be considered as a reliable estimate of the line of action. The accuracy of the method has been tested for various reconstruction parameters and muscle shapes. The results of these tests show that the accuracy is relatively independent of the direction in which the sectional images have been made and that, except for relatively short and thick muscles, the estimated lines of action deviated less than about 2 degrees from the theoretical one. The presented method is a relatively simple mathematical technique which can be used easily for muscles reconstructed in vivo from routinely obtained sectional MRI or CT images. PMID- 2613727 TI - Morphological and biomechanical evaluations of neocartilage from the repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects using rib perichondrium autografts: a long-term study. AB - Neocartilage regenerated from rib perichondrium autografts implanted into full thickness cartilage defects made in the femoral condyle of rabbit knees were evaluated for periods up to 1 yr. Two postoperative treatment effects were studied, one with ad lib. caged activity (CAGE) and the other with the operated knee placed on a continuous passive motion machine for 2 weeks (8 h day-1 for 5 days week-1) followed by caged activity (PM). Animals were sacrificed at 6, 12, 26 and 52 weeks after surgery. The neocartilage was evaluated histologically and biomechanically and compared with the contralateral unoperated side. Visually, the neocartilage appeared to have an appearance similar to that of surrounding cartilage at 52 weeks, with an excellent degree of confluence with the neighboring tissue. The newly grown tissues were morphologically similar to normal hyaline articular cartilage. The dynamic shear moduli for the neocartilage from both the CAGE and PM groups significantly increased with postoperative healing time (p less than 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference between the two treatment modalities (p greater than 0.10), indicating that the passive motion did not enhance the long-term repair of the cartilage defect. These results support our hypothesis that neocartilage regenerated from perichondrial autograft remains intact over time. PMID- 2613728 TI - Incorporation of muscle architecture into the muscle length-tension relationship. AB - A mathematical model of the muscle active length-tension relationship has been developed. It integrates the functional basis of different muscle arrangements into a mathematical description of the contractile element. The model is complex enough to represent many of the mechanical and architectural properties of active muscle. Yet, it is simple enough that only two parameters (muscle fiber optimal length, muscle belly optimal length) are needed to scale the model to a specific actuator. PMID- 2613729 TI - The effects of grip proximity on perceived local in vitro tendon strain. AB - In vitro tensile loadings were performed on a series of sequentially-shortened canine tendon specimens which had been instrumented with mercury strain gages. The purpose of the experiments was to determine the tendon length necessary to ensure that the perceived local strain was effectively independent of the gripping configuration. The results showed that the mercury strain gage outputs exhibited statistically significant departures from initial (long tendon) values only when the tendons were shortened to lengths of less than about eight diameter multiples. PMID- 2613730 TI - An experimental setup for the measurement of forces on a human cadaveric foot during inversion. AB - An experimental setup was developed for statically measuring seven vertical and three horizontal reaction forces on the foot. In the setup, the leg can be simultaneously loaded (1) by a vertical force, (2) by an externally applied axial moment, and (3) by simulated muscle forces. The foot is free to invert under influence of the external loads. Statical analysis and test experiments were used for evaluation. The setup can be used in combination with Roentgen photogrammetry to measure bone positions simultaneously with forces. PMID- 2613731 TI - Padding point extrapolation techniques for the Butterworth digital filter. PMID- 2613732 TI - Comment on 'Some Viscoplastic Characteristics of Bovine and Human Cortical Bone'. PMID- 2613733 TI - Effects of selective cholinergic antagonists and alpha,beta-methylene ATP on guinea-pig urinary bladder contractions in vivo following pelvic nerve stimulation. AB - 1. An in vivo preparation measuring functional detrusor muscle strength in terms of intravesical bladder pressure (Pves) following in situ pelvic nerve stimulation has been developed in urethane-anaesthetized guinea pigs. 2. The increase in bladder pressure following pelvic nerve stimulation was abolished by topical lidocaine or tetrodotoxin, suggesting a neurogenic origin for the in vivo contractile response. 3. Cholinergic antagonists (i.v.) decreased the amplitude of the peak pressure response by about 50% at both high (30 Hz) and low (5 Hz) stimulation rates, with a rank order of potency of atropine greater than propantheline greater than oxybutynin greater than hexahydrosiladifenidol greater than pirenzepine greater than methoctramine. 4. The P2 purine receptor antagonist, alpha,beta-methylene ATP (i.v.), antagonized pelvic nerve-stimulated bladder contractions differentially at 5 and 30 Hz. At low frequencies, alpha, beta-methylene ATP was both more potent (2.5-fold) and more efficacious (-77 compared to -55% delta) than at 30 Hz. Atropine and alpha,beta-methylene ATP together completely inhibited the contractile response. 5. Together, the findings indicate that in guinea pigs, urinary bladder contractions induced by pelvic nerve stimulation in vivo may be mediated by both muscarinic and purinergic receptors and that these bladder contractions may be mediated by the M2 beta subtype rather than by M1 or M2 alpha muscarinic receptors. PMID- 2613734 TI - Examination of the paradoxical lack of responsiveness of the guinea-pig vas deferens to tyramine. AB - 1. The isolated superfused vas deferens from the guinea-pig was more sensitive to the contractile action of noradrenaline than that from the rat. Tyramine had about 10% of the potency of noradrenaline on the rat vas deferens, but had no contractile activity on the guinea-pig vas deferens (potency less than 0.1% of noradrenaline). 2. The response of the guinea-pig vas deferens to noradrenaline was not affected by tyramine in a concentration that produced a clear contractile response of the rat vas deferens. 3. Noradrenaline and tyramine released less radioactivity from guinea-pig than from rat vasa deferentia in which noradrenergic transmitter stores had been labelled with 3H-noradrenaline. In vasa deferentia from either species, tyramine released less radioactivity than noradrenaline. 4. Pretreatment with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor iproniazid increased the amount of radioactivity released by tyramine from vasa deferentia of both species, increased the contractile response of the rat vas deferens to tyramine, and resulted in the appearance of a contractile response to tyramine in the guinea-pig vas deferens. 5. alpha-methyltyramine, which is not a substrate for monoamine oxidase, had about the same potency as tyramine in releasing radioactivity from vasa deferentia of both species, and in contracting the rat vas deferens, but was virtually without contractile activity on the guinea-pig vas deferens. 6. Pretreatment with iproniazid resulted in the appearance of a contractile response to alpha-methyltyramine in the guinea-pig vas deferens. 7. Pretreatment with iproniazid resulted in change in the composition of the radioactivity released by tyramine, with an increase in the proportion of noradrenaline and a decrease in the proportion of deaminated products. There was also an increase in the amount of endogenous noradrenaline released by tyramine. 8. It was concluded that the main factor accounting for the lack of reactivity of the guinea-pig vas deferens to tyramine is intraneuronal metabolism of the noradrenaline displaced by it. PMID- 2613735 TI - Adrenaline released as a cotransmitter does not enhance stimulation-evoked 3H noradrenaline release from rabbit isolated aorta. AB - 1. The aim of the present investigation was to examine if adrenaline released as a cotransmitter by field stimulation of sympathetic neurons in rabbit isolated aorta facilitates noradrenaline release by activation of presynaptic beta adrenoreceptors. 2. Rabbit aortic rings were preincubated with adrenaline (10(-8) 3 x 10(-6) M) or noradrenaline (10(-8)-3 x 10(-6) M) prior to incubation with 3H noradrenaline (3H-NA; 10(-7) M). Subsequently, the tissues were subjected to repeated electrical-field stimulation. 3. Preincubation of aorta with either adrenaline or noradrenaline did not change the time course of repeated stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow from tissues preloaded with 3H-NA. 4. Propranolol (10(-8)-10(-6) M) did not alter the stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow. 5. Rauwolscine (10(-7)-10(-5) M) enhanced markedly the 3H-overflow evoked by stimulation. In the presence of rauwolscine, propranolol (10(-8)-10(-6) M) and metoprolol (10(-8)-10(-6) M) did not change the 3H-overflow. 6. In experiments using rings of aorta exposed to adrenaline (10(-8) M) for 30 min in the absence of cocaine, stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow was not affected after withdrawal of adrenaline. This was also the case in the presence of propranolol (10(-6) M). 7. We conclude that adrenaline released as a cotransmitter from sympathetic nerve terminals in rabbit aorta does not facilitate noradrenaline release. PMID- 2613736 TI - Effect of moderate cooling on endogenous noradrenaline release from the mesenteric vasculature of rats. AB - 1. Experiments were performed to investigate whether moderate cooling can reduce exocytotic noradrenaline release in the deep circulation of rats. 2. The release of endogenous noradrenaline from the entire mesenteric vasculature of the isolated intestine of rats was determined along with the perfusion pressure response to transmural field stimulation (TFS) (4-14 Hz) at 37 degrees C or 24 degrees C. 3. Although moderate cooling significantly augmented the perfusion pressure responses to TFS, it markedly depressed TFS-induced endogenous noradrenaline release. Moderate cooling also significantly reduced the perfusion pressure responses to exogenous noradrenaline. 4. Treatment of mesenteric vascular preparations with cocaine (10(-6) M) plus corticosterone (4 x 10(-5) M) to inhibit neuronal and extraneuronal noradrenaline uptake, respectively, significantly increased the TFS-induced pressor response at 37 degrees C, but not at 24 degrees C. 5. However, treatment with cocaine in combination with corticosterone significantly increased the TFS-induced release of noradrenaline at both temperatures. The enhancement produced by these uptake inhibitors on the TFS-induced noradrenaline release at 37 degrees C was significantly smaller than that observed at 24 degrees C. 6. These results indicate that moderate cooling can depress the exocytotic noradrenaline release in the mesenteric vasculature. However, it appears that reduced re-uptake by moderate cooling probably overcomes the inhibitory effect of cooling on the release of noradrenaline. 7. Thus, it is suggested that the increased pressor responses to TFS by moderate cooling are due, at least in part, to reduced uptake at lower temperatures. PMID- 2613737 TI - Applied biomaterials. Proceedings of a symposium on retrieval and analysis of surgical implants and biomaterials. August, 1988. Snowbird, Utah. PMID- 2613738 TI - Implant retrieval and analysis. PMID- 2613739 TI - Development of monoclonal antibodies to collagens for assessing host-implant interactions. AB - The biologic response to surgical implants is of importance in understanding the host interactions relating to long-term patency of implants. The methodology currently available for the assessment of host-biomaterial interactions is subjective and is limited to identification of inflammatory responses and general histopathological staining procedures associated with these processes. A clearer appraisal of the nature and type of extracellular matrix components related to the host response to the implanted biomaterials would assist in the development of biomaterials and would allow an earlier means of predicting biocompatibility. The extracellular matrix consists of a range of similar collagen types which are difficult to distinguish using polyclonal antibodies. However, with the advent of hybridoma technology, monoclonal antibodies with the desired specificities can be produced to provide very powerful probes for assessing host-implant interactions. There were several problems associated with the production of these antibodies, mainly arising from collagens being extremely poor immunogens. The present study has examined these problems and has demonstrated that monoclonal antibodies against a range of collagen types can be produced. These antibodies were all highly specific for collagen type, but for a given collagen type, antibodies with different species specificities could be obtained. These antibodies were shown to be suitable for immunohistology of various connective tissue samples and were used to examine collagen-based vascular prostheses (Omniflow Vascular Graft) after retrieval from canine models. These data demonstrated that the monoclonal antibodies to collagens were excellent for the analysis of surgical implants and biomaterials after retrieval. PMID- 2613740 TI - Wear analysis of retrieved alumina heads and sockets of hip prostheses. AB - The wear behavior of hip prostheses alumina components was studied on 20 retrieved implants removed for socket loosening. The observed wear takes two forms: a running-in of the mating surfaces and a gross disruption of the surfaces. The running-in is very shallow, in the order of 0.2 micron after 8 years of implantation. This is observed on the load-bearing areas of the components. Gross wear is not material-related but had always been associated to a high contact pressure between the edge of the socket and the femoral head. Such a high contact pressure occurs after the socket had loosened and then tilted or if it was initially positioned too vertically. The long-term success of alumina alumina THP components depends essentially upon biomechanical considerations and upon the quality of the material. The area of contact between the head and the socket should be large enough to minimize the contact stresses. This can only be achieved by a good positioning of the socket and by a close tolerance fit of the alumina components; any deviation from sphericity should also be avoided. The normal wear behavior of alumina is a running-in process leading to an average wear rate of 0.025 micron/year as compared to 100 microns/year for UHMWPE on metallic heads. PMID- 2613741 TI - Toxic hydrolysis product from a biodegradable foam implant. AB - A commercially available mammary implant containing a soft polyester polyurethane foam shell has been examined for possible diamine hydrolysis products. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) analysis has shown ester and aromatic structures present in the intact foam shell. Vigorous hydrolysis conditions using NaOH have produced a mixture with large amounts of toluene diamine (TDA) present as determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), and GC/FT-IR. There are numerous clinical reports of the degradation of this implant shell after implantation with incorporation of fragments into phagocytic cells at the implantation site. Recent reports have discussed late pain and other allergic reactions to this implant. Release of the known toxic material, TDA, is consistent with these observations and strongly suggests that an alternative material be used in this application. PMID- 2613742 TI - Alteration of retrieved implants in vitro by processing and infiltrating fluids. AB - Undecalcified histology has proved of immense value in the examination of the interface membrane between the prosthesis and bone. However, to provide such histological sections, dehydrating and clearing fluids as well as plastic infiltrating fluids must be used. This study investigates the possibility that some of these commonly used fluids may alter the biomaterial after removal from the body and be misinterpreted as an in vivo product. Ten different routinely used fluids were tested on 11 different biomaterials that are commonly used in prosthetic devices. The nonmetal biomaterials were placed in glass tubes containing the different fluids at room temperature for 5 days. The biomaterials were assessed for changes each day. After 5 days the biomaterial was examined and discarded and the glass tube was centrifuged. The pellet was examined using polarized light microscopy. Polysulfone and bone cement was found to be considerably altered in vitro by most of these fluids. While the components (plasticizer and catalyst) of the plastic fluids caused some changes to the biomaterial. Spurr's and GMA did not cause any alterations to any of the biomaterials that were examined. PMID- 2613743 TI - Corrosion of copper, nickel, and gold dental casting alloys: an in vitro and in vivo study. AB - The corrosion behavior of commercially available copper, nickel, and gold alloys for dental castings was investigated. The alloys investigated included: three copper alloys (76-87Cu, 6-11A1, 0-12Zn, 1-5Ni, 0-4Fe, 0.5-1.2Mn), two nickel alloys (68-78Ni, 12-16Cr, 4-14Mo, 0-1.7Be), and one gold alloy (77Au, 14Ag, 8Cu, 1Pd). Anodic and cathodic polarization curves, long-term immersion tests in saline and artificial saliva solutions, and dog crown studies were conducted to evaluate both the in vitro and in vivo corrosion characteristics of the alloys. All evaluations conducted demonstrated that the copper alloys were highly susceptible to corrosion attack. High corrosion currents were observed in the in vitro tests, and SEM of the alloys specimens showed significantly altered surfaces. The anodic polarization curves predicted that the beryllium-containing nickel alloy should be susceptible to localized corrosion and SEM revealed an etched surface with corrosion of certain microstructural features. No significant corrosion was predicted or observed for the non-beryllium nickel alloy and the gold alloy. The in vitro corrosion evaluations predicted the in vivo corrosion behavior for the alloys. Since the three copper alloys and the beryllium containing nickel alloy demonstrated significant corrosion under the tested conditions, the use of these alloys for restorative procedures is questionable due to the release of significant levels of selected ions to the oral cavity. PMID- 2613744 TI - An histo-morphological evaluation of ninety surgically excised human umbilical vein grafts. AB - Morphological, histological, and scanning electron microscopy examinations were performed on 90 surgically excised human umbilical vein grafts. Most of the explanted grafts were removed because of thrombosis or infection and were removed typically from a patient in the mid 60s and after an average duration of implantation of 11 months. Multiple structural defects were found including deep folds, breaks on the luminal surface, and delamination. These areas as well as anastomotic sites represented potential areas for thrombotic accumulation. A higher incidence of infection was observed in grafts composed of 2 or 3 segments. Bacteria were often found in folds and could be seen invading the wall of the prosthesis. In addition, bacteremic colonization was often seen in noninfected grafts. The late aneurysmal formations were also of particular concern. The biodegradation of the wall and the disruption of the polyester mesh were the probable causes. The second generation Dardik Biograft aimed at reducing these formations. The success of this new processing remains to be evaluated. PMID- 2613745 TI - Modulation of interleukin 2 high-affinity binding by lymphocyte-derived tetrahydrobiopterin: pterins as potential participants in the control of interleukin 2 receptor assembly. AB - In this report, we have examined whether (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin (H4biopterin) modulates the binding of interleukin 2 to high-affinity sites of the cloned mouse cytotoxic T-lymphocyte clone CTLL-2. Scatchard plot analysis of the equilibrium binding data reveals increased affinity when the cells are exposed simultaneously to interleukin 2 and to the pterin. The Kd values are statistically significantly reduced from 1.4 x 10(-11) M to 0.78 x 10(-11) M interleukin 2. The dissociation kinetics of the ligand were followed at 4 degrees C after equilibrium binding under high-affinity conditions (1.2 x 10(-10) M interleukin 2). In the presence of H4 biopterin, the dissociation rate constant (k-1) decreases from 6.2 x 10(-3) min-1 to 3.0 x 10(-3) min-1 and the half-time for dissociation increases from 106.8 min to 218.0 min. As a third approach interleukin 2 was bound to the surface of cells under high-affinity conditions by incubation in the cold and the internalization kinetics upon warming were determined. Sigmoidal-shaped kinetics of endocytosis in control cells indicate that the internalization rates increase only gradually. The presence of H4 biopterin causes an apparent immediate transition from higher-order kinetics to a linear response so that maximum internalization rates are reached immediately upon warming. The data show that lymphocyte-derived H4 biopterin in vitro at concentrations ranging from 2-8 x 10( 7) M modulates interleukin 2 high-affinity binding and that H4 biopterin potentially participates in the control of interleukin 2 receptor assembly. PMID- 2613746 TI - Binding properties of biotinylated epidermal growth factor to its receptor on cultured cells and tissue sections. AB - A biotinylated derivative of murine epidermal growth factor (EGF) was prepared by covalent attachment of the terminal amino group of EGF to N-biotinyl-epsilon aminocaproyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide. The stoichiometry of biotin incorporation was in the range of one biotin moiety per EGF molecule. The biotinylated EGF (biotinyl-epsilon-caproyl-EGF, BioEGF) binds to EGF receptors on intact Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells with an affinity similar to that of native EGF and displays the same mitogenic activity as EGF in a soft agar test system with normal rat kidney (NRK) cells. BioEGF was visualized on cultured cells and tissue sections of a head and neck tumour by commercial streptavidin/avidin detection systems. Cytochemical analyses of certain tumour forms can be easily performed using the BioEGF probe. PMID- 2613747 TI - Posttranslational insertion of a membrane protein on Caenorhabditis elegans sperm occurs without de novo protein synthesis. AB - We have examined the mechanism of membrane protein insertion in the ameboid spermatozoa of Caenorhabditis elegans using two monoclonal antibodies which recognize the same set of eight sperm-specific polypeptides. Previous electron microscopic studies demonstrated that these antibodies label surface and cytoplasmic populations of antigen. Cells whose surface antigen had been removed by proteolysis were able to localize new membrane protein insertion at the tips of pseudopodial projections. C. elegans sperm do not contain the protein synthesizing machinery needed for delivery of new membrane to the cell surface. It has, therefore, been of interest to determine how localized membrane assembly occurs. Here we have determined the subcellular location of each of these eight polypeptides. A closely positioned doublet of bands around 97 kD (comprising 40% of the total antigen in sperm) represents surface (larger member of doublet) and cytoplasmic (lower member) forms of protein. Proteolysis of live cells eliminated this surface form from immunoblots but did not affect the cytoplasmic protein. When cells were allowed to reinsert new protein following removal of the enzyme, this surface form was regenerated. Since sperm are unable to synthesize new protein, this higher molecular weight species may arise from a posttranslational modification of proteins in the cytoplasmic pool. We present evidence suggesting that the surface protein is generated from this cytoplasmic pool by addition of fatty acid. Fatty acid acylation would account for both the observed decrease in electrophoretic mobility of the surface form and provide increased hydrophobicity to the protein which may allow for its insertion into the lipid bilayer. PMID- 2613748 TI - Can glutathione-S-transferases function as intracellular heme carriers? AB - The possibility that glutathione-S-transferases can serve as heme carriers in cells was studied via the following two characteristics: the ability to bind hemin reversibly and the coordination between heme and glutathione-S-transferases level in the cell. two erythroleukemic cell lines that can be induced to synthesize hemoglobin were studied, K-562 and Friend murine erythroleukemia cells. It was found that hemin-associated glutathione-S-transferase tends to lose its native structure as expressed by partial irreversible inhibition of glutathione conjugation activity. In K-562 cells, a small increase in heme synthesis was induced, but under no condition could glutathione-S-transferase be elevated. In addition, introduction of high hemin from without caused large hemoglobin production but did not induce changes in the glutathione-S-transferase content. Dimethyl sulfoxide-induced Friend murine erythroleukemia cells synthesized a large amount of endogenous hemin that had to be transported from the mitochondria for hemoglobin synthesis. Although a concomitant increase in glutathione-S-transferase level (20-40%) was observed, it was only short-lived, unlike hemin, which continued to increase. These data indicate a lack of correlation between glutathione-S-transferase and hemin or hemoglobin levels. Finally, dimethyl sulfoxide-induced cells were treated with succinyl acetone to inhibit heme synthesis. These cells showed the same increased levels and time dependent pattern of glutathione-S-transferase as untreated cells. A similar phenomenon was observed when different substrates were used to measure the activities of glutathione-S-transferases. These results raise doubts about the possibility of glutathione-S-transferases functioning as heme carriers in cells. PMID- 2613749 TI - Developmental changes in expression of a tumor-associated protein in the rat fetus. AB - Monoclonal antibodies specific for a rat tumor-associated protein cross-react with a similar protein present in the cytosol of the rat fetus. The oncofetal protein exists as two species of approximate molecular weight 50 and 55 kDa which promote the transport of RNA from isolated nuclei. During rat fetal development, the protein first increases in concentration from approximately 12 to 16 days gestation and then drops to non-detectable levels perinatally. PMID- 2613750 TI - Modulation of transforming growth factor alpha-dependent expression of epidermal growth factor receptor gene by transforming growth factor beta, triiodothyronine, and retinoic acid. AB - We have investigated the actions of transforming growth factor (TGF) type alpha on epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor mRNA expression in MDA-468 human mammary carcinoma cells in serum-free media. We found that exposure of MDA-468 cells to TGF alpha results in elevated levels of EGF receptor mRNA. This increase in mRNA accumulation showed time and dose dependence. Addition of TGF beta 1 enhanced the accumulation of EGF receptor mRNA induced by TGF alpha in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We also found that triiodothyronine at physiological concentrations exerts synergistic control on the action of TGF alpha alone, or in association with TGF beta 1, on EGF receptor mRNA expression. Similarly, retinoic acid treatment also enhanced in a time- and dose-dependent manner the TGF alpha dependent response of EGF receptor mRNA and acted synergistically with TGF beta 1. The results described here suggest that optimum regulation of EGF receptor gene expression by TGF alpha is a complex process involving synergistic interactions with heterologous growth factors and hormones. PMID- 2613751 TI - Protein targeting. Proceedings of the Eighth John Innes Symposium. Norwich, 1988. PMID- 2613752 TI - Nuclear transport in vitro. AB - In this paper, progress towards the goal of understanding communication between the nucleus and cytoplasm using an in vitro system is reviewed. To probe the mechanism of nuclear targeting, we developed an in vitro transport system and have begun to dissect the highly selective process of nuclear transport. The basic parameters of transport were defined using an easily isolated nuclear protein, nucleoplasmin. To study the interaction of nuclear targeting signals with the pore, an artificial nuclear transport substrate was constructed, which consists of human serum albumin coupled to the signal sequence of the SV40 T antigen. A similar peptide-protein conjugate was made using a mutant signal sequence. These conjugates were fluorescently labeled and/or tagged with gold and tested for transport in the in vitro system. High levels of nuclear transport of the wild-type signal sequence-containing protein were observed, while no transport of the mutant signal sequence-containing protein was seen. Thus, the in vitro system correctly recognizes the single amino acid change between the wild type and mutant signal sequences. We found that the observed nuclear transport was completely dependent on the presence of ATP. Using the in vitro system we identified a specific inhibitor of nuclear transport, the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), which we find binds directly to the nuclear pore. Probing blots of nuclear proteins with 125I-WGA identified a family of nuclear pore glycoproteins, including one major glycoprotein of 62K (K = 10(3)Mr) molecular weight. With the inhibitor and the in vitro assay, it has been possible to experimentally separate nuclear transport into two steps: (1) a step in which the signal sequence-bearing protein binds to the pore, followed by (2) a step in which the protein translocates through the pore. It is this second step which is the ATP-dependent step of transport, since pore binding but not translocation was seen to occur in the absence of ATP. PMID- 2613753 TI - Characterisation of the nuclear location sequence of Xenopus nucleoplasmin. AB - Each subunit of the Xenopus nucleoplasmin polypeptide possesses a single nuclear location sequence, the boundaries of which have been determined by deletion analysis. However, the sequence identified in this analysis is unable to locate pyruvate kinase to the cell nucleus. Further investigation revealed that while this sequence element is not sufficient for nuclear localisation, it is a necessary feature of slightly longer sequences which can locate pyruvate kinase to the cell nucleus. This unusual feature of the nucleoplasmin sequence suggests testable models for the interaction of this sequence with the transport mechanism, one of which is discussed here. PMID- 2613754 TI - Effects of vitamin A on growth and differentiation of human tracheobronchial epithelial cell cultures in serum-free medium. AB - Differentiating epithelial cell cultures from human tracheobronchial epithelium have been propagated in serum-free medium. The major objective of this study was to examine the trophic effects of vitamin A on cell multiplication and morphology of the tracheal cell cultures. The cellular responses were analyzed in terms of growth kinetics, morphological and ultrastructural alterations and secretion of glycoconjugates. Cell cultures in control medium exhibited characteristics of epithelial cells including microvilli on cell surfaces, desmosomes between cells, and numerous secretory vesicles in the cytoplasm. Vitamin A at 10(-6) M and 10( 7) M inhibited cell replication and enhanced the secretion of [3H]glucosamine labeled glycoconjugates. Further, vitamin A increased the production of plasma membrane vesicles and acquisition by the cells of a highly secretory ultrastructure. This in vitro model of human epithelial cells will be important in the investigation of various aspects of growth and differentiation. PMID- 2613755 TI - Modulation of melanoma cell adhesion to basement membrane components by retinoic acid. AB - The effect of retinoic acid pretreatment on metastatic B16 melanoma cell adhesion in serum-free medium to tissue culture plastic precoated with fibronectin, laminin/nidogen, type I and type IV collagen was examined. Both control cells grown to subconfluence and cells treated with 10(-6) M-retinoic acid adhered and spread rapidly on fibronectin (greater than 75% following 1 h of incubation) but adhered poorly to type I collagen (less than 15%). Control cells adhered to laminin/nidogen (greater than 35%), type IV collagen (greater than 58%) and type IV collagen plus laminin/nidogen (greater than 80%), while retinoic acid-treated cells showed a reduced ability to attach and spread on these substrata, the number of adherent cells being reduced by 61% on laminin/nidogen, by 19% on type IV collagen, and by 41% on type IV collagen plus laminin/nidogen following 1 h of incubation. The minimum concentration of retinoic acid required to yield an effective reduction in adhesion was 10(-7) M for type IV collagen and 10(-10) M for laminin/nidogen. Melanoma cells harvested at low density showed a reduced adhesion to laminin/nidogen and type IV collagen compared to that of subconfluent control cultures, but also showed a reduced adhesion to fibronectin. The effect of retinoic acid on cell adhesion was not, however, due to reduced cell density, as the cells were seeded so that control and retinoic acid-treated cultures were of a similar density when harvested. PMID- 2613756 TI - Saccharide expression on wounded endothelial cell monolayers in vitro. AB - Monolayer cultures of porcine aortic endothelial cells were used as a model of the endothelium of large arteries. Linear wounds were produced in such cultures by scraping and the subsequent sequence of events in nearby cells was analysed. The earliest detectable event was cellular spreading at the margins of the wounds (2 h) followed by cell migration (starting at 6-8 h) and cell proliferation in regions adjacent to the wound (16 h and later). Cell spreading was associated with the appearance of saccharides selectively at the spreading margins of the cells, which bound the lectins, ConA, LCA and PSA, and were sensitive to alpha mannosidase. Terminal alpha-mannosyl residues were therefore present. The appearance of these saccharides suggests a mechanism by which monocytes might adhere to and/or migrate through the endothelium of vessels at sites of cellular response to injury. PMID- 2613757 TI - Ontogenetic expression of the murine erythrocyte glycophorins. AB - The major sialoglycoproteins or glycophorins of the murine erythrocyte membrane, gp2 (Mr 44,000) and gp3 (Mr 29,000), are expressed as identical or closely related antigens by the three erythroid cell lines that succeed each other in normal mouse development. The embryonic forms of gp2 and gp3 differ from the adult forms by their mobility on SDS-PAGE. The apparent Mr values are increased by 1000-2000 for gp2 and 500 for gp3. An increase in the microheterogeneity of both embryonic and fetal forms of gp2 is also detected. Variations in glycosylation account in part for the apparent differences in Mr. Sizing of O glycosidically linked oligosaccharide chains reveals that fetal glycophorins contain predominantly trisaccharide units while their adult counterparts are mostly tetrasaccharides. The kinetics of gp2 and gp3 biosynthesis in fetal liver are comparable to those established for the splenic erythroblasts of adult anemic mice. Like their adult counterparts, fetal glycophorins incorporate [3H]palmitate and [3H]galactose. The results indicate that, in murine ontogeny, distinct but antigenically related sialoglycoproteins are produced at each erythropoietic stage. PMID- 2613758 TI - Expression of a cell surface antigen in Dictyostelium discoideum in relation to the cell cycle. AB - We have previously shown binding of a monoclonal antibody MUD 9 to the cell surface of Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae and slug cells. In the slug stage the prestalk region was predominantly labelled, while vegetative amoebae showed a great heterogeneity in binding. In the present paper it is shown that the heterogeneous label of vegetative amoebae is due to differences in MUD 9 binding by cells in different cell cycle phases. Cells were synchronized by dilution from stationary phase and the level of MUD 9 binding was determined. Synchrony was determined by investigating increase in cell number and changes in the volume distribution of the cells, and by estimating the number of cells in S phase by monitoring bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) incorporation. Simultaneously the amount of MUD 9 binding was determined by quantitative microscopy and flow cytometry. The amount of MUD 9 label varies during the cell cycle. The highest amount of label is found on cells early in the cell cycle, i.e. S-phase. These results support the finding that the developmental fate of Dictyostelium discoideum cells depends among other things on the cell cycle position of the cells at the moment of starvation. PMID- 2613759 TI - Synthesis and phosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins during the in vitro biogenesis of MDCK cell monolayers. AB - In vitro formation of a functional MDCK cell monolayer requires the dynamic participation of the cytoskeleton. Cell shape, contacts and polarity, as well as transepithelial electric resistance (TER), are actively modified during this differentiation process. We studied the distribution and rearrangement of cytokeratin, vimentin and actin filaments that occur in the monolayer concomitant with the synthesis and phosphorylation of these proteins. Cells cultured for short time in suspension, subconfluent or early confluent cells, showed striking differences in cell shape and arrangement of their cytoskeletal filaments. Subconfluent and early confluent cells synthesized proteins at high levels. In contrast, suspended cells maintained lower rates of protein synthesis. Labeled amino acid uptake was very similar in all these culture conditions. Gel electrophoresis analyses of the synthesized proteins showed increases in the synthesis of actin, vimentin and specific cytokeratins in subconfluent and early confluent cells. On the other hand a decrease in total protein, actin, vimentin and cytokeratin synthesis was observed in cells kept in suspension for 24 h or in 78-h or 174-h older confluent cultures. These cultures also showed a decrease in the uptake of labeled amino acid. Cytokeratin and vimentin phosphorylation rates were also modified during the in vitro formation of a monolayer. In suspended cells, cytokeratins were phosphorylated and three labeled isoelectric variants of the 40, 48 and 58K (K = 10(3) Mr) cytokeratins were present in intermediate filament extracts. In subconfluent and early confluent cells only two isoelectric phosphorylated variants of the 40, 48 and 58K cytokeratins were detected and vimentin was also phosphorylated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613760 TI - A Ca2(+)-sensitive glycoprotein, GP90, associated with the cytoskeleton from brain and gizzard. AB - We describe here the expression during development, tissue distribution and molecular properties of GP90: a major concanavalin A (ConA)-binding glycoprotein present in the neuronal membrane skeleton from chicken brain. GP90 is co-isolated with, and has a similar developmental profile to contactin (previously called GP130). In whole brain, GP90 undergoes rapid synthesis between embryonic days 10 and 12. Unlike contactin, it is not restricted to nervous tissue and is quite abundant in gizzard, where there are two antigenically related proteins of 100K and 90K (K = 10(3) Mr). In both brain and gizzard GP90 and (GP100) are enriched in the membrane skeleton fraction. Trypsinization of live cells suggest that GP90 from gizzard is related to GP100 by the removal of a polypeptide chain. GP90 from both neurones and gizzard cells is protected from proteolysis by the presence of extracellular Ca2+. In the absence of Ca2+ a soluble fragment of approximately 70K can be released from the surface of cells indicating that a large fraction of GP90 is extracellular. Deglycosylation of GP90 from brain using endoglycosidase F demonstrates the presence of at least five carbohydrate chains and a polypeptide chain of approximately 80K. Immunofluorescence studies show that GP90 is exposed on the surface of cultured neurones, gizzard cells and most glial cells with the exception of Schwann cells. It is observed in clusters or patches even when cells are prefixed, suggesting this may be the normal distribution of GP90. PMID- 2613761 TI - Differentiated membrane specializations and myofibrillar breakdown and recovery in cultured adult cardiac myocytes treated with TPA and diacylglycerol. AB - Cultured adult rat ventricular cardiac muscle cells were treated with either 12-O tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or diacylglycerol (DAG) and observed by in situ transmission electron microscopy. Membrane specializations present in untreated cells (intercalated discs, transverse tubules, plasmalemmal couplings) were also present after TPA and DAG treatment. In the case of the transverse tubular system, there was morphological evidence for active growth. Our studies showed that myofilaments began to become disorganized after 12-24 h of TPA treatment and that after 2 days of exposure to TPA the breakdown of sarcomeres was essentially complete. Myocytes that were treated with TPA for 2 days and then allowed to recover in control medium for 5 days contained sarcomeres in various stages of reassembly. These data indicate that TPA-treated cardiac myocytes retain several membrane specializations, suggesting that there are separate controls for myofilament organization and the maintenance of these differentiated plasmalemmal regions. Furthermore, the ability of the myocytes to recover from TPA treatment may provide investigators with a useful model with which to study myofibrillogenesis. PMID- 2613762 TI - Spatial aspects of calcium signalling. PMID- 2613763 TI - A simple formulation of microtubule dynamics: quantitative implications of the dynamic instability of microtubule populations in vivo and in vitro. AB - A simple formulation of microtubule dynamic instability is presented, which is based on the experimental observations by T. Horio and H. Hotani of coexisting, interconverting growing and shrinking microtubules. Employing only three independent, experimentally determined parameters for a given microtubule end, this treatment accounts quantitatively for the principal features of the observed dynamic behaviour of steady-state tubulin microtubules in vitro. Experimental data are readily reproduced for microtubule length redistribution, and for the kinetics of tubulin exchange processes, including pulse-chase properties. The relative importance of dynamic incorporation and that due to treadmilling are assessed. Dynamic incorporation is found to dominate the overall exchange properties; polarized incorporation due to treadmilling generally becomes significant only when the dynamics are largely suppressed. This treatment also permits simulation of certain cellular phenomena, showing how microtubule renucleation can control microtubule growth, by means of changes in microtubule number concentration in a system at constant microtubule mass. A relatively simple extension of the formulation accounts quantitatively for non-steady-state microtubule properties, e.g. dilution-induced rapid disassembly and the oscillatory mode of microtubule assembly. The principles relating dynamic instability and oscillatory behaviour are clearly indicated. Possible mechanisms of the switching of microtubules are briefly discussed. PMID- 2613764 TI - Differences in intracellular transport of a fluorescent phosphatidylcholine analog in established cell lines. AB - The transport and metabolism of a fluorescent phosphatidylcholine analog, 1 palmitoyl-2-(N-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole)- aminocaproyl-phosphatidylcholine [palmitoyl, C6-NBD)-PC), in BHK, CHO-K1, CHO-15B, MDCK, VA-2, Vero, V79 and WI-38 cells has been investigated. When liposomes containing (palmitoyl, C6-NBD)-PC were incubated with cells at 2 degrees C, spontaneous transfer of the fluorescent lipid from the liposomes to the cells' plasma membranes occurred. Most of the lipid transferred to the cells could be removed by incubating the cells in the presence of nonfluorescent liposomes or media containing 10% serum, suggesting that the fluorescent probe resided exclusively in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane at 2 degrees C. After insertion into the plasma membrane, internalization of (palmitoyl, C6-NBD)-PC occurred when the cells were warmed to 37 degrees C. This resulted in four different labeling patterns: (1) little or no internalization of (palmitoyl, C6-NBD)-PC into punctate vesicles was observed in Vero cells. (2) Transport of (palmitoyl, C6-NBD)-PC to the region of the Golgi apparatus and to a small number of intracellular vesicles was observed in both V79 and CHO-K1 cell lines. (3) A large number of fluorescently labeled intracellular vesicles with little or no labeling in the region of the Golgi apparatus appeared after the internalization of (palmitoyl, C6-NBD)-PC in BHK, CHO-15B, MDCK and WI-38 cell lines. (4) Accumulation of (palmitoyl, C6-NBD)-PC in small vesicles, mitochondria and the nuclear envelope was observed in VA-2 cells. In addition, cells having a defect in glycoprotein processing and those transformed with simian virus 40 (SV40) internalized the fluorescent lipid probe differently compared with parental lines. Neither differences in rates of endocytosis nor rates of (palmitoyl, C6-NBD)-PC degradation between cell types appears to cause the observed dissimilarities in intracellular lipid transport. We suggest that these different cell types may have dissimilar pathways of intracellular lipid trafficking or differential regulation of a common transport pathway, and that the predominant pathway of lipid translocation can be altered in cells by changing the composition of their glycoproteins or by viral transformation. PMID- 2613765 TI - Cloned cDNA sequence for the human mesothelial protein 'mesosecrin' discloses its identity as a plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and a recent evolutionary change in transcript processing. AB - Mesosecrin, a Mr approximately 46 x 10(3) glycoprotein secreted in abundance by human mesothelial cells in culture, was recently described by this laboratory. We isolated partial cDNA clones for mesosecrin from a human mesothelial cell cDNA library in lambda gt11 using a specific antiserum. Comparison of mesosecrin cDNA sequences with the recently published sequence for plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) cloned from cDNA libraries of endothelial and other cell types revealed that mesosecrin and PAI-1 are the same protein. Reverse fibrin autography of electrophoretically fractionated medium from mesothelial cell cultures confirmed that mesosecrin is functional as a plasminogen activator inhibitor. The mesosecrin/PAI-1 cDNA clones hybridized to abundant 3.6 and 2.6 kb (kb = 10(3) bases) mRNAs on Northern blots of cultured human mesothelial cell and endothelial cell RNA. These mRNA sizes correspond to those recently published for human endothelial and fibrosarcoma PAI-1 mRNA, which most likely result from alternate polyadenylation sites. Messages 3.6 and 2.6 kb long were also detected in cells cultured from orangutans and African green monkeys, but only an approximately 3.6 kb mRNA was detected in cells of lower primates and several other mammalian species. Thus the extra polyadenylation site in the PAI-1 gene, responsible for the shorter form of the RNA, apparently has been acquired recently during primate evolution. Because they are more easily propagated in culture than endothelial cells, human mesothelial cells offer a new and advantageous system for PAI-1 production and study of its regulation and function. PMID- 2613766 TI - Fibrinogen-mediated epidermal cell migration: structural correlates for fibrinogen function. AB - Previously we showed that epidermal cells are able to use fibrinogen (FGN) as a migration substratum during wound closure. The goal of the present study was to determine the structural features of FGN that allow this migration. Pieces of glass coated with native, fragmented, or other modified forms of FGN were implanted into full-thickness skin wounds of adult newts such that migrating epidermal cells would encounter the implant. In this system, a coating of FGN allowed considerably more migration than a coating of BSA. At high concentrations, heat-denatured FGN supported as much migration as the same amount of intact FGN. Fraction I-9, a circulating form of FGN missing a 20-30K (K = 10(3) Mr) carboxy-terminal segment of the A alpha chain, was no less effective than intact FGN. Comparison of the isolated D1 and E fragments of FGN showed migration only on D1, but never to the extent seen on intact FGN containing the same amount of D1. Plasmin digestion of D1 in the presence of EDTA, a process which produces D3, a fragment differing from D1 by the loss of the carboxy terminal 109 amino acids of the gamma chain, caused a significant loss of activity in the D fragment. Migration was good on implants coated with relatively high concentrations of purified A alpha chains but gamma chains were inactive. Migration over intact FGN was almost totally blocked by 230 microM-Arg-Gly-Asp Ser (RGDS), a peptide known to interact with integrin-type receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613767 TI - Phorbol esters stimulate macropinocytosis and solute flow through macrophages. AB - The morphology and kinetics of pinocytosis by bone marrow-derived macrophages were studied to determine how stimulation by phorbol esters increases net solute accumulation. Application of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) increased both the abundance of macropinosomes and the rate of solute flow through the endocytic compartment. The large pinosomes originated as ruffles at the cell margins that folded back on themselves, internalizing extracellular medium and solutes. I examined how stimulation affects the kinetics of pinocytic influx, accumulation, and subsequent efflux of the fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow (LY) in macrophages. Both the accumulation of LY and its subsequent efflux were temperature-dependent and directly proportional to the concentration of LY in the extracellular medium. Macrophages incubated in PMA and LY for 2 h accumulated four to six times more LY than did macrophages in LY alone. If after pinocytosis the macrophages were washed and reincubated in unlabeled medium for a 1 h chase period, some of the internalized LY was regurgitated from the cells. Inclusion of PMA in the chase medium increased efflux of LY. In contrast, a smaller percentage of LY was regurgitated from macrophages which were both loaded and chased in the presence of PMA. This indicates that although efflux is increased by PMA, influx increases more, and therefore more of the LY entering by pinocytosis is retained within the cell. I suggest that macropinocytosis increases the size difference between pinosomes and efflux vesicles, and that that difference increases greatly both solute accumulation and membrane flow through the endocytic compartment. PMID- 2613768 TI - Growth of mammalian cells at high oxygen concentrations. AB - Oxygen, although essential to the growth of mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo, has been widely reported to be toxic at concentrations at or above the oxygen concentration in culture medium equilibrated with air (approximately 200 microM). We were therefore surprised to note that a diploid human B-cell line (TK6) was able to proliferate normally while exposed to 380 microM-oxygen. This observation was extended to Vero (African Green monkey kidney) cells, and Sp2/0-derived murine transfectomas producing antibody. Using an experimental system with a high capacity for oxygen transfer, we determined the growth rates of the three cell lines at controlled oxygen concentrations ranging from 80 microM to 910 microM. Each of these cell types was able to grow normally at oxygen concentrations up to 360-380 microM. At oxygen concentrations above 380 microM, a significant increase in the apparent doubling times of the cells was observed. No adverse effect of oxygen on TK6 cell survival was seen for concentrations ranging from 60 microM to 410 microM. We conclude that exponential growth at nearly maximum growth rates was observed for Sp2/0-derived cells, TK6, and Vero cells at constant oxygen concentrations up to 400 microM (twice air saturation). These findings have substantial implications for process control in the production of cells and cell derived materials. The intrinsic oxygen transfer rate of any cell culture vessel can be increased severalfold by raising the oxygen gas concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613769 TI - Biochemical and immunocytochemical analysis of a histone H1 variant from the mouse testis. AB - An H1 histone variant, H1a, has been isolated and purified from the mouse testis. Biochemical and amino acid analyses indicate its similarity with the rat testis H1a. Specific antibodies against the purified H1a have been generated in rabbits and used to study its tissue and species distribution using protein blotting procedures. We have also used the immunocytochemical technique to determine in situ distribution of H1a in spermatogenic cells and somatic tissues of the mouse. A non-random distribution of H1a has been noted in the nuclei of certain somatic cell types such as Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and neurons. By contrast, hepatocyte nuclei lacked detectable levels of H1a. In adult seminiferous tubules, the early primary spermatocyte nuclei displayed a greater level of immunoreactivity relative to other cell types. Developmental studies indicate its initial expression in the 7-day-old mouse testis concomitant with the appearance of intermediate and type B spermatogonia. PMID- 2613770 TI - Drugs and rhetorical devils. PMID- 2613771 TI - Stability of acyclovir sodium in dextrose and sodium chloride injections. AB - The chemical stability of acyclovir sodium in dextrose 5% w/v and sodium chloride 0.9% w/v injections has been studied using a stability-indicating high-pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. The drug appears to be very stable in both admixtures. There was no decomposition after 37 days of storage at 25 degrees C or 5 degrees C. The manufacturer-recommended expiry date of 24 h at 25 degrees C is too conservative. The solutions were clear throughout the study period and the pH values had decreased slightly in both the solutions. Acyclovir appears to be very stable on the alkaline side of the pH range and less so on the acidic side. There was no loss in the potency of acyclovir when mixed with dobutamine and dopamine. PMID- 2613772 TI - Disinfectants prepared in a hospital pharmacy--assessment of their microbiological purity and antimicrobial effectiveness. AB - The microbial contamination and antimicrobial effectiveness of seven topical disinfectants prepared at the hospital pharmacy were studied. These products were controlled throughout storage and use. The manufacturing routine investigated was able to deliver larger batch sizes and quality products that allowed increased storage time. The formulations chosen by the pharmacists were effective against bacteria for their intended uses. For chloramine only, loss of effectiveness required reduced storage time. No significant modification in the microbial quality of these products was observed during use in our hospital. PMID- 2613773 TI - Use of cytotoxic drugs with an end-line filter--a study of four drugs commonly administered to paediatric patients. AB - The absorption of Novantrone (Mitozantrone), Adriamycin (Doxorubicin Hydrochloride), Cerubidin (Daunorubicin) and methotrexate to 0.2-microM endotoxin retentive end-line filters was studied under simulated infusion conditions. The drugs were injected into a burette containing saline and then infused using an infusion pump set at 100 ml/h or 80 ml/h. Filtrate samples were collected over a total period of 2.5 h and assayed spectrophotometrically. Recovery of all four drugs following filtration was 96% or greater; indicating absence of absorption by the end-line filters used. PMID- 2613774 TI - Unfavorable outcomes of drug therapy. PMID- 2613775 TI - Role of association on protein adsorption isotherms. Beta-lactoglobulin A adsorbed on a weakly hydrophobic surface. AB - This paper explores the role of association on the adsorption isotherms of beta lactoglobulin A on a weakly hydrophobic stationary phase at 4 degrees C and mobile phases of 0.85 M and 1 M ammonium sulfate, pH 4.5. The isotherms, obtained by frontal analysis, show an S-shape and the corresponding Scatchard plots indicate positive cooperativity. The slopes and intercepts of the Scatchard plots at low solute concentration are analyzed in terms of two species--a promoter and a higher order stronger adsorbing species. An explicit equation of the isotherm is developed based on this model, and this expression is shown to reproduce the isotherm shape using the appropriate derived parameters. It is further shown from this equation that a Langmuir-shaped adsorption isotherm can be obtained if the higher order associate or aggregate binds weaker to the support than the promoter. These results indicate that protein-protein interactions and the formation of associates can play a significant role on the shape of the isotherm and ultimately on the behavior of the species in preparative scale chromatography. PMID- 2613776 TI - TSK-Toyopearl gels for the preparative separation of sterol carrier protein2 from rat liver. AB - The application of TSK-Toyopearl gels to the preparative separation of a basic and low-molecular-weight protein, sterol carrier protein2 (SCP2), was studied. SCP2 was purified from 105,000 g supernatant of rat liver (S105) by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Toyopearl 650M and gel permeation on Toyopearl HW60S. Separation of S105 by CM-Toyopearl 650M was carried out at a high flow-rate in the presence of 10% (v/v) glycerol, a stabilizer of the protein. Toyopearl HW60S showed a significant ion-exchange effect on the elution of SCP2. Using an elution buffer of ionic strength of 45 mM, a highly efficient purification of SCP2 on HW60S was achieved. SCP2 was purified approximately 5000-fold to apparent homogeneity with an overall yield of 69%. PMID- 2613777 TI - Dye ligand chromatography and two-dimensional electrophoresis of complex protein extracts from mouse tissue. AB - A complex protein fraction of mouse brain was subjected to dye ligand chromatography with various dye ligands. The proteins that were bound by the dye gel matrix and also the non-binding proteins were separated by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis. The protein patterns obtained were compared. The results show that a large number of different protein species bind to dye ligands and do not occur in the eluate. Red A was the most efficient dye in isolating an individual protein class from a complex tissue extract. Moreover, we found that many of the binding proteins did not cross-react among different types of dye ligands. Orange A and Blue B were the most unrelated dyes among those compared. Our investigation shows that dye ligand chromatography can be used as a means (among others employed previously) of fractionating and classifying the enormous number of different protein species in a mammalian tissue when combined with high resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis. PMID- 2613778 TI - Foam counter-current chromatography of bacitracin. I. Batch separation with nitrogen and water free of additives. AB - A foam counter-current chromatographic method utilizing a true counter-current movement between nitrogen and distilled water through a long narrow coiled tube is described. Samples introduced into the coil are separated according to their foaming capability: foam-active materials generate foam and quickly move with nitrogen toward one end of the coil while the remainder are carried with the liquid stream in the opposite direction and eluted through the other end of the coil. The utility of the method was demonstrated in the fractionation of commercial bacitracin (BC). Hydrophobic components including BC-A, BC-F and several minor components were enriched with foam and collected in decreasing order of hydrophobicity, whereas hydrophilic components were eluted with the liquid in decreasing order of polarity. The results indicate that foam-active components can be effectively separated by foam counter-current chromatography using nitrogen and distilled water without a surfactant or other additives. PMID- 2613779 TI - Gas chromatography-based method for assigning the configurations of allylic and benzylic alcohols and for determining their optical purities. PMID- 2613780 TI - Determination of sunscreen agents in cosmetic products by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. PMID- 2613781 TI - Selected-ion monitoring of 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene in acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene polymer products and food simulants. PMID- 2613782 TI - Purification of argininosuccinase by high-pressure immunoaffinity chromatography on monoclonal anti-argininosuccinase-silica. PMID- 2613783 TI - Microcylinder electrodes as sensitive detectors for high-efficiency, high-speed liquid chromatography. AB - A carbon fiber microcylinder electrode (r = 3.5 microns) is used as a detector for high-efficiency and high-speed liquid chromatography. The microcylinder has a detection volume of a few picoliters, and can be placed directly at the outlet frit of the column. With proper positioning equipment, the electrode can be placed at the region of the outlet frit where the separation efficiency is highest. Such selective sampling results in greatly increased measured efficiency over a conventional electrochemical detector when short (4 cm) columns of conventional diameter (3.2 mm) are used. The microcylinder detector is sensitive and subpicomole detection limits are obtained in less than 30 s for norepinephrine. The need for expensive positioning equipment is eliminated by mounting the electrode into a fitting which can be mated directly with the column. PMID- 2613784 TI - Characterization of the metal composition of metallothionein isoforms using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with atomic absorption spectrophotometric detection. AB - Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to separate metallothionein (MT) isoforms and on-line atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) detection was used to quantitatively determine their metal content. With this coupled system (HPLC-AAS), it was possible to determine the zinc, cadmium and copper content of individual horse kidney MT isoforms. When rabbit liver MT and the purified isoforms (MT-1 and MT-2) were subjected to RP HPLC and the zinc-containing peaks of the MT sample to MT-1 or MT-2. HPLC-AAS was used to identify zinc-induced MT in heat-treated cytosol from turkey hen liver, thereby demonstrating its application to the analysis of crude tissue extracts. A standard curve was established using turkey liver MT for the quantitative determination of the zinc content of MT isoforms. There was excellent linear correlation between the micrograms of zinc bound to MT injected onto the column (ranging from 0.34 to 3.43 micrograms of MT-bond zinc) and the integrated peak area of the atomic absorbance for zinc. Using this standard curve, it was possible to quantitate the amount of MT-bound zinc in cytosol extracts of cultured turkey embryo hepatocytes exposed to varying levels of supplemental zinc in the culture medium. PMID- 2613785 TI - Preparative chromatography. Sixth International Symposium on Preparative Chromatography. Washington, DC (U.S.A), May 8-10, 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2613786 TI - Displacement chromatography on cyclodextrin-silicas. I. Separation of positional and geometrical isomers in the reversed-phase mode. AB - The retention behaviour of several charged and uncharged solutes on beta cyclodextrin-silica was studied as a function of the methanol concentration, ionic strength and pH of the eluent in order to develop efficient displacement chromatographic separations for positional and geometric isomers. These retention curves were used to predict the eluent (carrier solvent) compositions that result in solute retentions in excess of k' = 10. The adsorption isotherms of several cationic detergents were determined in these carrier solutions and were found to be convex. The adsorption isotherms of several positional isomers used as test solutes were also determined in these carrier solutions. The adsorption isotherms permitted the development of efficient displacement chromatographic separations for the isomers tested. Column loadings as high as 58 mg were achieved on a regular 4.6 mm I.D. analytical-scale cyclodextrin silica columns. PMID- 2613787 TI - Displacement chromatography on cyclodextrin-silicas. II. Separation of cis-trans isomers in the reversed-phase mode on alpha-cyclodextrin-silica. AB - The feasibility of preparative separations of cis-trans isomers by displacement chromatography on analytical-scale alpha-cyclodextrin-silica columns operated in the reversed-phase mode is demonstrated by using the isomers of 3-hexen-1-ol as model substrates and n-alkanols as displacers. The importance of matching the size of the cyclodextrin cavity and the solutes is shown. The crucial role of the displacer (both type and concentration) in the success of the displacement chromatographic separation is demonstrated. PMID- 2613788 TI - Preparative reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in the synthesis of viscosin, a cyclic depsipeptide. AB - The importance of peptides in biochemical research and the facility with which they can be prepared by solid-phase techniques highlights the need for continuing research in the chromatographic purification of these molecules on a preparative scale. In this regard, synthesis of the cyclic depsipeptide antibiotic, viscosin, has provided the opportunity to demonstrate the use of radial compression cartridge technology in the reversed-phase purification of three key peptide intermediates on a scale of several hundred milligrams. Superior resolution of linear and cyclic peptide mixtures on a Bondapak C18 radial compression cartridge by using an aqueous acetonitrile solvent system containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid contributed significantly to the first total synthesis of viscosin, and demonstrates the applicability of this system to the purification of peptide mixtures. PMID- 2613789 TI - Purification of synthetic peptides on a high-resolution preparative reversed phase column. AB - A 2-in. I.D. column filled with 10-microns spherical C18 bonded silica with 120 A pores was used for the preparative purification of various synthetic peptides in one step. The small-sized silica packing afforded high resolution and the spherical shape helped maintain a relatively low back-pressure during the chromatography. Conditions for performing the separations were derived from the analytical chromatography of samples on a column of similar 5-microns material. The same amount of organic modifier, but with the gradient duration increased, achieved very similar separations on the preparative column. PMID- 2613790 TI - Chromatography of peptides on a multi-coil counter-current chromatograph. AB - A modified horizontal flow-through coil planet centrifuge has been constructed that has the potential for preparative chromatography. The multi-coil counter current chromatograph, equipped with a set of four multi-layer coils, has have improved performance with polar solvents suitable for peptide elution. Separations of a group of dipeptides and purification of a cholecystokinin fragment and an undecapeptide were achieved with n-butanol-acetic acid-water at high flow-rates with good resolution. PMID- 2613791 TI - Preparative isolation of glycoproteins from plasma membranes of different rat organs. AB - By a combination of high-performance affinity chromatographic (HPAC) methods, several membrane proteins from liver, Morris hepatoma and kidney were isolated. The use of a tandem system, consisting of a concanavalin A (ConA) and a wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) column, as a first purification step allowed the isolation of proteins directly from organ homogenates. In a subsequent step, the membrane proteins can be isolated by simply using a combination of immunoaffinity HPLC and preparative sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). However, with these methods most proteins lose their biological activity. If native proteins are required, a combination of different HPAC methods has to be applied. Several membrane proteins were isolated in milligram amounts under non-denaturing conditions using either HPAC columns or Mem Sep membranes with immobilized lectins, collagen, amino acids, crown ethers or heparin. PMID- 2613792 TI - Preparative resolution of enantiomers of prostaglandin precursors by liquid chromatography on a chiral stationary phase. AB - Preparative liquid chromatographic methods were developed for the chiral resolution of two different cyclopentenone precursors of a synthetic prostaglandin. Various solvent combinations of alcohols and alkanes were investigated to determine the method which has the greatest throughput. The effect of particle size on the chiral resolution was also investigated. In addition, the preparative system was automated to allow for unattended operation for up to 10 h. PMID- 2613793 TI - Process-scale reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography purification of LL-E19020 alpha, a growth promoting antibiotic produced by Streptomyces lydicus ssp. tanzanius. AB - LL-E19020 alpha is a novel antibiotic produced by fermentation of the soil microorganism Streptomyces lydicus ssp. tanzanius. The compound is highly effective in inducing increases in weight gain and feed conversion efficiency in livestock. In order to obtain kilogram quantities of the material for field trials, pilot plant scale fermentations (up to 7500 l) were carried out. The antibiotic was recovered from the fermentation broth by solvent extraction. The resultant crude extract was subjected to reversed-phase (C18) chromatography on a process-scale high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) unit. The heart of the instrumentation is the Millipore Kiloprep chromatograph with the standard 12 l cartridge column. The laboratory housing the chromatograph has been specifically designed for this work. Tanks for mobile phase preparation are mounted on load cells for precise measurement of components. In this explosion proof laboratory, all solvent handling areas are well ventilated and a separate breathing air system is provided for the operators. For the purification of the LL-E19020 antibiotics, the mobile phase consisted of a gradient of acetonitrile in 0.1 M ammonium acetate at pH 4.5. The effluent was monitored by UV absorbance at 325 nm. Fractions were collected across the peaks of interest and these were analyzed by analytical HPLC. The maximum yield of LL-E19020 alpha obtained in a single run was approximately 100 g. The antibiotic was recovered from the mobile phase by extraction with methylene chloride. The methylene chloride phase was concentrated under reduced pressure to yield a gummy residue which was finally freeze-dried from tertiary butanol to yield an off-white solid suitable for blending with various feed components. PMID- 2613794 TI - Quantitative profiling of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, 2,3-dinor-6 ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, thromboxane B2 and 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B2 in human and rat urine by immunoaffinity extraction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. AB - A rapid and simple method based on immunoaffinity extraction, stable isotope dilution and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been developed for profiling urinary metabolites of prostacyclin and thromboxane. 6 Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha), 2,3-dinor-6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1 alpha), thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 2,3-dinor thromboxane B2 (2,3-dinor-TXB2) were quantitatively extracted from human or rat urine spiked with deuterated internal standards using mixed-bed columns containing immobilized anti-6-keto-PGF1 alpha and anti-TXB2 antibodies (cross reacting with 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1 alpha and 2,3-dinor-TXB2, respectively). The extract was directly derivatized to form pentafluorobenzyl ester, methyloxime, trimethylsilyl ether derivatives. Quantitation was performed by stable isotope dilution assay and high-resolution gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry, by monitoring the carboxylate anions (M-181) of the derivatized metabolites. The method was applied to evaluate the urinary excretion of 6-keto PGF1 alpha, 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1 alpha, TXB2 and 2,3-dinor-TXB2 in humans and rats. Results were in accordance with previously reported data obtained by other methods. Novel data on the urinary excretion of 2,3-dinor-6 keto-PGF1 alpha in rats under basal conditions are presented. This sensitive and selective method represents a significant advance in terms of rapidity and simplicity over other immunoaffinity-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methods for measuring single prostanoids, such as 6-keto-PGF1 alpha or TXB2, since it allows profiling of a group of metabolites whose balance is important in several physiopathological conditions. PMID- 2613795 TI - Determination of serum cytidine deaminase activity using ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography. AB - A rapid and sensitive assay for serum cytidine deaminase has been developed utilising ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The addition of 1-octanesulphonic acid (OSA) caused the retention of cytidine and uridine to reverse and uridine, the minor component in the assay, to elute first. Cytidine, uridine and allopurinol (internal standard) were separated on a 5 micron Hypersil ODS column using 100 mM ammonium acetate with 1% (v/v) methanol and 1 mM OSA adjusted to pH 5.0. Detection was at 262 nm. Peak areas were linear from 7 pmol to 6 nmol injected (r = 0.99). Intra-assay variation was 7.8% (n = 10) and the correlation with a colorimetric assay was r = 0.78 (p less than 0.001). PMID- 2613796 TI - Cell surface interactions with metal chelates. AB - We have explored immobilized metal ion affinity adsorption as a means of discrimination between cells and to assess partially the types of interaction that might contribute to the adsorption of cells on the such adsorbents. Erythrocytes from different sources were adsorbed on immobilized iminodiacetic acid charged with Cu2+, Ni2+ or Zn2+. The affinity of the human erythrocytes for the immobilized metal ions follows the order Cu2+ greater than Ni2+ greater than Zn2+. The adsorption capacity of the rat erythrocytes decreased in the following order: Zn2+ greater than Ni2+ greater than Cu2+. Pre-saturation of the columns with imidazole lead to the recovery of over 90% of the cells applied on the columns. Enzymic removal of sialic acid residues from the surface of erythrocytes has no effect on the adsorption-elution profiles of these cells on affinity adsorbents. These findings suggest that histidine residues localized on the cell surface are involved in the cell binding to the adsorbent. This new separation principle could be expanded to other types of cell. It could be used as a diagnostic tool and for separation, as well as for probing cell surfaces. PMID- 2613797 TI - Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of plasma nifedipine. AB - A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric assay is described for the determination of plasma nifedipine using nitrendipine as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation was performed on a dimethylsilicone capillary column, and detection was by selected ion monitoring of electron impact-generated base peak ions. The lower limit of quantifiable detection of nifedipine was 2 ng/ml. The method was applied to plasma samples obtained from a human subject who had been dosed with a 10-mg nifedipine capsule every 8 h for eight doses. PMID- 2613798 TI - Analysis of 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in plasma. AB - A sensitive and specific method for the quantitative analysis of 4 hydroxycyclophosphamide/aldophosphamide has been developed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and a deuterium-labeled analogue as the internal standard. The labile 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide/aldophosphamide and the internal standard in plasma were first converted into the more stable cyanohydrin adducts before extraction. The isolated adducts were silylated and the products analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The assay was found to be linear from 50 to 5000 ng/ml in plasma with a routine detection limit of 50 ng/ml. The within- and between-run standard deviations at 100 ng/ml on eight replicate determinations were found to be 6.2 and 11.9%, respectively. The extraction recovery was ca. 80%. This analytical method was used to evaluate the stability of 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide/aldophosphamide in fresh rat and pooled human plasma and to measure plasma 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide/aldophosphamide concentrations in the rat. PMID- 2613799 TI - Automated reversed-phase chromatographic analysis of etoposide and teniposide in plasma by using on-line surfactant-mediated sample clean-up and column-switching. AB - An automated high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the plasma assay of two neutral drugs, etoposide and teniposide, involving direct plasma injection is presented. The problematic nature of protein precipitation has been circumvented by adding the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate to the plasma at a final concentration of 38 mM. Plasma samples are loaded on to a clean up column with an aqueous mobile phase with which the analyte(s) is (are) retained, whereas the solubilized plasma proteins are flushed to waste. Next, the retained compounds are eluted from the clean-up column on to the analytical column by using the chromatographic mobile phase with a higher elution capacity. The column-switching technique is used to achieve an automated assay. At least 10 ml of plasma, representing 100 repeated injections of 100 microliters or five repeated injections of 2 ml, can pass through the clean-up column without increasing the back-pressure. The recovery increased considerably from 10-30% to 90-95% on adding surfactant to the plasma samples prior to the analysis. The relative standard deviation of the proposed clean-up procedure is 3.5% (n = 6) for both drugs measured at the 2 micrograms/ml level without using an internal standard. The limit of determination with 100-microliters injections is 0.10-0.15 microgram/ml for ultraviolet detection and is seven times lower with electrochemical detection. Teniposide was determined in patients' plasma and the results agreed well with those obtained by the conventional procedure involving manual liquid-liquid extraction prior to chromatographic analysis. PMID- 2613800 TI - Determination of cocaine and selected metabolites in canine and human serum by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on coupled cyanopropyl and silica columns. AB - A high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of cocaine and selected metabolites (benzoylecgonine, norcocaine and benzoylnorecgonine) from human and canine serum has been developed. The analytes are extracted from 0.5-ml serum samples using strong cation-exchange and octadecylsilane solid-phase extraction columns. Chromatographic separation was accomplished on coupled cyanopropyl and silica columns using acetonitrile-6.25 mM phosphate buffer, pH 2.9 (80:20 v/v) as eluent and a flow-rate of 1.1 ml/min. Low wavelength UV detection (228 nm, cadmium lamp) allowed detection of 1 ng/ml for each analyte. The assay was linear from 0 to 200 ng/ml (r2 = 0.997-0.999, n = 15 for each analyte) and showed good precision (relative standard deviation = 0.66 13.8%, n = 6) and accuracy (98-115% relative recovery). PMID- 2613801 TI - Determination of artelinic acid in blood plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography. AB - A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the analysis of the new antimalarial drug artelinic acid in blood plasma. The influence of mobile phase composition, pH and type of mobile phase modifier on the retention of artelinic acid on the reversed-phase column is reported. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the range 0-500 ng/ml artelinic acid. Intra assay and inter-assay variability in the analysis of plasma samples spiked with the drug were less than or equal to 15%. Plasma samples of the drug were found to be unstable when stored at -20 degrees C, the concentration of the drug decreasing by over 50% within three days. Plasma samples stored at -70 degrees C remained stable for at least two weeks. Initial pharmacokinetic studies in the rat showed that following intravenous administration, plasma concentrations of artelinic acid declined mono-exponentially. The relatively short elimination half life (17 +/- 5 min) of artelinic acid is consistent with what is known for qinghaosu and its derivatives. PMID- 2613802 TI - Rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of overdose concentrations of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in plasma or serum. AB - Separate methods are described for the determination of the non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs diflunisal, indomethacin, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, mefenamic acid and piroxicam at overdose concentrations in human plasma or serum, using high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection. A common extraction, involving protein precipitation with acetonitrile, is employed for all methods. A 25 cm Hypersil ODS (5 mu particle size) analytical column is used for all chromatographic separations, with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-acetate buffer (pH 4.2 or 4.8). The methods are all reproducible and can also determine concentrations that fall within the normal therapeutic range for each drug. PMID- 2613803 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of pirprofen and five of its metabolites in human plasma without hydrolysis and in human urine before and after chemical hydrolysis. AB - Selective high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the simultaneous determination of pirprofen and five of its metabolites either in plasma or in urine before and after chemical hydrolysis were developed. After addition of an internal standard and a buffer, the compounds were extracted from plasma using reversed-phase C18 Bond-Elut columns and from urine using pre-packed silica Extrelut 1 columns, back-extraction into sodium hydroxide and acidification of the alkaline phase before injection. Pirprofen, its five metabolites and the internal standard were separated using a linear elution gradient chromatographic system and wavelength programming. The analysis of spiked samples demonstrated the good accuracy and precision of the methods with limits of quantitation of 100 or 200 ng/ml for the different compounds in plasma, 200 or 360 ng/ml in urine without hydrolysis and 1 or 1.8 micrograms/ml in urine after chemical hydrolysis. PMID- 2613804 TI - Determination of the enantiomeric composition of salsolinol in biological samples by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. AB - The enantiomers of salsolinol were completely separated as diastereoisomeric derivatives, after reaction with S-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl isothiocyanate, by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and quantified by electrochemical detection. Good calibration curves were obtained for the quantification and determination of the enantiomeric composition of salsolinol in human urine. The sensitivity and specificity to the assay also permit the determination of the enantiomeric composition of salsolinol in food such as dried bananas and chocolate. PMID- 2613805 TI - Enantioselective measurement of the Candida metabolite D-arabinitol in human serum using multi-dimensional gas chromatography and a new chiral phase. AB - A multi-dimensional gas chromatographic method was developed to measure the Candida metabolite D-arabinitol enantioselectively in human serum. The heptafluorobutyrate derivatives of D-arabinitol, L-arabinitol and ribitol (internal standard) were separated from other serum constituents with a 60 m X 0.32 mm fused-silica SPB-5 precolumn, and (after intermediate cold trapping) they were separated from each other with a 25 m x 0.25 mm fused-silica column coated with a new bonded chiral phase. Replicate analyses of spiked human sera showed that D-arabinitol could be quantified accurately and precisely. The D- and L arabinitol concentrations in 24 normal adult sera were 0.20 +/- 0.053 and 0.11 +/ 0.040 mu/ml, respectively, and the D- and L-arabinitol/creatinine ratios were 0.023 +/- 0.011 and 0.012 +/- 0.0051, respectively (mean +/- S.D.). In a patient with Candida albicans fungemia, the D-arabinitol/creatinine ratios rose early during infection and fell with successful treatment, whereas L arabinitol/creatinine ratios did not change significantly. This enantioselective analytical method is more practical than earlier ones; it should facilitate further investigation of D-arabinitol as a diagnostic marker for candidiasis. PMID- 2613806 TI - Determination of pentoxifylline and its 5-hydroxy metabolite in human plasma by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. AB - The simultaneous determination of pentoxifylline and its 5-hydroxy metabolite in human plasma was performed: 10 ng/ml pentoxifylline and 15 ng/ml metabolite were determined at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The recoveries from plasma at a 100 ng/ml level were 98.0 and 86.9% for pentoxifylline and the metabolite, respectively. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were less than 5% for both pentoxifylline and the metabolite. This method shows advantages over many other published extraction procedures prior to high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis in terms of its speed and ease of manipulation. PMID- 2613807 TI - Determination of bromperidol in serum by automated column-switching high performance liquid chromatography. AB - A column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detection is described for the simple and rapid determination of bromperidol, a neuroleptic drug, in dog and human sera. The drug in serum and trifluperidol added to the serum as an internal standard were extracted with hexane-chloroform, and the extract was subjected to automated column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography using a hydrophilic metaacrylate polymer column (TSK gel PW precolumn) for sample clean-up and a reversed-phase column (TSK gel ODS-80TM) for separation. The detection limit of bromperidol is 0.3 ng/ml serum and the recovery of bromperidol added to serum (2.7-16.0 ng/ml) was satisfactory with a standard deviation of 3% or less. PMID- 2613808 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of malonaldehyde in serum. PMID- 2613809 TI - Simultaneous determination of citrate and D-isocitrate in urine by isocratic ion chromatography. PMID- 2613810 TI - Simple method for the determination of L-5-hydroxytryptophan in plasma by high performance liquid chromatography. PMID- 2613811 TI - Convenient method for the analysis of nicotinic acid as a metabolite of nicotinate esters in various tissue homogenates. PMID- 2613812 TI - Improved high-performance liquid chromatographic technique for the determination of hepatic alpha-tocopherol. PMID- 2613813 TI - Determination of ximoprofen in human plasma by gas chromatography. PMID- 2613814 TI - Gas chromatographic assay for chlorambucil and phenylacetic mustard in plasma. PMID- 2613815 TI - Determination of total 2,5-hexanedione by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. PMID- 2613816 TI - Determination of diclofenac in plasma and synovial fluid by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. PMID- 2613817 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of indomethacin in human plasma and urine. PMID- 2613818 TI - Carrier gas flow-rate and injection system in capillary gas chromatography of unconjugated and glycine-conjugated bile acids. AB - The first description of successful capillary gas chromatography of intact glycine-conjugated bile acid derivatives used an automatic solid injection system and required very high carrier gas flow-rates (approximately 20 ml/min) to obtain satisfactory peak shape. Peak heights of unconjugated bile acid derivatives using this injection system and the low flow-rates (1-2 ml/min) usually used for such gas chromatographic analyses were very susceptible to small changes in flow-rate. This system has been re-examined in an attempt to explain this anomalous behaviour. An alternative injection system, the all-glass dropping needle, was also investigated. No explanation for the very high carrier gas flow-rates required when using the automatic solid injection system was found. The dropping needle injection system, however, produced excellent separation of bile acids and their glycine conjugates as dimethylethylsilyl ethers-methyl esters on non-polar wall-coated capillary columns using normal carrier gas flow-rates of 1-2 ml/min. It is clear that the automatic solid injection system originally used has some problem associated with it which can only be overcome, in the case of bile acids and their glycine conjugates, by increasing the carrier gas flow-rate to very high levels. PMID- 2613819 TI - Determination of flumequine in biological fluids and meat by high-performance liquid chromatography. PMID- 2613820 TI - Isotachophoretic determination of sulbactam in rat serum. PMID- 2613821 TI - Determination of glycyrrhizin and its metabolite glycyrrhetinic acid in rabbit plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography after oral administration of licorzin. PMID- 2613822 TI - Determination of 5-hydroxypropafenone in biological fluids by fused-silica capillary gas chromatography using electron-capture detection. PMID- 2613823 TI - Determination of ofloxacin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorimetric detection. PMID- 2613824 TI - Automated high-performance liquid chromatography with column switching for on line clean-up and analysis of diltiazem and metabolites in human plasma. PMID- 2613825 TI - Dextromethorphan phenotypes determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. PMID- 2613826 TI - Determination of leucine enkephalin and methionine enkephalin in equine cerebrospinal fluid by microbore high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. AB - The performance of microbore high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis, both equipped with on-line tandem mass spectrometric detection capability, was evaluated critically for the determination of endogenous amounts of leucine enkephalin and methionine enkephalin in equine cerebrospinal fluid. Using an identical sample clean-up and enrichment procedure, capillary zone electrophoresis-mass spectrometry is limited in its concentration detection capacity owing to its much smaller injection volume. Leucine enkephalin was identified in post-mortem equine cerebrospinal fluid at the 1-5 ng/ml level by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. PMID- 2613827 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of some polar phospholipids in serum. AB - The experimental conditions have been optimized for high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) in serum. The phospholipids are separated on a silica gel column, using a mobile phase of acetonitrile-methanol water (100:10:18, v/v), with ultraviolet photometric detection at 200 nm. The limit of detection was 0.2 micrograms (in 20 microliters) for natural phospholipids and 2.5 micrograms for synthetic phospholipids; the relative standard deviation was ca. 5%. An alternative detection is tensammetry at a mercury electrode, at a potential of -1.8 V, with an a.c. current frequency of 60 Hz and an amplitude of 20 mV. The tensammetric detection has an advantage in its independence of the structure of the phospholipids. In measurements without a column (flow-injection analysis), the tensammetric detection also yields a somewhat lower limit of detection than photometry (0.15 micrograms per 20 microliters), but this value increases more than ten times in chromatographic detection. The precision is poorer and is more susceptible to interferences. The method was applied to the determination of the above substances in the blood of obese children, as a function of physical stress and spa treatment. It was shown that physical exercise causes a decrease in the contents of PE and PC in the patients. On the other hand, the spa treatment has no pronounced effect on the phospholipid content in the blood. PMID- 2613828 TI - Separation of tryptophan metabolites by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric and fluorescence detection. AB - An isocratic method for the separation of most of the tryptophan metabolites in the oxidative degradation pathway is described. The chromatographic analysis utilizes the combined selectivity and sensitivity of amperometric and fluorimetric detection. The effect of pH, ionic strength and operating potential on retention times and detector responses are evaluated. The use of dual electrochemical cells at two operating potentials together with a programmable fluorescence detector allows for improved selectivity for the detection of metabolites. The sensitivity achieved with this method allows for the detection of the metabolites in biological fluids at the picomole level. The method has been used to monitor serum samples obtained during a tryptophan load test. PMID- 2613829 TI - Determination of leucine and alpha-ketoisocaproic acid concentrations and specific activity in plasma and leucine specific activities in proteins using high-performance liquid chromatography. AB - Plasma concentrations and 3H and 14C specific activities (specific radioactivities) of leucine and alpha-ketoisocaproate (KIC) and leucine specific radioactivity in hydrolyzed tissue and plasma proteins were determined using an automated isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system. Within day variability of leucine and KIC specific radioactivity in plasma was congruent to 1%, whereas that observed for leucine derived from protein hydrolysis was congruent to 5%. Day-to-day variability of leucine and KIC specific radioactivity in plasma was congruent to 5% and in protein-derived leucine congruent to 6%. In addition, an indirect method is described to measure low specific activities of [3H]- and [14C]leucine derived from the hydrolysis of in vivo labeled proteins with low turnover rates (skeletal muscle and diaphragm). In proteins with higher turnover rates (fibrin, kidney, liver, jejunum and heart muscle), this indirect method gave similar results to the direct HPLC method. Using these methods, fractional protein synthetic rates in a variety of tissues can be accurately determined using radioisotopes of KIC and/or leucine. PMID- 2613830 TI - Determination of hippuric acid and furanic acid in serum of dialysis patients and control persons by high-performance liquid chromatography. AB - A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of 3 carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropionic acid (furanic acid) and hippuric acid in human serum is described. Quantitative data were obtained from 20 blood donors, 26 non-dialysis patients and 41 dialysis patients. In healthy persons hippuric acid ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 mg/dl, furanic acid from 0.13 to 0.53 mg/dl. In dialysis patients the mean concentration of hippuric acid was elevated to 17.2 mg/dl (range 1.7-50.8 mg/dl) and the mean concentration of furanic acid was elevated to 1.89 mg/dl (range 0.17-6.45 mg/dl). In patients without renal insufficiency the concentrations were not elevated. These data are in accordance with previous data obtained by gas chromatographic methods. Preliminary results indicate that hippuric acid and furanic acid may be more specific parameters than other uremic retention products, and better indicators for the need for dialysis treatment than urea or creatinine. PMID- 2613831 TI - Assay of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase utilizing a silica cartridge column and 5 alpha-cholestane-3 beta, 7 beta-diol as an internal standard. AB - A simplified and accurate assay of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity using 5 alpha-cholestane-3 beta,7 beta-diol as an internal standard is described. Endogenous microsomal cholesterol was used as the substrate. Following incubation and addition of the internal standard, lipids extracted from the incubation mixture were applied to Bond-Elut silica cartridge columns. 7 alpha Hydroxycholesterol, 7 beta-hydroxycholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol and the internal standard were quantitatively recovered by eluting the column with 6 ml of benzene ethyl acetate (2:3, v/v) after removal of cholesterol with 6 ml of benzene-ethyl acetate (9:1, v/v). After trimethylsilylation, the mass of 7 alpha hydroxycholesterol was determined by capillary gas chromatography with selected ion monitoring. The method permits a faster, easier and more sensitive determination of the activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase in small samples. PMID- 2613832 TI - Determination of pharmacological levels of harmane, harmine and harmaline in mammalian brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid and plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection. AB - Increased blood aldehyde levels, as occur in alcohol intoxication, could lead to the formation of beta-carbolines such as harmane by condensation with indoleamines. Endogenous beta-carbolines, therefore, should occur in specific brain areas where indoleamine concentrations are high, whilst exogenous beta carbolines should exhibit an even distribution. The author presents direct and sensitive methods for assaying the beta-carbolines harmane, harmine and harmaline in brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid and plasma at picogram sample concentrations using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection and minimal sample preparation. Using these assay methods, it was found that the distribution of beta-carbolines from a source exogenous to the brain results in a relatively even distribution within the brain tissue. PMID- 2613833 TI - Gangliosides and sulphatide in human cerebrospinal fluid: quantitation with immunoaffinity techniques. AB - A sensitive micromethod involving extraction, purification and thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-enzyme immunostaining was developed for the quantation of gangliosides and sulphatide, as markers for neuronal disorders and myelin disturbances, in individual samples of less than 5 ml of cerebrospinal fluid. The gangliosides of the gangliotetraose series were individually determined with cholera toxin subunit B by TLC-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) after chromatography and subsequent sialidase hydrolysis to II3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer (GM1). Other gangliosides and sulphatide were determined with specific monoclonal antibodies by TLC-ELISA. The total ganglioside content varied between 100 and 230 nmol/l in ten normal cerebrospinal fluid samples from adults. The major gangliosides were of the gangliotetraose series, represented by GM1, IV3NeuAc,II3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer, (GD1a), II3(NeuAc)2-GgOse4Cer (GD1b) and IV3NeuAc,II3 (NeuAc)2-GgOse4Cer (GT1b) of which the b-series gangliosides dominated, i.e., GD1b and GT1b. PMID- 2613834 TI - Determination of drug protein-binding by high-performance liquid chromatography using a chemically bonded bovine albumin stationary phase. AB - A liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the degree of protein binding of drugs has been established, using a stationary phase to which bovine serum albumin has been bonded chemically. In a structurally heterogeneous group of compounds, results of the method correlate well with protein-binding data obtained by equilibrium dialysis (r = 0.89, n = 23, p less than 0.001). Within a series of analogous piperazines a good correlation is found (r = 0.981, n = 11, p less than 0.001). The chromatographic method allows automation of the measurement of protein-binding of large series of compounds with protein-binding ranging between 10 and 99%. The method is not expensive and is less time consuming than equilibrium dialysis. Only 1 mg of technical-grade material is required to determine the protein-binding, and radioactive labelling of the material is not necessary. PMID- 2613835 TI - Identification and simultaneous determination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs using high-performance liquid chromatography. AB - An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure is presented for the screening of plasma samples for the presence of sixteen non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. Detection was achieved simultaneously at two wavelengths (254 and 370 nm) and the purity of the eluted peaks was tested using absorbance ratios at the two wavelengths; identification could thus be effective without interferences from substances of other pharmacological classes. The drugs were extracted simultaneously with diethyl ether after acidification and separated from each other on an octadecyl reversed-phase column using only one eluent, acetonitrile-0.3% acetic acid-tetrahydrofuran (36:63.1:0.9, v/v). The recovery, precision and reproducibility of the method were satisfactory as it allowed the determination of the drugs from infra- to supratherapeutic concentrations. PMID- 2613836 TI - Development of a high-performance liquid chromatographic-post-column fluorogenic assay for digoxin in serum. AB - A quantitative, sensitive and specific assay for digoxin was developed using a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system with post-column (PC) fluorogenic derivatization. Separation of digoxin from its metabolites was accomplished using a 15 cm X 4.6 mm I.D., 3-microns octadecylsilyl HPLC column and an optimum mobile phase of methanol-ethanol-isopropanol-dehydroascorbic acid (52:3:1:45, v/v). Concentrated hydrochloric acid, used as the PC derivatization reagent, was delivered by hexane displacement from a polyvinyl chloride pressure vessel. Construction of the pressure vessel is described. The mixture of HPLC effluent and PC reagent was passed into a 20-m knitted reactor (PTFE tubing) maintained at 79.0 +/- 0.2 degrees C. The resultant fluorophores were monitored by a fluorescence detector equipped with a 360-nm excitation filter and a 425-nm emission filter. Specificity of this HPLC-PC assay for digoxin in the presence of its metabolites was demonstrated. Also, numerous steroids evaluated did not produce fluorescence under these conditions. An extraction procedure for evaluating digoxin in serum without interference from endogenous compounds was also developed. Detector response to digoxin was linear from 0.5 to 3.3 ng extracted from serum. PMID- 2613837 TI - Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic assay using 9 fluorenylmethylchloroformate for monitoring controlled-release lidocaine in plasma. AB - A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay using fluorescence detection for quantifying lidocaine levels in plasma (in the ng/ml range) was developed. This novel HPLC assay has made possible the simultaneous monitoring of lidocaine levels in coronary and peripheral plasma obtained after myocardial controlled-release matrix administration (0.92 mg/kg during 4 h) in the arrhythmic dog. The method employed extracts the drug from plasma using 1 chlorobutane and a subsequent derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate in acetonitrile at 110 degrees C. The derivative was chromatographed on a C18 reversed-phase column and measured with fluorescence detection (excitation 254 nm, emission 313 nm). N-Methylephedrine was found to be suitable as an internal standard, post-derivatization. The derivatization product of lidocaine was identified and characterized by mass spectral analysis. It was found to have a unique and reproducible dicarbamate structure, which was stable for at least three days at room temperature. The method was tested with human plasma as well as on dog plasma. Analytical recoveries were 88.6 +/- 3.6 and 77.4 +/- 3.0% (mean +/- S.E.), respectively, at levels ranging from 25 to 200 ng/ml. The lower detection limit was 1 ng/ml lidocaine. In conclusion, this rapid and convenient analysis was found to be suitable for the bioavailability pharmacokinetic assessment of lidocaine following low-dose regional drug administration. PMID- 2613838 TI - Determination of exifone in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. AB - A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection was developed for the determination of exifone in human plasma and urine. Exifone was extracted from acidified plasma or neutralized urine with diethyl ether and the evaporated extracts were analysed on a C18 reversed-phase column. The compound was eluted in about 8 min with acetonitrile-0.3 M orthophosphoric acid (15:85, v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.9 ml/min. This method gave accurate and reproducible results; the calibration graphs were linear (r greater than 0.99) over the range of 2.8-360 nmol/l for plasma and 0.18-36 mumol/l for urine, and concentrations as low as 1 nmol/l in plasma could be quantified. These results allowed this assay to be used for determinations in single-dose pharmacokinetic studies. PMID- 2613839 TI - Solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of flumequine and oxolinic acid in salmon plasma. AB - Two methods for determination of oxolinic acid and flumequine in salmon plasma are described. The first method applies sample pretreatment on C2 disposable solid-phase extraction columns. The second method is based on direct plasma injection and on-line sample clean-up on a polystyrene-divinylbenzene precolumn. After column-switching, the analytes are separated on a polystyrene divinylbenzene analytical column and detected with a fluorescence detector. Validation of the methods showed good sensitivity, precision and reproducibility. Both methods are well suited for determination of plasma levels of the drugs in pharmacokinetic studies in Atlantic salmon. PMID- 2613840 TI - Determination of 2-methyl derivatives of tamoxifen in cell culture medium using high-performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection. AB - The 2-methyl derivatives of tamoxifen (2-methyltamoxifen and 2-methyl-4 hydroxytamoxifen) were extracted from a cell culture medium at pH 5.4 (Earle's Minimum Essential Medium) with an internal standard (tamoxifen) on a phenyl sorbent cartridge. The compounds were then separated by high-performance liquid chromatography on a nitrile column eluted with acetonitrile-methanol-0.05 M sodium dihydrogenphosphate (19:4:11.6:69,v/v) containing 0.11 mmol/l disodium EDTA and determined by electrochemical detection at +1.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl/3 M NaCl. The absolute detection limits were 50 pg for 2-methyl-4-hydroxytamoxifen and 100 pg for tamoxifen and 2-methyltamoxifen at a sensitivity of 1 nA/V. PMID- 2613841 TI - Rapid, high-sensitivity reversed-phase liquid chromatographic assay for 9-chloro 2-(2-furyl) [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]quinazolin-5-imine and its oxo metabolite in plasma using fluorescence detection. AB - A rapid, sensitive and specific assay for 9-chloro-2-(2-furyl) [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]quinazolin-5-imine (I) and its oxo metabolite (II) in plasma was developed and validated employing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Sample preparation was achieved by a simple ethyl acetate extraction from plasma buffered at pH 10 (0.1 M boric acid-0.1 M potassium chloride). Chromatographic analyses were performed isocratically on a C18 column, with a mobile phase consisting of methanol-0.2 M sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.0 (67:33, v/v). Chromatographic run time was less than 8 min. The assay was linear (r greater than 0.9998) over the concentration range 1.50-10,000 ng/ml for both I and II; for individual studies, curves covering a range of two orders of magnitude were generally employed. Limits of detection for I and II were 0.5 and 1.0 ng/ml, respectively. A preliminary investigation of the plasma concentrations of I and II in the rat following a single 30 mg/kg oral dose demonstrated the applicability of the method for pharmacokinetic studies. PMID- 2613842 TI - Sensitive determination of ambenonium chloride in serum from patients with myasthenia gravis using ion-exchange resin extraction and reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography. AB - An effective and selective procedure for the extraction of ambenonium chloride (AMBC) from serum using a weak cation-exchange extraction cartridge has been developed. The solid-phase extraction procedure permitted the extraction of AMBC from serum without adhesion to materials such as the containers. A 200-microliter volume of the eluate could be directly injected on to a reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic column. The recovery was in the range 97 100%. The limit of detection for AMBC was 0.5 ng/ml in serum (signal-to-noise ratio = 3). The method was used to determine the serum concentration of AMBC in patients with myasthenia gravis. The method would be useful for monitoring AMBC in serum in order to study its pharmacokinetic behaviour in patients under oral administration therapy. PMID- 2613843 TI - Thin-layer chromatographic screening procedure for some drugs in horse plasma. AB - A thin-layer chromatographic screening procedure for some basic, neutral and acidic drugs was developed using 3 ml of horse plasma. Chloroform-2-propanol (95:5, v/v) was used as the extraction solvent. The drugs were identified by a high-performance thin-layer chromatographic plate and spraying successively with some detection reagents. In this study, the extraction recovery rates and the detection limits were determined at the same time. PMID- 2613844 TI - 15-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid as a major eicosanoid in nasal secretions: assay by high-performance liquid chromatographic-radioimmunoassay and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric procedures. PMID- 2613845 TI - Automated gas chromatographic-electron-capture assay for the selective serotonin uptake blocker sertraline. PMID- 2613846 TI - Cellulose clean-up and high-performance liquid chromatography of DL diaminopimelic acid in hydrolysates of physiological samples. PMID- 2613847 TI - Quantitation of 5-fluorouracil incorporation into RNA by high-performance liquid chromatography without the use of radioactive precursors. PMID- 2613848 TI - Determination of two mercapturic acid metabolites of 1,3-dichloropropene in human urine with gas chromatography and sulphur-selective detection. PMID- 2613849 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection for the simultaneous determination of metopimazine and its acid metabolite in serum. PMID- 2613850 TI - Determination of muzolimine in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography. PMID- 2613851 TI - Reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of 2-carboxythiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid in plasma. PMID- 2613852 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for a novel psychotropic drug (CI 943) in cynomolgus monkey plasma. PMID- 2613853 TI - Logistic and Poisson models for infection by multicomponent plant viruses. AB - A model for the relationship between virus concentration and infectivity of multicomponent plant viruses is based on a combination of logistic and Poisson equations. Two separate equations are derived from the Poisson distribution assuming, (i) that infections occur only when a set of components containing the complete multicomponent genome is established at an infection site, but that any excess of components present does not reduce the probability of infection (no interference postulate); and (ii) that infection can occur only if a set of components containing the full genome reaches an infection site before it can be preempted by an incomplete set (competitive interference postulate). Postulate (i) affects the form of a dilution series without affecting N, the maximum possible number of infections (lesions), and postulate (ii) changes the value of N but not the form of the dilution series. There is a close correlation between the logit slope of a logistic dilution series and the form of the corresponding multiple Poisson dilution series for viruses with 2, 3 or 4 components. Calibrated by Poisson equations, the logit slope may thus suggest whether or not the virus components have invaded independently and infected similar infection sites. The methods of fitting the combined logistic-Poisson model are demonstrated by applying it to data for cowpea chlorotic mottle virus. PMID- 2613854 TI - Time for HIV-1/HIV-2 combination tests? AB - We should like to report the case of an individual in the Middle East infected with HIV-2 whose serum was negative by our routine ELISA tests for HIV-1. We propose that screening for HIV-2, in addition to HIV-1, be performed on individuals who are clinically determined to be at risk for HIV infection. Commercially available HIV-1/HIV-2 combination tests may serve to identify both infectious agents. PMID- 2613855 TI - A novel system for screening antiretroviral agents. AB - We propose a new screening system of drugs capable of inactivating retroviruses by interfering with the binding, entry into the cell, uncoating, reverse transcription, migration into the nucleus or integration of the retrovirus. It is based on the utilization of recombinant retroviruses which can be detected in single cells by the expression of a LacZ reporter gene. It allows simple and rapid quantification of the number of infectious viral particles. The screening system can then be used to precisely define the period sensitive to the drug. PMID- 2613856 TI - Congenital heart disease and external ear anomalies with hearing loss: a report of two new cases and a review of the literature. AB - Two cases of infants presenting primarily with congenital heart disease and external ear anomalies with hearing loss are reported. There is a clear, clinically important, association between these two birth defects; this association discussed along with a review of other syndromes with such features. PMID- 2613857 TI - Cyclopia-synotia: an unusual presentation. AB - An infant showing an unusual combination of craniofacial abnormalities is described. Synotia, astomia, a rudimentary proboscis, and a central placode in the hairline were observed. Serial sections of the head were examined microscopically. The proboscis contained a mass of striated muscle, but no bony or nervous tissue. Cyclopia was suggested by the central placode, the latter consisting of a thin, stratified, squamous nonkeratinized epithelium attached to an incomplete orbit by a strand of connective tissue. The orbit consisted of a bony shelf with bundles of nerves, striated muscle, and degenerate retinal tissue. The central nervous system cranial to the hindbrain was poorly developed. The midbrain and diencephalon were rudimentary, and there was poor separation of the small cerebral hemispheres. The auditory system was well represented. The maxilla and mandible were present, but there was no evidence of tooth formation. The wide range of midline abnormalities and anodontia suggest that this is a case of cranial neural crest deficiency. PMID- 2613858 TI - Pathogenesis of exencephaly and cranioschisis induced in the rat after neural tube closure: role of the mesenchyme. AB - Exencephaly was induced after neural tube closure by administration of a single dose of 15 mg/kg cyclophosphamide (CPA) to pregnant Wistar rats. Embryos were collected at 6, 8, and 10 hr and then at 24-hr intervals until day 17 of gestation and processed for electronmicroscopy. Sections cut at the level of foramen of Monro and at the otic vesicle level were examined and compared with similarly processed and age-matched control embryonic tissues. The earliest changes in the CPA-treated embryonic mesenchyme (ME) included a relative reduction in polyribosomes and an accumulation of cellular debris in apparently normal cells and in the extracellular space (ECS). While dead cells were disintegrating in the ECS, numerous cells were engaged in phagocytosis and digestion of fragments of dead cells. Continued cell loss and inhibition of cell proliferation lead to a marked increase in ECS and loss of intercellular contacts. At 10 hr postinjection, these changes were accentuated. By day 13, the capillaries in the ME were found to have their endothelium attenuated; they also had no pericyte association. Unlike in controls, the CPA embryos never developed a proper primordium of the skull vault. Differentiation of the poorly organised ME cells was slow, and glycogen appeared in them late and persisted until day 17. The endoplasmic reticulum was dilated; lipid and lysosomes accumulated, and matrix secretion was inhibited. Macrophages were numerous. The capillaries proliferated and possessed intraluminal cytoplasmic flaps resembling capillaries in the controls at earlier stages of development. The ECS in the ME became edematous while blebs developed subcutaneously. The weak neuroepithelium had several cavities that communicated internally with the ventricle and externally with the blebs. Cell death, inhibition of cell proliferation, and failure of the appearance of skull vault primordium resulted in poor support to the NE. The mounting intraventricular pressure possibly lead to a breakdown of the unsupported NE, resulting in reopening of the neural tube. PMID- 2613859 TI - Prenatal skeletal maturation of the human maxilla. AB - Previous investigations on the prenatal development of the human maxilla have focused mainly on the elevation and fusion of the soft tissue palatal shelves. The bony development has received only sporadic attention. The aim of the present investigation was to analyze and set up bony developmental stages in the human maxilla, as knowledge of normal skeletal developmental course, which has never been elucidated, is the prerequisite to understanding the abnormal course of development. The present study was based on a radiographic and histochemical investigation of maxillae from 104 human embryos and fetuses from the first half of the prenatal period. A marked regularity in the maxillary ossification pattern was observed, and consequently seven maturity stages, Max I-Max VII, were described. The material was divided according to these stages and related to general fetal size (crown-rump length) and to general fetal maturation (composite number of ossified bones in hand and foot). The material available did not justify a description of skeletal development of the maxilla as a function of CRL or CNO. PMID- 2613860 TI - Human prenatal palatal closure related to skeletal maturity of the jaws. AB - The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the stages of skeletal maturation of the maxilla and the mandible at the time of soft tissue palatal closure. Similar studies were not found in the literature. This investigation was based on maxillae and mandibles from 19 human embryos/fetuses selected by visual inspection of palatal structures, eight fetuses "just before palatal closure," and 11 fetuses "just after palatal closure." The findings are related to formerly described skeletal developmental stages in the maxilla, to stages in the symphysis menti region, and to development in the mandibular condylar region. The present study revealed that elevation of the palatal shelves takes place at a specific stage of maxillary skeletal maturity (stage Max III), at a time of mandibular development characterized by absence of condylar cartilage and by constancy in symphysis menti maturity (stage SM I). Knowledge of the normal sequence of prenatal skeletal development is considered essential for understanding the abnormal sequence of skeletal development. PMID- 2613861 TI - Reduced epithelial surface activity is related to a higher incidence of facial clefting in A/WySn mice. AB - The epithelial surfaces of the facial primordia were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) during primary palatogenesis in two genetically related mouse strains, the A/J and the A/WySn strains. These two strains were selected because the reported frequency of spontaneous cleft lip with or without cleft palate [CL(P)] in the A/J strain approximates 0%, whereas the spontaneous frequency of CL(P) in the A/WySn strain is 20-30%. The embryos were examined prior to (two to six tail somites), during (seven to ten tail somites), and after (ten to 14 tail somites) primary palate fusion. During fusion, epithelial surface activity (characterized as cellular debris, dissociated cells, cellular projections, and epithelial bridging) was more pronounced in A/J embryos. A/WySn embryos with spontaneous cleft lip exhibited a marked deficiency in epithelial activity when compared to their normal littermates. No discernible differences were detected in the facial morphology, with the exception of the distal end of the medial nasal prominence, which appeared longer in the A/J strain. This study suggests that the degree of epithelial surface activity at the putative site of fusion and the relative length of the medial nasal prominence may account for the observed differences in facial clefting of the two strains. Face shape, related to prominence divergence, was similar in the two strains and could not explain the higher incidence of clefting observed in the A/WySn strain. PMID- 2613862 TI - Epidermal growth factor alters metabolism of inositol lipids and activity of protein kinase C in mouse embryo palate mesenchyme cells. AB - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated mouse embryo palate mesenchyme (MEPM) cells (1) to incorporate [32P]O4(3-) into phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidic acid over a period of 60 min; 2) to incorporate [32P]O4(3-) into polyphosphoinositides as a function of time; and 3) to incorporate [32P]O4(-3) into PI, only, as a function of concentration when the period of stimulation was kept short. EGF stimulated the release of radiolabeled inositol phosphates from MEPM cells that had been radiolabeled with [3H]myoinositol. The release of inositol 1-phosphate was sustained over a period of at least 60 min, whereas the release of inositol 1,4-bisphosphate and inositol trisphosphate peaked during the first 10 min of stimulation. EGF also stimulated phosphorylation of an Mr 80,000 protein whose pI, phosphopeptide map, and phosphoamino acid pattern were identical to those of an Mr 80,000 protein phosphorylated in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Mobilization or metabolism of arachidonic acid was not stimulated under the same conditions that permitted EGF to alter inositol lipid metabolism. We interpret these data to mean that 1) in contrast to the findings with some cell lines, alterations in inositol lipid metabolism may be part of the signalling mechanism for EGF in embryonic cells; 2) EGF is capable of activating inositol-dependent signalling pathways leading to activation of protein kinase C in MEPM cells; and 3) mobilization and metabolism of arachidonic acid are not an inherent part of this signalling mechanism. PMID- 2613863 TI - Expression of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), but not IGF-I mRNA, in human preovulatory granulosa cells. AB - Increasing evidence suggests that insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) play an important role as intra-ovarian regulators in several mammalian species. Recently, we and others have reported the presence of both IGF-I and IGF-II in human follicular fluid. The source of these follicular IGFs, however, has not been determined. In this study, we have evaluated the possibility that human ovarian granulosa cells are a production site of IGFs in vivo. We used cDNA probes to analyse directly IGF-I and IGF-II gene expression at the level of mRNA content in granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles of women undergoing either gamete intra-Fallopian transfer or in-vitro fertilization. Samples of granulosa cell RNA enriched for polyadenylated RNA [poly(A)+RNA] were hybridized with probes for human IGF-I, human IGF-II and human actin (as a control). Transfer blot analysis revealed that the enriched poly(A)+RNA of human granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles contained no detectable IGF-I mRNA. In contrast, three species of IGF-II mRNA of approximately 6.1, 4.9 and 2.1 kb were detected. These data suggest that IGF-II mRNA, but not IGF-I mRNA, is expressed in human granulosa cells collected immediately before ovulation. Our results support the concept that human ovarian IGF-II is produced locally and may function in an autocrine or paracrine fashion in the human ovary in vivo. PMID- 2613864 TI - Autoimmune associated recurrent abortions. AB - A possible relationship between recurrent spontaneous abortions and autoimmune abnormalities was studied. Eight serological autoimmune or autoimmune-correlated parameters were investigated in 91 women with unexplained recurrent abortions (greater than or equal to 3 consecutive, spontaneous abortions) and 89 fertile control women. Five parameters were seen significantly more frequently in 19 women with at least one second trimester miscarriage which had been associated with severe intrauterine growth regardation (IUGR), than in controls. Seventeen of these 19 patients (89%) had at least one positive autoimmune parameter, compared to 15 of 72 patients (21%) with no second trimester abortions with IUGR (P less than 0.0001) and 14 (16%) of the controls (P less than 0.0001). No single autoantibody characterized patients who exhibited a significant accumulation of autoimmune parameters. These findings may suggest that women with recurrent abortions, in whom autoimmunity is thought to play a role, cannot be identified merely by one laboratory assay, such as that for cardiolipin antibodies, but must be defined by positivity of several criteria. Using our own test panel, preliminary clinical and serological criteria have been set up for the definition of an autoimmune-associated recurrent abortion condition. Twenty-three per cent of the patients in our material fulfilled these criteria, and seven out of nine of these women (78%) have to date been treated successfully with heparin/aspirin during pregnancy. PMID- 2613865 TI - Gene mapping on chorionic villi chromosomes by hybridization in situ: localization of cholinesterase cDNA binding sites to chromosomes 3q21, 3q26-ter and 16q21. AB - To adapt the in-situ hybridization approach for use in very early fetal development, comparative in-situ hybridization was initiated on chromosomes from chorionic villus sampling (CVS). An additional aim was to refine the localization of the chromosomal sites binding butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) cDNA by mapping them in parallel to previously mapped genes of close locations. BuChEcDNA was previously found to bind to the long arms of lymphocyte chromosomes 3 and 16, with a wide distribution of grains suggesting two separate sites on chromosome 3. When labelled with 35S and hybridized with CVS chromosomes, BuChEcDNA was bound to three distinct sites, designated CHEL1, CHEL2 and CHEL3. These peaked at 3q21, 3q26-ter and 16q21 respectively. Parallel hybridization with the cDNA encoding transferrin receptor (TFRC) refined its localization to 3q29, in agreement with previously published results and in a distal position to CHEL2, whereas haptoglobin cDNA (HPcDNA) was correctly mapped at 16q24, distal to CHEL3. In view of the published genetic linkage between the CHEL1 locus and the transferrin TF gene on 3q25, this study suggests that one of the three sites carrying BuChE coding sequences, namely CHEL2, harbours the functional CHEL1 gene. Thus, in-situ hybridization provides a rapid and precise method for the localization of genes on CVS chromosomes, in comparison with known DNA markers. PMID- 2613866 TI - The relationship of abnormal semen parameters to male fertility. AB - To what extent do standard semen parameters reflect male fertility? A review of many studies over the last 35 years relating pregnancy rate to sperm counts in 'fertile' and 'infertile' couples indicates that standard semen parameters, though much maligned of late, are useful in evaluating the degree of 'male factor' in an infertile couple. However, 'male factor' is quite compatible with fertility in a couple if the wife is very fertile. Oligoasthenozoospermia is, unfortunately, for the most part, an untreatable condition. Yet, vigorous treatment of the wife may still result in pregnancy despite very poor semen quality. Higher sperm counts in an infertile couple are associated with higher pregnancy rates. But in the majority of infertile couples in whom the sperm count is poor, female factors also exist that prevent conception. If the wife were very fertile, she would have become pregnant despite her husband's oligozoospermia, and they would never have seen a physician for infertility. Thus, pregnancy can be achieved with very low sperm counts either by treatment of the wife, IVF, GIFT or ZIFT procedures. PMID- 2613867 TI - The effect of preinsemination interval upon fertilization of human oocytes in vitro. AB - A correlation between oocyte maturity, duration of preinsemination interval (PII) and fertilization rate in vitro has been suggested. Therefore, delayed insemination is being widely practised in many IVF centres. The purpose of this study was to investigate prospectively the effect of PII upon the fertilization rate in vitro. A total of 1474 oocytes were inseminated following incubation for between 30 and 540 min. The duration of the PII was determined randomly. It was found that neither fertilization rate (on average 46.9%) nor pregnancy rate (20.4%, calculated per embryo transfer) were affected by PII for any given degree of oocyte-cumulus maturity. The ability to inseminate oocytes at any time (within 9 h following egg collection) to the convenience of the biologist further simplifies the technology of IVF. PMID- 2613868 TI - Developmental control of the human male pronucleus by ooplasmic factors. AB - The nature of oocyte cytoplasmic factors controlling the development of the male pronucleus was investigated by inseminating human, zona-free oocytes at metaphase of the 1st and 2nd meiotic division. Oocytes at metaphase of the 2nd meiotic division could support the full structural and functional development of male pronuclei, whereas the vast majority of those at metaphase of the 1st meiotic division failed to do so. This suggests that oocyte cytoplasmic factors required for male pronuclear formation do not develop fully until the oocyte reaches the 2nd meiotic metaphase. When increasing numbers of spermatozoa entered one oocyte, the transformation of sperm nuclei into pronuclei was impaired progressively. The later stages of pronuclear development were particularly sensitive to polyspermy. These factors should be taken into consideration in the development of techniques of micromanipulation-assisted insemination. PMID- 2613869 TI - Establishment of pregnancy related to embryo transfer techniques after in-vitro fertilization. AB - The success rate of embryo transfers is not influenced by the choice of the catheter or the position of the patient during embryo transfer. The quality of embryos seems to be the crucial factor for the establishment of pregnancy and the transfer of more than one embryo (so-called multiple transfer) increases the pregnancy rate. Embryo transfer under general anaesthesia does not improve the pregnancy rate significantly. Intratubal embryo transfer in patients with normal Fallopian tubes seems to be promising, especially in cases of andrological infertility. PMID- 2613870 TI - Contribution to the physiology and pathology of endometrial receptivity: the determination of protein patterns in human uterine secretions. AB - In this study, the uterine protein patterns of greater than 200 patients of the sterility treatment programme of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ulm were analysed by the technique of uterine secretion electrophoresis (USE) of minute quantities. These analyses reveal three protein patterns, typical for the equivalent phases of the menstrual cycle: intermediate phase-, proliferative phase- and secretory phase. There appear up to 63 protein bands, most of which represent proteins less than 68 kd. Those separation areas below 68kd show characteristic 'families' of protein bands, which typically constitute the three phase patterns. As a result of our study, a secretory phase pattern lasting 10 days is demonstrated, suggesting a remarkably long 'receptive phase' for the initiation of implantation. The fully expressed secretory phase pattern appears from day 15 to day 25 of the ideal menstrual cycle (28 days length). The 'implantation window' of the endometrium seems to remain open for a surprisingly long period of time. This insight sheds light on the success of embryo transfer after IVF when the cleavage stage embryo arrives in the uterine cavity several days earlier than after normal fertilization. Such early exposure to the uterine milieu nevertheless does not preclude implantation. PMID- 2613871 TI - Psychological guidance of IVF patients. AB - Several questions need to be answered before covering the subject of emotional support and guidance of IVF patients. These include what we actually know about the desire for a child, the emotional characteristics typical of infertility patients and especially of IVF patients, how IVF patients justify their motivations for their desire for a child, cope with the anguish caused by infertility, and how much we know about the stress surrounding IVF treatment. These questions will be discussed in the following article. PMID- 2613872 TI - Selection of patients for IVF therapy or alternative therapy methods. AB - Microsurgery is the treatment of choice for most patients with a tubal factor. In vitro fertilization--embryo transfer (IVF-ET) is performed in patients with the so-called classical indications: bilateral salpingectomy and tubal damage which is not correctable by means of microsurgery. We also discuss IVF in patients who have not conceived within 1 to 2 years following microsurgery. In women with tubal re-occlusion IVF should be performed. In patients with patent tubes following microsurgery, gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) forms part of a controlled clinical study. More clinical experience can perhaps solve the dilemma whether it is beneficial to perform GIFT or to offer IVF primarily to these patients. In patients with andrological infertility, GIFT is offered after six unsuccessful attempts of intrauterine insemination (IUI). In long-standing infertility, GIFT is performed when IUI with ovarian stimulation fails. Patients with genital pathology (patent tubes) are treated with GIFT unless it is not technically feasible. In these cases microsurgery or IVF should be discussed. PMID- 2613873 TI - Alternatives to IVF: the outcome of 1071 first GIFT procedures. AB - Gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) is the most important treatment method for infertile couples that has been developed since in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ET) became available. Analysis of the data of 1071 first GIFT procedures is presented and the predominant factors affecting success are discussed. An overall pregnancy rate of 33.6% was achieved in this group of patients who were unselected in relation to age, number of oocytes transferred, quality of sperm and response to ovulation induction. The success of GIFT is dependent upon the number and quality of oocytes transferred and upon the quality of the sperm. Pregnancy occurred in 21.4% of patients receiving up to four oocytes compared with 40.3% in whom five or more were transferred. Multiple pregnancy rates however were 17.3% in the first group and 32.3% in the second group. Age is a major factor influencing the chances of success with patients less than 30 years of age achieving a 40.2% pregnancy rate reducing to 19.2% in the over 40 group. Conversely the spontaneous abortion rate increased from 23.4% in the under 30 group to 48.6% in those over 40 years of age. No pregnancies were achieved when sperm motility was less than 20% in the original specimen, whereas pregnancy rates of up to 20% resulted when sperm density was below 10 million. The overall results of this study show comparable success rates for different causes of infertility and that there is a definite association between the outcome of treatment and the number and quality of gametes transferred. A philosophy of flexibility in the treatment of infertile couples is advocated. PMID- 2613874 TI - Evaluation of endocrine parameters and semen samples: pregnancies following conservative infertility treatment versus IVF therapy. AB - IVF techniques have recently attracted interest as a possible treatment of male subfertility. In order to clarify if semen profiles of men fathering a child after IVF differ significantly from those patients initiating a pregnancy after timed intercourse or AIH, we retrospectively compared sperm parameters in 67 males whose female partners were treated by IVF with those of 102 couples treated conservatively. In all male partners stimulation tests for FSH and LH, TSH and prolactin (PRL) had been performed as well as measurement of testosterone (T) levels. No significant differences were revealed for mean values of any of the classical semen parameters: volume, concentration, vitality, motility, normal morphology and results of the hypoosmotic swelling test between groups for men initiating a conception. Endocrine evaluation of the male patients detected no major hormonal imbalances associated with specific subnormal sperm parameters although regression analyses demonstrated relationships between semen volume and TSH as well as T, and between sperm concentration and PRL as well as FSH levels. We conclude that IVF techniques are not superior to cycle optimization with timed insemination in the treatment of andrological subfertility. PMID- 2613875 TI - Minimal andrological requirements for in-vitro fertilization. AB - The ejaculate used for in-vitro fertilization of human oocytes must fulfil minimum requirements. Based on the results of experimental investigations, total concentrations of spermatozoa must be greater than 5 million spermatozoa/microliters with progressive motilities of at least 30% and also a normal morphology of at least 30%. Furthermore, in sperm preparations used for inseminating human oocytes, the concentration of pathogenic microorganisms must not be less than 10(4). If there are positive bacteriological findings, the treatment of both partners is mandatory according to the antibiogram. According to the information gathered to date, the hamster oocyte penetration test can only provide additional information if it is positive, but acceptance into an IVF programme should not depend on this test. According to the results presented so far, the swell test developed by Jeyendran shows quite good correlation with the fertilization of human oocytes. PMID- 2613876 TI - Technical and clinical aspects of ultrasound guided oocyte recovery. AB - In our experience, as well as that of many other IVF groups, transvaginal, ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration is less invasive and comparable to, or better than laparoscopy with regard to the efficiency of oocyte recovery and safety. For these reasons, we believe that ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration will gradually become the method of choice if the only purpose is to retrieve oocytes. PMID- 2613877 TI - A new variation of in-vitro fertilization: intravaginal culture of human oocytes and cleavage stages. AB - In this study, we present further experiences with the intravaginal culture (IVC) of oocytes and cleavage stages. IVC is a new technique for in-vitro fertilization, its principle consisting of fertilization of oocytes in an air free plastic capsule which is placed into the maternal vagina. In a total of 45 patients, 22 were treated by IVC and 23 by a conventional in-vitro fertilization technique (IVF). The pregnancy rates for IVC and IVF amounted to 22.7% (5/22) and 17.4% (4/23), respectively. Our results indicate that IVC is a valuable new method for treatment of special cases of sterility. Furthermore, extracorporal stress factors such as light and low temperature can be minimized by IVC. We also consider the psychological factor for the patients as very important since the mother can actively participate in the early development of the conceptus. PMID- 2613878 TI - The potential of early human embryos to form blastocysts, hatch from their zona and secrete HCG in culture. AB - Early embryos assessed to be unsuitable for transfer to patients or for cryopreservation were cultured either in minimum essential medium (MEM) or in synthetic human tubal fluid (HFT). A significantly higher percentage of embryos developed to blastocysts in MEM (26.5%) than in HTF (14.5%). Serum was not required for blastocyst formation nor for hatching in MEM. HTF containing 1% human cord serum failed to support blastocyst hatching. Haploid (monopronucleate) and diploid (bipronucleate) embryos formed blastocysts and hatched with a similar frequency but triploid (tripronucleate) embryos developed poorly. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) released by hatched and intrazonal blastocysts was detected between days 7 and 8 after fertilization. The mean total HCG produced by hatched blastocysts by day 14 was 19,500 mIU, but embryos trapped inside their zonae released a mean level of 1550 mIU. Serum was shown to stimulate the output of HCG from both hatched and intrazonal blastocyst tissues. Free beta- and alpha subunits of HCG were not released by developing blastocysts, but low levels of beta-HCG were produced by some embryonic tissues between days 12 and 14 when degenerative changes were observed. PMID- 2613879 TI - Assessment of embryonic quality. AB - Successful in-vitro fertilization therapy of infertile patients requires the development of healthy embryos, which are able to match with the maternal peri implantational requirements for the establishment of pregnancy. It has been a longstanding question whether detailed analyses could be developed to assess the developmental capacity of fertilized oocytes, cleavage stages or blastocysts without interference with the early embryo's potential for life. In reviewing these analytical possibilities which have been approached by several research groups, alternatives are considered, including whether animal experiments could lead to further insights for embryo assessment. However, the considerable implications of genetic aberrations have to be discussed when early human embryonic stages are analysed for their developmental potential. Finally, some thoughts on ethical problems are presented which focus on the difficulties of research on human embryos. PMID- 2613880 TI - Cytogenetic analysis and developmental capacity of normal and abnormal embryos after IVF. AB - Chromosome abnormalities represent the major cause of pre- and post-implantation embryo wastage. Indeed, 29% of embryos produced by in-vitro fertilization have an abnormal karyotype. Parthenogenesis (1.6% of the cases) and triploidy (6.4%) are the only abnormalities detectable 17 h after insemination. A total of 23% of activated oocytes with a single pronucleus (1 PN) and 18% of fertilized eggs with three pronuclei (three PN) remained uncleaved, compared with 4% for diploid eggs. The rate of cleavage for parthenogenes is not different from normal eggs. On the contrary, we observed that 29% of three PN-eggs reached the 5- to 8-cell stage 42 h after insemination when compared to 15% for diploids mainly due to a direct division of 56% of three PN-eggs in three cells. A model of development for triploid eggs is proposed, taking into account physiological and cytogenetic observations. The quality of embryos expressed in terms of morphology did not show any difference between embryos proceeding from parthenogenes or diploid eggs. On the contrary, the rate of fragmentation is decreased for triploid (3%) compared with diploid (13%) or activated (17%) embryos. Embryos resulting from one, two, three or four pronucleate ova display different developmental capacities during 5 days' culture in vitro. PMID- 2613881 TI - Formation of new quasi-crystalline ordered aggregates by gizzard myosin. AB - Turkey gizzard myosin was found to self-assemble into new polymorphic forms as detected by thin-section electron microscopy. In high ionic strength buffers (0.3 mM KCl, pH 6.0), aggregates of sidepolar filaments were produced. Electron microscopy of thin sections revealed individual filaments with a 13.5 nm axial repeat. Under a number of conditions, with varying ionic strength, pH, MgCl2 and ATP, the filaments assembled through the head region with the tail portion projecting out radially from the aggregate. The regions corresponding to heads and tails within the aggregates were established by immunoelectron microscopy using anti-S1 and anti-LMM antibodies coupled to gold. These filaments often interacted to produce bilayer sheets, which, when cut perpendicular to the plane of the sheet, appeared as ladders. A hitherto unreported structure was obtained at 0.2 M KCl (pH 8.0): myosin aggregated to generate a three-dimensional quasi crystalline lattice with a 270 nm period. In these aggregates, myosin was arranged in an antiparallel fashion, stacked on one another, producing ribbon like strips stabilized through non-covalent interactions between heads, thereby producing a crystalline lattice. Neither Mg2+ nor ATP were required for this form. Phosphorylation of the regulatory light chains or the cleavage of the heavy chains at a single site in the head region prevented myosin from assembling in the 3-D lattice form. Generally, unphosphorylated myosin produced periodic paracrystals at low ionic strength in the presence of 10 mM MgCl2, but as the ionic strength was increased the regular 3-D lattice became the predominant form. Some paracrystalline forms could be obtained at high ionic strength without magnesium with phosphorylated myosin. PMID- 2613882 TI - Isolation of a Ca2(+)-releasing factor from caffeine-treated skeletal muscle fibres and its effect on Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum. AB - In the presence of 2 mM caffeine, skeletal muscles of the frog exert small irregular oscillations of single sarcomeres. A factor, released from these oscillating muscles, was partially purified, and its activity was tested on skinned fibres and isolated vesicles of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Purification was achieved in three steps by gel filtration and reversed phase chromatography, and the active compound of the released material was shown probably to be a small peptide. In skinned fibres, the purified factor evoked repetitive contractions and subthreshold sarcomeric oscillations. In 'heavy' SR vesicles passively loaded with 45Ca2+, the factor induced a small but significant increase in the 45Ca2+ efflux rate. At the single channel level, the open probability of the SR Ca2+ release channel increased when the factor was added to the cytoplasmic side of the channel. The results reveal that the released factor potentiates Ca2+ release from the SR by increasing the open time of the Ca2+ release channel. PMID- 2613883 TI - Caffeine- and Ca2(+)-induced mechanical oscillations in isolated skeletal muscle fibres of the frog. AB - Isometric force and subthreshold sarcomeric oscillations were studied in isolated muscle fibres of the frog. In intact muscle fibres, caffeine in a concentration of 2 mM caused a subthreshold oscillatory activation of single sarcomeres, called 'sarcomeric oscillations'. They occurred independently of membrane potential and were blocked by agents which directly interfere with Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In skinned muscle fibres, sarcomeric oscillations were also induced by the Ca2+ ion itself (pCa = 6.1). When the free EGTA concentration of the bathing solutions was reduced, fibres responded with long lasting oscillations of force. Both types of oscillations were blocked when the membranes of the SR were solubilized by detergent. The results reveal that caffeine- and Ca2+-induced oscillations in skeletal muscle fibres are triggered by a cyclic release of Ca2+ ions from the SR. It is suggested that they interfere with the process of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release. PMID- 2613884 TI - The organization of titin (connectin) and nebulin in the sarcomeres: an immunocytolocalization study. AB - Monospecific polyclonal antibodies against two exceptionally large proteins, titin (a-T) and nebulin (a-N) isolated from rabbit skeletal muscles, were raised in guinea pig. Using an immuno-pre-embedding method, we have localized at the ultrastructural level of resolution the reactivity sites in skinned muscle fibres. At resting length a-T and a-N antibodies recognize epitopes which only partially overlap. a-T antibodies decorate mostly the A band with at least four clearly distinguished lines of reaction and one line in the I band, all near the A/I limit; a-N antibodies bind to the same region, but with wider areas of reaction in both A and I bands. To study whether the localization of these reaction sites varies according to the sarcomere length, skinned rabbit psoas fibres were incubated at sarcomere lengths ranging from maximum shortening to overstretching. The results indicate that lines decorated by a-T move away from the Z disc when the sarcomere is lengthened. With respect to the M line, the behaviour was biphasic. When the sarcomere was stretched up to about 2.8 microns, the decorated lines maintain almost the same distance from the M line. When the sarcomere is stretched beyond 2.8 microns, all a-T epitopes move away from the M line and the molecule behaves elastically. At resting length the a-N decoration appears to be localized on three large adjacent bands at the I, A/I and A level. The a-N line of reaction at the edge of the A band moves away from the Z discs as the sarcomere lengthens, while a second line which seems to be localized at the tip of the thin filament moves away from M line when the sarcomere lengthens. In non-overlapping sarcomeres a-N antibodies decorate only the tip of the thin filaments. Our results indicate that titin forms a polar filament connecting the M line to the Z line. In short sarcomeres, the filament seems to have some connections with structures of the A band, since titin epitopes do not move during stretching. These connections are lost at longer sarcomere lengths. On the other hand, our results suggest that nebulin is probably not a constituent of the titin filament. PMID- 2613885 TI - Temperature dependence of the release of ATP hydrolysis products from the 10S conformation of smooth muscle myosin. AB - The transition of smooth muscle myosin to the folded 10S monomeric conformation dramatically inhibits the release of the ATP hydrolysis products, ADP and Pi. In this work, we examined the influence of temperature on the time course of product release from the 10S conformer of chicken gizzard smooth muscle myosin. Release was monitored by single turnover assays, using either [gamma-32P]ATP or the fluorescent ATP analog, formycin triphosphate (FTP). For all temperatures over the range 15-35 degrees C, single exponential kinetics described the observed product release from 10S myosin. A 10 degrees C increase in temperature resulted in a fourfold increase in the rate constant for the observed product release. Using single turnover analysis, we found a similar temperature dependence for the apparent rate constants for product release from the extended 6S monomeric conformation of myosin. However, at any given temperature, the rate constant for 6S myosin was approximately 1.5 orders of magnitude greater than that for the 10S. These results are consistent with a kinetic scheme in which 10S myosin must undergo transition to the 6S conformation prior to product release. PMID- 2613886 TI - Contractile properties of frog twitch fibres after D600 paralysis. AB - Twitch and contracture tensions were measured in single intact fibres of semitendinosus muscles with a sensitive miniature transducer. After a fibre was paralysed by a conditioning depolarization in the presence of 30 microM D600 at low temperature (around 5 degrees C), no twitch tension could be detected. When a paralysed fibre was warmed, its ability to give potassium-contractures recovered almost completely but its twitch tension revived to a variable extent, ranging from fully to partially or not at all. This variable recovery of twitch tension appeared to correlate very well with the variable repriming of Q gamma observed previously in revived fibres. The optimal temperature at which twitch tension could be revived readily lay within a narrow window roughly between 8 to 16 degrees C, within which the rate and extent of revival of twitch tension were temperature-dependent. Removal of D600 from the bathing solution after conditioning depolarization facilitated the revival of twitch tension but was neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for revival. A reduction of potassium concentration in the high K solution or an abbreviation of the duration of conditioning depolarization could bring a fibre to a partially paralysed state (or equivocally a partially revived state) without going through complete paralysis. The paralysing actions of submaximal condition depolarizations were additive. The partially revived state was unstable and affected by repetitive stimulations in a use-dependent manner. The effect of a 0.1 Hz train of action potentials on twitch tension was generally biphasic, with a small initial suppression followed by an enhancement. It is speculated that this use-dependent enhancement could be due to a competition between D600 molecules and intracellular Ca2+ ions. PMID- 2613887 TI - Wax bite records for tooth positioners. PMID- 2613888 TI - Clinical and instrumental functional analysis for diagnosis and treatment planning. Part 11. Overlay splint therapy. PMID- 2613889 TI - Computer treatment estimates in orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. PMID- 2613890 TI - Lingual spring for minor movement of maxillary central incisors. PMID- 2613891 TI - Cognitive functioning in depression. AB - Verbal learning and memory, and recognition of famous faces, were assessed in 21 non-demented inpatients with RDC endogenous depression. Severity of depression was related to attention span, and patient age was related to measures of learning and recall. However, even in this severely depressed sample, verbal learning/memory measures were not below normative values. Facial recognition was significantly impaired relative to test norms. The results suggest that mild impairment in the early stages of verbal information encoding, and more marked impairment in the recognition of famous faces, may be associated with depression. These impairments differ from the cognitive changes associated with aging. PMID- 2613892 TI - Food cues and perceptual distortion of the female body: implications for food avoidance in the early dynamics of anorexia nervosa. AB - The present studies concerned a perceptual mechanism that could partially explain the anorexic's severe eating restraint despite continuing hunger. If a woman values a thin body, unrealistic perception of food's fattening effects should increase the aversiveness of ingesting food and foster restraint in eating. The first study considered the perceived thinness/fatness of women's bodies without and with food cues present. College women who (1) shared the stress-generating personality characteristics of anorexics (AP); and (2) judged models as fatter after food cues were introduced (enhancers) reported more stress than AP non enhancers; no effect of enhancement upon stress was observed in controls. This moderator effect was replicated in a second study. Thus, women with the personality characteristics and high stress that put them at-risk for anorexia also displayed the perceptual distortion involved in the proposed mechanism. Self ratings verified the same perceptual mechanism in the high-stress AP woman's perception of her own body. PMID- 2613893 TI - Psychological differentiation, arousal, and lipreading efficiency in hearing impaired and normal children. AB - Psychological differentiation, psychophysiological arousal, hearing capacity, and ability to lipread unrelated sentences presented in a silent technicolor film were investigated in 62 children (mean age 10 years, 4 months), classified into three hearing categories (normal, mild to moderate hearing loss, severe hearing loss) based on their average hearing threshold in the range of speech frequencies for their best ear. All subjects were administered the Rod and Frame Test, Craig Lipreading Inventory, and skin conductance measures under two conditions (pre task and task). The results showed that the ability to lipread sentences from a film was related significantly to psychological differentiation (cognitive style) and pre-task conductance level, but was not related to hearing capacity or task conductance level. The best predictors of lipreading ability were successful performance on the Rod and Frame Test and high increases in skin conductance from pre-task to task situation. PMID- 2613894 TI - Antisocial behavior and post-traumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans. AB - Assessment data from 118 Vietnam-era veterans seeking psychological services at two Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Centers were analyzed to examine the potential relationships between number of preadult and adult antisocial behaviors, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III; American Psychiatric Association, 1980) criteria for antisocial personality disorder, level of combat exposure, and development of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that combat exposure level was related significantly to PTSD symptomatology, whereas number of preadult antisocial behaviors was not. However, both combat exposure level and preadult behaviors, which were not correlated significantly, were related significantly to number of adult antisocial behaviors. There were no significant interaction effects. Results were consistent with a theoretical model of PTSD development that emphasizes the role of trauma vs. premorbid characterological factors. In addition, the significant association between combat exposure and adult antisocial behavior indicates that trauma may play a role in the development and/or maintenance of adult antisocial behaviors observed in some Vietnam veterans. PMID- 2613895 TI - Social support, life stress, and psychological distress: an empirical assessment. AB - Previous social support research had demonstrated the presence of either main (network) or buffering (interaction) effects as factors that mitigated the impact of life stress. To date, two studies have assessed both types of social supports in the same subjects at the same time. One study found a main effect, and both studies reported buffering effects. The present study (N = 74) extended this type of inquiry with a more comprehensive assessment of both social support resources that addressed previous methodological limitations. This study found buffering effects, but no main network effect. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed. PMID- 2613896 TI - Cognitive and behavioral correlates of depression in clinical and nonclinical populations. AB - The relationships among depression, depressogenic cognitions, and mood-related activities were examined in clinic and nonclinic populations. Fifty-seven participants in a treatment program for depression and 143 undergraduate subjects were administered a questionnaire battery that included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), and the mood-related items of both the Pleasant Events Schedule (PES) and Unpleasant Events Schedule (UES). Depressogenic cognitions and mood related activities were correlated with one another and with depression in both populations: As depression increased, depressogenic cognitions and unpleasant activities increased while pleasant activities decreased. In addition, partial correlational analyses demonstrated that both depressogenic cognitions and mood related activities, independent of one another, were correlated significantly with depression. This demonstrates that cognitive and behavioral variables, while related to one another, contribute independent information concerning depression. PMID- 2613897 TI - An analysis of the MCMI-I at the item level. AB - The study reports on principal component analyses of the MCMI-1 at the item level. The 175 items of the MCMI were separated for analysis into 100 descriptive of personality and 75 that represent clinical symptoms. The data analyzed came from a sample of 253 psychiatric outpatients and a sample of 185 inpatient alcoholics. The scree test was applied to decide on the number of factors to retain. The factors retained in the four analyses were rotated by the Varimax and Direct Oblimin procedures. The results were similar across the two samples. The six personality dimensions isolated were interpreted as Social Introversion Extraversion, Dependency on Others, Verbal Hostility, Need to Please Others, Self Dramatization, and Orderliness. These have some resemblance to Millon's eight personality styles. Four of the five symptom factors were similar to Millon's clinical symptom scales. In addition to a very large Depression factor, there were factors of Manic Excitement, Drug Abuse, Alcoholic Misuse, and Suicidal Ideation. PMID- 2613898 TI - Validity of the Chinese version of the General Health Questionnaire. AB - The Chinese version of the General Health Questionnaire-30 was administered to 2,150 Chinese secondary school students, along with several other scales that measure somatic and psychological symptoms. GHQ scores were found to correlate significantly with all other measures of psychopathology for the various samples. Further analyses indicated that while the GHQ correlated more strongly with scales that assess acute symptoms than with scales that measure chronic problems, GHQ correlations were higher with measures of state as well as trait anxiety relative to indices that primarily reflect non-anxiety-related symptoms. Correlations between the various factor scores of the GHQ and other indices of psychopathology also were found to be mostly significant. These findings generally suggest that the Chinese GHQ-30 is a valid instrument that assesses "general" psychological health, and the data provide support for the validity of some of the factorial dimensions of this scale. PMID- 2613899 TI - The Family Relationship Index: validity data. AB - The Family Relationship Index (FRI) is a self-report measure that provides an overall index of the quality of the family environment, as well as subscores that reflect family cohesion, expressiveness, and conflict. The current study is based on 53 families who had approached a family service agency for counseling and who had completed an FRI measure prior to intake. The construct validity of the FRI scores was evaluated by comparing them to measures of family functioning provided by experienced family therapists as part of the intake process. Support for the construct validity of the composite index and two of the subscores, Family Cohesion and Family Conflict, was obtained. PMID- 2613900 TI - The development of factor-based level of functioning scales from a level of care instrument. AB - A factor analysis of data from 1,295 administrations of a level of care instrument produced a seven-factor solution. The scales developed from these factors through a simple unit weighting procedure were internally reliable and replicable on an additional sample of clients. The seven factors are discussed in terms of level of functioning measures. Results suggest that community living skills and self-care skills are two among several robust dimensions of level of functioning in psychiatric clients. Implications are discussed. PMID- 2613901 TI - Base rates of WAIS-R subtest scatter as a guide for clinical and neuropsychological assessment. AB - Data from the WAIS-R standardization sample (N = 1880, ages 16-74) were analyzed to determine normal base rates of subtest scatter and to discover whether the amount of scatter is related significantly to various stratification variables. Two indices of scatter were computed for the Verbal, Performance, and Full Scales: range (highest minus lowest scaled score) and number of subtests that deviated significantly from a person's own mean. ANOVAs conducted with the range statistic showed that scatter on all three WAIS-R IQ scales was related significantly to education level; that Blacks had less scatter than Whites on the Verbal and Full Scale; and that females had less scatter than males on the Verbal scale. Base rate normative tables of subtest scatter were presented for five different levels of Full Scale IQ. Implications of these tables for clinical and neuropsychological assessment were discussed. PMID- 2613902 TI - Reliability and abnormality of scaled-score ranges. AB - The distinction between the reliability (statistical significance) and the abnormality (unusualness) of test score differences is shown to apply equally to a common index of subtest scatter, the scaled-score range. The evaluation of scaled-score ranges on the WISC-R is used as an illustrative example. PMID- 2613903 TI - Agreement between a short form and the full scale as a function of the correlation between them. AB - Much current research considers both correlational data and data on agreement in evaluating the usefulness of short forms of Wechsler's intelligence scales. It is demonstrated that when chance is excluded and disagreements are suitably weighted, the agreement between a short form and the Full Scale is simply an approximation to the correlation between them. Thus, the correlation itself should be the primary consideration in evaluating the usefulness of a short form. PMID- 2613904 TI - Six clustering algorithms applied to the WAIS-R: the problem of dissimilar cluster results. AB - Clusterings of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised subtests were obtained from the application of six hierarchical clustering methods (N = 113). These sets of clusters were compared for similarities using the Rand index. The calculated indices suggested similarities of cluster group membership between the Complete Linkage and Centroid methods; Complete Linkage and Ward's methods; Centroid and Ward's methods; and Single Linkage and Average Linkage Between Groups methods. Cautious use of single clustering methods is implied, though the authors suggest some advantages of knowing specific similarities and differences. If between-method comparisons consistently reveal similar cluster membership, a choice could be made from those algorithms that tend to produce similar partitions, thereby enhancing cluster interpretation. PMID- 2613905 TI - The PPVT-R as a measure of psycholinguistic functioning: a caution. AB - The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the use of the PPVT-R as a measure of psycholinguistic functioning. The sample included 75 school-aged children referred for evaluation. The mean PPVT-R standard score (94.59, SD = 15.85) was not significantly different (p less than .01) than the WISC-R Full Scale IQ (95.36, SD = 16.29), Verbal IQ (94.36, SD = 16.17), or Performance IQ (97.75, SD = 15.61), or the mean ITPA PLQ. The PPVT-R correlated positively and significantly with the WISC-R Full Scale IQ (.77), Verbal IQ (.71) and Performance IQ (.74) and the WISC-R subtests, with coefficients that ranged from .42 (object assembly) to .69 (vocabulary). In addition, the PPVT-R correlated positively and significantly with the ITPA Psycho-Linguistic Quotient (PLQ) (.72) and the ITPA) subtests, with coefficients that ranged from .38 (auditory sequential memory) to .72 (grammatic closure). Regression analyses determined that the ITPA PLQ and the PPVT-R standard score were not predictive of one another. The data are interpreted to suggest that the PPVT-R is not more appropriately used as a measure of receptive language ability than as a screen for intellectual functioning. PMID- 2613906 TI - WISC-R stability and re-evaluation of learning-disabled students. AB - This study investigated the temporal stability of WISC-R IQ scores for learning disabled subjects (N = 113). All study subjects were administered the WISC-R for an initial evaluation (M age = 8 years, 3 months) and a follow-up re-evaluation (M age = 11 years, 7 months). Pearson product-moment correlations yielded coefficients that were considerably lower than those previously reported: r = .55, p less than .001 for the Verbal IQs; r = .63, p less than .001 for the Performance IQs; and r = .58, p less than .001 for the Full Scale IQs. Results of t-test analyses indicated that only the Verbal IQ scores were significantly different when the initial evaluation (M = 89.4) was compared to the re evaluation (M = 85.3), p less than .001. The results suggest that the WISC-R may be less stable for the learning-disabled population than for other groups and that the average 3-year test-retest time lapse was an influential factor in the reduced reliability of this instrument. PMID- 2613907 TI - Improvement after evaluation in psychotherapy of depression: evidence of a placebo effect? AB - Thirty-two patients were seen by psychiatry residents, psychology interns, and social work fellows who were learning cognitive therapy of depression. Of these, 23 patients attended sufficient sessions for early response to be categorized as responding or not responding. Rapid response was not associated with positive perception of the therapist by the patient, self-control scores, or patient collaboration as viewed by the therapist. The BDI score at intake was moderately predictive of the BDI score at session 6, but it did not predict percent improvement. However, depressive severity at the beginning of session one was strongly predictive of the sixth session BDI, and it also predicted percent improvement. Another predictor of response was improvement in mood in the first therapy session, as measured by the VAS. However, outcome variance explained by the VAS did not significantly add to outcome variance explained by the first session BDI. Results are interpreted as indicating that improvement may be due to (1) a powerful beneficial effect that originates within the patient-therapist matrix and independent of therapist techniques; or (2) a continuing improvement process that began prior to entering treatment. PMID- 2613908 TI - The relationship of process to outcome in brief experiential psychotherapy for chronic pain. AB - Six adult females with active rheumatoid arthritis were treated with a 10-session course of focused Gestalt Psychotherapy with the intent of assessing the relationship between key psychotherapy processes and both session and final outcome. Results suggested that high levels of patient participation were related to reduced patient distress, while high ratings of both session depth and session smoothness were related to increased positive feelings at the end of sessions. However, these session results did not generalize to final treatment outcome. PMID- 2613909 TI - The FIRO model of family therapy: implications of factor analysis. AB - Schutz's FIRO model contains three main elements: inclusion, control, and affection. It is used widely in mental health research and practice, but has received little empirical validation. The present study is based on factor analysis of the resources to FIRO questionnaire of 120 normal couples and 191 couples who were attending a clinic for marital/psychiatric problems. Results confirmed the validity of the FIRO model for women only. The differences between the sexes reflected a considerable degree of sex-role stereotyping, the clinical implications of which are discussed. PMID- 2613910 TI - Effect of therapist title on perceived competence of a female therapist. AB - A videotaped segment of a female therapist and female client was shown to groups of male and female undergraduates (N = 278) under six conditions. At the bottom of the screen one of the following six captions was presented: Dr. (name) and client, Ms. (name) and client, Mrs. (name) and client, Miss (name) and client, First and last name and client, and no caption. The students rated the therapist on 11 variables related to competence. Females tended to rate the therapist higher, and isolated effects for title were found; however, the magnitude of the differences was so small as to suggest that no important or meaningful differences had occurred. PMID- 2613911 TI - The mentally disordered criminal offender: a description based on demographic, clinical, and MMPI data. AB - From 340 MMPIs of male forensic state hospital patients, seven disjoint clusters were obtained by an innovative cluster strategy that combined Ward's hierarchical clustering with a partitioning method. The cluster groups differed on racial composition and DSM-III Axis II diagnoses. The lack of differences among the cluster groups on other clinically relevant variables may be due to the choice of measures and the homogeneous nature of the sample. Two-point code frequencies are presented for these 340 profiles. Demographic variables available on 434 subjects suggested considerable similarities between this group and prison populations. The analysis further suggested that factors such as sociopathy, substance abuse, psychosis with paranoid features, and a history of criminal activities distinguish these offenders from the benign mentally ill. PMID- 2613912 TI - Validation of MMPI profile subtypes among opioid addicts who are beginning methadone maintenance treatment. AB - The purpose of the present research was (1) to examine the stability of MMPI subtypes within a VA drug abusing population; and (2) to provide external validation for these subtypes. The MMPI was administered to 107 male veterans who were entering methadone maintenance treatment. Normal sphere personality characteristics, sociodemographic information, and self- and interviewer ratings were collected by use of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Using D2 analysis, each MMPI profile was compared to the mean profile for three MMPI profile clusters obtained by Roszell, Chaney, and Blaes (1983) on a previous sample. Normal, psychoneurotic, and schizoid profiles were found in percentages similar to Roszell et al. The normal cluster was divided into two groups with and without T score elevations above 70 on the clinical scales. The normal group with profile elevations was similar to profile groups labeled as psychopathic in previous research. The four MMPI profile subtypes were compared on the 16PF and the ASI. The psychoneurotic and schizoid groups demonstrated higher levels of emotional distress and psychiatric difficulty than did the normal or psychopathic groups. The psychopathic and schizoid groups had more legal problems than the other two groups; the normal group had less evidence of marital and family problems. PMID- 2613913 TI - The Diagnostic Knowledge Inventory: a measure of knowledge about psychiatric diagnosis. AB - A psychometrically sound measure of knowledge of psychiatric disorders and diagnoses (consistent with both DSM-III and DSM-III-R) was constructed for use by mental health and health care professionals. No such measure otherwise exists, in spite of its potential value as an educational tool and in research on clinical diagnosis. The diagnostic accuracy (content validity) of a large item pool of brief case vignettes was verified in a prestudy by a team of experts. This item pool then was reduced by half, and two forms of the measure were constructed based on an item analysis that used a heterogeneous sample of clinically trained and untrained respondents (Study 1). Reliability and validity were demonstrated using a cross-validation sample (Study 2). Finally, comparisons were made between practicing mental health professionals and controls; these supported the measure's validity (Study 3). Overall, the measure demonstrated concurrent validity (by distinguishing clinically trained from untrained respondents) and reliability (by showing internal consistency and inter-form association). Potential uses of the measure in research and training concerned with clinical diagnosis are discussed. PMID- 2613914 TI - On-call service: the role of chemical pathologists. AB - The workload of the chemical pathology advisory on-call service was investigated. Over three years 317 calls were recorded, giving a mean of nine calls a month. Seasonal variation in the number of calls was observed, with an increase in calls during December, January, and February. Requests for the arrangement of analysis accounted for 231 calls, while there were 98 requests for advice. Authorization of a request for analysis was the outcome of 156 calls. Advice with respect to investigation, treatment, or interpretation of results was offered during 173 calls. The acute medical and surgical wards, the accident and emergency department, renal unit and intensive care unit accounted for 198 of the calls. The two analyses most frequently requested, through the advisory on-call service, were serum digoxin and blood ethanol, with 51 and 33 requests, respectively. The "acute" wards and accident and emergency department had the greatest request rate, accounting for 35 of the requests for digoxin and 26 of the requests for blood ethanol. The acute care areas were responsible for the major part of the workload, and a clinical requirement for the services of chemical pathologists out of hours, was observed. PMID- 2613915 TI - Laboratory based study of undetectable thyroid stimulating hormone. AB - The clinical importance of an undetectable thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration (less than 0.2 mU/l) was studied in a consecutive series of 2573 requests for routine thyroid function tests. Two hundred and seventeen (8.4%) patients had an undetectable TSH concentration, and of these 39 (18%) had otherwise normal thyroid hormone concentrations and no history of thyroid disease. In a follow up study 71 patients (34 outpatients and 37 inpatients) with undetectable TSH concentration associated with otherwise normal thyroid hormone concentrations were randomly selected during routine reporting of thyroid function test results. None of these patients had a history of thyroid disease. Sex hormone binding globulin concentrations were increased in five out of 50 of these patients and antithyroid antibodies were detectable in four out of 49, suggesting that in most cases the isolated undetectable TSH concentration was not associated with thyroid dysfunction, particularly hyperthyroidism. Isolated undetectable TSH concentration was observed in both inpatients and outpatients and was not associated with any particular clinical condition. Repeat specimens were received in 54 of the 71 patients and TSH concentration remained persistently undetectable in 35 of these. PMID- 2613916 TI - Interrelation between factor VII, prekallikrein, and hyperfibrinolysis in advanced cirrhosis. AB - Factor VII and prekallikrein activities were studied in 37 patients with liver cirrhosis who were in a decompensated state. Sixteen of them died 30-70 days after admission; 21 survived and were discharged after 30-80 days. Seven who died and six survivors had signs of hyperfibrinolysis: factor VII activity differentiated the two groups independently of the presence of hyperfibrinolysis. The presence of hyperfibrinolysis significantly reduced prekallikrein activity, which did not differentiate clearly survivors from non-survivors. Long term follow up of survivors showed a good correlation between factor VII and prekallikrein activities with long term survival. Hyperfibrinolysis seemed to influence the clinical course of patients: 87% of patients with hyperfibrinolysis who died had fatal haemorrhagic episodes. Low factor VII activity may be a precursor of terminal liver insufficiency. PMID- 2613917 TI - Detection of erythroid hypoplasia in myelofibrosis using erythrokinetic studies. AB - The iron kinetic model described by Ricketts et al was used to study haemopoiesis in chronic myelofibrosis. The clearance of 59Fe-labelled transferrin from the plasma was analysed to quantify total, effective, and ineffective erythropoiesis, denoted by the terms marrow iron turnover (MIT), red cell iron turnover (RCIT), and per cent ineffective iron turnover (IIT%), respectively, in 12 cases of this disease. The patterns obtained were variable: values for MIT ranged from 24.4 to 510 mumol/l blood/day; those for RCIT from 0.4 to 119 mumol/l blood/day; and those for IIT% from 67 to 98%. One noteworthy feature was the presence in two cases of functional erythroid hypoplasia; these were characterised by severely reduced values for MIT (24.4 and 28 mumol/l blood/day) and RCIT (0.4 and 8 mumol/l blood/day.) A systematic study of the erythrokinetic features of myelofibrosis may indicate that erythroid hypoplasia is a more common cause of anaemia in this disease than has been previously recognised. PMID- 2613918 TI - Bone marrow fibrosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. AB - Bone marrow trephine biopsy specimens were obtained at diagnosis from 63 of 76 consecutively presenting children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The association between marrow fibrosis and presenting features, including immunophenotype, was analysed. Reticulin was increased in 45 of 56 cases in which blasts expressed B lineage markers, but in only one of seven with T-ALL. A weak association was also found between marrow fibrosis and splenomegaly in those with common ALL. Marrow fibrosis is apparently associated with some examples of ALL of B cell lineage, but precisely which subtypes and whether the phenomenon is clinically important remain to be determined. PMID- 2613919 TI - Antibiotic resistant fever associated with herpes simplex virus infection in neutropenic patients with haematological malignancy. AB - The incidence of mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infection confirmed by culture and occurring during febrile neutropenic episodes was determined in 43 patients with haematological malignancy. The outcome of 72 episodes of neutropenic fever was determined and correlated with the presence or absence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. Twenty four patients had mucocutaneous HSV infection during at least one episode. In 24 episodes in which HSV was isolated only 12.5% of fevers responded to antibiotics and 75% of fevers were otherwise unexplained. Conversely, in 48 episodes of neutropenic fever in which HSV was not isolated 67% of fevers responded to antibiotics and only 8.3% were unexplained. The difference in incidence of antibiotic resistant fever in the two groups was significant. There was, therefore, a strong association between mucocutaneous HSV infection and antibiotic resistant fever in immunosuppressed neutropenic patients. As most HSV infections are the result of virus reactivation, establishing the HSV serological state of patients would identify those at risk of infection and hence those in whom the prophylactic use of acyclovir would be indicated. PMID- 2613920 TI - Lymphoid follicles in antral mucosa: immune response to Campylobacter pylori? AB - The prevalence of lymphoid follicles in endoscopic biopsy specimens from normal antral mucosa (n = 220), mucosa with reflux gastritis (n = 104), and in cases with Campylobacter pylori-associated gastritis (n = 2544) was studied. In the latter group whether there were associations between degree and activity of gastritis and the prevalence of lymphoid follicles and between the occurrence of lymphoid follicles and the presence of intestinal metaplasia in the antrum were investigated. In cases with normal mucosa and in those with reflux gastritis lymphoid follicles were not detected, but mucosal lymphoid follicles were found in 1297 (54%) of the cases with C pylori-associated gastritis. The prevalence of lymphoid follicles in the antral mucosa depended on the degree and activity of the gastritis and also correlated with the presence of intestinal metaplasia. The development of lymphoid follicles in the mucosa of the antrum probably represents, primarily, an immune response to the colonisation of the mucosa by C pylori. PMID- 2613921 TI - Nucleolar organiser regions in adenocarcinoma in situ of the endocervix. AB - The AgNOR technique was used to analyse 11 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ of the endocervix and five examples of healthy cervices to assess whether areas of "increased nuclear activity" could be located adjacent to the malignant tissue. Areas of adenocarcinoma in situ had significantly more AgNOR staining dots than apparently normal bordering areas ("transitional areas") and areas of endocervical epithelium remote from adenocarcinoma in situ. There were no significant differences between AgNOR counts in transitional areas and areas remote from adenocarcinoma in situ, and between these areas and histologically normal cervices. These observations provide no support for the hypothesis that areas of glandular atypia of lesser severity or zones of "increased nuclear activity" exist adjacent to adenocarcinoma in situ. PMID- 2613922 TI - Comparison of six commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assays for detecting IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii. AB - To evaluate the usefulness of different commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the detection of IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii the results of six of these assays for a panel of 81 sera were compared. The following tests were selected: Toxoplasma gondii IgM ELISA (Clark Laboratories), Toxoplasma IgM EIA (Labsystems), Toxo-M EIA (Abbott), Toxonostika M (Organon), Toxo M Enzyme Immunoassay (Hybritech) and Platelia Toxo IgM (Diagnostics Pasteur). An antibody capture ELISA developed at our laboratory was used as the reference test. An IgM immunoblotting assay was also performed. Four (Toxoplasma IgM EIA, Tox-M EIA, Toxonostika M, and Platelia Toxo IgM) of the commercial IgM ELISAs gave a high sensitivity and a high specificity. Toxo-M EIA, Toxonostika M, Toxoplasma IgM EIA and the Toxo M Enzyme Immunoassay were too insensitive, and the Toxoplasma gondii IgM ELISA was both insensitive and unspecific. No remarkable differences were observed between the results of indirect or antibody capture ELISAs, and between the results of ELISAs performed with polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. PMID- 2613923 TI - Assessment of immunoglobulin-M immunosorbent agglutination assay (ISAGA) for detecting toxoplasma specific IgM. AB - An immunoglobulin-M immunosorbent agglutination assay (ISAGA) was introduced to detect toxoplasma specific IgM. This assay incorporates mu chain capture and use of entire toxoplasma trophozoites as an antigen source. The performance of the ISAGA was compared with that of a double sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DS-ELISA) currently used in the Public Health Laboratory Service Toxoplasma Reference Laboratories. The ISAGA was found to be more sensitive than DS-ELISA but there was no demonstrable difference in the specificity or reproducibility between the two assays. The ISAGA is suitable for the diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent patients and as a screening test for recent infection in pregnant women. The persistence of ISAGA reactivity, however, is such that additional serological assessment is required to define the risk of congenital infection. PMID- 2613924 TI - Microtitre plate measurement of platelet response to hypotonic stress. AB - The conventional method of assessing the platelet response to hypotonic stress (HSR) was adapted to allow microtitre plate technology to be used. After water is added to a platelet suspension two sequential readings are taken at 414 nM on a vertical microplate reader. The difference between the second (three minutes) and the first (one minute) was defined as the HSR. This method allowed the relation between platelet concentrate pH and viability to be confirmed, and an HSR value for use in quality control was established. The method correlated well with the conventional technique and permitted measurement of undiluted samples as well as of products with a high free haemoglobin concentration. PMID- 2613925 TI - Simple method for granulocyte-macrophage cell culture and staining in soft agar: comparison with a standard research technique. AB - A modified, small volume, two phase, disc culture system for CFU-GM (seven and 14 days of incubation) was compared with a standard single layer system. The 1 ml single layer cultures were counted unstained in situ before both sets of cultures were transferred to glass slides for staining. Bone marrows were cultured from forty eight subjects, including normal controls and patients with acute non lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome. Observer error was least with the disc cultures, whereas variation between replicate cultures was similar for both methods. A high degree of correlation was found between the two methods for both day 7 (r = 0.90) and day 14 (r = 0.91) cultures. The number of colonies and clusters was higher with the disc system, indicating better cloning efficiency. Analysis of subsets of clinical groups showed similar patterns of abnormality with both systems. The simplicity of the method makes the use of this technology possible in most laboratories, and the superior morphological resolution may increase the clinical usefulness of such studies. PMID- 2613926 TI - Aberrant expression of HLA-DR antigen in diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary carcinoma of thyroid. PMID- 2613927 TI - Rectal carriage of Chlamydia trachomatis in women. PMID- 2613928 TI - AgNORs in diagnosis of serous and mucinous ovarian tumours. PMID- 2613929 TI - Splenic haemangioma associated with splenomegaly and raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate. PMID- 2613930 TI - Periodontal status of Finnish adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. AB - The periodontal status of 85 12-18 year-old Finnish adolescents with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and their paired, age- and sex-matched healthy controls was assessed clinically and radiographically. The clinical examination consisted of plaque index, gingival index (GI), retentive calculus index, WHO community periodontal index of treatment needs, number of pockets greater than or equal to 4 mm and number of surfaces bleeding after probing. Alveolar bone loss was measured interproximally from the first molars in bite-wing radiographs (all subjects) and from the first incisors in periapical X-rays (patients only). The results show that in spite of similar plaque scores, the patients had higher GI scores and more surfaces bleeding after probing. No differences were found in the number of greater than or equal to 4 mm pockets or radiographical bone loss in the first molars. PMID- 2613931 TI - Effect of adhesive antibiotic TA on plaque and gingivitis in man. AB - The adhesive antibiotic TA was applied to the dento-gingival junction of 8 human volunteers, suffering from moderate to severe gingivitis. 2 diametrically opposed quadrants of the mouth received 4 applications of 0.1 mg TA, while the other 2 quadrants were treated with a placebo and served as controls. The plaque index, gingival index and bleeding index were scored periodically for 2 weeks and in 4 patients for up to 30 days. The TA-treated quadrants showed a rapid decrease in all 3 indices following 2 treatments. A further improvement was observed with the 3rd and 4th treatments. 30 days after the onset of the experiment and 23 days after the last application, the indices were still considerably lower than the initial values. PMID- 2613932 TI - Prevalence of incipient radiographic periodontal lesions in relation to ethnic background and dental care provisions in young adults. AB - The prevalence of early periodontal destruction was assessed in a group of 516 14 year-old Iraqi schoolchildren who had not been offered public dental care programmes. Vertical bone loss adjacent to the proximal surfaces of first molars was used to indicate an incpient periodontal lesion, and the prevalence of subjects diagnosed as having one or more sites with this criterion in the Iraqi group was compared with those of 2 Scandinavian populations of the same age. These comprised 241 Norwegians who had received regular dental care and 561 Danes with or without such programmes. In the Iraqi group, 11.5% showed 1 or more sites with radiographic bone loss. However, few sites exhibited deep defects. There were significantly fewer Norwegian teenagers showing early periodontal lesions as compared to the Iraqi group (p less than 0.01) and the Danish subjects with no school dental programmes (p less than 0.01). Danish teenagers receiving regular dental care did not differ from the Norwegian group. It was concluded that the criterion used in the present study seems suitable for detecting differences in the prevalence of incipient radiographic periodontal lesions among young populations, and that the utilization of public dental care services may be an important factor in explaining such differences. PMID- 2613933 TI - Periodontal response to long-term abuse of the gingival attachment by supracrestal amalgam restorations. AB - The combined length of the supracrestal connective tissue attachment and the junctional epithelium is referred to as the "biologic width". The long-term (1 year) effect of complete violation of the supracrestal connective tissue attachment was examined in beagle dogs. Full thickness periodontal flaps were elevated, exposing the buccal bony crests of the maxillary and mandibular canines of 3 beagle dogs. The roots of the experimental teeth were planed and class V cavities were prepared. The apical border of each cavity was located at the alveolar bone crest. The cavities were restored with amalgam and the flaps were repositioned and sutured. In the control sites, a notch was prepared at the CEJ and the distance between the notch and the bony crest was measured. The dogs were sacrificed 57 weeks after the operation and the experimental and control sites prepared for histologic analysis. Every 5th section was examined and measurements were taken of the amount of gingival and bone recession, the length of the connective tissue and the epithelial attachment. Control sites healed uneventfully. Gingival recession averaged only 0.5 mm; bone loss was minimal and averaged 0.15 mm. The combined length of the supracrestal connective tissue and epithelial attachment measured 4.47 mm. In experimental sites, the gingiva receded 3.16 mm on average. Moderate bone loss (mean = 1.17 mm) was noted, but no signs of bone resorption were seen at the time of sacrifice. After bone loss, root surfaces which were previously attached to alveolar bone by periodontal ligament were mainly (0.90 mm) attached to connective tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613934 TI - Familial gingival fibromatosis; no correlation with HLA-antigen. A family study. AB - Familial gingival fibromatosis is generally reported to be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. We investigated 2 families with few siblings affected with gingival fibromatosis. No linkage between HLA antigen and the phenomenon was found. These results support the idea of the autosomal dominant nature of familial gingival fibromatosis. PMID- 2613935 TI - Longitudinal changes in periodontal disease in untreated subjects. AB - About 300 subjects, 20-79 years of age were recruited for a longitudinal study on the effect of periodontal therapy. The result of a baseline examination have been reported earlier. Following this baseline examination, the subjects were monitored for 24 months without therapy. Re-examinations were performed after 12 and 24 months. All teeth including the 3rd molars were included in the examinations. Presence of plaque was assessed at 4 surfaces per tooth and gingivitis, probing pocket depth, probing attachment levels were assessed at 6 locations per tooth. Out of the subject sample examined at baseline, 57 individuals failed to return for either the 1st, the 2nd or both re-examinations. An analysis was performed regarding the periodontal status at baseline, of the respondents and non-respondents. The results from the follow-up examinations of the participating 20 to 79 year-old subjects revealed that the sample underwent, during a 2-year period, only minor changes with respect to a series of different parameters characteristic of periodontal disease. Thus, the mean values of probing pocket depth and probing attachment level failed to change between baseline and the re-examinations after 1 and 2 years. Even if the mean values underwent only minor changes, however, certain subjects within each age category improved their periodontal conditions, whereas other subjects worsened. Furthermore, the findings of the re-examinations revealed that there was a strong correlation between improving plaque levels and gingivitis. The relationship between supragingival plaque levels and changes with respect to probing depth and attachment levels were weak. PMID- 2613936 TI - Periodontal loser sites in untreated adult subjects. AB - Subjects in age groups between 20 and 79 years were recruited for a study on the effect of different modalities of periodontal therapy. A baseline examination included assessments of plaque, gingivitis, probing pocket depth and probing attachment level. The subjects received no periodontal therapy for 2 years but were recalled for re-examination after 1 and 2 years. The results from the baseline examination and the overall changes which occurred in the sample during the 2 years have been reported previously. The present study describes some characteristics of subjects and sites that lost probing attachment of 3 mm or more during the course of the 24 months of monitoring. 161 of the 265 subjects who returned for both re-examinations had no change of the attachment level at any site that amounted to 3 mm or more. Of the 104 subjects that showed deterioration, at or above this level, the majority exhibited disease activity either during the 1st or the 2nd year of monitoring. Only 20 subjects showed disease activity during both year 1 and year 2. In addition, 70% of the sites that deteriorated (loser sites) occurred in 12% of the subjects. Loser sites were most frequently detected in older subjects and at molar sites. Most of the loser sites occurred at interproximal surfaces and were most numerous at surfaces with initially advanced loss of attachment. PMID- 2613937 TI - Career opportunities for physicians in the pharmaceutical industry. PMID- 2613938 TI - The effect of everyday exercise on steady state digoxin concentrations. AB - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 1 hour of everyday exercise (walking at patient's own pace) on serum digoxin concentrations. Nine white male subjects (ages 58-74) who had been taking the same digoxin dose for greater than 1 month participated. There were three continuous phases: 1 hour of rest, 1 hour of exercise, and a final hour of rest. Serum digoxin concentrations were drawn every 20 minutes. During the first rest period, serum digoxin concentrations rose 30% from the first concentration drawn in the study. After 1 hour of exercise, serum digoxin concentrations fell 26.8% from the last concentration of the first rest period. At the end of the second hour of rest, serum digoxin concentrations increased by 36.6% from the last concentration. Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated a significant (P less than .01) change in serum digoxin concentrations. Significant (P less than .01) differences were found between sampling times 0 and 60, 60 and 80, 60 and 100, 60 and 120 and 180 minutes using a paired t-test with Bonferroni correction. A weak correlation (r = 0.74, r2 = 0.55) between percent change in concentrations and age during the exercise phase was found, but there was no correlation between the percent change in concentrations and age during the two immobilization phases. Because significant changes in concentrations occurred during each phase of the study, we conclude that the influence of everyday exercise should be taken into account when interpreting serum digoxin concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2613939 TI - Ultrastructural analysis of the development and maturation of synapses and subsynaptic structures in the ectostriatum of the zebra finch. AB - The development of synapses and subsynaptic features in the neuropil of the ectostriatum, a visual projection area in birds, was examined ultrastructurally at 5, 10, 20, and 100 days posthatching. The maturation of the synaptic complex is accompanied by a variety of different dynamic processes. The number of synapses in ectostriatum and the number of specific synaptic types vary with age as does the constellation of subsynaptic structures. At day 5, before eye opening, the total number of synapses is 16% of the adult value. These synapses, unlike synapses seen at maturity, have indistinct synaptic contact zones and generally are associated with few synaptic vesicles. Synapse number increases continuously until 20 days of age, paralleled by a steady increase of the observed brain volume. The largest increase in synapse number takes place during the time of eye opening (i.e., between 5 and 10 days). This increase is mainly due to an increase of asymmetric synapses, the most common type in the neuropil of ectostriatum (90% of the synapse population). At day 20 the number of synapses has reached its maximum and remains high in adulthood. Synapses on spines are more prominent in younger animals than in adults. The percentage of presynaptic terminals involved in synaptic contact with more than one postsynaptic element (multiple synapses) shows a significant reduction from 12% to 4% early in development (between days 10 and 20). Presynaptic terminal size and postsynaptic density (PSD) length increase until 20 days of age. From day 20 to adulthood the PSD shows a 10% reduction in contact length, and the presynaptic terminal further increases in size by 27%. Therefore, the pre- and postsynaptic structures described above continue to develop after the number of synapses remains constant. PMID- 2613940 TI - Calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in the visceral sensory cortex, thalamus, and related pathways in the rat. AB - It has been proposed that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) may serve as a major neuromodulator in visceral sensory pathways, but its exact role in the visceral sensory thalamus and cortex has not been determined. We therefore examined the distribution of CGRP-like immunoreactive (CGRPir) innervation of the insular cortex and the parvicellular division of the ventroposterior nucleus of the thalamus (VPpc) in the rat by using immunohistochemistry for CGRP combined with retrograde transport of the fluorescent dye fluoro-gold. Modest numbers of CGRPir fibers were distributed in the dysgranular and agranular insular cortex, but few were observed in the granular insular cortex. The density of CGRPir innervation increased caudally along the rhinal fissue and was considerably greater in the perirhinal cortex. When fluoro-gold was injected into the insular cortex numerous retrogradely labeled neurons were seen in the VPpc, but few of these were CGRPir. Retrogradely labeled CGRPir neurons were, however, seen in the ventral lateral and medial parabrachial (PB) subnuclei. Injection of fluoro-gold into the perirhinal cortex (which is just caudal to the insular cortex along the rhinal fissure) resulted in many retrogradely labeled CGRPir neurons in the posterior thalamic region, including the subparafascicular, the lateral subparafascicular, and the posterior intralaminar nuclei. The VPpc was heavily innervated by CGRPir fibers but contained few CGRPir cell bodies. Injection of fluoro-gold into the VPpc resulted in many retrogradely labeled CGRPir neurons in the external medial PB subnucleus bilaterally, but with a contralateral predominance. Smaller numbers of retrogradely labeled CGRPir neurons were also observed in the ventrolateral PB subnucleus, bilaterally with an ipsilateral predominance. These results suggest that CGRP may be a neuromodulator in the ascending visceral sensory pathways from the PB to the VPpc and the insular cortex, but not between the latter two structures. PMID- 2613941 TI - Screening of aromatase-containing neurons in rat forebrain: an immunohistochemical study with antibody against human placental antigen X-P2 (hPAX-P2). AB - Aromatase-containing neurons were immunohistochemically examined in rat brains by using a polyclonal antibody against human placental antigen. The antibody recognizes cytochrome P-450 portion of aromatase, an enzyme converting androgen to estrogen. A large group of strongly immunoreactive cells was identified in the ventral pallidum, which extends caudally from the area surrounding the islands of Calleja. Other strongly or moderately stained cell groups were observed in the cerebral cortex, the amygdaloid area, the nucleus of the diagonal band, and the area anterior to the posterior commissure. Only a few stained cells were present in the medial preoptic region. These findings cast doubt upon the previous assumption, based on biochemical analysis of tissue samples, that the center of the aromatizing system is in the medial preoptic region. They indicate instead that most aromatase-containing neurons of rats lie within the ventral pallidum ventromedially adjacent to the preoptic area. PMID- 2613942 TI - On the number of Purkinje cells in the human cerebellum: unbiased estimates obtained by using the "fractionator". AB - Stereological estimates of the numbers of Purkinje cell nucleoli in human cerebellar cortex have been obtained from systematic random samples of tissue by using the fractionator. The estimates are unbiased by fixation, section thickness, or sampling errors and are independent of any assumptions about cell shape, size, or spatial orientation. Twelve brains from aged subjects of both sexes were examined. The average complement of nucleoli in four female brains (age range 71-93 years) amounted to 14.8 millions (with an observed coefficient of variation between subjects of 29%). For three male brains (76-91 years), the corresponding estimates were 15.7 millions (10%). No significant sex differences were found for these small samples. Five brains of unknown sex and age yielded values of 15.8 millions (18%). For the twelve brains examined, the total number of Purkinje cell nucleoli per cerebellum was found to be 15.4 millions (19%). Estimated numbers showed a significant positive correlation with cerebellar weights. The number of nucleoli in an individual cerebellum was obtained with high precision in as short a time as 4 hours. PMID- 2613943 TI - Development of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity in relationship to the formation of neuromuscular junctions in Xenopus myotomal muscle. AB - Immunoreactivity (IR) to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has recently been found in chick motoneurons. Bath application of this peptide causes an increase in surface acetylcholine receptor (AChR) density and cAMP level in cultured chick muscle cells. These results suggest a role for this peptide in the formation of synaptic specializations. In this study, we examined the development of CGRP IR in larval Xenopus myotomal muscle in relation to synaptogenesis. Using an antiserum against CGRP, a monoclonal antibody against the p65 synaptic vesicle antigen and a fluorescence conjugate of alpha-bungarotoxin, we followed the development of synaptic specializations with fluorescence microscopy in whole mount specimens. We found that the postsynaptic specialization in the form of AChR clusters was first detected in stage 22 (24 hour) embryos. The presynaptic specializations, including the synaptic vesicle clusters as evidenced by p65 antibody staining and CGRP IR, were first detected at stage 32 (40 hours). The appearance of these two presynaptic specializations followed the same time course. Subsequently, all three structures, the AChR clusters, CGRP IR, and synaptic vesicle clusters, were colocalized at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). This shows that CGRP is unlikely to be involved in signaling the development of the postsynaptic apparatus. This premise is further examined in cultures of Xenopus myotomal muscle cells. CGRP at concentrations up to 1 microM did not affect the number of AChR clusters, nor did it interfere with the formation of clusters induced by polycation-coated beads. In contrast, an extract from the basement membrane of Torpedo electric organ promoted the formation of AChR clusters and interfered with the clustering activity of the beads. These results suggest that CGRP, an integral component of the presynaptic specialization, is not involved in signaling synaptogenesis at the NMJ. PMID- 2613944 TI - Ultrastructural localization of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the rat dentate gyrus. AB - Neurons containing somatostatin (SOM) are enriched in the dentate gyrus. We sought to establish the ultrastructural localization of this peptide in the dentate gyrus of the rat brain with a double-bridged peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method localizing antisera directed against somatostatin (SOM)-28 and SOM 28. Initial light microscopic observations confirmed that the majority of perikarya and thick varicose processes with intense SOM-like immunoreactivity (SOM-LI) were observed in the hilus. Fine varicose processes with SOM-LI were found throughout all layers of the dentate gyrus but were most intense in the outer third of the molecular layer (ML), where an occasional perikaryon with SOM LI was seen. By electron microscopy, SOM-LI was found in neuronal perikarya, dendrites, axons, and axon terminals. Two types of SOM-containing perikarya were observed. The first type was small (6-10 microns), round or avoid, and had a labeled cytoplasma with abundant Golgi complexes and a dense accumulation of PAP reaction product. The second type of perikarya was larger (11-16 microns) and had a more abundant cytoplasm than the first type, but the Golgi complexes did not appear labeled. Most (96% of 374) of the synapses on the SOM-labeled perikarya and dendrites were from terminals without SOM-LI which formed nearly equal proportions of asymmetric and symmetric junctions. The remainder of the presynaptic terminals contained SOM-LI and made primarily symmetric synapses. Synaptic junctions from both unlabeled and labeled terminals were primarily on the shafts of the small (0.5-1.5 microns) SOM-immunoreactive dendrites. The terminals with SOM-LI (0.25-1.3 microns) contained many small, clear vesicles and from zero to four large dense-core vesicles. Terminals with SOM-LI were associated 1) with one unlabeled perikaryon or dendrite (49% of 215 in the hilus; 76% of 326 in the ML); 2) with two unlabeled perikarya or dendrites simultaneously (5% hilus; 4% ML); and 3) with one SOM-containing perikaryon or dendrite (6% hilus; 3% ML). In all three types of associations, synaptic contacts on perikarya were few while the majority were with small (distal) dendrites. Moreover, most of the terminals with SOM-LI formed symmetric junctions or lacked membrane specializations but were without any apparent glial intervention in the plane of section analyzed. The remaining SOM-labeled terminals (40% hilus; 17% ML) were without any apparent synaptic relations. However, a few of these terminals were in direct apposition to other terminals, some of which were also SOM-immunoreactive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2613945 TI - Corticotropin-releasing factor immunoreactivity in monkey neocortex: an immunohistochemical analysis. AB - Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of certain human neuropsychiatric disorders that affect neocortical function. However, the anatomical organization of CRF-containing structures in the expanded and highly differentiated primate neocortex has not been previously described. In this study, the distribution of CRF-immunoreactive neurons and processes was characterized in the neocortex of New World squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). Substantial regional differences were present in the density, laminar distribution, and morphological appearance of CRF-immunoreactive neurons. The greatest density of labeled neurons was present in anterior cingulate cortex. A wide range of intermediate densities of CRF-immunoreactive neurons was evident in the association regions of the prefrontal, parietal, and temporal cortices. The lowest numbers of CRF-immunoreactive neurons were observed in the primary visual and primary motor cortices. For example, the density of labeled neurons was nearly five times greater in the anterior cingulate cortex than in the precentral cortex. CRF-immunoreactive neurons were also distributed in at least four different laminar patterns. For example, in the agranular anterior cingulate cortex, labeled cell bodies were distributed throughout layers II, III, and V. In other regions, such as the posterior cingulate cortex, labeled neurons were present in layers II, III, and IV. In contrast, labeled neurons were predominantly present in layers II and superficial III of the visual cortex, whereas in the inferior temporal cortex, they were present predominantly in layer IV. Regional and laminar differences were also present in the relative distributions of the two major morphological types (as defined by cell body shape) of CRF-immunoreactive neurons. Vertically oriented oval neurons, which frequently had a single dendritic process arising from each somal pole, were most frequently found in layer III. In contrast, the labeled neurons in layers II and IV tended to have a round- or triangular-shaped soma. In layer IV of some association cortices, these multipolar neurons were associated with a high density of rod-like structures composed of large immunoreactive varicosities clustered together in vertical arrays. These structures were frequently found to be located immediately below the soma of pyramidal neurons. Comparison of these findings with Golgi impregnation studies strongly suggests that CRF is present in the soma and axonal cartridges of a subset of chandelier neurons. The heterogeneous distribution and morphological diversity of CRF-containing neurons suggest that CRF may mediate distinct functions in different regions and layers of monkey neocortex. PMID- 2613946 TI - Neurofollicular hamartoma: a light microscopic and immunohistochemical study. AB - Neurofollicular hamartoma is an unusual, previously undescribed neoplasm characterized by a proliferation of spindle cells and hyperplastic pilosebaceous units. Five cases were reviewed. The lesions presented as single, asymptomatic, smooth, flesh-colored papules. Four were on the nose, and one on the adjacent nasolabial fold. Immunoperoxidase studies performed on two cases utilizing antibodies to S-100 antigen were positive in both. These lesions share some histological and clinical features with angiofibroma and neurofibroma. PMID- 2613947 TI - Histochemical differentiation of localized morphea-scleroderma and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. AB - Dermatologic literature has debated the occurrence of concomitant morphea scleroderma (M-S) and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) for sometime. Presentation of a case which has the appearance of both M-S and LSA creates a diagnostic dilemma frequently unresolved even by histopathology. Routine hematoxylin and eosin stained sections may add to the confusion and the difficulty of the differentiation, but examination for the presence or absence of elastic fibers in the upper corium of the lesions affords a definitive separation of these two conditions. PMID- 2613948 TI - Branchial cleft heterotopia of the lower neck. AB - A cutaneous ciliated structure from the lower neck of a 61-year-old man having seromucous, sebaceous and respiratory-type differentiation is reported. The finding of continuity between endodermal and ectodermal structures in the reported lesion suggests an origin from the branchial apparatus. Many lesions with similar appearance have been labeled bronchogenic though these, in fact, may have branchial origins. The term cutaneous bronchogenic cyst, implying an origin from the tracheobronchial tree, maybe misleading and should be reconsidered for those lesions with respiratory-type differentiation in the lower neck. PMID- 2613949 TI - Localized lipodystrophy with panniculitis: light and electron microscopic studies. AB - A 41-year-old woman with localized lipodystrophy histologically showed lymphohistiocytic inflammation within adipose tissue at the periphery and loss of adipose tissue in the center of the lesion. Ultrastructurally, various degrees of lipophagocytosis by macrophages and giant cells were seen, starting with the projection of cytoplasmic processes into the fat droplet and engulfing pieces of the fat droplet which finally were digested. Laboratory investigations revealed a high serum gamma-globulin level and a positive antinuclear antibody, suggestive of a connective tissue disease or autoimmune disease. PMID- 2613950 TI - Oral melanoacanthoma with prominent spongiotic intraepithelial vesicles. AB - Oral melanoacanthoma is a rarely-reported, benign pigmented lesion of oral mucosa. Spongiosis was only recently mentioned as a light-microscopical finding occasionally seen in oral melanoacanthoma, and the formation of spongiotic intraepithelial vesicles to our knowledge has never been reported. The authors discuss a case of a 34-year-old, black woman who acutely developed extensive hyperpigmented oral lesions which on the biopsy showed both intraepithelial dendritic melanocytes and severe spongiosis forming intraepithelial vesicles. These lesions resolved spontaneously in a few months which led the authors to believe that the term melanoacanthoma, implying that it is a tumor, is a misnomer. This report supports findings of other investigators who consider oral melanoacanthoma to be a mucositis with unusual proliferation of dendritic melanocytes in the epidermis. PMID- 2613951 TI - Histopathological study of transient acrodermatitis enteropathica due to decreased zinc in breast milk. AB - Two children, one born prematurely and the other born at full term developed acrodermatitis enteropathica due to marginal or low levels of zinc in their mothers' breast milk. Skin from both patients was studied with light and electron microscopy. The most characteristic light microscopic features were parakeratosis, absence of the granular layer, and pallor of the upper epidermal cells. Normal flattening of the upper Malphighian cells did not occur. Electron microscopic examination revealed that keratohyalin was decreased to absent, and the upper malpighian cells were edematous with vacuoles and large numbers of ribosomes, but small numbers of tonofilaments. Large amounts of keratinosome derived-lamellae were found in the intercellular spaces in the keratinization area. The keratinosome-derived-lamellae were focally intermingled with opaque lipid plaques or myelin figures, probably derived from keratinosomes. The electron microscopic findings show abnormal keratinization and suggest that it is related to a disturbance of keratinosome metabolism due to zinc deficiency. PMID- 2613952 TI - An investigation into the assertive behaviour of trained nurses in general hospital settings. AB - Nurses are often considered to be lacking in assertive skills. This exploratory study compares the assertive behaviour of trained nurses at work and in general life situations. Questionnaire and interview techniques are used to investigate the behaviour of a small sample of sisters, staff nurses and enrolled nurses in general hospital settings. Trained nurses are found to be less assertive at work than in general life situations. In the work situation sisters are more assertive than staff nurses. The enrolled nurses are the least assertive of the trained nurses. The complex nature of assertive behaviour becomes apparent. Factors which promote assertiveness at work include knowledge, confidence, experience and the wearing of uniform. Factors which inhibit this behaviour are tradition, training and the hierarchical structure within the hospital. The use of assertiveness tends to be situation specific. Assertiveness is viewed as a positive behaviour and is of value to nurses, but there are mixed feelings about the usefulness of assertiveness training. PMID- 2613953 TI - Some ambiguities of the student's role in undergraduate nurse training. AB - Proposed changes in the way in which nurses are educated and trained will lead to stronger links between the academic and practical worlds of nursing. However, little or no attention has been focused on the potential difficulties associated with such a move for the student in this new and changing role. Important ambiguities of the student's role need to be addressed if the degree nursing student is to make the most of available opportunities for learning. In this paper we draw a distinction between two kinds of ambiguity in the role of nursing degree student during clinical placements. The first type is essential to the very nature of degree education in nursing, since the ambiguities here all entail problems in bridging the gap between the world of practical nursing and that of education. They include whether he or she is to regard the role as one of learner or producer of work; whether to become unreflectively acculturated to the organization or to reflect on its norms and values; and the student function within the organization. A second kind of ambiguity is not essential to nurse education, but is an unintended consequence of placement arrangements. The student is thrust into the clinical field as a short-term member of an organization; their position is anomalous and the motive for their involvement is largely different from that of permanent employees. These ambiguities of the role are also the source of important learning opportunities. PMID- 2613954 TI - Critical appraisal of the Scottish registered mental nurse training programme in relation to the care of the person with affective disorder. AB - The preparation of the registered mental nurse (RMN) student to care for people with affective disorder was examined in two studies involving the training programme of the National Board for Scotland. In the first study, the sample curriculum, which was prepared in 1978 and which represents the rudimentary basis of the present eight modules of training, was analysed by the author. In the second study, examination questions citing affective disorder were drawn from the final examination papers of the years 1976-1985. These were analysed by the author to isolate their 'key characteristics'. The same questions were subsequently analysed by a panel of judges to identify their ideological orientation, in terms of accepted models of mental disorder. Both studies suggested that students were prepared to fulfil a subordinate role. The content of the outline syllabus from 1978 emphasized the preparation of the nurse to support medical staff through 'medical-expressive' forms of care. Specific reference to non-medical care was distinguished by a lack of definition and a simplistic attitude towards assessment and care-planning. The examination questions also favoured a clinical-somatic, or medical, orientation to care, over any other discrete form of psychosocial nursing. The past decade has been distinguished by interest in individualized care, psychosocial and person-centred models of nursing practice. These approaches to care appear to have much to offer the care of people with affective disorder. These studies question the extent to which such an interest exerts influence over the syllabus and examination system. PMID- 2613955 TI - Preventive behaviour: attitudes and compliance of nursing students. AB - As a professional, the nurse is called upon to serve as a role model for positive health behaviours. Because the practise of these behaviours may effect one's effectiveness as a role model, it is important to determine whether nurses lead a so-called preventive lifestyle and to identify what factors are predictive of compliance. Previous researchers have tended to examine individual behaviours. In this study, a prevention index was used to examine an overall preventive lifestyle. For a sample of senior year nursing students, the preventive behaviours were considered to be important. However, when compared to a national sample of females in the same age range, nursing students were found to be significantly less compliant for 12 of 19 behaviours and more compliant for only three behaviours. Both the desire to practise preventive behaviours and the perceived difficulty in doing so were the factors predictive of the level of compliance. Additional study is needed to determine how these factors can be mediated. PMID- 2613956 TI - Changes in national child health care policies and their effects on the public health nurse's work in child health care in Finland. AB - The purpose of this study was to clarify the public health nurse's work and decision-making process in child health care during the years 1976-1986. The first study was carried out in 1976 and a subsequent one in 1986. The population of both studies consisted of public health nurses working in child health care centres. During these years many reforms were implemented in national child health care policy. According to the results of the 1986 study the public health nurses used the decision-making process, as a whole, better than in the study of 1976. The content of the health care they provided had become more varied. PMID- 2613957 TI - A comparison of nurses' and patients' perceptions of intensive care unit stressors. AB - This study was designed to compare intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' and patients' perceptions of the stressfulness of items in the environment for patients in an ICU. The sample consisted of 20 ICU patients and 23 registered nurses employed in the medical and surgical ICUs at a large midwestern university hospital. The patients were contacted 1 to 2 days after transfer from an ICU and asked to complete the Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressor Scale (ICUESS), a Likert-type questionnaire designed to measure the stressfulness of commonly occurring items in the ICU environment. The nurses were asked to complete the same questionnaire as they believed an ICU patient would complete it. They were asked to complete the questionnaire after the completion of a shift worked in an ICU. A series of one-way ANOVAs were done to compare the patients' and nurses' responses. In every comparison, nurses rated the items as being significantly more stressful than did the patients. Items with the highest mean ratings by patients were: (1) having tubes in your nose or mouth; (2) being stuck with needles; (3) being in pain; (4) not being able to sleep; and (5) being thirsty. Patients and nurses also were asked to list the three most stressful items from the ICUESS. These responses were compared using chi-square tests for homogeneity. Nurses mentioned 'being tied down by tubes' and 'not being in control of oneself' significantly more times than did patients. The items 'being in pain', 'having tubes in your nose or mouth', and 'not being able to sleep' were listed most often by both nurses and patients. PMID- 2613958 TI - Primary health care in public health nursing. AB - Despite similarities between the goals of primary health care and public health nursing, several obstacles stand in the way of public health nursing's ability to perform its role in achieving an acceptable level of health for all by the year 2000. The purpose of this paper is to describe the essential components of primary health care and public health nursing, discuss obstacles in the way of public health nursing fulfilling its primary health care role, and to pose solutions at the levels of education, practice, and research for overcoming these obstacles. PMID- 2613959 TI - Mothers' working models of infant feeding: description and influencing factors. AB - This study examined four aspects of mothers' working models of infant feeding: (1) infant behaviour that cues feeding decisions; (2) infant self-regulative behaviour; (3) importance of infant self-regulative behaviour and maternal effort directed to it; and (4) maternal effort and value given to task-oriented and efficient feeding. The relation of these aspects to maternal experience, age, formal education, family income, and feeding method was also explored. Subjects were 122 mothers of healthy, term infants between 14 and 60 days old. A telephone interview obtained demographic and attribute data and assessed the four aspects with 30 scaled items. Crying before and sleepiness during feeding were relatively compelling cues for maternal action. Most mothers gave only moderate ratings to the importance of infant self-regulative behaviour and to task-oriented and efficient feeding. Parity and feeding method affected response to specific items, with primiparae more concerned about length and regularity of feedings. Mothers who bottle-fed their infants were more concerned about maintaining a feeding once initiated than mothers who breast-fed their infants. Four-factor analysis yielded two item clusters with good internal consistency: Cluster a. Maternal Effort to Accomplish Feeding Goals; and Cluster b. Importance of Infant Self-Regulative Behaviour. Cluster a. and b. were strongly correlated. Feeding method influenced both clusters, and the interaction of parity and feeding method had an effect on Cluster a. Mothers with lower family income had higher scores on Cluster b; multiparae with lower family income on Cluster a. How and when infant self regulation develops as a goal is a question in need of study. PMID- 2613960 TI - The Verbal Protocol: a research technique for nursing. AB - This paper discusses the Verbal Protocol technique as presently used in the fields of psychology and computer sciences. It proposes that the technique is an appropriate design tool for studying clinical reasoning in many nursing contexts. An example is given, taken from a pilot study of a larger research project, of the use of the technique to demonstrate the nurse's thinking while assessing patient problems. Results show that the Verbal Protocol technique can reveal useful information concerning problem diagnosis in nursing and has the potential for further research into the cognitive behaviour underlying other stages of the nursing process. PMID- 2613961 TI - Nursing practitioners, researchers, teachers and managers all have the same goal. PMID- 2613962 TI - The competencies expected of first-line nursing managers--an Australian context. AB - The purpose of this State-wide study was to identify the most important competencies expected of first-line nursing managers. A list of 168 competencies was compiled from the literature and submitted to a panel of 16 expert nursing administrators and academics whose task it was to identify and rank in order the 20 most important of these. PMID- 2613963 TI - What is past is prologue. PMID- 2613964 TI - 'My teacher'. A title of honor and exalted status. PMID- 2613965 TI - Premature labor: a perinatal dilemma. PMID- 2613966 TI - Linking nursing service and education for student scholarships. PMID- 2613967 TI - Real nursing. PMID- 2613968 TI - Quality of care: another look. PMID- 2613969 TI - Research and policy formation: is there a fit? PMID- 2613970 TI - How well is nursing coping with the balancing act? PMID- 2613971 TI - Type and expectations of faculty. PMID- 2613972 TI - Components needed to support graduate education. PMID- 2613973 TI - Differences between the professional doctorate and the academic/research doctorate. PMID- 2613974 TI - Issues in doctoral education in nursing. AB - In this article, I have traced some of the evolutionary threads that have contributed to current patterns of doctoral education in nursing. Although current programs may differ in the title of the degree offered, all are structured as research doctoral programs. Because they try to be all things to all people, they fail to prepare either competent researchers or applied practitioners. Cluttered with too much general content and not enough content specific to the particular career track of the student, they fail to provide an adequate foundation for future career pathways. As a result, preparation of leaders for academic and administrative roles, clinical teachers, practitioners, and researchers is limited. Nursing has a vital contribution to make to the health of the American people. To do so we must ensure that our researchers are providing a substantive knowledge base for the field, that our leaders in academic and practice fields have a solid knowledge base of nursing coupled with administrative preparation and applied research skills, and that our clinical teachers and practitioners are skilled in their clinical specialties and in applied research in their fields. Finally, we need expert practitioners who deliver and manage truly comprehensive, quality health care services for persons in all stages of the health-illness continuum. PMID- 2613975 TI - Nursing: a profession to celebrate. PMID- 2613976 TI - Postdoctoral leadership training for women of color. AB - The American Nurses' Association Registered Nurse Fellowship and Clinical Fellowship Programs for Ethnic/Racial Minorities support doctoral studies for nurses in mental health care delivery systems. The need for postdoctoral leadership and management training to help women of color achieve top-level positions in the mental health field was addressed through the Kellogg Leadership Program for Women of Color in Mental Health. This program provided a series of seminars covering topics such as time management, assertiveness training, fiscal analysis, research, leadership, networking, marketing, and stress management. Fifty-nine fellows participated in this program from 1986 to 1988. Techniques for evaluating the program and the results of these evaluations are described. PMID- 2613977 TI - Academic misconduct: considerations for educational administrators. AB - Academic misconduct entails fraudulent behavior involving some form of deception whereby one's work or the work of others is misrepresented. Recently much attention has been paid to the problem of academic misconduct, and concern has been expressed that academic institutions have been slow to act and ineffective in policing themselves. Academic administrators have a responsibility to involve themselves in developing and implementing policies and procedures for handling allegations of misconduct. General principles and an outline of the stages of the investigational process are described, as are sources of information about developing institutional guidelines. Additionally, administrators are encouraged to examine their institutional practices for factors that may contribute to misconduct in an effort to develop norms and practices to help prevent misconduct, which undermines the basic integrity of academic institutions. PMID- 2613978 TI - Advice to a young scientist--regardless of age. PMID- 2613979 TI - Tort reform. PMID- 2613980 TI - Comfort and presence. PMID- 2613981 TI - And the beat goes on. PMID- 2613982 TI - The cursor is blinking. PMID- 2613983 TI - Economic issues and nursing scholarship. PMID- 2613984 TI - Is survival dependent on success in the competition for extramural dollars? PMID- 2613985 TI - Foreign nurse recruitment: conflicts and concerns. PMID- 2613986 TI - Health as artifact. PMID- 2613987 TI - Nursing in action: nurses' influence in research and health policy development. PMID- 2613988 TI - Evolution of nursing: its influence and commitment in the social development of Colombia. PMID- 2613989 TI - Creating an administrative structure to support faculty governance: a participatory process. AB - Change in academic units is essential but challenging to new deans. This article describes principles of change applied to academic departments in general and a specific description of how one well-established academic unit in nursing changed its administrative structure. The goal of the dean in creating a new structure was to facilitate faculty governance. The process used was one of faculty participation and involvement in decision making. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the new structure provided support for how well it was working and suggestions for refinement. The entire process and the reflection on how and when to make changes when one is new to the position of dean will provide insight for others in similar positions. PMID- 2613990 TI - Developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome policies for schools of nursing: a practical guide. AB - Estimates based on national surveys reveal that many National League for Nursing schools of nursing do not yet have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome policies in place. Schools without such policies cannot afford to delay in developing them. This article calls upon the deans and directors of the nation's schools of nursing to create task forces to deal with policy formulation and to equip them with the resources needed to accomplish their task. Administrators are encouraged to select task force members based on their unbiased attitudes toward antibody positive individuals as well as their infection control, legal, and ethical expertise. Guidelines for the policy statement itself include suggestions for consistency with the parent institution's policies, regular policy review, consistency with recent antidiscriminatory judicial interpretations, statements on antibody screening of prospective or current students and faculty members, reasonable safety of students and faculty members in clinical settings, and assurance of complete confidentiality for antibody-positive students, faculty members, and staff members. PMID- 2613991 TI - Automated visual fields: what do they mean? PMID- 2613992 TI - Visual field assessment. PMID- 2613993 TI - Incomitant ocular deviations. PMID- 2613994 TI - Transient visual field loss secondary to migraine. AB - Migraine is responsible for a variety of monocular and binocular transient visual field phenomena. These disturbances can mimic symptoms of serious neurologic disease. This paper presents three cases of transient migrainous vision loss and highlights current knowledge regarding migraine. Conditions to be considered in the differential diagnosis of transient field loss are also reviewed. PMID- 2613995 TI - Neurological visual fields. AB - Neurological visual field defects represent lesions to the visual pathway, some of which may be life-threatening. It is, therefore, crucial that optometrists understand how to diagnose these lesions, so they may know when, and to whom to refer the patient. The following cases illustrate the management of patients with lesions to the prechiasmal, chiasmal, and postchiasmal visual pathway. PMID- 2613996 TI - Pituitary adenoma: diagnosis and management. AB - This article is a review and update on pituitary adenomas and their effects on the visual system. Current diagnostic characteristics and tests of importance to the optometrist are highlighted. Major clinical manifestations of pituitary adenomas during various parts of the visual examination are discussed. Neuroradiologic testing and treatment modalities are also briefly covered. Finally, a case report illustrates how routine optometric care can lead to diagnosis of pituitary adenoma in a visually asymptomatic patient. This case underscores the importance of investigating every case of unexplained vision loss. PMID- 2613997 TI - Legal aspects of visual field assessment. AB - Visual field testing can fail to satisfy the standard of care if the optometrist does not test the patient's visual field when it is necessary, and if, even when testing is performed, it is of insufficient sensitivity. In general, the duty to test the visual field arises when examining symptomatic patients and when a suspicious finding is encountered, but "routine" eye health assessments should include a screening visual field test. In some cases the doctrine of informed consent will require the optometrist to inform the patient that testing of the visual field at threshold should be performed. Documentation of both test results and patient communications should be retained in the record. PMID- 2613998 TI - Evaluation of the developmental toxicity of five compounds with the frog embryo teratogenesis assay: Xenopus (FETAX) and a metabolic activation system. AB - The potential teratogenic hazard of five compounds was evaluated using the Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay--Xenopus (FETAX) and a metabolic activation system. Embryos of the South African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, were exposed to (i) three compounds suspected to be proteratogenic in mammalian test systems--[2 acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), rifampicin (RA) and benzo[a]pyrene (BP)] for 96 h; (ii) one compound unaffected by mixed-functional oxidase (MFO) metabolism--ZnSO4; (iii) one compound thought to be inactivated by cytochrome P-450--cytochalasin D (CD). Two separate static renewal tests were conducted with and without the presence of an exogenous metabolic activation system (MAS). The metabolic activation system consisted of Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver microsomes. The teratogenic potential of each compound and the effects of metabolic activation were based on teratogenic indices [TI = 96 h LC50/96 h EC50 (malformation)], types and severity of malformation, and effects on embryo growth. Metabolic activation increased the potential teratogenic hazard of 2-AAF, RA and BP by TI factors of 1.3, 2.8 and 6.8, respectively. The teratogenic potential of ZnSO4 was virtually unaffected by the MAS. The MAS significantly reduced the teratogenic potential of CD by a TI factor of 2.7. These results demonstrate the utility and importance of a MAS for in vitro developmental toxicity screens such as FETAX. Consistent use of a MAS with FETAX should reduce the number of potential false positive and false-negative test results. PMID- 2613999 TI - Effects of short-term and long-term administration of amiodarone on hepatobiliary function in male rats. AB - Functional, biochemical and histological parameters of hepatotoxicity were assessed in male Sprague-Dawley rats receiving amiodarone (Am) short-term by gavage (5, 50, 150 and 500 mg Am kg-1 day-1, 10 days) or dietary exposure (50 ppm, 1500 ppm, 4-week duration), or by long-term dietary exposure (50 ppm, 8 month duration). Serum enzyme (ALT, AST, ICD) levels and histopathological examination indicated no observable evidence of toxicity among rats of any of the treatment groups. Reduced food intake and reduction in weight gain was observed for rats exposed short-term to 1500 ppm dietary Am. Assessment of hepatobiliary function in treated rats indicated that short-term and long-term dietary exposure to Am resulted in a compromised excretion of readily excretable phenolphthalein glucuronide (PG), although inanition may account for this effect in the 1500 ppm group. Rats receiving Am by gavage exhibited a reduction in biliary excretion of PG, which was not dose-dependent. Distribution of Am and its major metabolite, desethylamiodarone, was similar to previous reports wherein both compounds accumulated in adipose, lung and liver tissue. These data suggest that minor alterations of hepatobiliary function occur in the absence of histological alterations and may preceed biochemical changes, as assessed in this study. PMID- 2614000 TI - Evaluation of the teratogenic potential of the rubber accelerator dibenzthiazyl disulphide in rats. AB - The teratogenic potential of dibenzthiazyl disulphide (MBTS) was studied in Wistar rats. Pregnant rats were given MBTS at a dosage of 0, 0.04, 0.2 or 1% in the diet from day 0 to day 20 of pregnancy. Daily intakes of MBTS were 26 mg kg-1 for the 0.04% group, 127 mg kg-1 for the 0.2% group and 596 mg kg-1 for the 1% group. Maternal body weight gain during day 0 to day 14 of pregnancy in the 1% group was significantly lowered, but no significant changes induced by MBTS were observed in any other maternal parameters, such as food consumption and clinical sign of toxicity. There were no significant compound-related effects on the incidences of pre- and postimplantation losses and the number, sex ratio and body weight of live fetuses. Morphological examinations of the fetuses revealed no evidence of teratogenesis. In the postnatal development of the offspring from the dams given MBTS, a high survival rate and good growth of the offspring were seen. It could be concluded that MBTS possesses no adverse effects on the pre- and postnatal development of the offspring in rats at the doses employed in the present study. PMID- 2614001 TI - Studies on some kinetic parameters of aldolases in selected tissues of the freshwater fish (Tilapia mossambica) under the toxic impact of methyl parathion. AB - Kinetic parameters of aldolases in muscle, gill, liver and brain tissues of the teleost Tilapia mossambica were studied at sublethal concentrations with methyl parathion (MP). The pH activity profiles were optimal at pH 7.0 and 9.0 in gill, liver and brain tissues, whereas only a single peak at pH 7.0 was observed in muscle tissue of both control and MP-exposed fish. The pH 7.0-specific peak was confirmed as aldolase A and the pH 9.0-specific peak represents the tissue specific aldolases: aldolase B in liver, aldolase C in brain and aldolase B-C in gill. It is further confirmed with the inhibitor sensitivity of aldolases at two peaks with 6 x 10(-3) M ATP or AMP. The pH-based substrate-dependent kinetics of aldolases showed a variable trend. The tissue-specific activity of pH 7.0 specific aldolases showed low Km values for gill followed by muscle, liver and brain tissues, suggestive of its high enzyme-substrate affinity. During MP exposure, the Vmax values of pH 7.0-specific aldolases in muscle, gill and brain were unchanged compared to controls, but Km values were decreased. The pH 9.0 specific aldolases of gill and liver from MP-exposed fish showed decreased Km values with a slight increase in Vmax values. Effectors such as lysine, arginine and Ca2+ inhibited, while histidine, cysteine, aspartic acid and alpha ketoglutaric acid elevated the activity levels of aldolases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614002 TI - Determination of fluorescent probes localization in membranes by nonradiative energy transfer. AB - One of the new methods of studying the structure and dimensions of biological membranes is based on the Forster's nonradiative energy transfer between special molecules, the so-called 'membrane fluorescent probes'. Further development of the approach is presented in this article. It consists of the combined use of the time-resolved and steady-state fluorescence data with subsequent computer simulation of the energy transfer in membranes. Anthracene as an energy donor, and 4-p-(dimethylamino)styryl-N-dodecylpyridinium (DSP-12) or 4 dimethylaminochalcone (DMC) as energy acceptors were bound with artificial phospholipid membrane vesicles ('liposomes'). The synchrotron radiation was used as an impulse source for the excitation light. The steady-state fluorescence data permit the area of possible probe localization in membranes to be distinguished, while the kinetic data allow them to be narrowed significantly. There is a good agreement between the obtained localization and our present-day knowledge of lipid bilayer structure. The accuracy of the method is ca. several Angstroms. PMID- 2614003 TI - Affinity chromatographic purification of serum retinol-binding protein using 4 substituted aminoretinoids. AB - Retinol-binding protein has been purified from rabbit serum by a new affinity chromatographic phase. Human retinol-binding protein has been shown to bind with vitamin A derivatives and certain other terpenoids. Consequently, this affinity method is based upon the ability of the protein to reversibly bind to beta-ionone and employs a derivatized affinity ligand while preserving the integrity of the beta-ionone molecule via substitution of the allylic 4-position. Purification is relatively simple when compared with other known methods and the yield from serum is similar to other schemes. The protein is obtained in the apo-form and retains the ability of the native protein to bind retinol. PMID- 2614004 TI - Determination of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase isoenzymes of human erythrocytes by a thin-layer PAG-IEF procedure. AB - A procedure of thin-layer PAG-IEF was employed to separate glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) isoenzymes of human erythrocytes into 15-16 bands in a pH range between 4.7 and 6.5. The G6PD isoenzymes were scanned with a dual wavelength thin-layer chromatoscanner and the relative enzyme content of each band was calculated. The method possesses the merits of simplicity, high sensitivity, rapidity and high reproducibility. PMID- 2614005 TI - Electroacoustic fusion of millilitre volumes of cells in physiological medium. AB - A technique is described in which erythrocytes suspended in 1.1 ml of 145 mM NaCl, have been fused by electrofusion. The cells in suspension were brought into close contact by setting up a 3 MHz ultrasonic standing wave in a cylindrical cell container. The aluminium foil base of the container served both to transmit ultrasound and as an electrode for electrofusion. The electric pulse was generated by a capacitor discharge system. The electric field strength required to fuse cells increased as the ionic strength of the cell suspending phase increased. Cells in physiological saline fused at an electric field strength of 7.3 kV/cm with a 50 microseconds pulse. PMID- 2614006 TI - Immunological aspects of Graves' disease patients in different clinical stages. AB - Humoral immunological differences and the relation between circulating immune complexes (CIC) and the thyrotropin-receptor antibody (TRAB) were evaluated in newly diagnosed (n = 30), relapsed (n = 27) and remission patients (n = 29) with Graves' disease. CIC were assessed by C1q-binding assay (CIC-C1q) and the PEG precipitation test (CIC-PEG); TRAb by the radioreceptor method and microsomal antibody (MAb) by passive hemagglutination test. The data were expressed as mean +/- SE. No difference was observed in the CIC-C1q among newly diagnosed, relapsed and remission patients, but they were elevated vs controls (p less than 0.01, less than 0.05, less than 0.05, respectively). In newly diagnosed subjects with positive TRAb, CIC were higher than in those with negative TRAb (p less than 0.05) and also higher than in relapsed patients with positive TRAb (p less than 0.05). In newly diagnosed group CIC-C1q correlated to TRAb presence but not to TRAb values. CIC-PEG and TRAb levels were similar in newly diagnosed and relapsed patients, being higher than in controls (p less than 0.01) and in remission patients (p less than 0.01). No significant differences were observed in MAb in any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: i) Patients in remission were immunologically active and they differed from newly diagnosed and relapsed patients by CIC-PEG and TRAb values; ii) in hyperthyroid patients with positive TRAb, CIC-C1q were higher at the initial stage of the disease; iii) A direct correlation between CIC C1q and TRAb presence was observed in newly diagnosed patients, but no relation could be seen in the other groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614007 TI - Circadian and pulsatile thyrotropin release in treated acromegalics. AB - We studied the 24-h TSH profiles of 16 treated male acromegalic patients (age range 26-68 yr) in clinical and biochemical remission. Eight had undergone transsphenoidal surgery, the others surgery and pituitary irradiation. Blood samples were taken at 20-min intervals; circadian rhythms were established by cosinor analysis, pulsatile release with the Cluster programme. All patients, except one irradiated subject, were euthyroid. TSH reserve was diminished preoperatively in 7 subjects and at the time of the profile study in 10 subjects, one of whom was biochemically hypothyroid. A significant circadian rhythm was present in 14 subjects and absent in the hypothyroid patient. The acrophase occurred at 2.46 +/- 0.51 h in nonirradiated patients and at 3.37 +/- 0.38 h in irradiated patients (NS). About 10 TSH pulses/24 h (range 6-13) were detected; there was no significant difference between irradiated and non-irradiated patients. With cross-correlation techniques synchronous release of TSH and PRL was demonstrated in 7 out of 8 nonirradiated patients in contrast to only 2 of the irradiated patients. This study demonstrates a qualitatively normal TSH secretion pattern for treated acromegalic patients, but the absolute TSH levels are clearly low compared with published data on normal subjects. The present findings can be explained by a diminished TSH cell mass; in addition radiation therapy causes a disturbance at the hypothalamic level, as indicated by the loss of synchronism between TSH and PRL release. PMID- 2614008 TI - Calcitonin gene-related peptide: endocrine distribution and characterization of circulating forms. AB - This study reports the application of a highly sensitive and specific extraction based radioimmunoassay for determining levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in endocrine tissues and plasma of normal rats. In addition, we have characterized the immunoreactive material found in plasma using gel filtration and high performance liquid chromatography. The CGRP content of the thyroid was 100- to 1000-fold higher than that of the adrenals, pituitary or pancreas, while the gonads and kidneys contained appreciably smaller amounts of CGRP. There was no age- and sex-related difference in tissue content, with the exception of a subgroup of 450 g rats. These had a significantly raised thyroidal CGRP content compared to other rats of the same group. A significant correlation between thyroidal content and plasma levels was noted only in old (450 g) rats. CGRP-like immunoreactivity in plasma pooled from young adult (150 g) rats was found to be heterogeneous. Only 8% of the total immunoreactivity recovered from a Sephadex G50 column was found to coelute with synthetic rat CGRP when freeze-dried plasma was chromatographed and a significantly greater proportion (approximately 67%) eluted in the void volume. The void volume peak was markedly reduced when acid methanol extracts of plasma were chromatographed under similar conditions. A major proportion of the immunoreactive material co-eluting with synthetic CGRP on gel filtration was also found to elute at a position corresponding to the monomer on HPLC: this was consistent with, though not proof of, structural identity. PMID- 2614009 TI - Somatomammotrophic cells in GH-secreting and PRL-secreting human pituitary adenomas. AB - A morphological study has been carried out on 20 GH-secreting adenomas removed from acromegalic normoprolactinemic patients, on 29 PRL-secreting adenomas removed from hyperprolactinemic patients without signs of acromegaly and on one normal human anterior pituitary gland collected at autopsy. The protein A-gold immunoelectron microscopic technique has been utilized in order to verify the presence of mixed cells producing both GH and PRL (somatomammotrophs) in these pituitary tissues. In the normal pituitary a considerable number of somatomammotrophs (15-20%) was found, thus supporting the idea that these cells are normal components of the human anterior pituitary gland. In 10 GH-secreting adenomas and in 10 PRL-secreting adenomas somatomammotrophs were present in a variable number (from 4 to 20% of the whole cell population in GH adenomas and from 1 to 47% in PRL tumors). It can be concluded therefore that these cells, largely present in all GH/PRL-secreting adenomas, can also be found in GH secreting and PRL-secreting tumors without clinical evidence of a mixed secretion. Adenomatous somatomammotrophs displayed ultrastructural features of adenomatous somatotrophs and mammotrophs (prominent Golgi complexes, abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, irregular nuclei). The size and the number of granules were variable. In some cells GH and PRL were stored in distinct secretory granules, in others in mixed granules or both in mixed and distinct granules, thus suggesting that in adenomatous somatomammotrophs the efficiency of the mechanisms of sorting of the two hormones varies from one cell to another.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614010 TI - Diabetes insipidus with spontaneous remission. AB - Pathogenesis of idiopathic diabetes insipidus is unknown and the clinical course of the disease is permanent. However, we observed one patient who was diagnosed of idiopathic diabetes insipidus spontaneously reverted after approximately 13 months. The cause and pathogenesis of the disease were not evident. However, some reversible abnormalities should have been encountered in the hypothalamic neurohypophyseal system. It is suggested that some unknown reversible impairments of the supraopticohypophyseal tract can cause diabetes insipidus. This case represents a well-documented description of idiopathic diabetes insipidus with spontaneous remission. PMID- 2614011 TI - Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to combined 21- and 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency. AB - A 26-day-old male was evaluated because on routine follow-up visit his weight was noted to be 3292 g which was not a significant weight gain over his birth weight of 3178 g. His serum electrolytes (NA 107 meq/1, K 8.0 meq/1, Cl 82 meq/1, and HCO2 12 meq/1) were abnormal, urine Na concentration (68 meq/1) was high, and his serum concentrations of 21-deoxycortisol 10, 113 ng/dl (normal 1.2-13), 11 deoxycortisol 15,000 ng/dl (normal 50-250), and 11-deoxycorticosterone 148 ng/dl (normal 2-13) were markedly elevated. Patients having increased levels of the three indicated steroids are diagnosed as having combined 21- and 11 beta hydroxylase deficiency. On glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement therapy his electrolytes returned to normal and his weight increased 428 g by the 10th day post initiation of therapy. We hypothesize that the elevated steroid pattern designated as combined 21- and 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency could result from extraadrenal conversion of 17-hydroprogesterone to 11-deoxycortisol and progesterone to 11-deoxycorticosterone in subjects with adrenal 21 hydroxylase deficiency. PMID- 2614012 TI - More on smoking habits and Graves' ophthalmopathy. AB - Since a relationship between cigarette smoking and the occurrence of Graves' ophthalmopathy has been recently postulated, we reviewed the smoking habits of 1730 women, including subjects without thyroid disease, with nontoxic goiter (NTG), toxic nodular goiter or toxic adenoma (TNG), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), Graves' disease without ophthalmopathy (GD) or with ophthalmopathy (GO). The prevalence of smokers in NTG, TNG and HT was about 30%, not different from that of controls. Smokers were 47.9% in GD and 64.2% in GO groups. The latter figures were highly different from those of the other groups and also from each other. The percentage of heavy smokers was higher in patients with more severe ophthalmopathy. No clear explanation for this phenomenon can be offered. The absence of a high prevalence of smokers among patients with non-toxic goiter, nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, limits the impact that smoking might have had in the pathogenesis of goiter, hyperthyroidism and autoimmune phenomena of GD and GO. PMID- 2614013 TI - Enhanced thyroxine metabolism in hexachlorobenzene-intoxicated rats. AB - The effect of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (1 g/kg bw) administration for 4 weeks, on thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) metabolism was studied in Wistar rats. The effect on serum binding of T4 has also been studied. Animals were injected with a tracer dose of either labeled hormone and by examining serum L-125I-T4 and L-125-I-T3, kinetics of radiolabeled hormones metabolism were calculated. The T4 metabolic clearance (MCI) as well as the distribution space, were increased by 6 fold. Decreased serum T4 levels result from an increase both in deiodinative and fecal disposal in HCB-treated rats. 125I-T3 metabolism was slightly affected. The enhanced peripheral disposition of thyroxine appears to lead to increased thyroid function, as measured by augmented TSH serum levels and 125I-thyroidal uptake. Serum binding of T4 was not affected. PMID- 2614014 TI - Norepinephrine and TSH: effects on thyroidal radioiodine and thyroxine release. AB - Norepinephrine (NE) failed to increase thyroid hormone release in mice when endogenous TSH secretion had been greatly reduced by a variety of means. This was demonstrated by radioiodine release in mice pretreated with 131I and with thyroxine (T4) or 3,5,3' triiodothyronine (T3). by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in mice pretreated with 131I and T3, and in mice which had been hypophysectomized, or where TSH secretion had been decreased by prolonged administration of exogenous TSH. T4 could not be measured by RIA in mice pretreated with T4. PMID- 2614015 TI - The impact of 25 years of iodine prophylaxis on the adult thyroid weight in Finland. AB - The effect of iodine prophylaxis on endemic goiter was studied in an adult Finnish population by comparing autopsy records from 1959 and 1984. In the 1950's the iodine intake calculated both from urinary excretion of stable iodine and from food analysis data was 50-70 micrograms per day the intake being lower in the main endemic area in the eastern part of the country. The use of iodized salt raised these figures only by 15 micrograms per day. At the beginning of the 1980's the iodine intake calculated in the same way was around 300 micrograms per day all over the country. Initially 696 records from 1959 and 525 from 1984 were analyzed. Excluded were cases with primary or secondary malignant thyroid tumors, autopsies with incompletely recorded thyroid weight, and autopsies from patients submitted to pituitary or thyroid surgery or radiation therapy. Finally, 318 cases from 1959 and 478 from 1984 were accepted. A significant decrease in thyroid weight from a mean of 44 to a mean of 34 g was observed. The difference between the two populations was most marked in the age groups below 45 yr. In these age groups the mean thyroid weight was about 20-27 g which can be regarded as normal. In the age groups over 75 years there were no significant differences. These data indicate that the iodine prophylaxis gradually eradicates the endemic goiter in Finland but that it requires still some 25-35 yr before it has disappeared also in the oldest age groups. PMID- 2614016 TI - Reverse T3 changes during protein supplemented diets. Relation to nutrient combustion rates. AB - In an attempt to explain reverse T3 changes during protein supplemented semistarvation, reverse T3 (rT3) and T3 changes have been evaluated in regard of bw changes and changes of nutrient combustion. Significant (p less than 0.001) bw and body mass decrease was characterized by a significant (p less than 0.01) increase in rT3 levels, whereas no significant decrease of T3 could be found. During semistarvation carbohydrate combustion decreased from 34 to 13% where lipid combustion rate increased from 51 to 72%. No correlation could be found between delta rT3 and changes in bw, BMR or oxygen consumption. A significant correlation (p less than 0.005) exists between delta rT3 and delta % lipid combustion, while a negative correlation (p less than 0.02) was present between delta rT3 and delta % protein combustion. No correlation exists between delta rT3 and carbohydrate combustion. Although no definite clue could be found for the rT3 increase during semistarvation, a combined effect of lipolysis and lean mass preservation is suggested. PMID- 2614017 TI - Qualitative and quantitative defects of thyroglobulin resulting in congenital goiter. Absence of gross gene deletion of coding sequences in the TG gene structure. AB - Seven subjects belonging to three families (ME, MA, MO), with congenital goiter and various degrees of thyroid hypofunction, were investigated from the standpoints of clinical, biochemical, and molecular biology. In two of these families (ME, MA), 6 individuals had low serum levels of Tg-related antigens with a minor increase after bovine TSH (bTSH) stimulation. A large proportion of the tracer was incorporated into serum albumin, and Tg antigens in the thyroid extracts were barely detectable by RIA. (0.19 mg/g tissue; normal, 70-90 mg/g). Gel filtration (CL6B Sepharose gel) showed absence of a normal Tg peak, and SDS agarose gel electrophoresis indicated complete absence of Tg dimer and monomer. Immunoelectrophoresis confirmed the absence of Tg-related antigens. Thus, in these patients a quantitative defect of Tg gene expression was characterized. By contrast, in the MO family a high basal serum concentration of immunoreactive Tg was present, with an exaggerated response to bTSH. Thyroid extracts revealed elevated TPO activity and normal levels of Tg-related antigens. Tg was also eluted in the gel filtration columns with the same mobility as standard 19S Tg. Immunoelectrophoresis against rabbit and human Tg was abnormal, with two precipitin arcs being detected. The Tg molecule after hydrolysis yielded only DIT and MIT, with poor formation of iodothyronines. Microscopic studies revealed a pronounced lack of colloid in the follicular lumina, and overdistended endoplasmic reticulum cisternae.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614018 TI - Persistence of low serum thyroid hormone levels in a Graves' disease patient receiving supraphysiologic L-thyroxine replacement therapy. AB - A patient with Graves' disease was treated with radioactive iodine. For several years following treatment, the patient displayed clinical hypothyroidism and persistently low serum thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels despite large T4 replacement dosage (0.3-0.4 mg L-thyroxine daily). A defect in T4 absorption was considered unlikely since absorption of fat soluble materials (vitamins A and E) was essentially normal as reflected by their serum concentrations. Abnormalities in serum protein binding of T4 especially by immunoglobulins were suspected; however, thyroid hormone binding antibodies were absent. Thyroxine binding prealbumin (TBPA) levels were either frankly elevated or in the upper normal range and such variations were mirrored by retinol binding protein (RBP) concentrations. Thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) concentration was normal. A surprising finding was an elevated percent dialyzable thyroxine (.041%; normal range, .018-.034%) in spite of a normal concentration of TBG. Serum free fatty acid levels were also elevated. The marked increase in percent free T4 (FT4) fraction together with a low serum total T4 concentration resulted in normal or marginally elevated FT4 levels. An increase in T4 metabolic clearance as suggested by the elevated percent FT4 fraction was corroborated by steady state serum T4 values observed following changes in T4 dosage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614019 TI - Immunoheterogeneity of parathyroid hormone in parathyroid cysts: diagnostic implications. AB - Parathyroid cysts are uncommon lesions of the neck leading to hypercalcemia in a significant percentage of cases. The distinction between parathyroid and thyroid cysts is difficult to make on a clinical basis alone and relies on the demonstration of elevated PTH levels in cyst fluid. We describe a case of a parathyroid cyst in which intact PTH (1-84) levels were misleadingly low while midmolecule 44-68 PTH was markedly elevated. To explain this discrepancy, we studied cyst fluid from this and two other patients using Sephadex G-75 gel chromatography. Fractions were analyzed using an immunoradiometric assay for intact hPTH (1-84) and a RIA specific for the midmolecular 44-68 region of hPTH. Immunoreactivity corresponding to hPTH (1-84) was absent in the first case but present in the remaining two. Immunoreactive peaks corresponding to PTH fragments were demonstrable in all three cyst samples. Patients with elevated hPTH (1-84) in cyst fluid were hypercalcemic; in contrast, the patient with a low cyst level of hPTH (1-84) was normocalcemic despite having markedly elevated levels of midmolecule PTH (44-68) in both serum and cyst fluid. Parathyroid cysts may thus produce fragments rather than intact PTH; reliance on an intact hPTH assay could lead to misdiagnosis. The measurement of PTH by a midmolecular assay may be preferable to the measurement of intact PTH in the evaluation of fluid from cystic neck masses. PMID- 2614020 TI - A case of Graves' disease associated with polymyositis. AB - A patient with Graves' disease associated with severe muscle weakness who was finally diagnosed as polymyositis by pathological examination of the muscle is reported. A 28-year-old women was incidentally found to have hyperthyroidism when she consulted a hospital for the evaluation and treatment of anemia in 1979. She was treated with methimazole for approximately a month when she stopped the medication by herself. Approximately two yr later (Nov. 4, 1981) she consulted another hospital with complaints of palpitation and muscle weakness. Diagnosis of hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease and thyrotoxic myopathy were made, followed by the treatment with radioiodine (4 mCi of 131I). She was further treated with propylthiouracil (PTU). Four yr after the treatment, serum thyroid hormone concentration declined to the lower level than normal and serum TSH concentration increased. She was subsequently treated with synthetic I-T4. Despite the fact she became euthyroid with the treatment, muscle weakness as well as elevated concentrations of muscle enzymes were not improved. Muscle biopsy was made in July 1983, and she was diagnosed as immune polymyositis and treatment with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide in addition to PTU or I-T4, was started. With the treatment, serum LDH decreased to the normal range. However she still has muscle weakness and serum concentrations of CPK and aldolase are still in higher levels than normal range. PMID- 2614021 TI - Influence of iodine overloading on neonatal thyroid screening results. PMID- 2614022 TI - [An example of research and actions related to perinatal mortality in Guadeloupe. Factors and profiles of sociodemographic risk]. AB - Perinatal risk factors in Guadeloupe (French West Indies) have been analysed from a community-based case-control survey. Two hundred and sixty four perinatal deaths were involved along with 605 controls. Principal component factor analysis of individual risk characteristics was used to identify risk group profiles. These risk profiles were: "single women of low socio-economical status" (17% of the variability), "traditional Caribbean housewives" (14%), "single adolescents" (7%), and "immigrant women" (10%). Only the three first were significantly associated with a poor outcome for the current pregnancy. This approach may be fruitful in planning for public health interventions to prevent perinatal risk. Also, risk profile concepts may be well-accepted by physicians and care providers, in routine practice, for screening of individual at-risk patients. PMID- 2614023 TI - [Maternal mortality at the University Hospital Center of Donka (Conakry, Guinea)]. AB - We report the first results of the analysis of maternal mortality at the university hospital of Donka, Conakry, Guinee. This paper details the mortality rate [12.47/1,000] in a consultant service which has very limited facilities. It outlines the causes of death, the dramatic circumstances in which the accidents occur and it discusses the notion of responsibility and above all the means to reduce these terrible mortality figures: an increase in primary health care, peripheral obstetrical services, training of health personnel and of traditional birth attendants, as well as education of the population. PMID- 2614024 TI - [Perinatal mortality at the Hospital Center of Libreville (Gabon)]. AB - A study of the work carried out in the obstetrical department during the years 1985, 1986 and 1987 shows there was a corrected perinatal mortality of 32.61 per 1,000. This involved 776 deaths out of 23,980 births of babies weighing 1,000 g. or more. Research as to the causes showed that the largest reasons for these deaths were maternal and fetal infections (28.9% of the aetiology of perinatal mortality). In 35.1% of cases there was obstetrical trauma leading to intrapartum anoxia and prematurity was responsible for 63.7% of deaths associated with other causes. These figures can be reduced if there is better antenatal care in Maternity and Paediatric Centres with teams that are competent and that are properly trained, and on the other hand the delivery rooms are rebuilt in such a way as to make it possible to supervise labours and deliveries and to look after the newborn children immediately problems involving newborn care are found. PMID- 2614025 TI - [Plasma fibronectin: a marker of arterial hypertension in pregnancy?]. AB - In a study of 40 pregnant women, Lazarchick and al. Have found that plasma fibronectin concentrations are abnormally elevated in normotensive pregnant women destined to become preeclamptic. We tried to confirm this fact in a larger study with intent to establish a predictive value of fibronectin rise as a sensitive indicator for preeclampsia. 285 pregnant women were included in our study: plasma fibronectin and uric acid were both measured between 14 and 39 weeks. Blood pressure and urinary protein were assessed monthly. 35 patients (12%) became hypertensive. Plasma fibronectin level was significantly higher (greater than 0.4 g/l) in the hypertensive gravid women group (chi 2 test: p less than 0.001; good specificity: 90%, bad sensitivity: 31%). There was a relationship between plasma fibronectin (greater than 0.4 g/l) and uric acid rise (greater than 50 mg/l) (chi 2 test: p less than 0.01). We did not find a relationship between fibronectin level and fetal weight. In conclusion, plasma fibronectin level is higher in hypertensive pregnant women but the absolute value is not statistically significant. It looks like a bad screening test, but it is a very specific test. It does not give information about fetal prognosis. It would be interesting to carry out another study in a larger population with repeated samplings to prove or reject the greater predictive value of fibronectin and its concentration as a sensitive indicator for preeclampsia. PMID- 2614026 TI - [Fibronectin: an early marker of pre-eclampsia]. AB - Plasma fibronectin concentration was determined by immuno-nephelometer analysis in 316 pregnant women between 22 and 38 weeks. The plasma fibronectin concentration increases progressively during normal pregnancy. From 22 to 30 weeks, the 90th percentile is 350 mg/l, and from 30 to 38 weeks it is 400 mg/l. 29 patients had a fibronectin level greater than 400 mg/l. Of this group, 95% of the creatinine's clearance were significantly lowered. From 30 weeks of gestation, the correlation between an elevated level of fibronectin and the development of hypertension is 100%. Our results confirm that this glycoprotein may be an early indicator of preeclampsia. PMID- 2614027 TI - [Fetal telemonitoring]. AB - There is a definite increase in the number of cases in which it is helpful to know about the fetal heart rate. These are: intra-uterine growth retardation whether associated with hypertension or not, or whether the patients have lost a fetus in utero before. In these cases it is necessary to hospitalize the patient for a long time or make them come to the clinic very often. Watching these patients at home (using either midwifery or hospital staff) is often difficult, so it seemed useful to us to develop another system of monitoring these patients at home. We have been testing, for the last year and a half, a simple system of recording the fetal heart rhythm that can be used by the patient herself at home. The recordings are transmitted daily or twice daily by telephone. The midwife in the maternity unit can look at the tracing and ask the patient to come if the tracing is insufficient or suspicious. We present here the results of 816 tracings carried out in 402 patients: --the tracings correspond completely to those taken at the same time by the usual machines as far as the fetal ECG is concerned. Their interpretation does not give rise to any problems as compared with those of usual tracings. --about 80% of the tracings could be interpreted. They vary according to how far on the pregnancy has progressed (73% at 32 weeks of pregnancy and 84% at term). Telephone transmission was carried out in 84% of cases. Isolated monitoring of fetal heart rhythm (without recording tracings of uterine contractions) makes it possible to monitor these patients at risk of having chronic fetal distress. PMID- 2614028 TI - [Sarcoma of the endometrium. Epidemiology and prognostic factors. Apropos of a study of 22 cases]. AB - Endometrial sarcomas (sarcomas of the endometrial stroma and mixed mullerian tumors) are rare tumors with a bad prognosis. Because of our experience in treating these tumors we have been able to make an analysis of epidemiology and the prognostic factors. We have treated 22 patients. The mean age was 61 years. There were 15 stage I, 3 stage II, 2 stage III, and 2 stage IV. 21/22 patients had a surgical resection of the primary tumor, 19/22 had pelvic irradiation after surgery with vaginal radiotherapy given for 14 patients. The actuarial survival rates at 3 and 5 years were 51 and 34%. 5/22 patients had pelvic recurrence, 6/22 had distant metastasis. In our study the prognostic factors were the stage and the histological subtype. Pelvic radiotherapy seems to improve the rates for survival. The main points for discussion are the need to have a definite histological diagnosis done after initial surgery. A CT scan of the lungs and a lymphangiogram must be performed before treatment. After surgery it appears necessary to give pelvic and vaginal radiotherapy. At the present time chemotherapy did not appear to improve survival. PMID- 2614029 TI - [Uretero-vaginal fistula. Apropos of 30 cases]. AB - The authors report 30 cases of uretero-vaginal fistulae collected in the department of Urology at Charles Nicolle's Hospital in Tunis. The majority of patients are multipare between 28 and 47 years old. The main causes remain gynecological and obstetrical procedures. The main motive of consultation was leaking of urine from the vagina; unfortunately the attendance to our clinic was late. IVP was performed in all cases; in 22 cases it showed a dilatation of the ureter, pelvis and calyces, on one side; in 3 cases it showed a non functional kidney and in 5 cases it was normal. Retrograde uretero-pyelography was performed for seven patients, twice in case of non functional kidney and five times after a normal IVP. In all cases it showed extravasation of contrast medium at the level of the fistula and the proximal portion of the ureter was not opacified. Treatment was by: reimplantation of the ureter in the bladder in 21 cases; end to end ureteric anastomosis in 5 cases; nephrectomy in 3 cases; in one case the fistulae healed by drainage. Control IVP was performed after a while and showed: success of the procedure in 15 cases; no change in 4 cases; an affected kidney in one case. Unfortunately diagnosis is never made at the time of surgery and this underlines the absolute necessity to check the ureter if there is any doubt about its integrity. In case of post operative complications it is important to request an IVP as soon as possible. In large fistulae reimplantation of the ureter by the Leadbetter-Politano technique, with fixation of the bladder to the psoas muscle, gave the best result in our hands. Postoperative follow up is necessary to detect any stenosis or reflux. PMID- 2614030 TI - [Protein C deficiency and pregnancy. Apropos of 2 case reports]. AB - Protein C is a protein found in the serum, dependent on vitamin K. It is a strong protection against venous thrombosis. Deficiency in protein C, whether constitutional or acquired, can give rise to thrombo-embolic accidents in young patients without any obvious triggering factor. The authors start by describing the physiological features of protein C. Deficiencies of this protein are transferred through a dominant autosome. Two cases are described where protein C deficiency occurred in pregnancy. This association has not been previously described. They then discuss the kinetics of protein C in pregnancy, at delivery and in the newborn. They then point out how important it is to treat with anticoagulants in prophylactic doses during the pregnancy. They use repeated doses of Heparin as an anticoagulant and for its antivitamin K action following the delivery. They give a list of precautions that have to be observed in this relay system which should be slow and carefully worked out later. Obstetrical observation has to look for the onset of pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth retardation due to placental microthrombi. The authors conclude, after pointing out the frequency and the seriousness of this condition, by proposing that it should systematically be looked for in families where there have been cases of thrombo-embolic accidents. PMID- 2614031 TI - [Indications for therapeutic interruption of pregnancy in Ille-et-Villaine from 1982 to 1986. Apropos of 222 cases]. AB - The authors have made the census of all the Medical Terminations of Pregnancy (MTP) which have been carried out in the Department of Ille et Vilaine from 1982 to 1986, i.e. 222 cases, in order to precise the different indications and the diagnosis tools which were used. 132 MTP concern women who live in the Department of Ille et Vilaine. By referring this figure to the total number of pregnancies in this area, one can see that the average incidence is of 1.9%; MTP account for 1% of the total number of Terminations of Pregnancies. Foetal indications are more frequent (188 cases; i.e. 84.7%) than maternal ones (34 cases, 15.3%); these figures remained stable over the 5-year period of study. Chromosomal aberrations and closing defects of the neural tubule are the main causes of MTP (22.9% of foetal indications). Among the 43 chromosomal aberrations, trisomies are the most frequent ones (34.9%) because all women aged 38 or more are proposed a detection. The diagnosis of trisomy was made in 24 cases after tests were programmed either because of the age of the mother or because of family antecedents (amniocentesis: 22 times, punction of foetal blood: once, biopsy of chorion villosities: once), in 6 cases after tests were carried out on the basis of suspect clinical signs amniocentesis: once, punction of foetal blood: 5 times), and in 13 cases after the echography had revealed a major syndrome. Closing defects of the central nervous system mainly concern anencephaly (17.6% of foetal indications) since the echography enables an easy diagnosis. All anencephaly have actually been detected during the reference period of pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614032 TI - Almitrine inhibits breathing movements in fetal sheep in utero. AB - Whilst hypoxia stimulates fetal peripheral chemoreceptors, fetal breathing movements do not increase as hypoxia also has central effects. We wondered whether specific stimulation of the arterial chemoreceptors by almitrine would produce a stimulation of fetal breathing movements. When almitrine was given to 5 intact and 3 peripherally-chemodenervated fetal sheep in utero, fetal breathing movements rapidly ceased for 1-12 h. There was also a decrease in the amount of time spent in low voltage electrocortical activity. The effects of almitrine are therefore similar to those of hypoxia, and are independent of the peripheral chemoreceptors. Thus it may be a valuable tool in the study of the control of fetal breathing. PMID- 2614033 TI - The effect of closing the ductus arteriosus on the pulmonary circulation of the fetal sheep. AB - In the mammalian fetus the ductus arteriosus allows right ventricular output to be shunted away from the lungs to the systemic circulation. This study was performed to determine how closing the ductus arteriosus of the fetal sheep would affect the pulmonary circulation. Under halothane anaesthesia 6 near-term fetal sheep were delivered with the umbilical circulation intact. Catheters were placed in the right atrium, the pulmonary artery, and the aorta. Pulmonary blood flow was measured by injecting radioactive microspheres into the right atrium while a reference sample was withdrawn from the pulmonary artery. Closing the ductus arteriosus increased pulmonary arterial pressure by 22% from 51 +/- 3 to 62 +/- 3 mmHg and increased pulmonary blood flow disproportionately by 198% from 232 +/- 74 to 692 +/- 80 ml/min per 100g. Thus, pulmonary vascular resistance decreased by 75% from 0.451 +/- 0.65 to 0.095 +/- 0.010 mmHg 100g min/ml. These findings extend the observation that pressure and flow in the pulmonary circulation of the air-breathing lung do not have a linear relationship passing through the origin to include a striking example in the fluid-filled lung of the intact fetus. They also raise questions about the nature of the elevated vascular resistance in the fetal lung. PMID- 2614034 TI - The control of thermoregulation in the developing lamb during slow wave sleep. AB - This study investigates the mechanisms involved in adjusting metabolic rate in response to acute changes in ambient temperature close to thermoneutrality during postnatal development. Twelve lambs were prepared for sequential studies at 4, 14, 30, 45 and 55 days of age. During each study they were maintained at ambient temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 degrees C for at least 1 h and until a slow wave sleep epoch was established. Eight lambs completed all studies. In these there was a significant fall in oxygen consumption with age which was independent of ambient temperature. This effect was closely related to a decrease in plasma triiodothyronine concentration that was greatest between 4- and 14-days old lambs and was not associated with a change in the plasma concentration of thyrotrophin or thyroxine. In 4-days old lambs oxygen consumption was increased at ambient temperatures of 5 and 10 degrees C by non-shivering thermogenesis, whilst in 14- and 30-days old lambs this effect was achieved by shivering. On the basis of significant changes in oxygen consumption and/or the occurrence of shivering (lower critical temperature) and panting (upper critical temperature) we have shown that there is a fall in both upper and lower critical temperature with age and a widening of the thermoneutral zone. This was associated with a decrease in the plasma cortisol concentration and heart rate as measured at thermoneutrality, whilst rectal temperature increased from 4 to 30 days of age. The other 4 lambs, 3 of which died between 7 and 17 days of age, had low plasma triiodothyronine concentrations when studied at 4 and/or 14 days of age and their oxygen consumption at thermoneutrality was significantly lower than the normal group at 14 days. Shivering thermogenesis occurred at an earlier age and control of body temperature was less effective. It is concluded that triiodothyronine has an important role in the control of metabolic rate in the developing lamb even to meet modest changes in ambient temperature, and possibly directly in survival. PMID- 2614035 TI - The prevention of inadvertent hypothermia during fetal surgery: an ovine model. AB - The effect of application of a reflective thermoblanket was compared with varying degrees of partial removal of the ovine fetus from the uterus. The thermoblanket reduced heat loss by a 53.3% slower fall in rectal temperature when compared to exposed fetuses during the same surgery (Welch t statistic = 3.68, d.f. = 26.08, P less than 0.001). This was further reduced by limiting the area of fetal exposure without thermoblanket application. PMID- 2614036 TI - Effects of cholestyramine feeding on tissue lipase activities and plasma fatty acids in the pregnant rat. AB - Rats fed a non-absorbable bile acid binding resin (cholestyramine) throughout gestation had decreased activities of adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic triacylglycerol lipase and a heparin-releasable placental lipase distinct from LPL, when assayed at near-term gestation. The fetal plasma and liver triacylglycerol concentrations were not altered. The fetal liver total lipid and plasma triacylglycerol, however, had reduced levels of n-6 and n-3 series fatty acids, suggesting decreased availability of maternal dietary-derived essential fatty acids. These studies suggest that cholestyramine feeding may alter triacylglycerol flux and the quantity or type of maternal fatty acids available for placental transfer. The resin has application for in vivo study of the effects of maternal lipid transfer on the regulation of fetal hepatic lipid synthesis. PMID- 2614037 TI - Arousal and cardiopulmonary responses to hyperoxic hypercapnia in lambs. AB - Experiments were done to investigate the arousal and cardiopulmonary responses to hyperoxic hypercapnia in 8 lambs. Each lamb was anaesthetized and instrumented for recordings of electrocorticogram, electro-oculogram, nuchal and diaphragm electromyograms and measurements of arterial blood pressure and haemoglobin oxygen saturation. No sooner than 3 days after surgery, measurements were made in quiet sleep and active sleep during control periods when the animal was breathing 21% oxygen and during experimental periods of hyperoxic hypercapnia when the animal was breathing 10% carbon dioxide and 30% oxygen. Hyperoxic hypercapnia was terminated during each epoch by returning the inspired gas mixture to 21% oxygen once the animal aroused from sleep. Arousal occurred from both sleep states during hyperoxic hypercapnia but was delayed in active sleep compared to quiet sleep (active sleep 58 +/- 17 s; quiet sleep 21 +/- 10 s; mean +/- 1SD). There were no significant changes in heart rate or blood pressure during hyperoxic hypercapnia before arousal. However, respiratory rate and diaphragm electrical activity did increase during hyperoxic hypercapnia before arousal. Thus, our data provide evidence that hypercapnia can initiate arousal from sleep in young lambs. The mechanisms responsible for this response are yet to be determined. PMID- 2614038 TI - Electrical properties of developing rat heart. Effects of dexamethasone. AB - Action potentials recorded from perinatal rat ventricles exhibited a plateau (phase 2), followed by a rapid repolarization characteristics of all mammalian ventricular cells. Within the second postnatal week, a number of distinct changes occurred in the contour of action potentials. An early slow depolarization, at the foot of the action potential, preceded the beginning of phase zero. The early slow depolarization was observed until day 12 and disappeared by day 13. A second slow depolarization occurred during the terminal phase of the rapid upstroke of the action potential, persisted through day 13 and disappeared by day 14. On day 12, what had been a homogeneous contour of action potentials seen during the first week converted into a heterogeneous contour. Occasionally, action potentials similar to those recorded from Purkinje fibres in adult heart were recorded from hearts as young as 12 days. By day 14, signs of a spike (the hallmark of action potentials from adult heart) were apparent in some fibres. Treatment of newborn rats with dexamethasone on the second day after birth prevented the disappearance of the second slow depolarization. In adult and aged rat hearts, dexamethasone treatment induced a slow depolarization and a plateau in the region of overshoot. In view of the time-dependent change of the second slow depolarization it is suggested that this phase of the action potential is influenced by the levels of circulating glucocorticoid in developing heart and by changes in calcium sensitivity observed in this species. Heterogeneity of action potentials observed on day 12 postnatal may precede structural differentiation of myofilaments. PMID- 2614039 TI - Effects of tort reforms on the value of closed medical malpractice claims: a microanalysis. AB - Tort reforms enacted by state legislatures mainly seek to reduce the rate of increase in medical malpractice insurance premiums and other costs of the professional liability system, such as "defensive medicine." We examine the effects tort reforms enacted during the 1970s have had on the probability that a claim will be paid, the amount of payment, and the speed with which the claim is resolved. Claims frequency is not used as a variable in this analysis, but findings from other studies pertaining to frequency are noted. This study uses two closed claims databases--one from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and one from the U.S. General Accounting Office. We merged the two data sets for purposes of this analysis. The observational unit was the individual claim. Data on tort reforms came from our own analysis of statutory changes by state. Dollar ceilings on recoveries ("caps") are shown to be the strongest reforms in terms of their impact on paid claim size. Most caps limit recovery for noneconomic loss, though some limit dollar awards. Other reforms that reduced payments per claim were costs awardable provisions and mandatory collateral offsets. PMID- 2614040 TI - Can no-fault compensation of impaired infants alleviate the malpractice crisis in obstetrics? AB - In 1987, Virginia initiated no-fault compensation for birth-related neurological injuries in an attempt to ensure the availability of malpractice insurance for the state's obstetricians. This paper explores some possible causes for the refusal of Virginia's insurers to write malpractice coverage for obstetricians and analyzes the ability of the act to resolve the medical malpractice crisis in obstetrics. It also examines the effect of this limited no-fault compensation scheme on obstetricians' incentives and on the welfare of neurologically damaged children. PMID- 2614041 TI - No-fault cerebral palsy insurance: an alternative to the obstetrical malpractice lottery. AB - Sixty percent of malpractice premiums paid by obstetricians go to cover suits for alleged birth-related cerebral palsy (CP). Yet substantially less than half of that money goes to CP victims, and less than 10 percent of children with CP receive any compensation at all from tort suits. This paper proposes a system that would compensate all children born with CP for most handicap-related expenses, in exchange for which the children would be foreclosed from bringing suits alleging birth-related malpractice. Malpractice would be policed by a state board, which would investigate all CP cases. This proposal would be more equitable than current systems. It would also be less expensive, since it would avoid costly litigation and decrease the cost of obstetrical malpractice insurance. PMID- 2614042 TI - Legal rights and communicable disease: AIDS, the police power, and individual liberty. AB - The policy debate over AIDS has focused on how to balance the rights of individuals who have the disease against the rights of the public. This paper examines the nature of both sets of rights by analyzing the development of public health law and its dominant visions today. The article argues that while once public health rights implied a vast reserve of community authority and obligation to prevent illness, today the rights of the public and those of individuals are seen as being in opposition. Public health jurisprudence now presupposes that illness is primarily a matter of individual concern. In this view, the science of medicine mediates the relationship between the individual and the public. This understanding of rights protects some of the interests of infected individuals, but is inadequate for addressing many of the major problems raised by the AIDS epidemic, particularly the spread of infection among the uninfected. PMID- 2614043 TI - Promoting the quality of life in nursing homes: can regulation succeed? AB - It has been assumed that the best policy for promoting quality of life in nursing homes is direct regulation. In this paper it is argued that if our experience in regulating quality of care is any indication, we may not possess the political will to successfully regulate quality of life. Moreover, from a legal perspective, the less concrete nature of the concept of quality of life may make it more difficult to regulate than quality of care. Finally, although regulation would probably be necessary if potential nursing home residents (and their agents) lacked the information or rationality to make choices that promoted their interests, this has never been shown to be the case empirically. Therefore, we may not be forced to choose regulation to achieve an adequate quality of life. Alternative--and perhaps better--policies may be available. PMID- 2614044 TI - Blood alcohol in fatally injured drivers and the minimum legal drinking age. AB - Although most research on the effect of minimum legal drinking age (LDA) laws on proxies for alcohol-related fatalities find effects of higher LDAs in reducing such fatalities, recent research that supposedly controls for drinking experience claims that higher LDAs have little or no effect. This study examines the actual amount of alcohol in the blood of fatally injured drivers per licensed driver in states where more than 80 percent of such drivers were tested for alcohol and where licensure data were available for the period 1982-1986. The involvement of alcohol in fatal crashes increases with age as the LDA is approached. A higher LDA is associated with fewer alcohol-related crashes among those younger than the LDA. No effect of drinking experience was evident, but this study finds an age related bias in previously used proxies for alcohol involvement that results in overestimates of alcohol levels in younger drivers. PMID- 2614045 TI - The gene is out of the bottle. PMID- 2614046 TI - An epidemiological study of paralytic poliomyelitis cases in Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. AB - An analysis of hospital records at Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal for 8 years revealed a declining trend of paralytic poliomyelitis cases. A lameness survey carried out in children of 5-9 years age group in the community showed an incidence of 0.56 per 1000 children in 0-4 years age group. Vaccination survey carried out in the same community showed coverage of 70 per cent with OPV. Number of children with poliomyelitis having history of full immunization showed an increasing trend. PMID- 2614047 TI - Epidemiology of measles--a thirteen years prospective study in a village. AB - A prospective study on measles was undertaken during 1974 to 1986 in Hiramanpur village, Varanasi having an initial population of 1538 which rose to 2101 in 1986 enabling to register a total of 23,221 (all population) person years of observation and a total of 9191 (0-14 years) person years of observation. The entire population was covered regularly through domicilliary visits by trained para-medical personnel under direct supervision of medical officers. All cases were verified by doctors. A total of 411 measles cases were detected, which gave average annual incidence rates of 17.7 and 44.7 per thousand population and per thousand children (0-14 yrs), respectively. The maximum number of cases occurred in Ist quarter of the year (69.7 per cent). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov Statistical method validated the seasonal character of the disease (Vn = 5.18, p less than 0.01). The maximum measles cases occurred in children 1-4 yrs (57.4 per cent). Males (54.9 per cent) were affected slightly more than females (45.1 per cent). A total of 246 (59.9 per cent) cases developed complications. The most frequent was respiratory infections (42.2 per cent) followed by infection of gastrointestinal system (32.2 per cent). The complication rates were found higher in infants and older children (greater than 5 yrs.) in both the sexes. Three-fourth of the cases did not get any treatment. The overall case-fatality rate was 2.2 per cent. Females had higher rate (3.3 per cent) than males (1.3 per cent) and the highest case fatality rate was observed in infants, particularly in females. PMID- 2614048 TI - Epidemiological evaluation of BCG vaccine efficacy in Delhi--1989. AB - A field evaluation of efficacy of BCG vaccine to prevent tubercular meningitis was undertaken in a case control study in Delhi during 1988-89. Each case of tubercular meningitis was matched by age and neighbourhood with 2 controls from the community. Thirty-seven cases of tubercular meningitis were matched with 74 controls and thus 37 triplets were analysed. ODDS RATIO between BCG vaccinated and non vaccinated individuals for acquisition of tubercular meningitis was 11.3. This gives 84 per cent efficacy of BCG vaccine in the prevention of TB meningitis under the field conditions prevailing in Delhi. Paired matched analysis of tubercular meningitis with the control group 1 and 2 separately revealed the ODDS RATIO to be 9.5 and 15 respectively. The corresponding BCG vaccine efficacy worked out were 90 and 93 per cent respectively. Authors suggest that this method of evaluating BCG vaccine efficacy is fairly reliable and cost effective. This methodology could be further simplified by using hospital patients as control and be introduced to evaluate BCG vaccine efficacy in different areas with reference to its role in preventing tubercular meningitis under the programme of immunisation. PMID- 2614049 TI - Clinico-epidemiological profiles of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis in Varanasi. AB - Twenty-seven cases of Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (P. K. D. L.) were detected in an endemic focus of Kala-azar in Sujabad village in Varanasi Distt. Male-Female ratio of cases was 4.4:1. Majority (66.6 per cent) of cases had macular lesions. Histopathology of one case showed Leishmania donovani (L. D.) bodies. Densities of sand fly were more in pockets where P. K. D. L. cases were detected. All the 13 cases, which were treated with sodium antimony gluconate, responded well to therapy. PMID- 2614050 TI - Prevalence of common infective agents of vaginitis. AB - A total of 100 women with vaginitis and 50 age matched healthy women were studied for common infective agents of vaginitis. The vaginal secretions collected from these women were examined for Trichomonas vaginalis, G. vaginalis, and Candida species. The prevalence of infective agents in the patients was T. vaginalis 11 per cent. Candida species 30 per cent and Gardnerella vaginalis 31 per cent. In contrast, in the control group the prevalence was Candida species 14 per cent and G. vaginalis 22 per cent. T. vaginalis was not isolated from any of the control women. Mixed infections with G. vaginalis and Candida species were seen in four cases and T. vaginalis and Candida species in one case only. Mixed infection with T. vaginalis ahd G. vaginalis was not observed in any of the patients studied. PMID- 2614051 TI - Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection amongst the urban population in district Valsad, Gujarat state. PMID- 2614052 TI - Cryptococcal meningitis: unusual manifestation in a young adult and management. PMID- 2614053 TI - Aspergillosis results questioned. PMID- 2614054 TI - Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis in a university medical center ophthalmology clinic; need for re-evaluation of the design and disinfection of instruments. AB - During the period from early December 1987 to late January 1988, an outbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) caused by adenovirus type 8 occurred at a university medical center eye clinic. A telephone survey of patients revealed an attack rate of 17% among patients seen during the epidemic period. A case-control study demonstrated that development of EKC was associated with exposure to pneumotonometry and to three caregivers. After controlling for exposure to pneumotonometry, however, only exposure to one caregiver was significantly associated with risk of the disease. On January 19, 1988, after recognition of the outbreak, the eye clinic instituted additional infection control measures. A survey of patients seen the following week showed a substantial decrease in the attack rate (1.9%). Before these control measures were implemented, clinic personnel had followed the manufacturer's recommendations and disinfected pneumotonometer tips with 70% isopropyl alcohol, fearing that other disinfectants would corrode the instrument metal. Isopropyl alcohol, shown to have limited activity against adenovirus in vitro, also was being used to "disinfect" pneumotonometer tips between uses at six other area eye clinics polled by telephone. The results of this study demonstrate the need for changes in the design and manufacture of equipment used in the eye clinic. PMID- 2614055 TI - What is leaky can be risky: a study of the integrity of hospital gloves. AB - One thousand six-hundred and eighteen medical gloves were tested to determine whether, with current increased demands, these gloves are of high quality, i.e., free of leaks. The risk of exposure to potentially infected fluids when using leaky gloves was also estimated. Using a four-stage leak test, no significant difference was found between 64 of 790 (8.1%, range 0% to 44.4%) unsterile latex gloves and 11 of 210 (5.2%, range 1.7% to 21.7%) unsterile vinyl gloves (p = .21). Sterile surgical gloves (7 of 618, 1.13% [range 0% to 3%]) had fewer leaks compared to unsterile latex and vinyl gloves combined (p less than .0001). The safranin test was positive in 27 of 28 (96.4%) leaky gloves tested, indicating a high risk of exposure to potentially infected fluids when leaky gloves are used. Because of these findings, elements of "universal precautions" such as changing gloves after each patient contact and good handwashing after using gloves should be carefully observed. There is a need for the Food and Drug Administration to establish more stringent guidelines for manufacturing gloves and to verify compliance with these guidelines. PMID- 2614056 TI - Microbial contamination of arterial infusions used for hemodynamic monitoring: a randomized trial of contamination with sampling through conventional stopcocks versus a novel closed system. AB - Arterial catheters are now commonly used to monitor blood pressure and obtain blood samples for arterial blood gas and other laboratory determinations. Stopcocks inserted into the pressure monitoring circuit have been the primary means of obtaining blood from arterial catheters. However, these stopcock systems have been associated with nosocomial contamination and bacteremias. Because of the problems of bacterial contamination and blood wasting with the stopcock sampling systems, we compared the frequency and extent of contamination of external sampling ports and the monitoring tubing fluid in stopcocks with that of a novel closed needle-sampling system (Lab-Site, Migada Ltd, Rehovot, Israel), incorporated into pressure monitoring tubing (Abbott Laboratories Inc., North Chicago, Illinois). We found that use of the novel sampling system resulted in significantly fewer episodes of internal bacterial contamination of the arterial monitoring line (7%) than did the use of a stopcock system (61%). External contamination of the sampling port was also lower in the novel system (8%) than in the stopcock system (37%). This suggests that the closed system may reduce the risk of nosocomial infections in patients requiring arterial pressure monitoring. PMID- 2614057 TI - Bactericidal effects of antiseptics and disinfectants against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. PMID- 2614058 TI - Cluster sampling in hospital surveillance. AB - Surveillance of important events in hospitals often naturally leads to sampling of cluster of individuals. It is essential that estimators of the proportions of interest and their associated standard errors be consistent with the sampling techniques employed. Assuming that a simple random sample of individuals was completed, when in reality clusters of individuals were sampled, can result in misleading conclusions. Three appropriate estimators are considered and their standard errors compared. If the larger the size of a cluster, such as a ward, floor or hospital, the smaller the number of subjects afflicted with the characteristic, then the unbiased estimator P should be employed. If the larger clusters have more subjects with the characteristic of interest, then either PR or Pppz will provide correct and relatively precise estimates. PMID- 2614059 TI - Genetics of screwworm: new genetic markers and preliminary linkage map. AB - Eight new genetic markers for Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae), the screwworm, are characterized. The markers include three eye mutants, lemon eye (le), cherry-eye (ch), and red-eye (re); one wing mutant, curly-wing (cw); and four allozyme markers, amylase (Amy-1), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gpd), phosphoglucomutase (Pgm), and octanol dehydrogenase (Odh). The markers are associated into four linkage groups. Radiation-induced translocations were used to correlate the linkage groups with their respective chromosomes. A preliminary genetic linkage map with these and three previously characterized loci is presented. PMID- 2614060 TI - Mapping of PRM1 to human chromosome 16 and tight linkage of Prm-1 and Prm-2 on mouse chromosome 16. AB - The protamines are small, arginine-rich nuclear proteins that replace histones and transition proteins late in the haploid phase of spermatogenesis in mammals. The two mouse genes encoding protamines--Prm-1 and Prm-2--have been molecularly cloned and mapped to mouse chromosome 16 (MMU 16). A cDNA clone of mouse Prm-1 that hybridized to the corresponding human gene was used to analyze a panel of somatic cell hybrids made between human lymphoblasts and the E36 hamster cell line. The human gene, which we have designated PRM 1, was syntenic with human chromosome 16 (HSA 16) and discordant with all other human chromosomes. Linkage analysis in the mouse was accomplished using the backcross (Czech II x BALB/c Pt) x Czech II to map Prm-1 and Prm-2 to a position near the 5' terminus of MMU 16. No recombination between Prm-1 and Prm-2 was observed among 89 progeny of the Czech II x BALB/c cross or among 94 progeny of the backcross (CBA/J x BALB/cJ) x BALB/cJ, demonstrating that the two loci are separated by less than 1.6 cM on MMU 16. This tight linkage may be of functional significance, as Prm-1 and Prm-2 are among a limited number of genes known to be expressed postmeiotically in male haploid germ cells. PMID- 2614061 TI - The American curl cat. AB - The American curl cat has ears that are curled backward at the apex of the pinnae in a characteristic manner. Breeding data indicate that the novel pinnate shape is inherited as a monogenic autosomal dominant trait. The mutant gene is designated as curl and symbolized by Cu. PMID- 2614062 TI - A recessive mutation causing imperforate vagina in mice. AB - A recessive mutation (ipv) causing imperforate vagina was discovered in a line of mice selected for low lean tissue mass as a proportion of body weight. Two full sisters were found to have marked swelling of the perineum and complete closure of the vagina. Crosses of heterozygotes identified by progeny testing produced a female progeny ratio not different from the 3 normal: 1 affected (chi 2 = 0.695; p less than .3) expected on the basis of a recessive allele at a single autosomal locus. As a consequence of the imperforate vagina, the uterus and vagina were greatly distended by fluid. The uterus of affected females displayed a swollen uterine lumen and thin endometrial stroma and muscularis. Ovarian tissue of affected females was similar to that of normal mice, and affected females produced ova that were normal in appearance. The mutation causing an imperforate vagina may present a useful model for studying the basis of abnormal vaginal development in other species and increasing the understanding of normal vaginal development in the mouse. PMID- 2614063 TI - Inversion polymorphism and linkage disequilibrium in Drosophila sulfurigaster neonasuta. AB - Three paracentric inversions constitute the polymorphic system in Drosophila sulfurigaster neonasuta. Of these, two linked inversions, namely 2LA and 2RA, exhibit linkage disequilibrium, and the overall pattern of polymorphism is flexible. PMID- 2614064 TI - Hereditary congenital baldness: a sex-linked trait in the domestic fowl. AB - Congenital baldness in the domestic fowl is a genetic condition in which small irregular skin areas are devoid of down feathers (and later definitive feathers) over one or both eyes and/or the center of the head. In this study, the expression of congenital baldness was quite variable and ranged in size from a few follicles to areas as large as 10 mm2. The area over the right eye and the center of the head was more frequently involved than was the area over the left eye. This condition was inherited as sex-linked recessive. The symbol ba was assigned to the gene, and it was shown to be linked to the sal locus by 7.6 to 8.2 crossover units. An unusual feature was that 5% to 13% of heterozygous males exhibited the trait. PMID- 2614065 TI - Neurological complications of infective endocarditis. PMID- 2614066 TI - Post inferior myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture. AB - Mortality from ventricular septal rupture after myocardial infarction (MI) is high. Ventricular septal rupture after inferior MI is particularly associated with a high risk because of difficulty in diagnosis and surgical approach. These three case reports show how diagnosis and correction can be expedited by emergency transportation and color-flow echo-Doppler cardiography. Prompt ventricular septal repair can provide excellent survival and rehabilitation potential. PMID- 2614067 TI - Aortic valve decalcification revisited. AB - A 75-year-old woman with a small calcified aortic root, severe aortic stenosis and triple vessel coronary artery disease developed angina at rest. Aortic valve decalcification and quadruple aorto-coronary bypass were done as her aortic root was too small and calcified to do anything else. Postoperative clinical and hemodynamic results have been excellent. Literature review supports application of this therapy in selected patients with trileaflet senescent aortic stenosis. PMID- 2614068 TI - Dietary fluoride supplements for Indiana's children: the role of the physician. AB - Fluoride supplements for Indiana children are necessary for caries reduction where communal and well water tests show deficient levels of fluoride. The role of the physician in providing optimum preventive dental care to young patients is discussed. Also, the proper dental protocol for fluoride supplements is provided. PMID- 2614069 TI - Traumatic knee injuries: the accuracy of MRI compared with arthroscopy. AB - Forty-three knees in 43 patients were evaluated preoperatively with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Both menisci and cruciate ligaments subsequently were examined directly with arthroscopy. A grading scale was used to evaluate intrameniscal signal intensity and to predict the presence of meniscal tear using MR. Compared with arthroscopy, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI were, respectively, 100%, 88% and 93% for tears of the medial meniscus; 72.7%, 93.7% and 88.4% for tears of the lateral meniscus; 100%, 96.7% and 97.7% for tears of the anterior cruciate ligament. There were no posterior cruciate ligament tears, and none were suggested from the images. Our results show that MRI is a valuable diagnostic aid in the management of traumatic knee injury. PMID- 2614070 TI - Infant mortality: a cry for help. PMID- 2614071 TI - Adolescence in Indiana--1989. PMID- 2614072 TI - Immunogenetic studies of spontaneous abortion in mice. III. Non-H-2 antigens and gestation. AB - CBA/J (H-2k) females, mated with DBA/2 J (H-2d) or DBA/1 J (H-2q) males, exhibit a high rate of fetal resorption. In contrast, when H-2 identical CBA substrains (i.e. CBA/Ca and CBA/N) are used, this phenomenon is not observed. On the other hand, before mating with DBA/2 J males, pre-immunization of CBA/J females with spleen cells coming from BALB/c J or (DBA/2 x BALB/c J) F1 males (and not from other H-2d identical males whatever their Mls alleles) has significantly decreased the fetal resorption rate. Thus, immunization against determinants other than classical H-2d (K, I, D, L) antigens (transmitted as a dominant character and different from Mls determinants) can elicit anti-abortive effects. Furthermore, it was observed that the spleen cell endowed with the anti-abortive effects was neither a T nor a B lymphocyte. In contrast, peritoneal cells were able to reproduce the phenomenon, indicating that it may be mediated by a cell of the macrophage-monocyte lineage. Finally, a first gestation was substituted for allo-immunization of CBA/J females. The anti-abortive effects of a first pregnancy by BALB/c J males (and not by other H-2k syngeneic or H-2d allogeneic males) was observed in the course of a second pregnancy sired by DBA/2 J males. These data can be interpreted in terms of maternal recognition of an antigen present on both macrophages and trophoblast cells and necessary for a successful gestation, which is coded for by genes outside the K, I, D, L regions. PMID- 2614073 TI - Isoelectric focusing of bovine major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. AB - The products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci regulate an individual's immune response to pathogens. Cattle provide an important model to study the relationship between disease susceptibility and MHC haplotype since large half-sibling families are common. The definitive demonstration, however, of a firm relationship between MHC phenotype and disease susceptibility in cattle will require a precise definition of the bovine MHC allelic products. Available reagents for serological characterization of the bovine MHC gene products have not been adequate for these purposes. We have shown that existing mouse monoclonal antibodies and rabbit anti-human antisera precipitate bovine class I molecules, that these structures separate well by one-dimensional isoelectric focusing (1-D IEF), and that immunoprecipitation followed by 1-D IEF allows the detection of bovine class I MHC allelic products. Through this technique, we have identified previously undetected class I products. This approach will facilitate a detailed characterization of the bovine MHC class I gene products. PMID- 2614074 TI - Lack of common haplotype among four family members with late-onset Kaposi's sarcoma. AB - Kaposi's sarcoma is associated with an increased frequency of HLA-DR5. The hypothesized model of a susceptibility gene in linkage disequilibrium with DR5 may be tested by haplotype analysis in familial Kaposi's sarcoma. Our finding of no common haplotype among afflicted members of a family provides evidence against the hypothesized linkage. PMID- 2614075 TI - Improved detection of acute myocardial infarction by magnetic resonance imaging using gadolinium-DTPA. AB - To assess the value of the paramagnetic contrast agent Gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), we studied 20 patients with a first AMI by ECG-gated MRI before and after intravenous administration of 0.15 mmol/kg Gd-DTPA. The MRI studies were performed after a mean of 98 hours (range 15-241) after the acute onset of AMI. Spin-echo measurements (TE 30 msec) were made using a Philips Gyroscan (0.5 Tesla). After performing the baseline MRI scans, the MRI procedure was repeated every 10 minutes for up to 40 minutes following injection of Gd-DTPA. In 18 (90%) patients contrast enhancement in the infarcted myocardial areas was observed after Gd DTPA. In these patients intensity versus region curves, derived from 9 to 11 adjacent myocardial regions of interest, showed increased signal intensities in the infarcted areas after administration of Gd-DTPA. The precontrast signal intensity ratio between infarcted and normal myocardium was 1.14 +/- 0.15 (mean +/- SD); the postcontrast ratios at 10 minutes were 1.41 +/- 0.21 (P less than 0.05), at 20 minutes 1.61 +/- 0.19 (P less than 0.01), at 30 minutes 1.43 +/- 0.20 (P less than 0.05), and at 40 minutes 1.33 +/- 0.20 (P = NS). It is concluded that MRI using the contrast agent Gd-DTPA significantly improves the visualization and detection of infarcted myocardial areas in patients with AMI and that optimal contrast enhancement is obtained 20 minutes after administration of Gd-DTPA. PMID- 2614076 TI - Automatic detection method of stenotic lesions in coronary cineangiograms. AB - A new image processing procedure enabling the automatic detection of coronary artery stenoses by cineangiography was developed. Detection of stenoses was performed using computer image processing by the following procedure. The path of the arteries was extracted by a subtraction method. The thresholding image was obtained from the subtraction image, and converted to a 'thinning' image, which represented the center line of the artery. For measurement of the arterial diameter, the vessel edges were determined by unilateral Gaussian fit to profile curves in sections perpendicular to the center line. Stenoses could then be detected on the basis of the normal diameter of artery estimated by Hough transformation. This method facilitates the detection of stenotic lesions from coronary cineangiograms. PMID- 2614077 TI - Intraoperative sonographic measurements of the internal mammary artery as a coronary bypass conduit. AB - Intraoperative visualization of coronary artery anatomy and morphology is an innovative method to evaluate patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. With the high frequency ultrasonic technique we were able to measure diameters of internal mammary arteries (IMA) before and after dilatation. Probe dilatation of the IMA led to an increase of the IMA diameter of 46% while balloon dilatation was more successful resulting in an enlargement of 66%. The measurement of the flow rates showed similar changes (95% vs. 275%). Furthermore we were able to reproduce coronary artery lesions by echocardiography which could not be demonstrated in the angiogram. PMID- 2614078 TI - New echocardiographic and angiographic methods for right atrial volume determination: in vitro validation and in vivo results. AB - Until now, right atrial (RA) volume calculation by means of two-dimensional echocardiography (2-DE) has only been attempted in a single plane: the apical four-chamber view. Our study reports a new method for RA volume calculation using two intersecting 2-DE views. For this purpose, silicone rubber casts of 19 human necropsy hearts were obtained and thin-walled natural rubber moulds of the RA casts were prepared. Totally filled with and immersed in water, the moulds could be visualized in the apical four-chamber view and an additional 2-DE plane, the latter corresponding to the subcostal view in vivo. In this view the vertical extension of RA could be estimated. Areas and lengths of RA were determined in the respective planes, and RA volume was calculated by applying the formula, area x length, to two intersecting planes. Finally, volume of the silicone casts was determined angiocardiographically (Angio) using a biplane method (30 degrees RAO, 40 degrees LAO-40 degrees hepatoclavicular). The true RA volume was 106 +/- 23 ml (mean +/- 1 SD) as determined by water displacement. Using Angio an excellent correlation was found: the calculated volume amounted to 106 +/- 23 ml; the difference was 5.5 +/- 4.8 ml (n.s.); Angio vol = 0.93 true vol + 7.77; r = 0.95; SEE = 7.4 ml. Volume determination from the apical four-chamber view of 2-DE using a monoplane disk method resulted in a mean volume of 62 +/- 17 ml. The mean difference to the true RA volume was 44 +/- 16 ml (p less than 0.001). When volume calculations were made using the biplane method, a value of 105 +/- 22 ml resulted. The mean difference to true volumes was 7.4 +/- 4.8 ml: y = 0.84x + 15.88; r = 0.91; SEE = 9.4 ml. In an in vivo study endsystolic RA volumes were calculated in a normal adult population (n = 40) from the same intersecting planes as in vitro. A normal value of 38 +/- 6 ml/m2 was found. In vivo validation using Angio showed a slightly higher normal value of 43 = 7 ml/m2. Thus, 2-DE is highly accurate in determining RA volume. In the in vitro as well as in the in vivo study the results of monoplane calculations are clearly inferior to a method which also takes account of the vertical extension of RA. PMID- 2614079 TI - Digital flashing tomosynthesis (DFTS)--a technique for three-dimensional coronary angiography. AB - Digital Flashing Tomosynthesis (DFTS) represents a technique for three dimensional (3D) coronary angiography. Four ECG-gated simultaneously flashed X ray tubes generate a multiperspective digital substraction image as DFTS multiangiogram for 3D reconstruction and visualization. Computerized morphologic and morphometric quantitative analysis can be performed including videodensitometry. Postmortem coronary angiography of 30 human hearts with suspected coronary artery disease was performed by 35-mm cine technique and by DFTS. The results of angiographic measurements in 50 stenotic arterial segments were compared with the histologic reference and show excellent regression results with correlation coefficients of more than 0.95 (p less than or equal to 0.0001). No significant differences in standard errors of estimates between the techniques were found. DFTS yields an accuracy in depiction of the coronary arteries and angiographic estimation of arterial lumen equivalent to 35-mm cineangiography. DFTS images can be directly used for visual interpretation and for computerized morphologic and morphometric quantitative analysis. DFTS technology reduces the amount of radiation exposure, the amount of contrast medium, and the time of the procedure. DFTS offers the possibility to obtain 3D images of the coronary artery tree. PMID- 2614080 TI - The initial clinical evaluation of a transesophageal system with pulsed Doppler, continuous wave Doppler, and color flow imaging based on an annular array technology. AB - The application of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) offers access to a great deal of important clinical information regarding cardiovascular anatomy and physiology. Two applications which have not been reported and would appear to be of interest are continuous wave Doppler capabilities and the implementation of higher frequency transducers. A TEE system designed at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in Trondheim, which is based on an annular array technology, offers these capabilities. We evaluated this instrument in the clinical setting in a series of 30 patients to test the probe function in terms of the tissue and flow imaging quality with a 7.5 MHz carrier frequency, and to report on the implementation of a continuous wave Doppler modality in a TEE probe. We found that the annular array method permitted the use of high frequency probes for tissue and flow imaging which resulted in excellent image resolution, and that shifting the carrier frequency of the transducer to a lower frequency permitted the optimization of the Doppler sensitivity. The continuous wave Doppler was used to measure abnormal blood flow velocities in excess of 5.0 m/s, and was particularly useful in the operating room as velocity measurements could be obtained without compromising the sterile field. The results of our evaluation indicate that high imaging frequencies and continuous wave Doppler can be applied by an annular array TEE transducer. PMID- 2614081 TI - A preliminary study of brain gliomas with H17E2 monoclonal antibody: immunoscintigraphy and pharmacokinetics. AB - Ten patients with relapsing high grade brain gliomas and one patient with low grade glioma were studied with a monoclonal antibody (H17E2) against placental alkaline phosphatase. In addition 2 patients with relapsing high grade glioma were studied with a non specific antibody (4D513/2118). 1 mCi of Iodine-131 labelled H17E2 was administered intracarotidly (i.c.) in two, and intravenously (i.v.) in 9 patients. Immunoscintigrams were taken at 0, 2, 24, 48 and 72 hours. Radioactivity was monitored in blood and urine. Tumour/non-tumour ratios were estimated (max. 2.45). All high grade gliomas receiving specific antibody irrespective of the route of administration, gave a positive immunoscintigraphic pattern, increasing in intensity with time. Disappearance of radioactivity in blood was biexpontential with a long component over 30 hours. Urinary excretion of radioactivity ranged from 3.7-21.7% of administered dose/day. The patient with low grade glioma and the patients receiving non specific monoclonal antibody showed a negative pattern, a fast blood clearance and a high urinary excretion. We conclude that a) Iodine-131 labelled H17E2 proved to be stable in vivo and produced satisfactory tumour localisation and b) i.v. route was as good as i.c. PMID- 2614082 TI - Serum lactate dehydrogenase fails to predict response to treatment and survival in acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. AB - Total serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was measured in 514 adult patients with de novo acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) prior to any treatment and was compared with several disease features, with response to induction treatment, and with relapse-free survival. LDH was higher in the M4 and M5 FAB cytological subtypes and was positively correlated with the white blood cell count (WBC). The proportion of remissions, of deaths during induction, and of failure, and the duration of relapse-free survival, were clearly unrelated to LDH activity, in the whole series as well as in different age groups (below 40 years, and 40 to 60 years) and in any FAB cytological subtype. Multivariate analysis showed that only WBC and sex (female better than male) were marginally related with relapse-free survival. These data provide conclusive evidence that LDH does not help in defining the prognosis of adult ANLL, either because enzyme activity fails to reflect the number and proliferation rate of leukemic cells efficiently, or because with current standard treatment these features are of borderline importance, in contrast with acute lymphocytic leukemia and malignant lymphomas. PMID- 2614083 TI - Comparison of prolactin, CA 15-3 and TPA in breast carcinomas. AB - Circulating prolactin, CA 15-3 and TPA were assayed pre-therapeutically and sequentially thereafter from 68 breast cancer patients attending the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad--a regional cancer institute in Western India. The three marker values were correlated with the stage, histologic grade and disease status. At least one of the markers was elevated in 82% of patients. CA 15-3 and TPA levels were elevated with the advancement of stage. Prolactin levels were high in poorly differentiated tumors of pre-menopausal patients. The disease status was effectively reflected by the levels of prolactin and CA 15-3. TPA showed high false positivity so was of no use as an indicator of disease status. Recurrence could be predicted early, with a lead time of 3-6 months using prolactin and CA 15-3. PMID- 2614084 TI - The pineal gland and breast cancer: serum levels of melatonin in patients with mammary tumors and their relation to clinical characteristics. AB - Several studies have suggested that the pineal gland hormone melatonin may influence the growth of breast cancer. The importance of melatonin blood concentrations in the clinical history of human breast cancer, however, has still to be defined. To further investigate this problem, we used a RIA method to assay serum levels of the pineal hormone in 74 untreated breast cancer patients, clinical stage T1-3 NO-2 MO, and in 46 age-matched healthy women as controls. Mean serum melatonin levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Melatonin concentrations were highest in breast cancer patients with the best prognosis (i.e. estrogen receptor-positive/node-negative cases). Mean levels of melatonin were significantly higher in estrogen receptor-positive patients than in the negative ones. They were also higher in node-negative than in node-positive cases, and in progesterone receptor-positive patients than negative ones, but none of these differences was statistically significant. No difference was observed in relation to menopausal status and to tumor histotype. These results suggest that melatonin plays a role in the hormone-dependency of human breast cancer. PMID- 2614085 TI - Interleukin-2 receptor positive cells and circulating soluble interleukin-2 receptors in patients with solid tumors are not correlated. AB - Activated lymphocytes can release a soluble form of IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), which retains the capacity to bind IL-2. Abnormally high values of sIL-2R have been observed in patients with advanced solid tumors. In an attempt to further understand the biological significance of sIL-2R in solid tumors, this study investigated the relation between sIL-2R and Tac-positive cells. sIL-2R serum levels and Tac-positive cells were determined in 18 patients with solid tumors metastatic, 108 non-metastatic. Tumor types were: breast 7; lung 6; colon 2; stomach 1; testis 1; larynx 1. No correlation was found between circulating sIL 2R values and Tac-positive cells, and there was no difference between Tac positive cell mean number in patients with high and normal sIL-2R levels. These preliminary results suggest that different mechanisms are responsible for sIL-2R release in the blood and IL-2 receptor expression on the immune cell surface. PMID- 2614086 TI - Significance of DNA content in oral carcinoma. AB - Standard cytophotometric measurement of DNA in normal, leukoplakic and cancerous oral and oropharyngeal tissues with a Leitz Weitzler Aristophot Cytophotometer showed both 1% and 5% significance in different grades of malignancy and 5% as regards sites of malignancy. The differences were marked in different grades of malignancy and specially with progression of the lesion. Cytophotometry can be useful to diagnose the stages of carcinoma. PMID- 2614087 TI - CA 15.3 behaviour in cystic breast disease. PMID- 2614088 TI - [The clinical effectiveness of OFLX in the treatment of chlamydial pneumonia]. AB - We treated three patients of chlamydial pneumonia with OFLX, two patients were diagnosed as psittacosis and one as pneumonia associated with TWAR strain by serologic test. Three hundred mg of OFLX was orally administered three times per day and the duration of treatment was from seven to fourteen days, and we compared the clinical effectiveness of OFLX in three cases (mild: 1, moderate: 2) with that of MINO in eleven cases (mild: 3, moderate: 8), who were administered two hundred mg of MINO two times per day orally or intravenously. We isolated C. psittaci from three pet birds including case 2 and the in vitro activity of OFLX and MINO against three strains of C. psittaci was determined. Clinical effectiveness were observed and obtained results were as follows. 1) In OFLX group, three patients judged as "Good", and in MINO, one patient as "Excellent", ten as "Good". 2) The duration of pneumonic shadow was 9.33 +/- 3.21 in OFLX group, 10.3 +/- 3.50 in MINO group, and there was no significant difference between both groups. 3) The in vitro activity of OFLX and MINO against 3 strains was 0.78-1.56 micrograms/ml and 0.025 microgram/ml, respectively. From these results, it was concluded that OFLX was considered to be a useful antichlamydial agent in the treatment of mild or moderate cases of chlamydial pneumonia. PMID- 2614089 TI - [A strain of Pseudomonas vesicularis isolated from shower hose which supports the multiplication of Legionella]. AB - In Japan, a fatal case due to Legionella micdadei was first recognized in our laboratory in 1986. On the epidemiological study just after the case, no Legionella was detected from the environmental samples of the patient's residence, such as shower water, tank water and so on. In the course of prospective investigations, no Legionella was isolated, but many organisms were grown on BCYE alpha and MWY agar plates. In the retrospective study, one of these organisms was found to support satellite growth of Legionella on BCYEagar without L-cysteine. This was the isolate from the shower hose and identified as Pseudomonas vesicularis with the biochemical and DNA-DNA hybridization test. And P. vesicularis type strain ATCC11426 also supported satellite growth of Legionella. Especially in the water supply system, the existence of P. vesicularis seemed to be effective on the growth of Legionella. It must be taken into consideration that efforts made to isolate the nutrient produced organisms as well as Legionella are needed. PMID- 2614090 TI - [Selective decontamination of intestinal flora with oral aztreonam in compromised children]. AB - Effects of oral aztreonam on fecal flora were studied in 6 compromised children. Their ages ranged from 4 to 14 years. Daily doses of aztreonam were 10 to 30 mg/kg. The stool specimens were obtained before the treatment, on day 5 to 7 of aztreonam use and 2 to 5 days after the cessation of treatment. The counts of enterobacteria decreased from 10(7.7) to 10(4.4) per gram of wet feces (p less than 0.01), and bifidobacteria also decreased from 10(10.2) to 10(8.4) per gram of wet feces (p less than 0.01) during aztreonam administration. Those of streptococci increased from 10(2.9) to 10(9.4) per gram of wet feces (p less than 0.001). The other anaerobic organisms showed no marked change. Based upon the above results, we conclude that oral administration of aztreonam may be useful for selective decontamination of intestinal flora in compromised hosts. PMID- 2614091 TI - [Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen for diagnosis of respiratory infection I. Cross reaction with bacteriae consisting normal flora respiratory tract]. AB - We examined the cross reaction of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) by antigen detection method using EIA against the aerobic bacteria which colonize in the respiratory tract of children. Chlamydiazyme showed a cross reaction among 5 out of 7 species of Gram negative bacteria (= 71.4%) and Neisseria and Branhamella catarrhalis showed a cross reaction even in low concentrations of 1 X 10(3-4) CFU/ml. There were no Gram positive bacteria which showed cross reaction. IDEIA Mark III did not react to Gram negative bacteria even in high concentrations of 1 X 10(7-10) CFU/ml. One strain of coagulase positive staphylococcus (CPS) showed positive at a concentration of 1 X 10(8): however, other Gram positive bacteria including two other strains of CPS exhibited no cross reaction. The detectable concentration of C. trachomatis (D/UW 3 strain) using IDEIA Mark III was 1 X 10(3) IFU/ml. Low cross reaction rate and sensitivity suggest IDEIA Mark III is preferable for diagnosis of respiratory infection of C. trachomatis though further clinical studies are necessary. PMID- 2614092 TI - [A case of pneumococcal arthritis in a patient with gout]. AB - A 62 year-old man had suffered from gout and mild renal insufficiency since he was 40 years old. He was admitted to our hospital complicated by a productive cough, high fever and a right swollen knee joint. The chest radiographs demonstrated a left upper lobe infiltration shadow. Streptococci pneumoniae were found in the sputum, arterial blood and synovial fluid of the right knee joint, suggesting a severe pneumonia followed by pneumococcal septicemia which led to purulent arthritis. He was treated with cefamandole (CMD) and penicillin G (PC-G) for one week, but the chest X-ray findings were not improved. After treatment with cefbuperazone (CBPZ) and latamoxef (LMOX), his fever and other symptoms gradually resolved. Streptococcus pneumoniae is an uncommon organism of septic arthritis. Pneumococcal arthritis in a patient without immunodeficiency such as this case is very rare, and has not been reported in Japan. PMID- 2614093 TI - [Etiology of sepsis occurring in the immunocompromised host and its prevention. 2. Preventive effect of BRM to experimental Pseudomonas endogenous septicemia and analysis of its immunological etiology]. AB - In the former report, the bacterial portal of entry in experimental mice with bacteremia were analysed in detail. And it was clarified that almost all of the isolates from blood of cyclophosphamide (CY) and antibiotics treated mice were entered by their own flora, especially by their faecal flora. From this point of view, great care must be taken when using antibiotics for immunosuppressed patients, because it easily causes a super-infection, that is one of the most important factors of endogenous infections. In order to potentiate host immunity, we examined the preventative effect of biological response modifiers (BRM) to experimental endogenous septicemia. MDP-Lys (L18), rhG-CSF, and rhIL-1 were effective on experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa endogenous septicemia of mice. The effect did not depend on the increased number of total leukocytes and PMN. Further experiments using nude mice suggested that the host defence mechanism inhibiting Pseudomonas endogenous infection might not depend on T-cell mediated immunity. PMID- 2614094 TI - [An experimental consideration of the improved (1974) Kelsy-Sykes test for bactericidal effect of disinfectants]. AB - In 1974, Kelsey and Maurer proposed the improved Kelsey-Sykes test as an evaluation method for bactericidal effect of all kinds of disinfectant. We examined the necessity of culturing test organism with the fixed special broth, preparing organism population and using the special container called the universal container proposed in this test. We compared these test results with the phenol coefficient method used usually as an evaluation method for bactericidal effect of disinfectants, and investigated its availability and experimental procedure: the results are as follows. 1) There was not difference between growth medium according to K-S test (Bacto Synthetic Broth A.O.A.C. Code No. 0352) and our nutrient broth (Nissui Nutrient Broth Lot No. 065210) in growth support for the test organisms. 2) There was not difference in test results of bactericidal effect between the standard hard water and whole broth culture used as test organisms suspension or organism suspension with the pellicle of P. aeruginosa and without one. 3) The result using the usual operating test tube was the same as when the universal container was used. 4) The procedure of K-S test was complex in comparison with the PC test method, but was able to presume the usual use-dilution. The K-S test had an advantage in this point. PMID- 2614095 TI - [Epidemic of aseptic meningitis with echovirus type 7 in Gifu prefecture in 1986]. AB - During the period from April to November in 1986, an epidemic of aseptic meningitis occurred in Gifu prefecture. Epidemiological, virological and serological investigations were performed. Cases involved ranged from 0 to 30 years of age, and 84.2% of them were under 7 years of age. Seven types of enteroviruses were isolated from 136 of 190 cases (71.6%), and echovirus type 7 was recovered from 121 cases (88.9%). With the cross neutralizing test between the prototype and isolated strains in 1986 of echovirus type 7, a remarkable antigenic variation could not be found. In the serological studies, the positive rates of neutralizing antibodies to echovirus type 7 in 1985, was lower than those in 1975. During the past 18 years before the 1986, echovirus type 7 was not isolated in Gifu prefecture, but in the serological studies, it was confirmed that the sporadic infection with echovirus type 7 had occurred in Gifu prefecture. PMID- 2614096 TI - [Studies on the clinical and bacteriological effects of ofloxacin on the typhoid patients and carriers]. AB - Fundamental and clinical studies of OFLX were performed against the patients with typhoid fever and typhoid carriers. 1) Clinical and bacteriological effects: Eight patients with typhoid fever and 3 typhoid carriers were treated with OFLX. Daily doses of the agent were 900 mg in 5 adult patients, 600 mg in a child patient and 3 adult carriers. In one case of the remaining 2 adult patients, daily doses of the agent changed from 800 mg to 1200 mg and from 900 mg to 1200 mg in the other one. The duration of the treatment was 9, 14 or 21 days. Clinical efficacies of OFLX against the patients proved 4 cases were "excellent", 3 cases were "good" and one case was "poor". The eradication of Salmonella typhi recognized in all cases containing 3 carriers with the exception of the "poor" case. Adverse reactions were observed transiently in 3 patients, such a slight decrease of RBC count, decrease of granulocyte count and elevation of GPT value respectively. 2) Antimicrobial activity: MICs of OFLX against 40 strains of S. typhi were 0.05 micrograms/ml and 0.1 micrograms/ml. The MICs of NFLX, CPFX and T 3262 were almost the same as that of OFLX, and those of ENX, NY-198 and NA were higher than that of OFLX. The peaks of MIC of CP and ABPC, first choice drug against typhoid fever, were 1.56 micrograms/ml and 0.38 micrograms/ml respectively. 3) Serum concentration; Serum concentrations of OFLX were serially measured on 5 patients through the day. The concentrations of the drug were distributed from 0.82 micrograms/ml to 6.34 micrograms/ml at 6.30 a.m. and from 2.52 micrograms/ml to 11.2 micrograms/ml at 9:00 p.m. Those of the day time showed considerable individual differences. PMID- 2614097 TI - [Studies on bacterial agents in acute diarrheal disease (1985-1987)]. AB - A three-year epidemiological study (from January 1985 to December 1987) was carried out on sporadic cases of acute diarrhea. A total of 2889 fecal specimens in Cary-Blair transport medium were examined for bacterial enteric pathogens, and 832 strains of fifteen species were isolated from 739 specimens, 73 patients having two or more pathogens. C. jejuni shared 51.7%, Salmonella spp. 18.3%, V. parahaemolyticus 10.3%, and Aeromonas spp. 15.7% of total fecal specimens. Isolation rates of C. jejuni and Salmonella spp. in children under the age of fifteen years (19.3%, 6.4%) were higher than those of older years (9.8%, 3.9%), respectively. Isolation of C. jejuni decreased to 24% (12/50) during 2-4 days storage at room temperature in Cary-Blair transport medium, which showed the necessity of rapid plating for isolation of C. jejuni from fecal specimens. Incidence of A. caviae in children up to ten years of age was significantly higher as compared with those of other Aeromonas species. Desoxycholate-hydrogen sulfide-xylose-agar (DHXA) was used for direct plating technique and for plating after enrichment with alkaline peptone water (without NaCl), which was found suitable as an enrichment medium for Aeromonas spp. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7 was isolated from 3 patients by using desoxycholate-hydrogen sulfide-sorbitol-agar (DHSA). PMID- 2614098 TI - Effectiveness of mebendazole in Trichuris trichiura; a report on 2 cases of mild infection. AB - Two admitted patients, a 5-year-old Filipino girl and a 29-year-old Indonesian man, who were diagnosed otherwise were concurrently found to harbour Trichuris trichiura eggs in stoll specimens containing 3,300 and 30 eggs per gram feces (EPG), respectively. A satisfactory response was obtained with administration of mebendazole in the recommended dose of 100 mg twice daily for three consecutive days. Repeated post-treatment fecal examinations revealed 0 EPG. Adverse reaction, either physical or laboratory, due to the anthelmintic was negative. The study indicates that the effectiveness of mebendazole on mild infection with T. trichiura is excellent without any untoward effect. PMID- 2614099 TI - [A case of cryptococcal meningitis successfully treated with miconazole and CSF drainage]. AB - Cryptococcal meningitis is the most frequent fungal infection of the central nervous system, known readily to complicate with immuno-compromised patients. There are only a few cases of primary infection in healthy non-immuno-compromised patients. Amphotericin-B (AMPH-B) and 5-Fluorocytosine (5-FC) are effective agents against Cryptococcal meningitis, although, their toxicity and drug resistance are limiting factors. However, in recent years Miconazole has been widely used against fungal infections and it's effectiveness has been reported. This is a 68 y.o. male who was admitted to Toyohashi Municipal Hospital on March 15, 1987 because of headache, vomiting, diplopia and gait disturbance. Continuous lumbar drainage was performed since lumbar puncture revealed surprisingly high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure and presence of many Cryptococcus neoformans, i.v. AMPH-B and p.o. 5-FC was also administrated. A 7 day course of i.v. AMPH-B and p.o. 5-FC showed no improvement with side effects of macrohematuria and anorexia. Then Miconazole was administrated i.v. and intrathecal (i.t.). The clinical signs and CSF laboratory data improved after a 90 day course of Miconazole therapy and the patient was discharged on August 24. But the patient was readmitted from March 10 to April 30, 1988, because of a slight increase of C. neoformans in CSF (17/mm3) and improved by i.v. and i.t. Miconazole. The total Miconazole dosage was 90.6 g (i.t.: 505 mg) at the first admission and 36 g (i.t.: 50 mg) at the second admission, but no side effect was seen. The reduction of elevated CSF pressure with continuous CSF drainage was also important for the treatment of such cases with increased intracranial pressure. PMID- 2614100 TI - [Inhibitory effect of inositol hexasulfate and inositol hexaphosphoric acid (phytic acid) on the proliferation of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro]. AB - The monosaccharide substances inositol hexasulfate (IHS) and inositol hexaphosphoric acid (Phytic acid, IHP) were investigated for their antiviral effect on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro. In MT-4 cells IHS completely inhibited the cytopathic effect of HIV and the HIV specific antigen expression at a concentration of 1.67 mg/ml. IHP moderately inhibited both of HIV effects as mentioned above. PMID- 2614101 TI - [Relative proportions of H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae in the throat and nasopharynx of healthy children]. AB - To determine normal proportions of pharyngeal H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae, qualitative and quantitative mapping of the species in the pharynx of 538 healthy children was carried out. The detection rates of H. influenzae rose to a peak at 4, 5 years, with a slow decline thereafter. In contrast to H. influenzae, the detection rates of H. parainfluenzae rose as the child became older in age. The rates of H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae of the total cultivable flora showed the same tendency as the detection rates. No consistent seasonal fluctuations was found with H. influenzae. The pharyngeal swab was inferior to the nasopharyngeal swab in each age group, for detecting the carriage of H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae in the upper respiratory tract. The rate of ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae was 17.7% in the nasopharynx. PMID- 2614102 TI - [Postoperative enterocolitis and current status of MRSA enterocolitis--the result of a questionnaire survey in Japan]. AB - There is a trend of increase in the number of Staphylococcus aureus infection recently, and postoperative enterocolitis due to methicillin resistant strains is appearing. Because of this, a nation wide questionnaire survey on postoperative enterocolitis was conducted to clarify the status since 1980. Of the 875 major surgical institutes to which we sent the questionnaire, 370 (42.3%) replied and 67 case reports were obtained from 25 institutes. Twenty published reports were added to this and a total of 87 cases were evaluable. The number of postoperative enterocolitis increased after the year 1985, and those resulting from MRSA infection were more frequent in the northern half of Japan including the Kanto area. It was more frequent in males and the mean age was 57.9. Their onset was sudden, beginning with diarrhea and/or fever between the second and fifth postoperative days. In most of the cases, the cephalosporin group of antibiotics, especially of the third generation, were administered preceding the enterocolitis. Six of cases (24%) did not survive, and in some of the institutes they were considered to be hospital infections, as they appeared consecutively between a short period of time. PMID- 2614103 TI - [Study of organisms isolated from non-infected patients with pneumoconiosis]. AB - Studies on the sputum organisms and their seasonal incidences were conducted on non-infected patients with pneumoconiosis. A total of 3318 organisms were isolated from 1427 sputum examinations, an average of 4 examinations per patient. alpha-Streptococcus, GPC, Neisseria and GNC were isolated in 74.1, 22.1, 64.8, 21.3% of the patients respectively. In addition, organisms to cause respiratory infection were isolated in the non-infected phase. S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, B. catarrhalis, H. influenzae, E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa were isolated in 1.5, 5.1, 2.5, 3.3, 2.9, 6.4, 2.8% of the patients respectively. Studies of the seasonal incidences in these organisms showed that H. influenzae, B. catarrhalis and S. pneumoniae were isolated mostly in winter, S. aureus mostly in spring, E. coli and K. pneumoniae mostly in summer. On the other hand, P. aeruginosa showed no seasonal incidence. In relation to the causing organisms of respiratory infection with pneumoconiosis, it is very interesting that many organisms were isolated in the non-infected phase, and seasonal incidences were observed. PMID- 2614104 TI - [Intraoperative echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular muscle volume changes after intracardiac operation under cardiopulmonary bypass]. AB - Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and concomitant cardioplegic arrest (CA) may cause impairment of cardiac function with development of myocardial edema. There are few reports of intraoperative assessment of LV mass or muscle volume (MV) in patients, Fifteen patients (age; 0.5-68), 10 with congenital and 5 with valvular diseases, were studied by epicardial 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography. LVMV was obtained from M-mode study at pre- and post-CPB during surgery. Pre and post CPB LVMV-index (ml/m2) and percent change of LVMV were compared. CPB-time was 170 +/- 78 min (mean +/- SD), and CA time was 97 +/- 49 min. LVMV index increased significantly from 89 +/- 35 to 103 +/- 43 ml/m2 after CPB (p less than 0.01). Percent change ranging from -3 to +37% (14 +/- 12) correlated to CPB time (r = .81, p less than .01) and also to CA time (r = .62, p less than .05). These results indicated that CPB with CA caused acute increase in LVMV with a positive relation to its duration. PMID- 2614105 TI - [Assessment of cardiac rejection following heart and lung transplantation (I)]. AB - To diagnose the cardiac rejection after the heart and lung transplantation, the histopathological assessment is the most reliable method at the present time. In this study, the heterotopic heart and lung transplantation was performed using rat model and the rejection process of heart allograft was sequentially examined at 1 day, 4 days, 7 days, and 12 days after the transplantation. The gross finding of both ventricles were observed to investigate the development process of the rejection. Then, the most typical findings in each period were analysed using a microscope with our criteria including three components, which are 1. Perivascular findings 2. Interstitial findings, 3. Myocyte degeneration. This study demonstrates that allograft rejection after heart and lung transplantation initiates from right ventricular free wall and spreads into outer layer of left ventricle as same fashion as orthotopic cardiac transplantation. The assessment of these 3 components using the indicators shown in this study might be very useful method to objectively determine the grades of rejection after the heart and lung transplantation. PMID- 2614106 TI - [Assessment of cardiac rejection following heart and lung transplantation (II)]. AB - To investigate the histologic consequence of combined heart and lung transplantation, 15 transplanted hearts were obtained from heterotopic heart and lung transplantation using rat model. The allografts were randomly obtained between 1 and 13 days after the transplantation without use of any immunosuppressants. Based upon our criteria established in our previous study, the degree of cardiac rejection was evaluated using rejection score, independently at seven segments in both ventricles, which are 1) Right Ventricle Free Wall (RVFW), 2) Transient zone between RVFW and Septum (RVFW-SEP), 3) Septum (RVSEP), 4) Left Ventricle (Right outer layer) (LVRO), 5) Left Ventricle (Left outer layer) (LVLO), 6) Left Ventricle (Right inner layer) (LVRI), 7) Left Ventricle (Left inner layer)(LVLI). The degree of cardiac rejection in each segment shows differently and the rejection initiates from RVFW and spreads into RVFW-SEP and outer layers of left ventricle. The segments of RVSEP and inner layers of left ventricle remained normal longer than other segments, and were thought to be less sensitive to diagnose the rejection in early phase. Significant correlation between post-transplanted days and the degree of rejection was observed in all segments except RVSEP. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the myocardial biopsy obtained from RVFW, RUVF-SEP and LVRO after the combined heart and lung transplantation might be more sensitive than any other segments including RVSEP. PMID- 2614107 TI - [The effect of the administration of slow releasing type of dipyridamole on teflon graft patency for experimental superior vena cava replacement in mongrel dogs]. AB - Teflon graft tubes (10 mm in diameter, 20-25 mm in length) were implanted in 40 mongrel dogs for replacement of the superior vena cava and were followed 12 days to 6 months after the operation. In these, 22 dogs in Group I were given a slow releasing type of dipyridamole (10 mg/kg, daily) and 18 dogs in the other group were not given for the control study. The results were compared in each group. The medicated group showed much less rate of graft thrombosis 2/22 (9.1%) vs. 9/18 (50%), less rate of intimal hyperplasia 2/22 (9.1%) vs. 18/18 (100%) and also less rate of graft obstruction 1/22 (4.5%) vs. 9/18 (50%). These findings demonstrated that the medicated group can expect highly significant (p less than 0.01) superior patency of the graft with dipyridamole in macroscopic findings. Also, microscopic and electron microscopic findings showed much more smooth healing of the surface of the graft. We concluded that postoperative administration of a slow releasing type of dipyridamole may be effective for smooth endothelialization of Teflon graft used as the experimental superior vena cava replacement. PMID- 2614108 TI - [Intermediate-term results after Fontan type operation for single ventricle]. AB - From 1983 to 1985, Fontan type operation were successfully performed on five patients with single ventricle. Marked cyanosis disappeared soon after the surgery, and normal exercise tolerance was obtained in all cases but one in the late postoperative period. Compared to marked improvement in the exercise tolerance test, cardiac output remained subnormal both at rest and during exercise even in the late postoperative period. Several types of asymptomatic arrhythmias were observed during the acute postoperative days, but they were not recognized in the intermediate-term postoperative period. Routine blood chemistry studies showed that hepatic function was within normal limits, but hepatic dysfunction was suggested by Indocyanine Green clearance test. Renal function was well preserved after Fontan type procedure. Though cardiac output is subnormal, Fontan type procedure is a safe and effective operation, and intermediate-term state is satisfactory without any signs of heart failure. PMID- 2614109 TI - [The importance of aortic compliance as a prognostic factor after aortic valve replacement]. AB - A variety of clinical variables and physiological parameters have been discussed in relation to postoperative survival and symptoms in aortic regurgitation (AR). Many of them have been derived from left ventricular morphology and functions, but there has been no parameter from aortic functions. As the heart is united with the aortic tree to form a circulatory system and both heart and aorta affect each other, aortic functions also have an important prognostic value after aortic valve replacement (AVR). This study was performed to clarify the participation of aortic functions in determining the prognosis after AVR. Fifteen consecutive patients undergoing isolated AVR for AR were evaluated. Twenty-one preoperative hemodynamic and dimensional variables of both heart and aorta were analyzed to determine the risk factors for early postoperative morbidity. These variables were obtained from chest X-ray film, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, cine aorto-ventriculogram and pressure manometries. All patients were divided in two groups according to the postoperative course. Group I composed of 10 patients took relatively smooth postoperative course, except two patients suffering from cardiac tamponade. Group II composed of 5 patients suffered from low cardiac output syndrome (LOS) and/or dangerous arrhythmias postoperatively. Two out of them died of uncontrollable ventricular arrhythmias. There were no statistic differences between two groups in the factors derived from preoperative examinations, i.e. CTR, LVDsI, PWT, R/Th, %FS, EDVI, EF, CI, LVEDP, etc. Mean aortic compliance of group II, (3.8 +/- 2.1) X 10(-4) mmHg-1, was, however, significantly lower than that of group I, (21.7 +/- 4.8) X 10(-4) mmHg-1, (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614110 TI - [Dobutamine infusion test for predicting the postoperative recovery of left ventricular function in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation]. AB - In order to predict the postoperative recovery of left ventricular (LV) function after valve replacement, dobutamine (DOB) infusion tests were performed on 21 patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (AR). As a predictor of the LV functional reserve. delta mVcf, calculated from the difference between the mVcf in echocardiographs before and after DOB infusion, was used. According to the values of delta mVcf, patients were classified into two groups. The good-response group consisted of 15 patients with delta mVcf greater than or equal to 0.45 cir/sec, and the poor-response group consisted of 6 patients with delta mVcf less than 0.45 cir/sec. Comparison of the early postoperative values in these two groups disclosed that the LV end-systolic dimensions (LVDs) and the %fractional shortening (%FS) improved in the good-response group, whereas in the poor response group, the LVDs remained above 40 mm and the %FS, below 28% in the early postoperative period. A significant correlation was found between the preoperative delta mVcf and early postoperative %FS in both groups. The value of delta mVcf improved postoperatively, both in the good-response group and in the poor-response group; the %FS increased in the poor-response group late postoperatively. In patients whose delta mVcf did not improve in the postoperative DOB infusion test, the %FS remained depressed throughout the follow up periods. Thus, the postoperative delta mVcf showed a significant correlation with the late postoperative %FS. In conclusion, DOB infusion tests were found to be an excellent indicator for estimating the amount and time course of improvement of LV function after surgery. PMID- 2614111 TI - [Protective effect of ventilation on warm ischemic lungs]. AB - This study was undertaken to determine whether lung ventilation during warm ischemia provides a protective effect on lung preservation. The mongrel dogs were made left thoracotomy incision. Following a complete dissection of left pulmonary artery and vein, left lung was subjected to room temperature ischemia for 4 hours or 6 hours by clamping vasculature. Left lung was ventilated with oxygen or collapsed during warm ischemic period. The isolated ventilation of left lung was secured by ligation of left main bronchus over Carlens tube. After the ischemic period, blood supply of the left lung was reestablished by unclamping the pulmonary artery and vein. The contralateral pulmonary artery was ligated 10 min later, and blood gas, pulmonary pressure, and pulmonary shunt were monitored for additional 4 hours while left lungs ventilated with oxygen. In lungs collapsed during 4 hour ischemic period, massive pulmonary edema occurred within 30 minutes after reperfusion. Partial oxygen tension was only 63 mmHg at 1 hour after reperfusion. In contrast, lungs ventilated during 4 hours ischemic period did not manifest pulmonary edema, and PaO2 was 407 mmHg at 4 hours after reperfusion. The lungs collapsed during 6 hour ischemic period showed massive edema. When the lung was ventilated, the lung behaved variably but still better than the collapsed lungs. These results suggest that the ventilation of the lung during warm ischemia provide a protective effect. PMID- 2614112 TI - [Left ventricular contractile function and prognosis of surgical treatment in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation]. AB - We assessed the preoperative left ventricular contractile function affected to the postoperative prognosis in 28 patients with chronic mitral regurgitation (MR). The patients were divided into two groups and compared with 11 normal subjects. 21 patients improved clinically after surgery (group-A) and 7 patients died or did not improve with surgery (group-B). Both preoperative end-diastolic volume index (EDVI) and end-systolic volume index (ESVI) were significantly greater in group-B than in group-A (220 +/- 48 vs 162 +/- 48 ml/M2, 143 +/- 50 vs 66 +/- 21 ml/M2, p less than 0.01). Ejection fraction (EF) was lower in group-B than in group-A (0.36 +/- 0.07 vs 0.59 +/- 0.08, p less than 0.01). End-systolic stress (ESS) was higher in group-B than in group-A (250 +/- 38 vs 170 +/- 37 kdyne/cm2, p less than 0.01). ESS/ESVI was lower in group-B than in group-A (1.83 +/- 0.28 vs 2.66 +/- 0.68 kdyne.M2/cm5, p less than 0.01). The ratio of wall thickness to radius at end-systole (h/R) was higher in group-A than in group-B (0.32 +/- 0.13 VS 0.18 +/- 0.05, p less than 0.01). There were significant positive correlation between ESS and ESVI in normal subjects (Y = 2.14X + 78, r = 0.59, p less than 0.05) and in MR (Y = 210 logX - 206, r = 0.81, p less than 0.001). Patients in group-B were distributed rightward on the logarithmic correlation curve in MR. These data indicated more depressed contractility in group-B than group-A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614113 TI - [The preserving effects of bronchial arteries and pulmonary nerves at radical esophagectomy on cardio-respiratory functions in dogs]. AB - In order to investigate the relationship between postoperative pulmonary complications and radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer including the merit of preservation of the bronchial arteries and pulmonary nerves, changes in cardio respiratory functions were studied perioperatively by using 28 dogs. Four groups of the experiments were designed as follows. Group A, ablation around the esophagus and trachea including upper mediastinal and cervical lymphnode dissection; Group B, Group A with preserving bronchial arteries and pulmonary nerves; Group C, Group A with postoperative hydration of crystalloid; Group D, Group B with postoperative hydration of crystalloid. The following results were obtained. 1. PAP and PWP in Group A showed marked elevations by 3 hours after surgery. 2. Intravenous hydration of crystalloid resulted in remarkable increase in EVLW in Group A, while the slight changes were observed in Group B. 3. In Group A, CL were decreased, and then RL and pulmonary shunt ratio were significantly increased postoperatively as compared with these values in Group B. 4. In microscopic findings of the lung, there were no significant differences between Group A and Group B. On the other hand, atelectasis, congestion and perivascular edema were noted in groups with the hydration. These results suggest radical esophagectomy preserving bronchial arteries and pulmonary nerves play an important role in the prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications. PMID- 2614114 TI - [The experimental study on long-term cardiac preservation: the efficacy of low flow continuous perfusion with fluorocarbon]. AB - We compared the effect of simple immersion and continuous perfusion on long-term cardiac preservation, and evaluated the effectiveness of perfusion with oxygenated fluorocarbon solution. The isolated rabbit hearts were preserved for 24 hours at 4 degrees C using the following five preservation techniques: (1) simple immersion with Collins M solution (Group I), (2) perfusion with oxygenated Collins M solution at a flow rate of 10 ml/hr (Group II), (3) perfusion with the same solution as in Group II at a flow rate of 20 ml/hr (Group III), (4) perfusion with oxygenated Collins M solution containing 10% fluorocarbon at a flow rate of 10 ml/hr (Group IV), (5) perfusion with the same solution as in Group IV at a flow rate of 20 ml/hr (Group V). The hearts of Group I showed a significant decrease of myocardial ATP and an increase of myocardial lactate during preservation compared to the hearts of perfusion groups. Assessment of isovolumic left ventricular function following 24-hour preservation using a support animal showed a significant decrease of Max dp/dt and increase of end diastolic pressure in the hearts of Group I. Perfusion with fluorocarbon (Group IV and V) significantly increased oxygen consumption compared to Group II and III in association with minimum accumulation of myocardial lactate, indicating that aerobic metabolism during preservation is better maintained in the fluorocarbon perfused hearts. Moreover, CPK release and myocardial water gain during preservation were significantly less, and left ventricular function following preservation was significantly better in these hearts. Increasing the flow rate from 10 ml/hr to 20 ml/hr resulted in sustained increase in perfusion pressure (1.80 +/- 0.53 to 3.70 +/- 0.34 mmHg) and myocardial water content (79.2 +/- 0.4 to 87.2 +/- 0.3%) during preservation in the hearts of Group III, but it did not further improve left ventricular function despite significant enhancement of myocardial oxygen uptake in both Group III and V. These results suggest that hypothermic low-flow continuous perfusion with oxygenated Collins M solution is superior to simple immersion with the same solution for long-term cardiac preservation, and that the addition of fluorocarbon to the perfusate enhances the efficacy of such a perfusion. PMID- 2614115 TI - [The effect of epidural injection with morphine on the post-thoracotomy respiratory function]. AB - Patients undergoing thoracotomy experience severe post-operative pain and marked respiratory impairment, which causes pulmonary atelectasis and pneumonia. The effects of epidural injection on postoperative pain and respiratory function were examined in this study. The group undergoing epidural injection of 3 mg morphine (at the end of operation, 09oo and 21oo for the next 3 days) included 37 patients, while the control group involved 16. The number of required analgesics on the operating day and next three days were compared between the two groups. And postoperative vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), maximum mean flow (MMF) were compared with preoperative value. Patients receiving epidural morphine required significantly less analgesics throughout the postoperative periods (p less than 0.01). The morphine injected group had significantly better value in VC and FEV1 in the first two postoperative day (p less than 0.01), while significance were seen only in the first postoperative day in MMF (p less than 0.01). It seems that epidural morphine is highly effective in alleviating pain and improving respiratory function in post-thoracotomy patients. These effects help the expectoration of sputum especially in senile patients. As the side-effects of epidural morphine, urinary retention, nausea, vomiting and itching were seen in few patients. No serious side effect such as hypotension or ventilatory depression were seen. PMID- 2614116 TI - [Complications of IABP in the postoperative management of open-heart surgery--a review of 108 cases in the last 10 years]. AB - During the past decade from May 1978 to July 1988, intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) was used in a total of 108 patients following open-heart surgery at our department. Eleven complications depend on IABP have occurred in nine of theses patients, i.e. five of circulatory disorder on account of ischemia of the lower extremity ipsilateral to balloon catheter insertion, three of ischemia of the abdominal viscera, one of aorto-esophageal fistula, one of gas embolism resulting of balloon rupture and one of damage of the abdominal aorta caused by a Fogarty balloon catheter. Five of these patients died of these complications depend on IABP. Especially, four of five patients died of vascular accidents. These complications were due to operation of the balloon catheter or the driving unit, bat that was no complication related to insert of the balloon catheter. Then, we have to paid more careful attention to driving the intra-aortic balloon. PMID- 2614117 TI - [Prediction of operative mortality by a discriminant analysis for organ functions in patients with esophageal cancer--organ function index]. AB - An "organ function index" (OFI) predicting the risk of operative mortality was presented. OFI was estimated on the basis of dysfunction of the systemic organs in patients with esophageal cancer. The pulmonary, cardiac, hepatic and renal functions were assessed by 23 parameters in 108 patients when they were admitted. Operative death was defined as death due to operative complications occurring within 120 days after esophagectomy or by-pass operation. For a discriminant analysis, patients were limited to those in the early period (from October 1981 until December 1985) when the incidence of operative mortality was relatively higher and the parameters were also limited to statistically evaluable ones. Then, a discriminant analysis was performed using data on 18 parameters of four organs in 35 patients each of whom had no deficit in these data. Operative death occurred in 8 out of these 35 patients. Based on the data, an equation to calculate OFI was generated. It consisted of 7 parameters regarding pulmonary, hepatic and renal functions. The values of OFI less than zero predicted no operative death while those more than zero did predict operative death. The prediction rate on presence or absence of operative mortality by this equation was 91.4% in 35 patients. For clinical application, the predictable risk of operative mortality based on OFI was classified as high (OFI less than 1.4), intermediate (0 less than OFI less than 1.4), or low (OFI less than 0).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614118 TI - [Benefits and limitation of extracorporeal circulation with autologous blood using low priming membrane oxygenator]. AB - The high incidence of hepatitis following cardiopulmonary bypass has stimulated attempts to develop a technique of perfusion without homologous blood. Between October, 1987 and March, 1988, 36 patients underwent open heart surgery without homologous blood transfusion were investigated. Patients with infective endocarditis and urgent surgical cases were excluded from this study. Out of 36 patients using hemoconcentrator, autologous blood and the Variable Prime Cobe Membrane Lung (VPCML), 28 patients (78%) could avoid homologous blood transfusion during the operation and 24 patients (67%) received no homologous blood throughout their hospital stay. Thus, the application of lower volume extracorporeal oxygenator system, reinfusion of residual pump volume using hemoconcentrator and predonated autologous blood could achieved cardiac surgery without homologous blood transfusions in the majority of patients. Moreover, the VPCML had sufficient gas transfer in adult patients with body weight ranging from 37 kg to 70 kg. In renal function, serum creatinine levels in patients without homologous blood were within normal limits throughout 1 month after surgery. However, creatinine level was significantly elevated at the third postoperative day in the homologous blood transfusion group. Thus, these results suggest that application of VPCML and hemoconcentrator combined with predonated autologous blood is useful to achieve open heart surgery without donor blood. PMID- 2614119 TI - [A case report of thrombosed St. Jude Medical valve in aortic position]. AB - We report a successful elective re-aortic valve replacement following thrombolysis therapy with Urokinase. Patient was a 56-year-old male with acute heart failure caused by thrombosed St. Jude Medical valve in aortic position. The thrombosed valve occurred 6 years after the implantation due to poor control of anticoagulation therapy. Surgical findings demonstrated the origin of thrombus at the hinge area. Prompt diagnosis and adequate therapy is essential for the thrombosed valve especially in case of mechanical valve. Thrombolysis therapy should be considered if possible, although emergency operation is always indicated. PMID- 2614120 TI - [Acute massive mediastinal hemorrhage three weeks after mitral valve replacement in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus]. AB - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases and patients suffering from this disease often died of massive hemorrhage. We report the case of a patient who died of acute massive hemorrhage three weeks after mitral valve replacement. The patient, a 42 year-old woman, had been diagnosed as having valvular heart disease at the age of 10. She underwent mitral commissurotomy at the ages of 18 and 32. SLE was diagnosed 8 years previously and corticosteroid therapy was initiated. The patient was experiencing exertional dyspnea again 1 year ago and mitral valve replacement was performed for recurrent stenosis. The postoperative course seemed to be uneventful, but on the 21st postoperative day, acute massive mediastinal hemorrhage occurred, and the patient eventually died of septicemia. Massive hemorrhage in SLE patients usually occur in the central nervous system or alimentary tract. However, bleeding can occur anywhere, so great care must be taken in regulating anticoagulant therapy. PMID- 2614121 TI - [Congenital coronary artery fistula draining into the superior vena cava with giant saccular aneurysm--report of a case]. AB - A 42-year-old woman who had a coronary artery fistula, associated with a giant coronary saccular aneurysm was reported. The coronary artery fistula originated from the proximal portion of the right coronary artery drained into the superior vena cava. The chief complaint was heart murmur which was detected at the 2nd intercostal space of the right sternal border. No other symptoms were present. The aneurysm was approximately 5 X 7 cm in size. In the operation using cardiopulmonary bypass, the proximal and distal portions of the coronary artery fistula were ligated successfully without aneurysmorrhaphy. The postoperative conditions was even without any complications. Congenital coronary artery fistulas with a giant saccular aneurysm should be surgically treated as soon as possible because of potential risk of aneurysmal rupture. PMID- 2614122 TI - [A case report of ultrasonic decalcification for calcified bicuspid aortic valve stenosis]. AB - Calcified stenotic aortic valve are usually replaced by the artificial valve. Recently, we are trying to decalcify the calcification of the aortic valve by ultrasonic energy. This case report reviewed a small physique, 47 year old female, who had the calcified stenotic bicuspid aortic valve and the narrow aortic valve ring (18 mm diameter). The ultrasonic decalcification was performed by the ultrasonic surgical instrument, SUS-201D (ALOKA), ultrasonic energy output range from 25% to 45%. After the ultrasonic decalcification, the movability of the aortic cusps were improved and the aortic opening was enlarged. The systolic pressure gradient across the aortic valve was improved from 100 mmHg to 20 mmHg. This method "ultrasonic decalcification" is very useful technique for the repair of the calcified aortic valve stenosis. PMID- 2614123 TI - [Simultaneous corrections Bentall procedure, mitral valve replacement and sternoplasty for a patient with Marfan's syndrome]. AB - A successful case of simultaneous modified Bentall' procedure, MVR and sternoplasty was presented for a 42 years old man of Marfan's syndrome who had funnel chest, combined with mitral regurgitation, aortic regurgitation and annuloaortic ectasia. A few reports of one stage operation for the combination of funnel chest and heart disease in Marfan's syndrome has been published. A median sternotomy was made, with total cardiopulmonary bypass, heart was arrest and cor cooling hypothermia with crystalloid cardioplegic solution. Mitral valve was replaced with #31 B-S prosthetic valve. The ascending aorta proximal to the innominate artery and the aortic valve were replaced en-bloc with composite graft made of a vascular graft and aortic valve prostheses. Coronary artery orifices cut to the button-shaped, were sutured to the composite graft. Finally, sternoplasty was completed through modified Ravitch sterno-elevation. This is the first report in Japanese journals. PMID- 2614124 TI - [A case of supravalvular aortic stenosis with spontaneous remission of peripheral pulmonary stenosis]. AB - A 14-year-old junior high school boy was admitted to our institute. Previously he had been diagnosed as having peripheral pulmonary stenosis (Gay's classification, type IV) at the age of 2 years and 10 months. On this occasion, however, a diagnosis of supravalvular aortic stenosis was made, with a pressure gradient of about 120 mmHg, and all examinations showed spontaneous remission of peripheral pulmonary stenosis. He underwent a successful standard aortoplasty. This is the first reported case of spontaneous remission of peripheral pulmonary stenosis. PMID- 2614125 TI - [A successful case of localized aortic dissection associated with bicuspid aortic valve]. AB - It is known that bicuspid aortic valve is a risk factor of aortic dissection in Europe and America, but there is no report of the case in Japan. A 47-year-old male teacher of senior high school had an abrupt onset of chest pain. Aortogram showed localized dissection of the ascending aorta and moderate degree of aortic regurgitation. Cold cardioplegic arrest with moderate systemic hypothermia was used under cardiopulmonary bypass. The aortic valve was bicuspid and localized transverse intimal dissection was also found above left-sided commissure. As both cusps were soft and not degenerative, mattress sutures were used to support the prolapsed cusps against the outer aortic wall. The ascending aorta was replaced with a prosthetic vascular graft. Postoperative clinical course was uneventful and he is doing well two years after the surgery. The bicuspid aortic valve and aortic dissection were also discussed. PMID- 2614126 TI - [Treatment of mediastinal infection following cardiac surgery by continuous closed irrigation with povidone-iodine in early infancy]. AB - Two patients aged 2 months and 9 days with postoperative mediastinal infection were treated by continuous closed irrigation with 0.5% povidone-iodine solution. Satisfactory eradication was achieved in both two patients. Although serum iodine level was elevated as high as 7,610 micrograms/dl in the neonatal patient, no disturbances of the thyroid function and the acid-base balance were seen. The usefulness of continuous closed irrigation in the neonatal or infantile period was suggested. PMID- 2614127 TI - [A case of tracheal stenosis following surgery of esophageal cancer]. AB - A case of 54-year-old man with tracheal stenosis following surgery for thoracic esophageal cancer was reported. It was considered that the stenosis had occurred due to the tracheal ischemia after esophagectomy and lymph node dissection. Importance of preservation of tracheal blood supply was again noticed. On tracheal reconstruction, application of pedicled pleural flap was recognized to be useful in order to repair the leakage from membranous portion that could not be closed by suture. PMID- 2614128 TI - [Raghib's syndrome associated with cor triatriatum--a rare surgical case report]. AB - A 27-year-old male with a history of congenital heart disease was admitted for pre-operative evaluation of a cardiac malformation. Echocardiography and cardiac catheterization revealed an incomplete endocardial cushion defect with a persistent left superior vena cava which drained into the left atrium but echo cardiographic evidence of an abnormal intra-atrial septum was not found. The patient was placed on cardiopulmonary bypass and prepared for the surgical correction of his primary cardiac lesion. Intra-cardiac examination during reconstruction of Raghib's syndrome also revealed the presence of cor triatriatum. Reghib's syndrome is characterized by the combination of abnormal drainage from the left superior vena cava into the left atrium, the presence of an atrial septal defect and the absence of a coronary sinus. To prevent secondary complications such as a brain abscess, we redirected blood flow from the left superior vena cava to the right atrium utilizing a trimmed woven dacron vascular graft that was placed in the intra-atrial position. Mitral valvoplasty, excision of the obstructing diaphragm and atrial septation were also performed successfully. Although the literature has described the surgical repair of Raghib's syndrome, its correction in combination with cor triatriatum is considered to be extremely rare. PMID- 2614129 TI - [A case report of successful repair for ruptured aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva (I VSD) with aortic regurgitation]. AB - A nineteen-year-old female who had history of infectious endocarditis underwent surgical repair for ruptured aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva with aortic regurgitation. Through aortotomy mild degree of prolapse of right coronary cusp and perforation of left coronary cusp sized 6 mm in diameter were recognized and the latter was thought to be the dominant lesion resulting in severe aortic regurgitation. Following direct closure of ruptured aneurysm and patch closure of ventricular septal defect, perforated left coronary cusp was repaired with autologous pericardium. Post operative course was uneventful and she is now doing well. PMID- 2614130 TI - [Surgical repair of scimitar syndrome by direct anastomosis between right pulmonary vein and left atrium]. AB - A surgical case of 8-year-old boy with scimitar syndrome is presented. The patient was admitted to the hospital because of exertional dyspnea and underdevelopment. Cardiac catheterization revealed a large amount of left to right shunt and O2 step up at the level of the inferior vena cava below the diaphragm. Angiography showed that the pulmonary vein draining the right lower lobe pierced the diaphragm and emptied into IVC. At operation the right pleural cavity was entered and a large anomalous pulmonary vein trunk was found which headed downward and medially and eventually entered in the diaphragm. A direct anastomosis between the scimitar vein and left atrium was made. To avoid kinking or stenosis of this vein, the parenchyma of the right lung (S7) was divided to create a passway of the vein. Anastomosis was performed without excessive tension or kinking on it. We conclude that the method applied in this case might be a procedure of choice for the repair of scimitar syndrome especially when there is no associating atrial septal defect or scimitar vein drains into IVC at the level lower than hepatic vein. PMID- 2614131 TI - [A case of omental pedicle flap plombage for fungus ball type pulmonary aspergillosis]. AB - The usual surgical treatment for fungus ball type pulmonary aspergillosis is lobectomy, but in cases of aspergillosis located in a post-lobectomy space a second lobectomy is difficult because of the accompanying inflammatory process. A 53-year-old male underwent left upper lobectomy for pulmonary tuberculosis eight years ago. Six year postoperatively, he developed fungus ball type aspergillosis in the post-lobectomy space with bronchopleural fistula and recurrent hemoptysis. We performed an omental pedicle flap plombage via the post-sternal route to resect the pleural cavity fungus ball. The post operative course was uneventful and clinically the bronchopleural fistula was closed. PMID- 2614132 TI - [Surgery of acute aortic dissection]. PMID- 2614133 TI - [Risk factors in thoracic surgery--their prevention and management]. PMID- 2614134 TI - Surgical treatment of complex congenital heart disease with modified Fontan procedure. AB - Between October 1973 and mid-January 1987, 500 patients underwent a modified Fontan operation at the Mayo Clinic. This included 163 patients with tricuspid atresia, 154 patients with double inlet ventricle, and 183 patients with other complex single ventricle malformations. There have been 80 hospital deaths (16%). In the last 5 years there have been 39 deaths (11.7%). Lowest mortality was seen in patients with tricuspid atresia (11% overall, 5.8% last 5 years) and highest mortality was seen in patients with complex lesions. Younger age at operation, elevated pulmonary artery pressure, elevated right atrial pressure following operation, and prolonged bypass times were significant risk factors. The modified Fontan procedure provides effective palliation for complex congenital cardiac anomalies which have no other satisfactory treatment. Criteria for operability have been extended beyond those originally proposed for this operation. The operative mortality continues to decline with increasing experience, late results are good, and longevity appears to be increased. The Fontan operation has been increasingly utilized as the definitive surgical palliation for patients with functional single ventricle. At the Mayo Clinic, over 600 patients have undergone a modified Fontan operation since our first case in October 1973. This presentation gives the results of the first 500 cases and describes the various preoperative and perioperative factors which may influence a successful outcome. PMID- 2614135 TI - Transplantation for end-stage lung disease. PMID- 2614136 TI - The dilation and intubation of malignant strictures of the oesophagus. PMID- 2614137 TI - [Experimental study of a right heart assist device using skeletal muscles. Construction of a right heart bypass pump and right ventricular free wall]. PMID- 2614138 TI - [Experimental study of the possibility of extended use of a left ventricular assist device using transplanted autologous skeletal muscle]. PMID- 2614139 TI - [Effects of coronary sinus pressure on left ventricular function following Fontan surgery. The theoretical basis for reflux between the coronary sinus and left atrium]. PMID- 2614140 TI - [Monitoring of spinal cord function during aortic interruption--with special reference to the efficacy of cerebral cortex stimulation]. PMID- 2614141 TI - [The effects of extended use of a left ventricular assist device on the normal left ventricular myocardium--a histomorphometric study]. PMID- 2614142 TI - [Experimental study of heart-lung preservation by autoperfusion]. PMID- 2614143 TI - [Experimental study of bronchomalacia]. PMID- 2614144 TI - [Enzymatic study of the preserved lung during lung transplantation]. PMID- 2614145 TI - [Preparation of a heart-lung transplantation model in the rat thoracic cavity and its rejection reaction]. PMID- 2614146 TI - [Experimental study of esophagectomy under bilateral thoracotomy--respiratory and circulatory dynamics during the acute stage]. PMID- 2614147 TI - [Re-evaluation of surgical treatment of lung cancer]. PMID- 2614148 TI - [Surgery of esophageal cancer invading the surrounding tissue-combined therapy and prognosis]. PMID- 2614150 TI - [Innovation for preservation of respiratory function in thoracic surgery]. PMID- 2614149 TI - [The univentricular heart--septation and Fontan surgery]. PMID- 2614151 TI - [Surgery of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction]. PMID- 2614152 TI - [Education of thoracic surgeons--problems and solutions]. PMID- 2614153 TI - [Surgical treatment of malignant invasive mediastinal tumors--innovation for the improvement of surgical results]. PMID- 2614154 TI - [Lymph node excision in tumors of the thoracic esophagus in view of postoperative function and prognosis]. PMID- 2614155 TI - [Alpha-helix formation of isolated fragments of pancreatic polypeptide]. PMID- 2614156 TI - [The significance of tadpole metamorphosis for application to study neural development]. PMID- 2614157 TI - [New probes for the analysis of membrane cholesterol--modified toxins which bind specifically to cholesterol molecules with no cytolytic effects]. PMID- 2614158 TI - [Phosphatidylserine biosynthesis in mammalian cells]. PMID- 2614159 TI - [An assay method for neutrophil NADPH oxidase in a fully soluble cell-free system]. PMID- 2614160 TI - [Acidic phosphoproteins of eucaryotic ribosomes]. PMID- 2614161 TI - [Clinical and radiological surveys of lumbar spondylolysis in young soccer players]. AB - Four thousand eighty one young boy soccer players ranging from age 7 to 12 were surveyed with a hope to establish the specific causative factors and the preventive measures for spondylolysis. Four hundred ninety six (12%) out of these players were found to have lumbago. Two hundred forty seven out of these boys with lumbago received X-ray examinations on which 122 were found to have lumbar lesions. These lesions included spondylolysis, concave vertebral endplates and narrowed disc, the incidence of which were 30.8%, 21.1%, and 8.1%, respectively. Spondylolysis occurred most commonly at L5 and was classified into fissure type (56 cases) and pseudoarthrosis type (20 cases). The occurrence of spondylolysis was related well to the duration of the training time per week. On X-ray examinations, spondylolysis was found to be correlated closely with trapezoid deformity at L5 and increased lumbar lordosis. Thirty patients (71%) out of 42 with fissure type showed solid healing of their pars defect as a result of conservative therapy. The results of the present study indicated that young soccer players should limit their training time to 1.5 hours per day and to 3 days per week in order to prevent spondylolysis. PMID- 2614162 TI - [Changes in fatty acids composition in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with myelopathy]. AB - The composition of fatty acids in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with cervical myelopathy, thoracic myelopathy, cauda equina syndrome, and spinal cord injury were measured by gas chromatography. The relationship between the change in fatty acids composition and the improvement of symptoms and pathology were studied. The percent distribution of eicosadienoic acid (C20: 2) in fatty acids composition was found to be significantly increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with cervical and thoracic myelopathies (p less than 0.05), and with incomplete spinal cord injury (p less than 0.01) against control group. Although the high percent distribution, especially over 10%, of C20: 2 in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patients with cervical or thoracic myelopathy before operation decreased after operation, no correlation was found between the decrease of percent distribution of C20: 2 and improvement of symptoms. A positive relationship was found between the decrease of percent distribution of C20: 2 and the improvement in symptom of patients with central spinal cord injury. PMID- 2614163 TI - Concentration of interleukin-1 beta in serum and synovial fluid in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and those with osteoarthritis. AB - The concentration of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in serum and synovial fluid of the knee of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and those with osteoarthritis (OA) was examined using a recently developed radioimmunoassay method. The serum concentration of IL-1 beta was below the detection limit of 0.25 ng/ml in all RA and OA patients. The IL-1 beta concentration in the synovial fluid was higher in RA patients than in OA patients. In RA patients, a significant correlation was demonstrated between the synovial fluid IL-1 beta concentration and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, synovial fluid white blood cell count and Lansbury index. The synovial fluid IL-1 beta concentration decreased with the reduction of the rheumatoid activity by the medication, but tended to increase or remain high when inflammatory activity of RA could not be adequately controlled. The IL-1 beta concentration, easily determined, shows promise as a new quantitative indicator of rheumatoid activity. PMID- 2614164 TI - Tibial plateau-fibular head distance of normal Japanese knees measured in lateral view of roentgenogram. AB - In total knee arthroplasty, the top of fibular head sometimes has to be resected simultaneously during cutting tibial plateau. Therefore, tibial plateau-fibular head distance was measured in the 244 normal knees of 125 Japanese volunteers (80 men, 45 women), with average age of 27 years ranging from 21 to 40 years. Tibial plateau-fibular head distance was measured using lateral view of knee roentgenogram. The average distance was 6.1 +/- 2.5 mm in men (range, -0.5 to 12.5 mm), and 4.7 +/- 2.6 mm in women (range, -2.5 to 12.0 mm), which was thinner than that of tibial component of conventional knee prosthesis (6-8 mm or over). The relatively high level of fibular head in Japanese may disturb proper positioning of tibial component and transmit load to tibial component in weight bearing, resulting in gradual medial tilting of the tibial component. Resection of either a tip of the fibular head or a segment of the shaft may solve this problem. PMID- 2614165 TI - [Hip abduction force measured by a new method and its relation to EMG activity]. AB - I measured hip abduction force using a new device of my own design and evaluated the correlation between hip abduction force and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris and adductor longus in 20 normal adults. Hip abduction force showed a maximum value on starting and decreased during abduction of the hip joint. Durability, on the other hand, showed an increase. The attenuation curve was approximated to the exponential function A.e-Kt; A and l/k indicating maximum hip abduction force and durability, respectively. Maximum hip abduction force was about 20 kg and durability was about 160 seconds on starting hip abduction. The regression coefficient between hip abduction force and EMG activity of the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris and adductor longus was 1.5, 06, 0.6 and 0.2 respectively. From these results, I concluded that although the gluteus medius plays the major role in hip abduction, the rectus femoris and gluteus maximus may act as stabilizers for maintaining the position of hip abduction. PMID- 2614166 TI - [An experimental study on the osteoconductive properties of porous calcium phosphate glass ceramics]. AB - Porous blocks of calcium phosphate glass ceramics (CaO 52 mol %, P2O5 47 mol %, Al2O3 1 mol %, mean pore size 200 microns, mean porosity 85%) were implanted in the distal femoral metaphysis of rats and were observed for up to one year. The materials were evaluated histologically and morphometrically using contact microradiography and Masson-Goldner staining. Comparative experiments were conducted employing similar methods as described above, with calcium phosphate glass ceramics, sintered hydroxyapatite and alumina ceramics, each having 70% porosity. The compressive strength of each implanted material was measured at a certain intervals up to 6 months after implantation. Bone formation was seen from the periphery to the center of the block. Mass of the regenerated bone and infiltrating depth of the new bone increased with the passage of time. New bone formation with the glass ceramics was observed to be almost equivalent to that obtained with hydroxyapatite, and was significantly higher than that with the alumina ceramics. PMID- 2614167 TI - [Establishment of osteoblastic cell line (OR-D 3)]. AB - To establish an osteoblastic cell line, new-born mouse calvaria was cultured in alpha MEM with 10% fetal calf serum. Four colonies with marked cell division were formed at the 3rd generation. By the limiting dilution method, eight clones (A1, B1, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D3) were obtained. Cells from C3 and D3 had marked alkaline phosphatase activities. After the addition of 10 mM beta glycerophosphate to the medium, white nodules stained by Kossa's method were formed in D3 dish. Transmission electron microscopy revealed matrix vesicles, collagen fibers and needle-like crystals of hydroxyapatite in these nodules. These findings indicated that D3 clone had the ability of mineralization. PMID- 2614168 TI - [The effect of fat tissue autotransplantation on the changes in tissue surrounding the dura mater following laminectomy]. AB - Problems, probably caused by the adhesion of scar tissue to the dural sac or nerve roots, may appear after a laminectomy in which resection was required. In our department, free auto-fatty tissue transplantation has been clinically performed since 1979 in an effort to prevent this phenomenon, and favorable therapeutic results have been obtained. In the present study, the possible influence of extradural tissue on the dura mater over certain periods was investigated in post-laminectomized adult rabbits. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of transplanted fatty tissue on adhesion was examined. In the laminectomy only subject group, a remarkable development of granulating tissue was observed. This tissue subsequently adhered to the dura mater, often resulting in a delayed repair of the dura mater and its surrounding tissue. In the fatty tissue transplanted group, on the other hand, the transplanted fat preserved its composition morphologically and rapid degeneration was deterred even in free grafts, so scar formation was inhibited at the site of the laminectomy. In comparison with the laminectomy-only group, furthermore, the repair of the tissue surrounding the dura mater was accelerated by the transplanted fatty tissue, beginning in the early postoperative stage. PMID- 2614169 TI - [Functional conservative treatment of leg fractures]. PMID- 2614170 TI - [Reality and theory of sports medicine]. PMID- 2614171 TI - [Orthopedics and home care]. PMID- 2614172 TI - [Orthopedic management of leg deformities in patients with cerebral palsy]. PMID- 2614173 TI - [High yielding culture of LAK cells by the concentration rotary tissue culture system and its clinical application]. AB - The concentration rotary tissue culture system (Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc. Japan) was utilized to induce LAK cells from the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of brain tumor patients. These LAK cells were administrated into the tumor cavity or cerebrospinal space of the patients. Under our culture system, the final administration of LAK cells increased tenfold of the initial PBLs, which were collected by leukapheresis. Around 4 weeks after the culture, these cells could not increase in number, with the decrease in cytotoxicity activity against Daudi and human glioblastoma (ONS-12) cells. The level of ammonium and lactate in the culture medium were comparatively kept low. IL-2 receptors were amplified with the increase in T cell population, especially helper T cells. This system may be a good tool to induce LAK cells for adoptive immunotherapy. PMID- 2614174 TI - [Clinicopathological analysis of endometrial carcinoma in young women]. AB - Endometrial carcinoma found in patients younger than 50 years of age were analyzed clinicopathologically in comparison with those of other age groups. The results were 1) Out of 150 patients with endometrial carcinoma, 44 (29.3%) were diagnosed in those younger than 50 years of age and 17(11.3%) were under the age of 40. The average age of endometrial cancer was 53.6 years and that of atypical endometrial hyperplasia was 49.2. 2) The majority of these patients (93.4%) had ever complained of vaginal bleeding, whereas those younger than 40 years of age had in 82.4%. 3) History of irregular menstrual cycle was only observed in 25.6% of the patients with the age 50 or older, whereas it was complained of in 61.5% of those among forties and in 56.3% of those younger than 40. 4) Nulliparity was found in 19.8% among 50 and older, whereas 70.4% and 64.7% were seen respectively in those among forties and younger than 40. 5) Hypertension was found more frequently in older patients, but diabetes mellitus and obesity did not correlate with age. 6) Seventy cases (46.7%) has history of receiving screening for cervical cancer without detecting endometrial cancer. 7) Well differentiated adenocarcinoma (G1) and adenoacanthoma was observed frequently in younger age group. Endometrial hyperplasia was often combined with cancer in young women. Having the data above mentioned, importance of screening for endometrial cancer in younger women is discussed. PMID- 2614175 TI - [Studies on pregnancy after CO2 laser conization for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia]. AB - One hundred and sixteen patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were treated by CO2 laser excisional conization, from 1985 to 1987. All operations in this series were performed in the outpatient unit. 1) In this series, 83.6% (97 out of 116) were patients with CIN and 44.0% (51 out of 116) were patients under the age 39 who can be pregnant. 2) There was no remaining in the 16 materials out of 44 obtained by hysterectomy due to cervical dysplasia and carcinoma in situ (CIS). 3) In our series, 10.3% (6 out of 58) of the women with dysplasia or CIS (surgical margin negative) required two treatments respectively to eradicate their disease from 9 months to 16 months after laser conization. 4) None of 72 women developed postoperative cervical stenosis and cervical infection. 5) Much of the epithelial cover, although originating from columnar cells, became squamous epithelium by 28 days. 6) There were 5 pregnancies in 72 patients, from 5 months to 13 after laser conization. From our studies, a CO2 laser conization for treating CIN preserved the architecture of the cervix, permitting adequate colposcopic and cytological follow-up, and preserved cervical function, so that fertility is not affected and so that there is no interference with pregnancy. PMID- 2614176 TI - [Radiotherapy of uterine cervix carcinoma]. AB - Seventy-eight patients with uterine cervix cancer were treated radically with standardized radiation therapy at Teikyo University Hospital in Tokyo from January 1979 to December 1985. The age of these patients ranged from 32 to 88 years old (average age 66.0). The pathology and the stage of them were 71 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (1 in stage I, 11 in stage II, 58 in stage III and 1 in stage IV) and 7 cases of adenocarcinoma (6 in stage III and 1 in stage IV). The cumulative survival rates for 5 years by Kaplan-Meier method were 71.5% for squamous cell carcinoma stage II, 47.4% for squamous cell carcinoma stage III and 0% for adenocarcinoma stage III. Radiation injury was studied by the grading system of Kottmeier-NIRS in Japan. The incidence of the injuries for grade 2 and 3 was 12.8% (10/78), and the items of those were rectal injury 5.1% (4/78) and sigmoidal colonic injury 7.7% (6/78). The results of survival rate were fair for the squamous cell carcinoma compared with the other reports but poor for adenocarcinoma stage III. Concerning the therapy for advanced adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix, special consideration should be given for irradiation doses or infusion chemotherapy. PMID- 2614177 TI - [Clinical evaluation of serum osteocalcin in patients with bone metastasis of breast cancer]. AB - Bone metastasis is one of the characteristic behavior of recurrent breast cancer. Usually, X-ray detect and/or bone scintigraphy are used to evaluate bone metastasis. However, false positive cases are occasionally encountered in these modalities. This is a report of the results from the measurement of serum osteocalcin (OC) in breast cancer with bone metastasis. OC is one of the protein dependent on Vitamin K. The results were as follows: 1) Serum levels of OC in 56 patients with primary breast cancer were measured. The mean level of serum OC was significantly higher than that in patients with benign breast disease. But the comparisons in each stage were not statistically significant. 2) The mean serum OC level in patients of primary breast cancer with bone metastasis was higher than that in breast cancer without bone metastasis (p less than 0.05). This was remarkable in the patients of recurrent breast cancer (p less than 0.01). 3) Serum OC levels in bone metastasis patients were increased in group with normocalcemia, while it was normal or decreased in that with hypercalcemia. There was no significant correlation between either serum OC and ALP values, or between serum OC and serum Ca values. The slight positive and reverse correlation were observed between OC and ALP, OC and sCa, respectively. 4) In many cases with bone metastasis, serum OC levels were elevated before bone lesions were detected by bone scintigraphy. 5) In advanced stage of the patients with bone metastasis and hypercalcemia, serum OC level decreased. The increased level of serum OC was maintained when high dose of calcitonin was administered. PMID- 2614178 TI - [Mass screening for breast cancer in Gunma prefecture--the results for 8 years and future problems]. AB - In Gunma prefecture, mass screening for both breast and thyroid cancer at the same time was conducted between April 1980 and March 1988 with the cooperation of the Gunma Cancer Society. In this paper, the results of mass screening for breast cancer and further problems are reported and discussed. The total number of subjects during these eight years was 191, 603 on the first screening with physical examination alone. Of these, 18,208 (9.5%) examinees were required to attend the second examination. Breast cancer was detected in 159 cases. The detection rate was 0.08% among total subjects. Also thyroid cancer was detected in 244 (0.13%). The detection rate for breast cancer was approximately twice as high at the initial screening (0.11%) than at the subsequent periodic screening (0.06%). Patients with breast cancer detected by mass screening showed an earlier stage and a better prognosis compared with those of our ordinary outpatients. The 8-year disease-free survival rate in mass screening and in outpatient cases was 94.9% and 83.2%, respectively, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Interval breast cancer was also found in 19 cases (Tis; 1, Stage I; 8 and Stage II; 10) and 5 patients had nodal metastases. This mass screening program is a useful means for early discovery and early treatment of breast cancer. Hereafter, we should intend to increase the number of initial examinees and women aged 60 and over. Also it is important to make and train physicians for such screening, and to educate women about the practice of breast self examination. PMID- 2614179 TI - [Efficacy and adverse effects of beta-interferon in the treatment of malignant glioma]. AB - Sixteen patients with malignant glioma were treated by the intravenous administration of beta-interferon together with chemoradiotherapy. Five of the cases were recurrent gliomas. Seven of the 11 fresh cases were treated with beta interferon, more than two months after cessation of the radiotherapy. Of the 16 cases, 12 cases showed partial regression of tumors, or no regrowth of tumors on CT scan, 2 cases showed no improvement, and 2 cases were unevaluable due to the short follow-up periods. IFN-beta is often administered, in combination with antineoplastic agents and radiotherapy, to patients with malignant glioma. Some patients have shown sufficient suppression of the growth of the malignant glioma only through administration of IFN-beta 1 x 10(6) IU once or twice a week. Some patients, however, have developed severe bone marrow suppression due to the combination therapy of IFN-beta and antineoplastic agents. Therefore, the blood of patients should be tested twice a week, and the data should be analyzed within the same day to determine the subsequent treatment. IFN-beta administration should be stopped if the platelet count drops below 1.0 x 10(5)/mm3 or half of the initial figure, and the course of disease of the patient should be carefully observed. PMID- 2614180 TI - [Elevation of soluble transferrin receptor substance in serum of cancer patients with suppressed natural killer activity]. AB - Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) in serum of cancer patients was measured by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the effect of sTfR for natural killer cytotoxicity was also studied. The statistical values of sTfR levels in sera were found to be 250 +/- 77 U (Mean +/- SD) in healthy individuals, while 288 +/- 162 U in chronic liver disease, 402 +/- 290 U in hepatocellular carcinoma, 429 +/- 261 U in gastric cancer, 347 +/- 207 U in acute leukemia and malignant lymphoma, and 251 +/- 100 U in other cancer. No significant difference in the sTfR levels among the patients was observed, although the difference between the healthy individuals and the patient groups was shown to be statistically significant at p less than 0.01 level. The effect of sTfR isolated from serum of a patient with iron-deficiency anemia by means of Sephadex G-200 column for natural killer activity was carried out. Cytotoxicity of natural killer cell in healthy individuals was inhibited by sTfR as the dose dependent manner, and the inhibitory rate was found to be 23.1 +/- 12.8% (Mean +/- SD) when the concentration of the sTfR was 1,250 U added in the cytotoxicity test. Furthermore, the inhibitory activity of serum in cancer patients was correlated with the sTfR level. These results suggest that sTfR is one of the inhibitory factors for the natural killer cell activity in vivo, and the factor could be facilitated for tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, the measurement of sTfR in serum may be useful for monitoring immunological competency in cancer patients. PMID- 2614181 TI - [A fundamental and clinical investigation of cancer antigen 130 (CA 130) in the field of obstetrics and gynecology]. AB - Two murine monoclonal antibodies designated 130-22 and 145-9 have been recently established by immunizing mice with a pulmonary carcinoma cell line (PC-9). With use of these monoclonal antibodies a sensitive sandwich immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) for cancer antigen 130 (CA130) was developed in Daiichi Radioisotope Laboratories (Tokyo). Applying this IRMA kit CA130 concentrations were measured in various body fluids with special reference to obstetrics and gynecology. The results are as follows; 1) A CA130-IRMA showed excellent sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility and analytical recovery. The standard dose-response curve covered the range from 10 to 500 U/ml. 2) Serum CA130 levels measured by this assay system were closely correlated with serum CA125 levels, demonstrating quite a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.965). 3) In pregnancy maternal CA130 levels increased moderately (less than 300 U/ml) in the first trimester, and thereafter fell rapidly under normal upper limit (less than 35 U/ml). Immediately after deliveries maternal CA130 levels showed a rapid increase, reaching 269 U/ml (mean levels). In amniotic fluids CA130 concentrations were greatly elevated (3,236 U/ml mean levels), while the levels were almost within normal limit in the umbilical arterial and venous blood. Accordingly it is necessary to measure Schwangerschaftsprotein 1 or human chorionic gonadotropin simultaneously with CA130 to rule out possible pregnancy. 4) CA130 was clearly localized in the amniotic epithelium and umbilical sheath and other placental tissue components remained negative for this antigen. Taking the lower CA130 levels in the umbilical sera into consideration, these immunohistochemical results suggest CA130 is not oncofetal but oncoplacental. 5) Serum CA130 levels increased pretherapeutically beyond 35 U/ml in 87% of ovarian malignancies, and in 56% of endometrial carcinoma. The mean levels of serum CA130 reached 931 and 143 U/ml, respectively. These data indicate clinical usefulness of CA130 as a tumor marker for those diseases. By contrast serum CA130 levels were lower, and very few cases showed serum CA130 levels over 35 U/ml in cervical cancer. 6) In endometriosis 88% of the cases demonstrated increased serum CA130 levels, indicating its usefulness for monitoring therapeutic courses, just like CA125. In benign gynecologic diseases over 80% of cases showed increased serum CA130 levels while only slight increase in serum CA130 was found (mean levels less than 84.0 U/ml). This disadvantage could be lessened by a combination assay with CA72-4 and others whose serum levels were very low in the benign diseases. PMID- 2614182 TI - [Clinical results of hyperthermia alone in the treatment of refractory human tumors]. AB - Retrospective analysis of patients with refractory tumors which were treated with hyperthermia alone in five institutions was performed. Hyperthermia was applied to 30 refractory tumors including 19 deep-seated tumors for a total of 427 sessions by 8 MHz or 13.56 MHz radiofrequency capacitive heating devices. Of the 30 tumors treated, 3 (10%) showed complete regression and 2 (7%) more than 50% regression. Although tumor regression was observed in small tumors, large deep seated tumors did not respond to heat alone. Thus, response rate of hyperthermia alone was lower than expected, although subjective improvement by hyperthermia was noted in 53% patients. We consider that hyperthermia should be combined with radiation or chemotherapy whenever possible. PMID- 2614183 TI - [A case of bilateral renal metastases from non Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma]. AB - A patient with bilateral renal metastases from non Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma originating in the aortocaval abdominal lymph nodes was treated with chemotherapy. Initially, methotrexate (20 mg/m2), vincristine (0.6 mg/m2), cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2), adriamycin (20 mg/m2), and bleomycin (30 mg/m2) were given on day 1, cisplatinum (50 mg/m2) was given on day 2, and prednisolone (20 mg/body) was given from day 1 to 3 (MVP-CAB regimen). Since the patient was 74 years old and had slight renal dysfunction, for the first and second courses of this therapy, methotrexate and cisplatinum were administered at 60% of the usual dose and the other 4 anticancer agents at 70% of the usual dose. Only prednisolone was given at the full dose. From the third course the 6 anticancer agents were used at 70% of the normal dose. Administration was performed every 4 weeks until the third course, and every 8 weeks after the fourth course (total number of cycles of MVP-CAB: 8 cycles). A marked improvement of the general state and a reduction of the tumor size were noted following treatment. Since regrowth of the residual tumor occurred, as second line chemotherapy cytosine arabinoside (100 mg/m2) on day 1, ifosfamide (1 g/m2) on day 1 to 2, etoposide (100 mg/m2) plus prednisolone (20 mg/body) on day 1 to 3 were administered (AraC-VIP regimen). The timing of administration was similar to that of the MVP-CAB regimen. More than 50% tumor reduction was obtained with this regimen. The total survival time since the beginning of chemotherapy is 2 years to date. PMID- 2614184 TI - [A young adult male with primary carcinoma of the jejunum]. AB - A 37-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of epigastric pain and weight loss. He was in a stable state of health until 2 months earlier but gradually worsened and lost weight about 13 kg during 1 month. After 1 month, he consulted our clinic. Upper GI barium studies revealed malignant stenosis in about 50 cm from the ligament of Treitz. Radical surgical resection was performed including the segment in 25 cm of intestine containing the primary tumor. Lymph node and liver metastases were not seen. Pathologic findings revealed "well differentiated adenocarcinoma". Thirteen months after the operation, he is well and has gained weight to state of health. PMID- 2614185 TI - [The effect of local administration of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) on metastatic gastric tumor: report of an autopsy case]. AB - The case is reported in which local administration of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) was successfully performed. A 54 year-old female who was operated on for advanced gastric cancer 15 years ago suffered from dyspnea and swelling of left anterior cervical lymph nodes. The histological examination of the cervical lymph node biopsied and cytological finding of pleural effusion confirmed the metastasis of adenocarcinoma. 11 x 10(6) unit of rIL-2 (S6820, Shionogi) per day was administered into the pleural cavity 8 times per month and this therapy was successful in decreasing a amount of pleural effusion. Simultaneously the number of tumor cells in pleural effusion was diminished, the CEA level in pleural effusion were also decreased and the LAK activities of prepared lymphocyte from pleural effusion were augmented. 6.5 x 10(6) unit of rIL-2 was also administered per day locally into the left anterior cervical lymph nodes 13 times per month and induced the decrease of lymph node swelling. A slight fever which can be controlled with antipyretic agent easily was only symptom after local administration of rIL-2. Besides the success of these treatment, the general condition gradually deteriorated. She died 6 month after admission. The autopsy revealed that only one anterior cervical lymph node was slightly enlarged and there is a few tumor cells in the lymphatic sinus. No other lymph node was found around the cervical area. There are a prominent pleural fibrous adhesion including only a few tumor cells infiltrated. These findings strongly indicated the clinical usefulness of local administration of rIL-2. PMID- 2614186 TI - [Results of radiation therapy for medulloblastoma]. AB - Results of radiation therapy for cerebellar medulloblastoma at Kyoto University Hospital were reviewed. Between 1962 and 1988, 30 patients with histologically proven medulloblastoma completed radiotherapy. Before 1971, the treatment volume was either the posterior fossa only or posterior fossa plus spinal axis, but after 1972, it was extended to include the entire neuraxis. The mean dose was 48 Gy to the posterior fossa, 36 Gy to the whole brain, and 25 Gy to the spinal axis. The 5-year survival rate and 5-year relapse-free survival rate estimated by the Kaplan-Meier's method were 36% and 37%, respectively, for total cases, but were as high as 79% and 80%, respectively, for the recent 10 patients. This improvement in the treatment results appeared to be due to extensive tumor resection and improved radiotherapy technique, and not to the use of chemotherapy. The prognosis was significantly better in patients treated with craniospinal irradiation than in those otherwise treated. There was a trend towards better survival in patients who received 50 Gy or more to the posterior fossa or 24 Gy or more to the spinal axis, compared to the patients who received lower doses to each site. No significant morbidity of radiotherapy was seen. Four of the six surviving patients who were treated below age 12 have a mental retardation and/or a short stature, but one patient treated at age 5 has a normal growth and a good intelligence. From these analysis, it is recommended to irradiate craniospinal axis and posterior fossa up to 25-35 Gy and 50-55 Gy, respectively. PMID- 2614187 TI - [Effect of vaginal antibiotics suppository on retroperitoneal-space infection after hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy for uterine cancer]. AB - Effects of vaginal antibiotics suppository on the retroperitoneal-space infection were studied in 42 patients who had hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy with diagnosis of uterine cancer stage I or II. All patients received intravenous administration of 1 g LMOX (3 times/day) for 7 days after operation. One group of patients (21 cases) received 0.5 g of ABPC vaginal suppository (twice/day) for 10 days immediately after operation. Another group of 21 patients did not received vaginal suppository. The LMOX concentrations in the exudate decreased rapidly from the 3rd day to the 7th day. The frequencies of bacterial appearance in the retroperitoneal-space in the vaginal suppository group were 33% on 5th day, 33% on 7th day and 20% on 9th day, while those in the control group were 100%, 100% and 76%, respectively. It was concluded that the administration of vaginal antibiotics suppository was easy to handle and effective for preventing the retroperitoneal-space infection after hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. PMID- 2614188 TI - [Immunohistochemical approach to reveal the growth potential of uterine cancers using anti-BrdU antibody and Ki-67]. AB - To reveal the growth potential of uterine cancer, the population of S-phase and proliferating cells were examined with immunohistochemical technique using anti BrdU antibody and Ki-67. BrdU is a thymidine analogue that is also incorporated into nuclear DNA and S-phase cells are recognized with anti-BrdU antibody. Ki-67 reacts a nuclear antigen present in proliferating cells (late G1, S, M and G2 phase). The percentage of BrdU-labeled cells (labeling index: LI) and that of cells recognized with Ki-67 (growth fraction: GF) were calculated. LI and GF were examined in 12 cervical cancers (LI: 16.0 +/- 6.0; GF: 32.2 +/- 11.2, mean +/- SD), 18 normal ectocervical portions (LI: 6.9 +/- 3.1; GF: 11.4 +/- 5.0), 13 endometrial cancers (LI: 15.9 +/- 5.0; GF: 26.2 +/- 9.0) and 11 normal endometrial tissues (LI: 12.2 +/- 6.1; GF 20.3 +/- 6.8). Indices of GF were always higher than LI in any cases. Both indices of LI and GF in malignant cases were higher than normal cases, therefore, high growth potential of uterine cancer was demonstrated. Both LI and GF of squamous cell carcinoma were higher than adenocarcinoma. In general, the values of GF were parallel to those of LI, and a regression line: Y = 1.44 X + 3.93 (r = 0.80) was obtained. Therefore, S-phase cells occupied about 60-70% of all proliferating cells. These results showed that these two parameters were useful to evaluate growth potential of uterine cancer, but calculation of GF using Ki-67 might be superior to LI using anti-BrdU antibody in terms of simplicity and rapidity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614189 TI - [Clinical investigation of plasma prostaglandin levels in patients with digestive cancers]. AB - Plasma PGE2 level of 45 patients with digestive cancers, 10 patients with digestive benign diseases and 10 healthy controls were examined. Some patients were also examined plasma levels of TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGF2 alpha. Plasma PGE2 level of digestive cancer patients (53.5 +/- 69.1 pg/ml, mean +/- SD) were about 10 times higher compared to healthy controls (5.2 +/- 3.8 pg/ml, p less than 0.01). Patients with digestive benign diseases also revealed elevated level of plasma PGE2, but the change of value were smaller than those of digestive cancer patients. Furthermore, in the case of digestive cancer patients, significantly elevated levels of TXB2 (49.7 +/- 60.3 pg/ml, p less than 0.05) and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (33.9 +/- 31.5 pg/ml, p less than 0.01), and significantly reduced levels of PGF2 alpha (246 +/- 63 pg/ml, p less than 0.01) were noted. The changes in plasma prostaglandin levels of digestive cancer patients may reflect, even though prostaglandins are present in normal human body and are inactivated rapidly, the biological characteristics of tumors and in vivo reactions of the host. PMID- 2614190 TI - [Successful adoptive immunotherapy with OK432-inducible activated natural killer cells on tumor-bearing mice]. AB - We had demonstrated that the NK cell mediated cytotoxicity of murine spleen cells could be augmented by in vivo prime and subsequent in vitro challenge with the streptococcal preparation OK432, and the cell surface phenotype of induced killer cells was Thy 1+, asialo GM1+, suggesting the activated NK cells (OK-NK cell). The culture supernatants of spleen cells with OK432 possessed the activity of IL 2 and IFN-gamma, and the IL-2 played a major role to induce the OK-NK cells via the production of IFN-gamma. In this study, we examined the effect of adoptive transfer of OK-NK cells on tumor-bearing mice. The mice were implanted SP2 myeloma cells intraperitoneally (i.p.), or C26 colon adenocarcinoma cells subcutaneously (s.c.) to make the models of peritonitis carcinomatosa or solid tumor, and the OK-NK cells were transferred i.p. or i.t., adoptively. By the adoptive transfer of OK-NK cells, the 92% of mice bearing SP2-tumor had be cured. The tumor growth of C26-solid tumor was inhibited, and the survival rate of mice bearing C26-tumor was increased, significantly. The intratumoral remnants of 125I labelled OK-NK cells were 61.27 and 8% after intratumoral transfer, respectively. By multiple transfer of OK-NK cells the anti-tumor effect was more augmented than that of a single transfer. Thus we recognized the anti-tumor effect of adoptive transfer of OK-NK cells on tumor-bearing mice, and suggested that OK-NK cells could be useful for the therapy of cancer patients. PMID- 2614191 TI - [Prognostic significance of regional blood flow, blood volume, oxygen extraction fraction, and metabolic rates of oxygen and glucose as measured by positron emission tomography in patients with gliomas]. AB - We tested clinical significance of hemocirculatory and metabolic values and ratios as determined by positron emission tomography (PET) in twenty-three patients with cerebral gliomas. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), blood volume (rCBV), oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF), and metabolic rates of oxygen (rCMRO2) and glucose (rCMRGl) were measured prior to treatment using PET with 15O2, C15O, 15O2, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose tracers. For the quantitative analysis, regions of interest were delineated on tumor regions including peak activity, the contralateral gray and white matter. The regional values and the ratios of tumor/gray matter and tumor/white matter were compared to performance status (PS) according to the five functional grades system which are defined by the Japan Society for Cancer Therapy, tumor progression-free time (PFT), survival time (ST) from the time of the PET study, regardless of type of therapy. As with rCMRGl, the tumor values and the ratios of tumor/gray matter and tumor/white matter correlated significantly with PS (tumor/gray: p less than 0.05, tumor/white: p less than 0.01). Both the gray rCBF and the tumor/gray rCBF ratio had close relation with PS and/or PFT (p less than 0.05). The gray matter rCMRO2 and the tumor/gray matter rCMRO2 ratio related significantly (gray matter: p less than 0.01, tumor/gray: p less than 0.05) to each clinical parameter of PS, PFT, and ST. These indicate that values and ratios as determined by PET can be useful in predicting the prognosis of glioma patients. PMID- 2614192 TI - [Clinico-pathological study of elderly women with malignant ovarian tumors]. AB - Twenty-five elderly women (those 70 years or older) with borderline and malignant ovarian tumors during the past 20 years were reviewed clinico-pathologically in comparison with 160 younger women (those 69 years or younger). The following results were obtained: 1) The incidence rate of elderly women for all patients of borderline and malignant ovarian tumors was 13.5%, and did not tend to increase in the past several years. 2) The rate that the elderly woman visited first at the other department excepting the department of obstetrics and gynecology was 36%, and which was statistically higher than that of the younger woman (p less than 0.01). 3) Fifty-two % of elderly patients had some complications and the incidence was significantly higher than that (23.1%) of younger patients (p less than 0.005). 4) Histopathologically in elderly patients, 9 patients (36%) were of serous cystadenocarcinoma and 17 patients (68%) were of malignant epithelial tumor (primary ovarian cancer and malignant Brenner tumor). 5) Of elderly patients, 8 (47.1%) were in Stage III and IV, and it was higher incidence than that (33.3%) of younger patients. In advanced cases, the histological grades became more poorly. 6) The survival rate of elderly patients in Stage III and IV was significantly lower than that in Stage I and II. The various treatment for Stage III and IV patients did not demonstrate the correlation in prognosis. In contrast, the survival rate for the group treated surgically in Stage I and II was significantly higher than that of non-surgical group (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614193 TI - [Eel calcitonin treatment on patients with urogenital carcinoma for relief of pain from metastatic bone lesions]. AB - Forty-seven patients of advanced urogenital carcinoma with bone metastasis were treated with eel calcitonin (CT) to relieve severe pain from metastatic bone lesions. Patients were 45 males and 2 females with a mean age of 72.9. CT was administered intravenously at a daily dose of 160 units for 10 days. The efficacy of CT on relief of pain was estimated using a mark sheets filled by each patient and his or her doctor. And also the amount of analgesics given to patients before and after the administration of CT were checked. CT was effective on 77% of patients to reduce severe bone pain, especially on osteoblastic lesions metastasized from prostatic carcinoma. CT administration decreased the amount of analgesics in 37% of the cases. As toxicity, nausea and vomiting which stopped the CT administration were observed in only one From these results, we conclude that CT is quite useful drug for relief of severe bone pain from metastatic lesions in patients with urogenital carcinoma. PMID- 2614194 TI - Effect of preoperative chemotherapy by intraarterial infusion of cisplatin (cis dichlorodiammineplatin) on primary osteosarcomas. AB - Preoperative chemotherapy was conducted in seven cases of osteosarcoma by twice administering intraarterial infusions of cisplatin (100 mg/m2/day) and the effects were studied through evaluations of clinical symptoms, plane radiograms, angiographic findings, serum alkaline phosphatase levels determined prior to and after the intraarterial infusion, and the rate of necrosis of tumor cells in the resected material. Results of treatment were as follows: disappearance of pain in two cases; reduction of pain in five cases; reduction in tumor size in three cases; and an increase in tumor size in one case. Radiograms obtained after treatment showed a reduction of tumor shadow at the extraskeletal site in one case; no change in five cases; an increase in one case, a clearly defined lesion border in one case; and no change in six cases. The radiograms showed no significant change in many cases, but this is perhaps because the radiograms were taken only four weeks after the start of treatment. Angiograms obtained after the preoperative chemotherapy revealed the disappearance of neovascularity in neoplasms in three cases, reduction in two cases, and no change in two cases. Reductions in the rates of serum alkaline phosphatase levels were in the range of 8.3 to 93% (average, 47.8%); the rates of necrosis of the tumor cells in the resected materials were ranged from 53 to 95% (average, 82.1%). The present chemotherapy resulted in formation of a fibrous connective tissue in the reactive zone and in increase in thickness of its pseudo-capsule. From this, it may be said that, if a tumor is to be resected in the area a few of more centimeters distant from the newly formed tissue, the surgery can be conducted within a wide curative margin, or a safer surgical margin. Results obtained from an overall evaluation of the effects showed the chemotherapy to be markedly effective in one case, effective in four cases, slightly effective in one case, and to have no effect in one case. For making life prognostic evaluations, more case data and longer-range follow-up observations will be needed. PMID- 2614195 TI - [Effects of female sex steroid hormones on human endometrial adenocarcinoma transplanted into nude mice]. AB - In order to clarify the minute reactions of endometrial adenocarcinoma to sex steroid hormones, especially Progesterone (P), two kinds of in vivo models with differing sex steroid hormone receptor content were transplanted into nude mice. Subsequently, Estrogen (E2) and P were administered alone or together. Sequential histopathological changes, tumor growth curve and volume doubling time were investigated as compared to the castrated control group. Growth rate was increased by E2 administration compared to controls for the model positive for the E2 receptor (ER) and negative for the P receptor (PR), with PR production confirmed in 1 of 3 mice. P produced a slight inhibition of growth, and the inhibitory effect of P was additive with E2. The histological findings consisted of dense solid masses of cells in the tumor in mice treated with E2. The cells decreased in number and in some foci, the tubular glands were cystic in P-treated mice. The number of tumor cells in mice treated with E2 and P was less than in mice given P alone because of a secretive function seen in the appearance of PAS positive granules in the glandular epithelium and degenerative change such as swelling. With the tumor negative for both ER and PR, on the other hand, there was little difference in tumor cell growth between the treated and control groups, and no inhibitory effect was observed after administration of P or coadministration of E2 and P. Histologically, findings with increased nuclear division of tumor cells suggestive of tumor cell growth were obtained after administration of E2 alone and coadministration of E2 and P. E2 exhibited cell growth promoting action in endometrial adenocarcinoma, whether or not ER was present, and P appeared to inhibit tumor cell growth in the presence of ER even when PR was absent. In short, it was suggested that P acted by some mechanism independent of PR. After coadministration of E2 and P, tumor cells were affected in a direction toward functional differentiation in the ER positive tumor. The inhibitory effect of P was obviously additive with E2 in this tumor, while it was suggested that in ER negative tumor, E2 alone promotes tumor cell growth. PMID- 2614196 TI - [Clinical study of osteoporosis]. PMID- 2614197 TI - [Clinicopathological features of atypical mycobacterial infections]. PMID- 2614198 TI - [Malignant lymphoma--diagnosis and therapy]. PMID- 2614199 TI - [Magnetic resonance imaging in neurological disorders]. PMID- 2614200 TI - [Usefulness and limitations of coronary angioplasty]. PMID- 2614201 TI - [Delta bilirubin]. PMID- 2614202 TI - [Pathogenesis and pathology of Alzheimer's disease]. PMID- 2614203 TI - [A case of rhabdomyolysis associated with calcium deposition to the skeletal muscle and myocardial necrosis]. PMID- 2614204 TI - [Hypertransferrinemia and monoclonal immunoglobulinemia (IgM), with breast cancer]. PMID- 2614205 TI - [Perforation of sigmoid colon in primary amyloidosis: report of a case]. PMID- 2614206 TI - [A case of thyrotropin-, growth hormone-, and prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma with a remarkable response to long-acting somatostatin analogue (SMS201 995)]. PMID- 2614207 TI - [A case of lung carcinoma associated with acanthosis nigricans and increased titer of anti-nuclear antibody]. PMID- 2614208 TI - [A successful treatment of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis by interleukin-2]. PMID- 2614209 TI - [An autopsy case of double cancer of multiple myeloma and malignant mesothelioma]. PMID- 2614210 TI - [A case of acute benzalkonium chloride intoxication]. PMID- 2614211 TI - [An adult case of Noonan's syndrome with valvular pulmonary stenosis, atrial septal defect, and severe right ventricular overload]. PMID- 2614212 TI - [A case of hypereosinophilic myocarditis which showed degranulated eosinophils by immunocytochemical technique]. PMID- 2614213 TI - [Elevated IgM platelet antibody in a case of acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura following mumps]. PMID- 2614214 TI - Choosing the right embryo: the challenge of the nineties. PMID- 2614215 TI - Follicular fluid steroid content and in vitro steroid secretion by granulosa lutein cells from individual follicles among different stimulation protocols for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. AB - The in vitro steroidogenic capacity of granulosa-lutein (G-L) cells aspirated from individual follicles during cycles of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer was examined and compared among three different stimulation protocols: human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG), clomiphene citrate (CC) and hMG, and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). In addition, the clinical outcome of the patients in each protocol was examined. After 3 days of culture in basal medium, fresh medium with or without androstenedione (A) (10(-7) M) was added for 24 hr, at which time medium was obtained for measurement of progesterone (P) and estradiol (E) content. Follicular fluid (FF) P, E, and A were measured in each follicle and compared among protocols. FF from individual follicles in patients stimulated with FSH contained higher levels of P compared to FF from patients stimulated with hMG or CC/hMG, while E was higher in patients stimulated with CC/hMG compared to FSH or hMG. FF levels of A were not significantly different among the protocols. In vitro steroid secretion revealed a progressive increase in P secretion in contrast to decreasing E secretion when one compares CC/hMG, hMG, and FSH. Patients undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation with FSH had significantly more atretic oocytes identified at the time of oocyte harvest compared to patients undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation with CC/hMG or hMG. The hMG protocol yielded significantly fewer fertilized oocytes, cleaved embryos, and transferred embryos, compared to the CC/hMG and FSH protocol, however, there was no significant difference in pregnancy rate among the three protocols. These data demonstrate that individual follicles contain G-L cells with markedly different abilities to luteinize in vitro as assessed by steroid secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614216 TI - Preincubation of human spermatozoa in test-yolk medium: effect on penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes and correlation with other semen characteristics. AB - Penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes by human spermatozoa after preincubation with BWW medium (standard technique) or a buffer system containing egg yolk (TESTY) was compared by applying both treatments to aliquots of 60 ejaculates from 34 patients. The TESTY-treated spermatozoa penetrated the oocytes much more successfully than the spermatozoa treated by the standard technique. Although the penetration levels achieved by the two methods were significantly correlated, the correlation coefficient was too low to predict the penetration outcome from one technique to the other. More consistent results were obtained when different ejaculates from the same donor were treated by TESTY than by the standard technique. Spermatozoan penetrating ability was more strongly correlated with sperm concentration, motility, and morphology after treatment by the standard technique than after TESTY treatment. Much larger differences in penetration were present between normal and abnormal ejaculates when the standard technique was used than TESTY. PMID- 2614217 TI - The association between chlamydial-specific IgG and IgA antibodies and pregnancy outcome in an in vitro fertilization program. AB - Chlamydial-specific IgG and IgA antibodies were determined by a single serovar (L2) immunoperoxidase assay (IPA) in the serum of all patients that have conceived in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF & ET) program (n = 106) and in a group of patients that went through the program at the same period of time and did not conceive (n = 94). The prevalence rate of elevated IPA IgG (titers greater than or equal to 1:128) and IPA IgA (titers greater than or equal to 1:16) specific to chlamydiae was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in the IVF & ET pregnancy loss and nonconception groups ("failures") versus the IVF & ET term pregnancy group ("successes") (74 vs 47%, odds ratio = 4.1, and 34 vs 14%, odds ratio = 4.3, respectively). Stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that elevated specific chlamydial IgG had the greatest effect on the variance between successes and failures in this study group. Our study indicates the possible role of past or chronic active chlamydiae infection on the "take-home baby rate" in an IVF & ET program. PMID- 2614218 TI - Pregnancy results following embryo transfer in women receiving low-dosage variable-length estrogen replacement therapy for premature ovarian failure. AB - This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of a new, constant low dose, variable-length estrogen replacement therapy in preparing the endometrium of women suffering premature ovarian failure for embryo implantation. Five of 10 patients receiving the new regime became pregnant following a total of 14 embryo transfers. This study proves the efficacy of low-dosage variable-length estrogen replacement therapy for preparing the endometrium for embryo implantation in patients suffering premature ovarian failure. These studies confirm earlier observations that sequentially increasing doses of estrogen during the follicular phase are unnecessary for implantation and that the length of the follicular phase within certain undefined limits is not critical. A second important observation arising from this study concerns the relative effectiveness of the route of administration of progesterone. Five of seven patients became pregnant after receiving vaginal pessaries, compared to none of seven following intramuscular injections. PMID- 2614219 TI - Isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from intact and microinjected preimplantation bovine embryos washed or treated with trypsin or antibiotics. AB - Incubation of day 7 bovine embryos with 10(4) or 10(6) CFU/ml of Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) or microinjection of M. bovis into the cells of day 7 embryos did not influence embryonic development. M. bovis was recovered from all embryos washed 10 times by a standard pipetting method or vortexed and pipeted 10 times. M. bovis was also recovered from zonae pellucidae removed and washed from microinjected embryos. Neither treatment with trypsin nor exposure of embryos to combinations of penicillin, streptomycin, lincomycin and spectinomycin, or gentamicin, tylosin, lincomycin, and spectinomycin, inactivated M. bovis. PMID- 2614220 TI - Tailoring a commercial radioimmunoassay to the range of levels of progesterone occurring in human serum during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and following embryo/gamete transfer. AB - While the Pantex direct P radioimmunoassay is used widely in programs of assisted conception, its sensitivity and range do not encompass the wide range of levels of P in serum of many patients during COH and through the first trimester of pregnancy. The present communication details minor modifications to the proprietary Pantex assay which accommodate these requirements. The nature of the changes does not compromise the performance characteristics or simplicity of the original assay and facilitates precise, accurate, and rapid measurement of serum P between 0.05 and 1280 ng/ml. PMID- 2614221 TI - Management of anal epidermoid carcinoma--an evaluation of treatment results in two population-based series. AB - Between 1978 and 1984, two unselected population-based groups of patients with anal epidermoid carcinoma were analysed: (1) a retrospective group (Stockholm region, 90 cases), where the treatment varied considerably (partly radiation therapy +/- chemotherapy +/- surgery, partly surgery alone), and (2) a prospective group (Uppsala region, 51 cases) mainly treated by primary irradiation +/- chemotherapy followed by surgery in some cases. At diagnosis, 106 of the patients were free from metastases. Two of these patients died before treatment began. Of the remaining 104 patients, 77 received primary radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy, 44 to a dose of 30-40 Gy and 33 to a higher dose level, 55-65 Gy. Radiotherapy was followed by surgery in 28 cases. Twenty-seven patients were operated on primarily. The projected 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in the Uppsala than in the Stockholm region (all patients: 55% versus 43%; patients with no initial dissemination: 75% versus 48%). The prognosis was better in patients initially treated with radiotherapy than in those initially treated with surgery. Long-term disease-free survival was 88% in patients treated with radiation alone to an adequate (high) dose level. Multivariate analyses indicated that besides stage and sex, initial treatment and region gave statistically significant prognostic information. There was no evidence that chemotherapy (Bleomycin) conferred any additional benefit. It is concluded that the initial treatment in anal carcinoma should be radiotherapy (+/- chemotherapy). In patients with no initial dissemination, this therapy seems to improve 5-year survival by 25-30% compared with primary surgery. PMID- 2614222 TI - Surgical repair of vulvar anus in adults. AB - Three adult women with previously unoperated vulvar anus underwent surgical treatment for faecal incontinence which developed in adulthood. The obvious cause of incontinence in these patients was the weakening of pelvic floor musculature by aging and pregnancy. Two of the patients had several associated anomalies. The anus was transposed to the normal perineal position through the well-developed external sphincter found posterior to the vulvar anus. Faecal continence improved markedly in all patients. PMID- 2614223 TI - Can the external anal sphincter be preserved in the treatment of trans sphincteric fistula-in-ano? AB - A method of preserving the external anal sphincter in the treatment of complex trans-sphincteric fistula-in-ano is described. Cure without division of the external sphincter was possible in 44% of cases. Disturbances of continence, common after conventional fistula surgery, appeared to be reduced in those patients whose external sphincter remains intact. PMID- 2614224 TI - Warmth and comradeship of a pet animal. PMID- 2614225 TI - Early ossification within the human fetal otic capsule: morphological and microanalytical findings. AB - Besides the use of conventional techniques such as light and polarization microscopy, the present paper proposes the combined use of transmission electron microscopy, secondary and backscattered electron imaging, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and computed tomography for the diagnostic evaluation of ear pathology in the human fetus. These methods were used to revisit the primary calcification front of the fetal otic capsule between 16 and 23 weeks gestational age. Ultramicroscopic evaluation demonstrates similar fetal bone formation to that found in other bones of the human fetus. The formation of the endosteal and periosteal layers is a typical example of early intra-membranous ossification. The enchondral layer is made up of fibrillar bone, laid down around the calcified cartilage remnants. Microchemical analysis indicates a significantly higher Ca/P ratio in the endochondral layer with respect to the endosteum and periosteum. The consequences of a lower Ca/P ratio in the endosteal layer are discussed in view of calcium homeostasis and inner ear function. PMID- 2614226 TI - Spiral prominence epithelium. AB - Recent studies have shown neuroendocrine-type cells in human spiral prominence epithelium. A light microscopic and ultrastructural study was made on the guinea pig spiral prominence epithelium to try and identify neuroendocrine cells. The study showed that such cells were not present in the guinea pig spiral prominence epithelium. The spiral prominence epithelium was characterized by uniformity of cellular staining with Toluidine blue and the ultrastructural appearance. The morphology of the spiral prominence epithelium was similar to that previously described. The absence of neuroendocrine cells in spiral prominence epithelium in the guinea pig is discussed in relation to species differences. PMID- 2614227 TI - Effect of acoustic overstimulation on the glycocalyx and the ciliary interconnections in the organ of Corti: high resolution scanning electron microscopic investigation. AB - Changes in ciliary interconnections in the organ of Corti are described after acoustic overstimulation using a special high resolution scanning electron microscope and tannic acid-osmium staining technique, giving an almost three dimensional view. Guinea pigs were exposed to a 3.85 kHz pure tone at an intensity of 120 dB for 22.5 minutes. The first detectable change was a disarrangement of the cilia with a loosening of the interconnections. The ciliary plasma membrane presented with an abnormally smooth appearance. The tip links connecting the tips of the stereocilia to their taller neighbours were also affected showing elongation or even disappearance. The fine granules which cover the tips of the tallest stereocilia of the outer hair cells were decreased. These findings suggest that acoustic overstimulation may affect the carbohydrate metabolism exceeding to degeneration of ciliary interconnections resulting in a disarrangement and detachment of cilia. The tip links, which may participate in sensory cell transduction, seem also to be affected by acoustic overstimulation. PMID- 2614228 TI - Auditory and vestibular findings in Waardenburg's type II syndrome. AB - A group of 33 patients with the autosomal dominant form of Waardenburg Type II syndrome underwent hearing and vestibular examination. A bilateral, symmetrical, sensorineural hearing loss was found in 51 per cent of the tested subjects. The severity of hearing loss varied from mild to severe. Strong evidence indicated the possible progressive nature of the hearing loss. Concerning the frequency of vestibular findings, the study highlights the frequent divergence between cochlear and vestibular involvement. PMID- 2614229 TI - Pneumatic otoscopy: study of inter-observer variability. AB - The degree of inter-observer variability in the results of pneumatic otoscopy, used to predict the presence or absence of middle ear effusion was assessed. A group of 114 patients with 209 suitable ears had pneumatic otoscopy using a Seigle's speculum performed independently by two observers. The results were compared to the findings at myringotomy, on the basis that mobility of the tympanic membrane was indicative of a dry middle ear. The observers agreed in 187 ears, a concordance rate of 91 per cent, and in 174 of these (93 per cent) the observers' prediction of middle ear state was correct. The overall predictive accuracy of observer A was 89 per cent and of observer B 84 per cent, this difference is not statistically significant, p greater than 0.05. PMID- 2614230 TI - Verification of a new test of endolymphatic hydrops. AB - A new objective test of endolymphatic hydrops has been described previously. The test uses auditory brain-stem response (ABR) techniques to estimate the basilar membrane travelling wave velocity (TWV). The underlying hypothesis is that raised pressure in the scala media will lead to an increase in the stiffness of the basilar membrane and that this will give rise to a travelling wave velocity that is greater than normal. It was considered that verification of the technique could be obtained by carrying out the new test before and during a glycerol dehydration procedure. Patients who required this procedure for verification of the diagnosis or as a prognostic indicator for sacculotomy, underwent the following tests. Prior to dehydration an audiogram, the ABR TWV test and a blood sample (for plasma osmolality) were taken. The patient was then given the appropriate amount of glycerol mixed with lemon juice and laid on a bed in a test room. The audiogram and a blood sample were repeated every hour and the ABR TWV test was repeatedly carried out every twenty minutes between the other tests. Six of these procedures have been carried out. In five of them the 0.5 and 1 kHz average threshold improved by at least 10dB and in all those cases the ABR TWV test showed an abnormal pre-dehydration result which moved towards the normal value following dehydration. One patient gave ABR TWV results that were within normal limits before and during the procedure and gave an audiometric change of only 5dB.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614231 TI - Noise levels and exposure patterns to do-it-yourself power tools. AB - The noise levels produced by a variety of do-it-yourself power tools were measured in a real-life situation. Most of the devices tested produced noise of 100 dB(A) or greater at the user's ear. A questionnaire was issued to 100 males who used these devices. The vast majority used the devices infrequently and therefore are unlikely to be directly at risk of hearing damage. A group of users who may be more at risk from using power tools in the home are those who are, or have been exposed to occupational noise. PMID- 2614232 TI - Tinnitus in children with hearing loss. AB - There is scant literature relating to tinnitus in children. This may be due in part to the inability of the child to differentiate normal from abnormal, and also adults failing to communicate adequately with children to allow them to describe their observed symptoms. One hundred and two children with severe to profound hearing loss between six to seventeen years of age were questioned as to the presence of tinnitus. The 24 children (23 per cent) who reported tinnitus, also completed a questionnaire, and were interviewed about their symptoms and then were compared to the non-tinnitus children regarding hearing level, age, sex and aetiology of the deafness. No significant difference was found between the two groups. This study documents that tinnitus does exist in a significant number of children with severe to profound deafness and addresses the problem involved in its description and assessment. PMID- 2614233 TI - Treatment of auricular haematoma by silicone rubber splints. AB - A modification of existing techniques for the treatment of auricular haematoma is described. This method employs incision, drainage and the application of silicone rubber splints (Silastic). Existing methods of treatment are reviewed and discussed. A retrospective review of 16 cases using this technique showed a satisfactory cosmetic result in all cases. PMID- 2614234 TI - Nature of spontaneous tympanic membrane perforation in acute otitis media in children. AB - The study was undertaken to define the characteristics of spontaneous eardrum perforation in acute otitis media. Eighty (29.5 per cent) out of 271 children with acute otitis media had eardrums which perforated. An increased incidence of perforation was associated with a previous history of otitis media. All perforations were small and limited exclusively to the pars tensa. In 85 per cent of the patients, the perforation was located in the anterior-inferior quadrant. It had smooth margins enabling free drainage of pus-and was associated with a favourable clinical course. In the remaining 15 per cent of the cases, the perforation was located in the posterior-superior quadrant. It had a nipple-like shape with a tiny opening that did not allow pus to drain sufficiently from the middle ear. The perforation closed in 94 per cent of the patients within one month. The healing process was gradual and following perforation closure, there was evidence of middle ear effusion for some time before normal aeration was regained. PMID- 2614235 TI - Evaluation for waterproof ear protectors in swimmers. AB - The middle ear cavity is exposed and vulnerable to waterborne infection in patients with grommets, perforated tympanic membranes and after radical mastoidectomy. Patients suffering from chronic otitis externa and those receiving radiotherapy to the head and neck also have an increased susceptibility to such infections. Many advocate the use of waterproof ear protectors in such patients when swimming. The choice of a suitable ear protector is complicated as many are now available commercially. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the degree of protection afforded by seven different ear protectors in a group of six swimmers. A very sensitive, original method of water detection was devised incorporating a pH indicator strip. The results showed conclusively that cotton wool coated in paraffin jelly BPC was the most effective method of ear protection and was found to be comfortable and easy to use. Other methods, including custom made silicone rubber plugs, were not adequate in sealing the external auditory canal and are considerably more expensive. PMID- 2614236 TI - Acute and latent mastoiditis. AB - The diagnosis 'acute' mastoiditis is not an unambiguous entity. It contains both 'classical' and 'latent' mastoiditis. 'Classical' mastoiditis was often seen before the antibiotic era, had serious complications and was cured by mastoidectomy. After the introduction of antibiotics, the number of cases of 'classical' mastoiditis decreased and was replaced by a more prolonged condition called 'latent' mastoiditis. Lately in Oslo, we have seen an increase in numbers of 'classical' mastoiditis and at the same time a decrease in the incidence of 'latent' mastoiditis. A four year study of patients with 'classical' mastoiditis is described. PMID- 2614237 TI - Role and results of cortical mastoidectomy and endolymphatic sac surgery in Meniere's disease. AB - It is almost impossible to establish the natural history of Meniere's disease and, by the same token, it is difficult to confirm the efficacy of endolymphatic sac surgery. The authors doubt the logic of sac operations. Only two controlled trials of sac surgery have been found and both cast doubt upon its value. There do not appear to be any controlled trials indicating that it works. In 14 cases of incapacitating Meniere's disease, where vestibular nerve section was indicated, cortical mastoidectomy was offered and accepted in the expectation that two-thirds might be spared the more major procedure. In the event, the vertigo was controlled in eight out of 14 (57 per cent), the remaining six (43 per cent) requiring more major surgery. A surgical model illustrates that, of themselves, these results are essentially meaningless in assessing the efficacy of cortical mastoidectomy in Meniere's disease. Until all cases in a community are considered and followed-up, we shall be in doubt about the value of sac surgery and most other treatments of Meniere's disease. PMID- 2614238 TI - Allergic aspergillus sinusitis--an overlooked diagnosis? AB - Aspergillus infection of the nose and sinuses has been recognized for nearly 100 years but a variant, allergic aspergillus sinusitis, has recently been recognized. This non-invasive form causes chronic sinusitis characterized by thick green inspissated mucus in which eosinophils and Charcot-Leyden crystals are found. Fungal hyphae are scanty and are identified with special stains. Consequently the diagnosis may frequently be overlooked. It has many similarities with allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis and is treated by surgical debridement and aeration with or without cortico steroids, either topical or systemic. PMID- 2614239 TI - Symptomatic mucosal cysts of the maxillary sinus: antroscopic treatment. AB - Antroscopy has been shown to have a role in the diagnosis and treatment of antral disease. Four cases of 'non-secreting' benign antral cysts, each presenting with facial pain, were successfully treated using antroscopic techniques. The aetiology and management of these lesions is reviewed with the recommendation that antroscopic removal is the treatment of choice for all symptomatic cases, and for asymptomatic cases in which the diagnosis is in doubt. PMID- 2614240 TI - External rhinoplasty in the tropics. AB - The thick oily and pigmented skin present in majority of tropical patients makes rhinoplasty challenging surgery. Rhinoplasty by the external approach though gaining increasing acceptance all over the world is yet to gain popularity in this country. Hypertrophied scars are not uncommon in coloured skin and the reluctance to give an external incision for a cosmetic procedure is natural. We started the external rhinoplasty approach with some reservations, however in a series of over seventy cases, no significant problem has been encountered, with the columellar scar. Accurate approximation of the columellar wound is probably a more important factor in wound healing than the skin colour. Our experience of external rhinoplasty is presented. PMID- 2614241 TI - Aberrant intratympanic internal carotid artery: a potentially hazardous anomaly. AB - A case is presented of a 3-year-old girl with no previous history of ear disease or developmental defects who bled profusely upon (right) myringotomy. The haemorrhage could only be stopped with the aid of an ear insert and a nasopharyngeal balloon catheter. The balloon catheter was removed the following day but the girl had to use an ear insert for a total of 76 days following myringotomy because of repeated haemorrhage from the ear. The subsequent investigation using CT and angiography revealed an aberrant internal carotid artery in the middle ear. It is concluded that the one most important factor in the handling of these cases is to be aware of the existence of aberrant internal carotid arteries and to have a high degree of suspicion when encountering any abnormal clinical or radiological findings which might point in the direction of vascular abnormalities. The failure to detect this condition before any surgical intervention on the affected ear can have disastrous consequences. The method of choice in handling these cases is one of avoidance of middle ear manipulation in order not to cause haemorrhage from the aberrant artery. PMID- 2614242 TI - Myxoid tumours in the temporal bone. AB - Myxoid tumours have the essential common feature, that they are difficult to remove radically because of their gelatinous consistency. Only one previous report describes a myxoid tumour--a myxoma--located to the temporal bone. This paper presents two such tumours in the temporal bone, a myxoma and an extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma. The clinical and histological features of these tumours and the operative treatment are described and discussed. PMID- 2614243 TI - Pilonidal sinus of the nose. AB - We report an unusual case of a pilonidal sinus appearing on the nose. From the clinical and pathological findings, we find it difficult to believe that it is an acquired condition. En bloc excision by an external rhinoplasty approach was performed with no evidence of any recurrence. PMID- 2614244 TI - Recurrent multiple epidermoid inclusion cysts following rhinoplasty--an unusual complication. AB - Epidermoid inclusion cysts are a relatively common finding following superficial trauma. Inclusion cysts have previously been reported following rhinoplasty, but these have been mucosal cysts and one case of a paraffinoma. A case of multiple recurrent epidermoid inclusion cysts, developing in relation to rhinoplasty, is presented. PMID- 2614245 TI - Infective complications of brief nasotracheal intubation. AB - Two cases are described where infective complications, namely nasal septal abscess and parapharyngeal abscess, occurred after short-term (less than one hour) nasotracheal intubation. These conditions are serious as they can be life threatening and in one case led to permanent physical disfigurement. PMID- 2614246 TI - Fibromatosis of the larynx in the adult. AB - We describe the fourth case of aggressive fibromatosis of the larynx arising in an adult. Most cases of laryngeal fibromatosis have been described in children. In the larynx it may behave the same as in other sites, with local aggressiveness but without metastasis. The possible differential diagnoses are discussed. PMID- 2614247 TI - Spontaneous pneumomediastinum with alteration in voice. AB - A case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum, with symptoms restricted to the neck is presented. The clinical details and complications are described. PMID- 2614248 TI - Radio-opacity of fishbones. AB - Bones are the largest group of foreign bodies found in the air and food passages. Fishbones which lodge in the tonsil can be easily seen and removed relatively easily. Those lodging in the pyriform fossa are well localized by the patient and can usually be seen on mirror examination. It would be useful to know which types of fishbones are radio-opaque and therefore likely to be shown by radiographs when mirror examination is difficult or fails to reveal a foreign body. Therefore a study was undertaken to ascertain the radio-opacity of the bones of ten different species of fish eaten in the British Isles. PMID- 2614249 TI - Sensorineural hearing loss in Wegener's granulomatosis--cytotoxic chemotherapy. PMID- 2614250 TI - Antineutrophil cytoplasm assay test in Wegener's granuloma. PMID- 2614251 TI - On the saturation of the cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase in human liver microsomes. AB - The relationships between cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity, pool of free microsomal cholesterol, and degree of substrate saturation of the enzyme were studied in untreated (n = 5), cholesterol-fed (n = 4), and cholestyramine-treated (n = 6) gallstone patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Highly accurate methods based on isotope dilution-mass spectrometry were used for assay of the cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity and for determination of the concentration of free cholesterol in the microsomes. The cholesterol-enriched diet increased the cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity about twofold. Cholestyramine treatment was associated with a five- to sixfold increase of the cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity. The concentration of free microsomal cholesterol remained essentially unchanged. The apparent degree of saturation of the enzyme was calculated to be 85% in the untreated patients, 86% in the cholesterol-fed patients, and 67% in those treated with cholestyramine. A significant negative correlation was obtained between enzyme activity and apparent substrate saturation. It is concluded that the apparent substrate saturation of the cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase in human liver microsomes is high but that availability of cholesterol may limit the enzyme activity to some extent a high bile acid synthesis rates. PMID- 2614252 TI - Direct transesterification of plasma fatty acids for the diagnosis of essential fatty acid deficiency in cystic fibrosis. AB - This study was aimed at redefining criteria for essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency with the use of the direct transesterification procedure (1986. J. Lipid Res. 27: 114-120) and at determining whether a simple assay of total fatty acids (FA) is as predictive of EFA deficiency as the FA pattern from plasma, red cell, and platelet phospholipids. Fasting blood samples were taken from 163 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who were encouraged to consume 35-40% of their calories as fat. Their mean (+/- SD) age was 9.6 +/- 4.8 yr. The control group consisted of 44 unaffected siblings aged 13.1 +/- 3.1 yr. The 20:3(n-9)/20:4(n-6) ratio in 77 (47%) CF children was more than 2 SD above the values (mean +/- SD) of 0.021 +/- 0.007 obtained in the 44 controls. Groups of EFA-sufficient (n = 10) and EFA-deficient (n = 7) subjects were selected for further studies. The plasma total FA 20:3(n-9)/20:4(n-6) ratios of 0.029 +/- 0.003 in EFA-sufficient and of 0.216 +/- 0.103 in EFA-deficient was as good a discriminant as FA in phospholipids from plasma, red cell PC, and platelets. Among the 21 individual fatty acids, 20:3(n-9), which was also found in controls, and 16:1(n-7) (palmitoleic) proved to be the most sensitive indices of EFA deficiency. They are equally reliable in plasma, red cells, and platelets, but the inverse linear relationship (r = -0.91) between the n-7 family and 18:2(n-6) proved to be more closely associated with EFA deficiency than the one (r = 0.66) between 20:3(n-9) and 20:4(n-6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614253 TI - Transfer of cholesteryl ester into high density lipoprotein by cholesteryl ester transfer protein: effect of HDL lipid and apoprotein content. AB - Recombinant high density lipoprotein (rHDL) particles were prepared by cosonication of purified lipids and human apoproteins and incubated with partly purified cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) containing [3H]cholesteryl ester. Increasing the triglyceride content relative to cholesteryl ester in rHDL significantly decreased the ability of the particles to accept cholesteryl esters transferred by CETP. Kinetic analysis of the data was performed to numerically define the maximum velocity of lipid transfer, Tmax, and the HDL concentration required for half maximal velocity, KH. Increases in rHDL-triglyceride content were shown to result in a significant reduction in the Tmax without a major change in KH. When the free cholesterol content was increased relative to phospholipid, the ability of the particles to accept cholesteryl esters was also decreased in a similar manner. Conversely, rHDL prepared from purified apoprotein A-I, A-II, or mixtures of both, had significantly elevated Tmax and KH values for their interaction with CETP. The results suggest that increases in triglyceride or free cholesterol content of an rHDL particle decrease the catalytic ability of CETP by noncompetitive inhibition. In addition, some component(s) of HDL apoproteins, other than A-I or A-II, were shown to uncompetitively inhibit the activity of CETP, by modifying both Tmax and the KH for the reaction. This study has shown that altered HDL composition may have marked effects on the transfer and equilibration of cholesteryl esters within the HDL pool. PMID- 2614254 TI - Plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in the preruminant calf, Bos spp: density distribution, physicochemical properties, and the in vivo evaluation of the contribution of the liver to lipoprotein homeostasis. AB - The in vivo role of the liver in lipoprotein homeostasis in the preruminant calf, a functional monogastric, has been evaluated. To this end, the hydrodynamic and physicochemical properties, density distribution, apolipoprotein content, and flow rates of the various lipoprotein particle species were determined in the hepatic afferent (portal vein and hepatic artery) and efferent (hepatic vein) vessels in fasting, 3-week-old male preruminant calves. Plasma lipoprotein profiles were established by physicochemical analyses of a series of subfractions isolated by isopycnic density gradient ultracentrifugation. Triglyceride-rich very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) (d less than 1.018 g/ml) were minor plasma constituents (approximately 1% or less of total d less than 1.180 g/ml lipoproteins). The major apolipoproteins of VLDL were apoB-like species, while the complement of minor components included bovine apoA-I and apoC-like peptides. Particles with diameters (193-207 A) typical of low density lipoproteins (LDL) were present over the density interval 1.026-1.076 g/ml; however, only LDL of d 1.026-1.046 g/ml were present as a unique and homogeneous size subspecies, containing the two apoB-like species as major protein components in addition to elevated cholesteryl ester contents. LDL represented approximately 10% of total d less than 1.180 g/ml lipoproteins in fasting plasma from all three hepatic vessels. Overlap in the density distribution of particles with the diameters of LDL and of high density lipoproteins (HDL) occurred in the density range from 1.046 to 1.076 g/ml; these HDL particles were 130-150 A in diameter. HDL were the major plasma particles (approximately 90% of total d less than 1.180 g/ml substances) and presented as two distinct populations which we have termed light (HDLL) and heavy (HDLH) HDL. Light HDL (d 1.060-1.091 g/ml) ranged in size from 120 to 140 A, and were distinguished by their high cholesteryl ester (29-33%) and low triglyceride (1-3%) contents; apoA-I was the principal apolipoprotein. Small amounts of apolipoproteins with Mr less than 60,000, including apoC-like peptides, were also present. Heavy HDL (d 1.091-1.180 g/ml) accounted for almost half (47%) of total calf HDL, and like HDLL, were also enriched in cholesteryl ester and apoA-I; they ranged in size from 93 to 120 A. The protein moiety of HDLH was distinct in its possession of an apoA-IV-like protein (Mr 42,000). Blood flow rates were determined by electromagnetic flowmetry, thereby permitting determination of net lipoprotein balance across the liver. VLDL were efficiently removed during passage through the liver (net uptake 1.06 mg/min per kg body weight).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2614255 TI - Evidence for high density lipoproteins as the major apolipoprotein A-IV containing fraction in normal human serum. AB - The distribution of human apolipoprotein A-IV was studied in sera from normolipidemic fasting subjects by high performance gel filtration on a Superose 12 HR column. The major part of apolipoprotein A-IV eluted in the range of the apolipoprotein A-I peak, and distributed mainly in the large-size high density lipoprotein subfractions. Only a small peak or a shoulder on the main fraction appeared in the elution volume of free apolipoprotein A-IV. To investigate the relation of apolipoprotein A-IV with high density lipoprotein particles, serum high density lipoproteins were precipitated by incubating human serum with anti apolipoprotein A-I immunoglobulins. At optimal concentrations, inducing a precipitation of 90 to 95% of serum apolipoprotein A-I, about 70% of serum apolipoprotein A-IV was precipitated. It was concluded that, in fasting human serum, apolipoprotein A-IV was mainly associated with high density lipoprotein particles. This high degree of association to high density lipoproteins did not result from the known in vitro redistribution of apolipoprotein A-IV induced by lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase activity since it was observed in sera in the presence of inhibitors of this enzyme. The comparison of gel filtration profiles of total serum and of serum fractions separated by ultracentrifugation showed that the apolipoprotein A-IV-high density lipoprotein association was a weak one, easily dissociated by the ultracentrifugation process. The existence in fasting human serum of a predominant high density lipoprotein-associated form of apolipoprotein A-IV should stimulate more studies of the general function and metabolism of this protein. PMID- 2614256 TI - Fish oil decreases hepatic cholesteryl ester secretion but not apoB secretion in African green monkeys. AB - Two groups of African green monkeys were fed diets containing 40% of calories as fat with half of the fat calories as either fish oil or lard. The fish oil-fed animals had lower cholesterol concentrations in blood plasma (33%) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) (34%) than did animals fed lard. Size and cholesteryl ester (CE) content of LDL, strong predictors of coronary artery atherosclerosis in monkeys, were significantly less for the fish oil-fed animals although the apoB and LDL particle concentrations in plasma were similar for both diet groups. We hypothesized that decreased hepatic CE secretion led to the smaller size and reduced CE content of LDL in the fish oil-fed animals. Hepatic CE secretion was studied using recirculating perfusion of monkey livers that were infused during perfusion with fatty acids (85% 18:1 and 15% n-3) at a rate of 0.1 mumol/min per g liver. The rate of cholesterol secretion was less (P = 0.055) for the livers of fish oil versus lard-fed animals (3.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 6.0 +/- 1.2 mg/h per 100 g, mean +/- SEM) but the rate of apoB secretion was similar for both groups (0.92 +/ 0.15 vs. 1.01 +/- 0.13 mg/h per 100 g, respectively). The hepatic triglyceride secretion rate was also less (P less than 0.05) for the fish oil-fed animals (8.3 +/- 2.5 vs. 18.3 +/- 4.4 mg/h per 100 g). Liver CE content was lower (P less than 0.006) in fish oil-fed animals (4.1 +/- 0.8 vs. 7.4 +/- 0.7 mg/g) and this was reflected in a lower (P less than 0.04) esterified to total cholesterol ratio of perfusate VLDL (0.21 +/- 0.045 vs. 0.41 +/- 0.06). The hepatic VLDL of animals fed fish oil had 40-50% lower ratios of triglyceride to protein and total cholesterol to protein. From these data we conclude that livers from monkeys fed fish oil secreted similar numbers of VLDL particles as those of lard-fed animals although the hepatic VLDL of fish oil-fed animals were smaller in size and relatively enriched in surface material and depleted of core constituents. Positive correlations between plasma LDL size and both hepatic CE content (r = 0.87) and hepatic VLDL cholesterol secretion rate (r = 0.84) were also found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2614257 TI - Absorption, storage, and distribution of beta-carotene in normal and beta carotene-fed rats: roles of parenchymal and stellate cells. AB - Absorption and storage of [14C]beta-carotene in control and beta-carotene-fed (BC fed) rats were determined. Pre-feeding with beta-carotene for 2 weeks caused a 1.9-fold stimulation of its own absorption as well as its conversion to retinyl esters, whereas the absorption of [3H]retinyl acetate was unaffected. The liver and the lungs accounted for 60% and 30%, respectively, of the total recovered 14C radioactivity in both control and BC-fed groups. Beta-carotene accounted for 80 87% of the recovered 14C radioactivity in both the liver and the lung. Subcellular distribution of [14C]beta-carotene in both control and BC-fed groups revealed that the cytosol was the major fraction accounting for 44.4% and 26.8% of the radioactivity in the liver and lungs, respectively. Distribution of beta carotene among liver parenchymal (PC) and stellate cells (STC) was determined in the two groups. Based on radioactivity, the PC and STC contained 22% and 78% of the total, respectively, in the control group; the corresponding values for the PC and STC in the BC-fed group were 48% and 52% of the total radioactivity, respectively. Based on the beta-carotene concentration following chronic beta carotene feeding, PC contained 75.5% while the STC had 24.5% of the total beta carotene. Thus, parenchymal cells seem to be the major hepatic storage site for dietary beta-carotene after chronic feeding. PMID- 2614258 TI - Microvillar channels: a unique plasma membrane compartment for concentrating lipoproteins on the surface of rat adrenal cortical cells. AB - Electron microscopic studies of perfused rat adrenals indicate that plasma lipoproteins become concentrated in a specialized cell surface compartment called microvillar channels. Closely associated plasma membranes of sinusoidal microvilli of zona fasciculata cells form channels that normally are filled with electron dense particles the size of high density lipoproteins (HDL). In rats made acutely deficient in plasma lipoproteins (by treatment with 4 aminopyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (4-APP) for 1 day), particles within the microvillar channels are decreased in number. When adrenal glands of these rats are perfused with media lacking plasma lipoproteins, many but not all of these HDL-like particles are washed out. However, when these adrenals are perfused with large amounts (100-500 micrograms protein/ml) of HDL, microvillar channels become packed with electron dense particles similar to those found in vivo. These microvillar channels become wider and filled with larger particles when low density lipoproteins (LDL) are perfused through the adrenals. Autoradiograms of 125I-labeled HDL-perfused adrenals show silver grains specifically associated with the cell surface microvillar channels, and confirm the notion that the particles filling the channels are exogenously delivered HDL. Physiologic data from similarly perfused adrenals in a parallel study show that the channel refilling process is directly related to selective (i.e., nonendocytic) cholesterol uptake and that this cholesterol uptake is associated with corticosterone production. Together, these data suggest the hypothesis that plasma lipoprotein cholesterol utilized for corticosteroid synthesis in rat adrenal fasciculata cells may be derived from lipoproteins trapped in surface associated microvillar channels. Although the mechanism responsible for the cholesterol transfer is not yet defined, it is clearly distinct from the classical process of receptor-mediated endocytosis and catabolism of lipoprotein particles. PMID- 2614259 TI - Differences in the metabolism of oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein and acetylated low density lipoprotein by human endothelial cells: inhibition of cholesterol esterification by oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein. AB - The rate of degradation of oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) by human endothelial cells was similar to that of unmodified low density lipoprotein (LDL), and was approximately 2-fold greater than the rate of degradation of acetylated LDL (Ac-LDL). While LDL and Ac-LDL both stimulated cholesterol esterification in endothelial cells, Ox-LDL inhibited cholesterol esterification by 34%, demonstrating a dissociation between the degradation of Ox LDL and its ability to stimulate cholesterol esterification. Further, while LDL and Ac-LDL resulted in a 5- and 15-fold increase in cholesteryl ester accumulation, respectively, Ox-LDL caused only a 1.3-fold increase in cholesteryl ester mass. These differences could be accounted for, in part, by the reduced cholesteryl ester content of Ox-LDL. However, when endothelial cells were incubated with Ac-LDL in the presence and absence of Ox-LDL, Ox-LDL led to a dose dependent inhibition of cholesterol esterification without affecting the degradation of Ac-LDL. This inhibitory effect of Ox-LDL on cholesteryl ester synthesis was also manifest in normal human skin fibroblasts incubated with LDL and in LDL-receptor-negative fibroblasts incubated with unesterified cholesterol to stimulate cholesterol esterification. Further, the lipid extract from Ox-LDL inhibited cholesterol esterification in LDL-receptor negative fibroblasts. These findings suggest that the inhibition of cholesterol esterification by oxidized LDL is independent of the LDL and scavenger receptors and may be a result of translocation of a lipid component of oxidatively modified LDL across the cell membrane. PMID- 2614260 TI - Localization of lipoprotein lipase mRNA in selected rat tissues. AB - Measurements of enzymatic activity have demonstrated that lipoprotein lipase (LPL), the principal enzyme responsible for hydrolysis of circulating triglyceride, is present in a number of tissues including brain, kidney, and adrenal gland. To determine the sites of synthesis of LPL in these tissues, in situ hybridization studies were performed using a non-sense 35S-labeled RNA probe produced from a 624-bp mouse LPL cDNA fragment. Control studies were performed with a sense RNA strand. Using 5-10-micron sections of 5-day-old rat brain, strong hybridization was found in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus. Positive hybridization, indicating the presence of LPL mRNA, was also found in brain cortex and in the intermediate lobe of adult rat pituitary gland. Specific areas of adrenal and kidney medulla showed hybridization with the probe. LPL mRNA is, therefore, present in a number of specific regions of the body. LPL in these areas may not be important in regulating circulating levels of lipoproteins, but may be essential for cellular uptake, binding, and transfer of free fatty acids or other lipophilic substances. PMID- 2614261 TI - Effects of lovastatin therapy on guinea pig low density lipoprotein composition and metabolism. AB - Lovastatin therapy is known to induce hepatic low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor mRNA and LDL receptor activity. Yet, in studies in humans and animals it has been difficult to demonstrate an enhancement of the plasma fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of an injected LDL tracer during lovastatin therapy. One explanation may be that the composition of the LDL tracer may also change during therapy, independently affecting LDL clearance. To test this possibility we fed guinea pigs lovastatin, which led to a decrease in their plasma LDL cholesterol levels. Composition studies showed that LDL isolated from lovastatin-treated guinea pigs was slightly cholesterol-depleted and triglyceride-enriched when compared to LDL isolated from control animals. Several independent lines of investigation documented that a substantial increase in hepatic LDL receptor activity occurred in response to the lovastatin treatment. Consistent with this, when a single LDL tracer was injected into control and lovastatin-treated guinea pigs, the FCR was always more rapid in the lovastatin-treated animals. However, when LDL isolated from lovastatin-treated animals (L-LDL) was simultaneously injected intravenously with LDL isolated from control animals (C-LDL) the FCR of the C-LDL was always more rapid than that of the L-LDL. When one compared the FCR of C-LDL determined in control animals with the FCR of L-LDL determined in lovastatin animals there was no difference. Possible explanations for these paradoxical findings are discussed. PMID- 2614262 TI - Structures of minor ether lipids isolated from the aceticlastic methanogen, Methanothrix concilii GP6. AB - Structures were determined for two phospholipids and three glycolipids purified from chloroform-methanol extracts of Methanothrix concilii GP6. Together they accounted for 14% of the total lipid and were based on a C20,20-diether core structure consisting of either 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycerol or its 3'-hydroxy analog, namely, 2-O-[3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecyl]-3-O-[3'- hydroxy 3',7',11',15'-tetramethylhexadecyl]-sn-glycerol. These two core lipids formed phosphodiester bonds to ethanolamine and glycosidic bonds to beta-D galactopyranose. A third glycolipid consisted of the triglycosyl head group beta D-galactopyranosyl-(1----6)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)]-beta-D - galactopyranose in glycosidic linkage to the 3'-hydroxydiether core lipid. PMID- 2614263 TI - Identification of isomeric unsaturated medium-chain dicarboxylic acids in human urine. AB - Dicarboxylic aciduria caused by enhanced or inhibited fatty acid metabolism is usually described as increased urinary excretion of saturated medium-chain dicarboxylic acids, such as adipic, suberic, and sebacic acids. Besides these saturated acids, increased excretion of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids is also observed. However, the structural identities of these unsaturated dicarboxylic acids are largely unknown. Using synthetic authentic samples, dual capillary column gas-liquid chromatography, and capillary column gas-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, we have identified these acids as trans-2-hexenedioic, trans-3 hexenedioic, cis-3-octenedioic, cis-4-octenedioic, and trans-3-octenedioic acids. The mass fragmentation pathways of these compounds (as trimethylsilyl derivative) are described. We speculate that the metabolic origin of cis-3-octenedioic acid is oleic acid through the intermediate cis-5-decenedioic acid. We also propose that cis-4-octenedioic acid is derived from linoleic acid. The metabolic origin of trans-3-octenedioic acid is less certain. Since no corresponding cis hexenedioic acid could be detected in urine, the metabolic degradation of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids appears to terminate at octenedioic acid. Trans-2 hexenedioic acid is probably derived from dehydrogenation of adipic acid. PMID- 2614264 TI - Mechanistic studies of lanosterol 14 alpha-methyl demethylase: substrate requirements for the component reactions catalyzed by a single cytochrome P-450 isozyme. AB - Lanosterol 14 alpha-methyl demethylation is a cytochrome P-450-dependent process that proceeds through the oxidative sequence of alcohol, aldehyde followed by decarbonylation with formic acid release. Microsomal metabolism studies shown here indicate that only lanostenols and 32-oxy-lanostenols with unsaturation at either the delta 7 or delta 8 position in the sterol can be demethylated. The 14 alpha-methyl group of either lanostan-3 beta-ol or delta 6 lanostenol is not oxidized to the anticipated C-32 alcohol or aldehyde by the enzyme, nor are the corresponding 32-oxy-lanostanols demethylated when incubated with microsomal preparations. Despite the lack of metabolism, the saturated and delta 6 sterol analogues are effective competitive inhibitors of demethylase activity. Utilizing preferred substrates, comparison of the component reactions of the demethylation sequence shows that both the oxidative function and lyase function are sensitive to common inhibitors and that both activities require NADPH. These findings strongly support the premise that a P-450 isozyme does catalyze each phase of the lanosterol 14 alpha-methyl demethylation sequence. Collectively these results demonstrate the double-bond requirement for both components of the demethylation sequence and suggest that the olefinic electrons at delta 7 or delta 8 but not delta 6 may participate directly during demethylation. This participation may involve stabilizing a transition state intermediate or directing activated oxygen insertion as part of the P-450 monoxygenase mechanism. PMID- 2614265 TI - Glucosylsterols in extracts of Euryale ferox identified by high resolution NMR and mass spectrometry. AB - The structures of three glucosylsterols in a glycolipid mixture from the product of the naturally dried medicinal plant Euryale ferox Salisb. have been elucidated by 500 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopic methods and characterized as follows: 24-methylcholest-5-enyl-3 beta-O-pyranoglucoside, 24 ethylcholest-5-enyl-3 beta-O-pyranoglucoside, and 24-ethylcholesta-5,22E-dienyl-3 beta-O-pyranoglucoside. These constituents may be the active substances of the medicinal plant. PMID- 2614266 TI - Quantitation of apoB-48 and apoB-100 by gel scanning or radio-iodination. AB - In this presentation, we have validated two procedures for the separation and quantitation of apoB-48 and apoB-100 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE): 1) gamma counting of radio-iodinated lipoproteins and 2) scanning of stained gels. Total apoB in SDS solutions was determined by absorbance at 220 nm, and validated by amino acid analysis. The absorbance at 220 nm, in contrast to the Lowry procedure, could be used with BSA as a standard without correction factors. At relative apoB-48 concentrations higher than 10% of total apoB, both scanning and radio-iodination gave reliable results. At lower relative apoB-48 concentrations, the radio-iodine method appeared to be superior, but at low total apoB concentrations, the efficiency of radio-iodination was low. PMID- 2614267 TI - Determination of plasma bile acids by capillary gas-liquid chromatography electron capture negative chemical ionization mass fragmentography. AB - Combined capillary gas-liquid chromatography-electron capture negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry of pentafluorobenzyl ester-TMSi ether derivatives of bile acids and isotope dilution using deuterated internal standards are introduced as a sensitive and selective analysis technique for plasma bile acids. As a result of the high ionization efficiency of pentafluorobenzyl derivatives under electron capturing conditions and minimal fragmentation, the detection limit of this technique is low: 1 pg for each bile acid. The high sensitivity enabled the detection and quantitation of atypical bile acids in 200-microliters aliquots of plasma from fasting healthy adults as exemplified by trihydroxycoprostanic acid (0.002 +/- 0.001 mumol/l) and dihydroxycoprostanic acid (0.013 +/- 0.002 mumol/l). PMID- 2614268 TI - Hepatic cholesterol and lipoprotein conference. Report of a conference. PMID- 2614269 TI - Increased urinary excretion of bile alcohol glucuronides in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. AB - The bile alcohol glucuronides in urine of 12 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), 10 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH), and 6 healthy volunteers were analyzed by capillary gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. In all subjects studied, the major urinary bile alcohol was found to be 27-nor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24,25-pentol (C26 pentol). In PBC patients, the excretion of C26 pentol (main isomer) was significantly increased above values observed in healthy volunteers (mean +/- SD = 5.2 +/- 3.5 mumol/24 h, range 1.0-13.4; versus 0.6 +/- 0.3, range 0.4-1.0). In addition, PBC patients excreted increased amounts of other bile alcohols such as isomers of C26 pentol, pentahydroxylated C27 bile alcohols (5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24,25-pentol) and 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,25,26-pentol) and a hexahydroxylated C26 bile alcohol (27-nor-5 beta cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24,25,26-hexol). In CAH patients, the excretion of the C26 pentol main isomer ranged from 0.3 to 2.0 mumol/24 h (mean +/- SD = 0.7 +/- 0.5) and did not significantly differ from that in healthy volunteers. Moreover, the bile alcohol profile was comparable to those found in healthy volunteers and PBC patients. These findings show that total urinary bile alcohol glucuronide excretion is significantly increased in primary biliary cirrhosis. A PBC-specific urinary bile alcohol profile, however, does not exist. PMID- 2614270 TI - Regulation of hepatic cholesterol ester hydrolase and acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase in the rat. AB - Cholesterol exists within the hepatocyte as free cholesterol and cholesteryl ester. The proportion of intrahepatic cholesterol in the free or ester forms is governed in part by the rate of cholesteryl ester formation by acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) and cholesteryl ester hydrolysis by neutral cholesterol ester (CE) hydrolase. In other cell types both ACAT and CE hydrolase activities are regulated in response to changes in the need for cellular free cholesterol. In rats, we performed a variety of experimental manipulations in order to vary the need for hepatic free cholesterol and to examine what effect, if any, this had on the enzymes that govern cholesteryl ester metabolism. Administration of a 20-mg bolus of lipoprotein cholesterol or a diet supplemented with 2% cholesterol resulted in an increase in microsomal cholesteryl ester content with little change in microsomal free cholesterol. This was accomplished by an increase in cholesteryl esterification as measured by ACAT but no change in CE hydrolase activity. An increased need for hepatic free cholesterol was experimentally induced by intravenous bile salt infusion or cholestyramine (3%) added to the diet. ACAT activity was decreased with both experimental manipulations compared to controls, while CE hydrolase activity did not change. Microsomal cholesteryl ester content decreased significantly with little change in microsomal free cholesterol content. Addition of exogenous liposomal cholesterol to liver microsomes from cholestyramine-fed and control rats resulted in a 784 +/- 38% increase in ACAT activity. Nevertheless, the decrease in ACAT activity with cholestyramine feeding was maintained. These studies allowed us to conclude that changes in hepatic free cholesterol needs are met in part by regulation of the rate of cholesterol esterification by ACAT without a change in the rate of cholesteryl ester hydrolysis by CE hydrolase. PMID- 2614271 TI - Accumulation of an apoE-poor subfraction of very low density lipoprotein in hypertriglyceridemic men. AB - Studies were undertaken to investigate the mechanism of the marked accumulation of an apoE-poor very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) subfraction in untreated Type IV and IIb hypertriglyceridemic subjects. Heparin-Sepharose chromatography was used to separate large VLDL (Sf 60-400) from fasted subjects, into an apoE-poor, unbound fraction and an apoE-rich, bound fraction. As a percent of total VLDL protein, the apoE-poor fraction comprised 40 +/- 4% of total VLDL in hypertriglyceridemic subjects versus 25% in normal subjects. Compared to the apoE rich, bound fraction, this apoE-poor material was found to have a 5-fold lower ratio of apoE to apoC (0.20 +/- 0.06 vs 0.91 +/- 0.18, P less than 0.005), but a 1.5-fold higher ratio of triglyceride to protein (11.41 +/- 0.85 vs 7.97 +/- 0.77, P less than 0.01). In addition, the apoE-poor fraction was found to be enriched 2-fold in apoB-48 (10.30 +/- 2.41% vs 5.73 +/- 1.59% of total apoB, P less than 0.005) compared to the apoE-rich fraction, suggesting that the apoE poor fraction contains more chylomicron remnants. The amount of this apoE-poor VLDL was markedly reduced following a reduction in VLDL triglyceride levels (a decrease from 40 +/- 4% to 21 +/- 2% of VLDL protein following a 50% reduction in VLDL triglyceride levels). The large VLDL from Type I, III, and V hyperlipoproteinemic subjects subfractionated using heparin-Sepharose showed an equal distribution of apoE between the two fractions in contrast with the Type IV and IIb subjects. The separation of VLDL from Type I, III, and V subjects using heparin-Sepharose involves a mechanism other than apoE binding. Separation in the latter likely results from apoB-100 binding to heparin, as opposed to apoE binding of VLDL from Type IV and IIb subjects. PMID- 2614272 TI - Concentration-dependent antioxidant activity of probucol in low density lipoproteins in vitro: probucol degradation precedes lipoprotein oxidation. AB - The ability of probucol, a lipid-lowering drug with antioxidant properties, to prevent the Cu2+-induced oxidation of human plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL) was examined as a function of the concentration of probucol in LDL. In the absence of probucol, 3 microM Cu2+ induced half-maximal LDL lipid oxidation, as determined by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Oxidation was associated with a loss of apolipoprotein B-100 and the appearance of higher molecular weight forms of the protein. In the presence of 0.6 mol% probucol (relative to phospholipid) and with 3 microM Cu2+, the time required to obtain half-maximal LDL lipid oxidation increased from 130 to 270 min and was explained by an increase in the lag time prior to LDL lipid oxidation. Once rapid oxidation of LDL had begun, the rate of TBARS formation was similar to that for LDL containing no probucol. At a probucol concentration of 4.2 mol%, the antioxidant prevented the oxidation of LDL-lipids. The delay in Cu2+-induced LDL oxidation with probucol corresponded to the time required for free radical mediated processes to convert probucol to a spiroquinone and a diphenoquinone. These in vitro findings suggest that the potent antioxidant property of probucol is directly related to the amount of drug in the LDL particle and may have relevance to its antiatherosclerotic effects observed in vivo. PMID- 2614273 TI - Alkylthioacetic acids (3-thia fatty acids) as non-beta-oxidizable fatty acid analogues: a new group of hypolipidemic drugs. III. Dissociation of cholesterol- and triglyceride-lowering effects and the induction of peroxisomal beta oxidation. AB - Previous work in this laboratory indicated that sulfur-substituted fatty acid analogues, 1.10-bis(carboxymethylthio)decane and alkylthioacetic acid, both non beta-oxidizable compounds, and the beta-oxidizable alkylthiopropionic acid (1) caused, to different extents, dose-related hepatomegaly and proliferation of peroxisomes and enhanced peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation. In the present study, treatment of normolipidemic rats with alkylthioacetic acid resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in serum cholesterol and serum and liver triglycerides to an extent comparable to that of the 3-thiadicarboxylic acid. At hypolipidemic doses, alkylthioacetic acid caused no hepatomegaly, did not significantly alter peroxisome morphology, and only marginally affected peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity. Only at the highest, nonpharmacological doses of alkylthioacetic acid were these hepatic parameters increased, although to a lesser extent than by the 3-thiadicarboxylic acid. Hence, on the basis of dose- and time-related studies of the two compounds, data indicate that the hypotriglyceridemia and hypocholesterolemia were dissociated from induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation and peroxisome proliferation. Palmitic acid and hexadecanedioic acid, both beta-oxidizable fatty acids, only marginally affected the serum and liver parameters. The beta-oxidizable fatty acid analogue, alkylthiopropionic acid lowered the serum triglycerides in normolipidemic rats. In contrast to the 3-thiadicarboxylic acid and alkylthioacetic acid, alkylthiopropionic acid treatment at hypolipidemic doses caused accumulation of triglycerides in the liver. PMID- 2614274 TI - Mechanism for binding of fatty acids to hepatocyte plasma membranes. AB - The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction between fatty acids and plasma membranes from liver cells. We were unable to reproduce the reported effect of heating on the capacity of these membranes to bind [3H]oleate (Stremmel et al. 1985 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 82: 4-8). In fact, the distribution of [3H]oleate between plasma membranes and unilamellar vesicles of lipids extracted from these membranes was in favor of the lipids, indicating the absence of a detectable amount of binding to a putative fatty acid binding protein in plasma membranes. Radius of curvature of vesicles (125 A vs 475 A) had no effect on the partitioning of fatty acid. In addition, the distribution of [3H]oleate between plasma membranes and other phases had the properties of a partition coefficient over a 200-fold range of [3H]oleate. There was no evidence in this experiment for a binding isotherm, i.e., binding of [3H]oleate at a specific site, superimposed on the nonspecific partitioning of [3H]oleate into the lipids of the plasma membrane. There was no competition between [14C]oleate and [3H]palmitate for entry into plasma membranes. Finally, rates of uptake of [14C]oleate and [3H]palmitate by perfused rat liver were not affected by the presence of the other fatty acid in perfusates. These data indicate that the avidity of hepatocyte plasma membranes for [3H]oleate is a simple consequence of the physical chemical properties of oleate, lipids, and water. The data exclude the idea that the uptake of fatty acids into cells is the result of binding proteins and/or catalyzed reactions at the water-membrane interface of the cell or within the plane of the plasma membrane. PMID- 2614275 TI - Regulation of hepatic cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism in ethinyl estradiol treated rats. AB - The regulation of hepatic cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism was studied in the ethinyl estradiol-treated rat in which low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors are increased many fold. Cholesterol synthesis was reduced at both its diurnal peak and trough by ethinyl estradiol. The diurnal variation in 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase was abolished, whereas that for acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) was retained. LDL receptor number did not vary diurnally. Feeding these animals a cholesterol-rich diet for 48 h suppressed cholesterol synthesis and reductase activities to levels similar to those found in cholesterol-fed control animals, but ACAT activity was unaffected. LDL receptors were reduced about 50%. Intravenously administered cholesterol-rich lipoproteins suppressed HMG-CoA reductase and LDL receptors in 2 h but had a variable effect on ACAT activity. Intragastric administration of mevalonolactone reduced reductase and increased acyltransferase activity but had little effect on LDL receptors when given 2 or 4 h before death. Although animals fed a cholesterol-rich diet before and during ethinyl estradiol treatment became hypocholesterolemic, free and esterified cholesterol concentrations in liver were high as was ACAT activity. HMG-CoA reductase was inhibited to levels found in control animals fed the cholesterol-rich diet. LDL receptors were increased to a level about 50% of that reached in animals receiving a control diet and ethinyl estradiol. These data demonstrate that key enzymes of hepatic cholesterol metabolism and hepatic LDL receptors respond rapidly to cholesterol in the ethinyl estradiol-treated rat. Furthermore, estradiol increases LDL receptor activity several fold in cholesterol-loaded livers. PMID- 2614276 TI - The molecular basis of truncated forms of apolipoprotein B in a kindred with compound heterozygous hypobetalipoproteinemia. AB - Krul et al. (1) have identified two truncated species of apolipoprotein B-100 in a kindred with familial hypobetalipoproteinemia. Five family members were identified who produce either one or both of two truncated apolipoprotein B-100 proteins estimated to be 40% and 90% the amino-terminal end of apolipoprotein B 100. Low density lipoprotein with the apolipoprotein B-90 binds more strongly to the low density lipoprotein-receptor on cultured fibroblasts. In this present study, we have identified the DNA mutations leading to these truncated apolipoprotein B-100 variants in this kindred. Sequencing of amplified DNA from the proband revealed that deletions of one or two nucleotide bases produced frameshift mutations and generated premature stop codons in both cases. Apolipoprotein B-40 (Val1829----Cys-TERM) is the result of a dinucleotide (TG) deletion in exon 26 that generates a stop codon at position 1830 and produces a protein with a predicted molecular mass of 207.14 kDa. The other truncated apolipoprotein B Glu4034----Arg-Gln-Leu-Leu-Ala-Cys-TERM) is due to a single nucleotide (G) deletion in exon 29. This results in a protein with 4039 amino acids and a predicted molecular mass of 457.6 kDa that is now designated apolipoprotein B-89. Mechanisms by which the removal of the last 497 amino acids might increase the binding of the apoB-89 to the LDL-receptor are discussed. PMID- 2614277 TI - Apolipoprotein C-III0 lacks carbohydrate residues: use of mass spectrometry to study apolipoprotein structure. AB - Apolipoprotein C-III (apo C-III) is a 79 amino acid glycoprotein. The sugar moiety of apoC-III is attached to amino acid residue 74 and is thought to consist of 1 mole of galactose, 1 mole of N-acetyl-galactosamine, and either 0, 1, or 2 moles of sialic acid. This results in three isoproteins called C-III0, C-III1, and C-III2 designated by the number of sialic acid residues. It has been assumed, although not experimentally tested, that apoC-III0 lacks sialic acid residues but possesses the D-galactosyl-(1-3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine sugar backbone. To verify the structure of the three apoC-III isoproteins, we applied the method of 252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry to measure the exact molecular weight (Mr) of each of the isoproteins. Our data confirmed the proposed structure of apoC-III1 and apoC-III2. However, the difference in mass between apoC-III1 (9420.6, 9420.0, 9422.2 daltons) and apoC-III0 (8763.9, 8764.9, 8765.5 daltons, respectively, in three subjects) suggests that the latter is missing not just sialic acid but the entire sugar moiety. This finding may have important implications for the metabolism of apoC-III. The accuracy and reproducibility of Mr measurements described in this paper suggest that this technique holds promise for the detection of apolipoprotein amino acid substitutions or modifications undetected by conventional techniques such as isoelectric focusing. PMID- 2614278 TI - Lactosylceramide molecular species specificity of rat liver CMP-N acetylneuraminate:lactosylceramide sialyltransferase. AB - Six naturally occurring and three synthetic molecular species of lactosylceramide (LacCer) were used to examine the molecular species specificity of CMP-N acetylneuraminate:lactosylceramide alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase in a Golgi-rich fraction of rat liver. The enzyme molecular species specificity was determined either in the presence of nonspecific lipid transfer protein or in the presence of detergents. Assays performed in the presence of transfer protein showed that for those lactosylceramide molecular species with either d18:1 or d18:0 long chain base the enzyme activity decreased linearly as the effective carbon number of the fatty acid increased. An increase in the carbon number of the long chain base decreased the activity of the enzyme twice as much as a corresponding increase in the carbon number of the fatty acid. On the other hand, when the enzyme activity was assayed in the presence of detergents, there was no significant difference in activity among the various molecular species of lactosylceramide based upon the carbon number of the fatty acid or on the presence of a double bond in the long chain base. However, the decrease in enzyme activity with an increase in the carbon number of the long chain base persisted. These results demonstrate that sialyltransferase has binding specificity with respect to the long chain base, but not the fatty acid. The apparent molecular species towards the fatty acid is related to the aqueous solubility of the various LacCer molecular species. PMID- 2614279 TI - Utilization of cholesterol-rich lipoproteins by perfused rat adrenals. AB - This study describes high density lipoprotein (HDL) uptake in the rat adrenal using a newly developed nonrecycling perfusion technique to control both the quality and quantity of the supplied lipoprotein. The aim of the study was to quantify a nonendocytic (alternative) pathway in the delivery of HDL-cholesterol. All experiments were conducted using an acute lipoprotein-deficient rat model (24 h 4-aminopyrazolo-[3, 4-d]-pyrimidine, 4-APP) in which circulating levels of cholesterol were reduced by one half, but various adrenal gland measurements of cholesterol metabolism were unchanged. Both rat HDL (rHDL) and affinity-purified human HDL3 (hHDL3) were used throughout the study. Microscopic autoradiographs (ARGs) indicate that both ligands bind avidly and exclusively to cells of the adrenal fasciculata and reticularis zones. Despite differences in binding affinity, both ligands deliver approximately the same total cholesterol to the cell interior as estimated by double-labeled residualizing tags on HDL (i.e., 125I-labeled dilactitol tyramine-[3H]cholesteryl linoleyl ether (DTT-CLE) HDL). The internalized cholesterol can account for much of the corticosterone produced during the 90-min time frame; however, only a small fraction of this cholesterol could have been provided via the endocytic pathway. Data obtained with the use of 125I-labeled DTT-[3H]CLE-HDL show that only 8.0% (or 0.7%) of corticosterone produced with rHDL (or hHDL3) could have come from cholesterol internalized as a component of intact HDL (i.e., via the endocytic pathway). These calculations strengthen the electron microscopy autoradiographic data that show that few exposed silver grains (representing the localization of the 125I-isotope) are found within the cell cytoplasm. Thus, despite differences in the uptake characteristics of the two ligands, most of the HDL-cholesterol internalized and used for corticosterone production during adrenal perfusion apparently comes from a pathway in which intact HDL are not internalized. PMID- 2614280 TI - Contribution of 3-hydroxyisobutyrate to the measurement of 3-hydroxybutyrate in human plasma: comparison of enzymatic and gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assays in normal and in diabetic subjects. AB - In this study we employed a capillary gas-liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GLC-MS) method to measure the plasma concentrations of 3 hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) and 3-hydroxyisobutyrate (3-OHIB) in overnight fasted diabetic subjects and in normal subjects. Plasma contents of 3-hydroxybutyrate measured in this fashion were identical to those obtained by enzymatic assay using a commercial preparation of beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, indicating no significant contamination of this enzyme preparation with 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase. In normal individuals, plasma 3-OHIB concentration was 21 +/- 2 microM in the overnight fasted state and was higher in diabetic subjects (38 +/- 5 microM) and in subjects fasted for 72 h (97 +/- 4 microM). In the postabsorptive state, 3-OHIB was 33% the concentration of 3-OHB in normals and 17% that of 3-OHB in the diabetics. PMID- 2614281 TI - Studies in the explanation of issues in biomedical ethics: (II). On "on play[ing] god", etc. AB - A previous essay (Erde, 1988) tracked the influence of the major Western historical paradigm of the great chain of being through various positions taken about abortion. This essay shows the paradigm's influence on our language- especially in animating the use of "god" and phrases like "playing god". This is important given the prevalence of religious values in bioethics debates and the pervasiveness of the language. I hunt unsuccessfully for a meaning that could serve as a moral principle, and I show how these phrases are rooted in the paradigm. I conclude that all that such language can do is offer the pretense that there is a specific absolute ground for forbidding something which could otherwise be morally acceptable. But such language is nearly senseless, and worse still, it is immoral in that it cuts off reflection and debate. PMID- 2614282 TI - On transplanting human fetal tissue: presumptive duties and the task of casuistry. AB - The procurement of fetal tissue for transplantation may promise great benefit to those suffering from various pathologies, e.g., neural disorders, diabetes, renal problems, and radiation sickness. However, debates about the use of fetal tissue have proceeded without much attention to ethical theory and application. Two broad moral questions are addressed here, the first formal, the second substantive: Is there a framework from other moral paradigms to assist in ethical debates about the transplantation of fetal tissue? Does the use of fetal tissue entail cooperation in abortion? To answer these questions I develop a theoretical framework by combining the paradigm of just-war reasoning with canons governing the use of cadaverous tissue. The kinds of safeguards provided by this paradigm allow fetal tissue to be procured without the taint of association with abortion. Central to solving the problem of cooperation is the distinction between intending and foreseeing a moral misdeed. Fetal researchers may foresee fetal death in elective abortions without intending such deaths to occur. Thus, even those who object unequivocally to elective abortion may condone the procurement of fetal tissue, if sufficient reason exists. PMID- 2614283 TI - The zygote: to be or not be a person. AB - It is no longer possible to claim that the biological characteristics of the future adult are already determined at conception. After all, a zygote may develop into a hydatidiform mole rather than into a human being. The development of an individual human person is determined by genetically and non-genetically coded molecules within the embryo, together with the influence of the maternal environment. Consequently, it is an error to regard the zygote's chromosomal (and other) DNA as sufficient to determine the uniqueness of the future individual. PMID- 2614284 TI - Metaphysical accounts of the zygote as a person and the veto power of facts. AB - That the soul of a human person is infused at conception is a metaphysical claim. But given its traditional articulation, it has the empirical consequence that the zygote must have a substantial continuity with the adult person, a continuity which is already determined at conception. This empirical consequence is contradicted by the fact that the zygote may become a hydatidiform mole, or several persons. The metaphysical claim is falsified by the facts. PMID- 2614285 TI - Towards a theory of age-group justice. AB - Norman Daniels' and Daniel Callahan's recent work attempts to develop and deepen theories of justice in order to accommodate intergenerational moral issues. Elsewhere, I have argued that Callahan's arguments furnish inadequate support for the age rationing policy he accepts. This essay therefore examines Daniels' account of age rationing, together with the complex theory of age-group justice that buttresses it. Sections one and two trace the main features of Daniels' prudential lifespan approach. Section three calls into question the theory's conformity to liberal tenets. The next section attempts to show that the outcome of the prudential approach fails to match our considered judgements. The brief final section offers a broader perspective on the task of articulating a liberal theory of age-group justice. PMID- 2614286 TI - Human gene therapy: why draw a line? AB - Despite widespread agreement that it would be ethical to use somatic cell gene therapy to correct serious diseases, there is still uneasiness on the part of the public about this procedure. The basis for this concern lies less with the procedure's clinical risks than with fear that genetic engineering could lead to changes in human nature. Legitimate concerns about the potential for misuse of gene transfer technology justify drawing a moral line that includes corrective germline therapy but excludes enhancement interventions in both somatic and germline contexts. PMID- 2614287 TI - The little woman meets son of DSM-III. AB - The author discusses conceptual problems in psychiatry, illustrated by a debate over inclusion of a new disorder, masochistic personality disorder, in DSM-III-R, the manual of psychiatric diagnoses. While the DSM committee has attempted to avoid assumptions about theory and values in an attempt to be scientific, this has proved impossible, as theory is an integral part of scientific observation and values are a prerequisite for any judgement. The foundation for psychiatry cannot be theory-it can only be patient need. PMID- 2614288 TI - Verification of the high-resolution electrocardiogram. PMID- 2614289 TI - Comparison of eight precordial ECG systems in the monitoring of patients with acute anterior Q wave myocardial infarction. PMID- 2614290 TI - Variability of different methods for measurement of ECG intervals and ECG interval temporal variation. AB - We found significant variation within each computer and cardiologist method for measurement of the ECG waveform intervals. Comparison between methods revealed that the HP system had a smaller variability than the MAC or the cardiologist, and that the MAC had a smaller variability than the cardiologist. No variability was found when a cardiologist used different paper trace speeds. Using HP measurements, we found a significant difference in ECG intervals over time, which was greater than the variability found within the method at baseline. The delineation of variability within and between ECG interval measurement methods may allow more reliable application of ECG interval changes in the therapeutic medical management of patients and prevention of side effects from drugs that affect ECG intervals. Computerized ECG waveform analysis is a widely available technology whose full role in therapeutic medical management may not be appreciated. PMID- 2614291 TI - Automated detection and analysis of monophasic action potentials in vivo. PMID- 2614292 TI - Synthesis of the 12-lead electrocardiogram from a 3-lead subset using patient specific transformation vectors. An algorithmic approach to computerized signal synthesis. PMID- 2614293 TI - Clinical application of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram and "late potentials". AB - The signal-averaged ECG has proven to be a valuable tool for identifying patients at risk of ventricular arrhythmias. This computerized method of analyzing standard ECGs identifies microvolt-level late potentials that represent delayed conduction through diseased myocardium. This diseased myocardium is a potential substrate for reentrant ventricular arrhythmias. In select patient groups, the signal-averaged ECG predicts electrophysiologic testing results. Problems remain and continued development is needed to evaluate patients with conduction system disease, the patient without coronary artery disease but at risk of sudden death, and proper general application of the technique. PMID- 2614294 TI - Normal limits of the high-fidelity pediatric ECG. Preliminary observations. AB - A study of more than 1,780 neonates, infants, and children was carried out, using a digital electrocardiograph with a sampling rate of 500 per second, to revise the normal limits of the pediatric ECG. The 12-lead ECG was used with V4R replacing V3. All leads were recorded simultaneously off-line in digital form on magnetic tape and were subsequently analyzed using well-established computing techniques. The results showed that the upper 98 percentile limit of normal amplitudes could be up to 46% higher than previously published limits. Differences in some mean values were very much higher, though these are of less clinical significance. In addition, QRS durations were found to be wider than previously published data. Sex-related differences could be demonstrated in both amplitude and duration measurements, particularly in the early adolescent years. This study confirms that to record pediatric ECGs with high fidelity, it is necessary to use equipment that converts the ECG from analog to digital form at a rate of 500 samples/sec. Significant errors in amplitude and duration measurements may be expected if a much lower sampling rate is utilized. PMID- 2614295 TI - Localization of the accessory pathway in ventricular preexcitation (WPW) by means of combined ECG and VCG recordings. PMID- 2614296 TI - The human atrial pacemaker complex. PMID- 2614297 TI - The signal-averaged electrocardiogram and late potentials. A comparative analysis of commercial devices. AB - The authors used two separate protocols to compare four commercially available devices for recording of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram and "late potentials" to assess their degree of concordance in identifying abnormalities. In one protocol, studies were performed using each system. In 19% of recordings the results from one system were discordant in at least one numeric parameter. In the second protocol identical averaged data files were used to identify discordancies due solely to differences in analysis algorithms used for QRS offset determination by the various devices. This disclosed 23% discordant findings, mostly in the root mean square amplitude of the terminal 40-msec segment resulting from small differences in the estimate of QRS offset point. To improve concordance between commercial systems, there is an urgent need for adoption of a rigorously standardized algorithm for analysis of baseline noise and QRS offset. PMID- 2614298 TI - Mapping the electrical initiation of ventricular fibrillation. PMID- 2614299 TI - Detection of rejection after heart transplantation. A computerized precordial mapping experience. AB - A low-cost modular compact personal computer-based system for surface precordial mapping (SPM) developed by the authors was used to detect rejection periods, documented by endomyocardial biopsy (EB), in heart transplant patients on cyclosporine A therapy. Data were collected with a matrix of 35 Ag-AgCl electrodes positioned over the precordio with anatomical references within 12 hours of EB. For each acquisition the authors computed the root mean square waveform from all signals collected to assess the accuracy of the maximum value of the RMS waveform (mRMS) parameter to detect rejection episodes. A mRMS variation of 20% in consecutive mapping acquisitions was the decision criterion. In EB, only presence or absence of acute rejection was considered. Eleven heart transplant patients were studied and 46 acquisitions were done. The mRMS obtained with SPM showed a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 91%, with a positive predictive value of 75% and negative value of 88%. The results indicate that surface precordial mapping may be promising for monitoring rejection. PMID- 2614300 TI - Heart rate variability 1989. An update. PMID- 2614301 TI - The evolution of computer application to assist during clinical electrophysiologic testing. PMID- 2614302 TI - Rate-responsive pacing using an impedance lead. PMID- 2614303 TI - Simultaneous bipolar pacing and sensing during EPs. AB - Bipolar pacing and sensing-recording on the same electrode is a problem during pacemaker implantation as well as during electrophysiological studies. A method is described that makes this possible. By using bipolar simultaneous sensing pacing on the same electrode, the system can record local repolarization after a depolarization controlled by stimulation. The bipolar-paced evoked potential is useful as an indicator to drive a bipolar QT rate responsive pacemaker. Even more, during EPS it can be used to detect capture during tachycardia stimulation and to measure the exact refractory period. PMID- 2614304 TI - Classification of arrhythmias using atrial and ventricular endocardial electrograms. PMID- 2614305 TI - Characterization of rhythms from intracardiac and epicardial leads using coherence spectra. PMID- 2614306 TI - Electrocardiographic monitoring and coronary occlusion. Fingerprint pattern analysis in dimensions of space, time, and mind. PMID- 2614307 TI - An improved detection algorithm in fetal electrocardiography. AB - Fetal electrocardiogram signals from abdominal recordings were digitized and processed by a personal computer. An averaged maternal signal was derived from the cross-correlation function and nonrecursive digital filtering. The cross correlation function was calculated from the cross-spectrum and the fast Fourier transform algorithm. The maximum value of the cross-correlation function and the time location of that value were found by (1) searching for the similarity between the waveforms (for elimination of artifacts) and (2) measuring the relative time delay (for the waveform's alignment in the averaging process) between the ECG waveforms. Prior to this procedure each of the ECG waveforms was filtered through a nonrecursive digital high-pass filter. With this procedure a template signal corresponding to one complete maternal ECG signal is obtained. The fetal ECG and the electromyogram (EMG) are suppressed in the maternal template waveform, since they are not correlated with the maternal ECG. The averaged maternal ECG was then subtracted from the abdominal signals. The subtraction results in complete elimination of the maternal signal, thus it is possible to detect all of the fetal QRS complexes in spite of their coincidence with the maternal ECG. An averaged fetal ECG is then extracted using the same averaging process to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, making it possible to recognize fetal P and T waves. The performance of this method was assessed using simulated and recorded (real) abdominal ECG signals. This method shows a significant improvement with respect to detection of fetal heart rate, evaluation of short-term variation in the heart rate, and detection of arrhthymia disturbances in the fetal ECG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614308 TI - Suppression of baseline wander in the ECG using a bilinearly transformed, null phase filter. AB - The purpose of this study was to design and test a bilinearly transformed, null phase (BLT/NP) filter for removing baseline wander and to compare it with the cubic spline for performance. For this purpose, the ECG data were filtered to remove high-frequency noise and low-frequency baseline wander to form a set of "clean" ECGs. Artificial low-frequency noise mimicking typical baseline wander was constructed from sine and cosine waves at 0.20 and 0.45 Hz and with amplitudes of 400 and 300 microV, respectively, and added to the "clean" ECGs to form the "test" ECGs. The BLT/NP filter and the cubic spline method each were applied to a "test" ECG to form a "restored" ECG. The measure of performance was the root mean square difference (RMSD) between the "restored" ECG and the initial "clean" ECG. RMSD values showed that on the average the BLT/NP filter performed as well as the cubic spline method and has the advantage that accurate determination of the QRS onset is not required. PMID- 2614309 TI - A system for simultaneous esophageal atrial pacing and ventricular recording in computer analysis of posterior ischemia. AB - Abnormalities of the posterior cardiac wall are often small and obscured by electrical activity of the anterior wall of the left ventricle or by right ventricular hypertrophy. The posterior wall is hidden from the precordial leads by the anterior wall, and electrodes placed on the back are of little use because of their distance from the heart and of the intervening high-resistivity lungs. In contrast to the body surface, the esophagus provides a unique perspective of the posterior aspects of the heart at close range. The authors employed a noninvasive approach to produce cardiac stress and simultaneously record posterior cardiac electrical activity via the esophagus. A new esophageal electrode and instrumentation were developed for acquiring a high-quality esophageal electrocardiogram (ECG) during transesophageal atrial pacing stress. They present their technique for combining stress testing and computer analysis of ST-segment changes in the esophageal ECG as well as preliminary results from one normal subject and one patient with known posteroinferior ischemia. PMID- 2614310 TI - Signal-averaged electrocardiography directly from Holter monitor tapes. PMID- 2614311 TI - Ventricular fibrillation detection by autocorrelation function peak analysis. AB - The use of reliable automatic ventricular fibrillation (VF) recognition techniques is critical in performing external automatic defibrillation. The authors' objective was to develop a method to detect VF and life-threatening arrhythmias, based on direct and simple peak analysis of the autocorrelation function (ACF). This method may differentiate between fibrillating and nonfibrillating rhythms, and in the first case between "course" and "fine" VF. ECG records during ventricular tachycardia (VT) and VF were obtained from patients during cardiac surgery. Segments 4 sec long were selected from tapes and digitized at 200 Hz, then split into three groups (VT, VF regular waveform, and VF irregular waveform). The positive peak P(j) of the ACF was defined as the maximum value between two function zeros, and RPL(j) represents the relation between P(j) and twice their own standard error. Parameter TR(1) was defined as the relation between P(1) width and the time of occurrence. ACFs were computed for the entire sample; RPL(j), D(j) = RPL(j) - RPL(j + 1), and TR(1) were calculated for every record. The results indicate that: (A) If RPL(1) greater than 1.2 and (1.6 greater than or equal to RPL(2) greater than 1) and (RPL(3) greater than 0.6 and D(1) greater than 0), then consider VT; (B) If (1.2 greater than or equal to RPL(1) greater than or equal to 1) and (1 greater than or equal to RPL(2) greater than or equal to 0.9) and D(1) greater than 9, then consider VT or VF with very regular waveform; (C) If (RPL(1) less than or equal to 1.8 and RPL(2) less than 0.9) or (RPL(2) less than 1.5 and D(1) less than 0) or RPL(3) less than 0.6, then consider VF. When 0.3 less than TR(1) less than 0.8, the underlying arrhythmia is VF or VT, and when it is outside this range, it is likely to be a supraventricular rhythm. CONCLUSIONS: (A) RPL(j) parameters have a high specificity for discriminating between VT and VF. The method is reliable and simple. (B) The TR(1) parameter together with RPL(j) allow discrimination between supraventricular tachycardias and ventricular originated tachyarrhythmias. (C) Further analysis must be done using problem-oriented arrhythmias data bases. PMID- 2614312 TI - Evaluation of Fourier transform filter for high-resolution ECG. AB - The high-resolution electrocardiography has become an important clinical tool for analyzing the high-frequency content of electrocardiograms (ECGs). Recent emphasis has been on the detection of ventricular late potential activity due to its ability to predict ventricular tachycardia (VT) in myocardial infarction (MI) patients. To accentuate the high-frequency components, the signal-averaged ECG data are filtered using high-pass filters. Two types of filters used in commercial systems, bidirectional Butterworth and Fourier transform filters, are compared using a common signal-averaged ECG data base. Signal-averaged ECG data acquired at two clinical sites (Mayo Clinic and Bowman Gray School of Medicine) using the MAC15 HIRES system were filtered using a 40-Hz fast Fourier transform (FFT) filter with a 6 dB/octave rolloff on an IBM-compatible personal computer. The same average data were filtered using a 40-Hz bidirectional Butterworth filter with similar rolloff. Using a common algorithm, outputs of both filters were used to compute vector magnitude and to obtain the measurements to quantify high-frequency, low-amplitude (HFLA) signals. The measurements include total QRS duration, duration of HFLA signals, root mean square voltage, and mean voltage in the terminal 40 msec. Applying the published criteria for late potentials, sensitivity and specificity were computed for both filters on data obtained from 59 patients of old MI (group 1, 29 with clinical or inducible VT and group 2, 30 with no history of VT and noninducible). The results were very similar, and both filters were found to be functionally equivalent. PMID- 2614313 TI - Modelling the periodicity of cardiac muscle. AB - The intractable problem of modelling cardiac muscle of arbitrary extent while preserving cellular structure has been solved using an analytical rather than numerical approach with a method called two-scale asymptotic analysis. In this method, the myocardium was modelled as a collection of bundles arranged periodically in space and connected by junctions, and the distribution of the steady-state potential and current density was determined. The potential both along and across fibers was found to contain a distinct periodic component that determines the transmembrane potential. The magnitude of the transmembrane potential depends on the gradient of applied potential, the dimensions of the bundles, and their internal conductivity. Current flows primarily in the extracellular space, and the extracellular pathway also determines the apparent conductivity of cardiac muscle. PMID- 2614314 TI - Modifications of the cardiac double-layer source arising from interstitial potentials. PMID- 2614315 TI - Clinical application of electrocardiographic computer model. AB - A three-dimensional computer model was developed to stimulate the ventricular depolarization and repolarization in a clinical setting. The ventricle is composed of approximately 50,000 units arranged in a cubic close-packed structure and the specialized conduction system is distributed so as to obtain the excitation sequence resembling normal ventricular depolarization. The normal distribution of action potential waveforms with the longest duration on the endocardium and the shortest on the epicardium is used in the model. The heart model is mounted in a homogeneous torso model, and the body surface potential distribution generated by the electric dipoles is calculated using the boundary element method. The QRST waveforms corresponding to the normal and some abnormal heart conditions, such as bundle branch block, myocardial infarction, apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, is obtained by assuming the abnormal area with altered electrical properties. Thus the three dimensional computer model may provide further insight into the genesis of the clinical electrocardiogram. PMID- 2614316 TI - A cardiac potential mapping system. AB - The technical aspects of a multiple-purpose cardiac mapping system are presented. The authors begin with a brief history of hardware and software development and then concentrate on the major problems in acquiring high-quality recordings from the torso surface or from the epicardial surface and on the processing of the signals for display of color maps or other analysis. To achieve the desired adaptability to a variety of cardiac applications and experiments, they incorporated three parallel microprocessors that can record the signals from 240 electrodes and simultaneously provide display and analysis of the incoming cardiac data. While the parallel processors and modular software offer computational and flexibility advantages, the user interacts with an ordinary AT compatible computer. This discussion is not a survey of the systems used in the many research laboratories or specific cardiac applications but is focused on experience in developing the specific hardware for such a multi-purpose instrument, and less specifically on the software that makes the system easy to use and adaptable to a variety of experimental and clinical situations. PMID- 2614317 TI - Use of high-pass filtering to detect late potentials in the signal-averaged ECG. AB - The authors investigate the use of digital filters for analysis of the signal averaged ECG. They consider the basic types of digital filters and examine respective advantages and disadvantages for ECG analysis. An approach to analyzing the signal-averaged ECG using separate filters for measuring QRS offset and amplitudes is proposed. A study of 19 subjects explores the use of filters to detect low-level activity anywhere in the QRS complex. PMID- 2614318 TI - Use of body surface maps to identify vessel site of coronary occlusion. AB - Body surface mapping is more sensitive than conventional electrocardiography for various cardiac regions. In this pilot study, the authors used isoarea maps of early (the first 40 msec), late (the next 40 msec), and total (early and late, or 80 msec) QRS complex to determine the site of coronary occlusion in patients with known coronary artery disease. In the absence of conduction abnormalities or axis deviation in the 12-lead electrocardiogram, isoarea body surface map data of single-vessel disease were unremarkable; however, isoarea departure maps (ie, the average isoarea map of normal population extracted from the study group) were characteristic. Early departure isoarea maps were revealing in all three coronary artery disease groups, with a large negative potential noted over the anterior thorax, midline for the right coronary artery, left anterior in the left anterior descending artery, and further laterally for the left circumflex artery groups. The late isoarea departure map was distinct in the left circumflex artery group with positive potentials leftward, anterolaterally. Discriminant function analysis revealed a high predictive accuracy for the left anterior descending artery group. Thus, isoarea departure maps hold promise for predicting the site of coronary occlusion in this training set of patients. PMID- 2614319 TI - Persistent changes in the body surface electrocardiogram following successful coronary angioplasty. AB - One hundred twenty-lead body surface potential maps (BSPMs) were recorded immediately before and 24 hours after coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 24 patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease (single-vessel in 21 and two-vessel in 3). All PTCAs were uncomplicated and successful. The modified Gensini score decreased in every patient and the mean score fell from 43 +/- 36 to 21 +/- 28 (p less than 0.001). Resting spatial patterns of QRS, ST-segment, and T wave integral distributions over the torso surface were unchanged from before to after PTCA. Quantitative temporal subtraction maps, however, revealed a large precordial area of decreased T wave integral values after PTCA. The sum (sigma) positive T wave integrals fell from 20,501 +/- 10,544 microV.s before PTCA to 17,647 +/- 10,310 microV.s after PTCA (p less than 0.02). In contrast, the sigma positive QRS (10,115 +/- 4,848 microV.s before PTCA vs. 9,656 +/- 4,556 microV.s after PTCA) and the sigma negative ST integrals (-2,489 +/- 1,467 microV.s before PTCA vs. -2,359 +/- 1,505 microV.s after PTCA) were unchanged (NS). Thus, successful PTCA does not produce any persistent change in depolarization or early repolarization electrocardiographic variables but is associated with a decrease in late repolarization potentials that persists for at least 24 hours after the procedure. The pathophysiology of this persistent change is speculative, but myocardial ischemia during the PTCA procedure is a likely possibility. The clinical significance, including predictive value for subsequent stenosis, and the natural history of T wave effect remain incompletely defined. These data suggest that measures to decrease myocardial ischemia during PTCA are warranted. PMID- 2614320 TI - A basis for determining body surface potential patterns attributable to single site coronary arterial occlusion. AB - The authors focus on computational separation of the individual patterns of occlusion of the major segments of the right coronary artery. The raw patterns of occlusion throughout 15 standard subdivisions of the coronary arterial tree and body surface isoarea maps for 8 consecutive 10-msec intervals of QRS were examined in 200 patients with known coronary artery disease. Mean patterns of occlusion and of potential distribution were formed into 15 groups according to which patients showed greater than or equal to 90% occlusion of the respective segments. By diagonalization of the occlusion matrix, individual potential map patterns were obtained to represent the effect of isolated occlusion of each segment. While these patterns appeared consistent with the known anatomy of ventricular myocardial perfusion, further correlative study will be needed. The authors suggest that the use of such prototypical patterns of single-site obstruction may be helpful in forming and assessing recognition patterns in the clinical setting of multiple-site, multiple-vessel disease. PMID- 2614321 TI - Are there gaps in the provision of perinatal care in Greece? AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective was to test the hypothesis that easy access to sophisticated hospitals is associated with a reduction in perinatal mortality. DESIGN: The study was a nationwide questionnaire survey of a birth cohort. SUBJECTS: All deliveries greater than 500g weight of singleton live births and stillbirths occurring throughout Greece during April 1983 were included. Completed questionnaires were returned for 10,953 deliveries (8% of total annual registered births in Greece), and data on 10,790 singleton births were analysed, including 127 stillbirths and 137 early neonatal deaths. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The questionnaires contained information on demographic characteristics of each parent, mother's reproductive history, and clinical course of pregnancy, labour and perinatal period. Mothers living in big urban centres were compared with the rest of the country. Overall mortality rates were similar but births in the big urban centres were of significantly lower weight due to fetal growth retardation. Logistic regression analysis, taking account of birthweight, parity, maternal age, and maternal education showed that there was an advantage to mothers living in big urban centres, perinatal mortality being 63% higher in the rest of the country (chi 2 = 7.4, p less than 0.01). CONCLUSION: The evidence obtained supports the original hypothesis and suggest that a reduction in the high perinatal mortality rate in Greece may be achieved by restructuring the perinatal services. PMID- 2614322 TI - Seasonal prevalence of major congenital malformations in the Fylde of Lancashire 1957-1981. AB - The seasonal prevalence of major congenital malformations was studied in a prospective survey of 88,449 children born in the circumscribed Fylde of Lancashire to residents there over 25 years. Ascertainment was thought to be as complete as was practically possible because cases were recorded daily by one, and for 17 years the only, paediatrician and a very high rate of necropsies was maintained. The number of malformations were classified by month of maternal last menstrual period and seasonal variation was assessed by three statistical models. Neural tube defects showed a significant seasonal variation in month of last menstrual period but not in month of birth. From May 1956 to April 1968, when the prevalence of neural tube defects was high (5.5 per 1000 total births), conceptions were significantly more common in December to May. For anencephaly alone the figures were not significant, but spina bifida and cranium bifidum were more common in March to May. From May 1968 to April 1981, when the prevalence of neural tube defects fell below the national average, the significant variations disappeared. Seasonality for spina bifida and cranium bifidum was seen only in "singles" (cases with no other major lesion), but for anencephaly it was seen only in "multiples" (cases with other lesions). The three types of cardiac septal defect and persistent ductus each showed a higher prevalence of conceptions at some time during May to October. In contrast the commonest group of cyanotic cases showed no such pattern but with greater numbers in winter. There was evidence of a seasonal variation for bilateral renal agenesis and for vesicoureteric reflux as ascertained. Seasonal prevalence in an aetiological factor for certain malformations of the central nervous system, cardiac and urinary systems. PMID- 2614323 TI - Contrasts in the multiple causes of stillbirth, neonatal death and postneonatal death. AB - A large sample of stillbirth and infant death certificates for England and Wales from 1979-81 was analysed for the frequency of appearance of maternal and fetal conditions anywhere on the certificate, not just as the underlying cause. The results suggest there is presently no need to extend the use of the new stillbirth and neonatal death certificates, introduced in 1986, to the postneonatal period. Periodic multicause analysis of the old style death certificate should be sufficient to reveal the detail of conditions incriminated in postneonatal deaths. PMID- 2614324 TI - Spontaneous abortions and congenital malformations among women exposed to tetrachloroethylene in dry cleaning. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether exposure to tetrachloroethylene during the first trimester of pregnancy has harmful effects on pregnancy outcome. DESIGN: The study used record linkage identification of cases and case-control comparison. SETTING: The study involved dry cleaner and laundry workers throughout Finland who had become pregnant during the study period. Controls were age matched but otherwise unselected women giving birth to normal babies in the study period. SUBJECTS: Cases were defined as women who had been treated for spontaneous abortion or had delivered a malformed child. Out of 5700 workers nearly half had been pregnant during the study period. One pregnancy only was randomly selected for study per worker, and the final study population was 247 women with spontaneous abortions and 33 with malformed infants. Three age matched controls were selected for each abortion case and five for each malformation case. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Three women out of four had worked in early pregnancy. Exposure information was collected from 1108 women by mailed questionnaires, with a 77% response, and was partly confirmed by biological monitoring data. Exposure to tetrachloroethylene was found to be significantly associated with spontaneous abortions (odds ratio 3.6, p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings, together with other available data, indicate that exposure of pregnant women to tetrachloroethylene needs to be minimised. PMID- 2614325 TI - A case-control study of non-T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia of children in Hokkaido, Japan. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate factors associated with the occurrence of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in cases identified as of non-T cell type, stage I-IV. DESIGN: The study was a case control investigation. Data were obtained by interview with parents of cases and controls. SETTING: The study was community based and was carried out in Hokkaido, Japan. SUBJECTS: 63 cases were identified. Controls (two for each case) were matched for sex, age and place of residence. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In univariate analysis, BCG vaccination, measles infection, measles vaccination, atopy, hip x ray, and milk intake of mother during pregnancy had significantly low odds ratios (ie, were less likely to be associated with leukaemia), while dental x rays for carious teeth and contact with animals at time of diagnosis had high odds ratios (more likely to be associated with leukaemia). In conditional logistic regression analysis employing these seven factors, measles infection/vaccination, BCG, atopy and dental x ray remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: Leukaemia subtypes are likely to have specific aetiologies. Future epidemiological research in leukaemia should take this into account. PMID- 2614326 TI - Epidemiological evidence for distinguishing subsites of colorectal cancer. AB - The registry of digestive tract tumours established for the department of Cote d'Or (France) was used to study the epidemiological characteristics of large bowel cancer subsites for the period 1976-1983. Age standardised incidence rates for colon cancers were 18.9/100,000 for men and 14.2/100,000 for women. The corresponding rates for rectal cancers were 18.4/100,000 and 10.2/100,000. The sex ratio for right colon cancer (caecum, ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse, splenic flexure) was close to 1 and did not change with advancing age, while that for the left colon (sigmoid, descending colon) showed a male excess after 65. For rectal cancer (rectosigmoid junction, rectal ampulla) the male predominance was more marked and occurred earlier, after 55 years of age. There was no significant variation in incidence between rural and urban areas for the different sublocalisations. In males the risk was high in the highest social classes for left colon cancer (p less than 0.01), and among farmers for rectal cancer (p less than 0.01). The risk of left colon cancer in males increased with the comfort of housing (p less than 0.01), but this marker of social class had little influence on incidence for the other localisations in males, or for any localisation in females. No significant variation was found with education. The incidence of colon cancer tended to increase over the 8 years of study. The variations were significant for left colon cancer. For rectal subsites cancer incidence decreased in women (p less than 0.05). The observed differences suggest differences in the aetiological factors within large bowel cancers. Therefore right colon cancer, left colon cancer and rectal cancer should be considered separately in epidemiological analytical investigations. PMID- 2614327 TI - Cigarette smoking and benign proliferative epithelial disorders of the breast in women: a case-control study. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the possible association between cigarette smoking and benign proliferative epithelial disorders of the breast. DESIGN: This was a case-control study with two different control groups. SETTING: The study was community based and took place in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. SUBJECTS: 506 biopsy proven cases between 18 and 75 years were identified, of whom 39 could not be approached because of surgeon refusal, 66 would not be interviewed and 18 were untraceable, leaving 383 for inclusion in the study. Controls were 192 women who had had a negative breast biopsy, out of a possible 259 (17 surgeon refusals, 39 interview refusals, 11 untraceable); and a randomly selected group of women matched to the index group for age and area of residence (582 subjects were approached to enrol 383 controls). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All breast biopsies were examined by one pathologist and classified using a standard system. Sociodemographic and medical information was collected by trained interviewers using structured questionnaires. Overall, and within menopausal strata, risk of benign proliferative epithelial disease for women who had ever smoked and for current and ex-smokers was similar to that for women who had never smoked. In premenopausal women, using community controls as the comparison group, risk decreased with cigarette-years of exposure, but the trend was not statistically significant. Risk appeared to increase when biopsy controls were used. There was no trend in the association when examined by degree of cytological atypia. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that cigarette smoking is not related to the risk of benign proliferative epithelial breast disease. PMID- 2614328 TI - Influence of fatness, intelligence, education and sociodemographic factors on response rate in a health survey. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the characteristics of non-responders to an invitation to attend a health examination. DESIGN: Taking advantage of an ongoing study of obesity, this was a survey of a cohort of severely obese men, with a randomly selected control group. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were draftees to the compulsory Danish military draft board examination between 1943 and 1977. Among 362,200 draftees, 1940 were identified as severely obese (body mass index greater than or equal to 31 kg/m2). A comparison group of 1801 subjects was randomly drawn from the remaining population. During the period 1981 3 those still alive and living in the same region (1651 obese, 1504 control) were invited to a health examination. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The examination was attended by 964 obese (58%) and 1134 controls (75%). In both groups an increasing response rate was associated with decreasing body mass index, and increasing intelligence test score, educational level, current social class, age (up to 50 years) and proximity of residence. Logistic regression analysis showed that all these variables had independent effects on response rate. Frequency and duration of hospital admissions during the period 1977-82 did not differ among responders and non-responders in either group. CONCLUSION: Response rates in health surveys are strongly influenced by degree of fatness, intelligence, educational level, social class, age, and proximity of residence. PMID- 2614329 TI - Previously diagnosed psychiatric illness among inhabitants of common lodging houses. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics of the homeless population and their previously diagnosed psychiatric illnesses in a well defined inner city area. DESIGN: The study involved a one in 10 sequential sample collected over three years. SETTING: Hostels and day care centres for the homeless in Manchester. PARTICIPANTS: 420 homeless people were interviewed; 17 were excluded because of lack of rapport. RESULTS: The majority were single middle aged catholic males who left school early and were unemployed; 48.7% had a history of alcoholism, 38.5% of diagnosed psychiatric illness, and 22.6% of psychiatric inpatient treatment. Only 21% of those with psychiatric diagnoses were being treated or followed up at the time of study. There was a strong association between criminal behaviour and previous admission to a psychiatric unit. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high incidence of psychiatric illness among the homeless, particularly among those originating from the locality studied. They tend to be geographically stable and therefore accessible to the provision of facilities for continuing care. PMID- 2614330 TI - Adult body height, self perceived health and mortality in the Swedish population. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to examine adult body height as an indicator of general health. DESIGN: The study was a survey of a randomly selected sample of the adult Swedish population obtained by the Swedish National Central Bureau of Statistics. PARTICIPANTS: The sample studied was identified in 1980-81 and comprised 14,757 persons aged 16-74. Of these, 12,695 (86%) consented to interview. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Information was obtained on adult height, socioeconomic status in childhood and adult life, self perceived health, self reported longstanding illness, and mortality during a six year follow up. The numbers of people in three height groups who considered their general health as bad, who reported any longstanding illness or who died during the follow up were compared with the expected numbers in the same groups. The number of persons with reduced health and the number of deaths was larger than expected in the shortest height group. The excess risk of dying in the shortest group (about 20% higher compared to the tallest group) was reduced but not eliminated when present and childhood socioeconomic group was taken into account. Coronary heart disease mortality in particular was linked to height. The shortest group of men and women reported the largest proportion with bad general health and longstanding illness. For the latter the differences between height groups disappeared after controlling for present socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: There is a detectable excess risk of morbidity and mortality from being short. Assuming that the childhood environment is an important determinant of adult stature it is also important for adult health. PMID- 2614331 TI - Single mothers: their health and health service use. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate differences in reported health and health service use in single mothers. DESIGN: The study was a survey of data derived from the General Household Surveys conducted by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS). SETTING: The OPCS data are derived from samples of households throughout Great Britain. PARTICIPANTS: OPCS data for 1983 and 1984 were used, comprising approximately 60,000 individuals, of whom 793 were single mothers. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Five different health outcomes were examined, two on perceived morbidity and three on the use of health services. The chief determinants of health and health services use among single mothers were housing tenure, employment status and the age of the youngest child. Single mother status did not consistently contribute to self reported morbidity and uptake of care when adjusted for other social variables, but there was a difference between categories of single mother, with those who were separated/divorced and those who were widowed reporting more acute illness than those who were married. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that single mothers do not form a homogeneous group and that, if special consideration is to be given to them when planning and allocating health service resources, this needs to be taken into account in the context of other socioeconomic factors. PMID- 2614332 TI - Accuracy of electoral registers and Family Practitioner Committee lists for population studies of the very elderly. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to assess the accuracy of Family Practitioner Committee (FPC) lists for identifying very elderly people registered with general practitioners. DESIGN: The accuracy of available FPC lists was checked against the most recent electoral register to determine which recorded individuals were still living at their FPC registered addresses. This was followed by a postal and home visit enquiry to validate the accuracy of the electoral register. SETTING: The study was carried out in the London borough of Hackney. PARTICIPANTS: The investigation was confined to persons aged 85 and over. RESULTS: Of a total of 3018 people listed as being 85 years or over by the FPC, 1183 (39%) were listed on the electoral register. Of these, 751 (63%) were living at their registered address, ie 25% of the people in the original FPC list. A further 154 (5%) of the original list were not recorded on the electoral register but were alive at the FPC recorded address. CONCLUSIONS: the use of FPC lists alone to identify the very elderly in an inner city population is too inaccurate to be of value. The combined use of FPC lists and the electoral register is better but one in six persons will still be missed. PMID- 2614333 TI - Symptoms of stress predict musculoskeletal disorders. PMID- 2614334 TI - Adult body height and childhood socioeconomic group in the Swedish population. PMID- 2614335 TI - Screening for cancer of the cervix. PMID- 2614336 TI - A subpopulation of cerebral B cluster neurones of Aplysia californica is involved in defensive head withdrawal but not appetitive head movements. AB - The cerebral B cluster neurones of Aplysia californica were studied under experimental conditions designed to evoke head movements in a selective fashion: either to approach an appetitive stimulus, or to withdraw from an aversive one. Intracellular recordings indicated the presence of two types of B cluster neurones: Bn cells that had fast (narrow) spikes, and Bb cells that had slow (broad) spikes. Tactile stimulation of the tentacles, rhinophores and lips excited Bn neurones, but inhibited Bb neurones. Intracellular stimulation of Bn cells evoked contractions of body wall muscles. No contractions were observed when Bb cells were fired, indicating that it is unlikely that the Bb neurones are motor neurones. Several lines of evidence indicated that the Bn type neurones are involved in withdrawal responses but not in appetitive head turning. (1) Elimination of the descending axons of the Bn cells by lesioning the cerebropleural connectives (C-Pl connectives) did not affect the head-turning response. This lesion significantly altered the head-withdrawal response by selectively eliminating an initial fast component of the withdrawal movement. (2) In chronic recordings from the C-Pl connective, unit activity was obtained which was correlated with the presentation of an appetitive stimulus rather than with evoked or spontaneous turning movements. A substantial increase in activity also occurred during head withdrawal of the animal. On the basis of these data, we postulate that separate populations of motor neurones are responsible for the aversive withdrawal of the head, and for the directed turning response towards a stimulus. PMID- 2614337 TI - Regulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis by catecholamines in rainbow trout during environmental hypoxia. AB - This study tests the hypothesis that catecholamines regulate glucose availability during hypoxia in the rainbow trout by activating glycogen phosphorylase (GPase) while inhibiting pyruvate kinase (PK) in the liver. The net result would be an increase in liver glycogenolysis and a reduction of glycolysis and/or enhancement of gluconeogenesis. We used the criteria of Stalmans & Hers (1975) and report much lower resting percent GPase a (active) values (20-30%) than those previously published. Dorsal aortic injections of epinephrine or norepinephrine increased plasma glucose (16-46%), had no effect on liver or muscle glycogen levels, decreased the activity of PK, and increased total and percent GPase a activities. Pre-treatment with the beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist propranolol eliminated these effects. During moderate hypoxia, plasma glucose remained unchanged, while lactate levels increased fourfold. When fish were pre-treated with propranolol, hypoxia depressed plasma glucose levels (-26%), total and percent GPase a, and increased PK activity, suggesting that hypoxia mediated the dephosphorylation of these enzymes. We conclude that catecholamines stimulate hepatic beta adrenoreceptors during hypoxia and sustain plasma glucose levels by nullifying the deleterious effects of hypoxia on metabolic function. The specific metabolic consequences of these catecholamine-mediated effects are an increase in the activity of the active form of GPase and a reduction in PK activity, which suggests an activation of glycogenolysis and an inhibition of glycolysis and/or activation of gluconeogenesis, respectively. PMID- 2614338 TI - Control of metabolism and growth in embryonic turtles: a test of the urea hypothesis. AB - We performed two experiments to determine (1) whether the metabolism and growth of embryonic snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) incubating in wet and dry environments are correlated inversely with the concentration of urea inside their eggs, and (2) whether urea accumulating inside eggs might be the cause of reductions in metabolism and growth by embryos. Eggs in the first experiment were incubated in different hydric environments to induce different patterns of net water exchange between the eggs and their surroundings. Turtles hatching from eggs that were in positive water balance had larger carcasses, smaller residual yolks and lower concentrations of urea in their blood than animals emerging from eggs that were in negative water balance. Thus, we confirmed the existence of correlations among water exchange by eggs, concentrations of urea in fluid compartments inside eggs, and metabolism and growth of embryos. In the second experiment, eggs were injected with solutions of urea at the mid-point of incubation to induce different levels of uremia in developing embryos. The injection protocol induced variation in the concentration of urea in blood of hatchlings similar to that observed in the first experiment for turtles hatching in wet and dry environments. However, the injection protocol did not induce variation in size of hatchlings or in mass of their residual yolk. Thus, the reduction in metabolism and growth of chelonian embryos developing in dry environments does not result from an inhibition of intermediary metabolism caused by urea, and the 'urea hypothesis' for control of metabolism cannot be accepted in its present form. PMID- 2614339 TI - Structure and mechanics of starfish body wall. AB - The structure of the dorsal body wall of the starfish Echinaster spinulosus was studied using polarized light microscopy of frozen tissues, scanning electron microscopy and histology. The collagen fibres of the body wall form a three dimensional orthogonal web. Voids in the web contain ossicles and papulae. The orthogonal web delivers dimensional stability but allows shear necessary for ray torsion. The ossicles and fibres interact to load the fibres in tension and the ossicles in compression. Strain rates of the dorsal body wall were measured on live animals during typical movements. Uniaxial tension tests of the body wall yielded Young's moduli of 267 MPa (longitudinal), 249 MPa (transverse) and 353 MPa (bias); curves were essentially linear. The body wall was approximately linearly viscoelastic and showed hysteresis at 0.01 Hz. Stress relaxation over five decades of time (in seconds) yielded relaxation spectra with peaks in relaxation time at 2.96-3.35, depending on test direction. Stress relaxation caused the connective tissue to soften. The surface of fractured stress-relaxed tissue revealed wispy, dissociated fibril tufts, whereas unrelaxed fractures produced blunt-ended fibre bundles. Neural control was necessary for body wall integrity. PMID- 2614340 TI - Study of bilirubin binding in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography. AB - We describe a high-performance single-run liquid chromatographic method for the separation of protein-bound and "free" (loosely bound) bilirubin in human serum samples. The procedure is based on both the size-exclusion and the adsorptive properties of the column packing material, LiChrosorb Diol. The elution of all sample constituents is accomplished by means of an aqueous mobile phase containing a phosphate-buffered solution of human serum albumin or adult serum, supplemented by a small amount of bilirubin. The efficacy of the developed method is exemplified by assaying the bilirubin binding to human adult and infant sera. PMID- 2614341 TI - Determination of haemoglobin and prothrombin complex in whole blood using optothermal spectrometry. AB - Optothermal spectrometry measures the thermal energy produced as a result of absorption by molecules at a given modulation frequency and wavelength. Depending on the modulation frequency used, analysis can be performed in very thin layers (50-150 micrometers). A major advantage of optothermal spectrometry is that it is not very sensitive to light scattering. Haemoglobin in whole blood was measured without any reagent at 16 Hz and 2 Hz frequencies. The precisions (within-series, within-day and between-day) were acceptable, and comparisons with reference methods were excellent. As opposed to the reference methods, optothermal spectrometric determinations were not affected by lipaemia. When measured continuously, the signal for haemoglobin increased due to the packing of erythrocytes towards the light source. By converting soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin, the erythrocyte packing could either be inhibited or stopped, and this process could be monitored by assessing the change in the rate of signal increase for haemoglobin. This principle was utilized to analyse the prothrombin complex; the method was found to have acceptable precision and to be comparable to a routine method. PMID- 2614342 TI - Simultaneous quantification of oestrogen and progesterone receptors by a ligand binding assay in frozen sections. AB - We describe two modifications of a double-isotope assay for measuring the concentrations of oestrogen receptors and progesterone receptors in tumour cytosols and extracts of frozen tumour sections and endometrial sections. The concentrations of these receptors are derived from single-point/isoelectric focussing assays after incubation of cytosols or section supernatants either with ([125I]vinyl)-nortestosterone and [3H]oestradiol or [125I]oestradiol and [3H]ORG 2058 (16 alpha-ethyl-21-hydroxy-19-nor[6,7(3)H]pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione). The concentrations of the oestrogen and progesterone receptors found in cytosols (r greater than 0.93) and extracts from sections (r greater than 0.8) by dual label assays are highly correlated with those found by single label assays. The method described represents an approach to the determination of oestrogen and progesterone receptors biochemically in an amount of tissue which is comparable to that needed for immunocytochemical procedures. PMID- 2614343 TI - Comparison of the reflectance method (Reflotron reflectance photometer) with the absorbance method (automatic analysers) for the determination of cholesterol. AB - The European Atherosclerosis Society (1) and the Expert Panel of the US National Cholesterol Education Program (2) have issued detailed guide values for recognition and management of hyperlipidaemia in adults. In these guidelines, the diagnosis of dyslipidaemia based on the measurements of total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, HDL and LDL cholesterol plays an important role. A prerequisite for the desired success of interventive measures is the reliability of the analytical data. The aim of this study was to investigate the precision and accuracy of Reflotron Cholesterol, a method based on the dry chemistry principle. Accuracy was assessed by establishing the correlation with the standardized automated methods used in routine lipid diagnosis. In addition, it was also examined whether the Reflotron Cholesterol results in plasma and blood are comparable. The Reflotron cholesterol (sample: blood) showed a good correlation with the CHOD/PAP method on a Hitachi 737 instrument (sample: plasma). The median value of the differences of the test results was -0.4%. Similarly, the method comparison of Reflotron Cholesterol (sample: blood) versus CHOD/PAP method on a SMAC instrument (sample: plasma) showed that Reflotron produces slightly (1.8%) higher results. The Reflotron Cholesterol values obtained from blood samples were slightly lower than those from plasma samples (median value of the differences: 2.2%). The results suggest that for routine purposes Reflotron Cholesterol provides results which are in good agreement with those obtained by standardized wet chemistry methods. PMID- 2614344 TI - Effect of deproteinization and reagent buffer on the enzymatic assay of L carnitine in serum. AB - Tris and HEPES were systematically compared as buffers for the enzymatic assay of L-carnitine. The deproteinization methods preceding the assay were also compared. The following conclusions were drawn. 1. Both Tris and HEPES act on the catalytic site of the enzyme, acetylCoA: carnitine O-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.7), which is used for the conversion of L-carnitine to acetylcarnitine. HEPES is a competitive inhibitor, and no acetylated product of HEPES is formed. In the presence of Tris a limited amount of acetylTris is formed, and an appropriate blank corrects for this effect. 2. The incubation time of the assay is strongly influenced by the preceding deproteinization method. The enzyme is influenced by inorganic salt, which acts as a competitive inhibitor. 3. If Tris is used in place of HEPES in end-point assays, optimal conditions and shorter assay times are achieved with less enzyme and less acetylCoA, provided more elaborate deproteinization methods are used. 4. The HEPES system is more costly, but preferable for the determination of both total and free L-carnitine in combination with a matched deproteinization method. PMID- 2614345 TI - Rationing medical care: it's sooner than we think. PMID- 2614346 TI - Screening mammography: the best buy for women. PMID- 2614347 TI - Medical prospectors. PMID- 2614348 TI - Clinical epidemiology fulfills critical need for physicians. PMID- 2614349 TI - Screening mammography in the Tampa Bay area: current status and implications for the next decade. AB - The current status of screening mammography in the Tampa Bay area is evaluated by three parameters: accessibility, cost and quality, and the screening resources necessary to reach the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) cancer control goals for the year 2000 in this area are projected. Fifty-two mammographic facilities were surveyed comprising 64 units in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Manatee Counties. The number of units is adequate to serve the current needs of the population eligible for screening; however, the number of facilities offering low cost examinations is not adequate. Only a few facilities have documented quality assurance through the American College of Radiology. These results and those projected for the year 2000 suggest that new efforts will be necessary to meet the NCI-2000 goal for screening mammography. We have made recommendations to clinicians and radiologists for strategies to meet this challenge. PMID- 2614350 TI - Fatal pontine metastasis: clinical, CT, MRI and pathological correlates. AB - Progressive brainstem and cerebellar signs developed in a previously healthy 70 year-old man over a course of seven days. A pontine mass characterized by CT and MRI suggested an infiltrating primary pontine glioma. Gross postmortem examination showed a medullary-pontine hemorrhage. Microscopic analysis disclosed an undifferentiated large cell carcinoma which was found to originate from the lung. Differential diagnoses in cases of suspected brainstem lesions are given, including metastatic tumors which are rare when presenting as a solitary brainstem mass. Optimal patient management should be formulated on the basis of histopathological diagnosis rather than imprecise imaging data. Exact tissue diagnosis will also avoid an extensive and expensive search for an occult systemic cancer. The roles of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery are also discussed. PMID- 2614351 TI - Is the time now? PMID- 2614352 TI - The case for a national health program. PMID- 2614353 TI - Study proves teens' ignorance. PMID- 2614354 TI - "Just Say No" campaign: taking the pledge. PMID- 2614355 TI - On developing competence. PMID- 2614356 TI - Of healing and dealing. PMID- 2614357 TI - Wanted: more civic involvement. PMID- 2614358 TI - Let physicians decide medical issues. PMID- 2614359 TI - To be or not to be. PMID- 2614360 TI - Premature rupture of membranes prior to 34 weeks gestational age. One year experience at a tertiary center. AB - Records were reviewed of all patients with premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) at or less than 34 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA) who delivered at University Hospital of Jacksonville, Florida, during 1987. That year 132 patients were identified, 3.1% of all deliveries. The mean time from membrane rupture to delivery was three days, and the duration of PROM seven or more days in 9% of cases. Chorioamnionitis was diagnosed in 20% of the mothers. Delivery was by cesarean section in 30% of cases, twice the primary rate at University Hospital for 1987. Sixty-five percent of infants were male, and 13 males and four females of the 132 infants died before or after birth, the majority due to prematurity. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was found in 35 infants and in 80% of these cases the membrane ruptured at 30 weeks or less. Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) was diagnosed in 8% of cases. Neonatal sepsis was a common diagnosis (41% of deliveries) with incidence being similar at all gestational ages. The length of membrane rupture was not statistically significant when compared with neonatal sepsis (P = 0.39). PMID- 2614361 TI - Giant Brenner tumor. Case report. AB - A case is reported of an unusually large benign cystic Brenner tumor. Larger solid tumors have been reported, and, additionally, proliferating Brenner tumors are most often large and cystic. However, the tumor described in this presentation appears to be the largest entirely cystic Brenner tumor reported to date. PMID- 2614362 TI - On premedical advice. PMID- 2614363 TI - Sharing knowledge and expertise. PMID- 2614364 TI - Photographs of the human face and broken projective symmetry. AB - The exact projective symmetry manifested in photographs is broken if the object is not flat. It has been found that front view perspectives of the human face, photographed with limited variations in camera angle (within 30 degrees) show a breaking projective symmetry sufficiently small to be considered for accurate comparison. As a practical implementation of this new approach, a computer controlled video camera superimposition technique has been developed and demonstrated in the identification of a disguised human face. PMID- 2614365 TI - Applying a data acquisition system to the analysis of breath alcohol profiles. AB - A breath alcohol profile is generated as a continuous function of time while a person is providing a breath sample. This paper describes a data acquisition system which samples breath alcohol concentrations at discrete intervals during exhalation. The data are stored on disk for later analysis. It is shown that the area under the profile curve for samples preceded by breath-holding is significantly larger than when breathing is normal prior to sample provision (p less than 0.001). The differences between the breath alcohol concentration measurements are also statistically significant (p less than 0.001) for the two different breathing patterns prior to breath exhalation. These results have physiological implications and suggest another means of evaluating breath alcohol profiles. PMID- 2614366 TI - Replica casting of the skull base. AB - A new technique is described of obtaining a replica cast of the human skull base by making an epoxy resin case from a silicone rubber mould of the skull base. The replica provides an accurate and permanent record of the shape and dimensions of the base of the cranial cavity, together with the location and extent of any fractures of the skull. The method gives a good correlation between these characteristics and the type and extent of brain damage. PMID- 2614367 TI - Injuries to a child in utero. AB - A man was charged with reckless driving in that it caused a collision in which a child of thirty-five weeks gestation, then in utero, was delivered alive but died shortly thereafter. Objections by defence lawyers that no death had been caused within the meaning of the statute were rejected and an appeal on the same ground was refused. Thereafter the man pleaded guilty. PMID- 2614368 TI - Calcium signals recorded from two new purpurate indicators inside frog cut twitch fibers. AB - Two new Ca indicators, purpurate-3,3'diacetic acid (PDAA) and 1,1' dimethylpurpurate-3,3'diacetic acid (DMPDAA), were synthesized and used to measure Ca transients in frog cut muscle fibers. These indicators are analogues of the purpurate components of murexide and tetramethylmurexide, in which two acetate groups have been incorporated into each molecule to render it membrane impermeant. The apparent dissociation constant for Ca is 0.95 mM for PDAA and 0.78 mM for DMPDAA. One of the indicators was introduced into a cut fiber, which was mounted in a double Vaseline-gap chamber, by diffusion from the end-pool solutions. The time course of indicator concentration, monitored optically in the middle of the fiber in the central-pool region, suggests that 19% of the PDAA or 27% of the DMPDAA became bound or sequestered inside the fiber. In resting fibers, the absorbance spectrum of either indicator was well fitted by the indicator's [Ca] = 0 mM cuvette absorbance spectrum, which is consistent with the idea that PDAA and DMPDAA do not enter the sarcoplasmic reticulum as tetramethylmurexide appears to be able to do (Maylie, J., M. Irving, N.L. Sizto, G. Boyarsky, and W. K. Chandler, 1987. Journal of General Physiology. 89:145 176). After an action potential, the absorbance of either indicator underwent a rapid and transient change that returned to the prestimulus baseline within 100 200 ms. The amplitude of this change had a wavelength dependence that matched the indicator's Ca-difference spectrum. The average amplitude of peak free [Ca] was 21 microM (PDAA or DMPDAA) if all the indicator inside a fiber was able to react with Ca as in cuvette calibrations, and was 26 (PDAA) or 28 microM (DMPDAA) if only freely diffusible indicator could so react. These results suggest that PDAA and DMPDAA are the first Ca indicators that provide a reliable estimate of both the amplitude and time course of (the spatial average of) free [Ca] in a twitch muscle fiber after an action potential. PMID- 2614370 TI - Abstracts of papers presented at the forty-third annual meeting of the Society of General Physiologists. Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 6-9 September 1989. PMID- 2614369 TI - Membrane current responses of skate photoreceptors. AB - Light-evoked membrane currents were recorded with suction electrodes from the outer segments of individual photoreceptors enzymatically dissociated from the skate retina. The intensity-response relation of dark-adapted cells closely followed a Michaelis function for which a half-saturating response was elicited by a flash intensity that produced about 36 photoisomerizations. Dim-light responses, as well as the early rising phase of the responses to a wide range of flash intensities, could be described by a reaction scheme that involved a series of four first-order delay stages. The number of delay stages required to model the rising phase of the photocurrents did not change in light adaptation. However, background illumination that reduced sensitivity by 1.5 log units, or a bleaching exposure that resulted in a nearly equivalent desensitization, shortened significantly the time scale of the responses. In both instances there were two- to threefold increases in the rate constants of the transitional delays, and almost complete suppression of the tail current that characterized the response of the dark-adapted cell. These findings suggest that although light adaptation alters the gain and kinetics of the transduction mechanism, the nature of the intervening processes is the same in dark- and light-adapted photoreceptors. Moreover, the results show clearly that there is no need to postulate the existence of a second class of cone-like rods to account for the remarkable ability of skate photoreceptors to respond to incremental stimuli presented on "saturating" background fields or after exposure to an intense bleaching light. PMID- 2614372 TI - Models of the latency of phototransduction must explain the localized, cooperative interaction between effective photons. PMID- 2614371 TI - Kinetic time constants independent of previous single-channel activity suggest Markov gating for a large conductance Ca-activated K channel. AB - Models for the gating of ion channels usually assume that the rate constants for leaving any given kinetic state are independent of previous channel activity. Although such discrete Markov models have been successful in describing channel gating, there is little direct evidence for the Markov assumption of time invariant rate constants for constant conditions. This paper tests the Markov assumption by determining whether the single-channel kinetics of the large conductance Ca-activated K channel in cultured rat skeletal muscle are independent of previous single-channel activity. The experimental approach is to examine dwell-time distributions conditional on adjacent interval durations. The time constants of the exponential components describing the distributions are found to be independent of adjacent interval duration, and hence, previous channel activity. In contrast, the areas of the different components can change. Since the observed time constants are a function of the underlying rate constants for transitions among the kinetic states, the observation of time constants independent of previous channel activity suggests that the rate constants are also independent of previous channel activity. Thus, the channel kinetics are consistent with Markov gating. An observed dependent (inverse) relationship between durations of adjacent open and shut intervals together with Markov gating indicates that there are two or more independent transition pathways connecting open and shut states. Finally, no evidence is found to suggest that gating is not at thermodynamic equilibrium: the inverse relationship was independent of the time direction of analysis. PMID- 2614373 TI - Dependence of center radius on temporal frequency for the receptive fields of X retinal ganglion cells of cat. AB - We examined the dependence of the center radius of X cells on temporal frequency and found that at temporal frequencies above 40 Hz the radius increases in a monotonic fashion, reaching a size approximately 30% larger at 70 Hz. This kind of spatial expansion has been predicted with cable models of receptive fields where inductive elements are included in modeling the neuronal membranes. Hence, the expansion of the center radius is clearly important for modeling X cell receptive fields. On the other hand, we feel that it might be of only minor functional significance, since the responsivity of X cells is attenuated at these high temporal frequencies and the signal-to-noise ratio is considerably worse than at low and midrange temporal frequencies. PMID- 2614374 TI - Sporulation of a bacitracin-sensitive mutant of Bacillus licheniformis is self inhibited by bacitracin. AB - A mutant of Bacillus licheniformis (BLU166) sensitive to its own antibiotic bacitracin was isolated and the mutation bcr-l was mapped close to the bacitracin synthetase genes. The sensitivity was shown to be specific for bacitracin. Two further bacitracin-sensitive strains were constructed, one (BLU171) with normal ability to synthesize bacitracin, and one (BLU170) a bacitracin non-producer. In addition to an increased sensitivity of growing cells to bacitracin, sporulation of the mutant strain BLU171 was self-inhibited by bacitracin. It is concluded that (1) there might exist at least two levels of resistance to bacitracin; (2) mutation bcr-1 affects a 'structural' component, which may protect the sensitive reaction of cell-wall biosynthesis; (3) sporulation is affected to a greater extent by bacitracin than vegetative growth; and (4) synthesis of bacitracin is independent of the presence of this resistance mechanism since the sensitive mutant produces similar amounts of the antibiotic to the wild-type strain. PMID- 2614375 TI - A reappraisal of the terverticillate penicillia using biochemical, physiological and morphological features. I. Numerical taxonomy. AB - Three-hundred-and-forty-eight strains representing the major species of terverticillate penicillia, and including representatives of other closely and distantly related species, were included in a numerical taxonomic study. One hundred characters were derived from morphological features, physiological and biochemical activities and SEM micrographs. Strains were compared by both Gower's coefficient and Pattern difference, and clustered using the average linkage algorithm. Thirty-seven species or species-complex clusters were recovered at approximately 70% similarity; they generally corresponded to existing taxonomic concepts. Several species were shown to contain variants or chemotypes which were often supported by differences in conidial shape and ornamentation. The use of different types of characters enabled a number of new and previously accepted species to be shown to be either variants or deteriorated examples of other species. Variation in properties both between and within species was considered, particularly in relation to strain stability. PMID- 2614376 TI - A reappraisal of the terverticillate penicillia using biochemical, physiological and morphological features. II. Identification. AB - The data from an integrated numerical classification was used to construct identification schemes for some fasciculate penicillia. The identification schemes were presented as a synoptic key and a frequency matrix for computer assisted identification. Statistical testing of the frequency matrix showed that although character separation values were generally low, only four pairs of taxa showed overlap greater than that expected for a rectangular distribution. The identification schemes were tested practically with 52 previously studied strains and 51 further cultures. A synoptic key based on 10 and 90% cutoff limits was used to correctly identify 44 of the 51 additional strains, although this proved very sensitive to single test discrepancies. The frequency matrix was used to correctly identify 45 of the additional strains with a Willcox probability score and this was compared to identifications based on the modal likelihood fraction. PMID- 2614377 TI - Binding-protein-dependent sugar transport by Agrobacterium radiobacter and A. tumefaciens grown in continuous culture. AB - Binding-protein-dependent sugar transport has been investigated in Agrobacterium radiobacter and A. tumefaciens. A. radiobacter contained two high-affinity glucose-binding proteins (GBP1 and GBP2) that additionally bound D-galactose (KD 0.26 microM) and D-xylose (KD 0.04 microM) respectively and were involved in the transport of these sugars. Partial sequencing of GBP1 and GBP2 showed that GBP2 exhibited significant homology with both the arabinose-binding protein (ABP) and the galactose-binding protein (GalBP) from Escherichia coli, whereas GBP1 exhibited significant homology only with ABP. Antiserum raised against GBP1 cross reacted with GBP1 but not with GBP2, and vice versa. Anti-GBP1 and anti-GBP2 also cross-reacted with proteins corresponding to GBP1 and GBP2 respectively in A. tumefaciens, but little or no cross-reaction was observed with selected members of the Enterobacteriaceae, Rhizobiaceae and Pseudomonadaceae families grown under glucose limitation. GBP1 was less strongly repressed than GBP2 following batch growth of A. radiobacter on various carbon sources. The growth of A. radiobacter for more than approximately 10 generations in continuous culture under galactose or xylose limitation (D 0.045 h-1) led to the emergence of new strains which exhibited increased rates of glucose/galactose or glucose/xylose uptake, and which respectively hyperproduced GBP1 (strain AR18a) or GBP2 (strain AR9a). Similarly, growth of A. tumefaciens for more than approximately 15 generations under glucose or galactose limitation produced new strains which exhibited increased rates of glucose/xylose or glucose/galactose uptake and which respectively hyperproduced proteins analogous to GBP2 (strain AT9) or GBP1 (strain AT18a). It is concluded that growth of Agrobacterium species under carbon limited conditions leads to the predictable emergence of new strains which specifically hyperproduce the transport system for the limiting nutrient. The GBP1-dependent system of A. radiobacter is unique amongst these transport systems in that the mutations that lead to its hyperproduction under carbon limitation render it least susceptible to repression by excess glucose during ammonia limitation, with the result that succinoglucan exopolysaccharide is produced from glucose at an enhanced rate. PMID- 2614378 TI - Cross-linking and O-acetylation of newly synthesized peptidoglycan in Staphylococcus aureus H. AB - Staphylococcus aureus H growing exponentially was labelled with N acetyl[14C]glucosamine, which became incorporated into the peptidoglycan. The portion of peptidoglycan not linked to teichoic acid (60-75% of the whole) was degraded with Chalaropsis muramidase to yield disaccharide-peptide monomers and dimers, trimers and oligomers formed by biosynthetic cross-linking of the monomers. The degree of O-acetylation of these fragments was also examined. Pulse chase experiments showed that the proportion of label initially in the monomer fraction immediately after the 1 min pulse declined rapidly during a 3 min chase, while the oligomer fraction (fragments greater than trimer) gained the radioactivity proportionately. The radioactivity of the dimer and trimer fractions remained virtually unchanged. At 4 min after the commencement of labelling (i.e. approx. one-tenth of a generation time) final values had been reached. The O-acetylation of all fragments had achieved final values even at 1 min, except for the monomer fraction, which showed an increase from 40% to 60% during the first 3 min of chase. Although O-acetylation was clearly a very rapid process, no O-acetylated peptidoglycan lipid-intermediates could be detected. PMID- 2614379 TI - A novel phage genome integrated into a plasmid in Bacillus thuringiensis strain AF101. AB - Bacillus thuringiensis strain AF101 possesses a single plasmid (pAF101) with a molecular size of 42 MDa (69 kb). During plasmid curing experiments in strain AF101, we found that a phage (J7W-1) was induced by ethidium bromide treatment. Moreover, the phage genome (48 kb) hybridized only with pAF101 on a Southern blot of the DNA of a cleared lysate prepared from strain AF101. Comparison of the restriction patterns of pAF101 and J7W-1 phage DNA revealed that pAF101 contains not only the entire phage DNA but also a plasmid-specific DNA region. These results indicate that the J7W-1 genome has been stably integrated into pAF101 in strain AF101. Integration of the J7W-1 genome into a plasmid was also observed after phage infection of the type strain of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. PMID- 2614380 TI - Glutathione transferase in bacteria: subunit composition and antigenic characterization. AB - The presence of glutathione transferase (GST; EC 2.5.1.18) in Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, E. coli ATCC 25422, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 8427, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella oxytoca CIP 666, K. oxytoca AF 101, Enterobacter cloacae CIP 6085, Serratia marcescens CIP 6755, and Proteus mirabilis AF 2924 was investigated. Using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate, GST activity was found in the glutathione-(GSH-)affinity-purified fraction of all strains tested. SDS-PAGE analysis of GSH-affinity-purified enzyme indicated that the GSTs of all these bacteria are dimers of two identical subunits of Mr about 22,500. Rabbit antiserum directed against the major isoenzyme present in Proteus mirabilis AF 2924, Pm-GST-6.0, was used to investigate the antigenic properties of bacterial GSTs. Western blot analysis indicated that a GST antigenically identical to Pm-GST-6.0 is present in Enterobacter cloacae CIP 6085, Escherichia coli ATCC 25422 and Proteus vulgaris ATCC 8427, but absent in Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella oxytoca CIP 666, K. oxytoca AF 101 and Serratia marcescens CIP 6755. The presence of Pm-GST-6.0, but not mammalian GST, increased the MIC values of amikacin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, cephalothin and nalidixic acid for E. coli ATCC 25922. It is suggested that bacterial GST may represent a defense against the effects of antibiotics. PMID- 2614381 TI - Site-directed inhibition of Haemophilus influenzae malate dehydrogenase. AB - Previous studies of Haemophilus organisms documented the importance of an NAD+ dependent malate dehydrogenase in the incomplete tricarboxylic acid cycle present in these organisms. Selective interactions occurring at the coenzyme and substrate binding sites of a purified Haemophilus influenzae malate dehydrogenase were investigated. Coenzyme-competitive inhibition by adenosine derivatives demonstrated the presence of regions in the coenzyme binding site that interacted with the adenosine and pyrophosphate moieties of the coenzyme. Positive chainlength effects in the coenzyme-competitive inhibition by aliphatic carboxylic acids indicated the presence of a hydrophobic region at this site that was close to the pyrophosphate region. Seven analogues of NAD+ that were structurally altered in either the pyridine or purine ring were evaluated as selective inhibitors of the enzyme. The three most effective inhibitors of the purified malate dehydrogenase inhibited the growth of H. influenzae when the organism was grown on a limiting concentration of NAD+. PMID- 2614382 TI - The anaplerotic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase of the tricarboxylic acid cycle deficient Acholeplasma laidlawii B-PG9. AB - Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) (PEP-C) was purified approximately 770-fold from the mollicute Acholeplasma laidlawii B-PG9. The partially purified PEP-C required phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and MnCl2 at pH 7.4 or MgCl2 at pH 8.6 for optimal activity. The product is oxaloacetate as detected by a malate dehydrogenase indicator system. The KmA (PEP variable) was 0.66 mM and the KmB (bicarbonate variable) was 1.02 mM. At low bicarbonate concentrations (0.5 mM), PEP-C activity was stimulated approximately 240% by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. Aspartate was a non-competitive inhibitor of PEP-C activity. The KiA (PEP variable) for aspartate was 0.69 mM and the KiB (bicarbonate variable) was 0.99 mM. Malate, citrate, isocitrate, 2-oxoglutarate, acetyl-CoA, CMP, CDP, GDP, GTP, ADP and ATP had no effect on the PEP-C reaction. The Hill interaction coefficient was 0.98-1.11. The molecular mass by sucrose density gradient analysis was 353 kDa; by gel filtration chromatography it was 384 kDa. The Stokes radius was about 7.4 nm. PEP-C activity and its inhibition by aspartate in Acholeplasma laidlawii B-PG-9 extracts may reflect an involvement of this enzyme in the interdependent regulation of protein, lipid and nucleic acid precursor metabolism of this TCA cycle-deficient and cytochrome-less mollicute. PMID- 2614383 TI - Purification and some properties of a novel L-2,4-diaminobutyric acid decarboxylase from Vibrio alginolyticus. AB - Previous investigations have shown that members of the genus Vibrio possess a novel enzyme activity decarboxylating L-2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DABA) to 1,3 diaminopropane (DAP). In this paper we describe the purification, by about 3600 fold, of the enzyme from V. alginolyticus. The purified enzyme was apparently homogeneous, and had a specific activity of 4200 nmol DAP min-1 (mg protein)-1. The enzyme protein has an Mr of 450,000 +/- 20,000 and is apparently comprised of four identical subunits (Mr 109,000 +/- 1,000). Neither 2,3-diaminopropionic acid, ornithine, lysine nor arginine served as substrates. Some properties of the enzyme were determined. Cultivation of this bacterium in the presence of added DABA brought about increased production of norspermidine (NSPD), characteristically present in this species as well as DAP, suggesting that the enzyme may be functionally implicated in the formation of DAP, a biosynthetic precursor of NSPD. PMID- 2614384 TI - Development of monoclonal-antibody-ELISA, -DOT-BLOT and -DIP-STICK immunoassays for Humicola lanuginosa in rice. AB - Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against Humicola lanuginosa, a thermophilic, saprophytic fungus that is commonly isolated from freshly harvested rice grains in Indonesia. Mice were immunized by direct injection into the peritoneum, without prior concentration, of fresh cell-free surface washings from a solid agar slant culture. Hybridoma supernatants were screened by ELISA using wells coated with a dilution of the immunogen. From one fusion 403 hybridoma clones were obtained yielding 52 cell lines secreting antibodies positive for H. lanuginosa. Twelve cell lines were re-cloned, grown in bulk and tested against other storage fungi. Most of the MAbs raised were IgM antibodies that cross reacted with several of the storage fungi and/or uninfected rice grains. However, the IgM antibody EC6 did not recognize antigens from rice grains and cross reacted strongly with only one other test fungus, Penicillium variabile, and partially with two others. This MAb was used to develop a highly sensitive DIP STICK immunoassay to detect the fungus in infected grains. These assays are simple to perform, require no equipment and are suitable for field use by untrained workers. PMID- 2614385 TI - Detection of low-Mr glycoproteins in surface washes of some fungal cultures by gel-filtration HPLC and by monoclonal antibodies. AB - Surface washings were prepared from cultures of fungi grown on agar slants and the wash components were fractionated by gel-filtration HPLC. A range of low-Mr glycoproteins (less than 10,000) were detected in all the washes, and in some species several high-Mr glycoprotein components (greater than 150,000) were also present. The HPLC analyses indicated species-specific differences in the profiles. Regions of specific antigenicity within profiles were detected by monoclonal antibodies. PMID- 2614386 TI - Iron-repressible outer-membrane proteins of Pasteurella haemolytica. AB - The outer-membrane protein (OMP) profile of Pasteurella haemolytica grown under iron-replete and iron-restricted conditions was studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. A serotype 1 isolate induced the synthesis of a new 77,000 Mr OMP in iron-restricted media while two other proteins of 100,000 Mr and 71,000 Mr were synthesized in increased amounts. None of these proteins were peptidoglycan-associated or heat-modifiable, and only the 100,000 Mr protein showed some degree of disulphide cross-linking. Kinetic analysis revealed that the iron-repressible proteins appeared in the outer membrane within 15 min of establishment of iron-restricted conditions. Analysis of P. haemolytica isolates representing serotypes 1 to 12 showed that iron-repressible OMPs of 77,000 Mr and 71,000 Mr could be induced in all 12 serotypes but that there was some variability in the expression of the 100,000 Mr protein. Immunoblotting of OMPs with convalescent sera from P. haemolytica-infected calves indicated that antibodies directed against all three iron-repressible OMPs were present, suggesting that these proteins were expressed in vivo. PMID- 2614387 TI - Characterization of the outer-membrane proteins of Haemophilus parainfluenzae expressed under iron-sufficient and iron-restricted conditions. AB - SDS-PAGE of the outer-membrane (OM) proteins of Haemophilus parainfluenzae P205 grown under iron-sufficient conditions revealed three major proteins of 40, 37 and 13 kDa. In addition, growth under conditions of iron-restriction resulted in the expression of at least four iron-repressible OM proteins (IROMPs) of 72, 81, 88 and 90 kDa. OM proteins of 40 and 13 kDa were non-covalently associated with peptidoglycan and were resistant to digestion with trypsin. A 38 kDa peptidoglycan-associated protein, which was masked by the abundant 37 kDa protein, was also observed following tryptic digestion of whole cells or OMs. Neither the 37 kDa protein (which was heat-modifiable) nor the IROMPs were peptidoglycan-associated, and both were cleaved following treatment of whole cells with trypsin, indicating that they are exposed at the cell surface. A variety of IROMPs from five other H. parainfluenzae strains was also observed. In each strain, both the IROMPs and a major protein of 37 kDa were exposed at the cell surface. PMID- 2614388 TI - 'Haemophilus gallinarum'--a re-examination. AB - The growth factor requirements and other properties of two strains of avian haemophili, labelled as 'Haemophilus gallinarum' (an X- and V-factor-dependent organism) and stored since the 1940s and 1950s, were examined. Both strains were X-factor independent and V-factor dependent and possessed the typical biochemical, serological and pathological properties of H. paragallinarum. In experiments repeating the tests used in the 1930s that reported the existence of X- and V-factor-dependent avian haemophili, we found that the methodology used resulted in reference strains of H. paragallinarum (X-factor independent and V factor dependent) appearing to be X- and V-factor dependent. It is likely that the early descriptions of the aetiological agent of infectious coryza as an X- and V-factor-dependent organism were incorrect. PMID- 2614389 TI - 13C-NMR studies of acetate and methanol metabolism by methylotrophic Pseudomonas strains. AB - The metabolism of [2-13C]acetate by Pseudomonas M27(Icl-) and Pseudomonas MA(Icl+) was studied in vivo using 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The flux of 13C-label into bicarbonate, glutamate and citrate was observed in both organisms. In addition 13C-labelled alpha, alpha-trehalose was synthesized as a major metabolite by Pseudomonas M27 but not by Pseudomonas MA. The presence of this disaccharide in cell extracts of Pseudomonas AM1(Icl-) grown with [13C]methanol was also observed. The data from analysis of the trehalose multiplet signal observed in the spectra of Pseudomonas M27 cell extracts were consistent with the absence of the glyoxylate cycle in this methylotroph. PMID- 2614390 TI - Influence of oestradiol on protein expression and methionine utilization during morphogenesis of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. AB - The temporal sequence of cytosolic protein expression during phase transition of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was examined. Electrophoretic analysis of cytosol proteins by one-dimensional SDS-PAGE revealed numerous differences between the mycelial and yeast forms as well as alterations induced by 17 beta-oestradiol. Using either protein staining or fluorography of [35S]methionine-labelled proteins 30 phase-specific bands were detected, 12 mycelial-associated bands (range 30 to 140 kDa) and 18 yeast-associated bands (range 22 to 127 kDa). In cells undergoing mycelial to yeast transition after a shift from 25 degrees C to 37 degrees C, the protein patterns showed a temporal progression toward the yeast profile with the accumulation of yeast bands prior to observable morphogenesis. Five novel protein bands (range 23 to 50 kDa) were detected by silver staining during transition. Treatment of temperature-shifted mycelial cultures with 2.6 x 10(-7) M-oestradiol altered observed profiles; 4 of 12 mycelial-associated bands were maintained whereas the appearance of the 5 novel transition bands and 9 of 18 yeast-associated bands was blocked or delayed. Analysis of [35S]methionine labelled proteins revealed that oestradiol induced label uptake by mycelial cells, blocked the synthesis of a 92 kDa yeast-specific band 72 h into transition, and diminished label incorporation 120 h into transition. In conjunction with these steroid-induced alterations of protein expression, little or no morphological transformation occurred. These results support our hypothesis that, analogous to mammalian steroid receptor action, the functional responses of P. brasiliensis to oestradiol are related to regulation of protein expression, presumably mediated via a specific binding protein-ligand complex. PMID- 2614391 TI - Analysis of the axial filaments of Treponema hyodysenteriae by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. AB - Purified axial filaments from eight serotypes of Treponema hyodysenteriae and two non-pathogenic intestinal spirochaetes were characterized by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Axial filaments of all ten strains had similar SDS-PAGE profiles; five major axial filament polypeptides were identified, with molecular masses of 43.8, 38, 34.8, 32.8 and 29.4 kDa. Hyperimmune gnotobiotic pig serum raised against purified axial filaments of strain P18A (serotype 4) cross-reacted with all other serotypes and with the non-pathogens, and convalescent serum taken from a pig with persistent swine dysentery also showed a strong response to the axial filament polypeptides. Hyperimmune gnotobiotic pig serum raised against axial filaments failed to agglutinate viable organisms and did not inhibit growth in vitro. Hence, the axial filaments of T. hyodysenteriae have been identified as major immunodominant antigens, although the role that antibodies to these antigens play in protection has yet to be established. PMID- 2614392 TI - Submission of nucleotide sequence data to GenBank. PMID- 2614393 TI - Physical and genetic mapping of the protein A gene in the chromosome of Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4. AB - The gene coding for protein A (spa) has been mapped close to nov on the genetic map of the chromosome of Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4. A rapid mapping procedure has been developed which first allowed the region of the chromosome carrying the spa gene to be identified by blot +hybridization of large DNA fragments which had been separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Restriction endonuclease SmaI fragment G was shown to carry the spa gene. An insertion mutation in spa was constructed by in vitro insertion of a fragment of DNA expressing resistance to kanamycin and neomycin. A spa::Kan(r)Neo(r) mutation was isolated in S. aureus 8325-4 by allele replacement. This provided a selectable marker which allowed the spa gene to be mapped by transformation analysis. PMID- 2614394 TI - Characterization of alpha and beta tubulin genes in the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. AB - Evidence from our laboratory indicates that microtubules are involved in the differentiation of the dimorphic, pathogenic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum; therefore, we cloned the tubulin genes from a virulent strain of the organism. We report that the H. capsulatum genome contains a single alpha (TUB1) and a single beta (TUB2) tubulin gene rather than the more typical multigene family which is common in even the simplest eukaryotes. Sequence data from these genes reveal a high degree of nucleotide and protein sequence conservation relative to tubulins from other species. The coding regions of TUB1 and TUB2 contain five and eight intervening sequences, respectively. Field inversion gel electrophoresis of H. capsulatum chromosome-sized DNA fragments indicates that the TUB1 and TUB2 genes are unlinked. Potential regulatory elements common to both genes have been identified in the 5' promoter regions. These elements may direct the coordinate expression of TUB1 and TUB2 during differentiation. The cloning and characterization of alpha and beta tubulin genes from H. capsulatum provides the first description of gene structure in this widely distributed pathogenic fungus. Isolation of the tubulin genes will facilitate future studies of tubulin gene expression during the dimorphic phase transitions and clarify the role of microtubules in the differentiation process. PMID- 2614395 TI - Degradation of p-toluenesulphonic acid via sidechain oxidation, desulphonation and meta ring cleavage in Pseudomonas (Comamonas) testosteroni T-2. AB - Pseudomonas (Comamonas) testosteroni T-2 completely converted p-toluenesulphonic acid (TS) or p-sulphobenzoic acid (PSB) to cell material, CO2 and sulphate, with growth yields of about 5 g protein (mol C)-1. PSB and sulphite were excreted as transient intermediates during growth in TS-salts medium. All reactions of a catabolic pathway involving sidechain oxidation and cleavage of the sulphonate moiety as sulphite were measurable in the soluble portion of cell extracts. Degradation of TS and PSB was inducible and apparently involved at least two regulons. TS was converted to p-sulphobenzyl alcohol in a reaction requiring NAD(P)H and 1 mol O2 (mol TS)-1. This alcohol was in an equilibrium (in the presence of NAD+) with p-sulphobenzaldehyde, which was converted to PSB in an NAD(P)+-dependent reaction. PSB was desulphonated to protocatechuic acid in a reaction requiring NAD(P)H and 1 mol O2 (mol PSB)-1. Experiments with 18 O2 confirmed involvement of a dioxygenase, because both atoms of this molecular oxygen were recovered in protocatechuate. Protocatechuate was converted to 2 hydroxy-4-carboxymuconate semialdehyde by a 4.5-dioxygenase. PMID- 2614396 TI - Ultrastructural studies on the intracellular fate of Chlamydia psittaci (strain guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis) and Chlamydia trachomatis (strain lymphogranuloma venereum 434): modulation of intracellular events and relationship with endocytic mechanism. AB - Previous observations on the highly infectious LGV strain 434 of Chlamydia trachomatis and the guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis (GPIC) strain of C. psittaci (which requires centrifugation of inocula with host cell monolayers for maximum infectivity) indicated that infectivity differences were expressed, not at entry, but at an intracellular stage affecting multiplication. Centrifugation increased the potential of internalized chlamydiae to undergo productive infection. Here, analysis of the intracellular fate of chlamydiae by ultrastructural methods indicates that strain GPIC exhibits two patterns of behaviour depending on the mode of inoculation. Strain GPIC showed limited entry, with 47% of intracellular organisms becoming associated with thorotrast-labelled lysosomes, following static incubation with monolayers. In contrast, with centrifugation, entry was not limited and association with lysosomes was reduced to 12%; strain 434 behaved similarly but independently of the mode of inoculation. The different results for strain GPIC correlated with distinct entry mechanisms. Entry during static incubation was unimpaired either by treatment with cytochalasin D or by temperature reduction to 20 degrees C, suggesting that it was pinocytic. Entry during centrifugation was markedly impaired by both treatments, suggesting that it was phagocytic. The data lead to two novel conclusions: first, that chlamydiae can apparently enter cells by both pinocytic and phagocytic mechanisms; second, that the entry mechanism influences intracellular fate. It is suggested that entry mechanism is linked to selection of the vesicle membrane forming around the internalizing chlamydiae. This, in turn, may influence both intracellular translocation and subsequent inhibition or promotion of multiplication of the internalized parasite. PMID- 2614397 TI - Isolation of Inoue-Melnick virus from human colorectal carcinoma cell lines. AB - Inoue-Melnick virus (IMV) was isolated from five of six human colorectal carcinoma cell lines, whereas the virus was not isolated from three normal colon derived cell lines, three pancreas carcinoma cell lines, two bladder carcinoma cell lines, one kidney adenocarcinoma cell line, and one cervical carcinoma cell line. IMV synthesis was remarkably enhanced in the colorectal carcinoma cell lines by treatment with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUDR). However, virus was not detected in any of the other cell lines in spite of BUDR treatment. Five strains of virus isolated from colorectal carcinoma cell lines were subsequently identified by the neutralization test as intermediate-type IMV. PMID- 2614398 TI - Cocaine injection and ethnicity in parenteral drug users during the early years of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in New York City. AB - Parenteral drug users have a high prevalence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the etiologic agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). New York City has had a prolonged and extensive epidemic of HIV infection and AIDS. In this study, we analyze, in relation to antibody to HIV (anti-HIV), available data from sera from parenteral drug users collected in New York City during 1978 through 1983 in the course of studies of liver disease. Among parenteral users of both heroin and cocaine, 30 (52%) of 58 had anti-HIV, compared with six (13%) of 48 injectors of heroin only (P less than 0.0001). Only two (11%) of 18 white patients were HIV-infected, compared with 34 (39%) of 88 black or Hispanic patients (P = 0.03). No other factors studied were linked to anti-HIV. In a multiple logistic regression, anti-HIV was significantly more common in parenteral users of both cocaine and heroin (P less than 0.0001), black patients (P = 0.02), and Hispanic patients (P = 0.049). We conclude that parenteral users of both cocaine and heroin as well as black and Hispanic patients were disproportionately HIV-infected during the early years of the HIV epidemic. Use of cocaine and heroin as well as ethnicity were independently linked to anti-HIV. Measures to prevent or treat drug use, HIV infection, and other medical problems while addressing the specific needs of cocaine users and black and Hispanic patients are urgently needed. PMID- 2614399 TI - Cemetery vase breeding of dengue vectors in Manila, Republic of the Philippines. AB - Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti were found breeding abundantly in cement vases within cemeteries in Manila. Aedes albopictus dominated in cemeteries containing vegetation which provided both shade and plant debris for the vase water. The highest larval densities for both species were found from August to December, which is from mid-to-late rainy season. Aedes albopictus is unable to compete successfully with Ae. aegypti in residential areas with sparce vegetation and thus is very limited in its distribution within the city. Biting activity of both species is similar, with peaks occurring between 0530-0600 h and 1730-1800 h. PMID- 2614400 TI - Community based bioenvironmental control of malaria in Kheda District, Gujarat, India. AB - A study on the bioenvironmental control of malaria was launched in 1983 in Nadiad taluka, Gujarat, with help of village communities. The implementation of strategy resulted in the successful control of larval mosquitoes and reduction in the adult vector populations, and the impact was visible in the curtailment of malaria transmission in large rural areas. When compared with the residual spraying of insecticides under the National Malaria Eradication Programme, the alternate strategy was found feasible, socially acceptable, cost effective and brought about environmental improvement and awareness in the rural areas. PMID- 2614401 TI - Insecticide tolerance of Culex nigripalpus in Florida. AB - Larval susceptibility tests of Culex nigripalpus populations from various areas of Florida have shown resistance to several organophosphorus insecticides since 1984. Although the degree of resistance is low (2 to 7 times), it can be termed tolerance and appears to be the greatest for fenthion, followed by temephos, naled and malathion. It is suggested that pesticide runoff from lawns, golf courses and agricultural and urban areas may play a role in developing resistance in Florida mosquito populations. PMID- 2614402 TI - Scale pattern variations of Aedes aegypti in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. AB - Abdominal tergal scale pattern variations of Aedes aegypti were studied in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand for specimens reared from eggs laid in ovitraps set monthly both indoors and outdoors in urban and rural areas. The populations predominantly consisted of the dark type form, regardless of macrohabitats (urban vs. rural), microhabitats (indoor vs. outdoor) or seasons (dry vs. rainy). Among 6,003 specimens, no individuals had pale-scales continuing from the tergal base to its apex on the third tergum and posteriorly. PMID- 2614403 TI - Occurrence of Culex erythrothorax in southeastern Colorado and report of virus isolations from this and other mosquito species. AB - Significant numbers of Culex erythrothorax were collected during arbovirus surveillance in 1987 and 1988 at Las Animas, Bent County, on the high plains of southeastern Colorado. This finding extends the range of this species to the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. The isolation of western equine encephalitis virus in 1988 from both Cx. tarsalis and Cx. erythrothorax suggests that the latter also may be involved in the endemic cycle of this virus in the area. St. Louis encephalitis, Hart Park, Turlock, and a Bunyamwera group virus were also isolated from the mosquitoes collected. PMID- 2614404 TI - Seasonal abundance and control of Culex spp. in catch basins in Illinois. AB - Street catch basins in western Cook County, IL, were examined regularly June through August of 1987 to determine their seasonal larval production, adult mosquito harborage and the influence of abiotic factors on the associated mosquito population. Only larvae of Culex pipiens (63% of total) and Cx. restuans (37% of total) were recovered. These 2 species and Cx. erraticus were the most frequently collected adults. The abundance of mosquito larvae within catch basins was not correlated with water pH and only showed a weak, positive correlation with water temperature. Only a partial flushing of larvae (22-34% reduction) from catch basins by normal rainfall (less than 25 mm) was generally recorded. Treatments with larvicide oil (mineral seal oil/kerosene 175/tergitol) at a rate of 60-90 ml/catch basin resulted in a mean larval reduction of 97%. Adult females showed a mean reduction of 87%. PMID- 2614405 TI - Collection of blood-engorged black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) and identification of their source of blood. AB - Blood-engorged black flies were captured by 2 methods: early morning application of a quick knock down insecticide (resmethrin) into tree canopies, and late afternoon to early evening truck trapping. More engorged flies were captured per man-hour with the tree spraying method than with the truck trap. The percentages of females captured by the spraying and truck trap methods that were engorged were 18 and 1.3, respectively. The most commonly engorged species captured were Prosimulium magnum and P. mixtum/fuscum, and Simulium jenningsi and S. venustum (70% of total). Blood sources of 12 black fly species were identified. Mammals comprised 95% of the blood sources identified. The most common hosts were equines (31%), bovines (25%) and raccoons (19%). Seven percent of all meals identified were from mixed sources, of which 43% involved both mammals and birds. PMID- 2614406 TI - Comparisons of light traps for monitoring adult Culicoides variipennis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). AB - From 1984 to 1986 tests were conducted to evaluate 4 trap types (ABADRL baffle trap, New Jersey trap, CDC trap, and updraft trap) with or without an incandescent light source, a suction fan or dry ice (as a source of CO2) for sampling adult Culicoides variipennis. The fewest flies were caught in the CDC and updraft traps. The New Jersey trap with suction, a strong light source and dry ice caught most flies, due to a significant increase in nulliparous females. The same New Jersey trap without dry ice caught the highest proportion of flies that had taken at least one bloodmeal. This trap would therefore be recommended for use in trapping for virus assay under epizootic conditions. PMID- 2614407 TI - Scanning electron microscopic observations and differentiation of eggs of the Anopheles dirus complex. AB - Microscopic observations have revealed differences among the eggs of species A, B, C and D of the Anopheles dirus complex. The eggs of species A and C are similar in size and shape. They are intermediate in size between the eggs of species B, which is the largest, and that of species D, which is the smallest. The pattern of outer chorionic cells between the frill and the float is species specific. The pattern consists of rows of irregularly shaped cells in species D and different numbers of rows of regularly shaped cells in species A, B and C. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the deck tubercles are arranged in aggregates which are more widely spaced in species A than in species B. The aggregates are large in species C, of moderate size in species A and B, and small in species D. The egg characters may be useful in separating species A, B, C and D of the An. dirus complex. PMID- 2614408 TI - Experimental test of the influence of aquatic macrophyte cover on the survival of Anopheles larvae. AB - Emergent or submergent macrophytes can enhance the survival of Anopheles larvae by providing favorable microhabitat and refuge from predation. The relationships among the amount of aquatic macrophyte cover, the density of Gambusia affinis, and survivorship of Anopheles freeborni larvae were tested experimentally. Larval survivorship was positively related to amount of plant cover and negatively related to Gambusia density. Larval survivorship was lowest in treatments with low plant cover and high fish density (0-15% survivorship) and highest in treatments with high plant cover and no fish (41-76% survivorship). Similar patterns of larval survivorship were found in enclosure experiments conducted at 3 sites, using 3 species of aquatic macrophytes (Potamogeton pectinatus, Myriophyllum aquaticum and M. spicatum). PMID- 2614409 TI - A new method of testing Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (H-14) formulations on Aedes taeniorhynchus in an abandoned rice impoundment in South Carolina. PMID- 2614410 TI - Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (H-14) on the isopod Asellus forbesi and spring Aedes mosquitoes in Michigan. PMID- 2614411 TI - Gynandromorph of Aedes mcintoshi from central Kenya. PMID- 2614412 TI - Efficacy of a sustained-release methoprene formulation on potential vectors of Rift Valley fever virus in field studies in Kenya. PMID- 2614413 TI - Susceptibility of riceland Anopheles quadrimaculatus to Baytex and Scourge ground ULV applications. PMID- 2614414 TI - Effect of juvenile exposure to NaCl on adult size and fecundity of snow-melt Aedes. PMID- 2614415 TI - Natural occurrence of a mosquito iridescent virus in Aedes sollicitans. PMID- 2614416 TI - Use of sodium hypochlorite to detect aedine mosquito eggs in mangrove soils and insect feces. PMID- 2614417 TI - Use of expanded polystyrene beads for the control of mosquitoes in an industrial complex at Hardwar, India. PMID- 2614418 TI - Re: "Infection of a field population of Aedes cantator with a polymorphic microsporidium Amblyospora connecticus via release of the intermediate copepod host, Acanthocyclops vernalis". PMID- 2614419 TI - Spectroscopic and biological investigation of nimbolide and 28-deoxonimbolide from Azadirachta indica. AB - The reisolation of nimbolide [1] from Azadirachta indica of Tanzanian origin and the isolation and structure elucidation of a new limonoid, 28-deoxonimbolide [2], from the same plant source are reported. For the first time, unambiguous 1H- and 13C-nmr assignments of compounds 1 and 2 are presented, as well as their in vitro cytotoxic activity against human tumor cell lines. PMID- 2614420 TI - Isolation of a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor, lavendustin A, from Streptomyces griseolavendus. AB - A potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor, lavendustin A [1], has been isolated from a butyl acetate extract of Streptomyces griseolavendus culture filtrate. It inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor-associated tyrosine kinase with an IC50 of 4.4 ng/ml, which is about 50 times more inhibitory than erbstatin. It does not inhibit protein kinase A or C. Its structure, determined by spectral data and total synthesis, is novel, having a tertiary amine in the center with substituted benzyl and phenyl groups. Lavendustin A competes with ATP and is noncompetitive with the peptide. Its structure-activity relationship is discussed. PMID- 2614421 TI - Majorenolide and majorynolide: a new pair of cytotoxic and pesticidal alkene alkyne delta-lactones from Persea major. AB - From the EtOH extract of the bark of Persea major, two bioactive compounds, majorynolide [1] and majorenolide [2], were isolated by activity-directed fractionation using brine shrimp. Their structures have been elucidated on the basis of spectral data as a pair of new alkene-alkyne delta-lactones, each with an exocyclic alkylidene methine carbon. Both 1 and 2 are moderately cytotoxic, and 2 is selectively pesticidal. PMID- 2614422 TI - X-ray crystal structure of acrovestone, a cytotoxic principle from Acronychia pedunculata. AB - Acrovestone was isolated from the stem and root back of Acronychia pedunculata and shown for the first time to be a cytotoxic principle. Its structure, derived from spectral data, was completely characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis. PMID- 2614423 TI - Sigmoidin F, a new prenylated flavonoid from Erythrina sigmoidea. AB - Sigmoidin F, a new prenylated flavanone, as well as abyssinone IV and 5,7,4' trihydroxy-3'-methoxy-5'-(1"-prenyl) flavonone have been isolated from the stem and bark of Erythrina sigmoidea. The structure of 1 has been confirmed by a combination of 1H-nmr and other spectroscopic techniques. PMID- 2614424 TI - The effect of ginsenoside-Rb2 on nitrogen balance. AB - In diabetic rats given ginsenoside-Rb2 for 6 days, nitrogen balance was studied. Ginsenoside-Rb2 was found to suppress the total urinary excretion of nitrogen, increase nitrogen retention in the body, and thereby improve nitrogen balance. PMID- 2614425 TI - 13C-nmr spectral assignment and evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of rotenone. AB - Unambiguous 13C-nmr assignments for the widely used pesticide rotenone have been made through the judicious use of APT, CSCM 1D, and selective INEPT spectroscopy. Also, in order to more fully characterize the biologic potential of rotenone, studies were performed with cultured cells. Intense, but nonspecific, activity was observed in the P-388 lymphocytic leukemia, KB carcinoma of the nasopharynx, and a number of human cancer cell types: e.g., HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma, LU-1 lung cancer, COL-2 colon cancer, MEL-2 melanoma, and BC-1 breast cancer cell lines in vitro. PMID- 2614426 TI - Goniotriol from Goniothalamus giganteus. AB - The known styrylpyrone, goniotriol, has been isolated from Goniothalamus giganteus. Its bioactivities are reported, and its structure and relative stereochemistry have been determined by X-ray crystallography as 6R-(7R,8R dihydro-7,8-dihydroxystyryl)-5S,6R-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2-p yrone. PMID- 2614427 TI - Risk associated with heparin withdrawal in ischaemic cerebrovascular disease. AB - Intravenous heparin is frequently used to treat thromboembolic disease, but the consequences of stopping heparin have not been studied systematically. To determine whether discontinuing heparin poses a clinical risk, we examined the charts of 378 patients treated with heparin for transient ischaemic attack (TIA), reversible ischaemic neurological deficit, or ischaemic stroke from October 1979 to June 1985. Clinical deterioration, or a new TIA or stroke was more likely (p = 0.01) during the 24 hours after heparin was stopped in patients not already on aspirin or warfarin (10/143, 7%) than in patients receiving aspirin or warfarin before heparin withdrawal (3/215, 1%). Stopping heparin in patients not receiving aspirin or warfarin appears to expose them to an increased risk for TIA, stroke, or clinical deterioration. PMID- 2614428 TI - Pathological findings correlated with magnetic resonance imaging in subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy (Binswanger's disease). AB - Formalin-fixed brain slices from four cases of subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy in which a firm diagnosis could be made both clinically and pathologically have been studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The slices were subsequently embedded in paraffin-wax or celloidin and sections were cut in the same plane as the MRI slices. There was a good correlation between the extent and severity of the abnormal MRI signal and the pathological changes. Areas of diffuse MRI abnormality corresponded with areas of axonal and myelin loss with gliosis, and small "lacune"-like lesions corresponded with lacunar infarcts histologically. Sparing of the subcortical U-fibres was seen histologically and on MRI. The abnormal signal probably originates from increased tissue water attributable to gliosis and an expanded extracellular space. PMID- 2614429 TI - Changes within the "normal" cerebral white matter of multiple sclerosis patients during acute attacks and during high-dose cortisone therapy assessed by means of quantitative MRI. AB - Changes in the apparently unaffected cerebral white matter of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were studied during acute attacks as well as during high-dose prednisolone therapy. Serial MR scans of patients with a clinically definite diagnosis were performed on four defined occasions: before an episode, within three days after its onset, after 10 days of therapy as well as four weeks later. Thirteen patients agreed to cooperate in forming a MRI data base and to be rescanned immediately after the onset of an acute relapse. Within one year, six patients had such episodes, one of them had a second bout. Both T1 and T2 relaxation times within the apparently normal white matter were significantly prolonged in all cerebral lobes compared to a control group of healthy volunteers. During the acute attacks as well as during therapy the T1 values remained as before. The T2 values were elevated only in two out of six cases during the episode. After therapy a considerable clinical improvement was seen in all cases, but a significant T2 decrease as a possible effect of cortisone was noted in only one case. We conclude that the prolonged relaxation times T1 and T2 within the apparently normal cerebral white matter of MS patients are the result of a number of molecular events differing considerably among individual patients and that serial measurements of these relaxation times do not consistently change during an acute relapse and do not reflect clinical improvement after high dose prednisolone therapy. PMID- 2614430 TI - Ocular inflammatory changes in established multiple sclerosis. AB - Fifty consecutive patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis were studied to assess the prevalence of concomitant uveitis. Asymptomatic ocular inflammatory changes were found in nine patients (18%) and appeared to show a positive correlation with severe and progressive disease. Conversely uveitis was uncommon in the presence of established optic atrophy which suggests a negative influence on its pathogenesis. In the absence of optic atrophy inflammatory changes in the eye may be a valuable index of disease activity. PMID- 2614431 TI - Pattern electroretinography in patients with delayed pattern visual evoked potentials due to distal anterior visual pathway dysfunction. AB - Between March 1983 and January 1988 delayed pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) were observed in 67 patients with distal visual pathway dysfunction. Many of these patients had been referred for neurophysiological examination because of possible optic nerve dysfunction. These patients also had pattern electroretinography (PERG) performed which in all cases showed an abnormality of the main positive P50 component. None of these patients had an abnormality confined to the negative N95 component, the type of abnormality usually found if the PERG is abnormal in optic nerve disease. It is suggested that PERG recording should now be a routine adjunct to the PVEP in the assessment of anterior visual pathway dysfunction. PMID- 2614432 TI - Fasciculations in motor neuron disease: discharge rate reflects extent and recency of collateral sprouting. AB - Single fibre EMG recordings were made from 152 fasciculating motor units in 17 patients with motor neuron disease. All recordings showed abnormal jitter, many (75%) displayed intermittent blocking, and most had abnormal fibre density (mean 4.3), demonstrating considerable degrees of collateral sprouting supported by the fasciculating motor units, and varying degrees of functional immaturity of the new axonal twigs and the motor end plates. The SFEMG abnormalities reflecting both the degree and the recency of collateral reinnervation correlated with the mean interdischarge interval, suggesting that the properties of the generator site depend on the functional state of the fasciculating motor unit as a whole. PMID- 2614433 TI - Long term effect of low frequency chronic electrical stimulation on the fast hind limb muscles of dystrophic mice. AB - Low frequency chronic electrical stimulation can have a beneficial effect on dystrophic muscles. The present study was undertaken to assess the long term effect of such stimulation on the fast hind limb muscles of dystrophic mice. The relationship between the changes induced by stimulation and the initial condition of the dystrophic muscles, as well as other factors which might contribute to this relationship, were examined. The stimulation induced an increase in the force output of weak dystrophic muscles and a speeding of their time course of contraction and relaxation, as well as an increase in their fatigue resistance. In relatively strong dystrophic muscles, the stimulation induced similar changes in contractile speed and fatigue characteristics, but it led to a slight decrease in force output. Our results suggest that the stimulation promotes the growth and differentiation of the small regenerating fibres known to be present in the diseased muscles and, in addition, induces an increase in the mitochondrial content of the muscle fibres. Our results indicate that these effects are not permanent. PMID- 2614434 TI - Electrophysiological study of the Babinski sign in paraplegic patients. AB - The physiopathology of the Babinski sign was investigated electrophysiologically in patients with spinal cord lesions. The stimuli were delivered via a blunt probe. The force exerted perpendicular to the plantar surface and the forward displacement of the probe were measured. The responses were recorded by surface electromyography of the Extensor Digitorum Longus and Flexor Hallucis Brevis. The latencies of the responses were 160-500 ms. The shortest latencies were observed after strong and fast-increase, moving or static stimuli. The responses to weak, gradual stimulation, appeared at a constant delay after the start of the displacement, equal to the minimum latency. An earlier phasic response was observed after fast-increase stimulations in two subjects. The long latency of the responses is probably due to a long central delay, similar to the late flexion reflex following electrical stimulation. PMID- 2614435 TI - Late onset recessive ataxia with Friedreich's disease phenotype. AB - The Quebec Cooperative Study on Friedreich's ataxia required an onset before age 20 as an obligatory criterion of Friedreich's disease (FD). Harding included patients with onset before 25 years. We studied nine patients with FD phenotype but with onset ranging from 21 to 29 years (mean 24.4). Statistical analysis of the distribution and intrafamilial variation of onset age suggests that late onset Friedreich's disease (LOFD) is a distinct genetic entity or results from modifying genes in some families. Scoliosis was less common in LOFD than FD patients but otherwise the clinical picture was similar. PMID- 2614436 TI - Regional cerebral blood flow by SPECT imaging in Sturge-Weber disease: an aid for diagnosis. AB - Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was studied using SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) with 133-Xenon in 13 patients with confirmed Sturge Weber disease, aged 9 months to 18 years. CT scan, performed at the same time, showed evident cerebral angioma in 10 but not in three. A marked hypoperfused area was found in all patients, ranging from -32% to -72% and of the same location as the CT signs. The hypoperfusion seems to result from post ictal phenomenon as well as from chronic ischaemia. SPECT imaging is therefore a sensitive method for visualising intracranial angioma in Sturge-Weber disease and it provides an aid for diagnosis when a CT scan is not reliable. PMID- 2614437 TI - Liver and pituitary abnormalities in Hallervorden-Spatz disease. AB - A 21 year old male with Hallervorden-Spatz disease was diagnosed at necropsy. Previously undescribed abnormalities of the liver and pituitary gland were noted. PMID- 2614438 TI - Preservation of musical memory in Alzheimer's disease. AB - An 82 year old musician with Alzheimer's disease (AD) showed a preserved ability to play previously learned piano compositions from memory while being unable to identify the composer or titles of each work. He also showed a preserved ability to learn the new skill of mirror reading while being unable to recall or recognise new information. Both anterograde and retrograde procedural memory may be relatively spared in AD. PMID- 2614439 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging studies in multiple sclerosis twins. AB - Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examinations were performed on a series of seven sets of twins (four monozygotic and three dizygotic) and one set of triplets who were clinically discordant for multiple sclerosis (MS). MR abnormalities were detected in some of the unaffected monozygotic pairs of twins. PMID- 2614440 TI - Idiopathic dystonia and cervical spondylotic myelopathy. AB - Cervical myelopathy developed in two patients with idiopathic torsion dystonia. There were marked spondylotic changes in both patients, probably attributable to the incessant dystonic movements of the neck. Previous cervical spine surgery may have exacerbated the myelopathy in one of the patients. Cervical myelopathy complicating idiopathic dystonia must be distinguished from other causes of neurological deterioration, since it may be improved by appropriate neurosurgical treatment. PMID- 2614441 TI - Pure sensory stroke due to midbrain haemorrhage limited to the spinothalamic pathway. AB - A 62 year old man suddenly presented with a pure left sensory deficit involving only pain and temperature sensations. CT scan and MRI showed a small haemorrhage in the dorsolateral part of the right midbrain. This suggested a lesion limited to the right dorsal spinothalamic tract. PMID- 2614442 TI - Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity: a case report with magnetic resonance imaging findings. AB - A 52 year old woman presented with pain in the back and upper limbs and progressive weakness and sensory impairment of the upper and lower limbs. She developed frequent episodes of severe generalised muscle spasms associated with piloerection and hyperventilation. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography were normal. MRI demonstrated a lesion of the cervical spinal cord and lower brainstem. A biopsy of the cord revealed perivascular cuffing with mononuclear cells and inflammatory changes in the parenchyma, with increased numbers of microglia, reactive astrocytes and plasma cells. Following treatment with corticosteroids she showed substantial improvement. PMID- 2614443 TI - Effect of bezafibrate on the sequelae of acute experimental focal cerebral ischaemia. AB - The possibility that the ability of bezafibrate to lower the oxygen affinity of haemoglobin might lead to an increased oxygen delivery to ischaemic cerebral tissue was explored in preliminary studies in two animal models. The combined morbidity and mortality of unilateral carotid ligation in the gerbil appeared to be reduced at two hours in bezafibrate treated animals. By four hours and thereafter the outcome was unaffected. Two hours after MCA occlusion bezafibrate treated rats showed a significantly reduced rise in tissue lactate concentration (p less than 0.01) suggesting less anaerobic metabolism had occurred in the ischaemic tissue. PMID- 2614444 TI - Serum prolactin during status epilepticus. AB - The serum concentration of prolactin is frequently increased after single epileptic seizures and has therefore been used as a method to differentiate between hysterical attacks and epileptic seizures. We determined plasma prolactin concentrations in fifteen patients with status epilepticus. Seven patients had absence status, five complex partial and three generalised tonic-clonic status epilepticus. Prolactin levels were normal in all patients which indicates that, in contrast to single seizures, status epilepticus is not associated with an increase in serum prolactin. PMID- 2614445 TI - Anti-Purkinje cell cytoplasmic and neuronal nuclear antibodies aid diagnosis of paraneoplastic autoimmune neurological disorders. PMID- 2614446 TI - Crying and laughing after brain damage: a confused nomenclature. PMID- 2614447 TI - Sublingual apomorphine and Parkinson's disease. PMID- 2614448 TI - Pontine tumour with central neurogenic hyperventilation. PMID- 2614449 TI - Isolated schwannoma of the fourth cranial nerve: case report. PMID- 2614450 TI - An ependymoma involving the pituitary fossa. PMID- 2614451 TI - Paroxysmal dysarthria and ataxia: associated MRI abnormality. PMID- 2614452 TI - Development of HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM) in a seroconverted patient for antibody to HTLV-I. PMID- 2614453 TI - Parkinsonian symptoms in a patient with AIDS and cerebral toxoplasmosis. PMID- 2614454 TI - Tobacco-alcohol amblyopia: magnetic resonance imaging findings. PMID- 2614455 TI - Opsoclonus-myoclonus following the intranasal usage of cocaine. PMID- 2614456 TI - Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia with deafness, myoclonus and amyotrophy. PMID- 2614457 TI - Persistent primitive trigeminal artery: a possible cause of trigeminal and abducens nerve palsy. PMID- 2614458 TI - Norpethidine induced myoclonus in a patient with renal failure. PMID- 2614459 TI - Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis following a slowly progressive course. PMID- 2614460 TI - Management of intraventricular haemorrhage secondary to ruptured arteriovenous malformation in a child with von Willebrand's disease. PMID- 2614461 TI - Type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia masquerading as cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. AB - We describe an adult patient with type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia, presenting with Achilles tendon xanthomas, cataracts, dementia, ataxia, pyramidal tract signs, and peripheral neuropathy, which are commonly seen in cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX). However, the diagnosis of CTX was excluded on the basis of the cholestanol level and the normal cholestanol/cholesterol ratio in his serum and tendon. The pathomechanism for some of the clinical manifestations in type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia and CTX might be caused by a common biochemical disturbance. PMID- 2614462 TI - Histopathological heterogeneity and cytopathological similarity of findings in different muscles of two brothers affected by rigid spine syndrome. AB - The pathological changes in muscles biopsied from 2 brothers with rigid spine syndrome are reported. The findings ranged from marked fascicular atrophy and fibrosis to hypotrophy of small groups of fibres and vacuolation in most fibres. The presence of vacuoles and deposits of accumulated material seemed to be common to all the biopsies. These findings, compared with those reported in the literature, confirmed the histopathological heterogeneity of this syndrome but proposed also the hypothesis that similar elementary lesions of muscle fibres can account for the initiation of the pathological process, developing asynchronously in different muscles because of their different activity. PMID- 2614463 TI - Natural killer cell number and activity in multiple sclerosis. AB - Natural killer (NK) cell percentage among cells appearing in lymphocytic flow cytometric gate, and their concentration per unit volume of peripheral blood, as well as NK-cell in vitro activity, were determined in 45 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS, 34 with definite and 11 with probable diagnosis). Two age- and sex matched control groups consisted of 27 healthy individuals and 19 individuals with other neurological diseases, respectively. NK cells were identified on the basis of their reaction with monoclonal antibody NKH-1, and NK-activity on the basis of their spontaneous killing of K-562 erythroleukemia target cells with mononuclear cells from peripheral blood. MS patients were analyzed in regard to the phase (active, stable inactive, stable progressive) and course (remittent, remittent-progressive, progressive) of the disease. In general, MS patients tended to have both lower number and activity of natural killer cells than either of the two control groups. A statistically significant decrease was found for the concentration of NKH-1+ cells in the blood of all MS patients, for the number of lymphocytes in the blood of patients with remittent course of the disease, and for the number of NKH-1+ cells in the blood of patients with progressive course of the disease. It appeared that more profound defects were associated with the progression of the disease; NK-cell number always appeared more affected than NK cell activity. In MS patients, NK-cell activity correlated significantly with NK cell percentages among lymphocytes but poorly with the concentration of NKH-1+ cells in the blood. In healthy controls, neither of the two correlations was significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614464 TI - Normal insulin receptors in mitochondrial myopathies with ophthalmoplegia. AB - Seven patients with histologically proven mitochondrial myopathy with ophthalmoplegia (OMM), 6 of them nondiabetic, 1 affected by diabetes mellitus (DM), were submitted to a study of glucose tolerance and of insulin receptors on peripheral mononuclear cells and cultured skin fibroblasts. The diabetic patient, who had the typical features of the Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) and deleted muscle mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) presented a low insulin secretion rate under physiological stimuli (intravenous glucose and glucagon) whereas the insulin receptor parameters were found normal. The other patients showed a normal glucose tolerance and normal insulin receptors. Our data support the hypothesis that insulin receptors are not involved in the pathogenesis of DM associated with mitochondrial encephalomyopathies, in contrast to other neuromuscular inherited disorders. The clinical and biological features of DM presented by our KSS patient show normal insulin receptor parameters in spite of a defective insulin secretion, possibly depending on mitochondrial dysfunction. PMID- 2614465 TI - Beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine. Chronic oral administration is not neurotoxic to mice. AB - Repeated dietary consumption of the neurotoxic amino acid beta-N-methylamino-L alanine (BMAA), found in the seeds of Cycas circinalis, has been postulated as causing both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the parkinsonism-dementia syndrome (PD) that were formerly very prevalent among the indigenous people of the Marianas Islands. Cynomolgus monkeys fed BMAA have been reported to develop behavioral and neuropathological changes like those found in human ALS. We gave large amounts of BMAA, totaling 15.5 g/kg of the L-isomer, by gavage to mice over 11 weeks without observing any behavioral abnormalities. When killed, these animals showed none of the neurochemical or neuropathological changes that would be expected in ALS or Parkinson's disease. Their striatal dopamine contents were normal, and there were no reductions in the contents of glutamate and aspartate in cerebral cortex like those encountered in sporadic human ALS. The results of this experiment do not support chronic ingestion of BMAA as the causative factor for Guamanian ALS or PD. PMID- 2614466 TI - Early ultrastructural alterations in adult dermatomyositis. Capillary abnormalities precede other structural changes in muscle. AB - In 6 adults with dermatomyositis, minimally weak or nonweak muscles that showed inconclusive light-microscopic alterations were examined by electron microscopy. In all 6 specimens, this revealed pathologic changes in endomysial capillaries. The endothelial cells harbored microtubular inclusions and microvacuoles in all cases; pale swollen endothelial cells were observed in 3 specimens. There were no significant ultrastructural changes in the muscle fibers. In all cases, a small proportion of muscle capillaries were immunoreactive for complement membrane attack complex neoantigens. The findings imply that in adult dermatomyositis capillary injury precedes muscle fiber damage and infiltration by inflammatory cells, and that the microvasculature is an early and specific target of the disease process in muscle. PMID- 2614467 TI - A comparison of erythrocytes, lymphocytes and blood plasma as samples in fatty acid analysis for the diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy. AB - We studied the very-long-chain fatty acids of blood plasma, erythrocyte membranes and lymphocytes in 4 adrenoleukodystrophy patients, 5 adrenoleukodystrophy obligate carriers, 12 normal controls and 81 patients with various neurological disorders by high-performance liquid chromatography and compared the reliabilities in the diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy of these 3 components of peripheral blood. Of 81 patients with various neurological disorders, 2 myotonic dystrophy and 2 spinocerebellar degeneration patients showed increased ratios of C26:0 to C22:0 in erythrocyte membranes, but not in blood plasma and lymphocytes. None of the 12 normal controls showed increased ratios of C26:0 to C22:0 in erythrocyte membranes, blood plasma and lymphocytes. These results suggest that fatty acid analysis for the diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy is more reliable when blood plasma and lymphocytes are used than when erythrocyte membranes are used. PMID- 2614468 TI - Adult-onset autosomal recessive neurogenic scapuloperoneal syndrome. AB - We report a brother and sister who showed weakness, atrophy and fasciculations starting in adulthood, predominantly affecting the muscles of the shoulder girdles and distal lower extremities. Mild ptosis and facial weakness were present in both. Electrophysiological studies and muscle histology supported a neurogenic basis for the autosomal recessive scapuloperoneal syndrome in this sibship. PMID- 2614469 TI - Hypothermia due to an ascending impairment of shivering in hyperacute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat. AB - Severe hypothermia and an ascending impairment of shivering are previously undescribed clinical signs in hyperacute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the Lewis rat. These occurred in hyperacute EAE induced by inoculation with guinea pig spinal cord homogenate and heat-killed Bordetella pertussis. Hypothermia was first detected on day 6-7 post-inoculation, within 12-24 h of the onset of neurological signs, and became more severe as the disease progressed. Rectal temperatures less than or equal to 30 degrees C were common at ambient temperatures of 19-22 degrees C. Shivering was assessed by palpation and by cold tremor electromyography. Shivering was absent in the tail by day 6-7 post inoculation. The impairment then progressed to affect the hindlimbs, thorax and occasionally the forelimbs. Shivering was absent in hindlimbs with only mild or moderate weakness. Histological studies revealed perivascular inflammation with polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells, oedema, fibrin deposition, haemorrhage, primary demyelination and axonal degeneration in the spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia and spinal roots. The brainstem was also involved but the cerebral hemispheres, including the hypothalamus, were spared. The close relationship between the severity of hypothermia and the extent of shivering impairment indicates that reduced shivering is an important cause of hypothermia in hyperacute EAE. It is concluded that this impairment of shivering is due not to hypothalamic damage but to lesions elsewhere in the central and peripheral nervous systems. PMID- 2614470 TI - Power spectrum analysis of the EMG pattern in normal and diseased muscles. AB - The diagnostic value of analogue frequency analysis of EMG from patients with neuromuscular disorders has not been convincing. Using fast Fourier transformation it is today possible to obtain the EMG power spectrum on-line and with a better resolution. We examined the power spectrum of the EMG pattern of the brachial biceps muscle in 20 control subjects, 20 patients with myopathy, and 12 with neurogenic disorders. The electrical activity was sampled with a concentric needle electrode from 10 sites in each muscle. From each spectrum, mean power frequency, the power at 140 Hz, 1400 Hz, 2800 Hz and 4200 Hz relative to total power and the high/low ratio (1400/140) were obtained. The mean power frequency was higher at 10% than at 30% of maximal force. At a force of 30% of maximum the power spectrum analysis identified 55% and 64% of the patients with myopathy and neurogenic disorders, respectively. Although the diagnostic yield of the power spectrum analysis at a force of 10% of maximum was less than that at 30%, additional patients were identified at 10% increasing the diagnostic yield to 65% and 73% for patients with myopathy and neurogenic disorders, respectively. The best diagnostic parameters were the mean power frequency and the relative power at 1400 Hz. PMID- 2614471 TI - Lipid depletion and repletion in skeletal muscle following a marathon. AB - Intramuscular lipid content was investigated in muscle biopsies from 10 well trained endurance athletes before, immediately after, and 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after a marathon. Diets were controlled throughout the entire period of the study. Triglyceride content was ultrastructurally determined by the use of stereological methods. The volume percent lipid significantly decreased after the marathon and was lowest at 3 days post-marathon, rising slightly but still 35% lower than the pre-marathon value by 7 days post-marathon. Glycogen granules were abundant and tightly packed in the pre-marathon biopsies, scarce immediately post marathon, and abundant, but less tightly packed, 7 days post-marathon. Post marathon fluctuations in the volume percentages of mitochondria indicated possible fluid shifts within the muscle fibers: dehydration immediately post marathon followed by rehydration with possible edema. Assuming the content of mitochondria remained constant throughout the recovery period, the ratio of the volume percentage of lipid to the volume percentage of mitochondria indicated that lipid content may have reached pre-marathon levels after 7 days post marathon. PMID- 2614472 TI - Comparison of the regional distribution of transferrin receptors and aluminium in the forebrain of chronic renal dialysis patients. AB - Recent studies have emphasised the potential neurotoxicity of aluminium in dialysis encephalopathy and it has also been suggested that this element may have a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Aluminium is known to be transported by the iron transport protein transferrin. In this study using receptor autoradiography we have demonstrated the presence of transferrin binding sites in the human forebrain and shown a pattern similar to that found in other species. Imaging secondary ion mass spectrometry has demonstrated the distribution of aluminium-containing cell-like profiles in the brains of chronic renal dialysis patients who have raised levels of brain aluminium (greater than 4 micrograms/g dry weight) and even in dialysis patients where the gross level of aluminium was within the normal range. The density of these profiles corresponded to the regions of high transferrin receptor density. In contrast, the distribution of iron in the brain showed an inverse correlation with transferrin receptor density with highest iron levels present in the globus pallidus, an area of low transferrin receptor density. These results suggest that the regional distribution of neuropathological changes seen in dialysis encephalopathy patients and also Alzheimer's disease may reflect the distribution of transferrin receptors. The discrepancy between iron distribution and transferrin receptor distribution suggests that further, as yet uncharacterized mechanisms, govern the distribution of brain iron. PMID- 2614473 TI - Autonomic and somatic peripheral nerve function and the correlation with neuropathic pain in diabetic patients. AB - Pupillary and cardiovascular autonomic functions were examined in 25 diabetic patients with and 25 diabetic patients without painful neuropathy. There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to age, duration of diabetes or glycaemic control. Vibratory perception, reflecting peripheral large fibre function, was more severely disturbed in the symptomatic group (P = 0.003). Thermal discrimination thresholds (TDTs), reflecting somatic small fibre function, were abnormal in all symptomatic patients and the difference between patients with and without symptoms was more pronounced (P less than 0.0001), than for large fibre function. The latency of the constriction reaction of the pupil (parasympathetic function) was prolonged in 17 symptomatic patients and in 6 patients without pain; it proved to be significantly more prolonged in the group with painful neuropathy (P = 0.001). Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was present in 29 patients, especially in patients with painful neuropathy (22 in the group with painful neuropathy, 7 in the group without pain). There was a significant correlation between results of TDT and respectively pupillary and cardiovascular autonomic function tests (kappa coeefficient: 0.63 and 0.56, respectively, P less than 0.0001). We conclude that autonomic dysfunction is often present in patients with painful neuropathy. However, thermal sensory dysfunction is better correlated with the presence of symptoms than cardiovascular and pupillary autonomic dysfunction. PMID- 2614474 TI - "Grumose degeneration" of Tretiakoff. AB - We reviewed Tretiakoff's "grumose degeneration (GD)" which described pathologic cellular change in the substantia nigra (SN). This term has been occasionally used up to the mid-1960s by Greenfield et al.; it has rarely been used after the 1970s. This study emphasises the following: (1) after the 1970s, GD has sometimes been signalled in the SN under various names, such as "spheroid with foamy appearance", "granular spheroid", "saccular structure", or "foamy spheroid body"; (2) the ultrastructure of GD is unknown, being entirely different from that of typical axonal swellings (so-called "spheroids"); (3) more attention should be paid to GD in the SN because its nature has remained unclarified since the original description; and (4) "GD" in the cerebellar dentate nucleus is essentially different from Tretiakoff's GD. PMID- 2614475 TI - Dendritic varicosities. PMID- 2614476 TI - Transplantation of human sympathetic neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells into parkinsonian monkeys: no reversal of clinical symptoms. AB - Cultured human fetal sympathetic ganglion explants or adrenal chromaffin cell aggregates were implanted into the left striatum of monkeys whose left nigrostriatal pathway had been lesioned with the neurotoxin MPTP. There was no clinical reversal of parkinsonian symptoms and PET scans did not show increased striatal fluorodopa uptake from pre-implant levels. At sacrifice, left striatal contents of dopamine were not statistically different from MPTP-treated but non implanted controls. Histological examinations revealed pockets of extrinsic cells which were found at the end of needle tracks. There was no evidence of immune rejection. The extrinsic cells did not stain for tyrosine hydroxylase or neurofilament, suggesting that they were not dopaminergic neurons. The failure to reverse clinical parkinsonian symptoms highlights the stage of infancy of neural implantation in Parkinson's disease. PMID- 2614477 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging in asymptomatic disseminated vasculomyelinopathy. AB - Two cases of disseminated vasculomyelinopathy (one of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), the other of acute transverse myelitis), are reported because of the persistence, 3 years and 5 months respectively, of abnormalities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These abnormalities remained although in the first case the disease had been essentially asymptomatic from the onset except for one seizure, the patient remaining neurologically intact, whereas in the second case, the patient had made a complete recovery from very serious neurologic dysfunction. The first case illustrates the fact that ADEM may rarely occur without any symptoms, even in the presence of severe imaging abnormalities in both CT and MRI. Neither the persistence of a blood-brain barrier permeability alteration nor gliosis can satisfactorily explain the MRI changes, and thus the pathological significance of areas of increased signal intensity in MRI remains poorly understood and a matter of uncertainty. This report emphasizes the futility of attempting to correlate any kind of clinical observation, laboratory parameter, or effect of therapeutic regimens with changes, or lack thereof, in the MRI in multiple sclerosis and disseminated vasculomyelinopathy. PMID- 2614478 TI - The influence of regeneration and nerve growth factor on the neuronal cell body reaction to injury. AB - The consequence of neuronal regeneration on the affected cell body has not been well documented previously. The long-term effects of either successful peripheral nerve (sciatic) regeneration or exogenously administered nerve growth factor (NGF) on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were determined. The degree of neuronal death and changes in neuronal size were measured after various injuries and treatments. The regenerative influence of the transected, distal sciatic nerve segment on the neuronal cell body was examined under various standardized conditions (e.g. crush, transection followed by immediate epineurial anastomosis or transection with capping of the proximal nerve stump). Neuronal death was greatest in smaller neurons with diameters between 16 and 28 microns. The data showed no difference in the degree of neuronal death between the crush injury and the anastomosis (both able to regenerate). However, the capped, proximal nerve (regeneration prevented) had a significantly higher incidence of neuronal death and less complete recovery from the early neuronal atrophy, which was initially observed in all three groups. The long-term effect on neuronal survival of transient NGF administration (three weeks) at the site of injury demonstrated partial protection by a decrease (55%) in the neuronal loss nine weeks after injury compared to controls. Either the distal nerve segment during regeneration or exogenously applied NGF is capable of mitigating the long-term effects of axotomy in the DRG neuronal cell body. PMID- 2614479 TI - Subpial and perivascular astrocytes associated with nodes of Ranvier in the rat optic nerve. AB - Recent evidence has suggested that there is a division of labour between two types of astrocytes in the rat optic nerve--one type extending processes to the pial surface and to blood vessels, the other extending processes to nodes of Ranvier (Miller et al., 1989b). Here we show that astrocytes and astrocyte processes located at the pial surface and around blood vessels in the rat optic nerve can also be associated with nodes of Ranvier, indicating that the division of labour between the two types of astrocytes in the nerve is not as strict as previously proposed. PMID- 2614480 TI - Extracellular matrix of the superior olivary nuclei in the dog. AB - The extracellular matrix around nerve cell bodies in canine lateral and medial superior olivary nuclei was examined by conventional electron microscopy, Golgi impregnation and histochemical techniques. Each neuron is surrounded by a region of myelin-free neuropil embedded amongst the myelinated fibres of the trapezoid body. In the myelin-free neuropil there are astrocytes, axons, synaptic boutons and extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix fills the spaces between slender axons near the terminals, synaptic boutons and glial processes, but not the synaptic cleft. Golgi impregnation selectively stains the perineuronal nets which cover some of all of the nerve cell bodies and dendrites. The Golgi-EM method revealed that the impregnated profiles of the nets are restricted to the extracellular matrix. Synaptic boutons are situated in the holes of the perineuronal nets. Peanut (PNA) and soybean (SBA) agglutinins bound the extracellular matrix but not the synaptic boutons, glial processes, nerve cell bodies or basal lamina of blood capillaries. Light microscopic immunohistochemistry of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S-100 protein did not stain a layer corresponding to the extracellular matrix and synapses but showed an intensely positive reaction immediately outside this layer. These data suggest the existence of a unique microenvironments associated with glycoconjugates around nerve cell bodies in canine superior olivary nuclei. PMID- 2614481 TI - Morphology and distribution of primary afferent fibres expressing alpha-galactose extended oligosaccharides in the spinal cord and brainstem of the rat. Light microscopy. AB - The light microscopic morphology and distribution of non-substance P-containing small primary afferent fibres were studied. These fibres were labelled using LD2 and LA4 monoclonal antibodies which recognize alpha-galactose extended oligosaccharides expressed by primary afferent neurons. The LD2 and LA4 antibodies immunostained small primary afferent fibres ending mainly in lamina II of the spinal cord dorsal horn and trigeminal subnucleus caudalis of the rat. The lamination pattern of both types of primary afferents was assessed using an image analysis system. The highest density of LD2-immunoreactive fibres was located in a patchy band located in lamina II outer, while LA4-immunoreactive fibres were distributed mainly through lamina II inner. In lateral regions of cervical and lumbar dorsal horn the LA4-immunoreactive band is broader and comprises almost all lamina II. In contrast to substance P-containing primary afferents, a low density of LD2- or LA4-immunoreactive fibres was found in lamina I, and no terminal fields were found in lamina V or lamina X of the spinal cord or in levels of the trigeminal system outside the subnucleus caudalis. Both antibodies also labelled the parent fibres in the white matter fasciles. LD2-immunoreactive fibres were located in the dorsal roots, medial regions of the Lissauer tract, dorsal columns of the spinal cord, outer regions of the spinal trigeminal tract and dorsal to the cuneatus and gracilis nuclei. In contrast, LA4-immunoreactive fibres were restricted to the dorsal roots, medial and lateral regions of the Lissauer tract and the outer regions of the trigeminal tract. Immunostained fibres in the rootlets of the X and IX nerves and immunoreactive terminal arborizations in various subnuclei of the nucleus tractus solitarius were seen using both antibodies. These results show that subpopulations of small primary afferents stained by LD2 and LA4 antibodies have distinct patterns of central distribution and are consistent with a subdivision of small primary afferents into peptide- and non-peptide-containing groups. PMID- 2614482 TI - Ultrastructure of primary afferent fibres and terminals expressing alpha galactose extended oligosaccharides in the spinal cord and brainstem of the rat. AB - The ultrastructural characteristics of primary afferent fibres, which express alpha-galactose extended oligosaccharides recognized by LD2 and LA4 monoclonal antibodies, and the subcellular localization of these oligosaccharides were studied. LD2 and LA4 antibodies both label intensely the plasma membrane of primary afferent fibres, and with LD2 antibody all immunoreactive profiles also possessed strong intracellular staining. In contrast, intracellular staining with LA4 antibody was observed in only a subpopulation of stained profiles. LD2 immunoreactive fibres were detected in trigeminal and Lissauer tracts and in lamina I (LI) and lamina II (LII), and appeared as a mixture of unmyelinated and myelinated fibres. The highest density of LD2-immunoreactive synaptic boutons was found in lamina II outer (LIIo). Many of the terminals were simple dome-shaped terminals, making single asymmetric synapses over small and medium-sized dendritic shafts and dendritic spines. All LA4-immunoreactive fibres were unmyelinated. In addition, some small scalloped central-glomerular terminals contacting two or three dendrites were found. LA4-immunoreactive fibres were found more frequently than terminals and appeared most heavily immunostained in trigeminal and Lissauer tracts. In the neuropil of LI and LII, LA4 profiles were generally very weakly immunostained, although a small sample of immunostained synaptic boutons was detected. All LA4-immunoreactive terminals were found in lamina II inner (LIIi) and made simple asymmetric axodendritic synapses. In addition to axons and terminals, some dendrites exhibited LD2 immunoreactivity and this was most intense in the region of synaptic vesicles. In addition to neurons, some endothelial cells were immunostained with LD2 antibody and astrocytes were immunostained with LA4 antibody. PMID- 2614483 TI - Morphometric studies on the microvasculature of pre- and paravertebral sympathetic ganglia in the adult and aged rat by light and electron microscopy. AB - Morphometric measurements have been made by light and electron microscopy on sections of perfused sympathetic ganglia from rats of 6-24 months of age with special reference to the microvascular bed. Capillaries, postcapillary venules and small venules comprised the majority of the vessels studied but small arterioles were, in addition, included in the light microscopical part of the study. Light microscopical measurements using image analysis showed that there was a decrease in the density of the microvascular bed (number of vascular profiles/area) and in the total vascular luminal area with age in both ganglia. The ratio of neurons to microvessels remained constant in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) but decreased with age in the coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion (CSMG). However, the distribution of microvessels in relation to individual neurons remained unchanged throughout life in both ganglia. Ultrastructural studies revealed fenestrations in 12% of SCG microvessel profiles and in 38% of CSMG microvessels at 6 months, but the percentage of fenestrated profiles in the CSMG had declined by 24 months. There were no significant differences in the number of fenestrations per fenestrated profile. The basal lamina surrounding the microvessels increased significantly (almost doubling) in thickness with age. The range and distribution of microvessel wall thicknesses, expressed as harmonic mean wall thickness, were comparable in both ganglia at both ages and increased linearly according to the amount of pericyte covering present. No consistently significant relationships could be discerned between the microvessel wall thickness and luminal diameter or between the wall thickness and the area available to a given volume of blood for exchange of metabolites (luminal perimeter/luminal area). We conclude that the ganglionic capillary bed is similar in both ganglia and, in old age, accommodates structural changes that occur in the ganglion by maintaining its structure and relationship to individual neurons. PMID- 2614484 TI - Novel arthropod cell junctions with restrictive intercellular 'linkers'. AB - The peripheral glial cells that surround the components of the avascular CNS in certain groups of primitive arthropods are characterized by unusual intercellular junctions. In the centipedes and millipedes (Myriapoda), these glial cells are associated by interconnecting filamentous 'linkers' which produce a reduction, but not an occlusion, of the intercellular cleft; these are interposed between conventional gap junctions. In replicas, the freeze-cleave images are of loosely aggregated gap junctional connection plaques, fracturing on to the extracellular membrane half leaflet (E face), together with linear alignments of intramembranous particles (IMPs) and furrows; complementary P face ridges also occur. Exogenous tracers appear unable to penetrate beyond these junction-rich glial clefts, possibly by binding to the 'linkers' or extracellular matrix between them. Peripheral glial cells in the cerebral ganglion of the horseshoe crab, Limulus, are also characterized by linear IMP arrays; in this case they primarily exhibit E face grooves and complementary ridges of P face IMPs, which also do not produce complete membrane fusion. These, too, are intimately associated with gap junctional plaques of E face particles or P face pits. These intramembranous particle rows are novel structural modifications, called here 'linker' junctions, and are quite distinct from conventional tight or septate junctions found between the outer glial cells in more highly evolved arthropods such as the insects and arachnids. They seem to represent a new category of intercellular junction. PMID- 2614485 TI - Wallerian degeneration in the peripheral nervous system: participation of both Schwann cells and macrophages in myelin degradation. AB - This study examined the role of Schwann cells and hematogenous macrophages in myelin degradation and Ia antigen expression during Wallerian degeneration of rodent sciatic nerve. To identify and distinguish between macrophages and Schwann cells we used, in addition to electron microscopy, immunocytochemical staining of teased nerve fibres and 1 microns thick cryosections. Before the appearance of adherent macrophages the myelin sheath fragmented into ovoids, small whorls of myelin debris appeared within Schwann cell cytoplasm and the Schwann cell displayed numerous lipid droplets. However, at least in large fibres most myelin degradation and removal was accomplished or assisted by macrophages, identified by their expression of the ED1 marker. These cells began entering the nerve from blood vessels by day 2, migrated to degenerating nerve fibres and adhered to nerve fibres in the regions of the ovoids. There they penetrated the Schwann cell basal lamina to occupy an intratubal position and phagocytose myelin. During Wallerian degeneration a subpopulation of ED1-positive monocytes/macrophages expressed Ia antigen; Schwann cells were Ia-negative. Ia expression by monocytes/macrophages appeared to be a transient event and was not seen in post phagocytic macrophages, as indicated by the fact that ED1-positive phagocytes with large vacuoles were Ia-negative. Our data show that both Schwann cells and macrophages play important roles in degrading and removing myelin during Wallerian degeneration. The expression of Ia antigen during Wallerian degeneration indicates that Ia expression need not necessarily reflect specific immune events but in some instances can represent a nonspecific response to PNS damage. PMID- 2614486 TI - Glutamate-like immunoreactivity in calyces of Held. AB - The pattern of glutamate-like immunoreactivity was investigated in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body of adult rats. A monoclonal 'anti-glutamate' antibody was combined with postembedding immunohistochemistry involving a silver intensified peroxidase-antiperoxidase procedure for light microscopy or an immunogold method for electron microscopy. The most conspicuous glutamate immunoreactive elements were labelled calyces of Held. Because of the outstanding size of these terminals they may provide an attractive model for studying the details of glutamatergic neurotransmission at a synapse of the mammalian CNS. PMID- 2614487 TI - Branched-chain amino acids in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. AB - Thirty-two patients affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were included in a controlled, open therapeutic trial with branched chain amino acids (BCAA). Patients with bulbar muscle involvement were evaluated separately. No statistically significant differences were found in the clinical outcome between the patients treated and the control groups. Blood L-glutamate levels measured in eight patients were normal. The failure of BCAA in the treatment of the patients could be due to different disorders with unpredictable outcome included under the diagnosis of ALS. PMID- 2614488 TI - Neurological and radiological studies in painful ophthalmoplegia: Tolosa-Hunt syndrome and orbital pseudotumour. AB - Twelve patients with idiopathic painful ophthalmoplegia were studied by CT, which was found to be normal in 6 patients, but with a high density area in the orbit in the others. This abnormal high density area was not found when CT was performed at a relatively early stage of the disease, but was seen when it was performed more than 1 month after the onset of symptoms. Orbital phlebography was performed in 6 of 12 patients; 3 with normal and 3 with abnormal CT findings. An occlusion of the superior ophthalmic vein was seen in 3 patients with abnormal CT, but not in 3 patients with normal CT. All 12 patients improved with administration of corticosteroids. The results suggest that the intraorbital abnormality revealed by CT may be due to an inflammatory process in the chronic stage and/or the oedematous and infiltrating processes in soft tissues which can be caused by the occlusion of the superior ophthalmic vein or cavernous sinus. PMID- 2614489 TI - Polymorphic sparteine metabolism and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. AB - The activity of detoxication with the cytochrome P450 family of enzymes was studied in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The metabolic ratio (MR) of sparteine sulphate was measured, and the population of phenotypes for sparteine nitro (N)-oxidation was determined in 30 patients with ALS and 41 controls for the assay of the sparteine N-oxidation by the cytochrome P450 enzymes. A lower MR and higher frequency of efficient metabolizers were observed in the ALS group, suggesting that there is efficient sparteine N-oxidation by cytochrome P450 pathways in ALS. This tendency was more marked in 15 patients with ALS aged under 60 years. PMID- 2614490 TI - Efficacy of carbamazepine on cerebellar tremors in patients with superior cerebellar artery syndrome. AB - Three patients with postural and intention cerebellar tremor caused by a cerebellar infarction in the superior cerebellar artery distribution were studied; treatment with carbamazepine resulted in marked improvement. PMID- 2614491 TI - Treatment of Lyme borreliosis. Randomized comparison of doxycycline and penicillin G. AB - Seventy-five patients with neurological symptoms of Lyme borreliosis were randomly assigned to intravenous treatment with either penicillin G or doxycycline. After 12 months the treatments were equally effective regarding the clinical picture and laboratory findings. No patient was considered to be a treatment failure. However, one-third of the patients showed delayed recovery, particularly after a longer primary disease duration. A slow recovery, lasting years, was typical of subacute or chronic borreliosis. PMID- 2614492 TI - Deletion screening in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. AB - DNA of 35 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) from 27 unrelated families from the northern part of GDR, Czechoslovakia and Hungary were analysed by means of 9 genomic probes and cDNA probes Cf 23a and Cf 56a, which detect exons of the central part of the DMD gene. Of the unrelated DMD patients, 63% have deletions for one or more intragenic and/or cDNA probes and 33% have deletions for genomic probes, mostly for pERT 87 (15%) and P 20 (15%). 48% of the DMD patients have deletions for one or more exon regions detected by Cf 56a and Cf 23a. The deletions were mapped. The genomic probe P 20 and the distal part of the cDNA probe Cf 23a detected the same part in the centre of the DMD gene. The deletions are heterogeneous in size and extent. In patients of the same family, identical deletions were detected in the DMD gene. The detection of deletions is useful for prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection. PMID- 2614493 TI - Palatal myoclonus associated with extremity tremor. AB - Palatal myoclonus associated with extremity movements such as myoclonus or tremor is uncommon and reports are rare. Five patients with palatal myoclonus and a rest tremor are presented. In four patients, a slow rest tremor (3 Hz or less) was present. The tremor persisted on sustained posture and finger-to-nose maneuvers and was usually not synchronous with the palatal movements. It was not associated with clinical manifestations of Parkinson's disease and occurred in conjunction with brain-stem infarction in three patients. PMID- 2614494 TI - Carbon monoxide poisoning: clinical, neurophysiological, and brain imaging observations in acute disease and follow-up. AB - Five patients (aged 19-52 years) were treated for a midbrain syndrome due to acute carbon monoxide poisoning and had clinical follow-up investigations for up to 18 months. Three patients recovered with minor neurological and neuro psychological deficits and resumed their premorbid life-style. One patient had normal findings, while the fifth remained in a permanent vegetative state. Initial CT of the brain may fail to detect low-density lesions in the globus pallidus. If present, these lesions may either have disappeared, diminished, or remained unchanged at follow-up. Long-term outcome seems to show a closer link to white matter changes, which are at present best investigated by magnetic resonance imaging. The additional value of determining visual evoked responses at repeated follow-up is suggested by the present investigation. PMID- 2614495 TI - Ragged-red fibres detected in paraffin sections by a monoclonal antibody to inner mitochondrial membrane. AB - An immunohistochemical method is reported using the M-II68 monoclonal antibody, which detects mitochondrial accumulations ("ragged-red fibres") in routinely processed (formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded) muscle tissue. Ten cases with electron-microscopically and histochemically proven mitochondrial myopathy featured 4% to 24% ragged-red fibres. In a series of 50 muscle biopsies without mitochondrial myopathy, scattered ragged-red fibres (less than 0.1%) were present in a few normal and pathological muscles. The immunohistochemical method is specific for mitochondria, does not require frozen tissue and permits rapid examination of large areas. PMID- 2614496 TI - Reversible bilateral thalamic lesions caused by primary internal cerebral vein thrombosis: a case report. AB - The case is reported of a patient with primary thrombosis of the internal cerebral veins who presented initially with unilateral and later developed bilateral thalamic lesions revealed by computed tomography. Magnetic resonance imaging and angiography confirmed the diagnosis. Upon anticoagulation the patient recovered nearly completely. PMID- 2614497 TI - MRI study of Balo's concentric sclerosis before and after immunosuppressive therapy. AB - An intra vitam diagnosis of Balo's concentric sclerosis in a 39-year-old male is described. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of ante-mortem diagnosis based solely on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. MRI showed features unique to this process. After high-dose intravenous therapy with prednisone, the clinical symptoms improved, and MRI showed marked changes of the concentric lesions. PMID- 2614498 TI - Paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy: a rare disorder to be differentiated from polymyositis. PMID- 2614499 TI - Diagnostic value of the optic fundus in cerebral angiitis. PMID- 2614500 TI - Decrease of nerve fibres in the anterior corpus callosum of senile dementia of Alzheimer type. PMID- 2614501 TI - Induction of differentiation of HL-60 cells along the monocytic pathway by 5 methyltetrahydrofolate. AB - Many compounds of different chemical structure can induce the HL-60 cell line to differentiate along the monocytic or granulocytic pathway, but the mechanism(s) of differentiation by these agents is not known. Experimental evidence suggests that DNA and/or membrane phospholipid transmethylation reactions may be of importance. Based on this background, we have studied the effects of various concentrations of (dl)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (mTHF), a folate coenzyme involved in transmethylation reactions, on differentiation of HL-60 cells. Differentiation along the monocytic pathway was evidenced in kinetic, functional, cytochemical and immunophenotypical studies when cells were treated with high dose (dl)-mTHF (1 x 10(-3)M). Some hypotheses on the mechanism(s) of (dl)-mTHF induced HL-60 cell differentiation are discussed with particular regard to a possible enhancement of lipid or DNA methylation via methionine formation by the (l) form or to inhibition of folate-dependent metabolism by the unnatural (d) form, hence of purine and thymine nucleotide synthesis. PMID- 2614502 TI - Effect of slime production on the antibiotic susceptibility of isolates from prosthetic infections. AB - The antibacterial activity of 6 antibiotics towards 10 gram-positive and 6 gram negative glycocalyx-producing strains, has been evaluated by employing a method which partially simulates the in vivo colonization of prosthetic devices. The results showed that routine antibiotic sensitivity tests are not predictive about the response of the glycocalyx-embedded bacteria, and that prophylaxis may be useful with ofloxacin and clindamycin, before placing a prosthetic device. Once bacterial colonization had already occurred, however, none of the tested antibiotics was able to eradicate the sessile bacterial form. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values, indeed, were much higher than those determined on the planktonic form, and were much higher than serum and tissue levels that can be reached in vivo. PMID- 2614503 TI - Effects of synthetic retinoids on the growth of bacteria and their susceptibility to antibiotics. AB - In patients treated with oral retinoids the recovery of Propionibacterium acnes and other anaerobic bacteria in the skin is markedly reduced, whereas an increased colonization of the skin and a significant rise in the incidence of cutaneous staphylococcal infections are observed. Since very little is known about the effects of retinoids on bacteria, in the present study we investigated the influence of 4 retinoids (isotretinoin, etretinate, arotinoid ethyl ester, arotinoid sulfone) in 15 different concentrations on the growth of 10 Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro and on their susceptibility to 10 antibiotics. It was found that all retinoids were not capable of affecting either the growth of bacteria or their susceptibility to antibiotics. It seems reasonable, therefore, to assume that the retinoid-induced changes in cutaneous bacterial flora in vivo are due to mechanisms other than to the direct action of these compounds on bacteria. PMID- 2614504 TI - Lincomycin resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains of hospital origin. AB - A total of 170 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated during a one-year period at the University Hospital of Patras Medical School were examined for resistance to a battery of antimicrobial agents by disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination. Fifty-five isolates were lincomycin- and methicillin-resistant (LMRSA). In the group of 55 LMRSA isolates 13 were also resistant to vancomycin. All the LMRSA isolates were not typed by the international set and the experimental phages 88A and 25 at routine typing dilution (RTD), while 18 isolates were lysed by phages at 100XRTD and 1000XRTD. Reverse phage-typing and heat shock treatment of the LMRSA isolates had no effect on their typability. Plasmid profiles coupled with restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmid DNA established that the LMRSA isolates represent different strains. Membrane-protein profiles by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) showed that LMRSA strains could belong to one group. This method proved useful and sensitive for characterization of LMRSA. PMID- 2614505 TI - Antibacterial activity of the sulbactam-ampicillin combination. AB - The in vitro antibacterial activity of ampicillin combined with sulbactam 2:1 was evaluated on 257 aerobic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and on 174 anaerobic bacteria from isolated hospital strains by evaluating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The results obtained show a synergic effect which was able to significantly decrease the MIC90 of the tested beta-lactamase producing bacteria. Among the Gram-positive aerobic strains, we underline the efficacy of sulbactam/ampicillin on resistant Staphylococci, including those methicillin-resistant. The activity on the Gram-negative strains was particularly evident against enterobacteria and haemophilus. The combination of sulbactam and ampicillin provides increased activity against anaerobic strains, including Bacteroides fragilis. PMID- 2614506 TI - The beta-lactamases of Citrobacter diversus and their hydrolysis kinetics for some structurally-related cephalosporins. AB - We measured the kinetics of hydrolysis of various cephalosporins by the chromosomally-encoded beta-lactamases of Citrobacter diversus ULA-27. Cefonicid, cefamandole, cefatrizine and cefoperazone were all hydrolyzed but these antibiotics showed a different feature in their kinetic parameters. Moreover, cefoperazone was a non-competitive inhibitor of this type of enzyme. Cefotetan was stable to hydrolysis and behaved like a progressive inactivator. The ability of these enzymes to inactivate the reported antibiotics contributes largely to the resistance of the studied strain. We conclude that hydrolysis is the main mechanism of resistance of this strain to the new cephalosporins. PMID- 2614508 TI - Diagnostic and interventional neuroradiology: towards which future? PMID- 2614507 TI - Ceftriaxone plus amikacin in a single daily dose as empiric antibiotic therapy in granulocytopenic patients. AB - In our study ceftriaxone plus amikacin were employed as empirical antibiotic therapy. This antibiotic treatment allows for a once daily administration and has a broad spectrum of activity. 21 febrile episodes were treated with an antibiotic regimen of ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg/day and amikacin 30-35 mg/kg/day i.v. An earlier pilot study was carried out in which 47 febrile episodes were treated with an antibiotic regimen of ceftriaxone 80-100 mg/kg/day i.v. and amikacin 30-35 mg/kg/day i.v. in a single dose. The overall response rate was 76% (16/21) and 79% (37/47) for the pilot study. During the treatment no side effects were observed and aminoglycoside related toxicity did not occur. In conclusion, this empiric antibiotic therapy gives a high response rate and allows for a single daily administration. PMID- 2614509 TI - Central sulcus patterns at MRI. AB - Radiologists can now use Talairach's bicommissural reference system and simple T weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sections to recognize the central sulcus of the brain with its spatial features. In this study of 50 MRI examinations performed on normal subjects with contiguous 9 mm thick sagittal sections related to a standard proportional model that takes into account variations in the size and shape of the brain, the central sulcus could be identified on each section, despite its complexity on lateral projections and its frequent changes of course. By comparisons with the co-planar stereotaxic atlas of Talairach and Tournoux, it will be possible to localize the classical functional areas of the telencephalon. PMID- 2614510 TI - Osteoid osteoma of the spine: radiological aspects and value of arteriography. Four cases. AB - The authors present four cases of osteoid osteoma of the spine and review the usual clinical and paraclinical data leading to its diagnosis. The value of radionuclide bone scanning is emphasized: it supersedes the often disappointing radio-tomography and guides computerized tomography which, with modern scanners, virtually always demonstrates the lesion and locates it with accuracy. In the author's experience, spinal and spinal cord arteriography plays an important role: it identifies the radiculospinal vessels preoperatively and provides additional aetiological arguments based on the usual hypervascularity of osteoid osteomas and on the pain induced by injection of the feeding vessels. Data from the literature concerning the vascularization of the nidus suggest that treatment by embolization alone can be envisaged but must be demonstrated. PMID- 2614511 TI - Therapy of malignant schwannomas: usefulness of an integrated radiologic. Surgical therapy. AB - A series of 30 patients with malignant schwannomas, who underwent diagnostic and therapeutic treatment at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan, is presented. Twenty-five of the patients have been followed for at least 3 years. Paravertebral regions were the most frequent sites of primary localizations of the malignant schwannomas. Computerized tomography, echography, nuclear magnetic resonance and arteriography are very important for a radio-diagnostic study. Arteriography is very useful for the diagnosis of malignancy and recurrence of such tumors. Three years after an integrated radiologic-surgical treatment, 14 of 25 patients (56%) were free of disease. Such a percentage is higher than other series of patients who prevalently underwent only surgery. Two patients who did not undergo grossly radical surgery were free of disease 3 years after radiotherapy. The dose of ionizing radiation sufficient for a good possibility of cure is about 52 Gy or higher. PMID- 2614512 TI - Occasionally-occurring familial brain tumours (OFBT). Reports of cases and review of the literature. AB - We use the term "occasionally-occurring familial brain tumours" (OFBT) to designate cases in which more than one member of a family presents a brain tumours outside the range of the clinical syndromes in which CNS cancer heredity is well established. We report our experience of OFBT and review the published work on such cases with special reference to some clinicobiological concordances among affected families. On the evidence we present and on that of several genetic and epidemiologico-statistical studies we are inclined to think that there are genetic factors predisposing to the onset of OFBT. PMID- 2614513 TI - Injuries to the large abdominal vessels during lumbar nucleotomy. AB - The rare complication of iatrogenic damage to the large abdominal blood vessels during lumbar intervertebral disc operations is demonstrated by three case reports. A sudden decrease in blood pressure and tachycardia are major signs of such vessel lacerations. Due to a valve mechanism which prevents a dorsal blood leakage through the intervertebral space, early detection of this problem by the surgeon or anesthesiologist may prove to be difficult. Myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, abnormal volume distribution after positioning, dysfunction of circulatory regulation due to anesthesia or faulty positioning, obstruction of the subclavian artery due to false placement of chest padding, all occur more frequently and therefore must be considered and excluded. A wrong interpretation of this acute occurrence carries a mortality of 70%. Even immediate intervention by vascular surgery shows a mortality rate of 50% for this uncommon emergency. In order to prevent the disastrous sequelae to this complication, blood vessel injury should be suspected for every unexplained intraoperative decrease in blood pressure during lumbar nucleotomy. Only a rapid termination of the operation and appropriate preparation for vascular surgery can lower the mortality of this rare occurrence. PMID- 2614514 TI - Enterogenous cyst of the spinal cord terminal cone. Clinical and radiological aspects (CT and MRI). AB - Enterogeneous cyst of the spinal cord are rare. They are the result of a dysembriogenetic error occurred in the third week of the embryo life. The cervical tract, followed by the caudal tract of the spinal cord, are their favourite sites. This work describes a case of neuroenteric cyst localized in the terminal cone of the spinal cord; CT and myelographic findings point to a generic cystic lesion; MR shows a sharp edge lesion, hypointense at T1 and hyperintense at T2, with signal uniformity similar to C.S.F. MR also allows the evaluation of any CSF pulsation in the cystic lesion and, in the presence of a cystic neoplasm, any signal changes in the adjacent parenchyma. PMID- 2614515 TI - Leiomyosarcoma metastatic to the brain with prolonged survival. AB - A case of uterine leiomyosarcoma with cerebral and pulmonary metastasis is presented. The patient underwent chemotherapy and multiple surgical procedures, including three craneotomies for resecting cerebral metastasis. More than four years of survival with good quality of life were obtained. An aggressive surgical therapy in the rare cases of cerebral metastasis of leiomyosarcoma may be justified. PMID- 2614516 TI - Trigeminal schwannoma with infratemporal extension. Case report. AB - The case of a 55-year-old woman with a rare trigeminal schwannoma extending into the infratemporal fossa is described. The presentation and treatment of this type of intra and extracranial tumor are discussed. PMID- 2614517 TI - A simple procedure for management of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea by injection of fibrin sealant. Technical note. AB - A simple and safe procedure is proposed to manage cases of "empty sella" complicated by rhinorrhea. It is performed under fluoroscopic control only by introducing a needle in the sphenoid sinus via a transnasal route and by injecting fibrin glue into the sinusal cavity. This procedure requires a short hospitalization and it allows to avoid the compliances of other techniques. PMID- 2614518 TI - Expanding CCA options for CNMs. PMID- 2614519 TI - Use of precautions by nurse-midwives to prevent occupational infections with HIV and other blood-borne diseases. AB - A questionnaire was designed with these objectives: (1) to determine the frequency and type of adverse exposures experienced by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs); (2) to determine the extent to which CNMs used recommended precautions to prevent such incidents; and (3) to identify the sources used for obtaining information on AIDS. The questionnaire was mailed to all CNMs with the exception of associate and student members of the American College of Midwives. A response rate of 1,784/2,963 (60.2%) was obtained. These midwives reported frequent exposures to blood and body fluids. Sixty-five percent reported being soaked to the skin with blood or amniotic fluid; 50.7% had face-splashes with blood or amniotic fluid; and 24.0% experienced one or more needlestick(s). Only 55.1% reported using Universal Precautions (UP). Interference with the midwife-client relationship was identified most frequently as the reason for not using UP. Strategies need to be developed for midwives that will increase the use of UP and minimize the frequency of adverse exposures, while maintaining a caring midwife client relationship. PMID- 2614520 TI - Knowledge and perceptions of HIV infection among homeless pregnant women. AB - This research examines the knowledge and perceptions of HIV infection among pregnant women in a hotel for the homeless in New York City in the Spring of 1987. The primary method of research was participatory observation. Issues examined include knowledge of the modes of transmission, use of preventive strategies, and familiarity with persons who have AIDS. PMID- 2614521 TI - The effects of topical lidocaine on infant response to circumcision. AB - The effects of a topical anesthetic used prior to newborn circumcision on the parameters of heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation levels, seconds of crying time, and overt generalized reaction to the procedure were investigated. In the double-blind design, an experimental group (n = 20) received 4% lidocaine cream mixed with 500 mg acid mantle cream two hours before circumcision, and a control group (n = 24) received 500 mg acid mantle cream two hours before circumcision. The circumcision was divided into five events with parameters recorded 30 seconds into each event. The results showed a significant difference in the heart rate between the treated and untreated group, but the respiratory rate and oxygen saturation levels did not differ significantly. Seconds of crying time also differed significantly between groups, as did overt generalized response. There were no untoward reactions. Results showed that topical lidocaine, simple and safe to use, reduced parameters associated with pain and stress. PMID- 2614522 TI - Voluntary HIV-screening at the first prenatal visit. AB - The evolution of screening mechanisms, the patient outcomes, and CNM reactions to a voluntary HIV screening at the first prenatal visit are briefly reviewed. PMID- 2614523 TI - Clinical risk assessment strategies for AIDS. AB - The CDC estimates that 1 to 1.5 million people in the United States are currently infected with the AIDS virus. With the increase in numbers of AIDS cases and infection rate, it is vital that health-care practitioners accurately assess a patient's risk status for AIDS. Two hundred clients from a free-standing birth center in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area completed a questionnaire on AIDS. The respondents represented a homogeneous group of white, middle to upper middle class, well-educated women. Five items on the questionnaire involved a self-assessment of the subject's risk status for AIDS. The results indicated that the question content strongly influenced the subjects' perception of their risk level for AIDS. Furthermore, a major discrepancy was found between the subject's perceived risk status (2.5% at risk to 29% at risk, depending on the question) and the fact that all respondents thought it unlikely that they currently had the AIDS virus or would contract it in the future. Such a discrepancy may reflect possible denial and indicate a need for educational efforts in this area. It was concluded that all known and probable risk factors for AIDS must be presented to the clients so that an accurate assessment of risk can be made. It is through such an assessment that clients can learn about risk behaviors that may need to be altered to avoid infection. PMID- 2614524 TI - Midwifery. An international career. AB - International work is an unforgettable experience that promotes personal growth and fosters adaptability to any professional environment thereafter. The author describes highlights of her own professional career with the hope of encouraging others to undertake midwifery service in less developed countries. PMID- 2614525 TI - Alternative birth practices. PMID- 2614526 TI - Signs of fertility: the personal science of natural birth control. PMID- 2614527 TI - Upper limits of nutrients in infant formulas. Proceedings of a symposium. Iowa City, Iowa, November 7-8, 1988. PMID- 2614528 TI - Problems associated with the establishment of maximum nutrient limits in infant formula. AB - Because each increase in personal security is accompanied by a small but measurable decrease in individual liberty, congress and the American people have been reluctant to provide to the regulatory agencies authority beyond that which they believe is the minimum necessary to avoid a crisis. For government to act in any area involving nutrient fortification of foods requires an acceptable database demonstrating a health hazard. The requirements of current law demand that new formulas be investigated by appropriate clinical studies but do not grant the FDA clear authority to establish maximum limits for nutrients in infant formulas. Except when an unquestionable hazard can be demonstrated, there are important barriers to governmental action in this area. Without a clearly defined, scientifically acceptable database, without consensus in the scientific and professional community, and without public support for action to be taken in this area, the establishment of maximum limits for many nutrients will be extremely difficult. PMID- 2614529 TI - Upper limits of vitamin A in infant formulas, with some comments on vitamin K. AB - Current Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved levels of adequacy and of upper limits in infant formulas for vitamin A are 250 and 750 IU per 100 kcal, respectively. The level of adequacy is generous relative to need. Because vitamin A toxicity has been noted in infants at intakes of 2,100 IU per 100 kcal, an upper limit might well be selected in the range of 750-1,000 IU per 100 kcal for healthy infants. Some children and adults, however, are intolerant of relatively low intakes. The current FDA-approved adequacy level for vitamin K is 4 micrograms per 100 kcal, which also is generous relative to need. An upper limit has not previously been set. Neither single intramuscular doses of phylloquinone that are 100 times the RDA (RDI) for infants nor diets that contain 10-20 times the RDA (RDI) for adults show any adverse effects. Some allergic reactions to injected vitamin K have been reported, however, and menadione, even in low doses, shows significant toxicity in neonates. Thus, although toxicity to phylloquinone is unlikely, it has been suggested that the upper limit of phylloquinone in infant formulas be set at 20 micrograms per 100 kcal, primarily to discourage nutritionally unwarranted supplementation. PMID- 2614530 TI - Ethanol treatment inhibits the development of diethylnitrosamine-induced tumors in rats. AB - Effect of ethanol (20% in drinking water) or acetone (1% in drinking water) treatment was investigated on N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN), acetyl-aminofluorene (AAF) and partial hepatectomy (PH) induced hepatic tumors in rats. Simultaneously with the morphological detection of foci and nodules in the liver of the sacrificed rats, the activities of isozymes of cytochrome P450IIE gene subfamily responsible for the oxidation of ethanol or acetone (as aniline hydroxylase) and also the activity of aminopyrine N-demethylase were determined. Nodules could be detected after DEN, AAF and PH treatment with and without combination with acetone, however nodules did not developed in ethanol treated animals even 6 months after the DEN injection. As expected acetone or ethanol selectively increased the activity of aniline hydroxylase without a general induction of P 450 enzymes. It is suggested that the induction of P-450IIE isoenzymes per se is not connected to the preventive effect of ethanol on DEN induced carcinogenesis. PMID- 2614531 TI - Anatomical and functional effects of estrogen-induced prolactinomas on the rat hypothalamus. AB - Although estrogen-induced prolactinomas have been widely studied, little attention has been accorded to local pressure effects of the tumor on the hypothalamus and portal vasculature. To portray the magnitude of this phenomenon, four groups of 12-13-week-old female Fisher 344 rats were studied. Group 1 was an intact control receiving a subcutaneously (SC) placed placebo pellet; group 2 was an ovariectomized control with a SC placed placebo pellet; group 3 was ovariectomized with a 10 mg SC placed diethylstilbestrol (DES) pellet; and group 4 was ovariectomized receiving both 10 mg DES and 10 mg SC placed bromocriptine pellets. Blood samples were obtained at 4 weeks, and the animals were sacrificed at 8 weeks after pellet implantation at which time blood, pituitary and hypothalami were obtained. At 4 weeks serum prolactin levels were similarly and significantly elevated above the control groups in both the DES and DES/bromocriptine groups. By 8 weeks, however, serum prolactin level(s) in the DES-treated animals had tripled from the 4-week value, while levels in the DES/bromocriptine-treated animals were unchanged from the 4-week values. This finding matched the observation that the DES-treated animals had pituitaries 2.5 fold heavier than the DES/bromocriptine animals. The gross and histologic structure of the hypothalami and portal vessels were markedly disrupted in DES treated rats and much less so in the DES/bromocriptine-treated group. These findings lead us to speculate that the pathogenesis of DES-induced prolactinomas proceeds in two phases: First, there is an early chemical induction phase in which estrogen directly and indirectly stimulates lactotrope proliferation and, second, a mechanical disinhibition phase, where tumor-induced destruction of the hypothalamus and portal vessels unleashes the pituitary from the dopaminergic restraining effects of the hypothalamus. PMID- 2614532 TI - Compliance with colorectal cancer screening in a high-risk occupational group. AB - A Detroit-area union offers an early detection colorectal cancer screening program consistent with that recommended by the American Cancer Society. Analyses compared men who have complied with the American Cancer Society recommendations with men who have not so complied. Older men, nonsmokers, and woodworkers were most likely to participate in all screening examinations. Primary reasons for nonparticipation were the belief that the examination was unnecessary, anxiety/affective concerns; and time/motivation problems. Particularly important to the success of such programs is a sensitive health education component to address personal concerns related to the procedure, and also the dissemination of information about the efficacy of the examination for early detection of colorectal cancer. PMID- 2614533 TI - Nasal septum perforation in chromate-producing industry in Spain. PMID- 2614534 TI - Toluene and hepatotoxicity. PMID- 2614535 TI - Occupational Medicine Forum. PMID- 2614536 TI - Self-reported exercise behavior of employees: a validity study. AB - The aim of the present study was to assess the validity of different self reported questions for measuring exercise behavior of 551 employees. Values of maximum oxygen intake, body mass index, muscular endurance, and a fitness profile, based on the individual results obtained from each of the three physiologic parameters, were used as validity criteria for the self-reported measures. The influence of fitness profile on the measures of exercise habits indicated that the fit employees reported a more active pattern of exercise behavior, participated in more strenuous physical activity, and expended a greater amount of energy in a typical week than the unfit employees. There was no gain obtained in explaining fitness categorization with a more elaborate method compared with a simple question in measuring exercise behavior. The results of the present study show that the suggested simple method (one question) for assessing exercise behavior of employees is valid and can be useful for nurses and company physicians when evaluating the baseline behavior of a group of employees to assess the impact of exercise promotion programs at the work site. PMID- 2614537 TI - Male- and female-mediated reproductive effects of occupation: the use of questionnaire methods. AB - Among methods of studying reproductive effects of occupational exposures, retrospective questionnaire-based surveys of occupationally defined populations have an important place. Reservations concerning the validity of such data have proved to be overstated. Recall is remarkably accurate for birthweight, gestational age, time taken to conceive, and phases of involuntary infertility, and this appears to hold for recall periods up to 20 years or more. Underreporting of miscarriages can be greatly reduced by restricting the analysis to those that have been confirmed both by a test and by a doctor. Interviews are preferable to self-completion format, as they tend to minimize response bias. It is important to consider many methodologic issues that arise in this type of research, such as the selection of confounding factors for inclusion in the questionnaire. PMID- 2614538 TI - Evaluation of recruitment strategies for prospective studies of spontaneous abortion. AB - The examination of spontaneous abortions may offer a sensitive index to potential adverse health effects due to environmental exposures. However, difficulties in ascertaining spontaneous abortions on a population basis, as well as problems in recruiting unselected women into studies of this nature, have severely limited the use of this end point in environmental epidemiology studies. The current research assesses the feasibility of recruiting a representative sample of women into a prospective pregnancy study. Four protocols varying in intensity of data collection were offered to the participants. Fifty-two percent of the eligible women agreed to participate. Seventy-four percent chose the most intensive protocol level. Overall compliance for urine collection and questionnaire completion were 80% and 81%, respectively. Four pregnancies were observed, which was the expected number for the study area during this time frame, suggesting that the majority of pregnancies occurring within a population could be ascertained with this approach. PMID- 2614539 TI - Worker exposure to lead titanate zirconate in an Ontario company. AB - An Ontario plant with 101 workers, producing and using the ceramic compound lead titanate zirconate (LTZ), was investigated. Although air lead levels were high in most plant areas, 82 workers not exposed to lead oxide but to LTZ in the process had normal blood lead levels. In addition, no radiographic changes or abnormal pulmonary function test results were detected in 61 examined workers. The particle size of LTZ was determined to be less than 5 micrometers, and the solubility of LTZ in body fluids was found to be significantly less than lead oxide. The authors postulate that the observed low toxicity of LTZ could be due to its low solubility in body fluids. Further studies of the toxicity of LTZ and other less soluble lead compounds are recommended. PMID- 2614540 TI - Work site stress management: national survey results. AB - The National Survey of Work Site Health Promotion Activities established baseline data on the frequency of nine types of health promotion activity at private work sites with more than 50 employees in the United States. Stress management activities were provided at 26.6% of work sites. Types of activities at those work sites with some stress management activity included group counseling (58.5%), individual counseling (39.3%), follow-up counseling (25.9%), special events (11.5%), providing information about stress (80.7%), providing a place to relax (64.8%), and making organizational changes to reduce employee stress (81.2%). Frequency of activities varied by industry type and by region of the country. Incidence of most types of activities did not increase as work site size increased, although the likelihood of having any of these activities did increase with work site size. Stress management activities were more likely to be present at work sites with a medical staff or health educator. An increase in output, productivity, or quality was the most frequently cited benefit (46.5%). Negative effects were reported at 2.6% of the work sites. Other health promotion activities found at the work sites surveyed included smoking cessation (61.8%), treatment and control of high blood pressure (36.7%), and weight control (34.7%). Employee Assistance Programs were responsible for stress management at 62% of the work sites with an Employee Assistance Program. PMID- 2614541 TI - Occupational noise-induced hearing loss. ACOM Noise and Hearing Conservation Committee. PMID- 2614543 TI - Renal function and the renin-angiotensin system. Satellite symposium of the Fourth European Meeting on Hypertension. 17 June 1989, Milan, Italy. Proceedings. PMID- 2614542 TI - Causation and disease: biomedical science in toxic tort litigation. AB - Inferences concerning the etiology of disease in human populations are derived from complex quantitative and biologic data. Interpreting these inferences in toxic tort litigation poses difficult problems for courts. Fundamental differences exist between courtroom and scientific criteria of causation. These differences need not be irreconcilable if courts understand the nature, strengths, and limitations of scientific evidence. We discuss the interpretation of basic scientific principles of disease causation in the context of legal rules of evidence, and develop an epidemiologic evidentiary standard for toxic tort litigation. PMID- 2614544 TI - Predictors of severe renal dysfunction after heart transplantation and intravenous cyclosporine therapy. AB - We conducted a retrospective analysis of 23 consecutive adult heart transplant patients treated with intravenous cyclosporine for induction of immunosuppression to determine predictors of early (within 2 weeks of transplantation) severe renal dysfunction. Selected risk factors included creatinine clearance less than 55 ml/min, hospitalization before transplantation, perioperative cardiovascular compromise, postoperative cardiovascular compromise, use of ranitidine, use of captopril, and preoperative intraaortic balloon pump support. Each risk factor was assigned a score of 1. Of 23 patients, 16 (69.7%, group 1) completed a course of intravenous cyclosporine for induction of immunosuppression, whereas seven (30.4%, group 2) developed severe renal dysfunction, precluding the use of intravenous cyclosporine for induction. Chi-square analysis showed hospitalization (p less than 0.001), creatinine clearance (P less than 0.001), perioperative cardiovascular compromise (p less than 0.05), and intraaortic balloon pump support (p less than 0.05) to be significantly associated with severe renal dysfunction. Of the patients with a risk factor score of 2 or greater, 87% developed severe renal dysfunction, and 100% with a score less than 2 did not. The best predictors of severe renal dysfunction were, in order, hospitalization, creatinine clearance, and perioperative cardiovascular compromise. Modification of the risk factor score with only these factors showed a score of 2 or greater predictive of severe renal dysfunction in 100% of patients; of those patients with a score less than 2, 94% did not develop severe renal dysfunction. This early experience suggests that risk factor analysis may be useful in the selection of patients in whom intravenous cyclosporine may be given with minimal risk for developing severe renal dysfunction. PMID- 2614545 TI - Myocytolysis as a result of vascular rejection: biopsy and autopsy findings--a case report. AB - Vascular pathologic lesions are a severe and irreversible complication of allogeneic heart transplantation despite immunoprophylactic treatment. These vascular alterations may be characterized by a lymphocytic vasculitis or lumen occlusion by proliferative vasculopathy (or both). They are not readily detected by endomyocardial biopsy. We describe a patient who expired 21 weeks after orthotopic heart transplantation. Graft failure was caused by extensive vascular changes of both an infiltrative and a proliferative nature with subsequent ischemic damage to the myocardium. Vacuolated myocytes observed in the last biopsy specimen obtained before death appeared at postmortem investigation to represent a subendocardial strip of sublethally injured myocytes. Because ischemic damage as a result of vascular rejection may involve a much larger area of the myocardium than the diseased vessel itself, subendocardial myocytic vacuolation in the biopsy specimen may be a valuable diagnostic sign indicating vasculopathy in the graft. PMID- 2614546 TI - Dyslipoproteinemias after heart and heart-lung transplantation: potential relation to accelerated graft arteriosclerosis. AB - Plasma lipid, lipoprotein lipid, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apolipoprotein B (Apo B) levels were measured in 34 patients who had undergone heart transplantation and in two patients who had undergone heart-lung transplantation. In contrast to initial reports, atherogenic dyslipoproteinemias were common, with 14% of patients having increased LDL cholesterol levels, 16.7% increased triglyceride levels, 8.3% decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, and 22.2% increased LDL Apo B levels. Of interest, 14% of patients had an HDL cholesterol level greater than the 95th percentile of the general population. In four patients coronary arteriosclerosis developed after transplantation. All had an atherogenic dyslipoproteinemia. One had type II hypercholesterolemia, and one had isolated low HDL cholesterol levels. Two had hyperapobetalipoproteinemia, one of whom also had low HDL cholesterol levels. The results establish that atherogenic dyslipoproteinemias are frequent in patients after heart transplantation and suggest that these dyslipoproteinemias, along with rejection, may play a role in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis after transplantation. PMID- 2614547 TI - Interleukin-1-induced myocardial depression in an isolated beating heart preparation. AB - Myocyte necrosis and interstitial edema seen with severe cardiac allograft rejection are probable major contributors to associated cardiac dysfunction. The monokine interleukin-1 (IL-1), although important in recruitment of the immunologic response, stimulates release of a variety of vasoactive compounds, including prostaglandin E2. In addition, IL-1 has been shown to alter protein metabolism in both skeletal and cardiac atrial muscle. IL-1 was infused into the aortas of isolated perfused rat hearts to test the hypothesis that it might directly induce myocardial dysfunction. Heart rate, generated force, creatine phosphokinase release, and lactate production were measured serially. Compared with the control group, there was a significant reduction of force (expressed as percentage of baseline) in the IL-1--treated group (for example 87% +/- 7% versus 77% +/- 11% at 60 minutes, p = 0.016; 65% +/- 11% versus 50% +/- 14% at 180 minutes, p = 0.018). IL-1--treated and control groups did not differ in heart rates, lactate production, or creatine phosphokinase release. In this model, IL-1 produces a depression in myocardial force that does not appear to be due to myocardial cell necrosis or to a change from aerobic to anerobic metabolism. PMID- 2614548 TI - The artificial heart as a bridge to transplant: ethical and legal issues at the bedside. AB - The healthy survival of two thirds of patients who receive the total artificial heart as a bridge to transplant is argument for continued use of this technology. Patient selection, informed consent, and treatment termination are the ethical and legal issues that are important at the bedside. Optimum patient selection requires clinical judgment, appropriate institutional review, and the elimination of socioeconomic barriers to transplant. Informed consent enables the patient to participate in the decision and to consider the question of treatment termination in a personalized fashion. Favorable public perception and successful implementation of this bridge to transplant are linked to the quality of this physician-patient communication. PMID- 2614549 TI - Early graft failure after heart transplantation: management by extracorporeal circulatory assist and retransplantation. AB - Early graft failure represents a serious complication after orthotopic heart transplantation. Various modes of extracorporeal mechanical circulatory assistance, however, allow for "bridging" to heart retransplantation in these instances. We report a case of bridging to heart transplantation by means of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation. After transplantation a right ventricular assist device was required because of early graft failure while the intraaortic balloon pump was left in place. A retransplantation was successful, and 13 months after the operation the patient is in New York Heart Association functional class I. The cause of early graft failure, especially the tendency toward failure of the right ventricle, is not well understood and seems to be multifactorial, which suggests that an elevated pulmonary vascular resistance in the recipient possibly represents a considerable risk factor. Bridging to heart retransplantation with the use of extracorporeal blood pumps can be performed effectively. PMID- 2614550 TI - Heterotopic heart transplantation: current status in 1988. AB - Among the 480 patients who underwent heart transplantation in our institution (since 1968), 40 patients received an allograft in the heterotopic position. The recipients were evaluated by using hemodynamics and Doppler echocardiography before and after surgery. Ten to 30 days after surgery, preoperative pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary artery wedge pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) decreased significantly (p less than 0.005). Cardiac output increased significantly (p less than 0.0001). Postoperative Doppler echocardiography showed that heterotopic hearts had an excellent ejection fraction (mean 73% +/- 11%). No improvement occurred in the left ventricular function of the native heart. Among the factors affecting short-term prognosis of heterotopic heart transplantation (HHT) recipients. PVR seems to be the most important determinant of survival. HHT does not seem to improve the prognosis of patients with elevated PVR. HHT, however, is still indicated in large patients and in emergency situations in which an available donor heart appears unable to support the recipient's circulation if used in the orthotopic position. PMID- 2614551 TI - Left ventricular aneurysm and severe cardiac dysfunction: heart transplantation or aneurysm surgery? AB - We analyzed data from 26 patients with left ventricular aneurysm and severe congestive heart failure to evaluate our selection criteria for aneurysm surgery and heart transplantation. The operative results for patients who underwent aneurysm resection (group A, n = 14) were compared with those of patients who were accepted for heart transplantation (group B, n = 12). All patients were monitored and reinvestigated after surgery. Functional status and left ventricular angiographic and hemodynamic findings were significantly worse in group B than in group A, but with great overlap between the groups. The presence of mitral insufficiency or right ventricular dysfunction (or both), however, was important in our selection for transplantation. Two patients died after aneurysm surgery, whereas one died before heart transplantation. Functional status (p less than 0.004) and left ventricular ejection fraction (p less than 0.05) improved after aneurysm resection, whereas hemodynamic values remained unchanged. Symptoms were relieved (p less than 0.001), and, except for cardiac index, hemodynamic values were normalized in group B. We conclude that the combination of a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 25%, mitral insufficiency, and right ventricular dysfunction favors heart transplantation in patients with left ventricular aneurysm and end-stage heart disease. The lack of donor organs and acceptable results of aneurysmectomy, however, justify conventional surgery even in high-risk patients. PMID- 2614552 TI - Successful heart transplantation in recipients with recent preoperative pulmonary emboli. AB - Acute pulmonary embolus (less than 6 weeks old) has been considered an absolute contraindication to heart transplantation for fear of the potential problems of lung abscess, empyema, bronchopleural fistula, and systemic sepsis in an immunosuppressed patient. It is difficult to adhere to this principle because 30% to 50% of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy may have an acute pulmonary embolus and would be excluded from transplantation. Several centers have considered such patients for heart transplantation if they are young, on maximal medical therapy, and in extremis. The surgical management of the postoperative pulmonary problems can include bronchoscopy, antibiotics, surgical drainage, decortication, and pulmonary resection with or without muscle flaps. We describe our approach to two such patients who were managed successfully with lobectomies and latissimus dorsi muscle flaps to seal the bronchus and fill the pleural space. PMID- 2614553 TI - Pulmonary artery torsion: a potentially lethal complication after orthotopic heart transplantation. AB - We report a case of a young man with acute right ventricular failure immediately after an orthotopic heart transplantation. The clinical presentation suggested acute reactive pulmonary hypertension. Hemodynamic and angiographic data proved it to be an inadvertent pulmonary artery torsion. The clinical hemodynamic and angiographic characteristics of this potentially lethal complication are discussed. PMID- 2614554 TI - Nutrition and the rheumatoid hand patient. AB - The incidence of nutritional depletion in 40 rheumatoid patients and the factors that influence these patients' nutritional status were investigated. More than half of the patients (52.5%) were found to be nutritionally deficient. PMID- 2614555 TI - Twin pregnancy: an appraisal of management options. AB - For term twins, delivery in a referral center is probably not important to survival, but the method of delivery might be, depending upon the development of fetal distress and the immediate availability of cesarean section. PMID- 2614556 TI - Platypnea and orthodeoxia: surgically corrected dyspnea with recurrence. AB - Platypnea is a clinical syndrome of dyspnea worsened by assuming an erect position and is associated with a postural arterial oxygen desaturation known as orthodeoxia. The clinical incidence of this syndrome may be underestimated by its occurrence in the medical literature. Several subgroups have been identified: patients with basal pulmonary vascular shunts; patients with intracardiac shunts, generally atrial, and who often have loss of lung volume; and patients without detectable shunts. Severe congestive heart failure may accentuate an occult shunt. When a patient presents with platypnea and/or orthodeoxia, a careful search should be made for underlying correctable disease such as atrial septal defects. Evaluation should include orthostatic contrast echocardiography, which in skilled hands may obviate the need for invasive cardiac catheterization in diagnosing underlying cardiac defects. Hemodynamic changes with changes in position have been difficult to study, but may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome and, ideally, should be documented to clarify the underlying pathophysiology. PMID- 2614557 TI - Occupational medicine in Oklahoma: hydrofluoric acid dangers. AB - Occupational Medicine is the study of the interaction of workers with their workplace and the workplace's effect on the workers' health. In addition, many workplaces have the potential to affect the community as a whole. Herein is reported a brief case of community-wide exposure to the powerful oxidant, hydrofluoric acid. A discussion of sources and uses of hydrofluoric acid along with emergent care of burn victims is also presented. Even as this paper was being prepared, a second toxic cloud (sulfuric acid) was released in the Tulsa area. Clearly physicians should be aware of potential environmental impacts of occupational hazards. PMID- 2614558 TI - Why have deaths from respiratory distress syndrome/hyaline membrane disease declined? Another view. PMID- 2614559 TI - HIV disease: a perspective from rural medicine. PMID- 2614560 TI - Femoropopliteal bypass; factors influencing long term patency. AB - One hundred and thirty-six patients operated on with femoropopliteal bypass for arterial occlusive disease are retrospectively examined. In 58% of the cases the reversed saphenous vein was used, while 42% had a Dardick Biograft (umbilical vein graft). Patency rate for all grafts was 62.2% at four years. The most important factor for long term patency in our material is the type of graft used. In the saphenous vein group the four years patency rate was 74%, while in the Dardick group 45%. There was no significant difference in patency rate for patients operated on for claudication and those for limb salvage. We found a significantly lower patency rate when the distal anastomosis was placed below the knee. Patients with good arteriographic runoff had better long term patency. The difference was, however, not significant for the prosthetic group. The perioperative mortality was 1.4%. Early graft failure was 4.8% in the autologous vein group and 33% in the umbilical vein group. The majority of amputations occurred in patients with early failure of umbilical vein grafts. PMID- 2614561 TI - [Audiological study for ears with aural stenosis and atresia]. AB - The audiological study for ears with aural stenosis and atresia was performed. The hearing level of ears with three types of ear plugs (with the hole of phi 1mm, with the hole of phi 3mm and without the hole) was tested experimentally by 10 normal hearing subjects in pure tone audiometry, and the audiograms of congenital and acquired aural stenosis and atresia were investigated statistically. And then following results were obtained. 1) The air conduction levels were higher, as the diameter of ear plug's hole got shorter in normal hearing subjects. And the shape of their audiograms was gradual sloping type. 2) The air conduction levels of ears with congenital aural stenosis and atresia were almost from 60 to 70 dB, and the levels were almost same throughout 7 frequencies. But the audiograms of ears with acquired aural stenosis and atresia showed conductive and gradual sloping type. 3) From the results mentioned above, the reason why the hearing loss of ears with aural stenosis and atresia showed conductive hearing loss limited to low and middle frequencies was considered to depend on the abnormality of the middle ear. 4) An average value of hearing threshold level in bone conduction among normal hearing subjects with three types of ear plugs was almost -7.8dB. There was no relation between the size of ear plug's hole and the shift of bone conduction level. PMID- 2614562 TI - [Bacteriological investigation of the pre- and postoperative transition of the pharyngeal flora in the patients received tonsillectomy]. AB - Several investigations have been reported on the interactive relation between the normal flora and the pathogenic micro-organisms in the human upper respiratory tracts (Thompson, Sanders, etc). It has also been known that some alpha streptococci have inhibitory effect on the growth of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. A study upon the role of alpha-streptococci in the throat (tonsil and pharynx) was performed using 73 culture specimens (throat swabs) obtained from 42 patients. Forty-four specimens were taken from the patients who received tonsillectomy, pre- and postoperatively, and 29 were from the patients who did not receive the operation. In the group of patients who received tonsillectomy, alpha-streptococci with inhibitory effect on the growth of group A beta streptococci were detected less frequently preoperatively, when compared with the patients without tonsillectomy. On the other hand, postoperatively, marked increase of alpha-streptococci of these types was found in the normal flora of the throat. However, further detailed study on this subject is necessary because of the exceptional results in our observations. PMID- 2614563 TI - [Electron microscopic study of glycoconjugate in nasal mucosa of nasal allergy by lectin histochemistry]. AB - Glycoconjugates in glandular and goblet cells of nasal mucosa were compared between normal and nasal allergy by using various horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated lectins; WGA, PNA, UEA-I and RCA-I. Specific sugar residues of glycoconjugates could be identified under electron microscope. Golgi's complex of the serous secretory cells in nasal allergic mucosa had positive staining in UEA I. Goblet cells of nasal allergic mucosa were stained strongly in PNA, compared to normal mucosa, however, they were stained weakly in WGA. In conclusion, glycoconjugates in glandular and goblet cells seem to be changed in nasal allergy. PMID- 2614564 TI - [Electron microscopic study of intercellular junction in nasal mucosa of nasal allergy by lectin histochemistry]. AB - To explain of the mechanism of the enhanced nasal epithelial permeability to HRP in patients with nasal allergy, the inferior turbinate mucosa was removed from 6 normal adults and 7 adults with nasal allergy. Difference of the fine structure of the intercellular junction was compared between normal mucosa and mucosa of nasal allergy by electron microscope. Staining pattern of four kinds of HRP conjugated lectin (HRP-WGA, PNA, UEA-I and RCA-I) was also studied by electron microscope. There was no significant difference in the intercellular space of the mucosa between the normal mucosa and mucosa of nasal allergy. In the epithelial cell membrane, pattern of HRP-lectin staining was almost similar in both groups. In normal nasal epithelium, the intercellular junction consisted of junctional complex; adherent junction, desmosome and gap junction. The intercellular space was approximately 150-250 A in width. The tight junction was located beneath the luminal surface of the epithelium, and belt-like continuation connecting the adjacent cells. It was concluded that enhanced permeability to HRP in nasal allergy was not morphologic changes of the intercellular junction and component and distribution of the glycoconjugates in epithelial cellular membrane, but this may be based on functional changes. PMID- 2614565 TI - [Experimental study of vibration analysis in middle ear models by holographic interferometry. Effects of the cross-sectioned area of aditus on the vibration of tympanic membrane]. AB - To aid in the establishment of optimum conditions for postoperative function of the tympanic membrane, a model of the middle ear was experimentally prepared, the cross-sectioned area of aditus ad antrum was altered and the effects on the tympanic membrane vibrational characteristics were observed using the holographic interference method. The following results were obtained. 1) At the low frequencies below 2 kHz, the vibration mode of tympanic membrane was concentric on the whole, but the vibration pattern became fractionated at 4 kHz and above. The frequency of onset of the fractionated vibration pattern was changed only by the conditions of the membrane itself and was not affected much by the sound pressure, the volume of the middle ear cavity and the cross-sectioned area of aditus ad antrum. 2) There were resonance and anti-resonance points in the tympanic vibration pattern. These resonance and anti-resonance frequencies became higher as the diameter of aditus increased until eventually a constant value was reached. At diameters in excess of this constant value, the resonance frequency tended to fall and the anti-resonance frequency tended to rise. 3) The tympanic vibration in the middle ear cavity was not influenced very much by the diameter of aditus at 250Hz. Vibration decreased when aditus was blocked at 500Hz and the opening diameter had a major influence at 1kHz. Vibration was maximum at a diameter of about 2mm and a minimum when aditus was blocked. At 2 to 3kHz, the effects on vibration increased when aditus was blocked. 4) When aditus ad antrum was blocked, the vibration frequency characteristics of tympanic membrane deteriorated at under 1kHz and improved at 2 to 3kHz. When a comparison was made between the case with opened aditus, (which was considered to be equivalent to the closed method of tympano-plasty), and the case with closed aditus, (considered to be equivalent to the open method), the vibration frequency characteristics of the tympanic membrane improved in the low sound region up to 2kHz when the diameter was 4mm. PMID- 2614566 TI - [Objective examination of taste in man by measuring gustatory evoked potentials]. AB - Taste is an indispensable sense as well as olfaction to spend a tasteful life. The objective method of examining taste has not yet been established. Previous attempts to get gustatory evoked potentials (GEPs) in men and animals failed by contaminating artifacts. Solving this problem, the following developments were done. 1) Avoiding tactile artifacts, the tongue was rinsed constantly with distilled water. 2) By recording and averaging the galvanic skin response (GSR) at the same time, its influence on GEPs was compensated. 3) For proper averaging by computer, conditions of precise onset, duration of stimulus, the shortest stimulus rise and fall times were fulfilled by magnetic valve system. The new gustometer is expected to be one of the standard objective methods of examining taste in clinical practice. PMID- 2614567 TI - [Afferent projections to the uvula in the cat. I. Climbing fiber projections]. AB - The inferior olive afferents to the cerebellar uvula were studied by means of retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the cat. Following large and small injections of HRP into the uvula, the distributions of labeled cells in the inferior olive were investigated. As to the climbing fiber projection, it is revealed that there are six longitudinal parasagittal zone extending throughout the dorsal and ventral uvula. That is, the caudal aspect of the nucleus beta projects to a most medially oriented zone (caudal beta zone), the rostral aspect of the nucleus beta projects to a zone (rostral beta zone) oriented lateral to the caudal beta zone, the caudal aspect of the medial accessory olive (MAO) projects to a zone oriented lateral to the rostral beta zone, the dorsomedial cell column projects to a zone (dorsomedial cell column zone) oriented in the intermediate part of the uvula, the ventral lamella of the principal olive (vlPO) projects to a more lateral zone (vlPO zone), and the rostral aspect of the MAO projects to the most lateral zone (rostral MAO zone). PMID- 2614568 TI - [Afferent projections to the uvula in the cat. II. Mossy fiber projections]. AB - The mossy fiber projections to the uvula of the cerebellum were studied by means of retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the cat. Following large and small injections into the uvula, distribution of the labeled cells in the brainstem nuclei was investigated. The results showed different afferent projections between the dorsal and ventral uvula. Major sources projecting to the dorsal uvula were the peduncular, paramedian, and lateral nuclei of the pontine nuclei. Labeled cells found in the pontine nuclei amounted to 81.6% of the total number of labeled cells in cat 1. On the other hand, major sources projecting to the ventral uvula were the caudal aspect of the medial and inferior vestibular nuclei, the x- and f-groups of the vestibular nuclei, the dorsal and central aspect of the superior vestibular nucleus, the rostral dorsomedial aspect of the paramedian nucleus of the pontine nuclei, the caudal aspect of the prepositus hypoglossal nucleus, and the infratrigeminal nucleus. Labeled cells in the vestibular nuclei amounted to 72.1% of the total number of the labeled cells in the cat 40. It was revealed that the lateral aspect of the ventral uvula receives inputs from the pontine nuclei, whereas the medial part of the ventral uvula receives inputs from the vestibular nuclei. Mediolateral differences were not found in the dorsal uvula. These mossy fiber zones were mediolaterally wide, and the dorsal uvula was different from the ventral uvula with regard to mossy fiber projection. PMID- 2614569 TI - [A study of the predispositions of vertiginous patients--psychological states and courses of vertigo and equilibrium disorders]. AB - A questionnaire was mailed to 120 vertiginous patients who had taken either the CMI or the Y-G psychological test over one year ago. Of the 120 patients, 106 answered the questionnaire. They were classified into two groups of emotional instability, group A and group B, according to the results of the test. The subjective improvement rate of group A was 71.9 percent, worse than that of group B. This shows that the patients in group A displayed a tendency to continuously being receive stronger treatment than those in group B. The subjective improvement rate of group B was 90.5 percent, and better than that of group A. But the patients in group B showed no tendency toward vertigo attacks that were milder than those of the patients in group A. Therefore the patients in group B were satisfied by the decrease of the frequency of vertigo attacks. The results suggest that it is highly important to consider the psychological aspects of the patients in group A. PMID- 2614570 TI - [Clinical evaluation of a new hand-held impedance audiometer]. AB - In order to evaluate the accuracy and clinical availability of MicroTymp (Welch Allyn) which was new, portable, cordless, and hand-held impedance audiometer, 64 normal subjects and 52 patients with otitis media with effusion were examined by use of MicroTymp and Amplaid 702 (Dana Japan). The types of tympanogram were agreed with each other in 87% of ears. Six cases of type C tympanograms in MicroTymp were shown to be type A by Amplaid 702, and the average of peak pressure of MicroTymp was more negative than Amplaid 702. The difference of peak pressure seemed to be influenced by the speed of ear canal pressure change, because the speed of MicroTymp was considerably higher than Amplaid 702; 200mmH2O/sec in MicroTymp, and -50mmH2O/sec in Amplaid 702. In the experimental study on 7 normal ears, negative shift of peak pressure was observed by increasing the rate of ear canal pressure change from -25mmH2O/sec to 50mmH2O/sec in Amplaid 702. These findings suggest that one should note in the judgment of type C tympanogram in MicroTymp having the peak pressure close to 100mmH2O. PMID- 2614571 TI - CA 72-4 radioimmunoassay for the detection of the TAG-72 carcinoma-associated antigen in serum of patients. AB - Monoclonal antibody (MAb)B72.3 has been used to detect the presence of TAG-72 in the serum of carcinoma patients. We have developed new anti-TAG-72 MAbs and have selected one of these, CC49, as the "catcher" MAb with 125I-B72.3 as the detecting antibody in a double-determinant immunoradiometric assay. This combination enabled the development of a sequential assay (designated CA 72-4) that showed optimal quantitative properties as demonstrated by such parameters as linear dose-response, high re-producibility, and lack of serum-matrix and "hook back" effects. Only 3.5% of 744 normal sera and 6.7% of 134 sera from patients with benign gastrointestinal diseases had TAG-72 levels greater than 6 U/ml. Approximately 40% of 303 patients with gastrointestinal malignancies had serum TAG-72 levels of greater than 6 U/ml (55% of the patients with advanced disease). Thirty-six percent of patients with adenocarcinomas of the lung and 24% of patients with ovarian cancer (53% stage IV patients) also had elevated serum TAG 72 levels. A poor correlation was found between the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and TAG-72 values of sera obtained from gastric cancer patients. Thirty four percent of CEA negative cases were scored positive in the CA 72-4 assay, suggesting the complementarity of the CA 72-4 assay to CEA assays in the analysis of sera from patients with certain malignancies. PMID- 2614572 TI - Investigation of the relationship between gastric antral inflammation and Campylobacter pylori using graphic tablet planimetry. AB - Gastric antral endoscopic pinch biopsies from a group of dyspeptic patients were analysed for acute and chronic inflammatory cell numbers in the lamina propria and surface epithelial layer using computer-linked graphic tablet planimetry, and independently graded for Campylobacter pylori (CP) infection using a visual scoring system with grade 1 assessed as patchy epithelial infection and grade 2 as a continuous layer of organisms on the mucosal surface extending into gastric pits. The study group consisted of 36 patients (18 duodenitis; 18 non-ulcer dyspepsia). Within the 140 biopsies analysed, grade 1 and 2 biopsies had significantly higher acute and chronic inflammatory cell counts than CP-negative biopsies (grade 0) in lamina and surface epithelium (P less than 0.001). Acute inflammatory cell counts were significantly higher in the surface epithelium in grade 1 (P less than 0.05) and grade 2 biopsies (P less than 0.001) but chronic inflammatory cells were only higher in grade 1 (P less than 0.01). No significant differences were present between grade 1 and grade 2 biopsies for any parameter. This study confirms that highly significant quantitative differences in the inflammatory status are related to the presence of CP. PMID- 2614573 TI - Histological analysis and the pathogenesis of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. AB - A series of over 400 well-documented biopsies of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis was evaluated to elucidate the histological processes associated with the elimination of parasites, and their correlation with the course of the disease. Non-specific inflammation was the most frequent and least effective response; its onset might be delayed, and in this event particularly the incidence of metastasis from skin to mucosa was high. Lysis of parasite-laden macrophages appeared to be the basic mechanism of parasite reduction, even when it was not overt. When it was acute the onset was usually rapid, and though it resulted in much tissue destruction the prognosis was generally better and mucosal metastasis rare. Lysis and non specific inflammation both led to the formation of a post-necrotic type of granuloma, but reversion of the process was almost as common as progression. Ultimately a tuberculoid granuloma evolved and proceeded to resolution. In about 5 per cent of cases, macrophage activation appeared to bring about early resolution; neither reversion nor mucosal metastasis was seen. PMID- 2614574 TI - High endothelial-like venules in chronically inflamed periodontal tissues exchange polymorphs. AB - A survey of 58 gingival biopsies revealed the presence of periodontal high endothelial-like venules (PHELVs) in chronically inflamed gingival tissues. PHELVs were found to exchange polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) almost exclusively in advanced periodontitis, with PMNs greatly exceeding the number of mononuclear cells found in PHELVs (P less than 0.001). Electron microscopy confirmed the emigration of PMNs from these vessels. The enzyme histochemical and ultrastructural features as well as the 35SO4 uptake properties of PHELVs were similar to those of the well-characterized high endothelial venules (HEVs) of rat lymph nodes. It is generally accepted that HEVs in lymphoid tissues and inflammatory sites are specially adapted to assist in the emigration of lymphocytes. However, the observation of preferential PMN emigration in the apparent absence of lymphocyte exchange from PHELVs compels further investigation of other possible functions for HEVs. In relation to this, endothelial cells are capable of producing potent cytokines and inflammatory mediators which may contribute to the development of lesions, and the possibility is discussed that high endothelial cells are functionally adapted to enhance the production of such factors. PMID- 2614575 TI - Histological appearances of the long saphenous vein. AB - The long saphenous vein is frequently used as a graft in both coronary artery and femoro-distal bypass surgery. The histological changes which are seen after implantation into the arterial system have been well documented in the past, but little attention has been focused on the histological appearances of the donor long saphenous vein prior to grafting. In this study, samples of the long saphenous vein in excess of that required for bypass have been examined. In none of the veins did the histological appearances conform to the described normal. All showed evidence of intimal fibrosis which contained elastic tissue and enmeshed smooth muscle cells. The longitudinal and circular muscle layers showed evidence of muscle cell hypertrophy with increase in intervening connective tissue. Elsewhere, similar histological changes have been attributed to 'arterialization'. This study shows that many of the changes are present prior to grafting and may be important in graft failure. PMID- 2614576 TI - Histometric studies on biopsies of tuberculin skin tests showing evidence of ischaemia and necrosis. AB - In a study of tuberculin skin tests in 216 consecutive untreated pulmonary tuberculosis patients, one showed central necrosis at 48 h: there was no effective blood flow at the centre of this lesion, but the periphery was markedly hyperaemic. Many dermal capillaries and venules contained deposits of fibrin, but none was occluded completely: the surviving cells in the dermal infiltrate were almost all macrophages. Five patients with strongly positive reactions at 48 h showed slower blood flow at the centre of the reaction than at the periphery (central relative slowing, CRS), possibly indicating central ischaemia short of necrosis: no fibrin deposits were seen in the dermal vessels of these skin test sites. The cellular infiltrate in the dermis was similar in distribution, but more abundant than that seen in uncomplicated positive reactions of comparable clinical size and with blood flow velocity maximal at the centre. At 48 h, lymphocytes were more numerous than macrophages in both groups, CD8 lymphocytes were more abundant in CRS reactions, but CD4 and CD25 (activated) T-lymphocytes and macrophages had a similar density in both groups. Epidermal CD1 cells were less frequent in CRS reactions than in uncomplicated positive reactions. Although CRS reactions showed more intense inflammation than the uncomplicated controls, none of the histometric measurements correlated with the extent of CRS. Follow-up studies showed that CRS reactions reverted to a normal hyperaemic blood flow pattern 5 days after antigen injection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614577 TI - Adriamycin-induced DNA strand breaks in HeLa and in P388 leukaemia cells detected using in situ nick translation. AB - DNA strand breaks produced by adriamycin (ADR) were measured in HeLa cells and ADR-sensitive and -resistant P388 leukaemia cells, using the in situ nick translation method. The break sites in the DNA were translated artificially in the presence of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I and 3H-labelled dTTP, and were visualized by autoradiographic observation of the grains. The DNA strand breaks in the HeLa cells increased in a dose-dependent manner, compared with findings in the untreated control cells, i.e., 15.2 fold at 20 micrograms/ml of ADR for 1 h. This level correlated with DNA single-strand breaks detected by the alkaline elution method. DNA breaks were also noted in the ADR-sensitive P388 cells, but in the ADR-resistant cells the level of DNA strand breaks was low. The enhanced cytotoxicity is apparently the consequence of the enhanced potential of ADR to cause breaks in the DNA strands. Our findings show that the survival response of the cells decreases and the level of DNA strand breaks increases following exposure to ADR. ADR resistance may be mediated by a reduction in the level of DNA strand breaks. PMID- 2614578 TI - Intestinal pathology following intramuscular ricin poisoning. AB - Within the gut, intramuscular ricin poisoning results in major pathological changes. Immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy illustrate that these changes appear confined to the small intestine, the stomach and large intestine remaining virtually unaffected. These changes include apoptosis crypt and mucosal epithelial cells, hydropic change in enterocytes, infiltration of large numbers of plasma cells into the lamina propria, subsequent apoptosis of many of the plasma cells, and the appearance within the lamina propria of highly active macrophages. Of these changes, greatest significance is attached to the infiltration and apoptosis of large numbers of plasma cells. This is not a common pathological feature within the gastro-intestinal tract, and may prove to be specifically diagnostic for ricin or a group of toxins having structurally similar characteristics. In this study, the toxin was administered by intramuscular injection and not orally; considering this mode of administration, damage to the small intestine was far more severe than might perhaps be expected. The intensity of cellular infiltration within the lamina propria is especially interesting, as it appears to be more analogous to a local immune response triggered by an oral toxin rather than one administered by an intramuscular route. PMID- 2614579 TI - Endotoxaemia and hepatic injury in obstructive jaundice. AB - To examine whether endotoxaemia contributes to the development of bile infarction and whether obstructive jaundice enhances endotoxin hepatotoxicity, the present study was undertaken in rats. The development of bile infarction and the elevation of serum transaminase activities in rats following ligation of the common bile duct were not prevented by administration of polymyxin B, neomycin, or lactulose, which have anti-endotoxin properties. Moreover, the morphological and functional changes in obstructive jaundice were not enhanced by administration of endotoxin. These data indicate that endotoxaemia does not contribute to the development of bile infarction. On the other hand, the administration of a small dose of endotoxin to rats with biliary obstruction--a dose which does not induce abnormalities of liver function tests or any morphological changes in the liver in non-jaundiced rats--led to focal hepatocellular coagulative necrosis and elevation of serum transaminase levels. These data indicate that endotoxin-induced hepatic injury is potentiated in obstructive jaundice. PMID- 2614580 TI - General pathology teaching at the University of Washington. AB - I have provided a brief overview of our experience teaching undergraduate general pathology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Our course is part of a pathology curriculum that is somewhat unusual in light of the amount of time we devote to general, as opposed to organ system pathology. We think this makes sense in relation to the way medical teaching and practice are changing. Resources and curriculum time needed to teach an extensive, morphology-based organ system pathology curriculum are no longer available. In addition, experimental biology and medicine are beginning to improve the way human diseases are diagnosed and treated. Many of these advances are the result of new information on disease aetiology and pathogenesis. Students and practitioners of medicine need an understanding of disease processes that will allow them to rapidly assimilate and rationally apply this new information. The particular strengths of our course, as we view them, are an opportunity to discuss the small number of processes that underlie most human disease in some depth, and thus to emphasize general pathology as a conceptual and practical foundation for the practice of medicine; our laboratory sessions, which in a sense illustrate and summarize the course; and early placement of the course in the curriculum, which allows us to capitalize on concurrent basic science courses and a high level of interest among students in applying basic science knowledge to understanding human disease. Problems we face include the need for more 'active' learning exercises in the lecture and laboratory format we are bound to; the need, given the scope of general pathology, to present more 'take home messages' and fewer systematic reviews of evidence than we would like; the limited clinical knowledge of first year students, which restricts the scope of our laboratory and disease example presentations; and an inability to consistently challenge the abilities of the best students in each class. Organizing and teaching the course described above has been in large part satisfying and stimulating. I hope this overview has provided useful ideas for others teaching or contemplating courses in general pathology. PMID- 2614581 TI - Perinatal bereavement support service: three-year review. AB - Perinatal loss and grief have been recognized as a special form of loss in the last ten years. Perinatal death includes miscarriage, therapeutic abortion, stillbirth, and infant death shortly after birth. Acknowledgement of the death and support to mourn their loss by significant others promotes resolution of this bereavement. If perinatal bereavement is not resolved, one-quarter to one-third of mothers may go on to develop a clinical depression. A multidisciplinary Perinatal Support Service is in place at Women's College Hospital to provide grief counselling to the mother and her family who have experienced a stillbirth or neonatal loss. The service has a direct link to the community through the Public Health Nurse on the obstetrical service. A review of three years reveals a high rate of referral by the attending physician and obstetrical nurse. PMID- 2614582 TI - Reflections on palliative care: a "trouble case". PMID- 2614583 TI - Arts activities in United Kingdom hospices. A report. PMID- 2614584 TI - We and our elderly. PMID- 2614585 TI - The community hospice doctor in Perth, Western Australia. PMID- 2614586 TI - Call for clinical trial participants. PMID- 2614587 TI - The first international conference on the Palliative Care of the Elderly: an overview. AB - The effort to examine and improve palliative care for the elderly is actively joined. In Europe, Scandinavia, and North America, at least, issues are slowly being examined in clinical research. The response to the conference was enthusiastic, and new information emerged, for example: British Columbia's "Levels of Intervention" guidelines, Dr Doyle's description of new developments in Geriatric and Palliative Care training and service in the United Kingdom, Dr Triau et al's (Psychogeriatric Nursing Home, Leuven, Belgium) normalization model of care for dementia, and Dr Rory Fisher's argument that instead of using negative DNR orders in palliative care we should instead take a positive approach of specifying what palliative care can provide. Palliative care is not "no treatment;" increasingly we are able to be concrete and specific in our ability to prescribe a range of measures to ensure that our dying elderly die in comfort and without medical, legal, or social intrusion. PMID- 2614588 TI - The elderly and palliative care. PMID- 2614589 TI - The departmental approach to palliative care of hospitalized elderly: a comparative retrospective review over 15 years. PMID- 2614590 TI - Methodologic issues in palliative care psychosocial research. AB - The conduct of psychosocial research with palliative care patients or staff presents a major investigative challenge. The fragility of patients and their physical or cognitive limitations severely curtail the types of studies that are possible and the research methods that can be applied. A major limitation is that randomization, a critical experimental design feature, is rarely possible or ethical as a means of evaluating palliative care. However, even given the practical limitations of constructing a randomized experimental design, methodologically acceptable studies are possible, and methodologically inappropriate approaches can be avoided. Case reports (anecdotal studies) produce data that cannot be generalized to other patients. Single-test, no control group studies should be avoided for similar reasons. Acceptable research techniques that are feasible in the palliative care setting are renewed: careful research questions and associated hypotheses; determining appropriate sample sizes; developing comparison groups; selecting and evaluating an appropriate interview guide or questionnaire; avoiding interviewing bias, and so on. Moreover, it is necessary for the professional standing of palliative care that the exchange of information between palliative care staff and other health professionals be based upon scientifically sound studies. PMID- 2614591 TI - Dyspnea management: "to take into the air my quiet breath". PMID- 2614592 TI - The treatment of pain in the elderly patient. The use of oral morphine in the treatment of pain. AB - These reports concern 117 elderly patients suffering from cancerous pain and demonstrate the efficacy of oral morphine treatment, more often associated with adjuvants. The score relief is good. The frequent side effects have been in the most cases rapidly controlled by appropriate measures. Being old is not an obstacle for a safe and efficient analgesic treatment. The useful dosage of morphine, the scores of relief, and the frequency of side effects are comparable to those observed in non-geriatric groups. PMID- 2614593 TI - Sense and non-sense of a technological health care model in terminally ill demented patients. PMID- 2614594 TI - Gastrointestinal helminths and protozoa from two raccoon populations in Kansas. AB - A survey in Kansas compared the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths and protozoa in 2 raccoon (Procyon lotor) populations; a population in a typical rural setting and a relatively undisturbed population on a military reservation. Gastrointestinal tracts of 128 raccoons were examined. Freeze storage of alimentary tracts prevented collection of data on trematode prevalence. Helminth infections other than trematodes included 1 acanthocephalan, 2 cestodes, and 3 nematodes. Helminths were found in all raccoons from the population on the military installation and 96% of those from the rural population. Prevalence of helminths was generally greater in raccoons from the population living in the rural setting. Eimeria spp. and Sarcocystis sp. were also found, whereas Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium parvum were not. PMID- 2614595 TI - Nature of the trypanocidal factor in human serum. AB - The chemical nature of the trypanocidal factor in human serum was investigated. The results show that although the trypanocidal factor is contained within the high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction of human serum, it is apparently not one of the major apolipoproteins of the HDL complex such as apolipoprotein A-I, A-II, or apolipoprotein B. The factor would appear to be a minor component of the HDL fraction whose chemical nature is still uncertain. PMID- 2614596 TI - Infection of the Chinese hamster with Trichinella pseudospiralis. AB - A mean of 2,862 muscle larvae was recovered on day 45 postinfection (PI) from the total body musculature of Chinese hamsters infected with 498 Trichinella pseudospiralis. Infection of the Chinese hamster with 494 Trichinella spiralis resulted in recovery of a mean of 225 muscle larvae on day 45 PI. The reproductive capacity index for T. pseudospiralis was 5.74, whereas that for T. spiralis was 0.46 in this host species. PMID- 2614597 TI - Characterization of excretory-secretory proteins synthesized in vitro by Schistosoma mansoni primary sporocysts. AB - Excretory-secretory (E-S) products released by larval schistosomes have been implicated in the interference of host snail defense systems. Because of the potentially important role that E-S products play in the parasite-host relationship, total and newly synthesized E-S proteins from in vitro-cultured Schistosoma mansoni primary sporocysts were characterized using incorporation of [35S]methionine followed by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and fluorography. Total E-S protein decreased more than 5-fold from day 1 to day 3 of culture and remained constant until day 8 when protein concentrations began to increase. Release of newly synthesized protein, however, increased from day 1 through day 8. Both silver staining and fluorography of SDS-PAGE-separated E-S products revealed a wide variety of polypeptides ranging in Mr from 13 to greater than 200 kDa. The dynamics of the release of individual polypeptides, both total and newly synthesized, varied over time. Although certain polypeptides decreased in concentration, others remained constant or increased with time in culture. Culture conditions were found to be important for sporocyst viability and growth, and for release of newly synthesized proteins. Sporocysts cultured in medium containing fetal bovine serum (complete) grew significantly larger and had a significantly greater viability than did sporocysts cultured in medium lacking serum (incomplete). Also, sporocysts cultured in complete medium synthesized and released significantly more protein than did sporocysts cultured in incomplete medium. These sporocysts continued to produce a 54-kDa polypeptide, whereas sporocysts in incomplete medium stopped producing this protein by day 3 of culture. The present study has shown that S. mansoni primary sporocysts, cultured in vitro, synthesize and secrete a wide variety of glycoproteins and that the type and quantity of glycoproteins released are dependent on culture conditions. PMID- 2614598 TI - Two new nematodes from the Iriomote cat, Prionailurus iriomotensis, from Okinawa: Uncinaria (Uncinaria) maya n. sp. (Ancylostomatoidea) and Molineus springsmithi yayeyamanus n. subsp. (Trichostrongyloidea). AB - Uncinaria (Uncinaria) maya n. sp. (Nematoda: Ancylostomatidae) and Molineus springsmithi yayeyamanus n. subsp. (Nematoda: Molineidae) are described from the Iriomote cat, Prionailurus iriomotensis, on Iriomote Island, Okinawa, Japan. Uncinaria (U.) maya resembles Uncinaria (Uncinaria) felidis Maplestone, 1939, from Prionailurus bengalensis of India but is distinguished in that the body is much smaller, the ventral rays are set closely with the lateral rays, and the externolateral ray is much shorter than other laterals. Molineus springsmithi yayeyamanus differs from Molineus springsmithi springsmithi Inglis and Ogden, 1965, from Prionailurus bengalensis horsfieldi of East Nepal in that the body is much longer, whereas the esophagus is somewhat shorter and the spicules are divided more distally. Presence of the closely related nematodes in both the Iriomote cat and P. bengalensis suggests a close evolutionary relationship of the 2 hosts. PMID- 2614599 TI - Prevalence of patent Baylisascaris procyonis infection in raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Ithaca, New York. AB - The prevalence of patent Baylisascaris procyonis infection in raccoons was determined by examining fecal samples collected between July 1986 and May 1987 in Ithaca, New York. September, October, and November had the highest prevalence of infection (35-48%). Significant differences (P less than 0.001) were found when months were grouped by season to test the hypothesis that a fecal sample's probability of being positive does not vary from month to month. Fall was the season contributing most to the overall chi-square statistic. Host sex/age class and prevalence of patent infection were investigated. The raccoons were aged as either juveniles or adults. A significantly higher prevalence of patent infection (P less than 0.001) was found in juveniles when compared to adults. No statistically significant difference was found in other comparisons of host sex and age. Contingency analysis tested the independence of sex/age class/season and presence of eggs. The results of the test were significant (P less than 0.001). PMID- 2614600 TI - Helminth position within the intestine of naturally infected pike (Esox lucius) relative to host stomach contents. AB - The positions of 3 cestode species, Triaenophorus crassus Forel, Triaenophorus nodulosus (Pallas), and Proteocephalus pinguis LaRue, and a nematode, Raphidascaris acus (Bloch), within the intestine of naturally infected pike (Esox lucius L.) were evaluated with respect to the presence or absence and state of digestion of host stomach contents. The positions of scolices and strobilae of the cestodes did not vary with respect to host stomach contents. By contrast, R. acus was anterior (near the stomach) when the stomach contained partially digested items, posterior when the stomach was empty, and in an intermediate position when the stomach contained only intact items. These results are interpreted as migration of R. acus, but not T. crassus, T. nodulosus, or P. pinguis, in response to feeding activity of the host. Adult and larval R. acus migrated, but the extent of migration was reduced in hosts harboring T. crassus, more so for larval than adult R. acus. PMID- 2614601 TI - Host-parasite interface of Paratenuisentis ambiguus (Eoacanthocephala) in naturally infected eel and in laboratory-infected sticklebacks and juvenile carp and rainbow trout. AB - Paratenuisentis ambiguus is described from natural infections in adult eels and from laboratory infections in sticklebacks and juvenile carp and rainbow trout. In captured eels, female worms kept reproducing in the laboratory for at least 1 mo. In the 3 small laboratory hosts female worms did not release eggs and longevity did not exceed 3-30 days. It is concluded that the small fishes were unsuitable final hosts. Worm penetration into the intestinal wall of all hosts was shallow. Thus, the small fishes also proved to be unsuitable paratenic hosts. The worms ruptured the intestinal mucosa and the underlying tunica propria and they often seemed to change their sites of attachment. The proboscides carried an osmiophilic surface coat that seemed to be supported by liquid drops from necrotic host tissue and by osmiophilic material apparently discharged from pores in the worm's proboscis hooks. The coat contained lipids, polysaccharides, and/or proteoglycans and likely other substances. Around the hooks the proboscis tegument harbored conspicuous cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum as is typical for cells with secretory function. Mostly, the worms were found with semi invaginated proboscides. The resulting cavity inside the proboscis seemed to collect lipids and other remnants of host cells from the lesions caused by the worms. Whether the apical hollow might function as a gastric cavity is discussed. PMID- 2614602 TI - Conventional Giemsa-stained and C-banded chromosomes of seven strains of Schistosoma mansoni. AB - Karyotypes stained with conventional Giemsa and with a C-banding method were compared among 7 strains of Schistosoma mansoni: 2 from Puerto Rico and 1 each from St. Lucia, Brazil, Venezuela, Egypt, and Kenya. A few differences were noted in relative lengths and centromeric indexes, but overall karyotypes of all strains were similar, with 2n = 16. The W chromosome of the female of all strains had a relatively large heterochromatic block, distinguishing the female from the male karyotype. PMID- 2614603 TI - Ultrastructural evidence for the destruction of Schistosoma mansoni sporocysts associated with elevated lysosomal enzyme levels in Biomphalaria glabrata. AB - The activity levels of serum acid phosphtase, aminopeptidase, and lysozyme in a Brazilian strain of Biomphalaria glabrata were ascertained at 1, 2, and 3 hr after mechanical wounding or injection with albumin on the 30th day postexposure to a compatible strain of Schistosoma mansoni miracidia and found to be elevated. Parallel transmission electron microscope studies on daughter sporocysts and developing cercariae at these time intervals revealed progressive disintegration of the parasites that was associated with increased numbers of host granulocytes abutting the sporocyst surfaces. Furthermore, host granulocytes were observed to have passed through eroded sporocyst walls and attacked developing cercarial embryos. It is proposed that the elevated levels of lysosomal hydrolases released from activated host granulocytes as a result of challenge altered the parasite's surfaces so that these were recognized as nonself. Consequently, additional host granulocytic response, which included additional release of lysosomal enzymes into serum as well as phagocytosis of remnants of both sporocysts and developing cercariae, was elicited. PMID- 2614604 TI - Course of infection and humoral response to Leishmania major in inbred Meriones unguiculatus. AB - Numerous species of Meriones have been incriminated as natural reservoir hosts of Leishmania major in Mongolia, Soviet Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and North Africa. However, little is known about the immunological response or course of infection in these small rodents. In this study, 40 commercially obtained inbred Meriones unguiculatus were divided into equal groups and injected in the right hind footpad with various doses of L. major promastigotes or with medium only. At regular intervals, blood was collected from the animals for subsequent evaluation of the kinetics of anti-L. major serum antibody production. Footpad lesions were measured periodically for 13 wk, beginning just before infection. The humoral response to infection and the course and severity of disease were dose related. However, metastasis lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and secondary cutaneous sites occurred at each of the doses tested. PMID- 2614605 TI - Immune suppression induced by the brown ear tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann, 1901. AB - The brown ear tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus suppressed in vivo and in vitro immune responses in the rabbit. Humoral responses were suppressed during infestation; however, suppression was transient and was unrelated to previous exposure of hosts to similar tick infestations. Immune suppression was caused by putative lymphocytotoxic factor(s) in tick salivary secretions as evidenced by in vitro lymphocytotoxicity assays. In an identical study of Rhipicephalus zambeziensis, a closely related rhipicephalid, the immune response was not suppressed, indicating that immune suppression is not common to the genus Rhipicephalus. PMID- 2614606 TI - Dipetalonema vitae: survival of adult females and microfilarial release in both a chemically defined and serum-supplemented medium. AB - Studies were conducted on survival and microfilarial release of afult Dipetalonema viteae in culture, using worms of various ages derived from jirds. In chemically defined NI medium (a 1:1 mixture of NCTC 135 and Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium) under a gas phase of 5% CO2 in nitrogen (pO2 of medium approximately 40 mm Hg), the peak of microfilarial release of several thougsand microfilariae per female per 24 hr occurred at approximately day 10. Thereafter, microfilarial release declined and generally ended about 1 mo after the start of culture. The adult females moved actively for about 50 days or more and survived up to 82 days in NI medium alone. The females in NI medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum showed serpentine movement for approximately 2 mo. Some of the worms survived more than 83 days. The total number of microfilariae deposited in culture by D. viteae increased as adult females grew in size (volume) over time. Microfilarial deposition continued to increase after worms reached maximum size, deposition reaching a plateau between approximately 300 and 400 days of age. Thereafter, microfilarial deposition decreased as females continued to age. Addition of fetal bovine serum to the NI medium increased the number of microfilariae released and extended the period of release. PMID- 2614607 TI - Movement of Pomphorhynchus bulbocolli larvae from the hemocoel to the peripheral circulation of Gammarus pseudolimnaeus. AB - Acanthors and early acanthellae of Pomphorhynchus bulbocolli were observed in the peripheral circulation of experimentally infected laboratory-reared Gammarus pseudolimnaeus. This has not previously been reported for larval P. bulbocolli during development in the intermediate host. The timing of larval movement from hemocoel to vessels and sinuses was related to intensity of infection. In an experimental group with a low mean intensity of infection, the movement of larval P. bulbocolli into the peripheral circulation occurred later (9 days postfeeding) than in a group with a high mean intensity of infection (2 days postfeeding). Larvae were observed in the peripheral circulation for a longer period of time in amphipods from the group with the high mean intensity of infection. Dead and slightly melanized acanthors and early acanthellae were present in the hemocoel at the time living larvae moved into the peripheral circulation. Only 1 incidence of a hemocytic response to the larvae was observed in the first 20 days postfeeding. PMID- 2614608 TI - Continuous cultivation of Trypanosoma brucei blood stream forms in a medium containing a low concentration of serum protein without feeder cell layers. AB - Blood stream forms (BSF) of Trypanosoma brucei brucei GUT at 3.1 were propagated in vitro in the absence of feeder layer cells at 37 C, using a modified Iscove's medium (HMI-18). The medium was supplemented with 0.05 mM bathocuproine sulfonate, 1.5 mM L-cysteine, 1 mM hypoxanthine, 0.2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, 1 mM sodium pyruvate. 0.16 mM thymidine, and 20% (v/v) Serum Plus (SP) (Hazleton Biologics, Lenexa, Kansas). The latter contained a low level of serum proteins (13 micrograms/ml). Each primary culture was initiated by placing 3.5-4 x 10(6) BSFs isolated from infected mice in a flask containing 5 ml of the medium (HMI-9) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 10% SP. The cultures were maintained by replacing the medium every 24 hr for 5-7 days. During this period, many BSFs died. However, from day 4 onward, long slender BSFs increased in number. On days 5-7, trypanosome suspensions were pooled and cell debris was removed by means of diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DE52) column chromatography. Blood stream forms then were collected by centrifugation, resuspended in fresh medium at 7-9 x 10(5)/ml, and transferred to new flasks. Subcultures were maintained by readjusting the BSF density to 7-9 x 10(5)/ml every 24 hr. Concentrations of FBS were reduced gradually at 5-7-day intervals by alternating the amounts of FBS and SP in HMI-9 with 5% FBS and 15% SP, with 2% FBS and 18% SP, and finally with 20% SP (HMI-18). By this method, 2-3 x 10(6) VSFs/ml were obtained consistently every 24 hr. for more than 80 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614609 TI - Evaluation of anti-coccidial drugs' inhibition of Neospora caninum development in cell cultures. AB - Eight anti-coccidial drugs were examined for their efficacies in preventing development of Neospora caninum in bovine monocyte cell cultures. Lasalocid sodium (0.05 microgram/ml), monensin sodium (0.05 microgram/ml), piritrexim (0.01 microgram/ml), pyrimethamine (0.05 microgram/ml), and trimethoprim (5.0 micrograms/ml) were effective in preventing development of intracellular N. caninum tachyzoites (P less than 0.05). No differences (P greater than 0.05) in mean numbers of infected cells compared to controls were observed in cultures treated with amprolium hydrochloride (10.0 micrograms/ml), sulfadiazine (200.0 micrograms/ml), and sulfamethoxazole (200.0 micrograms/ml). PMID- 2614610 TI - Enhancement of in vitro infectivity of simian malaria sporozoites to hepatocytes by centrifugation. AB - Sporozoites of Plasmodium cynomolgi, Plasmodium knowlesi, and Plasmodium coatneyi were deposited onto monolayers of hepatocytes from rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). When sporozoites were centrifuged (1,600 g for 5 min), 4-13-fold more schizonts were observed than were found in noncentrifuged control cultures. Centrifugation of hepatocyte monolayers before adding sporozoites did not modify the number of parasites. PMID- 2614611 TI - A programmable environmental system for maintenance and observation of individually housed ticks. AB - This paper describes an inexpensive, space-saving, and labor-efficient method for housing and making repeated observations of individual ticks held under specific photoperiodic, temperature, and humidity conditions. Using 96-well assay plates to house ticks, various developmental parameters, sex, survival, etc., of several thousand individual ticks can be recorded routinely in less than 1 hr. This design also permits more than 3,500 individual ticks to be maintained in 1 small (18.9-L) aquarium that serves as a humidity chamber. A small, unilluminated constant temperature incubator was converted inexpensively into a light and temperature programmable unit to contain the aquarium by adding a timing system, light fixture, and a second thermostat. PMID- 2614612 TI - Intestinal mast cells and neutrophil chemotactic activity of serum following a single challenge with gluten in celiac children on a gluten-free diet. AB - The number of one subtype of mast cells (formalin fixation, toluidine blue staining), cells of the lamina propria, and intraepithelial lymphocytes were counted in the intestinal biopsy specimens of 14 children with treated celiac disease following a single challenge with gluten. The serum neutrophil chemotactic activity was measured at 0, 1, 3, 5, and 24 h after challenge. There was no significant change in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes, but the biopsy samples obtained at 5 h showed a marked increase in the inflammatory cells of the lamina propria and a significant decrease in the number of mast cells. A pronounced decrease was present at 3-5 h in the number of eosinophil cells in the blood. The neutrophil chemotactic activity of sera showed a significant increment in 10 of 14 patients. The intestinal permeability of patients became abnormal, as detected by the increased absorption of lactulose. These findings suggest that degranulation of mast cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of the small intestinal mucosal injury in children with celiac disease. PMID- 2614613 TI - Intestinal permeability to inert sugars and different-sized polyethyleneglycols in children with celiac disease. AB - Intestinal permeability was measured in a total of 42 children, 29 of whom had celiac disease. The celiac children were studied at presentation, during gluten free diet, and/or at gluten challenge. The permeability was assessed by oral lactulose/L-rhamnose in all 42 children and also by different-sized polyethylene glycols (PEG) in 36 children. Results were compared with the findings of small intestinal biopsy. The mean of the permeability tests in children with enteropathy was significantly abnormal compared with the result in children with a normal mucosal morphology. The lactulose/L-rhamnose test and the PEG test gave equivalent results in the same child. In the celiac children abnormal permeability properties at presentation normalized during gluten-free diet and reappeared during gluten challenge. It is concluded that measurement of intestinal permeability may be a valuable tool in monitoring children with celiac disease, preferably when serial measurements are available in the same child. PMID- 2614614 TI - Extent of lactose absorption in children with active celiac disease. AB - We have estimated lactose absorption indirectly by the breath H test to see if disaccharide exclusion is necessary for untreated celiac children. Lactose at 2 g/kg body weight (maximum 50 g) was administered to 42 infants and children (ranging in age from 9 months to 12 years) with flat small intestinal mucosa. Later, different amounts of lactose were given to determine the quantities tolerated and absorbed. One hundred percent of patients expired hydrogen more than 20 ppm over the baseline after an oral lactose load of 2 g/kg (maximum 50 g). Thirty-eight percent of them did not tolerate this quantity. Thirty-seven subjects aged 0-6 years absorbed and tolerated 0.5-1.5 g/kg (5-12.5 g total), and five patients aged 6-12 years absorbed and tolerated 0.5-0.6 g/kg (12-16.2 g total). We conclude that in many subjects with untreated celiac disease, lactase activity is sufficient for absorption and tolerance of the amount of lactose present in 250-300 ml cow's milk. Because of lactose's nutritional value, it should not be excluded unless necessary. PMID- 2614615 TI - Lactose malabsorption in children with symptomatic Giardia lamblia infection: feasibility of yogurt supplementation. AB - An investigation was carried out on 61 children suffering from symptomatic giardiasis with the object of verifying the incidence and entity of lactose malabsorption. Furthermore, the possibility of a substitutive yogurt diet was verified in the lactose malabsorbers. The subjects, all children older than 1 year, were studied according to a schedule that included a lactose hydrogen breath test (BT) performed prior to therapy and a further BT 60 days following therapy. The subjects were divided in two groups: group A, 40 children, received a dose of 250 ml of cow's milk; group B, 21 children, received a stress dose of 2 g/kg lactose (max 50 g). Those subjects who were lactose malabsorbers at the 60 day follow-up were also given a BT at 75 days, and in the case of persistent malabsorption, a further BT was performed after 24 h with the administration of yogurt (450 g containing 12.1 g of lactose). Furthermore, 40 subjects matched for age and sex but without any GI complaints served as controls. The results showed lactose malabsorption to be frequent in children with Giardia lamblia symptomatic infection. According to the BT with a standard lactose load, all patients were malabsorbers; when testing lactose absorption with 250 ml of cow's milk, 45% of patients were found to be malabsorbers. In the latter subjects, the oral load of yogurt was uniformly well tolerated and gave rise to no H2 increment on the BT. We conclude that the occurrence of lactose malabsorption of nutritional relevance is common in children suffering or having suffered from giardiasis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614616 TI - Low-dose methotrexate-induced changes in intestinal permeability determined by polyethylene glycol polymers. AB - The impact of chemotherapeutic agents on small bowel mucosa has not been investigated adequately in children. To determine the effect of low-dose methotrexate (MTX) on the permeability and mucosal integrity of the small bowel, we administered low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) to 19 children who were in the maintenance phase of treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia. PEG was administered before and after the children received their weekly oral or intramuscular doses of MTX. PEG recoveries from a 6-h urine collection were calculated by a mathematical formula to determine the polymer with maximal recovery (PCD0) and the polymer whose recovery was 50% of PCD0 (N1/2). Compared with pre-MTX levels, a significant increase was observed in the polymer with maximal recovery (PCD0) in 15/19 children after MTX administration (p less than 0.015) which indicated increased transmucosal passage of PEG. A decrease in the PEG parameter (N1/2) was observed in 11/38 studies, and may have indicated diminished enterocyte cell mass. These changes indicate that treatment with MTX results in an increase in intestinal permeability by the paracellular pathway, which may affect the absorption of other molecules. PMID- 2614617 TI - Upper small intestinal microflora in diarrhea and malnutrition in Nigerian children. AB - The upper small intestinal microflora was determined quantitatively and qualitatively in a group of well-nourished diarrhea-free Nigerian children and compared with those of well-nourished children with acute diarrhea and malnourished children with or without diarrhea. Intestinal aspirate was collected by intubation after a 6-h fast. Well-nourished children without diarrhea had flora consisting predominantly of gram-positive cocci. Total bacterial counts were less than 10(5) organisms/ml; 18.2% of aspirates were sterile. In contrast, malnourished children with or withour diarrhea had a wider microbial spectrum including Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides, and Candida. Total bacterial counts were between 10(3) and 10(9) organisms/ml; none were sterile. In both well nourished and malnourished groups, no significant quantitative bacteriologic differences were found between patients who had diarrhea and those who did not. Candida and Pseudomonas were found more frequently in malnourished patients with diarrhea. In such diarrheal patients, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli grew as pure isolates in intestinal aspirates and could be detected concomitantly in their stools. These results establish the upper small intestinal flora of well-nourished diarrhea-free Nigerian children, confirm bacterial overgrowth as a feature of malnourished children with or without diarrhea, and suggest that Candida, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella may account partly for the diarrhea seen in malnourished children. PMID- 2614618 TI - Prostaglandins in the plasma and stool of children with rotavirus gastroenteritis. AB - To investigate whether prostaglandins (PGs) are involved in the mechanism of rotavirus diarrhea, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha concentrations in the plasma and stool of children (21 and 16, respectively) with rotavirus gastroenteritis were measured and compared with those of their respective controls. The effect of aspirin on the diarrhea was also studied in 14 patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis. The PGE2 and PGF2 alpha contents of both the plasma and the stool of patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis were significantly higher than in the plasma and stool of the control group. Furthermore, aspirin given by mouth caused the diarrhea to cease earlier. These results suggest that PGE2 and PGF2 alpha are involved as important mediators in the causative mechanism of rotavirus diarrhea. PMID- 2614619 TI - The use of oral hydration in the treatment of children with acute diarrhea in primary care. AB - The use of oral rehydration solutions (ORSs) for treating children with diarrhea is spreading in hospitals in Chile, but it has not yet been incorporated into routine primary care programs. We sequentially compared the effectiveness of an ORS, with 60 mmol/L of Na+, with the standard treatment for diarrhea used in primary care centers, in a study with 285 diarrheal children under 2 years of age who consulted a health center in a low-income periurban neighborhood of Santiago. When compared with the control group, the patients treated with ORS showed a significantly higher percentage weight gain in the first few days after treatment was begun, required fewer medical visits for follow-up treatment at other facilities (8.4 vs. 15.5%; p less than 0.05), and experienced fewer episodes of subsequent clinical dehydration that needed rehydration (oral or intravenous) in emergency services (2.8 vs. 10.6%; p less than 0.01). In addition, there were no metabolic complications in either group. Our results reinforce the feasibility, efficaciousness, and safety of programs that use ORS at the primary care level and indicate that this is an effective method of preventing metabolic complications and reducing hospitalizations of children with acute diarrhea. PMID- 2614620 TI - Folic acid absorption determined by a single stool sample test--a double-isotope technique. The folic acid absorption capacity in children. AB - The fractional folic acid absorption (FAFol) was determined in 66 patients with various gastrointestinal diseases by a double-isotope technique, employing a single stool sample test (SSST) as well as a complete stool collection. The age of the patients ranged from 2.5 months to 16.8 years (mean 6.3 years). The test dose was administered orally and consisted of 50 micrograms of [3H]folic acid (monoglutamate) (approximately 20 muCi), carmine powder, and 2 mg 51CrCl3 (approximately 1.25 muCi) as the unabsorbable tracer. The whole-body radiation given to a 1-year-old child averaged 4.8 mrad only. The stool and napkin contents were collected and homogenized by the addition of 300 ml chromium sulfuric acid. A 300-ml sample of the homogenized stool and napkin contents, as well as 300 ml chromium sulfuric acid (75% vol/vol) containing the standards, were counted for the content of 51Cr in a broad-based well counter. The quantity of [3H]folic acid was determined by liquid scintillation, after duplicate distillation. Estimated by SSST, the FAFol, which employs the stool with the highest content of 51Cr corresponding to the most carmine-colored stool, correlated closely with the FAFol based on complete stool collection (r = 0.96, n = 39, p less than 0.0001). The reproducibility of FAFol determined by SSST was assessed from repeated tests in 18 patients. For a mean of 81%, the SD was 4.6%, which corresponded to a coefficient of variation of 5.7%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614621 TI - Accuracy of anorectal manometry in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. AB - The value of anorectal manometry as a diagnostic tool for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) was assessed in 50 children presenting with chronic constipation. Anorectal manometric studies and rectal biopsy were performed on all children. Biopsy specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and serial sections were examined for ganglion cells. Forty-five children had concordant manometric and histologic results, 15 of whom were positive for HD and 30 negative. In five children, the results were discordant. Using histologic aganglionosis as the reference point for the final diagnosis of HD, the overall accuracy of anorectal manometry as a discriminative test was 90.0%. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of manometric studies for the diagnosis of HD were 0.79, 0.97, 0.94, and 0.88, respectively. Factors responsible for the inaccuracies of manometric studies are discussed. PMID- 2614622 TI - Changes in cholesteryl esters of human milk with total milk lipid. AB - Twenty-five milk samples with a wide range of total lipid and degree of fatty acid saturation were chosen for this study. The milk samples were analyzed for total lipid, total cholesterol, and free cholesterol. The cholesteryl esters and triacylglycerols in these samples also were isolated and the fatty acids associated with each lipid class determined. Total cholesterol averaged 13.5 +/- 3.1 mg/dl of milk and was significantly correlated (r = 0.60, p less than 0.05) with total lipid. Free cholesterol averaged 10.9 +/- 2.3 mg/dl of milk and also was significantly correlated (r = 0.72, p less than 0.05) with total lipid. As total milk lipid increased, the fatty acids in cholesteryl esters became more saturated. The fatty acids most affected were 18:2 and 20:4. Total milk lipid and 18:2 in cholesteryl esters were inversely related (r = -0.49, p less than 0.05). There was also a negative correlation (r = -0.51, p less than 0.05) between 20:4 in cholesteryl esters and total lipid. The fatty acids in triacylglycerol were not correlated with total lipid. From these results it appears that the fatty acids esterified to cholesterol and triacylglycerol in milk may be drawn from different substrate pools. PMID- 2614623 TI - Growth, serum biochemistries, and amino acids of term infants fed formulas with amino acid and protein concentrations similar to human milk. AB - We tested the hypothesis that amino acid intake from infant formulas modified to be similar to human milk would result in indices of protein metabolism more like those in human milk-fed infants. Formula-fed infants received for 12 weeks one of three isocaloric formulations of a whey-adapted formula that differed in protein concentration: 11, 13, or 15 g/L. Infants consumed similar volumes of formula or human milk. Serum urea nitrogen concentrations reflected the protein content of the diets. Plasma indices of protein nutritional status were normal and did not differ among groups. Growth rates of all infants were normal and similar. Serum indicators of protein nutritional status varied with age, which made comparisons of formula-fed infants with human milk-fed infants difficult. Plasma concentrations of leucine and isoleucine at 4 weeks of age were higher in infants fed the formula containing 15 g protein/L when compared with those of infants fed the other two formulas or human milk. At 8 and 12 weeks of age, all formula-fed infants had plasma amino acid profiles that did not differ significantly from each other except for isoleucine, which was lower in the 11-g/L group. We found that providing formulas with an amino acid pattern similar to that of human milk did not produce a plasma amino acid pattern identical to that of the breast-fed infant. This observation suggests that other factors, such as the hormonal response to feeding, differing nutritional bioavailability of amino acids from human and bovine milk proteins, and the changing quantity and type of amino acids with advancing lactation, influence plasma amino acid concentrations. PMID- 2614624 TI - Altered glycine and taurine conjugation of bile acids following aluminum administration to rats. AB - Aluminum contaminates components of intravenous nutrient solutions and accumulates in the liver with parenteral feeding. Abnormalities in hepatic function associated with aluminum accumulation include increased serum bile acid concentration and glucuronyl transferase activity and reduced mixed function oxidase levels and bile flow. Whether there are other biochemical responses of the liver to aluminum is unclear. We report the effects of aluminum administration on bile acid conjugation in rats given aluminum intravenously as follows: group I, 1 mg/kg/day for 14 days; group II, 5 mg/kg/day for 14 days; and group III, 5 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Taurine-conjugated bile acids were reduced and glycine/taurine elevated in all groups compared with pair-fed controls. Glycine/taurine was greater in group II versus III and varied directly with serum bile acid concentration. These findings suggest that aluminum administration is associated with decreased taurine conjugation of bile acids, a phenomenon that may be associated with cholestasis. PMID- 2614625 TI - Potassium secretion in response to taurodeoxycholic acid in the newborn rabbit colon. AB - The newborn colon fails to secrete Cl in response to concentrations of dihydroxy bile acid that cause Cl secretion in adult colonic tissue in vitro. Bile acids also cause secretion of potassium in adult tissues, but there is no information concerning bile acid effects on potassium transport in newborn colon. We mounted newborn rabbit distal colon in Ussing chambers specially designed for newborn colon and measured potassium transport. Basal potassium transport was secretory. Taurodeoxycholic acid, 100 microM, (TDC) decreased JKnet from -0.76 +/- 0.07 to 0.94 +/- 0.11 microEq cm-2 h-1, p less than 0.05, without increasing Isc. Serosal ouabain, 0.1 mM, abolished the secretory response to TDC. Mucosal Ba2+, a potassium channel blocker in many epithelia, did not inhibit K secretion. Similar serosal exposure to TDC in adult colon tissues decreased JKnet from -0.09 +/- 0.29 to -1.63 microEq cm-2 h-1, p less than 0.01, and increased Isc. We conclude that, although the chloride secretory response to dihydroxy bile acids is absent in the newborn, K secretion is elicited in the newborn, similar to the adult colon. PMID- 2614626 TI - Inhibition by cow's milk of histamine-induced gastric acid secretion in the rat. AB - The effects of a 4-day milk diet on basal and histamine-induced gastric acid secretion were examined in vivo in adult rats. Rats were fed on raw cow's milk only. Their acid secretion was measured in the perfused stomach under basal conditions or after administration of varying doses of histamine. In milk-fed rats, basal secretion rose slightly compared with control secretion (1.86 +/- 0.09 vs. 1.52 +/- 0.06 microEq H+/10 min; p less than 0.01), but maximal secretion in response to noncumulative doses of histamine (range: 7.0-20.0 mg/kg) was inhibited by 57%. The degree of this inhibition was similar to that observed in control rats with an equimolar dose of H2-antagonist cimetidine. These results indicate that in the adult rat, chronic administration of cow's milk strongly inhibits histamine-stimulated acid output. PMID- 2614627 TI - Cyclosporine treatment of fulminant colitis. AB - Improved treatment of individuals with severe inflammatory bowel disease with potent immunosuppressive medications such as 6-mercaptopurine has been previously demonstrated. Unfortunately, the use of this medication in individuals with fulminant disease is often limited by its very slow onset of action. This has suggested a potential role for alternative immunosuppressive agents in selected patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We now describe the course of two adolescents with fulminant colitis who were being considered for colectomy and who were treated with oral cyclosporine. Each appeared to have a prompt response to this medication, and both entered into a complete clinical remission. A mild increase in serum creatinine and hirsutism were the only side effects noted. These observations suggest the need for controlled trials to define the potential role and long-term toxicity of cyclosporine in individuals with severe inflammatory bowel disease. PMID- 2614628 TI - Esophageal aperistalsis due to reflux esophagitis: a report of two cases. AB - Two small infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophagitis are reported. Esophageal manometry revealed in both patients severe abnormalities consisting of aperistalsis and simultaneous low-amplitude motor waves. In one of the patients, defective relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter was also noted. Short-term intensive treatment with H2 antagonists resulted in symptomatic and endoscopic improvement as well as in manometric normalization. It is suggested that severe esophagitis may affect control mechanisms of esophageal motility, resulting in loss of coordination and decreased amplitude of contractions. PMID- 2614629 TI - Protein-losing enteropathy in an infant with a lymphangiomyoma. AB - A 3-month-old girl with intractable diarrhoea had protein-losing enteropathy secondary to a lymphangiomyoma. This is the first reported case of lymphangiomyoma in an infant. As enteral feeds were not tolerated, she was maintained on parenteral nutrition for 2 months. Pancreatic enzyme supplementation produced a rapid clinical improvement and normalization of serum albumin level. Weaning was subsequently tolerated and the vitamin, mineral, and trace element deficiencies improved. Subsequent recurrence was associated with normal pancreatic function and has proved refractory to treatment. PMID- 2614630 TI - Rickets in a very low birth weight infant. AB - A report on a case of rickets in a very low birth weight infant (VLBWI) is presented. The infant had no high-risk factors for rickets and was fed a specialized preterm formula with vitamin D supplementation (200 IU daily) by 10 days of age. Feeds were advanced so that an enteral intake of 120 cal/kg/day was achieved by the 20th day of life. Mean calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D intakes between the 20th and 61st days of life were 185 mg/kg/day, 93 mg/kg/day, and 367 IU/day, respectively. On the 62nd day of life, a diagnosis of rickets was made, and a nutrient balance study was performed. Urinary calcium excretion was low (1.3 mg/kg/day), suggesting calcium deficiency. However, retention of calcium (127 mg/kg/day) and phosphorus (76 mg/kg/day) was occurring at intrauterine rates. Thus, while calcium absorption was adequate at 10 weeks of age, the same was not true earlier in life. We suggest that there is a limiting role of calcium absorption on bone mineralization during early life in the VLBWI. PMID- 2614631 TI - Histologic evaluation of new attachment apparatus formation in humans. Part I. AB - Part I of this three-part human study evaluated the formation of a new attachment apparatus (bone, cementum, and periodontal ligament) on pathologically exposed root surfaces in an open and closed environment. The most apical level of calculus on the root served as a histologic reference point to measure regeneration on root surfaces exposed to the oral environment. Attempts were made to initiate the formation of a new attachment apparatus by flap curettage, root planing, coronectomy, and submersion of vital roots beneath the mucosa. Nonsubmerged defects were treated by the same surgical technique and served as controls. Biopsies were obtained at 6 months and regeneration was evaluated histometrically by two investigators who were unaware of the treatment performed. Data from 9 patients with 25 submerged and 22 nonsubmerged defects were submitted for statistical analysis. Results indicate that a new attachment apparatus did not form in any of the 22 nonsubmerged teeth; a new attachment apparatus did form in a submerged environment (0.75 mm); significantly more new attachment apparatus (P less than 0.05), new cementum (P less than 0.01), new connective tissue (P less than 0.05), and new bone (P less than 0.02) formed in submerged defects; new cementum was cellular in nature and formed equally well on old cementum and dentin. Greater percent positive regeneration of the attachment apparatus and all component tissues occurred in submerged defects and no extensive root resorption, ankylosis, or pulp death was observed on submerged or nonsubmerged roots. PMID- 2614632 TI - Histologic evaluation of new attachment apparatus formation in humans. Part II. AB - There is conflicting evidence regarding the value of graft materials in enhancing the formation of new bone, cementum, and periodontal ligament (new attachment apparatus). Part II of this study compared the healing of intrabony defects with and without the placement of decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) in a submerged environment. The most apical level of calculus on the root served as a histologic reference point to measure regeneration on root surfaces exposed to the oral environment. Biopsies were obtained at 6-months and evaluated histometrically by two investigators unaware of the treatment performed. Data from 9 patients with 30 grafted defects and 13 nongrafted defects were submitted for statistical analysis. Results indicate that in a submerged environment significantly more new attachment apparatus (P less than .05) and new bone (P less than .05) formed in grafted than nongrafted sites. Significantly greater loss of alveolar crest height occurred in nongrafted than grafted defects (P less than .05); regeneration of new attachment apparatus, new bone, and new cementum occurred more frequently in grafted than nongrafted defects. There was a greater chance for the regeneration of a connective tissue attachment in nongrafted intrabony defects than in grafted defects; new cellular cementum formed equally well on old cementum, dentin, or both old cementum and dentin in the same defect. The periodontal ligament was oriented parallel, perpendicular, or both parallel and perpendicular in the same defect; and, no extensive root resorption, ankylosis, or pulp death was observed in grafted or nongrafted defects. PMID- 2614633 TI - Histologic evaluation of new attachment apparatus formation in humans. Part III. AB - There is still controversy as to the role of bone grafting materials in the formation of a new attachment apparatus and component tissues (bone, cementum, and periodontal ligament). The purpose of this study was to compare the healing of intrabony defects with and without the placement of decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) in a nonsubmerged environment in humans. The most apical level of calculus on the root served as a histologic reference point to delineate root surfaces exposed to the oral environment and to measure new attachment apparatus and new component tissue formation. Free gingival grafts were placed over grafted and nongrafted defects to retard epithelial migration. Biopsies were obtained at 6 months and regeneration was evaluated histometrically. Data from 12 patients with 32 grafted and 25 nongrafted defects were submitted for statistical analysis. Results indicate that in nongrafted defects, a long junctional epithelium formed along the entire length of exposed root surfaces and often extended apical to the calculus reference notch. Free gingival grafts did not enhance regeneration of a new attachment apparatus, new cementum, new connective tissue, or new bone in nongrafted defects. The formation of a new attachment apparatus was observed when intrabony defects were grafted with DFDBA (x1.21 mm); significantly more new attachment apparatus (P less than .005), new cementum (P less than .005), new connective tissue (P less than .05), and new bone (P less than .0001) formed in intrabony defects grafted with DFDBA than in nongrafted defects. There was a greater chance for regeneration of a new attachment apparatus and component tissues in grafted defects than in nongrafted defects. New cellular cementum formed on old cementum and dentin but more often formed over both in the same defect). The periodontal ligament was more frequently oriented perpendicular to the root; there was greater loss in alveolar crest height in nongrafted than grafted defects (P less than .05); and extensive root resorption, ankylosis, and pulp death were not observed in grafted or nongrafted defects. PMID- 2614634 TI - Evaluation of guided tissue regeneration in Class II furcation defects. A clinical re-entry study. AB - Twelve patients with two comparable furcation Class II lesions in lower molars were included in this study. After adequate presurgical preparation and pertinent clinical measurements, the areas were treated with full thickness flaps and thorough debridement and scaling and planing of the root surfaces. One of the defects was randomly selected to be covered with Gore-Tex periodontal material, held in place by sling sutures of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. On both sites the flaps were positioned slightly coronal to their original level and sutured. After 6 months both sites were re-entered surgically and remeasured. The test sites showed a statistically significant reduction in pocket depth and gain in attachment levels while the controls had not changed from preoperative levels. No changes in bone levels were detected in test or control sites. However, because of the large variability in the measurements, and the short period of observation, there may be differences in bony changes between the two therapies. Studies with larger groups, more accurate methods, and longer time intervals are needed to better evaluate the effects of barrier membranes in periodontal healing. PMID- 2614635 TI - Periosteal microvasculature in the dog alveolar process. AB - Most periodontal surgery has been performed on the basis of the regenerating capacity of the periosteum. Recently it has been pointed out that the blood supply is important to the osteogenic and fibrogenic activity of the periosteum. The purpose of the present study was three-dimensional observation of blood vessels distributed within the gingival periosteum and the periosteum beneath the alveolar mucosa of adult mongrel dogs. Corrosion cast specimens of vessels were observed from three directions: mucosal side, bone side, and horizontal cut surface. It was revealed that the plexus distributed in the periosteum of the gingiva formed a coarse network structure, which consisted mainly of arterioles and venules. In contrast, in the periosteum of the alveolar mucosa, a dense network structure consisting of arterioles, capillaries, and venules formed a vascular bed. Thus, the mucogingival junction was easily located even in the plexus of periosteum which was distributed beneath the gingiva and the alveolar mucosa, suggesting that the difference in tissue specificity was reflected in the plexus of the periosteum. PMID- 2614636 TI - Osteomyelitis associated with chronic periodontitis: a report of three cases. AB - Correctly differentiating between periodontal abscess (localized, acute suppurative infection of the periodontium) and osteomyelitis (the extension of an infection into the bone medullary cavity) is crucial since the former may not require antibiotics for resolution, while the latter will. Initial assessment and treatment of osteomyelitis should be based on clinical examination, radiographic interpretation, and experience. Three case histories of osteomyelitis are presented, ranging from a periodontally well-localized case to one involving a hemimandible and crossing the midline. Successful early diagnosis and case management may benefit from scintigraphic interpretation and culture-and sensitivity studies. PMID- 2614637 TI - Unusual periodontal findings in an AIDS patient with Burkitt's lymphoma. A case report. AB - This report deals with a case of AIDS-related Burkitt's lymphoma in which some of the earliest findings were dental and periodontal in nature. The patient presented initially with painless and extremely loose teeth accompanied by progressive paresthesia of the lower jaw. Unique radiographic findings included extensive periodontal ligament space widening and bulbous, granuloma-like lesions about the apices of the teeth. These findings were associated with progressive tumor infiltration of the mandible and do not appear to be related to other reports of aggressive periodontitis associated with impaired immunologic functions in AIDS patients. PMID- 2614638 TI - Influence of alpha-chloralose on muscle relaxant effect of chlorzoxazone in rats and pharmacodynamic analysis. AB - The Pharmacological response intensity of chlorzoxazone (CZX) was measured by the crossed extensor reflex (CER) method in anesthetized rats. The appropriate dose of alpha-chloralose (ACH) was examined to bring about a quantitative effect of CZX. The pharmacodynamics of CZX was also characterized in the anesthetized rats at three different doses of CZX. When rats were anesthetized with ACH at three different doses (80, 110, and 150 mg/kg i.p.), the CER response caused by CZX at the doses of 25, 50, and 75 mg/kg p.o. was depressed dose-dependently. Among these three different doses of ACH, 80 and 110 mg/kg gave similar results in describing the pharmacological response induced by CZX with time, whereas a dose of 150 mg/kg of ACH elicited a stronger and longer CZX response than the other two doses. The area under the intensity-time curve also showed the same tendency. These findings suggested that the dose size ranging from 80 to 110 mg/kg of ACH for surgical anesthesia was appropriate to evaluate the quantitative pharmacological response of CZX. Pharmacodynamic analysis offered the results that the dose-normalized biophase levels of CZX were coincident with each other when CZX was given at three different doses under ACH anesthesia at the dose of 80 mg/kg. This suggested that the disposition of CZX in rats obeyed linear kinetics and the theoretical values of CZX-induced response would be predictable. This implied that pharmacological response intensity of CZX was reasonably related to the relative biophase CZX level via Hill's equation. PMID- 2614639 TI - Kaolin-induced writhing response in mice: activation of the plasma kallikrein kinin system by kaolin. AB - A mechanism of writhing reaction induced by kaolin, a known activator of factor XII, was studied. Kaolin induced a distinct writhing response, when injected intraperitoneally into mice (2.5 mg/mouse). The response disappeared in 15 min, but it was reproduced by intraperitoneal injection of captopril, 20 micrograms, into mice who had received the injection of kaolin 60 min before. This later response as well as the early one was not produced when mice were pretreated with bromelain (10 mg/kg, intravenously), 30 min before the kaolin administration. Therefore we determined if bromelain, a known depleter of plasma prekallikrein and a high molecular weight (HMW) kininogen, depletes those in mice. Plasma was collected from mice with or without pretreatment of bromelain, and kinin release of these plasma samples was examined by action of kaolin. The bromelain-treated mouse plasma released kinin amount of less than detection limit when activated with kaolin, whereas normal plasma released about 300 ng/ml of kinin of bradykinin equivalent as assessed by rat uterus contraction. Furthermore, activation of prekallikrein by kaolin was observed in mouse plasma as amidase activity to produce fluorescence from the synthetic substrate. It was completely diminished in the presence of soybean trypsin inhibitor. These results suggest that bromelain could deplete the HMW-kininogen in mouse plasma in the same way as in rat plasma. Furthermore, it is assumed that the kinin released from HMW kininogen by kaolin could be responsible for inducing the writhing response. PMID- 2614640 TI - Mechanism of biological formation of cannabielsoin from cannabidiol in the guinea pig, mouse, rat and rabbit. AB - Biological formation of cannabielsoin (CBE) from cannabidiol (CBD) was studied in the guinea pig, mouse, rat and rabbit in vitro. Emphasis was placed on the elucidation of this formation mechanism. The enzyme activity of CBE formation was localized in hepatic microsomes. The enzymatic reaction required nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and molecular oxygen, and showed an optimal pH around 7.3. The microsomal CBE-forming activities decreased in the following order; guinea pig greater than mouse greater than or equal to rabbit greater than or equal to rat. The CBE formation in the guinea pig hepatic microsomes was suppressed with various inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 such as SKF 525-A, alpha-naphthoflavone and carbon monoxide, but not by disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate. When incubated with the microsomes either in the presence or absence of NADPH, a synthetic epoxide of CBD, 1S, 2R-epoxy-CBD-2',6' diacetate was easily and exclusively converted to CBE. On the other hand, 1R, 2S epoxy-CBD was not changed to CBE at all, but to several oxidized metabolites. These results suggest that CBD is biotransformed to 1S,2R-epoxy-CBD with hepatic microsomal monooxygenase system including cytochrome P-450, and the epoxide is immediately converted to CBE. PMID- 2614641 TI - In vivo and in vitro binding of (-)-hydroxyhexamide, a major metabolite of acetohexamide, to rabbit serum. AB - The in vivo and in vitro bindings of (-)-hydroxyhexamide, a major metabolite of acetohexamide, to rabbit serum were examined by using an ultrafiltration method. The in vivo serum protein binding of (-)-hydroxyhexamide was much lower than the in vitro serum protein binding. The in vitro serum protein binding of (-) hydroxyhexamide was strongly displaced by the addition of acetohexamide. Furthermore, the in vitro serum protein binding of (-)-hydroxyhexamide in the presence of acetohexamide and (-)-hydroxyhexamide at the same concentrations as those found 1.0 h after acetohexamide administration was approximately similar to the in vivo serum protein binding of (-)-hydroxyhexamide. These results lead us to conclude that acetohexamide, the parent drug of (-)-hydroxyhexamide, plays an important role in the in vivo serum protein binding of (-)-hydroxyhexamide. PMID- 2614642 TI - Metabolism of dibucaine. II. Disposition and metabolism of dibucaine in rats. AB - The disposition and metabolism of dibucaine were studied in rats. After intraperitoneal administration of 3H-labelled dibucaine, the blood concentration of total radioactivity reached a maximum at 10 min and declined thereafter, with a biphasic curve having half-lives of 37.7 min and 11.2 h. Radioactivity in the tissues after administration was high in small intestine, lung, spleen, liver, kidney and stomach. Urinary and fecal excretion of radioactivity were 39.4 and 49.0% of the dose, respectively, in 3 d after administration. Biliary excretion of radioactivity in bile duct-cannulated rats was 53% of the dose within 48 h. About 40% of urinary, fecal and biliary excretion was found in the basic metabolites, and about 12% of urinary excretion was in the acidic metabolites. In addition, 9.5% of urinary excretion and 39.5% of biliary excretion were conjugated metabolites which could be extracted following enzymatic hydrolysis. Most of the conjugates were glucuronides. Remaining metabolites were highly polar and water-soluble ones which were not hydrolyzed by enzyme treatment and could not be extracted into organic solvents. PMID- 2614643 TI - The inhibitory effects of cimetidine on elimination and distribution of propranolol in rats. AB - We studied the effects of cimetidine on the pharmacokinetics, blood and tissue distribution and plasma protein binding of propranolol in rats. The plasma disappearance of propranolol after a 10 mg/kg intravenous injection and oral administration were fitted to a two compartment open model. In the cimetidine treated rats, the area under concentration curve after an intravenous injection (AUCiv) was increased by 64% and the plasma total body clearance (Cltot) and the rate constant at the terminal phase (beta) were decreased by 38% and 33% of those of the non-treated rats, respectively. The area under the concentration curve after oral administration (AUCpo) was increased by 62% and the plasma oral clearance (Clpo) was decreased by 39% by cimetidine treatment, whereas the bioavailability (F) was not changed. The hepatic blood flow rate (Qh) and the product of the plasma unbound fraction and the hepatic intrinsic clearance (fp x Clint,h) calculated from Cltot and Clpo were decreased by 30% and 39%, respectively. The blood-to-plasma concentration ratio (Rb) and the tissue-to plasma concentration ratio (Kp) of propranolol were not affected by cimetidine treatment, while the binding constant (Kb) in plasma was decreased by 45%. The plasma unbound fractions (fp) of propranolol were increased by 25-70% in the in vivo plasma concentration range (0.1-1.0 microgram/ml) resulting in the decrease of tissue-to-plasma unbound concentration ratio (Kp,u) in lung, heart, spleen, brain and muscle. Cimetidine was shown to have the inhibitory effects on elimination and distribution of propranolol in rats. PMID- 2614644 TI - Comparative studies on the inhibitory effect of morphine, pentobarbital and ethanol on the electrically evoked contractions of isolated mouse vas deferens. AB - To demonstrate the difference in the action mechanisms of morphine (Mor), pentobarbital (Pent) and ethanol (EtOH), comparative studies on the inhibitory effect on the electrical stimulation (ES)-evoked contractions of isolated mouse vas deferens (MVD) were undertaken. All the drugs inhibited the ES-evoked contractions of MVD preparations in a concentration-dependent manner, however, the effects were completely different among 3 drugs in the preparations after incubation in the medium containing each drug and also after acute or chronic treatment with the drugs. The differences among 3 drugs are as follows: 1) The in vitro incubation with Mor, but not with Pent and EtOH developed tolerance. 2) MVD from Mor and EtOH tolerant animals were also tolerant to the inhibitory effect of Mor and EtOH in vitro, respectively. 3) K+ and Ca2+ stimulated the contractions of MVD and the effect was enhanced further after incubation in Mor. 4) The administration of Mor and Pent dose-dependently enhanced the effect of K+ and Ca2+, but this effect of Mor was lost following repeated injections. 5) No cross tolerance was developed among 3 drugs in the inhibitor effect following in vitro incubation or in vivo treatment. Thus, the effects of in vitro incubation with Mor, Pent and EtOH, and acute or chronic administration of the drugs on the response of isolated MVD preparations are different from each other suggesting the difference in the underlying mechanisms of the drugs. PMID- 2614645 TI - Biological properties of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor derived from tuna muscle. AB - A novel inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) derived from tuna muscle, Pro-Thr-His-Ile-Lys-Trp-Gly-Asp (tuna AI), was chemically synthesized, and its biological properties were investigated. Synthetic tuna AI was found to be chemically and biologically indistinguishable from the native one. Tuna AI inhibited rabbit lung ACE non-competitively with Ki values of 1.7 and 5.7 microM with substrates, hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine and angiotensin I, respectively. This peptide (5.3 microM) also doubled the effect of bradykinin in the contraction of isolated guinea pig ileum. The peptide did not show zinc chelating activity and carboxypeptidase A inhibitory activity. Thus, tuna AI was found to be a unique ACE inhibitory peptide with non-competitive manner, differing from many naturally occurring peptide ACE-inhibitors. PMID- 2614646 TI - Clinical practice and scholarship. PMID- 2614647 TI - Pain-behavior contracts: effective management of the adolescent in sickle-cell crisis. AB - Pain-behavior contracts can be utilized as an alternative method of managing the discomfort experienced by adolescents in sickle-cell crisis. The psychological impact of sickle-cell disease, the developmental need of adolescents to control situations in which they find themselves, and principles of pain control all provide theoretical bases supporting the use of pain contracts in clinical practice. If nurses are to effectively use such contracts, they must understand how to develop and implement them in the clinical setting. In addition, research can be designed to explore the use of such contracts for adolescents and staff. PMID- 2614648 TI - Developing a competency-based orientation program: the challenge of a multidisciplinary pediatric unit. AB - In today's era of specialization, preparing novice nurses to assume care of infants, children, and adolescents in a multidisciplinary pediatric unit can be a formidable challenge, and until now, the nursing literature has lacked reference to a pediatric competency-based orientation program. This article discusses both the process and outcome of developing a pediatric competency-based orIEntation program for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Competency statements, documentation forms, sample learning tools, and recommendations for revision are provided to enhance reader utilization. PMID- 2614649 TI - Personal fable: a potential explanation for risk-taking behavior in adolescents. AB - The Personal Fable is a belief held by many adolescents telling them that they are special and unique, so much so that none of life's difficulties or problems will affect them regardless of their behavior. Theoretical explanations accompanied by two studies attempting to clarify the role of the Personal Fable are presented. Reasons for conflicting findings are discussed, followed by some implications for nursing and other health care providers of this elusive but intuitively appealing construct. PMID- 2614650 TI - Parental adaptation to a child with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. AB - Across the country, there has been an increase in the use of technology for the care of smaller infants, resulting in a chronic lung disease: bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). For many years, the management of BPD occurred entirely in the hospital. However, there has been an increased use of home care for these children. The resultant home needs of the child place a strain on the coping strategies of the parents. Through education, support, communication, and a coordinated plan of care, the nurse can help the family in the adaptation process. PMID- 2614651 TI - In-hospital bedside blood glucose monitoring: the importance of a quality control program. AB - This study examined the adequacy of a quality control program to assure accuracy of blood glucose monitoring performed at the bedside by nurses in a general pediatric hospital. A standard quality control program during which all nurses received inservice training and demonstrated proficiency resulted in accuracies (percentage of values within 15% of the laboratory) of only 68.6% and 69.2% over two successive 3-month periods. A standardized refresher course did not improve accuracy. Expansion of the program to include identification and reinstruction of individual nurses who had more than 20% of their blood glucose measurements more than 10% off the laboratory value or any one value more than 40% off the laboratory during the previous quarter resulted in improved accuracies (83%, 78%, and 91%) over three successive 3-month periods. These findings indicate that a systemic quality control program including individual monitoring and remedial retraining is required to improve the long-term accuracy of bedside blood glucose monitoring by nurses in a general pediatric hospital. PMID- 2614652 TI - The decannulation process in children. AB - Decannulation in children is a difficult process because of associated morbidity and psychological factors. In a collaborative effort, physicians and nurses play a vital role in determining a child's readiness and in preparing the family. The actual process that the physician will use to decannulate a child depends on the reason for which the child was tracheostomized. This article discusses the assessment necessary to determine readiness for decannulation, the preparation of the child and the family, and the variations in the actual methodology. PMID- 2614654 TI - Why be ethical? PMID- 2614653 TI - Research in practice: no individual's responsibility. PMID- 2614655 TI - Distinguishing elation, gladness, and joy. AB - On the basis of a structural analysis of the emotions, descriptive items were created that were postulated to discriminate between elation, gladness, and joy. The items described the situation of each emotion, the different ways in which the body was transformed, the propensity to behave in particular ways, and the different manner in which the emotions functioned to improve the person's life. In the first study, the items were given to subjects who had been asked to recall an instance of elation, gladness, or joy. Ss noted the extent to which each of the items pertained to their particular experience. Analyses of the data establish clear distinctions between elation and gladness and suggest that there may also be a distinct structure for joy. In the second study, the situations for elation and gladness were experimentally created, and objective measures of bodily transformation and behavioral propensity were taken while subjects were in the different emotional states. The results confirmed the structural differences suggested by the retrospective accounts. PMID- 2614656 TI - Dispositional optimism and recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery: the beneficial effects on physical and psychological well-being. AB - The effect of dispositional optimism on recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery was examined in a group of 51 middle-aged men. Patients provided information at three points in time--(a) on the day before surgery, (b) 6-8 days postoperatively, and (c) 6 months postoperatively. Information was obtained relating to the patient's rate of physical recovery, mood, and postsurgical quality of life. Information was also gathered regarding the manner in which the patients attempted to cope with the stress of the surgery and its aftermath. As expected, dispositional optimism proved to be an important predictor of coping efforts and of surgical outcomes. More specifically, dispositional optimism (as assessed prior to surgery) correlated positively with manifestations of problem focused coping and negatively with the use of denial. Dispositional optimism was also associated with a faster rate of physical recovery during the period of hospitalization and with a faster rate of return to normal life activities subsequent to discharge. Finally, there was a strong positive association between level of optimism and postsurgical quality of life at 6 months. PMID- 2614657 TI - The role of ego-control, ego-resiliency, and IQ in delay of gratification in adolescence. AB - The delay-of-gratification behavior of 104 14-year-old Ss (54 girls and 50 boys) was assessed in an experiment in which each subject chose between immediate monetary payment and larger, delayed payment on 5 occasions. Personality data were obtained on these adolescents in the form of California Adult Q-Set ratings made by several research examiners who were blind to the subjects' delay behavior. The number of delayed payments chosen was strongly correlated with these personality ratings, within both sexes. Ss who exhibited the most delay of gratification tended to be independently described as responsible, productive, ethically consistent, interested in intellectual matters, and overly controlled. They tended not to be described as unable to delay gratification, rebellious, unpredictable, self-indulgent, or hostile. Delay behavior in both sexes was also correlated positively with IQ and with Q-sort-derived indexes of ego resiliency and ego control. The relationship between ego control and delay behavior was particularly strong after both IQ and ego resiliency were partialled. These results were interpreted as reflecting the fundamental importance of both cognitive skillfulness and impulse control for adaptive delay behavior in situations that contain strong motivational inducements. PMID- 2614658 TI - Computerized adaptive personality assessment: an illustration with the Absorption scale. AB - This article introduces the theory behind and applications of adaptive personality assessment based on the item response theory. Two adaptive testing strategies were compared: (a) fixed test length and (b) clinical decision. Real data simulations, based on the item responses from 1,000 subjects who had previously taken the 34-item Absorption scale (Tellegen, 1982) by means of paper and-pencil format, were used to illustrate these strategies. Results suggest that computerized adaptive personality assessment works impressively well. With the fixed-test-length strategy, a 50% savings in administered items was achieved with little loss of measurement precision. In the clinical-decision testing strategy, individuals who were extreme on the Absorption trait were identified with perfect accuracy using, on average, 25% of the available items. The implications of these results for personality research and assessment are discussed. PMID- 2614659 TI - Self-blame, self-efficacy, and adjustment to abortion. AB - The causal impact of attributions and coping self-efficacy on adjustment to abortion was examined. Two hundred and eighty-three women were randomly assigned prior to their abortion to 1 of 3 counseling interventions: 1 designed to alter attributions for unwanted pregnancy (ATT-INT), 1 designed to raise coping expectations (EXP-INT), or a control (standard counseling) group. Depression, mood, anticipated consequences, and physical complaints were assessed postabortion. Women in the ATT-INT or EXP-INT group were better adjusted immediately postabortion than women in the control group. The EXP-INT group was also less depressed than the ATT-INT group. Three individual difference factors were also related to better adjustment: high coping self-efficacy, low self character blame, and low other-blame. Self-efficacy also predicted adjustment 3 weeks postabortion. Implications for theories of adjustment to major life events, therapeutic interventions to assist coping with such events, and public policy on abortion are discussed. PMID- 2614660 TI - Measuring affect at work: confirmatory analyses of competing mood structures with conceptual linkage to cortical regulatory systems. AB - Twenty so-called clear markers of positive and negative mood (Watson & Tellegen, 1985) were applied in the current study to measure affect at work. Confirmatory factor analyses of a bipolar Two-Factor (i.e., positive and negative affect) Model and a competing multifactor model were conducted with three samples: managerial and professional workers in an insurance firm, retail sales personnel, and a heterogeneous group of students who were employed. The first-order Two Factor Model (i.e., descriptively bipolar positive and negative affect factors) hypothesized to underlie the 20 affect items did not provide a strong fit to the data in the three samples. A first-order Four-Factor Model with descriptively unipolar factors labeled as Positive Arousal (Enthusiasm), Negative Activation (Nervousness), Low Arousal (Fatigue), and Low Activation (Relaxation) provided a better fit across the samples. These results support the measurement of positive and negative mood as descriptively unipolar factors. The measurement implications of these results as well as conceptual linkages between the four mood factors and the two major cortical regulatory systems, left-lateralized dopaminergic activation and right-lateralized noradrenergic arousal, are discussed. PMID- 2614661 TI - The cost of good fortune: when positive life events produce negative health consequences. AB - Previous research regarding the effects of positive life events on physical health has been inconclusive. We tested the hypothesis that positive life events have a detrimental effect on health only among people with negative self-views. This prediction derives from an identity disruption model of stress, which holds that an accumulation of life events that are inconsistent with the self-concept leads to physical illness. To test the hypothesis, we conducted two prospective studies in which positive life events and self-esteem were used to predict the development of illness over time. In accordance with predictions, both studies showed that desirable life changes were associated with increases in illness only among subjects with low self-esteem; among subjects with high self-esteem, positive life events were linked to better health. Implications for understanding the manner in which life events affect health are considered. PMID- 2614662 TI - Cognitive organization of impressions: effects of incongruency in complex representations. AB - Two experiments investigated the organization in memory of expectancy-congruent and expectancy-incongruent information pertaining to multiple trait concepts in an impression-formation task. In Experiment 1, when multiple trait concepts were represented in the information describing the target person, both congruent and incongruent items reflecting the same trait concept were stored together and were directly associated in memory, and both types of items were recalled equally well. In Experiment 2, when only one trait concept was represented in the information, incongruent items were recalled with higher probability than congruent items, and the latter were not directly associated in memory. Results suggest that with increasing categorical complexity of stimulus information, processes are invoked that do not occur in simpler impression-formation contexts. Implications for theoretical models of person memory are discussed. PMID- 2614663 TI - Language use in intergroup contexts: the linguistic intergroup bias. AB - Three experiments examine how the type of language used to describe in-group and out-group behaviors contributes to the transmission and persistence of social stereotypes. Two experiments tested the hypothesis that people encode and communicate desirable in-group and undesirable out-group behaviors more abstractly than undesirable in-group and desirable out-group behaviors. Experiment 1 provided strong support for this hypothesis using a fixed-response scale format controlling for the level of abstractness developed from Semin and Fiedler's (1988a) linguistic category model. Experiment 2 yielded the same results with a free-response format. Experiment 3 demonstrated the important role that abstract versus concrete communication plays in the perpetuation of stereotypes. The implications of these findings and the use of the linguistic category model are discussed for the examination of the self-perpetuating cycle of stereotypes in communication processes. PMID- 2614664 TI - Residential density and psychological health: the mediating effects of social support. AB - People report excessive, unwanted social interactions, insufficient privacy, and are observed to be more socially withdrawn under crowded living conditions. If people socially withdraw from one another as a way to cope with crowding, this could lead to an unintended side effect of breakdowns in socially supportive relationships. A breakdown in socially supportive relationships could, in turn, account for some of the pathological consequences of chronic, high density living conditions. An empirical study of 175 male heads of household among inner city residents in India suggests that the adverse effects of residential crowding on psychological health are mediated by a breakdown of social support systems. The study also points to the value of examining social support as an endogenous variable in the stress and health process. PMID- 2614665 TI - [Synthesis, pharmacological activity and biopharmaceutical characteristics of alpha,2-dimethyl-5H-[1]benzopyrano[2,3-b]pyridine-7-acetates]. AB - The pro-drugs of alpha,2-dimethyl-5H-[1]benzopyrano[2,3-b]pyridine-7-acetic acid(I) with a potent anti-inflammatory activity were synthesized in order to reduce its gastrointestinal side effects. Various esters synthesized were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity and ulcerogenicity. Among the compounds maintaining a potent activity of I, N,N-dimethylcarbamoylmethyl alpha,2 dimethyl-5H-[1]benzopyrano[2,3-b]pyridine-7-acetate (II-18) showed excellent biopharmaceutical characteristics. The ulcerogenic effect of II-18 on the rat gastric mucosa was about 3 times less than that of I. It was suggested that II-18 may be an useful biolabile pro-drug for I among the compounds tested. PMID- 2614666 TI - [Pharmacological study on citrus fruits. I. Anti-allergic effect of fruit of Citrus unshiu Markovich (1)]. AB - A study was carried out to examine the effect of 50% ethanolic extract from green fruit of Citrus unshiu Markovich on type I, II and IV allergic reactions. Forty eight-hour homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rats as a typical model of the type I reaction was significantly inhibited by the oral administration of the extract. Complement-dependent cytolysis of sheep red blood cell as a typical model of the type II reaction was significantly inhibited by incubation with it. Contact dermatitis in mice as a model of the type IV reaction caused by picryl chloride or sheep red blood cell was significantly inhibited by the oral application of it. The anti-allergic actions decreased with the growth of fruit of Citrus unshiu. These results suggested that the 50% ethanolic extract from green fruit of Citrus unshiu have anti-allergic actions against the type I, II and IV reactions. PMID- 2614667 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of sodium 4-[alpha-hydroxy-5-(1-imidazolyl)-2-methylbenzyl]-3,5 dimethylbenzoate (Y-20811), a new thromboxane synthetase inhibitor. II. Pharmacokinetics of intact drug and main metabolite in dog]. AB - The pharmacokinetics of sodium 4-[alpha-hydroxy-5-(1-imidazolyl)-2-methylbenzyl] 3,5-dimethylbenzoat e (I-Na) in the beagle dog was investigated after p.o. and i.v. administration. After the administration of I-Na at 3 mg/kg (p.o.), 70.9% of the dose was absorbed, and the maximum plasma concentration of free acid (I) was observed at 0.33 h. After p.o. administration, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of I increased almost linearly in proportion to the dose. The metabolite, 4-[alpha-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-5-(1-imidazolyl)benzyl] 3,5-dimethyl benzoic acid (II) was also detected in the plasma, but the concentration of II was lower than that of I. After the administration at 3 mg/kg (p.o.), 27.7% and 3.8% of the dose were recovered as I and II, respectively, in the urine, and 32.2% and 30.1% recovered as I and II in the feces. Therefore, 93.8% of the dose was totally recovered within five days. The inhibitory effect of II on the aggregation of rabbit platelets was studied in vitro. This metabolite showed only one sixth activity of I-Na. Thus, the inhibitory effect on the platelet aggregation of II is considered to be almost negligible in the beagle dog administered with I-Na. PMID- 2614668 TI - [Development of a simple analytical method to determine the serum concentration of denopamine by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and its clinical application]. AB - Denopamine (DP) is a new, orally active, selectively positive inotropic agent and used for the treatment of chronic cardiac insufficiency. The therapeutic effects of DP is highly related to its serum concentrations. A simple analytical method has been developed to determine the serum concentration of DP by use of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ECD). In order to extract the DP from the serum, a disposable solid extraction column (Sep Pak cartridge, C-18) was used. The average recovery was 84.6 +/- 2.7%. The working electrode potential was fixed at 400 mV with a T1 cell, 600 mV with a T2 cell and 650 mV with a Guard cell in ECD. The analysis was performed on a Nova Pak cartridge C-18 reverse-phase column (100 mm X 8 mm i.d., 4 microns). The mobile phase consisted of 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) and acetonitrile (83: 17, v/v), and the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min. DP and internal standard phenolphthalein (PP) were eluted at 16.5 and 36.0 min, respectively. The peak-height ratio of DP to PP was linearly correlated (r = 0.9998) over a concentrations range between 1.25 and 15.0 ng/ml in the serum. The lowest detectable concentration was 1.0 ng/ml in the serum. The coefficient of variation of reproducibility in the assay was 6.0% By using the present method, serum concentration of DP was measured for four healthy volunteers after a single oral administration of 10 mg DP tablet after a overnight fast. From these DP concentration profiles, pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614669 TI - [Studies on the relationship between therapeutic schedule and antitumor effect of etoposide and cytosine arabinoside in murine L1210 leukemia]. AB - The sequence dependency of the antitumor effect of etoposide and ara-C was investigated against the L1210 ascites tumor in BDF1 mice. Etoposide (7.5 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg) and ara-C (25 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally on days 1, 4 and 7 after inoculation of L1210 with or without time interval of 3 or 6 h. Antitumor effect was decided for cure rate and post inoculation survival time of the mice died of tumor. Six hours pretreatment with 15 mg/kg of etoposide followed by 500 mg/kg of ara-C yielded 100% of cure rate, but only 20% of cure rate was obtained with the reverse sequence. Simultaneous administration of etoposide and ara-C produced 70% of cure rate. At every dosage examined, pretreatment with etoposide given 6 hr before ara-C was the most effective antitumor schedule in L1210 leukemia. PMID- 2614670 TI - [Inhibitory effect of various traditional Chinese medicines on rabbit platelet phospholipase A2 in vitro and suppressive effect of toki-syakuyaku-san on increased aggregability in hypercholesterolemic rabbit ex vivo]. AB - The inhibitory mechanism of 6 traditional Chinese medicines on rabbit platelet aggregation in vitro, and the suppressive effect of oral administration of Toki syakuyakusan on hyper-aggregability of the platelet from rabbit fed high cholesterol diet for 2 months, were investigated. Collagen-induced aggregation was inhibited by Keisi-bukuryogan, Kami-syoyo-san, Dai-saiko-to, Toki-syakuyaku san, Hatimi-zio-gan and Syo-saiko-to in their lower concentrations than those inhibiting arachidonic acid- and thrombin-induced aggregation. These traditional Chinese medicines inhibited the release of [3H]arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2, in [3H]arachidonic acid-labelled platelets under stimulation with collagen and thrombin in the concentration ranges that inhibited each aggregation. In their higher concentrations to inhibit arachidonic acid-induced aggregation, they suppressed the conversion of arachidonic acid to thromboxane A2 by about 50%. However, they had no effect on diacylglycerol formation induced by thrombin. The oral administration of Toki-syakuyaku-san depressed the increased aggregability of platelets from rabbit fed high cholesterol diet by 20-40% at the period of 1-2 months of feeding, without affecting plasma and platelet cholesterol level. These results indicate that the traditional Chinese medicines used here have an inhibitory effect on platelet phospholipase A2 activation, rather than on cyclooxygenase, and therefore inhibit platelet activation in vitro and ex vivo. PMID- 2614671 TI - [Determination of disaccharidase activity in rat serum, bile, urine and various tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography with differential refractometric detection]. AB - A simple and high sensitive method for the determination of disaccharidase in various biological samples of rats by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a differential refractometric detection was developed. This method, as compared with the Dahlqvist method, has the following advantages; 1) There is no necessity for the elimination of biological components which have an influence on the determination of glucose. 2) Only a little enzyme sample is used. 3) The detection limit of a reaction product, glucose, by the HPLC method is about 10 times higher than that by the Dahlqvist method. 4) The maltase activity in the small intestinal mucosa estimated by HPLC method is positively correlated with that estimated by the Dahlqvist method (r = 0.9661, p less than 0.001, n = 8). 5) This method developed in the present study is applicable to not only the small intestinal mucosa, but also serum, bile, urine and various tissues. PMID- 2614672 TI - Keratinophilic fungi of animal and bird pens in Egypt. AB - Samples were collected from 44 pens under animals and birds for the estimation of keratinophilic fungi using the hair-baiting technique. Thirty-nine species which belong to eighteen genera were recovered. Chrysosporium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium were the most frequent genera. From keratinophilic fungi, Myceliophthora anamorph of Corynascus sepedonium, Myceliophthora anamorph of Corynascus novoguinensis, Microsporum boullardii, M. gypseum, Trichophyton metagrophytes and Arthroderma sp. were recovered in different frequencies. PMID- 2614673 TI - The effect of inorganic phosphate on the production of avermectin in Streptomyces avermitilis. AB - The effect of phosphate on the production of avermectin B1a, growth and utilization of glucose in the course of cultivation of Streptomyces avermitilis on a complex and chemically defined medium has been studied. Phosphate added at the beginning of cultivation at 1-20 mmol/l did not distinctly affect the production of secondary metabolite. From the results it follows that the biosynthesis of avermectin tolerates high concentrations of phosphate in the medium. PMID- 2614674 TI - Biotransformation of tryptamine derivatives in mycelial cultures of Psilocybe. AB - Mycelial cultures of Psilocybe cubensis capable of forming psilocybin and psilocin de novo display a high capacity for hydroxylation of tryptamine derivatives at the 4-position. A specific biotransformation of added synthetic N,N-diethyl-tryptamine was found. Thus high amounts of 4-hydroxy-N,N diethyltryptamine (up to 3.3%) and a minor quantity of 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N diethyltryptamine (0.01-0.8%) were isolated from fruiting bodies of Psilocybe cubensis in corresponding experiments. This is the first example of a directed biosynthesis of tryptamine substances by fungi. An effective biotransformation of N-methyltryptamine was also demonstrated with surface cultures of Psilocybe semilanceata. Baeocystin, a possible natural precursor of psilocybin, was detected and quantified in the biomasses. No alkaloids could be found in the culture medium. PMID- 2614675 TI - Flavovirin--a new antifungal antibiotic produced by the pyrenomycete Melanconis flavovirens. AB - The pyrenomycete Melanconis flavovirens was found to produce a mixture of two antifungal antibiotics. The first has been already described; the antibiotic is identical with thermozymocidin (myriocin). The second antibiotic is a new compound, whose isolation and identification is presented in this paper. The chemical structure of this substance (C21H37NO5) was determined to be 2-amino-2 hydroxymethyl-3,4-trans-epoxy-14-oxo-eicos-trans-6-enoic acid. After the producer it was named flavovirin and it possesses strong activity against yeasts and a moderate effectivity against filamentous fungi. PMID- 2614676 TI - Production of thermozymocidin (myriocin) by the pyrenomycete Melanconis flavovirens. AB - Submerged culture of the pyrenomycete Melanconis flavovirens produces a strongly active antifungal antibiotic. The antibiotic was isolated from the culture mash. In purified compound the physico-chemical characteristics, including 1H NMR spectrum, were estimated. The antibiotic was found to be identical with thermozymocidin (myriocin) as confirmed by comparison with synthetically prepared thermozymocidin. PMID- 2614677 TI - Monovalent cation specificity of passive transport mediated by laidlomycin and 26 deoxylaidlomycin. AB - The capacity of laidlomycin (I) and the new 26-deoxylaidlomycin (II) to facilitate passive fluxes of cations through a layer of organic solvent (CHCl3/n heptane) was estimated in comparison to monensin A (III). While II displayed a 10fold higher transport rate for sodium as compared to calcium, laidlomycin (I) was distinguishable by mediating approx. 100 times lower conveyance of the divalent cations. PMID- 2614678 TI - Physical maps of the streptococcal bacteriophage A25 and C1 genomes. AB - A physical map of the group A streptococcal bacteriophage A25 genome was constructed using data obtained from restriction enzyme digestion analysis of purified DNA. Phage A25 was 34.6 kb in size and was digested with several enzymes which generated the following number of fragments: AvaI (3), EcoRI (2), HindIII (4), HaeII (10), HindII (22), HpaI (11), and PvuII (8). Restriction enzymes BamH1, PstI, and SaI did not cleave phage A25 DNA. A physical map of the group C streptococcal phage C1 genome was also constructed. Phage C1 was 16.9 kb in size and was cleaved by the following enzymes to give the indicated number of fragments: EcoRI (8), HaeII (10), HaeII (4), HaeII (10), HindIII (5), HpaI (8), PvuII (3), and SalI (2). Restriction enzymes AvaI, AvaII, BamH1, EcoRV, HpaII, and PstI did not cleave phage C1 DNA. PMID- 2614679 TI - Percutaneous absorption of steroids: relative contributions of epidermal penetration and dermal clearance. AB - The permeation of triamcinolone, hydrocortisone, prednisolone, corticosterone, triamcinolone acetonide, testosterone, and betamethasone-17-valerate through excised human stratum corneum was quantified. The time course of permeation could be adequately described by a simple diffusion model suggesting that shunt transport may not be important. The disappearance of these steroids from aqueous solutions applied to human and rat dermis was also monitored. The concentrations of unbound steroid in the viable epidermis appeared to be mainly related to the blood perfusion rate in the dermis and, more importantly, to the lipophilicity of the steroid. The most lipophilic steroids penetrated the human epidermis at the fastest rates but are cleared from the viable epidermis at rates comparable to those found for more polar steroids. PMID- 2614680 TI - Placental transfer and tissue distribution of thiopental in the pregnant rat. AB - The pharmacokinetic profile of thiopental was studied in pregnant rats after an iv bolus dose of 15 mg/kg. The unbound concentration-time profile of the drug in maternal plasma, placenta, fetal brain, fetal carcass, and amniotic fluid was described, developing an adequate pharmacokinetic model. Maternal plasma levels of thiopental fell rapidly after injection, distributing into tissues (half-life of distribution phase averaged 3 min). Thiopental crossed the placenta and entered the fetal body (brain included) and amniotic fluid. Peak levels were seen within 10 min of injection and declined in all tissues parallel to maternal plasma (rate constant range 0.012-0.017 min-1). The concentrations of drug in the fetal unit were smaller than in the central compartment and maternal plasma. However, the absolute transfer ratios (calculated using the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from the model) and the relative exposure ratios (as the ratio of the area under the unbound concentration-time curve in tissue to that in maternal plasma) suggested that fetuses were exposed to a potentially efficacious level of the drug. The model formulated to describe the tissue distribution of thiopental may offer a useful approach for analysis of the kinetic profile of other compounds administered during pregnancy or at delivery in rats and other species. PMID- 2614681 TI - The unit impulse response procedure for the pharmacokinetic evaluation of drug entry into the central nervous system. AB - The unit impulse response theory has been adapted to characterize the transport profile of drugs into the central nervous system (CNS). From the obtained input function, the cumulative plasma volume (V) cleared by transport into the CNS in time can be calculated. Simulation studies demonstrated that transport governed by passive diffusion resulted in a linear relationship between V and time, while the slope of the line, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) clearance, proved to be an adequate and model independent parameter to characterize drug transport into the CNS. The error in the result of the numerical procedure could be limited to less than 10% of the theoretically predicted value. Superposition of 5 or 10% random noise on simulated data did not result in significant differences between the calculated and theoretically predicted clearance values. Simulations of carrier mediated transport resulted in nonlinear transport curves; the degree of nonlinearity, and thus the detectability, was dependent on the initial degree of saturation of the system, the rate of desaturation, as caused by drug elimination processes and the noise level on the data. In vivo experiments in the rat were performed, using atenolol, acetaminophen, and antipyrine as model drugs. Linear transport relationships were obtained for all drugs, indicating that transport was dependent on passive diffusion or a low affinity carrier system. BBB clearance values were 7 +/- 1 microliters/min for atenolol, 63 +/- 7 microliters/min for acetaminophen and 316 +/- 25 microliters/min for antipyrine. These experiments validate the applicability of the presented technique in in vivo studies. PMID- 2614682 TI - A semiparametric approach to physiological flow models. AB - By regarding sampled tissues in a physiological model as linear subsystems, the usual advantages of flow models are preserved while mitigating two of their disadvantages, (i) the need for assumptions regarding intratissue kinetics, and (ii) the need to simultaneously fit data from several tissues. To apply the linear systems approach, both arterial blood and (interesting) tissue drug concentrations must be measured. The body is modeled as having an arterial compartment (A) distributing drug to different linear subsystems (tissues), connected in a specific way by blood flow. The response (CA, with dimensions of concentration) of A is measured. Tissues receive input from A (and optionally from other tissues), and send output to the outside or to other parts of the body. The response (CT, total amount of drug in the tissue (T) divided by the volume of T) from the T-th one, for example, of such tissues is also observed. From linear systems theory, CT can be expressed as the convolution of CA with a disposition function, F(t) (with dimensions 1/time). The function F(t) depends on the (unknown) structure of T, but has certain other constant properties: The integral integral infinity0 F(t) dt is the steady state ratio of CT to CA, and the point F(0) is the clearance rate of drug from A to T divided by the volume of T. A formula for the clearance rate of drug from T to outside T can be derived. To estimate F(t) empirically, and thus mitigate disadvantage (i), we suggest that, first, a nonparametric (or parametric) function be fitted to CA data yielding predicted values, CA, and, second, the convolution integral of CA with F(t) be fitted to CT data using a deconvolution method. By so doing, each tissue's data are analyzed separately, thus mitigating disadvantage (ii). A method for system simulation is also proposed. The results of applying the approach to simulated data and to real thiopental data are reported. PMID- 2614683 TI - Optimal design allocations for estimating area under curves for studies employing destructive sampling. AB - Optimal allocations of experimental resources for the estimation of integrals is considered for experiments that use destructive sampling. Given a set of sampling times, a minimum mean square error rule is given for the allotment of fixed experimental resources to the independent variable. The results are seen to be functionally dependent upon the pattern of underlying variability assumed in the model and upon the quadrature rule used to estimate the integral. Extensions to other optimality criteria, including a minimum mean absolute deviation criterion, and to cases involving multiple treatment groups, are also noted. PMID- 2614684 TI - A phased approach to drug development. AB - It is possible in the UK to carry out a phased approach to drug development that is designed to assist in the selection of a candidate drug for development from a series of compounds; minimize the amount of animal work (toxicological and metabolic) necessary to permit early evaluation in man; introduce a more rational basis for decision making by setting criteria that must be satisfied before entry can be made into the next phase of development; obtain safety, pharmacokinetic, and possibly dynamic data in man within about 16 months of receipt of the compound. PMID- 2614685 TI - Effect of propranolol on the myocardial contractility of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rabbits: relationship of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. AB - Myocardial contractility of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rabbits was determined following an iv bolus injection of propranolol HCl. Left ventricular pressure and dimension were used to calculate the contractility parameters of (dP/dt)max, maximum fiber shortening velocity (Vcf), and the slope of the end systolic pressure-end systolic volume line (ESP-ESV line). Hypertension was induced by a methoxamine HCl iv infusion which mimicked the cardiac effects seen in essential hypertension. Propranolol caused a significant decrease in all contractility parameters (p less than 0.05) within 15 min after administration, with a peak effect occurring after 30-35 mins. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propranolol were fit using Hill's equation in conjunction with the concentration of drug in the theoretical effect compartment. The normotensive group of rabbits had a calculated EC(50) of 12.7 ng/ml, while the hypertensive group had an EC(50) of 6.9 ng/ml, indicating that the hypertensive rabbits were much more sensitive to the propranolol than the normotensive group. In addition, the normotensive group of rabbits demonstrated a much different pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship than that of the hypertensive group, indicating that the hypertensive state of the animal has a significant effect upon the concentration-effect relationship. PMID- 2614686 TI - The influence of assay variability on pharmacokinetic parameter estimation. AB - The impact of assay variability on pharmacokinetic modeling was investigated. Simulated replications (150) of three "individuals" resulted in 450 data sets. A one-compartment model with first-order absorption was simulated. Random assay errors of 10, 20, or 30% were introduced and the ratio of absorption rate (Ka) to elimination rate (Ke) constants was 2, 10, or 20. The analyst was blinded as to the rate constants chosen for the simulations. Parameter estimates from the sequential method (Ke estimated with log-linear regression followed by estimation of Ka) and nonlinear regression with various weighting schemes were compared. NONMEM was run on the 9 data sets as well. Assay error caused a sizable number of curves to have apparent multicompartmental distribution or complex absorption kinetic characteristics. Routinely tabulated parameters (maximum concentration, area under the curve, and, to a lesser extent, mean residence time) were consistently overestimated as assay error increased. When Ka/Ke = 2, all methods except NONMEM underestimated Ke, overestimated Ka, and overestimated apparent volume of distribution. These significant biases increased with the magnitude of assay error. With improper weighting, nonlinear regression significantly overestimated Ke when Ka/Ke = 20. In general, however, the sequential approach was most biased and least precise. Although no interindividual variability was included in the simulations, estimation error caused large standard deviations to be associated with derived parameters, which would be interpreted as interindividual error in a nonsimulation environment. NONMEM, however, acceptably estimated all parameters and variabilities. Routinely applied pharmacokinetic estimation methods do not consistently provide unbiased answers. In the specific case of extended-release drug formulations, there is clearly a possibility that certain estimation methods yield Ka and relative bioavailability estimates that would be imprecise and biased. PMID- 2614687 TI - Determination of mean input time, mean residence time, and steady-state volume of distribution with multiple drug inputs. AB - A general treatment for determination of mean residence time (MRT) and steady state volume of distribution (Vss) after multiple drug inputs via any mode of administration is presented. For multiple inputs, either simultaneous or consecutive, the mean input time (MIT) can be readily calculated using the general equations presented here. Sample calculations for MIT, MRT, and Vss following different combinations of multiple drug inputs are presented. Errors inherent in noncompartmental area determinations are discussed. PMID- 2614688 TI - Fitting heteroscedastic regression models to individual pharmacokinetic data using standard statistical software. AB - In the analysis of individual pharmacokinetic data by nonlinear regression it is important to allow for possible heterogeneity of variance in the response. Two common methods of doing this are weighted least squares with appropriate weights or data transformation using a suitable transform. With either approach it is appealing to let the data determine the appropriate choice of weighting scheme or transformation. This article describes two methods of doing this which are easy to compute using standard statistical software. The first method is a generalized least squares scheme for the case where the variance is assumed proportional to an unknown power of the mean. The second involves applying a power transformation to both sides of the regression equation. It is shown that both techniques may be implemented using only nonlinear regression routines. Sample code is provided for their implementation using the SAS software package. However, the proposed methods are feasible using any software package that incorporates a nonlinear least squares routine, and are thus well suited to routine use. PMID- 2614689 TI - Evidence for lidocaine-induced enzyme inactivation. AB - The effects of lidocaine on hepatic enzyme activity were studied using the isolated perfused rat liver. The in vivo liver activity was examined by infusing lidocaine via the jugular vein, followed by organ isolation and drug perfusion 24 h later. The liver was studied in vitro by perfusing the organ with lidocaine until steady state was reached, then allowing the drug and metabolites to wash out of the organ, followed by a second infusion of lidocaine to probe enzyme activity. In both types of experiments, pretreatment with lidocaine caused a reduction in deethylation, and led to a more rapid attainment of steady state. The experimental concentration-time profiles and literature data were successfully described by a mathematical model. PMID- 2614690 TI - Mass spectrometric studies of cocaine disposition in animals and humans using stable isotope-labeled analogues. AB - Ion cluster technique in conjunction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the identification and quantitation of major metabolites of cocaine (1a) in rat and humans. In a typical experiment, a female rat weighing 250 gm was intraperitoneally administered a 20-mg/kg mixture of 1a, NCD3-cocaine (1b), OCD3-cocaine (1c), and 4T2-cocaine (1d). The urine was collected, extracted with organic solvents, and separated into several fractions using TLC and HPLC techniques. Tritium radioactivity in a metabolically stable position in 1d was useful in the separation of metabolites, while the deuterium labeled 1(b + c), creating an artificial isotopic cluster, provided specific identification of metabolites by mass spectrometric interpretation. Norcocaine (2), benzoylnorecgonine (3), N-hydroxynorcocaine (4), methylecgonidine (5), benzoylecgonine (11), ecgonine methyl ester (9), hydroxycocaine (7), hydroxymethoxycocaine (10), and dimethoxyhydroxycocaine (6) were found to be the major metabolites of 1a in the rat urine as well as in plasma. The whole brain analysis showed significant amounts of unmetabolized 1a and 2, and minor concentrations of 9, 5, 7, and 10, and traces of 6. Some of these metabolites have been reported earlier by us as well as other investigators and are unequivocally confirmed in this work. Unmetabolized 1a, its pharmacologically active metabolite 2, and other major metabolites were quantitated in the rat brain, plasma, and urine using stable isotope-labeled analogues as internal standards and selected ion monitoring (SIM) mass spectrometry. The pharmacokinetic profiles of 1a and 2 indicate half-lives of less than 20 min in the brain and plasma. These data are in good agreement with widely reported short lived behavioral effects of cocaine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614691 TI - Tetracycline and erythromycin distribution in pathological lungs of humans and rat. AB - Tetracycline and erythromycin concentrate highly in pulmonary tissues in humans as well as in the rat. Their binding to the lung, whatever the species and the pathological state, is weak. Their intrapulmonary concentrations could be explained by a passive diffusion which depends on the pH variation between the intra- and extratissue compartments, the percentage of un-ionized form present, and their liposolubility. The importance of retention of tetracycline and erythromycin by plasma proteins is demonstrated by the decrease of their pulmonary index of penetration (IP, the intra- and extratissue concentrations ratio). The IP values are, respectively, 1.09 and 1.23 for tetracycline and erythromycin. These concentrations are in excess of their minimal inhibitory concentrations for bacteria responsible for pneumopathies. The lung homogenate binding of these antibiotics is weak (5% for erythromycin and 33% for tetracycline), corresponding to a nonsaturable binding to three main subcellular fractions (nucleus, mitochondria, and cytosol). Tetracycline has the same penetration in healthy or cancerous human lungs, whereas erythromycin presents a decreased IP in cancerous tissue. However, the binding of these antibiotics to healthy or cancerous lung homogenates is similar. So, the structure of cancerous cells is solely responsible for this modification of erythromycin penetration. The intrapulmonary concentration of tetracycline is increased in rat lungs infected by Legionella pneumophila. This modification is due to a great bacteria retention. In contrast, erythromycin possesses the same IP in healthy and infected rat lungs. PMID- 2614692 TI - Power analyses of moment analysis parameter in bioequivalence tests. AB - Simulated and experimental data were used to evaluate the mean residence time (MRT) as a parameter for estimating the rate of bioavailability in bioequivalence tests and to compare MRT with tmax (the time of peak drug concentration), both pharmaceutically and statistically. Although the values of MRT were more dependent on the elimination rate constant than tmax, MRTs were sufficiently sensitive to variations in the absorption rate. The statistical power of MRT infinity obtained by an extrapolation method was lower (especially when the flip flop phenomenon occurred) than that of MRTt (calculated using data from zero time through the last sampling time). However, the power of MRTt was shown to be comparable to or higher than that of either AUCt or Cmax (the peak drug concentration) from simulated data. These results were also confirmed experimentally using previously obtained data. The effect of variances of plasma concentrations on the power of these parameters was also studied using a simulation technique. Even large variances near the last sampling time did not substantially affect the power of MRTt. Thus MRTt can be used as a parameter for estimating the rate of bioavailability from dosage forms in place of tmax in bioequivalence tests. PMID- 2614693 TI - Compaction properties of microcrystalline cellulose and sodium sulfathiazole in combination with talc or magnesium stearate. AB - The dynamic indentation hardness, tensile strength, bonding index, and brittle fracture index were employed to investigate the compaction properties of a plastic excipient, microcrystalline cellulose, and a brittle drug, sodium sulfathiazole, in combination with different levels of either magnesium stearate or talc. These parameters were also used to quantitate properties of various combinations of microcrystalline cellulose and sodium sulfathiazole in order to illustrate the effects of combining a plastic excipient and a brittle drug. It was shown that the tensile strength, indentation hardness, bonding index, and brittle fracture index for compacts composed of microcrystalline cellulose in combination with either talc or magnesium stearate generally decreased as the amount of talc or magnesium stearate was increased over the concentration range of 0 to 9%. Similar results were observed for admixtures of sodium sulfathiazole in combination with either talc or magnesium stearate. It was also demonstrated that the tensile strength, indentation hardness, and bonding index increased, and the brittle fracture index decreased, as the percent of microcrystalline cellulose was increased in a binary mixture of sodium sulfathiazole and microcrystalline cellulose. PMID- 2614694 TI - Direct radioimmunoassay procedure for plasma dexamethasone with a sensitivity at the picogram level. AB - A simple radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the direct quantitation of plasma dexamethasone (DEX) at the picogram level has been developed. An antiserum with high specificity and avidity was obtained by the immunization of a carefully synthesized dexamethasone-21-succinyl-thyroglobulin with a high incorporation ratio. As little as 1 pg of DEX in 50 microL of plasma sample can be detected directly by this RIA without extraction and other purification procedures. Intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 2.1 and 3.3% for plasma levels at 2.93 ng/mL or 2.3 and 7.2% for plasma levels at 0.88 ng/mL. Blank values for plasma of normal or pre-DEX patients were always under the detection limit (20 pg/mL). Excellent linearity (r = 0.9991-0.9999) was demonstrated between the serial dilutions of six plasma samples and their corresponding DEX concentrations. In single-dose DEX (0.25-1 mg) pharmacokinetic studies, plasma DEX was consistently detectable up to 24 h post dose. Compared with existing methods, this direct RIA demonstrates superior performance with regard to simplicity, sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility. It also enables high sample throughput and has proven robust in our hands. This assay should be readily transferable to other laboratories for clinical or research purposes. PMID- 2614695 TI - On the transformation of compartmental systems and the indeterminacy of the volume of distribution. AB - A general compartmental system with multiple-point elimination is transformable to a single-point elimination system. Transformation is achieved by a similarity transformation of the rate constant matrix, A, with a diagonal matrix, D. The elements of D (1, d1, d2,...) are equivalent to the "first-pass" effect between compartments and compartment 1. Application of the derived transformation demonstrates that the volume of distribution as defined by the normalized first moment function is a minimal volume of distribution when there is no "first-pass" effect between the drug input compartment and the observation compartment. In all other cases, the volume of distribution is a meaningless metric since it may be a minimal or maximal metric and the exact status is indeterminate. Theorems on the non-negativity of the elements of (-A)-1 are derived. PMID- 2614696 TI - New method for the preparation of cyanoacrylic nanoparticles with improved colloidal properties. AB - The purpose of this study was to prepare nanoparticles with a size significantly smaller than 0.1 micron. It was shown that when sulphur dioxide was dissolved in the cyanoacrylic monomer at a high concentration, subsequent anionic polymerization in an aqueous phase produced particles as small as 10 nm. Moreover, the obtained particles displayed an important negative charge which improve their stability against aggregation. Finally, nanoparticles were successfully prepared in double-distilled water, thereby avoiding the use of dextran which can induce anaphylactoid reactions. PMID- 2614697 TI - Variations of optical rotation of naproxen: polarimetric determination in the presence of nonchiral basic compounds. PMID- 2614698 TI - Gas chromatographic analysis of anomeric composition of lactose. PMID- 2614699 TI - Microbioluminometry assay: determination of erythromycin activity in plasma or serum. AB - A microbioluminometry assay (MBA) was developed for the quantitative analysis of erythromycin activity in human plasma or serum. The MBA method is adapted from turbidimetric methods and utilizes an enzyme-catalyzed bioluminescence reaction to quantitate the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in liquid culture medium. Statistical analysis of data obtained in method validation studies and in more than 500 assays of standard curve and control samples demonstrates consistent reproducibility and accuracy within theoretical limits. The MBA was shown to be more sensitive than agar diffusion assays with a lower limit of sensitivity less than 20.0 ng/mL and coefficients of variation less than 10%. Cumulative results of 178 assays of spiked control plasma samples in the range of 0.14-2.18 micrograms/mL show 11.2% of individual determinations are greater than +/- 15% the expected value, and 5.6% of individual determinations are greater than +/- 20% the expected value. Bioavailability profiles obtained with MBA are consistent with reported data for erythromycin. Values for 206 subject samples analyzed by MBA and agar diffusion assays showed a high degree of correlation (r = 0.9525) between the two methods. The MBA technique provided high sample throughput because of the use of microtiter plate technologies; it is also economical since it requires less sample and reagents. PMID- 2614700 TI - Phenylpropanolamine potentiates caffeine neurotoxicity in rats. AB - Numerous case reports have documented that phenylpropanolamine (PPA) stimulates the central nervous system with symptoms ranging from anxiety and hallucinations to grand mal seizures produced by overdoses. Most of these reports have occurred following concomitant use of caffeine which in high doses is known to cause seizures and psychotic episodes. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if PPA could potentiate caffeine-induced seizures in the rat. First, the input rate dependence of caffeine-induced neurotoxicity was determined by infusing rats intravenously with caffeine at one of three different rates (1.65 8.12 mg/min) until the onset of maximal seizure. This occurred after an average of 12 to 60 min of infusion. The PPA concentrations in serum, brain, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at this pharmacologic endpoint were independent of infusion rate. In another experiment, rats were pretreated with an anorexiant dose of PPA (30 mg/kg ip) either acutely or chronically for 6 d, while control animals received saline solution. All groups were then infused with caffeine at a rate of 4.18 mg/min until onset of seizures. Caffeine concentrations at that time in serum, brain, and CSF were significantly lower in the PPA-pretreated animals than in the control group. It is concluded that both acute and chronic pretreatment with PPA increases the sensitivity of rats to the neurotoxic effects of caffeine. PMID- 2614701 TI - Inter- and intrasubject variations of ranitidine pharmacokinetics after oral administration to normal male subjects. AB - Inter- and intrasubject variations of ranitidine pharmacokinetics were examined following oral administration of ranitidine tablets (150 mg as base) under controlled conditions at a timed interval of one week (periods I and II) to 12 healthy male subjects. Significant secondary peaks in the plasma concentration time curves were observed in all subjects in both periods. The first peak occurred at 0.5 to 2.5 h and the second peak at 3 to 6 h after the dosing. There were great variations in the plasma concentration-time profiles among subjects; for example, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to 12 h (AUC0-12) varied from 1905 to 5672 micrograms.h/mL. But bioavailability parameters of period I, such as maximum concentration of the first and second plasma peak (Cmax 1 and Cmax 2, respectively), time to first peak (tmax 1), AUC0 12, and AUC from time zero to infinity (AUC0-infinity), were correlated significantly with those of period II. These results suggest that the intrasubject variation of ranitidine pharmacokinetics is usually small over at least one week under the controlled conditions of this study, in spite of its great intersubject variation. PMID- 2614702 TI - Anti-inflammatory activity of substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles. AB - Various 2-(4-biphenoxymethyl)-5-arylamino-1,3,4-oxadiazoles were synthesized by cyclization of the corresponding 1-(4-biphenoxyacetyl)-4-substituted thiosemicarbazides. These compounds were characterized by their elemental analyses and infrared, mass, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data. All substituted thiosemicarbazides (100 mg/kg, ip) and cyclized substituted oxadiazoles (100 mg/kg, ip) possessed anti-inflammatory activity, as reflected by their ability to provide protection against carrageenin-induced edema in the rat paw which ranged from 28 to 68% and 36 to 76%, respectively. Cyclization of the substituted thiosemicarbazides, in general, resulted in an increase in the anti inflammatory activity of their corresponding substituted oxadiazoles, with the exception of those containing 2,4-dimethyl and 3,4-dimethyl substituents in their molecular structure. Hydrocortisone (10 mg/kg, ip) and oxyphenbutazone (40 mg/kg, ip) were used as the standard reference drugs and these provided 45 and 53% protection, respectively. All compounds (1 mM) possessed antiproteolytic activity and the in vitro inhibition of trypsin-induced hydrolysis of bovine serum albumin ranged from 13 to 75% for substituted thiosemicarbazides and 39 to 70% for substituted oxadiazoles. There was no relationship between the anti-inflammatory activity of substituted thiosemicarbazides and substituted oxadiazoles and their antiproteolytic effectiveness. The low toxicity of these compounds was reflected by their high approximate LD50 values, ranging from 500 to 1000 mg/kg. PMID- 2614703 TI - A look toward the next decade. PMID- 2614704 TI - Collagen corneal shields enhance penetration of topical prednisolone acetate. AB - We used an animal model to compare the corneal and aqueous penetration of topical prednisolone acetate 1% with and without the presence of a commercially available collagen corneal shield. A significant (P less than .02) increase in penetration into cornea and aqueous humor at 30 minutes and 120 minutes was found in eyes with a collagen corneal shield in place. Increased concentrations were achieved by soaking the shield in prednisolone acetate for 15 minutes prior to application. PMID- 2614705 TI - Anterior tucking of the iris caused by posterior chamber lenses with polypropylene loops. AB - One hundred ten eyes that had extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation were examined gonioscopically to ascertain the frequency of anteriorly displaced polypropylene loops "tucking" into the posterior iris surface. The association with iris transillumination defects and the development of postoperative uveitis, hyphema, and raised intraocular pressure were also recorded. Sixty-six eyes (60%) had one or two anteriorly tucked loops; 28 of them (25%) had some associated iris transillumination defect related to the implant. Twenty eyes (18%) developed persistent postoperative uveitis; 15 of them had anteriorly tucked loops. Two eyes had postoperative hyphema and in both these eyes the loops were anteriorly tucked. The means of recognizing and preventing potential complications are discussed. PMID- 2614706 TI - Effect of the laser ridge on posterior capsule opacification. AB - The most common complication of extracapsular cataract extraction is posterior capsule opacification, which appears to result from the proliferation of anterior lens epithelium onto the posterior capsule. The presence of a posterior chamber intraocular lens has been shown to decrease the incidence of posterior capsule opacification, possibly by a barrier mechanism. This retrospective clinical study compares the effect of two different lens designs (with and without a laser ridge) on posterior capsule opacification requiring Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Twenty-one of 101 patients (20.8%) with nonridged lenses required Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomies versus 13 of 86 patients (15.1%) with ridged lenses. Although these data showed a clinical benefit from using a ridged lens, no statistical difference in the incidence of posterior capsulotomy was noted. Further evaluation of capsular-optic surface apposition is needed. PMID- 2614707 TI - Role of positioning holes in intraocular lens glare. AB - We performed laboratory studies to determine the role of positioning holes in posterior chamber intraocular lens glare. Several areas of the lens optic were illuminated independently, and the scattering light off the lens was photographed. A conventional lathe-cut lens with four positioning holes on the optic produced the most intense light scattering. Scattering off nonilluminated areas was apparent, and it was suggested that the presence of positioning holes on the optic might contribute to the scattering. Optically complex areas including a hole, optic edge, a loop insertion, and optic-haptic junction produced the scattering in all lenses of various designs. An internal reflex inside the optic may occur, and complex or irregular structures in the optic may be a source of light scattering and some intraocular lens glare. PMID- 2614708 TI - Ultraviolet-absorbing intraocular lens versus non-UV-absorbing intraocular lens: comparison of angiographic cystoid macular edema. AB - We compared the incidence of angiographic cystoid macular edema (CME) in eyes with ultraviolet (UV)-absorbing intraocular lenses (IOLs) with that in eyes with non-UV-absorbing IOLs. Fifty-five bilateral pseudophakic patients received a UV absorbing IOL in one eye and a non-UV-absorbing IOL in the fellow eye. All cases were implanted with posterior chamber lenses following extracapsular cataract extraction. Fluorescein angiography for CME was performed at least six months postoperatively (average 20.0 months). There was no statistically significant difference in visual acuity or in the incidence of CME. PMID- 2614709 TI - Effect of a pupillary light occluder on cystoid macular edema. AB - A prospective, randomized study of 291 patients was performed to determine the effect of a pupillary light occluder on the incidence of angiographic cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients having extracapsular surgery with implantation of a posterior chamber lens. Patients were randomized preoperatively into two groups: those having surgery with and without a pupillary light occluder on the cornea. The occluder was placed on the cornea during suture placement, following the extracapsular lens extraction and intraocular lens implantation. Of the 291 patients, 198 had angiograms readable for the presence or absence of CME. The incidence of angiographic CME in patients with the occluder was 15.0%; in those without the occluder it was 12.5%. The difference was not statistically significant. The presence or absence of an occluder on the cornea during suture placement does not affect the incidence of angiographic CME or the visual results of these cases. PMID- 2614710 TI - Epikeratophakia for the treatment of hyperopia. AB - Nordan epikeratophakia technique (NET) is described for the treatment of hyperopia and the results in eight eyes are reported (mean = +5.09 +/- 0.85 diopters preoperatively and -2.09 +/- 1.22 diopters postoperatively). The Nordan epikeratophakia technique is a modification of Kaufman-McDonald epikeratophakia with advantages that are described. Data are analyzed according to traditional means in addition to newer indices that consider both the uncorrected visual acuity and the refractive error. PMID- 2614711 TI - Effectiveness of intraocular lens calculation in high ametropia. AB - The error in prediction of emmetropic intraocular lens power or postoperative refractive error after lens implantation was analyzed in three groups of eyes after posterior chamber lens implantation. Regression line calculation with the SRK equation or with a group-specific regression was compared with theoretical calculations in unselected, long myopic and short hyperopic eyes. The cut-off length was below 22.0 mm for the short eyes and above 25.9 mm for the long eyes. In the unselected and hyperopic group, there was only a small difference in mean error and error variance when the three calculation methods were compared. In the high myopic group, the range of error increased in all methods. The worst results were obtained with the standard SRK equation because the slope of the regression line in myopic eyes differs from the classical regression line calculated on an average population of implants. Lens calculation in high myopic eyes should therefore be performed with a specific regression line or by theoretical calculation. PMID- 2614712 TI - Retrospective study of retinal detachment following neodymium:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. AB - A retrospective study of 1,000 cases that had Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy after cataract surgery is presented. We analyzed the correlation of the patient's age, axial length of the eye, method of cataract surgery, and laser parameters (exposures, energy, and burst mode) with the incidence of retinal detachment (1.6% overall). The highest risk for retinal detachment (12.3%) was in patients with an axial eye length of 26.1 mm to 28.0 mm. The average age of patients with retinal detachments was 60.6 years, ten years younger than the collective average age. Laser parameters, such as energy, exposures, and burst mode, and the method of cataract surgery (extracapsular or phacoemulsification) did not correlate with the incidence of retinal detachment. After surgical treatment of the 16 retinal detachments, a good postoperative visual acuity (better than 20/40) was achieved in most cases. PMID- 2614713 TI - Effects of intraocular dapiprazole in the rabbit eye. AB - Dapiprazole produces miosis by blocking the alpha 1 receptors in the radial muscle of the iris; its intraocular effect has not yet been investigated. In this preliminary experimental animal study, we investigated the intracameral use of 0.2 ml of 0.005%, 0.0075%, 0.01%, and 0.05% dapiprazole to reverse mydriasis by 10% phenylephrine plus 0.5% tropicamide. With the 0.05% dapiprazole concentration, the values (mean +/- S.E.) of pupillary diameter were as follows: prior to the experiment, 5.3 +/- 0.31 mm; after mydriatics, 8.7 +/- 0.22 mm; after intraocular dapiprazole, 5.6 mm +/- 0.29. The results showed a dose-related miotic effect of dapiprazole. No difference in the toxicity parameters (inflammatory score, corneal thickness, endothelial cell counting, aqueous humor protein concentration, and intraocular pressure) was found between dapiprazole treated eyes and saline-solution-treated eyes. Intraocular 0.01% and 0.05% dapiprazole is an effective miotic agent that may be helpful during surgery when the reversal of sympathomimetic mydriasis is needed. PMID- 2614714 TI - Practice styles and preferences of ASCRS members--1988 survey. AB - A survey of the practice styles and preferences of 1988 ASCRS members with a U.S. zip code was taken in September 1988. A total of 3,662 questionnaires were mailed and over 46% (1,687) were returned prior to the November 1, 1988, cutoff date. Three main profile questions were used to cross analyze the results. These profile questions were age of the ophthalmologist, volume of cataract surgery per month, and geographic location. The following is a report on the survey with comparisons to previously published surveys of the ASCRS membership. PMID- 2614715 TI - Propionibacterium acnes endophthalmitis: an unusual manner of presentation. AB - An unusual clinical presentation of Propionibacterium acnes endophthalmitis as a solitary nodule on the corneal endothelial surface at the superior limbus in association with granulomatous uveitis is reported. The patient had previous extracapsular cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation and two subsequent YAG laser capsulotomies. The organism was grown from a microbiopsy of the nodule after a negative anterior chamber tap. The patient was treated with systemic antibiotics, his condition worsened, and the implant, lens capsule, and anterior vitreous were surgically removed. No additional organisms were found and there was no evidence of coexistent phacoanaphylaxis. The patient had no further inflammation and attained 20/25 aphakic vision. PMID- 2614716 TI - Double-hook extraction technique. AB - To prevent the occurrence of a radial tear at the edge of the continuous circular capsulorhexis at nucleus extraction, I have been performing a new nucleus extraction technique called double-hook extraction. This technique consists of three steps: Step 1, fluid dissection; Step 2, double-hook extraction; Step 3, extraction of the nucleus from the eye. This technique is an easy, safe, and effective way to maintain capsular integrity and implant posterior chamber lenses completely in the bag after planned extracapsular cataract extraction. PMID- 2614717 TI - Lens epithelial cell removal by ultrasound: access to 12 o'clock. AB - With the ultrasound method for removing lens epithelial cells reported previously, it is difficult to access and remove the cells at the 12 o'clock region. An additional technique for removing these cells is described. The ultrasound tip is placed on the anterior capsule, not underneath it, and ultrasound aspiration is performed. Histological findings show that the region swept once with the tip was completely free of lens epithelial cells. This additional technique allows complete removal of lens epithelial cells from the entire region of the anterior capsule. PMID- 2614718 TI - New ophthalmic microsurgical needleholder. PMID- 2614719 TI - New disposable cystotome for capsulorhexis. AB - Circular tear capsulotomy, or capsulorhexis, is becoming an increasingly popular method of anterior capsulotomy. We describe a new cystotome with a simple tip modification which is useful for performing a circular tear capsulotomy. The cystotome is a 27 gauge disposable device that is similar to a conventional cystotome used for a can-opener-type capsulotomy except for its unique but simple tip modification. The beveled tip is first bent at 90 degrees and then twisted on its main axis so that the beveled cutting edge is parallel (i.e., in the same axis) to the shaft of the cystotome. We also briefly describe its method of use. PMID- 2614720 TI - Consultation section. Varied techniques for manual nucleus removal. PMID- 2614721 TI - Aspheric cornea after excimer laser surgery. PMID- 2614722 TI - Progressive hyperopia following radial keratotomy. PMID- 2614723 TI - The Bayliss-Starling lecture. Some special senses in the sea. PMID- 2614724 TI - Electrophysiological evidence for interhemispheric transmission of visual information in man. AB - 1. Electrophysiological evidence is presented of interactions between two stimuli (sinusoidal gratings of equal spatial frequency but different contrast, phase reversed sinusoidally at different temporal frequencies) located on opposite side of, and within a few degrees from, the vertical meridian. 2. These interactions are revealed by a depression of the cortical visual evoked potential (VEP) evoked by the grating of lower contrast in the presence of the grating of higher contrast. They are similar to, albeit weaker than, those obtained with superimposed asynchronously modulated gratings. 3. The VEP reduction occurs also if the stimuli are presented dichoptically. 4. It does not occur if the gratings are located one above the other either on the same or on opposite sides of the vertical meridian. 5. The strength of the VEP reduction depends on the relative contrast of the two gratings and vanishes for spatial frequencies beyond 4 cycles/deg and temporal frequencies of the high-contrast grating beyond 10 Hz. 6. The results are in agreement with data on visual callosal connections in animals and confirm previous psychophysical findings (Berardi & Fiorentini, 1987) indicating the particular properties of the interhemispheric cross-talk between symmetric regions of the visual field astride the vertical meridian in man. PMID- 2614725 TI - Effects of a monoclonal anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody on the avian end plate. AB - 1. The effects of anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 370 and 132A on miniature end-plate potentials (MEPPs) and end-plate currents (EPCs) in the posterior latissimus dorsi muscle of adult chickens were investigated. 2. After incubation of the electrophysiological preparation with mAb 370 (5-50 micrograms/ml), which blocks both agonist (carbamylcholine) and alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) binding and induces a hyperacute form of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG), MEPP and EPC amplitudes were irreversibly reduced. 3. This effect was not associated with any significant change in the time constant describing EPC decay (tau EPC), current reversal potential, or the voltage dependence of tau EPC. The tau EPC at -80 mV was 5.9 +/ 0.6 ms before incubation with mAb 370 (50 micrograms/ml) and 6.0 +/- 0.9 ms afterwards. Current reversal potential was -3.9 +/- 0.4 mV before mAb incubation and -4.8 +/- 1.5 mV afterwards. The change in membrane potential required to produce an e-fold change in tau EPC was 128 +/- 2.3 mV before antibody incubation compared to 125 +/- 6.6 mV after incubation. 4. A second anti-AChR mAb, 132A (50 micrograms/ml), which is capable of inducing the classically described form of EAMG without blocking agonist or alpha-BTX binding, or inducing hyperacute EAMG, produced no significant change in MEPP amplitude, EPC amplitude, tau EPC or EPC reversal potentials. 5. The mAb 370 (50 micrograms/ml) induced a partially reversible decrease of the quantal content of the neurally evoked end-plate potential (EPP). This effect was not observed with mAb 132A, (+)tubocurarine (10( 7)-10(-5) g/ml) or an irrelevant anti-oestrogen receptor mAb. 6. These data suggest that the rapid onset of weakness observed in chicken hatchlings after the injection of mAb 370 (Gomez & Richman, 1983) can be attributed to a combined effect of a block of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced ion channel activity in the postsynaptic membrane and a reduction of the neurally evoked release of acetylcholine from the nerve terminal. PMID- 2614726 TI - Electromyographic reflexes evoked in human wrist flexors by tendon extension and by displacement of the wrist joint. AB - 1. The electromyographic (EMG) reflexes evoked in the wrist flexor muscle, flexor carpi radialis (FCR), by percutaneous extension of its tendon and by forcible extension of the wrist joint have been studied. Reflexes were elicited during steadily maintained voluntary flexor contraction of 10% of each subject's maximum. 2. Tendon extension, using 'ramp and hold' displacements, evoked fairly prolonged (ca 50 ms) increases in EMG activity. These responses were usually subdivided into two main excitatory peaks of respectively short (SL, ca 20 ms) and long (LL, ca 45 ms) latency. This pattern contrasted with that observed following brief tendon taps when only a single, SL peak was elicited. 3. 'Stretch' reflexes evoked by 'ramp and hold' wrist extensions, as has been noted by numerous earlier investigators, were also protracted and comprised two main excitatory components. These responses resembled those produced by tendon extension both in their general form and in their behaviour upon altering the velocity of mechanical stimuli. Quantitatively, however, two main differences were evident. The reflexes evoked by wrist extension, including their SL and LL peaks, were generally somewhat larger. Additionally, when parameters of the two modes of stimulation were adjusted to elicit SL responses of equivalent amplitude, the LL responses elicited by tendon extension were regularly smaller and of shorter duration than those elicited by wrist extension. 4. Termination of the two forms of mechanical stimulation, by releasing tendon or wrist extension, each elicited a SL reduction in EMG activity. Such troughs were more pronounced and more consistently observed upon release of wrist extension. 5. Neither local anaesthesia of the skin overlying the flexor tendons at the wrist nor ischaemia of the hand and lower forearm produced any systematic modification of reflex response patterns. 6. It is concluded that intramuscular receptors (presumably muscle spindles) in FCR mediate both the SL and LL reflexes evoked in this muscle by extension of its tendon. Intramuscular receptors also seem certain to be very largely responsible for the EMG responses generated in this muscle by wrist extension. PMID- 2614727 TI - The effects of metabolic inhibition on intracellular calcium and pH in isolated rat ventricular cells. AB - 1. Intracellular calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) and pH (pHi) were measured in single, isolated rat ventricular myocytes using, respectively, the fluorescent indicators Fura-2 and BCECF (2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein). Contraction was measured simultaneously. The intracellular calibration of BCECF is demonstrated. In a HEPES-buffered bathing solution of pH 7.4, pHi had a mean value of 7.16 +/- 0.05 (mean +/- S.E.M.). 2. Addition of NH4Cl (5-20 mM) produced an intracellular alkalosis that was associated with an increase of contraction amplitude. Removal of NH4Cl produced an acidosis and decrease of contraction. 3. The addition of 2 mM-cyanide (CN-) to inhibit oxidative phosphorylation had variable effects on contraction amplitude. Changes of contraction amplitude could largely be accounted for by changes in the systolic Ca2+ transient. 4. CN- addition increased lactic acid production. However, in the majority of experiments, this was not accompanied by an intracellular acidosis. 5. Anaerobic glycolysis was inhibited by either removal of glucose, addition of deoxyglucose, or addition of iodoacetate. Under these conditions the application of CN- decreased systolic [Ca2+]i and contraction amplitude. This was sometimes preceded by a transient increase of systolic [Ca2+]i and contraction amplitude. 6. When glycolysis was inhibited, the subsequent addition of CN- always increased diastolic [Ca2+]i and produced a contracture. The increase of [Ca2+]i occurred before the contracture. However, once the contracture had developed, decreasing [Ca2+]i (by removal of external Ca2+) did not cause relaxation. 7. With glycolysis inhibited, addition of CN- resulted in a large (0.51 +/- 0.05 pH unit) acidosis that was sometimes preceded by an alkalosis. This acidosis was unaffected by removal of external Ca2+ or external alkalinization. Calculations show that some of this acidosis may result from protons released by ATP hydrolysis. 8. If the acidosis produced by metabolic blockade was partly reversed by adding NH4Cl then a contracture immediately developed. This suggests that the acidosis delays the onset of the contracture. 9. We conclude that metabolic inhibition increases diastolic [Ca2+]i. The accompanying acidosis prevents contraction. Once the contracture has developed it is maintained by factors other than increased [Ca2+]i, possibly by a fall of [ATP]. PMID- 2614728 TI - Cholecystokinin receptor antagonism by peptidergic and non-peptidergic agents in rat pancreas. AB - 1. Graded doses of bombesin infused I.V. into conscious rats with chronic pancreatic fistulae induced a dose-dependent stimulation of protein secretion, similar to that obtained with caerulein. This stimulation does not appear to be mediated by cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors because peptidergic (CR-1409) and non peptidergic (L-364718) CCK antagonists failed to affect protein secretion at a dose range which caused almost complete suppression of caerulein-induced pancreatic secretion. 2. Studies in vitro on isolated rat pancreatic acini revealed that caerulein, pentagastrin and bombesin all showed the same efficacy in their ability to stimulate amylase release. In contrast, CCK antagonists competitively inhibited amylase release induced by caerulein and pentagastrin but not by bombesin or urecholine, indicating that the latter two agents act directly on acinar cells via receptors which are separate from those involved in stimulation induced by caerulein and pentagastrin. 3. DNA synthesis, measured by the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA, was significantly stimulated by caerulein, soybean trypsin inhibitor (FOY 305), pentagastrin and by bombesin in a dose-dependent manner. CCK receptor antagonists prevented stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by caerulein, FOY 305 and pentagastrin but not by bombesin. 4. This study indicates that bombesin strongly stimulates pancreatic enzyme secretion, with an efficacy similar to that of caerulein, and also exerts a potent growth-promoting action on the pancreas, both effects appearing to be mediated by mechanisms independent of the CCK receptors. PMID- 2614729 TI - A short-latency crossed pathway from cutaneous afferents to rat hindlimb motoneurones. AB - 1. A novel pathway is described which mediates excitation of hindlimb moto neurones from contralateral afferents. Stimulation of contralateral limb nerves evoked short-latency (less than 5 ms) EPSPs in 55% of motoneurones tested. 2. The EPSPs were evoked by fast-conducting contralateral afferents activated by electrical stimuli of 1.04-2.5 times nerve threshold. Stimulation of contralateral muscle nerves did not evoke short-latency EPSPs, whereas nerves which contain afferents from distal skin territories (sural, superficial peroneal, tibial and saphenous nerves) did. 3. Central latencies were determined for the EPSPs from the arrival of the earliest components of the afferent volleys at the spinal cord. The earliest latencies were very brief (1.5 ms). These are comparable to the latencies of disynaptic inhibition in rat motoneurones from ipsilateral group I muscle afferents (1.5-1.7 ms). We conclude that a disynaptic relay is likely to be responsible for the earliest of the crossed EPSPs. 4. Short latency crossed EPSPs were found in all types of motoneurone tested (including both flexor and extensor motoneurones) except in six cells innervating intrinsic foot muscles. In view of the origin and distribution of the crossed EPSPs, their possible functional role is discussed. PMID- 2614730 TI - Effects of halothane and enflurane on firing threshold of frog myelinated axons. AB - 1. Firing thresholds and conduction latencies of single myelinated axons in frog sciatic nerves were monitored during impulse activity in vitro. Resting threshold and the activity dependence of threshold were studied as a function of the concentration of two inhalational anaesthetic agents, halothane and enflurane. 2. At concentrations comparable to those obtained during general anaesthesia both agents produced biphasic effects on the resting threshold. A step increase in the partial pressure of anaesthetic was followed first by a transient lowering of threshold, then by a slow rise to a steady-state level above the original baseline. Step decreases in anaesthetic were followed by transient rises before threshold dropped. Transients lasted 20-30 min. During these threshold transients, the average latency of impulse conduction changed monotonically. The prolongation of latency following an increase in anaesthetic was progressive, reaching steady state concurrently with threshold (20 min to greater than 1 h). 3. The anaesthetics reduced the long-lasting increased threshold ('depression') which normally follows repetitive impulse activity in axon membrane. 4. These actions of halothane at concentrations of 0.25-2.7% (0.14-1.54 mM) and enflurane at concentrations of 0.62-3.08% (0.35-1.73 mM) on resting threshold and on the activity-dependent increase in threshold increased monotonically with anaesthetic concentration. 5. The effects on excitability at steady state are consistent with block of voltage-dependent Na+ and K+ channels by these inhalational agents. Reduced depression may occur because the anaesthetics reduce the net ion transfer per impulse, slowing the substrate-driven Na+-K+-ATPase and thereby reducing electrogenic hyper-polarization. 6. The finding that general anaesthetics inhibit depression at clinically relevant concentrations supports the possibility that general anaesthesia is produced by inhibition of processes that modulate excitability of nerve membrane. We suggest that general anaesthetics produce unconsciousness and amnesia because they disrupt activity-dependent processes, which may thus remove temporal 'context' essential for interpreting nerve impulse patterns. PMID- 2614731 TI - The contribution of atrial systole to mitral diastolic blood flow increases during exercise in humans. AB - 1. The change in the relative contribution of the early passive and later active phases of transmitral flow to left ventricular filling was studied using Doppler echocardiography in ten normal male subjects during mild exercise. 2. The peak velocity of passive flow increased during exercise by a mean of 16% whereas peak velocity of active flow increased by a mean of 89%. Hence the ratio of the peak velocities decreased in a linear fashion with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.95. 3. The ratio of the Doppler-derived velocity-time integrals (equivalent to the ratio of flow) of the two phases of transmitral flow also showed a significant negative linear correlation of r = -0.97. 4. Active atrial transport (atrial systole) progressively increases its contribution to overall transmitral blood flow with increasing heart rate during mild exercise. This effect is mainly mediated by an increase in flow velocity which is related to increased atrial contractility. PMID- 2614732 TI - Depolarization changes the mechanism of accommodation in rat and human motor axons. AB - 1. We have previously studied accommodation in rat and human motor axons by testing excitability with combinations of long and short current pulses. We found that normally polarized axons accommodate slowly and partially (over about 50 ms) to subthreshold depolarizing currents, and that the principal mechanism is the activation of slow potassium channels (Bostock & Baker, 1988). To understand the response of human nerves to ischaemia, we have now extended these observations to axons already depolarized before the testing currents were applied. 2. Rat ventral root axons were depolarized by passing continuous currents or by raising the extracellular potassium concentration. Human forearm nerves were depolarized by ischaemia, induced by inflating a sphygmomanometer cuff on the upper arm. Depolarized rat and human motor axons accommodated much more rapidly and completely than normally polarized axons (e.g. accommodation in rat axons was 50% complete within 2 ms at about 15 mV depolarized to rest). 3. The fast component of accommodation in depolarized rat fibres was not blocked by tetraethylammonium ions or 4-aminopyridine, was not accompanied by a conductance or potential change, and had a time constant of 1.7 ms at 30 degrees C. It was attributed to inactivation of closed sodium channels. 4. In depolarized rat fibres exhibiting fast accommodation, a brief rise in excitability was seen at the break of an anodal current. Our prediction that human motor axons would show anode-break excitation during ischaemia was readily confirmed. 5. The results are discussed in relation to Hill's (1936) mathematical description of accommodation in nerve, and it is concluded that his description is only applicable to depolarized axons. PMID- 2614733 TI - The effect of chronic hypoxia upon the development of respiratory chemoreflexes in the newborn kitten. AB - 1. We have studied the reflex respiratory responses to two-breath alternations of fractional inspired oxygen (FI,O2) in normoxic (reared in room air) and chronically hypoxic kittens (born into and reared in an FI,O2 of 0.13-0.15) on post-natal days 1, 2-3, 4-8 and 9-14. 2. Respiration was measured non-invasively in the unanaesthetized kittens. Test runs (with alternations of FI,O2 between 0.21 and 0.14) and control runs (with an FI,O2 of 0.21) were carried out during quiet sleep. 3. The degree of alternation in tidal volume, inspiratory time, expiratory time, frequency, drive, timing and instantaneous ventilation components of the respiratory response was compared during control and test runs. 4. There was little response to control runs in either group at any post-natal age. 5. In normoxic kittens we found no significant reflex response in any respiratory variable to test runs before day 4. However significant alternation was found in expiratory time, frequency and ventilation at days 4-8 and in tidal volume at days 9-14. 6. In chronically hypoxic kittens there were no significant differences between control and test runs at any of the ages studied. 7. In the normoxic group increases in the response with post-natal age probably reflect post-natal increases in the sensitivity of the peripheral chemoreceptors. The lack of development in the chronically hypoxic group may indicate abnormal function or delayed maturation of the peripheral chemoreceptor sensitivity to hypoxia. 8. The results suggest that the method can be used to detect developmental and pathological changes in the arterial chemoreflex. PMID- 2614734 TI - Factors affecting the accuracy of position matching at the proximal interphalangeal joint in human subjects. AB - 1. The ability of normal subjects to match finger position at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint was tested under a number of different conditions. One finger (target finger) was passively displaced in a pseudorandom manner whilst the other (matching) finger was actively positioned by the subject. 2. Digital nerve block of the target finger resulted in the matching finger only being displaced through a small range ('range compression') whilst anaesthesia of the matching finger produced the opposite effect ('range expansion'). 3. When the finger is unanaesthetized, the velocity of displacement of the target finger from one position to the next does not affect the accuracy of position matching. However, during digital nerve block of the target finger, matching errors increase with decreasing velocity. 4. The impairment of matching performance during digital nerve block is due specifically to loss of input from receptors in and around the PIP joint, as anaesthesia of the tip of the finger to produce any significant decrement in matching accuracy. 5. The results show that muscle receptors contribute to position sense at this joint but are not the exclusive source of proprioceptive sensations. PMID- 2614735 TI - 2-Chloroadenosine reduces the N calcium current of cultured mouse sensory neurones in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner. AB - 1. The adenosine analogue 2-chloroadenosine (CADO) reduced the duration of calcium-dependent action potentials (CAPs) in mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones in culture, by reducing voltage-activated calcium conductance (Macdonald, Skerritt & Werz, 1986). Using the single-electrode voltage clamp technique, we recorded three calcium current components in these neurones, the transient low-threshold (T), transient high-threshold (N) and slowly inactivating high-threshold (L) currents, as described previously (Nowycky, Fox & Tsien, 1985; Gross & Macdonald, 1987). CADO (100 microM) had no effect on the isolated T and L currents. In contrast, CADO reduced calcium currents evoked at clamp potentials positive to -20 mV from holding potentials (Vh) near the resting membrane potential; under these conditions, the calcium current consisted primarily of N and L calcium current components. 2. This effect of CADO was not voltage dependent. CADO reduced the magnitude of the calcium current without affecting the voltage dependence of the calcium current-voltage relation. In addition, similar reductions of calcium current were observed when currents were evoked from Vh of -60 or -80 mV. 3. In order to determine if a guanine nucleotide binding (G) protein was involved in the CADO effect on calcium current, cultures were pre-treated with pertussis toxin (PT) for at least four hours. PT (100 ng/ml) reduced or abolished the CADO-induced reduction of CAP duration and calcium current. 4. Since CADO inhibits adenylate cyclase through the PT sensitive G protein, Gi, we compared the effects of CADO and 8-Br-adenosine 3',5' cyclic-monophosphate (8-Br-cyclic AMP) on calcium current. The effect of 8-Br cyclic AMP was voltage dependent, unlike that of CADO. 8-Br-cyclic AMP reduced calcium currents evoked from Vh = -65 mV, but had no effect on currents evoked from Vh = -85 mV. 5. We conclude that the adenosine agonist CADO reduced CAP duration in mouse DRG neurones by selectively reducing the N current component, and that the coupling between the adenosine receptor and the calcium channel required a PT-sensitive G protein. The CADO effect was unlikely, however, to be due to modulation of adenylate cyclase activity. PMID- 2614736 TI - Rubidium ions and the gating of delayed rectifier potassium channels of frog skeletal muscle. AB - 1. Unitary currents were measured through delayed rectifier potassium channels of frog skeletal muscle, under conditions where either potassium or rubidium ions carried current. 2. Unitary currents were reduced in amplitude when Rb+ was the charge carrier, indicating that Rb+ permeated the channel less readily than did K+. On the other hand permeability ratios (PRb/PK) measured from the change in reversal potential upon ionic substitution were 0.92 for the external and 0.67 for the internal mouth of the channel. 3. Ensemble-averaged currents activated under depolarization along a similarly S-shaped time course whether K+ or Rb+ carried current, though slightly more slowly in Rb+. However, under repolarization to a negative level, tail currents were prolonged about tenfold in Rb+. 4. The duration of channel opening was substantially prolonged in Rb+. The distribution of open times was fitted by a single exponential whether K+ or Rb+ was the charge carrier, indicating a single open state. But the mean open time, averaged over all voltages investigated, was 2.65 times greater in Rb+. 5. The prolongation in Rb+ of tail currents under repolarization was associated with increases in the number of openings per burst and in the number of bursts during each tail. 6. The implications of these results for channel gating are discussed. It is argued that an early step in channel activation is more voltage dependent than later steps. PMID- 2614737 TI - The force-velocity relationship at high shortening velocities in the soleus muscle of the rat. AB - 1. In intact skeletal muscle fibres, estimates of unloaded shortening velocity obtained from slack test measurements (V0) have been shown to exceed, by approximately 7%, estimates obtained from extrapolation of velocities measured during isotonic releases (Vmax). In contrast, published values for the V0 of whole soleus muscles of rats exceed Vmax by 56%. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that this difference between whole muscles and single fibres is due to a difference in their respective force-velocity relationships at loads less than 5% of maximum isometric tetanic force (P0). In addition, we examined, by computer simulation, the effect of inter-fibre heterogeneity on the force velocity characteristics of a whole muscle. 2. The force-velocity relationship of soleus muscles of rats was determined at low loads, in vitro at 20 degrees C, by recording force maintained during controlled shortening at constant velocities. The relationship was simulated by assigning a hyperbolic force-velocity curve to each motor unit and summing the force contributions of individual units at each of a series of velocities. 3. When measurements from low loads were included, the force-velocity relationship intersected the velocity axis at V0 (5.0 +/- 0.1 fibre lengths/s, mean +/- S.E.M., n = 10), not Vmax (3.1 +/- 0.1 fibre lengths/s). The simulated and measured force-velocity relationships agreed at all loads, supporting the premise that the deviation from hyperbolic form responsible for the large disparity between V0 and Vmax of whole muscles is a consequence of heterogeneity in shortening velocity among fibres. PMID- 2614738 TI - The human pressor response during and following voluntary and evoked isometric contraction with occluded local blood supply. AB - 1. Changes in heart rate and blood pressure were observed, in nine healthy subjects, during and after voluntary and electrically evoked isometric contractions of the triceps surae under conditions of local circulatory arrest. 2. The progressive increases in heart rate and blood pressure seen during 2 min voluntary and evoked contractions at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction were not significantly different in the two conditions. On cessation of contraction but with circulatory arrest maintained, heart rate fell to control levels while blood pressure fell to a similar though still significantly elevated level in both conditions. Elevated blood pressure was maintained for 2 min until the circulatory occlusion was removed; however it was maintained at a significantly higher level for the last 60-90 s of occlusion following electrically evoked contractions compared to voluntary contraction. 3. Comparison of the responses to voluntary and involuntary electrically evoked contractions suggest that 'central command' is not necessary for the initial increases in heart rate and blood pressure to occur. In addition the removal of central command on cessation of contraction need not account for the return of heart rate to control levels or the drop in blood pressure at that time. Maintained blood pressure elevation during circulatory occlusion would seem to be due to the trapping of chemical substances within the muscle interstitium. PMID- 2614739 TI - Afferent C fibre innervation of cat tooth pulp: confirmation by electrophysiological methods. AB - 1. The presence of afferent C fibres innervating the lower canine tooth was investigated in Nembutal-anaesthetized cats. 2. Twenty-five single fibres with conduction velocities (CVp) of less than 2.5 m/s, as calculated from the shortest response latency using monopolar electrical stimulation of the tooth, were recorded from the inferior alveolar nerve. In addition, the extradental conduction velocity (CVn) of the fibres was determined by using bipolar electrical stimulation of the trunk of the inferior alveolar nerve. 3. The mean CVp was 1.4 +/- 0.4 m/s (n = 25; range, 0.6-2.4 m/s); the mean CVn was higher, 1.7 +/- 0.9 m/s (n = 25; range, 0.6-4.0 m/s). For 20% of the fibres CVn exceeded 2.5 m/s; these were slowly conducting A delta fibres. For 80% of the fibres, however, the extradental conduction velocity was in the C fibre range. 4. The relationship between CVp (y) and CVn (x) was y = 0.66 + 0.40x, the correlation coefficient being r = 0.85. According to the present results this implies that for a reliable classification of pulpal C fibres (CVn less than or equal to 2.5 m/s) by monopolar tooth stimulation alone, CVp should be less than 1.7 m/s. 5. For twenty-three of the twenty-five fibres, one to three discrete shortenings of the response latency occurred when the intensity of the tooth stimulation was increased. When the nerve trunk itself was stimulated, a constant response latency was measured at all stimulus intensities applied. 6. For twelve fibres tested, the mean rate of electrical stimulation of the tooth, which the response followed with a constant latency, was 4.1 +/- 2.3 Hz (range, 1.5-10.0 Hz). With higher rates of stimulation the response latency increased until the fibres failed to follow each stimulus pulse. 7. Fifteen of the nineteen fibres tested responded to radiant heat stimulation of the tooth they were innervating. The mean temperature threshold was 41.4 +/- 2.7 degrees C (n = 11; range, 37.4 +/- 46.4 degrees C). 8. For eight heat-sensitive pulpal C fibres the receptive field was determined by mechanical stimulation of the exposed pulp tissue. Four C fibres developed a long-lasting on-going discharge after intense mechanical stimulation of the receptive field. 9. The discharge evoked by heat and mechanical stimulation of the tooth occluded the response evoked by simultaneously applied electrical current pulses to the nerve trunk, indicating that the same fibres were activated by both tooth and nerve stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2614740 TI - Primary afferent depolarization of central terminals of group II muscle afferents in the cat spinal cord. AB - 1. The origin of primary afferent depolarization (PAD) of the central terminals of group II afferent fibres of tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus muscles has been investigated in the cat. Changes in the excitability of the terminals to intraspinal stimuli, upon application of conditioning stimuli to muscle nerves (quadriceps, sartorius, gracilis, posterior biceps-semitendinosus, anterior biceps-semimembranosus, gastrocnemius-soleus, deep peroneal), cutaneous nerves (sural, superficial peroneal) and the posterior nerve to the knee joint, were used as a measure of PAD. 2. PAD was most readily evoked by conditioning stimuli which were maximal for group II muscle afferents. However, some PAD was also evoked from group I afferents and evidence is presented that group Ia afferents contributed. Afferents of posterior biceps-semitendinosus and sartorius muscles appeared to be most effective. PAD was also evoked by stimulation of cutaneous and joint nerves, often in the same fibres which were affected by group Ia afferents. 3. It is concluded that there are several common sources of PAD of group II and group Ia afferent terminals on the one hand, and group Ib afferent terminals on the other. 4. The properties of PAD of group II afferents are discussed in relation to the problem of how PAD affects transmission from fibres with long terminal branches of small diameter. PMID- 2614741 TI - Facilitation of individual gamma-motoneurones by the discharge of single slowly adapting type 1 mechanoreceptors in cats. AB - 1. Cross-correlation of the discharges of individual neurones has been used to investigate the influence of identified cutaneous afferents on gamma-motoneurones below the level of complete spinal section in decerebrated cats. Discharges of single, sural nerve afferents from the heel were recorded in the dorsal root ganglia. Discharges of gamma-motoneurones were recorded from cut filaments of the muscle nerve to gastrocnemius medialis of the same leg. gamma-Motoneurones had a background discharge in the absence of intentional stimulation. 2. Correlograms involving slowly adapting afferents were formed during steady application of a probe to the receptive field for repeated periods of 10 s. Afferent synchronization was minimized by rejecting any period of probe movement. Correlograms involving rapidly adapting afferents required continuous movement of the probe to sustain afferent discharge. 3. Statistically significant primary peaks in correlations were observed for twenty-one pairings of gamma-motoneurones with seventeen out of thirty-nine slowly adapting, type 1 (SA1) mechanoreceptors. Primary peaks had widths at half-maximum in the range of 2-7 ms. No such short duration peaks were seen for fourteen pairings of gamma-motoneurones with eleven slowly adapting type 2 (SA2) receptors or for thirty-five pairings with twenty nine hair follicle (HF) afferents. Broad correlations with peaks extending over tens of milliseconds were seen for HF afferents and could be generated in correlograms for slowly adapting afferents by moving the probe. 4. The short duration peaks were delayed with respect to the SA1 afferent discharges. Subtraction of peripheral conduction times gave central delays for the increased probability of gamma-motoneurone firing ranging from 2.7 to 6.5 ms (mean = 4.0 ms). These values were not significantly different from the central delays of gamma-motoneurone excitation in response to electrical stimulation of the sural nerve at a strength 1.2 times threshold. 5. The increase in probability of gamma motoneurone discharge given a single SA1 afferent discharge ranged from 0.005 to 0.156 with a mean value of 0.052. The rise time of the peak ranged from 1 to 4 ms with a mean value of 1.9 ms (n = 9). 6. The properties of the correlogram peaks were not related to the axon conduction velocity of either the SA1 afferent or gamma efferent neurones. 7. The SA1 afferents that facilitated gamma-motoneurone discharge had axon conduction velocities in the range 29-81 m/s and could not be distinguished from SA1 afferents lacking correlations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2614742 TI - [The cortical EEG in the acallosal mouse]. AB - The congenital absence of the corpus callosum has recently been found to occur among some mice of the ddN strain in our laboratory. Morphologically, the absence of corpus callosum was classified into two types. One was complete agenesis of corpus callosum, and the other revealed partial agenesis (genu or splenium, or both). In this experiment, the differences of cortical EEG spectral characteristics were studied on the normal, hypogenesis and acallosal mice. A total of 75 male and female adult mice were used. Under light ether anesthesia, five stainless steel electrodes (0.29 mm) were implanted stereotaxically in the bilateral cerebral cortex and cerebellum at a depth of 1.0 mm. After one week recovery period, the correlations of EEG of five combinations, such as homotopic anterior vs. posterior, left vs. right hemispheres, crossed contralateral, and homotopic anterior and posterior to the reference electrode, were analysed with a signal processor. In the complete acallosal mice (n = 11), the correlation coefficients were significantly lower (p less than 0.05), in the crossed contralateral, left vs. right hemispheres, and homotopic posterior to reference. In the hypogenesis of corpus callosum (n = 7), however, they were no significant differences in the correlation compared with normal mice (n = 57). At the end of experiment, the brain was removed and fixed with 10% formalin, then it was cut in half along the midsagittal plane. The midsagittal section was used to examine an outline of the corpus callosum. PMID- 2614743 TI - Medical audit. PMID- 2614744 TI - Meningioma as an incidental finding in an intensive care unit. AB - A report on two hypotensive episodes secondary to post-operative haemorrhage is presented. Recovery was complicated by prolonged coma and a frontal meningioma was eventually discovered. The possible aetiology of this coma is discussed. Intracranial pathology should be suspected when coma persists on the intensive care unit. PMID- 2614745 TI - Chasing the bucket: a nursing view of continuous arterio-venous haemofiltration/dialysis. AB - Haemofiltration was developed to meet the needs of intensive care patients with acute renal failure. It is a major advance in the management of these critically ill patients, as it is carried out at the bedside by the intensive care nursing staff. PMID- 2614746 TI - Measurement of the effects of lateral release. AB - In a prospective trial of 37 knees with anterior knee pain, 12 improved with conservative treatment. Twenty five knees in 23 patients required arthroscopy and lateral release. It was found that the clinical examination combined with skyline X-Rays gave a good assessment of these patients. The medial angle and the congruence angle were rarely abnormal but often showed improved centring after lateral release. It seems unlikely, however, that this is responsible for improved symptoms especially as the asymptomatic side frequently showed similar X Ray changes. PMID- 2614747 TI - Goretex cruciate ligament replacement: recent experience in the Royal Navy. PMID- 2614748 TI - Rehabilitation of injured Royal Marine recruits. PMID- 2614749 TI - Oxidation of atmospheric molecular tritium in plant leaves, lichens and mosses. AB - The oxidation of atmospheric molecular tritium (HT) in vegetation was determined by in vitro experiments for pine needles, pine bark, lichens attached to pine trees, taken from a coastal pine forest in Ibaraki prefecture and comparison of such measurements was made with those in soil. The oxidation of HT in pine needles was extremely low, being only about 1/40000 that in the surface soil of a pine forest, whereas its oxidation in pine bark with a lichen was almost 1000 7000 times higher than that in pine needles. HT oxidation in pine bark, a lichen and a moss was determined in each case under light and dark conditions and was found to be essentially the same. All mosses and lichens examined in the present study were found to have unusually high levels of HT oxidation whether their habitat was tree or ground surface. PMID- 2614750 TI - In vivo fixation of atmospheric tritium gas in pine and zelkova trees and their surroundings. AB - In vivo laboratory experiments on tritium gas (HT) fixation in pine trees were conducted using one-way circuit inhalation apparatus and dwarf pine trees. After 2 hours of exposure to HT, tritium distribution in pine needles, branches, trunk, roots and soil was measured. The specific activity of tritium in pine needles was almost the same as that in the branches and about one fiftieth that in the small roots or soil. To eliminate the contribution of HT oxidation in the soil from the plants, a dwarf pine tree, washed and with its root system sealed, was exposed to HT. Oxidation activity of HT was also determined in in vitro experiments for each part from a dwarf pine tree. Oxidation activity of plant parts above the ground was quite low. In vivo and in vitro experiments were also conducted on dwarf zelkova trees and similar results were obtained. PMID- 2614751 TI - 9;22 translocation and bcr rearrangements in chronic myelocytic leukemia patients among atomic bomb survivors. AB - To elucidate the mechanism of leukemia induced by radiation, we studied both chromosome abnormalities and bcr rearrangements of seven CML patients with a history of atomic bomb exposure and 14 CML patients without the exposure. All patients, irrespective of radiation exposure, had 9;22 translocation and rearrangement of the bcr gene in the leukemic cells. Further analysis of breakpoints within the bcr gene demonstrated no distinct difference between the exposed and the non-exposed groups. The present study suggests that formation of the chimeric bcr-abl gene and its genetic products may play an important role in the development of leukemia in either radiation-induced or de novo CML. PMID- 2614752 TI - [Teaching of radiology]. PMID- 2614753 TI - [Iatrogenic femoral pseudo-aneurysm. Analysis of the causes, diagnosis and treatment. Study of 12,248 arterial catheterizations]. AB - Pseudoaneurysm is a classical but unusual complication of femoral catheterism. 22 cases are reviewed: 19 occurred after coronarography, 2 after peripheral percutaneous angioplasty and only one after a renal diagnostic arteriography. In all cases, the diagnosis of the pseudoaneurysm was established by I.V. D.S.A. 2 different medical teams are distinguished: the first using small catheters (4 and 5 F), the second using larger catheters (7 and 8 F) which are more aggressive. Two factors allow to avoid this complication: the diameter of the catheter and a correct compression dressing. The treatment of this complication, usually surgical, consisted in a simple manual percutaneous compression in 3 patients. PMID- 2614754 TI - [Delayed duodenal perforation caused by transhepatic biliary endoprosthesis]. AB - Three cases of duodenal perforation which occurred after the placement of a biliary endoprosthesis, are reported. One intraperitoneal perforation required an immediate surgical intervention. The two other cases have been treated endoscopically and by transhepatic drainage, respectively. The mechanism of this delayed complication is discussed and the impact caused by the shape of the Carey Coons endoprosthesis (Porges-Roche) analysed. PMID- 2614755 TI - [Gastric lipoma. X-ray computed tomographic diagnosis]. AB - Although the diagnosis of benign tumors is difficult with conventional radiology and endoscopy, CT demonstrate easily the gastric lipomas because of their specific density. This diagnostic allows surgery in better conditions (simple tumorectomy). PMID- 2614756 TI - [Unidimensional imaging. A simple method for evaluating the efficacy of a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging. Application of new nitroxides]. AB - We present an experimental set-up of one-dimension imaging which permits on a conventional NMR spectrometer, to measure the difference in relaxation time T1 of two organ samples, one normal and the other injected with a contrast agent. Using that technique and M.R.I. two new nitroxides reveal a substantial contrast effect for kidneys and heart. PMID- 2614757 TI - [Bone sarcomas]. PMID- 2614758 TI - [Case of the month. Mediastinal fibrosis]. PMID- 2614759 TI - Lymphocytic progesterone receptors in normal and pathological human pregnancy. AB - The progesterone receptor-specific monoclonal antibody (MoAb) mPRI was tested for its reactivity towards peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 49 healthy pregnant women, nine pregnant women with clinical symptoms of threatened preterm delivery, seven women with recurrent spontaneous abortion, ten women in labour and ten women with spontaneous abortion. Lymphocytes of 12 healthy age-matched non pregnant volunteers were used as controls. Lymphocytes of nine healthy pregnant women at the 1st trimester of pregnancy and those of two non-pregnant donors were tested for the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors by enzyme immunoassay. PBL of healthy pregnant women contained significantly more positive cells than those of non-pregnant controls. Furthermore, the number of receptor containing cells increased in parallel with gestational age. In blood samples drawn during labour, as well as in those obtained from women with spontaneous abortion or clinical symptoms of threatened pre-term delivery, the percentage of positively stained lymphocytes was significantly lower than normal pregnancy values. This was also the case in peripheral blood of pregnant women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortions. PMID- 2614760 TI - Inhibition of natural killer cell activity by retroplacental sera as compared to peripheral sera. Lack of influence of immune complexes. AB - A decrease of natural killer cell activity (NKCA) during human pregnancy might contribute to the acceptance of the allogeneic fetus by the maternal host. The inhibition of NKCA might be due to serum factors derived from the trophoblast. We focused especially on the role of immune complexes, as it has already been described that these complexes depress NKCA and as they are found frequently in retroplacental serum. We have compared the influence of 19 paired retroplacental and peripheral blood sera on NKCA of normal donors. One peripheral and eight retroplacental sera contained immune complexes. Normal donor mononuclear cells were incubated with carboxyfluorescein-labeled K562 cells in the presence of retroplacental serum or peripheral serum. NKCA was measured on a FACS Analyzer. Ten of 19 retroplacental sera inhibited NKCA significantly in comparison to the corresponding peripheral serum (P = 0.003). There was no correlation between NKCA and the immune complex level. We conclude that, as compared to peripheral serum taken at delivery, there is a retroplacental serum-induced inhibition of NKCA, which is not correlated with the presence of immune complexes. PMID- 2614761 TI - Postviral syndrome--how can a diagnosis be made? A study of patients undergoing a Monospot test. AB - Eighty-nine of 150 patients having a Monospot test filled out a questionnaire about their illness, and the General Health Questionnaire. They completed a follow-up questionnaire 6 months later. Twelve (8%) had a positive Monospot. Twenty-eight of 83 serum samples tested (34%) were positive for VP1 enteroviral antigen. Forty of the patients had a self limiting illness, 13 had a definite diagnosis (excepting glandular fever), 14 had a possible postviral syndrome, 10 had recurrent sore throats/flu, and 12 had a chronic non-specific illness. Patients with a specific diagnosis were less likely to complain of aching muscles/joints, sore throat, tiredness or loss of concentration. Their GHQ scores were lower, although this just failed to reach significance (P = 0.08), and they scored significantly lower on the somatic symptoms subscale (P = 0.022). Overall 72% scored above the GHQ threshold for 'psychological caseness' which is higher than in other studies. Sixty-five per cent of the sample questioned at 6 months felt that their illness started with a viral infection. The methodological problems involved in making a diagnosis of postviral syndrome are discussed. PMID- 2614762 TI - Neurological presentations of AIDS--when to test for HIV. AB - Nine of 122 patients dead from AIDS in central London presented with neurological disease, confirmed pathologically in seven. Seven had no other major systemic manifestations. AIDS needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of meningitis, dementia, diffuse and focal encephalopathies, brainstem syndromes, myelopathy, visual failure and peripheral nerve syndromes. As AIDS becomes more widespread there will be an increasing need for diagnostic HIV testing in many neurological syndromes. PMID- 2614763 TI - Subarachnoid haemorrhage--can we do better? AB - Patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage often have warning symptoms which are unrecognized. Specific neurological signs such as cranial nerve palsies due to aneurysm expansion may occur. Sudden and severe 'out-of-the-blue' headache following minor haemorrhage may be misinterpreted as migraine. Focal neurological signs from secondary ischaemia may be misinterpreted as thromboembolic events. Computed tomography (CT) head scans can be misleading especially if performed too late. PMID- 2614764 TI - Metabolic effects of prostatectomy. AB - Transurethral resection syndrome (TURS), complicating transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has been ascribed to hyponatraemia but reports have indicated that hyperammonaemia following metabolism of glycine can be the main cause. Prospective data has been collected on 96 prostatectomy patients (82 TURP and 14 retropubic). The retropubic group showed no significant postoperative change in the serum sodium or plasma ammonia. Of the TURP group, no TURS occurred although hyponatraemia was noted in 32 patients. The weight of prostate resected, the volume of glycine used, the time taken and the plasma ammonia levels were not significantly different in the normonatraemic or hyponatraemic groups. In severely hyponatraemic patients (13 out of 32 with a 10 mmol/l, or greater, decrease in serum sodium) there was a significant rise (P less than 0.05) in plasma ammonia, 1 or 4 h post TURP, which had decreased by 24 h. There was a highly significant increase in serum glycine level in the hyponatraemic compared with the normonatraemic group (P less than 0.001). There was no correlation between serum glycine and plasma ammonia levels in the normonatraemic or hyponatraemic group. There were nine patients with post TURP plasma ammonia levels greater than 100 mumol/l (mean 254) who experienced no mental confusion: six of these patients were hyponatraemic. The weight of prostate resected (mean 26 g), volume of glycine used (mean 181) and operation time (mean 39 min) were all relatively low. Subsequently, TURS has occurred in a patient, with severe hyponatraemia and hyperglycinaemia but no hyperammonaemia. This study shows that hyperammonaemia does not always correlate with hyponatraemia or hyperglycinaemia, and high plasma ammonia levels can occur in the absence of TURS. PMID- 2614765 TI - Problems of adolescents sexuality. AB - Recent discussions highlighted adolescents' sexual behaviour, but published studies concentrate on specific problems or subgroups of patients without addressing factors related to sexuality. To obtain a broad picture we studied two groups of adolescents attending genito-urinary medicine/sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in contrasting areas of Britain, inner London and Swansea. These were evaluated for referral pattern, sexual partner, contraception, obstetric history, sexually transmitted disease, and cervical cytology findings. Over half the adolescents referred themselves but few doctors other than general practitioners referred patients. Sexual partners were regarded by males as casual but by females as regular. Only 66% (81) of females practised contraception. Adolescents had more STD's than the total clinic population except for genital herpes simplex infection, and a high prevalence of genital warts in females has important future implications. The main conclusions were that there is a need for sexually related education targetted at adolescents and their health care providers, especially doctors. PMID- 2614766 TI - Acceptability of day care surgery. AB - Although day case surgery is recommended, its widespread feasibility in an urban environment is unclear. We studied 100 consecutive unselected patients admitted for surgical procedures considered to be suitable for day case surgery. Their age, fitness and social details were recorded and they were asked both before surgery and after discharge by a postal questionnaire, whether they would have preferred treatment as an outpatient. There were 47 men and 53 women with a mean age of 42.5 years. Ninety-six were considered to be medically fit for day case surgery but 10 patients lived alone, seven had no suitable companion, 22 had too many stairs to climb, 13 lived too far from the hospital and two could not provide a lift home. Thus 58 of the patients were unsuitable for day case surgery. Seventy-eight of the patients replied to the postal questionnaire. Before the operation 51 patients preferred the idea of day care but only 14 felt the same way afterwards. The single postoperative complication was one case of acute retention after a hernia repair. In our experience, over half the patients initially deemed suitable for day case surgery would be unsuitable. PMID- 2614767 TI - After surgery for breast cancer: which mode of surveillance? AB - Five hundred and ten women attending a specialized breast clinic for follow-up after surgery of early breast cancer (Stage I and II) have been studied. Recurrence was found most often (58%) in symptomatic women who returned to the clinic earlier than planned. Only 3% of asymptomatic patients had recurrent disease. It is concluded that counselling in symptoms of recurrent breast cancer would allow more efficient follow-up. PMID- 2614768 TI - Preliminary observations on clotting under three hydrocolloid dressings. AB - Four patients with five wounds were randomly assigned to treatment with three occlusive dressings: DuoDERM, Restore and Comfeel Ulcus; the dressings were left intact for 24-48 h. When the dressings were removed, it was found that wounds that had been covered with Restore and Comfeel contained coagulated sanguinous material. Two wounds that had been covered with Comfeel and Restore, respectively, were then covered with DuoDERM, while one wound previously covered with DuoDERM was covered with Restore. Either no clotting occurred under DuoDERM or clots may have resolved. Although these preliminary data suggest that DuoDERM gel may have fibrinolytic properties, more extensive and controlled studies are needed to assess the characteristics of this dressing. PMID- 2614769 TI - Pitfalls in the management of acute adrenocortical insufficiency: discussion paper. AB - In patients with acute adrenocortical insufficiency prompt recognition and treatment may be life-saving. Treatment should be initiated immediately before confirmation of the diagnosis. As shown by these case reports, junior staff on acute medical and surgical services, to whom these patients usually first present, may not appreciate that (a) hyponatraemia and hyperkalaemia, in the absence of renal failure, should immediately suggest the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency and (b) treatment should precede confirmation of the diagnosis. Attempts to correct hyperkalaemia due to adrenocortical insufficiency with insulin and infusions of dextrose is inappropriate and potentially dangerous but seems to be a not unusual mistake. PMID- 2614770 TI - Music, communication and medicine: discussion paper. PMID- 2614771 TI - Solitary osteochondroma causing sural nerve entrapment neuropathy. PMID- 2614772 TI - Heparin for uncontrolled disseminated intravascular coagulation in meningococcal septicaemia. PMID- 2614773 TI - Methotrexate in the treatment of vasculitic cutaneous ulceration in rheumatoid arthritis. PMID- 2614774 TI - Prolapse of the fallopian tube following abdominal hysterectomy. PMID- 2614775 TI - Unusual cystic lesions of the spinal cord. PMID- 2614776 TI - Intracranial haemorrhage caused by amphetamine abuse. PMID- 2614777 TI - Hypopituitarism and empty sella due to endocarditis. PMID- 2614778 TI - Sunlight exposure and cataract--an epidemiological enigma. PMID- 2614779 TI - Carpal tunnel syndrome in lactation. PMID- 2614780 TI - Inflammatory bowel disease and chronic diffuse hair loss. PMID- 2614781 TI - Italian psychiatric care. PMID- 2614782 TI - Malaria in Britain. Based on a symposium. London, 1 June 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2614783 TI - Future prospects of malaria in Britain and the physician's role. PMID- 2614784 TI - Deciding not to resuscitate. PMID- 2614785 TI - Brain birth and personal identity. AB - The concept of brain birth has assumed a position of some significance in discussions on the status of the human embryo and on the point in embryonic development prior to which experimental procedures may be undertaken on human embryos. This paper reviews previous discussions of this concept, which have placed brain birth at various points between 12 days' and 20 weeks' gestation and which have emphasised the symmetry of brain birth and brain death. Major developmental features of brain development are outlined, including the gradualness with which new features generally appear, and also the electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics of premature infants. From this it is concluded that, if the concept of brain birth is a valid one, it should be placed at 24-28 weeks' gestation. More importantly, it is concluded that the differences between brain development and brain death throw doubt on the concept itself. PMID- 2614786 TI - The future prospects for living wills. AB - Following the first enactment of living will legislation in California in 1976 the majority of the states of the USA have now passed similar laws. However, flaws have been identified in the way they work in practice and many states are considering reviewing their legislation. In Britain there is no legislation but the subject is currently commanding considerable interest. This paper assesses the future prospects for living wills in both the USA and Britain, analysing the different options available and comparing the two countries. If patients who become permanently incompetent are to have their previous autonomous decision making respected, there is general agreement that advance directives for health care must be introduced. The difficulty is in deciding how to implement them, and especially whether this should be by statutory or non-statutory means, the traditions in the two countries being very different in this respect. It is concluded that whichever route is taken, promoting respect for patient autonomy is as much a matter for education and persuasion of doctors as of the adoption of particular instruments. Doctors should therefore be trained in what constitutes good medical practice in this area and, to ensure that it can be carried out properly, the general level of medical facilities for these patients must also be protected and promoted. PMID- 2614787 TI - Do not resuscitate decisions: discussions with patients. AB - The problem of psychological pain caused by discussions of do not resuscitate status with patients is addressed. Case histories of patients with such distress are given. We propose that not all patients should be informed of their do not resuscitate status, that the information about such status be given incrementally, and that the giving of further information be guided by the patient's reaction to earlier information. While some affirm the duty of the physician always to inform the patient about his or her do not resuscitate status, we affirm the duty of the physician to determine whether the patient wishes to enter into this discussion. PMID- 2614788 TI - Evaluating the work of ethical review committees: an observation and a suggestion. AB - Eight research protocols which had previously been approved by Ethical Research Committees (ERCs) were reviewed in simulated review committees set up during a symposium on medical ethics. Only three protocols were considered to provide fully adequate information to allow ethical review and only one protocol was thought to provide sufficient guarantees on the ethical issues raised by the proposed research. For five other protocols additional safeguards were considered necessary, in particular covering the problem of informed consent. Two protocols were considered to raise unresolvable ethical issues. This artificial exercise does not establish that review by ERCs is ineffective. It does highlight the lack of objective criteria in ethical review. Peer review by exchange of protocols between ERCs could assist in increasing the consistency in the application of ethical standards. PMID- 2614789 TI - Obligation and consent. AB - It is often supposed, as in Professor Kluge's article (1), that one can only acquire an obligation by free consent. This paper argues that although this is true of some types of obligation, including the ones discussed by Professor Kluge, it is by no means true of all. In particular, it is argued, society may legitimately impose obligations on us without our consent, if the obligations are reciprocated, or if it is simply enforcing an already existing moral obligation. PMID- 2614790 TI - Pregnancy in a severely mentally handicapped adult. AB - What happens when we discover that a severely mentally handicapped girl, resident under our care, is heavily pregnant? What options are open to us in her management? What are the legal and ethical issues involved? How do we ensure that she receives the best possible care and protection and will the involvement of the police actually make the situation worse? Few of us have had the experience of working through such dilemmas, and little help can be found in consulting 'experts' who are awaiting the result of 'test cases' in the High Courts. This article highlights some of the problems we encountered with such a case. PMID- 2614791 TI - Advanced medical ethics symposia for fifth-year students. AB - Case-based, multidisciplinary seminars provided a vehicle for clinicians, philosophers and students to debate current problems in medical ethics in a manner which ensured maximum learning and interest for all participants. Prior training in philosophical medical ethics was an essential prerequisite, giving students the knowledge and skills to take part in the discussions at an appropriate level of sophistication. PMID- 2614792 TI - Islamic medical ethics in the 20th century. AB - While the practice of Western medicine is known today to doctors of all ethnic and religious groups, its standards are subject to the availability of resources. The medical ethics guiding each doctor is influenced by his/her religious or cultural background or affiliation, and that is where diversity exists. Much has been written about Jewish and Christian medical ethics. Islamic medical ethics has never been discussed as an independent field of ethics, although several selected topics, especially those concerning sexuality, birth control and abortions, have been more discussed than others. Islamic medical ethics in the 20th century will be characterised on the basis of Egyptian fatawa (legal opinions) issued by famous Muslim scholars and several doctors. Some of the issues discussed by Islamic medical ethics are universal: abortions, organ transplants, artificial insemination, cosmetic surgery, doctor-patient relations, etc. Other issues are typically Islamic, such as impediments to fasting in Ramadan, diseases and physical conditions that cause infringement of the state of purity, medicines containing alcohol, etc. Muslims' attitudes to both types of ethical issues often prove that pragmatism prevails and the aim is to seek a compromise between Islamic heritage and the achievements of modern medicine, as long as basic Islamic dogma is not violated. PMID- 2614793 TI - Cystic fibrosis: after the gene. PMID- 2614794 TI - Estimation of age dependent penetrance in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy by minimising ascertainment bias. AB - In any family study using information gathered retrospectively, the influence of the method of ascertainment on the observed segregation ratio in sibships needs careful consideration. The study of kindred members from outside the area of primary ascertainment is invaluable in providing segregation data with minimal ascertainment bias. For facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), using this approach, and based on the presence or absence of characteristic clinical signs rather than on an historical account of age at onset, estimates were derived for penetrance of the FSHD gene of less than 5% for ages 0 to 4 years, 21% for ages 5 to 9, 58% for ages 10 to 14, 86% for ages 15 to 19, and 95% penetrance for age 20 years and over. No difference between families was identified. These figures should facilitate genetic counselling and the interpretation of genetic linkage study results in FSHD. PMID- 2614795 TI - A hungarian study on Werdnig-Hoffmann disease. AB - The prevalence of Werdnig-Hoffmann disease was found to be 0.66 per 10,000 livebirths in Hungary from 1973 to 1980. However, the true prevalence is estimated to be 1 per 10,000 livebirths, which exceeds the level of a previously published English study. There was no higher fetal death rate in previous and subsequent pregnancies of index patients' mothers. The occurrence in sibs was 32%, probably because of greater ascertainment in families with more than one affected child. PMID- 2614796 TI - Dystrophy: a revised definition. AB - Dystrophy is defined as the process and consequences of hereditary progressive affections of specific cells in one or more tissues that initially show a normal function. The term abiotrophy was previously applied to these lesions, but has gone out of use. Degeneration is an equivocal term used for both acquired and hereditary disorders. Aging may or may not be considered as dystrophy. Dysplasias or dyshistogeneses are different from dystrophies. Dyshistogenetic tissues present with abnormal structure and function at birth in contrast to dystrophies, which are genetically programmed for later onset. PMID- 2614797 TI - Del(4)(q33----qter): another case report of a child with mild dysmorphism. AB - A male child is described with some growth and developmental delay and other minor dysmorphic features. Chromosome analysis showed a de novo deletion of the q33----qter terminal segment of a chromosome 4. There has been published discussion concerning the severity of phenotypic malformations in the seven cases described so far with this particular deletion. We add details of our patient to help to delineate further features of this syndrome. PMID- 2614798 TI - Features of Turner's and DiGeorge's syndromes in a child with an X;22 translocation. AB - We describe the clinical and cytogenetic findings in an infant who presented with the features of both Turner's and DiGeorge's syndromes associated with a unique translocation between chromosomes X and 22. PMID- 2614799 TI - Discordant, non-syndromic, congenital diaphragmatic defects in sibs. AB - We report an Arab sibship of two brothers with non-syndromic, congenital diaphragmatic defects (CDD). The first had an extensive, left, Bochdalek-type hernia and the second hemidiaphragmatic agenesis; these were verified by surgical exploration and necropsy respectively. The parents are healthy second cousins. Other reported discordant cases of CDD are briefly reviewed. PMID- 2614800 TI - Porencephalic cyst in pycnodysostosis. AB - We describe a case of pycnodysostosis with porencephaly and suggest an explanation for the porencephaly by a mechanism of imbalance between brain growth and its vascular supply and a normal but unopposed cerebrospinal fluid pressure. PMID- 2614801 TI - Unknown syndrome: abnormal facies, hypothyroidism, postaxial polydactyly, and severe retardation: a third patient. AB - Young and Simpson in 1987 and Fryns and Moerman in 1988 each reported a case of a new unknown syndrome with hypothyroidism, severe global retardation, and abnormal facies, including microcephaly, blepharophimosis, bulbous nose, thin upper lip, low set ears, and micrognathia. A male infant with a similar pattern of malformations and postaxial polydactyly is reported here. PMID- 2614802 TI - Unknown syndrome: microcephaly, hypoplastic nose, exophthalmos, gum hyperplasia, cleft palate, low set ears, and osteosclerosis. AB - We report a neonate, born at term, with microcephaly, a hypoplastic nose, exophthalmos, gum hyperplasia, cleft palate, and low set ears, who died at 86 minutes of age. Radiographs showed diffuse sclerosis of the bones. PMID- 2614803 TI - Unknown syndrome: pachygyria, joint contractures, and facial abnormalities. AB - A male infant, the offspring of a father-daughter mating, is described. He had a lethal condition consisting of brachycephaly, large fontanelles, a flat face, a small nose with thin nares, hypertelorism, small ears with cystic pinnae, camptodactyly, talipes equinovarus, and hypoplastic lungs and kidneys. The brain was very short in the anterior-posterior diameter with simplified broad convolutions (a form of pachygyria). PMID- 2614804 TI - Three different, non-mosaic sex chromosome abnormalities (direct cytotrophoblasts, mesenchymal core cultures, and abortus skin fibroblasts): implications for elucidating chorionic villi mosaicism. PMID- 2614805 TI - Association of 13q deletion and Hirschsprung's disease. PMID- 2614806 TI - Are abortions more or less frequent once prenatal diagnosis is available? PMID- 2614807 TI - A surgeon robot prostatectomy--a laboratory evaluation. PMID- 2614808 TI - Clinical television microscopy. AB - The technique of television microscopy is the only available technique for the direct quantitative measurement of skin capillary blood flow. Television microscopy has applications in both research and clinical practice, and has attracted considerable interest from clinical groups attempting to study capillary blood flow. The critical requirements for a functioning system are difficult to ascertain from the published literature. The aim of this article is therefore to describe the individual components of a television microscope system, outline the current methods of analysis and briefly describe some of the clinical applications of television microscopy. PMID- 2614809 TI - Carbon monoxide excretion as an index of bilirubin production in rhesus monkeys. AB - The role of increased heme catabolism in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia was investigated in rhesus (Macaca mulatta) neonates through the measurement of carbon monoxide excretion rates (VECO), blood carboxyhemoglobin content (HbCO), and plasma bilirubin concentrations. Neonatal values were compared to those of adult rhesus monkeys. These indices of bilirubin production responded appropriately to administration of NEM-damaged erythrocytes and tin protoporphyrin. Our results indicate that VECO measurements are a valid index of changes in bilirubin production in the newborn rhesus monkey. PMID- 2614810 TI - Corneal biometrics of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). AB - Keratometry, retinoscopy, horizontal diameter, and pachymetry were measured in adult and infant rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). The adult monkeys had a mean corneal thickness of 0.47 +/- 0.03 mm (+/- standard deviation), corneal diameters of 10.6 +/- 0.5 mm, keratometry values of 51.90 +/- 1.61 diopters, and subjective refractions of 0.48 +/- 2.36 diopters. Female adult monkeys had smaller corneal diameters by 0.06 mm (P = .02) and steeper corneas by 0.77 diopters (P = .04). Infant female monkeys also had steeper corneas by 2.37 diopters (P = .05). No significant differences were found between right and left eyes in either adult or infant monkeys. PMID- 2614811 TI - Nonmediated flip-flop of phospholipid analogues in the erythrocyte membrane as probed by palmitoylcarnitine: basic properties and influence of membrane modification. AB - The rules governing the transbilayer reorientation (flip-flop) of long-chain amphiphilic components in biological membranes were further elucidated by studying the flip-flop of palmitoylcarnitine in human erythrocytes. Flip rates were derived from the time-dependent decrease of extractability of palmitoylcarnitine by albumin after primary insertion of trace amounts of the labeled probe into the outer membrane layer. The flip rate (half time 2.6 hr at 37 degrees C in human erythrocytes) is fast enough to be measurable also in membranes exhibiting low flip rates such as that of ox erythrocytes. Flip rate constants for the inward and outward reorientation are similar and the probe equilibrates at a 1:1 ratio between the two layers. The flip is a simple, diffusion-like process. It is not inhibited but even enhanced by chemical modification of membrane proteins. It is also enhanced by insertion of channel forming antibiotics into the membrane and by pre-exposure of the cells to temperatures exceeding 42 degrees C. The extent of this enhancement increases with the duration and the temperature of the pre-exposure. Since spectrin is denatured in this range of temperatures, the finding constitutes a new piece of evidence that the membrane skeleton is involved in the maintenance of bilayer stability and that a decrease of bilayer stability goes along with the formation of local defects acting as flip sites for phospholipids and related compounds. As a particularity, the flip is enhanced by lowering the pH and exhibits interindividual variability, phenomena not observed for the flip-flop of lysophosphatidylcholine. This suggests that generalizations on the kinetics of nonmediated flip-flop of membrane-intercalated amphiphiles may not be justified. PMID- 2614812 TI - Reconstitution of a calcium-activated potassium channel in basolateral membranes of rabbit colonocytes into planar lipid bilayers. AB - A highly enriched preparation of basolateral membrane vesicles was isolated from rabbit distal colon surface epithelial cells employing the method described by Wiener, Turnheim and van Os (Weiner, H., Turnheim, K., van Os, C.H. (1989) J. Membrane Biol. 110:147-162) and incorporated into planar lipid bilayers. With very few exceptions, the channel activity observed was that of a high conductance. Ca2+-activated K+ channel. This channel is highly selective for K+ over Na+ and Cl-, displays voltage-gating similar to "maxi" K(Ca) channels found in other cell membranes, and kinetic analyses are consistent with the notion that K+ diffusion through the channel involves either the binding of a single K+ ion to a site within the channel or "single-filing" ("multi-ion occupancy"). Channel activity is inhibited by the venom from the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus, Ba2+, quinine, and trifluoperazine. The possible role of this channel in the function of these cells is discussed. PMID- 2614813 TI - Investigating stigma as stress in social interactions of parents. AB - A new approach to the study of stigma was introduced and applied in an exploratory study designed to investigate the parental experience of stigma within the theoretical framework of the stress process. Interviews were conducted with 131 mothers and fathers of mentally retarded children in three age cohorts. Parent-perceived stress attributed to social attitudes was measured on a 5-point, Likert-type scale. Three deviating characteristics of the child were identified as 'stressors'. 'Noticeability' of the child's speech and behaviour, and also behaviour management problems were found to be significantly associated with parental stress. No association was found between 'noticeability' of the child's appearance and parental stress. Distressing reactions of others, such as staring, displaying discomfort, inappropriately ignoring and drawing attention to the child were also identified as stressors. Multiple regression analysis showed that these two sets of variables accounted for 57% of the variance in explaining parental stress. The concept of stigma as stress was assessed as offering a promising direction for further research. PMID- 2614814 TI - Overview of a research programme designed to address key issues in the planning and delivery of services for people with mental handicap. AB - This paper describes the programme of mental handicap research funded by the UK Department of Health, which addresses issues of policy, planning and service delivery of key interest to all involved professionals. The author is manager of the research programme and the research discussed covers the provision of good community residential care, hospital contraction, costs, other services in the community, supporting children with mental handicaps at home with their families, and the special needs of certain groups. PMID- 2614815 TI - Verbalization of appropriate and inappropriate cues in discrimination reversal learning by moderately mentally retarded children. AB - Effects of verbalization on discrimination reversal learning for moderately mentally retarded children were examined under three training conditions. Predicted results indicated that verbalization of both appropriate and inappropriate cues within relevant dimension significantly facilitated reversal shift performance, as compared to verbalization of only appropriate cues or non verbalization. Results were interpreted to be due to the fact that verbalization of both appropriate and inappropriate cues actually served to utilize attentional or verbal mediators in terms of combining appropriate with inappropriate cues within relevant stimulus dimension. PMID- 2614816 TI - School achievement in treated PKU children. AB - Phenylketonuric children who were treated early and maintained a pherestricted diet through age 10 were compared with those who discontinued the diet after age 6 on a standardized test of intelligence, school achievement, language and perceptual skills. Mean IQ, reading and spelling test scores improved between ages 6 and 10 for the on-diet children in comparison to those who were off-diet. However, mean scores on arithmetic, language and perceptual skills declined at a uniform rate for both groups. Children with PKU scored significantly lower than did their non-PKU siblings on tests of visual perception and visual-motor skills. Because the school years, particularly, the early teens, pose increased stress in affected PKU individuals, it is recommended that dietary restriction at least through the high school years is prudent for their optimal physical, mental, emotional and educational growth. PMID- 2614817 TI - Epilepsy in school children with intellectual impairments in Sheffield: the size and nature of the problem and the implications for service provision. AB - This study analyses the prevalence and nature of epilepsy in all children between the ages of 5 and 16 years of age in the City of Sheffield with mild, moderate or severe intellectual impairments. An overall figure of 18% was obtained with a range of 7% for those with mild to moderate intellectual impairments to 67% for those with severe intellectual impairments and a physical disability. The severity of the epilepsy similarly varied with the most severe being in those with severe intellectual impairments and physical disabilities. PMID- 2614818 TI - Computer-based image analysis of cartilage differentiation in embryonic limb bud micromass cultures. AB - A computer imaging system was used to analyse the effects of benzamide (BAM), sodium butyrate and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) on chondrogenesis in culture. Embryonic chick limb bud cells were used as a source of undifferentiated mesenchyme, and cultures were prepared using a micromass culture technique. The degree of chondrogenesis is directly related to the amount of Alcian blue staining. Standard assays include either manual tally of individual cartilage nodules, which is both tedious and time-consuming, or extracting bound dye for spectrophotometric analysis, which obscures individual variations because it requires pooled samples. In the present study, low-magnification images of individual micromass colonies were converted into derived images based on their percentage transmittance relative to the background. These derived images were analysed for relative degree of chondrogenesis, using area and integrated optical density (IOD) as descriptors. While both types of data were useful for ranking the degree of chondrogenesis in culture, IOD was the preferred descriptor because of its accuracy over a wide range of threshold values. The area and IOD data both demonstrate that BAM produces marked enhancement of chondrogenesis in culture, sodium butyrate causes marked inhibition and DMSO produces mixed results (enhancement at the high dose, inhibition at the low dose). While the present study demonstrates the usefulness of computer-aided microscopy for analysis of low-magnification images, the same descriptors (area and IOD) should be useful in quantifying data from a variety of objects (cells, nuclei, etc.) which can be stained in a selected, quantitative fashion. PMID- 2614819 TI - Defensive coping and blood pressure reactivity in medical patients. AB - Two defensive coping styles, denial of illness and repressive coping, were studied in two groups of medical patients whose blood pressure (BP) was measured during a stress interview. Denial of illness was measured using the Levine Denial of Illness Scale (LDIS), and repressive coping was measured using a combination of the Marlowe-Crowne (MC) Social Desirability Scale and the SCL-90R anxiety subscale (ANX). Consistent with our prior research indicating that LDIS was associated with adaptive outcomes in the short run, high deniers manifested reduced systolic BP reactivity compared to low deniers. Although not related to repressive coping, systolic BP reactivity was correlated positively with MC and ANX separately. The results demonstrate that LDIS and MC measure different types of defensive coping. Current theories of the MC scale suggest two possible interpretations of the MC findings, one that focuses on avoidant coping and the second on attentional coping in high MC scorers. PMID- 2614820 TI - Testosterone and cigarette smoking in early adolescence. AB - Social and psychological variables are used to explain why young people become cigarette smokers, whereas biological factors have been virtually ignored as possible determinants of that behavior. In this study, salivary testosterone was positively associated with cigarette smoking among 201 subjects 12-14 years of age. This finding suggests that testosterone should be included in future considerations of adolescent cigarette smoking. PMID- 2614821 TI - Biofeedback training versus simple instructions to reduce heart rate reactivity to a psychological stressor. AB - The effectiveness of cardiac education and visual biofeedback of heart rate as a training procedure to teach people to control their heart rate to a psychological stressor was investigated with 36 students, half of whom acted as control subjects. Training took 5 weeks and consisted of 30-min per week of awareness training, plus exercises to increase and decrease heart rate under rest and stressful conditions, with monetary rewards for success. Effects were tested by pre-post test comparisons between the control and the experimental groups, and results indicated that the group which received training significantly lowered its heart rate reactivity even though not specifically instructed to do so. However, when instructed to control heart rate reactivity for a monetary reward, the control group also succeeded at this task, raising several issues regarding the efficacy of reactivity training. PMID- 2614822 TI - An in-depth analysis of male adolescent smokeless tobacco users: interviews with users and their fathers. AB - Male adolescent smokeless tobacco (ST) users (N = 191) were extensively interviewed, then followed over a 6-month period with monthly telephone interviews. In addition, their fathers (N = 137) were interviewed by telephone. Based on these data, ST use appears similar to cigarette smoking with respect to onset, patterns of use, social influences, attempts to quit, and indications of addiction. Onset and continued use of ST largely occur in a social context. Parents are reportedly aware (73%) of their sons' ST use but appear tolerant. The great majority of S's (92%) believe that there is some health risk associated with ST use. Over half report noticing ST-related changes in their oral cavities, although their dentists generally had not discussed ST use with them. Over one third of the current users report unsuccessful quit attempts. ST use appears to be part of a more general pattern of substance use, including marijuana and alcohol. PMID- 2614823 TI - The influence of social rank on the susceptibility of rats to Mycoplasma arthritidis. AB - Social ranks (A, O, rest) of adult male inbred rats housed in groups of four per cage were determined by repeated observations of their ejaculatory patterns under competitive conditions. Once ranked, they were intravenously infected. Fifteen clinical, hematological, and serological characters were continuously observed during 110 days. Body weight reduction, arthritis score, and specific IgG antibody titers were chosen as guideline characteristics and compared between different genotypes and social rank classes. Genotypic differences account for 60 80% of the individual differences and social rank differences account for 0-40% of the individual differences within isogenic animals. Social rank affects the individual genotypes in an opposite way. Rank A males are less susceptible in genotype DA but showed increased susceptibility in genotypes AS. In genotype LEW, influence of social rank on susceptibility to Mycoplasma arthritidis could not be verified. Specific IgG antibody titers are lower in ranks showing a higher degree of susceptibility. PMID- 2614824 TI - Does pooling saliva for cotinine testing save money without losing information? AB - Although testing for continine in saliva offers an attractive means to verify survey responses about recent use of tobacco, its relatively high cost prevents its use in many studies of substance use. Pooling two or more samples can dramatically reduce the cost when prevalence rates are low, but many researchers fear that failures in detecting users will outweigh the monetary benefit. Results from pools of two saliva specimens collected from seventh-grade students provide the first empirical evidence that pooling saves money without compromising the test's accuracy to detect recent tobacco use. Pooling successfully identified all specimens near or above the 10-ng/ml threshold for evidence of active tobacco exposure. We conclude that analysis can realize substantial savings by pooling saliva samples from young populations without losing valuable information. PMID- 2614825 TI - Update on street drugs in Mississippi. AB - Drug abuse is on the rise in Mississippi. Treatment centers across the state report significant increases in substance abuse cases. Consequently, family physicians must have the most current, accurate information available and the skills with which to treat either an acute crisis or the chronic problems related to drug abuse. The authors present an overview of the clinical presentations and management of some of the most widely used designer drugs: crack, ecstasy and PCP. PMID- 2614826 TI - Differential diagnosis of dementing diseases. AB - The prevalence of dementia in the aging population is reaching epidemic proportions. Normal aging alone does not result in intellectual decline. The author observes that the clinical presentation of cognitive dysfunction involves a complex array of differential diagnoses, illustrated by the first six months' experience in the UMC Geriatric Assessment Clinic. He notes that dementias may be grouped into static, reversible, or progressive types, and he outlines a classification system for dementing illnesses as an aid in clinical evaluation. PMID- 2614827 TI - The impact of ambulatory glycemic control on the insulin-dependent diabetic gravida. AB - The pursuit of maternal euglycemia is the cornerstone of contemporary perinatal management of the insulin-requiring diabetic gravida and its achievement has been associated with reduced perinatal morbidity and mortality. The maternal and perinatal results of a pregnancy management protocol for insulin-requiring diabetic gravidas which emphasizes rigorous glucose control via ambulatory patient utilization of reflectance meter determinations of fasting and two-hour postprandial blood glucose is summarized in this report. The authors describe the excellent maternal and neonatal outcomes achieved with this protocol, and emphasize the efficacy of this ambulatory approach to the treatment of insulin dependent diabetic pregnancies. PMID- 2614828 TI - Peer review pitfalls and how to avoid them. PMID- 2614829 TI - Parvalbumin genes from human and rat are identical in intron/exon organization and contain highly homologous regulatory elements and coding sequences. AB - The structural organization of the chromosomal gene for human parvalbumin was determined mostly by sequencing exons and intron exon junctions of a 7500 base pair (bp) long genomic clone derived from a chromosome 22-specific gene library. Four exons coding for 100 from a total of 109 amino acids were detected in this clone and 472 bp of the 5'-flanking region were sequenced. The region corresponding to the C-terminal amino acids 101 to 109 of human parvalbumin was determined by sequencing a cDNA fragment derived from human brain mRNA after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. The first intron is placed 7 bp upstream from the ATG translation start signal, whereas all other splice sites divide putative Ca2+-binding domains. All intron positions coincide exactly with those reported for the rat parvalbumin gene. The 5' mRNA leader sequence has a similarity of 57%, the coding region of 91% and the 3' non-coding region of 83% to the corresponding rat sequences. Only nine conservative amino acid replacements were observed between human and rat parvalbumins. The predicted secondary structures for human, rat, mouse and rabbit parvalbumins are very similar, indicating a strong structural relationship among mammalian parvalbumins. Several elements with potential transcription regulatory activities were found in the region immediately 5' to the transcription start site including a TATA box (TATATA) and a CAAT box (CCAAAAT). Several regions in the putative promoter are strongly conserved between the human and rat parvalbumin genes. One of these with a length of 32 bp is identical with the rat counterpart and has a high degree of homology to a promoter region in the myosin light chain 3F gene, which is expressed in fast contracting/relaxing muscle fibers (anaerobic/type IIb), the cell type that also exhibits highest levels of parvalbumin expression. The human parvalbumin mRNA contains the putative polyadenylation signal AATAAA 13 nucleotides upstream from the polyadenylation site. A 700-nucleotide long parvalbumin mRNA is synthesized at low levels in the human cerebellum as well as in the neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-BE. PMID- 2614830 TI - Origin of ultraviolet damage in DNA. AB - A novel ultraviolet (u.v.) footprinting technique has been used to analyze the formation of u.v. photoproducts at 250 bases of a 5 S rRNA gene under conditions where the gene is either double or single-stranded. Because many more types of u.v. damage can be detected by the u.v. footprinting technique than has been previously possible, we have been able to examine in detail why certain bases in DNA are damaged by u.v. light while others are not. Our measurements demonstrate that the ability of u.v. light to damage a given base in DNA is determined by two factors, the sequence of the DNA in the immediate vicinity of the photoproduct, and the flexibility of the DNA at the site of the photoproduct. For pyrimidines, the predominant photoreaction in double-stranded DNA involves covalent dimerization between adjacent pyrimidine residues. Dimerization is much easier in melted DNA because the geometrical changes required for adjacent pyrimidine residues to dimerize are easier in single-stranded DNA. The absorption of a u.v. photon cannot simultaneously induce the geometrical changes required for adjacent pyrimidines or other bases to dimerize with one another. Rather, upon the absorption of a u.v. photon, only those thermally excited bases that are in a geometry capable of easily forming a photodimer during excitation, can photoreact. In contrast to adjacent pyrimidines, non-adjacent pyrimidines (pyrimidines flanked on either side by a purine) do not readily form u.v. photoproducts in double-stranded DNA. Because photoreactions at non-adjacent pyrimidine residues are greatly enhanced in single-stranded DNA, their failure to form in double-helical DNA is attributed to torsional constraints imposed by the double helix which make it difficult for non-adjacent pyrimidines to adopt a geometry necessary for photoreaction. Although purines are believed to be resistant to u.v. damage, our measurements demonstrate that at moderate u.v. dosages purines which are flanked on their 5' side by two or more contiguous pyrimidines readily form u.v. photoproducts in double-stranded DNA. Flanking pyrimidines appear to activate purine photoreactions by transferring triplet excitation energy to the purine. Melting of the DNA helix greatly inhibits the ability of flanking pyrimidines to activate purine photoreactions, presumably by disrupting intimate orbital overlap required for triplet transfer. PMID- 2614831 TI - The 5' end of U3 snRNA can be crosslinked in vivo to the external transcribed spacer of rat ribosomal RNA precursors. AB - From previous work it was known that U3 RNA is hydrogen bonded to nucleolar 28 S to 35 S RNA and can be covalently crosslinked to RNA of greater than 28 S by irradiation in vivo with long-wave ultraviolet light in the presence of 4' aminomethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (AMT psoralen). Here we use a novel sandwich blot technique to identify these large nucleolar RNA species as rRNA precursors and to map the site(s) of crosslinking in vivo. The crosslink occurs between one or more residues near the 5' end of U3 RNA and a 380 nucleotide region of the rat rRNA external transcribed spacer (ETS1). We have sequenced this region of the rat ETS and we show that it includes an RNA-processing site analogous to those previously mapped to approximately 3.5 kb upstream from the 5' end of mouse and human 18 S rRNAs. PMID- 2614832 TI - Molecular characterization of DNA puff II/9A genes in Sciara coprophila. AB - A cDNA clone, pSDII/9, that hybridizes in situ to ecdysone-regulated DNA puff II/9A in Sciara coprophila was used as a probe to isolate a Sciara genomic clone. lambda pSDII/9, which contains a 14.7 x 10(3) base-pair DNA insert. The full length cDNA insert was sequenced and mapped to gene II/9-1 on the genomic clone. A second gene (II/9-2), transcribed in the same direction as II/9-1, was also mapped to lambda pSDII/9, and its nucleic acid sequence was found to be 85% similar to that of gene II/9-1. An RNase protection assay demonstrates that gene II/9-1 contains a single intron that also exists in gene II/9-2 according to sequencing analysis and primer extensions of RNA encoded by this gene. Computer analyses of the deduced amino acid sequences of genes II/9-1 and II/9-2 indicate that the two DNA puff-encoded proteins are mostly alpha-helical coiled-coils. The 5'-flanking sequences of both genes contain regions that are similar to other ecdysone-regulated genes from Drosophila melanogaster. PMID- 2614833 TI - Asymmetric distribution of actin mRNA and cytoskeletal pattern generation in polarized epithelial cells. AB - We analysed the distribution of actin mRNA in intestinal epithelial cells using in situ hybridization of 35S-labelled cytoplasmic beta-actin RNA. We found that the distribution of actin mRNA generally parallels that of polymerized actin, i.e. there is an accumulation of actin mRNA in the apical end of villous epithelial cells. Furthermore, the development of this asymmetric localization of actin mRNA appears to parallel the elaboration of the cytoskeleton during cellular differentiation. We discuss the possibility that the interaction between actin and its mRNA may be important for the establishment and maintenance of cytoskeletal pattern in polarized epithelial cells. PMID- 2614834 TI - Highly preferential nucleation of histone H1 assembly on scaffold-associated regions. AB - Scaffold-associated regions (SARs) are A + T-rich DNA regions of several hundred base-pairs that are known to bind specifically to nuclear or metaphase scaffolds. Surprisingly, histone H1 specifically associates with SARs. Under conditions of high co-operativity, at input ratios of H1 to DNA up to 15% (w/w), histone H1 binds preferentially to those DNA molecules harboring a SAR, leaving the non-SAR fragments free. Our experiments identify SARs as cis-acting sequences that nucleate co-operative H1 assembly along the SAR into the flanking non-SAR DNA. Experiments with simple DNA polymers implicate homopolymeric oligo(dA).oligo(dT) tracts in preferential histone H1 assembly. The homopolymer oligo(dA).oligo(dT) is, above a critical length of 130 base-pairs, a highly specific nucleator of H1 assembly. SARs may control the conformation of chromatin domains via a regulated H1 assembly and set up the potential transcriptional repertoire of the cell. PMID- 2614835 TI - Specific inhibition of DNA binding to nuclear scaffolds and histone H1 by distamycin. The role of oligo(dA).oligo(dT) tracts. AB - Scaffold-associated regions (SARs) are A + T-rich sequences defined by their specific interaction with the nuclear scaffold. These sequences also direct highly specific binding to purified histone H1, and are characterized by the presence of oligo(dA).oligo(dT) tracts, which are a target for the drug distamyin, an antibiotic with a wide range of biological activities. The interaction of distamycin with SAR sequences results in the complete suppression of binding to either scaffolds or histone H1, suggesting that (dA.dT)n tracts play a direct role in mediating these specific interactions and that histone H1 and nuclear scaffold proteins may recognize a characteristic minor groove width or conformation. The effect of distamycin on these specific DNA-protein interactions in vitro suggests that binding of SARs to the nuclear scaffold and SAR-dependent nucleation of H1 assembly might be important targets of the drug in vivo. PMID- 2614836 TI - Filtering molecular dynamics trajectories to reveal low-frequency collective motions: phospholipase A2. AB - A novel method for analysing molecular dynamics trajectories has been developed, which filters out high frequencies using digital signal processing techniques and facilitates focusing on the low-frequency collective motions of proteins. These motions involve low energy slow motions, which lead to important biological phenomena such as domain closure and allosteric effects in enzymes. The filtering method treats each of the atomic trajectories obtained from the molecular dynamics simulation as a "signal". The trajectories of each of the atoms in the system (or any subset of interest) are Fourier transformed to the frequency domain, a filtering function is applied and then an inverse transformation back to the time domain yields the filtered trajectory. The filtering method has been used to study the dynamics of the enzyme phospholipase A2. In the filtered trajectory, all the high frequency bond and valence angle vibrations were eliminated, leaving only low-frequency motion, mainly fluctuations in torsions and conformational transitions. Analysis of this trajectory revealed interesting motions of the protein, including concerted movements of helices, and changes in shape of the active site cavity. Unlike normal mode analysis, which has been used to study the motion of proteins, this method does not require converged minimizations or diagonalization of a matrix of second derivatives. In addition, anharmonicity, multiple minima and conformational transitions are treated explicitly. Thus, the filtering method avoids most of the approximations implicit in other investigations of the dynamic behaviour of large systems. PMID- 2614837 TI - Determination of the complete three-dimensional structure of the trypsin inhibitor from squash seeds in aqueous solution by nuclear magnetic resonance and a combination of distance geometry and dynamical simulated annealing. AB - The complete three-dimensional structure of the trypsin inhibitor from seeds of the squash Cucurbita maxima in aqueous solution was determined on the basis of 324 interproton distance constraints, 80 non-nuclear Overhauser effect distances, and 22 hydrogen-bonding constraints, supplemented by 27 phi backbone angle constraints derived from nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. The nuclear magnetic resonance input data were converted to the distance constraints in a semiquantitative manner after a sequence specific assignment of 1H spectra was obtained using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Stereospecific assignments were obtained for 17 of the 48 prochiral centers of the squash trypsin inhibitor using the floating chirality assignment introduced at the dynamical simulated annealing stage of the calculations. A total of 34 structures calculated by a hybrid distance geometry-dynamical simulated annealing method exhibit well-defined positions for both backbone and side-chain atoms. The average atomic root-mean-square difference between the individual structures and the minimized mean structure is 0.35(+/- 0.08) A for the backbone atoms and 0.89(+/- 0.17) A for all heavy atoms. The precision of the structure determination is discussed and correlated to the experimental input data. PMID- 2614838 TI - Nuclear magnetic resonance solution and X-ray structures of squash trypsin inhibitor exhibit the same conformation of the proteinase binding loop. AB - A comparison of the solution nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) structures of squash trypsin inhibitor from seeds of the squash Cucurbita maxima with the X-ray structure of a trypsin complex of the inhibitor shows that the n.m.r. and X-ray structures are similar in terms of the global folding and secondary structure. The average atomic root-mean-square difference between the 36 n.m.r. structures on the one hand and the X-ray structure is 0.96 A for the backbone atoms and 1.95 A for all heavy atoms. The n.m.r. and X-ray structures exhibit extremely similar conformations of the primary proteinase binding loop. Despite the overall similarity, there are small differences between the mean computed structure and the X-ray structure. The n.m.r. structures have slightly different positions of the segments from residues 16 to 18, and 24 and 25. The n.m.r. results show that the inclusion of stereospecific assignments and precise distance constraints results in a significant improvement in the definition of the n.m.r. structure, making possible a detailed analysis of the local conformations in the protein. PMID- 2614839 TI - Manifestation of the stripes of minor proteins location in A-bands of rabbit cardiac myofibrils. AB - Cardiac myofibrils were isolated from rabbit ventricular muscle by a method that preserves well the integrity of the A-band structure. For the first time electron microscopic observations using the negative staining method revealed, in cardiac A-bands, a full complement of pronounced transverse stripes which indicate the locations of minor proteins in skeletal muscles. The manifestation of some transverse stripes in the cardiac A-band was shown to depend on the duration of muscle incubation in a Ca2(+)-depleting and ATP-free solution before its homogenization into myofibrils. The clear visibility of fine structural details in electron micrographs allowed us to resolve morphological features specific for cardiac muscle at both the central and end parts of the A-bands. The myofibrils demonstrated here are expected to be useful for elucidating the fine structure of cardiac thick filaments and in particular the locations of minor proteins. PMID- 2614840 TI - Full-length rat alpha and beta cardiac myosin heavy chain sequences. Comparisons suggest a molecular basis for functional differences. AB - The two cardiac myosin heavy chain isoforms, alpha and beta, differ functionally, alpha Myosin exhibits higher actin-activated ATPase than does beta myosin, and hearts expressing alpha myosin exhibit increased contractility relative to hearts expressing beta myosin. To understand the molecular basis for this functional difference, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of full-length rat alpha and beta myosin heavy chain cDNAs. This study represents the first opportunity to compare full-length fast ATPase and slow ATPase muscle myosin sequences. The alpha and beta myosin heavy chain amino acid sequences are more related to each other than to other sarcomeric myosin heavy chain sequences. Of the 1938 amino acid residues in alpha and beta myosin heavy chain, 131 are non identical with 37 non-conservative changes. Two-thirds of these non-identical residues are clustered, and several of these clusters map to regions that have been implicated as functionally important. Some of the regions identified by the clusters of non-identical amino acid residues may affect actin binding, ATP hydrolysis and force production. PMID- 2614841 TI - Myosin heavy chain isoform diversity in smooth muscle is produced by differential RNA processing. AB - We have isolated and characterized two distinct myosin heavy chain cDNA clones from a neonatal rat aorta cDNA library. These clones encode part of the light meromyosin region and the carboxyl terminus of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain. The two rat aorta cDNA clones were identical in their 5' coding sequence but diverged at the 3' coding and in a portion of the 3' untranslated regions. One cDNA clone, RAMHC21, encoded 43 unique amino acids from the point of divergence of the two cDNAs. The second cDNA clone, RAMHC 15, encoded a shorter carboxyl terminus of nine unique amino acids and was the result of a 39 nucleotide insertion. This extra nucleotide sequence was not present in RAMHC21. The rest of the 3' untranslated sequences were common to both cDNA clones. Genomic cloning and DNA sequence analysis demonstrated that an exon specifying the 39 nucleotides unique to RAMHC15 mRNA was present, together with the 5' upstream common exons in the same contiguous stretch of genomic DNA. The 39 nucleotide exon is flanked on either side by two relatively large introns of approximately 2600 and 2700 bases in size. RNase protection analysis indicated that the two corresponding mRNAs were coexpressed in both vascular and non-vascular smooth muscle tissues. This is the first demonstration of alternative RNA processing in a vertebrate myosin heavy chain gene and provides a novel mechanism for generating myosin heavy chain protein diversity in smooth muscle tissues. PMID- 2614842 TI - Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the complex of Maclura pomifera agglutinin with the disaccharide Gal beta 1-3GalNAc. AB - Single crystals of Maclura pomifera agglutinin, a seed lectin from the Moraceae family, complexed with the disaccharide Gal beta 1-3GalNAc have been obtained by the method of vapor diffusion with Li2SO4 as precipitant at pH 4.5. The crystals belong to the trigonal space group P3(1)21 or P3(2)21, with a = b = 67.4 A, c = 149.3 A. They contain two subunits per asymmetric unit and diffract beyond 2.7 A. This and other evidence indicate that both this lectin and the Artocarpus integrifolia lectin, jacalin, have dimeric structures rather than the tetrameric structures previously proposed. PMID- 2614843 TI - Sequence of bacteriophage T3 DNA from gene 2.5 through gene 9. AB - The nucleotide sequence of bacteriophage T3 DNA, from gene 2.5 through gene 9 has been determined. In addition to regulatory sites, the sequence predicts 19 close packed genes plus two genes that overlap, in a different reading frame, another gene. The majority of these genes are highly homologous to those in the corresponding region of bacteriophage T7. However, there are some genes that are present in one, but not the other, phage. These apparent deletions are almost exactly gene size and thus the close-packed organization of genes remains the same in T3 as in T7. The varying levels of homology between T3 and T7 DNAs, first noted by Davis and Hyman in their study of DNA heteroduplexes, are also demonstrated here by a comparison of T3 and T7 nucleotide sequences. Many regions of extremely high homology immediately abut sequences that have no apparent homology. These data suggest that bacteriophages T3 and T7 have recombined, both with each other and with other members of a pool of T7-like phages, during their co-evolution. PMID- 2614844 TI - Three separate mitochondrial DNA sequences are contiguous in human genomic DNA. AB - We isolated from a HeLa genomic library 38 plaques that hybridized to total mitochondrial (mt) DNA isolated from human placenta. One clone (HLmt-17.8) hybridized to a 740 base-pair (12 S ribosomal RNA gene and displacement loop) mtDNA probe and was characterized in more detail. Within its 17.8 x 10(3) base pair insert a 1.6 x 10(3) base-pair mtDNA fragment was similar to three non sequential coding genes of human mtDNA, including a part of the 12 S ribosomal RNA (684-971), the cytochrome oxidase I (6553-7302), and two NADH dehydrogenase [ND4L/ND4] (10,606-11,159). The similarity to human mtDNA sequences was 92.0%, 92.3% and 92.4%, respectively, the highest degree of similarity to human mtDNA so far reported. This is also the first report of several adjacent mtDNA-like sequences in cellular chromosomes. The mtDNA-like sequences in HLmt-17.8 was found in the DNAs of human placenta, freshly isolated human leukocytes, foreskin and several human cell lines; but it was not present in other primates or lower organisms. The HLmt-17.8 mtDNA-like region appears to be a pseudogene that transferred into the nucleus in humans more recently than nine million years ago. PMID- 2614845 TI - Crystal structure of bovine beta-trypsin at 1.5 A resolution in a crystal form with low molecular packing density. Active site geometry, ion pairs and solvent structure. AB - The crystal structure of bovine pancreatic beta-trypsin (BPT) has been determined from a novel orthorhombic crystal form which contains substantially more solvent (filling 57% of the volume of the unit cell) than previously determined orthorhombic (44%) and trigonal (37%) BPT structures. The native and benzamidine inhibited crystal structures of BPT in ammonium sulphate at pH 5.3 have been determined for the new form by molecular replacement techniques. The structures have been refined at 1.5 A resolution with final R-values of 16.7% and 16.9%, respectively. Comparison with the previously refined old orthorhombic forms shows that the overall conformation of the protein backbone is highly conserved. A great number of previously undefined side-chains have been located in density. At the C terminus an extra ion pair involving lysines 87 and 107 has been revealed. A far more detailed picture of the ordered solvent structure has been derived. Thirty water clusters have been identified. A large water network extends from the calcium binding site to the activation area and the autolysis loop. There is evidence for a water channel reaching from the depth of the specificity pocket to the nearby protein surface which might be involved in the displacement of water molecules upon substrate binding. A sulphate anion which forms hydrogen bonds to the active site residues His57, Ser195 and Gly193 was for the first time positioned in clearly defined electron density. Interaction with the sulphate ion may explain the increase in the pKa value of His57 at high sulphate concentrations which was observed by nuclear magnetic resonance studies of a bacterial serine protease both in crystalline form and in solution. Thus, a His Ser hydrogen bond will not exist in solvents containing sulphate at low pH (up to at least 6.8) where the imidazole of His57 is protonated. The new crystal form is of considerable interest for substrate binding studies. Wide solvent channels should allow diffusion of large substrates (comparable in size to, e.g. pancreatic trypsin inhibitor) into the enzyme crystal. The active site is accessible; intermolecular contact areas are further remote from the active site than in the old orthorhombic form. PMID- 2614846 TI - Tertiary structure of bacteriorhodopsin. Positions and orientations of helices A and B in the structural map determined by neutron diffraction. AB - Positions and rotations of two helices in the tertiary structure of bacteriorhodopsin have been studied by neutron diffraction using reconstituted, hybrid purple membrane samples. Purple membrane was biosynthetically 2H-labeled at non-exchangeable hydrogen positions of leucine and tryptophan residues. Two chymotryptic fragments were purified, encompassing either the first two or the last five of the seven putative transmembrane segments identified in the amino acid sequence of bacteriorhodopsin. The 2H-labeled fragments, diluted to variable extents with the identical, unlabeled fragment, were mixed with their unlabeled counterpart; bacteriorhodopsin was then renatured and reconstituted. The crystalline purple membrane samples thus obtained contained hybrid bacteriorhodopsin molecules in which certain transmembrane segments had been selectively 2H-labeled to various degrees. Neutron diffraction powder patterns were recorded and analyzed both by calculating difference Fourier maps and by model building. The two analyses yielded consistent results. The first and second transmembrane segments in the sequence correspond to helices 1 and 7 of the three dimensional structure, respectively. Rotational orientations of these two helices were identified using best fits to the observed diffraction intensities. The data also put restrictions on the position of the third transmembrane segment. These observations are discussed in the context of folding models for bacteriorhodopsin, the environment of the retinal Schiff base, and site-directed mutagenesis experiments. PMID- 2614847 TI - Extensive photodimerization of non-adjacent pyrimidines. AB - In a prior study we found that non-adjacent thymidyl residues in the single stranded alternating copolymer poly[d(G-T)] are subject to photodimerization by germicidal lamp irradiation (lambda max 254 nm). The maximum yield of this photoproduct was 1% of the total thymine of poly[d(G-T)]. We now report that dimer formation in this polymer is increased to 10 to 40% thymine as dimer between non-adjacent pyrimidines, using near-ultraviolet irradiation (lambda max 310 nm) with or without acetone triplet-sensitization. As previously observed for 254 nm irradiation, dimer formation was nearly absent in double-stranded poly[d(G T).d(C-A)]. These observations extend prior findings by demonstrating high-yield dimerization between non-adjacent pyrimidines via direct irradiation at environmentally relevant wavelengths (greater than or equal to 280 nm), and are potentially relevant to the mechanism of the ultraviolet light-induced targeted 1 frameshift mutation. PMID- 2614848 TI - Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic data for bovine antithrombin III. AB - Crystals of bovine antithrombin III were obtained in the presence of metal ions with ammonium sulphate as precipitating agent. Crystals belong to space group P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2 with cell parameters a = b = 91.4 A, c = 383.1 A; there are two molecules per asymmetric unit. Electrophoresis experiments and amino acid sequence analysis of the N-terminal part of redissolved crystals suggest that the protein molecules are cleaved at the active site. PMID- 2614849 TI - Crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of porcine trypsin, free and complexed with Ecballium elaterium trypsin inhibitor, a member of the squash inhibitors family. AB - Porcine trypsin has been crystallized either free or complexed with synthetic Ecballium elaterium trypsin inhibitor II, a 28-residue peptide with three disulfide bridges. The crystals diffract beyond 2.0 A. Crystals are orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with cell dimensions a = 77.32 A, b = 53.81 A, c = 46.91 A, for the free trypsin, and a = 62.25 A, b = 62.27 A, c = 84.66 A for the complex with E. elaterium trypsin inhibitor II. PMID- 2614850 TI - Mechanisms of neuronal degeneration secondary to central nervous system trauma or ischemia. PMID- 2614851 TI - Spinal cord evoked injury potentials in patients with acute spinal cord injury. AB - Six patients were examined in the acute stage of spinal cord injury, between 11 h and 12 days posttrauma. Quadripolar epidural electrodes were positioned either percutaneously using a Tuohy needle or directly into the epidural space during surgical intervention. These electrodes were combined with a common reference to obtain monopolar recordings of spinal cord evoked potentials resulting from either median nerve stimulation at the wrist or tibial nerve stimulation at the popliteal fossa. Spinal cord evoked injury potentials (SCEIPs), stationary potentials with positive polarity on the distal aspect of the lesion and negative polarity on the proximal aspect, were recorded in all cases. The average amplitude (n = 3) of the SCEIP resulting from tibial nerve stimulation as measured across the lesion was 13.5 microV with an average duration of 12.7 msec. For median nerve stimulation, the average amplitude (n = 3) of the SCEIP was 16.3 microV with an average duration of 6.7 msec. There was a change in polarity in all cases over a distance of less than 6 mm, the distance between the electrode contacts on the epidural electrode. In one case, recordings were performed initially at 11 h and repeated at 21 days posttrauma. In the latter recording, the SCEIP was still present but was five times smaller in amplitude. Coincidentally, the patient also showed clinical signs of improvement in sensory and motor spinal cord function. This study demonstrates the feasibility of recording the SCEIP in patients with acute spinal cord injury, describes the features of these SCEIPs, discusses their origins, and explores the utility of recording the SCEIP as an aid in determining the severity of the injury as well as a means of monitoring changes in spinal cord function. PMID- 2614852 TI - Calcium antagonists fail to protect mammalian spinal neurons after physical injury. AB - Most investigations of calcium antagonists as treatments for experimental spinal cord injury (SCI) have not demonstrated significant reduction of tissue damage or improvement in neurologic outcome. Many of these studies were prompted by reports that these agents increase blood flow to ischemic tissues. However, in vitro studies of renal and neuronal tissues subjected to an anoxic stress have shown that the calcium antagonists can confer direct protection on stressed parenchymal cells. We have used a tissue culture model of nerve cell injury to investigate whether calcium antagonists increase the probability of survival of spinal cord neurons after a defined physical trauma. Preliminary toxicity studies determined the maximum nontoxic dosages of verapamil (80 microM), nifedipine (10 microM), and chlorpromazine (10 microM) for neurons in our cultures. Preselected neurons (100-200 per study) were subjected to amputation of one primary dendrite at a distance of 100 microns from the perikaryon. Erythrosine B tests of viability conducted 24 h after lesioning failed to demonstrate that neurons injured in the presence of any one of these agents had an increased probability of survival compared to operated control neurons. Viability evaluations conducted 2 h after injury with phase contrast microscopy showed no evidence of slowed deterioration. Correction for other lesion physical parameters (lesion diameter and the extent of proximal segment retraction) also failed to reveal any increased protection by these agents. We conclude that calcium antagonists alone will not be useful for treatment of the primary injury of SCI. PMID- 2614853 TI - Stimulation of the medullary reticular formation in cold-injured brain. AB - The vasopressor response (Cushing) in patients with high intracranial pressure (ICP) has been thought to be a result of lower brainstem dysfunction. This study was carried out to study the effect of stimulation of the reticular formation of the medulla oblongata on ICP and cerebral blood volume (CBV) in injured brain with increased ICP. The CBV was measured by the photoelectric method from the uni or bilateral parietal lobe. Seventeen hours prior to the experiments, cold induced edema was produced to increase basal ICP. In 15 cats, electric stimulation produced temporary increases in blood pressure (BP), ICP, and CBV and progressive intracranial hypertension was never observed (group A). In 9 animals, progressive increases in CBV and ICP up to 50-100 mmHg occurred after cessation of stimulation (group B). Prestimulation ICP in group B was significantly higher than that of group A (p less than 0.01). Rapid and simultaneous increases in ICP and CBV following stimulation strongly suggested that global increments of CBV secondary to loss of cerebral vasomotor tonus were responsible for producing progressive intracranial hypertension. In group B, the stimulation electrodes were invariably located at the area of the nucleus reticularis parvocellularis and gigantocellularis. Our experimental results show that under conditions of increased ICP, a stimulated or irritable condition of the medullary reticular formation will cause temporary or progressive intracranial hypertension. PMID- 2614854 TI - Single parents: interaction of parenting and sexual issues. AB - This study was designed to investigate how children affect the sexual lives of their single parents. More specifically, this study investigated how being a single mother or father affects parenting roles, partner relationships, sexual guilt, and sexual satisfaction. Data were collected from a sample of 155 parents who were members of a single-parenting organization. The findings revealed a significant difference between single mothers and single fathers regarding attitudes toward their relationship with their children. Although fathers more often reported being content in their parent-child relationships, they also were less frequently involved in the custodial care of the children. One of the major problems reported by single parents, especially mothers, was the relationship interference they perceived emanating from former spouses, children, and children of current partners. In addition, single parents also experienced guilt over their involvement with a relationship partner when it took time away from their children. Although the majority of single parents were satisfied with their sexual lives, there was a significant association between parent-child relationship and perceived sexual satisfaction for women. An increased awareness of the parenting roles and sexual lives of single parents can better enable family professionals to meet the needs of single parents as they act and react to changes in families and society. PMID- 2614855 TI - Using the biopsychosocial model to predict nocturnal penile rigidity in men with erectile dysfunction. AB - The purpose of this study was to examine the relative contributions of sets of descriptive, organic, and psychosocial variables to a prediction of nocturnal penile rigidity among a group of men presenting with significant erectile dysfunction. Seventy veterans referred for evaluation of their erectile dysfunction completed several standardized questionnaires and two nights of nocturnal penile rigidity monitoring (NPRM) using the snap gauge technique. Results suggest that each set of variables uniquely contributes to a prediction of NPRM. Findings support the view that a biopsychosocial approach should be used in the evaluation and treatment of erectile dysfunction. PMID- 2614856 TI - Pharmacokinetic disposition of an immediate-release aminophylline and a sustained release theophylline formulation in the horse. AB - The pharmacokinetic disposition of theophylline was determined by high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of plasma samples from six healthy, adult horses following the administration of intravenous aminophylline (dosed at 9.94 mg/kg as theophylline), immediate-release aminophylline tablets (dosed at 9.94 mg/kg as theophylline), and sustained-release theophylline tablets (dosed at 20 mg/kg). The elimination rate constant (lambda z), apparent volume of distribution (Vz), and clearance (Cl) determined by compartmental analysis of the intravenous data were 0.07 +/- 0.01 h-1, 0.80 +/- 0.06 l/kg, and 0.06 +/- 0.01 l/kg/h (mean +/- SD), respectively. Mean residence time determined by statistical moment theory of the oral data was different (P less than 0.05) for the immediate release aminophylline (13.8 +/- 2.8 h) and sustained-release theophylline (18.2 +/- 2.3 h) formulation. Immediate-release aminophylline tablets quickly achieved peak theophylline plasma concentration of 11.51 +/- 1.4 micrograms/ml at 1.6 +/- 0.6 h while the sustained-release theophylline tablets were more slowly absorbed and achieved peak theophylline concentrations of 17.20 +/- 1.3 micrograms/ml at 7.3 +/- 1.0 h. Absolute bioavailability was 87% for the immediate-release and 97% for the sustained-release formulation. Using the principle of superposition, a loading dose of 20 mg/kg of the sustained-release formulation followed by maintenance doses of 15 mg/kg every 24 h was predicted to achieve trough-peak theophylline plasma concentrations between 6 and 17 micrograms/ml. PMID- 2614857 TI - Opioid modulation of tonic luteinizing hormone release in ovariectomized dairy cows. AB - A possible role of endogenous opioid peptides (EOP) in regulating the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the absence of ovarian influence was investigated. Experiments were conducted on three lactating Holstein-Friesian dairy cows, 20-27 days after ovariectomy. The cows were bled before and after a single intravenous (i.v.) injection of either 250 mg of naloxone (EOP antagonist) or 300 mg of morphine (EOP agonist) or a combination of the two in Experiments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The mean and basal LH concentrations and the LH pulse frequency and amplitude were compared before and after each treatment in each cow. Naloxone induced an immediate rise in LH concentration by 60-300% above the preceding baseline values. This rise lasted for 15-30 min in each cow, after which the normal rhythmic LH release continued. One cow (A) suffered discomfort and respiratory distress 15-25 min after naloxone administration and the mean and basal LH concentration dropped significantly. Morphine significantly reduced the mean LH concentration by decreasing the number and amplitude of LH pulses and the basal LH values in two cows, although the decrease in one was not significant. The mean LH concentration in each cow remained unaffected by the combined treatment of morphine and naloxone. In conclusion, the elevation of LH concentration by naloxone, the suppression of LH release by morphine and the reversal by morphine and naloxone of each other's effects suggest that EOP could be involved in the control of LH release in cows in the absence of ovarian influence. PMID- 2614858 TI - Antagonism in isolated equine digital vessels of contraction induced by epinephrine in the presence of hydrocortisone and an aqueous extract of black walnut (Juglans nigra). AB - Prazosin, isoxsuprine, and nifedipine were screened for ability to reverse contraction of isolated equine digital vascular strips produced by epinephrine (Epi) in the presence of hydrocortisone (Hc) and an aqueous extract of black walnut (Juglans nigra) (BW). Two arteries and two veins from each of three horses for each drug (n = 9) were maintained in isolated tissue baths in Krebs' bicarbonate buffer with 95% oxygen at 37 degrees C. Six-point Epi concentration response (C-R) curves were obtained for each vessel in the presence of Hc, BW, and the appropriate vehicle. This was repeated for each vessel using one of two concentrations of one of the three test drugs. Each drug and concentration combination was tested on a total of three arteries and three veins. Prazosin produced a concentration-dependent shift of the Epi C-R curve to the right but the curve maintained the same maximum height and slope, which is consistent with competitive alpha 1 adrenergic blockade. Isoxsuprine exhibited similar behavior, although the precise mechanism of action for isoxsuprine is unknown. Conversely, nifedipine did not shift the curve but did depress maximum contraction, suggesting a non-competitive interaction consistent with its mechanism of calcium channel blockade. PMID- 2614859 TI - The disposition of albendazole in sheep. AB - Albendazole (ABZ) was administered intraruminally at 4.75 mg/kg to sheep fitted with a permanent bile-duct cannula to determine if its metabolites might contribute to its flukicidal action. ABZ metabolism was consistent with first pass clearance by the liver, resulting in ABZ sulphoxide (ABZ-SO) and ABZ sulphone (ABZ-SO2) being present in plasma at maximum concentrations (mean Cmax +/- SD) of 2.0 +/- 0.2 micrograms/ml and 0.4 +/- 0.1 micrograms/ml after 8 +/- 3 h and 24 +/- 5 h, respectively. ABZ-SO, but more particularly ABZ-SO2, appeared to bind to plasma proteins but their clearance rates from plasma were similar. Biliary ABZ metabolites were mainly unconjugated ABZ-SO and 2OH-ABZ-SO (8.0% dose) or conjugated glucuronide and sulphate esters (6.3% dose) mainly of 2OH-ABZ SO and 2OH-ABZ-SO2. The concentration of the major biliary metabolite, unconjugated ABZ-SO, followed a similar time profile to that of ABZ-SO in plasma except that Cmax was much higher (6.2 +/- 2.2 micrograms/ml). Intraruminal administration of ABZ reduced bile flow rate by 30% which may be attributable to an inhibitory effect of ABZ on microtubule formation in hepatic secretory cells. It is suggested that ABZ is sequestered in the liver. This is unlikely to contribute to its flukicidal action, which is probably attributable to ingestion of ABZ-SO from bile and blood by the fluke. PMID- 2614860 TI - Absorption of two trimethoprim/sulphonamide combinations from the uterus of pony mares. AB - Plasma drug concentrations were measured after two commercially available potentiated sulphonamides, trimethoprim and sulfadoxine and trimethoprim and sulphadiazine, were infused daily for 2 and 3 days, respectively, into the uteri of pony mares which had been mated before ovulation. Intravenous administration of trimethoprim and sulfadoxine allowed uterine absorption of trimethoprim (23 43%) and sulfadoxine (29-34%) to be calculated. After intra-uterine administration trimethoprim and sulphadiazine were detected in the milk of a lactating mare. In order to maintain plasma concentrations likely to be required for clinical efficacy of both drugs they should be administered every 12 h. However, infusions of both preparations caused endometrial inflammation as assessed by cytological and histological examination and this may have been responsible for the low pregnancy rate. PMID- 2614861 TI - Some pharmacokinetic data of the liver-fluke anthelmintic nitroclofene in ruminant and pre-ruminant kids. PMID- 2614862 TI - The effect of praziquantel on Schistosoma nasale infections in cattle. PMID- 2614863 TI - Lack of oxidative pathways in the metabolism of sulphisomidine by the turtle Pseudemys scripta elegans. PMID- 2614864 TI - Effect of the continuous administration of fat emulsion on the infiltration of intravenous lines in infants receiving peripheral parenteral nutrition solutions. AB - Animal data and anecdotal human experience suggest that vascular damage induced by the infusion of dextrose/amino acid solutions may be ameliorated by the concomitant administration of fat emulsion. We prospectively evaluated the effect of the continuous infusion of peripheral nutrition solutions with and without fat emulsion on the incidence of, probability of, and time to infiltration of peripheral venous lines in infants (median age: 1.0 month; range 1 day-11.9 months). Ninety-seven peripheral venous lines were studied in 53 infants who received 10% dextrose (n = 34), 10% dextrose/2% amino acids (n = 30), or 10% dextrose/2% amino acids/fat emulsion (n = 33). Solutions were administered by positive pressure infusion devices through Teflon catheters with similar gauge. Dextrose, amino acid, electrolyte, and mineral content was standardized for the dextrose/amino acid and dextrose/amino acid/fat emulsion groups. The three groups were similar with respect to age, race, gender, weight, administration of intravenous medications, and catheter site (p greater than 0.05). Patients receiving dextrose/amino acid or dextrose/amino acid/fat emulsion had greater rates of solution administration than those receiving dextrose alone (p less than 0.002). Infiltration occurred in 71% of dextrose, 66% of dextrose/amino acid, and 67% of dextrose/amino acid/fat emulsion solutions (p greater than 0.05). The probability of infiltration was greater for infants receiving dextrose/amino acid than for those receiving either dextrose or dextrose/amino acid/fat emulsion (p = 0.01). The mean +/- SEM length of time the intravenous sites were viable was significantly shorter for the dextrose/amino acid solutions (26.3 +/- 3.3 hr) compared to the dextrose (54.9 +/- 7.8 hr) and dextrose/amino acid/fat emulsion (43.6 +/- 4.2 hr) groups. No site complications were associated with the infiltration of any solution. We conclude that the incidence of infiltration among the three solution groups studied is not different. However, the time to infiltration is prolonged and the probability of infiltration is decreased following the infusion of either dextrose alone or dextrose/amino acid/fat emulsion solutions when compared to the administration of dextrose/amino acid solutions without concomitant fat emulsion infusion. PMID- 2614865 TI - Beneficial effect of coinfusing a lipid emulsion on venous patency. AB - The hypothesis that infused fat could prolong venous patency was tested in a paired crossover design. Parenterally fed newborn infants received, for a given level of energy, (60 vs 80 kcal/kg/day), two 6-day isocaloric and isonitrogenous (434 +/- 3.4 mg/kg/day, n = 32) regimens differing only by the fat intake (LF: 1.03 +/- 0.02, HF: 2.78 +/- 0.05 g/kg/day). Paired comparisons of osmolarities within isocaloric (60 or 80 kcal/kg/day) infusions showed that high fat regimens were associated with significantly lower osmolarities. A paired comparison of patency times showed that the drop in osmolarity produced by the high fat regimen at 60 kcal/kg/day led to a significantly longer venous patency time. The comparison of patency times between regimens (LF, 60 kcal/kg/day) and HF, 80 kcal/kg/day) with same osmolarities (702 mOsm/liter) and glucose intakes (11 g/kg/day) documented that the fat emulsion per se had a vascular protective effect. This observation demonstrates that the coinfusion of a lipid emulsion exerts a beneficial effect, whether biochemical or biophysical, on the vascular endothelium of peripheral veins. PMID- 2614866 TI - Reduced cardiac selenium content in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AB - Selenium deficiency has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a dilated congestive cardiomyopathy in areas of China (Keshan disease) and in several patients on long-term total parenteral nutrition. Recently a clinically and pathologically similar cardiomyopathy has been described in AIDS. Since blood selenium levels are low in AIDS, we assayed cardiac selenium status by a spectrofluorometric method in eight AIDS patients at autopsy compared to nine age matched, non-AIDS autopsy controls with histologically normal hearts. We found (mean +/- SD) a cardiac selenium level of 0.327 +/- 0.082 microgram/g dry weight in AIDS vs 0.534 +/- 0.184 microgram/g dry weight in controls (p less than 0.01; Student's t test). There were no significant differences between the groups for heart weight, serum CPK, or other laboratory parameters. No specific chest x-ray or electrocardiographic abnormalities were present. Histologically, all AIDS hearts were abnormal; mostly with mild degrees of muscle hypertrophy or fibrosis. Foci of myocytolysis and myocyte necrosis and fibrous replacement of myocytes and monocytic infiltration were present in two AIDS cases. We conclude that heart tissue in AIDS demonstrates a significant selenium deficit. These data provide a potential link between selenium deficiency and cardiomyopathy in AIDS. PMID- 2614867 TI - Reversible cardiomyopathy due to selenium deficiency. AB - Selenium is an essential trace element and a component of glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme that may help to prevent oxidative damage to cells. Selenium deficiency has been linked to the development of Keshan disease, a dilated congestive cardiomyopathy occurring primarily in children living in rural China. Sporadic cases have been reported in the United States in individuals with poor nutritional intake, mostly in individuals on long-term home parenteral nutrition. This report describes a young black woman with Crohn's disease in whom a congestive cardiomyopathy developed and was subsequently reversed following administration of selenium. PMID- 2614868 TI - An alternative placement of implantable central venous access systems. AB - A modified technique of inserting an implantable venous access system in the inferior epigastric vein is described. This route can be used in cases where the jugular or subclavian veins are unsuitable. After exposure of the inferior epigastric vein in the lower part of the rectus sheath, the catheter is placed in the vein with its tip at the junction to the iliac vein, with the aid of fluoroscopy and x-ray contrast. Protrusion of the tip into the lumen of the iliac vein is avoided. The technique was successful in four of the five patients where an attempt was made to insert the catheter. In the fifth case the vein was too narrow to allow catheterization. In the four cases where the catheter was successfully inserted there were no complications. This technique may allow use of the inferior vena cava for venous access without the high risk of intravenous thrombosis which is inherent with current methods. PMID- 2614869 TI - Determinants of late potentials in myocardial infarction. AB - To clarify factors which have an influence on late potentials (LPs), signal averaged electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization and Holter monitoring were studied in 86 patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI). Group 1 consisted of 27 patients with LPs (LP duration greater than or equal to 20 msec) and Group 2 consisted of 59 patients without them. Twelve percent of anterior MI and 35% of inferior MI had LPs. Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dimension was larger and % fractional shortening was lower in group 1 than those in group 2. LV end-diastolic volume index and LV end-systolic volume index were larger and LV ejection fraction was lower in group 1 than those in group 2. Aneurysm was noted in 37% in group 1 and 17% in group 2 (p less than 0.05), and mean number of involved coronary vessels was 2.3 +/- 0.8 in group 1 and 1.7 +/- 0.8 in group 2 (p less than 0.05). No significant difference was found in other clinical and hemodynamic parameters. The incidence of patients with 100 or more ventricular premature contractions per hours and that with ventricular tachycardia (VT) were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (26% vs 7%, p less than 0.05, 33% vs 7%, p less than 0.01, respectively). Multiple regression analysis and the method of quantification demonstrated that ventricular arrhythmia was most strongly associated with LP duration. PMID- 2614870 TI - Value of vectorcardiography in predicting progress in dilated cardiomyopathy. AB - Sixteen of 75 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) died during a mean follow-up period of 39.7 months. In non-survivors, the cardiothoracic ratio and the left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions were greater, the left ventricular end-diastolic pressures were more elevated, and the cardiac index was lower than in the survivors at the time of initial diagnosis. There were no significant differences between survivors and non-survivors in the magnitude of the maximum QRS and T vectors or in the maximum T angle. In the non-survivors, the maximum QRS vector was directed more posteriorly and the width/length ratio of the loop in the horizontal plane was smaller than in survivors. The QRS loop in the horizontal plane was often distorted in non-survivors or showed a bizarre figure of-eight configuration. It appears that in DCM a marked posterior displacement of a QRS loop that is narrow and distorted or is in a bizarre figure-of-eight configuration in the horizontal plane indicates an unfavorable prognosis. PMID- 2614871 TI - Determination of left to right shunt by thermodilution in patients with ventricular septal defect. AB - A modified thermodilution technique was used to determine the quantity of shunt in patients suffering from congenital heart disease with a left to right shunt. In our modification, the thermistor was placed within the pulmonary artery and an indicator was injected into both sides of the heart. In a series of 33 cardiac catheterizations in children (1-17 years) with ventricular septal defect (VSD), pulmonary blood flow (Qp), systemic blood flow (Qs) and the ratio of Qp to Qs (Qp/Qs) were determined by this and ordinary oximetry (Fick) methods. Correlation coefficients between indexes obtained by these methods were 0.54 (Qp), 0.78 (Qs), and 0.75 (Qp/Qs). The estimates of Qp and Qp/Qs obtained by thermodilution were smaller than those obtained by the Fick method. This modification of thermodilution is simple, rapid, and useful in clinical practice. PMID- 2614872 TI - Vitamin E and ventricular fibrillation threshold in myocardial ischemia. AB - The effect of vitamin E on the ventricular fibrillation threshold was studied in an experimental model of acute myocardial ischemia. An anterior thoracotomy was performed on 23 anesthetized Wistar rats. The ventricular fibrillation threshold was measured. Vitamin E was then administered intravenously to an experimental group (n = 11) and a placebo to a control group (n = 12). The ventricular fibrillation threshold was measured again. Finally, the left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded, producing anteroapical myocardial ischemia. The ventricular fibrillation threshold was measured again. This threshold did not vary significantly when vitamin E or the placebo was administered before occluding the coronary artery but after the occlusion a threshold decrease in the placebo group was observed, whereas no such decrease was manifested in the vitamin E-treated group. The results suggest that vitamin E prevents ventricular fibrillation in acute myocardial ischemia in rats. PMID- 2614873 TI - Left ventricular pump function in right ventricular overload. AB - To clarify how left ventricular pumping action is altered in cor pulmonale, an experimental study was performed using canine heart preparations in which the effects on left ventricular performance of right ventricular overload, with and without depressed systolic function, were investigated. For this purpose, two methods using excised perfused hearts (n = 16) and in vivo hearts (n = 6) were employed, and in the latter condition, pulmonary artery constriction (n = 7), femoral arterial-venous (A-V) shunt (n = 3) and right coronary artery occlusion (n = 6) were induced. Left ventricular systolic function was assessed by the relationship between left ventricular isovolumic developed pressure and left ventricular volume in excised heart, and by ejection fraction with 2 dimensional echocardiogram in the vivo condition, taking into account preload and afterload changes. From the excised heart preparation, it was shown that left ventricular developed pressure significantly decreases when right and left ventricular diastolic pressure increases greatly. On the other hand, in vivo right ventricular overload due to pulmonary constriction and A-V shunt, the left ventricular ejection fraction increased following afterload reduction. When we compare the left ventricular ejection fraction in pulmonary constriction with that in right coronary occlusion, in which reduction of left ventricular diastolic area from the control was similar, the latter was significantly decreased despite afterload reduction. These results suggest that right ventricular overload does not necessarily induce left ventricular systolic dysfunction unless left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, as well as that of the right ventricle, increases definitely and simultaneously.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614874 TI - Right ventricular mechanical and energetic properties. AB - To formulate right ventricular (RV) mechanical and energetic properties in terms of the time-varying elastance model, Emax and the systolic pressure-volume area (PVA) of RV were measured in the excised cross-circulated heart preparation, while the left ventricle was beating unloaded. Emax of RV was constant, and independent of the RV volume, the stroke volume, the ejection velocity, and the pre-ejection period in the control contractile state. Enhancement of the contractile state with calcium increased Emax, and reduction of the contractile state with propranolol decreased Emax. The whole heart oxygen consumption (Vo2) was linearly regressed on PVA of RV, in both the control and the calcium-enhanced contractile state. Calcium elevated the regression line in a parallel manner. The slope of the regression line was (1.85 +/- 0.19) x 10(-5) ml O2/mmHg ml in the control state, and (1.57 +/- 0.44) in the calcium state. These slope values were similar to those in left ventricle (LV). We therefore conclude that mechanical and energetic properties of RV are similar to those of LV. PMID- 2614875 TI - Right ventricular function under acute cor pulmonale. AB - Many investigators have reported the hemodynamics in acute cor pulmonale clinically and experimentally. However, earlier studies have not made quantitative evaluations of the effects of coronary perfusion pressure and hypoxia on right ventricular contractility. We simulated acute cor pulmonale in nine isolated canine hearts and investigated the relationship of the process to cardiac deterioration and restoration. The afterload and preload of the right ventricle were controlled with a computer-assisted load control servosystem. Coronary perfusion pressure (COPP) was also controlled at either normal or variable levels identical to products of measured cardiac output and assumed values of systemic vascular resistance. Critical state (CS) was defined as a condition with an initial decrease in peak systolic pressure despite increased afterload. Within the normal range of PaO2 (105 +/- 5.3 mmHg), CS developed at a COPP of 51 +/- 5.1 mmHg, while under low PaO2 (51 +/- 2.3 mmHg), it developed at a COPP of 59 +/- 8.8 mmHg. As long as the COPP was normal (90 mmHg), the contractility of the right ventricle did not decrease despite hypoxia (PaO2 51 +/ 2.3 mmHg). An increase in systemic vascular resistance or administration of a beta-stimulant at CS restored the contractility of the right ventricle. However, an increase in preload decreased the contractility of the right ventricle. PMID- 2614876 TI - Assessment of right ventricular overload in patients with chronic pulmonary disease by 12-lead electrocardiography, vectorcardiography, and body surface electrocardiographic mapping. AB - Twenty-eight patients with chronic pulmonary diseases were examined with standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), vectorcardiogram (VCG), and body surface ECG mapping (MAP). The electrocardiographic findings were compared with results of 99 mTc radionuclide right ventriculography or T1-201 myocardial scintigraphy. In a stepwise multiple regression analysis between the electrocardiographic parameters and right ventricular ejection fraction, only the amplitude of the negative P wave in V2 (r = 0.69), the posterior force of P loop in VCG (r = 0.71), and the size of -2SD area at 50 msec QRS potential departure map (r = 0.55) were selected as the parameters in standard ECG, VCG, and MAP, respectively. On the radionuclide ventriculography and myocardial scintigraphy, 14 patients were judged to have right ventricular overload. The criteria by VCG, and MAP had better sensitivity and specificity for right ventricle overload than those by 12 lead ECG. VCG criteria of Chou et al had sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 71%. MAP criteria, departure index of F3 or F4 less than or equal to -2, had sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 79%. The electrocardiographic findings by standard 12-lead ECG, VCG and body surface ECG mapping are useful parameters for the noninvasive detection of right ventricular overload in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases. PMID- 2614877 TI - Effects of drugs on the hypoxic contraction of the isolated human pulmonary artery. PMID- 2614878 TI - Physiopathology and treatment of chronic cor pulmonale due to dysventilation syndrome. AB - 133 patients with chronic cor pulmonale due to dysventilation syndrome were studied. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was found, possibly for the first time in Japan, to be the most common etiological condition, occurring in 54% of the patients. Chronic cor pulmonale was clinically diagnosed as the appearance of right heart failure on admission. Patients were divided into two groups depending on clinical state, compensated and decompensated. There was a marked difference in arterial blood gases and electrocardiographic fluctuations between the states. Serial observations of these parameters and enlarged cardiac silhouette to the left on plain chest film provided diagnostic evidence for development to the decompensated state. Pulmonary artery pressure changes on exercise and during sleep at night has been considered to impair right heart function. Prognosis of chronic cor pulmonale largely depends on the concentrated therapy of the decompensated state. 85% of patients in the current study returned to the compensated state with active intensive therapy. Recent therapeutic progress has made control of this serious disease possible, despite the appearance of right heart failure. Laborious prolonged therapy appears to be essential in order to improve long-term prognosis. PMID- 2614879 TI - Oxygen therapy and vasodilator therapy in patients with chronic lung disease: the effects of episodic pulmonary hypertension during sleep and exercise performance. AB - In patients with chronic lung disease, we estimated the effectiveness of nocturnal oxygen therapy in eliminating episodes of sleep hypoxemia and concomitant elevations in the pulmonary arterial pressure. We also assessed the effect of vasodilators (ISDN, nifedipine) in improving exercise tolerance. Our results support the efficacy of nocturnal oxygen therapy. Vasodilators examined were not confirmed as effective or safe for wide use. PMID- 2614880 TI - [Abstracts of papers presented at meetings of local sections of the Japanese Circulation Society]. PMID- 2614881 TI - [Which factors affect the liver function most after gastrectomy in the gastric cancer patients?]. AB - We examined the factors which influence the postoperative liver function in the gastric cancer patients who received gastrectomy by a particular surgeon. One hundred and five patients had no history of liver diseases, no blood transfusions, and no infection after the operation. They also had normal liver function preoperatively. They were anesthetized with halothane-nitrous oxide oxygen or enflurane-nitrous oxide oxygen with epidural anesthesia by the same group of anesthesiologists. GOT was followed for one month after the operation to evaluate the liver function. In 44 patients, GOT went up to above 50 IU.l-1. The maximal GOT correlated with low hemoglobin level on the 1st postoperative day, the duration of hypotension below 80 mmHg of the systolic blood pressure, and duration of the operation. These results suggest that special attention should be paid to correct hemoglobin level and to avoid hypotension during anesthesia. PMID- 2614882 TI - [Effects of intravenous administration of bupivacaine on the renal sympathetic nerve activity in the cat]. AB - The effects of an i.v. bolus injection of sub-seizure doses of bupivacaine on the renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were studied in cats. The cats received intravenous administration of bupivacaine (0.4 mg.kg-1, 0.8 mg.kg-1 and 1.2 mg.kg-1 at 50- and 110-min interval respectively in order of increasing doses) during nitrous oxide anesthesia and nitrous oxide-halothane anesthesia. During nitrous oxide anesthesia, MAP and HR did not change significantly with all doses of bupivacaine. RSNA increased at first and then decreased slightly following all doses of bupivacaine. In cats with denervated baroceptor, a change of RSNA after bupivacaine 0.8 mg.kg-1 i.v. was similar to that in intact cats. In contrast, RSNA, MAP and HR decreased significantly following bupivacaine 1.2 mg.kg-1 i.v. during nitrous oxide halothane anesthesia. Cardiovascular depression following bupivacaine i.v. during nitrous oxide-halothane anesthesia may be caused by both a decreased sympathetic activity and a direct myocardial depression. PMID- 2614883 TI - [The autonomic nervous activities in man under thoracic epidural anesthesia assessed by heart rate fluctuation analysis]. AB - The R-R intervals of an electrocardiogram, the coefficient variation of R-R intervals (CV-RR), and the power spectrum of heart rate fluctuation were studied just before surgical operations in a group of 10 patients who underwent high thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA), and before anesthesia in a control group of 10 patients who were scheduled for general anesthesia without TEA. When TEA was performed, the CV-RR increased significantly (P less than 0.05). An increasing tendency (P less than 0.1) was also observed in the R-R intervals and the spectral analysis of the peak amplitude of the low frequency component (LFC) of 0.05 to 0.15 Hz. This tendency was found, too, in the band areas of the LFC and the high frequency component (HFC) of 0.15 to 0.4 Hz. These data indicate that the sympathetic innervation of the heart might have been interrupted by TEA and the vagal tone might have become dominant. Subsequent intravenous administration of atropine 0.5 mg reduced the R-R intervals, the CV-RR, the peak amplitude and the band areas of the LFC and HFC (P less than 0.01), as were seen in the control group. These evidences will show that the heart rate regulation of man in a supine position is dominantly influenced by the vagal tone, and it will become more prominent under TEA by blocking the cardiac sympathetic innervation at spinal level. Present study also suggests that a contribution of the cardiac sympathetic nerve on heart rate fluctuation, even on LFC, is only slight.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614884 TI - [Effect of TXA2 on renal lysosomal membrane]. AB - ONO-3708, a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) antagonist, was administered by a double blind method during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to study the changes in the plasma and urinary TXB2 levels. Lysosomal enzyme, urinary N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) was assessed, in order to investigate the in vivo effect of TXA2 on renal lysosomal membrane. Plasma and urinary TXB2 increased significantly (P less than 0.01) during CPB, showing an increase in TXA2 originating from the kidney, in addition to the increased excretion of platelet derived TXA2 during CPB. Urinary NAG increased significantly (P less than 0.01) in the placebo group during CPB and the value of post CPB increased further more (P less than 0.01). In ONO-3708 2 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 group, urinary NAG slightly but not significantly increased during CPB, but was inhibited significantly (P less than 0.01) as compared with two other groups. As shown above, the increased production of TXA2 appears to inhibit the functions of the renal lysosomal membrane in vivo. Furthermore, ONO-3708 has demonstrated a lysosomal membrane stability effect, and it seems reasonable to expect some antishock effect of this drug. PMID- 2614885 TI - [Changes in catecholamine and immunoglobulin during anesthesia for cardiac surgery--a comparison of valve replacement and aorto-coronary bypass surgery]. AB - During a period of extracorporeal circulation, which represents a massive invasion for the body, the patient is in a state of controlled shock. In this study, we examined changes in catecholamines and immunoglobulins in patients grouped according to whether they underwent valve replacement or aorto-coronary bypass surgery. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl, and cardiopulmonary bypass in all patients was carried out using a bubble-type heart-lung machine. The epinephrine and norepinephrine levels increased during the procedures, but those patients having aorto-coronary bypass surgery showed milder rises than valve replacement patients. IgA, IgG and IgM all dropped as well, but the change in IgG was the greatest, and the decreases were more marked in valve replacement patients than in aorto-coronary bypass patients. It was concluded that, since reactions were different according to the disorder present and were reflected in the variations in catecholamine and immunoglobulin levels, great care is necessary when the patient is removed from the heart-lung machine. PMID- 2614886 TI - [Inhibition of neutrophil function by solvent of injectable sedatives--effects of propylene glycol, ethanol and benzyl alcohol]. AB - Propylene glycol, ethanol and benzyl alcohol are usually included in the injection solutions of diazepam, flunitrazepam and others as solvents and/or pain relief agents. It was reported that diazepam and flunitrazepam inhibited oxidative burst of human neutrophils to produce O2-, H2O2 and other active oxygen species. However, the present study revealed that the solvents had far more potent inhibitory effects in this regard than diazepam and flunitrazepam themselves. The solvents reversibly inhibited phagocytosis and O2- production by neutrophils, and they were stimulated by both soluble stimulants, phorbol myristate acetate or laurate, and a particulate stimulant, serum opsonized zymosan, in a dose-dependent manner. Benzyl alcohol, which had the most potent effect among the solvents, appeared to inhibit the O2- generating enzyme NADPH oxidase directly, rather than by affecting intracellular calcium mobilization. Thus one should keep in mind such unexpected effects of the solvents included in solutions for injection. PMID- 2614887 TI - [Clinical investigation of 200 patients with acute herpes zoster--factor influencing treatment of herpetic pain]. AB - Two hundred patients were treated by various nerve blocks with (A; 100 cases) or without (B; 100 cases) acyclovir (ACV) for acute herpes zoster, and studied retrospectively to determine the factors influencing the duration of pain. All patients started to receive the treatment within 2 weeks after manifestation of herpetic rash, and were divided equally into two groups by the severity of pain. The severe (I) and moderate (II) pain groups had similar locations of skin lesions. Group I had significantly larger population of the aged, and higher proportion of patients who had preherpetic pain than group II. The period of pain was significantly longer in group I B than group I A, in group II B than group II A, in group I A than group II A and in group I B than group II B. However, distribution of the rash, age and occurrence of preherpetic pain were not related to the duration of pain in the groups with the same degree of pain and treatment. These results showed that ACV was effective in inflammatory pain and accelerated healing in the acute phase of herpes zoster. The severity of pain had the greatest influence on the duration of pain. The age and preherpetic pain closely correlated with the severity of pain. PMID- 2614888 TI - [Comparison of effects on carbohydrate metabolism of hypotension induced by sodium nitroprusside and a nitroprusside-trimetaphan mixture in rabbits]. AB - Effects on carbohydrate metabolism of hypotension induced by sodium nitroprusside and a nitroprusside-trimetaphan mixture were studied in 29 male rabbits under halothane anesthesia. They were randomly divided into three groups; Nitroprusside (Group N; n = 10), A Nitroprusside-Trimetaphan Mixture (Group M; n = 10), Control (Group C; n = 9). No changes were noted in blood glucose, blood lactate, blood pyruvate and lactate/pyruvate ratio in Group C throughout the experiment. During induced hypotension, blood glucose, blood lactate, blood pyruvate and L/P ratio of group N were significantly higher than the control value. On the other hand, in group M, blood glucose and blood pyruvate tended to increase slightly but not significantly. In contrast, in group M, L/P ratio remained unchanged. The results suggest that sodium nitroprusside tended to cause tissue hypoxia more markedly than a nitroprusside-trimetaphan mixture. The mechanism may be that a mixture of nitroprusside and trimetaphan maintained the carbohydrate metabolism (including gluconeogenesis, glucogenolysis) during induced hypotension. In conclusion, our results suggest that a nitroprusside-trimetaphan mixture is a safe method for hypotensive anesthesia. PMID- 2614889 TI - [Anesthesia and preoperative hemodilution for autotransfusion]. PMID- 2614890 TI - [Anesthesia for a patient with HELLP syndrome]. AB - A case of 30 year-old female with HELLP syndrome, who had undergone emergency caesarean section under general anesthesia, was reported. HELLP syndrome is characterized by hemolysis, liver dysfunction and thrombocytopenia, besides symptoms of severe toxemia of pregnancy. After an awake orotracheal intubation, anesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen and muscle relaxant. Blood pressure was controlled with intravenous administration of nitroglycerin. Though the eclampsia was recognized several times during and after the operation, the patient and her baby had no complication nor sequela on their discharge. The key in the anesthetic management of caesarean section in a patient with HELLP syndrome is to control hypertension and eclampsia, to consider the presence of liver and kidney dysfunctions, and to improve anemia and bleeding tendency. PMID- 2614891 TI - [Perioperative management of congenital antithrombin III deficiency]. AB - We describe perioperative management of a patient with congenital antithrombin III (ATIII) deficiency, who had an oral surgical operation under general anesthesia. The patient had a history of thrombosis. Preoperative plasma ATIII activity was 52% of the normal value. ATIII concentrates had been administered to prevent perioperative thrombosis. During the operation, the plasma ATIII level was maintained at 128%, and there was no episode of abnormal hemostasis. But, he complained of pain in his left leg probably due to thrombosis on the third day after operation, when his plasma ATIII activity was supposed to be approximately 70%. It is recommended that the plasma ATIII level is maintained, at least, above 80% for one week after the operation. PMID- 2614892 TI - [Clinical application of laryngeal mask airway]. AB - The laryngeal mask is a unique alternative to the face mask and endotracheal tube offering significant benefits to both anesthesiologist and patient. We have applied laryngeal mask, 1) to create an adequate airway in cases of difficult or impossible intubation, 2) to establish a pathway for the fiberoptic bronchoscope, 3) to clear the airway for eye operation, and 4) to maintain the airway in patients in the lateral position. Further study, however, is necessary to establish definite indication for its application. PMID- 2614893 TI - [Parascalene brachial plexus block]. AB - The supraclavicular brachial plexus block originated by Kulenkampff is useful but accompanies the danger of injury to the lung, i.e. pneumothorax, because the needle is directed caudad. Reviewing the anatomy of the brachial plexus in cadavers, we have found that the parascalene brachial plexus block originated by Vongvises is safer than Kulenkampff's method. We modified this block as follows: (1) An assistant pulls lightly the affected upper extremity caudad. (2) A 23 gauge 35 mm needle is inserted at right angles to the clavicle and directed cephalad at an angle of 0-30 degrees. One hundred and eighty four ASA I and II patients were operated under this block. Their ages ranged from 11 to 77, and there were 31 patients whose cervical spinal cord had been injured. Our success rate was 92%. The only complication we encountered was Horner's syndrome which occurred in 20% of our cases. None of our patients showed clinical symptoms of pneumothorax, hematoma, epidural as well as subarachnoideal block, recurrent nerve paralysis or phrenic nerve paralysis. PMID- 2614895 TI - [Anesthetic and analgesic performance of inhalation anesthetics]. PMID- 2614894 TI - [An analysis and evaluation of anesthetic consultations for patients undergoing elective surgery]. AB - We reviewed 212 patients whom we consulted before elective surgery concerning their indications of operation and anesthetic risks for the last 18 month periods. Patients' ages were between 6 months to 89 years old, and 46% of the patients consulted were over 60 years of age. Main medical problems related to anesthetic risks included cardiovascular problems (36% of patients), respiratory problems (14%), the abnormality of metabolism or endocrine (8%), hepatic dysfunction (8%), and so on. Most of the patients with ischemic heart disease, hypertension, dysrhythmia, or dysfunction of respiratory system, were over 60 years of age. Those with diabetes mellitus, dysfunction of liver or kidney, or anemia were over 40 years of age. Those with convulsion or congenital heart disease were under 19 years of age. In attempting anesthetic evaluations, patients were assessed according to ASA physical status classification; class I (3%), class II (56%), class III (36%), class IV (5%). Although there was no patient who had intraoperative cardiac arrest or death related to anesthesia, postoperative mortality within 3 months were 19% for ASA class III patients and 60% for class IV. And all ASA IV patients who received their operation died postoperatively. In patients who were classified as ASA III or IV, we feel it is better to add more detailed classification such as Goldman's classification in addition to physical status classification of ASA for preanesthetic assessments of patients, because the majority of patients were elderly with life-threatening complications of cardiovascular and/or respiratory systems. PMID- 2614896 TI - [The critical estimate of anesthesiologists in Japan]. PMID- 2614897 TI - [Effects of anesthesia, premedication and age on gastric pH and volume]. AB - To investigate the effect of anesthesia on gastric secretion, we measured pH and volume of gastric juice during anesthesia using the following anesthetic techniques: halothane anesthesia in three age groups, halothane without atropine premedication, halothane with thoracic epidural block, and enflurane anesthesia. Halothane anesthesia increased pH in all age groups and the increase in pH was greater in older age groups. Gastric pH also increased in halothane anesthesia group with thoracic epidural block and in enflurane anesthesia group. However, the increase in gastric pH and the decrease in gastric juice volume were not significant in halothane anesthesia group without atropine premedication. These results suggest that the increase in gastric pH during halothane anesthesia is due to parasympathetic nerve block. PMID- 2614898 TI - [A new model of complete global brain ischemia produced by clamping the ascending aorta with aorta to right-atrium and aorta to femoral vein bypass formation in dogs]. AB - The author made a new model of complete global brain ischemia (CGBI) in dogs, by clamping ascending aorta with aorta to right atrium and aorta to femoral vein bypass formation. In this study, dogs were kept under CGBI for 18 minutes with this method, and their hemodynamic changes and neurologic outcome after ischemia were evaluated. In all dogs, cardiovascular functions were well preserved without any hemodynamic support after CGBI. Although neurologic functions were severely damaged and all dogs were in vegetative state, all of them survived for at least 4 days after ischemia. With this method, it is possible to keep animals under CGBI long enough to cause severe neurologic damages without serious extracerebral complications. I conclude that, to evaluate the efficacy of treatments with neurologic outcome, this is the most appropriate model of complete global brain ischemia in dogs. PMID- 2614899 TI - [A method for continuous exposure of blood in vitro and in vivo to light, radiation or gas]. AB - Various medical treatments with extracorporeal circulation have increased the opportunities of exposing blood to light, radiation, or gas. In this paper, several simple methods of exposing blood to these bioactive exogenic agents are introduced. In in vitro method, blood is divided into two cylindrical glass bottles which have openings on both ends. After the bottles are connected with a vinyl tube to make a circuit, they are mounted parallel on the axis of a rotating rod. The air (or laboratory gas) is circulated by a vibration pump incorporated into this gas circuit to equalize the temperature in the two bottles. When the rod is rotated, a thin film of blood is formed over the internal surface of the bottles. This method permits blood to be in contact with the gas inside and to be exposed to light from the outside of the bottle. In in vitro method, blood is divided into two thin-walled, transparent, rectangular bags placed parallel on a tilting board. When the board is tilted intermittently, a thin blood layer is formed in each bag. If the bags are installed with inlet and outlet tubes and connected with blood accesses to either animals or humans, this device will become a circuit for an in vivo study. When one of the two bottles or bags is covered with metal foil to shield it from light or radiation, it can be used as a control. These devices will offer a laboratory method to study the effects of the exposure of blood to some exogenous bioactive agents as well as a new therapeutic method with such agents. PMID- 2614900 TI - [Influence of four opioids on pulmonary oxygenation and naloxone's effects in mechanically ventilated dogs]. AB - In order to examine effects of opioids on pulmonary oxygenation during constant ventilation, we investigated changes in PaO2 following four different opioids and after reversal with naloxone in mechanically ventilated, lightly anesthetized dogs. The systemic administration of morphine 1.0mg.kg-1, buprenorphine 0.03mg.kg 1, butorphanol 0.1mg.kg-1, and cyclazocine 0.05mg.kg-1, did not affect PaO2, although these opioids decreased mean arterial pressure and heart rate significantly. Naloxone 0.04mg.kg-1 after four opioids affected the hemodynamics, significantly, but it did not cause any detrimental effects on pulmonary oxygenation. Although naloxone alone did not affect mean arterial pressure and heart rate at all, subsequent morphine decreased mean arterial pressure and heart rate significantly. Neither naloxone nor subsequent morphine produced any change in PaO2. The results suggest that reversal with naloxone may not cause any significant influences on pulmonary oxygenation in mechanically ventilated and anesthetized patients. PMID- 2614901 TI - [Movement of plasma leu-enkephalin-like substance concentrations during pregnancy]. AB - By the use of high performance liquid chromatography and a specific radioimmunoassay method combined with a new dialysis technique, plasma levels of leu-enkephalin were determined in 26 women who had become pregnant normally, some of whom were in 5 to 40 weeks gestation and the others were 3 days postpartum. Leu-enkephalin-like immunoactivity rose during 5-6 weeks gestation (982.0 +/- 388.3pg.ml-1) and 3 days after delivery (594.4 +/- 289.2pg.ml-1). This pattern differed significantly from that of the normal adult control groups (174.9 +/- 75.3pg.ml-1). The concentrations of serum leu-enkephalin during 10-40 weeks of gestation were within normal limits. These results indicate that the serum leu enkephalin concentrations increase in the early stage of pregnancy. Whereas the physiological mechanism and exact meaning of this change are still unknown, the results strongly suggest that this substance has an important part to play in such physiological functions as pregnancy. PMID- 2614902 TI - [Changes in urinary prostaglandins during cardiopulmonary bypass in man]. AB - We measured urinary and plasma levels of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto PGF1 alpha and urinary NAG during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and studied their clinical significance. Subjects studied were 10 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft. Urinary and plasma levels of TXB2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha increased during CPB. However, predictive plasma levels of TXB2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha, calculated by urinary excretion, were higher than actual plasma levels. This result suggests that the kidney produces TXA2 and PGI2. Significant correlation (r = 0.87, P less than 0.01) was observed between NAG and TXB2 during CPB. The results suggest that TXA2 impairs the function of the renal urinary tubules. PMID- 2614903 TI - [Reflex depression of respiration induced by baroreceptor stimulation during enflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia]. AB - Inhibition of respiration in response to arterial baroreceptor stimulation was studied in 7 patients with no evidence of respiratory or cardiovascular disorders under enflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia. The arterial baroreceptors were stimulated by a bolus injection of phenylephrine (0.1mg, i.v.). A rise in blood pressure following administration of phenylephrine caused decreases in heart rate and tidal volume, suggesting the presence of cardiovascular and respiratory reflexes from baroreceptors in anesthetized humans. However, despite the statistical significance, the depression of respiration is too small to be clinically important. PMID- 2614904 TI - [The effects of ephedrine and phenylephrine on arterial partial pressure of oxygen]. AB - The changes in arterial partial pressure of oxygen were studied following intravenous injections of either ephedrine, 0.2mg.kg-1, or phenylephrine 2.5 micrograms.kg-1, to restore arterial hypotension. Eighty one adult patients underwent general anesthesia, being mechanically ventilated, were divided into two groups; both lung ventilation group (68 patients) and one lung ventilation group (13). In both lung ventilation group, PaO2/FIO2 changed from 390 +/- 132 to 400 +/- 137 mmHg, and 428 +/- 124 to 438 +/- 136 following administrations of ephedrine and phenylephrine, respectively. The results were not statistically significant. In the one lung ventilation group, PaO2/FIO2 did not change significantly from 190 +/- 45 to 186 +/- 29 with ephedrine and 267 +/- 138 to 317 +/- 230 with phenylephrine. We observed neither arrhythmia, severe hypoxemia, nor decrease in PaO2/FIO2 by more than 100mmHg. These results indicate that with respect to changes in arterial partial pressure of oxygen, the clinical doses of ephedrine and phenylephrine can be safely administered to patients under general anesthesia to restore arterial hypotension. PMID- 2614905 TI - [Subarachnoid anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine]. AB - The effect, duration and complications of subarachnoid anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine solution, adjusted at a gravity of 1.044 and 1.033 by adding glucose, were compared with those of isobaric 0.5% bupivacaine anesthesia. Thirty patients undergoing surgical operations on lower abdomen or lower extremities were divided into three groups and given 2.0 to 4.0 ml of bupivacaine at L3-4 according to the body height. The upper margin of analgesic zone at 15min and 60min after the subarachnoid injection of bupivacaine was higher in the hyperbaric groups, but it receded thereafter and significant differences were found at 120min compared with the isobaric group. Hypotension occurred less frequently in the hyperbaric groups. The short duration of analgesia in the hyperbaric groups may be attributable to the lower concentrations of bupivacaine, 0.40 and 0.45%, but the low frequency of hypotension might be due to the younger mean ages of these two groups. No notable complications were found in any group. Bupivacaine solution of 0.5% with a higher gravity is desired in the market. PMID- 2614906 TI - [Let's study exponential function related to anesthesiology by using computer graphics--Part I: Wash-out exponential function]. AB - A computer simulation is used to analyze physical or biophysical changes related to anesthesiology mostly by computer oriented experts. Recent development in a personal computer and its program, however, has made it possible for more anesthesiologists to have an experience of computer analysis. For example, graphic expression of exponential functions can easily be obtained by using a computer program, such as "Graphnote" by Fukutake Pub. Co. In this literature, the author first explained the wash-out exponential function. Then estimation of changes in the hematocrit and serum protein concentration associated with blood loss during surgery was given as an example of biophysical phenomena related to anesthesiology, to which the wash-out exponential function is applicable for mathematical simulation. Besides, the author demonstrated the way to draw exponential function curves by using "Graphnote", so that the readers can express the curves by themselves. PMID- 2614907 TI - [Emergency cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation]. AB - Cardiopulmonary bypass (C-P bypass) was performed on two patients who had not responded to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The first patient, a 56-y-o male, with bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism repeatedly underwent cardiac massage and electric defibrillation for recurrent ventricular fibrillation. A veno-arterial bypass route was prepared during cardiac massage, and bypass circulation was started 3 hours after the onset of the first ventricular fibrillation. Soon after the initiation of C-P bypass, the physical status and EEG of the patient improved. The patient regained consciousness within a few hours and later underwent open chest pulmonary embolectomy. The second patient, a 44-y-o male, developed refractory cardiogenic shock near the end of aortocoronary bypass graft operation. Under closed chest massage, a femoro femoral cardiopulmonary bypass operation was started. Soon after the initiation of the bypass circulation and IABP, peripheral circulation improved markedly, and consciousness returned within several hours. Though the first patient finally died from far advanced pulmonary embolism, he was conscious as long as the C-P bypass was continued for two days. In the second patient, the cardiac function gradually improved after the 3rd day. C-P bypass was tapered and discontinued on the 5th day. Emergency veno-arterial bypass for CPR is effective means to maintain life until the cardiopulmonary and cerebral functions are restored. Recent advances in emergency C-P bypass are introduced and a new acronym extracorporeal lung and heart assist, ECLHA, is proposed. Emergency ECLHA with veno-arterial cannulations through percutaneous puncture will become a promising adjunct of cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation in the near future. PMID- 2614908 TI - [A case of apnea during spinal anesthesia after intravenous injection of sedatives]. AB - During spinal anesthesia for appendectomy (sensory level: -Th7), apnea occurred for about 20 minutes by intravenous administration of diazepam. Since the patient showed hyperventilation sign before the incident, this apnea might be caused by low PaCO2 and stopping respiratory stimulation from psychological unrest when diazepam, pentazocine and droperidol were administered. In the postoperative period, this patient showed normal neurologic and psychosomatic functions. In such a case as this, long duration of apnea might damage brain by severe hypoxia. Apnea after hyperventilation during spinal anesthesia as observed in this case could lead to a serious accident. PMID- 2614909 TI - [Death after delayed recovery and respiratory failure following injection sclerotherapy in a small infant under general anesthesia]. AB - A 12 month old boy weighing 6.4kg with esophageal varices caused by congenital biliary hypoplasia was scheduled for emergency sclerotherapy under general anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with thiamylal sodium 3mg.kg-1 i.v. and then maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen and a low concentration of enflurane, paralysed with pancuronium bromide. As soon as a small dose of sclerosant (5% ethanolamine oleate) was injected, transient moderate bradycardia and hypotension occurred. As his spontaneous breathing was very weak and the movements of extremities convulsive and his consciousness drowsy, prophylactic respiratory care was carried out. He had pneumonia and manifestation of DIC 4 days after sclerotherapy. He died of a massive tracheal hemorrhage. The cause of the patient's death seemed largely due to the several toxicities of sclerosant itself. We stress that although this therapy is effective for the child with portal hypertension, the incidence of complications might be high in patient with severely damaged liver function. Therefore, anesthetic and postoperative management in injection sclerotherapy should be performed very carefully. PMID- 2614910 TI - [A new telemetry system for medical use]. PMID- 2614911 TI - [Clinical experience with cefixime in urinary tract infections]. AB - Cefixime (CFIX, Cefspan), a new oral cephem, was used in the treatment of urinary tract infections, and was evaluated for its therapeutic effectiveness and safety at the Department of Urology, Osaka Rosai Hospital. In a total 129 cases, to which daily doses of 200 mg of CFIX were divided into 2 doses and administered clinical efficacies in 35 cases of women with acute uncomplicated cystitis treated for 3.9 days in average and 79 cases with complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) treated for 5.9 days in average were assessed, according to the Criteria for Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy of Antimicrobial Agents on UTI (3rd ed.) recommended by the Japan UTI Committee with our own minimum modifications. Mid term urine and catheterized urine were examined as urine samples for bacteriological evaluation. Clinical efficacies in 35 cases with acute uncomplicated cystitis were excellent in 24 (69%) and moderate in 11 (31%), with an overall clinical efficacy rate of 100%. Clinical efficacies in 79 patients with complicated UTIs were excellent in 24 (30%), moderate in 26 (33%) and poor in 29 (37%), with an overall clinical efficacy rate of 63%. All of the 35 bacterial strains isolated from urine samples of uncomplicated UTIs patients were totally eradicated by the CFIX treatment, while 85 strains (79%) were eradicated among 107 strains isolated from urine samples of complicated UTIs patients. Subjective adverse reactions were observed in 4 cases (3.1%) out of a total of 128 patients, as general malaise in 1 and lower abdominal symptoms in 3 were recorded. All of them disappeared after the termination of CFIX administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614912 TI - [Clinical evaluation of a combination treatment with cefbuperazone and amikacin in infections complicating with hematological disorders]. AB - The efficacy and the safety of a combination regimen using cefbuperazone (CBPZ) and amikacin (AMK) were evaluated in severe infections in patients with hematological diseases. Twenty two patients were subjected to this combination therapy; among these, 18 patients were evaluable for the effectiveness. They included 9 cases of leukemia, 5 cases of malignant lymphoma, 2 cases of aplastic anemia, and 2 cases of angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia. Excellent responses were obtained in 5 patients and good responses in 5 patients, with a total effectiveness of 55.6%. Efficacy rates for individual types of infections were; 2/2 in sepsis, 6/14, or 42.9% in suspected sepsis, 1/1 in urinary tract infection, and and 1/1 in upper respiratory infection. The combination treatment was also effective in 4 of 6 cases in which neutrophil counts were less than 500/mm3 prior to therapy. Side effects were observed in only one patient. Mild proteinuria occurred in a 80-year-old male in 6 days after the regimen was started, but was not serious. These results indicate that a combination of CBPZ and AMK is safe and effective for the treatment of infections even in patients with compromised immunodefenses. PMID- 2614913 TI - [Clinical evaluation of imipenem/cilastatin sodium against severe infections complicated with hematological disorders and solid tumors]. AB - Imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IMP/CS) was administered to patients with severe infections complicated by hematological disorders and solid tumors to assess its efficacy and safety. Primary diseases in this series of 76 cases included 37 cases of hematological disorders (acute leukemia in 25 cases, malignant lymphoma in 7 cases, aplastic anemia in 3 cases and 2 other diseases) and 38 cases of solid tumors (lung cancer in 7 cases, gastric cancer in 11 cases, esophageal cancer in 6 cases, pancreatic cancer in 3 cases, bile duct cancer in 4 cases, hepatocellular cancer in 3 cases, and 4 other diseases). Following results were obtained. 1. Types of infection in hematological diseases were sepsis in 5 cases, suspected sepsis in 24 cases, pneumonia in 5 cases and 3 others. The efficacy rates were 100% in sepsis, 62.5% in suspected sepsis, 80% in pneumonia and 73% in all cases. 2. Types of infection in solid tumors were sepsis in 2 cases, suspected sepsis in 13 cases, pneumonia in 10 cases, cholecystitis in 2 cases, cholangitis in 5 cases, liver abscess in 2 cases, and 4 others. The efficacy rates were 50% in sepsis, 69.2% in suspected sepsis, 80% in pneumonia, and 71.1% in all cases. 3. IPM/CS was administered in single use in 66 cases and in combination with other antibiotics in 9 cases. The efficacy rate in the single use was 72.7% and that in the combination use was 66.7%. 4. The efficacy rate in 35 cases of first use was 71.4% and that in 40 cases of second use was 72.5%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614914 TI - [Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of cefmenoxime in neonates and young infants]. AB - Twenty-three newborn and young infants, including 13 low-birth-weight infants, were treated with cefmenoxime (CMX) and the clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. The ages of the patients ranged from 1 to 102 days, and their weights ranged from 0.83 to 4.19 kg. Doses given were 18-42 mg/kg every 6 to 12 hours for 2 to 16 days. Among 12 infants with bacterial meningitis and sepsis, the results were excellent in 2, good in 7 and fair in 3 patients. The drug was well tolerated and no adverse effects were observed in the 23 patients. Pharmacokinetic studies of CMX were done in 5 infants whose mean body weight was 3.03 kg (range 2.4 to 4.2 kg). Serum concentrations at 15 minutes after 10 mg/kg intravenous bolus injections were 35.6 and 55.7 micrograms/ml in two 12- and 18 day-old patients. In 3 patients with ages of 7, 7 and 24 days, serum concentrations were 54.6, 102 and 100 micrograms/ml, respectively, at 15 minutes after 20 mg/kg doses. Elimination half-lives of the drug were 1.3 to 1.5 (mean 1.4) hours in these patients. Excretion rates into urine in the first 8 hours were 30.3, 74.2, 77.6 and 85.6% in four patients given 10 or 20 mg/kg doses. The cerebrospinal fluid level at 3 hours after the dose was 0.4 micrograms/ml on 15th day of treatment in 1 patient with bacterial meningitis given 20 mg/kg every 6 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2614915 TI - [Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefmenoxime in neonates and premature infants]. AB - Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefmenoxime (CMX) in neonates and premature infants were conducted. The results are summarized as follows. 1. Intravenous administration of CMX at 20 mg/kg, via bolus injection or 1-hour drip infusion, produced at sufficiently high blood concentration. As it is the case with other cephem antibiotics, the half-life varied with age and tended to become shorter with aging. 2. There were intergroup differences in urinary recovery of the drug, but urinary concentrations were generally high. 3. In the clinical evaluation, 12 out of 15 cases which were evaluable for efficacy were rated "excellent" or "good". 4. Side effects were evaluated in 27 cases. A bleeding tendency was found in 1 case, eosinophilia in 1 case, elevated GOT in 1 case, and positive PIVKA II in 4 cases. It is, therefore, concluded that CMX is a highly useful drug for the treatment of bacterial infections in neonates and premature infants. PMID- 2614916 TI - [Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies of cefmenoxime in neonates and premature infants]. AB - Serum concentrations and urinary recovery rates of cefmenoxime (CMX) were determined in 41 mature and premature infants (with ages 0-24 days) after one shot intravenous injection of 10, 20 (1-hour intravenous drip infusion was also carried out) or 30 mg/kg for treatment and prophylaxis of various infections. Because the number of cases included was small, a comparison study was conducted by classifying them into 3 groups; 3 days or younger, 4 to 7 days, and 8 days or older, rather than dividing them into groups of mature and premature infants. Clinical evaluation was conducted in 7 male and 1 female cases 1 to 29 days old, whose diseases comprised 1 case each with septicemia, purulent otitis media and phlegmonous cellulitis, 3 with pneumonia and 2 with urinary tract infection. 1. Changes in serum concentrations and urinary recovery rates (1) Intravenous bolus injection of 10 mg/kg: Serum concentrations of the drug in the 3 age groups peaked at 28.9, 29.5 and 29.1 micrograms/ml, respectively, all at 30 minutes after the drug administration, and thereafter gradually declined. The mean level in the 3rd group was the lowest at 1.9 micrograms/ml at 6 hours. Average serum half-lives of CMX were shorter in older subjects, 3.0, 1.9 and 1.4 hours, respectively in the 3 groups. Urinary recovery rates were relatively high, 68.9 to 84.9% in the 3 cases examined during the first 6 hours, and 15.4 to 66.2% during the first 2 hours. (2) Intravenous bolus injection of 20 mg/kg: Serum concentrations of the drug in the 3 groups peaked at 65.2, 60.5 and 65.8 micrograms/ml, respectively, all at 30 minutes after the drug administration, with no significant differences noted among the groups. The levels gradually declined thereafter in all groups, but remained rather high at 20.1, 6.5 and 9.5 micrograms/ml, respectively, at 6 hours. Average serum half-lives of CMX were 3.5, 1.7 and 1.9 hours, respectively. The inversion of values obtained between the 2nd and 3rd groups appears to be attributable to that all of the 3rd group were premature infants, and the body weight of 2 cases of them were less than 2,000 g each. Urinary recovery rates ranged widely from 37.0 to 89.4% in the 4 cases examined during the first 6 hours. (3) One-hour intravenous drip infusion of 20 mg/kg: Serum concentrations of the drug in the 3 groups peaked at 57.7, 60.2 and 72.4 micrograms/ml, respectively, all at the termination of the drug infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2614917 TI - [A preclinical and clinical study of cefmenoxime in newborns]. AB - 1. Cefmenoxime (CMX) was administered with a dosage regimen of 20-25 mg/kg, 2-3 times daily (40-75 mg/kg/day) by intravenous drip over 30 minutes to 9 neonates with bacterial infections including purulent meningitis and septicemia. Clinical responses to the treatment were excellent in 7 and poor in 2. Bacteriological responses were "eradication of pathogens" from 8 of them except another patient with an infection due to Staphylococcus aureus. 2. Adverse reactions to CMX were observed in 6 of 18 neonates treated with the drug: diarrhea, oral thrush, and the elevation of S-GOT, S-GPT, LDH and alkaline phosphatase. None of the reactions, however, necessitated the discontinuation of the treatment. 3. Changes in blood concentrations of CMX in neonates with ages between 0 and 30 days were followed. These subjects included 16 mature neonates and 10 neonates with low birth weights. Intravenous drip infusion of 20 mg/kg of CMX over 30 minutes was immediately followed by peak blood CMX concentrations of 34.6-72.7 mcg/ml (mean +/- S.D.: 50.4 +/- 11.3 mcg/ml) in the mature neonates, and 22.3-78.2 mcg/ml (55.5 +/- 16.5 mcg/ml) in the neonates with low birth weight. Blood half-lives of the drug in the mature neonates were in the range from 1.7 to 20.7 hours (5.9 +/- 6.6 hours) in subjects with ages of 0-3 days, and 1.1-3.5 hours (2.0 +/- 0.8 hours) in subjects of 4-25 days. In neonates with low birth weight, they were 3.4 10.2 hours (7.2 +/- 2.7 hours) in subjects of 0-2 days, and 1.4-5.5 hours (3.0 +/ 1.5 hours) in subjects of 4-30 days. In other words, the blood half-lives of the drug tended to be longer in younger subjects. 4. Concentration of CMX in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were determined in a patient in acute stage with purulent meningitis caused by Mycoplasma hominis. Intravenous drip infusion of 80 mg/kg of CMX over 30 minutes was followed by CSF concentrations of 7.7-15.5 mcg/ml. 5. MICs of CMX for clinical isolates were determined. The drug was proved to have excellent antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli (3 strains) and group B hemolytic streptococci (2 strains) and these MICs were comparable to those of cefotaxime. The MIC of CMX for S. aureus (1 strain) was high at 25 mcg/ml with an inoculum size of 10(8) CFU/ml. This MIC value of CMX was higher than that of cefmetazole. PMID- 2614918 TI - [Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefmenoxime in newborn infants]. AB - Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefmenoxime (CMX) were performed in infants given by the drug intravenous drip infusion or one shot intravenous injection. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. Serum concentrations of CMX in infants given CMX at 10 mg/kg by intravenous drip infusion peaked at 12.0 to 26.5 micrograms/ml at the termination of the administration, and the levels were 8.62 to 26.3 micrograms/ml in 1 hour after dosing. Half-lives were 2.9 to 3.8 hours. 2. Serum concentrations of CMX in infants given the drug at 20 mg/kg by the same manner for 30 minutes to 1 hour peaked at 40.8 to 74.3 micrograms/ml at the termination of the administration, and drug levels decreased to 17.6 to 45.4 micrograms/ml in 1 hour after dosing. Half-lives were 0.8 to 2.7 hours. Those of CMX in infants given the same dose by one shot intravenous injection peaked at 61.7 to 90.6 micrograms/ml immediately after dosing, and decreased to 22.3 to 48.2 micrograms/ml at 1 hour. Half-lives were 1.2 to 2.7 hours. 3. As described above, dose-response was observed between the doses of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg. 4. Urinary recovery rates were 2.6 to 47.7% during the first 6-8 hours in most of 1 to 2 day-old infants, and 17.6 to 72.4% in most of 5 day-old or older ones. 5. Twelve infants with various bacterial infections were given CMX by intravenous injection or drip infusion. Clinical efficacies of CMX were excellent or good in all the 9 infants with pneumonia, septicemia, amniotic fluid-aspiration syndrome or intra-placental infection etc., while 3 cases were excluded: 1 each with congenital syphilis (0 day old), acute bronchitis (56 days old) and whooping cough (54 days old). 6. Dosages of CMX used in the present study were 33 to 79 mg/kg/day, and durations of treatment ranged from 4 to 13 days. No abnormal laboratory test values were observed. Moreover, neither systemic nor local adverse effects attributable to CMX were encountered in any of the infants. PMID- 2614919 TI - [Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefmenoxime in neonates and infants]. AB - Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefmenoxime (CMX) in neonates and infants were conducted. 1. CMX 20 mg/kg was administered by intravenous bolus injection to 6 neonates (with ages 2 to 20 days) and 5 infants (with ages 36 to 107 days) and its serum concentration and urinary excretion rates were determined. In the neonates, serum concentrations of CMX after intravenous administration reached peak levels of 48.2 to 90.7 micrograms/ml (mean 70.4 +/- 14.3 micrograms/ml) in 1/4 hour, then declined with half-lives of 1.27 to 5.19 hours (mean 2.28 +/- 1.56 hours), and were 3.6 to 16.9 micrograms/ml (mean 8.3 +/- 6.0 micrograms/ml) at 6 hours. In the infants, serum concentrations at 1/4 hour were 67.5 to 111.0 micrograms/ml (mean 95.5 +/- 18.0 micrograms/ml); half-lives were 0.64 to 0.94 hour (mean 0.81 +/- 0.13 hour); and the serum concentrations at 6 hours were 0.2 to 1.1 micrograms/ml (mean 0.7 +/- 0.4 micrograms/ml). Mean peak serum concentrations in the neonates tended to be lower than those in the infants, but higher than those in children. Regarding the age differences of serum concentrations due to age in the neonates, their peak levels tended to be lower in younger ones. Half-lives were shorter in older subjects and, in early infancy, approached values observed in children. Urinary recovery rates in the first 6 hours after intravenous administration ranged from 43.6 to 87.5% (mean 61.6 +/- 14.6%) in the neonates and from 52.1 to 90.8% (mean 78.0 +/- 15.1%) in the infants. Thus, recovery rates were high even in younger subjects and tended to be higher in older subjects. 2. CMX was administered to 27 neonates and 4 infants to investigate its clinical effect, bacteriological effect and side effects. Clinical efficacy ratings of the drug in 19 neonate cases that could be evaluated (1 with purulent meningitis, 2 with suspected septicemia, 1 with acute bronchitis, 12 with acute pneumonia, 1 with impetigo, 1 with periumbilical abscess and 1 with acute pyelonephritis) were "excellent" in 14 cases, "good" in 4, and "poor" in 1. The efficacy rate covering "excellent" and "good" was 94.7%. In 4 infants (2 with acute pneumonia, 1 with periumbilical abscess and 1 with acute pyelonephritis), "excellent" was obtained in 2 cases and "good" in 2 cases. Thus, all the cases showed "good" or higher ratings. Bacteriologically, 1 strain of Staphylococcus aureus and 3 strains of Escherichia coli in neonates were eradicated while, in infants, 1 strain of S. aureus persisted but 1 of E. coli was eradicated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2614920 TI - [Clinical evaluation of cefmenoxime in infections of neonates]. AB - Cefmenoxime (CMX) was evaluated for its absorption and excretion as well as for therapeutic effectiveness in neonates and premature infants. The following results were obtained. 1. Serum concentrations of the drug were examined in 3 premature infants 1 to 11 days old upon intravenous administration of about 10 mg/kg body weight (1st group), in 2 premature infants 18 and 32 days old and 1 neonate 17 days old upon intravenous administration of about 20 mg/kg (2nd group), and in 1 neonate 15 days old with meningitis upon intravenous administration of 45.2 mg/kg. Concentrations of CMX at 30 minutes after administration were 43, 29 and 27 micrograms/ml, respectively, in the 1st group, 46, 37 and 44 micrograms/ml, respectively, in the 2nd group and 208 micrograms/ml in the other neonate, and appeared to be dose-dependent. Concentrations of CMX at 6 hours after administration were 18.2, 6.6 and 8.1 micrograms/ml, respectively, in the 1st group, 9.6, 11 and 1.35 micrograms/ml, respectively, in the 2nd group and 5.2 micrograms/ml in the other subject. Serum half-lives were, respectively, 4.59, 2.85 and 3.48 hours in the 1st group, 2.52, 2.73 and 1.14 hours in the 2nd group and 1.0 hour in the other subject. Urinary recovery rates during the first 6 hours after administration were 45.8, 87.0, 50.2 and more than 100% in 4 cases examined. Two of these cases, in which recovery rates were 45.8 and 50.2%, were premature infants of low birth weight. Spinal fluid concentrations of the drug at 80 to 90 minutes after dosing to 1 neonate with purulent meningitis (causative organism presumed: Escherichia coli) given 48.3 mg/kg tended to decline gradually with the recovery of the disease, 3.8, 1.72 and 1.32 micrograms/ml on the 2nd, 6th and 8th day, respectively. 2. The drug was given to 9 neonates 0 to 24 days old. The therapeutic effectiveness on bacterial infections was evaluated in 7 cases (10 diseases) including 1 disease of purulent meningitis presumably caused by E. coli, 4 of septicemia caused by E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae (1, 2 and 1, respectively), 3 of urinary tract infection caused by E. coli, Serratia and Enterococcus faecalis (1 each), 1 of purulent parotitis caused by S. aureus and 1 of pneumonia (causative organism was unknown). Therapeutic efficacies were assessed as "Excellent" in all of meningitis, septicemia and urinary tract infection cases, and "Good" in 1 each of purulent parotitis and pneumonia cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2614921 TI - [Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefmenoxime in neonates and premature infants]. AB - Cefmenoxime (CMX) was administered by intravenous bolus injection to a total of 23 neonates and premature babies with aged 1 to 26 days at a dose of 10 or 20 mg/kg and their plasma and urine concentrations and urinary recovery rates were determined up to 6 hours after administration. In addition, for the treatment of bacterial infections, diagnosed or suspected, or for the prophylaxis of bacterial infections, the drug was administered to a total of 27 neonates, premature babies and infants, with ages of 0 day to 3 months. It was possible to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and prophylactic efficacy in 15 cases and 7 cases, respectively. In these cases, side effects and bacteriological effects and, in some of them, changes in laboratory test values were also investigated. The obtained results are summarized below. 1. At a dose level of 10 mg/kg (n = 7), peak plasma concentrations at 5 minutes after administration, were 42.6 microns/ml in neonates with ages of 15 to 21 days and 45.9 microns/ml in those with ages of 22 to 28 days in a group of less than 2,500 g b.w. (birth weight), and 36.9 microns/ml in neonates with ages of 4-7 days and 38.9 microns/ml in those of 8-14 days in the other group of greater than of equal to 2,500 g b.w., indicating no large differences among the 4 subgroups (each of the above concentration values is either the value for an individual when only one neonates was involved or a mean value when 2 or more neonates were involved. The same applies hereinafter). Though 1 exceptional case showed a biphasic change, its cause is unknown. Half-lives in the above-mentioned 4 subgroups were 1.5, 1.6, 2.4 and 1.9 hours, respectively. The half-life of 2.4 hours in 1 patient with an age of 5 days of the greater than or equal to 2,500 g b.w. group was longer than in any of the other 3 subgroups. 2. At 20 mg/kg (n = 16) dosage level, mean peak plasma concentrations were 63.8 microns/ml in the infants of 0-3 days, 68.1 microns/ml in those of 8-14 days and 59.4 microns/ml in those of 15-21 days in the group of less than 2,500 g b.w., and 109.9 microns/ml in the neonates aged 8 14 days and 79.7 microns/ml in those of 15-21 days in the group greater than or equal to 2,500 g b.w.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2614922 TI - [Fundamental and clinical studies on cefmenoxime in perinatal period]. AB - Pharmacokinetic studies and clinical evaluations of cefmenoxime (CMX) were carried out in perinatal mothers and infants. The following results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. CMX was promptly absorbed upon intravenous injection in pregnant women, reached dose-related peak serum level shortly after administration. Placental penetration into the fetus occurred quickly and at high levels. After intravenous injection of 1 g of CMX, drug concentrations in the cord blood and amniotic fluid exceeded MICs of main pathogenic organisms. The drug transferred into newborn infants were followed by measuring serum level of the newborn. These levels were related to levels of umbilical cord blood and the drug was eliminated gradually from the newborn without accumulation. According to the above results, it appears possible to successfully prevent or treat perinatal infections, through administration of the dose of 1 g twice daily. 2. Clinically, CMX was effective in the treatment of perinatal infections and prophylaxis of intra-uterine amniotic infections without any severe side effect. 3. Moreover, newborn infants delivered from mothers receiving CMX treatment were without abnormalities in laboratory test results. 4. The penetration of CMX into mother's milk was hardly observed and the transference from milk to newborn infants appeared to be occur only at very low levels. The above results have demonstrated that CMX is a clinically useful antibiotic for prophylaxis and treatment of perinatal infections. PMID- 2614923 TI - [Fundamental and clinical studies of cefsulodin in the neonates and premature infants]. AB - Fourteen neonates and premature infants with ages ranging 1 to 28 days were intravenously given one shot injection of 20 mg/kg of cefsulodin (CFS). Plasma and urine levels and recovery rates of CFS were determined in the first 6 hours after administration. For prophylaxis of infection, a daily average dose of 52.8 mg/kg of CFS was injected intravenously to 3 neonates with ages ranging 2 to 16 days in 2 to 3 divided doses during an average period of 7 days. Along with observations of prophylactic effects on infection, side effects and abnormalities in laboratory test values were examined. The results obtained are summarized below: 1. Of the 9 patients with birth weight of 2,500 g or above, the plasma levels peaked in 6 patients at 5 minutes, in 2 patients at 15 minutes and in the other at 1 hour after administration, with peak levels ranging between 35.8 and 60.6 micrograms/ml. Subsequently, gradual decreases or bimodal tapering changes were noted in the plasma levels. The cause of the delay in the occurrence of maximum peak observed in the 3 patients at 15 minutes or 1 hour after administration and the cause of the appearance of bimodal tapering changes in 3 subjects are not known. A tendency was observed that the younger the age of subject was, the larger the AUC and the longer the half-life became. Half-lives in all 9 neonates were longer than those in average infants who were given intravenous injection at the same dose. 2. Of 5 patients with birth weight of less than 2,500 g, the determination of peak plasma levels was not performed in those within 7 days after birth. Plasma levels, however, were observed to reach their peaks in 4 patients at 5 minutes and in another at 15 minutes after administration, the levels ranging between 41.5 and 56.0 micrograms/ml. Subsequently to this, gradual decreases and bimodal tapering changes of plasma levels were noted. The cause of the delay in plasma levels to reach their maximum peaks values in the 1 patient to 15 minutes after administration and the cause of occurrence of bimodal tapering changes in the 2 patients are not known. A tendency was observed that the younger the age of subjects was, the larger the AUC and the longer the half-life became. This tendency was similar to that observed in the group with birth weight of 2,500 g or above.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2614924 TI - Role of right ventricular asynergy and tricuspid regurgitation in hemodynamic alterations during acute inferior myocardial infarction. AB - To elucidate the role of right ventricular asynergy and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in hemodynamic alterations occurring during right ventricular infarction, left and right ventriculography with pressure measurements were performed in 22 patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction. Twelve patients with a proximal right coronary artery (RCA) occlusion (Group I) had elevated right atrial pressure (16 +/- 4 vs 8 +/- 5 mmHg, p less than 0.01), low cardiac output (2.5 +/- 0.7 vs 3.5 +/- 0.6 l/min/m2, p less than 0.05) and a greater degree of TR, compared with 10 patients with a distal RCA occlusion (Group II). Inferoposterior wall asynergy of the right and left ventricles was similar in Groups I and II. In Group I, there was an additional asynergy of the anterolateral free wall of the right ventricle. Cardiac output in those patients was not related to the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) but to the right ventricular EF. A greater degree of TR was found in association with a lower right ventricular EF. The decrease in cardiac output was closely related to the extent of TR. These results indicate that right ventricular asynergy and TR due to proximal RCA occlusion may play important roles as causes of hemodynamic alterations seen during the acute phase of inferior myocardial infarction. PMID- 2614925 TI - The effect of flosequinan in patients with acute-onset heart failure complicating acute myocardial infarction. AB - We studied the hemodynamic effect of a single dose of the new direct-acting vasodilator, flosequinan, in 25 patients with severe acute-onset heart failure complicating acute myocardial infarction, which was resistant to high doses of diuretics, nitrates and dobutamine given intravenously. Flosequinan was added to conventional therapy within 3.7 +/- 0.8 days of the infarction in the form of a single oral dose of 100 mg. Hemodynamic monitoring was performed every hour for 4 hours after the administration, without any other drug being added. Flosequinan produced hemodynamic improvement in all patients. The effect peaked at 1 to 2 hours and remained at this level at 4 hours. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased from 28.4 +/- 4.5 to 17.8 +/- 5.7 mmHg and cardiac output increased from 3.5 +/- 0.3 to 4.0 +/- 0.4 L/min (p less than 0.05 for both). Pulmonary arterial and pulmonary vascular resistances were also significantly reduced. Heart rate was not significantly altered. Mean systemic arterial pressure was slightly but not significantly reduced. Administration of flosequinan was not associated with symptomatic hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias or other adverse events and the hemodynamic effect was not related to the pre-treatment serum sodium concentration. We conclude that flosequinan is effective in producing acute hemodynamic improvement in patients with heart failure complicating acute myocardial infarction which is resistant to conventional therapy. Flosequinan is well tolerated in this group of patients and therefore further studies to determine the duration of action of the drug in this condition are appropriate. PMID- 2614926 TI - Risk factors for the complication of cerebral infarction in Japanese patients with acute myocardial infarction. AB - The incidence and risk factors for cerebral infarction in Japanese patients with acute myocardial infarction were evaluated. Seven (5.0%) of 140 patients with acute myocardial infarction suffered from cerebral infarction during their initial hospitalization. The incidence was slightly higher than those reported in Western countries. Anterior wall myocardial infarction and a past history of cerebrovascular disease were considered to be probable risk factors for the complication. A beneficial effect of anticoagulant therapy in preventing cerebral infarction in cases of acute myocardial infarction with those risk factors is suggested. PMID- 2614927 TI - Survival after sudden cardiac arrest in hospital. AB - Although there are many reports on sudden cardiac arrest occurring outside the hospital, little is known about the precise prognostic factors that determine the outcome after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Clinical information before and immediately after sudden cardiac arrest is frequently incomplete because the event occurs outside the hospital. We studied 90 consecutive patients with sudden and unexpected cardiac arrest who were resuscitated in the general ward of our hospital. Twenty-five (28%) were discharged from the hospital. Multivariate analysis revealed that the promptness of initiation of CPR, age, severity of cardiac dysfunction, time and the type of arrhythmia are of significance in relation to survival. To evaluate long-term survival after hospital cardiac arrest, we analyzed long-term follow-up data accumulated during a 16 year period. In the group of 25 patients in our study, there have been a total of 10 deaths (40%). Five of the 10 deaths resulted from recurrent cardiac arrest and 1 was a noncardiac death. There was a high rate of recurrence of cardiac arrest in the first year following resuscitation, especially among the cardiomyopathy patients. PMID- 2614928 TI - Role of echocardiography in acute pulmonary embolism. AB - The difficulty in making an accurate diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism is well known. To clarify the role of echocardiography, including Doppler echocardiography, in acute pulmonary embolism, we examined hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters in 9 patients with acute pulmonary embolism just before and after treatment with urokinase. As hemodynamic parameters normalized after treatment, echocardiographic parameters such as deformity index of the left ventricle (LV-DI), end-diastolic dimension of the right ventricle (RVDd), the left ventricle (LVDd), the inferior vena cava, and RVDd/LVDd all significantly changed toward normal. Highly significant correlations were found between the echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters, the best of which was between the LV-DI and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (r = -0.885, p less than 0.001). Doppler echocardiography quantitatively evaluated the grade of tricuspid regurgitation, and accurately estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure. We conclude that echocardiography, including Doppler echocardiography, sensitively reflects the right ventricular pressure and volume overload of acute pulmonary embolism, is quite useful for its diagnosis which is often difficult, and is suitable for noninvasive follow up of these patients. PMID- 2614929 TI - Radionuclide left ventricular absolute volume determination by ejection fraction measurement data and a left posterior oblique blood pool image. AB - A new method for the calculation of left ventricular volumes called the "semi geometric" method, was reported by Nichols et al in 1984. This method, however, still had certain limitations for practical use. This paper describes a modified semi-geometric method in which the left ventricular volume was obtained from conventional left ventricular ejection fraction measurement data collected from the modified left anterior oblique position with a caudal tilt of 10 degrees or more and a left posterior oblique blood pool image. The left ventricular end diastolic volumes obtained by this method were compared with those calculated by combining the thermodilution cardiac output and the left ventricular ejection fraction. The correlation coefficient was r = 0.93 (n = 20). In the phantom experiment, the true volumes and those obtained by this method showed an excellent correlation (r = 0.99). This method is considered accurate and practical. PMID- 2614930 TI - Nifedipine induced bradycardia in a patient with autonomic neuropathy. AB - An 80 year old diabetic male with evidence of peripheral and autonomic neuropathy was admitted with chest pain. He was found to have atrial flutter at a ventricular rate of 70/min which slowed down to 30-40/min when nifedipine (60 mg) in 3 divided doses, during which he was paced at a rate of 70/min. This is inconsistent with the well-established finding that nifedipine induces tachycardia in normally innervated hearts. However, in hearts deprived of compensatory sympathetic drive, it may lead to bradycardia. PMID- 2614931 TI - Congenital coronary artery fistulas. Diagnostic and surgical considerations. AB - Between 1974 and April, 1988, 9 patients with congenital coronary artery fistulas underwent surgical repair. Of these, 4 were female and 5 male, ranging in age from 6 to 50 years (mean 28.2 +/- 18.9). Seven patients were symptomatic (congestive heart failure and/or angina), whereas in 2 patients the diagnosis was established through the investigation of an asymptomatic continuous murmur. The origin of the fistula was the left main coronary artery in 1, left anterior descending artery (LAD) in 2, circumflex artery (Cx) in 3, Cx + LAD in 2 and LAD + right coronary artery in 1 patient. The sites of termination of the fistulous tract were the pulmonary artery in 6, the right atrium in 1, the right ventricle in 1 and the left ventricle in 1 patient. In 2 cases the fistulous tracts were ligated without utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In 7 cases CPB was instituted and in 6 of these the fistulous communications were closed from within the termination chamber, in 1 patient the fistula was closed through a coronary arteriotomy during elective ventricular fibrillation. There was no operative mortality and long term follow-up was uneventful after a mean follow-up of 5.4 +/ 5.2 years, with 8 patients still completely asymptomatic. Surgical therapy is recommended for patients having coronary artery fistulas in order to prevent fistula-related complications. In those cases requiring CPB, closure of the fistula from the involved chamber only is suggested. PMID- 2614932 TI - Progression of myocardial infarction in a collateral flow deficient species. AB - The effect of a varying period of ischemia on the development of myocardial infarction was investigated in the rabbit. Radiomicrosphere measurements confirmed that the collateral blood flow is almost zero (0.02 +/- 0.01 ml/min/g) and without a significant transmural gradient in the rabbit heart (n = 15). A coronary branch of the left circumflex artery was occluded for 5, 10, 15, 30 or 60 min and then reperfused. The coronary branch was occluded permanently in another group of rabbits. Three days after the coronary occlusion, the infarct size was determined by hematoxylin-eosin and Mallory's staining and the ischemic zone size was determined by fluorescent particles. The results showed that the percentage of the ischemic zone infarcted (% infarction) vs the log of duration of ischemia yielded a sigmoid curve which could be linearized by probit analysis: Probits of % infarction = 3.05 x log (ischemic duration in minutes) + 0.33, r = 0.83, p less than 0.01. The regression equation indicated that 50% of the ischemic myocytes necrotized after 34 min of coronary artery occlusion. Unlike in the dog heart, the infarct of the rabbit heart first appears in the midmyocardium and then progresses towards both the endocardium and epicardium. PMID- 2614933 TI - The dopamine-induced coronary vasoconstrictor response is potentiated by adenosine administration in the dog heart. AB - The ineffectiveness of beta-adrenergic blockade in abolishing adenosine-induced coronary vasodilation was utilized to demonstrate that dopamine (DA) is capable of eliciting very strong coronary vasoconstrictor actions in vivo. In 2 separate groups of dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital, responses to DA were assessed either by flowmeter recordings or by computer-aided infrared thermography, which senses coronary blood flow-dependent heat emission from the epicardium. In untreated controls, submaximal DA infusions (16 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 iv) elicited a coronary vasodilator response. The thermographic equivalent of this hemodynamic action was an increased epicardial temperature. Pretreatment with oxprenolol (0.5 mg.kg-1 iv) preserved both basic heart activity and cardiac heat emission at levels which were comparable to the control state, but prevented DA mediated excitation of cardiac and coronary beta-adrenoceptors. In this state, DA infusion constricted the coronary arteries and tended to decrease heart emission. However, both types of effects were moderate, and only the hemodynamic effect was statistically significant. If DA was given after the coronary bed had been dilated submaximally by adenosine (30 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 infused into the left heart), the flow-reducing effect of DA became a dramatic phenomenon, and the DA induced epicardial cooling was significantly potentiated. The results show that after eliminating conventional beta-effects, DA affects the coronary arteries through vasoconstrictor mechanisms. This finding suggests that the DA-induced constriction is limited in undilated coronary arteries by the metabolic autoregulatory capacity of the vessels. PMID- 2614934 TI - Direct chronotropic and inotropic effects of mildronate using cross-circulated dog atrial and ventricular preparations. AB - The cardiac effects of mildronate were studied in isolated and blood-perfused atrial and ventricular preparations from mongrel dogs. Mildronate (10(-9)-10(-6) mol) did not induce any chronotropic or inotropic responses in spontaneously beating isolated right atria at 37 degrees C. However, it produced negative chronotropic and inotropic effects at large doses (10(-5)-10(-4) mol). Mildronate induced responses were not significantly inhibited by treatment with atropine, suggesting that they do not involve muscarinic mechanisms. Mildronate produced only a slight negative inotropic effect in electrically paced, isolated left ventricular preparations at extremely large doses. Intravenous injections of 10( 4) mol/kg mildronate to the support (donor) dog induced a slight, non significant, depressor effect, and did not significantly influence either atrial pacemaker activity or atrial developed tension. From these results, it is concluded that a therapeutic dose of mildronate has no direct influence on SA nodal pacemaker activity and atrial contractility, but that it has a slight cardiac depressant property at large doses. PMID- 2614936 TI - [The history of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and its recent progress]. PMID- 2614935 TI - Effectiveness of long-acting nifedipine in pheochromocytoma. AB - In the present study, we report a case of pheochromocytoma whose high blood pressure was well controlled by single-agent therapy with long-acting nifedipine, in spite of the failure of the combination of labetalol and prazosin in lowering blood pressure satisfactorily. A 48 year old female was first noted to have hypertension (160/100 mmHg) at 45 years of age. Hypertension was not controlled by conventional antihypertensive drugs. She was admitted to Fukui Prefectural Hospital in September, 1985. Her blood pressure on admission was 210/110 mmHg. Extraction of the left adrenal gland containing a pheochromocytoma (30 x 37 x 10 mm) was performed in November, 1985. Her hypertension and abnormally high plasma noradrenaline (NA) concentration (1,760 pg/ml, normal value 40-350 pg/ml) were sustained even after operation. Combination therapy with labetalol (400 mg/day) and prazosin (6 mg/day) was unsatisfactory, and the addition of long-acting nifedipine (40 mg/day) produced a marked decrease in blood pressure. Furthermore, single therapy with long-acting nifedipine was effective. No reduction of urinary NA excretion was observed in our patient during long-acting nifedipine therapy, suggesting that the decrease in blood pressure was not caused by suppression of NA release from pheochromocytoma tissue. PMID- 2614937 TI - [Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Dramatic progress in the treatment of lithiasis]. PMID- 2614938 TI - [Underwater shock wave focusing: extracorporeal lithotripsy]. PMID- 2614939 TI - [Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy development: current status and future prospect]. PMID- 2614940 TI - [Indication and contraindication of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy]. PMID- 2614941 TI - [Complications and bioeffects of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy]. PMID- 2614942 TI - [Stone location and successful disintegration rate, stone free rate after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy]. PMID- 2614943 TI - [Influences of stone size on the results of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy]. PMID- 2614944 TI - [Extracorporeal Shockwave lithotripsy of large renal stone include renal staghorn calculi and management of stone street]. PMID- 2614945 TI - [The treatment of large calculus--a comparative study of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) monotherapy, stenting ESWL and combined therapy of PNL and ESWL]. PMID- 2614946 TI - [Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the prone position for lower ureteral stones]. PMID- 2614947 TI - [Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for impacted stones in ureteropelvic junction and the management]. PMID- 2614948 TI - [Experimental study on fragmentation of gallstones by extracorporeal shock waves]. PMID- 2614949 TI - [Condition and influence of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy on the surrounding organs]. PMID- 2614950 TI - [The treatment of gallbladder stones with Piezo-electric shock-wave lithotripter]. PMID- 2614951 TI - [Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy for gallbladder and bile duct stones- position, condition, rate of fragmentation and complete disappearance]. PMID- 2614952 TI - [Complication of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in gallstone]. PMID- 2614953 TI - [Kidney lithotripter HM-3]. PMID- 2614954 TI - [Dornier MPL 9000]. PMID- 2614955 TI - [The features of Sonolith 2000--advantage and working progress]. PMID- 2614956 TI - [Clinical experiences of Medstone 1050 ST on extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy]. PMID- 2614957 TI - [Clinical experience with Piezolith]. PMID- 2614958 TI - [Clinical experience of lithostar]. PMID- 2614959 TI - [Advantage and disadvantage of YACHIYODA SZ-1]. PMID- 2614960 TI - [Microexplosive ESWL]. PMID- 2614961 TI - [Clinical cytologic approach for cancer diagnosis--aspiration biopsy cytology of thyroid-model of the approach]. PMID- 2614962 TI - [Host's immune responses against tumor]. PMID- 2614963 TI - [Progress in laboratory tests of connective tissue diseases]. AB - The presence of serum autoantibodies to nuclear antigens (ANA) and other antigens is a hallmark of connective tissue diseases. Antibodies to double-strand DNA were present in high titers in SLE patients. Antibodies to U1RNP correlated with Raynaud's phenomenon and finger erythema in SLE patients. Anticardiolipin antibody was present in 29% of 41 SLE patients. Antibody to Scl-70 was present in 52% of 21 PSS patients. Antibody to Jo-1 was present in patients with PM associated with pulmonary fibrosis. Two of our patients with PM had an autoantibody that precipitated 7SL RNA. PMID- 2614964 TI - [Membrane glycoproteins of human platelets: structures, functions, and abnormalities in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and Bernard-Soulier syndrome]. AB - Platelet membrane glycoproteins, especially those of GP II b-III a complex and GP Ib-IX complex, serve as receptors for adhesive proteins including fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and fibronectin, thus supporting cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Thrombasthenia (TA) and Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) are inherited bleeding disorders in which these membrane glycoprotein complexes are defective. This paper deals with the recent advances in platelet membrane glycoprotein research, and the membrane glycoprotein abnormalities in TA and BSS platelets, which have been disclosed by the development of improved methods of analysis. Furthermore, a case of TA is reported in which flow cytometry using murine monoclonal antibody revealed 18% of the normal level of GP II b-III a complexes in her platelets. The platelets of this patient aggregated well by the addition of high concentrations of collagen (40 micrograms/ml). The results of this patient show the necessity of new criteria for the diagnosis of TA based on the quantification of the residual contents of GP II b-III a complexes in platelets in each patient. PMID- 2614966 TI - [Frequency of anti-centromere antibodies in the anti-mitochondrial antibody positive sera]. AB - Autoantibodies give us useful informations for the understanding of the co existence of multiple autoimmune diseases in an individual patient. This study was undertaken to clarify the frequency of anti-centromere antibodies in the sera which were positive for anti-mitochondrial antibodies. Serum samples with anti mitochondrial antibodies were examined on the frozen rat liver section and HEp-2 cells by indirect immunofluorescence. 57 out of 239 anti-mitochondrial antibody positive sera were found to contain specific autoantibodies reactive with centromeric antigens of the HEp-2 chromosomal spreads. The co-existence of anticentromere antibodies with anti-mitochondrial antibodies were significantly more frequent than with other defined autoantibodies. Clinical observation which shows frequent association of CREST syndrome and primary biliary cirrhosis appear to be explained by the frequent occurrence of anti-centromere antibodies and anti mitochondrial antibodies. PMID- 2614965 TI - [Clinical application of immunoassays for cardiac myosin light chains]. AB - We developed four types of immunoassays for cardiac myosin light chains (LC), which are two radioimmunoassays (RIA) for canine and human LC, and an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human LC. The first two assays make use of polyclonal antibodies and the last two use monoclonal antibodies. By using these immunoassays, we studied the release of cardiac LC into the serum following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In experimental AMI in dogs, cardiac LC appeared in the serum within 4-12 hours, reached the maximum at 2-5 days and returned to normal at 7-10 days. This long time-course was suggested due to the continuous liberation of LC from the infarcted myocardium on the basis of a quick disappearance rate of LC from the circulation. The peak LC values were found to correlate well with the histological infarct size. Similar results were also obtained regarding the time course of circulating LC in clinical patients with AMI. Thus LC measurement seems useful for diagnosis of AMI as well as for estimating the extent of myocardial damage. We also developed an IRMA and an ELISA for human LC by using anti-human LC monoclonal antibodies for a more rapid LC assay and for a consistent supply of antibodies. These assays showed sufficiently high sensitivities to measure 1-100 ng/ml of serum LC. Especially, serum LC can be assayed within 2.5 hours by our ELISA. Such progress in immunoassays for cardiac LC has made the measurement of LC an important laboratory test for the diagnosis of AMI. PMID- 2614967 TI - [A statistical study on distribution patterns of plasma free amino acids]. AB - We investigated the distribution patterns of 23 plasma free amino acids in 875 healthy adults (375 males and 500 females, aged from 30 to 50 years), which were obtained after an overnight fast, using three statistical parameters of MLL (Maximum Logarithmic Likelihood), square root of b1, b2, and selected their patterns from the three of ordinary normal, log-normal and square root-normal distributions. The distribution patterns of the majority of plasma free amino acids were found to be either log-normal or square root-normal, and occasionally ordinary normal. We also evaluated the reliability of our selection system by a simulation model of 100 sets of values for plasma free amino acids that were randomly determined by the parameters of original data. Good reliability was observed for some amino acids. Our selection system may be useful for comparing the present results with the future results that will be obtained by other methods. PMID- 2614968 TI - [Activity of guanase in serum and liver function tests in HBe antigen-positive chronic hepatitis]. AB - Forty-one patients with chronic hepatitis were divided into an HBe antigen positive group (n = 13) and an HBe antigen-negative group (n = 28) to clarify the relationship between the presence of HBe antigen and liver function. In the HBe antigen-positive group, the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (p less than 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (p less than 0.05) and guanase (p less than 0.01) were significantly higher than those in the HBe antigen-negative group. The correlation coefficient between the HBe antigen titer and guanase activity was 0.528, which was higher than the corresponding values for alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. The determination of guanase activity in serum may be useful for evaluating the clinical severity of HBe antigen-positive chronic hepatitis. PMID- 2614969 TI - [Design and application of laser-disk for clinical pulmonary data base system using the personal computer]. AB - A database system is described for managing the information on pulmonary function test (PFT) measured by three different PFT devices. The data is transmitted into a personal computer, FM-11AD2+ (FUJITSU CO., LTD.) with a 20 MB hard disk and a 800 MB laser disk. Multitasking OS, OS-9/6809, is used to operate the software. PFT data of about 15,000 cases may be stored, which can be easily retrieved for research and discussions on a case study. Despite the present limitation of the processing speed and the capacity of the hard disk, this system is useful because it allows to provide reports readily. PMID- 2614970 TI - [Silent stroke and advance in neuroimaging]. AB - Silent stroke showed a yearly increase in our clinic with the advance of neuroimaging. Of the recent 33 cases of cerebrovascular disease, asymptomatic cerebral infarcts unrelated to the presenting stroke were detected in 20 cases (61%) by CT and in 28 (85%) by MRI, respectively. MRI also revealed asymptomatic hemorrhage in 7 (21%) and white matter lesions in 27 (82%). The clinical significance of silent stroke was discussed. PMID- 2614971 TI - [Cerebral ischemia and hemorrhage; computed tomography and angiography]. AB - Neuroradiological characteristics of cerebral embolism and hemorrhage were discussed on computed tomography (CT) and angiography. Clinically, cardiogenic embolism was one of major problems in cerebral embolism. On CT, size of the ischemic region, mass effect and frequency of hemorrhagic infarct were most prominent in cerebral embolism. It is difficult to diagnose cerebral infarction within 6 hours of their onset on CT findings. The following signs by Tomura would be important criteria for identifying embolic infarction in the middle cerebral and internal carotid arteries: (a) obscured outline or partial disappearance of the lentiform nucleus, (b) slight decrease in tissue density, (c) effacement of the cortical sulci. Angiographic characteristics of embolism and thrombosis were discussed in terms of shape and configuration at the stump of the occluded arteries, formation of collateral pathway and recanalization. Cerebral hemorrhage were also compared between pathological and CT findings. Indication of cerebral angiography to patients of cerebrovascular disease was also discussed. PMID- 2614972 TI - [Magnetic resonance imaging of cerebrovascular disorders; cerebral infarction]. AB - Patients with cerebral infarction and with suspicion of cerebral infarction were studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and correlative CT scans. MRI was more sensitive than CT for detecting cerebral infarction, and T2-weighted spin echo pulse sequence was most sensitive in the diagnosis of cerebral infarction except some lacunar infarctions and some cortical and subcortical infarctions. MRI using Gd-DTPA was more sensitive than contrast CT for detecting fresh infarcted areas, especially in the cases with multiple cerebral infarcted areas and cortical and subcortical infarcted areas, and many offer some informations in evaluating the state of circulation. PMID- 2614973 TI - [The early and delayed SPECT images of 123I-IMP and rCBF measurement]. AB - The early and delayed SPECT images of 123I-IMP, and rCBF measurement were discussed in the diagnosis of ischemic cerebral vascular disorders (CVD). On early SPECT image of 123I-IMP in the CVD, the low perfusion area usually consists of three or four parts differing in severity. The regional blood flow (rCBF) of the area corresponding to the low density area, peri-low density area and normal density and low perfusion area on X-ray CT are 15 ml/100 g.brain/min, 34 ml/100 g.brain/min and 46 ml/100 g.brain/min, respectively. The redistribution phenomenon is frequently observed on delayed 123I-IMP SPECT images. This phenomenon is observed in the area in which rCBF is 25 to 35 ml/100 g.brain/min. PMID- 2614974 TI - [Clinical evaluation of SPECT in cerebrovascular disease]. AB - In 131 patients with cerebrovascular disease, regional cerebral blood flow was determined by 123I-IMP (N-isopropyl (123I)-iodoamphetamine) or 99mTc-HM-PAO (99mTc (d, l)-hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime) SPECT and findings were compared with those of X-CT or MRI. The perfusion deficit detected by SPECT was larger than the deficit by X-CT or MRI in every cases. The perfusion deficit area was more clearly demonstrated by SPECT than by X-CT or MRI in patients with acute cerebral infarction. The hypoperfusion area determined by 123I-IMP SPECT was wider than that by 99mTc-HM-PAO SPECT. The crossed cerebellar diaschisis was observed in 56 out of 131 cases (43%). The results of operation were quantitatively evaluated by 123I-IMP SPECT in 25 patients. PMID- 2614975 TI - [Cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in ischemic cerebrovascular disease; embolic occlusion and thrombotic occlusion]. AB - Using positron emission tomography and 15O-steady state method, cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen consumption and oxygen extraction fraction were measured in patients with embolic occlusion and in those with thrombotic occlusion in the carotid system. By the study of patients with embolic occlusion, we evaluated ischemic threshold of CBF for infarction to be 16 ml/100 ml/min. The area of "penumbra" could be estimated in regions with CBF value just above this threshold. In the patients with thrombotic occlusive lesion, we clarified that the efficiency of the collateral circulation was mainly related to the grade of peripheral atherosclerosis. These findings must be helpful to develop better strategy for treatments of cerebral ischemic disease. PMID- 2614976 TI - [MR imaging of cerebellar infarct]. AB - Twenty-six patients with cerebellar infarct were studied with MR imaging at 1.5 T. Thirty-one infarctions were observed. Both T1- and T2-weighted images were useful for diagnosing cerebellar infarct. Large cerebellar infarcts were most frequently observed at the PICA territory. Small cerebellar infarcts were located in the border-zone between the SCA and the PICA territories. It was concluded that MR imaging is very useful for diagnosing cerebellar infarct. PMID- 2614977 TI - [Syrinx-like artifact on MR images of the spinal cord]. AB - We evaluated the syrinx like artifact on midline sagittal MR images of cervical spine. This artifact appeared as linear regions of low intensity along the length of the spinal cord. This artifact was frequently seen. And, when it appear as a single midline band, it mimics pathological conditions such as a syrinx. We found that this artifact eliminated by increasing the number of phase encoding steps, or decreasing the field of view. These method were useful for differentiation of artifact from syrinx. PMID- 2614978 TI - [Tracheoesophageal fistula]. PMID- 2614979 TI - [Radionuclide venography of the collateral circulation in superior vena cava syndrome]. PMID- 2614980 TI - [Massive intracerebral hemorrhage due to convexity meningioma]. AB - Intracranial meningioma usually present with the typical symptomatology of a progressive neurological deficit. Sudden spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage from an asymptomatic meningioma is exceedingly rare. A case of 81-year-old woman with convexity meningioma manifested suddenly by massive intracerebral hemorrhage is reported with the findings of computed tomography and angiography. PMID- 2614981 TI - [Multiple cerebral venous angiomas associated with mixed pial and dural arteriovenous malformation]. AB - Venous angioma is a relatively rare entity of vascular malformations of the brain and usually found as a solitary lesion. Cases of multiple lesions and/or coupled with other vascular malformations are extremely rare. We present the first case of multiple supratentorial venous angiomas associated with mixed pial and dural arteriovenous malformation (AVM) fed by the posterior cerebral artery, the occipital artery and the posterior meningeal artery. PMID- 2614982 TI - [Medullary venous malformation with marked early venous filling--a case report]. AB - Medullary venous malformation (MVM) has been considered to have normal circulation time and normal arterial phase in angiograms. But recently some authors stressed that some of the patients with MVM have early filling vessels. A case of MVM with marked early venous filling is presented. PMID- 2614983 TI - [Liquid embolization for arteriovenous malformation with temporary balloon occlusion of another feeders]. AB - A case of frontal arteriovenous malformation, embolized using a new balloon catheter technique, was reported. During liquid embolization of the main feeder from anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery was temporary occluded with another balloon catheter, to decrease blood flow from branches of middle cerebral artery. About 90% of the AVM could be obliterated by this technique. PMID- 2614984 TI - [Methods for optimized cultivation of hair cells from C3H mice]. AB - Methods for the optimized culturing the hair cells from 4-day-old C3H mice are described. The skin was obtained and soaked in 500 unit/ml dispase at 4 degrees C for 24 hr. Then the epidermis was removed and the dermis was further treated with 0.25% collagenase for 1 hr at 37 degrees C. The hair roots isolated by collagenase digestion of the dermis were dispersed by the treatment with the mixture of trypsin and EDTA into a cell suspension and plated on a substrate. Attachment of hair cells was dependent on serum concentrations and enhanced by collagen coating of the surface of dishes. MCDB 153 was beneficial for the growth of hair cells and discouraged for the growth of dermal fibroblasts. The cells could not grow at inoculum size of less than 3 x 10(4) cells/cm2. Addition of a crude bovine pituitary extract in MCDB 153 had the greatest impact on hair cell growth. Functional integrity of the cultured hair cells were maintained, since the hair-specific cytoskeletal proteins were expressed in these cells under the present experimental conditions. These desirable conditions could allow selective growth of the hair cells and provide the model system which could be used for the study of hair growth. PMID- 2614985 TI - [Quantitative evaluation of perspiration with equipment for continuous recording of local perspiration volume (II): Hyperhidrosis and hypohidrosis (or anhidrosis)]. AB - To objectively evaluate perspiration volume, we tried to measure the perspiration volume from 6 cases of hyperhidrosis and 4 cases of hypo-(or an-) hidrosis using recently developed equipment for continuous recording of local perspiration volume. Patients with hyperhidrosis were loaded with various factors to possibly influence the perspiration volume, and the effects were compared. The results revealed: 1) The measurement of local perspiration volume with this equipment provides objective data useful for the diagnosis of hyperhidrosis and hypo-(or an ) hidrosis and for the judgement of its grade; 2) in case of palmar hyperhidrosis, mental stimuli most strongly induced perspiration; and 3) the responses to mental arithmetic or hand grasping and the base-line stable time are reliable parameters for measurement of perspiration volume. PMID- 2614986 TI - [Relation of maximum diameters of plantar malignant melanoma to various prognostic factors and prognosis of patients]. AB - The following factors were investigated in 43 cases of plantar malignant melanoma: maximum diameters of primary lesions, Clark's subtypes, clinical stages, UICC's stages, Clark's levels of invasion, Breslow's tumor thickness, and prognosis of patients. Relation of maximum diameter of primary lesions to various prognostic factors and prognosis of the patients was analysed. It was revealed that there were no statistically significant relationships between maximum diameters and other various factors. In our series, however, all patients with plantar malignant melanoma less than 14 mm in diameter are alive without metastasis. Judging from our previous and present studies, the following two points are the most important for improving the prognosis of patients with plantar malignant melanoma: 1) Catching all pigmented lesions on the sole that are more than 7 mm in diameter and examining them histologically, if they have no possibility of being congenital melanocytic nevus or black heel. 2) Treating plantar malignant melanomas adequately before they become 14 mm in maximum diameter. PMID- 2614987 TI - [T-cell lymphomas of the skin: a study of 7 cases excluding mycosis fungoides and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma]. AB - Seven cases of T-cell lymphomas of the skin, excluding mycosis fungoides and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, treated at the Department of Dermatology, Miyazaki Medical College for the previous 5 years were studied. Five were males and 2 were females, with a mean age of 61 years. Six patients presented either multiple skin tumors or subcutaneous indurations. Histologically, all cases presented dense infiltrations of the tumor cells showing variable morphological characteristics. Surface markers were also variable, suggesting that these were not a single entity. Treatment consisted of chemotherapy in 5 cases and electron beam therapy in 5 (localized in 4 and generalized in 1). Complete remission was obtained in 5 cases. The mean period from the first examination to death in the three fatal cases was 11.7 months, and the mean period of observation from the first examination to the present time in 4 cases ranged from 12 months to 40 months. Clinicopathological characteristics of these cases were compared with those of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. PMID- 2614988 TI - [A case of overlap syndrome of PSS, SLE and Sjogren syndrome treated by cyclosporin A: an improvement of sclerosis of the skin]. AB - A 26-year-old female patient complicated with PSS, SLE and Sjogren was treated by combination of medium doses of corticosteroid and cyclosporin A. On admission, she showed many abnormal laboratory findings such as increased serum gammaglobulin level, high anti-DNA antibody titer and low compliment level. This therapy improved not only these laboratory abnormalities but clinical symptoms including sclerosis of the skin and arthritis, without notable side effect due to either of these drugs for the following 10 months so far. On the other hand we haven't acknowledged the effect to internal involvement yet. Since there is no promising therapy to sclerosis of the PSS skin, it is suggested that cyclosporin A can be an effective agent for PSS and should be further evaluated. PMID- 2614989 TI - [HLA-DR antigen expression on peripheral T cell subsets in pityriasis rosea Gibert, herpes zoster, and psoriasis]. AB - Using 2 color fluorescein activated cytometric analysis, HLA-DR antigen expression in T cell subsets was studied in pityriasis rosea (PR) and compared to the results from herpes zoster (HZ) of viral origin and psoriasis (Ps). In HZ and PR, HLA-DR was significantly expressed on the T cell surface (Leu-4+ cells). Among the T cell subsets, HLA-DR antigen was predominantly expressed on suppressor/cytotoxic cells (Leu-2a+) in HZ. In contrast, it was predominantly expressed on helper cells (Leu-3a+) in PR. However, activated T cell antigen (Tac) was not significantly expressed on T cells (Leu-4+) in either HZ or in PR. This HLA-DR antigen expression of T cell subsets was depressed to the normal level in the recovery phases of HZ and PR. PMID- 2614990 TI - [Generalized morphea-like progressive systemic sclerosis with anticentromere antibodies and eosinophilic cellulitis]. AB - A 67-year-old woman without any history of exposure to organic solvents suffered from Raynaud's phenomenon, sclerodactylia, contracture of finger joints, diffuse pigmentation, pulmonary fibrosis, and generalized morphea-like eruptions on the trunk; she was diagnosed as generalized morphea-like progressive systemic sclerosis. She had a high titer of anticentromere antibody in her serum without any symptoms of CREST syndrome. She also had eosinophilic cellulitis on her extremities, which subsided within 6 months, and seemed to be due to a hypersensitivity reaction to mosquito bites. The occurrence of these two diseases together in our case may suggest some similarities in their pathogenesis. PMID- 2614991 TI - [Heterogeneity of palmo-plantar malignant melanomas--comparative analysis of acral lentiginous melanoma and nodular melanoma on palm or sole]. AB - We analysed and discussed clinico-pathologically 16 cases of malignant melanoma and 4 cases of their precancerosis occurring on the palm or sole of Japanese patients. In contrast to previous reports from the US and Europe, which emphasize the almost exclusive preponderance of acral-lentiginous melanoma (ALM) on volar skin, our series consisted of eight cases each of acral-lentiginous and nodular melanoma. We investigated the clinical and cytopathological findings of 4 representative ALM and 2 representative nodular melanomas, as well as the detailed clinical behaviour of all 16 cases, including precancerosis. In every case of ALM, we have found the presence of a three-phase pattern, namely A (nodule phase), B-(plaque phase), and C-(macule phase) phases, representing focal and progressive melanoma genesis both clinically and pathologically. A- and B phases of ALM shared many common features with pagetoid melanoma and pagetoid premalignant melanosis frequently occurring on the trunk. It was also found that nodular melanoma on the palm or sole also possesses common features with that occurring on non-volar areas and exhibits the highest malignancy of all melanoma types. In addition, we discussed ALM precancerous lesions called plantar premalignant melanosis, which consist of B- and C-phases only. PMID- 2614992 TI - [Topographical differences in cellular DNA content between the radial growth phase and the vertical growth phase of superficial spreading melanoma]. AB - The nuclear DNA content of tumor cells was measured during the radial growth (RGP) and vertical growth (VGP) phases of three cases of superficial spreading melanoma. To compare these two phases, the DNA distribution histogram was analyzed and the DNA index was calculated. A aneuploid population appeared histographically in all specimens of VGP; however, no such abnormal population could be detected in RGP. VGP cells contained greater numbers of polyploid cells and had a higher DNA index value than RGP cells in all cases. These findings support Clark's postulation that the appearance of a new clonal cell population contributes to the development of VGP from RGP in malignant melanoma. PMID- 2614993 TI - [Reaction mechanism catalyzed by skin sulfhydryl oxidase]. AB - The mechanism involved in the reaction catalyzed by skin sulfhydryl oxidase was investigated. Skin sulfhydryl oxidase, which was purified to a 300-fold increase in specific activity over rat skin, was used. As the substrate for the reaction catalyzed by skin sulfhydryl oxidase, dithiothreitol (DTT) was used. The disappearance of DTT, consumption of O2 and production of H2O2 were measured according to Takamori's Janolino's and Kakinuma's methods, respectively. The molar ratio of the disappearance of DTT and the consumption of O2 during the enzyme reaction was 1:1.05. The molar ratio of the disappearance of DTT and the H2O2 production during the enzyme reaction was 1:086. Results therefore showed that the molar ratio of the disappearance of DTT, consumption of O2, and production of H2O2 was 1:1:1. Therefore, the stoichiometry of the enzyme reaction was estimated to be (formula; see text) PMID- 2614994 TI - [Outburst of fusidic acid resistant Staphylococcus aureus]. AB - Fusidic acid (FA) resistance (MIC greater than or equal to 12.5) was found in only five of 123 strains of S. aureus isolated during the period from January, 1987, to March, 1988; the FA resistance rate soared up to 42 of 81 strains isolated during the period from April, 1988, to October, 1988. In contrast, all strains of S. aureus isolated in Kochi prefecture during the period from September, 1987, to September, 1988, were susceptible to FA. Our data clearly demonstrate an explosive increase of FA resistant S. aureus in Japan. However, regional differences currently exist in the emergence rate of FA resistant S. aureus. PMID- 2614995 TI - [The influence of thyroid function on the circadian rhythm of heart rate in elderly euthyroid subjects]. AB - The influence of thyroid function on the circadian rhythm of heart rate was assessed using 24 hour electrocardiographic recordings in 196 elderly euthyroid subjects (78.4 +/- 8.1 years; male 60, 76.1 +/- 9.1 years; female 136, 79.4 +/- 7.4 years). Serum free T3, free T4 and TSH levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. To determine if heart rate fluctuates rhythmically with a circadian period, mean hourly heart rates in 24 hour electrocardiographic recordings were used to fit cosine curves by the statistical technique of least squares, and the parameters of the rhythm--the mesor, amplitude, acrophase, maximal and minimal hourly heart rates--were estimated. To investigate the factors influencing the diurnal variation of heart rate, we applied multiple regression analysis. The cosine curves were fitted with a P value of 0.01 or less in all subjects. The mesor, maximal and minimal hourly heart rates were inversely proportional to serum TSH concentrations in males. Neither amplitude nor acrophase had relation to the thyroid function in males. The mesor, maximal and minimal hourly heart rates were directly proportional to serum-free T4 concentrations and inversely proportional to serum TSH concentrations in females. The increase in the acrophase correlated with the increase in serum-free T4 levels, and the acrophase increased in proportion to serum-free T3 levels in females. PMID- 2614996 TI - [Hyperlipidemia as a complication of patients with Werner's syndrome]. AB - Serum lipid levels and the roentgenograms of the Achilles' tendon were examined in ten patients with Werner's syndrome. Seven of these ten patients showed serum total cholesterol levels of more than 250 mg/dl and six of the seven patients had thickened Achilles' tendons of more than 9 mm. Significant positive correlation was found between serum levels of total cholesterol and the thickness of the Achilles' tendon in these ten patients, suggesting that substance(s) precipitated in the thickened tendon may have been derived from serum cholesterol. Moreover, some relatives suffered from hypercholesterolemia in three of the six patients with thickened Achilles' tendons, suggesting that at least these three patients may also suffer from familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Because of this surprisingly high frequency of concurrence of Werner's syndrome and FH (three to six out of ten patients), it is possible that an abnormal lipid metabolism similar to FH may be due to some intrinsic abnormality of patients with Werner's syndrome. PMID- 2614997 TI - [Study of infective complications in elderly patients with leukemia]. AB - Elderly patients (more than 60 years old, n = 45) with leukemia who presented from 1976 to June 1987 were studied. Twenty-two were classified as the typical type and 23 were the atypical type (hypoplastic n = 10, low percentage n = 13) from the bone marrow findings at the time of diagnosis, among these 45 patients 102 infections, 48 of which occurred in patients with typical type leukemia, 31 infections occurred in hypoplastic leukemia and 23 in low percentage leukemia. Respiratory infections were the most common, regardless of the type of leukemia. The following pathogens, the majority of them were gram negative bacteria, were isolated before the administration of antimicrobial agents. Thirty infections were caused by multiple pathogens (typical 14, hypoplastic 10, low percentage 6). Of those 40% were caused by gram negative pathogens, 30% were due to both gram negative and positive pathogens. The causes of death in 37 patients included bleeding (n = 150 and infections (n = 13). Typical leukemia (n = 8) was the most common among patients who died of infection. PMID- 2614998 TI - [Drug-protein binding in elderly subjects]. AB - It is important to know the magnitude of serum-protein binding of drug dynamics in vivo. The authors investigated the effects of a variety of serum free fatty acids in elderly subjects. Serum albumin levels and ceftezole (CTZ)-protein binding in elderly subjects were lower than in younger subjects. No significant difference was noted between the two groups in regard to total free fatty acid (T FFA) level. However, compared with younger subjects, palmitolic and oleic acid were higher and myristic and linoleic acid were lower in elderly subjects, suggesting that free fatty acid (FFA) undergoes qualitative changes due to ageing. In elderly subjects CTZ-binding correlated negatively with T-FFA, oleic acid and linoleic acid, but positively with stearic acid. Oleic acid decreased CTZ-protein binding. This decrease was higher than that due to decreased albumin levels in elderly subjects with albumin levels less than 4.0 g/dl. These findings indicated that reduced protein binding in elderly subjects is due to decreased serum albumin and changes in FFA constitution with ageing. Therefore it was suggested that drug-albumin binding may change due to the competitive action of albumin sites, and albumin-drug binding capacity. Since drug-protein binding capacity seriously affect metabolism, excretion, efficacy and side effects due to the presence of free drugs, these aspects require further investigation in elderly subjects. PMID- 2614999 TI - [Long-term follow-up of the f wave amplitude in chronic atrial fibrillation]. AB - Long-term follow-up of the amplitude of fibrillatory waves (f waves) on the standard electrocardiograms 0.6 +/- 3.3 yr, up to 20 yrs) was performed in 45 patients with chronic stable atrial fibrillation (24 men and 21 women, average age 60.2 +/- 11.5 yrs). The patients were divided into three groups on the basis of the underlying heart disease. Seventeen patients with mitral stenosis were classified as the MS group, 11 with hypertensive heart disease, old myocardial infarction, and aortic insufficiency as the HD group, and 17 without apparent heart diseases as the no heart disease (NHD) group. The f wave amplitude was measured at lead V1 according to the technique employed by Peter. The initial f wave amplitudes of the MS group (0.24 +/- 0.12 mV, mean +/- SD) and of the HD group (0.19 +/- 0.08 mV) were significantly larger than that of the NHD group (0.13 +/- 0.08 mV, p less than 0.05). The f wave amplitudes were significantly decreased during the observation period in each group, and the terminal f wave amplitudes (expressed as the percent of the initial f wave amplitude) were 61 +/- 34% in MS group, 59 +/- 26% in the HD group and 67 +/- 34% in the NHD group. In the NHD group, there was no significant difference in the terminal f wave amplitude between the cases with (n = 10) and without (n = 7) maintenance dose of digitalis. These results showed the apparent reduction of the f wave amplitude with perpetuation of this arrhythmia, and suggested that maintenance doses of digitalis had little effect on this process. PMID- 2615000 TI - [The effect of antileukemic chemotherapy on elderly patients with acute non lymphocytic leukemia]. AB - Thirty five elderly patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia were studied to examine the effects of antileukemic chemotherapy according to age group. Complete remissions were obtained in 5 of 10 patients (50%) age 60 to 69 years, in 5 of 14 (36%) age 70 to 79 years, but in 0 of 9 patients over 80 years. Three patients died before chemotherapy. The median survivals of these groups were 337,90 and 76 days, respectively. The median survival of the patients in whom complete remissions were achieved, was 700 days. PMID- 2615001 TI - [Short-term therapeutic prognosis of cognitive impairment with cerebrovascular diseases in chronic stages]. AB - Utilizing data from seven independent double-blind controlled trials for cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in chronic stages, a study was performed to describe the short-term prognosis of cognitive impairment with CVD patients and to identify correlating factors. 943 patients out of 2,818 with CVD (cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage and brain arteriosclerosis) were selected. The subjects had more than moderate intellectual deterioration, i.e., less than 21.5 points on Hasegawa's dementia scale (HDS) at the baseline of the trials. The improvement rate was estimated at 11% (102/943) with more than a 10 point change on HDS in 8 weeks and 34% (322/943) with more than a 5 point change. Long duration of illness, old age, severe initial global severity rating and severe initial cognitive impairment were correlated significantly with aggravation of cognitive impairment. However, sex, type of CVD, complication and rehabilitation were not markedly related with aggravation. In addition, it appeared clear that there was a tendency of improving cognitive impairment on patients with severe subjective symptoms (vertigo, headache, dull headache, feeling of congestion), anxiety, irritability in consequence of the covariance analysis of adjusting for duration of illness, age, global severity and initial cognitive impairment. On the other hand, incontinence, impairment of activities of daily living (excretion), motor weakness and low total protein correlated significantly with aggravation. These findings might be explained on the basis of changes in stages from reversible to irreversible with cognitive impairment, the contribution of aging and the influence of peripheral symptoms. PMID- 2615002 TI - [A study of refractory pneumonia complicated by multiple organ failure in the elderly]. AB - A retrospective study of refractory pneumonia (n = 54), who were randomly selected from total of 657 cases of pneumonia in the elderly, was performed. These were divided into the following two groups in terms of complications. The group with multiple organ failure (MOF group; n = 30), complicated by multiple organ failure during their clinical course of refractory pneumonia, was compared with refractory pneumonia without multiple organ failure (non-MOF group; n = 24). Among 57% of cases of the MOF group, respiratory failure developed prior to MOF and among 37% of the cases respiratory failure occurred simultaneously with MOF. The respiratory failure in the MOF group was closely related to coagulopathy. Histopathological studies of the MOF group revealed remarkable congestion and edema. From these observations, respiratory management is considered the most important to avoid concomitant multiple organ failure. PMID- 2615003 TI - [A noninvasive study on characteristics of the left ventricular function in elderly hypertensive patients]. AB - To characterize the left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in elderly hypertensives, mechano-and echocardiography was performed in 27 elderly patients more than 65 years of age (20 hypertensives and 7 normotensives) and 46 middle-aged patients (34 hypertensives and 12 normotensives). In normotensives, a positive correlation was found to exist between age and blood pressure, LV wall thickness, II-RF interval and the A/E ratio, whereas the correlation of age to systolic parameters such as ET/PEP and EF was absent. This suggests that the LV diastolic function was impaired progressively by aging with preservation of the LV systolic function. In elderly hypertensives, LV systolic function was deteriorated and the A/E ratio increased as diastolic blood pressure became elevated. The A/E ratio also increased in this group as compared with that in middle-aged hypertensives, although the differences was not statistically significant. Unlike those in middle-aged hypertensives, the indices of LV function except the elevated blood pressure and the increased cardio-thoracic ratio were not significantly different between hypertensive and normotensive elderly patients. This might be because of the wide range of normal values in elderly persons due to the various degrees of atherosclerotic changes and other pathophysiologic factors, which might have masked obvious characteristics of hypertension in elderly hypertensives. PMID- 2615004 TI - [Evaluation of the self-administered respiratory questionnaire recommended by the Japanese Labour Ministry based on the standardized interviewer-administered BMRC questionnaire]. AB - The self-administered respiratory questionnaire on persistent cough or sputum prepared and recommended by the Japanese Labour Ministry to detect pneumoconiosis was evaluated and compared with the Japanese version of the standardized interviewer-administered respiratory questionnaire developed by the British Medical Research Council (BMRC). The two questionnaires were given to 800 subjects on the same day. Because the wording of the questions was similar, the two questionnaires yielded very similar results. In terms of the overall prevalence of persistent cough or sputum, no important differences could be demonstrated between the results of the two questionnaires. The results of this study indicate that the self-administered questionnaire has good concordance with the BMRC questionnaire. When compared to the BMRC questionnaire, the specificity of the self-administered questionnaire was found to be more than 99%, but the sensitivity was inferior to the specificity, being less than 80%. When confined to subjects with persistent cough or sputum for two years or more, the sensitivity was up to 84%. These findings suggest the responses of the subjects to the self-administered questionnaire tend to be negative. A validity of the self-administered questionnaire needs to be further studied among dust workers including pneumoconiotics. PMID- 2615005 TI - [The strain on the rider's arms in straight-ahead motorcycle operation]. AB - The causes of vibration hazards to motorcycle mail deliverers have been considered to be due to the vibrations from the motorcycle, strain on the rider's hands and arms, cold conditions, and duration of the operation and others, and the rider's muscle tone in handling the motorcycle rises as the stability of the motorcycle decreases. In this report, the steering angle and banking of the motorcycle, vibration on the handgrips and EMG on the rider's arms and shoulders were measured during motorcycle operation with weights placed on the front and rear carriers. The relationship between the stability of the motorcycle, vibration on the handgrips and strain on the rider's arms and shoulders measured by EMG are also discussed. The following results were obtained. 1. When weights were placed on the front and rear carriers, the motorcycle became unstable especially at low vehicle speed, and handling became difficult. 2. The acceleration levels of the vibrations on the left handgrip exceeded the 4-8 exposure guideline of ISO when the vehicle speed was 50 km/h with weights. 3. When the weights were placed on the front or rear carrier, the vibration levels on the left grip were generally larger than those without weights. 4. The differences in vibration acceleration levels or vibration levels by weights could not be determined. 5. The EMGs of the musculus extensor digitorum (arms) and musculus trapezius (shoulders) increases with increase of vehicle speed. 6. There were no obvious differences in the EMG on the rider's arm and shoulders under straight-ahead operation by weight loading combinations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615006 TI - [Test-retest stability of the MMPI Scales]. PMID- 2615007 TI - Micronucleus tests in mice on four chrome-containing pigments. PMID- 2615008 TI - [Effect of trimethylarsine on osmotic fragility of erythrocyte membrane]. PMID- 2615009 TI - [A case of cervicobrachial disorder caused by workload in sign language interpreter]. PMID- 2615010 TI - [A case of decompression sickness following saturation diving with transient deterioration during recompression therapy]. PMID- 2615011 TI - Study of anionic sites on the mesangium in aminonucleoside nephrosis. AB - In recent years, various reports have appeared concerning anionic sites in glomerular lesions. However, no detailed results for anionic sites in the mesangium have been reported. The authors therefore prepared nephrotic rats by the administration of puromycin aminonucleoside (PA) and investigated the anionic sites in various mesangial regions, using polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a cationic probe. In the mesangium of the control group as well as the experimental groups, PEI particles were most numerous in the subendothelial regions, followed by the central region and paramesangial region, in that order. In the group treated with PA, the numbers of PEI particles in each mesangial region decreased as compared with those in the control group. Among the three mesangial regions considered, this decrease was most pronounced in the paramesangial region. In the group which received elastase, no significant decrease in numbers of PEI particles was observed in subgroups I and II, indicating maintenance of the anionic sites. The results obtained suggested that regional investigations of the mesangial matrix may be of considerable significance for elucidating the etiologic factors in glomerular sclerosis, and that negative charge impairment in the mesangial matrix plays an important role in the development of glomerular sclerotic lesions. PMID- 2615012 TI - Histopathological and immunopathological studies on renal involvement in non obese diabetic (NOD) mice. AB - Histopathological and immunopathological studies on kidney tissues in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice were performed to elucidate the progressive mechanisms of glomerular injury and proteinuria. Thickening of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) was observed in the group of NOD mice with increased levels of glycohemoglobin Al (HbAl). Further, the immunofluourescence findings for the NOD mice were almost equivalent to the findings in human diabetic nephropathy. Additionally, polyethyleneimine (PEI) particles in the GBM of NOD mice decreased gradually as the amount of proteinuria increased. These observations suggest that the GBM thickening in NOD mice might be correlated with altered physicochemical characteristics of the renal tissue and/or have some affinity for immunoglobulins and complement to the GBM, and that the proteinuria in these mice might be due to such GBM thickening and a decrease in the negative charge barrier on the GBM. The present histopathological and immunopathological study of NOD mice thus provided useful data and, since the findings in humans are similar, should aid in evaluating the pathogenesis and progressive factors of the renal involvement in patients with diabetes mellitus. PMID- 2615013 TI - In vitro immunoglobulin production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a prognostic factor in IgA nephropathy. AB - To determine whether immune system disorders are involved in the exacerbation of IgA nephropathy, the immunoglobulin production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 45 IgA nephropathy patients was measured and then compared with that of healthy individuals. The level of IgA production was classified into an elevated group and a non-elevated group and comparisons were made with various clinical factors considered to be related to exacerbation of this disease. The results indicated that although there was no significant difference in immunoglobulin production of the peripheral mononuclear cells between IgA nephropathy cases and healthy individuals in the group not stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM), the group stimulated with PWM revealed a production of IgA, IgG, and IgM which was significantly elevated (P less than 0.01). Also, within the group stimulated with PWM, hypertension, severe proteinuria and microscopic hematuria, elevated BUN and serum creatinine values, decreased 15-min PSP and creatinine clearance values, severe histological damage, and severe IgA deposition were observed more in the elevated IgA production group than in the non-elevated group. These findings suggest that an elevated IgA production plays an important role in the excerbation of this disease. PMID- 2615014 TI - Participation of complement components in glomerular deposition in IgA nephropathy. AB - To clarify the role of complement components in glomerular deposition in IgA nephropathy, clinicopathological and immunohistological studies were performed on 299 patients (171 males and 128 females; age, 9-71 years). Glomerular IgA deposition with IgG and/or IgM was observed more frequently in patients with Clq and/or C4 than in those with only C3 deposition (P less than 0.001). Patients with glomerular deposition of Clq and/or C4 showed more severe proteinuria (1 g/24 hr less than), a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a higher incidence of duplication of capillary walls and more severe proliferation of mesangial cells and an increase in mesangial matrix (P less than 0.05), as compared to those without both Clq and C4. Patients with glomerular C3 deposition had significantly lower serum CH50 levels at the time of renal biopsy (P less than 0.02) and a significantly higher incidence of sclerotic lesions (P less than 0.05). Patients with C3 deposition in the mesangium and peripheral capillaries had significantly higher serum IgA levels (P less than 0.02), a significantly higher incidence of adhesion (P less than 0.01), duplication and endocapillary proliferation (P less than 0.05) and a more severe increase in mesangial cells (P less than 0.01) than those with C3 deposition only in the mesangium. The above findings demonstrate that analysis of the complement system in glomeruli is important for the evaluation of glomerular damage, clinical findings and prognosis. PMID- 2615015 TI - Three-dimensional architecture of the mesangial matrix--comparison of the intact and acellular glomerulus. AB - The three-dimensional ultrastructure of the rat mesangial matrix was studied in acellular rat renal cortex in comparison with intact cortex by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mesangial region was covered with fenestrated endothelial cells and was not identified in untreated specimens by SEM. Acellular renal cortex was obtained by perfusion with 4 mM EDTA, 3% Triton X-100, 0.0025% deoxyribonuclease in 1 M NaCl and 4% sodium deoxycholate. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and mesangial matrix maintained their respective shape and did not collapse even after removal of the cellular components. By SEM, the mesangial matrix appeared as fenestrated septa with oval or round stomata between the glomerular capillaries. The diameter of the stomata was 601 +/- 290 nm. The diameter of the fibrils forming the stomata was 177 +/- 80 nm. These fenestrated structures of the mesangial matrix appear to be useful in supporting glomerular tufts, in stretching and retracting mesangial cells and in passing macromolecules from the capillary lumen into the mesangium. PMID- 2615016 TI - Constituents of the extracellular matrices in diabetic glomerulosclerosis. AB - This study was undertaken to elucidate the distributions of laminin, fibronectin, type I, III, IV, V and VI collagen and heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) in diabetic nephropathy, using immunohistochemical procedures. The pathological features of diabetic glomerulosclerosis were characterized as diffuse and nodular lesions, showing an expanded mesangial matrix associated with a thickened glomerular basement membrane (GBM). In the thickened GBM, laminin was present throughout the whole membrane, type IV collagen occurred along the subendothelial side, and HSPG was present with no change in its amount. On the other hand, the components detected in the slightly expanded mesangial matrix were type IV, V and VI collagen, fibronectin and HSPG, but not laminin. When the matrix was expanded markedly, collagenous components were increased over the other components. In the typical Kimmelstiel-Wilson nodules, the mesangial matrix was occupied mainly by type V and VI collagen with a relative decrease in type IV collagen. When a nodular lesion adhered to Bowman's capsule, type I and III collagen occurred not only in Bowman's space but also within the lesion itself. Furthermore, laminin and HSPG became detectable on the outside of the lesion, but not within it. These results suggested that there was a difference in the distribution and proportion of extracellular matrix components between diffuse and nodular lesions. It appeared that the nodular lesion was not simply an advanced form of the diffuse lesion. PMID- 2615017 TI - High-dose methylprednisolone therapy for nephrotic syndrome in Henoch-Schoenlein nephritis. AB - Twelve patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) in Henoch-Schoenlein (HS) nephritis were treated with a high dose of intravenous methylprednisolone (MP) on each of nine alternate days followed by oral prednisolone for 4 to 6 months. Renal biopsy was performed on 10 of the 12 patients. The glomerular change in 5 patients, which was accompanied by crescents and/or sclerosis, with NS and acute nephritic syndrome (ANS) at onset, was more severe than that of the other 5 patients with NS and hematuria at onset. The renal insufficiency or hypertension in these 5 patients with NS and ANS improved within 2 weeks on this MP therapy. After a mean follow-up period of 40.5 months, all patients except 2 revealed normal physical findings and renal function as well as urinary findings. Repeated biopsies in the 2 patients with NS and ANS at onset demonstrated an improved renal pathology in comparison with their initial biopsies. No severe side effects related to high dose intravenous MP followed by oral prednisolone therapy were encountered in any of the patients. Our results suggest that high-dose intravenous MP therapy can lead to a favorable outcome in patients with NS in HS nephritis. PMID- 2615018 TI - Study on pruritus in hemodialysis patients and the antipruritic effect of neurotropin: plasma levels of C3a, C5a, bradykinin and lipid peroxides. AB - The causes of pruritus in patients undergoing hemodialysis and the mechanism of the antipruritic effect of Neurotropin, an extract isolated from the inflamed dermis of rabbits inoculated with vaccinia virus and clinically used in Japan as an analgesic and antiallergic drug, were investigated by measuring the levels of C3a, C5a, bradykinin and lipid peroxides in venous blood collected before dialysis, and at 15 min and 4 hr after starting hemodialysis. C3a increased considerably in pruritic patients compared to non-pruritic patients at 15 min after starting hemodialysis. Neurotropin significantly suppressed the C3a level and improved the condition of pruritic patients. There was no significant difference in the level of bradykinin between pruritic patients and non-pruritic patients. Therefore, bradykinin was not thought to be related to the incidence of pruritus in such patients. A tendency towards lowering of the levels of lipid peroxides in the patients' plasma by Neurotropin was also observed. It seems possible that elevation of C3a may be one of the underlying causes for the appearance of pruritus, and that Neurotropin may exert its antipruritic effect through suppression of the activation of C3 in patients undergoing hemodialysis. PMID- 2615019 TI - Treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. AB - The effects of CaCO3 were investigated in 7 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis who had been treated with 1 microgram/day 1 alpha (OH)D3 and 2 g/day Al(OH)3. CaCO3 (3 g/day) was administered instead of Al(OH)3. The levels of serum total calcium and ionized calcium were significantly increased, the level of C terminal parathyroid hormone was appreciably decreased and the levels of serum aluminum in all patients were reduced. There were no significant changes in the levels of serum phosphate, calcium x phosphate product, alkaline phosphatase, calcitonin, magnesium and bicarbonate. It is concluded that 3 g/day CaCO3 is equivalent to 2 g/day Al(OH)3 in terms of its phosphate-binding effect, and the prescription of CaCO3 together with 1 alpha (OH)D3 ameliorates secondary hyperparathyroidism. PMID- 2615020 TI - Isolation of a renal function-facilitating constituent from the Oriental drug, salviae miltiorrhizae radix. AB - An attempt was made to isolate the active component which exhibits an improving effect on renal function from Salviae Miltiorrhazae Radix (Chinese crude drug). Systematic isolation from aqueous extract of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix was carried out, and Compound 1 was found to be more effective than any of the other constituents in improving renal functional parameters; that is, a marked reduction of glomerular filtration rate following adenine ingestion was improved by administration of this substance. The renal plasma flow and renal blood flow were also increased in renal failure rats. On the basis of chemical and spectroscopic data, Compound 1 was shown to be identical with magnesium lithospermate B. PMID- 2615021 TI - Rhabdomyolysis: clinical analysis of 20 patients. AB - Twenty patients with rhabdomyolysis with and without acute renal failure (ARF) were studied. The patients consisted of 9 males and 11 females with a mean age of 64.5 +/- 3.2 years. Infection, compression and metabolic derangement were implicated as the most common etiologic factors. While 7 patients developed ARF during hospitalization, renal functions were normal in the remaining 13. While the mean ages, serum ARF, significant increases in potassium, phosphate, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid were observed. While the mean blood pressure was similar, significant increases in hematocrit and total protein were observed in the patients with ARF. The detailed results indicated that infection, compression and metabolic derangement were the most common etiology factors of rhabdomyolysis, and plasma volume contraction might be responsible for the development of ARF. PMID- 2615022 TI - [Thallium-201 imaging of brain tumors using single photon emission CT]. AB - Single photon emission CT using thallium-201 chloride, injected intravenously, was performed on 28 cases of cerebral lesions, among which were 16 gliomas, 2 meningiomas, 5 other brain tumors, 3 metastatic brain tumors and 2 cerebral radiation necroses. The degree of thallium-201 accumulation was evaluated by a new method called the thallium index (TLI); that is, TLI was expressed as (T-C)/C (T and C indicate relative counts in a pixel of a lesion and in non-affected normal brain tissue, respectively). Thallium-201 accumulation occurred in 86% (24) of the evaluated cases. In general, there was a tendency in high-grade or recurrent gliomas, as well as in metastatic brain tumors for the TLI values to be high. Moreover, high TLI values were noticed in cases of meningioma, radiation necrosis of cerebellum and in cases involving subacute stages of cerebral infarction. It is particularly noteworthy that the meningioma TLI values were about two times higher than those of the glioblastomas. The CT contrast enhancement of lesions was clearly correlated with the TLI values, and the relationship between the TLI values and the number of vessels observed microscopically in the specimen was statistically significant. From the above results, it was concluded that thallium-201 accumulation in lesions might be strongly influenced by the development of vascularity in lesions, and/or the interference with the blood brain barrier due to the tumor itself. However, this malignancy diagnostic method is probably limited to the diagnosis of glioma. PMID- 2615023 TI - [The evaluation of the bone marrow accumulation of Ga-67 citrate]. AB - The bone marrow distribution of Ga-67 citrate may be influenced by various elements in serum. In order to make these points clear, 1,955 whole body images were reviewed on the relationship between the accumulation of bone marrow and laboratory examination data of each patients. Increasing accumulation in the bone marrow was determined as positive when the bones of lower extremities were deposited on the images, because these bones was not visualized in normal gallium image. Laboratory data of 20 patients without having bone marrow accumulation was used as control. The positive findings of bone marrow accumulation was observed in 38 patients (2%) including 23 malignancies and 15 benign disease. The malignant tumor infiltration to the bone marrow was demonstrated by bone marrow aspiration biopsy in 2 out of 7 patients with bone marrow accumulation of Ga-67. Seven out of 15 patients with benign disease were collagen disease such as aortitis syndrome or SLE. The values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron and creatinine clearance were significantly lower in the patients with positive findings in comparison with control. These results suggest that the lower level of serum iron and anemia may cause increasing bone marrow accumulation of Ga-67 citrate. PMID- 2615024 TI - [Exercise radionuclide ventriculography in evaluating successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)]. AB - To evaluate late success of PTCA in 29 patients with coronary artery disease, exercise radionuclide ventriculography was performed. Twenty-nine patients were classified into two groups according to the presence of restenosis (Group N: 19 patients without restenosis, Group R: 10 patients with restenosis). LVEF improved significantly in Group N, and the sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy for detecting restenosis were 100%, 68% and 79%, respectively. Regional wall motion abnormality during exercise did not worsened in Group N, and the sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy for detecting restenosis were 89%, 96%, and 94%, respectively. The left ventricular end-systolic volume during exercise increased in group R but decreased in Group N. The exercise response of the ratio of systolic blood pressure to end-systolic volume in Group N was significantly larger than that of Group R, and was considered to be useful parameter for detecting restenosis. PMID- 2615025 TI - [Assessment of myocardial viability by quantitative analysis of stress Tl-SPECT- comparison with FDG-PET]. AB - Stress Tl-201 tomography (SPECT) is widely used for evaluating myocardial viability. To assess its value, redistribution (RD) on SPECT was compared with metabolic imaging using FDG. Thirty patients with coronary artery disease underwent stress-3 hour Tl-201 SPECT and PET using N-13 ammonia and FDG. RD was classified into 4 grading, including complete RD (CR), incomplete RD (IR), persistent defect (PD) and additional minimal RD (MR) defined as no definite RD on visual analysis but faint RD with Bull's eye quantitative analysis (QNT). All but one segment with CR or IR were viable regions (normal or ischemic regions) by PET. Of 74 segments without RD on visual analysis, 31 segments (42%) had RD by QNT (MR). All of them were viable regions by PET. Thus, QNT identified 31 segments (63%) of the metabolically viable segments which the visual Tl-201 analysis did not show RD and classified as myocardial scar. However, even such QNT cannot detect ischemic myocardium in 18 segments (42%) containing metabolic activity on PET. These data indicate that QNT of RD on Tl-201 SPECT is considered as a valuable means for assessing myocardial ischemia. PMID- 2615026 TI - [Scintigraphic assessment of patients with pulmonary thromboembolism by extent of perfusion defect and right ventricular function]. AB - In 36 cases, severity of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) were determined with extent of perfusion defect (%PD) from pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy combined right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) from radionuclide angiocardiography. In 27 cases, follow-up scintigraphy was also done. After medical therapy, delta PD (= initial %PD-follow up %PD) was significant improved in patients with normal RVEF (greater than 38%) (19.40 +/- 15.58%: n = 15) than that in those with reduced RVEF (less than or equal to 38%) (0.00 +/- 3.9%). In follow-up studies, patients with larger %PD (greater than or equal to 40) showed poor prognosis than those with moderate or less %PD (less than 40). In conclusion, these both non invasive indicators were proved to be useful for the evaluation not only the clinical severity but the prognosis of pulmonary thromboembolism. PMID- 2615027 TI - [Clinical evaluation of Parkinson's disease using 123I-IMP SPECT]. AB - N-isopropyl-p[123I]iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) SPECT and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) studies were performed in 20 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 8 normal subjects. RCBF was measured by the arterial blood sampling method which used the microsphere model. We analyzed seven factors which might be related to the rCBF in PD, i.e., age, stage, duration of the disease, cerebral atrophy, severity of dementia, laterality of symptoms and motor disability score (MDS; the degree of akinesia, rigidity, tremor, gait disturbance, freezing and pulsion sign). Compared with normal subjects, global CBF (supratentorial mean rCBF) was reduced 21.8% in PD. In particular, rCBF in the basal ganglia and that of frontal cortex were reduced 25.3%, 24.8%, respectively. Distribution patterns of rCBF in PD were almost as same as those in normals except for cerebellum. The reduction of both rCBFs in the basal ganglia and parietal cortex significantly correlated with MDS (p less than 0.05, respectively). Especially, akinesia was closely correlated to the reduction of rCBF in the parietal cortex (p less than 0.02). Moreover, we observed a significant relationship between cerebral atrophy and reduction of rCBF in each region except for cerebellum. However, there was no significant correlation between the severity of dementia and reduction of rCBF, even in the frontal cortex or parietal cortex. These data show that the severity of dementia in PD may be connected with other factors except for rCBF. 123I-IMP SPECT study is a useful method for clinical evaluation of PD. PMID- 2615028 TI - [A study on the intrapulmonary kinetics of N-isopropyl-p-[I-123]-iodoamphetamine in patients with interstitial lung diseases--assessment of disease activity by dynamic scintigraphy and regional clearance curve]. AB - Aiming at clinical application of N-isopropyl-p-[I-123]-iodoamphetamine (I-123 IMP) to lung diseases intrapulmonary kinetics of I-123 IMP was studied. Dynamic lung scintigraphy was performed after intravenous injection of 3 MBq I-123 IMP in six normal volunteers and twenty patients with interstitial lung diseases. Simultaneously data were acquired in a data processor with 60-sec intervals over the period of 60 min. Time-activity curves of two areas of each lung field were obtained to calculate k values by monoexponential fitting method. In patients with interstitial lung diseases k values were significantly decreased (p less than 0.001) (0.995 X 10(-2) +/- 0.26 X 10(-2) as compared with those (1.602 X 10( 2) +/- 0.24 X 10(-2) in normal volunteers. For the assessment of capillary blood volume in the lung Tc-99m Sn colloids (SN) were given i.v. before I-123 IMP in 16 patients. There was a high correlation between regional uptake ratio of I-123 IMP and Tc-99m Sn colloids (SN) both at 1 min (n = 64; r = 0.91) and 25 min (n = 64; r = 0.93) after injection. The k values of IMP clearance curves were correlative to diffusing capacity at rest for CO (DLCO) (r = 0.71, p less than 0.01), vital capacity (r = 0.53, p less than 0.05) and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (r = 0.58, p less than 0.05). These results suggest that the lung clearance of I-123 IMP reflect the severity of the endothelial cell injury which cause decrease in the capillary blood volume in interstitial lung diseases. Dynamic lung scintigraphy with I-123 IMP should prove useful for monitoring disease activity of interstitial lung diseases providing a new parameters to assess a non respiratory lung function. PMID- 2615029 TI - [Significance of "overshoot" elevation of ejection fraction in early recovery period after exercise in patients with coronary artery disease]. AB - To investigate the relationship between "overshoot" elevation of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) in the early recovery period after exercise and myocardial ischemia, LV function was measured in 5 healthy volunteers and 47 pts with coronary artery disease (CAD) using supine ergometer. EF at rest (EFRE), at peak exercise (EFEX), at peak of overshoot (EFOS) and time from cessation of exercise to peak of overshoot (T-OS) were measured using an ambulatory LV function monitor system with a high sensitive CdTe detector. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to EF depression (EFRE-EFEX) by exercise, i.e., D1 (EF decreases less than 5%): 15 pts, D2 (EF decreases 5-10%): 12 pts, D3 (EF decreases greater than or equal to 10%): 20 pts. Degree of overshoot which shows difference in EF between rest and peak of overshoot was 23.8 +/- 2.13% (mean +/- SD) in the normal group, 11.72 +/- 5.12% in D1, 9.56 +/- 6.51 in D2 and 6.12 +/- 4.15% in D3, respectively. T-OS was 1.4 +/- 0.48 in the normal group, 2.8 +/- 0.54 in D1, 4.5 +/- 2.36 in D2 and 5.6 +/- 1.93 min in D3, respectively. We conclude that left ventricular dysfunction was proportionally related to time lapse from cessation of exercise to peak of overshoot while inversely related to degree of overshoot. PMID- 2615030 TI - [Diagnostic 99mTc-labeled red blood cells scintigraphy in gastrointestinal tract bleeding from an intestinal pyogenic granuloma]. AB - 99mTc-labeled red blood cells (RBCs) scintigraphy was useful to detect the site of gastrointestinal (GI) tract bleeding in a 30-year-old woman. Other examinations, double-contrast barium meal study, fiberscopy and conventional contrast arteriography were unsuccessful in diagnosis. A surgical treatment was performed and GI tract bleeding from ileal pyogenic granuloma was proved. In this case the patient had no other obvious hemangioma or pyogenic granuloma. Pyogenic granuloma occurs most commonly on the exposed skin areas and very rare on the intestine. PMID- 2615031 TI - [Clinical evaluation of 131I-MIBG (meta-iodobenzylguanidine) imaging in suspected pheochromocytoma]. PMID- 2615032 TI - The loop gain of autonomic reflex function in orthostatic hypotension. AB - The loop gain (G) of the autonomic reflex function in orthostatic stress was assessed in anesthetized dogs subjected to 45 and 90 degrees head-up tilt. We observed the magnitude of orthostatic hypotension before and after 1) sinus denervation and vagotomy (SDVT), or 2) ganglionic blockade (GB) with hexamethonium. The decreases in arterial pressure during the orthostatic stress before and after interruption of the autonomic reflex from either the afferent or efferent limb were defined as E and D, respectively. The loop G of the compensatory system was calculated using closed-loop analysis: G = (D/E) - 1. In the SDVT experiments, the average values of E, D, and G were 18.6 mmHg, 62.6 mmHg, and 2.36, respectively, for 45 degrees tilt; and 31.2 mmHg, 82.7 mmHg, and 1.63, respectively, for 90 degrees tilt. The data provide a quantitative measure of the autonomic reflex function in orthostatic hypotension. Furthermore, we found that the corresponding G values in the SDVT and GB experiments were not significantly different. In each experiment, the G value in 90 degrees tilt was lower than that in 45 degrees tilt. The findings suggest that reflexes from the arterial baroreceptors and cardiopulmonary receptors account for a large part of the autonomic compensation to the orthostatic stress. The whole control system operates in a nonlinear fashion, because the gain value tends to decrease as the degree of tilt is increased. PMID- 2615033 TI - Renal urea clearance in normal and adrenalectomized rats after exercise. AB - In groups of male Wistar rats, blood level, urinary excretion of urea, and renal urea clearance were determined in resting conditions or during 48-60 h after swimming for 30 min with an additional load of 10% of body weight as well as after swimming for 3 or 10 h without additional load. Both types of swimming exercise caused a significant increase in the blood level, urinary excretion, and renal clearance of urea. After 10-h swimming, the increase of renal urea clearance was observed only from the second period (0-12 h) of urine collection. In this type of exercise, an elevation of blood level of corticosterone was obtained after 6-h restitution. The increased urinary excretion and renal urea clearance persisted for a longer time than was necessary for the normalization of the blood level. A significant rise in blood urea level and a drop in renal urea clearance occurred after adrenalectomy. In adrenalectomized rats, increased urea excretion and renal clearance were observed 12-24 h after 3-h swimming, but the level of renal clearance obtained in sedentary normal rats was not achieved. The blood level of urea did not increase. This suggested that the glucocorticoids play a role both in urea formation during exercise and in its elevated renal clearance after exercise. PMID- 2615034 TI - Neural mechanisms of chromatic adaptation in L-type cone horizontal cells of the carp retina. AB - When a background light is delivered, the responsiveness of horizontal cells to light stimulus initially lowers but subsequently recovers gradually as shown by the increase in response amplitude to test light. These changes of responsiveness are observed when white or close wavelengths are used for both the background and test lights. However, the response amplitude to blue-green test light was initially enhanced but decreased and reached a steady state after the onset of red background illumination. The mechanism causing such a change of test responses was studied in the luminosity-type cone horizontal cells. The initial response enhancement was accompanied by an increase of the slope of hyperpolarizing phase, while the subsequent decrease of response amplitude was caused by the advancement of the recovery phase. The advancement of the recovery phase was eliminated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or Co2+ (50 microM), which blocks GABA-induced currents in cone terminals. Dopamine, which inhibits GABA release from horizontal cells, stimulated the advancement of the recovery phase. The time course of the hyperpolarizing phase was not affected by these agents. The enhancement and the subsequent decrease of test responses were also observed in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated retinae. The results suggest that the GABAergic feedback pathway from horizontal cells to cones advances the recovery phase of response to test light. It appears, therefore, that the feedback modifies the responsiveness of horizontal cells to light stimulus under a red background illumination. The mechanism enhancing response amplitude will be also discussed. PMID- 2615035 TI - Fundamental rhythm of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in awake cats at rest and during body movement. AB - Cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (CSNA in imp/s) was measured in the postganglionic fibers of awake cats at rest, during body movement, and with excitement. The CSNA showed synchronized discharges with various periodicities. Rhythms of the synchronized CSNA were analyzed by an interval histogram (IIH). The IIH showed a multimodal distribution. The first model interval (Tc) was in a range of 75 to 125 ms. An 8-12 cycle/s Tc rhythm, i.e., inverse value of Tc, was always observed in the awake cat at rest and during body movements. Probability of the 8-12 cycle/s Tc rhythm was smallest at rest, increased during body movement, and was largest with excitement. These results suggested that the 8-12 cycle/s Tc rhythm, observed in all states in the conscious cat, is a fundamental rhythm of central cardiovasomotor origin. The subsequent model distribution (Tb = 2 x Tc, 3 x Tc, 4 x Tc, or 5 x Tc) ranged from 150 to 700 ms, mostly 200 to 500 ms. A 2-5 cycle/s Tb rhythm, i.e., inverse value of Tb, appeared more frequently at rest than that during body movement or with excitement. A new model concerning a mechanism to cause the 2-5 cycle/s Tb rhythm is suggested. PMID- 2615036 TI - Influence of food intake on cold-induced vasodilatation of finger. AB - When the finger is immersed in ice water, a sharp fall of the skin temperature is followed by its gradual rise due to the cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD). The present study was attempted to examine whether the CIVD is affected by a small increase in internal heat load due to dietary thermogenesis. A 10-min immersion of the left middle finger in ice water was performed at room temperature of 25-26 degrees C on 12 female subjects 60 min before, and 30 and 90 min after ingestion of a meal containing 700 kcal. Skin temperature of the finger and O2 consumption were continuously measured before, during, and after the immersion. A CIVD index was measured using the data of the rising phase of skin temperature during the immersion. The CIVD index, a newly developed parameter in the present study, could reflect both the rapidity and the magnitude of CIVD response during the immersion. Compared with pre-prandial values, the O2 consumption and the CIVD index significantly increased by 15 and 69%, respectively, at 30 min and by 15 and 50% at 90 min of the post-prandial period. Esophageal temperature was studied on another 5 subjects (1 male and 4 females) and it rose by 0.27 degrees C during the 90-min post-prandial period. The results, in support of the involvement of the central nervous system control in CIVD, suggest that the central process is so sensitive as to operate in a 15% increase in heat load into the body. PMID- 2615037 TI - Annual profiles of sex steroids in blood plasma and ovarian tissue of wild female musk shrew, Suncus murinus. AB - Relative ovarian weights with bursa and annual profiles of sex steroids have been described in the female musk shrew, Suncus murinus, collected in the vicinity of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The relative gonadal weight was basal (23.20 +/- 1.20 mg/100 g) during anoestrus but enhanced (39.93 +/- 2.73 mg/100 g) abruptly at the onset of the breeding season. Plasma progesterone concentrations, measured during different parts of the year, indicated elevated levels during the late pregnant stage (p less than 0.01). The ovarian progesterone was also comparatively higher in late pregnant animals. No significant difference was observed in plasma and ovarian oestradiol. PMID- 2615038 TI - A chemical modification approach to the olfactory code: vapor phase labeling using photoaffinity odorants. AB - A photoaffinity labeling technique was used to study the receptors involved in the discrimination of odorants. Aromatic azides, 1-azidonaphthalene (AzN) and 1 azido-4-nitronaphthalene (AsNN), were found to be pleasant-smelling compounds and produced good responses, giving standard EOG's (electro-olfactogram) of the kind observed for normal odorants. Following irradiation of the frog olfactory mucosa with light during constant stimulation with one of the azides vapor, there was a specific partial inhibition of the receptors for that odorant. The extent of reduction in amplitude of the EOG responses to AzN and AzNN varied between 40 to 60% of the original amplitude. PMID- 2615039 TI - Studies on the nephrotoxicity of aminoglycoside antibiotics and protection from these effects (7): Effect of latamoxef on binding of tobramycin to brush border membranes isolated from rat kidney cortex. AB - We investigated the effect of latamoxef (LMOX) on the binding of tobramycin (TOB) to brush border membranes (BBMs) isolated from rat kidney cortex by calcium precipitation. The simultaneous treatment with TOB (0.2 mM) and LMOX (10 and 20 mM) to the BBMs fraction (about 250 micrograms protein) significantly inhibited the binding of TOB to BBMs. The addition of the reaction mixture of TOB (0.2 mM) and LMOX (4, 10 and 20 mM) which was preincubated for 3 hr at 37 degrees C, to the BBMs fraction resulted in less binding of TOB to the membranes than that observed in the case of simultaneous treatment with both drugs. Although [14C] labeled LMOX was taken up by BBMs temperature- and time-dependently, the pretreatment with LMOX showed no obvious differences in inhibition of the TOB binding to BBMs, as compared with the result from simultaneous treatment with both drugs. Additionally, the binding of TOB to the LMOX-treated BBMs that were resuspended in fresh medium after the pretreatment with LMOX for 10 min at 37 degrees C was similar to that of TOB to the non-treated BBMs. These results indicate that LMOX inhibits the binding of TOB to BBMs not by binding to BBMs but by interacting with TOB. PMID- 2615040 TI - The relationship of intraduodenal pH and delayed gastric emptying in duodenal ulceration induced by mepirizole or cysteamine in rats. AB - Subcutaneous administration of mepirizole (60 and 200 mg/kg) and cysteamine (100 and 300 mg/kg) to fasted rats consistently induced localized villous damage to the proximal duodenum after 6 to 8 hr. The severity of the damage in animals treated with the low doses remained unchanged at 12 hr. With the high doses, however, well-defined deep ulcers were evident by that time, the incidence being high. The agents caused a significant accumulation of highly acidic gastric contents for 6 to 8 hr, but the accumulated gastric contents had markedly decreased by 12 hr. The intraduodenal pH in these animals was significantly lowered for 8 hr with the low doses, but for 12 hr with the high doses. Both mepirizole and cysteamine significantly delayed gastric emptying which was quantitated by weighing the food residue in refed animals. This delay in emptying was observed for 6 to 8 hr with the low doses and for 12 hr with the high doses. We conclude that this prolonged accumulation of gastric contents for up to 8 hr, resulting in a continuous lowering of the intraduodenal pH for 12 hr, is a crucial factor for the progression from duodenal villous damage to visible ulcers in response to mepirizole and cysteamine. PMID- 2615041 TI - Deterioration of baroreflex by transient global cerebral ischemia: its correlation with the degree of ischemia or post-ischemic hypoperfusion in the medulla oblongata. AB - In a canine model of transient global cerebral ischemia, the correlation between the decrease in baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) following 5-min ischemia and the degree of ischemia or post-ischemic hypoperfusion was investigated. Although the medulla oblongata and the cerebral cortex suffered a similar degree of ischemia, the extent of post-ischemic decrease in BRS was inversely correlated with the residual blood flow during ischemia in the medulla, but not with that in the cerebral cortex. A similar degree of post-ischemic hypoperfusion occurred in the medulla and the cerebral cortex. However, the extent of decrease in BRS was not correlated with the degree of hypoperfusion, and the cortical EEG was not significantly affected. These results suggest that the decrease in BRS may be due to the functional damage in the medulla and that the selective decrease in BRS without concomitant impairment of the EEG cannot be ascribed to the regional difference in the degree of ischemia or post-ischemic hypoperfusion. PMID- 2615042 TI - Beneficial renal effects of CS-905, a novel dihydropyridine calcium blocker, in SHR. AB - CS-905 is a potent dihydropyridine calcium blocker that has a gradual and long lasting antihypertensive action with little tachycardia in SHR. In this study, we investigated chronic and acute effects of CS-905 on renal functions in SHR. To examine the chronic effects, 23 week-old male SHR were treated with CS-905 (1 or 3 mg/kg/day, p.o.) or 0.3% CMC (carboxymethylcellulose). After the 15 week treatment, the agent dose-relatedly lowered systolic blood pressure measured 24 hr after the final administration (184 +/- 2 and 173 +/- 3 mmHg at 1 and 3 mg/kg/day vs. 218 +/- 4 mmHg for the control group). Natriuresis and the reduction of urinary protein excretion were also observed in the CS-905 treated groups. Urinary NAG (N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase) activity tended to decrease, but not significantly. Histopathological changes observed in the SHR kidney were reduced by chronic treatment with CS-905. On a single oral administration in 38 week-old SHR, CS-905 caused natriuresis at a dose of 3 mg/kg, but did not affect urinary protein excretion and urinary NAG activity. These effects of CS-905 on renal functions may be beneficial in the treatment of hypertension. PMID- 2615043 TI - Pathogenesis of the earliest epithelial cell damage induced by mepirizole and cysteamine in the rat duodenum. AB - Mepirizole (200 mg/kg) and cysteamine (100 mg/kg) induced epithelial cell damage in the proximal duodenum of rats within 30 min after s.c. administration. The injury induced was severe 60 min later. Gastric acid secretion determined in intact animals was stimulated by these agents 30 and 60 min later when the intraluminal pH of the duodenum was significantly decreased. Duodenal blood flow was significantly decreased beginning 5 min after administration up to 60 min. Oral treatment with sodium bicarbonate (300 mg/kg), cimetidine (100 mg/kg), omeprazole or NC-1300 (gastric proton pump inhibitors, 30 mg/kg) and 16,16 dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (10 micrograms/kg) protected the epithelium from damage induced by the two duodenal ulcerogens. Epithelial cell damage in the duodenum in response to mepirizole and cysteamine appears to be related to the increased gastric acid secretion followed by lowered intraduodenal pH of the duodenum having decreased blood flow. PMID- 2615044 TI - Antinephritic effects of PGE1 and thiaprostaglandin E1, TEI-5178 and TEI-6122, on crescentic-type anti-GBM nephritis in rats. AB - The antinephritic effects of PGE1, TEI-5178 and TEI-6122 on crescentic-type anti glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis in rats were investigated. The test compounds were subcutaneously administered every day for 39 days after the injection of anti-GBM serum. PGE1 (2.0 mg/kg/day), TEI-5178 (0.25 or 0.5 mg/kg/day) and TEI-6122 (0.25 or 0.5 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced urinary protein by 30 to 50% of that of the control at the late stage of nephritis. These test compounds also suppressed the increase of blood urea nitrogen and the development of alteration in the glomeruli by the 40th day. Both TEI-5178 (0.5 mg/kg/day) and TEI-6122 (0.5 mg/kg/day) significantly suppressed the production of antibody to rabbit gamma-globulin in nephritic rats. This was not the case with PGE1, however. In additional experiments to clarify the antinephritic mechanisms of the test compounds, it was found that 15 min after one subcutaneous injection of PGE1 (1.0 mg/kg), TEI-5178 (0.5 mg/kg) or TEI-6122 (0.5 mg/kg), systolic blood pressure in the nephritic rats was transiently reduced by 50 to 60%. On the other hand, these test compounds augmented renal blood flow (20-50%) from 45 min after the injection. The relationship between the antinephritic effect and these subsequent findings will be discussed. PMID- 2615045 TI - Effects of ryanodine and 9,21-didehydroryanodine on caffeine-induced contraction of rat and guinea pig aortae. AB - We compared the effects of ryanodine and 9,21-didehydroryanodine (DH-ryanodine), which are present in commercial preparations of 'ryanodine', on the contractions of rat and guinea pig aortae induced by 20 mM caffeine and tested the dependence of the action of each substance on external Ca2+. With the first protocol, the aortae were incubated with ryanodine or DH-ryanodine for 20 min in Ca2(+) containing medium, and caffeine was added at 2 min incubation in Ca2(+)-free medium. With the second protocol, each substance was added when the external medium was changed to Ca2(+)-free medium, and 20 min later, caffeine was applied. Ryanodine and DH-ryanodine inhibited the caffeine-induced contractions in a similar way; i.e., with maximal effects at 3 microM and lesser effects at 10 microM. The potencies of inhibition by both substances were similar except that the effect of ryanodine at 1.5 microM was more potent than that of DH-ryanodine with the second protocol. The response by muscles previously loaded with Ca2+ to a second application of caffeine was more greatly inhibited by both compounds (use-dependent effect). The inhibition of the contraction due to the first or second application of caffeine was greater when either agent was applied in Ca2+ containing medium than in Ca2(+)-free medium. These results indicate that ryanodine and DH-ryanodine are similar in their effects on caffeine-induced Ca2+ release in vascular smooth muscle and that cellular Ca2+ levels may affect the action of ryanodine. PMID- 2615046 TI - Beneficial effects of FKS-508 (AF102B), a selective M1 agonist, on the impaired working memory in AF64A-treated rats. AB - The effects of FKS-508 [AF102B; cis-2-methylspiro(1,3-oxathiolane 5,3')quinuclidine], a selective M1 muscarinic receptor agonist, were examined to predict the possible activity on memory disorders using a T-maze and radial-arm maze task in experimental amnesia models. The amnesia models were produced by bilateral intracerebroventricular injection of ethylcholine aziridinium ion (AF64A), a selective cholinotoxin, in rats. Repeated administrations of FKS-508 (5 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 5 weeks significantly ameliorated impaired performance of AF64A-treated rats (AF64A-rats) in a delayed alternation task in the T-maze. Repeated administrations of FKS-508 (1 and 5 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 5 weeks significantly ameliorated acquisition failures of AF64A-rats in a radial-arm maze task. Single administration of FKS-508 (1 and 5 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced the incorrect choices of AF64A-rats in a radial-arm maze task with 6 hr delay time. No abnormalities in general behaviors, such as loss of appetite and ataxia, were observed in rats treated with FKS-508 repeatedly during 5 weeks. Our present results showed that FKS-508 can ameliorate memory impairments in AF64A rats with central cholinergic hypofunction without causing any behavioral abnormalities. FKS-508 may be considered as a candidate for the clinical examination of the cholinergic hypothesis of senile dementia of the Alzheimer type. PMID- 2615047 TI - Immunomodulatory activity of the newly synthesized compound TOK-8801 (N-(2 phenylethyl)-3,6,6-trimethyl-5,6-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-2- carboxamide). AB - The in vitro and in vivo effects of the newly synthesized compound TOK-8801 (N-(2 phenylethyl)-3,6,6-trimethyl-5,6-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b] thiazole-2-carboxamide) on immune responses were investigated in comparison with that of levamisole (LMS). TOK-8801 enhanced the anti-sheep red blood cells (SRBC) plaque forming cells (PFC) response and mitogen-induced proliferative responses in murine splenocytes and thymocytes in vitro at concentrations of 10(-7)-10(-5) M, while LMS augmented these responses at 10(-4) M. The stimulatory effect of TOK-8801 as well as LMS on the antibody production was eliminated by the removal of T cells. TOK-8801 (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) suppressed the in vivo generation of anti-SRBC PFC in normal mice, but the compound restored the depressed antibody production in restraint-stress mice which was mainly caused by helper T cell defects. From these results, TOK 8801 was shown to have an immunomodulatory activity in the antibody production. PMID- 2615048 TI - Effects of S-1389 (711389-S), a new antiarrhythmic agent, on the conduction in perfused guinea pig hearts. AB - In the His bundle and ventricular electrograms of Langendorff-perfused guinea pig hearts driven at a cycle length of 450 or 700 msec, S-1389 (711389-S), a new antiarrhythmic agent, above 3 x 10(-7) or 10(-6) M increased the basal conduction times in the following order: His-Purkinje system greater than ventricular and atrial muscles greater than atrioventricular (AV) node. Slowing of the ventricular and AV nodal conduction of extrasystoles with variable coupling intervals was also caused by S-1389. S-1389 above 10(-6) or 3 x 10(-6) M significantly prolonged the functional and/or effective refractory periods of the AV node and ventricle. Disopyramide (3 x 10(-6)-3 x 10(-5) M) also produced similar effects, but they were much less potent than those of S-1389. Although disopyramide did not produce the rate-dependent increases in the atrial and AV nodal conduction times and in the AV nodal refractory period, S-1389 increased these parameters rate-dependently. PMID- 2615049 TI - Breeder differences within Wistar strain rats in step-through type passive avoidance response. AB - Characteristics of acquisition and retention of the one-training and repeated training passive avoidance responses of the step-through type were investigated in 3 lines of so-called Wistar strain rats: HLA:Wistar, JLA:Wistar and Std:Wistar and in F344/Du Crj rats. In the adaptation and the first acquisition trials in the repeated-training task, Std:Wistar rats took comparatively longer latency times to enter the dark chamber from an illuminated runway than the other lines and strain of rats. In contrast, JLA:Wistar rats took a number of trials to stay for 300 sec or longer in the runway. HLA:Wistar, Std:Wistar and F344/Du Crj rats showed similar response latencies in the first retention trial. JLA:Wistar rats showed the shortest latencies among 3 lines of Wistar and F334/Du Crj rats, exhibiting much poorer acquisition and retention abilities than the other rats. The response latencies in the retention trials were longer in the order of HLA:Wistar greater than or equal to F344/Du Crj greater than Std:Wistar greater than JAL:Wistat rats. These results suggest that there are marked breeder differences in their passive avoidance response even in the rats that have the same strain name. PMID- 2615050 TI - Protective effect of taurine against ammonia-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats. AB - We examined the role of gastric ammonia in the development of gastric lesions in rats. Exposure of the gastric mucosa to ammonia (30 mM) produced microscopic injury, but no macroscopic lesion was observed. However, exposure of the stomach to ammonia in rats subjected to ischemia resulted in macroscopic gastric lesions. The macroscopic lesions were markedly inhibited by pretreatment with taurine, a scavenger of hypochlorous acid (HOCI) and monochloramine (NH2Cl). These results indicate that ammonia is deleterious to gastric mucosa, and monochloramine may be involved in the pathogenesis of ammonia-induced mucosal lesions. PMID- 2615051 TI - Effects of eperisone-HCl on the stretch reflex in anesthetized cats. AB - The effect of eperisone-HCl on the spinal stretch reflex was investigated in cats anesthetized with urethane-chloralose. The reflex activity, elicited by muscle stretches, was recorded from the split ventral root and analyzed using a cross correlation histogram between the motoneuronal spikes and muscle stretches. Eperisone-HCl was intravenously applied at a dose of 5 mg/kg. It was found that eperisone weakly inhibited the reflex activity of tonic motoneurons (approximately 30%), and that of the phasic ones was either moderately (approximately 70%) or completely (100%) inhibited by eperisone. The cross correlation analysis suggested that the membrane potentials of both tonic and phasic motoneurons are equally lowered by eperisone or that monosynaptic transmission from primary afferents of muscle spindles to motoneurons is inhibited by eperisone. PMID- 2615052 TI - Effects of RS-1893, a novel cardiotonic agent, on central and peripheral hemodynamics in anesthetized rats. AB - After the use of two radionuclides in the tracer microspheres technique in the rat was verified, we examined the central and peripheral hemodynamic effects of RS-1893, an orally active cardiotonic agent. An intravenous infusion of RS-1893 at a dose of 3 micrograms/kg/min gradually decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate and cardiac output. Blood flows in the kidney and stomach were increased. There was no organ in which blood flow was decreased despite the fall in blood pressure. These data suggest that RS-1893 dilates blood vessels in the whole body, especially in the kidney and stomach. PMID- 2615053 TI - Histamine turnover in the rat hypothalamic nuclei estimated from alpha fluoromethylhistidine-induced histamine decrease. AB - The turnover rates, rate constants and half-life values of neuronal histamine (HA) in 10 nuclei of the rat hypothalamus were estimated from the depletion of HA induced by alpha-fluoromethylhistidine (alpha-FMH: 100 mg/kg, i.p.), a specific inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, on the presumption that alpha-FMH depletable HA pools represent neuronal ones. Marked variation in the HA turnover rates were observed among the hypothalamic nuclei, ranging from 5.7 to 19.5 pmole/mg protein/hr. PMID- 2615054 TI - Hepatic level of mRNA in relation to polymorphism and strain difference in expression of cytochrome P-450g. AB - Hepatic level of mRNA for P-450g was determined in male and female rats of Sprague-Dawley, ACI and Fischer strains using a specific oligonucleotide probe. The mRNA level in female Sprague-Dawley and Fischer rats was undetectable in accordance with a very low or undetectable level of P-450g protein. The mRNA was detected in all male ACI rats, in which high levels of P-450g protein were detected. In Fischer male rats, mRNA for P-450g was clearly detected in the liver, but P-450g protein was not detected. Moreover, the mRNA was detected in the liver of all male Sprague-Dawley rats, irrespective of the expressed level or absence of P-450g protein. As a most plausible explanation of the observed discordance in the levels of P-450g mRNA and protein, translation of unstable protein for microheterogeneous P-450g is discussed. PMID- 2615056 TI - [Evaluation of preventive health care at schools]. PMID- 2615055 TI - [Methods for evaluation of the status of regional psychiatric health care]. PMID- 2615057 TI - [Evaluation of individualized care of psychiatric patients]. PMID- 2615058 TI - [Group activities of psychiatric patients and their evaluation: social club activities at the Kasugabu Clinic, Saitama prefecture]. PMID- 2615059 TI - [Evaluation of public health activities at an occupational rehabilitation facility for psychiatric patients: cooperation and assistance of the public health clinic in the establishment of the facility]. PMID- 2615060 TI - [Nursing at scenes of daily lives. 29. Communication (3)]. PMID- 2615061 TI - [Medical checkup of the aged (18). Dental diseases (1)]. PMID- 2615062 TI - [Panel discussion: activation of regional organizational functions. 2]. PMID- 2615064 TI - [Reflection on the autonomous seminar on psychiatric care. A report from Saga Prefecture]. PMID- 2615063 TI - [Welfare services for the aged in West Germany]. PMID- 2615065 TI - [Practice and philosphy of psychiatric day care at the Fuchu Public Health Clinic, Tokyo]. PMID- 2615066 TI - [Clinical examination of resected cases of lung cancer with pleural dissemination]. AB - Preoperative examination using chest computed tomography (CT) of cases with pleural dissemination and no pleural effusion revealed small disseminated nodules of the visceral pleura. However, chest CT could not exactly diagnose those of the parietal pleura. The indications of operation, especially pan pleuropneumonectomy, for cases with pleural dissemination should be limited to the following cases; those in which no pleural effusion and no metastasis to the mediastinal lymphnodes has been clinically proved and in which it is not necessary to perform extensive combined resection other than pan-pleurectomy and partial resection of the diaphragm and/or pericardium. Well differentiated histological types of lung cancer are better indications for surgical treatment. PMID- 2615067 TI - [A histopathological study of 102 autopsy cases of primary lung cancer with respect to pleural carcinomatosis]. AB - Visceral pleural lesions in primary lung cancer were studied histopathologically in 102 autopsy cases. Pleural carcinomatosis was defined as the presence of cancer cells in the visceral pleura and/or pleural space. Ipsilateral and contralateral pleural carcinomatosis in the primary lung cancer were compared. They were found to be similar in that both were closely related with cancer cell infiltration of blood vessels in the lung parenchyma, lymphangiosis carcinomatosa in the lung parenchyma and multiple extrathoracic organ metastases. However, differences were observed. In the ipsilateral visceral pleura, cancer cells were thought to infiltrate the interstitium in the vascular layer of the visceral pleura from lymphatic vessels in the vascular layer of the visceral pleura with the following frequency; 3.6:8.52:6.52:1. In the contralateral visceral pleura, however, cancer cells were thought to infiltrate the interstitium in the vascular layer of the visceral pleura from lymphatic vessels in the vascular layer of the visceral pleura, the pleural space, the subpleural lung parenchyma and blood vessels in the vascular layer of the visceral pleura with the following frequency; 4:1.9:12.25:1. Disruption of the elastic layer of the visceral pleura was also studied. Twenty-eight of 66 pleural carcinomatosis cases showed no disruption of the elastic layer, and greater than 1-mm disruption was found in only 7 cases. The author thought that the disruption in these few cases was related to the manner of cancer-cell infiltration of the visceral pleura. When cancer cells spread to the visceral pleura from the lung parenchyma, they lost intercellular adhesiveness in four adenocarcinoma cases. Thus we suspected that cancer cells lost intercellular adhesiveness and became single cells or small cancer nests when infiltrating the visceral pleural from the lung parenchyma, and single cells or small cancer nests entered through the elastic layer of the visceral pleura. Therefore only small disruptions are found in the visceral pleura of pleural carcinomatosis cases. PMID- 2615068 TI - [Antitussive effects of Bakumondo-to and codeine in bronchitic guinea-pigs]. AB - Antitussive effects of Bakumondo-to and codeine were examined in bronchitic guinea-pigs made by an exposure to SO2. Bakumondo-to significantly depressed the cough reflex induced by mechanical and chemical stimulations in the bronchitic but not in the normal animals. Repeated administration of Bakumondo-to significantly suppressed the increased spontaneous discharge of the superior laryngeal nerve in bronchitic animals. On the other hand, the antitussive action of codeine in bronchitic animals was significantly weaker than that in normal animals. Moreover, repeated administrations of codeine significantly potentiated the increased spontaneous discharge of the superior laryngeal nerve. The results suggest that Bakumondo-to, unlike codeine, has a notable antitussive activity in bronchitic rather than in normal guinea-pigs. PMID- 2615069 TI - [Estimation of the filtration variables in the rat lung]. AB - The filtration variables, filtration coefficient (K), perimicrovascular pressure (Ppmv) and reflection coefficient (sigma) were estimated independently in previous reports using the Starling Equation or the micropuncture method. We estimated these variables simultaneously. We measured filtration rate by a gravimetric method in isolated rat lung lobes in zone 1 conditions (alveolar pressure = 20 cmH2O) at two vascular pressures, Pvasc = 15 or 8 cmH2O and perfused the lobes with plasma containing a low or high concentration of protein. By extrapolating the log of the rate of weight gain to time = 0, we obtain the initial filtration rate. Assuming that protein filtered into perimicrovascular space only by convection, we substituted into the Starling Equation as follows: Q = K[(Pmv-Ppmv)-sigma 2 pi mv], where Pmv and pi mv are hydrostatic and plasma protein osmotic pressures in microvascular space. pi mv was estimated by Yamada's equation. We obtained K = 26.3 +/- 8.7 mg/(min.cmH2O.g), PPMV = 6.2 +/- 0.7 cmH2O, sigma = 0.46 +/- 0.07. The chief advantages of this method are that it does not require a separate estimation of isogravimetric pressure or a direct measurement of interstitial pressure, and that all variables are obtained simultaneously. PMID- 2615070 TI - [Spontaneous immunoglobulin secreting cells in idiopathic usual interstitial pneumonia]. AB - Abundant evidence suggests that activation of B lymphocytes and formation of immune complexes play important roles in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We investigated the level of B lymphocyte activation in patients with idiopathic UIP (n = 10, all were biopsy proven cases), for the purpose of evaluating its role. In order to determine the level of B lymphocyte activation, the number of spontaneous immunoglobulin secreting cells in blood was counted by using reverse hemolytic plaque assay. The number of IgA and IgG secreting cells significantly increased in patients with idiopathic UIP when compared with those in healthy controls (n = 8). The number of IgG secreting cells also significantly increased in patients with IP-CVD, but no significant increase in the number of Ig secreting cells could be detected in patients with pulmonary emphysema, diffuse panbronchiolitis or sarcoidosis. The study of cell surface markers revealed significant increase of CD21 (B2 and OKB7) positive cells in patients with idiopathic UIP. CD21 positive cells were immature B lymphocytes. These results suggest that increase of resting B lymphocytes and immunoglobulin secreting cells occurred and that the differentiation of B lymphocytes may be accelerated in idiopathic UIP. Furthermore, there is the possibility that soluble factors produced by T lymphocytes influenced the function of B lymphocytes in our experiment. PMID- 2615071 TI - [The influence of cigarette smoke on metabolism of eicosanoids in rat lung in terms of variation of 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and 11-dehydrothromboxane B2]. AB - We investigated the effects of cigarette smoking on metabolism of two eicosanoids, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) and 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 (11-dehydro-TXB2) in the lung. Twelve female Wistar rats aged between 5 and 6 weeks were chosen and the smoking group (SG, n = 6) was compared to the control group (CG, n = 6). Cigarette smoke exposure was performed using a Hamburg-II inhalation apparatus and the dose was 10 cigarettes in 30 min. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was conducted 30 min after smoking exposure and the recovered BAL fluid was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min. The levels of 15-HETE and 11 dehydro-TXB2 of the supernatant were measured by radioimmunoassay in each sample. Recovered 15-HETE significantly increased in SG (SG: 490 +/- 109 pg, CG: 191 +/- 63 pg, p less than 0.05), while there was no significant difference in recovered protein (SG: 2.64 +/- 0.50 mg, CG: 2.23 +/- 0.10 mg), 11-dehydro-TXB2 (SG: 128 +/ 13 pg, CG: 156 +/- 7 pg). We conclude that acute cigarette smoke exposure increases recovered BAL fluid 15-HETE, a potent inflammatory mediator and that 15 HETE in BAL fluid may indicate lung injury induced by smoking. PMID- 2615072 TI - [Pathogenesis of pulmonary involvement in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM): studies on T-cell function]. AB - It has been shown that there are pulmonary involvements in patients with HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM). Pulmonary lesions found in HAM are characterized by T-lymphocytosis and increased levels of soluble IL-2 receptor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from HAM patients proliferated spontaneously when cultured in vitro. Lymphocytes proliferated were positive for CD3 and HLA-DR staining. There were CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells in proliferating T lymphocytes 5 days after cultivation. Culture supernatants of proliferating cells showed an increased soluble IL-2 receptor. These results suggest that activated T cells play an important role in developing pulmonary lesions in HAM. PMID- 2615073 TI - [A case of eosinophilic pneumonia with acute progressive dyspnea and diffuse small nodular shadows on chest X-ray film]. AB - A 52-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with high-grade fever, dry cough and severe dyspnea. Chest X-ray films revealed diffuse small nodular shadows in all lung fields, prominently in the middle and lower lung fields. On examination, peripheral blood eosinophilic leukocytosis and severe hypoxemia were demonstrated. His clinical condition improved during five days after the admission without any therapy but oxygen inhalation. The abnormal shadows decreased in several days, and disappeared completely in thirty days. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed increased total cell counts, mostly with eosinophils (60%) and lymphocytes (21%). Histologically, the transbronchial lung biopsy specimen showed that the walls of pulmonary arteries and bronchioli were markedly infiltrated with eosinophils, and that alveolar septa were edematous with mononuclear and eosinophilic cells infiltration. There were no prominent changes in the alveolar lumen except few macrophage exudates. Our case was of importance for two reasons: first, eosinophilic pneumonia could take the form of interstitial pneumonia both roentgenologically and histologically; second, Crofton's classification of P.I.E. could not be applied to this case. PMID- 2615074 TI - [A patient with olivopontocerebellar atrophy combined with sleep apnea syndrome]. AB - A 52-year-old man with olivopontocerebellar atrophy was admitted to Ehime University Hospital for examination of sleep apnea. Overnight polysomnographic study revealed that his sleep apnea was predominantly the central type. With progress of the disease, the dominance of apnea pattern changed from the central type to the obstructive type. After tracheostomy, the apnea index decreased from 15 per hour to 12.4 per hour. However, the apnea index of the central type increased from 1.5 per hour to 12.4 per hour. These findings suggest that the effect of tracheostomy is not always beneficial in sleep apnea, and that the frequency and the pattern of apnea are not always indicators of tracheostomy. PMID- 2615075 TI - [A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis associated with fibrotic changes and alveolitis]. AB - A 62-year-old male, who had worked for 20 years as a farmer and who had been exposed to respirable agricultural chemicals apart from silica, was admitted in April, 1987, because of progressed exertional dyspnea. The chest X-ray film on admission showed irregularly-distributed infiltrative shadows in both lung fields. The chest CT also revealed irregular increase of densities in lung fields. Though the TBLB specimen from right B8 indicated only fibrotic changes, the tissues obtained by open lung biopsy from right S3 and S8 revealed PAS positive proteinaceous deposits in the alveoli as well as alveolitis or fibrotic change of alveolar septum. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) contained phospholipids composed mainly of lecithin. According to these findings, the case was diagnosed as pulmonary alveolar proteinosis associated with alveolitis and patchy fibrotic changes. It is not completely clear whether fibrotic changes are induced by pulmonary alveolar proteinosis itself or fibrosis and proteinosis result coincidentally from direct response to fibrogenic agents. Inhaled agricultural chemicals may play a role for the pathogenesis of this case, for which further studies are required. PMID- 2615076 TI - [A case of bromocriptine-induced interstitial pneumonitis in an iron factory worker exposed to sand dust]. AB - A 62-year-old male, was admitted on Oct. 7, 1987 because of productive cough and dyspnea. He worked for an iron factory, where pneumoconiosis was regarded as an occupational disease, for 40 years. No abnormal finding had been noted on his mass screening chest roentgenograms. He was well until three years ago when hypertension and Parkinsonism were noted. Since then he was treated with beta blockers, L-DOPA, amantadine and bromocriptine. Two weeks before admission, he suddenly complained of dyspnea and productive cough. His chest roentgenograms showed diffuse reticulonodular infiltration in both lung fields. The partial pressure of oxygen of the arterial blood was 65.9 Torr. The first transbronchial lung biopsy obtained from right B8 on Sept. 29, 1987 (before the admission) revealed some epithelioid granulomas and the second biopsy obtained from right B10 on Oct. 14, 1987 demonstrated bronchiolar edema and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Fibrotic changes associated with carbon dust between airways and vessels were also noted. Lymphocyte stimulation index by bromocriptine was 362%, and that by amantadine, 139%, L-DOPA, 150%, respectively. After ceasing the administration of bromocriptine, productive cough, dyspnea and the reticulonodular shadows diminished gradually. These findings strongly suggest that the interstitial pulmonary lesions are bromocriptine-induced interstitial pneumonitis. His occupational exposure to inorganic dust may be a predisposing factor. PMID- 2615077 TI - [Strongyloidiasis following long-term corticosteroid therapy]. AB - A 64-year-old man who was born and raised in Fukuoka Prefecture was admitted because of dyspnea. The chest X-ray film showed multiple pulmonary cysts. Corticosteroid therapy was given because of repeated episodes of dyspnea and wheezing. He complained of epigastric pain 20 months after administration of corticosteroid therapy. Gastro-endoscopic examination showed inflammatory changes of the gastric mucosa and the biopsy specimens revealed the filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis. Furthermore, the larvae were frequently detected in both sputum specimens and stools. Pyrvinium pamoate was initially administered and was switched to thiabendazole because of the presence of hyperinfection. Although two cycles of thiabendazole treatment were given, the larvae were not eradicated. This case report suggests that long term corticosteroid therapy caused the hyperinfection syndrome of Strongyloides stercoralis in a patient who was auto-infected with this nematode. PMID- 2615078 TI - [A case of pulmonary sarcoidosis with calcification in the lung]. AB - A 35 year-old male farmer presented with complaints of productive cough and sputum. The chest X-ray films showed reticulonodular shadows bilaterally in the upper and middle lung fields, segmental infiltration in the right lung, and no BHL. Tuberculin reaction was negative. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme level was 26.5 IU/ml. Precipitating antibodies for Thermophilic actinomycetes and M.f. were negative. BAL showed moderate lymphocytosis (24.3%), and CD 4/8 was 1.67. A biopsy specimen of right scalene lymph node showed epithelioid cell granulomas and TBLB epithelioid cell granulomas and spot-like calcification. Pulmonary sarcoidosis with calcification in the lung is very rare. PMID- 2615079 TI - [Clinical evaluation on the diagnosis of chest disease using CRT units]. AB - To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of two CRT systems in pulmonary diseases, two clinical studies were performed. One of the CRTs has 1,750 x 2,000 resolution (CRT-A), and the other has 1,280 x 1,024 (CRT-B). In the first run, five conventional PA chest X-ray films in which diagnosis was already confirmed, were digitized by a 5 pixels/mm aperture with 8 bits/pixel, processed using four variant methods, and stored on a magnetic disk. These images were displayed on the CRTs and interpreted for normal structures and abnormalities by 24 chest specialists. Among the results of statistical analysis concerning image reading, it was concluded that suitable spatial frequency images using CRT-A can be used for interpretation of normal structures without clavicles and intermediate bronchial images. On the late run, four conventional chest X-ray films were digitized with 10 bits/pixel, processed for spatial frequency, and interpreted for anatomical sites and kinds of pulmonary diseases indicated by nodules, diffusion, opacity, etc., by 22 chest specialists. ROC analysis was performed with the answers of image reading. However, the results of the data analysis were not significantly different from those of conventional X-ray films. PMID- 2615080 TI - [Radiological assessment of pulmonary function by computed radiography with imaging plates]. AB - The usefulness of computed radiography with imaging plates (CR) for radiological assessment of pulmonary function was studied. Visibility of intrathoracic structures on CR images was compared with that on screen-film images. Intrathoracic structures included right intermediate arterial trunk, midzonal vessels, peripheral zonal vessels, the trachea at the level of the aortic arch, and lateral margin of the spine on posteroanterior radiographs. On lateral radiographs, the pulmonary apex, upper border of the aortic arch, anterior border of the heart, anterior margin of the ascending aorta, and trachea were included. Forty-six posteroanterior and 40 lateral radiographs taken by CR and screen-film radiography were reviewed. CR was often superior in identifying intrathoracic structures. Marked superiority of CR to screen-film radiography in visualizing intrathoracic structures was found in 48% of peripheral zonal vessels, 63% of tracheas on posteroanterior images, 46% of lateral margins of the spine, and 60% of pulmonary apexes. The superiority of CR is due to the wide dynamic range of imaging plates and image-processing procedures. CR will make it easier to identify multiple intrathoracic structures for radiographic measurements. In a second experiment chest radiographs were taken in both deep inspiration and expiration phase with one-shot dual-energy subtraction technique using the CR system in five patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema showing abnormal pulmonary function and 5 patients without any airway obstruction diseases. Original CR plain chest images and bone-subtracted chest images were displayed on a CRT (TDF-500AS, Toshiba Medical, Tokyo) and X-ray densitometry was attempted utilizing digital values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615081 TI - [Estimation of lung volume and pulmonary blood volume from radioisotopic images]. AB - Lung volume and pulmonary blood volume in man were estimated from the radioisotopic image using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Six healthy volunteers were studied in a supine position with normal and altered lung volumes by applying continuous negative body-surface pressure (CNP) and by positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). 99mTc labeled human serum albumin was administered as an aerosol to image the lungs. The CNP caused the diaphragm to be lowered and it increased the mean lung tissue volume obtained by SPECT from 3.09 +/- 0.49 l for baseline to 3.67 +/- 0.62 l for 10 cmH2O (p less than 0.01), and to 4.20 +/- 0.67 l for 20 cmH2O (p less than 0.01 as compared with 10 cmH2O), respectively. The PEEP also increased the lung tissue volume to 3.68 +/- 0.68 l for 10 cmH2O as compared with the baseline (p less than 0.05), but there was no further increase in the volume after applying 15 cmH2O PEEP. The lung tissue volume obtained by SPECT showed a positive correlation with functional residual capacity measured by the He dilution method (r = 0.91, p less than 0.001). Pulmonary blood volume was estimated by taking the ratio of gamma-counts in the lung field to those in the intracardiac space (L/H ratio) after the equilibration of intravascular 99mTc-labeled red blood cells. The L/H ratio decreased after either the CNP or PEEP, suggesting a decrease in the blood volume per unit lung volume.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615082 TI - [Limitation of RI imaging in evaluating lung function test--development of new methods]. AB - We developed two methods for determining the regional distribution of (1) RV/TLC and air trapping during forced expiration and (2) the ratio or pulmonary blood volume to blood flow. 1) The regional distributions of RV/TLC and air trapping ratio: A.T.R. (air trapping caused by forced expiration) were measured in respiratory disease cases and normal subjects using Xe-133 gas. In normal subjects, RV/TLC gradually decreased from the apex to the base of the lung. A.T.R. was very low in all lung fields. In chronic emphysema (CPE), both RV/TLC and A.T.R. were much higher than the value in normal subjects at the highly diseased areas. In contrast, in case of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB), RV/TLC remained within the normal range and A.T.R. was increased considerably in the diseased regions. These results suggest that airway obstruction occurs only during the forced expiration in DPB. 2) The regional distribution of the ratio of pulmonary blood volume to blood flow (tau p) were measured in a normal subject and a case of mitral regurgitation. In both subjects, the distribution of 1/tau p consisted of three zones: upper, middle and lower. The distribution of 1/tau p was constant in the middle zone, but, in the upper and lower zones, it decreased in proportion to the distance from the middle zone. In the case of mitral regurgitation, the middle zone shifted to the apex. Applying the results to the lung perfusion model proposed by West, it was suggested that these phenomena might reflect the increase of the pulmonary venous pressure and the perfusion disorder in the lower lung. PMID- 2615083 TI - [Treatment of intractable pneumonia in the elderly]. AB - To study the problems of treatment which arise in intractable pneumonia in the elderly, randomly selected cases from recent cases of pneumonia aged over 65 (n = 657) in the Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric hospital were annually retrospectively. Among factors which contributed to intractable pneumonia, malnutrition, aspiration, renal and cardiac failure as well as malignancy were considered statistically significant. The number of cases of the intractable pneumonia which were complicated with multiple organ failure (MOF) increased recently. Hypoxemia was one of the predisposing factor of pneumonia with MOF. It should be emphasized that well-designed supportive therapy as well as choice of appropriate antibiotics is important to determine the outcome of intractable pneumonia in the elderly. Problems concerning the pathogenesis of organizing pneumonia among intractable pneumonia cases which has recently increased in prevalence among the elderly was also discussed. PMID- 2615084 TI - [Treatment of severe respiratory infection. Legionella pneumonia]. AB - This paper discusses the evaluation of new macrolides and new quinolones for the treatment of Legionnaires' disease in in vitro susceptibility test, penetration to polynuclear leukocytes and treatment in an animal model. Some kinds of biological response modifier (BRMs) such as granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), monocyte CSF (M-CSF), GM-CSF, recombinant interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-2 were also evaluated. The antimicrobial activity (MIC) of new macrolides to Legionella pneumophila (45 strains) showed the highest activity in TE-031 (Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Tokyo, Japan) and then rokitamycin (RKM), RU-28965 (Roussel, France), erythromycin (EM), josamycin (JM) in decreasing order of activity. According to the results of the data of cell-penetration and survival rate after treatment of guinea pigs with experimental Legionella pneumonia, the new macrolides such as TE-031, RKM and RU-28965 are expected to be more effective in the treatment of Legionnaires' disease than EM. New quinolones such as ciprofloxatin (CPFX), NY-198 (Hokuriku Pharmaceutical Co., Japan) or T-3262 (Toyama Kagaku Pharmaceutical Co., Toyama Japan) were compared to ofloxacin (OFLX), enoxacin (ENX) or rifampin (RFP) for evaluation. These drugs showed excellent activity against L. pneumophila and good penetration to polynuclear leukocytes. Regarding the treatment of guinea pig with legionella pneumonia, OFLX was the most effective, and NY-198 or T-3262 were more effective than EM treatment. The highest survival rate was obtained with IL-2 in infected guinea pigs. We also observed the efficacy of combined use of IL-2 and HR-8 10 (Horchst FRG) which is a newly developed cephem antibiotic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615085 TI - [Therapy of chronic recurrent respiratory tract infections]. AB - In 1987, the most frequently identified pathogens in chronic respiratory tract infections in our clinic were Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Branhamella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Recurrent infection is a common phenomenon in patients with chronic respiratory tract infections, including chronic bronchitis, chronic bronchiolitis and bronchiectasis. H. influenzae is the most common pathogen in such patients. Macrolides, tetracyclines and new quinolones were effective to protect against recurrent infection of H. influenzae and these finding suggested that L-forms of H. influenzae may be significant in the recurrence of infection in patients with chronic respiratory tract infection. Bacterial colonization of the oropharynx is the initial event in most lower respiratory tract infections. Gargling protects against bacteria colonization of the oropharynx and occurrence of acute exacerbation. PMID- 2615086 TI - [Prevention and treatment of respiratory infections in leukemia patients]. AB - Among infections in leukemia patients during their first induction treatment pneumonia was the third most frequent infection (11.4%) following fever of unknown origin and sepsis. Granulocytopenia was suggested to be very closely related to the onset of pneumonia. Laminar air flow rooms seemed very effective for preventing exogenous infections including pneumonia. They reduced pneumonia from 30 to 0 in 106 patients with acute leukemia during their first induction treatment. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is one of the most intensive immunosuppressive treatments. Major causes of failure were interstitial pneumonitis (IP) due to cytomegalovirus (CMV), relapse of leukemia and bacterial and fungal infections. The incidence of IP was reduced by fractionation of total body irradiation and selection of CMV antibody negative donor for platelet transfusion. Administration of anti CMV immunoglobulin has also reduced the incidence of IP significantly from 37.5% to 11.5%. Colony stimulating factor appeared to stimulate the recovery of leukocytes after BMT. By several modifications of BMT techniques, mainly for the prevention of infection and IP, the survival of patients after BMT has improved significantly from 20% to 85%. In conclusion, prevention and treatment of respiratory infections are important in the treatment of leukemia, both for chemotherapy and BMT. PMID- 2615087 TI - [Induction of pulmonary edema in rat with pulmonary artery air embolization and inhibitory effects of dilazep hydrochloride]. AB - Inducing pulmonary edema in rat, air bubbles the diameter of which was about 0.3 mm were continuously infused into the right atrium through a catheter at the rate of 2.8 ml/kg/hr during 0.5, 1 and 2 hours, under controlled ventilation (tidal volume of 9 ml/kg and respiratory rate of 80/min) with 1% halothane in room air. Saline or Dilazep hydrochloride solution was simultaneously infused into the right atrium via another catheter. Pulmonary edema was evaluated by the measurement of the ratio of extravascular water weight of lung (g) to blood-free dry lung weight (g) (EVWW) using the gravimetric method and with histologic studies using the rapid freezing method. In control rats, which were sacrificed immediately after induction of anesthesia, the EVWW was 3.114 +/- 0.121 g/g blood free dry lung (mean +/- 1 S.D. n = 8). In baseline experiments (2 hours ventilation and saline infusion without air embolization), the EVWW was 3.291 +/- 0.081 (n = 4). In air embolization groups with 2 hours saline infusion, EVWW were 3.756 +/- 0.170 (n = 4), 3.722 +/- 0.170 (n = 4) and 3.731 +/- 0.245 (n = 5) in 0.5, 1 and 2 hours infusion groups, respectively. Regardless of emboli infusion time perivascular cuffs and peribronchial cuffs were revealed in the 2 hour saline infusion groups. In the experiment in which the animals were sacrificed immediately after one hour infusion of air bubbles, there was no evidence of pulmonary edema and the EVWW of 3.060 +/- 0.092 (n = 4) in this group control and baseline were not significantly different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615088 TI - [Effects of thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor, DP-1904 on the action of vasoactive substances in guinea pig trachea and lung tissue strips]. AB - Thromboxane A2 (TxA2) is a potent platelet aggregator and vascular or bronchial constrictor. DP-1904, a newly synthesized imidazol TxA2 synthetase inhibitor, is a potent and long-acting agent. The present investigation was conducted to explore the effect of DP-1904 on the contractile or relaxing responses in guinea pig trachea and lung tissue strips induced by various vasoactive substances. Fourteen guinea pigs, weighing 300-350 g, were sacrificed. Trachea and lungs were removed, cut spirally, set up in bioassay glass jackets and superfused with Krebs Henseleit solution at 37 degrees C, saturated with oxygen and carbon dioxide. Contraction of tissues was detected by an isotonic transducer and displayed on a polyrecorder. Arachidonic acid-induced relaxing responses in guinea pig trachea strips were attenuated significantly by the continuous infusion of DP-1904 in a dose-dependent fashion. Arachidonic acid-induced contractile responses in guinea pig lung strips were attenuated significantly by the continuous infusion of DP 1904, dose-dependently. Acetylcholine-, histamine- and prostaglandin F2 alpha induced contractile responses in guinea pig lung and trachea strips were attenuated significantly by the continuous infusion of DP-1904, dose-dependently. The above results suggest that DP-1904 might be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of chronic obstructive lung diseases. PMID- 2615089 TI - [Depression of testosterone secretion in male patients with respiratory failure]. AB - To investigate the changes of testosterone (T) secretion under sustained hypoxia, we determined basal levels of urine T, 17 ketosteroid, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and response to LHRH and HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in male patients with respiratory failure. After evaluating blood gas data, we also measured serum T, LH, FSH, plasma progesterone (P) and 17 hydroxyprogesterone (17OH-P). The subjects were divided into 3 groups according to PaO2; Group 1 with a PaO2 under 60 Torr, Group 2 with a PaO2 between 60 Torr and under 70 Torr, Group 3 was an age-matched control group. Urine T and serum T were significantly lower in Group 1 compared with those of Group 3. In the LHRH test, augmented relative responsiveness and delayed peak value in LH secretion were observed in Group 1, compared with those of Group 3. As for the HCG test, no differences were observed among the 3 groups. The ratio of 17OH-P to P, which indicates activity of 17-hydroxylase, was observed to be diminished with increasing degrees of hypoxia. These data suggest that in male patients with respiratory failure there was depression in T secretion as well as 17-hydroxylase activity due to hypothalamic-pituitary hypofunction. PMID- 2615090 TI - [A case of progressive muscular dystrophy with pulmonary hypertension]. AB - A case of progressive muscular dystrophy of the limb girdle type is reported. The patient, a 37-year-old man, showed severe hypoxemia upon blood gas analysis, which had been predicted by pulmonary function tests, together with elevated pulmonary arterial pressure revealed by cardiac catheterization. He showed abnormal symptoms of respiration during the night, and so a sleep study was performed. The results revealed central type apnea not only during REM sleep but also frequently during NREM sleep. Acidosis and hypoxemia induced by sleep apnea caused vasoconstriction of the pulmonary artery and long-term repetition of this had caused pulmonary hypertension. PMID- 2615091 TI - [Four cases of myocardial sarcoidosis]. AB - We reported 4 cases diagnosed as myocardial sarcoidosis. One of them was diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy, however, the others were diagnosed by cardiological findings and biopsy of the scalene node, liver or skin. Analysis of ECG findings showed conduction disturbances in all cases and disorders of impulse formation in two. Thallium 201 myocardial perfusion scans (T1 scan) revealed inferior and anteroseptal wall defects in case 4 and entire heterogenous defect in case 2. And also in case 2, left ventricular perfusion defect detected in T1 scan before steroid therapy changed to entire heterogenous defect. Thus, T1 scan was thought to be useful for the evaluation of therapy and for follow up study of myocardial sarcoidosis. In the cardiac echogram, thickening of the wall was seen in cases 3 and 4, and dilated ventricle in another case. Steroid was given in all cases and a pacemaker was implanted in two cases. The therapy was effective in all cases and ECG abnormalities were improved. In one case (Case 3) treated by a pacemaker steroid administration was halted and subsequently developed heart failure, but the other (Case 1) continued treatment with steroid caused return to a natural beat. Thus steroid therapy with a pacemaker implantation was considered to be effective for severe myocardial sarcoidosis. PMID- 2615092 TI - [A case of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis on the bone image of dual-energy subtraction radiography]. AB - A 33-year-old female was evaluated for abnormality of her chest roentgenogram which showed diffuse fine granular micronodulation in the lower two thirds of both lung fields. The bone image (soft tissue cancelled image) of dual-energy subtraction radiography obtained with Fuji Computed Radiography (FCR) demonstrated that the abnormal shadows were characterized by calcified deposits. PMID- 2615093 TI - [Distribution of epithelial cells in respiratory bronchioles, with special reference to influence of cigarette smoking]. AB - Using lung lobes resected surgically for coin lesions, 5 microns-thick sections were made from normal tissues not accompanying emphysema and the proportion of various types of epithelial cells seen in respiratory bronchioles was estimated under a light microscope. The respiratory bronchioles which were cut perpendicularly to the long axis were categorized into three types; type 1 respiratory bronchioles the circumference of which had alveolar orifices in less than one third of its area; type 2, alveolar orifice were recognized in from one third to two thirds of the total area, and type 3, in more than two thirds. Taking several reports into consideration, type 1 respiratory bronchioles are likely to be located proximally, type 3, more distally and type 2, in intermediate locations. In type 1, a large part of bronchiolar walls was covered with columnar cells, whereas the area distributed by these cells was reduced and the area devoid of epithelium increased in type 2. Almost the entire surface of the bronchiolar wall was devoid of epithelium in type 3. Moreover, in smokers and ex-smokers, the proportion of the area not containing epithelium was larger than in non-smokers, which was distinct in type 1. An ultrastructural study revealed the area where no epithelium was seen by light microscopy to be covered with type 1 alveolar cells. In addition, the total pathological score introduced by semiquantitative assessment of fibrosis, muscle hypertrophy, mural inflammation, pigment and intralumenal macrophages was larger in smokers. Distribution of epithelial cells seems to be noteworthy in the assessment of structural changes of respiratory bronchioles due to smoking. PMID- 2615094 TI - [Clinical aspects of peripheral airway diseases in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. AB - We studied the site of obstructive impairment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In chronic bronchitis peripheral airway inflammation caused obstructive impairment. Bronchial sensitivity increased in peripheral airways in chronic bronchitis. In bronchial asthmatics both allergic and increased bronchial sensitivity were observed in peripheral airways. The mucus occupying rat was higher in peripheral airways than central airways. Despite primary inflammation in peripheral airways in COPD, aerosolized bronchodilator dilated peripheral airway in cases of moderate asthenic. PMID- 2615095 TI - [A study of antielastase activity in the development of pulmonary emphysema in a family with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency]. AB - The five siblings of a family with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency including three of Pi- and two of PiM- phenotypes, were studied for the development of pulmonary emphysema during nine years. The changes of pulmonary function showed significant decrease in FEV1.0 and V50, and increase in RV/TLC. Clinical diagnoses for each patient were assessed by pulmonary function, inhalation and perfusion lung scintigram. Two case of Pi- phenotypes were diagnosed definite pulmonary emphysema 9 years previously, in one case of Pi- emphysema was suspected and two PiM- cases were also suspected of emphysema. alpha 1-antitrypsin and elastase inhibitory capacity (EIC) were investigated in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) from four patients with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, healthy non smokers and smokers. alpha 1-Antitrypsin and EIC in BALF in patients with alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency were markedly decreased. There were no differences between non-smokers and smokers in alpha 1-antitrypsin and EIC, but EIC in BALF showed a significant correlation with DLCO or %DLCO. These findings suggest that a deficiency of alpha 1-antitrypsin results in insufficient antielastase protection in the lower respiratory tract, and EIC in BALF may be useful for detecting early changes of emphysema. PMID- 2615096 TI - [Infection--clinico-pathological profile of diffuse aspiration bronchiolitis (DAB)]. AB - In order to investigate the clinico-pathological profile of the inflammatory disease of the intermediate zone of broncho-pulmonary system, a retrospective study was conducted in consecutively autopsied cases at Tokyo University Hospital (n = 495) and Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatrics Center Hospital (n = 1178). We analyzed clinical findings, laboratory tests, pulmonary function tests and chest roentgenograms. In addition, morphologic changes were assessed semiquantitatively as to the grade as well as the localization of inflammation in the lungs. Aspiration pulmonary diseases were found in 7% of all autopsied cases and diffuse aspiration bronchiolitis (DAB) was observed in 16% (1% of all cases). Macroscopic findings of DAB in an autopsied lung were similar to those found in diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB). The clinical symptoms and tests were, however, a complex mixture of DPB and aspiration pneumonia. As a result, differential diagnosis of bronchial asthma in the elderly among aspiration pulmonary diseases seemed crucial for the proper management of DAB. Histologic findings of DAB were characterized by more predominant localization of inflammation in bronchioli and the invariable presence of foreign body or related giant cells in this region of the lungs. In view of these findings, the occurrence of DAB might be related to recurrent aspiration of small amounts with superimposed infection of the airways. PMID- 2615097 TI - [Chemical pleurodesis induced with fibrin glue in the treatment of inoperable spontaneous pneumothorax]. AB - Chemical pleurodesis induced with fibrin glue (fibrinogen 1.0 g, thrombin 500 mu, 2% CaCl2 10 ml, tranexamic acid 10 ml) was performed in 6 cases with spontaneous pneumothorax in whom surgery was not indicated because of various reasons, such as low pulmonary function or old age. These cases were complicated with left pneumonectomy, bilateral emphysema, pulmonary tuberculosis and interstitial pneumonia. In all cases, favorable results were obtained and there was no recurrence. As side effects, only transient low grade fever and slight chest pain were observed with no liver damage or pleural thickening. These results suggest that chemical pleurodesis induced with fibrin glue is very useful in the treatment of inoperable spontaneous pneumothorax. PMID- 2615098 TI - [Serial changes in lung injury produced by preformed immune complexes]. AB - A previous study demonstrated increased levels of C5a des Arg and increased numbers of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids of acutely ill patients with summer type hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), suggesting the role of immune complexes (IC) in the early stage of HP. The present study was undertaken to compare the BAL findings in patients with acute HP and in animals which were injected intratracheally with preformed IC and to determine the correlation between the sequential BAL findings and the serial histology in animals. The results indicated that total cells recovered by BAL increased up to 24 hours. However, the most striking observation was that the increased number and percentage of PMNs in BAL cells shortly after the intratracheal injection, which the number of macrophages in BAL cells tended to be high, the increase was not statistically significant. Histological examinations revealed peribronchial and intraalveolar infiltration with PMNs at the early stage when intraalveolar infiltration were predominant, and the latest lesions consisted of infiltration with mononuclear cells in the alveolar walls. Furthermore, the cellular findings of BAL cells reflected the histological findings in involved lungs. The present study demonstrated that the sequential BAL changes of acutely ill patients with HP were similar to those of IC-injected animals, suggesting the possibility that IC formed in the airways is involved in the early stage of HP. PMID- 2615099 TI - [Effects of thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor, DP-1904 on the action of vasoactive substances in rabbit blood vessel smooth muscle preparations]. AB - Thromboxane A2 (TxA2) is a potent platelet aggregator as well as a vascular and bronchial constrictor. DP-1904, a newly synthesized imidazol TxA2 synthetase inhibitor, is a potent and long-acting agent. The present investigation was conducted to explore the effect of DP-1904 on the contractile responses in rabbit pulmonary artery and descending aorta strips induced by various vasoactive substances. Fourteen Japanese albino rabbits, weighing about 3 kg, were sacrificed. Rabbit pulmonary artery and descending aorta were removed, cut spirally, set up in bioassay glass jackets and superfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution at 37 degrees C, saturated with oxygen and carbon dioxide. Contraction of tissues was detected by an isotonic transducer and displayed on a polyrecorder. Arachidonic acid-induced contractile responses in rabbit pulmonary artery and descending aorta strips were attenuated significantly by the continuous infusion of DP-1904 in a dose-dependent fashion. Prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced contractile responses in rabbit pulmonary artery and descending aorta strips were attenuated significantly by the continuous infusion of DP-1904, dose-dependently. Angiotensin II-induced contractile responses in rabbit pulmonary artery and descending aorta strips were attenuated significantly by the continuous infusion of DP-1904, dose-dependently. Norepinephrine-induced contractile responses in rabbit pulmonary artery and descending aorta strips were attenuated significantly by the continuous infusion of DP-1904, dose-dependently. The above results suggest that DP-1904 might be a useful therapeutic agent for treatment of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases. PMID- 2615100 TI - [Luminol-amplified chemiluminescence evaluation of the microbicidal property of alveolar macrophages in response to drugs]. AB - The present study was designed to evaluate the validity of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) to evaluate the microbicidal properties of alveolar macrophages (AM) in response to drugs. It was observed that production of CL is associated with H2O2 as well as O2-, 1O2, .OH. Furthermore, our data revealed that CL is dependent not only upon the extracellular release of these oxygen radicals, but also upon intracellular metabolic events, which thus allows a complete analytical study in any given state. It should also be noted from our data that the effect of antibacterial agents on CL was greatly affected by the source of the target cells. The defect of amplified CL in AM obtained from young rabbits might be attributable to immaturity of AM. PMID- 2615101 TI - [A case of silo-fillers' disease]. AB - A 52 year-old male farmer was admitted to our hospital because of cough, sputum and dyspnea on exertion. Chest X-ray showed pulmonary edema and arterial blood gas analysis showed hypoxemia. Silo-fillers' disease was diagnosed because he had allegedly inhaled yellowish gas in the silo. The day following steroid therapy, symptoms and pulmonary edema improved. Silo-fillers' disease is chemical pneumonitis due to exposure to the oxides of nitrogen which are produced in silos. Although reported cases of silo-fillers' disease in Japan are rare it should be kept in mind in areas involved with dairy farming. PMID- 2615102 TI - [A pancreatico-bronchial fistula with right hydropneumothorax]. AB - A 39-year-old heavy drinker was admitted to Saga Medical School Hospital on February 21th, 1987. He had suffered from dyspnea, chest pain and lumbago three weeks prior to admission. His chest X-ray showed right hydropneumothorax and right lower lobe atelectasis and his CT scan showed a cystic lesion in the mediastinum. His laboratory data showed a high level of amylase in serum, urine and pleural effusion. A fistula connecting the pancreas to right pleural cavity was demonstrated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In addition, bronchoscopy showed complete obstruction of the right lower bronchus (B7). These bronchoscopic findings and hydropneumothorax on his chest X-ray suggested the leakage of pancreas juice through the pancreatico-pleural fistula injured the lung tissue directly and produced a bronchopleural fistula. In this case, hyperalimentation and drug therapy using protease inhibitor resulted in successful closure of the fistula and reexpansion of the collapsed lung. PMID- 2615103 TI - [A case of esophageal rupture confirmed by chest CT: characteristic changes in chest radiographs]. AB - A 67-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with chest pain and dyspnea which occurred suddenly after vomiting. She was well until admission except for cholelithiasis and hypertension which had been pointed out 3 years earlier. Arterial blood gas analysis showed hypoxemia without hypercapnea. Chest X-ray examination on admission revealed intra-mediastinal air with a niveau behind the heart which compressed the vasculature of the left lower lobe and a small amount of air in the regions adjacent to the trachea, left main bronchus and aortic arch. The serial chest radiographs showed pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax and pleural effusion in that order within 16 hours after the onset. The diagnosis of esophageal rupture was made by CT scan of the chest performed after oral administration of Gastrografin, which demonstrated extravasation of contrast medium into the mediastinum. Surgical treatment including eversion stripping and esophagogastrostomy was performed 23 hours after the onset. Pathological examination of the removed specimens revealed a rupture of the lower portion of the esophagus originated in the gastric ulcer of the cardia. In spite of intensive care, she died 45 days after surgery because of renal failure. It was considered that the most important point in the early diagnosis of esophageal rupture was to suspect this disease based on the gastric symptoms followed by the respiratory symptoms and to demonstrate pneumomediastinum in chest X-ray. Chest CT scan performed after the oral administration of contrast medium could be an useful and non-invasive diagnostic procedure. PMID- 2615104 TI - [CEA and CA19-9 in BALF from patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia]. AB - Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in 21 patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) and 7 healthy volunteers. The concentrations of both CEA and CA19-9 in the BALF were significantly higher in patients with IIP than those in healthy subjects. Significant correlations were present between the concentration of CEA and neutrophil percentage of the total BALF cells and between the concentration of CA19-9 and neutrophil percentage of the total BALF cells in the patients with IIP. Immunohistochemical study of tissue CEA and CA19 9 in the postmortem lungs of patients with IIP showed that CEA staining was present in the epithelia of respiratory bronchioles and alveoli, and it was especially increased in the region of alveoli where type II pneumocytes proliferate. CA19-9 staining was present in the epithelia of the respiratory bronchioles but absent in the epithelia of alveoli. It seems that assay of CEA in BALF may be useful to estimate the degree of pathological change and the activity of IIP. PMID- 2615105 TI - [Pulmonary circulatory disturbance on magnified peripheral pulmonary wedge angiography in chronic pulmonary emphysema]. AB - Magnified peripheral pulmonary wedge angiography was performed in chronic pulmonary diseases. We classified the wedge angiography into five types based on the changes of capillary background (CBG) findings. Type I (normal), Type II (CBG is scattered and pulmonary arterial branches are tortuous), Type IIIa (CBG is decreased and pulmonary arterial branches are normal), Type IIIb (CBG and pulmonary arterial branches are also decreased or disappeared), Type IV (totally convergent). Using this classification, wedge angiography was performed in 42 patients out of 66 patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema diagnosed by selective alveolo-bronchography (SAB). Each type was compared in terms of hemodynamic data, blood gases and pulmonary function. Pulmonary emphysema was classified into types II, IIIa, and IIIb. There was no relation between SAB findings and wedge angiography classification. Severe hemodynamic data cases were found in types II and IIIb. The PaO2 of type II and IIIb were significantly lower than that of type IIIa. In pulmonary function tests, the mixed impairment type of ventilation was more frequently seen in type IIIb than IIIa. There was no relationship between SAB findings (66 cases) and hemodynamic data. These results suggest that classifying wedge angiography into five types (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IV) may be useful for evaluating severity and determining prognosis and therapeutic measures in chronic pulmonary emphysema. PMID- 2615106 TI - [Investigation of the remaining lung function after lung surgery using ventilation and perfusion scintigraphy]. AB - The lung function after lung resection was studied in 18 patients using ventilation and perfusion scintigraphy. All patients underwent posterolateral thoracotomy. Scintigraphy was performed before and 1 month after surgery in 8 lobectomized patients and in 4 partially resected ones. Another 8 patients underwent scintigraphy 6.5 to 43 months after lobectomy. Mean transit time (MTT) on scintigraphy was used to estimate a regional washout function in lung. The value of MTT on the operated side minus MTT on the contralateral side increased after surgery. This change was more remarkable in lobectomized patients than in partially resected ones. MTT on the operated side lung was even more prolonged after operation. Reduction of %V and %Q was observed on the operated side of remaining lung after surgery, and Q decreased more than V after lobectomy. PMID- 2615107 TI - [Possible involvement of vascular endothelium-derived relaxing factor induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF) on human pulmonary artery after contraction in vitro]. AB - We studied the effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on human pulmonary vascular smooth muscle in vitro. 10(-6) M PAF elicited slight contractions in 2 of 7 endothelium-denuded arterial strips, but did not elicit distinct contractions or relaxations in the other strips. After incubation with PAF at 10( 7) M, the contractions of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle induced by histamine and prostaglandin F2 alpha were significantly decreased. Preincubation of 10(-3) M indomethacin did not affect the inhibitory effects of PAF, but these disappeared with removal of endothelium. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of PAF on human pulmonary vascular smooth muscle contractions may appear not through the cyclooxygenase products but the endothelium-derived relaxing factor. PMID- 2615108 TI - [Bronchiolo-fiberscopic, histological and ultrastructural studies of peripheral lung tissues in bronchial asthma patients]. AB - Bronchiolar findings in B8 and 9 of the right lung were taken with a BF-1. 8T bronchiolo-fiberscope in a total of 11 patients with bronchial asthma (6 male, 5 female, average age 59 years). In these patients air pollution was considered responsible for bronchial asthma. Approximately one month after the bronchoscopic examination, transbronchial lung biopsies were performed in the same portion of the lung. Histological and electron microscopic findings were correlated with the above results. Abundant secretion of a serous nature was constantly noted in the peripheral airways of each patient, which was consistent with the histological finding of goblet cell hyperplasia. Dark greenish pigmentation over the edematous mucosa was identified as anthracotic pigments, with or without iron deposit in the tissues. All patients showed occasional aggregates of alveolar macrophages with various amounts of carbon-mixed mineral dusts in their cytoplasm. Six of them formed in the alveolar interstitium micro-granuloma which consisted of epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells. These monocyte-derived cells were obviously adherent to one another by development of paired or unpaired subplasmallemmal linear densities along their cell membranes. Nine patients showed regeneration of bronchiolar cuboidal and type II alveolar epithelial cells along the proximal alveolar sacs. They frequently showed nuclear inclusions. This proliferative tendency is suggestive of previous bronchiolo-alveolar damage due possibly to the air pollutants in these patients. PMID- 2615109 TI - [Prediction of the degree of nocturnal oxygen desaturation in sleep apnea syndrome by estimating the testosterone level]. AB - We studied the influence of hypoxia due to sleep apnea on testosterone (T) secretion. It was conducted on the basis of an idea that sustained hypoxia may depress T secretion. The subjects consisted of 15 male patients with no drug administration whose complaints were snoring and/or obesity. The subjects participated in a sleep study on two consecutive nights. During the first night we collected blood samples starting every 4 hours from 10 PM via a catheter and measured T. From the data of the second night, we calculated total desaturation time with more than 4% from the baseline SaO2. According to the amount of this desaturation time, the subjects were divided into 2 groups; desaturation time less than 80 min in group 1 and longer in group 2, respectively. The peak value was seen at 6 AM in group 1 and at 10 AM in group 2. We investigated the correlation between the ratio of T10/T6, which is the ratio of T level at 10 AM to that at 6 AM, and parameters of sleep disorders related to oxygen desaturation. Total 4% desaturation time in total sleep period and non REM period significantly correlated with this ratio. From the diagram illustrating the correlation between the ratio and total 4% desaturation time in total sleep period, we could assume that if the ratio is beyond 1, the subject may have had more than about 80 min of total 4% desaturation time. PMID- 2615110 TI - [Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies of regenerating epithelium stroma junctions of rat tracheal epithelium after mechanical injury]. AB - Regeneration of the rat tracheal epithelium following mechanical injury was studied by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The first event that occurred following the injury was rapid flattening of the viable epithelial cells of the wound margin and their migration to the injured area. In the early stage, the regenerating epithelium changed from a simple squamous to a multilayered structure, or typical squamous metaplasia. Immunohistochemically, keratin was detected in the regenerating cells, and actin was present linearly along the basal cell membrane of the migrating epithelial cells. Fibronectin also appeared in the wounded stroma immediately beneath the migrating epithelium until the migration was completed. Both laminin and type IV collagen reappeared under the regenerating epithelium from the wound margin after the migration was completed in the middle stage. Ultrastructurally, fibronexus-like structures and so-called anchoring filaments appeared in the epithelium-stroma junction before hemidesmosomes, basal lamina and anchoring fibrils reappeared. We consider that both fibronexus-like structures and anchoring filaments are responsible for the initial adhesion of the regenerating epithelium to the underlying connective tissue. PMID- 2615111 TI - [Intrapleural administration of recombinant interleukin-2 in a patient with pleural effusion due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]. AB - A 79-year-old female was admitted with dyspnea. Chest roentgenogram showed massive left-side pleural effusion. Chest CT scan and abdominal CT scan revealed marked swelling of mediastinal and para-aortic lymph nodes. Diagnosis of non Hodgkin's lymphoma was made by pleural fluid cytology. Recombinant interleukin-2 (1000 units/day) was administered into the pleural cavity for 14 days continuously. Clinically, pleural effusions and malignant cells in the effusions disappeared. Immunologically, levels of IL-2 receptor positive cells, soluble IL 2 receptors and CD4 positive cells in the pleural effusion increased 7 days after recombinant IL-2 administration with subsequent decrease after completion of treatment. On the other hand, levels of IL-2 receptor positive cells, soluble IL 2 receptors and CD4 positive cells in the peripheral blood increased with no subsequent decrease after completion of treatment. PMID- 2615112 TI - [Two cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia with obstructive ventilatory disturbance]. AB - Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) pneumonia is usually considered as a benign disease, but in rare cases, the disease is fatal. Fatal cases requiring mechanical ventilation and many extrapulmonary complications have been reported. Cases accompanied with obliterative bronchiolitis also have been reported. Two cases of M. pneumoniae pneumonia with obstructive ventilatory disturbance were reported. In both cases clinical diagnosis of M. pneumoniae pneumonia was confirmed by a rise in the complement fixation antibody titer, a rise of the cold hemagglutinin titer and isolation of M. pneumoniae from sputum and pharynx. In one case we performed transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB). The lung biopsy specimen showed bronchiolitis, so histological findings were thought to be compatible with ventilatory function. In both cases arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) was below 60 Torr, by administration of erythromycin (EM) and adrenocorticosteroids, chest X ray findings, atrial blood gas analysis findings and ventilatory function were improved. PMID- 2615113 TI - [A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis accompanied with the elevation of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid]. AB - A 44-year-old man was admitted with increasing dyspnea and butterfly shadow on his chest roentgenogram. Both the bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) led to a diagnosis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. CEA level in his bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) (216.8 ng/ml) was markedly elevated more than that in his serum (50.6 ng/ml). The localization of CEA on TBLB specimen stained by peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique using anti-CEA antibody was investigated and it was found that some alveolar epithelial cells and the material filling the alveoli were positively stained. Functions of alveolar macrophages in BALF were also studied, that is, adherence to glass, cell spreading, the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, phagocytosis of immunobeads, and the activity of lysosomal enzymes, and found that all of those functions were lower than that of normal smokers. It was suggested that type II alveolar epithelial cells were those which produced and secreted CEA into the alveoli, as they do surfactant-like material in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, and that the dysfunction of alveolar macrophages was secondary to the overingestion of the proteinaceous material in the alveoli. PMID- 2615114 TI - [Increased neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from a patient with developing adult respiratory distress syndrome]. AB - A 16-year-old, 28-week pregnant woman was admitted to our hospital with multiple bone fractures caused by a traffic accident. She had massive blood transfusion because of anemia in her laboratory findings and ritodrine hydrochloride was administered because of the fear of threatened abortion. She developed a cough with bloody sputum on the 4th day after admission, and developed pulmonary insufficiency with PaO2 41.0 torr and presented bilateral diffuse infiltrates on chest roentgenograms on the next day. Swan-Ganz catheterization revealed normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and analysis of the lavage fluid from the patient showed an increase in the percentage of neutrophils (40.0%) and the existence of leukotriene B4 which is known to be the most potent chemokinetic and chemotactic agent for neutrophils. Her condition was considered to be permeability edema developing adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and 1 g/day of methylprednisolone was administered intravenously for 3 days, which brought about remarkable improvement of her respiratory failure. This report suggests that analysis of the lavage fluid may provide useful information for the early diagnosis of ARDS and the indications of corticosteroid treatment. PMID- 2615115 TI - [A case of the bare lymphocyte syndrome with clinical manifestations of diffuse panbronchiolitis]. AB - Touraine et al reported some cases lacking HLA-class I antigens on the cell surface of their lymphocytes as "Bare lymphocyte syndrome" (BLS). Recently we experienced a case of BLS the clinical features of which are very similar to those of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB). Namely, she had chronic pansinusitis, diffuse nodular shadows on her chest X-ray film, obstructive impairment of pulmonary function tests and continuous increase of cold hemagglutinin titer. The pathogenesis of DPB is not confirmed. However, this case and other cases with sino-bronchial syndrome suggest that patients with DPB may have some immunodeficiencies. In addition the immunosuppressive action of erythromycin and its effectiveness on DPB were interesting. From these points of view, we discussed the relationship between this case and DPB, and the pathogenesis of DPB. PMID- 2615116 TI - [Second surgical intervention for contralateral recurrence or second primary lung cancer]. AB - Resection of contralateral lung cancer (6 cases of pulmonary metastasis from the first lung cancer and one case of second primary lung cancer) were evaluated retrospectively in terms of postoperative complication, pulmonary function and survival rate. Out of 691 cases with resected non small cell lung cancer, 7 cases (1.0%) had contralateral lung cancer which were resected as the second operation. Six cases were squamous cell carcinoma and one case was adenocarcinoma. The interval between the first and the second operation was 12 months to 10 years (average 46 months). The post-operative stage of first lung cancer were stage I in 5 cases and stage IIIB in 2 cases, but no case had lymphadenopathy at the first operation. Operative procedures for contralateral lung were as follows; one case of lobectomy----lobectomy, one case of lobectomy----segmentectomy, two cases of lobectomy----partial resection, two cases of pneumonectomy----partial resection. For a metachronous lung cancer, right upper sleeve lobectomy was done as the first operation followed by left lower sleeve lobectomy as the second cancer five years later. Contralateral lung resection impaired pulmonary function, but all cases well tolerated the second operation. The five-years survival rate after second operation was 40.0%. PMID- 2615117 TI - [Experience with surgical therapy in ventricular septal perforation following acute myocardial infarction, with special reference to operative method]. AB - Repair of ventricular septal perforation (VSP) caused by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been one of the unsettled subjects in cardiac surgery, because of high mortality. Our patients operated on for VSP during approximately the past 3 1/2 years consisted of five with anteroseptal infarction and one with inferoseptal infarction. Of the former five, four underwent sandwich procedure and one, ventriculoplasty for extensive lesions. The inferoseptal infarction case was treated initially with simple ventricular closure, but subsequently with ventriculoplasty for postoperative false ventricular aneurysm. Operative mortality rate, i.e., within one month was 17%, but the final survival rate was 50% for delayed complications. Various reparative methods were applied. Our impression thus far obtained is as follows. Sandwich procedure should be best for anteroseptal cases unless lesions are extensive, but ventriculoplasty should be of the choice for infero-(or postero-) septal cases or extensive anteroseptal cases. Our reparative method devised to improve closure of VSP is also introduced. PMID- 2615118 TI - [Respiratory failure after thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: evaluation of preoperative influencing factors and preventive managements against postoperative respiratory dysfunction]. AB - Postoperative respiratory function was evaluated in 94 patients with myasthenia gravis after thymectomy. Preoperative clinical and pulmonary function data were submitted to statistical analyses. The duration of respiratory support and intratracheal intubation time were significantly correlated to % vital capacity, the clinical stage of myasthenia gravis, and the clinical stage of thymoma. Statistical analyses proved that anticholinesterase drugs taken in immediate postoperative period contributed to the improvement of postoperative respiratory function, and non-depolarizing muscle relaxants, i.e. d-tubocurarine which had been considered to be contraindicated in myasthenia gravis was found to be beneficial immediately after the operation in patients with severely deteriorated respiratory function preoperatively. PMID- 2615119 TI - [Re-operation for WPW syndrome due to recurrence of tachycardial attack]. AB - A thirteen-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital because of tachycardial attack. Twelve years ago, she was diagnosed as WPW syndrome and division of accessory conduction pathway was performed at the other hospital, and it was described that the accessory pathway was located on the right lateral wall. ECG showed no delta wave nor PSVT postoperatively. But 12 years later, delta wave and PSVT reappeared. Operative treatment for recurrent tachycardial attacks was performed. Intraoperative pacing study revealed the right posterior-septal accessory pathway. It was divided and cryoablated. This paper reports an additional operation for the second accessory pathway of WPW syndrome. PMID- 2615120 TI - [Sternotomy wound closure with polyester tapes]. AB - We developed the special polyester tape with Tetron coating for sternal closure. Fifty consecutive open heart cases had the sternum closed with the tapes in the past six months at Nippon Medical School Hospital. There was no sternal infection or mediastinitis postoperatively. The tape closure method was more effective in approximation of sternum than the ordinary wire closure, especially in the case with fragile sternum. Although a long term follow-up is necessary, the result of sternal closure with the polyester tape has been satisfactory. PMID- 2615121 TI - [Early operation for postinfarction ventricular septal perforation; report of three cases]. AB - Three patients underwent surgery for postmyocardial infarction ventricular septal perforation (VSP) within 3 to 21 days after onset of infarction. The hemodynamic stabilization was not obtained despite aggressive medical treatment including Intra-aortic Balloon Pumping (IABP) in one patient. The others had sudden hemodynamic deterioration during IABP support. In two of the three cases, the VSP were closed via transinfarct ventriculotomy with double Dacron patch, and ventricular wall reconstruction was performed to sandwich the double septal patch between ventricular free walls with Dacron felt strips. Two of the three patients survived. Our experience suggests that early surgical intervention is essential unless medical therapy results in clinical improvement and the double patch method may provide a successful operative repair and comeout. PMID- 2615122 TI - [Bilateral internal mammary artery grafting for a patient with poor left ventricular function]. AB - The patient was a 49-year-old man with triple vessel disease. He had been suffered from inferior and antero-septal myocardial infarctions. His left ventricular ejection fraction was estimated as 17 percents. An exercise thallium myocardial scan revealed the area of septal and inferior reversible ischemia. Bilateral in situ internal mammary artery grafting was done; the left internal mammary artery was anastomosed to the left anterior descending coronary artery and right internal mammary artery to the right coronary artery. Assisted circulation with IABP was required after operation. Post operative course was uneventful, and clinical state was improved. PMID- 2615123 TI - [An operative case of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection with patent ductus arteriosus and atrial septal defect]. AB - The patient was a 28-year-old female who had underwent the operation of the closure of ASD on 7 years old. She administered due to palpitation. Cardiac catheterization revealed PDA, residual ASD, and PAPVC that blood flow from right superior pulmonary vein returned to the high level of SVC (juxsta-inominate vein). Successful repair was performed by intraluminal direct closure for PDA and placing a long patch for ASD and PAPVC. PMID- 2615124 TI - [A case report of emergency Bentall re-operation]. AB - A 51-year-old male of Marfan syndrome with annuloarotic ectasia underwent the Bentall operation. One and a half months later, he suddenly fell into the left ventricular failure associated with lung edema. Echocardiogram revealed total occlusion of the graft and aortic valve detachment was suspected. An emergency operation was performed. The aortic valve was completely detached due to infectious endocarditis. As anastomosed portions of the proximal coronary arteries and distal aorta were intact, these rims of the old graft were reserved. A new composite graft was anastomosed distally to the above reserved graft rims and sutured proximally to the trimmed aortic valvular ring. The patient survived the re-operation despite many post-operative complications such as mediastinitis, colon bleeding, renal failure and severe hepatic dysfunction. PMID- 2615125 TI - [Repairing the thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms at the same time]. AB - A 61-year-old man with the descending thoracic aneurysm associated with the infra renal abdominal aneurysm was operated at the same time using the temporary bypass from right subclavian artery to right femoral artery safely. In order to observe the spinal cord function, SEP and ESP were recorded. Anastomosis of the prosthetic graft to the temporary bypass was prepared beforehand to preserve the spinal cord function during aortic cross clamping, if needed. If both aneurysms are present in the thoracic and abdominal cavity, special considerations are required, at one or two-staged operation and what adjuncts will be used to perform the repairs safely. In this case, the repair of thoracic lesion underwent well, and the repair of the abdominal one followed it. His postoperative course was uneventful. PMID- 2615126 TI - [A case of membranous septal aneurysm associated with infective endocarditis]. AB - A 43-year-old man with membranous septal aneurysm associated with infective endocarditis was reported. In this case, the stream of the shunt through VSD was directly oriented toward the atrial surface of the tricuspid anterior cusp and made it unusual form. The focus of infective endocarditis was located on that cusp, and he underwent tricuspid valve replacement with VSD closure. The post operative course was uneventful. We discussed the tricuspid anterior cusp deformed by the jet stream of the shunt and the relationship between the aneurysm and the infective endocarditis. PMID- 2615127 TI - [A successful one stage treatment in angina pectoris and intermittent claudication of both legs]. AB - A successful surgical case of concomitant aorto-coronary bypass grafting and aorto-right iliac, left femoral bypass grafting was presented. A sixty-two years old male admitted to our institution with complaints of angina pectoris and intermittent claudication of both legs who had a history of acute inferior myocardial infarction for which emergency percutaneous coronary balloon dilatation was carried out prior to this admission. In this admission, he was found out to have diabetes mellitus moreover and he hoped to have one staged operation for two different type of the disease. After general anesthesia, at first, aorto-right coronary bypass grafting with saphenous vein graft was carried out under cardio-pulmonary bypass, then aorto-right iliac, left femoral bypass grafting with a dacron bifurcated graft was made only with one time of systemic heparinization. His postoperative course was uneventful and discharged in good condition. We conclude that simultaneous aorto-coronary bypass and revascularization of both legs can be done with minimal risk. PMID- 2615128 TI - [A successful biventricular assist for postoperative patient with severe heart failure and hepatorenal dysfunction after mitral and tricuspid valve surgery]. AB - We report a case of successful biventricular assist for severe heart failure after open heart surgery. A 62-year-old man suffering from advanced valvular disease accompanied with hepatorenal dysfunction underwent mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty on September 22, 1988. Because of inability of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, left heart assisted circulation using a roller pump with heparin-coated tubing system was inserted. Following the left heart assist, an right ventricular assist device (RVAD) was subsequently applied to intractable right ventricular failure. He was successfully weaned from an RVAD after 24 hours, and from left heart assisted circulation after 46 hours. At present, he is doing well without significant complications. Earlier application of biventricular assist might be effective for biventricular failure with hepatorenal dysfunction. PMID- 2615129 TI - [Present status of pulmonary atypical mycobacteriosis in community general hospitals]. AB - During five years from 1983 to 1987, 110 cases isolating atypical mycobacteria were observed in 13 general hospitals in Tokyo, Chiba and Kanagawa. Of these, 73 cases (56: M. avium complex, 14: M. kansasii, 2: M. zulgai) were diagnosed as mycobacteriosis according to the diagnostic standard of the joint research group of national sanatoria. There were no significant difference in the incidence of the species, the average age and the sex ratio between our date and the previous reports from national sanatoria for tuberculosis in Japan. One attention should also be paid to cases isolating atypical mycobacteria but not fitting the diagnostic standard. PMID- 2615130 TI - [Interrelationship among colonial morphology, susceptibility to antituberculosis drugs, growth rate, and viability in Dubos liquid medium in Mycobacterium avium complex strains]. AB - Interrelationship among colonial morphology, susceptibility to antituberculosis drugs, growth rate, and viability in Dubos liquid medium were studied in Mycobacterium avium complex strains, which were not exposed to any antituberculosis drugs. All five strains that were relatively susceptible to the majority of antituberculosis drugs formed smooth, opaque, domed colonies (SmD) on 7H10 agar medium, and all five strains that were naturally resistant to those drugs formed smooth, transparent, flat colonies (SmT). The SmD colony-forming strains showed small, domed, smooth colonies (DS-type) on Ogawa egg medium, and the SmT colony-forming strains usually large, flat, wrinkled colonies (FW-type) on Ogawa egg medium. However, there was one exceptional strain (11004) that formed DS-type colonies on Ogawa egg medium and SmT-type on 7H10 agar medium. Accordingly, the SmD morphology correlated with drug susceptibility and the SmT colonial morphology with drug resistance. All six DS-colony-forming strains had slow growth rates on Ogawa egg medium, whereas all four FW-colony-forming strains had rapid growth rates on Ogawa egg medium. However, such correlation was not observed in Dubos liquid medium. When the viability was defined as a ratio of the number of colony-forming units contained in 1 mg wet weight of bacteria, the five drug-susceptible strains usually showed low viability and the five drug-resistant strains showed high viability in the Dubos liquid medium. The above four characteristics, colonial morphology, drug susceptibility, growth rate on Ogawa egg medium, and viability in Dubos liquid medium, usually correlated with each other.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615131 TI - [A case of empyema after plastic ball plombage cured by air-plombage method]. AB - Conventionally, thoracoplasty has been conducted for empyema space after removal of plastic ball for empyema cases after plastic ball plombage. We applied air plombage method for empyema as a new operative technique. The patient was a 56 year-old man who had had 37 plastic balls implanted for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis 39 years ago. In April 1988 he was admitted to our department complaining bloody sputum and high fever. Roentogenographic findings revealed residual middle lobe with normal size and plastic balls some with niveau. From these findings, the case was diagnosed as partial empyema after plastic ball plombage. In June 1988 air-plombage method was performed. At 5 months after operation, reinflation of the residual pulmonary lobe was seen accompanying improvement of pulmonary functions; FVC increased from 1780 ml to 1910 ml and blood gas PaO2 from 75.0 mmHg to 88.3 mmHg. Blood loss during operation was about 2,000 ml, which was smaller than the conventionally experienced amount of blood loss. Because of residual right middle lobe, pulmonary decortication was impossible and significant reinflation of the collapsed pulmonary lobe could not be expected. We selected air-plombage method rather than thoracoplasty as postoperative worsening of pulmonary functions was anticipated by the latter. Postoperative improvement of pulmonary functions could be explained by reinflation of the residual lobe due to removal of plastic balls and the capsule. When conventional thoracoplasty is carried out to obtain satisfying closure of the empyema cavity, pulmonary functions are always deteriorated, while air-plombage method is followed by slight improvement of pulmonary functions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615132 TI - [Present status and future problem of chemotherapy for tuberculosis]. AB - This symposium was carried out to know present status of chemotherapy of tuberculosis in Japan, compared with that of several developed country and to discuss the future problem. Main results are as follows: 1) The number of original treatment cases who finished the treatment within the standard duration was few (22.4%), and the duration varied from 3.49 to 1.29 years by prefecture. It was noted that the districts where the treatment period were longer had higher rate of INH single treatment, therefore it is necessary to clarify whether INH single treatment in those cases would have beneficial effect or not. 2) The average duration of admission in developed countries was extremely short, namely 69 days in Netherlands and 23 and 18 days in U.K., U.S.A. respectively compared with 182 days in Japan. It is hoped that the consensus on definite criteria of infectivity of tuberculosis patients after treatment could be established. 3) The prognosis of original treatment cases with far advanced X-Ray findings was examined by cooperative study unit on chemotherapy of tuberculosis of the national sanatoria (CSUT) and nearly thirty percent of therapeutic failure including the cases whose tubercle bacilli in sputum did not convert to negative (3.1%), with bacterial relapse (1.5%), death by tuberculosis (10.5%) and respiratory failure with more than third degree of H-J criteria (11.1%) was observed. This high rate of death by tuberculosis suggested that further studies on treatment method for far advanced cases would be necessary. 4) The follow up study during five years on the duration of treatment for retreatment cases was carried out by the Tuberculosis Research Committee in Japan. The rate of therapeutic failure including cases whose tubercle bacilli did not convert to negative (11.1%), with bacteriological relapse (2.4%), death (7.2%) was as high as 18.3%. The rate of therapeutic failure was particularly high (62.5%) in cases resistant to rifampicin. It is hoped that more cautious treatment for original treatment cases would be needed to prevent treatment failure and new anti tuberculosis drugs without cross resistance to existing drugs would urgently be developed. PMID- 2615133 TI - [Changing clinical pictures of tuberculosis in recent 25 years]. AB - An analysis was made to find the chronological changes in clinical manifestation of tuberculosis, mainly through the retrospective review of clinical records and X-ray films of total 625 patients who were hospitalized in 1960, 1970 and 1984. It was found that there were no significant changes in radiological findings, proportion of pleurisy among respiratory tuberculosis and mode of detection during the past 25 years. Changes due to the aging of population and decrease in primary infection were; (1) increase of older patients over 50 years of age in pulmonary, pleural and miliary type tuberculosis, (2) increase of diabetes mellitus and other complications increased. Changes due to the advancement of chemotherapy were, (3) shortening in the duration of treatment, (4) decrease of patients with negative bacteriology among hospitalized cases, (5) shortening of duration of hospitalization, (6) marked decrease of patients undergone surgical operation, (7) decrease of relapsed patients, (8) increase of smear positive but culture negative patients, and (9) increase of open negative cases. Changes related to medical care were, (10) increase of delay in diagnosis and (11) increase of patients diagnosed first by post mortem examination. Above finding were discussed in relation to the analysis of the epidemiological trend of tuberculosis during this period. PMID- 2615134 TI - [A study on primarily treated tuberculosis cases with positive sputum]. AB - A total of 377 cases with primarily treated bacillary tuberculosis selected from 432 patients admitted to 5 major national sanatoria during 1987 was analysed and compared with the same sort of studies done in national sanatoria in 1976 and 1980, and in addition 21 dead cases were investigated. The results were as follows. 1. 110 cases (29%) were over 60 years of age. 2. New intensive regimens containing INH and RFP has become popular (over about 70%). 3. The duration of chemotherapy has been shortened (65% terminated within 12 month, while only 9.5% in 1980). 4. The duration of admission has been shortened (65% discharged within 6 month, while 59% 1980). 5. 21 dead cases were in the higher age group (70% were over 60 years of age) and the higher rate of complications including diabetes mellitus (28%), cancer (21%) and heart failure (19%). 6. At the start of chemotherapy, chest X-ray showed fresh types of GAKKEN A & B in 307 cases (82%) and cavitary type of GAKKAI I & II in 274 cases (73%) and these proportions have not changed since 1980 and the response to chemotherapy was as good as in 1980. Based on the above findings, the older age patients with various complications might be regarded as the most difficult cases to be cured at present in coming years. PMID- 2615135 TI - [Treatment of cor pulmonale as a sequela of pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - Cor pulmonale is an important cause of death in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. However, the treatment of cor pulmonale is difficult and its result is usually miserable. Many factors are considered to be responsible for the development of cor pulmonale. We intended to clarify the factors promoting progress of cor pulmonale. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diagnosis of cor pulmonale was done using echocardiogram and ECG. Patients with cor pulmonale who have been examined with right side catheterization were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to their survival periods. a) surviving group: patients who survived more than 18 month after right side catheterization. b) non surviving group: patients who died within 18 month after right side catheterization. Analyzed items were as follows; grade of Hugh-Jones dyspnea criteria, grade of obesity, arterial blood O2 and CO2, pulmonary function, echocardiogram and right side catheterization finding. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Grade of obesity, PaO2, Stroke volume index were significantly higher in surviving group than in non-surviving group. Hugh-Jones grade, RPEP/RET and Pcw were significantly higher in non-surviving group than in surviving group. PaCO2, %FVC, FEV1.0%, RVth, %FS, PPA and PVR showed no difference between the two groups. Multifactorial analysis was performed and the following discrimination function was obtained: Z = 3.34 (H-J degrees) + (-0.44) (obesity %) + (-0.57) (PaO2 torr) + 0.04 (%VC) + 67.95 (RPEP/RET) + (-0.8) (PAP) + 0.61 (SVl) + 0.9 (PCW) + 0.03 (PVR) + (-0.9) (LVDdi) + 24.83.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615136 TI - [Tuberculous hilar lymphadenopathy: a survey of recent cases]. AB - Forty-eight cases of tuberculous hilar lymphadenopathy were studied. Patient's population and their clinical manifestations, especially the modes of onset of the disease were found to be different from those of the previous surveys. Age distribution of cases shifted from younger to elderly groups. Roentgenologically, the cases of typical primary complex has been declining, while the atypical patterns such as solitary mediastinal lymphadenopathy or those associated with healed pulmonary lesions have increased. Since the introduction of RFP to treatment for tuberculosis, the cases diagnosed incidentally because of early exacerbation has been increasing. Ten out of total 48 cases were presumed not being originated from the primary complex, but from reactivation. Relative increase of such cases may partly explain the recent shift of hilar lymphadenopathy to elderly group. PMID- 2615137 TI - [Mobile Intensive Cardiological Care Unit. 12-month experience]. AB - Authors presented the organization of Mobile Intensive Cardiological Care Unit (MICCU) and discussed its interventions during the first year of activity. In 1987 the total number of interventions was 3333 (mean 9 per day), including 150 in acute myocardial infarction, 142 in acute rhythm or conduction disorders, 56 in acute heart failure and 36 in cardiac arrest. Efficacy of MICCV work recommended the the circulatory system. PMID- 2615138 TI - [Relation between echocardiographic image and the electrocardiogram in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]. AB - Authors analyzed the correlation between anatomic changes estimated by echocardiographic examination and electrocardiographic recordings in group of 104 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It was stated that morphological type III by Maron (8) is characterized, in comparison with other types, by significantly lower percentage of right ventricular hypertrophy and higher percentage of QTc interval prolongation, whereas percentage of patients with mitral or left ventricular hypertrophy was insignificantly higher. P Mitrale was significantly more often observed in patients with left ventricular diastolic dimension less than 35 mm. Generally ecg recordings had no distinct markers of the extent and localization of hypertrophic changes. Authors conclude that the unmistakable recognition of the anatomical type of hypertrophy basing on electrocardiogram is possible. PMID- 2615139 TI - [Use of magnesium sulfate in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with stenosis of the outflow route]. AB - 10 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with left ventricular outflow obstruction were intravenously given 100 mg/kg b.w. of magnesium sulphate. Significant decrease of repolarization disorders was observed in ecg recordings. Polycardiographically estimated prolonged A2-O interval significantly shortened from 188 +/- 49 to 168 +/- 45 ms. Echocardiographic examinations revealed increase of the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension from 43 +/- 6 to 45 +/- 6 mm (p less than 0.05), acceleration of the diastolic, posterior wall motion from 5.7 +/- 3 cm/s to 7.2 +/- 2 cm/s (p less than 0.01) and shortening of prolonged left ventricular isovolumetric relaxation interval from 108 +/- 15 to 94 +/- 14 ms (p less than 0.05). Intrasystolic anterior, mitral leaflet motion towards the intraventricular septum also significantly decreased. There were no changes of heart rate, blood pressure and left ventricular systolic parameters after MgSO4 administration. Obtained data indicate the dynamic nature of left ventricular diastolic function impairment and its positive modification by magnesium sulphate administration. PMID- 2615140 TI - [Endomyocardial biopsy in children and adolescents]. AB - 24 endomyocardial biopsies were performed in children aged 4-18 (x = 12.9) without any complications. The endomyocardial biopsy was performed in 12 patients with the heart failure of unknown origin (6 - restrictive heart disease, 4 - dilated cardiomyopathy with arrhythmias, 2-post-inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy), in 5 patients with a clinical diagnosis of myocarditis, in 1 with the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, in 2 cases of the dilated cardiomyopathy without heart failure and in 1 girl with the recurrent exudative pericarditis. Active myocarditis with fibrosis was stated in 2 cases of a restrictive heart disease, mild inflammatory state in 2 patients with a clinical diagnosis of the myocarditis and in 3 others with the dilated cardiomyopathy. All of 7 patients with the myocarditis underwent the immunosuppressive therapy. In the patient with endomyocardial fibrosis the result of left ventricular biopsy corresponded with angiocardiographic diagnosis. Non-specific changes in biopsies were stated in 2 children with the restrictive cardiomyopathy and in 5 with the dilated cardiomyopathy. Bioptic, morphologic lesions in patients with the dilated cardiomyopathy did not correlate with hemodynamic parameters of contractility. Biopsies were normal in 6 subjects. Endomyocardial biopsy influenced on making a decision of the therapy in 9 of 21 patients (42.8%). Diagnosis was verified in 7 patients (38.3%) basing on endomyocardial biopsy. In 18 of 24 subjects (75%) endomyocardial biopsy contributed to the interpretation of the disease pathology. PMID- 2615141 TI - [Thrombosis and cardiac arrhythmia]. PMID- 2615142 TI - [Use of synchronous cardiac stimulators with insulation coating in muscle action potential inhibition]. PMID- 2615143 TI - [Left-ventricular relaxation in patients with ischemic heart disease, congestive cardiomyopathy and mitral and aortic valve defects]. AB - Left ventricular relaxation was studied in 105 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), 42 with mitral and aortic valvular diseases, and 14 with congestive cardiomyopathy. To assess the left ventricular relaxation, the values of dP/dt and T time constants for isovolumic exponential fall in intraventricular pressure were defined in the patients. Depressed left ventricular relaxation was found in the majority of the patients with CHD whatever the status of global and segmental pumping function of the left ventricle. Abnormal left ventricular relaxation turned out to be a characteristic feature in patients with congestive cardiomyopathy and valvular diseases that contributed to the generation of left ventricular overload by its pressure and volume. In CHD patients, depressed relaxation was accompanied by lower volume and slower early diastolic filling of the left ventricle. PMID- 2615144 TI - [Myocardial function in patients with chronic pulmonary heart disease]. PMID- 2615145 TI - [Possibility of conducting loading tests (transesophageal electric cardiac stimulation and bicycle ergometry)in patients with unstable stenocardia compared with the results of Holter ECG monitoring]. PMID- 2615146 TI - [Diagnostic possibilities of transesophageal electric stimulation in middle-aged and elderly patients with ischemic heart disease]. PMID- 2615147 TI - [Physical exertion tolerance in patients with ischemic heart disease and tachysystolic form of atrial fibrillation]. PMID- 2615148 TI - [Late diastolic mitral regurgitation and the possibility of its diagnosis by non invasive methods]. PMID- 2615149 TI - [Use of echocardiography in patients with implanted electric cardiac stimulators]. PMID- 2615150 TI - [Diagnosis of primary subacute infectious endocarditis in ambulatory-polyclinical conditions]. PMID- 2615151 TI - [Principles amd methods of the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia]. PMID- 2615152 TI - [Current approaches to the diagnosis and correction of atherogenic dyslipoproteinemia]. PMID- 2615153 TI - [Use of automated systems in medical practice]. PMID- 2615154 TI - [Unstable stenocardia: various problems of pathogenesis and treatment]. PMID- 2615155 TI - [Actual problems of the treatment of acute myocardial infarction]. PMID- 2615156 TI - [Platelet aggregation, hemostasis and rheological properties of arterial and venous blood in patients with acute myocardial infarction]. AB - Platelet aggregability, coagulant and rheologic properties of arterial and venous blood were studied in 138 patients with acute extensive myocardial infarction. Heterogeneous changes were revealed in the aforementioned parameters during this condition. There was a lower arteriovenous ratio between hemostatic potential parameters. PMID- 2615157 TI - [Vascular mechanisms of disorders of rheological properties of the blood in patients with myocardial infarction]. AB - The contribution made by vascular factors to impairment of blood rheological properties was demonstrated on the basis of examination of 65 apparently healthy persons by using a vascular occlusion test. The vascular endothelium showed a decrease in fibrinolytic, anticoagulant, antiaggregatory activities. The new term "hemorheological tolerance to vascular occlusion" was proposed to use. A number of quantitative and qualitative indices for normal hemorheological tolerance were identified. The paper provides data on the frequency of particular mechanisms responsible for its decrease. It also emphasizes that the knowledge of the mechanisms of vascular impairments makes it possible to choose a combined drug therapy for myocardial infarction in a differential fashion. PMID- 2615158 TI - [Relation between disorders of the rheological properties of the blood and the system of hemostasis in patients with ischemic heart disease]. AB - The paper gives evidence for relationship between blood rheologic parameters (erythrocyte aggregation, plasma and whole blood viscosity, hematocrit) and the hemostatic system. A correlation was found between the presence of high molecular fibrinogen and fibrin derivatives and the function of erythrocytes and platelets in patients with coronary heart disease. PMID- 2615159 TI - [Effect of diltiazem on the functional activity of erythrocytes and thrombocytes in patients with ischemic heart disease]. AB - The functional activity of erythrocytes and platelets was studied in 50 patients with various types of coronary heart disease. The patients' plasma exhibited higher ADP levels due to erythrocyte microhemolysis and higher platelet malonic dialdehyde and intracellular calcium, which led to enhanced platelet functional activity. Treating the patients with the calcium antagonist diltiazem was found to result in lower ADP and platelet calcium levels whereas the concentrations of malonic dialdehyde remained unchanged. PMID- 2615160 TI - [Metabolic effect of lipostabil-forte]. AB - Effects of lipostabil-forte containing unsaturated fatty acids on serum lipid concentrations, plasma and erythrocyte lipid and phospholipid fractions, immunoreactive insulin and thyroidal hormone levels were studied in 30 patients with coronary heart disease. During the therapy of all the patients within 1 month and occasionally 3 and 6 months, there was a statistically significant reduction in serum triglycerides, an increase in relative erythrocyte phospholipid levels and in plasma and erythrocyte phosphotylcholine, as well as reversal of hyperinsulinemia and improvement of thyroid function. PMID- 2615161 TI - [Changes in the levels and composition of lipoproteins and apolipoproteins of blood plasma in patients with ischemic heart disease after hemosorption]. AB - Prior to and following activated charcoal hemosorption, concentrations of lipids, apolipoproteins AI and B and lipid and protein composition in lipoprotein fractions isolated by ultracentrifugation were determined in the plasma from patients with coronary heart disease. The majority of the patients showed a parallel proportional decrease in plasma atherogenic parameters and all components of very low density lipoproteins and low density lipoproteins, triglycerides in particular. Antiatherogenic parameters, such as high density lipoprotein and apo-AI cholesterol, and all the components in high density lipoprotein subfractions were less reduced. In 19% of the patients, hemosorption failed to affect plasma lipids and apolipoproteins. The findings suggest that, in case of successful hemosorption, apoB-containing lipoproteins are chiefly eliminated as whole complexes from the plasma and that this procedure is most beneficial in hypertriglyceridemia. PMID- 2615162 TI - [Physical training of patients with ischemic heart disease]. AB - In a coronary club, physical trainings (30-60 lessons) by using bicycle ergometry were performed in 242 patients with various types of coronary heart disease, two thirds having a history of myocardial infarction. In 58% of the patients, the interval between the onset of myocardial infarction and the initiation of the trainings ranged 1 to 3 months. The trainings were found to be beneficial in 99.4% of the patients who had sustained myocardial infarction. After 30 training lessons, the threshold exercise capacity showed a 36.3% increase. Beneficial trainings depended on the number of trainings and, to a lesser degree, on patients' age. The trainings were followed by favorable changes in plasma lipid levels and hemorheology. PMID- 2615163 TI - [Effect of physical training with reference to anaerobic threshold on the indicators of exercise tolerance and restoration of work capacity in patients after myocardial infarction]. AB - In patients who had sustained myocardial infarction including that of complicated history, the anaerobic threshold was defined to choose the optimum intensity of physical training. The latter were also examined for effects on exercise tolerance. It was ascertained that measuring physical exercise by heart rate at the level of the anaerobic threshold made it possible to choose the optimal conditions for the aerobic supply of metabolic demands during physical training. Applying physical training under aerobic conditions greatly increases exercise tolerance, prevents recurrent myocardial infarctions and plays an important role in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. PMID- 2615164 TI - [Pattern of hemodynamic adaptation to physical exertion in patients with chronic forms of ischemic heart disease during physical training]. PMID- 2615165 TI - [Characteristics of the development of congestive heart failure in patients with post-infarction cardiosclerosis and arrhythmia]. AB - Two hundred and seventy seven patients with coronary heart disease, including 182 with postinfarction cardiosclerosis underwent 24-hour Holter monitoring. A significant correlation was found between the number of coupled ventricular arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia paroxysms and development of congestive heart failure in patients with postinfarct cardiosclerosis. With evolving metabolic deficiency as evidenced by thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy, the incidence of congestive heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias increased among the patients. PMID- 2615166 TI - [Methodological problems of evaluation of electrolyte intake in the clinical and population studies]. AB - The paper deals with methodological problems of electrolyte intake in clinical and population-based studies. Marked inter- and intraindividual fluctuations were found to substantially affect the reliability of assessing the intake of electrolytes, which should be borne in mind in practice. Specifically, individual based reliable characteristics of electrolyte intake (excretion) may be obtained after examining at least 8 daily urinary collections. The adequate validity of group electrolyte intake may be attained when a group consists of at least 8 persons. It is shown that it is feasible to employ the definite urine amounts to gain an insight into electrolyte intake. PMID- 2615167 TI - [Integral rating of risk of the development of ischemic heart disease and its significance in the selection of diagnostic criteria for physical exercise test]. AB - The author made an attempt to examine if an integral rating scale might be used to assess risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). The survey covered 3907 males. Following 7.6 years, a repeated survey was made of 2096 subjects. From the primarily screened patients, 3520 subjects without CHD were selected. Each of them got an integral rating by the risk scale. According to the total scores, the patients were subdivided into 4 groups of CHD risk. In each group, death rates over the past 10 years were analyzed and new cases of CHD were recorded. In the high risk group, the mortality was 8 times as high as that in the low risk group, whereas mortality was 4-fold. The differences in CHD prevalence in the risk groups made it possible to propose ST criteria for evaluating the results of exercise tests when the screening programs were under way, the criteria providing the least false positive and false negative results for each risk scale group. PMID- 2615168 TI - [Functional state of the left and right heart ventricles in chronic alcoholic damage to the heart (findings of two-dimensional echocardiography)]. AB - Twenty eight patients aged 31 to 56 years with Stages II-III chronic alcoholism were examined. All the patients underwent a thorough clinical, X-ray, and instrumental studies which provided the possibility to exclude coronary artery and valve diseases. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed that chronic alcoholics had profound ventricular dysfunctions. The abnormalities in the right ventricle (its dilation and reduced ejection fraction) occur earlier than in the left one and they become deteriorated with lower left ventricular contractility. PMID- 2615169 TI - [Development of main trends in the treatment of patients with myocardial infarct over the last 25 years]. PMID- 2615170 TI - [Disorders of heart rhythm and conduction in patients with chronic alcoholism]. AB - The frequency and nature of arrhythmias, as well as some regularities of their time-course due to alcohol withdrawal terms were studied in chronic alcoholics. Abnormal sinus automatism was detected in 31.5%, impaired excitation, in 6.4%, disturbed conduction, in 0.9% of the examinees. Sinus tachycardia, abnormal excitation and conduction were more frequently observed in the acute period of alcohol withdrawal and in most cases ceased within 2 weeks after alcohol withdrawal. Sinus bradycardia and sinus arrhythmia disappeared in a small proportion of the patients only within 2-3 months. PMID- 2615171 TI - [Specific immunologic diagnosis of alcoholic myocardial dystrophy]. AB - The paper deals with the results of specific anticardiac antibody determination in 124 patients with alcoholic damage to the myocardium (Stages I-III chronic alcoholism), 36 healthy subjects, and 33 patients with various cardiovascular diseases. It was established that specific antibodies were present in the sera from patients with alcoholic myocardial dystrophy, but absent in healthy subjects and almost completely absent in patients with cardiac diseases of other etiology. This enables the authors to recommend that specific anticardiac antibodies be identified to detect alcoholic myocardial damage. The procedure proposed provides a high diagnostic accuracy (89.2%), has no contraindications, requires no special preparation of the patient for the examination, therefore may be used both in the in- and outpatient settings. PMID- 2615172 TI - [Changes in the cardiac vascular bed in dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]. AB - A complex pathomorphological examination of 46 hearts from subjects who had died of dilated (34 cases) and hypertrophic (12 cases) cardiomyopathies was performed to reveal the changes occurred in the vascular bed. For this, post-mortem coronary angiography, routine anatomic method developed by the WHO, morphometric, histological, and statistical methods were applied. In dilated cardiomyopathy, there were dilatory manifestations in the coronary arteries and vessels of microcirculation along with increased volumetric density of ventricular vascularization. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was characterized by a specific rearrangement in the presence of the "intensive coronarogram symptom", microvascular plexus, myocardial muscular bridges, and heterogeneous manifestations of microvessels with decreased capillarization. PMID- 2615173 TI - [Vector electrocardiographic features in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]. AB - The examination indicated that abnormal Q and QS waves recorded along the azes Z and Y in the adjusted lead system far clearly reflected a predominant site of suspected focal and scarring lestoh in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as in coronary heart disease (CHD) (the anterior site in the Z lead and inferior one, in the Y lead), however, the difference in their quantitative characteristics do not fulfil the goals of the electrocardiographic differentiation between HCM and CHD. To differentiate HCM and CHD in the presence of Q and QS waves, a characteristic complex of signs was identified: elevated waves Rx (greater than or equal to 17.5 mm), Sy (greater than or equal to 7.3 mm) of the total value, sigma Rxyz + sigma Sxyz (greater than or equal to 48.3 mm) at the anterior site of "scarring" myocardial lesion and increased waves Sz (greater than or equal to 20.4 mm), sigma Sxyz (greater than or equal to 21.4 mm) at the inferior site. Only "indirect" signs remained on VECG in the presence of scarring myocardial lesion concurrent with arterial hypertension in CHD patients. PMID- 2615174 TI - [Current problems of heart surgery]. PMID- 2615175 TI - [Atherosclerotic cerebro-ischemic hypertension]. PMID- 2615176 TI - [Dynamics of blood lipoprotein and apolipoprotein spectra in patients with unstable angina syndrome during a 1-year follow-up]. AB - During one-year follow-up, plasma lipoprotein (Lp), and apolipoprotein (apo) spectra were studied in 119 patients with unstable angina (UA). Total lipids, cholesterol, various Lps, and apolipoproteins (apo B and apo AI) were examined in the plasma. The patients with UA showed more profound shifts in the spectrum of plasma apolipoproteins. In the patients, high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels below 37-38 mg/dl and an apo B/apo AI ratio over 1.7-1.9 were found to be a sign of high risk for myocardial infarction. It was ascertained that a relationship existed between the clinical course of the disease and changes in the plasma Lp and apolipoprotein spectra in the patients who failed to develop myocardial infarction over the one-year follow-up. During a year, increased "atherogenic" changes in the spectrum of Lp, apo were revealed in patients with a more severe clinical course of the disease as compared to an "instability" period; when the disease proceeded favourably, a "positive" time-course of these parameters was observed. PMID- 2615177 TI - [Morphological aspects of the development and course of coronary atherosclerosis]. AB - The study was undertaken to examine coronary arteries from 548 subjects aged 0-69 years who had died from various causes. It was shown that just within the first year of life there was a marked musculo-elastic hyperplasia of the arterial intima, which was of fibrous nature in adults. The changes in the intima contributed to the development of stenosing atherosclerosis. The atherosclerotic plaques of the coronary arteries showed extensive necrotic foci with their subsequent calcification ("lamina-like" type). Changes causing diminished plaque stenoses (ruptures or tears of their fibrous cover, infiltration of the latter with cellular elements, necroses and delipidization of the plaques) were common in the significantly stenosing atherosclerotic plaques. PMID- 2615178 TI - [Hypertensive disease and renal hypertension (structural and functional studies of the kidneys using dynamic computerized tomography)]. AB - Renal functional and structural studies were performed in 46 patients with arterial hypertension: out of them 12 had hypertensive disease, 13, chronic pyelonephritis, 21, a hypertensive type of chronic glomerulonephritis. In each case, the clinical diagnosis was evidenced by one of the invasive techniques. Dynamic computed tomography was conducted by the original methods; the findings were analyzed by taking into account time-density curves which made it possible to gain an insight into the status of blood flow and filtration in each individual kidney. Computed tomography and dynamic computed tomography revealed that hypertensive disease was characterized-by normal volume and thickness of the renal cortical layer and symmetric time-density curves, whereas a hypertensive type of chronic glomerulonephritis featured lower renal cortical layer thickness, reduced renal volume, symmetrically decrease amplitudes of the first and second peaks of the time-density curve, chronic pyelonephritis showed asymmetric time density diagrams due to the lower density areas in the afflicted kidney. PMID- 2615179 TI - [Effects of dynamic physical training on tolerance of physical exercise in patients with stage-II hypertension]. PMID- 2615180 TI - [Reperfusion syndrome during thrombolytic therapy of myocardial infarct]. AB - Infarct-related coronary artery occlusion was found in 90 out of 97 patients with myocardial infarction and intracoronary thrombolytic therapy was performed by using streptokinase. Electrocardiographic, clinical, and hemodynamic manifestations of the reperfusion syndrome were assessed when the coronary artery became patent. It was concluded that arrhythmic manifestations of the syndrome were the most life-threatening as they might lead to fatal arrhythmias. It was demonstrated that prognostically unfavorable reperfusion-induced arrhythmias might be abolished by a preventive administration of mexitil and, to a lesser degree, isoptin. Good mexitil tolerance and certain limitations of isoptin therapy were also underlined. PMID- 2615181 TI - [Practical evaluation of risk of acute myocardial infarct or sudden death]. AB - A model (a formula) is given to estimate a risk for acute myocardial infarction or sudden death in the next 5 years. This model has been derived by using a logistic function method on the material obtained from a 8.5-year follow-up of males aged 40-59 years who represented a random sample from one of the Moscow districts. Age, duration of smoking, systolic blood pressure, exercise-induced angina, myocardial infarction in his or his familial history were used as a parameter for risk. This formula is proposed to be applied to the risk classification in patients examined and followed by the practitioners and middle level medical personnel, to the planning and coordination of preventive measures. PMID- 2615182 TI - [Correlation analysis of hemodynamic and morphological parameters in patients with myocarditis]. AB - Central and intrapulmonary hemodynamic parameters were examined in 40 patients with myocarditis. Morphological evidence for endomyocardial biopsy specimens and morphometric findings were also analyzed. Deterioration of myocardial diastolic relaxation was found to closely correlate with the magnitude of cardiosclerotic changes and cardiomyocytic myolysis. A correlation was also established between the morphometric characteristics of the microcirculatory bed and the parameters of myocardial contractility. Functionally deficiently cardiomyocytic hypertrophy was more profound in severe heart failure. PMID- 2615183 TI - [Energy expenditure and response of the cardiovascular system during performance of everyday exercises by patients with ischemic heart disease of various functional classes]. AB - Energy consumption and cardiovascular responsiveness were studied in 70 patients with Functional Classes I, II, and III coronary heart disease when they performed everyday exercises such as sawing, digging, window washing, vacuum cleaning, drilling, walking with loads of 5, 10 and 15 kg. Indications were developed for various everyday activities, they were differentiated in work types and their duration for patients with coronary heart disease of various functional classes. PMID- 2615184 TI - [Changes in the digestive organs in patients with chronic blood circulation insufficiency: specific features of diagnosis and treatment]. PMID- 2615185 TI - [Responsiveness of peripheral blood vessels to physiologically vasoactive agents in myocardial infarct]. AB - Changes in skin vascular responsiveness (VR) to six vasoactive agents were examined in 25 patients with myocardial infarction during its acute period. In small myocardial infarction, there was a synchronous increase in all VR types on days 1-7 followed by its normalization on day 14. VR synchronization was also observed in transmural myocardial infarction, yet increased VR to vasoconstrictive agents such as noradrenaline, adrenaline, and angiotensin II remained until the end of the fourth week without showing a tendency to normalization. Abnormal VR was seen in the most severe fatal cases. The synchronous and cyclic VR changes observed in myocardial infarction were absent in patients with unstable angina that did not result in myocardial infarction. PMID- 2615186 TI - [Effects of ubinon-9, a synthetic antioxidant, on intensity of lipid peroxidation in blood platelets and plasma of patients with ischemic heart disease]. AB - The antioxidant ubinon-9 was tested for its effects on platelet and plasma lipid peroxidation parameters in patients with acute ischemic heart diseases. The use of ubinon-9 in the multimodality therapy of patients with ischemic heart disease was shown to result in a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation intensity by enhancing superoxide dismutase activity in the platelets and plasma from the patients. Ubinon-9 equally prevented lipid peroxidation activation during enzymatic and nonenzymatic induction in the platelets of patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction. Unlike a daily dose of 30 mg, 90 mg a day is a more effective dose in reducing platelet and plasma lipid peroxidation parameters. One may suggest that addition of ubinon-9 into the routine treatment regimen allows the therapy for acute ischemic heart disease to be optimize. PMID- 2615187 TI - [Crisis of arterial hypertension in patients with primary aldosteronism]. AB - A clinical picture of the disease was analyzed in 55 patients with primary aldosteronism due to adrenal aldosteronoma. A crisis variant of the course in arterial hypertension was detected in 50% of the patients. Its comparison with morphological signs of the adrenals enabled the authors to reveal that the crisis of arterial hypertension was accompanied by adrenal medullary hyperplasia and hyperfunction. PMID- 2615188 TI - Role of iron in the tubulo-interstitial injury in nephrotoxic serum nephritis. AB - We studied the possibility that tubule fluid iron could be involved in the pathogenesis of the tubulo-interstitial injury associated with primary glomerular disease. Tubule fluid iron is determined by the magnitude of the glomerular leak for transferrin and the iron saturation of transferrin. To minimize tubule fluid iron in an experimental model of glomerulonephritis, iron deficiency was induced in rats prior to the induction of nephrotoxic serum nephritis. Iron deficiency did not effect the development of glomerular disease as determined by proteinuria, but had a marked effect on preventing the development of tubulo interstitial disease and renal functional deterioration. There was also a strong correlation between the amount of functional deterioration and extent of tubulo interstitial disease and urinary iron excretion in both the control and iron deficient animals. It is proposed that injury results from iron being dissociated from transferrin at the more acid pH of the tubule fluid. Iron, a transition element, is able to catalyze the Haber-Weiss reaction with the formation of free hydroxyl radicals which causes renal tubule cell injury. This tubulo-interstitial injury is the major determinate of progressive renal functional deterioration in this experimental model of glomerulonephritis. PMID- 2615189 TI - Altered response of adenylate cyclase to parathyroid hormone during compensatory renal growth. AB - The loss of renal mass is associated with functional adaptations in the remaining nephrons to maintain homeostasis. Although parathyroid hormone (PTH) is important in the adaptations to phosphate, the mechanisms are not completely defined. In the present studies we examined the response of the adenylate cyclase system to PTH in renal cortical membranes of rat kidneys ten days after unilateral nephrectomy. The kidneys obtained at the time of the initial nephrectomy were used as controls. Unilateral nephrectomy resulted in contralateral compensatory renal growth, as demonstrated by a 24 +/- 4.7% (P less than 0.01) increase in weight in the remaining kidney. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after unilateral nephrectomy was 62% of the control, while basal fractional phosphate excretion was higher in rats with unilateral nephrectomy (7.7 +/- 2.1% vs. 2.9 +/- 0.8%, P less than 0.05). PTH infusion resulted in a similar increase of fractional phosphate excretion and urinary cAMP in both groups. In the absence of added guanine nucleotides, PTH-dependent adenylate cyclase activity in cortical membranes from kidneys with compensatory growth was decreased as compared to controls (Vmax 807.5 +/- 62.7 pmol cAMP/mg protein/30 min vs. 1,384.8 +/- 116.1, respectively, P less than 0.01). The apparent affinity for PTH stimulation of adenylate cyclase (Kact) was unchanged. Magnesium-dependent adenylate cyclase activity was also decreased in the membranes from kidneys with compensatory growth. However, the kinetics of adenylate cyclase for the substrates ATP-Mg or ATP-Mn were similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615190 TI - Reduced renal prepro-epidermal growth factor mRNA and decreased EGF excretion in ARF. AB - Levels of prepro epidermal growth factor (EGF) mRNA in renal cortical tissue and urinary EGF excretion have been determined during cisplatin and ischemia-induced acute renal failure in the rat. Northern analysis of polyadenylated RNAs of kidney cortical tissue showed diminished renal preproEGF mRNA in rats injected with cisplatin (5 mg/kg). The decrease in preproEGF mRNA occurred as early as 12 hours in the kidney and persisted for at least three days after cisplatin injection. The submandibular gland, a major site of EGF synthesis, contained normal levels of preproEGF mRNA. Transplatin, a non-nephrotoxic isomer of cisplatin, did not reduce renal preproEGF mRNA levels. Northern analysis of polyadenylated RNAs of kidney cortical tissue 24 hours after a 50 minute period of renal pedicle clamping also showed reduced preproEGF mRNA levels. By contrast, cisplatin increased renal c-fos mRNA. Urinary EGF excretion was also reduced after cisplatin and ischemia and the decrease in EGF excretion correlated significantly with the degree of renal failure. The data show that nephrotoxic and ischemic renal cell injury reduces preproEGF mRNA and urinary EGF excretion. Reduced preproEGF mRNA and diminished EGF excretion may be important in the functional and regenerative responses to renal injury. PMID- 2615191 TI - Adenine nucleotides, transport activity and hypoxic necrosis in the thick ascending limb of Henle. AB - Thick ascending limb of Henle (TAL) necrosis in the isolated perfused kidney is an important model of renal hypoxia, but physiologic and metabolic correlation with this morphologic damage has been inadequate. More precise estimation of TAL adenine nucleotides in this model was obtained in the present study by high pressure liquid chromatography analysis of biopsy samples from the inner stripe of the outer medulla during perfusion. The inner stripe, which is the zone where TAL are concentrated, showed ATP depletion and low adenylate energy charge (AEC) early in perfusion prior to the appearance of TAL necrosis. Free water clearance (CH2O) was used as an estimate of TAL transport activity; the CH2O observed during 90 minute perfusions was found to be predictive of the extent of TAL necrosis in each experiment. The results support the idea that there is significant medullary hypoxia in the isolated perfused kidney and that TAL solute transport is a determinant of injury in this model. In further studies, the effects of ouabain (10(-3) M), furosemide (10(-4) M) or acidosis (pH 7.0 rather than the usual pH 7.4) on TAL transport activity and adenine nucleotide levels were compared. All three maneuvers have been shown previously to reduce TAL injury in the isolated perfused kidney. Addition of ouabain or furosemide reduced CH2O and TAL necrosis in parallel while acidosis had no effect on CH2O during perfusion. Both ouabain and furosemide attenuated ATP depletion and resulted in higher AEC while acidosis had no effect on these indices of cellular hypoxia. Therefore, the mechanism of cytoprotection by acidosis appears distinct from that of ouabain or furosemide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615192 TI - Aluminum induced anemia: pathogenesis and treatment in patients on chronic hemodialysis. AB - The baseline hematologic status of 27 patients with modest degrees of aluminum overload was examined. In addition, hematologic data were evaluated in 19 of these patients during and after treatment with DFO. Although neither severe anemia nor microcytosis was observed pretreatment, there was a significant correlation between hemoglobin level and degree of aluminum burden as determined by bone surface aluminum staining (r = -0.58; P less than 0.007). Following treatment with DFO, hemoglobin concentration increased dramatically by 1.3 to 4.4 g/dl in eight patients but did not change in the remaining eleven. Responders and nonresponders were similar with regard to the degree of aluminum overload both before and after chelation therapy but differed with regard to baseline levels of erythropoietin (higher in responders) and degree of iron overload (greater in nonresponders). Pretherapy levels of red cell ALA dehydratase were depressed in all patients (32 +/- 4 vs. 56 +/- 5 U/g Hb in normals) but did not correlate with the degree of aluminum overload and did not change with chelation therapy. Pretherapy levels of red cell protoporphyrin were elevated in 15 of 24 patients (62%) and were higher in responders than in nonresponders. Following DFO therapy, levels fell by 25 to 50% in 7 of 8 patients with elevated pretherapy values, despite the tendency in several patients to develop iron deficiency with treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615193 TI - A highly cationic protein in plasma and urine of children with steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome. AB - We postulated that the reduction of surface negative charge on the glomerular capillary wall, which is believed to underlie the proteinuria of steroid responsive nephrotic syndrome (SRNS), might be due to the presence of a cationic substance which binds to and neutralizes the negative charge on cells and membranes. Using a method to detect charge neutralizing substances based on inhibition of binding of the cationic dye Alcian blue 8GX to heparin, plasma and urine from children with SRNS were found to contain a protease-sensitive charge neutralizing factor, which was not present in plasma or urine of healthy individuals. This factor has been partially purified from SRNS plasma and urine by ion exchange chromatography on QAE Sephadex, gel filtration on Sephadex G150, and FPLC on Mono-S. This cationic protein, which binds to and neutralizes the charge on heparin, may also neutralize the negative charge on the glomerular capillary wall and may thus be involved in the pathogenesis of SRNS. PMID- 2615194 TI - Vascular changes in hemodialysis patients in response to recombinant human erythropoietin. AB - The partial correction of anemia with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) is frequently associated with an increase in arterial pressure and could oppose the beneficial effect of anemia correction on myocardial function. In order to analyze the influence of rHuEpo therapy on the vessels and the heart, we performed systemic and regional hemodynamics studies in 11 hemodialysis patients before and 10 to 35 weeks after initiation of rHuEpo therapy, when hemoglobin concentration was 6.8 +/- 0.9 and 10.6 +/- 0.66 g/dl (mean +/- SD), respectively. The mean arterial pressure remained unchanged during this period (88 +/- 21 vs. 88 +/- 15 mm Hg). Echocardiographic study showed that rHuEpo treatment led to a decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (4.9 +/- 0.5 vs. 5.1 +/- 0.6 cm; P less than 0.03), left atrial diameter (3.22 +/- 0.30 vs. 3.43 +/- 0.33; P less than 0.03), and left ventricular mass index (109.8 +/- 30.6 vs. 133 +/- 30.8 g/m2; P less than 0.05). Left ventricular ejection volume decreased from 86 +/- 24 to 75 +/- 19 ml (P less than 0.03) and heart rate from 76 +/- 9 to 70 +/- 10 beats/min (P less than 0.05). Cardiac index decreased from 4715 +/- 700 to 3635 +/- 444 ml/min/m2 (P less than 0.01) and peripheral resistances rose from 1480 +/ 162 to 1943 +/- 250 dynes.sec.cm-5.m2 (P less than 0.01). Fractional ejection and mean circumferential fiber shortening remained unchanged. The treatment with rHuEpo did not change the aortic diameters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615195 TI - Effect of parathyroid hormone on elastase release from human polymorphonuclear leucocytes. AB - Acute and chronic renal failure are clinical states associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism and increased catabolism. It has been suggested that elevated proteolytic activity is present in the blood in these clinical states. It is, theoretically, possible that the excess blood levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in patients with these disorders stimulate release of proteases, since this latter process is calcium dependent and PTH enhances entry of calcium into cells. The present study examined the effect of PTH and its amino- and carboxyterminal fragments on elastase release from polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL), and evaluated the mechanisms underlying such an action. 1-84 PTH stimulated elastase release from PMNL in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. This effect of the hormone was abolished by its inactivation as well as by the presence of EDTA. Verapamil, trifluoperazine and W-7 reduced but did not abolish the 1-84 PTH induced stimulation of elastase release from PMNL. Phorbol ester (PMA) also stimulated elastase release but both PTH or PMA-induced elastase release was blunted by staurosporin, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. The 19-84 carboxyterminal PTH also produced significant stimulation of elastase release from PMNL but the amino-terminal 1-34 PTH or other peptide hormones (insulin, calcitonin, and ACTH) had no stimulatory effect on elastase release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615196 TI - Predictive value of renal pathology in diffuse proliferative lupus glomerulonephritis. Lupus Nephritis Collaborative Study Group. AB - We tested the value of the activity (AI) and chronicity (CI) indices devised by Austin et al as predictors of outcome in lupus patients with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (DPGN). Four renal pathologists independently scored the AI and CI on 84 renal biopsy specimens from patients with lupus DPGN followed for 109 +/- 74 weeks (mean +/- SD), and the mean score was compared to the development of renal failure and to adverse outcome (combined data for renal failure, death and predefined clinical stop points). Receiver operator characteristic curves were derived from a series of 2 x 2 tables in which one variable was renal failure or adverse outcome and the other variable was AI or CI dichotomized by a cut-off point. Over the entire range (0 to 10) of the CI there was no value that separated patients who developed renal failure from those who did not. The ROC curve analysis indicated that the sensitivity and specificity of the CI were too low to allow it to function as a good test. Once patients entering renal failure were identified, the mean CI approached but did not reach a significant difference when compared to the mean CI of those who did not go into renal failure (4.38 +/- 0.42, mean +/- SE vs. 3.19 +/- 0.23, P = 0.0620). The CI did not predict the adverse clinical outcomes. There was no cut-off value of the CI which separated patients who had an adverse outcome from those who did not, and this result was confirmed by ROC analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615197 TI - Long-term effects of calcium carbonate and 2.5 mEq/liter calcium dialysate on mineral metabolism. AB - Many investigators have shown that calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is an effective phosphate binder which also prevents the potential disabling effects of aluminum (Al) accumulation. However, hypercalcemia may develop in a substantial numbers of patients. Thus, to control serum phosphate (PO4) and prevent hypercalcemia, we performed studies in 21 patients on maintenance hemodialysis in which, in addition to the oral administration of CaCO3, the concentration of calcium (Ca) in the dialysate was reduced from 3.25 to 2.5 mEq/liter. The studies were divided in three periods: I. control, on Al-binders (one month); II. no Al-binders (one month); III. CaCO3 (seven months). Blood was obtained three times/week before dialysis for the first five months of the study and once a week for the remaining four months. During the control period, the mean serum calcium was 8.86 +/- 0.08 mg/dl. The value decreased to 8.65 +/- 0.07 mg/dl when phosphate binders containing aluminum were discontinued, and increased to 9.19 +/- 0.07 mg/dl (P less than 0.001 compared to period II) during oral supplementation with calcium carbonate. The mean serum phosphorus was 5.03 +/- 0.07 mg/dl during the control period, and increased to 7.29 +/- 0.91 mg/dl (P less than 0.001) after phosphate binders were discontinued. It decreased to 4.95 +/- 0.06 mg/dl (P less than 0.001) with the administration of calcium carbonate. During CaCO3 administration, serum Al decreased from 64.2 +/- 8.5 to 37.1 +/- 3.6 and 25.1 +/- 3.0 micrograms/liter (P less than 0.001) at three and seven months, respectively. Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) decreased by 20%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615198 TI - A new method for estimating G-I absorption of alkali. PMID- 2615199 TI - [Antimicrobial polymers in surgery of the lungs]. AB - Approved in the experiment and employed in 60 patients in atypical resection of a lung were the antimicrobial biocompatible absorbable polymers--"Capromed DC threads and ESBADCh film--in combination with MK-7 cyanoacrylate++ glue for formation of hermetic pulmonary suture. This facilitated good smoothing out of the lung remainder, sharp decrease of microbial colonization at the site, where the mentioned polymers were used. PMID- 2615200 TI - [Improving the tactics in the preoperative care and surgical technics for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and diseases of the liver]. AB - On the basis of the analysis of the results of surgical treatment of 114 patients, the authors show that in liver pathology, continued aggravation of destructive tuberculosis occurs. To reduce the risk of operation, it is suggested to perform intensive preoperative preparation with inclusion of hemosorption and laser irradiation. PMID- 2615201 TI - [Evaluation of mechanical properties of the lungs in patients with exacerbation of the specific process in the late period after partial pneumonectomy]. AB - At the late period after partial lung resections for fibrocavernous tuberculosis, 28 patients were examined. In patients with exacerbation of the tuberculous process, the reduction in lung ventilation caused by the impaired mechanical properties of the bronchopulmonary system and capillary blood flow, sharp reduction in lung expansion, increase in bronchial resistance and respiratory work were established. PMID- 2615202 TI - [Closed thoracic trauma and concomitant diseases]. AB - Examined were 340 patients with closed thoracic trauma and posttraumatic pneumonia. Often, this complication was revealed in the elderly and senile. Chronic non-specific diseases of the lungs, pneumothorax predisposed to occurrence of posttraumatic pneumonia. The methods for treatment of a given complication have been developed. Diseases of the heart, vascular system in thoracic trauma can cause the aggravation of a patient's state up to lethal outcome. PMID- 2615203 TI - [Peace-time injuries of the heart and pericardium]. AB - The experience with the treatment of 93 patients with knife injury to the heart and pericardium is summarized. The only proper therapeutical tactics in injury to the heart and pericardium is the emergency performance of operative intervention. The therapeutical value of pericardial punction is doubtful. Good results of treatment were achieved after the use of blood reinfusion. Fourteen (15.1%) patients died. PMID- 2615204 TI - [New approach to the treatment of status asthmaticus caused by hiatal hernia]. AB - From 1986 to 1988, 170 patients with asthmatic state were observed. Of them in 13, the X-ray study revealed hiatal hernia (HH) and reflux-esophagitis. The analysis of observations of 1173 patients with HH was carried out. In a number of patients together with the symptoms of pathology of the respiratory system, the vegetative, cardial and other disorders were found. All these disorders the authors consider a consequence of irritation of the vagus and celiac plexus occurring in HH. A complex of medicamentous therapy of the asthmatic state caused by HH is suggested. PMID- 2615205 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic diaphragmatic hernia]. AB - In the work, the experience with diagnosis and treatment in 23 patients of diaphragmatic hernias, which developed because of diagnostic and tactical errors in acute and more late period after closed thoracic trauma is summarized. Roentgenography, pneumoretroperitoneum and contrast study of the stomach and intestine were the leading methods of investigation. Timely diagnosis of posttraumatic diaphragmatic hernias and early performance of reconstructive operation prevent the development of complications. PMID- 2615206 TI - [30-year experience with performing esophagoplasty using the large intestine]. AB - To restore the function of the esophagus and stomach after chemical burns, in the clinic for 30 years, a method of colonic esophagoplasty has been employed. The experience with treatment of 354 patients permits the authors to consider the given method an optimal. Improvement of a procedure permitted to reduce the number of complications to 11%, mortality--to 2%. Vocational rehabilitation was achieved in 69% of patients. PMID- 2615207 TI - [Prognosis of the development and prevention of primary post- operative peptic stricture of the esophagus]. AB - Examined were 58 patients with primary postoperative peptic esophageal stricture (PPPES). The ulcer disease of pyloroduodenal location and impaired function of the esophagus were the leading causes of a stricture. The prognostic algorithm for the PPPES development, which considers the presence of hiatal hernia, severe disorders in gastric evacuation and vomiting, pronounced weakness of a patient, severe complications of the ulcer disease before the operation, has been developed. The prophylactic measures in given pathology are suggested. PMID- 2615208 TI - [Acute anaerobic destruction of the lungs]. AB - Seventy eight patients with bacterial destruction of the lungs were under observation. Non-clostridial anaerobic microflora was identified by a method of gas-liquid chromatography in 57(74.6%) patients. Of them, 8 had gangrene, 49- acute pulmonary abscesses. In all the cases, there were associations of asporous anaerobic microflora with aerobic bacteria. In all the patients with destruction of pulmonary tissue, the increase in the content of the middle mass molecules was noted, the greatest--in patients with gangrene of a lung. In these patients, the bactericidal activity of blood serum, IgM and IgA content were low. In all patients, the complex treatment was performed. PMID- 2615209 TI - [Function of the esophagogastric junction in patients after operations on the abdominal organs]. AB - In examination of 100 patients after operations on the abdominal organs, a high incidence of disorders in function of the esophagogastric junction was noted. Their timely diagnosis and rational correction are the urgent problem in the abdominal surgery. PMID- 2615210 TI - [Experimental plastic surgery of the cervical part of the esophagus using autologous free large-intestinal transplant]. AB - On 10 human cadavers, plasty of the cervical esophagus with isolated segment of the descending colon and formation of vascular anastomosis on the neck was performed. The inferior mesenteric artery was excised with the aortic wall and anastomosed end-to-side to the common carotid artery. The inferior mesenteric vein was transected in its terminal portion at the radix mesenterii, and on the neck, an anastomosis to the external or internal jugular vein, or their branches was created. Ten dogs were operated on according to the mentioned technique. No vascular thrombosis in the intestinal transplant was noted. PMID- 2615211 TI - [Pulmonary sequestration]. AB - Pulmonary sequestration was observed in 7 patients at the age of from 14 to 46 years. Diagnosis can be suspected in frequently repeated pneumonia without pronounced purulent intoxication and cough with expectoration, which are supposed in patients according to the findings of roentgenologic study. Aberrant vessels deviated from intercostal arteries of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. PMID- 2615212 TI - [Reconstructive operations in tumors of the bronchi in patients over 60 years of age]. AB - Reconstructive operations on the bronchi in benign (15) and malignant (17) tumors were performed in 32 patients over 60. There were no lethal outcomes. Fourteen variants of bronchoplastic operations were employed. PMID- 2615213 TI - [Surgical treatment of tuberculosis and nonspecific lung diseases associated with diabetes mellitus]. AB - The results of treatment of 103 patients with tuberculosis and non-specific diseases of the lungs with concomitant diabetes mellitus were analysed. The main principles of preoperative preparation and postoperative management of the patients are presented. The incidence of operative complications was 10.7%, postoperative--17.5%, mortality--2.9%. The clinical effect was achieved in 97.1% of patients. Reactivation of tuberculosis after operation was noted in 7.8% of patients. PMID- 2615214 TI - [Tactics in the surgical treatment of Laubry-Pezzi syndrome]. AB - Analysis of the early and long-term results of surgical treatment of 218 patients with a defect of the interventricular septum and aortic valve incompetence permits to recommend the wide use of radical plastic correction of a defect without aortic valve substitution. PMID- 2615215 TI - [Complex treatment of esophageal hyperperistalsis syndrome]. AB - For the treatment of the esophageal hyperperistalsis syndrome, in 10 patients, the acupuncture, hyperbaric oxygenation and drugs were successfully used in the complex. PMID- 2615216 TI - [Standardization of integrated roentgenological, surgical and cytological examinations of patients with round formations in the lungs]. PMID- 2615217 TI - [Types of microflora in acute suppurative-destructive diseases of the lungs and pleura]. AB - By means of the modern bacteriologic methods, including gas-liquid chromatography, the microflora of the sputum, bronchial contents, pus from the abscess cavities and pleura in 106 patients with acute purulent destructive diseases of the lungs and pleura was studied. PMID- 2615218 TI - [Difficulties in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary echinococcosis]. PMID- 2615219 TI - [Errors in the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis]. PMID- 2615220 TI - [Early heart block caused by endocardial electric stimulation]. PMID- 2615221 TI - [A case of post-traumatic diaphragmatic hernia diagnosed as colonic cancer]. PMID- 2615222 TI - [Giant paraesophageal hernia simulating disintegrating tumor of the lung]. PMID- 2615223 TI - [Endoscopic laser coagulation of the lung in the treatment of spontaneous and traumatic pneumothorax]. PMID- 2615224 TI - [Preoperative diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration]. PMID- 2615225 TI - [An atypical case of pulmonary echinococcosis]. PMID- 2615226 TI - [Changes in the serum level of middle weight molecules after the treatment of acute abscesses of the lungs]. PMID- 2615227 TI - [Clinical and roentgenological signs of blunt injuries of the ribs]. PMID- 2615228 TI - [Closure of patent ductus arteriosus in a 2,5-month-old infant with bilateral pneumonia and decompensated cardiopulmonary insufficiency]. PMID- 2615229 TI - [Combined injuries of the heart, lung, diaphragm and stomach]. PMID- 2615230 TI - [Penetrating injuries of the left atrium and internal thoracic artery]. PMID- 2615231 TI - [Knife injury of the heart with concomitant trauma]. PMID- 2615232 TI - [Penetrating bilateral thoracic trauma with injury of the liver]. PMID- 2615233 TI - [A case of paraesophageal hernia]. PMID- 2615234 TI - [Changes in the serum immunoglobulin levels in young children with hematogenic osteomyelitis]. PMID- 2615235 TI - [A case of multiple foreign bodies in the stomach and small intestine]. PMID- 2615236 TI - [Dynamic intestinal obstruction caused by incarcerated gastric polyp in the pylorus]. PMID- 2615237 TI - [Complicated bezoars of the stomach and intestines]. PMID- 2615238 TI - [Prognostic factors in operable non-small cell cancer of the lungs]. AB - The influence of different factors on prognosis after radical operations in 316 patients with non-small cell peripheral pulmonary cancer was studied. In N0, the 3-year survival of the patients was 51.2%, 5-year--34.7%. In N1, the 3-year survival was 23.9%, in squamous cell cancer--40.6%, glandular--10.2%, 5-year survival--12.3%. The reduction of survival in N2 is significant in glandular, and in squamous cell cancer as well. In N2, the 3-year survival was 4.8%, 5-year survival was absent. It should be considered that in patients with stage T3N2 peripheral pulmonary cancer, there are subclinical metastases. The operation in this case is not a method for radical treatment. The influence of a tumor size on the prognosis is manifested in T3. Histologic structure in non-small cell cancer influences prognosis only at the stage T2N1 (in glandular cancer, the survival is significantly worse). The degree of differentiation in squamous cell cancer influences the prognosis. Tumor spreading to the adjacent structures makes prognosis worse, but the surgical treatment in such a case is justified. PMID- 2615239 TI - [Gastrectomy in total situs inversus of the internal organs]. PMID- 2615240 TI - [Late results of reoperations in recurrent peptic ulcer]. PMID- 2615241 TI - [Study of late results of organ-sparing operations based on roentgenological and endoscopic examinations]. PMID- 2615242 TI - [Cancer of the stomach in the early period after organ-sparing operations in stomach ulcer]. PMID- 2615243 TI - [Reoperations on the stomach]. PMID- 2615244 TI - [Reoperations in peptic and recurrent duodenal ulcer]. PMID- 2615245 TI - [Correction of anemia in the early postoperative period in patients with acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage]. PMID- 2615246 TI - [Plastic surgery of post-traumatic defect of the diaphragm using autologous skin transplant]. PMID- 2615247 TI - [Treatment of extensive burns in children using beds with air cushions]. AB - Since August 1985, beds with "Klinitron" air cushions were used in the management of 48 children with extensive burns at the Dzerzhinskii+ No 9 children's clinical hospital. The children received treatment commonly accepted at the department. Keeping patients on a bed with an air cushion promoted rapid drying of the wounds and epithelization of surface burns, reduced the terms for preparing the wound for autodermoplasty in deep burn wounds, and prevented rejection and lysis of the graft. PMID- 2615248 TI - [Complications after surgical treatment of post-burn cicatricial deformities in children]. PMID- 2615249 TI - [Diagnosis of suppurative postoperative intra-abdominal complications in children]. PMID- 2615250 TI - [Prevention of adhesions and related complications in children with peritonitis]. PMID- 2615251 TI - [Pharmacological prevention of wound infection in children after appendectomy]. PMID- 2615252 TI - [Transcutaneous trephining and closed lavage of the medullary canal in children with acute hematogenic osteomyelitis]. PMID- 2615253 TI - [Lavage of the peridural space in suppurative periduritis in children]. PMID- 2615254 TI - [Surgical interventions in children with acute testicular diseases]. PMID- 2615255 TI - [A device for drainage of the abdominal cavity]. PMID- 2615256 TI - [Omentitis with abscess formation at a remote period after appendectomy in a child]. PMID- 2615257 TI - [Incarceration of femoral hernia in a child]. PMID- 2615258 TI - [Fibromatosis of the retroperitoneal space in a child]. PMID- 2615259 TI - [Rare anomaly of the kidney in a child]. PMID- 2615260 TI - [Acute destructive appendicitis in newborn infants]. AB - The results of operations on 6 newborn infants for destructive appendicitis are analysed. It is pointed out that the diagnosis of acute appendicitis is made with great difficulties because there are no typical signs of the disease and complications that develop rapidly: diffuse peritonitis or formation of an appendicular abscess. Examples of the management of patients with a complicated course of acute destructive appendicitis are given. PMID- 2615261 TI - [Causes of unfavorable results of the surgical treatment of Hirschsprung disease in children]. AB - From analysis of complications of surgery on 174 primary patients for Hirschsprung's disease who underwent operation by the Soave-Lenyushkin method and treatment of 49 patients who were admitted for various complications and functional disorders resulted from operations performed for Hirschsprung's disease at other therapeutic institutions, the authors revealed the main operative-technical errors depending on the method of the radical operation (Swenson-Chiatt's, Duhamel's, Soave's, Rebein's). These operative-technical errors were divided into three groups: improperly determined level of intestinal resection, defects of transposition, defects of anastomosis creation. PMID- 2615262 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of Hirschsprung disease in young children]. AB - The diagnostic value of instrumental methods of examination and the results of surgical treatment were studied in 56 patients under 3 years of age with Hirschsprung's disease. Complex examination (irrigography, anomanometry, histochemical and neurohistological studies) allows the disease to the diagnosed early and operative treatment to be undertaken in time. Colostomy is the operation of choice for infants. Operation for downward transposition of the colon with primary anastomosis produces better results in older children. PMID- 2615263 TI - [Enteroscopy in surgical diseases of the small intestine in children]. AB - The possibilities of combined enteroscopy in children with suspected surgical diseases of different parts of the small intestine are evaluated. Examination of the jejunum 40-150 cm below the Treitz ligament by means of a standard pediatric fibroscope followed by retrograde ileoscopy allowed an exhaustive diagnosis to be established (including localization of the pathological process) in 18 of 19 children who were operated on. No hyperdiagnosis of surgical diseases occurred. Complications of enteroscopy were not registered. PMID- 2615264 TI - [Surgical treatment of developmental anomalies of the gallbladder and chronic cholecystitis in children]. AB - The authors report on the diagnosis, therapeutic tactics, the results of morphological studies, and the late-term results of surgery for developmental anomalies of the gallbladder and chronic cholecystitis with organic disorders of bile drainage in 53 children aged from 5 to 15 years. The findings of morphological studies showed that among the causes of impaired bile drainage developmental anomalies of the gallbladder were encountered much more frequently than chronic cholecystitis. Indications for operation were developed on the basis of clinical data and the results of auxiliary methods of examination. Clinical, radiological, and morphological comparisons showed these indications to be well founded. The immediate and late-term results of surgical management of developmental anomalies of the gallbladder and chronic cholecystitis with organic disorders of bile drainage confirm the expediency of active surgical tactics in the presence of the proper indications. PMID- 2615265 TI - [Organizational and social aspects of pediatric surgery]. AB - Inadequately utilized reserves of rendering surgical aid to children are analysed. The author discusses particular problems linked with prevention, diagnosis, tactics, treatment, and research in the field of pediatric surgery. The prospects of the specialty are intimately connected with general surgery and public health care as a whole and are caused by social reconstructions and stage by-stage organizational decisions. PMID- 2615266 TI - [Diagnostic and therapeutic tactics in various forms of cholangiopathies in children]. AB - Seventy children with obstructive cholangopathy were examined in the clinic in the recent 15 years: 48 children had "cholangiopathy of the newborn" and 22 had a cyst of the common bile duct. A total of 44 operations were carried out: on 22 infants with cholangiopathy of the newborn and on 22 with cysts of the common bile duct. The most informative methods for the diagnosis of cholangiopathy in children are as follows: ultrasonic scanning, laparoscopy, ERCPG, aspiration biopsy of the liver, and aspiration cholangiography under control of a laparoscope. Kasai's operation is the operation of choice in obstructive cholangiopathy of the newborn. The operation of choice in cysts of the common bile duct is cystectomy with choledocho- or hepaticojejunostomy on an isolated loop after Roux. PMID- 2615267 TI - [Surgical diseases of the pancreas in children]. AB - The authors had 51 children under observation with surgical diseases of the pancreas related to a rare and insufficiently studied pathological condition in children. Congenital developmental anomalies were diagnosed in 28 (54.9%), injuries of the gland and diseases resulted from injuries--in 18 (35.3%), and acquired diseases--in 5 (9.8%) children. Treatment of congenital developmental anomalies of the pancreas in newborn infants is extremely difficult due to the high frequency of a complicated course and concurrent congenital diseases of other organs. Timely and properly performed therapeutic measures in serious injuries to the pancreas allow the development of traumatic pancreatitis to be prevented in some children. PMID- 2615268 TI - [Regeneration of splenic tissue after splenectomy]. AB - From analysis of experience in 284 splenectomies undertaken for various indications, in cases with accessory spleens and the formation of splenoids, and the results of heterotopic autotransplantation of splenic tissue, the authors concluded that the latter possesses high regenerative properties. The possibility of hematogenous spreading of pulp cells with subsequent formation of accessory spleens cannot be excluded, in view of which scrupulous care is needed in relation to operative techniques in performing splenectomy for hematological indications. PMID- 2615269 TI - [Echinococcosis of the spleen in children]. AB - Splenectomy is considered generally accepted in hydatid disease of the spleen. The authors adhere to organ-preserving tactics--closed echinococcectomy. They treated only one of their 10 patients by splenectomy. They draw attention to the sequence in which the method of echinococcectomy is applied and to the specific features and the choice of the therapeutic tactics in perforation of a hydatic cyst of the spleen into the free abdominal cavity. PMID- 2615270 TI - [Diagnosis and surgical treatment of intussusception in children]. AB - The article discusses the methods of diagnosis and surgical treatment of intussusception of the intestine in children according to the stages of the disease. Colonoscopy is recommended for wide use; it helps in making the precise diagnosis in an atypical clinical picture of intussusception in the early periods, revealing the indications for operative treatment, and determining the volume of the intervention on basis of objective control of the degree of injury suffered by the strangulated intestine. PMID- 2615271 TI - [Late results of surgical treatment of bronchiectasis in children]. AB - Among the causes of early postoperative complications in children after surgery for bronchiectasia is infection of the prehilar region due to spread of the infection from the bronchial mucosa; it remains on the stump of the bronchus after application of the and instruments during operations on the lungs. Some cases with diminished efficacy of operative treatment of bronchiectasia in the late-term periods are also attributed to this cause. Treatment of the end of the stump of the resected bronchus with the beam of the "Skalpel-l" laser leads to coagulation of the mucous membrane and considerable improvement of the late-term results of operative management of bronchiectasia in patients who had no complications in the early postoperative period. PMID- 2615272 TI - [Surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis in children]. AB - The article deals with the treatment of myasthenia in 33 children whose ages ranged from 3 to 15 years. Myasthenia of moderate severity was diagnosed in 14, severe in 15, and extremely severe in 2 children. To make a precise diagnosis, loading, neostigmine methylsulfate, cold, and D-tubocurarine tests were conducted. Thymectomy was performed in 32 patients. The operation was carried out through a T-shaped sternotomy approach. Thymogenic myasthenia was verified in 31 patients and thymomogenic only in one patient. There were no fatal outcomes. The late-term results were studied in 12 patients in follow-up periods of 3 to 6 years. Adaptational activity of the patients, anticholinesterase agents and the results of stimulant electric myography served as the criterion in appraising the late-term results. Modern diagnostic methods and surgical intervention ensure a favourable result in 75% of patients. PMID- 2615273 TI - [Effect of immunologic shifts on the results of the surgical treatment of hyperthyroid goiter in children]. AB - The authors discuss the effect of immunological shifts in 102 children with hyperthyroidism goiter on the outcomes of surgical treatment. Deviations in the immune status of children suffering from this disease were found to have an unfavourable effect on the outcome of surgical treatment. Recurrences were more frequent and postoperative hypothyroidism developed. The initial condition of the immune status helps in prognosing the further course of the pathological process and guides the therapeutic correction in the pre- and postoperative periods. PMID- 2615274 TI - [Treatment of hygroma in children]. AB - Treatment of 192 children for hygromas of various localization by different methods is analysed. The results of histological examination showed these structures to be of dysplastic nature. An aspiration-cystotatic method of treatment was developed, which can be applied in outpatient practice and causes neither local nor general complications. PMID- 2615275 TI - [Non-ossifying fibroma of the bone in children]. AB - The article discusses problems dealing with the diagnosis of a benign tumor of the skeleton, "non-ossifying++ tumor of bone", encountered quite often in children. Observations over 68 patients of 7 to 15 years of age show that the tumor develops from foci of fibrous osteodysplasia (Lichtenstein-Braitsev disease) and its solitary from--fibrous metaphyseal defect. The latter usually ossifies spontaneously by the end of the child's growth and follows an asymptomatic course, but cases with growth of the focus occur. Magnified radiographs (the reisgraphy method) make it possible to detect the transformation of a dysplastic process into a true tumor. All of the 68 patients were operated on by means of ultrasonic bone resection and repair of the defect with a cortico demineralized allograft by the "faggot" method suggested by the author. PMID- 2615276 TI - [Fractures of internal epicondyle of the humerus with intra-articular incarceration of bone fragments]. AB - The article analyses 41 fractures of the medral epicondyle of the humerus in children with incarceration of the fragment in the cavity of the elbow joint. The clinical and X-ray signs of this complication are described in detail. Open reduction is the optimal method of treatment. During the operation the ulnar nerve is examined, the cavity of the elbow joint is cleaned, and stable osteosynthesis of the medial epicondyle is performed. Restorative treatment can be started in the early postoperative period if a screw-awl has been applied. The function of the elbow joint is restored completely in 6 to 8 weeks in fresh cases, but in delayed treatment and neglected cases rehabilitation takes 6 months or longer. PMID- 2615277 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of dermal sinus in children]. AB - The article acquaints the reader with a rare developmental anomaly of the spine which hazards life seriously. Seven cases with dermal sinus are analysed. All of the patients were admitted to the clinic with an erroneous diagnosis; the duration of the disease ranged from one to 14 years during which some of them underwent surgical interventions to no purpose. Variants of the clinical course of dermal sinus are shown and concomitant skin changes and spinal anomalies, which make the diagnosis obvious, are described. The role of survey radiography, fistulography, and ultrasonic examination in the diagnosis of dermal sinus is determined. Arguments are given in favour of obligatory operative treatment of the anomaly immediately after the diagnosis is established and operative techniques are recommended. PMID- 2615278 TI - [Disability caused by hematogenic osteomyelitis in children]. AB - The authors analyse the causes of functional and morphological disorders of the locomotor apparatus in 172 patients who had suffered from complicated forms of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in childhood 2 to 36 years age. They accentuate the necessity for prognosing orthopedic deformities in complicated osteomyelitis processes following a protracted course in a growing organism. Analysis of the cause of disability makes it possible to elaborate stage-by-stage rehabilitation. PMID- 2615279 TI - [Metastatic neoplasms of the eye]. AB - Metastatic neoplasms of the eye ball and their clinical picture, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis and discussed. PMID- 2615280 TI - [Anesthesia in ophthalmology]. AB - Ophthalmology is a medical specialty in which diagnostical as well as therapeutical proceedings are not possible without exploiting the advantages of anaesthesiology. We are most frequently using the local anaesthesia--surface or infiltrative. In the last years there appeared reports on the application of acupuncture in ophthalmic surgery. Ophthalmological operations are also performed in general anaesthesia. Advantages and disadvantages of particular types of anaesthesia are discussed. PMID- 2615281 TI - [Effect of lead on the visual system]. AB - Discussed is the noxious influence of lead on the visual system in humans and experimental animals. Described are the clinical pictures of acute and chronic intoxications with a particular consideration of the visual organ and of the central and peripheral nervous system. Attention is called to the fact that the intoxications occur not only in persons having a professional contact with lead compounds but also in the inhabitants of large industrial agglomerations. The authors demonstrates the noxious influence of lead particularly on organisms in development. PMID- 2615282 TI - [Comparative studies of the effects of fly ash, soil dust and clay on selected structures of the visual system of female albino rats]. AB - Observations were carried out on 65 white she-rats. The animals received by+intraconjunctival+route a suspension of volatile ashes from ventilators of electricity works, a suspension of the soil from the area of the power-houses and a suspension of clay from clay mines. The animals exhibited marginal blepharitis and conjunctivitis appearing in the 3-5 days of investigation. The observations point to pollution of the soil of the power-house area and to the noxiousness of the investigated dusts which should be classified to the category of burdensome dusts. PMID- 2615283 TI - [Crystalline lenses of newborn infants in scanning electron microscope. Preliminary report]. AB - Results of examination of 6 transparent infant lenses in a scanning microscope are presented. Discussed is the structure of the termination of the zonula on the lens capsule and the appearance of lenticular fibres in the cortical and nuclear layers. PMID- 2615284 TI - [Visual function and professional preparation of persons with congenital glaucoma. IV. Complications of congenital glaucoma]. AB - The authors evaluated complications which appeared in 113 eyes in 66 patients treated for congenital glaucoma. The most frequent early complication connected with the surgical procedure was an anterior chamber haemorrhage (in 22 eyes). Individual cases exhibited intravitreal haemorrhage (5 eyes) and uveitis (2 eyes). Among the late complications prevailed complicated cataract (in 30 eyes), less frequently nystagmus (11 eyes), intraocular infection (9 eyes), squint (17 eyes) and internal hemophthalmos. PMID- 2615285 TI - [Anterior vitrectomy in the treatment of Hruby-Irvine-Gass syndrome]. AB - From 1980-1986 46 unselected aphakic patients suffering from persisting cystoid macular edema and vitreous incarceration to the surgical wound were treated by closed vitrectomy and removal of displaced vitreous through a limbal incision. In 30 eyes visual acuity improved averaging 0.35 if the revision was done within one year. In 12 eyes, treated usually after intervals of more than 1 year, vision remained unchanged and in 4 eyes visual acuity decreased, in two of them due to retinal detachment and in other two because of advance macular changes. When medical therapy fails the decision to undertake surgical revision should not be delayed. This releases also the coexisting traction to the retinal periphery. PMID- 2615286 TI - [Orbital neoplasms in children]. AB - The incidence, diagnosis and clinical picture of the orbital tumors in children are discussed on the basis of 49 personal cases. Discovered was the preponderance of primary non-malignant tumors. The most frequently encountered tumors were angiomas (27 p.c.), dermatomas (19 p.c.) lymphomas (8 p.c.) and among the malignant tumors--rhabdomyosarcoma (6 p.c.). PMID- 2615287 TI - [Infiltration of the eyelids and orbit as the first sign of generalized lymphoma]. AB - The authors discusses the clinical signs in patients with tumorous infiltrations. In 11 among 12 persons these signs were the first pathological changes of a systemic condition--malignant lymphoma. Only in one patient one found simultaneously the enlarged peripheral lymphatic nodes++ and the liver. In 3 cases pathological changes afflicted the orbit, in 4 cases the lids, in 5--the orbit and the lids. The collection of the material by means of aspiration fine needle biopsy and the computer tomography are efficient methods in establishing the diagnosis of lymphoma and its extensiveness. The possibility of repeating of these methods has a considerable importance in the control of the dynamics of the pathological processes. PMID- 2615288 TI - [Pseudotumors of the orbit]. AB - Eighteen patients suspected clinically to have an orbital pseudotumor are described. Besides ophthalmological examination also conventional radiological examination and computer tomography of the orbits and optic nerve canals have been carried out; all the patients exhibited changes in the orbits and 6 also in the nasal sinuses. Cytological examination of the material collected by biopsy has been performed in order to determine the type of the tumor. In 14 for 15 cytological examinations one could establish a diagnosis of inflammatory changes in the orbit; this has been further confirmed histopathologically or by the clinical process. PMID- 2615289 TI - [Acute myocardial infarct caused by nicotine-induced erythrocytosis]. AB - A 29-year-old heavy smoker presented with an acute myocardial infarction and hematocrit of 70%. At immediate coronary angiography a complete occlusion of the right coronary artery was found. After intracoronary urokinase the coronary arteries were found to be completely normal. Causes for the erythrocytosis other than smoking could be excluded. We conclude that thrombotic coronary occlusion with acute myocardial infarction was caused by erythrocytosis due to heavy smoking. PMID- 2615290 TI - Uricosuric effect of irtemazole in healthy subjects. AB - Following a single dose of 50 mg irtemazole per os, plasma uric acid levels decreased after 1 h and fell to 53.5% of the original value within 6-12 h. Renal uric acid excretion increased up to 66 mg/h 30 min after drug application and reached its maximum of 151 mg/h 30 min later. Uric acid clearance also increased after 30 min and reached its maximum of 56 ml/min after 60 min. The response of the kidney to irtemazole is faster than to benzbromarone or probenecid. Lowering of plasma uric acid has a shorter-lasting effect than benzbromarone or probenecid. At 24 h after the application of 50 mg irtemazole the decrease of the plasma uric acid was between 15.4% and 30.0%, or 24.7% on average. Three days after the application the basic plasma uric acid levels were reached again. PMID- 2615291 TI - [Mexiletine in terminal renal failure and various dialysis procedures]. AB - We monitored the plasma levels of mexiletine in 20 dialysis patients with severe cardiac arrhythmias after repeated oral administration and the elimination by various dialysis procedures. The levels of mexiletine in plasma and dialysate were assayed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. After repeated administration of mexiletine 400-600 mg/day trough levels were in the range from 500-2,000 ng/ml. Treatment controlled by Holter monitoring was effective in 13/20 patients. Doses of 600 mg/day and more often were not tolerated by patients with dialysis after some weeks. There was no important removal of mexiletine from plasma during hemodialysis, hemofiltration, peritoneal dialysis, or plasmapheresis. In conclusion, we recommend a slightly reduced dosage of 400-600 mg mexiletine/day (usually 600-800 mg) for patients with end-stage renal insufficiency, irrespective of dialysis. PMID- 2615292 TI - Activator protein deficient Gaucher's disease. A second patient with the newly identified lipid storage disorder. AB - A report is presented based on the biochemical and immunochemical studies of various tissues from a 15-year-old boy with a neuronopathic form of Gaucher's disease. Qualitative and quantitative lipid analyses revealed a storage of glucosylceramide. The striking feature was that, employing the usual assay methods, a normal activity of the lysosomal enzyme glucosylceramidase was revealed, despite massive lipid accumulation. Immunochemical assays of hepatic and splenic tissue extracts from this atypical Gaucher's patient disclosed the absence of A1 activator protein, which is necessary for the enzyme degradation of glucosylceramide in vivo. This is the second documented case of a patient presenting with glucosylceramide activator protein deficiency. PMID- 2615293 TI - [Effectiveness of intra-articular dimexide in combination with hydrocortisone and hydrocortisone in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - A course of 4-5 intra-articular injections was given to 25 children aged 4-15 years with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: 20% dimexide++ solution in combination with hydrocortisone (2 ml) was administered into the right knee joint and hydrocortisone (12.5 mg) into the left knee joint once a week. Dimexide++ solution combination with hydrocortisone proved to be most effective: all signs of inflammation subsided, the joint function was restored and there were no untoward reactions. PMID- 2615294 TI - [Paecilomycosis]. AB - Among patients of an allergological center there appeared cases of respiratory and cutaneous allergy provoked by fungal infection Paecilomyces varioti Bainier. In the soil the fungi occurred in the mycelial form while in humans and animals the infection manifested in a parasitic hemotropic-tissue form. Pathogenesis of the disease is related to chronic sepsis-like state produced by the persistence of parasitizing hemotropic-tissue Chlamydiaceae-like fungi in blood and tissue cells, sensitization to them, impairments of small and medium size vessels by immunocomplex type, and delayed hypersensitivity in tissues. PMID- 2615295 TI - [Fibrocolonoscopy in patients with intestinal amebiasis]. AB - Fibrocolonoscopy findings from 131 diarrhea patients proved the procedure valuable for early diagnosis of amebiasis and control of the treatment efficacy. Fibrocolonoscopy helps to establish the true picture and the scope of the colon mucosa involvement, identification of dysenteric ameba trophozoites in the mucosal bioptic specimens being the final diagnostic criterion. The procedure facilitates regulation of the treatment duration. In the study the recovery in the mild disease was documented 25-30 days after the treatment onset, in moderate severity contamination it took 40-45 days to eliminate the infection. PMID- 2615296 TI - [A case of surgical treatment of angioleiomyosarcoma of the mediastinum]. PMID- 2615297 TI - [Leiomyoma of the stomach]. PMID- 2615298 TI - [A case of pachydermoperiostosis]. PMID- 2615299 TI - [Diagnosis of immunologic deficiency and its correction in suppurative infection of the abdominal cavity]. PMID- 2615300 TI - [Methodology of diagnosis]. PMID- 2615301 TI - [Diagnosis of the preclinical stage of cardiac insufficiency in patients with stable stenocardia]. AB - Myocardial function was evaluated using apexcardiography (ACG) and bicycle exercise in 37-55-year-old 85 patients with stable cardiac angina. ACG revealed diastolic defects in cardiodynamics which were more manifest in positive bicycle exercise test. ACG can be used in diagnosing subclinical (latent) stage of heart failure in angina pectoris, in planning motor activity and relevant therapy. PMID- 2615302 TI - [Precursors and the main risk factors of hypertension]. AB - The literature data and first-hand experience served the basis for the given analysis of clinical variability of essential hypertension, its association with juvenile functional disorders, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, complications involving target organs; the heart, kidneys, brain. These should be allowed for when deciding on the choice criteria for differential treatment. PMID- 2615303 TI - [Acute pneumonia in patients with immunologic deficiency conditions]. PMID- 2615304 TI - [Gasoline-induced pneumonia]. PMID- 2615305 TI - [Significance of hypophyseo-thyroid disorders in chronic obstructive bronchitis]. AB - Blood levels of TSH, T3 and T4 were evaluated in patients suffering from aggravated chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB). Low levels of T3, T4, and T3 plus T4 were recorded in 55.4%, 13.9% and 20.8% of patients, respectively. Though TSH levels were elevated in 71.3%, its hyposecretion was present as well (in 17.8% of the examinees). The findings suggest a conclusion on a secondary, compensatory nature of hypothyroidism in COB, therefore no specific treatment is needed. PMID- 2615306 TI - [Mechanisms of the effect of obsidan on the clinical picture of myocardial infarction at the early stage of the disease]. AB - The study of clinical manifestations and cardiodynamics in macrofocal myocardial infarction was conducted a few hours or days since the disease onset. Altogether 36 patients were examined. Obsidan administration was employed in 24 patients, basic indication to its use being clinico-hemodynamic++ signs of sympathetic hyperactivity. Clinical response to the drug was correlated with reactions of neurohumoral adaptation of the acute phase: levels of cyclic AMP, GMP and serotonin. Potentiating effect on obsidan analgesia, resolution of clinical symptoms of sympathetic hypertonus efficient energetic regime of the heart are mediated by activation of stress-limiting systems, i.e. links of cGMP and serotonin mechanisms. PMID- 2615307 TI - [Diagnosis of sick sinus syndrome by 24-hour ECG monitoring]. PMID- 2615308 TI - [The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in hypertension of hypothalamic origin]. AB - The results of the study of angiotensin-II and aldosterone++ concentrations, renin activity in blood plasma, the response of adrenal cortex glomeruli and juxtaglomerular system to insulin hypoglycemia, metoclopramide++, furosemide and exercise were considered for 119 patients with neuroendocrine form of hypothalamus syndrome. It was found that hypothalamic regulation of renin angiotensin-aldosterone++ system underwent changes. Hypersecretion+ of aldosterone++ is an important factor in pathogenesis of arterial hypertension in hypothalamic syndrome. PMID- 2615309 TI - [The role of Campylobacter pylori in the clinical course of chronic antral gastritis and duodenal ulcer]. PMID- 2615310 TI - [A method of increasing the effectiveness of anti-ulcer therapy]. AB - Forty-three patients with duodenal ulcer were treated with almagel and gastrocepin, had four meals a day. Twenty-one patients received the drugs according to the standard schedule before meals. The test group of 22 patients took meals and drugs in turn during 24 hours with the aim of a continuous moderate reduction of acidity and activity of proteolytic enzymes. Statistical analysis of the results showed a shorter duration of the ulcer healing in the test group. This conclusion permits recommending the above novel modification of the standard treatment for use in duodenal ulcer treatment as advantageous. PMID- 2615311 TI - [Intragastric pH-metry in patients with chronic gastritis and secretory insufficiency]. AB - A new technique of intragastric pH-metry has been developed and used in patients with chronic anacid gastritis. The technique provides a basal topographic pH metry with original microtubes which enables one to investigate acidity under easier conditions of gastric intubation. PMID- 2615312 TI - [Treatment of erosive gastritis by local administration of therapeutic agents]. PMID- 2615313 TI - [Osteopathy in malabsorption syndromes]. AB - Electrolytic imbalance is a frequent finding in malabsorption syndrome. Derangement of calcium metabolism present clinically in different variants is most serious. Some patients develop hypocalcemia manifesting clinically with specific myasthenia, paresthesias, convulsions, hemorrhages, etc. In other variants severe skeletal lesions are seen which may become dominating in the clinical picture though hypocalcemia was absent. Investigation of calcium metabolism, hormonal profile (parathormone, in particular) in malabsorption syndrome can prognosticate and prevent the onset of osteomalacia. PMID- 2615314 TI - [Effect of furosemide on the renal prostaglandin system in liver cirrhosis with ascites]. AB - Daily urine levels of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha as well as water-electrolyte exchange were measured in 72 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and hepatic cirrhosis (HC) in comparison with healthy controls. Furosemide treatment was performed in 26 HC patients. It was established that in CAH and compensated HC daily excretion of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha as well as 22Na elimination were within the range registered in the control. In association of HC with nonrefractory ascites the above excretion was elevated, with refractory one daily excretion of PGE2 was low, the urine ratio PGF2 alpha/PGE2 rose. Daily urine excretion of prostaglandins and PGF2 alpha/PGE2 value may be of prognostic significance in evaluating efficacy of diuretic therapy in HC patients with ascites. PMID- 2615315 TI - [Gravitational surgical correction of the aggregative status of the blood in ischemic heart disease]. AB - Gravitation surgical correction (500 sessions of gravitation plasmapheresis and thrombocytapheresis) of blood aggregation was performed in patients with myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris. At surgery 30% of circulating plasma was removed and substituted for rheologically active solutions and albumin. Final results of the treatment indicate a return to normal values of blood aggregation, improved hemodynamics, cardiac and visceral functions, performance and social status. Coronary disease ran more advantageous course. The correction of the internal medium in coronary heart disease using gravitation plasmapheresis promotes adaptation and removes blood material substrates responsible for emergence of pathology in the chain blood aggregation-blood rheology-myocardial function-hemodynamics. Recovery of normal functioning of the system entails improvement of related functional systems. PMID- 2615316 TI - [Diagnosis of diseases of the liver and biliary tract by thermography]. PMID- 2615317 TI - [Acute drug-induced hepatitis]. PMID- 2615318 TI - [Lithogenic properties of bile in cholelithiasis]. AB - To specify lithogenic properties of bile in cholelithiasis as well as the effect of cholecystectomy on biochemical composition of bile, 168 patients with cholelithiasis have been examined. Fifty patients underwent preoperative investigation, some of them were followed up for 1-2 years after cholecystectomy (group 1). The rest postcholecystectomy patients were followed up for 10 years (group 2). Bile levels of cholesterol were evaluated by absolute and relative lipid concentrations. The conclusion is made on the absence of a direct correlation between bile cholesterol supersaturation and cholelithiasis as the above supersaturation occurs in healthy subjects as well. It is noticed that cholecystectomy does not warrant discontinuation of cholesterol supersaturation of bile. PMID- 2615319 TI - [Esophageal, gastric and duodenal motility in patients with cholelithiasis]. AB - Disturbed motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract presenting with phasic derangement (the absence of all motor phases or peristaltic duodenal contraction, abnormal duration of phases) has been found out in all cholelithiasis patients examined. The findings should in no way be viewed as isolated chronic duodenal insufficiency. Impairment of esophageal, gastric and duodenal motility needs identification and correction in combined treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of cholelithiasis. PMID- 2615320 TI - [Development of outpatient services and of inpatient facilities]. PMID- 2615321 TI - [Phenytoin]. PMID- 2615322 TI - [Position of the nursing profession. Ideal and reality]. PMID- 2615323 TI - [To handle cytostatic agents safely. Improved safety in the handling of cytostatic agents by means of appropriate devices]. PMID- 2615324 TI - [Nursing aspects of organ transplantation]. PMID- 2615325 TI - Recurrence of node-negative breast cancer in patients treated in a community hospital. PMID- 2615326 TI - Trends in public knowledge and attitudes about AIDS, South Carolina, 1987-1988. AB - The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control AIDS Program assessed the state population's knowledge and attitudes about AIDS and HIV transmission in 1987 and 1988. Each year approximately 1,800 adults were selected by a random 3-stage cluster design and asked seventeen questions by telephone about AIDS and HIV. Questions addressed attitudes, general knowledge, HIV transmission by casual contact, HIV transmission by sex and IV drug contact, and HIV transmission by blood donation and transfusion. Over 90 percent of respondents were knowledgeable about HIV transmission by high risk behaviors addressed in the questionnaire. Respondents were less knowledgeable about HIV transmission by casual contact (12 to 41 percent gave incorrect answers), HIV testing (45 to 48 percent gave incorrect answers), and transmission by blood donation (43 to 52 percent gave incorrect answers). In general, a higher percentage of correct responses were given in 1988 than in 1987. In regard to responses measured by this survey, we conclude that: (1) there is a high level of knowledge in the state about transmission by high risk behaviors, (2) there are still many misconceptions about casual transmission, HIV testing, and blood donation, and (3) there was improvement in knowledge about AIDS and HIV from 1987 to 1988. PMID- 2615327 TI - Peace and good will. PMID- 2615328 TI - Tackling the alcohol problem: the case for secondary prevention. PMID- 2615329 TI - Teacher perspectives after implementing a human sexuality education program. AB - To help teachers enhance the effectiveness of their classroom instruction in human sexuality education, it is necessary to understand their attitudes and concerns about their teaching experiences. Forty-seven sixth grade teachers were surveyed one year after curriculum implementation to examine perceptions of themselves, their students, colleagues, and community. Teachers answered 70% of the knowledge items correctly and indicated slightly liberal orientations. Overall levels of teachers' views generally were positive on scales designed to measure: importance of the items studied, responsibility for student outcomes, three measures of comfort, adequacy of preparation, required changes, ease of use, social supports, and student responses. However, patterns of teacher responses within scales indicated numerous concerns related to curriculum implementation. The concerns and teacher-identified benefits and barriers to teaching the course indicate a focus for continuing education. PMID- 2615330 TI - Shyness as a risk factor for adolescent substance use. AB - The role of shyness in adolescent substance use was examined in a sample of about 1,300 high school students from 14 senior high schools. Sample members were classified as not-shy, shy, or super-shy based on scores from an established measure of shyness, the Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale. Significant shyness category by gender interaction analysis of variance effects and gender-specific chi-square analyses indicated shy males were more likely to use marijuana or hashish, cocaine, amphetamines, and hallucinogenic substances than not-shy males and females. Further, super-shy males were more likely to report use of most of the substances than shy males. Super-shy females were less likely to drink alcohol than females who were less shy or not-shy. Findings from this study, as well as studies investigating other behavioral problems, suggest shyness may be more a burden for males than for females. Use of certain substances may assist very shy males cope with shyness by reducing psychosocial discomfort and inhibition. PMID- 2615331 TI - Issues related to radon in schools. PMID- 2615332 TI - Role transition for school nurses in the Spokane Public Schools. PMID- 2615333 TI - Out-of-school youth at risk for HIV infection. PMID- 2615334 TI - A comprehensive study of the stability of cocaine and its metabolites. AB - The stability of cocaine (COC) in blood bank blood, postmortem human whole blood, and buffers was evaluated with consideration for the presence of the degradation products, benzoylecgonine (BE) and ecgonine methyl ester (EME). At COC concentrations commonly seen, the rate of COC hydrolysis was independent of concentration. COC was stable in blood for at least 150 days if the blood was adjusted to pH 5 and preserved with 2% NaF or organophosphates and maintained at 4 degrees C or lower. Without preservation, most COC hydrolyzed to EME. The addition of a pseudocholinesterase (PChE) inhibitor without a reduction of pH caused COC to hydrolyze to BE. COC also hydrolyzed to BE in phosphate buffer. The rate of COC hydrolysis in all studies increased with increasing pH and temperature. COC was more stable in unpreserved postmortem blood than blood bank blood due to the lower pH of the former. The incubation of COC in enzyme solutions provided further evidence of the generally accepted hypothesis that COC is hydrolyzed to EME by PChE and to BE by chemical hydrolysis. In unpreserved blood, BE was more stable than EME at room temperature. There was little loss of BE or EME at refrigerated temperature over a period of 35 days and no evidence that EME or BE could be hydrolyzed enzymatically. PMID- 2615335 TI - Quantitation of methamphetamine and amphetamine in urine by capillary GC/MS Part II. Derivatization with 4-carbethoxyhexafluorobutyryl chloride. AB - An analytical procedure for methamphetamine and amphetamine has been developed using 4-carbethoxyhexafluorobutyryl chloride. This derivatizing reagent has all the previously reported advantages of trichloroacetic anhydride (TCAA) in that it produces stable derivatives having both a higher mass fragmentation pattern and lesser volatility than derivatives of trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) or heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA). In addition, the assay uses deuterated internal standards for both methamphetamine and amphetamine. The procedure employs a liquid-liquid extraction and back extraction followed by acylation of the amines to their respective 4-carbethoxyhexafluorobutyramides. Excess derivatizing reagent is converted to the diethyl ester with anhydrous ethanol. At a column temperature of approximately 180 degrees C, the retention times for amphetamine and methamphetamine are 4 min and 5.5 min respectively. The monitored positive ions are: 248, 266, 294 (amphetamine); 270, 298 (amphetamine-d6); 262, 280, 308 (methamphetamine); 287, 315 (methamphetamine-d9). As a result of this high mass fragmentation pattern, which eliminates the 91 and 118 ions as criteria for both identification and quantitation, potential interferences from phentermine and phenethylamine are totally eliminated. PMID- 2615336 TI - Methamphetamine in antemortem blood and urine by radioimmunoassay and GC/MS. AB - Methamphetamine abuse is increasing and methamphetamine is second only to alcohol as a positive finding in cases submitted to the San Diego Sheriff's Crime Laboratory. In general, whole blood specimens are submitted more often than urine. A modified version of a commercially available radioimmunoassay, Coat-A Count (CAC) Methamphetamine, was investigated as a screen for methamphetamine in whole blood and urine. The assay was modified by using 100 microL of sample, making up standards in whole beef blood, extending the incubation time to 2 h or overnight, and using a cutoff reference of 50 ng/mL methamphetamine. The detection limit for the CAC Methamphetamine kit was 20 ng/mL methamphetamine in whole blood. The CAC Methamphetamine results were compared to Abuscreen Amphetamine High Specificity results and to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) quantitation of amphetamine and methamphetamine for 157 positive and 48 negative blood specimens. With the CAC Methamphetamine assay there were 2 false negatives detected, both less than the 50 ng/mL cutoff level. There were 12 (6%) false positives with the CAC Methamphetamine assay and 29 (14%) false positives with the Abuscreen Amphetamine assay. Of the positive samples, 95% contained only methamphetamine, with an average concentration of 308 ng/mL, range 25-2030 ng/mL. PMID- 2615337 TI - Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) utilizing electron impact ionization and multiple reaction monitoring for the rapid, sensitive, and specific identification and quantitation of morphine in whole blood. AB - A single step liquid-liquid extraction procedure followed by pentafluoropropionic anhydride derivatization was developed for the analysis of free morphine in blood. The specificity of the method was enhanced with the use of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using multiple reaction monitoring. Two molecular transitions were monitored. The first transition was where the first quadrupole (Q1) transmits the molecular ion of morphine-3,6-dipentafluoropropionate, 577. The 577 ion undergoes subsequent collision induced dissociation with argon and the last quadrupole (Q3) then transmits the 414 daughter ion. The second transition monitored was where Q1 transmits the 414 base peak and Q3 transmits the resultant 266 daughter ion. Deuterated morphine was included as an internal standard and analyzed similarly. Morphine was confirmed only in instances where both the m/z 577 to 414 and 414 to 266 transitions occurred simultaneously. Linear and reproducible calibration curves have been obtained for morphine at concentrations from 1.0 to 500 ng/mL achieving correlation coefficients of greater than 0.994. A signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 5:1 was observed for the 1.0-ng/mL samples. PMID- 2615338 TI - Impact of adulterants on RIA analysis of urine for drugs of abuse. AB - The effect of various adulterants on radioimmunoassay (RIA) tests for amphetamine, cannabinoids, cocaine (metabolite), phencyclidine (PCP), barbiturate, and morphine was evaluated. A total of 16 readily available agents, at concentrations ranging from 1 to 25%, were tested with negative and positive urine samples. The results demonstrate that both false positive and false negative RIA results can be produced by easily achievable levels of different agents in urine specimens. Of the RIA tests evaluated, the one for cannabinoids was most sensitive to the presence of adulterants, whereas the PCP assay was most resistant. Although the presence of some adulterants could be detected by measuring the pH or specific gravity of the urine, other agents, at concentrations sufficient to alter the RIA results, could not be as easily detected. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of adulterated samples with false positive RIA results showed no detectable drug, indicating that the adulterants interfered with the RIA test itself. In contrast, GC/MS analysis of samples with false negative RIA results confirmed that at least some adulterants acted by reducing the drug concentrations in the specimen. PMID- 2615339 TI - Simultaneous identification of amphetamine and methamphetamine using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography/nitrogen phosphorous detection or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. AB - A method for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of amphetamine and methamphetamine in urine is described. Using solid-phase extraction, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and n-propylamphetamine (internal standard) are extracted from urine samples. Drugs in their free form are identified using gas chromatography/nitrogen-phosphorous detection (GC/NPD), whereas their heptafluorobutyric anhydride derivatives are detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Limits of detection for both amphetamine and methamphetamine are approximately 35 ng/mL. The procedure is simple, rapid, and suitable for a large number of specimens (25 or more). PMID- 2615340 TI - Determination of atropine in blood by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. AB - A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) method for the rapid quantitation of atropine (AT) in blood is presented. A 2.0-mL blood specimen containing deuterated N-methyl-atropine as the internal standard was alkaline hydrolyzed to convert atropine to tropine. The tropine was extracted by organic solvent which was evaporated to dryness. Tropine in the residue was derivatized with pentafluoropropionic anhydride (PFPA) to the PFPA-tropine ester which was chromatographed on a 25-m cross-linked methyl silicone capillary column with temperature programming at 100 degrees C initially and increased by 20 degrees C/min. The retention time of atropine was 1.7 min. The GC/MS was operated in the SIM mode and the mass fragments monitored were 124 and 287 for AT and 127 and 290 for the internal standard. The assay was linear from 10-300 ng/mL. Replicate analysis of blood specimens containing 200 ng/mL gave a CV = 6.5% (n = 10). Recovery of AT at 75 and 150 ng/mL was 69% (n = 10). The limit of quantitation of AT was 10 ng/mL. Scopolamine may be simultaneously extracted and identified; the retention time was 1.8 min with mass ions 81 and 138. PMID- 2615341 TI - Tissue distribution of methamphetamine and amphetamine in premature infants. AB - An amphetamine-abusing mother who had taken methamphetamine 5 hours before beginning labor gave birth to twins who died 1 to 2 hours after birth; an autopsy and toxicological examination were performed. The results are consistent with previous findings of premature delivery and retarded intrauterine development. Tissue distribution shows a similar pattern to an earlier reported case, though drug concentrations are about 10 times higher. PMID- 2615342 TI - A nortriptyline death with unusually high tissue concentrations. AB - A 31-year-old male died from a suicidal overdose of nortriptyline. An unusually high heart blood concentration of 86.4 mg/L is reported, along with femoral blood and tissue concentrations. PMID- 2615343 TI - Fatality resulting from cyclizine overdose. AB - A case involving an overdose fatality of cyclizine is presented. Toxicological analysis revealed a cyclizine blood concentration of 80 micrograms/mL. The drug was quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Qualitative analyses of urine and stomach contents were performed. PMID- 2615344 TI - Estimation of the body burden of arsenic in a child fatally poisoned by arsenite weedkiller. AB - A three-year-old child died after ingestion of a mouthful of an estimated 44% sodium arsenite solution. Litigation was initiated based on the quality of emergency treatment at a rural hospital. An issue raised in litigation was whether the child could have survived if he had received an additional dose of BAL (dimercaprol). BAL had been sent for from a neighboring city and arrived approximately 2.0 h after admission. The first 50-mg dose of BAL could have combined with a maximum of 30 mg arsenic; a second dose could have brought the total of chelated arsenic to 60 mg. To determine the total body burden of arsenic in the child, multiple tissues were analyzed. The total body burden was estimated at 113 mg, with 100 mg of this total attributable to the ingested solution. The actual body burden after two doses of BAL therefore would have been at least 40 mg, a fatal level. PMID- 2615345 TI - Moral judgments of aggressive and nonaggressive children. AB - Moral judgments were studied in 103 aggressive and 79 nonaggressive 10-year-old Finnish children. Their aggressiveness was evaluated by means of peer ratings. Moral judgments were assessed by presenting them with stories from their daily lives that contained moral conflicts. The results showed that the children did not adopt a constant level of moral reasoning; instead, judgments were situation specific. Furthermore, the moral cognitions of aggressive children did not differ from those of their nonaggressive peers, although sex-related differences tended to be significant: Boys adopted absolute moral standards, whereas girls' judgments were more relative. PMID- 2615346 TI - Reward allocation among Chinese high school students in Hong Kong. AB - The present study examined the effects of personality and performance on reward allocation. The subjects were 89 Chinese senior high school students in Hong Kong. The results showed that the subjects would take into consideration the recipient's personality when they allocated reward to a relatively low performer. Personality factors were irrelevant, however, in the allocation of reward to a relatively high performer. Moreover, the subjects judged an allocation decision as more unfair when the allocation was intended to be a punishment for a worker with relatively low performance and a desirable personality than when the allocation was intended to be a reward for a relatively high performer. PMID- 2615347 TI - Focus of attention in groups: a self-attention perspective. AB - In three studies, we examined the hypothesis, derived from self-attention theory, that the focus of attention of individuals in groups varies as a function of group composition. In naturally occurring, nonlaboratory settings, Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated a decrease in first-person singular pronoun usage as the proportionate number of discussants in a group increased. In a laboratory setting, Study 3 demonstrated an increase in self-reported self-focus as the number of subjects decreased relative to the number of experimenters. These results support the conceptualization of self-focused attention as a mediator of group composition effects. PMID- 2615348 TI - Conceptions of the opposite-sex ideal by international students in The Netherlands. PMID- 2615349 TI - Differential effects of aging on estrogen receptor dynamics in hypothalamus, pituitary and uterus of the C57BL/6J mouse. AB - Estrogen receptor (ER) dynamics and content were measured in the hypothalamus (HYPO), pituitary (PIT) and uterus (UT) of aging mice because of their potential importance to age-related changes in sensitivity to estrogen. Young (3-6 months), and old (22-24 months) C57BL/6J mice were injected with a dose of E2 (0.05 micrograms/10 g body wt) sufficient to achieve maximal levels of nuclear ER (ERn) in all tissues, and the rise and fall of ERn and the depletion and replenishment of cytosolic ER (ERc) were measured 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h later. Integrated areas under the ERn profiles in old HYPO, PIT and UT were reduced 34, 28 and 19%, respectively. These reductions were due to (1) lower levels of ERn throughout the profiles, (2) delays in attainment of peak ERn in UT and PIT, and (3) accelerated loss of peak ERn in HYPO. ERc levels were also reduced in old mice, and replenishment of ERc was delayed in old HYPO and PIT, but not in UT. Reductions in total ER (ERn + ERc) were sufficient to account for all reductions and altered dynamics of ERn, except for the delayed attainment of peak ERn in UT. These results indicate that levels and dynamics of nuclear ER are altered during aging, and that most of these changes are secondary to alterations in ER content and turnover rather than a reduced ability of ER to bind to nuclear sites. PMID- 2615350 TI - Regulation of progesterone receptor mRNA by oestradiol and antioestrogens in breast cancer cell lines. AB - The induction of progesterone receptor mRNA by oestradiol and antioestrogens has been characterised in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Progesterone receptor mRNA was induced more than 100-fold by oestradiol. The induction was half-maximal in the presence of 10(-10) M oestradiol and maximum levels were reached after 24 h treatment. Progesterone receptor mRNA was induced to 10% of the oestrogen induced level by tamoxifen and its metabolite 4'-hydroxytamoxifen. The increase was half-maximal in the presence of 5 X 10(-8) M tamoxifen or 5 X 10(-10) M 4' hydroxytamoxifen. In contrast, neither the benzothiophene antioestrogen LY117018 nor the 7 alpha-alkyl steroidal antioestrogen ICI 164,384 had any effect on progesterone receptor mRNA. The progesterone receptor mRNA was also induced by oestrogen in a T47D subline and in two other oestrogen-responsive breast cancer cell lines (ZR-75, EFM-19). Tamoxifen was a partial oestrogen for progesterone receptor mRNA induction in each of these cell lines. The large induction of the progesterone receptor mRNA by oestrogen in all 4 breast cancer cell lines supports the contention that the progesterone receptor may be a good predictive marker of hormonal response in human breast cancer. PMID- 2615351 TI - A novel binding site for a synthetic progestagen in breast cancer cells. AB - A novel, high-affinity saturable binding site for the synthetic 19-nor testosterone progestagen, 17 alpha-ethinyl-13 beta-ethyl 17 beta-hydroxy-4,15 oestradiene-3-one (gestodene) has been detected using a sensitive affinity chromatography technique. This binding site is present in a range of malignant breast-derived cells lines, regardless of the presence of oestrogen and progesterone receptors, but is absent from endometrial carcinoma cells that contain both oestrogen and progesterone receptors. Competition studies show that this binding is not attributable to the receptors for the progestagens, androgens, glucocorticoids or mineralocorticoids. Cytosolic gestodene binding is refractory to competition with oestradiol but nuclear gestodene binding is completely abolished by oestradiol. The binding of oestradiol to the oestrogen receptor is reduced 40-50% by competition with gestodene. Non-dissociating polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and size-exclusion high performance liquid chromatography reveal that this binding activity is associated with a protein of mean molecular mass 47 +/- 9 kDa. Ligand binding studies with a range of other cell lines indicates that this binding site appears to be specific to breast cancer cells. These data show the presence of a partly oestrogen competable novel binding protein in breast cancer cells which does not appear to be due to any of the conventional steroid receptors. PMID- 2615352 TI - Identification of an androgen receptor in the adult chicken oviduct. AB - The chicken oviduct androgen receptor was characterized by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, Scatchard analysis, competition studies, and affinity labeled with dihydrotestosterone 17 beta-bromoacetate. A specific 8.5 S peak was seen on 0.01 M KCl sucrose density gradients when the receptor was labeled with [3H]5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Specific 4.6 S peaks were seen when receptor labeled with [3H]5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone or [3H]dihydrotestosterone 17 beta bromoacetate was analyzed on 0.3 M KCl sucrose density gradients. Scatchard analysis of [3H]5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone binding by oviduct cytosol was consistent with two binding sites. A Kd of 0.13 nM was found for the high affinity androgen receptor. Competition studies showed the following order of ligand affinity: 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone greater than dihydrotestosterone 17 beta-bromoacetate greater than progesterone greater than estradiol. A 61.2 kDa protein was specifically covalently labeled with [3H]dihydrotestosterone 17 beta bromoacetate. The chicken oviduct androgen receptor possesses characteristics similar to other androgen receptors, and provides a good source of androgen receptor for physicochemical studies of the native receptor protein. PMID- 2615353 TI - Difference in cytotoxicity of (22R)-cholest-5-ene-3 beta,7 alpha,22-triol and (22R)-cholest-5-ene-3 beta,7 beta,22-triol is not explained by different patterns of metabolites. AB - Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in suspension culture were incubated with the plant derived sterol isomers (22R)-cholest-5-ene-3 beta,7 alpha,22-triol and (22R) cholest-5-ene-3 beta,7 beta,22-triol. Both sterols were 7-dehydroxylated by the neoplastic cells, and the product was identified as (22R)-22-hydroxycholesta-4,6 dien-3-one. At sub-toxic sterol concentrations the conversion of the 7 alpha hydroxy compound was about 5 times higher than that of the 7 beta-isomer. At higher sterol concentrations the 7 beta-hydroxy compound caused growth inhibition of the Ehrlich ascites cells, whereas the 7 alpha-hydroxylated sterol was ineffective. The rate of 7 alpha-dehydroxylation was, however, too low to be considered a likely pathway for detoxification. No other lipid-extractable products were detected, and no water-soluble products with influence on cell proliferation were present. Thus, the cytotoxicity is probably attributed to a property of the 7 beta-hydroxyl group of the (22R)-cholest-5-ene-3 beta,7 beta,22 triol. PMID- 2615354 TI - Inhibitory effect of progesterone on cell death of mouse uterine epithelium. AB - The protective effect of progesterone against cell death of mouse uterine epithelium was evaluated by examining the retention of 5'-[125I]iodo-2' deoxyuridine [( 125I]IdUrd) incorporated into the whole uterus and the apoptotic index (percentage of apoptotic cells in total cells), which is a good index of physiological cell death. Castrated adult female mice were given a daily injection of oestradiol-17 beta for 3 days, and then an injection of [125I]IdUrd. They were then divided into 4 groups, which received a daily injection of vehicle only, oestradiol-17 beta (E), progesterone (P), or both oestradiol-17 beta and progesterone (EP), and were killed at intervals during these treatments for determination of 125I radioactivity retained in the whole uterus. On treatment with vehicle only, the 125I radioactivity retained in the uterus decreased rapidly, but treatment with E, P or EP reduced the loss of 125I radioactivity significantly. Progesterone did not antagonize the effect of oestradiol-17 beta on the 125I radioactivity retained in the uterus. The apoptotic index of uterine cells was examined by a similar experimental protocol, but without injection of [125I]IdUrd. In the group treated with vehicle only, the apoptotic indices of both luminal and glandular epithelia increased markedly, but the injection of E, P or EP suppressed these increases significantly. Progesterone did not antagonize the effect of oestradiol-17 beta on the apoptotic index. The apoptotic index of stroma was not affected by the injection of E, P or EP. On the other hand, progesterone completely inhibited the increase in the mitotic index of uterine epithelia induced by oestradiol-17 beta. These results show that progesterone alone or in combination with oestrogen reduced cell death in mouse uterine epithelium and that the effects of oestrogen and progesterone on uterine cell death were independent of their actions on cell division. PMID- 2615355 TI - Mouse embryo fibroblast proliferation and prostaglandin production in medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum or serum substitutes (Ultroser SF and G): role of glucocorticoids. AB - The growth of DBA/2 mouse embryo fibroblasts, as well as their prostaglandin (PG) production, was compared under 3 different culture conditions: RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2% Ultroser SF (steroid-free) or with 2% Ultroser G (containing steroids). The effect of the absence or presence of glucocorticoids on both parameters was more precisely investigated. In FBS supplemented cultures, dexamethasone had a stimulatory effect on cells characterized by a slow growth rate, whereas it markedly inhibited proliferation in rapidly growing fibroblasts. The experiments carried out with serum substitutes (Ultroser SF and G) strongly corroborated the role of the absence or presence of glucocorticoids on fibroblast proliferation. Manipulations of glucocorticoid concentrations in Ultroser SF by adding 5 x 10(-8) M dexamethasone or in Ultroser G by adding 10(-6) M RU 486 reversed the effect of the absence of glucocorticoid in the first case, or in the latter case the effect of the presence of glucocorticoid on both cell growth and PG production. Progesterone had no effect by itself. Our results emphasize the importance of performing complete kinetic studies to investigate the effect of a given factor on cell proliferation in vitro, since glucocorticoids may have opposite effects on fibroblast proliferation according to their cell growth pattern in vitro. PMID- 2615356 TI - 18-substituted steroids--Part 17. 2 alpha-hydroxylated liver metabolites of aldosterone identified by high-field [1H]NMR spectroscopy. AB - 11 beta,18-Epoxy-2 alpha,3 alpha,18,21-tetrahydroxy-5 alpha,17 alpha- pregnan-20 one (2 alpha-hydroxy-3 alpha,5 alpha-tetrahydro-17-isoaldosterone) and its apo isomer have been identified by high-field NMR studies, supported by thermospray HPLC/MS, to be among the major polar metabolites formed from incubation of aldosterone with rat liver microsomal fraction. Indications that unreduced 2 alpha-hydroxy-aldosterone is also present among the metabolites have still to be confirmed. PMID- 2615357 TI - Endocrine profile of Win 49596 in the rat: a novel androgen receptor antagonist. AB - Win 49596 is a new orally active, steroidal androgen receptor antagonist. Win 49596 inhibited ventral prostate, seminal vesicle and levator ani weight gain in either 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or testosterone propionate-treated castrated, immature male rats. In intact, adult male rats, Win 49596 significantly inhibited weight gain by the ventral prostate, dorsal lateral prostate and seminal vesicles, but not the testes at doses as low as 50 mg/kg/day x 14 p.o. However, daily oral administration of equivalent antiandrogenic doses of either Win 49596, ICI 176,334, or flutamide for 14 days to mature, intact male rats resulted in elevations of circulating testosterone of approximately 3-, 2-, and 10-fold, respectively. At doses as high as 400 mg/kg p.o., Win 49596 did not have androgenic, progestational, estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity in rat or rabbit models. However, in the Clauberg assay, Win 49596 did have weak antiprogestational activity at doses of 25-400 mg/kg/day p.o. These data indicate that Win 49596 is a peripherally selective antiandrogen that has minimal effects on circulating testosterone levels and is devoid of hormone agonist activity. Thus, Win 49596 may be useful for the treatment of androgen dependent conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic cancer. PMID- 2615358 TI - Studies on the mechanism of action of Win 49596: a steroidal androgen receptor antagonist. AB - Win 49596 is an orally active antiandrogen in the rat. This report describes a series of in vitro and in vivo studies which were performed to characterize the mechanism of action of this compound. In vitro competition and Lineweaver-Burk analyses indicate that Win 49596 binds competitively to the rat ventral prostate androgen receptor with a Ki of 2.2 +/- 0.4 microM. Similar to other androgen antagonists, the relative binding affinity (RBA) of Win 49596 was greater after 1 h of incubation with androgen receptor than after an 18 h incubation (RBA of 2.2 versus 0.05, respectively). Win 49596 did not bind to rat cytosolic uterine estrogen or progesterone receptors or thymus glucocorticoid receptors. Furthermore, Win 49596 did not inhibit rat ventral prostate 5 alpha-reductase or 3 alpha-oxidoreductase, rat adrenal 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase or human placental aromatase activity in vitro at concentrations as high as 10 microM. A series of in vivo studies demonstrated that Win 49596 inhibited the uptake of [3H]testosterone as well as testosterone-induced nuclear accumulation of androgen receptor in the rat ventral prostate. Collectively, these results support direct androgen receptor antagonism as the mechanism for the antiandrogenic effects of Win 49596. PMID- 2615359 TI - The inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone on interferon production by rat spleen cells. AB - The effect of hydrocortisone on interferon r(IFN-r) production by rat spleen cells and its mechanism were studied. The results showed that hydrocortisone inhibited IFN-r production at concentrations as low as 5.52 x 10(-10) M, with complete suppression at 5.52 x 10(-8) M, and the total number and survival rate of the cultured spleen cells were not apparently affected by 5.52 x 10(-8) M hydrocortisone. The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent when the concentration was from 5.52 x 10(-10) M to 5.52 x 10(-8) M and could be blocked by RU38486, a competitive antagonist of glucocorticoid. Our results suggested that glucocorticoid may inhibit IFN-r production through a receptor-mediated mechanism. PMID- 2615360 TI - Serum 5-androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol sulphate, sex hormone binding globulin and free androgen index in girls with premature adrenarche. AB - Serum sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone (T), DHEA sulphate (DHEA S), androstenedione (AD) and delta 5-androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol sulphate (5 ADIOL-S) levels were measured by specific radioimmunoassay in 16 girls presenting with premature adrenarche (PA) and in 14 normal girls. Mean levels of steroids measured were elevated, and SHBG significantly depressed, in the girls with PA, with values (mean +/- SE) for DHEA-S (1.73 +/- 0.17 vs 0.25 +/- 0.06 mumol/l), 5 ADIOL-S (104 +/- 8 vs 31 +/- 4 nmol/l), AD (0.89 +/- 0.06 vs 0.62 +/- 0.04 nmol/l), and T (0.49 +/- 0.03 vs 0.23 +/- 0.06 nmol/l). SHBG levels were 68 +/- 6 vs 108 +/- 5 nmol/l, and the free androgen index [100 x T (nmol/l) divided by SHBG (nmol/l)] was 0.89 +/- 0.17 vs 0.22 +/- 0.01. These studies show that SHBG is depressed in girls with premature adrenarche; with the increased testosterone levels, this results in a markedly elevated free androgen index, a measure of testosterone which is bioavailable to target tissue. This may be compounded by the elevated levels of 5-ADIOL-S in girls with PA since its role may be as a prohormone for more potent androgens (testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone) in target tissues such as pubic skin. PMID- 2615361 TI - Antigen- versus antibody-immobilized ELISA procedures based on a biotinyl estradiol conjugate. AB - A biotinyl-6 alpha-estradiol derivative (Bio-E2) was synthesized and used as the key component in antigen- and antibody-immobilized ELISA techniques, and the relative merits of the two methods were compared. A precise and reproducible antigen-immobilization was achieved in avidin-coated microtiter plates with Bio E2. This assay, when completed by the incubation with primary antibody and second antibody-peroxidase conjugate, has a very low detection limit (6 pg/ml estradiol) but required a long incubation time with primary antibody to reach equilibrium. At non-equilibrium conditions, using a high antibody concentration, the assay could be very fast and sensitive. In the antibody-immobilized assay, the Bio-E2 was added to compete with the estradiol present in the calibrator or sample and visualized with a streptavidin-peroxidase conjugate. The detection limit is higher (34 pg/ml), but the specificity was superior and the incubation time to reach equilibrium shorter as compared to the antigen-immobilized assay. Therefore, the antibody-immobilized assay appeared to be ideal for the classical ELISA technique, whereas the antigen-immobilized method seemed to be best suited for automated assay systems using antibody in excess. PMID- 2615362 TI - Radioimmunoassay of plasma 21-deoxycortisol. AB - A reliable radioimmunoassay for the determination of plasma 21-deoxycortisol (21 DF) after chromatography on Sephadex LH20 columns of methylene chloride plasma extracts has been described and evaluated. The antiserum used was raised in rabbits injected with 21-DF-3-(O-carboxy-methyl)oxime-bovine serum albumin. In men (n = 10) the levels ranged from 0.11 to 0.29 ng/ml (mean +/- SD: 0.21 +/- 0.06). In women the mean levels were in the follicular phase: 0.16 +/- 0.06 (range: 0.05-0.22; n = 10) and in the luteal phase: 0.18 +/- 0.06 (range: 0.10 0.35; n = 12). No cyclical change and no significant difference between male and female groups were observed. In patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency very high levels were observed. The higher concentration of 21-DF found in adrenal effluent than in peripheral plasma has provided direct evidence of its adrenal origin in patients without 21-hydroxylase deficiency. PMID- 2615363 TI - Purification and characterization of pig adrenal 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. AB - Two distinct molecules of 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20 alpha-HSD) from pig adrenal cytosol have been purified to homogeneity and characterized. Purification was achieved by ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by DEAE cellulose column chromatography. 20 alpha-HSD activity was separated into two fractions including 20 alpha-HSD-I and 20 alpha-HSD-II, and these were further purified by affinity chromatography on 2',5'ADP-Sepharose, reactive red 120 agarose and some conventional column chromatography. Both enzymes catalyzed the reduction of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone to 17 alpha, 20 alpha-dihydroxy-4 pregnen-3-one in the presence of NADPH as the preferred cofactor. The apparent Km and Vmax values against 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone were 26.2 microM and 1.3 nmol/min/mg for 20 alpha-HSD-I, and 118 microM and 19.4 nmol/min/mg for 20 alpha HSD-II, respectively. Furthermore, remarkable differences between 20 alpha-HSD-I and 20 alpha-HSD-II were demonstrated under the influence of ionic strength, heat treatment and divalent cations. The molecular weight was estimated to be 39 kDa for 20 alpha-HSD-I and 40 kDa for 20 alpha-HSD-II by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and 30 kDa for both enzymes by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. These were glycoproteins. There was a large difference in their isoelectric points (8.5 for 20 alpha-HSD-I and 5.5 for 20 alpha-HSD-II). The peptide mapping of the two distinct enzymes was greatly different although there was a slight difference in the amino acid composition. PMID- 2615364 TI - Metabolic fate of [3H]deoxycorticosterone and [14C]progesterone--I. Early tissue metabolites and analysis of 21-hydroxysteroids by high pressure liquid chromatography. AB - Rabbits injected with mixtures of [3H]deoxycorticosterone and [14C]progesterone had significant levels of both 3H and 14C in several tissues and fluids extracted 10-45 min later. The distribution of radioactivity between 21-deoxysteroid, 21 hydroxysteroid, steroid acid and steroid glucuronide fractions was determined by alumina adsorption chromatography. Steroid acids derived from both steroids accumulated in the liver, kidney and urine, but were quantitatively less significant in the bile, duodenum, uterus, spleen and lung and were detected in the blood for the first time. Different 21-hydroxysteroid profiles were detected in the tissue and fluid extracts by reverse and straight phase high pressure liquid chromatography. [3H]Deoxycorticosterone accumulated in the kidney, lung, spleen and uterus, whereas tetra and hexahydro reduced metabolites predominated in the liver, bile and duodenum. By contrast, [14C]progesterone was metabolised to more polar 21-hydroxylated metabolites which were detected in the liver, kidney and urine. These results show the influence of a steroid 21-hydroxyl function, when administered, as opposed to being formed in in vivo, on the metabolic fate and excretory pathways of 21-hydroxysteroids by the rabbit. PMID- 2615365 TI - Androgen glucuronyl transferase activity in rat liver, evidence for the importance of hepatic tissue in 5 alpha-reduced androgen metabolism. AB - To elucidate the role of the liver in 5 alpha-reduced androgen metabolism, we used a rat liver glucuronyl transferase assay to determine the conversion of 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstane-3-one (DHT), 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta diol (androstanediol), and androsterone to their glucuronide metabolites. Serum levels of the two isomers of androstanediol glucuronide (androstanediol 3- and 17 glucuronide) were also measured. Using 5 microM unconjugated steroid as substrate, the production rate (pmol/mg/min) for each product from its respective unconjugated steroid was 6.9 +/- 0.4 for DHT glucuronide, 101 +/- 3.3 for androstanediol 3-glucuronide, 71 +/- 2.0 for androstanediol 17-glucuronide, and 181 +/- 11 for androsterone glucuronide. Production rates for androstanediol glucuronide were 800 times greater for rat liver than for rat prostate, when examined under similar conditions. In the presence of either 0 or 5 microM unlabeled androstanediol, about 60% of the androstanediol glucuronide formed by rat liver was androstanediol 3-glucuronide. In normal male rat serum, 69 +/- 8% (mean +/- SEM) of total androstanediol glucuronide was androstanediol 3 glucuronide. We have previously shown that rat prostate forms androstanediol 17 glucuronide, but not androstanediol 3-glucuronide. The results from the present study indicate that rat liver forms both androstanediol glucuronide isomers, and does so in about the same ratio as is found in rat serum. The rate of glucuronidation is also much greater in rat liver than in rat prostate. While other sites of glucuronidation are possible, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that DHT and other unconjugated androgens formed in rat prostate are conjugated to glucuronic acid mainly in the liver. PMID- 2615366 TI - Stereospecificity of hydrogen transfer by bovine testicular 20 alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. AB - The stereospecificity of hydrogen transfer between steroid (17 hydroxyprogesterone) and both natural cofactors by bovine testicular 20 alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20 alpha-HSD) has been determined. Cofactors used in these studies, [4-pro-S-3H]NADH ([4B-3H]NADH) and [4-pro-S-3H]NADPH ([4B 3H]NADPH) were generated with human placental estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.62) utilizing [17 alpha-3H]estradiol-17 beta and NAD+ or NADP+, respectively. The resulting [4B-3H]NADH and [4B-3H]NADPH were purified by ion exchange chromatography and separately incubated with molar excess of 17 hydroxyprogesterone as substrate in the presence of 20 alpha-HSD. Following incubation, steroid reactant and product were extracted, separated by HPLC and quantitated as to mass and content of tritium. The oxidized and reduced cofactors were separated by ion-exchange chromatography and quantitated as to mass and tritium content. In all incubations, equimolar amounts of 17,20 alpha-dihydroxy-4 pregnen-3-one and oxidized cofactor were obtained. Further, all recovered radioactivity remained with cofactor and none was found in the steroid product. In additional experiments, both reduced cofactors were separately incubated with glutamate dehydrogenase, an enzyme known to transfer from the B-side of the nicotinamide ring. Here radioactivity was present only in the unreacted cofactor fractions and in the product, glutamic acid. The results indicate that bovine testicular 20 alpha-HSD catalyzes transfer of the 4A-hydrogen from the dihydronicotinamide moiety of the reduced cofactor. Finally, this work described modifications that represent considerable improvement in the purification and assay of bovine 20 alpha-HSD as originally described. PMID- 2615367 TI - Effect of estradiol on the membrane fluidity of the rat vaginal epithelial cells. AB - Changes in the cell surface of vaginal epithelial cells were studied by scanning microscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. Microvilli which are prominent features of the vaginal epithelial cells in proestrus and diestrus are replaced by sheet like structures in the estrus phase. Surface morphology of vaginal epithelial cells of estradiol primed rat resembles the vaginal cells from estrus phase rats whereas vaginal cells from control rats resembles the diestrus phase. Measurement of the fluidity of the membranes indicated that the vaginal epithelial cell membrane of estrus rats is more fluid compared to proestrus and diestrus. Similarly, estradiol primed immature rat vaginal epithelial cell membrane was observed to be more fluid than the corresponding control. PMID- 2615368 TI - Ethanol-induced inhibition of testosterone biosynthesis in rat Leydig cells: role of culture medium composition. AB - The biochemical mechanisms responsible for the ethanol-induced inhibition of testicular testosterone synthesis were studied in isolated rat Leydig cells in vitro. This inhibition was removed when HAM-F12 nutrient mixture was added to the DME culture medium. The components of HAM-F12, i.e. vitamins, amino acids and other supplements, were tested individually and the amino acids L-glutamate (Glu) and L-aspartate (Asp) were found to potentiate strongly the hCG stimulated testosterone synthesis. None of the other components of HAM-F12 had any effect upon testosterone synthesis or its ethanol-induced inhibition. Moreover, Glu, but not Asp, effectively reversed the acute inhibition of steroidogenesis by ethanol. These results demonstrate the importance of the composition of the culture media and provide the first piece of evidence that the metabolic stress in rat Leydig cells in vitro induced by the metabolism of ethanol can be overcome by proper culture medium supplementation. PMID- 2615369 TI - Partial characterization of testosterone 5 alpha-reductase solubilized from rat testicular microsomes. AB - Testosterone 5 alpha-reductase was successfully solubilized by the use of digitonin from rat testicular microsomes and then partially purified by polyethylene glycol fractionation and DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography. The 5 alpha-reductase activity of the partially purified preparation was significantly stimulated by addition of phosphatidylserine (bovine brain). Synthetic dilauroylphosphatidylcholine also increased the reductase activity to a somewhat lesser extent than did phosphatidylserine, whereas natural phosphatidylcholine from bovine liver did not exhibit any stimulation. When synthetic phosphatidylcholines with varying acyl chain lengths were tested for their stimulatory effects on the reductase activity, dilauroylphosphatidylcholine was most active; dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine was less active; dioleoylphosphatidylcholine was almost inactive. PMID- 2615370 TI - Characterization of the rabbit aorta endothelium-dependent cholinergic receptor by agonist equipotent molar doses. AB - The endothelium-dependent acetylcholine, metacholine, carbachol, betanechol, and furtrethonium relaxation values have been measured in vitro for the rabbit aorta, in presence of a high concentration of hexamethonium. The produced EPMR values complete the values that were obtained in a previous experiment under analogous conditions for rat bladder, ileum, iris, stomach, and trachea preparations. The complete set was analyzed by new statistical techniques of data analysis and display, which are both simpler and more precise than the statistical modeling techniques used by us in the past. This has led to new results concerning the clustering of drugs and of receptors, as well as to a characterization of the endothelium receptor. PMID- 2615371 TI - Computerized estimation of spontaneous and evoked acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction. AB - A new and automated on-line analysis of the parameters related to the neuromuscular activity is shown. The procedure used to obtain in real time the statistical evaluation of the recorded electrical signals is presented and discussed. The hardware is composed of a PDP-11/73 microcomputer equipped with an analog input/output board. The software is written principally in FORTRAN 77 and also uses MACRO/ASSEMBLY language. PMID- 2615372 TI - A method for complete removal of pelvic ganglia in female rats. AB - A new method based on surgical removal and chemically induced degeneration of pelvic ganglia in female rats is described. This combined procedure stems from the difficulty to locate the primary and accessory pelvic ganglia. PMID- 2615373 TI - Transmembrane migration technique: reexamination of its usefulness in sperm motility assessments. AB - A study was carried out using time-exposure photomicrography to investigate the potential usefulness of the transmembrane migration technique in the assessment of drug effects on human sperm motility. Significant but weak correlations were evident between the transmembrane migration ratio (TMMR%) and both % motility (r = 0.43; p less than 0.05) and the amplitude of lateral sperm head displacement (r = 0.40; p less than 0.05). However, no significant correlations were evident between TMMR% and the concentration of motile spermatozoa, mean path velocity, or frequency of sperm head rotation. Exposure to 2.5 mM 2-deoxyadenosine caused significant increases in % motility, mean path velocity, and frequency of sperm head rotation, with no concomitant rise in TMMR%, while 5.0 mM caffeine caused significant elevations in both TMMR% and in % motile cells. It is concluded that the transmembrane migration technique is a relatively insensitive method for detecting subtle but important changes in the movement characteristics of human spermatozoa. PMID- 2615374 TI - Simple and specific assessment of Ca-entry-blocking activities of drugs by measurement of Ca reversal. AB - A new, simple, and specific screening method for Ca-entry blocker is reported. In the presence of various blockers of Ca-entry (Ca-channel blockers), Ca2+ (1 x 10( 4) M) causes Ca reversal, i.e., it causes relaxation of rat uterine smooth muscle that has been tonically contracted with oxytocin in Ca-free medium (Ca-free contraction) after prolonged preincubation with 3 mM EGTA. The potencies of various drugs to cause Ca reversal, assessed on an all-or-none basis, were found to reflect their activities of blocking Ca entry. The potencies of drugs for blocking Ca entry via voltage-operated Ca-channels could be determined in 125.6 mM K+ Ca-free medium. Drugs that inhibited Ca-free contraction directly have some other antispasmodic activity. Conventionally, activity for blocking Ca entry is screened by measuring inhibition of Ca-induced contraction, but true Ca-entry blocking activity cannot be differentiated clearly from other antispasmodic activity when a drug has both activities. However, by measuring Ca reversal, activity for blocking Ca entry only can easily be found, when done in solution with high K+ content for blocking voltage-operated channels and when done in solution with normal K+ content for blocking voltage-independent channels. PMID- 2615375 TI - A set of computer programs to calculate agonist dissociation constants. AB - A series of computer programs have been written to calculate agonist dissociation constants by the method of Parker and Waud (1971). They are faster and less tedious than the manual iterative solutions previously presented, but give comparable results. PMID- 2615376 TI - A method for monitoring the effectiveness of allopurinol pretreatment in the prevention of ischemic/reperfusion injury. AB - The protective actions of allopurinol in ischemic/reperfusion injury seem critically determined by the drug pretreatment regimen and may involve generalized alterations in tissue antioxidant status. In the present study, 12 male swine to be used as donors and recipients in a heart-lung transplantation study were treated with allopurinol given orally at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 4 days prior to surgery. Red cells from allopurinol-treated animals showed a progressive decrease in susceptibility to in vitro peroxidative challenge. Although the degree and time-course of protection showed some degree of interanimal variation, maximal effects were obtained in most animals after 2-3 days. The extent of red cell protection in both donor and recipient animals correlated significantly with the functional viability of the transplanted lung, as assessed by tissue water content. It is suggested that the susceptibility of red cells to in vitro oxidative damage may provide a useful functional assessment of generalized alterations in antioxidant status produced by pharmacological interventions. PMID- 2615377 TI - Developmental canalization can enhance species survival. AB - We investigate the behavior of haploid, asexual populations undergoing an evolutionary process. Each individual is endowed with a genotype, and one of several possible developmental mechanisms mapping this genotype onto a phenotype. We show that various properties of the mapping itself have important consequences for the survival of the groups. The populations which are most successful, both alone (but in a changing environment) as well as in competition against other groups (for which the mapping is different) consist of organisms where gene expression is characterized by pleiotropism, polygenic inheritance, and some amount of canalization (i.e. error damping). These same features lead to the appearance of patterns of punctuated equilibrium during evolution. Punctuated evolution was sometimes observed even in the absence of stabilizing selection; it then arose solely from the internal developmental constraints. PMID- 2615378 TI - An analysis of epipubic bone function in mammals using scaling theory. AB - Linear dimensions of epipubic bones in 61 species of metatherians and monotremes scale to mass differently in groups with or without marsupia, presumably reflecting emphasis on different but non-mutually exclusive functions. Sexual dimorphism of epipubic form exists. However, the allometric relationships of the epipubic bones of taxa that possess marsupia do not conform to the hypothesis that epipubic bones support the marsupium nearly as well as those without a marsupium. This observation renders a new hypothesis relating litter mass to epipubic form in taxa without marsupia. It appears that support of the marsupium is not the primary function or, at least, not the most proximate determinate of epipubic form in taxa with marsupia. The scaling of epipubic bone dimensions is consistent with the hypothesis that predicts epipubic bones serve to assist in locomotion by acting with the hypaxial muscles of the trunk and pectineus to protract the pelvic limbs. Epipubic length is shown to scale to maintain a mechanical advantage between these opposing muscle groups that approximates the rate that inertia of the hind limbs increases with total mass and speed of locomotion. This hypothesis provides an explanation for a skeletal element scaling significantly above geometric similarity. This observation has important theoretical significance as it suggests that skeletal architecture may, within limits, scale independently of mass-related stress. PMID- 2615379 TI - Varieties of stochastic model: a comparative study of the Gompertz effect. AB - A comparative study is made of various models for the Gompertz phenomenon, which is a form of growth rate limitation in population dynamics. Deterministic, Markov birth-death, diffusion and stochastic differential equation models are studied, with a view to assessing their advantages and limitations. PMID- 2615380 TI - Geometric optical optimization of the corneal lens of Notonecta glauca. AB - The optimal shape of the corneal lens of the water bug backswimmer (Notonecta glauca) and the optimal shape and position of the thin transition layer between the distal and proximal units of its cornea are theoretically determined. Using a geometric optical method, first the shape of a geometric interface between the lens units is determined, which eliminates the longitudinal spherical aberration. This interface is investigated for differently formed thick lenses when the medium in contact with the entrance surface of the lens is water or air. The optimal transition layer for the amphibious backswimmer is that, the boundaries of which are the theoretical interfaces for water and air, and the refractive index varies continuously in it. The optimal shape of the corneal lens is determined, with the disadvantageous lenses, with respect to the possible minimal spherical aberration and amount of reflected light from the transition layer, being rejected. The optimal position of the transition layer in the cornea can be obtained from the minimization of the amount of diffracted light on the marginal connection of the layers. The optimal corneal lens for backswimmer has ellipsoid boundary surfaces; the optimal transition layer in it is thin bell-shaped, at the marginal connection of which there is no dimple, the maximum of the layer is on the margin of the cornea. The shape of the theoretically optimal corneal lens, the shape and position of the theoretically optimal transition layer agree well with those of Notonecta glauca. The question posed, the geometric optical method used and the results presented are of general importance, and not only with respect to vision in the bug Notonecta, but also in the fossil trilobites, or in the wave guide theories which have been employed in similar modelling problems, in design of system of lenses without spherical aberration, for example. PMID- 2615381 TI - The primary sex ratio under environmental sex determination. AB - The ESS primary sex ratio (male/female) under environmental sex determination (ESD) is shown to be equal to the ratio of the average fertility of a female to the average fertility of a male. Thus, depending upon how male and female fertility change over the environmental variable causing ESD, the primary sex ratio may be either male or female biased, or neither. The primary sex ratio thus contains information as to how male and female fertilities change with the environment. PMID- 2615382 TI - Tooth eruption: the phase transition theory on biological formation of an orderly structure. AB - The mechanism of the formation of an orderly structure from random elements in organ development was clarified by studying the maturation of the dental arch in the human mandible. First, an application of methods established in statistical physics to a system of organ development was made possible, and then, the mathematical procedures for quantitative study of the structure and development of the dental arch were established in relation to radiographic data. The experimental results demonstrate that a parallel arrangement of the longitudinal axes of the lateral teeth is formed co-operatively in the dental arch. As formulation of the results to mathematical relations, the regulatory process was expressed by a non-linear Langevin equation of order parameter denoting an angle between longitudinal axes of the individual teeth. It follows that the orderly structure evolves with a change in thermodynamic potential; that is, the establishment of order in a phase transition. We propose the concept that organ differentiation is a phase transition in a dissipative system, with the decrease of gene activity substituted for temperature. PMID- 2615383 TI - Physiological basis for mechanical time-variance in the heart: special consideration of non-linear function. AB - A relationship between ventricular pressure and volume is developed starting from basic cardiac muscle mechanics. The known and measurable properties of myocardium, such as the Hill law, the periodic excitation-contraction mechanism, and non-linear elasticity of the surrounding elastin and collagen structure, are formulated into a myofibril unit. A cylindrical geometry is chosen to represent the structure of the ventricle, using the myofibril unit as the basic building block. Pressure-volume isochrones computed from this model illustrate non-linear function in the heart which arises from both geometric effects and muscle effects. The above theory and model is linearized to provide a special study case. The behavior that resulted is that of a time-varying elastance, E(t), and, hence, can help in the interpretation of its meaning. It is found that the minimum in E(t) is the consequence of the stiffness of the myocardial fibrous network, adjusted by a geometric factor. In addition, the magnitude of E(t) is governed by myocardial contractility, a geometric factor, and the excitation contraction mechanism, where time-dependency is imparted by periodic excitation. Since the elastic fibers are the only true elastic elements, the quantity of elastance is determined by controlled volume feedback. A circuit model is provided to illustrate this concept. The non-linear active and passive heart function curves are specified independently. These curves are required to intersect below the resting volume and result in a negative pressure at the intersection. This is found to explain the phenomenon of ventricular suction. In addition, they lead to a time-varying dead volume by virtue of time-dependent isochronal slope. Non-linear function is introduced to the model and is found to explain the variation in curvature of the ventricular isochrones. PMID- 2615384 TI - A model for bacterial flagellar motor: free energy transduction and self organization of rotational motion. AB - A bacterial flagellar motor is an energy transducing molecular machine which shows some attractive characteristics. First, this motor is driven by a protonmotive force (PMF) across the membrane, two components of which, electric potential delta psi and chemical potential -(2.3RT/F)delta pH, are equivalently transduced to the mechanical work of the motor rotation. Second, a PMF threshold for rotation is observed. Third, this motor can rotate reversibly either counterclockwise (CCW) or clockwise (CW) at almost the same speed. To clarify the osmomechanical coupling of this motor, these characteristics must be explained consistently at the molecular level. In this paper, in order to allow quantitative analyses of the above characteristics, a theoretical model of a bacterial flagellar motor is constructed assuming that the torque generating sites are electrodes which can be charged by protons and that the electrostatic interaction between the electrodes generates the rotation torque. Electrode reaction reasonably derives the equivalence of delta psi and -(2.3RT/F)delta pH. In this model, rates of charging and discharging of protons are influenced by the motor rotation rate, so that the torque generating sites co-operatively work through the motor rotation. We named this kind of co-operativity among them "dynamic co-operativity" in torque generation. This co-operativity causes autocatalytic generation of motor torque and the existence of the rotation threshold. In this model, the appearance of the stable rotational states can be described by phase transition caused by the dynamic co-operativity among torque generating sites. According to this model, the flagellar motor has two stable rotational states corresponding to CCW and CW, which show the same torques. The motor selects one direction from them to rotate, and that is self-organization of rotational motion. Interpretation of the transition between the two stable rotational states as the chemotactic reversals of the flagellar motor is also discussed. PMID- 2615385 TI - The effect of cationic electrolytes on the electrostatic behavior of cellular surfaces with ionizable groups. AB - Based on the assumption that the electrostatic charges on the surface of sheep leukocytes arise from the dissociation of ionogenic groups, together with the presence of divalent cation (or trivalent cation) in the suspending medium of low ionic strength (or high ionic strength), the non-linear Poisson-Boltzmann equation for cell interaction with a solid surface with constant potential (or constant charge) is numerically solved in this paper. The cellular surface potential and the repulsive (or attractive) force is expressed as the function of separation distance. Because of shrinking the thickness of the electrostatic double layer at high ionic strength, the presence of cationic electrolyte has a less influential role on both the cellular surface potential and interaction force than at low ionic strength. However, due to the continuous equilibration of the ionogenic groups on the cellular surface as separation distance decreases, the presence of cationic electrolyte will not always reduce the interaction force during the whole adhesion period. The distance at which the cationic electrolyte changes its effect from positive to negative is termed the critical separation distance in this paper. PMID- 2615386 TI - The surface area of an ellipsoid revisited. PMID- 2615387 TI - Adhesion induced by mobile cross-bridges: steady state peeling of conjugated cell pairs. AB - Recent experiments on cell-cell adhesion indicate that (i) bonds between two cells migrate towards the region of conjugation during peeling, and (ii) cell membrane tension increases with the rate of peeling. Analytical methods that would allow the derivation of intrinsic parameters of adhesion from such experimental data have yet to be explored. In this study we introduce a specific adhesion model to investigate the complex interaction between rate of peeling, lateral diffusivity and the rate of detachment of bonds. Our analysis show that adhesive energy density increases with the rate of peeling and with lateral diffusivity of the bonds but decreases with increasing rate of detachment. The rate dependency of the adhesive energy is due to the modulation of the number density distribution of bonds by the speed of peeling. PMID- 2615388 TI - A new principle of enzyme catalysis: coupled vibrations facilitate conformational changes. AB - The coupling between the molecular vibrations in chymotrypsinogen, alpha chymotrypsin and tosyl-alpha-chymotrypsin, as expressed by the temperature factors of individual amino acid sidechains and by a flexibility parameter calculated from the masses and co-ordinates of the atoms, has been analyzed by calculation of the integral correlation coefficient, the autocorrelation coefficient, the Poincare projection, the first Liapunov coefficient and the power spectra. The agreement between the results obtained with the temperature factors and the flexibility parameter as well as the correct display by the latter of known structural features support the validity of the approach. The localization and extent of the conformational change in the enzyme following its binding of a specific substrate is detected in the difference plot between the enzyme and the acylenzyme of the distribution of the flexibility parameter over the peptide chain. As many as about 70% of the aminoacids participate in this rearrangement. An attractor of low dimensionality, two, i.e. a limit cycle, is detected both in the total enzyme and in its domain which is mobilized by the specific substrate. A simple model based on a known prominent structural feature, which is common to the trypsin family of serine proteases, two extensive coaxial halfcylinders of beta-sheets, to which previously no mechanistic function could be assigned, is proposed to account for the role of the attractor in the catalytic process: (1) control of the entry of a specific substrate to the catalytic site by co-ordinated disentanglement of the interlocking sidechains; (2) correct positioning of the functional groups in the active site; (3) lowering of the activation energy of the formation of the transition state complex. PMID- 2615389 TI - Spatial patterns and ESS's. AB - The classical idea of an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) does not involve any spatial dependence. An evolution equation for analyzing games in a region is suggested and the possibility of spatial patterns is investigated. It is shown that an ESS is so stable that it forbids any spatial dependence but that other equilibria may have patterns associated with them if the dispersion rates are suitably chosen. PMID- 2615390 TI - Molecular recognition and information gain. AB - Molecular recognition is considered as an information transduction process, and information theory is applied to analyze the efficiency of the information transduction during molecular recognition. It is shown that a certain amount of information is gained in the recognition process, and it can be expressed in terms of thermodynamic quantities in the binding process of molecules. The information gain, which can be interpreted as the amount of information extracted from the sequence or structure by a molecule, represents the intrinsic ability of a molecule to recognize specific sequence or structure out of large ambient ensemble based on physical interactions. In contrast with thermodynamic quantities themselves, the information gain is a normalized quantity, and thus serves as a good measure of specificity in the molecular recognition. The information gain, which can be evaluated experimentally, enables us to identify the specific interactions and compare the specificity among different molecules quantitatively. In contrast with macroscopic recognition, specificity of molecular recognition may be severely restricted by the thermodynamic nature of molecular interactions. The thermodynamic meaning of the information gain and its biological implications to molecular recognition are discussed. PMID- 2615391 TI - Parental hormone levels and the possibility of establishing that some mammalian sex ratio variation is adaptive. AB - The problem of whether some mammalian sex ratio variation is adaptive is proving intractable. A fresh approach to the problem is suggested here. PMID- 2615392 TI - A simplified model for bivariate complex allometry. AB - A three-parameter relationship passing through the origin can be derived from the Gompertz growth curve and provide a simplified but useful description of complex allometry, where variates are not proportional to powers of each other as in simple allometry. Partial linearization is often satisfactory and, after a double logarithmic transformation, the allometric relationship is non-linear only with respect to an exponent of complex allometry, D, which reflects the presence (E # 1) or absence (D = 1) of a curvature in log-log space and provides an approximate test of the hypothesis of simple allometry. Examples are presented concerning growth allometry in white rats, metabolic allometry in placental mammals, and size allometry in the Paddlefish, in the North American Marten and in the Painted Turtle. PMID- 2615393 TI - Biophysical interpretation of membrane fluidity by catastrophe theory. AB - We have regrouped the data of two examples where membrane fluidity was progressively modified by pharmacological and physiological agents. In our approach, each initial condition is determined by control parameters (depth of the membrane bilayer explored, concentration of agents). The fluidity is expressed as a state parameters followed on the control space. Then, according to Catastrophe Theory, the results are depicted as tridimensional patterns which can be recognized as bifurcation sets. Consequently, the fluidity is considered as resulting in a compromise phenomenon (normal factor) between two structurally attracting configurations (of hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature). The concepts of membrane activity and membrane function are then discussed on the basis of physiological functionality of biomembranes. The main application of this research interests the pharmacological domain. Indeed, a new classification of drugs could be proposed. According to the loss of membrane functionality, some drugs could imply a too high differentiation of attractors (splitting factor) and others could imply the destruction of the compromise. The first type is characterized by the physical destruction of the membrane. In the second type, the entity of the bilayer is preserved but the membrane is destructurated. PMID- 2615394 TI - Design and analysis of protein binding experiments. AB - The design and analysis of protein binding experiments for obtaining precise parameter estimates for a one-site and a two-site model treating fu, the fraction unbound as the experimentally determined quantity was investigated. Total drug concentrations were chosen at which the binding isotherm is determined to yield the most information about the parameters under study. The D-optimization information criterion was used to achieve this although other criteria are also discussed. For both the one-site and the two-site models the number of design points was always equal to the number of parameters being estimated. The results arrived at when dealing with constant variance and unconstrained total drug concentration were rather unique in that in most of the cases studied, all the optimal design points were away from the boundary conditions. For constant relative variance and unconstrained total drug concentrations, one of the design points was always placed at the smallest possible value of fu, the fraction unbound. For the one-site model the second point was always given by K(-1) + nP. The optimal designs arrived at lead to lower theoretical coefficients of variation in the parameters than the corresponding conventional ones. Simulated experiments supported these theoretical findings for both the one-site and the two-site models. For the one-site model, results from nonlinear regression were compared with Scatchard analysis and the optimal designs were also optimal in Scatchard space. We also show that using Scatchard analysis with the conventional strategy leads to poorly determined estimates particularly when the number of observations is low. PMID- 2615395 TI - Red cell membrane crenation: a macromodel of the echinocyte I. AB - A physical macromodel of the erythrocyte membrane was constructed to investigate the effect of intrinsic membrane precurvature on a unique non-isotropic, composite material that dissipated shear energy but stored bending energy. The intrinsic precurvature of the material could be modified from strong positive precurvature through neutral to strong negative precurvature. A spherical shell constructed of the negatively precurved variant of this non-isotropic material spontaneously assumed the characteristic shape of the echinocyte I. PMID- 2615396 TI - Phylogeny congruence analysis and isozyme classification: the pyruvate kinase system. AB - As the isozymes of pyruvate kinase (PK) are best known in rats, the characteristics of the rat isozymes are generally used to classify the PK isozymes in other species. Given the discrepancies generated by this classification by analogy, we evaluated a classification using a phylogeny congruence analysis of the compositional relatedness of vertebrate PK's. While our phylogenetic analysis confirmed the well established separation of the L and R isozymes from the K and M isozymes, its power became most evident in the identification of non-orthologous (or variant) forms of PK. Our analysis emphasized the uniqueness of chicken liver PK which cannot be classified either as a K or an L isozyme, confirmed that tumors express a variety of forms of PK, and indicated that lungs systematically express PK's which are not orthologous with PK's from other tissues. The determination of orthology by the phylogeny congruence analysis assumes that the structural data from different sources are subject to similar methodological error. However, we cannot reject the possibility that an apparent lack of orthology be due to artifacts during purification and analysis. PMID- 2615397 TI - Gompertzian mortality derived from competition between cell-types: congenital, toxicologic and biometric determinants of longevity. AB - Gompertz-Makeham kinetics of population mortality is derived in terms of competition between hypothetical life-prolonging and life-shortening regulatory elements (cells) interacting in each organism by generalized Volterra-type competitive exclusion. The model is developed on two levels, the first applicable to homogeneous populations, and the second, a statistical generalization, applicable to inhomogeneous populations. It offers a natural classification of effects of exogeneous agents on longevity, including hormetic and paradoxical effects of toxic substances, thus relating to problems of risk assessment by extrapolation from high to low doses. Two applications, concerning the effects of radiation on mice and Drosophila imagos, respectively, are used to illustrate the flexibility of the model in the analysis and interpretation of observational data. PMID- 2615398 TI - Should a parasite expose itself? (some theoretical aspects of begging and vigilance behavior). AB - This paper examines the evolutionarily stable (ESS) solution of the begging conflict in cases involving nest parasitization. As expected, the presence in the nest of a parasite chick leads to a more intense begging conflict, with the parasite displaying a more selfish behavior than the host chicks. The model also predicts opposite responses by the host and the parasite to changes in the number of nestmates. While a larger number of nestmates entails a reduced ESS begging intensity for each of the host chicks, it entails an increased begging intensity for the parasite. Consequences of the parasite's ability to disguise itself are compared to analogous results for the vigilance game: whereas in the begging game a parasite should conceal itself, exposure can be selectively advantageous for a defector in the vigilance game. PMID- 2615399 TI - Influenza viruses, comets and the science of evolutionary trees. AB - The study of phylogeny is becoming increasing scientific in that hypotheses can be tested quantitatively. We report a method of estimating the probabilities of obtaining a tree of a given length from nucleic acid sequence data. The method is applied to the hypothesis of Hoyle & Wickramasinghe that the earth is being continually bombarded by influenza (and other) viruses which originate from comets. A quantitative analysis of sequences from the H1 strain of human influenza viruses contradicts three versions of the Hoyle-Wickramasinghe model. One non-evolutionary version of their model has less than one chance in 10(66) of being correct. A version that allowed extraterrestrial evolution has less than one change in 10(6) of being correct. The sequence data is in agreement with the biological (evolutionary) model. The results are discussed from the aspect of the falsifiability of evolutionary theory. PMID- 2615400 TI - An electrostatic model for the interaction between growth hormone and its receptor involving chelation of Ca2+ to the human growth hormone molecule. AB - We previously postulated the local involvement of cations in the complex between human growth hormone and its receptors in the liver. The original electrostatic model involved convergence of unit negative charges on the hormone and receptor, towards an interposed Ca2+ ion. That model was consistent with (a) the Ca2+ dependence of human growth hormone binding, (b) the magnitude of the Ca2+ mediated increase in the affinity of human growth hormone binding, and (c) could also explain the relative affinities of human and non-primate growth hormones for growth hormone receptors. In the present report, the original electrostatic model is revised with the postulate that Ca2+ is chelated to the human growth hormone molecule. The consequences of this postulate are explored mathematically with the result that it becomes necessary to propose an additional unique hindrance determinant (positive residues in helices one and four are good candidates) to account for the lower affinity of non-primate growth hormones relative to human growth hormone. Predictions are made regarding the effect of a particular point mutation (at position 34) on the affinity of hormone binding. PMID- 2615401 TI - Wetting, percolation and morphogenesis in a model tissue system. AB - Artificial tissues constructed of cells or polystyrene beads suspended in a solution of type I collagen will, under appropriate conditions, protrude into regions of similar matrices lacking particles, but containing the extracellular glycoprotein fibronectin. This phenomenon has been termed "matrix-driven translocation". Conditions required for the effect include the presence of heparin-like molecules on the cell or bead surfaces, appropriate concentrations of particles and collagen, and physiological ionic strength and pH. Here we consider the idea that the driving force for the concerted movement of matrix and suspended particles is the thermodynamically spontaneous spreading or wetting behavior of two immiscible fluids bounded by common substrata. Wetting theory is shown to be capable of accounting for the behavior of this model system, but this analysis requires that the two matrix regions constitute separate phases at thermodynamic coexistence. We show that one plausible mechanism for the generation of separate phases is the formation of a percolation network of collagen fibers on a lattice of cells or beads. It is argued that the concepts of wetting and percolation apply to properties in common between the model system and living tissues, and may therefore be used to provide a physical account of aspects of tissue morphogenesis. PMID- 2615402 TI - Synaptic current between neuromuscular junction folds. AB - Measurements of membrane infoldings of vertebrate subsynaptic membranes were taken to evaluate the possible electrophysiological implications. The shapes of standard interfolds of different neuromuscular junctions were established from micrographs available in the literature. Electrical properties were estimated using published fibre membrane and myoplasm electrical values. Models of synaptic current pathways were designed taking into account the small size of the postsynaptic patch activated by a transmitter quantum. This analysis reveals a resistance "in series" between the ACh-sensitive interfold crest and the remainder of the muscle fibre. The calculated cytoplasmic resistance of an interfold is between 0.2 and 3 Mohms which is in the same range as the fibre DC input resistance. The calculated interfold resistance appears to be dependent on the fibre type, the age and the pathology. Functional roles of junctional folds and dendritic spines are discussed. PMID- 2615403 TI - Antagonistic co-evolution and the evolution of genotypic randomization. AB - Antagonistic co-evolution, such as the pursuit and flight of host-parasite co evolution, easily generates cyclical co-evolutionary dynamics. It is well known that a fluctuating, contrary environment may favour the evolution of recombination, but previous analyses have shown that the optimal rate of recombination declines as the period of the environmental fluctuations gets longer. It is here shown that the direction of selection for recombination (for higher or lower rates) may only be sensitive to fluctuation period if the fluctuations are generated by non-co-evolving features of the environment, such as changes in climate. In the simple model of this paper, co-evolutionary cycling provides an advantage for recombination that is independent of period length. This independence of period length necessitates a new framework for understanding the advantage of recombination in the context of co-evolution. In the model studied in this paper it is the phase difference of the host and parasite trajectories that is the relevant feature, and phase relationships are independent of the co-evolutionary cycle time. That is, the phase difference of the oscillations is independent of their frequency. PMID- 2615404 TI - The temporal evolution of AIDS manifestation in a group of HIV virus infected individuals. PMID- 2615405 TI - Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum and Ammi majus on calcium oxalate urolithiasis in rats. AB - The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Trigonella foenum graecum seed and Ammi majus fruit on experimentally-induced kidney stones. Oxalate urolithiasis in male rats was produced by the addition of 3% glycolic acid to their diet. After 4 weeks, highly significant deposition in the kidneys was noticed and changes in water intake and body weight recorded. Daily oral treatment with T. foenum-graecum significantly decreased the quantity of calcium oxalate deposited in the kidneys thus supporting its use in Saudi folk medicine. The effects obtained by A. majus were, however, not significant. PMID- 2615406 TI - Effect of shosaikoto, daisaikoto and sannoshashinto (traditional Japanese and Chinese medicines) on experimental hyperlipidemia in rats. AB - Effect of Sannoshashinto, Shosaikoto and Diasaikoto, Japanese and Chinese traditional medicinal mixtures (kampohozai), on cholesterol-induced hypercholesterolemia, aging-induced hyperlipidemia and cholesterol turnover were studied in rats. Sannoshashinto, Shosaikoto and Daisaikoto reduced the hypercholesterolemia induced by a high cholesterol diet and Sannoshashinto and Daisaikoto improved the atherogenetic index. Liver total cholesterol as increased by a high cholesterol diet was reduced by all three kampohozai. Furthermore, the increases of serum and liver triglyceride were also inhibited. In an experiment using untreated aging rats, both serum total cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels were increased. The aging-induced increases of serum total cholesterol were inhibited by Sannoshashinto and Daisaikoto and the increases of serum triglyceride were reduced by all three kampohozai. These drugs showed no effect on cholesterol biosynthesis in liver. Sannoshashinto, however, appeared to accelerate the disappearance of cholesterol from blood, while Daisaikoto inhibited the cholesterol absorption from the intestine. PMID- 2615407 TI - Effect of shosaikoto on plasma catecholamines. AB - Plasma adrenaline (AD) and noradrenaline (NA) were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with an electrochemical detector. In an experiment using non-treated adrenalectomized rats, most plasma AD appeared to originate from the adrenal medulla, while plasma NA came from other sites. When Shosaikoto, a Japanese and Chinese traditional medicinal mixture, was orally administered to rats, plasma AD levels decreased in a significant manner 60 min after treatment, while plasma NA levels were not changed. Pretreatment with pentobarbital inhibited the Shosaikoto-induced decrease of plasma AD levels. PMID- 2615408 TI - Chemical and pharmacological studies on Talauma ovata St. Hil. (Magnoliaceae). AB - Antidiabetic activity of crude extract of leaves of Talauma ovata St. Hil. (Magnoliaceae) was analysed as part of a general pharmacological screening of this plant. Chemical analysis demonstrated the presence of phytosteroids, saponins, alkaloids and tannins in the crude extract. Pharmacological studies failed to demonstrate hypoglycemic effect of this plant in normoglycemic, hyperglycemic or alloxan-diabetic rats. The low LD50 obtained for this plant strongly suggests that its consumption by the population may be hazardous. PMID- 2615409 TI - Lead content of some traditional preparations--"Kushtas". AB - Traditional remedies/medicines prescribed and used under the name of "Kushtas" in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent have been reported to contain heavy metals, e.g. lead, silver, mercury, etc. as one of their active ingredients. The ingestion of such preparations in high doses would result in acute poisoning whilst low doses, taken over a period of time, would be cumulative and prove to be a serious health hazard. The lead content of a number of Kushtas has been analysed and is reported. PMID- 2615410 TI - Laboratory evaluation of the acaricidal properties of extracts from Uraria picta (Leguminosae). AB - Ethomedical uses of the plant, Uraria picta (Leguminosae), in Nigeria include the control of ectoparasites in man and domestic animals. Total and fractionated extracts of this plant have been assessed for acaricidal activity on Ixodes ricinus. All the extracts were acaricidal to the test organisms. Methanolic extract of this plant is a more potent acaricide compared to the aqueous extract. Similarly, the alkaline-soluble non-polar fraction of the methanolic extract exhibited greater acaricidal activity than the alkaline-insoluble non-polar fraction. However, the polar fraction of the methanolic extract exerted no detectable acaricidal activity. The acaricidal property of this plant is attributable to more than one class of chemical compounds found to include phenolic, flavonoid, sterol and terpene derivatives. PMID- 2615411 TI - Use of contraceptive and related plants by the Kayapo Indians (Brazil). AB - Interest in plant sources of prototypic contraceptive compounds is evidenced by numerous investigations and research projects. We suggest that the success rates of programs devised to evaluate pharmacological effects of traditionally employed contraceptives would be increased if native concepts of conception/contraception were taken into account. If ethnomedical and ethnopharmacological data are not carefully analysed, selection of plants to be evaluated will include those with little cross-cultural application. Kayapo concepts of menstruation, fertility, and contraception are presented, uses of related plants in culturally different groups are also analysed in order to indicate promising fertility-regulating plants used by the Kayapo. PMID- 2615412 TI - Abortifacient activity of an aqueous extract of Spondias mombin leaves. PMID- 2615413 TI - Inhibitory effects of Santolina chamaecyparissus extracts against spasmogen agonists. AB - Several extracts of Santolina chamaecyparissus ssp. squarrosa antagonized in a concentration-dependent way the contractions of rat duodenum, guinea-pig ileum, rat vas deferens and rat uterus as induced by acetylcholine, histamine, noradrenaline, oxytocin and serotonin. Polar extracts were less active than apolar extracts, and it was necessary to assay the former at higher concentrations. Only the lyophilized aqueous extract produced a slight hypotensive effect when given intravenously at 150 mg/kg to urethananesthetized rats. PMID- 2615414 TI - Cardiovascular effects of Tabernaemontana pandacaqui. AB - Intravenous injection of ethanolic extracts of the stem, leaf and flower of Tabernaemontana pandacaqui caused hypotension in pentobarbital anesthetized rats. At high doses (100-300 mg/kg), the flower extract showed a transient hypertensive effect preceeding hypotensive activity. The effects of the extracts on the heart rate of anesthetized rats correlated well with the negative chronotropic and inotropic activity observed with isolated atrium. The hypotensive activity was not inhibited by antihistaminic and antimuscarinic agents. The extracts had no effect on the pressor effects induced by norepinephrine or dual carotid occlusion. These results suggest that the hypotensive action of the extracts is not mediated through histaminic and muscarinic receptors stimulation, alpha adrenoceptor blockade or interference of sympathetic transmission. PMID- 2615415 TI - Effect of Zizyphus sativa leaves on blood glucose levels in normal and alloxan diabetic rats. AB - An alcoholic extract of Zizyphus sativa leaves was tested for hypoglycemic activity in normal and alloxan-diabetic rats. Single (100-400 mg/kg) oral doses of extract to normal animals showed a dose-dependent statistically significant lowering of blood glucose 2, 4 and 6 h later. The effect was most pronounced at 6 h with blood glucose returning to control values at 24 h. In alloxan-diabetic rats, no significant effect was observed with extract and tolbutamide. The minimum lethal dose was greater than 3000 mg/kg, orally in mice. PMID- 2615416 TI - Ethnopharmacologic investigation of ginger (Zingiber officinale). AB - An ethanolic extract of the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale was investigated for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antimicrobial and hypoglycaemic activities. In rats, the extract reduced carrageenan-induced paw swelling and yeast-induced fever but was ineffective in suppressing the writhing induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid. The extract produced blood glucose lowering in rabbits. The growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was significantly inhibited. A dose-dependent inhibition of prostaglandin release effect was observed using rat peritoneal leucocytes. PMID- 2615417 TI - Characterization of anti-complement compounds from Azadirachta indica. AB - The crude aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica bark possesses an inhibitory activity on both classical (CP) and alternative pathway (AP) activation of human complement. Purification of the compounds with the guidance of the AP-inhibitory activity involved extraction with methanol, dialysis, ion-exchange procedures and gel-permeation chromatography. This sequence yielded two polymers, NB-I and NB II, one a highly active compound with a relatively low molecular weight (NB-II) and the other a less active compound with a high molecular weight (NB-I). The polymers were characterized by using colour reactions, TLC, GLC and HPLC after hydrolysis and gel-permeation chromatography as peptidoglycans. The carbohydrate part consisted predominantly of glucose. Arabinose, galactose and mannose were present in minor amounts (NB-II) or only as traces (NB-I). Protein was present for 5.5% in NB-I and for 9.8% in NB-II. PMID- 2615418 TI - Effect of Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides and some substituted benzoic acids on glucose-6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases in Hbss red blood cells. AB - The ether fraction of the aqueous extract of the roots of Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides (antisickling fraction), vanillic acid, parahydroxybenzoic acid and paraflurobenzoic acid possess antisickling inhibitory activity at low concentrations. Paraflurobenzoic acid was the most active. When the activities of NADP+-linked glucose-6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases in washed Hbss blood specimens treated with these agents (6 mg/ml for antisickling fraction and 6 micrograms/ml for the acids) were compared with controls in vitro, there were no significant differences in either normal or sickled states. The media were devoid of enzyme activity. These agents neither affect the activities of these enzymes while exhibiting antisickling activity nor disrupt the cell membrane to the extent of causing leakage to the media. PMID- 2615419 TI - Antianoxic action of evodiamine, an alkaloid in Evodia rutaecarpa fruit. AB - In order to determine the antianoxic potential of evodiamine, its effects were compared to those of vinpocetine (VPT), using a series of animal models of anoxia. In mice, evodiamine was equivalent to VPT in the KCN-induced anoxia model but was greater than VPT in the low-pressure-induced anoxia model. Its effectiveness was increased by combined treatment with physostigmine, suggesting the involvement of a cholinergic mechanism in the antianoxic action of evodiamine. PMID- 2615420 TI - Traditional antileukodermic herbal remedies in the Mediterranean area. AB - More than 100 antileukodermic recipes, involving about 80 plant species used in Italy through the centuries, were collected from Renaissance texts, folk medicine and contemporary herbal usage. The possible efficacy of the recorded plants in stimulating physiological skin pigmentation is discussed in the light of present phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge. Many plants contain erythemogenic substances, some of which (furocoumarins, hypericin) induce light-mediated hypermelanogenesis. Other plants can colour the epidermal keratin (tannins, anthraquinones) or the subcutaneous fat depot (beta-carotene). The usefulness of other plants remains obscure. PMID- 2615421 TI - Acute microcirculatory changes induced by intravenous administration to rabbits of ptaquiloside, a bracken carcinogen. PMID- 2615422 TI - Actions of Chinese herbal medicines keishibukuryo-gan and tougakujyouki-to on the hemolysis and lipid peroxidation of mouse erythrocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide. PMID- 2615423 TI - Screening in mice of some medicinal plants used for analgesic purposes in the state of Sao Paulo. Part II. AB - Seventeen medicinal plants used popularly in Brazil for their reputed analgesic properties were tested in mice by the writhing and tail flick methods. All extractions were made in 50% aqueous ethanol at low temperatures. The oral dose administered was always 1 g extract/kg. Significant effects in both tests were produced by Lippia alba, Piper abutiloides, Piper cincinnatoris, Piper lindbergii and Tillandsia usneoides. PMID- 2615424 TI - Hypoglycemic activity of several seaweed extracts. AB - The hypoglycemic activity of several seaweed extracts on rabbits was studied. Ethanol extracts of Laminaria ochroleuca, Saccorhiza polyschides and Fucus vesiculosus were administered orally to normal animals and their effects on glycemia and triglyceridemia evaluated. Crude polysaccharides and protein solutions from Himanthalia elongata and Codium tomentosum were also assayed. Polysaccharides and proteins from H. elongata caused a significant reduction in blood glucose 8 h after intravenous administration. A case of 5 mg/kg of crude polysaccharide lowered glycemia about 18% in normal rabbits and by about 50% in alloxan-diabetic animals, while the protein solution lowered glycemia in diabetic rabbits by about 30%. PMID- 2615425 TI - Traditional phytotherapy among the Sherpas of Helambu, central Nepal. AB - The traditional phytotherapy of the Sherpas of the Helambu region, Central Nepal, has been investigated. Sixty-seven widely accepted prescriptions involving 49 plant species (one species of fungi, two species of ferns, one species of gymnosperms and forty-five species of angiosperms) are presented along with details on uses. Ethnobotanically, the Helambu Sherpas appear to be one of the least acculturated groups of people. The vast number of prescriptions available to treat ailments, from minor cuts and wounds to bone fractures, gynaecological complaints and tuberculosis, suggest ample opportunities for their critical scientific study. PMID- 2615426 TI - Anti-inflammatory studies on Euphorbia prostrata. AB - Anti-inflammatory studies were conducted in rats on an ethanol extract of whole plant Euphorbia prostrata and its partitioned fractions. The ethyl acetate fraction in an oral dose of 200 mg/kg, inhibited 76% of acute carrageenan-induced paw edema. A fraction, labelled as KSE-23, isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction inhibited 57% of pedal edema at a dose of 8 mg/kg. Acute inflammatory studies of fractions using histamine and bradykinin-induced pedal edema indicated a selective inhibition of histamine-induced edema, suggesting suppression of the first phase of the acute inflammatory reaction. PMID- 2615427 TI - Ethnobotanical studies in northwest and Trans-Himalaya. V. Ethno-veterinary medicinal plants used in Jammu and Kashmir, India. AB - Nomadic tribes and pastoral communities dwelling in the North-West and Trans Himalaya are reputed to have mastered their traditional practices and knowledge about plants used to combat different diseases of their livestock. Ethnobotanical explorations carried out during the past 3 years have brought to light 18 plant species which have been used to alleviate the common sufferings of livestock in this region. The botanical identity of these plants is given along with their local names, methods of preparation and administration. PMID- 2615428 TI - A preliminary investigation of the possible hypoglycaemic activity of Asteracanthus longifolia. AB - Investigations were carried out to confirm or otherwise disprove the view held by many Ayurvedic and other traditional medical practitioners in Sri Lanka, that Asteracanthus longifolia possesses hypoglycaemic properties. The effects of an aqueous extract of the whole plant on fasting blood glucose level and glucose tolerance were investigated using Sprague-Dawley rats. The results indicate that aqueous extracts of A. longifolia can significantly lower the fasting blood glucose level and markedly improve the glucose tolerance of the rats. The hypoglycaemic effect produced by a therapeutic dose (equivalent to 5 g/kg of starting material) was comparable to that produced by a therapeutic dose (15 mg/kg of tolbutamide. The magnitude of the hypoglycaemic effect was found to vary with the dosage administered and the storage time of the prepared extract. PMID- 2615429 TI - Pharmacological study of certain extracts of Laurobasidium lauri. AB - On the basis of observational screening in conscious rats, the essential oil of Laurobasidium lauri seems to be the main agent responsible for the sedating and analgesic effects of this fungus. The inhibitory activity observed in isolated rat uterus with the butanol and alkaloid-rich fractions of this species appears to be related to a decrease in the calcium available for contraction. PMID- 2615430 TI - Inhibitory activity of Jatropha multifida latex on classical complement pathway activity in human serum mediated by a calcium-binding proanthocyanidin. AB - This study isolates and characterizes the anti-complement constituent(s) present in the latex of Jatropha multifida, in an attempt to explain the traditional application of the latex in the treatment of infected wounds. Guided by the inhibition of classical pathway (CP) complement activity in human serum, a polymer was isolated which could be characterized as a proanthocyanidin. The polymer inhibits CP activation of the complement cascade, while alternative pathway (AP) activation is relatively insensitive to the polymer. This is due to the selective depletion of Ca2+, but not Mg2+, from the incubation medium. PMID- 2615431 TI - Anti-inflammatory evaluation of a hydroalcoholic extract of black currant leaves (Ribes nigrum). AB - A hydroalcoholic extract of black currant (Ribes nigrum) leaves was tested on carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema. Pharmacological activity was compared with indomethacin and niflumic acid using acute and chronic (21 or 28 days) oral treatment. Black currant extract and lyophilisate revealed significant anti inflammatory activity comparable to that seen with the reference substances, but without their ulcerogenic potential, even at high doses during chronic treatment. PMID- 2615432 TI - Hippocratic screening of ethanolic extracts from two Tabernaemontana species. AB - Ethanolic extracts of roots, stems, leaves and flowers of Tabernaemontana divaricata and T. pandacaqui were studied by an observational (hippocratic) screening method in rats. Extracts of all plant parts caused sedation, decreased respiration and decreased skeletal muscle tone. Except for the leaf extract of T. pandacaqui, the extracts caused vasodilatation of ear vasculature. Analgesic activity was found for all extracts of both Tabernaemontana species, except for the flower extract of T. divaricata. Lethal doses of the extracts caused the animals to die from respiratory paralysis. Intensity of pharmacological activities was greater with the root and stem extracts. The extracts of T. pandacaqui were more potent than those of T. divaricata. PMID- 2615433 TI - Evaluation of aridanin, a glycoside, and Aridan, an aqueous extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit, on Schistosoma mansoni and S. bovis. AB - Experiments were conducted on different stages of Schistosoma mansoni and S. bovis using various concentrations of aridanin and Aridan. Aridanin and Aridan were active against Schistosoma mansoni and S. bovis miracidia. A low concentration of aridanin (0.25 micrograms/ml) reduced the production of cercariae by snails already shedding cercariae. Aridanin and Aridan also produced profound reduction in the worm recovery of mice infected with pretreated cercariae of S. mansoni and S. bovis. Higher concentrations of the molluscicides were biocidal to the cercariae of these schistosomes. These results indicate that the molluscicides are capable of reducing the transmission of schistosomiasis at different stages of the schistosome development and suggest that a similar effect may occur under field conditions. PMID- 2615434 TI - Screening of Taiwanese crude drugs for antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans. AB - Preliminary antibacterial screening of local crude drugs was carried out using the cariogenic bacterium, Streptococcus mutans. Of 79 aqueous extracts tested, 6 crude drugs were shown to have significant antibacterial activity with minimal inhibitory concentration equal to or lower than 7.8 mg/ml (expressed in terms of dry starting material). Of these effective crude drugs, Morus australis, Ludwigia octovalvis and Thuja orientalis were very effective in inhibiting the growth of serotypes c and d of S. mutans (MIC less than or equal to 2.0-7.8 mg/ml). Elephantopus scaber, Artemisia vulgaris, Mosla chinensis and Orthosiphon aristatus also exhibited considerable antibacterial activity (MIC = 7.8-23.4 mg/ml) against both serotypes. In the presence of 5% sucrose, the antibacterial potency of the majority of the extracts did not change for type c, while the potency decreased about one-half for type d. PMID- 2615435 TI - Pharmacology of alpha/beta arteether--a potential antimalarial drug. AB - Pharmacological studies on alpha/beta arteether (a 30:70 mixture of isomers), a potential drug for the treatment of cerebral malaria, were carried out in experimental animals by giving the drug in arachis oil suspension. The compound appears to be devoid of significant pharmacological activity on the central nervous, cardiovascular and urinary systems. It lacks an anti-inflammatory response in rats up to 50 mg/kg intramuscularly but at 50-200 mg/kg it has some antianaphylactic potential. PMID- 2615436 TI - Analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil of Artemisia caerulescens subsp. gallica. AB - The essential oil of Artemisia caerulescens subsp. gallica was observed to have analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory actions when administered intraperitoneally to rats and mice at doses one-fourth to one-third that of its LD50 of 1.35 ml/kg. Lysine acetylsalicylate was used as a reference compound. PMID- 2615437 TI - Abortifacient potential for the epigeal parts of Peganum harmala. AB - The effect of methanol and acetone extracts of the epigeal parts of Peganum harmala, a common medicinal plant among Bedouins in Israel, was studied on several parameters of reproduction in female rats. The methanol extract at a dose of 2.5 g/kg/day, offered in food or in drinking suspension for 30 days, significantly prolonged diestrus by 1.0 day. The methanol extracts at doses of 2.0, 2.5 and 3.5 g/kg/day appeared to produce a dose-dependent significant decrease in litter size. No change in the physical and nutritional status of the animals and no adverse toxicological effects were observed. PMID- 2615438 TI - Antiandrogenic effects of a flavonoid-rich fraction of Vitex negundo seeds: a histological and biochemical study in dogs. AB - The ability of the flavonoid-rich fraction (5,7,3'-trihydroxy, 6,8,4'-trimethoxy flavones) of Vitex negundo seeds to antagonize the androgen action of exogenous testosterone propionate on the male reproductive system was studied in castrated prepubertal and intact adult dog. The flavonoid-rich fraction (F) was administered 10 mg/kg i.p. every other day either alone or in combination with testosterone propionate. The duration of treatment was 30 days in castrates and 60 days in intacts. Treatment with F caused disruption of the latter stages of spermatogenesis. The epididymides were devoid of spermatozoa. Protein, sialic acid and RNA contents of the testes and epididymides were reduced significantly while testicular cholesterol and phosphatase activity in testes and epididymides were elevated. Reduced androgen production was reflected in low levels of sialic acid in testes and epididymides. Castration alone brought about reduction in size and weight of the epididymides whereas castration followed by F treatment caused a reduction in the cellular heights of epididymides. Simultaneous administration of testosterone propionate to F-treated intact adult and castrated prepubertal dogs maintained the viability of spermatozoa, kept epididymal physiology relatively normal and significantly increased the cellular heights of epididymides. PMID- 2615439 TI - Preliminary isolated organ studies using an aqueous extract of Clivia miniata leaves. AB - An infusion of Clivia miniata leaves is a traditional medicine taken by Black South African women to induce or augment labour. A boiling water extract of C. miniata leaves was studied for its pharmacological effects on rat uterus and ileum. The extract caused concentration-dependent contractions in both the uterus and ileum, but at a fraction of the intrinsic activity of acetylcholine. When the organs were pretreated with the extract before the cumulative addition of either oxytocin or acetylcholine, the extract augmented the initial response of the organs to the reference drugs. The frequency of contractions in the spontaneously contracting uterus was increased by the presence of the extract. C. miniata extract, however, inhibited the maximal response of the ileum to acetylcholine in a non-competitive way. It did not affect the maximal response of the uterus to either oxytocin or acetylcholine. PMID- 2615440 TI - Picrorhiza kurroa, an ayurvedic herb, may potentiate photochemotherapy in vitiligo. PMID- 2615441 TI - Inhibition of cytotoxic drug-induced vomiting in suncus by a ginger constituent. PMID- 2615442 TI - Treatment of chronic renal failure with "serial recipes for renal failure": a report of 64 cases. AB - The "Serial Recipes for Renal Failure" (SRRF), are 11 recipes formulated in accordance with the morbid mechanisms of deficiency, stagnation, dampness and reverse in chronic renal failure (CRF), for the purposes of replenishing deficiency, and activating blood stagnation as an etiological approach and eliminating dampness and suppressing reverse flow as an symptomatic approach. In the treatment of 64 cases of CRF, the total effective rate of SRRF was 84.4%, and the markedly effective rate 51.6%. The author holds that blood stagnation is the main point in the pathogenic mechanism and recommends comprehensive therapeutic measures. PMID- 2615443 TI - Observation on therapeutic effect of clearing heat and dredging stranguria in 103 cases of urinary tract infection. PMID- 2615444 TI - Clinical observations on weight reduction by pressing auricular points with semen vaccariae--a report of 473 cases. PMID- 2615445 TI - Therapeutic effect of point-through-point acupuncture in 70 cases of apoplectic hemiplegia. PMID- 2615446 TI - 38 cases of optic atrophy treated by needling qiuhou point. PMID- 2615447 TI - 112 cases of juvenile myopia treated by auricular acupressure. PMID- 2615448 TI - 10 cases of somnambulism treated with combined acupuncture and medicinal herbs. PMID- 2615449 TI - Observation on the curative effect of 120 cases of auditory hallucination treated with auricular acupuncture. AB - Auditory hallucination often affects the thinking and emotion of the patients leading to dangerous behaviour of injuring themselves or others. We have treated auditory hallucination with different kinds of psychosis, mainly using auricular acupuncture and yielding certain curative effect. In our series, we found that there is no obvious correlation between number of attacks and the curative effect; however the duration of each attack may affect the curative effect. We also noticed that there is no significant difference in curative effects among the groups of simple auricular acupuncture, auricular plus body acupuncture and auricular acupuncture plus chlorpromazine. Therefore, we recommend auricular acupuncture for treating auditory hallucination. PMID- 2615450 TI - Clinical observation on 617 cases of pediatric syndrome of atrophic paralysis of the limbs treated with acupuncture. PMID- 2615451 TI - Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of hiccup. PMID- 2615452 TI - 100 cases of impotence treated by acupuncture and moxibustion. PMID- 2615453 TI - 30 cases of postpartum dysuria treated with acupuncture. PMID- 2615454 TI - Clinical observation of 50 cases of postoperative incisional pain treated by auricular-acupoint pressure. PMID- 2615455 TI - Clinical and experimental studies on the treatment of numbness and pain in the limbs with ramulus cinnamomi. PMID- 2615456 TI - Clinical and experimental studies of coronary heart disease treated with yi-qi huo-xue injection. AB - The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and the mechanism of Yi-qi Huo-xue Injection (YHI) in treatment of coronary heart disease. YHI consists of Ginseng, Astragalus and Angelicae Sinensis. The 10% dextrose serves as a placebo. The results were as follows: 1. the frequency and severity of angina episodes were reduced by 90.63%; 2. the ischemic ST-T in ECG was improved in 56.25% of cases; 3. the tolerance to treadmill exercise was increased from 348.50 to 503.50 M.; 4. the left ventricular function was strengthened, PEP/LVET ratio reduced from 0.45 to 0.36, the activity of (Na(+) K+) ATPase in myocardial cell membrane of rats inhibited by 19.2%; 5. the blood viscosity and erythrocyte electrophoretic time lowered; 6. the adhesion and aggregation of platelet in patients with CHD were inhibited by 27% and 59.4% respectively; 7. the plasma TXB2 level in CHD was reduced from 260.28 +/- 164.4 to 139.29 +/- 57.01 pg/ml; 8. the plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha level in CHD was increased from 33.45 +/- 22.5 to 57.48 +/- 13.1 pg/ml, and in rats from 185.77 to 366.33 pg/ml. The differences were all statistically significant (P less than 0.05-0.01) in comparison with the placebo group. PMID- 2615457 TI - Antihyperlipidemic capsules in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and its clinical effect on hemorheology and aggregation of thrombocytes. AB - The authors treated 54 cases of hyperlipidemia with the antihyperlipidemic capsules and the total short-term effective rate was 77.8%. The capsules also showed obvious effects in improving hemorheology, reducing aggregation of thrombocytes, and lowering the blood pressure. The authors believe they would be useful in the prevention and treatment of ischemic apoplexy and coronary disease. PMID- 2615458 TI - The effect of radix Salviae miltiorrhizae on vasoactive intestinal peptide in cerebral ischemia: an animal experiment. AB - The levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in three regions of rat brain were assayed in 62 rats. Bilateral common carotid artery ligation was done in 50 rats. Half an hour before ligation 26 rats were given 10 g/kg of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM); 24 rats were given same volume of normal saline as controls. A sham operation was done in 12 rats. Half an hour (n = 30) and 3 hours (n = 32) after operation, the rats were quickly decapitated. VIP levels were assayed in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and caudate nucleus. In salin-treated animals, VIP levels of cerebral cortex and caudate nucleus at 3 hour group were significantly decreased compared with the sham-operated group. No significant difference was found between RSM-treated and sham-operated groups. The preliminary results suggest that VIP may be involved in the pathophysiological procedures of cerebral ischemia and RSM may attenuate the dysfunction of VIP during cerebral ischemia. PMID- 2615459 TI - Acupuncture treatment of hirsutism and its effect on the endocrinosity. PMID- 2615460 TI - Effects of phentolamine and propranolol on the changes of pain threshold and contents of MEK and LEK in rat brain after EA. AB - The contents of Met-enkephalin (MEK) and Leu-enkephalin (LEK) in striatum and MEK in hypothalamus of rat increased markedly after electroacupuncture analgesia (EAA). Intraperitoneal injection of phentolamine, a blocker of alpha receptor, potentiated the EAA and abolished the effects of EA increasing MEK and LEK contents; while injection of propranolol, a blocker of beta receptor, partially inhibited the EAA, as well as abolished the effects of EA increasing MEK and LEK concentrations in the striatum and the hypothalamus, and also elevated the MEK and LEK contents in hippocampus and MEK level in cortex. The results indicate that EA regulates metabolism of MEK and LEK, as well as EAA partially via alpha and beta receptors. PMID- 2615461 TI - Effects of artemether on peripheral T, B, T mu and T gamma lymphocytes in beagle dog. AB - The effects of intramuscular injection of Artemether on peripheral T, B, T mu and T gamma lymphocytes in beagle dogs was investigated cytochemically. Doses used were 6, 19, and 32 MKD, respectively. Results showed that after injection of Artemether for 15 successive days, the T, B, and T mu lymphocytes of the 19 and 32 MKD groups were markedly reduced and the T gamma lymphocytes of all 3 dosage groups were decreased to zero. 28 days after cessation of the drug, T, T mu and T gamma lymphocytes had recovered to control levels, while the B lymphocytes of the 19 and 32 MKD groups remained markedly lower than those of the control groups. The differences and similarities of the effects on the peripheral T, B, T mu and T gamma lymphocytes produced by the 3 dosages of Artemether and the relationship between the changes of T, B lymphocytes and immunological function of beagle dogs are discussed. PMID- 2615462 TI - Is transplantation in first remission AML more effective than in advanced leukemia? AB - These data indicate that the increment in the anti-leukemia effect, as expressed as FFR, is comparable for transplants for AML in first remission, advanced leukemia, and in persons never achieving remission. These data are consistent with the notion that the major anti-leukemia effect of HLA-identical bone marrow transplantation in AML results from an immune-mediated graft-versus-leukemia effect rather than from high doses of chemotherapy and radiation. Of course, other factors might explain these results. The superior outcome observed for transplants in first remission versus more advanced disease results not from increased anti-leukemia efficacy of transplants but rather that more persons already cured by chemotherapy receive transplants. Otherwise stated, a substantial portion of the persons cured following transplantation for AML in first remission were cured before receiving a transplant. These data have implications for other aspects of bone marrow transplantation. For example, it is suggested that transplants should be performed earlier in solid tumors when these diseases are more likely to respond to high-dose chemotherapy and radiation. Although this hypothesis may be correct, it need not necessarily be so as evidenced by these data in AML. The data we review show that bone marrow transplants in AML are of comparable anti-leukemia efficacy when performed in first remission, advanced leukemia, and initial resistant disease. Similar conclusions may apply to transplants in CML and ALL. The superior overall outcome observed with transplants in earlier leukemia results from transplanting a greater proportion of subjects already cured by chemotherapy. The increased anti leukemia efficacy of transplants when compared with chemotherapy is compatible with an anti-leukemia effect other than that of high-dose chemotherapy and radiation. An immune-mediated graft-versus-leukemia effect is a likely explanation. Caution in predicting results of autotransplants in solid tumors is likewise necessary. PMID- 2615463 TI - Effects of an anti HLA-DR immunotoxin on leukaemia cells and hematopoietic progenitors. AB - An anti HLA-class II immunotoxin has been prepared by coupling to ricin A-chain (RTA) and anti-DR-DP monoclonal antibody (2G5-MoAb). Protein synthesis inhibition assays showed that 2G5-RTA immunotoxin is: highly cytotoxic to B-cell lymphoid neoplastic cells, and variable so to ALL cells, while AML cell lines display a generally poor susceptibility. Toxicity of 2G5-RTA on normal hematopoietic cells (HPC) was found to be dose-dependent, and to increase significantly with the addition of NH4Cl, used as an activating agent. After 4 h of incubation with 2G5 RTA (10(-8) M), without NH4Cl, percentages of CFU-GM and CFU-GEMM (colony forming units-granulo-monocytes and -multipotent, respectively) progenitor cell recovery were in the order of 50% and 30% respectively. In the same treatment conditions, 2G5-RTA induced a 6 log kill on RAJI cells--measured by clonogenic assay. Finally, this study shows that anti-DR immunotoxins may represent an original, efficient, and relatively safe approach for bone marrow purging of DR positive malignant B-cell populations; while their clinical potential pertaining to ALL and AML remains uncertain. PMID- 2615464 TI - Detection of BrdU in the regenerating bone marrow cells of a patient with AML. AB - A patient with acute myeloid leukemia received bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) prior to remission induction therapy. Prior to therapy only leukemic blast cells were found to be labeled. The marrow was aplastic by day 17 with the marrow cavity being devoid of BrdU labeled cells. In contrast rare BrdU containing cells were noted in the paratrabecular and endosteal regions. As the marrow recovered, many regenerating cells contained BrdU, implying that normal stem cells must have been in S-phase at the time of BrdU infusion, and repopulation of marrow may be accounted for by the activity of only a few clones in remission. PMID- 2615465 TI - Blood responses under chronic low daily dose gamma irradiation: I. Differential preclinical responses of irradiated male dogs in progression to either aplastic anemia or myeloproliferative disease. AB - Male beagles chronically exposed to low daily doses of 60Co gamma rays (7.5 cGy/22h/day) show one of three hematopoietic patterns, which reflect three different distinctly responding subgroups: (1) low radioresistance with progressing aplastic anemia and shortened survival (-S-AA subgroup); (2) high radioresistance with a complex of progressing myeloproliferative disorders (+R MPD group); or (3) high radioresistance with other nonMPD syndromes (+R-nonMPD group). Blood cell levels (granulocytes, monocytes, erythrocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets) were assessed and fitted to a flexible polynomial spline model, thus defining the (a) initial suppressive and (b) subsequent recovery phases for the subgroups. Results showed that relative to the overall magnitude of blood cell loss as well as to the maximum rate of suppression during the initial phase, the subgroups were generally ranked -S-AA much greater than +R-MPD greater than +R-nonMPD. Relative to the overall strength of the recovery response, the subgroups were generally ranked +R-MPD greater than +R-nonMPD much much greater than -S-AA. In terms of overall maintenance levels of circulating blood cells during the recovery phase, however, the +R-nonMPD subgroup consistently exhibited stronger responses than the +R-MPD subgroup. These results tend to support our contention that selected subgroups of dogs have strong propensities to specific hematopathologies (i.e. aplastic anemia and myeloid leukemia) under chronic irradiation and that these pathology-prone animals exhibit a series of marked differential hematopoietic responses during early preclinical phases, which serve effectively to prognosticate subsequent pathological progression. PMID- 2615466 TI - Suppression of mast cell colony formation by a low molecular weight fraction of fetal calf bone marrow extract. AB - A semi-purified fraction extracted from fetal calf bone marrow was previously shown to contain a tetrapeptide N-Ac-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro which inhibits in mice, hematopoietic stem cell entry into the cell cycle. This peptide however, did not exhibit any effect on either IL-3 nor GM-CSF dependent cell growth. We report herein that a semi-purified fraction also contains another activity which is antagonistic to IL-3. Addition of the fraction in vitro decreased IL-3 dependent mast cell colony formation. Growth of IL-3 dependent cell lines (DA-1 and FDC-P2) was also suppressed. No effect was observed in the same dose range on granulocyte macrophage colony formation nor on IL-3 independent cell growth. PMID- 2615467 TI - Regulation of IgM biosynthesis in human chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Normal and neoplastic B cells respond differently to TPA. AB - According to the pattern of IgM biosynthesis (membrane expression and secretion), human B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemias (B-CLLs) were subgrouped into four classes, namely: class I: membrane- secretion-; class II: membrane+ secretion-; class III: membrane+ secretion+; class IV: membrane- secretion+. Abundant membrane mu chain mRNA was present in cells from all cases, indicating that translational and/or post translational events were responsible for the absence of surface IgM in classes I and IV. Similarly, post translational events blocked IgM secretion in non secreting B-CLL cells. In B-CLLs from classes I, II and III, TPA induced IgM secretion by up-regulating secretory mu chain mRNA. By contrast, in normal B cells, TPA induced down-regulation of the secretory form of Ig mRNA, irrespective of the maturational stage of the cell. These observations indicate that IgM biosynthesis is modulated differently by TPA in normal and malignant B cells. PMID- 2615468 TI - Effects of retinoic acid, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, cytosine arabinoside and alpha-interferon on bone marrow cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. AB - Bone marrow cells from 15 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and 2 with acute myeloid leukemia were incubated in vitro with all-trans-retinoic acid (RA), 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (D3), cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) and alpha-interferon (IFN). 3H-thymidine incorporation (3H-TdR), differentiation and clonal growth were studied. D3 was found to be the most effective inducer of differentiation and differentiation was correlated with a decreased 3H-TdR. Differentiation with one of the inducers was significantly correlated to differentiation with any of the other inducers. Patterns of differentiation and spontaneous and D3-induced 3H TdR were used to divide the patients into 3 different groups. In the first group, 5 patients with extremely low spontaneous 3H-TdR and differentiation in combination with a slightly increased 3H-TdR after induction differed from all other patients by a higher percentage of bone marrow blast and a more pronounced pancytopenia. The two other groups had a high spontaneous 3H-TdR but differed with respect to the D3-induced differentiation which was absent in one group (n = 6) and present in the other (n = 5). The two groups showed no difference in the clinical features. PMID- 2615469 TI - Reversal of enzymic phenotype of thymidine metabolism in induced differentiation of HL-60 cells. AB - Exposure of HL-60 cells to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) resulted in specific alterations in thymidine (TdR) metabolism. Within 12 h after treatment with 1.62 nM TPA, the reciprocal alteration in the activities of opposing pathways of TdR metabolism observed during normal culture cell growth was reversed. In TPA-treated cells, the activities of anabolic enzymes, TdR kinase (TK; EC 2.7.1.21) and thymidylate synthase (TS; EC 2.1.1.45), declined to 15% and 18% of those of untreated cells by 96 h. Incorporation of 3H-TdR and 3H deoxyuridine also decreased in parallel with decline in enzyme activities. In contrast, the activities of catabolic enzymes, TdR phosphorylase (TP; EC 2.4.2.4) and dihydrothymine dehydrogenase (DHT DH; EC 1.3.1.2), increased to 399% and 318% by 96 h. Immunotitration of DHT DH with monoclonal antibody showed that the rise in activity in the differentiated cells was due to the increase in protein amount. Kinetic properties of the enzymes were not altered during differentiation. These metabolic alterations were accompanied by an accumulation of the cells in G1 at the expense of S-phase. Present data indicate that induced differentiation of HL-60 cells results in a reversal of enzymic phenotype of TdR metabolism due to a consequence of decreased proliferation and suggest that emergence of TdR metabolic imbalance may serve as early markers of differentiation of these cells. PMID- 2615470 TI - Hemopoietic features of splenectomized mice bearing IL-3 producing T cell leukemia. AB - Hemopoietic responses were studied in splenectomized mice after transplantation of the hemopoietic colony stimulating activity producing leukemia, L8313. In non splenectomized mice, the number of peripheral leukocytes was elevated to 4 x 10(5)/mm3 after transplantation. In contrast, it was below 1.7 x 10(4)/mm3 in splenectomized mice. Total cell, hemopoietic stem cell and progenitor cell numbers in the bone marrow decreased in both groups. Serum from splenectomized mice contained multi-colony stimulating activity although less effective than that from non-splenectomized mice. Extramedullary hemopoiesis was observed in splenectomized mice. These results suggest that invasion of leukemic cells to bone marrow results in a damage of hemopoietic microenvironment. PMID- 2615471 TI - [Revision of the law concerning medical care and its effect on nursing: why the indifference of nurses?]. PMID- 2615472 TI - [Check point in nursing management: the active application and promotion of various projects and the use of information in their application]. PMID- 2615473 TI - [Questions and answers in nursing management: the training of nursing assistants who persist with their own original nursing methods]. PMID- 2615474 TI - [Check point in nursing management: an interest in the personal lives of nurses while giving consideration to the effective scheduling of summer vacations]. PMID- 2615475 TI - [Questions and answers on nursing surveys and report writing: a survey on patients' opinions on primary nursing care]. PMID- 2615476 TI - [An interview with Dr. Yoshio Hirayama and Ms. Takako Hirayama, a husband-and wife team active in operating a home for the aged]. PMID- 2615477 TI - [Check point in nursing education: active approaches in creative design, scholastic research and academic studies for improved education]. PMID- 2615478 TI - [Questions and answers in nursing education: the introduction of effective teaching methods to attract students]. PMID- 2615479 TI - [Check point in nursing education: the practical teaching of the importance of communication in the nursing scene]. PMID- 2615480 TI - [Questions and answers in clinical training. The exchange of student information between teachers and clinical instructors]. PMID- 2615481 TI - [The recruitment of nurses. New trends in the supply of technical professionals and nursing]. PMID- 2615482 TI - [The recruitment of nurses. The future prospects of the manpower supply in nursing]. PMID- 2615483 TI - [The recruitment of nurses. Regional differences in nursing manpower availability and associated problems]. PMID- 2615484 TI - [The recruitment of nurses. The correlation between years of nursing service and maturity in nursing]. PMID- 2615485 TI - [The recruitment of nurses. The causes for the nurse shortage in psychiatric hospitals and the steps to remedy the situation]. PMID- 2615486 TI - [The recruitment of nurses. The steps taken by health facilities for nurse recruitment]. PMID- 2615487 TI - [Two mutually contradictory rules in human services: towards an understanding of the burnout syndrome]. PMID- 2615488 TI - [The role of the nurse administrator: the delegation of work to the nursing staff and the head nurse and their support]. PMID- 2615490 TI - [In search of clinical training that can be understood by students (3)]. PMID- 2615489 TI - [A survey of nurses contracting hepatitis B on the job]. PMID- 2615491 TI - [An attempt at improvement of neurotic tendencies among nursing students--a quantitative analysis of the effects of learning through experience]. PMID- 2615492 TI - [Man and nursing care. 6. Care in nursing. A discussion (2)]. PMID- 2615493 TI - [The timing of patient discharge following stellate ganglion block (SGB)- determining the conditions which may be used as a basis for a nursing diagnosis from the nursing records]. PMID- 2615494 TI - [The revised nursing curriculum--from the viewpoint of the training of assistant nurses]. PMID- 2615495 TI - [An overview of the supply of nursing personnel]. PMID- 2615497 TI - [Questions and answers on nursing management: formation of an attractive nursing team]. PMID- 2615496 TI - [Check point in nursing management: training of nursing students which leads to improvement in the quality of hospital nursing]. PMID- 2615498 TI - [Check point in nursing management: set one day aside to tackle the theme of the "interpersonal relationship" and appreciate the mutual relations at work]. PMID- 2615499 TI - [Questions and answers on nursing surveys and report writing: an intended survey on work schedules and extent of fatigue and approaches to professionals to gather their opinions]. PMID- 2615500 TI - [Interview with Mrs. Chizuko Inoue, a leader in a home helper research organization]. PMID- 2615502 TI - [Questions and answers on nursing education: problems in the selection of teaching contents]. PMID- 2615501 TI - [Check point in nursing education: effective use of nursing graduates' advice in counseling of nursing students]. PMID- 2615503 TI - [Check point in nursing education: practice as the best method in learning]. PMID- 2615504 TI - [Questions and answers on clinical training. Use of pierced earrings by nursing students in clinical training]. PMID- 2615505 TI - [Organizational support of career development by nursing personnel]. PMID- 2615506 TI - [Support of career development by nursing personnel: on the job training considering individual experiences]. PMID- 2615507 TI - [Nursing career development program by private industry--from job management to career management]. PMID- 2615508 TI - [Expectation from nurses. A letter to Ms. G]. PMID- 2615509 TI - [Establishment of a home care system unique to Tono City, Iwate Prefecture]. PMID- 2615510 TI - [Professional capability and managing ability of nursing supervisors]. PMID- 2615511 TI - [Suicide prevention--preventive guidelines for nurses]. PMID- 2615512 TI - [Complete nursing without attendance by family members: application of the concept of standard nursing]. PMID- 2615513 TI - [Clinical training in nursing. 7. Criticism of students by the clinical staff and response by the teaching staff]. PMID- 2615514 TI - [Teaching using flow charts--application of information in practice]. PMID- 2615515 TI - [Teaching for the improvement of communication technic and its effects]. PMID- 2615516 TI - [Man and nursing. Care in nursing. 7. Technics by hands, eyes and words. A discussion]. PMID- 2615517 TI - [Survey on pain experienced by hospitalized patients--with a focus on the problem of death]. PMID- 2615518 TI - [Terminal care of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]. PMID- 2615519 TI - [Expectations of personnel at the clinical scene]. PMID- 2615520 TI - Dietary calcium and development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - The purpose of the present study was to attempt to correlate four calcium diets (0.02, 0.1, 0.5 and 2.5%) with changes in the development of hypertension in both spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. Our findings confirm that an inverse relationship exists between dietary calcium content and the development of hypertension. The relationship does not rely upon altered serum ionized sodium, potassium, or calcium or parathyroid hormone levels. In addition, no consistent dietary calcium-dependent changes were noticed in cardiovascular reactivity. In contrast, anesthesia with pentobarbital completely abolished the relationship. These data support the hypothesis that dietary calcium influences autonomic tone through some, as yet, undefined processes. PMID- 2615521 TI - Myocardial disorders caused by magnesium deficiency in diabetic KK mice. AB - Studies were made on the diabetic state and the pathogenesis of myocardial disorders in KK mice with the following results: (1) KK mice showed glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia; (2) their electrocardiograms (ECGs) showed a marked left-axis deviation of the QRS vector; (3) they showed epicardial calcification and myocardial disorders; (4) the Ca content of their myocardiums was much higher, and the Mg contents in the erythrocytes and myocardiums were much lower than those of control mice; (5) the addition of Mg to the drinking water of KK mice normalized these changes, and suppressed their myocardial disorders, but did not normalize their ECG changes. These results suggested that Mg deficiency plays an important role in the development of myocardial disorders in KK mice. PMID- 2615522 TI - Chronic leukaemia: an African experience. AB - One hundred and eighteen patients with chronic leukaemias were seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, between 1964 and 1982. There were 75 patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL) and 43 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Although most of them presented with the familiar features of chronic leukaemias, a few features were remarkably different from those reported in some of the Caucasian series. CLL is less common than CGL in contrast to their relative incidence in Caucasians. Our patients generally presented with more massive splenomegaly and more severe anaemia, which could be attributed to late presentation, endemic malaria and possibly increased hypersplenism. The peak-age incidence in our patients with CGL was found in a younger age group (20-40 yr) than in the Caucasian series. When compared with a Caucasian series, our CGL patients on presentation had a significantly higher proportion of immature cells (blasts and promyelocytes) (P less than 0.05), probably reflecting their more delayed presentation. Follow up was generally poor as a result of a high default rate. Survival duration of both leukaemias was generally lower than in Caucasian series and for CGL patients there was a significant negative correlation between survival and spleen size at presentation, while for CLL patients there was a significant association between poor survival duration and high white cell count at presentation. PMID- 2615523 TI - Pharmacokinetics of 4' epi-adriamycin after morning and afternoon intravenous administration. AB - The chronopharmacokinetics of 4' epi-adriamycin (Epi) have been studied in ten patients with gynecological malignancies. The drug (45 mg m-2) was administered as a short time (5.0 min) intravenous infusion at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., in a randomized cross-over design. The pharmacokinetics of Epi were evaluated according to the statistical moment theory. Morning and afternoon dosing of Epi was not bioequivalent. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), mean residence time (MRT) and the terminal half-life time (t1/2) could differ by more than 35% after morning and afternoon dosing. The inter-individual variation of AUC and Cp,max were larger after morning dosing than after afternoon dosing (P less than 0.04). The morning dose of Epi resulted in higher values of AUC in seven of the ten treated patients as compared to the afternoon dose. The terminal half-life times were shorter in eight of the patients after the morning dose. PMID- 2615524 TI - Amsacrine, cytarabine and etoposide in the treatment of bad prognosis acute myeloid leukemia. AB - Thirty-seven patients (median age 50 yr, range 17-82) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) received intensive induction treatment with amsacrine, cytarabine and etoposide in combination. Nine of the patients were refractory to previous induction therapy, 15 relapsed during or after treatment with daunorubicin and cytarabine, 13 had AML after previous hematologic disorders. Eleven of the patients with AML after previous hematologic disorders had been treated with cytotoxic drugs. Toxicity was substantial, but complete remission (CR) was achieved in 33% of patients with refractory AML, 47% of patients with AML in relapse, 54% of patients with AML after antecedent blood disorder. CR duration was 15 weeks (median). Patients with AML of FAB types M4 and M5 entered remission more often (70%) than patients with other AML types (37%). PMID- 2615525 TI - Low concentrations of cytosine arabinoside, 6-thioguanine, actinomycin-D and aclacinomycin A stimulates the differentiation of normal human marrow myeloid progenitor cells. AB - Myelosuppression is the major side effect of most anticancer cytotoxic drugs. Low concentrations of cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), 6-thioguanine (6-Th), actinomycin D (Act-D) and aclacinomycin A (ACM) have been reported to induce differentiation of leukaemic cell lines. With the proposed clinical trials of low-dosage of these four drugs, their effect on the differentiation of normal human myeloid progenitor marrow cells was studied. The four cytotoxic anticancer drugs at low concentrations stimulated normal human myeloid differentiation. Low dosage Ara-C has been used with great success in several clinical trials. The results suggest a similar therapeutic role for the other three anticancer drugs. PMID- 2615526 TI - Evolution of multiple cytogenetic clones and leukemic transformation in a case of myelodysplastic syndrome. AB - The cytogenetic follow-up of a case of refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB) that rapidly evolved to acute myeloblastic leukemia (M1-FAB type) is described. Bone marrow analysis at presentation revealed two chromosomally abnormal clones that shared an interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 5 (5q-) and a terminal deletion of the short arm of chromosome 12 (12p ), but that differed from one another in the localization of a very similar segment of chromosome 17 (i.e. 17q11-12qter) on two clearly distinct karyotypic sites: 2q37 and 17q25. Fourteen percent of the metaphases examined bore the 2q+ marker and 38% the 17q+ marker; the remaining cells had a normal karyotype. A second study carried out 4 months later, at onset of the acute phase, revealed that the clone with normal karyotype had almost completely disappeared and that there had been an inversion in the ratio of the two abnormal cell populations. In the final study, made 1 month before death, the cells with t(2;17) had totally effaced the other clone. These findings seem to indicate that, among the karyotypic changes that occurred in an original clone with 5q- and 12p-, only the t(2;17) could have played a crucial role in the final leukemic transformation. PMID- 2615527 TI - Coexistent chronic lymphocytic leukemia and polycythemia vera requiring no treatment. AB - Simultaneous presentation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and polycythemia vera is reported in a previously untreated patient. The course was remarkably mild with almost no treatment, suggesting control of each disease by the other. The association of polycythemia vera (PV) and lymphoid neoplasms in the same patient is very unusual in the absence of previous cytotoxic therapy. Six cases of PV and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been reported, in which the occurrence of the two disorders was simultaneous, or sequential but spontaneous. We describe an additional patient in whom the presence of the two malignancies was clearly established, and who needed almost no therapy for more than 3 yr. PMID- 2615528 TI - Effect of hyperthermia on selective expression of HL-60 heat shock proteins. AB - Hyperthermia is used experimentally to treat human malignancy. The effect of heat delivery rate and thermotolerance on the expression of heat shock proteins (hsp) by the human HL-60 cell line before and after differentiation was studied. This leukemia cell synthesized multiple hsp in response to elevated temperatures. The most obvious and consistent proteins were within the highly conserved stress inducible family of polypeptides hsp70 which resolved as a hsp69/72 doublet. Cells which were made thermotolerant by gradual heating selectively failed to express the hsp70 doublet even though other hsp were synthesized. Mature HL-60 cells induced to differentiate by incubation in retinoic acid expressed a full complement of hsp when exposed to immediate heat, but there was selective deletion of hsp70 with gradual hyperthermia. This model for selective induction of hsp confirms that synthesis of hsp and thermotolerance can be dissociated in the HL-60. It suggests that the hsp70 does not play an obligatory role in thermotolerance of this human leukemia cell. PMID- 2615529 TI - Variability of 6-mercaptopurine pharmacokinetics during oral maintenance therapy of children with acute leukemia. AB - The effects of some environmental and genetic factors on the inter- and intraindividual variations of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) pharmacokinetics were studied in children on oral remission maintenance therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Blood samples were obtained 0-4 h after drug intake. 6-MP concentrations were determined in plasma and in erythrocyte concentrates. The influence of food on the pharmacokinetics was examined in a prospective study of 15 children. Each child was examined four times, twice in the fasted state and twice after intake of a standardized, milky, breakfast. There were pronounced inter- and intraindividual variations. Food intake seemed to reduce these variations but there were no significant changes in peak concentrations and area under the plasma concentration vs time curves (AUC) between the fasted and fed states. Food intake reduced the time to peak concentration both in plasma, from 1.8 h to 1.1 h (P less than 0.01) and in red blood cells, from 1.8 h to 1.3 h (P less than 0.01). Retrospective subdivision of the patients indicated a tendency for different pharmacokinetic patterns according to dose; five out of seven patients receiving greater than 70 mg m-2 had a higher AUC in the fasting state, while five out of eight patients receiving less than 70 mg m-2 had a higher AUC in the fed state. The cytochrome P-450 dependent hydroxylation capacity was evaluated with debrisoquine but no correlation was found to the pharmacokinetics of 6-MP. PMID- 2615530 TI - Phase II study of mitozolomide (M & B 39,565) in head and neck cancer. AB - Nineteen patients with advanced head and neck cancer were given mitozolomide (MTZ), i.v. infusion, every 6 weeks. The starting dose was 100 mg m-2. When it was well tolerated, dose escalation was performed up to 110-115 mg m-2. The limiting toxicity was thrombocytopenia, often mild, but occasionally severe, with hemorrhage and the need for platelet transfusions in two patients. The platelet nadir was 85 x 10(9) l-1 (11-225). No response was observed in 14 evaluable patients. MTZ, according to this schedule and dosage does not show significant activity in human squamous cell head and neck cancer. PMID- 2615531 TI - Morphometric analysis of peritumoral lymph nodes in patients operated on for uterine cancer, locally treated with a thymic extract. AB - By means of a morphometric analysis, the authors have evaluated the structure and dimensions of the lymph node functional areas (cortical, medullary, paracortical, histiocytosis of the sinuses, germinal centres) in regional nodes of women with carcinoma of the uterus in the 1st and 2nd stages. Twenty patients were treated 8 days before surgery with a dose of 1.5 mg kg-1 body weight of thymic hormone directly into the uterine portio. Ten patients, on the other hand, were injected with physiological saline solution. The quantitative and qualitative results show that in peritumoral lymph nodes of women treated with thymostimolin there is a marked increase, statistically significant (P less than 0.001), of the paracortical zone and of the number of germinal centres. PMID- 2615532 TI - Combination of pipemidic acid, colistin sodium methanesulfonate and nystatin may be less effective than nystatin alone for prevention of infection during chemotherapy-induced granulocytopenia in acute leukemia. AB - Pipemidic acid (PPA) and colistin sodium methanesulfonate (CLM) may selectively suppress aerobic gram-negative bacilli. Twenty-nine patients with acute leukemia were randomized after each course of consolidation chemotherapy to receive a single agent of nystatin (NYS) (34 courses) versus a combination of NYS, PPA and CLM (36 courses). The duration of fever over 39 degrees C was longer with the three drug combination (4.6 +/- 5.1 days) than with NYS alone (1.8 +/- 1.8 days) (P less than 0.01). Four cases of pneumonia occurred and four patients including one having pneumonia died of infection with the three drug combination, while no pneumonia or death occurred with NYS alone (P = 0.06 and P = 0.06, respectively). The combination of NYS, PPA and CLM may be less effective than NYS alone for the prevention of infection in acute leukemia patients with chemotherapy-associated granulocytopenia. PMID- 2615533 TI - Hypersensitivity reaction to epirubicin. AB - A patient with metastatic breast cancer treated with epirubicin (Pharmorubicin) developed a severe urticarial reaction which progressed to ulceration following possible sensitisation to the drug by preceding extravasation. PMID- 2615534 TI - [Treatment of chronic hepatitis B with lymphoblastoid alpha interferon]. AB - Thirty-five patients with active chronic hepatitis B (ACH-B) were evaluated. They were in stable replicative phase (HBeAg +; DNA polymerase and ALT stable in two determinations at least one month apart) and had not been infected by delta virus or HIV-1. Thirty-four patients were heterosexual and no patient was a drug abuser except one. The 23 initial cases were followed up for 15 months without therapy. The subsequent 12 cases were treated with maximal doses of 2.5 megaunits/m2 of lymphoblastoid alpha interferon (IFN-L) daily for two weeks and three times a week during 10 more weeks. While in the controls only two cases (8.69%) lost the DNA-polymerase activity and HBeAg, 5 treated patients (41.66%; p less than 0.05) developed seroconversion to nonreplicative phase. No patient from the control series lost the HBsAg; however, this happened in 2 treated patients (16.66%). These results show that IFN-L is effective in heterosexual patients with ACH-B in replicative phase without delta virus or HIV-I co-infection. PMID- 2615535 TI - [Bacteremia secondary to decubitus ulcer]. AB - We have prospectively evaluated 16 episodes of bacteremia induced by decubitus ulcers. The most commonly isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacteroides fragilis. Bacteremia was polymicrobial in 5 cases (31%). Most ulcers were already present at the time of admission, but bacteremia developed within the hospital in 13 patients. In 3 patients, ulcers did not show local features of infection. The initial antibiotic therapy was satisfactory in 13 cases. Mortality rate directly associated with bacteremia was 18%, but the overall mortality rate was 62%. We did not identify data permitting a reliable prediction of the findings of blood culture; therefore, the initial empirical therapy should be active against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas, enteric Gram-negative bacilli and anaerobes including Bacteroides fragilis. PMID- 2615536 TI - [Epidemic outbreak of parotiditis in a school population and efficacy of antiparotiditis vaccination]. AB - We report an epidemic outbreak of parotiditis in Villafranca del Cid (Castellon) in 1987. The overall number of cases was 104, of which 96 were schoolchildren aged 9.4 +/- 8 years. The attack rates were 3.5% for the town population and 41.9% for schoolchildren at risk. Ninety-two patients had not received parotiditis vaccination. The effectiveness of parotiditis vaccine was 86.0% (95% confidence limits: 63.5%-94.6%) for schoolchildren. To erradicate parotiditis it is suggested that vaccination should be carried out in all children at risk, not previously vaccinated, at the beginning of the school term, and/or revaccination at ages 6-12 years with triple viral vaccine. PMID- 2615537 TI - [Conservative treatment of cancer of the breast]. PMID- 2615538 TI - [Nuclear resonance in intracranial venous thrombosis]. AB - We have reviewed the nuclear resonance NR images in three patients with intracranial venous thrombosis. Tomodensitometric findings are not reliable in intracranial venous thrombosis and cerebral angiography is required for the diagnosis. The usefulness of NR for the investigation of venous disease has been recently demonstrated. Ten patients in whom a diagnosis of intracranial venous thrombosis was made with NR have been reported. Initially, the vacuum signal in the T1 enhanced sequences disappears and the thrombus becomes hypointense in the T2 enhanced sequences. In the following phase, proton relaxation is impaired by methemoglobin production and thrombosis appears as hyperintense in both the T1 and T2 enhanced sequences. During the resolution phase, the vacuum signal in the vascular lumen reappears and the hyperintensity of the thrombus signal becomes attenuated. In our study we have shown the different stages of intracranial venous thrombosis with NR. In addition, we have demonstrated the close relation between these images and the clinical evolution. NR is a useful noninvasive investigation in patients with suspected intracranial venous thrombosis. PMID- 2615539 TI - [Nosocomial infection control programs at intensive care units]. PMID- 2615540 TI - [Acute digitalis poisoning treated with antidigoxin antibodies]. PMID- 2615541 TI - [Organic psychosis in a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism]. PMID- 2615542 TI - [Is kala-azar a diagnostic criterion for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome?]. PMID- 2615543 TI - [Recurrent subdural hematoma in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]. PMID- 2615544 TI - [Food poisoning by scombroid fish (tuna) in a communal dining room of a company]. AB - We report a collective tuna fish poisoning which developed on June 10, 1988, in a staff dining room in Castellon. Twenty-one people were involved (attack rate 42.9%). The major symptoms were diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, facial flushing and oral burning. The mean duration of the symptoms was 15 hours. The ingestion of tuna fish was significantly associated with the illness (p less than 0.001) when the other foodstuffs were controlled. Tuna fish had been defrosted at room air temperature during 14 hours. The analysis of several foodstuffs (there were no tuna fish remains available) and the food handling staff did not disclose pathogens. We discuss the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology and control of this type of food poisoning. PMID- 2615545 TI - [Prevalence of buprenorphine use by heroin addicts undergoing treatment]. AB - After buprenorphine was introduced as an analgesic, several clinical observations have stimulated the investigation of its potential abuse by heroin addicts. To evaluate the prevalence of buprenorphine use by a group of heroin abusers being treated on an outpatient basis, a cross-sectional study was carried out where the information given by the 188 subjects was verified by urine drug analyses. The patients had three different therapeutic modalities: methadone maintenance program (MMP), antagonist maintenance program (AMP), and drug-free program (DFP). The urine samples were analyzed with an enzyme immunoassay technique for the detection of heroin, methadone, dextropropoxyphene, cannabis and benzodiazepines. Buprenorphine was investigated with a radioimmunoassay technique. Overall 66% of the patients admitted having used buprenorphine throughout their toxicologic history (period prevalence) and 6.7% had positive urine controls for this drug (5% in the MMP group, 0% in the AMP group and 12% in the DFP group) (point prevalence). In 72% of the cases the drug was administered intravenously. In addition, a clinically statistically significant association was found between positivity for heroin and buprenorphine. The possible tolerance to the latter is suggested by the fact that the mean current dose was higher than the mean initial dose. In the study population, the use of cannabis and benzodiazepines was also very high. The results suggest that most patients had a previous history of buprenorphine use. This drug could have a higher potential for abuse than that found in previous experimental studies. PMID- 2615546 TI - [Neutropenic enterocolitis during treatment of lymphoproliferative neoplasms]. AB - In a series of 320 patients with lymphoid neoplasms treated with polychemotherapy, three patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and one with myeloma were diagnosed as having neutropenic enterocolitis (NEC). All patients were adult, all had received multiple chemotherapeutic drugs and, during neutropenia, they had clinically presented with fever and abdominal pain, generally in the right lower quadrant. The diagnosis was clinical in all cases, and the imaging techniques provided only the suspicion of retro-cecal abscess in one of them. Two patients were operated on because of the development of features of peritoneal involvement, another because of septic shock and another because of retro-cecal abscess. Surgery and pathological study confirmed the diagnosis. The fundamental findings were ileocecal wall edema, mucosa ulceration, local necrosis, hemorrhage and thrombosis, and clusters of bacterial colonies without evidence of granulocytic or tumoral infiltration. NEC can develop with varying types of morphological involvement resulting in a highly variable clinical severity spectrum ranging from nonspecific abdominal symptoms to acute abdomen. Thus, diagnosis is very difficult and is only possible with a high suspicion index. It should rely on clinical data, which are unique, to assess the evolution and to indicate medical or surgical therapy. These therapeutic modalities should be individualized in each patient. All physicians treating neutropenic patients should be familiar with this condition and consider it in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. PMID- 2615547 TI - [Lemierre's syndrome (post-anginal sepsis): a forgotten infection]. AB - Septic thrombophlebitis of the jugular vein (Lemierre's syndrome) is a severe complication of oropharyngeal infections. The extension of the infection to the cardiovascular system favors its dissemination to the lung and, eventually, to other points in the organism. We report two cases of Lemierre's syndrome seen in a 10-year period. The diagnostic and therapeutic aspects are particularly emphasized so as to stimulate the knowledge of this uncommon condition. PMID- 2615548 TI - [Epidemiology as an instrument for a rational health policy]. PMID- 2615549 TI - [Perianal streptococcal disease]. PMID- 2615550 TI - [Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease)]. PMID- 2615551 TI - [Prevalence of tuberculous infection among health workers]. PMID- 2615552 TI - [A new classification of endocrine hyperplasia, dysplasia and neoplasia of the stomach]. PMID- 2615553 TI - [Hepatitis B in established cardiac cirrhosis--a rare indication for liver transplantation]. AB - A 34 year old patient was diagnosed as suffering from congestive cirrhosis due to constrictive pericarditis 18 years ago. A terminal dystrophic episode of additionally acquired chronic aggressive hepatitis B led to rapidly progressive liver failure. Orthotopic liver transplantation was carried out. 10 months after transplantation the patient is alive and well. Presence of HBsAg and HBcAg can again be demonstrated in the liver graft, however, without histologic evidence of hepatitis. Problems of prognosis after liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus infection are discussed. PMID- 2615554 TI - Comparison of [3H] phencyclidine ([3H] PCP) and [3H] N-[1-(2-thienyl) cyclohexyl] piperidine ([3H] TCP) binding properties to rat and human brain membranes. AB - The investigation of [3H] PCP and [3H] TCP binding properties to rat cerebrum and cerebellum resulted in the demonstration of multiple binding sites for the two drugs. In the two tissue preparations PCP had a lower affinity than TCP. In membranes from the cerebrum an equal number of high affinity binding sites were present for [3H] PCP and [3H] TCP. However, low affinity binding sites were two times more numerous for [3H] PCP than for [3H] TCP. In the cerebellum, the number of high and low affinity sites labeled by the two radioligands was identical, but the number of high affinity sites was about 7 fold lower than in the cerebrum. Taken together these results may indicate that in the cerebrum [3H] PCP labels other sites than NMDA/PCP receptor(s), maybe sigma receptors and/or the dopamine uptake complex. In human cerebral cortex samples [3H] TCP also bound to two different sites. The number of high and low affinity sites were 12 and 3 times, respectively, less abundant than in the rat cerebrum. Low affinity sites were of higher affinity (5 times) than corresponding sites in the rat brain. In the human cerebellum [3H] TCP binding parameters were identical to those measured in the same region in the rat. PMID- 2615555 TI - Biopterin and neopterin in human saliva. AB - Presence of biopterin and neopterin in human saliva was investigated by HPLC after iodine oxidation in acidic medium. Concentrations of biopterin and neopterin (M +/- SEM) were 1.271 +/- 0.254 and 0.358 +/- 0.075 ng per ml, respectively, in saliva of apparently healthy young male adults, ages 20 to 22 years (n = 9). Nearly identical value of the neopterin/biopterin ratio (0.29 +/- 0.07) was obtained for each of these specimens. Monapterin, the L-threo-isomer of neopterin (0.084 +/- 0.022 ng per ml saliva), and other unconjugated pterins such as xanthopterin, 6-hydroxymethylpterin and pterin were also found in the saliva. These pterins were all detectable in saliva of young female adults with similar levels to those of male saliva. Another fluorescent compound which was identical with 7-iso biopterin in retention time on HPLC was observed in all specimens of normal saliva examined. PMID- 2615556 TI - Anticancer drugs. II. Synthesis and biological evaluation of spin labeled derivatives of podophyllotoxin. AB - The spin labeled derivatives of podophyllotoxin, 4-[4''-(2'',2'',6'',6'' tetramethyl-l''-piperidinyloxy)amino] -4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin(GP-7,3) and N-podophyllic acid-N''-[4-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-l-piperidinyloxy)] thiosemicarbazide(GP-4,5) were synthesized and tested for their anticancer activity against the mouse solid tumors S180 and HepA in vivo, and the mouse lymphocytic leukemia L1210 and human stomach carcinoma SGC-7901 cells in vitro. At equitoxic concentrations, the anticancer activity of GP-7(3) was found to be similar to that of the clinically used VP-16(2). The toxicity of GP-7(3) (LD50231.2 mg/Kg) is 3.3 times lower than that of VP-16 (LD50 69.5 mg/Kg). GP 7(3) exhibits low subchronic toxicity. The total chemical yield of GP-7 (26%) is 4 times higher than that of VP-16 (6%) (based on podophyllotoxin). Therefore, GP 7(3) seems to be a promising new entry into the podophyllotoxin class of anticancer drugs. PMID- 2615557 TI - Temporal variations in the erythrocyte permeability to bupivacaine, etidocaine and mepivacaine in mice. AB - Temporal changes in membrane permeability to bupivacaine (B), etidocaine (E) and mepivacaine (M) documented by their erythrocytic penetration were studied in mice. Temporal variations of B, E and M erythrocytic penetration were demonstrated with a maximum at 04.00 h for B (amplitude = 148%), 10.00 h for E (amplitude = 146%) and at 10.00 h for M (amplitude = 75%). Differences in the circadian pattern of erythrocytic penetration of B, E and M are discussed according to physicochemical properties of these three agents. PMID- 2615558 TI - Increase of poly(L-lysine) uptake but not fluid phase endocytosis in neuraminidase pretreated Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. AB - The uptake of Poly(L-lysine) conjugates in cultured cells has been used as a model for non-specific adsorptive endocytosis of cationic macromolecules. To study the effect of glycocalyx desialylation on the uptake of cationic macromolecules in epithelial cells, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell monolayers were treated with neuraminidase and incubated with Poly(L-lysine) conjugates. Neuraminidase pretreatment of MDCK cells resulted in a 40% increase in the uptake of Poly(L-lysine) whereas trypsin pretreatment did not. Neuraminidase pretreatment did not increase the endocytosis of fluid phase markers in MDCK cells, nor the uptake of Poly(L-lysine) in L929 fibroblasts. These results suggest that the negative charges, rather than the glycoprotein matrices of glycocalyx, play an important role in the control of the uptake of cationic macromolecules in epithelial cells. PMID- 2615559 TI - On the sensitivity of intact cells to perturbation by ethanol. AB - A comparison was made of ethanol's effects on the order of plasma membranes in intact cells and some isolated membrane preparations. Order was assessed by steady-state fluorescence polarization techniques using the non-permeant probe, TMA-DPH. The data show that two cultured cells, rat neonatal astroglial and N2A neuroblastoma, were sensitive to significant ethanol-induced disordering within the anesthetically relevant range (100 - 200 mM). Human erythrocytes, cultured fibroblasts and homogenized astroglial cells required higher ethanol concentrations (greater than 250 mM) to produce a similar effect. Intact erythrocytes were approximately twice as sensitive as erythrocyte ghost membranes to ethanol-induced perturbation. The neonatal glial and N2A cells were approximately five times more sensitive than synaptic membranes to ethanol effects. DMPC and DMPC + cholesterol liposomes and myelin membranes were insensitive to ethanol's effects. The incorporation of 10 mole % ganglioside GM1 sensitized the liposomes to ethanol-induced perturbation. PMID- 2615560 TI - Reduced glutathione effects on alpha-tocopherol concentration of rat liver microsomes undergoing NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation. AB - Factors involved in reduced glutathione (GSH) and vitamin E-mediated inhibition of NADPH-dependent rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation were examined. Lipid peroxidation was monitored over a time-course of 180 min by thiobarbituric acid reactive product formation. The addition of 5 mM GSH to the reaction system containing microsomes from rats fed a diet supplemented with 150 IU/kg of alpha tocopherol acetate for eight weeks produced a lag in peroxidation of greater than 30 min. This effect was not observed for microsomes prepared from rats fed a diet deficient in vitamin E. Indeed, a prooxidant effect of 5 mM GSH was observed in assays containing microsomes from rats fed a diet deficient in vitamin E. The inhibition by GSH of lipid peroxidation in microsomes prepared from livers of vitamin E supplemented rats was not restricted by its availability, for it was found that approximately 92% of the GSH remained in the reduced form after 60 min. Additional experiments revealed that the alpha-tocopherol content of peroxidizing microsomes decreased rapidly in the absence of GSH. The addition of 5 mM GSH to the assay system markedly depressed the loss of microsomal alpha tocopherol. The results of in vivo labeling of liver microsomes with [14C]alpha tocopherol demonstrated that i) GSH addition to the in vitro peroxidizing medium reduced the disappearance of alpha-tocopherol, and ii) a compound that interfered with the determination of alpha-tocopherol was separated by HPLC and was not an oxidation product of alpha-tocopherol. A portion of the microsomal 14C-labeled alpha-tocopherol was converted to an unidentified product with HPLC retention characteristics that was similar, but not identical, to alpha-tocopherol quinone. PMID- 2615561 TI - Discharge of newly-synthesized dolichol and ubiquinone with lipoproteins to rat liver perfusate and to the bile. AB - An effective system for perfusing rat liver using complete tissue culture medium and washed calf erythrocytes as oxygen carriers was devised. Infusion of taurocholate and glucose proved necessary to maintain stable metabolic activity and bile secretion during a 6-hr period. Perfusate pO2, pCO2 and pH values were monitored continuously and found to be stable. Electron microscopic examination revealed the maintenance of normal hepatic structure, even after 6 hr. Normal rates of protein and urea synthesis, no leakage of cytoplasmic enzymes, and continuous bile acid production demonstrated the functional integrity of this system. Using [3H]mevalonic acid as precursor, dolichol, dolichyl phosphate, ubiquinone and cholesterol were found to be continuously synthesized in this perfused liver system. All these lipids appeared in the perfusate, indicating discharge through the ER-Golgi system. The lipoproteins of the perfusate were isolated by ultracentrifugation and characterized with respect to size distribution and lipid composition. Dolichol was found in VLDL, LDL and HDL fractions, with the highest concentration present in the latter. In rat and human blood plasma this lipid was mainly associated with HDL. The ubiquinone in the perfusate was primarily associated with the VLDL fraction, while in rat plasma it was found more evenly distributed among all the three lipoprotein fractions studied. Dolichol, ubiquinone and cholesterol were also discharged to the bile, whereas dolichyl phosphate was not. Thus, newly-synthesized dolichol and ubiquinone are transported out of the hepatocyte to the blood and to the bile. PMID- 2615562 TI - Effect of L-triiodothyronine on delta 9 desaturase activity in liver microsomes of male rats. AB - Male rats injected with a single saturating dose of L-triiodothyronine (T3) showed, after a lag time of approximately eight hr, a sharp rise in delta 9 desaturase activity. Desaturase activity reached a plateau which was 1-1.2 times above the base line levels of rats which were not hormone-treated. The plateau was maintained for five days in animals which were kept on daily hormone treatment. The increase in delta 9 desaturase activity by T3 required ongoing protein synthesis, because the increase in enzymatic activity due to hormone treatment was completely abolished in the presence of cycloheximide. These findings suggest that cycloheximide may block the induction of delta 9 desaturase by T3 and/or inhibit the synthesis of protein(s) essential to the desaturation response to T3. Modifications observed in liver microsomal fatty acid composition in T3 treated rats were independent of the effect on desaturation. It is suggested that other factors, such as diet, membrane lipid synthesis and degradation, as well as fatty acid turnover and oxidation, could be involved in affecting the fatty acid composition of thyroid hormone-treated rats. PMID- 2615563 TI - Total and peroxisomal oxidation of various saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in rat liver, heart and m. quadriceps. AB - Rates of total and peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation were estimated from the production of 14C-labeled CO2 and acid-soluble products from differently labeled [14C]fatty acids, in the absence and presence of antimycinrotenone, in homogenates of liver, heart and m. quadriceps. Total and peroxisomal oxidation rates of palmitic, oleic and linoleic acid were 3-4 times higher than those of arachidonic and adrenic acid which had higher oxidation rates than those of lignoceric and erucic acid. The peroxisomal contribution to the oxidation of the last fatty acids was similar to or higher than that of palmitic acid. For all fatty acids tested in these tissues, the mitochondrial contribution to beta oxidation was higher than the peroxisomal contribution. Production of 14CO2 and 14C-labeled, acid-soluble metabolites from [13-14]arachidonic acid indicated that polyunsaturated fatty acids can be chain-shortened beyond their double bonds in m. quadriceps and heart as well as in liver. Although 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase requires NADPH, addition of this coenzyme did not influence arachidonic acid oxidation. Arachidonic acid oxidation was inhibited by palmitic acid in mitochondria and peroxisomes, but arachidonic acid had only a slight effect on palmitic acid oxidation. PMID- 2615564 TI - Characterization of porcine omental lipids. AB - Porcine omental lipid extracts were fractionated and the major lipid components characterized. Approximately 97% of the chloroform/methanol extract consisted of triglycerides containing primarily 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, and 18:2 fatty acids. Small quantities of free fatty acids, cholesterol, di- and monoglycerides were also detected. The phospholipid fraction, obtained by solvent partition and Unisil column chromatography and characterized by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and HPLC-mass spectrometry, was found to consist primarily of phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol. The neutral glycolipids, isolated by solvent partition and Unisil column chromatography and identified by HPTLC and HPLC, were found to consist primarily of di-, tri- and tetraosylceramides. The complex glycolipid fraction, obtained from Folch upper phase solvent partition and characterized by HPTLC and immunoblotting, was found to consist primarily of ganglio-, globo-, and neolacto- neutral glycolipids and ganglio-, globo-, neolacto- and fucosylated gangliosides. PMID- 2615565 TI - The processing of exogenous cholesterol in the alveolar compartment of the rat lung. AB - We have examined the esterification of [3H]cholesterol following the intratracheal instillation of a tracer amount into the isolated rat lung perfused with Krebs bicarbonate containing 4.5% albumin. At 5, 30 and 60 min after instillation, lungs were lavaged at 2 degrees C with 3 x 10 ml of 0.15 M NaCl, each volume instilled and withdrawn three times. Each lung was lavaged at only one time point. The saline recovered was centrifuged at 150 g (5 min) to sediment the macrophage-rich fraction, leaving the surfactant in the supernatant. The amounts and specific activity of cholesterol and cholesteryl ester were measured following isolation by high performance liquid chromatography of the free cholesterol and the hydrolyzed ester-derived cholesterol. There was a rapid fall in [3H]cholesterol in the surfactant fraction, accompanied by a reciprocal increase in [3H]cholesteryl ester in the macrophage-rich fraction, while the level of free [3H]cholesterol in that fraction remained very low. These data are consistent with exogenous cholesterol being rapidly esterified in the alveolus, and the ester then being cleared by the macrophages. We were unable to locate the actual site of esterification. PMID- 2615566 TI - Rapid headspace gas chromatography of hexanal as a measure of lipid peroxidation in biological samples. AB - A rapid, sensitive and convenient capillary gas chromatographic-headspace method was developed to determine hexanal as an important volatile decomposition product of hydroperoxides formed from n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in rat liver samples. Total volatiles were also determined as a measure of overall lipid peroxidation. Samples of headspace taken from sealed serum bottles incubated at 37 degrees C were injected into a gas chromatograph. It was possible to make 15 determinations per hour. This method is convenient because no special sample manipulations are necessary. The addition of 0.5 mM ascorbic acid prior to gas chromatographic analysis significantly increased hexanal production. The applicability of the method was demonstrated in studies of the effect of iron in the presence or absence of hydroperoxides of methyl linoleate and methyl linolenate and tert-butyl hydroperoxide on rat liver homogenates, slices and microsomes. A rapid silica cartridge chromatographic procedure was used to purify hydroperoxides from autoxidized methyl linoleate and methyl linolenate, and hydroperoxy epidioxides (cyclic peroxides) from autoxidized methyl linolenate in 20-40 mg quantities. The hydroperoxides and hydroperoxy epidioxides of methyl linolenate were effective inducers of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation in liver homogenates. Hexanal and thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances were significantly correlated in liver homogenates and microsomes but not in slices. This specific method for hexanal, a known product of peroxidation of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, can be used as a good measure of lipid peroxidation. PMID- 2615567 TI - Quantitative determination of 1,2-diacylglycerol in thoracic aorta of the rat using Iatroscan TLC/FID: effect of norepinephrine. AB - This study was undertaken to evaluate the use of the Iatroscan TLC/FID system for quantitating 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) in the aorta. Cholesteryl acetate was chosen as an internal standard. In order to avoid interference of triglyceride and phospholipids with the separation of the internal standard and 1,2-DG, a stepwise elution of lipids from the silicic acid column was used. The development of Chromarods was done using two solvent systems and a three-step developing technique. Assay and recovery of both 1,2-DG and cholesterol (as compared to cholesteryl acetate) were sufficient to measure changes in the 1,2-DG content in blood vessels. After exposing the thoracic aorta to 10(-5) M norepinephrine for 10 min, the 1,2-DG content increased nearly two-fold without significant change in cholesterol content. PMID- 2615568 TI - Lipids and lipogenic enzymes in adipose tissue of castrated male goats. AB - Male goats ("Criolla Argentina" breed), castrated at 45 days of age, showed altered lipid metabolism 180 days after castration as compared to control goats. Subcutaneous, perirenal and omental adipose tissues of castrated goats showed increases in fatty acid synthetase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and NADP isocitrate dehydrogenase activities. Castration increased the amount of total lipids and triglycerides, but did not modify the amount of cholesterol, phospholipid and protein in the three types of adipose tissue. The incorporation of [1-14C]acetate into fatty acids of subcutaneous and perirenal adipose tissue was increased in castrated goats in relation to noncastrated goats. Our results suggest that removal of gonadal steroids increases significantly the rate of lipogenesis in adipose tissue of male goats. PMID- 2615569 TI - Influence of testosterone administration on the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in male and female rats. AB - The in vivo effect of testosterone administration to male or female rats on the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids of liver was studied. Twenty-four hours after injection of testosterone (260 micrograms/kg), delta 9 desaturase activity increased significantly, whereas the activities of delta 5 and delta 6 desaturases were strongly depressed. These effects were more pronounced in female than in male animals. The fatty acid composition of plasma and liver (homogenates, crude microsomes and cytosol) showed differences between the sexes. In males, the percentage of palmitic acid and the 18:1/18:0 ratio were higher whereas the 20:4(n-6)/18:2(n-6) ratio was lower than in female rats. The administration of testosterone significantly modified the fatty acid pattern in all fractions studied. Analytical data correlated with alterations in the fatty acid desaturase activities caused by the hormone. It is suggested that the mechanism by which testosterone exerts its effect on unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis is different that that previously demonstrated by glucocorticoid action. The effects produced by testosterone may be of biological significance in atherosclerosis pathogenesis. PMID- 2615570 TI - Preferential redistribution of lipoprotein-unassociated apoA-IV to an HDL subpopulation with a high degree of LCAT modification. AB - The relationship between LCAT mediated HDL modification and the redistribution of lipoprotein-unassociated apoA-IV to HDL was investigated in vitro. Immunoaffinity isolated rat lipoprotein-unassociated apoA-IV was added to apoB-, apoE-, apoA-IV depleted, [3H]cholesterol labelled rat plasma and incubated at 37 degrees C. The addition of lipoprotein-unassociated apoA-IV resulted in a modest (10%) but significant reduction in the rate of cholesterol esterification. Incubations conducted in the presence of active LCAT led to a time-dependent increase in the amount of the 3H label retained by an anti-apoA-IV immunoaffinity column. Lipoproteins retained by the anti-apoA-IV immunoaffinity column had experienced a greater conversion of [3H]cholesterol to [3H]cholesteryl esters (48% esterification at 30 min) than the unretained lipoproteins (19% esterification at 30 min). These data suggest that during the course of LCAT-induced cholesterol esterification, lipoprotein-unassociated apoA-IV transfers to a subpopulation of HDL which has been modified by LCAT to a greater extent than the remaining HDL. Further analysis of the data demonstrates that 48% cholesterol esterification is sufficient to allow apoA-IV to be accommodated on the surface of an HDL particle. PMID- 2615571 TI - Increased liver lipase activity in rats with essential fatty acid deficiency. AB - Liver lipase activity was measured in EFA-deficient rats (long-term) and in control rats and rats fed an EFA-deficient diet for two weeks (short-term). Liver lipase activity was significantly enhanced by EFA deficiency, both in long-term and short-term experiments. The enhanced liver lipase activity could be normalized by feeding these rats normal laboratory chow for 14 days. Since during EFA deficiency prostaglandin synthesis is impaired, the possible involvement of prostaglandins in the observed changes in liver lipase activity during EFA deficiency was studied. Administration of the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor indomethacin (5 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) to normally fed rats for two days led to an increase of liver lipase activity. Prostaglandin E2 was found to inhibit the secretion of liver lipase activity by freshly isolated parenchymal liver cells in vitro. These results indicate that the increase in liver lipase activity during EFA deficiency may be due to an impairment of the prostaglandin synthesis. PMID- 2615572 TI - A method for the simultaneous analysis of unconjugated and glycine-conjugated bile acids by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. AB - A method for the simultaneous analysis of unconjugated and glycine-conjugated bile acids by means of capillary gas-liquid chromatography without need for prior deconjugation is described. The method involves: i) the use of an aluminum-clad fused-silica capillary column coated with a very thin film (0.1 micron) of a highly thermostable bonded and crosslinked methyl polysiloxane, and ii) the analysis of the bile acids as their methyl ester-dimethylethylsilyl ether derivatives. This method, used to separate the major free and glycine-conjugated bile acids from human gall bladder bile, should be applicable for the analysis of other biological fluids. PMID- 2615573 TI - Interactive effects of prenatal ethanol and N-3 fatty acid supplementation on brain development in mice. AB - This study assesses the combined effects on brain and behavioral development of ethanol administration and supplementation of the maternal diet with long chain n 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. From day 7 to 17 of gestation, pregnant mice were fed equivalent daily amounts of isocaloric liquid diets; 20% of the energy was provided by either ethanol or maltose-dextrin, and a further 20% by either safflower oil (rich in linoleic acid, 18:2 n-6), or a combination of safflower oil with a fish oil concentrate (rich in eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5 n-3, and docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6 n-3). On day 18 the liquid diets were replaced by lab chow; a fifth group was maintained on lab chow throughout the experiment. Measures on the pups included brain weight and the fatty acid composition of the brain phospholipids on days 22 and 32 post-conception (birth = day 19), as well as behavioral development. Maternal weight gain during gestation was decreased by ethanol relative to maltose-dextrin, and increased by fish relative to safflower oil. On day 32, the brain weight of ethanol-treated animals fed fish oil was greater than their safflower oil controls, whereas the reverse was true in the two maltose-dextrin groups; a similar trend was apparent on day 22. The brain phospholipid content of the longer chain fatty acids (20:4 n-6, 22:4 n-6, 22:5 n 6, 20:5 n-3, 22:5 n-3, 22:6 n-3) on day 22 reflected that of the prenatal diet, with the proportion of n-3 compounds being higher and that of n-6 lower in the fish oil than safflower oil groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615574 TI - Prevalence of risk behaviors and HIV infection in Maryland STD clinics. AB - Persons who are receiving evaluation and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases are at moderately increased risk for acquiring HIV infections. The scope of STD clinic services should be broadened to include counseling, education, and referral services for health needs related to risk of HIV infection. PMID- 2615575 TI - Prehospital providers' AIDS knowledge and attitudes. AB - Of the 110 career and volunteer prehospital care providers surveyed from two Maryland counties, about 20 percent were concerned about dealing with AIDS patients, including 24 percent who have considered leaving EMS due to the risk of HIV infection. PMID- 2615576 TI - The head-injured outpatient: presentations and rehabilitation. AB - Head injury, which annually affects 154 per 100,000 persons in Maryland, is a serious problem requiring attention from the medical community. The role of the general practitioner is viewed as central to the process of rehabilitation since this medical professional has a pre-existent relationship with the patient and the family. PMID- 2615577 TI - The hired gun. PMID- 2615578 TI - Management of cocaine abuse in methadone maintenance programs. PMID- 2615579 TI - Inflammatory carcinoma of the breast: Part I. PMID- 2615580 TI - The role of the medical monitor. PMID- 2615581 TI - Shin spots. PMID- 2615583 TI - Role of examination by thesis in professional qualification. PMID- 2615582 TI - Medicine in the Soviet Union. PMID- 2615584 TI - Blood cultures: eight years' experience of a conventional in-house system and trends in antimicrobial susceptibilities. AB - In a prospective analysis of 4234 significant isolates from 62,437 consecutive sets of blood cultures over an 8 year period, 79.4% were detected within 48 h. Routine examination of Gram-film smears made within 24 h of receipt of the cultures detected about half of all positive cultures. Many organisms were detected earlier on Castaneda slopes than in tryptone soya broth. Haemophilus influenzae (type b) and Neisseria spp. were usually suspected on clinical grounds, and early blind subculture was successful in 95.7% and 69% of cases respectively. Resistance to trimethoprim among Gram-negative coliforms increased significantly over the 8 year period. Production of beta-lactamase was detected in 12% of Haemophilus influenzae (type b). Unlike Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis was commonly resistant to methicillin, erythromycin, fusidic acid and gentamicin. PMID- 2615585 TI - Percentage glycosylated haemoglobin in normal, G6PD deficient and HbSS Saudi Arabs. AB - Reference values have been established for erythrocyte glycosylated haemoglobin levels in a normal Saudi population and in subjects with various haematological disorders. The mean glycosylated haemoglobin levels (SE) were 7.28% (0.039) for normal, 6.04% (0.057) for G6PD deficient, 4.40% (0.081) for homozygous sickle cell, and 6.44% (0.109) for heterozygous sickle cell subjects. Values of 6.26% (0.103) and 4.75% (0.127) for glycosylated haemoglobin were determined for heterozygous and homozygous sickle cell subjects with G6PD deficiency, respectively. Statistical analysis of the data shows significant differences in the extent of glycosylation between G6PD deficient, HbSS and normal controls. Where possible the results are compared to values reported for other populations. PMID- 2615586 TI - Rapid demonstration of Campylobacter in gastric biopsies using microwave irradiation. AB - With the aid of microwave irradiation, a modified method for rapid detection of Campylobacter has been devised. Compared with the conventional Warthin-Starry method, both staining period and concentration of the silver solution are considerably reduced but there is excellent staining and good tissue morphology. PMID- 2615587 TI - Cytomorphometry of osteoclasts. AB - Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) is considered as an enzyme marker for osteoclasts and their precursors. A cytomorphometric study of the osteoclastic population was made after TRAP staining on transiliac bone biopsies from 10 human volunteers, and the diameter of each TRAP positive profile was determined with an automatic image analyser. The frequency distribution of the cell diameter followed a lognormal law. TRAP positive cells along bone trabeculae belong to a homogeneous osteoclastic population. PMID- 2615588 TI - Electrochemical determination of all-trans-retinol, and correlation with retinol binding protein in liver cirrhosis. AB - All-trans-retinol (vitamin A1) levels were determined in the sera of patients with cirrhosis of the liver and in normal healthy individuals, using a recently developed method involving high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The vitamin levels were significantly lower in the cirrhotic group. (P less than 0.01), and the correlation between retinol and retinol-binding protein levels was good (r = 0.9678, 0.0000 less than P less than 0.0001). It is suggested that retinol levels may be used to monitor the disease, the assay described being less time-consuming and more convenient than the commonly used retinol-binding protein or 'dark adaption' methods. PMID- 2615589 TI - Paragonimus siamensis: subcutaneous infection with ex-cysted metacercariae. AB - Metacercariae of the lung fluke Paragonimus siamensis were still infective after excysting, and worms could therefore develop to adults in the rats infected subcutaneously with these metacercariae. Cysts containing adult worms were found both inside and outside the lung, those from extrapulmonary cysts being larger. PMID- 2615590 TI - Toxoplasma antibody screening. PMID- 2615591 TI - Needle-biopsy of paraffin blocks to obtain tissue for electron microscopy. PMID- 2615592 TI - Sequence and expression of the murine diazepam binding inhibitor. AB - Previous studies suggest that a diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI, also referred to as endozepine) present in the brain may function anxiogenically as a modulator of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor complex (GABAA). An expression library representing mouse brain mRNA was screened using antisera that recognizes the 11 kDa DBI protein. A cDNA clone was isolated and sequenced. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of mouse DBI to that for human, rat and bovine DBI shows that the size of DBI is conserved at 87 amino acids in all of these mammals. DBI cDNA hybridizes to an mRNA of about 600 nucleotides. This mRNA is not restricted to the brain, being prevalent in other organs such as the liver and kidney. Its moderate to high abundance, as judged from mRNA levels, in several organs suggests that DBI might have functions other than, or in addition to, the possible regulation of benzodiazepine binding sites. PMID- 2615593 TI - Large dense cored vesicles are enriched in neuropeptide processing intermediates in the Aplysia bag cells. AB - The bag cell neurons in the marine snail Aplysia synthesize large amounts of the egg-laying hormone (ELH) prohormone. The ELH precursor is proteolytically processed into 9 peptides making this a useful system for studying prohormone processing and the sorting of proteins destined for the secretory pathway. The peptides derived from the ELH prohormone are differentially packaged into four distinct classes of dense cored vesicles (DVCs). Dense cored vesicles in the large class are greater than 250 nm in diameter, contain the 6 peptides derived from the aminoterminus of the prohormone and are localized to the cell soma and not the neuronal processes. Here we demonstrate that the large DCVs are enriched in prohormone processing intermediates. In addition, many of the large DCVs do not contain acid phosphatase activity suggesting they are an organelle distinct from the lysosomes and that different classes of DCVs may subserve unique functions within the secretory pathway. PMID- 2615594 TI - Human brain glycogen phosphorylase: characterization of fetal cDNA and genomic sequences. AB - Glycogen phosphorylase (alpha-1,4-glucan:orthophosphate D-glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.1) is the rate-determining enzyme catalyzing glycogen degradation. Human brain has been demonstrated previously to express genes of both the liver and muscle isozymes of glycogen phosphorylase. In this report, a human fetal brain cDNA and genomic DNA corresponding to the brain isozyme of glycogen phosphorylase were isolated and characterized. Transcripts corresponding to this isozyme are present in human adult and fetal brain, and at low levels in other human fetal tissues. The predicted C-terminal sequence of the protein encoded by this cDNA and gene differ from that encoded by a phosphorylase cDNA isolated from a human astrocytoma cell line. PMID- 2615595 TI - Intervening sequence-specific in situ hybridization: detection of the pro opiomelanocortin gene primary transcript in individual neurons. AB - We describe here the in situ hybridization procedure which we have used to detect the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene primary transcript in nuclei of individual neurons in the periarcuate region of the hypothalamus. An exon-intron RNA probe was used to detect POMC primary transcript and mature mRNA in nuclear extracts of nucleic acids using a sensitive S1 nuclease protection assay. The levels per cell of nuclear primary transcript were similar to those seen in the anterior pituitary, suggesting that intervening sequence in situ hybridization should be feasible. A nonrepetitive complementary RNA probe specific for the first intervening sequence of the rat POMC gene (POMC IVS-A) was used to detect the POMC primary transcript in hypothalamic tissue sections by in situ hybridization. The distribution of nuclear localized autoradiographic grains was similar to that previously reported for immunocytochemically defined POMC neurons, suggesting that the procedure is also effective in brain cells. PMID- 2615596 TI - Preproenkephalin mRNA expression in nucleus caudalis neurons is enhanced by trigeminal stimulation. AB - Electrical stimulation of trigeminal afferents increases expression of preproenkephalin mRNA in neurons of laminae I and II of the trigeminal nucleus caudalis in animals sacrificed 6 hours after the end of stimulation. More neurons express, and positive cells express at higher levels. These neurons thus express the mRNA corresponding to a major pain-modulating neurotransmitter gene with significant input-related plasticity. PMID- 2615597 TI - Preprocholecystokinin mRNA in rat brain: regional expression includes thalamus. PMID- 2615598 TI - [Evaluation of a morphologic staging method (myeloma progression score) in multiple myeloma]. AB - One hundred twentyone cases of multiple myeloma were classified according to a myeloma progression score based on the relative frequencies of plasma cells and plasma blasts in bone marrow aspirate. A significant correlation was observed between calculated myeloma progression score and survival (p less than 0.001). Moreover, significant differences were found between mean survivals and survival curves in the three stages (p less than 0.01). The value of the method was limited by the non-uniform distribution of the patients in the three stage groups, at least in our study. These results confirm that the morphological scoring staging system is useful and reliable and that it can be successfully used as an additional system, together with clinical staging systems, for predicting survival in patients with multiple myeloma. PMID- 2615599 TI - [Eosinophilic granuloma: presentation of a clinical case]. AB - A case of a 45 years old woman affected by multifocal eosinophilic granuloma is described. Local irradiation of the most recent osteolytic lesions produced remission of the disease. PMID- 2615600 TI - [Breast and skin localization of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Description of a clinical case]. AB - A clinical case of a patient suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma with breast localization and skin infiltration is reported. Skin lesion was the presenting feature: after diagnosis and chemotherapy the relapse of lymphoma was characterized by breast infiltration. These particular localizations are discussed in terms of their unfavourable prognostic significance in lymphoma. PMID- 2615601 TI - [Allergic granulomatous angiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome): description of 2 clinical cases]. AB - The authors report two cases of granulomatous allergic angiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome) in patients previously affected by bronchial asthma. Different clinical developments and responses to therapy are considered. PMID- 2615602 TI - [Clinical use of growth hormone and clonidine in growth disorders]. AB - The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the recombinant human growth hormone and of the alpha-2 adrenergic agonist clonidine in three groups of prepuberal children with growth disorders. Three children with GH-deficiency were treated with 0.5 U kg/week i.m. of recombinant growth hormone; 13 children (7 with constitutional delay of growth and 6 with familiar short stature) were treated with 0.08 mg/m2/die per os of clonidine. The results confirmed the growth promoting effect of GH in GH-deficiency. Clonidine restored GH-secretion in children with constitutional delay, but had a very poor or no effect in familiar short children. PMID- 2615603 TI - [Plasma osteocalcin in children: effects of age, sex and body surface]. AB - The aim of the study was the evaluation of plasma osteocalcin (O.), alkaline phosphatases (A.P.) and urinary hydroxyproline excretion (uOHPr) in subjects 3-20 years aged. O., A.F. and uOHPr were increased in patients less than 15 years aged; thereafter the values were similar to normal adult values. O. correlates with age and body surface area in children aged less than 15 years; the highest values were observed at the expected age of puberal spurt. This behaviour was not evident for the other bone turnover markers studied. In conclusion, it could be suggested that O. is a useful index of bone peak mass reached at puberty. PMID- 2615604 TI - [Organotherapy treatment in the course of normofunctional goiter. Long-term results in 104 patients]. AB - Results of therapy with thyroid hormones (LT4 and/or LT3) were evaluated in 104 patients (95 females and 9 males) with simple diffuse or nodular goiter. The mean interval of observation was 7.2 years. The reported results were analysed in relation to patient's age at the onset of the pathology, time elapsed since its appearance, place of origin and sex of the patient, results of laboratory studies, and clinical signs. PMID- 2615605 TI - [Behavior of plasma and urine purines, after a purine-free diet, in normal subjects and patients with gout]. AB - Plasma and urine oxypurines (hypoxanthine and xanthine) and uric acid, were evaluated in normal subjects and in gouty patients before and after a purine free diet. After a 7-days period, plasma oxypurines were remarkably higher in normal subjects, while they did not undergo variations in gouty patients, which showed higher in basal conditions. No significant changes in urinary excretion were observed in both cases. The interpretation of the observed variations is discussed. PMID- 2615606 TI - [Clearance of oxypurines and uric acid in patients with gout]. AB - The clearance of uric acid, hypoxanthine and xanthine has been examined in gouty patients and in normal subjects comparatively to the creatinine clearance. The clearance of the three purine compounds was lower in the gouty patients, while the creatinine clearance showed a normal behavior. These results indicate that either the tubular excretion or the carriers of the considered metabolites probably undergo specific alterations in the gout. PMID- 2615607 TI - [Immunohistochemical demonstration of neuropeptide Y in the normal human thymus and in thymoma]. AB - The distribution of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in normal thymic parenchyma and in thymoma was evaluated in order to characterize the typical aspects of the thymic peptidergic pattern of innervation in normal and pathological conditions. The possible role of neuropeptide Y in neuromodulation of the immunological response is discussed. PMID- 2615609 TI - [Anamnesis: expert systems and the rediscovery of Cinderella]. AB - Up to today there is universal consensus that the anamnesis is a fundamental and unsubstitutable phase both for the formulation of the diagnosis and for establishing the correct physician-patient relationship. In a high percentage of cases the diagnostic hypothesis formulated during the history taking is successively confirmed. The analysis of the structure of the anamnesis has demonstrated that it realizes a cognitive approach of "phenomenological" type. This kind of approach is fitting with the structure of illness if it is considered during its evolution. The necessity of a reconsideration of the anamnesis also stems from the future likely diffusion of "Expert Systems" to support diagnosis. Their utilization requires, indeed, a correct acquisition of the data from anamnestic and physical examination. PMID- 2615608 TI - [Infection and tissue ischemia: role of cellular rheology]. AB - It is not clear how acute infection is associated with a subsequent ischaemic brain infarction. Infection may, indeed, cause changes in blood fluidity. Abnormalities in blood flow, particularly in white blood cell rheology, are known to be precipitating factors for ischaemic events. Therefore, the rheological behaviour of the erythrocytes and of the main leucocyte subpopulations (granulocytes = G; mononuclear cells = MNL) were studied in 29 patients 30 days after the onset of acute bacterial infections. A group of 49 controls (matched for sex, body mass index and cardiovascular risk factors) was also evaluated. A significant impairment in the flow properties of the mononuclear leucocyte subpopulation was found in the patients as compared to control. These results indicate that disturbances in leucocyte rheology might be considered an additional risk factor for ischaemic brain infarction when this occurs shortly after febrile infection. PMID- 2615610 TI - [A 62-year-old female with right heart insufficiency]. PMID- 2615611 TI - [The work experience of a labor collective council]. PMID- 2615612 TI - [The epidemiological characteristics of AIDS]. PMID- 2615613 TI - [The role of the environment and microorganisms in the occurrence of human occupational diseases under the conditions of the intensive development of animal husbandry]. PMID- 2615614 TI - [Hereditary neuromuscular diseases]. PMID- 2615615 TI - [Electroneuromyography in the clinical picture of nervous diseases]. PMID- 2615616 TI - [Autonomic crises in neurological disorders]. PMID- 2615617 TI - [Lymphangitis]. PMID- 2615618 TI - [Postoperative care for otorhinolaryngologic patients]. PMID- 2615619 TI - [The role of the nurse in preventing hospital infections]. PMID- 2615620 TI - [Fasciitis and aponeurositis]. PMID- 2615621 TI - [Further comment on the use of propolis]. PMID- 2615622 TI - [Drug allergy]. PMID- 2615623 TI - [Modern x-ray screens and the areas of their use]. PMID- 2615624 TI - [Medical deontology problems in the daily work of the psychiatric hospital nurse]. PMID- 2615625 TI - Monoclonal antibody-coated magnetite particles as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging of tumors. AB - A highly specific and powerful magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent has been prepared by coating magnetite (Fe3O4) particles with monoclonal antibodies directed against a tumor antigen. The preparation maintains both the immunoreactivity of the monoclonal antibody and the full relaxing capability of the magnetite particle. MRI image contrast by spin-echo methods can be easily induced in a concentration range of 1-10 nM of the antibody-coated magnetite particles. PMID- 2615626 TI - Diagnosis and assessment of mitral and aortic valve disease by cine-flow magnetic resonance imaging. AB - Seventy-six aortic and mitral valves, in 44 patients and 5 normal volunteers, were studied by Cine-Flow MRI (on a 0.26-T superconducting magnet system), utilizing compound oblique imaging planes and a Field Echo Even Rephasing sequence. All patients had had cardiac catheterization and echocardiography. All patients with valvular stenosis and aortic sclerosis (n = 45) showed complete signal loss distal to the respective valve. Length of signal loss distal to the aortic valve in those in whom it was measured (n = 15) allowed differentiation of aortic stenosis (n = 9) from sclerosis (n = 6). This also permitted grading of stenosis with highly significant correlation (T = 0.86; P less than 0.002) with pressure gradient measurement. In mitral stenosis (n = 12) calculation of the area of signal loss distal to the mitral valve as a percentage of left ventricular cross-sectional area showed a highly significant correlation (T = 0.77; P = 0.001) with pressure gradient measurement. Clinically significant valvular regurgitation was graded by size and duration of signal loss proximal to the value with concordance with angiocardiography. It is concluded that Cine-Flow MRI has a clinical role in the diagnosis and assessment of valvular heart disease. PMID- 2615627 TI - The influence of flow and motion in MRI of diffusion using a modified CE-FAST sequence. AB - Severe motion and flow artifacts are a problem in MRI of diffusion in vivo due to the application of strong magnetic field gradients. Here it is shown that image artifacts can be removed by using a modified fast-scan MRI sequence (CE-FAST) in conjunction with averaging of diffusion-weighted images. In phantom studies slow (coherent) flow (less than 1 mm s-1) in the presence of strong diffusion gradients is shown to cause signal losses in diffusion-weighted images that depend on the relative orientations of the flow direction and the diffusion gradient. On the other hand, pulsatile motions of macroscopic dimensions (e.g., 1 mm, 1 Hz, in-plane) lead to smearing and ghosting of signal intensities along the phase-encoding direction of the images. In both phantoms and rabbit brains in vivo motion artifacts were found to be reducible by averaging 8-16 images. Unfortunately, the resulting image contrast no longer represents a "true" diffusion contrast but is affected by additional signal losses due to motion averaging. All experiments were performed on a 40-cm-bore 2.35-T Bruker Medspec system. PMID- 2615628 TI - Volume-selective determination of the spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame T1 rho, and T1 rho imaging. AB - A method for the volume- and resonance line-selective determination of the longitudinal relaxation time in the rotating frame, T1 rho, is described. The spin-lock pulse intrinsic to the T1 rho sequence simultaneously replaces the first slice-selective pulse of the VOSY method for localized spectroscopy. This is a further parameter suitable for the local characterization of tissue. On the same basis, T1 rho can be used as a new contrast parameter for biomedical imaging purposes. An appropriate pulse sequence for T1 rho imaging is presented. Test experiments which promise some striking advantages compared with conventional magnetic resonance imaging are reported. PMID- 2615629 TI - Baseline deconvolution, phase correction, and signal quantification in Fourier localized spectroscopic imaging. AB - Lineshapes of spectra obtained through chemical-shift imaging are often distorted due to the delay in sampling necessary for application of phase-encoding gradients. We have developed an automated fitting procedure which simultaneously performs signal quantification, phase correction, and baseline deconvolution of such spectra. The fit is based on the maximum likelihood method and can be implemented in either the time or the frequency domain. PMID- 2615630 TI - On the origin of paramagnetic inhomogeneity effects in blood. AB - Hydrogen, sodium, and fluorine (added F-) NMR spectra of venous and oxygenated blood were measured. The fluorine resonance was seen as a single peak in both samples, and all three resonances exhibited the same deoxy-oxy shift. Because F- exchanges slowly across the red cell membrane, and because sodium is 95% extracellular, these results suggest that the intra-extracellular field difference delta B is less than 0.1 ppm. A small value of delta B tends to rule out transmembrane exchange as an important contributor to relaxation in MRI of blood and hematomas. However, the broadening of the resonances with deoxygenation, by 0.3-0.4 ppm, indicates that both intra- and extracellular gradients are of comparable and sufficient magnitude to produce the T2-weighted hypointensity seen in clinical magnetic resonance images of hematomas at high fields. PMID- 2615631 TI - Improvement in 31P NMR signal-to-noise for ATP in vivo using homonuclear decoupling. AB - The efficiency of 31P homonuclear decoupling in vivo is demonstrated. In low field clinical situations, when JPP is equal to or greater than delta v, significant improvements in the precision of measuring the ATP resonance area can be expected upon decoupling due to the increase in signal-to-noise produced upon collapse of the J coupling. The sensitivity loss due to time sharing between the decoupler and receiver is discussed. PMID- 2615632 TI - The use of an improved inversion pulse with the spin-echo/inversion-recovery sequence to give increased accuracy and reduced imaging time for T1 measurements. AB - The hyperbolic secant inversion pulse has been incorporated into the interleaved saturation-recovery/inversion-recovery sequence to provide T1 measurements combining high precision with a significantly reduced imaging time (a mean accuracy of 2% over a T1 range of 300 to 1650 ms for standard gel phantoms, with Tr1 = Tr2 = 2.0 s, Ti = 0.67 s). PMID- 2615633 TI - 9.4-T NMR microimaging studies of hepatic metastases of human colorectal tumors in nude mice. AB - We have applied NMR microimaging at 9.4 T to detect metastatic deposits in the liver of nude mice noninvasively, using an animal model for metastatic colon cancer that mimics several aspects of the human disease. Images were obtained with a resolution of 100 x 100 x 900 microns and the tumor deposits were clearly distinguished from the normal liver tissue with excellent contrast. Comparison of NMR images with corresponding histologic sections indicates that lesions as small as 900 microns were detected. PMID- 2615634 TI - Lipopolysaccharide alteration mediated by the virulence plasmid of Salmonella. AB - Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Salmonella dublin, S. enteritidis, S. typhimurium, S. choleraesuis and their derivative strains was analysed to investigate the correlation between LPS and virulence plasmid of Salmonella. All wild-type strains had smooth type LPS, i.e. LPS with long O-specific polysaccharide. The virulence plasmid-cured strain of S. dublin, C524, exhibited a shorter O-specific chain than its parent strain, 5240. No distinct ladder bands were observed at the high molecular weight region on the SDS-PAGE gel for C524 LPS. By chemical analysis the number of O-repeating unit of C524 LPS was shown to be approximately one. The chain length of O-specific polysaccharide was restored by reintroduction of the virulence plasmid. The alteration of LPS by curing and reintroduction of the virulence plasmid was not observed when other wild-type strains of S. dublin were used. In the case of S. enteritidis, S. typhimurium, and S. choleraesuis, alteration of neither chemical composition nor electrophoretical profile of LPS was detected by curing and reintroduction of the virulence plasmids. Those results suggest that certain factor for regulation of the chain length of O specific polysaccharide is encoded on the virulence plasmid of S. dublin. PMID- 2615635 TI - Production of a unique cytotoxin by Klebsiella oxytoca. AB - Certain strains of Klebsiella oxytoca isolated from patients with hemorrhagic enterocolitis produced a unique cytotoxin. The cytotoxin induced rounding of tissue culture cells, such as HEp-2, Vero, CHO and HeLa cells. The induced morphologic changes were indistinguishable between cell types. Seventy to 80% of the rounded cells died in 48 h incubation. The cytotoxin was purified 1000-fold from culture supernatant by Sephadex G-25 and Bio-Gel P-2 gel filtration followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified cytotoxin was estimated to be less than or equal to 651 by mass spectrometry. The minimum concentrations of the purified cytotoxin required to cause 50% of rounding of cells were 0.6 micrograms/ml for HEp-2, 0.8 micrograms/ml for Vero, 0.8 micrograms/ml for CHO and 1.4 micrograms/ml for HeLa cells. The type strain of K. oxytoca, ATCC 13182, did not produce the cytotoxin and only the clinically isolated strains did, suggesting that the cytotoxin may play a role in the pathogenesis of the organisms. PMID- 2615636 TI - The molecular basis of pathogenicity in Haemophilus influenzae: comparative virulence of genetically-related capsular transformants and correlation with changes at the capsulation locus cap. AB - Serotype b strains of Haemophilus influenzae are strikingly more highly associated with episodes of invasive, life-threatening infection in young children than are strains of other serotypes, but the role that the capsule itself plays in determining this virulence has not been dissected away from that of possibly linked virulence determinants such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Using DNA from clinical isolates of all six serotypes (a-f) and a genetically-defined capsule-deficient recipient strain Rb-: 02, we constructed a series of capsular transformants otherwise identical with respect to outer-membrane protein and LPS subtype, biotype, and electrotype. Cloned DNA was also used to create type a and b transformants isogenic outside the capsulation locus to provide the most rigorous test to determine whether capsule alone modulates pathogenicity. Capsular transformants showed the same spectrum of virulence in an infant rat bacteremia/meningitis assay as wild-type strains, thus implicating the capsule polysaccharide as an independent determinant of virulence. Experiments in intact and splenectomised rats identified a critical role for type b capsule in enabling organisms to evade splenic clearance. PMID- 2615637 TI - A statistical test that supports a human/chimpanzee clade based on noncoding DNA sequence data. AB - Using the aligned DNA sequence data of Miyamoto et al. and Maeda et al., all noncoding genetic material, and a simple statistical test, we show that a Homo/Pan clade is supported at approximately the 3% level of significance. The method accommodates polymorphism and different evolutionary rates for different sites. All assumptions on which the statistical study is based are made explicit. (See the Note added in proof, which--adding recently published data--improves the significance level to about 1%. PMID- 2615638 TI - Rates of single-copy DNA evolution in phalangeriform marsupials. AB - DNA/DNA hybridization was used to investigate the relationships of taxa representing the phalangeriform marsupial families Acrobatidae, Burramyidae, Macropodidae, Petauridae, Phalangeridae, and Pseudocheiridae and (as an outgroup) the bandicoot family Peramelidae. In the course of this, a marked rate slowdown was noted in the burramyid lineage represented by Cercartetus caudatus; ANOVA (with Tukey's test) and F-ratio tests of both corrected and uncorrected data matrices confirmed this rate disparity. As burramyids are small, short-generation time phalangeriforms, these data present a striking counterexample to the common view that rates of change in DNA sequences are inversely correlated with generation time. PMID- 2615639 TI - Dispersed repeats and structural reorganization in subclover chloroplast DNA. AB - The plastid genome from subclover, Trifolium subterraneum, is unusual in a variety of respects, compared with other land-plant chloroplast DNAs. Gene mapping of subclover chloroplast DNA reveals major structural reorganization of the genome. Ten clusters of genes are rearranged in both order and orientation. Eight large inversions are sufficient to explain this reorganization; however, the actual evolutionary changes may have been more complex. For example, a fine scale analysis of a set of ribosomal protein genes reveals the occurrence of insertions, deletions, and transpositions. Associated with this unusually unstable genome are two structural features potentially involved in the rearrangements. A dispersed family of repeats, with each element about 1 kb in length, is present in at least six copies. A survey of a wide taxonomic range of species indicates that these elements are unique to the chloroplast DNAs of subclover and two closely related species. Several of the repeated elements are associated with genomic rearrangements, and one repeat is inserted within a normally highly conserved series of genes. This set of dispersed repeats may be the first family of transposable elements found in any organelle genome. In addition, the subclover genome is much larger than those in other closely related legumes, even when one takes into account the presence of the repeated elements. Some of the extra DNA has no sequence similarity to other chloroplast genomes and may represent insertion of DNA from another genome. These unusual features are not found in the structurally stable chloroplast genomes of other vascular plants and may, therefore, be implicated in the rapid and major reorganization of the chloroplast DNA in subclover. PMID- 2615640 TI - Lactate dehydrogenase-B cDNA from the teleost Fundulus heteroclitus: evolutionary implications. AB - A cDNA that encodes the heart-type lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-B) from the teleost fish Fundulus heteroclitus was cloned and sequenced. The protein encoded by the cDNA was analyzed in relation to 13 LDH proteins from a variety of taxa. One of the deductions from this analysis is that LDH-B proteins have residues in the active site that are unique and that may be important in determining the biochemistry of the heart-type isozyme. Phylogenetic analysis of the LDH sequences indicates that the branch lengths are greater in lower vertebrates, suggesting that the amino acid replacement rates vary depending on the evolutionary constraints within each taxon. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that LDH-C arose prior to the divergence of the LDH-A and LDH-B isozymes and thus that it is probably ancestral to these isozymes. PMID- 2615641 TI - A statistical test of phylogenies estimated from sequence data. AB - A simple approach to testing the significance of the branching order, estimated from protein or DNA sequence data, of three taxa is proposed. The branching order is inferred by the transformed-distance method, under the assumption that one or two outgroups are available, and the branch lengths are estimated by the least squares method. The inferred branching order is considered significant if the estimated internodal distance is significantly greater than zero. To test this, a formula for the variance of the internodal distance has been developed. The statistical test proposed has been checked by computer simulation. The same test also applies to the case of four taxa with no outgroup, if one considers an unrooted tree. Formulas for the variances of internodal distances have also been developed for the case of five taxa. Conditions are given under which it is more efficient to add the sequence of a fifth taxon than to do 25% more nucleotide sequencing in each of the original four. A method is presented for combining analyses of disparate data to get a single P value. Finally, the test, applied to the human-chimpanzee-gorilla problem, shows that the issue is not yet resolved. PMID- 2615642 TI - The relative-rate test of the molecular clock hypothesis: a note of caution. PMID- 2615643 TI - Neonatal growth delay in alpha-1-antitrypsin disease. Influence of genetic background. AB - We have developed a transgenic mouse strain, Z#2, which represents a model for alpha 1-protease inhibitor (alpha 1-antitrypsin: alpha 1-Pi)-associated liver disease (Dycaico et al., 1988). Fifteen percent of human infants with alpha 1-Pi disease develop non-viral hepatitis which is sometimes associated with growth retardation. Such hepatitis and growth retardation tend to occur in a subset of families with other alpha 1-Pi affected members who have had non-viral hepatitis. The Z#2 mouse strain exhibits non-viral hepatitis and growth retardation. This phenotype is more pronounced in transgenic offspring of crosses between Z#2 mice and DBA/2J inbred mice, and less pronounced in transgenic offspring of crosses between Z#2 and CBA/J inbred mice. Such phenotypic differences resemble the phenotypic differences seen in human families with alpha 1-Pi-associated liver disease. PMID- 2615644 TI - Oncogenic potential of hepatitis B virus. AB - The function of the X gene was clarified by examination of the transient production of hepatitis B virus (HBV) particles by transfected recombinant HBV DNA (pHBV-3 DNA) and its frameshift mutant (delta X) of the X open reading frame into hepatocellular carcinoma HuH-7 and HepG2 cells. No reduction of viral mRNAs was observed in the HuH-7 cells by the delta X mutant, whereas mRNAs underwent marked reduction in HepG2 cells. No reduction in core particle production was observed in HuH-7 cells, but in HepG2 cells reduction was considerable. To clarify the significance of the delta X mutation in the trans-acting function of the X gene in hepatoma cells, the chloramphenicol acetyl/transferase (CAT) assay was conducted. Transfection of plasmid pHBV-3 into HepG2 cells increased CAT activity of pSV2-CAT, while the delta X mutation clearly showed no stimulation of activity. On the other hand, in the HuH-7 cells, pHBV-3 exhibited no such stimulation. The trans-acting function of the X gene product in two different hepatoma cells was clearly shown to differ. Furthermore, transfection of X gene expression plasmid pKSV-HBx into mouse NIH3T3 cells increased the CAT activity of pSV2-CAT. Trans-activation was still detectable even following deletion of enhancer sequences in the pSV2CAT. The oncogenic potential of HBV is discussed with special attention to the X gene product, which may be able to activate a cellular transcription factor at the viral and cellular promotor sequences in the cells. PMID- 2615645 TI - Analysis of deletions at the human argininosuccinate synthetase locus. AB - Heritable deficiency of the enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase results in the autosomal recessive disease citrullinemia. RNA was isolated from cultured fibroblasts from citrullinemic patients for synthesis of complementary DNA (cDNA). The mutant mRNAs were reverse transcribed, amplified and cloned for sequencing. The cDNA sequence from one mutant allele revealed the absence of exon 5 sequences, while the sequence from a second mutant allele revealed the absence of exon 6. Genomic DNA from 25 citrullinemic patients was analyzed using intron probes derived from the argininosuccinate synthetase gene. One polymorphic probe located between exons 5 and 6 identified two novel alleles amongst 48 citrullinemia chromosomes examined. Each of these alleles appears to involve deletion of genomic DNA from this region. These two mutations, which were detected as alterations of the gene structure, are the same two mutations that result in deletion of exon 5 or 6, respectively, from the mRNA. These two mutations account for approximately 10% of the chromosomes carrying mutations that cause citrullinemia. PMID- 2615646 TI - Long-term correction of genetic defect of liver function in rat by transplantation of liver cells after ultraviolet irradiation. AB - Allograft rejection limits the survival and function of transplanted hepatocytes obtained from allogeneic donors. Presentation of donor antigens by antigen presenting cells that express class II major histocompatibility antigens (MHC) carried in the graft has been implicated in allograft rejection. Ultraviolet-B (u.v.-B, 280 to 320 nm) irradiation and short-term culture have been shown to modify the function of antigen-presenting cells. In this study, we used u.v.-B irradiation (600 J/m2) of donor hepatocytes isolated from normal inbred Wistar RHA rats, followed by 16 to 20 hours of culture prior to transplantation into histoincompatible genetically analbuminemic rats (Nagase analbuminemic rats, NAR) by intraportal infusion of 10(7) viable hepatocytes. Isolated Wistar RHA hepatocytes without u.v.-B irradiation and/or culture, or NAR rat hepatocytes, were used as control. Survival and function of the transplanted hepatocytes were monitored by serial immunoassay of serum albumin in the recipients. Serum albumin concentration did not increase after transplantation of NAR rat hepatocytes. In NAR rats that received Wistar RHA hepatocytes, serum albumin levels increased from pre-transplantation levels of 0.025 to 0.05 mg/ml to 8 to 10 mg/ml. When freshly isolated liver cells were transplanted with or without u.v.-B irradiation, but without culturing, serum albumin levels reached a maximum in two weeks and then progressively declined to pretransplantation levels. When the cells were not irradiated but cultured for 16 to 20 hours, elevated serum albumin levels persisted for six weeks, and then progressively declined to baseline concentrations. In contrast, when the isolated normal liver cells were u.v.-B irradiated and cultured for 16 to 20 hours before transplantation, serum albumin levels persisted at 8 to 10 mg/ml throughout the duration of this study (32 weeks). Immunocytochemistry using anti-rat serum albumin (rabbit) immunoglobulin of liver tissue from NAR rats without transplantation or after transplantation with NAR liver cells showed immunostaining in less than one in 1000 cells. Four to 16 weeks after transplantation of u.v.-B-irradiated and cultured normal allogeneic hepatocytes, one to two per 100 hepatocytes stained positive for albumin. The results indicate that u.v.-B-irradiation followed by short-term culture of allogeneic rat hepatocytes prior to transplantation results in prolonged and perhaps permanent allograft acceptance by NAR rats. PMID- 2615647 TI - Liver growth factor purified from human plasma is an albumin-bilirubin complex. AB - We have reported that a liver growth factor isolated from plasma of partially hepatectomized rats is an albumin-bilirubin complex. In this paper, we characterize the liver growth factor purified from subjects with hepatitis (h LGF). This factor increases synthesis of DNA in a dose-dependent manner both in vivo in mouse hepatocytes, with a dose of maximal stimulation of 150 ng of h LGF/mouse, and in vitro in rat liver cell culture, with maximal effect at 7.5 to 10 ng of h-LGF/ml. In vivo, h-LGF increases the mitotic index of mouse hepatocytes, its action being organ-specific, acting on liver, but not on spleen, kidney, lung or brain. In vitro, h-LGF stimulates the uptake of 22Na+ by hepatocytes. In addition, we carried out a study comparing it with human serum albumin in terms of absorbance, fluorescence, circular dichroism spectra, amino acid composition, tryptic maps and antigenic determinants (Ouchterlony immunodiffusion). All these tests suggested that human serum albumin is a constituent of h-LGF. Moreover, when albumin isolated from humans without hepatic pathology is incubated with bilirubin, the albumin-bilirubin complex formed mimics the activity of the human liver growth factor with respect to stimulation of DNA synthesis and the effects on the mitotic index of mouse hepatocytes in vivo. We propose that this human liver growth factor is an albumin-bilirubin complex. PMID- 2615648 TI - CpG dinucleotides are "hotspots" for mutation in the antithrombin III gene. Twelve variants identified using the polymerase chain reaction. AB - CpG dinucleotides have been implicated as mutational hotspots in genes that are subject to control mechanisms involving methylation. We have used the polymerase chain reaction to amplify exons 2 and 6 of the human antithrombin III gene and direct sequencing to identify the base replacement in 12 genetic variants. These occurred in individuals with a history of thromboembolic disease due to functional abnormalities of circulating antithrombin: ten had decreased heparin binding and activation, two had decreased inhibitory activity. The amino acid abnormality in ten out of 12 cases had arisen at a CpG dinucleotide; this confirms the CpG sequence as a "hotspot" in the antithrombin gene and explains the observed frequency of occurrence of the same variant antithrombins in diverse populations. PMID- 2615649 TI - Phenylketonuria in the Greek population. Haplotype analysis of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene and identification of a PKU mutation. AB - Haplotype analysis of the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene was performed on 27 chromosomes from a sample of 14 Greek phenylketonuria (PKU) probands and their parents. The majority (94%) of the 17 mutant PAH alleles are on haplotypes 1, 2 and 4, with haplotype 1 being most common. Sixty per cent of ten control PAH alleles are on haplotypes 1, 2 and 4. Haplotype 3 was not present in either group. A new MspI restriction site was found in exon 9 of a single mutant PAH allele on haplotype 7. The mutation responsible for the restriction site alteration is a T to C transition at nucleotide 1154 of the PAH cDNA, resulting in the conversion of codon 311 from leucine to proline (L311P). The same mutation has been described on a haplotype 1 allele in a German PKU patient. A single crossover event would be required to transfer this mutation from haplotype 1 to 7. Migration of this mutation from one haplotype to another by recombination cannot be distinguished from a recurrent mutation at this site. PMID- 2615650 TI - Nucleotide sequences of the pbpX genes encoding the penicillin-binding proteins 2x from Streptococcus pneumoniae R6 and a cefotaxime-resistant mutant, C506. AB - Development of penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is due to successive mutations in penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) which reduce their affinity for beta-lactam antibiotics. PBP2x is one of the high-Mr PBPs which appears to be altered both in resistant clinical isolates, and in cefotaxime resistant laboratory mutants. In this study, we have sequenced a 2564 base-pair chromosomal fragment from the penicillin-sensitive S. pneumoniae strain R6, which contains the PBP2x gene. Within this fragment, a 2250 base-pair open reading frame was found which coded for a protein having an Mr of 82.35kD, a value which is in good agreement with the Mr of 80-85 kD measured by SDS-gel electrophoresis of the PBP2x protein itself. The N-terminal region resembled an unprocessed signal peptide and was followed by a hydrophobic sequence that may be responsible for membrane attachment of PBP2x. The corresponding nucleotide sequence of the PBP2x gene from C504, a cefotaxime-resistant laboratory mutant obtained after five selection steps, contained three nucleotide substitutions, causing three amino acid alterations within the beta-lactam binding domain of the PBP2x protein. Alterations affecting similar regions of Escherichia coli PBP3 and Neisseria gonorrhoeae PBP2 from beta-lactam-resistant strains are known. The penicillin-binding domain of PBP2x shows highest homology with these two PBPs and S. pneumoniae PBP2b. In contrast, the N-terminal extension of PBP2x has the highest homology with E. coli PBP2 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus PBP2'. No significant homology was detected with PBP1a or PBP1b of Escherichia coli, or with the low-Mr PBPs. PMID- 2615651 TI - Unique sequences in region VI of the flagellin gene of Salmonella typhi. AB - The H1 (now renamed fliC; lino et al., 1988) alleles specifying antigenically different Salmonella flagellins are identical at their ends but differ greatly towards the middle, where there are two hypervariable segments (regions IV and VI). The flagellar antigen, d, of Salmonella typhi, is found also as phase-1 antigen in many other Salmonella species. We cloned the H1-d gene of a strain of S. typhi and determined the nucleotide sequence of its two hypervariable regions. Comparison with gene H1-d of Salmonella muenchen showed substantial differences in region VI: four scattered amino acid differences and ten adjacent amino acids in the inferred S. typhi sequence, all of which differ from the corresponding nine amino acids in the S. muenchen sequence. The results of polymerase chain reaction amplification indicated the presence of the S. typhi version in all of 18 additional S. typhi strains and the presence of the S. muenchen version in all four non-S. typhi species with flagellar antigen d. The difference in amino acid sequence in segment VI may be responsible for the minor serological differences between antigens d of S. typhi and antigen d of S. muenchen. PMID- 2615652 TI - Relationship between the pel genes of the pelADE cluster in Erwinia chrysanthemi strain B374. AB - In this paper, we have used filter hybridization and nucleotide sequencing to analyse the relationship between the three genes of the pelADE cluster in the Erwinia chrysanthemi (Ech) strain B374. This cluster encodes for three of the five pectate lyase proteins that are involved in the maceration and soft-rotting of plant tissue, an important trait in Ech pathogenicity. Southern hybridization revealed homology between each of the three pel genes. A 3560 bp DNA fragment containing the pelE and pelD genes was sequenced. These two genes show extensive homology in the coding regions but only low homology in the 5' and 3' non-coding regions. However both genes exhibit sequences homologous to the Escherichia coli CAP-binding site consensus sequence upstream of the start codon and an inverted repeat sequence which may act as a rho-independent transcriptional terminator after the translational stop. The pel genes of Ech B374 were also compared with the already sequenced pel genes of EC16, another Ech strain. PMID- 2615653 TI - An electrophoretic karyotype and assignment of ribosomal genes to resolved chromosomes of Pneumocystis carinii. AB - Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to generate a molecular karyotype of chromosomes from the opportunistic AIDS pathogen, Pneumocystis carinii. P. carinii cysts and trophozoites were isolated from immunosuppressed rats, lysed in situ in agarose blocks, and subjected to orthogonal-field gel electrophoresis (OFAGE) and contour-clamped homogeneous-field gel electrophoresis (CHEF). OFAGE and CHEF gels resolved, respectively, 16 or 20 chromosome bands ranging in size from 0.32-1.5 megabase pairs. Summation of the estimated sizes of these chromosomes suggested a total genome complexity for P. carinii of 8-16 megabase pairs. Homologous probes for the genes encoding the 18S, 5.8S, and 5S ribosomal RNAs were hybridized to filter blots of the pulsed-field gels to map these genes to specific P. carinii chromosomes. PMID- 2615654 TI - Specificity of Bacillus thuringiensis for lepidopteran larvae: factors involved in vivo and in the structure of a purified protoxin. AB - The relative LD50 values in two test Lepidoptera of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki HD1, which contains three crylA protoxin genes, was the same as a plasmid-cured derivative or a Bacillus cereus transcipient containing only one of the three genes. Differential rates of transcription of these genes in the original strain could account, at least partly, for this result. Strains containing only the single protoxin gene (crylA(b] produced inclusions when grown at 25 degrees C but not 32 degrees C, despite transcription of this gene at both temperatures. The instability of the crylA(b) protoxin was not found in the parental B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD1 strain grown at either temperature, however, so kurstaki HD1 strains with multiple protoxin genes must produce some stabilizing factor, perhaps another protoxin. The cryl protoxins contain a highly conserved carboxyl half which is proteolytically removed upon conversion to toxin. All of the protoxin cysteines are present in protease-sensitive regions and they are oxidized in inclusions. Most of the disulphides appear to be essential for specificity since their reduction in the crylA(b) protoxin resulted in loss of selectivity for one of the test insects. This lack of specificity was also found for this protoxin produced by an Escherichia coli clone, probably because of the reducing conditions in these cells. Specificity was restored by reoxidation of the pure protoxin, by removal of the carboxyl half of oxidized protoxin with trypsin, or by subcloning of the toxin portion. The oxidized form of protoxins must be important for specificity, for the formation of crystalline inclusions, and probably for interactions required for the stabilization of some protoxins. PMID- 2615655 TI - Single and multiple mutations affecting properties of the regulatory gene nodD of Rhizobium. AB - nodD of Rhizobium leguminosarum has two regulatory properties: it autoregulates and, in cells grown with specific flavonoids, activates other nod genes. We isolated mutations in nodD affecting one or both properties. Those abolishing autoregulation and nod gene induction were at the 5' end of nodD, as were those which only affected autoregulation. Mutations affecting nod gene activation are at the 3' end of nodD. Eleven mutations in this region of nodD were isolated: some had little effect on the regulatory properties; other reduced activation of other nod genes. 265 bps were removed from the 3' end of nodD: this abolished nodD function. Doubly mutant derivatives of nodD were constructed by making nodD genes with a mutation that conferred the ability to activate transcription of nod genes in the absence of inducers (class IV) plus another that abolished autoregulation and/or flavonoid-dependent nod gene activation. The behaviour of such double mutants was complex; e.g. in one case, a doubly mutant nodD gene containing the class IV mutation, coupled to one of those that (alone) abolished autoregulation and nod gene induction, was similar in behaviour to the wild type. In other cases, double mutants were similar to one of the parentals. PMID- 2615656 TI - Mitochondrial cytochrome b genes with a six-nucleotide deletion or single nucleotide substitutions confer resistance to antimycin A in the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. AB - Extrachromosomal mutants resistant to antimycin, from the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis, have been isolated, genetically characterized, and assigned to two specific genetic loci (Brunner et al., 1987). In the present work the cytochrome b nucleotide sequence from six of these mutants was determined. Five mutants had single point mutations, corresponding to transversions. In one mutant, a six-base pair deletion, beginning at nucleotide 689, was observed. The amino acid sequence derived from the coding strand showed that, in three independent antimycin resistant mutants, a change of asparagine 31 into lysine took place (two of these mutants are also resistant to diuron). Two other mutants showed a change from lysine 228 into isoleucine (or methionine). Leucine 230, isoleucine 231, and threonine 232, were lost in the deletion mutant and were replaced by serine. PMID- 2615657 TI - Genetic transfer systems in Bacteroides: cloning and mapping of the transferable tetracycline-resistance locus. AB - Conjugation systems that transfer antibiotic resistance in the absence of detectable plasmids are common in Bacteroides, but the mechanism of transfer is poorly understood. We found that linked transfer of tetracycline (TcR) and clindamycin (ClR) resistance by Bacteroides fragilis strain 1126 is induced by growth in either Tc or Cl. We cloned the transferable TcR locus as a 13 kb fragment on the shuttle vector pPH6 in Escherichia coli and showed that this region expresses TcR in Bacteroides but not E. coli. The TcR gene was mapped to a 3 kb region and the ClR gene was shown not to be present in the 13 kb insert. Homologous TcR genes are found in B. fragilis V479 and 1792. Using pulsed-field electrophoresis, the transferable TcR gene was shown to be physically associated with high molecular-weight DNA, suggesting that it is located on the chromosome. A new TcR shuttle vector, pPH7 delta 1.1, was constructed to facilitate use of this selective marker in Bacteroides genetics. PMID- 2615658 TI - Molecular cloning, nucleotide sequence and fine-structural analysis of the Corynebacterium glutamicum fda gene: structural comparison of C. glutamicum fructose-1,6-biphosphate aldolase to class I and class II aldolases. AB - The Corynebacterium glutamicum fda gene encoding fructose-1,6-biphosphate (FBP) aldolase has been isolated by complementation of an Escherichia coli mutant. The nucleotide sequence of a 3371 bp chromosomal fragment containing the C. glutamicum fda gene was determined. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of C. glutamicum FBP aldolase identified the correct initiation site for the fda gene, and a molecular weight of 37,092 was predicted for the fda polypeptide. S1 nuclease mapping identified the transcriptional start site, and Northern hybridization analysis indicated that the fda gene encodes a single 1.3 kb transcript. The primary structure of C. glutamicum FBP aldolase shows strong homology to class II FBP aldolases. Conservation of primary structure was observed between class I and class II aldolases, but several residues essential for catalytic activity in class I aldolases were absent from class II aldolases. PMID- 2615659 TI - The nodL gene from Rhizobium leguminosarum is homologous to the acetyl transferases encoded by lacA and cysE. AB - The predicted protein sequence of the nodL gene from Rhizobium leguminosarum was screened against translations of the GenBank DNA sequence database. A very strong homology was found to lacA, which encodes thiogalactoside transferase; homology between NodL and the cysE gene product (serine acetyl transferase) was also found. Comparison of the conserved regions of the three protein sequences indicated a domain that may be an active site of the enzymes. PMID- 2615660 TI - Sequences and classification of group I and group II introns. PMID- 2615661 TI - 'Research gives concrete reasons for our practice'. PMID- 2615662 TI - Labour and delivery routines in English consultant maternity units. AB - A survey of midwifery policies in English Health Districts shows that consultant maternity units vary in the extent to which aspects of care during labour and at delivery come within the scope of unit policies. In addition, the details of policies vary considerably, to the extent that a midwife moving from one maternity unit to another might find herself dealing with a policy that was diametrically opposed to that in the unit from which she had come. The implications of these variations are discussed. PMID- 2615663 TI - Frameworks for midwifery care in Great Britain: an exploration of quality assurance. AB - In order to design a quality assurance tool for midwifery it was necessary to assess current frameworks and standards for practice. With that aim a questionnaire was sent to all midwifery managers in the UK. The findings showed that 'Planned Individualised Care' is the favoured framework for midwifery practice and that the use of nursing models (or adapted versions of these) and midwifery models is widespread but not prevalent. Documentation for midwifery care is not always in accordance with the favoured framework for care as reported. The standards articulated in the three 'Maternity Care in Action' reports are those aspired to by most maternity units. Methods of assessing the quality of maternity care are many and varied but show a clear trend towards giving precedence to gauging client satisfaction with the service. PMID- 2615664 TI - Developing a midwifery workload management system: a preliminary report. AB - Individualised care, quality assurance and resource management are words frequently on the lips of midwives today. This paper describes a project currently being undertaken in West Glamorgan Health Authority where these criteria each form an important part of the study. It is in considering these varying aspects concurrently that the authors claim a unique approach. Resources are only considered to be managed appropriately when client centred quality care is provided. As an additional benefit, the review of policy and practice and an evaluation of the implementation of the 'midwifery process' form an integral part of the study. PMID- 2615665 TI - Postnatal concerns of mothers: an update. AB - The purpose of this study was to determine the major concerns of primiparae and multiparae 1 month post-delivery and the resources used in meeting identified concerns. A mail-back questionnaire developed by Gruis (1977) was used. The sample was composed of 19 primiparae and 22 multiparae from Vancouver BC, Canada. The most frequently identified concerns of primiparae (N greater than 6) were baby feeding, fatigue, breast soreness, baby behaviour, return of the figure, limiting visitors, regulating demands, growth and development, interpreting behaviour, physical care of the baby, and labour and delivery. The most frequently identified major concerns of multiparae (N greater than 6) were fatigue, regulating demands, emotional tension, jealousy of other children, and the labour and delivery experience. The vast majority of major concerns were dealt with effectively. The women used a variety of resources, and their partners were particularly helpful. However, for 14 (64%) of the multiparae in this study, the hospital stay did not provide preparation for the first weeks at home with their new baby. It is suggested that community caregivers should see their postnatal clients as soon as possible after discharge from hospital. Teaching sessions can occur in the home, and in accordance with individual concerns. PMID- 2615666 TI - Early discharge as voluntary and involuntary alternatives to a longer postpartum stay in hospital--effects on mothers' experiences and breast feeding. AB - Due to staff shortages in the maternity department postnatal women had to be discharged from the postnatal wards on the third day post delivery. They were given the option of discharge home on the third day following birth with domiciliary visits from a public health nurse, or transfer to another ward which was staffed by children's nurses. Previously early discharge home had been optional. Using semi-structured interviews over the telephone the effects of 'voluntary' and 'involuntary' early postnatal discharge on women's experiences of early discharge and breast feeding rates were studied in a sample of 230 women. Women discharged 'involuntarily' were more dissatisfied with early discharge and had more problems (e.g. fatigue) than women discharged 'voluntarily'. Early postnatal discharge should remain an option and should not be made compulsory. PMID- 2615667 TI - Characteristics of women with hysterectomy. AB - Socio-demographic and health information, including history of hysterectomy/oophorectomy, was obtained in a telephone survey of 2137 women aged 40-52. Subjects were randomly selected from a list of all women with a driver's license in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Results showed that 27.3% of women surveyed reported having had a hysterectomy. Women who had undergone hysterectomy were more often black, less educated, older and heavier; and reported less frequent alcohol consumption, younger age at birth of first child and earlier menarche than women who did not report hysterectomy. Forty-seven percent of blacks reported hysterectomy compared with 24% of whites (P less than 0.01) and blacks were significantly younger at surgery than whites (mean age 38.5 vs. 39.6 yr, P less than 0.05). Results of multivariate analyses showed age, black race, less than a college education, menarche before age 12 and having no children to be associated with an increased risk of hysterectomy (P less than 0.01). Additional multivariate analyses conducted separately for blacks and whites showed that, for whites but not blacks, the higher a woman's educational attainment the less likely she was to report having had a hysterectomy (P less than 0.01). Black women with no children more often reported hysterectomy than those with children (P less than 0.01), but this relationship was not found among whites. These findings show the distribution of hysterectomy in the population to vary by race, education and parity. PMID- 2615668 TI - Serum and gingival tissue antibody levels to oral microbial antigens in human chronic adult periodontitis. AB - Antibody levels against antigens from eight oral micro-organisms were measured in sera and gingival tissue extracts from adult periodontitis patients and healthy subjects by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The antibody levels of diseased serum samples were significantly higher than those of healthy serum samples. Analysis of diseased sera indicated that antibody levels against Bacteriodes gingivalis antigens were significantly higher than antibody levels against all the other antigens tested except for those from B. intermedius and B. asaccharolyticus. Extracts from diseased gingival tissues had significantly higher levels of antibody against B. gingivalis antigens than against antigens from all of the other micro-organisms tested, including B. intermedius and B. asaccharolyticus. These results suggest selective, specific and localized antibody production during or following the establishment of chronic adult periodontitis. PMID- 2615669 TI - Induction of potassium efflux by cupric ions in Pseudomonas syringae ATCC 12271 and its correlation with cell viability. AB - In Pseudomonas syringae, Cu2+ induce a significant loss of K+ from the cells. The course of the efflux followed an approximately sigmoidal pattern. The maximum rate of K+ efflux, the time needed to achieve this rate and the maximum amount of K+ released from the cells, were dependent on copper concentration. Pre-treatment with several divalent cations modified markedly the parameters of potassium efflux induced by copper, by increasing the maximum rate of K+ efflux and the amount of K+ released after 4 min of copper treatment, and decreasing the time required to achieve the maximum rate. The addition of copper to cell suspensions resulted in a progressive decrease in the number of viable cells. Pre-treatment with Mg2+ or Ca2+ resulted in a decrease in the lethality of copper ions. PMID- 2615670 TI - Genetic transformation in some cariogenic Streptococcus milleri. AB - Only one of six Streptococcus milleri strains, known to produce dental caries in gnotobiotic rats, was found to be spontaneously transformable. At optimal competence (after 60 min incubation in transformation medium) DNA uptake by this strain, CR 287, was rapid; maximum DNA was taken up by cells within 15 min of its addition to give a transformation frequency of 1 x 10(-2) transformants per colony-forming unit (cfu). With post-optimally competent cells, the rate of DNA uptake was markedly decreased, although a transformation frequency similar to that of optimally competent cells was obtained. For example, after 240 min incubation in transformation medium the cells required approximately 90 min to reach maximum DNA uptake and gave a transformation frequency of 6 x 10(-3) transformants per cfu. Cultures retained the ability to give their maximum transformation frequency for at least 4 h, but only if a DNA-cell contact time of 2 h was used. Strain CR 287 and S. milleri strain NCTC 10707, a transformable non cariogenic strain, produced competence factor (CF). The CF of CR 287, but not that of NCTC 10707, induced high competence in the non-spontaneously transformable cariogenic S. milleri strain NCTC 11169. Like S. sanguis, S. milleri must therefore produce CFs of different constitutional types. The three transformable strains could be transformed by plasmid shuttle cloning vector pVA838 DNA. PMID- 2615671 TI - MSMS membership. It begins with you. PMID- 2615672 TI - Endotoxic properties of chemically synthesized lipid A analogs. Studies on six inflammatory reactions in vivo, and one reaction in vitro. AB - Biological activities of two groups of synthesized lipid A analogs, the counterpart of biosynthetic precursor, Lehmann's Ia type, 406, and E. coli lipid A type, 506, as well as their non-phosphorylated, and mono-phosphorylated analogs were investigated. The activities employed included four bone marrow cell reactions in mice, mice skin reaction, leukocytes migration in rabbits' cornea, and hemagglutination. Compound 406 and 506 elicited bone marrow reactions in mice and hemagglutination of mouse RBC, although 406 failed to elicit hemorrhage and necrosis also in mice skin. Compound 406 did not elicit corneal reaction in rabbits. The results suggest that for elicitation of this reaction and mice skin reaction, acyloxyacyl structure is required. Cytotoxicity and thromboplastin production of four bone marrow reactions had been reported by us to be endotoxic reactions, since these had not been elicited by peptidoglycan of Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus (1981) and 300 series synthesized analogs (1984) which did not have endotoxic structures. From these results, it seems that these two marrow reactions and hemagglutination require, as does the limulus test, the lipid A part structure as is present in 406. PMID- 2615673 TI - Inhibition of macromolecular synthesis in cultured macrophages by Pseudomonas pseudomallei exotoxin. AB - Pseudomonas pseudomallei exotoxin was found to be a potent inhibitor of protein and DNA synthesis in cultured macrophages. Inhibition of DNA synthesis occurred at toxin concentrations as low as 1-2 micrograms/ml and inhibition of 3H thymidine uptake was almost complete at concentrations of 8 micrograms/ml or more. A close correlation between cell damage and inhibition by DNA synthesis was observed. For protein synthesis, inhibition was obtained at much lower doses (0.06-2.0 micrograms/ml) of the toxin. At similar toxin concentrations, DNA synthesis was marginally affected. Further, it was shown that protein synthesis inhibition occurred almost immediately after incubation, reaching its maximal inhibitory effect of 70% after 6 hr. DNA synthesis, however, was minimally affected by a similar toxin concentration even after 10 hr of incubation. The inhibition of macromolecular synthesis in macrophages by P. pseudomallei exotoxin may be relevant to its modulatory effect on the host defense mechanism. PMID- 2615674 TI - A proposed life cycle model of Spiroplasma mirum based on scanning electron microscopical observations of growth in liquid culture. AB - Cells of Spiroplasma mirum strain SMCA were grown in PPG broth and examined by scanning electron microscopy. Comparison of the results at different time intervals allowed for a model of the life cycle of S. mirum to be proposed. Under favorable growth conditions, helical filament formation was initially observed, followed by the formation of small spherical structures originating from each filament. In old culture, large spherical bodies appeared from entangled helical filaments. From the larger spherical bodies, granular bodies representing the smallest reproductive units were produced to continue the life cycle. PMID- 2615675 TI - A novel neutrophil adherence test effectively reflects the activated state of neutrophils. AB - We developed a novel and convenient neutrophil adherence test for ascertaining the activated state of neutrophils. Human peripheral blood neutrophils were placed in wells of a 96-well flat-bottom culture plate, and incubated in the presence or absence of neutrophil stimulants for varying periods of time at 37 C in a CO2 incubator (5% CO2, 95% air). After non-adherent cells were completely removed by vibration on a vortex mixer, residual adherent cells were fixed and stained with crystal violet containing 12% formaldehyde and 10% ethanol. After thorough washing, 1% SDS was added to the plate, and the absorbance of each well was measured at 570 nm. Our results correlate well with those of a previously reported method using 51Cr-labeled cells. PMID- 2615676 TI - The effect of GD3 ganglioside obtained from bovine lymphosarcoma on bovine normal mononuclear cell. AB - The effect of immunological function of GD3 on normal bovine lymphocyte was examined with various in vitro assay systems. The GD3 level in sera from enzootic bovine leukemia (EBL) cattle was significantly increased compared with that of normal cattle (EBL: 0.62 +/- 0.24 microgram/ml; normal cattle: 0.33 +/- 0.09 microgram/ml, P less than 0.05). Lymphocyte blastogenesis elicited by concanavalin A was inhibited by addition of a 50 micrograms/ml concentration, or more, of GD3. Inhibitory effect of GD3 in IL-2-dependent T cell line and EBL tumor cell line was hardly observed compared with normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. GD3 also inhibited mixed lymphocyte reaction and allo cytotoxic T lymphocyte reaction. PMID- 2615677 TI - Computer analysis between nucleotide and amino acid sequences of bean golden mosaic virus and those of maize streak, wheat dwarf, chloris striate mosaic, and beet curly top viruses. AB - Bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) DNA 1 and 2 have little sequence homology with maize streak virus (MSV), wheat dwarf virus (WDV), and chloris striate mosaic virus (CSMV) DNAs. BGMV DNA 1 and beet curly top virus (BCTV) DNA are closely related, whereas BGMV DNA 2 and BCTV DNA are not related. Direct amino acid homologies of predicted proteins between BGMV ORFs and MSV ORFs, WDV ORFs or CSMV ORFs were 40-50%. BGMV 1L1 and BCTV L1, and BGMV IL3 and BCTV L4 were highly conserved. The sequence TAATATTAC was detected in the loops of hairpin structures of 5 gemini-viruses. PMID- 2615678 TI - Genomic difference of herpesvirus of turkeys at low and high passage levels in culture of O1 and FC126 strains. AB - Serial passages in culture of herpesvirus of turkeys resulted in structural genomic changes at the regions common to two virus strains with loss of their protective ability against Marek's disease. PMID- 2615679 TI - Dame Rosalind Paget memorial lecture 1989. Breast-feeding in adversity--out of the doldrums? PMID- 2615680 TI - Breast-feeding: the midwife's role. PMID- 2615681 TI - Breast-feeding: not all romance. PMID- 2615682 TI - The re-union. PMID- 2615683 TI - Pathogenesis of intractable chronic lymphocytic leukemia (ICLL). AB - About 23% of all patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are resistant to chemotherapy and have intractable CLL. Recent work showed the usefulness of splenectomy for the treatment of ICLL patients. The peripheral blood lymphocytes of ICLL patients were radioresistant in vitro. This reaction provided a diagnostic test for ICLL. Normal lymphocytes are highly radiosensitive but become radioresistant on the addition of phytohemagglutinin or other mitogens. These findings suggest the hypotheses: ICLL arises from splenic lymphocytes which have reacted to an immune stimulus; ICLL is a discrete disease with its own pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy. PMID- 2615684 TI - Histogenesis of malignant melanoma of the skin: the role of lymphocytes in the transformation of tissue developmental units. AB - It is proposed that the completion of both growth and differentiation, in highly specialized progressively evolving multicellular organisms, is achieved throughout two separated but sexually interacting populations of cells (bi-clonal model): 1) the germ line, seated in an obligatory axial position, required for the generation of cytoplasmic replicons, is the source of travelling vectors (spermatozoa, lymphocytes ...) endowed with these potentially transforming nucleoproteins. 2) The centrifugally growing somatic tissues subjected to mitotic senescence. The progressive loss of replicons probably triggers meiotic-like recombinations and differentiation in distal tissues. The shedding of axial replicons to distal meiotic targets seems to be instrumental in transformation, initiating both, embryogenesis and cancer. This theoretical approach is applied to the histogenetic model of malignant melanoma of the skin. In this setting, the axial population is identified as lymphocytes involved in a process of extrathymic maturation (lichenoid lesions), in the same field where melanoma would arise. Pagetoid nests of melanocytes are considered to be the expression of TDUs evolving in a distal population of senescent neurocristic cells. This situation establishes the likelihood of mixing between potentially transforming lymphocytes and the meiotic melanocytes resulting in a transformed hybrid, the earliest cellular expression of malignant melanoma. PMID- 2615685 TI - Could Borrelia burgdorferi be a causal agent of sarcoidosis? AB - Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology, most commonly affecting young adults presenting most frequently with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, pulmonary infiltrations, skin or eye lesions (1). Borrelia burgdorferi, the causal agent of Lyme disease, could also be responsible for sarcoidosis. Domestic animals may play a major role in transmitting the disease to humans. The modes of transmission to such animals and possible contact transmission to humans are still obscure and should be more fully investigated. Small rodents have been found to play a role as reservoirs for Borrelia burgdorferi. They are suspected to constitute an important source of contamination for domestic animals. The author explains in this paper how geographic distribution and familial occurrence of sarcoidosis as well as racial differences in the incidence of this disease, could be related to such findings. PMID- 2615686 TI - Cancer: a reactive mechanism in order to try to save life. AB - Cancer is a process of acquisition of an increased variety of cell functions by originally differentiated cells due to the failure of other organs to maintain their specific functions. Cancer cells take over functions of other organs or even other systems, that are chronically decompensated. The organ specific metabolites play an essential role in this process. Cancer is a reactive mechanism of the body to compensate for functions of decompensated organs (systems), in order to try to save life. Consequently, addition of the body's own or similar cancer extracts may be of great value in cancer treatment. A philosophic view of cancer will be briefly discussed. PMID- 2615687 TI - Codon evolution and conservation of the reading phase in genetic code translation. AB - The description of the optimized evolution of a code based on 4 nucleotides involves a sequential transition of codons, formed firstly by monomers evolving to dimers and then to triplets, in accordance with the progressive increase of the number of amino acids to be coded. The successive increase in the size of these codons during evolution implies changes in the phase reading of the genetic message, which could become chaotic. In order to overcome this constraint, this paper proposes a codon evolution where two things occur simultaneously: codons change in size and there is an alternation of the molecule which holds the information. For example, the nucleotides of the original oligonucleotide are read as monomers when they are translated to an oligopeptide, but further on, this oligopeptide which is read as amino acid dimers, is translated to a nucleotide form (oligonucleotide). Finally, amino acids conforming a peptide are translated from this oligonucleotide, through a reading of triplets. Although plausible, this evolution is a low-probability process due to the fact that it requires a singular sequence of the oligonucleotide and oligopeptide involved. An alternative hypothesis of evolution is also discussed. It proposes that with the exclusion of the establishment of monomer and dimer codons, there is a direct generation of a code of trinucleotides which arises only when a certain number of amino acids has already been generated. Both hypotheses are discussed in terms of the development of a code in which an optimized hardware is maintained through out its evolution. PMID- 2615688 TI - Sudden infant death and chronic infant disorders: the N.E.S.T. model versus the lethal Cot-death syndrome hoax. AB - The Cot-death Syndrome is an out-moded model which is bizarre and unique in medical history for it enables a certificate of cause of death to be issued only if no medical cause can be found. It rewards incompetence. Apart from being a placebo for bereaved parents and a lucrative source of research funds it is unsupportable, lethal nonsense and it must be discarded. There are studies which prove that most infant death and chronic infant illnesses are linked and are primarily associated with environmental stress. The infant death problem is not a medical problem except where the stress trauma is of medical origin. The N.E.S.T. (Non-disease Environmental Stress Trauma) perspective provides a model which has elements of causation, prediction and prevention. It requires that intense investigation be carried out in an unbiased manner that is not hindered by a convenience syndrome barrier to truth. Unfortunately twenty years of adherence to the medical profession's Cot-death Syndrome hoax has meant that the evidence pin pointing specific, causative environmental stress factors has been denigrated and disregarded. This has permitted the asthma convenience syndrome to thrive. Still birth or infant death that is not due to disease or inherited causation can only be caused by environment stress trauma. Identifying and preventing such stress trauma is the key to healthy birth and to avoiding infant death and chronic infant disorders. PMID- 2615689 TI - An electromagnetic theory of life. AB - For some 300 years the belief in "Life-as-Chemistry" has held sway as a singular theory understanding life. Despite its many successes, and in spite of decades of advanced research with highly sophisticated instrumentation, it has not solved any of the really basic mysteries of life (Science 181,583). Worse yet, every gain seems to be more than offset by additional serious problems and contradictions. We therefore offer a new "Life-as-Physics" paradigm for consideration. PMID- 2615690 TI - Poisoning fatalities in Virginia. 1987 through June 1989. AB - In the time period from January 1, 1987 through June 30, 1989, changing trends in causative agents in fatal poisonings in Virginia have been observed. Cocaine and morphine (heroin) have risen dramatically. Carbon monoxide and tricyclic antidepressant deaths have increased moderately, while ethanol-involved deaths have fallen. The typical victim of carbon monoxide or alcohol is most often a white male in his 40s dying in the Central, Tidewater or Western parts of the Commonwealth. The victim of a prescription drug death is equally likely to be a white male or white female between 37 and 43 years old with suicidal intentions. The heroin or cocaine victim is typically a white male in his early thirties who dies in northern Virginia from an accidental overdose. PMID- 2615691 TI - GPs and the use of deputising services. PMID- 2615692 TI - The Hungerford massacre. PMID- 2615693 TI - Legal liability for transmitting AIDS. PMID- 2615694 TI - Large cartilage proteoglycan (PG-LA) influences the biosynthesis of macromolecules by isolated chondrocytes. AB - Bovine articular and tracheal chondrocytes were cultured at high density in multilayers. Intact or fragmented large aggregating proteoglycans (PG-LA) from cartilage were added to the cultures and the biosynthetic response studied by the incorporation of [3H]-leucine and [35S]-sulfate for proteins and proteoglycans respectively. Incorporated radiolabel and patterns of synthesized macromolecules were compared with control cultures without additives and cultures containing either of the synthetic polymers dextran or dextran sulfate. All proteoglycans and derivatives containing globular protein structures had a stimulatory effect on the biosynthesis of both proteins and proteoglycans as did the highly polyanionic polymer dextran sulfate. Distribution of the radiolabeled material between the cell- and medium pools were however different in the various cultures. A radiolabeled protein, migrating as a triplet band at a position of approximately 140 kDa after reduction, was detected by SDS-PAGE and fluorography. The protein was present in all cell extracts and in the media of cultures stimulated with proteoglycans and proteoglycan fragments, except chondroitin sulfate side chains. The protein was shown to be collagenous in nature by collagenase digestion and identified as procollagen II by immunoprecipitation. PMID- 2615695 TI - Increased proteoglycan synthesis following the differentiation of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells: formation of a differentiation-specific proteoheparan sulfate. AB - We have examined changes in proteoglycan synthesis by F9 embryonal carcinoma cells after the cells have been treated with retinoic acid or retinoic acid plus cholera toxin. Retinoic acid is known to stimulate the differentiation of this cell type to a primitive endoderm-like cell characterized by the production of basement membrane components such as type IV collagen, laminin and proteoglycans. We have now demonstrated that proteoglycan synthesis and secretion were further stimulated when cholera toxin was added in addition to retinoic acid. Moreover, media of these fully differentiated cells was found to contain a different species of proteoheparan sulfate not produced by stem cells or retinoic acid treated cells. This proteoheparan sulfate had a high density upon CsCl gradient centrifugation. The protein core of this proteoheparan sulfate was estimated by SDS gel electrophoresis to be approximately 15,000 daltons. PMID- 2615696 TI - Immunolocalization of cathepsin D in dental tissues. AB - Cathepsin D antigenicity was localized at the light and electron microscopic levels within dental cells, but not in extracellular matrix. Different intracellular sites for cathepsin D were found depending on the cell type: the enzyme was detected in secretory vesicles of the odontoblasts and in the lysosome like structures of the ameloblasts. Otherwise, these results suggest that the secretory vesicles of the odontoblasts may contain both cathepsin D and type I collagen. These data might implicate cathepsin D in the enamel and the dentin formations. PMID- 2615697 TI - Interaction of type I collagen fibrils with phospholipid vesicles. AB - Type I collagen fibrils interact with phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol vesicles. Fluorescence polarization of (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5 hexatriene) DPH-labeled vesicles, circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetry studies have been performed. The protein-lipid interaction produces a decrease of the enthalpy of the phospholipid phase transition. Positive charges of lysine residues of the protein are involved in the interaction as experiments with succinylated collagen show. The kinetic parameters and the extent of the fibrillogenesis of collagen are modified by the phospholipid vesicles. PMID- 2615698 TI - Collagen synthesis and deposition in cultured fibroblasts from subcutaneous radiation-induced fibrosis. Modification as a function of cell aging. AB - Acute local gamma-irradiation of porcine skin induces, as in human skin, extensive mutilating sclerosis, characterized by continuous expansion of the fibrosis invading the adjacent muscle and by accumulation of extracellular matrix macromolecules. Collagen synthesis, content, and types were studied by measuring the incorporation of the radiolabeled precursor [3H]-proline into confluent primary cultures and subcultures of porcine fibroblasts obtained from normal and irradiated fibrotic dermis. A significant increase in collagen biosynthesis and deposition, with a preferential enhancement of type III collagen, was observed in primary cultures of fibrotic fibroblasts when compared to those of normal dermis. However, the percentage (36%) of neosynthesized collagen in relation to the total neosynthesized non-collagenous and collagenous proteins remained unchanged. In subcultures of normal cells, collagen synthesis and content remained constant until about the 10th passage and then progressively declined until death of the fibroblasts, at around the 15th passage. During the senescence phase, normal fibroblasts acquired the capacity to synthesize higher levels of non-collagenous proteins. On the contrary, collagen synthesis and content diminished in subcultures of fibrosis-induced fibroblasts from the second passage, and then progressively declined as a function of aging; particularly the ratio of type III to type I collagen returned to normal values from the second passage. Moreover, these fibroblasts did not become senescent, persisted in synthesizing low levels of collagen, and acquired later (around the 40th passage) a higher capacity to synthesize non-collagenous proteins. These results demonstrate that primary cultures of porcine fibroblasts obtained from normal or radiation-induced fibrotic dermis reproduce the in vivo situation. The results strongly suggest that: 1) the modification of collagen synthesis, content, and types observed in primary cultures of fibroblasts might be due to factors causing long-lasting changes in phenotypic expression and/in stimulation of the expansion of some fibroblast clones engaged in the accelerated synthesis of extracellular matrix macromolecules, such as collagen or non-collagenous proteins. 2) the rapid decrease in this active capacity to synthesize and accumulate collagen, observed in subcultures of fibrosis-induced fibroblasts, might be related to the loss of some activation factors or to the dedifferentiation of the cells. 3) the switch from collagen to non-collagenous protein synthesis during later subcultures of fibroblasts obtained from radiation-induced fibrosis, might be due to molecular modification at the transcriptional or DNA level. PMID- 2615699 TI - Further characterization of the impaired protective function in mice fed with lipid diet. AB - Female mice were maintained on lipid diet for 20 days. The nonspecific and immunological defense capability was determined by in vitro and in vivo methods. It was found that mice held mostly on a lipid diet demonstrate an all-round lowered response. Following 20 days of lipid diet the splenocytes exhibit: (1) an inversed lipid-protein ratio; (2) an inability to respond to sheep erythrocytes; (3) a reduction in [3H] thymidine incorporation in splenocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or with concanavalin A; (4) a reduction in the number of cells bearing surface immunoglobulins in splenocytes stimulated with LPS; (5) an inhibition of phagocytosis and intracellular killing in macrophages; (6) a lowering in granulocyte chemotaxis and adherence capacity; (7) a higher mortality to LPS after loading with galactosamine; and (8) a lowered complement activity even following LPS activation. PMID- 2615700 TI - [Opisthorchiasis in Tobolsk based on 1950-1987 autopsy data]. AB - Retrospective analysis of medical documentation of the Tobolsk integrated prosectorium in 1950-1987 was made. Uncomplicated opisthorchiasis as the major and direct cause of death was not encountered. In thanatogenesis the complicated opisthorchiasis generally appeared as a mixed abnormality. No evolving opisthorchiasis-induced pathology was found. Positive pathomorphism of opisthorchiasis developed. PMID- 2615701 TI - [The secretory activity of the stomach, duodenum and pancreas in patients with chronic opisthorchiasis]. AB - Serum IgE, gastrin, and insulin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and gastric secretion was studied by the method of submaximal histamine stimulation in 59 inhabitants of Sverdlovsk and 51 former inhabitants of Tyumen Province, who had chronic opisthorchiasis. In the hypoendemic focus, increased IgE content was observed mostly in young people, and in the hyperendemic focus it was in middle aged and old people, this parameter correlating with decreased levels of gastrin and insulin in the serum. Gastric basal acid secretion was decreased in more than 70% patients from the both groups. However, hyperimmunoglobulinemia tends to show elevated hydrochloric acid debit. PMID- 2615702 TI - [The effect of various factors on the immune status of patients with chronic opisthorchiasis. 2. Changes in immunologic indices in patients with chronic opisthorchiasis undergoing chloxyl treatment for various lengths of time]. AB - Most immunological characteristics became practically normal 7-9 months after a single chloxyl treatment course in patients with chronic cholecystocholangitic opisthorchiasis. The patients who required repeated chemotherapy showed more profound and steady immune disturbances. PMID- 2615703 TI - [Clinical assessment of immunoglobulin E in the blood and the level of circulating immune complexes in parasitic diseases. 3. Opisthorchiasis]. AB - 45 patients with Opisthorchis felineus infection, 8 in the acute and 37 in the chronic stage of the disease of moderate severity or mild course were treated with praziquantel dosed 25-60 mg per kilo for one-day course. Only in 4 out of 45 patients egg output was more than 1000 per gram of feces (Kato-Katz method). Blood hypereosinophilia, elevated serum IgE and CIC content (215 +/- 56 against 76 +/- 19 in control) in the acute and the tendency to elevation of IgE content with the chronic opisthorchiasis before treatment were found. Tolerance of the treatment was satisfactory. Six-eight months later in patients with acute opisthorchiasis the content of serum IgE was significantly lower but still three times higher than normal. The other parameters in both groups of patients were normal. PMID- 2615704 TI - [Biochemical indices of the blood in patients with tuberculosis combined with chronic opisthorchiasis]. AB - The paper presents the results of a combined biochemical study of 111 patients suffering from recently diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis combined with chronic opisthorchiasis (main group) and 36 tuberculosis patients without infestation (control group). It was established that the mixed abnormality was significantly more often accompanied by hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia. The thymol and mercury-chloride sublimate tests produced positive results in 22.5 and 9.0% of the main group patients, respectively. Increased bilirubin content and alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities were registered in both groups of patients only during medical treatment. Thus, the fact of altered protein forming function of liver in patients with tuberculosis combined with chronic opisthorchiasis has been established, which may be due both to tuberculosis infection and the Opisthorchis invasion. Insignificant hepatic protein-forming dysfunctions are not contraindications for long-term tuberculosis therapy. PMID- 2615705 TI - [Changes in the indices of the B-immunity system in patients with intestinal nematodiases after treatment]. AB - A decrease in the titers of antibodies to opportunistic bacteria has been observed in 100 patients suffering from ascariasis, trichocephaliasis and mixed invasion (ascariasis and trichocephaliasis). The immune suppression was higher in patients with mixed invasion. Medamine treatment enhances the suppression of antibody production. Changes in humoral immunity parameters are due to the effect of helminthic antigens and the composition of Escherichia in the large intestine of the affected subjects. PMID- 2615706 TI - [Parasitic diseases in the USSR and tasks in their prevention]. AB - Paper presents the data on the morbidity pattern of parasitic diseases in the USSR as well as on the trends in ascariasis, trichocephaliasis and hymenolepiasis infection rates. Problems of improving the prophylactic and antiepidemic measures are discussed with regard both to practical parasitology and investigations. PMID- 2615707 TI - [The functional status of the small intestine and lipid metabolism in diphyllobothriasis patients]. AB - 198 diphyllobothriasis patients have been examined before and 1-2, 4-6, 10-12 months after dehelminthization. The absorption of fats and carbohydrates by the small intestine was studied; total lipids, total phospholipids and their range in the serum were determined. Fucose content in the intestinal juice and the overnight portion of urine was determined for functional evaluation of the mucosal protective barrier. The studies revealed alterations in lipid and carbohydrate absorptions by the small intestine as well as that of the mucosal protective barrier in the gastroduodenal zone, and changes in lipid metabolic values. PMID- 2615708 TI - [Intestinal enzyme activity in patients with strongyloidiasis]. AB - Enterokinase and alkaline phosphatase activities in the duodenal juice and fecal extract of 37 strongyloidosis patients living in moderate climate and 17 inhabitants of the tropics have been studied. In 60.7% inhabitants of the regions with moderate climate and 80% from the tropics decreased enterokinase activity in duodenal juice has been observed, while the decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity in fecal extract has been noted in 87.8% and 71.4% cases, respectively. After convalescence from 1 to 6 months, no normalization of intestinal enzymatic activity has been observed. PMID- 2615709 TI - [Experience with the use of nemocide (pyrantel pamoate) in nematodiases]. AB - The clinical efficacy of and tolerance to the nemocide pyranthel pamoate produced by "IPCA" (India) and applied to nematodiasis treatment have been investigated. A high efficacy of the drug (94.4-100%) for ascariasis, enterobiasis and ancylostomiasis treatment has been established. The drug is well tolerated by adults and induces slight short-term alterations of hepatic functional activity in 5-10-year-old children. PMID- 2615710 TI - [An evaluation of methods for the quantitative determination of praziquantel as a substance]. AB - Feasibility of quantitative determination of a new helminthicide prasiquantel as a substance by spectral and chemical analytic procedures has been investigated. Chemical methods based on nitrogen measurement in the samples were shown to lack precision which is obligatory for drug analysis. The quantitative analytic procedures based on UV spectrophotometry are of low precision and selectivity. Infrared spectroscopy is the only method of prasiquantel assay that meets the requirements for drug substance measurement. PMID- 2615711 TI - [Experimental chemotherapy of alveolar hydatid disease. 12. The efficacy of drug forms of mebendazole and nocodazole with high bioavailability]. AB - New formulations have been designed to increase the efficacy and bioavailability of the oral drugs mebendazole and nocodazole and were tested in CBA mice. A considerable increase in efficacy was established for a solid disperse formulation of certain composition with a relatively lower toxicity than in aqueous suspensions of the drugs. PMID- 2615712 TI - [Pathomorphology of the reparative processes of the liver following praziquantel treatment of experimental opisthorchiasis]. AB - The authors attempted to create a model of reparative processes in the liver in the residual period of experimental opisthorchiasis. The experiment was performed in 150 Opisthorchis invaded Syrian hamsters treated with praziquantel in a single dose of 400 mg/kg body weight on days 7-180 of postinfection. The studies of morphological, histochemical and morphometric alterations in the animal liver allowed one to distinguish the stages of additional sensitization, early and late rehabilitative changes and the stage of residual changes. An inverse relationship was found between the duration of last three stages with the invasion duration prior to treatment and with increased duration of the first stage of the disease in early therapy. PMID- 2615713 TI - [The biological activity of the lipopolysaccharide complexes in ascarids]. AB - Lipopolysaccharide complex with chemical structure similar to that of complexes of microbial origin was isolated from Ascaris suum by not phenol-aqueous extraction. PMID- 2615714 TI - [Helminthiases among the population of northwestern Siberia. 1. Opisthorchiasis and mixed invasion in the native inhabitants of the Ob River basin and their clinical course]. AB - The use of multifactor statistic analysis for screening population of the northern part of the Ob river basin for helminthiasis allowed the authors to reveal a significant feedback between manifested opisthorchiasis and other types of this disease course in both sexes. The main component analysis indicates that the tentatively control group of males is presented by adolescents (14-17 years old) who are likely to be infected with Opisthorchis without evidence of its clinical manifestations. The correlation analysis demonstrated also a direct relationship between the age and manifest opisthorchiasis, as well as double mixed invasion of males (r-0.15 and 0.26, p less than 0.05 and 0.01, respectively). The first three main components explain about 55% variance in the correlation matrix of initial parameters and allow to reveal the variance source, taking into account, along with differentiation of 4 groups of opisthorchiasis patients, also the age- and sex-dependent combination of opisthorchiasis with other helminthic invasions. PMID- 2615715 TI - [Low-temperature regimens for the decontamination of fish of the larvae of Opisthorchis]. AB - It has been established experimentally that the Opisthorchis metacercaria in fish muscles were killed at -28 degrees S in 15-20 h., at -35 degrees C in 8 h. and at -40 degrees C in 2 h. The period of fish freezing becomes much longer when it is stored in snow-covered heaps, which may be the cause of Opisthorchis invasion of wild and domestic carnivorous animals. PMID- 2615716 TI - [Lyme disease in Khabarovsk Territory]. AB - The natural foci of Lyme's disease with the main vector Ix. persulcatus tick have been detected in Khabarovsk Territory. Five B. burgdorferi strains were isolated from the adult unfed ticks of this species, featuring 20% infection rate in the suburbs of Khabarovsk. A wide spread of the infection in this territory is demonstrated. The authors describe the typical pattern of early stages of serologically documented disease. PMID- 2615717 TI - [The location of the infecting tick bite and the severity of the course of tick borne encephalitis]. AB - Analysis of 846 epidemiological charts of unvaccinated tick-borne encephalitis patients in the period of 1956-1985 established that in 21% cases the disease resulted from multiple bites of the ticks, in 67.3% it occurred from single bites. In 11.7% of the patients, the bite was denied. Single infecting bites were mostly those of the head and neck (39.2% cases), especially frequent among children (84.9%). The upper part of the body and hands were bitten less frequently (16.7 and 12.5%, respectively). Other sites of the bite were reported in 6-10%. The most complicated pattern of tick-borne encephalitis is observed in case of multiple bites: two-fold increase in mortality rates compared to single bites (23.2 vs. 10.7%) and higher percent of focal forms (72.7 vs. 56.5%). In case of the single bites a certain correlation is observed between the site of the bite and the outcome of the disease: fatal outcomes are most frequent in case of the bites in the axilla, arms (14-16%), head and neck (11.2%), and less frequent in case of the bites in the lower limbs (5.9%) and groin (0). The nature of the infecting bite determines, to a great extent, the pathogenesis and outcome of the disease. The prevention of multiple bites would help considerably to reduce mortality rates. PMID- 2615718 TI - [The action of a synthetic juvenile hormone analog on the flea Xenopsylla skrjabini]. AB - In search of effective means of harmful fauna control, which could be practically safe for man and domestic animals, the authors tested efoxen-II, a juvenile insect hormone analogue (JHA) synthesized at the Institute of Chemistry, the Estonian Acad. of Sci. (Tallinn). Experiments were performed with Xenopsylla skrjabini Ioff., 1903 fleas under laboratory conditions. The doses of the drug tested were the following: 0.25.10(-2); 0.25 X 10(-3); 0.25.10(-4); 0.25.10(-5) ml/g per 1 g the substrate consisting of sand and dry bovine blood (for larvae feeding). Juvenile fleas' contact with the drug altered the normal metamorphosis process, thus killing the majority of fleas. The drug given in a dose of 0.25.10( 2) ml/g killed 100% of larvae by the 8th day of the experiment. The drug added to the substrate at 0.25.10(-3) ml/g prolonged metamorphosis stages, some larvae were killed during the moult, others (0.3%) formed pupae and died inside them. Larvae contact with the drug at 0.25.10(-4) and 0.25.10(-5) ml/g resulted in partial death. The insects survived (36.6 and 46.6%, respectively) completed metamorphosis by imago hatching. Thus, the drug tested by the authors proved to be considerably effective and may be recommended for in situ testing. PMID- 2615719 TI - Marked direct suppression of primary hyperparathyroidism with osteitis fibrosa cystica by intravenous administration of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. AB - A marked direct suppression of primary hyperparathyroidism with osteitis fibrosa cystica has been achieved by the intravenous administration of 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D]. In a recent survey of 306 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), we hypothesized that the far higher degree of parathyroid hormone (PTH) hypersecretion in PHPT with osteitis fibrosa cystica than in PHPT without overt bone disease might be due to the absence of suppression of hormonal hypersecretion by the low-to-normal circulating 1,25(OH)2D reflecting a relative vitamin D deficiency. To test this hypothesis, a patient having hypercalcemic PHPT with florid osteitis fibrosa cystica and normal serum 1,25(OH)2D was given increasing daily doses of intravenous calcitriol (0.5 2 micrograms) for several days. Doubling the level of circulating 1,25(OH)2D from 48 to 100-114 pg/ml was accompanied by a marked decline (46%) in serum iPTH(1 84), without a change in the serum calcium concentration. A lowered set point of parathyroid cells for calcium, and a diminished maximum secretory rate of PTH, may contribute to the marked suppression of PHPT. PMID- 2615720 TI - Severe vitamin D deficiency in a case of primary hyperparathyroidism caused by parathyroid lipoadenoma, effect of 25OHD3 treatment. AB - This report describes the case of a 60-year-old woman with severe metabolic bone disease and fractures due to vitamin D deficiency and hyperparathyroidism. 25OHDH3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 serum levels were undetectable and increased immediately following 25OHD3 oral administration. Serum 1,25(OH)2D3 following vitamin D repletion reached values above the normal range, and remained elevated with strict dependence on the serum 25OHD3 levels. Parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase decreased during treatment, without reaching normality during 1 year of observation. Bone biopsies before and after 8-month 25OHD3 treatment showed disappearance of the osteomalacic and hyperparathyroid lesions. During treatment an increase in serum and urine calcium and formation of renal stones were observed. The patient underwent neck exploration with the finding and removal of a lipoadenoma, a rare parathyroid tumor, followed by complete and permanent remission of the disease. In conclusion, this case is suggestive of the key role played by the long-term vitamin D status in the clinical expression of primary hyperparathyroidism. PMID- 2615721 TI - Effects of citrate on urinary calcium excretion. AB - Thyroparathyroidectomized rats were studied during control, citrate infusion, and recovery periods to analyze the effects of citrate on urinary calcium excretion. The rats were infused with human PTH-(1-34) at a constant rate throughout the experiments that produced physiologic circulating PTH activity. Ultrafiltrable calcium was measured with a micropartition system while maintaining constant the pH and PCO2 of the sample. The plasma acid-base status, filtered load of calcium, and urinary sodium excretion rate did not vary during citrate infusion. The urinary calcium excretion rate increased from 71 +/- 9 nmol/min/g kidney during control period to 122 +/- 22 nmol/min/g kidney (p less than 0.05) during citrate infusion, and then returned below control levels during recovery period. A strong positive linear relationship was observed between the urinary excretion rates of calcium and citrate (r = 0.88; p less than 0.001). We conclude that tubular fluid citrate inhibits renal calcium reabsorption probably by forming calcium-citrate complexes. PMID- 2615722 TI - Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in vivo on circulating T lymphocytes. AB - Previous in vitro and animal studies have suggested that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] has important immunoregulatory properties. In this study, immune parameters were monitored in 16 patients the day before and 14 days after starting therapy with this hormone. Despite the absence of changes in the total white cell count, lymphocyte count and T lymphocyte count, CD4/CD8 ('helper/suppressor') ratio of T lymphocytes increased by 57% from the normal into the elevated range. Furthermore, a downward trend was seen in the percentage of stimulated lymphocytes expressing the interleukin-2 receptor. We conclude that in vivo administration of 1,25(OH)2D3 may have immunoregulatory effects in man. Whether these changes are the result of changes in intracellular or extracellular calcium concentration, parathyroid hormone concentration, or the concentration of 1,25(OH)2D3 itself remains to be answered. PMID- 2615723 TI - Abstracts of the 3rd biannual meeting of the American Society of Renal Biochemistry and Metabolism. June 27-30, 1989, Salamanca, Spain. PMID- 2615724 TI - [Therapeutic strategy in the acute onset phase of infantile rheumatoid arthritis. Comparison of the main anti-inflammatory agents]. AB - The effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs has been compared in a series of 35 patients suffering from infant rheumatoid arthritis at onset and at the third month of disease. The results show that the clinical response to the various therapeutic protocols differs with the protocol and the stage of the disease in consideration, that disease monitoring in the early stage benefits from the serological examinations and that there is a low incidence of significant side-effects. PMID- 2615725 TI - [Importance of computerized tomography in the early diagnosis of Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis]. AB - CT findings in a series of 23 cases of tuberous sclerosis are presented. The great importance of CT screening for the early diagnosis of this disease and the opportunity of CT follow-up of subependymal nodules, for their high malignant potential are underlined. PMID- 2615726 TI - [Pulmonary edema. A rare complication of the percutaneous insertion of silastic central venous catheters]. AB - Seven newborn infants (birth weight 920 to 1,900 g) who developed pulmonary oedema as a complication of the use of percutaneous silastic central venous catheters are described. Clinical symptoms occurred three to forty days after catheter placement. In each case, radiographic detection, performed by the injection of radiopaque dye, localized the tip of the catheter in the pulmonary artery or in its collateral branches. Clinical symptoms decreased after catheter replacement in the right atrium. The casistic examination allows the Authors to suggest some aetiopathogenetic hypothesis. PMID- 2615727 TI - [Amniotic band syndrome. Clinico-therapeutic considerations on 3 cases]. AB - In three patients with "Congenital Annular Constricting Bands Syndrome" the monstrous leg and foot lymphedemas were aesthetically and functionally cured using the two-stage Ombredanne's crown-like operation. Plaster splints were useful in curing and consolidating the tibia and fibula pseudoarthrosis present in one case and in curing the clubfeet present in the other two cases. Some consideration is made to the different etiopathogenetic theories, proposed in the past and recently, to explain this syndrome. PMID- 2615728 TI - [Theophylline poisoning in childhood: depurative therapy using a combination of activated charcoal and a saline cathartic]. AB - The Authors describe two cases of theophylline poisoning and discuss advantages of activated charcoal and magnesium hydroxide therapy. This treatment seems to be better in patients for whom hemoperfusion could be delayed. In fact, activated charcoal can determine a real decrease in serum theophylline as experimental data show. Patients who overdose with slow release theophylline preparation should receive multiple oral doses of activated charcoal; they should also receive multiple oral doses of cathartic, both saline or sorbitol like. There is a lack of references about the activated charcoal plus magnesium hydroxide regimen particularly in childhood. The Authors discuss their own experience. PMID- 2615729 TI - [Art in fighting AIDS]. PMID- 2615730 TI - [Magnets used in dentistry. Preliminary data on in vitro biocompatibility]. AB - The biocompatibility of various magnetic materials used in dentistry to secure prostheses was assessed. In vitro cell cultures were performed on coated and uncoated covered and uncovered rare earth magnets. These studies were completed by essays of the lactic dehydrogenase used as an indicator of membrane damage. The various analyses indicate that the magnets in common clinical use are not significantly cytotoxic. PMID- 2615731 TI - [Dentinal adhesives and glass ionomer cements: which are the best?]. AB - The aim of this study was to examine the degree of marginal infiltration in vitro of some different dentinal bonding agents and glass ionomer cements in class V cavities prepared at cementum-enamel junction. A microfilled composite resin was used in all the cavities. Two-hundred and fifty thermocycle tests were performed after the samples had been in water for 24 hours. After evaluation under optical stereomicroscope, statistically significant differences between the various bonding systems were revealed. It would appear that the new generation of dentinal bonding systems, e.g. Scotchbond 2, Gluma Bond and Superbond, offer significant better in vitro results. PMID- 2615732 TI - [The surgical cure of the sequelae of noma (cancrum oris). A report of 2 cases]. AB - The surgical treatment of the sequelae in the patients affected by noma is possible even in emerging countries if the surgeon carefully evaluates each patient individually choosing simple, safe, sound and satisfactory techniques which are conditioned by sex and age of the patients. Two cases of sequelae treated with different techniques are described. PMID- 2615733 TI - [The oral aspects of osteogenesis imperfecta. A clinical case report]. AB - The oral symptoms observable in patients with imperfect osteogenesis are described and a clinical case that makes a contribution to our knowledge of a rarely encountered pathology is reported. PMID- 2615734 TI - [Hyperplasia of the coronoid processes causing limitation of mouth opening. A report of 4 cases]. AB - Four cases of subtotal clamping of the jaws caused by bilateral hyperplasia of the coronoid processes are reported. The aetiopathogenetic theories are examined and clinical cases and therapy described. It is concluded that treatment can only be surgical because the mechanical obstacle between the lengthened coronoid apophysis and the internal surface of the malar bone has to be removed. PMID- 2615735 TI - [The correlation between dental pathology and ophthalmic pathology]. AB - The study aims to assess the correlation between dental pathologies and ophthalmic diseases. Based on a statistical evaluation, the study examines the presence of dental diseases in patients suffering from optic neuritis or uveitis in comparison to a control group of subjects. The possible interactions between the two ophthalmic pathologies and dental diseases are then analyzed in order to highlight possible clinical signs which may be useful for their identification. PMID- 2615736 TI - [Supernumerary teeth. A case report]. AB - The observation of a clinical case with 10 supernumerary teeth was used as the basis for some remarks on the possible aetiopathogenesis of this anomaly. PMID- 2615737 TI - [Oral Kaposi's sarcoma: the clinical and histopathological spectrum]. AB - Recently, an increasing incidence of oral Kaposi's sarcoma in association with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been observed. This article describes the clinical features and the histopathologic spectrum of oral epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma in six HIV-positive patients. Etiopathogenic, epidemiologic, therapeutic aspects of Kaposi's sarcoma of the oral cavity and its interrelationship with AIDS are discussed. PMID- 2615738 TI - State-university collaboration: the Oregon experience. PMID- 2615739 TI - Public child psychiatry training. AB - Public child psychiatry training in Oregon responds to the broad range of public services that continue to evolve on behalf of disturbed youth. PMID- 2615740 TI - Oregon's state-university collaboration in a national context. AB - Oregon's state-university collaboration incorporates the key principles of successful relationships: effective leadership, specific goals and objectives, trust, careful administration, and bilateral involvement and influence. PMID- 2615741 TI - Public psychiatry in Oregon and Colorado: programs with common roots. AB - The public psychiatry programs in Oregon and Colorado, sharing common roots, demonstrate ways such programs can be developed to meet different local needs and conditions. PMID- 2615742 TI - Education and training in public psychiatry. AB - The Public Psychiatry Training Program offers an education in the unique knowledge, attitudes, and skills essential for working with persons with severe and chronic illness in both hospital and community settings. PMID- 2615744 TI - State data systems and research opportunities. AB - State mental health data bases offer a wealth of information to systems researchers, but discriminating choices among data elements, methods of access, and research paradigms are critical. PMID- 2615743 TI - Mathematical models in mental health services research. AB - Mathematical modeling has proven to be a useful tool for Oregon policymakers and administrators who design and operate the state's mental health system. PMID- 2615745 TI - Mental health services research with forensic populations. AB - Research on the management and treatment of insanity acquittees and the right to refuse treatment illustrates the need for empirical analysis in the overlapping areas of law, mental health services, and public policy issues. PMID- 2615746 TI - The coexistence of physical and mental illness among two samples of Oregon's chronically mentally ill. AB - Physical or medical illness among chronically mentally ill patients is common. Treatment programs must make provisions for the many implications of this fact. PMID- 2615747 TI - Somatosensory evoked potentials in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. AB - SEPs by median nerve stimulation have been performed in 18 adult patients (12 males and 6 females) affected by CMTD (type I, 13 patients; type II, 5 patients). All patients underwent MCV studies (median, ulnar, peroneal nerve), SCV studies (median and sural nerve), VEP, BAEP. N9 and N13 peaks were not detectable in 7/13 and 5/13 cases (HMSN type I) while cortical N19 were always recorded. Latency values of all responses were moderately or markedly delayed in all cases with HMSN type I, but proved normal or slightly delayed in HMSN type II cases. The prolonged latencies were mainly related to slowing of peripheral conduction. N9 N13 inter-peak was abnormally prolonged in 2 cases and N13-N19 in 2 other cases; both were prolonged in another case. In another 3 cases an abnormal BAEP was recorded. The few patients with abnormal CCT and BAEP probably belong to a borderline form between HMSN and hereditary ataxias. PMID- 2615748 TI - [Long-term effects of treatment with SMS 201-995 on sleep apnea syndrome associated with acromegaly]. AB - A 60-year-old woman with acromegaly associated with sleep apnea was treated with the somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 (Sandoz) for several months. Growth hormone levels were normalized and a rapid improvement in sleep apnea was controlled with polygraphic nocturnal monitoring. Hypophysectomy seems to have variable effects on sleep apnea in acromegaly. The origin of obstructive apnea in acromegaly is therefore unclear. PMID- 2615749 TI - Event-related potentials in chronic alcoholics during withdrawal and abstinence. AB - Twenty-one chronic alcoholics were submitted to an "oddball" auditory event related potentials (ERP) paradigm and to the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) after four weeks' abstinence. Eight of these patients were also submitted to the same ERP procedure and to two WMS items (digit span and associations) during a minor withdrawal state in the first days of hospitalization. Alcoholics showed reduced N1-P3 and N2-P3 amplitudes as compared to control subjects. Three alcoholics showed a P3 latency that exceeded the age-corrected control range (2 SE). There was no correlation between neuropsychological performances and electrophysiological measures, but the three subjects with abnormal P3 latencies had lower WMS scores. During withdrawal, greater N1-P2 amplitudes and shorter P3 latencies were observed as well as poorer performances on the two WMS items. The results are discussed in view of the possible contributions of ERPs in the understanding of the effects of chronic alcohol intake and alcohol withdrawal on CNS functions. PMID- 2615750 TI - Latencies of REM sleep and awakening in major depression: possible indicators of cholinergic activity. AB - REM latency and awakening latency were analyzed in a sample of 26 major depressive inpatients and 8 male controls recorded for two consecutive nights. A significant inverse relationship appeared between REM latency and awakening latency in depressed patients. The relationship was more marked in male than in female patients. No significant correlation between REM latency and awakening latency was observed in male healthy volunteers. The hypothetical cholinergic supersensitivity in major depression is proposed to explain the present relationship. These results suggest that awakening latency might also be taken into account in the evaluation of sleep disturbances in depressive illness. PMID- 2615751 TI - [Cerebral evoked potentials and conscious and unconscious recognition of faces: application to the study of prosopagnosia]. AB - Twelve normal subjects and a prosopagnosic patient were tested in a classification task of a random display of well-known among unknown faces. Each face was presented several times. Event-related potentials (ERP) and reaction time (RT) were studied as a function of face repetition and familiarity. For normal subjects, the greater the repetition level, the more positive ERPs were on both hemispheres: between 250 and 600 msec. Moreover, the familiarity of faces modified ERPs between 350 and 600 msec. In contrast for the patient, the greater the repetition, the more negative the ERPs were. This "negative effect" was maximum on right parieto-temporal leads and was longer for unrecognized well known than for unknown faces. These results support a differential processing of faces as a function of their memory representations for both normal subjects and patients. They further demonstrate the existence of covert face recognition processes in prosopagnosia. PMID- 2615752 TI - Central motor conduction and glutamate deshydrogenase: activity in olivo-ponto cerebellar atrophy. AB - Central motor conduction was investigated by way of magneto-electric cortico spinal stimulation in 6 patients with sporadic olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy. Two patients were found to have reduced leucocyte GDH activity. Only the 3 patients with corticospinal deficits displayed increased central conduction rates, which were predominant in the lower limbs. The duration of the disease is statistically longer in patients with corticospinal deficit compared to patients with no corticospinal deficit. In OPCA, evoked motor potentials are useful in assessing the corticospinal deficit which does not appear to be linked to reduced leucocyte GDH activity. PMID- 2615753 TI - [Anomalies in early somatosensory evoked potentials in brain stem lesions (study of 64 cases)]. AB - Short latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) have been recorded in 64 patients with brainstem lesions documented by neuroimaging techniques. Patients were classified in four groups according to the lesion topography: cervico medullary junction and medulla (16 cases), pons (19 cases), mesencephalon (8 cases), extensive (21 cases). SEPs were abnormal in 57.8% of cases either bilaterally (17.2%), or unilaterally (40.6%). The different components were affected as follows, P14: 34.4%; N20: 56.9%; P22 and N30: 54.7%, peripheral and spinal responses were always spared: N18 and P14 abnormalities were highly correlated. In cervico-medullary lesions P14 and N20 were constantly abnormal, P14 was normal in strictly mesencephalic lesions but could be abnormal in cases of subthalamic lesions with mesencephalic extension; in pontic lesions, P14 could be normal or not, and N20 was always very reduced. These results confirm that P14 has a supra-spinal origin and may have two generators. SEPs detected a subclinical dysfunction of the lemniscal pathways in 18% of patients with normal somatosensory performances and, as BAEPs (abnormal in 54% of the 54 recordings performed in this series) deserve to be recorded for the routine investigation of brainstem function. PMID- 2615754 TI - [Efficacy of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and modifications in sleep structure in the sleep apnea syndrome (SAS)]. AB - Thirty-four patients (32 male, 2 female; mean age 53 +/- 7 years) with confirmed sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) were studied before and after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). Clinical symptoms were tiredness, excessive daytime sleepiness and snoring. All patients were overweight. Patients underwent a thorough physical and oropharyngeal examination and polysomnography before and 3 months after surgery. On the basis of post-operative results, patients are divided into 3 groups: --group 1: 16 cured patients: apnea index (A.I./h) 38 +/- 17 before and 4.4 +/- 4 apneas/h sleep after surgery. Improved nocturnal hypoxemia: mean minimum oxyhemoglobin saturation (SAO2) before and after UPPP in NREM sleep 83 +/- 4% v. 90 +/- 4% in REM sleep 76 +/- 11% v. 85 +/- 7%. Uninterrupted sleep is restored; --group 2: 8 improved patients: A.I./h of 64 +/- 11 before and 20 +/- 6 after UPPP: improved nocturnal hypoxemia: mean minimum SAO2 in NREM sleep 74 +/- 10% before and 86 +/- 6% after UPPP: in REM sleep 59 +/ 9% before and 79 +/- 6% after UPPP, lower amount and percentage of fragmented sleep; --group 3: 10 non-improved patients: A.I./h unchanged 55 +/- 22% before and 50 +/- 20% after UPPP. Persistent nocturnal hypoxemia: mean minimum SAO2 in NREM sleep 76 +/- 13 before and 81 +/- 12% after UPPP: in REM sleep 63 +/- 16% before and 65 +/- 24% after UPPP. Sleep remains fragmented. In this last group patients are more overweight and all suffer from severe SAS with greater nocturnal oxyhemoglobin desaturation. Surgical treatment by UPPP is shown to be effective for 70% of our patients. Better results are obtained when SAS is less severe and overweight less important. PMID- 2615755 TI - [Contribution of the EEG and evoked potentials in the prognosis of post-anoxic comas in children]. AB - Six children with post-anoxic coma were studied and there was evidence of preserved brainstem function together with the presence of electrocerebral activity on EEG. There is no definite prognosis with slow EEG; patients can either die, survive, but with major neurological damage, or recover completely. In that case, evoked potentials have a good prognostic value. Normal BAEP indicate that patients will survive. However, absence of the cortical component of SEP indicates major cerebral damage. Evolution towards a vegetative state can therefore be predicted. PMID- 2615756 TI - [Spinal reflexes and somatosensory evoked potentials studied in the baboon in the presence of anti-arrhythmic drugs]. AB - Intragastric administration of the anti-arrhythmic drugs CM 7857 (Sanofi) or disopyramide, as expected, significantly reduced the heart rate in normal baboons at rest. At the same time, the variability in the heart rate increased. In vitro studies by Sanofi have previously shown the anti-arrhythmic effects of these drugs, i.e., a slowing of the transmembrane currents evidenced in several categories of heart cells especially when activated. Similar ion currents are known to be involved in extracardiac sensory-motor activities. However the H reflex in soleus underwent no systematic changes in latency or amplitude with the drugs; the non-nociceptive early and nociceptive late polysynaptic responses elicited in the tibialis anterior muscle by sural nerve stimulation demonstrated a barely perceptible increase in integrated EMG value. No change could be seen in latency or amplitude of the cortical potentials evoked by sciatic or sural stimulation which was also used for reflex responses. Overall there was no definitive evidence of change in the extra-cardiac sensory-motor responses in the normal awake monkey, after administration of relatively high doses of the cardio active compounds. PMID- 2615757 TI - The gene family encoding the Arabidopsis thaliana translation elongation factor EF-1 alpha: molecular cloning, characterization and expression. AB - The gene family encoding the Arabidopsis thaliana translation elongation factor (EF-1 alpha) was analysed. This family contains four genes (A1-A4) organized in a similar manner in different varieties of Arabidopsis. Based upon both their physical separation and a comparison of their sequences, it is suggested that the A4 gene and the A1, A2, and A3 genes constitute two distinct subfamilies within the genome. By introducing chimaeric gene constructs into Arabidopsis cells, we showed that the A1 gene promoter mediates a transient expression about twofold higher than that obtained using the CaMV 35 S promoter. This expression depends on a 348 bp DNA fragment extending from -982 to -634 bp upstream of the initiation codon. This element contains a characteristic telomeric sequence (AACCCTAA) which is also found in the promoters of the A2 and A4 genes as well as in the promoters of the Drosophila EF-1 alpha F1 gene and of several highly expressed plant genes. PMID- 2615758 TI - Cloning and sequence analysis of the 18 S ribosomal RNA gene of tomato and a secondary structure model for the 18 S rRNA of angiosperms. AB - The gene of a cytoplasmic 18 S ribosomal RNA (18 S rDNA) of the dicotyledonous plant tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cv. Rentita has been cloned, and its complete primary structure has been determined. The tomato 18 S rDNA is 1805 bp long with a G + C content of 49.6%. Its sequence exhibits 94%-96% positional identity when it is colinearly aligned with the previously reported sequences of the 17-18 S rDNAs of the dicot soybean and the monocots maize and rice. A model of the secondary structure of the 18 S rRNA of angiosperms is presented and its genera-specific structural features are compared with a current eukaryotic 18 S rRNA consensus model. PMID- 2615759 TI - Cloning and sequencing of an endoglucanase (end1) gene from Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c. AB - The nucleotide sequence of a 2.8 kb DNA segment containing an endoglucanase gene (end1) from Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c was determined. The B. fibrisolvens H17c gene was expressed from its own regulatory region in Escherichia coli and three putative consensus promoter sequences were identified upstream of a ribosome binding site and an ATG start codon. The complete amino acid sequence (547 residues) was deduced and homology with the Clostridium thermocellum celE gene product (EGE) was demonstrated. The endoglucanase contained a typical amino terminal signal sequence and five repeated sequences (PDPTPVD) between amino acids 412-447. The endoglucanase showed relatively high endoglucanase activity against endoglucanase-specific substrates with beta 1-4 linkages but low activity against xylan and an exoglucanase-specific substrate, p-nitrophenyl-beta-D cellobioside. PMID- 2615760 TI - A functional analysis of T-DNA gene 6b: the fine tuning of cytokinin effects on shoot development. AB - The physiological function in planta of T-DNA gene 6b was studied under various experimental conditions. For this purpose the coding region of gene 6b was cloned behind the 1'-promoter of the TR-DNA to enhance expression of the gene product in transformed plant cells. Expression of the recombinant gene in leaf discs of Nicotiana tabacum altered the capacity for shoot formation of the discs, induced by exogenous (i.e. BAP in the growth medium or agrobacterial trans-zeatin produced under control of gene tzs) or endogenous cytokinins (i.e. isopentenyladenosine produced under control of T-DNA gene 4). The data obtained indicate a reduction of cytokinin activity within the plant cells by the product of T-DNA gene 6b. PMID- 2615761 TI - The F plasmid ccd autorepressor is a complex of CcdA and CcdB proteins. AB - The ccd operon of plasmid F produces three proteins, CcdA, CcdB, and RepD. Prior research has established that the operon is autorepressed and that at least CcdB, but not RepD, is required for autorepression. A role for CcdA in autorepression was suggested but not clearly shown. We now present a series of biochemical experiments which show that both CcdA and CcdB proteins are required for maximal formation of protein-ccd operator complexes. We also show that CcdA and CcdB are present in a complex whether or not ccd operator is present. The clear implication is that autorepressor is a complex of CcdA and CcdB. We also map the start site of the ccd transcript thus providing the first experimental evidence for the location of the ccd promoter. PMID- 2615762 TI - Tryptophan auxotrophic mutants in Aspergillus niger: inactivation of the trpC gene by cotransformation mutagenesis. AB - Aspergillus niger tryptophan auxotrophic mutants have been isolated after UV irradiation of conidiospores. The mutants belong to two different complementation groups, trpA and trpB, which complement each other in heterokaryons. Neither of the mutations could be complemented with the cloned A. niger trpC gene. To obtain A. niger trpC mutants in a direct way, gene inactivation by cotransformation was performed. For this purpose an in-frame gene fusion between the A. niger trpC and Escherichia coli lacZ genes was constructed and shown to be functionally expressed after introduction into A. niger by cotransformation with the pyrA gene as selective marker. Among the beta-galactosidase expressing cotransformants, obtained with either circular or linearized vectors, no trpC mutants were detected, even after enrichment. Such mutants, however, could be obtained by cotransformation of A. niger with specific fragments of the fusion gene. Biochemical analysis of the cotransformants indicated that in nearly all cases the fusion gene had replaced the wild-type trpC gene. Genetic analysis showed that the trpC mutation is not linked to any of the A. niger loci described so far. The trpC mutants can be complemented by the cloned A. niger trpC gene as well as by the A. nidulans trpC gene. PMID- 2615763 TI - Common nodABC genes in Nod locus 1 of Azorhizobium caulinodans: nucleotide sequence and plant-inducible expression. AB - Azorhizobium caulinodans strain ORS571 induces nitrogen-fixing nodules on roots and stem-located root primordia of Sesbania rostrata. Two essential Nod loci have been previously identified in the bacterial genome, one of which (Nod locus 1) shows weak homology with the common nodC gene of Rhizobium meliloti. Here we present the nucleotide sequence of this region and show that it contains three contiguous open reading frames (ORFA, ORFB and ORFC) that are related to the nodABC genes of Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium species. ORFC is followed by a fourth (ORF4) and probably a fifth (ORF5) open reading frame. ORF4 may be analogous to the nodI gene of R. leguminosarum, whereas ORF5 could be similar to the rhizobial nodF genes. Coordinated expression of this set of five genes seems likely from the sequence organization. There is no typical nod promoter consensus sequence (nod box) in the region upstream of the first gene (ORFA) and there is no nodD-like gene. LacZ fusions constructed with ORFA, ORFB, ORFC, and ORF4 showed inducible beta-galactosidase expression in the presence of S. rostrata seedlings as well as around stem-located root primordia. Among a series of phenolic compounds tested, the flavanone naringenin was the most efficient inducer of the expression of this ORS571 nod gene cluster. PMID- 2615764 TI - Transcription and messenger RNA processing upstream of bacteriophage T4 gene 32. AB - Bacteriophage T4 gene 32 lies at the 3' end of a complex transcription unit which includes genes 33, 59, and several open reading frames. In the course of an infection, four major transcripts are synthesized from this unit: two overlapping polycistronic transcripts about 3800 and 2800 nucleotides in length, and two monocistronic gene 32 transcripts about 1150 and 1100 nucleotides in length. These transcripts are made at different times in infection and the polycistronic transcripts have segmental differences in stability. Messenger RNA processing yields a 1025 nucleotide monocistronic gene 32 transcript, and a 135 nucleotide transcript containing part of the gene 59 coding sequence. Processing depends on Escherichia coli encoded ribonuclease E. This pattern of transcription and processing leads to the synthesis of gene 32 mRNA throughout infection, whereas transcripts encoding the upstream genes are present only early in infection. The 3800 nucleotide polycistronic transcript initiates at a promoter that does not require T4 encoded factors for activity. However, full-length synthesis of this transcript depends on the T4 mot gene product. The region upstream of gene 32 also contains four E. coli-like promoters that are active on chimeric plasmids in uninfected cells, but inactive in bacteriophage T4. The location of these cryptic T4 promoters is intriguing in that they lie near the 5' ends of open reading frame B, gene 59 and gene 32. They could play a role in phage development under particular conditions of growth or in bacterial hosts other than those examined here. PMID- 2615765 TI - Biochemical and genetic analysis of the nifUSVWZM cluster from Azotobacter vinelandii. AB - Azotobacter vinelandii genes contained within the major nif-cluster and designated orf6, nifU, nifS, nifV, orf7, orf8, nifW, nifZ, nifM, and orf9 are organized into at least two overlapping transcriptional units. Nitrogenase derepressed crude extracts of Azotobacter vinelandii mutant strains having individual deletions located within nifU, nifS, nifV, nifW, nifZ, or nifM were examined for nitrogenase component protein activities. The results of these experiments indicated that, in A. vinelandii, the nifU, nifS and nifM gene products are required for the full activation or the catalytic stability of the nitrogenase Fe protein. Deletion of the nifV gene resulted in lower MoFe protein activity, probably resulting from the accumulation of an altered FeMo-cofactor. The nifW and nifZ gene products were required for the full activation or catalytic stability of the MoFe protein. Deletion of nifZ alone or nifM alone did not appear to affect FeMo-cofactor biosynthesis. However, deletion of both nifZ and nifM eleminated either FeMo-cofactor biosynthesis or the insertion of FeMo cofactor into the apo-MoFe protein. Other genes contained within the nifUSVWZM gene cluster (orf6, orf7, orf8, and orf9) were not required for Mo-dependent diazotrophic growth. PMID- 2615766 TI - Nucleotide sequence and regulated expression of a wound-inducible potato gene (wun1). AB - Mechanical wounding of potato leaves, stems, roots and tubers leads to a rapid increase of wun1 mRNA. In potato leaves, the wound-induced accumulation of wun1 mRNA is inhibited by the addition of sucrose or other osmotically active agents. This inhibition is organ specific since sucrose does not prevent wun1 mRNA accumulation in wounded tubers. In contrast, expression of patatin was shown to be repressed in tubers by wounding and this repression was reversed by increasing osmotic pressure. Sequence data obtained from the analysis of a wun1 cDNA and a wun1 genomic clone show no homology to any gene known so far. Histochemical data demonstrate a striking analogy in cell specific expression of chimeric genes expressed under the control of the wun1 promoter and the cell specific production of callose in wounded tobacco leaves. PMID- 2615767 TI - A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol for the specific detection of Chlamydia spp. AB - The polymerase chain reaction is an in vitro procedure for primer-directed enzymatic amplification of specific template nucleic acid sequences. This technique was used to detect and differentiate Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia psittaci in laboratory samples of infected McCoy cells. The polymerase chain reaction was shown to be both sensitive, detecting in the order of one chlamydial DNA molecule in 10(5) cells, and specific. No cross reaction (amplified product) was detected when a variety of mammalian cell and bacterial DNAs were used as template with the Chlamydia-specific oligonucleotide primers. PMID- 2615768 TI - Inhibition of DNA ligase activity by arsenite: a possible mechanism of its comutagenesis. AB - We have previously shown that the inhibition of MNU-induced DNA repair by arsenite occurs after the incision step in Chinese hamster V79 cells. We now report that nuclear DNA ligase activity is inhibited after arsenite treatment and that the inhibited activity is mostly DNA ligase II. Both constitutive and MNU inducible levels of DNA ligase II are inhibited. The addition of arsenite in vitro also indicates that DNA ligase II is more sensitive to arsenite inhibition than DNA ligase I. Since DNA ligase II is reported to be involved in the ligation step of excision repair, its inhibition by arsenite is a likely mechanism for the inhibition of DNA repair by arsenite and may account for the fact that arsenite acts as a comutagen with a number of different types of mutagens. The carcinogenicity of arsenite may also be a result of ligase inhibition. PMID- 2615769 TI - Analysis of proteins cross-linked to DNA after treatment of cells with formaldehyde, chromate, and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). AB - The proteins cross-linked to the DNA of cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells after exposure to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-Pt), chromate, and formaldehyde were compared by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting, and centrifugal assays that measured cross-link stability. Chromate and cis-Pt cross-linked seven of the same nonhistone proteins, such as actin, to DNA. In contrast, formaldehyde selectively formed histone-DNA cross links. Immunoblotting experiments showed that all three chemicals cross-linked a 97-kDa nuclear protein to the DNA despite their different chemical reactivity with DNA and proteins. The chromate- and cis-Pt-induced cross-links were disrupted by thiourea, 2-mercaptoethanol, and EDTA, indicating that the metal could be chemically displaced from the cross-links. The formaldehyde-induced complexes required degradation with DNase 1 for the resolution of histones on 2D gels and were not chemically labile like the metal-induced cross-links. The agents and methodology used here could be applied to the study of additional nuclear proteins that bind or reside near the DNA. PMID- 2615770 TI - [Analysis of structural proteins and products of cell-free translation of vaccinia virus of mRNA using mono-specific antibodies]. AB - The monospecific antiserums to the major proteins p12, p19, p20, p42, p61 of the vaccinia virus coat were obtained and analyzed. The dynamics of the proteins accumulation in the infected cells has been studied. Products of the cell-free translation of the total viral mRNA precipitated by the obtained antiserums were identified. The p20 protein has been found to be a result of p12 protein reversible oligomerization under the conditions of electrophoresis. The antigenic relation of p12 and p20 proteins to a p42 protein, also a p12 oligomer, has been demonstrated. The possibility is discussed to use the obtained antiserums for mapping of the genes corresponding to structural proteins in the genome of the vaccinia virus. PMID- 2615771 TI - [Synthesis of virus-specific RNA in cells infected with influenza B virus]. AB - Synthesis of virus-specific RNA in cells infected with influenza B virus was studied by means of PAGE analysis of RNA hybrid duplexes or nucleocapsid associated RNA. A switch from an "early" to "late" pattern was registered in the relative rates of synthesis of the corresponding mRNA as well as in the synthesis of vRNA segments 7 and 8. Contrary to the pattern described earlier for influenza A virus, the relative rate of synthesis of mRNA 5 was increased at the late stage of the replication cycle; besides, the efficiency of transcription of the polymerase genes was higher. Partial suppression of protein synthesis with moderate concentration of cycloheximide at a late stage of infection resulted in a differential inhibition of vRNA segments synthesis and stimulation of mRNA synthesis, leading to restoration of an "early" pattern in both cases. The results confirm the general outline of regulation as presented for influenza A virus in an earlier publication and reveal several peculiarities in regulation of influenza B viral RNA synthesis. PMID- 2615772 TI - [A radioimmunologic method based on anti-idiotypic antibodies for detecting the hepatitis B surface antigen]. AB - The antigen-independent radioimmunoassay for the detection of HBsAg is presented. The principle of this method is the inhibition of the reaction of binding idiotype antibodies and tracer anti-idiotype antibodies by the competing HBsAg. The antigen-independent competition radioimmunoassay is specific and has 80-100 ng/ml-1 of HBsAg sensitivity. PMID- 2615773 TI - [Preparation and characteristics of monoclonal antibodies to DNA-dependent RNA polymerase of bacteriophage T7]. AB - The monoclonal antibodies to DNA-dependent RNA-polymerase of bacteriophage T7 have been obtained. Twenty of the obtained 500 clones have inhibited the enzyme activity. Three specificity groups were identified for seven of the clones supporting their affinity for different antigenic determinants. PMID- 2615774 TI - [A phased poly-linker for cloning and expression of genes]. AB - 15 oligodeoxynucleotides were synthesized using the phosphotriether technique which were subsequently enzymatically ligated in polylinker with subsequent phasing of left and right sides. Based on the phased polylinker a series of vehicles for the gene cloning and expression was constructed. The vectors of pRK series contain all three variants of polylinker with the frame shift of the reading frame for 1, 2, or 3 nucleotides in both chains. The obtained polylinkers do not effect the enzymatic activity of the beta-galactosidase alpha-peptide. Structure of the phased polylinker was confirmed by Maxam and Gilbert's sequencing method. PMID- 2615775 TI - [Changes in antigenic properties of the p35 protein of vaccinia virus in various protein fractions of the virion with the use of monospecific antisera]. AB - Three monospecific antisera to the major 35 kD (p35) surface protein of vaccinia and ectromelia viruses have been obtained. Two of them are obtained to p35 protein isolated by electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate from the protein fractions of vaccinia virus, soluble in NP40 and NP40 with dithiothreitol (NP40 and DTT-fractions). The third serum is obtained to NP40 fraction of ectromelia virus, containing practically only p35 protein. The obtained antisera were compared in the reactions with the different fractions of viral proteins in two versions of solid phase radioimmunoassay. The effect of such reagents as sodium dodecylsulfate, NP40, 2-mercaptoethanol, ethanol on the antigenic properties of p35 protein from vaccinia virus is discussed. PMID- 2615776 TI - Age-related methylation changes in DNA may reflect the proliferative potential of organs. AB - The percentage of 5-methylcytosine in DNA was measured in brain, liver, heart and skeletal muscle of the rat at various ages. Age-related hypomethylation occurred rapidly shortly after birth and then declined to eventually stabilize in brain, heart and skeletal muscle. Hypomethylation in liver DNA continued throughout the period studied (6 months). Our hypothesis that the age-related decline of 5 methylcytosine content in DNA is related to the proliferative potential of organs is discussed. PMID- 2615777 TI - O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in lymphocytes of the elderly with and without Alzheimer's disease. AB - Deficiency in DNA repair has been linked to aging, mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and several types of primary neuronal degeneration. O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase is a key enzyme in the repair of DNA alkylation damage that removes a methyl group from the O6 position of methylguanine. This study was carried out to determine whether there were any changes in the activity of this enzyme in lymphocytes of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) as compared to lymphocytes of age-matched non-demented elderly. The transferase activity in lymphocytes from 19 elderly patients with AD (mean 87.7 fmole/100 micrograms protein +/- SD 44.7) was not statistically different from that in 19 age/sex matched controls (mean 91.3 fmole/100 micrograms protein +/- SD 40.0). There was no significant trend with age in transferase activity and the activity levels in the elderly subjects studied were the same as those reported previously for younger individuals by this laboratory. It is concluded that a reduction in O6 methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase activity is unlikely to be involved in the etiology or the pathogenesis of AD. PMID- 2615778 TI - Cell-cycle defect of DNA repair in progeria skin fibroblasts. AB - We examined the temporal regulation of DNA repair during synchronous cell proliferation in normal and progeroid human fibroblasts. Ultraviolet light induced (254 nm, 20 J/m2) unscheduled DNA synthesis was measured at 4-h intervals after serum stimulation, for up to 32 h. Normal cells regulated DNA repair in a defined temporal sequence, showing a peak in the induction of DNA repair just before DNA synthesis. Progeroid skin fibroblasts failed to show an increase in nucleotide excision repair before scheduled DNA synthesis, but the background level of DNA repair was not significantly different from that in controls. Regulation of repair in progeroid human fibroblasts appeared similar, but not identical to that previously reported by Gupta and Sirover (1984b) for xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C. Our results suggest that patients with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria may have a defect in DNA repair; the results offer nominal evidence that the average level of UV-induced DNA is decreased, and that individuals with this disease lack both the normal enhancement of DNA repair before scheduled DNA synthesis and the temporal control of DNA repair. PMID- 2615779 TI - Incidence and distribution of vaginal yeasts in Malaysian women. AB - A total of 2,153 high vaginal swabs were processed for the presence of yeasts. The specimens were obtained from pregnant and non-pregnant Malaysian women with and without vaginitis. The yeast species most commonly isolated were Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. famata and C. parapsilosis. C. albicans was isolated from 27% of pregnant women with vaginitis, 14% of pregnant women with no overt vaginitis, 15% of non-pregnant women with vaginitis, and 3% of non-pregnant women with no vaginitis. The significant difference of the isolation rates from women with and without vaginitis indicates that C. albicans is likely to be a vaginal pathogen. PMID- 2615780 TI - Studies on mycotic keratitis. AB - One hundred and fifty cases of corneal ulcers from the Government Ophthalmic Hospital, Madras, were investigated during 1980-1982 for the mycoflora. 68 cases (45%) were positive for fungi, comprising species of Aspergillus (36 cases), Penicillium, Fusarium (8 cases each), Curvularia (4 cases), Candida albicans and Mucor (3 cases each), Drechslera (2 cases) and Cladosporium, Cephalosporium, Pullularia, and Allescheria boydii (1 case each). Incidence of these fungi in mycotic keratitis is correlated with factors such as age, sex and occupation of the patients and is discussed in detail. PMID- 2615781 TI - Disseminated Geotrichum capitatum infection in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia. AB - A case of invasive Geotrichum capitatum infection is reported; a young patient had an acute leukemia for which he received a chemotherapy, and presented sepsis with blood cultures for Geotrichum capitatum, namely Dipodascus spicifer; this pathogen only described in cactus rot, is responsible for the first case of a human disseminated infection reported in literature. Then he developed a splenic and epididymic infection, with positive cultures for Geotrichum capitatum after splenectomy and castration. Treatment with amphotericin B and itraconazole was started with low minimal inhibitory concentration (0.1 microgram/ml). The patient died of massive hemoptisis. Autopsy findings demonstrated a lung, brain and kidneys seeding. PMID- 2615782 TI - Fungi isolated from lymph nodes of buffaloes. AB - A preliminary study was undertaken to investigate the occurrence of fungi in various lymph nodes of domestic buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), subjected to slaughter for human consumption at a local abattoir. Fungi could be demonstrated in 6 out 42 specimens when examined by mycological techniques. Molds were represented by 5 isolates viz., Aspergillus fumigatus (2), A. flavus, A. niger and A. terreus. Candida tropicalis was the only yeast isolate recovered from the lymph node. The significance of fungi in relation to meat inspection is discussed. PMID- 2615783 TI - The significance of Candida pulcherrima findings in human clinical specimens. AB - From 1971 to 1976 the author examined by cultivation on Sabouraud glucose agar, 1720 specimens of the most varied materials--skin scales, nails, hair, beard, sputum--obtained from patients suffering from skin problems. In no one single case did he find Candida pulcherrima. However, since 1977 he has found C. pulcherrima to be on an increase. From 1977 to 1984 in 4644 specimens C. pulcherrima was found in 44 cases. 38 strains, i.e. 86%, were isolated from patients with clinical diagnosis of mycotic infection. The most frequent diagnosis was onychomycosis, 36%. Cultivation findings were mostly profuse and massive relative to the number of germs, in some patients even occurring repeatedly. In view of these findings it may be necessary to revise the views purporting the finding of C. pulcherrima from human material to be insignificant. PMID- 2615784 TI - Mycelium-yeast transition in Histoplasma capsulatum. Early ultrastructural changes. AB - The ultrastructural changes which occur during the first 24 h of mycelium to yeast transition have been studied in the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. A temperature shift controls mycelial to yeast transition. During the first 24 h respiratory rate, ATP and cytochrome concentration fall to very low levels. Ultrastructural observations showed that the plasma membrane became undulated and the cell wall lost its characteristic fibrous outer layer. At 8 h the ordered lamellar structure of the mitochondria was no longer apparent. 24 h after the temperature shift 70% of the cells were lysed. The remaining cells contained many cytoplasmic membrane structures; mitochondria were rarely observed. These changes are considered to be the morphological expression of the physiological events characteristic of stage one in mycelial to yeast transition. PMID- 2615785 TI - Isolation of keratinophilic fungi from the dust of ferry boats and trains in Italy. AB - The occurrence of fungi of the genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Trichophyton and Chrysosporium in dust collected from 10 ferry boats and 11 railway cars in Italy was studied. Ferry boats: 101 colonies of fungi were isolated. Of the dermatophytes, E. floccosum represented 2.0% of all the colonies isolated, M. canis 3.0%, M. gypseum 5.0% and Tr. mentagrophytes represented 2.0%. E. floccosum was isolated from 2 ferry boats, M. canis from 3, M. gypseum from 4 and Tr. mentagrophytes from 2. Only two ferry boats appeared to be free of pathogenic fungi. Of all the species isolated, Chr. pannorum was the most numerous (45.4%). In all five species of Chrysosporium were isolated. Railway cars: The final destination of the trains, coming from various cities, was Rome's Termini Station. 336 strains were isolated. The following species were found: E. floccosum 3%, Tr. mentagrophytes 4.8%, Tr. tonsurans 0.3%, Tr. ajelloi 0.6%, Trichophyton spp. 3%, M. canis 5% and M. gypseum 1.5%. Seven different species of Chrysosporium were isolated. Chr. pannorum was the most numerous one (71% of all). Regarding the occurrence of dermatophytes, E. floccosum was isolated from 8 of the 11 trains examined, M. canis from 10, M. gypseum from 4, Tr. mentagrophytes from 8 and Tr. tonsurans from only 1 of the trains. All of the trains were positive for pathogenic fungi, ranging from a minimum of 2 species to a maximum of 4. PMID- 2615786 TI - Isolation and partial characterization of species-specific and cross-reactive antigens of Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid. AB - Two parasite antigens have been isolated from Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst fluid using hydrophobic interaction chromatography, anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. Initial characterization of the antigens indicates that both are glycoproteins, of approximately 20 and 48 kDa (Eg20 and Eg48). When the two antigens were tested with a battery of antisera from patients with heterologous parasitic infections, only Eg20 was found to be specific for E. granulosus. The Eg48 antigen cross-reacted with the sera of 33% of E. multilocularis patients. In both antigens, some of the epitopes recognized by antibodies in the sera of hydatid patients were periodate-sensitive. This suggests the involvement of carbohydrates in at least some of the antigenic determinants. Due to the abundance of the Eg48 antigen in the hydatid cyst fluid, it would be the more practically useful antigen for disease diagnosis, especially in countries where only E. granulosus is endemic. PMID- 2615787 TI - Alanine is a major end product of metabolism by Giardia lamblia: a proton nuclear magnetic resonance study. AB - 1H-NMR spectroscopy was used to monitor the major metabolic end products released by Giardia lamblia when maintained anaerobically in culture in Diamond's TYI-S-33 medium. Spectra were acquired for the cell-free medium and the resonances of metabolites utilised and produced during cell growth identified by the addition of pure compounds and by difference spectroscopy. The major metabolites produced by the parasite were alanine, ethanol and acetate, with increases in concentrations in the media after 4 days' growth (end of log phase) of 18, 15 and 4 mM, respectively. The production of both alanine and ethanol approximated to cell growth, with ethanol formation lagging behind alanine during log growth but predominating after the parasites entered stationary phase. Acetate was formed at a more constant rate during growth. Glucose utilisation was sufficient to account for only 50% of the total carbon appearing in alanine, ethanol and acetate. The aminotransferase inhibitors L-cycloserine and carboxymethoxylamine inhibited growth and selectively inhibited the production of alanine. Analysis of the amino acid composition of the medium by HPLC showed that the only amino acid produced, apart from alanine, was proline, which increased in concentration in the medium by 4 mM after 4 days. There was also a 7 mM increase in ammonia over the same period. The only amino acids that were utilised were arginine and the components of an unresolved peak comprising serine, asparagine and glutamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615788 TI - Serum lipoproteins are required for multiplication of Trypanosoma brucei brucei under axenic culture conditions. AB - Bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei brucei IL3201 and IL3202, derived from two different serodemes, were adapted to grow in a semi-defined medium under axenic culture conditions. The organisms required low- or high-density lipoproteins, isolated from foetal bovine serum (FBS) in addition to components of lipoprotein depleted serum, to multiply in vitro. Low- and high-density lipoproteins, isolated from a number of different species, were equally efficient at supporting in vitro growth of the parasites in medium supplemented with lipoprotein-depleted FBS. Chylomicrons and very-low-density lipoproteins did not support multiplication of the T. b. brucei and did not influence the capacity of low- or high-density lipoproteins to support parasite multiplication. Removal of the lipoprotein-lipids abrogated the capacity of low- or high-density lipoproteins to support T. b. brucei multiplication. PMID- 2615789 TI - Cuticle collagen genes of Haemonchus contortus and Caenorhabditis elegans are highly conserved. AB - Several genes and partial cDNAs encoding cuticle collagens have been isolated from the sheep parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus. DNA sequencing and Southern blot hybridization studies reveal that H. contortus collagens comprise a large family of related, but non-identical genes. The genes appear to be dispersed throughout the genome. The predominant size of collagen mRNA in molting worms was found to be between 1.0 and 1.2 kb. The one complete gene that was sequenced contains two short introns and encodes a protein of about 300 amino acids. The predicted protein sequence contain several (Gly-X-Y)n triple helix coding domains that are interrupted by short stretches of non-helix-coding amino acids. The size of the predicted protein and the organization of the triple-helix coding domains are similar to that of Caenorhabditis elegans collagens. All the H. contortus genes studied show a striking homology to the C. elegans collagen gene subfamily represented by col-1. In particular, the amino acid sequence of the carboxy-terminal non-(Gly-X-Y)n region and the positions of cysteine residues flanking the (Gly-X-Y)n domains were found to be highly conserved in the collagens of these two nematodes. PMID- 2615790 TI - Preparation of the Fusarium toxin, nivalenol, by oxidation of the putative biosynthetic precursor, 7-deoxynivalenol. AB - Nivalenol is a toxic trichothecene metabolite which is produced by a number of different Fusarium species. However, the nature of its immediate biosynthetic precursor is not known. Oxidation of 7-deoxynivalenol(3 alpha,4 beta,15 trihydroxy-12,13- epoxytrichothec-9-ene-8-one) to nivalenol occurred with reagents known to react by a free radical pathway, such as hydrogen peroxide ferrous ion-ascorbic acid or lead tetracetate, but not with electrophilic reagents requiring prior formation of the enol. These results suggest that 7 deoxynivalenol or an acetylated derivative could be the biosynthetic precursor of nivalenol. PMID- 2615791 TI - A versiconal hemiacetal acetate converting enzyme in aflatoxin biosynthesis. AB - Conversion of the aflatoxin biosynthetic intermediate versiconal hemiacetal acetate (VHA) in a cell free extract of Aspergillus parasiticus ATCC 15517 is investigated. The enzymatic reaction is monitored by a method using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The major product of the enzymatic reaction is a water soluble compound not chloroform-extractable at pH 7.5. The product becomes chloroform extractable upon acidification of the reaction medium and is separated and quantitated by reversed-phase HPLC. It is tentatively identified as 'versiconal hemiacetal alcohol,' which is converted to versicolorin C (VC) upon acid treatment. PMID- 2615792 TI - Nitrate induces enzymes of the mannitol cycle and suppresses versicolorin synthesis in Aspergillus parasiticus. AB - Addition of sodium nitrate to growing cultures of Aspergillus parasiticus (ATCC 36537) induces the synthesis of enzymes involved in nitrate assimilation (NO3- reductase), of enzymes in the pentose pathway (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase), and of enzymes in the mannitol cycle (mannitol- and mannitol-1 phosphate dehydrogenases). Addition of NO3- also causes a dose-dependent suppression of synthesis of the polyketide secondary metabolite, versicolorin A. We suggest that in the presence of NO3- plus peptone, the cytoplasmic NADPH/NADP ratio may be elevated, resulting in increased conversion of malonyl coenzyme A to fatty acid rather than to polyketide. PMID- 2615793 TI - Mechanism of ochratoxin A-induced immunosuppression. AB - Ochratoxin A (OA) has been reported to affect immune function both at the level of antibody synthesis and natural killer (NK) cell activity. In the present study we demonstrate that exposure of purified human lymphocyte populations and subpopulations to the toxin will abrogate the cells' ability to respond to activating stimuli in vitro. Thus, both IL-2 production and IL-2 receptor expression of activated T lymphocytes are severely impaired. When the cells are preincubated with the analogue ochratoxin B (OB) prior to OA exposure, the inhibitory effect of OA is reversed. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of OA on antibody production is not only due to blocking of T helper cell function. Highly purified B lymphocytes will not respond to polyclonal activators in vitro after a brief pulse with OA. The results strongly suggest that the toxin causes its immunosuppression through interference with essential processes in cell metabolism irrespective of lymphocyte population or subpopulation. PMID- 2615794 TI - Mycotoxin research: 1989. PMID- 2615795 TI - Genetic and mutational tools for investigating the genetics and molecular biology of trichothecene production in Gibberella pulicaris (Fusarium sambucinum). AB - Gibberella pulicaris (Fusarium sambucinum) is a promising organism for studying the genetics and regulation of trichothecene biosynthesis; conditions for obtaining fertile crosses have been defined (Desjardins & Beremand, 1987) and crosses between natural variants have provided some information about the number, location, arrangement, and role of genes which determine trichothecene production (Desjardins & Beremand, 1987; Beremand & Desjardins, 1988). The development of some additional experimental tools and methodologies required for the further genetic analysis of trichothecene production in G. pulicaris are described in the present study. A highly fertile, isogenic line was constructed for G. pulicaris strain R-6380. The ability to readily generate mutants in this strain was also demonstrated. Both biochemical and morphological mutants were obtained following UV-mutagenesis. The inheritance of some of these mutations through meiosis indicated that they will be useful genetic markers for crosses and mapping studies. Since strain R-6380 is also transformable (Salch & Beremand, 1988), it is an excellent choice for transmission and molecular genetic studies involving trichothecene production. PMID- 2615796 TI - Fusarium species and their mycotoxins in infected corn in Italy. AB - Surveys of corn (infected plants and commercial kernels) for Fusarium species and their mycotoxins were carried out on samples collected all over Italy and from some European and mediterranean countries. Investigations on samples of corn stalk and ear rot standing in the field, mainly collected in southern Italy, proved to be contaminated with zearalenone (ZON), zearalenols (ZOL), and deoxynivalenol (DON). The Fusarium species most frequently isolated, and their recorded toxigenic capability (in parentheses), were: F. moniliforme; F. culmorum (ZON, ZOL, DON, 3AcDON); F. equiseti (ZON, ZOL); and F. proliferatum (MF). Along with these species, F. graminearum group 2 (ZON, DON and/or 3AcDON or 15AcDON); F. chlamydosporum; F. acuminatum (type-A trichothecene derivatives); and F. semitectum were often found to be associated. F. heterosporum (ZON, ZOL); F. solani; F. crookwellense (ZON, ZOL, FUS, NIV); F. oxysporum (MF); F. avenaceum (MF); F. sporotrichioides (T-2 toxin and derivatives); and F. poae (DAS, MAS) were occasionally isolated. PMID- 2615797 TI - Actinomycotic intracavitary lung colonization. AB - We describe four cases of actinomycotic intracavitary lung colonization and review the literature on the subject. Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, A. flavus, Pseudallescheria boydii are responsible for the majority of fungi intracavitary lung colonization (fungus ball). The similarities in clinical symptom (haemoptysis) and radiologic feature (pulmonary air meniscus) of fungus ball and actinomycotic intracavitary colonization prompted the investigation into a range of microorganisms, including Nocardia spp. and Actinomyces spp. We report four cases of such actinomycotic syndrome, three of them in diabetic patients, and review briefly the literature. PMID- 2615798 TI - A new species of Trichosporonoides isolated from sweetened orange/mango drink in Australia. AB - Trichosporonoides australiense sp. nov.: a basidiomycetous yeast-like fungus is described and illustrated with information on some physiological characteristics based on a single strain isolated from sweetened orange/mango in Australia. The differences between it and already described members of the genus are discussed. The new species may be distinguished principally by its inability to ferment sucrose and maltose. A dichotomous key to all described members of the genus is provided. PMID- 2615799 TI - Aflatoxins in sunflower seeds: influence of Alternaria alternata on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus. AB - The aim of the present work was to determine the influence of Alternaria alternata upon aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus. A mixture of spores of both strains was inoculated in sunflower seeds at 0.90 aw and incubated for 42 days at 28 degrees C +/- 1. The cultures were observed and analyzed every 7 days to determine the infection level of the seeds and the production of aflatoxins. Results showed that when the seeds were inoculated only with Aspergillus parasiticus, 100% were infected from the 7th day. When Aspergillus parasiticus and Alternaria alternata were simultaneously inoculated the infection level of the seeds was 100% for Aspergillus parasiticus following 7 days of inoculation and 0% for Alternaria alternata. After the 14th day of inoculation there was no significant difference in the infection percentage of both strains (approximately 80% of each one). As far as toxin production is concerned a remarkable decrease was observed when seeds were inoculated with both strains simultaneously. In accordance to the results, Alternaria alternata would not compete with Aspergillus parasiticus in colonization of seeds but would either degrade the aflatoxins by Aspergillus parasiticus or compete for aflatoxin biosynthesis precursors. Alternaria alternata could also secrete some substance that specifically inhibits aflatoxin synthesis. PMID- 2615800 TI - Electron microscopy of Microsporum cookei after 'in vitro' treatment with protoanemonin: a combined SEM and TEM study. AB - The ranunculaceous derivative protoanemonin (PrA) was studied as an antifungal agent on the dermatophyte Microsporum cookei. The ultrastructural changes that PrA brought about in this fungus were observed with both the transmission and scanning electron microscopes. The main anomalies noted were abnormally shaped hyphae and within the cytoplasm, multimembranous bodies which were irregular in shape and size, and tubules of 25 and 60 nm in diameters. Mitochondria, nuclei and vacuoles were also variously affected by PrA. Although multifarious, the observed cellular alterations in M. cookei can be considered the result of a PrA interaction with cytoplasmic microtubules. Since these cell structures contain a great number of ASH groups, our previous hypothesis, that sulphydryl groups are the primary targets of this molecule, appears to be supported. PMID- 2615801 TI - Immunosuppression in experimental cryptococcosis in rats. Induction of thymic suppressor cells. AB - The presence of the microorganism, cortical hyperplasia and germinal centers was detected in the thymus of rats infected with 10(7) viable Cryptococcus neoformans cells and immunized at 7 days afterwards with 2.5 mg (0.1 ml) of human serum albumin (HSA) incorporated to complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) (Group 2). There was no modification of the glandular structure in the thymus of the animals only immunized with HSA-CFA (Group 1). The weight of the thymus of group 2, animals infected and immunized, was increased compared with the weight of the thymus of group 1 animals, this became evident by the increase of the thymic index (TI) (p less than 0.005). This rate was obtained calculating the thymus weight/total body weight ratio x 1000. Thymic cells (10(7) cells in 1 ml) obtained from both groups of animals were transferred to normal syngeneic rats of the same sex. The recipient rats were immunized with HSA-CFA 24 h later and 14 days after the transference, the response of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was studied in them. It could be observed that the thymic cells coming from group 2 animals were capable of suppressing significatively the afferent pathway of the DTH response to HSA when compared with the response of the animals that received cells coming from group 1 rats (p less than 0.0001). PMID- 2615802 TI - Production of trichothecene and non-trichothecene mycotoxins by Fusarium species isolated from maize in Minnesota. AB - Eighty-two cultures of Fusarium species isolated in 1986 from moldy maize in Minnesota were each cultured on rice for 4 weeks and found to produce the following mycotoxins: F. graminearum isolates, deoxynivalenol (DON, 4-225 micrograms/g), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON, 2-4 micrograms/g), 15 acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON, 1-35 micrograms/g) and zearalenone (ZEA, 5-4350 micrograms/g); F. moniliforme, fusarin C (detectable amounts to 1000 micrograms/g); F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans isolates, moniliformin (15-6775 micrograms/g); F. moniliforme, F. proliferatum, and F. subglutinans isolates, fusaric acid (detectable amounts). Other mycotoxins screened for in each rice sample and not detected were T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, neosolaniol, T-2 tetraol, nivalenol, fusarenon-X, scirpenols, alpha and beta trans-zearalenols, wortmannin, and fusarochromanone. The rat feeding bioassay indicated that other, unidentified toxins may be present. PMID- 2615803 TI - Feline sporotrichosis: a case report. AB - The isolation of Sporothrix schenckii from a female European cat it is described. The cat showed lengthened alopecic areas, with prominent nodules in the external surface of the thighs and abdomen. A mycological and histopathological studies of the lesions were carried out. The lesions resolved under treatment with 20% potassium iodide in doses of 0'1 ml/kg oral route in a 8 weeks period. PMID- 2615804 TI - Intoxication by Cortinarius orellanus: detection and assay of orellanine in biological fluids and renal biopsies. AB - A woman suffering from acute tubulo-interstitial nephritis was admitted to the hospital ten days after deliberate intoxication by ingestion of Cortinarius orellanus. Orellanine, the main toxin responsible for orellanine poisoning, was detected in biological fluids and renal biopsies. It was assayed by direct spectrofluorimetry on two-dimensional thin-layer chromatograms after specific photodecomposition into orelline. The orellanine concentration was 6.12 mg/l in the plasma (10 days after ingestion). Orellanine levels in renal biopsies were 7 micrograms per 25 mm3 of the first biopsy (13 days after ingestion) and 24 micrograms per 8 mm3 of the second biopsy (6 months later). PMID- 2615805 TI - Fungal density in the sands of the Mediterranean coast beaches. AB - The fungal density of one hundred and forty-eight samples of sands obtained from forty-two Spanish Mediterranean littoral beaches are investigated. The CFU/g number ranged from 15 and 76 x 10(5). The most commonly isolated genera were: Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Acremonium, Alternaria, Fusarium. The keratinophilic capacity of all the isolated fungal strains was also determined. PMID- 2615806 TI - Paecilotoxin production in clinical or terrestrial isolates of Paecilomyces lilacinus strains. AB - The production of paecilotoxin from various isolates of Paecilomyces lilacinus was studied using three different media and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Alkaline medium was found to be suitable for the production of the toxins. Among 20 strains tested, 19 including four clinical isolates were found to produce the toxins. Production patterns of paecilotoxins were very similar in each strain and the main toxins were A and B. PMID- 2615807 TI - Fatal mushroom poisoning in Barcelona, 1986-1988. AB - In 1986-88, 46 poisonings (4 of which were fatal) caused by amatoxin mushroom were reported. The fatalities were males aged between 7 and 65 years. They all had gastrointestinal symptoms and three of the patients died of acute hepatic insufficiency. The fourth died as a result of an intestinal perforation. The clinical and pathological alterations are compared with the findings of other authors. PMID- 2615808 TI - [Introduction to the study of waste]. PMID- 2615809 TI - [Proper disposal of medical waste--in search of processes for the elimination of biohazards]. PMID- 2615810 TI - [The first step in waste disposal at a hospital--a report on the current status at the Urayasu Hospital, Juntendo University]. PMID- 2615811 TI - [The current status of commercial medical waste disposal and expectations for medical facilities]. PMID- 2615812 TI - [Memories of medical waste in the past]. PMID- 2615813 TI - [Ideal life with production of minimum waste]. PMID- 2615814 TI - [Improvement of the hygienic level of patients who cannot be bathed--for nursing to prevent the development of decubitus ulcers]. PMID- 2615815 TI - [Experience of a nurse who experienced near-fatal injuries in the United States. A tenacious struggle for life (2)]. PMID- 2615816 TI - [A community for social rehabilitation of psychiatric patients--an experience of one year]. PMID- 2615817 TI - [Nursing of a leprosy patient who was admitted at the onset and discharged after 8 months]. PMID- 2615818 TI - [The current status of feminism and nursing]. PMID- 2615819 TI - A profile of Margaret Lessing--patron and friend. Interview by Jo Goddard. PMID- 2615820 TI - Introducing Dr. Rina Venter. Interview by Sybelle Albrecht. PMID- 2615821 TI - The socio-medical significance of a genealogical history. PMID- 2615822 TI - The plight of professional nurses in specialised units at academic centres. PMID- 2615823 TI - What is primary health care? (PHC). PMID- 2615824 TI - The difference between comprehensive and selective PHC. PMID- 2615825 TI - Primary health care in South Africa. PMID- 2615826 TI - What is our manpower policy in primary health care services? PMID- 2615827 TI - The training of primary health care nurses. PMID- 2615828 TI - Rural experiences. PMID- 2615829 TI - An urban experience. PMID- 2615831 TI - [The operationalizing of preceptorship in nursing]. PMID- 2615830 TI - Traditional healers and the primary health care nurse. PMID- 2615832 TI - [Important information about AIDS]. PMID- 2615833 TI - 10,000 AIDS cases in Namibia. PMID- 2615834 TI - Calcium supplements. PMID- 2615835 TI - Twelve vitamin facts. PMID- 2615837 TI - Cardio-pulmonary by-pass in children. PMID- 2615836 TI - Femoral popliteal disease. PMID- 2615838 TI - Intervention radiology. PMID- 2615839 TI - And the jam came too! PMID- 2615840 TI - How fit is fit? Assessment of recovery to role fitness after anaesthesia or tranquillisers. PMID- 2615841 TI - The Consumer Protection Act 1987 and HN (88)3, procurement, product liability implications for health carers. PMID- 2615843 TI - Operating theatre--how the scene has changed. Reflections following a back to nursing course. PMID- 2615842 TI - I'm not sure what I want but I want it now. PMID- 2615844 TI - An unusually rapid light-induced nitrate reductase mRNA pulse and circadian oscillations. PMID- 2615845 TI - Influence of Viscum album preparations on the natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity of peripheral blood. PMID- 2615846 TI - Neuropeptide Y differentiates between exocytotic and nonexocytotic noradrenaline release in guinea-pig heart. AB - The overflow of neuropeptide Y (NPY; radioimmunoassay), noradrenaline and dihydroxyphenylethylenglycol (DOPEG; high pressure liquid chromatography) from guinea-pig perfused hearts was investigated in relationship to exocytotic and nonexocytotic release mechanisms. Exocytotic release: Electrical stimulation of the left stellate ganglion (12 Hz; 1 min) evoked a calcium-dependent overflow of noradrenaline and NPY, that was accompanied by a minor and prolonged increase in DOPEG overflow. This increase in DOPEG overflow was attenuated by blockade of neuronal amine re-uptake. In the presence of calcium, a closely related co release of noradrenaline and NPY was also observed during administration of veratridine (10 microM); it was completely prevented by tetrodotoxin (1 microM). Nonexocytotic release: In the absence of extracellular calcium, veratridine (30 microM) induced noradrenaline overflow only when combined with the reserpine-like agent Ro 4-1284 (10 microM). This overflow was accompanied by efflux of DOPEG, but not of NPY. Similarily, tyramine (1-100 microM) induced a calcium-independent concomitant overflow of both noradrenaline and DOPEG, but not of NPY. During anoxic and glucose-free perfusion a predominantly calcium-independent overflow of noradrenaline was observed; only in the presence of extracellular calcium was this overflow accompanied by a minor overflow of NPY. Noradrenaline overflow, induced by veratridine plus Ro 4-1284 (in the absence of calcium), by tyramine, or by anoxia, was suppressed by blockade of neuronal amine re-uptake, and was, therefore, mediated by reversed transmembrane amine transport by the neuronal uptake carrier. The results indicate that NPY is co-released with noradrenaline only during calcium-dependent exocytosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615847 TI - The differential effect of calcium antagonists on the positive inotropic effects induced by calcium and monensin in cardiac preparations of rats and guinea-pigs. AB - It was the aim of the present study to gain more insight into the role of extracellular calcium and of calcium from intracellular sources in the development of contractile force in the mammalian heart. In rat Langendorff hearts the effect of nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem, bepridil and lidoflazine as well as of the intracellularly acting calcium antagonists ryanodine and TMB-8 on the increase of the left ventricular pressure induced by calcium and the sodium ionophore monensin, respectively, was studied. In rat and guinea-pig papillary muscles the influence of nifedipine, ryanodine and lidoflazine on the effect of monensin on the force of contraction was evaluated. Calcium and monensin concentration-dependently increased the left ventricular pressure in rat Langendorff hearts. The calcium-induced effect was characterized by a sharp initial rise of the left ventricular pressure which stabilized at a lower level while monensin elicited a gradual rise of the left ventricular pressure. Nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem, applied at the EC50 and the EC80 for the reduction of the left ventricular pressure under control conditions, shifted the concentration-response curves for calcium and monensin into the right. Ryanodine, TMB-8, lidoflazine and bepridil, applied at the EC50, displaced the concentration response curves for calcium and monensin to the right but reduced the maximal increase of the left ventricular pressure. At the EC80, these drugs almost completely abolished the positive inotropic effects elicited by calcium and monensin, respectively. In rat papillary muscles monensin did not influence the basal force of contraction. A clear positive inotropic effect was only observed in the presence of nifedipine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615848 TI - Differences between negative inotropic and vasodilator effects of calcium antagonists acting on extra- and intracellular calcium movements in rat and guinea-pig cardiac preparations. AB - In order to get more insight into the utilization of calcium in the mammalian heart and the influence of calcium antagonists on this process we have evaluated the negative inotropic and vasodilator effect of nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, bepridil and lidoflazine as well as of the intracellularly acting calcium antagonists ryanodine and TMB-8 in the presence of 0.9 and 1.8 mmol/l calcium in rat Langendorff hearts. The effect of ryanodine was also studied in guinea-pig Langendorff hearts. In addition, in rat and guinea-pig papillary muscles the effect of these drugs on the force of contraction was examined. With the exception of ryanodine and TMB-8 all calcium antagonists induced a pronounced coronary vasodilator effect. The rank order of potency for this effect was: nifedipine greater than verapamil = diltiazem = bepridil = lidoflazine in the presence of 0.9 mmol/l calcium. At a calcium concentration of 1.8 mmol/l nifedipine and verapamil proved more potent, whereas diltiazem was less active. All calcium antagonists completely suppressed the development of the left ventricular pressure. At a calcium concentration of 0.9 mmol/l the potency order for this effect was: ryanodine greater than nifedipine = verapamil greater than diltiazem = bepridil = lidoflazine greater than TMB-8. In the presence of 1.8 mmol/l calcium the concentration-response curves for reduction of the left ventricular pressure by nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem slightly shifted to the right. In contrast to all calcium antagonists investigated, in guinea-pig Langendorff hearts ryanodine only partially decreased the left ventricular pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615849 TI - Absorption and presystemic glucuronidation of 1-naphthol in the vasculary fluorocarbon emulsion perfused rat small intestine: the influence of the luminal flow rate and intraluminal binding. AB - Using an isolated vasculary perfused rat small intestine we studied the role of luminal flow rate and intraluminal binding on the absorption of 1-naphthol (1-N) and the intestinal metabolism of 1-N to 1-naphthol-beta-D-glucuronide (1-NG). Raising the luminal perfusion rate resulted in a decrease in the luminal 1-N extraction ratio and an increase in the luminal 1-N clearance Cllum. The dependency of Cllum on flow rate appeared to conform to a convective diffusion model. A differential susceptibility of 1-N absorption and the total 1-NG appearance to the luminal flow rate resulted in a flow-dependent first-pass effect of 1-N. Next, the effect of intraluminal binding on 1-N disposition was studied in experiments in which albumin was added to the luminal perfusion fluid. The unbound concentration, as the driving force for the uptake of 1-N, seems not to be rate-limiting for the appearance of 1-NG. The total appearance of 1-NG in the presence of albumin was greater than would be anticipated from the free concentration of 1-N. As a result the extent of presystemic extraction increased with increasing albumin concentration. The precise mechanisms responsible for the phenomenona are not entirely clear. Consideration of the heterogeneity in the glucuronidation capacity along the rat small intestine and along the crypt-villus axis can help to explain the obtained results. PMID- 2615850 TI - Hepatic, intestinal and renal transport of 1-naphthol-beta-D-glucuronide in mutant rats with hereditary-conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. AB - Recently, a mutant rat strain was described with a genetic defect for the biliary excretion of organic anions (TR-rats). To determine the possible heterogeneity of the transport systems in liver, intestine and kidney we investigated the transport of the anion 1-naphthol-beta-D-glucuronide (1-NG) in isolated vascularly perfused organ preparations of the rat liver, intestine and kidney of both Wistar rats and TR- rats. 1-NG was administered as such (liver and kidney experiments) or formed intracellularly from 1-naphthol (1-N) (liver and gut experiments). Independent of the type of exposure to 1-NG, the biliary excretion was considerably impaired in TR- rats. In the intestine the total appearance and the vascular/luminal distribution pattern of 1-NG were not significantly different from the values in control rats. Furthermore, no significant disturbance was found with respect to the renal clearance of 1-NG in the TR- rat when compared with the Wistar rat. Thus, the genetic defect in the TR- rat is restricted to an impaired hepatobiliary excretion of 1-NG and does not affect the excretory systems of the intestine and kidney. These results suggest that the excretion of 1-NG by the liver, intestine and kidney involves distinct organ specific transport systems. PMID- 2615851 TI - Age-related differences in human platelet 5-HT uptake. AB - Platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake was measured in a group of young healthy volunteers and a group of aged healthy volunteers. Our results show a significant increase in the maximal velocity of uptake (Vmax) in the platelets of aged subjects. This could result in a decreased concentration of extracellular 5 HT in old age. Such reduced levels of 5-HT, if they occurred at 5-HT synapses in the brain, could result in susceptibility to the development of neurological or psychiatric illness. PMID- 2615852 TI - Different muscarine receptors mediate the prejunctional inhibition of [3H] noradrenaline release in rat or guinea-pig iris and the contraction of the rabbit iris sphincter muscle. AB - To investigate the muscarine receptor type mediating inhibition of [3H] noradrenaline release from the isolated rat and guinea-pig iris we have determined the potency of antimuscarinic drugs to antagonize the methacholine induced inhibition of [3H]-noradrenaline overflow evoked by field stimulation (3 Hz, 2 min). The prejunctional apparent affinities were compared with those obtained for postjunctional muscarine receptors mediating the methacholine induced contraction of the isolated rabbit iris sphincter muscle. Prejunctional apparent affinity constants of pirenzepine (6.67), himbacine (8.51), methoctramine (7.92), 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP, 8.00), hexahydro-difenidol enantiomers (6.92, (R); 5.77, (S)) in the rat iris and methoctramine (7.58) in the guinea-pig iris indicate the presence of M2 receptors. Although the postjunctional affinity constants in the rabbit iris sphincter of methoctramine (5.93), gallamine (3.92), and 4-DAMP (9.07) confirm our previous suggestions of the presence of M3-like receptors, the results obtained with the hexahydro-difenidol enantiomers do not agree with that concept. The postjunctional affinity constants of the hexahydro-difenidol enantiomers were not different from the prejunctional values (6.86, (R); 5.55, (S)), indicating a similar and low degree of stereoselectivity for these stereoisomers at both receptor sites (14 and 17, (R)/(S)-ratios, respectively). Hence, the postjunctional muscarine receptor in the rabbit iris sphincter fails to exhibit the high degree of stereoselectivity observed for hexahydro-difenidol enantiomers at M3 receptors on other smooth muscles. PMID- 2615853 TI - [3H]noradrenaline accumulation in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells: modulation of accumulation by nicotine. AB - The mechanisms by which catecholamines are transported into adrenal medullary cells are not as well characterized as the high affinity catecholamine uptake system of sympathetic neurones. Therefore, we studied the accumulation of [3H]noradrenaline in 7-21 day old cultures of bovine adrenal cells. Cultured adrenal cells accumulate [3H]noradrenaline. The accumulation process has an apparent Km for noradrenaline of 0.47 mumol/l, is Na(+)-dependent, and is inhibited by desipramine, (-)-noradrenaline and (-)adrenaline (IC50's, 0.007, 0.9 and 3.8 mumol/l, respectively). Other aromatic amines also inhibit accumulation with an order of potency, (+)-amphetamine greater than or equal to dopamine greater than (-)-noradrenaline greater than (-)-adrenaline greater than or equal to 5-hydroxytryptamine. Nicotine and other stimulants of catecholamine release (acetylcholine and depolarizing K+ concentrations) were found to inhibit [3H]noradrenaline accumulation. Reserpine pretreatment (72 h) or omission of calcium did not prevent nicotine's inhibitory effect on accumulation, but did reduce or inhibit nicotine-induced catecholamine release, suggesting that adrenal [3H]noradrenaline accumulation may be regulated by processes involved with stimulus-secretion coupling (e.g., sodium gradient and/or depolarization) which are independent of release. These results suggest that the catecholamine transport mechanisms of cultured bovine adrenal cells and sympathetic neurones are similar and may be regulated by secretory processes. PMID- 2615854 TI - Comparison of characteristics of dopamine uptake and mazindol binding in mouse striatum. AB - Biochemical and pharmacological studies suggest that the binding of [3H]mazindol is functionally related to the dopamine uptake carrier complex in rodent striatum. In order to study further the relationship between the substrate recognition site for dopamine uptake and the high-affinity binding site for mazindol the uptake of [3H]dopamine and the binding of [3H]mazindol was studied in BALB/cBy mouse striatum in various buffers (Tris, HEPES, bicarbonate phosphate). Kinetic analysis showed that the Kd of the binding of [3H]mazindol and the Km of the uptake of [3H]dopamine was changed by different sodium concentrations and/or by the presence of Tris, while the Bmax and the Vmax remained essentially the same. However, the shape of the Na+ dependency curves was not the same for mazindol binding and dopamine uptake in the various buffers. The inhibitory effect of other cations such as K+ and Tris was also different on binding and uptake under similar experimental circumstances. Dopamine did not slow down the dissociation of mazindol from its site and this effect was not sodium-sensitive. These complexities can be accommodated by a model that involves overlapping sites for mazindol and dopamine on the dopamine uptake carrier complex, and translocation-reorientation steps. PMID- 2615855 TI - Inhibition of noradrenaline release in the rat brain cortex via presynaptic H3 receptors. AB - The effects of histamine and related drugs on the evoked tritium overflow from superfused rat brain cortex slices preincubated with 3H-noradrenaline were determined. Tritium overflow was stimulated electrically (3 Hz; slices superfused with normal physiological salt solution) or by introduction of CaCl2 1.3 mmol/l (slices superfused with Ca2(+)-free medium containing K+ 20 mmol/l). Histamine slightly decreased the electrically evoked 3H overflow in slices superfused in the presence of desipramine. The degree of inhibition obtained with histamine was doubled when both desipramine and phentolamine were present in the superfusion medium (pIC15 6.46). Under the latter condition, the evoked overflow was inhibited by the H3 receptor agonist R-(-)-alpha-methylhistamine and its S-(+) enantiomer (pIC15 7.36 and 5.09, respectively), but was not affected by the H2 receptor agonist dimaprit and the H1 receptor agonist 2-thiazolylethylamine (both at up to 32 mumols/l). The concentration-response curve of histamine was shifted to the right by the H3 receptor antagonists thioperamide, impromidine and burimamide (apparent pA2 8.37, 6.86 and 7.05, respectively), by the H2 receptor antagonist ranitidine (apparent pA2 4.27) and was not affected by the H1 receptor antagonist dimetindene (32 mumols/l). The inhibitory effect of R-(-)-alpha methylhistamine on the evoked overflow was also counteracted by thioperamide. Given alone, none of the five histamine receptor antagonists affected the evoked overflow. In the absence of desipramine plus phentolamine, impromidine and burimamide facilitated the electrically evoked 3H overflow whereas thioperamide had no effect. The facilitatory effects of impromidine and burimamide were abolished by phentolamine, but not affected by desipramine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615856 TI - Peripheral presynaptic and central effects of clonidine, yohimbine and rauwolscine on the sympathetic nervous system in rabbits. AB - The function of presynaptic alpha 2-autoreceptors at postganglionic sympathetic neurones under conditions of normal, ongoing sympathetic impulse traffic was studied in anaesthetized rabbits (alfadolone + alfaxalone). Clonidine was used as an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, and yohimbine and rauwolscine were used as antagonists. Mean arterial pressure, postganglionic renal sympathetic firing rate, arterial plasma noradrenaline concentration and heart rate were measured before (basal values) and at the end of 3-min infusions of sodium nitroprusside and phenylephrine, which were given to modulate efferent activity in the sympathetic nervous system through the baroreflex. The nitroprusside- and phenylephrine-induced changes of mean arterial pressure produced the expected changes in sympathetic nerve activity, plasma noradrenaline and heart rate. Clonidine (5 micrograms kg-1 + 0.5 micrograms kg-1 min-1) reduced the basal mean arterial pressure, sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate. It also reduced the nitroprusside-induced increase in the plasma noradrenaline level without changing the nitroprusside-induced increase in sympathetic firing. These results, as well as the mean arterial pressure-sympathetic nerve activity and the sympathetic nerve activity-plasma noradrenaline function curves indicate that clonidine inhibited both sympathetic tone centrally and the average release of noradrenaline per action potential peripherally. Yohimbine (1 mg kg-1 + 0.1 mg kg 1 h-1) and rauwolscine (0.5 mg kg-1 + 0.1 mg kg-1 h-1) increased the basal plasma noradrenaline level without any increase of renal sympathetic nerve activity. They also enhanced the nitroprusside-induced increase in plasma noradrenaline without any enhancement of the nitroprusside-induced increase in sympathetic firing. The hypotensive response to nitroprusside was attenuated, whereas the heart rate response was augmented. These results, as well as the mean arterial pressure-sympathetic nerve activity and the sympathetic nerve activity-plasma noradrenaline function curves indicate that the main effect of yohimbine and rauwolscine was to increase the average release of noradrenaline per action potential. The simultaneous measurement of postganglionic sympathetic nerve activity and the arterial plasma noradrenaline concentration proved suitable to differentiate central (or ganglionic; this distinction was not possible) effects of alpha 2-adrenoceptor ligands from peripheral presynaptic effects. The results show that endogenous presynaptic, alpha 2-adrenergic autoinhibition of noradrenaline release from postganglionic sympathetic neurones operates physiologically in anaesthetized rabbits with ongoing, uninterrupted sympathetic nerve activity. The results also indicate that blockade of alpha 2-autoreceptors enhances the sympathetic reflex compensatory response to a hypotensive stimulus. PMID- 2615857 TI - 2-Chloro-N6-[3H]cyclopentyladenosine ([3H]CCPA)--a high affinity agonist radioligand for A1 adenosine receptors. AB - The tritiated analogue of 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA), an adenosine derivative with subnanomolar affinity and a 10,000-fold selectivity for A1 adenosine receptors, has been examined as a new agonist radioligand. [3H]CCPA was prepared with a specific radioactivity of 1.58 TBq/mmol (43 Ci/mmol) and bound in a reversible manner to A1 receptors from rat brain membranes with a high affinity KD-value of 0.2 nmol/l. In the presence of GTP a KD-value of 13 nmol/l was determined for the low affinity state for agonist binding. Competition of several adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists for [3H]CCPA binding to rat brain membranes confirmed binding to an A1 receptor. Solubilized A1 receptors bound [3H]CCPA with similar affinity for the high affinity state. At solubilized receptors a reduced association rate was observed in the presence of MgCl2, as has been shown for the agonist [3H]N6-phenylisopropyladenosine ([3H]PIA). [3H]CCPA was also used for detection of A1 receptors in rat cardio myocyte membranes, a tissue with a very low receptor density. A KD-value of 0.4 nmol/l and a Bmax-value of 16 fmol/mg protein was determined in these membranes. In human platelet membranes no specific binding of [3H]CCPA was measured at concentrations up to 400 nmol/l, indicating that A2 receptors did not bind [3H]CCPA. Based on the subnanomolar affinity and the high selectivity for A1 receptors [3H]CCPA proved to be a useful agonist radioligand for characterization of A1 adenosine receptors also in tissues with very low receptor density. PMID- 2615858 TI - Characterization of the K(+)-channel-coupled adenosine receptor in guinea pig atria. AB - In the present work we studied the pharmacological profile of adenosine receptors in guinea pig atria by investigating the effect of different adenosine analogues on 86Rb(+)-efflux from isolated left atria and on binding of the antagonist radioligand 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-[3H]dipropylxanthine [( 3H]DPCPX) to atrial membrane preparations. The rate of 86Rb(+)-efflux was increased twofold by the maximally effective concentrations of adenosine receptor agonists. The EC50 values for 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA), R-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA), 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidosadenosine (NECA), and S-N6 phenylisopropyladenosine (S-PIA) were 0.10, 0.14, 0.24 and 12.9 microM, respectively. DPCPX shifted the R-PIA concentration-response curve to the right in a concentration-dependent manner with a KB-value of 8.1 nM, indicating competitive antagonism. [3H]DPCPX showed a saturable binding to atrial membranes with a Bmax-value of 227 fmol/mg protein and a KD-value of 1.3 nM. Competition experiments showed a similar potency for the three agonists CCPA, R-PIA and NECA. S-PIA is 200 times less potent than R-PIA. Our results suggest that the K+ channel-coupled adenosine receptor in guinea pig atria is of an A1 subtype. PMID- 2615859 TI - Effects of (+)- and (+/-)-sotalol on repolarizing outward currents and pacemaker current in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres. AB - This study was aimed to differentiate the action of (+)- and (+/-)-sotalol (10 1000 mumol/l) on membrane currents which are active during the repolarization of cardiac action potentials. Effects where studied in shortened sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres with the two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. Action potentials were activated at a frequency of 0.25 Hz and membrane currents at 0.03 Hz or 0.05 Hz in most experiments. Out of the currents investigated the transient outward current (ito) reacted most sensitively to (+)- and (+/-)-sotalol. Ito amplitude was decreased on the average to 77% of reference at 10 mumol/l and to 53% at 1000 mumol/l (+)- or (+/-)-sotalol. The maximally available ito-current was decreased but the voltage-dependent control of inactivation was left nearly unchanged. The initial inwardly rectifying current (iK1), which propels the last repolarization phase of the action potential and controls resting potential to a large extent was reduced on the average to 93% of reference at 10 mumol/l and to 62% at 1000 mumol/l (+)- or (+/-)-sotalol. Time-dependent (delayed) outward current (iK) was on the average not affected by (+)- or (+/-)-sotalol up to 100 mumol/l and was decreased to 84% of reference current under the influence of 1000 mumol/l. An initial outward current, which is activated at positive membrane potentials (iinst) was not clearly affected by (+)- or (+/-)-sotalol at concentrations up to 1000 mumol/l. Pacemaker current (if) was not influenced by the drugs up to 100 mumol/l.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615860 TI - Thyroid hormone modulates membrane currents in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. AB - Thyroid hormones have been previously shown to alter cardiac electrophysiological and mechanical properties in humans and in experimental animals. To investigate electrophysiological mechanisms responsible for some of these alterations, we recorded action potentials and membrane currents from isolated ventricular myocytes obtained from euthyroid, hypothyroid and hyperthyroid guinea-pigs. Hyperthyroidism was induced by injecting 150 micrograms/kg triiodothyronine for 8 11 days, and hypothyroidism was induced by propylthiouracil treatment for 35-45 days. We found that the slow inward current, was increased by hyperthyroidism and decreased by hypothyroidism: in euthyroid, hyperthyroid and hypothyroid myocytes peak slow inward current was (mean +/- SEM): -1.08 +/- 0.06 nA, -1.83 +/- 0.18a nA and -0.64 +/- 0.07a nA, respectively (a, p less than 0.005). In addition, the membrane potential at which peak slow inward current occurred was modified by the thyroid state and in euthyroid, hyperthyroid and hypothyroid myocytes it was (mean +/- SEM): 4.8 +/- 0.7 mV, -1.8 +/- 1.6a mV and 11.0 +/- 1.4a mV, respectively. The outward rectifying current, was also affected by the thyroid state, and in euthyroid, hyperthyroid and hypothyroid myocytes, the amplitude at VM = +60 mV was (mean +/- SEM): 0.51 +/- 0.09 nA, 1.15 +/- 0.08a nA and 0.49 +/- 0.05 nA, respectively. a, p less than 0.001 compared to euthyroid myocytes. Intraperitoneal administration of a single dose of triiodothyronine to guinea pigs, 2 h prior to the electrophysiological experiment, increased the slow inward current amplitude, as was seen with chronic hyperthyroidism, but had no significant effect on the outward current and on the action potential.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615861 TI - Clinical experience in student nurse training. AB - This paper presents some results on the range of clinical responsibilities undertaken by three cohorts of student nurses in basic training. It concentrates on the quantity and variety of a student's clinical experience. Seventy-seven important items in nurse training, classified into three groups (general nursing, responsibility situations and interpersonal situations) are discussed. PMID- 2615862 TI - Spinal cord injury prevention in North America. AB - Traumatic spinal cord injury is accompanied by enormous physical, psychosocial and financial losses for the individual and society. The age group most affected by spinal cord injury are adolescents and young adults and the incidence appears to be rising in North America. In the past, efforts have been directed towards minimising the effects of the injury, optimising rehabilitation and searching for a cure. Only recently has it been acknowledged that spinal cord injuries are preventable disabilities. Spinal cord injury prevention programmes have begun to be developed in several regions of the United States and Canada. The authors contend that effective prevention programmes should be based on understanding and application of the developmental characteristics of the target population and should incorporate behavioural as well as cognitive components. A prototype programme that would integrate these aspects is described. The purpose of this article is to describe the application of one educational approach to the issue of spinal cord injury prevention in adolescents. The approach may be useful for nurses involved in health education programmes dealing with other high incidence health problems of this age group, such as pregnancy and substance abuse. PMID- 2615863 TI - Rethinking the nursing career structure: a skills acquisition model. AB - The current debate on the future of nursing education and the role of the nurse stems from the recent reports from the Royal College of Nursing (1) and the United Kingdom Central Council (2). In addition to supporting the recommendations of the earlier Platt Report (3) on the contents and contexts of nursing education, these reinforce the close relationships between nursing education and personnel planning. This paper explores the opportunities available to the nursing organisation to develop supportive education programmes that meet the needs of individuals and the organisation and develop the clinical career structure for those nurses wanting to remain in direct care. In this way the problems of staff recruitment and retention could be overcome through the promotion of the clinical role as a desirable career goal in its own right. PMID- 2615864 TI - Nursing practice. Developing a philosophy. AB - The application of nursing models has been a recent theme in British nursing. Part of this process is the development of a nursing philosophy which underpins the model. Nurses at clinical level are often required to define their philosophy to meet clinical, educational and managerial objectives. The first part of this two-part article explores the significance of nursing philosophy to practice. In the second part, a case study is used to illustrate how clinical nurses can set about defining a philosophy of nursing for themselves. Dickoff et al (1) indicate that a philosophy is significant in the generation of theory. By identifying the nature of practice, theoretical relationships become apparent. It is also significant as Johnson (2) states in nursing's development as a profession. Johnson further asserts that nurses should use their beliefs to build a conceptual system of the person to be served and an abstract model for practice which allows such purpose to be fulfilled. However a nurse's beliefs and values about nursing may have no theoretical substance to them. They may be purely intuitive in nature. Writing a philosophy legitimates intuition. Kitson (3) considers that nurse theorists who believe that only developing a knowledge base through a scientific approach are at risk of throwing away the intuitive sources of knowledge within nursing. Yet gut reactions have been shown to be critical in the development of excellence in nursing (4). Kitson believes that intuitions can lead to developing 'grassroots standards of care' and a clearer definition of what nursing is.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615865 TI - Nursing practice. The neglected careers. AB - The following is a shortened report of a study conducted by a community nurse working with dementia sufferers and their carers. It had been apparent to the researcher for some time that stress was becoming an additional burden for the carers. It was also suggested that the majority of carers were not taking advantage of the benefits and services which were available to help them. PMID- 2615866 TI - Nursing practice. Stress and attitudes towards the work environment. AB - This paper discusses a survey carried out within four wards in an elderly services' unit. There were two main aims of the study. One was an attempt to determine the degree of burn-out present in the wards, and the second was to ascertain the nursing staff's perceived areas of stress within their work environment. Clarke (1) relies heavily on the transactional view of stress, while Selye (2), suggests that coping with stress involves the individual in direct action in changing the demands put upon him or her. This direct action is aided by information on how to cope with stressors and, therefore, knowledge of stress symptoms are required. She suggests that giving information changes an uncertain situation into one of certainty, and at the very least, will change an individual's view of a new event from something frightening into a more familiar experience. PMID- 2615867 TI - Ward leadership styles. AB - The purpose of this study was to devise a leadership style scale based in the authoritarian/democratic concept of leadership and to test it with a group of nurses. The working hypothesis was that nurses, working by primary nursing methods, would have a more democratic attitude to leadership than those nurses working in a traditional task allocation system. Recent papers such as that of Henry & Tuxill (1) plead for the caring professions to take on board the concept of the 'person'. Not only is the traditional model of nursing care seen as bad for the patient; it is seen also as harmful to the nurses. Fretwell (2) describes the task system as essentially an industrial model rather than a professional one which tends to satisfy the needs of the doctor rather than the patient or nurse. Kinston (3) describes nursing decision-making and work as Level I work (tradesmen). Current models of care that individualize the nurse's response to work and decision-making become Level II type (professional). Primary nursing fulfils the need for professionalizing nursing and meeting the need for more independence as well as respecting the patient as a 'person' with the organisation there to facilitate interaction between qualified nurse and patient. Changes in attitude and relationships are essential if work is to change from task to person-centred. Styles of leadership in nurses need to alter as our orientation to care issues change (4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615868 TI - Monoclonal antibodies (series Bra-) of broad (non-lineage) or restricted (myelomonocytic) reactivities elicited with granulocytes or K 562 cells. AB - A series of monoclonal antibodies was obtained by hybridoma technology after immunization with granulocytes from healthy donors or K 562 immature erythroid myeloid leukemia cells. Three different types of reactivities with examined hematopoietic-, nonhematopoietic cells and cell lines were observed by microscopic immunofluorescence, immunocytofluorometry and enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), as follows: (i) broad, non-lineage type of two monoclonal antibodies (Bra10G and Bra7F1) with examined hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic human neoplastic cell lines, (ii) non-lineage type of reactivity restricted to hematopoietic cell lines, and (iii) restricted (myelomonocytic) pattern of binding to myeloid cell lines and healthy donors' granulocytes (monoclonal antibodies Bra4F1, BraC8 and Bra1F2). Monoclonal antibodies Bra10G and BraC6 were shown to immunoprecipitate specifically a heterodimeric two-chain cell surface protein p200,95 from cell lysates of lactoperoxidase radioiodinated U 937 cells with recognized epitope localized on the heavy chain (as shown by immunoblotting experiments). Antibodies with restricted myelomonocytic type of reactivity exhibited minor quantitative differences in their microscopic immunofluorescence and immunocytofluorometric patterns of reactivities with examined myeloid leukemia cell lines (K 562, HL 60, U 937) and healthy donors' granulocytes. The monoclonal antibody Bra4F1 was defined by the 4th International Workshop on Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens as CD15 (with typical selective reactivity towards myelomonocytic leukemia cells and cell lines as well as healthy donors' granulocytes) recognizing the X-hapten carbohydrate antigenic determinant. PMID- 2615869 TI - Antitumor activity and cross-resistance studies with Pt-ascorbato complexes. AB - Two ascorbatoplatinum complexes, cis-diammineascorbatoplatinum(II) (AMA) and cis bis(ascorbato)-trans-diaminocyclohexaneplatinum(II) (CHA), were tested for antitumor activity in vivo on P388 leukemia and in vitro in suspension culture and soft agar assay. Sensitive line of L1210 and sublines with resistance induced against cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (DDP) and two derivatives of trans-1,2 diaminocyclohexane (DACH) were used for the in vitro tests. DNA synthesis inhibition in both sensitive and resistant cells was tested. The results are compared with DDP and DACH-Pt(II)-4-carboxyphtalate (TMA). Both tested complexes proved their antitumor activity in our experimental systems. The CHA complex was more effective than AMA and its effectiveness is comparable with that of DDP and TMA. Cross-resistance was found between DDP and AMA as well as TMA and CHA. There was no cross-resistance between DDP versus CHA, and TMA versus AMA. PMID- 2615870 TI - Changes of lipid-bound sialic acid in the plasma of mice bearing benzpyrene induced tumors. AB - The level of lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA) was followed in inbred C57Bl/6 mice bearing tumors induced by benzpyrene at a dose of 20 mg per kg of body weight. In the plasma of mice with macroscopically ascertained tumors, the level of LSA was increased significantly. The LSA level was also significantly increased in the plasma of suspect mice i.e., in a period when the tumor was not yet macroscopically ascertained, however, when a change was observed in the motion of the hind limb of mice to which benzpyrene was administered. PMID- 2615871 TI - Adriamycin response of two human tumor xenografts using a double-radiolabel organ culture method. AB - A double-radiolabel method of quantitating drug response in a simple organ culture system was used to study the effects of adriamycin on two human tumor xenografts in vitro. Explants of X56, an adenocarcinoma of colon, and HXG2, an amelanotic melanoma, both maintained by serial transplantation in athymic mice, were sequentially incubated in vitro with 14C-thymidine, one of several concentrations of adriamycin, and then 3H-thymidine. The ratios of second to first radiolabel incorporation declined as a function of adriamycin concentration. HXG2 was significantly more responsive to adriamycin than X56 in the double-radiolabeled assay. Greater sensitivity of HXG2 was confirmed by three additional methods: The human tumor stem cell assay (HTSCA), chemotherapy trials in tumor-bearing athymic mice, and a double-radiolabel protocol in vivo in tumor bearing athymic mice. An organ culture method of this type may be useful in screening individual patients' tumors for drug resistance. PMID- 2615872 TI - Is isochromosome i(12p) present in gonadal precancerous tissue? AB - The development of frequent gonadal tumors in some syndromes of abnormal sexual differentiation is often preceded by carcinoma in situ. To detect possible early changes in chromosome number and/or structure associated with the carcinoma in situ, gonadal tissue was studied in one patient with the complete form of testicular feminization syndrome, two patients with the incomplete form of this syndrome, and one patient with Swyer's syndrome. In all patients aneuploidy with a bimodal distribution of chromosome numbers with the peaks at diploid and near tetraploid values was shown. The possible specific chromosomal marker of gonadal tumors, isochromosome i(12p), has not been found. Its absence suggests that this marker might be associated with more advanced stages of long-term cancer development or it could be confined only to a subgroup of testicular tumors, as was proposed earlier. The hypothesis that the major source of hypotetraploid or near-triploid cells often found in many gonadal tumors might be endoreduplications with their subsequent chromosome loss is supported. PMID- 2615873 TI - Natural killer activity and NK cytotoxic factors in peripheral blood and lymph node cells from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients. AB - Natural killer (NK) activity and natural killer cytotoxic factors (NKCF) were found to be depressed in large granular lymphocytes (LGL) from the peripheral blood and lymph node lymphocytes (LNL) from untreated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients. The LGL number was also reduced in NHL patients as compared to the normal subjects. The depression in all the activities mentioned above showed a correlation with the clinical status of the patients. Exogenous interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment of the effector cells could augment the NK activity to a comparable extent in normal as well as patient's LNL. The results indicate that the production of interferon may be affected in cases of NHL and therefore it would be worthwhile to test the tolerance and efficacy of IFN-alpha in these patients. PMID- 2615874 TI - Treatment of advanced Hodgkin's disease with modified MOPP regimens. A long-term observation. AB - Fifty-three patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease, most of them previously treated, received 8 to 16 courses of modified MOPP regimens (nitrogen mustard replaced by trichlormethine in arm A, with addition of vinblastine to the 4-drug regimen in arm B, and alternation of three drugs--trichlormethine, vincristine, and prednisone--with probably non-cross resistant two drugs--vinblastine and procarbazine in arm C). Thirty patients (57%) achieved complete remission. Higher complete remission rate and longer survival was recorded in patients treated with 5-drug regimens (arms B and C) as compared to the 4-drug regimen (arm A), but the differences were not significant. Higher complete remission rates were observed in asymptomatic patients, females, and patients with lymphocyte predominance and nodular sclerosis subtypes of Hodgkin's disease. Besides expected short-term toxicity, 4 out of 30 complete responders developed secondary malignancies (two acute myeloblastic leukemias, one hepatocellular carcinoma, and one cerebellar astrocytoma). Several other patients had serious toxicity which could be attributed to chemotherapy. Twenty-eight percent of the patients has been alive 15 to 18 years since the start of this study. PMID- 2615875 TI - Clinical features of Hodgkin's disease in Cuba and Sweden. AB - A clinical study of 182 Swedish and 164 Cuban consecutive adult patients with Hodgkin's disease was performed comparing age, sex, histopathology, clinical stage, symptoms, and various laboratory tests. A bimodal age distribution was observed which was more pronounced in the Swedish series. A male/female ratio 1.8/1.0 in both samples was observed. Nodular sclerosis and Stage IA and IIA were more common in Swedish patients while in the Cuban, mixed cellularity and Stage IIIB and IVB dominated in patients below fifty years of age. The Swedish patients exhibited an age distribution similar to that found in other industrialized Western countries, while the Cuban patients had an age distribution pattern typical for countries with an intermediate epidemiological pattern. PMID- 2615876 TI - Interstitial radiotherapy of malignant tumors of the vagina. AB - A total of 65 patients with malignant tumors of the vagina aged 32-81 years were treated by interstitial radiotherapy. Out of the 65 subjects, 52 patients were irradiated with 60Co sources, and 13 patients with 252Cf sources. Fixing devices of three types were used which ensured the practical realization of interstitial radiotherapy in regard to tumor localization, its shape, and volume. Complete tumor regression occurred in 54 patients (83.1%) and partial regression was observed in 9 patients (13.8%). Mild radiation reactions were found in 17 patients (26.1%). No effect was observed in 2 patients (3.1%). In one case necrotic radiation ulcer developed. On the basis of the above data the conclusion was drawn that interstitial radiotherapy represents the treatment of choice in malignant tumors of the vagina. PMID- 2615877 TI - [Autotransfusion by peroperative recuperation in neurosurgery. Preliminary study apropos of 40 cases]. AB - Preliminary results of autotransfusion by peroperatory recuperation and washing of red blood cells in neurosurgery using the Cell Saver IV Haemonetics are reported. The goals of the study were the confirmation of the feasibility and innocuousness of the technique, and the evaluation of its role in the economy of homologous blood derivatives. Our series includes 40 patients with benign cerebral or spinal lesions selected on the basis of a significant hemorrhagic risk. The activation of peroperatory recuperation is rapid and can be undertaken in extreme emergencies. It represents, even in elective surgery, a safety factor for the patient and the surgical team. The washing and the means of retransfusion by gravity eliminates all the inconveniences of preceding generations of these systems, particularly systemic residual anticoagulation, overload of free hemoglobin, blood coagulation problems and air embolism. In our study the number of unites recuperated is significant by reason of the selection modality of patients according to hemorrhagic risk. For its part, autotransfusion represented 68.71% of transfused red blood cells and 44.27% of the entirely of blood derivatives used. The risk of infectious disease transmission was reduced for all these patients, it was annulled for 45% of them. In our study, autotransfusion by recuperation and washing of red blood cells in neurosurgery improves the safety of patients and allows for an important reduction in the use of homologous blood derivatives. This final result is even more effective through association, given the same patient, of several autotransfusion techniques. PMID- 2615878 TI - [Clinical, neuroradiologic and developmental aspects of idiopathic benign subarachnoid hemorrhage (subarachnoid hemorrhage of unknown cause). Retrospective study of 65 cases]. AB - Sixty-five patients with a mean age of 50.2 +/- 10.9 were admitted with a subarachnoid hemorrhage and a subsequent normal cerebral panangiography. On admission, 69% of the patients were graded I or II on the Hunt and Hess scale, versus 14% of them admitted on grade IV or V. Fifty-one patients (78%) were submitted to a second angiography between day 10 and day 132 after their hemorrhage (average day 29). A third angiography was performed on twenty-six patients (40%). Angiographic vasospasm was present on 52% of the first angiograms and affected predominantly the vertebro-basilar arterial system. On the second angiography, the vasospasm was still present on 26 out of 32 angiograms performed before day 30, and was only noted on 2 out of 19 angiograms performed later. No rebleeding was recorded in this group of patients who were followed-up for an average of 49 +/- 23 months. Complication as acute hydrocephalus affected 17% of the patients. In two patients (3%), symptomatic vasospasm was judged responsible of a delayed neurological deficit with concomitant hypodensity on the CT scan. Angiographic explorations were complicated by a transient ischemic deficit in 3 cases and by a fatal stroke in one case (4 cases out of 65 procedures, or 6%). As another patient died with bronchopneumonia during the hospitalization, the initial mortality rate was 3%. During the period of follow-up, two patients died from medical causes unrelated to their initial hemorrhage. Finally, 92% of the patients were alive and in an excellent or good clinical condition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615879 TI - [Aneurysm of the internal carotid artery bifurcation. Technical reflections apropos of a series of 10 cases]. AB - Cerebral aneurysms at the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery are uncommon and represent less than 10% of intracranial aneurysms. A recent series of 10 cases (out of a total of 221 aneurysms over a period of five years, from 1983 to 1988, i.e. 4.5%) treated via a microsurgical approach is presented. Anatomical and operative aspects are discussed. These malformations are located at the point of union of the carotid artery, sylvian and lamina terminalis cisterns. They are close to perforating vessels which usually lie on their deep aspect. Surgery is performed via the standard pterional approach and, as Yasargil points out, two specific dissecting times are required for the opening of the sylvian and lamina terminalis cisterns, in order to avoid dangerous traction on the brain. In our experience, deep hypotension was used in the four cases of large malformations, and there was no need for a temporary dip. All aneurysms were clipped at the neck and the sac then punctured or removed. Post-operative evolution was completely asymptomatic in 9 cases (grade I-II--Hess and Hunt), one patient (grade IV) died from an apparent vascular spasm, confirmed by CT scan. PMID- 2615880 TI - [Cavernous angioma of the optic chiasm]. AB - A case of an hemorrhagic cavernous hemangioma of the optic chiasma and the adjacent optic nerve in a 23-year-old woman is reported. The visual disturbance has subacute onset following a sudden lateralized headache. Through a fronto pterional approach, an intrachiasmal hematoma was evacuated. A small cavernous hemangioma was found in the hematoma cavity, and it was totally removed. Visual symptoms improved slightly postoperatively. Cavernous hemangioma involving the optic nerve and chiasma is extremely rare. Only five similar cases have been reported previously. PMID- 2615881 TI - [Turned biparietal transposition. A new technic for correcting back of the skull dysmorphisms]. AB - The authors describe a new surgical technique for the deformities of the back of the skull vault. They use a biparietal flap which is turned upside down in order to extend the back of the skull. They use this technique for the correction of craniosynostosis (posterior plagiocephaly, pachycephaly). 12 children have been operated with this technique since 24 month. PMID- 2615882 TI - [Relation between the EEG pattern and the site of ischemic focus in computerized tomography]. AB - EEG records and CT findings were analysed in 50 patients with ischaemic stroke. EEG changes were generalized in cases of deeply situated ischaemic focus. In patients with superficially located focus EEG changes were focal and episodic. PMID- 2615883 TI - [Preliminary evaluation of diagnostic usefulness of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the diagnosis of brain diseases]. AB - On the ground of an analysis of 64 patients the authors present their opinion on the clinical usefulness of digital subtraction angiography in the diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases. It is believed that this method provides in most cases information which are not necessary to be confirmed by other methods. Digital angiography has a lower resolution ability than conventional angiography but is less invasive and may be presently a good screening or control technique. PMID- 2615884 TI - [Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis with the symptoms suggesting nervous system damage]. AB - 10 children with final diagnosis of idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis were admitted to the Department of Neurology because of suspected lesion of nervous system. The main clinical features were gait disturbances and pain. Radiological examination was decisive for diagnosis. The authors discuss the course of disease and effect of the treatment. PMID- 2615885 TI - [Mortality in vascular diseases of the central nervous in the Katowice province in comparison with other provinces and all Poland (evaluation based on hospital statistical charts)]. AB - As part of the programme of investigations on the effect of environmental pollution, which is far advanced in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, on the health of the population the authors analysed the death rate from vascular diseases of the central nervous system. Using the data of the Central Statistical Bureau this death rate in the years 1976-1986 in the Province of Katowice was compared with those in the neighbouring provinces of Bielsko, Czestochowa and Opole, and with those in the so called clean provinces--Chelm, Zamosc, Zielona Gora. The death rate from these diseases in the provinces of Katowice, Czestochowa and Opole (with particularly high pollution of air and soil) was higher than in the control provinces, and the authors consider the possibility of a harmful effect of this pollution on the incidence of and mortality from the vascular diseases of the central nervous system. The increase of the death rate in the Province of Katowice was due to a 49% rise in the mortality in the group of men aged 50-59 years. The rise of this death rate in Poland was caused by increased mortality in the age group 40-59 years, and not in the older age groups, as it had been prognosticated earlier. The authors suggest long-term prospective studies in this region. PMID- 2615886 TI - [Postoperative radiotherapy of glial tumors of the central nervous system]. AB - The authors analysed the survival time of 372 patients subjected to radiotherapy after operations for central nervous system tumours of glial origin. Subtentorial gliomas with a better prognosis than supratentorial gliomas accounted for 82% of cases in this group of 67 children, and cerebellar medulloblastoma most sensitive to radiation accounted for 85%. In the group of 305 adults supratentorial tumours were found in 90.8% of cases, and the very malignant multiform glioblastoma was present in 50.8% of cases. In view of these differences the five-year survival rate was 31.3% in children than 40 years; no sex differences were found between the groups with different survival rates. Postoperative radiotherapy of malignant gliomas is of great value prolonging the life of the patients and improving its quality. PMID- 2615887 TI - [Aneurysms of the pericallosal region]. AB - Aneurysms of the peripheral parts of the anterior cerebral artery account for from 2.0% to 4.5% of all intracranial aneurysms. Frequent diagnostic difficulties caused by small size of the aneurysm and scant reports in the literature induced the authors to describe 12 cases of pericallosal artery aneurysms. They accounted for 4.1% of all aneurysms treated surgically in the years 1977-1984. Good results were achieved in 66.6% of cases and were related mainly to the initial state of the patient. Postoperative mortality was 16.8% and was related mainly to severe initial state, number of subarachnoid haemorrhages in the history, and vasospasm. The authors consider that the operative risk in pericallosal artery aneurysms is not higher than in aneurysms of other location. PMID- 2615888 TI - [Incomplete Bardet-Biedl syndrome associated with cerebellar ataxia]. AB - A case of incomplete Bardet-Biedl syndrome was observed in a woman aged 33 years. The syndrome was associated with cerebellar atrophy. The authors suggest that the pathogenetic cause of the syndrome was a teratogenic effect of quinine during organogenesis while cerebellar atrophy was due probably to metabolic disturbances. PMID- 2615889 TI - [Millard-Gubler syndrome in a young man after hemorrhage from arteriovenous hemangioma to the brain stem]. AB - A young man is described in whom in full health sudden violent headaches and loss of consciousness developed. After admission to hospital a complex of clinical signs was observed indicating brain stem lesion. Computerized tomography of the head and vertebral arteriography demonstrated arteriovenous haemangioma on the left side of the brain stem. The malformation was supplied by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. The patient did not consent to operation, after several months of rehabilitation his clinical condition improved greatly. PMID- 2615890 TI - [A case of favorable outcome of conservative treatment of acute otogenic cerebellar abscess]. AB - The authors report a case of conservatively cured abscess in the left cerebellar hemisphere demonstrated by CT. The patient was admitted in serious condition to a neurotraumatology centre. After pharmacological treatment a quick improvement of patient's health was achieved and control CT examination during his stay in hospital and after discharge from hospital confirmed the relation between clinical improvement and regression of changes in CT. The presented case points to the possibility of conservative treatment of brain abscesses if the patient meets certain clinical criteria, and CT provides the possibility of repeated checking of the dynamics of intracranial lesion. PMID- 2615891 TI - [Selected clinical and pathogenetic problems of Binswanger's subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy--analysis of 19 cases]. AB - In 19 patients (14 males, 5 females) the clinical diagnosis of subcortical, arteriosclerotic encephalopathy (s.a.e.) was established on the basis of CT scanning, which showed in subcortical white matter low-attenuation areas and, often, focal ischaemic changes. The age of patients ranged from 46 to 85 years, the duration of illness from 6 months to 12 years. Four patients were normotensive (in 1 of these cases the clinical diagnosis was confirmed neuropathologically). In 2 hypertensive patients the acute development of neurological symptoms was related to considerable fall of systemic RR. On the basis of the CT picture s.a.e. may be diagnosed early, before pronounced neurological and intellectual deficits develop. PMID- 2615892 TI - [Clinical study of hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage: surgical indication and measurement of volume of hematoma]. AB - There have been a few reports available for determining surgical indications in hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage based on volume of hematoma on computerized tomography (CT). The authors then studied the clinical results of hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage, and the surgical indication based on clinical findings and volume of hematoma on CT scan was considered. Forty-five patients with hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage diagnosed by CT scan who were hospitalized to Matsue Red Cross Hospital from January 1980 up to December 1986 were studied. The 25 male and 20 female patients ranged in age from 52 to 85 years, and 16 of them were operated on. The results were as follows: 1) The Kanaya's neurological grading tended to be high in the patients with cerebellar vermis hemorrhage or a large volume of hematoma (greater than or equal to 30 ml). 2) In patients with grade I or II and a moderate volume of hematoma (15-30 ml), the patient complicated with hydrocephalus should be treated with ventricular drainage. The patients with grade III and IVa should be treated with surgical therapy (suboccipital craniectomy and evacuation of the hematoma). The patients with cerebellar vermis hemorrhage should be treated with surgical therapy. The patients with a large volume of hematoma (greater than or equal to 30 ml) should be treated with surgical therapy. The patients with grade IVb and V should not be treated actively because the prognosis is bad.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615893 TI - [Failure to preserve hearing in acoustic neuroma surgery: experiences after introduction of MRI]. AB - This report elucidates our experiences on acoustic neuroma surgery, in which auditory function was lost postoperatively, although conservation of hearing had been intended preoperatively. Five ears from four patients (two ears: unilateral, three ears from bilateral acoustic neuromas) were operated on via standard retromastoid route, with monitoring of auditory evoked potentials. Abolition of ABR occurred when surgical manipulations were performed within the internal auditory canal. Pulling tumor tissue away from the cochlea toward the brain stem has proved to be a hazardous procedure. Recognizing the condition of tumor tissue within the internal auditory canal is prerequisite for hearing preservation. For this purpose, MRI is very useful because tumor tissue within the internal auditory canal can be clearly visualized. The preoperative criteria in selecting candidates for hearing preservation operations should be more strict because most acoustic neuromas with a diameter of more than 10mm cannot be resected without causing loss of hearing, and, even in such small tumors, the cochlear nerves are infiltrated by tumor cells. Most ABR changes during operations seem to be explicable from avulsion of the cochlear nerve fibers and/or the internal auditory artery from the fundus of the internal auditory canal-the tractus spiralis foraminosus. Postoperative recordings of ABR indicated that progression of degeneration of the cochlear nerve fibers occurred after surgery. This phenomenon may explain postoperative delayed hearing loss observed clinically. PMID- 2615894 TI - [Prognostic estimation of cerebral arterio-venous difference of oxygen content (c AVDO2) on severe head injury patients]. AB - Cerebral arterio-venous difference in oxygen content (c-AVDO2) was calculated in 10 patients suffering from severe head injury with brain contusion as the chief morbid condition [consciousness on admission: under 10 on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS); 5 survived and 5 died), in order to re-evaluate the importance of c-AVDO2 as a factor of prognosis evaluation in patients with severe head injury. Indwelling catheters were placed in the femoral artery and jugular vein on the side of the brain contusion in all patients on admission, and blood samples were collected when necessary for calculation of c-AVDO2. Whenever blood samples were collected, GCS-based evaluation of consciousness and determination of auditory brainstem response (ABR) (a V-wave latency period of 5.67 + 0.40 msec. or more was considered to indicate prolongation) were performed. In 6 patients (2 survived and 4 died) who underwent monitoring of epidural pressure (EDP), this was confirmed on blood sample collection. c-AVDO2 was (1) compared between patients who survived and those who died, and studied in terms of (2) consciousness, (3) ABR and (4) EDP. RESULTS: (1) c-AVDO2 was 8.23 +/- 0.78 ml% in patients who survived and 4.94 +/- 0.71 ml% in those who died. (2) c-AVDO2 in patients with GCS values of 15-11, 10-7, and 6-3 was 7.85 +/- 1.41 ml%, 7.70 +/- 1.53 ml% and 5.09 +/- 1.27 ml%, respectively. (3) c-AVDO2 when the V-wave latency periods of ABR were less than 6.07 msec. and greater than or equal to 6.07 msec. was 7.13 +/- 1.74 ml% and 6.51 +/- 2.29 ml%, respectively, and when the latency disappeared c-AVDO2 was 3.74 +/- 0.62 ml%. (4) c-AVDO2 at EDP values of 10-40 mmHg, 41-70 mmHg and 71 mmHg or more was 6.99 +/- 1.53 ml%, 6.23 +/- 2.36 ml% and 4.15 +/- 0.35 ml%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The c-AVDO2 in the patients who died was significantly lower than that in the patients who survived. (2) All of the patients who showed a c-AVDO2 of 5 ml% or less at least once dies, suggesting that the critical point of poor absolute prognosis is 5 ml%. PMID- 2615895 TI - [Analysis of recurrences of meningiomas following neurosurgical resection]. AB - A clinical and pathological study of 124 surgically treated patients with intracranial meningiomas was carried out to evaluate factors influencing recurrence. The patients ranged in age from 8 years to 75 years. Thirty-five (28.2%) were males and 89 (71.8%) were females. Recurrences occurred in 18 patients, once in eleven, twice in six, four times in one. The period from first surgery to recurrence ranged from 5 months to 84 months (mean 29.9 months). Age, sex, site of tumor, surgical grading, and histology were selected as analytic factors. Simpson's classification was used as surgical grading. All the patients with recurrences were younger than 60 years old, and particularly in the patients who were younger than 40 years the recurrence rate was high. Mean age of the group with recurrence was 41.8 years, which was significantly younger than that of the group without recurrence (52.0 years). In the group with recurrence, ten were males and eight were females. The recurrence rate was 28.6% in males, and was 9.0% in females. Thus the recurrence rate was significantly higher for males than for females (p = 0.016). It also seemed that the period from first surgery to recurrence was earlier for males than for females. The patients with meningiomas at posterior fossa or sphenoid ridge often had recurrences, and the recurrence rate was 29.4% and 21.7%, respectively. But these recurrence rates were not significantly higher than those at other sites. On the contrary, no recurrences occurred at convexity, intraventricle, and olfactory groove.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615896 TI - [Significance of magnetic resonance imaging in diffuse axonal injury]. AB - Advantages of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to computed tomography (CT) on a diagnosis of diffuse axonal injury (DAI) were discussed. Sixteen patients diagnosed as DAI defined by the criteria of Gennarelli were studied with CT and MRI. Lesions were demonstrated as high intensity areas on MRI of T2 weighted imaging (SE 2000/111) in all of the patients. These lesions were located only in a cerebral white matter in the cases of mild DAI, whereas in the cases of severe DAI located in a basal ganglia, corpus callosum, dorsal part of the brain stem as well as in the cerebral white matter. As for the findings of CT, these parenchymal lesions were not visualized in nine cases including six cases without any pathological findings. Our series suggest that MRI is superior to CT on the diagnosis of DAI and provides some information to evaluate the severity of DAI. PMID- 2615897 TI - [Ultrastructure of capillary permeability in malignant lymphoma]. AB - The ultrastructure of the blood vessels of primary central nervous system malignant lymphoma was studied and compared with those in glial, non-glial and metastatic brain tumors. Five surgical specimens were studied by conventional ultrathin section and freeze-fracture replica techniques. Tumor vessels of various sizes were found. The luminal surfaces of the tumor vessels were irregular and the basal lamina had multiple-layer structure. The perivascular spaces were enlarged and infiltrated with tumor cells. The endothelium had marked infoldings, increased pinocytotic vesicles and fenestrations. The intercellular junctions were short but no obvious opening was seen. On the replica specimen pinocytotic vesicles were calculated on an average of 28 per microns2. The essential features of the blood vessels in primary central nervous system malignant lymphoma were the fenestrated vessels. They resembled the blood vessels found in non-glial and metastatic brain tumors, but were distinctly different from those seen in glial tumors with non-fenestrated vessels. PMID- 2615898 TI - [Detection of the occluded artery in cerebral infarction by MRI]. AB - The appearance of flowing blood can be evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Depending on the velocity and direction of the flow, flowing blood has a variable appearance in MR images. Rapidly flowing blood which runs perpendicular to the imaging plane shows no signal (high velocity signal loss). Slow laminar flow has a stronger signal to the adjacent tissue when blood vessels run perpendicular to the imaging plane (flow related enhancement), and so when blood vessels course within the imaging plane (even echo rephasing). Considering these phenomena, we attempted to evaluate the occluded arteries in cases with cerebral infarctions. The occluded arteries showed high signal intensities both on T1 and T2 weighted images in all cases. A few cases whose occluded arteries had recanalized on angiography showed no signal in both images. It was found that the occluded site of internal carotid, middle cerebral or basilar artery could be identified on MRI. On the other hand, atherosclerotic middle cerebral arteries showed double linear high intensities along the arterial walls on both images. We speculated that these high intensities represented atherosclerotic plaque, slow laminar flow or thrombus along the artery. MR imaging could depict arterial occlusion, slow flow and thrombus. PMID- 2615899 TI - [Barbiturate therapy in traumatic cerebral vascular disease: report of two cases]. AB - We report two cases of traumatic cerebral vascular disease which were treated successfully with barbiturate. The first case sustained blunt trauma to the bilateral vertebral arteries, resulting in complete occlusion of both arteries. After ligation of the injured vertebral arteries, multiple cerebral infarction appeared. Cerebral angiography revealed dissection and stenosis of the bilateral internal carotid arteries. We treated this case with barbiturate (Thiamylal) in combination with administration of heparin. The second case sustained cerebral contusion and traumatic subarachnoidal hemorrhage as a result of a motor cycle accident. This patient deteriorated and cerebral angiography showed diffuse cerebral arterial vasospasms. When this was treated with induced hypertension, he developed recurrent subarachnoid hemorrhage. In order to protect the brain from ischemia without elevating blood pressure, we employed barbiturate therapy and the patient recovered without major neurological deficit. The condition of severe head injury with cerebral ischemia is complicated. Therefore it has been hard for neurosurgeons to cure the patient with this condition. But we treated it with barbiturate successfully. Barbiturate therapy in severe head injury with cerebral ischemia may decrease the mortality in that group of patients considered difficult to treat with the usual therapeutic modalities. PMID- 2615900 TI - [Posterior fossa subdural hematoma in the newborn caused by birth injury]. AB - Among various cases of intracranial hemorrhage in the newborn caused by birth injury, posterior fossa subdural hematoma is of serious nature in many cases and often results in death after critical clinical course due to compression of the respiratory center of the medulla oblongata. We have recently experienced two cases of subdural hematoma in the posterior fossa caused by birth injury, which we successfully treated non-surgically. Herein, we report these two cases and present a sequential CT scan of each. The first case is a full-term (39 weeks gestation) male infant. Delivery was carried out spontaneously with double footling presentation. At 20 hours of age, cyanosis and convulsion occurred. CT scan was performed and revealed high density areas in the posterior fossa, quadrigeminal cistern and longitudinal cerebral fissure. Bloody CSF was discharged per lumbar puncture and glycerol was infused intravenously, but the ventricle became enlarged. At this point at 9 days of age, the infant was admitted to our hospital. While he showed poor activity on admission, hematoma was absorbed gradually and disappeared at 3 months of age by conservative treatment. Now, at 6 years and 6 months of age, the patient has no neurological deficits. The second case is a full-term (40 weeks gestation) twin female infant. Due to breech presentation, delivery was conducted per breech extraction. At three days of age, vomiting, fontanel bulging and hypotonia were observed. CT scan revealed hematoma similar to that seen in the first case, and steroid and glycerol were infused intravenously. Conservative treatment was performed in this case also, and changes shown by CT scan were almost the same as those seen in the first case. The patient has no neurological deficits at 5 years and 7 months of age. Since the introduction of CT scan, early diagnosis of a subdural hematoma in the posterior fossa has been possible. But reports of successful surgical treatment are not so frequent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615901 TI - [Histological diagnosis of brain tumors: (5). Schwannoma, Neurilemmoma]. PMID- 2615902 TI - [The role of subarachnoid periarterial acidosis and platelets aggregation in symptomatic cerebral vasospasm: an experimental study]. AB - The possible role of subarachnoid periarterial acidosis and platelets aggregation in symptomatic cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage was studied in animal experiments. Canine or feline subarachnoid space was irrigated with low pH (6.49 +/- 0.06, N = 10) physiological saline or with high pH (8.0) Hartmann solutions after subarachnoid hemorrhage was induced by cisternal autologous blood injection. Angiographical changes of the basilar artery, neurological conditions, platelet functions in blood taken from the superior sagittal sinus, and histological findings particularly those concerning intraarterial blood were examined comparatively before and after the irrigation and, in relation to different irrigation fluids. No significant differences were observed in the angiographical changes of the basilar artery either before or after irrigation. Neither did different irrigation fluids have an effect on these changes. As for the neurological conditions, however, deterioration after irrigation was more frequent and evident in the group treated with physiological saline than in the group treated with Hartmann solution. Platelet function in the blood taken from the superior sagittal sinus also tended to be more activated in the group treated with physiological saline. In animals treated with physiological saline, histopathological examination of the autopsied brain revealed marked intraluminal platelets aggregation, particularly in the basilar artery and its branches where subarachnoid clots were mostly evident. An affirmative result for the preamble was obtained in this study. PMID- 2615903 TI - [Pulmonary embolism as a complication in neurosurgical patients]. AB - The overall incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) among neurosurgical in-patients, whose ages ranged from 23 to 80, was 0.7%. Our report here is based on five cases of patients with PE. Four of these five patients were over 50 years of age. They had been admitted because of such reasons as brain tumor, spinal cord injury, intracerebral hematoma, and venous sinus thrombosis. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was seen in four but none were diagnosed before they had developed PE. Decreased level of consciousness and prolonged bed rest appeared to be common risk factors for PE. Mean duration between admission and onset of PE was 31 days. Although non specific, tachycardia, tachypnea and hypoxemia were the most common signs and symptoms. As a definitive diagnostic procedure, pulmonary angiography was performed in most of cases. One patient required surgical embolectomy and others were treated with anticoagulation or fibrinolytic agents. In order to prevent recurrent thromboembolic phenomena, ligation of the inferior vena cava was a useful mode of treatment when anticoagulation was not indicated. And this approach seemed to be valid in most neurosurgical patients. We conclude that PE and DVT were not uncommon complications among Japanese neurosurgical patients and they can be treated successfully in collaboration with a cardiovascular surgeon if the diagnosis can be made correctly. PMID- 2615904 TI - [Intra-operative monitoring with ABR during neurovascular decompression for VIIth and VIIIth cranial nerves: a warning sign for surgeons]. AB - Auditory brain stem responses (ABR) were monitored during 18 cases of neurovascular decompression (12 with hemifacial spasm, and 6 with tinnitus, vertigo and/or hearing disturbance). As criteria for warning the surgeon, we adopted such changes as disappearance or marked decrease in amplitude of wave V. ABR changes were classified into 3 types as follows. Type 1 (7 cases): prolongation of latencies without wave form changes, Type 2 (5 cases): temporary disappearance of the waves after wave II, Type 3 (6 cases): temporary loss of all waves. In all cases except in one of the 2, with technical failure, all the waves reappeared within 5 minutes after releasing the retraction and irrigating the cerebellopontine cistern with warm normal saline solution. No patient had severe post-operative hearing deficit, but type 3 patients showed hearing disturbance of statistically significant magnitude (-8.33 +/- 3.16 dB). In type 1 patients, the mean prolongation of wave V latency during operation reached 1.27 +/- 0.44 msec, but the mean hearing loss after operation was only 3.57 +/- 4.4 dB. We believe that as soon as the waves disappear, one should immediately release the retraction and irrigate cisterns with warm normal saline solution, and wait until the waves reappear. Prolongation of latencies alone does not indicate postoperative hearing disturbances, and even if the waves disappear their prompt recovery suggests that hearing will be preserved after operation. PMID- 2615905 TI - [Histopathologic changes and tumor cell kinetics after hyperthermia and/or radiation therapy in a rat glioma model: bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) labelling index]. AB - Single and combined treatment of interstitial microwave hyperthermia (HT) and radiation therapy (RT) were delivered to rat glioma models. The animal model tumors were induced by intracerebral inoculation of a small piece of G-XII glioma tissue to 6-8 week-old rats. Heating to about 44 degrees C at the surface of the inserting antenna using a 2450 MHz microwave was carried on for 30 minutes. A single dose of 800 r to the whole head was delivered by deep X-ray apparatus. In combined treatment, heating immediately preceded irradiation. Following treatment, animals were sacrificed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. BUdR was administered intraperitoneally 1 hour before sacrifice. Microscopically, in HT, tumor cells became eosinophilic and separated from each other. Some of them were necrotic. Macrophage infiltration in tumor tissue was recognized after 72 hours. BUdR labelling indices were less than 1% till 24 hours had passed, then became 25% at 48 hours, nearly equal to that of the control animals. In RT, ballooning of the tumor cells was prominent, and some of the tumors became necrotic. Lymphocyte infiltration of the tumor tissue was occasionally seen. BUdR labeling indices decreased slowly; less than 10% in 24 hours, but continued until 96 hours had passed. Combined treatment of HT and RT showed addictive effect of histological changes and suppression of tumor cell growth. PMID- 2615906 TI - [A case of pituitary adenoma presenting binasal inferior quadrants hemianopsia]. AB - Visual field defect due to pituitary adenoma ordinarily shows bitemporal hemianopsia. But we experienced a case presenting binasal inferior quadrants hemianopsia. A 60-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of headache and blurred vision. At ophthalmologic examination, the visual acuity on the right was 0.02 and on the left 0.3. Visual field showed a loss of bilateral inferior nasal quadrants. There was neither pallor nor edema of either of the optic disks. A computerized tomography (CT) scan showed an enhancing mass in the intra- and suprasellar region. But despite remarkable suprasellar expansion of the tumor, the straight view of bilateral carotid angiograms revealed no elevation of the first part of the anterior cerebral arteries (ACA). On the lateral view, the terminal portion of the precommunicating part of the left ACA showed rather marked anteroinferior displacement. 2 mm thin sliced CT scans at the suprasellar region revealed that the left internal carotid artery had been touching the lateral portion of the tumor and the ACA had been displaced anteriorly by the tumor. Two weeks after admission, transsphenoidal tumor resection was carried out. Total removal was achieved and histological examination showed that the tumor was nonfunctioning chromophobe adenoma. The postoperative course was uneventful except for transient diabetes insipidus. The patient's visual acuity rapidly improved to 0.8 on the right and 0.5 on the left two weeks after operation. Although there was still a tendency for left inferior nasal field defect, remarkable improvement was obtained subjectively and objectively. According to the findings of CT scans and cerebral angiograms, binasal hemianopsia may have been produced by the mechanism as follows.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615907 TI - [Cerebral artery occlusion due to blunt cervical trauma]. AB - Three cases are reported in which cerebral infarction developed due to blunt cervical trauma. All of these patients had external signs of cervical trauma and presented focal cerebral ischemic symptoms. Cerebral angiography demonstrated characteristic findings in each case. The first case: A 27 year-old man developed left hemiparesis four days after hitting his neck against a bed rail. Cerebral angiography showed complete occlusion of the right extracranial internal carotid artery 1.5 cm distal to its origin and emboli in distal branches of the right middle cerebral artery. He was treated conservatively. The second case: A 32 year old man developed disturbance of consciousness with motor aphasia and right hemiparesis a few hours after hitting his chest and neck against baggage hanging from a crane. Cerebral angiography showed complete occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery and no abnormalities of the left internal carotid artery. He was treated with STA-MCA anastomosis two weeks after the accident. The third case: An 84 year-old man, who failed in a suicidal hanging, was semicomatose on admission and had right hemiparesis. Computed tomography demonstrated massive cerebral infarction of the territory of both anterior and left middle cerebral arteries. Cerebral angiography showed linear shadow defect of the left extracranial internal carotid artery corresponding with the site of the ligature. He was treated conservatively. From these angiographic findings, it was thought that intimal tear, intramural hematoma, vasospasm of the internal carotid artery and emboli given might bring about cerebral infarction. In such cases of blunt cervical trauma, cerebral angiography should be undertaken as soon as possible if focal cerebral ischemic symptoms can be seen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615908 TI - [Ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus secondary to tuberculous meningitis: a case report]. AB - A case of hydrocephalus secondary to tuberculous meningitis is reported. A 6 month-old baby was admitted to our hospital with a 10-day history of high fever. Neurological examination revealed no abnormal findings other than neck stiffness. Cerebrospinal fluid findings suggested tuberculous meningitis, because of pleocytosis (608/mm3, 100% lymphocytes) and reduced sugar content (19 mg/dl). Mycobacterium tuberculosis was found in cerebrospinal fluid culture. Although anti-tuberculous therapy was administered for 2 weeks, deterioration of consciousness and papilledema appeared. CT scan demonstrated enlargement of the entire ventricular system, indicating communicating hydrocephalus. After a ventricular drainage was performed, consciousness disturbance improved, but the high fever persisted. Judging by cerebrospinal fluid findings, the meningitis seemed to be in the active stage. Therefore an Ommaya reservoir was installed instead of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt for fear of disseminating the tuberculous infection through the shunt tube. However, the hydrocephalus was not well controlled. Consequently, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed, despite the fact that the disease was still active. The fever then gradually subsided, and cerebrospinal fluid findings normalized. The patient was discharged without any neurological deficits one month after emplacement of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The antituberculous therapy has been continued, and there is no sign of infection propagated through the shunt 13 months following discharge from the hospital. The result suggests that a cerebrospinal fluid shunt can be placed for hydrocephalus even in the active stage of tuberculous meningitis under antituberculous therapy. PMID- 2615909 TI - Inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy in C57BL/KaLwRij mice. AB - Neuropathies associated with monoclonal gammopathy (MG) in humans have been extensively studied in the past few years, but experimental models have proved difficult to create. C57BL mice are prone to develop benign MG and it has been reported that some of these mice with benign IgG MG present an inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (IDN). In order to verify such findings, the serum and the sciatic nerve of the first group of 28 C57BL/KaLwRij mice were examined: none of 10 mice with normal serum showed ultrastructural abnormalities in the sciatic nerve, while lesions of IDN were present in three out of 10 mice with benign IgG MD, in two out of seven with benign IgM MG, and in a mouse with Waldenstrom-like lymphoma. The second group of animals was studied in the same way; it was composed of seven C57BL mice with transplanted multiple myeloma, and six C57BL mice with Morbus Waldenstrom-like lymphoma. In none of these animals, which were younger than those of the first group, was any lesion of IDN observed. PMID- 2615910 TI - Experimental traction injuries of ventral spinal nerve roots. A scanning electron microscopic study. AB - The aims of this experimental scanning electron microscopic study were to identify the levels at which cervical ventral nerve roots, or the rootlets by which they are attached to the spinal cord, rupture under traction and to document the resulting damage. This information would provide the basis of a rationale for repairing rootlet avulsions which may follow brachial plexus traction injuries in man and which cause severe impairment of upper limb function. Traction was applied to C4 to T1 ventral roots until rupture occurred, in 10 freshly fixed and three living anaesthetized Wistar albino rats and in one human post-mortem specimen. Rupture occurred at the rootlet-cord junction in 80% of cases. Most individual myelinated fibres broke at the central-peripheral nervous system (CNS-PNS) transitional node which, in the cervical region, lies at the bottom of an endoneurial invagination surrounding each fibre and extending deep to the cord surface. Fibre rupture at more distal levels occurred internodally, and a length of axon commonly protruded well beyond the level of sheath rupture. Some sheaths broke cleanly across but the torn surfaces of others tapered, perhaps because of rupture at Schmidt-Lanterman incisures. The cellular and connective tissue rootlet sheaths ruptured where they were continuous with the pia mater. Ruptured fixed and unfixed tissues were ultrastructurally similar. It is clear from the findings of this study that regeneration would take place entirely in a PNS environment. The endoneurial invaginations would ensure that sprouts emerging from transitional nodes would be guided distally into rootlets surgically apposed to the torn transitional zone. PMID- 2615911 TI - Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome presenting with complex partial seizures and transient ischaemic attacks due to widespread small cerebral arterial thrombosis. AB - The neuropathological findings in a young man with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome presenting with complex partial seizures and transient ischaemic attacks are described. Whilst some of his symptoms could be attributed to large vessel thrombosis, the dominant pathological process was widespread small cerebral arterial thrombosis causing extensive microinfarcts within the cerebral cortex. These findings help to explain the neurological manifestations of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. PMID- 2615912 TI - Proceedings of the seventy-eighth meeting of the British Neuropathological Society. Edinburgh, 13-14 July 1989. PMID- 2615913 TI - Pharmacological effects of indeloxazine, a new cerebral activator, on brain functions distinct from other cerebral metabolic enhancers. AB - The effects of indeloxazine hydrochloride [(+/-)-2-[(inden-7 yloxy)methyl]morpholine hydrochloride, YM-08054], a new cerebral metabolic enhancer, on learned behavior and central monoaminergic function were compared to those of other cerebral metabolic enhancers in animals. Indeloxazine enhanced passive learned behaviour in rats and ameliorated cerebral ischemia-induced learned disturbances in gerbils. Reserpine-induced hypothermia in mice, ponto genicullo-occipital (PGO) waves in reserpinized cats and caudate spindle activity in cats were reduced by the administration of indeloxazine, suggesting that the drug possesses facilitatory effects on central monoaminergic systems. In contrast, piracetam, calcium-hopantenate, idebenone and bifemelane had no significant effect on learned behavior or central monoaminergic function, with the exception of bifemelane which antagonized reserpine-induced hypothermia. These results are in contrast to the findings that all tested cerebral metabolic enhancers, including indeloxazine, prolonged the survival time of mice subjected to anoxia. The greater effect of indeloxazine to other cerebral metabolic enhancers, in facilitating learned behavior, may be attributable to its broader effects on central monoaminergic systems. PMID- 2615914 TI - Profile of phosphatidylinositol metabolism stimulated by carbachol and glutamate in primary cultures of rat cerebellar neurons. AB - The formation of inositol phosphates, after stimulation of primary cultures of cerebellar neurons of the neonatal rat, in the presence of lithium chloride, by glutamate, carbachol, norepinephrine, histamine and Mg2+-free conditions, was measured by anion exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with on line radioactivity detection. All of the above agents caused a persistent, dose dependent and calcium-sensitive preferential accumulation of inositol-4 phosphate, while the levels of inositol-1-phosphate were virtually unaffected. Agonist stimulation produced also a transient increase of a second peak which co eluted with the standard for inositol 1,4-bisphosphate. However, no significant accumulation of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol-1,3,4,5 tetrakisphosphate was detected, possibly due to the fast kinetics of the metabolism of inositol phosphate. The results indicate that receptor-stimulated metabolism of inositol phosphate, in cultures of cerebellar granule cells, is due to a preferential hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides and leads to the formation of inositol-4-phosphate through several calcium- and lithium-sensitive enzymatic steps. PMID- 2615915 TI - Tacrine or arecoline mediates reversal of anoxia- or AF64A-induced behavioural disorders in the developing rat. AB - A 25 min anoxia, or an intracerebroventricular bilateral 2 nmol dose of ethylcholine aziridinium (AF-64A), administered postnatally to male rat pups, elicited on further development of these behavioural disorders, which are partly related to central cholinergic hypofunction. These included a hyperkinetic syndrome and inferior performance in the passive avoidance test. The anoxia lesioned group but not the AF-64-A-lesioned one, showed an inferior performance in the active avoidance test. Administration of tacrine, an inhibitor of cholinesterase, or arecoline, a cholinergic agonist, in the drinking water to the nursing mothers, at an estimated daily dose of 15 and 10 mg/kg, then directly to the juvenile rats after weaning and until the age of 40 days, partly reversed the effects of anoxia or AF-64A, normalizing the level of locomotor activity and improving performance in passive avoidance, but not in active avoidance. These beneficial effects persisted long after discontinuation of administration of either drug, suggesting that stimulation of spared cholinoceptors in brain at development had prompted the recovery of cholinergic function. PMID- 2615916 TI - Effects of tizanidine, eperisone and afloqualone on feline dorsal horn neuronal responses to peripheral cutaneous noxious and innocuous stimuli. AB - The effects of eperisone and afloqualone have been compared with those of tizanidine on excitatory responses of spinal dorsal horn neurones, evoked by noxious and innocuous peripheral stimuli. Tizanidine, administered intravenously or iontophoretically, resulted in a profound, long-lasting and selective depression of the responses to noxious stimuli. In contrast, intravenous injection of eperisone produced either a rapidly reversible depression of responses to both noxious and innocuous stimuli or had no effect on these responses. Iontophoretic administration of eperisone also reduced neuronal responses to both forms of peripheral stimuli and that induced by quisqualate. This depressant action of eperisone was rapidly reversible but was often accompanied by a reduction of the amplitude of the action potentials. Afloqualone had no depressant action on any evoked response when administered iontophoretically. However, intravenous injection of this agent resulted in weak depressant effects on responses to noxious, innocuous or both types of stimuli, of a few of the neurones tested. This effect of afloqualone was not dose dependent and was mimicked by control injections of the vehicle in which it was suspended. It is suggested that the muscle relaxants, eperisone and afloqualone, in contrast to tizanidine, do not possess any direct spinal antinociceptive activity. PMID- 2615917 TI - The acute effect on levels of catecholamines and metabolites in brain, of a single dose of MPTP in 8 strains of mice. AB - The neurotoxic agent MPTP produces profound and sustained changes in the biochemistry of the brain in mice after a single dose of 20 mg/kg. Acute neurochemical changes have been examined in detail in 8 strains of mice. Coloured mice were more intoxicated than white mice when treated with MPTP: white mice were little affected behaviourally by a dose that could kill a sensitive coloured strain. Although changes in levels of dopamine were a good indication of the effect of treatment--particularly in the dopaminergic areas, the best discriminator between strains was changes in the levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline. Changes in levels of dopamine, which generally decreased in coloured mice, were not good indicators of toxicity. The changes in levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline discriminated better between strains: they were usually decreased in coloured mice but could substantially increase in white strains, particularly in certain areas of the brain. This study showed that there is a very considerable genetic component to the acute toxicity of MPTP within a single species. Even very closely related mice reacted quite differently to the effect. Also, it showed that white mice, in particular those from the commonly used BALB/c strain, are a poor model for any study of the toxicity of MPTP. PMID- 2615918 TI - Effects of 2-guanidinoethane sulfonate on glutamate uptake in primary astroglial cultures from the rat cerebral cortex. AB - The competitive taurine uptake inhibitor 2-guanidinoethane sulfonate (GES) is frequently used to deplete cerebral pools of taurine. Previous work has revealed that extracellular glutamate increases during GES administration. In view of this, accumulation of glutamate in the absence or presence of 10 or 100 microM GES was measured in primary astroglial cultures from the rat cerebral cortex. At 100 microM, GES reduced Km as well as Vmax for glutamate uptake. A similar tendency was seen at 10 microM GES, but this was not statistically significant. The data suggest that GES is an uncompetitive inhibitor of reuptake of glutamate in astrocytes, which may underlie the previously noted GES-induced elevation of extracellular glutamate in vivo. PMID- 2615919 TI - Evidence for an epileptogenic action of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6, tetrahydropyridine. AB - Based on behavioral observation alone, poorly characterized paroxysmal motor abnormalities have been reported in mice after acute MPTP administration. This study investigated electroencephalographic (EEG) and behavioral effects of acute MPTP in young and older mice. Single MPTP injections (30 mg/kg i.p.) produced limbic and/or generalized seizures in older (6 mo) and frank epileptiform interictal hippocampal spikes in younger (6-8 wks) mice. These latter showed behavioral seizures only after the 3rd drug administration. Studies of the acute effects of MPTP must take in consideration that seizures "per se" modify brain biochemical and metabolic activity and alter the permeability of the blood brain barrier, adding several confounding variables. PMID- 2615920 TI - Blockade of apomorphine-induced yawning in rats by the dopamine autoreceptor antagonist (+)-AJ 76. AB - The effects of the putative, selective dopamine autoreceptor antagonist (+)-AJ 76 on yawning, penile grooming and mouth movements induced by small doses of apomorphine in male rats were examined. Yawning induced by 0.05mg/kg apomorphine was dose dependently blocked by (+)-AJ-76, significant decreases being observed at 0.86 and 3.5mg/kg of the drug. A dose of 0.86mg/kg (+)-AJ 76 caused a two fold shift to the right of the apomorphine dose response curve for yawning. In contrast, (+)-AJ 76 had no effect on penile grooming and vacuous mouth movements induced by small doses of apomorphine. This pattern of results is similar to that observed after bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lesions of the substantia nigra which also blocked apomorphine-induced yawning but spared penile grooming and mouth movements. Previous studies have suggested that (+)-AJ 76 is a selective dopamine autoreceptor antagonist that has little or no effect on behaviour mediated by post-synaptic dopamine receptors. Therefore, these data provide further support for the hypothesis that apomorphine-induced yawning is mediated by dopamine autoreceptors. PMID- 2615921 TI - Isolation and structure of two gastrin/CCK-like neuropeptides from the American cockroach homologous to the leucosulfakinins. AB - Perisulfakinin, a peptide with sequence similarity to gastrin and cholecystokinin, was isolated from the corpora cardiaca of the American cockroach. Its sequence was determined to be Glu-Gln-Phe H-Asp-Asp-Tyr(SO3H)-Gly His-Met-Arg-Phe-amide. The peptide induced hindgut contractions in the same species at concentrations as low as 250 pM. A related non-sulfated peptide was also isolated and sequenced; it was found to be identical with non-sulfated leucosulfakinin II (pGlu-Ser-Asp-Asp-Tyr-Gly-His-Met-Arg-Phe-amide). This peptide did not stimulate hindgut contractions. The structures of the cockroach peptides of the leucosulfakinin family are thus much more conserved than the cockroach hypertrehalosemic hormones. PMID- 2615922 TI - Histidyl proline diketopiperazine (Cyclo [His-Pro]) in eating disorders. AB - The authors explored the role of Cyclo [His-Pro] (CHP) in 50 adolescents who fulfilled DSM III diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa and bulimia. CHP, a relatively new neuro modulator which has a role in inducing satiety, was assayed in serum during routine blood work. CHP levels correlated significantly with weight in restrictor (AN-R) (R = -0.449, P less than 0.05) and bulimic anorexics (AN-B) (R = +0.489, P less than 0.01). There was no significant correlation in normal-weight bulimics (NWB) (R = +0.556, P less than 0.01). It did not correlate with weight in a depressed control group. Longitudinal data on six patients showed a similar relationship between weight, purging and CHP binge/purge activity and/or weight changes of around 2 kilograms correlated with average CHP changes of 42%. Clinical material suggests changes in satiety during CHP changes consistent with a satiety disturbance model of these disorders. PMID- 2615923 TI - Radioimmunoassay to determine postprandial changes in plasma neuropeptide Y levels in awake dogs. AB - A specific, precise and sensitive double-antibody radioimmunoassay for Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has been developed. There was no appreciable cross reactivity with the structurally related peptides, peptide YY (PYY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP). The minimum detectable plasma NPY level was 3 nM. Application of radioimmunoassay to canine models revealed that portal and systemic NPY levels increased significantly following a standard meal. PMID- 2615924 TI - Differences between paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenic patients on the somatosensory P300 event-related potential. AB - Event-related potentials were recorded from schizophrenic patients (n = 30) and healthy controls (n = 30) using a somatosensory-reaction-time version of the oddball paradigm, by stimulating the right and the left median nerve. Latency, amplitude, duration and area of the P300 were measured. The patient group was subdivided into a paranoid (n = 16) and a nonparanoid (n = 14) subgroup and each was compared to controls. After stimulation of the right median nerve the nonparanoid group had a significantly prolonged P300 latency and a normal amplitude. The paranoid subgroup had a trend toward reduction of the P300 amplitude; its P300 latency was normal. After stimulation of the left median nerve, a prolongation of the P300 latency was observed in the paranoid subgroup. This subgroup had also a reduced P300 amplitude, while the nonparanoid patients had both values comparable to those of the controls. Duration and area were not significantly different between the two subgroups of patients and controls. Paranoid and nonparanoid patients showed a different behavior on reaction time parameters. No relationship was observed between P300 parameters and clinical ratings, neuroleptic dose and demographic data. The P300 parameters did not correlate with the reaction time measures. These results are discussed in terms of a disturbance of CNS inhibitory mechanisms in cognitive processes of paranoid schizophrenic patients and could be a further indication that different subtypes of schizophrenia may have different biological substrates. PMID- 2615925 TI - Event-related potentials and visual spatial attention: influence of a cholinergic drug. AB - The effects of two dosages (200 mg, 600 mg, placebo) of a cholinergic nootropic (WEB 1881 FU) were investigated in a visual spatial attention task. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were used as a physiological measure of attention as they have previously been shown to be sensitive to allocation of attention to points in space. The typical enhancement of several peaks of the visual ERP due to attention was found in the present experiment. No systematic effect of the medication was revealed, suggesting that the effects of WEB 1881 FU do not extend to early perceptual processes. PMID- 2615926 TI - Epidemiological survey of insomniac subjects in a sample of 1,761 outpatients. AB - Clinical data about insomnia and its treatment were collected in a sample of 1,761 patients who had consulted general practitioners for insomnia. In this sample, we found an incidence of 53% of patients presenting some psychiatric symptoms. We also estimated that 24% of those patients suffered from a depressive disorder, confirming previous findings of the high association of insomnia with affective disorders and other psychiatric conditions. PMID- 2615927 TI - Neuroendocrine response to clomipramine and desipramine--the evidence of partial determination by heredity and sex. AB - A single dose of clomipramine, 10 mg i.v., or desipramine, 25 mg i.m., was administered to seven healthy young sibling pairs in a randomized cross-over experiment. The response of serum growth hormone, prolactin and cortisol was measured. The main findings were (1) sex differences in the growth hormone and cortisol response to desipramine and (2) a significant genetic component of the prolactin and cortisol response to desipramine as indicated by significantly (p less than 0.05) lower within-pair than between-pair variance in the sibling pairs but not random pairs of the experimental subjects. PMID- 2615928 TI - Changes in cerebral blood flow and mental state after amphetamine challenge in schizophrenic patients. AB - Changes in regional cerebral blood flow and behavioral and physiological indices were monitored after intravenous administration of d-amphetamine sulfate and placebo in groups of patients with schizophrenia and normal volunteers. Amphetamine administration was associated with decreased anxiety, emotional withdrawal, depressed mood, blunted affect and increased excitement in the patients. Subjects who received amphetamine showed significant increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and reduction in end-tidal carbon dioxide. Post-amphetamine cerebral blood flow was decreased equally in both patients and controls. The blood flow change, however, did not show any regional variations. PMID- 2615929 TI - Analysis of individual symptoms in generalized anxiety--a pooled, multistudy, double-blind evaluation of buspirone. AB - Pooled data for 427 patients with generalized anxiety disorders were analyzed retrospectively from six double-blind trials evaluating buspirone, a nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytic, in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. After a 4- to 7-day washout period, patients were allocated at random to receive treatment over a 4-week period. Buspirone dose ranged from 10 to 60 mg. Patients were assessed on entry and at weekly intervals using the 14 symptom groups (items) of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Buspirone improved all symptom groups significantly; onset of anxiolytic activity was observed at week 1 in 3 groups of psychic symptoms of anxiety. Within 2 weeks, 8 of the 14 symptom groups were improved significantly by buspirone versus placebo, and symptoms of anxiety improved further up to the 4-week end point. Psychic symptoms of anxiety improved earlier in general than the somatic symptoms of anxiety. At the end of treatment, analyses of the HAM-A scores indicated that all of the 14 symptom groups (individual items), the total HAM-A score, and the 2 composite Psychic and Somatic Anxiety Factors were significantly improved with buspirone as compared to placebo. The beneficial effects of buspirone were not compromised by any significant side effects. PMID- 2615930 TI - Somatosensory event-related potentials and selective attention impairment in young chronic schizophrenics. AB - Somatosensory event-related potentials (SERP) were recorded in 30 chronic young schizophrenic patients and in 15 age-matched controls. Objective SERP parameters were latencies, amplitudes and the determination of areas of the cognitive components N1 and P3 by integration. Highly significantly reduced areas and prolonged latencies of the N1 component and significantly prolonged reaction times (RT) discriminate schizophrenics in psychopathological remitted state from controls. A significant correlation between decreased N1 areas and prolonged RTs (p less than 0.01), respectively high self-rating subscores 'disturbance of selective attention' (p less than 0.05) can be found only in the SERPs of the left hemisphere. Nevertheless, a reduced N1 area cannot be interpreted as an indicator of vulnerability for schizophrenia, but only for selective attention impairment. PMID- 2615931 TI - Comparison of the effects of lamotrigine and phenytoin on the EEG power spectrum and cortical and brainstem-evoked responses of normal human volunteers. AB - Phenytoin and lamotrigine (a new antiepileptic drug with an animal experimental profile resembling phenytoin) have closely similar effects on the quantitative pharmaco-electroencephalogram. These characteristics do not provide a basis for the functional classification of antiepileptic drugs nor for prediction of clinical efficacy, but they do give some insight into the probable secondary psychotropic effects which may arise with use of these drugs. Central conduction in cortical (visual) and brainstem (auditory) event-related potentials are not influenced by either drug, but peripheral nerve conduction is delayed with the use of phenytoin as reflected in increased latency wave I in the brainstem auditory-evoked response. The evidence suggests that in equivalent therapeutic dosage, lamotrigine may be less neurotoxic than phenytoin. PMID- 2615932 TI - Effects of L-tryptophan on daytime arousal. AB - A double-blind placebo-controlled study was carried out on 20 subjects to examine the early morning sedative effects of 2 g of L-tryptophan. Using brain mapping technique, 16-channel EEG recordings were topographically displayed. A distinct increase in theta amplitude, predominantly in the central region, together with an alpha reduction was observed after L-tryptophan administration, signs characterizing the EEG of drowsiness. Subjective self-rated sleepiness increased after the ingestion of L-tryptophan. Psychomotor performance, assessed by means of various psychometric tests, was not affected by this low dose of L-tryptophan. PMID- 2615933 TI - Cerebral correlates of imagining colours, faces and a map--I. SPECT of regional cerebral blood flow. AB - The distribution of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was assessed by single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) in subjects during a resting state and during imagining either colours or faces or a route on a map. Twelve out of 30 subjects reported the spontaneous occurrence of mental visual images during the resting state. In these subjects flow in both orbitofrontal regions was higher than in those subjects who had not experienced spontaneous imagery. Voluntary imagery led to an increase of regional flow indices in basal temporal regions of both hemispheres and to a rightwards shift of global hemispheric asymmetry. The local changes were distinctly more marked with faces than with any of the other two stimuli. Imagining faces was also the only condition that led to an increase of activity in the left inferior occipital region which has been suggested by previous studies as being a crucial area for visual imagery. It is concluded that the observed differences of rCBF patterns between imagery conditions are related to the amount of information conveyed by the mental image. In contrast to the results of a companion study on DC-shifts accompanying imagery there was no effect of the visual versus spatial character of the images. PMID- 2615934 TI - Impaired extra-dimensional shift performance in medicated and unmedicated Parkinson's disease: evidence for a specific attentional dysfunction. AB - Groups of patients with Parkinson's disease, either medicated, or unmedicated and early in the course, together with age- and IQ-matched control subjects were tested in two paradigms measuring different aspects of selective attention. The first set of tests compared visual discrimination learning following intra- and extra-dimensional shifts, using a "total change" design in which each shift was made in the presence of novel exemplars of the compound stimuli used as discriminanda. The second test consisted of a visual search task in which the number of alternatives was varied. The results of the first experiment showed a selective deficit in both groups of Parkinsonian subjects in their ability to perform an extra-dimensional shift. In the visual search task, the patients were less accurate, but responded with equivalent choice reaction times to those of controls. The results are discussed in terms of the nature of the attentional dysfunction that occurs in Parkinson's disease. PMID- 2615935 TI - Learning effects of piano playing on tactile recognition of sequential stimuli. AB - To examine the effect of learning experiences of piano playing on a tactile sequential recognition task, two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, pianists and control subjects were given sequential tactile stimuli and were asked to report the simulated fingers and the order. The pianists showed a left hand superiority and performed better than the control group. In the second experiment, the skilled pianists and the control subjects were given both sequential tactile stimuli and auditory stimuli (unrelated melodies) simultaneously. The sequential stimuli recognition of the skilled pianists was interfered with by the presentation of the unrelated melody, and this tendency was more prominent in their left hand, while the performance of the control subjects was not affected by the presentation of the melody. These results suggest that pianists employed a special strategy, such as transforming tactile stimuli into something like a melody to improve their performance. Based upon these results, effects of learning experiences on hemisphere function were discussed. PMID- 2615936 TI - Verbal and nonverbal auditory processing among left- and right-handed good readers and reading-disabled children. AB - Cerebral lateralization of left- and right-handed good readers and left- and right-handed reading disabled was examined with a sample of 60 children who ranged in age from 7-13 years via a dichotic selective attention task (free recall, directed left, directed right) using consonant-vowel (CV) and tonal stimuli. Several ANOVAs were conducted to evaluate gender, reader group, handedness, and stimuli effects of left- and right-ear reports across dichotic conditions. Results indicated males outperformed females across stimuli and conditions regardless of handedness and all subjects recalled more tonal stimuli than CV stimuli. More importantly, the expected REA (left hemisphere processing) was found for CV stimuli only by right-handed good readers across all three dichotic conditions. The left-handed good readers and left-handed reading disabled children were left ear (LE) dominant in free recall and in the directed left condition, but were right ear (RE) dominant in the directed right condition. Conversely, right-handed reading-disabled children produced a REA during free recall and directed right conditions, but were LE dominant in the directed left condition. In contrast, a significant LEA (right hemisphere processing) was found for tonal stimuli across all dichotic conditions for all four groups. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that attentional factors have a greater influence on auditory processing of verbal than nonverbal stimuli for various groups of children and also suggest reversed or bilateralized processing abilities for language in strongly left-handed children with sinistral relatives. PMID- 2615937 TI - Temporal integration of form as a function of subject handedness and retinal locus of presentation. AB - Two experiments are reported examining differences in perceptual processing as a function of subject handedness. Experiment 1 compared performance in the left vs right visual fields of right- vs left-handed subjects. Only right-handed subjects exhibited an interaction of visual field with spatial frequency (as mediated by interflash interval), suggesting that left-handers are not differentially lateralized for high vs low spatial frequency processing. Experiment 2 examined foveal performance in left-handers vs right-handers with or without familial sinistrality. Subjects with personal or familial sinistrality exhibited superior performance when the processing of low frequencies was required, suggesting that sinistrality may confer an advantage in the processing of lower spatial frequencies. PMID- 2615938 TI - Guidance of visual reaching with the aid of a TV monitor: the effects of monitor position and of left/right and up/down reversals of the image in relation to age. AB - Children, aged 2-9 years, were seated alongside a wall containing an opening through which they could reach with their preferred hand. Targets ("ink blots"), which could not be felt, were attached to the other (rear) side of the wall, around the opening. The child could see directly neither the target nor its hand beyond the front side of the wall; but both were visible on a TV monitor. The image on the screen of the monitor originated from a camera viewing the rear (target) side of the wall at the level of the central opening. The monitor screen was either (a) parallel to the wall, but rotated 180 degrees with respect to the axis of the camera, i.e. facing the camera; or (b) at 90 degrees to the wall; or (c) in a position similar to (a) but visible in a mirror attached to the front side of the wall and therefore in effect "aligned" with the axis of the camera. The image the child saw was either (1) electronically unswitched, i.e. when the target was towards the east on the wall it was to the west on the monitor in monitor position (a), or to the north in position (b), or to the "east" in position (c); or (2) left/right reversed relative to (1); or (3) up/down reversed relative to (1); or (4) both left/right and up/down reversed. The dependent variable was the time taken for the child to place the palm of the hand over the target (time was measured to 0.1 sec on video-recorder with a superimposed time display). Position of the monitor, comparing conditions (a)-(c), gave only minor, perhaps age-related, effects. Left/right reversals were easier than up/down reversals under monitor positions (a) and (b), but not under (c); but both reversals could be achieved by age 3 or older; hardest was condition (4). However, with monitor positions (a) and (b) children, at all ages we tested, found condition (1) ("east gives west/north") easier than (2) ("east gives east/south"), whereas for adults these conditions were equally easy, or they found (2) easier than (1); but with monitor position (c) condition (1), now "east gives east", was easiest. Moreover, the claim that chimpanzees but not monkeys can achieve accurate reaching under the conditions varied in this study seems premature: the chimpanzees may have made use of strategies based on uncontrolled cues. PMID- 2615939 TI - Right-hand superiority for throwing but not for intercepting. AB - In humans, the organization of movements performed by both upper limbs, relies significantly on a left hemisphere "praxis" system that also subsumes speech function. Right hand preference may also be an expression of this left hemisphere dependence, arising from the preferential connections of the right hand to the left hemisphere. Consequently, a manual task that maximizes the spatial complexity of a target (presumably engaging right hemisphere mechanisms), while concurrently minimizing motor-programming demands, was expected to yield a diminished disparity in preference and performance between the hands. Left and right hand accuracy were measured independently for two motor tasks in 48 normal right-handed university students. In the first task, darts were thrown overhand at a stationary target. For the second task, subjects were asked to use the open hand to block (but not catch) projectiles launched at varying trajectories and velocities. ANOVA yielded a significant Hand x Task interaction, in which the left hand did not differ from the right hand in intercepting ability, but was significantly less accurate than the right hand for throwing. A sex difference favouring males was found for both tasks; this difference was not reducible to differences in physique or athleticism. PMID- 2615940 TI - Double disconnection effects resulting from infiltrating tumors. AB - Patients with left hemisphere lesions deep in parietal or parietal-occipital regions close to the lateral ventricles have been reported to have impaired performance on left ear speech stimuli in dichotic listening tests. This loss has been termed "paradoxical" because it presents at the ear ipsilateral to the lesion. Two patients with infiltrating tumors which involved the corpus callosum demonstrated that effect, but also demonstrated right ear extinction on a complex pitch discrimination test that required right hemisphere processing. Since the side at which the impairment will be demonstrated depends upon the type of test used, the term "paradoxical extinction" does not clearly describe this phenomena. It is suggested that the so-called paradoxical loss is better referred to as callosal extinction. PMID- 2615941 TI - Functional regulation of activity of rat hippocampus neurons transplanted into rabbit septum. PMID- 2615942 TI - Long-term posttetanic changes in neuronal spike responses of the cat visual cortex. PMID- 2615943 TI - Indices of free-radical oxidation of lipids and antiradical protection of the brain--neurochemical correlates of development of the general adaptation syndrome. PMID- 2615944 TI - Change in temporal structure of neuronal pulse activity of rabbit visual cortex during stimulation of the reticular formation. PMID- 2615945 TI - Change in sensitivity to dopamine in amygdalar neurons of free-moving rats at initiation of interspecies aggression. PMID- 2615946 TI - Mechanisms of memory disturbance during stages of memory acquisition and fixation. AB - Using the conditioned response of passive avoidance in experiments on rats, we investigated the character of amnesias caused by scopolamine and ketamine. By varying the time intervals between training and testing and the time of injection of pharmacological agents, we show that blockade of M-cholinoreactive systems of the brain during injection of scopolamine has no effect upon memory acquisition but does disrupt the process of memory fixation, i.e., the transfer to long-term memory. At the same time, ketamine, a blocker of the ionic channels of the nicotinic receptor, disturbs the process of memory acquisition. Memory recall (reproduction) is impaired under the influence of both agents, but is impaired to a greater degree by ketamine. Piracetam, believed to be a universal anti-amnesic agent, attenuates the disturbance of fixation caused by scopolamine only; it does not attenuate ketamine amnesia. PMID- 2615947 TI - Arterial hypertension in dogs with experimental informational pathology of their higher nervous activity. AB - It is shown that stable arterial hypertension can be formed in dogs by the development of experimental pathology of higher nervous activity (behavior) as a result of prolonged brain work during exposure to a combination of three unfavorable factors: a large volume of information to be processed and assimilated, shortage of time allowed for the work, and a high level of motivation of behavior. Three types of development of arterial hypertension were found, correlating with changes in behavior; self-regulating behavior reflecting defensive activity of the brain is particularly interesting. A high degree of self-regulating behavior was found to increase the resistance of the animal to arterial hypertension but weakening of self-regulation of behavior facilitates its onset and development. PMID- 2615948 TI - Hemodynamics in emotional responses and in emotional stress. AB - In the article, we present experimental data indicating that negative emotional states evoked by electrical stimulation of the ventromedial hypothalamus or by behavioral conflicts are accompanied by a predominance of vascular responses of a pressor character possessing the property of summation. In contrast, positive emotional states during a self-stimulation reaction or when animals attain behavioral results satisfying their major biological demands are accompanied by a predominance of pressor-depressor vascular reactions. In individual animals under conditions of experimental emotional stress in conflicting situations of a prolonged character, pronounced disturbances of cardiac-vascular functions occur. Predominantly pressor vascular reactions arise in response to forced stimulation of the ventromedial hypothalamus in such cases. It is shown that changes in vascular tonus plays a leading role in disturbances of AP regulation during stress of immobilization. The most frequent cause of death in animals under such conditions is a progressive fall of AP due to an abrupt decrease in the total peripheral resistance. The resistance of the cardiac-vascular functions to emotional stress is determined to a significant degree by genetic mechanisms. PMID- 2615949 TI - Psychoendocrine interrelationships in patients in a state of emotional stress during cerebral obesity. PMID- 2615950 TI - Ultrastructural organization of the surface of the cingulate cortex of rat cerebrum. PMID- 2615951 TI - Ontogenetic development of chick cerebellar glomeruli. PMID- 2615952 TI - Ultrastructural changes in receptor terminals on prolonged action by local anesthetics. AB - We have studied ultrastructural changes in the terminal plates of the bushy receptors in the frog urinary bladder after exposure for two hours to 0.05% novocaine solution and for one hour to 0.05 dicaine and trimecaine solution. During these periods a steady blockage of the receptor impulse activity develops. The local anesthetics essentially change the ultramicroscopical structure of the terminals. The reaction to the anesthetics investigated shows some common features and certain peculiarities. For each effect three types of change can be determined characterized by various degrees of rearrangement in the neurolemma, neuroplasma, and organelles. Each type of change is assumed to reflect a certain phase of the plate reactive response. Specific features of the reaction to novocaine include slight changes in mitochondria, accumulation of glycogen granules, and deformation and decrease in numbers of vesicles. Under the action of dicaine the mitochondria do not change and the number of vesicles increases without change in their shape, while under the action of trimecaine marked changes can be observed in mitochondria. Changes observed in the terminal plates are regarded as adaptive. The action of the local anesthetics on the receptors is not limited to the blockage of the sodium channels of the afferent fibers, while the biochemical processes occurring in the cytosol of the terminals also change. Their morphological manifestations reflect the ultrastructural changes observed. PMID- 2615953 TI - Ultrastructure of neurons of the sensorimotor cortex in progeny of rats receiving alcohol during pregnancy. AB - We have studied the dynamics of ultrastructural changes in the neurons of the sensorimotor cortex on days 21, 30, and 60 of life in offspring of rats given 20% alcohol (2 g/kg) during pregnancy. Moderate antenatal alcoholization leads to certain disturbances in the ultrastructure of the cortical neurons and their dendrites. This is manifested as the presence of signs of retardation in the maturation of nervous cell populations as dystrophic changes in the neurons and their dendrites, and as display of the repair character with their own dynamics in the postnatal period of ontogenesis. The first two categories of the ultrastructural changes in the cortical neurons become more manifest at early stages of postnatal development of the offspring, and the repair processes at the age of two months. Despite the presence of the repair shifts, the dystrophic changes in the neurons of a hypoxic nature are present up to the period of sexual maturation. This shows that the antenatal alcoholic intoxication in the offspring is manifested in postnatal ontogenesis for a long period. PMID- 2615954 TI - Results of transplanting sections of the midbrain of human embryos into the brain of mature rats. PMID- 2615955 TI - The cholinergic system of the forebrain modulates activity of GABA-ergic interneurons responsible for presynaptic regulation in the neocortex of kittens. PMID- 2615956 TI - Responses to electrical stimulation of the recipient's brain in rat somatosensory cortical neurons transplanted into the area of vibrissa representation in the neocortex. PMID- 2615957 TI - Long-term posttetanic changes in neuronal spike responses of the cat sensomotor cortex. PMID- 2615958 TI - Alimentary conditioned reflexes in dogs on activation and blockage of the cholinoreactive amygdaloid system. PMID- 2615959 TI - Cortico-hypothalamic interneuronal correlation during learning in cats. PMID- 2615960 TI - Functional conjugation of cerebral cortex neurons and signal meaning of the stimulus (based on hypothesis of informational switching-over of conditioned activity). PMID- 2615961 TI - Optimization of reinforcing current parameters in motor-defensive conditioning in rats. PMID- 2615962 TI - State of synapses of the cortex of cerebral hemispheres on gamma-irradiation. AB - In adult rats with developing neurological disorders we detected destructive changes in most of the synapses of the brain sensorimotor cortex 1.6-4.3 h after a single dose of gamma-irradiation (200 Gy). All functionally important parts on the axonal and dendritic sides of the synapses had undergone changes: mitochondria, synaptic vesicles, pre- and postsynaptic membranes, synaptic complexes, and subsynaptic consolidations, axonal and dendritic plasma, and their inclusions. These changes possibly cause disconnection of the neurons and provide a structural basis for neurological deficiencies following a high substantial ionizing radiation. PMID- 2615963 TI - Morphological diagnosis of vascular and senile dementia (the importance of cerebral congophilic angiopathy). PMID- 2615964 TI - Cytoarchitectonics of some areas of the human cerebral cortex in Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia. PMID- 2615965 TI - Angioarchitectonics of the cerebral cortex and the blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer's disease. PMID- 2615966 TI - Efferent connections of various parts of the orbitofrontal cortex with the thalamic structures of the cat. PMID- 2615967 TI - Neuronal organization of the pyramidal cortex of the cat brain. PMID- 2615968 TI - Regeneration of the rat sciatic nerve after experimental injury (morphological and morphometric analysis). PMID- 2615969 TI - Ultrastructural reorganizations in the rat cerebral cortex after injection of ascorbic acid into the ventricular fluid. AB - A brief increase in the ascorbic acid concentration in the rat cerebral cortex after intraventricular bilateral injection of 20 microliters of a 0.1% or 1% ascorbic acid solution and also intracisternal injection of 20 microliters of a 0.5% solution results in a prolonged (not less than 21 days) ultrastructural reorganization in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the cortical neurons: the amount of lysosomes, polysomes, vesicles of the Golgi complex, and subsurface cisterns increases, this demonstrating an increasing RNA and protein synthesis, catabolic processes, and neuronal-glial interaction. Changes in the ultrastructure of the synaptic terminals, such as disintegrating mitochondria, formation of myelin-like bodies, and, in addition, after interstitial injection, protrusions into the adjacent dendrite, demonstrate that synapses are one of the sites where excess ascorbic acid affects the CNS. Over a long period, 3 and 6 months after injection, the changes mentioned are not observed but in the glial processes one can observe vacuoles containing degenerating elements. PMID- 2615970 TI - Emergency department quality assurance: survey. PMID- 2615971 TI - [Surgical treatment of fracture-luxations between C3 and C7 vertebrae]. AB - Between January 1983 and December 1987, 121 patients who sustained a cervical spine injury were treated at the Neurosurgical Department of Ospedali Riuniti Bergamo. In 55 patients the segment between C3 and C7 was involved. Different techniques and results in the management of these lesions are discussed. PMID- 2615972 TI - [Traumatic cervical myelopathies. Effect of the operative timing and systemic complications on the functional outcome]. AB - Results concerning 42 (38 males-2 females) cervical vertebro-medullary traumas are described in which early surgery was undertaken. 24.3% were operated within 24 hrs from trauma; 45% between 24 hrs and 7 days; 26% more than 7 days after: 69.3% during first week. Six patients died (5 of grade 1 in accordance with Sunnibrook; 1 of grade 2) within 30 days after trauma (5 during first week after surgery). These patients had more frequent systemic complications (56% respiratory and cardio-vascular insufficiency). Total mortality during one year was 22.7%. The neurological and rehabilitation observations support the opinion that early operated patients limitedly improved. PMID- 2615973 TI - [An unusual case of atlanto-axial traumatic dislocation in a child]. AB - The authors refer about a rare case of traumatic atlo-axial dislocation observed three months after the accident. The traumatic etiology was caused by an episode of violence within child's family. The characteristic of the lesion, the months intervened since the traumatic accident, the involved health of the patient and the importance of neurological damage imposed the surgical corrective treatment of the lesion. The authors report about the care of the patient, particularly about the anesthesiological techniques and intensive care during the surgical treatment. PMID- 2615974 TI - [Pre-, intra- and postoperative somatosensory evoked potentials in cervical vertebral and spinal cord injuries]. AB - Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs) to upper limb nerves stimulation, are able to detect cervical medullary dysfunction in case of cervical spine trauma. We have monitored cervical spinal cord functionality in 13 subjects with severe cervical spine trauma. In most of subjects, a prolonged P11onset-P13onset interval was found. Postoperatory a reduced P11onset-P13onset interval well correlates with clinical improving of medullary function. Intraoperatory, a transitory impairment of spinal cord function was found during medullary distraction and vertebral body fusion. PMID- 2615975 TI - [Somatosensory evoked potentials in the evaluation and follow-up of patients with cervical vertebral and spinal cord injuries]. AB - Somatosensory evoked potentials have been serially recorded in 21 patients with cervical spinal cord injury. Each patient received the SEP test and a full neurological examination within 1 day after admission, after surgery, and 3-6 weeks following admission. Further SEP test and clinical evaluation were carried out 3-6 months after injury. Neurological status was graded according to the Sunnybrook Scale. In all patients we evaluated latency and amplitude of SEPs obtained from both median and tibial nerve stimulation. Immediately following injury SEPs were absent in 6 patients, abnormal in 10, and normal in 5 patients. No surgery was carried out in patients with normal SEPs where myelography and CT scan could not demonstrate surgical lesions. Four patients had some distal motor improvement but SEPs still absent, one had traceable SEPs following surgery but no motor improvement. Surgery was performed in all 10 patients with abnormal SEPs: 7 patients improved following surgery. In two patients SEPs showed an early postoperative recovery with subsequent late clinical improvement. The SEP technique is well suited to the non invasive study of spinal cord condition and serial recording in patients with spinal cord injury. Although SEPs are of limited clinical value when absent immediately following trauma, the presence of well preserved median and tibial SEP in the postinjury period indicates the best prognosis for motor and sensory functions. PMID- 2615976 TI - [Moderated normovolemic hemodilution in surgery of the cervical rachis]. AB - During eighteen orthopedic surgery operation on the cervical spine (C4-D1) we could verify that the moderate hemodilution combined with technique of anaesthesia providing for the controlled hypotension, is the only methodic with renal saving of homologous blood and absence of transfusion reaction. PMID- 2615977 TI - [Transportation in a helicopter ambulance and resuscitation of patients with cervical spinal injuries. Our regional experience]. AB - Clinical results concerning forty-three patients suffering from cervical column trauma, among whom, eighteen with myelic pathology and twenty five amyelic treated with conservative and not surgical method in intensive neuro traumatological therapy are examined. We note that the substantial difference in mortality and healing of the lesion depends on whether the patient has been transported by an helicopter-ambulance and so with a time "trauma-bony segments alignment" much shorter or not longer than 100 minute or if the patient has arrived ad the department after a transportation by ambulance or makeshift transportation and so with a time "trauma-segments alignment" longer than 240 minutes. PMID- 2615978 TI - [Cervical vertebral and spinal cord injury in intensive therapy]. AB - 24 of 184 patients with vertebro-medullary trauma admitted to the Neurosurgery Clinic of Milan University in the years 1976-1988 have been examined. A common feature of these was a myelic lesion (transverse, complete or incomplete) at cervical level in which respiratory problems had made a period of intensive care indispensable. The purpose of the research was to assess the reliability of certain parameters in establishing patient prognosis. The following parameters were compared: clinical, objective and instrumental examination for a strictly neurological evaluation and for an evaluation of general condition, quantification of the same clinical examination through two scales, the Sunnybrook Cord Injury Scale (SCIS) for the neurological factor and the APACHE II for general condition, the type of treatment, with the same basic medical resuscitation treatment. The result of the surgery or non-surgery was considered a posteriori. It is concluded that, in the case of the patients considered (high myelic lesion) the prognosis must be split into two different moments that the patient goes through in succession: the acute phase and the stabilisation phase. In the first phase, in which the vital functions are involved, the SCIS and APACHE II scales (with their sum) have great prognostic value; in the second phase, certain values, already considered on the APACHE II scale, are comparable in all patients and the prognostic problem is based on the other scale (SCIS) and on the adjuvant neurophysiological techniques. The very distinction between the two different phases that the patient traverses appears important also for the purposes of surgical indication.2 PMID- 2615979 TI - [5th Italian-French meeting on neuroanesthesia and resuscitation. Turin, 1-3 June 1988. 1. Cervical spinal cord injuries: anesthesia and resuscitation. Proceedings]. PMID- 2615980 TI - [Tracheal cannulation technics in cervical vertebral and spinal cord injuries. A comparative study]. AB - Cervical vertebral dislocations and fractures require the complete immobility of the neck until an intervention of stabilization of the spinal cord, by surgery or external means, is performed. Endotracheal intubation, which might represent a harmful operation, can become difficult when the stabilization of the spinal cord has been obtained by external means. Moreover, the anatomical features of the patients can well cause further difficulties in intubation. Three different methods for endotracheal intubation have been assessed in cervical cord injured patients (fracture and/or dislocation from C2 to C6 level) by evaluating invasivity, mean intubation time, and success rate. Each method presents advantages with regard to the grading of visualization of the larynx, but also limitations due to the time required to perform the intubation and the appearance of complications. It seems therefore useful to continue the search for the ideal method for tracheal intubation, which should be absolutely atraumatic, fast, and completely successful. PMID- 2615981 TI - Transplantation of monoaminergic neurons in the rat spinal cord after complete transection. PMID- 2615982 TI - [Early stabilization in severe cervical vertebral and spinal cord injuries]. AB - In the cervical vertebral-myelic trauma a high incidence of bronchopulmonary, metabolic, thromboembolic complications and bedsores is present. The authors, in agreement with the most recent literature (Tator, 1987), affirm that adoption of the precocious stabilization, allowing an equally precocious mobilization, considerably reduces the above-said complications. Thirty patients with vertebral myelic lesions needing operation for stabilization have been followed. Twenty-one of these, presented irreversible myelic damages and nine cases had partially or completely reversible damages. Only in five cases severe bronchopulmonary affections and bedsores occurred. Thrombo-embolic complications did not occur. The authors conclude that the precocious mobilization allowed by the stabilization realized in acute state, permits a drastic decrease in the complications typical of this kind of affections. PMID- 2615983 TI - [Reduction and early surgical stabilization of fractures and fracture-luxations in cervical vertebral and spinal cord injuries]. AB - A series of 21 patients with cervical spinal trauma, 12 patients with complete spinal lesion and 9 with incomplete spinal lesion, is reported. All these patients have been treated with surgical reduction and stabilization at average 9 hours after trauma. The authors point out pre- and intraoperative anesthesiological problems connected with early surgical operation and discuss the postoperative complications. At the follow-up of average 2 years the results were: among the 12 patients with complete spinal lesion, 2 died, 2 improved until the deambulation, 7 didn't change and 1 had no follow-up; among the 9 patients with incomplete spinal lesion, 7 improved until the deambulation, 1 didn't change and 1 worsened. Independently of the neurological recovery, the early surgical stabilization enables to reduce remarkably the incidence of the complications, to start precociously a rehabilitation, to improve the patient's expectation of life. PMID- 2615984 TI - [5th Italian-French meeting on neuroanesthesia and resuscitation. Turin, 1-3 June 1988. 2. Pediatric neuroanesthesia and resuscitation. Proceedings]. PMID- 2615985 TI - [Anesthesia for cerebral computerized tomography in pediatrics]. AB - This report carries the results of more than 2000 anaesthesias for the sedation of the children who have to undergo a cerebral C.T. According to the Authors the most quick-acting and, at the same time, the most efficient anaesthesia results to be the inhaling one with Halothane. PMID- 2615986 TI - [Anesthesia-reanimation for surgery of cranio-facial dysmorphism. Apropos of 23 cases of remodeling of the forehead]. PMID- 2615987 TI - [Autotransfusion technic in surgery of craniostenoses in children]. AB - The extensive blood loss during the surgical correction of craniosynostosis in infancy needs usually homologous transfusion. The Authors report a program of preoperative and intraoperative hemodilution and their experience in six infants, the very first in pediatric neurosurgery. Prevention of homologous blood transfusion achieved in 4 out 6 cases can be considered a success that could be further improved introducing minor changes in our protocol. PMID- 2615988 TI - [A trial of preventing infection risk during treatment of hydrocephalus in children using cerebro-spinal fluid shunt]. PMID- 2615989 TI - [Cranial injury in children]. AB - The Authors report personal experience in management of 23 children after severe head injury. All patients were submitted to TC scanning and their performance status was evaluated according to Glasgow Coma Scale (G.C.S.). All children were treated with hyperventilation, steroids, mannitol and, when necessary, Penthobarbital (TPS). Authors present the outcome at a distance of 6 months from trauma's beginning. PMID- 2615990 TI - [Diffuse traumatic cerebral injuries in children]. AB - A consecutive series of 41 patients aged less than 16 and admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery of the University of Milan in the period 1977-1978 following serious cranioencephalic trauma with Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) less than or equal to 7, duration of coma longer than 24 h and CT picture of diffuse lesion has been examined. These patients account for 5% of the paediatric cranial traumas observed in the same period and 66% of those in a state of coma. The CT picture made it possible to split patients into 3 groups: a) those without visible cerebral lesions and with subarachnoid and cisternal spaces present; b) those with small hyperdense lesions due to intraparenchymal or median/paramedian subcortical shearing lesions; c) those with marked constriction or absence of the 3rd ventricle and of the perimesencephalic cisterns. The first two pictures (a, b) were considered to be the expression of diffuse axonal damage, the last (c) of diffuse cerebral swelling. Intracranial pressure was monitored in about 50% of patients. The overall outcome of the series was favourable in more than 68% of cases with total mortality of 26.8%. Analysis of individual tomographic categories, however, showed that whereas the group of patients with diffuse axonal lesion presented nil mortality, those with diffuse cerebral swelling had 52% mortality owing to the onset of refractory intracranial hypertension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2615991 TI - [Anesthesiologic considerations in 83 cases of surgery of the posterior cranial fossa in children]. AB - Our study includes a group of 83 cases operated for pathologies of posterior fossa in the years from 1967 to 1985. The patients were examined according to age, site, pathology and size of the lesions, duration of the operation, amount of removal and use of new technologies. The evaluation of all these data has given us the possibility to study the effects of drugs and anesthesiological techniques used in the different years. We have mainly considered the influence of postoperative complications on the quality of the postoperative outcome. The use of new technologies and of the anesthetic drugs recently introduced, even if it has widened the operative indications to patients with serious pathologies and in critical general conditions, has shown a considerable reduction of intraoperative and postoperative complications of the midline lesions, shortening the postoperative hospitalization and improving the outcome. PMID- 2615992 TI - [External ventricular drainage in surgery of the posterior fossa in children (30 cases)]. PMID- 2615993 TI - [Evaluation of 2 modalities of use of propofol in cerebral angiography]. AB - Fifty eight adult patients suffering from different intracranial lesions and scheduled for cerebral angiography were given propofol. In the first group (38 patients) brief periods of anaesthesia were induced and reinduced by means of 1.5 mg/kg of propofol iv and sometimes extended with boluses of 25-50 mg of this anesthetic. The patients were premedicated with 0.5 mg atropine im 30-40 min before the induction. Fentanyl, droperidol and diazepam in various combinations and doses were injected, im together with the atropine and iv 1-2 min before the induction, to obtain long-lasting sedations. In the second group (20 patients) the induction of the anaesthesia started 20-35 min after 0.5 mg of atropine im and 1 min after 0.1 mg of fentanyl iv. The induction was based on a bolus of 2.5 mg/kg of propofol and it was followed by suxamethonium, tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation with N2O 70% in O2. An adequate depth of anaesthesia was maintained with supplemental doses of 50 mg of propofol, frequently associated with 25 mg of suxamethonium. Both methods proved to be reliable and safe. Nevertheless, the second method provided a better stability as far as a number of physiologic variables is concerned. PMID- 2615994 TI - [Cerebral pathology and hyponatremia. Cerebral damage with central pontine myelinolysis after rapid correction]. AB - Hyponatremia is a state of relatively common observation among neurosurgical patients and it may determine or precipitate a condition of brain swelling in the head-injured. The quick reversal to normal values of serum sodium concentration may cause relevant neurological disturbances: they are related to peculiar neuropathological changes, the most representative of which is central pontine myelonilysis. Two cases (one in pediatric age) of head injured patients with brain damage resulting from rapid correction of a SIADH related hyponatremia are presented. PMID- 2615995 TI - [Monitoring of intracranial pressure]. AB - A very small fiberoptic catheter initially developed as an intravascular pressure sensor was incorporated into a system to be used as an intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor. 13 patients with intracranial hypertension have been studied with this probe. The clinical experience confirmed the safety, accuracy and reliability of the device. The monitor has functioned very well, and there have been no complications except for two breakages of optic fiber as a result of nursing manoeuvres. This new device can be placed into the ventricular, subdural and epidural space. Camino System appears to offer advantages over other monitors presently in use. PMID- 2615996 TI - [Sources of stress and burn-out in anesthesiologists. Reality and perspectives]. AB - A sample of 128 anaesthesists was given the Maslach Burn-out Inventory (MBI). The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the stress level and/or burn-out in a setting which has not yet been explored. Findings indicate significant differences between groups concerning only the intensity responses. The burn-out scale used appears suitable to evaluate some modalities of response to stress, even in health workers, and stimulating to further research in order to obtain some suggestions about prevention and treatment in hospital organization. PMID- 2615997 TI - [Products of lipid peroxidation in the blood and respiratory secretions in 3 patients with acute respiratory diseases]. AB - Oxygen free radicals have been suggested to be involved in ARDS pathogenesis. Their production may be caused by leukocyte activation and by administration of high oxygen concentrations. Radicals can oxidize lipids with production of dienes. In order to gather an indirect proof of radical production, dienes were repeatedly assessed in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from three patients affected by ARDS. Plasma levels resulted higher than normal ones in all the patients initially; concentrations in BAL samples were lower than in plasma. Successively dienes decreased progressively in the patient who survived, whereas an increase was observed in BAL samples from the other patients, who died. The last trend was accompanied by a smaller increase in plasma levels. PMID- 2615998 TI - [Malignant hyperthermia. A case with minimal manifestations]. AB - A case of malignant hyperthermia is reported. The clinical symptoms arised after anesthesia and the post-operative enzymatic alterations prompted the Authors to send the patient to the University of Padua where muscle byopsy and caffeine contracture test were performed. The initial diagnosis was confirmed. PMID- 2615999 TI - [Non-traumatic colic perforation in free peritoneum. Apropos of 61 cases]. AB - Sixty-one non-traumatic perforations in free peritoneum are reported. The principal aetiology is diverticulitis (35 cases) followed by cancer (22 cases). 18 derivations were carried out, 34 colectomies without anastomosis, 5 ideal colectomies and 4 diverticulectomies. Total mortality was 19.7-14% for diverticulitis, 22.2% for perforations at the cancer site, 50% from diastasic perforations. Stress is laid on the need to treat colic perforation by colectomy without anastomosis, confining derivation openeum. Sixty-one cases. PMID- 2616000 TI - [Iterative pulmonary metastasis. Considerations on 28 surgically treated cases]. AB - Among 94 cases of pulmonary metastases treated by the exeresis of one or more nodules, 28 cases produced metastasis located in the lung only. Radical metastasectomy was performed on 250. Analysis of survival, also assessed in relation to every prognostic factor reveals the efficacy of surgical therapy even in iterative metastasectomy. PMID- 2616001 TI - [Perforated diverticulitis of the colon. Problems of diagnosis and surgical tactics]. AB - Perforated diverticulitis of the large bowel is a frequent observation in surgical practice. There is, however, no standard attitude to the procedures to be adopted: the only fixed point is the abandonment of straightforward colostomy and drainage. A series of 16 cases of perforated diverticulitis of the large bowel operated on in emergency and treated with various procedures, i.e. 8 Hartmann resections, 6 Paul-Mikulicz operations, 2 ideal colectomies, 2 colostomies and drainage. The observations made permit a number of considerations: 1) "ideal colectomy" is undoubtedly the best intervention providing the patient presents an early NPT and a temporary colostomy has been made to protect the anastomosis; 2) the rupture of a single diverticulum suggests the Paul-Mikulicz operation and it can be treated at a later stage by straightforward closure; 3) rupture of a diverticulum within the framework of extended diverticular involvement suggests Hartmann's resection; 4) colostomy and drainage should be abolished for its poor results and can be kept for patients in very serious condition. PMID- 2616002 TI - [Carotid lesion associated with contralateral occlusion: diagnostic and therapeutic approach]. AB - The treatment of atheromatous carotid lesions combined with occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery remains a problem and one that is much debated. With this in mind the present paper reports personal experience of 25 cases, 16 treated surgically and 9 medically. The criteria for the selection of either type of treatment on the basis of the clinical situations, angiographic findings and Doppler ultrasound studies of the carotid plaque, are analysed. The surgical technique and the methods used in monitoring and protecting the brain during the operation are reported as are the short and long-term results. Finally, it is claimed that an "aggressive" approach is appropriate in such cases, thought there are situations in which careful monitoring of the lesion may be the first logical reaction to the treatment of these patients. PMID- 2616003 TI - [Popliteal artery entrapment]. AB - The Authors present a case of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome due to an anomalous insertion of medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. The patient, a 47 year-old man, with calf claudication, was examined with Doppler velocimetry and angiography. He was successfully treated by surgical intervention. A medial approach to the popliteal artery was utilized and the section of anomalous head of gastrocnemius muscle and popliteal thromboendarterectomy were performed. The postoperative course was uncomplicated. PMID- 2616004 TI - [Bronchogenic cysts of the mediastinum]. AB - The case of a bronchial cyst found on the mediastinal carina whose early symptoms resulted from compression of the airways is reported. The clinical, pathogenic and diagnostic aspects of these often congenital cystic malformations of the mediastinum are discussed. PMID- 2616005 TI - [Blood transfusions in hemorrhage of the upper digestive tract]. AB - On the basis of data published, at least three quarters of patients with acute haemorrhage of the upper digestive tract (AHUDT) undergo blood transfusions. An epidemiologic survey carried out over a period of more than two years, showed that only 322 subjects out of 587 (54.8%) with AHUDT received blood transfusions, the mean need being 3.6 +/- 6.1 units of packed erythrocytes. Our series included a relevant percentage (29%) of hepatocirrhotics, whose transfusion need was, as expected, markedly higher in comparison with the others (71% transfused versus 47.9%, and a mean of 5.3 units versus 2.9). Persistent bleeding, rebleeding rate, operation and mortality rate in our study were, respectively, 4.1%, 28.4%, 10.2% and 15.5%. Mortality among subjects non transfused was 3.4%. The adoption of restrictive criteria made it possible to avoid unnecessary blood transfusions. Patients who were hemodynamically stable with haemoglobin greater than 8 g/dl were not transfused. Our experience has shown that about fifty per cent of patients with AHUDT can be preserved from the risks connected with blood transfusions. PMID- 2616006 TI - [Our experience in tailoring definitive terminal colostomies and in the follow-up of such patients]. AB - Between January 1983 and July 31, 1988 at the 1st Division of General Surgery of Cuneo S. Croce Hospital, 57 patients (33 m, 24 f) were subjected to abdomino perineal amputation for rectal A.D.K. A definitive colostomy was fashioned for all patients. Neostoma complications were encountered in 33% of cases. 91% of patients completed the rehabilitative programme and 40% saw satisfactory results as regards the regularisation of the alvus and return to social life. PMID- 2616007 TI - [Colorectal neoplasms in young patients]. AB - The prognostic factors regarding colon-rectal cancers in the under-40s are examined. A personal series of 15 cases shows that the incidence of tumour recurrence is higher and the disease-free interval shorter than in patients not selected for age and that 5-year survival is much less. These results permit the hypothesis of greater aggressiveness in colorectal cancers in the young, something that justifies the severer prognosis by comparison with the elderly population. PMID- 2616008 TI - [Adenosquamous carcinoma of the gallbladder]. AB - Between 1976 and 1987, 49 patients with cancer of the gallbladder were treated. In three specimens, histologic characteristics of adenosquamous carcinoma were detected, namely blasts deriving from both squamous and glandular epithelium. These carcinomas, relatively rare, are usually found in the gastrointestinal tract, the thyroid, the breast and the female genital apparatus. PMID- 2616009 TI - [The use of DuoDerm in the surgical wound after surgical treatment of pilonidal fistulae using the open method]. AB - The results of a study on the use of DuoDerm Hydroactive sterile occlusive dressing on the operative wound after simple excision of pilonidal fistula are reported. Two groups of 20 patients were studied: in the first group the wound was treated with traditional medications, in the second group with DuoDerm. Comparing the results obtained from these two groups, the Authors conclude underlining the therapeutic efficacy of the dressing which stimulates granulation and accelerates re-epithelialization with complete healing in 6 weeks on average compared with the 10 needed with traditional medications. PMID- 2616010 TI - [Cloacogenic carcinoma of the anus. Description of a clinical case]. AB - A clinical case of cloacogenic anal carcinoma is reported. These neoplasms, deriving from embryonal residuals at different levels of the ano-rectal junction, have a better prognosis than squamous carcinomas; the surgical alternative to abdomino-perineal resection is a simple local exeresis for small tumours that do not invade the muscular layer, with a good radical result as reported by the literature. PMID- 2616011 TI - [A case of mesenteric panniculitis, resulting in short intestine syndrome after massive surgical resection of the ileum]. AB - A case of mesenteric panniculitis occurring with recurrent intestinal occlusion is reported. To resolve the serious occlusive condition, a massive intestinal resection had to be carried out, leaving the patient with a short intestine syndrome. PMID- 2616012 TI - [Extracranial aneurysm of the internal carotid artery]. AB - The Authors present a case of extracranial internal carotid aneurysm of atherosclerotic nature. They review the most common pathogenetic factors of this uncommon disease and they focus attention on its natural history. The neurological complications in untreated patients are very high (50-70%). The treatment should be carried out with a revascularization technique after removal of the aneurysm; leaving ligature for difficult situations or to memories of the past. PMID- 2616013 TI - [Recent experience in: saving the inferior mesenteric artery during anterior resection of the rectum]. PMID- 2616014 TI - Complete rectal prolapse is not a disorder that occurs frequently. PMID- 2616015 TI - Pelvic floor prolapses. Nijmegen, 1988. Proceedings. PMID- 2616016 TI - Towards a selection of the most appropriate procedure in the treatment of complete rectal prolapse. PMID- 2616017 TI - Treatment of complete rectal prolapse with foreign material. AB - The results of treatment of complete rectal prolapse with Teflon mesh repair are described in 64 patients. Adequate fixation by posterior rectopexy was reached in all patients. In 23 per cent of the patients postoperative constipation was noticed that could adequately be managed with laxatives in most instances. After a mean follow-up of 30 months, none of the patients had complete recurrences. Four patients had new complaints of prolapse. These complaints were two times based on haemorrhoids, two other patients had a small mucosal prolapse. Modified Teflon mesh repair is recommended as a safe method to manage rectal prolapse with a high rate of success. PMID- 2616018 TI - A comparison between Marlex and resection rectopexy. AB - The role of sphincter recovery, and postoperative constipation in the recovery of continence after both anterior and posterior Marlex rectopexy (APR) and resection and rectopexy (RR) has been investigated. Neither bowel frequency or straining at stool, nor incomplete emptying is significantly altered in either group although emptying is improved overall. Upper anal canal electrosensitivity is reduced postoperatively (APR 18 mA preoperatively vs. 13 postoperatively [n.s.], RR 15 vs. 13) as is the volume for appreciation of rectal filling (APR 77.5 ml preoperatively vs. 50 postoperatively, RR 55 ml vs 32.5). CONCLUSION: Continence postoperatively does not directly depend on sphincter recovery or postoperative constipation. Improved anorectal sensation may be an important factor in postoperative improvement. PMID- 2616019 TI - Electromyography of the pelvic floor: indications and technique. PMID- 2616020 TI - Prediction of sexual behaviour in a group of young Norwegian adults. AB - The purpose of the present study was to identify predictors of sexual promiscuity and use of condoms. The empirical data stem from a postal survey of a representative sample of persons aged 19-24 in a medium-sized Norwegian town (n = 565). Four selected predictors explained 28.1% and 17.8% of the variance in promiscuity among men and women, respectively. The strongest predictors of sexual promiscuity of men were "la dolce vita" (i.e. alcohol consumption and visits to discoteque/cinema) and marital status. For women the strongest predictors of sexual promiscuity were marital status and age at first intercourse. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS had no significant effect upon either female nor male promiscuity. Six predictors, including promiscuity and knowledge of HIV/AIDS, did not explain a substantial proportion of the variance of condom use neither among men nor women. Age at first intercourse was the only significant predictor upon use of condoms for both men and women. PMID- 2616021 TI - Topographic relationships of ipsi- and contralateral visual inputs to the rostral tectum opticum in the salamander Plethodon jordani indicate the presence of a horopter. AB - Topographies of ipsilateral and contralateral retinal inputs to the optic tectum were studied by means of electrophysiological multi-unit recordings from the superficial layers. It was found that the nasotemporal coordinate of the visual field is represented along a rostrocaudal axis on the contralateral tectal map and along a caudorostral axis on the ipsilateral map. Electrical stimulation of one tectal hemisphere and recording of the response in the other hemisphere revealed that the ipsilateral map is most probably established by an intertectal pathway. In one tectal hemisphere, inputs from the ipsilateral eye match those from the contralateral eye if stimuli are located at a certain distance at arbitrary horizontal angles within the binocular field. This distance varied from 11.8 to 29.5 mm between the 5 individuals examined. PMID- 2616022 TI - Synaptic efficacy in the entorhinal-dentate pathway and stress ulcers in rats. AB - High-frequency electrical stimulation in the entorhinal-dentate pathway of male Wistar rats was found to increase the amplitudes of the population spikes recorded from granule cells located in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation. This increase in synaptic efficacy attenuated the gastric ulceration produced by cold restraint. It was suggested that this limbic system structure modulates the ability to cope with environmental demands. PMID- 2616023 TI - Prenatal neurogenesis in the telencephalon of the precocial mouse Acomys cahirinus. AB - [3H]thymidine autoradiography was employed to examine the times of formation of the major neuronal classes in the forebrain of the precocial mouse Acomys cahirinus. Dams received 3 thymidine injections over a 24 h period on either embryonic Day 14, 18, 20, 22, 29 or 36. Age-related changes in the distribution and number of heavily labeled cells were noted. Acomys exhibited later onset and more protracted periods of cell generation than the phylogenetically related, altricial laboratory rat or mouse, indicating considerable differences in patterns of early growth between the species. Understanding the factors responsible for these differences could lend important insights into evolutionary mechanisms involved in the process of speciation. PMID- 2616024 TI - Electrical stimulation of the fastigial nucleus increases total cerebral blood flow in the monkey. AB - Internal and external carotid blood flows were monitored continuously in the barbiturate-anesthetized monkey with appropriately-sized electromagnetic flow probes. Electrical stimulation of the fastigial nucleus increased blood flow in both the internal and external carotid circulations in a frequency-dependent manner. This response was entirely intracerebral and independent of infra-bulbar mechanisms since it was present following high cervical spinal cord section. These data re-affirm the presence of the fastigial nucleus cerebral vasodilator response and add the observations that the response is present in the primate and markedly frequency-dependent. PMID- 2616025 TI - Neuronal activity of identified posterior hypothalamic neurons projecting to the brainstem peribrachial area of the cat. AB - Following horseradish peroxidase injections in the brainstem peribrachial (PB) area, massive retrograde labeling was found in the posterior hypothalamic region. Single-unit recordings posterior hypothalamic neurons with antidromically identified projections to the PB area revealed that these neurons have higher firing rates in waking than in slow-wave sleep and dissimilar discharge patterns as compared with intralaminar thalamic neurons. The results are discussed in the context of reciprocal hypothalamo-brainstem circuits. PMID- 2616026 TI - Cholecystokinin modulates voltage dependent K+ currents in cultured rat hippocampal neurones. AB - Much interest has been focussed recently on neuroactive peptides originally found in the peripheral nervous system, but now, increasingly, being shown to be present in considerable amounts in the mammalian CNS. One of these peptides, cholecystokinin (CCK), is present in large amounts in higher brain areas. Immunoreactivity to CCK has been demonstrated in the mammalian hippocampus and dentate gyrus, localised in nerve terminals, and increasingly this peptide is being suggested as having a role as a transmitter in the CNS. Generally, CCK appears to produce depolarisations of neurones: e.g. mesenteric ganglion cells, and hippocampal neurones [5], although the mechanism by which it does so remains unclear, there being reports of either a decrease in input resistance, an increase, or both. PMID- 2616027 TI - Na+/H+ exchange in glial cells of Necturus optic nerve. AB - Single and double-barreled pH-sensitive electrodes were used to study intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in glial cells of Necturus optic nerve in the nominal absence of HCO3-/CO2. After the cells were acidified by the addition and withdrawal of NH4+, the pHi recovered toward the original steady-state pHi. The recovery from acidification was Na+-dependent and inhibited by 1 mM amiloride. These results suggest the existence in intact vertebrate glial cells of a Na+/H+ exchanger which functions in acid extrusion. PMID- 2616028 TI - Capsaicin sensitization and desensitization on the tongue produced by brief exposures to a low concentration. AB - The intensity of sensations of burning and stinging produced by repeated exposures to capsaicin (at a nominal concentration of 3 ppm) was measured on a localized area of the tongue as a function of both the number of exposures and the time between them. It was discovered in the initial experiment that stimulation at the rate of 1/min (for up to 25 min) resulted in a monotonic increase in the intensity of burning sensations in a manner consistent with the phenomenon of sensitization. However, the insertion of a 15-min delay in stimulation resulted in a reduction in the intensity of the sensations produced by further stimulation, i.e., desensitization occurred. Desensitization was statistically significant even after exposure to as few as 5 stimuli prior to the delay. A subsequent experiment established that the minimum delay necessary to produce desensitization was between 2.5 and 5 min. Hence, paradoxically, the sensory response to capsaicin on the tongue increased as stimulation continued, then decreased after stimulation had ceased. PMID- 2616029 TI - Are there morphological changes in presynaptic terminals of kindled rats? AB - Excitatory synapses were studied in the hippocampal dentate gyrus ipsilateral to the stimulated entorhinal cortex in fully kindled rats 2 weeks after the last (3rd) stage 5 seizure. No change was observed in the absolute number of synaptic vesicles. On the other hand, marked redistribution of the vesicles in the synaptic apparatus was found, with a shift to a strategic position in the vicinity of the synaptic cleft. This redistribution evidently makes it possible to increase the supply of neurotransmitter needed for hyperfunction of the synaptic apparatus in kindling. PMID- 2616030 TI - Retinal dopamine sensitivity to MPP+ toxicity: electrophysiological and biochemical evaluation. AB - This study concerns the effect of intravitreal injection of 1-methyl-4 phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) on the electroretinograms (ERG) and on the levels of retinal dopamine (DA) in rabbits. The right eye was injected intravitreously with MPP+ while the other received only the vehicle and served as control. The administration of 7, 40, 70 or 700 micrograms MPP+ resulted in a dose-related decrease of the amplitude of the a and b-waves as well as the oscillatory potentials (OPs) of the ERG, down to extinction. In contrast, the retinal DA content was decreased only with the 700 micrograms MPP+ dose. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated abnormalities in the retinal circulation of all MPP+ treated eyes. These observations indicate that MPP+ causes lesions to the retinal vessels at doses non-toxic to the retinal dopaminergic neurons. These data suggest that intravitreal injection of MPP+ cannot be used to study the physiological role of retinal DA. PMID- 2616031 TI - Haloperidol suppresses light-induced spinule formation and biphasic responses of horizontal cells in fish (roach) retina. AB - In retinae of lower vertebrates, negative feed-back interactions between horizontal cells (second-order neurones), and cone photoreceptors lead to generation of spectrally multi-phasic light-evoked responses (S-potentials) in horizontal cells. Spinules (finger-like extensions of horizontal cell dendrites) have been suggested to mediate these interactions in retinae of teleost fish. We have studied whether prevention of light-dependent spinule formation would indeed affect an S-potential component (the red-sensitive depolarization in H2 horizontal cells), known to depend on such negative feed-back. Haloperidol was used as a dopamine antagonist to suppress light-induced formation of spinules in retinae of the cyprinid fish, the roach. In normal (untreated) retinae, biphasic S-potentials were strongly depolarizing and horizontal cell dendrites possessed abundant spinules. However, following application of haloperidol to the vitreous prior to light adaptation, spinule formation was suppressed, and concomitantly, red-sensitive depolarizing S-potentials remained significantly under-developed. The results are consistent, therefore, with the idea that spinules mediate the negative feed-back interaction between horizontal cells and cones. PMID- 2616032 TI - Reduced GABA uptake sites in the temporal lobe in schizophrenia. AB - The binding of [3H]nipecotic acid, a ligand for labelling GABA uptake sites in brain, was measured in left and right frontal cortex, polar temporal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala from control and schizophrenic postmortem brains. In schizophrenic brains, single concentration [3H]nipecotic acid binding was reduced bilaterally in amygdala and hippocampus and on the left side only in polar temporal cortex. These data suggest that GABA neurones are involved in the cerebral atrophy of schizophrenia and, in agreement with other studies, that this process is most pronounced in left temporal cortex. PMID- 2616033 TI - Histamine synthesis in rat hypothalamus is not acutely regulated via histidine decarboxylase. AB - There is considerable support for histamine acting as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Since the synthesis of many biogenic amine neurotransmitters is highly regulated on a short-term basis, we investigated whether a similar regulation exists for histamine synthesis. Previous studies have indicated that histidine transport into nerve terminals is not a regulatory step in histamine synthesis. In this study we examined histidine decarboxylase activity as a possible regulatory point. Using a variety of depolarization methods and hypothalamic and striatal tissue slices and/or synaptosomes, we found no alterations in histidine decarboxylase activity. Based on these and previous studies we conclude that histamine synthesis in the hypothalamus, and perhaps throughout the CNS, does not have mechanisms for rapid short-term regulation. These data support the idea that histamine acts as a neuromodulator and does not play a critical role in acute regulation of CNS function at least in some brain regions. PMID- 2616034 TI - Carotid body amine levels in goats exposed to hypoxia or hypercapnia. AB - The carotid body (CB) contains large amounts of several monoamines. There is considerable evidence that carotid body (CB) chemoreceptor function may be regulated by one or several of these monoamines. In order to test whether conditions stimulating the CB might change the CB content of these monoamines, we measured the norepinephrine, dopamine, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and 5 hydroxytryptamine content of carotid bodies collected from goats exposed to 4 h of either normoxic-normocapnic, hypoxic-normocapnic, or normoxic-hypercapnic gas mixtures. We found that there were no consistent changes in the levels of these amines associated with exposure to the test gases. These findings would not support the hypothesis that changes in these amine levels in the CB are responsible for the time-dependent changes in carotid chemoreceptor activity in goats exposed to 4 h of hypoxia. PMID- 2616035 TI - The influence of the estrous cycle on the activity of striatal neurons recorded from freely moving rats. AB - Recordings from striatal neurons in conscious rats at various stages of the estrous cycle revealed differences in the activity of the neurons. Average firing rate was higher in diestrus than in animals in estrus or proestrus. The increase did not seem to depend on the motor activity of the animals nor was it present in ovariectomized rats. Since application of estrogen to ovariectomized rats did not change the firing rate of the neurons, we conclude that differences during the cycle in conscious rats are not mediated by an action of estrogen unlike those seen in anesthetized rats. Differing electrode sampling bias in the two situations, or an action of anesthetic in revealing the estrogen effect may explain the differences. PMID- 2616036 TI - Induction of the ganglioside marker A2B5 on cultured cerebellar neural cells by growth factors. AB - The surface ganglioside marker A2B5 was originally detected on neurons, but has subsequently been shown to be expressed on a wide range of macroglial and non neural cells. This marker has been used in vitro to categorize subpopulations of neural cells within the central nervous system, as well as defining developmental pathways of macroglia. These categorizations are based on the assumption that this marker cannot easily be modulated. In this study of cerebellar cultures we demonstrate that A2B5 can be induced on approximately 16% of A2B5 non-expressing cells by the growth factors: basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF); acidic fibroblast growth factor (a-FGF); and, to a lesser degree, epidermal growth factor (EGF). PMID- 2616037 TI - Acetyl-L-carnitine enhances acetylcholine release in the striatum and hippocampus of awake freely moving rats. AB - The effect of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) on the spontaneous release of acetylcholine (ACh) in the striatum and hippocampus of freely moving rats was investigated using brain microdialysis coupled with HPLC-electrochemical detection. Systemic administration of ALC, in a dose-dependent manner, stimulated ACh release in both areas, while the D-enantiomer was substantially ineffective. The effect of ALC was strongly Ca2+ dependent and tetrodotoxin (TTX) sensitive. These features of an exocytotic and impulse flow-dependent mechanism suggest that the increase in ACh release is the result of ALC activation of a physiological mechanism in cholinergic neurons. PMID- 2616038 TI - Tetanus toxin: inhibitory action in chromaffin cells is initiated by specified types of gangliosides and promoted in low ionic strength solution. AB - Adrenal medullary chromaffin cells preloaded with [3H]noradrenaline release the hormone by exocytosis upon stimulation with carbachol. This exocytosis is not influenced by tetanus toxin (Tetx) which can block the release of transmitters from nerve endings. Preincubation of chromaffin cells with gangliosides followed by toxin exposure in low ionic strength solution results in a decrease of stimulated catecholamine release. The inhibition of exocytosis is most evident when cells are pretreated with the ganglioside GD lb. Cells treated with GTlb are 10 times less sensitive, those treated with GDla and GMl even 30 times less sensitive to Tetx. Thus GDlb appears to be the principal carrier for Tetx in chromaffin cells whereas the other gangliosides only play a minor role. PMID- 2616039 TI - Post-mortem stability of membrane-associated sialidase activity in brain. AB - The post-mortem changes in membrane-associated sialidase (N-acetylneuraminosyl glycohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.18) were examined in rat brain obtained and stored in a manner which paralleled neuropathological handling of human brains. When whole brains were held at 4 degrees C in covered containers for varying periods of time (0.67 h), sialidase activity toward endogenous membrane substrate was elevated. This elevated activity was maximal at 8 h of storage and decreased thereafter. The apparent decrease in enzyme activation from 8 to 67 h of storage was not due to a reduction of activity, but was the result of depletion of endogenous membrane substrate, since activity toward exogenous ganglioside remained elevated. The changes were due to whole brain storage at 4 degrees C, and not a result of being stored at -80 degrees C. The post-mortem activation of sialidase was not due to the expression of a new form of the enzyme, since it displayed characteristics similar to those reported previously: (a) membrane gangliosides being the preferred native substrate, and (b) ganglioside GM1 and lactosylceramide being the major hydrolytic products. The results underscore the importance of post-mortem storage conditions when analyzing complex carbohydrates of brain. PMID- 2616040 TI - [3H]acetylcholine release and the change in cytosolic free calcium level induced by high K+ and ouabain in rat brain synaptosomes. AB - High K+ (50 mM) increased both [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) release and cytosolic free calcium level ([Ca2+]i) in rat brain synaptosomes in the presence of extracellular Ca2+. Ouabain (5 x 10(-8) to 5 x 10(-4) M) also caused a dose dependent increase in [3H]ACh release, but not in [Ca2+]i, in the absence of Ca2+. The effects of high K+ and ouabain on [3H]ACh and/or [Ca2+]i, were inhibited by the intracellular Ca2+ antagonist TMB-8 (10(-4) M). These results suggest that unlike high K+, ouabain increases transmitter release from nerve endings through a mechanism which is independent of [Ca2+]i, but sensitive to TMB 8. PMID- 2616041 TI - Tetrahydroaminoacridine inhibits human and rat brain monoamine oxidase. AB - The inhibitory effects of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-aminoacridine (THA) on monoamine oxidase (MAO; EC 1.4.3.4) enzyme activities in human hippocampal and rat striatal homogenates have been studied. The activities of MAO-A and MAO-B were estimated radiochemically, in-vitro, in human hippocampus and rat striatum in the presence of various concentrations of THA with [2-14C]hydroxytryptamine binoxalate (100 microM) and beta-[ethyl-14C]phenylethylamine hydrochloride (20 microM) as substrates for the respective enzyme form. THA was found to inhibit both MAO-A and MAO-B activities reversibly and competitively, with inhibition constants (Ki) of 12.5 microM and greater than 500 microM respectively, of the rat striatal enzymes. From this it can be extrapolated that at therapeutic tissue concentrations of THA (10(-8) to 10(-6) M), more than 20% of the MAO-A activity should be inhibited. Thus it is possible that inhibition of MAO may be involved in the therapeutic action of THA in Alzheimer's disease. PMID- 2616042 TI - Inactivation of presynaptic 5-HT autoreceptors by lithium in rat hippocampus. AB - The effect of lithium ion on the electrically stimulated 5-[3H]hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release from the rat hippocampal slices preloaded with [3H]5-HT was studied. Electrically stimulated [3H]5-HT release decreased when the slices were exposed to 5-HT in a concentration-dependent manner. Lithium (2.5 mM) did not affect [3H]5-HT release when added alone to the superfusion medium. However, the inhibitory effect of 5-HT (1 microM) on [3H]5-HT release was abolished by lithium. The results suggest that lithium may inhibit the regulation of 5-HT release via presynaptic 5-HT autoreceptors in rat hippocampus. PMID- 2616043 TI - Isatin and tribulin concentrations are increased in rabbit brain but not liver following pentylenetetrazole administration. AB - Isatin has recently been identified in rat tissues and normal human urine where it constitutes the major part of the endogenous monoamine oxidase inhibitor, tribulin. In this study, we have measured both isatin (by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) and tribulin (inhibition of a standard rat liver monoamine oxidase preparation) in extracts of rabbit brains and livers after intravenous administration of the anxiogenic, proconvulsant agent pentylenetetrazole. There were increased levels of both isatin and tribulin in rabbit brains, but not in livers, after pentylenetetrazole, compared with saline treated controls. This finding supports the hypothesis that isatin is a component of tribulin activity and may have a role in anxiety or epilepsy. PMID- 2616044 TI - Stress reduces in vivo inhibition of monoamine oxidase by phenelzine in rat brain. AB - The level of inhibition of rat whole brain monoamine oxidase activity produced by the irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine has been studied with or without concurrent cold restraint stress. We have found that phenelzine caused significantly less enzyme inhibition when given during a period of stress than during a control period. Thus, stress can reduce the in vivo potency of MAO inhibitors. This would be compatible with an increased production of the reversible, endogenous monoamine oxidase inhibitor, tribulin, competing for the active site of the enzyme. PMID- 2616045 TI - Autoradiographic evidence of [3H]neurotensin binding changes in discrete regions of brain in the rat model of persistent spasmodic dyskinesia induced by iminodipropionitrile. AB - Chronic injection of iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) to rats causes a persistent set of abnormalities which includes hyperlocomotion, hyperexcitability, and dyskinetic movements of the neck. These behavioral changes are very similar to those observed after the acute administration of the dopamine (DA) agonist, amphetamine, in rodents. Because of the anatomical and functional evidence that neurotensin (NT) can modulate DA neurotransmission, the present receptor autoradiographic study investigated the binding of [3H]NT in the brains of IDPN treated rats. There were significant decreases in binding in the frontal and cingulate cortices, the rhinal sulcus, the dorsolateral aspect of the caudate putamen, and in the ventral tegmental area. These results provide the first evidence for the possible participation of the NT system in the manifestations of the IDPN-induced syndrome. PMID- 2616046 TI - Do event-related potentials to infrequent decrements in duration of auditory stimuli demonstrate a memory trace in man? AB - Sequences of identical acoustic stimuli were presented to normal subjects reading a book while event-related brain potentials (ERP) elicited by these stimuli were recorded. Occasional irrelevant decreases and increases in stimulus duration elicited an ERP component called the mismatch negativity (MMN). This component was larger over the right hemisphere irrespective of the ear stimulated. These data implicate memory representations which develop automatically and represent the physical features of the repetitive stimulus accurately. Further, when an input does not match with such a trace the MMN is generated. The memory traces involved appear to be those of the acoustic sensory memory, the 'echoic' memory. PMID- 2616047 TI - Hypothalamic innervation of the pituitary in the catfish, Clarias batrachus (L.): a retrograde horseradish peroxidase study. AB - Intrahypophysial administration of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) resulted in extensive labelling of the cells of nucleus preopticus and nucleus lateralis tuberis. Besides, isolated retrogradely labelled neurons were observed in the nucleus preopticus periventricularis in the preoptic area, nucleus of the horizontal commissure, nucleus hypothalamicus ventralis in the rostral tuberal area, and nucleus arcuatus hypothalamicus in the caudal tuberal area. A few labelled cells were also observed in the mamillary region. PMID- 2616048 TI - Retino-petal neurons in the diencephalon of juvenile Lobotes surinamensis (teleostei). AB - Diencephalic retino-petal neurons in juvenile specimens of the teleost Lobotes surinamensis are not segregated into subpopulations that form discrete nuclei. A continuous band of such cells extends from the rostral to the caudal diencephalon. It includes some locations previously described as retino-petal nuclei in other teleosts. The vast majority of diencephalic retino-petal cells only projects to the contralateral eye in Lobotes. PMID- 2616049 TI - Development of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-containing neurons in organotypic slice cultures from rat visual cortex. AB - Using immunohistochemistry we have been studying the postnatal maturation of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-positive neurons in organotypic slice cultures from rat visual cortex. The development in vitro is compared with the occurrence of VIP-containing cells in vivo, where they are first observed around postnatal day 5. A further increase in number and morphological maturation occurs within the following 3 weeks. In cultures prepared from 1- or 2-day-old rats, i.e. before VIP is expressed in vivo, VIP-containing neurons appear after about 5 days and gradually increase in number over the next 2 weeks. Thus the time course of postnatal expression of VIP in vitro and the morphology of VIP-immunoreactive neurons in culture closely matches the situation in vivo. These observations suggest that the maturation of VIP-containing neurons occurs independently of cortical afferents and that the intrinsic connectivity and activity is sufficient for their postnatal maturation. Therefore organotypic slice cultures should be a suitable system to study mechanisms of neurochemical maturation in the cortex. PMID- 2616050 TI - Hypotonic diuresis following oropharyngeal stimulation with water in humans. AB - The role of oropharyngeal mechanisms in body water regulation was studied in 12 human males by measuring urine output and osmolality before and after drinking a very small volume of distilled water (0.15 ml/kg b.w.t.). Hypotonic diuresis was resulted only in the subjects (n = 6) who drank only sufficient water to keep their oropharynx moist continually over a 20 min period but not in those who (n = 6) drank the same volume of water within several seconds. Sham verbal instructions on drinking induced no changes in subjects examined. These results suggest that oropharyngeal afferents alone, and neither gastric afferents nor psychosomatic effects, may account for hypotonic diuresis following water intake in man. PMID- 2616051 TI - Anoxic changes in dentate granule cells. AB - In most of the granule cells recorded, by current clamp and single-electrode voltage-clamp (SEVC), only small depolarizations (or inward currents) and minor conductance increases were observed during brief periods of anoxia (2-3 min). Thus, unlike pyramidal cells, granule cell bodies show little sign of K channel activation by anoxia. Post-anoxic hyperpolarizations were also minimal. Moreover, diazoxide (an activator of ATP-sensitive K conductance (GK(ATP]) had no consistent hyperpolarizing action. The depressant effect of diazoxide on anoxic glutamate release from mossy fibres is therefore likely to be mediated by GK(ATP) channels situated on granule cell axons or terminals rather than on the cell bodies. PMID- 2616052 TI - Effect of nucleus raphe magnus stimulation on recurrent inhibition of the monosynaptic reflex in the cat. AB - Experiments were performed on 8 cats anesthetized with urethan-chloralose. The effects of nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) conditioning stimulation on recurrent inhibition of posterior biceps semitendinosus nerve (PBSt) monosynaptic reflex elicited by electric stimulation of a part of L7 ventral root were investigated in the cat. It was found that (1) the PBSt monosynaptic reflex was facilitated by NRM conditioning stimulation at 30, 50 and 80 ms conditioning-test stimulus intervals, but that (2) the inhibited monosynaptic reflex by recurrent inhibition was further inhibited by NRM conditioning stimulation at the same conditioning test stimulus intervals, and that (3) the activity of Renshaw cells as recorded by glass microelectrode was enhanced by NRM conditioning stimulation. These facts indicated that recurrent inhibition pathways are enhanced by NRM conditioning stimulation. PMID- 2616053 TI - No minor issue. PMID- 2616055 TI - To care or not care--questions! questions! PMID- 2616054 TI - The discourse of nursing. A case of silencing. PMID- 2616056 TI - On healing, wholeness, and the haelan effect. PMID- 2616057 TI - The ending place. PMID- 2616058 TI - Story in nursing practice. PMID- 2616059 TI - Nitrile-induced behavioral abnormalities in mice. AB - A single oral dose of crotononitrile or 2-pentenenitrile induced behavioral abnormalities such as circling, hyperactivity and head twitching. Crotononitrile induced the abnormalities in both olive oil- and CCl4 pretreated mice, whereas 2 pentenenitrile induced the abnormalities only in CCl4-pretreated mice. Seven related compounds induced no behavioral abnormality. The head twitching by crotononitrile and 2-pentenenitrile was either reduced by treatment with serotonin and dopamine antagonists, or enhanced by a serotonin releaser, suggesting that both the serotonin and dopamine systems are involved in the behavioral abnormalities induced by these two nitriles. PMID- 2616060 TI - Reversible toroidal compaction of DNA by aluminum. AB - Electron microscopy has been used to characterize the products of the reactions of aluminum with DNA under three different conditions, one of which, pH 5 and Al (III)/DNA(P) ratio of 0.4, has been previously shown to produce reversible interstrand crosslinking in double-stranded DNA molecules. Under this condition, aluminum produced macromolecular aggregates of DNA upon heating, with a distinctive ultrastructure reversible to double-stranded DNA after removal of the aluminum. These structures were toroidal in configuration and exhibited mean widths of 4.9 +/- 1.8 nm and were 18.6 +/- .4 nm in diameter with a toroidal internal diameter of 7.4 +/- 4.7 nm. Previous results have shown that these structures contain Al(III) - crosslinked DNA, the present data suggests that this intermolecular crosslinking is associated with the production of compacted structures. PMID- 2616061 TI - Dose-dependent bimodal effect of low-level lead exposure on the developing hippocampal region of the rat: a volumetric study. AB - The hippocampal region is known to accumulate experimentally applied and environmentally occurring lead and to be implicated in lead-induced behavioral deficits. With the intention of investigating morphological changes resulting from the lower range of exposures that produce behavioral alterations in laboratory animals, the volumes of hippocampal components were determined in groups of rats exposed from postnatal days 0-21 to different concentrations of lead through the maternal water supply (initially 109 ppm, subsequently replicated with 109, 218, 436 and 872 ppm). Significant effects were found in the mossy fiber zone, the granule cell layer and the commissural-associational zone of the dentate molecular layer of the group exposed to 109 ppm lead and the pyramidal cell layer of regio inferior (CA3) of Ammon's horn in the group exposed to 218 ppm lead. These results provide evidence that lead primarily affects newly formed neuronal components. In contrast to the results of previous studies, which used larger exposures to lead, the components affected in the group exposed to 109 ppm increased in volume. In addition, no significant effects were observed in the groups exposed to 436 and 872 ppm. Based on these findings and additional evidence from the literature, it is concluded that lead has a dose dependent bimodal influence on developing hippocampal components. While the volumetric changes related to lead were of the same magnitude and direction in the initial and replication studies, the absolute volumes of the affected hippocampal components were different. The differences in "baseline" values in the two studies are more likely related to differences in prenatal conditions. PMID- 2616062 TI - Effect of chronic exposure to hexachlorophene on rat brain cell specific marker enzymes. AB - The neurotoxicity associated with chronic exposure to hexachlorophene (HCP) was evaluated by measuring the activity of seven cell specific marker enzymes in brain and by comparing these measurements to morphological changes analyzed by light microscopy. Animals were divided into two groups, the experimental group received HCP at a daily dose of 20 mg/kg p.o. for 53 consecutive days whereas the control group received an equivalent amount of the vehicle only. HCP produced no change in the rate of gain in body weight nor did it produce a statistically significant change in brain weight. Furthermore, no overt abnormal neurological symptoms were observed at this level of exposure to HCP. The white matter throughout the brain was extensively vacuolated in the HCP-treated rats, imparting a spongiform structure which was absent in the white matter of the control animal brains. The data obtained reveal that chronic HCP treatment produce little change in any of the neuronal marker enzymes with the exception of a significant decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the striatum. Of the nonneuronal enzymes assayed, a significant increase in non-neuronal enolase, glutamine synthetase, and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide phosphohydrolase was observed in the sciatic nerve, hippocampus and optic nerve, respectively. PMID- 2616063 TI - Comparison of colchicine toxicity on different dysmyelinating mutant models. AB - The administration of colchicine to dysmyelinating mutant mice may serve as an in vivo pharmacological tool for the study of the mechanisms involved in the formation of the myelin sheath. The study of the acute toxicity of colchicine in these mutants demonstrated that male animals were much more sensitive than female animals. All of the mutants and their controls were also more resistant to colchicine than the Swiss strain usually used in toxicity studies. PMID- 2616064 TI - Inhibition of calmodulin activated adenylate cyclase in rat brain by selected insecticides. AB - Effect of various insecticides on basal and calmodulin (CaM) activated adenylate cyclase activity was studied in solubilized rat brain nuclear and P2 fractions. Our earlier experiments indicated that plictran, chlordecone and other insecticides affect the calcium transport across cell membranes. The present experiments were designed with the assumption that these compounds might exert their neurotoxic action by interfering with CaM (a calcium receptor protein) regulated processes. We have used detergent solubilized adenylate cyclase for our studies, since membrane bound form is not sensitive to externally added CaM. CaM significantly elevated the adenylate cyclase activity in both the fractions and a maximum stimulation of 97% in nuclear fraction and 50% in P2 fraction was observed with 1 microgram of CaM. All the insecticides studied inhibited both basal and CaM activated adenylate cyclase activity in nuclear and P2 fractions to a different extent. A significant inhibition was observed at 0.05 microM and higher concentrations of plictran. Chlordecone and toxaphene inhibited both basal and CaM activated adenylate cyclase in a concentration dependent manner. Although dieldrin and aldrin inhibited basal adenylate cyclase in a concentration dependent manner, they did not exhibit a similar pattern on CaM activated adenylate cyclase. Of all the insecticides studies, chlordecone is more potent in inhibiting both basal and CaM activated adenylate cyclase which is in agreement with the greater neurotoxic action of this compound. These results indicate that all the insecticides studied are potent inhibitors of detergent solubilized adenylate cyclase, and might exert their neurotoxic differential action by interfering with CaM regulated events in central nervous system. PMID- 2616065 TI - Oral administration of aspartame is not proconvulsant in rats. AB - These experiments examined the potential for single or repeated doses of aspartame to exacerbate or facilitate the production of seizures in Fischer-344 rats. In adult animals, 1,000 mg/kg of aspartame given by gavage acutely or over a 14 day period had no significant effect on the rate of kindling induced by stimulation of the prepyriform cortex. A single dose of 1,000 mg/kg of aspartame had no effect on the number of animals developing tonic seizures after electroconvulsive shock, nor did aspartame affect the frequency or duration of seizure activity after pentylenetetrazol. In a second series of studies, young male and female rats were dosed with 1,000 mg/kg of aspartame on day 3-13 or 21 35 of age. Prior exposure to aspartame had no significant effect on the rate of kindling at 90 days of age. These experiments indicate that aspartame does not act a pro-convulsant in rats. PMID- 2616066 TI - Effects of acrylamide and 2,5-hexanedione on brain mitochondrial respiration. AB - The effects of acrylamide (ACR) and 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD) on brain mitochondrial respiration were assessed. Mitochondria were isolated from whole brains or brain regions of control and neurotoxicant-treated rats. Direct in vitro exposure of isolated brain mitochondria to ACR (1 mM final concentration) had no effect on respiration, whereas direct exposure to 2,5-HD (1 mM final concentration) inhibited state 3 respiration. Chronic treatment of rats with ACR (50 mg/kg/day x 10 days) did not affect respiration of mitochondria isolated from cortex or brainstem. However, in mitochondria from cerebellum of ACR treated rats, pyruvate + oxaloacetic acid (pyr/oaa) supported oxygen consumption was decreased significantly in both states 3 and 4. In addition, the ADP/O ratio was reduced in this brain structure. In all brain regions of 2,5-HD (400 mg/kg/day x 24 days) intoxicated rats, pyr/oaa supported state 3 respiration was reduced. Glutamate + malate (glu/mal) supported respiration was diminished only in mitochondria isolated from brain stem of 2,5-HD treated rats. In contrast, the non-neurotoxic analogs, 1,6-hexanediol and N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide did not alter mitochondrial respiration in parallel experiments. Thus, both ACR and 2,5 HD produce a substrate-dependent, toxicologically specific inhibition of brain mitochondrial respiration. This inhibition of mitochondrial energy production might play a role in the neurotoxic mechanisms of action for these chemicals. PMID- 2616067 TI - Acetyl-homocysteine thiolactone protects against some neurotoxic effects of thallium. AB - Groups of rats were administered thallous acetate 5 mg/kg or acetyl-homocysteine thiolactone (citiolone) 8 mg/kg body weight, i.p. daily for 6 days. A third group of rats received the same doses of both thallium and citiolone for 6 days. Total sulfhydryl radicals and glutathione content were estimated in the cerebral hemisphere, cerebellum and brain stem. The results were analyzed using Student's t test and 'ANOVA'. Glutathione decreased in all the brain regions with the greatest loss in the brain stem. Total sulfhydryl (SH) radicals were significantly depleted only in cerebellum and brain stem. The reduction of total SH radicals did not occur when citiolone and thallium were administered concurrently. Glutathione levels were protected by citiolone but were not returned to control levels. PMID- 2616068 TI - Behavioral measures of neurotoxicity. AB - Three particular behavioral functions constitute the focus of this chapter: motor, sensory and complex (learning and memory) behavior. A wealth of behavioral procedures have been devised to assess each of these behavioral functions. One purpose of this monograph is to familiarize the reader with the particular procedures most frequently utilized to evaluate neurotoxicant-induced changes in each of these categories, pointing out their relative strengths and weaknesses. A second and predominant purpose is to acquaint the reader with the more complex behavioral approaches and procedures available for each of these functions, paradigms which exemplify the scope and possibilities provided by behavioral measures. While the more complex procedures unquestionably require more extensive training time, they also offer the advantage of a more selective measurement of the particular behavioral function of interest. Delineation of the components of complex performance may yield information relevant to understanding both the behavioral and biological mechanisms underlying a toxicant's effect. Furthermore, complex procedures provide the capability of determining the specificity of a toxicant-induced change in a particular behavioral function by allowing concurrent evaluation of multiple behavioral functions. PMID- 2616069 TI - A study of NADPH-diaphorase positive septohippocampal neurons in rat. AB - Retrograde transport of fluorescent tracers and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemical techniques were combined in a study of septohippocampal projections in the rat. The dorsal (DH) and ventral (VH) hippocampus were simultaneously injected with different tracers (Fast Blue or Fluoro-Gold). Histochemical procedures revealed many NADPH-d positive cells located in the medial septum and the horizontal limb of the diagonal band. In the medial septum, NADPH-d positive neurons were mostly located lateral to the midline region and some of these were double-labeled by the tracer injected into the VH. Also, NADPH-d positive cells were found in the horizontal diagonal band and some of these were double-labeled following injections into the DH. No fluorescence/NADPH-d double-labeled neurons were observed in other structures known to project to the hippocampus. PMID- 2616070 TI - Eye movements following cortical stimulation in the ventral bank of the anterior ectosylvian sulcus of the cat. AB - Eye movements were induced by stimulating the ventral bank of the anterior ectosylvian sulcus (AES) of chloralose-anesthetized cats. Intracortical microstimulation of this cortex evoked centering movements of both eyes. The latency of eye movement was 45 ms (range 40-60 ms) and the intensity of stimulation was 33 microA (range 20-45 microA). The evoked eye movements persisted after ablation of the classical frontal eye field of both sides. These results suggest that the ventral bank of the AES is involved in the control of eye movements. PMID- 2616071 TI - Topographic and zonal pattern of olivocerebellar projection to the paramedian lobule in the rabbit: an experimental study with an HRP retrograde tracing method. AB - Distribution of neurons in the inferior olive (IO) projecting to the paramedian lobule (PML) was studied in rabbits by means of retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). HRP was injected into various regions of different folia of the PML. Findings indicate zonal and to some extent topographic organization in olivocerebellar projections to PML folia. The neurons in corresponding areas of dorsal (dlPO) and ventral lamina (vlPO) of the principal olive (PO) project to composite zones D (D1 + D2) in sublobule f: medial, intermediate and lateral. In addition, the caudal part of the medial accessory olive (MAO) projects to the most laterally located zone (C2-lateral) and the caudal part of the dorsal accessory olive (DAO) to the most lateral zone (C3) in sublobule f. The middle part of the DAO sends projections to zone C1 located medially in sublobules d-a. The rostral and caudal parts of the DAO send projections to zone C3 in sublobules a and f, respectively. The rostral, middle and adjacent caudal parts of MAO, with no clear topographic organization, project to broad zone C2 in sublobules e-b. The neurons in restricted areas of the caudomedial part of the dlPO and vlPO, probably intermingled with those supplying the composite medial zone D in sublobule f, project to sublobules e-b to terminate in zones D1 and D2, respectively. PMID- 2616072 TI - Long-distance fiber outgrowth from the heterotopically transplanted olfactory bulb in the rat. AB - An embryonic olfactory bulb was heterotopically inserted and allowed to mature in young adult rat brains. The projection of the transplanted olfactory bulb to the host brain was examined by injections of peroxidase-labeled wheatgerm agglutinin into the host olfactory bulb (and anterior olfactory nucleus). Neurite elongation to the host olfactory area occurred most frequently from the transplant which had been inserted into the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle and fused medially with the lateral septum in host brains with no detectable damage of host olfactory connections. Transplants in the septum, olfactory tubercle, nucleus of the horizontal limb of the diagonal band, or anterior piriform cortex also showed the projection to the host olfactory area. These results indicate that the transplanted olfactory bulb projection neurons have potent abilities to detect the target and project to it even if there is a considerable distance (2-5 mm). PMID- 2616073 TI - Activity of digital area neurons of the primary somatosensory cortex in relation to sensorially triggered and self-initiated digital movements of monkeys. AB - Single-cell activity was examined in digital areas of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) of monkeys performing sensorially triggered and self-initiated digital movements with the aim of rigorously determining the relative timing of onset of the neuronal activity with respect to movement onset. The activity of prime mover muscles for execution of a key-press movement was recorded simultaneously with the neuronal activity; movement onset was defined as the onset of muscle activity. Neuronal receptive fields were also identified. The following findings emerged from this study: (1) Few neurons, if any, in the SI(areas 3b, 1, 2), including pyramidal tract neurons, were active prior to movement onset. (2) The movement-related activity of SI neurons was basically similar in cases of signal-triggered and self-initiated movement. (3) No neuron in the SI showed activity associated with ipsilateral digital movement. (4) A majority of movement-related neurons in the precentral motor cortex, in contrast, started their activity before movement onset. These findings suggest that SI neuronal activity participates little in providing information necessary for developing motor responses in the initial phase of simple digital movements. PMID- 2616074 TI - Methyl group deficiency: effects on one-carbon unit and folate metabolism. PMID- 2616075 TI - Ascorbic acid increases the density of the acetylcholine receptor on muscle cells. PMID- 2616076 TI - Nursing abroad: health care in Brazil. PMID- 2616077 TI - Nursing abroad: a Chinese adventure. PMID- 2616079 TI - Nursing abroad: broadening the mind. PMID- 2616078 TI - Nursing abroad: nursing in the USSR. PMID- 2616080 TI - Attending conferences. PMID- 2616081 TI - Education: workshops to manage change. PMID- 2616082 TI - Christmas in casualty. PMID- 2616083 TI - Nursing abroad: the do's and don'ts of working overseas. PMID- 2616084 TI - Nursing abroad: serving in the armed forces. PMID- 2616085 TI - Nursing abroad: VSO nursing in Bhutan. PMID- 2616086 TI - CICIAMS and the "critical situation" in nursing. PMID- 2616087 TI - [Address by Monseigneur Mullor Garcia, representing St. Siege at WHO on the theme "Health of Youth"]. PMID- 2616088 TI - [Which family policy should be adopted in the face of development in demography in Europe?]. PMID- 2616090 TI - Strengthening nursing and midwifery in support of strategies for health for all. Forty-second world health assembly. PMID- 2616089 TI - Pontifical council for family--note on the natural regulation and methods of observing fertility. PMID- 2616091 TI - [Burnout of care-givers]. AB - The Author, Psychiatrist, ascertains that the topic wear of nursing personnel is often considered an argument of minor importance in comparison to the suffering of cared people. Suffering and wear that can be felt in caring, especially for long periods, critical or terminal patients, becomes in common opinion a weakness, and the problem is disregarded, with the effort to concentrate energies on the work to be done, in hushing of emotions, avoiding questions so that the work can be carried on. The burn-out phenomenon, professional break-down, present also in other professional categories (teachers, social assistants, clergy) beyond health professions, is analysed in its several stages and the A. draws up a list of the different causes and indicates possible remedies. Caring people's breakdown, he concludes, has certainly an irreducible dimension that cannot be avoided. But this must not be an "alibi" for not adopting all possible preventive measures. PMID- 2616092 TI - The teaching of human rights. PMID- 2616093 TI - International consultation on health legislation and ethics in the field of AIDS and HIV infection. Oslo 26-29 April 1988. PMID- 2616094 TI - AIDS and the workplace. PMID- 2616095 TI - A standard protocol for the exchange of nuclear medicine image files. AB - In order to meet an increasing demand for a standard file format which would facilitate the exchange of image files from one computer to another, the protocol initiated by Report #10 of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine has been adopted. This protocol uses the concept of an ASCII file in which key-value pairs are used to describe the various parameters of the image file. Keys specific to nuclear medicine image files have been established and are published here. In addition, the latest version of the keys has been placed on a list server which is accessible by electronic mail. This will facilitate the development of conversion programs which will also be placed on the same list server as they become available. PMID- 2616096 TI - Gastric emptying after partial gastrectomy without vagotomy with primary Roux-en Y or Billroth II anastomosis. AB - Several clinical studies have indicated that gastric emptying is delayed in patients with Roux-en-Y biliary diversion with vagotomy. In order to determine whether Roux-en-Y diversion without vagotomy also induces delayed gastric emptying, we have compared the effect of gastrectomy without vagotomy with either Billroth II or Roux-en-Y anastomosis on gastric emptying of a liquid and solid meal in 22 peptic ulcer patients. The emptying half-times (t1/2) for solid food were not significantly different, 54; 24-122 min (median and range) in the 11 patients with Billroth II gastrectomy, 68; 44-189 min in the 11 patients with Roux-en-Y gastrectomy, and 83; 27-114 min in 11 normal control subjects. However, the lag phase was significantly (p less than 0.01) shorter in the patients with Billroth II gastrectomy (5; 0-43 min) and Roux-en-Y gastrectomy (4; 2-12 min) than in the control subjects (10; 4-22 min). The t1/2's for the fluid meal were similar, 7; 4-49 min after Billroth II gastrectomy, 8; 4-32 min after Roux-en-Y gastrectomy, and 9; 3-20 min in the control subjects. In all subjects the lag phase for the fluid meal was very short, ranging from 0 to 3 min. It is concluded that Roux-en-Y diversion per se does not delay gastric emptying in man. PMID- 2616097 TI - Myocardial gated tomoscintigraphy with 99Tcm-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (MIBI): regional and temporal activity curve analysis. AB - Myocardial gated tomoscintigraphy with hexakis-(2 methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile) labelled with 99Tcm, is more suitable to resolve precisely the size of myocardial infarct than nongated 201Tl tomoscintigraphy. Gated tomography gives short axis slices at eight points in the cardiac cycle. A quantitative method to analyse heart wall activity and its motion is proposed. In two groups of patients, one with inferior infarct and the other with anterior infarct, the time-activity curves show a maximum in systole for healthy regions and a flattened curve in akinetic regions. Gated tomoscintigraphy assesses more accurately the size of the injured regions because there is no averaging between systolic and diastolic activity as in 201Tl tomoscintigraphy. This method should permit a better follow up of patients with myocardial infarct. PMID- 2616098 TI - A comparison of three methods to determine the radiochemical purity of 99Tcm hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99Tcm-HMPAO). AB - Determining the radiochemical purity of 99Tcm-HMPAO using the standard method suggested by the manufacturer of the HMPAO kit is slow, consuming much of the 30 min useful shelf-life of the radiopharmaceutical. We have compared two new methods (a solvent extraction technique and a method involving a disposable, pre packed reverse phase chromatography cartridge) with the standard method for determining the radiochemical purity of 99Tcm-HMPAO. There were no significant differences (F test, p less than 0.05) in the results obtained by all three methods. However, the reversed phase chromatography method gave better agreement (correlation coefficient of 0.877) with results obtained using the standard method than did the solvent extraction technique (correlation coefficient of 0.693). The solvent extraction technique took about 10 min to perform whereas the reversed phase chromatography method took only 5 min. Both of the new methods did not achieve complete separation of the secondary, less lipophilic 99Tcm-HMPAO complex from the primary, lipophilic 99Tcm-HMPAO complex but the error introduced was small (typically only 3-5%). The new methods offer the capability of determining the radiochemical purity of 99Tcm-HMPAO quickly, reliably and accurately, prior to administration of the radiopharmaceutical to the patient. PMID- 2616099 TI - Analogues of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid with various alkyl groups as potential tumour imaging agents; effects of chain length on tumour and normal tissue specificity. AB - Eight 14C-labelled analogues of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) were synthesized using the modified Bucherer technique to investigate their tissue distribution in Ehrlich tumour bearing mice. A structure-activity relationship within a series of AIB analogues was found; increasing the chain length of R and R' produced a progressive decrease in tumour and a dramatic decrease in normal tissue uptake. AIB and alpha-amino-2-methyl-butanoic acid (AMB) were found to have higher tumour uptake than the other six analogues; and AMB and alpha-amino-2-ethyl-butanoic acid (AEB) showed higher tumour to tissue uptake ratios than the other six analogues, significantly so for liver, stomach, heart, and small intestine. These results indicate that AMB may be a potential tumour seeking agent for emission computed tomography. PMID- 2616100 TI - Controversies in nuclear medicine. Investigation of the solitary thyroid nodule. PMID- 2616101 TI - Controversies in nuclear medicine. Solitary thyroid nodule: fine needle aspiration, the first investigation. PMID- 2616102 TI - The future of PET. PMID- 2616103 TI - Radioimmunoscintigraphy with 111In labelled monoclonal antibody fragments (F(ab')2 BW 431/31) against CEA: radiolabelling, antibody kinetics and distribution, findings in tumour and non-tumour patients. AB - Forty seven patients with suspected malignant disease (mainly colorectal cancer) were studied with 111In labelled F(ab')2 fragments of an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (BW 431/31). The kinetic data revealed a long whole body retention of the label (62% after 4 days) and a rapid blood clearance (77% within 24 h, 89% within 48 h) leading to an early positive tumour contrast 24 h p.i. and optimal scintigrams 48 h p.i. Diagnostic results were promising in local recurrences of colorectal cancer (8/10 positive = 80%) though false positive findings in patients with inflammatory bowel disease occurred probably due to cross-reaction with a human granulocyte antigen. Liver metastases and tumours neighbouring liver and spleen were often missed (10/27 = 37%) because of high nonspecific uptake in these organs. Thus BW 431/31 proved to be a suitable compound for radioimmunodetection, however, further improvements to optimize tumour affinity and specificity of the antibody are mandatory. PMID- 2616104 TI - An in vitro model for the scintigraphic detection of thrombi using a 99Tcm labelled antifibrin monoclonal antibody. AB - Because of their specific targeting properties, monoclonal antibodies have found widespread use in nuclear medicine. In this paper, a method is described for the evaluation of immunoscintigraphic parameters for the detection of thrombi, using a 99Tcm-labelled antifibrin monoclonal antibody (designated as Y22). An in vitro model was developed to evaluate the effects of various environmental conditions on uptake by plasma clots of 99Tcm-Tc-Y22 in circulating plasma on a gamma camera. The clots became visible as hotspots after approximately 1 h of circulation of 99Tcm-Y22 containing citrated plasma at 37 degrees C. Circulation of 99Tcm-fibrinogen, 99Tcm-HSA or 99Tcm-control MoAb did not show visible uptake by the clots under the same conditions. At 37 degrees C, 99Tcm-Y22 accumulated approximately four times faster than at 20 degrees C. Heparin did not affect binding of the antibody to clots. To assess the feasibility of thrombus detection in vivo, an extracorporeal rat thrombus model was used. A thrombus in a shunt between a carotid artery and a jugular vein became visible 1 h after injection of the labelled Y22 and, more clearly, after 3 h. PMID- 2616105 TI - Indium-111 monoclonal anti-myosin antibody in assessing skeletal muscle damage in trauma. AB - Accurate assessment of the severity of soft tissue damage particularly skeletal muscle associated with fractures in trauma patients is important in determining the plan of management and prognosis. We used Indium-111 labelled anti-myosin to determine the extent of skeletal muscle injury in five patients involved in traumatic accidents. We found abnormal uptake in all 20 sites of muscle injury in four patients, 13 at the sites of fractures and seven away from fracture sites. There was good correlation between the degree of uptake and the extent of muscle injury. No uptake was seen in a case with no fracture and no muscle injury. At surgery this case proved to be haemarthrosis of the left knee. Indium-111 anti myosin scanning is a potentially sensitive and useful technique in assessing extent of acute muscle injury in trauma patients. PMID- 2616106 TI - Ventricular systolic and diastolic rate indices in patients with either normal or low resting left ventricular ejection fraction. AB - To investigate the potential uses of right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic rate indices in identifying patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), gated blood-pool imaging was performed for 19 normal subjects (group 1) and 56 patients, of whom 31 had resting LVEF greater than or equal to 50% (group 2) and 25 had resting LVEF less than or equal to 50 (group 3). The peak ejection rate (PER) and peak filling rate (PFR), their timing and the mean filling rate (MFR) were derived from the time-activity curves analysis. Group 2 patients had significantly reduced LV PER and PFR (3.00 +/- 0.58 EDV/s, p less than 0.005, 2.29 +/- 0.54 EDV/s, p less than 0.0009) as compared to normal (3.90 +/- 0.70 EDV/s and 3.35 +/- 0.80 EDV/s respectively). Patients with profoundly depressed LVEF had significantly low PER and PFR (1.96 +/- 0.50 EDV/s, 1.46 +/- 0.27 EDV/s respectively). However, there was considerable overlap in values between groups. Therefore, we conclude that there is no single parameter more sensitive than LVEF in identifying IHD patients with normal LVEF at rest. PMID- 2616107 TI - Effect of Lugol's iodine on the vascularity of thyroid gland in hyperthyroidism. AB - Vascularity of the thyroid gland was measured in twenty thyrotoxic patients (including Graves and multinodular goitres) and eight normal subjects by a new objective parameter--'Thyroid Vascularity Index' (TVI). The TVI was calculated by comparing the areas under the normalized thyroid and carotid artery curves up to the time of peak of the arterial curve caused by the first passage of a radioactive bolus. Compared to normal thyroid, all the toxic goitres had increased TVI (p less than 0.001); it being maximum in Graves disease (p less than 0.05). TVI in Graves disease was not affected by carbimazole therapy but decreased dramatically in eight out of ten patients (p less than 0.01) two weeks after Lugol's iodine was added. There was a sustained fall in TVI in all the ten patients (p less than 0.001) with chronic iodine therapy up to six weeks without any hormonal escape. TVI in multinodular goitres showed no significance change with carbimazole or iodine therapy. PMID- 2616108 TI - [Research prospects in the field of molecular bases of developmental biology]. PMID- 2616109 TI - Astigmatism after cataract surgery: nylon versus Mersilene. AB - To find out if postoperative astigmatism decays less if Mersilene rather than nylon sutures are used, 25 patients had a standard wound closure with 10-0 nylon in one eye and 11-0 Mersilene in the other. There was no difference in the astigmatism decay over a 6-month period. PMID- 2616110 TI - Trabecular precipitates and elevated intraocular pressure following argon laser trabeculoplasty. AB - Two patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma underwent argon laser trabeculoplasty for control of intraocular pressure. Within 1 month both patients developed elevated intraocular pressure associated with many large inflammatory precipitates on the trabecular meshwork detected only by gonioscopy. Treatment with topical steroids for 7 to 10 days resolved these precipitates and lowered the intraocular pressure. We believe our patients had severe trabeculitis occurring as a late reaction to argon laser trabeculoplasty. An increase in intraocular pressure following trabeculoplasty warrants careful gonioscopic examination; in fact we recommend routine gonioscopy for all patients after laser treatment. PMID- 2616111 TI - Laser trabeculoplasty retreatment. AB - Thirty-seven eyes of 30 patients classified as late treatment failures following 360 degrees of argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) underwent retreatment of the trabecular meshwork. Retreatment was considered successful if the intraocular pressure was maintained at 21 mm Hg or below and if the visual fields and optic nerve remained stable. By the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis the rates of success were: 100% at 3 months, 91% at 6 months, 77% at 9 months; 70% at 1 year, and 47% at 16 and 20 months. The mean decrease in intraocular pressure 1 month after retreatment was 6.5 +/- 4.9 mm Hg (from 23.9 to 17.5). Three patients followed for 3 years or longer had a mean decrease of -5.67 mm Hg. Repeat argon laser trabeculoplasty appears to be a reasonable treatment option for selected patients who are late failures after initial treatment. PMID- 2616112 TI - Preclinical evaluation of a new donor corneal trephination system. AB - A new corneal trephination system developed by the University of Minnesota, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Care/3M features a corneal holder that orients and stabilizes the donor cornea during storage, transportation, and trephination. A gravity corneal punch, and disposable trephine and cutting block minimize corneal button irregularities that in other devices may contribute to postoperative astigmatism. This new system was compared with the Iowa Press by evaluating trephinated corneas on the basis of profile projectors. Buttons trephined from 10 pairs of human corneas stored in (CSM) preservation solution at 4 degrees C were evaluated by measuring diameters and edge angles and correlating them with the trephine size used. In contrast with the Iowa Press, this new system produces corneal buttons that are consistently circular, parallel-edged, and identical in size to the trephine used. PMID- 2616113 TI - Neodymium: YAG laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation for glaucoma after penetrating keratoplasty. AB - Nd:YAG laser cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) of the ciliary body is a promising cyclodestructive treatment for the management of refractory glaucoma following penetrating keratoplasty. Twenty-eight eyes (27 patients) were treated between August 1985 and September 1987 and followed 6 to 24 months (median, 18 months). The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was initially 39 mm Hg (range, 30 to 70 mm Hg) on maximally tolerated medications. The Lasag Microrupter 2 was used in the free-running thermal mode with a mean pulse energy of 4.13 J. The laser was retrofocused 3.6 mm from the conjunctival surface and 30 to 50 applications per treatment (mean, 37.5) were given 2 to 3 mm from the limbus for 360 degrees (71%) or 180 degrees (29%). Multiple treatments were necessary in 13 eyes (46%). After CPC, IOP fell to 22 mm Hg or below in 18 eyes (64%) at 3 months, in 20 of 27 eyes (74%) at 6 months, and in 16 to 24 eyes (67%) at 1 year. Inadequate IOP control in four of 28 eyes necessitated cyclocryotherapy in three patients and a Schocket procedure in one other. Of the 14 clear pre-CPC grafts six (43%) became edematous during follow-up. All of the failed grafts had undergone multiple CPCs. PMID- 2616114 TI - Semiconductor diode laser endophotocoagulation. AB - We successfully used a semiconductor diode laser to deliver endophotocoagulation burns to the retina of a rabbit. The diode laser employed emits light at a wavelength of 817 nm (near infrared). It has a power output of up to 1.0 W in the continuous-wave mode, equivalent to the capability of current argon laser endophotocoagulators. A standard, commercially available fiberoptic endophotocoagulation probe was used to deliver the laser burns. We used power settings ranging from 300 mW to 400 mW and exposure times of 0.1 to 0.2 seconds to produce chorioretinal burns that appeared clinically and histopathologically indistinguishable from those induced with conventional wavelengths. This new laser system has the decided advantages over traditional endophotocoagulators of being much smaller, less costly, and requiring no water cooling, without sacrificing power output or ease of delivery. PMID- 2616115 TI - Experimental evaluation of low-viscosity fluorosilicone oil as a temporary vitreous substitute. AB - Fluorosilicone oil, a high specific gravity fluorinated silicone oil, has been recently reevaluated for temporary use in surgery to repair complicated retinal detachments. We evaluated the toxicity of a low-viscosity (300 centistokes) fluorosilicone oil as a vitreous substitute in vitrectomized eyes of albino rabbits. No toxicities could be demonstrated by histopathologic and electroretinographic examinations 6 weeks following surgery. In vitro experiments also showed no toxic effects on cultured retinoblastoma cells. When fluorosilicone oil was injected into the anterior chamber, endothelial cell damage could be seen 2 weeks following injection. Low-viscosity fluorosilicone oil appears to be a safe vitreous substitute for temporary use; it is easily injected and removed, and it maintains adequate surface tension for intraocular tamponade. Because of its relative low viscosity, 300-cst fluorosilicone oil (FS) may be a better vitreous substitute than perfluorocarbon liquids for both intraoperative manipulation of the retina and short-term intraocular tamponade for complicated retinal detachments. PMID- 2616116 TI - Avulsion of the canalicular system. AB - Avulsion of the common canaliculus from its attachment to the lacrimal sac should be suspected in cases involving either deep lacerations on the lateral side of the nose or traumatic telecanthus in midfacial trauma. Blunting of the canalicular angle and rounding of the inner canthus are confirming signs. A canaliculodacryocystorhinostomy can be performed to reanastomize the lacrimal drainage pathways and relieve epiphora. PMID- 2616117 TI - Gunshot wounds of the eye and orbit. AB - Gunshot wounds to the globe and orbit require careful evaluation and management. This article highlights five cases of penetrating gunshot injuries, each demonstrating different points to consider when managing the severely traumatized patient. Immediate and late complications are described. Missile velocities of different weapons are detailed, and the mechanism of injury is discussed. Careful preoperative evaluation is stressed as a means of avoiding complications. PMID- 2616118 TI - Project Canvas-Back in the Marshall Islands. AB - Using the catamaran boat "Canvas-Back" during May 1987, a whole-population ocular survey utilizing modern equipment and ophthalmic subspecialists was conducted on one of the atolls (Wotje) in the Marshall Islands. A relatively low prevalence of ocular pathology, especially of cataract, infectious disease, and nutritional blindness was found. A far greater need exists for refractive services than for surgical ophthalmic care. The only exception is related to the high incidence of hyperglycemia, which indicates that greater efforts in the treatment and prevention of retinopathy are required. PMID- 2616119 TI - More thoughts on radial keratotomy. PMID- 2616120 TI - Argon and Nd:YAG lasers to open occluded Krupin tubes after modified Schocket procedures. PMID- 2616121 TI - Why physicians must stop misusing the word "noninvasive". PMID- 2616122 TI - Intercapsular versus extracapsular cataract extraction. AB - Forty-five eyes that have undergone routine extracapsular cataract extraction with insertion of a posterior chamber intraocular lens were compared with a similar group of eyes that had undergone intercapsular extraction. Capsular fixation was more predictable following intercapsular (78%) than it was following extracapsular extraction (22%). Gonioscopy revealed prominence of the lens haptic in 22% of the intercapsular group, with peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) in 18%; haptics were prominent in 78% of the extracapsular group, with synechiae in 55%. Lens eccentricity of 2 mm or more was seen in 2 patients (4%) following intercapsular and in 10 (22%) following extracapsular extraction. Pupil irregularities were noted in three of the intercapsular group (7%) and in eight of the extracapsular group, (13%) with peripheral iris tucking alone in three. These data strongly support the view that intercapsular is superior to extracapsular cataract surgery in terms of facilitating capsular fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses. PMID- 2616123 TI - Ciliary sulcus reconstruction for posterior implantation in the absence of an intact posterior capsule. AB - Secondary implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens in an aphakic eye devoid of an intact posterior capsule requires a special surgical approach. When lens capsule remnants remain in the periphery, the ciliary sulcus can be reconstructed to accommodate a posterior chamber lens. The fibrotic lens or capsular residues that often remain adherent to the posterior surface of the iris are divided with sharp intraocular scissors, and a shelf is created that is sufficient to support the lens haptics. A series of 28 cases, including 16 involving young children, demonstrates the feasibility and the favorable visual results obtainable with this surgical technique. PMID- 2616124 TI - Polypropylene ligatures as a means of controlling intraocular pressure with Molteno implants. AB - A technique for controlling intraocular pressure in the immediate postoperative period with Molteno implants is described. Filtration tubes were closed with polypropylene sutures in 13 patients. Filtration tubes closed with 7-0 sutures provided the most satisfactory partial to complete lumen closure. The ligatures in six patients later were opened by argon laser. PMID- 2616125 TI - The effect of chronic miotic therapy on the results of posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation and trabeculectomy in patients with glaucoma. AB - We reviewed the charts of 18 patients (20 glaucomatous eyes) who had not used pilocarpine prior to undergoing trabeculectomy combined with or performed later with posterior chamber lens implantation. We then compared postoperative results and complications in these patients with those in 35 other patients (40 glaucomatous eyes) in two age- and stage-matched groups who had used pilocarpine prior to undergoing the same procedures. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 6 months. There was no significant difference between these groups in terms of postoperative intraocular pressure and required glaucoma medications. However, in the pilocarpine-treated groups, there was a significantly higher incidence of complications, especially intraocular lens capture (P less than 0.05), and of worse visual outcomes (P less than 0.01). PMID- 2616126 TI - Iris reconstruction by coloboma repair. AB - If a pupil becomes irreversibly miotic during cataract surgery it is helpful to perform an iridotomy to facilitate lens expression. Reconstructing the pupil with one or two iris sutures is advisable in order to prevent coloboma-related problems. We describe a method of iridoplasty that involves using a vanadium steel suture attached to a long, straight needle. This technique can be used in an eye with surgically low pressure as well as in an eye with elevated vitreous pressure. PMID- 2616127 TI - Shadow photogrammetric apparatus for the quantitative evaluation of corneal buttons. AB - We have developed a technique for the accurate, quantitative, geometric evaluation of trephined and punched corneal buttons. A magnified shadow of the frontal and edge views of a corneal button mounted on the rotary stage of a modified optical comparator is projected onto the screen of the comparator and photographed. This process takes approximately three minutes. The diameters and edge profile at any meridian photographed can subsequently be analyzed from the film. The precision in measuring the diameters of well cut corneal buttons is +/- 23 microns, and in measuring the angle of the edge profile is +/- 1 degree. Statistical analysis of inter observer variability indicated excellent reproducibility of measurements. Shadow photogrammetry offers a standardized, accurate, and reproducible method for analysis of corneal trephination. PMID- 2616128 TI - Eyelid complications in trachoma. I. Cicatricial entropion. AB - Trachoma is an infectious disease affecting the conjunctival membranes of the eye that results in scarring of the conjunctiva with secondary eyelid malformations and lacrimal pathology. Of the four eyelid complications secondary to trachoma- cicatricial entropion, eyelid retraction, secondary blepharospasm, and brow ptosis--by far, cicatricial entropion is the most common. One thousand two hundred patients with cicatricial entropion underwent surgery at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital between 1984 and 1988. The classification and management of these cases are discussed, emphasizing the various surgical techniques used. PMID- 2616129 TI - Intraocular pressure after peripheral retinal cryopexy in normotensive human eyes. AB - Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured before and after peripheral retinal cryopexy given for lattice degeneration and small retinal breaks. During the period of observation the IOP of treated eyes decreased, suggesting that freezing of areas remote from the ciliary body may lower IOP through mediation and/or transscleral outflow. PMID- 2616130 TI - A comparative evaluation of three methods of analyzing optic disc topography. AB - Topographical evaluations of the optic discs of 17 eyes obtained using a clinical planimeter, the Rodenstock video-ophthalmograph, and the IS 2000 image analyzer were compared. The parameters studied were vertical and horizontal cup-to-disc ratios, cup volumes, rim areas, disc areas, and rim area-to-disc area ratios. There was good correlation between the measurements obtained by the three methods (correlation coefficients ranged from 0.46 to 0.88). For various parameters, the correlations between clinical planimetry and image analysis were higher than either those between image analysis and video-ophthalmography, or those between clinical planimetry and video-ophthalmography. The mean horizontal cup-to-disc ratios and rim areas as measured by clinical planimetry were significantly higher than those measured by image analysis. Image analysis measured significantly higher disc area and rim areas and lower cup volumes than video-ophthalmography. PMID- 2616132 TI - Office management of excessive postoperative intraocular pressure. PMID- 2616131 TI - A safer technique for retrobulbar alcohol injections. PMID- 2616133 TI - Anisophoria and aniseikonia. Part II. The management of optical anisophoria. AB - Part I of this publication dealt with the simultaneous occurrence of aniseikonia and optical anisophoria when anisometropic spectacles are worn. Part II deals with the correction and management of spectacle-induced anisophoria. It presents simple formulas for calculating the constants of an iseikonic correction that circumvent much of the trial and error inherent in the older methods. It shows how such iseikonic lenses rather than prisms can be used to correct a large portion of optical anisophoria and how such corrections can improve binocular visual performance. It also discusses dynamic phorometry and some new methods for measuring induced anisophoria. The essential message of Parts I and II is that the two effects, aniseikonia and optical anisophoria, should be considered together and not as separate entities. PMID- 2616134 TI - Grating acuity overestimates Snellen acuity in patients with age-related maculopathy. AB - In foveally fixating patients resolution acuity is approximately the same when measured with a Snellen chart (Snellen acuity) or when estimated from the high frequency cutoff of the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) (grating acuity). In contrast, with peripheral viewing, normal patients have better grating than Snellen acuity. This suggests that grating acuity deteriorates less rapidly with eccentricity than does Snellen acuity. If patients with bilateral age-related maculopathy (ARM) fixate with a single, healthy peripheral-retinal locus, grating and Snellen acuities should be similar to those in the normal periphery. As expected from the normal data, grating acuity was better than Snellen acuity in all 19 patients with ARM. Although some showed acuities which were similar to those of the normal periphery, others had Snellen acuities that were even worse than predicted from the normal peripheral acuity. Possible explanations for the superiority of grating over Snellen acuity are discussed. PMID- 2616135 TI - Disability glare and hydrogel lens wear--revisited. AB - Decreased tolerance to glare is a common complaint among hydrogel contact lens wearers. Recently this subjective complaint was measured and quantified in our laboratory in five subjects by determining increment thresholds as a function of background luminance and glare source location for both spectacles and hydrogel lens refractive corrections. Additional testing, using the same apparatus and similar protocols, has not entirely supported the original result. After testing a total of 15 subjects, data averaged across all subjects revealed no significant hydrogel contact lens-induced increases in disability glare; however, analysis of individual data revealed three classes of effects within the population tested. Subjects either demonstrated a significant glare effect induced by contact lens wear (6 of 15), no increase in disability glare (7 of 15), or a significant decrease in disability glare (2 of 15). PMID- 2616136 TI - Human visual spatio-temporal frequency performance as a function of age. AB - Deterioration of human spatial frequency contrast sensitivity with increasing age was measured, for both stationary and drifting gratings, by producing interference fringes directly on the subject's retinas. There were losses at high spatial frequency up to 40 years of age, and losses at all spatial frequencies thereafter. Older subjects exhibited better than expected performance for drifting low spatial frequency gratings. These results are consistent with the differential effects of aging on different populations of visual neurons. PMID- 2616137 TI - Stand magnifiers: an evaluation of new optical aids from COIL. AB - This paper discusses stand magnifiers and the optical parameters that clinicians should know in order to understand the viewing requirements and the expected resolution for low vision patients. We report on measurements made of key optical parameters of a new series of stand magnifiers from Combined Optical Industries Limited (COIL) and comparison is made to the previous series of stand magnifiers from the same manufacturer. These results illustrate that manufacturers' specifications of optical parameters are generally inaccurate and misleading. We urge manufacturers to provide clinically relevant information about their optical products. PMID- 2616138 TI - Contrast sensitivity for letter and grating targets under various stimulus conditions. AB - Measurement of visual acuity for letters of different contrasts has been suggested as a clinical way to evaluate contrast sensitivity in patients with vision abnormalities. If variable-contrast letter acuity provides information similar to the contrast sensitivity function (CSF), then comparable effects should be seen in stimulus manipulations which simulate decreased vision. Using both our own and published data, we compared the effects of diffusive blur, dioptric blur, and eccentric viewing on contrast sensitivity for letter and grating targets. A diffuser placed close to the eye reduces contrast sensitivity fairly evenly across all spatial frequencies, with similar results for letters and gratings. However, dioptric blur reduces sensitivity substantially more to letters than to comparably fine gratings. Eccentric viewing also produces a larger sensitivity loss for letters than for gratings. Because some stimulus manipulations produce dissimilar changes in contrast sensitivity for letters and gratings, it is questionable whether the results of one measure can be used to draw inferences about the other. It is proposed that local or relative phase discrimination has an important role in explaining the different responses to letter and grating targets. PMID- 2616139 TI - Stereopsis testing in 18- to 35-month-old children using operant preferential looking. AB - Forced choice operant preferential looking (OPL) was used to evaluate stereopsis in children between 18 and 35 months of age. Eighty-three children who passed a vision screening were tested with a ring-shaped random dot target that stood out in depth. Food was used to reinforce looking at the target. Children were also administered the Random Dot E (RDE) as a comparison measure. Four children were unable to complete testing with OPL compared with 31 who were unable to complete testing with the RDE. This difference was most apparent in children under 24 months of age. This new procedure appears to be a useful technique to evaluate stereopsis in very young children. PMID- 2616140 TI - Teaching clinical thinking. AB - Clinical thinking differs from scientific reasoning and educators have observed that some students have difficulty in transferring the one skill to the other. A review of the literature offers few concrete suggestions to teach this process. The author presents a technique that he has found successful with some interns who had problems with this process. PMID- 2616141 TI - Monocular accommodative fluctuations associated with temporomandibular joint syndrome. AB - A young scientist reported severe headaches emanating from behind one eye with an associated intermittent monocular blur. The monocular near cross-cylinder test revealed an accommodative fluctuation of one eye alone with a range of approximately 3 D. Referral to a neuro-ophthalmologist failed to produce a diagnosis for the disorder. A subsequent routine visit to a dentist provided a diagnosis of Costen's temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, a condition that is commonly misdiagnosed as a variety of neurological and vascular disorders. PMID- 2616142 TI - Pratt system of clinical analysis of accommodation and convergence. PMID- 2616143 TI - Statistics notebook: entry IH, median: population vs. sample. PMID- 2616144 TI - Good writing supports good scholarship. PMID- 2616145 TI - Keratography as a guide to selective suture removal for the reduction of astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty. AB - After penetrating keratoplasty in 52 eyes, keratography refraction and keratometry were used to select appropriate interrupted sutures for removal in order to reduce astigmatism. All eyes had one continuous and either 12 or 16 interrupted nylon sutures. The keratographs were examined retrospectively and separated into six groups on the basis of similar mire patterns. The removal of single sutures associated with three of these patterns reduced astigmatism by the following average amounts: symmetrical oval pattern, 0.44 diopters (D); D-shaped oval pattern, 2.07 D; and focal indentation pattern, 6.60 D. The other three patterns--mildly disrupted mires, incomplete mires, and uninterpretable mires- did not allow quantification of results. Examples of these keratographic patterns are presented and recommendations are made for their use in the management of astigmatism following penetrating keratoplasty. PMID- 2616146 TI - Subjective and objective findings after radial keratotomy. AB - Monocular diplopia secondary to radial keratotomy was investigated in a 42-year old ophthalmologist. Under certain conditions, the patient observed a ghost image, loss of contrast, and variability in the subjective refraction. The objective findings were scissoring of the retinoscopic reflex, a prominent iron line, and localized flattening of the cornea. PMID- 2616147 TI - Corneal ectasia in vernal keratoconjunctivitis. AB - The type of corneal ectasia, the presence of breaks in Descemet's membrane, and the success with contact lens wear or penetrating keratoplasty were studied in 61 patients with corneal ectasia and vernal keratoconjunctivitis. There were 53 patients with keratoconus, 5 with pellucid marginal corneal degeneration, 2 with keratoglobus, and 1 with superior corneal thinning. The high rate of hydrops and the corneal ectasia itself may be related to excessive eye rubbing. Success with contact lens wear or penetrating keratoplasty in vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients with keratoconus is less than in patients with keratoconus alone. PMID- 2616148 TI - The ocular surface in cystic fibrosis. AB - Seventeen patients with cystic fibrosis and 17 age-, race-, and sex-matched controls were examined under standardized conditions. Testing included slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fluorescein staining, rose bengal staining, Schirmer's basic tear test, tear film break-up time, tear pH, tear lysozyme, tear protein, lid and conjunctival cultures, and conjunctival impression cytology. Cystic fibrosis patients showed a statistically significant increase in the incidence of fluorescein staining and clinical blepharitis, as well as significantly decreased Schirmer testing and tear lysozyme. Ocular surface abnormalities in these patients may be attributable to aqueous and lipid tear film deficiencies. Cystic fibrosis patients showed normal conjunctival epithelial cell morphology, grew no pathogenic organisms, and had a decreased incidence of conjunctival bacterial colonization. PMID- 2616149 TI - Differentiation of posterior polymorphous dystrophy from other posterior corneal opacities by specular microscopy. AB - Deep corneal opacities due to posterior polymorphous dystrophy, especially if they are mild, are frequently confused with changes due to other corneal conditions. In a series of 64 patients with deep corneal opacities (14 with Descemet's tears, 8 with posterior polymorphous dystrophy, 12 with interstitial keratitis, and 30 with keratoconus), specular microscopy enabled the differentiation of deep corneal changes provided some degree of corneal clarity was retained. The parallel "rail track" borders of old Descemet's tears were characteristic and differed from the "snail tracks" seen in posterior polymorphous dystrophy, which also showed characteristic rounded vesicular or doughnut-like lesions in Descemet's membrane. The appearances in interstitial keratitis were varied with poor detail in most cases because of corneal opacity. However, fine opacities consistent with ghost vessels were seen in interstitial keratitis and a resolving case showed fine, intersecting straight lines different from the bundles of parallel fine vertical lines of deep corneal striae in keratoconus. Specular microscopy also enables an assessment of the corneal endothelium which is important if intraocular surgery is contemplated. PMID- 2616150 TI - Ocular involvement in Castleman's disease. Response to radiotherapy. AB - A 21-year-old man with known Castleman's disease, a lymphoproliferative disorder with both local and systemic manifestations, presented with decreased vision in the left eye and chromatopsia. He had infiltration of the left disc and choroid with elevation of the retina, multiple bilateral depigmented areas at the level of the choroid or retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) (also thought to represent infiltrates), and left exophthalmos. A serious retinal detachment (RD) evolved, but then responded to radiotherapy, with recovery of good vision. Occult leptomeningeal involvement resolved during a period of observation. There was no systemic evidence of malignant lymphoma. PMID- 2616151 TI - Invasive sinonasal polyps causing ophthalmoplegia, exophthalmos, and visual field loss. AB - In a 20-year-old man with a history of sinonasal polyps, bilateral ophthalmoplegia, exophthalmos, and optic nerve dysfunction developed. Radiologic imaging showed a polypoid mass filling the nose and sinuses, eroding into the pituitary fossa, basal cisterns, and orbits, and compressing the cavernous sinuses. Six months after bilateral maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid exploration, ocular motility returned to normal, but there remained mild generalized visual field loss in the right eye. The pathologic specimen showed polypoid respiratory mucosa with acute and chronic inflammation as well as eosinophiles. PMID- 2616152 TI - Children benefit from contact lens fitting after corneal laceration repair. PMID- 2616153 TI - Pars plana vitrectomy and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in diabetic patients. PMID- 2616155 TI - New directions in oral reconstruction. Proceedings of a symposium. Chicago, Illinois, April 13, 1989. PMID- 2616154 TI - Does caffeine ingestion affect intraocular pressure? PMID- 2616156 TI - [Experience with the regeneration and repeated use of dialyzers (1977-1987)]. AB - During ten years 59616 haemodialyses were performed with 18139 capillary dialysers on 226 patients being in the final stage of chronic renal insufficiency. With the semi-automatic technique applied blood can be eliminated from the dialyser in 15-20 minutes. Formalin used for desinfection is washed out of the apparatus such a way, that formalin content of the last washing solution ranges between 0-0.1 microgram/ml. Anti-N antibody indicating the presence of formalin could be detected in the serum of 2 patients out of the 120 cases tested. The same dialyser is used repeatedly on one patient, 3.29-times on the average. The regenerated dialyser eliminates compounds of small-and middle molecular weight with the same efficiency up to the 4th repeated use. Ratio of pyrogenic reactions is low, 0.08%. Neither infection or sepsis associated with the regeneration occurred. Rehabilitation degree as well as the survival time of patient corresponded with the average European standard. Because of the "first use syndrome" (allergic symptoms, hypotension, nausea, vomiting, headache, cramps etc.) with 5 patients haemodialysis could be performed only with regenerated dialysers dialyses. From the considerable sums saved by regeneration process 7 satellite dialysing units were established and equipped. PMID- 2616157 TI - [A new heart defect-brachydactyly syndrome]. AB - A new heart malformation-brachydactyly syndrome of autosomal dominant origin is described in 9 members of three generations in a Hungarian family. PMID- 2616158 TI - [Budapest as a metropolis in the light of the legislation of prostitution]. PMID- 2616160 TI - [EMASH (European Medical Association for Smoking or Health]. PMID- 2616159 TI - [Prognostic role of immunoglobulin levels in chronic B cell lymphoid leukemia]. AB - The authors analyse the prognostic role of the immunoglobulins detected in the sera of 83 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. They have found, that the decreased level of IgG, IgA and IgM itself has no significant prognostic role. In those cases, where the IgA level was the lowest at the recognition of the disease, the expected life-span was significantly shorter. As far as the immunoglobulin level and the clinical stage did not show any significant correspondence, the relative reduction of the IgA level at the recognition of the disease can be considered as a poor prognostic sign. PMID- 2616161 TI - [Literature about hemangiopericytoma of the kidney]. PMID- 2616162 TI - [The effect of Christmas in a psychiatric department? A psychological study]. PMID- 2616163 TI - [Supervision: what is it?]. PMID- 2616164 TI - [The aged in the nursing home. New pathways in care and activation. Report from the conference]. PMID- 2616165 TI - [Suicide (suicidium)--attempted suicide (tentamen suicidii)]. PMID- 2616167 TI - Validating the excision of cholesteatoma. AB - Use of a closed tympanomastoidectomy with subsequent staged surgical procedures until the excision of cholesteatoma is validated is described. All elements of staging in the author's 10-year experience with 354 patients is covered. After the final stage of the procedure, 90 per cent of the cases remained closed; 60 per cent of the patients had acceptable hearing. PMID- 2616166 TI - Ossicular reconstruction in ears with cholesteatoma. AB - Ossicular reconstruction in ears with cholesteatoma is similar to ears without cholesteatoma involvement. The important difference is that all cholesteatoma must be meticulously and completely removed or the reconstruction will fail. Special prostheses of bone or hydroxyapatite are used to rebuild the conductive mechanism. If only the incus is absent, an incus replacement prosthesis is employed between the malleus and intact stapes. When the stapedial superstructure is also missing, the incus-stapes prosthesis is utilized. These prostheses are interlocking in that a notch created in the top of the body of the implant engages the malleus and a cup in the lower part slips over the stapedial head, or a shaft extends to the stapedial footplate when the stapedial crura are missing. In either case the patient hears by direct columellar pressure from the new tympanic membrane to the fluids of the inner ear. Care is taken to preserve the patient's tissues and anatomy for use in reconstruction. If the patient's malleus or posterior bony wall must be sacrificed to eradicate the disease, these structures are immediately rebuilt with homograft tissue so that an orderly rebuilding of the conductive components may proceed. If the cholesteatoma has been extensive or infected and the middle ear mucosa is of poor character, definitive reconstruction is delayed to a second stage. PMID- 2616168 TI - Cholesteatoma. PMID- 2616169 TI - Management of cholesteatoma. AB - Although the effective control of acute otitis media has reduced the number of cases of acute coalescent mastoiditis, the incidence of chronic mastoiditis caused by cholesteatoma has not been decreased with antibiotic usage. Surgery is required for management. This article outlines preoperative management of patients with cholesteatoma and the approach for selecting the appropriate operative procedure. PMID- 2616170 TI - Acquired cholesteatoma in the pediatric age group. AB - Successful treatment of cholesteatoma in children is based on the same principles of therapy used in adults. A clinical profile of children with acquired cholesteatoma is compared with that of adults. Issues related to aggressiveness of disease, pathophysiology, diagnostic problems, and treatment approaches are discussed. PMID- 2616171 TI - [Congenital idiopathic clubfoot. Etiology, pathomorphology, therapy and results]. AB - The congenital clubfoot is still a challenge for any orthopaedic surgeon and a subject of controversial and unresolved aspects. In this study the technique and results of 312 clubfeet which were treated at the pediatric orthopaedics department of the Speising Hospital between 1979-1987 are reported. Conservative treatment was successful in only 15% of our patients. 85% had to be corrected by a surgical intervention, mostly by an extensive posterior release. New aspects of pathomorphology and of surgical management of the deformity are mentioned. The benefit of the Cincinnati-incision is stressed and has been proved by this study. PMID- 2616172 TI - [Infections caused by Candida krusei in newborn infants]. AB - Experiences are described about systemic infections with fungaemia due to Candida krusei in seven newborns treated in a department of neonatology because of several perinatal problems. The origin of this outbreak cold not be established. In six patients the infection was early detected and successfully treated with miconazole and/or ketoconazole, all six newborns recovered. Infections due to Candida krusei are extremely rare in humans. This report demonstrates the clinical picture of this infection in newborns. PMID- 2616173 TI - Plasma arginine vasopressin, diuresis, and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. AB - The pathogenesis of the diuresis that precedes the recovery from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants has not been clearly delineated. To define the role of Arginine Vasopressin (AVP) or Antidiuretic Hormone in the diuretic phase of RDS, we obtained plasma AVP levels (radioimmunoassay) and sequential time-urine-plasma collections during the first, the third and the fifth days of life in twelve premature ventilated newborns. AVP levels were persistently elevated (12.7 +/- 7.6; 9 +/- 4.7 and 10.4 +/- 6.6 pg/ml, respectively) despite normal plasma sodium and osmolality. Maximum diuresis (output/intake greater than 0.72) occurred at 72 hours and preceded the improvement in FiO2/PaO2, significant on 5th day (p less than 0.01), and associated with a 10.6% decrease in body weight. These results suggest a nonosmotic release of AVP in ventilated newborns, and show a hypervasopressinemia unrelated to the diuresis associated with the recovery phase of RDS. PMID- 2616174 TI - Congenital hereditary lymphedema (Nonne/Milroy). AB - A 36-year-old man, with his children, a three-year-old girl, and a five month-old boy, suffering from congenital hereditary lymphedema, were the subjects of the present study. The man and his wife, were distant relatives. All the other family members of the two sides were apparently healthy. PMID- 2616175 TI - [You make the diagnosis. Cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome (Smith-Theiler Schachenmann syndrome)]. PMID- 2616176 TI - [Cyclosporin A in severe aplastic anemia in children]. AB - Severe aplastic anemia should be treated with bone marrow transplantation if possible. Various clinical and experimental data support the view that the major pathogenetic defect in SAA is a dysregulated cellular immune response which in turn has a negative effect upon hematopoiesis. Therefore a large percentage of patients react favorably to treatment with immunosuppressive agents as antithymocyte globulin and high-dose methylprednisolone. Data concerning the efficiency of Cyclosporine A treatment are limited until now. We present in this report our own experience with Cyclosporine A treatment in three children with severe aplastic anemia who lack a bone marrow donor. Included is also a review of the present therapeutic possibilities. PMID- 2616177 TI - Comparison of subjective and objective analgesic effects of intravenous and intrathecal morphine in chronic pain patients by heat beam dolorimetry. AB - The pain tolerance latencies of 10 chronic pain patients were evaluated by heat beam dolorimetry (stimulus intensity 15.33 mW.cm-2.sec-1) prior to and following administration of morphine by intrathecal (n = 5) or intravenous (n = 5) routes. Patients not undergoing opiate withdrawal evinced increased baseline pain tolerance latencies prior to drug administration compared with normal volunteers. Two patients undergoing the opiate withdrawal syndrome at the time of test experienced reduced pain tolerance latencies compared with normal volunteers, most probably corresponding to the hyperesthesia symptom of the syndrome. Intravenous morphine infusion (30 mg) induced a time-dependent increase in cutaneous pain tolerance with peak effect occurring 1-2 h after administration. This persisted for up to 4 h and thereafter declined. The time course of subjective pain self-report by visual pain analog scale (VPAS) measurements corresponded to the time course of increasing cutaneous pain tolerance latency assessed by dolorimetry. Pain self-reports following intrathecal morphine infusion (2.25 or 1 mg) followed a similar though slower onset to that reported by patients receiving intravenous morphine and was of lesser degree. In contrast, heat beam dolorimetric evidence of increased cutaneous pain tolerance (which was of lesser degree than following i.v. morphine) did not reach its maximum during the 4 h measuring period. A dissociation was noted therefore between the self reported relief of endogenous pain and dolorimetrically measured cutaneous analgesia following intrathecal morphine administration. Linear regression correlation analysis characterized this phenomenon as a positive correlation between cutaneous pain tolerance and pain relief self-report following intravenous morphine infusion and a negative correlation following intrathecal administration. We propose that the phenomenon may be due to intrathecal morphine acting via two separate compartments: one spinal and one supraspinal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2616178 TI - Pain expression in patients with shoulder pathology: validity, properties and relationship to sickness impact. AB - This study dealt with the validity and correlates of facial expressions of pain. Twenty-four patients seeking treatment for gleno-humeral joint pain and 12 controls underwent a standardized physiotherapy assessment protocol involving active and passive arm movements, and experimental pain induced by pressure. Subjects rated pain intensity on each trial using categorical, sensory and affective scales. Independent of testing, they completed a questionnaire measure of sickness impact. Facial behavior was measured by an abbreviated version of the Facial Action Coding System. Facial actions that related to pain indices included eyebrow lowering, narrowing and closing of the eyes, lip pulling, nose wrinkling and mouth opening. Facial actions during clinical tests showed consistent relationships with sensory and affective pain scales. Greater physical disability was associated with more intense pain actions on active, but not passive, tests. The results support the validity and generality of facial measures of pain, show that they yield graded sensitive information and suggest that they encode information about the psychosocial context of pain problems. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed. PMID- 2616179 TI - Factors for predicting premature termination from a multidisciplinary inpatient chronic pain program. AB - Forty-eight chronic pain patients who were discharged from or left the 21-day inpatient component of a multidisciplinary pain program prior to completion were compared with a randomly selected matched group of program patients who stayed the entire 21 days. The purpose of the study was to determine if pre-admission factors are useful in predicting whether a chronic pain patient will complete an inpatient pain program. The results of pre-admission MMPI, POMS, MPQ, and information obtained from a questionnaire specially created for the program were studied. On the tests, the non-completers admitted to less psychopathology than those who did complete the program. The non-completers also had a higher number of pain-related surgeries and were more likely to be college graduates; limited social support from their families and lower MMPI premature termination scale scores were also found. Implications of these findings for the management of chronic pain patients are discussed. PMID- 2616180 TI - Sex differences in the relationship of pain patient dysfunction to spouse adjustment. AB - Recent studies have suggested that spouses of chronic pain patients are at risk for emotional and marital maladjustment. This study explored the role of patient and spouse gender in mediating the effects of chronic pain on the spouse's adjustment. Eight-three chronic low back pain patients and their spouses completed measures of physical and psychosocial disability, pain behaviors, marital satisfaction, and depression. The following findings characterized male but not female patient couples: (a) spouses reported significantly lower marital satisfaction than did patients; (b) lesser spouse marital satisfaction was associated with greater patient depression; and (c) greater spouse depression was associated with greater depression and lower marital satisfaction in patients. In female but not male patient couples, spouses reported significantly less depression than did patients. Significant relationships were more frequently observed between spouse-rated patient dysfunction and spouse's depression and marital adjustment in male patient couples. The results suggest a stronger relationship for female than for male spouses between the spouse's perception of patient dysfunction and the spouse's emotional and marital adjustment. PMID- 2616181 TI - Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema after narcotic treatment for cancer pain. AB - During recent years, better awareness of the problem of cancer pain has resulted in the use of increased doses of narcotics. We report the cases of 3 patients who presented non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema while receiving large doses of narcotics for cancer pain. In all cases, pulmonary edema occurred after patients required large increases in the dose of narcotic over a short period of time for rapidly progressing pain. Although pulmonary edema has been described after overdose of narcotics, it had not been previously reported during the course of treatment for cancer pain. Its mechanism appears to be increased capillary permeability because of immunoglobulin and complement deposition of the lung, or due to neurogenic increase in permeability by the effect of narcotics on the brain-stem. We conclude that narcotic-induced pulmonary edema should be suspected in patients who require massive increases in the dose of narcotics. The use of adjuvant pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic analgesic treatments in order to minimize the need for dose increase, as well as the prevention of precipitating factors such as over hydration, corticosteroids or excessive oxygen therapy, should be contemplated in this population. PMID- 2616182 TI - EMLA cream in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia. Efficacy and pharmacokinetic profile. AB - The analgesic efficacy of 5% of EMLA cream (5 or 10 g) when applied for 24 h periods was evaluated in 5 female and 7 male patients (mean age 69 years, range 50-85 years) with refractory post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Mean visual analogue pain intensity scores for all patients were significantly improved 6 h after application (P less than 0.05). In a subgroup of patients with facial PHN receiving EMLA cream, 5 g (n = 4), there were significant improvements in pain intensity scores at 6 h (P less than 0.05). 8 h (P less than 0.01) and 10 h (P less than 0.01) after application. Plasma lignocaine and plasma prilocaine concentrations were well below potentially toxic levels in all patients after application. PMID- 2616183 TI - Noxious stimuli produce prolonged changes in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus. AB - Limbic structures including the hippocampus are thought to be involved in pain though not much is known of their neuronal responses to noxious stimuli. In this report we show that a prolonged and substantial depression of the dorsal hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell population spike is produced by a brief but intense noxious stimulus applied to the tail of lightly anaesthetized rats. This depression is temperature-dependent and habituates to subsequent noxious stimuli applied more than 1 h later. Further, the depression is absent when noxious heat is applied in the presence of hippocampal theta rhythm. PMID- 2616184 TI - Effects of attention on the intensity and unpleasantness of thermal pain. AB - Both experimental and clinical studies have shown that psychological manipulations, such as hypnosis, behavioral modification and cognitive-behavioral therapy, can reduce reports of pain. Although these are complex procedures, one important variable common to each is direction of attention. We have previously demonstrated in both humans and monkeys a method for monitoring and manipulating attention toward or away from a painful stimulus and have shown that changes in the direction of attention alter the ability to discriminate noxious heat stimuli. The present study assessed whether these changes in discrimination were accompanied by changes in the perception of pain intensity and/or unpleasantness. These data confirm that both the speed and accuracy of detecting changes in noxious heat stimuli are decreased when the subject attends to another stimulus modality. In addition, they show that direction of attention affects the perceived intensity and unpleasantness of painful stimuli in a similar manner. Our previous findings of attention-related modulation of nociceptive neuronal activity in the medullary dorsal horn suggest that these attention-dependent changes in sensory-discriminative and affective components of pain are mediated at early stages of sensory processing. PMID- 2616185 TI - The effect of chronic clinical pain on thermal and mechanical thresholds in sheep. AB - Threshold responses were measured to a thermal skin test and a mechanical pressure test in two groups of conscious unrestrained sheep. The first group of sheep were healthy adult females and formed a control sample, the second group were also adult females, but were all suffering from a condition known as footrot. Footrot is a chronic infective lesion affecting usually one foot which appears to cause severe pain in its worst manifestation. These sheep were assessed for the severity of the lesion and degree of lameness and were divided into high and low severity subgroups. Footrot did not alter the threshold to the thermal test but the mechanical pressure threshold was significantly reduced in both footrot sub-groups compared to controls. A local anaesthetic block of the affected foot restored values to close to the control level. After treatment of the affected foot, the mechanical threshold in the low severity sub-group was returned to normal, but in the high severity sub-group it was still significantly reduced compared to the control animals. However, when retested 3 months later these values had returned to the normal control levels. PMID- 2616186 TI - Meta-analysis minus the analysis: a prescription for confusion. PMID- 2616187 TI - Sympathetic dependent pain states. PMID- 2616188 TI - The reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, associated with traumatic myelopathy (Pain, 37 (1989) 187-192) PMID- 2616189 TI - All cats are not gray; all pain programs are not alike. PMID- 2616190 TI - Acute virulent infection with Plasmodium chabaudi does not impair the generation of a protective immune response. AB - We have investigated whether a protective immune response occurred in mice infected with a virulent cloned strain of Plasmodium chabaudi. Animals inoculated intravenously with 10(7) parasitized erythrocytes (PE) showed an exponentially increasing parasitaemia and died by day 6 of the infection, presenting a pronounced anaemia. Smaller inocula produced a longer pre-patent period but did not change the lethal course of infection, since mice injected with 100 parasites died on day 12. When anaemia was compensated for by red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, infected mice recovered and thereafter exhibited a strong immunity, comparable to that of mice immunized by a drug-controlled infection. The immune response was P. chabaudi specific, as the mice were fully susceptible to a challenge by P. yoelii. Three transfusions of 5 x 10(9) RBC per mouse at 2-day intervals were necessary before all the animals were able to control the infection. Transfusion of a larger number of RBC resulted in a lower anaemia and a delay in reticulocytaemia but, paradoxically, the expression of the immune response was delayed. Three transfusions of 1.2 x 10(10) RBC enabled three out of eight mice to survive the infection, while six transfusions enabled all the mice to survive. The data suggest that parasitized immature RBC could play an important role in triggering the protective immune response. PMID- 2616191 TI - The antibody recognition profiles of humans naturally infected with Ascaris lumbricoides. AB - A semi-quantitative analysis of individual human antibody responses to larval Ascaris excretory and secretory (ES) antigens using radioimmunoprecipitation and SDS-PAGE is presented. A significant relationship was observed between the intensity of antibody-precipitated radiolabelled ES antigens and host age. The antibody response profile followed a similar age-related pattern to that of intensity of infection, with blood samples from 5-9-year-old children showing the strongest banding patterns and the heaviest infections. These findings support the hypothesis that the degree of exposure to infective stages of Ascaris is a major determinant of the convex age-intensity profile observed in the community. Considerable heterogeneity was observed in the antibody profiles of individuals, particularly in the recognition of a 14 kD molecule. Positive correlations were observed between the strength of banding at several mol. wts and the worm burdens of individuals. However, the sample size was too small to determine whether these relationships simply reflect age-related profiles or represent independent associations between antibody levels and worm burden. When the data were stratified by age, negative associations between the strength of recognition of some bands and the intensity of infection were suggested and require further study. PMID- 2616192 TI - Secreted antigens of filarial nematodes: a survey and characterization of in vitro excreted/secreted products of adult Brugia malayi. AB - We report here a broad analysis of the excretory/secretory (E/S) products of adult Brugia malayi, collected by in-vitro cultivation of the parasite. Culture media and conditions were optimized, and non-essential amino acids were found to be crucial for efficient protein synthesis under cell- and serum-free culture conditions. A close correlation was found between total protein secretion, phosphorylcholine-bearing antigen release and lactate production on each day of culture, indicating that E/S molecules are actively secreted. Parasites cultured in vitro take 2-3 days to adjust to the new environment, and show peak levels of secretion at days 3 and 4. The active secretion of phosphorylcholine by the parasite therefore justifies the measurement of this molecule as an indication of active infection, possibly reflecting total worm burdens. By comparing metabolically labelled E/S from male and female worms, several molecules of low mol. wt, namely 10,000, 13,000, 14,000 and 22,000, together with high mol. wt components of above 12,000 were found to be female specific. Tracing the origin of the E/S products, several molecules were also found to be associated with the surface. Among these, there are at least two glycoproteins, 29,000 and 51,000 of which the 29,000 molecule is a major surface protein. The immunogenicity of the E/S was examined and antigenic cross-reactivity was found with sera from most filarial infections but not with non-filarial nematodiases such as hookworm or Trichinella. However, two molecules of low mol. wt, 15,000 and 19,000, were not recognized by anti-Onchocerca sera and appeared to be potential Brugia-specific diagnostic molecules. Possible functional roles of the adult E/S products were examined but we could find no evidence of protease activity in the E/S or glutathione S-transferase activity in either the E/S or in whole somatic extract. PMID- 2616193 TI - Pulmonary inflammation in parasitic infection: immunoglobulins in bronchoalveolar washings of rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. AB - Despite marked pulmonary pathology caused by larval stages of many helminth parasites, little is known about the mechanisms of immune and inflammatory responses to parasites in the respiratory tract. Using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) we have retrieved soluble proteins and cells from the respiratory tract of rats given a primary or secondary infection with the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Total amounts of different immunoglobulin classes and albumin in BAL fluids and serum were quantitated using an ELISA. Analysis of the cellular component showed an increase in alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes on different days post-infection similar to our earlier findings. A time course study revealed that the concentrations of total protein, albumin, IgG, IgA and IgM in BAL fluids of infected animals were increased from days 2 to 32 after a primary infection. The magnitude of this increase was higher following a challenge infection (secondary) with the same parasite. Moreover, there was also a biphasic increase in total protein, IgG and IgA after secondary infections, with peaks on days 2 to 4 and 11 to 21 post-infection. A comparison of immunoglobulin to albumin ratios in serum and BAL fluids showed that the initial peak of proteins in the lavage was a result of serum leakage and the subsequent peak was due to local secretion of immunoglobulins. These results suggest that in addition to marked BAL cellular reactivity, N. brasiliensis infection induces an initial vascular and endothelial permeability in the respiratory tract which is soon repaired but followed by local synthesis and secretion of IgG and IgA in the lower respiratory tract. PMID- 2616194 TI - [A description of the female and larva of the relic species Ixodes ghilarovi (Ixodidae)]. AB - Ixodes (Exopalpiger) ghilarovi was found in 4 separated localities of the Great Caucasus at a height of 1000 to 2200 m above sea level. Female differs from palaearctic I. (Exopalpiger) trianguliceps in 4-4 pairs of setae of the anal valve, shape of scutum, longer setae of alloscutum, more round peritreme, correlation between the length of peritreme longitudinal diameter and the length of longitudinal diameter of the anal ring, presence of auricles and shape of palps. Larva differs from I. trianguliceps in longer setae of alloscutum, longer ventrolateral tooth of 1st palpal joint and longer medial tooth of coxae I. PMID- 2616195 TI - [A new species of blackflies--Simulium (Argentisimulium) dolini sp. n. (Diptera, Simuliidae)]. AB - Female, male and larva of the new species of black flies, Simulium (Argentisimulium) dolini sp. n. are described. By its morphology the species occupies an "intermediate position" between S. nolleri and S. palustre. In the USSR the species was found in wooded and forest-steppe zones of West Ukraine. PMID- 2616196 TI - [Enhanced blocking capacity of the plague microbe in the body of the flea]. AB - During the stay of plague microbe in the organism of flea, under the effect of bactericidal factor increases its ability to form the block of proventriculus in these insects. Thus, in fleas infected on white mice, which were infected in a natural way through blocked individuals, the block of proventriculus appears 2 to 3 times as often (59.5 and 34.0%) as in insects (15.02%) infected on animals, which were infected artificially. PMID- 2616197 TI - [The action of a juvenile hormone synthetic analog--ether-farnesol on Xenopsylla cheopis fleas]. AB - The authors tested the effect of the analogue of juvenile hormone (AJH), ether farnesol, synthesized at the Institute of Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of ESSR (the city of Tallin), on immature stages of X. cheopis. When testing the following doses of AJH (0.0025, 0.00025, 0.000025, 0.0000025 ml per lg of substrate, consisting of sand and dry bull blood, for feeding larvae) it was established that the dose of 0.0025 ml/g causes 100% mortality of insects on the 2nd day of the experiment. 10 fold decrease in ether-farnesol dose causes the mortality of the majority of larvae. Only 13.6% of them formed cocoons, which failed to produce mature individuals. A repeated 10 and 100 fold decrease of AJH caused mortality in 50.0 and 46.7% of insects, respectively. The effect of the preparation stipulated the disturbance of the normal course of metamorphosis (changes in the data of phases replacement and the mortality of insects during their moulting). PMID- 2616198 TI - [Invasive nematode larvae of the order Spirurida from pasture flies]. AB - A key for the identification of infective larvae is presented which has proved useful for epizootiological studies. PMID- 2616199 TI - [A morphologic analysis of digestion in Leptopsylla segnis (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllidae) fleas]. AB - Changes in the ultrastructure of cells of the intestinal epithelium during the digestion of one blood portion were traced in the fleas L. segnis. It is shown that alongside with the cavity digestion take place elements of intracellular digestion. Hypothetic scheme of the digestive cell functioning is given. PMID- 2616200 TI - [Karyologic research on trematodes of the family Schistosomatidae from northwestern Chukota]. AB - Peculiarities of chromosome sets of 4 schistosome species, parasitic in different mollusks from the Chaun lowland were investigated. The karyotype of parthenitae of Trichobilharzia sp. 1 (the intermediate host Sibirenauta picta) consists of 18 elements, of which the 2nd and 6th pairs are submetacentric-metacentric, the other chromosomes are metacentric. The diploid chromosome set of Trichobilharzia sp. 2 (the intermediate host Anisus acronicus) includes 16 biarmed units. The first pair of metacentric chromosomes amounts to 28.02% of the whole haploid set length. Austrobilharzia variglandis have 14 biarmed autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes. Females are the heterogametic sex, Z-chromosomes are of a metacentric-submetacentric type, W have an acrocentric structure. The chromosome complex of Shistosomatium sp. (the intermediate host Lymnaea zazurensis) consists of 14 elements, of which the largest pair is sex chromosomes. The female sex is determined by an exclusively large metacentric Z-chromosomes (relative length 38.36%) and a small acrocentric W-chromosome (relative length only 7.08%). The chromosome sets of Schistosomatium sp. have undergone the most considerable evolutionary transformations among schistosomes, as a result it has the least linkage groups of genes and the most expressed differentiation of sex chromosomes. PMID- 2616201 TI - [The developmental cycle of Proteocephalus thymalli (Cestoda, Proteocephalidae)- a parasite of the Arctic grayling from Lake Baikal]. AB - The life cycle of Proteocephalus thymalli (Cestoda, Proteocephalidae), a parasite of Siberian glame (Thymallus arcticus), was repeated under experimental conditions. The first intermediate hosts, the copepods Epischura baicalensis, Cyclops kolensis and C. vicinus, were determined. The developmental time of P. thymalli in the first intermediate host was determined and the morphology of the larval and adult phases was described. PMID- 2616202 TI - [Syncoelicotyloides macruri gen. et sp. n.--the first representative of the subfamily Syncoelidotylinae (Microcotylidae, Monogenea) from macruriform fishes]. AB - Syncoelicotyloides macruri gen. et sp. nov., a monogenean of the subfamily Syncoelicotylinae Mamaev et Subtschenko, 1978, is described. Members of this subfamily were known only from Notacanthiformes and are found for the first time in Macrouriformes. This fact is considered by the authors as a confirmation of the earlier supposition (Mamaev, Zubtschenko, 1978) about phylogenetic closeness of these fishes. PMID- 2616203 TI - [Keratinocyte-fibroblast interactions: I. Production by the keratinocytes of soluble factors stimulating the proliferation of normal human skin fibroblasts]. AB - Epidermal cells produce IL-1 and contra IL-1 which respectively stimulate and decrease fibroblast proliferation. In order to get better insight into the nature of keratinocyte-fibroblast interactions, we have analyzed the effect of soluble factors produced by unstimulated normal human keratinocytes and keratinocyte cell lines on the proliferation of normal human dermal fibroblasts. The results were compared to these obtained with human recombinant IL-1 and IL-2. We observed that: 1) normal keratinocytes (monolayers or stratified) released in the culture medium a factor stimulating fibroblast proliferation by 45 to 160%; 2) supernatants of unstimulated PAM 212 keratinocyte cell line also contained the stimulatory activity; 3) addition of IL-1 beta to the culture medium at concentration ranging from 0.1 to 1.000 U/ml induced a dose-dependent increase in fibroblast proliferation, whereas IL-2 was ineffective; 4) gel filtration analysis (ACA 54) of serum-free supernatant showed that the activity could be eluted from 3 peaks (Mw ranging from 10 to 20 kD). The present data show that unstimulated normal human keratinocytes produce soluble factor(s) (maybe related to IL-1) which stimulate human dermal fibroblast proliferation and which could be of major importance in the modulation of fibroblast metabolism, in vivo. PMID- 2616204 TI - [Value of IgA detection in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis]. AB - The detection of IgA in serum by immunocapture agglutination assay is easy to perform in routine. It represents a valuable element for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The presence of IgA, even more than that of IgM, evokes a recent infection. However, caution must be taken in using the results to date back the infection since kinetics of IgA production, like other immunoglobulins, may depend on individual variations. PMID- 2616205 TI - [Nicotine gum and lipid profile]. AB - Smoking promotes for atherosclerosis by several mechanisms and particularly its actions on lipid metabolism; nicotine liability is well established. In one patient the use of nicotine-gum was reported to increase total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. We studied lipid modifications in 14 voluntary students, heavy smokers (greater than 20 cigarettes/day) and nicotine dependent (Fagerstrom test; score greater than 7). They gave up smoking and received in double blind study either 2 mg nicotine-gum, or placebo-gum (8-12 gums a day for one month). Total and HDL cholesterol (chol.), triglycerides (TG) were measured at day 0, day 30 and day 60. Giving up smoking was ascertained by CO-analyser. At day 30 total chol and TG were unmodified, and HDL chol appeared slightly increased. At day 60 HDL and LDL chol were significantly improved. So in nicotine-dependent smokers, by giving up smoking and receiving 2 mg nicotine-gum, lipid patterns are not worsened but improved. PMID- 2616206 TI - [The effect of hyperbaric oxygenation, alpha-tocopherol and their combination on lipoprotein lipid metabolism in the blood plasma of rabbits with hypercholesterolemia]. AB - Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) led to acceleration of free-radical oxidation of blood plasma lipids, reduction of the fraction of linoleic acid residues in phospholipids, and inhibition of the fractional rate of the lecithin-cholesterol acyl-transferase reaction in rabbits with severe hypercholesterolemia. In group 2 of rabbits with similar hypercholesterolemia administration of alpha-tocopherol increased the content of high density lipoprotein phospholipids, the activity of hepatic endothelial lipase and the cholesterol esterifying activity of blood plasma, and accelerated hypercholesterolemia regression. Combination of HBO and alpha-tocopherol in group 3 of rabbits with hyper-cholesterolemia decelerated the accumulation of the products of free-radical oxidation in blood plasma; the activity of the lecithin-cholesterol-acyltransferase reaction increased in this case, while the regression of hypercholesterolemia was accelerated. It is concluded that some unfavourable changes of lipid metabolism occurring under the effect of HBO in hypercholesterolemia can be corrected with alpha-tocopherol. PMID- 2616207 TI - [The hypolipidemic and antiatherosclerotic action of absorbable and nonabsorbable substances in the intestines]. AB - Hypolipidemic effect of the polyphenol compound triophen possessing antihypoxic activity was demonstrated in chronic experiments on rabbits. It was also shown that a new derivative of methylxanthine, which does not penetrate the blood- brain barrier, produces a hypolipidemic and antiatherosclerotic effect. Experiments on rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits with induced hyperlipidemia revealed a hypolipidemic effect of new complex compounds which are not absorbed in the intestine--steroid glycosides digitonin and tomatonin immobilized on a polymer. These substances resemble cholesteramine in activity but are distinguished by solubility, low toxicity, and a mechanism of action which is more physiological. PMID- 2616208 TI - [Lipid metabolism and lymph coagulability in the postresuscitation period]. AB - The values of lipid metabolism and lymph coagulation in the restoration period after resuscitation were studied in experiments on rabbits. A clear correlation between the values was revealed. Increase of concentration of total lipids and of lipid fractions was accompanied by increase of the lymph coagulation potential, which led to disturbed tissue drainage of lymph and was one of the important causes of the development of postresuscitation complications. The elaboration of pathogenetic therapy for regulation of lipid metabolism and lymph coagulation in the postresuscitation period is necessary. PMID- 2616209 TI - [Changes in the membrane permeability of erythrocytes during blood coagulation in vitro]. AB - It was established that permeability of erythrocyte membranes increases significantly during coagulation of blood in vitro. As a result, a certain amount of biosubstrates may pass into blood plasma from the erythrocytes. The increase of red cell membrane permeability in coagulation of blood is due to activation of free-radical oxidation of the cell lipid structures. PMID- 2616210 TI - [Mechanisms of verapamil prevention of disorders of cardiac contractile function during ischemia and reperfusion]. AB - A dog heart isolated according to Langendorf was used to study the effect of verapamil, used as a preventive measure, on the contractile function of the heart, its work and oxygen consumption, and the coronary blood flow in modelled coronary insufficiency and after restoration of blood supply to the myocardium. The results provide evidence that verapamil prevents significant decrease of the efficacy of myocardial functioning in ischemia, owing to which the heart maintains a higher level of performance under conditions of inadequate blood supply, the development of acidosis is prevented, and reperfusion disorders of cardiac function are removed completely. This effect is mediated to a great measure by maintenance of high economy of heart performance due to verapamil. PMID- 2616211 TI - [The regulation of systemic and regional hemodynamics in waking rats with a chronic adriamycin-induced myocardial lesion]. AB - Rats were given intraperitoneal injections of adriamycin (cumulative dose 20 mg/kg). Two weeks after the last injection left-ventricular function and systemic and regional hemodynamics were studied before and during isoprenaline infusion (0.64 mcg/kg/min) in conscious rats with no signs of cardiac insufficiency. In the controls isoprenaline increased the left-ventricular contractility index by 45% and the heart rate by 30%. The contractility index in rats given adriamycin did not change, the heart rate increased only by 14%, but in contrast to the controls, a significant increase of the cardiac index by 36% and diminution of total peripheral resistance by 36% were revealed. The sensitivity of the baroreflex chronotropic component in the control animals was twice that in the experimental rats. It is concluded that adriamycin cardiomyopathy in rats is attended by reduced sensitivity of the baroreflex mechanisms and diminished myocardial adrenergic reactivity. PMID- 2616212 TI - [The effect of ionol on oxidative-reductive processes in the kidney during heat stroke]. AB - Heat stroke was induced in intact rats in a thermal chamber (45 degrees C) and simultaneously a group of animals was subjected to overheating for the same time but was given intraperitoneal injections of ionol (120 mg/kg) for 2 days and 30 minutes before exposure in the chamber. Significant increase of the concentration of intermediates--lactate, pyruvate, malate, glutamate, ammonia--and decrease of the alpha-ketoglutarate content occurred in the renal tissue in animals of both groups. The NAD/NADH ratio in the cytoplasm and mitochondria reduced essentially, to a greater degree in animals given ionol injections. The last named were distinguished by higher survival and lower degree of hyperthermia. PMID- 2616213 TI - [Assessment of the reserve potentials of the circulatory system in patients in the postoperative period]. AB - The author discusses the results of studying in dynamics the cardiac output during infusion therapy conducted at the same rate in patients in the postoperative period. A pathogenetic scheme of the response of the cardiovascular system to the volume load is suggested. PMID- 2616214 TI - [The role of changes in vascular permeability, interstitial relaxation and surface tension forces in the alveoli in disordered filtration-absorption equilibrium in pulmonary edema]. AB - Changes of fluid filtration and reabsorption in application and removal of hydrodynamic loads were studied on isolated lungs of dogs. Some models of transcapillary filtration in the lungs were studied on basis of the obtained data. According to the theoretical predictions of these models, the following factors influence the non-linearity of the filtration and reabsorption processes most essentially: interstitial relaxation in the stage of interstitial edema and the appearance of surface tension forces in the alveoli. The hypothesis of the significance of disturbed permeability of the capillary wall is confirmed to a very small measure with such an approach. The described phenomena allow the processes of fluid accumulation in pulmonary edema to be represented on a mathematical model. PMID- 2616215 TI - [Disorders of the functional systems of the body resulting from acute experimental hypoxia]. AB - Damage to various organs was found in newborn animals who underwent acute hypoxia. Correction with antioxidants improved all values. It can be said that a common posthypoxic syndrome developed, the leading pathogenetic link of which is activation of lipid peroxidation processes. PMID- 2616216 TI - [Detection of latent spontaneous pathology of the central nervous system and visceral organs in rabbits by determining antibodies to tissue antigens and by a test for delayed hypersensitivity]. AB - Complex immunological, pathologicoanatomic and histopathological examination of intact rabbits revealed a correlation between the appearance of complement fixation antibodies and delayed hypersensitivity to tissue antigens on the one hand and the development of spontaneous pathology of the corresponding organs on the other. Meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in all sick animals by means of immunological tests. Tests for antibodies and delayed hypersensitivity to tissue antigens revealed intracapillary glomerulonephritis, coccidiosis of the liver, and pneumonia. The authors recommend conduction of immunological tests for detecting latent spontaneous pathology in laboratory animals. PMID- 2616217 TI - [The neuronal electrical activity of the cerebellar cortex in hypoxia]. AB - The dynamics of impulse activity of the cerebellar cortex neurons demonstrated in acute experiments on nembutal-anesthetized and diplacinum-immobilized cats bore evidence that the cerebellum participates in the organism's response to hypoxia. The Purkinje cells proved to be more resistant to hypoxia than the neurons of the neopallium, archipallium, and some other structures of the brain stem. PMID- 2616218 TI - [Monosynaptic reflex responses of the spinal cord after the removal of the bones of the shin and thigh in white rats]. AB - To analyse the mechanisms of the increase of excitability of the spinal cord neurons after division of a nerve, the author studied the character of changes of the monosynaptic responses (MSR) of the ventral spinal cord root in albino rats 5 days and 4 weeks after removal of the bones of one hind limb. The MSR did not change in 5 days but intensified significantly in 4 weeks as compared to the monosynaptic responses on the contralateral side. The possible mechanisms of the increase of MSR after osteotomy and division of a nerve are discussed. PMID- 2616219 TI - [The effect of para-aminomethylbenzoic acid (amben) on peripheral nerve regeneration]. AB - Various injuries to the sciatic nerve were modelled in experiments on 60 rats and 27 dogs to study the effect of paraaminomethylbenzoic acid on its regeneration; the efficacy of amben was compared with that of other agents used widely for the treatment of injuries to nerves. It was found that amben acts on the connective tissue of the neural scar and creates favourable conditions for growth of axons from the central to the peripheral stump of the injured nerve and accelerated their maturation. PMID- 2616220 TI - [The effect of sodium nucleinate on allergic reactions]. AB - Experiments on animals and clinical observations over patients with infectious allergic bronchial asthma and rheumatism showed that sodium nucleinate could abolish or suppress the intensity of immediate and delayed type hypersensitivity and the corresponding skin reactions to specific allergens. PMID- 2616221 TI - [Suppression of the neuroeffector transmission of the sympathetic system]. AB - A geometrical model of inhibition of neuroeffector transmission of the sympathetic system was constructed on the basis of the polymetric method of registration of a complex of somatovegetative indices and multiparametric description of the effect of alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking agents and adrenomimetic drugs in experiments on intact rats. Similar multiparametric description of the effect of therapeutic doses of adrenergic blocking agents on patients with hypertension was conducted in the clinic. The results obtained in the clinic were interpreted on the basis of the experimental models. The authors show the possibilities of the polymetric method in more scrupulous study of the functional condition of the various links of the vegetative nervous system and in a stricter individual approach to treatment with adrenergic agents. PMID- 2616222 TI - [General pathophysiology of the nervous system]. PMID- 2616223 TI - [Ways to optimize the delivery of lectures]. PMID- 2616224 TI - Brain neuron gene expression in the organization of innate and acquired behaviors. AB - In a series of experiments using rats and rabbits, it was determined that regulatory peptides played a role in the mechanisms of learned behavior. Learning a new habit as a conditional avoidance response was accompanied by a considerable increase in brain DNA synthesis, which in turn could result in RNA and protein synthesis activation. The results suggest the following interdependent molecular phenomena: 1) DNA synthesis activation; 2) genome expression of a certain type of oligopeptides; 3) regulation of genome expression of proteins by chromatin nonhistone proteins; 4) regulation of gene expression mechanisms by brain regulatory peptides. PMID- 2616225 TI - Analysis of thought dissociation in schizophrenia on the basis of Wedensky-Pavlov phasic states. AB - Clinical analysis shows that a fundamental element of thought dissociation in schizophrenia is semantic and sound "derailments" of the associative processes. On a pathophysiological level these derailments could be explained through the parabiotic phasic states of Wedensky-Pavlov. In particular these derailments could be explained through the distortion of reciprocal relations between verbal structures by means of Pavlov's ultraparadoxical phase, wherein the positive stimuli become negative and vice versa. The author assumes that in appropriate (adequate) circumstances one of the mechanisms by which the leading idea directs the associative process is the reciprocal inhibiting-facilitating relations between the verbal (and nonverbal) structures. In schizophrenia (which Pavlov considered as a chronic hypnotic phasic state) these inhibiting-facilitating relations are disorganized and the associative process reveals phasic disintegrative deviations. Therefore thought dissociation in schizophrenia, by the magnifying glass of the pathology, indicates that a reciprocal inhibiting facilitating relation is a basic principle of functional organization not only on the lower levels of the nervous system, but also on its highest levels. PMID- 2616226 TI - Reciprocal unconditional-conditional organization of the fundamental emotions and paraadaptive personality reactions. AB - Paraadaptive personality reactions (PPR) are modes of behavior and experience on the borderline of normal psychology and psychopathology. In them the thinking is overdetermined or obsessive. Overdetermined PPR are well illustrated in common proverbs. The people's wisdom has also knowledge of the obsessive (or "magic") paraadaptive rituals for prevention of possible misfortunes (such as touching wood, keeping away from a black cat, etc.). One part of the PPR is described in the psychoanalytical literature as defense mechanisms. The analysis of thought dissociation in schizophrenia shows that the reciprocal relations could be considered as a basic principle of functional organization on all levels of nervous and psychic activity. Proceeding from this assumption, the author proposes the conception of a reciprocal neuropsychological unconditional conditional affect-behavioral system (ABS). It consists of ten subsystems corresponding to the basic emotions. Each subsystem stimulates the personality toward predetermined forms of thinking and behavior. In adequate conditions the reciprocal processes in the ABS are well counterweighted and integrated. In some persons and in situations of greater affective "loading" this reciprocal balance is disorganized, which leads to PPR. In this paper a neuropsychological analysis is made of the overdetermined PPR, reflected in such proverbs as "Not being able to beat the donkey, he beats the packsaddle" and "The thief cries catch the thief." PMID- 2616227 TI - Sex differences and bilateral electrodermal activity: a replication. AB - The present study was aimed at replicating the results of a previous work on sex differences and electrodermal asymmetry from our laboratory (Roman, et al. 1987). Skin conductance was bilaterally recorded in a sample of 44 dextral volunteers (22 males and 22 females) during a stimulus-free period, and the performance of two tasks (verbal and spatial). Subjects were grouped into two groups of right hand and left-hand dominance in their electrodermal responses (EDRs) in accordance with their laterality coefficient scores at rest. During the tasks subjects appeared clearly differentiated by their lateralization in the magnitude and frequency of EDRs independently of gender: right-hand responders showed higher electrodermal activity on their right hand, while left-hand responders showed higher electrodermal activity on their left hand. Sex differences were not observed within each responsiveness pattern. The orientation of phasic electrodermal changes remained constant throughout the different conditions. PMID- 2616228 TI - Atropine abolishes the differential heart responses to conditional stimuli of various foods. PMID- 2616229 TI - Meeting the challenge of culturally diverse populations. PMID- 2616230 TI - Health care of immigrant children: incorporating culture into practice. AB - Culture plays a major role in health care and compliance. Comprehensive cultural assessments include detailed family histories, altered screening tests, and sensitivity toward differences in health practices. Nurses also need to understand themselves and their own cultural values in working with culturally different clients. PMID- 2616231 TI - Health issues facing Native American children. AB - The current health status of Native American children is inseparable from the problems of the American Indian society. The dominant issues for these children and their health care providers are poverty and alcoholism, with the associated problems of diabetes, gastroenteritis, accidents, and fetal alcohol syndrome. The implications for pediatric nurses include cultural sensitivity and discharge planning as a way to prevention as well as advocacy of Native American children. PMID- 2616232 TI - Growth parameters and blood values in Arabic children. AB - Growth parameters and blood values, including height, weight, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were measured on a sample (n = 251) of Arabic children from the West Bank of Israel. Analyses indicate that socioeconomic factors, along with cultural characteristics, contribute to several differences in gender and income comparisons. Nurses working with Arabic children who may have immigrated to the United States should be sensitive to potential economic and cultural effects. PMID- 2616233 TI - Children's use of patient-controlled analgesia after spine surgery. AB - Using a convenience sample of children ranging in age from 10 to 19 years, a retrospective chart audit was conducted on those who received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) following surgery. PCA was found to be safe, effective, and appropriate for most subjects. PMID- 2616234 TI - Pain management in the child with sickle cell disease. AB - Vaso-occlusive crisis is the most common complication of sickle cell disease. Ongoing education, appropriate assessment, and adequate analgesia will provide effective relief for the child in pain. PMID- 2616235 TI - Standards and criteria: group child care for sick children. AB - With the establishment of several statewide sick child care programs, a group of concerned health professionals recognized the need to develop guidelines and nursing care criteria for these centers. A task force was formed to design guidelines for the planning and development of facilities that provide care for children with recuperating illnesses. PMID- 2616236 TI - Perspectives on pediatric nursing in Poland. PMID- 2616237 TI - The management of anorexia. PMID- 2616238 TI - Approaches to decision making. AB - Nurse managers must remain objective in the decision-making process, putting the welfare of the department and institution first. The book Tragic Choices is an excellent resource in helping nurse managers to explore the many factors that affect the decision making process. PMID- 2616239 TI - General pediatric nursing certification maintenance. PMID- 2616240 TI - Effect of peripheral i.v. infusion on neonatal axillary temperature measurement. AB - To determine whether axillary temperature in an arm with a peripheral IV infusion (PIVI) is significantly different than in the arm without a PIVI in neonates. METHOD: Twenty-nine neonates ranging in Dubowitz gestational age from 27-42 weeks were selected from Level II and III nurseries. Each had a PIVI in place in an upper extremity. Right axillary, left axillary, and rectal temperatures were taken simultaneously. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between left and right axillary temperatures using a t-test. CONCLUSION: Either axilla may be used for temperature measurement regardless of PIVI placement. PMID- 2616241 TI - Impact of childhood cancer on family care in Taiwan. AB - Based on the results of a study on 75 families of children with cancer in Taiwan, the author, with assistance from nurses, physicians and the Chinese community, initiated the development of a Childhood Cancer Foundation. The author summarizes the study, the outcome of the study, and recommends several readings for nurses working with Chinese families. PMID- 2616242 TI - Pediatric management problems: hepatitis A. PMID- 2616243 TI - Preparing for depositions: what nurses should know. AB - With nurses more frequently involved in lawsuits, understanding how to prepare for depositions is extremely important to the success of a case. PMID- 2616244 TI - Loss of oxygen tolerance in newborn rabbits: relationship to changes in eicosanoid and antioxidant levels. AB - Relative tolerance of newborn animals to hyperoxia has been reported. This study investigated the age limitation of oxygen tolerance and mechanisms for its loss. Developmental changes in lungs of normoxic New Zealand rabbits were studied on days 1, 3, 4, 5, and 10 of life. These were contrasted with newborn and 7-day-old rabbits exposed to greater than 95% O2 for 65 hours. Normoxic rabbits demonstrated a decrement in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 6keto-PGF1a, thromboxane B2, and lower lung catalase, total glutathione, and superoxide dismutase with maturation. Newborns were more tolerant to oxygen than 7-day-old rabbits. Oxygen exposure beginning on day 1 did not result in identifiable lung damage. Exposure beginning on day 7 resulted in microscopic evidence of injury and significant increases in BAL white cells, neutrophils and protein, and a trend toward higher BAL LTB4 compared to normoxic age-matched controls. Antioxidants were higher in the hyperoxic 7 day-olds, but remained lower than values in hyperoxic newborns. These results suggest that loss of oxygen tolerance in maturing rabbits is related to a developmental decrement in antioxidants and prostacyclin. PMID- 2616245 TI - Effects of acute viral respiratory tract infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. AB - To determine the effects of acute viral respiratory infections (ARI) in cystic fibrosis (CF) we studied all episodes of ARI in ten patients over a 2 year period. A daily diary card was kept on which they recorded all illnesses, including specific upper and lower respiratory symptoms, antibiotic use, and daily peak flow measurements. Recording of concurrent similar illnesses in other household members aided in confirming the onset of ARI, as did a home viral culturing technique and serial serum antibody levels against specific viral types. A total of 80% of the 35 recorded onsets of ARI (1.75/yr/subject) were confirmed by one or more of these methods. Five subjects with moderate to severe pulmonary function scores at the outset of the study had significantly greater decreases in PEFR during ARI episodes (42.4%) than those with milder disease (15.4%), and it took them significantly longer to recover to their baseline measurements (22 days vs. 15 days respectively). The majority of hospital admissions for pulmonary exacerbations were preceded by viral infections (7/8). PMID- 2616246 TI - Outcome of mechanical ventilation in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AB - We retrospectively reviewed the records of 18 children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who required mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure. These patients represented 35% of the patients seen with pulmonary disease and AIDS. The most common causes of respiratory failure were Pnuemocystis carinii pneumonia (77%) and bacterial pneumonia (33%). Bronchial lavage by fiberoptic bronchoscopy or endotracheal tube suctioning in mechanically ventilated children with AIDS had a high yield for P. carinii. Eight of 18 (44%) children survived the episode of respiratory failure and were weaned from the ventilator. However, four of eight survivors died within 6 months. Arterial oxygen tension on admission and maximum peak inspiratory pressure on the ventilator did not differ between survivors and nonsurvivors. We conclude that children with AIDS who are mechanically ventilated can be weaned from the respirator but that the subsequent course remains poor. PMID- 2616247 TI - Genioglossal recruitment during acute hypoxia and hypercapnia in kittens. AB - We examined genioglossal and diaphragmatic EMG activities in one- and two-month old anesthetized kittens during acute exposures to hypoxic (13% or 10% O2) and hyperoxic hypercapnic (8% CO2/50% O2/balanced N2) gas mixtures. Phasic genioglossal EMG activity, frequently characterized by a combined inspiratory expiratory discharge pattern, was observed in 3 of 8 one-month-old vs. 7 of 7 two month-old kittens during hypercapnia (Chi-square P less than 0.05). The percentage of kittens recruiting genioglossal activity during hypoxic exposures was similar at both ages (1 month, 75%; 2 month, 83%). Analysis of the breath-by breath response during trials of hypoxia in which genioglossal recruitment was observed, however, revealed that the one-month-old kittens exhibited phasic genioglossal activity in only 40 +/- 27% of the stimulated breaths, compared to 63 +/- 26% for the two-month-old ones (P less than 0.05) at each level of hypoxia. In this regard, the genioglossal response to hypoxia in one-month-old kittens was frequently characterized by early and only transient recruitment (when diaphragmatic activity was at its peak), while genioglossal recruitment was more sustained in two-month-old animals. These data indicate that genioglossal activity in kittens is often recruited during exposures to hypercapnia and hypoxia, and suggest that such recruitment is more frequent with increasing postnatal age. PMID- 2616248 TI - Ventilatory response to combined high frequency jet ventilation and conventional mechanical ventilation for the rescue treatment of severe neonatal lung disease. AB - High frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) was used to treat 176 infants who were either failing to respond to conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) or demonstrating pulmonary air leak. The median birthweight for infants treated with HFJV was 1530 g, median gestational age was 31 weeks. Median duration of therapy with HFJV was 3.0, with a range of 0.1 to 27 days. During the first 24 hours of treatment, mean airway pressure decreased from 16.2 +/- 0.3 (Mean +/- SEM) cmH2O to 12.2 +/- 0.3 cmH2O, while mean PaO2 increased from 65.3 +/- 3.0 torr to 93.3 +/- 3.0 torr during the same time period. Simultaneously, mean PaCO2 decreased from 46.4 +/- 1.5 torr to 36.6 +/- 1.0 torr, although peak inflating pressure decreased from 34.3 +/- 0.7 cmH2O to 30.1 +/- 0.8 cmH2O. Ninety-five (54%) infants treated with HFJV survived. Of 123 infants with RDS 75 (61%) survived. The rate of complications for HFJV patients was similar to that seen with CMV in our nursery. This study suggests that HFJV provides improved oxygenation and ventilation of infants at lower mean and peak pressures compared to conventional mechanical ventilation. HFJV combined with CMV may be a valuable adjunct to therapy in infants with severe lung disease. PMID- 2616249 TI - Clinical significance of airway responsiveness in children of low birthweight. AB - We report a prospective study of airway responsiveness in a cohort of 121 children of low birthweight (under 2,000 g) at 7 years and a random sample of 100 local schoolchildren of the same age. A positive airway response was defined as a 20% fall in peak expiratory flow rate in response to a cumulative histamine dose of 3 mumol or less. We found a moderate increase in airway responsiveness to inhaled histamine in the cohort (44%) compared with the reference group (22%). There was no significant association between airway responsiveness and any perinatal variables including the level of respiratory support. The findings suggested that neonatal respiratory illness or its treatment did not play a major role in determining the long-term airway responsiveness in these children. Amongst all factors examined, reduced airway function at the age of 7 was most strongly associated with airway responsiveness, independent of perinatal and familial factors. Airway responsiveness was associated with significantly more chest symptoms. We suggest that increased airway responsiveness to inhaled histamine in low birthweight children is a consequence rather than the cause of reduced airway function and argue against the presence of any other form of airway dysfunction as a cause of airway responsiveness. PMID- 2616250 TI - Prematurity is associated with abnormal airway function in childhood. AB - To evaluate the long-term effect of prematurity and/or hyaline membrane disease (HMD) on pulmonary function and airway reactivity, we studied 49 prematurely born children aged 10 to 13 years. They were divided into three groups according to birth weight and HMD status: Groups I and II comprised the children weighing less than 1,500 g at birth, and Group III those whose birth weight exceeded 1,500 g. Children without HMD at birth were classified as Group I and those with HMD as Group II or III. We performed both pulmonary function tests and methacholine (MCh) challenges and compared the results with those of 27 age-matched controls born at term. We found that FEV1 and RV/TLC ratios were significantly different from control values in the groups with birth weights less than 1,500 g, regardless of their HMD status (Groups I and II). In Group I, results for FEF25 75%, Vmax50%, and DLCO were lower than those of controls. Airway reactivity was significantly increased in Groups I and II. A 20% drop in FEV1 after MCh challenge was found in 88%, 62%, 53%, and 36% of children in Groups I, II, and III and controls, respectively, and a 35% drop in SGaw occurred in 87%, 88%, 53%, and 59%. We conclude that prematurity and not HMD per se leads to long-term pulmonary abnormalities and to an increase in nonspecific airway reactivity. PMID- 2616251 TI - Effects of inhaled metaproteronol and atropine on the pulmonary mechanics of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. PMID- 2616252 TI - Circular dichroic investigations into binding of sulfonamides to serum albumin. AB - The binding of twelve structurally related sulfonamides to serum albumins including human was investigated using a circular dichroic technique. Some differences of circular dichroic spectral characteristics were observed when sulfonamides were bound to the same albumin or when the drug was bound to several albumins. The differences in these circular dichroic characteristics may be due to various asymmetries. The Scatchard plots indicated that only the primary site was capable of inducing ellipticities of the drugs. The interaction with rabbit serum albumin showed significantly large binding constants and apparent anisotropy factors (g' values), in comparison with other albumins. No significant correlation between the g' values of the induced circular dichroic bands and partition coefficients or/and pKa values was observed. The induced ellipticities of the drug-albumin complexes decreased with pH. This pH dependence can be explained by the ionization of drug and albumin as well as the conformational change of the albumin. PMID- 2616253 TI - Sensitive colorimetric assay of carbidopa and methyldopa using tetrazolium blue chloride in pharmaceutical products. AB - A colorimetric method for the assay of carbidopa and methyldopa either in pure form or in pharmaceutical preparations is described. The method is based on the reduction of tetrazolium blue chloride in a non-aqueous alkaline medium by the substances analysed, and the measurement of the absorbance of the pink-coloured diformazan solution, which is caused by this reduction. The spectra of the aforesaid solutions exhibit an absorption maximum at lambda = 525 nm. The apparent molar absorptivities and Sandell's sensitivities (in l.mol-1.cm-1 and ng.cm-2, respectively) are 1.2.10(5) and 1.9 for carbidopa and 7.07.10(4) and 3.0 for methyldopa. The solution of diformazan formed obeys Beer's law in the concentration range of 0.05-4.0 ppm for carbidopa and 0.1-6.0 ppm for methyldopa. The slope and intercept of the corresponding regression line equation were obtained with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999 for carbidopa and 0.9994 for methyldopa. The variables affecting the development of the colour are investigated and the conditions are optimized. Compared with other procedures this method showed to be more simple and rapid, highly sensitive, precise and accurate. Results obtained by application of the proposed method and the official one, were in good agreement, while statistical comparison by the Student's t-test shows no significant difference between the two sets of the results. PMID- 2616254 TI - Pharmacokinetics of a single dose of ofloxacin in healthy elderly subjects using noncompartmental and compartmental models. AB - The pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin following a single 200 mg oral dose were studied in twelve healthy elderly volunteers. Relevant pharmacokinetic parameters were analysed by both noncompartmental and compartmental models. In compartmental analysis, the data on plasma concentrations was best described by an open two compartment model. A zero-order absorption behaviour was found in some volunteers. The terminal half-lives were slightly prolonged and ranged from 6.2 11.6 h. A linear relationship was found between the renal clearance of the drug and the estimated creatinine clearance. Computer predictions of a multiple 200 mg dose regimen showed no important accumulation of ofloxacin. The recommendation of some authors that, in general, ofloxacin dosage may be halved in the elderly could not be confirmed. This has to be determined through further clinical experience in elderly ill subjects. PMID- 2616255 TI - Half-life of maternal labetalol in a premature infant. AB - Intra-uterine heart arrhythmia, postpartal respiratory insufficiency, bradycardia and hypoglycaemia were observed in a premature infant (37 weeks gestational age) delivered by a caesarian section. The mother had been treated with adequate doses of labetalol because of pregnancy-induced hypertension and her plasma concentration was found to be 89 micrograms/l one day after delivery. The half life of labetalol in the plasma of the infant was found to be approximately 24 h, i.e. substantially longer than in normal adults. The half-life of labetalol in newborn premature infants may be prolonged as compared to normal adults. More studies are required regarding the pharmacokinetics of this agent in premature infants and newborn babies. PMID- 2616256 TI - Optimization of the in vitro glucuronidation of ibuprofen using factorial design. AB - Ibuprofen was chosen as a test compound to perform a multivariate design in order to determine the highest yield of the in vitro glucuronidation reaction in relation to the concentration of reacting and activating substances. Preliminary studies with a univariate design indicated that the concentration of Mg2+ had no significant effect on the glucuronidation and that Triton X-100 could be omitted as it appeared to inhibit the glucuronidation. In a 3(3) factorial design the influence of concentrations of ibuprofen, UDP glucuronic acid and enzyme, respectively, on the yield of ibuprofen glucuronide was established. It was concluded that the highest amount of ibuprofen glucuronide formed (within the limits of this design) was achieved with an ibuprofen concentration of 486 microM, a UDP-glucuronic acid concentration of 3 mM and an enzyme concentration of 3.57 mg/ml. Using this methodology it is possible to optimize the glucuronidation yield in a more rational way, which can be useful in the upscaling of enzymatic reactions. PMID- 2616257 TI - [Computed tomographic diagnosis of postoperative maxillary cyst (POMC)--a comparison with conventional tomography]. AB - We reviewed the computed tomographic (CT) findings of postoperative maxillary cyst (POMC) in 64 patients with 79 lesions, and evaluated its diagnostic efficacy. Typical CT finding of POMC was an expansile and homogeneous soft tissue mass with bone erosion. Thin-walled capsule and bony septation were also demonstrated in 72% and 35% of the lesions, respectively. A comparison between conventional tomography and CT has been made in the same subjects for evaluation of the detectability and extension diagnosis of POMC. CT proved to be superior to conventional tomography in diagnosing the presence and the extent of POMC. We conclude that conventional tomography is not necessary in diagnosis of POMC, when full examination of the paranasal sinus is performed by CT. PMID- 2616258 TI - [Acute hypertensive intracranial hemorrhage: MR imaging at 1.5T]. AB - Twelve patients with acute hypertensive intracranial hemorrhage underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging within 7 days after the ictus. T1-weighted (TR = 400 msec; TE = 20 msec) and T2-weighted (TR = 2000 msec; TE = 80 msec) images were obtained on a 1.5 Tesla MR system. Signal intensities of hematomas were carefully evaluated and were compared with white matter intensity. A 9-hour-old hematoma was mildly hypointense on T1-weighted images, and was mildly hyperintense on T2-weighted images, suggesting a reflection of the high water content. On T2-weighted images, thin peripheral hypointense rim, probably due to deoxyhemoglobin, was also observed. Both of 15-hour-old hematoma and 21-hour-old hematoma had peripheral hypointensity on T2-weighted images. Both of 39-hour-old hematoma and 43-hour-old hematoma had central hyper-intensity on T1-weighted images and iso-to-mild central hypointensity on T2-weighted images, suggesting a reflection of decreased water content. A 3-day-old hematoma had thin peripheral iso-to-mild hyperintense rim on T1-weighted images, presumably due to intracellular methomoglobin. A 5-day-old hematoma had thin peripheral hyperintense rim on T2-weighted images, probably due to free methemoglobin. A 7 day-old hematoma was hyperintense on T1-weighted images and was mildly hypointense to hyperintense on T2-weighted images, presumably due to mixed intracellular methemoglobin and free methemoglobin. PMID- 2616259 TI - [Angiographic positions for thoracic outlet syndrome]. AB - Thirty four patients (18 males and 16 females, 54 lesions) with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) were studied with conventional angiography. Angiography in the supine position did not confirm subclavian artery compression in 43.4% of patients. Lordotic position or upright position was useful for demonstration of subclavian artery compression in patients who did not show any findings in conventional techniques. PMID- 2616260 TI - [Change of blood pressure and pulse rate in intravenous urography]. AB - We monitored the blood pressure and pulse rate during routine excretory urography in 3002 patients (4832 examinations) using high osmolality contrast medium. After injection of contrast medium, the blood pressure was changed more than 20% of the pre-injection blood pressure lasting for more than 1 minute in 27 patients (27 examinations, 0.56%), including 8 patients with a hypertensive reaction (0.17%) and 19 patients with a hypotensive reaction (0.39%). In all 27 patients, transient tachycardia was seen along with the progress of blood pressure change. Bradycardia was associated with a severe hypotensive reaction in 2 patients. In 19 patients with a hypotensive reaction, the blood pressure was progressively decreased beyond 60 mmHg in 9 patients (0.18%) while the blood pressure was remained above 60 mmHg in 10 patients (0.21%). Treatment was not necessary in 8 patients with a hypertensive reaction as well as in 10 patients with a mild hypotensive reaction (above 80 mmHg). In these 18 patients, the examination would have been finished without a suspicion of the blood pressure change unless the blood pressure was monitored. In 9 patients with a severe hypotensive reaction (below 60 mmHg), the subjective or objective symptoms were present during the examination in 7 patients. They should be considered to have had "severe adverse reaction". In remaining 2 patients, there was no subjective or objective symptoms. We discussed possible mechanisms regarding the change of blood pressure and pulse rate after injection of contrast medium. PMID- 2616261 TI - [A study on over-centerable multi-axial conformation radiotherapy for prostatic carcinoma--analysis of the dose distribution by volume-dose histogram]. AB - The over-centerable multi-axial conformation radiotherapy was studied for stage C carcinoma of the prostate and the dose distribution obtained by this method was compared with those of other radiation methods. It is clinically important to reduce volume irradiated to normal tissues as the radiation damage depends not only on the extent of overdose but also on the amount of the overdosed volume and for the analysis of dose distribution, the volume-dose histogram is an useful method. Using newly developed software of computer for radiation treatment planning system (CMS, Modulex), we studied the volume-dose histogram in the conformation radiotherapy of prostatic carcinoma. With regard to the volume-dose histogram, the conformation technique showed better dose distribution than other conventional methods. In two-axial conformation technique with over-centerable multi-leaf collimators, although that was slightly inferior in the dose homogeneity in the lesion, the doses irradiated to rectum and bladder were lowest. In conclusion, our conformation technique is the most suitable method for delivering better dose distribution to the carcinoma of the prostate with minimum dose to rectum and bladder. PMID- 2616262 TI - [N-isopropyl I-123 p-iodoamphetamine single photon emission computed tomography of herpes simplex encephalitis]. AB - Two patients with herpes simplex encephalitis were studied with N-Isopropyl I-123 p-Iodoamphetamine (IMP) single photon emission computed tomography (IMP-SPECT) and X-ray computed tomography (CT). In both cases the affected temporal lobes showed an increased IMP uptake. In case 1, the initial increased IMP uptake decreased as symptoms and CT findings improved. In case 2, the increased IMP uptake was shown at the time of symptoms progressed, while CT had no abnormal findings. IMP uptake is sensitive for its demonstration of inflammatory processes of herpes simplex encephalitis. PMID- 2616263 TI - [The modification of radiation effect by nucleoside related compounds on a murine tumor given with local radiotherapy and on survival following whole body irradiation]. AB - We have evaluated the effect of nucleoside related compounds on a murine tumor given with local radiotherapy and on the survival rate following whole body irradiation. C3H/He mouse transplanted FM3A tumor and ddY mice were used. The enhancement ratio (ER) for the tumor treated by radiation and nucleoside related compounds was 1.02-1.67. For the normal tissue, Ara-A and BVAU given with radiation had no effect on the survival rate. In the combination of 50-800 mg/kg of ACV and whole body irradiation, the 50% survival day after 7 Gy was shorter than that of radiation alone. When 25-400 mg/kg of 3'-dG was given with radiation, the 50% survival day was longer. When combined with radiation, LD50/30 for ACV and 3'-dG were 3.9 and 6.3 Gy, respectively. ACV showed radiosensitizing effect with Dose modifying factor (DMF) at 1.1, on the other hand, 3'-dG showed radioprotective effect with DMF at 1.47. Our results suggested that some nucleoside analogues might be useful as radiosensitizer. PMID- 2616264 TI - Prognostic value of bone marrow biopsy in chronic lymphoid leukemia. A study of 98 initial bone marrow biopsies. AB - This study deals with bone marrow biopsies (MB) performed at the initial assessment of our 98 patients included in the French LLC 80 and LLC 85 trials. The prognostic value of the type of medullary invasion was confirmed, with a 6 year survival rate of 44% for the diffuse type (D = 42 patients) as against 68.4% for the non-diffuse type (ND = 56 patients) (p = 0.01). However, comparison of these 2 groups showed a significant difference for 19 of the 25 parameters studied, the differences always being to the prognostic disadvantage of the diffuse group. Bone marrow involvement (BMI) was very closely correlated with the ABC staging system (p less than 0.001). Despite more frequent disease progression among the cases of diffuse BMI, the survival rates in stage A patients were similar: 73.9% for 48 ND patients as against 59.6% for 19 D patients (p greater than 0.50). The ABC system of classification seems more discriminating than that recently proposed by Rozman specially for identifying the favorable groups. PMID- 2616265 TI - Colony formation of CFU-MK and other hemopoietic progenitors in patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia at diagnosis and following complete remission. AB - Blood and marrow mononuclear cells were cultured in methylcellulose and plasma clot. In patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) at diagnosis, marrow multipotential progenitors (CFU-Mix), megakaryocyte progenitors (CFU-MK) and granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (CFU-GM) were reduced or undetectable (all p less than 0.01). Two to 4 weeks after completion of induction therapy, marrow CFU Mix returned to normal level (p greater than 0.05), CFU-MK and CFU-GM reached levels significantly higher than normal controls (both p less than 0.01), and circulating CFU-Mix, CFU-MK and CFU-GM were about 3, 6 and 6 times normal controls respectively (all p less than 0.01). During maintenance therapy CFU-Mix remained in low normal range (p greater than 0.05) and CFU-MK and CFU-GM were significantly reduced (both p less than 0.01). In patients at relapse CFU-Mix was undetectable (p less than 0.01) and CFU-MK and CFU-GM were undetectable or reduced (both p less than 0.01). The percentages of CFU-MK and CFU-GM in cell cycle S-phase as analysed by ara-c suicide technique were 51.4 +/- 5.8 and 52.3 +/- 2.3 two weeks after the completion of induction therapy, and 61.1 +/- 7.9 and 53.8 +/- 8.7 during maintenance therapy, all significantly higher than normal controls (all p less than 0.01). Our results suggest that chemotherapy may not result in severe damage to CFU-Mix, and that cell culture technique may be helpful in assessing prognosis. PMID- 2616266 TI - Incidence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Tunisian populations. AB - Screening for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency was performed on male students originating from several towns in Tunisia. Three hundred and twenty-five assays were made, allowing calculation of the mean value and standard deviation of G6PD (6.32 +/- 0.72 U/g Hb), the incidence of the deficiency (1.84%) and its geographic distribution in Tunisia. G6PD electrophoresis in 54 subjects showed marked predominance of the B+ type (96.2%) compared with the A+ type (1.96%). Three deficient subjects displayed an electrophotetic mobility identical to that of the A+ type of G6PD. PMID- 2616267 TI - Morphologic heterogeneity and plasmablastic transformation in advanced plasmacytic/plasmablastic myeloma: a study of 35 serial bone marrow biopsies in 9 patients. AB - Thirty-five bone marrow biopsies were performed in 9 patients with plasmacytic/plasmablastic myeloma stage IIIA of the Durie and Salmon classification. The cytologic and/or histologic transformation observed in the serial bone marrow biopsy specimens of 3 patients reflected an aggravation of the disease, and was expressed as an increase of bone marrow plasmablasts associated with a gradual decrease or even disappearance of the plasmacytic component. Beyond 50% of bone marrow plasmablasts, the plasmablastic myeloma represented a more aggressive phase in the course of the disease. In 2 patients this transformation was manifested by the development of extramedullary lesions. The possibility of chemotherapy influencing the progression of the plasmablastic clone by destroying the initial plasmacytic clone cannot be ruled out. These results are not devoid of therapeutic implications. They also emphasize the need for serial bone marrow biopsies for better detection of transformation into a less favorable cytologic and/or histologic type of myeloma. PMID- 2616268 TI - Molecular diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia using a 3'bcr probe. AB - Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by the Philadelphia chromosome which results from a reciprocal (9; 22) translocation, with the protooncogene c abl moving from chromosome 9 to 22 and juxtaposed to the proximal bcr. Breakpoints on chromosome 22 are localized within 5.8 kb of the breakpoint cluster region (bcr). We have assessed the feasibility of using a 3'bcr probe for molecular diagnosis of CML. Thirty patients with Ph chromosome negative or positive CML were studied by Southern blot. A bcr rearrangement was seen to be present in all but one patient with Ph+CML. A case of Ph negative CML showed a bcr rearrangement. We conclude that this technique is efficient for molecular diagnosis of CML. PMID- 2616269 TI - Cytological and ultrastructural assessment of free crystals or precipitates associated with pseudoleukocytosis and pseudothrombocytosis in cryoglobulinemia. AB - In 3 patients with cryoglobulinemia (case 1: type I: cases 2 and 3: type II) spurious leukocyte and platelet counts were seen using automatic particle counters, with up to 2.5X and 3X counts for leukocytes and platelets respectively, with peculiar volume histograms. All these anomalies were absent with manual counting and were still evident in warmed blood samples from 1 of the 3 patients. The corresponding blood smears showed numerous deposits, rectangular in the type I cryoglobulinemia and flake-like in the other two (type II) patients, responsible for the erroneous automatic counting. Ultrastructural study showed in cases 2 and 3 they consisted of dense amorphous protein clusters; and in case 1, a periodic disposition of hollow rods (each with 21-24 nm external diameter). Comparison with ultrastructure descriptions of isolated cryoglobulins from the literature showed that crystals made of hollow rods might be preferentially associated with monoclonal GK immunoglobulin. Close scrutiny of histograms from automatic cell counters and stained blood films is necessary to detect falsely elevated counts in patients with cryoglobulinemia, and in the management of suppressive therapy. PMID- 2616270 TI - Remission of autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia following splenic irradiation. AB - A 56-year old woman with chronic lymphocytic leukemia associated with corticosteroid-resistant autoimmune hemolytic anemia was successfully treated with splenic irradiation. Cobalt 60 in the dose of 8 Gy was delivered to the spleen, considered sufficient for therapy of B lymphocyte CALLA-phenotype. There has been no recurrence of autoimmune hemolytic anemia over a follow-up period of 28 months. The mechanism of action of splenic irradiation is discussed. This treatment might offer a simple and effective alternative to splenectomy in patients with steroid-resistant hemolytic anemia when surgical operation is contraindicated or refused. PMID- 2616271 TI - Poland's painful poverty. PMID- 2616272 TI - Jacks of all trades? PMID- 2616273 TI - Pressure points. PMID- 2616274 TI - Primary considerations. PMID- 2616275 TI - A place for plain English. PMID- 2616276 TI - Total hip replacement. PMID- 2616277 TI - Hip replacement--what's happening to hips? PMID- 2616278 TI - Evaluation of a sister--charge nurse development course. AB - In this study the problems of implementing a sister/charge nurse development course are identified, and the impact of the course on its members and their practice is examined. The sample consisted of 22 newly promoted sisters and the data were collected through individual interviews and questionnaires. It was found that many of the problems of implementation related to lack of resources and management support and a working climate which was not conducive to motivating them to take an interest in their professional development. As a result, the course members' initial apathy, disillusionment, low morale and general dissatisfaction with their job and the profession were not altered as a result of the course. There were also strong criticisms of the health authority as uncaring and an exploiter of staff goodwill. The implications of these findings are discussed and an alternative approach to continuing nurse education is suggested. PMID- 2616280 TI - Computerising a maternity service. PMID- 2616279 TI - Code of conduct. Stretched to the limits. PMID- 2616281 TI - Enrolled nurses--on the political agenda. PMID- 2616282 TI - Primary nursing. A better way to care? PMID- 2616283 TI - Nursing values. PMID- 2616284 TI - District nurses and sheltered housing. PMID- 2616285 TI - Nurses' perceptions of lifting techniques. PMID- 2616286 TI - Living in a mist. PMID- 2616287 TI - Fit for nursing. Sport on the spot. PMID- 2616288 TI - Fit for nursing. Smokebusters. PMID- 2616289 TI - Fit for nursing. A hydro holiday. PMID- 2616290 TI - Continence. PMID- 2616291 TI - 'Prevent, retrain, treat, contain'. PMID- 2616292 TI - Support groups for older women. PMID- 2616293 TI - Spreading knowledge in the community. PMID- 2616295 TI - High HIV prevalence revealed. PMID- 2616294 TI - Living with incontinence. PMID- 2616296 TI - Bearing the unbearable. PMID- 2616297 TI - Cash injection. PMID- 2616298 TI - Someone to watch over me. PMID- 2616300 TI - The hidden crime. PMID- 2616299 TI - Hungry for money. PMID- 2616301 TI - A bag of doughnuts? PMID- 2616302 TI - Patient's clothing. Dressed with dignity? PMID- 2616303 TI - Enrolled nurses. Lessons from abroad? PMID- 2616304 TI - Ring cushions--an outmoded treatment. PMID- 2616305 TI - The basics of therapy. Fresh out of miracles. PMID- 2616306 TI - Practising midwifery. PMID- 2616307 TI - Tom--a baby with toxoplasmosis. PMID- 2616308 TI - Occupational asthma. PMID- 2616309 TI - Caught in the crossfire. PMID- 2616311 TI - Quest--NT's education supplement. PMID- 2616310 TI - The reality of women's health. PMID- 2616312 TI - Quest--flexibility: the key to success. PMID- 2616313 TI - The chairperson's tale. PMID- 2616314 TI - The validator's tale. PMID- 2616315 TI - Fighting for a better future. Interview by Daloni Carlisle. PMID- 2616316 TI - Education at your fingertips. PMID- 2616317 TI - Radical proposals. PMID- 2616318 TI - Baby-minding. PMID- 2616319 TI - Influenza influence. PMID- 2616320 TI - A monstrous deception. PMID- 2616321 TI - Next year's models. PMID- 2616323 TI - Can acupressure relieve nausea? PMID- 2616322 TI - Nursing models. Neuman's systems model. PMID- 2616324 TI - PREPP for continuing education. PMID- 2616325 TI - Reducing the wait. PMID- 2616326 TI - Enrolled nurses--something to shout about. PMID- 2616327 TI - Organisational behaviour. PMID- 2616328 TI - Recruiting men. PMID- 2616329 TI - Talking in confidence. PMID- 2616330 TI - Under the Southern Cross. PMID- 2616331 TI - Genograms and ecomaps. PMID- 2616332 TI - Mental health. Rules of engagement. PMID- 2616333 TI - Mental health. Expressive objectives. PMID- 2616334 TI - BSN students find a way to lessen the severity of reality shock. AB - Fear of "reality shock" seems to be a common occurrence among students. One particular group of BSN students attempted to lessen this shock by developing different variations in their clinical experience. The most successful and well liked alternative was a module consisting of two students and three patients. Each student involved expressed his or her feelings of the experience. It proved to be beneficial for both the students and the instructor. PMID- 2616335 TI - Laughter and tears: best medicine for stress. AB - Laughter and tears are natural resources that are often neglected in managing personal and professional stress. Facilitating patients' and families' laughter and tears is an important skill in providing emotional support, which is central to the caring role of nursing. Social stigmas, the medical model, and stressful hospital environments can distract nurses from employing these resources and other catharses in managing stress and supporting patients and families. Nurses can learn to integrate laughter and tears practically and appropriately into nursing care, thereby increasing work satisfaction and facilitating emotional healing. PMID- 2616336 TI - Individual professionalism: part of the solution to the nursing shortage crisis. AB - Changes in the health care delivery system in the United States have affected the practice of nursing. Disruption in the status quo has led to confusion as to the functions and role of nurses among health professionals, the public, and the nurses themselves. As demand for nursing services has increased, more and more nurses are leaving practice and fewer individuals are choosing nursing as a career. Others have proposed causes and solutions to this most recent shortage, which are primarily directed at changing the structure of the delivery system or the reward system for practice. The authors suggest that individual nurses have a role in the solution. PMID- 2616337 TI - Truth telling, confidentiality, and the dying patient: new dilemmas for the nurse. AB - The issues of truth telling and confidentiality, although less dramatic than foregoing life-sustaining treatments, are among the most important for any professionally moral relationship between a dying patient and nurse. The ethical dilemmas for the nurse caught in the middle are described. The interdependence of truth telling and keeping confidences is discussed. Guidelines for open communication and empathic listening are suggested. PMID- 2616338 TI - Mental hygiene and the environment. PMID- 2616339 TI - Endoscopic sclerotherapy. PMID- 2616340 TI - Guidelines for nursing management of people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). PMID- 2616341 TI - Therapeutic environment: an inseparable part of good bedside care. PMID- 2616342 TI - ["Late" obstruction induced by physical exertion in 15 boys with asthma caused by food aeroallergens in 2 periods of the year (winter and summer)]. AB - The aim of this study was the observation of the presence of the "late" phase of obstruction after free run in subjects responsive either to aeoallergens either to food allergens but with withdrawal of food allergens from diet in comparison with control group of children which did not have the food allergens exclusion. The study was executed in February and in June in the same children's group having the purpose to observe the variation of this phase in June with a great pollination of graminacee. The results showed the presence of a late phase of obstruction of magnitude similar to the quick phase which begun from III to VII h. but was no greater than -20% FEV1 fall. The control group showed in many children the fall of -20% FEV1 fall. The group of children responsive to the graminacee with food allergen's exclusion showed in June a greater obstructive late phase in comparison to February but the obstruction never was greater than 20% FEV1 fall. PMID- 2616343 TI - [Evaluation of nasal eosinophils after specific provocation in the diagnosis of respiratory allergy]. AB - The authors describe the results of a study of a group of children suffering from allergic rhinitis; the Authors evaluated eosinophils, basally and after nasal provocation test. Both clinical and cellular responses were evaluated. The basal results were: presence of eosinophils in 9/17 (52.9%) subjects allergic to Graminacee, in 42/61 (68.3%) subjects allergic to Dermatophagoides and in 3/3 (100%) subjects allergic to Parietaria. The results of the clinical response are the following: Graminacee: positive response in 20/22 (90.9%) tests; Dermatophagoides: 48/63 (76.2%); Parietaria: 6/6 (100%). The results of laboratory response are the following: Graminacee: positive response in 14/18 (77.8%) tests; Dermatophagoides: 45/59 (76.3%); Parietaria: 5/5 (100%). The evaluation of both responses is useful to increase the sensitivity of the nasal provocation test. PMID- 2616344 TI - [Polyserositic syndromes and/or sectorial dysventilation with platelet activation induced by immunoallergic etiopathogenesis]. AB - The author from a study of 5 dysventilatorial syndromes (bronchiolitis-PNX, pneumomediastinal aerial cystis of lung) and 5 polysierositic syndromes pleuritis and peritonitis) evices that all these syndromes show in the anamnesis or in present a viral infection from influenzal virus or rubeola. In addition to that, the Authors shows the presence of a food allergy asserted by RAST and/or Skin Prick Tests or FBST (Food Bronchostimulation test) and the introduction of a food allergen during the viral infection, and a great platelet's activation. The Author, besides, shows the association normal VES and normal neutrophil cells in the dysventilatorial syndrome and high VES, and high neutrophil cells in the polysierositic syndromes; in all cases the negativity of culture exams. Starting from these points she worked out a new etiopathogenetic theory: the viral localization on the Peyer's plates cause the expression on the epithelial surface of the gut's cells of SELF HLA II type recognition. The food allergens' introduction causes a great reaction of II, III, IV, VI type which involves the bronchus, alveolus, and the serous epithelium by PAF activation, in all cases and in the polisierositic syndrome a neutrophil activation as well. The author advices to prize the importance of cortisone therapy and of exclusion of food allergen by diet, besides advices the antibiotic therapy for covering only. PMID- 2616345 TI - [Fecal chymotrypsin in the evaluation of exocrine pancreatic function]. AB - In this study the Authors examine the usefulness in determining Fecal Chymotrypsin (FC) as a screening test for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. The FC was measured in 503 children (337 control subjects and 166 with various intestinal and hepatobiliary diseases). The results demonstrate that FC is usefull as a screening test for pancreatic insufficiency. However, in certain cases, this should be supplemented by the more discriminant analysis of function provided by duodenal studies. PMID- 2616346 TI - [Incidence and duration of breast feeding in the city of Sassari from 1976 to 1987]. AB - The authors have studied the incidence and duration of breast feeding (BF) among children from Sassari born in the period 1976 to 1987 (3608 full-term, normal infants). The data have shown a progressive decrease in the incidence and duration of B.F. from 1976 to 1983 followed by a progressive increase in the last 4 years of the study. The authors point out the need for structured incentive program aimed at a better education of the mothers concerning the advantages of breast feeding. PMID- 2616347 TI - [Risk factors present in the recreation areas of nursery schools]. AB - In order to evaluate the playground risk factors, 45 nursery schools of a USL were investigated. The results show that the risk factors depend mostly on inadequacy of the playground equipment and of its installation and maintenance. Moreover the playground surfaces are frequently nonelastic and the first-aid kits insufficient. Pediatricians have a key position in scholastic accident prevention. PMID- 2616348 TI - [Psychological study of adults surgically treated in childhood for hypospadias]. AB - The authors present the study and results in 100 subjects operated of hypospadia. They interviewed patients within 15 and 22 years old, in randomized selection and in permanent percent relations as far as: different types of pathology, the age of surgery effected in Vicenza Hospital - Pediatric Surgery Department (1971 1981). Through a structured questionnaire they tried to analyse psychological lived in operated subjects as far as: surgery, convalescence, psychologic problems before and after surgery, way of life when they became adults. Results explain that exist some psychologic problems in operated patients (8.5 years old) before surgery and during convalescence, while there is no problem after surgery. Moreover when these subjects became adults their kind of life (school, profession, sexuality) is without psychopathological problems. This is because of positive attitudes pre-acquired, brief convalescence and above all the high and positive quality of surgery effected. PMID- 2616349 TI - [Supernumerary liver localized in the navel. Description of a case]. AB - The authors report a case of a supernumerary hepatic lobe at the umbilicus of a newborn. They review the different symptoms, varietes and frequencies of supernumerary hepatic lobes. The importance of this embryological anomaly is underlined in order to be differentiated from urachal and omphalo-mesenteric duct malformations. PMID- 2616350 TI - [Neonatal perirenal urine extravasation and urinary ascites associated with obstructive uropathy]. AB - We report two cases of perirenal urinary extravasation one of which associated with urinary ascites. An underlying congenital obstructive uropathic condition was discovered in both patients. A localised parenchymal perforation was found in both cases. Prompt treatment with correction of metabolic acidosis and decompression of the tense abdomen and the urinary tract is recommended. The patients survive in good health. PMID- 2616351 TI - [Agenesis of the gallbladder. Description of 2 cases in 2 siblings]. AB - Gallbladder and cystic duct agenesis is a rare malformation with frequent familial occurrence. We report a case in a girl, diagnosed by nonoperative means, and a second case in her brother, discovered with a screening in the same family, operated with ultrasonography. PMID- 2616352 TI - The effect of sucralfate pretreatment on the pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin. AB - Based on the results of our study of norfloxacin-sucralfate coadministration, we suspected that sucralfate would interact also with ciprofloxacin if the drugs were administered concurrently. Therefore, we decided to give a 1-g dose of sucralfate at 6 and 2 hours before a single 750-mg dose of ciprofloxacin and evaluate its effect on the bioavailability of ciprofloxacin. Twelve healthy, male volunteers received ciprofloxacin alone and with sucralfate pretreatment in a randomized, balanced, crossover design. Blood and urine samples were collected over 24 hours after ciprofloxacin administration, and drug concentrations were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography. When sucralfate was given at 6 and 2 hours before ciprofloxacin, an average 30% decrease in ciprofloxacin's bioavailability was noted (p less than 0.05). Four of the 12 subjects, however, had decreases in the agent's area under the curve of more than 50% with sucralfate pretreatment. The results of this study suggest that ciprofloxacin and sucralfate should not be administered concurrently until a dosing interval is found that will avoid this potential interaction. PMID- 2616353 TI - The effect of paraldehyde on intravenous tubing sets. AB - Paraldehyde is used in the treatment of status epilepticus, alcohol withdrawal, and delirium tremens. Because it is a solvent, concerns have been raised about infusing it through plastic intravenous tubing sets. In a three-phase study, 4% paraldehyde in 5% dextrose solution was analyzed over 24 hours for photodegradation, adsorption to polyvinylchloride- (PVC) and polyethylene- (PE) lined intravenous tubing, and the presence of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Paraldehyde and DEHP samples were quantified by gas chromatography, and DEHP was confirmed by mass spectral analysis. On exposure to light for 24 hours, the concentration of paraldehyde decreased from 100 to 97%. This decrease is statistically significant but clinically insignificant. A 24-hour continuous infusion of paraldehyde through the two types of tubing revealed a decrease in concentration attributable to adsorption of 4% with PE and 13% with PVC tubing at 2 hours. In addition, there was no appreciable leaching of DEHP over 24 hours with either type of tubing. Concerns about paraldehyde's light instability and effects on tubing integrity appear to be unwarranted with commercially available intravenous administration sets. PMID- 2616354 TI - [Human peritoneum in vitro: changes in urate transport after administration of pyrazinoic acid]. AB - The article is an analysis of the dynamics of two-direction transportation of uric acid (UA) through the human peritoneum in vitro, and also changes of the dynamics under the influence of pyrazinoic++ acid. The peritoneum was taken from the anterior abdominal wall of patients undergoing planned abdominal surgery. It was found that the transportation of UA both from the vascular to the mesothelial side of the peritoneal membrane and in the opposite direction remained on a stable level for 120 minutes. The introduction of pyrazinoic++ acid decreased the transportation of UA from the vascular to the mesothelial side of the peritoneum on the average by 50 per cent. The transportation in the opposite direction did not change. The results obtained are consistent with results of clinical examinations. One may suppose that pyrazinoic++ acid induces changes in transportation qualities of the peritoneum. PMID- 2616355 TI - [Anti-fibrinogen antibodies in chronic diseases of the liver]. AB - The authors investigated the presence of antifibrinogen antibodies (PFb) in the blood of patients with chronic liver diseases (n = 75) and in healthy persons (n = 24). PFb was determined by means of passive haemagglutination reaction of human group 0, Rh minus blood cells enveloped by fibrinogen cleared chromatographically. PFb were directed against fragments D of fibrinogen (immunoblotting method). In hepatocirrhosis PFb appeared in 52% of cases, in chronic hepatitis--in 40.6%, in simple fatty degeneration of the liver--in 33.3%, and in control group only in one person (4.2%). Average concentration of PFb increased as hepatic damage increased. No correlation was found between the presence of PFb and the concentration of fibrinogen and fibrinolytic activity of the plasma. PFb were found significantly more common and in higher concentrations in patients with positive test results of EGT, SDPS and SCT, which indicates to a connection between a latent syndrome of intravascular clotting and the presence of PFb in liver diseases. The results of the examination confirm a hypothesis about the importance of antigenic neodeterminants revealing as a result of proteolytic fibrinogen degradation (fragments D) in inducing PFb. PMID- 2616356 TI - [Secondary erythrocytosis in 3 cases of neoplastic disease]. AB - Three cases of tumor-associated (so called "paraneoplastic") erythrocytosis are described. In a 24 year old man with adrenal gland cancer hematological parameters normalized shortly after surgery, but he died 8 weeks later because of the dissemination of the disease. In a 48 year old man with hypernephroma of the left kidney and in a 49 year old woman with the left cerebral hemisphere meningioma Hb level, hematocrit and red blood cell count normalized after tumor removal and remained within normal range 39 and 7 months respectively. It is suggested that a probability of the neoplastic disease as a cause of erythrocytosis should be taken into account. PMID- 2616357 TI - [Progress in endocrinology]. PMID- 2616358 TI - [Hemodialysis and the regulation of immunologic response in chronic uremia]. PMID- 2616359 TI - [Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac changes in systemic scleroderma]. AB - Cardiac abnormalities were studied using the clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic methods in 66 patients with systemic scleroderma. Abnormal ecg was seen in 41 patients (62.1%), most frequently in form ventricular extrasystole (21.2%), incomplete block of the right bundle branch (12.1%), left ventricular and right atrial hypertrophy (10.6%) each, and the pattern suggesting the history of past myocardial infarction (7.6%). Abnormal echocardiographic results were found in 38 patients (57.6%). The most usual changes, differentiating that group from the controls, were: sluggish diastolic movement of the posterior wall of the left ventricle (40.7%), pericardial effusion (37.0%), elongation of the isovolumic relaxation time diastole phase (99.3 s.m.v. 81.1 ms, p less than 0.001) and right ventricular dilatation. There were no significant differences between the scleroderma and the control group as regards the indices of the contractility of the left ventricle: ejection fraction (EF), velocity of circumferential fibres shortening (VCF), diastolic size of the left ventricle and of the left atrium. The prevalence of the electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities in particular types of scleroderma (diffuse, acroscleroderma, severe acroscleroderma, CREST) was roughly similar: 50-76%. Finding of the impaired diastolic rather than systolic function of the left ventricle and of the similar prevalence of the cardiac abnormalities in the particular types of scleroderma is new and contradictory to the commonplace opinions. PMID- 2616360 TI - [Effect of granulocyte factors on the quantitative changes in the peripheral blood lymphocytes in rabbits]. AB - Two groups of rabbits were studied, each consisting of 8 males to whom the sterile Hank's solution (group I) or a solution of the granulocytic factors (group II) were given intravenously. The peripheral blood lymphocytes were counted in the samples of blood taken from the femoral artery before injection and 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after the injection. No effect of injection was seen on the lymphocyte count in the group I. In the group II the lymphocyte count fell as soon as 5 minutes after the administration of the granulocytic factors with the minimum after 20 minutes. Since that moment the lymphocyte count rose but remained still low, in comparison to the starting point after 60 minutes. All the changes were statistically significant throughout the experiment. PMID- 2616361 TI - [Adrenal cortex function in patients after kidney transplantation treated with cyclosporin A with prednisone or Azathioprine with prednisone]. AB - Cortisol and aldosterone secretion following an intravenous injection of 0.25 mg of Synacthen was investigated in 12 patients with renal transplants, treated with azathioprine and prednisone (the "azathioprine group") and in 16 kidney transplanted patients treated with cyclosporin A and prednisone (the "cyclosporin group"), as well as in 12 healthy control subjects. Statistically significant low cortisol and aldosterone levels under basal conditions was found in both groups of patients with renal transplants as well as a significantly lower reactivity of cortisol secretion and a moderately lower reactivity of aldosterone secretion after Synacthen administration. The protocol of the immunosuppression employed had no effect on the severity of the hormonal abnormalities found. PMID- 2616362 TI - [Selection of the optimal method of evaluation of peritonitis risk in patients treated by standard peritoneal dialysis]. AB - In order to find the optimal method of detecting the impending risk of peritonitis in patients on chronic standard peritoneal dialysis the authors evaluate the following: peritoneal fluid leucocytes total and differential counts (in the samples taken before the first morning infusion of the dialysis fluid into the peritoneal cavity as well as in the first change of the fluid), cultures from the peritoneal fluid and blood CRP before the start of the dialysis. A group of 8 patients was studied. Clinical signs of peritonitis occurred on 6 occasions during the total of 192 dialysis performed. In all those cases the differential count leucocytes was abnormal (more than 50% ofpolynuclear cells) as well in the peritoneal fluid obtained before the start of dialysis as in the first portion of the dialysis fluid. A high percentage (78%) of the false positive results of the total leucocyte count in the pre-dialysis fluid and in the first change of dialysis fluid (29%) as well of the blood CRP (25%) seem to, indicate a low practical value of those methods. The differential count of leucocytes of the sediment of the peritoneal fluid seems to be the optimal method of early detection of the impending peritonitis. PMID- 2616363 TI - The interaction between narrow-band radiation of UVA and that of UVB on erythemal reaction in Japanese subjects. AB - The interaction between ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) on erythemal reaction was investigated on the skin of the backs of 24 healthy Japanese volunteers, using narrow-band radiation. The minimal erythema doses (MED) for UVB (MEDB) and UVA (MEDA) were determined and UVA and UVB were both applied to the same site in immediate combination with 2 orders of exposure (A + B, B + A). In experiment 1 the interaction between suberythemogenic doses of UVA and UVB to produce a visible erythema was examined; the sum of the fraction of MEDA and the fraction of MEDB was at most equal to 1 for 3 different doses of UVA (1, 2.4, 4.9 J/cm2) with either order of exposure. This interaction is considered to be photoaddition. In experiment 2 a fixed dose of UVB (1.7 MEDB of each subject) was applied in combination with 4 different doses of UVA (1, 2.4, 4.9, 7.4 J/cm2); the erythemal reaction was compared with the grading scale erythema produced by UVB alone and allotted a score of 1 to 7. The total number of MED irradiated was calculated for each combination exposure and the score obtained was compared with the score expected on the basis of that number of MED. The scores for A + B practically coincided with the expected values, whereas those for B + A were decidedly smaller than the expected values. This suggests photoaddition for A + B and photorecovery for B + A in the bright erythema dose range. The relationship between the Japanese skin type (JST) and the waveband interaction was also examined. In experiment 2, when UVA irradiation was followed by UVB, the subjects in JST group III showed photorecovery for high-dose UVA. PMID- 2616364 TI - The hairless mouse as a model of skin photoaging: its use to evaluate photoprotective materials. PMID- 2616365 TI - Self-reported skin type and reactivity to UVB, UVA and PUVA irradiation. PMID- 2616366 TI - Aloe vera does not affect cutaneous erythema and blood flow following ultraviolet B exposure. PMID- 2616367 TI - The correlation of various features of rejection in myocardial biopsies after human heart transplantation. AB - 1571 specimens taken at 493 occasions for endomyocardial biopsy in 30 selected heart transplant patients were reexamined in order to assess (a) the difference between conventional (steroid, azathioprine and antithymocyte globulin) and cyclosporine with low-dose steroid immunosuppression regimes, and (b) the relationship of myocardial rejection to endocardial infiltrates, the Quilty lesion, and changes in the small intramyocardial blood vessels. The incidence of all histological changes discussed were related to the severity of the myocardial rejection and therefore the endocardial and vascular changes may be used as adjuvants to make good any technical deficiencies in the myocardial part of the biopsy. Cyclosporine therapy is associated with the Quilty effect and with changes in small vessels. PMID- 2616368 TI - Intracranial venous thrombosis in relation to pregnancy and delivery. AB - 160 women who had died during pregnancy or after delivery were studied. Intracranial venous thrombosis (ICVT) was found in 10 (6.25%) cases. Most often extensive dural sinus phlebothrombosis and rarely isolated meningeal or cerebral phlebothrombosis were observed. Multiple thrombi in cerebral microcirculation presented the most characteristic morphological feature in all cases. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with microthrombi in two or more parenchymal organs was found in 8 cases. Delayed clinical onset and prolonged progressive course was most frequently observed. Persistent headache, haemiparesis or haemiplegia, convulsions, epileptic seizures, disturbances in consciousness and coma occurred most often. These clinical manifestations were due to multiple haemorrhagic or ischaemic cerebral infarctions and in a single case to haemorrhage. The discussion was centered on the assumption that ICVT in pregnant and parturient women might be a distinct clinicoanatomical form of DIC. PMID- 2616369 TI - Immunohistochemical detection of estrogen receptors in paraffin sections from primary and metastatic breast cancer. AB - With the availability of monoclonal antibodies against the estrogen receptor (ER) it is possible to demonstrate the presence of ER immunohistochemically. Some of the antibodies are claimed to be reactive in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue. We have evaluated the reactivity of one of these antibodies, D75 and found an acceptable reaction in routinely formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue. The antibody was applied to both primary and secondary tumors from a group of patients with recurrent breast cancer. The metastatic lesions consisted of lymph node metastases, bone marrow metastases, and liver metastases. While 41% of the primary tumors were ER-positive, this was only the case with 35%, 20%, and 17% of the lymph node, bone marrow, and liver metastases, respectively. The discordance between the ER-status of the primary tumor and the distant metastasis was 41% in cases of bone marrow metastases, and 44% in liver metastases. In most cases the shift was from an ER-positive primary tumor to an ER-negative metastasis. The results support the hypothesis that ER-negative tumor cells are probably more aggressive with a larger metastatic potential than the higher differentiated, ER-positive tumor cells. PMID- 2616370 TI - Two programmes for examination of regional lymph nodes in colorectal carcinoma with regard to the new pN classification. AB - The new pN classification for colorectal carcinoma requires not only a statement on absence or presence of regional lymph node metastases but also, if present, a knowledge of the site and number of involved nodes. Subdivision of the fatty tissue with nodes adhering to the tumor resection specimen into two compartments is therefore the first step in pathological examination of lymph nodes. The methods for this as well as the different techniques used in searching for nodes and further histological processing of nodes are presented. We outline a minimal programme for pN classification in which step-wise sequence of examination reduces work load. An extended programme designed to answer special questions regarding lymphatic spread and surgical method is recommended only within the framework of special clinico-pathological studies. PMID- 2616371 TI - Metastatic potential of gastric leiomyosarcoma. AB - Metastatic and lethal gastric leiomyosarcoma in 12 of 30 surgically treated cases was found most closely correlated with larger size tumors. A highly statistically significant correlation (p less than 0.0001) between tumor diameter and success or failure of surgical extirpation was demonstrated for the total of 241 gastric leiomyosarcomas in the present series and collected from the literature. Six other gross and microscopic attributes analyzed, including mitotic counts, did not provide equally useful prognostic indications. Inadequate sampling may be responsible for lack of correlation between histological criteria and tumor progression. PMID- 2616372 TI - Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs). Basic concepts and practical application in tumor pathology. AB - The purpose of this investigation is to give an introduction to a novel method in tumor pathology, namely the Ag-NOR technique. The basis of this method is the argyrophilic staining of intranucleolar, non-histone proteins which are specifically associated with transcriptionally active sites of ribosomal DNA. They can therefore be considered as a marker for the protein synthesis and thus the proliferation rate of a given cell. The morphologic basis of the argyrophilic reaction is presented by metaphasic and interphasic tissue culture cells. The applicability of Ag-NOR technique to tumor pathology is exemplified by main results of three studies dealing with tissue sections of 65 meningiomas, whole organ sections of 50 renal carcinomas, and cytospin preparations of 30 urinary washout specimens. These studies document the considerable value of the Ag-NOR content for both, malignancy diagnosis and tumor grading. With the help of image analysis it can be shown that besides the mean number of Ag-NORs the mean area per Ag-NOR dot is of diagnostic significance. In conclusion the Ag-NOR technique is a simple inexpensive and accurate method which can be applied both to formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue and cytologic specimens. As a marker of malignancy it is an invaluable new tool for the diagnostic pathologist. PMID- 2616373 TI - Pulmonary vein myxoid leiomyosarcoma. AB - A case of myxoid leiomyosarcoma located in the right pulmonary veins is presented. The patient complained of progressive dyspnea, orthopnea, sputum cruentum and right chest pain. Angiography revealed an obliteration of right pulmonary veins by a tumor mass that expanded into the left atrium. Histologically, the lesion contained densely packed fusiform cell areas that alternated with other much less cellular and richer in interstitial myxoid matrix. The tumor cells showed specific immunoreactivity to desmin antibodies and contained abundant thin filaments with focal densities and micropinocytic vesicles. PMID- 2616374 TI - Alcohol intoxication in teenagers using inhalant stupefacients. AB - The study was carried out 11 boys, 12-17 years old, treated in the Therapeutic Educational Guidance Center for the Young because of using inhalant stupefacients and incliniation to alcohol abuse. The inhalant stupefacients were taken for a period of 6 months to three years, of alcohol--from 6 months to 2 years. The most common inhalant stupefacients were "Butapren" glue, trichlorethylene and "Roxy" fluid; wine and vodka were the alcohols used. No one patient displayed the full dependence syndrome, most of them (83%) had organic CNS damage, in 63% pathological EEG changes were recorded. The alcohol inebriation was accompanied by marked psychomotor excitation with cognitive disturbances, aggressiveness, anxiety, self-mutilation. One patient developed visual illusions and hallucinations. The findings suggest that the consequences of abuse of inhalant stupefacients significantly influence the syndrome of alcohol intoxication, potentiating the psychopathological signs. PMID- 2616375 TI - V Conference on Ethanol-Drugs Interactions. The Polish Pharmacological Society. Lodz, May 27, 1988. Proceedings. PMID- 2616376 TI - The effect of ethanol on the antiarrhythmic action of atenolol. AB - The effect of ethyl alcohol on the antiarrhythmic action of atenolol in the adrenaline-induced arrhythmia model was studied in rats non-dependent and dependent on ethanol. Atenolol administered jointly with ethanol, in a single dose or repeatedly produced a weaker antiarrhythmic effect than when it was given alone. Moreover, a rise in animal mortality was observed, in particular after atenolol administration in the period of intoxication. No significant effect of atenolol on ethanol blood concentration was found. PMID- 2616377 TI - The interaction between ethanol and amiodarone, in the model of adrenaline arrhythmia in the rat. AB - The antiarrhythmic activity of amiodarone was studied in the model of adrenaline induced arrhythmia in rats non-dependent and dependent on ethanol. After single or repeated joint administration of ethanol and amiodarone the antiarrhythmic effect of amiodarone was attenuated. No significant differences in the activity of amiodarone were observed when the drug was administered in the period of abstinence. PMID- 2616378 TI - Single dose pharmacokinetics of calcium antagonist nifedipine in ethanol dependent rats. AB - The single dose (6 mg/kg, iv) kinetic study of calcium antagonist nifedipine was performed in plasma and brain tissue of control rat and after single and prolonged treatment with ethanol. The prolonged administration of ethanol for 6 weeks lowered the plasma concentration of nifedipine and decreased its penetration into the brain tissue. The opposite effects were shown in rats treated with ethanol for 6 months. PMID- 2616379 TI - Effect of ethanol and diazepam given to pregnant rats on the behavior and catecholamine content in the brain of offspring. AB - Effect of separate and combined treatment with ethanol and diazepam applied to pregnant rats upon the behavior of 3- and 6-week old and 3 month old rats, as well as on the content of noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and 5 hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in various brain areas was investigated. It has been shown that separate application of ethanol and diazepam causes slight changes in the behavior and content of amines on the brain of offsprings. Combined application of ethanol and diazepam to pregnant rats exerts marked effects upon the behavior of offsprings and causes a decreased content mainly of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in the investigated areas of the brain. PMID- 2616380 TI - Effects of angiotensin II and its fragments: angiotensin II(3-8)-hexapeptide and angiotensin II(4-8)-pentapeptide on retrieval in passive avoidance situation in rats chronically treated with ethanol. AB - Rats with impaired retrieval of passive avoidance behavior induced by chronic (9 weeks) administration of ethanol were studied. Angiotensin II (AII) and its fragments: AII(3-8) and AII(4-8), administered (icv, 2.0 micrograms) on the third day after ethanol withdrawal, neutralized the toxic effect of ethanol. Furthermore, the peptide AII(3-8) also gave an improvement in retrieval of the capability to perform simple behavioral tasks as it did in the control group in rats chronically pretreated with alcohol. PMID- 2616381 TI - Interaction between central effects of ethanol and tricyclic antidepressants, imipramine and amitriptyline in mice and rats. AB - The effect of a combined treatment with ethanol and imipramine or amitriptyline was tested in mice and rats. The antidepressants were given in one or, in some experiments, in 21 daily doses of 10 mg/kg each. In mice the effect of antidepressants was tested on acute toxicity, disturbances of rota-rod performance, hypothermia and sleeping induced by ethanol, in rats the effect of the antidepressants on the development of tolerance to sleep-inducing and hypothermic action of ethanol was investigated. Amitriptyline showed a tendency to pontentiate the ethanol-induced acute toxicity, while imipramine did not change it. Given in a single dose the antidepressants have a tendency to potentiate the impairment of motor coordination induced by ethanol, but after a prolonged administration did not influence the ethanol effect in the rota-rod test. The antidepressants enhance ethanol-induced hypothermia and prolong the ethanol sleeping time. The development of tolerance to hypnotic effect of ethanol in rats is not affected by amitriptyline and imipramine, but the antidepressants prevent the development of tolerance to hypothermic effect. PMID- 2616382 TI - The effect of combined treatment with ethanol and imipramine or amitriptyline on rabbit EEG. AB - The effect of combination of imipramine or amitriptyline acute or chronic treatment with ethanol on EEG was studied in rabbits with electrodes chronically implanted into the frontal cortex, dorsal hippocampus and midbrain reticular formation. In addition, to study the effect of the treatment on development of tolerance to ethanol, a group of rabbits receiving ethanol with antidepressants was additionally injected iv with ethanol once a week. Single doses of both the antidepressants did not alter the effect of acute administration of ethanol on EEG, but imipramine and amitriptyline potentiated the ethanol-induced changes in the EEG recorded from the midbrain reticular formation in rabbits receiving ethanol chronically and in the period of abstinene. The antidepressants did not change the development of tolerance to ethanol. PMID- 2616383 TI - The effect of ethanol on arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure and ECG in rabbits treated with the single or multiple dose of amitriptyline or imipramine. AB - Amitriptyline and imipramine given in the single dose insignificantly depressed the arterial blood pressure but significantly elevated the central venous pressure, prolonged the PQ interval and widened the QRS complex. After a prolonged daily treatment, the subsequent 21st dose of either antidepressant significantly depressed the arterial blood pressure; amitriptyline also depressed the central venous pressure. When given chronically, amitriptyline induced rhythm disturbances and the flattening of T-wave, while imipramine caused the widening of the QRS complex, block of the left bundle branch, changes in the T-wave amplitude, elevation in the ST interval. An intravenous infusion of ethanol potentiated those changes. The impairment of atrioventricular conduction occurred more frequently after administration of ethanol jointly with amitriptyline than with imipramine. Physostigmine salicylate elevated the depressed arterial blood pressure, aggravated the impairment of conduction and potentiated rhythm disturbances caused by the interaction of ethanol with antidepressants. In the above interactions with ethanol imipramine was less toxic than amitriptyline. PMID- 2616384 TI - The effect of ethanol-caffeine interaction on the gastric mucosal barrier. AB - Potential difference across the stomach wall (PD) is determined by the gastric mucosa electrolyte barrier. The decrease in the PD caused by the "barrier breakers" e.g. aspirin, alcohol and cholic acids is a sensitive index of mucosal damage. We studied the effect of interaction between alcohol and caffeine on the PD in the anesthetized rats. The intragastric administration of 1 ml of 40 vol.% ethanol solution decreased the PD by 39%, of 10 mg of caffeine sodium benzoate by 22% and the simultaneous administration of alcohol and caffeine by 53%. These results indicate that caffeine may enhance the damaging effect of alcohol on the gastric mucosal barrier. PMID- 2616385 TI - The effect of gastronomical concentrations of ethanol on therapeutic effect of cimetidine and sucralfate in rats with chronic gastric ulcers. AB - Chronic peptic ulcers were produced in the glandular part of the stomach by electrocoagulation of gastric mucosa. Drugs: cimetidine (200 mg/kg) and sucralfate (1000 mg/kg) were given intragastrically once daily for 10 or 20 days, together with ethanol, which was given in a daily dose of 1.8 g/kg, as a 5, 15 or 45% solution. The diluted, 5% ethanol did not impair the healing process either in untreated, or cimetidine- or sucralfate-treated rats. Higher concentrations, 15 and 45%, inhibited healing of the ulcers, particularly the drug-assisted healing process. The 45% ethanol solution after 20 days of administration together with cimetidine or sucralfate completely abolished the therapeutic effect of those drugs in rats with chronic peptic ulcers. PMID- 2616386 TI - The interactions of copper, lead and ethanol in rats: effects on some biochemical parameters of blood. AB - The aim of this paper was to investigate the action of copper on some biochemical parameters of blood of Wistar rats exposed to a combined action of lead and ethanol. The animals received lead in drinking water (500 micrograms/ml) for 6 weeks, followed by copper (12 micrograms/ml) for 2 weeks. During the last 108 h of the experiments the rats received every 12 h an intragastric dose of 5g/kg of ethanol. In rats receiving copper together with ethanol the blood levels of copper, iron and lead were higher than in the rats receiving copper alone, the total and latent iron binding capacity were depressed, the transferrin saturation with iron was increased and the ceruloplasmin content--decreased. Copper protected rats against the action of lead on the following hematologic parameters: hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, iron concentration, total and latent iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation index, copper concentration and ceruloplasmin activity. Ethanol administration counteracts the protective effect of copper on iron concentration, total and latent iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation index and ceruloplasmin serum content. PMID- 2616387 TI - The effect of zinc on the toxic action of lead after administration of ethanol to rats. AB - The aim of this paper was to investigate if zinc may counteract toxic symptoms of poisoning with lead and ethanol in rats, reflected by some biochemical changes in the blood. Wistar rats received lead in drinking water (500 micrograms/ml) for 6 weeks, followed by zinc (240 micrograms/ml) for 2 weeks. During the last 108 h of the experiments the rats received every 12 h an intragastric dose of 5 g/kg of ethanol. In rats receiving zinc together with ethanol the blood levels of zinc, iron and transferrin saturation index were depressed and the latent iron binding capacity and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity were elevated. Zinc protected rats against the action of lead on the following hematologic parameters: hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, iron concentration, latent iron binding capacity and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in the blood. Ethanol administration counteracts the protective effect of zinc on iron concentration and total iron binding capacity, while the favorable action of zinc is maintained in respect of hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and transferrin saturation index. PMID- 2616388 TI - Sjogren-Larsson syndrome associated with the Dandy-Walker malformation: report of a case. AB - The Sjogren-Larsson syndrome is defined as the association of ichthyosis, spastic diplegia or tetraplegia, and mental retardation. Although most cases described have come from the Swedish county of Vasterbotten, isolated reports from the United States and elsewhere do exist. Numerous neurologic abnormalities have been reported with this syndrome, including speech defects, seizures, and pyramidal tract disorders. Abnormal ophthalmologic findings are not rare. Previous studies with computerized tomographic (CT) scans have revealed no abnormalities of cranial anatomy. We report a 6-year-old boy with Sjogren-Larsson syndrome who had a Dandy-Walker malformation as demonstrated by diagnostic imaging by CT and magnetic resonance imaging scans. This case illustrates that developmental defects of the central nervous system can also occur in association with Sjogren Larsson syndrome. PMID- 2616389 TI - Rothmund-Thomson syndrome: a case report. AB - We present a 4-year-old girl with poikiloderma, radial aplasia, short stature, facial dysmorphism, and sparse hair. We believe these findings to be consistent with a diagnosis of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. PMID- 2616390 TI - Rothmund-Thomson syndrome in two siblings. AB - Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder, is characterized by photosensitivity; specific skin changes including poikiloderma, atrophy, and telangiectases; juvenile cataracts; short stature; and bone defects. We describe two siblings with this syndrome. PMID- 2616391 TI - Phenylalanine plus ultraviolet light: preliminary report of a promising treatment for childhood vitiligo. AB - L-Phenylalanine is a promising agent for the treatment of vitiligo when taken orally and followed with ultraviolet light (UVA) irradiation. Of 13 children so treated, 3 experienced repigmentation of all vitiliginous areas, 6 showed 50% to 90% improvement, and 4 failed to respond. None of the children experienced side effects during the treatment. PMID- 2616392 TI - Proteus syndrome. PMID- 2616393 TI - Thrombocytopenia and hepatosplenomegaly in a newborn. PMID- 2616394 TI - Epidermal nevus syndrome: report of association with chondroblastoma of bone. PMID- 2616395 TI - Lichen planus in an 8-month-old. PMID- 2616396 TI - Increasing age, diabetes mellitus and recovery from stroke. AB - In a prospective study of 200 patients with acute stroke, blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1) were measured within 72 hours of onset. Unrecognized hyperglycaemia as defined by a raised stable HbA1 more than two s.d. above the mean reference value and no previous history of diabetes was present in 27%. No correlation existed between patient age and admission blood glucose or HbA1 levels (r = 0.1). Cumulative mortality and recovery of limb function was assessed in the first 136 patients with carotid distribution events. Admission blood glucose greater than or equal to 8 mmol/l was shown to be associated with a significantly greater mortality at 4 and 12 weeks (P less than 0.05). Multivariate analysis with age, glucose, HbA1 as independent variables demonstrated that age was the only significant predictor for death at 4 weeks (P less than 0.05) but at 12 weeks both age and blood glucose were significant (P less than 0.05). In patients less than 65 years blood glucose was a significant predictor for death (P less than 0.05) but in patients less than or equal to 65 years HbA1 and not glucose was significantly (P less than 0.05). Patients greater than or equal to 65 years with HbA1 greater than or equal to 7.5% were significantly more likely to have a raised admission blood glucose. Hyperglycaemia on admission was not shown to influence recovery of limb function. Increasing age is of greatest importance in predicting mortality although blood glucose is of prognostic value especially in the young stroke patient. PMID- 2616397 TI - Chronic active hepatitis: a sixteen year survey at a district general hospital. AB - Over a period of 16 years (1971-87) all cases of chronic active hepatitis (CAH) diagnosed following liver biopsy have been reviewed to assess incidence, aetiology, outcome and response to treatment. North Tees District serves a population of 210,000 and 26 cases were identified (20 female) age range 9-73 years (median 56 years). Incidence remained constant at 1:100,000/year. Twenty cases (77%) had an immune aetiology. Other aetiologies were hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, alpha-1AT deficiency, non-A non-B hepatitis and a complex multisystem disease. The median follow-up period was 50 months. There were 7 deaths, three unrelated to liver disease. Survival analysis gives an 86% 5-year survival and 56% 10-year survival. Twenty four patients were treated with steroids (and 6 additionally with azathioprine); 15 (63%) were steroid responsive and 9 were non-responsive. In five patients steroids were successfully discontinued but in 10 patients severe symptomatic relapse occurred on steroid reduction below 7.5-10 mg/day. Steroid non-responders were not typical CAH, 5 with predominantly a rise in alkaline phosphatase, one multisystem disease and one HBV positive. Steroid discontinuation was only possible in one third of the patients responding. Eighteen subjects (69%) were cirrhotic at initial biopsy; 9 had follow-up biopsies, 6 were unchanged but three had progressed to cirrhosis despite apparent steroid responsiveness. PMID- 2616398 TI - Renal embolization for ablation of function in renal failure and hypertension. AB - The results of transcatheter renal artery embolization are presented in a small group of patients with end-stage renal disease. Five of the patients were suffering from severe drug-resistant hypertension, one from rejection of a renal transplant and one had heavy haematuria from a transplant kidney. All seven patients benefited from the procedure with no significant morbidity. The procedure of renal artery embolization and its potential complications are discussed. It is concluded that renal ablation by transcatheter embolization is not only effective, but also has a significantly lower morbidity and mortality than surgical nephrectomy in this group of patients with end-stage renal disease and associated problems. PMID- 2616399 TI - Elderly people taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are unlikely to have excess renal impairment. AB - The importance of possible adverse effects on renal function of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been widely discussed. Elderly people have been thought to be particularly at risk. We therefore studied simple indices of renal function and plasma potassium in 54 patients with a mean age of 85 years, 27 taking these drugs and 27 controls. Twenty five of our 54 patients were also taking diuretics. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs did not affect renal function or plasma potassium in these patients. PMID- 2616400 TI - The use of myocutaneous flaps by general surgeons. AB - This is a study of the use of myocutaneous flaps by general surgeons in a district general hospital over a 5 year period, and shows that such work can be satisfactorily performed by general surgeons. PMID- 2616401 TI - Simple avulsion of onychogryphotic toenails: a justifiable treatment? AB - Twenty-nine consecutive patients with onychogryphotic toenails in whom conservative treatment had failed, were entered into the study over a one year period and followed-up prospectively for a further year. All patients were treated by simple nail avulsion. The incidence of recurrence was 27 out of 29 patients (93%); only five of these were symptomatic (17%). Only two patients required further surgery. We conclude that simple avulsion of onychogryphotic toenails offers symptomatic relief in the majority of patients, particularly in this elderly population in whom the use of a tourniquet may be contraindicated. PMID- 2616402 TI - Pancreatic pseudocyst haemorrhage presenting as a bleeding duodenal ulcer. AB - We present a case of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage where the preoperative endoscopic findings suggested a duodenal ulcer as the cause. Although at operation this proved to be the site of bleeding, the source was found to be the splenic artery in the base of a pancreatic pseudocyst. PMID- 2616403 TI - Basosquamous carcinoma, a wolf in sheep's clothing? Report of 3 cases. AB - Basosquamous carcinoma of the skin is a lesion with specific histological features and recognized metastatic potential. Three cases of metastatic basosquamous carcinoma are reported, two of which were rapidly fatal. They illustrate that diagnostic features may be absent in a small biopsy and that metastasis is usually associated with a poor prognosis. PMID- 2616404 TI - Formed hallucination in the hemianopic field. AB - We present a case in which formed hallucinations were the sole presenting feature of an occipital infarct. The hallucinations occurred in the resulting hemianopic field. The localizing value of such phenomena is discussed. PMID- 2616405 TI - Axillary artery occlusion as a presenting feature of Crohn's disease. AB - A 20 year old Caucasian woman with Crohn's disease is described in whom axillary artery occlusion due to arteritis dominated the clinical picture. This case demonstrates that isolated large vessel arteritis can be an unusual feature of Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease should be considered in any patient presenting with a large vessel arteritis. PMID- 2616406 TI - Central hypoventilation in a seven year old child following pertussis treated with negative pressure ventilation. AB - We report the case of a 7 year old girl who developed central hypoventilation following pertussis and who was treated by negative pressure ventilation using a new portable tank respirator. We believe this is the first reported case of central hypoventilation following pertussis successfully treated by intermittent negative pressure ventilation. PMID- 2616407 TI - Primary cerebral lymphoma presenting with cranial diabetes insipidus. AB - A 30 year old woman with an 8-year history of thirst and polyuria was found to have cranial diabetes insipidus. There were no neurological abnormalities at presentation but she subsequently developed diverse signs and died 26 months later. Autopsy revealed a diagnosis of diffuse primary cerebral lymphoma. Cranial diabetes insipidus with otherwise minimal abnormality of hypothalamic/pituitary function has not previously been reported as a presentation of this neoplasm. PMID- 2616408 TI - Cardiac tamponade complicating leukaemia: immediate chemotherapy or pericardiocentesis? AB - Although leukaemic infiltration of the pericardium is frequently observed at post mortem, clinically evident cardiac tamponade is rare. Two cases of cardiac tamponade complicating leukaemia are presented. One patient had cardiac tamponade as the initial presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and experienced complete resolution of the pericardial effusion within 6 days after chemotherapy without therapeutic pericardiocentesis. The other patient with chronic myeloid leukaemia developed cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis as the first sign of acute blastic transformation. The roles of early chemotherapy and pericardiocentesis in managing this complication are discussed. PMID- 2616409 TI - Endobronchial polyp and chronic smoke injury. AB - A case of an inflammatory endobronchial polyp associated with chronic smoke injury is reported. Unlike previously reported cases, this was not associated with acute, severe thermal injury, was solitary in occurrence, and responded rapidly to a short course of intrabronchial steroids. PMID- 2616410 TI - Localized fibrous mesothelioma of the mediastinum devoid of pleural connections. AB - Localized fibrous mesothelioma of the pleura is an uncommon neoplasm. Very rarely (there have been three previous cases) it may occur as an isolated mediastinal tumour. Such a tumour was present for at least 3 years in a 47 year old man, causing shortness of breath and superior vena cava syndrome. A mass weighing over 600 g was completely resected through a median sternotomy. The pertinent literature is reviewed. PMID- 2616411 TI - Duodenal pseudotumour: a silent impacted common bile duct calculus. AB - We report the case of a man with mild dyspeptic symptoms referred for barium meal, who was initially thought to have a duodenal tumour. Subsequent investigation showed this to be a pseudotumour caused by impaction of a gallstone in the distal common bile duct, and endoscopic sphincterotomy effected a cure. This readily treatable condition should be remembered when filling defects are demonstrated in the duodenal loop. PMID- 2616412 TI - The ovarian remnant syndrome presenting with acute urinary retention. AB - The case of a woman presenting with acute urinary retention, which, on investigation, proved to be due to the ovarian remnant syndrome, is reported. This syndrome is rare, with only 36 previously published cases. To our knowledge none has so far presented in this manner. PMID- 2616413 TI - Salmonella endocarditis. PMID- 2616414 TI - Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in previously healthy adults. PMID- 2616415 TI - Renal tubular function in hyperparathyroidism. AB - Renal tubular function was assessed in a group of patients with mild hyperparathyroidism before and after a mean period of 2.7 years conservative management. It was also assessed, before and after a mean of 3.3 years following surgery in a group of patients with initially higher plasma calcium concentration. Mean maximum urine osmolality was within the accepted range as was the maximum urine plasma hydrogen ion gradient in both groups at the time of diagnosis. No significant change in renal tubular function was observed in either group over the periods of this study. Although deterioration after a long period cannot be excluded, we do not consider that regular assessment of renal tubular function is necessary in the conservative management of primary hyperparathyroidism. PMID- 2616416 TI - Pulmonary embolism--incidence and prognosis in hospitalized elderly. AB - In a retrospective study of 210 patients with pulmonary embolism diagnosed by ventilation perfusion lung scan or at post-mortem, the incidence of pulmonary embolism was greater in patients over 50 years old (1.4%; P less than 0.05). This was largely due to an increased prevalence of serious associated disease (53%; P less than 0.05). Mortality in elderly patients (70 years and older) diagnosed by ventilation perfusion lung scan was similar to that in younger age groups (P greater than 0.05). However, the number of cases first diagnosed at post-mortem (44.50%; P less than 0.05) and total mortality (55%; P less than 0.05) were highest in this age group. Of elderly patients first diagnosed at post-mortem 14 (32%; P less than 0.05) had no other associated disease and had a recorded duration of symptoms sufficient to have allowed premortem diagnosis. PMID- 2616417 TI - Dyskinesia in the elderly presenting as respiratory disorder. AB - Two elderly women suffering from dyskinesia affecting the respiratory muscles are described. The diagnosis was initially missed in both cases, and thought to be anxiety syndrome in one patient, and chronic obstructive airways disease in the other. Drug therapy further increased the severity of the dyskinetic movements which greatly improved when it was discontinued. Dyskinesia should be considered as the cause of respiratory disorder in old age, especially when this develops slowly in patients with movement disorders and a history of taking antidopaminergic drugs. PMID- 2616418 TI - A thrilling case of hiatus hernia. AB - A 65 year old woman was found to have a left parasternal heave and a systolic murmur associated with a thrill. A chest radiograph, echocardiogram and gastrograffin swallow demonstrated a massive obstructed hiatus hernia which displaced the heart anteriorly. Aspiration of the contents of the hernia led to complete resolution of the physical signs. Possible mechanisms for their production are discussed. PMID- 2616419 TI - Paraquat poisoning: per vagina. AB - We describe a fatal case of paraquat poisoning as a result of per vaginal contact with the herbicide. Death occurred 18 days later from hepatic, renal and respiratory failure. PMID- 2616420 TI - Syndrome of downward gaze paralysis, amnesia and hypersomnolence. AB - A 60 year old woman with computed tomographic-verified bilateral thalamic infarction is described. She demonstrated downward gaze paralysis, amnesia and hypersomnolence. On the functional level such tasks as walking and eating were disconcerting. Although there have been only a few reports of the complete triad it may be more common than realized and represents a distinct syndrome that can be identified by the bedside. PMID- 2616421 TI - Acute organic brain syndrome due to drug-induced eosinophilia. AB - A 72 year old man developed acute organic brain syndrome associated with marked eosinophilia following self medication with a variety of drugs. Investigations revealed no other known causes of eosinophilia. Withdrawal of drugs resulted in dramatic drop in eosinophil count paralleled by clinical resolution of neurological problems. To our knowledge drug-induced eosinophilia has not previously been associated with acute organic brain syndrome. PMID- 2616422 TI - Percutaneous transcolonic puncture of retained Foley balloon catheter. AB - A case of large bowel obstruction complicated by a retained intracolonic Foley balloon catheter is reported, and the minimally invasive technique for removal is described. PMID- 2616423 TI - Conn's syndrome due to an ectopic adrenal adenoma. AB - A 31 year old woman presented with resistant hypertension. Investigations revealed that she had Conn's syndrome. Computed tomography showed both adrenals to be normal but an ectopic adenoma was identified posterior to the stomach. Surgical excision of the tumor confirmed benign aldosteronoma and cured her hypertension. We believe this to be the first report of Conn's syndrome caused by an ectopic adrenal adenoma. PMID- 2616424 TI - Danazol-induced hypercalcaemia in alphacalcidol-treated hypoparathyroidism. AB - We report a case of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, maintained on alphacalcidol who developed hypercalcaemia during treatment with danazol for endometriosis. PMID- 2616425 TI - The senior house officer (SHO) grade--service and education. PMID- 2616426 TI - The plight of senior house officers--some facts. PMID- 2616427 TI - Pulmonary infiltrates--diagnostic problems in lymphoma. AB - The use of invasive investigations in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates is controversial. We report a series of 22 pulmonary lesions occurring in 19 patients with underlying Hodgkin's (7) and non-Hodgkin's (12) lymphoma in whom invasive investigations were performed. The principle techniques used were fibreoptic bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy. A specific diagnosis was made on 12 occasions (55%). Involvement of the lung with lymphoma (6) and cytotoxic drug induced pneumonitis (4) were the commonest diagnoses, infection being found on only one occasion. In 15 of these 22 procedures (68%) the information obtained made a positive contribution to patient management. PMID- 2616428 TI - Pulmonary uptake in 67-gallium citrate scintigraphy-the 'negative heart' sign. AB - Diffuse pulmonary uptake in 67-gallium citrate (67-Ga) scintigraphy occurs in a large number of neoplastic and inflammatory conditions. Discrimination between normal and abnormal 67-Ga uptake over the chest can be difficult and a simple visual method for identifying abnormal studies is described. A series of 39 gallium scintigrams was retrospectively reviewed by the authors and reported without knowledge of the patients' clinical condition. Subsequent clinical follow up was obtained to establish the accuracy of the scintigram interpretation. Comparison of pulmonary uptake with that over the cardiac area is recommended as a simple and reliable method of confirming that the level of pulmonary activity is abnormal. In highly abnormal cases the cardiac area is seen as a 'negative heart' image due to the considerably increased activity in the lungs. This sign is best seen with abnormal diffuse uptake but is also seen with abnormal focal uptake. Care must be taken, as the sign may be masked, if uptake over the cardiac area itself is increased. PMID- 2616429 TI - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ingestion: retrospective study of 272 bleeding or perforated peptic ulcers. AB - The ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) in 272 patients with bleeding or perforated peptic ulcer was compared with 272 age/sex matched controls. A significantly higher proportion of patients with gastric ulcers had received NSAID than those with duodenal ulcers. Twelve of 90 (13%) patients admitted with bleeding duodenal ulcers had received NSAID compared with 11 of 26 (42%) patients with bleeding gastric ulcers (P = 0.003). Sixteen of 132 (12%) patients with perforated duodenal ulcer were taking NSAID compared with 8 of 24 (33%) patients with perforated gastric ulcer. Thirty eight percent of patients with both bleeding and perforated gastric ulcers had received NSAID compared with 13% bleeding and perforated duodenal ulcers (P less than 0.002). This study confirms the association of NSAID and complicated peptic ulcer in patients of over 65 years and highlights the particular susceptibility of the gastric mucosa to their injurious effect. PMID- 2616430 TI - Camel bites: report of severe osteolysis as late bone complications. AB - Four cases of severe osteolysis of bones subsequent to camel bite are described. The first had osteolysis of the ribs with traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. Two cases had similar appearances of gross osteolysis of the shafts of the radius and ulna, whilst one had osteolysis of the humeral shaft. The similarities in the radiological appearances especially of the gross osteolysis at the site of trauma are noted. The complications following mammal bites are discussed. PMID- 2616431 TI - Audit of mortality in upper gastrointestinal bleeding. AB - The outcome in 1017 patients with haematemesis and malaena referred to two major hospitals in Nottingham within a 2-year period has been prospectively evaluated. Ninety one (9%) patients died during the time period under consideration and all but four were found to have been over 60 years of age. There were 13 (14%) deaths following rebleeding, of whom 5 (5%) could have been potentially avoided by alterations in management. Some improvement of mortality might result from intensive-care facilities with better management of transfusions and earlier detection of rebleeding allowing earlier endoscopy or surgery. The majority of patients (81%), however, died from concomitant disease which was exacerbated by gastrointestinal haemorrhage or bleeding developed in patients with an already existing end-stage disease. These results show that a reduction of mortality in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding is hampered by the high number of poor risk patients. The rise in the proportion of elderly patients with this disorder seems to continue. PMID- 2616432 TI - Intractable hiccups--an early feature of Addison's disease. AB - Hiccups has not been previously reported as a manifestation of Addison's disease. We report two cases where persistent hiccups was an early feature of Addison's disease. Steroid replacement cured the symptoms in both patients with no recurrence. PMID- 2616433 TI - Hepatic abnormalities in coeliac disease: three cases of delayed diagnosis. AB - Three cases of biopsy-proven coeliac disease are presented. In each case the predominant clinical and laboratory features suggested liver disease, bowel symptoms were a minor part of the presentation and the diagnosis of coeliac disease was not reached for approximately 6 months. Liver biopsy in one case showed marked fatty change, in the other cases only mild hepatitic changes. A gluten-free diet produced resolution of symptoms and, in the patient with steatosis, normalization of liver function tests. Hepatic abnormalities have been reported in coeliac disease and the significance of these is discussed but such abnormalities are usually minor and do not obscure the underlying diagnosis. We feel that these cases serve as a salutary reminder of the protean manifestations of coeliac disease. PMID- 2616434 TI - The metabolic effects of fatal cyanide poisoning. AB - Metabolic and toxicological data were obtained during the first 24 hours following severe and eventually fatal cyanide poisoning. Initial blood cyanide concentrations were 804 mumol/l but fell rapidly over 24 hours following cobalt edetate therapy to 15 mumol/l. However, plasma thiocyanate concentrations rose over 24 hours (147-267 mumol/l) suggesting continued tissue detoxification. The major metabolic abnormality was lactic acidosis (initial pH 7.21, blood lactate 17.5 mmol/l) which corrected over 12 hours. Despite high circulating insulin concentrations the responses of blood glucose, plasma non-esterified fatty acid, blood glycerol and 3-hydroxybutyrate suggested marked insulin resistance. PMID- 2616435 TI - The automatic implantable cardioverter/defibrillator for a life threatening arrhythmia in a case of post-partum cardiomyopathy. AB - We report the development of severe life threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in a young woman shortly following her first pregnancy, who ultimately required the insertion of an automatic implantable cardioverter/defibrillator because of the failure of conventional antiarrhythmic therapy. Although only about 7 patients have received units in the UK to date, the experience in the USA, where up to 300 per month may be implanted, suggests that they will become a more common method of treatment in cases of life threatening arrhythmias. PMID- 2616436 TI - Ventricular fibrillation due to lithium withdrawal--an interaction with chlorpromazine? AB - We report a case of primary ventricular fibrillation following withdrawal of lithium in a patient concurrently taking chlorpromazine. A potentially important drug interaction is discussed. PMID- 2616437 TI - Spontaneous fracture of the ulna complicating tuberculous osteomyelitis. AB - A 63 year old Asian woman presented with tuberculous osteomyelitis of the right ulna and a large subcutaneous cold abscess. During the course of her treatment the midshaft of the ulna sustained a spontaneous transverse fracture. Aspects of her case are reviewed. PMID- 2616438 TI - Staphylococcus aureus meningitis from osteomyelitis of the spine. AB - Two cases of vertebral osteomyelitis presenting with secondary Staphylococcus aureus meningitis are described. In staphylococcal meningitis a search for a primary source should include the lower vertebral spine. PMID- 2616439 TI - Amitriptyline overdose complicated by intestinal pseudo-obstruction and caecal perforation. AB - I report a case of intestinal pseudo-obstruction, spontaneous caecal perforation and faecal peritonitis caused by an overdose of amitriptyline. This rare but serious complication should be borne in mind in patients who remain constipated while convalescing after self-poisoning with tricyclic antidepressants. PMID- 2616440 TI - Life-threatening acute hyponatraemia induced by low dose cyclophosphamide and indomethacin. AB - We report the case of a patient with multiple myeloma who developed acute life threatening water intoxication following treatment with oral indomethacin and low dose intravenous cyclophosphamide. We describe a possible drug interaction between these two drugs and recommend that they should only be used together with caution. PMID- 2616441 TI - Medical training in Belgium: a year in Brussels. PMID- 2616442 TI - Conversation piece--the aeromedical doctor. Interview by P.D. Welsby. PMID- 2616443 TI - Autosympathectomy: a late complication of metastatic breast disease. PMID- 2616444 TI - Epistaxis after prolonged water immersion in a hot Jacuzzi. PMID- 2616445 TI - Lengthy incubation for homosexual transmission of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in a 79 year old man. PMID- 2616446 TI - The 1990s: a decade for action. PMID- 2616447 TI - Rebuilding public health nursing practice: a Canadian perspective. AB - Although the importance of preventive services has been emphasized in Canada, the status of public health nursing appears to be in jeopardy. Major challenges confront the profession, and certain strategies may help to rebuild it as a broad based nursing specialty. PMID- 2616448 TI - Improving EPSDT use: development and application of a practice-based model for public health nursing research. AB - The purposes of this article are to describe the process of adapting an existing model to create a framework suitable for public health nursing (PHN) practice and to demonstrate how the resulting model can guide research for PHN practice. Using the PRECEDE (predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling causes in educational diagnosis and evaluation) model as a base, we synthesized concepts of health behavior, health education, health promotion/disease prevention, and program evaluation to develop a model for planning and evaluating aggregate-level PHN interventions to improve the use of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program (EPSDT) in rural North Carolina. The model provided the framework for identifying variables relevant to EPSDT use, designing interventions to improve use, and planning a research evaluation of the effectiveness, efficacy, and cost effectiveness of the interventions. This model, and the process used in adapting it for PHN practice, should be helpful for others investigating methods of reaching and bringing effective health promotion/disease-prevention information to underserved, low-education members of minority groups. PMID- 2616449 TI - The AIDS pandemic: a nursing model. AB - The pandemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) calls for global cooperation to develop strategies for interventions both to prevent the disease and to care for persons with it. The conceptual framework "Health for all: A model for nursing's contributions" provides guidance for the processes of assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation of care, and evaluation of mortality and morbidity related to AIDS. The disease challenges the biologic, sociologic, medical-technical, and environmental determinants as they affect health. Specific recommendations for health care interventions are relevant to each determinate, with community health status as the focus. PMID- 2616450 TI - AIDS and homosexuality: a longitudinal study of knowledge and attitude change among rural nurses. AB - With no effective medical treatment or vaccine for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) available now or in the near future, nursing can make the most difference by providing emotional support and physical care for people with AIDS and their families. One of the least understood areas in providing such care is the feelings nurses have toward persons with AIDS, especially in rural areas. This study measured changes in knowledge and attitude toward AIDS and homosexuality before, immediately after, and three months after an all-day AIDS workshop for nurses. The program provided current knowledge about transmission of the human immune virus and risk behaviors, and addressed personal feelings regarding fear of caring for persons with AIDS as well as negative feelings associated with homosexuality. Results revealed significant positive changes in knowledge and attitudes three months later. Participants also became significantly less fearful and more willing to care for persons with AIDS. Feelings of fearfulness and willingness to care for people with AIDS were associated not with knowledge differences but with differences in attitudes toward the disease and homosexuality. Therefore, this program's affective component was more closely associated with precursors to behavior change than was cognitive education. As the education needs of rural and community nurses increase, programs specific to them must continue to be developed and studied. Future research must also explore and evaluate actual nursing care of AIDS patients in relation to education program objectives. PMID- 2616451 TI - The mutual-participation relationship: key to facilitating self-care practices in clients and families. AB - The relationship among formal providers, clients, and families in home care is critical. If clients and family care givers are to develop adequate and safe self care practices, they must be involved in mutual decision making concerning issues related to the illness and the care to be given. A relationship of mutual participation involves facilitating and negotiating goals with clients and their family members. PMID- 2616452 TI - Health-promoting behaviors, perceived social support, and self-reported health of Appalachian elderly. AB - The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to examine the relationships among health-promoting behaviors, perceived social support, and self-reported health of 113 persons age 55 years and over, who were attending nutrition sites in northern West Virginia. Three hypotheses were formulated: (1) health-promoting behaviors are positively related to perceived social support; (2) health-promoting behaviors are positively related to self-reported health, and (3) perceived social support is positively related to self-reported health. Only the first two were supported by our findings. Data analysis revealed positive correlations between the average health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP) score and education, and frequency of attending the nutrition site screening clinics for high blood pressure and diabetes. Better-educated subjects scored higher on selected subscales of the HPLP (self-actualization and health responsibility). Age was negatively correlated with the HPLP subscales of health responsibility and exercise. Nurses and support personnel at nutrition sites should focus increased attention on the older participants and those who are less well-educated. Expanding the variety and frequency of health services available to nutrition site participants merits attention. PMID- 2616453 TI - The role of black churches in supporting compliance with antihypertension regimens. AB - Although considerable gains have been made in hypertension control in the United States, the rate of control in blacks is lower than in whites. It has been asserted that this low control rate in blacks is due to lack of compliance. Using previously tested and new measures, as well as chart audit, this pilot study evaluated the specific role and effectiveness of the black church in promoting compliance with antihypertension regimens. A sample of 63 hypertensive subjects from two inner-city black churches participated; 33 were from a church that had a hypertension screening project and 30 were from one that did not. Clients from the church with the project did not score higher on a self-report compliance measure than those from the church without the project. Furthermore, no relationship was found between support and compliance and blood pressure control, although relationships were seen between age and compliance scores, and between following a doctor's advice and compliance scores. The church without a screening program was viewed by clients as more supportive than the one with the program. PMID- 2616455 TI - Economies of time and truth. PMID- 2616454 TI - Interactions of mothers and fathers with conduct problem children: comparison with a nonclinic group. AB - The purpose of this study was to compare the interactions of clinic-referred mothers and fathers with their conduct problem children with those of nonclinic "normal" parents and their children without problems in terms of their expression of positive and negative affect. Forty parents and their 20 children participated. Results indicated that clinic mothers and fathers exhibited significantly increased negative verbal behaviors with their children than nonclinic parents. Valence scores also indicated clinic mothers had significantly more negative nonverbal affect behaviors than nonclinic mothers. Clinic children exhibited significantly less positive verbal and nonverbal affect behaviors with their mothers than nonclinic children. Valence scores indicated that clinic children exhibited more negative nonverbal behaviors with both mothers and fathers in comparison to nonclinic children. PMID- 2616457 TI - Avoiding spurious results. PMID- 2616456 TI - A child with headache. AB - A child with recurrent headaches may be a 'heart-sink' patient for some doctors. The mother may fear a brain tumour and the doctor may be reticent so as not to give inappropriate reassurance. Emotional factors may be important and the consultation needs careful handling if the situation is to be resolved. PMID- 2616458 TI - Removing sebaceous cysts. PMID- 2616459 TI - Minor surgery clinics: setting up. PMID- 2616460 TI - Poverty and depression. AB - Depression is often associated with financial difficulties. Helping to resolve money problems may be an important factor in treating depression. PMID- 2616461 TI - Methods of autologous blood transfusion. AB - Fear of AIDS has been a major factor in the re-examination of the methods of autologous blood transfusion. Four techniques are currently available, one of which, the pre-operative donation scheme, has supplied 70 per cent of participants' total blood requirements at operation. PMID- 2616462 TI - The psychological effects of rape. AB - Most women recover from rape with social support and crisis intervention by helping agencies or their GPs. A minority develop severe and long-term effects which GPs should recognise because they require psychiatric referral. PMID- 2616463 TI - Revision strategy. PMID- 2616464 TI - Basal cell carcinoma in an elderly woman. AB - It is important to ensure that the position of the camera and the light source does not produce uneven illumination. Hot spots are caused by the light source being much closer to certain areas of the subject than others. PMID- 2616465 TI - School phobia. AB - Refusal to attend school requires prompt action and may demand 'diplomatic' as well as clinical skills. It is important to identify the problem quickly and take decisive action, otherwise the situation may become very difficult. GPs should also be aware of factors such as learning disorders and 'misplaced sympathy'. PMID- 2616466 TI - The child with chronic or debilitating illness. AB - Children with chronic diseases face particular problems at school. Early recognition of these difficulties and appropriate management should enable most of these children to participate fully in school life. PMID- 2616467 TI - Asthma. AB - Acute episodes of asthma disrupt the lives of children at home and at school and low grade symptoms are often ignored or regarded as inevitable. With a better understanding of the asthmatic process, the on-going symptoms can be treated and acute attacks avoided. PMID- 2616468 TI - Aspects of school immunisation. AB - Routine prophylactic immunisation is started in infancy and continued during a child's school days. It is supplemented by foreign travel vaccination and, in residential schools, protection against influenza. PMID- 2616469 TI - Repetitive strain injuries. PMID- 2616470 TI - The return of general practice obstetrics? PMID- 2616471 TI - A request for benzodiazepines. AB - A benzodiazepine-dependent patient may evoked a feeling of guilt in his or her GP. Most doctors now feel that withdrawal, however difficult, should be attempted. In an unmotivated patient this can be a particularly time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, exercise. PMID- 2616472 TI - Hypercholesterolaemia and a silent MI. PMID- 2616473 TI - Blood glucose testing strips--essential in general practice. PMID- 2616474 TI - What is poikiloderma of Civatte? PMID- 2616475 TI - Minor surgery clinics: how to run one. AB - In the second of three articles on minor operations in general practice, considerations on the day to day running of the clinic are discussed and practical points on patient selection, consent, sterile procedure and instrument choice are given. PMID- 2616476 TI - Arbitration in partner disputes. AB - Partnership disputes are not uncommon. Settlement in the courts is expensive and may bring unwelcome publicity. Dr Alexander has acted as arbitrator between GPs and commends arbitration as a cheaper, more private, alternative. PMID- 2616477 TI - Quality of care. AB - Good practice is sometimes difficult to define. However, measuring quality of care is a matter of great significance to medical practitioners, consumers, politicians and MRCGP examinees. PMID- 2616478 TI - Back to school. Part 2. PMID- 2616479 TI - Learning disorders. AB - Learning disorders, not explained by low intelligence, are common in children. They include difficulties in reading, spelling and mathematics and are often associated with overactivity and poor concentration. Prenatal perinatal and postnatal factors may be aetiologically important and treatment should be aimed at the cause. PMID- 2616480 TI - The eating habits of schoolchildren. AB - Food, either too much, too little or the wrong type, has been implicated in a number of physical and psychological disorders. Children are bigger than ever but also less active, so diets may have to change to guard against coronary artery disease. PMID- 2616481 TI - School medical examinations. AB - Are routine school examinations necessary given the effective surveillance of the preschool child? This question is asked against the background of the development of the school health service. Current procedures are examined and proposals made for further developments. PMID- 2616482 TI - Injuries in children's sport. AB - The acute management of soft tissue injury with ice, rest and elevation is vital to ensure rapid recovery. Direct trauma is not the only cause of many sports injuries, and awareness of other factors ensures good management and prevention of further injury. PMID- 2616483 TI - Sick building syndrome. AB - Sick building syndrome is the recently coined phrase for the multitude of symptoms which office workers may suffer related to their working environment. Management involves a team approach between GPs, the occupational health service and the employer. PMID- 2616484 TI - Supplements--a boon or a liability? PMID- 2616485 TI - A request for antenatal advice. AB - An informed older woman in her first pregnancy often has greater than usual anxieties about the well-being of her baby. She is likely to seek advice about how to have a healthy pregnancy and which antenatal tests to have. Giving the correct guidance, however, is not so straightforward. PMID- 2616486 TI - Minor surgery clinics: audit. AB - The validity of the use of time, skills and resources in minor surgery clinics can only be properly assessed by reviewing one's work and results, and ultimately by auditing oneself against accepted standards of practice, outcomes and costs. PMID- 2616487 TI - Rachel at three: health education in the surgery. PMID- 2616488 TI - What is Bowen's disease? PMID- 2616489 TI - Predicting who will use a hearing aid. AB - Elderly patients receiving a hearing aid have usually experienced a hearing disability for many years. Simple methods of screening the pre-retirement age group for hearing impairment are described. Screening is feasible and effective. PMID- 2616490 TI - Preventing psychogeriatric referrals. AB - Physical illness and drug effects contribute significantly to the morbidity of old people with psychiatric problems. Since many of these patients are seen regularly by their doctors, appropriate preventive action should be possible. PMID- 2616491 TI - Consultation technique. AB - Attempts at improving the consultation have led to studies of consultation 'processes' and 'outcomes', and to the development of analytical models of the doctor-patient relationship. The third article in this exam series considers studies and models relevant to trainees and exam candidates. PMID- 2616492 TI - Soft tissue injections in the surgery. PMID- 2616493 TI - Sexual problems in the elderly. AB - This article looks at sexual distress in the elderly and describes a case history which shows how fear can interfere with normal sexual relationships. PMID- 2616494 TI - Loss of libido. AB - Loss of libido is caused by unconscious anger and it can be restored if the feeling of anger is expressed. The common causes of such anger are classified and case histories suggest how the doctor/patient encounter can be used to help patients. PMID- 2616495 TI - Impotence. AB - Impotence is a distressing problem with a number of causes. In the absence of serious pathology, a careful study of the doctor-patient relation may provide insight into the underlying aetiology. PMID- 2616496 TI - Adolescent fear of homosexuality. AB - Adolescents can be confused by relationship changes caused by their emerging sexuality, and the fear of being homosexual can present to the GP under a variety of pretexts. PMID- 2616497 TI - The campaign against health fraud. AB - Deficiencies in the law, and persuasive fraudsters preying on real and imagined health fears, continue to cause great concern to victims, the professions and society as a whole. The Campaign Against Health Fraud has been formed to address this thriving and malignant relic of more desperate times. PMID- 2616498 TI - The future management of myocardial infarction. PMID- 2616499 TI - Towards better immunisation rates. PMID- 2616500 TI - A request for certification. PMID- 2616501 TI - Immunity following the rabies vaccine. PMID- 2616502 TI - The ethics of the 'morning-after' pill. PMID- 2616503 TI - Treatment for GPs with a drink problem. PMID- 2616504 TI - Tetanus--an important cause of trismus. PMID- 2616505 TI - Asthma clinics: setting up. PMID- 2616506 TI - Alcoholism and homelessness. AB - A prospective study was carried out over a three-year period to assess the incidence of alcoholism and its effect on the homeless. Of 423 homeless people interviewed, 48.7 per cent were found to be alcoholics. Alcoholism was common in Celts and Roman Catholics but showed no correlation with educational achievement or school-leaving age. It was strongly associated with the use of casualty departments and criminal activity. PMID- 2616507 TI - GPs' attitudes to HIV. PMID- 2616508 TI - Consultation: working arrangements. PMID- 2616509 TI - Common regional pain syndromes. I. PMID- 2616511 TI - Reconstructive surgery. PMID- 2616510 TI - Communicating with cancer patients. PMID- 2616512 TI - Breast cancer counselling. PMID- 2616513 TI - Spongiform encephalopathy. PMID- 2616514 TI - Informed choice and risk-benefit decisions. PMID- 2616515 TI - Counselling disaster victims. PMID- 2616516 TI - Bleeding in early pregnancy. AB - Bleeding in pregnancy is a distressing experience for any woman, particularly if she has had a previous miscarriage. Though often offered, hospital admission is thought to have no prognostic advantage over home management. A factor not always considered is the need for administration of anti-D immunoglobulin to rhesus negative women. PMID- 2616517 TI - Are the drugs in your bag effective? PMID- 2616518 TI - Cardiac failure mimicking advanced breast carcinoma. PMID- 2616519 TI - Palmo-plantar pustulosis. PMID- 2616520 TI - Asthma clinics: how to run one. AB - In this second article describing the establishment of a general practice asthma clinic, a protocol for clinic procedure is suggested. PMID- 2616521 TI - Advances in the prevention of osteoporosis. AB - Recent advances in the techniques for measuring bone mass and the advent of hormone replacement therapy have markedly improved the outlook for patients with osteoporosis. The ability to predict which women are at high risk will enable preventive measures to be taken. PMID- 2616522 TI - Clinics for HIV-positive patients. AB - There are marked regional differences in the organisation of services for HIV positive patients. A successful method for one London based specialist centre is a combination of walk-in clinics, organised outpatients and day ward care. PMID- 2616523 TI - Electric shock and associated injuries. AB - Electrical current can affect every organ system in the body as a result of heating, electrogenic changes and vascular injury. The clinical features following electric shock are variable and can simulate crush or thermal injuries. PMID- 2616524 TI - Review of a liver transplantation programme. AB - Liver transplantation is now a routine operation in specialist centres. The author reviews the programme of a pioneering unit in Pittsburgh, USA, which he observed during an elective. PMID- 2616525 TI - Prescribing. AB - All doctors need to consider what medical and social factors influence prescribing, and to what extent their personal habits and those of their peers are rational and responsible. Exam candidates are given some background pointers. PMID- 2616526 TI - Common regional pain syndromes. II. AB - In subacromial bursitis, trochanteric bursitis and gluteal enthesopathy, large volume injections may be required to control symptoms--they should be backed up with advice on prevention of recurrence. PMID- 2616527 TI - General practice management of drug misusers. AB - Substance misuse has been with us for centuries, but society has only recently given doctors the responsibility for its treatment. The causes of drug misuse and the management of drug misusers in general practice are discussed. PMID- 2616528 TI - Drug problems in Amsterdam. AB - In the Netherlands, the problems associated with soft drugs were overcome by legalising the use of cannabis. However, the programme of methadone maintenance for heroin users has been less successful and the argument that heroin should also be legalised is considered. PMID- 2616529 TI - Drug problems in Dublin. AB - Despite some evidence of a decline in first time use of heroin in Ireland, the underlying social and economic problems remain. There is, therefore, a threat that more widespread drug misuse will recur if the threat of AIDS loses its deterrent effect. PMID- 2616530 TI - Support for GPs caring for drug misusers. AB - National policies encourage GPs to become involved in the care of drug misusers and the management of their dependence. A framework of support services is now in place to assist with this task. This article describes the roles of community drug teams and drug dependency units. PMID- 2616531 TI - Visual display units. AB - A plethora of conditions have been linked with the use of visual display units with differing amounts of evidence. Epidemiological studies do not show an increase in miscarriage or foetal malformations but users report more visual and musculoskeletal problems. To prevent these employers need to look at the design of jobs, equipment and workplaces as well as providing training on VDU use. PMID- 2616532 TI - [Perceived child rearing behavior by juvenile diabetics at the time of puberty]. AB - The influence of the experienced parental rearing behavior has been researched through a questionnaire given to 81 juvenile diabeticians and 35 non diabeticians, age 11-15. Taking the body development into consideration, no statistically significant connection can be found between the rearing behavior and the quality of the metabolic control. Girls experience their mothers as being more strict than boys do, regardless of whether they are diabeticians or not. PMID- 2616533 TI - [Inpatient clientele of the Hessen Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Psychiatry]. AB - The total number of 1108 in-patients treated in the psychiatric hospital Herborn between mid-1978 and 1985 are listed according to ICD-diagnosis and selected demographic characteristics. The high social stress factors are subdivided. In the course of the collection period the rate of mentally handicapped persons decreased while in recent years the proportion of younger children increased significantly. PMID- 2616534 TI - [Anorexia nervosa in the 2d generation? A case report]. AB - By means of a single case study the origin and development of anorexia nervosa in the second generation is described. In this context questions of the nosological entity of anorexia nervosa and depression, motherhood and anorexia nervosa and pre-pubertal as well as postpubertal anorexia are discussed. PMID- 2616535 TI - Prenatal diagnosis of adult polycystic kidney disease with DNA markers on chromosome 16 and the genetic heterogeneity problem. AB - A prenatal diagnosis of adult polycystic kidney disease by DNA testing is reported. Evidence showing a linkage between the disease and the 3'HVR and 24.1 restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) on chromosome 16 was obtained in the proband's family by linkage analysis of data and homogeneity testing with Italian families of the linked type. Fetal genotype prediction based on both flanking markers was confirmed by histological and ultrastructural findings in fetal kidneys. PMID- 2616536 TI - Missed prenatal diagnosis of fragile-X syndrome. AB - An account is given of a pregnancy in an obligatory carrier of the fragile-X syndrome, in whom examination of chorionic villus cells and fetal blood cells showed the presence of a male fetus who lacked the fragile-X chromosome. However, at 3 months of age he had 14 per cent of fragile-X cells in his blood. Reasons are suggested for this error in diagnosis. The empirical risk for an error of this sort is 3 per cent. PMID- 2616537 TI - A 1 and 6 month follow-up of prenatal diagnosis patients who lost pregnancies. AB - This paper reports results of an exploratory study of prenatal diagnosis patients who experienced voluntary terminations of pregnancy following the detection of an abnormality or spontaneous miscarriages. The 121 participants were part of the national collaborative Chorionic Villus Sampling and Amniocentesis Study. They completed semi-structured telephone interviews and mailed questionnaires at 1 month and 6 months after the pregnancy losses. Scores on the Profile of Mood States showed that mood levels improved significantly over time. However, there were some declines in loss-related support from partners and others. The persisting distress and difficulties of a minority highlight the variability in women's responses to pregnancy losses. Women who lost pregnancies later in gestation, showed the greatest mood disturbances at initial assessments, used professional mental health assistance after the loss, or reported less satisfactory loss-related support from significant others showed the greatest levels of mood disturbance at the six-month assessment. Follow-up contacts with patients who lose pregnancies should be used to inform women about the variation in possible grief reactions, to assess the extent of support the women are receiving from their partners and significant others, and to provide additional follow-up or referral of those experiencing the greatest distress. PMID- 2616538 TI - Prenatal diagnosis of a case of tetrasomy 9p. AB - A male fetus with tetrasomy 9p [47,XY, + i(9p)] is presented. The cytogenetic interpretation of the marker chromosome was confirmed by assessing the activity of the enzyme galactose I-phosphate uridyl transferase. The clinical findings of the case show features in common with previously reported cases. PMID- 2616539 TI - Capillary zone electrophoresis separation of recombinant human interleukin-3 and related proteins. AB - Zone electrophoresis separations of human recombinant interleukin-3 (rh IL-3) and related proteins in untreated fused silica capillaries are presented. Results using pH 9 CHES buffer show that rh IL-3 is easily separated from a common carrier, human serum albumin, in a commercial preparation. PMID- 2616540 TI - Isolation of dimeric forms of human pituitary growth hormone. AB - A procedure is described which for the first time allows the isolation of noncovalently-linked dimeric human pituitary growth hormone. Isomers of this dimeric species were prepared as were also, for the first time, isomers of covalently-linked dimers. Chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B revealed the existence of noncovalently-linked dimers composed of monomers of 22K hGH, 20K hGH and 20K1 hGH (the latter is a new form of 20K hGH with a scission in the peptide chain) and covalent dimers containing 22K hGH and 24K hGH (the latter a 22K hGH with a scission). The different dimers all occurred as charge isomers and subsequent HPLC on an anion exchanger followed by zone electrophoresis in agarose suspension made possible the isolation of four noncovalently-linked isomers: one form of (20K-20K)hGH, two forms of (20K-22K)hGH and one form of (22K-22K)hGH; and of three covalently-linked isomers: one form of (22K-22K)hGH and two forms of (22K-24K)hGH. PMID- 2616541 TI - A high yield method for the isolation of sheep's liver cathepsin L. AB - A method, giving twice the yield of the previous method, for the isolation of sheep's liver cathepsin L is described. The method uses three phase partitioning (TPP) in t-butanol/water/ammonium sulphate mixtures, followed by two chromatographic steps, at different pH values, in a single column of S-Sepharose. PMID- 2616542 TI - A simplified purification method of aminoacylase I. AB - Taking advantage that the stability of aminoacylase I increases in the presence of Co2+, a simplified method of its purification, which includes a heating step, is described. This method is easy, fast, and gives a good yield of the enzyme. The properties of aminoacylase I thus prepared are similar to those described in the literature. PMID- 2616543 TI - Prevention of human cancer. Proceedings of the Third International Conference on the Prevention of Human Cancer: Chemoprevention. Tucson, Arizona, January 12-15, 1988. PMID- 2616544 TI - Development of in vitro systems for chemoprevention research. AB - The C3H/10T1/2 mouse fibroblast cell line has been developed as a predictive model for cancer chemopreventive agents. The retinoids, which are currently being evaluated as chemopreventive agents in the clinic, are potent inhibitors or chemically induced neoplastic transformation in this cell line. Mechanistic studies suggest that retinoids stabilize chemically initiated cells and prevent their transformation by enhancing gap junctional communication between these cells and adjacent growth-inhibited normal 10T1/2 cells. Carotenoids also prevent chemically and physically induced neoplastic transformation of 10T1/2 cells. beta Carotene is active without evidence of bioconversion to retinoids, implying that this dietary constituent has intrinsic chemopreventive activity. This cell culture system mimics many aspects of carcinogenesis in animals and man and appears well suited to mechanistic studies at the cellular and molecular level. PMID- 2616545 TI - Human dietary assessment: methods and issues. AB - It is possible that a "good" diet may enhance response to a chemopreventive agent, or that a diet deficient in some nutrients may weaken host defenses or host response to the agent. Thus, dietary intake should be assessed in chemoprevention as well as dietary studies. The advantages and disadvantages of several methods are presented. In addition, several principles and issues involved in dietary studies are discussed. Studies should attempt to assess the whole diet, not one or a few nutrients. Interpretation of the results of dietary studies can be seriously flawed and conclusions incorrect if only one or a few nutrients are assessed. Studies that ask about vegetable products but calculate only a fiber index are forced into drawing conclusions about fiber, when the true effective component may be elsewhere. Investigators should be cautious in the analysis and interpretation of results involving correlated nutrients. If two variables are quite highly correlated, either positively or negatively, a nutrient which has no effect may appear to have one, merely by being correlated with the other. Some examples are presented. Misclassification or measurement error is a serious problem for all dietary methods, although for different reasons. For most frequency or few-day-record methods, sample sizes must be multiplied several-fold over the sample size which standard formulas produce, to retain power in the face of measurement error. PMID- 2616546 TI - Chemopreventive trials with vitamin A and beta-carotene: some unresolved issues. AB - The administration of beta-carotene (180 mg/week) plus vitamin A (100,000 IU/week) or vitamin A alone (200,000 IU/week) to chewers of betel quids in Kerala, India led to a reduction in the frequency of micronucleated buccal mucosal cells, a remission of oral leukoplakia, and an inhibition of the development of new leukoplakias. The advantages of this test system include a profound knowledge of exposure levels to tobacco-specific nitrosamines, areca nut specific nitrosamines, and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating polyphenolics; the ease of quantitating micronuclei in exfoliated buccal mucosal cells and oral leukoplakia by noninvasive procedures; and solid information on the incidence of preneoplastic lesions and carcinomas. Some practical issues such as the level of nontoxic beta-carotene which could maintain the reduced frequency of micronucleated cells and the remission of oral leukoplakias for prolonged periods of time, the logistics of distributing beta-carotene to the many millions of smokeless tobacco users who are at elevated risk for oral cancer, and the possibility of using beta-carotene in the form of sweet potatoes or red palm oil, which could contain an economical source of beta-carotene for developing countries in which most of the tobacco chewers live, still remain unresolved. PMID- 2616548 TI - Abstracts of papers presented at the 13th annual meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology. Bethesda, Maryland, March 20-21, 1989. PMID- 2616547 TI - Barrett's esophagus: a model premalignant lesion for adenocarcinoma. AB - Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the lower esophagus is lined with metaplastic columnar epithelium rather than normal stratified squamous epithelium. It is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Cancers developing in Barrett's epithelium are adenocarcinomas rather than the usual squamous cell esophageal cancers. Barrett's is somewhat unique among premalignant lesions, since it represents an entirely different epithelium from the normal and can therefore be histologically identified with certainty. The abnormal mucosa can be safely accessed repeatedly and its extent quantitated by endoscopy, thereby allowing serial follow-up studies and intervention trials. We are studying Barrett's esophagus as a model premalignant lesion for adenocarcinoma. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was increased in this lesion especially when dysplastic changes were present. Interestingly there was no relationship between polyamine levels and the increased ODC activity. Flow cytometric abnormalities have been demonstrated in Barrett's mucosa. Their significance remains to be determined. Epithelial cells from this lesion have been cultured and characterized. Clonal cytogenetic abnormalities were detected in some specimens. The cultured cells were used to test the effect of drugs on their growth. The ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, alpha-difluoromethylornithine, significantly inhibited growth even at low concentrations. A clinical intervention trial using 13-cis retinoic acid has produced no change in the extent of the lesion in 11 evaluable patients. Nevertheless, the successful performance of this clinical study confirms that this lesion can be used for intervention trials aimed at reversing premalignant lesions. PMID- 2616549 TI - [Prophylactic mass examination for tuberculosis in an epidemiologically unfavorable region of the Far North]. AB - The results of systematic mass prophylactic are studied. The female patients were in the epidemiologically unfavourable region of Yakutia were analyzed. The impact of the mass examinations on the tuberculosis dynamics by their quality and the stage of the epidemiological process was determined. Reliable data in detail characterizing the present epidemiological situation and its dynamics in the territory were provided. Features of the development of mass prophylactic examinations and the tuberculosis dynamics in the Yakutsk ASSR as a whole are described comparatively. PMID- 2616550 TI - [The formation of outpatient-observation group VII taking into account patients with chronic nonspecific diseases of the respiratory organs]. AB - The data on retrospective observation of 6800 persons registered in the dispensary group VII in Lvov in 1976-1984 are presented. Examination of the persons registered in group VII for concomitant chronic nonspecific diseases of the respiratory organs (CNDRO) revealed their high incidence. Tuberculosis relapses in the persons of group VII A suffering from concomitant CNDRO amounted to 50 per cent of all the relapses. Still, their diagnosis was late which defined their severity and unfavourable prognosis in relation to the relapses. Along with high frequency of tuberculosis relapses there was aggravation of the nonspecific processes in the persons of group VII A with CNDRO. The data indicated the necessity of changing the case follow-up policy with respect to persons of group VIII with concomitant CNDRO. PMID- 2616551 TI - [Is preoperative chemotherapy necessary in pulmonary tuberculoma?]. AB - The results of surgical operations performed in general surgical hospitals in patients with lung tuberculoma not subjected to preoperative chemotherapy because of mistakes in the initial diagnosis were analyzed. 87 patients with tuberculosis diagnosed only during or after operations with morphological examination of the resected pathological materials were examined. High efficacy of surgical treatment in the patients with tuberculoma having no obvious signs of active tuberculosis was shown though the patients were not subjected to preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy. Early surgical treatment of such patients without preoperative chemotherapy is considered to be advisable. PMID- 2616552 TI - [The use of hyperbaric oxygenation in the combined treatment of postresection tuberculous pleural empyema with bronchial fistulae]. AB - The results of treating 67 patients with postresection tuberculous empyema of the pleura and bronchial fistulas are presented. The complex treatment included courses of hyperbaric oxygenation. The treatment procedure is described. Closure of the bronchial fistula and decrease in the fistula diameter were observed in 23 (33.8 per cent) and 16 (24.5 per cent) patients, respectively. No closure of the bronchial fistula in 41.7 per cent of the patients was recorded. Increased erythropoiesis, decreased leukocytosis and higher leukocyte counts, retarded ESR, lower contents of transaminases, increased inhibition of leukocyte migration, lower levels of immunoglobulin E and fewer numbers of immune complexes circulating in blood were revealed. PMID- 2616553 TI - [Treatment methods and results in patients with sarcoidosis of the respiratory organs under hospital and outpatient conditions]. AB - The results of treating 1360 patients with sarcoidosis of the respiratory organs were studied. Sarcoidosis of stages I, II and III was diagnosed in 67.3, 26.2 and 6.5 per cent of the patients, respectively. Extrapulmonary localization of the process was detected in 17 per cent of the patients. The patients were subjected to complex treatment including the use of prednisolone or presocyl as the essential drugs, immunomodulators (delagil, plaquenyl, levamisole and ethimizol), antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol and sodium thiosulfate) and hydrocortizone aerosols. Recovery from the initial stages of sarcoidosis was observed in 86.5 per cent of the patients when prednisolone was used and in 84.5 per cent of the patients given presocyl. The results of the treatment in the in- and out-patients with sarcoidosis were the same. PMID- 2616554 TI - [The results of radical-rehabilitative surgical treatment in tuberculous osteitis of the hip joint in children]. AB - Radical restorative surgery is an operation of choice in treatment of tuberculous osteitis of the hip joint in children of all age groups irrespective of the destructive process localization and duration. The early surgical treatment provided recovery from tuberculous osteitis in 100 per cent of the patients and proper development of the operated hip joint in 90 per cent of the patients. PMID- 2616555 TI - [The tuberculin-transamidinase test--a new method for the diagnosis of renal tuberculosis]. AB - The possible use of the provocative standard test with subcutaneous administration of tuberculin combined with determination of the activity of transamidinase, a renal specific enzyme, in the serum and urine before and 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after administration of tuberculin was studied for the first time in 63 patients with a purpose of diagnosing nephrophthisis. It was shown that a 2-fold or higher increase in the transaminidase activity in response to subcutaneous administration of 50 TU during the period from 24 to 72 hours could serve as a sign of nephrophthisis. PMID- 2616556 TI - [The complex cytologic and bacteriologic study of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for the purpose of differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis and disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - Investigation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with sarcoidosis and disseminated tuberculosis of the lungs revealed signs of similarity of and difference between certain cytological, cytochemical and microbiological indices. The signs were helpful in differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis of the lungs and suggested a common etiological factor causing them. PMID- 2616557 TI - [Immunologic indices of tuberculosis in pregnant women]. AB - The results of immunological examination of 40 pregnant women recovered from tuberculosis and 7 healthy pregnant women are presented. The highest titers of antituberculous antibodies, the highest levels of leukocyte migration inhibition in response to tuberculin and the highest percentage of formazan-positive neutrophils were characteristic of the women recovered from tuberculosis. There was an increase in the indices by the pregnancy terms from the 36th to the 40th weeks. Simultaneous detection of the high indices of the immunological tests was prognostically unfavourable which could be used as a basis for arrangements on preventing tuberculosis aggravation during pregnancy. PMID- 2616558 TI - [The characteristic risk factors of tuberculosis infection in newly detected patients]. AB - Medical records of 366 new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were studied and it was revealed that the overwhelming majority of the patients were registered in risk groups. Chronic alcoholism, everyday drinking unfavourable labor conditions and chronic nonspecific diseases of the lungs were the most important risk factors. A procedure for involving persons from socially unfavourable risk groups in fluorographic examinations was developed. PMID- 2616559 TI - [Amyloidosis lesions of the digestive organs in patients with tuberculosis and chronic nonspecific lung diseases]. AB - Histological postmortem examination of 30 persons who had died of pulmonary tuberculosis complicated by renal amyloidosis revealed amyloid affections in the rectum, stomach and liver of 76.3, 60 and 56.7 per cent of the dead, respectively. Histological examination of biopsy specimens of the gastric and duodenal mucosa from 20 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis revealed amyloid affections in 17 of them (85 per cent). An analogous examination of 18 patients with chronic nonspecific diseases of the lungs revealed amyloidosis of the organs in 10 persons (55.6 per cent). Efficiency of using proteinase inhibitors such as amben, epsilon-aminocapronic acid and contrical in the prevention and treatment of secondary amyloidosis of the digestive organs was studied experimentally. PMID- 2616561 TI - [The head (chief) district phthisiologist]. PMID- 2616560 TI - [The phthisiotherapist under today's conditions]. AB - Efficiency of the activities of medical curators in tuberculosis dispensaries is discussed in connection with reconstruction of public health care. An improvement of the quality of prophylactic arrangements, introduction of centralized control of treatment and observation of patients and other organizational innovations made the activity of the curators unnecessary at the present stage. It is proposed to discuss the possibility of performing organizational and methodological measures by indications in regional dispensaries according to contracts with preserving the system of centralized control. PMID- 2616562 TI - [The system of values orientation of patients with chronic destructive pulmonary tuberculosis and its psychotherapeutic correction]. PMID- 2616563 TI - [Additions and changes to the basic regulations for a new grouping of patient contingents being served by outpatient tuberculosis institutions]. PMID- 2616564 TI - [Steroid hormone and trace element content of the blood in patients with disseminated processes of the lungs]. AB - Blood testosterone, estradiol, hydrocortisone, iron, zinc, and copper levels in males and female patients with lung sarcoidosis, idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis and histiocytosis X were studied. The female patients were in the menopause. A significant decrease in the levels of testosterone and zinc and an increase in the levels of estradiol and copper were revealed in the patients with alveolitis and histiocytosis X. In the patients with lung sarcoidosis a significant decrease in the content of zinc and an increase in the contents of estradiol and copper were stated. There was a relationship between the magnitude of the changes in hormone and trace element levels and the respiratory failure severity. PMID- 2616565 TI - [Methodologic instructions for the grouping of the patient contingents of outpatient tuberculosis institutions]. PMID- 2616566 TI - Histochemical evidence of the catecholamine-associated nervous system in certain schistosome cercariae. AB - The localization of catecholamines was documented in the cercaria of Schistosoma mansoni and S. japonicum by a fluorescent histochemical method using glyoxylic acid (GA). Cell bodies and nerve fibres were spatially visualized in whole-mount preparations, and the fluorescent traces were investigated. The nervous system was bilaterally symmetrical, showing a similar formation in both species. A pair of cerebral ganglia with a transverse commissure showed a complex network of fluorophores, and each radiated two sets of anterior and posterior longitudinal nerve cords. A third pair of longitudinal nerve cords was observed in the most dorsal area. A posterior transverse commissure was seen to connect the posterior longitudinal cords, and the posterior terminals of the postero-ventral cords communicated with the tail cords. The glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence (GAIF) method was demonstrated to be quite suitable for neuroanatomical and neurophysiological investigations of larval forms. PMID- 2616567 TI - Distribution of histamine in the lumen contents of the small intestine of uninfected and Hymenolepis diminuta-infected rats. AB - Using a specific radioenzymatic assay, histamine was detected and measured in the lumen contents of six different segments of the small intestine of uninfected rats and rats infected with Hymenolepis diminuta as well as in worm tissues. The distribution of histamine in the lumen of the small intestine of uninfected rats was found to range from 1.4 +/- 0.1 microM in the first (anterior) segment to 0.59 +/- 0.13 mM in the sixth (posterior) segment. There were no significant differences between these concentrations and those found in the lumen contents of intestine from rats infected with H. diminuta. On the other hand, although most H. diminuta was confined to the second and third segments, the concentration of histamine associated with the worm tissues (5.4 +/- 0.4 microM) was significantly lower than that in Hymenolepis-containing intestinal segments. The data suggest that established infections of H. diminuta do not cause a significant increase in histamine levels in host's intestinal lumen, nor do they affect the spatial gradient in the lumen. PMID- 2616568 TI - The trypanosome surface glycoprotein procyclin is expressed only on tsetse fly vector stages of the parasite. PMID- 2616569 TI - Secretion of trials during gliding motility of Eimeria nieschulzi (Apicomplexa, Coccidia) sporozoites visualized by a monoclonal antibody and immuno-gold-silver enhancement. PMID- 2616570 TI - Analysis of isoforms of actin from Schistosoma mansoni by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. PMID- 2616571 TI - Long-term culture and cloning system for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense bloodstream forms in semi-defined medium in vitro. AB - A new semi-defined medium extremely useful for the long-term cultivation and cloning of Trypanosoma b. gambiense (Wellcome strain) bloodstream forms is described. Bloodstream forms could be continuously grown in 25 mM HEPES-buffered D-MEM supplemented with 10 microM bathocuproine sulfonate (BCS), 100 microM cysteine, and 20% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum at 37 degrees C in vitro. Under these culture conditions, T. b. gambiense bloodstream forms increased in number up to 2-3 x 10(6) trypanosomes/ml by day 3 after initiation of the culture. The trypanosomes maintained in this culture system for 200 days retained their infectivity for mice. Morphologically, they were long and slender, and a surface coat was evident on the cell surface and flagellar membrane. In vitro cloning with single bloodstream forms of T. b. gambiense could be achieved with high efficiency. PMID- 2616572 TI - Hemoglobin switching. Part B: Cellular and molecular mechanisms. Proceedings of the sixth conference. Airlie, Virginia, September 24-27, 1988. PMID- 2616573 TI - Characterisation of a 3.5 kb deletion removing the alpha 1 globin gene. PMID- 2616574 TI - Induced differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells (MELC) by polar compounds: marked increased sensitivity of vincristine resistant MELC. AB - Hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) is a most effective compound as an inducer of MELC differentiation. HMBA-mediated terminal differentiation of MELC is a multistep process. There is a latent period during which a number of changes occur including the appearance of Ca2+ and phospholipid independent PKC activity in the cytosol, and modulation in expression of several genes, including c-myc, c myb, c-fos and the p53 genes. During this latent period there is neither detectable commitment to terminal differentiation (including terminal cell division) or increased transcription of the globin genes. HMBA-mediated commitment to terminal differentiation is first detected at about 12 hr and increases in a stochastic fashion, until over 95% of the population has been recruited to terminal differentiation by 48 to 60 hr. Commitment is associated with persistent HMBA-mediated suppression of c-myb gene expression. By 36 to 48 hr, transcription of the globin genes has increased by 10 to 30 fold, whereas transcription of rRNA genes is suppressed. The steroid, dexamethasone, and the tumor promotor, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, suppress HMBA-induced MEL cell terminal differentiation. The evidence indicates that these agents act at a late step during the latent period. Recently, we showed that MELC variants selected for resistance to vincristine have a marked increased sensitivity to HMBA. Compared to the parental MELC strains, vincristine resistant MELC are: A) responsive to 1/5 to 1/10 the concentration of HMBA; B) induced to terminal differentiation without a latent period and C) resistant to inhibition of HMBA induced terminal differentiation by dexamethasone or tumor promotor. The vincristine resistant MELC have characteristics of the multidrug resistant phenotype. A number of independently derived vincristine resistant MELC lines show similar altered response to HMBA. These findings suggest that vincristine resistance leads to a constitutive expression of a factor or factors induced by HMBA in vincristine sensitive (wild type) MELC during the latent period and which are essential to the transition to terminal differentiation. PMID- 2616575 TI - Rapid induction of human alpha, beta and gamma globin genes in transiently transfected mouse erythroleukemia cells. PMID- 2616576 TI - Induction of hemoglobin synthesis in the human leukemia cell line, SPI-802. PMID- 2616577 TI - Regulated expression of the human beta-globin gene after retroviral transfer into murine and human hematopoietic cells. AB - Retroviral vectors and infection protocols were developed which permit transfer in vitro of the human beta-globin gene into transformed erythroid cells and normal human and murine hematopoietic cells. In murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells, RNA expression from the human beta-globin gene was regulated in parallel with the endogenous globin genes and this RNA directed synthesis of human beta globin protein chains. Human BFU-E which were present in normal bone marrow samples were also infected with the globin virus. After erythroid maturation in vitro, several percent of the total beta-globin mRNA was derived from the virally transferred beta-globin gene in the erythroid progeny cells of the bursts. The initial design of the beta-globin vectors was improved after the removal of sequences which interfered with the production of high-titer retrovirus stocks. The improved vector can transfer the human beta-globin gene to pluripotential hematopoietic stem cells (PHSC) of the mouse as shown by long-term expression of human beta-globin RNA and protein in peripheral blood, and the presence of the globin provirus in reconstituted myeloid and lymphoid cell lineages in primary and secondary recipients of virus-infected bone marrow. PMID- 2616578 TI - Modulation of mouse hemoglobin expression by hydroxyurea and erythropoietin in vivo. PMID- 2616579 TI - Butyrate analogues modulate globin gene expression in human and ovine erythroid cells. PMID- 2616580 TI - Nuclear matrix attachment regions of the chicken beta-type globin gene cluster. PMID- 2616581 TI - Synkaryons: surrogate erythroid cells for the analysis of human globin gene switching. PMID- 2616582 TI - Erythroid heterokaryons: a system for investigating the functional role of trans acting factors in developmental hemoglobin switching. AB - We have shown that erythroid cells from widely divergent species such as amphibians and mammals can be efficiently fused using either calcium phosphate bridges or polyethylene glycol. Transient heterokaryons of adult mouse erythroid (MEL) cells and Rana catesbeiana (bullfrog) tadpole erythroid cells produce adult Rana alpha globin mRNA and adult Rana hemoglobin (Hb) tetramers. Rana tadpole/adult Xenopus erythroid heterokaryons also exhibit this switch to adult Rana globin gene expression. These results indicate that trans-acting factors- and the globin gene regulatory mechanism of which they are a part--are conserved in vertebrate phylogeny. We also wish to know whether the reciprocal Hb switch occurs in each of these two types of heterokaryons, i.e., whether embryonic or fetal globin genes are reactivated in the adult nucleus. Experiments to answer these questions are in progress and are briefly discussed. The influence of stage of erythroid differentiation of the larval and adult donor cells on the cross inductions is also being explored. These types of experiments should indicate which cells will be the best sources of stimulatory and inhibitory factors that are globin-gene specific. This system may be useful as an in situ assay for the function of purified trans-factors, which could be encapsulated within RBC ghosts and delivered via cell fusion. PMID- 2616583 TI - [Molecular modeling of anti-arrhythmia agents in class Ia and Ib--model conceptions of different binding receptors]. AB - The molecular properties of quinidine, EO 122, and lidocaine were investigated using theoretical methods (Molecular Modeling). The binding pattern of the molecules were investigated by calculating interaction energies with a negative charged fragment (receptor model). Based on these calculations a model for the differentiation of class Ia and class Ib antiarrhythmic drugs could be deduced. The results explain data which were formulated in the modulated receptor hypothesis. In this way the molecular basis for the preferred affinity of quinidine to the open state of the sodium channel as well as the equal affinity of lidocaine to the open and inactivated state of the channel were defined. PMID- 2616584 TI - Determination of the optimum solvent system for extraction of minoxidil from a tablet dosage form. AB - Several pharmaceutical solvent systems commonly employed by the pharmacist during the extemporaneous dispensing of minoxidil topical solution using Loniten tablets were evaluated. These included ethanol, propylene glycol, water and a commercially available liquid, Vehicle/N. A total of twenty-five (10 mg) Loniten tablets were pulverized in a wedgewood mortar for five minutes. The tablet powder was then dissolved in the experimental solvent system and stirred thoroughly for ten minutes. The liquid dispersion was filtered using the vacuum filter method and the powder residue was then washed twice to obtain a fixed volume of the filtrate. The concentration of minoxidil in each solvent system was determined spectrophotometrically at the wavelength range of 280 to 282 nm depending upon the solvent. The amount of minoxidil extracted in each sample was calculated using the previously constructed standard curve in the respective solvent system. From the data obtained, it was concluded that Vehicle/N is the optimum solvent for such use, and the drug recovery was about 99%. Whereas, the mixture of methanol/propylene glycol/water at a volume ratio of 6:2:2 was observed to be the second best with a drug recovery of 97%. The addition of sodium lauryl sulfate had no effect in enhancing the solubility of drug when used in a solvent with poor recovery profile of drug. Also, the presence of excipients of the tablet dosage form did not interfere with the extraction process of minoxidil. PMID- 2616585 TI - A conjugate of prednisolone with albumin is pharmacologically active in macrophages. AB - In order to selectively deliver prednisolone to macrophages, this drug was coupled to human albumin. In experiments in vitro the conjugate entered into macrophages in much higher amounts than in fibroblasts; in the former cells it was pharmacologically active as demonstrated by the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane A2 production. Prednisolone-albumin conjugate might be useful in research on steroids; moreover in some pathological conditions it might produce the therapeutic effects of these drugs without causing their side effects. PMID- 2616586 TI - Compared effects of isoxicam and indomethacin on the urinary excretion of prostaglandins in degenerative articular diseases. AB - The effects of a 7 day-treatment with isoxicam (200 mg/24 h) on the urinary excretion of prostaglandins (PG) were compared to those of indomethacin (150 mg/24 h) in a double-blind randomized study conducted in 18 patients with degenerative arthritic disease and normal renal function. Indomethacin decreased the urinary excretion of PGF2 alpha by about 70% and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and thromboxane (Tx)B2, the stable break-down products of prostacyclin and TxA2 respectively, by about 40%. Isoxicam effects on urinary PG did not significantly differ from those of indomethacin. During both treatments, urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase and N- acetyl-glucosaminidase remained stable and none of the changes in the urinary excretion of PGs could be related to either plasma or urinary drug concentrations. In conclusion, chronic administration of isoxicam inhibited the renal PG biosynthesis to a similar extent than indomethacin which suggests that non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs of the oxicam group ought also be used cautiously in patients with renal impairment. PMID- 2616587 TI - Stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis by cholecystokinin in primary culture cells of bovine gallbladder muscle. AB - Primary culture cells derived from bovine gallbladder muscles synthesize PGE2 as a major cyclooxygenase product with a trace amount of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha-like material. The synthesis of PGE2 and total cyclooxygenase products was enhanced in response to cholecystokinin (CCK). In the presence of indomethacin the synthesis of PG was inhibited and the release of arachidonic acid (AA) in response to CCK was enhanced. These data suggest that CCK may stimulate the release of AA, probably by activating phospholipase A2/C, from membrane phospholipids in the gallbladder muscle. PMID- 2616588 TI - Comparison of the inhibitory effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on prostaglandin synthesis I oral squamous carcinoma cells. AB - Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to suppress the growth rate of human osteogenic sarcoma cells and to have selective cytotoxic activity against human cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of various PUFAs on inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis by oral squamous carcinoma cells (SCC-25). A significant inhibition of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha synthesis in SCC-25 was observed by all PUFAs tested except in the case of linoleic acid (LA) at 10 microM level. At 10 microM level the rank order of inhibition of PG synthesis by PUFAs was docosahexaenoic (DHA) greater than eicosapentaenoic (EPA) + DHA greater than dihomogamma-linolenic (DGLA) greater than EPA greater than alpha-linolenic (ALA) greater than linoleic (LA). At 50, 75, 100 microM the rank order of inhibition was DGLA greater than EPA greater than EPA + DHA greater than DHA greater than ALA greater than LA. PMID- 2616589 TI - Renal eicosanoid synthesis in patients with renovascular hypertension. PMID- 2616590 TI - [The correction of Rf-value (Rcf-value). Discovery and significance for toxicologic analysis]. PMID- 2616591 TI - [ChemBase--"databank of the superlative"?]. PMID- 2616592 TI - [New regulations for the pharmacist. Their importance for business, much remains to be done]. PMID- 2616593 TI - Effects of cocaine and d-amphetamine on sustained and selective attention in rats. AB - The effects of cocaine and d-amphetamine were compared in two attention-loading tasks. Cued by the position of a light, rats were food-reinforced for pressing one of two levers in a 2-choice, discrete-trial procedure. In the "sustained attention" task, the cue light was illuminated for a brief period (1.8 sec or less) at the beginning of each trial. In the "selective attention" task, the cue light remained on until a level press, while a blinking light over the incorrect lever served as a distractor. In the sustained attention task, low doses of d amphetamine (0.25 mg/kg SC) and cocaine (2.5 mg/kg SC) enhanced accuracy; some doses of d-amphetamine (0.75 mg/kg SC) and cocaine (1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg SC) also reduced choice latencies. In the selective attention task, the lower doses of these drugs had no effect on accuracy, the highest dose of d-amphetamine (1.25 mg/kg SC) disrupted accuracy, and all doses of the drugs reduced choice latencies. The time to retrieve food was increased in a dose-dependent fashion by both drugs in both tasks. These results indicate that, other than differences in potency, cocaine and d-amphetamine induce similar behavioral effects in attention loading tasks, with improvement or interference with performance dependent on the dose and the type of attention demanded of the task. PMID- 2616594 TI - Restraint stress-induced changes in saccharin preference: the effect of antidepressive treatment and diazepam. AB - The effect of antidepressive treatment and of diazepam on saccharin preference has been studied in a model of acute restraint stress-induced saccharin preference deficit. It has been shown that 1-hr stressor produces short-term, and significant decrease of saccharin preference in a two-bottle test, measured at 24 hr periods of time. Single doses of desipramine and citalopram (10 mg/kg, IP) given prior to stress session significantly attenuated the deficit in saccharin preference. Less strong, but similar effects appeared after postshock antidepressant administration. On the other hand, electroconvulsive shock treatment rather enhanced the depressive influence of the stressor, while diazepam (1 mg/kg, IP) antagonized the suppression of saccharin preference, especially when the drug was given immediately after restraint stress. It is concluded that the acute immobilization-induced decrease in saccharin preference most probably reflects changes in brain emotional processes. The role of disturbances in central motivational mechanisms and its contribution to the effects of antidepressive drugs remains to be established. PMID- 2616595 TI - The discriminative stimulus properties of the 5HT1 agonist RU24969. AB - Using standard operant procedures, rats were trained to discriminate the 5-HT agonist RU24969 (0.5 mg/kg IP) from saline. Stable responding was established and tests of stimulus generalisation and stimulus antagonism were performed with a range of 5-HT receptor ligands. The RU24969 cue was selective as neither 5-HT receptor ligands MK212, DPAT, ipsapirone, GR38032F or the 5-HT releasing agent, fenfluramine nor yohimbine were able to substitute for RU24969 in tests of generalisation. However, TFMPP, CPP and, of particular interest, propranolol substituted for the RU24969 stimulus, although full substitution only occurred with doses that disrupted responding. The RU24969 stimulus was not antagonised by propranolol, metergoline, ritanserin or GR38032F. This pharmacological profile suggests that the RU24969 stimulus is mediated via a subtype of 5-HT1 sites different from 5-HT1A and that propranolol may be an agonist at this site. PMID- 2616596 TI - Measuring morphine's capacity to establish a place preference. AB - A series of experiments are described providing an assessment of the procedures of conditioned place preference (CPP) testing involving an automated system having 12 separate chambers. Experiment 1 provides data to demonstrate (a) that in these chambers no initial preferences for one side over the other exists among rats, (b) that this neutrality of sides is not affected by session lengths between 15 and 60 min, and (c) that the optimal session length for tests in these chambers is on the order of 30 min. Experiment 2 demonstrates the stability of control groups' scores across a number of conditioning and testing sessions. Experiments 3 and 4 provide data to demonstrate (a) that a positive CPP can be established in our chambers using injections of morphine, (b) that a regimen of dosing with unequal numbers of days of putative and alternate conditioning is a reliable and conservative test of the opioid's ability to establish a CPP, and (c) that although the activity of rats decreases across a session, the general activity of rats before and after conditioning procedures is the same. Experiment 5 replicates the procedures employed by Scoles and Siegel (25) and demonstrates that the tendency for rats to explore novel environments is strong, and care must be taken to provide an opportunity for rats to pair different experiences with each side of the chamber in order for a CPP to emerge. PMID- 2616597 TI - Effects of Ro 15-4513 on schedule-controlled responding of pigeons. AB - The partial inverse benzodiazepine agonist Ro 15-4513 has been found to antagonize some of the behavioral and physiological effects of ethanol, but relatively little is known about the behavioral effects of the drug alone. In the present study, pigeons responding under a multiple fixed-ratio 25 interresponse time-greater-than-6-sec schedule of food delivery were exposed acutely and chronically to Ro 15-4513. Acute administrations of the drug (1.0, 1.8, 3.2, and 5.4 mg/kg) reduced response rates under the fixed-ratio component at some doses, although two birds were more sensitive to the drug than the third subject. Response rates under the interresponse-time-greater-than-6-sec component were not affected by acute administrations of Ro 15-4513. When 5.4 mg/kg Ro 15-4513 was administered prior to 15 consecutive sessions, tolerance developed to the rate reducing effects of the drug under the fixed-ratio component. These findings, in contrast to those of early investigations in which gross measures of behavior were employed, suggest that Ro 15-4513 is behaviorally active at relatively low doses. PMID- 2616598 TI - Differences in susceptibility of rat liver and brain sialidases to ethanol and gangliosides. AB - Based on reports that ethanol can decrease the level of sialic acid (SA) (neuraminic acid) in several tissues, we tested the hypothesis that ethanol promotes SA cleavage by enhancing the activity of sialidases (neuraminidases). We also investigated whether brain and liver sialidases have the same response to ethanol and gangliosides, especially since our prior studies have demonstrated that gangliosides could antagonize ethanol-induced behavior. Experiments were conducted on homogenates of brain and liver and of liver slices of adult rats. In liver slices, cleavage of SA did not fall in proportion to the ethanol-induced inhibition of sialidase; in fact, at 0.1 M ethanol, free SA increased, even though sialidase was inhibited. Brain sialidase activity on endogenous sialoglycoconjugates was much more resistant to ethanol than liver sialidase and was fully active even in concentrations as high as 1 M. When gangliosides were incubated with liver slices in the absence of ethanol, sialidase was markedly stimulated. The ethanol-induced inhibition of sialdase in liver slices was mimicked by sorbitol, suggesting that the inhibition may be caused by a shift in redox state as a result of increased NADH. The ethanol metabolite, acetaldehyde, does not seem to be a factor, because sialidase inhibition still occurred when slices were incubated with ethanol containing pyrazole. The results indicate that ethanol promotes the accumulation of free SA in liver without stimulating sialdase; our other work suggests that the cause is an increase in accessibility to sialoglycoconjugates rather than decreased utilization of SA. Brain and liver sialidases clearly respond differently to both ethanol and gangliosides. PMID- 2616599 TI - Centrally administered opioid peptides stimulate saccharin intake in nondeprived rats. AB - Endogenous opioid peptides are thought to play a role in mediating the pleasurable or rewarding aspects of the ingestion of certain foods and liquids. We therefore measured the effects of central administration of selective opioid agonists and naloxone on the intake of two concentrations of saccharin solution. All tests were performed on nondeprived rats, such that the taste of the solutions provided the primary incentive to consume. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of the selective mu agonist [D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly ol5]enkephalin (DAGO) and the selective delta agonist Tyr-D-Thr-Gly-Phe-Leu-Thr (DTLET) (3 nmol) increased intake of a 0.15% saccharin solution by approximately 10 ml over 3 hr. Water was available simultaneously, but intake was minimal. The selective kappa agonist U-50,488H did not increase intake of the saccharin solution. Naloxone (30 and 100 micrograms, ICV) caused a 44% reduction in saccharin solution intake in the first hour; two- and three-hour cumulative intakes were not different from control. DAGO and DTLET were also tested when rats were given a weaker saccharin solution (0.006%) along with water. Both agonists caused small increases in saccharin and water intake, but the increases above baseline were much smaller than those observed with the more palatable 0.15% saccharin solution. These results are consistent with reports by others which suggest that endogenous opioids influence taste preferences or palatability. Further, they indicate a role for central mu and delta opioid receptors in the mediation of this influence. PMID- 2616600 TI - Effects of exercise on behavioral sensitivity to carbamate cholinesterase inhibitors. AB - The interaction between exercise and drug response has not been studied extensively. The present study examined the relationship between both acute (15 minute) and chronic (10 week) treadmill exercise and behavioral response to the carbamates physostigmine and pyridostigmine. Rats trained on an operant task under a multi-component FR30 schedule were used to evaluate the interaction between exercise and performance following drug administration. The direct effects of both 10 weeks of exercise conditioning and a moderate exercise challenge, as well as the interaction between two were assessed. Results obtained with physostigmine show that acute exercise increased behavioral sensitivity. Chronic exercise resulted in behavioral tolerance. These results are consistent with previously reported studies of centrally acting compounds. In contrast, pyridostigmine, which has little or no central activity, produced no behavioral changes. This result was constant over exercise conditions. PMID- 2616601 TI - Self-selected blocking of vents on low-yield cigarettes. AB - Blockers of vents in ultra-low-yield cigarettes had higher levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and salivary cotinine than did nonblockers. None of the blockers reported that they blocked vents. Exposure differences seemed not to be due simply to vent blocking, but also to be the result of syndromes of heavier (blocking, more cigarettes per day, and starting earlier in the morning) or lighter smoking (not blocking, fewer cigarettes per day, and starting later in the morning). The results are interpreted in light of the boundary model. Cigarette smoking and brand selection should be studied as they occur naturally, as well as in experimentally contrived studies. PMID- 2616602 TI - Effects of bromocriptine pretreatment on subjective and physiological responses to i.v. cocaine. AB - We studied the effect of pretreatment with single doses of bromocriptine on the pattern of subjective and physiologic responses to single doses of intravenous (IV) cocaine. Placebo, bromocriptine 2.5 mg and, in five subjects only, 5 mg were administered orally 120 minutes before a dose of placebo or cocaine 40 mg IV to 9 male cocaine-using volunteers. Bromocriptine pretreatment diminished blood pressure generally, including cocaine-induced blood pressure increases, and augmented the heart rate after cocaine. It caused virtually no change in either augmentation or diminution of subjective responses including "rush" and "good feeling" scores, and scores for the MBG of the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI), all measures of euphoria. However, a trend for the scores for the item "Would a dose of drug (cocaine) make you feel better?," suggested that bromocriptine may decrease the urge to use cocaine that was evoked by cocaine itself. However, this decreased desire was associated with a trend toward an increase in dysphoria as measured on the LSD scale of ARCI. These data support the view that euphoria and some forms of craving may be pharmacologically separable. We found no potentially toxic interactions of bromocriptine with cocaine in these single dose experiments. PMID- 2616603 TI - Effect of naltrexone on relaxation induced by flank pressure in pigs. AB - Twenty, 6 to 9 kg Yorkshire piglets were used in 2 trials. Ten piglets received an IM injection of naltrexone at a dose of 1 to 1.3 mg/kg. Ten control pigs received saline. Blind behavioral testing in a "squeeze chute" was conducted 40 minutes after injection. The "squeeze chute" consists of two padded plywood panels hinged on a base to form a V. Each pig was squeezed for 60 seconds. After release, each pig remained in the padded V for 10 minutes. There was sufficient room for the pigs to walk a few steps. Both naltrexone- and saline-treated pigs eventually crouched down in the chute and relaxed against the padded sides of the V. Naltrexone-pretreated pigs had a longer latency to achieve relaxation--311.8 +/- 47.8 seconds vs. 161.8 +/- 30.38 seconds (SE) (p less than 0.02). Each stage of relaxation at induction was rated on a 1-4 scale (1 = squealing and jumping, 4 = relaxed quietly). Naltrexone-treated pigs had significantly lower relaxation ratings than saline-treated pigs (1.90 vs. 3.20) (p less than 0.01). Treatment had no effect on the final degree of relaxation. Naltrexone partially blocked the relaxation response. PMID- 2616604 TI - Interaction of haloperidol and area postrema lesions in the disruption of amphetamine-induced conditioned taste aversion learning in rats. AB - Two experiments were run to determine the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of an amphetamine-induced conditioned taste aversion. In the first experiment, it was shown that pretreatment with haloperidol (0.1-0.5 mg/kg, IP) attenuated. but did not prevent, taste aversion learning produced by amphetamine (3 mg/kg, IP). In the second experiment, combining area postrema lesions with haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg) pretreatment completely blocked the acquisition of an amphetamine-induced taste aversion. The results are interpreted as indicating that amphetamine induced taste aversion learning has both a central component, which is mediated by dopaminergic receptors, and a nondopaminergic peripheral component, which is mediated by the area postrema. PMID- 2616605 TI - Effects of puff number and puff spacing on carbon monoxide exposure from commercial brand cigarettes. AB - Six chronic smokers of mid- to high-carbon monoxide (CO) yield cigarettes smoked ultralow- (1.6 mg CO), low- (5.9 mg CO) and high- (14.3 mg CO) yield commercial cigarettes under controlled smoking conditions in which either puff number or puff spacing was manipulated. CO exposure (pre- to postsmoking increments) was directly related to the number of puffs taken for all cigarette yields. CO exposure from the high- and low-yield cigarettes was equivalent when the number of puffs taken from the low-yield cigarettes was increased by 50% (from 8 to 12 puffs). In contrast, CO exposure from ultralow-yield cigarettes was still marginally lower than exposure from high-yield cigarettes after a 4-fold increase in puff number (8 to 32 puffs). Puff spacing did not affect biological exposure to CO. The study showed that the number of puffs taken during smoking can clearly affect biological exposure to CO, but that compensation for lowered yield using increased puffs is much more difficult when ultralow- as compared with low or "light"- yield cigarettes are smoked. PMID- 2616606 TI - Effects of chronic and acute ethanol treatment during prenatal and early postnatal ages on testosterone levels and sexual behaviors in rats. AB - This study was prompted by previous findings that prenatal ethanol exposure may interfere with the differentiation of the sexual behavior in rats. Ethanol (6 g/kg) administered daily from day 15 postconception, resulted in elevated testosterone (T) levels on Day 18 in male and female fetuses. No alterations of sexual behavior in the ethanol-treated male offspring were seen under these conditions. However, in ethanol-treated female offspring the onset of regular estrous cycling was significantly delayed. Acute treatment with doses of ethanol, 2, 4 or 6 g/kg, was ineffective in influencing plasma T levels of the fetuses. Acute treatment with 3 g/kg ethanol did not prevent the rise of T levels normally occurring immediately after birth. In adulthood, but not at prepubertal age (Day 30), treatment of male rats with 2 g/kg ethanol caused a depression of plasma T levels. Possible mechanisms affected by ethanol exposure and influencing on the fetal development were discussed. PMID- 2616607 TI - Memory formation processes in weakly reinforced learning. AB - Day-old chicks trained on a single-trail passive avoidance learning task, with varying concentrations of the aversive stimulus (methyl anthranilate), truncated retention functions for low concentrations. The retention function for a 20% v/v dilution of methyl anthranilate in absolute ethanol yielded high retention levels until approximately 40 to 45 minutes following learning. This retention function appears to consist of only the short-term and intermediate (phase A) memory stages of Gibbs and Ng's three-stage model of memory formation, with the short term stage susceptible to inhibition by monosodium glutamate, and the intermediate stage by ouabain and dinitrophenol. The results suggest that processing of memory into the relatively permanent long-term stage may depend on the strength of the reinforcer in aversive learning. PMID- 2616608 TI - Effect of retraining trials on memory consolidation in weakly reinforced learning. AB - Day-old chicks given a single weakly reinforced (20% v/v methyl anthranilate in absolute ethanol) passive avoidance learning trial showed no evidence of long term memory. A second learning trial given at 15 minutes after initial resulted in consolidation of the learning experience into long-term memory. The retention function resulting from two learning trials is similar to that observed with a single strongly reinforced learning trial, and consists of the stages postulated by Gibbs and Ng. With a dilution of 10% methyl anthranilate in ethanol, four training trials were needed to yield unequivocal evidence of long-term memory consolidation. PMID- 2616609 TI - Blockade of ACh receptors by PrBCM causes deficits in shuttle avoidance performance. AB - Studies were made examining the effect of blockade of muscarinic acetylcholine (mACh) receptors in the cerebral cortex of rats on their shuttle avoidance after training. Rats were given a session of shuttle avoidance tests once a day for 12 days. Then the irreversible antagonist of mACh receptors, propylbenzilylcholine mustard (PrBCM), was injected bilaterally into the cerebral cortex of rats showing avoidance rates of more than 75% in the last session, and avoidance rates were examined 24 hr later. The avoidance rates of the rats treated with 100 micrograms PrBCM were lower than those in the last session before treatment. The amount of mACh receptors in the cerebral cortex was decreased by PrBCM treatment, as shown by [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) binding studies performed just after measurement of the avoidance response. The present study indicates that cholinergic neurotransmission in rat cerebral cortex is involved in performing a learned shuttle avoidance. PMID- 2616610 TI - Influence of housing conditions on the acquisition of intravenous heroin and cocaine self-administration in rats. AB - Group-housed and individually housed rats were tested for the acquisition of a lever-pressing response reinforced by intravenous heroin or cocaine; animals in each housing condition quickly learned to self-administer drug. In the first experiment the isolated rats learned to self-administer heroin earlier than the group-housed animals, but the two groups self-administered similar levels of heroin by the fifth week of testing. In the second experiment cocaine self administration was learned with equal speed in the two groups, and similar levels of cocaine were self-administered by both groups throughout the experiment. These data indicate that while social isolation can influence levels of heroin self administration, isolation is not a necessary condition for heroin or heroin or cocaine injections to be reinforcing. PMID- 2616611 TI - Methylscopolamine and conditioned location avoidance. AB - On alternate days, rats were confined to one side of a shuttlebox following IP administration of saline and to the other following the peripherally-acting muscarinic antagonist, methylscopolamine (1.2 mg/kg). They later avoided the side associated with the drug effect. By duplicating an earlier finding with centrally and peripherally-acting scopolamine, this result identified aversive peripheral actions of the two drugs as mainly responsible for the effects observed. PMID- 2616612 TI - Behavioral performance effects of nifedipine in normotensive baboons: single dosing. AB - The effects of single oral doses of the calcium channel blocker nifedipine were assessed on performance of a simultaneous color match-to-sample task in three normotensive baboons. Both accuracy of color matching, and speed and latency of response were measured 30 min after administration of 0.10, 0.34, 0.57, and 1.7 mg/kg and vehicle, with each dose tested on three occasions in randomized order. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures also were measured after testing sessions. Maximal decreases in systolic blood pressures (mean of three subjects = -4.56 mmHg) were obtained after ingestion of the 0.57 mg/kg dose. Nifedipine produced dose-related changes in choice reaction times with a trend toward increased reaction times of approximately 5% obtained at 0.34 and 1.7 mg/kg. A reversal of effect was noted at 0.57 mg/kg such that smaller changes in reaction times were obtained, suggesting a lack of correlation between blood pressure and behavioral performance changes. These results indicate that nifedipine administered in single doses to patients with hypertensive crisis is unlikely to produce large impairments in these aspects of sensory and motor functioning. PMID- 2616613 TI - Pentobarbital-induced hyperactivity in mice: negligible role of opioid mechanisms. AB - Subhypnotic doses (10 and 20 mg/kg) of pentobarbital significantly elevated locomotor activity measured for 30 min in CD-1 mice. The hyperactivity was also observed in mice recovering from pentobarbital-induced (50 mg/kg) sleep (measurements starting 15 min after recovery of righting reflex). Naloxone in doses up to 4 mg/kg did not affect significantly the pentobarbital-induced hyperactivity in any experiment; a dose of 8 mg/kg only partially attenuated the hyperactivity induced by a dose of 20 mg/kg of pentobarbital, but did not affect significantly either the stimulatory effect of a low subhypnotic dose (10 mg/kg) or the posthypnotic hyperactivity. This suggests a negligible involvement of opioid mechanisms in the hyperactivity induced by pentobarbital. PMID- 2616614 TI - [Detection and determination of acetone using semiconductor sensors]. AB - Investigations to examine not only the factors of influence on evaluation of acetone by self-prepared semiconductor gas sensors, but also to prove analytical properties, were carried out using different tools. A sensor temperature of 600 degrees C and a carrier gas flow-rate of 5 l/h were found to be suitable conditions for the measurement of flow-injection apparatus. The determination of 1 microliter-samples of aqueous solutions containing 1-700 g of acetone/l yielded deviations of 4 to 33%. Using a head space method, the working temperature of 370 degrees C led to a maximum sensor response, the detection limit ranged from 37.5 to 50 mg of acetone/l. After quantifying 5 microliters-sample solutions of 40-600 mg/l, results with an accuracy of 1 to 36% were obtained. The method showed the possibility of distinguishing concentrations of acetone below and above 40 mg/l according to physiological and pathological urinary values. The tests carried out on 100 human urine samples provide a good agreement with the Legal reference method for samples containing physiological or strong pathological amounts of ketone bodies, but not for those including traces and small amounts. False positive results might be caused by a possible presence of ethanol in urine. PMID- 2616615 TI - [The biotransformation of leiocarposide and salicin phenol glycosides--examples for special consideration of the absorption and metabolism of glycosidic compounds]. AB - After parenteral administration of leiocarposide (1, 3-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-2 methoxy-6-hydroxybenzoic acid-2'-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxybenzylester) and salicin to the rat the glycosides were mostly excreted unchanged in urine. In contrast to the oral administration (see [1]) only small amounts of metabolites [1: 0.2% of the dose as leiocarpic acid and 0.1% salicylic acid; 2: 0.05% 5] were observed. By in vitro experiments could be shown, that the hydrolysis of ester and glycosidic bonds from 1 to 3 and saligenin and from 2 to 4 took place microbially mostly in the cecum and colon of the rats. The reactions are also visible in the homogenate of kidney. Praparations of liver, lung and serum showed no activity. 4 in the homogenates of liver, kidney and lung, in the gut-wall and the serum was oxidized to 5. The further product of oxidation of 5, gentisic acid, arise only in liver homogenate. PMID- 2616616 TI - [The effect of alkyl-lysophospholipids and membrane potentials, proliferation and migration of isolated calf aorta endothelial cells]. AB - Cancerostatical active synthetic alkyl-lysophospholipids were examined with regard to their effects on membrane potential, proliferation and migration of isolated endothelial cells. In sublytic concentrations all alkyl lysophospholipids tested caused a hyperpolarization of the membrane of endothelial cells. The effect of alkyl-lysophospholipids on proliferation of endothelial cells was dependent on the serum supplement. The migration of endothelial cells was strongly inhibited by 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-glycero phosphocholine. Possible mechanisms of action are discussed. PMID- 2616617 TI - [The determination of the information potential of characterization of drug preparations]. AB - The quantum of information on safe and effective application of pharmaceutical preparations is experiential different. The differences can be shown better by pictograms than by words. The measure of informations can be weighted accordingly of the usefulness and the decisive situation on delivery the drugs. The quantified results taken from the sortiments of the GDR and CSSR for 30% of all drugs and especially for 12 indications groups are very high. Preparations can be ranked according their "informational potentials" (IPAFW). The determination of IPAFW gives a new look on rank of pharmaceutical preparations on the pharmacy service. PMID- 2616618 TI - Formulation and evaluation of ibuprofen injections. PMID- 2616619 TI - [Effective incorporation of lipopolysaccharides in liposomes for modulation of pyrogenicity and release of tumor necrosis factor]. PMID- 2616620 TI - N-Acetylation phenotyping with sulfamethazine--problems of sampling. PMID- 2616621 TI - [The dualistic action of cytostatic drugs]. PMID- 2616622 TI - [Synthesis and biological activity of 5-phenyl-1,3,4-benzotriazepines. 20. Biological activity of 2-alkylamino- and 2-thioxo-1,3,4-benzotriazepines in aortic endothelial cells]. PMID- 2616623 TI - Synthesis and antitumour effect of N alpha-acyl derivatives of L-cystine-bis [N,N di(2-chloroethyl)]dihydrazide. AB - A series of Na-acyl derivatives of L-cystine-bis [N,N-di(2 chloroethyl)]dihydrazide was synthesized. The effect of the acyl substituent on the antitumour activity of the synthesized compounds was studied. It was demonstrated that the introduction of short-chain Na-acyl substituents resulted in substances with higher antitumour effect and lower toxicity. PMID- 2616624 TI - Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some new 2,5-imidazolidinediones. AB - 1,3-Diphenyl-4-thione-2,5-imidazolidinedione (3) was reacted with amino compounds and o-diamines to give 1,3-diphenyl-4-substituted imino-2,5-imidazolinediones (4a m) and 1,3-diphenyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]quinoxaline-2(3H)-ones (5a-c), respectively. Condensation of 3 with hydrazines afforded the corresponding hydrazone derivatives (6a-c). Reaction of 6a with acetyl chloride, aromatic aldehydes, arylsulphonyl chlorides, phthalic acid anhydrides and isocyanates or thiocyanates furnished 6d, furnished the acetyl-amido derivative 6b, the benzylidenimino derivatives 7a-d, the arylsulphonamido derivatives 8a-b, the phthalimido derivatives 9a-b and the ureido and thioureido derivatives 10a-b, respectively. Again compound 3 was reacted with n-butylmagnesium bromide or diazomethane to give the dibutyl derivative 12 or 13. PMID- 2616625 TI - [Preparation of drugs in extrusion pellets with a thermoplastic base. 1. Drug liberation]. AB - In connection with the preparation of solid sustained-release forms extrusion pellets were prepared. The conditions for the processing of the thermoplastics were determined. Lithium sulfate and caffeine served as model drugs. The drug release from the thermoplastics is insufficient. There was no evidence for a possible relation between the properties of the thermoplastics and the drug release. By means of selected examples a correlation between the thermoplastic capacity to water and the drug release could be found. PMID- 2616626 TI - Paracetamol release from spray-dried products prepared with acrylic resins. AB - Ethanolic solutions of various paracetamol (acetaminophen)/Eudragit E, S, and RS ratios were spray-dried to obtain solid particulates. The products were tableted and the dissolution test of the tablets in distilled water and test solution (pH 1.2 and 7.2) were evaluated. The quantities and types of polymer as well as the dissolution media influenced the drug release. Spray-drying technique provided by the different types of Eudragits was an effective method for prolonging the release rate of paracetamol. PMID- 2616627 TI - [The effect of drugs on electronically determined movement profile (movement profile analysis)]. AB - In the movement profile analysis, movements of small laboratory animals, according to both intensity and direction (amplitude and polarity), are electronically measured by means of capacitive sensors. The electrical signals are amplified, classified into 13 classes in a classification device and depicted as frequency distribution. The obtained distribution corresponds to a Gaussian distribution if normal control mice are used (normal movement profile, MP). The normal MP is characteristically changed by drugs. By centrally depressing drugs (droperidol, chlorpromazine, diazepam, medazepam) distribution classes of weak movements are dose-dependently increased while classes of strong movements are decreased. Stimulating drugs (dexphenmetrazine, methamphetamine, caffeine) gave opposite changes of the MP. A certain time after a stimulating drug the change of the MP can turn to the MP of depressing drugs obviously as the result of exhaustion of the animal. After low doses of echinoramine I a MP with the characteristics of a depressing drug was found, after high doses the MP was that of a stimulating drug, perhaps as the result of subtoxic effects. After apomorphine (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) no clear dose-dependence could be found. The movement profile analysis can be useful in the specified analysis of movements influencing drugs. PMID- 2616628 TI - [Synthesis and actions of 1-propoxymethyl-3-(n-alkoxymethyl)- and 1-propoxymethyl 3-(n-alkylthiomethyl)imidazolium chlorides]. PMID- 2616629 TI - [The effect of carbamazepine on the behavior of rats in a raised T- and 8-arm radial maze]. PMID- 2616630 TI - Comparison of the effects of two gypsogenin saponins towards plant and animal cells in vitro. PMID- 2616632 TI - Heterogeneous distribution of mianserin in rat brain during chronic continuous infusion. AB - The mianserin (MIS) distribution in 12 brain regions was investigated after 2- and 14-day continuous MIS infusion, starting with 19 mg/kg/day on the first day. There was no significant difference between the 2nd and 14th day with respect to MIS concentration, brain/serum concentration ratio in whole brain or MIS serum level. The MIS distribution was heterogeneous on the 2nd and 14th day and did not change with time. The concentrations were highest in cortex and hippocampus and lowest in cerebellum, hypothalamus, and bulbus olfactorious and septum. This distribution pattern differs from those found with tricyclic antidepressant drugs. PMID- 2616631 TI - Effects of tin-porphyrins on developmental changes in hepatic cytochrome P450 content, selected P450-dependent drug-metabolizing enzyme activities and brain glutathione levels in the newborn rat. AB - Sn-mesoporphyrin is considerably more effective than Sn-protoporphyrin in inhibiting bilirubin production in vivo, in the experimental animal. In this study the effects of Sn-mesoporphyrin, administered in doses ranging from 1 to 20 mumol/kg b.w., on the developmental patterns of hepatic cytochrome P450 content and cytochrome P450-dependent drug metabolism in rat neonates were examined at various time points during the 5-week period immediately after birth. No detrimental alterations in cytochrome P450 content or in cytochrome P450 dependent drug metabolism were observed. In addition no deleterious effects were noted on total glutathione content in brain of Sn-mesoporphyrin-treated animals. After single doses of Sn-protoporphyrin of 20, 50 or 100 mumol/kg b.w. were administered at birth, transient decreases in hepatic cytochrome P450 content (days 1 and 2), and ethylmorphine demethylase (days 2 and 5) and 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase (days 1, 2 and 5) activities were observed in the period immediately after birth. However no sustained alterations in the developmental patterns of these enzymes were observed even at the highest dose (100 mumol/kg b.w.) of Sn protoporphyrin administered. These findings indicate that in the doses utilized in this study both metalloporphyrins have no long-term effects on cytochrome P450 dependent drug metabolism. Furthermore, in doses up to 20 mumol/kg b.w., neither compound produced any short-term effects on hepatic cytochrome P450 content or functional activity in newborn rats. PMID- 2616633 TI - Profile of drug-metabolizing enzymes in the cortex and medulla of the human kidney. AB - The cortex and medulla were isolated from kidneys whose donors (5 men and 1 woman, aged between 44 and 68 years) were undergoing nephrectomy to remove a tumor. Kidneys with normal architecture for at least two thirds of the organ were included in the study. Tissue specimens used in our experiments were free from pathological changes. The activities of the following enzymes of phase I NADPH cytochrome c reductase, aminopyrine N-demethylase, ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, microsomal and cytosolic epoxide hydrolases, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase, and those of the following enzymes of phase II glutathione transferase, glucuronyl transferase, sulphotransferase, acetyltransferase, thiomethyltransferase, thiopurinemethyltransferase, thioltransferase and glyoxalase were measured. The activity in renal cortex was significantly higher than in medulla for NADPH cytochrome c reductase, cytosolic epoxide hydrolase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase (phase I enzymes), and glutathione transferase, acetyltransferase, thiomethyltransferase, thiopurinemethyltransferase, thioltransferase and glyoxalase (phase II enzymes). The other enzymes had similar activity in cortex and medulla. The distribution pattern of drug-metabolizing enzymes in the human kidney cannot be considered as a single pattern because of the observed enzyme-dependent differences between cortex and medulla. PMID- 2616634 TI - Effect of calmodulin antagonists on contraction and 45Ca movements in rat aorta. AB - To study the selectivity of calmodulin antagonists it was assumed that they should inhibit noradrenaline (NA)- and K(+)-induced contractions similarly without an accompanying inhibition of 45Ca uptake. Therefore, in isolated rat aorta the effects of W-7, calmidazolium and trifluoperazine on contraction and 45Ca uptake elicited by K+ and NA were investigated. Calmidazolium (10(-5)-10(-4) mol/l) elicited an incomplete inhibiton of K(+)- and NA-induced contraction and 45Ca uptake. Trifluoperazine inhibited the NA-induced contractions at lower concentrations (10(-8)-10(-6) mol/l) than the K(+)-induced contraction (10(-6) 10(-4) mol/l). The K(+)- and NA-induced 45Ca uptake was blocked by trifluoperazine (10(-5) mol/l). W-7 (10(-5)-10(-4) mol/l) inhibited the K(+)- and NA-induced contraction, however, in the same concentration range W-7 diminished the K(+)- and NA-induced 45Ca uptake. In conclusion, the results indicate that calmidazolium and trifluoperazine are hardly useful as calmodulin antagonists because of their additional properties, whereas W-7 seems to be the least unspecific of the calmodulin antagonists studies. PMID- 2616635 TI - Residual neuroleptic-induced parkinsonian symptoms in schizophrenia. A naturalistic study with orphenadrine. AB - A naturalistic study was performed on 44 schizophrenic outpatients diagnosed according to DSM III-R and presenting neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal side effects. All patients had been treated continuously for the previous 10-12 weeks with haloperidol (HL) combined with orphenadrine (ORD). The dosages of HL and ORD remained unchanged for at least four weeks before the evaluations. All patients were assessed for depressive features (HRS-D), extrapyramidal (EPSE) and anticholinergic (ACS check list) side-effects. The plasma levels of ORD and its metabolite tofenacine (TOF) were determined by gas chromatography. There was a positive relationship between HRS-D and EPSE total scores, while there was a negative relationship between age and EPSE total scores. No relationship between the administered dose and plasma levels of ORD was found. The HL daily dose (mg/kg), ORD plasma levels and the TOF/ORD plasma level ratio seem to influence significantly the severity of residual extrapyramidal side-effects. PMID- 2616636 TI - Fluoxetine and desipramine: a strategy for augmenting anti-depressant response. PMID- 2616637 TI - Positron emission tomographic measurement of blood-to-brain and blood-to-tumour transport of 82Rb. I: Error analysis and computer simulations. AB - Unidirectional blood-to-brain and blood-to-tumour transport rate constants (K1) for 82Rb (half-life 76 s) and plasma water volume per unit mass of brain/tumour tissue (Vp) can be estimated in vivo using dynamic positron emission tomography (PET). The accuracy of these estimates depends upon the accuracy of PET measurements of regional brain/tumour radioactivity and scintillation well detector measurements of whole-blood radioactivity, which, in turn, depend upon the time course of arterial blood radioactivity. A two-compartmental model has been employed to derive estimates for K1, k2 (efflux rate constant) and Vp from 82Rb/PET data. Errors in these parameter estimates have been studied (1) qualitatively using sensitivity function analysis and (2) quantitatively using computer simulations. The effect of adding a third irreversible compartment and its unidirectional rate constant, k3, has also been investigated. The advantages and disadvantages of bolus injection vs continuous infusion protocols are discussed. Precision in estimated parameters from actual patient data is compared to that obtained from computer simulations in part II of this paper. PMID- 2616638 TI - Positron emission tomographic measurement of blood-to-brain and blood-to-tumour transport of 82Rb. II: Clinical data and validation of technique. AB - Computer simulations and error analysis of a simple two-compartment, passive diffusion exchange model for 82Rb across the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) have demonstrated the feasibility of obtaining useful estimates of unidirectional rate constant (K1) and tissue-blood water volume (Vb) in vivo using dynamic positron tomography (PET). The coefficients of variation (CV) in parameter estimates for 20 studies on ten patients are shown to have mean values of 10% for tumour K1 and Vb, 6% for normal brain Vb and 30% for normal brain K1. Ten test-retest studies show a very high correlation (R2 greater than 0.88) between the estimated parameter values. Apparent tissue blood volume (Vb) estimates obtained from 82Rb studies underestimate the blood volumes obtained by single-breath C15O studies by approximately 15%. In normal brain the extraction of rubidium (E) is small (less than 10%), and gives rise to a linear relationship between K1 and permeability surface area product (PS). In tumour, however, E is larger (greater than 30%), and results in a non-linear relationship between these values. For both tumour and normal brain, K1 was found to be independent of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). The data from these clinical studies are in agreement with the predictions of the computer simulations and suggest the suitability of 82Rb/PET in the quantification of BBB functional changes. PMID- 2616639 TI - In vivo measurements of bone lead--a comparison of two x-ray fluorescence techniques used at three different bone sites. AB - In vivo bone lead measurements have been made on a group of about 120 people, most of whom were lead exposed workers. Two different x-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques were used to make measurements at three bone sites. Finger lead was measured using 57Co sources, and lead measurements were made in both tibia and calcaneus with a technique based on 109Cd sources. The results of the bone lead measurements correlated strongly with each other and with the index of cumulative exposure, thus confirming the value and reliability of these in vivo measurements as a tool in the study of chronic lead exposure. Measurement precision, +/- 1 standard deviation, was highest for tibia +/- 7.4 micrograms (g bone mineral)-1, +/- 16.6 micrograms (g bone mineral)-1 for the calcaneus and lowest for phalangeal lead +/- 25.0 micrograms (g bone mineral)-1. Maximum absorbed doses to the skin were comparable for all three measurements (1-3 mGy). The mean whole body dose equivalents were all low, but that for the finger measurement, 0.1 microSv, was significantly less than for the calcaneus and tibia measurements 3-5 microSv. PMID- 2616640 TI - Measurements of angular distributions of Rayleigh and Mie scattering events in biological models. AB - Remission spectroscopy in living tissues can only be performed because scattering processes induce a pronounced amount of backscattered light. New types of scattering chambers were constructed in order to investigate the angular distribution of light intensities caused by scattering events typical for living tissues. Different solutions and suspensions containing microspheres, haemoglobin molecules, erythrocytes and liver homogenate were used in order to gain basic information applicable to remission spectrophotometry in tissue. Reflection spectroscopy in biological tissues is only possible because of the scattering properties of the material under observation. Light which penetrates the sample is remitted from the tissue. The remission is caused by the scattering of the light by different biological structures and particles. This scattered light gives information about the optical properties of the particles and structures in an integral form. A scattering chamber for small sample volumes has been developed for measurements of the optical properties of various particles in suspension. Measurements of scattering diagrams from microspheres with an average diameter of 7 microns, artificial particles, haemoglobin solutions, mixtures of microspheres and haemoglobin as well as erythrocytes and mitochondria have been performed. The different optical behaviour of the measured signals is qualitatively discussed. PMID- 2616641 TI - Two microwave applicators for intracavitary hyperthermia treatment of cancer colli uteri. PMID- 2616642 TI - Maximum likelihood reconstruction for cone beam SPECT: development and initial tests. PMID- 2616643 TI - Differential analysis of allosteric behavior. AB - Differential analysis of allosteric systems focuses on the ratio of consecutive binding constants obtained for multiple binding as originally used by Adair. If this ratio of experimental constants is smaller than the ratio of statistical constants for multiple binding, cooperativity among subunits is indicated. The conditions are evaluated with the aid of the model of Monod et al and compared with available data on calmodulin. Calmodulin shows cooperativity among some subunits, not among others, depending strongly upon experimental details. Values of Ln (the interconversion constant of fully occupied sites) can be estimated for c much less than 1 (and Ln-1 much greater than 1). PMID- 2616644 TI - Partial preservation of the ability of accumulating alkali-metal ions in 2 mm muscle cell segments with both ends open. PMID- 2616645 TI - Further studies on the role of paramagnetic ion contents on the NMR relaxation time, T1 of normal tissues and cancer cells. PMID- 2616646 TI - The physical state of water in living cells and model systems. XII. The influence of the conformation of a protein on the solubility of Na+ (sulfate), sucrose, glycine and urea in the water in which the protein is also dissolved. AB - In this report, we describe the result of an extensive investigation of the effects of the conformations of proteins on the solvency of the bulk-phase water in which the proteins are dissolved. The concentrations of the proteins used were usually between 20 to 40%; the temperature was 25 degrees +/- 1 degree C. To probe the solvency of the water, the apparent equilibrium distribution coefficients (or p-values) of 4 solutes were studied: Na+ (sulfate), glycine, sucrose, and urea. From 8 to 14 isolated proteins in three types of conformations were investigated: native; denatured by agents that unravel the secondary structure (e.g., alpha-helix, beta-pleated sheet) of the protein (i.e., 9 M urea, 3 M guanidine HCl); denatured by agents that only disrupt the tertiary structure but leave the secondary structure intact or even strengthened (i.e., 0.1 M sodium dodecylsulfate or SDS, 2 M n-propanol). The results are as follows: (1) as a rule, native proteins have no or weak effect on the solvency of the water for all 4 probes; (2) exposure to 0.1 M SDS and to 2 M n-propanol, as a rule, does not significantly decrease the p-value of all 4 probes; (3) exposure to 9 M urea and to 3 M guanidine HCl consistently lowers the p-values of sucrose, glycine and Na+ (sulfate) and equally consistently produces no effect on the p-value of urea. Sucrose, glycine, and Na+ are found in low concentrations in cell water while urea is not. These experiments were designed and carried out primarily to test two subsidiary theories of the AI hypotheses: the polarized multilayer (PM) theory of cell water; and the theory of size-dependent solute exclusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2616647 TI - A simple and rapid method for detecting trimethylamine in human urine by proton NMR. PMID- 2616648 TI - Glucose metabolism of adult Schistosoma japonicum as revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with D-[13C6]glucose. AB - Excretory end-products of adult Schistosoma japonicum, fed D-[13C6]glucose in vitro under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, were studied using 1H- and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The glucose in the medium is degraded to produce lactate and alanine aerobically and succinate and acetate as well as lactate and alanine anaerobically. Succinate and acetate have not been previously recorded as excretory products resulting from the metabolism of glucose for schistosomes. The presence of [13C3] and [2,3-13C2]lactate, and [1,2,2'-13C3] and [2,2'-13C2]succinate as end-products suggests that a partial reversed tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is active in adult Schistosoma japonicum under anaerobic conditions. The physiological role of this pathway in adult schistosomes remains obscure. PMID- 2616650 TI - [The Convention on Nursing Personnel]. PMID- 2616649 TI - Systematic investigation of degradation effects on spin-lattice relaxation times in mouse-liver by low resolution NMR. AB - In spite of numerous work on in vitro proton relaxation time investigations of biological tissue, many questions still remain open. In this study we focused on spin-lattice (T1) relaxation time measurements of mouse liver tissue in order to estimate the time-after-excision effects. The post mortem behaviour of excised tissue was measured up to four hours in intervals of about nine minutes. The time course of liver T1 was determined for different temperatures (4 degrees-40 degrees C) for female mice and the effect of starvation (up to 48 hours) on the time course of T1 was investigated for male and female mice at 37 degrees C. We obtained significant differences in liver T1 time course after excision due to different physiological states like sex, starvation and circadian rhythm. PMID- 2616651 TI - [The role of painting in molding the sensitivity of nurses]. PMID- 2616652 TI - [Vitamin K and newborn infants]. PMID- 2616653 TI - [Games help the child to conquer fear]. PMID- 2616654 TI - [How they give birth in London. Interview by Anna Swidwinska]. PMID- 2616655 TI - [Neoplastic diseases--their origin, development, prevention]. PMID- 2616656 TI - [The epidemiology of female genital neoplasms]. PMID- 2616657 TI - [The prevention of breast cancer]. PMID- 2616658 TI - [Ovarian tumors]. PMID- 2616659 TI - [Cancer of the corpus uteri]. PMID- 2616660 TI - Environmental hazards in the operating room. PMID- 2616661 TI - Anesthesia in plastic surgery. PMID- 2616662 TI - Influence on nurses' motivation and satisfaction. PMID- 2616663 TI - Inadequate documentation: a case study. PMID- 2616664 TI - Rhytidectomy. PMID- 2616665 TI - Certification as entry to practice. PMID- 2616666 TI - Complications after a carpal tunnel release. PMID- 2616667 TI - Hypotensive activity of 8,24-euphadien-3 beta-ol (euphol). AB - 8,24-Euphadien-3 beta-ol (euphol) on i.v. administration was found to exhibit a hypotensive activity in normotensive anesthetised dogs and rats which varied from a slight to a marked degree depending upon the dose range. Euphol inhibited various autonomic pressor and depressor responses. The hypotensive effect was not affected in dogs pretreated with atropine, antistine, and beta-blockers and in bilaterally vagotomised and carotid sinus denervated animals. The fall in blood pressure was enhanced in spinal transected and eviscerated dogs and after ganglion blockade with hexamethonium. Localisation of euphol to central cardiovascular loci displayed no effect on blood pressure. The LD50 in mice was found to be 1500 mg/kg i.p. and greater than 2 g/kg by the oral route. PMID- 2616668 TI - Protection of liver microsomal membranes from lipid peroxidation by garlic extract. AB - Garlic extract, the ethanol-soluble fraction of garlic, prevented formation of thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substances and fluorescent substances during lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes. Lipid peroxidation increased the fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene labelled to the microsomes while this increase was prevented by the garlic extract. It thus seems probable that the garlic extract serves to maintain membrane fluidity. These effects were dependent on its concentration and particularly prominent on exceeding a certain concentration of garlic extract. These results suggest its possible role of protecting the membranes from lipid peroxidation. PMID- 2616669 TI - An anti-complementary polysaccharide with immunological adjuvant activity from the leaf parenchyma gel of Aloe vera. AB - The aim of the study is to develop new substances with immunomodulatory activity. To this end, extracts from plants used in traditional medicine are used as starting material. This study deals with the mucilagenous leaf-gel of Aloe vera which is well reputed for its therapeutical effect on inflammatory-based disorders. The purification of an aqueous gel-extract guided by inhibition of complement activity in HPS is described. Using anion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography a highly active polysaccharide fraction was isolated, that is present in the gel in various chain lengths. The polysaccharides consist of several monosaccharides of which mannose is dominant. The inhibition is based on alternative pathway activation, resulting in consumption of C3. With respect to their biological activity the polysaccharides inhibit the opsonization of zymosan in HPS and display adjuvant activity on specific antibody production and the induction of delayed type hypersensitivity in mice. PMID- 2616670 TI - Role of thiol agents in protecting against the toxicity of helenalin in tumor bearing mice. AB - Helanalin, a sesquiterpene lactone antineoplastic agent, is toxic at therapeutic doses in murine tumors. The toxicity has been assumed to be correlated with the binding of the drug to cellular thiol groups. Studies were undertaken to increase the intracellular level of GSH in the liver, kidney and other tissues to eliminate the toxicity of helenalin in vivo. Combination of helenalin 8 mg/kg/day i.p.) with L-cysteine (100 mg/kg/day), beta-mercaptoethanolamine (20 mg/kg/day), 18-beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (15 mg/kg/day), or 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone (10 mg/kg/day) afforded improvement in survival of mice bearing P-388 lymphocytic leukemia. However, other thiol-elevating agents, anti-oxidants, intracellular buffering agents, and cardiac treatment drugs were not effective. Hydrocortisone, Cortef, treatment with helenalin afforded improvement in life expectancy. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and non-protein sulfhydryl (NPS) levels were not reduced in the liver, kidney, or circulating red blood cells (rbc) by helenalin treatment. After three days treatment of mice with helenalin, GSH levels were reduced and NPS levels elevated in P-388 tumor cells. Administration of L-cysteine, beta mercaptoethanolamine, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone, or 18-beta-glycyrrhetinic acid alone caused no alteration in liver GSH but elevated NPS levels; P388 cell GSH and NPS levels were lowered. Combination of any of these agents, after three days, with helenalin afforded increases in P-388 cell GSH and NPS levels. This data would suggest that helenalin toxicity is not related to the lowering of GSH or NPS levels in critical tissues of mice. PMID- 2616671 TI - [Studies on the effect of an alkaloid extract of Symphytum officinale on human lymphocyte cultures]. AB - An alkaloid extract of Symphytum officinale was investigated for its chromosome damaging effect in human lymphocytes in vitro. In concentrations of 1.4 micrograms/ml and 14 micrograms/ml the alkaloids had no effect, in concentrations of 140 micrograms/ml and 1400 micrograms/ml the alkaloids induced sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) as well as chromosome aberrations. Additionally, the influence of rat liver enzymes (S9) was tested. The SCE-inducing capacity and the clastogenic effect of Symphytum alkaloids was increased by simultaneous application of S9-Mix. PMID- 2616672 TI - Chemical structure and biological activity of water-soluble polysaccharides from Cassia angustifolia leaves. AB - The water-soluble polysaccharides from Cassia angustifolia L. leaves were isolated and fractionated. The acidic polysaccharide fraction was separated into two subfractions S1 and S2 consisting of L-rhamnose, L-arabinose, D-galactose, and D-galacturonic acid. Further fractionation of the predominant S1 by GPC gave two fractions S1A and S1B with an average molecular weight of 2 x 10(6) and 1.5 x 10(5) d, respectively. Methylation analysis of S1A showed the presence of 1,4 linked galacturonic acid (31.0%), 1,2-linked rhamnose (14.5%), 1,2,4-linked rhamnose (15.8%), 1,3,6-linked galactose (15.3%), smaller amounts of 1,3-linked arabinose, 1.5-linked arabinose, and terminal galactose and arabinose residues. Mild acid hydrolysis of S1A indicated that the backbone consists of 1,4-linked galacturonic acid and 1,2-linked rhamnose residues in the ratio of 1:1. Every second rhamnose is connected via C-4 to arabinogalactan sidechains. The antitumor activity of the polysaccharide fractions was tested against the solid Sarcoma-180 in CD1 mice. Only S1A exhibited a significant antitumor activity with an inhibition rate of 51%. PMID- 2616673 TI - New cucurbitacin glycosides from Picrorhiza kurrooa. AB - From the roots of Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle and Benth., seven cucurbitacin glycosides have been isolated and structurally elucidated mainly by NMR and mass spectroscopy. Four of them (4, 5, 6, 7) are new and two, the 2-O-glycoside of cucurbitacin B (25-acetoxy-2-beta-glucosyloxy-16,20-dihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norl anosta-5, 23-diene-3,11,22-trione) and the 2-O-glucoside of 23,24 didydrocucurbitacin B (25-acetoxy-2-beta-glucosyloxy-16,20-dihydroxy-9-methyl-19 norl anost-5-ene-3, 11-22-trione) were so far not reported as constituents of this plant. The four new cucurbitacins could be identified as 2-beta-glucosyloxy 3,16,20,25-tetrahydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanos ta-5, 23-diene-22-one, 2-beta glucosyloxy-3,16,20,25-tetrahydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanos t-5-ene-22-one, the 2-O glucoside of cucurbitacin Q (25-acetoxy-2-beta-glucosyloxy-3,16,20-trihydroxy-9 methyl-19-n orlanosta-5, 23-diene-11,22-dione), and the 2-O-glucoside of deacetoxycucurbitacin B (2-beta-glucosyloxy-16,20-dihydroxy-9-methyl-19 norlanosta-5 , 24-diene-3,11,22-trione). PMID- 2616674 TI - Cytotoxicity on human leukemic and rat hepatoma cell lines of alkaloid extracts of Psychotria forsteriana. PMID- 2616675 TI - Flavonoids from Orthosiphon spicatus. PMID- 2616676 TI - [Acoustically evoked brain stem potentials in chronic alcoholism and withdrawal]. AB - BAEP studies hint at different neurophysiological findings between gamma and delta alcoholics. On the first day of withdrawal gamma alcoholics show slight vegetative withdrawal symptoms in the form of CNS hyperexitability trough the shortening of the early IPL. However delta alcoholics show prolongations of the late IPL which can be interpreted as a consequence of brain stem transmission disorders resulting from chronic intoxication. After four weeks the BAEP deviations found in both groups indicate a clear tendency of recovery which points to functional disorders. PMID- 2616677 TI - [Alcoholism and morphologic findings of the nervous system in autopsy cases]. AB - 154 autopsy cases of alcoholics (120 men and 34 women) were investigated from a neuropathological viewpoint. In only 19 cases could typical diseases of the nervous system caused by alcoholism be found (Wernicke's encephalopathy, central pontine myelinolysis, Marchiafava-Bignami's disease and disorders of the peripheral nerves and muscles). In comparison liver diseases occurred almost five times more frequently in our own material. Diseases caused by alcoholism of the nervous system, the question of brain shrinkage and its partial reversibility, the up to now not completely known effects on the neurophil and cortical cytoarchitectonic are discussed according to the literature. PMID- 2616678 TI - [Etiologic and pathogenetic aspects of the demyelinating process in multiple sclerosis]. AB - In our opinion there is no specific germ for multiple sclerosis. The pathogenic process is developed after a clinically "silent" period and results in a demyelinization process. Partially genetical aspects have to take into account for certain disease processes. Up to now both, the theory of infection as well as the neuroallergetic theory are of importance. PMID- 2616679 TI - [Diagnosis and training of basic cognitive performance in children with encephalopathy-typical behavior]. AB - This paper reports on the application in practice of a program for diagnosis and basic cognitive achievement training. The program concentrates on performance and its growth in children with encephalopathy-typical behavior. It is demonstrated how deficient cognitive performance may be influenced by level-raising training and transfer effects. PMID- 2616680 TI - [Flag fetishism]. PMID- 2616681 TI - CSF phenylacetic acid and hostility in paranoid schizophrenia. AB - Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of phenylacetic acid were significantly elevated in paranoid vs. nonparanoid schizophrenics. Further, phenylacetic acid concentrations were correlated with hostility. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that phenylethylamine, the proposed precursor of phenylacetic acid, plays a role in schizophrenia. PMID- 2616682 TI - The Schedule for the Deficit syndrome: an instrument for research in schizophrenia. AB - The Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome (SDS) is an instrument for categorizing schizophrenic patients into those with and those without the deficit syndrome. In a study of 40 schizophrenic patients diagnosed by DSM-III criteria, raters using the SDS demonstrated good interrater reliability for this categorization, as well as for individual negative symptoms and a rating of global severity. PMID- 2616683 TI - CSF GABA and neuropeptides in pathological gamblers and normal controls. AB - We previously reported that pathological gamblers may have increased central noradrenergic activity. Neurons releasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are known to be a part of an inhibitory system regulating the activity of central noradrenergic neurons. Therefore, we examined cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of GABA in pathological gamblers and normal controls. There was no significant difference between the groups. Also, depressed and nondepressed gamblers did not differ significantly in their CSF levels of GABA. Among controls, however, there was a significant negative correlation between CSF levels of GABA and the norepinephrine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) and a significant positive correlation between CSF levels of GABA and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH). Also, CSF levels of CRH showed a significant positive correlation with CSF levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone in both pathological gamblers and controls. PMID- 2616684 TI - Validity of criteria for DSM-III self-defeating personality disorder. AB - Criteria for self-defeating personality disorder were examined using a standard measure in 148 psychiatric outpatients. The best individual criterion was self defeating B (taken advantage of by others). Self-defeating A (sacrifices needs for others) and K (being hurt is sexually arousing) were of little value. Although some dependent, histronic, and avoidant criteria were also related to self-defeating personality disorder, the disorders appeared fairly clearly separate. There did appear to be more overlap (although not identity) with borderline personality disorder. It appears possible that in some circumstances self-defeating personality disorder might be diagnosed using two criteria. PMID- 2616685 TI - Changes in 24-hour urinary excretion of MHPG after four continuous nights of REM sleep deprivation in human volunteers. AB - Eight healthy volunteers were deprived of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep for 4 consecutive nights. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected to determine levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) during basal, REM sleep deprivation, and REM recovery conditions. A control experiment was carried out in four subjects who were awakened in non-REM sleep for 4 consecutive nights. Subjects deprived of REM sleep showed significant MHPG increases on night 4 of sleep deprivation. MHPG levels in the control condition decreased, but not significantly. When MHPG levels in both experimental and control conditions were compared in the same four subjects, a significant difference was observed, indicating an effect of the control condition. Increased MHPG levels were related to REM sleep reduction and to the time and number of awakenings. Our findings seem to support an inverse homeostatic relationship between norepinephrine metabolism and REM sleep. PMID- 2616686 TI - Use of DSM-III Axis IV in clinical practice: rating the severity of psychosocial stressors. AB - This study investigates the usefulness of DSM-III Axis IV ratings of Severity of Psychosocial Stressors. Multiaxial evaluations were made on a diagnostically heterogeneous group of 362 psychiatric patients. Severity ratings on Axis IV were compared to a more extensive system for measuring life event stress, embedded in the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview (PERI). The results indicate that Axis IV ratings are consistent with meaningful diagnostic and demographic group differences, and correlate significantly with PERI ratings of normative change or disruption associated with rated events. The Axis IV guideline that the stressor reflect the summed effect of all psychosocial stressors listed, however, appeared to be too complex to be incorporated into routine clinical practice, even by relatively well-trained evaluators with expert supervision. PMID- 2616687 TI - Life events and mania: a case-controlled study. AB - Life events were evaluated in 14 patients with bipolar affective disorder in the year preceding a mania as well as in 14 patients with bipolar affective disorder without a mania matched for age, sex, and time of recall. There were a significantly greater number of uncontrolled and unanticipated life events in the patients with as compared to those without a mania. However, neither the total number of life events nor measures of distress and stress distinguished bipolar patients with as compared to those without mania. PMID- 2616688 TI - Liver function, plasma dexamethasone, and DST results in detoxified alcoholics. AB - Alcohol abuse, alcohol withdrawal, and deterioration of hepatic function have been associated with abnormal dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results. Chronic alcohol abuse may also directly alter the pharmacokinetic disposition of dexamethasone. Plasma dexamethasone concentrations following a DST were determined in 53 detoxified alcoholics. Those with abnormal liver function had higher 4 p.m. plasma dexamethasone concentrations and lower DST cortisol concentrations. Those with normal liver function had lower plasma dexamethasone and higher DST cortisol concentrations consistent with induction of hepatic metabolic enzymes from chronic use of alcohol. The data indicate that liver function is one of the variables influencing dexamethasone disposition and DST cortisol suppression. PMID- 2616689 TI - A controlled study of type A behavior and psychophysiologic responses to stress in anorexia nervosa. AB - Adolescents and young adults meeting DSM-III criteria for anorexia nervosa (n = 13) and atypical eating disorders (n = 7) were compared with weight-recovered anorectics (n = 6) and normal weight controls (n = 11) using a type-A structured interview and a computerized stress procedure. Heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiographic changes were monitored. Anorexia nervosa subjects demonstrated significantly more type-A characteristics than controls. The emaciated and weight-recovered anorectics had elevated hostility scores on the type-A interview, which has been shown in recent studies of type-A behavior to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This pilot study is the first to demonstrate a significant relationship between anorexia and the type-A behavioral pattern. Also the anorectic subjects showed significantly more cardiovascular reactivity than controls as measured by failure of stressed anorectic subjects to lower their systolic blood pressure to baseline levels as controls did. These results support the importance of monitoring stress reactions and personality traits as well as traditional biological measures. PMID- 2616690 TI - Caffeine taste test for panic disorder: adenosine receptor supersensitivity. AB - The present study introduces a novel measure of adenosine receptor sensitivity that is based on the action of specific receptor blockers (e.g., caffeine) to potentiate the ability to detect threshold quinine concentrations. The test is used to compare gustatory adenosinergic responses to caffeine challenges in normal controls and patients with panic disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Panic disorder patients had an exaggerated response to the caffeine challenge that was not found in controls or PTSD patients, although the latter had higher anxiety scores on psychometric tests. The results are related to a model in which A1-adenosine receptors up-regulate in an attempt to modulate hyperactive excitatory neuronal systems. PMID- 2616691 TI - Differential rates of urinary noradrenalin excretion in affective disorders: utility of a short time sampling procedure. AB - Levels of morning urinary noradrenalin (NA) excretion were compared in 61 patients with unipolar major depression (MDE), 25 patients with minor depression (mDE), 39 patients with anxiety disorder (AD), and 21 healthy control subjects (C). The following differences in the level of urinary NA excretion rate were found: MDE greater than mDE = AD greater than C. In addition, a significant positive correlation was found in the MDE group between severity of illness, expressed as total Hamilton depression score, in diagnostic subclasses from the Research Diagnostic Criteria, and urinary NA excretion rates (first episode, MDE total group, recurrent, with psychotic features). These data support the utility of a short time urine sampling procedure to measure NA excretion as a peripheral marker monitoring sympathetic activity in inpatient as well as outpatient conditions. PMID- 2616692 TI - Low platelet monoamine oxidase activity in borderline personality disorder. AB - Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was significantly lower in nonpsychotic, nonorganic, unmedicated male inpatients with DSM-III-R borderline personality disorder (BPD) than in nonpsychiatric controls. Patients with BPD who also met DSM-III-R criteria for antisocial personality disorder had significantly lower MAO activity than those with BPD alone. Low MAO activity in this sample did not appear to be related to the comorbid presence of major depressive disorder or a history of substance abuse. PMID- 2616693 TI - Longitudinal sleep EEG, temperature, and activity measurements across the menstrual cycle in patients with premenstrual depression and in age-matched controls. AB - After a 2-month evaluation period, eight women with moderate to severe premenstrual depression and eight age- and sex-matched controls underwent sleep electroencephalographic (EEG) and temperature recordings 2 nights a week over the course of one menstrual cycle. Overall, patients had more Stage 2 (%) sleep and less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (% and minutes) than normal controls. Stage 3 sleep and number of intermittent awakenings varied with phases of the menstrual cycle. Temperature minima were earlier in patients compared with controls, but this difference was not statistically significant, and there was no significant effect of menstrual cycle phase on the timing of temperature minima. Wrist motor activity did not change during the menstrual cycle in patients or controls. Thus, in this sample of women with premenstrual depression, we did not find sleep EEG alterations similar to those reported in some patients with major depressive disorder. In light of the small number of subjects and the large individual variability, the absence of marked changes with the menstrual cycle may be a function of a Type II error. PMID- 2616694 TI - EEG alpha photic driving abnormalities in chronic schizophrenia. AB - Periodic photic stimuli across the entire electroencephalographic (EEG) frequency range were used in an attempt to assess EEG functional differences between chronic schizophrenic patients and control subjects. The EEG responses to these photic stimuli were significantly attenuated in the schizophrenic patients, specifically at the frequencies within the EEG alpha range. The schizophrenic patients also showed an alpha range attenuation in the "no stimulus" EEG alpha measure, such that there was a significant correlation across subjects between the "stimulus" and "no stimulus" EEG alpha range abnormalities. These abnormalities are discussed with reference to possible dysfunctional thalamic mechanisms involved in the pacing of EEG alpha activity and the gating of information through the cerebral cortex. PMID- 2616695 TI - Loci for act recall: contextual influence on the processing of action events. AB - A problem-solving account of act memory predicts stronger impacts of context than theories that explain act memory by reference to automatic processing or by reference to the operation of modality-specific code systems. This prediction was tested in three experiments, all using the loci memotechnique to provide contexts for memorization of subject-performed tasks (SPTs). The results of the three experiments did not provide unambiguous evidence for or against any of the rival theories. Most consistent, however, was the observation that memory under motor encoding conditions profits less on contexts than memory under nonmotor-encoding conditions, a finding which by itself lends more support to a multicode than to a problem-solving interpretation. PMID- 2616696 TI - The effects of interference tasks on recency in the free recall of action events. AB - Lists of verbal instructions were read aloud and each was enacted either by the subject (SPTs) or by the experimenter (EPTs). In Experiment 1 free recall was made of lists of SPTs and EPTs either immediately after presentation, after an empty 20-s delay interval, or after a 20-s delay interval filled with backward counting. The recall of recency items was unaffected by the empty delay interval, but was somewhat reduced by the counting task. In Experiment 2 free recall was made of lists of SPTs and EPTs either immediately after presentation or after a delay that was filled with a single SPT or a single EPT, 20 s in length. The recency effect evident in the immediate-recall condition was virtually wiped out in the delay conditions, irrespective of whether the delay task matched those in the free-recall list or not. These results are discussed in terms of the mnemonic similarity of the two types of action event. PMID- 2616697 TI - Implicit memory in spelling from word images. AB - A series of experiments is reported concerning implicit memory in imaginal processing. In the standard condition, subjects had to encode word images before spelling a word. The spelling task was repeated in the test phase with the same words and with additional control words. Spelling times were registered after the image encoding. Implicit memory has been detected if repeated words can be spelled faster than control words. Experiment 1 showed that levels of processing manipulations (such as the additional generation of meaning images at encoding or variations in word concreteness) favor explicit memory, but do not show up in implicit memory. Experiment 2 demonstrated that implicit memory disappears if spelling at encoding took place on visually present words. Experiment 3 investigated whether the focusing of specific letter positions within the image may contribute to the effect, but this was not found. According to a processing view that underlies our task analysis, implicit memory depends on transfer appropriate processing and is attributed to processes of image encoding or generation and image reconstruction or regeneration. PMID- 2616698 TI - Individual differences in heart rate response during behavioral challenge. AB - This program of experiments examined heart rate responses to mental arithmetic and a video game. Attention first focused on their metabolic relevance. Comparison with heart rate/oxygen consumption regression equations generated from isotonic exercise data revealed that the heart rate increases of certain individuals were considerably in excess of those necessitated by contemporary metabolic demand. Both temporal and intertask consistency of reaction were explored, and supportive evidence was obtained. The relationship between laboratory and real-world reactions was investigated, and preliminary evidence found suggesting that in-laboratory responses are indicative of responses to more naturalistic stressors. Finally, twin studies examining the genetic and environmental determinants of individual differences in heart rate change during the tasks revealed a substantial genetic component for these responses. PMID- 2616699 TI - Individual differences in heart rate and peripheral vascular responses to an extended aversive task. AB - Psychophysiological research on situations requiring active coping has to this point dealt primarily with cardiac responses. Recent studies of vascular responses to such stressors have found conditions in high cardiac reactors that are possible precursors to autoregulatory vasoconstriction. The present study exposed 32 healthy male undergraduates to a one-hour shock avoidance procedure, with avoidance made contingent on video-game performance. Subjects also participated in a separate counterbalanced baseline session. The relationships among individual differences in heart rate, forearm blood flow, forearm vascular resistance, and digital blood volume pulse responses at different points in the stress session were examined. Decreases in forearm vascular resistance were observed only among high and medium heart rate reactors. As the session progressed, however, forearm vascular resistance responses of the medium heart rate reactors were sustained whereas those of the high heart rate reactors habituated despite the fact that heart rate and forearm blood flow responses remained elevated. The potential implications of this pattern of results to an autoregulation theory of hypertension development are discussed. Heart rate reactivity was inversely related to performance on the video-game task but was unrelated to Type A or anxiety. PMID- 2616700 TI - Event-related brain potentials reflecting processing of relevant and irrelevant stimuli during selective listening. AB - Event-related brain potentials were recorded from the human scalp during selective listening to tone pips differing in location and/or pitch from irrelevant tones. The subjects' task was to discriminate infrequent deviant tones of lower intensity appearing among designated (relevant) tones. A large processing negativity was observed in the event-related potentials to relevant tones differing from the irrelevant tones in location even when both tones randomly varied in pitch. Similarly, a large processing negativity was elicited by the relevant tones differing from the irrelevant tones in pitch even when the location of both tones varied randomly. The results support the theory that the processing negativity to relevant stimuli reflects a match of these stimuli with an "attentional trace," an actively maintained neuronal representation of the physical feature(s) of relevant stimuli that distinguish these stimuli from the irrelevant stimuli. Furthermore, the infrequent lower-intensity tones appearing among irrelevant tones elicited a mismatch negativity similar to the mismatch negativity elicited by target tones, equivalent lower-intensity tones appearing among relevant tones. This indicates that these infrequent stimulus changes were automatically discriminated by the generator mechanism associated with mismatch negativity. PMID- 2616701 TI - Event-related potentials during memory search and selective attention to letter size and conjunctions of letter size and color. AB - The analysis of event-related potentials was used in two experiments to investigate the structure of information processing in a task in which subjects selectively attended to letter size (Experiment 1) or a conjunction of letter size and color (Experiment 2) and searched for target letters within the attended stimulus category. The event-related potentials showed that selective attention to letter size resulted in the enhancement of a central N2b component (onset about 200 ms), which was assumed to reflect feature nonspecific orienting of attention. When attention was directed to conjunctions of letter size and color an earlier effect was found (onset about 150 ms) consisting of positivity at the anterior electrodes and negativity at OZ. This earlier effect was assumed to reflect feature-specific selective processing. Although the early effect showed a hierarchical pattern of results, in which the effect of attending to size was contingent on the relevance of the color attribute, the N2b showed a more independent pattern of results, in which the relevance of either the color or the size attribute resulted in an enhancement of this component, independent of the relevance of the other attribute. An increase in the duration of the memory search process resulted in a prolonged negativity with an onset of about 200 ms which was maximal at CZ. In both experiments the initial phase of this negativity was also found in the event-related potentials to the unattended stimulus categories, suggesting that the search process was initiated nonselectively and terminated after the selection cues were identified. Detection of attended target letters resulted in a parietal P3b component. In both experiments there was an earlier effect discriminating targets and nontargets in the range 200-300 ms. PMID- 2616702 TI - The effect of intermittent noise on cardiovascular functioning during vigilance task performance. AB - This study was designed to investigate the effect of presentations of intermittent noise differing in predictability on cardiovascular functioning during task performance. Under a quiet condition and three conditions of intermittent noise, measures of blood pressure, heart rate (interbeat interval), and heart rate variability (variance, successive difference mean square, and the 0.1 Hz component of sinus arrhythmia) were obtained while subjects were occupied with a 55-min vigilance task. The results indicated that intermittent noise significantly increased diastolic and mean blood pressure. In addition, 0.1 Hz measures differed between the group working under quiet conditions and the groups working under noise. Although heart rate increased in all groups during the task, it increased significantly more in groups receiving unpredictable noise bursts. For the variables that were significantly affected by the noise presentations there was no evidence of response habituation over the task period. The results are discussed in relation to the effort required to maintain performance levels during noise, and attention is drawn to the implications of the present findings for cardiovascular health under conditions of chronic intermittent noise. PMID- 2616703 TI - Is elicitation of the autonomic orienting response associated with allocation of processing resources? AB - Two experiments investigated whether elicitation of the autonomic orienting response is associated with active allocation of processing resources as indexed by the slowing of reaction time to secondary task probes. In Experiment 1, 75 college student subjects performed a dual task consisting of a primary auditory orienting task and a concurrent secondary visual reaction time task. The primary orienting task included task-relevant tones presented to one ear and task irrelevant tones presented to the other ear. The last trial of the primary task included an unexpected novel tone presented binaurally. The secondary task consisted of a series of brief light flashes presented at critical times throughout the primary task; the reaction time of the subjects' motor responses to these flashes was measured. Consistent with the resource allocation view of orienting, the results demonstrated that resources were allocated during the primary task tones and the novel tone, and this allocation was greater during the early trials than the late trials of the primary task. However, a directional dissociation was observed in that resource allocation was greater during the task irrelevant tone whereas autonomic orienting responses were larger to the task relevant tone. Experiment 2 replicated all of these effects and demonstrated that the directional dissociation was sensitive to the predictability and ease of discrimination between the task-relevant and task-irrelevant tones. Taken together, these findings indicate that the relationship between resource allocation and autonomic orienting is a reliable but complex one in need of further research. PMID- 2616704 TI - Laboratory and ambulatory monitoring of menopausal hot flashes. AB - A large increase in skin conductance activity recorded from the sternum was found during menopausal hot flashes and corresponded well with patient self-reports. The magnitude and time course of this skin conductance change was similar during spontaneous hot flashes recorded in the laboratory, during heat-induced hot flashes, and during those recorded by ambulatory monitoring techniques. This pattern of sternal skin conductance change did not occur in premenopausal women during body heating or ambulatory monitoring. These methods should be useful in research on the etiology and treatment of menopausal hot flashes. PMID- 2616705 TI - Evidence for circadian influence on human slow wave sleep during daytime sleep episodes. AB - The occurrence of slow wave sleep within spontaneously initiated daytime sleep episodes was studied to examine hypothesized associations with prior wakefulness and circadian factors. There was a strong relationship between measures of slow wave sleep and the proximity of sleep episodes to the maximum of body core temperature. Those sleep episodes that began within 4 hours of the maximum in body core temperature contained significantly more slow wave sleep than did all other daytime sleep periods, approximating proportions typical of nocturnal sleep. Multiple regression analysis revealed no relationship between measures of slow wave sleep and prior wakefulness. These findings are consistent with an hypothesized approximately-12-hour rhythm in the occurrence of slow wave sleep and they underscore the influence imposed on human sleep by the endogenous circadian timing system. PMID- 2616706 TI - Difficulty and instrumentality of imminent behavior as determinants of cardiovascular response and self-reported energy. AB - College-aged male subjects were presented with an easy or moderately difficult memorization task and were told that they could earn either a very low or a very high chance of obtaining a modest prize if they did well. Cardiovascular (heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure) and subjective measures were taken during an interval immediately preceding the task performance period. Results indicated greater systolic blood pressure and self-perceived energy in the moderately difficult condition than in the easy condition only when the probability of attaining the prize (if subjects did well) was high. When the probability of goal attainment (given success) was low, systolic responses and self-reported energy levels were minimal in both task conditions. Predictions regarding the impact of energy levels upon goal attractiveness ratings were not supported, possibly for methodological reasons. PMID- 2616707 TI - Acute emotional and psychophysiological effects of aerobic exercise. AB - An experiment was conducted to examine the acute emotional and psychophysiological effects of a single bout of aerobic exercise. Forty active and 40 inactive college students were randomly assigned to an aerobic exercise or a waiting-period control condition. Self-report measures of mood and cardiovascular response measures to challenging cognitive tasks were collected before and after the 20-min exercise/control period to examine any exercise induced changes. The results indicated that mood was significantly altered by the exercise activity, with reductions in tension and anxiety specifically evident. Exercise was not found to have any effects on cardiovascular reactivity. A test of aerobic fitness confirmed fitness differences between active and inactive participants, but no mood or reactivity effects related to activity status were obtained. These results suggest that both active and inactive individuals experience acute reductions in anxiety following single bouts of exercise, even in the absence of changes in cardiovascular reactivity. Implications for the continued investigation of the acute effects of exercise are discussed. PMID- 2616708 TI - Patterns of autonomic response during laboratory stressors. AB - The present study was designed to include an index reflecting the influence of parasympathetic nervous system activity on the heart, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, in addition to measures reflecting primarily sympathetic nervous system activity. The inclusion of the parasympathetic index was considered important for two reasons:(a) Past studies have suggested different patterns of autonomic response to qualitatively different laboratory stressors but have had to infer parasympathetic influences more indirectly, and (b) there is evidence that borderline hypertensives may have reduced vagal tone at rest when compared to normotensives. This last point is important for the study of individual differences in cardiovascular reactivity because excessive responsiveness in young normotensives (beta-adrenergic reactors) has been suggested as a model for studying the precursors of some types of hypertension. Fifty-one male college students were given a reaction time task, a mental arithmetic task, a cold pressor task, and graded bicycle exercise. A variety of cardiovascular and respiratory measures were collected on each subject. Results indicated significant differences in levels of respiratory sinus arrhythmia during the three tasks and the rest period, giving additional evidence for parasympathetic differences (along with sympathetic differences) in these conditions. Additionally, high beta-adrenergic reactors did not differ in mean level of respiratory sinus arrhythmia from low reactors either at rest or during the task periods. These results are discussed in the context of previous research. PMID- 2616709 TI - Fifty years and still going strong! PMID- 2616710 TI - The new psychiatry and the "medical model". PMID- 2616711 TI - Who are we? The American Psychosomatic Society Membership Survey. PMID- 2616712 TI - [Transgenerational solidarity: treatment and prevention in an expanded context]. AB - This article searches for a common denominator for the requirements of that which therapy and prevention address in their broadest terms: 1. Genuine criteria of autonomous individuation in the context of real relationship that have to be sorted out vis-a-vis random internal relations that inform the private epistemologies of each partner's idiosyncratic goals. 2. The dialogue of mutual self-definition anchored in the balance of inherent commitments to mutual self validation through fair give and take--the basis of relational ethics, i.e., responsibility for consequences to others. 3. The systemic regulation of behavioral patterns of marriages, parent-child relationships, nuclear and extended families, and larger community networks. 4. An intrinsic tribunal of transgenerational solidarity as the basis of prevention and as the manifestation of human species survival, e.g., concern about environmental health. 5. Negentropy as the "locomotive" of biological evolution and via ethics of receiving through giving to posterity, the guardian of both parent-child and peer relationships in a progressively automated world. PMID- 2616713 TI - [Systemic family therapy in a case of anorexia nervosa in a boy--a case report within the scope of final interventions]. AB - The end of session interventions of the 14 sessions of a treatment of a case of anorexia nervosa in a boy with systemic family therapy demonstrate how they are constructed to fit the system so they can address certain areas of ambivalence to effect the intended change of the family organization. This goal has been reached and the illness has been removed, as is proved by a follow-up 7 years after the end of the treatment. PMID- 2616714 TI - [Aspects of object relations in borderline and neurotic patients: an empirical study using the Holtzman Inkblot technic]. AB - In the present study hospitalized borderline and neurotic patients were compared concerning certain aspects of object relations. The diagnosis of a borderline disorder was given on the basis of the "Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines" (Gunderson u. Kolb 1978). Certain aspects of object relations were assessed by applying the 7-point scale developed by Urist (1977) to responses in the Holtzman Inkblot Technique. According to the results the two diagnostic groups differ with regard to 5 of the 7 scale levels which are connected with the following interpersonal themes: Being supplied and guided; controlling; sucking out, devouring and damaging; engulfing and overwhelming. The results are interpreted referring to object relation theory. Furthermore hit rates were assessed on the basis of the Urist scale data with relatively good results for sensitivity and specifity. PMID- 2616715 TI - [Dreams as a sign of change in alexithymia in psychosomatic patients]. AB - A review of some pertinent literature shows that many authors recommend supportive therapy in psychosomatic patients manifesting alexithymic characteristics. Only when positive changes occur in affect tolerance, psychoanalytic psychotherapy can be attempted. In this article it is demonstrated that the occurrence of dreams can be understood to signify such a change in affect tolerance. A clinical example is given in which psychosomatic (and traumatic) dreams gradually change into dreams in which the ego is trying to master the trauma (traumatolytic function). It is concluded that the occurrence of dreams can be of value in determining changes in alexithymia during psychotherapy of alexithymic patients. PMID- 2616716 TI - [Relation of the family physician to his patient and evaluation of the patient: aspects of willingness to comply?]. AB - This study was conducted to examine the influence of general practitioner's behavior (i.e. the patient-centered behavior) on patients' inferences as well as on patient's compliance. We demonstrated in a simulation study as well as in an inquiry of patients in general practice that doctor's competence, interest and sympathy are estimated higher, if the doctor's behavior is patient-centered. Significant single results are reported in respect to patients' knowledge, their inference on the state of the disease and on the convalescence. Patient-centered behavior did not have a direct influence on patients' compliance. PMID- 2616717 TI - [Emergent properties as an apparent solution of the Bieri trilemma. Critical comment on E. G. Schmidt: A systems theory approach to the solution to the Bieri trilemma (Psychother. med. Psychol. 39 (1989): 268-269]. PMID- 2616718 TI - [The effect of cesarean section deliveries on female sterilization in Puerto Rico]. AB - For the last decades Puerto Rico has had the highest rate of female sterilization of the world. However, it was to be expected that the increasing trend will slow down with the appearance of new and effective birth control methods and the increasing educational level of the population. The data obtained from an island wide sample survey undertaken in 1982 demonstrated that this was not the case and that the rate of female sterilization continued to increase. The authors hypothesis was that this unexpected situation was a result of the remarkable increase observed in cesarean childbirth in the Island. Thus, the main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between cesarean childbirth and female sterilization. Utilizing the 1982 sample survey data the authors demonstrated that surgical deliveries had increased so rapidly during the last decades that Puerto Rico seems to be the leading country of the world, confirming the findings of a 1980 study. These data also showed that there was a very strong association between cesarean childbirth and female sterilization. A partial correlation analysis tend to demonstrate that surgical delivery in Puerto Rico, is at present, a stronger determinant of female sterilization than fertility. PMID- 2616719 TI - [Variables in the Puerto Rican home structure]. PMID- 2616720 TI - [Conditions and socioeconomic aspects of the Puerto Rican home]. PMID- 2616721 TI - [The homes of the elderly in Puerto Rico]. PMID- 2616722 TI - [The role of women at home and their participation in the labor force]. PMID- 2616723 TI - Evaluation of a regionalized perinatal care system through linked infant birth and death certificates: Puerto Rico, 1980-84. AB - The birth weight-specific neonatal mortality rates for Puerto Rico are among the highest rates reported in the United States. Furthermore, since 1979, Puerto Rico's neonatal mortality rate has been higher than the neonatal mortality rate for blacks in the United States. Since the proportion of births less than 2,500 grams has remained relatively unchanged in the past 10-15 years in Puerto Rico and in the continental United States, those findings suggest problems of either access or quality of the neonatal care in Puerto Rico. Therefore, we used linked infant birth-death certificates from 1980 through 1984 to evaluate the regionalization of perinatal health services operating on the island. We found that 41.6% of all births less than 1,500 grams were delivered at hospitals without Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). In addition, delivery at hospitals with NICUs did not confer a survival advantage for infants less than 2,500 grams. The lack of survival advantage in most hospitals with NICUs persisted after we adjusted simultaneously for birth weight, Apgar score at 5 minutes, and history of pregnancy complications. We conclude that the regionalization plan operating on the island needs reevaluation and recommend that preventive measures at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels be implemented. PMID- 2616724 TI - Bitemporal aplasia cutis congenita. PMID- 2616725 TI - Cor triatriatum sinister: echocardiographic assessment. AB - A 16 year old white female presented with paroxysmal cough and hemoptysis of recent onset. Cardiac evaluation was consistent with pulmonary hypertension. Cor triatriatum sinister was diagnosed by echocardiography. The clinical presentation and the echocardiographic features of this anomaly are discussed. PMID- 2616726 TI - [The structured interview: predictive value of the academic decision]. PMID- 2616727 TI - Reciprocal ST segment changes in acute myocardial infarction; informative or incidental? PMID- 2616728 TI - The association of autoimmune disorders with inflammatory bowel disease. AB - Medical records of patients with ulcerative colitis (n = 858), Crohn's disease (n = 378) and coeliac disease (n = 148) were examined to determine the prevalence of associated autoimmune disorders. Of outpatient controls (n = 300), 2 per cent had at least one autoimmune disorder, compared to 7 per cent with ulcerative colitis, 2 per cent with Crohn's disease and 6 per cent with coeliac disease. Inclusion of primary sclerosing cholangitis with the autoimmune disorders increased the overall prevalence in ulcerative colitis to over 9 per cent. The results provide further indirect evidence of involvement of autoimmune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. PMID- 2616729 TI - Respiratory failure in leptospirosis. AB - We report on four cases of leptospirosis with pulmonary manifestations as their presenting features. With adequate supportive therapy the prognosis is good. Leptospirosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary haemorrhage. PMID- 2616730 TI - The diagnostic significance of reciprocal ST segment depression in acute myocardial infarction. AB - The relationship between reciprocal ST-segment depression, the result of an early submaximal exercise ECG, and the anatomy of coronary artery disease was explored in 142 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Reciprocal ST-segment depression was observed in 65 per cent of 79 patients with inferior infarction and 57 per cent of 63 with anterior infarction. Thirty-three of the 52 patients with reciprocal ST-segment depression had a significant stenosis of the coronary artery supplying the reciprocal ST-segment territory (63 per cent), and 31 of the 46 patients with a positive exercise test had a significant stenosis of the coronary artery supplying the ischaemic territory (67 per cent). Forty-one of the patients with reciprocal ST-segment depression (79 per cent) and 35 of the patients with positive exercise tests (76 per cent) were found to have multivessel coronary artery disease. The study showed that reciprocal ST-segment depression was associated with stenosis of the coronary artery supplying the territory opposite the infarct in nearly two-thirds of the patients and with multivessel coronary artery disease in almost four-fifths of them. Reciprocal ST segment depression after infarction was as accurate as a positive submaximal exercise test at predicting the presence of multivessel coronary artery disease. PMID- 2616731 TI - Prognosis of critically-ill patients with acute renal failure: APACHE II score and other predictive factors. AB - The survival from acute renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy was studied in 90 critically-ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Mean age (+/- SD) was 51 +/- 14.6 (range 17 to 81) years. Mechanical ventilation was required in 88 patients and 71 patients received total parenteral nutrition. Thirty-three per cent of patients left the intensive care unit alive and 24 per cent survived to leave hospital. Final survival was 20 per cent in medical patients (n = 49), 29 per cent in surgical patients (n = 38) and 100 per cent in obstetric patients (n = 3). Hypotension, requirement for inotropic support, oliguria and sepsis were all associated with a poorer prognosis. The mode of renal replacement therapy did not affect survival, but additional haemodialysis was required in 33 of 65 patients treated by continuous arteriovenous haemofiltration but none of 22 treated with continuous arteriovenous haemodialysis (p less than 0.001). APACHE II score was calculated for 87 patients. Mean APACHE II score was 26.1 +/- 6.9 (range 14 to 44). APACHE II score on admission predicted the likelihood of survival well. No patients with a score of more than 40 survived, compared to 40 per cent of those with scores of 10 to 19. Pre-existing organ insufficiency or immunosuppression meriting a CHE score of 5 was associated with a very poor survival (1 of 30 patients). APACHE II score is a reliable indicator of severity of illness and likelihood of survival in critically-ill patients with acute renal failure. The widespread adoption of APACHE II scoring for patients with acute renal failure requiring intensive care would facilitate medical audit and comparison of studies from various centres. PMID- 2616732 TI - Depression in primary hypothyroidism masquerading as inadequate or excessive L thyroxine consumption. AB - Depression may occasionally be a presenting feature of primary hypothyroidism but the influence of psychological illness upon L-thyroxine compliance in hypothyroidism has not been specifically addressed. We report six patients with primary hypothyroidism in whom repeated thyroid function tests implied that they were not taking their L-thyroxine as prescribed. The eventual recognition of underlying depression and its treatment led to appropriate treatment with thyroxine as evidenced by clinical euthyroidism and normal thyroid function tests. PMID- 2616733 TI - Changing trends in acute renal failure in third-world countries--Chandigarh study. AB - The pattern of acute renal failure in third-world countries is changing albeit at a slower pace compared to that in developed countries. Of the 1862 patients with acute renal failure requiring dialysis between 1965 and 1986 in a north Indian centre, 60, 15 and 25 per cent were related to medical, obstetrical and surgical conditions respectively. Among the medical patients, diarrhoeal diseases which caused 23 per cent of the total number of cases of acute renal failure in the period 1965 to 1974 caused only 10 per cent in 1981 to 1986. In the same period, acute renal failure due to sepsis and drugs increased while that due to copper sulphate poisoning and intravascular haemolysis showed a downward trend. Obstetrical acute renal failure declined from 22 per cent in 1965 to 1974 to 9 per cent during the period 1981 to 1986. This decline was chiefly due to a fall in cases of septic abortion, puerperal sepsis and postpartum haemorrhage. Surgical acute renal failure increased from 11 per cent during the period 1965 to 1974 to 31 per cent in the 1980s, predominantly due to an increase in patients with obstructive uropathy. Despite these favourable trends, the pattern of acute renal failure in the third world continues to be different from that in the developed countries. PMID- 2616734 TI - Kidney biopsy in SLE. I. A clinical-morphologic evaluation. AB - The relationship between renal morphology and clinical disease was analysed in 148 patients with SLE attending a lupus clinic. Patients were not selected for renal disease. Renal tissue was assessed according to the World Health Organization classification of lupus nephritis, the presence of active and chronic lesions was recorded and disease activity was measured according to a standard protocol. All sections of the classification were represented in this group of patients. Active and chronic lesions were more likely to occur among patients with Class III/IV (proliferative glomerulonephritis), than in any other category. Patients with Class III/IV biopsy were more likely to have evidence of clinical renal disease than patients in Class II (mesangial). However, almost half of the Class II patients had some evidence of renal disease, including elevated serum creatinine, as well as important non-glomerular lesions. Without biopsy they might have been thought to have proliferative lesions and been treated more aggressively. Two patients with proliferative glomerulonephritis had no clinical evidence of renal disease. Thus, at the time of biopsy results renal histological examination did not uniformly correlate with clinical renal disease. PMID- 2616735 TI - Neurological presentations of native valve endocarditis. AB - In a prospective study of 178 episodes of community-acquired native valve infective endocarditis seen at St Thomas' Hospital between 1969 and 1987, 59 patients (33 per cent) presented with neurological disorders that included meningitis, toxic confusion, major thromboembolic phenomena and headache. A neurological presentation occurred in 54 per cent of all cases of staphylococcal endocarditis, but in only 19 per cent of episodes of 'viridans' streptococcal and enterococcal endocarditis. Overall one-third of patients with staphylococcal endocarditis presented with clinical features of meningitis (40 per cent with no cardiac murmur). The mortality rate for community-acquired native valve endocarditis was higher for those with a neurological presentation than without. PMID- 2616736 TI - Gastrointestinal Kaposi's sarcoma in renal transplant patients. AB - We report nine cases of gastrointestinal Kaposi's sarcoma in renal transplant patients negative for human immunodeficiency virus. In eight the lesions regressed on either withdrawing or reducing the dose of cyclosporin A, but this led to the loss of the renal graft in approximately 50 per cent of patients. PMID- 2616737 TI - The haematological and biochemical changes in severe pulmonary tuberculosis. AB - This study surveys the extent and severity of haematological and biochemical abnormalities which occurred in 265 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, and records the haematological changes that occur with treatment. Anaemia was present in 60 per cent of patients, more frequently in males than in females. Leucocytosis with neutrophilia occurred in 40 per cent, lymphopenia in 17 per cent and monocytopenia in 50 per cent. Platelet count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were elevated in 52 and 80 per cent respectively. Bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy were of limited diagnostic value. Ferritin and vitamin B12 levels were increased in 94 and 57 per cent of subjects respectively whilst serum and red cell folic acid were within normal limits in 83 per cent. The frequency of the important biochemical changes were hyponatraemia (43 per cent) and hypoalbuminaemia (72 per cent); alkaline phosphatase, aspartic transaminase and lactic dehydrogenase levels were elevated in approximately a third of patients possibly due to unsuspected dissemination. There was a close correlation between the acid-fast bacilli in sputum and abnormal values, particularly those of body weight, haemoglobin, platelet count, white cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Failure of these indices to return to normal was invariably associated with persistent excretion of acid-fast bacilli. We have shown that haematological and biochemical abnormalities in pulmonary tuberculosis are common and may be valuable aids to diagnosis. Some haematological markers also reflect response to treatment. PMID- 2616738 TI - Rheumatological lesions in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus infection. AB - One hundred and twenty-three patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection have been referred to rheumatologists at our hospitals between October 1985 and April 1989 because of musculoskeletal symptoms. Thirty-four homosexual men presented with acute, peripheral, non-erosive arthritis (mean number of four joints affected) with the knees being involved in 23. Other features developing concurrently with arthritis included psoriasis, keratoderma blenorrhagica, plantar fasciitis, urethritis, conjunctivitis and anterior uveitis. Four of five patients investigated were HLA-B27-positive; none of 15 patients tested had raised titres of rheumatoid or antinuclear factors. Various infections were associated with the onset of arthritis and two patients with a recent history of diarrhoea had serological evidence of yersinia infection. No micro-organisms were identified within the joint except for HIV itself. At the time of onset of arthritis four of these individuals had the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); 11 were not known to be HIV-positive before testing which was performed following referral for arthritis. Six patients have since developed AIDS and four have died. In 15 individuals, including those who progressed to AIDS, joint symptoms have been severe, persistent and poorly responsive to non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. In only five patients has the arthritis been known to resolve. Synovitis has also been seen in two women: in one of these HIV infection was thought to have been acquired through intravenous drug abuse. Other rheumatic lesions included myalgia/myositis, non-inflammatory peripheral arthritis, spinal pain, soft tissue lesions, arthralgia or myalgia of unknown cause and infective lesions including septic arthritis and bony infection due to histoplasmosis and atypical mycobacterial infection. It appears likely that HIV infection is a risk factor for the development of seronegative arthritis and other rheumatic lesions. PMID- 2616739 TI - Influence of ionizing radiation on oxygen profiles in different types of multicellular spheroids. AB - Human glioma (U-118 MG and U-138 MG), human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29), human thyroid carcinoma (HTh 7), and hamster embryonic lung (V79-379A) spheroids were irradiated with either single doses of 16 or 40 Gy or fractionated doses of eight times 5 Gy. Oxygen profiles in the spheroids were measured with microelectrodes at different times following irradiation, and these profiles were then compared with the oxygen profiles measured in parallel cultured nonirradiated spheroids. No significant radiation-induced changes in the oxygen profiles were seen in any of the spheroids within the first few days after irradiation. The glioma spheroids did not show any significant increase in oxygen tension even after longer times; however, they were growth inhibited, and the number of S-phase cells was strongly suppressed. Increases in oxygen tension did occur in the HT-29 and V79-379A spheroids but only appeared more than a week after irradiation, when degeneration had started. Histological changes and decrease in diameter were seen in the spheroids that started to degenerate about 5 days after irradiation. Thus radiation doses in the therapeutic range did not, for the spheroids studied, produce rapid increases in the oxygen tension. When a change occurred, it appeared rather late and was probably a consequence of cell degeneration. PMID- 2616740 TI - Microdosimetry of rat alveolar type II cells irradiated with alpha particles from 239PuO2. AB - The alveolar type II cell is one of the critical cells for radiation damage in the lungs after inhalation of radioactive aerosols. With the aid of a Quantimet 970 image analyzer and a VAX-11/780 computer, we calculated the radiation dose to rat alveolar type II cells from alpha particles emitted by 239PuO2. A series of dosimetric parameters for type II cells, including track length distribution, linear energy transfer (LET), values of the specific energy for a single hit of a spherical target (z1), cellular dose, hit number, and their spatial distributions were calculated. By comparing the volume density of type II cells and lung tissue with energy deposited in alveolar type II cells, we found that the energy deposited per unit volume of type II cells was larger than that of lung tissue excluding type II cells. The z1 for spherical targets and the LET across type II cells were less than those in lung tissue excluding type II cells. The age of the rat and damage to lung by inhalation may significantly influence some of the parameters. The neoplastic transformation probability for type II cells is also discussed. The results suggest that the type II cell is an important target cell in the rat lung for exposure to inhaled 239PuO2. PMID- 2616741 TI - Radiation induction of drug resistance in RIF-1 tumors and tumor cells. AB - The RIF-1 tumor cell line contains a small number of cells (1-20 per 10(6) cells) that are resistant to various single antineoplastic drugs, including 5 fluorouracil (5FU), methotrexate (MTX), and adriamycin (ADR). For 5FU the frequency of drug resistance is lower for tumor-derived cells than for cells from cell culture; for MTX the reverse is true, and for ADR there is no difference. In vitro irradiation at 5 Gy significantly increased the frequency of drug-resistant cells for 5FU, MTX, and ADR. In vivo irradiation at 3 Gy significantly increased the frequency of drug-resistant cells for 5FU and MTX, but not for ADR. The absolute risk for in vitro induction of MTX, 5FU, and ADR resistance, and for in vivo induction of 5FU resistance, was 1-3 per 10(6) cells per Gy; but the absolute risk for in vivo induction of MTX resistance was 54 per 10(6) cells per Gy. The frequency of drug-resistant cells among individual untreated tumors was highly variable; among individual irradiated tumors the frequency of drug resistant cells was significantly less variable. These studies provide supporting data for models of the development of tumor drug resistance, and imply that some of the drug resistance seen when chemotherapy follows radiotherapy may be due to radiation-induced drug resistance. PMID- 2616742 TI - Effect of corticosteroid treatment on cell recovery by lung lavage in acute radiation-induced lung injury. AB - The purpose of this study was to quantitate cell populations recovered by lung lavage up to 6 weeks following thoracic irradiation (24 Gy) as an index of the acute inflammatory response within lung structures. Additionally, rats were treated five times weekly with intraperitoneal saline (0.3 cc) or methylprednisolone (7.5 mg/kg/week). Lung lavage of irradiated rats recovered increased numbers of total cells compared to controls beginning 3 weeks after irradiation (P less than 0.05). The initial increase in number of cells recovered was attributable to an influx of neutrophils (P less than 0.05), and further increases at 4 and 6 weeks were associated with increased numbers of recovered macrophages (P less than 0.05). Lung lavage of steroid-treated rats at 6 weeks after irradiation recovered increased numbers of all cell populations compared to controls (P less than 0.05); however, numbers of recovered total cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes were all significantly decreased compared to saline-treated rats (P less than 0.05). The number of inflammatory cells recovered by lung lavage during acute radiation-induced lung injury is significantly diminished by corticosteroid treatment. Changes in cells recovered by lung lavage can also be correlated with alteration in body weight and respiration rate subsequent to treatment with thoracic irradiation and/or corticosteroids. PMID- 2616743 TI - Clonogenic cells and rat mammary cancer: effects of hormones, X rays, and fission neutrons. AB - On Day 0, young adult female F344 rats were adrenalectomized and intrasplenically implanted with a pituitary gland and capsule containing estrone. All were thereafter given 2.5 mg deoxycorticosterone per week and the choice of saline or tap water. This treatment yields high prolactin levels and glucocorticoid deficiency (Prl+/Glc-). On Day +48, total recoverable mammary DNA was increased by more than sevenfold, tritiated thymidine uptake by nearly fourfold, and total mammary clonogens by about fivefold. Irradiation with 4, 40, and 80 cGy X rays on Day +48 increased total mammary carcinomas per rat day at risk linearly with dose, and 40 and 80 cGy significantly decreased first carcinoma latency. A dose of 40 cGy X rays on Day -1 yielded tumor latencies and frequencies insignificantly different from unirradiated controls and significantly different from the dose on Day +48. Total carcinomas per rat day at risk were better fit by a function of dose to the power 0.4 than by a linear function after exposure to 1, 10, and 20 cGy fission neutrons, and 10 and 20 cGy significantly shortened the time to appearance of the first cancer. In contrast to results with X rays, 10 cGy neutrons on Day -1 yielded tumor frequencies and latencies insignificantly different from 10 cGy neutrons on Day +48. The carcinogenic action of X rays was thus influenced by total clonogen numbers and/or proliferation rates; that of neutrons was not. PMID- 2616744 TI - Induction of preneoplastic alterations by X rays and neutrons in exposed rat tracheas and isolated tracheal epithelial cells. AB - The relative potential of high- and low-LET radiation to induce preneoplastic alterations in rat tracheal epithelial cells was evaluated using a combined in vivo-cell culture model. The capacity of X rays and high- and low-dose-rate neutrons to induce preneoplastic changes in isolated rat tracheal epithelial cells and in the intact tissue was compared. The presence of altered populations was determined in culture in terms of the frequency of tracheal epithelial cell populations which exhibit enhanced growth capacity in culture and in terms of the induction of persistent morphological alterations in exposed transplanted tracheas. Prior to assaying for altered cells, tracheal epithelial cells were irradiated as part of the intact tissue or as single cells. Low- and high-LET radiation induced similar maximum frequencies of altered cells when cultures were exposed as single cells, although high-LET radiation was more radiobiologically effective (RBE = 20) than low-LET radiation. The most marked difference between high- and low-LET radiation was observed after irradiation of the intact tissue. Damage induced by low-LET radiation, giving rise to altered populations, was modified in the intact tissue, whereas similar damage induced by high-LET radiation was apparently not. PMID- 2616745 TI - Mutation induction by different dose rates of gamma rays in radiation-sensitive mutants of mouse leukemia cells. AB - Induction of cell killing and mutation to 6-thioguanine resistance was examined in a radiation-sensitive mutant strain LX830 of mouse leukemia cells following gamma irradiation at dose rates of 30 Gy/h (acute), 20 cGy/h (low dose rate), and 6.2 mGy/h (very low dose rate). LX830 cells were hypersensitive to killing by acute gamma rays. A slight but significant increase was observed in cell survival with decreasing dose rate down to 6.2 mGy/h, where the survival leveled off above certain total doses. The cells were also hypersensitive to mutation induction compared to the wild type. The mutation frequency increased linearly with increasing dose for all dose rates. No significant difference was observed in the frequency of induced mutations versus total dose at the three different dose rates so that the mutation frequency in LX830 cells at 6.2 mGy/h was not significantly different from that for moderate or acute irradiation. PMID- 2616746 TI - [Participation of the SSB protein in the repair of the DNA of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells following UV irradiation]. AB - Synchronous changes were detected in the SSB-protein content of the chromatin and in the rate of repair DNA synthesis at different time intervals after UV irradiation of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The amount of SSB-protein in the extra-chromatin fraction was in an inverse relation to its content in the chromatin, whereas the cumulative SSB-protein content remained invariable. Similar changes in the SSB-protein content of the chromatin and in repair synthesis were also registered after the effect of various doses of UV-light. The increase of the SSB-protein content in the chromatin was not connected with the postirradiation accumulation of single-strand sites in DNA. PMID- 2616747 TI - [Participation of the SSB protein in the repair of the DNA in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells following gamma radiation]. AB - Survival of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, SSB content of the chromatin, and repair DNA synthesis rate were investigated after gamma-irradiation, the rate of repair synthesis was shown to depend on the SSB-protein content of the chromatin. Changes in the amount of SSB-protein in the chromatin were not connected with the postirradiation accumulation of single-strand sites in DNA. PMID- 2616748 TI - [The effect of proteinase inhibitors on the level of degradation and unscheduled synthesis of DNA in ultraviolet- and gamma-irradiated cellsof mouse ascitic carcinoma]. AB - Proteinase inhibitors (e.g. antipain, pepstatin A, and phenylmethane sulfonyl fluoride) were shown to decrease the rate of incision DNA degradation and the level of unscheduled synthesis of DNA in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells exposed to UV-light and gamma-radiation. The results obtained indicate that nuclear proteinases are involved in regulation of DNA repair process. PMID- 2616749 TI - [In vivo induction of the metallothionein gene by cadmium ions and its effect on endogenous colony formation in the spleen of sublethally irradiated mice]. PMID- 2616750 TI - [Modeling, using nucleases, of the effect of radiation on Chinese hamster fibroblasts. On the role of single-stranded DNA breaks, induced by DNAase I, in the initiation of chromosome aberrations]. AB - DNAase I injected to Chinese hamster fibroblast cells resulted in the chromosome aberration induction at all stages of the cell cycle and death of cells. Comparison of the effects of DNAase I and gamma-radiation on Chinese hamster cells showed that with close values of the induced DNA breaks there were close values of the cytogenetic damage and the number of DNA damages per aberrant cell. PMID- 2616751 TI - [Radiation damage to the structure of the erythrocyte membrane: the role of structural proteins]. PMID- 2616752 TI - [Xanthine oxidase activity of thymocytes exposed to x-radiation]. AB - Xanthine oxidase activity in thymocytes was studied at different time intervals after X-irradiation with doses of 0.5, 2 and 8 Gy. It was shown that 3 h and later after irradiation, dehydrogenase activity of the enzyme was converted into oxidase one. In the case of arresting the proteolysis by the effect of low doses (up to 0.5 Gy) and at early times the possibility of conversion of the enzyme into the dehydrogenase form was retained. The hyperactivity of the oxidase form of xanthine oxidase was probably a factor of expressing the proteolysis response and cell lysis. PMID- 2616753 TI - [A systemic model of the reproductive death of mammalian cells. The effect of radiation dose rate and fractionation]. AB - On the basis of the previously developed systemic model a study was made of the effect of dose rate on the survival of mammalian cells, RBE of small doses of heavy ions, and fractionation of radiation. There was a good agreement between theoretical and experimental results. The calculations showed that D10 (10% survival dose) is a function of dose rate P even for such ions as helium and boron which, however, exhibited an insignificant dependence of D10 on P (within the range from (10(-1) to 1 cGy/min). The influence of repair and the rate of cell division on RBE of radiation was determined. PMID- 2616754 TI - [Recovery from potentially lethal damage of irradiated L5178Y-R and L5178Y-S cells: the effect of temperature and benzamide]. AB - Mouse lymphoma L5178 Y-S and Y-R cells differing in radiosensitivity by 1.5 times were treated with benzamide, an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribosylation), for 24 h before and 18 h after X-irradiation, and incubated after irradiation at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Clonogenic capacity of LY-S cells incubated at 25 degrees C exceeded that of the same cells incubated at 37 degrees C; the clonogenic capacity of LY-R cells did not vary with the postirradiation incubation temperature. Benzamide increased equally the radiosensitivity of LY-R cells incubated at both temperatures, whereas that of LY-S cells was only increased at 37 degrees C. Repair of potentially lethal damages to LY-S cells incubated at 25 degrees C was independent of the effectiveness of poly(ADP ribosylation). PMID- 2616755 TI - [The stimulating effect of preliminary irradiation of the hematopoietic stroma with small doses on the content of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow in vivo and in a long-term culture system]. AB - Preirradiation of mouse recipients with a dose of 1-2 Gy 24 and 48 h before lethal irradiation (8 Gy) made CFUs content of femur increase upon transplantation of bone marrow from exposed and intact donors. The same was with the long-term bone marrow culture: preirradiation of a stromal sublayer increased the number of CFUs in the transplanted bone marrow preirradiated with 6 Gy radiation. Retransplantation of bone marrow to irradiated donors after 5 day cultivation, a sublayer being activated, increased the number of CFUs in the femur in comparison with donors which were injected with the bone marrow from the culture without activation of the sublayer by low-level radiation. PMID- 2616756 TI - [A study of the effect of radiation on megakaryocytopoiesis using a mathematical model]. AB - Mathematical modelling used in analysing the postirradiation changes in megakaryocytopoiesis permitted to determine the level of radiation-induced injury in each experiment conducted and to show that megakaryocytopoiesis regulation followed the same mechanism after irradiation as it does normally and after the effect of hydroxyurea and anti-thrombocyte serum. The analysis has demonstrated that after the stem cell death induced by ionizing radiation, the regeneration can be provided by the committed cells, and the level of regeneration is determined by the maturity of precursors. PMID- 2616757 TI - [Comparison of the biological effects of tritium oxide and gamma radiation based on changes in the mass of the rat thymus gland]. AB - RBE of tritium oxide (cumulative doses from 0.33 to 14.7 Gy), in comparison with gamma-radiation, amounted to 2-3 as estimated by the thymus mass. As determined by the rate of injury and repair, the RBE values decreased from 4 to 1.4 with dose increasing, and from 6.5 to 1.3, by the periods of half-decrease and half recovery of the organ mass. The 2-3-fold variations in the RBE values for various parameters of the organ mass changes were registered at low doses, whereas within the range of median and high doses under study, the differences were insignificant. PMID- 2616758 TI - [Characteristics of osteosarcomas and morphological changes in the rat thymus during the combined action of gamma-radiation and 239Pu]. AB - Under the combined effect of external gamma-irradiation and 239Pu, osteosarcomas occur more frequently and at earlier times, and have more pronounced multicentric pattern of growth and metastatic spreading than occurs with the two agents delivered separately. The difference is in the increased development of tumors and the decreased osteogenesis. Tumor carriers develop atrophy of thymus lymphoid tissue more frequently than normal ones. PMID- 2616759 TI - [Effective and non-effective levels of the inhalation action of transuranium radionuclides estimated by changes in the parameters of cardiac mass in dogs]. AB - Effective and noneffective levels of inhalation of 239Pu and 241Am transuranium radionuclides were estimated by changes in heart mass parameters of 143 mongrel dogs. PMID- 2616760 TI - [The anti-infective action of immunoglobulins administered at delayed times after irradiation]. AB - In experiments with CBA and CBA X C57Bl(F-1) mice it was shown that the radio protective efficacy and the anti-infectious influence of homo- and heterologous immunoglobulin (IG) applied one, two and three times in the period from 4h to 9 days following irradiation with doses of LD80-95/30. This was displayed by the increased survival rate and normalization of intestinal microflora in treated animals in comparison with untreated ones. Heterologous IG administered at varying times (5 to 20 days) after irradiation with the dose of 4.8 Gy increased the resistance of treated mice to infection with living E. coli culture. PMID- 2616761 TI - [The role of biogenic amines in the neurohumoral mechanisms of postradiation gastrostasis in rats]. AB - In experiments with rats it was shown that pharmacological substances that deplete the biogenic amine pool or selectively arrest dopamine and serotonin receptors prevent or considerably reduce the postirradiation gastrostasis. It is suggested that activation of dopamine- and serotonergic inhibiting mechanisms of regulation of motor-evacuative function of the stomach is responsible for the postirradiation delay in gastric evacuation. PMID- 2616762 TI - [The effect of iron on the excretion by rats of intratracheally administered plutonium-239]. AB - A study was made of the effect of ferric citrate on excretion of intratracheally administered plutonium-239. The preparation used permitted to increase the radionuclide excretion via the gastrointestinal tract by 1.8 times as compared to the control. The positive effect of the iron preparation was maximally displayed between days 4 and 11 following administration: the value of the increase was 2.2. PMID- 2616763 TI - [Dosimetric characteristics of the prodromal radiation syndrome]. AB - Main symptoms of the prodromal radiation syndrome have been investigated. The results of clinical observations shown that the probability of displaying the prodromal syndrome is a function of radiation dose. PMID- 2616764 TI - [The role of DNA repair processes in the repair of cytogenetic disorders. The participation of slow to repair DNA damage in the repair of cytogenetic disorders]. AB - Caffeine was used to study the kinetics of cytogenetic damages repair in Chinese hamster fibroblasts. Its half-time (90 min) was shown to correlate with that of repair of slowly repaired DNA damages. The caffeine-induced increase in the number of irreparable DNA damages, attributed to inhibition of double-strand break repair, is in a quantitative correlation with the effect of the cytogenetic damage modification. PMID- 2616765 TI - [Estimation of the critical level of an arrest in differentiation of human hematopoietic stem cells]. AB - On the basis of the analysis of postirradiation changes in the specific number human peripheral blood neutrophils the authors have estimated the level of the "arrest of differentiation" (AD) of their precursors (haemopoietic stem cells (HSC) which amounted to 0.2-0.9% of their normal number at a local functional site of haemopoiesis. The time of the onset of AD, with subcritical doses (to 6.4 8.8 Gy) leading to HSC pool depletion, which does not reach a critical level, decreases linearly with dose, and its duration is practically independent of the dose and makes up 10 (6 to 16) days on an average. PMID- 2616766 TI - [A method of estimating the dose to and magnitude of an irradiated area during partial radiation damage based on the results of a cytogenetic analysis of a culture of peripheral blood lymphocytes]. AB - The curves, obtained in the in vitro experiments, that show the dependence of the frequency of dicentrics (per a cell with dicentrics) upon dose and percentage of cells with dicentrics are proposed to be used in estimating a dose and body volume affected by partial irradiation (an extreme case of nonuniform exposure) by the analysis of chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures. PMID- 2616767 TI - Nurse needle sticks: products liability. PMID- 2616768 TI - Nurse sues for "environmental sexual harassment". Case in point: Fisher v. San Pedro Peninsula Hosp. (262 Cal. Rptr. 842--CA (1989)). PMID- 2616769 TI - Legal case briefs for nurses. FL: psych nurse's "crazy" comment: probation overturned; MI.: graduate nurses fail exam: unemployment. PMID- 2616770 TI - Medication error: court vacates "reinstatement order". Case in point: Russell Memorial Hosp. v United Steelworkers (720 F. Supp. 583--MI (1-89)). PMID- 2616771 TI - [Use of sebacic acid for identifying anaerobic bacteria using gas phase chromatography]. AB - Volatile short-chain fatty acids formed as end products of metabolism of 25 anaerobic bacterial strains isolated from different clinical specimens and collections were analysed by GLC. Strains were previously identified using microscopic, cultural and biochemical tests. Gas-chromatograms of acids (volatile fatty acid profiles) were obtained with a sebacic acid packed column. The potential application of the GLC technique for the rapid and accurate identification of these organisms is discussed. PMID- 2616772 TI - [Determination of the sanitary quality and detection of Salmonella spp and Yersinia enterocolitica in ice cream]. AB - In order to determine the sanitary quality of ice-creams and the presence of pathogenic or potentially pathogenic species of Salmonella and Yersinia enterocolitica, 50 samples from 5 different industrial and semi-industrial producers in San Luis (Argentine) were examined. The enumeration of coliforms was positive for all the samples with values less than or equal to 20/g. Fourteen per cent of the samples were positive for the investigation of Staphylococcus aureus in 1 g. For the plates enumeration 12.0% of the samples gave less than 10 u.f.c./g, 4.0% between 101 and 1000 and 4.0% between 1001 and 10,000. Fifteen strains were isolated, 26.6% biotype A (human ecovar) and the others biotype C (bovine ecovar). All of them were susceptible to chloramphenicol, cephalosporin and erythromycin; 46.6% to penicillin G and ampicillin; 93.3% to kanamycin (6.6% intermediate ones = I); 73.3% to methicillin (26.6% I); 86.6% to tetracycline (13.3% I). Six per cent of the samples over came the acceptability limit for S. aureus. Salmonella spp was not isolated. In 4.0% of the samples Y. enterocolitica were isolated, one of them typified as B1; 0:3, 50, 51, Lis Xz. The latter, isolated in samples with values of coliforms inferior to the limit fixed by some legislations, suggests a post elaboration contamination. PMID- 2616773 TI - [Isolation of Vibrio cholerae non 01 from sewage in Argentina]. AB - The Vibrio cholerae non 01 closely related to the classic choleric vibrio epidemic has acquired worldwide importance during the last decade, with outbreaks of diarrheas, septicemia and other disorders in humans and animals. Contaminated food and water and also liquids from sewers offer important steps in the transmission chain. Its isolation in the Atlantic and Pacific coast has led us to investigate its presence in our country, using sewage for the first study. We isolated for the first time in Argentina 27 strains of Vibrio cholerae non 01 from samples taken in the district of Berisso which discharges its waters into the River Plate. PMID- 2616774 TI - [The first isolations of Salmonella Zaiman in humans]. AB - This paper describes the first three Salmonella Zaiman cases in children of more than one year old with acute infectious diarrhoea of less than seven days evolution, in the Pediatric Department of R. Madariaga Hospital in Posadas, Misiones. This sero-variety was isolated by hemoculture in an 11 year old girl with urinary infection and sepsis. This Salmonella is a new sero-variety isolated from Zaiman river which flows through suburbs of Posadas. PMID- 2616775 TI - The central neural organization of cardiovascular control. PMID- 2616776 TI - Sympathoexcitatory neurons of the rostroventrolateral medulla and the origin of the sympathetic vasomotor tone. AB - In summary, a substantial portion of the excitatory drive to vasomotor sympathetic preganglionic neurons originates from reticulospinal tonically active cells located in the RVLM. This interpretation does not exclude the possible contribution of other tonically active bulbospinal or propriospinal inputs in generating the vasomotor outflow but under usual anesthetic conditions it seems that these alternative inputs are simply insufficient to bring the vasomotor preganglionic neurons to their firing threshold. Such may not be the case after plastic rearrangements consecutive to complete spinalization or chronic lesions of large portions of the RVLM have occurred (Cochrane and Nathan, 1987; for review see Schramm, 1986). It is also clear at present that the RVLM is not merely a final common pathway consisting of premotoneurons passively driven by tonic synaptic inputs originating elsewhere. Indeed the existence of a population of reticulospinal neurons with intrinsic pacemaker activity indicates that the RVLM contains at least one major intrinsic source of tonic activity. These neurons may release a glutamate-like substance and are not phenotypically adrenergic. They have no documented projections outside the cord and could subserve a tone-generating function specific to the sympathetic outflow, e.g. providing a background excitatory input to a large number of preganglionic neurons with vasoconstrictor of cardioaccelerator function. Strong anatomical evidence backed by weaker electrophysiological evidence also support the notion that C1 adrenergic neurons may have a vasomotor role and contribute an excitatory drive to preganglionic neurons. This could be mediated via alpha 1-adrenergic receptors or by receptors to substance P or neuropeptide Y. There is no evidence yet that C1 cells might have intrinsic pacemaker activity. The origin of the ongoing activity of many of these cells "in vivo" is therefore unclear and could depend on an excitatory drive from outside the RVLM. One might speculate that because these cells appear to have collateral interactions (PNMT-immunoreactive boutons synapse on C1 cells, Milner et al., 1987), they could play a role in synchronizing the sympathetic vasomotor outflow (an unexplained phenomenon observable even in the absence of baroreceptor input). Because of the large variety of peptides which they contain, another speculative view could be that they make rather specific connections with subsets of preganglionic neurons and therefore might be responsible for the differential control of regional blood flows by the rostral medulla (Dampney and McAllen, 1988). C1 cells are inhibited by low systemic doses of clonidine and therefore may be in part responsible for the hypotensive effect of this drug.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2616777 TI - Basis for the naturally occurring activity of rostral ventrolateral medullary sympathoexcitatory neurons. AB - This chapter entertains two theories (network oscillator vs. intrinsic pacemaker) on the generation of the major component of SND - the 2- to 6-Hz rhythm in the cat and the 2- to 10-Hz rhythm in the rat. Evidence from experiments on cats strongly supports the hypothesis that the 2- to 6-Hz rhythm is an emergent property of a network oscillator located in the brain stem. Specifically, we propose that the 2- to 6-Hz component in SND arises from an ensemble of neurons of different types interconnected in such a way to generate the rhythm. There is no evidence for the existence of intrinsic pacemaker neurons in this network. Our experiments on cats also indicate that the rhythm is generated by neurons in the brain stem that are antecedent to RVLM-spinal SE and raphespinal-SI neurons. Our experiments on rats are not consistent with the hypothesis of Sun et al. (1988b) that "vasoconstrictor and cardioaccelerator sympathetic tone is due in large part to the intrinsic pacemaker activity of a small group of reticulospinal excitatory neurons located at the extreme anterior tip of the ventrolateral medulla". Rat RVLM pacemaker neurons act independently of each other following i.c. injection of the glutamate-receptor antagonist, KYN (Sun et al., 1988a). Thus, they would as a group provide white noise input to spinal neurons. It follows that i.c. KYN should have desynchronized SND if, as proposed by Sun et al., RVLM pacemakers are primarily responsible for SND in the rat. This was found not to be the case. The most likely explanation is that the 2- to 10-Hz rhythm in rat SND is not generated by intrinsic pacemaker neurons in the RVLM. PMID- 2616778 TI - A physiologically-based model of the brain stem generator of sympathetic nerve discharge. PMID- 2616779 TI - Some properties of the sympathoinhibition from the caudal ventrolateral medulla oblongata in the cat. PMID- 2616780 TI - Cholinergic mechanisms subserving cardiovascular function in the medulla and spinal cord. AB - This investigation was designed to study the role of muscarinic receptor subtypes in the cardiovascular responses elicited by microinjection of cholinergic agonists in the intermediate portion of the NTS, the VLPA and VLDA areas and the IML of the spinal cord. Microinjections of L-glutamate (1.77 nmol in 20-50 nl in 0.9% sodium chloride solution) were used to identify these areas. Bilateral microinjections (0.02-2 nmol/site) of a potent M2 muscarinic receptor agonist, CD, but not those of a relatively selective M1 receptor agonist (McNA343; 3 nmol/site), into the intermediate portion of NTS and the VLDA induced depressor and bradycardic responses. In the VLPA these agonists elicited pressor and tachycardic effects while in the IML at T1-T3 only increase in HR was observed. Previous microinjections of a selective competitive M2 receptor antagonist (AFDX 116; 0.8-1.6 nmol/site), but not those of a potent selective M1 receptor antagonist (PZ; 1.5-2.0 nmol/site), into these areas blocked the effects of CD. These results indicate that the muscarinic receptors of M2 type may play a part in the regulation of cardiovascular function in the above-mentioned cardiovascular areas in a yet unidentified manner. PMID- 2616781 TI - Multiple actions of noradrenaline on sympathetic preganglionic neurons of the cat studied in the spinal cord slice. PMID- 2616782 TI - Specific areas of the ventral medulla controlling sympathetic and respiratory activities and their functional synchronization in the rat. PMID- 2616783 TI - Integration of cardiorespiratory responses in the ventrolateral medulla. AB - Interventions confined to the region adjacent to the VMS can produce both respiratory and circulatory effects. Although it has been suggested that both breathing and vasomotor changes arise from the same neural elements near the VMS, our own investigations indicate that the neurons involved are closely linked but not identical. This belief is supported by recent studies which show that AII and angiotensin antagonists microinjected into the rostral portion of the VMS can significantly modify blood pressure and respiration but can produce effects of different sign. These observations, coupled with previous studies of the VMS, indicate the possibility that regions near the VMS may contribute to integration of circulatory and respiratory responses. PMID- 2616784 TI - Role of the glycine sensitive area in the regulation of cardiac output. PMID- 2616785 TI - Pressor responses to muscular contraction in the cat: contributions by caudal and rostral ventrolateral medulla. PMID- 2616786 TI - Cardiovascular control by the rostral ventrolateral medulla in the conscious dog. PMID- 2616787 TI - Organization of ventrolateral medullary afferents to the hypothalamus. AB - In summary, these anatomical and electrophysiological data have provided evidence to support the suggestion that VLM neurons project directly to regions of the hypothalamus that contain magnocellular neurosecretory neurons. In addition, these results support the suggestion that pathways ascending from the VLM to the hypothalamus function, in part, in the control of the release of the neurohypophyseal hormones by PVH and SON magnocellular neurosecretory neurons during activation of peripheral cardiovascular receptors. PMID- 2616788 TI - Involvement of caudal ventrolateral medulla neurons in mediating visceroreceptive information to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. AB - Both neurohypophyseal and tuberoinfundibular neurosecretory neurons in the PVN received excitatory synaptic inputs from the CVLM. We electrophysiologically identified neurons in the CVLM which project to the PVN. On the basis of antidromic spike latencies, two different populations of neurons could be differentiated: slow- and fast-conducting cells. Slow-conducting cells which were presumed to be A1 catecholaminergic cells, received inhibitory and excitatory synaptic inputs from arterial baroreceptors and the cervical vagus nerve, respectively. Our results suggest that slow conducting cells in the CVLM which cause excitation of PVN neurons via a monosynaptic pathway, mediate visceroreceptive information to the PVN. PMID- 2616789 TI - Relation of enkephalin-like immunoreactive neurons to other neuropeptide and monoamine-containing neurons in the ventrolateral medulla. PMID- 2616790 TI - Nucleus tractus solitarius innervation of supraoptic nucleus: anatomical and electrophysiological studies in the rat suggest differential innervation of oxytocin and vasopressin neurons. PMID- 2616791 TI - Differential regulation of sympathetic nerve activity by lateral and medial subregions of the rostral ventral medulla. AB - Microinjections of lidocaine were used to examine the contributions of two subregions of the RVM, RVLM (2 mm lateral to midline) and RVMM (1 mm lateral to midline) to the maintenance of AP and SNA in urethane-anesthetized rats. Lidocaine microinjected into either site reduced AP to similar levels. Blockade of RVLM and RVMM produced a small further reduction in AP and essentially abolished neurogenic maintenance of AP. Blockade of either RVLM or RVMM elicited similar falls in RSNA. In contrast, inactivation of RVLM elicited larger falls in lumbar chain (LSNA) and splanchnic (SSNA) SNA than did inactivation of the RVMM. Combined blockade of RVLM and RVMM essentially eliminated LSNA, while RSNA and SSNA were reduced only 60%. From these data we conclude that (1) RVLM and RVMM contribute equally to the neurogenic maintenance of AP; (2) RVLM and RVMM differentially control the activity of individual sympathetic nerves; and (3) a substantial portion of RSNA and SSNA originates outside the RVM and may not be involved in vasomotor control. PMID- 2616792 TI - The measurement of suicidality, aggressivity and impulsivity. AB - 1. From an evolutionary point of view aggressive behavior increases the chances of individual survival as well as inclusive fitness. 2. There are brain structures and biochemical systems that are involved in the regulation of aggressive behavior. 3. Genetic studies have revealed genetic contributions to aggressive as well as impulsive behaviors. 4. Research has demonstrated correlations between measures of suicidality, violence and impulsivity. 5. A two step model of countervailing forces has been developed that identifies amplifiers and attenuators of the aggressive impulse. This model has enabled us to determine a set of variables that influence suicide but not violence and another set that influences violence but not suicide. PMID- 2616793 TI - Biochemical aspects of suicidal behavior. AB - 1. In completed suicides, studies of brain regions and CSF indicate a dysfunction of the serotonergic system. 2. In suicidal patients, regardless of diagnoses, analyses of monoamine metabolites in lumbar CSF reveal decreased concentrations of the serotonin metabolite 5-HIAA. 3. In depressed suicidal patients, both low CSF 5-HIAA and low concentrations of the dopamine metabolite HVA are associated with suicidality. In addition, pathological dexamethasone-tests may indicate an increased suicide-risk in these patients. 4. In depressed patients, there is evidence that the association between CSF 5-HIAA and corticosteroids is in contrast to findings in depressed suicidal patients. PMID- 2616794 TI - Avoidance facilitation by nootropics. AB - 1. The effects on avoidance acquisition of two nootropic drugs, oxiracetam and piracetam, were tested in mice subjected to five daily 100-trial training sessions in the shuttle-box. 2. Oxiracetam (25 or 50 mg/kg/i.p.) and piracetam (100 mg/kg/i.p.), given before each daily session, improved avoidance acquisition in the good performing BALB/c more than in the poor performing C57BL/6. In both cases avoidance facilitation was evident only if training was preceded by a five day pretreatment. 3. Combinations of nootropics and methamphetamine increased avoidance responses in C57BL/6 mice more than drugs given separately. Conversely, no interaction occurred in a locomotor activity test. 4. Interactive effects in the learning situation, but not in a test of general activity, were also found when oxiracetam was combined with the anticholinergic agent scopolamine. 5. On the whole, the above results demonstrate facilitation of active avoidance acquisition by piracetam-like nootropic agents, but the neurochemical mechanisms involved in this action are not yet clear. PMID- 2616795 TI - [Molten globule state of proteins and translocation of proteins across membranes]. PMID- 2616796 TI - [Slalom chromatography--size-dependent, chromatographic separation of DNA which is not based on gel permeation mode]. PMID- 2616797 TI - [Non-poliomyelitis viruses in Poland 1982-1987]. AB - Diseases caused by non-polio enteroviruses (ENP) are diagnosed virologically and serologically in 17 Virology Laboratories of the Province Sanitary Epidemiological Stations and the Department of Virology, State Institute of Hygiene. The results of these investigations are available in the form of documentation including the type of the isolated virus, the result of serological investigation, the date of disease onset, the clinical diagnosis, the age and sex of the patient. These data were analyzed in this work. Overall, the aetiological role of ENP was established in 5258 cases. The isolated strains belonged to 32 serotypes: echoviruses type 1-9, 11-15, 17-20, 24-27, 29. 31, Coxsackie B types 1 6 and A type 9. Ten predominating serotypes--echoviruses type 4,6,7,9,30, Coxsackie B types 2-5 and A type 9--accounted for 92% of all isolates. The epidemic types (over 25% of isolates) in a given year were echoviruses type 4,6,7,30. On the basis of these observations from 14 years 4 models of cyclic occurrence of dominant serotypes in Poland were established. Acute central nervous system infections accounted for nearly 80% of all diseases caused by ENP, cardiac diseases for 15%, and other diseases of milder course, less frequency suspected of this aetiology and less frequently diagnosed, accounted for 5%. PMID- 2616798 TI - [Post-vaccination reactions to diploid rabies vaccine]. AB - The observations are reported of 289 patients receiving rabies diploid vaccine Merieux. The infrequent postvaccination reactions (14%) included mainly local reactions with reddening, oedema and painfulness at the injection site. These changes were short-lasting and regressed spontaneously in most cases. Systemic reactions included mainly fever with malaise (2%), headaches and low mood (1.7%). These reactions were also short-lasting and left no sequelae. Allergic reactions of the type of hyperergic purpura and urticaria were found in isolated cases only (0.3%). PMID- 2616799 TI - [Various biochemical mechanisms of alcoholic liver cirrhosis]. AB - The authors describe the correlations between chronic alcoholism and cirrhosis known not only from clinical observations but also from retrospective assessment of liver biopsy. However, the mechanism of hepatocellular injury by ethanol remains still unclear. It seems that three hypotheses prevail presently: 1) acetaldehyde which is a product of ethanol oxidation in the liver forms with certain biogenic amines alkaloids of the type of salsolinol causing cirrhosis, 2) ethanol or/and acetaldehyde catalyse the development of free radicals which may induce liver damage through lipid peroxides etc, 3) acetaldehyde formed during ethanol oxidation is released into blood or tissue fluids where it binds to albumins with formation of cytotoxic complexes leading to cirrhosis. PMID- 2616800 TI - [Analysis of the results of the measurements of adipose tissue in the human body based on the study of skinfold thickness]. AB - The method of Durnin and Womerslay of fatty tissue content in human body was analysed for determining the reproducibility of measurements and agreement of the results depending on the number of measured folds and number of measurement repetitions. The analysis was based on the results of the first cross-sectional study POL-MONICA Warsaw. An agreement was demonstrated between the results of one and two measurements of the folds and four measurements, and between the body fat content determined by means of these measurements. This made possible reduction of the number of measurements in the second cross-sectional study. A small but statistically significant difference was noted between the mean values of body fat content determined from various combinations of skin-fat folds. PMID- 2616801 TI - [Problem of cigarette smoking in the epidemiological studies of lung cancer risks among industrial populations]. AB - The concept of the confounding factor is discussed in relation to epidemiological studies, in particular, cigarette smoking is presented as a possible confounding factor in the determination of lung cancer risk in the populations with occupational exposure to carcinogens in their everyday work. In the light of the results of own investigations of a cohort exposed to asbestos dust the confounding effect of smoking on risk of lung cancer risk in this cohort is evaluated. PMID- 2616802 TI - [Epidemiological problems of non-occupational exposure to asbestos dust]. AB - We have presently a sufficient amount of evidence based on epidemiological and experimental investigations to regard asbestos as a carcinogen in human environment. The use of asbestos-containing products and asbestos pollution of the natural environment of man are the risk factors for neoplasms in the general population. The sources of pollution and the values of asbestos dust concentration in community environment and the estimation of the risk related to asbestos dust are presented in the light of epidemiological and ecological studies. PMID- 2616803 TI - [Evaluation of the sequelae of suppurative meningitis and meningoencephalitis by computerized tomography]. AB - The authors suggest an own classification of changes resulting from purulent encephalomeningitis based on clinical and radiological criteria calling also attention to the mechanism of development of pathological changes in various groups and their pattern in computerized tomography. PMID- 2616804 TI - [Suppurative meningitis and meningoencephalitis in patients over 60 years of age]. AB - The course of purulent meningoencephalitis is described in 16 patients aged over 60 years. The observation showed that in these patients the pattern of the clinical manifestations was atypical and the course of the disease was very severe, leading to death in 56% of cases. The authors stress that in this age group the results of the treatment depend on possibly early diagnosis and beginning of adequate therapy. PMID- 2616805 TI - [Recurrent suppurative meningitis in a patient after 2 operations for cerebrospinal rhinorrhea]. AB - A case of two episodes of purulent meningitis is described. The patient was a young man with nasal liquorrhoea related to previous trauma and operated on twice because of persisting liquorrhoea. PMID- 2616806 TI - [Seroconversion of hepatitis B markers in exposed health service workers after 1 year]. AB - Serum samples were investigated from 213 health service workers in Szczecin with a particular exposure to infection with HBV. In 5 samples (2.34%) the HBs antigen was demonstrated, and 120 workers (56.33%) anti-HBc antibodies were present. History data showed that only one-fifth of them had had a manifest form of virus hepatitis, thus the asymptomatic infection prevailed. After one year the investigations were repeated in 62 subjects who had had no HBV markers in the first determination and seroconversion was demonstrated in 11 of them (17.74%). PMID- 2616807 TI - [Salmonella food poisoning treated at the Infectious Disease Clinic, Institute of Internal Medicine, Medical Academy, in Cracow 1983-1986]. AB - In the years 1983-1986 in the Department of Infectious Diseases Medical Academy in Cracow 189 adult patients were treated for salmonellosis. A significant rise was noted in the number of cases in recent years. The most frequent pathogen was Salmonella enteritidis. The clinical pattern of salmonellosis was similar to that described in preceding years. The disease was associated with increased urea level and decreased sodium level in serum, appearance of young cell forms in white blood cell count, and acetonuria. Most convalescents were discharged with positive results of stool cultures. PMID- 2616808 TI - [Differential diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy and AIDS-related complex. Case report]. AB - A case of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy in a boy aged 19 years was observed, with long-standing fever, peripheral lymphadenopathy, considerable weight loss. In the differential diagnosis septicaemia was considered, including tuberculous septicaemia, collagen diseases, neoplasms and lymphoproliferative diseases. Attention is called to the similarity of this symptom complex to that observed in AIDS. PMID- 2616809 TI - [Pathomechanism of Zieve's syndrome--observation of patients treated at the Infectious Disease Clinic, Medical Academy, in Bydgoszcz]. AB - The views are presented on the pathological mechanism of Zieve's syndrome with description of 3 cases diagnosed in this Department. The clinical manifestations of the syndrome contains no pathognomonic symptoms and suggests rather cholecystopathy. This is possibly the cause of rare recognition of the syndrome. PMID- 2616810 TI - [A case of diphtheria in a young man]. AB - A case of pharyngeal diphtheria with mild course was observed in a man aged 21 years who had had received four vaccinations. This was the first case of this disease in Poland since 1983, and the possibility is discussed of diphtheria spread in a country with widespread Di-Per-Te vaccinations, as pointed out in the present literature. PMID- 2616811 TI - Endometrial carcinoma: high dose-rate brachytherapy in combination with external irradiation; a multivariate analysis of relapses. AB - From June 1974 to June 1984, 347 women with endometrial carcinoma were referred to the radiotherapy department of the Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Of this total number, 327 patients were considered eligible for analysis; 36 being referred for recurrences of previous surgically treated endometrial carcinoma, and 291 being referred for radiotherapy as part of the initial treatment. The 28% 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) of the group of 36 patients demonstrated that endometrial carcinoma may behave as a radiosensitive tumour. The remaining 291 had all undergone surgery, except 10. Radiotherapy consisted of high dose-rate brachytherapy applied to the vaginal vault for pathological stage I tumours, well differentiated, and with superficial myometrial invasion. All other patients received external beam irradiation to a pelvic dose of 40 Gy in 4 weeks, followed by brachytherapy (4 fractions of 5 Gy each). The 5-year RFS for pathologically staged patients was: stage I (232 patients) 88%, stage II (27 patients) 68%, stage III and IV (22 patients) 50%. Treatment-related complications were minimal. In-field recurrences were rare: 5% locoregional, 2.2% both loco-regional and distant, versus 9.3% distant failures. Multivariate RFS analysis demonstrated age, stage and tumour differentiation as independent prognostic factors, tumour differentiation being the most important factor. PMID- 2616812 TI - Cosmetic evaluation of breast conserving treatment for mammary cancer. 2. A quantitative analysis of the influence of radiation dose, fractionation schedules and surgical treatment techniques on cosmetic results. AB - The effects of surgical treatment techniques, radiation doses and fraction sizes on cosmetic outcome were analysed in a population of 161 patients with stage I and II breast cancer treated with breast conserving surgery and a wide range of radiotherapy doses. In 142 patients also quantitative measurements of nipple position asymmetries and breast contour retraction were carried out. The scoring and measurement results were analysed using a multivariate model to assess the relative importance of the various factors involved. In this material radiation dose to the breast was the most significant parameter correlated with cosmetic outcome (p = 0.0001). Radiation doses higher than 75 Gy in 37 fractions led to very poor results in more than 30% of patients. For the quantitative measurements of radiation fibrosis, a dose-response curve could be demonstrated over a dose range of 40 to 86 Gy in fraction sizes of 2 Gy. Above 50 Gy, increases in dose of 1 Gy correlated with an average displacement of nipple and breast contour of 1 mm, in upward direction and of 0.75 mm to the median. An increased amount of fibrosis was observed when part of the treatment was given in larger fraction sizes (4-6 Gy). Plotting the data against dose equivalent TE values, an alpha/beta value of 2.5 Gy could be estimated for the development of late fibrosis. Other treatment factors whose influence on cosmetic outcome could be identified and quantified were the differences in surgical techniques for the removal of the primary tumor (tumorectomy vs. segmentectomy, p = 0.05) and for the axillary clearance ("en bloc" dissection vs. separate incisions, p = 0.018). Also technical aspects of the radiotherapy on the regional lymph nodes, sometimes leading to matchline fibrosis, proved to be important (p = 0.0075). Finally, a number of tumor-related factors were assessed in order to take their relative importance into account, if necessary, when studying therapy factors. While tumor stage had only a limited impact in the range of tumors included in this study, the localisation of the tumor significantly influenced cosmetic outcome with worse results for inferior and medial localisations. While quantitative measurements were not correlated with all the factors identified for poor cosmesis, their great value is to quantify the radiation-induced fibrosis as well as the effects of different surgical techniques on nipple retraction. PMID- 2616813 TI - Adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy for gastric carcinoma with poor prognostic signs. AB - Fifty-seven patients with poor prognostic factors following resection with curative intent for gastric adenocarcinoma (T3 or T4, positive lymph nodes, positive resection line) received adjuvant radiotherapy. A dose of 30.0-50.0 Gy was given in 10-25 fractions in one course or with a split of 2 weeks after 15 fractions. This was combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (375 mg/m2) given i.v. as a bolus during the first 4 days of radiation (n = 49). The 5-year survival was 26%; this rate is higher than the figures mentioned in the literature after surgery alone. The only way to prove the role of adjuvant radiotherapy for gastric carcinoma is a prospective randomized trial. PMID- 2616814 TI - T2 oral tongue carcinoma treated with radiotherapy: analysis of local control and complications. AB - The purpose of this paper is to analyze the time factor and the proportion of the total dose delivered with external-beam irradiation versus interstitial implant in 42 patients with previously untreated T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue managed with irradiation alone between 1964 and 1986. All patients had a 2 year minimum follow-up, and 93% were observed for at least 5 years. Seven patients died within 2 years of treatment with the primary site continuously disease-free and were excluded from analysis of local control. All patients were included in the analysis of complications. Patients were staged according to the 1983 AJCC staging system. Treatment was delivered with interstitial implant alone (4 patients), external-beam radiotherapy and implant (34 patients), or external beam radiotherapy alone (4 patients). The following are the rates of local control with radiotherapy and ultimate local control, including patients successfully salvaged after a local recurrence: 21/35 (60%) and 26/35 (74%). In the group of patients treated with external-beam radiotherapy and an interstitial implant, local control was 12/16 (75%) for an implant plus less than or equal to 3000 cGy external-beam radiotherapy compared with 6/15 (40%) for an implant plus greater than 3000 cGy external-beam radiotherapy. For the entire group of patients, local control was 16/21 (76%) if the treatment time was less than 40 days and 5/14 (36%) if the overall treatment time was greater than 40 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2616815 TI - Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and irradiation in multiple synchronous squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aero digestive tract. AB - Twenty-four patients with multiple, synchronous carcinoma of the head and neck, lung or esophagus, were treated with induction chemotherapy followed by irradiation to involved areas. Chemotherapy regimen consisted of cisplatinum either alone, or in combination with 5-FU or etoposide. Subsequently, external radiotherapy, 60-65 Gy and 70-75 Gy to the mediastinum and the head and neck areas, respectively, was carried out. Following chemotherapy, three patients (12.5%) had a complete clinical remission in both cervical and mediastinal sites. That rate was significantly increased by radiotherapy (66%). Tolerance was fair or mild even though half of the patients needed a rest break during irradiation. Follow-up ranges from 24 to 38 months. The median survival is 12 months and the actuarial survival rates are 45% and 5% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. It is suggested that induction chemotherapy will not drastically improve the overall prognosis of multiple squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aero digestive tract and that external irradiation remains a major part of treatment which should not be reduced in treated volumes, or in total dose delivered. PMID- 2616816 TI - The effect of radiation therapy on von Willebrand factor in patients with angiosarcoma. AB - Radiation damages endothelial cells (EC) of malignant and normal tissues. Shortly after radiation injury platelet thrombi cause small vessel obstruction. Radiation doses of 20 Gy or higher release von Willebrand factor (VWF) from cultured human umbilical vein EC. Angiosarcoma (AS) is a vascular tumor with abnormal appearing EC which have detectable cytoplasmic VWF. We examined the effect of radiation therapy on VWF in three patients with AS. Each patient's malignant tissue was demonstrated to have cytoplasmic VWF present. Venous blood samples were drawn immediately before and at weekly intervals during treatment. Patient 1 received 80 Gy over 6 weeks and had no alterations in the VWF. Patient 2 received 64 Gy over 6 weeks and was noted to have loss of the high molecular weight multimers of VWF without loss of FVIII:C, VW: RIST, or von Willebrand antigen activity (VW:Ag). Patient 3 was treated with 64.4 Gy over 9 weeks and had a disproportionate increase of the VW: Ag and VW: RIST to FVIII: C. This returned to normal after completion of therapy. These changes were minimal and might be explained by either limited local release or no increased release of VWF from the irradiated tissue. The minimally abnormal multimeric pattern in patient 2 may be due to the release of an abnormal VWF in normal amounts or small amounts of proteolysis. The alteration in the VW: RIST and VW: Ag to FVIII: C ratio can be explained by activated coagulation secondary to radiation injury. PMID- 2616817 TI - A prospective study of urinary tract infection during pelvic radiotherapy. AB - The frequency of urinary tract infection before and during pelvic radiotherapy was studied prospectively in 172 patients who were not catheterised and had not had instrumentation for at least 4 weeks prior to radiotherapy. The incidence of urinary tract infection prior to radiotherapy was 17% and a further 17% of patients developed a urinary tract infection during radiotherapy. Mid-stream specimens of urine (MSU) should be examined for infection on a weekly basis during pelvic radiotherapy not only to identify this additional 17% of patients but also to detect those patients who have persistent urinary tract infection in spite of treatment with appropriate antibiotics. PMID- 2616818 TI - Radiation-induced changes in the ultrastructure and mechanical function of the rat heart. AB - A time sequence study was performed to study the early effects of radiation on the ultrastructure of the rat heart. Wistar rats were exposed to 20 Gy electron irradiation to a field including the heart and a third of the lung. The hearts were excised at varying time intervals (1 h-180 days), and the ultrastructure of perfusion-fixed subepicardium and subendocardium studied. Changes were observed in both myocytes and interstitium at all time intervals. The most pronounced change observed in the myocyte was that of intercalated disc damage which reached a peak at 30 days post-irradiation. Mitochondrial damage, characterized by swelling and fenestration in areas of myofibrillar contracture, was focal and relatively scarce. Swelling of the capillary endothelial cells and collapse of the capillaries were marked up to 60 days. Of significance was the observation that the damage to both myocytes and interstitium receded after 60 days and the hearts exhibited an almost normal ultrastructure from 100 to 180 days post irradiation. Mechanical function of these hearts followed a similar pattern: maximal depression was observed 60 days after irradiation. Thereafter the work performance of these hearts improved significantly, almost reaching control levels after 180 days. PMID- 2616819 TI - [Determinations of silicon and phosphorus in rice planted in a district of high incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by neutron activation and X-ray fluorescence analyses]. AB - Silicon and phosphorus contents in polished and unpolished rice planted in a district of high incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been determined by neutron activation and X-ray fluorescence methods, and compared with those from control areas. In the neutron activation analysis, beta-ray spectra of 32P produced by the 31P(n, gamma)32P reaction on polished and unpolished rice were measured with a low background beta-ray spectrometer. In the X-ray fluorescence analysis, characteristic X-rays were analyzed with a wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Silicon contents in polished and unpolished rice from the ALS area are 42 micrograms.g-1 and 370 micrograms.g-1, respectively, and the corresponding phosphorus contents are 1,210 micrograms.g-1, and 3,370 micrograms.g-1, respectively. The data for ALS area are equal to those for the control area within standard deviation. PMID- 2616820 TI - [Recent tritium levels in environmental waters collected at the drainage basin of Changjiang (Yangtze River), China]. PMID- 2616821 TI - [Measurement of radiation energy and its application. II. 2. Electronics for energy measurement]. PMID- 2616822 TI - Lung cancer and communication. PMID- 2616823 TI - Respiratory impairment in inflammatory bowel disease: does it vary with disease activity? AB - Serial assessments of respiratory function were made in 44 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Pulmonary function tests were performed at the initial assessment and after three months to see if abnormality was associated with alteration in disease activity, drug therapy or with evidence of immunological disturbance. Fourteen patients (32%) had some abnormality of respiratory function when first investigated. Seven (16%) had a reduced gas transfer factor but these abnormalities were not related to disease activity, drug therapy or any immunological variable. Elevation of both functional residual capacity and residual volume was found in nine (20%) patients at the initial assessment. These abnormalities appeared to be associated with active inflammatory bowel disease and in four of these patients lung volumes returned to normal at 3 months when the bowel disease was in remission. PMID- 2616824 TI - High dose salbutamol in chronic airflow obstruction: comparison of nebulizer with Rotacaps. AB - Patients with severe chronic airways obstruction often respond poorly to inhaled salbutamol in conventional dosage from a pressurized aerosol. We have investigated the response to high dose salbutamol in 18 patients with chronic airways obstruction (mean age 64.4 years, mean FEV1 40.2% predicted, less than 15% response to 400 micrograms salbutamol). Patients were given 1 mg, 2 mg and 5 mg of salbutamol by either Rotacaps or nebulizer in random order on separate days. Response was measured over 8 h as a change in airway calibre (FEV1, FVC and PEF). The frequency of tremor, palpitations and arrhythmias was noted. Area under the curve for change from baseline values for FEV1, FVC and PEF showed that larger doses of salbutamol (nebulized or Rotacaps) result in larger areas from all three variables. Analysis of peak response, for FEV1, FVC and PEF showed no significant difference for the six treatments used except that the peak response for 2 mg Rotacaps for FEV1 was significantly larger than that for 1 mg Rotacaps (P less than 0.05). The results of this study show that in severe chronic airflow obstruction 1, 2 and 5 mg of salbutamol inhaled via a rotahaler device are just as effective as 1, 2 and 5 mg salbutamol inhaled from a nebulizer in producing bronchodilation. High dose salbutamol is well tolerated and side effects are minimal. Rotacaps have the advantage of being more portable than a wet nebulizer. PMID- 2616825 TI - Opportunistic infection and antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies in Wegener's granulomatosis. AB - Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are of established value in the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis allowing early introduction of therapy. These patients are at risk of opportunistic infection, especially whilst receiving immunosuppressive drugs and this may mimic reactivation of disease. We present three cases of Wegener's granulomatosis complicated by opportunistic infection and assess the value of ANCA detection. Two presented with symptoms compatible with disease reactivation but ANCA were negative. One died with pulmonary infection due to Pneumocystis carinii, Aspergillus fumigatus and Herpes simplex. Transbronchial biopsy in the second case revealed Pneumocystis carinii. A third case had strongly positive serum ANCA at diagnosis but in addition pulmonary infection with Legionella pneumophila. ANCA detection is of value in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis, but the result must be interpreted in the full clinical context. PMID- 2616826 TI - Six months' chemotherapy for lymph node tuberculosis. AB - A retrospective report of the experience using the policy of six-month short course chemotherapy as standard treatment for lymph node tuberculosis is presented. Forty-one patients completed 6 months' treatment as planned. All made a complete recovery, except one who had a 1 cm residual node at the completion of treatment, and one who relapsed four months after treatment, was re-treated and recovered. Nine other patients had changes in treatment because of side-effects (5), drug-resistant organisms (3) and pregnancy (1). Treatment was prolonged in another seven patients, four in error and three because of previous drug treatment. The results suggest that 6 months' treatment of lymph node tuberculosis may be as satisfactory as 9 months', and support the need for a control comparison of these regimens. PMID- 2616827 TI - Long term venous access using a totally implantable drug delivery system in patients with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. AB - A completely implantable, subcutaneous, venous access system (Port-a-Cath) has been used for antibiotic therapy in 26 patients with cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis over a period of 45 months. During this period there were ten complications in eight patients and in four patients all or part of the system had to be replaced. Nevertheless, the actuarial median functional survival of the implanted system exceeded 30 months. The Port-a-Cath system provides longer periods of venous access and has a lower complication rate than conventional, percutaneous central venous lines. PMID- 2616828 TI - Persistent lung hyperinflation in apparently asymptomatic asthmatic children. AB - Serial measurements of functional residual capacity (FRC) by helium gas dilution were made in young asthmatic children over a 3 month period. Eight children were recruited during hospitalization for an acute asthma attack and eleven during routine outpatient attendances. Both groups of children had FRC's greater than 120% of that predicted for height at recruitment. Although the children denied symptoms throughout the three month follow-up period the majority remained hyperinflated. These results demonstrate a striking difference between objective and subjective assessment of respiratory function in young children. The significance of this persistent abnormality and its relationship to other lung function indices needs urgent investigation. PMID- 2616829 TI - Consequences of occupational asthma. AB - Seventy-nine patients attending hospital for follow-up of occupational asthma were interviewed, on average 6 years after asthma developed. Although 90% thought their symptoms had improved, 10% had required a hospital admission (apart from for investigation), 72% still took medication and most reported symptoms in the last 3 months. One-third were currently unemployed and 40-73% reported limitation in everyday activities, such as housework or shopping. Symptoms on waking were used as an index of troublesome asthma. Those 31 in whom this occurred at least once a week reported limitation in everyday activities significantly more commonly than others. This relation was more marked in men than women. Limitation in everyday activities was, however, more frequently reported by women than men, who were also more likely than men to be unemployed, suggesting that factors other than impairment of function also contribute to handicap in occupational asthma. PMID- 2616830 TI - Neurological complication of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. PMID- 2616831 TI - Pleural myxoma associated with a pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma. PMID- 2616832 TI - Recurrent supraclavicular chylous collection and chylothorax. PMID- 2616833 TI - Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis and autoimmune thyrotoxicosis. PMID- 2616834 TI - [Ferguson's procedure in the treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip. Apropos of 42 cases]. AB - A series of 42 hips in children aging 5 to 26 months treated initially by the Ferguson's technique is reported. The mean duration of the follow-up was 41 months. The place of this therapeutic method in the general plan of treatment of CDH was evaluated. The reduction of the femoral head was obtained in 93 p. cent of the cases, but with a lateralized position of the epiphysis postoperatively in one third of the cases. This excentration improved and the centering of the epiphysis was obtained spontaneously during the postoperative immobilization. One case of redislocation reduces the rate of success to 90.5 p. cent. An hypertrophy of the ossified nucleus of the femoral head was noted in 23 p. cent of the cases. This aspect is probably more frequent than reported when considering the bilateral cases, and must be considered as a complication of the arthrotomy. An ischemic necrosis of the femoral epiphysis complicated the operation in 5 cases (12 p. cent) causing in 4 cases an epiphyseal involvement (type 1 of Bucholz and Ogden). There has been 3 failures in obtaining the reduction peroperatively: these 3 hips have been treated subsequently by a conservative means in 2 hips and surgical reduction through an anterior approach in one hip. Two pelvic osteotomies have been necessary to treat a severe pelvic dysplasia that did not correct spontaneously. We think that this operation has a definite place among the methods of treatment of CDH. It should be indicated only in cases of failures of a conservative treatment. PMID- 2616835 TI - [Magnetic resonance imaging in studying injuries of the ligaments and menisci of the knee. 85 cases controlled by arthroscopy]. AB - The authors report a prospective study of eighty-five patients with suspected meniscal or ligament lesions examined using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In all cases, the results were compared with the findings at arthroscopy. The technique seems to be a good non-invasive diagnostic procedure, whose accuracy is 87 p. cent for the medial meniscus, 95 p. cent for the lateral meniscus and 100 p. cent for the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The most interesting indications at the present time are in the diagnosis of meniscal lesions, the evaluation of the menisci in chronic cruciate ligaments insufficiency, and the diagnosis of acute tears of the ACL (especially when examination is limited by pain or muscle spasm). In the future, MRI should take the place of arthrography. The total scanning time is rather short, as most lesions are detected by T1 weighted sagittal images. PMID- 2616836 TI - [Femoropatellar complications of 87 total condylar and Insall Burstein knee joint prostheses]. AB - In a group of 87 total knee joint prostheses with posterior stabilization, 18 femoro patellar complications happened. Fractures, loosening, dislocations and subluxations are relatively rare. The persistence of residual patellar pain was more frequent with a high proportion of femoro-patellar derangement syndrome (FPDS). This last complication was specific of posterior stabilization model (MK II) and its origin is related to the formation of a synovial pannus in front of intercondylar region. In one case, it was surgically removed. The existence of this "FPDS" is statistically correlated with lowering of the patella, posterior position of tibial tuberosity and excessive thickness of the patellar implant complex. PMID- 2616837 TI - [Osteochondral lesions of the talus]. AB - The study of 102 cases of talar dome osteochondral lesions allows to class them in different categories: The lateral lesions are almost always osteochondral fractures. They are often discovered as fresh lesions. Frequently the ankle lateral ligament is also injured. They can be immobilized or fixed using a screw. In a second category, where the lesions are medial, it has been impossible to find any argument in favour of a traumatic origin. Most of the patients are young, still growing up. The prognosis is favorable. In the third category, the lesions are also medial, but their aspects are different. We cannot deny the traumatic origin, but we cannot demonstrate it, and the explanation of these lesions are hypothetical. Here the lesions are often severe, the surgical treatment is necessary with good clinic results in spite of radiological signs persistence and of late arthrosis evolution. PMID- 2616838 TI - [Treatment of fracture of the thoracolumbar spine using Bohler's method]. AB - The treatment of stable thoracolumbar compressive fractures by the Bohler cast is worth while in cases of kyphosis with integrity of articular apophysis. The best reductions concern T12, L1 and L2. This method, studied on 92 patients, regularly succeeded in reducing and maintaining the kyphosis beneath 20 degrees, provided a complete reduction of the vertebral body and an early and intensive reeducation in the cast, and despite an early, constant but partial loss of reduction. The long term functional results appear to be satisfactory with such a residual deformation. This treatment seems to be particularly indicated in kyphosis of more than 20 degrees. PMID- 2616839 TI - [Respiratory function in idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents treated by Harrington instrumentation with or without sublaminar segmental wiring]. AB - The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) of 40 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis were studied before and after surgery. The values obtained are expressed as percentages of the predicted normal. Twenty-one patients underwent surgical correction of the curve with Harrington rods followed by cast and brace immobilisation for one and a half years (Group A). In the other 19 patients the Harrington rod was contoured in the sagittal plane and supplemented with segmented sublaminar wires to allow rapid post-operative mobilisation free of any orthosis (Group B). A negative correlation was found pre-operatively between the magnitude of the curve and the FEV1 and FVC. The post-operative pulmonary function showed no statistically significant improvement. Contouring the Harrington rod to improve kyphosis in Group B did not affect the outcome. PMID- 2616840 TI - [Study of segmental contraction by means of isotopic ventriculography: actual role in the non-invasive diagnosis of ischemic heart disease]. PMID- 2616841 TI - [The Fuenlabrada study: arterial pressure in children and adolescents]. AB - Blood pressure was studied in 2,153 healthy children of both sexes, from 0 to 18 years of age; 1,115 were males and 1,038 females. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured in the sitting position by the auscultatory method on the right arm with a mercury sphygmomanometer using an appropriate cuff size. Systolic blood pressure was measured on the first sound and diastolic blood pressure in the fourth phase of Korotkoff. In children younger than 3 years blood pressure was measured in the decubitus supine position using the Doppler technique. There were no significant differences in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both sexes. But the percentage of systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 130 mmHg was higher in males than females (p less than or equal to 0.01). 8.4% of the total population had systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 130 mmHg, and 1.3% had diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg. The annual increase rates of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 2.31/0.94 mmHg in males and 2/0.97 mmHg in females. Children with blood pressure greater than or equal to the 95th percentile had a higher prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia and obesity. 54% of the variation in systolic blood pressure was explained by the association of weight, subscapular skinfold, body mass index and C-HDL. 30% of the variation in diastolic blood pressure was explained by the association of weight, obesity index, subscapular skinfold and C HDL. PMID- 2616842 TI - [The Ionescu-Shiley bioprosthesis in the aortic position. Medium to long-term evaluation]. AB - From August 1977 through October 1984, 241 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with the Ionescu-Shiley prosthesis. The average age was 50.8 years (range 15 to 78). Aortic valve replacement was performed alone in 121 patients (50.2%) and with associated surgery in 120 (49.8%). Cumulative duration of follow up was 1,260.08 patient-years, with a mean follow-up of 5.32 years per patient. Five patients were lost to follow-up. There were 26 hospital deaths and 15 late deaths (1.19% per patient-year). The expected 10.5 year actuarial survival rate was 82 +/- 2.9%. Twelve thromboembolic episodes occurred in 7 patients (7 central and 5 peripheral). The linearized thromboembolic rate was 0.95% per patient-year: 0.32% for patients with isolated aortic valve replacement and 0.63% for patients with concomitant surgery. Freedom from thromboembolic events at 10.5 years was 78 +/- 12%. Structural valve failure was found in 24 patients (1.9% per patient year) with an actuarial rate of freedom for primary tissue failure of 72.6 +/- 6.1% at 10.5 years. Reoperation was required in 39 cases (3.09% per patient-year) due to primary tissue failure (n:24), paravalvular leak (n:7), infective endocarditis (n:6) and valve thrombosis (n:2). In conclusion, this pericardial bioprosthesis has demonstrated an adequate performance at mid and long-term follow-up, but somehow less satisfactory than previously reported. PMID- 2616843 TI - [Use of both internal mammary arteries; not everything is advantageous]. AB - The internal mammary artery is considered the elective graft for performing aortocoronary by-pass as its long-term results have proven better than those obtained with the internal saphenous vein. Our results in a series of 21 patients in whom both internal mammary arteries were used are reported. Four patients (19.04%) needed reoperation for sternal dehiscence and two of them had mediastinitis (9.52%). Those patients were successfully treated by continuous povidone-iodine flushing. A clear statistical difference was found between this group of patients, in whom both internal mammary arteries were used, and the rest of the patients (182 patients) in whom just the internal saphenous vein and/or only one internal mammary artery was used. The second group presented 8 cases of sternal dehiscence (4.39%) and 1 mediastinitis (0.55%). PMID- 2616844 TI - [Atrioventricular septal defect with associated tetralogy of Fallot. Clinico morphological aspects and surgical considerations]. AB - In this work the clinical features, diagnostic methods, surgical procedures and postoperative follow-up are reviewed in 19 cases of atrioventricular septal defect with associated tetralogy of Fallot. The clinical situation was always related to the degree of pulmonary ischemia, that pointed out the urgency and need for a palliative surgical procedure before corrective surgery. There was no data in the ECG for the differential diagnosis of isolated forms of atrioventricular septal defect. In 50% of the cases the cardio-thoracic index was increased by right atrial enlargement. The diagnosis of the malformation was made in every case by means of 2D echocardiography. In 16 cases palliative surgery was done (aortic-pulmonary shunts), with one death (6.2%) due to facts unrelated to the technique. Of the 6 cases with corrective surgery (5 cases with previous shunts), one needed a mitral valve replacement (St Jude prosthesis). There was no mortality in this group and the functional status in the long-term follow-up was: 3 cases were in the functional class I and 3 cases in class II. The overall mortality for all surgical procedures carried out was 4.3%. In conclusion, we consider the use of the corrective surgery adequate to the clinical stability of the patients with atrioventricular septal defect with associated Fallot's tetralogy. PMID- 2616845 TI - [The Mitroflow bioprosthesis. Results after 6 years]. AB - From March 1982 through December 1986, 139 Mitroflow pericardial heart valves were utilized in 129 patients. There were 69 males and 60 females, with an average age of 55.2 years (range 26 to 74 years). Eighty-nine patients underwent isolated aortic valve replacement, 27 isolated mitral valve replacement, three isolated tricuspid valve replacement and ten mitral-aortic valve replacement. In 20.9% additional cardiac surgery was performed. Maximum follow-up was 6 years with a mean of 43.9 months. The cumulative follow-up was 491 patients/year. Overall hospital mortality was 1.6% (2 cases). There were 3 late deaths in this series (2.4%). The linearized incidence of late mortality was 0.49% per patient/year. The survival actuarial curve was 96% +/- 1.8. The incidence of thromboembolism was 1.22% per patient/year, and the actuarial thromboembolism free rate was 93% +/- 2.7. Three patients developed primary tissue failure of the Mitroflow valve in the mitral position. The linearized incidence of primary tissue failure was 0.73% per patient-year and the actuarial freedom from primary tissue failure was 95% +/- 3.2%. A total of 4 patients underwent reoperation (0.49% per patient/year). In conclusion, the clinical performance of the Mitroflow pericardial heart valve at medium-term follow-up is satisfactory; however a significant number of early primary tissue failures have already occurred in the mitral position. PMID- 2616846 TI - [Post-infarction thrombosis of the right ventricle]. AB - Right ventricular mural thrombosis is not commonly detected and in most cases is related to the use of monitoring, infusion, or pacing catheters. We report right ventricular mural thrombosis, complicated by pulmonary embolism, in 2 cases of inferior wall myocardial infarction with right ventricular involvement. None of the patients had been monitored by means of right ventricular catheterization. Bidimensional echocardiography allowed visualization of the thrombi, and demonstrated their resolution after anticoagulant treatment. PMID- 2616847 TI - [Aortic dissection with rupture into the pulmonary artery trunk]. AB - We report a case of a hypertensive male with dissection of the ascending aorta involving the left carotid and subclavian arteries, with rupture into the pulmonary artery trunk, a vascular complication which has not been reported. PMID- 2616848 TI - [Scope of the cardiology specialty: point of view of the Andalusian Health Service (AHS)]. PMID- 2616849 TI - [Effectiveness of emergency endoscopic sclerosis in the control of digestive hemorrhage caused by gastroduodenal ulcer]. AB - An investigation was made of the effect of emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy on the evaluation of digestive hemorrhage (HDA) secondary to gastroduodenal ulcer disease in two consecutive groups of patients. The control group included 92 patients and the sclerotherapy group contained 63. Both groups had the same management and basic treatment of hemodynamic stabilization, anti-H2 agents and alkaline . The sclerotherapy group also received a local injection of 1/10,000 (5 12 ml) adrenaline and 1% polydocanol (5-12 ml) if direct signs of hemorrhage (active bleeding, red clot, visible vessel) were seen at the time of early endoscopy. Surgery was indicated in the presence of persistent, recurrent or massive digestive hemorrhage. Thirty-two percent of the control group and 34% of the sclerosis group presented direct signs of hemorrhage at the time of endoscopy. Both groups were homogeneous with respect to sex distribution, NSAID intake, hemoglobin, presence of shock and etiology (33.3% and 36.3%, respectively, had duodenal ulcer). The average age was significantly higher in the control group than in the sclerotherapy group. Neither the presence of any endoscopic sign nor etiology contributed to the evolution of digestive bleeding. It is concluded that emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy with injection of adrenaline and polydocanol has a clearly favorable effect on the evolution of bleeding secondary to gastrointestinal ulcer disease evidencing direct signs on endoscopy. PMID- 2616850 TI - [Cancer of the surgically treated stomach: 46 cases. Etiopathogenic, diagnostic and anatomopathologic aspects]. AB - A retrospective study was made of 46 patients with operated stomach cancer (CEO) between 1971 and 1988, with respect to etiopathogenic diagnostic and pathologic aspects; it occurs most often in stomachs previously submitted to Billroth II type partial gastrectomy and there is a highly variable symptom-free interval, from 6 and 46 years in our series. The diagnosis, which unfortunately is usually late, is based mainly on gastroscopy with biopsy and/or cytology. On pathological study epithelial tumors predominate, particularly Lauren's intestinal type. PMID- 2616851 TI - [Primary tumors of the small intestine]. AB - We made a retrospective analysis of 43 cases of primary tumor of the small intestine, 28 benign and 15 malignant, diagnosed and treated in our hospital over a period of 18 years. A preoperative diagnosis was reached in 13 cases (30%), while in 37.2% the tumor was a casual finding during operation by other methods. The remaining 32.5% debuted as acute abdomen and were an emergency surgical indication. Simple tumoral resection was practiced in 19 cases (44.1%) of benign tumor, intestinal resection with end-to-end anastomosis in 22 cases (51%) and only biopsy in two cases (4.6%). Coadjuvant chemotherapy was given to five patients (11.5%) and radiotherapy to one (2.3%). The one-year survival for malignant tumors was 73%, and only 18% (2 cases) survived more than 5 years after the operation). PMID- 2616852 TI - [Hernial strangulation of Meckel's diverticulum: Littre's hernia. Apropos of 4 cases]. AB - Hernial strangulation of Meckel's diverticulum (Littre's hernia) is a rare anatomoclinical form. It represents 10% of all complications of Meckel's diverticulum (8.8% of our cases), and complications like hemorrhage, perforation and diverticulitis are fairly frequent. Four cases of Littre's hernia are presented: two males and two females, with an average age of 67 years (range 50 83 years), representing 0.08% of all the inguinal-crural hernias operated in the department. The clinical manifestations were those of intestinal obstruction because a mixed type Littre's hernia was involved, with compromise of the diverticulum and its intestinal loop. Preoperative diagnosis is unlikely in strangulation without disturbances in the intestinal transit and, in fact, is even less likely if it is accompanied by obstruction. The diagnosis is thus almost always intraoperative. The correct treatment is surgery after restoring the patient's hemodynamic equilibrium. Simple and/or loop diverticulectomy via herniotomy, herniolaparotomy or laparotomy are debated. We think that this disorder can generally be resolved using the inguinal approach, as in any strangled hernia, with the technical option of using a larger, more comfortable and safer approach in cases of important obesity and/or deterioration of the loop (necrosis, perforation). In elderly patients with uncomplicated Littre's hernia and Meckel's diverticulum, abstention from diverticular exeresis may be justifiable. Of the four patients, the first two died from cardiogenic shock and pulmonary embolism, respectively; the last two evolved well (except for a wound abscess). PMID- 2616853 TI - [Is appendiceal surgery performed by residents safe?]. AB - An evaluation was made of the participation of residents in appendicular surgery as compared to staff surgeons, the evolution of results over the residency period and the influence of the presence of experienced surgeons together with residents during the emergency operation. Seven groups were made according to the surgeons involved. Parietal, intraabdominal and general complications of each group were quantitated, as well as postoperative hospitalization and mortality. Statistical study revealed similar results for the different groups. PMID- 2616854 TI - [Treatment of congenital aganglionic megacolon in adults]. AB - The authors present 5 cases of congenital aganglionar megacolon in patients over 12 years of age. They were diagnosed and treated in the Digestive System Service and Surgery Department of the "Virgen del Rocio" University Hospital of Seville (Spain). After describing the infrequent incidence of this pathology outside early childhood, the different procedures proposed for its diagnosis are described. Once clinical suspicion of megacolon was established, a careful clinical history with special reference to bowel habit from birth was made, as well as a barium enema, anorectal manometry and rectal endoscopy and biopsy for histological and histochemical studies. Once diagnosed, all patients underwent surgery consisting in excision of the aganglionar colorectal segment, retrorectal lowering of the healthy colon and exteriorization through the fibers of the internal anal sphincter. A side-to-side transanal anastomosis between the healthy colon and diseased rectum (Duhamel II) was fashioned. All the patients had a satisfactory evolution with little immediate morbidity. Five to ten years after performing the operations, the patients remained asymptomatic, without bowel habit disturbances and showed an adequate development. PMID- 2616855 TI - [Determination of HBV DNA in the serum and saliva of subjects with acute hepatitis caused by HBV]. AB - A study performed on acute hepatitis affected subjects (patients) caused by virus B, is presented. Seventeen patients separated in two groups were treated for same: A) (10) positiveness of reply marker in serum, and negative for spittle. B) (7) positiveness of reply marker in serum and spittle. Above said was determined throughout DNA molecular hybrid of VHB in serum and spittle. For group B patients, detecting this marker positiveness of 71.5% patients in serum and none in spittle. PMID- 2616856 TI - [Bacteriologic findings as a prognostic factor in the course of acute cholecystitis]. AB - We made a bacteriological study of bile in a consecutive study of 210 patients studied in the General Surgery Department of the General Hospital of Elche (Spain) who underwent cholecystectomy for acute lithiasic cholecystitis, as a prognostic factor in the clinical evolution of these patients. The results obtained led us to the following conclusions. 1. The presence of positive bile culture is a risk factor predisposing to postoperative septic complications. 2. Bile cultures were more frequently positive in patients over 60-years-old. 3. In the early stages of the disease, positive cultures were more frequent. 4. The organism most often isolated was E. coli, so antibiotic treatment should be directed mainly against this agent. PMID- 2616857 TI - [Chromosomes and cancer of the colon]. PMID- 2616858 TI - [Copper in hepatocytes as a prognostic factor]. PMID- 2616859 TI - [Perforated duodenal ulcer in children]. AB - We face a case of duodenal ulcer perforation a nine year old child who's diagnosis was not detected before operating. This is an unusual case and it is not normally observed in the differential diagnosis of the acute abdominal pain in the infancy. The lack of the radiological signs of perforation contributed to the diagnosis mistake before operating. PMID- 2616860 TI - [Chronic ulcerative enteritis. Apropos of a case]. AB - A 40-year-old patient with clinical manifestations of impaired general status, abdominal pain and signs of malabsorption of six months duration was diagnosed as adult celiac disease. Treatment was initiated with a gluten-free diet and there was improvement. Later, in spite of the patient's compliance with dietary treatment, he suffered two episodes of intestinal obstruction. In the first episode the symptomatology remitted with intestinal rest, parenteral feeding and steroids, but clinical manifestations persisted in spite of medical treatment so exploratory laparotomy was realized. On pathological study were found ulcers that affected the mucosa and submucosa, inflammatory infiltrate without granulomas, and partial villous atrophy in the adjacent non-ulcerated mucosa, all compatible with a nongranulomatous ulcerative enteritis. The course was torpid and the patient died in a few months. PMID- 2616861 TI - [Massive lower digestive hemorrhage caused by typhoid fever]. AB - A case is presented of massive lower intestinal bleeding due to typhoid fever. Because of uncontrollable bleeding, emergency right hemicolectomy and resection of the last 50 cm of the distal ileum was performed after endoscopy and arteriography, both of which were negative. The histology of the lesions typical of this disease is described. PMID- 2616862 TI - [Digestive hemorrhage secondary to segmental portal hypertension: an infrequent cause of hemorrhage]. AB - Isolated obstruction of the splenic vein leads to the appearance of a relatively uncommon form of portal hypertension, the diagnosis of which depends on a high rate of awareness, and it can be successfully treated by splenectomy. A case is described of segmental portal hypertension, with special emphasis on the difficulty of its diagnosis and the measures used. Therapeutic possibilities are commented. PMID- 2616863 TI - [Bouveret's syndrome. Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations apropos of a new case]. AB - A case is presented of Bouveret's syndrome, an unusual form of biliary ileus, that developed a high intestinal obstruction simulating pyloric stenosis. We emphasize the value of fiberendoscopy, which permits an early diagnosis to be made, thus avoiding delays in treatment. PMID- 2616864 TI - [Generalized subcutaneous emphysema and intestinal amyloidosis]. PMID- 2616865 TI - [Primary muscular hydatid cyst. Presentation of a new case]. PMID- 2616866 TI - [A new case of retractile mesenteritis]. PMID- 2616867 TI - Zinc in adult human serum in Spain. AB - Zinc levels in serum taken from 1,166 healthy, adult volunteers, from 16 to 70 year-olds living in 10 different districts of the Province of Granada (Spain), have been measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The zinc levels ranged from 80 micrograms to 130 micrograms/100 ml. There were no significant differences with regard to age. The overall results showed higher zinc levels for males than for females but this did not appear when the values for each individual district were analysed separately. PMID- 2616868 TI - [A new proposal on the neural component of the control system of renal blood flow. Analysis using digital simulation]. AB - A mathematical, non-lineal model for digital simulation of the neural control of blood renal flow (BRF) has been built, by using the system dynamic techniques. The control mechanisms considered have been the BRF regulation by means of a renal intrinsic system, and by means of an RNA-dependent system, being the latter a product of the peripheral sympathetic activity, of a tonic inhibitory system with a central origin, and of a system that inhibits this last one, which has an intrarenal origin. For the validation of the model, a spinal section has been simulated, and the data have been compared with the reported in the bibliography. The use of this model permits an approach to the study of different variables in physiological or pathological circumstances in man, especially of those involved in the neural regulation of the BFR, obviating the technical and ethical obstacles of experimental techniques and leading to the design of new animal trials. PMID- 2616869 TI - [Proliferation and liberation kinetics of the tissue polypeptide antigen of MCF-7 cells. Hormonal influence]. AB - The presence or absence of tissular polypeptide antigen (TPA) in the culture medium of hormone dependent breast cancer tumoral cells, the relationship between TPA concentration and cellular proliferative activity, have been investigated as well as whether TPA levels change in response to steroid preparations or the action of different antiestrogens. Results show that in MCF-7 cell line culture media, proteins antigenically related to TPA can be detected in concentrations which parallel the number of cells in culture. Consequently, TPA can be considered a cell proliferation marker. Hydroxy-tamoxifen at a concentration of 10(-7) M inhibited both cell proliferation and TPA antigen release, while the relative proportion between number of cells (valued by DNA quantification) and TPA concentration remained unchanged. PMID- 2616870 TI - Effect of bromocriptine and progesterone on the length of the ovarian cycle in 4- and 5-day estrous cyclic rats. AB - To study the effect of prolactin and progesterone on the length of the reproductive cycle in the rat, rats of different estrous cycle length (four and five days, respectively) were injected daily (09.00 h) with either bromocriptine (1 mg/rat) or 70% ethanol vehicle (0.25 ml) from the day of estrus onward, up to the appearance of the next ovulation. Each group of rats was then (16.00, metestrus) also injected with either progesterone (4 mg/rat) or 0.2 ml of olive oil. The effects of these treatments on the length of the estrous cycle was studied by both the recording of vaginal smears daily and by direct visualization of oocyte-cumulus complexes on the ensuing day of estrus (10.00 h-12.00 h). Bromocriptine treatment shortened the length of the cycle by one day in 5-day but not in 4-day cyclic rats, while progesterone treatment lengthened estrous cycles by one day in both groups of rats. Treatment with both bromocriptine and progesterone had no effect on the estrous cycle length of 5-day cyclic rats, but did prolong in one day the cycle of 4-day cyclic rats. These facts suggest that prolactin regulates the length of the ovarian reproductive cycle in the rat through its action on the secretion of progesterone by the corpus luteum. PMID- 2616871 TI - [Analysis of sexual differences in emotional reactions in rats]. AB - The effect of sex differences on the emotional reactivity in the rat (Rattus norvegicus) has been analyzed by means of the open field test and the acquisition of a conditioned emotional response (C.E.R.), according to Estes and Skinner technique. The combined use of C.E.R. and defecation rate techniques shows that males present a higher emotional reactivity than females. Furthermore estrous cycle affected female ambulation rates in open field. PMID- 2616872 TI - Preparative isolation of adult human liver metallothionein isoforms. AB - Preparative human liver metallothionein (MT) isolation is described. MT was saturated with cadmium to follow MT purification spectrophotometrically instead of by metal content and to increase the stability of the protein. A concentrated, MT-rich fraction of the liver cytosol was prepared by selective organic solvent (acetone or acetone/methanol) fractionation. Conventional gel filtration and ion exchange chromatographies resolved two MT isoforms, MT-I and MT-II. When needed, purification of MT from other low-molecular weight proteins was further increased by gel filtration chromatography at zero ionic strength, i.e., in distilled water. Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography of both MT isoforms resolved further peaks sharing MT properties not only from the MT-I but also from the MT-II ion-exchange isoform. The results show that it is feasible to perform a human liver MT isolation from an entire human liver with a reasonable laboratory capability. PMID- 2616873 TI - Autolysis of protein bodies in germinating lentil seeds. AB - Protein bodies isolated from lentil (Lens culinaris, Medik) cotyledons exhibit autolytic activity which increases during seed germination. Such autolytic capacity is active across a broad pH range and shows a maximum at pH 6.5. Excision of the embryonic axis reduces autolytic capacity and application during incubation of the seeds without axis of both 6-benzylaminopurine and kinetin is able to replace it. On the other hand, the proteolytic activity in the protein body membrane, is located towards the proteinaceous matrix and is obviously partially responsible for this autolytic activity. PMID- 2616874 TI - Characterization of three enzymatic forms of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Aspergillus oryzae. AB - Three forms (I, II and III) of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were isolated from mycelium of Aspergillus oryzae grown on ribose as the carbon source, by ion exchange chromatography. The Km values determined for the three forms with respect to glucose-6-phosphate were nearly identical; however the Km for NADP+ were different and the Vmax for the isoenzymatic form II was higher than those for I and III. Inhibition by NADPH was competitive with respect to NADP+, isoenzyme II showing the highest Ki. The optimum pH for forms I, II and III were 9.0, 8.0 and 8.5, respectively, and form I was more thermostable than the others. The apparent molecular weights, determined by gel filtration, were 92,000, 117,500 and 141,000 for forms I, II and III, respectively. PMID- 2616875 TI - [Effects of various physiologic adenine derivatives on the secretion of acid in isolated gastric glands in rabbits]. AB - The physiological adenine derivatives, adenosine (ADO), adenosine 5' monophosphate (AMP), adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) at concentrations ranging from 10 microM to 1 mM caused concentration related modifications on gastric H+ secretion, as measured by the aminopyrine accumulation method, in resting and histamine-stimulated rabbit gastric glands. In resting glands, ADO caused significant concentration-related increases of the basal H+ secretion, whereas no changes were obtained in response to the other purines tested. In histamine-stimulated glands, ADO and AMP caused concentration related potentiation of the histamine-raised H+ secretory rate, while ATP and ADP induced graded inhibition. The results suggest the involvement of purinergic mechanisms in the physiological regulation of the gastric acid secretory process. PMID- 2616876 TI - Initial permeability of the 19-day foetus to nickel. AB - The administration of 63NiCl2 to 19-day pregnant rats produced a limited transfer of nickel to the foetus. An experimental model based on the incubation of the conceptuses still connected to the maternal organism resulted in an appreciable net transfer of nickel through the amniotic membranes. The placenta retained a significant amount of radioactive nickel as did the lining of the uterine wall. The circulation of nickel through the foetus following the direction maternal blood----placenta----foetus----amniotic membranes----endometrium----maternal venous blood, is postulated. This transfer could provide an additional protection to placental barrier against metal toxicity. PMID- 2616877 TI - Isolation of lipid-free C-reactive protein by affinity chromatography. AB - Human C-reactive protein purification has been hampered by its association with lipids. Isolation of pure lipid-free C-reactive protein was obtained by a three step procedure. First, partially lipid-free C-reactive protein was obtained by affinity chromatography from ascitic fluids; second, lipid-bound proteins were eliminated by calcium-dependent precipitation; and third, lipid-free pure C reactive protein was obtained by affinity re-chromatography of the supernatant. A 46-50% yield of lipid-free C-reactive protein was obtained compared with the 14.7% obtained by the old method of extraction with lipid solvents. PMID- 2616878 TI - Zinc levels in healthy human serum and urine. Effects after intravenous administration of zinc sulphate. PMID- 2616879 TI - Effects of chronic hypoxia on serum lipids and lipoproteins. PMID- 2616880 TI - Muscle androgen binding in female rats treated with testosterone. PMID- 2616881 TI - In vivo assessment of muscle protein synthesis as affected by exogenous somatotrophin. PMID- 2616882 TI - [Responses to the contribution by G. Lamberti and D. Linke, "The Diamed Test System (System House Konig & Partner, 1984)--a critical comment" in volume 1 (1989) 27-29]. PMID- 2616883 TI - [Which method establishes general practice? Comment on the responses by Kinzel, Laros and Lehrl on "The Diamed Test System (System House Konig & Partner, 1984)- a critical comment, volume 4 (1989)]. PMID- 2616884 TI - Action of aldosterone on protein expression in cultured collecting duct cells from neonatal rabbit kidney. AB - To investigate whether 'aldosterone-induced proteins' could be detected in mammalian species, cultured renal collecting duct epithelia from neonatal rabbit kidneys were labelled under aldosterone administration with radioactive methionine and subsequently fractionated into cytosolic and coarse membrane protein fractions. Newly synthesized proteins were then analyzed by SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focussing and two-dimensional electrophoresis. Quantitative estimates of individual newly synthesized proteins were performed utilizing gel slicing, scintillation counting and autoradiography. The labelling experiments demonstrated that, in comparison to controls, aldosterone (1 X 10(-6) M) generally increased the amount of radioactive protein. No qualitative changes in the pattern of newly synthesized proteins and, therefore, no classical aldosterone-induced proteins were observed. The increase of radioactive protein was already seen after 1, 6, and 18 h of hormone treatment. The effect could be blocked partially by spironolactone (1.5 X 10(-4) M), and totally by amiloride (1 X 10(-6) M), g-strophantin (5 X 10(-4) M), and cycloheximide (1 X 10(-6) M. Thus, the interference of aldosterone action at the receptor level, the Na+ channels and the Na+/K(+)-ATPase pump demonstrate that the expression of proteins in cultured renal collecting duct cells is a sensitive system and seems to be controlled by aldosterone at the receptor level, but also counter-controlled by specific plasma membrane sites. PMID- 2616885 TI - Acute effects of angiotensin II on renal haemodynamics and excretion in conscious dogs. AB - The effects of a 60-min intravenous infusion of angiotensin II (A II; 4 or 20 ng A II/min/kg body weight) on renal blood flow (RBF; electromagnetic flow transducer, control value 19-25 ml/min/kg), glomerular filtration rate (GFR; control value 4.2-5.0 ml/min/kg), mean arterial blood pressure, sodium excretion, water excretion, and plasma A II and plasma aldosterone concentrations were examined in 6 chronically instrumented female conscious beagle dogs kept on three different dietary sodium intakes (SI): SI 0.5 or SI 2.5 mmol Na/kg/day or SI 4.5 mmol Na/kg/day plus an oral saline load prior to the experiment SI 4.5(+) dogs. Four nanograms A II decreased RBF and GFR in SI 4.5(+) dogs without changing the filtration fraction (FF%); in SI 0.5 dogs the RBF decreased, and the FF% increased. Twenty nanograms A II decreased RBF and increased FF% in all dietary protocols, less in SI 4.5(+) dogs. The mean arterial blood pressure increased in all dietary protocols by 10-15 mm Hg (4 ng A II) and 32-37 mm Hg (20 ng A II). Sodium and water excretions decreased by 32 and 46%, respectively, in SI 4.5(+) dogs at both doses of A II. The plasma aldosterone concentration increased in all but one protocol: 4 ng A II, SI 4.5(+) dogs. It is concluded that when A II plasma concentrations are most likely borderline to pathophysiological conditions (up to an average of 370 pg/ml), the GFR is less decreased than the RBF. This phenomenon also can be observed at lower plasma A II concentrations (average 200 pg/ml), when the renin-angiotensin system had been previously moderately activated. PMID- 2616886 TI - Inhibition of myogenic autoregulation in cyclosporine nephrotoxicity in the rat. AB - The mechanisms responsible for the impairment of renal blood flow (RBF) autoregulation in cyclosporine nephrotoxicity were investigated with clearance and micropuncture studies in anesthetized rats. Early chronic cyclosporine nephrotoxicity (CCN) was induced in male rats by daily intramuscular injection of 10 mg/kg/day cyclosporine-A in olive oil for 7 days; control (CON) rats received vehicle injections. Glomerular filtration rate and RBF were both reduced by 33% in CCN when compared to CON rats. RBF autoregulation was also significantly impaired in CCN, with an autoregulation index (AI) of 0.53 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.16 +/- 0.01 in CON rats. Micropuncture studies showed that the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) system is not impaired in CCN. Rather, in CCN there was a slight resetting such that the maximum TGF response was greater and the onset occurred at lower rates of perfusion than in CON. In contrast, further micropuncture studies demonstrated that TGF-independent autoregulation of glomerular capillary pressure was significantly impaired in CCN, with an AI of 0.86 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.57 +/- 0.06 in CON. These results indicate that the loss of autoregulatory ability in rats with CCN results from substantial impairment of the myogenic autoregulatory mechanism that is an intrinsic property of the preglomerular vasculature of the kidney. PMID- 2616887 TI - Early metabolic effects of hypotension on rat kidney. AB - Saturation-transfer phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (STNMR) has been applied to the rat kidney in vivo. The rate of renal metabolism determined by this method compares favorably with the renal oxygen consumption, assuming an ATP:oxygen ratio of 2. Hemorrhagic hypotension resulted in a 20% fall in renal blood flow and a significant fall in oxygen consumption. The rate of renal metabolism fell by 50%. This rate of ATP synthesis was below that required to maintain a normal [ATP], but renal [Pi] was not increased. When renal perfusion was reduced by 60%, intrarenal [Pi] rose. When [P1] was elevated, the method os STNMR no longer gave a reliable measure of the rate ATP synthesis, indicating that this new Pi pool was not in rapid chemical exchange with ATP. STNMR represents a useful noninvasive means of monitoring renal metabolic rate, with limitations due to insensitivity and the existence of multiple pools of intrarenal Pi. PMID- 2616888 TI - Alterations of lithium clearance in rats by different modes of lithium administration. AB - This study examines the effects of acute versus dietary lithium administration on proximal tubular fluid output (Vprox) and sodium clearance in 6 groups of unrestrained, conscious rats. Vprox was estimated on the basis of the renal lithium clearance. The aim was to find the mode of lithium administration which least influences the proximal and distal reabsorption of sodium. The lithium doses used resulted in serum lithium concentrations between 0.2 and 0.3 mmol/l with no difference between the groups. Acute intravenous lithium administration increased lithium clearance by 40% and sodium clearance by 109%. Administration by gastric tube increased lithium clearance by 22% and sodium clearance by 78% in comparison to dietary administration of lithium. Potassium excretion did not change by acute lithium administration. The data presented indicate that prior to measurements of lithium clearance, lithium should be administered in the diet for 2 days, since acute lithium administration, intravenously or by gastric tube, causes great changes in renal tubular reabsorption. PMID- 2616889 TI - Involvement of the bacterial phosphotransferase system in diverse mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. AB - A large number of genes in bacteria appear to be expressed in processes regulated by very different mechanisms dependent on the activities of the proteins of the phosphoenolpyruvate/sugar phosphotransferase system. These mechanisms include protein phosphorylation, antitermination, enhancement, antagonistic repression/activation, sensory detection involving two component systems, and other processes not yet understood. PMID- 2616890 TI - Differentiation of Candida guilliermondii varieties by lectin-like substances from marine algae. AB - Lectin-like substances of 54 marine algae, corresponding to 30 red algae and 24 brown algae, were studied to estimate the agglutination activity against Candida guilliermondii. Extracts of Dictyopteris membranacea, Bifurcaria bifurcata, Halidrys siliquosa, Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus serratus and F. spiralis algae showed selective agglutinating activities for C. guilliermondii "sensu stricto" and some of its varieties. According to their response to agglutination (positive or negative), certain algal extracts enabled the differentiation of varieties of C. guilliermondii independently of the titre values. Three extracts of brown algae were sufficient to identify 4 varieties of C. guilliermondii. The results suggest that lectin-like substances from marine algae may be valuable reagents as assistant tools for the identification of yeast strains. PMID- 2616891 TI - Adhesion to HeLa cells of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli outer membrane components. AB - Adhesion of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli to epithelial cells is thought to be a decisive step in enteritis. In this work, we tried to determine which bacterial components are responsible for this phenomenon. Outer membrane (OM) extracts were prepared from strains of C. jejuni (3 strains) and C. coli (2 strains). These strains had been isolated from stools of febrile patients with diarrhoea and were able to adhere to HeLa cells in culture. After incubation of bacterial OM extracts with HeLa cells in culture, bacterial adherent material was recovered, subjected to electrophoresis and immunoblotted. Bacterial adherent antigens were revealed by a rabbit antiserum raised against whole bacterial cells. Antigenic fractions, ranging from 26 to 30 kDa, were found to preferentially bind to HeLa cells (cell-binding fractions; CBF). These antigens were proteins and were distinct from flagellin and lipopolysaccharide. Bacteria incubated with a rabbit antiserum raised against homologous CBF, were unable to bind to HeLa cells. Moreover, the inhibitory effect decreased when the antiserum was diluted. Under the same conditions, a rabbit antiserum raised against a non-adherent OM fraction of 92 kDa did not prevent bacteria from binding to HeLa cells. PMID- 2616892 TI - In vivo studies on halogen compound interactions. II. Effects of carbon tetrachloride plus 1,2-dibromoethane on relative liver weight and hepatic steatosis. AB - A mixture of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) results in a significant increase in relative liver weight (RLW) when compared with the effect of each substance individually. At the same time, the liver triglyceride levels of rats treated with the mixture are lower than in those treated with CCl4 alone. This increase in RLW is not caused by simple tissue oedema. Lipoprotein secretion and the concentration of circulating non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are not involved in the DBE-induced reduction of steatosis provoked by CCl4. The synthesis of triglycerides is significantly depressed in animals treated with the mixture. These findings provide further evidence of the previously observed enhancement of liver toxicity caused by the simultaneous presence of both agents, since the apparent protection against steatosis is due to greater damage to the liver cell, which is no longer able to counter the steatogenic action of CCl4 through a sufficient synthesis of triglycerides. PMID- 2616893 TI - Inhibition of neoplastic growth by N-homocysteine thiolactonyl retinamido cobalamin. AB - Because of the importance of homocysteine thiolactone metabolism in the growth of normal tissues, and because of abnormal metabolism of homocysteine thiolactone in malignant cells, N-substituted derivatives of homocysteine thiolactone were synthesized and assayed for antineoplastic and anticarcinogenic activities. A single dose of 2.5 mg/kg of the synthetic derivative, N-homocysteine thiolactonyl retinamido cobalamin, injected directly into subcutaneous human pancreatic adenocarcinoma neoplasms in athymic mice, caused 50% inhibition of growth without evidence of toxicity. The findings suggest a novel approach to counteracting the growth of malignant neoplasms and support the hypothesis of a deficiency of an N homocysteine thiolactonyl derivative in malignant cells. PMID- 2616894 TI - Estimation of physiological volumes in the isolated perfused porcine skin flap. AB - A requirement for pharmacokinetic modeling of isolated perfused organ systems used for in vitro to in vivo extrapolations is a measure of the organ's physiological spaces. Two methods were employed to estimate intravascular and extracellular spaces in four isolated perfused porcine skin flaps (IPPSF) from 2 pigs. One of these methods used regression techniques based on a one-compartment model, and was found to be a good estimator of intravascular volume only. The other method was a non-parametric numerical integration technique, and was found to give reasonable estimates for both intravascular and extracellular volumes. The latter method's estimate for extracellular space was 0.20 +/- 0.03 mL/g, and the estimated vascular space by both methods was 0.08 +/- 0.01 mL/g. PMID- 2616895 TI - Possible catabolism of paraquat in mouse brain microsomes. AB - Whether formalin would be formed from paraquat (PQ) was studied in vitro using subcellular fractions of the mouse tissues. When Nash's method was used, a detectable increase of the OD at 412 nm was obtained only in the brain microsomal fraction in the presence of NADPH. The OD was increased by the addition of 0.1 mM EDTA. It disappeared when NADPH was omitted or when microsomes were denatured. However, when the brain microsomes were incubated with [3H]PQ in the presence of NADPH and EDTA, no [3H] formalin was detected. These results suggest that PQ may be catabolized in the mouse brain microsomes, though not demethylated, resulting in the production of the Nash reagent-reactive substance. PMID- 2616896 TI - Studies of renal function in animals chronically treated with apomorphine. AB - Based on the observation that orally administered apomorphine may induce nephrotoxicity, we studied the renal effects of a two-week subcutaneous infusion of apomorphine in rats. Drug-treated rats did not exhibit any change in renal cortical uptake of an organic cation (tetraethyl ammonium), organic anion (para hippuric acid), creatinine clearance, or fractional excretion of sodium and potassium. Renal histology showed no change specific to drug. A small increase in urinary N-acetylglucosaminidase, a tubular enzyme, was measured but a second tubular enzyme showed no change. We conclude that parenterally administered apomorphine is not associated with renal toxicity. PMID- 2616897 TI - Maneb enhances MPTP neurotoxicity in mice. AB - The effects of acute administration of maneb (30 mg/kg, i.p.), an agricultural fungicide, combined with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP 50 mg/kg, i.p.), a dopaminergic neurotoxin, were examined on mouse locomotor activity and catalepsy test. The pretreatment with maneb significantly exacerbated the effects of MPTP on locomotion and catalepsy in mice. These results suggest that exposure to some pesticides might enhance motor dysfunction. PMID- 2616898 TI - Aspartame and phenylalanine do not enhance theophylline-induced seizures in rats. AB - Oral administration of the artificial sweetener aspartame, 1 g/kg, or of an equimolar dose of its metabolite phenylalanine, to fasted rats 1 hour before slow i.v. infusion of theophylline until the onset of maximal seizures had no significant effect on the total dose and the serum and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of theophylline at the pharmacologic endpoint. These findings indicate that consumption of aspartame is not a potential risk factor for theophylline-induced neurotoxicity. PMID- 2616899 TI - Sulfation of minoxidil in keratinocytes and hair follicles. AB - Minoxidil, a potent antihypertensive agent, has the unique side effect of stimulating hair growth and it has been suggested that minoxidil sulfate may be the active form of minoxidil. In this study, we investigated whether sulfation of minoxidil in various cells of the skin; hair follicle, proliferating and differentiating keratinocyte and fibroblast occurs. We provide evidence that sulfation of minoxidil occurs in the hair follicles and proliferative keratinocytes. On the other hand the activity in differentiating keratinocytes and fibroblasts was extremely low. The strong sulfation of minoxidil that occurs in hair follicle cells may be related to the hair growth stimulating effect of this drug. PMID- 2616900 TI - Effects of perhexiline maleate on asialo-orosomucoid receptor endocytosis and recycling in HTC cells. AB - Perhexiline is a lysosomotropic agent which has proved to be very valuable to certain patients suffering from angina pectoris. However long-term administration of the drug may induce hepato- and neuro-toxicity. Using HTC cells (a rat hepatoma-derived cell line) whose plasma membranes were labeled with NaB[3H]4 after oxidation by NaIO4, endocytosis and recycling of labeled asialo-orosomucoid (ASOR) receptors were investigated in the presence of 50 mumols/l perhexiline maleate. The results demonstrate that the drug induces a significant decrease of the rate of both the internalization and the recycling of ASOR receptors. The mechanisms responsible for these effects have not yet been elucidated. However, the current findings may be related to the previously observed inhibitory effect of perhexiline on cellular (Na+, K+)-ATPase and Mg++-ATPase activities. Our findings would then reflect insufficient cellular energy production, resulting from depressed ATP hydrolysis in the presence of perhexiline. PMID- 2616901 TI - Toxicity of selenium (Na2SeO3) and mercury (HgCl2) on the planarian Dugesia gonocephala. AB - The toxicity of selenium (Na2SeO3) and mercury (HgCl2) was determined by using a freshwater planarian which is particularly sensitive to pollution, and belongs to a fissiparous breed of Dugesia gonocephala. The mortality and fissiparity frequency of the subjects were studied. They were exposed to intense treatments (48 hours) or for medium to long periods of time (21 days) to either the single compounds or a combination of both, and were fed or fasting. The lethal effect of sodium selenite is correlated to the food intake, whereas the toxicity of mercurous chloride is probably the result of a fixative effect which does not depend on feeding. The 21-day treatment with the first compound has a non negligible lethal effect which is probably due to an accumulation phenomenon. At doses where an antioxidant effect prevails, fissiparity is stimulated. On the other hand, the second compound reduces reproduction frequency to half the base values. Compared to the Paracentrotus lividus, the Dugesia gonocephala offers various advantages concerning toxicological experiments; besides being easier to handle in the laboratory, it is available all year round and is not subject to seasonal cycles. It is also more susceptible to the toxic effect of mercury, which is a common and highly toxic pollutant, than the sea urchin. PMID- 2616902 TI - Monoamine oxidase activity in the liver of rats given diethylnitrosamine. AB - The effect of diethylnitrosamine (DEN), a well known experimental carcinogen, MAO A and MAO-B activity of rat liver was investigated. The oxidations of both 5-HT (MAO-A) and beta-PEA (MAO-B) were inhibited by DEN in vitro. DEN is reversible inhibitor, after enzyme-inhibitor preincubation. MAO-B activity in rat liver was decreased by continuous administration of 50 ppm DEN for several definite periods to rats. The almost 2-fold increase in the ratio of MAO-A/MAO-B was observed in rat liver mitochondria and microsomes. When 5-HT was used as substrate, there was no significant difference of Km and Vmax values between mitochondrial preparations from livers of control and DEN fed rats. However, when the mitochondria from livers of DEN fed rats were used as enzyme preparation, Vmax decreased to about 47% of the control with beta-PEA as substrate. DEN might change the proportions of the multiple forms of MAO activity in tumor cells. PMID- 2616903 TI - Adenovirus 6 genome types: mapping of restriction site alterations on the genome. PMID- 2616904 TI - High concentrations of 2-5A, the interferon intracellular mediator, in the blood of children with acute viral infections. AB - We measured the concentration of 2-5A (2',5'-oligoadenylate), an intracellular mediator of the antiviral action of interferon, in the blood of children with acute viral and bacterial infectious diseases. 2-5A concentration was found to be elevated in several children with viral diseases. This elevation seemed transient and was not specific for viral infections. We provide arguments for the use of 2 5A as a marker of the evolution of diagnosed viral diseases. PMID- 2616905 TI - [Restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty]. PMID- 2616906 TI - [The way of thinking about classification of antiarrhythmic drugs]. PMID- 2616907 TI - [Coronary sinus cannulation via the femoral vein for evaluation of coronary hemodynamics and myocardial metabolism in children]. PMID- 2616908 TI - [Noninvasive evaluation of changes in stroke volume and left ventricular filling dynamics. Produced by atrioventricular interval manipulation]. AB - To evaluate the effects of atrioventricular pacing interval on hemodynamics, we studied the changes in stroke volume and left ventricular filling dynamics in fourteen consecutive patients with implanted atrioventricular pacemakers using a Doppler echocardiographic technique. Twelve patients had sick sinus syndrome and 2 had complete atrioventricular block. Stroke volume was determined as the time velocity integral of the pulsed Doppler recordings at the aortic annulus multiplied by the area of the aortic annulus obtained by 2-dimensional echocardiography. Left ventricular filling velocity was measured at the mitral annulus by the pulsed Doppler technique to provide the time-velocity integral of rapid filling (TVI-R) and that of atrial filling (TVI-A). No significant change in stroke volume was noted during the atrioventricular interval manipulation. TVI R was greater with short atrioventricular intervals than that with the long atrioventricular intervals. On the contrary, TVI-A was greater with long atrioventricular intervals than that with short atrioventricular intervals. These results suggested that there is a compensatory mechanism in the left ventricular filling dynamics to keep the stroke volume constant despite the change in the atrioventricular interval. However, in patients with high atrial filling to rapid filling ratio (A/R), the stroke volume varied with change of atrioventricular interval, suggesting that the compensatory mechanism was not sufficient in such patients. We conclude that Doppler echocardiography is a useful, noninvasive technique to assess the changes in the hemodynamics produced by atrioventricular interval manipulation in patients with implanted atrioventricular pacemakers. PMID- 2616909 TI - [Left ventricular function in patient with diabetes mellitus--Evaluated by mechanocardiogram and echocardiogram]. AB - We measured cardiac functions by means of mechanocardiogram and echo-cardiogram in 93 patients with diabetes mellitus, excluding those who had apparent cardiac diseases, such as angina pectoris and cardiac failure. We used pre-ejection period/ejection time (PEP/ET) as the index of the left ventricular systolic function and isovolumic relaxation time (IRT) as that of the left ventricular diastolic function. We compared the diabetic cases without complications to those with complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and autonomic disorder. Conclusions obtained were as follows; An abnormal IRT was noted in the early stage of diabetic complications. The IRT was not normal among the subjects even when those with cardiac hypertrophy or ST-depression on the ECG were excluded. On the contrary, the PEP/ET did not show any abnormality in the early stage of diabetic complications until they advanced into, eg. renal failure or severe neuropathy. Our findings suggest that the disorder of the left ventricular diastolic function precedes that of the left ventricular systolic function, indicating the association of microangiopathy and autonomic disorder. PMID- 2616910 TI - [The effect of open heart surgery and an operation on thoracic aneurysm on organs and the prevention of an organ system failure: comparison between the group using ulinastatin and not using group]. AB - We studied the effect of the open heart surgery and the thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery on renal, liver and respiratory function and the coagulofibrinolytic system. We also investigated as to whether ulinastatin was effective or not with regard to preventing an organ system failure. The renal function, liver function and the coagulofibrinolytic system were preserved, although there was a greater number of severe cases in the group which used ulinastatin (US group) than in the group that did not use ulinastatin (non-US group). In the US group, PaO2 did not decrease postoperatively. However, in the non-US group, PaO2 decreased significantly after the operation. The variables in relation to using ulinastatin, examined by a stepwise method, included kind of disease, emergency operation, PaO2, BUN and serum plasminogen. The multiple coefficient for these five variables was 0.623 (p less than 0.01) and the contribution was 38.8%. It was suggested that ulinastatin could prevent an organ system failure, especially respiratory failure, after open heart surgery and the thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery. PMID- 2616911 TI - [A case of effusive-constrictive epicarditis found by electrocardiogram at a school health examination]. AB - An effusive-constrictive pericarditis confined to the epicardium is extremely rare in childhood. We report case of a 7-year-old boy with such a condition. During an annual school health examination, he was found to have low voltage activities on electrocardiogram. On admission, physical examination showed markedly distended abdomen due to ascites and hepatomegaly. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed small ventricular cavities, extremely dilated inferior vena-cava, and a moderate amount of pericardial fluids. Pericardial and epicardial thickening were also suspected. Retrospectively, epicardial thickening was suspected on computed tomogram as well. Cardiac catheterization showed a typical diastolic dip and plateau pattern on the right ventricular pressure tracing, and deep x and y descents on that of the right atrium, suggesting that not pericardial effusion, but pericardial thickening mainly contributed to the cardiac dysfunction. Pericardiocentesis did not improve the clinical symptoms and high central venous pressure. On thoracotomy, we unexpectedly found intact pericardium and fibrotic epicardium covering the whole heart, so epicardiectomy was performed. Despite the fact that most of the fibrotic epicardium was removed, there were no immediate responses such as decrease in central venous pressure within the first 5 days after the surgery. Furthermore, it was not until two months later that all symptoms and hemodynamic parameters returned to normal levels. There have been several case reports of isolated epicardial constriction associated with pericardial effusion in English literature. However, we are unaware of such a report n Japanese. We concluded that it is important to evaluate the hemodynamics before and after pericardiocentesis, and to detect peri and/or epicardial thickening by serial echocardiography and CT scan.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2616912 TI - [A case of bilateral coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistulas associated with hepatic arteriovenous fistula]. AB - A 55-year-old man, previously treated for primary hypothyroidism, was admitted for evaluation of atypical chest pain. On physical examination, the pulse rate was 60 and blood pressure was 132/84 mmHg. Heart sounds were normal and no murmur was heard. Abdominal palpation showed no abnormal finding, and bruit was not heard. The electrocardiogram was normal and stress-induced ischemia was not found. The chest X-ray showed no sign of pulmonary hyperaemia or mass lesion, and central shadow was normal (CTR = 44%). During right heart catheterization, the pressures were normal in the cardiac chambers, pulmonary artery, and wedge position. A significant increase in oxygen saturation was disclosed at pulmonary artery level (10%) and the upper site of the inferior vena cava (22%). Coronary arteriography found coronary artery fistulas from the left main trunk, the left anterior descending artery, the left circumflex, and the right coronary artery to the pulmonary trunk. The left and right ventriculograms were normal. The digital subtraction angiography of celiac artery showed hepatic arteriovenous fistula. Ultrasonography and computed tomography found no mass lesion of the liver. Since combination of the bilateral coronary artery with pulmonary artery fistula, and hepatic arteriovenous fistula is very rare, the present case is worth noting for the investigation of the pathogenesis of congenital arteriovenous fistulas. PMID- 2616913 TI - [A case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in a trombonist]. AB - A case of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema in a 21-year-old female trombonist was reported. During light work, she experienced pain in her neck which later radiated into her chest. She had neither causal disease nor episode of straining at the onset of her work. On admission, physical examination revealed subcutaneous emphysema over the upper part of the chest and neck, and mediastinal crunch on auscultation (Hamman's sign). Roentgenograms revealed the presence of a considerable amount of air in the mediastinum and this extended upward through the mediastinum into the soft tissue of the neck bilaterally. The chest and neck CT yielded clearer information concerning the location and degree of mediastinal emphysema. She was treated with bed rest and recovered completely within five days. Spontaneous mediastinal emphysema without causal disease or apparent precipitating episode is infrequently recognized. In our case, though the trombonist had no apparent straining episode, the causative factor can be assumed to be the tenderness of the alveoli originating from frequent over-inflations of the lungs and high intra-alveolar pressures of about 150 cmH2O during trombone performance, which may result in alveolar rupture under normal intralveolar pressures. PMID- 2616915 TI - [Picture archiving and communication system]. PMID- 2616914 TI - [A case of acute massive pulmonary embolism successfully treated with transvenous pulmonary embolectomy by catheter]. AB - A 78-year-old woman, suffering from acute massive pulmonary embolism, was successfully treated with transvenous pulmonary embolectomy by catheter. This patient had been suffering from oppressive chest sensations during exercise, and diagnosed and treated as angina pectoris at a nearby clinic. She consulted our hospital complaining that her chest pains were increasing in frequency. She was admitted to our hospital on July 7, 1988, for coronary angiography (CAG), which she underwent on July 8 by the right femoral approach. After the CAG, she was ordered to rest in bed overnight, with the right inguinal region compressed. 18 hours later, the compression was removed and she was allowed to walk. Soon after she walked to the toilet, she complained of chest discomfort and fell into shock (systolic blood pressure was 60 mmHg). An ECG examination showed a right bundle branch block and an inverted T wave in lead V1-3. An echocardiography showed normal contraction of the left ventricle, but an enlargement of the right ventricle and a flattened interventricular septum. An analysis of arterial blood gas showed hypoxia (Pao2 52.5 mmHg, Paco2, 30.9 mmHg). Acute pulmonary embolism was suspected. 240,000 units of urokinase were administered intravenously, and pulmonary angiography was performed immediately. It revealed that the bilateral pulmonary arteries were almost completely obstructed. Although 720,000 units of urokinase were infused into the pulmonary artery, the obstruction did not improve. At that time, we performed a transvenous pulmonary embolectomy. We used a Judkins R 4 guiding catheter for PTCA made by USCI. The catheter was inserted into the pulmonary artery and clots were aspirated with a syringe.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2616916 TI - [Respiratory compensation in metabolic acid-base imbalance]. PMID- 2616917 TI - [Torsade de pointes]. PMID- 2616918 TI - [An application of personal computer for analysis of oxygen desaturation during sleep]. PMID- 2616919 TI - [Electrophysiologic effects of intravenous digoxin in infants and children with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome]. AB - Electrophysiologic properties of the accessory pathway were investigated before and after the intravenous administration of digoxin (0.01-0.02 mg/kg) during electrophysiologic studies in 14 infants and children with the Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome. Determination of electrophysiologic properties of the accessory pathway was made using transesophageal atrial pacing and/or intracardiac right atrial pacing. Maximal effect on the accessory pathway after intravenous digoxin was observed during one to six hours. Effective refractory period of the accessory pathway increased in 6 of the 14 patients, decreased in 4 and unchanged in 4. Shortest AP 1:1 conduction increased in 5 of the 12 patients, decreased in 3 and unchanged in 4. Tachycardia was not induced after digoxin in only one patient. Tachycardia cycle length, ventriculoatrial conduction time and atrioventricular conduction time were unchanged after digoxin in almost all cases. Thus, digoxin is not the first choice drug for termination and prevention of the preexcitation syndrome. PMID- 2616920 TI - [Prediction of coronary artery disease using post exercise T wave change]. AB - In the evaluation of the exercise stress test, conventional electrocardiographic criteria using 1 or 2 mm ST segment depression below the isoelectric line yields many false positive results and is not so useful to predict the severity of coronary artery disease. In this study, we have attempted to predict the presence and the severity of coronary artery disease from the post exercise T wave change. Fifty-six patients who had positive treadmill exercise test results by conventional ST segment criteria and underwent selective coronary arteriography were studied. T wave change was defined as inversion or biphasic change in one or more of leads aVF, V4, V5, V6 during the recovery phase, and in the cases who showed T wave changes, T wave configuration were also analysed. Seventeen of 28 patients with and 11 of 28 patients without significant coronary artery disease showed post exercise T wave changes. This difference was not statistically significant. But in the cases who showed T wave changes, the maximum amplitude of the negative component of T wave was significantly greater in the true positive group than in the false positive group. And the development of deeply negative component (more than 1.5 mm) indicated the presence of multivessel coronary artery disease. In the cases who showed the negative component of T wave less than 1 mm, the characteristics of T wave configuration including the amplitude, height of positive component, and the depth from the isoelectric line were different between the 2 groups. These results suggest that careful observation of T wave during the recovery phase is useful to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the exercise electrocardiogram. PMID- 2616921 TI - [Determination of the blood pressure level in mild hypertension. Significance of 20 minute resting blood pressure measurement comparing to 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring]. AB - Determination of the blood pressure (BP) level in patients with mild hypertension (MHT) is quite difficult, since ulcerations of BP are tremendously exaggerated in the doctor's office. It has been well known that casual BP is less reliable to estimate LVH than BPs obtained at home or work-site. Although 24 hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) has been widely accepted to overcome this problems, it is still controversial whether this method is applicable to all hypertensive subjects with special regards to its cost and effect. Therefore, our study has dealt mainly with the development of more convenient and less expensive method to get reasonable BPs. Twenty two nonmedicated patients with MHT were selected for the study. After taking casual BP in the office, the resting 20 minute BP measurements at every 2 minute interval were performed with Dynamap 950. Ten BP values thus obtained were divided into two categorical phases; early and late. The mean systolic and diastolic pressures (Ps & Pd) in the early phase were significantly higher than those in the late phase. Beside mean Ps and Pd obtained from 24 hour ABPM, 4 categorical phases based on the time of a day were defined; morning (from awaking to noon), afternoon (from noon to 6 pm), evening (from 6 pm to bed time) and night (during sleeping). Mutual correlation coefficients of these categorical BPs were calculated and compared to identify reasonably high significant correlations. The results revealed the highest BP at the office and the lowest one during sleeping. The office BPs closely resembled to the ones during afternoon period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2616922 TI - [A case of hypereosinophilic syndrome associated with eosinophilic endocarditis]. AB - A 66-year-old woman, who had had bronchial asthma, was admitted to our hospital because she suffered from fever, productive cough, wheezing, dyspnea, and chest pressure sensation. Her chest X-ray showed migrating infiltration and marked cardiomegaly. Her ECG at the admission revealed abnormal Q wave and T wave inversion, though that of 3 years before had been almost normal. Hematology showed leukocytosis and eosinophilia of 8,000/mm3 without abnormal cells. All immunological tests were negative and the specific cause of the eosinophilia was unknown. 2 weeks after admission, she complained of severe chest pain suddenly and her ECG showed ST elevation on V1-4 and serum CPK level was elevated to 290 IU/l. By the thrombolytic agent and anticoagulant therapy, her symptom was lightened immediately. 2 months later, we made her cardiac catheterization and myocardial biopsy. Her LVG showed a small aneurysm of the apex, though her CAG was normal finding. The biopsy revealed moderate fibrosis and cellular infiltration including a few eosinophils. We thought that eosinophilic endocarditis had existed first, and secondary embolism continued led to the small infarction. The hypereosinophilia was spontaneously normalized 2 months after admission, but the patient complained of myalgia and sensory disturbance of extremities. The biopsy of quadriceps muscle could prove neither infiltration of eosinophils nor vasculitis. But we diagnosed mononeuritis multiplex due to hypereosinophilia. Judging from various symptoms and laboratory findings, this case was included to the hypereosinophilic syndrome. We also thought allergic granulomatosis and angitis as one of the differential diagnoses, but histologically vasculitis was not proved. In this case, eosinophilia was disappeared without using corticosteroids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2616923 TI - [Prostaglandin E1, as a vasodilator therapy, for low output syndrome after cardiac surgery]. AB - Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has a direct vasodilating effect to smooth muscles of resistant vessel much more than that of capacitance one. In afterload mismatch, vasodilator which acts on resistant vessel mainly should be selected. We used PGE1 for vasodilator therapy to two patients with low cardiac output syndrome (LOS) in intensive care unit. One patient undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting developed LOS and disseminated intravascular coagulation which derived from post-transfusional anaphylactoid reaction. Another patient undergoing mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valve annuloplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting also developed LOS with massive thrombosis caused by cold agglutinin during cardio-pulmonary bypass. In both patients, PGE1 decreased systemic vascular resistance index and pulmonary arterial resistance index, and increased cardiac output. PGE1 inhibits release of lysosomal enzymes from polymorphonuclear leukocytes and increases splanchnic blood flow. These effects lead to inhibit production of myocardial depressant factor and might relate to the improvement of LOS partially. We suggest that PGE1 was effective for LOS after cardiac surgery, especially in afterload mismatch. PMID- 2616924 TI - Interaction of allometry and development in the mouse Mus musculus: heart rate and hematology. AB - The contribution of body mass changes to developmental adjustments in heart rate and hematology has been investigated in the mouse Mus musculus. Both resting heart rate (fH) and hematological variables including erythrocyte concentration, hemoglobin concentration, blood oxygen capacity, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume, changed considerably during the increase in body mass from birth (1g) to adulthood (maximum of 50 g). There were two phases of change, one characteristic of preweaned mice (approximately less than 10 g) and the other of postweaned mice (approximately 10-50 g). In preweaned mice resting fH was about 1/2 of the value predicted on the basis of interspecific allometric data from mammals. fH increased steadily until body mass reached 10 g, then began to decrease with further mass increase at the same rate as predicted from interspecific allometric data. Erythrocyte concentration, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and blood oxygen capacity were all significantly lower in preweaned mice compared with postweaned mice. It is suggested that the progressive heart rate increase in very young mice may be to increase cardiac output to compensate for the neonatal anemia. After weaning, hematological variables showed little or no further change with increasing body mass. Collectively, these data indicate that during the early phases of postnatal growth, developmental factors other than body mass have the greatest influence on heart rate and hematology, and allometric data derived from interspecific studies on adults have little predictive value in neonates. After weaning, however, body mass is the major influence on these variables, and allometric data derived from interspecific studies on adults are reasonably accurate as predictors. We conclude that interspecific allometric studies must be properly regarded as the study of adult animals of different body sizes, and that untested assumptions about the applicability of these data to intraspecific studies of immature specimens should be made with extreme caution. PMID- 2616925 TI - Alveolar liquid pressures in nonedematous and kerosene-washed rabbit lung by micropuncture. AB - We studied the relationship between alveolar interfacial pressure and lung volume in kerosene-filled lungs, nonedematous air-filled lungs on lung deflation and inflation, and air-filled lungs after washing with kerosene or the Dow Corning oil, 0.65 cs dimethyl siloxane (DC200). We used the micropipet-servonulling technique to measure alveolar liquid pressure (Pliq) in the alveolar liquid layer of isolated rabbit lungs at different airway pressures (Palv). It was not possible to measure pressure in kerosene or in DC200 by micropuncture because of its low electrical conductivity. We used the Laplace law for a spherical membrane to estimate alveolar surface tension (T). In the kerosene-filled lung, the pressure drop (delta P = Pliq - Palv) across the alveolar surfactant-kerosene interface was 1.1 cm H2O at TLC and decreased to 0.5 cm H2O at 71% TLC. These values corresponded to T values of 2.2 and 0.9 dyne/cm at TLC and 71% TLC, which were in agreement with in vitro measurements using the captive bubble technique. In the air-filled lung on inflation, delta P values were 12.7 and 15.7 cm H2O at 48% and 76% TLC. Corresponding T values were 14 and 21 dyne/cm. Thus, alveolar surface tension on lung inflation is surface area dependent. In the kerosene washed and DC200-washed lungs, delta P values were 16 and 14.5 cm H2O at TLC and decreased to 9 and 8 cm H2O at 50-56% TLC. These values indicated a reduction of 40-60% in alveolar surface tension with lung deflation from TLC to 50% TLC. The results indicate that alveolar surface tension in both kerosene-filled and kerosene-washed air-filled lungs is surface area dependent. This is due to a surfactant-kerosene interface in the kerosene-filled lung and a surfactant kerosene-air interface in the kerosene-washed lung. PMID- 2616926 TI - Length changes of intercostal muscles during respiration in the cat. AB - Sonomicrometry was used to measure the length changes of intercostal muscles throughout the rib cage of anesthetized cats. The motor unit discharge in the vicinity of the length measurement was monitored with bipolar electrodes. The external intercostal muscles in the rostral spaces and the parasternals actively shortened during inspiration. The external intercostals in the caudal spaces, which were inactive, either shortened or lengthened passively due to the forces imposed on the lower rib cage by the contraction of the diaphragm. The length changes of external intercostals of the mid-thoracic spaces, which were recruited during inspiration, were variable. The internal intercostals were usually inactive in our preparation and therefore their length excursions passively followed those of the external intercostals. The information regarding the length changes is correlated with that previously gathered for the role of muscle spindles in the intercostal muscles. It is suggested that gamma motoneurons are recruited to prevent the muscle spindles from being unloaded when the intercostal muscle shortens and to increase the sensitivity of the receptors during the phase of the respiratory cycle when the muscle is active. PMID- 2616927 TI - Changes in arterial plasma potassium and ventilation during exercise in man. AB - We have investigated the relationship between arterial plasma potassium ( [K+]a) and ventilation (VE) in man because hyperkalaemia has been shown to increase VE in the anaesthetized cat by direct stimulation of the arterial chemoreceptors. Six healthy male volunteers undertook about of sub-maximal (100 W) and maximal (sprint ca. 350 W) exercise on a cycle ergometer. VE was measured breath-by breath and arterial blood was sampled at regular intervals from a catheter inserted into a brachial artery for measurement of [K+]a and base excess. Changes in [K+]a closely mirrored changes in VE during exercise and recovery. At 100 W [K+]a increased from 4 mM to 5 mM, and during the sprint [K+]a increased to ca. 7 mM. Base excess did not mirror VE in that it reached its nadir 1-3 min after exercise had stopped, when [K+]a and VE were both falling. The increases in [K+]a seen here are probably sufficient to enhance the arterial chemoreceptor drive during exercise. Furthermore, the close temporal relationship between [K+]a and VE suggests that it is possible that exercise hyperkalaemia may contribute to the control of breathing in exercise. PMID- 2616928 TI - Relationship between aerobic physical fitness and ventilatory control during exercise in young swimmers. AB - The aim of this study was to specify in young trained swimmers, during progressive exercise, whether different aerobic physical fitness goes along with differences in breathing pattern and in mouth occlusion pressure used as a non invasive index of neuromuscular output. Ten children (aged 10.5-16 years) with high VO2 max (57.6 +/- 3.6 ml.min-1.kg-1) and ten children (aged 11-17 years) with moderate VO2 max (44 +/- 3.8 ml.min-1.kg-1) realized a maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer. During the last minute of each power level we measured the following parameters: VO2, VCO2, VEBW, f, VTBW/TI,TI/TTOT, as well as mouth occlusion pressure (P0.1) and 'effective impedance' of the respiratory system (P0.1/VTBW/TI). Our results showed that at a same VCO2, children with high VO2 max had significantly lower P0.1, P0.1/VTBW/TI and f than children with moderate VO2 max and same VEBW/TI. At different levels of VO2, in the twenty children of the two groups, we have found significant correlations between VO2 max of each subject and P0.1 (P less than 0.01), P0.1/VTBW/TI (P less than 0.001). At a same VO2, children with a higher VO2 max showed significantly lower P0.1, P0.1/VTBW/TI at all levels of VO2 and lower VEBW and VTBW/TI at high level of VO2. At a same VE, the two groups of children showed the same values of VT/TI and f. In conclusion this study shows first, that different aerobic physical fitness does not go along with different breathing pattern, and second, that swimmers with high physical fitness have a lower ventilatory response to exercise but a higher ventilatory and neuromuscular efficiency during exercise than children with moderate physical fitness. PMID- 2616929 TI - Respiratory heat exchange in mammals. AB - The dimensions of the maxillo-turbinate structures of a number of medium-sized and large mammals were determined using morphometric techniques. Estimates were obtained of the variation of gap width, perimeter and airway cross-sectional area along the organ. The time required for heat exchange in the turbinates of each animal was then determined for flow in a simple model based on that developed by Collins et al. (1971) and compared to the expected transit time for respired air. In all cases it was found that there was ample time for heating and humidification of the air when breathing at rest or moderate exercise. It was also shown that narrowing the air gap increased the effective time available for heat exchange despite the resulting reduction in transit time. PMID- 2616930 TI - The low-frequency dependence of respiratory system resistance and elastance in normal dogs. AB - The resistance (R) and elastance (E) of the respiratory system were determined by fitting the equation: pressure = R x flow + E x volume to data obtained from normal anesthetized/paralyzed dogs during mechanical ventilation at different frequencies (5 to 50 breaths per min) and tidal volumes. R exhibited a 50% decrease with increasing frequency while E showed a less marked but still distinct increase with frequency. Volume-time profiles were also recorded in the same animals during passive expiration, and the frequency dependence of resistance and elastance from 0 to 1 Hz predicted from the bi-exponential curves fitted to the profiles. The way in which resistance and elastance were predicted to vary with frequency was similar to the variations determined from regular ventilation data. There were, however, some systematic differences between the actual values of resistance and elastance obtained by the two methods which may reflect certain nonlinear characteristics of the respiratory system such as static hysteresis. Nonlinearities were also evident in that both the resistances and the elastances at all frequencies showed a slight decrease with increasing tidal volume. We conclude that a large part of the mechanical behaviour of the normal canine respiratory system at low frequencies can be accounted for in terms of a two-compartment model describing a homogeneous alveolar region surrounded by viscoelastic tissue. PMID- 2616931 TI - Distribution of systemic blood flow during anoxia in the turtle, Chrysemys scripta. AB - Hypoxia causes a reflex redistribution of regional blood flow in mammals that maintains delivery of oxygen to vital organs such as the brain during periods of decreased oxygen availability. The present study was performed to test if this response is developed in lower vertebrates. Regional organ blood flow and arterial blood gases were measured during normoxia (room air) and anoxia (nitrogen breathing) in anesthetized turtles, Chrysemys scripta. Organ blood flow was measured by the distribution of radioactive microspheres injected into the left atrium. The concentration of the microspheres in the organ is directly related to the blood flow rate. By knowing the reference blood flow rate, the reference microsphere concentration, and the total counts in the tissue, the tissue blood flow rate can be calculated. Anoxia caused a redistribution of blood flow away from the kidneys and splanchnic bed to the brain. Coronary blood flow and skeletal muscle blood flow remained constant. Brain blood flow increased approximately 260%. Blood flow to the kidneys and stomach was reduced approximately 50%. Blood flow to the pancreas, small intestine, and liver decreased almost to zero. The observation of anoxia-induced reflex redistribution of organ blood flow in a lower vertebrate suggests that this mechanism could be characteristic of vertebrates in general. PMID- 2616932 TI - The performance of the two-stage analysis of two-treatment, two-period crossover trials. AB - In the two-treatment, two-period crossover trial, patients are randomly allocated either to one group that receives treatment A followed by treatment B, or to another group that receives the treatments in the reverse order. Grizzle first proposed a two-stage procedure for analysing the data from such a trial. This paper examines the long-run sampling properties of this procedure, in terms of mean square error of point estimates, coverage probability of confidence intervals and actual significance level of hypothesis tests for the differences between the effects of the two treatments. The advantages of incorporating baseline observations into the analysis are also explored. Because the preliminary test for carryover is highly correlated with the analysis of data from the first period only, actual significance levels are higher than nominal levels even when there is no differential carryover. When carryover is present, the nominal level very seriously understates the actual level, and this becomes even worse when baseline observations are ignored. Increasing sample size only exacerbates the problem since this adverse behaviour then occurs at smaller values of the carryover effect. It is concluded that the two-stage analysis is too potentially misleading to be of practical use. PMID- 2616933 TI - Grading of images in a clinical trial. AB - We developed a computer model to compare the power in clinical trials that use either of two grading schemes for objectively recorded dependent variables. The example we use is an eye lens photo. The first grading system consists of side by side comparison of the before and after treatment photos; the second involves separate grading of the two photos. This modelling experience suggests that separate grading may often yield more power than side by side comparison, and offers other advantages as well. For applications in which grading error is considerably smaller in the side by side method, power may be markedly better. Most importantly, strong prejudice in favour of one or the other approach in all situations seems unwarranted. PMID- 2616934 TI - The analysis of relapse clinical trials, with application to a comparison of two ulcer treatments. AB - Patients cured of ulcers, carcinomas or other recurrent conditions are randomized between two treatments designed to maintain their recovery. Spontaneous reporting of relapse is supplemented by periodic asymptomatic screening. Interest centres on the difference in times to relapse between the two treatments. However, the analysis is complicated by the times to diagnoses at screens being qualitatively different from the times to symptomatic diagnoses between screens. In this paper a number of approaches to the analysis of such data are explored, and one of them is recommended. An extensive example with data on ulcer recurrence is presented to illustrate the method. PMID- 2616935 TI - A comparison of tests of homogeneity of odds ratios in K 2 x 2 tables. AB - We conducted a simulation study to determine the performance of nine procedures for testing the homogeneity of odds ratios in K 2 x 2 contingency tables. We recommend Tarone's approximate score test, based on the Mantel-Haenszel estimator of the common odds ratio, for use in practice. We also recommend a non-iterative statistic developed by Gart and based on the modified Woolf estimator of the common odds ratio for very large samples in balanced or mildly unbalanced designs. We base our recommendation of a statistic on its performance in terms of size and power in comparison with the other statistics considered. PMID- 2616936 TI - On alleged gains in power from lower P-values. AB - The various suggestions that have been made to increase the power of Fisher's test for 2 x 2 tables are shown to give no real increases. One-sided tests are examined in detail but two-sided test problems are also considered. The need for flexibility in use of P-values is stressed. PMID- 2616937 TI - The superiority of a drug combination over each of its components. AB - The requirement for approval of a combination drug treatment AB is its demonstrated superiority over each of its components A and B at their most appropriate dose levels. This has led to frequent use of a three-group experimental design that permits separate testing of H0:AB less than or equal to A and H0:AB greater than or equal to B. A type I error can occur if no true treatment effect is present in either or both of the contrasts. The sampling distribution for the larger of the two observed p-values, however, depends on whether a non-null treatment effect is or is not present in one of the contrasts. We propose a strategy in which a conservative experiment-wide type I error is achieved by defining the criterion for significance of the smaller observed treatment effect contingent on the magnitude of the larger observed treatment effect. We also discuss sample size requirements for the three-group design. PMID- 2616938 TI - Comparison of correlated correlations. AB - We consider a problem where kappa highly correlated variables are available, each being a candidate for predicting a dependent variable. Only one of the kappa variables can be chosen as a predictor and the question is whether there are significant differences in the quality of the predictors. We review several tests derived previously and propose a method based on the bootstrap. The motivating medical problem was to predict 24 hour proteinuria by protein-creatinine ratio measured at either 08:00, 12:00 or 16:00. The tests which we discuss are illustrated by this example and compared using a small Monte Carlo study. PMID- 2616939 TI - Time series analysis of injuries. AB - We used time series models in the exploratory and confirmatory analysis of selected fatal injuries in the United States from 1972 to 1983. We built autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models for monthly, weekly, and daily series of deaths and used these models to generate hypotheses. These deaths resulted from six causes of injuries: motor vehicles, suicides, homicides, falls, drownings, and residential fires. For each cause of injury, we estimated calendar effects on the monthly death counts. We confirmed the significant effect of vehicle miles travelled on motor vehicle fatalities with a transfer function model. Finally, we applied intervention analysis to deaths due to motor vehicles. PMID- 2616940 TI - Estimation of haemophilia-associated AIDS incidence in Japan using individual dates of diagnosis. AB - This paper presents a procedure for obtaining short-term projections and lower bounds on the size of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic. The method is similar to that proposed by Brookmeyer and Gail but adapted to the situation where individual dates of AIDS diagnosis are available. It gives results that are not dependent on the choice of time intervals by contrast to the procedure proposed by Brookmeyer and Gail which was based on the tabulated number of AIDS cases. Applications are illustrated with haemophilia-associated AIDS incidence in Japan where only 45 cases have been diagnosed by 31 December 1987. PMID- 2616941 TI - Efficiency of the logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models in longitudinal studies. AB - Both logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models are used widely in longitudinal epidemiologic studies for analysing the relationship between several risk factors and a time-related dichotomous event. The two models yield similar estimates of regression coefficients in studies with short follow-up and low incidence of event occurrence. Further, with just one dichotomous covariate and identical censoring times for all subjects, the asymptotic relative efficiency of the two models is very close to 1 unless the duration of follow-up is extended. We generalize this result to several qualitative or quantitative covariates. This was motivated by the analysis of mortality data from a study where all subjects are followed up during the same fixed period without loss except by death. Logistic and Cox models were applied to these data. Similar results were obtained for the two models in shorter periods of follow-up of five years or less, but not in longer periods of ten years or more, where the survival rate was lower. PMID- 2616942 TI - A cautionary note on the use of autoregressive models in analysis of longitudinal data. AB - Rosner et al. presented a simple, easily implemented modelling method for retaining time order relationships in analyses of longitudinal data when successive measures are correlated. Evaluation of time order is particularly useful in epidemiologic studies concerned with exposure to potentially toxic substances and subsequent outcome, but may also have use in more traditional growth studies that relate intake to subsequent development. The analysis allows for unequally spaced measures and missing data. The estimation method permits varying numbers of observations per subject and, with measures equally spaced, one can fit the model with use of ordinary least squares regression software. We report on a potential false association that can result when both exposure and outcome are related to time. We illustrate this problem with a small scale simulation and example. We also note a more serious problem with Rosner's approach in interpreting parameters. Although the model may be useful for prediction, parameters depend on the autocorrelation and are not readily interpretable. We recommend alternative modelling strategies be used when autocorrelation of errors is suspected. PMID- 2616943 TI - Misclassification in more than one factor in a case-control study: a combination of Mantel-Haenszel and maximum likelihood approaches. AB - Misclassification can arise in the case-control setting in both the risk factor of interest, and in a potential confounder. If true status is not ascertainable, but an independent replicated sample is available, adjusted maximum likelihood estimates of the individual binomial proportions can be obtained, and hence a relative risk estimate of the Mantel-Haenszel type constructed. An interval estimate on the latter can be calculated using the asymptotic properties of the likelihood function. The method is illustrated by application to a case-control study of breast cancer risk and such lifestyle attributes as diet, smoking and alcohol consumption, in which misclassification was anticipated and consequently repeatability data were collected. PMID- 2616944 TI - Single-stage cluster sampling with a telescopic respondent rule: a variation motivated by a survey of dementia in elderly residents of Shanghai. AB - In this report, we consider the situation in which one wishes to identify a cohort of a specified number of individuals within each of several domains for future follow-up studies based on a single-stage cluster sampling design. We develop sample size formulae relevant to this situation and introduce a variation of single-stage cluster sampling that seems more suitable in this situation than is ordinary single-stage cluster sampling. The basis for this variation is the concept that the definition of eligible respondents is not the same for all clusters. The use of this modified respondent rule (which we call telescopic) enables one to meet specified sample sizes in all domains of interest without the need to sample extra individuals in some domains. We used a version of this sampling design successfully in the field with a survey of elderly persons conducted in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. PMID- 2616946 TI - Renal cell carcinoma. PMID- 2616945 TI - Correspondence analysis and logistic modelling: complementary use in the analysis of a health survey among nurses. PMID- 2616947 TI - The effects of sex steroids on renal gene expression. PMID- 2616949 TI - [Annual conference on neurology. Sinaia, 3-4 June 1988. Abstracts]. PMID- 2616948 TI - Renal cell carcinoma. Overview. PMID- 2616950 TI - Application of video-enhanced interference reflection microscopy to the study of platelet-surface interactions. AB - Video-enhanced interference reflection microscopy (VEIRM) was used to examine contact sites between the ventral membrane of intact platelets and underlying surfaces. It was observed that the ventral membrane in the central granulomere region of fully spread platelets was separated from the surface, while the membrane in other regions was mostly in close contact. The VEIRM image of intact platelets was compared with the video-intensified fluorescence microscopic (VIFM) image of cytoskeletal structures labeled with rhodamine-phalloidin. The VEIRM was also used to visualize the cytoskeletal structures of platelets spread on glass surfaces. Platelets were treated with Triton X-100, glutaraldehyde and acetic acid in sequence. This method was used to follow the sequence of cytoskeletal reorganization of platelets after surface-induced activation. In addition, the effects of albumin and fibrinogen on the cytoskeletal reorganization of spreading platelets were investigated. On fibrinogen-coated surfaces, platelets developed extensive inner filamentous zones which encircled the central granulomere region. In the presence of albumin, however, platelet inner filamentous zones were very poorly developed. PMID- 2616951 TI - Three-dimensional viewing of internal cell structure. AB - 3T3 and HeLa cells, grown as a monolayer, have been rapidly frozen by propane jet as a fresh preparation, without pretreatment. In some experiments the frozen cells were fractured at -170 degrees C, thawed into fixative and viewed by high resolution SEM after critical-point drying. In other experiments the frozen cells were thawed into fixative unfractured. These preparations were refrozen in 15% methanol, fractured and deep-etched for replication and TEM study. The technique used in this work appears to give rapid rewarming from -170 degrees C to 0 degree C with little evidence of ice crystal growth. The cells fractured before thawing, examined by SEM, show extensive extraction of both nucleus and cytoplasm with deep views of nuclear chromatin, and of cytoplasmic organelles caught amongst rather distorted filaments of the cytoskeleton. Initial fixation for the SEM work was light (0.3% glutaraldehyde for 10 mins) so that structure is seen as it would be retained for antibody labelling. PMID- 2616952 TI - Cryoultramicrotomy of ultra-rapidly frozen specimens. AB - The physical events of the cryoultramicrotomy at the level of organelles and macromolecules are not completely understood. The extent to which tissue is either cut by the edge of the knife or fractured ahead of the knife is one such event. This issue of cryofracturing versus cryosectioning during cryoultramicrotomy has been examined in quick frozen, uncryoprotected rat liver. Cryosectioned specimens were freeze-substituted and edge-on views of the sectioned surface were examined in TEM. In tissue regions showing no obvious ice crystals, fracturing was rare. Regions with less adequate freezing however had numerous fractured structures. These results indicate that high quality freezing promotes sectioning over fracturing and thus works to eliminate this serious artifact. PMID- 2616953 TI - Human neutrophil granule heterogeneity: immunolocalization studies using cryofixed, dried and embedded specimens. AB - The heterogeneity in human neutrophil granules was examined by the ultrastructural localization of a series of antigens which have been previously identified with neutrophil granules by either physical separation or biochemical/biological techniques. All samples were prepared by cryofixation and molecular distillation drying (LifeCell Process), a two-step physical method that achieves cryofixation by metal mirror freezing and drying by the controlled, incremental heating of cryofixed samples in an ultrahigh vacuum. After drying, the samples were either exposed to vapor-phase osmium followed by embedment in Spurr resin, or they were exposed to formaldehyde vapor followed by embedment in Araldite resin. An indirect streptavidincolloidal gold procedure was used for immunoelectron microscopy on ultrathin sections. Subcellular ultrastructural morphology of neutrophils prepared by this method was good compared to standard electron microscopic techniques and superior compared to comparable, published electron microscopic cryomethods applied to neutrophils. Immunogold localization of myeloperoxidase, cathepsin G, lysozyme, lactoferrin, beta 2-microglobulin, and CD-15 antigens showed high intensity and specificity of labeling in the intracellular granules. Patterns of labeling varied from antigen to antigen, demonstrating granule heterogeneity both within and among neutrophils. This methodology is useful in the exploration and definition of granule heterogeneity and function. PMID- 2616954 TI - The contracting muscle: a challenge for freeze-substitution and low temperature embedding. AB - Frog sartorius and semitendinosus muscles are quick-frozen either in the resting state or during contraction by means of a LN2 cooled falling copper block. The frozen specimens are freeze-substituted (acetone + OsO4 + uranyl acetate) in a REICHERT JUNG CS auto and either embedded in Spurr's resin and polymerised at a high temperature (60 degrees C) or embedded and polymerised in the Lowicryls K4M, K11M or HM23 at low temperatures (below -30 degrees C). Excellent morphological results are obtained when freeze-substitution, embedding and polymerisation are all carried out below -50 degrees C. Muscles in which a major portion of cellular K+ ions has been replaced by electron dense Cs+ or Tl+ ions are also cryofixed at rest or during contraction, freeze-substituted in pure acetone for 1 week at -80 degrees C and polymerised in K11M at -60 degrees C. A characteristic uneven distribution of the electron dense ions--known from earlier published control experiments--can be observed in sections of resting muscles. Electrically stimulated muscles show ion redistribution. It is concluded that freeze substitution and low temperature embedding of quick-frozen contracting muscle may be used to investigate changes of ultrastructure, redistribution of cellular water and intracellular movements of mobile ions during muscle contraction. PMID- 2616955 TI - Polyurethane support films: structure and cellular adhesion. AB - It is desirable to examine the cytobiology of cell adhesion to the same materials which are contemplated for use in biomedical and biotechnological devices. It is also of fundamental interest to examine adhesion to substrates with properties which are likely to influence adhesion in controlled ways. In many of these applications the materials of choice are polyurethane elastomers due to their physical properties and resistance to biodegradation. Polyurethanes have a two phase microstructure consisting of hydrophilic hard segments and hydrophobic soft segment domains. Variations of both the chemistry and the morphology of these microdomains may be produced. It is well understood that the hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature of surfaces affects cellular adhesion and the adsorption of extracellular proteins. Since polyurethane microdomains have dimensions in the range of 10-100 nm, hence the size of proteins and cell-surface receptors, polyurethane microdomain structure could influence order at the cell material interface. Polyurethanes may be prepared as thin films with excellent properties for use as specimen supports in High Voltage transmission Electron Microscopy (HVEM) at 1 MeV. This permits the imaging of the cytoskeleton and other internal features of whole mounts of adherent cells, rather than tedious thin sectioning required for conventional TEM. Subsequently the surface morphology of these preparations may be imaged with high resolution SEM. Finally, the polyurethane itself may be stained and imaged by either HVEM or high resolution SEM in order to relate polyurethane micro-morphology to cellular features. PMID- 2616956 TI - Characterization of chromatin structure by image analysis--a method for the assessment of changes in chromatin organization. AB - This paper describes an image analysis technique for the assessment of changes in chromatin organization in ultrathin tissue sections. Transmission electron micrographs of tissue sections were analyzed by a SEM-IPS image processing unit (Kontron) at a total magnification of 7,500. The boundaries of each nucleus and each nucleolus were defined interactively, and the grey level threshold between heterochromatin and euchromatin was determined. The grey level distribution and the total area of each nucleus was measured. In addition, the total area, number, and individual areas of heterochromatin particles and nuclei were measured. Based on these measurements, a number of different variables have been defined, and several of these have proved to discriminate between normal and malignant cells. PMID- 2616957 TI - Factors affecting preparation of chromosomes for scanning electron microscopy using osmium impregnation. AB - Osmium impregnation techniques have become useful for imparting conductivity to tissue specimens for SEM, thereby avoiding coating with gold or other metals. Such techniques have been developed to produce aesthetically pleasing images of mammalian (particularly human) chromosomes prepared by standard cytogenetical methods which use methanol-acetic acid fixation. The present study was designed: (1) to examine changes in the appearance of chromosomes as a result of preparation by osmium impregnation techniques; (2) to assess the function and importance of the various stages of chromosome preparation; and (3) to identify the chemical groups responsible for osmium binding. Methanol-acetic acid fixed chromosomes are known to have lost many proteins during fixation, and appear to be flattened down on the substrate. Osmium impregnation swells these flattened chromosomes to a variable extent, but the result is inevitably an artefact, albeit a useful one, and not a true representation of the chromosome in vivo. The size of chromatin fibres, for example, is the consequence of the degree of protein extraction during fixation, the loss of material during pre-treatments (e.g. trypsin), and the amount of osmium uptake during impregnation. Trypsin pre treatment removes a surface coating of protein from the chromosomes as well as exposing chemical groups which can react with osmium. The principal reactive site appears to be amino groups, which bind glutaraldehyde, which in turn binds thiocarbohydrazide, to which the osmium becomes attached. Pre-treatments other than trypsin can be used to extract chromosomal material and to reveal different aspects of chromosome structure. PMID- 2616958 TI - [Gastro-esophageal reflux. Principles of surgical treatment]. PMID- 2616959 TI - [The Ambu bag type emergency insufflator]. PMID- 2616960 TI - [Traumatic cranio-cerebral lesions. Mechanisms of lesions, elementary lesions, complications, consecutive lesions]. PMID- 2616961 TI - [Scanning of head injuries]. PMID- 2616962 TI - [Treatment of patients with severe head injuries]. PMID- 2616963 TI - [Monitoring of patients with severe head injuries during the acute stage]. PMID- 2616965 TI - [Nursing diagnosis. Promotion of hospital hygiene]. PMID- 2616964 TI - [Kinesitherapy for the head-injured patient in rehabilitation]. PMID- 2616966 TI - [Physiopathology of traumatic cerebral lesions]. PMID- 2616967 TI - [Experience with a new concept of dressings]. PMID- 2616968 TI - [Initial assessment of the patient with severe cranial trauma]. PMID- 2616969 TI - [Remission of Lambert-Eaton syndrome over a 10-year period. Recurrence without evidence of tumor at autopsy]. AB - A case of Lambert-Eaton's syndrome with onset 18 months prior to detection of an epidermoid cancer of the larynx is reported. Regression of the syndrome, and its total remission over 10 years without treatment following excision of the tumor, suggested a possible relationship as a paraneoplastic disorder. However, doubt was cast on any possible link by recurrence of the Lambert-Eaton's syndrome after 10 years remission, and the satisfactory course without treatment over the next 6 years combined with failure to detect any tumor recurrence or metastases, even at autopsy. The question raised is whether this is indeed a true paraneoplastic affection or a fortuitous association of an idiopathic form of Lambert-Eaton's syndrome and an infrequent cancer which, in addition, has never been reported at the origin of the Lambert-Eaton syndrome. PMID- 2616970 TI - [Occlusion of the middle cerebral artery after induction of ovulation with gonadotropins]. AB - A case of occlusion of the middle cerebral artery during a treatment with gonadotropin is reported. Such cases are unusual when one considers that these treatments are widely used. They occur after a markek ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Treatment is purely preventive with clinical, laboratory and ultrasonic examinations before injection of beta-HCG. PMID- 2616971 TI - [Isolated cheiro-facial formication caused by a thalamic hematoma]. AB - A 25 year-old Saudi female patient presented with numbness of the left half of the face and the tongue and the left hand. Neurological and neuropsychological examinations were normal. Brain CT showed a small hematoma (5 to 7 mm diameter) of the right thalamus probably destroying or compressing the ventropostero-median and ventropostero-lateral thalamic nuclei. Thalamic hematoma has been reported only twice as a cause of pure sensory stroke. The absence of clinical signs together with the presence of symptoms, and the particular topography of the symptoms are discussed. PMID- 2616972 TI - [Hydrocephalus and brainstem tumor of late manifestation]. AB - We report two clinico-pathological cases with an initially hidden brainstem tumour presenting as chronic hydrocephalus of "idiopathic type". Diagnosis was established respectively one and two years after a successful shunting procedure, as repeated CT scan was performed because of gait deterioration. The first case was a bifocal glioblastoma invading the leptomeninges of the posterior fossa and spinal cord, and resulting in a communicating hydrocephalus. The second case was an ependymoma of the fourth ventricle leading to e non-communicating hydrocephalus. Rarity of such cases is emphasized. PMID- 2616973 TI - [Urinary cytodiagnosis in urothelial neoplasms. A study of 678 cases]. AB - Reliability of urinary cytology was studied in 678 cases in the pathology department of the A.C. Camargo Hospital from 1966 to 1988. Cytologic diagnosis was compared to the final diagnosis of the patients (histopathologic diagnoses, cystoscopy, and clinical data). The rate of sensitivity, specificity, predictive value (positive and negative), and efficiency was obtained. Patients ranged from 2 months to 88 years, mean age being 59.9, among 446 men and 180 women. Cytologic diagnoses produced 139 positive cases (20.5%), 459 negative (67.7%), 21 "suspected" (3.0%), and 59 unsatisfactory cases (8.8%). There were 306 true negative cases (58.4%), 88 false-negative (16.8%), 126 true-positive (24.0%), and only 4 false-positive (.76%). The authors did not prepare a statistical correlation for the "suspected" and unsatisfactory cases; in 74 cases there was not information enough to perform the necessary comparison. The rate of sensitivity was 59.0%, specificity 98.7%, predictive positive value 96.9%, predictive negative value 77.6%, and efficiency 82.4%. PMID- 2616974 TI - [Rice bran in the treatment of idiopathic hypercalciuria in patients with urinary calculosis]. AB - Ten patients with recurrent nephrolithiasis and hypercalciuria were given rice bran during 60 days. Hypercalciuria was reduced in all patients in an average of 40%. Urinary magnesium was reduced in 28% and oxalate excretion was increased in 28%. The rate of decrease of urinary calcium was 65% in the absorptive type and 33% in the renal type of hypercalciuria. PMID- 2616975 TI - [Meta-analysis]. PMID- 2616976 TI - [Interventions to reduce maternal mortality]. AB - The authors comment a proposal to adopt measures to reduce maternal death and suggest four levels of action: 1) actions aimed at improving the knowledge about the number and factors associated to high risk maternal mortality during pregnancy, delivery and puerperium; they comment on the undernumeration of maternal death cases and propose an improvement in vital statistics, epidemiologic investigation and the creation of maternal mortality committees; 2) action to assist pregnancy, delivery and puerperium, to increase both the coverage and the quality of medical care, prenatal care, institutional care to delivery, and post-partum care; 3) action to prevent pregnancy in women with high risk of maternal mortality, improving diagnosis and treatment of diseases that increase maternal risk, and promoting contraception for these cases; 4) other actions aimed at reducing the risk of death brought about by induced abortion. PMID- 2616977 TI - [Dermatologic drill biopsy (punch): diagnostic procedures in advanced carcinoma of the breast]. AB - Thirty-seven patients with breast tumors in stage III and IV were selected, and a new method to remove fragments of tissue for anatomopathologic study was used. The "punch" of Keyes was introduced towards the tumor, under strong pressure, with clockwise and counter-clockwise rotational movements. In thirty-eight biopsies, the anatomopathologic study allowed the authors to make a perfect evaluation of the structure, and the diagnosis made was of infiltrating carcinoma of the breast. This method proved to be a quick, safe and simple procedure, free of complications, and it allows for anatomopathologic diagnosis in 100% of the cases. PMID- 2616978 TI - [Toxic hepatitis caused by ketoconazole: a report of 4 cases]. AB - The authors describe four cases of toxic hepatitis due to ketoconazole. All patients were female and were given the drug from 8 to 16 weeks (200mg/day). The clinical condition of the four patients was similar to that of viral hepatitis. Normalization of clinical and laboratory findings occurred 60 to 90 days after discontinuation of the drug and no patient died. One patient received ketoconazole again after her clinical and laboratory results were normalized, and a new toxic hepatitis appeared within 15 days; the second discontinuation of the drug lead to cure of the hepatitis. PMID- 2616979 TI - [Rhabdomyosarcoma: unusual aspects]. AB - The authors report a case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma with several interesting aspects which make it difficult to diagnose. PMID- 2616980 TI - [Balanced translocation 1;10(q41;q25): a report of a family]. AB - The authors report a case of genetic counseling to a family in which a balanced translocation was identified in the father of a malformed child who died without a cytogenetic study being performed. The patient's wife became pregnant again and was submitted to prenatal diagnostic procedures. The result showed a normal female karyotype and a normal girl was delivered at term. PMID- 2616981 TI - [Monoclonal antibodies. Their usefulness in the diagnosis of malignant tumors of the digestive system]. AB - Lately, there is a lot of interest in tumor markers, monoclonal antibodies and immunoscanning in the diagnosis and follow-up of certain cancers. The main objective of this study is to report our initial experience with the detection of specific antibodies and with the obtention of scan images. In 85.7% of patients with cancer and in 40% of patients with benign conditions, above normal values of CEA were obtained. In 85.7% of patients with cancer and in 60% of patients with benign disease, above normal values of CA 19-9 were noted. Positive scans were obtained in 83.4% of cancer patients and 13.3% negative scans; it was not useful in one case. In benign conditions 40% of the scans were positive and 60% negative. I-131 was capable of detecting tumors very clearly. The statistical analysis employed was the exact test of Fisher and the correlation was evaluated with contingency coefficients. PMID- 2616982 TI - [Effect of fever on gastric emptying and on serum gastrin levels]. AB - We studied the effect of fever on gastric emptying and serum gastrin 17 levels. 8 patients with fever and normal gastric emptying were selected. Blood samples were obtained for measuring serum gastrin 17. We used Tc99m scintiscanning to measure gastric emptying. Differences between fever and normal temperature were significant. Gastric emptying in fever was 118 +/- 54 minutes and 55 +/- 22 minutes for normal temperature (p less than .01). Serum gastrin was 47.7 +/- 13 pg/ml in normal temperature and with febrile patients was 30 +/- 5.7 pg/ml (p less than .002). We conclude that fever retards gastric emptying, perhaps independently of serum gastrin level. PMID- 2616983 TI - [Campylobacter pylori in endoscopic biopsies of the gastric antrum and its association with chronic gastritis]. AB - A prospective study of 156 patients with upper gastrointestinal complaints submitted to endoscopy with biopsy of the gastric antral mucosa, was performed in order to evaluate by light microscopy the presence of chronic gastritis and Campylobacter pylori and its relationship to peptic ulcer. Thirty were histologically normal, and 126 showed evidence of gastritis. Ninety-four (74.6%) of the specimens with evidence of gastritis contained spiral bacteria whereas only three (10%) of the thirty gastritis-free stomachs contained these bacteria. 16 (84.2%) of 19 patients with duodenal ulcers and of 7 (63.6%) of 11 patients with gastric ulcers, also had Campylobacter pylori. There was no relationship between the presence of macroscopic findings at endoscopy and the presence of histologic gastritis. Our results confirm that gastritis and peptic ulcer are strongly associated with the presence of Campylobacter pylori. PMID- 2616984 TI - [Selective distal splenorenal shunt, surgery for portal hypertension. Experience of a general hospital]. AB - From 1982 to 1987, twenty patients underwent Distal Splenorenal Shunt. The surgical indication was hemorrhagic portal hypertension: two cases were done on an emergency basis and eighteen electively. In all patients endoscopy was performed, and the bleeding site was documented; splenoportography was done to 70% and the remaining had selective arteriography with venous phase. Portal pressure was measured during splenoportography or during the operation with catheterization of the right gastroepiploic vein. We had a preoperative histopathologic diagnosis in 60% of the cases. The overall preoperative mortality was 10%, with ascites in seven patients, pancreatic pseudocyst in one, chylous retrogastric collection in one and, encephalopathy in one case. The predicted overall survival for a 5-year period is 77%. We think this surgery can be done in the general hospitals of small cities. PMID- 2616985 TI - [Study of lymphocyte subpopulations by means of monoclonal antibodies in acute hepatitis A and B]. AB - We studied T3, T4 and T8 lymphocyte populations in peripheral blood by monoclonal antibodies in 40 patients with acute viral hepatitis (Type A 20; Type B 20) who underwent outcome to complete recovery. We compared the results with 20 healthy subjects (control group). We found a decrease in total lymphocytes measured by T3 monoclonal antibodies and a significant increase in T8 lymphocyte populations compared with control groups. In the early stage the T4/T8 ratio was decreased. Lymphocyte populations and T4/T8 ratio was normal in 3-6 month follow-up for the acute A hepatitis group and 3.6 month to a year follow-up for the B hepatitis group. Results were related to the humoral and clinical outcome. PMID- 2616986 TI - [Abstracts of papers presented at the national meeting of the Mexican Association of Gastroenterology 1989]. PMID- 2616987 TI - [Policy against AIDS]. PMID- 2616988 TI - [Protein/creatinine index in isolated samples of urine for evaluation of 24-hour proteinuria]. AB - The correct determination of the 24 hours proteinuria (PU24) in the non hospitalized patients is frequently subject to collection errors. To overcome this problem it has been proposed the use of the proteinuria ratio (PR), obtained by dividing the concentrations of protein/creatinine in random urine samples. In the present investigation PR and PU24 were correlated in 42 patients (22 male and 20 female), aged between 14 and 63 years. Each patient was submitted to a 2 hours creatinine clearance (Ccr), to determination of PU24 and to evaluation of PR in the urine samples. The measures of PU24 were correlated with the values of PR. On linear regression analysis the equation y = 0,517 + 0,759x was obtained, with r = 0,914, suggesting good correlation between PU24 and PR. Values of r greater than 0,9 were always obtained, independently of the values of Ccr and PU24. The results indicate that PR in random urine samples may be practical and reliable in the follow-up of nephrological patients. PMID- 2616989 TI - Association of anti-DNA and anticardiolipin antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus. AB - Recent studies have shown that anti-DNA and anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with SLE may cross-react. Using an ELISA for determination of these antibodies, a strong association between IgG anti-denatured DNA and IgG anticardiolipin antibodies was found. Eight sera samples with the highest levels of both antibodies were selected to determine the possibility of a cross reaction. The levels of anticardiolipin were not affected by denatured DNA in concentrations adequate to inhibit the anti-DNA binding. These data did not confirm previous studies using monoclonal antibodies showing cross reactivity between the two groups of antibodies. Nevertheless, a population of antibodies that may cross-reacts, in some special cases, cannot be ruled out. PMID- 2616990 TI - [Prevalence of anti-HIV antibodies in dialysis patients]. AB - Patients treated with chronic dialysis have a high risk of acquiring viral infections and blood transfusions are commonly considered to be the vehicle of transmission. In Brazil this source is implicated in infection of 15 percent of patients developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). So, we evaluated the relative risk of our patients in dialysis becoming infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus associated with the AIDS. An enzyme immunoassay showed 6 of 104 patients on dialysis to have antibodies to HIV. In five infection with HIV was confirmed by Western blot tests. Investigation of other risk factors for AIDS showed that blood transfusion was the most likely cause of contamination. There was no correlation between HIV and HBV infections. Only one patient had leucopenia and low OKT4/T8 ratio and she died 90 days after sorologic diagnosis of HIV infection; the cause of death was encephalopathy and sepsis. Two patients died after 4 and 16 months victims of cardiocirculatory problems (non-AIDS related causes). Three patients remain asymptomatic on chronic hemodialysis 20, 36 and 37 months after diagnosis of HIV infection. PMID- 2616991 TI - [Progressive systemic sclerosis, B-cell malignant lymphoma of the ileum and thyroid adenocarcinoma]. AB - A patient with progressive systemic sclerosis with rapid evolution to death is presented. The post-morten examination revealed besides the typical changes of the progressive systemic sclerosis in the skin, kidneys, heart and blood vessels a B-cell ileal malignant lymphoma with generalized metastases, and an adenocarcinoma of the thyroid gland. A possible mechanism involved in the association of these diseases might be the action of the oncogenes modifying the cellular hormostasis and the immunological tolerance. PMID- 2616992 TI - [Acute myeloid leukemia after treatment of Hodgkin's disease]. AB - The development of acute leukemia, particularly acute myeloid leukemia, represents a serious complication in patients treated with radio and/or chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. It has been reported with increasing frequency in the last years. Two such cases, that occurred in 87 patients treated for Hodgkin's disease, are reported. Complete autopsy was performed in both. The patients were less than 30 years old, received combined therapy during a prolonged time (more than 12 months), with an interval superior to 44 months between the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease and the appearance of acute myeloid leukemia. The survival time was less than 12 months. Residual Hodgkin's disease was not observed. PMID- 2616993 TI - [Peritonitis in intermittent peritoneal dialysis: microbiological aspects and the antibiogram]. AB - Peritonitis is the most frequent complication in patients on peritoneal dialysis and bacteria are the major causative agents. Initial antibiotic therapy may be "blind" but the antimicrobial agent used should be related to the infecting organism and its sensitivities. This study was initiated in order to evaluate the microbiological characteristics and sensitivity of bacteria isolated from pre and post peritoneal dialysis effluents. Positive growth of microorganisms was observed in 52 out of 503 cultures. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were identified most frequently (29 per cent each). Antibiograms showed high sensitivity to aminoglycosides (netilmicin and amikacin) and to second and third generation cephalosporin. Vancomycin and netilmicin were the best choices for Staphylococcal infection. A high bacterial resistance to ampicillin, co-trimoxazole, cephalothin and gentamicin was verified. Characteristics of organisms causing peritonitis in patients on intermittent peritoneal dialysis is very important, for selection of the initial antibiotic therapy. PMID- 2616994 TI - [Prehospital care of victims of traffic accidents (First Aid Medical Service of the Highway Development Corp.)]. AB - The University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine was the pioneer in the emergency attendance of traffic accident victims first at the Santa Casa de Misericordia Emergency Ward and later at the Emergency Ward of the Hospital das Clinicas. The University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine has also inaugurated the pre-hospital medical management of traffic accident victims through the DERSA First Aid Medical Service that operates permanent ambulance units staffed with a driver and a first aid medical technician working in 8 hours shifts, located at every 30 to 40 km on highways under DERSA jurisdiction. Once this mobile unit is summoned it takes an average of 3 to 8 minutes to reach the accident site where the first aid medical technician gives the initial medical assistance, being the victim thereafter removed to a hospital facility in about 6 to 14 minutes. An analysis of the evolution during the hospitalization of traffic accident victims showed that 86.3% of the patients were discharged after the initial attendance and 13.7% remained hospitalized. In the next section the authors present the "working philosohy" and report on the facilities available for assistance of politraumatized patients on the higways under DERSA jurisdiction (Anchieta Imigrantes; Anhanguera-Bandeirantes and Trabalhadores Systems) within Sao Paulo state. PMID- 2616995 TI - [Fraud in science]. PMID- 2616996 TI - [Histopathologic study of primary glomerulopathies: retrospective analysis of 197 renal biopsies (1985-1987)]. AB - The histopathological prevalence of primary glomerular diseases in patients aged 14 to 70 years (105 males, 92 females) was analysed: 140 (71%) were aged from 14 to 35 years and 57 (29%) were older than 35 years, the difference being significant (p less than 0.001). The following data were found at our Nephrological Unit: the prevalence of focal glomerular sclerosis was 37.1%; of the membranous glomerulonephritis 16.2%; of the IgA nephropathy 8.6%; of the membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis 6.1%; of the minimal change disease 5.1%. The acute diffuse glomerulonephritis, the rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and the chronic glomerulonephritis showed the same prevalence of 4.6%, and the mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis and the kidney in Alport's syndrome that of 3.6%. Diagnosis was not defined by renal biopsy in 6.1% of the patients. Failures to achieve diagnosis were due to biopsies with less than 5 glomeruli on optic microscopy or losses affecting the immunofluorescence procedures. It was concluded that the highest prevalence was that of the focal glomerular sclerosis, found in more than one third of the patients. It was followed by the prevalence of the membranous glomerulonephritis which occurred in about one sixth of our cases. The prevalence of IgA nephropathy, minimal change disease, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and of other primary glomerulopathies were low. The prevalence of focal glomerular sclerosis was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in the younger group of patients (14-35 years) than in the older one; the same fact was seen in the prevalence of the proliferative histopathological forms of glomerulonephritis (p less than 0.025), grouping IgA nephropathy, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. PMID- 2616997 TI - [Vaccinal coverage at 1 year of age of the generation of children born in February 1987 in District 3 of the city of Bucharest]. AB - The authors checked the vaccine coverage and the situations in which the compulsory vaccines were not administered up to the age of one year in the children born in February 1987 in District III of Bucharest. The results show a vaccine coverage of more than 90% in BCG vaccination (99.4%), antipoliomyelitic with one dose (94.2%) and with two doses of oral polyvaccine (92.2%) respectively, and the first DTP vaccination (95.9%). The values were under 90% in antimeasles vaccination (87.2%) and the second vaccination with 1 DTP (25.5%). The main causes leading to vaccine coverage could have been prevented. Discussion of these results shows that better vaccination values might be obtained by improving the present control on the immunoprophylaxis activity of the paediatric medical units, by intensifying both their control actions and aims. PMID- 2616998 TI - [The isolation of anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) immunoglobulins and their use in immunocytochemical and immunoenzyme (ELISA) technics]. AB - Carcinoembryonic anti-antigen (CEA) polyclonal antibodies were obtained in ram and rabbit using as antigen source the extracts with perchloric acid from the human colon adenocarcinomas. CEA was purified by gel filtration on Sepharose 4BCL and ion-exchange chromatography (DEAE-Sephadex A50). The total antiserum was absorbed with human serum and perchloric acid extract from the normal colon. IgG anti-CEA was purified by chromatography of the monospecific antiserum, then tested for bonding specificity, at cryostat on sections of colon adenocarcinoma, by indirect immunoperoxidase. The specific reaction was compared with that obtained by the same technique, using two monoclonal antibodies specific to the CEA molecule (MAb-26/3/13 and MAb-26/5/1 respectively). IgG anti-CEA was also used for obtaining some IgG-peroxidase conjugates, with an immunoenzymatic system, ELISA type, with two antibodies according to the model of the ELISA kits produced by the Cantacuzino Institute (ELISA-AFP). The ELISA-CEA kit was standardized using an international CEA standard. CEA was quantitatively determined with this immunoenzymatic system (ELISA-CEA) on a group of 15 healthy subjects (average: 4.8 +/- 0.12 ng/ml) and on 30 patients with colorectal tumours (average: 26.6 +/- 0.15 ng/ml). ELISA-CEA kit, sensitive and reproducible, allow the usual quantitative determination of CEA, a useful marker in diagnosing and monitoring tumour evolution. PMID- 2616999 TI - [The aerobic air microflora in airplanes on various international routes]. AB - Aerobic microflora (bacteria, fungi), in the cock pits of the TAROM company (Boeing 707 and Il 62 M) airships flying on various international routes and airports was studied during November 1988-January 1989. 157-8,800 bacteria and 78 1,336 fungi per m3 air were recorded. Except for Staphylococcus aureus (hemolytic and non hemolytic) the greatest part of the isolated microorganisms was nonpathogenic for man: Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Neisseria, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Sarcina, Aspergillus, Penicillium etc. Several airships on the Asian airports contained a higher amount of bacteria and fungi but not higher than in the living rooms. Likewise, in high altitude flights, the microorganism amount was less than on the ground. The taxonomic spectrum of the bacteria and fungi isolated was almost identical on all the 9 international airports, thus suggesting the homogeneous and international character of saprophyte and pathogenic air microflora by means of the passenger and goods air flights. PMID- 2617000 TI - [Electron microscopic observations on the existence of "deflagellation tolerance" processes capable of explaining the selective isolation of vibrios in semisolid agar]. AB - The authors identified a group of substances (flagellar depression factors--FDF) which suppress the mobility of enterobacteria (immobilization) but do not influence the Vibrio movements (tolerance). FDF do not affect the vital processes, multiplication and formation of colonies. Electron microscopic interpretation showed that, in the usual media, enterobacteria have characteristic peritrichous cilia, whereas in media with FDF they are denuded of their flagellation formation. As such a process of flagellation depletion seems to be not known, we suggest the term "deflagellation" to name it. In a completely different way, the vibrios keep their single cilium located apically and implicitly their moving ability. These behaviour differences are evident in semisolid agar with FDF. The deflagellated enterobacteria are, therefore, immobilized, and multiply, forming small punctual colonies, of 0.5-1 mm phi, whereas the vibrios tolerating FDF develop and at the same time move in the liquid agar, mass, forming large colonies, of 8-14 mm phi. The electron microscopic observations presented show the existence of a "deflagellation tolerance" process and also explain the specific typology of the colonies of vibrios and enterobacteria formed in liquid agar with FDF. PMID- 2617001 TI - [Observations on 4 atypical cases of blastocystosis]. AB - The paper reports on four atypical cases of blastocystosis with prevalence of digestive and cutaneous disorders and of the allergic and general phenomena. The diagnosis could be established only after revealing Blastocystis hominis in the fecal parasitologic examination. The disappearance, in all the four cases, of varied clinical, delayed signs after treatment with metronidazol and stamycine (in two or even four repeated treatment schedules at 10 days' interval) is the proof that Bl. hominis might be the agent (unique or associated with other parasites) of some polymorphous disorders. Our findings are a call to specialists and clinicians for investigating the parasite and using an adequate treatment. PMID- 2617002 TI - [Written transmissions: the ignored inheritance]. PMID- 2617003 TI - [Slices of life]. PMID- 2617004 TI - [Myopathies]. PMID- 2617006 TI - [Hip prosthesis. 1. The joint prosthesis of the hip]. PMID- 2617005 TI - [Biological markers of cancers]. PMID- 2617007 TI - [A many-sided service from the heart (an emergency and rapid diagnosis center)]. PMID- 2617008 TI - [Upsetting placements]. PMID- 2617009 TI - [Public enemy No. 1 of change]. PMID- 2617010 TI - [Optical and electron microscopic study of the kidney of dogs naturally and experimentally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi]. AB - Two naturally infected dogs (male and female) from Teofilo Otoni (MG-Brazil) were maintained for 18 months in our laboratory. Two other dogs, two months old males were infected with 1 x 10(6) promastigotes of MHO/BR/70/BH46 Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi strain, endovenous route, and autopsied after 10 months and two years. The main findings concerning the kidney were: (1) focal or diffuse mesangial glomerulonephritis with proliferative and enlargement of mesangial cells; (2) increase in thickness of basement membrane with electron-dense deposits; (3) chronic interstitial nephritis with intense exudation of plasmocytes; (4) cloud swelling of renal tubules. The authors discuss the probable pathogenetic mechanisms. PMID- 2617011 TI - Chlamydospore formation by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis mycelial form. AB - To investigate the role of some adverse environmental conditions in chlamydospore formation by the mycelial form of P. brasiliensis, we cultured four P. brasiliensis isolates (18, Bt4, 1183, Pb9) at 25 degrees C within solid agar medium either rich or poor in nutrients. Isolates 18 and 1183 were also cultured under anaerobiosis in a nitrogen atmosphere. Isolate 18 produced great number of terminal and intercalary chlamydospore after 7-10 days of culture in a medium poor in nutrients (2% agar with 0.1% dextrose and polypepton). The three other isolates also produced chlamydospores under the same conditions, but in lower numbers. Chlamydospore production by isolate 18 was abolished when the fungus was cultured in two agar media rich in nutrients (brain heart infusion and potato dextrose agar). Anaerobic incubation of isolate 18 under an atmosphere of N2 showed small mycelial outgrowth with numerous chlamydospores. At the electron microscopical level, the chlamydospores showed one or various nuclei and numerous mitochondria, indicating great potential for further development. Accordingly, chlamydospores produced multiple budding after only 24 h incubation at 35 degrees C. The results demonstrate that under adverse environmental conditions P. brasiliensis mycelial form produces chlamydospores within a short period of time. PMID- 2617012 TI - [In vitro susceptibility to a new antimicrobial agent (imipenem) of pathogens isolated from inpatients at various centers]. AB - Imipenem is a beta lactam antibiotic, a highly potent new carbapenem with broad antibacterial spectrum. To test the "in vitro" efficacy of this antimicrobial agent in pathogens more frequent in several Medical Centers in Brazil, susceptibility testing with 10 mcg imipenem disks and, or corresponding MIC were carried out with 1231 recent isolates of 41 different bacterial species, obtained mainly from hospitalized patients in 5 different medical centers of the cities of S. Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. Our preliminary results with this antibiotic, in final phases of clinical and laboratorial experimentation in this country, are very promissing with, 96.79% of susceptibility of test isolates to 10 mcg imipenem disks and corresponding MIC correlation of up to 4 micrograms/ml. (92.31%). Of the 9 bacterial species more frequently isolated totaling 1108 (82%) of the 1230 test isolates, disk susceptibility was 99% (E. coli), 93% (Pseudomonas aeruginosas), 87% (Staphylococcus aureus), 100% (Klebsiella pneumoniae), 98% (Klebsiella sp), 97% (Proteus mirabiles), 94% (Enterobacter sp), 100% (Streptococcus faecalis) with good MIC correlation (up to 8 mcg/ml) and 100% for the anaerobic species Bacteroides sp (MIC up to 4 micrograms/ml). "In vitro" efficacy to hospital pathogens with high frequency of resistance to most antibiotics as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to anaerobes notably Bacteroides sp is emphasized. PMID- 2617013 TI - [Seroprevalence and risk factors for syphilis in prisoners in Goias, Brazil]. AB - A cross-sectional survey was carried-out among 299 prisoners in the Penitentiary Center of Industrial Activity of Goias (CEPAIGO), to determine the seroprevalence to T. pallidum and to identify risk factors associated to seropositivity. The seropositivity criterion was a positive VDRL test at any titer. A questionnaire was applied to evaluate the following risk factors: time of imprisonment, clinical evidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), history of syphilis or others STD, homo/bisexuality and number of sexual partners. The positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of the history of syphilis were calculated. Seroprevalence of 18.4% was found and no difference was detected in the different age groups. The PPV of history of syphilis was 26% indicating that 74% of the individuals who have reported syphilis in the past presented a negative VDRL test. Among all the risk factors studied, homo/bisexuality was the only one with statistically significant association with seropositivity (relative risks 5.7-95% CL1.2-26, p = 0.03). The paper discusses the methodological problems related with the investigation. PMID- 2617014 TI - [IgE determination in a group of allergic patients in Cuba]. AB - Because the importance of IgE in allergic phenomena and due to the fact that its measurement is not usual in our country, we decided to evaluate this immunoglobulin in 62 patients suffering one or more allergic symptoms. We used PRIST, the solid phase radioimmunoassay by the sandwich technique. IgE was increased in 75% of the patients. Factors influencing this find were analyzed: geographic, weather and environmental conditions, genetic and other factors. PMID- 2617015 TI - [Value of IgE determination in allergic patients]. AB - This study was done with 56 patients of the Service of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of Hospital de Especialidades CMN-IMSS. The patients were separated according to their positive or negative skin reactions in two groups: positive skin test = 29 patients and negative skin test = 27 patients. All patients were tested for the most common allergens existing in the valley of Mexico. Stool examination (3 test) hematic biometry, nasal cytology and total circulating IgE were also done. The relationship between sex, age and smoking habits with the IgE levels and results of skin tes was evaluated. IgE is higher, although non significant, in atopic, smokers and males. However the IgE levels are very variable in allergic patients and therefore it is not considered conclusive for diagnosis of these diseases. PMID- 2617016 TI - [Personal financial strategies. A magistral conference]. PMID- 2617017 TI - [Nursing consultation in primary care]. PMID- 2617018 TI - [What to do with the patient on serotherapy?]. PMID- 2617019 TI - [Skin ulcers. The challenge for nursing]. PMID- 2617020 TI - [A study of spirometric values]. PMID- 2617021 TI - [School vaccinations. How to program them]. PMID- 2617022 TI - [Catheters for a hemodynamic study. (I)]. PMID- 2617023 TI - [Continuing education. 43. Subject: mother-infant. Topic: Growth and nutrition]. PMID- 2617024 TI - [Compassion fatigue]. PMID- 2617025 TI - [Evoked acoustic responses in the brain stem of subjects with facial hemispasm and megabasilar anomaly]. AB - We examined 8 subjects affected by hemifacial spasm. The CT exam showed a megadolichobasilaris vessel in five of them. Four of these five presented BAEP anomalies. Three of these four showed a decreased amplitude of the V wave and the other one a pathological increment of the I-V interval. PMID- 2617026 TI - [Triphasic waves in dementia syndromes]. AB - Seventy-one EEGs (0.49%) of 53 patients, out of 14,458 recordings, contained triphasic waves: twenty-nine were patients with metabolic encephalopathies and 24 were demented patients (16 of these had a presumptive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and the other eight of mult-infarct dementia). Demented subjects with metabolic disorders are included in the metabolic encephalopathies group. In all of the cases of Alzheimer's disease, triphasic waves were atypical: in 14 they occurred singly or in short bursts, in 10 they had occipital predominance and in 2 they were bilateral but asymmetrical. In 5 cases, triphasic waves were associated with myoclonus and in 2 of them they occurred in long runs with a pseudo-periodic pattern. In these cases the distinction from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was based on neuropathologic findings. PMID- 2617027 TI - Evaluation of extracranial carotid system with duplex scanner HR in hemiplegic patients. AB - The aim of this work is to study extracranial carotid lesions and their relation to some risk factors for atherosclerosis, in a large group of hemiplegic patients during rehabilitation treatment. The results indicate that in patients with stabilized ischemic stroke there is a high percentage of positive Duplex Scanner examination. However, the presence of negative patients with hemiplegia leads us, in this case, to look for a carotid lesion placed higher up. The high presence of bilateral atherosclerotic lesions also shows that atherosclerosis is not only a local process. The clinical event may be caused by the type of carotid lesion (as demonstrated by thrombosis or carotid lesions with superficial ulceration contralateral to the hemiplegia). PMID- 2617028 TI - [Type I Arnold-Chiari malformation: diagnostic considerations in a case]. AB - An 18-year-old patient with a 5-year history of periodic vertigo, headache and stiff neck is reported. Routine X-ray of the skull showed a mild form of basilar impression while the CT scan demonstrated only a tri-ventricular hydrocephalus. Without using the traditional invasive techniques, diagnosis of Chiari type I malformation was nonetheless clearly pointed out by magnetic resonance imaging of the posterior fossa and spinal cord. Diagnostic problems of this clinically ambiguous and uncharacterized syndrome are discussed. PMID- 2617029 TI - Pseudotumor cerebri: clinical features and evolution. AB - Risk factors, neurological, neuroradiological and ophthalmological features of 13 cases of acute pseudotumor cerebri were studied. After a 53-month period of mean follow-up, ophthalmological complications were taken into consideration: one patient (8%) showed unilateral optic atrophy with complete loss of vision, another subject complained of visual field constriction, and a third one of transient horizontal diplopia. Papilledema, which was present in 100% of the patients in the acute phase, persisted in 62%. PMID- 2617030 TI - [Animal reservoir hosts of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in Zaire: trypanosome infections in two foci in Bas-Zaire]. AB - The prevalence of Trypanosoma spp. infections in domestic animals was estimated in a forest (Boma) and a savanna (Kimpese) sleeping focus in Bas-Zaire. The miniature anion-exchange centrifugation technique was used to determine the infection rates with T. congolense, T. vivax and T. brucei spp. in 505 animals. T. congolense predominated in both foci with the highest prevalence in pigs (76.2%), followed by sheep (31.3%), dogs (30.6%) and goats (7.4%). T. vivax was seen only on two occasions. In the forest zone, T. brucei spp. infections were frequent (pigs 16.5%, sheep 6.2%, dogs 3.4%, goats 1.1%) in contrast to the savanna area where only one T. brucei spp. infection was diagnosed. Twenty five primary isolations of T. brucei were done using different isolation and stabilization approaches. Isolates and stocks await behavioural, biochemical and molecular biological identification to discriminate T. b. brucei and T. b. gambiense of domestic animal origin. PMID- 2617031 TI - Antigen-detection enzyme immunoassays for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma vivax, T. congolense and T. brucei infections in cattle. AB - Species-specific monoclonal antibodies against Trypanosoma vivax, T. congolense and T. brucei were used to develop antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (antigen-ELISA) for the diagnosis of bovine trypanosomiasis. Each assay was subsequently used for the detection of species-specific circulating antigens in sera of cattle experimentally infected by tsetse transmission. In T. vivax and in T. congolense-infected animals, circulating antigens were detected as early as 10-12 days post-infection while for T. brucei infections, the antigens were detected 8-14 days after challenge. The appearance of the antigens in peripheral blood generally coincided with the onset of first parasitaemia. The antigen levels increased and were persistently present in circulation even on occasions where parasitaemia was not detectable by the buffy coat technique. Following treatment with Berenil (diminazene aceturate, Hoechst, W. Germany) at a dose of 7.0 mg/kg body weight, T. vivax and T. congolense antigens were cleared from circulation within 2 weeks. The rate of removal was slower but variable in T. brucei infections. In one group of 3 animals infected with T. congolense, however, the initial decline in "antigenaemia" was followed, several weeks later, by another rise in antigenaemia, possibly heralding a relapse of the infection. Parasitaemia was not demonstrable at this stage by the buffy coat technique. The circulating antigens were partly in the form of free antigens and partly as immune complexes. Not only are these antigen-detection ELISA assays likely to be of diagnostic importance, but they may also be useful as tools for evaluation of the efficacy of treatment. PMID- 2617032 TI - Differentiation of rodent trypanosomes of the subgenus Herpetosoma by lectins. AB - Trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma microti, T. evotomys, T. grosi, T. musculi, and T. lewisi and trypomastigote and epimastigote forms of T. acomys were differentiated using 34 lectins and the Aminoff test for N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA). Twelve of the lectins failed to agglutinate any of the above species. The number of lectins which agglutinated each species differed; T. mciroti, T. evotomys, T. grosi, T. musculi, T. lewisi and T. acomys (trypomastigote and epimastigote forms) were agglutinated by 7, 14, 7, 13, 11 and (11 and 10) lectins respectively. Some of the lectins were common in agglutinating all species of parasites, for example Bauhinia purpurea, Caragana aborescens and Viscum album. The minimum concentration of lectins which agglutinated each parasite was quite different. The agglutinations were cell body-cell body, flagellum-flagellum or flagellum-cell body. Most of the agglutinations were inhibited by their specific carbohydrates. The lowest concentrations of NANA was observed in T. lewisi (0.3 micrograms/ml) and the highest in T. musculi (4.5 micrograms/ml). The concentrations of NANA in T. microti, T. grosi and in T. acomys (trypomastigote and epimastigote forms) were 2, 1.8, 2.9, and (1.4 and 1.2) micrograms/ml respectively. PMID- 2617033 TI - Effect of Leishmania major on luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of human whole blood phagocytosis. AB - The aim of this study is to examine the effect of L. major on human whole blood phagocytosis. The phagocytosis was activated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or opsonized zymosan. Various types of Leishmania antigens were tested on luminol dependent chemiluminescence. In PMA-activated whole blood phagocytosis group, promastigotes and infected medium significantly (P less than 0.001) depressed the maximum peak of chemiluminescence to 5.77 +/- 1.6 and 5.65 +/- 0.45 mV respectively, compared to 9.85 +/- 22 in control group. In a similar fashion a significant reduction of the area under the curve was noted. On the other hand, opsonized zymosan-activated phagocytosis was significantly (P less than 0.025) inhibited in the promastigote treated group only. The maximum peak response was 4.68 +/- 1.5 and 10.8 +/- 0.46 mV in promastigote and control groups, respectively. The above data indicated; a) an inhibition of whole blood phagocytosis induced by Leishmania and b) a marked reduction of the oxygen reactive metabolites radicals generated by whole blood phagocyte cells and measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence suggesting the important role of oxygen free radicals in the pathogenesis of leishmaniasis. PMID- 2617034 TI - Cell-mediated and humoral immune response to tetanus vaccinations in onchocerciasis patients. AB - In order to assess the possible suppression of immune responses to non-specific antigens in patients with generalized onchocerciasis, a vaccination study was conducted among the population of eight Liberian villages. Hundred and eighty four persons infected with Onchocerca volvulus and 142 non-infected individuals were tested for delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity to tetanus antigen using the Multitest Merieux. Prevalence of malaria and infections with intestinal nematodes with larval migration to the lung were much the same in all the villages examined. Other parasitic diseases had no significant influence. Persons aged 2 29 years with onchocerciasis had a significantly lower prevalence of positive tetanus reactions (p less than 0.05). Hundred and eighty persons showing a negative skin test were vaccinated twice with 75 i.u. tetanus toxoid and cell mediated as well as humoral immune responses were recorded three months later. Analysis of sera collected before vaccinations indicated that 56% of the vaccinees had tetanus antibody levels of 0.01 i.u./ml or more and had, therefore, received a booster vaccination. Rates of seroconversion or booster were the same in persons with or without onchocerciasis (81% and 82% respectively). The conversion rate in the delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity test, however, was significantly lower in those infected with O. volvulus (67%) as compared to the controls (92%, p less than 0.001). These results demonstrate a diminished cell mediated immune response to tetanus toxoid vaccinations in patients with generalized onchocerciasis. Considering the unimpaired humoral immune response, no changes in vaccination schedules are recommended. PMID- 2617035 TI - Chromosomes of six species of Onchocerca (Nematoda: Filarioidea). AB - Examination of ovaries and testes from adult Onchocerca ochengi, O. gutturosa, O. armillata and O. lienalis revealed five pairs of chromosomes, but in contrast O. volvulus and O. gibsoni had only four pairs. PMID- 2617036 TI - The development of Onchocerca ochengi in surrogate temperate Simuliidae, with a note on the infective larva. AB - Laboratory reared nulliparous female flies of six temperate species of Simuliidae were examined for their susceptibility to infection with Onchocerca ochengi by intrathoracic injection of cryopreserved skin microfilariae obtained from cattle in Mali. Three species (S. equinum, S. ornatum and S. erythrocephalum) supported development to the infective stage, one species (S. variegatum) allowed partial development and the remaining two species (S. reptans and S. aureum) were insusceptible to infection. The most suitable surrogate vectors were S. equinum and S. ornatum which had survival rates of 44% and 49%, proportions of microfilariae developing to third stage larvae of 6.4% and 3%, and infection rates with infective larvae of 13.5% and 14% respectively. O. volvulus infective larvae, produced by intrathoracic microfilarial injection in S. ornatum, were 586 760 microns (mean 687 microns) long and were significantly shorter (p less than 0.02) than the O. ochengi infective larvae (645-880 microns, mean 756 microns). No constant differences in the posterior or anterior morphology, or in the acid phosphatase staining patterns between O. ochengi and O. volvulus, were seen. These results raise the possibility that the presence of O. ochengi in a population of infective larvae from vector flies in endemic onchocerciasis zones might be identifiable on the basis of their length alone. PMID- 2617037 TI - Dynamics of microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus over the first 72 hours after treatment with ivermectin. AB - Changes in microfilaria (mf) densities in skin, blood and urine were followed over 72 hours in 8 Guatemalan patients who received invermectin (150 mcg/kg po in a single dose). After an initial increase at 6 hours, the significance of which is not clear, mf densities in skin snips decreased rapidly to reach 13% of their pre-treatment level by 48 hours and then fell much more slowly over the next 24 hour period. The fall in mf concentrations is thought to be mainly a result of movement away from the subepidermal layer. In contrast to what happens after DEC, it was not accompanied by any marked wave of microfilaraemia or microfilaruria, nor by the appearance of a papular rash, although brawny oedema of the skin sometimes developed. Reactions that occurred after ivermectin could not be correlated with the initial density of microfiladermia. It is hypothesized that the movement of mfs may be 1) into the deeper layers of the dermal collagen, 2) the subcutaneous fat, or 3) the lymphatic system. PMID- 2617038 TI - Electron microscopic studies on the effects of CGP 6140 and CGP 20376 on microfilariae and third stage larvae of Onchocerca volvulus. AB - Electron microscopic examination was used to assess the effects of CGP 6140 (proposed generic name: amocarcine) and CGP 20376 (proposed generic name: metobethiamide) on the fine structure of microfilariae and third stage larvae of Onchocerca volvulus after in vitro exposure to different concentrations of these compounds. The range of concentrations was selected according to the expected plasma levels that may be reached with these drugs. The microfilariae showed distinct effects on the muscle cells as myelin figures, vacuolisation and disintegration of the cytoplasm after both compounds. The third stage larvae showed the same effects on the muscle cells including changes in the mitochondria and the hypodermal tissue. In addition, the glandular esophagus demonstrated degenerative alterations of the cytoplasm and loosening of the cuticular lining after exposure to CGP 6140. CGP 20376 led to severe damage of the fibres of the nerve ring. No degenerative changes of the microtubuli were observed. Comparison of the morphological effects observed by electron microscopy with the reduction rates of motility and moulting recorded in the in vitro tests showed good correlation between these different parameters. The observed effect on the fine structure was the most sensitive parameter. PMID- 2617039 TI - The further application of MTT-formazan colorimetry to studies on filarial worm viability. AB - Experiments have confirmed that MTT-formazan colorimetry in its simplest form (incubation of intact worms with MTT and direct visualisation of any formazan formed) can be readily applied to several species of filariae including Onchocerca volvulus. Data is presented which will assist the development of quantitative MTT reduction viability tests for a selection of the smaller filarial species. Assays of pieces of Onchocerca gutturosa and O. volvulus females have led us to tentatively conclude that the tips of filariae, particularly the anterior ends, may well be metabolically the most active part of the worm. Selective sampling of these regions for Onchocerca might therefore be a useful indicator for the viability of the parasite. An example of how MTT formazan colorimetry has been applied to yield additional data to support motility observations on the in vitro survival of male O. gutturosa is also given. The in vitro timecourse of worm death caused by 10 microM CGP 20376 on Acanthocheilonema viteae females has been examined by MTT reduction and compared with 6 other non-subjective parameters. The results suggests that the parameters examined could be divided into two groups according to the time taken for CGP 20376 to cause 50% inhibition (t50) of the parameter. Fast response parameters had t50's between 1 and 6 h (motility indices, 14CO2 evolution, adenine uptake and leucine uptake), they are more sensitive measures of viability and indicate possible worm damage which may or may not be reversible. Slow response parameters had t50's between 34 and 48.5 h (lactate output, MTT reduction and adenine leakage), and are probably linked with severe degenerative changes and are indicative of worm death.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617040 TI - In vitro activity of some monoclonal antibodies against Brugia malayi microfiliariae and infective larvae. AB - Two out of six monoclonals (McAbs) produced against subperiodic Brugia malayi infective larva (L3) antigens impaired B. malayi L3 motility independently of human buffy coat cells. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed damage to L3 surface and loss of regular cuticular annulations. The two McAbs (BML 1a and BM1 8b) did not affect B. malayi microfilaria (mf). They were IFAT-positive with B. malayi adult and L3 antigens; other McAbs which did not affect mf or L3 motility were IFAT-negative. All six McAbs did not promote cellular adherence of normal human buffy coat cells to mf or L3. PMID- 2617041 TI - Antifilarial activities of synthetic and natural retinoids in vitro. AB - Fourteen synthetic retinoids with known and different binding affinities to retinol binding proteins of Dirofilaria immitis, retinol, and retinoic acid were tested in vitro against female Litomosoides carinii (drug levels 20, 10, 1 nM/ml) and against microfilariae of L. carinii, Brugia malayi, B. pahangi and Acanthocheilonema viteae (drug levels 100, 20, 10, 1 nM/ml). All compounds including retinol and retinoic acid had at least some effects on the filarial parasites. Except for 3 synthetic retinoids, continuous exposure of adult L. carinii to the drugs reduced the motility of the worms completely or remarkably by day 7 of incubation in a dose and time dependent fashion. Also, the release of microfilariae was completely or remarkably suppressed in a dose and time dependent manner by 20 and 10 nM/ml of all except 4 of the retinoids. Short term exposure to the drugs (up to 20 nM/ml) for 4 h followed by subsequent incubation in drug-free medium was ineffective except for one synthetic retinoid (13-cis-N (2-hydroxyethyl)retinamide:13-cis-Her). Effects on microfilariae were also dose and time dependent. All compounds affected markedly the motility of L. carinii microfilariae within 20 h at dose levels of 1 nM/ml and above. Microfilariae of B. malayi, B. pahangi and especially of A. viteae were generally less sensitive. Eight of the synthetic retinoids, but not retinol and retinoic acid, were effective (10 nM/ml). There were generally no correlations between the various effects of individual compounds; i.e., activities varied within one species depending on the parameters used and depending on the parasite species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617042 TI - Modulation of lymphocyte activation by soluble Brugia pahangi extracts. AB - Both nonspecific and antigen specific immunological alterations are associated with the presence of circulating microfilariae in Brugia pahangi infected jirds. T-cell growth factors are an essential element of an immune response; thus, modulation of the production or utilization of lymphokines by filarial antigens may be involved in these alterations. In the present study, the effect of soluble extracts of B. pahangi adult worms and microfilariae on the in vitro mitogen and antigen induced proliferative responsiveness of lymphocytes from uninfected and B. pahangi immunized jirds was investigated. Dose dependent suppression of lymphocyte proliferative responsiveness to the T-cell mitogen, concanavalin A ranged from 37% to 86% in the presence of adult or microfilarial (Mf) extracts, respectively. Similarly, a suppressive effect was observed when other mitogens were used to stimulate the lymphocytes. Mf extracts did not significantly suppress the proliferative response of lymph node cells from B. pahangi immunized jirds to parasite antigen. However, microfilarial fractions higher than 150 Kd, purified by gel filtration HPLC, consistently suppressed antigen as well as mitogen responses. Soluble extracts of B. pahangi females and Mf also suppressed mitogen induced lymphokine production by lymph node cells by 66% and 68% respectively. These findings suggest that a microfilarial-derived antigen may play a role in regulating immune reactivity in filarial infections. The absence of generalized nonspecific immunosuppression in filarial infections, however, suggests that the effect of microfilarial-derived antigens may be restricted to the microhabitat of the parasite. PMID- 2617043 TI - A simple procedure for the isolation of schistosomules for biochemical studies or culture. AB - Incubation of cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni in a 1:1 mixture of Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium and rat serum at 42 degrees C for only 5 minutes, plus subsequent vortexing, resulted in at least 98% conversion of cercariae to schistosomules. Subsequent centrifugation before or after settling for 30 minutes in an ice bath, resulted in schistosomule preparations with about 20% or 10% contamination with tail segments, respectively. PMID- 2617044 TI - Epidemiology and control of onchocerciasis in West Africa. PMID- 2617045 TI - Ocular onchocerciasis and intensity of infection in the community. I. West African savanna. AB - A method is introduced for the analysis of community patterns of ocular onchocerciasis in relation to the intensity of infection as measured by the Community Microfilarial Load (CMFL). Specific features of this method are the clear definition of ocular lesions and their separation into early and advanced stages, and the estimation of the prevalence of onchocercal blindness after exclusion of other causes of blindness. The method is applied to the ophthalmological and parasitological data from 33 villages from the West African savanna in order to obtain a reference pattern for subsequent analyses of ocular onchocerciasis patterns from other bioclimatic zones. In the savanna, there exists a clear linear relationship between most indices of ocular onchocerciasis and the CMFL. Mean ocular microfilarial loads, prevalences of the advanced lesions of the anterior and posterior segment of the eye and prevalences of different classifications of blindness show a high degree of correlation with the CMFL, as does also early sclerosing keratitis. The correlation is poor for the other early ocular lesions. All relationships are similar for the two sexes with the exception of posterior segment lesions which remain more common in males after correction for intensity of infection. The CMFL is superior to the prevalence of microfilariae in the skin as an index of endemicity. It allows a good prediction of the severity of onchocercal ocular disease in savanna communities using parasitological information only. PMID- 2617046 TI - A community trial of ivermectin in the onchocerciasis focus of Asubende, Ghana. I. Effect on the microfilarial reservoir and the transmission of Onchocerca volvulus. AB - A community trial of the microfilaricide ivermectin was undertaken in an isolated focus of hyperendemic savanna onchocerciasis in Ghana. One of the objectives was to determine the effect of mass treatment on the microfilarial reservoir and on the transmission of Onchocerciasis volvulus. Since 1978 the focus has been under entomological surveillance. This was intensified from 1 September 1987 till 11 February 1988 with daily vector collection and dissection of over 30,000 flies. A total of 14,991 people were treated with ivermectin on 7-10 October 1987. Skin snip surveys were done pre-treatment, and at two and four months after treatment. The mean skin microfilarial load in treated persons had fallen by more than 96% two months after treatment. During the next two months there was an increase in microfilaria loads which appeared to be faster than reported in the clinical trials. The total reservoir of skin microfilariae available for transmission had been reduced by an estimated 68%-78% two months after treatment. This was consistent with the entomological results which indicated a reduction in transmission of 65%-85% during the first three post-treatment months. The present study has shown for the first time that mass chemotherapy can significantly reduce onchocerciasis transmission. However, the remaining level of transmission was still unacceptably high and further studies are required to predict the long term impact of repeated mass treatment. PMID- 2617047 TI - A community trial of ivermectin in the onchocerciasis focus of Asubende, Ghana. II. Adverse reactions. AB - A community trial of the microfilaricide ivermectin undertaken in an hyperendemic focus of blinding onchocerciasis in Ghana. One objective was to investigate the safety of this new drug when used in mass treatments. 14,911 persons (61.5% of the census population) were treated with ivermectin. Of these, 15% reported with adverse reactions which were generally similar to those reported in the clinical trials. However, cutaneous reactions were relatively less frequent while brawny oedema of the limbs and inguinal gland pain were important. The severe reactions consisted of 37 cases of Severe Symptomatic Postural Hypotension (SSPH), 13 cases of severe fever and two cases of severe dyspnoea. The latter two cases represented life threatening situations, but there was no evidence that they were complications of ivermectin treatment. Only four of the SSPH cases required treatment. All severe adverse reactions were managed successfully and recovered within one day, usually within a few hours. The incidence of adverse reactions was highest the first day after treatment. Thirteen cases of delayed reactions were reported during a four-week follow-up. There was a highly significant relationship between incidence of adverse reactions and intensity of infection but no relation with ivermectin dosage within the range of 130-200 mcg/kg. The results suggest that ivermectin is sufficiently safe to be used in mass treatments. However, mass distribution of this drug should not be undertaken without adequate monitoring. PMID- 2617048 TI - Proceedings from the Seminar on Filariasis 1989. 17 May, 1989, Hamburg. Abstracts. PMID- 2617049 TI - [Nutritive value of fats in 3 basic meals of university students]. AB - The nutritional value of assessed of fat consumed by a selected group of university students. The assessment showed that although the intake of fat with the diet was adequate, its nutritional value might arouse objections. The predominant group constituted monounsaturated fats, saturated fats were present in about one-third lower amount, while polyunsaturated fats accounted for only one fourth of the amount of monounsaturated fats. The percent of energy derived from unsaturated fatty acids in the daily food ration differed from one ration to another, but its mean value was 4.34% while the percent of energy from hypercholesterolaemia-producing fatty acids was higher--10.6%. In the analysed meals the content of erucic acid was relatively low. PMID- 2617050 TI - [Study of the degree of discrepancies between analytical and theoretical results of the evaluation of daily food rations]. AB - Thirty-six daily food rations given as the basic diet to children in two paediatric hospitals in the City of Cracow were analysed. Using laboratory methods in these meals the contents were analysed of protein, fat and carbohydrates and the energy value was determined. Parallelly the theoretical values++ of these parameters were calculated using "Tables of Composition and Nutritional Value of Food Products". For the assessment of the differences between analytical and theoretical values the following were used: 1) deviations of the values obtained in analysis from the theoretical ones accepted as 100%, 2) indices of differences. The general characteristics of the results was determined by the arithmetical++ mean, standard deviation, variance coefficient and 95% confidence limits. The results shown in the study demonstrate that the lowest mean deviation from the theoretical values was found in the case of protein (1.1%) and energy value (12.5%) with the largest one for carbohydrates (38.9%). PMID- 2617051 TI - Interactions between vitamin A and vitamin E and their influence in nutrition. AB - Brief review of some works, devoted to this topic is presented. Special attention is paid to the effect of various intakes of vitamins A and E administered (orally or intravenously) to animals or humans on changes of these nutrients in blood or organs. PMID- 2617052 TI - [Chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in the adipose tissue of the population of BiaLystok and its environs]. AB - In the perirenal fat tissue of 36 representatives of this population (20 men and 16 women aged 41 to 92 years) the levels were determined of the residues of alpha , beta-, and gamma-HCH, DDE, DDD, DDT and sigma DDT. The obtained mean values were 0.012, 0.013, 0.007, 1.421, 0.035, 0.327 and 1.783 mg/kg of fat, respectively. The obtained results were severalfold lower than those found in Poland in the 1970s. The fat of the human fat tissue contained high amounts of beta-HCH as compared to other isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane, and high amount of DDE in sigma DDT. In the fat of men the residues of DDE and sigma DDT were present in greater amounts than in women. On the other hand, no effect of age was noted on the levels of the residues of chlorinated hydrocarbons in human fat. PMID- 2617053 TI - [Possibility of potato growing in the central part of the Katowice province in the aspect of population exposure to harmful substances]. AB - The high consumption of potatoes in Poland may be connected with the risk of introduction of considerable amounts of metals into the organism of humans and animals even in case of low grade contamination of these vegetables. Levels of lead and cadmium were determined in potato samples taken at 16 points in the Province of Katowice. The results of determinations served for estimation of the degree of exposure of the population to these elements. In most samples the concentrations of these metals exceeded the safe level as recommended by the WHO. The content of these metals was determined in whole potatoes, peelings and peeled potatoes, and in the residues after alcoholic fermentation. The obtained results were used for formulation of prophylactic suggestions for reducing the exposure of humans and domestic animals to these metals. PMID- 2617054 TI - [Occurrence and intake of cobalt in Baltic Sea fishes in Poland]. AB - On the basis of literature data and own data the "typical levels" of cobalt in muscles of Baltic fish related to wet-weight (microgram/kg) has been specified as 3.9 for cod, for 8.9 for herring, 6.3 for sprat, 5.6 for flatfish, 8.1 for salmonfish, 6.7 for eel, 10 for pike, 10 for perch and pikeperch, and less than 10 for roach. A dietary intake of cobalt from Baltic fish in Poland is estimated as from 95 to 243 in the years 1950-1970 and from 245 to 354 ng/person/week in the years 1971-1985, on average. PMID- 2617055 TI - [Metal levels in various internal organs and muscles of young bulls]. AB - The aim of the study was determination of the levels of lead, cadmium, copper, zinc and iron in certain internal organs and muscles of young bulls from the Cracow City Province and from farming regions. The content of these metals was determined in the kidneys, liver and longissimus++ dorsi muscle by atomic absorption spectrometry. The levels of lead and cadmium in the kidneys and liver of the bulls from the Cracow City region exceeded severalfold the content of these metals in the internal organs of the bulls from the farming region. In the meat of all bulls the levels of lead and cadmium were never above 0.1 mg/kg. PMID- 2617056 TI - [Cadmium and lead levels in domestic and imported cigarettes]. AB - The content of cadmium and lead was determined in several most popular brands of cigarettes produced in Poland (Carmen, Caro, Extra Mocne, Klubowe, Popularne, Radomskie, Marlboro--produced on the licence of the Philip Morris and in cigarettes imported from Albania (Durres Special, Arberia), Yugoslavia (Jugo) and Cuba (Tobaco Dorado 767, Kim). The samples of these cigarettes were taken from retail market five times at intervals of one month in 1984, (Polish cigarettes) and in 1985 (foreign cigarettes). Cadmium and lead were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after dry mineralization of samples at 400 degrees C and extraction of complexes of metals with APDC into butyl acetate. The mean levels of cadmium and lead (microgram/g) in the studied cigarette brands were respectively: Carmen 1.95, 1.59; Caro 2.12, 1.59; Extra Mocne 4.15, 1.95; Klubowe 2.70, 1.57; Popularne 2.97, 1.54; Radomskie 3.19, 1.46; Marlboro 1.34, 0.87; Durres Special 1.28, 0.80; Arberia 1.09, 0.81; Jugo 1.72, 1.19; Tobacco Dorado 767 1.11, 0.52; Kim 0.98, 0.61. PMID- 2617057 TI - [Evaluation of afternoon sleep of children in nurseries and nursery schools with different acoustic conditions]. AB - The main aim of this study was assessment of the sleep conditions of children in educational-caring institutions. The sleep was considered as one of the elementary needs of the young organism. During a continuous observation of 2505 children sleeping after lunch under different acoustic conditions sleep disturbances were noted caused by noise. The disturbances included prolonged time of falling asleep, increased number of awakening episodes, difficulties in falling asleep again, shortening of the sleep time, and increased number of movements of the trunk and extremities. A significant change of these indices occurred with increased amount of equivalent noise A above 65 dB outside the house. Less significant changes were observed at lower noise levels. Considering the results of this study, the areas with noise level exceeding 60 dB (A) should be regarded as unsuitable for construction of such institutions. PMID- 2617058 TI - [Changes in psychophysical loads of junior high school students as a result of the educational reform]. AB - Prior to introduction of changes in the education programme in 1985/1986 a group of 400 students (277 girls and 123 boys) were examined. They were in the first class of the colleges in several cities. One year later, after a reform of the education programme, another group of first-year students were tested (212 girls and 117 boys) in the same schools. The psychophysical strain of the students was assessed by means of a standardized inquiry containing 77 questions grouped so that it was possible to assess the psychophysical strain connected with school education, work outside school, timing of work during a day, situation in the class and in the family, and psychic wellbeing. The sum of the points obtained in the answers provided information about the general psychophysical strain. The answers to certain questions described objectively the stressful situations and the subjective experiencing of the difficulties of them. Psychophysical strain of first class students before and after the introduction of changes in the education programme differed between girls and boys. The strain experienced by girls was greater than that of boys, but the changes in the education programme decreased the difference between them in the intensity of strain. The reform of the education programme increased the total psychophysical strain of girls and boys, due to increased strain related to the objective stressful situations of first class students and to subjective experiencing of this strain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617059 TI - [Recommendations concerning the rational consumption of fats. I. Population and clinical studies on the role of monounsaturated fatty acids]. AB - On the basis of world literature a review is presented of the achievements of the science and practice of the principles of rational nutrition concerning fats. A particular attention was paid to the amount of fat in the diet of healthy and ill people and the role of monounsaturated fatty acids. These acids present in high amounts in olive oil and repeseed oil may be very useful in replacing saturated fatty acids for decreasing the serum cholesterol level. In accordance with the results of recent investigations (Ziemlanski et al.) no-erucic acid repeseed oil shows a strong antiatheromatous action, and, similarly as sunflower oil, it reduces the serum level of cholesterol. PMID- 2617060 TI - [Constitutional abnormalities of hemostasis: diagnostic strategy]. AB - The most common clinical and biological expressions of constitutional abnormalities of haemostasis on which rests the diagnostic approach are influenced by the level where deficiency occurs as well as by the degree of this deficiency and its mode of transmission. Four situations encountered in practice are described: a severe form with loud and early clinical expression, a moderate form with subdued clinical expression but potential risk of haemorrhage, a genetic enquiry and the discovery of a biological abnormality. Concerning the first two situations, the stress is placed on their clinical signs, since peculiarities in a routine laboratory examination lead to a more appropriate exploration performed by a specialized laboratory. PMID- 2617061 TI - [Constitutional thrombocytopathies and thrombocytopenias]. AB - Inherited thrombocytopathies and thrombocytopenias are very rare diseases but they constitute a model for exploring platelet physiology. These congenital platelet disorders concern adhesion, activation and release, aggregation. The diagnosis is based on specialized biological investigations. The treatment of hemorragic episodes involves platelet infusions. PMID- 2617062 TI - [Prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A and B]. AB - The development of molecular biology techniques has considerably increased our knowledge of the gene and its functioning. When applied to haemophilia, these techniques make it possible to identify the genes involved, to analyse their structure and to explain how their function is altered by mutations. This has resulted in the used of new methods of diagnosis, prevention and treatment. PMID- 2617063 TI - [What is the role of coronary surgery in 1989]. PMID- 2617064 TI - [Hepatic angioma in adults: how far should diagnosis go?]. PMID- 2617065 TI - [Pregnancy in the diabetic woman]. PMID- 2617066 TI - [Obstetrical paralysis: course and surgical treatment]. PMID- 2617067 TI - [Atmospheric pollution: a veritable toxico-ecologic problem]. PMID- 2617068 TI - [Leg fractures. Diagnosis and principles of treatment]. PMID- 2617069 TI - [Burns. Etiology, physiopathology, diagnosis, clinical course and prognosis, therapeutic principles]. PMID- 2617070 TI - [Colorectal cancers. Epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical course and prognosis, therapeutic principles]. PMID- 2617071 TI - [Cervical adenopathy. Diagnostic guidelines and management]. PMID- 2617072 TI - [Acute myeloblastic leukemias. Diagnosis, clinical course and prognosis]. PMID- 2617073 TI - Prevalence of thick intimas and of obstructive lesions in the vessels supplying the conduction system of the heart. AB - A study of the prevalence of thick intimas and of obstructive lesions in the vessels supplying the conduction system of the heart (first septal artery, sinus node artery, atrioventricular node artery, posterior descending artery) was carried out on both non-hospitalized and hospitalized subjects. A total of 932 cases aged 6 to 55 years were investigated. The age period of the onset of both intimal thickenings and atherosclerotic plaques, the percent of cases with intimal thickenings and atherosclerotic plaques in successive age groups and the highest value of the intima thickness/media thickness ratio, were recorded. Comparative data are presented between apparently healthy subjects who died of accidental causes and patients of similar age and sex, who died of coronary heart disease. Sudden cardiac death cases are presented showing as the most important lesion the obstruction of the sinus node and atrioventricular node arteries. The results point to a need for a more frequent routine examination of the vessels supplying the conduction tissue of the heart. PMID- 2617074 TI - Cardiac involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis and polymyositis: a comparative study in 116 patients. AB - A comparative study was carried out in 116 patients-51 with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and 65 with polymyositis (PM) to detect the cardiac involvements secondary to these two collagen diseases. Different forms of cardiac involvement could be detected in 51% of the patients with PSS and in 18.5% of those with PM. The most frequent cardiac dysfunctions were disturbances of rhythm and conduction probably due to the coronary vascular changes in PSS and to processes of fibrosis and degenerescence of the specific myocardial fibers in PM. Myocardial lesions expressed by myocarditis and cardiomyopathies are not infrequent and have important prognostic implications. In the group of patients studied the valvular cardiopathies and clinically evident pericardites were rare. Cardiac involvement clearly proved more frequent in PSS - in which the pathogenic mechanism is mainly vascular - than in PM. This emphasizes the great importance of coronary circulation disturbances in the pathogenesis of collagen heart diseases. PMID- 2617075 TI - Beta-glucuronidase-positive lymphocyte population with intact enzyme-positive lysosomes in patients with malignancies. AB - In 234 patients with various malignant diseases including cancer of the larynx, cancer of the lung, cancer of the stomach, cancer of large intestine as well as patients with Hodgkin's disease, plasma cell myeloma and precancerous states of the larynx, the count of peripheral blood lymphocytes showing intact beta glucuronidase-positive lysosomes was determined using a semiquantitative histochemical method. All the patients studied, except patient with cancer of the lung, showed a tendency toward a low count of such cells significant in patients with precancerous states of the larynx, cancer of larynx, cancer of the larynx after radiotherapy and Hodgkin's disease and nonsignificant in cancer of the stomach, cancer of the large intestine and plasma cell myeloma. In patients with cancer of the lung the count of lymphocytes with intact beta-glucuronidase positive lysosomes was significantly increased as compared with that in healthy subjects. The possible relationship between the low immune response in the patients and the functional state of the lymphocyte lysosomal system is discussed. PMID- 2617076 TI - Decrease of serum immunoglobulin M levels in some diabetic patients. AB - Contradictory results have been published on serum immunoglobulin levels in diabetes. Our study population consisted of 26 "juvenile" IDDM patients (males/females 14/12, mean age 15.8 +/- 2.4 yrs), 42 "adult-onset" IDDM patients (25/17, 45.1 +/- 15.2 yrs), 62 NIDDM patients (27/35, 59.8 +/- 7.7 yrs), 128 controls. IgM has been measured by a highly standardized endpoint radial immunodiffusion. Since age and sex significantly influence serum IgM levels, we calculated Z values using the formula: log (Xobs:Xexp): SDexp, where Xobs is the measured IgM in any individual and Xexp and SDexp are the expected (geometric) mean and standard deviation of the log IgM values for each year of age in both sexes, as previously calculated by orthogonal polynomials from a large population of "laboratory controls" (n = 755; 10-70 yrs). These Z values (+/- SD) in juvenile IDDM (-0.442 +/- 0.988) and NIDDM (-0.559 +/- 1.215) were significantly lower (P = 0.035 and P less than 10(-3)) than in "laboratory controls" (0 +/- 1). Values in adult IDDM (-0.0225 +/- 1.213; P = 0.24) and in controls (-0.018 +/- 1.04) did not differ significantly from the "laboratory controls". The prevalence of diabetes within the four quartiles of the IgM distribution differed significantly from the one expected according to the null hypothesis (chi-square = 42.2; 3df; P less than 10(-4]. This is also applied to juvenile IDDM (P less than 0.05) and NIDDM (P less than 10(-4], but not to adult-onset IDDM. These results suggest that the low IgM levels may partly contribute to the poorly explained increase in susceptibility to infections in some diabetics. PMID- 2617077 TI - Advantages of treatment with Reprimun in sarcoidosis. AB - Favourable results were obtained by treatment with Reprimun alone or in association with low doses of Prednisone in 112 patients with sarcoidosis (59% with active sarcoidosis and 33% failures of a previous corticotherapy). Treatments were applied during 3-6 series each one of 6 weeks at intervals of 2 weeks between series. In comparison with the classical corticotherapy, treatment with Reprimun has better results, namely: absence of any major adverse reactions; reduction of the treatment period to 6-12 months (3-6 series); 95% lasting remissions in the sarcoidoses with initial treatment and 78% remissions in the case of failures of a previous corticotherapy. PMID- 2617078 TI - The antiallergic action of some bioactive maize extracts and their possible effects on the immune response. AB - The paper brings into discussion the utility as a therapeutic agent of the active principle existing in the bioactive concentrated extracts from maize. The antiallergic action of these concentrated extracts was demonstrated both experimentally and clinically. Their therapeutic effect is characterized by a very good tolerance and a remarkable "retard" effect (protection for 2 to 8 months). The possibility of an effect on the immune response (immunomodulating effect) is also discussed. The data regarding this research and the discovery patented in 1977 have been discussed in several papers and reports published between 1974 and 1986. PMID- 2617079 TI - The residual myocardial contractile reserve in the rational use of digitalis. AB - A simple noninvasive method for the estimation of residual myocardial contractile reserve by using the postextrasystolic stimulation and systolic time intervals is proposed. The rational use of digitalis, avoiding the toxic effects, is possible only if the presence or absence of the residual contractile reserve is taken into consideration. PMID- 2617080 TI - Coronary anatomy and microarchitecture as related to coronary atherosclerotic involvement. AB - A report is given on the authors' main results concerning the anatomy and microarchitecture of human coronary arteries as related to atherosclerotic involvement and to the clinical manifestations of coronary heart disease. The peculiarities of anatomical branching pattern, of the intimal thickening, muscle columns development, of age-related changes, in the intima/media thickness ratio, as well as the segmental characteristics in susceptibility to plaque development and in the plaque pattern are presented. Our results allow to delineate the coronary arterial bed as an entity in anatomical, histological and pathological sense. PMID- 2617081 TI - Plasma von Willebrand factor antigen and activity and platelet aggregability in patients with proteinuria. AB - Using a complex stimulating mixture containing ADP, epinephrine and collagen, a significantly (p less than 0.002) enhanced platelet aggregability, expressed as platelet sensitivity factor (PSF) was noted in platelet rich plasma of patients with proteinuria (PSF = 472 +/- 125), as against normal weight normolipidemic control subjects (PSF = 32.76 +/- 2.67). A significantly negative correlation (r. -0.579; p less than 0.001) was found between serum albumin concentration and the logarithmic values of platelet sensitivity factor. Plasma von Willebrand factor activity expressed as a percentage of normal was also significantly (p less than 0.001) higher in proteinuric patients (287% +/- 25.8) than in control subjects (99% +/- 5.02), but this hemostatic variable did not correlate with the logarithm of platelet sensitivity factor. Platelet aggregability was higher in hyperlipidemic nephrotic patients than in proteinuric patients with normal serum lipids, while renal failure led to a decrease of platelet function. The raised plasma levels of von Willebrand factor noted in proteinuric patients were not influenced by either hyperlipidemia or by chronic renal failure. It is concluded that changes affecting platelet function in the nephrotic syndrome are produced by other mechanisms than these leading to an increase of endothelia-derived von Willebrand factor. Both changes may, however, contribute to the thrombotic tendency of nephrotic patients. PMID- 2617082 TI - von Willebrand factor in the plasma of patients with rheumatic diseases. AB - von Willebrand factor (vWf), an endothelial cell product, was evaluated in 39 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 19 patients with connective tissue diseases and vasculitis, 21 patients with nonrheumatoid inflammatory arthritides, 14 patients with osteoarthritis and 19 controls. High plasma vWf levels were found in rheumatoid arthritis patients: 196.35 +/- 85.8 (p less than 0.001 versus control) connective tissue diseases and vasculitides: 306.50 +/- 43.4 (p less than 0.001 versus control) and inflammatory nonrheumatoid arthritides: 193.35 +/- 90.6 (p less than 0.01 versus control). Highly increased vWf concentrations of more than 300%, were found in one patient presenting Wegener granulomatosis, 6 patients with vasculitis associated to connective tissue diseases, 7 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 2 patients with active forms of inflammatory arthritides. vWf was correlated with fibrinogen in the subgroup of systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Elevated vWf levels may reflect vascular damage as well as the acute phase reaction. Highly elevated levels of vWf appear to indicate a poor prognosis. PMID- 2617083 TI - Gastroesophageal reflux in chronic alcoholics. Endoesophageal pH determinations using Heidelberg telemetring capsule. AB - Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) was studied in 86 chronic ethanol consumers, by determination of endoesophageal pH using a Heidelberg telemetring capsule. All the subjects were subjected to radiologic and endoscopic explorations in some cases completed by esophageal mucosa biopsy. In 49 subjects (56.4%) GER was present in various degrees according to the calculated score; medium and high intensity reflux in 37 cases (44%). GER was symptomatic in 62% of the cases and 30 patients (35.7%) presented esophagitis with columnar epithelium metaplasia in 3 cases. The intensity of reflux and the presence of esophagitis were found to be correlated with the degree of alcoholic "impregnation". Radiologic exploration detected GER in only 22 patients (44.9%). PMID- 2617084 TI - The IgD-zinc relationship in patients with allergic bronchial asthma. AB - In recent years, evidence was brought of the zinc ion (Zn++) interference in the mechanism of certain processes occurring at molecular level, i.e., the protein synthesis, the activity of some enzymatic complexes, the regulation of transmembranal transport or the processes of immune regulation. The present paper investigates the variations of the immunoglobulin classes in patients with bronchial asthma, particularly the relationship between IgD levels and those of the zinc ion in the blood serum. PMID- 2617085 TI - Influence of negative air ions on experimental ulcer induced by pylorus ligature in albino rat. AB - The authors studied the influence of negative aeroionotherapy (AIT) on the gastric ulcer induced by pylorus ligature. After 24 hours the ligature was removed and the stomach was studied with respect to number and aspect of ulcers (hemorrhagic or not), periulcerous mucosa (edema, folds), acidity and microhemorrhage of gastric secretion. The animals were divided into 4 groups: C1 and C2 (controls)--not treated with air ions; P--prophylactically exposed 10 days before the operation to AIT; T--submitted to AIT prophylactically 10 days before the operation--therapeutically 5 days after operation. The results showed a favourable influence of AIT: the number of gastric ulcers was smaller; the regeneration processes in the mucosa were ameliorated; the gastric acid secretion and microhemorrhage diminished. PMID- 2617086 TI - Digitalis, a defibrillatory drug. AB - Digitalis glycosides have an antiarrhythmic effect in atrial fibrillation, as defibrillatory drugs. These drugs could be classified in a group of antiarrhythmic drugs close to the ventricular defibrillating drugs recently proposed. The reasons for this opinion are shown in this work. PMID- 2617087 TI - Far-Eastern interpretation of cellular pathology: yang-type components of a pancreatic acinar tumor. AB - Conjugates of a sialic acid-binding lectin, limulin, with rhodamine and horseradish peroxidase, were used to detect yang-type components at the surface of pancreatic carcinoma cells. Fluorescence microscopy of frozen sections revealed an even distribution of yang residues over the surface of neoplastic cells, in contrast to the polarized one on normal acinar cells. Electron microscopy indicated a lower concentration of yang-type molecules on the tumor cell surface than on its normal counterpart. It was concluded that the neoplastic process induces an alteration of yin/yang ratio at cellular level. PMID- 2617088 TI - [Jobe's maneuver. Apropos of 227 cases]. PMID- 2617089 TI - [Magnetic resonance imaging in subacromial pathology. A new exploratory technic based on rapid sequences on the gradient echo]. PMID- 2617090 TI - [Results and indications of surgery in degenerative rupture of the sheath of the rotator muscles. Apropos of 40 cases]. PMID- 2617091 TI - [Role of arthroscopy in pathology of the rotator cuff]. PMID- 2617092 TI - [Phosphorus-calcium metabolism and calcitropic hormones in fracture of the femoral neck after 70 years of age]. PMID- 2617093 TI - [Fractures due to bone insufficiency of the sternum]. PMID- 2617094 TI - [Measurement by dual-photon absorptiometry of vertebral mineral density in osteomalacia. Development during treatment]. PMID- 2617095 TI - [A case of giant cell tumor of the dorsal spine]. PMID- 2617096 TI - [164 epiphyseal necroses (hips, shoulders, knees) in 55 patients with sickle cell anemia. Characteristics, epidemiologic and etiopathogenic aspects]. PMID- 2617097 TI - [Principles of re-education and results. Apropos of 44 shoulder prostheses]. PMID- 2617098 TI - [Atlanto-odontoid arthrosis "Morbus ignobilis"]. PMID- 2617099 TI - [Regression during chemotherapy of lytic bone lesions in a patient with type B malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]. PMID- 2617100 TI - [Hypermobility syndrome]. PMID- 2617101 TI - [Rheumatoid nodulitis. Study of 2 cases]. PMID- 2617102 TI - [An increase in Hansen's disease in northeastern Brazil]. AB - The epidemiological aspects of hanseniasis in Recife from 1960 to 1985 were studied. Clinical-epidemiological records of 3,923 leprosy patients reported to the Secretaria de Saude do Estado de Pernambuco were reviewed. The cruce as well as the age, sex and type-specific detection rates were calculated. The way the cases were detected and the time elapsed between the appearance of the first symptoms and the disease was analysed. The analysis of the time trend during the observation period showed an increase in the detection rate with time, rising from 5.5 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1960 to 36.1 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1985. The higher frequency of the tuberculoid type of leprosy and the high percentage of patients under 15 might refleet the expansion of the disease in Recife. The decline and the stabilization in the time elapsed between the appearance of the disease and its detection, from 1979 onwards, indicates a more prompt detection and, as a consequence of that, that the rate of detection is approaching the incidence rate. From 1970 to 1985 the most common means of detecting cases of Hanseniasis was through dermatological consultation followed by disease notification. Only 14.2% of the cases were discovered through the surveillance of contacts. The analysis of the epidemiological and operational indicators suggest that the increase in the detection rate over the period from 1960 to 1985 was due both to expansion of the disease and improvement in control measures. The prevalence rate of Hanseniasis in Recife in December 1984 was 2.04 per 100,000 inhabitants; according to the WHO criteria Recife may be considered an area of high endemicity. PMID- 2617103 TI - [Epidemiologic aspects of tuberculous meningitis in children under 15 years of age in Greater Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1982-1983]. AB - Some epidemiological characteristics of cases of tuberculous meningitis which occurred in subjects under 15 years of age in Greater S. Paulo, S. Paulo State, Brazil, in 1982 and 1983, are studied. The cases were surveyed on the basis of official sources of information, complement by domiciliary visits. A hundred and twenty six (126) cases were identified and analysed by age, sex, source of contagion, BCG vaccination, confirmed diagnosis, hospital lethality, sequels and intercurrent events as part of the follow up. The results showed a delay in diagnosing the cases, possibly due to assistential failures; a high rate of lethality; identification of infectious focuses for the majority of the cases. There were difficulties in evaluating the protection provided by BCG vaccination and as regards sequels the most affected (83.9%) were the under-fives while the greatest lethality rate (43.1%) was found among the 0-1 year- olds. At the end of the study there were 38.9% of cases of cure; 33.3% of death; 15.1% of withdrawal, and the remaining 12.7% some were still under control and others unknown to the system of notification. PMID- 2617104 TI - [Prevalence of alcoholism during 3 decades in Chile (1952-1982)]. AB - The level of alcoholism in Chile and its variations between 1952 and 1982 are studied by means of the Jellinek Method. The limitations and bias of the methodology employed are indicated and the results are compared with those of other children studies. The conclusion is that there was an increase in the number of alcoholics and in the alcoholism rate during the period analyzed, with a rate for 1982 70% higher than that for 1952. The efficacy of the policy for the prevention of alcoholism adopted in the period under study is called in question by the results presented. PMID- 2617105 TI - [Ecologic aspects of tegumentary American leishmaniasis. 7. Phlebotomus vectorial capacity in the primitive forest environment of the Serra do Mar system, Vale do Ribeira region, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil]. AB - A total of 5,038 specimens, belonging to nineteen species, were obtained during the three consecutive years of phlebotomine catches in forest and peridomiciliary environments of the Itapoan farm. Proportionally, the CDC light trap contributed with 92.2% in the forest and 0.7% in the peridomicile sites while the human bait corresponded to 7.0% in the forest. Generally speaking the outcome of the technique utilized was rather low or presented reduced geometrical averages. The most common species in the area was P. ayrozai, almost always predominant; however, the results with human bait prevent one's ascribing a high degree of anthropophilic properties to it. The implication of the reduced presence of L. intermedia, L. migonei and L. fischeri, even with human bait, is that the conditions for the transmission of the disease to man in the forest environment are inexistent. Consequently, this could indicate that the vectorial function would be performed by a population which has survived the period of devastation. For this reason a new epidemiological pattern, connected with a focus, of L.b. braziliensis seems to exist in Brazil. PMID- 2617106 TI - [Drug consumption patterns in 2 villages of Bahia (Brazil)]. AB - A study among families in two villages in rural Bahia, Brazil, reveals that presently pharmaceutical products, are being used in self-medication on a large scale. Traditional remedies appear to have a limited place only. People's attitude towards modern medicines proved to be highly positive. However, when biomedicaly evaluated, the use of the pharmaceutical products has to be considered irrational. Complicating factors are: 1) a preference for the application of pharmaceutical products in infants, 2) the high financial burden to which the population is subject resulting from drug acquisition and 3) the exaggerated expectation with regard to antibiotics, analgesics and vitamin preparations. It is recommended did to do more research into local conditions of drugs use, resulting in creative solutions for irrational drug-use. Self medication could become an important instrument in "Primary Health Care", provided that people have more information. Public Health could play a keyrole in this research and the consequent educational programmes. PMID- 2617107 TI - [A sampling plan for evaluation of vaccinal coverage]. AB - A sampling project applied in a survey for estimating the vaccination coverage in Araraquara County, S. Paulo State (Brazil), in 1983, is described. A target population of children aged 12-13 months was divided into the strata: children living in private dwellings (i.e. single-family houses) and those living in collective dwelling places (orphanage, asylum). R.H. Henderson and T. Sundaresan's method, proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was applied to the first stratum. This method consists of the random selection of 30 partial areas with a degree of probability proportional to the respective partial populations in each area chosen; a starting point ("household") is selected at random within each selected area; the selection of 7 children within each area begins with the first household and continues according to fixed rules. The sample of the first stratum was taken from areas in both urban and rural zones. In the urban zone, after the selection of the area and before the selection of the starting point, an intermediate stage, which consist in the selection of a block with probability proportional to its estimated population, was introduced. A sample was selected form the second stratum with the same sampling fraction used in the first stratum. The ratio-estimate is proposed as the estimator of the vaccination coverage rate and the formula for the calculation of the standard error is presented. PMID- 2617108 TI - [Biochemical characterization of calf sera used in the maintenance of cell cultures used in virology]. AB - Eight lots of the calf sera employed to supplement culture media for the cultivation of animal cells, of widespread use in virology obtained from calves above and below six months of age were rated as good or as poor cell growth promoters according to their growth promoting capacity (GPC). Parameters related to macronutrients contained in these serum lots were then evaluated with the purpose of establishing their biochemical profiles. The results obtained can be considered as normal values for apparently healthy animal donors. Fluctuations found between the data of this investigation and those mentioned in the literature for certain biochemical parameters are probably due to the methodology employed, the breed and age of the animals, or even to regional diet. Student's "t" test was applied for the statistical analysis of the results and demonstrated that, as far as serum fractions were concerned, no significant differences occurred between sera rated as good and poor cell growth promoters, taking tc = 2.45. For calf sera from animals above and below six months of age, two tests relating to alfa and beta fractions were significant (t = 2.68 and 2.61 respectively). It was demonstrated that the evaluation of the biochemical parameters mentioned "per se" neither leads to the identification of calf sera presenting good or poor GPC, nor of sera harvested from calves younger or older than six months. PMID- 2617109 TI - [The etiopathogenetic theory of Hansen's disease "N-Factor/Hansen anergic fringe" on its 50th anniversary: general acceptance--with new authorship and exclusion of the Brazilian origin]. PMID- 2617110 TI - Nutritional status of children of urban low-income communities, Brazil (1986). AB - During the second half of 1986 the health and nutritional status of 254 children aged up to six years was studied, as well as the socio-economic situation of their parents in two favelas (shantytowns) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The nutritional status of the children was characterized by stunting (Z-score: 20.1% less than -2) but not by wasting (Z-score: 3.7% less than -2). Consideration was also given to how far stunting was caused by high morbidity such as acute respiratory infections (point prevalence: 38.5%), diarrheal diseases (point prevalence: 11.5%) and parasitosis (point prevalence: 70.3%). Furthermore, anemia (point prevalence: 29.7%) appeared as another health problem. The most important determinant of anthropometric indices turned out to be the mother's schooling. From the present data it can be hypothesized that the nutritional status of the children was limited less by the lack of food than by their poor health status. PMID- 2617111 TI - [Prevalence of pneumoconiosis in workers exposed to phosphate rocks]. AB - The occurrence of pneumoconiosis among workers at a phosphate rock mill in Paulinia, S. Paulo (Brazil), is analysed. Among the 73 exposed workers the occurrence of 20 cases of pneumoconiosis (27.4%) is registered. Beyond the physical examination, the investigation included spirometric examination, thorax X-rays, and lung biopsies during thoracotomy. The majority of the pneumoconiotic workers were assymptomatic with mild alterations in the spirometric pattern, mainly in the maximal medium expiratory flow, with 2 cases of restrictive pattern. The two lung biopsies did not reveal any degree of fibrosis and the analysis of the inhaled material, using X-ray spectrometry and colorimetric method, did not show enough SiO2 to promote fibrosis. It is concluded that the pneumoconiosis in question must be included in the non-fibrogenic group until further investigation can be made, by prospective research. PMID- 2617112 TI - [A teaching-learning experience: changes in beliefs and behaviors in the management of drinking water]. AB - It was studied a change in the children's beliefs and behaviour with regard to their handling of drinking-water by using a teaching-learning experience by means of microscopic observation of polluted water. A structured pre-test on problem solving were administered to 63 6th and 7th grade elementary school children (28 boys and 35 girls). An of these children came from an underprivileged population in the north of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their average age was of 12 years 8 months and SD = 1 year 1 month. Each adequate aspect of their behaviour scored one point: hygiene and protection of containers for collection and storage, water treatment (boiling or the addition of chlorine) and the conservation period. The best beliefs ("to avoid the water contamination that produces illness") scored two points. The number of pupils that changed their beliefs and and behaviour in the post-test was established and the significant difference was found by means of Chi square test (X2). The children did not, in general, improve their behaviour or beliefs. They maintained adequate hygienic behaviour, but did not put into practice the protection of the containers used for the collection. Behaviour regarding storage was still inadequate. The pupils did acquire correct behaviour as regards storage was still inadequate. The pupils did acquire correct behaviour as regards treatment by the boiling of water or the addition of chlorine (P less than 0.01). However, the beliefs involved did not change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617113 TI - [Intestinal helminthiasis. III. A program of education and health in helminthiasis]. AB - From August 1985 to June 1986 an Education Program for school-children and their parents or guardians was undertaken in Santa Eudoxia (S. Paulo, Brazil) with a view to the practice of knowledge concerning intervention with regard to parasitic helminths, with the aim of stimulating collective action. A manual of technical orientation for the coordinators had had been prepared. Three groups composed of school-children's parents or guardians was formed and these discussed four basic themes during the Course of Education and Health in Helminthiasis: 1. What the disease is like; 2. The worms which occur in man; 3. The significance of the disease; 4. Prophylactic measures. Each group prepared a manual about the content of the course. The results of the children's work were presented at the Health Education Fair, an event open to the whole community. The way this Program developed made it clear that the population had become aware of the magnitude of the problem. Furthermore, they feel the need of effective measures regarding the control of helminth infestation. PMID- 2617114 TI - [Analysis of the health and living conditions of the urban population of Botucatu, SP (Brazil). II. Knowledge and opinion of the population on symptoms of diseases]. AB - It was verified the extent of the information of the urban population of Botucatu, SP (Brazil) on health questions. Knowledge and opinions about frequency and severity of thirteen symptoms and signs of disease were researched in 1005 families sampled. The answers were analyzed according to age, sex, level of education and socio-economic level. They showed a tendency compatible with scientific medical knowledge. In the comparison of the sexes, by age, (young adult) women gave more value to the frequency and severity of most of the symptoms than men. The high scores observed for severity showed a tendency to decrease with the increasing level of education for all the symptoms. There were variations among the symptoms in the appreciation of frequency according to the socio-economic level, with a tendency to a decrease in the high scores related to severity, according to the increase in socio-economic level. The degree of information observed in the population contradicts the prejudice, still existing in the medical area, about laymen's lack of knowledge. The hypothesis that the sample studied had access to several sources of information, among them the extensive local network of medical services, is put forward. PMID- 2617115 TI - [Evaluation of the quality of information on the basic cause of death of infants in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)]. AB - The validity of the official information on the cause of infant deaths was studied in the Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre and Pelotas in 1985. Using data collected for a population-based case-control study of infant mortality due to infectious diseases or malnutrition, a comparison was made between the causes of death reported on the death certificates and those obtained after a careful review of case-notes and a medical interview with the parents of the decreased infants. Official death certificates showed an excess of deaths attribute to bronchopneumonia (ICD 485X) and septicemia (ICD 038.9), and an underestimation of the number of deaths due to diarrheal diseases (ICD 009.1) and of sudden infant deaths (ICD 798.0). The overall rate of agreement between official and revised certificates, in terms of groups of causes of death, was only 27.9%. Lower respiratory infections, which were the leading infectious cause of infant death according to official statistics, were superseded by diarrheal diseases after this revision. PMID- 2617116 TI - The impact of improvement of water supply and sanitation facilities on diarrhea and intestinal parasites: a Brazilian experience with children in two low-income urban communities. AB - During the second half of 1986 the impact of the improvement of water supply and excreta disposal facilities on diarrheal diseases and intestinal parasitosis was studied in 254 children up to six years of age from two favelas (shanty towns) of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The estimated incidence of diarrhea was 6.2 episodes/child year and the estimated period prevalence reached 31.0 episode days/child/year. The point prevalence of parasitosis was 70.7% (Ascaris lumbricoides: 55.4%, Trichuris trichiura: 19.6%, Giardia lamblia: 17.9%). The estimated prevalence of diarrhea decreased with improvement of water supply and sanitation facilities to 45% and 44% respectively, but no statistically significant impact was observed in the case of parasitosis. School education and weaning practice were found to be other important determinants of diarrhea. PMID- 2617117 TI - [Anthropometric indices and nutritional status of low income school children in a municipality of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil): a pilot study]. AB - The growth and nutritional status of 185 school-aged children (97 boys and 88 girls) of low socio-economic level in Nova Iguacu, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were studied. Nutritional anthropometry identified 3.52 and 6.25% of the children as suffering from wasting and stunting, respectively. These prevalences of malnutrition were comparable to those described in pre-school children living in a "favela" (shanty town) of Rio de Janeiro. In general, the median height fell below the 25th centile of the international standard of growth. The value of 10 year-old boys fell below the 10th centile. The mean values of weight and height of these children were comparable to those of children from the Northeastern region of Brazil ("Nordeste"), higher than those found for children in the State of Paraiba, Brazil, and lower than those for middle-class children of the State of S. Paulo. Skinfold thickness, arm circumference, and arm fat area data were higher in girls than boys. However, arm muscle are values in boys were superior in comparison to those of girls. PMID- 2617118 TI - [Dyslipidemia and some risk factors in the population outside of the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo, SP-Brazil. A pilot study]. AB - A survey of the prevalence of lipemic disorders and some risk factors associated with them (obesity, hypertension and alcoholism), in a representative sample of the population of 20 years of age and over in a locality typical of the peripheral zone of the Greater S. Paulo Region, Brazil, both in terms of the poverty of the population and with regard to the lack of public sources such as sewage, transport and housing, is undertaken. The following results were obtained: a) the prevalence of one risk factor was about 55%, and of two or more associated risk factors was of approximately 9% in the age group from 20 to 39. There was found to be a prevalence of about 51% and 57%, respectively of two or more associated risk factors for the age groups from 40 to 59 and 60 years of age and over; b) the prevalence of lipemic disorders proper was of about 49%, 58% and 57% respectively, for the age groups of 20 to 39, 40 to 59 and 60 years of age and over. In these cases the most prevalent risk factors among men were alcoholism and hypertension, either isolatedly or associated with obesity, and among women the most prevalent was obesity, alone or associated with hypertension; c) the most prevalent lipemic disorder was due to HDL-cholesterol, mainly among the younger people. The prevalence lower-than-normal HDL cholesterol, was of about 28% and of "other lipemic disorders" was of 22% in the age group between 20 and 39 years of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617119 TI - [New synonyms and corrections in Simulium with the revalidation of S. pruinosum Lutz, 1904 (Culicomorpha, Simuliidae)]. AB - The following synonyms are proposed: Simulium antunesi (Lane & Porto, 1940), Simulium mauense Nunes de Mello, 1974 and Simulium nilesi Rambajam, 1979 are synonyms of Simulium perflavum Roubaud, 1906; Simulium sucamense Nunes de Mello, 1974 and Simulium santaelenae Ramirez-Perez & Peterson, 1981 are synonyms of Simulium (Psilopelmia) iracouboense Floch & Abonnenc, 1946; Simulium major Lane & Porto, 1940 are synonym of Simulium (Hemicnetha) rubrithorax Lutz, 1909. The recent use of the miswriting name Grenierella to the subgenus Grenieriella Vargas & Najera, 1951 is mentioned. Simulium (Grenieriella) pruinosum Lutz, 1910 is revalidated and Simulium nigrimanum Macquart, 1838 should be considered species inquirendae. PMID- 2617120 TI - [Aegla platensis Schmitt, 1942 (Decapoda: Anomura) a predator of immature stages of Simuliidae (Diptera: Culicomorpha)]. AB - For the first time, preferential predation of larvae and pupae of Simuliidae by the crustacean, Aegla platensis Schmitt, 1942, was observed in the field and in the laboratory. Field observations and collections were done in the Carpintaria stream, Dois Irmaos, Country Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The possibility of using this freshwater crab in an integrated control of Simuliidae is discussed. PMID- 2617121 TI - [Onchocerciasis in the Solimoes River]. PMID- 2617122 TI - [Synthesis of eumelanin pigment precursors. II. 6-Hydroxy-5-methoxy- and 5 hydroxy-6-methoxyindol]. AB - Following up of specific melanogenesis metabolite excretion in the course of malignant melanoma disease is useful for the disease prognosis assessment. The authors elaborated a modified synthesis technique of 6-hydroxy-5-methoxy and 5 hydroxy-6-methoxyindole, eumelanin pigment precursors. The elaborated synthesis is economically and temporally reasonable and the synthesized compounds accord, as proved by means of elementary analysis, thin layer (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and last but not least by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), with demands for reference compounds needed for isomer hydroxymethoxyindole quantification in urine. PMID- 2617123 TI - [An attempt to control the growth of syngeneic experimental tumors in inbred mice using Listeria factor Ei, BCG vaccine and a combination of both]. AB - The investigation assessed, whether a nonspecific single and repeated immunization induced by Listeria monocytogenes Ei factor, BCG vaccine and their combination influences the growth of transplanted syngenic methylcholanthrene tumour depending on tumour graft cellularity. The cellularity of 10(4) and 10(5) were investigated. Tumour growth was examined 10 and 17 days after the inoculation. It has been found that single Ei factor administration did not influence the tumour growth. Single BCG vaccine favourably influenced the tumour growth, but in progressing time and cellularity the effect was failing. In combination of BCG vaccine and Listeria Ei factor the antitumour effect appeared to be most profound. In progressing time after the tumour grafting and graft cellularity the effect was disappearing. It was probably due to the fact that immunotherapy fails to control tumour mass with high cellularity. The antitumour effect potentiation by combination of BCG vaccine with Ei factor suggests a way to a possible combined antitumour immunotherapy. PMID- 2617124 TI - [An attempt to substitute carbimazole for Alkiron in an atherogenic diet]. AB - Due to present unavailability of Alkiron the authors tried to substitute it by Carbimazole in atherogenic diet aimed at inducing advanced atherosclerosis in rats. Carbimazole proved to be entirely ineffective in this respect and thus the thiouracil derivatives cannot be substituted by it. PMID- 2617125 TI - [Reactivity of LK-1 monoclonal antibodies with human hematopoietic cells]. AB - A murine monoclonal antibody LK-1 reacting with the common leukocytic antigen gp 95 was prepared by means of standard hybrid technology. This antigen was found in wider distribution on various morphologic types of human blood cells of the monocytic, granulocytic, thrombocytic, erythroid and lymphoid series (with the exception of some B lymphocytes). Furthermore, the monoclonal antibody reacted with the antigen occurring on leukaemic cells of patients with AML, CML, AMMoL, ALL and AMoL and reacted with cells of some human cell lines as well. PMID- 2617126 TI - [Methodology of diagnostic bone biopsy and its complications]. AB - By the end of 1986 559 assessable biopsies had been taken at 3rd internal department. The authors continue the previous study performed at the department and suggest further methods for bioptic sampling enabling sampling of larger bone cylinders. They suggest several ways of bone trepan composition adjustment. The authors discuss and compare the incidence of complications associated with bone biopsy performance. They conclude that in inpatients bone biopsy performed in short-term general anaesthesia is a safe intervention. PMID- 2617127 TI - [Additional findings on age differences in the blood circulation in rats]. AB - By means of microparticles labelled by radioactive strontium 85Sr (3M, USA) the authors in two experiments established cardiac output and local blood flow through bones and certain other organs and tissues of rats in two distinct age categories (35 and 90 days, 45 and 110 days). The results of both experiments showed 1) significant decrease of blood flow in skull, lumbar vertebrae, distal epiphysis, distal metaphysis and thighbone diaphysis and tibia in older rats of both sexes (proof of previous results with 86Rb), 2) constantly significant decrease of blood flow through a skin sample taken from the ventral side of the trunk and 3) nonconstant increase of blood flow through kidneys of older rats. The causes of observed changes are not known, physiological importance to be supposed particularly as regards the circulatory changes in bones, is also not clear. PMID- 2617128 TI - [Evaluation of an automatic sphygmomanometer]. AB - In clinical evaluation of a new type of automatic sphygmomanometer, a strict comparability of results with the standard indirect auscultatory method is required. We have compared the oscillometric apparatus BP 103 N Nippon Colin (B) with the Hawksley random zero mercury sphygmomanometer (A) in a stratified sample of 26 subjects using a cross-over design of four simultaneous pairs of measurements in both arms by two observers. Mean values obtained by machine B were higher than values obtained by machine A, by 0.56 kPa systolic and by 0.62 kPa diastolic. Analysis of variance showed that the differences between both machines were within the random variability of blood pressure values obtained, and therefore irrelevant at single measurements. In case of blood pressure measurements in an epidemiological study, a correction of values should be done using the regression model B = K. A degrees. PMID- 2617129 TI - [Oxytocinase activity in pregnancy complications]. AB - Using a simpler method for cystylaminopeptidase (oxytocinase) investigation modified by means of p-nitranilide the oxytocinase activity was examined in blood serum of 51 pregnant women with complicated pregnancy in the period of week 31-34 of gestation. Lower oxytocinase values were found in women with complicated course of pregnancy compared to those in women with physiological course of pregnancy and the same gestational age. Significantly low oxytocinase activity values were established in pregnant women with preterm uterine activity. A significant variability was found in the whole group of 51 women with complicated pregnancy as well as in individual groups. PMID- 2617130 TI - Analytical goals for the estimation of non-Gaussian reference intervals. AB - Goals for analytical quality are postulated for the situation in which a number of laboratories will share common reference intervals for some quantities for which the population is homogeneous. These goals are evaluated on the assumption that the acceptable combined analytical bias and imprecision should not allow the percentage of the population outside either upper or lower reference limits to exceed the interval 1.3 to 4.4%. The goals are evaluated for log-Gaussian biological distributions, and for distributions which can be transformed into log Gaussian by addition of a constant value to all elements. Further analytical goals for non-parametric distributions are discussed. For log-Gaussian distributions the maximum allowable bias and imprecision are dependent on the ratio of the upper and lower reference limits. When this ratio is c. 1.25, the bias alone must be less than 1.5% or the coefficient of variation alone less than 3.5%. For a ratio of 10, these values may be as high as 15% and 34%, respectively. PMID- 2617131 TI - Regional bone mineral in healthy and osteoporotic women: a cross-sectional study. AB - Regional bone mineral content and density (BMC and BMD) was measured in six regions (head, arms, chest, spine, pelvis, and legs) using dual photon 153Gd absorptiometry (DPA) in 128 healthy women aged 21-77 years, and in 45 women presenting with Colles' fracture (mean age 65 years), 46 women with vertebral crush or wedge fracture (mean age 68 years), and 27 women with femoral neck fracture (mean age 74 years). The age-related normal bone loss was generalized, uniformly distributed, and best described by a combination of a premenopausal linear and a postmenopausal exponential regression in all six regions. Looking at BMD, the overall expected bone loss from age 20 to age 80 was approximately 20% in all the regions. When the fracture patients were examined, we found also generalized bone deficit as the prominent feature, amounting to about 20% of the premenopausal level for Colles' and spinal fractures, and about 25% for femoral neck-fracture. However, there was a regional bias in the fracture patients, as the Colles' and spinal fracture patients had a preferential reduction in spinal and pelvic BMD, whereas the patients with femoral neck-fracture had a preferential reduction in pelvic and leg BMD. We conclude that age-related and osteoporotic bone loss is generalized. Furthermore, we propose that regional differences in osteoporotic bone loss are brought about by a simple biological variability of the range of (i) relative amount of trabecular and cortical bone, (ii) rate of loss in the two types of bone tissue, and (iii) time of onset of trabecular relative to cortical bone loss. PMID- 2617132 TI - Patterns of immunoreactive trypsin in serum from patients with acute abdominal disorders. AB - Immunoreactive trypsin in serum can be divided into trypsinogen and trypsin-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1PI) complexes. These were studied separately in serum from 204 patients with acute gastro-intestinal symptoms. Elevated levels of both trypsinogen and trypsin-alpha 1PI complexes were seen in patients with acute pancreatitis. Elevated levels of trypsinogen and normal or slightly elevated levels of trypsin-alpha 1PI complexes were seen in patients with biliary tract diseases. An isolated increase in the concentration of trypsin-alpha 1PI complexes with normal trypsinogen and amylase levels were seen in patients with perforated ulcer. This third cluster may result from an absorption of active trypsin from the peritoneal cavity. Small amounts of trypsin-alpha 1PI complexes were present also in serum from patients free from pancreatic disease. The results in this study show that high levels of trypsin-alpha 1PI complexes in serum are seen mainly in patients with acute pancreatitis. However, elevated levels are also seen in other pathological conditions in the upper gastrointestinal tract; therefore an assay for these complexes is not a specific diagnostic test for acute pancreatitis. PMID- 2617133 TI - Investigation of red cell size-distribution histograms related to folate, vitamin B12 and iron state in the course of pregnancy. AB - Effects of gradually reduced stores of iron, folate or vitamin B12 on the erythron were investigated in the course of pregnancy in 23 subjects. Significant decreases in serum concentrations of the compounds above were shown at 20 weeks of gestation with a further decline later. An increased value for the microcyte fraction was established in two subjects, whereas seven other subjects showed increased values for the macrocyte fraction. As pregnancy proceeded a significant intra-individual change could be detected in the microcyte fraction in only one subject. In three of the seven above-mentioned subjects, the values measured for the macrocyte fraction demonstrated a further slight increase during the course of pregnancy. Values established for the absolute distribution width at half peak height (ADW0.5) did not reveal significant changes in the course of pregnancy. If compared with the mean cell volume (MCV) and ADW0.5 values, the microcyte and macrocyte fraction respectively may yield a sensitive and specific indication of anomalies of the erythron. Changes in successively determined haemocytometric values in several pregnant women might indicate decreased availability of nutrients for erythropoiesis. However, one may not draw definite conclusions because it is doubtful whether the condition of the stores in these circumstances will be reflected accurately by the corresponding serum concentrations. PMID- 2617134 TI - Analysis of 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine nucleotides, and 6-thiouric acid in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography. AB - We present a rapid, sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP), 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6TGN) and 6-thiouric acid (6TU), with excellent chromatographic separation of the thiopurines. Thiopurines in plasma and erythrocytes were extracted by mercuricellulose and re-eluted with beta-mercaptoethanol. For quantitative detection a reverse phase column (Lichrosorb RP-18 4 mm X 30 cm) and a UV detector were used. Detection limits were 20 nmol/l for 6MP in plasma, 250 nmol/l for 6TGN in erythrocytes, and 10 nmol/l and 15 nmol/l, respectively, for 6MP and 6TU in urine diluted 1:100 with beta-mercaptoethanol. Within-run and between-run variations were less than 10%. Recovery of 6MP added to plasma, and 6TGN monophosphate added to haemolysed erythrocytes were 91% and 81%, respectively. PMID- 2617135 TI - Tetracycline as a marker in hard tissue research: effects on enamel formation in rat maxillary incisors. AB - Tetracycline in low dose is often used as a marker in hard tissue research. A low dose effect on enamel formation has never been proven despite well known toxic reactions in enamel after higher doses. The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate enamel formation in maxillary incisors of rats given a single low dose of a tetracycline with low toxicity, commonly used in research. Eight young rats received an intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg oxytetracycline per 100 g. The rats were terminated after periods between 1 h until 5 days. Undemineralized ground sections were prepared and studied under fluorescence microscopy. Microradiograms were taken to study the degree of mineralization. A diffuse uptake was seen within enamel in areas corresponding to late secretory stage and incisally in maturing enamel with a low mineralization degree. Tendencies of enamel aberrations were seen in all rats. These appeared as splittings within the formed enamel. In conclusion, low toxicity tetracycline disturbs normal amelogenesis, even if administered in low doses. It should therefore be avoided in hard tissue research where enamel formation is studied. PMID- 2617136 TI - Occlusal anomalies in 45,X/46,XX- and 46,Xi(Xq)-women (Turner syndrome). AB - A total of 20 individuals with X-chromosome aberrations, 14 45,X/46,XX-women and six 46,Xi(Xq)-women, were examined for occlusal anomalies. The controls were first-degree woman relatives and population women. The results showed that the most common type of malocclusion in both study groups was lateral cross bite. Also distal molar occlusion, increased maxillary overjet and in 45,X/46,XX-women open bite was found. 45,X/46,XX-women's occlusion seems to be more affected than that of 46,Xi(Xq)-women. Compared to 45,X-women, the present study groups show milder expression of malocclusion. One might speculate that enamel genes of the X chromosome are involved in occlusal development. PMID- 2617137 TI - Effects of variously processed starch on pH of human dental plaque. AB - The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of starch in various cereal products on pH of human dental plaque in vivo as compared to availability to the alpha-amylase of starch in vitro. Three separate experimental series were performed including: 1) rye and wheat products, 2) wheat products processed under both mild and severe conditions, and 3) wheat products with and without added sucrose. The pH drop in dental plaque was studied after a mouthrinse in groups of 10 subjects. Solutions of glucose or sucrose were used as references. No differences were found between boiled rye and boiled wheat, nor between rye bread and wheat bread. Severely popped wheat resulted in the greatest pH drop, followed, in order, by drum-dried and extrusion-cooked products. Mildly steam flaked and mildly dry-autoclaved products induced comparable small pH falls. Sucrose-sweetened wheat products resulted in lower plaque pH values compared to unsweetened products. This effect was most pronounced with a mildly processed sample. In all three series, the glucose and sucrose reference solutions showed the greatest pH drop. In conclusion, all processing methods increased the fermentability of starch in human dental plaque in vivo. Thus, the more severe the processing conditions the more prominent the pH falls. The pH drop in plaque in vivo correlated (r = 0.96 in Series 1 and r = 0.92 in Series 2) with the rate of starch hydrolysis with alpha-amylase in vitro. PMID- 2617138 TI - Sucrose consumption and salivary sucrase activity in a 2-year longitudinal study. AB - Sucrose consumption data of the sucrose group (n = 33) of a 2-yr longitudinal study was plotted against salivary sucrase activity values obtained during this 2 yr period. The correlation coefficients varied between 0.194 and 0.551. The subjects were divided into high (greater than or equal to 10 mumol x min-1 x (10( 3)) and low (less than 10) sucrase activity subgroups. There were significant differences in the sucrose consumption and in intake frequency between these two subgroups. These findings give further support for the possibility of using sucrase activity for the estimation of the level of individual sugar consumption. PMID- 2617139 TI - Simplified method to estimate salivary buffer capacity. AB - A new and simplified method to estimate the salivary buffer capacity was tested. The method, Dentobuff Strip, consists of a pH indicator paper that has been impregnated with acid. A small volume of saliva is added to the strip and after 5 min the color of the strip is compared with a chart. The colors have been chosen to indicate low, medium, or good buffer capacity. The buffer capacity of stimulated saliva samples from 62 subjects was measured with the new method and compared with two commonly used clinical methods, Dentobuff, and an electrometric method. The three methods correlated well, and patients with a low salivary buffer capacity (final pH less than or equal to 4), according to the electrometric method, were readily identified with the new Dentobuff Strip method. PMID- 2617140 TI - Smoking alcohol consumption and dental health behavior among 25-44-year-old Danes. AB - The purpose of this investigation was to describe smoking and alcohol habits of an adult Danish population and to study whether these habits are influenced by living conditions. Moreover, the purpose was to test the hypothesis of unidimensionality of health behavior. The study comprised 749 persons in the age group 25-44 yr (82% of original sample) and data on smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, and dental health behavior were collected by interviews. Fifty-one percent of the interviewed persons were current smokers, 58% among men and 44% among women. One-fifth of the males and about one-tenth of the females were classified as heavy smokers consuming more than 15 cigarettes per day. Fifty-eight percent reported to have alcoholic drinks weekly 71% of men and 47% of women. All in all, 65% of the study group had a weekly consumption of larger beer, 6% of strong beer, 52% of red or white wine, 12% of dessert wine, and 27% of spirits. Alcohol consumption as well as smoking was more frequent among workers than officials. Multivariate regression analyses showed that smoking and alcohol habits varied according to sex, urbanization, education, shift work, and number of children in family. Correlations between alcohol habits, smoking, and perceived dental health were observed. Furthermore, smoking and dental health behavior were negatively associated. In factor analysis of variables on diet, smoking, alcohol, and dental health behavior, two factors were isolated: 1) alcohol consumption, and 2) active dental care. Only a small proportion of the total variance was explained and, thus, the hypothesis of unidimensionality of health behavior was not confirmed. Because of the multidimensionality different strategies and methods in health education may be needed to modify or change the various types of negative health behavior. PMID- 2617141 TI - Longitudinal study on the effect of early interceptive treatment in 4-year-old children with unilateral cross-bite. AB - To evaluate the results of early interceptive grinding and also the possibility of self-correction of unilateral cross-bite, 76 4-yr-old children with this malocclusion were divided into one treated and one untreated group. In the treatment group 50% of the children exhibited a normal transverse occlusion evaluated in the mixed dentition, at the age of 9. In the untreated group only 17% showed a spontaneous correction of the cross-bite. Among the studied dental variables the "max./mand. arch width difference" especially in the canine region was found to be a valuable predictor indicating whether cross-bite can be successfully treated in preschoolchildren by selective grinding. The results of this study support early treatment of unilateral cross-bite and gives the criteria whereby successful treatment by selective grinding may be expected. PMID- 2617142 TI - Occlusal tooth contacts in natural normal adult dentition in centric occlusion studied by photocclusion technique. AB - The inter- and intraexaminer reproducibility in the interpretation of the registrations of the photocclusion technique as well as the number of occlusal contacts and their intensity in natural normal dentition in centric occlusion were studied in 20 adults. No significant differences were found regarding the inter- and intraexaminer interpretations for both number and intensity of occlusal contacts. A mean number of 23.8 contacts per individual, an almost symmetric and balanced distribution of the contacts between left and right sides of the dentition, and an absence of any significant differences between female and male subjects characterized the normal natural dentition. PMID- 2617143 TI - Norwegian dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and behavior concerning the HIV. AB - Knowledge about routes of HIV transmission and attitudes to HIV antibody testing was studied in a group of Norwegian dentists. Personal protection by gloves was also recorded. Eighty-three of 120 (69%) dentists in Bergen (private practitioners) completed a postal questionnaire. More than half of these considered themselves to be in potentially infectious situations daily. Overall knowledge was good, although one fifth gave wrong answers about the relation between antibody status and infectivity. About half the respondents had attitudes to antibody testing not consistent with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. These dentists scored significantly lower on the knowledge questions. Seventy-five (92%) reported consequent use of gloves. A low knowledge score was found among non-users. The present study indicates that lack of knowledge is related to non-recommended attitudes and behavior. The study underlines the need for continuous education and information about HIV. PMID- 2617144 TI - Soap pH and the effectiveness of alcoholic hand antiseptics. AB - This study was done to investigate if the pH-value of a soap used for handwashing had any effect on the immediate and the prolonged effectiveness of alcoholic hand disinfectants. One acidic soap (pH = 3.5) and one alkaline soap (pH = 8.5) were tested in combination with 70% and 90% ethanol and alcoholic chlorhexidine. Bacterial counts from the hands of 26 test persons were obtained using the fingerprint method. The fingerprints were taken before and after handwashing, after hand disinfection and after 3 h of wearing sterile latex gloves. The results showed that soap pH did not influence significantly the effectiveness of a subsequent hand disinfection. The combined use of alkaline soap and alcoholic chlorhexidine showed a tendency to smaller variation in bacterial reduction and greater effectiveness. This combination was the only one that led to an increased bacterial reduction after 3 h. PMID- 2617145 TI - Anevac-D, a new system for close scavenging of anesthetic gases in dental practice. AB - Anevac-D, a new system for close scavenging of anesthetic gases in dental practice is described. It consists of a rubber nose mask surrounded by an outer rigid shell and a chin scavenger. A vacuum in the slot between the nose masks provides scavenging of gases escaping from the inner mask. Gases escaping from the mouth are evacuated mainly by the skin scavenger. The efficiency of this system was assessed in healthy volunteers using argon as a tracer gas. Mass spectrometry was used for measurement of inspired, expired, and scavenged gas concentrations. The scavenging efficiency of the complete system was around 80% and was not affected by poor patient cooperation. It decreased to about 65% when the chin scavenger was removed. The dentist's exposure was measured by sampling of argon in the breathing zone by a Saran system. The average 4-min exposure varied between 90 and 250 ppm depending on system configuration and patient cooperation. Patient acceptance and clinical applicability were judged good. It is concluded that the Anevac-D system provides excellent scavenging properties and exposure levels well within the official recommendations by the Swedish Board of Occupational Safety and Health. PMID- 2617146 TI - Decrease of gamma 1 lattice constant with time in dental silver amalgam. AB - As a measure of the mercury content of the gamma 1 phase in dental silver amalgam, the lattice constant of this phase in different amalgams was determined at various times after trituration. The lattice constants of amalgams prepared from alloys with a high silver content have lower values and show a steeper decline with time than amalgams with a low Ag-content. Therefore, since a higher lattice constant presumably is associated with increased mercury vapor, the mercury vapor emission from amalgams with a low Ag-content probably is greater than from amalgams with a high Ag-content, especially during the first weeks after trituration. PMID- 2617147 TI - Effect of tetracycline and SnF2 on root resorption in replanted incisors in dogs. AB - The present study was made to assess the effect of applying SnF2, tetracycline, or both, to root surfaces of extracted teeth prior to replantation. In five young adult beagles, a total of 18 mandibular incisors were extracted, bench dried for 45 min, and reimplanted in their respective sockets either after no further treatment or following treatment with 1% doxycycline HCl for 5 min, 1% SnF2 for 5 min, or 1% SnF2 followed by 1% doxycycline HCl. After 4 wk of healing, the relative frequency of root resorption (surface resorption, inflammatory resorption and replacement resorption) was approximately 27% of the root surface in bench-dried as well as in doxycycline-treated specimens. By contrast, SnF2 treated and SnF2 + doxycycline-treated teeth showed less than 1% resorption. In the latter two specimen groups an inflammatory reaction in the periodontal ligament without resorption occurred with a frequency of 38.3% and 11.1%, respectively. The results indicate that application of SnF2 to the root surface prior to replantation effectively reduces resorptive processes during the first postoperative weeks. By subsequently treating the root surface with tetracycline, the adverse effect of SnF2 on periodontal connective tissue repair may be reduced. PMID- 2617148 TI - Effect of a high dose of fluoride on resorbing osteoclasts in vivo. AB - Histomorphometric analysis of osteoclasts resorbing bone above the erupting first rat molar tooth germ was made at 1, 2, 6, 24, and 48 h following systemic administration of a single high dose of sodium fluoride. Compared to the number of osteoclasts in control rats, a significant reduction was observed in the number of actively resorbing osteoclasts in fluoride-injected rats at 2 and 6 h after dose administration, after which a gradual increase to control levels was observed. A locally increased number of inactive osteoclasts, not attached to bone surfaces, accompanied the reduced number of active osteoclasts. PMID- 2617149 TI - The human gingival indeterminate cell revisited. AB - Electron microscopic examination of over 100 dendritic cells in human keratinized gingiva has shown that the indeterminate cells are not a separate cell type. This approach disclosed the sources of error which have led to the commonly held, but erroneous, view that there exist numerous indeterminate cells in this epithelium. Two interesting differences were found between gingival and epidermal Langerhans cells. The number of Birbeck granules in the former cells can be extremely low while they occur frequently in the epidermal cells, and granules in their formative stage are commonplace in the gingival cells but rare in the epidermal cells. PMID- 2617150 TI - Two complementary methods of assessing periodontal bone level in rats. AB - Several methods have been applied to measure periodontal disease in rats. The purpose of the present study was to test the reproducibility of a morphometric and a radiographic method and to describe the correlation between the two methods. Periodontal bone loss on 25 defleshed rat heads was assessed under microscopic by measuring the distances from the cementoenamel junction to the alveolar bone crest at 36 buccal sites in each animal. On magnified radiographs from 25 rat mandibles periodontal bone support was expressed by the ratio apex deepest bony defect: apex-cusp tip distally on first molars. All measurements were performed blind and in duplicate on two separate occasions. The bilateral 95% confidence limits for the error of method of measurement were estimated from the t-distribution. In a second experiment 50 rat heads were assessed by both methods, and the correlation between the recordings was estimated by the Spearman rank correlation analysis. Compared to the considerable total variation in the material, the variations due to error of methods of measurement were small, i.e. the reproducibility of both methods was satisfactory. A significant correlation was found between the methods. Since the morphometric method mainly measures horizontal bone loss, whereas the radiographic method detects intrabony interproximal defects, it is concluded that future studies would benefit from applying both methods to assess alveolar bone loss in rats. PMID- 2617151 TI - Effect of moderate protein-deficiency on ultrastructure in parotid and submandibular acinar cells in the adult rat. AB - Powdered diets, of three different levels of protein, were given to groups of adult male rats for 21 days. Two diets with reduced protein content, 5% or 10% casein, were given to experimental rats. A diet with an adequate protein content, 20% casein, was given to controls. A reference group of rats was fed a standard pellet diet for the same period. At the end of the experimental period, the parotid and the submandibular glands were removed and subjected to electron microscopy. The zymogen granules of acinar cells in the parotid glands from the rats receiving the 5% protein diet had lost their normal opaqueness and turned electron lucid whereas parotid glands from the rats fed the 20%, the 10%, and the standard pellet diet exhibited normal acinar cells. The ultrastructure of submandibular acinar cells was not affected in any dietary group. PMID- 2617152 TI - Uptake and expulsion of 14C-xylitol by xylitol-cultured Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 in vitro. AB - The effect of successive cultivations in the presence of 6% xylitol on the uptake and expulsion of 14C-xylitol was studied using the cells of Streptococcus mutans 25175. Three sequential cultivations did not alter the growth inhibition percentage (approximately 50%) observed in the presence of 6% xylitol. The 14C xylitol uptake experiments performed with growing and resting cells showed that both the uptake and the expulsion of xylitol were enhanced by xylitol-culturing. Both xylitol-cultured and resting control cells contained only one major labeled compound which was identified as 14C-xylitol 5-phosphate. The label subsequently was expelled from the cells as 14C-xylitol. These results indicate that S. mutans possesses an intracellular xylitol cycle and this cycle is regulated by adding xylitol to the growth medium. PMID- 2617153 TI - Effects of the thiazide diuretic bendroflumethiazide on salivary flow rate and composition. AB - Thiazide diuretics are among the first-line alternatives in the treatment of primary hypertension. The effects of thiazide treatment on salivary production are, however, little studied and the results so far available are not decisive. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare salivary flow rate and composition during treatment with the thiazide diuretic bendroflumethiazide in a low dose (2.5 mg o.d.) and placebo. The study was performed with a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design (2 x 2 wk) in 34 healthy volunteers. The treatment periods were separated by a wash-out period of 2 wk. Resting and stimulated whole saliva was sampled three times daily on scheduled days during the treatment periods. Flow rate was assessed for resting saliva, whereas flow rate, pH, buffer capacity, amount of total proteins and concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate and magnesium were measured for stimulated whole saliva. No effect of bendroflumethiazide on the resting salivary flow rate could be detected, while the stimulated flow rate was significantly reduced by about 10% during the thiazide treatment. The total sodium output was significantly decreased by approximately 30%, without any detectable change in total potassium output. All other variables of stimulated whole saliva studied were not different from placebo. It is concluded that treatment with bendroflumethiazide in a low dose significantly reduces the stimulated whole salivary flow rate and total sodium output in healthy volunteers. PMID- 2617154 TI - Spray dispensing of antiseptics is effective for hand disinfection. AB - The effectiveness of three hand antiseptics administered using a spray dispenser (Nebucid 840) was studied together with that of conventional hand disinfection. The tests were carried out by a group of 20 dental students. To obtain baseline samples, the subjects washed their hands with unmedicated Sterisol liquid soap under running water for 30s and dried them on sterile-packed paper towels. Microbiologic samples were taken from fingerprints pressed gently onto blood agar plates, which were then incubated aerobically and analyzed. The hand disinfection efficacy of 3 ml Isosept solution rubbed onto the hands for 30 s, followed by air drying for 60 s, was studied as a conventional control method. Dermocol, HD 410, and Hibisol antiseptics were sprayed onto the subjects' hands for 3 s using the automatic dispenser, after which the hands were gently rubbed for 30 s and air dried for 60 s, before fingerprint contact sampling. All the tests were performed three times, with a minimum of 3 days between the series. The results showed Hibisol applied with the spray dispenser to be significantly more effective in reducing bacterial growth than the other methods. No growth was observed on 51 plates out of 60, while bacterial growth was observed in 29 cases out of 60 in the Isosept series. In most cases the spray-dispensed antiseptics proved to be more efficient than the conventional hand antiseptic. All the antiseptics were significantly more effective than the liquid soap. PMID- 2617155 TI - Immediate electromyographic response in masseter and temporal muscles to bite plates and stabilization splints. AB - The immediate influence on masticatory muscle activity of bite plates and stabilization splints was investigated in control subjects and patients with craniomandibular disorders. Electromyographic surface recordings were performed from the masseter and temporal muscles bilaterally with and without the appliances in situ. In the rest position, no significant change in average activity was registered in any muscle with either appliance. Activity during maximal biting on stabilization splints was not different from that without the appliance while bite plates caused a decrease in activity in both muscles in both groups. The reduced maximal activity was probably due to the smaller number and exclusively anterior positioned occlusal contacts on the bite plate. PMID- 2617156 TI - Clinical significance of isometric bite force versus electrical activity in temporal and masseter muscles. AB - Bite force and activity in temporal and masseter muscles during biting and chewing were recorded in 19 control subjects and 23 subjects with symptoms and signs of functional disorders of the craniomandibular system. The entire group comprised 13 men and 29 women, 14-63 yr of age. Maximal unilateral bite force was 480 Newton (N) in control subjects and 387 N in patients, with corresponding bilateral values of 347 N and 230 N. At predetermined levels of contraction, temporalis and masseter activity were linearly related. Correlations of bite force and activity in short static contractions were significant with respect to unilateral, but not to bilateral force measurements. Only in the masseter muscle was strength of dynamic contractions during chewing significantly correlated to bite force. With the present method it was demonstrated that unilateral bite force is a simple clinical indicator of mandibular elevator strength as a whole, but inadequate to disclose asymmetric conditions. During isometric contraction, relative strength of electromyographic activity fairly accurately imaged the output of mechanical activity. PMID- 2617158 TI - The duodenum. Selected papers presented at the annual meetings of the International Duodenal Club. 1980-1988. PMID- 2617157 TI - Cinefluoroscopic study of long-term changes of bolus position and chewing cycle duration after fixed prosthetic treatment. AB - Some chewing parameters were studied in 12 patients with a complete maxillary denture and a 12-unit fixed mandibular denture anchored to the two canines. Registration by means of fluoroscopy were made before, 1 month after, and in four patients 13 yr after treatment. The mean velocity of the mandible during chewing increased after the prosthetic treatment and remained stable for meat during the observation period. At the first registration, before treatment, the bolus was most frequently located in the anterior region. After completion of the prosthetic rehabilitation, the bolus was mainly located to the lateral segments during chewing of the test foods, namely meat and bread. The recordings were almost identical 13 yr later. Despite a very reduced periodontal support, posterior cantilevered segments were satisfactorily used in comminution and the patients seemed to be unaware of the forces exerted on the remaining teeth. PMID- 2617159 TI - Morphometry of normal duodenal mucosa. AB - The morphometric variability of normal duodenal mucosa was assessed in bioptic specimens obtained from bulb, second and third duodenum. Biopsies were obtained from 82 cases ranging in age from 18 to 67 years. The results demonstrate a great variability in villous shape and height without mean height differences in relation with age of subjects or site of biopsies. Subvillous thickness of lamina propria, intraepithelial lymphocyte count, inflammatory cell count in lamina propria and goblet cell number did not show significant differences. Superficial gastric metaplasia was seen in 8.5% of bulbar biopsies, 3.6% of biopsies taken in the second duodenum but it was constantly absent in the third duodenum. Brunner's glands above the muscularis mucosa were seen in 45% of bulbar biopsies, 23% of biopsies of second duodenum and in 4.6% of biopsies of third duodenum. PMID- 2617160 TI - Rapid diagnosis of Campylobacter pylori by brush cytology. AB - Campylobacter pylori (CP) was demonstrated in 67.2% of 67 patients using cytology as compared to 65.7% by histology. Brush cytology is thus found to be superior to all other methods available to date for the detection of CP. It is rapid, simple, and has a high specificity. PMID- 2617161 TI - Histochemistry of the gastric and duodenal mucosa under cimetidine and carbenoxolone treatment. AB - Histological and histochemical patterns of the gastric and duodenal mucosa was investigated in nine subjects with duodenal ulcer or ulcerlike syndrome after 4 to 5 weeks treatment with cimetidine or carbenoxolone. No spectacular changes were found after carbenoxolone except for a slight increase in goblet cells in the duodenal bulb. In the patients treated with cimetidine, findings suggesting an influence of this drug on the biochemical cytology of parietal cells and some interference in the differentiation of enterocytes were established. PMID- 2617162 TI - Chronic nonspecific duodenitis. A multiple biopsy study of the duodenal bulb in health and disease. AB - A clinical, endoscopic and histopathologic study on chronic nonspecific duodenitis was performed in 174 subjects, 124 patients (control patients, patients with gastric or duodenal ulcer and nonulcer dyspepsia) and 50 healthy volunteers without clinical history of gastro-intestinal disease. Chronic nonspecific duodenitis was found in 6 healthy volunteers (12%), 5 control patients (7%), one gastric ulcer patient (7%), all duodenal ulcer patients and in 15 patients with nonulcer dyspepsia (83%). Chronic non-specific duodenitis is a focal process affecting the duodenal bulb. It can be missed when only one biopsy is studied. Superficial gastric metaplasia was directly correlated to gastric acid secretion and was found in 32 healthy volunteers (64%), 23 control patients (34%), six gastric ulcer patients (43%), 20 duodenal ulcer patients (20%) and in 17 patients with nonulcer dyspepsia (94%). This study suggests that chronic nonspecific duodenitis is a stage of duodenal ulcer disease. PMID- 2617163 TI - G-cells and gastrinaemia in chronic nonspecific bulbitis. AB - Chronic nonspecific bulbitis (CNB), the number of G-cells in the antrum and the level of serum gastrin were unrelated in a group of 24 patients. Gastrin may be produced by cells outside the antrum or by a few but hyperactive antral G-cells. PMID- 2617164 TI - The diagnosis of gastroduodenal Crohn's disease by endoscopic biopsy. AB - Forceps endoscopic biopsy under direct vision is a useful tool in the diagnosis of gastroduodenal Crohn's disease. The presence of the characteristic microgranuloma is conclusive for diagnosis and was found in 33.3% of the cases. Biopsies should be taken from endoscopically pathologic and normal mucosa. The value of repeated endoscopic biopsy and serial sections in increasing the yield of granuloma is still uncertain. In the absence of granuloma the constellation of histopathologic changes such as mucosal oedema, inflammation, crypt abscess, erosion, ulceration, attenuated deformed duodenal villi and lymphangiectasia should be consistent with the diagnosis of Crohn's disease. PMID- 2617165 TI - Epidemiology of duodenal erosions. AB - The epidemiological characters of 142 patients, 121 males and 21 females, with duodenal erosions were evaluated. They were predominantly between 30 and 60 years old. During the observation time, 125 of them were complaining of dyspeptic symptoms while the remaining 17 had haematemesis and/or melena. Duodenal erosions were single in 9 cases, zonally distributed in 51 and disseminated in 82. Erosions were associated with duodenal ulcer in 25% of cases, with ulcer scar in 4%, and with gastric ulcer in 2%. The intake of alcohol, coffee, anti inflammatory drugs and the smoking habit were similar in patients with duodenal erosions and the general population subjected to endoscopy. These results suggest a relationship between duodenal erosions and peptic ulcer. PMID- 2617166 TI - Epidemiological study of duodenal erosive disease; its prevalence and nosological position in relation to ulcerative peptic disease. AB - The prevalence of erosive lesions was found to be 27.5% in 11838 cases examined during the last 10 years. In almost 66% of the cases, erosive lesions were localized in the duodenal bulb but mainly isolated and less often in the antro pyloric area. In 55% of the cases, duodenal erosions coexist with ulcerative peptic disease, 20% in "active" phase and 35% in "inactive" phase. Erosive lesions, appeared autonomously in 45% of the cases. Morphologically, they can be divided in: a) periulcerative marginal erosions closely connected with activity of the ulcers; b) clustered, complete or incomplete erosions, which may or may not be associated with the ulcerative disease and often have a prolonged acyclic behaviour; c) scattered flat erosions which can at times be associated with the ulcerative peptic disease but are always related to a chronic widespread duodenitis. An epidemiological study was performed on 564 cases which were divided into 3 groups: a) cases with autonomous erosive disease; b) those with erosions associated with post-ulcerative scars; and c) those with erosions associated with active ulcers. The control group of 111 cases was characterised by duodenal active ulcers with no erosions. Statistical evaluation of the percentage differences between the 4 groups revealed that in duodenal erosive disease predisposing factors such as psychic temper, environmental and work conditions and eating habits are evident. In autonomous disease drug intake and spices and, to a less extent, alcohol and/or stress situations play a more important role. In erosions associated with an active ulcer, a dominant obsessive temper facilitated by a difficult family situation, bad eating habits and a great amount of smoking are prominent factors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617167 TI - The role of duodenal erosions in the occurrence of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. AB - It is well known that gastric erosions and the so called erosive gastritis, cause about 20-30% of massive upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Our endoscopic material was examined in order to answer the following questions: at what ratio duodenal erosions induced massive bleeding, what their emergence can be attributed to, what connection may be found between duodenal ulcers and duodenal erosions and what is the rate of recovery of such patients. We found that: 1) duodenal erosions may occur together with gastric erosions, therefore they can jointly induce massive bleeding; 2) duodenal erosions may be associated with duodenal ulcer but haemorrhage originates from the erosion and the ulcer itself does not bleed; 3) duodenal erosion in itself might induce bleeding, 4) the intensity of bleeding, if there is no haemorrhage from other places, is not so severe, as the one originating from gastric erosions, and with the application of conservative treatment it usually stops within a short period of time; 5) the inducing factor is generally massive alcohol consumption; drug intake is rare as a cause for duodenal erosions. The early and exact diagnosis of duodenal erosions is all the more important in that it might safeguard the patient from unnecessary operations. PMID- 2617168 TI - Campylobacter pylori and non-ulcer dyspepsia. 2. A prospective study in a Swedish population. AB - In a consecutive prospective series of 186 Swedish persons with the diagnosis of non-ulcer dyspepsia 71.5% were found to have gastritis and/or bulbar duodenitis in endoscopic biopsies. Gastroduodenitis was associated with campylobacter pylori (CP) in 83.5% of the cases. The double therapeutic approach using an antibiotic and a preparation containing bismuth in an uncontrolled therapeutic pilot trial resulted in improvement of the histological picture, disappearance of CP and amelioration of symptoms. It is concluded that CP-infection plays a central role in the pathogenesis of gastroduodenitis associated NUD. PMID- 2617169 TI - Does omeprazole improve antimicrobial therapy directed towards gastric Campylobacter pylori in patients with antral gastritis? A pilot study. AB - This double-blind pilot study has been undertaken in order to investigate the effect of amoxicillin and pronounced suppression of gastric acid secretion on mucosal colonisation with Campylobacter pylori (CP). Twenty four CP-positive patients were included in the study and assigned to 14 days of treatment in either one of the following three therapy groups: Group 1: Omeprazole 40 mg o.m. + Amoxicillin 750 mg b.i.d (9 pat); Group 2: Omeprazole 40 mg o.m. (8 pat); Group 3: Amoxicillin 750 mg b.i.d (7 pat). Gastroscopy with biopsy for culture and histology was performed pre-entry, at cessation of therapy and four weeks later. In the group receiving omeprazole and amoxicillin in combination 5 out of 8 patients were negative for CP four weeks after stopping treatment, while in the amoxicillin and the omeprazole groups respectively one (1/7) and none (0/8) were negative. Except for one patient who was withdrawn because of severe diarrhoea, only minor adverse effects occurred. PMID- 2617170 TI - Anatomic-functional profiles in duodenal ulcer. AB - Gastric acid secretion, gastrinemia, the type of gastritis of the fundic mucosa and the parietal cell mass, expressed by means of a 'parietal index', were considered in 70 patients with active duodenal ulcer. Hypersecretion was found in 60% of cases, normosecretion in 35.7% and hyposecretion in 4.3%, while achlorhydria was absent. Chronic fundic gastritis of the superficial or follicular type occurred at a similar rate in normosecretors (22%) and in hypersecretors (26%), being constantly of the preatrophic type in the 3 cases of hyposecretion. The parietal index was strictly correlated with maximal acid output but there was no correlation between gastrinemia and the secretory state or with the histological picture of the fundic mucosa. The results outline the prevalence of hypersecretion-hyperparietalism in duodenal ulcer but indicate also the frequent occurrence of normosecretion and normoparietalism and the rare finding of hypersecretion and hypoparietalism. PMID- 2617171 TI - The distribution of duodenal G cells in duodenal ulcer patients. AB - The number of G cells is evaluated in biopsy specimens of fundic, antral and duodenal mucosa from the bulb, second and third parts in 10 patients with duodenal ulcer, and compared with that observed in 6 normal controls. G cells are absent in fundic mucosa but in the antrum their number in duodenal ulcer patients does not differ from that of controls and is strictly related to the histological pattern of the mucosa. In the second and third duodenum of duodenal ulcer patients the number of G cells is significantly higher in comparison with controls, while in the bulb the two groups do not differ significantly. Moreover, when different duodenal portions are compared no differences in the number of G cells are observed in the duodenal ulcer group; while in controls the bulbar number of G cells is higher in comparison with second and third duodenum. PMID- 2617172 TI - Gut hormone release by intraduodenal stimulation in duodenal ulcer patients. AB - After an overnight fast, plasma levels of gut peptide hormones were determined before and after intraduodenal stimulation (IDS) with glucose and citric acid in 8 patients with a recent endoscopically proved duodenal ulcer (DU) attack and in 8 healthy volunteers. The DU patients had a hyperacidic mean BAO of 6.6 and an average PAO of 41.8 mEq/h. In DU, basal secretin levels were similar to those in controls, and after IDS secretin release was not impaired. There was no defect of VIP liberation or of the neurotensin response (basal 21 +/- 7 vs 16 +/- 3, after IDS 68 +/- 28 vs 35 +/- 5 pmol/l) which could account for gastric acid hypersecretion. Although fasting GIP levels were significantly lower than in controls (16 +/- 2.5 vs 25 +/- 1.4 pmol/l), they did not correlate negatively with BAO. In contrast to former studies with oral test meals, integrated GIP release was rather reduced after IDS. Basal plasma levels of gastrin were significantly lower in DU (4.0 +/- 0.4 vs 12 +/- 2 pmol/l) and were inversely related to BAO (r = -0.82, p less than 0.02). From the present data, there is insufficient evidence for abnormal plasma levels of gut hormones as major etiologic factors for basal hyperchlorhydria in ordinary DU disease. PMID- 2617173 TI - Concepts and controversies in oesophageal reflux disease: an interactive evaluation of management trends. Proceedings of a symposium from the XIIIth International Congress of Gastroenterology. Rome, September 1988. PMID- 2617174 TI - Diagnostic considerations. PMID- 2617175 TI - Severe complicated oesophagitis. PMID- 2617176 TI - Epidemiology of oesophageal reflux disease. AB - Because of inconsistency in terminology and history of diagnosis of gastro oesophageal reflux disease, accurate epidemiologic information is difficult to compile. Historically, heartburn has been recognised as the classic symptom of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Five per cent of the Western adult population experiences heartburn with some frequency. Heartburn may be the sole basis for diagnosis, but many patients have less specific symptoms that do not allow a reliable diagnosis solely from clinical features. No more than two-thirds of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease have oesophagitis on endoscopy. The peak age distribution for patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease ranges between 60 and 70 years. Clinical reports concerning long-term natural history and management are scarce. In some patients there is spontaneous improvement without drug therapy. Five to 10% of patients referred to the hospital with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease require antireflux surgery, but most patients are treated by primary-care physicians. PMID- 2617177 TI - When heartburn becomes troublesome. PMID- 2617178 TI - Progress in therapy for infectious diarrhea. PMID- 2617179 TI - Recent developments in the use of furazolidone and other antimicrobial agents in typhoid fever and infectious diarrheal disease. PMID- 2617180 TI - Antimicrobial susceptibility of selected bacterial enteropathogens in Latin America and worldwide. AB - We conducted an in vitro susceptibility study of bacterial pathogens to various antimicrobials. Strains of Shigella, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae collected in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s at the Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez were tested against ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, amikacin, gentamicin, and furazolidone. Over the 3-decade period, the resistance of enteropathogens to furazolidone showed the least overall increase. Klebsiella susceptibility to the aminoglycosides decreased during the same period. Worldwide reports of enteropathogenic resistance to antimicrobials are also reviewed. In comparing the results of these worldwide studies with our own, we conclude that there is a need for periodic surveillance and testing of bacterial resistance to antimicrobials. PMID- 2617181 TI - In vitro susceptibility of Shigella strains isolated from stool cultures of dysenteric patients. AB - A reprospective analysis was conducted on the susceptibility by diffusion of 100 Shigella strains to 8 antimicrobial agents. These strains were isolated from 852 stool cultures obtained from dysenteric patients seen between January 1986 and April 1987. Seventy-one per cent of the samples from which Shigella sp were isolated were obtained from children under age 6 years; 86% of these samples revealed pus, with or without blood. The Shigella serotypes isolated most often were S. flexneri (57%) and S. sonnei (38%). The highest susceptibility rates were observed with furazolidone (98%), nalidixic acid (97%), and gentamicin (90%). The same strains were significantly less susceptible to other antimicrobial agents used to treat shigellosis; among them, ampicillin and trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, for which susceptibility rates of 40% and 64%, respectively, were observed. Thus, it is important 1) to evaluate regularly the in vitro susceptibility of Shigella sp strains to antimicrobials commonly used to treat shigellosis, and 2) to conduct controlled clinical trials on the efficacy of alternative drugs in treating this disease. PMID- 2617182 TI - Proceedings of the First European Community Workshop on Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 10-12 November 1988. PMID- 2617183 TI - Endoscopy in inflammatory bowel disease. AB - Ileocolonoscopy is a very useful diagnostic examination for the assessment of inflammatory bowel disease. Specific indications justify the procedure only when they are likely to influence therapeutic management. Colonoscopy of the entire colon and the terminal ileum can be necessary to establish a differential diagnosis, to determine the extent of inflammatory activity, preoperatively to guide the surgeon, and to examine the bowel proximal to stomas. Early endoscopic examination of the ileocolonic anastomosis after resection of the terminal ileum and part of the colon enables evaluation of the severity of recurrence, predicting clinical outcome. Routine postoperative colonoscopy is, however, not warranted, as we do not have a medical treatment influencing evolution of the disease. Total colonoscopy is also indicated for prevention of cancer in long standing ulcerative colitis. The best screening strategy has still to be identified. PMID- 2617184 TI - Classification of inflammatory bowel disease. AB - Infection, ischaemia, physical damage, or specific immunologic sensitivity should be excluded as far as possible before a diagnosis of non-specific inflammatory bowel disease is made. Non-specific inflammations can be subdivided on the basis of macroscopic and microscopic anatomical criteria. Macroscopic structural abnormalities can be recognized by clinical examination, endoscopy, radiology, and inspection of an operation specimen. These complementary methods of data collection combine with microscopic examinations of tissue to separate disorders that differ in prognosis and possible response to treatment. Anatomic classifications do not necessarily imply differences in aetiology and may change with advances in knowledge. PMID- 2617185 TI - Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in northwestern France. Preliminary results in region Nord-Pas-de-Calais. AB - A prospective study in the region Nord-Pas-de-Calais between 1 February and 15 November 1988 identified 166 cases of Crohn's disease, 116 of ulcerative colitis, and 31 of proctitis. The incidence of ulcerative colitis was 2.96 cases/10(5)/year and of Crohn's disease, 4.23/10(5)/year. PMID- 2617186 TI - Ulcerative colitis in Greece. Epidemiologic and clinical data. AB - Epidemiologic and clinical observations were made in 217 cases of ulcerative colitis between 1977 and 1983 in Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece. The disease affected both sexes equally. The peak incidence occurred between 21 and 30 years of age. A second peak concerning only men was observed in the 6th decade of life. Urban and highly educated sections of the population were more often affected. Severe attacks were seen in only 3.4% of the patients at onset of the disease. Surgical treatment (colectomy) was applied to one in every seven patients either for a severe attack or on suspicion of cancer or debilitating symptoms. PMID- 2617187 TI - Hospital incidence of Crohn's disease in the province of Palermo. A preliminary report. AB - The hospital incidence of Crohn's disease in the province of Palermo was studied from January 1987 to June 1988. A total of 51 patients (34 in 1987 and 17 in the first half of 1988) were diagnosed. The incidence rate calculated for the 1st year was 2.7/100,000. A similar figure was observed in the first 6 months of 1988, which ought to rule out an overestimation in the 1st year. These preliminary data suggest that the incidence of Crohn's disease in southern Italy is similar to that reported in northern Europe. PMID- 2617188 TI - Crohn's disease in Galicia, Spain. AB - A retrospective epidemiologic study of Crohn's disease (CD) was carried out in Galicia from 1976 to 1982. The incidence of CD was 0.8, which is lower than in the northern countries of Europe, and there was a male predominance. PMID- 2617189 TI - Inflammatory bowel disease in Oporto. A prospective hospital study. AB - Since 1975, 375 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Oporto have been studied; 180 had ulcerative colitis (UC) and 195 had Crohn's disease (CD). The steady rise in the number of patients observed suggests that the incidence of IBD is rising in the north of Portugal. At diagnosis UC was mild or moderate in 75.5% of patients, and 40.5% had rectal affection only. Colectomy was done only in two cases. The mortality was 1.1%. Clinical experience suggests that the behaviour of UC in this community may be milder than that reported at other centres. In CD patients ileitis was the commonest form (44.1%), and at diagnosis surgery was required for an acute condition of the abdomen in 22.5% of cases. The main complications were abdominal fistulae (22.1%) and perianal fistulae (21.5%). Colitis-related extraintestinal complications were present in 33.3% of IBD patients. PMID- 2617190 TI - Inflammatory bowel disease in migrant and native Jewish populations of southern Israel. AB - Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease were studied in three Jewish populations in the Beer Sheva district of southern Israel. Age-adjusted prevalence rates on 31 December 1987 were for ulcerative colitis, 89/10(5), and for Crohn's disease, 30/10(5). Both diseases were commoner in females and in European-American-born Jews. Age-adjusted incidence rates have increased and in 1979-1987 were for ulcerative colitis, 5.4/10(5)/year, and for Crohn's disease, 2.1/10(5)/year. Females developed ulcerative colitis at a younger age and Crohn's disease at a later age than males. Israel-born patients developed both diseases at a young age. The clinical features of ulcerative colitis were similar in the various populations. Epidemiologic data in Jews may aid in the understanding of the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases. PMID- 2617191 TI - Epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease in the county of Tubingen (West Germany). AB - The incidence and prevalence of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) were investigated retrospectively for 1970-1980 and prospectively for 1981-1984 in the predominantly rural county of Tubingen (FRG). Eight hundred and twenty eight patients with CD and 376 patients with UC were detected. Point prevalence at the end of 1984 was 54.6 for CD and 24.8 for UC, respectively. The occurrence of UC was stable during the period of investigation. The annual incidence of CD rose during the end of the seventies and afterwards reached a plateau of about 4 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants per annum. The prevalence of IBD was markedly greater in the cities than in the rural areas of the county. PMID- 2617192 TI - Inflammatory bowel disease of the Faroe Islands, 1981-1988. A prospective epidemiologic study: primary report. AB - The frequency of inflammatory bowel disease was estimated prospectively in the period 1981 to November 1988 for the 45,000 inhabitants on the Faroe Islands. The mean incidence of ulcerative colitis was 20.3/10(5)/year and of Crohn's disease, 3.6/10(5)/year. The male to female ratio was 1.21. Median age at diagnosis in both conditions was 36 years for women and 41 years for men. PMID- 2617193 TI - Inflammatory bowel disease in Iceland during a 30-year period, 1950-1979. AB - Thirty-three patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 318 with ulcerative colitis (UC) were identified among the 250,000 inhabitants of Iceland over a 30-year period. The present incidence of CD is 0.9/10(5)/year and of UC 7.4/10(5)/year. PMID- 2617194 TI - Risk factors in inflammatory bowel disease. AB - A patient with inflammatory bowel disease may have several risk factors, including host defence and familial and environmental factors. Host defence factors include neutrophil and complement abnormalities and increased intestinal permeability. This may explain why elemental diets are effective treatment in Crohn's disease. Food is a major factor affecting the intestinal tract, and the considerable change in dietary habits during this century may explain why Crohn's disease has become more common. There is a geographic difference in the distribution of the disease. This could be due to difference in fish consumption. Fish oil has been shown to be effective in an uncontrolled study in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. This needs to be confirmed by ongoing controlled studies. Very few data have been published on the dietary habits of different countries. There is a need for a uniform dietary assessment that can be applied in a multicentre study. These studies would involve much co-operation but would yield important clues in the aetiology of inflammatory bowel disease. PMID- 2617195 TI - Does smoking improve colitis? AB - In 14 of 30 patients with ulcerative colitis who resumed smoking there was an improvement in their symptoms over the subsequent median period of 6 weeks. This group smoked a median number of 20 cigarettes, compared with 10 by those who did not improve. PMID- 2617196 TI - Study of family history among patients with inflammatory bowel disease. AB - Of 838 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated at The Cleveland Clinic between 1955 and 1974, 37% had family histories positive for IBD. This high familial prevalence may reflect that the study was deliberately undertaken once the disease was established in the proband. PMID- 2617197 TI - Criteria of case definition in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. AB - The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease is usually made on a combination of clinical, radiologic, endoscopic, and histologic grounds. In the differential diagnosis, endoscopy and histologic evaluation of biopsy specimens can help to make a specific diagnosis. Site of disease is important in documentation and can determine drug choice and clinical course. Disease activity indices are important to assess a patient objectively, particularly in multicentre studies. There is poor correlation between disease activity indices and macroscopic and histologic findings. The Severity Activity Index for Crohn's disease has both clinical and laboratory variables and is a valuable tool for the definition of Crohn's disease. An ulcerative colitis activity index that correlates significantly with microscopic and macroscopic scores, using both clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, is proposed. PMID- 2617198 TI - Cancer risk in ulcerative colitis. AB - Intestinal cancer may develop in patients with long-standing and extensive disease. This can occur in cases with either mild or severe inflammation. The development of cancer is usually preceded by dysplasia. PMID- 2617199 TI - Incidence of colonic cancer in inflammatory bowel disease. AB - In a cohort of 783 regional patients with ulcerative colitis treated in specialized clinics from the onset of the disease, the intestinal cancer risk was estimated. Seven patients developed colonic cancer from 4 to 44 years after onset of disease (median, 14 years). Eighteen years after onset of the disease the calculated risk was 1.4% (0.7-2.8%). After completing this follow-up study a new study was carried out with colonoscopy of all long-standing cases (greater than or equal to 15 years) of ulcerative colitis which had not been operated on. Of 100 patients examined, 2 showed epithelial dysplasia, and 98 did not. In a similar cohort of 185 patients with Crohn's disease, 1 showed small-bowel cancer. This gives a calculated risk of 0.6% (0.1-3.1%) at 10 years after the disease onset. PMID- 2617200 TI - Cancer in inflammatory bowel disease. AB - There is convincing evidence that patients with ulcerative colitis carry a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than the general population. This risk is as high as 19-fold that in the general population. The results of the Birmingham study (Gut 1988, 29, 206-217) suggest that extensive colitis patients have a genetic predisposition for colorectal cancer and that long-standing inflammation is not of primary importance in the initiation/promotion of cancer in this disease. Population-based studies, although difficult to carry out, should be the epidemiologic method of choice for determining the risk of cancer in future studies. PMID- 2617201 TI - The development of a standardized protocol for a prospective study of inflammatory bowel disease in Europe. AB - An international study of the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease needs a uniform approach to patient ascertainment and recording of diagnostic and demographic data. Difficulties in such an approach are discussed. PMID- 2617202 TI - A 7-year survey of drug resistance in aerobic and anaerobic fecal bacteria of surgical inpatients: clinical relevance and relation to local antibiotic consumption. AB - One-day studies of bacteriological cultures of fecal specimens obtained from 409 surgical inpatients at 5 occasions enabled rapid assessment of antibiotic resistance in aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, relevant to abdominal infection. This novel approach to surveillance of drug resistance was tested in a 7-year survey at a surgical department. A distinct correlation between local drug consumption and prevalence of resistant fecal bacteria was recorded for ampicillin and doxycycline. 17 other agents studied showed no such obvious correlations. Huge increases of cefuroxime and metronidazole consumption caused no emergence of drug resistant aerobic and anaerobic fecal bacteria. Imipenem was the only agent tested, which inhibited both the aerobic and anaerobic fecal bacteria of nearly all patients. PMID- 2617203 TI - A new peptide for human parvovirus B19 antibody detection. AB - A serological assay for human parvovirus B19 was developed. Linear overlapping synthetic peptides were synthesised according to parts of open reading frames 1 and 2. A region at the N-terminus of viral protein VP2 detected serological reactivity in indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for IgG and IgM with known seropositive human sera. A cyclized peptide taken from this region, amino acids 284-307, gave the best selective reactivity with seropositive and seronegative sera. The peptide assay appears suitable for further studies of B19 infections and their complications. PMID- 2617204 TI - HIV epidemiology in Sweden from socio-geographic aspects. AB - Through the Swedish National Reporting System of HIV infections, the occurrence of the infection within different groups at risk can be followed by county. The infection was initially observed among homosexual/bisexual men in Stockholm; thereafter cases were diagnosed also in the 2 major cities in southern Sweden, Malmo and Gothenburg, as well as in the urbanized counties west of Stockholm. Also among injecting drug users (IVDU), the infection was first observed in Stockholm. The spread of the epidemic in this population occurred westwards, but also to the industrial counties along the Baltic Sea north of Stockholm, while relatively few cases were diagnosed in Malmo and Gothenburg. PMID- 2617205 TI - Plasmid profiles of mycobacterium avium/intracellulare isolated from patients with AIDS or cervical lymphadenitis and from environmental samples. AB - Plasmid profile analysis was performed on Mycobacterium avium/M. intracellulare isolates from patients with AIDS, from children with cervical lymphadenitis, and from environmental sources. The frequency of plasmid-containing strains was found to be, respectively, 5/16 (31%), 4/15 (27%) and 1/15 (7%). The data indicate that plasmids occur more frequently among clinical isolates than among environmental isolates, and support a possible pathogenic role of the plasmids. PMID- 2617206 TI - Haemophilus influenzae type b infections in adults. AB - 31 cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections occurred in adults in Denmark during a period of 2 years and 5 months corresponding to an incidence of 0.3/100,000/year. Only 6 patients had no underlying condition. The incidence of H. influenzae type b infections in adults will probably rise in the future, because the increasing use of therapeutic measures affecting the immune system will lead to an increase in the number of susceptible patients. PMID- 2617207 TI - Epidemiology of tetanus in Finland from 1969 to 1985. AB - During the period 1969-85, tetanus caused the hospitalization of 106 patients (63 men and 43 women) in Finland. 12 (11.3%) of them died, most of the causes of death being unexpected complications during the intensive care. The majority of the patients were more than 50 years old and had not been fully vaccinated against tetanus. There was a clear seasonal variation, most of the cases occurring during the months when there is no snow on the ground. Half of the primary lesions were minor injuries to hands and fingers. Only half of the primary lesions had needed medical treatment and usually the patients had received antibiotics and tetanus vaccination but not immunoglobulin. To diagnose tetanus is more difficult today than previously, because few doctors nowadays encounter tetanus cases and the diagnosis is based entirely on clinical criteria, and because abortive mild forms of tetanus may occur, especially in patients with partial immunity. PMID- 2617208 TI - Dental procedures and endocarditis prophylaxis in patients with prosthetic heart valves: results of a questionnaire to 220 patients. AB - 220 patients with prosthetic heart valves were surveyed regarding dental status, dental health, patient-dentist relationship, information on dental procedures and antimicrobial prophylaxis at the last visit to the dentist. The vast majority of these patients were on life-long anticoagulant treatment because of mechanical heart valve prostheses. Half of the patients had a regular dentist and customarily visited a dentist one or more times a year. One third of the patients were edentulous and 26.5% of the patients indicated dental disease, including chronic periodontitis. Only 30.4% of the patients received antimicrobial prophylaxis in connection with dental extraction and only 13.8% in connection with scaling. Maintenance of good oral health, routine dental checks and better information to the patients and the dentist are called for. PMID- 2617209 TI - Pharmacokinetic comparison of two models of endocarditis prophylaxis with amoxycillin. AB - From studies on prophylaxis against experimental streptococcal endocarditis using amoxycillin in a single dose, it has been deduced that serum concentrations above 0.12 mg/l should be maintained for at least 10 h after antibiotic administration. Since concentrations above this level are reported to occur following an oral dose of 3 g of amoxycillin, this doses for prophylaxis has become widely accepted in USA and the UK, and presently also in Sweden. Nevertheless, in individuals who cannot tolerate a high single dose of amoxycillin, there is need for an alternative dosage regimen. In the present study, we have compared the pharmacokinetics in 12 healthy volunteers, of a single dose of 3 g of amoxycillin with those of 1 g as single dose or combined with 1 g of probenecid. The combination resulted in an AUC twice as large as that achieved after 1 g of amoxycillin, and was slightly, but not significantly, larger than that after 3 g. However, amoxycillin concentrations above 0.12 mg/l were sustained for almost 14 h with the combination as compared to 10.4 hours following 3 g of amoxycillin only (p less than 0.001). Thus, the combination should be a convenient alternative in patients unable to tolerate a higher oral dose of amoxycillin, and in situations when an antibacterial effect of longer duration is desired. PMID- 2617210 TI - A clinical and epidemiological study of "ornithosis" caused by Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae (strain TWAR). AB - Ornithosis is a notifiable disease in Sweden since 1954. In 1981 and 1982 a sharp increase in the number of notifications occurred. Since then the number has declined but is still high. A changed epidemiology characterized by no history of bird contact and no common source, raised the suspicion of a new agent. Serological data now suggest that the epidemic was to a substantial part due to Chlamydia pneumoniae (strain TWAR) (48% of the patients during 1981-1982 compared to 9% during 1984-1987). During recent years TWAR infections have thus become uncommon but reappearance can be expected in the near future. The clinical picture as well as the complications appear to be very similar in infections caused by C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci. PMID- 2617211 TI - Preliminary study on treatment of septic shock patients with antilipopolysaccharide IgG from blood donors. AB - A novel intravenous therapy consisting of polyvalent IgG antibodies to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) obtained from screening of blood donors was used for treatment of patients with profound septic endotoxin shock. Investigation of the anti-LPS IgG pharmacokinetics in the 10 patients revealed time related changes in the plasma concentrations of anti-LPS IgG, endotoxin, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and the clinical parameters. A decrease in serum concentrations of IgG and IgM antibodies to LPS was observed prior to the immunotherapy as well as in a clinical example of lethal septicemia without anti LPS immunotherapy. Increasing serum concentrations of anti-LPS IgG during antibody infusion was followed by a decrease in the concentration of endotoxin and TNF. In survivors an IgM and IgG anti-LPS antibody response developed. Using clinical parameters and APACHE II clinical severity scores to measure the clinical condition, a beneficial effect was observed within 24 h corresponding to a decrease in the calculated expected mortality rate from more than 80% to about 50%. Five patients (55%) expired during the study. One patient died in the early septic shock phase. One patient expired due to superimposed hemorrhagic shock. Three immunosuppressed patients died 1-2 weeks after initial recovery, 1 with fungal sepsis and 2 patients due to pseudomonas infection. PMID- 2617212 TI - Effect of erythromycin acistrate and erythromycin stearate on human colonic microflora. AB - The effects of erythromycin acistrate (2'-acetyl erythromycin stearate), a new erythromycin derivative, and erythromycin stearate on the faecal microflora were compared in a randomized cross-over study. 12 healthy volunteers were given either drug 500 mg t.i.d. for 1 week. Their faeces were studied before, immediately after, and 1 week after the drug administration period. After a wash out period of 4 weeks, the drugs were interchanged. Both erythromycin acistrate and erythromycin stearate induced changes in the normal colonic microflora to about the same extent. The most marked effect was the suppression of gram negative anaerobic and aerobic rods. Clostridium difficile appeared in 1 subject on both drugs. Also the counts of aerobic gram-positive cocci were altered; enterococci increased in number. An increased resistance to erythromycin was noted among staphylococci and enterococci after both drugs. PMID- 2617213 TI - Medical implications of nosocomial infection with Clostridium difficile. AB - 88 patients above the age of 60 years who contracted Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea (CDAD) between 1979 and 1986, mostly during their stay in hospital were studied retrospectively as regards nursing time and clinical outcome. These patients were compared with 176 control patients who were matched according to diagnosis on admission to hospital, sex, age and underlying disease. Thromboembolic complications occurred in 14% in CDAD patients (controls 4%) (p = 0.0042). The mortality rate was 21% in CDAD and 7% in controls (p = 0.0009). The median time in hospital for CDAD patients was 50 days (14 days for controls). PMID- 2617214 TI - Formation of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan in cartilage regenerated from free perichondrial graft. AB - Perichondrium from rabbit auricular or rib cartilage was used as a free autogenous graft and transplanted either to the subcutaneous tissue of the back of the rabbit or to an experimental defect in the femur condyles. Outgrowth of new tissue, morphologically indistinguishable from cartilage, was observed after six weeks. Inorganic 35SO4, administered in vivo, was incorporated into the newly formed tissue. The labelled products were isolated, identified, and compared with those obtained from authentic cartilage of auricular, rib or joint surfaces. The products of newly formed cartilage were similar to those of authentic cartilage. The results support earlier morphological findings, indicating that perichondrium from rib cartilage has a better ability to regenerate than auricular perichondrium. The synovial environment seems to have a positive effect on the generation of cartilage. PMID- 2617215 TI - Direct mounting of cultured epidermal grafts. A way to enhance the transplantation area. AB - Cultured epidermal grafts were prepared in a new way, not allowing the epidermal sheets to shrink before mounting. Using this procedure, the graft area was increased by about 100%. Furthermore, this procedure is also quicker than the conventional technique. The directly mounted grafts take just as well as conventionally prepared grafts and their macroscopical and histological appearances are similar. PMID- 2617216 TI - Sensory denervation with capsaicin does not influence the critical ischemia time in rat island flaps. AB - Capsaicin causes release and long-term depletion of neuropeptides from sensory neurons. Recently, critical rat pedicle flaps pretreated with capsaicin have shown decreased survival. In the present study, the effect of systemic capsaicin pretreatment on the no-reflow phenomenon was investigated in the rat. Effective depletion of neuropeptides was confirmed with functional tests and immunohistochemistry. Groin island flaps were exposed to 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 hours of warm ischemia, and flap survival was judged one week postoperatively. In contrast to previously reported negative effects on pedicle flap survival after pretreatment with capsaicin, the present study showed no difference in flap survival between capsaicin-pretreated rats and controls. It is concluded that depletion of neuropeptides from sensory neurons does not have negative effects on the tissue's ability to withstand prolonged complete ischemia. As this contrasts with the findings in critical pedicle flaps, the influence of sensory neuropeptides and the necrosis mechanisms are likely to be different in these two types of ischemic conditions. PMID- 2617217 TI - An electrophysiological method for monitoring blood flow in skeletal muscle. An experimental study in the rat. AB - An experimental animal model was used to study the effects of occlusion of skeletal muscle blood flow on spontaneous denervation activity (fibrillation potentials). The aim was to investigate whether recording of fibrillation potentials could provide a valuable electrophysiological technique for monitoring muscle tissue circulation during free flap surgery. In both the fast-twitch anterior tibial muscle and the slow-twitch soleus, the number of fibrillation potentials decreased rapidly (within 30 sec) after occlusion of the blood flow and after 5 min only few fibrillation potentials were present. In the fast-twitch muscle, the fibrillation potentials disappeared within 10 min in most animals, but sporadic potentials were seen for up to 18 min in one animal after the blood vessels were clamped. In the slow-twitch muscle, sporadic single fibrillation potentials were seen for a longer time than in the anterior tibial muscle and fibrillation potentials were often observed for more than 20 min after clamping of the blood vessels. However, the initial decrease in the number of fibrillation potentials was rapid in both muscles. This means, if the same is true in human muscle, that the method is sufficiently rapid to permit restoration of the circulation so that the muscle flap can be saved if the blood flow is occluded after a muscle transfer operation. Thus, recording of fibrillation potentials may provide a powerful and simple technique for monitoring free flap circulation. PMID- 2617218 TI - Comparison of surgical lasers and conventional methods in skin incisions. AB - Steel scalpel, electrocautery, CO2 laser used in a continuous wave mode (CW) and rapid superpulse mode (RSP), and contact Nd: YAG laser were tested on pig skin incisions. Speed of incision and histological changes near the wounds were examined. Light microscopical observations were made on postoperative day 0 using standard Van Gieson stain. Width of the scar on postoperative day 14 was also measured. Steel scalpel produced the least pathological changes in the skin, followed by RSP. Electrocautery did not differ significantly from the CO2 lasers in this respect on postoperative day 0. The damage was larger after contact Nd:YAG laser. The situation was essentially similar on postoperative day 14. The width of the scar was narrowest after steel scalpel and widest after contact Nd:YAG laser (p less than 0.01; Nd:YAG vs. other methods). Electrocautery and the two CO2 lasers produced equal scarring. However, electrocautery was significantly faster than any of the lasers (p less than 0.001). PMID- 2617219 TI - Segmental variation in microstructure, matrix synthesis and cell proliferation in rabbit flexor tendon. AB - An experimental culture system was designed with the purpose of studying matrix synthesis and cell proliferation in the deep flexor tendon of the rabbit forepaw. Special attention was paid to differences between three consecutive defined segments of the tendon from the region of the tendon sheath. There were two fibrocartilaginous areas in the tendon, one in the dorsal part of the proximal segment and one in the volar part of the distal segment. The intermediate segment consisted of regular tendinous tissue. The dorsal aspect of the distal segment was further characterized by a cell rich area related to the entrance of the vinculum longum. Proteoglycan synthesis in vitro was higher in the proximal and distal segments than in the intermediate, while collagen synthesis was highest in the intermediate tendinous segment. Variations in collagen content were reflected in variations in collagen synthesis. The rate of cell proliferation was highest in the intermediate segment. Segmental biochemical characteristics correlated well with morphological variations of the deep flexor tendon. These variations may reflect an adaptation to different mechanical forces acting on the tendon. The segmental variations may also be relevant for the healing capacity of the flexor tendon. PMID- 2617220 TI - Tendon healing in vivo. An experimental model. AB - Flexor tendon segments were incubated in a diffusion chamber in the subcutis of rabbits. Tendons incubated up to 6 weeks in the diffusion chamber showed proliferating and migrating cells from the epitenon cell layer as well as viable endotenon cells. Explants frozen in liquid nitrogen prior to incubation showed no signs of extrinsic cell contamination and remained non-viable indicating that no cell penetration occurred through the Millipore filter and that cell division seen in non-frozen and incubated tendons was an expression of intrinsic cellular proliferative capacity of the tendon. In tendon segments incubated in chambers for three weeks, collagen synthesis was reduced by 50% and the rate of cell proliferation measured as 3H-thymidine incorporation, was 15 times that of native tendons. Frozen and incubated tendons showed only traces of remaining matrix synthesis or cell proliferation. With this experimental model we have histologically and biochemically shown that tendons may survive and heal while the nutrition exclusively could be based on diffusion and the tendons have an intrinsic capacity of healing. The described model enables further studies on tendon healing and its regulation. PMID- 2617221 TI - The effect of cigarette smoking on wound healing. AB - To see if there was any difference in the skin healing of smokers as opposed to non-smokers we studied 120 women admitted consecutively for laparotomy sterilisation. The method of skin suture was standardised. We compared width, length, and colour of the scars, and assessed the overall cosmetic result using a scoring system in 69 smokers and 51 non-smokers. When the incision was in the midline the scars in the smokers measured 7.4 mm averagely as compared with 2.7 mm in non-smokers (p less than 0.02). There was a corresponding tendency in transverse incisions. When the colour was compared, 26% of smokers had light coloured scars compared with 12% of non-smokers (p less than 0.05). There were no differences between the groups when dark coloured scars were assessed. Overall, using the scoring system, smokers had significantly worse cosmetic results than non-smokers. PMID- 2617222 TI - Treatment of keloids with surgical excision and postoperative X-ray radiation. AB - 124 patients with keloids were treated with surgical excision followed by postoperative X-ray radiation, begun within 24 hours after surgery. Only patients with a two-year keloid history were included in this study. The treatment results were evaluated 6 and 24 months after treatment. There was good correlation agreement between subjective and objective evaluations. Good or excellent results were observed in 92% of the patients. Side effects were moderate. Slight hyperpigmentation was found in 31% of the patients and telangiectasis in 15%. It was concluded that excision and early postoperative irradiation constitute effective keloid treatment. PMID- 2617223 TI - Recovery of sensation in free flaps. AB - A clinical study of touch, pain, warm and cold stimuli and two-point discrimination was performed in 27 free flaps four months to four years after the microsurgical procedure. There were 5 free skin flaps (2 with nerve suture), 15 musculocutaneous, 4 muscle-covered with split skin grafts and 3 osteomusculocutaneous flaps transplanted to various sites on the body. The results show full or nearly full recovery of touch and pain sensation in all free skin flaps. The musculocutaneous and osteomusculocutaneous free flaps developed good sensation if firmly grown onto the healthy recipient skin with normal sensation. Muscle flaps covered with split skin grafts and all flaps surrounded by scar tissue had a clinical absence of sensation. This study and our earlier findings of the regeneration of nerves in free skin grafts, in skin flaps and in experimental free flaps, lead us to suggest that the healthy denervated skin of the free flap provides a strong neurotrophic stimulus to the cut cutaneous nerves in the edges of the recipient skin. Cutaneous nerves freely regenerate in the loose subcutaneous tissue of the flap. We therefore conclude that all free flaps with skin islands have a potential for developing sufficient protective touch and pain sensation and even some superficial sensitivity. PMID- 2617224 TI - Applanation tonometry for the evaluation of breast compressibility. AB - Capsular contracture is the main problem following breast augmentation with silicone implants. Subjective assessment has been the predominant method for evaluating breast firmness hitherto, although several objective methods have been described. In this prospective study applanation tonometry was used on 76 women following augmentation mammaplasty. Breast firmness was measured five times during the first postoperative year. Approximation of the breast imprint area to an ellipse was shown to be accurate and to simplify the estimation of the applanation surface, which is proportional to breast compressibility. The results correlated well with the subjective assessments using the Breast Augmentation Classification (BAC). A classification based on applanation tonometry is presented. PMID- 2617225 TI - Treatment of severe developmental asymmetry of the female breast. AB - In a material of 49 female patients with severe developmental breast asymmetry, Poland's syndrome and isolated unilateral hypoplasia were the most frequent etiological factors (69%). Prosthetic augmentation alone, transfer of the de epithelialized latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap to fill up the infraclavicular hollow, combined with an expander prosthesis for the breast, or augmentation with tissue from the contralateral "healthy" hypertrophic breast were found to be the methods of choice in selected cases. In order to achieve optimum symmetry the contralateral ptotic/hypertrophic breast should be corrected in most patients. PMID- 2617226 TI - The commonest rheumatic complaints of over six weeks' duration in a twelve-month period in a defined Swedish population. Prevalences and relationships. AB - In 900 randomly selected individuals, 50-70 years old, we examined the prevalence over the preceding 12-month period of rheumatic complaints of more than 6 weeks' duration. We found them to represent a major health problem, with an overall prevalence of 37.8%, the predominant diagnoses being subacromial shoulder pain (6.7%), neck pain (6.5%), low back pain (6.3%), osteo-arthrosis (8.5%), and arthralgia (4.9%). With a prevalence of 1.0%, primary fibromyalgia was as common as rheumatoid arthritis (0.7%) and other chronic arthritides (1.1%). The prevalences of the different diagnoses were higher among participants whose data were obtained from personal investigation by a physician than among non participants where data were obtained by interview, letter, and scrutiny of case records. The odds ratio from incurring more than one rheumatic disease was higher for subacromial shoulder pain and lowest for arthralgia and osteo-arthrosis. PMID- 2617227 TI - Immunoblot analysis of antibody response to Chlamydia trachomatis in patients with reactive arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. AB - Antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis were found in 60% of patients with reactive arthritis (ReA) and 33% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), compared with 19% of healthy blood donors. The IgG, IgA and IgM immune responses in patients with ReA and AS were further analysed by immunoblotting. Most patients had IgG antibodies to a large number of C. trachomatis antigens. IgA (and especially IgM) antibodies were less prevalent. Differences in the antibody response to individual antigens were seen between the two groups of patients, with respect to both IgG and IgA. Especially evident was the high prevalence of IgA antibodies to a 60 kD antigen among patients with ReA (67%) compared with patients with AS (20%). PMID- 2617228 TI - Serum and red cell ferritin content in the evaluation of iron status in rheumatoid arthritis. AB - We measured the basic (spleen type) ferritin content in the serum and red cells of 72 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in order to evaluate their significance in detecting true iron deficiency that may coexist with an altered metabolism of iron. Sixteen patients had no anaemia, and their serum and red cell ferritin contents were within the normal range (serum ferritin 16 to 286 micrograms/l; red cell ferritin, 5 to 44 ag/cell). Twenty patients had normocytic normochromic anaemia, and 36 patients had microcytic hypochromic anaemia. In these anaemic patients, the serum ferritin level ranged from 0 to 12 micrograms/l in 4, 13 to 55 micrograms/l in 19, 56 to 110 micrograms/l in 16, and exceeded 110 micrograms/l in 17 patients. The red cell ferritin content was subnormal (less than 5 ag/cell) in 4/20 patients in the normocytic normochromic group, and in 15/36 patients in the microcytic hypochromic group. Oral iron therapy given for 4 6 weeks to 9 patients with subnormal red cell ferritin resulted in an increase in the haemoglobin concentration; no such response was observed in patients with normal red cell ferritin content, irrespective of the serum ferritin concentrations. These observations indicate that red cell ferritin content is a more reliable index of true iron deficiency than serum ferritin concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis, and is capable of predicting the response to iron therapy. PMID- 2617229 TI - Sicca syndrome and anti-SSA/Ro antibodies in patients with suspected or definite multiple sclerosis. AB - Thirty-eight consecutive patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and 36 with suspected (15 cases) or probable to definite (21 cases) multiple sclerosis (MS) underwent thorough neuropsychiatric and rheumatological examinations in order to detect either the presence of central neurologic involvement in SS or the presence of clinical and immunologic abnormalities typical of SS in MS. The only neuropsychiatric abnormality we found in patients first recorded for primary SS was major depression in 5 cases. On the other hand, one patient with suspected MS because of mild gait ataxia and right hemiparesis fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for SS. As for serologic tests, 6 out of 21 patients with probable to definite MS and 1 out of 15 with suspected MS had low-titre antinuclear antibodies. One patient with definite MS had also circulating anti-SSA/Ro antibodies, detected by gel double diffusion, but did not develop sicca symptoms after a 2-year follow-up. In the present study, the association between SS and MS was considerably weaker than that recently reported in other studies, and might be regarded as a chance finding. PMID- 2617230 TI - Influence of auranofin on lymphocyte membrane fluidity in rheumatoid arthritis. A fluorescence polarization study. AB - Using the fluorescence polarization of 1.6-diphenyl-1, 3, 5-hexatriene, the membrane fluidity of lymphocytes obtained from rheumatoid arthritis patients was measured during 12 months of auranofin treatment. Significant differences in fluorescence polarization values were observed following auranofin treatment. The correlations shown between fluorescence polarization values and the indices of rheumatoid arthritis activity, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, alpha 2 globulins, plasma fibrinogen levels and platelet count suggest that changes in lymphocyte membrane fluidity could be used to monitor the effects of auranofin therapy. PMID- 2617231 TI - DNA skin tests in patients with definite or suspected systemic lupus erythematosus and in dermatological control patients. A long-term follow-up study. AB - This study presents a long-term clinical and immunological follow-up of 62 patients during 1971 and 1973, tested intradermally with DNA derived from calf thymus. The DNA skin test is positive in almost all clear-cut cases of SLE. In addition, the DNA skin test was positive in 16 patients, but the criteria for SLE were not met at the time of testing. During the follow-up, 7 out of these 16 patients developed definite SLE, 2 developed subacute cutaneous LE and 3 developed ANA-negative SLE. This suggests that a positive DNA skin test may precede the development of SLE or some of its subtypes. All our SLE patients with skin test reactivity presented cutaneous disease manifestations suggesting that similar pathogenetic mechanisms may be involved in DNA tests and natural SLE skin lesions. Because the positive DNA skin test showed correlation with ANA, anti-DNA antibodies, cryoglobulins, lupus anticoagulant and depressed C3 and C4 values, humoral factors may be partly responsible. However, DNA skin test reactivity was also positive in ANA-negative SLE, suggesting that other mechanisms may also be involved. PMID- 2617232 TI - Partial lipodystrophy in a patient with primary Sjogren's syndrome. PMID- 2617233 TI - Anaphylactic shock after i.a. administration of triamcinolone acetonide in a 35 year-old female. PMID- 2617234 TI - Cl. difficile as possible cause of reactive arthritis. PMID- 2617235 TI - Single-lung allotransplantation in pigs following donor pretreatment with intravenous prostaglandin E-1. Morphologic changes after preservation and reperfusion. AB - Single left lung allotransplantation with ligation of the right pulmonary artery was performed on 11 pigs after donor pretreatment with prostaglandin E-1 and pulmonary artery flush with modified Euro-Collins solution. Sequential morphologic changes in pulmonary artery flow surface and lung structure were studied after 6-hour storage and after 4-hour reperfusion, using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Morphologic observations were compared with functional changes. After 6-hour preservation slight degenerative changes were found in the pulmonary artery flow surface and changes in lung tissue suggestive of increased vascular permeability and edema. During 4-hour reperfusion the changes progressed. Preservation was in general moderate. Lung tissue showed vascular congestion and slight inflammation. Localized areas of reperfusion damage could adjoin near-normal looking alveoli. Oxygenation and gas exchange, though low in the beginning of reperfusion, tended to improve during the reperfusion period. The method was concluded to afford good morphologic preservation of the graft after 6-hour storage, and moderately good morphologic and functional preservation after 4-hour reperfusion. PMID- 2617236 TI - Single lung transplantation in primates. Modified Stanford heart-lung transplantation technique. AB - Unilateral (left) lung allotransplantation was performed on six monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Intravenous infusion of prostaglandin E-1 into the donor and cooling of the graft by perfusing the pulmonary artery with modified Euro-Collins solution were used for lung preservation. All six primates survived the operation, with good graft function, and were extubated after 4-6 hours. Mild pulmonary densities were found in all of them 3 days postoperatively. Two monkeys died, after 7 and 16 days, due to allograft failure. Autopsy in both cases showed bronchial stenosis, despite omental wrapping around the anastomosis. No other technical problems arose in the early postoperative course. It is concluded that prostaglandin E-1 pretreatment of the donor and single crystalloid flush of the donor lung improves the function of a single lung graft as well as that of a heart-lung transplant. PMID- 2617237 TI - Pulmonary artery counterpulsation to improve right ventricular function after heart transplantation. AB - The effectiveness of pulmonary artery counterpulsation in improving right ventricular function after heart transplantation was evaluated in a pig model. The balloon catheter was introduced through the anterior wall of the pulmonary artery distal to the pulmonary valve. A Millar catheter with a distal high fidelity pressure transducer was placed in the right ventricle, where the peak rate of pressure rise, dP/dT, was measured. Pulmonary artery counterpulsation significantly improved right ventricular function, increasing both dP/dT and systolic pressure. A diastolic dip in pulmonary artery pressure and a fall in the early portion of the right ventricular pressure curve were seen. Inflation of the balloon caused a second (suprasystolic) wave in that curve. Improved right ventricular function was also seen when normal pig hearts were counterpulsated after occlusion of the right coronary artery and following increased afterload due to occlusion of a main pulmonary artery. There were no changes in central venous or systemic pressure. The results indicate that pulmonary artery counterpulsation may be valuable when the transplanted heart has a poorly functioning right ventricle. PMID- 2617238 TI - Late results after resection of fixed subaortic stenosis. AB - Resection of fixed subaortic stenosis was performed on 44 patients with median age 14 (range 2-61) years. Concomitant aortic valve pathology was present in 14 (32%) cases (congenital stenosis in 2, thick fibrotic cusps in 8 and incompetent cusps in 4) and other congenital cardiovascular malformations in eight (18%). There was no perioperative mortality. Of the six late deaths, three were due to non-cardiac causes. During follow-up (median 6, range 2-21 years), six reoperations were performed for residual or recurrent obstruction and/or aortic incompetence. Aortic valve replacement was required at two primary and four second operations. Actuarial 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 89% and 76%, respectively, and rates with freedom from cardiac death endocarditis and reoperation 83% and 64%. At follow-up evaluation two patients had significant aortic regurgitation and all survivors had a systolic ejection murmur. At Doppler echocardiography in 29 patients without reoperation, the median pressure difference in the left ventricular outflow tract was 10 (range 0-55) mmHg--in three cases greater than or equal to 30 mmHg. Careful follow-up is advisable after resection of fixed subaortic stenosis, because of the risk of residual or recurrent obstruction and of significant aortic valve incompetence. PMID- 2617239 TI - Surgical management of congenital aortic stenosis in children and young adults. AB - The surgical management of congenital aortic stenosis in 33 patients (age 2-20, mean 11 years) is described. The stenosis was valvular in 19 cases, subvalvular in eight and supravalvular in six. The primary procedures in valvular stenosis were valvotomy (12 cases), valve replacement (6) and exploration (1). Subvalvular stenosis was treated with resection of muscle (4), membrane (2) or both (2), and all six supravalvular lesions with patch aortoplasty. One death occurred during primary operation. Follow-up averaged 11.5 years. Of the 12 valvotomized patients, five required valve replacement after on average 10.6 years because of restenosis. Aortic regurgitation developed in six of the seven surviving patients treated for subvalvular stenosis, requiring reoperation in four. No mortality was associated with reoperation. All patients without valve replacement were reinvestigated. Of the seven with valvotomy, four had restenosis and three valves were in good condition. In supravalvular stenosis the gradients were low. Valvotomy and subvalvular resection can give effective palliation of aortic stenosis until the patient is old enough for definitive repair. PMID- 2617240 TI - Surgical repair of ruptured aortic sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. AB - Surgical repair of ruptured aortic sinus of Valsalva aneurysm was performed on six patients. The NYHA functional class was I in one case, II in three and III in two cases. All aneurysms had ruptured into the right atrium. Three originated from the right, and three from the non-coronary aortic sinus of Valsalva. The preoperative shunt was 55-200% (mean 118%) of the peripheral cardiac output. At aneurysmal repair, closure of secundum-type atrial septal defect was performed in one case and insertion of a St Jude Medical aortic valve in another. There were no perioperative deaths. Five patients were asymptomatic in the follow-up period (5 months-17 years). One patient died of cardiomyopathy 11 years postoperatively. The long-term results after surgical repair of ruptured aortic sinus of Valsalva aneurysm thus were good, and early operation is recommended in order to avoid congestive heart failure. PMID- 2617241 TI - Surgical treatment of left ventricular aneurysm. Analysis of risk factors, morbidity and mortality in 205 cases. AB - Left ventricular aneurysm was surgically treated in 205 patients during the decade 1975-1984. The patients had had one to five myocardial infarctions, the latest days to years (mean 32 months) preoperatively and 92% were in NYHA functional class III or IV. The main indications for surgery were angina (47%), congestive heart failure (38%) and arrhythmia (15%). The 176 anterior, 23 posterior and six combined aneurysms were treated with resection (130 cases) or plication (75). The early mortality was 5%. Univariate analysis identified arrhythmia, concomitant valve replacement and need for intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) as significant risk factors, and multivariate analysis revealed the indication for surgery and need for IABP as the only independent predictors of total mortality. The survival rates 5 and 10 years postoperatively were respectively, 74% and 60%. At follow-up after 1/2-10 years, almost 90% of the surviving patients had improved functional status. Left ventricular aneurysm thus can be surgically treated with low mortality rate and good functional result. PMID- 2617242 TI - Adenosine-induced increase in graft flow during coronary bypass surgery. AB - The influence of systemic adenosine infusion (30-50 micrograms/kg/min) on peroperative coronary graft flow was investigated in 16 patients undergoing bypass surgery. The central hemodynamic and graft flow (electromagnetic flow determination) responses were studied after 5-min, and in nine patients also after 30-min infusion. The low-dose adenosine infusion had little effect on the central hemodynamic parameters, while the graft flow increased in all patients (mean 84 +/- 12%, total 22 grafts). The adenosine-induced increase in graft flow was maintained when the infusion was prolonged. It is concluded that adenosine can produce marked coronary vasodilation in man at infusion rates that exert only minor systemic hemodynamic effects. PMID- 2617243 TI - Is cold, cardioplegic solution harmful to the lungs? AB - The effects of pulmonary flush with cold cardioplegic solution were investigated in 55 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Extracorporeal circulation with bicaval cannulation was used in all cases, and single-dose cardioplegic solution was injected into the aortic root. In one of two randomly selected groups (n = 27) the cardioplegic solution was allowed to pass through the lungs and then evacuated via a left ventricular vent. In a second group (n = 28) the vent was first temporarily placed in the right atrium for evacuation of the cardioplegic solution, and the aortic root was vented later. Hemodynamic, metabolic, hematologic and radiographic changes were studied during the early postoperative period. No harmful effects of the pulmonary passage could be demonstrated. On the contrary, a protective effect was indicated, as the pulmonary vascular resistance index was reduced immediately and for 2 hours postoperatively. The ratio of left ventricular to right ventricular stroke work in the early postoperative period gave the same indication. PMID- 2617244 TI - Effect of indomethacin on peripheral tissue perfusion after coronary artery bypass surgery. AB - The effect of indomethacin on peripheral tissue perfusion in the early phase after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was investigated in ten patients randomly allocated to receive indomethacin 25 mg i.v. or placebo 'double-blind'. The patients were coupled to a respirator with FiO2 30 v/v %. Central haemodynamics, intrapulmonary shunt and blood gases showed no significant change in either group during the 2-hour study period. The thromboxane A2 metabolite P TXB2 decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) in the indomethacin group, but the prostacyclin metabolite P-6-K PGF1 alpha showed no significant change in either group. The PtcO2 index (transcutaneous oxygen tension/arterial PO2), measured in the upper extremity, rose (p less than 0.05) after indomethacin infusion, but was almost unchanged in the controls. The mean subcutaneous tissue oxygen tension and the laser-Doppler skin red-cell flux underwent no significant change. The data thus suggested that indomethacin administered intravenously post CABG may exert beneficial effects on peripheral tissue perfusion and oxygenation, possibly mediated by improvements in prostacyclin-thromboxane balance and microcirculation. PMID- 2617245 TI - Perception of mechanical heart valve sounds. AB - Most currently used mechanical heart valve prostheses generate a distinct sound when they close. This sound is sometimes disturbing to the patient, and may impair quality of life. In a study of 285 patients followed up for a mean of 2.5 years after mechanical heart valve replacement, one-third were sometimes disturbed by sounds emanating from the prosthesis. Older patients were less disturbed than young ones, but whether this could be explained by age-related impairment of hearing ability (presbyacusis) was not possible to determine. Prosthetic size, implantation site, patient's weight, body surface area and type of prosthesis did not statistically differ according to experience of prosthetic sounds. Although few patients were seriously disturbed by these sounds, it is hoped that mechanical heart valves of the future will function more quietly. PMID- 2617246 TI - Is diaphragmatic elevation a serious complication of open-heart surgery? AB - Diaphragmatic elevation or paralysis after open-heart surgery was retrospectively analyzed in 370 consecutive operations performed on 365 adult patients. The incidence of the complication was 7.2%. It was significantly correlated with ipsilateral pleural effusion and lower-lobe atelectasis, but no predisposing or causal factors could be identified. Diaphragmatic elevation did not prolong the hospital stay. Actuarial analysis of data from follow-up chest radiograms showed normalization of the diaphragmatic position within 6 months in 44% and within a year in 90% of the patients. PMID- 2617247 TI - Bronchopulmonary carcinoids in Iceland 1955-1984. A retrospective clinical and histopathologic study. AB - Twenty-two cases of bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumor diagnosed in Iceland in the 30-year period 1955-1984 were analyzed. Carcinoid comprised 2% of all primary lung tumors registered in that period. The crude incidence was 0.36 cases/100,000 population/year. The patients' mean age was 48 years and 68% were female. The most common presenting symptom was recurrent pneumonia; only three patients had hemoptysis. One patient had carcinoid syndrome. Two of the 22 tumors were peripheral. Tumor size was 0.8-9 cm, mean 2.8 cm. Of the resectable bronchial tumors, 80% had invaded the pulmonary parenchyma and 18% had metastasized to lymph nodes. Four carcinoid tumors were atypical and showed more malignant behavior. One of them was originally diagnosed as oat-cell carcinoma. Sixteen patients with resectable carcinoid tumor were alive 3 1/2 to 29 years after removal of the tumor. PMID- 2617248 TI - Operative pleurodesis in spontaneous pneumothorax. Indications and results. AB - In 61 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax treated with thoracotomy and pleurodesis, sometimes with resection of bullous lung tissue, the records were reviewed. There were few postoperative complications and no treatment-requiring recurrences. The postoperative drainage time was significantly longer in patients with, than in those without, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease preoperatively, but the long term results were the same in both groups. Age did not influence the results. The treatment policy in this selected group of patients seemed to be highly satisfactory. PMID- 2617249 TI - Surgical prognosis in stage I bronchogenic carcinoma of the middle lobe. PMID- 2617250 TI - Endobronchial hamartoma. Report of 7 cases. AB - Seven cases of endobronchial hamartoma are presented. Preoperative fiberoptic bronchoscopic biopsy provided the histologic diagnosis in two cases, but was inconclusive in the others. The tumor was removed by endoscopic resection (2 cases), local resection via a bronchotomy (1), lobectomy (2) or pneumonectomy (1). These six patients are alive and well 2-5 years postoperatively. The seventh patient refused treatment. PMID- 2617251 TI - Primary sternal tumours. AB - Nine cases of primary sternal tumour were retrospectively reviewed in regard to clinical, radiologic and surgical features. The tumours were chondrosarcoma (4), chondroma (3), solitary plasmacytoma (1) and osteochondroma (1). All the benign lesions were excised without complication or recurrence. Three chondrosarcomas were radically excised en bloc, and one was only locally excised because of gross involvement of underlying structures. The solitary plasmacytoma was treated with incisional biopsy and radiotherapy. Two of the three patients with radical excision of sternal chondrosarcoma were alive after 5 years. Careful preoperative assessment, including use of computed tomography, is important. Wide excision should be the procedure of choice for all sternal tumours, since differentiation between benign and malignant lesions may be difficult in cartilaginous tumours, which are the commonest types. PMID- 2617252 TI - Primary tracheal rhabdomyosarcoma. Case report. AB - A case of primary tracheal rhabdomyosarcoma is presented--the second in the English-language literature. The treatment policy is discussed on the basis of this case and the literature is reviewed. PMID- 2617253 TI - Strut fracture and disc embolisation of a Bjork-Shiley aortic prosthesis: emergency operation with survival. Case report. AB - Strut fracture with disc embolisation from a Bjork-Shiley prosthesis in the aortic position is extremely rare, and almost invariably fatal. We report a case in which the patient survived emergency surgery for this complication. The pathogenesis of strut fracture, its prevention, diagnosis and management are discussed. PMID- 2617254 TI - Respiratory cancer mortality among workers employed in thermoelectric power plants. AB - A historical cohort study of 406 workers was undertaken to evaluate the possible health hazards of employment in traditional electric power plants with particular regard to cancer mortality. The total mortality was below that expected [observed 40, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 87] on the basis of national rates. Cancer mortality was slightly increased (SMR 112), mainly because of an excess of respiratory cancer (observed 9, SMR 171, 90% CI 89-299). Lung cancer deaths were higher than expected among those less than 60 years of age and among those with a duration of exposure and a latency period since first employment of over 10 years (observed 7, SMR 184). Furthermore, the increase was more pronounced among maintenance workers and workers in general services. Previous data indicated that there had been past exposure to some known respiratory carcinogens (ie, asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). This study suggests that a possible lung cancer risk from traditional electricity generating plants should be considered and further studied. PMID- 2617255 TI - Incidence of cancer among welders and other workers in a Norwegian shipyard. AB - The incidence of cancer among 4778 male shipyard workers, including 783 mild steel welders, was investigated in a historical cohort study. The workers had been employed for at least three months between 1 January 1946 and 31 March 1977. The incidence of cancer was observed from 1 January 1953 through 1986. The loss during follow-up was only 0.9%. There were 53 observed cases of lung cancer in the whole cohort versus 31.3 expected on the basis of the national rates for men. There was an increased incidence of lung cancer among the welders, with seven observed cases versus 3.2 expected. Twenty-two cases of bladder cancer were observed versus 15.2 expected. Two malignant mesotheliomas had occurred (0.7 expected). Smoking was likely to be a confounder in the present study. Due to concomitant exposure to asbestos, the results are inconclusive concerning the possible relationship between exposure to welding fumes and lung cancer. PMID- 2617256 TI - Shift work, fetal development and course of pregnancy. AB - Information on 1475 mothers of infants with selected structural malformations and an equal number of mothers of "normal" babies was analyzed for a possible relationship between shift work and adverse pregnancy outcome or a complicated course of pregnancy. The primary data were obtained from the Finnish Register of Congenital Malformations supplemented by special interviews on the mothers' work conditions. No signs of a teratogenic risk were observed. The relationship between course of pregnancy and outcomes other than malformations was determined from the noncase mothers' experience. Threatened abortion and pregnancy-induced hypertension were not associated with rotating shift work alone, but in a noisy work environment moderate risks could not be ruled out. Rotating shift work was associated with a slight excess of babies small for their gestational age independently of noise exposure. The results suggest that further studies on the effects of different work schedules on pregnancy are worth consideration. PMID- 2617257 TI - Physical work load, fetal development and course of pregnancy. AB - The effects of physical work load during pregnancy were analyzed in connection with a nationwide case-referent study that screened for associations between selected structural malformations and occupational exposures. The strain of the occupational activities of 1475 mothers of malformed infants and an equal number of mothers of noncase babies was assessed from a description of the work tasks by an expert using a standardized method reflecting energy expenditure. The noncase mothers' experience revealed a relation between physical load and growth retardation that has also been suggested by other epidemiologic studies. No relation was found between an increase in mean physical load and the occurrence of threatened abortion; yet work involving much standing had an increased risk. Mothers whose work included occasional high physical loads had more pregnancy induced hypertension. The data showed unexpected associations between physical load and structural malformations. PMID- 2617258 TI - A comparison of exposure estimates by worker raters and industrial hygienists. AB - The validity and reliability of nine senior sawmill workers' estimates of frequency, duration, and routes of exposure were compared with individual workers' ratings of their own job titles and industrial hygienists' ratings of all job titles in the plant. The reliability of the senior workers' mean exposure estimates [group intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.71] compared favorably with those of three pairs of hygienists (group ICC = 0.57, 0.67, and 0.81). The validity of their ratings was assessed in a comparison with urinary chlorophenate measurements representing 92% of the job titles in the sawmill. The senior workers' ratings [coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.22] resembled those of two pairs of industrial hygienists (R2 = 0.24, 0.22) and was significantly greater than that of the third pair (R2 = 0.08). The validity of the self-reports was also low (R2 = 0.15), but the difference was not statistically significant. Senior workers' exposure ratings appear to be as effective as the other methods tested. PMID- 2617259 TI - Effects of different extraction protocols on endotoxin analyses of airborne grain dusts. AB - The detection of gram-negative bacterial endotoxins in occupational dusts, specifically those from agricultural environments, is of increasing importance in research on occupational lung disease. In this study, the quantitative chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate test for the detection of endotoxins in airborne dusts from spring wheat and oats was examined. Different extraction fluids were tested, as were the effects of time on extraction and of repeated freeze-thaw cycles on the extracts. The data suggest that the chromogenic method can be used effectively in the analysis of environmental dusts or their frozen extracts for endotoxin quantitation. Water appears to be the preferable extraction medium, and the length of extraction time may affect the results. PMID- 2617260 TI - Ethylene oxide doses in ethene-exposed fruit store workers. AB - Blood samples from 10 ethene-exposed fruit store workers and 10 referents were analyzed for the level of hydroxyethyl adducts to N-terminal valine in hemoglobin (Hb). A statistically significant difference was obtained between the nonsmoking workers (N = 7) and the nonsmoking referents (N = 6). This finding demonstrates that ethene is metabolized to ethylene oxide in man. According to this preliminary study, ethene exposure at 0.3 (uncertainty range 0.1-1) ppm during work hours increases the adduct level by 23 pmol/g Hb. This figure is compatible with a metabolic conversion of 3% (1-10%) of the inhaled ethene to ethylene oxide. PMID- 2617261 TI - Re: "Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Among Swiss Furniture Workers: A New High Risk Group" by CE Minder, J.P Vader. Scand J work Environ Health 1988;14:252-6. PMID- 2617262 TI - Mesothelioma among Swiss furniture workers. PMID- 2617263 TI - Recent uses of electron microscopy in the study of physico-chemical processes affecting the reactivity of synthetic and biological apatites. AB - Studies which used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate subsurface demineralization of dental enamel have recently been well reviewed. The purpose of the present paper was to review several studies, carried out in our laboratories, which have used electron microscopy to examine physicochemical properties of synthetic and biological apatites, to relate these results to previous studies, and to present new data. Aspects of the ultrastructure of hydroxyapatite and carbonated-apatites have been observed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and related to shape and growth of these crystals. Surface morphologies of discs prepared from precipitated carbonated apatites and from ceramic carbonated-apatites were examined by SEM and the information was used in the interpretation of apatite dissolution studies relevant to dental caries. Improvements in the technique of backscattered electron imaging of demineralized enamel have enabled better interpretation of enamel caries experiments. SEM examination of enamel and dentin treated by low energy lasers of specific wavelengths have shown that lasing conditions can be chosen that produce surface fusion of the apatite which inhibits caries-like lesion progression. SEM examination of crystals formed on and in enamel during high concentration fluoride treatments implies that calcium fluoride-like crystals are formed and they may act as a slow-release fluoride reservoir in the mouth. PMID- 2617264 TI - Oxalate crystallization in the kidney in the presence of hyperuricemia. AB - It has been a long time since uric acid was suggested to be a promoting factor in calcium oxalate stones, and a number of in vitro studies have been carried out on the relationship between uric acid or urate and calcium oxalate. Concerning in vivo studies, urate or calcium oxalate stone-forming diets were given alone in most cases, and diets that induce formation of stones with different composition have not been given in combinations. We administered a low-concentration oxalemic diet, and a mixed diet containing oxalic acid and uric acid, and biochemically and histologically studied the effects of oxalate and uric acid on kidney stone formation. In the kidney of the animals given the mixed diet, formation of crystalloids of uric acid or urate was evident when no crystallization was noted in the kidney of those given the low concentration oxalemic diet alone. The morphological differences in the uric acid and urate crystalloids in the kidney and the process leading to crystallization of calcium oxalate were examined under transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Histological examination indicated that these uric acid crystals and urate crystals serve as seeds and induce formation and epitaxial growth of calcium oxalate crystals. Our in vivo study provides additional evidence that uric acid is a promoting factor in calcium oxalate stone formation. PMID- 2617265 TI - Microscopy analysis of dental titanium casting investment materials. AB - Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and qualitative energy dispersive x ray microanalysis (EDS) of investment materials for dental titanium casting were performed. Two commercial investment materials, Ohara and Castmatic, and an experimental zirconia material were analyzed. The microstructural constituents and the unfired and fired structures were included. Larger refractory particles and matrix embedding smaller particles were observed with each material. Detection of aluminum, silicon, magnesium, zirconium and oxygen provided a basis to reason the presence of alumina (Al2O3), silica (SiO2), magnesia (MgO), and zirconia (ZrO2). Hence, Ohara contained quartz and an alumino-silicate, Castmatic contained magnesia and quartz and experimental zirconia contained zirconia and an alumino-silicate, taken to be kyanite, as components providing refractoriness and expansion. Even though unequivocal detection of phosphorous in the spectra for Ohara was not obtained (P K alpha = 2.013 keV; Zr L alpha = 2.042 keV), an emission peak at 2.0 keV was taken to be due to P and related, along with MgO, to bonding by magnesium phosphate. For Castmatic, unfired strength was thought to be due to calcium chloride and calcium silicate and fired strength to forsterite, (2MgO.SiO2). Detection of calcium and chlorine also suggested bonding of experimental zirconia via calcium chloride. Extensive microcracking occurred around refractory particles and through matrix in experimental zirconia which is likely to have resulted from the firing of kyanite to 1400 degrees C, to the monoclinic to tetragonal transformation of any unstabilized ZrO2, or to the thermal expansion mismatch between kyanite and matrix. PMID- 2617266 TI - Bacillus-shaped deposits composed of hexahedrally based crystals in human dental calculus. AB - In human supra- and subgingival calculus, bacillus-shaped deposits showing various rocky-pile forms composed of hexahedrally based crystals were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The crystal size measured approximately 0.1-1.5 microns. The electron probe microanalysis always detected calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium. Their molar ratios resembled those of magnesium-containing whitlockite and moreover the crystals also gave the electron diffraction pattern of whitlockite. The bacillus-shaped deposits happened to coexist with the intracellular calcifying microorganisms, furthermore, oral microorganisms partially replaced by the hexahedrally based crystals were found. The crystal deposits were never seen in the surface layers of calculus exposed to the oral cavity, but occurred in the innermost layers and intra-spaces of supragingival and ledge-type subgingival calculus and in the outer layers of deep subgingival calculus. PMID- 2617267 TI - Morphology and chemical composition of dental calculi mainly composed of whitlockite. AB - The morphology and chemical composition of two subgingival calculus samples, which were composed of magnesium-whitlockite with a Mg/Ca molar ratio of approximately 0.1 as shown by X-ray powder diffraction, were analyzed semiquantitatively using energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Ca/P molar ratio values for 33 EDS analyzed materials ranged from 1.24 to 2.03 with an average of 1.49, and the (Mg+Ca)/P molar ratio values ranged from 1.43 to 2.28 with an average of 1.63. The average Mg/Ca molar ratio was 0.10, a value very close to that obtained by X ray diffraction analysis. The EDS-analyzed materials were grouped morphologically into three types; Type A materials were typical rhombohedral crystals, Type B were crystals of ill-defined form or small crystallite aggregations and Type C materials had a small granular structure or were amorphous. The values of (Mg+Ca)/P molar ratio for Type A ranged from 1.57 to 2.28 and averaged 1.81, those for Type B ranged from 1.43 to 1.56 and averaged 1.48, and those for Type C ranged from 1.46 to 2.06 and averaged 1.62. Type A crystals had higher molar ratios while Type B crystallites had values similar to that of whitlockite. Type C materials covered the ranges of both Type A and Type B. These results show that the materials resembling whitlockite morphologically did not have the (Mg+Ca)/P ratio of whitlockite and vice versa. This suggests that whitlockite crystals may substitute some ions for PO4 as well as Mg for Ca to a larger extent than thought previously, and that care is needed in the identification of these materials. PMID- 2617268 TI - Strontium and bromide as tracers in X-ray microanalysis of biological tissue. AB - Since energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis cannot distinguish between isotopes of the same element, alternative methods have to be used to get information similar to that obtained in experiments with radioactive tracers. In the present study, strontium was used as a tracer for calcium, and bromide as a tracer for chloride. Rats were injected with strontium chloride in vivo, and the uptake of strontium in the acinar cells of the submandibular gland was studied. Eventually a Sr/Ca ratio of 0.3 was reached. In some animals, secretion of mucus had been elicited by stimulation with isoproterenol 4 h prior to injection of strontium chloride. Exchange of calcium for strontium was enhanced by prior injection with isoproterenol. In a second experiment, rats were injected with sodium bromide, and the uptake of bromide by the submandibular acinar cells was followed in time, both in pilocarpine-stimulated and unstimulated glands. Under the experimental conditions, bromide was rapidly taken up by the cells, and the cellular Br/Cl ratio was close to that found in serum. Submandibular glands take up Br somewhat faster than other tissues (liver, heart muscle, skeletal muscle). The uptake of Br in pancreatic acinar cells was studied in vitro. These experiments showed a 1:1 ratio (molar) exchange of Cl for Br. PMID- 2617269 TI - Cation nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). 7Li- and 23Na-NMR results obtained with human erythrocytes. AB - A short discussion of practical results and theoretical aspects of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) on intracellular monovalent cations is presented. 7Li- and 23Na-NMR relaxation studies on human erythrocytes are described which indicate that lithium and sodium ions are essentially free inside the cell. However, there is a contribution to transverse relaxation originating from cations diffusing through electric field gradients imposed by the cytoskeleton, which is reflected in the NMR line shape. 39K-NMR results obtained by other authors for intracellular potassium are compared with the 7Li- and 23Na-NMR results presented here. The few 39K-NMR results obtained so far do not suggest that significant differences in dynamic behavior exist between intracellular potassium and sodium. 39K-NMR studies will, in the future, certainly enhance our understanding of the intracellular state of potassium ions. PMID- 2617270 TI - Microprobe analysis of element distribution in bovine extracellular matrices and muscle. AB - The concentrations of some essential elements, Na, K, P, S and Cl were determined by microprobe analysis in bovine extracellular matrices of cartilage, tendon and elastic tissue (ligamentum nuchae) and in muscle cells. The values for the different tissues were compared and related to the blood electrolyte concentrations. Among the connective tissues the highest Na and lowest Cl values were found for cartilage which bears a high negative charge. The lowest concentrations of these elements occurred in elastic tissue which is relatively non-polar. In the three extracellular matrices sodium levels exceeded potassium. In myofibers potassium was the major cation at 30 times the blood value and about 3 times the concentration of sodium. Chlorine values were around 0.4 that of blood. Sulfur and phosphorus are components of the tissue macromolecules. The negative charge on the extracellular matrices is a function of carboxyl and sulfate radicals. In the myofiber this property is largely attributable to carboxyl and phosphate groups. Differences in potassium-sodium distribution in cells and extracellular matrices are attributed partly to the microtrabecular lattice and to the ordered state of cell water. In general the element concentrations and selective distribution can be related to the chemical composition and organization of the tissue, the net immobile charge, the nature of the dispersion medium (water) and changes in its dielectric constant, and to the physico-chemical properties of the individual ions. PMID- 2617271 TI - Scanning electron microscopy of lung following alpha irradiation. AB - Pulmonary aggregation of inhaled 239PuO2 particles leads to a cellular evolution of focal inflammation, fibrosis, epithelial dysplasia and lung tumor formation. Female Wistar rats were exposed to an aerosol of high-fired 239PuO2 (initial lung burden, 3.9 kBq) and the lungs examined at intervals from 1 day to 700 days after exposure by light and scanning electron microscopy and autoradiography. Peribronchiolar Pu particle aggregation increased with time, resulting in well defined focal inflammatory lesions after 120 days and fibrotic lesions after 180 days. A generalized hypertrophy and hyperplasia of nonciliated bronchiolar cells was seen at 15 days and type II cell hyperplasia by 30 days after exposure. Focal dysplastic changes in type II alveolar epithelium and terminal nonciliated bronchiolar epithelium preceded carcinoma formation. Alveolar bronchiolarization was first noted at 120 days, squamous metaplasia at 210 days, squamous carcinoma at 270 days and adenocarcinoma at 600 days after exposure. PMID- 2617272 TI - A scanning electron microscopy analysis of human cytotoxic cell subsets and of their mode of conjugation with tumor cell targets. AB - In this study we describe the surface features of non-MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex)-restricted cytotoxic cells isolated from human peripheral blood. Purified populations of CD3-, natural killer (NK) cells were allowed to interact with NK-sensitive (K562) and NK-resistant (THP-1-0) tumor cell targets. The type of effector to target cell binding was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. A different interaction with the effectors is described for NK-resistant targets in comparison with NK-susceptible tumor cells. SEM was also used to investigate the relationship between interleukin 2 (IL2)-activated cytotoxic cells (lymphokine-activated killer, LAK, cells) and the tumor targets. We also describe the unique growth features of certain clones of cytotoxic T cells expressing gamma delta antigen receptors which support the contention that these cells may have a special ability of homing into tissues. We conclude that non-specific cytotoxic cells constitute a diverse population of effectors which differ not only for the expression of surface antigens, but also for their ability to interact with tumor cell targets and to home into the peripheral tissues where they may exert their lytic functions. PMID- 2617273 TI - Structural and compositional changes in aging bone: osteopenia in lumbar vertebrae of Wistar female rats. AB - Changes in vertebral bone mineral content and density during aging were quantified in female Wistar rats. This study represents a longitudinal follow up utilizing single photon absorptiometry for the measurement of bone mineral content (BMC), quantitative computed tomography (QCT) for the measurement of bone mineral density (BMD), and image analysis histomorphometry for the measurement of trabecular bone volume (TBV) and bone cortical area (BCA). The above measurements were accompanied by biochemical assays of calcium concentrations in the respective bones. All aging animals experienced significant decreases in BMC, BMD, TBV, BCA and in the calcium content of their bones. The above features have been further emphasized through the use of scanning electron micrographs showing the age-related structural changes in a three-dimensional fashion. New, advanced technologies will enable the quantitation of 3-dimensional images that are currently obtained from the scanning electron micrograph; thus will provide new consideration as related to trabecular bone compactness (density). Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy indicated that the nature of crystals in aging bones does not differ markedly from that encountered in young specimens. Data are also provided with regard to the health of the animals, and it became apparent that aging rats undergo changes in their kidneys yet do not show any significant change in renal functional parameters as measured in both the serum and the urine. Hence, new noninvasive methodologies are currently available for longitudinal studies related to the skeleton in laboratory animals enabling reliable monitoring of age-related and hormonally induced changes in bones (spine and hip) of well defined experimental models. PMID- 2617274 TI - Osteoclast features of cells that resorb demineralized and mineral-containing bone implants in rats. AB - The comparative temporal tissue response to demineralized bone matrix powder (DBP) and devitalized mineral containing bone powder (MCP) implanted subcutaneously in rats was studied. The tissue response to implanted DBP followed the well described endochondral osteogenic pathway and included the appearance of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. On the other hand, implanted MCP resulted in the appearance of a large population of giant cells that resorbed the implants. At later times (3-4 weeks), most of the cells in the MCP implants appeared as typical foreign body giant cells with extensive membrane foldings, usually away from bone surface. Some cells did, however, have the histological appearance of osteoclasts, although this could not be completely confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy of anorganic preparations of the MCP following implantation showed resorption pits covering most of the surface, providing additional evidence that the resorption of bone by osteoclasts and giant cells may involve similar mechanisms. The observations suggest that both osteoclasts and giant cells may be involved with the resorption of ectopic MCP. PMID- 2617275 TI - Endothelial injury in human atherosclerosis. AB - A light and electron microscopic investigation (scanning and transmission electron microscopy) was performed on 51 human atherosclerotic carotid lesions. The purpose of this study was to establish whether features of endothelial injury such as those described in animals occur in man and whether these features can be related to specific stages of human atherosclerosis. Irrespective of their histological appearance the atherosclerotic lesions were covered with endothelium which showed non-specific changes in cell shape and size. However, all complicated lesions appeared denuded. Moreover, a peculiar interaction of endothelium with monocytes and lymphocytes as well as blood components (e.g., fibrin and lipoproteins) was observed in intimal thickenings, fatty streaks and uncomplicated plaques. The surface exposure of macrophage-derived foam cells was seen on florid fatty lesions. Large areas of the arterial surface lacking any endothelial coverage were characteristic of complicated plaques. They appeared to be a consequence of the arterial wall degeneration with an associated failure in endothelial repair. PMID- 2617276 TI - [Characteristics of inspiratory flow-volume curves in children with bronchial asthma and patients with cystic fibrosis]. AB - The characteristics of the inspiratory and expiratory flow-volume curves were measured in 77 children with bronchial asthma and 30 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) in comparison with 19 healthy children. The aim was to explore how for children with lung diseases fulfil the physiological conditions to generate sufficient flow for optimal use of "breath actuated inhalation devices" such as the Spinhaler, Rotahaler, Turbuhaler and Diskhaler. No correlation was found between the values of inspiratory flow-volume curves and conventional lung function parameters either in healthy children or in those with lung diseases. The majority of the patients (78.6%) showed a maximal inspiratory flow, at 50% of vital capacity, (MIF50) of more than 1 l/sec, irrespective of the type of functional disorder (pulmonary hyperinflation, bronchial obstruction or both). The remaining patients (21.4%), comprising mainly patients with CF, did not reach this limit. The flows needed for correct use of the different inhalation devices vary greatly (0.4-1.6 l/sec) and the criterion of a flow lower than 1 l/sec is only fulfilled by the Turbuhaler (0.4 l/sec), the Rotahaler (0.65 l/sec) and the Diskhaler (0.8 l/sec). In contrast, the Spinhaler needs a flow of at least 1.6 l/sec. For practical purposes it seems that an MIF50 of more than 1 l/sec could be used as criterion in the indication for such inhalation devices. PMID- 2617277 TI - [Analgesic effects of an oral dose of clonidine]. AB - Experimental data and anecdotal clinical observations have shown that clonidine, an alpha 2-agonist, has a marked analgesic effect. We investigated clonidine induced analgesia in response to nociceptive stimuli. On 2 different days 7 normal volunteers received either placebo or clonidine (200 micrograms) orally according to a cross-over, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design. Analgesia was assessed by measurement of the subjective (VAS) and objective (R III reflex) pain thresholds. A close correlation was observed between subjective and objective pain thresholds (r = 0.88, y = 0.2 + 1.2 x). Clonidine increased the objective threshold by 21% (+6.2 mA, SEM 2.4) and the subjective threshold by 10% (+2.4 mA, SEM 1.3). Drug effect was rapid (peak between 90 and 120 min) and overall analgesia lasted up to 4 hours. Side effects were a moderate fall in blood pressure, sedation and dryness of the mouth. A single oral dose of clonidine induces significant analgesia. These results suggest that clonidine is potentially a worthwhile drug for pain treatment which deserves further clinical investigation. PMID- 2617278 TI - [Genetic glossary]. PMID- 2617279 TI - [57th annual meeting of the Swiss Society for Internal Medicine, jointly with the Swiss Society for Immunology and Allergology. Interlaken, 18-20 May 1989. Proceedings]. PMID- 2617280 TI - [Effect of acoustic stress on immunoregulatory cells in female patients with systemic lupus erythematodes (SLE), patients with sarcoidosis and normal comparative subjects]. AB - 14 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 12 with sarcoidosis and two age- and sex-matched groups of healthy subjects were exposed to a 10-minute acoustic stress test. Healthy subjects and patients with sarcoidosis showed significant increases in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts (p less than 0.01), relative elevations of B and Tsc lymphocytes (p less than 0.01) and a relative reduction of Th lymphocytes (p less than 0.01). Patients with SLE showed the same characteristic alterations (p less than 0.01) but the degree of this cell mobilization was significantly less pronounced as compared with the healthy subjects (p less than 0.01). No dependence was found between corticosteroid therapy or disease activity and the cellular reaction in SLE patients. In SLE patients there thus seemed to be an attenuated immune response due to stress which may play an etiopathogenetic role in this disease. PMID- 2617281 TI - [Hairy cell leukemia: study of genomic rearrangements in splenic infiltration]. AB - Genomic DNA extracted from heavily infiltrated spleens of 5 patients with hairy cell leukaemia was hybridized with genomic probes for immunoglobulin genes. The rearrangement pattern, correlating well with the immunohistochemical findings, was that of a clonal B-cell proliferation in all cases. Analysis of the lambda light chain genome with two different probes enabled more accurate localization of the clonal rearrangements within this genome. A small additional T-cell population identified in 3 cases was immunogenotypic of polyclonal (reactive) nature. PMID- 2617282 TI - [Diseases of the knee due to technology in cyclists. Computerized examination of the material]. PMID- 2617283 TI - [Physiological, social and motivational characteristics of fitness center clients]. AB - Physiological, social and motivational characteristics of attendants to a fitness club. Little is known on the epidemiology of exercisers not engaging into competitive sports events, such as those attending fitness clubs. We investigated 85 regular attendants to a fitness club in Zurich, Switzerland: 44 men and 41 women, with a mean age of 35 (+/- 10) years. All subjects carried out the club based fitness-test and answered additional questions on sports activity, lifestyle, and their motives to exercise. As anticipated, fitness club attendants smoked less and were more active and more educated than the general population. Among fitness club attendants themselves, known and plausible interrelationships between endurance capacity, body fat content, and habitual exercise could be confirmed as highly significant. Body fat content, as estimated from bioimpedance measurement, was more closely related to important dependent variables than the body mass index, for example to female endurance capacity (r = -0.33 vs. -0.03), or to age in men (r = 0.48 vs. 0.22). Unexpectedly, social factors were only poor predictors of differences in fitness and exercise levels within the study sample. Compared with joggers, fitness club attendants seemed to be motivated relatively more by targets of health promotion, e.g. weight control, and less motivated by "intrinsic" joy and fun with sports activity itself. Further studies will have to demonstrate whether fitness clubs are actually able to promote "lifetime exercise". PMID- 2617284 TI - [Arginine aspartate and muscular activity. II]. AB - We measured the effect of a 4-weeks treatment with arginine aspartate on 21 athletes. By a double blind methodology, we were able to show that the treatment group had an enhanced maximal oxygen consumption as well as a significantly decreased plasma lactate concentration at a work intensity of 200, 300 and 400 W on the treadmill. By the same token, 5 and 20 minutes after completion of the test run, blood lactate levels were significantly lower in the group receiving arginine aspartate. Nevertheless, at the 4 mmol lactate threshold, power and total work output were the same for both controls and treatment groups. These results show a favourable effect of arginine aspartate on blood lactate levels. PMID- 2617285 TI - [Hanggliding accidents. Distribution of injuries and accident analysis]. AB - Paragliding--a relatively new sport to Switzerland--brought 23 patients with 48 injuries (38% lower limb and 29% spinal) within a period of 8 months to the Inselspital University hospital in Berne. The aim of the study in characterizing these injuries is to formulate some guidelines towards prevention. With over 90% of accidents occurring at either take off or landing, emphasis on better training for the beginner is proposed with strict guidelines for the more experienced pilot flying in unfavourable conditions. PMID- 2617286 TI - Changing medical attitudes on exercise. PMID- 2617287 TI - Toxic epidermal necrolysis: a medical student's perspective. AB - As a third year medical student, I was hospitalized for approximately one month with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). Consequently, I have developed an insight into the role of patient as well as that of medical care giver. My experience prompted an intense interest in this particular adverse drug reaction and research into treatment recommendations. Treatment has changed in recent years and this resulted in significantly improved survival. Steroids, once commonly used, are now considered contraindicated. Because of the wide variety of medications which may be associated with this adverse reaction, it is essential to be familiar with the clinical presentation of TEN, as well as the initial steps in treatment. PMID- 2617288 TI - Recent advances in biological trace element analysis. A collection of papers presented at a symposium. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 7-10 August 1988. PMID- 2617289 TI - Blood lead screening in Ontario children: blood lead and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels. AB - A blood lead survey was conducted on samples from 2459 children aged 3-6 years to determine the prevalence of lead poisoning in children of this age in the Province of Ontario. Lead poisoning, defined as a blood lead concentration greater than or equal to 1.21 mumol 1-1 (25 micrograms dl-1), was found in 26 subjects (1.1% of the samples). The mean blood lead concentration for children from southern Ontario was 0.50 mumol l-1, and for those from northern Ontario it was 0.37 mumol l-1. Stringent quality controls and independent cross-checks of finger-prick capillary blood sampling were employed in the study. The free erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels were also monitored to detect the presence of iron deficiency in the children. PMID- 2617290 TI - Lead concentrations in human bones from the Canadian population. AB - Stable lead was determined in post-mortem samples of human bones from three Canadian cities. All age groups and both sexes were represented. The cities selected for investigation were Winnipeg, Montreal and Charlottetown. No significant difference was found between the locations, although levels tended to be higher for Montreal. Mean lead concentrations (micrograms Pb/g ash) were 8.98 +/- 1.17, 11.11 +/- 1.74 and 8.47 +/- 1.06 for Winnipeg, Montreal and Charlottetown, respectively. Corresponding geometric means were 6.21, 7.88 and 6.71, respectively. Individual values ranged from 0.45 to 240.07 micrograms Pb/g ash. Concentrations were highest in the greater than 20-year age group, indicating increased body burden with age. An increase in lead concentration was observed for the ages 1-11 years with a decrease for the 12-19-year age group. Differences in concentrations between the sexes were not significant. Higher than average concentrations were observed in samples obtained from Winnipeg for the period 1976-1980, particularly in the 1-4-year age group. A similar pattern was observed in the air lead concentrations, suggesting a possible correlation between the concentrations of lead in the air and in bones at Winnipeg. PMID- 2617291 TI - Survey of lead, cadmium, cobalt and nickel in infant formulas and evaporated milks and estimation of dietary intakes of the elements by infants 0-12 months old. AB - Lead, cadmium, cobalt and nickel were determined in 282 infant formulas and evaporated milks using a graphite-furnace atomic absorption coprecipitation method capable of determining background levels in all samples. On an "as sold" basis, lead in ready-to-use (RTU), concentrated liquid, and powder formulas averaged 1.6, 3.7 and 12.6 ng g-1, respectively. Evaporated (evap.) milks in lead free and lead-soldered cans contained 2.8 and 95 ng g-1, respectively. Average concentrations of cadmium, cobalt and nickel in evap. milk, milk-based RTU formulas and soy-based RTU formulas were: Cd, 0.38, 0.35 and 3.39 ng g-1; Co, 0.89, 0.46 and 2.79 ng g-1; and Ni, 4.7, 6.0 and 63.7 ng g-1, respectively. In milk-based formulas, cobalt and nickel concentrations were statistically higher in those fortified with iron. Dietary intakes of lead, cadmium, cobalt and nickel by 0-12-month-old infants from food and water used to dilute concentrated foods averaged 1.81 micrograms per kilogram body weight per day (micrograms kg-1 day-1) (13.2 micrograms day-1), 0.44 micrograms kg-1 day-1 (3.5 micrograms day-1), 0.52 micrograms kg-1 day-1 (3.93 micrograms day-1), and 5.0 micrograms kg-1 day-1 (38.2 micrograms day-1), respectively. Lead and cadmium intakes were below the respective FAO/WHO provisional tolerable daily intakes (PTDI) of 3.6 and 0.96-1.2 micrograms kg-1 day-1, except the lead intake of 6 micrograms kg-1 day-1 by infants fed evap. milk stored in lead-soldered cans. PMID- 2617292 TI - Determination of nickel in urine with graphite furnace AAS using Zeeman correction. AB - We have developed a rapid and direct method for determining urine nickel. The urine specimen is diluted (1 + 1) with 2.0% v/v nitric acid and 0.001% v/v Triton X-100 and absorbance measurements are made with Zeeman-effect graphite furnace atomic absorption. The method is sensitive enough to be used to evaluate "normal" subjects for baseline studies or to evaluate environmental or other nonoccupational exposure to nickel. The characteristic mass (pg/0.0044A.s) is 26 pg, which is comparable to that obtained for aqueous solutions. The observed absorbance is linear up to about 100 micrograms l-1, after which the calibration curve departs from linearity. Procedures are described to rigorously exclude nickel contamination. We evaluated precision and accuracy with a U.S. National Bureau of Standards urine reference material. SRM 2670, with an informational nickel value of 70 micrograms l-1, and with a multielement water reference material, SRM 1643b, with a certified nickel value of 49 ng g-1. Within- and among-run standard deviations for SRM 2670 were calculated to be 9.0 and 2.45 micrograms l-1, respectively, and 2.1 and 1.1 micrograms l-1 for SRM 1643b. The detection limit, calculated as 3 SD of a "low" concentration urine, is about 1.1 micrograms l-1. The proposed method was applied to the determination of nickel in urine of 258 workers in a magnet manufacturing plant, and the data obtained support the usefulness of urine nickel for biological monitoring. PMID- 2617293 TI - Determination of arsenic in urine by graphite platform furnace atomization atomic absorption spectrometry. PMID- 2617295 TI - The EEG and epilepsy. PMID- 2617294 TI - Quality control procedures for monitoring whole blood and plasma trace metal levels by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. AB - Well co-ordinated quality control procedures are required to insure that trace metal results determined at ppb (micrograms kg-1 or micrograms l-1) levels by atomic absorption spectrophotometry are reliable. Control materials can be prepared "in-house" provided they are calibrated against standard reference materials (SRM). A mean +/- SD data base should be determined for each quality control material with daily results plotted on Levey-Jennings charts. Westgard's multi-rule quality control scheme is recommended for assessing analytical performance. Additional information may be obtained by using cumulative sum (cusum) charts to detect analytical drift from the mean, and standard deviation index or 'z-score' plot to show analytical bias. Proficiency or quality assurance programs should be used to supplement internal quality verification of analytical performance. PMID- 2617296 TI - 1989 SMA lecture. Rule on confidentiality and evidence in court. PMID- 2617297 TI - Epidemiology of necrotising enterocolitis in Malaysian neonates. AB - Over a 21-month period, 108 of 45,770 neonates born in the Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, developed necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). The incidence of NEC was 2.4 per 1000 livebirths or 2.7 per 100 special care nursery (SCN) admissions in this Hospital. There was no significant difference in the incidence between the sexes or among the different races. NEC was most common (9.4%) in the very low birthweight (VLBW: neonates weighing less than 1500 grams) and the preterms of less than 34 week gestation (8.4%). 54.6% of the patients developed the condition during the first week of life. NEC occurred throughout the year in our nursery with clustering of cases intermittently. The case fatality ratio of the condition was 28.7%. NEC accounted for 5.7% of our Hospital's neonatal (less than 28 days of life) and postneonatal (greater than or equal to 28 days of life) deaths. There was no significant difference in the rates of occurrence of placental praevia, prolonged rupture of amniotic membranes, maternal pregnancy-induced hypertension, birth asphyxia, apnoea, respiratory distress, patent ductus arteriosus and exchange blood transfusion in neonates with NEC and those in the control group. Our findings on Malaysian neonates were comparable with those reported in the literature on neonates in developed countries. PMID- 2617298 TI - The insertion of the iliopsoas as a design favouring lateral rather than medial rotation at the hip joint. AB - A study of cadaveric material undertaken to investigate a possible anatomical basis for the nature of rotary influence of the iliopsoas at the hip joint shows that the winding course around the femoral neck with extension of tendon insertion towards the greater trochanter, and the spiralling course of the tendon both appear to be a design for causing external rotation during muscular contraction by a process of unwinding around the neck and untwisting of the spiral tendon under tension. PMID- 2617299 TI - Endocervical chlamydial infection in women with gonorrhoea. AB - Eighty six women attending Middle Road Hospital with endocervical gonococcal infection were evaluated. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated in 27% of them. Women co-infected with C. trachomatis were similar to those with gonococcal infection alone in terms of demography, type of sexual contact, previous sexually transmitted disease, genitourinary symptoms, and clinical signs. PMID- 2617300 TI - The elderly primigravida--evaluation of 90 cases. AB - A prospective study was carried out on ninety consecutive elderly primigravidae out of a total of 13,858 deliveries between 1983 to 1985. The aim of the study was to examine the reasons for postponent of childbearing beyond 35 years, the risks alleged to complicate pregnancy at this age, the obstetric performance and foetal outcome. The use of the term 'mature primigravida' as a suitable alternative to 'elderly primigravida' is emphasised. Pregnancy-induced hypertension was the commonest antenatal complication, and together with prolonged labour, the commoner indications for abdominal delivery. The caesarean section rate was 54.4 per cent. There were no maternal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate however, was much lower than that of the hospital population. PMID- 2617301 TI - Investigation and treatment of vaginal discharge and pruritus vulvae. AB - The causes of vaginal discharge for pruritus vulvae in a patient are considered in three categories: common causes like vaginal candidosis, Trichomonal vaginitis, Gardnerella vaginitis; less common causes like gonococcal infection, Chlamydia infection and T-mycoplasma infection; and uncommon causes which include allergy to nylon underwear, human papilloma infection and eczema. The clinical features of each and a suggested treatment regime are given. PMID- 2617302 TI - Occupational asthma due to ozone. AB - Ozone increases bronchial reactivity in normal and atopic subjects. Ozone is produced by high voltage electric discharge. Persons with pre-existent bronchial hyperreactivity should be excluded from work where significant exposure to ozone can occur. We describe a case of occupational asthma due to ozone. The levels of ozone were about 0.04 ppm. PMID- 2617303 TI - Therapeutic embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation. AB - A 49-year old man presented with recurrent transient ischaemic attacks and a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAM) was found in his lower left lobe. Left lower lobectomy was performed, and the attacks ceased. However, 18 months later, a fresh PAM was detected in the right lower lobe. In order to avoid further lung resection, therapeutic embolization with metal-dacron coils and gelfoam was performed, resulting in complete occlusion of the PAM. The patient remained well at follow-up 6 months later. Therapeutic embolization is an effective alternative to surgery in the treatment of PAM, especially in the presence of multiple lesions when it is important to conserve functional lung tissue. PMID- 2617304 TI - Aeromonas endocarditis in a patient with chronic hepatitis-B infection. AB - Aeromonas, a genus of gram-negative bacteria normally found in water and soil, is well established as a pathogen in the animal kingdom. Often considered as a pathogen of low virulence, its role in human infections has recently been recognised. Aeromonas infections in humans range from cellulitis to septicaemia. Endocarditis is rare. We describe here a patient with a chronic liver disease with aeromonas bacteremia and endocarditis. PMID- 2617305 TI - Thyrotoxic hyperemesis: a case report. AB - A male patient with hyperemesis as a result of hyperthyroidism was presented. Investigations for causes were negative except for hyperthyroxinaemia. Treatment with antithyroid drug relieved the symptom. Hyperemesis associated with hyperthyroidism occurs predominantly in females. A likely emetic factor oestrogen. Hyperthyroidism could have potentiated this effect. Levels of oestrogens are raised in thyrotoxicosis. The hyperthyroidism, the raised oestrogens and a low emetic threshold conspired to hyperemesis in this patient, a situation not unlike hyperemesis gravidarum. Thyrotoxic vomiting once recognised is readily by antithyroid treatment. PMID- 2617306 TI - Foetus in foetu--a case report. AB - A three-month old baby presented to the Paediatric Department with a problem of abdominal distension. Clinically, he had a large right abdominal mass which on investigations suggested a teratomatous lesion. At operation, a foetus-like tumour mass was located in the retroperitoneal space. A diagnosis of foetus in foetu was made. A close differential of a retroperitoneal teratoma is discussed and comparison with confirmed cases made. PMID- 2617307 TI - Life threatening re-expansion hypotension and pulmonary oedema following treatment of a pneumothorax. AB - A 27-year old man was admitted with a right-sided pneumothorax of 2-3 weeks duration. A chest tube was inserted and connected to an underwater seal drainage system without the application of external suction. Three hours later, the patient developed unilateral re-expansion pulmonary oedema and severe hypotension. Active management consisted of ventilating the patient with the addition of PEEP, and the administration of liberal amounts of fluids, including plasma and gelatin solution. The mechanism of re-expansion pulmonary oedema is different from that of cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, and the treatment consequently different. The cause of the hypotension may be due to hypovolaemia, from rapid pooling of fluid within the thorax, pre-existing volume depletion and myocardial depression. One must specially be aware of this possible complication when the pneumothorax is large and of more than 3 days, and it is to be stressed that suction should never initially be used in the treatment of a pneumothorax. PMID- 2617308 TI - Choreoacanthocytosis in a Chinese patient--a case report. AB - A 50-year old Chinese woman with the rare neurological disorder of Choreoacanthocytosis is described. Her illness is characterised by seizures, buccolingual dyskinesia, choreiform movements, arreflexia and mild sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Acanthocytes were present in her peripheral blood in large numbers but the serum lipid profile was normal. Her features are consistent with those so far described in Caucasian and Japanese patients. The disease differs from Huntington's chorea in that there are acanthocytes, peripheral neuropathy, and metal function remains relatively intact. PMID- 2617309 TI - Breathing patterns in local normal men. PMID- 2617310 TI - [Spray bronchodilators]. PMID- 2617311 TI - [Blood gas analysis from capillary blood]. PMID- 2617312 TI - [Care of tracheostomy]. PMID- 2617313 TI - [Complications of indwelling tracheostomies]. PMID- 2617314 TI - [Education to independence of patients with tracheostomies. Practical considerations by the nurse]. PMID- 2617315 TI - [Respiratory insufficiency and sleep disorders in the adult]. PMID- 2617316 TI - [Definition and physiopathology of severe respiratory insufficiency]. PMID- 2617317 TI - [The nurse's role in oncology]. PMID- 2617318 TI - [Artificial ventilation in severe bronchodysplasia after resuscitation. Admission in a medium-term pediatric service]. PMID- 2617319 TI - [Severe chronic respiratory insufficiency. Return home and home monitoring]. PMID- 2617320 TI - [The daily life of a child under assisted ventilation]. PMID- 2617321 TI - [Case reports of patients under mechanical ventilation]. PMID- 2617322 TI - [Long-term oxygen therapy]. PMID- 2617323 TI - [Psychoanalytic therapy]. PMID- 2617324 TI - [The role of psychoanalysis in institutional treatment]. PMID- 2617325 TI - [In search of lost dignity]. PMID- 2617327 TI - [The role of psychoanalysis in the medical team]. PMID- 2617326 TI - [Psychoanalysis and the humanities]. PMID- 2617328 TI - [Psychoanalysis and literature]. PMID- 2617329 TI - [Disorders of the alimentary tract. Anorexia and bulimia. Round table discussion]. PMID- 2617330 TI - [Principal theoretical aspects of psychoanalysis]. PMID- 2617331 TI - [Treatment of the neurotic syndrome in intestinal pathology]. PMID- 2617332 TI - [Disorders of hemostasis and fibrinolysis in hemorrhagic erysipelas]. PMID- 2617333 TI - [Activity of plasma fibronectin and the physico-chemical parameters of homeostasis in acute dysentery]. PMID- 2617334 TI - [Dysplastic epithelial changes associated with cancer and underlying diseases of the stomach]. PMID- 2617335 TI - [Functional approach to the evaluation of the immune status of humans]. PMID- 2617336 TI - [A case of Goodpasture's syndrome]. PMID- 2617337 TI - [Reflexotherapy of postoperative pneumonia in esophageal cancer]. PMID- 2617338 TI - [Development of acute renal failure in crush syndrome and the methods of their complex treatment]. AB - The author analyzes the many-year clinical experience gained in the treatment of 225 patients suffering from acute renal insufficiency resultant from the crush syndrome. He discusses the mechanism of the prolonged crush syndrome development, complicated with acute renal or hepatorenal insufficiency. Symptomatic conservative therapy is described in detail. Special attention is paid to the principles and methods of present-day active therapy (hemodialysis, hemoperfusion, hemofiltration, plasmapheresis, plasmadiasorption; lymphologic detoxication methods, i.e. drainage of the thoracic lymph flow, endolymphatic infusion of etiopathogenetic agents). The author emphasizes that the treatment may be effective only when a complex of methods for detoxication and impaired homeostasis correction is employed. PMID- 2617339 TI - [Chronic cor pulmonale in pulmonary tuberculosis and its treatment]. AB - New data on the pathogenesis of chronic cor pulmonale were obtained. The reduction of pulmonary capillaries at the site of the tuberculosis process beyond this site was found to contribute much to the development of pulmonary artery hypertension. Irreversible injuries to the vessels are due to both the pneumosclerotic changes and the specific circulating immune complexes (CIC) effects. Acting on the peripheral veins (in Koch's test), CICs influence the central hemodynamics, decreasing circulating blood volume by 30-40% and reducing cardiac output, thus resulting in deficit of the blood inflow to the right compartments of the heart. In this case the atrium functions at a higher load, like a suction pump, thus leading to cardiac hypertrophy. Peripheral vasodilators (apressin, nitrong) combined with cardiac glycosides (digoxin), favorably influencing the central hemodynamics, are recommended for the prevention and treatment of chronic cor pulmonale. PMID- 2617340 TI - [T-lymphocyte subpopulations in autoimmune and subacute thyroiditis treated with T-activin]. AB - The results of examination of 15 patients with autoimmune and subacute thyroiditis are analyzed. T-cellular immunity parameters have been examined, i.e. total T-lymphocytes, T-suppressors, T-helpers, killers. The study has revealed a reduction of the total T-lymphocyte count and a shifted ratio of the T-lymphocyte subpopulations, these changes being more manifest in autoimmune thyroiditis. T activin++ therapy resulted in a manifest tendency to normalization of the counts of T-lymphocytes and their subpopulations. PMID- 2617341 TI - [Spastic torticollis]. AB - Fifty-seven cases of spastic torticollis are reported, and its etiologic factors, including stressful situations, are analyzed. Plasma serotonin measurements have added new insight into pathogenetic mechanisms of the condition. The range of "reflex" spastic torticollis has been limited on the basis of biochemical and EMG findings. Fairly high incidence of attendant extrapyramidal symptoms and their polymorphism are pointed out, and, the need for a differential approach to the treatment of spastic torticollis being emphasized, a schedule of combined treatment, incorporating eglonyl and amitriptyline, is proposed for clonic-tonic torticollis. PMID- 2617342 TI - [Contracted pelvis in present-day obstetrics]. PMID- 2617343 TI - [The role of the consultation-diagnostic centers in rendering therapeutic services in Moscow]. PMID- 2617344 TI - [Use of computer technics during mass screening of the population]. PMID- 2617345 TI - [Ventricular myocardial contractility in chronic obstructive lung diseases]. PMID- 2617346 TI - [Gerontological aspects of bronchial asthma]. PMID- 2617347 TI - [Plasmapheresis in the treatment of severe forms of bronchial asthma in children]. PMID- 2617348 TI - [Microangiopathies in diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2]. PMID- 2617349 TI - [Disorders of spinal circulation in Marfan syndrome]. PMID- 2617350 TI - [Improving the methodological approach to the treatment of peptic ulcer]. PMID- 2617351 TI - [Blood microcirculation in erosive lesions of the gastroduodenal region]. PMID- 2617352 TI - [Differential diagnosis of tumor-simulating pancreatitis and cancer of the head of the pancreas]. PMID- 2617353 TI - [Blood carbophos kinetics in sorption detoxication]. PMID- 2617354 TI - [Neurologic and mental disorders in infectious endocarditis]. PMID- 2617355 TI - Traumatic cervical spine injuries in childhood and adolescence. AB - Of 84 consecutive children and adolescents with traumatic cervical spine injuries treated over a 10-year period, 61 (73%) were available for review. Age ranged from the newborn period to 17 years. Analysis of injury type revealed four groups of roughly equal incidence: atlantoaxial rotary subluxation, upper cervical fracture or dislocation, lower cervical injury, and spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality. Forty-four percent of patients incurred a neurologic injury. Falling from a height was the most common mechanism of injury. Apart from patients with complete neurologic deficits, the prognosis for these injuries is good. PMID- 2617356 TI - Trunk muscle activities in braced scoliosis patients. AB - There are two theories as to why bracing may prevent the progression of idiopathic scoliosis curves, the passive and the active theories. The passive theory is that progression is prevented by the forces exerted by the brace. The active theory is that progression is prevented by muscle contractions that arise in response to wearing the brace. This study examined the active theory of brace correction. Trunk muscle myoelectric activities were measured in ten adolescent females with right thoracic idiopathic scoliosis being treated with Boston braces. Activities were both measured when wearing and when not wearing their braces. Differences in braced and unbraced myoelectric activities were seldom statistically significant and never biomechanically significant. Boston brace effectiveness seems not to result from active responses to brace wearing. PMID- 2617357 TI - Lateral electrical surface stimulation in idiopathic scoliosis. Experience in two private practices. AB - One hundred twenty-six patients with idiopathic scoliosis were treated by lateral electrical surface stimulation. Of these, 39 patients satisfied a strict set of protocols and were evaluated as a group. In this subgroup, curves averaged 28 degrees (range, 20-38 degrees). Thirty-eight percent exhibited initial curves greater than 30 degrees. Thirty percent of patients had a Risser sign of 0. Follow-up was from 6 months to 6 years. Progression was greater than 5 degrees in 48% and greater than 10 degrees in 35%. The final curve was greater than 40 degrees in 30%. Twenty-eight required fusion. Compared with natural history studies, these results are acceptable, and the authors continue to offer lateral electrical surface stimulation as a method of nonoperative care for progressive idiopathic scoliosis. PMID- 2617358 TI - Decreasing homologous blood transfusion in spinal surgery by use of the cell saver and predeposited blood. AB - Blood loss and blood replacement are necessities in spinal surgery. They also have increasing risks. Three blood replacement options and combinations were investigated in patients undergoing major spinal deformity surgery. In Section 1, intraoperative replacement from harvested cell saver blood was investigated in 35 patients. This group averaged 40% (20-60%) return of the red cell mass lost intraoperatively. In Section 2, intraoperative replacement via predeposited autologous blood was investigated in 41 patients. The predeposited blood replaced 64% of the intraoperative red cell mass lost. In Section 3, ten single-stage and ten two-stage spinal surgery cases using both cell saver and autologous predeposited blood were investigated. With this program, 90% of the single-stage patients did not require additional homologous blood, while 80% of the two-stage patients did. In Section 4, 65 patients undergoing six general types of spinal surgery were examined to determine the number of predeposited autologous units needed to avoid homologous blood during hospitalization. Guidelines for determining optimal donation were developed assuming the use of intraoperative cell saver use. PMID- 2617359 TI - Unit rod segmental spinal instrumentation in the management of patients with progressive neuromuscular spinal deformity. AB - Thirty-four nonambulatory patients with progressive neuromuscular spinal deformity were surgically managed using a 1/4" U-shaped double rod construct with segmental instrumentation from T2 to the pelvis accompanied by posterior spinal fusion. Diagnoses included 17 patients with cerebral palsy, six with spinal bifida, and 11 with other diseases (spinal muscular atrophy, Friedreich's ataxia, polyneuropathy, nemaline myopathy, and polio). Twenty-three patients had single uncompensated thoracolumbar curves, and 11 had a double curve pattern. The mean preoperative major curve was 66 degrees (range, 22-132 degrees), the secondary curve 58 degrees (range, 23-84 degrees). No postoperative spinal support was used. Mean curve correction was 36 degrees or 54.6%. There were four major complications, including two implant failures requiring revision and two patients sustaining excessive intraoperative blood loss necessitating completion of the procedure in a second stage. There were two neurologic complications including one case of postoperative seizures and an L4 monoradicular neuropathy in a spina bifida patient. Four patients had temporary postoperative ileus, one gastroesophageal reflex, and four had urinary tract infections. There were no significant postoperative pulmonary complications. Excluding the patients with rod failure, mean loss of correction at mean follow-up of 21.3 months was 6.5%. The stability and curve correction obtained using this system supports its continued use in patients with progressive neuromuscular scoliosis. PMID- 2617360 TI - Experimental analysis of the spinal cord compressed by spinal metastasis. AB - The purpose of the present study of experimental spinal metastasis, developed in rats by inoculation of tumor cells through the spinous process, was to find the factor that causes the initial damage to the cord in this disorder. In the early stage of paralysis, the degenerated posterior funiculus originated from a small hemorrhagic area in the posterior column of the involved cord. Using the scanning electron microscope, the hemorrhage was found to be from the intrinsic vein, resulting from the disturbance of venous drainage in the compressed portion. In the early stage of compression, extravasation of horseradish peroxidase was observed in the white matter, but histologic degeneration was not. A hemorrhage existed wherever degeneration of the funiculus was observed. Therefore, the trigger to induce the initial damage on the cord in spinal metastasis was not likely to be vasogenic edema, but instead the intrinsic venous hemorrhage. PMID- 2617361 TI - Burst fractures in the thoracic and lumbar spine. A clinico-neuropathologic analysis. AB - Neuropathologic analysis of eight acute and 12 chronic burst fractures was performed. In the acute cases, the injury to the bony, ligamentous, and neural tissues was investigated. Serious Denis B or D fractures showed signs of pronounced instability, and all had a large bone fragment rotated into the spinal canal. The neural tissues were compressed in two cases and transected in one. The Denis A fractures had relatively well-restored ligamentous structures and the bone fragment in the spinal canal was narrowing the spinal canal less than 50% in all cases. Three of four had normal neural tissue macroscopically and microscopically. The majority of the patients with chronic burst fractures did not show any sign of bone fragment resorption. Six out of eight patients with thoracolumbar (T12 and L1) and lumbar (L3) fractures experienced intractable burning pain and/or rhizopathy. The pain seemed to be caused by entrapment of the nerve roots in adhesions. PMID- 2617362 TI - Harvesting autogenous iliac bone grafts. A review of complications and techniques. AB - Autogenous bone grafts from the ilium are frequently harvested for purposes of bone union and/or stability. Although some donor site complications may be unavoidable, awareness of the anatomy and complications may aid in planning the approach and minimizing the risks. Documented donor site complications include pain, nerve and arterial injury, peritoneal perforation, sacroiliac joint instability, and herniation of abdominal contents through defects in the ilium. Strict observation of relevant anatomic considerations will help in avoiding these complications. PMID- 2617363 TI - The long-range prognosis of arachnoiditis. AB - Fifty patients with arachnoiditis were studied, and long-term follow-up ranging from 10 to 21 years was obtained on 36 (72%). Prior to developing arachnoiditis, 90% originally had intervertebral disc disease, Pantopaque (Alcon Surgical, Ft. Worth, Texas) myelography, and subsequent lumbar spine surgery. Pain and functional disability tended to remain the same as at the time of diagnosis, although severity of symptoms fluctuated. Increased neurologic deficits were more frequently due to surgical intervention than to the natural course of the disease. Urinary symptoms characterized by urgency, frequency, and occasional incontinence, with no other apparent cause, developed late in 23%. Although the majority were able to walk and drive a car without limitation, ability to return to previous full-time occupations was markedly limited. The majority depended on daily narcotic analgesics; a few admitted to alcohol abuse. There were two deaths by suicide. Although other deaths were not directly related to arachnoiditis, the average lifespan was shortened by 12 years. Treatment results were disappointing. Arachnoiditis may be disabling; however, longterm follow-up indicates that progression of symptoms and functional impairment are not the natural course of the disease. PMID- 2617364 TI - Postoperative radiographic evidence for fatigue fracture as the etiology in spondylolysis. AB - The postoperative radiographs of 48 patients who underwent posterolateral in situ fusion for spondylolysis and Grade 1 or less spondylolisthesis over an 11-year period showed healing of the pars defects in 90% of the cases. The patients who showed healing had an average preoperative duration of symptoms of 17 months (mean, 12 months). The five patients whose radiographs showed persistent defects postoperatively were found to have had preoperative symptoms for an average of 47 months (mean, 48 months). This significantly greater (P 0.05) duration of symptoms prior to stabilization was the only variable that proved to be statistically significant. Controversy continues to exist as to the etiology of spondylolysis; however, the ability to heal the defect with lumbar spinal stability certainly supports the theory that the defect is a result of fatigue stresses, which finally manifest as a fracture seen on radiographs as the spondylolytic defect. Posterior spinal stabilization in those patients with symptoms for a period of less than 2 years who have failed conservative management can be expected to heal the pars defects. PMID- 2617365 TI - Biomechanical analysis of pedicle screw instrumentation systems in a corpectomy model. AB - Five different spinal implants, all using pedicle screw attachment to vertebrae, were examined in a one above/one below corpectomy model, to determine 1) the relative stiffness of each construct, 2) the stresses generated in the implant during loading, and 3) the relative fatigue susceptibility of each implant. Results indicated that the relative axial and torsional stiffnesses were similar for all the implants tested (DKS/Zielke, VSP/Steffee, AO Fixator Interne, Luque plate, AO Notched plate). Hence, each of the devices impart approximately the same stability to the spine in this highly unstable model. Stresses measured at the root of the pedicle screws were found to exceed the endurance limit of stainless steel in those systems in which the pedicle screws were attached rigidly to the plates (VSP/Steffee, AO Fixator Interne). Good agreement was found between the measured stresses and stresses derived from static calculations. Comparisons between the stresses from each implant gave a relative measure of fatigue susceptibility that was validated by in vitro cyclic testing. Implants with stresses exceeding the endurance limit failed during the cyclic test. PMID- 2617366 TI - Intradural rupture of cervical intervertebral disc. PMID- 2617367 TI - [A study of rheumatoid arthritis patients associated with biopsy-proven secondary amyloidosis]. AB - Reactive systemic amyloidosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was studied clinically in 28 patients (2 men and 26 women). The diagnosis of amyloidosis was established by histological examination of biopsy materials. Upper gastrointestinal tract biopsy was performed in 14 patients, and renal and rectal biopsy in 8 and 4 respectively. The mean age and duration of RA at diagnosis of amyloidosis were 58.6 (range 35-72) years and 15.5 (range 4-44) years respectively. Almost all patients had intractable and progressive courses of RA. Serological activities determined by C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rates were moderate to high in over 80% of the cases. Renal abnormalities were noticed in 19 cases, and gastrointestinal disorders in 10. Eight patients died from 1 to 54 (mean 15.3) months after the diagnosis of amyloidosis; 5 died of renal failure and 2 of gastrointestinal involvements. Renal impairments progressed frequently and serum creatinine elevated over 1.5 mg/dl in another 8 cases. Five patients progressing to renal failure were treated with hemodialysis. Three died within several weeks after the induction of hemodialysis, although 2 were treated for more than 2 years. Intractable hypotension and pulmonary congestion were frequently observed in these cases. A close relationship was found between serum amyloid A protein (SAA) and CRP concentration, so that the measurement of SAA seemed to be valuable in assessing disease activity. Concerning the treatment of amyloidosis, cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids seemed to be effective in several cases, although it had been unsatisfactory in most cases. PMID- 2617368 TI - [Proposal of revised criteria for malignant rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - The diagnostic criteria for malignant rheumatoid arthritis (MRA), which was proposed by the Research Group of MRA and periarteritis nodosa supported from the Ministry of Health and Welfare has been widely used since 1973. This diagnostic criteria was established for selecting RA patients with life-threatening extraarticular manifestations caused by vasculitis. However, in practice, RA patients with extraarticular involvements related to vasculitis, as well as, cases which were not related to vasculitis were diagnosed as MRA in this criteria. Because of the aforementioned and after research, we revised the diagnostic criteria for MRA. At first, we defined MRA as RA patients having intractable and severe extraarticular manifestations by various causes including vasculitis. One hundred and sixty-nine patients with MRA and 227 patients with RA from 39 medical facilities were analysed. Sixteen extraarticular clinical manifestations and 9 laboratory findings were compared between MRA and RA patients. Comparison of specificity in each criterion for MRA was made by using the Second quantitative analysis. Thereafter, the combinations of the variables which were most specific to MRA were studied. At the same time, sensitivity and specificity for MRA were also studied. The revised criteria are as follows: A. Clinical and Laboratory Findings--(1) visceral infarction, (2) myocarditis, (3) skin ulcer or skin infarction, (4) episcleritis or iritis, (5) polyneuritis, (6) high titers of rheumatoid factor, (7) immune complexes or low complement levels, (8) subcutaneous nodule, (9) pleuritis or pericarditis, (10) interstitial pneumonitis or lung fibrosis. B. Histopathological Findings from Biopsy Specimens -necrotizing vasculitis and/or granulomatous vasculitis and/or endoarteritis obliterans in small and/or medium size arteries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617369 TI - [Spontaneous production of interleukin-1 and B cell stimulating factors by B cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]. AB - In order to investigate the mechanism of polyclonal B cell activation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), spontaneous production of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and B cell stimulating factor (BSF) activity by B cells from SLE patients and normal subjects were examined. In both active and inactive SLE, spontaneous IL-1 and BCDF production was significantly increased as compared with normal subjects. However, BCGF activity of B cells from patients with SLE was not significantly increased. After IL-1 activity was absorbed by anti-IL-1 antibody, BCGF and BCDF activities were remained. Low density (larger) B cells separated by Percoll gradient was significantly increased in percentage in SLE patients. However, the population of higher density (smaller) B cells could produce BCGF and BCDF activity in SLE. It is suggested that SLE B cells produce IL-1 and BSF spontaneously and that these factors may play an important role for polyclonal B cell activation in SLE. PMID- 2617370 TI - [A case of progressive systemic sclerosis accompanied with rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - A 37-year old man was suffered from Raynaud's phenomenon, sclerodactyly, and polyarthritis involving knees, shoulders, and hands. Recurrent skin ulcers were present in finger tips. Laboratory studies showed positive RA test, antinuclear antibody (nucleolar type), and anti-Scl 70 antibody. So diagnosis of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) was made. Progressed destructive arthritis with rheumatoid nodules developed in the patient. The joint destruction was severe and he was satisfied with the criteria of the American Rheumatism Association (ARA). This patient appears to be an overlapping case of PSS and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PMID- 2617371 TI - [A case of lupus nephritis resistant to steroid pulse therapy markedly improved by bolus intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy]. AB - Bolus intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy (IVCY) has recently been the subject of considerable attention because it is occasionally very effective in the treatment of severe lupus nephritis. However only a few reports on this form of therapy have been noted in Japan. Described here is a patient with lupus nephritis accompanied by multi-organ disorders resistant to various therapies including methylprednisolone pulse therapy which responded dramatically to IVCY. The patient, a 37-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) starting in 1984, was admitted to our hospital with increasing generalized edema and malaise in January 1987. Evaluation revealed hypoalbuminemia, hypoxemia, ascites, hypocomplementemia and leukopenia. The patient was treated with high-dose oral prednisolone, however the lupus nephritis deteriorated and a high urinary protein level, massive ascites, and pericardial and pleural effusions were noted. Involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) was also observed. Subsequently, she was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy and low-dose oral cyclophosphamide. As her disease was refractory to these treatments IVCY was initiated in May 1987, at a dose 0.5-0.8 g/m2. A total of 3 doses were given, and treatment was discontinued in October 1987 because of marked clinical improvement. After the final IVCY treatment she was discharged, and her subsequent clinical course over a year with a maintenance dose of prednisolone has been uneventful. Thus, IVCY seemed to be useful in the treatment of severe lupus nephritis. More rigorous comparisons of IVCY with other therapies are necessary. PMID- 2617372 TI - [Pure squamous cell carcinoma and mixed transitional and squamous carcinoma of the bladder. A clinico-histopathological comparative study]. AB - The histopathological features and clinical courses of 32 patients with pure squamous cell carcinomas of urinary bladder and 42 mixed squamous and transitional carcinomas were compared. The natural history of 2 patients populations was based on the staging of specimens on which first histological diagnosis was made and on the specific treatments adopted. No significant differences in behaviour between two histological types were observed, even though median survival of pure squamous forms was lower than that of mixed forms. Only radical treatments seemed to offer a better prognosis for mixed transitional and squamous forms with pT2 stage, whereas none of the patients with squamous carcinomas survived for two years regardless of stage and treatment performed. A common origin between the two histological types of tumour is supposed. PMID- 2617373 TI - [Major surgery in the patient with chronic renal insufficiency]. AB - The authors describe their experience of surgery in long term dialysis patients. 47 major surgical operations are presented. Chronic renal failure doesn't increase risk in current surgery operations. On the other hand, daily variations of water, salts, weight and hematologic parameters increase risk in emergency surgery, performed on hemodialyzed patients. PMID- 2617374 TI - [Adjuvant therapy with vinblastine and interferon in metastatic renal carcinoma]. AB - An integrated therapeutic approach was adopted to treat metastatic renal carcinoma, the reason being: 1) to effect a regression of metastasis that could not be attacked surgically either because of its location or extent; 2) to limit micrometastatic diffusion in patients with N+.0.05 mg/kg Vinblastine was used every three weeks in association with alfa-2A-IFN in a dose of 18 X 10(6) U 3 times a week. Included in this study were twelve patients with renal carcinoma subjected to nephrectomy with lymph nodal metastases and with or without remote M+. Without drawing hasty conclusions, this therapy can be said to have a useful role after correct surgical approach. PMID- 2617375 TI - [Adjuvant M-VEC in advanced urotheliomas of the bladder]. AB - The therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy in bladder's carcinoma is today supported by many statistical reports; the response rates are ranging from 35% to 45%. Results of the treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy (M-VEC in 22 patients with or without metastatic tumor are presented. Favourable objective responses were seen in 25% of the patients. The conclusion is drawn that this therapy is very useful in the treatment of metastatic diseases, but it can be used also in non-metastatic (M0) patients to prevent the growth of micrometastasis. PMID- 2617376 TI - [Buprenorphine in the analgesic treatment of patients subjected to bladder mapping]. AB - Experience with 20 patients suffering from prior papillary neoplasia of the bladder, already treated with TUR and then subjected to control vesical mapping exploiting the analgesic effect of a new drug buprenorphine hydrochloride administered i.v. is reported. Changes in cardiorespiratory variables are examined. The data show that buprenorphine offers good pain tolerance; the absence of respiratory depression suggests that it could be used on a larger scale in patients suffering from cardiorespiratory pathology undergoing multiple vesical biopsies. PMID- 2617377 TI - [Leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord. Apropos of 2 cases]. AB - Two cases of leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord are reported. Prognostic factors and therapy of this kind of tumors are discussed. PMID- 2617378 TI - [Neurotoxic action of muzolimine at high doses in uremic patients. Observation of a group of 29 subjects]. AB - We report the results of a study on 29 patients affected by renal chronic insufficiency and treated with high doses of muzolimine. From our data it results that to the muzolimine is probable due a neurological syndrome very similar to combined sclerosis. Up today, it is not possible to know how and where the muzolimine develops its neurotoxic effect. PMID- 2617379 TI - [Body composition in chronic renal insufficiency in the primary anuric phase and after dialysis]. AB - Bioelectric impedance was analysed before and after dialysis to assess the body composition of 36 patients suffering from chronic kidney failure in fair nutritional condition: resistance values were used to quantify total body water and reactance values as dimensional indices of the intracellular spaces and cell mass. Before dialysis, total body water was significantly higher than that of healthy subjects comparable for height, sex, age and weight, while it was not possible to obtain direct data on the dimensions of the cell mass. After dialysis, total body water values normalised and the dimensions of the intracellular spaces and cell mass became almost comparable to those of the controls: data analysis shows that during treatment, weight loss occurs almost exclusively in the extracellular compartments of the organism. Notwithstanding the fact that the absolute values are similar to those of the controls, body composition did not normalise as relationships between the dimensions of the various sectors remain altered. PMID- 2617380 TI - [Analysis of the composition of 2700 urinary calculi examined by infrared spectrophotometry, 1979-1989]. AB - Two thousand seven hundred samples, received as urinary calculi, in a Turin based laboratory, in the period between March 1979 and February 1989, were examined by infrared spectroscopy to identify components even of difficult characterization: a special procedure was used and it is described. Knowing the composition of each calculus, a comparison was made between the incidence of each compound in the first 1500 samples (1979-1984) and in the remaining 1200 ones (1984-1989). Besides an increase in calcium oxalate as main component, a marked reduction in incidence of struvite was found in the calculi belonging to the second period of observation. The possible interference in calculi composition by various therapy for renal infection is discussed. PMID- 2617381 TI - [Application of Mossbauer spectroscopy to the study of hemoglobinopathies. Preliminary experience]. AB - 37Fe Moessbauer spectroscopy has been applied to the study of iron deposits in patients with altered iron metabolism. Haematological parameters were also studied in order to analyse their relationship with Moessbauer results. Within the aim of this research, 12 samples of packed red blood cells were analysed: 6 with beta-thalassaemia major, 2 with S-beta-thalassaemia, 1 with sickle cell anaemia and 3 from normal subjects used as control for Moessbauer spectroscopy. Moessbauer spectra of 6 red blood cells samples showed that besides the two components, i.e., oxy and deoxy haemoglobin present in samples of normal subjects, appears a third component with Moessbauer parameters corresponding to ferritin-like iron. Correlation of % transferrin saturation (TS %) with ferritin like iron (r = 0.90, p less than 0.05) as well as between TS % and the ratio ferritin-like iron/Hb iron (r = 0.91, p less than 0.05) was found. A tendency to correlation of serum ferritin (SF) with ferritin-like iron (r = 0.90, p less than 0.05) as well as between TS % and the ratio ferritin-like iron/Hb iron (r = 0.91, p less than 0.05) was found. A tendency to correlation of SF with ferritin-like iron (r = 0.78) and with the ratio ferritin-like iron/Hb iron, was also observed. It can be concluded that Moessbauer spectroscopy could be a useful technique in the study of this kind of pathology. PMID- 2617382 TI - [Acute promyelocytic leukemia in the west of Venezuela]. AB - Twenty-nine cases of acute promyelocytic leukaemia of children and adults are reported. This figure represents 13.61% of all the acute leukaemias and 27.88% of the acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemias found in Zulia State between 1982 and 1987. Those findings mean a higher frequency than reported in other childhood as well as adult series. So, Zulia State appears as an important geographic area for the occurrence of this type of leukaemia. PMID- 2617383 TI - [Long-term results in the treatment of lymphomas using polychemotherapy (CHOP)]. AB - The long-term results achieved with CHOP chemotherapy in 131 patients with non Hodgkin's lymphoma of diffuse histological pattern and in advanced stages were analysed. The mean age of the patients was 49 years. Complete remission was achieved in 68 cases (60 %). There was good tolerance in general terms, without any lethal complications. The median survival was 27 months; 28 patients (25 % of the whole series) are alive and disease-free after 10 years, so they can be considered as cured. High lactate-dehydrogenase levels, bulky tumoural mass and high degree of histological malignancy were identified as poor-prognosis factors. CHOP chemotherapy appears as a useful means of treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as shown by the number of patients achieving long lasting remission and by the tolerance. Nevertheless, this treatment is of less value in patients with poorer prognosis, in whom other regimens must be borne in mind. PMID- 2617384 TI - [Autoimmune hemolytic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes]. AB - The association between autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AHA) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) was found in seven out of 156 patients with SMD who received several transfusions as supportive therapy. Three patients were diagnosed of refractory anaemia (RA), three more of refractory anaemia with excess of blasts (RAEB) and one of refractory anaemia with ring sideroblasts (RARS). All patients showed a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) and the presence of anti-red blood cell IgG type antibodies, both in serum and eluate. Clinically, three patients showed signs of low grade haemolysis. It is suggested that in the reported patients, who seem to be immunologically predisposed, red blood cell transfusions could trigger the autoantibodies and the AHA development. PMID- 2617385 TI - [Megaloblastic anemia caused by a congenital deficiency of transcobalamin II. Apropos of a new case]. AB - Megaloblastic anaemia is very rare in the first weeks of life and it is related to impaired metabolism of folic acid or vitamin B12. One of this disorders is the congenital transcobalamin II deficiency. The case of a three month old infant, with vomiting, diarrhoea and severe anaemia is presented. Both parents and the child had very low or undetectable levels of serum TC II, respectively. Using i.m. hydroxycobalamin at high doses, the clinical and laboratory responses have been satisfactory. PMID- 2617386 TI - [Evaluation of the kinetics of hemagglutination using a simple photometric technic]. AB - A photometric technique to evaluate haemagglutination kinetic is presented in this paper. The technique applies the relative optical extinction (EO) produced on a light beam transmitted through a suspension of small particles (red blood cells and their agglutinates). The optical extinction decreases as the red cell agglutinates grow, giving a parametric estimate of the haemagglutination rate. Hence, optical extinction can be used to distinguish erythrocyte subgroups characterized by the differences appearing in the number of antigenic sites per cell. The paper describes the technique and gives the results of a set of experiments carried out on 90 samples constituted by 30 samples of A1 adults, 30 samples of non-A1 A adults and 30 samples of A newborns (cord red blood cells). Results show significative differences between subgroups. Parametric values such as the total relative optical extinction reduction (difference between the initial and the final values of EO) and the initial optical extinction rate are analyzed. Results from A newborn red cells show similar behaviour as the non-A1 A adult red cells and significative differences from A1 adult red cells. A correlation between parametric values and the number of antigenic sites per cell, as found in the literature, becomes evident. PMID- 2617387 TI - [Burkitt-type lymphoma associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]. PMID- 2617388 TI - [Significant correlation: encore!]. PMID- 2617389 TI - [Post-transfusion hepatitis: a serious problem]. PMID- 2617390 TI - [Hematoma of the psoas as the only hemorrhagic manifestation in an immune thrombocytopenia associated with chronic lymphatic leukemia]. PMID- 2617391 TI - [Budd-Chiari syndrome as a preceding phase of essential thrombocythemia]. PMID- 2617392 TI - [Type I Gaucher's disease: presentation of a case with a 12-year course]. PMID- 2617393 TI - [31st meeting of the Spanish Association of Hematology and Hemotherapy. Cordoba, 2-4 November 1989. Abstracts (1st of 2 parts)]. PMID- 2617394 TI - Public attitudes toward Social Security. AB - In the early years of the Social Security program, public support for old-age pensions was high but knowledge and understanding about benefits and taxes were low. Understanding has greatly increased, even though the program has expanded, and support for Social Security has remained high. Data from the surveys and polls examined in this article indicate that support for Social Security was strong even during the late 1970's and early 1980's, when a fiscal crisis generated a crisis of confidence in the public's perception of the system's ability to pay benefits in the future. The proportion of the American public declaring confidence in the program declined sharply from a large majority with confidence (63 percent) in 1975 to a minority with confidence (39 percent) in 1978. Following the restoration of program financing through the provisions in the 1983 amendments, the trend has reversed. By 1988, nearly one-half of the public expressed confidence in the future of the Social Security program. For the most part, other aspects of public opinion regarding Social Security have shown great stability over the years. The program is popular and has been well supported. Support for the Government to spend more for Social Security has been consistently high, as has support for benefits to increase with inflation and for benefits to increase even if it means higher taxes. Many individuals rely on income from Social Security or expect to rely on it when they retire. It is clear that the public wants the program to continue. If participation were optional, about three-fourths of the population would stay in the program. PMID- 2617395 TI - [Bromocriptine]. PMID- 2617396 TI - [The role of language in communication]. PMID- 2617397 TI - [Children's communication with their peers]. PMID- 2617398 TI - [Children's communication in the family. A new perspective]. PMID- 2617399 TI - [Nurses' communication between themselves and with the infant]. PMID- 2617400 TI - [How does this child communicate?]. PMID- 2617401 TI - [The young child in the hospital. Quality of nursing and interpersonal care. Round table discussion]. PMID- 2617402 TI - [Education and asthma in children]. PMID- 2617403 TI - [A depressed mother with her baby. Difficult communication]. PMID- 2617404 TI - [Exchanges during feeding]. PMID- 2617405 TI - Are the "little muscles" what we think they are? PMID- 2617406 TI - The reverse flow medial knee osteoperiosteal flap for skeletal reconstruction of the leg. Description and anatomical basis. AB - A new, pedicled, reverse flow osteoperiosteal flap based on 2 branches of the descending genicular a. is presented. Both a periosteal and osteoperiosteal flap can be raised at the distal end of the femur and, in favourable cases (64% of the dissections), transported as far as the middle third of the leg. In all other cases the proximal third of the tibia can be reached. Composite musculo osteoperiosteal flaps can also be raised, including the articularis genus m. Clinical applications may include the treatment of nonunions, reconstruction of segmental tibial defects and bone revascularisation in aseptic necrosis about the knee joint. PMID- 2617407 TI - The ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. A new supply for vascularized iliac transplantation. AB - The ascending branch of lateral circumflex femoral a. was studied in 66 adult limbs in terms of its anatomical description and clinical relevance. The anatomical findings suggest that the ascending branch could be used as an ideal supply for vascularized iliac transplantation. This new technique has been widely used in China since 1984 with satisfactory results. PMID- 2617408 TI - The arterial blood supply of the human fetal diaphragm. AB - To gain a better understanding of the development of the human diaphragm, a study of the arterial supply was made in 20 fetuses. The Micropaque injection was injected either by an ascending route in the thoracic aorta or by a descending route in the left internal carotid below the ductus arteriosus. Two studies using diaphanization have displayed the diaphragmatic anastomoses. The phrenic and the intercostal a. seemed the most important to explain the diaphragm organogenesis. PMID- 2617409 TI - Myocardial bridge over the right coronary artery in man. AB - A rare case of myocardial bridge over the trunk of the right coronary a. is described in the heart of a male, adult, Caucasian, Brazilian, whose death occurred after an automobile accident. After a review of the literature, the unusual finding is described and illustrated. Other bridges on the beginning of the right marginal a.; the right anterior ventricular a.; and on the anterior interventricular a. (left anterior descending) a. were observed. The location and significance of myocardial bridges over coronary a. are discussed. PMID- 2617410 TI - The femoral artery and flexion of the hip joint. AB - The behavior of the femoral a. when the hip joint passes from the position of extension to the position of flexion at 90 degrees was studied in 13 cadavers, using several methods: anatomic sections, arteriographies or vascular casts. The modifications of the direction and shape of the femoral a. were assessed in the frontal and sagittal planes. They result from a movement combining flexion and torsion of the femoral a. on its axis at 2 different points in its course. The change of direction of the artery in the sagittal plane is the most obvious modification. It corresponds to the displacement and to the inversion of an angle of 45 degrees on the course of the artery. This angle is situated below the level of the inguinal ligament when the hip joint is in extension and above the sartorius m. when it is flexed to 90 degrees. If these modifications are produced in a similar manner in the living subject, they would seem to correspond to the best possible functional adaptation of the femoral a. They may be involved in the genesis of prosthetic aneurysms. PMID- 2617411 TI - The human temporo-mandibular joint: current anatomic and physiologic status. AB - The aim of this study was to take stock of current anatomic and physiologic knowledge of the human temporo-mandibular joint. Though the lateral pterygoid m. plays an essential role in joint movements, we believe that the small deep portion of the masseter and temporalis have a supplementary action in guiding the articular disc forward. The embryologists have demonstrated joint movements in the two-month embryo and at this stage there already exists a triple attachment of the temporalis, pterygoid and masseter to the disc. PMID- 2617412 TI - Anatomic study of a particular type of vascular lesion associated with tibial fractures. AB - Proximal tibiofibular dislocations are rare lesions, especially as they may pass unnoticed when associated with tibial fractures. Anatomically, there is bony and ligamentous predisposition to upward and backward dislocation of the proximal tibiofibular joint which is promoted by the shortening of the lower limb accompanying a tibial fracture. We report 3 tibial fractures associated with acute ischemia due to proximal tibiofibular dislocation, an association never previously described. This lesion and its mechanism were studied anatomically. PMID- 2617413 TI - The infratemporal fossa: a trial clarification. AB - The contents of the infratemporal fossa have been studied using CT scans, anatomical dissections and radiography of the anatomical specimens. On the strength of this, 3 distinct regions are discernable: the anterior part of the fossa contains the fat pad of the cheek and this area corresponds to the retromaxillo-zygomatic region; the region of the pterygoid m. contains vascular structures and lies behind the preceding region; the pterygopalatine fossa, formerly considered the deepest part, extends the infratemporal fossa superiorly and medially. These anatomical and radiographic findings could serve as a guide to maxillo-facial surgeons dealing with expanding lesions within the infratemporal fossa, or invading it from adjacent regions. PMID- 2617414 TI - Dynamics of the junction between the medulla and the cervical spinal cord: an in vivo study in the sagittal plane by magnetic resonance imaging. AB - Sagittal sections of the brain-stem made by MRI reveal differences in the angle formed by the medulla and the cord. In order to study the normal mobility of this region of the CNS during flexion and extension of the head, sagittal MRI studies were made in the sagittal plane in 18 young volunteers. The volunteers were in dorsal decubitus with the cervical spine first flexed and then extended, with the movement localized to the cranio-cervical junction as far as possible. T1 weighted sequences were used, with body coils in 16 cases and surface coils in two. Measurements were related to global cranio-cervical range of movement, movement at the cranio-cervical junction and spino-medullary movement. Variations in the depth of the free space in front of the medulla, pons and spinal cord during movement were also noted. We also checked for downward shift of the lower part of the 4th ventricle and modification of the shape of the ventricle during flexion-extension. The global range of cranio-cervical movement was between 31 and 100 degrees (average 63 degrees). The range between the cranium and C1C2 was 4 to 39 degrees (average 19 degrees) and the spino-medullary range was from 1 to 32 degrees (average 14 degrees). During flexion, the free space narrowed in front of the pons 11 times, in front of the medulla 14 times and in front of the cervical cord 11 times. There was a downward shift of the lower part of the 4th ventricle during flexion in 4 cases but no change in shape was noted. Though this study is open to criticism from several aspects, it may be concluded that variations of the spino-medullary angle in the sagittal plane during flexion extension do occur, that they are closely correlated with movements at the cranio cervical junction, moves forward during flexion. PMID- 2617415 TI - The neurocentral vertebral cartilage: anatomy, physiology and physiopathology. AB - The neurocentral cartilage (NCC) described by Schmorl was an intermediate cartilage has aroused discussion among numerous authors as to its role, its age of closure and its possible involvment in the genesis of scoliosis. The authors have attempted to define these problems on the basis of a histologic study of 20 vertebral specimens of different ages and a scanographic study of 25 children. The NCC remains open until adolescence and even beyond, but its maximal activity is probably around 5-6 years. Part of its function is to ensure growth of the posterior arch. Finally, the scanograms of scoliosis show the NCC to be more widely open on the concave side, as if this remained active for a longer period. PMID- 2617416 TI - Rheumatoid arthritis III. PMID- 2617417 TI - Immunopathology of cardiac diseases II. PMID- 2617418 TI - Louisiana's Medical Review Panel. AB - Since 1975, professional liability claims against health care providers in the state of Louisiana have been screened by medical review panels, which are composed of three physicians and one attorney. The purpose of the panels is to weed out frivolous lawsuits and aid the prompt settlement of meritorious claims. In this article, the procedures, controversies, and findings of Louisiana's medical review panels are summarized. PMID- 2617419 TI - [Negotiations. Disgruntled local negotiators]. PMID- 2617420 TI - [There is a need for hospices in Denmark]. PMID- 2617421 TI - [Joint records--patient's record]. PMID- 2617422 TI - [Nursing care. Joint records gives the patient co-responsibility]. PMID- 2617423 TI - [Nurses are beautiful]. PMID- 2617424 TI - [Negotiations. Local salaries act as a lever]. PMID- 2617425 TI - [Negotiations. Local salaries--a firm arrangement]. PMID- 2617426 TI - [Objects]. PMID- 2617427 TI - [Drug information. New bismuth preparation against presumed cause of gastric ulcer]. PMID- 2617428 TI - [It is to moderation we drink coffee]. PMID- 2617429 TI - [Joint records. Electronic records under development]. PMID- 2617430 TI - [New youth identity can help along in the development of nursing]. PMID- 2617431 TI - [Education. Students order: more theory--improved practice]. PMID- 2617432 TI - [Ethics. Unwanted embryos handed over live to cosmetics industry]. PMID- 2617434 TI - [Projection?]. PMID- 2617433 TI - [Dangerous sequelae of wrong definition of life and death. Interview by Lar Peter Bergqvist]. PMID- 2617435 TI - [Free me from subjective evaluations]. PMID- 2617436 TI - [We lack rules for documentation of nursing care]. PMID- 2617437 TI - [Changeover. A joint offer of nursing and health to the community residents]. PMID- 2617438 TI - [Technology. Wanted children in glass]. PMID- 2617439 TI - [Head lice. The club behind my ear]. PMID- 2617440 TI - Protriptyline treatment of sleep hypoxaemia in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. AB - Protriptyline 20 mg daily reduced the total time spent in rapid eye movement sleep in an open study in four subjects with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Sleep related hypoxaemia and episodes of desaturation were reduced. Anticholinergic side effects were prominent, however, in these patients, precluding its use for regular treatment. PMID- 2617441 TI - Effect of exercise and physiotherapy in aiding sputum expectoration in adults with cystic fibrosis. AB - The role of exercise in aiding sputum expectoration in patients with cystic fibrosis and the comparative roles of exercise and physiotherapy in sputum expectoration were assessed in two studies. In the first study 19 adult patients undertook a two month programme of home exercise using a cycle ergometer. In the 12 patients completing the study peak work capacity, maximum oxygen consumption, and maximum minute ventilation had increased significantly by the end of the exercise programme; the increase in daily sputum weight (from 24 to 37 g) was not significant (p = 0.055). In the second study (with 10 patients) more sputum was expectorated during and after physiotherapy than during and after exercise (9.8 v 4.0 g). Exercise may have a role in aiding sputum expectoration in patients with cystic fibrosis but should not be considered as a replacement for physiotherapy. PMID- 2617442 TI - Limited thoracoplasty in the management of complicated pulmonary aspergillomas. AB - Complicated pulmonary aspergilloma is a life threatening condition. Indications for surgery are few and the procedures conservative. Three patients were successfully treated with limited thoracoplasty. Limited thoracoplasty in combination with other conservative measures may provide effective palliation in selected cases. PMID- 2617443 TI - Accuracy of inpatient oxygen administration. AB - The accuracy of supplemental oxygen delivery was assessed in two medical units. Only 90 of 206 patients (44%) were receiving oxygen as prescribed. The ward oxygen rotameters were inaccurate at normal clinical flow rates, the range of flows being delivered as a percentage of the indicated flow varying from 15% at 8 l/min to 40% at 1 and 2 l/min. PMID- 2617444 TI - Total oesophageal duplication associated with dextrocardia and situs inversus. AB - A case of complete oesophageal duplication in association with dextrocardia and situs inversus is presented. PMID- 2617445 TI - Treatment of late complications of plombage by simultaneous removal of plomb and decortication. AB - Two patients with local complications of plombage were treated by removal of the plomb and decortication at a single operation. This provided immediate re expansion of the lung and avoided the need for thoracoplasty. PMID- 2617446 TI - Squamous cell carcinoma of the pleura following bronchopleural fistula. AB - Squamous metaplasia of the pleura with malignant transformation was observed five months after the development of an empyema and bronchopleural fistula in a 58 year old woman with lingular bronchiectasis. PMID- 2617447 TI - Coronary artery-left ventricular fistula and multiple ventricular septal defects due to blunt chest trauma. AB - A 27 year old man developed multiple ventricular septal defects and a coronary artery ventricular fistula after a blunt injury. These were treated successfully by surgery, which was carried out four months after the injury to allow some healing of the defect to occur. PMID- 2617448 TI - Evolution of acute chest syndrome in sickle cell trait: an ultrastructural and light microscopic study. AB - Light and electron microscopic studies of a patient with sickle cell trait who had an episode of sickling during coronary artery surgery, from which he died, showed fibrin thrombi, focal alveolar wall necrosis, and epithelial cell damage. It is suggested that in cases of sickle trait full precautionary measures should be taken to prevent sickling in these circumstances. PMID- 2617449 TI - Repeatability of ventilatory function measurements in a population survey of seven year old children. PMID- 2617450 TI - Relapse of pneumocystis pneumonia in the upper lobes during aerosol pentamidine prophylaxis. PMID- 2617451 TI - Missing link from Tibet. PMID- 2617452 TI - Twitch pressures in the assessment of diaphragm weakness. AB - To assess the value of phrenic nerve stimulation in the investigation of diaphragm function, transdiaphragmatic pressures were measured in 20 healthy subjects and in 15 patients with diaphragm weakness, during unilateral and bilateral transcutaneous phrenic nerve stimulation at 1 Hz at functional residual capacity (twitch Pdi). Diaphragm function was initially assessed by measuring transdiaphragmatic pressure during a voluntary manoeuvre, the maximal sniff (sniff Pdi); normal readings were confirmed in the control subjects (102-157 (normal greater than 98) cm H2O in the 10 men, 79-102 (normal greater than 70) cm H2O in the 10 women) and reduced values were found in the 15 patients with diaphragm weakness (7.5-90 cm H2O in the 13 men, 23 and 53 cm H2O in the two women). Twitch Pdi during bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation ranged from 8.8 to 33 cm H2O in the control subjects and from 3.1 to 27 cm H2O in the 10 patients in whom a measurement could be obtained. Bilateral twitch Pdi correlated with sniff Pdi both in the control subjects and in the patients with diaphragm weakness (r = 0.75). Only four patients had a bilateral twitch Pdi below the lowest value seen in the control group, including the three with the lowest sniff Pdi (3.1-8.5 cm H2O). These results indicate that transdiaphragmatic pressure recorded during bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation discriminated between control subjects and patients with known weakness of the diaphragm only when this was severe. PMID- 2617453 TI - Oxygen treatment of sleep hypoxaemia in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. AB - Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy develop progressive ventilatory muscle weakness and often die of respiratory complications. Recurrent, often profound, hypoxaemia has been shown in a previous study by this group to occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in these patients before they develop sleep symptoms. In this study the efficacy and physiological effects of nocturnal oxygen in such patients have been assessed. Seven patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (age range 16-22 years; mean vital capacity 1.37 litres) with normal arterial blood gas tensions when awake were investigated by standard overnight polysomnography on an acclimatization night followed by two successive nights on which they received room air and nasal oxygen (2 litres/min) respectively in random order. Total sleep time, proportion of REM and non-REM sleep, and frequency and duration of arousals were similar on the two nights. When breathing air six of the seven subjects developed oxygen desaturation of more than 5% during REM sleep. With oxygen only one subject showed any oxygen desaturation exceeding 2.5%. Oxygen desaturation was associated with periods of hypopnoea or cessation of respiratory effort. The mean duration of episodes of hypopnoea and apnoea was prolonged during oxygen breathing by 19% and the mean duration of episodes during REM sleep by 33% (the proportion of REM sleep associated with hypopnoea and apnoea increased in all subjects). Heart rate in non-REM sleep fell by 9.3%; heart rate variation in REM and non-REM sleep was unchanged. These acute studies show that oxygen reduces the sleep hypoxaemia associated with respiratory muscle weakness; whether long term treatment will be possible or desirable is not clear as oxygen potentiates the underlying ventilatory disturbance. PMID- 2617454 TI - Functional properties of factor VIIa/tissue factor formed with purified tissue factor and with tissue factor expressed on cultured endothelial cells. AB - Factor VIIa (F. VIIa)/tissue factor (TF) function was examined using purified human TF reconstituted into mixed phospholipid vesicles and TF expressed on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) treated with thrombin. In reaction mixtures containing either type of TF, F. VIIa, 10 nM, either 3H-factor X or 3H-factor IX, 88 nM, and Ca2+, 5 mM, F. VIIa/TF activated factor X (F. X) several fold faster than it activated factor IX (F. IX). Adding heparin, 1 U/ml, increased rates of activation of both substrates and F. X remained the preferred substrate. Adding plasma at concentrations of 5% or above inhibited factor VIIa/TF catalytic activity. Inhibition was shown to require F. Xa as a cofactor, was prevented by antibodies to extrinsic pathway inhibitor (EPI), and was reversible by decalcification. Thus, with factor VIIa/TF formed with both types of TF, EPI appeared responsible for inhibition induced by plasma. Our data indicate that functional properties of factor VIIa/TF as delineated in reaction mixtures made with purified TF reconstituted into mixed phospholipid vesicles also hold for factor VIIa/TF activity on the surface of cultured HUVEC. PMID- 2617455 TI - Plasminogen interactions with immobilized fibrinogen. AB - This report describes the binding of plasminogen to fibrinogen adsorbed onto polystyrene wells. Binding was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Both glu- and lys-plasminogen bound to immobilized fibrinogen in a dose-dependent fashion. However, more lys- than glu-plasminogen bound when equal concentrations of either were added to immobilized fibrinogen. Plasminogen binding was inhibited by epsilon aminocaproic acid indicating that binding was mediated via lysine binding regions of plasminogen. Soluble fibrinogen added in excess of immobilized fibrinogen did not compete for plasminogen binding but fibrinogen fragments produced by plasmin digestion of fibrinogen did. Treatment of immobilized fibrinogen with thrombin caused a small but significant (p less than 0.01) increase in plasminogen binding. These studies demonstrate that immobilized fibrinogen binds both glu- and lys-plasminogen and that binding is mediated via lysine-binding regions. These interactions may facilitate plasminogen binding to fibrinogen adsorbed on to surfaces and to cells such as platelets which bind fibrinogen. PMID- 2617456 TI - Time dependence of aequorin-indicated calcium levels in stimulated and unstimulated platelets: evidence for multiple aequorin environments in platelets. AB - Aequorin-induced calcium signals were examined in human unstimulated platelets and platelets stimulated with various agonists as a function of time. The total aequorin response in unstimulated platelets, obtained by Triton x-100 lysis in the presence of 1 mM Ca, decreased in a distinctly non-linear manner over 20-60 min. This decrease was slightly, but significantly, greater in platelets maintained in the continuous presence of 1 mM Ca than in platelets maintained without external Ca, and could not be accounted for completely by leakage of aequorin from the cells. Basal Ca levels in unstimulated platelets also decreased in a non-linear manner, with a similar sensitivity to the continuous presence or absence of external Ca. These observed changes in aequorin response thus appear to be at least partially due to an intracellular discharge of aequorin, and are therefore consistent with the view that aequorin in platelets is heterogeneously distributed among localized environments differing in Ca concentration. The aequorin signals observed initially in platelets stimulated by ADP or epinephrine were lost completely over a period of 30-60 min in almost all cases studied, while initial rates of aggregation were either unchanged (epinephrine) or only partially decreased (ADP) over this same time period. In contrast, thrombin- and A23187-induced aequorin signals were virtually unchanged over periods up to 90 min. Minimal changes with time also occurred in the aequorin signals induced by phorbol ester or by collagen in the presence of indomethacin. These differences in time dependence suggest that the signals generated by ADP and epinephrine may derive from different sources of aequorin than those associated with the signals induced by other agonists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617457 TI - Human platelets contain mRNA transcripts for platelet factor 4 and actin. AB - RNAs from a number of cells, including platelets, were analyzed by Northern blotting for the presence of transcripts to four platelet proteins-actin, thrombospondin, fibronectin, and platelet factor 4. RNA from platelets contains considerable amounts of mRNA for platelet factor 4, easily detectable mRNA for actin, and traces of mRNA for thrombospondin. mRNA for platelet factor 4 was not detected in human lymphocytes or in any of 5 human cell lines. PMID- 2617458 TI - Evaluation of the binding to fixed platelets of agonists and antagonists of ADP induced aggregation. AB - Steady state binding of eleven different ADP analogues to formaldehyde-fixed platelets has been determined in a competitive binding assay using 3H-ADP. The compounds tested were the inactive analogues L-ADP and L-ATP; the agonists 2 chloroadenosine 5'-diphosphate, adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) and the diasteroisomeric pair Sp-adenosine 5'-(1-thiodiphosphate) (Sp-ADP-alpha-S) and Rp adenosine 5'-(1-thiodiphosphate) (Rp-ADP-alpha-S); and the antagonists adenosine 5'-O-thiomonophosphate, 2-chloroadenosine 5'-O-thiomonophosphate, 2 choloroadenosine 5'-triphosphate, and the diastereoisomeric pair 5'-(1 thiotriphosphate) (Sp-ATP-alpha-S) and RP-adenosine 5'-(1-thiotriphosphate) (Rp ATP-alpha-S). All compounds tested competed at the high affinity binding sites for ADP previously identified (Blood 1988; 71: 110-6) but in some cases competition could not be demonstrated at the low affinity sites because of the high nucleotide concentrations required. As a group, C2-substituted analogues bound less strongly (Ki greater than 2 micro M) than did the analogues without substituents in the purine ring (Ki less than 0.7 microM). With the pair of diastereoisomeric agonists Sp-ADP-alpha-S and Rp-ADP-alpha-S the Ki values at the high affinity site (210 nM and 560 nM) were of the same relative magnitude and in the same direction as their reported potencies as agonists (Ki 4 microM and 20 microM). With the diastereoisomeric antagonists Sp-ATP-alpha-S and Rp-ATP-alpha-S a similar relationship was seen between affinity (17 nM and 156 nM) and inhibitory potency (Ki 4 microM and 20 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617459 TI - Platelet mobilization induced by PAF and its role in the thrombocytosis triggered by adrenaline in rats. AB - The injection of PAF (6 micrograms/kg, i.v.) induced, in rats, haemoconcentration accompanied by an increase in the platelet number, as attested by the counts of platelets in blood samples diluted in formalin-free EDTA solution. This increase was significant at 15 min, peaked from 1 to 4 h and returned to basal levels 24 h after the lipid administration. The release of platelets induced by PAF was inhibited dose-dependently by specific PAF receptor antagonist such as WEB 2086 (0.5-2 mg/kg), BN 52021 and 48740 RP (5-25 mg/kg). Furthermore, platelet mobilization was clearly impaired in splenectomized animals stimulated by PAF, whereas thrombocytopenia and haemoconcentration by the same stimulus were intact. It was also noted that a second injection of PAF, 24 h after the initial stimulation with the lipid, failed to induce an increase in platelet counts, indicating autodesensitization. Desensitization to PAF or pretreatment with PAF antagonists clearly prevented the increase in the platelet counts after stimulation by adrenaline (15 micrograms/kg). These findings suggest that, in rats, PAF can induce release of platelets by a spleen-dependent mechanism and that this lipid may be relevant to the thrombocytosis triggered by adrenaline. PMID- 2617460 TI - Subcommittee on Clinical Trials. Registry of multicenter clinical trials. Tenth report--1988. PMID- 2617461 TI - Discordance between reptilase time measured by the hook manual method and the optical method in patients with high fibrinogen level. PMID- 2617462 TI - Extrinsic coagulation pathway inhibitor during recombinant factor VIIa infusion. PMID- 2617463 TI - Platelet aggregation and nutritional status in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. PMID- 2617464 TI - Evaluation of D-dimer in patients with liver cirrhosis. PMID- 2617465 TI - A compartmental model of platelet aggregation in vitro: the kinetics of single platelets. AB - A compartmental model of platelet aggregation which accurately describes both reversible and irreversible aggregation in vitro is presented. This model is substantiated by correlative analyses of agonist-induced aggregation as monitored by both routine aggregometry and resistive counting of single platelets. Previously unresolved differences in the reported reaction order of the aggregation process are explained. The model suggests that aggregation includes, in addition to the association and dissociation of platelets, the stabilization of aggregates. We find reversible aggregation requires that single platelets associate more rapidly than aggregates stabilize. For irreversible aggregation, our results suggest the presence of subpopulations of single platelets which associate at different rates. As an unexpected consequence of this study, quantitative relationships between photometric and resistive methods of monitoring platelet aggregation are elucidated. PMID- 2617466 TI - Catroxobin, a weakly thrombin-like enzyme from the venom of Crotalus atrox. NH2 terminal and active site amino acid sequences. AB - Two thrombin-like isoenzymes, termed catroxobins, were purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography to electrophoretic homogeneity from the venom of the Western diamondback rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox. By SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis their molecular weights were estimated to be 25,000 and 26,200. A 43-residue NH2-terminal sequence, containing the active histidine residue, was the same for the two isoenzymes. In addition, a 33-residue internal peptide from catroxobin I contained a normal active serine sequence. These sequences were highly homologous to other thrombin-like venom enzymes, and to pancreatic kallikrein and trypsin, but less so to the B chain of thrombin. Catroxobin, possessing 89 TAME esterase units/mg of protein, clotted human fibrinogen very slowly, releasing fibrinopeptide A and a small amount of fibrinopeptide B. No other evidence of cleavage of the fibrinogen molecule was revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or HPLC. PMID- 2617467 TI - Functionally active high molecular weight-kininogen was found in the liver, but not in the plasma of brown Norway Katholiek rat. AB - Plasma and liver levels of high molecular weight (HMW-) kininogen were assessed by a newly developed radioimmunoassay in B/N-Katholiek strain rats, which is congenitally deficient in plasma HMW- and low molecular weight (LMW-) kininogens. The plasma level of immuno-reactive HMW-kiniogen in this strain was about 4% of that of the normal strain, B/N-Kitasato, whereas its level in B/N-Katholiek liver was approximately 60% of that in normal strain liver. There was no significant difference of half-life of HMW-kininogen in the circulating blood between the deficient and normal rats. When secretion of HMW-kiniogen from the liver cells of the two strains was examined by primary culture of their hepatocytes, the hepatocytes from the deficient strain did not secrete HMW-kininogen in the medium. HMW-kininogens were isolated from the liver microsomal fractions of both strains by use of an immuno-affinity column. The isolated protein from B/N Katholiek liver showed similar mobility on SDS-PAGE to that from normal rat liver, and had biological activities of HMW-kininogen purified from normal rat plasma, such as intrinsic blood clotting cofactor, thiol-proteinase inhibitor, and kinin precursor. These results indicate that the plasma deficiency in the B/N Katholiek strain is due to a defect of HMW-kininogen secretion from the liver. PMID- 2617468 TI - Inhibition of platelet and red blood cell accumulation on damaged arterial surfaces with albumin pretreatment. AB - Damaged arterial surfaces initiate platelet accumulation which leads to thrombus formation. On artificial surfaces, albumin pretreatment inhibits platelet deposition. To investigate albumin pretreatment on damaged vessel surfaces, 16 carotid arteries were obtained from 8 anesthetized dogs (11-15 kg). Each artery was divided into 2 segments. Each segment was mounted in a perfusion system, distended to 100 mmHg, and the middle section damaged. One segment was perfused with Tyrodes solution plus bovine albumin (5 g/100 ml), while the other segment was perfused only with Tyrodes solution. After 120 mins, both segments were perfused with whole citrated blood containing Indium-111 labeled platelets. Without albumin pretreatment, the proximal section contained 11 +/- 8 (X +/- SEM) percent of total blood radioactivity, while the damaged section contained 53 +/- 11 percent (p less than 0.01). Albumin pretreatment significantly reduced platelet deposition in the damaged section (53 +/- 11 versus 9 +/- 6 percent, p less than 0.01). Further, with albumin pretreatment the radioactive counts in the damaged section were not significantly different from the nondamaged proximal section (9 +/- 6 vs 8 +/- 7 percent, p greater than .8). Quantitative examination of the scanning electron micrographs demonstrated significantly more platelet and red blood cell coverage of the damaged segments (60 +/- 12.8 percent) than of the albumin treated segments (12.9 +/- 5 percent). In four additional experiments, we pretreated arterial segments with albumin for varying time intervals. After 15, 30 and 60 mins of albumin pretreatment, each artery was perfused with radiolabeled platelets and whole blood for 5 mins at 100 mmHg perfusion pressure. Radioactive evidence of platelet deposition on arterial segments treated with albumin for 15, 30, and 60 minutes was also significantly less than control (p less than .05). Beneficial effects of albumin were apparent up to 30 mins of blood flow at 100 mm Hg. Our results suggest that albumin may inhibit platelet and red blood cell deposition on damaged arteries. This could be an adjunct therapy for vessel preservation during artery bypass procedures. PMID- 2617469 TI - Hemorheology in systemic ultrahigh-dose thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase and urokinase. AB - The course of fibrinogen (Fgen), red cell aggregation (RCA), plasma viscocity (PV), platelet aggregation (PA) and hematocrit (Hc) was studied in patients with ultrahigh - dose thrombolytic therapy (1.5 x 10(6) units/hour for 6 hours = 1 cycle) with streptokinase (SK) or urokinase (UK) over a period of 3 cycles. Both ultrahigh - dose SK and UK produced significant changes in the course of Fgen, RCA and PV, whereas PA (spontaneous and ADP-induced) and Hc remained unchanged. After termination of each cycle Fgen progressively increased while RCA and PV further decreased. The extent of alteration in cycle 1 - concerning the baseline values - was more pronounced with SK than with UK, but the overall effect of SK decreased through the consecutive cycles because of more rapid increase during the SK-free period. In UK-therapy hemorheological alterations were initially moderate but increased from cycle to cycle. PMID- 2617470 TI - Role of protein kinase C in U46619-induced platelet shape change, aggregation and secretion. AB - Stimulation of rat platelets with U46619 induced Ca2+ mobilization and platelet shape change, but aggregation and secretion were induced when platelets were stimulated with U46619 plus phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). However, stimulation of rabbit platelets with U46619 induced all the three platelet responses. Aggregation and secretion of rabbit platelets were enhanced by simultaneous addition of PMA and inhibited by staurosporine, but platelet shape change was not affected by them. These results suggest that protein kinase C is important for aggregation and secretion, but not for platelet shape change. On the other hand, pretreatment of platelets with PMA inhibited platelet shape change as well as Ca2+ mobilization and inositol phosphate formation, indicating that the shape change was mediated by PMA-sensitive mechanism which was not clarified. PMID- 2617471 TI - Fibrinogen Baltimore IV: congenital dysfibrinogenemia with a gamma 275 (Arg--- Cys) substitution. AB - The major functional characteristics of fibrinogen Baltimore IV include delayed fibrin monomer polymerization which is not corrected by the addition of calcium, inhibition of normal plasma coagulation upon mixing, and a biphasic polymerization profile in which the abnormal fibrin monomers appear to polymerize at about 2% of the normal rate (Ebert & Bell, Thromb. Res. 38:121-128, 1985). We now report the detection of an abnormal peptide in a comparative peptide map from a cyanogen bromide digest of fibrinogen Baltimore IV. The sequence of this peptide corresponds to the fibrinogen sequence gamma 265-310, except that Arg275 is replaced by Cys. Amino acid analyses of carboxymethylated peptides from control vs. fibrinogen Baltimore IV confirmed the sequencing data. Both the propositus and his affected daughter were heterozygous for the trait. PMID- 2617472 TI - Vitamin K-dependent carboxylase: partial purification of the enzyme by antibody affinity techniques. AB - The vitamin K-dependent carboxylase activity of bovine liver microsomes has been purified 500-fold by adsorption to an antiprothrombin column and elution with a dodeca peptide which competes with a prothrombin precursor enzyme recognition site. The purified enzyme is devoid of bound precursors, and has the same ratio of vitamin K epoxidase activity to carboxylase activity as the crude microsomal preparation. PMID- 2617473 TI - von Willebrand factor antigen and dental infections. PMID- 2617474 TI - Glycocalicin binding to von Willebrand factor adsorbed onto collagen-coated or polystyrene surfaces. AB - In order to analyze the interaction of platelets with von Willebrand factor (vWF) and collagen, we studied the binding of glycocalicin (GC) and formalin-fixed platelets to vWF adsorbed onto uncoated or collagen-coated polystyrene surfaces. These studies show that three-fold more vWF binds to collagen-coated polystyrene than to polystyrene coated with fibrin monomer or fibrinogen. At saturation, 37 +/- 2.9 ng vWF bound to the collagen-coated wells, compared to 12.8 +/- 5.4 ng, and 10.9 +/- 2.7 ng of vWF bound to wells coated with fibrin monomer and fibrinogen, respectively. GC also bound significantly more to collagen-coated wells than to wells coated with fibrinogen, and this binding was increased approximately two-fold (from 7 +/- 0.65 ng to 14 +/- 1.1 ng) in the presence of vWF adsorbed to the collagen-coated surface. Only 2 ng of GC was bound to 3000 ng of vWF when the latter was adsorbed directly onto a polystyrene surface. In contrast, GC binding to vWF adsorbed onto a collagen-coated surface was enhanced 600-fold with 7.0 ng of GC bound to 18 ng of immobilized vWF. Formalin-fixed platelets showed little binding to vWF adsorbed onto the microtiter wells. At saturation, 7 x 10(4) platelets bound to 3000 ng of vWF; a 6-fold increase in platelet binding was observed using collagen-coated wells and this binding was increased even further in the presence of vWF, resulting in 250-fold increase in platelet binding to vWF when the latter was adsorbed onto a collagen surface. These studies suggest that (1) GC is involved in platelet binding to collagen and this binding is increased by vWF; (2) GC binding to vWF is enhanced by the collagen-coated surface; (3) the adsorption of vWF onto a collagen surface may induce conformational changes in vWF that promote its interaction with GC or glycoprotein Ib. PMID- 2617475 TI - Reduced thrombus formation in vivo after administration of pentoxifylline (Trental). AB - The hamster cheek pouch model of experimental thrombosis in which thrombi are induced in the microvasculature by iontophoretical administration of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was used to test the antithrombotic potential of pentoxifylline (Trental). Single intraperitoneal injections of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg pentoxifylline reduced thrombus formation by 20 to 50% from 30 to 105 min following drug administration. The effect of a single application of 10 mg/kg was exceeded significantly (p less than 0.05) by the higher rate of inhibition after repeated injections of the same dose given three times daily. This suggests a residual antithrombotic effect from the preceding administrations. PMID- 2617476 TI - Metabolism of liposome-encapsulated heparin. AB - In order to elucidate the metabolism of liposome encapsulated heparin (LIPO-HEP), LIPO-HEP containing 3H-heparin (3H-HEP) and/or 14C-phosphatidylcholine (14C-PC) was intravenously administered into rats and the radioactivity as well as the biological activity in plasma and certain organs was investigated. The amount of 3H-radioactivity in plasma was significantly higher in rats receiving LIPO-HEP than in those receiving untreated heparin. The amount of 14C-radioactivity in plasma of rats receiving LIPO-HEP, however, was not proportional to the amount of 3H-radioactivity in the same rats, indicating the dissociation of liposome and heparin in plasma. Incorporation of 3H-radioactivity into various organs examined, i.e., liver, spleen, lung, was significantly higher in rats receiving LIPO-HEP than in those receiving untreated heparin, e.g. 4.7 and 11.8 times higher in the liver and the spleen, respectively at 150 min after the injection. Thereby, in contrast to the untreated heparin, LIPO-HEP was selectively incorporated into the reticuloendothelial system (RES) and it may be suggested that prolonged biological activity in LIPO-HEP is due to a gradual release of heparin from the liposomes entrapped in RES, and that it is not due to prolonged circulation in blood. PMID- 2617477 TI - Protein C: Rouen, a new hereditary protein C abnormality with low anticoagulant but normal amidolytic activities. AB - A family is described in which venous thrombo-embolic disease is associated with reduced plasma protein C anticoagulant activity but normal levels of protein C amidolytic activity and antigen. The partial characterization of the heterozygous defect is described using crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) with or without calcium and seven functional assays which differ by activators (thrombin thrombomodulin complex, bovine thrombin and Protac snake venom) and by an eventual preliminary adsorption on insoluble salts. PC activity was thereafter determined either by chronometric or amidolytic assays. The results indicate that this abnormal protein C (PC) is normally activated and at least partially carboxylated. Three hypothesis are proposed to explain the discrepancy between normal amidolytic and low anticoagulant activities. PMID- 2617478 TI - Platelet responses to platelet-activating factor are inhibited in alcoholics undergoing alcohol withdrawal. AB - Platelet aggregation, secretion of serotonin, and formation of thromboxane B2 induced by platelet-activating factor (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3 phosphorylcholine) were studied in plasma containing physiological concentrations of ionized calcium in eight alcoholics after cessation of heavy drinking. Responses of platelets of four nonalcoholic volunteers, matched with a subgroup of the alcoholics by age and sex, were also investigated. Aggregation of platelets from alcoholics was significantly less throughout the 6-day detoxification period compared with controls. Secretion of serotonin (5-hydroxy tryptamine) was negligible and the production of thromboxane B2 was not detectable. Decreased platelet aggregability in response to aggregating agents, including platelet-activating factor, may be important in the development of hemorrhagic complications in alcoholics. PMID- 2617479 TI - Tissue factor gene expression in acute myeloblastic leukemia. AB - We have studied tissue factor gene expression in the leukocytes of 22 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Total RNA from peripheral blood or bone marrow cells depleted of monocytes was analyzed by Northern blot analysis using a 32P-labeled tissue factor cDNA probe. Cells from 10 cases expressed tissue factor mRNA and positive cases were distributed among the myeloblastic, myelomonocytic, and monocytic subtypes of AML. Tissue factor transcripts were not detected in cells derived from normal bone marrow. The expression of this gene product on the surface of leukemic cells could contribute to the excessive thrombin generation that has been observed in some individuals with this disorder. PMID- 2617480 TI - Analysis of serum cancer procoagulant activity and its possible use as a tumor marker. AB - The two objectives of the study were to determine whether a procedure could be developed for measuring cancer procoagulant (CP) activity in human serum and if this procedure provided a method for distinguishing people with cancer from those without cancer. A procedure was developed for processing human serum such that the activity of other coagulation enzymes would be minimized and the activity of cancer procoagulant could be measured. In a blinded study, we collected serum from 61 individuals in serum separator tubes, removed the clot by centrifugation, extracted the serum with a simple, single step procedure and analyzed the extract for CP activity. The results indicate that this test could correctly identify about 92% of the cancer patient serum samples and about 75% of the non-cancer patients serum samples, for an overall accuracy of about 85%. PMID- 2617481 TI - Congenital changes of platelet functions in stroke-prone SHR: aggregability of gel-filtered platelets, PRP and whole blood, and effects of hypotensive treatment. AB - Platelet aggregation in whole blood, platelet rich plasma, and gel-filtered platelets were markedly attenuated in SHRSP compared with those in age-matched normotensive WKY. The result was consistent with the previous report of washed platelets. Despite prevention of high blood pressure, a long duration of hypotensive treatment only slightly improved aggregability of washed platelets but did not restore it to the range of age-matched WKY platelets. Blood pressure, heart ratios and thrombin-induced washed platelet aggregation were examined in SHRSP, WKY, and the cross (F1: WKY x SHRSP). The higher blood pressure and heart ratios the lower platelet aggregability was observed in the three strains, and there was no overlapping distribution of these values. F1 progeny exhibited intermediate values in blood pressure, heart ratio and platelet aggregability between the parental values. These results suggested that hypofunctions of SHRSP platelet were not secondary changes due to high blood pressure, but primary changes which are genetically linked to high blood pressure. PMID- 2617482 TI - A new index for collagen induced platelet aggregation. AB - In this paper, we propose a new index of platelet aggregation for optical aggregometry, the "R" value. This represents the rate of change in the half time for platelet aggregation (T1/2) induced by collagen with changes in the platelet concentration and expresses the degree of platelet sensitivity to collagen. The "R" value has been shown to reflect the aggregability of platelets due to activation of the contact factors. The "R" values were significantly different in the acute and chronic phases of occlusive arterial disease, while ordinary platelet aggregation parameters did not change. A decrease in the "R" value appears to indicate a platelet hyperfunction and hypercoagulable state, in other words a prethrombotic state. PMID- 2617483 TI - Prophylaxis during surgery in antithrombin III deficiency with low dose of concentrates. PMID- 2617484 TI - Factor XIII, fibronectin and clot lysis in hyperlipidemia. PMID- 2617485 TI - [Depth and width of orientation in medical specialties]. PMID- 2617486 TI - [The rescue action in Trollveggen during the Easter holiday in 1989. General and medical experiences]. AB - In the spring of 1989, an English climber had an accident on Trollveggen in Romsdalen. This article describes the rescue operation. This article also includes the history of Trollveggen, and generally discusses the planning and strategy of such rescue operations. PMID- 2617487 TI - [A critical view on biological psychiatry]. PMID- 2617488 TI - [General practitioners' understanding of unexplained abbreviations]. AB - We studied whether 141 doctors in the primary health service understood 13 unexplained abbreviations used in the Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association. On average, 95% of the medical abbreviations and 42% of the administrative abbreviations were partly or completely understood (p much less than 0.001). The abbreviation JAMA was unknown to every third doctor, and SD to every fifth doctor. The use of abbreviations in medical literature should be limited, and abbreviations should not be allowed to become a hindrance to communication. PMID- 2617489 TI - [Power and health services--the role of hospital architects]. AB - Architectural expression influences our surroundings in a symbolic manner. The present architectural design of our health institutions can be traced as far back as to Medieval religious centres. The ultimate aim of this architecture is to demonstrate the power of the system. The present article underlines the importance of designing future health institutions with the aim of preserving and establishing the dignity and confidence of the human beings in the system. PMID- 2617490 TI - [Ecology and economics--a new epoch]. PMID- 2617491 TI - [More than genes--but less than a human being? Reflections on a survey presented by a group nominated by the Church Council]. AB - The article is a critical analysis of ethical reasoning in a report on the ethics of applied genetics issued by the Church of Norway. Our main conclusion is that the major issues remain unsolved. The report fails to reach unambiguous conclusions on the basis of traditional theological concepts. Consequently, its arguments rely, heavily on secular thought, and its conclusions are not essentially different from those reached by a secular approach. PMID- 2617492 TI - [Spinal anesthesia--time for reevaluation? Postspinal headache]. PMID- 2617493 TI - [Descriptive diagnosis or system understanding? Myths on descriptive psychiatry]. PMID- 2617494 TI - [Pondocillin, Selexin and carnitine]. PMID- 2617495 TI - [Inventory of the shedding of Chlamydia psittaci by parakeets in the Utrecht area using ELISA]. AB - Using a Chlamydia-ELISA test to detect the agent in cloacal swabs in budgerigars and other parakeets, the following findings may be summarised: --10/25 Breeders of budgerigars (40 per cent) housed birds shedding the agent, involving ten per cent of all birds tested, average shedding being 28 per cent in positive lofts. - 4/15 Pet shops (27 per cent) were found to have positive birds on sale, at least three per cent of all tested birds being shedders, the proportion of shedders averaging nine per cent per infected pet shop. --In the flocks of five breeders of psittaciformes, which were known positive flocks from the outset average shedding was eighteen per cent. The test may also be used for detecting the agent in organs. The shedding pattern in known positive birds was apparently decreasing, when a large dose of corticosteroids was administered, shedding recurred. The possibility of a cage bird sanitation scheme is discussed. PMID- 2617496 TI - [Status leptospirosis/milker's fever in The Netherlands unchanged]. PMID- 2617497 TI - [Hip dysplasia: a purchase nullifying defect]. PMID- 2617498 TI - [Arthroluxyl, new, now use in practice!]. PMID- 2617499 TI - The ischaemic leg: a long-term follow-up with special reference to the predictive value of the systolic digital blood pressure. Part I: No arterial reconstruction. AB - The course of 53 patients presenting with 76 legs with ischaemia, defined by blood pressure on the big toe below 30 mmHg, were investigated. The series consists of those patients who after an angiography were considered non candidates for arterial reconstructive surgery. There were 38 limbs with low pressure and severe ischaemic symptoms, i.e. rest pain and/or gangrene and 38 limbs with low pressures and only intermittent claudication or no leg symptoms at all. There were statistically significant differences in the fate of the limbs in the two groups, the first group suffering a 68 per cent risk of amputations compared to only 16 per cent in the second group. The corresponding risk of death was approximately 60 per cent and 10 per cent. The social fate was poor in the group with rest pain and/or gangrene due to the high number of amputations. PMID- 2617500 TI - The ischaemic leg: a long-term follow-up with special reference to the predictive value of the systolic digital blood pressure. Part II: After arterial reconstruction. AB - Ninety-five patients with 122 legs with a systolic blood pressure on the big toe below 30 mmHg were the subject of arterial reconstructive surgery. Investigating the limb survival rate we found the systolic blood pressure on the big toe to be the most important predictor, whereas there was found no predictive value of the ankle pressure/index. Preoperative clinical symptoms, which are closely related to the digital blood pressure, were significant predictors of the limb survival rate: the low-pressure limb with no symptoms or intermittent claudication had a significantly higher survival rate than the limb with rest pain and/or gangrene. Following arterial reconstructive surgery the social fate of patients with threatened legs was fairly good as 83% became fully independent. PMID- 2617501 TI - Predictive value of factors affecting early results and complications in eight years of coronary artery bypass surgery. AB - All cases of coronary bypass procedures without concomitant heart valve replacement occurring in a defined geographical area over a 8-year period (1980 1987) were reviewed and the 30-day mortality and complication rates associated with them were analyzed. The study comprised 3,484 patients with the diagnoses: stable (2477) or unstable (724) angina pectoris, angina pectoris combined with left ventricular aneurysm (165) or with an other complicating factor (96), postinfarction septal defect (13) and postinfarction mitral valve insufficiency (9). The total operative mortality during the study period was 3.1%. Persistent new Q waves in the electrocardiogram developed in 2.4% and increased enzyme release indicating myocardial injury (S-ASAT greater than 2.0 microkat/L and S CKMB isoenzyme greater than 1.5 microkat/L) occurred in 15%. There were 478 complications in 378 patients (11%). Indication for surgery, year of surgery, NYHA class, congestive heart failure, age, sex, aortic cross-clamp time, and cardiopulmonary bypass time were significantly related to operative mortality (p less than 0.05). The same variables except sex were related to complications. Myocardial infarction (new persistent Q wave) was predictable by NYHA class, aortic cross-clamp time, and cardiopulmonary bypass time. The same variables and also year of surgery, regrafting procedure, congestive heart failure, and thromboendarterectomy were predictors of myocardial injury (enzyme release). PMID- 2617502 TI - Primary cardiac tumours--operative treatment of 20 patients. AB - This report describes a series of 20 patients operated on for a primary cardiac tumour. The majority of the tumours (16) were benign myxomas; 12 of them were located in the left atrium, two in the right atrium and two were biatrial. Two lipomas were found; one was epicardial and the other was located in the left atrium. The only intraventricular tumour was a malignant left ventricular myosarcoma. The propensity of intracardiac tumours to embolize was distinctive. Nine of the 16 myxomas presented with peripheral embolization, and in two patients surgery was complicated by fatal perioperative cerebral embolization of myxomatous tissue. Furthermore, in one patient embolization of a left atrial lipoma necessitated amputation of her left arm before cardiac surgery. Late postoperative recurrences were found in two patients with atrial myxomas. In one of them, reoperation showed that the tumour had grown at that site in the interatrial septum where the original pedicle had been excised. One patient developed severe mitral valve regurgitation and underwent replacement with a prosthetic valve at reoperation. Otherwise our late follow-up study showed that the results of surgery were usually excellent even though mild echocardiographic abnormalities were not uncommon. Our experience emphasizes the embolic potential of intracardiac myxomas and suggests, furthermore, that to avoid recurrences excisions with wide margins should be preferred. Echocardiography is an optimal method for the follow-up of these patients. PMID- 2617503 TI - Blood conservation in coronary artery bypass surgery: prediction with assistance of a computer model. AB - A computer assisted model was created with the data from 514 consecutive coronary bypass patients in order to predict the potential need of a blood transfusion. During this time period strict management protocols were used. In this series 261 (55.9%) patients were never and 46 (9.9%) were only intraoperatively transfused. Intra- and postoperative transfusions were necessary for 160 (34.2%) patients. Preoperative hematocrit, age, sex, and weight were the statistically significant parameters in the development of the model. PMID- 2617504 TI - A new technical approach for retrograde administration of cardioplegic solutions. AB - Myocardial protection via the coronary sinus is now currently used by several groups. Although it has generally provided satisfactory results, some of its problems are still not completely resolved. We present a new technique of cardioplegia delivery through the coronary sinus with a Pezzer catheter inserted into it and secured in place by a purse string suture. We believe that this method is safer and more reliable than others. PMID- 2617505 TI - Primary angiosarcoma of the heart. AB - A case report on a 27 year old woman with an inoperable angiosarcoma of the right atrium is presented. The tumor localization was established by echocardiography, computed tomography and cinecardiography. There was no evidence of distant metastases at diagnosis. After exploratory thoracotomy with surgical biopsy a radiotherapy was started covering the whole heart and the mediastinum. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome was improved quickly and reducing the target volume to the right atrium after 40 Gy radiotherapy was continued up to a total dose of 60 Gy. A complete remission was documented by echocardiography and computed tomography. Chemotherapy ("VAPAC") for distant metastases led to partial remission. The patient died 15 months after diagnosis from brain metastases. Autopsy revealed no macroscopic evidence of tumor in the right atrium. A combined modality approach with surgical tumor mass reduction followed by high dose locoregional radiotherapy (60 Gy) and combination chemotherapy (e.g. "VAPAC") is suggested. PMID- 2617506 TI - Coronary artery disease in a patient with a congenital pericardial defect. AB - This case report summarizes our experience with a 43 year old male patient with congenital pericardial defect, involving the left ventricular part of the pericardium, and additionally 2-vessel coronary-artery disease in the absence of any coronary risk factors. This patient underwent coronary-artery bypass grafting. Intraoperatively the heart was found to be rotated and herniated into the left pleural cavity, strangulated by the remaining pericardium causing a bridle stricture of the right as well as the left margin of the heart, with a subsequent local narrowing of the ventricle in these areas. Furthermore, assessment of the coronary arteries at operation by external palpation showed the location of an RCA- and LAD-stenosis to match exactly with the stricture area. PMID- 2617507 TI - [Ethical dilemmas in pediatrics: on competencies and qualifications in decision making]. AB - In medicine medical decisions prove to be ethical issues. Whether treatment apart from being medically possible can also be meaningful, or can continue to be meaningful, is an ethical question, where interests, in nature different and sometimes contradictory, must be balanced against each other. In the department of paediatrics the doctor does not have to deal only with the patient himself, but he has also to deal with the parents, who have an interest of their own apart from the child's interest that they want to defend. A personal interpretation of standards and values can lead doctors and parents to different ways of considering the interest of the child. This can interfere with an ethically justified decision. What is essential in this discussion are the limits of everyone's proficiency, competence and responsibility. Starting from a case these notions and their implications for decisions-making will be worked out. PMID- 2617508 TI - [Behavioral determination of visual acuity in 1-to-4-year-old children]. AB - Visual acuity was assessed in 210 children aged 1 to 4 years using the Acuity card method. Visual acuity is expressed in minutes of arc, indicating the minimal angle for separate perception of two lines. Binocular visual acuity showed a gradual growth from 1.8 to 0.9 min, arc and monocular visual acuity from 1.7 to 1 min. arc during this age period. Adult values of 0.65 min. arc(binocular) and 0.70 (monocular) were not yet reached at 4 years of age. Age norms for visual acuity in children from 1 to 4 years of age were determined. The success rate for binocular visual acuity assessment was 99.5% at all ages and increased for monocular acuity assessment from 50% in the 1 to 2 year old to 100% in the 4 year olds. Acuity assessment was fast (test time 3.3 and 2.0 minutes for assessment of binocular and monocular acuity respectively). The inter-observer reliability of the binocular assessment in the same child was high. PMID- 2617509 TI - [The Kleine-Levin syndrome]. AB - Two boys, aged 12 and 13 years, showed relapsing periods of somnolence and excessive eating, starting after a viral illness. One of them also showed periodic disturbance of sexual impulse control. The symptomatic periods were followed by symptom-free intervals in a highly characteristic pattern. This gave the clue to the diagnosis Kleine-Levin syndrome. The cause of this syndrome is unknown, in some cases a relationship between infectious disease or traumatic brain damage has been postulated. A dysfunction of the hypothalamus and associated structures is suspected. The syndrome has a rather favourable prognosis. The symptoms can be relieved by amphetamines, methylphenidate and probably also by lithium carbonate. PMID- 2617510 TI - [The TINU syndrome in children (tubular interstitial nephritis with uveitis)]. AB - Acute tubulo interstitial nephritis accompanied by uveitis is identified as TINU syndrome. The TINU syndrome is isolated from other forms of tubulo interstitial nephritis by the particular symptomatology and course: the nephropathy is almost always reversible, the uveitis tends towards relapses. The histopathologic findings are compatible with disturbance of cellular immunity, but the exact etiology is still unknown. In general, the outcome is favourable, but follow up, at least as long as there are signs of nephropathy, is necessary. PMID- 2617511 TI - Applications of automated simultaneous double fluorescence (SDF): I. Unbiased, quantitative HLA-A,B phenotyping. AB - An automated HLA typing method has been developed and standardized. The procedure involves simultaneous excitation and reading of two fluorochromes, carboxy fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide, by a purpose-built Terasaki tray scanner known as the Astroscan 2100. Data obtained from 95 donors typed by this method and by the classical NIH dye exclusion method prove this system to be suitable for routine HLA-A,-B typing (similarity coefficient 0.9861). This comparison has highlighted significant observer bias, whereby the observer tends to downgrade very weakly positive reactions to negative and upgrade moderately positive reactions to strong positive. Elimination of this bias reduces the chances of any clinically disastrous consequence. PMID- 2617512 TI - Molecular analysis of the HLA-DR5 haplotype. AB - A panel of eleven HLA-DR5 homozygous lymphoblastoid cell lines was investigated for structural heterogeneity on the product level. HLA class II antigens were isolated by immunoprecipitation with different anti-class II monoclonal antibodies and separated by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. As a result, three distinct DRB1, one commonly expressed DRB3, and two distinct DQ gene products could be identified that combined to four different haplotypes associated with HLA-DR5. A hitherto serologically undetected split of HLA-DRw11 was presented by three cell lines. HLA-DRw11 and HLA-DRw12 were found to be related allospecifities that differ only in their DRB1 locus products, but are closely associated with the supertypic DRB3 allele HLA-DRw52b and with HLA-DQw7. The DRB3 alleles HLA-DRw52a and DRw52c were not detected in our cell line panel, indicating that these supertypic determinants are in negative linkage disequilibrium with HLA-DR5. Our data suggest that intra HLA-DR/DQ crossing-over events contribute to the development of the HLA class II polymorphism. Evidence is presented that the T cell defined HLA-D allospecifities are commonly determined by DRB1 and DQ gene products. PMID- 2617513 TI - HLA-DQ antigens and DQ beta amino acid 57 of Japanese patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus: detection of a DRw8DQw8 haplotype. AB - DQw8 (DQw3.2) on DR4 haplotypes is a susceptibility gene for development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in Caucasoids, possibly because it encodes a non-Asp amino acid (aa) (i.e. Ala) at residue 57 of the DQ beta chain (non-Asp-57). Most Caucasoid IDDM patients are homozygous non-Asp-57. We have examined 14 Japanese IDDM patients, selected to be either DR4 or DRw9 (associated to IDDM among Japanese). Their DQB1 alleles and the aa encoded by their DQB1 codons 57 were identified, using 11 different sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes. Secondly, they were examined with DQw8 specific T lymphocyte clones and with anti-DQ monoclonal antibodies. The DQB1 genes on their DR4 and DRw9 haplotypes in all cases encoded Asp-57. Two patients were Asp-57 homozygous, the rest were Asp-57/non-Asp-57 heterozygous. The DR4 haplotypes all carried DQw4 (rather than DQw8), and the DRw9 haplotypes all carried DQw9. Furthermore, five of six DRw8 positive patients carried a previously undetected DRw8DQw8 haplotype, where both the DQA1 and DQB1 genes were similar to those usually found on the DR4DQw8 haplotype. Thus, the DR/DQ allele combinations and aa residue 57 of the DQ beta chain of Caucasoid and Japanese IDDM patients are largely different. PMID- 2617514 TI - Further evidence for the protective role of sub-parietal cell membranous secretory product on the cuticle of a pentastomid arthropod parasite developing in its rodent intermediate host. AB - The pentastomid parasite Porocephalus crotali, develops to an infective stage within a granulomatous lesion in the tissues of rodent intermediate hosts. A conspicuous layer of sub-parietal cell (SPC) secretory product, which coats the intermoult cuticle up to a depth of 12 microns, is described. Around the first five nymphal instars this material consists of an amorphous matrix with distinctive electron-lucid lacunae, but that around later instars (six and seven), while retaining much of the original morphology, possesses a significant membranous component. Host effector cells, most notably eosinophils and macrophage/epithelioid cells, are frequently completely enveloped by SPC secretion but invariably appear unreactive to it. Host cells may penetrate to the outermost layer of the epicuticle but again but again cytotoxic activity is absent. During ecdysis, effector cells are recruited to the intercuticular space where widespread degranulation is evident. Some of this is specifically directed against the underside of the cast cuticle, but not against the newly exposed cuticle. Protracted degranulation eventually reduces the cast cuticle to fragments which are endocytosed by giant cells. 1 cm long infective (seventh stage) nymphs, which retain the sixth stage cuticle as a protective sheath, are largely devoid of membranous secretion and these were dissected from cysts, washed, and surgically transplanted into the body cavities of naive and infected mice. Pronounced differences in the onset and intensity of the subsequent inflammatory response in the two categories of host indicate some form of specific recognition. In both groups of mice though, the cuticle is an eventual target for attack by effector cells, and parasites are killed. The protective function of SPC secretion is discussed. PMID- 2617515 TI - Adhesion and fusion of the extraembryonic epiblast. AB - A tissue culture model system has been devised to examine the attachment, expansion, and fusion of epithelial cell sheets. A normal embryonic epithelial tissue, the extraembryonic epiblast of the chick, is isolated mechanically and cultured on its natural substratum, the vitelline membrane. This persistently migratory tissue has distinct adhesive and non-adhesive regions. A serum-free chemically-defined culture medium has been formulated that permits determination of the effects of individual growth and trophic factors. Attachment of transferred epiblasts is dependent upon the presence of mineralocorticoids in the medium. This suggests that fluid transport is required for the cell sheet to make its initial attachment to the culture substratum. Expansion of the cell sheet following attachment, and the fusion of epiblasts advancing toward each other, does not require the presence of mineralocorticoid. No exogenous adhesive glycoproteins are required for attachment, expansion, or fusion. Antibody localization shows that endogenous laminin is present on the attachment surface of the specialized adhesive edge region of the extraembryonic epiblast. Following fusion of confronted epiblasts into one coherent cell sheet, the laminin disappears. Throughout these studies the adhesive and non-adhesive regions of the epiblast are identified by their characteristic distributions of actin microfilaments, localized using rhodamine-phalloidin staining. PMID- 2617516 TI - Effect of mechanical stress on cellular morphology. AB - Mechanical stress occurs within and between cells during embryogenesis, wound healing and in the repetitive processes performed by various muscles of the body and, therefore, an experimental system to study the effects of mechanical stress was needed. Effects of mechanical stress on cell cycle are documented elsewhere (Curtis and Seehar, 1978). This study intends to investigate whether mechanical stress affects the cellular morphology. Chicken heart fibroblasts were grown as 'Sail-Sheets' a situation that approximates the in vivo organization of cells and provides an appropriate material for studying the effects of mechanical factors. Sail-Sheets were stressed using a low-frequency sine-wave oscillator and a glass rod attached to a piezoelectric ceramic probe. Electron microscopy (both SEM and TEM) was carried out on both mechanically stressed and control cultures. It was found that low frequency mechanical stress (1.0 Hz) may result in a decrease in the number and size of microprocesses (m). PMID- 2617517 TI - A comparison of the distribution of muscle type in the tadpole tails of Xenopus laevis and Rana temporaria: an histological and ultrastructural study. AB - The types and the distribution of muscle fibres were analysed and compared in the tails of Xenopus laevis and Rana temporaria tadpoles. The filter feeding tadpoles of X. laevis were found to have both white muscle fibres adjacent to the notochord used for normal locomotory swimming and a superficial layer of small red fibres. The red fibres are probably used for the continuous flickering movement of the tail associated with the maintenance of the mid-water filter feeding position. R. temporaria, a grazing detritus feeding tadpole, was found to have only white muscle fibres used for normal locomotory swimming. Smaller superficial fibres were not red fibres but were thought to be immature white fibres. PMID- 2617518 TI - Quantitation of 'junctional feet' content in two types of muscle fiber from hind limb muscles of the rat. AB - 1. Transverse tubules in fibers from rat soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of the rat were infiltrated with silver dichromate (black reaction of Golgi). This provides a faithful, high-contrast outline of the tubules, which allows distinction between segments involved in junction formation with the sarcoplasmic reticulum and segments that are free. 2. Electron micrographs of semithin transverse sections were used to quantitate T tubule parameters and to measure cross-sectional area and perimeter of individual fibers. Thin sections and data from the literature were used to obtain the contribution of caveolae to external surface area and the frequency of junctional feet along the junctional T tubule membrane. 3. From the above data we calculate the ratio of number of feet to total external surface area for a given fiber segment. The ratio is compared with data in the literature on the total amount of 'charge movement' (in nC/uF of total external surface area). 4. The average feet/surface area ratio is twice as large in EDL than in soleus fibers, while the charge movement is up to five-fold larger. Probably some of the total charge movement is not directly associated with events related to the turning on of the SR permeability to calcium. PMID- 2617519 TI - [Scanning electron microscopic studies of the kidney glomerulus of Pudu pudu (Molina, 1782), and a comparison with that of cattle, goats, sheep and angora rabbits]. AB - The kidney's microvascularization of the Pudu pudu is mostly similar to that of domestic animals. The renal parenchymatous arteries do not give off capsular branches. The majority of the Pudu pudu's glomerula shows spherical shape. Glomerula next to the medulla have a diameter which is an average of 25 microns larger than the diameter of those situated more peripherally. Their volume is comparable to that of the angora rabbit. The capillaries form anastomosis in the inner and outer part of the glomerulus. PMID- 2617520 TI - [Legal regulations and practical application of studies of slaughtered game animals and their meat]. AB - Meat regulations also involve game inspection. The previous publications on the one hand dealt with the regulations and their practice concerning game intended for slaughter, especially the control of fences and the gaining of meat. On the other hand regulations concerning game hunted for food (Deer: Red deer, Sika deer, Fallow deer, Roe deer; Horned ungulates: European mouflon, Chamois; Wild boar; European hare; European rabbit; game such as Badger and Raccoon) and regulations to be observed by hunters, mainly for the gaining of meat were discussed. The recent publication regarded meat inspection (routine inspection) of slaughter game. The following publication deals with meat inspection (routine inspection) of game hunted for food and with meat inspection (additional inspection) of slaughtered game as well as game hunted for food. PMID- 2617521 TI - [The clinical case. Corneal ulcer, superficial and deep keratitis and acute iritis]. PMID- 2617522 TI - [Dysfunction of the esophageal groove ("ruminal drinking") as a complication of neonatal diarrhea in the calf]. AB - It is well documented that the induction of the oesophageal groove reflex in the milk fed calf depends on certain prerequisites: The fluid drunk by the calf must come into contact with the receptors located in the pharynx, it must be consumed voluntarily by the animal without undue disturbances, it should have no offensive smell or taste and the general status of the calf should not be disturbed. When those conditions are not met the oesophageal groove closes incompletely or not at all and the milk flows into the reticulo-rumen. If the milk or any other nutrient solution remains there for a sufficient period of time, the nutrients it contains are subjected to bacterial breakdown. In a study including 249 calves (age less than 14 days) suffering from enteritis catarrhalis acuta it could be demonstrated that no closure of the oesophageal groove occurred in 11.2% of the patients; 11 calves of that group died. The same was probably true for a further 11.8% of the diarrheic calves; 12 of them died. In 37 ruminal drinkers, suffering from neonatal diarrhea (n = 30) or another primary disease (n = 7) the acid status of the rumen fluid could be examined several times. According to the analyses the following types of fermentation could be distinguished: --predominant butyric acid fermentation; --predominant lactic acid fermentation; --"biphasic type": predominant lactic acid fermentation changes to predominant butyric acid fermentation or vice versa. In the milk fed calf suffering from neonatal diarrhea, dysfunction of the oesophageal groove reflex (ruminal drinking) with its consequences (rumen acidosis, dyskeratosis of the ruminal mucosa) can result in a fatal outcome. PMID- 2617523 TI - [Observations of the birth and suckling behavior of goats]. AB - 50 goats of several breeds and crossbreeds as well as their kids were observed. The experiment involved 388 hours of observation over 62 days. The average duration of pregnancy was 151.2 days. In addition to physical characteristics and labored mobility, a tendency toward isolation and characteristic vocalization were noted. The period from onset of birth to the first delivery averaged less than 20 min. Subsequent to delivery the doe arose immediately, followed by the kid in an average of 21 min. Initial suckling by the kids occurred on average 42 min after birth. After an initially high frequency of suckling cycles, the cycle in the following weeks was reduced to 1 to 2 times an hour in the case of a single kid birth, while twins suckled more often. Out of 5,562 observations, only 1% were true cases of suckling from another doe. PMID- 2617524 TI - [Hip dysplasia in a young Charolais bull]. AB - A report is given on a young Charolais bull showing stiff gait and muscle atrophy of the rear limbs. The sign of Ortolani and a distinct subluxation of the hip on the radiography lead to the diagnosis of a hip dysplasia. These findings were confirmed by pathomorphological investigations. PMID- 2617525 TI - [Analysis of several years of breeding hygiene work in swine]. AB - An analysis of disturbances in sow fertility in breeding units in regard to the clinical appearance, the cause and pathology as well as the possibilities of prophylaxis, was conducted. The important reductions or disturbances in fertility are: --An- and subestrous of gilts --disturbances in ovulation, silent estrous as well as prolonged resting phases of old sows --cyst development and subsequent anestrous of old sows --persisting lactation anestrous. The main source of disturbance in the fertility of the sows was found to be the nutrition not adequately adapted to physiological needs especially in advanced pregnancy and other stress situations. The correction of the mentioned causes through management is the most important measure in prophylaxis. PMID- 2617526 TI - [Anesthesia of horses with xylazine and ketamine. 1. Anesthesia of foals]. AB - The anaesthesia with Xylazine and Ketamine in 24 foals is described. Special qualities of this form of anaesthesia and dosages for foals of different age are discussed. The combination of Xylazine and Ketamine is well suited for the anaesthesia of foals of all age and risk-groups. The induction takes place quickly and calmly, without signs of cardiorespiratory depression. The maintenance of anaesthesia is possible, without any problem, by repeated injection with Xylazine and Ketamine, as well as by inhalation anaesthesia with volatile anaesthetics. The recovery is short; the animals rise swiftly and safely. For these reasons we prefer, in foals, the anaesthesia with Xylazine and Ketamine to the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia with thiobarbiturates. PMID- 2617527 TI - [Morphometric studies of radiographic pictures of lumbar vertebrae of healthy Boxers and Boxers with spondylosis]. AB - Length and height measurement of the third lumbar vertebra in 286 radiographs of 140 male and 146 female Boxers was carried out to defect differences between dogs with and dogs without spondylosis. No differences could be established. However, there were statistically significant differences in the length of the vertebra between male and female dogs within the age groups (below two years and above 5 years) and between bitches younger than two years and bitches older than 5 years. Length-height-proportions did not change. Female Boxers were more often affected with spondylosis than males. PMID- 2617528 TI - [Eosinophilic enteritis in a domestic cat]. AB - A case of hypereosinophilia syndrome in a cat is described. PMID- 2617529 TI - [Surgical therapy of laying distress in reptiles]. AB - Based on 29 operations on reptiles with egg-binding (dystocia) successful methods for surgical therapy in turtles, tortoises, snakes and lizards are described. Indications, anesthesia, surgical techniques and postoperative treatment are explained. A totally new method for dystocia surgery in some turtles and tortoises is described. The knee fold was used for extraction of the eggs. PMID- 2617530 TI - [Experiences with varroatosis control (field cases)]. AB - The prevalence of Varroa jacobsoni in 20 bee-farms with an average of 371 swarms in the administrative districts of Tubingen and Stuttgart was investigated between 1983 and 1987. In summer as well as after each treatment the debris was examined regularly. On 19 bee-farms the population dynamics of the mites showed a similar pattern. During the first year after the varroatosis diagnosis we found an average of 30-50 mites after autumn treatment. This number increased to 300 600 varroa mites during the second and to several thousand during the third and fourth year. Evidently, the late autumn/early winter treatment of the more heavily infected swarms (during the third or fourth year after diagnosis) with Perizin or Folbex-VA-neu was usually insufficient to prevent damage or even a complete breakdown. In such swarms formic acid in form of the Illertisser mite plate must be applied as early as August or at the latest in September (after the end of the honey season). On one of the 20 bee-farms the development of the varroa mite infection differed from the other 19 farms. In this case the mite infection developed very slowly. The husbandry and environmental conditions could not explain this phenomenon. We think that this warrants further investigations. PMID- 2617531 TI - Improving health care productivity. PMID- 2617532 TI - Why incentive compensation? PMID- 2617533 TI - Characteristics of viable incentive plans. PMID- 2617534 TI - Assuring institutional readiness for incentive compensation. PMID- 2617535 TI - A comparison of executive incentive compensation in health care and general industry. PMID- 2617536 TI - Establishing a rank and file incentive system. PMID- 2617537 TI - Isolation and characterization of a fibrinogen-clotting enzyme from venom of the snake, Lachesis muta muta (Peruvian bushmaster). AB - A fibrinogen-clotting enzyme from the venom of the Peruvian bushmaster snake was purified to homogeneity by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 followed by DEAE cellulose ion-exchange chromatography using a linear ionic strength gradient with NaCl. The specific activity of the enzyme was 866 NIH U/mg, representing a 55 fold purification, with a recovery of 45%. The amino acid composition was Asx30, Thr14, Ser15, Glx33, Pro23, Gly22, Ala15, Val22, Cys18, Met3, Ile18, Leu23, Tyr2, Phe13, His8, Lys11, Arg11. The total carbohydrate content was 13.4%, comprised of 3.4% hexose, 8.7% hexosamine and 1.3% sialic acid. The enzyme was active against the synthetic amide substrate alpha-N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) and against the ester substrates alpha-N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) and tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester (TAME). Kinetic parameters for TAME esterolysis were: Vmax, 135 mumoles/min/mg and Km, 2.5 x 10(-4) M. The pH optimum was 8.0. Vmax for BAPNA amidolysis was 0.363 mumoles/min/mg and Km, 7.5 x 10(-5) M. Enzyme activity was reduced by diethylpyrocarbonate and by photo-oxidation, suggesting that the enzyme is a serine protease with a histidine residue involved in the active site. The enzyme released fibrinopeptide A rapidly from purified human fibrinogen and fibrinopeptide B more slowly. Factor XIII was not activated and the clotting activity was not inhibited by heparin. A dose of 50 micrograms/kg brought about defibrinogenation in anaesthetized rats but rabbits were unaffected. A dose of 80 micrograms/kg defibrinogenated conscious rats after 5 hr. There were no hypotensive or haemorrhagic effects. PMID- 2617538 TI - Acute effect of Russell's viper (Vipera russelli siamensis) venom on renal hemodynamics and autoregulation of blood flow in dogs. AB - Renal hemodynamics and autoregulation of blood flow were investigated following intravenous injection of Russell's viper venom (0.1 mg/kg) in dogs anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. After venom injection, the glomerular filtration rate fell significantly throughout the experimental period of three hr. Urine flow rate and renal blood flow also decreased and the filtered load of electrolytes declined significantly. The fractional excretion of sodium, potassium and phosphorus increased following venom administration. These data suggest that the venom may depress both glomerular and tubular functions. The renal autoregulation of blood flow was maintained during the experimental reduction of renal arterial pressure. We conclude that the ability of renal vasculature to autoregulate renal blood flow is not inhibited by Russell's viper venom, even though renal function is depressed. PMID- 2617539 TI - Effect of Cleistanthus collinus leaf extract on neuromuscular function of the isolated mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm. AB - Cleistanthus collinus is a toxic plant whose leaves have been used for homicidal or suicidal purposes. Since the toxic effects include muscle cramps and weakness, the effect of the leaf extract on the electrical and mechanical responses to nerve and muscle stimulation was studied in the isolated phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation of the mouse. Following a 1 hr exposure to 0.015% leaf extract, the response of the compound nerve action potential to supramaximal nerve stimulation was reduced by 38%. The compound muscle action potential was reduced by 97%, and isometric tension by 99%. In response to direct muscle stimulation the compound muscle action potential and isometric tension were reduced by 38%. There was only an 11% reduction in resting membrane potential, but a 51% reduction in the amplitude of miniature endplate potentials. Endplate potentials could be evoked by nerve stimulation without prior treatment of the muscle with curare or a high concentration of magnesium. These studies indicate that the leaf extract markedly inhibits muscle contraction by reducing excitability of the nerve and muscle membranes, and by blocking neuromuscular transmission, without affecting excitation-contraction coupling or contractility of the muscle fibers. PMID- 2617540 TI - Comparison of in vivo and in vitro toxic effects of microcystin-LR in fasted rats. AB - The toxic effects of microcystin-LR, a cyclic heptapeptide isolated from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, were studied in the fasted rat model and in subcellular fractions from fasted, toxin-treated and control rats. Hepatotoxic effects of a lethal dose (100 micrograms/kg) were examined 15-90 min post injection. Elevations of serum enzymes, particularly sorbitol dehydrogenase, specific for liver mitochondria, correlated with hepatic damage. Electron micrographs showed progressive cellular disruption, including dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, incorporation of cellular components into cytolysosomes, hydropic mitochondria devoid of electron-opaque deposits, loss of desmosome associated intermediate filaments, disruption of sinusoidal architecture and, ultimately, lysis of hepatocytes. The appearance of hydropic mitochondria correlated with loss of coupled electron transport. Changes in plasma membrane associated cytoskeletal filaments correlated with loss of desmosome tonofilaments. In contrast to in vivo exposure to microcystin-LR, in vitro exposure to toxin had no effect on mitochondria or cytoskeletal filaments, suggesting that the toxic effects observed in vivo were indirect and may be dependent on bioactivation of the toxin or a cascade of events not supported in in vitro models. PMID- 2617541 TI - Paralytic shellfish toxins in bivalves which are not associated with dinoflagellates. AB - Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSP toxins) were detected in the freshwater bivalve Corbicula sandai collected from Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, and marine mussel Septifer virgatus from Mutsu Bay where known causative dinoflagellates and their cysts have never been observed. The toxin profile of C. sandai and S. virgatus was considerably different from suspected causative organisms Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Protogonyaulax spp., respectively. The causative organism(s) responsible for PSP toxins in these waters is at present unknown. PMID- 2617542 TI - Venom production in snake venom gland cells cultured in vitro. AB - The venom gland cells from a Ghanaian specimen of Bitis gabonica were established in tissue culture for over seven months. During this time the cells maintained their original morphology and divided actively. Tests for the synthesis of venom using an immuno peroxidase technique (on the cells) were strongly positive and tests for the secretion of venom into tissue culture medium using ELISA suggested secreted venom levels of at least 200 ng/ml culture fluid. The B. gabonica specimen used for these studies was designated BG5 and we propose to refer to this venom gland cell culture as BG5. PMID- 2617543 TI - The intraovarian progesterone modulation of follicle development in the rabbit ovary. AB - Intraovarian progesterone levels were manipulated by surgically adjusting the number of corpora lutea (CL) present in rabbit ovaries and this model was used to study the local effect of luteal progesterone on growth of follicles. The results show that when a single CL or several CL were present, follicle growth was inhibited. However, when all CL on one ovary were removed, increased numbers of follicles grew even when a single CL was present in the contralateral ovary. These findings show that progesterone inhibits follicle growth and that at least part of its action is local, i.e., exerted within the ovary. Additionally, ovarian blood vessels and periovarian lymph ducts were cannulated, and samples were collected and analyzed for steroid and protein content. The results show that when CL were present, ovarian vein progesterone levels were elevated 10-30 fold over levels in ovaries without CL; this high concentration points to the blood vascular system as the principal carrier of the steroid within the ovary. Analysis of lymph showed that protein content was consistently high and that the progesterone concentration was not significantly altered with the presence of CL; these two findings show that ovarian capillaries are extremely permeable to proteins, but the unexpectedly low concentrations of progesterone in lymph may signal an intraovarian countercurrent mechanism by which it is returned to the blood. PMID- 2617544 TI - Ovulation in the isolated perfused rat ovary as documented by intravital microscopy. AB - Surface cell changes at the apices of preovulatory follicles and ovulations were documented in isolated perfused ovaries from immature rats treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (20 IU) and 48 h later with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (10 IU). A video camera coupled to an inverted microscope and a video recorder captured the preovulatory and ovulatory events at a cellular level. At around 8 h post-hCG, the follicular apex changed from a smooth and optically homogeneous appearance into a rough surface with bleb formation and extrusions of single cells through minute perforations (early stigma formation). At approximately 10 h, a sticky material formed a basketlike structure with trapped cells (late stigma formation). At 12 to 15 h, ovulation took place at a constant speed and with no contractions of the follicular wall. This indicates that ovulation can occur with no visible circumfollicular muscular activity. Furthermore, the observations of a leakage of cells over an extended period of time indicates that the follicular wall is partly digested several hours before ovulation occurs. PMID- 2617545 TI - Suppression of LH-stimulated prostaglandin and progesterone accumulation in rat granulosa cells by isoquinolinesulfonamide protein kinase inhibitors. AB - Rat granulosa cells were incubated with isoquinolinesulfonamide inhibitors of protein kinases A and C and/or LH, dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP), tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA), cholera toxin, or forskolin for 5 h. H7 (25 microM) was observed to inhibit LH, cholera toxin or dbcAMP stimulation of prostaglandin (PGE), and progesterone accumulation. H7 produced inhibition when added as little as 2 min before and as long as 1 h after LH. HA1004 was ineffective against LH or cholera toxin stimulation of PGE or progesterone at up to 100 microM. H9 blocked some LH and forskolin responses at 25 microM, but required a 50 microM concentration to minimally affect TPA stimulation. Cytotoxicity was not observed at the concentrations and times of isoquinolinesulfonamides tested. H7 and H9, therefore, suppress LH stimulation of granulosa cell functions in a dose- and time-dependent manner consistent with inhibition of protein kinases A and/or C, and consonant with a requirement for such kinases in LH action. PMID- 2617546 TI - [The diagnosis of fat embolism in lungs altered by putrefaction]. AB - The results of biochemical analysis of rabbit lungs in case of death due to fat embolism and mechanical asphyxia (control) are presented. Reliable difference in lipid quantities was evident both immediately after death and in different putrefaction periods (this difference was 9-10 times greater in case of pulmonary fat embolism than in controls). The significant reduction in water content of the lungs in case of fat embolism as compared to controls was detected. Histological analysis of the putrefactive lungs can't detect fat embolism. Biochemical analysis makes it possible to diagnose fat embolism of the lungs in case of their marked putrefactive changes. PMID- 2617547 TI - [The strength, biochemical and biophysical properties of the skin in the simulation of injuries]. AB - The results of experimental investigation on determination of stress-strain and resistant skin properties, its plastic elements (collagenous proteins, proteoglycans, glycoproteins) and steam permeability in lesion modelling are presented. PMID- 2617548 TI - [The characteristics of the formation of head wounds from the action of solid blunt objects]. AB - The results of wound investigation based on blow theory are presented and regularities concerning wound formation are defined. Zones were singled out in each lesion, which differed by formation mechanism and time of occurrence (zone of primary contact, zone of secondary contact and non--contact lesions- lacerations). Formation of primary contact zone doesn't depend on blow strength, its increase is accompanied by lesion extension. Fundamental differences in wound formation in case of blow by objects with verge as striking surface are presented. PMID- 2617549 TI - [The characteristics of injuries to the thoracic spine in children with a forward flexion]. AB - Excessive flexure of the thoracic spine in childhood may result in latent lesions of the middle thoracic vertebra and intervertebral disks visible by X-ray and on sagittal cuts. The prior deformation may be judged by their morphological signs. Ability of infantile vertebral bodies to recover their form after load removal reduces reliability of mathematical processing of X-ray data. Use of X-ray method for examination of thoracic spine in expert practical work makes it possible to detect lesions and mechanism of their formation. PMID- 2617550 TI - [The macro- and micromorphological signs of the edge of stabbing-cutting weapons in skin wounds]. AB - 110 stab-cut skin wounds in 34 dead bodies as well as 38 stab-cut instruments were studied. Three morphologic types of traces left by blade edges of stab-cut instruments, i.e. puncture, microrupture and microcut, were established. Gross and micromorphology of each of these traces depends on the properties of blade edges of stab-cut instruments. PMID- 2617551 TI - [The mechanism of the formation of the bullet-entry gunshot damage to the bones of the cranial vault in shots from the TO3-10 small-bore 5.6-mm-caliber rifle]. AB - Data on experimental shots (3 series) from a TO3-10 small-gun that cause lesions of cranial vault bones are presented. It was stated that mechanism of formation of inlet bullet gunshot lesions of cranial vault bones involves several successive stages. Formation of gunshot lesion is affected by elastic bone properties and a "hydrodynamic effect". PMID- 2617552 TI - [A method for researching the fauna in the forensic medical expertise on a corpse]. AB - Process of fauna investigation in medicolegal examination of putrefactive and skeletonized bodies is subdivided into several stages connected with collection of evidence material at the scene of cadaver discovery, with laboratory analysis, getting of additional data, evaluation of investigation results and reasoning of conclusions. PMID- 2617553 TI - [The determination of the distance of a shot from a smooth-bore weapon based on the damages from the action of the wad containers]. AB - Experimental shots from a No. 16 calibre single-barrelled gun using commercial cartridges in the plastic cartridge cases supplied by wad containers with Nos. 1 and 2 shots revealed that lesions that had typical morphologic structure which were characteristic of wad container action were produced at close distances (less than 2 meters). Therefore preliminary experimental shots are necessary before making concrete decisions on characteristic features of an injuring projectile and shot distance. PMID- 2617554 TI - [The expert assessment of the sign of the presence of fluid in the basilar sinus in the diagnosis of drowning]. AB - Incidence of fluid presence (drowning medium) in basilar bone sinus of dead bodies found in water was studied according to pathogenetic type of drowning. Method of quantitative assessment of this sign in medicolegal evaluation of the cause of death when dead bodies were found in water is suggested. PMID- 2617555 TI - [The possibility for determining haptoglobin phenotypes in blood stains after treatment with a luminol solution]. AB - The paper gives the results of tests for influence of luminol solution of different composition on detectability of haptoglobin fractions in the bloodstains of different ages. It was stated that alkaline luminol solutions reduce intensity of fractions and may hamper Hp phenotype determination especially in old stains. PMID- 2617556 TI - [The serological determination of myoglobin for forensic medical purposes]. AB - Possibility of using diagnosticum for myoglobin detection in passive hemagglutination reaction during evaluation of medicolegal objects is shown. PMID- 2617557 TI - [The detection of the presence of azafen in cadaveric material]. AB - Possibility of isolating azaphen from the cadaveric material by acidified water and acetonitrile (as extractant) is shown. Isolation rate (75.6%) of azaphen (with 1 mg of preparation added to 25 g of the liver by acetonitrile is significantly higher than in isolation by acidified water (41.7%). PMID- 2617558 TI - [A comparative evaluation of methods for the isolation of khlozepid from human cadaveric liver]. AB - Comparative evaluation of two isolation methods in fatal chlozepid poisoning was performed using expert material. Isolation by neutral acetone from visceral tissues showed that chlozepid and its metabolites are extracted in amounts 6-13 times greater (in terms of chlozepid) than using A. A. Vasil'eva's method. Quantitative determination was performed by photometry according to the reaction of azo dye formation after hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of the extracts. PMID- 2617559 TI - [The isolation and detection of baclofen and midocalm in cadaveric material]. PMID- 2617560 TI - [The determination of pyrazidol in blood and urine]. AB - Methods of pyrazidole isolation from blood and urine as well as of its identification and quantification are developed. These methods allow one to isolate 53-55% of pyrazidole from blood and 90-95%, from urine. PMID- 2617561 TI - [Fatal ethanol poisonings in 1984-1986]. AB - Analysis of statistical data on the number of fatal ethanol intoxications in 1984 1986 is presented. A steady tendency to reduction in fatal ethanol intoxications is stressed. PMID- 2617562 TI - [The morphological diagnosis of alcoholic embryo- and fetopathy]. AB - Principles of morphologic diagnosis of alcoholic embryo- and fetopathy are discussed using data on two cases of this pathology. In the authors' opinion, three conditions are necessary to make diagnosis of alcoholic embryo- and fetopathy (i.e. maternal alcoholism history, morphologic signs of embryo- and fetopathy, ethanol concentration in fetal blood and urine). Alcohol embryo- and fetopathy must be differentiated from acute ethanol intoxication, during which microscopic visceral signs of embryo- and fetopathy are absent and ethanol blood concentration exceeds 2.0%. PMID- 2617563 TI - [The team form of work organization and pay in a technical physics department]. PMID- 2617564 TI - [The diagnosis of closed blunt trauma to the heart in a young person]. PMID- 2617565 TI - [The expert testimony significance of spear-shaped fragments of wood in gunshot injuries]. PMID- 2617566 TI - [A case of the differential diagnosis of skull fractures and congenital defects]. PMID- 2617567 TI - [The use of circular dichroism and spectrophotometric methods in establishing the time of death]. AB - Dynamics of destruction of metal-containing proteins in skeletal muscles depending on storage duration (up to 30 days) of cadaveric material was studied in vitro using spectra of circular dichroism and absorption in visible spectrum area. Dichroic absorption diminishes gradually with increase of storage duration of cadaveric material. PMID- 2617568 TI - [Anaphylactic shock after lidocaine administration]. PMID- 2617569 TI - [Group methanol poisoning]. PMID- 2617570 TI - [Fatal etatsizin poisoning]. PMID- 2617571 TI - [The dynamic postmortem changes of the nucleoproteins in the tissues of the liver and eye]. AB - Postmortal changes in nucleoproteins were examined in the hepatocytes and anterior corneal and crystalline lenticular epithelial cells from 106 cadavers within 48 h after death by microfluorometry. Cryostat tissue sections were stained by acridine yellow by the method of R. Rigler (1966). The author found a natural decrease in fluorescence intensity of the examined tissue cellular nuclei at 530 nm within 4-24 h. and an increase in their fluorescence intensity at 640 nm within 4-48 h. after death. Data obtained may be used to establish the time of death. PMID- 2617572 TI - The thymus: histophysiology and dynamics in the immune system. Proceedings of a workshop. Centrum Rolduc, Kerkrade, The Netherlands, April 2-6, 1989. PMID- 2617573 TI - Thymic epithelial antibodies: immunohistological analysis and introduction of nomenclature. AB - During the Workshop "The Thymus. Histophysiology and Dynamics in the Immune System', Rolduc, april 1989, a special workshop was hold to characterize monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to thymic epithelial cells (TEC) in thymus of man, mice, and rat. Twenty-five TEC-specific mAb's were evaluated for their immunohistological staining patterns on reference thymus, thymuses during ontogeny, various other organs (all tissues obtained from the species against the mAb was raised) and thymuses of other species. In this report only immunohistological results of reference thymuses and thymuses of other species are described. Based on the staining patterns on reference thymuses, mAb could be subdivided in 5 main groups. It is proposed to use these clusters of thymic epithelial staining patterns (CTES) to designate individual mAb, awaiting the possible incorporation in existing CD nomenclature for leucocyte differentiation antigens. The present immunohistological approach will be extended by additional analysis for which a protocol was designed. The ultimate goal of this TEC-mAb workshop is to get well-characterized reagents in the analysis of TEC-associated molecules with putative function in intrathymic T-cell processing. PMID- 2617574 TI - Analysis of the fine distribution of thymic epithelial microenvironmental molecules by immuno-electron microscopy. AB - Normal T cell development depends upon an interaction between progenitor cells and their microenvironment. Previously raised monoclonal antibodies to subtypes of human thymic epithelium were used with gold-coupled reagents in immuno electron microscopy to study the fine cellular distribution of the molecules to which these Mabs bind. Mab MR6, thought to recognize the human IL-4 receptor, shows strong surface labeling of cortical epithelial cells and thymic nurse cells, and very weak staining of thymocytes, medullary macrophages and interdigitating cells. Mab 1st 8.18 labels the surface of Hassall's corpuscles and associated medullary epithelial cells. The molecules detected by these two antibodies are therefore located in a position where they are available to interact with external cellular and soluble signals within the thymus. In contrast Mabs MR10 and 19 recognize Intracellular molecules within subcapsular, perivascular and some medullary epithelium. These molecules may represent soluble material awaiting secretion from the cell; alternatively, they may be internal structural proteins. PMID- 2617575 TI - Differentiation of epithelial stroma during ontogenesis of the thymus in mice: a speculation on the origin of the thymus as a sensory organ. AB - Two monoclonal antibodies recognizing subpopulations of epithelial stroma cells of the embryonic mouse thymus are described. Antibody Th-115/7 reacts with epithelial cells of the thymus cortex: antibody Th-101/5 binds to stroma cells of the thymus medulla. In cryosections of whole embryos Th-115/7 bound in addition to mucosal epithelial cells of the pharynx, of the Th-101/5 stained submucosa cells of various regions of the pharynx, of the cavum nasi, of the tongue etc. These observations are compatible with the hypothesis that the thymus anlage originally had developed as a sensory organ at the entrance of the pharynx before it became a primary lymphoid organ. PMID- 2617576 TI - Turnover of ED2-expressing macrophages in the thymus cortex of rats. AB - To investigate the turnover of thymic ED2+ cortical macrophages, vascular thymus transplantation in RT7-congenic rats were performed. Thymus graft cell suspensions were analyzed using ED2 in combination with congenic markers. Immunohistology of thymus graft sections was performed to demonstrate the immigration and persistence of these macrophages at several time points after transplantation. In contrast to other mobile thymus cells like thymocytes and interdigitating cells, most ED2+ cortical macrophages showed a slow turnover rate. At 76 days after transplantation more than 30% of ED2+ macrophages were still of donor origin. The migration properties of these macrophages are discussed in relation to their presumed role in thymocyte maturation and proliferation. PMID- 2617577 TI - Establishment and characterization of mouse thymic epithelial cell lines. AB - Primary stromal cell cultures from fetal day-16 thymuses of Swiss mice were developed using a combination of D-valine-containing DMEM and Ham's F-12 medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor, insulin and cortisone. Using cloning cylinders and subsequent limiting dilution techniques, we obtained two clones, MTE-1 and MTE-2. The presence of cytokeratin filaments established their epithelial origin. These cells expressed class I and class II MHC antigens after induction by gamma-interferon, and lacked conventional lymphoid cell-surface markers. Their ability to form rosettes with thymocytes should allow us to identify cell-surface antigens involved in thymocyte-epithelial cell interaction. Moreover, these lines will be used to set up in vitro thymocyte maturation assays. PMID- 2617578 TI - Influence of a thymic hormone on cultured epithelial cells of the thymus. AB - Addition of cortisone to primary cultures of mouse thymic stromal cells resulted in increased growth of medullary epithelial cells while cortical epithelial subpopulations were inhibited or destroyed. These adverse effects on cortical cells were ameliorated by the thymic hormone THF. Because thymocytes are also sensitive to both cortisone and THF we sought to eliminate them from the cultures by deoxyguanosine treatment. This treatment differentiated even more strongly between growth of cortical epithelial cells which were inhibited and medullary epithelium that was very strongly stimulated. These effects are discussed in relation to involution of the thymus with aging. PMID- 2617579 TI - A comparison of the direct agglutination test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the sero-diagnosis of leishmaniasis in the Sudan. AB - The sensitivity and specificity of the direct agglutination test (DAT) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were compared for the sero-diagnosis of visceral (VL) and cutaneous (CL) leishmaniasis in Sudanese patients. All the sera from parasitologically confirmed cases of VL were positive in both ELISA and DAT. Some minor discrepancies were apparent between the two tests in patients with clinical signs of VL, but in whom VL was not confirmed parasitologically. In parasitologically confirmed CL both tests performed equally badly, with the DAT detecting 67% of cases and ELISA 60%. For the sero-diagnosis of VL, ELISA and DAT performed equally well, but on grounds of simplicity and low cost the DAT was preferred. PMID- 2617580 TI - Cutaneous leishmaniasis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. PMID- 2617581 TI - Visceral leishmaniasis in Niger. PMID- 2617582 TI - Cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Costa Rica. PMID- 2617583 TI - A model of hepatic amoebiasis in random bred mice. AB - This study describes a model of hepatic amoebiasis in random bred mice (MF2). Mice were infected by introducing liver tissue from hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), containing about 5 X 10(4) trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica, between adjacent liver lobes. Direct inoculation of xenic E. histolytica resulted in mortality within 24 h, whereas monoxenic and axenic strains failed to produce any lesions. Serial mouse liver passage resulted in increased lesion score, number of metastatic abscesses, and mortality. Metronidazole 150 mg/kg produced complete healing of the abscess. It is expected that this model will be useful to study host-parasite interactions, immunology and experimental chemotherapy of amoebiasis. PMID- 2617584 TI - Binding of oxamniquine to the DNA of schistosomes. AB - Hycanthone-sensitive and hycanthone-resistant schistosomes (which are also sensitive and resistant to oxamniquine) were exposed in vitro to tritium-labelled oxamniquine. The initial uptake of the drug into the schistosomes was essentially the same for the 2 strains. The homogenate of worms incubated with tritiated oxamniquine was fractionated and a purified DNA fraction was obtained by ethanol precipitation, RNAase and protease digestion, repeated phenolchloroform extractions, CsC1 gradient centrifugation and extensive dialysis. The DNA fraction from sensitive worms contained radioactive oxamniquine at a level corresponding to about 1 drug molecule per 50,000 base pairs, while the DNA from resistant worms contained essentially no drug. The results support the hypothesis that oxamniquine, like hycanthone, exerts its activity by alkylating macromolecules of sensitive schistosomes. The possibility is discussed that oxamniquine may lack the mutagenic properties of hycanthone because it is not an intercalating agent. PMID- 2617585 TI - Neurocysticercosis: treatment with albendazole and dextrochloropheniramine. AB - We evaluated the use of albendazole in combination with dextrochloropheniramine for the treatment of neurocysticercosis. Forty patients were treated from September 1984 to December 1987; each was diagnosed on the basis of clinical, epidemiological, cerebrospinal fluid and tomographic data. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the albendazole treatment schedule. Group I received 10-15 mg/kg albendazole daily; group II received 15-25 mg/kg/d; group III received 15-30 mg/kg/d. Each patient also received simultaneously 18 mg/d of dextrochloropheniramine. Clinical improvement was observed in 4 patients in group I (50.0%), 10 patients in group II (83.3%) and 18 patients in group III (94.7%). Three patients in group II, and one in group III, died. Group III patients showed a significant improvement in quality of life compared to the other 2 groups. Side effects were insignificant in all groups. The combination of albendazole and dextrochloropheniramine seems to be a promising treatment for neurocysticercosis, especially at the doses used for group III, i.e. 15 mg/kg/d of albendazole for 21 d followed by 20-30 mg/kg/d for 30 d after a one-week interval, in combination with 18 mg/d of dextrochloropheniramine. PMID- 2617586 TI - The use of praziquantel in human infection with Dipylidium. PMID- 2617587 TI - Em2-ELISA for the follow-up of alveolar echinococcosis after complete surgical resection of liver lesions. AB - Alveolar echinococcosis, a serious and often fatal human disease, can be efficiently cured only by complete surgical resection of the Echinococcus multilocularis lesion. The present study showed that the determination in patients who had undergone surgery of antibody activity directed against the antigen Em2 reliably reflected complete or incomplete surgical resection. From 9 patients with pre-operative positive results in the Em2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Em2-ELISA) and successful surgical resection, 6 converted to negative within one year and the remaining 3 patients within 4 years after surgery. Six of 7 additional patients who showed recurrences in an average of 6 years after surgery despite assumed complete surgical resection, were positive by Em2-ELISA at the time of recurrence. Discrimination was not possible between these 2 groups of patients when using an ELISA employing crude antigen obtained from E. granulosus hydatid cyst fluid. PMID- 2617588 TI - Cutaneous oesophagostomiasis in man. PMID- 2617589 TI - Sero-epidemiology of hepatitis delta virus infection in Somalia. PMID- 2617590 TI - Urban yellow fever epidemic in western Nigeria, 1987. AB - A large epidemic of urban yellow fever occurred in April and May 1987 in Oyo State, western Nigeria. The principal vector was Aedes aegypti, breeding in domestic water containers. The 1987 outbreak followed an epidemic of sylvatic yellow fever in eastern Nigeria the previous year, and probably resulted from introduction of the virus by viraemic travellers. The outbreak in Oyo State ended in early July, by which time 805 cases and 416 deaths had been officially notified. However, surveys of 3 villages in the epicentre, a region with over 4 million inhabitants, indicated an infection rate of approximately 20%, a clinical attack rate of 2.9% and a mortality rate of 0.6%, suggesting that the true incidence of cases and deaths far exceeded the official reports. Yellow fever virus was isolated from persons with fully developed yellow fever as well as mild febrile illness. One virus isolate was made from blood of an individual with mild illness, who had received 17D vaccine 5 d earlier; monoclonal antibody analysis showed that the isolate was a wild-type virus. Larval indices of Ae. aegypti were very high; however, low vector competence of the Ae aegypti population may have provided a constraint on spread of the epidemic. In late 1987 a third epidemic appeared in Niger State, northern Nigeria, with 644 reported cases and 149 deaths. The vector(s) involved is (are) unknown. PMID- 2617591 TI - Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in Ashanti region, Ghana. AB - We describe a series of 96 cases of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection (Buruli ulcer) from a new endemic focus in the Afram valley, north of Agogo, in Ghana. 63 cases were children under 13 years old. Active treatment by excision and skin grafting necessitates long stays in hospital and repeated procedures. Scarring and contracture are frequent. Eyes and other vital organs may be destroyed. In its endemic foci Buruli ulcer is a serious health burden on rural populations. Research is urgently needed, especially in prevention and non-surgical management. PMID- 2617592 TI - Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a Nigerian population. PMID- 2617593 TI - Frequency of dermatophytes causing tinea corporis in Tripoli, Libya. PMID- 2617594 TI - Alpha-thalassaemia in the Gambia. PMID- 2617595 TI - Tropical obstetrics and gynaecology. 2. Maternal mortality. AB - Estimates of maternal deaths per 100,000 births are 270 for Latin America, 420 for Asia and 640 for Africa, compared to only 30 in developed countries. In places with high maternal death rates, women who fail to receive antenatal care and who then report to hospital only when their lives are threatened by major obstetric complications constitute the crux of the problem. In reducing maternal deaths in such places, especially in Africa, the need is to provide vigorous treatment for the unbooked emergencies and, at the same time, work towards the removal of the cultural, health and socio-economic conditions which create the unbooked emergencies. The first objective can be achieved through developing a network of first referral hospitals so that life saving measures are accessible to all who need them before it is too late. The second objective can be realized only through the universal provision and utilization of basic but professional antenatal care and also through modernization of the society as a whole. For all of these goals, universal formal education is fundamental. PMID- 2617596 TI - The black death past and present. 1. Plague in the 1980s. AB - This paper considers firstly the epidemiology of plague in the 1980s. The largest number of cases occurred in Tanzania. Most cases were in children and young adults; in the USA the male:female ratio was about 2:1. Plague had a seasonal distribution. Almost all cases arose from bites of infected rodent fleas, and Rattus spp. were the most important reservoir hosts. Virulence is linked with the presence of a 45 MDa plasmid. The predominant clinical form of plague is bubonic, followed by septicaemic, meningitic and pneumonic. For treatment, streptomycin is the antibiotic of choice, with tetracycline and chloramphenicol as alternatives. Treatment given on the first 1-2 d of illness is highly effective, and resistance is not a problem. Rodent control, insecticide application, and avoidance of contact with rodents and their fleas remain the prime means of control. Plague vaccine is not in general use. PMID- 2617597 TI - Blood schizontocidal activity of a new antimalarial drug, arteether (alpha/beta), against Plasmodium knowlesi in rhesus monkeys. PMID- 2617598 TI - Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Saudi Arabia: results of a preliminary epidemiological survey in Al-Ahsa oasis. AB - This paper reports the results of a cross-sectional survey of lesions (active cases) and scars (past cases) of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) carried out in 1986 in 2 villages in the eastern region of Al-Ahsa oasis in Saudi Arabia. The epidemiological pattern of ZCL was strikingly similar in both villages. Overall, 2.8% residents were found to have lesions. Only 3.7% were found with scars, presumably due to under-recording. The age distribution of lesions was bimodal, the number of cases being highest in the age-groups 0-3 and 24-27 years. The sharp fall between 3 and 15 years in the number of persons with lesions is typical of an active endemic infection which induces long-lasting immunity. The exceptional number of active adult cases were predominantly non-Saudi males. Infected non-Saudis also contributed substantially to statistically significant clustering of case in households and influenced the sex ratio of cases. More active cases were found in males than in females, and more active cases were male than were past cases. In 1985, residents reported a broad peak in the monthly discovery of lesions--from July to February. Interpretation of the available information was limited because it was not possible to standardize the data for age and sex. PMID- 2617599 TI - Evaluation of a total lymphocyte proliferation assay as a diagnostic tool for cutaneous leishmaniasis. AB - A total blood lymphocyte proliferation (TLP) assay, recently developed for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), was evaluated as a tool for diagnosis of CL among patients with active lesions and apparently healthy people in an endemic area of the Jordan Valley. It was found that, in patients with lesions less than 3 months old, the TLP assay appeared insensitive, failing to detect about half of the patients in whom a diagnosis of CL had been made clinically. Blood specimens from patients with lesions of at least 3 months duration showed a positive correlation in 8 out of 10 cases. With healthy people resident in an endemic area the TLP assay was positive for 15 of 20 subjects with a past history of CL, and for only 3 of 16 without such a history. With another group of patients, not residents of an endemic area but who had spent 2 weeks together in an endemic area, and with a group of drug-treated patients, the results of the TLP assay showed a similar pattern: in patients with lesions less than 3 months old the test appeared rather insensitive, but in patients with lesions of more than 3 months duration, there was a high correlation between the TLP and clinical diagnosis. PMID- 2617600 TI - Leishmania infecting man and wild animals in Saudi Arabia. 5. Diversity of parasites causing visceral leishmaniasis in man and dogs in the south-west. AB - Kala-azar (VL), mainly affecting infants and young children, is being increasingly reported in the south-west of Saudi Arabia, 305 cases being diagnosed in 1988. Most cases arise in scattered locations in the foothills west of the Asir mountains at altitudes between about 500 and 1000 m, although case clusters are apparent in some villages. Some cases also occur between the foothills and the Red Sea coast. The incidence in the south-west was calculated to be of the order of 6 to 8/10,000 population per year, but a random serological survey using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and direct agglutination techniques indicated a seropositivity rate of about 3.7% in 706 apparently healthy children. Most patients are Saudi or Yemeni and cases are being increasingly identified also in the Yemen Arab Republic. In the foothills of both countries the causative organism is Leishmania donovani s.l. zymodeme LON-42, which also occurs on the eastern littoral of Ethiopia. By isoenzyme electrophoresis, it is readily separated from L. infantum, which has been identified in feral dogs, the 2 organisms being sympatric. The infection was found in 6.7% of 89 dogs, but their seropositivity rate was 19.3%. Although L. infantum has not yet been recognized in man in Saudi Arabia, it has been identified in a child in the coastal plain of the Yemen Arab Republic. Further research needed to provide a rational basis for control is discussed. PMID- 2617601 TI - Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania tropica in a young Moroccan child observed in Nice, France. PMID- 2617602 TI - Trypanosomiasis and encephalitis: possible aetiology and treatment. PMID- 2617603 TI - Occurrence and significance of Cryptosporidium infection in Calcutta. AB - During a 2-year study, Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 32 (5.6%) of 566 hospitalized paediatric diarrhoea cases and 2 (1.2%) of 167 non-diarrhoeic individuals. Cryptosporidium was the sole pathogen detected in 17 (3.0%) of the 32 positive cases; in the other 15 it occurred in combination with one or more other established enteropathogen(s). The frequency of detection of the parasite was highest in the 0-6 months age group; no sex-specific difference was discernible. The detection rate of the parasite was highest during the monsoon and post-monsoon months. Most of the patients had watery stools with a mild to moderate degree of dehydration, with the diarrhoea lasting for less than 7 d. PMID- 2617604 TI - A possible focus of schistosomiasis in Andhra Pradesh, India. PMID- 2617605 TI - Chloroquine-induced pruritus in Malawi: lack of association with onchocerciasis. PMID- 2617606 TI - A new method for estimating intake of microfilariae by Simuliidae. PMID- 2617607 TI - Loa loa and Mansonella perstans filariasis in the Chaillu mountains, Congo: parasitological prevalence. AB - 1934 Bantus and 379 Pygmies were investigated for Loa loa and Mansonella perstans filariasis in 7 villages in the Chaillu forest of the Congo. Bantus were more frequently infected with L. loa than Pygmies (18.9% of microfilariae carriers compared with 10.6%). In individuals over 30 years of age, males were more frequently infected than females. Microfilarial densities increased until the age of 20 years and then remained stable. Parasite load was not significantly different in the two ethnic groups. For mansonelliasis, the microfilarial rate was higher in the Pygmies (67.5% compared with 22.0%) and males of the 2 groups were more frequently infected than females. Microfilarial load was also higher in Pygmies than in Bantus (mean microfilarial densities (MfD 50) 13 and 2 respectively). In the Pygmy group, MfD 50 for M. perstans increased with age whereas it remained stable in the Bantus. 53.8% of the 249 questioned persons had experienced worm migration under the conjunctiva. Both ethnic groups were equally exposed to the vectors of L. loa and reasons for the difference in prevalence of microfilaria carriers are discussed. For mansonelliasis increased contact with vectors may explain the higher degree of infestation observed in Pygmies. Other filariases were infrequent in (Mansonella streptocerca), or absent from (Onchocerca volvulus and Wuchereria bancrofti), the study area. PMID- 2617608 TI - Echinococcus granulosus: in vitro maintenance of whole cysts and the assessment of the effects of albendazole sulphoxide and praziquantel on the germinal layer. AB - Small entire cysts of Echinococcus granulosus of human and animal origin were cultured in vitro in the presence or absence of albendazole sulphoxide (1000 micrograms/litre) or praziquantel (500 micrograms/litre) for 10 or 11 d, and subsequently passaged into the peritoneal cavity of gerbils to assess viability by continued cyst growth. Viability was reduced in the presence of albendazole sulphoxide, and disintegration of the germinal layer immediately after culture was demonstrated at the ultrastructural level. Praziquantel had no apparent effect on cyst growth. PMID- 2617609 TI - Strongyloides stercoralis: loss of ability to disseminate after repeated passage in laboratory beagles. AB - A strain of Strongyloides stercoralis originally isolated from a south-east Asian patient and maintained by passage in monkeys for four years was introduced into parasite-free laboratory-reared beagles. After the second passage in these dogs, the prepatent period shortened from an average of 12-14 d to 8-9 d. Up to the third generation, immunosuppressive treatment of the dogs with oral corticosteroids caused hyperinfection with dissemination, albeit limited, to extra-intestinal organs. From the fourth generation onward, neither hyperinfection nor extra-intestinal migration could be induced even by higher doses of corticosteroids. These observations suggest that the biological behaviour of populations of S. stercoralis can alter as they pass from host to host. Such changes may account, at least in part, for the diverse clinical manifestations of strongyloidiasis. PMID- 2617610 TI - Age-related differences in prevalence and intensity of Trichuris trichiura in sensory impaired children from two schools in Guatemala. AB - A survey of 102 blind and 218 deaf children in 2 specialized schools in Guatemala revealed distinctly different age-intensity profiles of infection with the intestinal helminth, Trichuris trichiura. In the school for the deaf, intensity (measured as eggs per gram of stool) peaked in the children 7 to 8 years old and dropped to very low average levels in the teenagers. By contrast, in the school for the blind, the intensity of T. trichiura remained low until the early teens. Intensity peaked in the age group 13 to 14 years old, and then decreased in the 15 to 17 years old pupils. Behavioural differences between blind and deaf children, or differences between the schools, may have contributed to this differential pattern of infection. PMID- 2617611 TI - Poliomyelitis in developing countries: lower limb paralysis and injections. AB - The distribution of muscle paralysis due to poliomyelitis is different in temperate and tropical countries. In temperate countries, 49% of children with paralysis were affected only in the legs compared with 85% in developing countries, 79% and 89% respectively had affected legs with other paralysis. This suggests that correction for lameness surveys is unnecessary. Muscles frequently injected and those with adjacent motor neurone tracts in the central nervous system were much more frequently affected in Nigerian than in UK children, whereas paralysis in other muscles was less frequent than in the UK children. This and other evidence points to a major causal role for injections in the high prevalence of polio in developing countries. Proof may however be impossible to obtain because less than 0.5% of all injections are followed by paralysis. There may also be damage to motor neurones, without paralysis, which may lead to later disabilities. Injections should be given to young children only when absolutely necessary. PMID- 2617613 TI - Further studies on the treatment of African histoplasmosis with ketoconazole. AB - Five patients with African histoplasmosis were treated with ketoconazole. Three of these were children with disseminated disease and 2 were adults with localized cutaneous disease. Both patients with cutaneous disease responded to treatment, although one was lost to follow-up. Of the 3 children with disseminated disease, one was apparently cured, one responded well but subsequently relapsed, and one failed to respond in spite of having blood levels of ketoconazole within the therapeutic range. Further studies are needed to determine the optimum dosage and duration of treatment with ketoconazole for this condition. PMID- 2617612 TI - Lyme disease agent in Egypt? PMID- 2617614 TI - Experience with fungal infections affecting the heart in necropsies at an Indian hospital. AB - Twenty-one cases of fungal infection of the heart were encountered among 4000 necropsies performed in a South Indian hospital over a period of 20 years. All 5 cases of endocarditis due to infection with Aspergillus followed cardiac surgery, while the 4 cases of endocarditis due to Candida affected normal heart valves. Cardiac micro-abscesses secondary to fungal infections elsewhere were caused by Aspergillus in 5 cases and Candida in 4. A fibrosing granulomatous Aspergillus infection extended from the lungs to involve the base of the heart in 3 patients. PMID- 2617615 TI - Pesticide selection pressure on Anopheles subpictus in Sri Lanka: comparison with two other Sri Lankan anophelines. AB - Adult Anopheles subpictus from Sri Lanka show a broad spectrum of resistance towards organophosphate insecticides but not to carbamates in contrast to the broad resistance to organophosphates and carbamates reported earlier for An. nigerrimus. In both species the frequency of resistance to malathion and fenitrothion increased between 1980 and 1987, despite the ban on agricultural use of these two compounds and the restriction of malathion to indoor residual spraying in malaria control since 1977. In contrast, An. culicifacies shows only low level specific resistance to malathion at a very low frequency. As An. subpictus breeds to a large extent in paddy fields which are highly contaminated by agricultural pesticides, and is highly endophilic, selection for resistance theoretically could occur through both agricultural and anti-malarial pesticide use. However, the anti-malarial use of malathion may have been less important, taking into consideration the low level of resistance of An. culicifacies which is also highly endophilic but breeds to a negligible extent in paddy fields. PMID- 2617617 TI - Changes in the vitreous humour of patients with onchocerciasis. PMID- 2617616 TI - Ineffectiveness of mosquito coils in Kinshasa, Zaire. PMID- 2617618 TI - Quantitative determination of Leishmania amastigotes--an addendum. PMID- 2617619 TI - The effects of malaria chemoprophylaxis given by traditional birth attendants on the course and outcome of pregnancy. AB - A trial of malaria chemoprophylaxis given by traditional birth attendants was undertaken in a rural area of The Gambia where access to antenatal clinics is difficult. Women received one or more doses of Maloprim or placebo from a traditional birth attendant during 1049 of 1208 pregnancies (87%) recorded in 16 villages over a 3-year period. Primigravidae who received Maloprim had a lower parasite rate and a significantly higher mean packed cell volume than primigravidae who received placebo, and their babies were significantly heavier (6% low birth weight vs 22%). In multigravidae chemoprophylaxis reduced malaria parasitaemia but it had no beneficial effect on haemoglobin level and much less effect on birth weight than was observed in primigravidae. However, the mean birth weight of babies born to grandemultigravidae who received chemoprophylaxis was significantly higher than that of babies born to grandemultigravidae who did not. PMID- 2617620 TI - Isoenzyme characterization of 112 Leishmania isolates from French Guiana. AB - 112 Leishmania isolates, obtained in French Guiana from human lesions, phlebotomine sandflies and wild mammals, were characterized by isoenzyme electrophoresis. Leishmania braziliensis guyanensis and L. mexicana amazonensis were found parasitizing different natural hosts. L.b. guyanensis was the dominant species (103 isolates) responsible for most of the human lesions (96.7%). Based on variations observed in 2 enzymes, 3 distinct zymodemes were distinguished within the L.b. guyanensis taxon. PMID- 2617621 TI - Isolation of Leishmania species from wild mammals in French Guiana. AB - Between 1981 and 1987, 486 wild mammals collected from 13 sites in French Guiana were examined for Leishmania. Eleven of 31 two-toed sloths, Choloepus didactylus, were infected, 4 of the isolates being identified as L. braziliensis guyanensis. This species was also found in 2 Didelphis marsupialis and 2 Proechimys sp. L. mexicana amazonensis was isolated from 3 Proechimys sp., 2 of which were P. cuvieri. The role of these mammals in the life cycles of the 2 anthropotropic species of Leishmania encountered in French Guiana is discussed. PMID- 2617622 TI - Epidemiological aspects of human cutaneous leishmaniasis in French Guiana. AB - A follow-up study of 219 patients infected with parasitologically confirmed cutaneous leishmaniasis in French Guiana was made between 1981 and 1987. Cutaneous leishmaniasis appeared to be common in young male adults entering the forest for professional activities (84.2% of the cases). The lesions were generally of the classical ulcerative type. They were limited to the skin and preferentially located on the legs and forearms (20.7% and 19.8% respectively). Most of the cases (86.6%) represented primary infections, but 6.8% had a recurrent lesion at the site of an old, previously cured lesion. PMID- 2617623 TI - Leishmania infecting man and wild animals in Saudi Arabia. 6. Cutaneous leishmaniasis of man in the south-west. AB - Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is common on the high plateaux and foothills of the Asir range in the south-west of Saudi Arabia and Yemen. In 1987 1198 and 1104 cases were reported among the Saudi populations of Asir and Al-Baha provinces, representing an estimated annual incidence of 12 and 38 per 10,000 respectively. The incidence rises from October to December, then declines to a minimum between May and August. The prevalence of Phlebotomus sergenti, a proven local vector in the highlands, is roughly in inverse proportion. Cases occur at all ages, over 60% have only a single lesion, and the head and neck are most commonly affected. Apart from a few patients who develop leishmaniasis recidivans, most respond well to sodium stibogluconate, or self-heal. Of 44 isolates typed by isoenzyme electrophoresis, 42 were Leishmania tropica belonging to 5 distinctive zymodemes. LON-72 (34 isolates), LON-73 (1), LON-71 (2) and LON-10 (2) were found at altitudes around 2000 m, 3 of them in a single village. Three isolates of LON-63 were found at altitudes between 600 and 1000 m in widely separated foci. L. tropica LON-10 and LON-71 have been isolated also from P. sergenti from highland foci. LON-72 failed to produce lesions in BALB/c mice and gave rise to only transitory lesions in the footpads of hamsters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617624 TI - The validity of the developmental pattern in the sandfly gut for classification of Leishmania. PMID- 2617625 TI - A new method for isolating Trypanosoma brucei gambiense from sleeping sickness patients. AB - Low infectivity to laboratory mammals and low virulence make Trypanosoma brucei gambiense difficult to isolate and grow in amounts sufficient for biochemical characterization. We report the isolation of T.b. gambiense by feeding cryopreserved primary isolates to laboratory-reared Glossina morsitans morsitans, followed by rapid cultivation in vitro of procyclic forms dissected from infected tsetse fly midguts. This technique allows the characterization of hitherto unsampled populations and avoids selection due to long-term subpassage. Of 16 primary isolates from trypanosomiasis patients of the Fontem focus in Cameroon, 12 (75%) produced infections in tsetse whereas only 4 (25%) infected rats. Ten isolates were subsequently cultivated as procyclic forms in vitro; 2 failed to grow owing to bacterial contamination. In addition, 2 primary isolates from Cote d'Ivoire patients and a stock of low virulence from the Congo Republic were similarly grown. Only one primary isolate produced tsetse salivary gland infections, an observation consistent with the hypothesis that some populations of T.b. gambiense are intrinsically incompatible with G.m. morsitans. PMID- 2617626 TI - Salivary gland hyperplasia and trypanosome infection of Glossina in two areas of Kenya. PMID- 2617627 TI - Giardia lamblia: surface charge of human isolates in culture. AB - The surface charge of Giardia lamblia trophozoites from axenic cultures of strains recently isolated in Mexico from human cases of symptomatic and asymptomatic giardiasis was studied by means of cellular microelectrophoresis and ultrastructural cytochemistry. It is concluded that ionogenic surface groups confer a negative surface charge on trophozoites of G. lamblia and that no significant differences exist between the surface charge of trophozoites of symptomatic and asymptomatic origin. PMID- 2617628 TI - Apparent inability of Cryptosporidium baileyi of chickens to infect poultry handlers in Bangkok. PMID- 2617629 TI - Onchocerca gutturosa and O. volvulus: studies on the viability and drug responses of cryopreserved adult worms in vitro. AB - The viability and drug responses of cryopreserved adult Onchocerca have been examined in vitro. Male worms were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) using ethanediol as a cryoprotectant in a 2-step incubation procedure. After thawing, 85-90% of O. gutturosa males were normally motile. These motile worms were evaluated for viability using 4 measurements (long-term motility/survival in culture; [U-14C]adenine uptake and leakage; glucose utilization; MTT-formazan colorimetry) and were no different from unfrozen controls. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that the motility responses of cryopreserved worms exposed to the antifilarial drugs ivermectin, CGP 6140 and levamisole were virtually identical to unfrozen controls. Some success was also obtained with this technique in cryopreserving O. volvulus males, with 2 thawed specimens surviving in culture for 93 and 106 d respectively. Following collagenase isolation, female worms were cryopreserved in medium +10% serum without protectant at -79 degrees C. A batch of 8 female O. gutturosa were all motile when thawed 14 d later, with a mean survival time (based on 5 specimens) of 71 d (range 60-90). However, a batch of worms transferred from -79 degrees C to -196 degrees C were badly damaged when thawed. Female O. volvulus were cryopreserved at -79 degrees C in Guatemala and sent by air freight on solid CO2 to the UK. Most specimens were active when thawed. Survival of motile specimens ranged from 7 to 272 d in culture. It is concluded that these techniques are of practical value for the storage and transportation of adult Onchocerca. PMID- 2617630 TI - The lymphatic pathology of chronic Brugia pahangi infection in the dog. AB - The dog infected with Brugia pahangi is an excellent model for studying the clinical and immunological pathogenesis of lymphatic filarial infection and disease. Dogs demonstrated a range of clinical changes including varying levels of microfilaraemia, episodic lymphadenopathy, lymphangitis, and limb oedema similar to the clinical spectrum reported in man. Histologically, tissues from parasite-infected dogs were characterized by fibrosis of the lymph nodes and their afferent and efferent lymphatic ducts in the infected limbs. Some nodes were atrophied while others were characterized by reactive hyperplasia. Duct walls of some afferent lymphatics were thickened with a mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate. Parasite antigen deposition was detected in the subcapsular sinuses and middle of germinal centres of infected popliteal lymph nodes, using an immunohistochemical technique. PMID- 2617631 TI - Intestinal helminths of hospital patients in Kavango territory, Namibia. AB - In-patient and out-patient faeces examination reports from the State Hospital in Rundu, Kavango territory, Namibia, gave some idea of the prevalence of helminthic infections. 4174 specimens were examined over a 29-month period. Hookworm (6.8%) and Strongyloides (2.7%) were the most common infections, followed by Hymenolepis nana (1%), Schistosoma mansoni (1%) and Taenia sp. (0.9%). S. mansoni was more common in males than females, hookworm more common in females than males, and H. nana was most common in the pre-school group. Promiscuous defaecation on the banks of the Okavango river provides ideal situations for the development and transmission of hookworm and Strongyloides, while fishing and other activities enhance the transmission of S. mansoni infections. Larva migrans, probably due to Ancyclostoma braziliense or A. caninum, is common in the area. Studies involving schoolchildren would provide more accurate assessment of the prevalences of the various helminths. PMID- 2617632 TI - Strongyloides cf. fuelleborni and hookworm in Papua New Guinea: patterns of infection within the community. AB - The results of quantitative stool examinations from a large number of rural Papua New Guineans permitted the establishment of age-prevalence and age-intensity profiles and frequency distributions of both Strongyloides cf. fuelleborni and hookworm. Strongyloides exhibited a unique age-prevalence profile which originated at about 40% in the youngest age group, rose to a maximum in those 4-5 years old, and then declined. The intensity of infection reached its peak in 12 month olds before declining. The frequency distribution of Strongyloides egg counts was markedly over-dispersed: k values were below 0.1 for most age groups. Both prevalence and intensity of infection curves for hookworm followed similar patterns, which were typical for the parasite, rising to a maximum at about age 9 years, and then forming a plateau. The distribution of hookworm egg counts was less over-dispersed than that of Strongyloides, the k values rising until about 10 years of age and then remaining stable with a value of about 0.7. With both parasites there was little difference in prevalence or intensity of infection between the sexes, although adult males tended to have higher levels for both quantities. PMID- 2617633 TI - Pulmonary diseases in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus in Zimbabwe, Central Africa. AB - During the 11 month period up to 30 September 1987, 37 patients (26 male, 11 female, mean age 27 years) with respiratory symptoms who were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive, were studied prospectively on 40 occasions to determine the cause of any pulmonary complications. HIV was heterosexually transmitted. Predominant symptoms were cough (89%), fever (89%), weight loss (83%), and dyspnoea (60%). Transnasal fibre-optic bronchoscopy (with bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial brushings and transbronchial lung biopsies) was performed on 35 patients, twice on 3 patients. 'Tru-cut' lung biopsies were obtained from 2 patients who died before bronchoscopy. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the commonest disease, being found in one-third of the patients (12 of 37). Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured from 4; the remainder of the plates were contaminated. Pneumocystis carinii was present in 8 patients: as the sole pathogen in 3, with Streptococcus pneumoniae in 4, Staphylococcus aureus in 2, and one also had tuberculous lymphadenitis. Endobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma was seen in 6 of 7 patients with skin nodules. Bacterial pathogens isolated included Staph. aureus (5), S. pneumoniae (5), Klebsiella pneumoniae (2), Haemophilus influenzae (2), H. parainfluenzae (1) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1). Invading Aspergillus fumigatus was diagnosed by lung biopsy in one. No diagnosis was reached for 8 patients. It is concluded that in Central Africa pulmonary complications in AIDS patients are similar to those in Europe and North America but the incidence of different pathogens depends on the prevalence of pathogens in the community. M. tuberculosis is probably the commonest pathogen. This study has confirmed that P. carinii pneumonia does occur, but occurs less frequently. PMID- 2617634 TI - Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in pregnant mothers and its perinatal transmission. AB - 1000 pairs of maternal and cord blood samples were collected simultaneously at the time of delivery. 23 (2.3%) of the maternal samples were positive for HBsAg by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HBeAg was detected in 11 (47%) of the 23 HBsAg positive mothers and anti-HBeAg was detected in another 5 samples. HBsAg and HBeAg were detected in 7 (30%) of the 23 cord blood samples from HBsAg positive mothers, and anti-HBeAg was detected in one of these samples. At follow up (6-18 months), antigenaemia had persisted in 17 (85%) of the 20 HBsAg-positive mothers and in 9 (45%) of 20 babies born to HBsAg-positive mothers. Seven of the 10 babies (70%) born to mothers positive for both HBsAg and HBeAg had persistent HBsAg in their blood, in contrast to 2 of the 10 babies (20%) born to mothers positive for HBsAg only. However, none of these mothers or their babies were found to have anti-HBeAg at follow-up. We conclude that the presence of HBeAg in mothers' blood enhances vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus infection to their babies. PMID- 2617635 TI - Biological and antigenic relationship between Rift Valley fever virus strains isolated in Egypt and Madagascar. PMID- 2617636 TI - Comparison of immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IgG-ELISA) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test for the detection of dengue antibodies. Prevalence of dengue IgG-ELISA antibodies in Tahiti. AB - An immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IgG-ELISA) for the detection of dengue antibodies is described and compared to the haemagglutination inhibition test (HI). The sensitivity, specificity and agreement rate between the 2 techniques were good. The coefficients of correlation between IgG-ELISA and HI results, using dengue 1-4 antigens, were highly significant (P less than 0.001 for either antigen). IgG-ELISA was rapid, and easy to perform and suitable for large-scale studies. Between April and June 1987, a baseline serosurvey of the prevalence of dengue antibodies in age-stratified samples of children was carried out in Tahiti using IgG-ELISA. 327 children were tested against each dengue serotype. There was no significant difference between sex. Overall rates ranged from 7.4% in children under 5 years to 83.1% in those aged 15-19 years. Dengue 4 being the only serotype involved since 1979, specific responses to dengue 4 were found in higher proportion among children under 8 years old, while the IgG-ELISA responses were more widely reactive among children aged above 8 years (P less than 0.001). The acquisition rate of dengue 4 antibodies was 2.95% on average per year in children under 8 years of age. PMID- 2617637 TI - Non-viraemic transmission of Thogoto virus: influence of time and distance. AB - Previous studies have demonstrated that Thogoto virus is transmitted from infected to uninfected ticks when co-feeding on uninfected guinea-pigs, even though the guinea-pigs do not develop detectable viraemia. The dynamics of this 'non-viraemic transmission' were investigated. The percentage of nymphs (recipients) that acquired virus increased from zero, when co-feeding with infected adults (donors) for 3 d, to 80% for a co-feeding period of 5 d. No statistically significant difference was detected when infected donors and uninfected recipients were separated physically up to a maximum distance of approximately 160 mm. These results indicate that the temporal, but not the spatial, relationship affects the number of recipient ticks that become infected. PMID- 2617638 TI - Septicaemia due to Vibrio vulnificus. PMID- 2617639 TI - Evaluation in Papua New Guinea of a urine coagglutination test and a Widal slide agglutination test for rapid diagnosis of typhoid fever. AB - Two simple rapid tests for the laboratory diagnosis of typhoid fever were evaluated, a coagglutination test for detecting Salmonella typhi antigens in urine and a Widal slide agglutination for detecting serum antibodies. Ninety-two culture-confirmed typhoid cases were compared with 64 non-typhoid fever patients, 50 close contacts of typhoid patients, 30 vaccinated staff and 72 healthy community members. A strong urine Vi coagglutination was found to be 86.5% sensitive and 91.8% specific for typhoid, but was not always easy to read. The slide Widal H was found to be 99% sensitive and 95% specific whereas the slide Widal O was 98% sensitive and 98% specific. These data suggest that a single slide Widal O, at a reciprocal titre of 40, is the most suitable rapid test for the diagnosis of typhoid in a population with low typhoid antibody levels in the community, few other cross-reacting Salmonella infections, and a tendency for patients to present late in the infection. PMID- 2617640 TI - Multiple forced feeding of individual sandflies. PMID- 2617641 TI - HTLV-1 and tropical spastic paraparesis. 1. Clinical features, pathology and epidemiology. AB - The clinical profile of tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP), described in scattered tropical and subtropical territories over the past 30 years, has been more clearly defined since the discovery of its direct association with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). A chronic disease of adults, commoner in women, it usually presents as a progressive spastic paraparesis with sphincter disturbance, sometimes with backache and lower limb sensory disorder. Most cases are chair-bound within 10 years. Histology reveals a chronic lymphocytic meningomyelopathy, predominantly in the spinal cord, together with long tract demyelination and hyalinoid thickening of the media and adventitia of small blood vessels. Geographical areas of high prevalence of TSP are known in the Caribbean, South America, South Africa, southern Japan, the Seychelles and probably in India, and it is sparsely endemic elsewhere. The virus appears to exist within lymphocytes for long periods. Vertical transmission occurs postnatally, and sexual and transfusion infection are also recognized, but much remains to be clarified regarding its pathogenesis and epidemiology. PMID- 2617642 TI - HTLV-1 and tropical spastic paraparesis. 2. The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1. AB - Human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLV) are causally associated with adult T-cell leukaemia and with a progressive form of lower limb paralysis known as tropical spastic paraparesis. HTLV-1 is endemic in parts of Japan, the Caribbean, West Africa and probably South America, and is associated with disease in these areas. Horizontal transmission is probably most common through sexual intercourse which, it is postulated, must be more efficient from male to female because virus carriage is more prevalent in women in endemic areas. Vertical transmission appears to be principally through breast milk. Poor housing and hygiene may facilitate transmission. PMID- 2617643 TI - Snake venoms in science and clinical medicine. 2. Applied immunology in snake venom research. AB - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a very important tool for studying both the epidemiology and clinical effects of snake bite in man. For epidemiology ELISA depends on the development and persistence of specific humoral venom antibody in previous snake bite victims. In the Nigerian savanna 63% of previous bite victims possessed specific venom antibodies against Echis carinatus venom; in Ecuador, where there is a 5% annual mortality due to snake bite in a population of Waorani Indians, venom antibodies against a wide range of different venoms were identified in previous bite victims using ELISA. In certain areas it is often not possible, using the symptoms of envenoming, to determine which species of snake has bitten the patient. Field studies using ELISA in Nigeria and Thailand have been successful in establishing the species responsible for envenoming. Current studies are in progress on the development of a rapid immunoassay which should be capable of detecting the biting species within 5-10 min of sampling from the admission patient. This will be useful for the clinician as it will enable the rapid detection of the species responsible for envenoming and, therefore, the use of the correct antivenom. Experimental work on the development of new methods of antivenom production includes immunization of experimental animals with venom/liposome preparations, the preparation of venom antigens using monoclonal antibodies on affinity columns, and recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid technology. Liposomal immunization requires only a single injection of venom to obtain a rapid, high level and protective immune response. Venom liposomes may also be given orally resulting in a serum immunoglobulin G immune response in experimental animals. Use of such a system may eventually result in immunization of man in areas of high snake bite incidence and mortality. PMID- 2617644 TI - Snake venoms in science and clinical medicine. 3. Neuropharmacological aspects of the activity of snake venoms. AB - Neuromuscular weakness is a common feature of snake bite. The toxins responsible for weakness either block neuromuscular transmission or they are myotoxic and damage skeletal muscle. In this article the major classes of toxins responsible for causing neuromuscular weakness are described. It is shown how a detailed knowledge of the biochemical and pharmacological properties of the toxins is essential if the clinical problems associated with bites by many species are to be properly understood. It is also shown that such an understanding allows apparent discrepancies between 'laboratory' and 'clinical' findings to be resolved. PMID- 2617645 TI - A rapid and sensitive method for the identification of Leishmania with monoclonal antibodies using fluorescein-labelled avidin. PMID- 2617646 TI - Atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis in a semiarid region of north-west Costa Rica. PMID- 2617647 TI - Experimental production of new zymodemes of Entamoeba histolytica supports the hypothesis of genetic exchange. AB - By mixing in culture zymodemes of Entamoeba histolytica, clones showing a different pattern from the 2 parents have been obtained on 3 occasions. Two new zymodemes (XI alpha- and XXI) have thus been produced, which belong to the third generation of a family of E. histolytica zymodemes apparently obtained by genetic exchange. A hypothesis for the molecular basis of those exchanges is discussed. We report also the observation of probable mutation. PMID- 2617648 TI - Prevalence of Giardia in dogs and cats in the United Kingdom: survey of an Essex veterinary clinic. PMID- 2617649 TI - The human immune response to defined immunogens of Schistosoma mansoni: elevated antibody levels to paramyosin in stool-negative individuals from two endemic areas in Brazil. AB - Sera from individuals living in 2 areas endemic for Schistosoma mansoni in Minas Gerais, Brazil were assayed for the presence of antibodies against paramyosin and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), molecules previously implicated as vaccine immunogens from studies in laboratory hosts. A group was identified consisting of subjects who were stool-negative and had no record of previous infection but who were seropositive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against crude adult worm antigen (SWAP). These individuals had anti-paramyosin antibody levels which were dramatically elevated with respect to those measured in infected (stool-positive) individuals living in the same endemic area. In contrast, the same 2 groups of stool-positive and stool-negative subjects could not be distinguished on the basis of their seroreactivity to either GST or SWAP. After chemotherapy, anti paramyosin antibodies rose above pre-treatment levels and remained elevated in those individuals who became stool-negative. In contrast, anti-paramyosin antibodies decreased to pretreatment values in drug-treated individuals who failed to show complete parasitological cure. These results suggest that the immune response of humans to paramyosin may play a role in natural resistance to schistosome infection, and that an elevated antibody level against this antigen may be a useful correlate of drug-induced cure. PMID- 2617650 TI - Preliminary observations on Schistosoma curassoni Brumpt, 1931 in Niger. PMID- 2617651 TI - Praziquantel and Fasciola hepatica infection. PMID- 2617652 TI - Geohelminth infection of children from rural plantations and urban slums in Malaysia. AB - This study compares levels of geohelminth infection in children living in rural estates and urban slum areas of Malaysia. The statistical characteristics of geohelminth infection in 1499 children from birth up to 15 years of age, living in rural estates, were analysed according to age, sex and ethnic origin and compared with the same statistics for 1574 slum-dwelling children of similar age groups and ethnic origins. The prevalence and intensity of ascariasis and trichuriasis were significantly higher among children from the urban slums. Slum dwelling ethnic Indians and Malays had higher levels of infection with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura than their rural counterparts, but the infection status of the ethnic Chinese in the 2 areas was similar. Hookworm infection was similar in both areas, indicating that hookworm infection is neither necessarily nor solely a rural disease. These results suggest that urban slum children are at greater risk of ascariasis and trichuriasis than their rural counterparts. PMID- 2617653 TI - Towards a filariasis-free community: evaluation of filariasis control over an eleven year period in Flores, Indonesia. AB - A population of 202 residents in an area endemic for Brugia timori lymphatic filariasis was treated in a diethylcarbamazine control programme commencing in 1977. All individuals were treated twice with diethylcarbamazine on a mass basis with additional selected treatment for cases with manifestations of infection. Clinical features of lymphatic filariasis were recorded annually until 1982, and the population re-assessed in 1988, six years after the completion of chemotherapy. Microfilarial counts were made on each occasion, and circulating filarial antigen levels measured for 1982 and 1988. The results showed a dramatic and sustained reduction in the rate of elephantiasis and adenolymphangitic disease, and of circulating antigenaemia, and the prevalence of microfilaraemia was reduced to zero by the end of the study. PMID- 2617654 TI - Carriage of Haemophilus influenzae in healthy Gambian children. AB - 1240 throat samples were processed during different seasons in 11 different communities of The Gambia (West Africa). The carriage rate for Haemophilus influenzae type b ranged from 0 to 33%, but often attained 10% or more, higher than that reported from other open communities. The duration of carriage was short (less than 3 months) and H. influenzae b was found in only 10% of the carriers isolated during the previous or the following survey. Children less than 5 years old carried H. influenzae b in their throat significantly more often than children older than 14 years (P less than 0.05). A high carriage rate did not correlate with the wet or dry season. The carriage rate of children in rural areas was similar to that of children in urban areas. Children in day-care centres or nurseries had a surprisingly low carriage rate (2%). The carriage rate of H. influenzae b was compared to the presence of H. influenzae subspecies in a random sample, which revealed that H. influenzae subspecies was found in 90% of the children under 5 years old. Encapsulated strains of H. influenzae were found in 25% of the same sample, two-thirds of which were not type b. All capsule types were represented. No meningitis cases occurred in the survey populations. We conclude that the prevalence of H. influenzae b in open Gambian communities is similar to that in closed communities elsewhere, but that the kinetics are different from those in closed communities, as persistence of infection in Gambian children is short-lived. PMID- 2617655 TI - Comparative trial of erythromycin and sulphatrimethoprim in the treatment of tetracycline-resistant Vibrio cholerae O1. AB - The efficacy of the 2 antimicrobial compounds, erythromycin and trimethoprim sulphamethoxazole, were compared in the treatment of the clinical symptoms of cholera and the eradication of Vibrio cholerae O1 organisms from the stools of patients infected with tetracycline-resistant strains. 47 patients with a clinical diagnosis of cholera, without prior antibiotic therapy, were included in the trial and received either erythromycin, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, or a placebo twice daily. The mean number of vibrios per gram of stool decreased from 5.2 x 10(8) +/- 0.3 per ml to 0 within 36 h of admission following either erythromycin or trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole therapy, while organisms persisted in placebo-treated controls for more than 7 d. Clinically there was a significant reduction in the number of diarrhoeal stools per day and duration of diarrhoea in the erythromycin-treated group compared with the placebo-treated controls. During the study an isolate resistant to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole but sensitive to erythromycin was obtained. As an adjunct to oral rehydration therapy, erythromycin may serve as an effective alternative treatment for cholera, especially in areas where trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole resistance may be emerging. PMID- 2617656 TI - Depletion of hepatic glycogen in the hypoglycaemia of fatal childhood diarrhoeal illnesses. AB - To determine whether depletion of liver glycogen or accumulation of liver fat (steatosis) was associated with the development of hypoglycaemia in children with fatal diarrhoeal illnesses, a case-control study was carried out comparing 17 children who had blood sugars less than or equal to 30 mg/dl with 17 age matched control children who had blood sugars greater than or equal to 59 mg/dl. The most common causes of diarrhoea in the hypoglycaemic children were Shigella sp. and Vibrio cholerae. The mean duration of diarrhoea before admission for the hypoglycaemic children, 7.8 d, was shorter than the 20.7 d for the controls (P less than 0.01). Most children in both groups showed signs of malnutrition, metabolic acidosis, and pneumonia. Liver specimens were obtained at post-mortem examination and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for general assessment and with periodic acid-Schiff stain for glycogen. Glycogen depletion was detected in 9 hypoglycaemic children and in only 3 control children (P less than 0.05). Hepatic steatosis, on the other hand, occurred with equal frequency in both groups but was associated with severe malnutrition in the hypoglycaemic patients (P less than 0.05). This result suggested that hypoglycaemia develops during acute diarrhoeal illnesses because gluconeogenesis fails to maintain the blood sugar concentration after depletion of liver glycogen. Frequent feeding of children with diarrhoea might help to prevent this complication. PMID- 2617657 TI - Low prevalence of neuro-psychiatric clinical manifestations in central African patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. AB - In order to evaluate the frequency of neurological and psychiatric disorders in central African patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), 93 inpatients at the National Hospital Centre of Bangui were selected according to the World Health Organization (Bangui) clinical definition of AIDS and were confirmed to be serologically positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 (92/93) or HIV 2 (1/93) by Western blot. Neurological (11/15) and psychiatric (4/15) abnormalities were clinically detected in 16% (15/93) of African patients with AIDS. In this series, the prevalence of neuro-psychiatric disorders appeared to be lower than in Europe and North America. PMID- 2617658 TI - Prevalence of antibodies against measles virus in Tripoli, The Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. AB - A compulsory immunization policy against measles was introduced in the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in 1972. Data are presented to show that a decreased incidence of measles followed this programme. Nevertheless, measles epidemics still occur and the serological status of the population has, therefore, been examined. In the area of Tripoli, measles haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibodies were found at a titre of greater than or equal to 1:10 in 97% of the adult population, and in 78%, 100% and 97.1% of schoolchildren of primary, preparatory and secondary schools respectively. The relatively high HI titres observed, particularly in adults, imply that antigenic restimulation of antibody against measles occurs and thus that coverage by immunization remains inadequate. Increased efforts to improve immunization coverage at an early age are recommended. PMID- 2617659 TI - Stings by red scorpions (Buthotus tamulus) in Maharashtra State, India: a clinical study. AB - Of 33 cases of scorpion sting admitted to hospital in Mahad, Maharashtra State, India, 10 had a mean blood pressure between 100 and 137 mm/Hg and 11 had a heart rate between 130 and 215 per min. Seven patients developed acute pulmonary oedema; there were 2 deaths. Three patients had local pain at the site of sting. The role of vasodilators such as prazosin hydrochloride, sodium nitroprusside and nifedipine were investigated in addition to digoxin, diuretics and aminophylline to alleviate refractory myocardial failure due to scorpion sting. PMID- 2617660 TI - Subtypes of muscarinic receptors IV. Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Subtypes of Muscarinic Receptors. 20-22 July 1989, Wiesbaden, FRG. PMID- 2617661 TI - This and that: chocolate addiction, the dual pharmacogenetics of asparagus eaters, and the arithmetic of freedom. PMID- 2617662 TI - Reading the SIGNS in drug names. PMID- 2617663 TI - Tolls are inadequate to investigate ACh-DA controversy. PMID- 2617664 TI - Nicotinic involvement in ACh-DA interaction? PMID- 2617665 TI - Pharmacological manipulation of diacylglycerol-dependent protein kinase C. PMID- 2617666 TI - Molecular biological techniques make an impact on medicinal chemistry. PMID- 2617667 TI - MOM: a computer program for the automatic calculation of statistical moments in pharmacokinetic studies. PMID- 2617668 TI - SIGNS: new rules should not add to confusion. Identification system for stereoisomeric drugs. PMID- 2617669 TI - [The ultrastructure of the spines on serial sections of the rat cerebral cortex]. AB - Electron microscopy was used for studying in detail the structure of dendritic spines of cortical neurons in layer III of the rat's sensomotor cortex. It is found that the electron-dense substance between the cisterns of the spine apparatus consists of orderly arranged fibrillae. Serial sections allowed to follow the changes in the spine apparatus, in the curvature and intermittent character of the synapse active zone, as well as the connection between the cisterns of the spine apparatus, and between these and other membrane structures of the spine. The correlation is shown between the dendrite diameter and the shape and size of the spine. PMID- 2617670 TI - [The characteristics of the morphofunctional organization of the lampbrush chromosomes from the oocytes of the rock dove]. AB - Nuclei and chromosomes isolated from growing oocytes of the pigeon C. livia have been studied by light microscope techniques. The pigeon chromosomes in diplotene assume a lampbrush form with a well expressed chromomere-loop organization. The lampbrush chromosomes (LC) with most extended lateral loops were observed in the oocytes 0.5-1.5 mm in diameter. A mean loop contour length on the preparations from oocytes of such a diameter varied within 11-16 mkm. A comparison of the pigeon LC with those of representatives of the order Galliformes described earlier (domestic fowl and Japanese quail) revealed essential differences. The LC of the pigeon are longer than those of the domestic fowl or Japanese quail. This fact well compares with the differences in DNA contents in the genomes of these species (haploid DNA quantities in genomes of the pigeon and the fowls are 1.9 and 1.2 pg, respectively). A specific feature of the pigeon LC is an even distribution of lateral loops along the chromosomal length. The central parts of the bivalents have a chromomere-loop organization typical of LC, but no chromomeres were observed, and the lateral loops were absent in the prolonged terminal regions. These regions are likely to be transcriptionally inactive. A specific structures of different types form on the pigeon LC. There are no such structures on the LC of Galliformes. Taking into account relative lengths of the chromosomes, the number and distribution of chiasmata, the location of the marked structures, an attempt was made to identify the macrobivalents of the pigeon, including the sex Z/W-bivalent. PMID- 2617671 TI - [The correlation between the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges and the kinetics of human lymphocyte proliferation: the dependence on the sex of the donor]. AB - Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and average generation time (AGT) were studied in lymphocytes from 35 donors (23 females and 12 males). A higher SCE frequency was found in lymphocytes from females than from males. Smoking increased SCE frequency in lymphocytes of males, but not of females. No differences in AGTs between males and females were found. Partial correlation coefficients between SCE frequency, AGT values, donor's age and smoking were determined. A statistically significant correlation (r = 0.650, P less than 0.01) between SCE frequency and AGT was found in lymphocytes obtained from females. In lymphocytes from males statistically significant partial correlation coefficients were detected between SCE frequency and AGT (r = -0.696, P less than 0.05), SCE frequency and donor's age (r = 0.770, P less than 0.01), SCE frequency and smoking intensity (r = 0.697, P less than 0.01), AGT value and donor's age (r = 0.882, P less than 0.01), and AGT value and smoking (r = 0.634, P less than 0.05). Thus, considerable differences in number of indices between males and females exist. The present observations together with other studies (D'Souza et al., 1988) suggest that considerations for population monitoring using cytogenetic techniques (ICPEMC Publication No 14) may be supplemented with the recommendation to use (whenever it possible) only males as donors in population studies. PMID- 2617672 TI - [The capping of receptors for the epidermal growth factor and the participation of the cytoskeleton in this process in A-431 cells]. AB - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor capping results from the interaction between the receptors and polyvalent ligands in A-431 cells examined in suspension at 22 degrees C. Colocalization of actin and spectrin with the ligand receptor complexes during the redistribution was shown using double immunofluorescence. The obtained data show that the cortical microfilaments are involved in capping. EGF receptors become associated with the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton as a consequence of ligand binding. EGF-receptor capping is not sensitive to the action of cytochalasin B. Capping in A-431 cells is discussed as a new model for studying the redistribution of the ligand-receptor complex. PMID- 2617673 TI - [Telomeric fusion of the chromosomes in cells with micronuclei during the subsequent incorporation into the DNA of thymidine halogenated analogs]. AB - As was shown elsewhere among halogenated analogs of thymidine there exist strong (5-chlorodeoxyuridine, 5-ChldU) and weak (5-iododeoxyuridine, 5-IdU) inducers of dicentric chromosomes in cells with micronuclei. Since from colcemid administration to the moment of fixation two cycles of replication are passed, a study was made of the pattern of induction of dicentric chromosomes under subsequent administration of 5-ChldU and 5-IdU, and the other way round. It was shown that the pattern of induction of dicentric chromosomes was strong or weak, and depended on the fact which analog was administered in the first S-period. PMID- 2617674 TI - [The digital processing of the images in x-ray microanalysis]. AB - Image analysis of X-ray microanalytical maps of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, chloride and calcium was carried out on the IBAS image analysis system (OPTON, FRG). In the present work, algorithms were developed for getting a new semiquantitative information from the binary images of maps: the element profile on the chosen line, the isoconcentration mapping and the multiple elemental mapping. It is possible to get as many as eight different elemental maps on the same image (with 8-bit resolution of pixel) and to extract the pixels with element overlappings. PMID- 2617675 TI - Effect of treatment of chronic theileriosis with buparvaquone on milk yields. AB - Chronic, undulating Theileria annulata infection was diagnosed as the cause of severely depressed milk yields in a herd of 44 Friesian cows in Egypt. The herd was divided at random into two groups of 22; one group was injected intramuscularly with a single dose of the experimental antitheilerial drug, buparvaquone, while the other remained untreated. Over the subsequent seven weeks milk yield in the treated group increased to double that of the untreated group (P less than 0.05). Pyrexia was controlled within two days of injection of buparvaquone and piroplasm parasitaemia was eliminated in one week. It is suggested that treatment of dairy cattle chronically infected with T. annulata using buparvaquone may have the dual beneficial effect of reducing the pathogenic effects of theileriosis, thereby permitting restoration of an impaired immune system, thus increasing resistance to other infections. If a similar effect could be produced in Bos indicus cattle in T. annulata endemic areas, treatment of indigenous cattle with buparvaquone could be a useful alternative to the introduction of Bos taurus blood as a way of boosting milk production. PMID- 2617676 TI - Efficacy of RM110, a novel trypanocide, in the treatment of Trypanosoma evansi infections in camels. AB - Camels artificially infected with a field stock of Trypanosoma evansi isolated from a camel near Gewane, Ethiopia were cured by treatment with RM110, administered by subcutaneous injection at 0.3 or 0.6 mg/kg body weight. Local reactions were mild and transient. Further evaluation of RM110 is indicated, in particular the determination of minimum curative doses for this and other T. evansi stocks in camels. PMID- 2617677 TI - Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Saudi Arabia. PMID- 2617678 TI - New media for the isolation of Dermatophilus congolensis. PMID- 2617679 TI - Occurrence of caprine arthritis-encephalitis in Mozambique. PMID- 2617680 TI - Trypanosome infection rate of Glossina morsitans submorsitans in Bahr El Arab, South Darfur Province, Sudan. AB - Trypanosome infection rate of Glossina morsitans submorsitans in Bahr El Arab fly belt, Sudan was investigated in four areas using fly rounds with screen and bait animals together with traps during the dry season February to May 1985. The overall infection rate of tests flies captured in the four areas was 5.1%. The infection rate of vivax group trypanosomes comprised 64.7% of total infections, congolense group 31.2% and brucei group trypanosomes 3.9%: 27.3% of the vivax and 31.3% of the congolense were immature trypanosome infections. Mixed trypanosome infections were encountered in a few flies. Trypanosome infection rate of flies differed with the sampling technique employed. A linear positive correlation existed between the physiological age of males and their trypanosome infection rates. PMID- 2617681 TI - Gastro-intestinal helminths of camels in Nigeria. PMID- 2617682 TI - Non-conventional indigenous mineral supplements used for cattle feeding in the pastoral rangelands of Ethiopia. AB - Salt licks, soil licks and well waters from various parts of Ethiopia used by pastoral nomads for cattle feeding were sampled and assessed for composition and quality. Most of the licks were alkaline and had low solubility both in water and acid. All the salt licks and some of the soil licks contained a considerable amount of sodium and these could constitute a reasonable and cheap source of the element. Except for iron which had a concentration in most of the supplements much in excess of requirements the rest of the essential elements assayed occurred in the licks in quantities too small to satisfy estimated requirements of cattle. This particularly applied to phosphorus and copper which are below critical ranges in the pastures of the region. The excessive amount of Fe could have an antagonistic effect on P and Cu. The well waters contained elements in safe limits but water from Medecho contained total soluble salts exceeding safe limits. Except as sources of Na the licks especially soil licks can be considered unsatisfactory sources of other essential minerals. The widespread use of soil licks in the region should be discouraged until thorough assessment has been done since these licks may have deleterious direct and indirect effects on performance of cattle. PMID- 2617683 TI - Infertility and disease surveillance using a milk recording scheme in the Sahiwal district of Pakistan. AB - Milk recording was initiated in 1980 in the Sahiwal district of the Punjab province in Pakistan with the aim of identifying superior cattle and buffalo cows. The paper describes how the recording scheme with some modification was utilised to obtain accurate information about production parameters, reproductive traits, blood mineral contents and the prevalence of certain diseases. The main findings indicate that the calving interval in cattle is even higher than previously estimated (22.3 months), that phosphorus and copper deficiency is widespread in the area and that reproductive diseases are not a major factor in infertility. It is concluded that the low reproductive efficiency among cattle and buffaloes in the Sahiwal district is due mainly to phosphorus and copper deficiency accompanied by a low level of feeding and management. PMID- 2617684 TI - Reduced work output of well-fed buffaloes pulling carts on the Terai in east Nepal. PMID- 2617685 TI - Growth pattern of desi (indigenous) and crossbred chicks under rural scavenging conditions. PMID- 2617686 TI - Tuberculosis control in refugee settlements. AB - Tuberculosis and its management in refugees and other displaced persons in temporary settlements poses a challenge to organisations coordinating and providing care in refugee emergencies. This paper offers a consensus of the co sponsoring agencies on practical recommendations for implementing measures aimed at both interrupting transmission of tuberculosis and treatment of individual patients. PMID- 2617687 TI - Pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium gordonae. AB - A case of pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium gordonae is described. The micro-organism showed atypical biochemical characteristics. PMID- 2617688 TI - Abdominal tuberculosis in pregnancy. AB - Two patients are described who presented with abdominal tuberculous ascites and hepatomegaly, one in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy who aborted and the other in the post partum period following a normal delivery. Both patients responded to anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy. PMID- 2617689 TI - Attempted suicide following treatment with isoniazid. AB - A patient is reported who developed mild depression 35 days after isoniazid administration and attempted to commit suicide four days after the onset of the psychosis. PMID- 2617690 TI - The treatment of tuberculous meningitis. PMID- 2617691 TI - Tuberculin survey among Afghan refugee children. Tuberculosis control programme among Afghan refugees in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Pakistan. AB - Since 1982 over 2 million Afghan refugees have settled in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. Socio-economical factors, sudden urbanisation and psychological stress may influence the pattern of tuberculosis morbidity and infection among refugees as compared with the original population. In order to study the prevalence of tuberculous infection among Afghan children a tuberculin survey was carried out in April and May 1985 on a cluster sample of male children attending the first two grades of primary schools in refugee camps in the NWFP. The sample size was 4108 male children with an average age of 8 years. 1358 of them, average age of 7.8 years, had not been vaccinated with BCG. An infection prevalence of 13.8% was found when using a transverse diameter of 10 mm induration or more for the tuberculin test as the criterion for infection. The findings were compared with the results of a national sample survey carried out in Afghanistan in 1978: a downward trend of the annual risk of infection (ARI) of 7.8% per year was found in children of the same age group. Thus, Afghan children living in refugee camps in NWFP showed a lower ARI than was observed in their homeland 7 years earlier. PMID- 2617692 TI - Isoniazid-related hepatotoxicity: a study of the effect of rifampicin administration on the metabolism of acetylisoniazid in man. AB - It has been proposed that isoniazid-induced hepatotoxicity may be increased by concomitant rifampicin treatment and that this could be mediated by inducing the metabolism of the isoniazid metabolite monoacetylhydrazine to potent acylating agents capable of causing liver necrosis. To investigate this postulated mechanism we studied the kinetics of the metabolism of acetylisoniazid in a slow and a rapid acetylator prior to and after rifampicin administration. Pretreatment with rifampicin did not modify the metabolism of acetylisoniazid to any noteworthy extent nor did it increase the metabolism by non-acetylation routes of the monoacetylhydrazine liberated in vivo from acetylisoniazid. PMID- 2617693 TI - Tuberculosis in British Columbia among immigrants from five Asian countries, 1982 85. AB - The influence of immigration from six selected Asian countries--Japan, Korea, Philippines, India, China and Hong Kong--on the incidence of tuberculosis in British Columbia has been examined. During the period 1982-1985 the average annual incidence of bacillary tuberculosis in these immigrants was more than six times as great as the overall British Columbia rate and contributed a quarter of the cases of active bacillary tuberculosis in this province whereas the immigrants from these countries represented only 3.7% of the total population. The clinical patterns of active tuberculosis by birthplace were analysed. A high proportion of cases of lymphadenitis was seen among all immigrants from Asia, particularly those from the Philippines. Both primary and secondary drug resistance was substantially higher than in Canadian-born patients. The frequency of primary drug resistance was higher among patients aged less than 40 years than those aged 40 or more. PMID- 2617694 TI - Tuberculin sensitivity and an interaction of leucocyte and plasma factors involving fibrinogen. AB - Lysates of blood leucocytes from strong tuberculin-positive reactors contained smaller particles of insoluble protein-rich material than did similar preparations from negative donors. The phenomenon was dependent on the presence of small quantities of plasma in the original leucocyte suspensions: when this was removed or replaced by serum both groups of donors produced particles of the smaller size. When the experiments were repeated in the presence of 125I fibrinogen, larger particle size was found to be associated with an increased proportion of radioactivity becoming firmly bound to the insoluble material. These findings are likely to reflect differences in the levels of procoagulant, proteolytic enzymes or associated activities in the cells or plasma of the two groups. PMID- 2617695 TI - Ethambutol-induced thrombocytopaenia. AB - A rare case of thrombocytopaenia induced by ethambutol is reported. The patient developed widespread purpura 6 days after starting chemotherapy. PMID- 2617696 TI - Tuberculous polyradiculopathy: the value of magnetic resonance imaging of the neck. AB - A case of tuberculosis of the cervical spine with polyradiculopathy is described. The patient had musculo-skeletal symptoms for 2 years prior to developing a tuberculous pleural effusion. Magnetic resonance imaging in both sagittal and coronal planes accurately delineated the cervical lesion, demonstrating the value of this technique in the investigation of epidural sepsis in the neck. PMID- 2617697 TI - Mycobacterium simiae as a cause of intra-abdominal disease: a case report. AB - A case of intra-abdominal disease caused by Mycobacterium simiae in a Nepalese adult female is reported. She was treated successfully with combination chemotherapy, despite multiple drug resistance in vitro. PMID- 2617698 TI - Smoking in Italy, 1986-1987. AB - Smoking trends and patterns in Italy were evaluated using data from the 1986-87 Italian National Health Survey, based on a sample of 30,096 males and 32,176 females aged 15 or over, randomly selected within strata of geographical areas and sizes of the place of residence and of the household in order to be representative of the whole Italian population: 40.8% of Italian males and 17.3% of females described themselves as current smokers (overall estimated prevalence, 28.6%). In comparison with previous survey-based data, self-reported smoking prevalence in males has been steadily decreasing over the last three decades, whereas rates in females have been increasing up to the early 1980s, and have shown a levelling off only in more recent years. The apparent declines in self reported smoking, however, were not reflected in official sales figures. In fact, in the mid 1980s, there were simultaneously the lowest overall prevalence of the last three decades and the highest sales figures ever reported. The inter-sex differences in smoking prevalence were smaller at younger ages. Education, but not occupation as a measure of social class, was inversely related to smoking prevalence in males. Furthermore, rates for males were lower in the northern (and richer) part of the country. The pattern was totally different in females, since smoking prevalence was higher in more educated women, of higher social class, living in North Italy. This suggests that, in the absence of adequate measures, smoking prevalence is likely to rise among Italian women in the near future. Continued monitoring of smoking patterns gives important information with which to identify the most likely future patterns in smoking and smoking-related diseases, besides providing data for targeting intervention programs. PMID- 2617699 TI - The rat model in the comparative evaluation of anthracyclines cardiotoxicity. AB - In the present investigation, the cardiotoxic effects of three anthracycline analogs (doxorubicin, 4'-epi-doxorubicin and 4'-deoxy-doxorubicin) were compared. For this purpose, 9.0 mg/kg of doxorubicin, divided into three closely spaced subdoses, were injected intravenously in rats. The two derivatives were administered according to the same time schedule and their doses were chosen on the basis of the clinically adopted ratio, doxorubicin: 4'-epidoxorubicin: 4' deoxy-doxorubicin = 1:1:0.5. The degree of cardiomyopathy induced by the three anthracyclines was evaluated by ECG changes and morphological alterations. Doxorubicin was found to produce a significant degree of cardiotoxicity, thus confirming the validity of the experimental model adopted. Both 4'-substituted derivatives proved to be less cardiotoxic than the parent compound, although not completely devoid of this side effect. PMID- 2617700 TI - Variability of euchromatic and heterochromatic regions of Y chromosome in two types of cancer patients. AB - Heteromorphism of Y chromosome was studied in head and neck cancer patients and leukemia patients. The results were compared with similar data obtained for healthy men. It was observed that, compared to the controls, mean lengths of Y chromosome were nonsignificantly higher for leukemia patients and lower for head and neck cancer patients. The euchromatic region of Y chromosome (Y-eu) remained comparable in the controls and the leukemia patients, whereas it was smaller in patients with head and neck malignancies. The heterochromatic region (Y-het) was more or less analogous in controls and head and neck cancer patients, however, it was significantly larger in patients with leukemia (P less than 0.02). PMID- 2617701 TI - Immunohistochemical investigation of axillary lymph nodes for micrometastases in patients with breast cancer using E29. AB - The axillary lymph nodes from 31 mammary carcinoma patients who had undergone radical mastectomy and were negative for metastases at routine histologic examination of hilar sections, were investigated with E29, an anti-epithelial monoclonal antibody, to detect the presence of neoplastic epithelial cells. In 4 of 433 lymph nodes examined (0.9%) this antibody revealed the presence of epithelial metastatic foci which had not been observed at routine histological examination or interpreted as histiocytes. The 4 lymph nodes belonged to 4 different patients. PMID- 2617702 TI - Exacerbation of metastatic disease shortly after administration of tamoxifen in ER negative advanced breast carcinoma. A case report. AB - In a patient with long untreated slow-growing osteoblastic bone metastases from an ER/PgR negative breast carcinoma, new metastatic sites in many lymphnodes pleura and massively in liver have been observed 4 weeks after receiving tamoxifen. Cause-effect relationship between administration of the drug and this unusually rapid spreading of the disease may be considered only as a hypothesis, as it is based wholly on clinical outcome. However, reporting of any exacerbation of breast cancer apparently induced by tamoxifen, even if only anecdotal, is advisable. PMID- 2617703 TI - Fine needle aspiration biopsy: its use in the management of orbital and intraocular tumors. AB - In the management of 29 patients by needle aspiration biopsy, a 100% accuracy was obtained in the diagnosis of intra- and extra-bulbar orbital lesions. The technique did not produce any important traumatic complications; there was moderate subconjunctival hemorrhagic suffusion, which spontaneously resolved. The technique proved to be positive in the diagnostic approach to lesions with a difficult access. Its importance in the choice of treatment is discussed, and its effect on the prognosis of intra-ocular tumors is emphasized. It can indeed give specific indications for early treatment of malignant lesions and avoid radical surgery of pseudo-neoplastic benign lesions. As in other sites, the technique is reliable if it is applied in cooperation with an experienced pathologist. It is simple and rapid, inexpensive and well accepted by patients more than other invasive diagnostic procedures. PMID- 2617704 TI - Analysis of 16 patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: implications for treatment. AB - The present paper reports a retrospective analysis of 16 patients with distant metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck observed in our Institute in the last 10 years. Nine patients out of 16 underwent chemotherapy (7 patients), chemotherapy and radiotherapy (1 patient), or an alternating chemo radiotherapy regimen (1 patient). The remaining 7 patients were not considered for a palliative treatment because of a poor performance status. Two complete responses, 2 partial responses, 2 stable diseases and 3 progressions were observed, with an overall response rate of 44%. Chemotherapy, when administrable, showed a temporary effectiveness, at least in patients with lung metastases. The combination of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil seems to maintain the efficacy already shown in patients with locally relapsed disease. PMID- 2617705 TI - Chemo-radiotherapeutic management of advanced head and neck cancer. AB - Stage III and IV head and neck cancer patients usually achieve poor therapeutic results after radiotherapy. The search for more effective treatment modalities is justified, provided that tolerance is not lower than that of the usual radiation therapy schedules. Chemotherapy has been shown to be effective, and cis-platinum and bleomycin based treatments are reported to result in objective remissions in a substantial proportion of cases. There is also experimental evidence of a radiosensitizing activity of cis-platinum. Thirty-five locally advanced head and neck cancer patients were given combined chemo-radiotherapeutic treatment consisting of a cis-platinum and bleomycin induction followed by a standard radiotherapy course integrated with weekly administrations of cis-platinum. Before radiotherapy, an overall 48.5% objective remission rate was achieved, that rose to 85.8% after completion of the entire treatment, with a 31.5% complete response rate. Incidence and severity of radiation mucositis seem not to be increased, and systemic toxicity is very low, with the adopted drug administration schedule. Overall results do not show any obvious superiority over those of radiotherapy alone. PMID- 2617706 TI - Changing patterns in gastric carcinoma. AB - In order to document any modifications in age and sex distributions, tumor locations and histological types, a retrospective study was performed comparing 377 consecutive cases of gastric cancers observed from 1942 to 1956 with 359 cases diagnosed from 1986 to 1987. The mean age at diagnosis rose from 57 to 66 years with no significant male/female ratio variations (1.6 vs 1.7). Tumors located in the proximal stomach increased from 13 to 23% (p less than 0.001) whereas those arising in the distal stomach decreased from 66 to 50% (p less than 0.001). Intestinal type gastric carcinoma decreased from 65.6 to 52.6% (p less than 0.001). The diffuse type rose from 24 to 43% (p less than 0.001) and the mucoid type fell from 10.3 to 4.4% (p less than 0.001). In spite of the overall decline in intestinal type carcinomas, this form remained more common in the upper third area and increased from 55 to 70% (p less than 0.001). Significant modifications in the distribution of diffuse, mucoid and signet ring cell type carcinomas were also noted. The possible significance and implications of these observations are discussed. PMID- 2617707 TI - The role of induction chemotherapy in inoperable ovarian cancer. AB - Thirty patients with bulky advanced ovarian cancer surgically not resectable, received combination chemotherapy (median of 4.1 cycles; range, 3-7) including cisplatin or carboplatin, followed by a second surgical effort. Clinical CR + PR was observed in 24/30 (80%) patients after chemotherapy. Our study deals only with these 24 patients, and the 6 patients who did not respond to chemotherapy are not part of this report. At debulking, 7/24 (29.1%) patients had a complete macroscopic resection; 9/24 (37.5%) patients had a partial resection (residual tumor less than 2 cm). These data suggest that debulking is feasible and successful after chemotherapy containing cisplatin or its derivative. Overall median survival from diagnosis was 18.9 months; the 3-year survival rate was 28%. Median progression-free survival from diagnosis was 13.5 months. The results observed in our study indicate that the use of induction chemotherapy can play an important role in increasing the chances of optimal debulking in patients presenting with unresectable ovarian cancer. PMID- 2617708 TI - An attempt to increase compliance to cervical cancer screening through general practitioners. AB - The authors report the results of a campaign aimed at increasing compliance to cervical cancer screening by promoting general practitioners' (GPs) cooperation. Different types of intervention were tested, namely mailing lists of non responders to the GP, visiting the GP at the office, or both. No active intervention was made in a sample of GPs who served as a control group. Overall 288 GPs assisting 75,853 women aged 25 to 59 were enrolled in the study. Compliance before and after the campaign was studied and the association between compliance and different variables such as age, residence and type of intervention was tested by univariate and multivariate analysis. The proportion of previous non responders who performed a Pap test after the campaign was 6.7%, the response being dependent on age (25-29 = 11.5%, 30-39 = 8.8%, 40-49 = 6.5%, 50-59 = 4.2%) and place of residence (urban = 7.2%, suburban = 5.9%, rural = 4.0%). Compliance was better in the case of the active campaign (list mailing = 8.3%, visit = 7.0%, list + visit = 7.2%) with respect to controls (2.9%) although no significant differences were detected between different types of active intervention. Compliance to cervical cancer screening may be increased by promoting GPs cooperation but the benefit is limited. Mailing lists of non responders was found the most cost effective policy in this study. PMID- 2617709 TI - Comparison of home and hospital care of advanced cancer patients. AB - Treatment and care of terminal cancer patients are conducted in different ways, according to the cultural, social, political and economical situations of the countries which have progressively adopted and developed them. In Italy there are no specialized structures such as "hospices" or the "palliative care units" like in the Anglo-Saxon world: the care of terminal cancer patients is carried out either in a general hospital or at their own home. In Milan and elsewhere there are home care teams in which doctors, nurses, social workers and volunteers, all work in connection with hospital structures. In this way, patients can receive specialized care for physical, psychological and social problems at home too. To evaluate costs and effectiveness of this program, a comparison was made between the home care and the conventional treatment carried out in general hospitals. Two groups of thirty terminal cancer patients have been studied: the first group was composed of hospital patients in Desio and the second one included patients cared for by the home care service organized by the Floriani Foundation and the Italian League against Cancer (Milan Section). We evaluated intensity and duration of pain, hours of sleep and hours of standing, sitting and lying, presence of side-effects, performance status and therapies. Data were also collected on the quality of life (Spitzer QLI), social and economical needs of the patients, type and quality of care, degree of awareness of the diagnosis by the patient and the family. This data were collected by the nurse who looked after the patient. Care costs were also quantified. The comparison between the two groups significantly favours the home care group as shown by the performance status after 2 weeks of care, the "health scale" and the Total index of the Spitzer QLI and in general the greater satisfaction of the care received. Home care produces results equivalent to those achieved in hospitals as far as clinical parameters are concerned. An approximate quantification of the costs shows that an average cost for a day's home care was about Lit. 52,500 as compared with Lit. 360,000 for a day's hospitalization. PMID- 2617710 TI - Soft tissue metastasis from carcinoma. A case report. AB - The authors report a case of a man who developed soft tissue metastasis to the thigh from pulmonary carcinoma. In the preoperative staging, computerized tomograms and magnetic resonance imaging allowed to identify and characterize the features of soft tissue masses; these studies, however, must be always completed with needle (tru-cut) or incisional biopsy. PMID- 2617711 TI - Recurrence of Hodgkin's disease after a 28-year disease-free interval. A case report. AB - The authors describe a case of nodular-sclerosing Hodgkin's disease, originally observed in clinical stage III B and treated by systemic chemotherapy, with relapse after a 28-year disease-free interval. As far as we know, the length of remission in this case is second only to that of a case recently described by Hung and co-workers. Therefore, although according to data in the literature relapse after a very long disease-free interval is more frequently observed in patients with stage I A and II A disease, it may occur also in cases with symptomatic, widespread disease. This phenomenon, while reflecting the complexity of relations between the different factors (histologic subtype, clinical stage, host vs tumor defenses, therapy, etc.) that variously affect the clinical course and outcome, underlines the need for cautiousness when assessing the ultimate prognosis of individual cases of Hodgkin's disease. PMID- 2617712 TI - Computerized tomography findings of the posterior fossa in children: etiology and clinical correlation. AB - Of 1105 childhood cases who were evaluated by computerized tomography (CT) in a two-year interval, 93 who had posterior fossa abnormalities are reviewed. The cerebellar atrophies, either alone or accompanied by cerebral atrophy, were the most common morphological diagnoses. The clinical picture, etiology, and developmental state of the cases are discussed in relation to the CT findings. PMID- 2617713 TI - Chiari II malformation: computed tomographic evaluation. AB - In this study cranial computed tomographic (CT) features of 28 cases with Chiari II malformation are presented. 26 of these cases had hydrocephalus (92.9%) and the fourth ventricle was either absent or small in 25 (89.3%) of the cases. Caudal displacement of the fourth ventricle was noted in 15 (53.6%) of the cases, and craniolacunia was present in 18 (64.3%) of the cases with seven of them being more than one-year-old (up to 18-years-old). We found CT to be a safe, non invasive and effective method of elucidating the types of abnormalities associated with this disorder. Preoperative computed tomographic evaluation of patients with Chiari II malformation helps to differentiate it from other types of hydrocephalus, thus yielding a change in the operative approach. PMID- 2617714 TI - The incidence of pubertal gynecomastia in boys living in the Ankara region. AB - The incidence of pubertal gynecomastia was determined in 646 Turkish boys in Ankara. A marked increase in the incidence was observed at Pubertal Stage 4 (60.2%) and age 14 years (61.1%). The incidence of gynecomastia during puberty at various pubertal stages and ages was 34.6%. Although the incidence of unilateral gynecomastia was 19.6%; there was no difference between right or left involvement. PMID- 2617715 TI - Leukocyte phagocytosis during cardiopulmonary bypass in adolescents. AB - This study was performed to determine the absolute PMNL count as well as phagocytic functions in adolescents who had undergone CPB; a radioactive method was used for the first time in this field. Although CPB causes a decrease in the absolute PMNL count when the subject is off bypass, this value exceeded the baseline level within three days. A day prior to surgery PMNL phagocytosis was found to be normal and was unaffected within the first minutes on bypass. Whereas, PMNL phagocytosis decreased significantly off bypass. However, the decrease was transient and returned to normal within three days. Another interesting finding obtained as a result of this study was that in the cases in whom the clinical infection picture was seen, the patient had a longer duration on bypass and a higher inhibition of leukocyte phagocytosis. The correlation between the duration on bypass and inhibition of leukocyte phagocytosis could be shown as a trend. Thus it may be concluded that the longer the on bypass period the higher the inhibition of leukocytic phagocytosis and the higher the infection rate in the postoperative period. PMID- 2617716 TI - The effect of D-penicillamine in the developing rat cerebellum. AB - The effect of D-penicillamine (DPA), a copper chelator, on the cerebellar maturation of the offspring of pregnant rats is evaluated. Pups of the mothers which received DPA in a daily dose of 300-400 mg during their last six days of gestation, showed an appreciable decrease in body and cerebellum weights, and cerebellar degenerative changes on histological examination. A postnatal diet DPA free given to lactating mothers appeared to have a significant effect in reversing the cerebellar degenerative changes in their offspring. PMID- 2617717 TI - Effects of verapamil, papaverine, sodium nitrite, and hydralazine on ethyl alcohol-induced contraction of the isolated human umbilical artery. AB - In this in vitro study, the vasodilator effects of certain drugs such as verapamil, papaverine, sodium nitrite and hydralazine on ethyl alcohol-induced contractions were investigated in the isolated human umbilical artery. Ethyl alcohol caused dose dependent contractions in this tissue. Papaverine, sodium nitrite and hydralazine were found to be effective. PMID- 2617718 TI - Urinary tract tuberculosis in a child with Henoch-Schonlein purpura: a case report. AB - A seven-year-old girl is presented, who was previously diagnosed as having Henoch Schonlein vasculitis, and was further evaluated for hypertension. Urograms showed bilateral strictures of the ureter, causing obstruction on the left side. Tuberculosis, our preoperative diagnosis, evidenced by her sterile pyuria and PPD conversion was confirmed by the surgical specimen and treatment was begun. PMID- 2617719 TI - Nifedipine in the treatment of acrodynia. AB - A case of acrodynia in an eight-and-a-half-year-old girl is presented whose symptoms--profuse perspiration, swelling, desquamation, pain, itching of the extremities, pinkish color of the nose and cheeks and hypertension--responded sharply to nifedipine therapy. PMID- 2617720 TI - A foreign body in a four-day-old infant's esophagus: a case of negligence. AB - A foreign body in the esophagus of a four-day-old male baby is presented. Since self-introduction of a foreign body is impossible at this age, the accident was considered to be the result of a form of neglect. PMID- 2617721 TI - May-Hegglin anomaly (a presentation of a family) AB - The May-Hegglin anomaly is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the presence of large, bizarre, cigar-shaped platelets and Dohle bodies in the leukocytes. This rare anomaly was detected in seven members of a family. It is emphasized that in making a differential diagnosis this disorder must be distinguished from the other mild bleeding disorders. PMID- 2617722 TI - Hypernatremia in two collodion babies. AB - Two cases of collodion babies with hypernatremia are presented, and the importance of this electrolyte abnormality in skin disorders is also stressed. PMID- 2617723 TI - The application of the maximum entropy method to electron microscopic tomography. AB - The maximum entropy method has been applied to single axis tilt electron microscopic tomography. Its application requires that the problem be correctly formulated and that the model for the noise in electron micrographs be developed. A suitable noise model was determined empirically. The maximum entropy method was applied to a reconstruction of a test object from projections to which noise had been added. These reconstructions were superior to those obtained by reciprocal space weighted back protection. The method was also robust towards the incorrect specification of the noise, the penalty being an increase in the time required for convergence rather than degradation of the quality of the reconstructed image. In the reconstruction of negatively stained chromatin fibres it was possible to obtain satisfactory images utilizing all the information in the projections, in contrast to conventional methods in which high resolution data are removed by the application of Fourier space filters. PMID- 2617724 TI - Single strand DNA breaks in human leukocytes induced by ultrasound in vitro. AB - Single strand breaks (SSBs) in the DNA of fresh human leukocytes were analyzed after in vitro exposure to ultrasound in an ice bath. The alkaline elution method was used to quantify the frequency of SSBs. Five different ultrasonic exposures were employed: (1) 53 mW/cm2 spatial-peak temporal-average intensity (SPTA), 0.37:100 microseconds pulsed 6.2 MHz ultrasound presumably without cavitation, (2) 470 mW/cm2 (SPTA) continuous 1.7 MHz ultrasound with gas-body activation, which is a form of cavitation lacking in chemical activity, (3) 10.8 W/cm2 (SPTA), 3.0:100 microseconds pulsed 1.48 MHz ultrasound, presumably without cavitation, (4) 161 W/cm2 (SPTA) continuous 1.45 MHz ultrasound with transient cavitation, and (5) 94 W/cm2 (SPTA) continuous 8 MHz ultrasound presumably without cavitation. All of these exposures produced negative results, except (4), which yielded a significantly increased frequency of SSBs relative to sham exposed cells. For this condition, the SSB effect was comparable in magnitude to that of 1 Gy of 60Co gamma-rays, and may have resulted from the chemical activity associated with transient cavitation. The SSBs were detected in cells which remained intact after exposure; however, it is uncertain if any of the ultrasonically-induced SSBs occurred in viable cells. PMID- 2617725 TI - [Corrective osteotomy following peripheral radius fractures. Method and results]. AB - Malunion of distal radius fractures leads, especially in those patients who are manually employed, to functional disability of the hand. Painful impingement on the ulnar side of the wrist results in decreased range of motion in pronation/supination and loss of strength. By reconstructing as precisely as possible the axial and longitudinal relationship of the forearm bones, the desired congruence of the distal radioulnar joint can be achieved, this improving greatly the strength and function of the hand. Indications, point of time, as well as technique in operating will be presented in short form in 42 of our own cases: complications will also be discussed. The roentgenographic and functional results, as well as the subjective evaluation from 33 patients whose operations took place longer than a year ago, before and after the malunion correction, will be listed according to our postoperative examination protocol for radius fractures. In all three parameters positive results could be shown, especially in the patient's subjective analysis. Notice will be taken on the special difficulties in position corrections in cases in which the ulnar side fragment is dislocated. PMID- 2617726 TI - [Perilunar dislocations and dislocation fractures in polytrauma patients- diagnosis and therapy]. AB - Between 1978 and 1987 about 700 multiply injured patients were treated at the Department of Emergency Surgery (University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf). Seven of these suffered from injuries of the wrist, in detail six perilunar dislocations with fractures of the scaphoid and one dislocation of the triquetrum. In six cases the correct diagnosis was found primarily by clinical and X-ray examinations. The real extent of one patient's wrist injury was revealed by control radiograms which were taken twelve weeks after the accident, when the patient was transferred to our hospital. Follow-up examinations were made at an average of 40 months after the injury. We suggest the following procedure in cases of perilunar dislocations: 1. Early closed reduction and prolonged immobilization in casts. 2. In cases where closed reduction cannot be achieved open reduction, pinning (Kirschner-wires) and immobilization should be performed. 3. Fractures of the scaphoid are provided with screws. PMID- 2617727 TI - [Experiences with the locking nail]. AB - In case of clear indication, the locking nail system brings about good results in the treatment of problematic long bone fractures. The indication for primary static locking should be defined in a wide manner. Early loading is possible and is applied by us more and more in not adipose patients with static locking, too. From our point of view, the following factors are some of the drawbacks of the system: bolt loosening due to different causes, the impractical aiming device for distal locking, problems with the lavage of the medullary cavity in case of infection, pains in the knee joint after transcondylar implantation of a Steinmann nail. In case of long bones with narrow medullary cavities (young women) for which the thinnest nail has to be used, slotted nails bear the risk of distortion. PMID- 2617728 TI - [Therapy forms and treatment results of patellar fracture]. AB - Concerning the therapy of fractures of the patella one has to discern between non dislocated fractures being treated conservatively and all other kinds needing an operation. Between 1984 and 1987 172 patients with fractures of the patella were treated at the University Clinic of Traumatologic Surgery in Innsbruck. Transverse and vertical fractures were the majority. 84 patients were operated and most of them by means of tension band wiring principle. After operation patients normally received a plaster for approximately five weeks. Accompanying injuries were observed in several times. In five cases we had to do a reosteosynthesis because of secondary diastasis. One patient with a refracture could finally by cured with conservative methods. PMID- 2617729 TI - [Surgical management of dislocated patellar fractures--therapy and results]. AB - Between 1976 and 1985, 96 patients with 97 fractures of the patella have been operated at the 2nd Department of Trauma Surgery, University of Vienna. According to the radiographs the fractures were classified in nine apical fractures (9.3%), 34 transverse fractures (35.1%), two longitudinal fractures (2.1%), three star like fractures (3.1%), 25 multifragment fractures (25.8%) and 24 comminuted fractures (24.7%). The methods of operation employed are: In 34 patients standard circumferential wiring, in 43 patients tension-band wiring either alone or combined with Kirschner-wires and in 13 patients partial patellectomie. One fracture was fixed with a screw alone. 47 patients with 48 fractures were followed up clinically and radiologically three to nine years postoperatively. The overall results were in 16 cases excellent, in 23 cases fair and in nine cases poor. The possible surgical procedures of the various forms of fractures are discussed referring to their longterm results. PMID- 2617730 TI - [Diagnosis and therapy of chronic rupture of the fibular ligament in children]. AB - 74 children with ruptures of lateral ligaments of the ankle were treated surgically between 1979 to 1986. In ten cases we found chronical ligament changes. In these cases periostal flap modified after Kuner was performed. The follow up of our patients showed good results in all, thus we could show that the periostal flap was effective. As the functional conservative ligament rupture therapy increases the periostal flap plastic in the case of children with chronical ligament changes is indicated. PMID- 2617731 TI - [Florid tuberculosis of the elbow joint synovia]. AB - A spread soft tissue tumour was suspicious to a synovial sarcoma after having diagnosed. But even the terminal histological treatment showed the progressive caseating tuberculosis of the elbow joint synovia. PMID- 2617732 TI - [Local vibrotherapy of patients following telelithotripsy]. AB - Trying to solve an actual problem of enhancing the spontaneous passage of fragments, "calculous trails" and gravel in the patients who underwent remote lithotripsy the authors used the technique of local vibrotherapy in 54 postoperative patients. The technique employed two unique vibrators; lumbar and manual, and the frequencies close to the resonance frequency of the upper urinary tracts. Spontaneous passage of the fragments and "calculous trails" within 30 days was recorded in 48 (89 per cent) of the patients and in 4 (19 per cent) patients out of 21 controls. Postponed local vibrotherapy, the size of the fragments exceeding 1 cm, pelvic dilatation of a compromised kidney exceeding 2 cm were prognostically unfavourable conditions. Therefore, the authors came to the conclusion that in patients with fragments sized more than 1 cm, fragment induced ureteral obstruction of more than 0.8 cm resulting in pelvic dilatation of more than 2 cm, as well as in those whose "calculous trails" consisted of large (0.8 cm) fragments causing ureterohydronephrosis, a repeat remote lithotripsy was indicated. The use of local vibrotherapy in combination with phytotherapeutic agent, nierone in particular, was found to be the most beneficial treatment. Advantage of local vibrotherapy versus the general one was emphasized as was the possibility of its employment both on inpatient and outpatient bases and, in perspective, at home. A favourable combination of local vibrotherapy with other techniques of nephroureterolithiasis conservative treatment advocates for the advisability of its wider implementation into the urological practice. PMID- 2617733 TI - [Ureteroscopy in the treatment of ureteral stones]. PMID- 2617734 TI - [Ureterocutaneostomy. A view of the method today]. AB - The paper presents the authors' opinion of ureterocutaneostomy (UCS) as a technique for the drainage of the urinary tract in case of its obstruction related changes. The opinion was based on the analysis of 12 UCS outcomes. Routine indications to UCS are presented and principal shortcomings of the technique discussed. Topographical and anatomical abnormalities of the retroperitoneal ureter position, a decrease in the functional performance of the ureter result in certain technical difficulties that face the surgeon in the following reconstructive operations. There is a well-known complication of UCS, so-called "dry" urinary bladder, which excludes any further surgical correction in the infravesical part of the urinary tract. Presenting the clinical data and regarding percutaneous paracentetic nephrostomy as an optimum technique for the clinical practice, the authors concluded UCS to be impracticable. PMID- 2617735 TI - [Lipid peroxidation and transmembrane transport in patients with chronic pyelonephritis]. AB - Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and transmembranous transportation were analysed in the red cells of 56 patients with chronic pyelonephritis with regard to the pathologic changes in the membranes. LPO registration was made on the basis of the levels of diene conjugates and Schiff's bases. The activity of enzymes of transmembranous transportation-calcium, magnesium, sodium/potassium pump--was studied. The levels of the LPO markers were found to be tending to an increase in the active stage of the disease and to a decrease in its remission. Though the initial control levels of the markers were not reached. In the active stage of the disease the levels of diene conjugates were 59.66 +/- 6.43 nmol (42.6 +/- 94 nmol/litre in the control) while in the remission they were 22.16 +/- 3.22 a. u. (14.80 +/- 1.06 in the control). The results obtained are indicative of the polymorphism of clinically manifest metabolic changes. In the patients with higher levels of Ca2-ATPase the disease ran more silent than in those in whom the enzymic functional activity were lower. Inadequate activity of enzyme transmembranous transportation revealed in some patients in the course of manifest inflammation was a direct reflection of the failure in the mechanism of adaptation and an evidence of the initially heterogeneous activity (individuality) the enzymes of transmembranous cation transportation. The revealed phenomena contributed to the clinical course of pyelonephritis in a particular person and with regard to pathogenetic mechanisms required an approach to the therapy on an individual basis. PMID- 2617736 TI - [Postoperative lymphotropic antibiotic therapy of urology patients with suppurative-septic complications]. AB - Antibiotic treatment plays an important role in the prevention of pyoseptic complications of urologic surgery. However, conventional treatment results in irregular distribution of the antibiotic agent through the liquid media of the body, the emergence of resistant bacterial strains and lymphostasis, while higher doses increase toxic effect on the kidneys, aggravating the clinical condition. Treatment efficiency has been shown to be dependent on the effective dose of the drug in the inflammation focus, which is achieved through its endolymphatic administration. These techniques, however, are complicated and time-consuming. These shortcomings are avoided when lymphotropic antibiotic treatment (LAT), based on the combination of mechanical action on venous outflow and regional stimulation of lymphogenic absorption, using lymphostimulating effects of hemodilution and heparin, is administered. Some hemostatic parameters were examined in 49 patients (aged 50.4 +/- 7.4 years) following urologic operations. LAT was used in 28 of those. It is shown to provide a better antibiotic saturation of the lymphatic system, as compared to conventional treatment. LAT prevents postoperative pyoseptic complications, reduces 4 to 6-fold the consumption of antibacterial drugs and alleviates their urinary side-effects. Owing to its simplicity and effectiveness, the method can be recommended for wide scale clinical application. PMID- 2617737 TI - [Water and sodium transport in different parts of the nephron in glomerulonephritis patients with nephrotic syndrome]. AB - Altogether 34 patients with the nephrotic syndrome (NS) of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) were studied for lithium clearance (CLi). Eleven patients with edemas were enrolled in group I, 18 subjects without pronounced edemas, in group II. Out of them 7 patients suffered from membrane proliferative glomerulonephritis (group III), 7, from mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (group IV), 4 subjects had focal glomerulosclerosis (group V); chronic renal failure (CRF), stages IIb-IIIa, was diagnosed in 7 patients enlisted in group VI. The control group consisted of 11 virtually healthy persons. On the CLi basis the authors identified the proximal excretory water fraction (EFpH2O), the distal excretory fraction of the water (EFdH2O) and the distal excretory fraction of sodium (EFdNa). The controls demonstrated the mean values of the parameters considered: 16.18 +/- 1.56 ml/min; 19.88 +/- 1.63; 7.19 +/- 1.16 and 4.38 +/- 7.76 per cent, respectively. Decreased CLi was revealed in groups I and II. Versus the controls patients enrolled in group II demonstrated a significant decrease of EFpH2O (11.91 +/- 2.22 per cent; p less than 0.05) and an increase of EFdH2O (16.81 +/- 3.26 per cent; p less than 0.05). A great individual variance of the parameters considered (from 1.32 to 55.63 per cent and from 2.33 to 118 per cent, respectively) hindered to reveal the difference between group I and the controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617738 TI - [The morphofunctional damage to the biomembranes in the lipid peroxidation syndrome in patients with the terminal stage of chronic kidney failure]. AB - A total of 43 patients with a terminal stage of chronic renal failure (TCRF) who were on planned hemodialysis 8-12 hrs per week were studied for the status of lipid peroxidation, antioxidative system (AOS) as well as for the morphological and functional status of biological membranes. The study revealed high levels of lipid peroxidation featured by increased contents of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) and diene conjugates in the blood serum and red cells of the uremic patients. Besides, the functional incompetence of a nonenzymatic part of the AOS resulting in a decrease in the number of sulfhydryl groups in the red cells and alphatocopherol in the plasma was documented. It was suggested that intense peroxidation of lipids could lead to morphological and functional instability of biological membranes in the TCRF patients that was evidenced by high peroxide hemolysis in the red cells and disordered osmotic resistance and deformability of erythrocytes. An active MDA clearance was revealed in hemodialysis. The use of antioxidants and membraneous protectors in the treatment of the TCRF patients was found to be mandatory when high lipid peroxidation was identified. PMID- 2617739 TI - [The adenosine phosphate content in human sperm and their motility]. AB - Adenosine phosphoric acids (ATP, ADP, AMP) are of significance for the metabolic processes in living beings, including spermatozoa, as they are the principal donors of energy in all the reactions of biosynthesis. Besides, spermatozoa need the energy to perform a particular function-to move in the female genital tract to the ovum. It was stated that a decrease in the ATP levels reduced or ceased the translational motion of spermatozoa, therefore the investigations of adenosine phosphates in the spermatozoa were found to be mandatory. The authors studied the levels of ATP, ADP and AMP and the energy charge in the native human spermatozoa in the patients with oligo- and asthenospermia. Spermatozoa with morphologically and physiologically normal fertility were used as controls. The results obtained demonstrated that in oligospermic males the levels of ATP were slightly decreased whereas the levels of AMP significantly increased from 31.6 to 38 per cent. As a result there was a significant decrease in the ATP/ADP ratio. A more pronounced decrease in the ATP levels and an increase in the AMP levels were revealed in asthenospermic patients (12.6 and 40.5 per cent respectively. In the latter patients the ADP fraction decreased to 42.4 per cent versus 51.4 per cent in health and the energy charge underwent a more significant decrease: from 0.37 (normal) to 0.3. The results obtained are indicative of the possibility of using the aforementioned method for a comprehensive evaluation of the spermatozoan functional activity and the detection of asthenospermia-inducing mechanisms. PMID- 2617740 TI - [Disordered androgen metabolism in the testes following short-term ischemia]. PMID- 2617741 TI - [The dynamics of kidney growth after antireflux operations in children]. AB - Analysing the postsurgical status of patients with reflux nephropathy (RN) operated on for vesicoureteral reflux the authors evaluated the time course of hypotrophic kidney growth and noted a certain though insignificant increment in the renal length in patients with developed reflux nephropathy. The fact that in those with stages III and IV disease no increment in the length of the kidney was found could be regarded as a reason for removal of the kidney. PMID- 2617742 TI - [Rectocystoplasty in supravesical urinary diversion]. AB - A stepwise development of the technique for the urine derivation into the artificial rectal urinary bladder was followed up. The cutting of the superior rectal artery and the vein which permitted one to form a rectal urinary bladder at the superampullar portion of the rectum turned to be the basic point of the technique development. A beneficial effect was achieved due to the extra abdominal location of the rectal stump and the performance of ureterorectal anastomosis that minimized the hazards of urinary peritonitis development; the ligature of the superior rectal artery and vein decreased the resorption of the urine; lower mobilization and cutting of the rectum reduced surgery-related traumatism and enabled the surgeon to preserve the part of the sigmoid colon for its descending into the perineum. Based on the comparative evaluation of three modifications of the aforementioned technique, the authors made a conclusion that the derivation of the urine into an artificial rectal urinary bladder minimized the hazards of urinary peritonitis development and the occurrence of ascending pyelonephritis. X-ray and radionuclide investigations revealed recovery of the anatomical and functional status of the upper urinary tract in 75 per cent of the patients during 3-4 mos. The authors revealed insignificant changes in the values of nitrogen-excretory function of the kidney, glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption in the immediate postsurgery period. Later on, these values approached those documented before the operation. PMID- 2617743 TI - [Trabeculectomy with laminar resection of the sclera in the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma]. AB - The authors analyze 204 trabeculectomies, 56 of these combined with resection of the episclera, 48 with the formation of an intrascleral canal, and 100 traditional. Late results of surgery were followed up for 6 months to 4 years. The results evidence that laminar resection of the sclera is an essential point that governs the hypotensive effect of trabeculectomy in primary open-angle glaucoma. Positive effect of resection of the episclera consists in a twofold reduction of the trend to filtration pad cicatrization. If an intrascleral canal is formed, cystic filtration pads develop 1.5 times less frequently than after traditional trabeculectomy. PMID- 2617744 TI - [Clinical method of the evaluation of postoperative scarring and preventive cytostatic therapy after glaucoma surgery]. AB - Lymph microcirculation in the bulbar conjunctiva at the site of surgery was studied by fluorescent lymphangiography in 217 patients with primary glaucoma before and in various periods after trabeculectomy. Lymph vessels are changed after the operation; the pattern and intensity of these changes reflect the activity of cicatrization at the site of the operation and are closely related with the hypotensive effect in remote periods postoperation. In cases with the complete compensation of ophthalmic tone without extra hypotensive therapy a moderate narrowing of the lymph vessels was observed, parallelled by a compensatory increase of their quantity and of the volumic rate of the lymph flow. If the hypotensive effect of surgery was insufficient, an essential decrease of all the lymph flow parameters was observed, the most manifest in the patients with intraocular pressure still increased after extra drug therapy. A regular lowering of the lymph flow in 2-4 years after surgery was recorded; this lowering anticipated the deterioration of the hydrodynamic parameters. Noteworthy that ophthalmic tone failed to normalize when the mean diameter of the lymph vessels decreased more than twofold vs. the preoperative value. A conclusion is made that fluorescent lymphangiography holds good promise as a method for the assessment of the intensity of cicatrization processes after antiglaucoma surgery in order to timely prescribe preventive anticicatricial therapy. Administration of cytostatics in the postoperative period helps considerably increase the number of satisfactory outcomes of surgery due to suppression of cicatrization processes at the site of intervention. A lesser rate and intensity of cicatricial deformations of the lymph vessels was recorded in the patients administered cytostatics. PMID- 2617745 TI - [Method of opening the anterior chamber of the eye]. AB - A method for opening the anterior chamber from under the conjunctival corneal flap was developed. Experimental study of the healing characteristics of the back' profile corneal incision and of the method suggested by the authors, that was used in 12 isolated cadaver eyes, has demonstrated the advantages of the new technique. Clinical trials have confirmed better healing characteristics of the new incision as against the corneal incision. This helped reduce the number of the healing sutures from 7-8 to 4-5. The functional results of treatment (vision acuity, postoperative astigmatism) were also better after anterior chamber opening from under the conjunctival corneal flap. PMID- 2617746 TI - [A method of treatment of secondary cataract in artiphakia]. AB - A method for surgical treatment of secondary cataracts in the eyes with implanted posterior-chamber intraocular lens was developed; its low traumaticity and simple technique make it not inferior to the routine laser methods of secondary cataract discission. The operations were performed in 19 patients. Vision acuity improved in all the cases, no operative or postoperative complications were recorded. PMID- 2617747 TI - [Prevention of ineffective blocking of retinal ruptures in surgery of retinal detachment]. AB - Investigations of 80 eyes have detected the potentiality of a 'secondary' shifting of the rupture of the retina during surgery for its detachment. The authors have developed a method for the assessment of the efficacy of blocking the retinal ruptures with due consideration for their possible 'secondary' shifting and a surgical technique making use of this method. The possible reasons of secondary shiftings of the retinal ruptures are discussed. PMID- 2617748 TI - [Prevention of myopia]. PMID- 2617749 TI - [Analysis of intraocular hemodynamics and possibilities of therapeutic effects upon it in glaucoma and deficiency of blood supply]. PMID- 2617750 TI - [Importance of biomicroscopy in the determination of density of cataract before phacoemulsification]. AB - Biomicroscopy was used to examine cataracts before phacoemulsification in 820 patients aged 2 to 83. It helped assess the lens solidity from the intensity of the nucleus staining in the majority of cases. In senile cataracts the intensity of the nucleus staining increases with age, as is the length of ultrasonic exposure necessary for the nucleus emulsification, whereas in congenital or traumatic cataracts such a correlation is not observed. The authors necessitate the development of a method for objective assessment of the cataract solidity before surgery. PMID- 2617751 TI - [Methods of recording local ERG]. AB - Two methods for recording the retinal local biopotential with the gaze fixation control and without this control are described, to be used for the assessment of the status of any retinal or macular site, among other things. A ring-shaped sucker electrode is employed in both methods; this electrode is supplied with a transparent anterior window and infrared-illuminated mirror in one method and in the other the electrode incorporates a light-emitting diode and an optic system that helps create a 6-20 degrees stimulus. Theoretical analysis and experimental findings evidence that the minimal area on the retina from which a local response may be obtained, fit for clinical purposes, conforms to 10-15 degrees with a stimulus 5 times brighter than semisaturating brightness. The local response share in this case is 70% and the number of possible blendings 50. The results explaining the choice of the conditions for the retinal local biopotential recording are presented. The suggested methods help assess the function of the macular area, distinguish between the functions of the cone and rod systems, record the total and Hanz-Feld electroretinograms without electrode substitution, record the macular biopotential in babies and in patients with nystagmus or with cataracts of various origins. PMID- 2617752 TI - [Pathogenetic factors in thrombosis of the central retinal vein]. AB - Studies of the hemorheologic parameters and the hemostasis system components in the blood and lacrimal fluid of 130 patients with thrombosis of a branch of the central retinal vein (CRV) and calibrometry of the CRV have lead the authors to a conclusion that the major factors contributing to the pathogenesis of CRV thrombosis are (1) disordered blood rheology; (2) changes in the local hemostatic potential; (3) impaired blood stream in the corresponding CRV branches. Rationale for the use of drugs normalizing the blood rheology in CRV thrombosis is given. PMID- 2617753 TI - [Experimental secondary cataract induced by immune complexes]. AB - The aim of this experimental study was to elucidate the contribution of the immune complexes to the formation of a secondary cataract. The immune complexes are formed after the lens extraction in case specific antibodies to the lens and its capsule and to the lens mass are present in the circulation. The immune complexes, fixed on the posterior capsule, induce antibody-dependent fibrosis, in other words, a secondary cataract. PMID- 2617754 TI - [A simple method for automonitoring of the visual fields to be used in screening for glaucoma]. AB - A simple method for automonitoring the visual field nasal border is suggested, fit for screening examinations as well. It consists in successive putting of one, two, or four fingers to the bridge of the nose. In a reference group of normal subjects putting one finger to the bridge of the nose induced narrowing of the nasal border of the visual field by 17 degrees on an average, by 26 degrees with two fingers, and by 34 degrees with four fingers. The method was tried in 27 patients with glaucoma (34 eyes). The detection rate of visual field abnormalities in the patients with Stages II--III condition has made up 92.3%. PMID- 2617755 TI - [Metastasis of hypernephroid cancer to the organ of vision]. PMID- 2617756 TI - [Eye injury caused by bee sting]. PMID- 2617757 TI - [A case of ocular dirofilariasis]. PMID- 2617758 TI - [Conservative therapy in post-traumatic subatrophy of the eye]. PMID- 2617759 TI - [Clinical course and surgical treatment of intestinal endometriosis]. AB - The article presents clinical characteristics of the disease and an analysis of results of treatment of 33 patients with endometriosis of the colon. Ways of spreading endometriosis resulting in alteration of the intestine are shown such as the invasive, implantational and metastatic ways. Resection of the intestine wall with anastomosis in 3/4 after Melnikov was fulfilled in 15 patients with endometriosis of the sigmoid and superampullar portion of the large intestine. Low frontal resection with the formation of compression anastomosis with the help of a native device AKA-2 was performed in 18 patients with the alteration of the rectum. Reinforcing hormone therapy is recommended to all the patients in the postoperative period. PMID- 2617760 TI - [Active endogenous detoxication in the complex treatment of peritonitis]. AB - A method of selective endogenous detoxication is described. Its aim is to enhance the elimination of large- and midmolecular pathological substances from the patient's organism by means of stimulation of the cell link of the mononuclear phagocyting system and correction of the level of blood opsonins. An examination of 150 patients with peritonitis of different etiology, spread and phases of the process has shown a pronounced improvement of clinico-laboratory indices in patients whose complex treatment included additional selective endogenous detoxication. Rapid arrest of the endogenous intoxication is associated with diminution of large- and midmolecular pathological substances in blood. PMID- 2617761 TI - [Ion-balanced cardioplegic solutions in cardiac surgery]. AB - A comparative analysis of effectiveness of anti-ischemic defense of the myocardium performed in operations on the heart in 128 patients has shown that use of ion-balanced solutions is preferential since it allows reducing intrahospital lethality related with acute cardiac insufficiency from 13.3% to 6.3%. PMID- 2617762 TI - [Simultaneous measurement of blood volume in the arteries of the neck and stroke volume]. AB - The work describes a method of using a home tetrapolar two-channel rheograph RPG 2-02 for a one-step registration of differential rheogram (DRG) of the chest and neck-head. The stroke volume of the heart and the systolic blood volume in the cervical arteries were calculated by the corresponding DRG and the Kublicek formula. The clinical approbation of the method gave similar results of the capacitance blood flow with the literature data and with the rheographic method of determination of the cerebral blood flow. PMID- 2617763 TI - [Experience with using narcanti (naloxone) in patients with traumatic shock]. AB - Twelve patients with traumatic shock caused by a mechanical trauma were treated with narcanti within 6 h after trauma with a single dose 0.4 mg, and then intravenously in drops (0.4 mg/100 ml of the sodium chloride solution) with the general dose 2.8 +/- 0.8 mg. It gave favourable hemodynamic and respiratory effects and contributed to stabilization of the indices of metabolism homeostasis. PMID- 2617764 TI - [Characteristics of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy in foreign bodies of the upper part of the digestive tract]. PMID- 2617765 TI - [Endoscopic dissection of cicatricial strictures of esophageal anastomosis]. PMID- 2617766 TI - [A method of intraoperative location of the major duodenal papilla using fiber optic illuminators]. PMID- 2617767 TI - [Surgical tactics in injuries of blood vessels during surgical interventions]. PMID- 2617768 TI - [Errors and complications in the treatment of injuries of major blood vessels]. PMID- 2617769 TI - [Clinical death caused by air embolism]. PMID- 2617770 TI - [Massive duodenal hemorrhage on the day before labor]. PMID- 2617771 TI - [Modification of transcranial subfrontal approach to the chiasmal-sellar region]. PMID- 2617772 TI - [An optical adapter for the lighting units and endoscopes]. PMID- 2617773 TI - [A device for supporting the legs during lymphography]. PMID- 2617774 TI - [Prognosis of recurrence of peptic ulcer after isolated selective proximal vagotomy]. AB - The joint work of doctors and mathematicians is based upon their 20-years experience with performing vagotomy in the clinic. Prognosis of recurrence of ulcer disease was elaborated on materials of 141 operations of isolated selective proximal vagotomy for chronic duodenal ulcer. The dispensary principle of managing the patients after operation allowed obtaining objective data both in the nearest and remote (over 10 years) periods. A group of 20 patients with recurrent ulcers and 13 patients with hypersecretion gastroduodenitis was considered to have unfavorable postoperative status. The prognosis developed may be used to make the indications to isolated selective proximal vagotomy more exact. The prognosis was correct in 80% of the observations. PMID- 2617775 TI - [Late results of gastrectomy and truncal vagotomy in duodenal ulcer]. AB - In equal groups of patients with duodenal ulcers truncal vagotomy with draining operations were performed in 98 patients, gastric resection--in 196 patients. The observations lasted from 2 to 7 years. Immediate lethal outcomes did not take place after vagotomy. Six patients died after gastric resection (3.05%). Postoperative complications were observed in 8% and 22.7% correspondingly. In remote periods after vagotomy 75% of the patients were referred to the I and II group (by the Wisik scale), 12% of patients--to the III group, 12%--to the IV group, after gastric resection--70%, 20% and 10% correspondingly. PMID- 2617776 TI - [Status of the emptying function of the stomach in patients with duodenal ulcer after vagotomy with draining operations]. AB - Choice of draining operations for treatment of duodenal ulcer by vagotomy is greatly responsible for the evacuatory function of the stomach in the early and remote periods after operation. In patients with stenosis of the duodenum, low localization of ulcer and considerable scarring process in the ulcer area pyloroplasty after Finney and gastroduodenoanastomosis after Jaboulay are considered to be most advantageous draining operations of the stomach. If the operations are not possible technically, shortloop gastrojejunostomy is expedient. Pyloroplasty after Heinicke-Mikulicz is admissible in patients with ulcer of the duodenal bulb in patients with not disturbed evacuation from the stomach. PMID- 2617777 TI - [Results of repeated studies of gastric acid secretion in patients with duodenal ulcer before the operation]. AB - Gastric secretion indices were determined in patients with duodenal ulcers with 2 4 days intervals between the investigations. Considerable fluctuations in the gastric acid secretion levels were found in the first and second investigations. The findings were more stable in patients with pronounced hypersecretion. An analysis of results of the investigations performed in 109 patients with duodenal ulcer is presented. PMID- 2617778 TI - [Value of the diagnosis of duodenogastric reflux in selecting the method of surgical treatment and predicting its results in patients with duodenal ulcer]. AB - A retrospective analysis of results of vagotomy for ulcer disease of the duodenum has revealed substantial dependence of incidence of postoperative complications on duodenogastric reflux. PMID- 2617779 TI - [Prevention of incompetence of duodenal stump sutures after gastrectomy]. AB - The authors present data on methods of prophylactics of incompetence of duodenal stump sutures after resection of the stomach. Decompression of the stomach and duodenum, glue hermetization of the duodenal stump through a drain in the abdominal cavity with the help of a choledochoscope, prevention of postoperative peritonitis, drainage of the stump area with a glove-gauze-tube drain allowed the incompetence of duodenal stump sutures to be avoided in 128 patients with penetrating duodenal ulcers. PMID- 2617780 TI - [Immunologic reactivity in patients with gastroduodenal ulcers]. AB - Immune system factors were studied in 158 patients with ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum before and after different operative procedures. More pronounced alterations of immune reactivity as compared with the parameters in patients with noncomplicated ulcer disease were found which manifested themselves in decreased indices of cell immunity, activation of processes of autoallergization, inhibition of nonspecific factors of defense. PMID- 2617781 TI - [Endolymphatic administration of antibiotics in the complex treatment of postoperative abscesses in the abdominal cavity]. AB - The endolymphatic administration of solutions of antibiotics in complex treatment of patients with intraperitoneal postoperative abscesses resulted in more rapid attenuation of intoxication, improvement of the general state of the patients and their recovery. No complications of the treatment were noted. PMID- 2617782 TI - [Intravascular laser irradiation of the blood in the treatment of patients with surgical infection]. AB - The intravascular laser irradiation of blood which was used in treatment of 100 patients decreases the level of endogenous intoxication, stimulates the defensive forces of the organism, improves the condition of the patient, contributes to quicker recovery and may be actively used in treatment of patients with a surgical infection. PMID- 2617783 TI - [Relaparotomy after operations on the rectum and colon]. AB - During 15 years 1663 intraabdominal operations on the rectum and colon were performed, relaparotomy resulting from the complications was fulfilled in 134 patients (8%). The main indication for relaparotomy was peritonitis (57 patients). Its sources were: incompetence of the colonic anastomosis suture, technical errors during the first operation, opening of the abscess into the abdominal cavity. Five types of the course of postoperative peritonitis were established: primary, atypical, artificial, perforative and necrotic types. PMID- 2617784 TI - [Cancer of the stomach associated with perforated duodenal ulcer and pyloric stenosis]. PMID- 2617785 TI - [Cavernous hemangioma of the ileum causing intermittent ileocecal invagination]. PMID- 2617786 TI - [Cyst of the omental appendage of the sigmoid]. PMID- 2617787 TI - [Acute destructive cholecystitis associated with perforated diverticulosis of the colon]. PMID- 2617788 TI - [Simultaneous closure of sigmoid, rectal and vesical fistulas]. PMID- 2617789 TI - [Surgical tactics in multiple cancer of the large intestine]. PMID- 2617790 TI - [Large benign fibrous mesothelioma of the pleura]. PMID- 2617791 TI - [Anatomo-physiological and experimental substantiation of surgical prevention of pulmonary hypertension after pneumonectomy]. PMID- 2617792 TI - [Classification of Raynaud's phenomenon]. PMID- 2617793 TI - [Predicting the time of surgical interventions at the early period of traumatic disease]. AB - A mathematical system of equations for the determination of optimum terms of performing operations in patients with traumas of different localizations has been developed. The system includes parameters which show the severity of the victim's condition and efficiency of conservative therapy. Solution of the equations also facilitates prognosing the outcomes of trauma disease, its duration in the presence of shock, optimum volume and composition of the infusion therapy. PMID- 2617794 TI - [Thanatological analysis of traumatic disease]. AB - The transition of trauma disease to the premortal period represents a qualitative leap of changing pathogenesis into thanatogenesis. Practically it means the appearance of such a condition of the patient which requires urgent measures of treatment directed to the correction of life-threatening alterations of homeostasis. The determination of some pathological process in the clinical picture of trauma disease as a possible direct cause of death presupposes the following prognosis of the type of the terminal condition, mechanism of death with the resulting conclusions concerning organization of curative measures. PMID- 2617795 TI - [Treatment of isolated and combined burns of the stomach]. AB - Results of the surgical treatment of 31 patients with isolated and associated burn injuries of the stomach are presented. Resection of the stomach was performed on 24 patients (15 patients--by Billroth-1 and 9 patients--by Billroth 2 method). A necessary procedure is the intraoperative forced bougieurage under narcosis of the scarry esophagus. Two patients died: one of them after gastric resection, the second--after making collateral gastroenteroanastomosis from incompetent sutures of anastomosis, peritonitis. Successful treatment is dependent on the timely diagnosis and rational curative tactics. PMID- 2617796 TI - [Atraumatic osteosynthesis and anesthesia for middle-aged and elderly patients]. PMID- 2617797 TI - [Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia of many-year duration complicated by phlegmon of ruptured gastric fundus]. PMID- 2617798 TI - [Osteosynthesis by the Ender method]. AB - The authors report on results of using osteosynthesis by the Ender method in 513 patients with fractures of the femoral and tibial bones. The method of osteosynthesis is thought by the authors to be most effective in elderly patients with fractures. PMID- 2617799 TI - [Dislocation of the tendon of the long head of the biceps muscle in sportsmen]. PMID- 2617800 TI - [Treatment of inveterate bilateral rupture of the patellar ligament]. PMID- 2617801 TI - [Penetrating knife wound of the heart in an adolescent]. PMID- 2617802 TI - [Characteristics of acute post-traumatic reactions and the criteria of the evaluation of the severity of the general state of children with multiple injuries]. PMID- 2617803 TI - [Stimulation of growth of long tubular bones with methyluracil]. PMID- 2617804 TI - [Gangrenous appendicitis in the hernial sac in a child]. PMID- 2617805 TI - Plasma progesterone concentrations in pregnant and non-pregnant llamas (Lama glama) AB - Female llamas ovulate in response to copulation, and progesterone secretion by the corpus luteum indicates recent ovulation (mating) and, or, pregnancy. The plasma progesterone concentration was 0.9 to 1.4 ng/ml in five non-pregnant llamas and 7.4 to 9.2 ng/ml in three llamas in the last month of pregnancy. After ovulation had been induced in nine of 10 llamas by a single intramuscular injection of 500 or 750 iu of human chorionic gonadotrophin, the plasma progesterone concentration increased after two days from 0.5 to 1.2 ng/ml to 4.6 to 10.3 ng/ml after six to nine days and returned to basal values after 10 to 13 days, reflecting the life-span of a corpus luteum in the absence of conception. After a male llama had been introduced into a group of 13 females, 10 matings which resulted in eight conceptions occurred in the first 11 days, and 11 of the llamas became pregnant. The llamas' progesterone concentrations increased after mating and remained high if conception had occurred: 6 to 12 ng/ml in months one to four, and 5 to 9 ng/ml in months five to nine of the 11-month gestation. Two of the 13 llamas had high concentrations of progesterone although they did not become pregnant. PMID- 2617806 TI - Variability of the time of calculated LH release in 218 canine pregnancies. PMID- 2617807 TI - Ovine chlorellosis in the Sudan. PMID- 2617808 TI - Zinc deficiency by any other name... PMID- 2617809 TI - Mite infestation. PMID- 2617810 TI - Meat inspection. PMID- 2617811 TI - Acquired pyloric stenosis. PMID- 2617812 TI - Respiratory distress in a cat. PMID- 2617813 TI - Guide dogs and the profession. PMID- 2617814 TI - Dystocia in nine British breeds of cattle and its relationship to the dimensions of the dam and calf. AB - The degree of assistance provided at 1353 calvings from 954 heifers and cows of nine breeds of British cattle (Ayrshire, British White, Dexter, Friesian/Holstein type, Gloucester, Kerry, Longhorn, Shetland and White Park) was recorded and analysed in terms of the dimensions of the dam and the calf. The sires had been chosen in accordance with normal farming practice. A heavy calf did not lead to dystocia. Assistance at calving was most frequently provided in the Ayrshire herd, which was used for veterinary teaching. There were very few difficult calvings in the seven rare breeds, but this was as likely to have been due to management policy as to the breed characteristics. A large tuber coxae measurement was associated with ease of calving, particularly in the Dexter. The breeds showed a wide range of pelvic dimensions and therefore provide a source of genetic variation. PMID- 2617815 TI - Growth characteristics of the llama (Lama glama) from birth to 12 months old. AB - This study has characterised the growth patterns of the llama (Lama glama) from birth to 12 months old. Bodyweight growth was described as a function of age. As a means of predicting bodyweight, equations were developed which correlated bodyweight with specific body measurements. Regression analysis revealed a strong positive correlation of logtransformed measurements of thoracic circumference and height with bodyweight. Thoracic circumference (measured in cm) was a good predictor of bodyweight from the equation: bodyweight (kg) = (8.7 x 10(-4)) x circumference2.46 (r2 = 0.91). PMID- 2617816 TI - Vasectomy in small passerine birds. PMID- 2617817 TI - Toxoplasmosis in a Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). PMID- 2617818 TI - Tracheal foreign body in a German shepherd dog. PMID- 2617820 TI - Oversized bovine fetuses. PMID- 2617819 TI - Mite infestation. PMID- 2617821 TI - Threat to rendering industry. PMID- 2617822 TI - Ingestion of sheep sponges by sheepdogs. PMID- 2617823 TI - Efficacy of diclazuril in the control of intestinal coccidiosis in rabbits. AB - The anticoccidial efficacy of diclazuril was studied in rabbits artificially infected with Eimeria flavescens, Eimeria intestinalis, Eimeria magna and Eimeria perforans. Continuous administration at 1 and 2 ppm in pelleted feed proved to be highly efficacious in controlling oocyst output and faecal scores. The weight gain was comparable and the feed efficiency slightly improved compared with the non-infected, non-medicated controls, and clinical signs were fully prevented. Medication of rabbits at 0.5 ppm also provided a significant improvement in all parameters compared with the infected, non-medicated controls. In order to obtain 100% effectiveness in the control of intestinal coccidiosis in rabbits, continuous medication at 1 ppm is recommended. PMID- 2617824 TI - Latex agglutination test for detecting Trichinella spiralis infections in pigs using muscle extract. AB - The latex agglutination (LA) test, using muscle-juice samples of pigs experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis and slaughtered 95 days post infection (p.i.), gave visible results in 3 min; even in a pig receiving an infection dose as low as 10 larvae. The test appeared reliable and easy to perform without the need for special equipment or sample treatments which are necessary for ante-mortem diagnostic methods. The muscle-juice sample could be obtained by compressing the muscle pieces with the fingers at any time post mortem and was used undiluted. The results of the LA test using serum or muscle juice samples correlated with those of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positive results in the LA test and ELISA appeared 27 days p.i. with the use of sera from the pigs infected with greater than or equal to 600 larvae and 56 days p.i. with the serum of a pig infected with 10 larvae. The complement fixing antibodies were detected in the sera using complement ELISA 86 days p.i. This assay was negative when muscle-juice samples were used. PMID- 2617825 TI - Cellular distribution, purification and electrophoretic properties of malate dehydrogenase in Trichuris ovis and inhibition by benzimidazoles and pyrimidine derivatives. AB - High levels of malate dehydrogenase were found in Trichuris ovis. Two molecular forms of the enzyme, of different cellular location and electrophoretic pattern, were isolated and purified. The activity of soluble malate dehydrogenase was greater than that of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase. Both forms also displayed different electrophoretic profiles in comparison with purified extracts from goat (Capra hircus) liver. Substrate concentration directly affected enzyme activity. Host and parasite malate dehydrogenase activity were both inhibited by a series of benzimidazoles and pyrimidine-derived compounds, some of which markedly reduced parasite enzyme activity, but not host enzyme activity. Percentage inhibition by some pyrimidine derivatives was greater than that produced by benzimidazoles. PMID- 2617826 TI - Comparison of three in vitro techniques to estimate benzimidazole resistance in Haemonchus contortus of sheep. AB - Three in vitro assays to detect benzimidazole resistance, namely, the egg-hatch assay, tubulin-binding assay, and a larval-development assay, were evaluated by estimating the level of benzimidazole resistance in three field isolates of Haemonchus contortus compared with a susceptible reference strain. Comparisons were also made with estimates of benzimidazole resistance of the three field strains obtained from an in vivo controlled anthelmintic efficacy test. All three in vitro tests showed similar, consistent results which also suggested greater sensitivity than the in vivo assay. These results indicate that selection of an in vitro technique to determine benzimidazole resistance should therefore be based on considerations other than precision, such as technical expertise, availability of equipment, cost and speed in which diagnosis is required. PMID- 2617827 TI - Induction of protective immunity in calves immunized with adult Oesophagostomum radiatum somatic antigens. AB - Oesophagostomum radiatum, the nodular worm of cattle, is a severe pathogen in previously uninfected calves. However, cattle develop a strong protective immune response upon exposure to the parasite. In order to evaluate whether soluble parasite antigens could induce protective immunity, a soluble fraction was obtained from disrupted adult worms, and this fraction was used to vaccinate calves. The vaccination protocol involved two immunizations. The first was administered intramuscularly with complete Freund's adjuvant, the second was given intraperitoneally with antigen plus alum. This immunization reduced the number of worms developing from a subsequent challenge infection by 85% and also reduced clinical signs associated with infection with adult worms. However, vaccination resulted in decreased weight gains during the larval phase of the infection. Analysis of the immune response generated in the vaccinated calves indicated that protection from infection was significantly correlated with the levels of: (1) circulating parasite-specific IgG2 antibody; (2) cellular immune reactivity as determined in a conventional parasite-specific lymphocyte proliferation assay. Serum anti-O. radiatum IgG2 antibodies from vaccinated calves were used in immunoblots to identify the major immunogens. There were five major immunogens with molecular weights ranging from 70 to 150 kDa. Fractions separated by high-pressure liquid chromatography contained immunogens that were used to immunize calves. Vaccination with these fractions was found to impart the same level of protective immunity and induced similar IgG2 antibody and cellular immune responses as the crude whole worm extract even with 100-fold less protein. PMID- 2617828 TI - Effect of anthelmintic treatment of dairy cattle on milk production related to some parameters estimating nematode infection. AB - On 31 farms, blood samples were taken from adult dairy cattle in September 1985, when pastured, and in November-December 1985, when stabled, to assess serum pepsinogen levels and level of nematode antibody titres. Faecal samples taken in September were examined to establish the presence of parasites by means of egg counts and larval identification. During the stabling period, dry cows were either treated with ivermectin or with a placebo in alternate sequence of expected calving date. As a result, 285 cows were treated with ivermectin while 242 cows served as controls. Anthelmintic treatment resulted in a significant increase in the 305-day milk production of 205.1 kg (P less than 0.01). Fat and protein percentages were not significantly influenced by anthelmintic treatment. There was a significant between-herd variation in nematode antibody titres and in pepsinogen values. The mean herd milk-production response to treatment correlated positively with the mean herd Ostertagia antibody titre measured in September 1985 (r = 0.364, P less than 0.05). PMID- 2617829 TI - Efficacy of nemadectin, a new broad-spectrum endectocide, against natural infections of canine gastrointestinal helminths. AB - Nemadectin, a new broad-spectrum endectocide, was highly efficacious against natural infections of all the major canine gastrointestinal helminths. At single oral dosages of 0.2-0.4 mg kg-1 body weight (BW), a liquid formulation administered in gelatin capsules was 100% effective in eliminating natural infections of Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina, Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala. Tablets (267 mg) containing 4.6% nemadectin given at a rate of 1/3 tablet per 20 kg BW (0.2 mg nemadectin kg-1) were 100% active against T. canis, A. caninum and U. stenocephala. With both formulations, an increase in the dose rate to 0.6-0.8 mg kg-1 BW resulted in 99-100% elimination of Trichuris vulpis infections. No adverse reactions were observed in any of the treated dogs. PMID- 2617830 TI - The carrier status of sheep, cattle and African buffalo recovered from heartwater. AB - Sheep, cattle and the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) were shown to remain carriers of heart-water (caused by Cowdria ruminantium) for long periods after recovery; 223, 246 and 161 days, respectively. Transmission was achieved using adults of the southern African bont tick (Amblyomma hebraeum) that had fed as nymphs on recovered animals. Our findings differ from those of other workers who attempted transmission using nymphs that had fed as larvae on recovered animals or with blood from recovered animals. PMID- 2617831 TI - Trace element concentrations in perinatal beef calves from west central Nebraska. AB - Trace element analyses were performed on 144 livers from perinatal calves submitted to the Veterinary Science Laboratory, North Platte, NE. All calves originated from herds in west-central Nebraska and ranged in age from 8 months of gestation up to 6-week-old neonates. Calves were divided into 5 categories based on objectives gross examination and ocular fluid evaluation: abomasal ulcers, abomasal tympany, diarrhea, stillborn and excessive nitrate exposure. Excessive zinc concentrations were found in 4 of the 5 categories. Only in the abomasal ulcer category could a correlation be found; this category routinely was found to have deficient to low normal liver copper concentrations and highest liver molybdenum concentrations. Both excesses and deficiencies of selenium and iron occurred in all categories. PMID- 2617832 TI - Preparation of protein conjugatable aflatoxin oxime derivative from significantly reduced starting quantities. AB - A modification of an existing technique for the preparation of aflatoxin B1-(0 carboxymethyl) oxime is presented which allows for a significantly reduced starting amount of aflatoxin. About 80% of the aflatoxin was converted to its oxime. The new technique will be particularly valuable when protein conjugatable oximes of more expensive aflatoxin metabolites, such as aflatoxin M1, are required for immunoassay production. PMID- 2617833 TI - In vitro effects of cadmium and arsenite on glutathione peroxidase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, cholinesterase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in blood. AB - The activity of several blood enzymes in the presence and absence of arsenite (As) and cadmium (Cd) was investigated under in vitro conditions. Both human and rat blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were adversely affected by As at the 0.8 and 1.6 micrograms/ml levels. The latter was completely inactivated whereas the former retained approximately 30% of its original activity. The effect of Cd on this enzyme was much smaller: 650 g Cd/ml were needed to decrease its activity by 30% of the original value. As noted for GSH-Px, the rat's glutamyl oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) appears to be appreciably more sensitive to the As inhibitory effect than the human enzyme (by a factor of 3). Cd, however, failed to bring about any inhibition of GOT. In the case of glutamyl pyruvate transaminase (GPT) both As and Cd had a marked effect, manifested in 70% and 78% inhibition, respectively. Blood glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-G PD) was inhibited by both Cd and As, however, within the concentration range used, only Cd inhibited it completely. Cholinesterase (ChE) activity was inhibited completely by both Cd and As. PMID- 2617834 TI - Effects of some hepatic microsomal enzyme inducers and inhibitors on xylazine ketamine anesthesia. AB - Various inducers and inhibitors of hepatic microsomal enzymes were studied for their effects on xylazine-ketamine anesthesia. Pretreatment of Sprague-Dawley rats with chloramphenicol (100 mg/kg, ip), cimetidine (100 mg/kg, ip), ketoconazole (40 mg/kg, po), and SKF 525-A (25 mg/kg, ip) significantly (p less than 0.05) increased the duration of anesthesia in rats injected with ketamine (45 mg/kg, im) and xylazine (21 mg/kg, im). Pretreatment with phenobarbital (40 mg/kg, ip, once daily for 4 days) did not affect the duration of anesthesia significantly. The increase in duration of anesthesia in animals pretreated with SKF 525-A and ketoconazole was accompanied by secondary respiratory distress about 6 hr following recovery from anesthesia, often leading to death within 24 hr. Lesions consisting of extensive serous pleural effusion, alveolar edema rich in macrophages and extensive pulmonary hilar edema with hemorrhage were found at necropsy. These results indicate that inhibition of hepatic microsomal enzymes by commonly used therapeutic agents during xylazine-ketamine anesthesia to prolong the anesthetic effect, or as a result of concurrent pharmacotherapy, could have deleterious effects. PMID- 2617835 TI - Hematological and plasma biochemical disturbances in experimental molybdenum toxicosis in sheep. AB - Two groups of 4 sheep received a daily iv injection of sodium heptamolybdate (100mg/day) or of saline for 2 weeks to study the hematological and plasma biochemical effects of molybdenum toxicosis. In molybdenum-dosed sheep, there was hypercupremia, mild anemia due to the decrease of copper concentration in the liver and moderate hepatocellular damage probably due to a direct toxic effect of molybdenum against the liver. PMID- 2617836 TI - Sodium cyanide and its rapid detoxification by grape juice. AB - Recently media attention has been focused on minute traces of cyanide found in grapes supposedly injected with cyanide. No more than minute traces of cyanide are likely to be found within a few hours of cyanide ion injection into grapes. Free cyanide ion in grape juice is quickly converted to ammonia upon spontaneous saponification of the cyanohydrins rapidly formed from the reaction of cyanide with sugars. Mice offered 10-fold diluted grape juice 24 hr after the addition of 2 g NaCN/100 ml juice showed no evident signs of illness for a period of 1 week during which access to all other fluids was denied. PMID- 2617837 TI - Appetoff: another diet fad. AB - Appetoff diet patches were diet aids introduced to the public in 1987 and removed from the market in 1988 by the FDA for reasons of fraud. The ingredients were supposedly homeopathic concentrations of plant and mineral products. Although 91.6% of persons in this study who used the product for at least 1 week reported weight loss and mild side effects, no active ingredients could be detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. PMID- 2617838 TI - The toxicity of Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana L) seeds to rats. AB - Toxicolethal effects of seeds of mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana L) were investigated in to roof rat, (Rattus rattus L). The argemone seeds were fed at 100% of the diet up to the death or for a maximum of 10 days. Observed signs of poisoning were sedation, passiveness, sluggishness, feeble or no muscular jerks, abdominal contractions and increased defecation. Also black secretions from the eyes, corneal opacity, erection of hairs, and edema of the hind legs and submandibular space in were noted. Fourteen of 16 rats died. Significant reduction in the weights of the rats was observed. There were significant increases in blood glucose, BUN and SGOT. Major histopathological lesions were: hepatocytolysis, nuclear degeneration, pyknosis, cloudy swelling and dilatated sinusoids disturbing the lobulalar architecture of the liver; proliferated endothelium of glomeruli, hemorrhage in glomeruli and interstitium, and cloudy swelling of convoluted tubular epithelium in the kidney cortical region; erosion and atrophy of the upper stomach mucosa and calcification in the cardiac stomach, and; erosion and congestion of the upper mucosa of the duodenum. No change was noticed in the ileum. PMID- 2617839 TI - Motor vehicles as a site of accidental poisonings. AB - Although most poisonings occur within the home, the toxic agents involved are customarily transported there by motor vehicles. Over a 9-month period, all potentially toxic exposures reported to a poison information center that occurred in a motor vehicle were collected. Common toxins were identified and associated incidence and risk were assessed; 68% were pediatric exposures and the remainder were in adults. The adult exposures were dermal and via inhalation, whereas the pediatric exposures were predominantly inhalation (44%) and ingestion (36%). Inhalant toxins included carbon monoxide (CO) (13%), fire extinguishers (48%), and hydrocarbons (17%). Ingested toxins were comprised of medications (36%), automotive products (14%), and cosmetics (14%). 26% of the exposures were treated in Emergency Departments and the remainder at home. 79% of the patients were asymptomatic or had only a mild outcome; 21% suffered moderate toxicity. Toxic exposures in motor vehicles pose a significant threat to both driver and occupants. Children are at high risk from products improperly stored in the car (shopping bags, purses, glove compartment) and resulting from the care giver's inattention while driving. These results can be used to promote community awareness of this problem. PMID- 2617840 TI - Selenium toxicosis in three California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). AB - Selenium poisoning occurs worldwide in nearly all domestic animals. Acute selenium poisoning is associated with feeding high levels or injecting excessive amounts of selenium and is usually fatal. The acute poisoning may cause gastrointestinal disturbance, muscle weakness, depression of the central nervous system, prostration and death (1-2). Chronic selenium poisoning in cattle, sheep and horses may result from the consumption of seleniferous plants over an extended period of time. Chronic selenium results in ataxia, incoordination, partial blindness, paralysis, loss of hair or wool, abnormal hoof growth and possibly abnormal changes in behavior (1). There is little information regarding the clinical signs and pathology of selenium toxicosis in marine mammals. Likewise, there is little information regarding normal tissue levels or toxicologically significant levels of selenium in these species. The results of these investigations in sea lions, based on clinical signs, pathologic findings and tissue levels of selenium, suggest subacute or chronic selenium poisoning was most likely from dietary fish high in selenium. PMID- 2617841 TI - Massive caffeine ingestion resulting in death. AB - Caffeine has long been recognized as an addictive substance with numerous toxic effects. Death due to caffeine overdose is rare, due in part to its marked gastric irritation resulting in spontaneous emesis. Caffeine can be found in food, beverages, analgesics, and over-the-counter weight loss products. We report a fatality resulting from the ingestion of mail order diet pills containing caffeine as their only active ingredient. A 22-year-old female arrived in the emergency department in cardiac arrest after ingesting these diet pills. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. A serum toxicology screen revealed the presence of caffeine with a level of 1,560 micrograms/ml (lethal greater than 100 micrograms/ml). To our knowledge this is the highest reported fatal caffeine level. No other drugs were identified on the screen. Based on the absence of pathology on autopsy and the high caffeine level, death was attributed to acute caffeine toxicity. This case illustrates that deaths resulting from caffeine, although rare, continue to occur. PMID- 2617842 TI - Poison center utilization in nosocomial toxicologic exposures: a prospective study. AB - Accidental toxicologic exposures that occur within health care facilities (HCFs) have the potential to increase morbidity and mortality as well as enhance medicolegal liability. By contacting the poison center immediately on recognition of these events, health care providers may ultimately lessen eventual toxic effects through appropriate intervention. Exposures of this nature reported to the poison center over a 12-month period were collected and tabulated for specific occurrences. Six categories of therapeutic mis-adventure were delineated: 1. Right patient/wrong medication (18%); 2. Right patient, right medication/wrong dose or route (16%); 3. Lack of patient education (2%); 4. Proximity of potentially harmful substances to confused persons (54%); 5. Incorrect equipment management (6%); and 6. Pharmacologic treatment based on lab error (4%). This study seeks to increase awareness of poison center ability to assist in management of the "therapeutic misadventure". PMID- 2617843 TI - Copper levels in sheep surviving an acute toxic exposure. PMID- 2617844 TI - In vitro immunologic features of Weimaraner dogs with neutrophil abnormalities and recurrent infections. AB - In vitro evaluation of cellular and humoral immunity in Weimaraner dogs with recurrent infections and abnormal neutrophil function revealed significantly lower serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G and M concentrations than control dogs. Lymphocyte blastogenesis in response to three different mitogens, interleukin-1 and -2 production, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and in vitro IgG and IgM production were similar to those of control dogs. PMID- 2617845 TI - A hemolytic assay for the measurement of equine complement. AB - A hemolytic assay was developed for the measurement of functional equine complement activity. The assay utilizes antibody sensitized chicken erythrocytes as the target cell and was specific for classical pathway (antibody dependent) complement activity. The assay was found to be reproducible and more sensitive than previous reports using other species of target cells. Total serum complement (CH50) values were determined for five mares and their foals and followed over a period of 3 months. PMID- 2617846 TI - Natural cytotoxicity in the dog: description of two new allogeneic tumour targets. AB - Three canine tumour cells were studied for their susceptibility to cytotoxicity by allogeneic canine natural killer (NK) cells: a lymphoma line, 3132 of B cell origin, and two adherent cell lines emanating from the same non-lymphoid tumour isolate, one (A72F) with a fibroblast morphology and one (A72E) with an epithelioid appearance. Both 3132 and A72E have preliminary evidence of retrovirus infection. Unstimulated canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells, used as the source of NK cells, were able to mediate significant lysis of 3132 and A72F cells at effector cell:target cell ratios of under 50:1, although an 18 h incubation was necessary for maximum cytotoxicity. NK activity against the 3132 tumour cells proved to be variable both within a group of dogs as well as on different occasions utilising the same individual donor. The epithelioid form of the A72 tumour cell line, A72E, had gained a marked resistance to NK lysis, although like the 3132 cells, there is preliminary evidence of persistent retrovirus infection in this cell line. Interestingly the A72F cells were as successful as homologous 3132 cells in the cold target inhibition of labelled 3132 cytotoxicity, while A72E did not. This latter result could indicate that not only do A72F and 3132 share NK determinants recognised by the same NK receptor, but the A72E line has lost this important recognition determinant. PMID- 2617847 TI - The effect of parenteral immunisation on antibody production in the pig colon. AB - Local and systemic antibody production was studied in pigs to compare responses to live and killed bacterial antigen and purified protein antigen, with and without prior mucosal stimulation. Recovery from challenge with live bacteria and intramuscular injection with killed bacteria gave rise to similar high levels of serum IgG antibody, but the ratio of specific IgA to IgG in the colon was significantly higher after infection than following vaccination with killed bacteria. Vaccination with a protein antigen gave rise to serum and local antibody production. Prior feeding of the antigen had a tolerising effect on the serum antibody response, but production of IgG and IgA antibody by the colon was not suppressed. PMID- 2617848 TI - Mink with Aleutian disease have autoantibodies to some autoantigens. AB - Thirty mink infected with Aleutian disease virus (ADV) were found to have elevated levels of antibody to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in their sera when compared to 30 healthy mink. The anti-dsDNA antibody levels in the diseased mink were, however, not found to correlate with the total amount of immunoglobulin. This was a common observation for all autoantibodies tested. The concentration of rheumatoid factors of IgG class, but not those of IgM class, was found to be significantly higher in the diseased mink at the chosen level of significance (P less than 0.01). IgG antibodies to thyroglobulin were likewise significantly higher in the ADV-infected mink. Unexpectedly, we found IgG antibodies with specificities for cardiolipin and mitochondrial antigens to be significantly higher in healthy mink than in ADV-infected mink. This difference is especially remarkable since the serum immunoglobulin concentration of the ADV-infected mink was three times higher than the serum immunoglobulin concentration of the normal mink. PMID- 2617849 TI - Identification of the antigenic components of paramyxovirus-3, paramyxovirus-6 and Newcastle disease virus in turkeys. AB - The aim of this study was to use the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Western immunoblotting as possible tools to differentiate infections in turkeys by different paramyxoviruses. Pooled hyperimmune sera of turkeys infected with either paramyxovirus-3 (PMV-3), paramyxovirus-6 (PMV-6), or Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were assayed for antibodies specific to the three viruses by the ELISA and Western immunoblotting. ELISA results showed cross reactions of turkey antibodies between PMV-3 and PMV-6 antigens, while turkey antibodies to NDV did not cross-react with any of the other paramyxoviruses. The immunoblots of sera from birds infected with PMV-3 (Minnesota turkeys and Iowa chickens) reacted to low molecular weight polypeptides of PMV-3 of 29, 32, and 34 kDa, and to a high molecular weight band of 200 kDa. The same Minnesota turkey sera had a cross reaction to the 200 kDa polypeptide of PMV-6, while the Iowa chicken sera did not. Both sera had no apparent reaction to NDV proteins. Western immunoblotting showed that the turkey PMV-3 sera had a specific reaction to a 220 kDa polypeptide present in PMV-3, but not in PMV-6, while the turkey PMV-6 sera had a specific reaction to a 130 kDa polypeptide present in PMV-6, but not in PMV-3. Immunoblots of pooled sera from turkeys infected with PMV-6 (Minnesota source) reacted to the 200 kDa protein present in both PMV-3 and PMV-6; however, no reaction occurred between this sera and NDV proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617850 TI - Genomic characterization of Molluscum contagiosum virus type 1: identification of the repetitive DNA sequences in the viral genome. AB - The genomes (188 kbp) of the prototype Molluscum contagiosum virus type 1 (MCV-1) and a variant strain (MCV-1v) were characterized by construction of the physical maps of the viral DNA for the restriction enzymes BamHI, ClaI, EcoRI, and HindIII using a defined gene library harboring the DNA sequences of the MCV-1 genome and by DNA-DNA hybridizations. It was found that the genomes of both MCV strains are identical, with the exception of very few changes in the DNA fragmentation patterns of restriction endonuclease BamHI as a consequence of naturally occurring nucleotide exchanges in the genome of the variant strain. Detailed hybridization experiments revealed the existence of repetitive DNA sequences, which are located within the terminal regions of the viral genome at the map coordinates 0 to 0.027 and 0.973 to 1. PMID- 2617852 TI - Cognitive expectations, not habits, control anticipatory smooth oculomotor pursuit. AB - Human smooth pursuit eye movements anticipate the future path of moving targets. Anticipatory pursuit is sometimes attributed to cognitive expectations about future motion and other times to the habitual repetition of previous pursuit responses. Expectations and habits were separated by having subjects smoothly pursue a target moving along a randomly-selected path that was either undisclosed to the subject before each trial or disclosed by means of auditory or visual cues. When the path was undisclosed, the direction of anticipatory smooth eye movements was determined by the direction of target motion in the previous trial. In the presence of cues-the critical condition for separating habits and expectations-effects of previous trials diminished and anticipatory smooth eye movements were primarily determined by the direction of motion the subject was told to expect. These results show a strong contribution of cognitive expectations which overrides persevering smooth oculomotor habits. Smooth pursuit eye movements are driven by a signal that combines the present target motion with the target motion expected to occur several hundred milliseconds into the future. The expected motion is based on a genuine cognitive prediction, not lower-level sensory or motor memories of past events. PMID- 2617851 TI - Nucleotide sequence and transcriptional studies of the vaccinia virus KpnI I DNA fragment. AB - The nucleotide sequence of the vaccinia virus (VV) KpnI I DNA fragment has been determined. This central, highly conserved portion of the VV genome corresponds to the right portion of the HindIII E, all of the HindIII O and P, and the left portion of the HindIII I DNA fragments. Computer-assisted analysis of this data indicated the presence of five tandemly oriented, leftward-reading open reading frames (ORFs) I-4, I-3, I-2, I-1, and O-1, with the I-4 ORF being an immediate early gene encoding the large M1 subunit of VV ribonucleotide reductase. Transcriptional analyses suggested that the I-3 and O-1 genes were constitutive genes, being expressed both before and after viral DNA synthesis. The I-1 and I-2 genes were late genes, expressed only after the initiation of viral DNA synthesis. Cell-free translation was used to confirm that the I-3, I-1, and O-1 ORFs were bonafide messages encoding proteins with molecular weights of 30, 35, and 71 kD, respectively. When the predicted amino acid sequences of the proteins encoded by the I-3, I-2, I-1, and O-1 genes were compared to the Genbank data base, no significant alignments were detected. Therefore, the biological functions of these proteins in the VV life cycle remain to be established. PMID- 2617853 TI - The effect of dark adaptation on the responses of cat retinal ganglion cells to eyeball deformation. AB - Eyeball deformation in total darkness leads to an activation of on-center ganglion cells and an inhibition of off-center ganglion cells. After "deformation off" most on-center ganglion cell activity decreased slowly to the normal spontaneous dark level, while in off-center ganglion cells some returned according to an exponential function to normal dark activity, while others had a transient postinhibitory activation period. In general, the response type of latency class I and latency class II neurons was the same. Dark adaptation of 30 45 min duration only changed this neuronal response pattern slightly, if at all. A detailed statistical analysis is provided for the four classes of retinal ganglion cells recorded: latency class I on-center and off-center neurons and latency class II on-center and off-center neurons. The missing effects of dark adaptation on neuronal responses evoked by eyeball deformation are explained by three possible models. The more plausible one assumes that horizontal cells are depolarized by retinal stretch. Their interaction with cone on-bipolars or cone off-bipolars is fairly independent of photoreceptor adaptation or transmitter release at the cone pedicles and is still effective when all molecular receptor sites at cone/bipolar cell synapses are occupied during scotopic states of dark adaptation. In psychophysical experiments (two subjects), as in the neuronal responses, we also could not find any indication that the "pressure phosphenes" evoked by lateral eyeball indentation are altered during dark adaptation. PMID- 2617854 TI - Light-evoked changes in extracellular pH in frog retina. AB - Light-induced changes in extracellular H+ concentration (delta pH0) were studied with intraretinal H(+)-sensitive double-barreled microelectrodes in frog eyecup and isolated retina preparations. The most prominent delta pH0 were found in the inner plexiform layer, as pH increases (alkalinizations) at light onset and offset. With a small-spot stimulus (0.3 mm dia.), 30 sec in duration, the delta pH0 were relatively small (0.03 pH units), and long lasting (peak at 25-30 sec). They were enhanced by flicker (0.3 Hz). Depth profiles paralleled those of the field potentials (PNR/M-wave), the ON delta pH0 peaking 40 microns more proximal than the OFF response. The delta pH0 exhibited surround antagonism, which was blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX), indicating an independence from action potentials. The mechanism for these pH increases in proximal retina is not yet understood. In the subretinal space diffuse retinal illumination produced a small pH increase, consistent with a presumed decrease in photoreceptor lactate production. Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase (CA) with acetazolamide or methazolamide increased both the proximal and distal retinal delta pH0, suggesting that CA is involved in buffering retinal pH. PMID- 2617855 TI - Quantitative distribution of six amino acids in rat retinal layers. AB - Concentrations of glutamate, aspartate, glutamine, glycine, GABA, and taurine were determined in samples microdissected from rat retinal layers and assayed by HPLC. Glutamate and glutamine were relatively high in the inner nuclear (INL) and ganglion cell (GCL) layers; aspartate was relatively high in the outer nuclear layer (ONL), outer plexiform layer, and INL. Distributions of glutamate and aspartate did not correlate well with those of enzymes involved in their metabolism. Glycine and GABA were highest in the inner plexiform layer, with increasing concentrations through the INL, and were relatively high in the GCL. Taurine was highest in the ONL. PMID- 2617856 TI - The effect of gold foil electrode position on the electroretinogram in human subjects. AB - Photopic ERGs were recorded in two human subjects using gold foil electrodes mounted at various positions in the lower fornix. The peak to peak amplitude of the b-wave was reduced in both subjects when the centre of the electrode was placed beyond 15 mm from the medial side of the limbus. The implicit time of the a-wave and the b-wave was not dependent on electrode position. These results emphasize the importance of correct placement of gold foil electrodes. PMID- 2617857 TI - Melatonin administered systemically alters the properties of visual cortex cells in cat: further evidence for a role in visual information processing. AB - The effects of melatonin given systemically at night-time were investigated in the visual system of cats by means of electrophysiological recordings from single cells in the striate cortex (area 17). Following intravenous injection of melatonin, the spontaneous discharge rate (SDR) was found to decrease in the majority of units when compared to control situations. In addition, the amplitude of responses to photic stimulation (moved light bars on a dark background) was augmented. These results reveal that, following application of melatonin, an improved signal-to-noise ratio is found in response to visual stimuli. The physiological source and putative action sites of melatonin are discussed with regard to its physiological role as a neuromodulating substance. The present data, in addition to previous work, suggest that melatonin is involved in visual information processing such as object detection and dark adaptation. PMID- 2617858 TI - The spatial resolution capacity of human foveal retina. AB - An image on the retina of a human eye enters the visual system through an array of photoreceptors that sets the boundaries on the spatial detail available for neural representation. In order to investigate the extent to which the input spatial detail is preserved by the human neural system, we compare the anatomical spatial limits as determined by the Nyquist frequency, the highest spatial frequency reconstructable from the cone array, and measures of human acuity, the minimum angle resolvable. We find that the anatomical Nyquist limits determined along the temporal horizontal meridian of a well-studied human retina (Curcio, Sloan, Packer, Hendrickson & Kalina, 1987b) offer a reasonable prediction of human acuity within the retinal region extending from slightly off the exact foveal center to about 2.0 deg of retinal eccentricity. However, we find a narrow peak of anatomical resolution at the foveal center where the acuity appears to be overestimated by cone spacing. PMID- 2617859 TI - Target velocity based prediction in saccadic vector programming. AB - Two experiments have been designed to test whether the saccadic system takes target motion into consideration in computing saccade amplitude. In one experiment, while the subject fixated straight ahead, either a horizontal ramp step-ramp or a horizontal step-ramp target moved from left to right. After the step, the subject had to make a saccade and follow the target. In the second set of experiments, the target, after an initial step, moved extrafoveally from up to down at fixed velocity; a tone, signaling the subject to make a saccade to the target and follow it, was delivered either after a variable delay (previewed condition) or simultaneously with the initial target step (non-previewed condition). In both experiments, eye position at saccade end was statistically different from target position 100 msec before saccade onset only when the target slow motion was presented before the step (i.e. in horizontal ramp-step-ramp and in previewed H-step V-ramp paradigms), suggesting that target motion could be used by the saccadic system to extrapolate the future target position, only if the subject is given enough time to observe the target ramp motion before the step. PMID- 2617860 TI - Binocular combination of contrast signals. AB - We studied the detectability of dichoptically presented vertical grating patterns that varied in the ratio of the contrasts presented to the two eyes. The resulting threshold data fall on a binocular summation contour well described by a power summation equation with an exponent near 2. We studied the effect of adding one-dimensional visual noise, either correlated or uncorrelated between the eyes, to the grating patterns. The addition of uncorrelated noise elevated thresholds uniformly for all interocular ratios, while correlated noise elevated thresholds for stimuli whose ratios were near 1 more than thresholds for other stimuli. We also examined the effects of monocular adaptation to a high-contrast grating on the form of the summation contour. Such adaptation elevates threshold in a manner that varies continuously with the interocular contrast ratio of the test targets, and increases the amount of binocular summation. Each of several current models can explain some of our results, but no one of them seems capable of accounting for all three sets of data. We therefore develop a new multiple channel model, the distribution model, which postulates a family of linear binocular channels that vary in their sensitivities to the two monocular inputs. This model can account for our data and those of others concerning binocular summation, masking, adaptation and interocular transfer. We conclude that there exists a system of ocular dominance channels in the human visual system. PMID- 2617861 TI - The contrast sensitivity gradient across the human visual field: with emphasis on the low spatial frequency range. AB - The regional variation of contrast sensitivity along the greater extent of each of the four principal hemi-meridia of the normal human eye was determined under photopic conditions using horizontally-orientated sinusoidal grating stimuli. The stimuli were well localized in space and frequency, and special attention was paid to the low spatial frequency range. The results confirm that contrast sensitivity is maximal for central vision for all test spatial stimuli. Extra foveal fall-off in sensitivity can be represented as a linear function of eccentricity if the latter is expressed in relative units (i.e. periods of the stimulus). The regional variation parameter depends upon whether the horizontal or vertical field is tested and upon the spatial frequency of stimulation. The visible spatial frequency range (0.05-24 c/deg) can be approximately described by just three different rules. The fact that more than one rule is found bears upon current models of the functional organization of the visual system. PMID- 2617862 TI - Differences between fovea and parafovea in visual search processes. AB - Visual objects that differ from the surroundings for some simple feature, e.g. colour or line orientation, or for some shape parameters ("textons", Julez, 1986) are believed to be detected in parallel from different locations in the visual field without requiring a serial search process. Tachistoscopic presentations of textures were used to compare the time course of search processes in the fovea and parafovea. Detection of targets differing for a simple feature (line orientation or line crossings) from the surrounding elements was found to have a time course typical of parallel processing for coarse textures extending into the parafovea. For fine textures confined into the fovea the time course was suggestive of a serial search process even for these textons. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that parallel processing of lines or crossings is subserved by a coarse network of detectors with relatively large receptive field and low resolution. For the counting of coloured spots in a background of a different colour the parafovea has the same time requirements as the fovea. PMID- 2617863 TI - The role of location probability in the programming of saccades: implications for "center-of-gravity" tendencies. AB - Short-latency saccades to targets among nontarget backgrounds are often directed to the center of the entire (target + nontarget) stimulus configuration. This "averaging" or "center-of-gravity" tendency has been attributed to an automatic, reflexive saccadic response to a poorly-resolved visual signal. We investigated the role of high-level processes by varying the probability of the target appearing in one of two locations. Subjects were asked to make a saccade to a target "+" located above-right or above-left of a central fixation point. A nontarget ("x") was in the other location (directional separation = 30 deg). The mean latencies were short (180-230 msec) in accordance with instructions. Mean saccadic direction was shifted to the right by 24-52% of the directional separation of the stimulus pair as the probability of the target appearing on the right increased from 0.2 to 0.8. The difference in saccadic directions as a function of the actual target location was small and independent of probability, showing that probability introduced a bias without affecting the discriminability of the target from the nontarget. The effect of probability was reduced when the discrimination of the target from the nontarget was easier (square vs triangle), and abolished (saccadic accuracy near perfect with the same average latencies) when the target was presented alone. The results show that the direction of short latency saccades, initiated before the target has been distinguished from a nearby nontarget, is based on the prior history of target locations and expectations about the future location of the target. High-level plans can account for effects of nontargets on saccades. To infer that a reflexive sensorimotor averaging mechanism exists solely on the basis of observed saccadic "centering" tendencies is unwarranted. PMID- 2617864 TI - Scatter in the metrics of saccades and properties of the collicular motor map. AB - Saccades, elicited by an identical visual stimulus in repeated trials, exhibit a certain amount of amplitude and direction scatter. The present paper illustrates how this scatter may be used to discern various properties of the subsystem that determines the metrics of a saccade. It is found in humans that scatter along the eccentricity axis is consistently more pronounced than along the direction axis. The ratio of amplitude scatter and direction scatter is approximately constant for all target positions tested. In addition, the absolute amount of scatter increases roughly linearly with target eccentricity but does not depend on target direction. We have explored whether these findings may reflect noisy variations in the neural representation of the saccade vector at the level of the collicular motor map. There are good reasons to assume that the motor map, at least in the monkey, (1) is organized in polar coordinates, (2) has a nonhomogeneous (roughly logarithmic) representation of saccade amplitude and (3) is anisotropic in nature (Robinson, 1972; Ottes, Van Gisbergen & Eggermont, 1986; Van Gisbergen, Van Opstal & Tax, 1987). To account for the intertrial variability in saccades, we have slightly extended an existing model for the collicular role in the coding of saccade metrics (Van Gisbergen et al., 1987) by allowing small variations in both the total amount and the location of the collicular population activity. We discuss how such noisy variations at the level of the motor map would be expressed in the metrics of saccadic responses and consider alternative models which could explain our data. PMID- 2617865 TI - Interattribute apparent motion. AB - Apparent motion can be seen between two alternating stimuli even if they are defined with respect to their background by attributes other than luminance (such as color, or texture). We measured motion strength as the maximum separation between two alternating stimuli which produced an impression of motion, for conditions in which the two stimuli were defined by the same attribute (intra attribute) as well as conditions in which they were defined by different attributes (interattribute). The attributes used to define the stimuli were luminance, color, texture, relative motion, or stereopsis. The results indicate that motion was seen for all the intra-attribute conditions about equally well. The results also show that interattribute motion could be seen for all combinations studied. The motion strength in these cases was about 80% of that for the intra-attribute conditions. The process responsible for this motion perception must therefore be able to combine information from different attributes. PMID- 2617866 TI - Subjective contours, tilt aftereffects, and visual cortical organization. AB - The tilt aftereffect (TAE) was used to study interactions between real and subjective contours. Subjects adapted to either real or illusory lines and were then shown test stimuli containing real or illusory lines. In our first experiment, we found that there is a marked asymmetry in the interactions between real and subjective stimuli. Adaptation to real lines produces comparable TAEs with real and subjective test lines. With either type of test stimulus the maximum effect occurs with a 10-20 deg difference between the orientations of the adaptation and test stimuli. Also, there is a strong TAE when the adaptation and test stimuli contain only subjective lines. However, there is a significantly weaker TAE when the adaptation stimulus is subjective and the test stimulus is real. In a second experiment we find that interocular transfer of tilt aftereffects is greater when the test stimulus is subjective than when it is real. These results are consistent with physiological reports that a subset of orientation selective cells in visual cortex is responsive to subjective contours and that these cells are more binocular, on average, than those responsive only to real contours. Our findings also suggest that the perception of subjective contours is based on the activation of neurons with properties, such as orientation selectivity, which are characteristic of early visual cortical areas. PMID- 2617867 TI - The effects of dichoptic and binocular viewing on bistable motion percepts. AB - Two competitive percepts are produced from a bistable stroboscopic motion display. In this display two frames, each containing three horizontally arrayed elements are presented alternately for several cycles. At short interstimulus intervals (ISIs) element or end-to-end motion responses are obtained when the two inner, spatially overlapping elements are seen as stationary and the third element moves back and forth from one end to the other end. Group motion responses are obtained at longer ISIs when the three elements are seen to move back and forth as a group. The dominance of these two percepts across ISIs was controlled by the manipulation of (1) element size, (2) frame duration, and (3) viewing conditions. Under both binocular and dichoptic viewing, element motion responses increase as element size and frame duration decrease. By maximizing pattern persistence substantial element motion responses were obtained dichoptically as well as binocularly. Instead of supporting the existence of two separate, low-level and high-level, motion systems, our data suggest that there is a single, high-level mechanism for motion whose output can be modulated by pattern persistence. PMID- 2617868 TI - Spatial frequency discrimination at different orientations. AB - Hirsch and Hylton (1984) have reported a meridional anisotropy for spatial frequency discrimination with a periodicity containing both square and hexagonal components. We measured the difference limen for spatial frequency for sine-wave gratings whose orientations varied over a 180 deg range and whose nominal spatial frequency varied between 2.5 and 10.0 c.deg.-1. Although some periodicity was evident at the lowest spatial frequency, it was not consistent between observers and it did not contain a hexagonal component. At the higher spatial frequencies there was no evidence for any meridional anisotropy. PMID- 2617869 TI - Changes in the shape and optical properties of the chicken lens after vitreous and scleral removal. AB - Ocular dimensions and lens refractive properties were studied in enucleated eyes from 5-day old chicken (Gallus domesticus). Measurements were made in frozen hemisections and in fresh eyes sectioned through a para-equatorial plane. In these specimens, lens properties were examined after systematical removal of the vitreal mass. This procedure caused significant changes in lens diameter and refractive properties. Our data indicate that avian lens shape could be controlled by vitreal pressure and/or scleral support. PMID- 2617870 TI - Dependence of the chromatic valence function on chromatic standards. AB - The red, green, yellow, and blue curve portions of chromatic valence functions (CVFs) were measured by an iso-cancellation technique using three or four different chromatic standards (cancellation stimuli of fixed intensity and chromaticity) for each of the four curve portions. Curve shapes of the red, green, and yellow CVF portions varied with different chromatic standards, while that of blue did not. These results of chromatic standard dependency in CVFs are discussed with respect to opponent equilibria in a color mixture space. PMID- 2617871 TI - White's effect: a dual mechanism. AB - White (1979) has described a phenomenon in which grey bars replacing segments of the white phase of a square-wave grating appear darker than identical grey bars replacing segments of the black phase of the grating. We have investigated the properties of this effect with a view to discovering the underlying mechanisms. Four experiments are reported which reveal the effects of the heights and widths of both the flank and coaxial inducing bars upon the brightness of the grey bars. The results show that two processes, one the local corner effect, and one a spatially extensive process (possibly involving filters with elongated end-zones) operate to produce the effect. The implications of the findings for models of brightness perception are discussed and suggestions are made for further experiments. PMID- 2617872 TI - Reaction times to motion onset and motion detection thresholds reflect the properties of bilocal motion detectors. AB - Several different psychophysical paradigms are used to study human motion perception. A unifying framework for the interpretation of all data is lacking. As a step towards a universal model for motion detection we show that previously published reaction times to motion onset and thresholds for the detection of periodic motion may be derived from the velocity dependent properties of bilocal motion detectors of the Reichardt correlator type. Thus, these data sets seem to support the concept of bilocal motion detectors. PMID- 2617873 TI - Health characteristics by occupation and industry. AB - Estimates of health characteristics of the labor force are presented by occupation and industry of employment for persons 18 years of age and over. The health characteristics presented include respondent-assessed health status, limitation of activity, disability days, physician utilization, hospital utilization, acute conditions, chronic conditions, and health care coverage. PMID- 2617874 TI - Trends in low birth weight: United States, 1975-85. AB - National and regional trends in rates of low, moderately low, and very low birth weight are analyzed for the period 1975-85. Also reviewed are 1985 rates of low, moderately low, and very low birth weight in relation to a number of maternal and infant characteristics, as well as changes in low birth weight rates between 1980 and 1985 for many of these characteristics. PMID- 2617875 TI - [Myxoma of the left ventricle. Indications for cardiosurgery without invasive examination]. AB - Two-dimensional echocardiographic examination in patients with myxoma of the left atrium is the basis of reliable diagnosis and is satisfactory as regards visualization and functional aspect for the final indication for a radical surgical operation. Myxoma of the left atrium is thus one of the heart diseases where we do not need preoperative invasive diagnostic examinations for indication of cardiosurgery. PMID- 2617876 TI - [Arrhythmogenic dysplasia of the right ventricle]. AB - The authors describe a case of sudden death of a 22-year-old man where on necropsy arrhythmogenic dysplasia of the right ventricle was found. The authors describe the clinical and morphological picture of this recent nosological unit. They discuss its relationship with Uhl's anomaly. Attention is drawn to concurrent affection of the left ventricle. PMID- 2617877 TI - [Empyema--a rare type of pulmonary disease in rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - In 52-year old patient with rheumatoid arthritis a massive empyema without development of pyopneumothorax was found. The authors discuss the mechanism of development of the empyema, its type and treatment. PMID- 2617878 TI - [The development of myocardial infarct in a patient treated with 5-fluorouracil]. AB - The authors describe the first case of myocardial infarction in their department which occurred during 5-fluorouracil treatment. In a 37 year-old patient two years before the infarction an epidermoid carcinoma of the lower lip was found. The patient was subjected to operation and radiotherapy. Because of a relapse of the process after one year the patient was re-operated with subsequent chemotherapy (vincristine, methotrexate, cis-platinum). Because the effect was not satisfactory, after another year 5-fluorouracil treatment was started (i.v. infusion of 3000 mg in two days). In the course of the infusion the patient developed the clinical picture of a non-transmural infarction of the anterior wall. The course was uncomplicated. The ECG returned to normal on the 9th day after discontinuation of 5-fluorouracil treatment. The effect of 5-fluorouracil on the heart is explained by a coronary vascular spasm. The authors recommend therefore administration of calcium blockers. PMID- 2617880 TI - [Acute eosinophilic leukemia]. PMID- 2617879 TI - [Acute myocardial infarct and the kinetics of creatine kinase]. AB - The authors criticize contemporary views on creatine kinase kinetics in relation to the patency or occlusion of the coronary artery in the area of the infarction focus. In the investigation proper the time needed to achieve the peak plasma creatine kinase activity after the onset of infarction pain in patients with necroses in different areas of the left ventricle is assessed. Although the interpretation of the observed phenomenon is not clear so far, this finding makes the informative value of the hitherto used time parameter of the kinetics of this enzyme doubtful, in particular in thrombolytic treatment of myocardial infarction. In practice it is thus not possible to evaluate the restored patency of the artery to the necrotic focus on the basis of the above parameter. PMID- 2617881 TI - [Thrombolytic therapy and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarct]. AB - The authors analyze contemporary views on the position of thrombolytic treatment and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in the treatment of acute myocardial infarctions. The justification of different procedures is based on the final effect of treatment on the mortality of patients, on left ventricular function and behaviour of the residual stenosis in different groups of patients. The authors define risk groups of patients which can justify the application of specific therapeutic procedures. In the conclusion they try to define general indications for different types of treatment. PMID- 2617882 TI - [The effect of temporary cardiac stimulation on the course of acute myocardial infarct]. AB - The authors analyzed retrospectively the course of acute myocardial infarction in 165 patients, who needed temporary pacing. Medicamentous influencing with Atropine was not very effective and isoprenaline influencing with atropine was not very effective and isoprenaline was used only to brigade the time before the electrode was introduced. From the whole group, 36 patients were selected who had been admitted to the coronary unit within 4 hours after the development of pain. The authors investigated the development and regression of impaired conduction and investigated whether early admission, early diagnosis of bradyarrhythmia and early introduction of temporary pacing affect the patients' prognosis. In the group of patients admitted within 4 hours pacing was needed on admission by 25% of the patients and in the group admitted later by 75.9%. In the majority of early admissions the authors investigated the development of disorders in the course of the first 24 hours. Early admission did not affect the mortality which is high and differs by the site of the infarction. In infarctions of the lower wall 27.3% of the early admissions died and 32.1% of those admitted after the 4th hour. In infarctions of the anterior wall in the group admitted within four hours 57.1% died and in the group admitted after 4 hours 67.3%. The high mortality is associated with the site but in particular with the extent of the necrotic focus. PMID- 2617883 TI - [Gemfibrozil in the treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia]. AB - Within the framework of clinical tests of the preparation Gevilon (gemfibrosil tablets 450 mg) of Parke-Davis Co. this hypolipidaemic preparation was administered to 28 patients with different types of hyperlipoproteinaemia. One month administration of gemfibrosil, 900 mg per day, significantly influenced some parameters of the lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Plasma cholesterol declined by 20%, triglycerides by as much as 60%. On the other hand, the HDL cholesterol level did not change. The concentration of the "risk" apolipoprotein B declined by 11%, that of apolipoprotein A1 which is considered protective from the aspect of ischaemic heart disease increased by 21%. There is a significant decline of lipoprotein Lp(a) which was not described in hypolipidaemic drugs of the clofibrate type. Treatment with Gevilon led also to a marked decline of the serum uric acid level. Gemfibrisol is according to the authors' experience as well as according to the results of other authors an effective hypolipidaemic agent suitable for the majority of patients with hyperlipoproteinaemia. Treatment with gemfibrosil leads to a significant decline of the prevalence of ischaemic heart disease. PMID- 2617884 TI - [Adverse effects of hemapheresis]. AB - The authors performed 1252 haemaphereses, incl. 689 plasmaphereses. They divide the side-reactions as follows: Technical reaction: these do not threaten the donor directly; these reactions were recorded in 4.4%. Clinical reactions--total 6.8%. a) early, b) late. The authors recorded one severe reaction during plasmapheresis, there was however, no fatality. The most frequent reactions were: general symptoms, failure to withdraw blood because of poor state of the veins and hypotension. The authors analyze the importance of the observed reactions. They used continual separators where in general the incidence of reactions is smaller. They investigated also late reactions, in particular after development of infections in donors or in the staff working with the separator. Repeated donors were subjected to detailed immunological examination, no abnormalities were, however, recorded. PMID- 2617885 TI - [Incidence of chronic gastritis in young patients with functional dyspepsia]. AB - The authors made during a 16-month period in 226 patients the diagnosis of functional gastric dyspepsia (144 women and 82 men aged 20 to 50 years). The differentiating criterion was a pathological organic finding in the upper part of the digestive tract, a pathological finding on the liver, gallbladder and pancreas as well as a pathological laboratory finding. The probands were divided by age into two groups and compared with a control group with similar differentiating criteria; however, the latter had no dyspeptic complaints. The differences in the incidence of chronic gastritis were not significant. From the investigation the following conclusions ensue: 1. Chronic gastritis is not the prerequisite factor of dyspepsia. 2. With advancing age the incidence of chronic gastritis increases. In group of men with functional dyspepsia and without it at the age of 35 years a normal antral mucosa is found only in 1/4 and a normal mucosa of the corpus in 1/2, whereby the corresponding figures at the age of 50 are 1/10 and 1/3. In the group of women with functional dyspepsia and without it at the age of 35 years a normal mucosa of the antrum is found in 1/3 and in the corpus in 2/3, the corresponding figures at the age of 50 years are 1/5 and 1/2. Under the age of 50 the authors recorded a higher incidence of chronic gastritis in the male population (antrum 96.1%, corpus 66.7%), as compared with women (antrum 76.9%, corpus 54.8%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617886 TI - [The characteristics of the medical evacuation measures in a railroad accident in Bashkiria]. PMID- 2617887 TI - [Current principles of treating gunshot wounds of the joints at the medical evacuation stage]. PMID- 2617888 TI - [Surgical treatment of traumatic dacryocystitis]. PMID- 2617889 TI - [The efficacy of hyperbaric oxygenation in the combined treatment of patients with atherosclerotic retinal dystrophy]. PMID- 2617890 TI - [The social problems of reforming military public health]. PMID- 2617891 TI - [Dermatologic aspects of AIDS]. PMID- 2617892 TI - [Prophylactic sanitary inspection of radiotechnical equipment]. PMID- 2617893 TI - [Characteristics of the oxygen-transport function of the erythrocytes in acute altitude hypoxia]. PMID- 2617894 TI - [Causes of impairment in the general health status of pilots in flight (2)]. PMID- 2617895 TI - [Acute suppurative diseases of the hand in sailors]. PMID- 2617896 TI - [The work experience of a free-lance consultative allergology office at a district military hospital]. PMID- 2617897 TI - [The use of ultrasound in endarterectomy]. PMID- 2617898 TI - [A modified method for studying gastric secretion]. PMID- 2617899 TI - [The use of novocaine blocks in the combined treatment of the piriform muscle syndrome]. PMID- 2617900 TI - [The complicated course of acute glomerulonephritis]. PMID- 2617901 TI - [The All-Union Exhibition NTTM-89: problems, pursuits, solutions]. PMID- 2617902 TI - [The legal support for perestroika]. PMID- 2617903 TI - [Status and potential for improving medical rehabilitation at the sick bays of military unit medical centers]. PMID- 2617904 TI - [Weltanschauung as the methodologic precept of the physician]. PMID- 2617905 TI - [Towards an improved system of field training standards for the students of a military medicine department]. PMID- 2617906 TI - [The development of individual methods for the teaching of academic disciplines in the system of student military medical training]. PMID- 2617907 TI - [Military medical training during adaptation to the conditions of a mountainous locale]. PMID- 2617908 TI - [The organization of medical care for the victims of the accident on the Komsomolets nuclear submarine]. PMID- 2617909 TI - [Purposefulness and efficacy of political studies]. PMID- 2617910 TI - [The diagnosis of endocrine diseases and metabolic disorders during the performance of an expert military medical evaluation of draftees and servicemen]. PMID- 2617911 TI - [Possibilities for endoscopic diagnosis of stomach cancer at a polyclinic]. PMID- 2617912 TI - [X-ray assessment of the functional status of the diaphragm in degenerative dystrophic lesions of the spine]. PMID- 2617913 TI - [The detection of concomitant pulmonary pathology in cardiology patients at a sanatorium]. PMID- 2617914 TI - [The clinical diagnosis of AIDS in military medical institutions]. PMID- 2617915 TI - [The theoretical bases and practical aspects of military psychophysiology]. PMID- 2617916 TI - [The use of a method of electroacupuncture reflexotherapy for enhancing the work capacity of military drivers]. PMID- 2617917 TI - [Possibilities for the use of aviation simulators during dynamic medical observation of flight personnel]. PMID- 2617918 TI - [Clinico-psychophysiologic evaluation of the effect of pirroksan on the recovery of work capacity in sailors having had viral hepatitis A]. PMID- 2617919 TI - [A device for the parenteral administration of fluid at medical evacuation stages]. PMID- 2617920 TI - [Letter-digit coding of the work of the dentist]. PMID- 2617921 TI - [A universal board on standard stretchers for the transportation immobilization of victims with traumatic fractures]. PMID- 2617922 TI - [Therapeutic and prophylactic work among the missile forces--at a new level of quality]. PMID- 2617923 TI - [Modern foreign ion-selective analyzers]. PMID- 2617924 TI - [Attitudes toward servicemen infected with the AIDS virus in the armed forces of the USA]. PMID- 2617925 TI - [The effect of thymoptin on enzymatic fibrinolysis]. AB - Stimulation of fibrinolysis, decrease in content of fibrinogen and inhibitors were observed after intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous administrations of thymoptine preparation (complex of peptides, isolated from mammalian thymus) at doses of 0.1 microgram, 1.0 microgram/200 g of rat body mass. A more long-term effect was found after a course of treatment involving 5 subcutaneous or intramuscular injections (1.0 microgram). Single intravenous administration of thymoptine (0.1 microgram/200 g) caused a moderate thrombolytic action. Development of thrombosis, provoked by subtotal dose of thrombin, was inhibited after subcutaneous injection of the preparation. PMID- 2617926 TI - [Properties of monoamine oxidase in the brain of mongolian gerbils during cerebral ischemia]. AB - Properties of monoamine oxidase (MAO) were investigated in mongolian gerbils brain mitochondria isolated from cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus during cerebral ischemia. 5 min of ischemia caused inhibition of MAO activity (kynuramine as a substrate), alterations in substrate specificity and in kinetic curves form deflexion from hyperbolic type in all the brain structures investigated. Alterations in properties of MAO were observed in hippocampus already after I min of ischemia. PMID- 2617927 TI - [Antithrombotic effect of protein C activator from a snake venom]. AB - Influence of the protein C activator from snake venom on blood coagulation was studied. Incubation of different concentrations of the activator with rat blood plasma resulted in a dose-dependent prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Cleavage of the protein C to the active form was detected by electrophoresis. Intravenous administration of the activator (100 mg/kg) into rats led to prolongation of APTT to 242 +/- 80%, to increase in the plasminogen activator level to 145 +/- 29% and to decrease in the factor V activity to 57 +/- 14%. When thrombosis was induced by means of administration of the thromboplastin lethal dose, pretreatment with the activator prevented animal death in 90% of cases. The effects of the activator observed appear to occur via transformation of the endogenous protein C into its active form. PMID- 2617928 TI - [Determination of corticosterone in the rat plasma using adsorption micro-HPLC]. AB - A simple and sensitive procedure is developed for estimation of corticosterone in rat blood plasma. The procedure involved extraction of the substance with methylene chloride in alkaline medium followed by adsorption micro-HPLC on Silasorb 600 in the system of chloroform-methanol using cortisone as an internal standard. The assay enabled to estimate as low as 10 pmole of corticosterone per a sample within 20 min (including 6 min for the chromatographic separation). Efficiency of the assay was confirmed by dynamic estimations of corticosterone content in rat blood during acute alcohol intoxication. PMID- 2617929 TI - [The use of ammonium sulfate for the preparation of control sera with elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol]. AB - Fractionation of human blood serum, using ammonium sulfate and dextran sulfate, enabled to obtain fractions containing lipoproteins of low and high density as well as lipoproteins of very low density including low density lipoproteins. The fractions obtained could be used for special enrichment of native blood serum with known classes of lipoproteins in order to produce blood serum containing high amount of cholesterol, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, respectively, required for control evaluation of lipid assays. PMID- 2617930 TI - [Lipid peroxidation and endogenous phospholipase hydrolysis during trauma and graded hypothermic load]. AB - Rates of lipid peroxidation and endogenous phospholipase hydrolysis were studied under conditions of simultaneous moderate hypothermia and traumatic ischemia of muscles. Activation of the reactions studied, which was expressed as an increase in content of malonic dialdehyde and free fatty acids, was of importance for pathogenesis of muscles impairments occurring in trauma. Local cooling affected favourably these patterns of lipid metabolism. PMID- 2617931 TI - [Phospholipid-glycerides, cross-resistance of erythrocytes, malonic dialdehyde level and alpha-tocopherol levels in the plasma and erythrocytes of rats with alloxan diabetes before and after combined antioxidant therapy]. AB - Quantitative and qualitative alterations in content of phospholipids were studied in erythrocytes of rats with alloxan diabetes: rate of lipid peroxidation and content of L-tocopherol were estimated in blood plasma before and after the antioxidant therapy. Patterns of lipid metabolism were normalized after the course of treatment involving simultaneous administration of L-tocopherol and ascorbic acid within 10-15 days. The antioxidants used decreased the rate of lipid peroxidation in erythrocyte membranes and stimulated biosynthesis of phospholipids de novo. Role of antioxidants in phospholipid metabolism is discussed. PMID- 2617932 TI - [Biochemical changes in the connective tissue components of malignant tumors and lungs in mice during metastatic spreading and chemotherapy]. AB - The highest content of hydroxyproline, hexuronic acids and hexoses was found in nonmetastatic tumor tissue Ca 755 of mice as compared with metastatic neoplasms carcinoma 3LL and melanoma B-16. Development of melanoma B-16 metastases involved the active lung stromal reaction, while carcinoma 3LL metastatic spreading did not cause any distinct connective tissue reactions in lungs. Non-toxic doses of drugs, operating via dissimilar mechanisms (cyclophosphane, trielin, parmidine), resulted in similar alterations of the connective tissue components studied in primary tumors of both carcinoma 3LL and melanoma B-16. Content of hydroxyproline, hexuronic acids and hexoses was increased in lung tissue of mice with carcinoma 3LL, simultaneously with distinct inhibition of metastases development after administration of these drugs. The chemotherapeutic treatment did not increase the stromal reaction of lungs with metastases of melanoma B-16 and its antimetastatic effect was less distinct as compared with carcinoma 3LL. PMID- 2617933 TI - [Indices of human erythrocytes resistance to oxidative stress]. AB - Dynamics of alterations in activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-peroxidase (GPx) and-reductase (GR) as well as shifts in content of malonic dialdehyde and in oxidative index values were studied in erythrocytes of 108 persons after the red blood cells contact with molecular oxygen within 70 min; a decrease in values of oxidative index and activation of the enzymatic activity studied were found All the alterations observed were distinctly higher in erythrocyte membranes and depended on the membranes structure and initial activity of the membrane-bound antioxidative enzymes. Treatment of erythrocyte membranes with solutions of high ionic strength showed that catalase and SOD were less rigidly bound to membrane as compared with GPx and GR. Distribution of SOD, GPx and GR activities was similar to normal values in the membranes, while the catalase activity distribution did not follow the Gauss equation. Thus, erythrocyte membranes were divided into two types, depending on the rate of catalase activity (high or low). The first type of membranes with high catalase activity were found to be resistant to peroxidation, exhibited high activity of SOD and low activity of GPx, content of cholesterol was decreased in these membranes. PMID- 2617934 TI - [Age-related characteristics of corticosteroid interactions with blood transport proteins]. AB - In blood of old rats the content of corticosteroid transport proteins was decreased, as a result of which their balance was distorted and negative cooperativity between transcortin-binding sites developed. Values of Hill coefficient were below 1 in the hormone-protein interactions, which appears to occur due to polymerization of the protein or to appearance of unknown factors(s) in blood of old animals. After treatment of the old rats blood serum with activated charcoal the steroid-binding transcortin capacity and its affinity to hormone was increased and the negative cooperativity was not observed. PMID- 2617935 TI - [Antioxidant deficiency and reaction of tissues on the acute emotional-pain stress]. AB - Activity of physiological antioxidant system was decreased while lipid peroxidation was increased in blood, brain, paradontium and submaxillary salivary gland under conditions of acute pain-emotional stress, deficiency of antioxidants and of their combined effect. Deficiency of antioxidants caused the most pronounced stress-dependent activation of lipid peroxidation in parodontium; less distinct reactions were observed in brain and submaxillary salivary gland. PMID- 2617936 TI - [The effect of tetracycline and silibore on lipid peroxidation in the liver od rats of various age]. AB - As shown by accumulation of malonic dialdehyde and chemiluminescence rate monitoring tetracycline activated both NADPH- and ascorbate-dependent lipid peroxidation in liver tissue of 1, 3, 12 and 24 months old rats. The most distinct induction of lipid peroxidation was observed in old animals, which appears to occur due to a decrease in efficiency of NADPH-GSH-dependent enzymatic antioxidant system. Silibore prevented the stimulating effect of tetracycline on enzymatic and nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation, being apparently involved in hepatoprotective effect. PMID- 2617937 TI - [Effective method of simultaneous extraction from the urine and purification of tissue kallikrein and acid-stable trypsin inhibitor]. AB - A simple preparative procedure is developed for simultaneous isolation from urine of tissue kallikrein and acid stable trypsin inhibitor. The procedure involved adsorption of these proteins on chitosan at pH 5-6 and the subsequent elution with 1 N NH4OH, which enabled to obtain the enzyme and inhibitor with a yield of 80-90% and to purify 10-fold each of these components. Use of chitosan facilitated and simplified distinctly the large scale isolation from urine of the kallikrein and trypsin inhibitor, required for medicinal and diagnostic purposes. PMID- 2617938 TI - [The effect of low temperatures on fatty acid composition of plasmalogen and diacyl phospholipids from the rat liver]. AB - Content of unsaturated fatty acids was increased in rat liver phospholipids under conditions of low temperatures: +10 degrees and +3 degrees within 2 weeks. At the same time, length of hydrocarbonic chains, even and odd orders of fatty acids and content of minor acids were altered in plasmalogen and diacyl forms of liver tissue phospholipids. These alterations were distinctly dissimilar under various temperature conditions. PMID- 2617939 TI - [The effect of antioxidants on the activity of acid hydrolases in blood leukocytes from patients with leukoplakia of mouth mucosa]. AB - Activity of acid hydrolases, alkaline phosphatase and leucine aminopeptidase was studied in leukocytes of patients with leukoplakia of mouth mucosa before and after the treatment involving antioxidant drugs. The enzymatic activity studied was increased in leukoplakia. Cryotherapy combined with antioxidants and the treatment with antioxidants only contributed to a decrease in these enzymes activity. PMID- 2617940 TI - [The effect of benzonal on the functional activity of liver monooxygenase system un thermal injury]. AB - Activity and content of main microsomal enzymes in liver tissue as well as the patterns of "hexenal" and antipyrine tests were studied after treatment with benzonale (inductor of the monooxygenase system) of rats and rabbits with burns. Distinctly inhibited activity of amidopyrine demethylase and aniline hydroxylase as well as content of protein, cytochromes P-450 and b5 were restored in liver microsomal fraction within 3 and 6 days after intragastric administration of benzonale at a dose of 50 mg/kg into rats with burns. Duration of the effect of hexenal was decreased in benzonale treated animals as compared with the drug sedative effect in control animals with burns. At the same time, reduction of the antipyrine half-elimination period and an increase in its metabolic clearance were observed in rabbits with burns of the III B degree, corresponding to impairment of 6-7% body surface. Benzonale may be efficiently used in complex treatment course of patients with burns in order to restore the liver tissue detoxicating function within early periods, to avoid more effectively the impairments of the patients internal medium, to create optimal biochemical conditions for acceleration of biosynthetic and oxidative reactions in cells. PMID- 2617941 TI - [Mechanisms of changes in the functional state of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in atherosclerosis]. AB - Homeostasis of calcium was impaired in polymorphonuclear leukocytes of patients with atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels. Transformation of leukocyte membrane properties, related to Ca2+ permeability, was observed. At the same time, in some of these patients alterations of blood serum characteristics were found, which acquired an ability to sensitize the leukocyte Ca2+-transport system to the effect of activators. PMID- 2617942 TI - [Comparative analysis of the lipid-protein spectrum of lipoproteins and fatty acid composition of lipids in plasma and erythrocytes of native populations of Chukotka and Moscow]. AB - A lower content of total cholesterol, triglycerides, cholesterol of low density lipoproteins (LDL) and apo B as well as a higher content of cholesterol in high density lipoproteins (HDL) were found in coast and continental Chuckchee land inhabitants as compared with moscowites, which are dissimilar in consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3. At the same time, the lower content of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and higher concentration of HDL cholesterol were detected in blood plasma of coast inhabitants as compared with continental residents of the Chuckchee land, while content of apo B and triglycerides was similar. Concentration of apoA-I was the same in all three groups of the persons examined. The diet of coast Chuchkchee land inhabitants, involving the higher level of unsaturated fatty acids n-3, resulted in the higher ratio between HDL cholesterol and apoA-I, in the higher part of unsaturated fatty acids n-3 in blood plasma lipids (phospholipids and cholesterol esters) and erythrocytes; it led to a relative increase of sphingomyelin and phosphatidyl-ethanolamine and to a decrease of phosphatidylcholine in HDL subfractions. The data obtained suggest that the diet, enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3, exhibited the generalized effect on fatty acid composition of a number of cell membranes and, hence, on their functions. PMID- 2617943 TI - [Quantitative gas chromatographic determination of volatile fatty acids in express diagnosis of nonclostridial anaerobic infection]. AB - Gas chromatographic procedure was used for quantitative estimation of metabolic [volatile fatty acids (C2-C6)] of anaerobic bacteria in express diagnosis of nonclostridial anaerobic infection in surgical patients with purulent bacterial destruction of lungs and with abdominal impairments as well as in patients with calculous cholecystitis. Only traces of acid metabolites were detected in donor blood. A 10-30-fold increase in their content in blood of patients with surgical and gynecologic sepsis enabled to diagnose the anaerobic form of the disease. PMID- 2617944 TI - [Metabolism of glycolipids in the rat brain during acute and chronic ethanol administration]. AB - Increase in content of sulfatides I and II and a decrease in cerebrosides was found in brain of rats after acute alcoholization with 25% ethanol, 4 g/kg, intragastric administration. In this case incorporation of 1,2-14C-ethanol into cerebrosides II and III was decreased. Content of sulfatides I was increased, while specific radioactivity of cerebrosides III--decreased as a result of chronic alcohol intoxication (25% ethanol, intragastric administration, 7 g/kg daily within 21 days). PMID- 2617945 TI - [Synthesis of mitochondrial proteins in isoproterenol-induced damage of the rat myocardium]. AB - A rate of 14C-amino acids incorporation into mitochondrial proteins was studied during necrosis of myocardium developed after intraperitoneal injection of ( )isoproterenol to 1-, 3- and 6 months old rats. The rate of label incorporation into the outer membranes fraction was decreased in all the age groups studied, whereas incorporation of the label into the fraction of inner membranes was increased in myocardium of 1 month old rats and decreased in other age groups. Proteins of mitochondrial inner membrane were fractionated by means of electrophoresis in 10% polyacrylamide gel. In the group of 3 months old animals 23 fractions were detected, while only 18 fractions were found in 1- and 6 months old rats. PMID- 2617946 TI - [Characteristics of lipid peroxidation in alcoholic intoxication]. AB - Content of malonic dialdehyde and dynamics of its accumulation in ascorbate dependent lipid peroxidation (LP), content of diene conjugates, lipid hydroperoxides and lipofuscin-like pigments as well as activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase) were studied in homogenates of liver, lung, heart and kidney tissues of persons suffering from chronic alcoholism during life-time, of persons lost from acute alcohol intoxication as well as of persons not abusing with alcohol during life-time and lost from accidents (control). In chronic alcoholism the rate of ascorbate-dependent LP was distinctly increased in liver tissue as compared with controls or with acute mortal alcohol intoxication, while the rate of the patterns studied was increased in lung tissue of the latter group of patients. At the same time, increase in content of lipofuscin-like pigments and a decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes studied were noted. PMID- 2617947 TI - [The effect of glucagon and concanavalin A on cholesterol accumulation in mouse peritoneal macrophages and human aorta intima cells]. AB - Glucagon and concanavalin A were administered into cell cultures of mice peritoneal macrophages and human intima aorta simultaneously with atherogenous blood serum, obtained from patients with ischemic heart disease, or with acetylated and native low density lipo-proteins. Their effect was dissimilar: glucagon decreased accumulation of intracellular cholesterol and the rate of 3H thymidine incorporation into these cells, while concanavalin A increased the patterns studied. Cellular lysosomes appear to participate in atherogenesis, these results suggest that regulation of lysosomal apparatus may occur at the step of secondary lysosomes formation. PMID- 2617948 TI - [The ratio of collagens type I and III in cultures of human fibroblasts with diploid and aberrant chromosome complement]. AB - The ratio of collagens I/III was studied in human diploid, trisomic and triploid fibroblast strains. The following material was used in experiments: 5 strains obtained from human spontaneous abortuses (trisomy 7, trisomy 9, triploidy), 6 diploid embryonic strains, 4 strains from patients with Down syndrome, 3 strains from healthy children, 4 strains from healthy adult donors and 3 strains from very old persons (81-107 years old). Various types of collagen were separated by means of electrophoresis. Distinct ontogenetic alterations were not observed in content of collagen III in diploid and aneuploid human cultivated fibroblasts. However, considerable alterations in the ratio of collagens I/III correlated with genetic pathologies only in the patients examined. PMID- 2617949 TI - [Physico-chemical and catalytic properties of hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase in thrombocytes from blood donors and patients with hemophilia A]. AB - Studies of some physico-chemical and catalytic properties of hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase HGPRT) in thrombocytes of donors and patients with hemophilia A showed that kinetic parameters (Km, Vmax) of the enzyme were similar both under normal and pathological conditions. However, some differences were detected in thermolability and inhibition of HGPRT by purine metabolites: IMP, GMP and inosine. These data suggest that molecular impairment may occur in HGPRT under conditions of hemophilia A. PMID- 2617950 TI - Leukocyte-poor platelet concentrates at the bedside by filtration through Sepacell-PL. AB - We developed a new filter, 'Sepacell-PL', consisting of a blood administration set for the preparation of leukocyte-poor platelet concentrates at the patient's bedside. This filter is packed with 1.8 microns polyester fibers coated with a new polymer, and has a volume of 14 ml. Sepacell-PL removed more than 99% of the leukocytes while approximately 93% of platelets were recovered from 10 units of platelet concentrates which contained 5 x 10(8) leukocytes and 3 x 10(11) platelets. The functions of pre- and postfiltrated platelets were unchanged. The filtration procedure is very simple, without priming with saline to remove air and wet the filter. Moreover, platelet concentrates can be passed through the filter at a flow rate of 4 ml/min, or at a higher flow rate of 54 ml/min by gravity. PMID- 2617951 TI - Development of lymphocytotoxic and platelet reactive antibodies: a prospective study in patients with acute leukaemia. AB - Lymphocytotoxic (LCT) and platelet reactive (PR) antibody (Ab) responses were serially determined in 49 patients with acute leukaemia. LCTAb were found in 20 patients and occurred in 13 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and 7 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Four differing patterns of LCTAb responses could be defined. Thirteen of 22 subjects showed marked reduction or loss of LCTAb. Indirect platelet immunofluorescence, measured by flow cytometry, provided the most convenient means of detecting PRAb which were found in 11 subjects and generally showed moderate or weak reactivity. PMID- 2617952 TI - Platelet anti-Bakb antibody associated with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. AB - A platelet alloantibody of IgG class but unknown specificity was detected in the serum from the mother of an infant with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. The antibody reacted by indirect immunofluorescence with 33/65 random donors, 10/11 Baka-negative donors and 23/54 Baka-positive donors. The mother's platelet phenotype was PLA1, Koa, Kob, Baka and the father's was PLA1, Koa, Kob, Baka. Immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation of maternal serum with paternal platelets produced a band at molecular weight 140 kilodaltons identical to the band obtained with Baka antiserum. Family studies confirmed the allelic distribution of Baka and the unknown antigen. The platelet-specific antibody in this patient meets the criteria for an antibody to the new platelet antigen, Bakb. PMID- 2617953 TI - Rifampin-induced immune thrombocytopenia. A case report. AB - In this report, a case of rifampin-induced immune thrombocytopenia with the following characteristics is described: (a) thrombocytopenia follows intermittent drug administration; (b) onset occurs within hours of drug ingestion; (c) IgG antirifampin antibody binds in vitro to normal platelets only in the presence of rifampin; (d) thrombocytopenia resolves quickly in the absence of rifampin; (e) using immunofluorescence microscopy, IgG binding to normal platelets was seen with the patient's serum only in the presence of rifampin, and (f) using fluorescence spectrofluorometry, an absence of rifampin binding to normal platelets was demonstrated. Although the serological studies are not definitive, the mechanism of thrombocytopenia in the patient can best be explained by the formation of immune complexes composed of rifampin-antirifampin antibody binding to platelets causing their rapid clearance from the circulation. PMID- 2617954 TI - Characterization of a neuraminidase from Corynebacterium aquaticum responsible for Th polyagglutination. AB - Th polyagglutinability is characterized by the agglutination of the red blood cells (RBC) by Arachis hypogaea, Medicago disciformis, Vicia cretica but, in contrast to the T phenomenon, not by Glycine max (Glycine soja). Because Th transformation of RBC has been obtained in vitro, the mechanism of Th polyagglutinability expression has been studied and reproduced experimentally. An enzyme with neuraminidase specificity has been isolated from the culture supernatant of Corynebacterium aquaticum, and further characterized (MW = 55,600 kDa, pH = 5.5, Km = 0.138 microM, Kcat = 0.22 micrograms). Reversely, Th transformation of RBC could be obtained by using other neuraminidases but in very mild conditions of hydrolysis. From our results, it can be concluded that by the release of less than 20 micrograms of sialic acid per 10(10) RBC, Th reactivity can be induced whereas hydrolysis of greater amounts of sialic acid (greater than 20 micrograms/10(10) RBC) give the classical T polyagglutinability. PMID- 2617955 TI - New approach to eliminate HLA class I antigens from platelet surface without cell damage: acid treatment at pH 3.0. AB - A new method was studied for eliminating HLA class I antigens from the surface of platelets without damaging the cells. Platelets were exposed to an acid solution (pH 3.0) to eliminate the antigenicity of HLA class I antigens. The reduction in antigenicities of HLA class I common antigen and individual HLA class I antigens by acid treatment was marked. Patients' sera which contained multispecific HLA antibodies reacted with PBS-treated platelets, but not with acid-treated platelets. No changes were observed in the antigenicities of glycoprotein Ib or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa. The viability of acid-treated platelets was 83%. Ultrastructural investigations revealed no significant difference between the PBS treated platelets and acid-treated platelets. The platelet function studies showed that the aggregation of acid-treated platelets induced by various agonists was only slightly reduced compared with PBS-treated platelets. We propose that acid-treated platelets are promising for clinical use in patients refractory to platelet transfusions and may be superior to chloroquine-treated platelets for analysis of the specificity of antiplatelet antibodies. PMID- 2617956 TI - A novel human alloantibody in the Gerbich system. AB - A Gerbich-negative Leach phenotype individual was identified on the basis of distinct morphological, biochemical, and serological characteristics of her red blood cells. This individual has produced an antibody which was reactive with the various Gerbich phenotypes including Ge:-2,3 (Yus type) and Ge:-2,-3 (Ge type) cells; only her own and Leach phenotype cells were non-reactive. It is suggested that this antibody represents an example of a new specificity, one which defines the Leach phenotype, in the Gerbich system. PMID- 2617957 TI - A new platelet-specific antigen, Naka, involved in the refractoriness of HLA matched platelet transfusion. AB - Serum from a thrombocytopenic patient who was refractory to the transfusions of HLA-matched platelets contained a platelet-specific alloantibody, anti-Naka. Immunofluorescence analyses revealed that the Naka antigen defined by the serum was expressed exclusively on platelets and its distribution was different from P1A1, Baka, Yuka or Yukb. Analysis by Dr. von dem Borne's group revealed the Naka was also different from Koa, Kob or Zwb. Family studies showed that the Naka antigen was inherited as an autosomal codominant trait. Its antigen frequency in the Japanese population was over 97%. The results of the enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies for antigen immobilization showed that the Naka epitope did not appear to reside on GPIIb/IIIa or Ib. The transfusions of Naka-compatible platelets improved the patient's thrombocytopenia. PMID- 2617958 TI - Absence of seroconversion in a PCR-positive person 18 months after transfusion of HIV-infected blood. PMID- 2617959 TI - Properties of a highly purified human plasma factor IX:c therapeutic concentrate prepared by conventional chromatography. AB - We have characterized a highly purified (HP) factor IX concentrate intended for therapy of hemophilia B. The product has been prepared from pooled human plasma using a large-scale procedure combining three conventional chromatographic steps based on DEAE ion exchange and affinity on immobilized heparin. The specific activity of the product was 119 +/- 10 IU factor IX:c/mg protein (n = 15), corresponding to a purification factor of about 9,000. The concentrate was free of the vitamin K-dependent clotting factors II, VII and X and of proteins C and S. Most of the contaminants found in factor IX complex concentrate (PCC) were absent in this new product. High-molecular-weight kininogen, factors VIII, XI, XII or prekallikrein were not detected. There were no activated factors, such as factors IXa, and Xa, no thrombin and no phospholipids. Only two contaminants could be detected: C4 and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (about 0.8 and 1.2 mg/1,000 IU factor IX:c, respectively). The purity of the product, as compared to PCC, was confirmed by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, cellulose acetate electrophoresis, Grabar-Williams immunoelectrophoresis, and bidimensional immunoelectrophoresis. Thrombogenicity tests in rabbits revealed that the HP factor IX tested had a lower thrombogenic power than the PCC tested. The concentrate has been subjected to a 0.3% tri(n-butyl) phosphate-1% Tween 80 treatment for 6h at 25 degrees C during its production to reduce or eliminate the risk of transmission of plasma-borne lipid-enveloped viruses. These conditions inactivated more than 3.8 log10 of vesicular stomatitis virus and more than 4.3 log10 of sindbis virus within 1 and 2 h of treatment, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2617960 TI - A semi-continuous method for purification of factor IX complex from human plasma. AB - We report the development of a semi-continuous method for preparation of factor IX complex from human plasma using ion exchange resins. Traditionally, stirred batch adsorption has been used due to the high pressure drops and low flow rates associated with soft gels in packed columns. Batch methods, however, typically involve higher labor costs and are more cumbersome in process environments. In the semi-continuous process, cryo-supernatant plasma is pumped through a 'stirred column' containing the resin. At both lab and pilot scale, higher recoveries of factor IX (FIX) were obtained at decreased total process times, compared to batch adsorption. A residence time of 15 min was found to be sufficient for capture of 95% of the FIX in the starting plasma. In the pilot plant, 550 liters of plasma was passed through a 50-liter column containing 8.5 liters of resin, yielding a 68% recovery of FIX. The results suggest that the recovery of FIX depends on the mode of contact (batch, continuous or packed column) between plasma and resin. PMID- 2617961 TI - The role of antibody density in the immune lysis of sensitised erythrocytes. A mathematical appreciation. AB - The influence of sensitizing antibody density on target cell selection by effector monocytes was examined by modifying the sensitization of red cells either by dilution of the antiserum, variation of the number of erythrocytes or both in a cold target competition assay of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Human A1 and B erythrocyte target and competitor cells were employed in the presence of hyperimmune anti-A and anti-B sera at concentrations above that necessary for saturation of red cells with respect to lytic susceptibility. When the number of red cells was kept constant and the dilution of antisera was varied a linear relationship between the competitive capacity of erythrocytes and the concentration of sensitizing antiserum was observed. When the number of target (competitor) cells and the concentration of antisera were varied simultaneously it was apparent that the competitive capacity was dependent upon the relative densities of the sensitizing antibodies. When competition was tested in the presence of suboptimal concentrations of complement, rather than effector cells it was observed that, in common with ADCC, the effectiveness of cold competition was dependent upon the concentration of sensitizing antibody. PMID- 2617962 TI - Weak B antigens and heterogeneity of monoclonal anti-B reagents. PMID- 2617963 TI - DNA recommendation. Executive Committee of the International Society for Forensic Haemogenetics. PMID- 2617964 TI - [The intracavernosal administration of papaverine in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders in men]. AB - The authors examined 68 patients with different forms of copulative disorders. They studied the efficacy of intracavernous administration of papaverine in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders in males. A new method of diagnosis of sexual disorders of organic (vascular) nature in males was developed and practically employed. The efficacy of intracavernous administration of papaverine in the treatment of different forms of copulative disorders in males is analyzed. PMID- 2617965 TI - [A method for determining human thermal resistance]. AB - The authors developed and approved a method of determination of the thermal stability of man. To realize this method it is not necessary to apply heat to the body and special apparatus. The method is based on determination of deflection of the peripheral resistance in the greater circulation from the standard value and time of thermal hemolysis of erythrocytes. PMID- 2617966 TI - [The evaluation of body nonspecific resistance in workers at hot-rolling shops and the prevention of maladaptive changes]. PMID- 2617967 TI - [The significance of an alpine climate in the combined treatment of occupational diseases]. AB - The authors studied the influence of mountain climate (altitude: 2200 m) on the course of chronic dust-induced bronchitis, pneumoconiosis and vibration disease in 45 patients. It was found that a 1-month stay of patients with dust-induced bronchitis and pneumoconiosis in the mountains results in a positive clinical effect is accompanied by amelioration of the external respiratory function, positive changes of the hemodynamic values. Mountain climate treatment was ineffective in vibration disease. PMID- 2617968 TI - [The significance of yeastlike fungi of the genus Candida in the clinical picture of candidiasis of the oral mucosa]. AB - Results are reported of a study of the antilysozyme activity of 72 strains of yeastlike Candida fungi. A comparative analysis is made of the antilysozyme activity of yeastlike Candida fungi isolated in patients of all age groups. The authors emphasize the relation of these factors to variants of the clinical course of the oral cavity mucosa candidosis, Candida carrier state and capacity of Candida fungi to persistence. It is recommended to use the antilysozyme test for predicting the course of the disease. PMID- 2617969 TI - [Virus-induced receptors on the lymphocytes of HBsAg-negative donors]. AB - The authors proposed an immunological examination of donors. The proposed method allows to diagnose HB infection in case of it HB Ao negative forms and may be used in testing donors for detection of hazard groups from the epidemiological point of view. PMID- 2617970 TI - [The significance of sialic acids and changes in the noncellular structures of the vascular walls in the development of brain edema in meningoencephalitis]. AB - A biochemical study of the level of sialic acids in the blood of 60 patients and pathomorphological examination of autopsy material in 32 cases of meningoencephalitis of different etiology allowed to establish a certain relationship between the state of noncellular substance of vessel walls and the level of sialic acids in the blood playing a certain role in the pathogenesis of edema-swelling of the brain. PMID- 2617971 TI - [A case of hemochromatosis]. PMID- 2617972 TI - [The vitamin B1 and C content in the tissues of animals with thyrotoxicosis]. AB - The authors studied the effect of toxic doses of thyroxin on the content of vitamins C and B1 in different tissues of rats. On the 15-th day after administration of thyroxin one could observe a reduction of thiamin in the tissues of the animals. These changes were most pronounced in the liver. The content of vitamin in the tissues also showed a reduction. These changes in the content of the ascorbic acid occurred after prolonged administration of thyroxin. PMID- 2617973 TI - [The role of mental and social factors in the development of digestive organ diseases in young people]. AB - An epidemiological examination carried out in 586 persons (age: 14-20 years) with consideration of psychosocial factors allowed to distinguish a group of social risk (385 (persons). Prophylactic and therapeutic measures in 84 persons during the prodromal stage of digestive diseases allowed to prevent or delay in most cases development of this pathology. PMID- 2617974 TI - [The effect of food intake, atropine and No-spa on autonomic tonus and hemodynamic indices in patients with peptic ulcer]. AB - A study of 40 patients with duodenal ulcer by means of methods of variational pulsimetry and tetrapolar rheography revealed noncoordination of the regulation of the central and regional hemodynamics after intake of food. Atropin produced an inhibitory effect on the central hemodynamics, reduction of blood volume in the abdominal cavity after No-spa intake. PMID- 2617975 TI - [Erythrocyte function in patients with complicated peptic ulcer]. AB - A study of 63 patients with uncomplicated forms of ulcer of the duodenum revealed an increased aggregation activity of erythrocytes, reduction of their capacity to deformation, abnormal stability to oxygen hemolysis, increase of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes. These disorders of the functional state of erythrocytes depended on the character of complication of the ulcer disease and are related to activation of the processes of lipid peroxidation. Antioxidant drugs are indicated. PMID- 2617976 TI - [An antioxidant deficiency in patients with peptic ulcer]. PMID- 2617977 TI - [The use of endoscopic follow-up in choosing the method of treatment of patients with peptic ulcer]. AB - The authors report their experience with endoscopic control in the choice of adequate conservative treatment of patients with ulcer disease in the course of out- and inpatients treatment of 262 persons. It was found that the efficacy of endoscopic control rises during its performance within one year three times and more, especially in grave cases. Such dynamic endoscopic control favours reduction of the number of recurrences of the disease and its complications. PMID- 2617978 TI - [The postcholecystectomy syndrome in peptic ulcer]. AB - Results are reported of examination and treatment of 26 patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer which was the cause of postcholecystectomy syndrome and was often not diagnosed before the operation. Roentgenography of the gastrointestinal tract and fibrogastroduodenoscopy helps to establish the diagnosis. Treatment in a gastroenterological clinic and health-resort treatment allow to improve long-term results in this category of patients. PMID- 2617979 TI - [Microcirculatory disorders in patients with long-term nonhealing stomach ulcers]. AB - The state of systemic microcirculation according to data of biomicroscopy of the bulbar conjunctiva blood vessels was evaluated in 124 patients with prolonged nonhealing gastric ulcer and in 49 them microcirculation in the ulcer zone was assessed. It was shown that both the general and the local microcirculation showed essential disorders in this category of patients. This favoured a torpid course of the disease and requires to be considered in the treatment strategy. PMID- 2617980 TI - [A method of questionnaire sampling of patients in assessing the late results of selective proximal and truncal vagotomies]. AB - An analysis of questionnaires distributed among 243 patients with a history of selective and truncal vagotomy for duodenal ulcer indicates that questionnaires are an effective method of detecting late postoperative complications. An analysis of results of surgical treatment of these patients revealed a more favourable course of the late postoperative period after selective proximal vagotomy and gastric drainage procedure. PMID- 2617981 TI - [Clinico-morphologic comparisons in mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis]. AB - Clinical, morphological and immunological examination was carried out in 146 patients with mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis. The differences in the clinical manifestations of the disease were not significant. The lobular variant was more frequently distinguished by microhematuria, increased level of creatine and reduction of the blood serum complement. Morphological examination showed a significant increase of the mesangial matrix in the center of glomerular lobules. PMID- 2617982 TI - [Radiation thermometry and contact thermometry in patients with pyelonephritis]. AB - A study is presented of 79 patients with acute and chronic pyelonephritis examined by means of dynamic calorimetry and contact thermometry. Thermal asymmetry of the lumbar region were revealed in 22 patients by means of contact thermometry. Dynamic calorimetry revealed changes of the transitional process in 75 patients as compared with the control. CONCLUSION: the method has a diagnostic value. PMID- 2617983 TI - [The results of the combined treatment of patients with chronic bronchitis]. PMID- 2617984 TI - [A case of primary extraorganic echinococcosis of the mediastinum]. PMID- 2617985 TI - [The diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis combined with chronic bronchitis in middle-aged and elderly subjects]. AB - Investigation of patients 60 years of age and older with different clinical forms of pulmonary tuberculosis revealed chronic bronchitis in 76-80%, obstructive bronchitis--in 1/3 of all cases. The diagnosis of chronic bronchitis in most cases is established on the basis of clinico-roentgenological and functional examination and partially by fiber bronchoscopy. Chronic bronchitis essentially changes the semeiotics, exacerbates the course and worsens the outcome in tubercular patients with associated pathology. PMID- 2617986 TI - [The ceruloplasmin and lipid peroxidation indices in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - Blood ceruloplasmin, dienic conjugates and molonic dialdehyde was evaluated in 203 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 40 blood donors. It was established that the level of dienic conjugates in erythrocytes was substantially elevated in patients with focal tuberculosis. In disseminated and infiltrative tuberculosis all above values were significantly elevated. In patients with fibrous-cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis the ceruloplasmin and dienic conjugates level was moderately increased while the level of molonic dialdehyde was distinctly elevated. PMID- 2617987 TI - [The use of thymalin in the combined chemotherapy of patients with infiltrative destructive pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - Results are reported of the treatment of 116 patients with a control group pulmonary tuberculosis. Patients of the main group (76 persons) received thymalin at the early stages of chemotherapy. Results were compared with a control group. It is shown that immunochemotherapy allows to increase the treatment efficacy earlier with a parallel restoration of cellular immunity indices. PMID- 2617988 TI - [External respiratory characteristics of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]. PMID- 2617989 TI - [Heart rupture as a complication of myocardial infarct]. AB - The main causes of sudden death of patients suffering myocardial infarction are described. The authors established based on autopsy data the frequency, location, time of development, causes of possible pathogenetic mechanisms and morphology of ruptures of the heart in acute myocardial infarction. PMID- 2617990 TI - [Myoglobin and nickel in the blood of patients in the acute period of myocardial infarct]. AB - The content of blood nickel and myoglobin was studied in 25 patients with macrofocal and transmural myocardial infarction during the acute stage. It was established that acute myocardial infarction results in an increase of the content of nickel and myoglobin in the blood of these patients. The diagnostic importance of these examinations is discussed. PMID- 2617991 TI - [The effectiveness of digoxin and sidnofarm in the initial stages of chronic circulatory failure]. AB - Digoxin and sidnopharm were used in the treatment of 60 patients with initial stages of chronic circulatory insufficiency in IHD with a maintained sinus rhythm. It was established that sidnopharm in adequately selected doses possesses an essential antianginal effect with minor manifestations of side-effects, results in a favourable hemodynamic unloading of the heart and may be used in monotherapy of these patients. PMID- 2617992 TI - [The role of immunogenetic research in studying hypertension]. AB - The distribution of antigens of the main complex of histocompatibility was studied in 50 patients suffering of hypertensive disease complicated by cerebrovascular disfunction of the brain. A correlation was found between the development of hypertensive disease and several antigens. Results of the study confirm the role of the role of the genetic factor in the development of hypertensive disease and the significance of immunogenetic investigations. PMID- 2617993 TI - [Essentiale in the treatment of hypertension in patients in the older age groups]. AB - The authors studied the effect of essentiale on the clinical course, state of central hemodynamics and content of prostaglandins in the blood and urine of patients with hypertensive disease. Age of the patients: middle--from 45 to 59 years and elderly--from 60 to 74 years. It is suggested that the hypotensive effect of essentiale is caused by a reduction of the total peripheral resistance while its humoral basis is an increase of the depressor potential of plasma and renal prostaglandins. Age-related differences in the response to essentiale treatment consist mostly in the effect on the clinical symptoms, arterial pressure, prostaglandins in the blood and urine differing in the elderly as compared with medium-aged patients. PMID- 2617994 TI - [The effect of age-related changes on the hypophyseo-adrenal and sympathetico adrenal systems in patients with cancer of the digestive tract and lungs]. AB - An analysis of the activity of pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic-adrenal systems in patients with cancer of the digestive canal and lungs with consideration of age, sex and stage of the disease indicates that not age but the development of the tumour process is the leading factor in disorders of the neuroendocrine homeostasis. Therapeutic measures are discussed. PMID- 2617995 TI - [The chemical element content of the erythrocytes in polycythemia vera]. AB - A study is presented of the content of physiologically active erythrocytic microelements (iron, copper, manganese, cobalt and zinc) in erythrocytes of the peripheral venous blood in patients with polycythemia vera. It was found that in polycythemia vera the manganese and zinc in erythrocytes showed disturbances. These changes indicate the neoplastic character of proliferation of bone marrow in polycythemia vera. The changes are of compensatory-adaptative character and reflect the state of homeostasis in polycythemia vera. PMID- 2617996 TI - [Functional indices of the peripheral blood lymphocytes in gynecologic patients]. AB - A study is presented of the general cellular-mediated immunity in 68 patients with pretumorous diseases of the uterine cervix and in 22 healthy women. A dependence was established of disorders of immune system on the severity grade of uterine cervix diseases. A study of the population of "incomplete" lymphocytes allowed to reveal additional changes in the body and use them in the formation of risk groups for development of uterine cervix cancer and choice of the method of treatment. PMID- 2617997 TI - [The rapid cytologic diagnosis of leukemia]. PMID- 2617998 TI - [Nervous system involvement in a female patient with Gougerot-Blum angiodermatitis lichenoides purpurica et pigmentosa]. PMID- 2617999 TI - [A case of Lyell's syndrome]. PMID- 2618000 TI - [A case of idiopathic osteoarthropathy]. PMID- 2618001 TI - [Morphologic validation of the use of laser puncture in myopathies]. AB - Conditions of hypokinesia from 10 to 150 days were produced in 24 4-month-old male rats. Biologically active points were irradiated by a helium-neon laser. Microscopically visualized destructive changes of muscle fibers were most pronounced on the 50-th day of hypokinesia (43.4% of muscle fibers). After laser puncture destructive changes reduced by the 50-th day to 7.2%. It was also established that after laser treatment microcirculation increased development of intramuscular connective tissue showed a delay, regenerative processes became activated. It is concluded that in the hypokinesia variant of myopathy laser puncture plays a structure-saving role and increases the restorative processes in the muscles. PMID- 2618002 TI - [The use of melipramine in treating patients with a depressive syndrome accompanied by motor retardation]. AB - A study of 49 patients with the depressive syndrome and showing different motor activity indicates that melipramin treatment proved more effective during the first week of treatment. The obtained data are confirmed by results of experiments with immobilized animals. PMID- 2618003 TI - [The development of a questionnaire scale for determining individual hypnotizability]. AB - Based on the MMPI test the authors developed a scale-questionnaire for predicting the degree of individual hypnotizability before realization of hypnotherapy. Forty-two assertions were singled out, affirmative answers to which make it possible to determine the probable hypnotizability of the subject according to a special scale comparable with the Katkov scale for assessment of the "depth" of the hypnotic state. PMID- 2618004 TI - [New problems in gastroenterology]. PMID- 2618005 TI - [Ciprofloxacin in bacterial infections]. AB - 42 patients with bacterial infections caused by resistant to other available in this country antibiotics, immunocompromised patients and patients in severe life threatening conditions were treated with ciprofloxacin (Ciprobay--Bayer) in tablets. Before being admitted to the clinic most of the patients had been treated with various antibacterial drugs, including Tarivid--Hoechst (4 patients), in sufficient doses and duration. The drug was applied in doses of 250 mg or 500 mg twice daily according to the type, site, severity of the infection and the renal function state. The treatment continued for 5 up to 10 days. The results were judged by a three degree scale. In 37 patients (88.1%) the results were considered very good and in 5 patients (11.9%)--good. The side effects were insignificant. Ciprofloxacin emerges as a strong antibacterial drug with a very good therapeutic efficacy in patients with severe infections of the urinary tract and other organs. PMID- 2618006 TI - [Side effects of cardiovascular drugs]. AB - 987 hospitalized patients with various cardiovascular diseases were studied for the side effects of the cardiovascular drugs applied. 12 patients (1.2%) were admitted to the hospital because of drug side effects. During the course of hospital treatment 193 types of drug side effects were registered in III patients (11.24%). 128 (66.32%) of the side effects were due to pharmacologic causes, the remaining were of immunologic character. Most of the patients suffering from drug side effects were women--60 (61.4%), and 64.84% of the patients were over 50 years of age. Most of the drug side effects were caused by coronary vasodilating drugs (31.53%), followed by calcium antagonists (18%), cardiac glycosides (12.6%), etc. The need of knowledge of the risks related to the use of cardiovascular drugs as well as the control of the untoward reactions in the course of treatment are pointed out. PMID- 2618007 TI - [Clinico-morphologic parallels in malignant lymphoma]. AB - Concurrent clinicomorphological studies were carried out in patients with malignant Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin lymphomas treated in the Hematologic Clinic of the High Medical Institute in Pleven. The frequency of the different clinicomorphological variants and their classification in accordance with their initial localization, clinical stage and histological variant were studied. Some clinicomorphological features of the patients studied are analyzed. PMID- 2618008 TI - [Scintigraphic imaging of the bone marrow in hematologic diseases]. AB - The scintigraphy of the bone marrow can supply information for its distribution in the body and for its functional state as well. The purpose of the study is to assess the efficacy of the scintigraphic imaging of the bone marrow by means of radiopharmaceutical drugs--99mTc-sulfur colloid for imaging the monocytic macrophagal system and 111In-chloride for imaging of erythroid cells--and to determine its characteristics in some hematologic diseases. 72 patients with hematologic diseases and 10 healthy controls were examined. The results lead to the conclusion that bone marrow scintigraphy is a useful method which helps the physician in the diagnosis of hematologic diseases, the determination of the stage of the disease, the assessment of the efficacy of the treatment applied and in all cases of discrepancy between the bone marrow histology and the clinical status of the patient. PMID- 2618009 TI - [Comparative studies of peptic ulcer in the active stage with and without hemorrhage]. AB - 100 patients with gastric peptic ulcer and 100 patients with duodenal peptic ulcer in an active with well expressed pain syndrome were studied clinically and gastroscopically. These two groups of patients were compared by several indices with a group of 81 patients with gastric peptic ulcer and 243 patients with duodenal peptic ulcer admitted to hospital because of acute bleeding from the ulcer. All patients were examined endoscopically with a fibroscope "Olimpus--GIF- Q 10". The results were processed by the semiquantitative statistical method--U criterion. It was established that the peptic ulcer patients over 60 years of age bleed more often than the younger ones. The incidences of bleeding increase with the duration of the ulcer. Comparatively more often bleed the ulcers on the posterior wall of the duodenal bulb and the larger ulcers. Preceding drug induced lesions are found more often in the bleeding ulcer patients than in the non bleeding ones with an expressed pain syndrome only. The results lead to the conclusion that advanced age, use of ulcerogenic drugs and greater size of the ulcer are unfavourable risk factors for bleeding in the patients with peptic ulcer. PMID- 2618010 TI - [The importance of endoscopy in the diagnosis of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the stomach]. AB - Four patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the stomach are presented. In 3 of the patients the localization of the lymphoma was considered primary and in the fourth patient it was considered secondary. The diagnosis was made on clinical, laboratory and instrumental data and had been confirmed histologically and in 3 of the patients also surgically. The importance of endoscopy for the diagnosis of gastric malignant lymphomas is emphasized and the most frequent changes of the gastric mucosa which direct the attention toward the disease are pointed out. Most important for the timely diagnosis of gastric malignant lymphoma are the gastroscopic follow-up of patients presenting with atypical macroscopic changes, the guided biopsies and the close collaboration between endoscopists and pathomorphologists. PMID- 2618011 TI - [Endoscopic papillosphincterotomy in the treatment of stenosing papillitis and choledocholithiasis]. AB - During the period 1982-1988 the author has performed 532 endoscopic papillosphincterotomies. In 288 patients (53.13%) the gall bladder had been previously surgically removed and they suffered from a well-expressed postcholecystectomy syndrome. In 73.6% of the 532 patients there were one or more stones in the main bile duct. In 76 patients a stenosing papillitis was found. The endoscopic papillosphincterotomy was performed mainly in patients over 65 years of age--244 patients (45.86%) suffering from various cardiovascular and other accompanying diseases which increase the risk of operation. The following complications following the endoscopic papillosphincterotomy occurred: bleedings- 0.50, acute pancreatitis--3%, lethality--4 patients (0.75%), three patients died following perforation of the duodenal wall (in spite of the immediate surgical treatment) and one patient died from acute destructive hemorrhagic pancreatitis. PMID- 2618012 TI - [Endoscopic treatment of cholangitis via an external nasobiliary drain]. AB - The acute suppurative cholangitis is an acute emergency condition requiring quick decompression of the obstructed bile pathways. The authors present their experience in the treatment of 51 patients by endoscopic sphincterotomy with or without mechanical lithotripsy and extraction of the stones and a nasobiliary drainage for 5 up to 15 days. Technically the manipulation was 100% successful and its therapeutic efficacy was 94.2% including II patients to whom it was performed as a preoperative procedure. In 6 patients (11.8%) a transitory amylase elevation was registered and one patient (2%) developed acute pancreatitis. The treatment was unsuccessful in 6% of the patients--these were patients with severe liver impairment (biliary cirrhosis) and long term cholangitis. The authors recommend the biliary drainage as an emergency and temporary treatment of the acute suppurative cholangitis. PMID- 2618013 TI - [Rectoromanoscopic correction of sigmoid volvulus]. AB - The volvulus of the sigma is about 40% of all cases with colonic ileus. It is seen in men three times more frequently than in women and affects men in advanced and elderly age. Since 1985 in the Emergency Medical Aid Institute "N. Pirogov" an instrumental method is applied for the treatment of volvulus of the sigma, namely rectosigmoidal intubation under the control of the rectoscopic tube. In 15 cases the manipulation was successful, the volvulus was reversed and the patients were pulled out of the grave ileus condition. The clinical picture of the volvulus of the sigma is classic. The instrumental method can be applied only to patients without gata for an acute condition in the abdomen requiring immediate emergency operation. The instrumental treatment of the volvulus of the sigma prevents surgical interventions under unfavourable conditions for the patient. In elderly patients it may be a lifesaving manipulation. PMID- 2618014 TI - [Comparative fiber colonoscopic and x-ray studies in diseases of the large intestine]. AB - For a two year period 79 patients were examined by fiber colonoscopy and X-ray examination of the colon. The purpose of the study is to find out the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the methods for the diagnosis of the most frequent diseases of the colon. The results allow the conclusion that fiber colonoscopy is the method of choice in the diagnosis of the neoplasms and the inflammatory diseases of the colon. When all segments of the colon cannot be examined by fiber colonoscopy a double-contrast barium enema is advised. Fiber colonoscopy should be performed to all patients with clinical data suspicious for a colonic disease and a negative X-ray examination of the colon. PMID- 2618015 TI - [Immune hemolytic anemia caused by catergen]. AB - A case is presented of a man with chronic active hepatitis who developed immune hemolytic anemia in the course of a prolonged treatment with Catergen/(+) Cianidanol-3/Zyma (four therapeutic courses in two years). The possible mechanism of hemolysis during Catergen treatment are discussed. The most probable mechanism is the absorption of the drug on the erythrocytes. The Catergen fixation on the erythrocytes does not require any special structure connected with the blood group antigens. Probably the link is non-covalent since the drug is easily removed from the erythrocytes--for 10 min at 56 degrees C. PMID- 2618016 TI - [Long-term observation of a case of Hand-Schuller-Christian disease]. AB - A case is presented of a 28-year-old man with Hand-Schuller-Christian's disease whose initial manifestations were skull bones lesions and a diffuse interstitial fibrosis. Three years later the patient developed diabetes insipidus without changes in the hypothalamic-hypophysial region on computed tomography. Some features of the clinical picture are discussed. PMID- 2618017 TI - [Lennert's lymphoma]. AB - The epithelioid cell Lennert's lymphoma is a rare form of malignant lymphomas. The authors present the cases of 4 patients, aged 50-71 years, 3 men and 2 women, with histologically proved Lennert's lymphoma. In two of the patients the diagnosis was proved at post mortem, too. The cases were characterized by a great variety of the clinico-hematologic data, the course of the disease and the therapeutic response. In all patients the disease was expressed in the III stage and in three of the patients it progressed to the IV stage. The therapeutic conduct is discussed because an early occurrence of cytopenia was found. PMID- 2618018 TI - The fattening room in Nigeria. PMID- 2618019 TI - Women who successfully manage their weight. PMID- 2618020 TI - The primary support received by recently divorced mothers. PMID- 2618021 TI - The impact of work patterns on psychological well-being of midlife nurses. PMID- 2618022 TI - Nurse-patient interactive styles. Power, control, and satisfaction. PMID- 2618023 TI - Client gender, diagnosis, and family structure. PMID- 2618024 TI - Increasing communication ability in aphasic/dysarthric patients. PMID- 2618025 TI - Prediction of patients' need for mouth care. PMID- 2618026 TI - Nursing organizing systems: a comparative study. PMID- 2618027 TI - Reflexivity in nursing research. PMID- 2618028 TI - Teaching the wise use of information--evaluation skills for nursing students. PMID- 2618029 TI - An outbreak of influenza in Jamaica (1986). AB - An outbreak of febrile illness at the Police Training Academy in St. Catherine, Jamaica in October, 1986 is described. Influenza A similar to type A/Taiwan/86 (H1N1) was confirmed serologically in 33 cases, and Influenza B similar to type B/Ann Arbor/86 in 1 case. Clinical findings included upper respiratory symptoms (97%) headache (74%), fever (68%), joint pains (39%) and retro-orbital pain (26%). The role of vaccination and chemoprophylaxis in the prevention of influenza is discussed, and the importance of surveillance is stressed. PMID- 2618030 TI - Neuropsychiatric manifestations of typhoid fever. AB - Neuropsychiatric manifestations of typhoid fever are not uncommon, occurring in 18 of 40 consecutive patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies. The clinical presentation ranges from a confusional state to hallucinations or meningism, and the diagnosis may be missed or unduly delayed unless there is a strong index of suspicion. PMID- 2618031 TI - Deaths within 24 hours of surgical procedures at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (January, 1976 to December, 1987). AB - Mortality, possibly related to anaesthesia, was reviewed prospectively over a 12 year period. There were 186 deaths in 129,107 anaesthetics. Mortality was predominantly confined to the 15-44, and 45-64-year age groups. The overall mortality rate was 1:694. Sixteen deaths were directly related to regional and local anaesthesia and three were directly related to general anaesthetic management. In 66 deaths, general anaesthesia was considered to be contributory, and 101 deaths were considered to be unassociated with anaesthesia. PMID- 2618032 TI - Patient-flow and waiting times in general medical and dental clinics in Jamaica's primary health care services. AB - Jamaica has implemented primary health care services closely in accordance with the philosophy of the Declaration of Alma Ata. However, resources are scarce and need to be well managed. Ideal patient-flow in health centres (HCs) would achieve both high efficiency in use of staff time and minimum waiting times for patients. This study of 465 patients in 44 general medical clinics served by 34 doctors and 25 nurse practitioners, and 167 patients served by dentists in each of 15 clinics, showed that mean contact time of patients with doctors was 7 minutes, with nurse practitioners 11 minutes, and dentists 4 minutes. Medical patients waited an average of 3 hours 53 minutes, whilst dental patients waited an average of 2 hours 23 minutes. Doctors', nurse practitioners' and dentists' median times for starting to see patients were 10.00 a.m., 9.35 a.m. and 9.48 a.m. respectively. They were able to work without experiencing any delays in patient flow since many patients were waiting at the HC by 8 a.m., and preliminary processing was short. It is suggested that if they started seeing patients earlier, patients' waiting times would be shorter. The shortage of pharmacists to dispense drugs after medical consultations added to patients' waiting time. The results were a natural outcome of the low supply of personnel and high demand for services situation being experienced in the medical and dental services. PMID- 2618033 TI - Amoebiasis in Jamaica. A forgotten cause of hepato-intestinal disease. AB - Amoebiasis still occurs in Jamaica. This paper describes the unexpected occurrence of the disease in three adult males, two with colitis and the other with an hepatic abscess. This, to our knowledge, is the first report of amoebiasis in Jamaica for over two decades and serves to underscore the continued need for the inclusion of amoebiasis in the differential diagnosis of unexplained hepato-intestinal disease. PMID- 2618034 TI - Amnion rupture sequence in Jamaica. A report on two cases. AB - Two cases of amnion rupture sequence resulting in grossly malformed stillborn infants are described. One baby had marked craniofacial defects while the other had a combination of craniofacial, abdominal wall and limb abnormalities. These are the first such cases to be reported in the English-speaking Caribbean; and aspects of the aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical and pathological features are discussed. PMID- 2618035 TI - Intrasellar abscess simulating a pituitary tumour. AB - A case of an abscess of the sella turcica discovered during craniotomy for pituitary tumour in a 20-year-old man is presented. The clinical features of this unusual intrasellar lesion are discussed. The importance of early diagnosis, high dosage antibiotics and surgical intervention in reducing the high mortality associated with abscesses in this location are emphasized. It is suggested that abscess of the sella turcica should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a sella mass in any patient with a recent history of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, sphenoid sinusitis or meningitis. PMID- 2618036 TI - Neonatal acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). AB - The number of cases of perinatally acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) may increase as the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women increases. Physicians involved in the care of neonates must therefore be aware of the modes of transmission, clinical manifestations, and methods of diagnosis of neonatal AIDS. We report the first case of congenital AIDS in a premature infant admitted to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In this report, we highlight some atypical clinical manifestations of the disease and discuss modes of transmission, epidemiology, preventive measures and some controversial aspects of management of the mother and infant. PMID- 2618037 TI - Torsade de pointes. An unusual form of ventricular tachycardia. AB - A 65-year-old man with hypertension and glaucoma developed diuretic-induced hypokalaemia complicated by torsade de pointes ventricular tachycardia. This arrhythmia requires accurate recognition so that appropriate therapy may be administered. When torsade de pointes is diagnosed, a careful search for underlying causes should be conducted as reversal of these may prove curative, as in this case. PMID- 2618038 TI - AIDS in the Caribbean 1980-1988. PMID- 2618040 TI - A higher duty. PMID- 2618039 TI - Thyroid hormone levels in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS related complex. AB - Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction and thyroid gland cytomegalovirus inclusions have been described in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex (ARC). We evaluated 80 patients with AIDS or ARC for the frequency of hypothalamic-pituitary or thyroid gland failure and altered serum thyroid hormone levels due to nonthyroidal disorders. One patient had subclinical hypothyroidism. Of these patients, 60% had low free triiodothyronine (T3) index values and 4% had low free thyroxine (T4) indexes; none of the latter had hypothalamic-pituitary or thyroid gland failure, since all serum cortisol values were greater than or equal to 552 nmol per liter (greater than or equal to 20 micrograms per dl) and all thyrotropin levels were less than or equal to 3 mU per liter (less than or equal to 3 microU per ml), respectively. Those who died had lower total T4 and T3, free T3 index, and albumin levels than those discharged from hospital. Serum total T4 and T3 levels correlated with albumin levels and total T3 with serum sodium levels. Serum total T3 levels best predicted the outcome of the hospital stay (accuracy = 82%). Thus, abnormal serum thyroid hormone levels in AIDS or ARC patients are most frequently due to nonthyroidal disorders, but hypothalamic-pituitary or thyroid gland failure may occur. PMID- 2618041 TI - What does seropositivity for HTLV-I mean? PMID- 2618042 TI - Acute oleander poisoning. A suicide attempt in a geriatric patient. PMID- 2618043 TI - Cardiac rupture in blunt trauma without external signs of chest injury. PMID- 2618044 TI - Fatal intraoperative disseminated intravascular coagulation. PMID- 2618045 TI - Circumcision. PMID- 2618046 TI - The Canadian system. PMID- 2618047 TI - Undergraduate medical education. PMID- 2618048 TI - Analysis of pregnancy-related calls to an occupational hazard hot line. AB - Since 1980 the Hazard Evaluation System and Information Service has responded to over 11,000 inquiries regarding workplace health hazards. Of 2,424 inquiries in 1986, 593 (24%) concerned hazards to pregnancy. This represents a 17-fold increase since 1981. Most pregnancy-related inquiries were from employees (70%) and health care providers (23%). Referral sources for the employees calls were almost exclusively individual health care providers or institutions that provide health care or health counseling, or both. These data suggest that pregnant employees seek information on their own or from health care providers instead of from employers. Of the inquiries, 80% were for general pregnancy hazard information; 20% involved symptomatic pregnant employees. Most inquiries concerned employment in the services (58%) and manufacturing (26%) sectors. Organic solvents, pesticides, acrylic nail-grooming products, lead, and video display terminals were among the agents about which callers inquired most frequently. PMID- 2618049 TI - Evolving residency requirements for ambulatory care training for five medical specialties, 1961 to 1989. AB - Recent changes in the patient population of teaching hospitals, spurred by technologic advances and economic forces, have jeopardized the traditional hospital-based model of residency training. In consequence, there has been increasing attention paid to the need for ambulatory care experience. A primary force in shaping the content of postgraduate medical education is "The Essentials of Accredited Residencies," published in the Directory of Graduate Medical Education Programs. We reviewed recommendations and requirements for ambulatory settings and outpatient experience as specified in the Directory during the years 1961 to 1988 and investigated pending changes in requirements for five major specialties: internal medicine, pediatrics, family practice, general surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology. Increases in the amount of time residents spend in ambulatory care training recently have been mandated in internal medicine and are under consideration in two other specialties, indicating probable major shifts in the locus of postgraduate medical training. PMID- 2618050 TI - Alternative health care. PMID- 2618051 TI - Summary judgment. PMID- 2618052 TI - Show and tell. PMID- 2618053 TI - [Serologic diagnosis and therapeutic possibilities in habitual abortion]. AB - Immunological laboratory investigations and success in the therapy of habitual abortion have led to a new view of the disease. Though we are currently unable to fully understand the underlying mechanisms, it seems to be generally accepted that insufficient production of HLA antibodies at an early stage of gestation is pathogenetically involved. Employing sensitive methods (IPI = immune phagocytosis inhibition assay) antibodies directed against fetal (paternal) histocompatibility antigens can be detected in the sera of healthy women already in the fifth week of gestation. The lack of such antibodies in the sera of aborting women is therefore an important diagnostic criterion. Strikingly good histocompatibility between the partners in couples with habitual abortion is occasionally encountered, providing an explanation for the lack of immune response in these cases. Patients with a classical clinical picture can be treated by immunization with the partner's leucocytes. The rate of success for subsequent pregnancies is about 80%. A positive effect was also observed in patients with primary infertility (about 20%). PMID- 2618054 TI - [Pilot study on assessing medical, psychological and psychosocial factors in stillbirth and spontaneous abortion and recurrent abortion]. AB - 84 women (mean age: 29 years) with a history of spontaneous abortion (unexplained in 95% of cases) were compared with a control group (n = 72). Two subgroups, each of 31 women were selected, in which cases with recurrent spontaneous abortion were compared with uncomplicated pregnancies. Psychological disturbances, ineffective coping strategies and medical risk factors were significantly increased in the abortion group, but socioeconomic (occupational, financial) problems linked with higher social class level less importantly. In women with recurrent spontaneous abortions psychological problems and depressive coping modes were predominant, in uncomplicated pregnancies the risk factors were very low. The most frequent psychological disturbances in the abortion group were mourning reactions after pregnancy loss. It appears that psychological factors are less a cause than the consequence of the abortion event. Moreover, both the multifactorial hypothesis of early pregnancy wastage, and the importance of prenatal diagnosis in order to identify possible risk factors, especially in cases of habitual abortion, are stressed. PMID- 2618055 TI - [Systemic therapy of male subfertility]. AB - Almost 90% of subfertile patients show no specific aetiological condition to account for their pathological spermiogram and therefore have to be subjected to non-causal systemic therapy. The retrospective analysis of 212 patients who were treated with 30 mg tamoxifen daily because of oligozoospermia showed a significant (p less than 0.001) increase in sperm density without influencing other ejaculate parameters. The gravidity rate amounted to 32% after 6 months of therapy, on average. 147 patients with isolated asthenozoospermia treated by means of 600 IU kallikrein daily showed a resultant significant elevation (p less than 0.002) in sperm motility only. Endocrine profiles showed no statistical changes. The gravidity rate was 37%. Combination therapy with tamoxifen and kallikrein resulted in a significant increase in both sperm density and motility in males with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT-syndrome) provided pretherapeutic levels were above 10 million sperms/ml. The problems encountered in the systemic therapy of male subfertility are discussed. PMID- 2618056 TI - [Isolation and characterization of birch pollen protein P13]. AB - The aim of the study was the isolation and characterization of P 13, a birch pollen protein with a molecular weight of 13,000 Dalton. The method used was preparative SDS-PAGE followed by electroelution. Purity and immunological properties were checked by analytical SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting and RP-HPLC. PMID- 2618057 TI - [Education and guidance of the cancer patient]. AB - Neither the naked truth nor a compassionate lie are appropriate in the case of incurable cancer patients. The prerequisite for the effective guidance of terminal cases is genuine communication--really entering into the needs of the patient. This requires a great deal of time--more than a doctor can spare in the day-to-day running of a hospital. It is therefore necessary to delegate patient guidance to a psychosocial team. It is only through co-operation with the medical team that a therapeutic team comes into being which is in a position to be of genuine assistance to a severely ill person. PMID- 2618058 TI - [Education of terminally ill patients from the legal viewpoint]. AB - The duty of doctors to inform their patients about their state of health and diagnosis is not as strict as the duty to inform about the risks of the treatment and the duty to give the patients correct medical instructions how to behave during the treatment. The negligent violation of this duty does generally not cause a criminal or civil liability. The doctor generally has the right to give this information in a most regardful way if a patient does not insist on a full information about diagnosis and prognosis. In case of the doctor's conviction that the patient is physically or psychically not capable to bear the truth, the doctor is entitled to be silent about the patient's real state of health. PMID- 2618059 TI - [Education and psychological management of the tumor patient from the viewpoint of the surgeon]. AB - The opinion concerning the information of patients with malignant tumors about the diagnosis has increasingly changed during the last years. In the most cases the diagnosis of malignancy must be told to the patient especially if he needs additional treatment after operation. An individual proceeding is necessary but some modalities can be generalized. It is attempted to describe some of it according to 35 years experience in surgery. PMID- 2618060 TI - [Guidance of the severely ill patient following detailed information about his disease]. AB - The ability to guide serious sick patients and to help in terminal cases depends on the helpers personal attitude to death and questions of eschatalogy. The concept of truth means not only correct information about findings of examinations but rather veracious relationship based on mutual trust between patient and doctor. All coworkers especially the nurses participate process of helping the patient. There is no model program for the talk with serious sick patients nor for the inter-action with patient. Each situation of terminal cases is absolutely singular and unique. All our behaviour towards our patients is influenced by personal experiences. PMID- 2618061 TI - [Education of the cancer patient from the theological viewpoint]. AB - The critical course of the terminal phases of the cancer-patient needs a cautious and amiable attendment. A truthful and kindly information about the sickness is necessary, but never give aN announcement of the death, then this means to give the death. The medical doctor must know the diagnosis and prognosis, but he must also pay attention to the patient. Most patients are seeking for a sense of their life, lying finally in the transcendency. Since the modern man far and wide has lost the knowledge of the eternal life, he needs a guide for this life. The christian accompaniment of dying patients refuses the active euthanasia and give pastoral care in respect of the human dignity and the eternal destination. PMID- 2618062 TI - Disease and the family: differences in metabolic control of diabetes mellitus between men and women. AB - This study shows differences between males and females in metabolic control of diabetes mellitus. The 30 subjects studied (15 men and 15 women) were type II diabetics, peasants, ages 40-62, all residents of Cihuatlan, Jalisco, Mexico. Fifty percent (50%) of the diabetics were found to have poor control (as defined by elevated fasting blood sugar levels). The percentage varied greatly according to sex: 86.6% of the females have poor control compared to 13.3% of the males. Compliance or non-compliance to a prescribed diet was found to be related to whether or not members of the family participate in the preparation of diet and support the diabetic subject in following the therapeutic plan. One hundred percent of the males have their food prepared specially for them by a family member while only 13% of the females receive this type of support. PMID- 2618063 TI - Who's afraid of the randomized controlled trial? Some dilemmas of the scientific method and "good" research practice. PMID- 2618064 TI - Female clerical workers' perceived work and nonwork stress and dissatisfaction as predictors of psychological distress. AB - The present investigation explored the predictability of psychological distress from perceived work and nonwork stress and dissatisfaction for a sample of 108 female clerical workers. A stepwise multiple regression was performed on the data, and it was found that nonwork variables contributed more to perceived psychological distress than did work variables. Implications of this research as related to gender and organizational concerns are discussed. PMID- 2618065 TI - [Lipids Symposium 1988. International Atherosclerosis Congress. 20-22 April 1989, Wien, Hofburg. Proceedings]. PMID- 2618066 TI - Acute renal failure in octogenarians. AB - We analyzed hospital survival rates, severity of illness, and long-term outcomes in patients from three different age groups who were treated with hemodialysis for acute renal failure (ARF). Patients over age 80 had fewer bad prognostic factors. This selection bias was reflected in their hospital survival rates of 53%, compared to 57% of patients under age 70. No selection bias for patients ages 70 to 79 years was identified, and their hospital survival rate was 27%. The long-term outcome of hospital survivors was poor, particularly in the very elderly. Physicians should consider all of these factors when deciding whether to offer hemodialysis to elderly patients suffering from ARF. PMID- 2618067 TI - Estimating nutritional intake in nursing home residents. PMID- 2618068 TI - Aortitis due to metastatic gas gangrene. AB - Clostridium septicum bacteremia and its association with hematologic malignancy and colorectal cancer have been well recognized. Panwalker, in a recent review, discussed clostridial sepsis and other unusual infections associated with colorectal tumors, including streptococcal bovis and Bacteroides. He reports the coexistence of colorectal cancer and metastatic Clostridium septicum infections at multiple sites. We describe a case in which a patient with an occult cecal carcinoma develops Clostridium septicum sepsis and thoracic aortitis secondary to metastatic gas gangrene. This dramatic and unusual complication has not previously been documented. The necessity of colonic evaluation with Clostridium septicum bacteremia is discussed. PMID- 2618069 TI - We cannot afford to postpone hard choices. PMID- 2618070 TI - The expert witness. PMID- 2618071 TI - Solid family values make sense. PMID- 2618072 TI - Breast cancer detection error. PMID- 2618073 TI - Nutritional value of cereal products, beans and starches. PMID- 2618074 TI - Metabolism of organonitriles to cyanide by rat nasal tissue enzymes. AB - 1. A method for determination of cyanide release during microsomal metabolism of organonitriles was developed. 2. Vmax values for cyanide release from acetonitrile, propionitrile, butyronitrile, isobutyronitrile, acrylonitrile, benzyl cyanide and succinonitrile were determined for rat nasal and liver microsomal metabolism. 3. Km and Vmax values were determined for nasal and liver microsomal metabolism of benzyl cyanide to cyanide. 4. Vmax values were all greater in nasal microsomes than in liver microsomes. Except for acrylonitrile, butyronitrile and isobutyronitrile metabolism, the ethmoturbinate microsomes had higher activities than the maxilloturbinate microsomes. 5. Two methods for determining Vmax values indicate that rat liver, but not the nose, contains at least two cytochrome P-450 isozymes involved in metabolism of benzyl cyanide to cyanide. 6. These results, and previously reported nasal rhodanese activity data, indicate that inhaled organonitriles are substantially detoxicated in the nasal cavity. PMID- 2618075 TI - The use of porcine hepatocytes for biotransformation studies of veterinary drugs. AB - 1. Cultures of porcine hepatocytes with high viability were isolated from a liver sample by a simple procedure. In ageing monolayer cultures the cytochrome P-450 content and 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activity decreased gradually while glutathione levels increased. 2. The nitrofuran, furazolidone, was rapidly metabolized, partly resulting in the formation of 3-(4-cyano-2-oxobutylidene amino)-2-oxazolidone. 3. Acetylating and deacetylating activities towards sulphadimidine and its N4-acetyl metabolite were present in porcine hepatocytes. Relative and absolute levels of these activities varied in different batches of hepatocytes. 4. No differences were seen in a number of enzyme activities measured in cytosolic and microsomal fractions isolated from different lobes of one liver. Differences between livers from different animals were marked. PMID- 2618076 TI - Sex differences in the metabolism and excretion of nilvadipine, a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, in rats. AB - 1. The metabolic profiles of nilvadipine in the urine and bile of male and female rats were studied after i.v. dosing with 1 mg/kg of the 14C-labelled compound. 2. Excretion rates of the dosed radioactivity in male and female rats, respectively, in the first 48 h were 84.1% and 59.1% in bile, 12.0% and 36.9% in urine, and 2.5% and 3.6% in faeces. 3. Comparison of biliary and urinary excretion for each radioactive metabolite after dosing with 14C-nilvadipine, showed marked sex related differences in the excretion routes of several metabolites. In male rats, metabolite M3, having a free 3-carboxyl group on the pyridine ring, was not excreted in urine, but in female rats urinary excretion of M3 accounted for 4.7% of the dose. One reason for the lower urinary excretion of radioactivity by males than by females was that the main metabolite, M3, was not excreted in the urine of the male rats. 4. To clarify the sex difference in the route of excretion of M3, this metabolite (M3) was given i.v. to rats. No excretion of the metabolite was observed in urine of male rats within 24 h but, in marked contrast, 41.5% of the dose was excreted in urine of females in the same period. PMID- 2618077 TI - Variations in demethylation of N-methylnaltrexone in mice, rats, dogs, and humans. AB - 1. Rats and mice have a greater capacity than dogs or humans to N-demethylate the quaternary ammonium compound, N-methylnaltrexone. 2. In dogs, following the i.v. administration of N-[14C-methyl]methylnaltrexone, 50% of the radioactivity was excreted in the urine and an additional 30% in the faeces within 120 h. 3. In humans following the i.v. administration of 14C-N-methylnaltrexone, 40-60% of the radioactivity was excreted in the urine within the first 24 h. The plasma radioactivity-time curves indicated a biphasic decay and a short distribution phase between 6 and 9 min. with a longer elimination phase between 238 and 1320 min. PMID- 2618078 TI - Biological fate of sirdalud in animals and man. AB - 1. Biotransformation and excretion of the muscle relaxant drug, sirdalud, were studied after oral doses of 14C- and 3H-sirdalud in rats, dogs, rabbits, mice and humans. Sirdalud was well absorbed and almost completely metabolized in the five species. 2. Excretion of metabolites was rapid and complete within a few days; the urine/faeces excretion ratio of the 14C label was about 70/30 in all species. Major metabolic pathways of sirdalud were oxidative degradation of the imidazoline ring and oxidation of the aromatic system. 3. A novel oxidative biotransformation pathway of the benzothiadiazole ring system of sirdalud gave a sulphone analogue of the parent drug. PMID- 2618079 TI - Effects of sulphydryl reagents on the formation of the aniline metabolite 4 aminophenol and its sulphate and glucuronide conjugates in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. AB - 1. The effects of various sulphydryl-blocking reagents on aniline biotransformation and cytochrome P-450 levels were studied in cultured rat hepatocytes. 2. Exposure of aniline-metabolizing hepatocytes to p-chloro mercuribenzoate (PCMB) or p-chloromercuribenzenesulphonic acid (PCMBS) resulted in decreased levels of cytochrome P-450, decreased glucuronidation of 4 aminophenol and increased levels of free 4-aminophenol. 3. Incubation of aniline metabolizing hepatocytes with disulfiram resulted in decreased formation of 4 aminophenol, but this was not associated with impaired glucuronidation or cytochrome P-450 levels. 4. Exposure of aniline-metabolizing hepatocytes to mersalyl, 2,2'-dithiodipyridine (DTP), 6,6'-carboxydipyridine disulphide (CPDS) or N-ethylmaleimide did not affect the biotransformation of aniline or cytochrome P-450 levels. 5. Metyrapone prevented degradation of cytochrome P-450. Exposure of cells to SKF-525 A inhibited aniline biotransformation without altering cytochrome P-450 levels. 6. PCMB and PCMBS inhibited aniline metabolism, probably by binding to a cysteinyl-SH residue in cytochrome P-450 apoenzyme and 'active sites' of UDP-glucuronyl transferases. Disulfiram inhibited aniline biotransformation, probably indirectly by diminishing NADPH. PMID- 2618080 TI - Effects of mutagenic and non-mutagenic aniline derivatives on rat liver drug metabolizing enzymes. AB - 1. The effect of 4,4'-methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MOCA), 4,4'-methylene dianiline (MDA) and 4,4'-sulphonyldianiline (Dapsone) in vivo on xenobiotic biotransformation in male rat liver was studied. 2. Treatment with MOCA or MDA but not Dapsone caused a dose-dependent increase in ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity and a concomitant decrease in aldrin epoxidase activity in male rats. 3. Treatment with MOCA or MDA resulted in dose-dependent increases in ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation and epoxide hydrolation, while only MOCA induced cytosolic glutathione S-transferase activity. 4. Treatment with Dapsone resulted in no changes in xenobiotic biotransformation except for the induction of aniline hydroxylation. 5. The results are consistent with the contention that there is a relationship between carcinogenic chemicals and particular alterations in the activities of biotransformation enzymes. PMID- 2618081 TI - Metabolism of dihydroergotamine by a cytochrome P-450 similar to that involved in the metabolism of macrolide antibiotics. AB - 1. Previous studies have shown that the macrolide antibiotics, such as oleandomycin and erythromycin, enhance their own transformation into a stable metabolite-cytochrome P-450 complex, thus impairing monooxygenase activity. This cytochrome P-450 induced by macrolides is similar to the major form induced in rats by pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) (III A1 isozyme). 2. The cytochrome P-450 isozyme induced in rats by PCN or macrolide antibiotics bound dihydroergotamine (DHE) with high affinity and was also capable of metabolizing the drug. However, phenobarbital administration enhanced the metabolism of DHE to a greater extent than would be expected from the levels of the PB-PCNE isoenzyme, indicating that other cytochrome P-450 proteins may also be involved in DHE metabolism. 3. DHE metabolism was inhibited by macrolide antibiotics both ex vivo and in vitro. The metabolite-cytochrome P-450 complex formed by the antibiotics impairs the metabolism of DHE, so that when the complex is dissociated the metabolic activity is restored. These findings explain the observed clinical interactions between macrolides and other drugs, and such an approach may prove useful in their prediction. PMID- 2618082 TI - Microsomal metabolism of fluoroanilines. AB - 1. The microsomal, cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolism of fluoroanilines was studied using 19F-n.m.r. and also by a chemical assay for the hydroxy derivatives. 2. 2-Fluoro- and 3-fluoroaniline were preferentially hydroxylated at the para-position. 3. 4-Fluoroaniline was both p- and o-hydroxylated to a significant extent. 4. p-Hydroxylation of 4-fluoroaniline resulted in defluorination and formation of p-hydroxyaniline, and was not accompanied by an NIH-shift to give 4-hydroxy-3-fluoroaniline. 5. Liver microsomes from dexamethasone-pretreated rats demonstrated a relatively high contribution of defluorination to the total conversion of the fluoroanilines. This indicates that these microsomes contain a dexamethasone-inducible, NADPH-dependent factor, maybe cytochrome P-450 p (P450 IIIA1), which is especially effective in reductive dehalogenation of the fluoroanilines. 6. For 4-fluoroaniline it could be demonstrated that this relatively high dehalogenation by the dexamethasone induced enzyme was not accompanied by an increased hydroxylation at the defluorinated position. Obviously, dehalogenation and hydroxylation are not strictly coupled processes. 7. p-Hydroxylation of all fluoroanilines was significantly increased per nmol of cytochrome P-450 when liver microsomes from isosafrole-, 3-methylcholanthrene-, or acetone-treated rats were used, indicating high activity of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes d (P450 IA2) and j (P450 IIE1) for hydroxylation of fluoroanilines. PMID- 2618083 TI - Interactions of heterocyclic Maillard products with the hepatic microsomal monooxygenase system. AB - 1. Interactions of methyl-substituted pyrazines, and other constituents of Maillard products generated during heat treatment of food, with hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxygenases were studied in vitro. 2. Spectral interactions of N-containing heteroaromatic compounds with the cytochrome P-450 system are type I or type II depending on the state of induction, and are relatively weak. Inhibition of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation by these compounds is ten times lower than that of metyrapone, agreeing with the weak spectral interaction. Inhibition is competitive for 2,3-dimethylquinoxaline, and complex for 2,5-dimethylpyrazine and 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine. 3. Spectral and inhibitory interactions indicate biotransformation. This was studied with 2,3,5,6 tetramethylpyrazine; the metabolite formed was identified as 2-hydroxymethyl 3,5,6-trimethylpyrazine. Metabolism to the N-oxide did not occur. PMID- 2618084 TI - Quaternary ammonium glucuronide of croconazole in rabbits. AB - 1. A water-soluble croconazole glucuronide was isolated from the urine of rabbits dosed intravenously with croconazole, using XAD-2 column chromatography, reversed phase RP-8 column chromatography and h.p.l.c. 2. beta-Glucuronidase hydrolysis liberated unchanged croconazole from the glucuronide. 3. Secondary ion mass spectra, i.r. and n.m.r. spectroscopic studies, including two-dimensional n.m.r. techniques (ROESY and HETCOR), showed the metabolite to be a quaternary ammonium glucuronide of croconazole: i.e. a chemical bond exists between a nitrogen, having sp2 type orbital, in the imidazole ring of croconazole and the anomeric carbon of glucuronic acid. 4. The urinary excretion of the glucuronide amounted to 2.8 +/- 0.7% of dose (mean +/- SD, n = 4) in rabbits. PMID- 2618085 TI - Propofol: assay and regional mass balance in the sheep. AB - 1. Pharmacokinetic data for propofol, a new intravenous anaesthetic agent, indicate that there may be extensive extrahepatic clearance. This was investigated during intravenous infusions of propofol in adult merino ewes with chronic intravascular cannulae using a newly developed simple and rapid assay for propofol in blood and other biological samples. 2. The assay was based on organic solvent extraction of pH 4.5 buffered blood, urine or tissue homogenate, followed by reverse-phase h.p.l.c. with fluorescence detection. 3. A mean total body clearance of propofol of 3.15 l/min, (SD 0.87 l/min; n = 8) was found, consistent with a high hepatic extraction ratio (overall mean 0.87, SD 0.19; n = 8) and clearance (overall mean 1.12, SD 0.25 l/min; n = 7). The difference between total and hepatic clearances consisted principally of pulmonary clearance, but its extent was variable. 4. Other regional pharmacokinetic data were consistent with propofol distribution into muscle and brain tissues and propofol 'production' by the kidney, probably from a propofol metabolite formed elsewhere. 5. If these data are confirmed in humans then clinical pharmacokinetic data so far derived from peripheral venous blood sampling will require re-evaluation. PMID- 2618086 TI - The pharmacokinetics of pirtenidine in the rat and dog. AB - 1. Pharmacokinetic studies on the topical antimicrobial agent, pirtenidine, have been conducted in male Sprague-Dawley rats and beagle dogs, using a validated h.p.l.c. method with u.v. detection to measure the drug in plasma. 2. Following a single i.v. bolus dose to the rat (equivalent to 1.35 mg base/kg) or dog (equivalent to 0.23 mg base/kg), the drug was extensively distributed with an apparent volume of distribution of 8.61/kg in rat and 3.31/kg in dog. Clearance was high (rat 2.71/h/kg; dog 1.51/kg) which resulted in a short terminal half life in both species (2.2 and 1.5 h respectively). 3. Following a single oral dose to rats (equivalent to 4.5 mg base/kg) plasma pirtenidine concentrations were generally below the minimum quantifiable level of the analytical method (1 ng/ml). A maximum possible bioavailability of 0.3% was estimated. 4. After administering the same oral dose to dogs plasma concentrations rose slowly (t 1/2 abs = 1.2 h) to a peak (49.7 ng/ml) at 5.0 h post-dose. The terminal elimination half-life was 2.1 h. The absolute bioavailability was 10%. PMID- 2618087 TI - N,N'-diallylpentobarbital (DAPB) metabolites and their effects on pentobarbital induced sleep and hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes. AB - 1. The biological half-life (t 1/2) of N,N'-diallylpentobarbital (DAPB) in brain after i.p. injection to mouse was 96 min (first phase) and 11 h (second phase). The t 1/2 values in plasma were 102 min and 9.4 h, respectively, after i.p. injection. After intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration, the t 1/2 values in brain and plasma were 18 and 120 min, and 42 and 177 min, respectively. 2. Following i.p. administration of 2-14C-DAPB (80 mg/kg), 58% of the 14C was excreted in the urine in 72 h. Several urinary metabolites were identified by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry, DAPB was metabolized by three major pathways, i.e., omega-1 hydroxylation, epoxide-diol pathway and N-deallylation. 3. The effects of DAPB and its metabolites on pentobarbital (PB)-induced sleep were examined after i.p., i.v. and i.c.v. administration. Metabolite 1 [M-1; (omega-1)-hydroxy-DAPB], an active metabolite, exhibited the most potent prolonging effect. 4. M-1 and other metabolites, as well as unchanged DAPB, showed significant inhibitory effects on mouse hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes. PMID- 2618088 TI - In vitro metabolism of isoxicam by horseradish peroxidase. AB - 1. Disposition studies in vivo in animals and man indicate that hydroxylation of the isoxazole methyl group of isoxicam is the major route of metabolism. 2. Recently, N-methylsaccharin, saccharin, and an open-ring sulphonamide have been identified as additional isoxicam metabolites. 3. Attempts to form these metabolites in vitro with hepatic microsomal incubations were unsuccessful. However, incubations of isoxicam with purified horseradish peroxidase resulted in the formation of N-methylsaccharin and the open-ring sulphonamide in good overall yield (28% in 1 h). 4. A possible mechanism for HP-catalysed conversion of isoxicam to N-methylsaccharin and open-ring sulphonamide is presented. PMID- 2618089 TI - Lipophilicity of zwitterionic sulphate conjugates of tiaramide, propranolol and 4'-hydroxypropranolol. AB - 1. Metabolism of basic drugs may result in the formation of zwitterionic sulphate conjugates. The additional ionization introduced by the sulphate group into these compounds compared with the basic parent drug does not produce a corresponding increase in hydrophilic character. 2. Zwitterionic conjugates have constant lipophilicity between their pKa values. The opposite charges on the ionizing functional groups in this pH range appear to cancel the effect of each other on lipophilicity. 3. In the case of propranolol the O-sulphate derivative is more lipophilic than the parent compound at pH values below 7, despite the ionized character of the sulphate function. 4. The decrease in lipophilicity appears to be related to the separation in the molecular structure of the amino and sulphate groups. PMID- 2618090 TI - Enzymic synthesis of two glucuronides of the hydroxyisoxazole GABA-agonist, THIP, and the in vivo glucuronidation of THIP in rat. AB - 1. A method for preparative enzymic synthesis of two glucuronides of THIP (3 hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-isoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridine) is described. 2. Using FAB mass spectrometry, u.v. and 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy, the two glucuronides were identified as N- and O-glucuronides respectively. 3. An h.p.l.c. method for determination of THIP and the two intact glucuronides in urine has been developed. 4. The glucuronidation pattern of THIP in rats has been examined; THIP was excreted as a THIP-O-glucuronide but not as a THIP-N-glucuronide. PMID- 2618091 TI - Metabolism of a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist in rats and dogs. AB - 1. The metabolism of a new dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker was studied in rats and dogs. The drug was extensively metabolized by both species after oral dosing. Metabolites were detected by two-dimensional t.l.c. after dosing with the 14C-labelled drug. Urinary metabolite patterns were quantitatively different in rats and dogs. 2. Ten metabolites were isolated from urine, bile and liver homogenate of male or female rats, and identified. 3. The main metabolic pathway was oxidation of the dihydropyridine moiety to the pyridine form, followed by the hydrolysis of the ester, oxidation of the methyl group at the 6-position, and oxidation of the isopropyl group. Other pathways were hydrolysis of the 3 isopropyl ester or 5-methyl ester group to the dihydropyridine monocarboxylic acid (M-2 and M-10, respectively). 4. The drug was metabolized in rats stereoselectively. M-2 and M-10 isolated from rat female urine were analysed by chiral stationary-phase h.p.l.c. and were mainly the enantiomers derived from (-) and (+)-drug, respectively. PMID- 2618092 TI - The use of single-sample clearance estimates to probe hepatic drug metabolism in rats. IV. A model for possible application to phenotyping xenobiotic influences on human drug metabolism. AB - 1. Conditions were examined under which estimates of drug clearance made from a single measurement of plasma concentration effectively represented multi-sample estimates of clearance for carbamazepine, quinidine, and paracetamol. When plasma concentrations were measured at various post-dose times, both individual and mean values of single-sample clearance estimates (CL) corresponded closely to multi sample clearance estimates. Best post-dose sampling times were: carbamazepine, 3 h; quinidine, 10 h; and paracetamol, 6 h. 2. Single sample clearance estimates, CL, were calculated for seven drugs employed as probes of hepatic drug metabolizing activity in rats. Valproic acid was investigated as a probe of microsomal and peroxisomal oxidases; antipyrine, theophylline, ethosuximide, carbamazepine and quinidine as probes of hepatic mixed-function oxidases (MFO), and paracetamol as a probe for UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity. 3. A clearance index (CI, namely, probe CL after xenobiotic pretreatment divided by control probe CL) was calculated for each probe. Eight pretreatments were used: phenobarbital (PB), beta-naphthoflavone (beta NF), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), rifampin, pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), clofibric acid, cimetidine, and piperonyl butoxide. The effect of each xenobiotic pretreatment on all probe CL values was consolidated and plotted as the logarithm of the CI, and a distinct pattern or handprint evolved for each pretreatment. 4. We conclude that the use of multiple single-sample probes of hepatic MFO activity can be useful in structuring handprints to characterize xenobiotic-mediated effects on hepatic MFO. This minimally invasive in vivo approach may have application in investigating and possibly phenotyping MFO activity in human subpopulations that are subject to sustained exposure to particular xenobiotics. PMID- 2618093 TI - The isolation, identification and structure of a new hydroxylated metabolite of benzbromarone in man. AB - 1. The metabolic fate of the uricosuric drug, benzbromarone, in man was reinvestigated. Plasma and urine samples obtained from healthy subjects after administration of a single oral dose of 100 mg were analysed by h.p.l.c. and g.l.c.-mass spectrometry; bromobenzarone and benzarone, previously assumed to be the debrominated metabolites of benzbromarone, were not detectable. 2. Instead, two metabolites (M1 and M2) were present in plasma samples, which had plasma elimination rates lower than those of the parent drug. 3. One of the metabolites (M1) was identified as 1'-hydroxy-benzbromarone using g.l.c.-mass spectrometric analysis of trimethylsilylated and methylated extracts. Chromatographic and spectroscopic data for this metabolite were identical to those of the synthetic compound. PMID- 2618094 TI - Teratogenicity of phenylhydantoins in an in vitro system: molecular orbital generated quantitative structure-toxicity relationships. AB - 1. The ability of 20 mono- and di-phenylhydantoin derivatives to inhibit differentiation of rat embryo mid-brain and limb bud cells in culture has been used as an index of the teratogenic hazard represented by these compounds. 2. Molecular orbital calculations on these compounds, using the MINDO-3 (modified intermediate neglect of differential overlap) and CNDO-2 (complete neglect of differential overlap) methods, were combined with indices of teratogenicity in the two cell types, to generate a coherent structure-toxicity relationship. 3. Teratogenicity correlated with frontier orbital electron density of the N1 hydantoin ring atom (HOMO-N1) in a sub-series of 12 monophenylhydantoins, whereas the corresponding toxicity for both mono- and di-phenylhydantoins related more to the molecular polarizability (alpha mol) of the molecule. 4. Furthermore the same structural parameter (alpha mol) exhibited a parallelism with log P values of these 20 compounds, indicating the importance of lipophilicity in the toxicity of these compounds. 5. Overall, the data emphasize the ability of electronic structural calculations to identify chemical descriptors of toxicity. PMID- 2618095 TI - [Hypertension and heart failure in patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency]. AB - Concerning 150 patients suffering from acute cerebrovascular insufficiency we asked the following questions: 1. How often did cardiac decompensation occur, 2. How often did hypertension and hypertrophic symptoms occur in the electrocardiogram, and 3. How often did arteriosclerosis of the cerebral and coronary vessels occur together in deceased patients? Among the patients examined were 47.3% who showed symptoms of cardiac decompensation. Hypertension was found in 60.7% of the patients. The combination of symptoms of hypertrophy in the electrocardiogram and cardiac dysrhythmia was registered 39 times (26.0%). Arteriosclerosis was found in 68.2% of the post-mortem examinations. A high correlation was found between the sclerosis of the intracranial cerebral vessels (65.9%) and the sclerosis of the coronaries (75.0%). The possibilities of the prevention and deceleration, resp., of cerebrovascular insufficiency by early therapy of hypertension and of cardiac decompensation are pointed out. PMID- 2618096 TI - [Rehabilitation measures in patients following recovery in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy]. AB - In the frame of the attendance to patients with specific myocardial diseases differences are found in contrast to groups of patients, in particular of older age. The complex diagnostic clarification, including myocardial biopsy, is recommended. Convalescent treatment is of priority. Because of the bad prognosis of patients with impaired left-ventricular function, in particular patients with normal or slightly impaired left-ventricular ejection fraction should be mobilised using complex rehabilitative measures (psychologist, welfare worker) only after some longer convalescent treatment. Decisions as to sanatorium treatment or on further special therapeutic principles have to be made individually. PMID- 2618097 TI - [Physiologic aspects of exercise in elderly patients with ischemic heart disease]. AB - Starting from the physiological involution processes and the pathophysiological disorders of the cardiological functions, performance-limiting factors have been worked out. Any physical conditioning taking the mentioned limiting factors into account may have a function-improving and performance-improving effect (extension of the performance amplitude, economization of master in loads, psychic stabilization, reduction of risk factors, etc.). In the planning and organization of physical conditioning specific methodical aspects for training have to be taken into account, for example, preferred endurance exercises (running, walking, swimming, etc.), physiological design of the training hours, individual level of intensity, and an indication-related planning of the extent of training. Furthermore, also contra-indication have to be observed which may restrict exercise tolerance (stage of performance, regulation of blood pressure, dysrhythmia, etc.). PMID- 2618098 TI - [Psychosocial problems of elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases]. AB - Based on a survey of different age theories, the complex character of the aging process is demonstrated in the experience of the individual as well as in its social connections (DORNER, 1988). On this basis the peculiarities of experiencing the disease and of mastering the disease by older patients with coronary heart disease are shown, taking various test results into account. Depending on experiencing the disease, but also depending on learned forms of mastering stress situations, different mastering mechanisms could be found with patients with angiocardiopathies which may be of decisive importance to the further rehabilitative success. Recommendations for the behaviour of the physician towards the old-aged patient with coronary heart disease are concluded. PMID- 2618099 TI - [Age-related peculiarities of regulating heart rhythm in dose-adjusted physical stress]. AB - The authors examined the heart rate regulation by means of rhythmography during and after dynamic exercise in 90 normal subjects aged between 20 and 89 years and in 15 older man who went in for endurance training. It was shown that the quality of the regulation of the cardiac rhythm deteriorates in the course of aging. This is associated with the impairment of the vegetative influences on the sino-atrial node on aging. Physical endurance training contributes to the regulation of the cardiac rhythm in persons at older age. PMID- 2618100 TI - Lipoprotein levels of rural and urban persons of Ethiopia in dependence on age. AB - The levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B were determined in urban and rural persons of Ethiopia in dependency on age. Regarding total and LDL cholesterol a comparable age dependency as in the population of other countries is observed. On the other hand higher values of these parameters were found in the serum of urban persons in comparison with rural subjects which may be a reflection of the different life style. PMID- 2618101 TI - [Multi-infarct dementia in the very elderly]. AB - Findings regarding the multi-infarction dementia in 34 long-lived persons from Sofia aged 92.4 years on average are introduced. The patients were observed until they died. Three clinical variants of multi-infarction dementia have been found (the lacunar variant, the amnestic variant, and the pseudoparalytic variant). The clinical peculiarities of the disease are stronger pronounced with physically active long-lived patients. In the terminal stage the patients approached the vegetative state. It is justified to speak of an unfavourable course of multi infarction dementia in long-lived people. PMID- 2618102 TI - [How homogenous are clinical samples? Comments on the contribution by Raissa S. Jazemirskaja: Multi-infarct dementia in very elderly patients]. PMID- 2618103 TI - [Supplementary references on the contribution by J. Schultz and K. Mascher. "Differential therapeutic aspects of pneumonia in the elderly"]. PMID- 2618104 TI - [Response to the contribution by M. von Ardenne: "The energetic fate of the human and its favorable modification by multiphase oxygen therapy"]. PMID- 2618105 TI - Genotoxic investigations of tobacco protein using microbial and mammalian test systems. AB - Tobacco protein was assayed for mutagenicity using the Ames test and three in vivo tests. In the Salmonella strains TA 98 and TA 100 methanolic extracts of the tobacco protein and urine of rats fed tobacco protein exhibited increased revertant numbers, but extracts of feces did not. Using the micronucleus test throughout, weak mutagenic effects after feeding the tobacco protein were detected in Chinese hamsters and two inbred strains of mice, and again in Chinese hamsters when the chromosome aberration test and the SCE test were applied. The analytical specifications of the tobacco protein listed nicotine, chlorogenic acid and rutin as components. These were examined separately in a chromosome aberration test, and nicotine was discovered to be the factor or a factor responsible for the weak positive test results. PMID- 2618106 TI - The influence of ascorbic acid and lactose on the interaction of iron with each of cobalt and zinc during intestinal absorption. AB - The effect of ascorbic acid and lactose on the interaction between iron and each of zinc or copper during intestinal absorption was studied in normal and iron deficient rats. It was found that addition of cobalt to the iron dose inhibited absorption of iron to 42% in normal rats and to 46.7% in iron deficient ones. The presence of zinc with the iron dose also inhibited absorption of iron to 34.6% in normal rats and to 32.2% in case of the iron deficient ones. The addition of ascorbic acid to the combined dose of Fe + Co enhanced absorption of iron by five times in normal and in iron deficient rats. In case of the combined dose of Fe + Zn the enhancement was four times in normal rats and six times in iron deficient ones. The addition of lactose to the combined dose of either Fe + Co or Fe + Zn corrected the inhibiting action of either cobalt or zinc on iron absorption. Based on these findings, it is recommended that ascorbic acid and lactose be added to therapeutic multimineral preparations. PMID- 2618107 TI - Lack of effect of dietary minerals on liver cholesterol concentrations in rats. AB - Female rats were fed cholesterol-free, purified diets with different concentrations of calcium (0.13-0.75%, w/w), magnesium (0.02 or 0.04%) or phosphorus (0.2-0.8%) as the only dietary variable. After 28 days, no effects of the minerals were found on liver cholesterol concentrations and rates of fecal excretion of bile acids. PMID- 2618108 TI - [Changes in the tryptophan content during the technological manufacturing processes of several wheat flour products]. AB - The change of tryptophan contents in proteins of bread and cookies under technological processing conditions were investigated. Tryptophan contents in all cookie samples were noted to be significantly (p = 0.05) reduced in relation to corresponding dough. The relative decreases are significantly correlated with fat content and the degree of unsaturation of fats in the dough of cookies (r = 0.802 and r = 0.777, p = 0.01), independently of various physical parameters during different cookie samples' processing. Tryptophan decrease in proteins of bread during baking was not significant. PMID- 2618109 TI - Indications for adaptation to differently high vitamin C supplies in guinea pigs. 1. Development of ascorbic acid levels after altered dosing. AB - Guinea pigs supplied with 5 mg/100 g vitamin in the food seem to be at the marginal substitution for a survival and show no ability to adapt the ascorbic acid metabolism to this low support. Guinea pigs longlastingly (6-8 weeks) supplied with 20 mg/100 g or 680 mg/100 g vitamin C in the food show the typical symptoms of an evolving adaptation by an overshooting in the course of the ascorbic acid levels in several organs after a switch to an extremely different vitamin C supply. PMID- 2618110 TI - Indications for adaptation to differently high vitamin C supplies in guinea pigs. 2. Development of hepatic amounts of microsomal protein and cytochromes (P-450, b5) after altered dosing. AB - Guinea pigs longlastingly (6-8 weeks) supplied with 680 mg/100 g vitamin in the food and for ten weeks thereafter exposed to: 5 mg/100 g: show no ability to maintain the amounts of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 20 mg/100 g: show the typical symptom of an evolving adaptation by an overshoot of the amounts of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450. PMID- 2618111 TI - [Diagnosis of Legionella pneumonia by detection of antigenuria using an enzyme immunoassay with 6 antibody specificities]. AB - In patients with microbiologically and clinically suspected Legionella caused pneumonia antigenuria was investigated by means of a direct two-site binding assay (ELISA) with polyclonal antibodies against Legionella (L.) pneumonia serogroup 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 and L. micdadei. By application of antibodies only against L. pneumonia serogroup 1 antigenuria was found in 27 of 66 patients (= 41%). The expanding of the used specificities of antibodies in 47 out of this cases resulted in an increase of positive urinary antigen findings from 38% to 55%. Possibilities and limits of the detection of antigenuria with regard to efficient and rapid diagnostics of legionellosis are discussed. PMID- 2618112 TI - [A rapid test for detecting Clostridium difficile]. AB - Staphylococcus aureus cells, strain Cowan 1, were coated with an anti-Clostridium difficile serum, produced in rabbits. This reagents were used in the coagglutination (coa-test) for detection of Clostridium difficile. A total of 275 bacterial cultures of different species were tested for detection of Clostridium difficile by coa-test and bacterial culture. Of 183 strains positive by isolation of the organism, 181 were positive by coa-test. The sensitivity and specificity of the coa-test relative to bacterial culture was 98.9% and 90.2%. A total of 206 stool specimens of children were tested also for detection of Clostridium difficile with both methods. From 16 specimens which were positive in bacterial culture 12 were positive in coa-test. The total number of samples which were positive with the coa-test was 46. The sensitivity and specificity of the coa test in stool specimens relative to the isolation of the organism were 75.0% and 75.8%, respectively. The high predictive value for a negative result of the coa test relative to the culture from 97.6% (bacterial cultures) and 97.3% (stool specimens) suggest that the coa-test will be a useful, rapid and simple screening test for Clostridium difficile. Specimens positive by the coa-test must be confirmed by the bacterial culture. Of some other Clostridium spp. tested, strains of Clostridium bifermentans and Clostridium sordelli also gave a positive result. PMID- 2618113 TI - [AIDS information]. PMID- 2618114 TI - [Is percutaneous liver biopsy using the Trucut (Travenol) needle superior to Menghini puncture?]. AB - The aim of this study was to compare the quality of biopsy cylinders obtained by the Menghini or Trucut liver biopsy-method as well as the frequency of complications observed with both these methods. For this purpose, 74 Menghini and 62 Trucut biopsies were analyzed. Both groups were comparable with respect to histologic diagnosis, but no final diagnosis could be made in eight cases of Menghini biopsy because of insufficiency of the material obtained. Fragmentation of the sample occurred significantly more often in the Menghini group (p less than 0.05; chi 2 test). Trucut biopsies were significantly longer (12 mm versus 8 mm mean value; p less than 0.001; Wilcoxon rank sum test) and contained significantly more portal tracts (16 versus 6 mean value; p less than 0.001). None of the total 136 biopsies led to serious complications. We conclude that Trucut liver biopsy is superior to the Menghini method since tissue yield is better and both methods are equally safe. PMID- 2618115 TI - [Computer-assisted documentation in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: experiences with routine use at 3 clinics]. AB - The introduction of powerful and inexpensive personal computers (PC) enabled us to develop a documentation system for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The system was programmed using the database management system dBASE III. It works on line, and no computer knowledge or additional staff is needed to run the system. It is now routinely used in the endoscopic units of three different hospitals. Features of performance are a menu-driven data input, automatic report generation and record retrieval, listing according to different criteria as well as other dBASE III facilities. This paper deals with the quality, time effort and user acceptance of the PC-aided system in clinical routine. The analysis showed a good data quality with respect to completeness and adequate use of terminology. Reliability and validity of the documentation were satisfactory considering the methodological problems encountered at their determination. The system was generally judged useful, but time effort was increased compared to conventional documentation. PMID- 2618116 TI - [The prognostic relevance of tumor localization in colorectal cancer. A multivariate analysis]. AB - Records of 292 patients with colorectal cancer, operated at St.-Josef-Hospital between 1973 and 1984 were studied using Cox regression model to elucidate the prognostic influence of tumor site. Neither in univariate nor in multivariate analysis any significant independent influence of tumor site on prognosis could be detected. Male sex, older age and more advanced tumor stage were independently associated with poorer prognosis. PMID- 2618117 TI - [Verbal interaction of schizophrenic patients and their conversational partners]. AB - Verbal interactive behavior of 10 male patients diagnosed as schizophrenic, but not acutely psychotic, and of their non-schizophrenic ('normal') and non-informed dialogue-partners are studied in dialogical conversations about political problems. A control group of ten dyads of 'normal' dialogue partners is used for comparisons. Quantitative text-properties (number of words, pauses) as well as a reconstructive hermeneutic analysis of the dialogues reveal a lack of dialogical balance, less task-oriented productivity, and markedly more strained conversation in dyads with a schizophrenic conversand as compared to those of the control group. The schizophrenic conversands we have studied manifest various interactive strategies of withdrawing from active participation in the conversational task, delegating it instead to their respective 'normal' partners who in turn attempt to stimulate more active participation of them. Furthermore, occasional strange utterances occur in nearly all dyads with a schizophrenic and lead to disturbances in the flow of the conversation. We interpret these findings as manifestations of object-relations disturbances and of corresponding deviant modes of regulating personal distance in schizophrenics. PMID- 2618118 TI - [Criteria for terminating inpatient psychotherapy of anorexia nervosa patients]. AB - Following some general theoretical considerations, the paper empirically addresses the question of termination of in-patient treatment of anorexia nervosa. It identifies those factors which have been the cause of unsuccessful treatment (including fatal outcome) and which must therefore be taken into account, especially when terminating therapy. It is not the improvement of weight and somatic symptoms which turns out to be an adequate criterion for discharge, but rather the capability for generating new social relationship. The wish to go back to living with parents (when they did not participate in therapy) or to live alone must not be accepted, following in-patient treatment. PMID- 2618119 TI - [Myocardial infarct as a critical life event]. AB - This retrospective study attempted to explore life events, personality factors, and subjective perceptions in myocardial infarction (MI) patients. 67 MI individuals and 22 control persons participated in the study. The PERI Life Events Scale, the 16 PF personality inventory and interviews covering dimensions of subjective perception were used to assess event-related influences. Results indicated a trend that MI patients experienced more negative and work-related events. MI survivors were high on emotionality, pessimism, guilt and tensions and perceived their situation as negative, restricted and not anticipated. Individual differences for the MI sample were assessed with regard to gender, age and socioeconomic status. PMID- 2618120 TI - [Analytic report of the development of solutions in genetic counseling consultations]. AB - Characteristic for a counseling-interview is the joint development of solutions by client and counselor. About this topic there is no difference in counseling psychology. This topic is the reason for a discrimination look. So we analyze 20 genetic-interviews looking for dominating activities, which induce the interaction of client and counselor to the development of solution. This way we ask for a differentiation in field, which is known until now in the psychological literature as exclusive. The transcription of the topics show the possibility of getting structures, assigned to certain fields of activity. At the same time the transparency, obtained this way, gives an insight into the centers of gravity, which are able to influence the clients behavior of decision. Having this knowledge, the practicing counselor can be stimulated to reflect his behavior thereto. PMID- 2618121 TI - [Gambling behavior and gambling experience of pathologic gamblers using slot machines]. AB - A representative sample of 106 men playing at slotmachines with possibility to win money in 61 casinos in Zurich were interviewed. One questionnaire contained sociodemographic variables and gambling habits, the second questionnaire (GBE) was about gambling behaviour and the emotional experience of gambling. One out of four persons proved to be a compulsive gambler on the ground of gambling frequency and duration. 85% of these excessive gamblers could also be identified as pathological gamblers because of their behaviour and emotional experience (GBE questionnaire) with analysis of discriminance. Compulsive gamblers showed side effects of an addiction like strong tendencies for denial and rationalization. At the same time they heavily relied on acquaintances and friends for acquiring finances. On the other hand they were characterized by being unable to set limits to the gambling habit and the perception of being dependent. PMID- 2618122 TI - [Configuration cluster analysis as an alternative to configuration frequency analysis]. AB - The paper discusses configural cluster analysis (CCA) as an alternative to configural frequency analysis (CFA). CFA defines types as deviations from the assumption of no interactions among the variables. CCA defines clusters as deviations from the stronger assumption of a total lack of effects, in the contingency table. Variations of CCA as aggregating CCA, hierarchical CCA, m sample CCA, and CCA of profile shifts are discussed. An example analyzes data from research on depression. PMID- 2618123 TI - [Inhibited aggression as a behavioral disorder in children and possibilities for therapy exemplified by an integrative therapy model]. AB - Practical applications of an integrated therapy model based on theoretic aspects of the etiology of aggressive behavior disorders are exemplified by the case of an extremely unassertive child. The range of symptoms was regarded from a psychoanalytical as well as a behavioral point of view and a treatment plan based on both theoretical assumptions was developed. In this multistage treatment model, the psychoanalytical method of interpretation was combined with modeling techniques. The child's fear of aggressive conflicts was significantly reduced and age-specific assertive behavior was established. The deficits caused by the child's social and emotional socialization were largely compensated, providing her with the chance of a positive developmental growth without symptoms. PMID- 2618124 TI - The role of the endothelium in the regulation of vascular tone. PMID- 2618125 TI - Role of the endothelial actin filament cytoskeleton in rheology and permeability. AB - We have provided evidence for the existence of two distinct sets of actin filaments in endothelial cells, the stress fibers, and the peripheral filament band. Both sets of actin filaments also contain myosin, alpha-actinin, and other associated proteins of the contractile apparatus in muscle. We have shown that both systems of actin filaments in endothelial cells can contract. Stress fibers probably serve to prevent the endothelium from hydrodynamic injury and detachment, whereas the peripheral band of actin filaments appears to be important for the regulation of certain aspects of endothelial permeability. PMID- 2618126 TI - [Migration of monocytes and granulocytes in co-culture with endothelial cells]. AB - The interaction of leucocytes and endothelial cells was analyzed in a co-culture system using time-lapse video microscopy. Isolated granulocytes or monocytes/macrophages were added to confluent endothelial cell cultures. The migratory behavior of the blood cells was subsequently analyzed using video direct visualization and morphometry. Using this technology the active migration of blood cells through the confluent endothelial layer in both directions could be shown. While granulocytes migrated several times through the endothelium in both directions, monocytes migrated from the top of the endothelial layer underneath the endothelial cells and remained there. The migratory speed of granulocytes was with 1166 microns/h about twice as fast as the speed of monocytes with 608 microns/h. The differentiation between the migratory speed of granulocytes on top or underneath the endothelial cells revealed a marked acceleration underneath the endothelial cells with a speed of 1519 microns/h compared to 671 microns/h on top of the endothelium. These results led to speculation that special extracellular matrix components produced by the endothelial cells activate the migratory behavior of blood cells. PMID- 2618127 TI - [Pharmacologic inhibition of experimental atherosclerosis]. AB - We tested the effects of heparin and two calcium antagonists. Nifedipine and nitrendipine, on atherosclerotic plaque formation in rats. Intimal proliferation was induced by freezing of a small segment of the carotid artery. In addition, a lipid enriched diet was fed during the 10-day experiment. The drugs were given twice daily, heparin by the s.c. route and calcium antagonists by the oral route. Plaque formation was inhibited dose-dependently. 5 mg/kg s.c. heparin caused an almost complete inhibition. Plaque formation was inhibited in the nifedipine treated groups by 61%, 46%, and 5% after administration of 50, 15 and 5 mg/kg. Corresponding values from nitrendipine-treated animals were 59%, 21%, and no effect. At the highest dose-level the differences were statistically significant (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that the compounds tested may be useful in the treatment of atherosclerotic patients. PMID- 2618128 TI - Endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s) and calcium antagonists. AB - The presence of endothelium attenuates norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction in the rat thoracic aorta by the spontaneous release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Calcium antagonists also inhibit catecholamine-induced vasoconstriction. Experiments were designed to determine the effect of calcium antagonists in the presence and absence of the endothelium on the responsiveness of the isolated rat aorta to norepinephrine. Rings of the thoracic aorta of Wistar Kyoto rats were suspended in organ chambers (in the presence of indomethacin) for isometric measurement of force. Mechanical removal of the endothelium shifted the concentration response curve to norepinephrine to the left and augmented the maximal response to the catecholamine. Diltiazem and verapamil shifted the concentration response curve to norepinephrine to the right only in rings without endothelium; they abolished the difference in sensitivities to norepinephrine caused by removal of the endothelium. Diltiazem, but not verapamil, also reduced the difference in the maximal response to norepinephrine. In the presence of oxyhemoglobin, diltiazem had similar effects on rings with and without endothelium. Sodium nitroprusside also abolished the hypersensitivity to norepinephrine caused by removal of the endothelium. These data suggest that calcium antagonists can prevent the hypersensitivity to norepinephrine in arteries in which the endothelium has been removed. They may explain some of the beneficial effects of calcium antagonists in conditions with endothelial dysfunction. PMID- 2618129 TI - The significance of the endothelium for hypoxic vasodilatation. AB - In isolated segments of the A. carotis communis of the dog, the membrane potential and isometric tension were recorded in dependence on the oxygen partial pressure. In the range between 535 and 35 mmHg PO2, lowering of oxygen tension leads to a dose-dependent hyperpolarization of maximally 9.8 mV with a simultaneous decrease in tone of 0.746 g. Further reduction of PO2 below 35 mmHg causes depolarization and contraction. These effects can be abolished almost completely by alpha-receptor blockade. Application of 6-hydroxydopamine (1.8 mM) augments the hypoxic hyperpolarization and relaxation in the entire PO2 range between 535 and 0 mmHg, i.e., below 35 mmHg depolarization and contraction fail to appear. The increasing release of noradrenaline from terminal sympathetic nerve endings thus limits the hyperpolarization and relaxation occurring with reduction of PO2 and is mainly responsible for the depolarization and contraction below 35 mmHg. Application of indomethacin (10(-5) M) or BW 755 C (3.8 x 10(-5) M) reduces the hypoxic hyperpolarization and dilatation by circa 20-30%. Their maximum is shifted towards a higher PO2 of 65 mmHg. Only complete removal of the endothelium effects a 70-80% restriction of dilatory vascular reactivity. Identical quantitative statements hold also for control conditions, i.e. in carbogen Krebs solution. This means that the basal release of prostacyclin from endothelial and smooth muscle cells has a share of 20-30%, the basal release of the endothelial dilator EDHF of 70-80% in the membrane polarization and reduction in muscle tone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618130 TI - [The significance of laminin for the stability of endothelial-substrate adhesion in rheologic conditions]. AB - The glycoprotein laminin is a component of the extracellular matrix and seems to be of considerable importance for cellular adhesion. In static cell cultures laminin revealed a profound influence on migration and proliferation of cultured endothelial cells. Coating of coverslips with laminin was found to have a profound and long-lasting effect on the adhesiveness of endothelial cells exposed to experimental fluid shear stress. By changing the seeding density of the cells per cm2 we could stimulate endogenous laminin production to a level that increased resistance of the monolayer against rheological shear stress by 200%. PMID- 2618131 TI - [Transport of adenosine across the endothelium of the isolated perfused rat aorta]. AB - In order to define the role of vascular endothelium in the transport and metabolism of adenosine, endothelium-intact and denuded isolated rat aortas were perfused with 3H-adenosine. In the physiological concentration range of adenosine (0.01-1 microM) sequestration of adenosine by endothelium was 90-92%. Similar findings were obtained for inosine. Transfer of radioactive purines from the prelabeled endothelium to the underlying smooth muscle was rather small (1% per hour) and most likely proceeds via dephosphorylated purine compounds. Under steady state conditions the transendothelial adenosine gradient is only moderate because underlying vascular smooth muscle metabolize adenosine less rapidly. PMID- 2618132 TI - Release of the free nitric oxide radical (NO) and EDRF from endothelial cells. AB - Release of nitric oxide (NO) from cultured macrovascular endothelial cells (EC) and from isolated perfused guinea pig hearts was measured with a specific spectrophotometric assay. Under basal conditions NO was continuously released from cultured cells and from isolated hearts into the coronary effluent perfusate. Bradykinin (10(-7) M) increased rate of NO release maximally two- to three-fold in both experimental models. Onset of NO release always preceded start of vasodilation (less than 15 s). Our results provide evidence that under basal and bradykinin-stimulated conditions. 1) endothelial cells release nitric oxide as a free radical, 2) NO is solely responsible for the vasodilatory properties of EDRF and, 3) under in vivo conditions the endogenous formation of NO is quantitatively sufficient to influence the coronary vascular tone and thus, may play an important role in the regulation of coronary vascular resistance. PMID- 2618133 TI - Effects of chronic cyclosporine. A treatment on the skin microcirculation of conscious rats. AB - We investigated capillary diameter and red blood cell velocity ("flying spot technique") in the skin of conscious rats treated for eight weeks with oral doses of Cyclosporine A (CyA, 30 mg/day) or placebo. For the intravital microscopic analysis (transmitted light), the depilated auricle was used as a model. The capillary diameter did not differ between CyA and controls (6.95 +/- 0.08 microns vs 6.95 +/- 0.09 microns, p greater than 0.05). However, the red blood cell velocity was significantly different (304 +/- 5 microns/s in CyA and 140 +/- 4 microns/s in controls, p less than 0.001). Additional experiments of our group phi, with isolated arteries revealed an impaired response to endothelium dependent and -independent vasodilators in the presence of an enhanced response to alpha adrenergic vasoconstriction in the CyA-treated rats. Thus, the increase of capillary red blood cell velocity in chronically CyA-treated rats may reflect an enhanced vascular tone of the precapillary circulation. PMID- 2618134 TI - Determination of ribonuclease activity in serum of patients with pancreatic necrosis. An attempt of extending the enzyme diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. AB - Though the substantial part of serum ribonuclease (EC 3.1.27.5) is of pancreatic origin, there are no consistent data on changes in activity of serum alkaline ribonuclease in acute pancreatitis. The recent findings suggest that the increase in ribonuclease activity refers only to patients with necrotic outcome of acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to reevaluate the suggestion that elevated ribonuclease activity is specifically related to pancreatic necrosis. Our studies included 57 patients with verified acute pancreatitis, and 11 patients evolving haemorrhagic or necrotic lesions of the pancreas. It was found, that the enzyme increasing in some percentage of patients with acute pancreatitis is the Poly-C avid "pancreatic" ribonuclease. This enzyme begins to increase in the 2nd or third day after onset of the disease, always after decrease in serum amylase activity down to levels close to normal range. Ribonuclease activity increased up to days 5 or 6 of the disease, and then decreased along with diminution of disease symptoms upon treatment. Correlation studies showed that increased ribonuclease activity in acute pancreatitis is related to a higher than the 2nd degree of severity of the clinical course of the disease, to pancreatic necrosis, death, diminished glomerular filtration rate, and age. Thus, pancreatic necrosis is not the exclusive factor directing the increased ribonuclease activity in acute pancreatitis, but the increased ribonuclease activity seems to be a late marker of acute pancreatitis of a severe clinical course. PMID- 2618135 TI - Enzyme immunoassay for occult faecal blood. AB - The specificity and sensitivity of immuno-assays can be usefully exploited for early detection of digestive bleeding disorders. We have developed an enzyme immuno-assay (EIA) specific of human haemoglobin (Hb-Hu) by which occult faecal blood can be detected without any need for dietary restrictions or for repetitive sampling, as would be required with other procedures. This EIA can detect Hb-Hu by a sensitivity of 2.5 ng/ml of faecal extract as well as dissociated alpha and beta chains and peptic or tryptic proteolytic Hb-Hu fragments. The EIA, when applied to occult faecal bleeding in patients with malignant tumours in the digestive system, was positive on some 80 percent of all samples. PMID- 2618136 TI - Electrophoretic HbA2 assessment in ischemic heart disease. AB - A series of fifty patients presenting ischemic heart disease are studied. As shown by the electropherogram, apart from the basic band of hemoglobin A2, an additional weaker band appears with a diffuse zone between them. The quantity of the entire HbA2-diffuse zone exceeds by 3.8 per cent the total hemoglobin. Its appearance is not attributed to abnormal hemoglobin or beta-thalassemia. With the passing of time its quantity shows a decrease, and within 3-6 days it disappears. Parallel to normalization of the hemoglobin profile the pain syndrome among patients with unstable stenocardia subsides, and stabilization of the patients with a history of myocardial infarction takes place. PMID- 2618137 TI - [Determination of the biliary excretion of reduced and oxidized glutathione]. AB - An enzymatic method is presented for the detection of biliary excretion of reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione. The biliary excretion of GSH is 65.63 +/- 7.23 nmoles/kg b.w. x min and of GSSG 5.90 +/- 0.64 nmoles/kg b.w. x min in 55 day-old female rats, respectively. The recovery is 97.39 +/- 0.40% for GSH and 91.05 +/- 2.30% for GSSG. Cysteine which can be detected in bile, does not influence the accuracy of the results. PMID- 2618138 TI - [Methodologic studies of the isolation of VLDL using the lipoprotein precipitation reaction in the preparation of apolipoprotein E (Apo E)]. AB - Several lipoprotein precipitation reactions were examined in the isolation of VLDL for apo E phenotyping in comparison to ultracentrifugation. MgCl2-Heparin- and phosphotungstic acid precipitation revealed the best results, although an apo E phenotyping was possible in only 40% of the samples. Ultracentrifugation was unequivocally superior to lipoprotein precipitation reactions. PMID- 2618139 TI - [Analysis of the body fluids using SDS-gradient gel electrophoresis]. AB - In the present report we describe a horizontal SDS-electrophoresis in thin- or ultrathin-layer polyacrylamide pore-gradient gel polymerized on polyester films for the estimation of proteins in several human body fluids. Up to 25 samples can be analyzed side by side under identical conditions. The combination of Coomassie blue staining with silver-staining allows the analysis of fluids containing low protein content also without concentrative techniques. PMID- 2618140 TI - [The increase of lipid peroxidation products (MDA equivalents) in the plasma of rats after experimentally caused endotoxic shock]. PMID- 2618141 TI - [Simplified extraction procedure for prechromatographic sample preparation and its use for the determination of lidocaine in serum]. PMID- 2618142 TI - [A simple and rapid method for the determination of proteins in pancreatic secretions]. PMID- 2618143 TI - [Surgical treatment of isolated, congenital radio-ulnar synostoses]. AB - The form of surgical treatment mainly considered for treatment of radioulnar synostoses is corrective osteotomy of severe malpositions of the forearm. Opinions as to the indications for such surgery range from complete rejection to regular application in cases with pronounced contractures. In the present article, the authors consider solely isolated congenital radioulnar synostoses, referring to 40 cases in 30 patients. In 13 cases the condition was bilateral. Roentgenologically, four degrees of severity may be distinguished: in the mildest form, there are only dysplasias in the proximal radioulnar joint. Second-degree malformation is characterized by synostoses exclusively in the proximal radioulnar joint. In third-degree synostoses the bony bridges extend farther distalward. In the rare fourth-degree form of the anomaly, complete or almost complete bridges are found between the two forearm bones. On the basis of the clinical findings, the authors give their views on the question of corrective surgery, the key factor being findings deriving from carefully conducted physiotherapeutic and ergotherapeutic function tests. In view of the fact that even in cases of pronounced bilateral contracture most actions are accomplished by compensatory movement of the shoulder and wrist joints, and considering the relatively high complication rates reported in the literature, the authors are in principle against surgery. If, in exceptional cases with extreme malposition, correction is nevertheless considered following thorough function testing, 30-40 degrees pronation of the forearm on the dominant side and slight supination on the non-dominant side are recommended. PMID- 2618144 TI - [Effect of meteorologic parameters on acute admission of patients with lumbar intervertebral disk displacement]. AB - The correlation between local meteorological parameters and acute admittance to hospital of patients with lumbar disk prolapses was investigated. The study shows a significant correlation between drop of temperature and increase of humidity for male on the day of admittance and for female on changes from the day before to the day of admittance. This seems to be in contrast with other investigators, who couldn't find a correlation between local meteorological parameters and pain. The reasons for this are discussed. PMID- 2618145 TI - [Vertebral and rib abnormalities in myelomeningocele]. AB - 140 of 937 patients (14.9%) with myelomeningocele have vertebral and rib abnormalities. Vertebral deformities were found in 128 cases (13.6%) and rib deformities in 43 cases (4.5%). This is a frequency, which is in comparison with the general population incidence relatively high. Therefore the conclusion is drawn, that roentgenograms showing the entire spine should be done routinely in every case of myelomeningocele. Theories, which try to explain the formation of these osseous deformities, are discussed. PMID- 2618146 TI - [The value of nuclear magnetic resonance tomography in diseases of the knee joint]. AB - In a prospective study we examined 107 patients suffering from an acute trauma or a chronic disease of the knee joint by MRI. The MRI results were compared to the results of arthroscopy. Normal anatomical structures can be differentiated and there is a high diagnostic reliability for lesions of the medial (accuracy: 91%, predictive value: 84%) and lateral (accuracy: 93%, predictive value: 79%) meniscus, complete tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (accuracy: 93%, predictive value: 75%), chondropathia of the patella, and osteochondritis dissecans. Partial ruptures of the ACL as well as small cartilage defects could usually not be demonstrated. PMID- 2618147 TI - [Thiemann disease in monozygotic female twins]. AB - Thiemann's disease is a hereditary necrosis of the epiphysis of the basal limb of the big toe. This paper describes its synchrone occurrence in monozygotic twins. The course is seen as being concurrent with the findings in literature. The etiopathology of Thiemann's disease is discussed showing the dominant heritage by this examination of twins. PMID- 2618148 TI - [In vivo measurement of hip joint stress. 1. Physical therapy]. AB - The forces acting during physiotherapy in both hip joints of one patient have been measured in vivo using a telemeterized joint prosthesis. During supported exercises the loads are up to 50% of the body weight (BW). Active movement of the leg against resistance in a lying position let the forces rise up to 250% BW. During symmetric two-legged-stance the load is typically 70% BW, while during walking peak values of about 300% BW were measured. By use of one crutch a 25% reduction of the joint force can be achieved. PMID- 2618149 TI - [Femur head necrosis. Diagnosis and morphologic analysis using roentgen, scintigraphy, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance tomography]. AB - 35 patients with a total number of 53 AVN were examined with conventional radiographs (n = 53), radionuclide scans (n = 37), CT (n = 19) and MRI (n = 53). Findings were classified according to FICAT (stage 0-IV). With a sensitivity of 96.2% and a specificity of 98.1% MRI proved to be the most accurate imaging modality especially in early stages. CT proved to be a reliable technique, too, although accuracy was less compared with MRI. Radionuclide scanning was of minor value with a sensitivity of 62.1% and a specificity of 59.5%. Typical findings with plain radiographs, radionuclide scans, CT and MRI in different stages of AVN are described. PMID- 2618150 TI - [The piriformis syndrome]. AB - A rare mentioned and therefore and often overlooked cause of low back pain with sciatica. The piriformis muscle arises from the anterior surface of the sacrum and inserts on the superior border of the greater trochanter. Functionally, the piriformis muscle is an external rotator and abductor of the thigh. Muscle spasm or on inflammatory process set into motion by the spasm cause an epineurial irritation of the sciatic nerve. The symptoms present almost identically to lumbar disk syndrome, except for the consistent absence of true neurologic findings. Diagnosis is accomplished by rectal palpation of myofascial trigger points within the piriformis muscle, also pain and weakness on resistant abduction-external rotation of the thigh. The essential therapy is the injection of local anesthetic and a small dose of corticoid into the precise focal point of hyperirritability deep in the belly of the muscle. Recurrences are uncommon. PMID- 2618151 TI - [Chronic pain syndromes in orthopedics--typical sites, follow-up and patient characteristics]. AB - This epidemiological questionnaire--study about 362 patients suffering from chronic pain related to muscle skeletal disorders shows the following results: most muscle skeletal pain syndromes are located in the area of the head and back (57.5%), patients who want to be treated in an orthopedic pain ambulance, suffer from at least "moderate" pain according to the verbal rating scale and at least from pain equal or more than 50 according to the numeric rating scale, for most patients (51.9%) the duration of the pain has been between 1 and 10 years, about twice as many women (60.5%) than men (39.5%) suffer from chronic muscle skeletal pain, pain syndromes seem to be of more chronic duration in women than in men, and women tend to take pain killers more frequently than men, most patients with chronic pain consult 2 to 6 doctors, for typical orthopedic pain syndromes most patients consult an orthopedic doctor, patients suffering from chronic headache consult an orthopedic specialist about as frequently as an neurologist or internal specialist. PMID- 2618152 TI - [Surgical treatment of diabetic osteoarthropathy with severe dislocation]. AB - A case with diabetic osteoarthropathy, destruction of the talus and medial dislocation of the ankle joint is presented. After cleaning up a purulent skin process above the lateral malleolus, caused by the malposition, a calcaneocrural arthrodesis was performed, with a fixateur externe. In the authors' opinion therapy should aim to preserve the limb; this is to be preferred to amputation even in cases with very severe deformities. An arthrodesis with correction of the malposition is recommended as the method of choice. PMID- 2618153 TI - [Effects of mellitic acid on matrix-induced, ectopic osteogenesis in the rat]. AB - Similar to diphosphonates mellitic acid is characterized by its high affinity to Calcium-phosphate-minerals. Mellitic acid inhibits the crystallization of hydroxyapatite in vitro and in vivo. Local application of mellitic acid (concentration 1 mmol/l) proved not to impair osteoinduction and development of nature bone in the matrixinduced ectopic osteogenesis. But in the course of osteogenesis prominent masses of cartilage developed. Higher local concentrations of mellitic acid may be efficient in the therapy of ectopic ossification, but also may be accompanied by formation of crystal deposition. PMID- 2618154 TI - [Experimental studies of the kinematics of the stable and unstable human knee joint]. AB - In an experimental study the three dimensional kinematic behaviour of fourty knee joint specimen was investigated. We found a continous passive tibial rotation during flexion, so the terminus "screw home mechanism" should no longer be used. There was also an automatic adduction and medialisation movement of the tibia. We calculated the roll-gliding ratio separately for the medial and the lateral side. Only the lateral femoral condyle displayed increasing gliding with pure rolling near extension and pure gliding near flexion. We found little differences concerning qualitative characteristics but not in the amount of passive motions. PMID- 2618155 TI - [The roll-glide value as a motion parameter of biological curved joints exemplified by the human knee joint]. AB - By means of the so-called roll-gliding number lambda complex motion patterns between the moving parts of biological joints can easily be described as to being composed either of a more rolling motion with only minor wear or of a more gliding motion with a higher amount of wear at the joint surfaces. Thus the roll gliding number, the magnitude of which depends on the angle of joint flexion, offers also an indirect approach to evaluate dynamic disorders of the function of such joints. As an example a description is given of the numerical calculation of the roll-gliding number for the medial and the lateral half of the human knee joint a various angles of joint flexion. PMID- 2618156 TI - [Sports fitness following surgical treatment of osteochondrosis dissecans]. AB - A retrospective analysis of 29 patients with regard to their sportive activities after operative treatment of osteochondritis dissecans was carried out. The study included 21 males and 8 females with an average age of 18 years. In 4 cases patients' history revealed a trauma. Osteochondritis dissecans was located in 16 cases in the knee joint, in 12 cases in the ankle joint and in one case in the elbow joint. In 11 cases the articular cartilage was not disrupted, and therefore subchondral focus drilling and autologous cancellous tissue grafting were a sufficient therapy. 10 out of those 11 patients had no complaints during their sportive activities 3 years after this operation. In another 10 cases with an osteochondral fragment, reimplantation was possible. 5 of those 10 patients were free of complaints during sportive activities 3 years later. In 2 of those 10 patients the reimplanted fragments did not become incorporated and had to be removed. 2 out of 8 patients with removal of necrotic fragments and curretage of subchondral bone had no complaints 3 years postoperatively. Best results could be achieved in patients with intact articular cartilage and subchondral lesion. Good results showed patients after reimplantation of the osteochondral fragment. Poor results were found in cases with necrotic osteochondral fragments. Osteochondritis dissecans with an osteochondral fragment should not be further treated conservatively but gives an urgent indication for operation. MRI is very helpful for this decision. PMID- 2618157 TI - [Arterial thrombosis--an experimental approach]. AB - In this study description is given of a method developed in our laboratory for the investigation of platelet-vessel wall interaction and in vivo thrombus formation. The development of this method is based on the recording of the optical density of an arteriole. Following a standardized challenge by an electrical current onto the arterial wall and subsequent topical superfusion by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), endothelial cells demonstrate specific lesions and platelets start to adhere onto the site of lesion, they aggregate and a platelet thrombus develops. Using an optoelectronic device, which functions as an analogue computer, the generation and the growth of the thrombus in the arteriole can be followed and recorded over time. This continuous on-line recording of the thrombotic phenomenon made it possible to develop discriminating parameters. As such it was possible to study thromboformation in relation to the effect of the metabolites of the arachidonate cascade. Because it is possible to register the thrombotic phenomenon over time, ultrastructural analysis using transmission and scanning electronmicroscopy was performed and allowed us to investigate the interaction of the platelets, the involvement of leukocytes and the onset of fibrin deposition in the thrombus. In further investigations it was demonstrated that as a result of an appropriate challenge of the arterial wall, Paf-acether was generated within the arterial endothelial cells, inducing local thromboformation which perpetuated itself. As such, it could be demonstrated that as a result of the local generation of endogenous Paf-acether thromboformation by an inflammatory process was maintained, leading eventually to complete obstruction of the artery. PMID- 2618158 TI - [Experimental characteristics of the immune response of lymphoid organs to fungal and staphylococcal antigens]. AB - Increased proliferative and functional activities of the lymphoid organs and a high mitotic activity of the lymphocyte blast forms were recorded by autohistoradiography (3H thymidine and 35S-labeled sulfate) in 60 guinea pigs in acute experiments (a challenge with staphylococcal or fungal antigen). Degeneration of the lymphoid tissue and substitution of the lymphoid tissue with fatty tissue were observed in a chronic experiment. Discoordination of the immune response consisted in depression of the T-component, with the B-component retaining high activity; these shifts were the most manifest after challenge with fungal antigen. PMID- 2618159 TI - [The effectiveness of treating patients with malignant skin lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma studied via polyamines]. AB - Lymphoproliferative diseases of the skin and Kaposi's sarcoma were found to involve high excretion of polyamines. Therapy with reaferon combined with prospidine and indomethacin improved the clinical course of the process and was associated with a decrease of polyamine excretion. Measurement of the urine polyamines may be used for the assessment of the treatment efficacy in malignant lymphomas of the skin and in Kaposi's sarcoma. PMID- 2618160 TI - [Characteristics of the course of latent forms of syphilis]. AB - Seven patients with latent syphilis are described, in whom the routine serologic tests (RST) were negative during the first examination and over the course of therapy, and the specific tests (T. pallidum immobilization and immunofluorescence) were repeatedly positive before therapy. Early latent seropositive recurrent forms of syphilis were detected in the majority of these patients' sexual partners. The patients were not administered antisyphilis therapy before. The diagnosis of latent seronegative early syphilis negative in the RST is epidemiologically significant, for it helps timely carry out the necessary treatment and prophylaxis measures to prevent the disease dissemination. PMID- 2618161 TI - [Immunogenetic markers in syphilis patients and in persons in sexual contact with them]. AB - Studies of the immunogenetic markers in the syphilitics and their sexual partners have revealed associations of the genetic markers with predisposition and certain resistance to syphilis. PMID- 2618162 TI - [The participation of dermatologists-venereologists in the detection and prevention of human immunodeficiency virus infection]. AB - The authors analyze the cases with a sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and with infection transmission from the infected mother to the fetus. PMID- 2618163 TI - [Results of the therapeutic correction of psychoautonomic disorders in patients with vitiligo]. AB - Psycho- and autonomotropic drugs, acupuncture, and psychotherapeutic conversations were used for the correction of psychologic abnormalities in 49 vitiligo patients, presenting with impaired sociopsychological adaptation and autonomic imbalance. The unfavourable status was effectively arrested with such treatment; if combined with photochemotherapy, it increased repigmentation by 20%; when a complete therapeutic complex was prescribed from the very beginning, the periods necessary to achieve marked repigmentation (of more than 50% of the vitiliginous maculae) were cut down by half. PMID- 2618164 TI - [The treatment of alopecia areata with sinusoidal modulated currents]. AB - The technique of alopecia areata treatment with sinusoidal modulated currents is simple and may be used on an outpatient basis. The Amplipul's-4 apparatus sensors have been placed in the cervical sympathetic node area. The current parameters have been as follows: P-1, III PP for 2-3 min, then IV PP for 2-3 min, modulation frequency 100-80 Hz and depth 50-75%, the pulse length within 2-4 sec provided the current strength is sufficient. The course of treatment included 10-12 sessions. Parallel with this physiotherapeutic modality, the patients were administered FiBS (a liman mud biogenic stimulant), vitamins B1 and B6, and andecalin. Clinical effect has been achieved in 46 of the 53 patients with a short duration of the disease. The authors' observations confirm the contribution of the sympathetic nervous system function to the genesis of alopecia. PMID- 2618165 TI - [The role of lipid peroxidation disorders in the pathogenesis of drug disease]. AB - The stress syndrome reaction, blood serum spontaneous and induced super-weak fluorescence, intermediate and end products of lipid peroxidation (LPO), i. e. diene conjugates, malonic dialdehyde, hydroperoxides; and the antioxidant defense parameters, i.e. the blood serum alpha-tocopherol level, catalase and peroxidase activities were studied in 467 patients with drug disease. Normal LPO course was observed in the patients with drug disease developing in the presence of various somatic diseases. This is an evidence of the pathogenetic significance of LPO processes in the development of drug sensitization, which fact prompts the use of the aforesaid LPO and antioxidant defense characteristics for the early diagnosis of drug disease and for monitoring the treatment efficacy. PMID- 2618166 TI - [Secondary candidal infection in patients with chronic dermatoses]. AB - Clinical and laboratory examinations of 250 patients with chronic dermatoses (eczema, neurodermatitis, psoriasis, pemphigus, etc.) have revealed secondary candidal involvement of the skin and mucosa in 121 (46.6%). C. albicans, often associated with bacillary (33.3%) or bacterial (7.3%) microflora, predominated among the yeast-like fungi isolated from the patients. These data point to the necessity of prescribing, besides the antimycotic agents, a complex of pathogenetic therapy including immunomodulators, in order to cut down the terms of treatment and prevent secondary candidal infection in the patients with chronic dermatoses. PMID- 2618167 TI - [The diagnosis of Gottron's carcinoid papillomatosis of the skin]. AB - A case with this extremely rare dermatosis is described. The disease may be easily diagnosed from the characteristic clinical picture and morphologic changes; the diagnostic errors are explained by the rareness of this condition. PMID- 2618168 TI - [A device for sampling the urethral contents]. AB - This device (Authors Certificate of the USSR No. 980726) helps rapidly diagnose the disease in torpid and chronic inflammatory processes in the urethra. PMID- 2618169 TI - [Criteria of recovery from gonorrhea]. AB - A total of 563 case histories of gonorrhea patients and 218 ones of patients with gonorrhea recurrences are analyzed. 86.7-87.5% of recurrences were recorded in the first week after treatment for acute or chronic condition (before the provocation test). The relapses develop earlier after the treatment for acute or subacute gonorrhea than for the chronic condition, and are most common between the third and seventh days after therapy. The share of patients timely consulting the doctors is in inverse proportion with the time of the check-ups (the criterion of cure being 96.2%, the first control 84.1%, the second one 62%). The validity of cure should better be checked up on the fifth-sixth days after therapy, and not on days 7-10. Patients with complicated urogenital diseases (prostatitis, orchiepididymitis, infiltrative urethritis) should be followed up after the first check-up. PMID- 2618170 TI - [A combination of early active congenital syphilis and gonococcal ophthalmia]. PMID- 2618171 TI - [Ashy dermatosis]. AB - Five patients with ashy dermatitis are described, aged 6 to 14, one boy and four girls. The process is characterized by dirty grayish or ash-gray-colored maculae on the skin of the trunk and limbs. These maculae do not tend to fuse, nor exfoliate; they are not associated with any subjective sensations. Thorough examinations have not revealed any osteomuscular or visceral abnormalities. The disease runs a benign course, and only the cosmetic defect worries the patients. PMID- 2618172 TI - [A combination of porphyria cutanea tarda and discoid lupus erythematosus]. AB - A patient with discoid lupus erythematosus has developed porphyria cutanea tarda. The combination of these diseases may be explained by similar changes in the free radical processes in the body, induced by sunlight. PMID- 2618173 TI - [Werner's syndrome]. AB - A 33-year-old female has developed Werner's syndrome. The prognosis of the condition is unfavourable because of early symptoms of diabetes and atherosclerosis. PMID- 2618174 TI - [Mibelli's porokeratosis]. AB - A 44-year-old patient suffering from porokeratosis of Mibelli for 27 years is described. The eruptions have involved the skin of the buttocks and the upper and lower limb flexor surface. The clinical picture of the disease may be regarded as the classical plaque form. The clinical diagnosis has been confirmed by a characteristic histologic picture with invagination of the corium mass into the epidermis (corniculate plates). Electron microscopy has shown a number of shifts in the epidermis sites adjacent to the corniculate plate and above it. The proliferative activity of the epidermis was enhanced but the keratinization processes round the corniculate plate was unchanged. PMID- 2618175 TI - [Sweet's syndrome]. AB - A patient aged 50 with Sweet's syndrome combined with renal diseases is described. The clinical and pathomophological picture of the disease is described in detail. The skin process regressed after left percutaneous nephrostomy performed for the left ureter obstruction and after antibiotic and depuration therapy. PMID- 2618176 TI - [A case of immunodependent Kaposi's sarcoma against a background of glucocorticoid treatment]. AB - A patient with bullous pemphigoid has developed immunodependent Kaposi's sarcoma during immunosuppressant therapy. It may be supposed that the initial manifestations of Kaposi's sarcoma developed in the gastrointestinal tract, inducing the development of bullous pemphigoid in the presence of massive immunosuppressant therapy. PMID- 2618177 TI - [Lymphogranuloma venereum in a student from Ethiopia]. AB - The first case of this condition in Byelorussia since 1945 in an Ethiopian student is described. Therapy with methacycline, polyvitamins, and local UHF has been fairly effective. PMID- 2618178 TI - [The death of a patient with latent syphilis from rupture of a cerebral aneurysm]. AB - Early specific mesaortitis was detected in a patient with early latent syphilis who died of rupture of the brain artery congenital aneurysm. PMID- 2618179 TI - [Miescher's granulomatous cheilitis]. AB - Two patients with Miescher's cheilitis are described, with different disease length and histologic picture in involved foci. The essence of granulomatous cheilitis is still to be found, this being confirmed by the literature reviewed by the authors. Further accumulation of thoroughly verified data is necessary to solve this problem. PMID- 2618180 TI - [The microsomal oxidation system of the liver in the aging of animals with various specific lifespans]. AB - Experiments, carried out on adult and old animals with different specific lifespan (rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and dog), revealed age-related changes in content and activity of liver microsomal oxidation enzymes (cytochrome P-450, b5, aminopyrine demethylase, aniline hydroxylase). The changes become more pronounced with age. This allows to classify these species as chronobiological ones. A negative correlation between the specific lifespan and the level of decrease in activity of aminopyridine demethylase, an integral index of electron transport rate in microsomal chain, in aged animals was established. PMID- 2618181 TI - [The conflicting action of low and high doses of ozone on the reproductive capacity and respiratory activity of Candida utilis yeast cells]. AB - Different doses of ozone were shown either to stimulate (1-2 x 10(8) molecules O3/cell) or inhibit (1 x 10(9) molecules O3/cell) respiration and reproduction of C. utilis yeast. The observed changes were preserved for several hours after treatment with ozone. Possible role of structural rearrangements of cell membranes in the ozone-induced effects has been discussed. PMID- 2618182 TI - [Dynamic computerized tomography in staging of urinary bladder cancer]. AB - In 25 patients suffering from bladder cancer a dynamic computerized tomography was performed under constant conditions in a selected tumor layer level. It was the aim of this study to improve the efficacy of preoperative staging of bladder cancer. In the tumors of stages pT1 and pT2 (12 patients) different courses in the time-density-diagrams were shown in comparison with the stages pT3a + b (13 patients). Furthermore, a different intake and delivery of contrast medium was observed and differences in the vascularization of the individual tumor stages may be suspected. Thereby a separation between operable (pT1/2) and inoperable tumor (pT3a/b) seem to be possible. PMID- 2618183 TI - [Studies of tryptophan metabolism in cancer of the urinary bladder]. AB - In 100 patients suffering from urinary bladder cancer (pTA-4, Nx, M0-1, G0-3) we created an oral tryptophan load administering 5 g of L-type tryptophan. Thereafter the amount of both xanthurenic acid and kynurenin was determined quantitatively in the 24-hour urine. 16 patients revealed pathological test results and excretion pattern of tryptophan metabolites via kynurenin were similar to vitamin B6-dependent xanthurenic aciduria both in its homocygotic and heterocygotic pattern. It has not been possible to prove a direct correlation between xanthurenic aciduria and urinary bladder cancer. However, xanthurenic aciduria may be of significance as a risk factor in the etiopathogenesis of urinary bladder cancer. PMID- 2618184 TI - [The acetylator phenotype in patients with urinary bladder cancer]. AB - In 53 patients suffering from bladder cancer the acelylization phenotype was examined. The frequency of slow acetylizers (70%) was significantly higher than in the control group. The more frequently occurrence of slow acetylizers in the group with professional pollutant exposition is an important reference to a higher bladder cancer morbidity in the case of carcinogen contact. A screening of the acetylization phenotype in professions with carcinogen contact may be important in the prophylaxis of bladder cancer. PMID- 2618185 TI - [Photochemotherapy of experimental tumors in animals using various photosensitizers]. AB - Different colouring matters with high molar extinction coefficient were tested at the Friedrich Schiller University with regard to their photodynamic efficacy. Test system was the rapid-growing solid Ehrlich carcinoma. Methylen-blue, hematoporphyrin derivative Halle and chlorophyllin produce a markedly reduction of the tumor weight. In the presence of hypoxic areas an additional application of nitroimidazols is possible. A pilot laser unit for photochemotherapy of urinary bladder tumors is presented. PMID- 2618186 TI - [26th scientific meeting of the Society of Laboratory Animal Science. Basel, September 13-15, 1988. Abstracts]. PMID- 2618187 TI - Transportation of rats affects behaviour of non-transported rats in the absence of physical contact (preliminary communication). AB - We have studied the effect of transportation stress in one rat on the behaviour of another, non-transported rat in the absence of physical contact. For this purpose an open box consisting of two adjacent small fields was used. Rats were placed in these fields and their behaviour was assessed. The control measurement involved pairs of non-transported rats and the experimental pairs consisted of a transported and a non-transported rat. The non-transported rats of the experimental pairs displayed significantly increased activities of sniffing when compared with the non-transported rats of the control pairs. It is suggested that stressed animals can influence the behaviour of nearby animals. PMID- 2618188 TI - [ONLINE: program for online connection of laboratory apparatus with personal computers with special reference to the requirements of toxicological animal studies]. AB - This paper deals with ONLINE, a program for interfacing laboratory devices with personal computers (PC) via RS-232C. ONLINE was used in our department of toxicology for the evaluation of animal weights and for data transfer from a hematology analyzer to the PC. The program allows simplex as well as duplex connection and supports the programming of communication parameters for the data transfer when using the RS-232C. Files can be generated for the uptake of data up to 100,000 data points. Selected parts of these files can be used for the calculation of descriptive statistical parameters. ONLINE requires a computer compatible to MS-DOS with at least 256 kBytes RAM and with both a serial and a parallel port. PMID- 2618189 TI - Hardness of diet pellets and growth of pre-weaned mice: separation of direct effects on the young and indirect effects mediated by the lactating females. AB - The effect of pellet hardness on growth of pre-weaned mice was studied with the use of a specially constructed cage so that lactating females and their young could be fed separately. Diet pellets with identical ingredient composition but hardness of either 20 or 40 kp were prepared. Growth of the young not supplemented with feed was markedly depressed by the feeding of the 40-kp diet to the mothers, when compared with the 20-kp diet. If the young of mothers fed the 40-kp diet had free access to diet pellets with hardness of either 20 or 40 kp, their growth performance improved. When the breeding females were fed the 20-kp diet, feed supplementation of the young did not affect their body weight. This study suggests that the observed effect of diet pellet hardness on body weight of pre-weaned mice is mediated in part through the mothers. Free access to feed was found to stimulate growth of pre-weaned mice only if the mothers were fed extremely hard diet pellets. PMID- 2618190 TI - Increase of the intestinal iron absorption in growing rats and mice after 8 days of iron-deficient feeding. AB - In investigations of intestinal iron absorption the combination of repetitive bleeding and iron-deficient feeding is frequently used. It induces iron deficiency which, in turn, stimulates iron absorption. When this combined procedure was compared with the effect of an 8 d iron-deficient feeding schedule in growing rats, no significant differences were found regarding the stimulating effect on intestinal iron transfer. Body iron stores, however, as represented by the hepatic ferritin and iron content are remarkably less depleted. Contrary to the effect of the combined procedure the animals growth was only marginally retarded and anaemia did not develop. This was also demonstrated in mice. The stimulation of intestinal iron absorption by iron-deficient feeding of growing animals thus seems preferable, as this procedure largely avoids the disturbing side effects observed with repetitive blood sampling. PMID- 2618191 TI - Cytochrome P-450-dependent biotransformation in Uje:WIST rats with chronic liver injury induced by thioacetamide. AB - In female Uje:WIST rats micronodular liver cirrhosis was produced by thioacetamide (TAA) given in the drinking water (0.3 g/l) from the 4th to 6th months of life. 14 d after TAA cessation it was examined, whether this animal model reflects the restricted cytochrome P-450-dependent biotransformation in severe stages of human liver cirrhosis by in vivo (caffeine and metamizol elimination) and in vitro methods (cytochrome P-450, 7-ethoxycoumarin and 7 ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation, ethylmorphine N-demethylation). The total biotransformation capacity was unchanged in TAA rats, partly even enhanced. Only several in vitro parameters reflect diminished cytochrome P-450-dependent biotransformation calculated per weight unit comparable to severe stages of human liver cirrhosis. Therefore, the chosen experimental conditions are suitable for conclusions concerning cytochrome P-450-dependent biotransformation in early rather than in severe stages of human liver cirrhosis. PMID- 2618192 TI - Alternatives to single caging of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) used in research. AB - Alternatives to single caging of laboratory rhesus monkeys were explored. 1. Surplus infants (12-18 months old) from breeding troops were paired with 48 adult females (6-28 years old) and 12 adult males (8-28 years old) that had lived alone for several years. Adults and infants were not related. The partners were compatible in 87% (42/48) and 83% (10/12) of cases, respectively, throughout follow-up periods of 16-25 months. The young companions reached 28-44 months of age during that time. 2. Forty-six unrelated adult female rhesus monkeys (7-23 years old) and 10 unrelated adult male rhesus monkeys (8-16 years old) that had lived alone for several years were familiarized in isosexual dyads and then paired in different cages. Paired companions were compatible in 83% (19/23) and 80% (4/5) of cases, respectively, throughout follow-up periods of 9-24 months. Of all animals tested, 2% (3/176) received a bleeding but not life-threatening wound by an incompatible partner. Pairing previously individually caged rhesus monkeys did not interfere with the following research protocols: tethering of one partner for remote collection; head-cap implantation on one or both partners; chair restraining of one partner while the other is kept close by for psychological support; in-cage venipuncture of both partners (attempted with females only); temporary (1-7 d) partner separation for timed breeding or for experimental surgery. Pairing singly caged adult rhesus monkeys with infant or with other adult companions is recommended as an effective way to promote the animals' wellbeing by enabling them to express their inherent need for social contact. PMID- 2618193 TI - [Ultrastructure of intralobular lymphocyte migration in the liver of hemodialysis patients]. AB - Presence of predominantly small lymphocytes in sinusoids and their immigration into the Disse space as well as into intercellular spaces between hepatocytes were recorded by electron microscopy from liver biopsies of 11 in 18 haemodialysis patients. No degenerative alterations were recordable from adjacent hepatocytes. These findings were obtained from patients with acute hepatitis (one case), minimal or chronic persistent hepatitis (two cases), reactive hepatitis (three cases), lobular and portal hepatitis (one case) as well as from the cases of metabolic-toxic alterations and one case of chronic blood congestion. HBV antigens were serologically identified in six cases. A HBcAg-free HBsAg type was immunohistologically diagnosed in one case only. No correlation was found to exist between the morphological results, on the one hand, and cellular immune pattern in peripheral blood, on the other. The above findings differed from most investigations of hepatitis B cases, in that no evidence could be found to cytotoxic action of lymphocytes upon adjacent hepatocytes. More investigations will be required for interpretation of the above findings, primarily immuno electron microscopic studies. PMID- 2618194 TI - [Predominantly mucous-differentiated acinic cell adenocarcinoma of the trachea]. AB - Reported in this paper is a predominantly mucous differentiated acinic cell adenocarcinoma of seromucous tracheal glands in a male patient aged 64 years. Local surgical treatment was performed several times within one year and was always followed by recurrence. The naked eye inspection showed a partial polypous appearance of the tumor. Histologically the carcinoma is composed of lobular arranged solid and cribrous cell formations only separated by a sparse fibrous stroma. The tumor is not capsulated, and invasive growth is evident. Large cells with abundant bright cytoplasm and a strongly positive reaction to PAS form the main constituent of the tumor. Signet cell formation sometimes occurs. Electron microscopic examination reveals abundant secretory granules. These cells are in full accordance with mucous cellular elements of adjacent seromucous tracheal glands from which this rare tumor has obviously originated. PMID- 2618195 TI - Sanitary significance of fecal streptococci in underground water in Egypt. AB - Underground water samples taken from 15 wells located at 3 municipal water works in Cairo were examined for the presence of fecal streptococci as a fecal pollution indicator. Fecal streptococci were detected in 96.4% of the 111 representative samples. Ranges of such pollution indicator were 1-17, 1-17 and 1 24 MPN/100 ml for water samples collected from wells in Mustorod, El-Marg and El Maadi water works, respectively. A total of 200 pure strains of streptococci were isolated and subjected to biochemical and serological tests. Biochemical tests showed that only 26 strains could be classified as related to group D streptococci (enterococcus). Fore further identification, serological test was applied using 48 isolates chosen at random. The distribution of isolates among various serological groups showed that only 15 isolates (31%) could be classified into 5 defined groups (A, B, C, F and G). On the other hand, 4 isolates could not be defined serologically. The remaining 29 isolates (60%) gave a mixed reaction. PMID- 2618196 TI - Aquatic fungi associated with seven species of Nile fishes (Egypt). AB - Ten identified species in addition to 2 unidentified species of Achlya and Pythium which belong to seven zoosporic fungal genera (aquatic freshwater fungi) were recovered during this investigation. The fish species with most zoosporic fungi (5 species and 3 genera) was Tilapia nilotica. The fish species with least fungi were Bagrus bayad and Syndontis schall (yielded only one species each). Mormyrus kannum did not give any zoosporic fungal species. Some aquatic fungi emerged only from internal organs of some fish species. 46 species belonging to 22 terrestrial fungal genera were also recovered during this work. The broadest spectrum (15 species) was recorded in the second external wash water (WE2) of Mormyrus kannum and the narrowest spectrum (2 species) in the second internal wash water (WI2) of Schilbe mystus and with the scales of Labeo niloticus. First wash water of internal organs (WI1) of Tilapia nilotica yielded the highest total count (6.95% of total count) and the second wash water of internal organs (WI2) of Schilbe mystus yielded the lowest total count (0.34% of total count). Nile water sample (NW) yielded 3.67% of total fungi and eight species which belong to seven genera. Aspergillus was the most common (31 out of 31 samples) and yielded 52.40% of total fungi. It was represented by 12 species and one variety of A. flavus var. columnaris (broadest spectrum). Penicillium was represented by 7 species and found in 19 out of 31 samples yielding 11.02% of total fungi. PMID- 2618197 TI - [The rectal-digital fetal stimulation test--an alternative to fetal blood analysis?]. AB - The rectal-digital fetal stimulation test (FST) is outlined. The indications of FST are the same as for the fetal scalp, blood sampling (FBA). Our clinical experiences suggested, that the fetal scalp blood sampling rate may be reduced by 50% using FST. The main advantage of the FST is that it can be repeated easily without any increased infection risk. PMID- 2618198 TI - [Cytogenetic, endocrinological and immunological studies of tissue cultures from ectopic pregnancies]. AB - The world-wide increase in extrauterine pregnancies induced us to grow trophoblastic elements obtained from ectopic locations in tissue cultures in order to determine whether the tubal implantation of the blastocyst could be caused by chromosomal aberrations. In addition, we investigated for what period of time trophoblastic tissue from ectopic sites is capable of producing HCG in culture. This was done in view of an eventual use of this method as a model for the testing of the effect of antitrophoblastic agents in vitro. Finally, the concentration of several tumor markers in the culture medium was measured. The karyotype could be determined in 16 out of 20 tissue specimen subjected to tissue culture; in one case a chromosomal aberration was recognized, two times there was evidence of increased fragility of the chromosomes. The ratio of female to male karyotypes was 10 to 6. HCG was found to be produced for 6 to 9 days in the tissue cultures. The concentration of the tumor markers CEA, CA 19-9, CA 12-5 and CA 15-3 in the culture medium was low as compared to cultures containing additional tubal mucosa. We are concluding that chromosomal aberrations do not seem to play a causal role in the genesis of EUP. The assay of HCG production by trophoblastic cells in tissue cultures could eventually be used for the testing of agents which might ultimately be employed for the non-surgical treatment of certain cases of EUP. PMID- 2618199 TI - [The activities of cathepsin A in the placenta, fetal membranes and amniotic fluid in physiologic pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by EPH gestosis]. AB - Activity of cathepsin A was determined in placenta, fetal membranes and amniotic fluid as well in normal pregnancy as in complicated pregnancy by EPH-gestosis. Measurement of activity was done by N-CbZ-L-glutamyl-tyrosine with pH 5.5. Compared with normal pregnancy activity of cathepsin A was lower in the three materials of EPH-gestosis. PMID- 2618200 TI - [The frequency of Chlamydia detection in gynecologic and obstetrical patients and newborns]. AB - Chlamydia trachomatis is said to play an important role in the pathogenesis of gynecologic, perinatal and neonatal infectious morbidity. Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for several infectious syndromes in non-pregnant women, mothers and their offspring. We investigated the incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis in 353 non-pregnant and pregnant women without complaints and in 50 newborn. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 6% of genital carcinoma, about 20% of different gynecological diseases and pregnant women within the first and third trimenon, 35% of puerperas and 10% of newborns. The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis antibody occurred in 34 to 55% of the non-pregnant and pregnant women and in 38% of the newborns. We propose a screening for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in high-risk patients and in pregnancy and a treatment of infected individuals. PMID- 2618201 TI - [The medically certified inability to work in relation to prenatal care]. AB - The specificity of medical care is analyzed by investigations of causes for disablement during pregnancy in 4,742 cases of working pregnant women. The diagnoses of disablement with a frequency of 9.31% are distributed by equal parts of causes dependent on pregnancy or not. The percentage of sick pregnant women not treated by the gynecologist is very high with 36.4% of causes dependent on pregnancy. For an improvement of the health protection of mother and child the pregnant women with these types of diseases should be referred to the gynecologist for further diagnostic and treatment. PMID- 2618202 TI - Grand multipara. AB - Grand multiparity is often considered a clinical entity, as certain complications during pregnancy, delivery and puerperium are thought to occur with increased incidence in these women. In this prospective investigation no difference in complications was found between women with up to 6 deliveries and women with 7 or more deliveries. However the incidence of preterm deliveries was significantly higher in the group with up to 6 deliveries. PMID- 2618203 TI - [Percutaneous catheter embolization of the of the internal iliac artery in life threatening gynecological bleeding]. AB - 16 patients with life-endangering hemorrhages caused by gynecologic malignancies have been treated with the percutaneous transcatheter embolisation. In general for embolisation of the internal iliac artery gelfoam was used. Life-endangering bleeding could be stopped in all cases, only 3 mild persistent bleedings and another recurrence of hemorrhage could be controlled conservatively. Major complications did not occur. The significant advantage of catheter embolisation in controversy to surgical treatment is discussed. PMID- 2618204 TI - [Rapid determination of C-reactive protein using latex agglutination]. AB - A simple and fast Latex agglutination assay for the determination of C-reactive protein (CRP) is described. The decision range of the assay presented is 7 mg/l; the measuring range extend from 7 mg/l up to 8,000 mg/l. Presented assay allows the cyto-determination of CRP in clinical routine work and therefore is suitable for the early diagnosis of infections in gynecology and obstetrics. PMID- 2618205 TI - [Interlocking of twins]. AB - We report about a very rare case of locked twins in cephalic presentations. A difficult forceps was necessary. In spite of cleidotomy and pushing the other twin out of the pelvis the fetus was in a deep distress and the resuscitation was unsuccessful. The second twin followed spontaneously, alive and well. PMID- 2618206 TI - [Leukocyte migration inhibition after experimental trypanosome infection in cattle]. AB - Blood serum from cattle experimentally infected with trypanosomes was tested for its activity influencing granulocyte migration. Pooled porcine granulocytes were used in the migration assay. The inhibitory migration activity observed in serum samples of trypanosome infected animals implies the presence of mediators of cellular immunity. Values of migration indices express reciprocal events of inhibitory and stimulating events in infected animals. This study allowed to follow at least some aspects of the very complex cellular immune system and its functioning. The observed differences in migration values in serum of each animal speak for an individual immunological capacity to defy trypanosome infections. The variability in occurrence of the first inhibitory activity after infection supports the view of individual responsiveness. Distinct differences in migration values were observed in Dahomey cattle after primary and secondary challenge with trypanosomes. Serum from reinfected animals exhibited a marked decrease in inhibitory activity as compared to samples obtained after first infection. These observations suggest a modulation of the individual immune response after multiple challenge with trypanosomes of the same strain. This study demonstrates the involvement of cell mediated immune responses to trypanosome infections. PMID- 2618207 TI - The role of Dirofilaria immitis antigen in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arteritis in the dog. 1. The effects of antigen infusion. AB - The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the Dirofilaria immitis antigen and morphology response of pulmonary tissue. The pulmonary arteries of D. immitis naive dogs were infused with an antigenic extract of adult female D. immitis worms. Light and electron microscopy and an assessment of vascular permeability were performed to compare arterial pathology 1 h and 5 days after antigen infusion. Thrombus formation accompanied by perivascular edema was present initially, but it was not detectable after 5 days. PMID- 2618208 TI - [Udder immunization for the protection of calves against salmonella infections. 1. Detection of specific Ig classes in the mother, colostrum and calf and the course of infection]. AB - Pregnant cows were vaccinated at ablactation by infusion of heat inactivated S. dublin or S. typhimurium into the mammary gland in order to protect their offsprings via colostrum against salmonellosis. This method of vaccination is based upon statements according to which specific IgA and IgM play a prominent role in respect of protection. Both Ig classes are produced locally and are not channelled from the mother's system into the mammary gland. In comparison to calves from non-vaccinated control animals, calves from vaccinated cows did not exhibit clinical symptoms after challenge infection, and had a reduced salmonella excretion rate in respect of quantity but not in respect of the duration of shedding salmonella. Serological quantitation of specific Ig-classes (DIG-ELISA) did not allow to identify a specific Ig-class responsible for protection. PMID- 2618209 TI - [Our experience in enhancing the information content of lectures and exercises in microbiology based on an assessment of the assimilation of knowledge obtained in other departments]. PMID- 2618210 TI - [The taxonomy of obligate anaerobic bacteria]. AB - Studies on the chemotaxonomy of obligate anaerobic bacteria have been made. The combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry with computer-assisted analysis, permitting the multicomponent analysis of all products of bacterial metabolism and bacterial cell components, has been shown to be a research method, quite suitable for such studies. The chromatographic profiles of the end products of metabolism in anaerobic cultures of different age have been found to differ not in the set and number of peaks indicating various metabolites, but only in the concentration of metabolites, increasing in the process of prolonged incubation. The authors believe that the national microbiological "library" of the chromatographic profiles of anaerobic organisms should be created and the album of typing chromatographic profiles should be published; besides, data on new profiles should regularly appear in magazines. PMID- 2618211 TI - [The adhesive properties of salmonellae in the dynamics of the infectious process]. AB - In patients with toxic infections salmonellae were identified in 31% of cases. The patients were divided into two groups: the control group receiving treatment with infusion solutions and the test group treated, in addition to the usual scheme of therapy, with indomethacin in a daily dose of 150 mg. The study revealed that salmonellae isolated at the initial stages of the disease possessed highly pronounced adhesive properties. The adhesive properties of salmonellae isolated at the stage of convalescence from the patients of the test group were considerably less pronounced than those of salmonellae isolated from the same patients at the peak of the disease. In the control group no differences in the adhesive properties of salmonellae isolated from the same patients were established. PMID- 2618212 TI - [The dynamic immunological indices in in vivo stimulation with a Candida antigen]. AB - The results of the study of some immunity characteristics in patients with broncho-pulmonary diseases of allergic etiology, appearing under the influence of yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida, before the intradermal injection of Candida antigen and 24 and 48 hours after such injection are presented. A decrease in the content of peripheral blood lymphocytes, in the levels of T- and B-cells, changes in the frequency and intensity of immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions under the influence of antigenic stimulation have been established. PMID- 2618213 TI - [The immunopathological mechanisms of the skin lesion in erysipelas patients]. AB - The localization of bound IgG, IgA, IgM and component C3 of the complement in the focus of skin lesion in patients with different forms of erysipelas has been studied by the method of direct immunofluorescence. The presence of fixed immune complexes and component C3 in the affected areas of the skin at the acute period of the disease and their absence in the healthy areas of the skin have been established, which seems to be indicative of the presence of the local immunocomplex process in erysipelas. This process is one of the mechanisms of erysipelatous inflammation. PMID- 2618214 TI - [Ukrainian Psychiatric Consultation Center-- a new organizational form of outpatient psychiatric services for the population]. AB - The paper treats of the experience gained by the Republican Psychiatric Counselling Center set up in the USSR for the first time. The Center is oriented at the improvement of the highly specialized psychiatric services for patients with psychic disturbances. During 1980-1987, the number of patients referred to the Center by the chief psychiatrists of the regions or by the Ministry of Public Health of the Ukrainian SSR and of those who resorted to the Center's services on their own initiative increased 7-fold, namely from 857 to 6,024 persons. The structure and functions of the Center are described as are prospects of the development of this kind of the outpatient psychiatric services in all the Union Republics, territories, regions and large industrial cities of this country. PMID- 2618215 TI - [Problem of the requirement of beds in somatopsychiatric departments]. AB - Not less than 10% of the patients admitted to the city hospitals need psychiatric consultation. Not less than 1% of patients need the transfer to the somatopsychiatric department on condition that 50% of patients with diagnosed psychoses and dementia and the minimal number of patients with border-line psychiatric pathology are transferred. PMID- 2618216 TI - [Use of the emotional reflection inversion test for detection of persons with high risk of development of neurotic disorders]. AB - The results of application of emotional reflection inversion test were juxtaposed to the data of psychiatric investigation of 133 subjects in an out-patient department. The test proved most efficient in detecting the neurotic responses ensuring emotional strain and nonadaptive attitudes. The test is simply used and recommended for mass prophylactic population screening. PMID- 2618217 TI - [EEG factor analysis in the treatment with antidepressants]. AB - Spatial EEG factor analysis was performed in patients under gamonil and damilen treatment. Groups of EEG-factors were discovered that describe the peculiarities of the brain electrical processes spatial reorganization under pharmacotherapy. Major groups comprised the EEG factors: 1. characterizing the proper action of the drug; 2. connected to the syndromal peculiarities of depression or the course of mental state changes; 3. those depending on the efficiency of the therapy. PMID- 2618218 TI - [Serum zinc levels in various mental disorders]. AB - The zinc levels were measured in the blood serum of healthy subjects, mental patients without dementia, patients which had committed an attempt of suicide (a model of stress state), patients with multiinfarction dementia and Alzheimer type dementia. Low Zn levels were detected in the latter three groups, especially in demented patients. The role of Zn in stress and in etiopathogenesis of different types of dementia are discussed along with the possibility of its therapeutic application. PMID- 2618219 TI - [Preliminary results of comparative studies of cerebral hemiatrophy in humans and animals]. AB - Fifteen cases of cerebral hemiatrophy were analyzed. In these patients, epilepsy and hemiparesis started in their early childhood with fatal outcome at ages of 4 through 74. In 10 cases intracranial inflammatory diseases or severe inflammations of the upper respiratory tract and middle ear preceded the neurological symptoms. In most patients the atrophic hemispheres were nonuniformly shrunk. The scale of morphological changes varied between moderately thinned convolutions and severely scarred shrunken cortical sites. In experimental studies in pigs, a temporary and unilateral impairment of the cerebrospinal fluid rinsing function and a gradual throtting of the small meningeal and cortical veins were induced by an artificial fibrosis which resulted in changes of the cortical tissues similar to those found in the patients. PMID- 2618220 TI - [Autonomic dystonia syndrome]. AB - The problems of the terminology of vegetative disorders are discussed, the syndromal nature of vegetative dystonia is stressed. The main patterns of the pathology underlying the development of vegetative dystonia are described, providing an opportunity of identifying the etiological factors. Within the framework of the vegetative dystonia syndrome, a symptom complex is distinguished, which is determined by dysfunction of the suprasegmental parts of the vegetative nervous system, namely the psychovegetative syndrome and manifestations of segmental vegetative pathology in the form of a syndrome of progressive vegetative insufficiency and vegetotrophovascular syndrome. PMID- 2618221 TI - [Problem of classification of autonomic disorders]. AB - The classification of vegetative disorders designed an the All-Union Center for Vegetative Pathology is reviewed. Approaches to the systematics of vegetative disorders according to Academician G. I. Markelov and those of the authors of the suggested classification are under comparison. It is ascertained that the latter one does not contain any novel knowledge, concepts or approaches to the study of autonomic pathology++, paying no attention to the latest scientific and practical achievements and therefore cannot be used in practical work. PMID- 2618222 TI - [Cerebral mechanisms of autonomic disorders]. AB - Altogether 60 patients with cerebral vegetative disorders underwent clinical and psychophysiologic studies including the examination of the psychologic tests, somatosensory evoked potentials and motor potentials. The correlations between the specific and nonspecific afferent systems were disclosed as was the involvement of the motor systems in the pathogenesis and symptom formation in different patterns of vegetative disorders. PMID- 2618223 TI - [Significance of the activating and deactivating mechanisms of the brain in autonomic regulation]. AB - The purpose of the investigation was to specify the degree of the involvement of activation of the brain synchronizing and desynchronizing systems in vegetative regulation. Fifty patients with vegetative dystonia were examined. The syndrome manifested itself in permanent vegetative disturbances, vegetative crises and derangements of thermoregulation in the presence of hypothalamic failure or without it. The patients underwent clinical, electrophysiologic and psychometric studies. Besides, they were subjected to thermotopography and were examined for the status of the vegetative nervous system. Depending on the initial bioelectrical activity of the brain (alpha-index), the patients were distributed into 2 groups: with alpha-index exceeding 55% and less than 45%. Analysis of the data obtained made it possible to reveal two types of the derangements of brain homeostasis and disintegrative interrelations. PMID- 2618224 TI - [Clinical features of neurocirculatory asthenia within the neurological structure of neuroses]. AB - As many as 177 patients were subjected to a clinical analysis of the course of vegetovascular dystonia within the scope of the nosologic structure of neuroses with different semiologic manifestations. Use was made of the polymodal clinical classification of vegetovascular dystonia with regard to the vegetative background, from, course, character and rate of crises. It has been established that vegetative function in neuroses is determined by different conditions of the vegetative tone, reactivity and vegetative supply of the activity which requires a differentiated approach to the treatment with an adequate selection of the sympathetic and parasympathetic remedies. PMID- 2618225 TI - [Current problems of mental health: its status and prospects]. PMID- 2618226 TI - [Characteristics of the autonomic nervous system tests during group psychotherapy of patients with opioid dependence at the stage of induction of remission]. AB - The time-course of changes in vegetative tests was studied in 47 men suffering from stage II opium dependence. The patients' age ranged from 18 to 28 years, with the dependence standing amounting to 1-10 years. Use was made of cardiointervalography to define the vegetative tone, as well as of the vagal and adrenaline tests to explore vegetative responsiveness. The orthostatic test was employed for studying vegetative maintenance of the activity. A group of patients (n = 22) was distinguished, with a positive attitude towards treatment and experienced in group psychotherapy, as was a group of patients (n = 25) with a negative attitude towards therapy and treated with medicaments. The results of the use of the vegetative tests indicate the normalization of the vegetative nervous system in the patients group with a positive attitude towards treatment and experienced in group psychotherapy and allow the conclusion about a greater efficacy of group psychotherapy as compared to the drug treatment in the management of patients suffering from opium dependence. PMID- 2618227 TI - [Autonomic disorders in Parkinson disease]. AB - The authors provide the clinical and laboratory findings regarding the vegetative nervous system in 60 patients with parkinsonism and in 11 healthy volunteers. It has been found that parkinsonism is necessarily associated with vegetative disorders which are pronounced to a greater degree in right-handed patients and bilateral clinical manifestations of the syndrome. PMID- 2618228 TI - [Hyperbaric oxygenation in the complex treatment of Parkinson disease]. AB - Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) was used for the treatment of 64 patients suffering from parkinsonism of different etiology. HBO sessions were provided daily, 8-12 per course, the treatment pressure amounted to 1.3-2 atm exposure to 40-60 minutes. The beneficial effect was marked in 55 patients. The results of the treatment turned out better in vascular parkinsonism, in patients under 65 years, with a disease standing of 1-5 years. The akineticorigid syndrome regressed to a greater degree, whereas in trembling hyperkinesis, HBO turned out to be less potent. PMID- 2618229 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of chronic spinal arachnoiditis]. AB - Altogether 61 patients with chronic spinal arachnoiditis underwent clinical and laboratory studies for deranged functions of the nervous system. The main neurologic syndromes, the results of examining cerebrospinal fluid and spondylo- and myelography data are given. At the first stage the treatment should be conservative. Surgical intervention is indicated when symptoms of compression increase. PMID- 2618230 TI - [Bilirubin encephalopathy]. AB - The author describes symptoms typical for children with bilirubin encephalopathy (the hyperkinetic patterns of infantile cerebral paralysis, audition deficiency, mental deficiency). During follow up studies (from 1 month or 1-5 years and up to 10-25 years) of children with bilirubin encephalopathy uncomplicated by prolonged asphyxia and derangement of cerebral circulation, the majority of them demonstrated the evolutional time-course of changes in motor disorders (from rigidity to athetosis and then to ataxia). Variants of neurosensory hypoacusis and peculiarities of secondary retardation of the mental development determined by audition and speech distress in children trained at the boarding++ schools are described. Preventive and treatment measures for these abnormalities are provided. PMID- 2618231 TI - [Neurologic manifestations of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome]. AB - Neurologic manifestations were examined in 25 patients with the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Injuries to vessels of the brain and spine, arteriovenous malformation, muscular and vertebrogenic lesions, headaches, and vegetative disorders were diagnosed. The clinical and laboratory data are provided whatever the presence or lack of neurologic symptomatology. The problem of the pathogenesis and treatment of neurologic manifestations associated with the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are discussed. PMID- 2618232 TI - [Opsoclonus--myoclonic hyperkinesis of the eyes]. AB - A case of opsoclonus, myoclonic hyperkinesis of the eyes, is described. The causes of the occurrence of such a rare phenomenon are analyzed. A hypothesis is advanced, according to which in the mechanism of oculomotor abnormalities, of great importance are anatomic formations in the oral parts of the brain stem. PMID- 2618233 TI - [Treatment of Bell's palsy by using portable biofeedback devices]. AB - Portable, electromyographic feed-back devices were used to develop a scheme for staged and directed correction of motor function of facial muscles. The scheme was applied to the treatment of 32 patients aged 17 to 60 years with neuritis and neuropathy of the facial nerve. As a result of the treatment, the patients manifested the improvement of coordinative interrelations between the analogous groups of muscles of the diseased and normal side of the face (activation of weakened muscles with simultaneous abatement of the intensity of pathologic synergisms), evidencing the returning to normal of the central programs that control movements. PMID- 2618234 TI - [Night sleep in facial hemispasm and paraspasm]. AB - Polarography was employed to study natural nocturnal sleep in 22 patients with facial paraspasm and in 18 patients with facial hemispasm. It has been shown that a pathogenetically significant factor in this pathology are interrelations between the systems of physical and tonic activation where changes specific for each pattern of the hyperkinetic syndrome could be seen. Physical motor hyperactivity forms a characteristic motor-activation pattern in each form. This enables one to discuss not only the mechanisms of the development but also may serve an effective criterion for the diagnosis. PMID- 2618235 TI - [Asymmetry of muscular electric excitability in injuries of the brachial plexus]. AB - The data are presented on the asymmetry of electric excitability of right and left arm muscles in 22 patients with lesions of the right brachial plexus and 24 patients with left brachial plexus lesioned. Asymmetry included accelerated loss of excitability to short impulse currents in patients with left brachial plexus lesioned, and in more pronounced increase in the volume of threshold current decreasing in length of impulse for the muscles of intact left hand as related to those of intact right hand. PMID- 2618236 TI - [Metabolism of an antiepileptic drug halonal in experimental studies]. AB - A study was made of metabolism of the new antiepileptic drug halonal in guinea pigs. It was established that on oral administration halonal was not absorbed from the intestinal tract and only its metabolite, phenobarbital, was detectable in blood serum. It is assumed that halonal produces a therapeutic action only thanks to phenobarbital, its pharmacologically active metabolite. PMID- 2618237 TI - [Immunologic aspects of migraine headaches and autonomic prosopalgias]. AB - The paper presents the results of an immunological screening of patients with facial vegetative neuralgia, Horton's syndrome, and migraines prior to and following therapy. The patients with migraines were found to have an activated local humoral immunity. Those from all the groups showed lower serum immunoglobulin A concentrations after therapeutic interventions. PMID- 2618238 TI - [Primary generalized amyloidosis with the progressive autonomic insufficiency syndrome]. AB - The paper is concerned with a case of primary generalized amyloidosis characterized by the presence of a well-defined syndrome of progressive vegetative failure within the framework of neurologic complications of amyloidosis. PMID- 2618239 TI - [Mental health of the population and the migration processes]. AB - This is a comparative clinico-epidemiological++ investigation of the rate and syndrome structure of psychopathologic states in a mobile population in a new region, and in a stable population. Investigated were also the migrational attitudes in the mobile population. Individuals with borderline psychopathology, slow-progredient mental diseases and subjects predisposed to these disorders displayed an active involvement into migration flow. Psychopathologic syndromes were detected which accumulated into the mobile population and those related with elimination from this population. The role of disadaptation of environmental impact and of the peculiarities of counter++-flow in the mobile population mental health were analysed. PMID- 2618240 TI - [Study of the incidence of single-attack course of schizophrenia based on epidemiological data]. AB - A non-randomized sample of patients suffering from attack-like schizophrenia and registered at the PND of 3 districts of Moscow served as materials for investigation. There were altogether 3576 persons. Patients living in the Proletarsky district were subjected to a catamnestic study. By the moment of examination they had suffered one attack. In view of the fact that the occurrence of the second attack obeys the law of exponential distribution, it was determined that the mono-attack course was recorded in 26.2% of all the registered patients with attack-like schizophrenia. It was shown that the proportion of patients with mono-attack schizophrenia increased with the disease standing. The data provide an opportunity of the probability forecasting of the disease stabilization after the first attack and can be used in the solution of the problems of the further disease course and registration of this patients, group. PMID- 2618241 TI - [Individual long-term social and work capacity prognosis in paroxysmal schizophrenia (informative value of the criteria and structure of classification)]. AB - A clinico-epidemiologic research method combined with a multi-dimensional analysis was applied in patients suffering from attack-like schizophrenia. This made it possible to distinguish the most informative criteria for a long-term social and work fitness prognosis: premorbid adaptation, age by the disease onset, duration of the initial period, the first remission syndrome, the intensity of negative disturbances occurring in the course of the first remission, duration of the first remission, exogenous injuries in the premorbid and in the pre-manifest++ periods of psychosis. The prognosis classifier developed with regard to the above criteria provides a correct forecasting of the social and work fitness status of patients in 81.19% of cases (when patients are attributed to the favourable prognosis group) and in 69.64% of cases (when patients are attributed to the unfavourable prognosis group). PMID- 2618242 TI - [Problem of typological differentiation of the defect in symptom-poor schizophrenia (clinico-genetic correlations)]. AB - The clinico-genealogical method with the use of a genetic-mathematic analysis was applied to examine 85 probands with pure-symptoms schizophrenia (221 relations of grade I kinship). Schizophrenia with the defect of the simple deficiency type was established to be genetically, similar to schizophrenia with a psychopath-like defect characterized by veschroben. Different types of familial predisposition by the type of schizophrenia+ and by the spectrum of psychopathies were found to correspond to the studied variants of pure-symptoms schizophrenia. These correlations were confirmed by the data of the genetic-correlation analysis. It is assumed that determination of the typological differences in the defect structure in pure-symptoms schizophrenia is under the control of constitutional and genetic factors. PMID- 2618243 TI - [Rehabilitation: methodological approaches to determination of the effectiveness and prognosis of the results of the therapeutic and preventive services]. AB - One of the methodologic approaches to the solution of the problem of an objective evaluation and forecasting of the results of rehabilitation may involve the design of a three-dimensional and spatial model of the patient's clinical status, including two main components: the integral index of pathopsychosomatic correlations in the patient and sociopsychophysiologic stability of the individual. PMID- 2618244 TI - Probing the anticodon loop structure in yeast tRNA(Phe-Y) with single strand specific nuclease S1. AB - Yeast tRNA(Phe) and tRNA(Phe-Y) are cleaved by single strand-specific endonuclease S1 at the same positions within the anticodon loop (phosphates 34, 36 and 37) and at the 3'-terminus (phosphates 75 and 76). The efficiency of the anticodon loop hydrolysis is much higher in tRNA(Phe-Y) while the cutting at the 3'-terminus is not influenced considerably by the Y-base1 removal from yeast tRNA(Phe). The effect of the Y-base excision on the structure of the anticodon loop is discussed on the basis of the S1 digestion studies as well as other relevant results. PMID- 2618245 TI - Effect of triton X-100 on the activity and solubilization of rat liver mitochondrial phosphatidylserine decarboxylase. AB - It was shown that, among ionic and nonionic detergents tested, only Triton X-100 was able to stimulate the activity of rat liver phosphatidylserine decarboxylase, whereas other detergents were without effect or were inhibitory. The solubilization procedure of phosphatidylserine decarboxylase from mitochondrial membranes with Triton X-100 was elaborated. The dependence of the solubilized decarboxylase on the Triton X-100 to phosphatidylserine ratio and the inhibitory effect of Triton X-100 at its molar ratio to phospholipid higher than 5.6 was observed. No divalent cation requirement and no dependence of the ionic strength for the solubilized enzyme were observed. Kinetic parameters were determined. PMID- 2618246 TI - Subcellular compartmentation of dolichol taken up by mouse leukemia cells. AB - [1-3H]Dolichol was intraperitoneally incubated with mouse leukemia Lcb 35 cells. The radioactive lipid taken up by the cells was subsequently recovered in two fractions separated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation: a particular, most probably, lysosomal fraction and a cytoplasmic one. Thin-layer chromatography of radioactive lipids present in both fractions revealed that majority of dolichol was unchanged and only a small part esterified with fatty acids. Distribution of dolichol in various mouse organs was examined. Of all the organs examined, spleen accumulated the highest amount of radioactivity. PMID- 2618247 TI - [Acute inflammations of the retroperitoneal space]. PMID- 2618248 TI - [Anesthesiology problems in injuries of the retroperitoneum]. AB - Patients with injured retroperitoneum present a great problem because of difficulties arising in their diagnosis and treatment. The aim of our work was to indicate the approach to such patients for the purpose of establishing the timely diagnostic and adequate treatment. The methods: Polytraumatized patients with retroperitoneal injuries were investigated, who during their treatment had the following complications: hemolysis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and renal insufficiency. The results indicate the importance of the correct and timely diagnosis and adequate treatment which should, besides operation, also include the prevention of the irreversible phase of the shock, being aware that the body, when being in the state of anoxic molecular cell disease, with disturbed glucose, protein and fat metabolism, cannot function normally to decompose drugs, blood, blood derivates and anaesthetics. Therefore, the reactions of the body during abundant blood transfusions and disturbed process of blood coagulation aggravate the process of treatment. In conclusion, we should emphasize, that, in patients with a retroperitoneal injury, together with all the accessible medical techniques for diagnosing the disease, clinical observation remains the most reliable diagnostic method. PMID- 2618249 TI - [Anomalies of the diaphragm--problems in early life]. PMID- 2618250 TI - [Dilemmas in the diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal hematoma]. PMID- 2618251 TI - [Emergency surgical conditions after kidney transplantation]. AB - During the period from 30. 01. 1971 to 30. 03. 1988 403 kidney transplantations were performed on the Surgical clinic KBC and Medical faculty at Rijeka. Satisfactory results were achieved concerning surviving of patients and grafts. Emergency vascular complications leads to lost of graft in most cases. Urologic complications less affecting the graft but because of possible infection could jeopardize the life of patient. In the surgical treatment of urological complications recipient ureter was used in most cases and in two patients isolated ileal loop. Among gastrointestinal complications bleeding from gastroduodenal ulcer was the major problem. After onset of routine use of antagonists of histamine H2 receptors those complications has been reduced from 6.6% to 1.5%. In five patients a spontaneous rupture of graft has happened. In two patients direct suture of rupture saved the graft. All our activities with the patients after kidney transplantation should be in careful treatment and early recognition of complications and aggressive surgical approach when it is necessary. PMID- 2618252 TI - [Surgical treatment of uncontrolled hemorrhage in the retroperitoneum of the minor pelvis]. AB - The purpose of our work is to point out some wellknown facts about the bleeding from presacral vessels, because of This bleeding may be very profuse and dangerous. It occurs as intraoperative complication in combined abdominoperineal resection of the rectum, as well as the avulse injuries of the retroperitoneal part of the rectum, which are usually combined with fractures of the sacral, coccigeal or other bones of the pelvis. We want to show here, that it is not recommended to spend a lot of time in trials to make haemostasis with the usual methods, it is better to pack the whole area with gauze, as the only way to control such bleedings. PMID- 2618253 TI - [Injuries of the urinary bladder and urinary tract]. PMID- 2618254 TI - [Injuries of the urinary bladder]. AB - The authors analyse 32 patients with injuries of the urinary bladder treated in Clinical Hospital Centre "Firule" in the period from 1976 to 1988 (Figure No 1). There were: 10 contusions of the bladder (31%), 5 extraperitoneal ruptures (16%), 16 intraperitoneal ruptures (50%), and 1 combined extra and intraperitoneal rupture (3%). The isolated injuries of the bladder are rare. Extraperitoneal ruptures most of them are connected with the pelvic fractures. The intraperitoneal ruptures of the bladder were connected with splenic rupture in 7 cases, with the rupture of the rectum in 1 case, with the vaginal rupture in 1 case, with the rupture of the aorta in 1 case, with the rupture of the ovarian cyst in 1 case and with the rupture of the ileum in 1 case. All the patients with the urinary bladder rupture were operated, what got sufficient drainage of the urine, and drainage of the perivesical space and closure of the defect of the bladder. PMID- 2618255 TI - [Kidney injuries in childhood]. PMID- 2618256 TI - [Retroperitoneal tumors]. AB - The authors have referred their fifteen-year-old experiences in the treatment of the pathologically proved retroperitoneum tumours, classified according to Patel. The number of the affected persons is a very small one-only seven patients out of 100,000 inhabitants during the fifteen years' period. At the very beginning, the clinical symptomatology in a very poor one, so that it is not easy to diagnose a tumour. An early diagnosis as well as a timely surgical treatment are very important in the illness prognosis. As to our practice, malignancies prevail (57%). All patients, by whom a tumour has been diagnosed, have undergone surgery, its span of time depending on the local analysis, tumour restricted area, infiltration into the neighbouring tissues and its adherentness to the neighbouring organs. The post-surgical mortality amounts to 28%. The surgical results among benignancies are satisfactory. The results among malignancies depend on the pathohistological structure and their prevalence. We can partially improve the prognosis, if, besides a partial resection of these malignancies, we can add a cytostatic resection and a radio-therapy. PMID- 2618257 TI - [Retroperitoneal pancreatic fistulas]. PMID- 2618258 TI - [Retroperitoneal collection in acute pancreatitis]. AB - According to the actual universal knowledge and the authors personal experience in treating patients with retroperitoneal collections in acute pancreatitis particularly in severe forms of the sickness, represent a great problem in detecting, diagnostics as well as in the therapy. Antibiotics may be helpful only in preventive care. Meanwhile, the established collections have to be treated only surgically. Drainage procedures are essential and according to the authors experience in 56 patients to the principle of irrigation-aspiration type of continuous drainage-lavage was most successful. PMID- 2618259 TI - [Acute pancreatitis]. PMID- 2618260 TI - [Surgical treatment of retroperitoneal neoplasms]. PMID- 2618261 TI - [Retroperitoneal sarcoma]. AB - Clinical experience in the treatment of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas during period 1978-1987 is presented. The material consists of 64 patients with the male predominance (60.94%), and the peak occurrence in the forth and fifth decade of life. The difficulties in the diagnostic of these tumours are mostly caused by unspecific clinical picture, which is usually cleared with the stage of inoperability. Modern diagnostic approach, using echotomography and angiography enables earlier diagnosis. The most often seen histological pictures in this series are: M. Hodgkin (28.14%), Liposarcoma (25%) Lympho and fibrosarcoma (twice 12.5%), and the other forms are rarely encountered (1-3%). The operability is very low, and the radical operation is performed only in 16 cases (25.50%), and exploratory procedures are performed in 44 (68.75%). In the rest of cases a reduction of bulk mass of tumour was performed. The 5 year survival in the radically operated is present in 25% (4 patients) what is in accordance with the literature. In the cases with exploration or partial resection, the average survival is 4.5 months, in spite of some longer survivals in the group with Hodgkin's disease, mostly because of the modern cytostatic treatment. Intermediate postoperative mortality is 3.12% (2 patients). In recent years, the more aggressive surgical approach is advised, resulting in better outcome. PMID- 2618262 TI - [Retroperitoneal tumors in children]. PMID- 2618263 TI - [Primary retroperitoneal sarcoma]. PMID- 2618264 TI - [Renal transplantation--a possible factor in the development of circulatory insufficiency in the lower extremities]. AB - The major subjects of this presentation are: 1. Angiological aspects of living and cadaveric transplant donor; 2. The possibilities and importance of angiosurgical procedures during the transplantation operation; 3. Vascular complications of kidney transplantation; 4. Occlusive arterial diseases and the possibilities of treatment. The experiences after 423 renal transplantations have been overviewed and special problems of interest commented. PMID- 2618265 TI - [Retroperitoneal hematoma]. AB - Diagnosis and management of retroperitoneal haematoma is the problem of controversy in actual moment. It appears most frequently in the range of polytrauma or various traumas of abdomen and retroperitoneal organs. Here we report our experience in management of retroperitoneal haematoma. During the ten year period (from 1979 to 1986) we treated surgically, at the department for surgery, 58 injured patients with retroperitoneal haematoma. In 5 cases explorative laparotomy was done, and in other 53 cases there were injuries of intraabdominal and retroperitoneal organs. The haematomas were caused by the ruptures of spleen, liver, kidneys, pancreas, duodenum, small bowel with mesenterium, large bowel, bladder, retroperitoneal large blood vessels and pelvic fractures. In 17 cases retroperitoneal haematoma was associated with the injury of one organ. In 36 cases there were injuries of two or more organs. Retroperitoneal haematoma was caused by blunt trauma in most cases. During the management there were some diagnostic difficulties. In diagnosis we use: clinical status, of patients, radiography, angiography, ultrasonography, but the most secure was laparotomy. There are two treatment approaches, operative and conservative. Retroperitoneal haematoma was a consequence of ruptured solid organs and retroperitoneal blood vessels, and associated with injuries of intraperitoneal organs. All this, mentioned above, is the reasons for detailed exploration of abdominal cavity. PMID- 2618266 TI - [Retroperitoneal hematoma as a consequence of blunt abdominal injury]. AB - In our examination we have used clinical material of 448 cases treated in our clinics for blunt abdominal trauma in period from 1976. to 1988. with special care on the group of 172 patients in who the retroperitoneal haematoma was founded. In the group of 172 patients we have examined the frequency on way to age, sex, and presence of the retroperitoneal haematoma in clinical picture of the blunt abdominal injury, and frequency of the retroperitoneal haematoma in abdominal injury connected with the injuries of the other organs. PMID- 2618267 TI - [Anterior retrosternal diaphragmatic hernia]. AB - The authors in their work present a case of the anterior retrosternal diaphragmatic hernia in a 18 months old child which they have successfully operated on after they had discovered it accidentally by a roentgen examination. On that occasion they examined embryology and clinical aspects of this unusual congenital anomaly. PMID- 2618268 TI - [Rupture of the retroperitoneal duodenum due to blunt abdominal trauma]. AB - We are reported eight patients after blunt abdominal trauma with rupture of retroperitoneal part of the duodenum, with etiology of injury and with their surgical treatment. We emphasized diagnostic troubles and great mortality in the cases of missed duodenal rupture in the preoperative and in the intraoperative time. The result of successful therapy depend of quick recognizing of the retroperitoneal part of the duodenum and of the operation treatment. PMID- 2618269 TI - [Injuries of the pancreas]. AB - At the Surgical Clinic of the University Hospital Center "Firule" Split in the period from 1977-1987. years were treated 12 patients with injuries of the pancreas. That is 4% of all abdominal injuries treated in those 11 years. We presented 10 patients after blunt abdominal trauma and 2 after penetrating injuries of abdomen associated with acute pancreatic injury. The most important is early recognizing injury of pancreas and making the time from moment of injury to surgical exploration shorter as much as possible. There is no early specific signs of injury of pancreas and the key to treatment is accurate evaluation of extent of injury. PMID- 2618270 TI - [Injuries of the duodenum--problems in diagnosis and treatment]. PMID- 2618271 TI - [Traumatic pseudocyst of the pancreas]. PMID- 2618272 TI - [Polytrauma with retroperitoneal injuries]. AB - From 1971-1987, 598 polytraumatized patients had concomitant injuries of the retroperitoneal space. The mortality rate came up to 33.4%. Diagnostically abdominal lavage, laparoscopy, selective angiography and CT were carried out. Often life saving laparotomy had to be practised without further delay. PMID- 2618273 TI - [Surgical treatment of congenital anomalies of the diaphragm]. PMID- 2618274 TI - [Traumatic and disease-related destruction of the retroperitoneal colon]. AB - There are generated conditions for development of massive anaerobe infection which is in condition of communication off retroperitoneal colon, directly endangering life of the patient. From familiar anatomical characteristics of retroperitoneal part of colon and on account of massive anaerobe infect in retroperitoneum, all primary anastomoses and sutures are insecure and shouldn't be used. Application of exteriorization in cases of destruction of retroperitoneal colon is the securiest method. PMID- 2618275 TI - [Retroperitoneal foreign bodies]. PMID- 2618276 TI - [Rare malignant tumors of the pancreas and duodenum]. PMID- 2618277 TI - [Tumors of the retroperitoneal space]. PMID- 2618278 TI - [Tumors of the retroperitoneum]. AB - Authors present 13 patients with tumors of the retroperitoneal space. Primary tumors were revealed in 84.6%, malignant tumors in 92%, mesodermal source in 100%, liposarcomas in 30%, Operative treatment was undertaken in all patients, radical operation in 5 patients, radical operation with intervention on the surrounding structures in 4 patients, reduction tumor in one and biopsy in 3 patients. PMID- 2618279 TI - [Hematoma of the right and left retroperitoneal colon as the potential site of perforation]. PMID- 2618280 TI - [Retroperitoneal injuries]. PMID- 2618281 TI - [Personal experience in the surgical care of injuries of the retroperitoneal organs]. PMID- 2618282 TI - [Surgical treatment of subcostosternal diaphragmatic hernia]. PMID- 2618283 TI - [Venous surgery]. PMID- 2618284 TI - [Recurrence after surgery of the varicose syndrome of the lower extremities]. PMID- 2618285 TI - [Choice of surgical approach in the treatment of insufficiency of the superficial and communicating (perforant) veins]. PMID- 2618286 TI - [Surgical treatment of the varicose complex]. PMID- 2618287 TI - [Surgical treatment of the veins of the lower extremities]. PMID- 2618288 TI - [Late results in the surgical treatment of diaphragmatic relaxation]. PMID- 2618289 TI - [Recurrent varices after surgical treatment]. AB - Authors showed 240 patients with post-surgical, recidive varices. The cause of these varices were: perforators incompetentions, bad safeno-femoral deconnection, non extirpated collateral veins etc. Diagnosis of these complications is based upon Doppler and phlebographic examinations. Surgical treatment is based upon pathophysiological and pathoanatomic substrate (extirpation varices, subfascial ligature or discision perforators, etc). PMID- 2618290 TI - [Personal experience in the surgical treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities]. PMID- 2618291 TI - [Peroperative and immediate postoperative complications in the treatment of insufficiency of the superficial and perforant veins]. PMID- 2618292 TI - [Surgical treatment of primary varices of the lower extremities using the I.K.E.M. method]. AB - This report reviews our two years experience of the surgical treatment of the lower extremities primary varix by I.K.E.M.- method. Since March 1985 to September 1988., 75 patients have been operated upon at our surgical clinic. Sexual ratio was 4:1 in favour of female sex. The operations on both lower extremities were performed in one stage on 2/3 of patients. Operation indication were based on clinical research and a generally known tests. No phlebography has been done as it is considered unnecessary for diagnoses on the lower extremities primary varix. Main tactics and technology for this method is retrograded saphenectomy against application of Klapp's and Smetanas knite for varix elimination. Operation period is approximately 45 for both extremities. It is recommended for patients to get up early in the morning. Average staying at the hospital was two days. Occasional wearing of elastic bandages is for six weeks. PMID- 2618293 TI - [Subcutaneous section of the veins in varicose complex of the lower extremities]. PMID- 2618294 TI - [Portosystemic shunts in the therapy of hemorrhage in esophageal varices due to liver cirrhosis]. PMID- 2618295 TI - [Acute iliac, femoral and subclavian thrombosis]. PMID- 2618296 TI - [Postphlebitic syndrome, surgical treatment of superficial venous insufficiency and zinc "boots"]. PMID- 2618297 TI - [Evaluation of our results after emergency thrombectomy in acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis]. AB - The massive thrombosis of deep venous system of the lower extremities has become object of surgical treatment lately. The authors presented of I-F acute venous thrombosis of the leg upon which was an urgent thrombectomy made. The investigated clinilac material was divided in to 2 groups: I (A) were 78 patients, where as thrombectomy was made in the first 24-48 hours. In group II (B)-18 patients were presedented the control group (C) which were conservatively treated. Results obtained by early thrombectomy justified our active opinion in acute I-F thrombosis. There was no embolisation, no rethrombosis, no postphlebitic syndrome and no mortality. PMID- 2618298 TI - [Surgical therapy of the postthrombotic syndrome in the iliofemoral venous segment]. PMID- 2618299 TI - [Deep venous thrombosis of the upper extremity in the Paget-Schroetter syndrome]. PMID- 2618300 TI - [High doses of Streptase in the treatment of deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities]. AB - We apply the high dosed Steptase in last 10 months, and we find that there are the following advantages compared with the conventional application of Streptase: in 81,20% of cases we had had good results; it reduces the frequency of the complications-bleeding occurred in only 6.20% of the treated patients; it simplifies the application and reduces the lasting of the hospitalisation; In 12 of our 13 patients the treatment was one or two days; in only one case the treatment was repeated the third day. PMID- 2618301 TI - [Subfascial discission--the method of choice in the treatment of insufficiency of the perforant veins and venous ulcer]. AB - Authors described operative method of subfascial discision of perforators by the use special phlebotomy for it. Intrahospital (517 legs) and long term (76 patients) was analyzed. The operation with subfascial discision of perforators has shown the best results compared with the ligature and resection these veins. PMID- 2618302 TI - [Partial aplasia of the left diaphragm]. PMID- 2618303 TI - [Surgical treatment of varicose ulcer]. PMID- 2618304 TI - [Surgery of below-the-knee venous ulcers using the Linton method]. PMID- 2618305 TI - [Use of skin transplantation in the treatment of varicose ulcers]. PMID- 2618306 TI - [Local tissue changes in venous ulcers of the leg]. AB - Authors investigated anaerobic metabolites (lactate, pyruvate), gas analyzes, pathohistological changes (light and electron microsc.) and regulatory agents in the local blood of venous ulcers. The cause of anaerobic disturbance is hypoxia and hypercapnia (hypostatic ulcers) and pathologic vasodilatation and arteriolo venules shunts (postthrombotic ulcers). Pericapillary fibrin deposition aggravate tissue necrosis and destructions. PMID- 2618307 TI - [Venous ulcers of the leg--surgical treatment]. PMID- 2618308 TI - [Pathology of the superficial venous circulation of the lower extremities]. PMID- 2618309 TI - [Postphlebitic syndrome due to inadequate indications for sclerotherapy]. PMID- 2618310 TI - [Sclerosis therapy of varicosities--remote complications]. PMID- 2618311 TI - [Traumatic arteriovenous fistula]. AB - Three cases of arteriovenous fistulae and one iatrogenic observed in recent years at the University of Split's Surgical Clinic, and of different site and aetiology, are presented. Their clinical signs, diagnosis and vascular surgical access are discussed. PMID- 2618312 TI - [Surgical treatment of hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux and its results]. PMID- 2618313 TI - [Disruption of the inferior vena cava as an isolated injury in blunt abdominal trauma and polytrauma. Case report]. PMID- 2618314 TI - [Causes and risk factors in venous diseases]. PMID- 2618315 TI - [Bolus phlebography]. PMID- 2618316 TI - [The active state in the treatment of thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities]. PMID- 2618317 TI - [Acute thrombophlebitis. Ambulatory surgical treatment]. PMID- 2618318 TI - [Anesthesia in patients with varicose syndrome]. AB - Pain in the muscles and the feeling of tension in the lower legs along the varicose veins brings many patients, especially women to an operation, usually after previous attempts of conservative treatment. The aim of the work was to present the choice of analgesia for the operation of the veins of the lower limbs with the control of the post-operative analgesia. The methods included two groups of patients. One group received halothane inhalation anaesthesia in combination with nitrous oxide and oxygen, and the other ketamine hydrochloride anaesthesia applied intravenously. Postoperative pain was graded as strong, medium, mild, and painfree state. The pain intensity was assessed for each patient by the hours, and by multiplying the obtained score by the number of patients, we got the total pain scores. The pain relief 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after the administration of propoxiphen napsilate with paracetamol was calculated according to the formula: Br = Bo-B1 (2,3,4). As compared to the placebo, we got p.o.05 in favour of the active substance after ketamine hydrochloride anaesthesia. The results have shown that postoperative pain was much lower in the group of patients who had ketamine hydrochloride anaesthesia, what together with increased oxygen saturation during anaesthesia leads to the conclusion that this anaesthesia is appropriate for operations on the veins of the lower limbs because it ensures postoperative analgesia and oxygenation without oxygen inhalation. This is important because in the region attacked by varicosity the tissue metabolism is disturbed, oxygenation decreased and the values of pCO2 increased, frequently followed by skin atrophy, lower limb edema and lymphostasis. PMID- 2618319 TI - [Use of central conduction anesthesia during procedures on veins in the lower extremities]. PMID- 2618320 TI - [Complications in central conduction anesthesia during procedures on veins of the lower extremities]. PMID- 2618321 TI - [Treatment of patients with chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities with emphasis on foot ulcers]. PMID- 2618322 TI - [Surgical treatment of malignant breast tumors]. PMID- 2618323 TI - [Treatment of breast cancer 1978-1987]. PMID- 2618324 TI - [Problems with breast cancer in the aged]. PMID- 2618325 TI - [Personal experience in the conservative treatment of breast carcinoma]. PMID- 2618326 TI - [Second-look operations in malignancies of the breast]. AB - Second look operation in surgical oncology practice has been performed because of three reasons: 1. revision of operative wound due to hematoma and dehiscence of wound, 2. doubt on local recidive and 3. because of doubt on spreading process on second breast. During the period from 1977 to 1986 at surgical oncology we had revision due to hematoma and dehiscence-27, local recidives-147, metastasis in lymphoglads axilla neck, parasternal and subclavicular-38. Metastasis in second breast were 11. Up to local recidive and expansion on a second breast we have got a period of relatively good health. At reoperation because of dehiscence and hematoma interval between two operation is very short so we have got present not only hypovolemia but also summation effect of used anesthetic and plasma expander. In our material, except anesthesia a great influence on blood hemism has got irradiation and cytostatic therapy so out of 147 women patients-45 have been previously radiated, 4 under cytostatic therapy, while combined therapy had 31 patients. And that was the reason why we had to examine the influence of anesthesia polyhemio and irradiation therapy on a change in hepatogramms, blood picture and coagulation. Found deviation are statistically significant in proportion, so we emphasize it a fact, that at revision we can't find very often the source of bleeding, connected with disorders of coagulation which we have found in our examination. Because of that, without regard on a spreading hematoma, we suggest parallel hemism, and before closing the wound local use of Beriplast or Surgicel. PMID- 2618327 TI - [Bilateral malignancy of the breast]. AB - The breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in women, and makes 26 percent of all malignant diseases in women. Bilateral breast cancer is very rare, especially simultaneous one. We analyzed 420 operated breast cancers in Surgical Clinic in Split within five years period. There were 8 patients with simultaneous or metachronous bilateral breast cancer. Their incidence, difficulties in diagnostics and treatment, pathologic findings and prognosis are discussed. It is justifiable to follow the contralateral breast of patients with the breast cancer. PMID- 2618328 TI - [Breast carcinoma in men]. AB - The authors describe 8 cases of carcinoma of the male breast treated at the Clinic of Surgery, Clinical Medical Center Banja Luka in the period 1968-1988. In their discussion, the authors review contemporary findings concerning the genesis, evolution and treatment of this carcinoma. PMID- 2618329 TI - [Bloody discharge from the breast]. PMID- 2618330 TI - [Minimal breast cancer]. PMID- 2618331 TI - [20 years' results in the surgical treatment of breast malignancy]. PMID- 2618332 TI - [Rehabilitation of malignant diseases of the breast]. PMID- 2618333 TI - [Personal experience with the surgical treatment of carcinoma of the breast]. PMID- 2618334 TI - [Use of the latissimus dorsi flap in the reconstruction of defects after surgical treatment of breast tumors]. PMID- 2618335 TI - [Lymphatic drainage of the breast]. PMID- 2618336 TI - [Infections of the breast]. AB - The authors present their experiences of 45 female patients under the treatment of an acute purulent mastitis in five years period. From 45 treated female patients 8 (17.7%) were treated clinically, and 37 (82.2%) in the outpatient department. At the age to 35 years old, there were 87% of female patients from which 79.2% who bore the first child, and 21.7% of those who bore more than one child. From an acute lactic mastitis were treated 39 (86.6%) from which 2 (4.4%) were young girls, and 4 (8.8%) patients with already finished period of reproduction. Right-side localization of the pathological process was in 22 (48.8%) cases, left-side in 19 (42.2%) cases, and both-sides in 4 (8.8%) cases. In 15 (33.3%) female patients we have followed an immunological status. It is characteristic an immunological disbalance in acute phase. Following the immunological status, it can be useful for estimating and prognosis in treatment. In literature, there are quotation details of purulent diseases, among which breast infection takes a considerable place from 1.6 to 18%, and the death-rate is described in high percentage from 9.6 to 1.7%. Our attitude in the treatment of breast infection, especially when purulent process is present, as first we have to evacuate the suppuration, then to make good breast drainage, and separately to infiltrate the tissue because there are small abscesses in it, which bring to dissemination of pus within the breast. According to all mentioned above, we also give an antibiotic therapy. PMID- 2618337 TI - [Tuberculosis and malignancies of the breast]. PMID- 2618338 TI - [Personal experience in the surgical treatment of hiatal hernia]. PMID- 2618339 TI - [Advanced breast cancer, surgical treatment]. PMID- 2618341 TI - [External fixation and its role in bone surgery]. PMID- 2618340 TI - [The significance of puncture biopsy and cytological diagnosis in the early detection and treatment of carcinoma of the breast]. AB - In the period 1980-1987 at the Titov Veles Medical Center 430 women were investigated using native mammographia and punction biopsy with cytological diagnosis. All these investigations were undertaken for the purpose of early discovery of breast cancer. Malignant tumour was cytologically found in 51 women. Only in 6 cases where the cytological findings were negative breast cancer was found through histological analysis. All patients with confirmed breast cancer were operated on applying complete mastectomy. In 19 of these patients metastatic changes in axillary lymph glands were also found. PMID- 2618342 TI - [External fixation in open fractures]. AB - Author analyses 644 cases of compound fractures managed at the University Department of traumatology, Ljubljana from 1981. do 1987. He examines the incidence of compound fractures and fractures of other types. He analyses the fractures according to the Matter-Rittmann-Algover classification. Various fixation techniques are described, especially reduction by external fixators used in nearly all grade III compound fractures. The most frequently applied tube shaped fixator (Synthes) is presented. In 51% of cases external fixation was changed in first three months of treatment. The average length of external fixator application was 4 months, the full weight bearing in average after 7 months. Postoperative bone infection occurred in 4% of cases. PMID- 2618343 TI - [Use of external fixators in infected fractures]. AB - The purpose of this study was to present our own experience with external fixation in the treatment of infected fractures. External fixation was first used in the Trauma Center of Sarajevo in 1972 for the treatment of infected concquassant fracture of the lower leg. Since then it has been used in 111 patients. In most of the cases we have used AO fixation, the Hoffmann external fixation, and, more recently, the Ilizarov device. External fixation was applied in 49 cases with the infected fractures out of the total number of 111. Forty six of the patients were males and the fractures involved 31 lower legs, 13 upper legs, 3 forearms, and 2 upper arms. The work presents our own experience concerning etiology, a type of injuries, method of choice, length of the treatment, complications and results. PMID- 2618344 TI - [External fixators in the treatment of gunshot fractures]. PMID- 2618345 TI - [Initial experience with the Belsey Mark IV operation]. PMID- 2618346 TI - [Treatment of open comminuted and multiple fractures of the lower leg using the Ilizarov fixation method]. PMID- 2618347 TI - [External fixation: alternative possibilities]. PMID- 2618348 TI - [Fracture of the lower leg treated by the Ilizarov method]. PMID- 2618349 TI - [Treatment of multifragmented intra-articular fractures of the distal part of the radius]. PMID- 2618350 TI - [External fixation in fractures of the distal end of the radius]. PMID- 2618351 TI - [Stenosis of the esophageal hiatus due to chronic fibrothorax effusion]. PMID- 2618352 TI - [Complications in the use of external fixators]. PMID- 2618353 TI - [Complications in treatment using external fixators]. PMID- 2618354 TI - [External fixation as a primary and convertible method of fixation]. PMID- 2618355 TI - [Paraesophageal hiatal hernia of the diaphragm]. PMID- 2618356 TI - [Injuries of the pelvic circle treated with external fixation at the Traumatology University Clinic in Ljubljana 1981-1987]. PMID- 2618357 TI - [Large defects of the bones and soft tissues treated with the Ilizarov method]. AB - We presented 15 cases with the defects and shortening of the lower leg. In 14 cases the defect of the bone and soft tissues was the result of the lower injury, in one case shortening was due to the dysplastic bone tumor. The large defects of the soft tissues were present by all patients, so they could be classified in the Group "D" or Fourth Category of the open fractures All the cases were treated by the lifting graft and Ilizarov external fixator. Eleven of the fifteen cases were treated by the cutaneous and muscle-cutaneous flap for faster and better cover of the soft tissue defect. PMID- 2618358 TI - [Discontinuous stress compression--therapeutic principles in the treatment of posttraumatic pseudoarthroses]. AB - Post-traumatic infected or noninfected pseudoarthrosis represents one of the therapeutically most resistant problems in contemporary orthopaedics. The incidence of these cases has increased and the problem become even more relevant after mass application of osteosynthetic material was introduced. Without rejecting the classic methods of treatment for infected or noninfected pseudoarthrosis, but with the aim of finding a more functional and more rational therapeutic method, over the past 7 years we have begun to apply a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of pseudoarthrosis, making use of Ilizarov's principle of tensile distraction compression. We have consistently followed the therapeutic schema, applying the method which has been devised at the Kurgan Scientific Research Institute of Experimental and Clinical Orthopedics and Traumatology and making use of the external fixator of the original Ilizarov construction. The basic theoretical postulate on which our entire work has been based is: Dedifferentiation of polyblast cells under the influence of compressive and tensile forces (in rigid fixation conditions) into osteogenic cells. We have treated 168 cases of pseudoarthrosis. After stress compression 59. The average time of fixation was 17,250 days. All patients were ambulatory as early as the second postoperative day with full weight bearing of the affected extremity. Taking into consideration our experiences, we may say that we have been greatly encouraged by our results as they indicated that we were right to continue our work along the same lines. PMID- 2618359 TI - [Structural analysis of external fixators of bones and the anatomy of the olecranon process]. AB - Shown is the structural analysis of the broken bone metal fixator and of the anatomic hooked metal sheet for olecranon, from the structural engineering point of view. The FE models are structurally examined using the ICES STRUDL system and the COMPUTERVISION for graphics simulations. PMID- 2618360 TI - [Materials for the production of external fixators]. PMID- 2618361 TI - [Results in the clinical use of the M9 external fixation system]. PMID- 2618362 TI - [Hiatal hernia as a surgical problem]. PMID- 2618363 TI - [24-hour pH measurement--possibilities and limitations of the method]. PMID- 2618364 TI - [Rupture of the diaphragm caused by blunt injuries--diagnosis and treatment]. PMID- 2618365 TI - [Rupture of the right hemidiaphragm with prolapse of part of the right hepatic lobe as a consequence of blunt injuries of the thorax--case report]. PMID- 2618366 TI - [Case report on the diagnosis of diaphragmatic injury 25 years after sustaining the trauma]. PMID- 2618367 TI - [Injuries of the diaphragm examined from 1976 to 1988]. AB - The authors review 28 patients with the diaphragmal injury treated at the Surgical Clinic of the Clinical hospital centre "Firule" Split in the period from 1976 to 1988. The distribution of the injuries in consideration of age and sex, the most frequent lesions of the organs connected with the diaphragmal injury, number of the patients in different years as the structure inside this group of the patients is shown. PMID- 2618368 TI - [Surgical treatment of diaphragmatic rupture in closed injuries]. PMID- 2618369 TI - [Traumatic rupture of the diaphragm]. PMID- 2618370 TI - [Closed diaphragmatic rupture as a surgical problem]. PMID- 2618371 TI - [Penetrating injuries of the diaphragm]. PMID- 2618372 TI - [Injuries of the diaphragm]. AB - Diaphragmal injuries are rare but serious. They are caused by traffic accidents, murder or suicide, fall from height, crush or blast injuries. Mechanisms of diaphragmal rupture may be various: sudden intraabdominal pressure increase, transferred strike force from pelvis (like "contra coup"), direct pressure on one or both hemitoracices, injuries piercing or sclopetar. Negative intraabdominal pressure is convenient for prolapse of abdominal organs into pleural cavity. Ruptures were more often of tendinous than muscular part of diaphragm, and they were more often on left side. Diaphragmal injuries can be: open--percutaneous (thoracoabdominal) and closed--subcutaneous. There are three types of thoracoabdominal injuries: thoracoabdominal, abdominothoracal and thoraco retroperitoneal. Open diaphragm injuries are followed by shock, hemorrhages, cardiopulmonary disfunction, haematothoracic, peritonitis and other lesions. Closed diaphragmal injuries can be manifested clinically or latent. In the first stage of treatment there is a conservative approach (solving the shock) and in the second stage surgical approach. More often thoracotomy is better than laparotomy and the place of incision depends on localisation of injuries and clinical signs. During last 10 years we surgically treated 19 diaphragmal injuries with mortality rate of 15.9% (3). Most frequent causes of injuries were traffic accidents or sclopetar injury, and the predominant compression. Diaphragmal lesions were a part of thoracoabdominal injuries and politraumas with high mortality rate. The frequency of injuries of other abdominal organs was the following: spleen, lungs, liver, stomach, bowel, kidney, bladder, retroperitoneal blood vessels, legs, arms and pelvis. The treatment of diaphragmal injuries requires multidisciplinary, experienced surgery team with well equipped anaesthesiology and reanimation unit. PMID- 2618373 TI - [Traumatic rupture of the diaphragm as a diagnostic and therapeutic problem in polytrauma]. PMID- 2618374 TI - [Surgery of the diaphragm]. AB - The new impulse to the diaphragmatic surgery are given by diagnostical treatment, better knowledge of pathophysiology, the increase of trauma improvement of reanimation and better work conditions. Some aspect of diaphragmatic surgery are separated from totality... These are congenital malformation with newborn infant, the surgery of hiatus and injury of diaphragm in polytrauma. For complete being with this problem of the diaphragmatic surgery are necessary modern technical and diagnostical conditions, specialized centres and highly educated surgeons, as well as teams work neonatologists, reanimatologists, and surgeons. PMID- 2618375 TI - [Closed injuries of the diaphragm in autopsy material]. AB - Out of 207 cases died of trauma, diaphragmatic rupture takes part in 18 (8.7%). The authors tested how often closed diaphragmatic rupture takes part with correlation of neighboring anatomic injury. Because of these rare incidence, a surgeon with injury of the next organs to the diaphragm needs always to think of it's rupture. PMID- 2618376 TI - [Diaphragmatic rupture in present-day injuries]. AB - In this report the authors took all material found on KBC Zemun for period from 1968 to 1988 on 43 causes traumatic rupture of diaphragms treated on this clinic. On their own experience and taking the experience of the others the authors found that: Traumatic rupture of diaphragm is a consequence of thoracoabdominal compressive trauma, which it accompanies in 3% of cases. Any traumatic rupture of diaphragm is an acute surgical state which requires an urgent surgical treatment. No other treatment is justified. Radiological method is applied in diagnosing the traumatic rupture of diaphragm. The surgical operation ought to secure a good detection of accompanying injuries. They are surgically taken care of by breaking the communication between the two cavities and, by providing their proper drainage. The major factor causing this type of traumatism presents the traffic accidents. The death rate with these traumas is very high and largely depending on accompanying injuries, reaching 20.9% in the material that we studied. PMID- 2618377 TI - [Posttraumatic diaphragmatic hernia]. PMID- 2618378 TI - [Surgical treatment of traumatic rupture of the diaphragm]. PMID- 2618379 TI - [Traumatic lesions of the respiratory diaphragm]. PMID- 2618380 TI - [Injuries of the diaphragm]. PMID- 2618381 TI - [Diagnostic problems in closed diaphragmatic ruptures]. AB - These injuries are becoming more and more frequent and the prevalent etiological factor is the traffic accident. The isolated ruptures of the diaphragm are rare, while combined injuries of the organs (craniocerebral, the injuries of spine, pelvis, thorax and extremities) are more frequent. Left hemidiaphragm occurs more often than the right rupture. Clinical feature is a result of the prolapse of abdominal organs into the thorax. Apart from anamnesis and physical examination, radiological findings are the most important for diagnosing the rupture. Gastric tube and contrast medium are of considerable help. Pleural punction should be avoided because of possible complications, abdominal punction is helpful, whereas pneumoperitoneum is dangerous in the present respiratory insufficiency. If abdominal symptoms prevail, laparotomy is indicated: while in damages of thoracis organs and in neglected cases with large adhesions, thoracotomy is carried out. The prognosis depends on the injuries of other organs while in isolated diaphragmal ruptures death-rate is minimal (if diagnosis was made early). The authors present their experiences in the treatment of 30 patients during 16 years period (1972-1988). PMID- 2618382 TI - [The importance of symptoms/signs in the diagnosis of esophageal reflux disease]. PMID- 2618383 TI - [Diseases and injuries of the retroperitoneum]. PMID- 2618384 TI - [Epidemiologic aspects of splenic injuries observed from 1958 to 1988 in our department]. AB - The authors have reviewed the frequency of the patients with splenic injuries treated on the Surgical clinics of the Clinical Hospital Centre "Firule" Split in period from 1958 to 1988. The distribution of the splenic injuries in consideration to age, sex such as the lethality inside this group is shown. PMID- 2618385 TI - [Splenic injuries--the most common cause of intraperitoneal hemorrhage in our data]. PMID- 2618386 TI - [Care of abdominal injuries at the Traumatology Clinic in Sarajevo with emphasis on splenic injuries]. PMID- 2618387 TI - [Diagnosis and classification of splenic injuries]. PMID- 2618388 TI - [The significance of abdominal puncture and lavage of the peritoneal cavity in splenic injuries]. PMID- 2618389 TI - [Secondary (occult) hemorrhage of the spleen after traumatic rupture--case report]. PMID- 2618390 TI - [Emergency splenectomy in association with multiple injuries and problems of the anesthesiologist]. PMID- 2618391 TI - [Characteristics of hemodynamic changes in splenic injuries in childhood]. PMID- 2618392 TI - [Problems with blood replacement in splenic injuries]. PMID- 2618393 TI - [Autotransfusion in splenic injuries]. PMID- 2618394 TI - [Splenectomy--100 splenic injuries]. PMID- 2618395 TI - [Intra-abdominal hemorrhage in splenic injuries]. AB - The authors present a series of 36 patients operated on for severe intraabdominal bleeding due to spleen trauma. Patients were treated from 02. December 1987 till 30. June 1988 in Emergency Center-Surgical Clinic-University Clinical Center Belgrade (Institute of digestive pathology). The standard operative procedure has been removal because splenic salvage is unreasonable if there is ungoing bleeding and multiple associated injuries. Splenectomy was performed in 32 (88 percent). Overall mortality rate was 9%. Authors want to stress out the role of team in successful treatment of polytraumatized patients. PMID- 2618396 TI - [25 years' experience in the care of traumatic lesions of the spleen]. PMID- 2618397 TI - [Treatment of splenic injuries]. PMID- 2618398 TI - [Surgical treatment of injuries and diseases of the spleen]. AB - The paper deals with experiences and procedures in the management of spleen injuries and diseases in 53 patients treated in the Department of Surgery of the Sibenik Medical Centre over the last 15 years. There were 40 patients with spleen injuries, sustained mainly in road traffic accidents (26 or 65%), various accidents in the workplace, at home, knife stabs etc. (14 or 35%). The majority of those injured in road traffic accidents were polytraumatized (77%). Splenectomy was done in 36 patients. Successful splenic salvage was accomplished in 2 cases by the patch procedure. Two children with spleen injuries were treated conservatively, with careful follow-up of laboratory findings, clinical course, scintigraphy and ultrasound findings. Among other diseases splenectomy was done in hypersplenism (3), in spontaneous rupture because of splenomegaly, metastatic carcinoma and hydatid cyst (1 patient respectively). Together with other surgical procedures splenectomy was done in total gastrectomy because of carcinoma (3), in left hemicolectomy also because of carcinoma (2), in haemorrhagic oesophageal varices surgery (1) and in lesion caused by an instrument (1). Because of questionable results, no autologous transplantation was done. There were no cases of postsplenectomy infection. PMID- 2618399 TI - [Traumatic rupture of the spleen]. PMID- 2618400 TI - [Rupture of the spleen and the surgical approach]. AB - In introduction, the authors present, theoretical considerations about divide of spleen injury, and give appropriate statistical data. In their material consisted of 25 traumatically ruptured spleens during period 1974-1988, they deal, among other questions, with necessity of drainage after splenectomy. As for operative procedure, they point out splenectomy, but also mention other surgical treatments that they are not familiar with. In conclusions they insist on early and precise diagnosis (especially in multi injured patients) and emphasize close relationship between drainage and local intraoperative finding. PMID- 2618401 TI - [The role of splenectomy in traumatic rupture of the spleen with comments on related material]. AB - The authors present their ten-year series of traumatic rupture of spleen. During the ten-year period 24 of such cases have been registered. In all ruptures of spleen the total splenectomy was performed, due to severe ruptures of capsule and parenchyma. In 87.5% the operations were done immediately. The delayed rupture of spleen was in three patients, without complications and mortality. The authors put the particular stress on fast and accurate diagnosis and note all methods of diagnosis, which can be used according to possibilities of Surgical Department. The authors suggest that the hesitation for laparatomy and that the splenectomy is justifiable operative method in traumatic rupture of spleen. PMID- 2618402 TI - [Traumatic rupture of the spleen]. AB - In the work the authors present their own experience in the treatment of spleen traumatic rupture in the period of 10 years (1978-1987). In that period in 13 patients spleen were removed because of traumatic rupture. Spleen iatrogen lesions, spontaneous spleen ruptures and spleen-removing caused by other indications were not considered. The 6 male and 7 female patients were operated on the 6 year old child was the youngest and 79 year old man was the oldest. Spleen traumatic rupture is mostly caused by falls, accidents (traffic) and then by blows and fights. 4 patients had isolated spleen injuries and 9 spleen injuries together with neighbouring organs injuries. Some postoperative complications were noticed as: slowly wound healing (1), ileus (1), bronchopneumonia (2) and hematothorax (4). There was no mortality The authors consider each spleen traumatic rupture should not be removed especially in children and others with light injuries. PMID- 2618403 TI - [Significance of splenic injuries in multivisceral abdominal injuries caused by firearms. Case report]. PMID- 2618404 TI - [Splenic injuries in children]. PMID- 2618406 TI - [Iatrogenic lesions of the spleen]. PMID- 2618405 TI - [Splenic injuries in children]. AB - The authors have analysed their experience in treating spleen injuries with children in this institution. From 1970 up to 1988, 22 children were operated upon and splenectomy was done in all the children (5 isolated and 17 united spleen injuries), there were 3 autotransplantations of spleen parts in omentum and 1 case of surgical spleen conservation. Only one operated child died soon after the operation because of a polytrauma and shock. Besides local festering there were not recorded any other cases of infection and sepsis with these and other children operated on within last 25 years. A child's injured spleen should be preserved of course but not at the cost of life, if there are no conditions. A child should be given a chance to live even without the spleen. PMID- 2618407 TI - [Splenectomy in hematologic diseases]. PMID- 2618408 TI - [Splenectomy in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura]. PMID- 2618409 TI - [Abscess of the spleen]. PMID- 2618410 TI - [Abscess of the spleen]. PMID- 2618411 TI - [Emergency diagnosis and splenectomy in blunt injuries of the abdomen]. PMID- 2618412 TI - [Immunologic aspects of posttraumatic splenectomy]. PMID- 2618413 TI - [Fatal postsplenectomy sepsis (OPSI syndrome)]. AB - The cases of postsplenectomy sepsis are described at the Clinical Hospital Centre Split. Overwhelming postsplenectomy infection is a unique clinical entity distinguishable from other infections. It may occur during the lifetime of any asplenic patient. The aggressive approach to splenic preservation is a way by reducing the risk of subsequent overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis. In the case of necessary splenectomy, should be given long-term prophylactic antibiotics preoperative and polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine to it would be given shortly after operation. Autologous splenic implantation is generally recommended when total splenectomy is necessary. PMID- 2618414 TI - [Intraabdominal infections after splenectomy]. PMID- 2618415 TI - [Serum immunoglobulin levels in adults after splenectomy for injuries]. PMID- 2618416 TI - [Permanent decrease in immune function in patients with splenectomy for trauma]. AB - The authors describe the peripheral blood analyses in patients splenectomized for trauma in consideration on the concentration of the immunoglobulins total complement CH50 levels, T and B lymphocyte populations and compare this with the control group. The levels of the IgM were significantly decreased (p0.001) in splenectomised while the levels of the IgA and IgG were significantly increased (for IgA - p0.001, for IgG p0.01). Total lymphocyte count averaged 54501999 in splenectomized, with number of T cells 2463930 and B lymphocyte 460236. The control group showed total lymphocyte count 460236. The control group showed total lymphocyte count 520235 (p0.001) with number of T cells 314147 (p0.001) and number of B cells 7434 (p0.001), what is significantly less than in splenectomized population. The level of total complement CH50 in splenectomized population was 11216 (p0.01), what is significantly less than in the control group 12515. These data demonstrate persistent abnormalities in immune function and suggest a possible explantation for the increased rizu of sepsis in this group of patients. PMID- 2618417 TI - [Children as a particularly threatened group after splenectomy]. PMID- 2618418 TI - [Surgical possibilities for preservation of the ruptured spleen]. PMID- 2618419 TI - [Preservation of the spleen--the method of choice in cases of splenic injury]. PMID- 2618420 TI - [Transplantation of the spleen after extensive rupture]. PMID- 2618421 TI - [Implantation of the spleen into the omentum in traumatic ruptures]. PMID- 2618422 TI - [Echinococcosis]. AB - Echinococcosis is parasite disease quite spread out in our country. It is known that Dalmatia and then Montenegro are the most infected areas in Yugoslavia. Echinococcus disease is not only disease of the organ attacked but one whose repercussions very often give poly-organic character in clinical, morphological and therapeutic sense. Due to a great number of infected dogs still existing insufficient number of hygienic slaughterhouses, slaughtering livestock without veterinary control, ignorance, lack of education as well as not enough prophylactic measures conducted, this disease represents an outstanding problem. In respect of identification of this disease number of cysts, location complications arising as well as operative approach, so far diagnostic methods are enriched by introducing electronic diagnostic methods (scintigraphy, US and CT). Numerous operating methods aimed to removal of parasite, elimination of irreversible sequelae and achievement of anatomo-physiological restitution of the organ in which the diseased are applied. PMID- 2618423 TI - [40 years' experience in the treatment of echinococcosis]. AB - The authors present their experience on, 1168 operated patients with hepato pulmonary hydatid disease. In a long work with hydatid disease the authors refused many earlier methods, as mistake. The authors think that great radical surgery in the treatment of the hydatid disease is not justified. For success in treatment of hydatid disease it's necessary to operate on the parasite and it's consequences, to keep the function of the organ to prevent contamination of the environment, and to make conditions for fast reduction of peri-cystic cavity. PMID- 2618424 TI - [Prevention of echinococcosis (hydatidosis)]. PMID- 2618425 TI - [Occurrence of echinococcosis in Yugoslavia]. PMID- 2618426 TI - [Echinococcosis in Vojvodina: morbidity and epidemiologic epizootiologic status]. PMID- 2618427 TI - [Drug and surgical therapy of hydatidosis]. AB - Surgical treatment of hydatidosis carries the risk of dissemination and recidives. In this paper authors present their experience with combined medico surgical treatment with Albendazole in 13 patients. Ultrasound, computerized tomography and serological tests were used for diagnosis and follow-up. Microscopic viability test was used for the operated upon patients. In seven patients who were operated after two courses of Albendazole the viability test was negative. Three patients who received two courses of Albendazole after surgery did not show any recidive two years later. Another three patients who received only Albendazole (five courses) showed reduction in size and sings of calcification. PMID- 2618428 TI - [Analysis of echinococcosis of the liver and spleen in Juzni Banat 1968-1988]. PMID- 2618429 TI - [Preoperative preparation and anesthesia in patients with cardiovascular diseases undergoing surgical treatment of hepatic echinococcosis]. PMID- 2618430 TI - [Complicated forms of echinococcal disease]. PMID- 2618431 TI - [Personal experience with the surgical treatment of echinococcosis of the liver]. PMID- 2618432 TI - [A rational approach in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of hepatic echinococcosis]. PMID- 2618433 TI - [Multiple echinococcosis of the liver: diagnosis, surgical technic and postoperative course]. PMID- 2618434 TI - [Surgical treatment of echinococcosis of the liver]. PMID- 2618435 TI - [Surgical treatment of echinococcal hepatic cysts with pericystectomy]. AB - The authors present their 2-year experience in treating echinococcus cysts of the liver by pericystectomy and the Cavitron ultrasonic vibrator-aspirator. The treatment consists of total pericystectomy involving no opening of the cyst. Patients treated at the University Department of Gastroenterologic Surgery, Ljubljana, are presented. In conclusion, the authors stress the significance of proper operative technique and instruments in the management of echinococcus cysts of the liver. PMID- 2618436 TI - [Treatment of echinococcal hepatic cysts--experience with 79 patients]. PMID- 2618437 TI - [Drainage of the pericystic cavity in echinococcosis of the liver]. AB - The authors emphasize that echinococcosis is cosmopolitan parasitosis and liver is the most often target organ. The most common complications are summarized. At any slightest doubt of the liver infection, the authors recommend modern diagnostic tools (ultrasonography CT) in liver examination. They analyze their lo years experience (20 hepatal). The conclusion is that basic therapeutic procedure is removing of pericyst content with hydatid membrane and residual cavity is treated later. The authors accept updated biac of liver echinococcosis treatment (radical removing of pericyst performing typical or atypical resection, or total lobectomy in case of lobar destruction). However they point out that drainage operations (marsupialization, external drainage with rubber drain, irrigation aspiration drainage, T-drainage and internal drainage omentopeksia, anastomosis of the cavity with jejunal lumen) still have their place and value in Surgery. PMID- 2618438 TI - [Echinococcal disease of the liver]. AB - Hydatid disease is rare and sporadically seen in our region. With the use of modern diagnostic methods the diagnose of echinococcus cyst in the liver is easily and exactly made; most frequently we performed cystectomy paying attention not to disseminate the parasite fluid, and treating the cavum of the pericyst as described by PAPADIMITROU. Using the drainage of subphrenic space we prevent postoperative complications. When the subphrenic abscess appears the hospitalisation period is prolonged, the patient's life is threatened and the treatment is getting expensive. PMID- 2618439 TI - [Management of suppurative echinococcosis in our facility]. PMID- 2618440 TI - [20 years' experience in the treatment of abdominal echinococcosis (1966-1987)]. AB - Primary echinococcus of abdominal localization at Clinic of Abdominal and Endocrine Surgery in Novi Sad in twenty years period is rare disease, without decreasing tendency. Mostly, there is general and local manifestations on which, one can suspect on disease, and almost in all cases prove it by US and CT. These diagnostical procedures contributed to earlier and better surgical treatment. The most common localization of the cyst is liver. Choice of operative procedure is termed by pathomorphological particularity of the cyst, type of complication and recidive prevention. Intraoperative exploration of biliary tract has an important place in prevention of biliary fistulas. Authors underlined controversy about uncomplicated cyst treatment and emphasized that they are often today grateful to noninvasive diagnostics methods. PMID- 2618441 TI - [Personal experience with recurrent echinococcal cysts in the abdomen in a 20 year period (1966-1987)]. PMID- 2618442 TI - [Multiple heptic echinococcosis]. PMID- 2618443 TI - [Echinococcosis of the liver--10 years' experience]. AB - According to the world medical literature echinococcus is mostly located in the liver (60%). In the period 1978-1987 42 patients, 22 male and 20 female, were operated upon at the Titov Veles Medical Center. In 27 of these patients echinococcosis on right lobe was found. There were no patients operated of solitary cyst in left lobe. In 6 persons echinococcosis has relapsed and in 4 it was found in other organs. In 5 bi-lobular, patients the most common age group was 30-60 years. In addition to the classical methods computerized tomography (CT), scintigraphy and ultrasound were also used for making diagnosis. The appropriate method of operation was selected depending on the status, size and location of cysts as well as on the changes in surrounding organs and accompanying complications. PMID- 2618444 TI - [Complications of hydatid disease]. AB - ... Echinococcosis still persist as a problem in our surgical experience based on well known operative method. The difficulty that we have here has to do with a fact that our patients ask for doctor treatment in enlarging cystic from or with present complications such as rupture of hydatid cyst as the bile duct and 3 bronchobiliary fistula that we took care of in our surgical department. According to statistic informations appearance of echinococcosis complications is more often in our experience than others we find in the world statistics. PMID- 2618445 TI - [Surgical treatment of echinococcosis from 1934 to 1984 at the surgery-urology department of the Dubrovnik Medical Center]. PMID- 2618446 TI - [Comparison of results between the Robinson method of drainage and marsupialization]. PMID- 2618447 TI - [Obstructive icterus caused by hydatidosis of the liver]. AB - Hydatid illness still presents a serious surgical problem and in the case of obstrukioni ikterus an operation is indispensable method in the treatment of illness. Applying the method of omentoplexia in our case we witness its justification because together with cholecystectomia and relieving "T" drainage the secretion is reduced to minimum as well as the possibility of appearing of closed purulent content. The number of hospitalised days after the operation is reduced in average from 45 to 21 days. PMID- 2618448 TI - [Echinococcosis of the lungs]. AB - The echinococcosis is the parasitic infection caused by the larval form of the echinococcus in a human or an animal organism. The infection can take part in any organ or tissue. About 20 percent of the echinococcosis of all locations are situated in the lungs. We present the results of the surgically treated lung echinococcosis. Various surgical methods of treatment were used, from the most economic ones to the most radical ones. In the last 32 years 234 patients were treated of lung echinococcosis. 224 of them were treated surgically, using the standard preoperative proceedings. Surgical methods based on the intraoperative patho-anatomic structure of the hydatid cysts were used with very sufficiently results. We preferred the economic, sparing surgical methods and used more radical ones just in a few cases. Five patients had a letel issue (2.23%), and three patients (1,34%) had a recidive of the lung echinococcosis. PMID- 2618449 TI - [Surgical approach in pulmonary echinococcosis]. PMID- 2618450 TI - [Surgical treatment of complicated echinococcosis of the lungs and liver]. PMID- 2618451 TI - [Personal experience in the treatment of echinococcosis of the lungs in children]. PMID- 2618452 TI - [Residual cavities after echinococcosis of the lungs and liver]. PMID- 2618453 TI - [Experience with rare localizations of echinococcal cysts in our data]. PMID- 2618454 TI - [Surgical treatment of cerebral echinococcosis using the Dowling technic]. PMID- 2618455 TI - [Echinococcosis of the spinal column]. PMID- 2618456 TI - [Complicated echinococcosis in a rare location--case report]. PMID- 2618457 TI - [Complications of echinococcal cysts located in the pelvic retroperitoneal space]. PMID- 2618458 TI - [Operative approach in echinococcosis at the surgical department of Bezanijska Kosa Medical Center 1983-1987]. PMID- 2618459 TI - [Problems in the diagnosis of rupture in echinococcosis of the spleen due to trauma]. AB - Success of surgical therapy with urgent states in abdomen depends upon giving indication for operation in right time, which is possible owing to quick diagnosis of acute abdomen caused both by trauma. The presented case of perforation of echinococcus of spleen on the occasion of indirect trauma of abdomen, was not diagnosed in consideration of non-symptomatic development before trauma. CT was determinant in the early diagnose. PMID- 2618460 TI - [Ileus caused by echinococcosis of the peritoneal cavity]. PMID- 2618461 TI - [Personal experience in the surgical treatment of echinococcosis localized in the abdomen 1978-1988]. PMID- 2618462 TI - [Rare complications in primary echinococcosis]. AB - We presented two cases of complication of the echinococe cyste various localizations which are very rare. We had not managed to get the real alignosis before the operation. Only on the operating table we found cut that, at the first case, echinococe cyste ruptured on the lateral upper right part of the peritoneum, in the projection of the right livu lobus. In the second case we found out the rupture of echinococ cyste on the lower right part of liver lobus because of the pressure of distended hepatal ways and vesicae fellae. This work is of great importance because of rearness of the first localization of echinococ cyste, and specially of the rupture of the cyste, while in the second case the importance is in the rare rupture of echinococ cyste in hepatal ways which could conduct to sanation, but it caused, the opstruction of papillae. Vateri and progrediant icterus. PMID- 2618463 TI - [Surgery of the upper thoracic outlet disease]. PMID- 2618464 TI - [Therapy of the upper thoracic outlet syndrome]. PMID- 2618465 TI - [Choice of surgical approach in the thoracic outlet syndrome]. PMID- 2618466 TI - [The syndrome of neurovascular compression in the upper thoracic outlet--the thoracic outlet syndrome]. AB - The authors observed twenty patients having thoracic outlet syndrome diagnosed and operated upon in Neurosurgical clinic in Sarajevo. Clinical presentation of this neurovascular compression and significance of particular symptoms and findings have been discussed through and through. At the end the best operative treatment was discussed and proposed for each kind of thoracic outlet neurovascular compression. PMID- 2618467 TI - [Thoracic outlet syndrome--surgical treatment]. PMID- 2618468 TI - [Surgical treatment of the upper thoracic outlet syndrome]. AB - In a five year period we have treated surgically eight patients with TOS in the Neurosurgical Clinic Sarajevo. We have concluded that there is not specific diagnostic procedure for the verification of TOS and as surgical method of choice we suggest supraclavicular scalenectomy with neurolysis of plexus brachialis and resection of cervical rib, if exists. PMID- 2618469 TI - [Carotid-subclavian bypass in subclavian artery occlusion]. PMID- 2618470 TI - [Significant occlusion of the subclavian artery]. PMID- 2618471 TI - [Transluminal intraoperative coronary dilatation combined with coronary surgery]. PMID- 2618472 TI - [Aneurysms of the ascending aorta]. PMID- 2618473 TI - [Aneurysm of the pulmonary artery trunk]. PMID- 2618474 TI - [Thrombendarterectomy of the carotid artery in the prevention of cerebrovascular insult]. PMID- 2618475 TI - [Aneurysms of the abdominal aorta]. PMID- 2618476 TI - [Aneurysms of the splenic artery]. PMID- 2618477 TI - [Results of bypass in the aortoiliac region]. PMID- 2618478 TI - [Ruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. Successful treatment of potentially fatal postoperative complications]. AB - Forty-four years old patient operated upon for rupture of abdominal aorta aneurysm is presented. His hospital stay was 73 days because of postoperative complications. 22 haemodialysis were attempted because of renal failure. 74 litres of blood was replaced because of massive haemorrhage from nose and gastric mucosa. Once was reanimated after cardiac arrest. Eight days was commatous. At end of hospital stay his physical and mental condition, and renal function is normal. PMID- 2618479 TI - [Determination of T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood in patients with Buerger's disease]. PMID- 2618480 TI - [Vascular problems in kidney transplantation--initial experience]. PMID- 2618481 TI - [Vascular procedures in oncology surgery]. PMID- 2618482 TI - [Lumbar sympathectomy in the therapy of chronic arterial obliterative diseases of the lower extremities]. PMID- 2618483 TI - [Surgical care of inflammatory processes in ischemic extremities]. PMID- 2618484 TI - [Perianal hematoma--spontaneous thrombosis of the perianal region-- early surgical treatment]. PMID- 2618485 TI - [Surgical treatment of polytrauma]. AB - This report is based on the review of 230 victims of multiple injuries, treated during 8 months period. There were 156 casualties with dominant Chest and Abdominal injuries. In the immediate treatment of these patients we applied modification of an original scheme by Schweiberer. We also introduced our own procedure of life-saving measures of high priorities. In evaluation of the most accident victims governed by priority of the severity of the multiple injuries, a complete, orderly examination by X-ray, Ultrasonic and CT scanning was undertaken. PMID- 2618486 TI - [Diagnosis of traumatic intracranial hematoma--analysis of methods and organizational problems]. PMID- 2618487 TI - [Penetrating injuries of the abdomen]. PMID- 2618488 TI - [Perforation of the small intestine as a sequela of blunt injuries of the abdomen during a 12-year period]. AB - The paper presents 44 cases of small intestine perforation caused by blunt abdominal trauma in a period of 12 years. 34 patients were men and 10 were women. The patients were aged from 10 to 82 years which gives an average age of 39 years. The average incidence of cases was 4 per year. In 23 patients associated injuries were diagnosed, namely: 5 spleen ruptures, 3 liver ruptures, 5 colon perforations, 1 pancreas injury and 1 kidney injury. Associated injuries in which the dominant syndrome was intraabdominal hemorrhage presented no diagnostical difficulties seeing that the results of punction or abdomen lavage indicated immediate laparotomy. In patients with isolated injury of the small intestine and clinical signs of peritonitis laparotomy was treated with a two layer suture in 32 patients; in 12 patients resection with T-T or L-L anastomosis was made. Associated injuries were treated in the same act. Of 44 patients treated in our Clinic 37 were treated successfully, while 7 died. PMID- 2618489 TI - [Continuous closed-system catheter drainage in the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma]. AB - Chronic subdural hematoma is a disease with relatively good outcome when treated fairly. Even than, we have sometimes complications in postoperative period. We propose surgical treatment with burr-hole and continued catheter drainage in closed system as the most optimal treatment and prevention of postoperative complications. PMID- 2618490 TI - [Liver injuries in our department 1978-1988]. PMID- 2618491 TI - [Endopleural hypertension and mediastinal hemorrhage]. AB - The authors describe injured guy with thorax compression, with difficult bones injury, lungs rupture, major air-way, and blood vessel. The authors try to explain how could injured live more than 20-min with such injuries that make one impossible to live. PMID- 2618492 TI - [Surgery of fractures in the trochanteric region using Ender's method]. AB - Our population is aging. The number of old persons is increasing and therefore we meet with fractures in the pertrochanteric region more frequently. We found that with proper indication osteosynthesis with Ender's nails has an advantage over other methods. The procedure is brief, it is not shock-producing and we can carry it out under spinal anaesthesia. By no other method known to us is it possible to mobilize the patient and to allow full weightbearing immediately after surgery. This results in the reduction of the high mortality which is a consequence of cardial and pulmonary complications. The urgent operation is carried out 8-10 hours after injury. Ender's elastic osteosynthesis was introduced in 1984 and so far 240 operations were performed. The average age of our patients was 75. Our oldest patient was 99, our youngest 37. We had 24 fatal outcomes, the majority during the period of introduction of the method. Observed retrospectively, in some cases death was the result of dubious indication. PMID- 2618493 TI - [Abdominal injuries in our patients during the past 10 years]. AB - The authors bring forward results in the medical treatment of the abdominal injuries encompassing period of the last ten years. From the 46 patients that have been treated those having spleen-, guts-, and liver injuries prevailed. The authors describe two cases with the abdominal and one with the injury of the pancreas. PMID- 2618494 TI - [Labelling leukocytes with 99m-Tc HMPAO: contribution to the diagnosis of osteomyelitis]. PMID- 2618495 TI - [An extending double pin]. PMID- 2618496 TI - [Surgical fixation of a double fracture of the ribs using a thoracic splint]. PMID- 2618497 TI - [New possibilities in the care of surgical infections (personal experience with pefloxacin)]. PMID- 2618498 TI - [Resection of the liver]. AB - The authors present hepatic resections of surgical dpt. of Medical Centre Slavonski Brod, in the period from 1983-1988. 14 anatomic hepatic resections were performed, as follows: two right lobectomies, five left lobectomies and seven segmental hepatic resections. The indications for the resections were in five cases according to the programme, and nine were intraoperative. In operations according to the programme, the indications for the resection were as follows: malignant tumours (metastasis), benign tumours and hydatic the cystic. We decided in the cases of damaged liver for intra operative procedures when it was the occasion of extensive traumatical laceration and rupture of liver. PMID- 2618499 TI - [Etiology of surgical cholestasis--surgical data 1984-1988]. PMID- 2618500 TI - [Lasers in the therapy of carcinoma of the rectosigmoid]. PMID- 2618501 TI - [Peritonitis due to Polzil from surgical gloves]. PMID- 2618502 TI - [Surgical treatment of decompensated liver cirrhosis]. PMID- 2618503 TI - [Correlation between lymphography and lymphoscintigraphy in patients with lymphedema of the lower extremities]. PMID- 2618505 TI - [Pneumothorax, diagnosis and therapy]. PMID- 2618504 TI - [Lymphoscintigraphy in the diagnosis of lymphedema]. PMID- 2618506 TI - The flushing treatment of residual CBD stones. (RS). AB - Flushing of the common bile duct trough a T-tube with a normal saline solution is a simple, effective method for the treatment of the retained common bile duct stones; those which were overlooked at the initial exploration, and were diagnosed in the immediate postoperative period, by a T-tube cholangiogram; here we are describing three cases successfully treated in our department, by this method. This encouraging results enable us to recommend the initial use of this technique for all cases of retained common bile duct stones before restoring to more difficult prolonged techniques; and should this technique failed to remove the retained stones, the surgeon would still have all other alternatives to choose. PMID- 2618507 TI - [Tumors of the heart]. PMID- 2618508 TI - [Malignant changes in the pilonidal sinus]. PMID- 2618509 TI - [Malignant transformation in bone cysts]. AB - Bone cysts are often found on x-ray examinations of patients in their first two decades of life. We present an extremely rare case of cystically changed first metatarsal bone of the left foot. The content of the cyst was histopathologically verified as consisting of a mixture of echinococcal scolexes and chondrosarcomatous tissue. PMID- 2618510 TI - [Peyronie's disease]. AB - During the period 1978-1988. We treated 32 patients of Morbus Peyronie. One patients operated, and 31 patients the conservative treatment. PMID- 2618511 TI - [Partial heterotopic and total orthotopic transplantation of the liver in dogs]. PMID- 2618512 TI - Surgical findings and results of subtotal and total parathyroidectomy in hypercalcemic patients with uremic hyperparathyroidism. AB - Surgical and histopathologic findings and results of subtotal resection and total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation were evaluated in 82 hypercalcemic patients with uremic hyperparathyroidism. The mean preoperative serum calcium concentration was 2.89 mM, and the highest values were associated with more rapidly progressing hypercalcemia. Despite greatly increased total weight of the parathyroid tissue (mean 1,509 mg), 34 patients had one to five normal-sized parathyroid glands. The incidence of such glands decreased with total gland weight. Nodular hyperplasia was found in 74% of the patients, and was characterized by considerable intraindividual size difference, while diffuse hyperplasia was associated with more moderate and symmetric glandular enlargement. During follow-up averaging 4.5 years, the incidence of persistent or recurrent hypercalcemia was slightly higher after subtotal than after total parathyroidectomy (11 and 11%, vs. 9 and 7%). Biochemical and/or radiologic signs of parathyroid bone disease were present in 36 (44%) of the patients before neck exploration and normalized postoperatively in all but seven. The outcome of parathyroid surgery thus was favorable in uremic patients with hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism. PMID- 2618513 TI - Long-term results of surgery for incarcerated groin hernia. AB - Incarcerated or strangulated groin hernia was treated in 114 patients in 1976 1985. Manual reduction was performed on 23 patients (20%), all younger than 15 years, and was followed by elective herniorrhaphy within 48 hours in all but one case. Three patients with median age 80 years died in the postoperative period. The cumulated recurrence rate after 5 years was 6.2%, which compared well with long-term results after elective herniorrhaphy. The risk of recurrence thus is not an argument for delayed surgery. Taxis is concluded to be the preferred immediate treatment in children, while adults should be operated on without delay. PMID- 2618514 TI - Sleeve anastomosis of the intestine. Physical and biochemical studies of a new intestinal anastomosis in rats. AB - A new, sleeve-shaped interpositional anastomosis of the small intestine was tested in rats. It was compared with a conventional two-layer anastomosis as regards healing, bursting strength, collagen content and complications. Each type of anastomosis was constructed in a separate group of 38 rats. The complications rate did not differ between the two groups. At 2 and 4 days postoperatively the bursting pressure was significantly higher in the sleeve anastomosis than in the conventional anastomosis. Hydroxyproline content did not differ between the two types of anastomosis. The study demonstrated superior breaking strength of sleeve anastomosis in the early postoperative period compared with conventional two layer anastomosis. This finding merits further investigation. PMID- 2618515 TI - Spontaneous small bowel perforation. A rare cause of acute abdomen. AB - Spontaneous non traumatic small bowel perforation is a rare cause of an acute abdomen. Preoperative diagnosis is especially difficult, since the symptoms are extremely nonspecific. In most cases, the acute perforation is only diagnosed at exploratory laparotomy. We performed a retrospective analysis on spontaneous perforations of small intestine, occurring in 35 patients, which were treated at our department during a 14-year period from 1974 to 1988. The average age on presentation was 57 years. At the time of operation, peritoneal involvement was already well advanced. In 16 (45.7%) patients, the lesion was oversewn and in 19 (54.3%) cases, resection was required. The difference in mortality between these two methods was statistically not significant. PMID- 2618516 TI - Early outcome after emergency and elective surgery for ulcerative colitis. AB - The early outcome after surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis was retrospectively analyzed in 185 patients. The operation was performed on emergency indications in 25 cases, and was subacute in 53 and elective in 107. The postoperative mortality was 7% overall, 24% in the emergency group, 8% in the subacute group and 2% in the elective group. At least one early postoperative complication occurred in 71 (38%) of the 185 patients (92%, 38% and 26% in the respective groups). Infection was the predominant problem, occurring in 26% of the patients. The mortality was highest after colectomy and ileostomy, but this procedure was used in the most sick patients. Proctocolectomy was associated with the highest morbidity in all groups, whereas colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis carried no mortality and little morbidity. PMID- 2618517 TI - Perianal abscess and sinuses caused by granuloma inguinale. Case report. AB - An atypical case of the venereal disease granuloma inguinale, which is very rare in Scandinavia, is reported. The patient presented with recurrent perianal abscess and sinuses, and the diagnosis was not made until histologic examination of an extirpated subcutaneous nodule showed cells containing the pathognomonic Donovan bodies. PMID- 2618518 TI - Isolated, segmental lipomatosis of the jejunum. Case report. AB - A case of segmental lipomatosis of the jejunum producing intermittent intussusception is reported. Preoperative barium studies suggested the diagnosis. Segmental resection of the affected bowel gave complete relief from symptoms. Of the 19 previously reported cases of small-bowel lipomatosis, only one had isolated involvement of the jejunum. PMID- 2618519 TI - Colo-anal sleeve resection for rectal hemangioma. Case report. AB - Colo-anal sleeve resection was performed for rectal hemangioma extending from the upper end of the anal canal to the rectosigmoid in two adults and a child. The indication for surgery was recurrent rectal bleeding. Anastomotic stricture formed in one patient, but was easily dilated. After observation for 2-12 months, all patients were completely continent, with normal 24-hour stool frequency. Colo anal sleeve resection is advocated as the treatment of choice for large rectal hemangioma. PMID- 2618520 TI - Percutaneous drainage of periappendiceal abscess in a patient with acute leukemia. Case report. AB - In a 24-year-old man with acute lymphatic leukemia, acute appendicitis after induction of chemotherapy led, with minimal clinical signs, to perforation and periappendiceal abscess (verified with CT and US-guided needle aspiration). Percutaneous drainage was performed for 11 days and appendectomy 3 days later. Recovery was uncomplicated and cytostatic therapy was resumed. PMID- 2618521 TI - [Results of weight-loss treatment at a hospital. Significance of the administration of triiodothyronine in small doses during a protein diet]. AB - We report the short-term effects of very-low-calorie liquid formula diet (n = 51) and of 600 Kcalories diet (n = 13) in patients who were hospitalized during 3 weeks. Weight loss averaged 278 +/- 14 g/day (m +/- SEM). It was slightly higher with the very-low-calorie liquid formula diet (293 +/- 21 g vs 242 +/- 25 g, N.S.). Individual weight-loss was unpredictable and highly variable; it ranged from 62 to 636 g/day. During the very-low-calorie formula diet, the expected low T3 syndrome was observed and 12 patients were given T3 (25 micrograms during the second week and 50 micrograms during the third week). These rather small doses corrected T3 values, but lowered total and free T4 levels. T3 administration did not modify the magnitude of weight loss in our patients. PMID- 2618522 TI - In vitro activity of amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid and ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid compared with that of other antibiotics against anaerobic bacteria. AB - The activity of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid (Augmentin) and ticarcillin/clavulanic acid (Timentin) was tested against 303 unselected clinical anaerobic isolates recently collected in seven Belgian university hospitals and compared with that of 11 other antimicrobial agents. Bacteroides spp. accounted for 52.1% of the isolates, Clostridium spp. for 23.4%, anaerobic cocci for 15.5%, nonsporeforming gram-positive bacilli for 4.6% and Fusobacterium spp. for 3.3%. Ticarcillin/clavulanic acid (fixed clavulanic acid concentration of 2 mg/l) was the most active drug with an overall susceptibility rate of 99.7%. Amoxycillin/clavulanic acid (fixed ratio of 2:1) and chloramphenicol inhibited 97.4% of the isolates, metronidazole 95.4%, piperacillin 92.4%, ticarcillin 91.4%, clindamycin 87.8%, cefotetan 81.2%, cefazolin 63.0%, cefuroxime 60.4%, erythromycin 57.8%, penicillin 57.1% and doxycycline 52.1%. beta-lactamases were detected exclusively in Bacteroides spp. isolates (79.1% positive). PMID- 2618523 TI - [Bourneville's disease of the bones or metastasis? Apropos of a case]. AB - Tuberous sclerosis or Bourneville's disease is a phakomatosis with common but paucisymptomatic bone localisations. Some osseous lesions, of osteosclerotic type, can be radiologically diagnosed as primary or secondary malignant disorders. We describe a case of Bourneville's disease with bone involvement, radiologically characterized by osteosclerosis areas of the spine and the pelvis. Interestingly, bone scintiscan was normal. The absence of primary malignancy, the stability of control bone X-ray films, the clinical status and the family history, together with the pathognomonic radiological feature of the hands support the diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis with bone involvement. PMID- 2618524 TI - [Apropos of a case of lithium overdose: physiopathologic approach to cardiac and neurologic manifestations]. AB - We report the case of a patient who presented with cardiac and neurological signs of lithium toxicity as the result of an association with amitriptyline. These manifestations disappeared spontaneously as medication was stopped. We review the possible physiopathological mechanisms that could account for these adverse effects. PMID- 2618525 TI - [Prevention of beta-thalassemia in the French speaking part of Belgium. I. Epidemiologic, clinical, psycho-social and economic justifications]. AB - A study was jointly conducted by three universities in order to determine whether the systematic prevention of beta-thalassaemia and related affections is justified in the French-speaking part of Belgium. In the entire geographical area considered, 19.1% of the population are foreign; 19.2% of births take place within foreign families. Around 59.7% of foreigners come from regions where beta thalassaemia is endemic. The ethnic minorities are mostly concentrated in the cities and notably in Brussels. Around 4.1% of the minorities ethnically at risk are carriers of beta-thalassaemia. Births of new cases of thalassaemia major can be estimated at 2.9 per year, which would result, in the absence of prevention, in a population of 130 cases of thalassaemia major. In recent years, patient care has improved considerably, as demonstrated by an increasingly early diagnosis and institution of chelating therapy with an attendant gradual drop in ferritin levels. However, study of age histograms reveals that care of patients in non endemic regions is not as satisfactory as in endemic countries where complete haemoglobinopathy control programmes have been developed. Psycho-social questioning of a sample of families confirmed that thalassaemia major is an affection which seriously impairs the quality of life. Finally, calculations projected over 20 years revealed that systematic prevention would cost from 2.3 to 2.8 times less than a purely curative approach. The authors conclude that a body of epidemiological, clinical, psycho-social, and economic arguments justify without any doubt the prevention of beta-thalassaemia and related affections in the French-speaking part of Belgium. PMID- 2618526 TI - Treatment of chronic leg ulcers with a hydrocolloid dressing. AB - The effects of a hydrocolloid dressing (Comfeel Ulcus) on the physical environment of chronic leg ulcers in 58 consecutive out-patients were investigated. Patients were subdivided into two groups of which Group 1 included 31 (53.4%) and Group 2, 27 (46.6%) patients. Twenty-three (39.7%) patients healed within 7 weeks (study period) and 49 (84.5%) within 1 year (follow-up period). Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial cultures as well as mycotic cultures were performed from ulcer bases of both groups of patients. In Group 1 a 3 mm punch biopsy was taken from the ulcer margins for histopathological examination. In Group 2 serum levels of iron, zinc, copper and selenium were measured and in these latter patients a mean temperature difference of 2.8 degrees C between the ulcer base and the skin surrounding the ulcer was found. There was no difference in ulcer pH in patients belonging to Group 2, independent of bacterial or fungal contamination. Low serum iron was found in 74.1% and anaemia in 40.7% of the patients in Group 2. No differences in ulcer healing were seen in these patients compared with those without iron-deficiency or anaemia. No differences were seen in serum iron, zinc, copper or selenium levels between good and poor healers. There were 22.2% ulcer relapses in Group 1 within a year of the start of the study, with no relapses in those 15 patients of Group 2 who used specially designed compression stockings. PMID- 2618527 TI - Red cell sorbitol concentration in relation to short- and medium-term variation of plasma glucose. AB - To evaluate the time course of changes in red cell sorbitol (RCS) concentration in relation to variations of plasma glucose levels, RCS was determined in 7 normal subjects during i.v. glucose infusion (IVGTT); in 6 hyperglycemic insulin dependent diabetic subjects while glycemia was normalized with Biostator GC 115 and in 4 diabetic patients in previously poor metabolic control, in whom normal glycemia was obtained in 8-10 days by intensive insulin therapy. During IVGTT, plasma glucose levels increased with significant differences from baseline at 5, 10, 16, 25, 60, 100 and 160 min and returned to basal levels after 3h; RCS concentration showed small and insignificant increases. During i.v. insulin infusion, plasma glucose fell to almost normal levels within roughly 3h; RCS levels showed a gradual reduction becoming significant at 180 min. In the third study, decrease in plasma glucose was always associated with a fall in RCS level which became significant between the 2nd and the 3rd day of the study. Thus, RCS levels were not affected by very short-term variations of glycemia but by a previous hyperglycemic crisis that lasted a few hours. There were therefore medium-term variations of RCS level. In conclusion, RCS determination is not useful as an index of metabolic control in diabetes. PMID- 2618528 TI - Individual teaching as a first-step intervention for the education of diabetic subjects. AB - The effects of individual teaching imparted during routine diabetologic counselling on the knowledge concerning diabetes and metabolic control, were assessed in 42 outpatients (28 IDDM; 14 NIDDM), attending the diabetic clinic (study group, SG). We evaluated the outcome of a multiple-choice questionnaire and fasting blood glucose (FBG), 24-h urine glucose (UG), mean regulation index (MRI) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1), before and 60 days after providing information about diet (D), physical exercise (E) and hypoglycemic drugs (HD) or insulin therapy (IT). Results were compared with those obtained in a group of 57 age- and sex-matched patients (36 IDDM; 21 NIDDM) who did not receive individual teaching (control group, CG). Knowledge concerning diabetes at the second evaluation was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in SG than in CG for D and IT, although an improvement was observed in all items. SG patients showed a significant improvement of knowledge (p less than 0.05) for D, a not significant improvement for HD and IT and no change for E. No change was observed for HbA1, MRI and UG, while a significant decrease (p less than 0.05) was observed for FBG in SG. At the second evaluation, FBG of SG patients was significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than that of CG patients. Our results go to show that individual teaching can improve the level of knowledge of patients without affecting metabolic control. Individual teaching during routine diabetologic counselling represents in our opinion an effective and economic educational model. PMID- 2618529 TI - Wake and sleep cardiovascular reflex tests and GH profiles in diabetic patients. AB - Fourteen diabetic patients (13 males, 1 female, 7 IDDM and 7 NIDDM) were tested during wakefulness with a battery of tests examining parasympathetic and sympathetic control of the cardiovascular system. Subsequently sleep recordings including EEG, EOG, submental, left and right anterior tibialis EMGs, ECG, nasal airflow, thoracic and abdominal respirograms, nocturnal penile tumescence, were performed in each subject. The assessment of cardiovascular functions during sleep was based on the following parameters: Rbm, R-wake, apnea index, adequate penile tumescence during phase REM. Parasympathetic and sympathetic control of cardiovascular system were both impaired during wakefulness in only one patient, who also showed a low Rbm index indicative of ascertained autonomic neuropathy. Indices Rbm sufficiently low to be considered an evidence of probable autonomic neuropathy were found in 5 patients (3 IDDM and 2 NIDDM); all but one with normal cardiovascular tests during wakefulness. Five patients showed gross deficiency upon nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring. In comparison with a control group the patients showed a significantly lower overall Rbm index (p less than 0.001). IDDM patients showed an increased plasma GH response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia compared to NIDDM and normal subjects. Increased GH secretion was furthermore confirmed by GH values obtained in blood samples drawn during the first REM stage of the night in IDDM patients. The evaluation of the variables taken into consideration during sleep appears to be crucial for the assessment and prevention of autonomic neuropathies and neuroendocrine dysregulation in diabetic patients. PMID- 2618530 TI - Relationship between retinal ischemia and cardiovascular autonomic damage in diabetes. AB - In order to investigate the relationship between ischemic diabetic retinopathy and cardiac autonomic dysfunction we studied 40 diabetic patients (mean age +/- SEM: 48 +/- 2 years). Retinopathy was evaluated by fluorescein angiography and patients were divided into three groups: a) with ischemic retinopathy (15 patients), b) with edematous retinopathy (13 patients) and c) without retinopathy (12 patients). Cardiac autonomic function was assessed by 4 tests based on cardiovascular reflexes (heart rate response to Valsalva maneuver and to deep breathing; systolic blood pressure fall after standing and diastolic blood pressure rise during handgrip) and by the cross-correlation test, a computerized technique for the analysis of respiratory sinus arrhythmia based on spectral analysis of electrocardiographic and respiratory signals. Abnormalities of cardiac autonomic tests were present in 26/40 patients (65%); considering the retinal angiographic classification, autonomic test abnormalities were found in 13/15 (86.6%) patients with ischemic retinopathy, in 7/13 (53.9%) patients with edematous retinopathy and in 6/12 (50%) patients without retinopathy. The prevalence of cardiac autonomic dysfunction was significantly higher (p less than 0.005) in the ischemic retinopathy group compared to the other groups. These results show a strong association between ischemic retinopathy and cardiac autonomic dysfunction. PMID- 2618531 TI - [Is jaundice a cause of error in the interpretation of CA 19-9 blood levels?]. AB - Serum CA 19-9 has been proposed as a tumour marker for pancreatic cancer (PC). However, false positive results are seen in sera of patients with benign jaundice. The CA 19-9 assay was performed by a solid state radioimmunoassay in 86 icteric patients (total bilirubin greater than 2 mg/dl). 24/86 had PC (12 men, 12 women, mean age 74 years) and 62/86 had benign jaundice (29 men, 33 women, mean age 56 years; cirrhosis: n = 20, angiocholitis: n = 21, hepatitis: n = 21). At a cut-off level of 60 U./ml, for detecting icteric PC, sensitivity was 83%, and specificity was 79%. At 120 U./ml, sensitivity was 79%, but specificity was increased to 92%. We conclude that 21% of patients with benign jaundice had a CA 19-9 level greater than 60 U./ml, and using a CA 19-9 level of 120 U./ml, the specificity of the test to detect icteric PC was increased, with little decrease in the sensitivity. PMID- 2618532 TI - [Paralytic ileus secondary to podophyllin poisoning]. AB - The authors report a case of general and local poisoning after erroneous intravaginal administration of podophyllin for warts. The clinical course mainly showed a 10 day paralytic ileus, vaginal and urethral lesions and a severe peripheral neurological illness: paresthesia, dysesthesia and ataxia. The authors stress the potential toxicity of podophyllin and recommend great caution in using this product. PMID- 2618533 TI - Campylobacter pylori in gastric, duodenal and jejunal juices and mucosae of patients with duodenal ulcer. AB - The presence of Campylobacter pylori was investigated in biopsies and fluids obtained in the antrum, duodenal bulb and jejunum during jejunoscopy in 20 patients with an active duodenal ulcer. C. pylori was present in cultured antral biopsies in all patients, in the bulb of most patients (16/20), but was unusual in jejunal mucosa (2/20). Using a non-contaminated sampling method of fluid, C. pylori was found in only two samples at each level. In conclusion, C. pylori is frequent in bulbar mucosa of duodenal ulcer patients, rare in jejunal mucosa and in fluid at each level, thus confirming the ecological mucosal niche of C. pylori. PMID- 2618534 TI - [Erosive duodenitis. Clinical study of 287 cases]. AB - We relate here the results of a retrospective (1984-1987) investigation on 1043 protocols of gastroscopy, where the diagnosis of erosive duodenitis (ED) has been made 372 times in 287 patients. The presence of Campylobacter pylori was not investigated. ED endoscopic incidence was 5.6%. Patients were divided into three groups: 1. ED alone: 15.7%. 2. ED associated with duodenal ulcer (DU): 48.4%. 3. E.D. associated with various diseases: 35.9%. There was a higher male/female ratio in the three groups, and mean ages were similar (50 years). In the group ED alone, the first symptom was nonspecific epigastric pain in 61%; no risk factor appeared, and it did not recur. When associated with DU, ED preceded DU in 8.8% of the cases, followed DU in 18.9%, had the same course in 37.1%, appeared transiently in 2.5%, or during DU healing in 3.7%. The two diseases were unrelated in 28.3% of the cases. Only tobacco seemed to promote the association of DU with ED. PMID- 2618535 TI - [Monoclonal antibodies against human erythrocyte membrane antigens and the antigens recognized by these antibodies]. AB - Six monoclonal antibodies (KOR-E1-E6) were raised against human erythrocyte membrane antigens. Aggregating reactions of normal human erythrocytes with or without enzyme treatment and specific antigen deficient (null type) erythrocytes were used for detection of the antigens. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with Western blotting and immunoperoxidase methods were also used to confirm the results. The antigen recognized by KOR-E1 and KOR-E5, which was sensitive to protease, trypsin, and neuraminidase, and only expressed on human erythrocytes, was identified as Pr1h. The antigen recognized by KOR-E2 and KOR-E6 was identified as the EnaTS portion of glycophorin A, because the antigen was sensitive to protease and trypsin, but resistant to neuraminidase, and was not present on En(a-) erythrocytes. The antigen recognized by KOR-E3 that was protease-, trypsin-, and neuraminidase resistant, and absent on En (a-) erythrocytes, was identified as Wrb antigen. As KOR-E4 reacted with all erythrocytes examined, the antigen it recognizes could not be determined. PMID- 2618536 TI - [Monoclonal antibodies against human erythrocyte membrane antigens and their reactivities with hematopoietic cells]. AB - Four monoclonal antibodies against human erythrocyte membrane antigens were established. The antigenic determinants of KOR-E1, E3, E6 were Pr1h antigen, Wrb antigen, and the trypsin sensitive portion of glycophorin A (EnaTS) respectively. The antigen recognized by KOR-E4 could not be determined. The reactivities of these antibodies with normal hematopoietic cells, malignant hematopoietic cell lines (N = 31), and fresh leukemic cells obtained from 128 patients with various types of leukemias were studied. All antibodies reacted only with erythrocytes among peripheral blood cells, and also KOR-E6 reacted only with erythroid cells among bone marrow cells. KOR-E3 had no reactivity with any cell lines examined, and KOR-E1 and KOR-E4 were reactive with some lymphoid cell lines. However, KOR E6 had specific reactivities with erythroid (HEL, K562), megakaryocytic (CMK-1), multiphenotypic (KOPM-28), and basophilic (KU-812) cell lines. The antigen (glycophorin A) recognized by KOR-E6 was expressed on a small population of mononuclear cells separated from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (3/70), acute myelogenous leukemia (2/12), monosomy 7-myeloproliferative disorder (1/1), juvenile CML (1/1), and transient myeloproliferative disorder with Down's syndrome (4/12), although it could not be determined whether these cells were leukemic cells or not. KOR-E6 was reactive with a large population of leukemic blasts in erythroleukemia (2/2) and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (3/6). Thus, KOR-E6 appears to be an erythroid marker of leukemic cells. PMID- 2618537 TI - [Effect of a protein-bound polysaccharide, PSK, on human hemopoietic progenitors]. AB - Using in vitro clonal culture assays, we investigated the effects of PSK, a protein-bound polysaccharide derived from the cultured mycelium of CM101, Coriolus versicolor (Fr.) Quel in Basidiomycetes, on human hemopoietic progenitors. PSK alone did not stimulate colony formation by human bone marrow progenitors. Although 1-100 micrograms/ml of PSK had no effects on colony formation stimulated by erythropoietin and medium conditioned by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated leukocytes, more than 1 mg/ml of PSK inhibited all types of colony formation. In contrast, medium conditioned by PSK-stimulated leukocytes significantly stimulated formation of various types of colonies including erythroid bursts, granulocyte and/or macrophage colonies, eosinophil colonies, megakaryocyte colonies and mixed hemopoietic colonies. It is speculated that administration of the optimal dose of PSK can reduce the hematological suppression of antitumor drugs. PMID- 2618538 TI - [In vitro growth of eosinophil colonies from normal human peripheral blood]. AB - Eosinophil colony formation was observed in culture of normal peripheral mononuclear cells in the presence of phytohemagglutinin stimulated peripheral mononuclear cell conditioned medium. The number of eosinophil colonies from 10(6) mononuclear cells varied ranging between 2 and 95, and the mean number was 20.4 +/- 6.3 (SE). A large proportion of total colonies was eosinophil colonies accounted for 81.2 +/- 10.7% of the total colonies. PMID- 2618539 TI - [Autostimulation of growth by murine myelomonocytic leukemia cells (WEHI-3B-Y1)]. AB - We studied the effects of medium conditioned by WEHI-3B-Y1 (WCM) on the growth of the cells using serum-free culture. The growth of WEHI-3B-Y1 cells was stimulated by the addition of WCM in serum-free culture. Furthermore, WCM stimulated the proliferation of interleukin-3 (IL-3) dependent FDCP-2 cell line and contained burst-promoting activity when assayed on normal murine bone marrow. Recombinant murine IL-3 also stimulated the growth of WEHI-3B-Y1 cells in serum-free culture. These results indicate that WEHI-3B-Y1 cells cultured in a protein-free medium produce IL-3, which autostimulates the growth of the cells. PMID- 2618540 TI - [Relationship between Ara-C sensitivity of leukemic-colony forming units (L-CFU) and [3H] deoxycytidine suicide test of L-CFU]. AB - Ara-C sensitivity test and suicide tests of L-CFU using [3H] deoxycytidine (dCyd) and [3H] thymidine (TdR) were performed in patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and with chronic myeloid leukemia in blastic crisis (CML-BC). We found a correlation between ara-C sensitivity and the [3H] dCyd suicide test of L CFU (p less than 0.001); and between ara-C sensitivity and the [3H] TdR suicide test (p less than 0.05). These results suggest that the [3H] dCyd suicide test reflects the degree of activity of ara-C metabolism in L-CFUs. PMID- 2618541 TI - [Clinicopathological studies of the gastrointestinal tract in adult T-cell leukemia patients]. AB - We analysed the digestive symptoms and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract lesions in 61 patients with adult T cell leukemia (ATL). Digestive symptoms were found in 36 patients (59.0%) at the onset of leukemia, and in 45 patients (73.8%) at the first medical examination. X-ray examination of the GI tract was made in 22 patients, and abnormal stomach mucosa patterns were found in 20 patients (90.9%). Endoscopic examination of the GI tract was carried out in 18 patients, and it revealed that most of the stomach mucosa was accompanied by edema and redness. Erosions and ulcers also were found in many patients. A granular shadow, which was noted during the x-ray examination, could not be confirmed by endoscopy. A pathological examination of biopsied specimens was made in 13 patients, and infiltration of leukemic cells into the stomach was observed in 10 of the 13 cases. These findings suggest that leukemic infiltration into digestive tracts is related to the development of digestive symptoms in ATL patients. PMID- 2618542 TI - [A case of refractory multiple myeloma demonstrating a relationship between the progression of the disease and in vitro myeloma cells activity]. AB - In vitro proliferation (3H-TdR-uptake) and M-protein secretion rate by highly purified myeloma cells from bone marrow aspirates were examined serially to evaluate the progression of multiple myeloma in a patient who was refractory to conventional alkylating agents. Following the administration of IFN-alpha, serum M-protein decreased significantly, with the reduced in vitro spontaneous M protein secretion rate from the separated myeloma cells. Similarly, when IFN alpha as low as 10 u/ml was added in vitro, it also suppressed M-protein secretion from myeloma cells of this patient, suggesting that, the observed decrease of serum M-protein was due to diminished M-protein secretion by the myeloma cells themselves, as well as the reduction of the tumor cell burden. On the other hand the in vitro 3H-TdR uptake by the myeloma cells increased markedly with the decrease in the M-protein secretion rate. Five months after the initiation of IFN-alpha treatment, tumor formation at the lumbar vertebrae occurred when serum M-protein level was still low, followed by a bone marrow relapse. These results suggest that serial assessments of proliferation and M protein secretion potential of myeloma cells in vitro can be helpful in predicting the progression of multiple myeloma. PMID- 2618543 TI - [Characterization of 12-L-hydroxy 5, 8, 10-heptadecatrienoic acid produced by rat basophilic leukemia-2H3 cells]. AB - 14C- 12-L-hydroxy-5, 8, 10-heptadecatrienoic acid was produced by incubating the 10,000 x g supernatant of rat basophilic leukemia -2H3 cells with 14C-arachidonic acid in the presence of isoproterenol and hemoglobin. The Vmax was 125 p mol/min/2 x 10(7) cells and its Km value was 1.28 n mol, indicating the low synthetic activity even though a sufficient amount of the substrate was available. The synthesis was dose-dependently decreased by the addition of calcium ions and inhibited by ETYA and indomethacin but not by imidazol, suggesting that the production might be non-enzymatic break-down from PGH2. PMID- 2618544 TI - Acidified glycerol lysis test (AGLT) studies in Japan. AB - We investigated the usefulness of the acidified glycerol lysis test (AGLT) as a diagnostic tool for anemic patients in Japan. The results of the AGLT were found to be useful indicators of autoimmune processes and red cell membrane defects. When glycerol permeability was low and AGLT50 could not be determined, the reduction in optical density could be measured accurately by calculating the value during the first two minutes. PMID- 2618545 TI - Rheological study on vascular occlusion and cellular hyperviscosity syndrome in polycythemia vera. AB - Whole blood viscosity was determined in 10 patients with polycythemia vera and 129 normal controls using a cone-plate type rotational viscometer at 37 degrees C. Three of the patients with polycythemia vera exhibited vascular occlusions including cerebral and myocardial infarction. The remaining patients had transient complications such as headache, short of breath and hot flush probably due to the circulatory disturbance. All patients had a blood viscosity higher than normal determined at a shear rate between 37.5 and 375 sec-1. This indicated that the patient might be in the imminent danger of occlusion when the viscosity is above twice the normal mean value. Clinical symptoms appeared in all patients at least over the value of the mean plus 3 standard deviations of the normal controls in the viscosity at a shear rate between 37.5 and 375 sec-1. The present study represented a close relationship between the occurrence of occlusive and/or reversible lesions and the elevated values of whole blood viscosity in polycythemia vera. The phlebotomy and fluid infusion therapy was valuable in most cases because the viscosity was decreased at once to the normal level. In addition an extended classification of hyperviscosity syndrome consisting of cell, plasma and combined hyperviscosity is proposed. PMID- 2618546 TI - A double Philadelphia chromosome in myelodysplastic syndrome. AB - We report here a case of myelodysplastic syndrome associated with chromosomal abnormalities including a double Philadelphia chromosome (Ph). PMID- 2618547 TI - Comparative characterization of B-lymphoblastoid cell lines in adenosine deaminase deficiency and its heterozygote. AB - B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) transformed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were established from a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) caused by adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency, from his mother and from a normal volunteer. ADA activities of the patient's and mother's LCL were about 0.5% and 25% of that of the normal LCL, respectively. Proliferation of these three LCL was related to the ADA activity. The patient's LCL grew well in medium containing fetal bovine serum (FBS), but slowly in medium with the ADA inhibitor 2' deoxycoformycin-treated FBS, horse serum, or without serum. Proliferation of the patient's LCL was markedly inhibited in serum-free medium containing 2' deoxyadenosine. PMID- 2618548 TI - Natural killer activity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in patients with adult T-cell leukemia. AB - Natural killer (NK) activity of peripheral mononuclear cells (PMNC) from patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), anti-HTLV-I antibody positive healthy carriers, and anti-HTLV-I antibody negative healthy persons (Ab-negative persons) was investigated using various target cells. PMNC from patients with ATL and healthy carriers had reduced NK activity against the NK-sensitive non-HTLV-I producing target cells, compared with the controls. In contrast, PMNC from patients with ATL, healthy carriers, and Ab-negative persons did not exhibit significant NK cell lysis against HTLV-I producing cells. However, one Ab-negative person exhibited increased NK cell lysis against an HTLV-I producing target cell. The effector cells involved in this enhanced cytolysis were found to be CD3+, HNK-1+, and CD8+. HTLV-I producing cells were lysed by PMNC from Ab-negative persons in the presence of anti-HTLV-I antibody (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity; ADCC). The efficiency did not show significant difference between antibodies from patients with ATL and those from healthy carriers. The ADCC was specific to HTLV I producing cells. PMNC from one patient with ATL in remission exhibited increased ADCC in the presence of autologous serum against HTLV-I, whereas PMNC from a patient with ATL or a healthy carrier did not exhibit ADCC. These results indicated that NK and K cells influence the immunological surveillance against HTLV-I infection or leukemic cells. PMID- 2618549 TI - Soluble interleukin-2 receptors in plasma cell dyscrasias. AB - Levels of the soluble form of the interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were evaluated in the peripheral blood of 69 patients with plasma cell dyscrasias. A close relationship was seen between serum sIL-2R levels and clinical features. Among patients with normal BUN and creatinine levels, the mean (+/- 1SD) level of sIL 2R in 44 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) was higher than that of normal controls (457 +/- 227 U/ml vs 288 +/- 124 U/ml, P = 0.01). The mean level of sIL 2R in eight patients with primary macroglobulinemia was 722 +/- 251 U/ml. In MM, those with active or refractory disease showed a significantly higher mean level of sIL-2R than those in the remission phase (577 +/- 240 U/ml vs 335 +/- 103 U/ml, P = 0.01). There was a negative correlation between sIL-2R and hemoglobin levels in MM patients (r = -0.45, P = 0.01). Five patients with complications of renal insufficiency had elevated levels of sIL-2R. In a longitudinal study of a patient with plasmacytoma and an extremely high sIL2-R level, the sIL-2R level showed a strong relationship with tumor burden. Patients with high sIL-2R levels generally had a poor prognosis than those with normal levels. Thus a high sIL-2R level may be an indicator of a poor prognosis in MM. PMID- 2618550 TI - In vitro immunoglobulin production in mitogen-stimulated cultures of peripheral blood and bone marrow cells from young and old adults, and cases of benign monoclonal gammopathy. AB - Peripheral blood samples collected from normal individuals and patients with benign monoclonal gammopathy (BMG) were separated and assayed for their T-cell subpopulations, PHA blast formation as well as immunoglobulin (Ig) synthesis in vitro. Bone marrow cells of most the cases were also assayed for Ig synthesis. Age-related changes of T-cell subsets and PHA blast formation revealed a marked leveling off after the 8th decade. Comparing the age-related increase in Ig synthesis in peripheral blood lymphocytes, PWM-induced Ig synthesis of bone marrow cells was only slightly increased. The distribution of values for T-cell subsets, PHA blast formation and Ig synthesis in the BMG cases more closely resembled that in the aged than that in the age-matched controls. Immunoregulatory functions seem to be affected in BMG. PMID- 2618551 TI - Human leukemia cells and mature lymphocytes induce platelet aggregation after removal of cell surface sialic acid. AB - We examined platelet aggregating activity (PAA) of 5 human leukemia cell lines (HL-60, ML-1, HPB-ALL, RPMI-1788, K562), human mature lymphocytes and 2 human neuroblastoma lines (NCG, GOTO). Although intact cell suspensions of all leukemia cells and mature lymphocytes did not induce platelet aggregation, all cells exhibited PAA in both heparinized and citrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) following neuraminidase treatment (2 units/ml). In contrast, NCG and GOTO cells with PAA in intact cell suspensions were not affected by neuraminidase. PAA of HL 60 cells pre-cultured in the presence of tunicamycin (0.1-1.0 microgram/ml) to inhibit glycosylation decreased after neuraminidase treatment. Neuraminidase treatment had no effect on procoagulant activity of any of the cells examined. There was no difference in total sialic acid contents between human leukemia and neuroblastoma cells. These results suggest the cell surface glycoconjugates on hematopoietic cells play a role in PAA, and that sialic acid prevents their interaction with platelets. PMID- 2618552 TI - Sequential occurrence of immune pancytopenia and de novo DIC in a child with polyclonal immunoblastosis. AB - We report a child with polyclonal immunoblastosis associated with several hematological complications. Pure red cell aplasia (IgG-mediated inhibition of erythropoiesis), immune thrombocytopenia and immune neutropenia with myeloid hypoplasia developed sequentially. In addition, disseminated intravascular coagulation occurred shortly after the administration of prednisolone with rapid shrinkage of hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. PMID- 2618553 TI - Thrombocytopenia in liver cirrhosis. AB - To examine the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia associated with liver cirrhosis, the platelet count, spleen size and serum cholinesterase levels were measured together with plasma concentration of beta-thromboglobulin, fibrinopeptide A and serum albumin in 38 patients with histologically proven, severe but stable liver cirrhosis. The spleen size contributed most significantly to thrombocytopenia in this disorder and the serum cholinesterase level also correlated with the platelet count, both in decompensated and compensated liver cirrhosis. Plasma beta-thromboglobulin, serum fibrinopeptide A levels and serum albumin did not correlate with the platelet count. These findings indicate that disseminated intravascular coagulation is not likely to be the cause of thrombocytopenia in liver cirrhosis. Splenomegaly as well as the diminished protein synthetic activity of the liver participates in the pathogenesis of the thrombocytopenia in this disease. PMID- 2618554 TI - Analysis of hematological data of thalassemia cases in Thailand. AB - We analyzed the complete blood count (CBC) obtained from patients with various types of thalassemia in Thailand. As a control, samples from healthy donors and patients with iron deficiency anemia were also collected. Most cases of thalassemia could be differentiated from iron deficiency anemia by using a discrimination function equation. This screening method is applicable for mass screening of patients with latent thalassemia in Thailand. PMID- 2618555 TI - Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome: the diagnostic usefulness of immature histiocytes with benign features in the bone marrow. AB - A 2-year-old girl developed fever, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, lymphadenopathy and pancytopenia. Bone marrow examination revealed increased immature histiocytes (5.5%) and mature histiocytes with hemophagocytosis. All the abnormalities were normalized in one month without any chemotherapy. It was suggested that the presence of immature histiocytes with benign features, even if their number exceeds that of mature histiocytes, does not favor the diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis. PMID- 2618556 TI - Clinical aspects of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with special reference to refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB). AB - Clinical features, prognosis and factors influencing survival, as well as long term evolution of the disease were analyzed in 130 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with particular reference to the refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB). Survival of patients with 3 FAB subtypes, RAEB, RAEB in transformation (RAEB-T) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL) showing excess blasts was uniformly poor relative to primary acquired refractory anemia (PARA) and primary acquired sideroblastic anemia (PASA). The degree of cytopenias, karyotypic abnormalities, bone marrow cellularity, transition to acute leukemia were not reliable prognostic parameters for discrimination of RAEB with poor or good prognosis. Disease transition was frequently observed in our MDS patient population, at an overall incidence of 37.7%. Transition of PARA to RAEB occurred after a prolonged course in some patients. PMID- 2618557 TI - [Alteration of erythrocyte membrane proteins in a family with hereditary spherocytosis]. AB - Erythrocyte membrane proteins in a family of nine with hereditary spherocytosis in Okinawa were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 0.1% SDS. An abnormality in the membrane protein component band 4.2 (MW 72 kDa) on the electrophoresis was observed. Deficiency in band 4.2 was found in three sibling in the family and a small but significant decrease was noted in three other members. However, change of this component was not found in the remaining members of the family or in normal subjects. PMID- 2618558 TI - [The molecular basis of HbH disease in a Japanese girl]. AB - Hemoglobin H disease is often caused by deletion of three of the four alpha globin genes (genotype: --/-alpha). We studied a Japanese girl who had microcytic hypochromic anemia, a decreased alpha/beta globin synthetic ratio and about 8% Hb H in her fresh hemolysate, by means of restriction endonuclease mapping of the alpha-like gene complex (5'-zeta-phi zeta-phi alpha 2-phi alpha 1-alpha 2-alpha 1 theta-3') with zeta- and alpha-specific probes. It was found that the defect of one chromosome was associated with the removal of about 18 kb of DNA, known as - SEA type alpha-thalassemia-1, including the deletion of the part of phi alpha 2, phi alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 1, and theta globin genes, while the other one was associated with the removal of 3.7 kb of DNA, known as rightward deletion type alpha-thalassemia-2. The results of a family study demonstrated that the deletion haplotype --SEA was inherited from her father's side and the other -alpha 3.7 from her mother's side. PMID- 2618559 TI - [Flow cytometric studies of anti-granulocyte antibodies]. AB - An indirect immunofluorescence test using anti-granulocyte antibodies was developed to examine many sera samples in a one-step procedure by flow cytometry. Granulocytes obtained from several random donors were fixed with 0.5% paraformaldehyde solution on the first day, and the fluorescence intensity of granulocytes that had reacted with sera was measured on the following day. Non specific reactions with isoantibodies, i.e., anti-A, anti-B, or serum IgG had no influence on the fluorescence intensity. Therefore, anti-granulocyte antibodies from a patient with immune neutropenia and patients with febrile transfusion reactions can be studied using this method. The results suggest that the IgG antibody from a patient with immune neutropenia is granulocyte-specific and its subclass is IgG2. PMID- 2618560 TI - [Genetic markers and thrombin reaction in a family of Bernard-Soulier syndrome]. AB - A family with Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) was investigated with reference to the genetic markers and thrombin reactions. The proband was a 24-year-old man with a life-long history of epistaxis and gingival bleeding. His parents were first cousins; furthermore, his father was born to parents of second cousins. His father also had bleeding tendency and was also diagnosed as having BSS. However, his mother and elder brother were normal. Genetic marker analysis among the family members suggested that the 16th chromosome was associated with the development of BSS, because only the haptoglobin genotype coded on the 16th chromosome was the marker in both the proband and his father. In addition, they both exhibited decreased thrombin-induced platelet aggregation at a low dose, but an almost normal reaction at a high dose of thrombin. PMID- 2618561 TI - [Role of protein C in endotoxin-induced release of plasminogen activator inhibitor from endothelial cell]. AB - To elucidate the role of protein C (PC) in the release of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) from endothelial cells, the effect of PC and activated protein C (APC) on plasma levels of PAI in endotoxin (ET)-treated rats was examined. When activated by snake venom, human PC significantly prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of both human and rat plasma samples. Addition of APC also prolonged the APTT of both human and rat plasma samples. PAI activity in plasma from septicemic patients and ET-treated rats was neutralized by APC. A small dose of ET (0.1 microgram/kg) gradually increased plasma PAI activity, which became maximum 3h after ET-treatment. APC administered prior to ET treatment, PC decreased PAI activity, however, no such inhibition was seen when administered after ET-treatment. A significant negative correlation between PC concentrations and PAI activities was observed in plasma from septicemic patients. These findings indicated that activation of PC on endothelial surface plays a regulatory role in releasing PAI and that endotoxin might inhibit the surface activation of PC. PMID- 2618562 TI - Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas--prognostic analysis and therapeutic recommendations. AB - The total non-Hodgkin's lymphoma-population between 1960 and 1985 treated by means of radiotherapy or combined radio-chemotherapy in the Medical Academy Dresden was analysed prognostically. 247 patients were classified according to previous scheme, 79 were subdivided on the basis of the recommendations of the Kiel-classification. The remission rates and survival curves achieved bear comparison with international literature (remission rates for the low-malignancy group = 85.3% and for the high-malignancy group = 80.0%; 5-year survival rates for the low-malignancy group = 61.9% and for the high-malignancy group = 41.7%). The influence of histology, clinical stage and involvement of organs is discussed according to our results and information from appropriate reference sources. Our analysis confirms the high importance of a common radiologic-internal outpatient department for coordination of the diagnostic and therapeutic programme. Principles of treatment are presented with special respect to polychemotherapy. PMID- 2618563 TI - [Cytotoxic effect of fenarimol on peripheral blood cells and organs]. AB - The effect of fenarimol in blood cells and changes in liver and kidneys in rats were investigated. Fenarimol applied in doses 25 mg/ml intragastrically during 5 days, at 24h after the last doses caused functional and structural changes of blood cells and organs. The decreases of osmotic fragility of erythrocytes and phagocytic activity of neutrophils, and the increase of the percentage of lymphocytes without detectable lysosomes accompanied by the minor decrease of the number of blood cells was observed in the peripheral blood. The indistinctness of the structure of the hepatic lobules and of liver laminae and the vacuolized hepatic cells with pycnotic nuclei were visible in the liver. The abnormally enlarged cortical Malphighian++ glomeruli in kidney were found. The observed changes indicate the cytotoxic effect of fenarimol in strongly intoxicated rats. The impaired phagocytic activity of neutrophils may cause the growth of susceptibility to bacterial infection. PMID- 2618564 TI - [Proliferative activity of granulocyte progenitors from the bone marrow of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in 14-day culture in vivo]. AB - The proliferative activity of marrow granulocyte progenitors (CFU-dG) from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and healthy subjects was investigated in 14th-day culture using diffusion chamber technique in vivo. On each day the number of clusters (20-50 cells) and colonies (over 50 cells) was estimated. In addition, on the day 4, 7 and 9 the count of CFU-dG in the S-phase of cell cycle was determined. During the first 9 days the number of clusters and colonies successively increased both in CML and control, but this result was more pronounced in experiments with CML-CFU-dG. In the period between days 9 th and 14th a decrease in the proliferative activity of CFU-dG could be observed. During the whole culture-time the number of colonies was markedly higher than that of clusters. The percentage of CML-CFU-dG in S-phase was comparable to that noted in controls. PMID- 2618565 TI - [Studies of the possibility of preservation of leukocyte concentrates]. AB - The authors tried to explain whether granulocytes obtained by sedimentation on dextran can be stored, under what conditions, and for how long time. For this purpose leukocyte concentrated were stored at 4-6 degrees C and 20-24 degrees C for up to 48 hours, and the count and percent proportions of leucocytes, granulocyte viability, their phagocytic index, chemotactic ability and ATP content were determined. The investigations demonstrated a progressing decrease of the biological viability of granulocytes after 24 hours, and a further decrease after 48 hours. Particularly pronounced and early changes were noted in the chemotactic activity and ATP content. A beneficial effect was noted of higher storage temperature (20-24 degrees C) on the maintenance of chemotactic activity. The other parameters were not temperature-dependent. It seems that under such conditions leucocyte concentrates should be transfused preferably immediately after their preparation. PMID- 2618566 TI - [Study of expression of surface antigen p72 using monoclonal antibody 79IT/36 and the effect of ricin A chain-bound 79IT/36 on phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes]. AB - Monoclonal antibody 791T/36 directed against surface antigen on the human osteosarcoma cell line and cross-reacting with surface antigen p72 presenting on human PHA-stimulated T-lymphoblasts was used in analysis of p72 antigen expression on human mononuclear peripheral blood cells, between 2-4 days of culture. Using FACS-IV system and fluorescence microscope, it was shown that expression of p72-antigen is dependent on PHA-stimulation and the ability of lymphocytes proliferation. The expression of p72 preceding the entry of the cells into the cell cycle. This is not significantly dependent of cell size, stage of the cycle, and RNA-transcription activity. In PHA-stimulated cultures, between 2 4 days, the number of lymphoblasts expressing enough receptors for 791T/36 monoclonal antibody is sufficient to exhibit a distinct effect of Ricin A-chain conjugated with 791T/36 over 50% inhibition of 3H-Thymidine incorporation into the cells. These observations emphasises the importance of cross-reactions in cases using immunotoxins. PMID- 2618567 TI - [Evaluation of the activity maintaining the growth of granulocyte- monocyte colonies in the calf fetal sera of Polish production]. AB - Calf fetal serum is an important component added to the medium used for culturing granulocytic-monocytic colonies. Its composition decides on the serum biological activity and ability to maintain the growth of the said colonies. The growth of granulocytic-monocytic colonies in the presence of various sera served for evaluation of their activity. It was found that calf fetal sera of the Polish origin are characterized by the favourable activity and may replace similar, foreign made sera. The highest biological activity maintaining the growth of the granulocytic-monocytic colonies exhibit sera obtained from a 7-month or younger calf fetuses. PMID- 2618568 TI - [Use of vincristine-loaded blood platelets, danazol and gamma globulin in the treatment of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]. AB - In 17 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura unresponsive to treatment with steroids, immunosuppression or splenectomy, allogenic vincristine-loaded platelets were used. In 9 of them an increase of platelet number and regression of bleeding tendency was achieved. Among 13 patients with ITP who have been treated with danazol only in one case an increase of platelet number was observed. Under the rise of plasma transaminases and bilirubin level in majority of "danazol" patients we have discontinued the treatment. In none of 4 patients with chronic thrombocytopenic purpura treated with high doses of intravenous immunoglobulin an increase of platelet number was observed, however in all cases the regression of bleeding was achieved. PMID- 2618569 TI - [Verification of hematological studies and immunologic phenotype of lymphoma cells in the blood by histological examination of the lymph nodes in non Hodgkin's lymphoma of low and medium degree of malignancy]. AB - In 125 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphomas of low or medium malignancy the type of lymphoma determined on the basis of morphological features and immunological phenotype of lymphoma cells in then circulation was verified by histological examination of lymph node. Dissemination of lymphoma cells into blood was found to have occurred in 80% of patients. The highest agreement of histological and haematoimmunological diagnoses was found in lymphocytic lymphoma and lymphoplasmoid (immunocyte) lymphoma, and the lowest one was in centrocytic and centroblastic-centrocytic lymphoma. It is stressed that in a part of the patients histological examination of the lymph node could be abandoned. PMID- 2618570 TI - [Clinical analysis of 15 cases of T-cell malignant lymphoma in adults]. AB - In the years 1981-1987 T-cell lymphoma was diagnosed in 7 women and 8 men (2.2% of all hospitalized cases of malignant lymphomas). Chronic lymphatic and prolymphocytic leukaemias and T-zone lymphomas prevailed. In most cases systemic symptoms and lymphadenopathy were characteristic features. In 6 cases cutaneous changes coexisted having the appearance of desquamative erythema, in 2 cases cutaneous changes preceded by 10 years the generalization of the process. In 10 cases other organs were involved. Absolute lymphocyte count ranged from value below normal to values above normal range. In 8 cases hypergammaglobulinaemia was present. The results of treatment were bad. Early drug-induced myelosuppression was observed. Nine patients died. In the group of lymphoblastic lymphoma and Pinkus lymphoma all 5 patients died. PMID- 2618571 TI - Chronic leukaemic reticulosis--hairy cell leukemia an undiscovered original report. PMID- 2618572 TI - Morphological examination of the circulus arteriosus cerebri humani (circle of Willis). I. Anterior and posterior communicating arteries. AB - The circulus arteriosus cerebri (circle of Willis) was examined to observe morphological variations in 50 normal human brains. Multiformed variations, as well as unruptured intracranial aneurysms, were observed. Among such variations, particular attention was paid to configurations of the two communicating arteries, anterior and posterior, respectively. Variations of the anterior communicating artery were characterized by multiplicity in their forms, on the other hand the posterior communicating arteries exhibited hypoplastic or primitive configurations. We suggest that, possible morphological variations which occur in the course of circulus arteriosus cerebri and their main branches must not be confused with congenital malformations. There has been no critical definition of the normal circle arteriosus cerebri. Differences in morphological variations between the anterior and posterior communicating arteries are discussed from the viewpoint of both embryology and the clinical findings. PMID- 2618573 TI - [A case of the thyroidea ima artery arising from the aortic arch]. AB - The present report describes a case of the thyroidea ima artery observed in a 65 year-old Japanese male on dissection in 1988. The thyroidea ima artery arose from the aortic arch between the branchiocephalic trunk and the left common carotid artery. The thyroidea ima passed to the left lobe and isthmus of the thyroid gland for the supply of these. The inferior thyroid artery on the right side was of common type in its origin and course, though that on the left side was absent. Either of the superior thyroid arteries arose from the common carotid artery. PMID- 2618574 TI - [Reconsideration of organ weight in Japanese (1). Heart]. AB - The heart weight measured at medicolegal autopsies in these days are usually heavier than the data of the mean value of Japanese in textbooks and papers which were surveyed around the Second World War. As it was supposed that some improvement of the nutrition and physique since the end of the war should make the heart weight heavier, the value on 1,399 cases of medicolegal autopsy was measured and analyzed. The results revealed that the heart weight in the late of teens reaches the old value of grown-ups and the mean values of men (360 g) and women (300 g) earned by the present study are far more than those described in the former reports. It was presumed that periodic researches for the standard heart weight are indispensable in the consequence of the present study. PMID- 2618575 TI - Erythrocyte fatty acids in multiple sclerosis. AB - Analysis of the fatty acids in the erythrocyte lipid of multiple sclerosis patients in Italy gave no indication of any difference in composition compared with that of a healthy control group. Supplementation of the diet of another group of similar patients with polyunsaturated fatty acids led to increases in the erythrocyte levels of linoleate and docosahexaenoate, with concomitant falls in oleate and elaidate. Levels of fatty acids such as lignocerate and nervonate that are found predominantly in sphingomyelin were similar in all 3 groups. PMID- 2618576 TI - Outcome and neurological sequelae of patients after tetanus. AB - From 1969-1985, 106 people contracted tetanus in Finland. The outcome of the disease was good in 78 cases (returned to work), poor in 27 (12 died, 5 institutionalized and 10 retired) and unknown in 1. Poor outcome was the result of a disease requiring respirator treatment. Other clinical factors significantly correlated with poor outcome were blood pressure lability, hyperglycemia, hyperthermia, tachycardia and anticoagulation therapy. Forty people who were representative of the whole series with regard to sex, age and severity of disease attended a follow-up study on average 7 years and 4 months later. Forty age- and sex-matched controls had the same examinations, and compared with them, the 40 patients still had significantly more muscle fatigue and cramps, nervousness, decreased mental capacity and difficulties in balance, speech and memory. They also had more clinical findings, such as peripheral paresis, muscular atrophy, decreased or absent tendon reflexes and decreased mental capacity than the controls. PMID- 2618577 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in patients with acute monosymptomatic optic neuritis. AB - Ophthalmologists and neurologists from a catchment area of 1.5 million people were asked to refer all patients with symptoms and signs of optic neuritis (ON) to our neurological department immediately. A total of 68 consecutive patients were extensively screened for known etiologies of ON. Eleven had definite multiple sclerosis (MS); 7 patients could not participate for various reasons. The cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem of the remaining 50 untreated patients with monosymptomatic ON were MRI scanned at 1.5 T with 2 sequences (slice thickness 4 mm, voxel size 1.2 x 1.2 x 4 mm3): double spin-echo (TR = 1.8 s, TE = 30 and 90 ms, 12 slices axially) and inversion recovery (TR = 2.45 s, TI = 400 ms, TE = 30 ms, 5 slices sagittaly). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed within 3-49 (median 16) days from onset of symptoms. MRI demonstrated multiple asymptomatic central nervous system (CNS) lesions in 62% of patients. The appearance, locations and extents of lesions were consistent with demyelination. A scoring system based on number and size of lesions is proposed. Seven of 50 patients developed definite MS during a median follow-up of 11 months; they all had CNS lesions on the first scan. MRI has thus improved the pathophysiological knowledge of idiopathic ON, which from the very onset is a manifestation of MS in at least two thirds of cases. Patients who have early CNS lesions run a much higher risk of later developing clinically definite MS. PMID- 2618578 TI - White matter low attenuation on computed tomography in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia--diagnostic and pathogenetic aspects. AB - Demented patients with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 17), late-onset Alzheimer's disease (n = 30) and vascular dementia (VD) (n = 20) were studied with computed tomography of the brain. Semiquantitative evaluation of white matter low attenuation (WMLA) and central and cortical atrophy was performed without knowledge of the clinical diagnosis. In early onset AD there was almost complete absence of WMLA and central atrophy compared with the other groups, which showed moderate to severe changes. This suggests that early-onset AD should be separated from the late-onset form. The increased systolic blood pressure found in the WMLA group supports the opinion that WMLA has a vascular origin. The high percentage of WMLA in VD and late-onset AD indicates that subcortical factors have to be considered in the pathogenesis of these disorders. PMID- 2618579 TI - The natural history of late-onset epilepsy secondary to vascular disease. AB - Twenty-nine patients with late-onset epilepsy were followed prospectively for a mean period of 4.9 years; 14 had CT evidence of occult cerebral infarction and 15 had normal scans. The prognosis was similar in the 2 groups; 57% and 53% respectively became seizure-free. One patient in each group had a myocardial infarction and one patient with occult cerebrovascular disease had a stroke. A separate study was made of the prognosis of 24 patients with epilepsy following stroke (mean follow-up 5.9 years). Twelve of 12 patients with seizure onset within 2 weeks of the stroke became seizure-free, compared with 7/12 with more delayed onset. Late-onset epilepsy has a favourable prognosis, and excellent control should be expected if seizures commence within 2 weeks of stroke. PMID- 2618580 TI - Wilson's disease: clinical groups in 400 cases. AB - Existence of clinical subgroups among cases of Wilson's disease has long been postulated and various classifications suggested but none statistically tested. This study analyses, by means of pattern recognition techniques, 400 cases from 4 series including our own (n = 195). Factor analysis (to summarise variables) and cluster analysis (to derive groups of patients) were performed. From each series 4 clusters were derived, each containing a "hepatic" and at least one "neurological" cluster, other clusters being "mixed hepatic & neurological" (3 series) and "asymptomatic" (3 series). Two series contained 2 "neurological" clusters; one dividing in terms of age and the other in terms of presence or absence of psychopathology. At least 2 factors, "hepatic" and "neurological", emerged from each series. Reasons for differences are discussed. In conclusion, Wilson's disease is not homogenous: clinical groupings are supported by statistical classification. PMID- 2618581 TI - Evoked and psychogenic epileptic seizures: II. Inhibition. AB - The inhibition of seizure activity by behavioural methods is becoming more popular. Lockhart's monkey model of focal epilepsy suggests a theoretical approach to behavioural seizure inhibition. Behaviour, by changing the pattern of excitation and inhibition surrounding a focus, is thus able to inhibit seizure activity. This article describes single case studies in which the behavioural methods of cued arousal, covert desensitization and relaxation have brought about a decrease in seizure frequency. PMID- 2618582 TI - Selective neuronal vulnerability following transient cerebral ischemia in the gerbil: distribution and time course. AB - An important feature of ischemic brain damage is the selective vulnerability of specific neuronal populations. We studied the distribution and time course of neuronal damage following transient cerebral ischemia in the gerbil, using light microscopy and 45Ca autoradiography. Following 5 min of ischemia, selective neuronal damage determined by abnormal 45Ca accumulation was recognized only in the hippocampal CA1 subfield and part of the inferior colliculus. Ischemia for 10 to 15 min caused extensive neuronal injury in the 3rd and 5th layers of neocortex, the striatum, the septum, the whole hippocampus, the thalamus, the medial geniculate body, the substantia nigra, and the inferior colliculus. Progression of the damage was rapid in the medial geniculate body and the inferior colliculus, moderate in the neocortex, striatum, septum, thalamus, and the substantia nigra, and was delayed in the hippocampal CA1 sector. However, the delayed damage of the hippocampus occurred earlier when the ischemia period was prolonged. Histological observation revealed neuronal loss in the identical sites of the 45Ca accumulation. This study revealed that the distribution and time course of selective neuronal damage by ischemia proceeded with different order of susceptibility and different speed of progression. PMID- 2618583 TI - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for human autoantibody to glial fibrillary acidic protein: higher titer of the antibody is detected in serum of patients with Alzheimer's disease. AB - We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect anti glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) autoantibody in human sera. The ELISA was prepared by coating microtest plates with purified GFAP from bovine spinal cord. The autoantibody activities were assayed in the serum from 219 control subjects, 39 Alzheimer's disease patients and 39 cerebrovascular dementia patients. Higher titer of the antibody was observed in the serum of Alzheimer's disease patients. Since the titer showed no significant change with aging or with sex in the control serum, we could determine a certain normal value of the antibody titer. The percentage of abnormal subjects whose antibody levels were over the normal value was 53.8% in Alzheimer's disease (presenile onset) patients, 30.8% in Alzheimer's disease (senile onset) patients, 10.3% in cerebrovascular dementia patients and 5.5% in control subjects. We discuss the relationship between the anti-GFAP autoantibody and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and suggest that the evaluation of anti-GFAP autoantibody level may be useful in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. PMID- 2618584 TI - A possible harmful late effect of methylprednisolone therapy on a time cluster of optic neuritis. AB - Clinical records of all patients (n = 26) suffering from optic neuritis during the last 16 years re-evaluated in relation to treatment. The patients were treated in 3 ways: with prednisone; with "pulse" megadoses of methylprednisolone; and untreated. A possibly frightening conversion to multiple sclerosis was seen in the group of patients with methylprednisolone, compared with the other 2 groups. PMID- 2618585 TI - Nonathymulin treatment of multiple sclerosis: double-blind pilot study. AB - We carried out a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Nonathymulin (NT, synthetic serum thymic factor) in patients with evolutive multiple sclerosis (MS) and moderate disability. Forty matched patients were treated with subcutaneous NT or placebo for 6 months and followed for another 6 months. There was no significant difference in treatment and control groups in the Kurtzke. Disability scores, Ambulation Index and Functional Scale. No significant side effects were recorded. NT is not effective in treating evolutive and moderately disabled MS. PMID- 2618586 TI - Neurobehavioral findings in whiplash patients with long-lasting symptoms. AB - Thirty-four patients with persistent symptoms following whiplash injury and 21 controls with somatic complaints resembling those of the whiplash patients, but with no history of trauma, were studied. Forty-eight neuropsychological test variables were analyzed. The results indicated that whiplash patients with chronic symptoms are not much impaired in their performance as compared with controls. The differences found were not sufficiently strong to be taken as consistent evidence of brain damage occurring as a sequela of whiplash injury. PMID- 2618587 TI - Early-onset cerebellar ataxia with retained tendon reflexes. AB - The authors report a clinical review of 16 childhood cases with early-onset cerebellar ataxia with retained tendon reflexes. The preservation of tendon reflexes distinguishes this disorder from Friedreich's ataxia. The mean age of onset of symptoms was 7.1 years. The main presenting symptom was abnormal gait (100%). Ataxia of gait and limbs and normal or increased tendon reflexes were found in all cases. This disorder is associated with dysarthria, pyramidal signs in the limbs, and in some instances, sensory loss. Other important differences from Friedreich's ataxia are absence of optic atrophy, diabetes mellitus, cardiomyopathy and severe skeletal deformity. Sensory nerve conduction was found to be normal, excluding one case. This finding constitutes another aspect of the syndrome different from Freidreich's ataxia. CT scans were normal in 2 of the 4 cases. The remaining two cases showed cerebellar atrophy. Inheritance is probably autosomal recessive in the majority of cases. PMID- 2618588 TI - Search for a retrovirus in long-term cultured cerebrospinal fluid cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with multiple sclerosis. AB - Long-term peripheral blood mononuclear cell (MNC) cultures stimulated with interleukin 2 (IL-2) or IL-2 + phytohemagglutinin were established from 33 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, 9 with other neurological diseases (OND), and 24 normal controls (C). Cultures were analysed for growth characteristics, reverse transcriptase (RT) in the culture medium, 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase in the cells, and cell morphology. None of these parameters differed in the MS group compared with the OND and C groups. Furthermore, 11 cerebrospinal fluid cell cultures were established without feeder cells. Morphology studies of the cells and RT assays of the supernatants from these cultures were normal. Induction studies by dexamethasone and 2-bromo-5'-deoxyuridine in 2 of these cultures did not reveal any signs of a virus. The significance of these results for the retrovirus hypothesis is discussed. PMID- 2618589 TI - Photosensitivity in epilepsy. Electrophysiological and clinical correlates. AB - Photosensitivity is a rare phenomenon found, often more or less accidentally, in approximately 5% of epileptic patients. Its pathophysiology still remains largely unsolved and the clinical significance of photosensitivity is controversial. The literature on the subject is impressive, yet predominantly anecdotal. In this thesis we describe the results of an extensive and standardized study of 100 consecutive photosensitive patients with special emphasis on the clinical history, the seizure history and the electrophysiological findings. These are then compared to identical data of an age and sex matched control group, obtained from the same population of epileptic patients, referred to a special (tertiary care) epilepsy clinic. In chapter I, the literature is reviewed and photosensitivity as a special form of "reflex epilepsy" is discussed. A distinction is made between normal and abnormal reactions on intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) during electroencephalographic (EEG) registrations and the criteria of true photosensitivity are formulated. The relation between the presence of photosensitivity during EEG examination and the occurrence of visually-induced epileptic seizures in daily life is discussed. As self-induction of seizures has been associated with photosensitivity, an extensive review, including a special reference list (see appendix A), is given concerning such self-inducing behaviour in photosensitive patients. A review of photosensitivity as a genetic marker and model of epilepsy concludes this chapter. In chapter II the aims of this study are outlined. Some general conceptions about photosensitive epilepsy have become widely accepted in clinical practice without much scientific support, i.e., the idea that the finding of photosensitivity is synonym with the diagnosis of primary generalized epilepsy. Furthermore, photosensitivity is generally believed to be a genetically determined, benign type of epilepsy in childhood and adolescence but when associated with self inducing behaviour is interpreted as a sign of mental subnormality. Whether or not these conceptions are valid and whether photosensitivity is or is not a special subtype of epilepsy remains unsolved. In this study we thus set out to answer the following questions: A. Are photosensitive epileptic patients different from non-photosensitive patients with epilepsy, with respect to clinical history and, more specifically, to seizure history and family history for seizures? B. Is the degree of photosensitivity, established as photosensitivity range, predictive for the liability to visually-induced seizures in daily life? Are detailed laboratory findings concerning sensitivity to television and black-and-white striped patterns of clinically predictive value, e.g. can patients, liable to TV epilepsy or pattern-induced seizures, be identified by EEG investigations? PMID- 2618590 TI - Stimulation of endogenous L-dopa biosynthesis--a new principle for the therapy of Parkinson's disease. The clinical effect of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotidephosphate (NADPH). AB - The coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) has been used as a novel medication in 161 Parkinson patients in an open label trial. In all but 18 patients (11.2%) an improvement in their disability was observed. 115 patients (71.4%) showed a very good (better than 30%) response, and 28 patients (17.4%) a moderate response up to 30%. The best results were obtained with a dose of 25 to 50 mg every second day by i.v. administration. Concomitantly with the improvement in disability, the urine HVA level increased significantly, indicating a stimulation of endogenous L-DOPA biosynthesis. 8 patients have been treated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotidephosphate (NADPH), 5 of whom exhibited an improvement in their disability from 35 to 55%. The other 3 showed a moderate response of 20 to 25%. In all these patients an increase in the urine level of HVA was detected, reflecting elevated endogenous L-DOPA production. PMID- 2618591 TI - Adrenal medullary transplants as a treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease. AB - Open autologous adrenal medullary to caudate nucleus transplantation was performed in 12 patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Ten of these patients had diurnal response fluctuations including "wearing off" and "on/off" phenomena. All of the patients were no longer satisfactorily responding to levodopa/carbidopa and dopamine agonists. The mean age of the patients was 55.1 years (range 37-65 yrs); mean duration of PD was 11.7 years (range 4-40 yrs); mean stage "on" was 3.3 (range 2-4); mean stage "off" was 4.8 (range 4-5). Mean duration of follow up from surgery was 10.4 months (range 2-17 months). Three patients improved dramatically with major changes in their lifestyle. The course of improvement in these 3 patients was different in each, implying that different mechanisms were responsible for the improvement. One of the patients died unexpectedly. In this patient, there were no surviving adrenal cells. Three patients improved moderately. Patients reported that they were "on" longer and had to take medication less often and were less dependent on individual doses of levodopa/carbidopa. The improvement has been sustained in two patients. However, in one of these patients there had to be frequent changes in scheduling to maintain the improvement. Two patients after technically successful implants did not improve. One of these patients subsequently died. In this patient there were a few surviving adrenal medullary cells. Four patients suffered major complications. One patient had a cerebral infarction and two had cerebral hemorrhages. One of these patients has shown a good recovery. One patient with autonomic insufficiency had a cardiac arrest with cerebral anoxia one week after surgery. This patient has shown a partial recovery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618592 TI - Neurochemical perspectives to the function of monoamine oxidase. AB - Dopamine (DA) is degraded in part by MAO, an intraneuronal and glial enzyme localized at the outer mitochondrial membrane. DA is a good substrate for MAO-B and selegiline enhances DA-transmission and improves akinesia of Parkinson's disease (PD) by selective MAO-B blockade. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) and histochemistry (HC) demonstrate that neurons of substantia nigra (SN) lack MAO near totally (but see Moll et al 1988). Consequently, inhibition of MAO-B in this brain area occurs mainly in glial cells. Therefore an increase of DA in glia seems to be of long-lasting therapeutic benefit in PD. In addition, synthesis of hydrogen peroxide generated via MAO-B is blocked by selegiline. By this toxicity by endogenous free radicals is diminished. Furthermore, exogenous neurotoxicity by MAO-B substrates can be prevented by inhibition of MAO-B, while such MAO-A substrates are metabolized at the level of the MAO-A containing endothelium of capillaries. As conclusion, selegiline is a safe inhibitor of MAO-B that reduces neurotoxicity possibly triggering PD. (Table: see text). PMID- 2618593 TI - Is Parkinson's disease a progressive siderosis of substantia nigra resulting in iron and melanin induced neurodegeneration? AB - Razor sharp and high iron deposits are present in the substantia nigra (SN). Although the function of such high iron content is not known, the homeostasis of brain iron is important for normal brain function. The participation of free tissue iron in oxidative stress (OS), resulting in the formation of cytotoxic hydroxyl radical (.OH) from H2O2 (Fenton reaction) and promotion of membrane lipid peroxides by .OH can no longer be questioned as a biological phenomenon. The highly selective increase of Fe2+ and Fe3+ and lipid peroxidation observed in parkinsonian SN points to OS in such brains. Lipid peroxidation proceeds with either Fe2+ or Fe3+ provided a mechanism exists to facilitate the interconversion of iron between its redox states. Indeed H2O2 derived from MAO B reaction and autooxidation of dopamine to melanin in the SN can drive the iron dependent Fenton reaction. Furthermore, interaction of iron with melanin may be even more important considering that melanin avidly binds Fe3+ and reduce it to Fe2+, resulting in .OH generation. Thus, without evoking environmental neurotoxins, the excessive accumulation of free iron in the SN and "melanin-trap" could be the trigger for accelerated cell death and Parkinsonism. PMID- 2618594 TI - Brain dopaminergic mechanisms in Parkinson's disease evaluated by positron emission tomography. AB - The meso-striatal dopamine neurons, essential for the automated control of movements, are primarily affected in patients with P.D. Direct study of the role of this pathway in states of disease has not been possible until recently and the application of PET for the in vivo investigation of dopaminergic mechanisms may serve to demonstrate the potential of the technique. One basic idea has been to work out methods to investigate multiple aspects of dopaminergic function, i.e. presynaptic mechanisms such as re-uptake sites and synthesis of neurotransmitter as well as postsynaptic such as receptor properties. Furthermore, efforts have been made to evaluate dopamine degradating enzymes. Preclinical PET investigations have regularly been performed in Rhesus monkeys and the hemiparkinsonian model produced by infusing MPTP into one internal carotid artery has been of great value to characterize new 11C-labelled tracers. Today 11C--(+) nomifensine is used to give a measure of dopamine re-uptake sites, probably reflecting nerve terminals. 11C-labelled L-dopa has now been introduced and can be expected to replace 18F-L-fluorodopa as a physiological tracer for precursor transport and transmitter synthesis. Several ligands are available for the quantitation of dopamine receptors--11C-N-methylspiperone and 11C-raclopride have been used in our studies. 11C-L-selegiline and its "inactive" D-form have been used in clinical PET-studies aimed to evaluate the enzyme MAO-B. A summary of in vivo information of dopaminergic mechanisms in P.D. obtained using the above mentioned tracers and PET is presented. PMID- 2618595 TI - Objective measurement of motor disability in Parkinson's disease. AB - A kinesiological analysis of complex movement performance was carried out in patients with Parkinson's disease, and in healthy subjects of different ages, with a computer-assisted optoelectronic camera system. A lifting movement entailing simultaneous coordination of rising, walking some steps and a goal directed manual movement, the PLM test, was used. Speed reduction through normal aging was greatest at higher ages, where the coordination deficits were also most prominent. The increased movement time in parkinsonian patients was due both to deficient simultaneous coordination of postural, locomotor and manual movement phases, and to varying increases in phase durations. It was possible to determine postural, locomotor and manual disability profiles quantitatively, in terms of the relative phase time values. The presented documentation of parkinsonian disability and single-dose effects of l-dopa indicates that the technique is applicable in the objective assessment of disability and pharmacotherapeutic efficacy. PMID- 2618596 TI - Meet the experts--antiprogestins. Proceedings of a meeting. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 27 October 1988. PMID- 2618597 TI - Prostaglandins and antiprogestins. AB - There is considerable interest in the development of a non-surgical method to terminate early pregnancy. During the three weeks immediately following the first missed menstrual period, several prostaglandin (PG) analogs such as sulprostone, gemeprost and 9-methylene PGE2 have been used to terminate the pregnancy. Prostaglandins, however, at the doses required to induce disruption of the conceptus cause gastrointestinal side effects and uterine pain which are more severe than those subsequent to vacuum aspiration. Treatment with the antiprogestin, mifepristone counteracts the effects of progesterone in pregnancy and thus prevents maintenance of the pregnancy. Mifepristone administered alone causes termination of the pregnancy in most, but not all, cases. In addition to removing the influence of progesterone, mifepristrone also induces regular uterine contractions and significantly increased the sensitivity of the uterus to PG analogs. Mifepristone (50 mg/day) followed by an intramuscular injection of a low dose, (0.25 mg), of sulprostone (approximately 1/6 of the dose of prostaglandin necessary to induce abortion if used alone) was highly effective in terminating early pregnancy, causing complete abortion in 94% of cases. Gastrointestinal side effects were rare and uterine pain significantly less common than if PG analogs were used alone. Subsequently the combination of mifepristone and vaginal administration of gemeprost (0.5-1.0 mg) has been shown to be equally effective Ideally, the PG analog would be administered orally rather than by injection or vaginal administration. Preliminary data indicate that 9-methylene PGE2 but not PEG2 may be suitable for this purpose in combination with mifepristone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618599 TI - New trends in diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. Proceedings of a meeting. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 27 October 1988. PMID- 2618598 TI - Termination of early pregnancy using mifepristone in combination with prostaglandin analogs. AB - Mifepristone, (RU 486), is an antiprogesterone which, when administered alone will terminate early pregnancy in 80% of cases. Prostaglandins at high doses have also been used to terminate pregnancy but there are often unacceptable side effects. The combined treatment of mifepristone with low doses of prostaglandin analogs appears to be an effective method for termination of pregnancy, with a high success rate and a reduction in the side effects observed with prostaglandins. PMID- 2618600 TI - Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of genital endometriosis. AB - The etiology of genital endometriosis remains unclear, but it is evident that persisting endometriotic foci are stimulated by ovarian steroid hormones. Many cases are treated by surgery either via laparotomy or pelviscopy. Endocrine treatments with testosterone, gestagens, danazol and gestrinone have also been used to some effect. Recently developed analogs of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) have demonstrated the high binding capacities of receptors involved in the down-regulation of the normal cycle which result in atrophy of the endometrium. These agents could therefore be used in the treatment of endometriosis. To date, 924 patients with pelvic endometriosis have been treated in our department with conventional endocrine therapies, 40 patients were treated with buserelin (D-Ser (Bu)6 luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone monopeptide-ethylamide), 900 micrograms/day intranasally, and 50 patients with goserelin depot, a GnRH analog of D-Ser (Bu)6- Azegly10-GnRH, with depot applications (3.6 mg per 4 weeks). The stage of development of endometriosis was determined using the endoscopic endometriosis classification prior to and after endocrine treatment. A complete check of the pelvis was carried out each time and a careful revision of the endometriotic foci undertaken. Endocrine treatment of endometriosis allowed 60% of previously sterile patients to become pregnant. Ovarian function in these patients was normal. The analogs proved to be clinically effective, safe and were well tolerated. Gestrinone proved to be the endocrine treatment of preference. PMID- 2618601 TI - Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). The results of 93 consecutive treatments. AB - Eighty-two couples were treated with gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) in 93 treatment cycles. Twenty-three clinical pregnancies resulted. Pregnancies were obtained in 40% of the cases where 5 or more ova were placed in the Fallopian tubes. In the cases where 4 or fewer ova were transferred, the pregnancy rate was 12%. Three miscarriages and one ectopic pregnancy occurred. Sixteen of the pregnancies were singleton, there were 5 twins, 1 triplet and 1 quadruplet. According to the present material, GIFT seems to represent a significant improvement in selected groups of patients. PMID- 2618603 TI - 24-hour home pad weighing test versus 1-hour ward test in the assessment of mild stress incontinence. AB - Twenty-three normal volunteers and 31 women admitted for stress or mixed incontinence underwent two 24-hour home pad weighing tests. In the patients the test result was compared with the result obtained with the 1-hour ward pad weighing test. Median pad weight gain was 4 g/24-h, with an upper 99% limit of 8 g/24 h in normal women. The median urine loss was 17 g/24-h in the patients. Eighteen (58%) patients were classified as incontinent according to the result of the 1-h ward test, versus 28 (90%) according to the result of the 24-h home test. There was no significant correlation between the result of the 1-h test and the 24-h test. In the patients, test-retest analysis showed a significant variation in the result of the 24-h test. It is concluded that the better of two 24-h home tests is more sensitive for confirmation incontinence than is one 1-h ward test. Consequently, the 24-h home test is of practical use as a screening test for incontinence. The reproducibility of the test, however, seems insufficiently satisfactory to allow of its use in comparative scientific studies. PMID- 2618602 TI - Effect of nipple stimulation on uterine activity and on plasma levels of oxytocin in full term, healthy, pregnant women. AB - The effect of nipple stimulation on uterine activity, foetal heart rate and plasma oxytocin level in healthy full term pregnant women was studied. Ten women in weeks 38-39 of pregnancy stimulated their nipples for 30 min. Nine of the ten experienced uterine contractions. One woman showed signs uterine hyperactivity (frequent contractions) and foetal heart rate decelerations. Blood samples were drawn at 15 s intervals during 5-6 contractions and oxytocin levels were measured with radioimmunoassay. Oxytocin levels rose significantly during the nipple stimulation and short bursts of oxytocin were recorded during contractions. Nipple stimulation has been used to induce labour and our data may suggest that oxytocin released in response to such stimulation is responsible for the contractions induced. PMID- 2618605 TI - Non-radical hysterectomy and the function of the lower urinary tract. I: Urodynamic quantification of changes in storage function. AB - The intermediate sequelae of non-radical abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies on the storage function of the lower urinary tract were studied by comparison of pre and postoperative urodynamic parameters. A statistically significant reduction in maximum cystometric capacity after abdominal extrafascial and vaginal hysterectomies was found, together with a decline in bladder compliance. Both findings are attributed to a decrease in the musculoelastic properties of the detrusor muscle caused by edema and surgical injury. This reduction in capacity and compliance, however, appeared to have no clinical importance. Sensory innervation remained unaltered. In general no evidence was found that hysterectomy contributed to the development of involuntary detrusor contractions and motor urge incontinence. Urethral competence, assessed by urethral pressure profilometry and urethral leakage pressure measurement, remained unaffected. No increase in stress incontinence was seen after hysterectomy. Vaginal hysterectomy appeared to influence storage function slightly more than abdominal hysterectomy did. Postoperative lower urinary tract dysfunction is for the most part determined by the preoperative urological status. PMID- 2618606 TI - Non-radical hysterectomy and the function of the lower urinary tract. II: Urodynamic quantification of changes in evacuation function. AB - The intermediate sequelae of non-radical abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies on the evacuation function of the lower urinary tract were studied by comparison of pre- and postoperative urodynamic parameters. No significant changes were observed in detrusor contractility or the contribution of abdominal straining after hysterectomy. Pressure-flow studies revealed no development towards obstructive patterns. Uroflowmetry did not demonstrate any changes in flow rates or in flow patterns. Except in one woman, no major variations were seen in residual urine volumes. There were no differences between abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies. It is concluded that lower urinary tract evacuation function remains unaltered by total hysterectomy. PMID- 2618604 TI - Mobiluncus and clue cells as predictors of PID after first-trimester abortion. AB - Women attending our Department for a first-trimester abortion were examined for the presence of Mobiluncus species. C. trachomatis or clue cells in vaginal discharge in an attempt to identify risk groups for development of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) after first-trimester abortion. A correlation was found between the presence of Mobiluncus and clue cells in vaginal discharge and the incidence of PID after first-trimester abortions. These women were also older than those in whom C. trachomatis was identified. Our study indicates that screening for C. trachomatis and clue cells in vaginal discharge will identify two different risk groups for developing PID after first-trimester abortion. PMID- 2618607 TI - Placental proteins 12 and 14 in pre-eclampsia. AB - The concentrations of circulating placental protein 12 (PP12) and placental protein 14 (PP14) were measured in 41 patients with pre-eclampsia and in 17 control subjects. The levels of PP12 were significantly elevated in patients with severe preeclampsia, whereas PP14 levels were unaffected. There was a negative correlation between the levels of both PP12 and PP14 and birthweight. PP12 and PP14 appear therefore to have different control mechanisms and, possibly, different cellular origins within the decidua. PMID- 2618608 TI - A demographic study in subgroups of women seeking help for premenstrual syndrome. AB - Eighty-two consecutive cases of women who sought help for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) at the PMS clinic, University Hospital of Umea, Sweden were studied. The presence of PMS was diagnosed by prospective daily rating of symptoms. The women also completed a modified Moos menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ)- and an Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). Two patients were excluded because of poor daily ratings. The remaining 80 women were divided after the diagnostic procedure into three groups: group I with pure PMS, group II called the premenstrual aggravation group and group III where cyclicity of symptoms could not be ascertained. Several demographic factors concerning marital status, education, employment, and previous medical, psychiatric and PMS history were studied, as well as menstrual problems per se. No significant differences between the three subgroups were found in the analysis of the demographic factors. The only difference was that the pure PMS group contained a significantly smaller number of patients with pathologically high scores for neuroticism in the EPI, together with a smaller number of patients with a psychiatric history. PMID- 2618609 TI - Sexual behavior, contraception and unintended pregnancy among young females. AB - Information about contraceptive usage and sexual experiences was sampled in 1985 86 from 16-20-year-old Danish females admitted for legally induced abortion on Funen (N = 140). In attempts to elucidate the causal relations behind undesired pregnancy among teenagers, data were in the present context compared with answers to the same questions from a representative Danish sample of sexually experienced, non-pregnant females of the same age (N = 201). Of the reference sample, 83.6% were using contraceptives at the time of the interview--mostly oral contraceptives (O.C.). Of the abortion sample, 90.7% said they had used contraception earlier in their reproductive life. Approximately one third conceived in spite of contraception (most frequently the condoms). O.C. was the contraceptive method used most recently (by 43.6%). Thus, a pause in an effective contraceptive often precedes an unintended pregnancy, pointing to the need for follow-up counselling when O.C. is prescribed to teenagers. Only the minority could state the total number of times they had experienced sexual intercourse. Significantly more females in the abortion sample were in an alliance with a male partner with whom they had regular sexual intercourse. However, they also reported a higher average number of different sexual partners, indicating an association between changing sexual relationships and undesired pregnancy. In the abortion sample significantly more pregnancies prior to the index pregnancy were reported during a corresponding period of risk of conception lasting only a few years. Taking the widespread use of contraception into account, it is possible that an increased fecundity might be a co-factor behind unsuccessful contraception. PMID- 2618610 TI - Antibody to human chorionic gonadotropin detected choriocarcinoma. AB - Persistently elevated levels of serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in women call for a tumor investigation, if pregnancy can be ruled out. We present a case of increased hCG concentrations for 1 1/2 years. Radiolabelled antibody directed against the hCG molecule indicated the source of production to be a choriocarcinoma. The patient was cured by multiagent chemotherapy. PMID- 2618611 TI - Emergency embolectomy in a patient with massive pulmonary embolism during second trimester pregnancy. AB - Emergency pulmonary embolectomy was performed successfully on a patient in her second trimester of pregnancy. The patient had severe right ventricular failure due to obstruction of 85% of the pulmonary arterial circulation. Three months after embolectomy she was delivered of a normal infant. The problem of significant but misinterpreted or overlooked clinical and electrocardiographic signs of pulmonary embolism is discussed. Thrombolytic therapy during pregnancy imposes considerable risk of bleeding with deleterious effects on both mother and fetus. In our opinion, emergency embolectomy during extracorporeal circulation is the best treatment in case of massive emboli during pregnancy. PMID- 2618612 TI - Squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva with cutaneous metastases. AB - Cutaneous metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva are extremely uncommon. A 72-year old woman had undergone vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy. The operative specimen showed tumor infiltration in the resection borders to a considerable depth. Thereafter she received radiotherapy. Seven months after the primary operation, multiple non-tender tumor metastases appeared on the lower abdomen. These metastases result from cross-section and obstruction of lymphatic channels. PMID- 2618613 TI - Hydropic degeneration resembling hydatidiform mole in tubal pregnancy. AB - This report concerns one case of tubal pregnancy in which the initial PAD indicated a hydatidiform mole. However, re-examination revealed histologically marked hydropic degeneration. This implication emphasizes the complexity of histopathological examination of placental tissue. PMID- 2618614 TI - Bilateral parametrial mature teratomas. AB - In a 21-year-old virgin suffering from increasing abdominal pain, laparotomy revealed two tumors arising from the parametria. Microscopic examination showed them to be mature teratomas. Teratomas located in the parametria have not been described in literature previously. PMID- 2618615 TI - Extramedullary solitary plasmocytoma at the uterine cervix as a cause of postcoital bleeding. AB - A 34-year-old woman with postcoital bleeding due to an extra-medullary solitary plasmocytoma at the uterine cervix is presented. The condition is very rare--only 4 cases have been described in the literature. The patient was treated with conization, and no sign of local recurrence or generalized disease appeared during a 3-year follow-up period. PMID- 2618616 TI - Uterine rupture after re-implantation of fallopian tubes. AB - Spontaneous uterine rupture in the second trimester of pregnancy with twins following a previous re-fertilization is very rare. A case of spontaneous cornual uterine rupture following re-implantation of the Fallopian tubes in a 35-year-old multigravid woman is described. The atypical clinical presentation and the findings at the operation are discussed. PMID- 2618617 TI - Testing and training of the pelvic floor muscles after childbirth. AB - In a prospective study of 83 women, two different physiotherapy methods for strengthening the pelvic floor muscles after childbirth were evaluated. The training program was carried out by the patients at home for 12 weeks, starting 8 weeks after spontaneous uneventful delivery. Forty-two women did pelvic floor exercises in accordance with the method presented by Kegel. Forty-one women used standard vaginal cones with weights increasing in 10 g stages from 20 to 100 g, to be retained in the vagina both when standing erect and moving. Pelvic floor muscle strength, defined as the weight in grams of the heaviest cone that could be retained in the vagina, was recorded before and after the 12-week training period. Training with vaginal cones produced significantly better pelvic floor muscle strength than did exercise without cones. PMID- 2618618 TI - Feto-placental blood volume in severely anemic erythroblastotic fetuses. AB - The feto-placental blood volume was studied using a hemoglobin hemodilution technique in 15 erythroblastotic fetuses at 43 intravascular transfusions. Four severely anemic fetuses (Hb 30 g/l) had significantly larger blood volumes than 11 moderately anemic fetuses (Hb 30-79 g/l), 169 +/- 37 versus 105 +/- 32 ml/kg fetal body weight (p less than 0.001). We speculate that hypovolemia might be an adaptive change to maintain an adequate hemoglobin concentration. An escape of fluid from the intra- to the extra-vascular space will probably compensate for the reduction in total red cell mass and thus slightly increase the hemoglobin concentration. Theoretically, interstitial fluid accumulation will continue until the hydrostatic pressure of the extravascular tissue balances that of the capillary. This compensatory mechanism seems to function until the hemoglobin concentration drops below, 30 g/l, at which point the blood volume will increase, suggesting a change from a hypo- to a hyper-volemic state. PMID- 2618619 TI - Computation of fertility rates following a defined reproductive risk event, by the life table method, with ectopic pregnancy used as an example. AB - We have adapted the life table for use in the observation study of subjects desirous of pregnancy following a well-defined risk event in their reproductive lives. The construction of the table is described and illustrated, with the fertility after ectopic pregnancy given as the example. PMID- 2618620 TI - Prospective counselling after prenatal diagnosis of fetal malformations: interventions and parental reactions. AB - A model of prospective counselling and intervention after prenatal diagnosis of fetal malformation is presented. 13 patients/couples with severe malformations were fully counselled, 3 patients/couples interviewed post-termination. Objectives of the counselling strategy were to support patient autonomy, facilitate mourning and reduce narcissistic damage. Counselled patients showed certain benefits concerning the acceptance of the malformation and feelings of autonomy. Integration of psychodynamic knowledge into routine care and obligatory psychotherapeutic counselling are proposed. PMID- 2618621 TI - Radical hysterectomy and the function of the lower urinary tract. Urodynamic quantification of changes in storage and evacuation function. AB - The intermediate sequelae of radical hysterectomy on the storage and evacuation function of the lower urinary tract were studied by comparison of pre- and postoperative urodynamic parameters. A modified surgical technique was employed in order to remove only the necessary part of the upper part of the vagina and paravaginal tissues. A non-significant reduction in bladder capacity and compliance was found. Urethral function remained unaltered. The most prominent finding was a significant reduction in detrusor contractility and the development of abdominal straining in order to empty the bladder. The pathophysiologic mechanisms by which lower urinary tract is changed after radical hysterectomy are a decrease in the musculo-elastic properties of the bladder wall caused by surgical injury, and partial damage to the neural innervation of the bladder. PMID- 2618622 TI - Endobrush sampling for endometrial cancer. AB - The two intra-uterine cytological sampling methods Endobrush and Pistolet were compared for clinical applicability in 66 premenopausal and 47 postmenopausal women. The taking of the specimens succeeded in 94% of the cases with the Endobrush method and in 99% with the Pistolet method. The two intra-uterine sampling methods were both almost painless. The Endobrush and the Pistolet specimens were filtered and stained by the Papanicolaou method. The Endobrush specimens were also used to make smears, which were also stained by the Pap method. According to the separate evaluations of two cytologists the Endobrush smear yielded specimens with a large or moderate number of cells in 59.0 to 71.4%, the Endobrush filter method in 73.6 to 76.5% and the Pistolet filter method in 71.4 to 76.8%. Specimens with good or moderate quality were found in 83.3%, 86.8 to 89.6% and 93.7 to 99.1%, respectively. Unsatisfactory specimens accounted for only 2.8-0.9% of the cases. All four endometrial carcinomas were placed in Pap classes 3 to 5 on the basis of the Endobrush and Pistolet filter specimens. The diagnostic quality of the smears was inferior to that of the filter specimens. The results suggest that the Endobrush filter method yields cytological endometrial samples which are similar in cell number, quality and diagnostic value to those obtained by the Pistolet method. Endobrush method is also simple, quick and painless, and therefore well acceptable to patients and suitable for clinical use. PMID- 2618623 TI - Maternal deaths related to cesarean section in Sweden, 1951-1980. AB - During the years 1951-1980 the cesarean section rate in Sweden increased from 1.7% to 11%. In connection with this procedure 103 maternal deaths were reported, of which 49% were related to age as risk factor. The overall fatality rate declined from 5.1 to 0.4 per 1,000 operations; cesarean section mortality decreased from 8.6 to 4.4 per 100,000 births. The altered age distribution amongst the parturients contributed to a decrease of 17% in mortality. Half of the deaths were attributed to the surgical procedure. During the 1970s these complications constituted a six-fold risk increase of abdominal over vaginal delivery, and complications attributed to the surgical procedure of abdominal delivery comprised 19% of the maternal mortality during the same period. PMID- 2618624 TI - Intravenous infusion of 15 methyl-prostaglandin F2 alpha (Prostinfenem) in women with heavy post-partum hemorrhage. AB - Post-partum hemorrhage is a serious complication in obstetric practice. The aim of this study was to investigate, in vivo, the effects of 15 methyl-prostaglandin F2 alpha (Prostinfenem, Upjohn, Sweden) on uterine activity and hemorrhage. Twenty-seven women were included in the study and, in accordance with our clinical routine, all were given oxytocin (10 IE Syntocinon) intramuscularly immediately after delivery. In cases of heavy bleeding and signs of uterine atony, ethylergometrine (0.2 mg Methergin) and oxytocin (40 i.e. Syntocinon in 500 ml, 5.5% glucose) were administered intravenously. If this therapy failed, the woman was given an intravenous infusion of 15-methyl-prostaglandin F2 alpha (0.25 mg Prostinfenom, in 500 ml, 5.5% glucose). Myometrial activity was quantitated in 5 women by a micro-transducer introduced into the uterine cavity. The treatment resulted in a contracted uterus and cessation of bleeding within 12.5 min (mean). The intra-uterine pressure registered a prompt effect regarding both amplitude and frequency of uterine contractions. PMID- 2618625 TI - Intravenous leiomyomatosis. AB - A case of intravenous leiomyomatosis is presented along with a review of the literature. The condition is a neoplasia of smooth muscle originating from the uterus, with vermiform extensions into veins. Although histologically benign, the clinical course can be fatal if intravenous tumor progresses to the heart. Ordinary leiomyomas of the uterus are frequently coexistent. The symptoms are usually vague. The diagnosis should be suspected when a worm-like, greyish tumor with a smooth surface is found in cut vessels or when right-sided cardiac tumors are detected. Radical excision of the uterus and ovaries, as well as of the intravenous tumor extensions is recommended. In our case the tumor extended into the vena cava. The diagnosis was incidental during nephrectomy due to hydronephrosis. Tumor tissue was positive for estrogen and progesterone cytosolic receptors. PMID- 2618626 TI - Quadruplets following cessation of clomiphene citrate. A case of sustained effect. AB - We report a case of quadruplet birth in a young oligomenorrheic woman, who had been prescribed clomiphene citrate for two consecutive cycles. She conceived following cessation of treatment and an intervening menstruation. Ultrasonic follow-up which concurred with the last menstrual period dating indicated multiple ovulation as a sustained effect of clomiphene citrate medication. PMID- 2618627 TI - Severe complication to phytomenadione after intramuscular injection in woman in labor. Case report and review of literature. AB - A 28-year-old woman in labor developed a severe anaphylactoid reaction, necessitating acute cesarean section, with subsequent neonatal death, after receiving 10 mg of phytomenadione (Konakion) by the intramuscular route. Allergologic investigations revealed no type I reaction against the drug, and the symptoms were considered to be caused by drug-induced intolerance. Prophylactic administration of phytomenadione to the infant rather than to the parturient is recommended. PMID- 2618628 TI - Age-related macular degeneration. Macular changes, prevalence and sex ratio. An epidemiological study of 1000 aged individuals. AB - An epidemiological ophthalmic investigation of 1000 individuals aged 60-80 years disclosed age-related macular degeneration (AMD), i.e. macular changes causing visual impairment in at least one eye with a prevalence of 12.2% of 924 individuals with both maculae examined. The prevalence increased with rising age for both sexes: age group 60-64 years: 2.3%, 65-69: 5.9%, 70-74: 12.1% and 75-80: 27.3%. No significant differences in prevalence rates of AMD were demonstrated between males and females in the respective age groups. About one half of the persons with AMD were affected in both eyes. No differences of AMD were found between right and left eyes. Findings of age related macular changes without visual impairment (AMCW) compared to AMD revealed far higher prevalences in the sixties and a smaller rise in the seventies (age group percentage in both sexes: 12.3, 18.0, 17.0 and 17.8%). No systematic prevalence differences were demonstrated between sexes. The collected data of AMD and AMCW might indicate a shift from AMCW to AMD in women, particularly aged 70-74 years and in men, particularly aged 75-80 years. Macular changes in total (AMD + AMCW) was found in 28.5% of the population (age group percentage 14.6, 23.8, 29.0 and 45.0%). No sex differences were found. PMID- 2618629 TI - Colour vision in a family with Sorsby's dystrophy. AB - Fraser & Wallace (1971) investigated a family with Sorsby's dystrophy, and found a high prevalence of a mild red-green colour deficiency. Using a battery of tests, I re-examined the colour vision of members of the family at risk of developing the disease. I conclude that the mild colour vision defect is classical sex linked recessive deuteranomaly occurring adventiously in the family; its high prevalence is due to its being introduced by at least 3 persons marrying into the family. Two alternative hypotheses of the colour vision deficiency are that it is an acquired disorder which is a prodromal sign of the dystrophy or that it is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. However, these hypotheses were rejected because the colour vision deficiency had the characteristics of a typical sex linked disorder. These findings emphasize that it is important to exclude any co-existing inherited colour vision defect when defining the clinical features of any retinal dystrophy by careful evaluation of unaffected family members. PMID- 2618630 TI - Long-term follow-up and the role of vitrectomy in the treatment of perforating eye injuries without intraocular foreign bodies. AB - The long-term results of 292 consecutive eyes with a perforating eye injury without an intraocular foreign body treated with or without pars plana vitrectomy are reported. With the mean follow-up time of 31.0 months 45 eyes (15%) were enucleated and another 47 eyes (16%) were blind (visual acuity less than 0.05). The retina was attached in 87% of the non-enucleated eyes. The visual outcome was considerably better in eyes with anterior segment injuries (ASI) compared to posterior segment injuries (PSI). Eyes with primary vitreous haemorrhage had poorer visual prognosis than eyes without haemorrhage. Vitrectomy improved the prognosis of the former eyes, but in the whole series the visual acuity was better in eyes in which vitrectomy was not performed (not considered indicated). Of the vitrectomized eyes, 55% in the ASI group and 25% in the PSI group received useful vision (visual acuity greater than or equal to 0.05). Excluding the very late vitrectomies, a statistically significant correlation was found between the timing of vitrectomy and the late visual outcome. PMID- 2618631 TI - Mass alteration in the lens after exposure to radiation in the 300 nm wavelength region. AB - The purpose of the present investigation was to elucidate whether radiation in the 300 nm wavelength region (300 nm UVR) induces an alteration of lens mass. Lenses from 12 rabbits were incubated in vitro and the relative wet mass gain was recorded sequentially. The wet mas gain, at 30-40 h postictal interval, was greater in lenses exposed to 3.0-6.0 kJ/m2 300 nm UVR than in non-exposed contralaterals. The coefficients of variation were between 6-10% in determinations of wet mass, dry mass, and mass of lens water in Sprague Dawley rat lenses, the variation among animals being the largest source of inprecision. One eye in each of 80 rats was exposed in vivo to 30 kJ/m2 300 nm UVR, and the rats were sacrificed in groups at consecutive postictal intervals. The in vivo exposure of a lens to 300 nm UVR induced a water accumulation after around 24 h and a reduced increase of dry mass, as compared to in the contralateral non exposed lens. PMID- 2618632 TI - Panretinal xenonphotocoagulation combined with cyclocryotherapy in the treatment of severe glaucoma. AB - In 12 eyes with glaucoma (none of them neovascular and all eyes with vision) which had proved resistant to conventional types of medicine and surgery, a panretinal xenonphotocoagulation (XPRP) reduced intraocular pressure (IOP) from an average of 30 mmHg to 20 mmHg measured 3/4 month after the treatment. After cyclocryotherapy of the 2 lower quadrants (CCR), IOP, after an initial fall, had risen to pre-treatment values after a similar interval. XPRP followed by CCR had an especially strong and lasting IOP reducing effect. The combination was less painful than CCR alone, even if both generally had to be repeated. We suggest that XPRP potentiates the damage of the secretory epithelium made by CCR, by strangling the posterior (long ciliary) blood supply of the ciliary body. IOP measured 2 1/2 years after the treatments averaged 18 mmHg (range 11-22). Phthisis did not develop in any of the eyes. PMID- 2618633 TI - Occurrence of eye disorders and need for treatment in the elderly in special dwellings and nursing homes [corrected]. AB - The prevalence of eye disorders and need for ophthalmological procedures due to pathological processes were studied among elderly people living in 8 special dwellings [corrected] and nursing homes in northern Finland (N = 268). The participation rate was 100%. Hyperopia was the most common disorder found (men: 78%, women 77-78%). Macular degeneration was found in 54-55% of men and 45-46% of women, senile cataract in 32-33% of men and 28-31% of women and palpebral dermatochalasis or blepharochalasis in 25-26% of men and 31% of women. Hyperopia was more common in younger persons, but senile cataract, macular degeneration and palpebral dermatochalasis or blepharochalasis were more common in older persons. Basic ophthalmological examinations led to a high number of secondary procedures. Ophthalmological treatment and rehabilitation seemed to be neglected in these Finnish special dwellings [corrected] and nursing homes. Because sight is an important determinant of elderly people's ability to manage their daily activities, the authors propose that more attention should be paid to the screening of ophthalmological problems and to ophthalmological treatment and rehabilitation in special dwellings and nursing homes [corrected]. PMID- 2618634 TI - The immediate pressure response to primary laser trabeculoplasty--a comparison of one- and two-stage treatment. AB - The immediate pressure response to primary LTP was studied prospectively in 40 eyes randomised to one- and two-stage treatment in 360 degrees of the trabecular meshwork. There were 26 eyes with glaucoma capsulare and 14 with glaucoma simplex. Mean prelaser IOP was 32.8 mmHg in the former, and 35.5 mmHg in the latter group. The frequency and magnitude of postlaser pressure increase were the same in both groups when taking into consideration the pressure spikes in both 180 degrees sessions. The pressure increase was higher than in earlier reports on LTP in presurgical glaucoma patients on maximum medication. Almost all IOP elevations appeared during the first 2 h following laser treatment. The results were the same in both groups 6 months after LTP. PMID- 2618635 TI - Inter-familial variability and intra-familial similarities of granular corneal dystrophy Groenouw type I with respect to biomicroscopical appearance and symptomatology. AB - 140 patients from 8 countries with granular corneal dystrophy Groenouw type I are described, and 21 slit-lamp photographs demonstrate inter-familial differences and intra-familial similarities. The clinical appearance varied from mild, with only a few granules on the cornea, to a monstrous course with an almost opaque cornea. The following diagnostic criteria are suggested for the disease, as these signs are described in extensively quoted key references and meet the descriptions in most papers on this subject: Dominant inheritance, as well as 1) typical slit-lamp appearance and/or 2) granules that stain with Masson trichrome histologically, and/or 3) rod-shaped bodies seen electron microscopically. PMID- 2618636 TI - Corneal alkali wound healing in the monkey. AB - Healing of a corneal alkali wound was followed in the monkey eye (Macaca fascicularis) for 4 months. A corneal alkali wound was inflicted in one eye in each of 30 monkeys under general anesthesia. A round filter paper, 5.5 mm in diameter, soaked in 1 N NaOH was put centrally on the cornea for 60 seconds. The alkali wounded all layers in the cornea underlying the filter paper, including the endothelium. Epithelial and endothelial healing was assessed morphometrically from photographs and micrographs, respectively. Stromal healing was documented using quantitative microradiography. During the observation period the wounds regained complete transparency. The epithelium showed few complications after primary healing during the first three days. The stroma regained normal thickness and dry mass content within one week. The endothelium resurfaced within one week and then remained intact. The role of the endothelial healing behaviour for the wound healing process is emphasized. PMID- 2618637 TI - The cell barrier effect in rabbit corneas kept under eye bank conditions. AB - The influence of endothelial cell pumping and of cell barrier functions on cultivated corneas has been studied by comparing the rate of weight increase in freeze-treated, ouabain-treated and fresh corneas. Inhibition of the endothelial cell pump activity increased the swelling rate from 0.5% of start weight per h (fresh corneas) to about 2% per h (ouabain-treated corneas), as measured after 24 h in culture medium. The cell barrier effect was estimated by comparing the swelling rate of ouabain-treated corneas after 24 h, and the swelling rate of freeze-treated corneas with the same swelling pressure. The values are 2 and 9.5% per h, respectively. The swelling rate of freeze-treated corneas with different button diameters was found to increase with decreasing corneal button diameter. PMID- 2618638 TI - Bilateral exudative retinal detachment in pregnancy. AB - A case of bilateral exudative retinal detachment associated with otherwise normal pregnancy is presented. Similar cases, but associated with toxemia of pregnancy from the literature are discussed. As far as we know, this is first reported case where bilateral exudative retinal detachment presented in a normal pregnancy and the re-attachment started promptly after a normal, spontaneous delivery. The re attachment was complete, and the visual acuity after one year was 20/20 o.u. This case supports earlier theories that hypertension is not the only cause of exudative retinal detachment during pregnancy. PMID- 2618639 TI - Retinitis punctata albescens. A family study. AB - A case report of retinitis punctata albescens in a young medical student is presented. At first, the condition was stationary with no visual problems, but after 3 years, the disease showed progression. After 9 years of follow-up, loss of visual acuity, a central scotoma, large errors in colour vision tests, much deteriorated dark adaptation, greatly diminished cone and rod responses in the electroretinogram, and progression in the myopic refraction were observed. In the family study, 71 of the relatives in four generations were examined. No signs of the disease could be found. Most probably, the disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. However, tracing the ancestors back until the year 1829 no consanguinity could be found between the families of the mother and the father of the proband. As for genetic counseling of the relatives, there is a very small probability of acquiring the disease if marriages between relatives are avoided. PMID- 2618640 TI - Fusarium moniliforme keratitis. AB - We report a case of keratomycosis from which fusarium moniliforme was isolated. After initial therapy without improvement, antifungal testing showed susceptibility to cyclopiroxolamine. After changing to this treatment the infection improved and an eventual healing took place with moderate corneal scarring. PMID- 2618641 TI - Association of hypomagnesemia with diabetic retinopathy. AB - Serum magnesium was measured in 100 patients of type II diabetes mellitus (40 without retinopathy, 40 with non-proliferative and 20 with proliferative retinopathy) without malnutrition, hepatic or renal disease or albuminuria and in 100 age and sex matched controls. The serum magnesium levels were lower in diabetics than in controls (P less than 0.001), and the levels in diabetics with non-proliferative and proliferative retinopathy were significantly lower than in those without retinopathy (P less than 0.001). These data seem to point towards an association between hypomagnesemia and diabetic retinopathy. PMID- 2618642 TI - Prevalence of refractive errors and ocular motility disorders in 5- to 10-year old Swedish children born prematurely or at full-term. AB - Knowledge of the occurrence of visual and ocular problems in children is important when eye health care systems are designed. We have studied the prevalence of ocular changes in all children born prematurely during 1976-1981 in Stockholm county and compared the findings with those obtained in a random sample of full-term children from the same period and area. PMID- 2618643 TI - Linkage relations of the locus for granular corneal dystrophy Groenouw type I with 35 polymorphic systems. AB - The paper presents preliminary results of linkage relations of the locus for granular corneal dystrophy Groenouw type I employing 35 classic genetic markers. Blood and saliva from 124 members of one family with this disorder were examined with the aim of localizing the disease to a certain chromosome. The highest lodscore was 1.04 in females at theta 0.00 to the system C1R, thus supplying a clue for continued gene-mapping investigations on the short arm of chromosome No. 12. PMID- 2618644 TI - Electrophoretic study of proteins associated with pseudo-exfoliation syndrome. AB - Lens capsule and aqueous humour from cataractous eyes with and without pseudo exfoliation syndrome have been studied by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. Four cataractous lenses with and four without pseudo-exfoliation were used. The pseudo exfoliation positive capsule revealed two polypeptides not present in the control material, and accordingly, these components were regarded to be pseudo exfoliation specific. The molecular weight of the respective polypeptides was estimated to be 14,400 and 16,300. No marked differences were found between the pseudo-exfoliation positive and negative aqueous humours. PMID- 2618645 TI - Effects of intracamerally or subconjunctivally-injected crosslinked hyaluronic acid on the intraocular pressure and on the anterior segment of the rabbit eye. PMID- 2618646 TI - [The cavernous sinus: development, anatomy, radio-anatomy and clinical implications]. AB - Cavernous sinus is an important region rich in neurological structures. Its development and its anatomy are very complex and the purpose of our work is to correlate embryology, anatomy and semiology of this region and its content. Interest of medical imaging of cavernous sinus and referred structures is enhanced. PMID- 2618647 TI - [Clinical study of surgically treated parotid tumors during 1981-1985]. AB - There is a great histologic diversity in parotid tumors. Four categories can be distinguished: pleomorphic adenoma, monomorphic adenomas, low-grade malignant tumors and high-grade malignant tumors. The most current neoplasm is the pleomorphic adenoma. The first three groups have a nearly similar clinical evolution and surgical treatment. The high-grade malignant tumors often cause a facial nerve paralysis and require a radical approach. PMID- 2618648 TI - [Sudden deafness and Behcet's disease]. AB - Behcet's disease is a multisystemic vasculitis of unknown aetiology. Generally, it is characterized by recurrent aphthous stomatitis, recurrent genital ulcers, uveitis with hypopion. Recently some authors reported that patients with Behcet's disease show frequently audio-vestibular involvement. We observed a 40 year-old man (case A) and a 66 year-old woman (case B) affected by Behcet's disease for more than 10 years, showing a sudden deafness occurring during an exacerbation of the disease. In both cases there was a sensorineural hearing-loss, unilateral or bilateral. One patient received early high-dose cortisone therapy. General symptoms and audiovestibular function, both have completely recovered. PMID- 2618649 TI - [Curietherapy of epithelioma of the external ear. A series of 140 patients]. AB - Treatment with therapy--Cesium137--of skin epithelioma of the pinna on 140 patients is reported. For some extended lesions radiotherapy was applied first. Unlike most published series a low recurrence rate was observed, less than 5%. Moreover most of these recurrences can again be treated with a new brachytherapy session. Almost no case of radionecrosis was observed. The occurrence of cervical metastatic lymph nodes still remains a problem and bears a bad prognosis. Brachytherapy of the epithelioma of the pinna has a very high percentage of cure, even for lesions up to 4 cm. Radionecrosis was never observed. PMID- 2618650 TI - [Ototopic agents]. AB - In treating ear disease every otolaryngologist is familiar with topical medications. The choice of the ideal agent for a given clinical situation may be difficult. In order to make this decision more easy, we overlook the composition of ear-drops. The most important disadvantages are ototoxicity, allergy and pain. The place of ototopical agents in otitis externa, otitis media and otomycosis is discussed. PMID- 2618651 TI - [New therapeutic prospects in acute acoustic trauma]. AB - A total of 50 young soldiers hospitalized for high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus following exposure to gun impulse noise was studied in order to ascertain the effects of two kinds of medical treatment. A first group (18 subjects) was treated for 10 consecutive days with cerebral gangliosides. In a second group (17 subjects) gangliosides were associated with subcutaneous infiltration of bupivacaine chlorhydrate (0.5%). A third group (15 subjects) was taken as control. An improvement in hearing threshold (= greater than 20 dB at 4 8 kHz) and a consistent relief of tinnitus was respectively found in 52% and 66% of the treated subjects, while hearing status and tinnitus persisted unchanged among the control group subjects. The amount of hearing improvement over the control group proved to be statistically significant, although no significant difference was demonstrated between the two kinds of medical treatment. Since therapy was initiated 5 to 21 days after acoustic trauma, these results indicate that a pharmacological treatment may be effective even in cases where diagnosis is forwarded relatively late in respect to the trauma. PMID- 2618652 TI - [Controlateral laterocervical lymph node metastasis of carcinoma of the larynx with delayed appearance]. AB - The incidence of controlateral metastatic adenopathy appearing in time was studied in a group of 117 patients. These patients were all affected by carcinoma either basically found in or solely limited to one hemilarynx. All had been treated at least three years before by either total laryngectomy or horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy with either functional or radical monolateral ipsilateral neck dissection. Controlateral metastatic adenopathy appeared in 12% of the cases and was more frequently found in vestibular carcinoma (15.3%), in patients with N1 and N3 (20%) and in cases of histologically invasive ipsilateral lymph nodes (31.8%). The following had markedly lower incidence: glottic neoplasm (3%), N0 patients (11.1%) as well as unaffected ipsilateral lymph nodes (9.5%). These observations would suggest a more limited use of bilateral laterocervical lymph node dissection in lateralized N0 laryngeal carcinoma. PMID- 2618653 TI - [Nasosinus tumors: the problem of orbital invasion]. AB - Neoplasms of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses constitute less than 1% of all malignant tumors and account for 3% of those within the E.N.T. field. The course of said pathologies is characterized by scant lymph node metastases and by a marked tendency toward local evolution. Since symptoms are not particularly specific diagnosis is normally arrived at late (approximately 6 months after the first symptoms) when the disease is already in an advanced stage. The orbital area and its contents are quite difficult to study both from a clinical point of view and in terms of testing methodology. Orbital symptoms exist at onset in from 25-30% of the cases. On the other hand, when evaluated upon surgery, orbital invasion is encountered in 40% of the patients. Unfortunately radiology is not always able to provide all the information a surgeon requires in order to establish the proper approach. Although CT is able to provide information regarding extension of the lesion to the soft parts it is not equally able to confidently diagnose initial infiltrations into the bony walls of the orbita. A sampling of 31 patients with tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses was studied. All subjects underwent careful radiological examination and were treated with a combination of surgery and radiotherapy. Upon clinical examination orbital invasion was suspected for 50% of the cases. Only in 40% of the cases did radiology confirm this while in 60% it was confirmed by surgery. It is worth noting that during surgery only half of the cases of such invasion were deemed as requiring orbitectomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618654 TI - [Interleukin-2 and LAK cells in the local immunotherapy of tumors of the head and neck: an experimental model]. AB - A xenograft model of local adoptive immunotherapy would be useful in evaluating the therapeutic effects both cytokines with and without added effector cells have on human head and neck tumors implanted into nude mice. Human squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck lend themselves to local intervention and, since conventional radio- and/or chemotherapy often fail to arrest tumor growth, new therapeutic modalities, including immunotherapy, must be considered and local immunotherapy may have the advantage of minimal side effects. In the present study the ability of local adoptive immunotherapy with human lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAKc) and recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) to inhibit the growth of established squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck was evaluated in nude mice. The model was established by subcutaneous injections of in vitro maintained tumor cells into the flank splenectomized animals pretreated with cyclophosphamide and anti-asialo GM1. The line used was tumorigenic in 95% of the nude mice and neither metastasized nor killed the animals. The local daily administration of IL-2 to the tumor site for two weeks resulted in a significant inhibition of tumor growth. Complete inhibition of tumor growth was achieved with three times weekly injections of 5 to 10 x 10(6) LAKc delivered to the tumor site and 1000 U of IL-2 administered locally every day for two weeks. The data obtained indicate that local adoptive immunotherapy with IL-2 and an adequate dose of LAKc may be effective in preventing the in vivo growth of established squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. PMID- 2618655 TI - [Immunologic study of patients with chronic pharyngitis]. AB - The immunological status of 20 patients with chronic pharyngitis was studied. In 55% an increase of the T suppressor population was present while an inversion of T4/T8 ratio have a statistical significance compared with the control group (p = 0.029 and p = 0.003 respectively). The conclusion is drawn that an immunodeficiency is present in such patients and that treatment with immunostimulation drugs is justified. PMID- 2618656 TI - [Surgical principles in the correction of loop ears]. AB - After listing the deformities which may be found in loop ears, a surgical technique for the correction of such deformities is presented. This technique is based on elements taken from several forms of surgery which, together with a small personal contribution, make it possible to totally correct such deformities, achieving excellent esthetic results. To reconstruct the anthelix an anterior surgical incision is made below the helix. The cartilage between the helix and the scafa is likewise interrupted thus preventing the helix from also bending along with the anthelix. When necessary the cartilage is resected in order to modify the diameter of the auricle. Exposing the anthelix cartilage makes it possible to optimize reconstruction of the anthelix body and crus. After only a few weeks the scar on the anterior helix sulcus proves unnoticeable. The one objection which may be made in this regard is that there is a scar in the anterior sulcus of the helix which, using another means of approach, may be avoided (especially in surgery were esthetic results must be optimal). The authors feel that the results obtained with this method are superior to those achieved with other methods (as they themselves had used in the past) and that the scar proves well hidden in the helix sulcus. In order to correct dislocation and hypertrophy of the conch, if present, a posterior retroauricular approach is employed. The conch is reduced as much as necessary, the ear brought closer to the mastoid and held in place with sutures knotted on oiled gauze inside the conch.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618657 TI - [Computerized rhinomanometry in legal medicine]. AB - The medico-legal evaluation of the damage deriving from nasal respiratory function handicap is based on anamnestic data and rhinoscopic findings. These parameters can actually be integrated by means of functional parameters obtained by rhinomanometry. Today such a method is reliable and well standardized. The possibility of obtaining some nasal function parameters by objective methodology is highly useful in clinical and forensic medicine. In the present work the mean values obtained from total nasal resistance testing have been matched with those referring to the single nasal cavity by submitting two groups to automated rhinomanometry: one of subjects with normal rhinoscopy, the other of subjects showing nasal stenosis. Each test was performed by submitting the patient to thirty minutes of acclimatization. The patient was sitting with a mask suitably hooked up to the rhinomanometer which was, in turn, interfaced to a P.C. by means of an original acquisition system. The preliminary calibration was automatically made once a day. If calibration was incorrect the program impeded data recording. On the basis of the obtained data an attempt was made to identify a nasal resistance value which could be considered as a threshold; a dividing line between normal and stenosis values. Analyzing the obtained parameters it was rather found that a band of intermediate values lay between certain nasal perviousness and "heavy" stenosis. In this manner it was possible to define the total and unilateral nasal resistance values below which ventilatory function is always normal as well as a value above which the resistance values of stenosis are significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618658 TI - Thymic lymphomas induced by N-propyl-N-nitrosourea (PNU) in the BUF/Mna rat, an inbred strain with a high incidence of spontaneous thymoma. AB - N-Propyl-N-nitrosourea (PNU) is known to be a strong leukemogen, inducing myelogenous leukemia or thymic lymphoma in some strains of rat. The thymic lymphomagenic effect of PNU has been demonstrated in F344 rats. On the other hand, the BUF/Mna rat has been established as an inbred strain that develops spontaneous thymomas after one year of age. In the present experiment, PNU was continuously administered in drinking water to male and female BUF/Mna rats starting at 5 weeks of age. Thymic lymphomas were induced in all PNU-treated rats with an average latent period as short as 14 experimental weeks. These results show the high susceptibility of the BUF/Mna rat to the lymphomagenic activity of PNU. The BUF/Mna rat is an ideal strain for studies on epithelial cell-lymphocyte interaction, not only in the development of thymic lymphomas but also in that of spontaneous thymoma. Karyotypes of twelve primary thymic lymphomas induced by PNU were analyzed for chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosomal abnormalities were often found in chromosomes 11 and 2. In some types of abnormality, dup (11q) and del(2q) were most frequently observed. In addition, trisomy of chromosome 7, on which the c-myc gene is mapped, was observed in five lymphomas, and monosomy of chromosomes 20 and X in six and five cases, respectively, though these changes were generally observed in a minor cell population in each case. PMID- 2618659 TI - Morphometrical and cell kinetic studies of normal human colorectal mucosa. Comparison between the proximal and the distal large intestine. AB - Morphometric and cell kinetic studies were performed on normal mucosa in 30 specimens of surgically resected colorectum. The average crypt length was 372 +/- 57 microns in the proximal colon and 506 +/- 65 microns in the distal colon, and the average cell numbers per crypt column in these regions were 76.4 +/- 8.9 and 80.3 +/- 8.8, respectively. In the proximal and distal colon, goblet cells constituted 23.3 +/- 3.4% and 25.2 +/- 4.0%, respectively, of the total cells in each crypt, and in both regions entero-chromaffin cells constituted about 1%. The labeling indices of the proximal and distal colon were 9.4 +/- 3.9% and 8.2 +/- 2.2%, respectively. Combined microautoradiography and periodic acid-Schiff reaction on selected cases revealed that the labeling indices of columnar cells and goblet cells were 11.0 +/- 2.0% and 7.0 +/- 3.2%, respectively. It was suggested that the increased number of larger goblet cells in crypts of the sigmoid colon and rectum resulted in an increase of crypt length and a decrease in the labeling index. These results provide information on the morphological and cell kinetic characteristics of normal mucosa of the colon and rectum. PMID- 2618660 TI - Renal adenoma. Clinicopathological and histochemical studies. AB - We report the results of clinicopathological and histochemical studies on 64 renal adenomas found in 22 patients. We selected typical renal adenomas for these studies, discarding borderline lesions. The ages of the patients ranged from 42 to 84 years, with an average of 61 years. Male to female sex ratio was 6.3:1. The background conditions included renal cell carcinoma, long-term dialysis, chronic glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, hydronephrosis and polycystic kidney. The sizes of the tumors ranged from 0.1 to 2.3 mm in maximum diameter, with an average of 0.9 mm. All the tumors were located in the cortex, especially in the superficial one-third. The cytoplasm of the tumor cells was predominantly eosinophilic, and the tumor structure was predominantly papillary. Histochemical study of 19 adenomas from 13 patients demonstrated that all of the adenomas from 13 patients demonstrated that all of the adenomas were positive for EMA, and for at least one marker of the distal tubulus, i.e., DBA, PNA, SBA and PKK1, and that 9 adenomas were positive for at least one marker of the proximal tubulus, i.e., LM1 and LTA. Renal adenomas had predominant histochemical features of the distal tubulus, suggesting differentiation to a distal tubulus-like histology. PMID- 2618661 TI - Malignant spindle cell tumor of the pericardium. Evidence of sarcomatous mesothelioma with aberrant antigen expression. AB - A case of malignant spindle cell tumor occurring in the pericardium is presented. The tumor arose from the pericardium of a 51-year-old Japanese woman with no history of exposure to asbestos. The tumor extended into the pericardial and left pleural cavities. The primary and metastatic tumors consisted of fusiform cells with frequent mitoses. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells possessed a discontinuous external lamina, cytoplasmic processes, microfilaments and desmosomal intercellular junctions. Immunohistochemical examination showed that most tumor cells were positive for Leu 7, and several for S-100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Unexpectedly, most of the tumor cells also expressed keratin. These findings favor a diagnosis of sarcomatous mesothelioma with aberrant antigenic expression or heterogeneous differentiation of neoplastic cells. PMID- 2618662 TI - [Effects of arginine aspirin on changes in effective refractory period and ventricular fibrillation threshold of ischemic myocardium in rabbit]. AB - The effects of arginine aspirin (AAs) on the effective refractory period (ERP) and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) of ischemic ventricular muscle were observed in 24 anesthetized open-chest rabbits. that the platelet aggregation rate was shown to be increased by 11 +/- 5%, and VFT decreased by 24 +/- 3 mA at 50 min after coronary occlusion. Compared with values at 10 min postocclusion, ERP of ventricular muscle in border ischemic zone (BIZ) and central ischemic zone (CIZ) was shortened by 20 +/- 10% and prolonged by 35 +/- 22 ms, respectively, and dispersions of ERP between CIZ and BIZ were increased by 52 +/- 17 ms, compared with control values, (p less than 0.01). By giving an intravenous injection of AAs at 0.5 h before coronary occlusion, changes in parameters as mentioned above were obviously relieved as compared with the same parameters in the group of simple coronary occlusion at 50 min postocclusion, (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that AAs may inhibit platelet aggregation, reduce dispersions of ERP and elevate VFT after coronary occlusion. PMID- 2618663 TI - [NMR identification and stereoisomeric purity determination of HM-PAO diastereoisomers]. AB - 1H and 13C NMR spectra of d,l- and meso-HM-PAO in different solvents were studied at different resonance frequencies. The 1HNMR spectra of two diastereoisomers are the same in dimethyl sulfoxide and acetone, but different in chloroform. The 13C NMR spectra are different in dimethyl sulfoxide and chloroform. The different 1H and 13C NMR spectra can be used to identify and differentiate these two diastereoisomers. It is also shown that the d,l-HM-PAO stereoisomeric purity in a mixture of these two isomeric forms can be determined with sufficient accuracy by using 13C peak areas or heights of their C(5) and C(7) in a routine noise decoupling 13C spectrum of the mixture. PMID- 2618664 TI - [Studies on antipeptic ulcer agents: the synthesis and structure-activity relationship analysis of heterocycle aldehyde (thio) semicarbazones and acyl hydrazones]. AB - Twenty-eight condensation products of heterocycle-alpha-carboaldehydes with N aminooxazolidones, semicarbazides, thiosemicarbazides, aminoguanidines, aromatic hydrazides and benzoxycarbonyl hydrazide were synthesized so as to deduce the antiulcer pharmacophore or fragment of furazolidone(I), the prototype, which shows therapeutic efficacy for patients with gastric ulcer. Analysis of the SAR of the compounds indicate that the substitution of furan, thiophene, pyrrole and N-methyl pyrrole rings for the 5-nitrofuran and the cleavage of the oxazolidone ring obtain the activity to some extent. The necessary electronic density of carbonyl group of compounds is of importance. A lead structure, therefore, is derived for further optimization. PMID- 2618665 TI - [Studies on antibacterial constituents from Gerbera anandria (L.) Sch Bip. IV]. AB - Thirteen compounds have been isolated from Gerbera anandria (L.) Sch Bip. Among them, three new compounds were elucidated by chemical correlations and spectral analyses. They are 3.8-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-coumarin (XIX), 3,8-dihydroxy-4 methoxy-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-5-carboxylic acid (XVII), and 5,8-dihydroxy-7-(4 hydroxy-5-methyl-coumarin-3-)coumarin (XXI). PMID- 2618666 TI - [Studies on the chemical constituents of Liriope spicata Lour (Thunb), var. prolifera Y.T. Ma]. AB - From the methanol extract of the roots of Liriope spicata Lour (Thunb) var. prolifera Y.T. Ma (Liliaceae) cultivated in Hubei province (China) four steroidal glycorides, tentatively named glycoside I, II, III and IV, were isolated. On the basis of chemical evidences, IR, EI-MS, FAB-MS, 1HNMR and 13CNMR analysis, structures of these glycosides were elucidated and identified as beta sitosterol(major) and stigmasterol(minor)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (glycoside I), 25(S)-ruscogenin 1-O-beta-D-fucopyranosido-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (glycoside II), 25(S)-ruscogenin 1-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1----2)-beta-D xylopyranoside (glycoside III) and 25(S)-ruscogenin 1-O-[alpha-L rhamnopyranosyl(1----2)] [beta-D-xylopyra-nosyl(1----3)]-beta-D-fucopyranoside (glycoside IV), in which both glycoside III and glycoside IV are new steroidal saponins. PMID- 2618667 TI - Coulometric titration of total flavonoids in Sophora japonica L. AB - A method for the determination of total flavonoids in Sophora japonica L. by coulometric titration was developed. The titration was carried out in a mixture of 1 mol/L KBr--2 mol/L HCl (1:1) and bromine was generated at the anode, rutin reacted with two moles of bromine with an n value of 4. The advantages of this method are simple and rapid, it can be used to analyze small amount of sample. PMID- 2618668 TI - [Solid phase clean up and determination of theophylline in plasma by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography]. AB - Theophylline is the drug of choice in the prevention and treatment of asthmatic symptoms. A plasma sample clean up procedure using alumina solid phase to eliminate the interference of plasma impurities and some other drugs and a RP HPLC method to determine plasma theophylline concentration were developed. The system used a Zorbax-C18 (5 microns) column. The mobile phase consists of a mixture of methanol and sodium acetate (50:50) buffer (pH 3.0). Detection at a wavelength of 254 nm showed no interfering peaks. Caffeine was used as an internal standard. The clean up procedure is simple, rapid and satisfactory. The detection limit of theophylline is 0.2 ng (R/N, 3:1), the minimal detectable concentration of theophylline in plasma is 20 ng/ml. Calibration curve is linear (r = 0.9995) in the concentration range of 4 micrograms/ml to 30/micrograms/ml. Within-day precision and day-to-day precision (CV) were 1.89% and 2.41% respectively. The average recovery of the method is 98.44 +/- 0.89%. PMID- 2618669 TI - [UV-spectrophotometric analysis of the component of antondin injection by the Monte Carlo method of area fitting]. AB - The Monte Carlo method is a kind of unique calculation method. It can resolve not only the question of define evaluation, but also that of random evaluation. The Monte Carlo area fitting method was applied to UV-spectrophotometry of the multicomponent complex preparations without previous separation. The area of each component of complex preparation within a suitable wavelength range of standard spectrogram was multiplied by certain coefficients, and then the products were obtained to fit the area of the measured multicomponent complex preparations. The method was used to simultaneous determination of barbital, amidopyrine and antipyrine in antondin injection. The experimental data were measured and treated by UV-190 spectrophotometer and microcomputer IBM-PC. The average recoveries of barbital, amidopyrine and antipyrine were 99.1 +/- 1.1% (CV), 99.6 +/- 1.3% (CV), and 99.7 +/- 1.0% (CV), respectively. PMID- 2618670 TI - [Preparation and dissolution study of daidzein-PVP coprecipitates]. AB - Daidzein-PVP coprecipitates were preparated by solvent evaporation method. X-ray diffraction and microscope studies indicated that the ratio of PVP should be up to 1:5 (daidzein:PVP) to form the coprecipitates. Dissolution test, in vitro, indicated that the percent of dissolved daidzein increased remarkably by coprecipitation. The tablets made of the coprecipitates with some excipients released daidzein rapidly. Near complete release (90%) was obtained in about one hour when tested in water or simulated intestinal liquid. PMID- 2618671 TI - [Observation on the distribution of [14C] AT-1902 in mice]. AB - Distribution of [14C] AT-1902 in mice was studied by means of whole body autoradiography. After [14C] AT-1902 was injected im to mice, radioactivity was rapidly taken up by various organs. The highest radioactivity was found in kidneys, then the liver, lung, tumor and skin etc. Lowest radioactivity was found in brain. It is suggested that [14C] AT-1902 may be excreted through the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. PMID- 2618672 TI - [Studies on the chemical constituents of Piper macropodum C.DC]. AB - Piper macropodum is used in Chinese folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, toothache, epilepsy and stomach ache. From the ethanolic extract of the viny stem of this plant five components were isolated, a new compound and four known compounds. On the basis of spectroscopic analysis (IR, UV, MS, 1HNMR and 13CNMR) the structure of this new compound was elucidated as (2E,4E)-N isobutyl-2,4-icosadienamide (I). The other four compounds were identified as piperine (II), piperyline (III), daucosterol (IV) and beta-sitosterol (V). All of them were isolated from this species for the first time. PMID- 2618673 TI - [Studies on the stability of procaine coated wire selective electrode]. AB - This paper discusses the reasons why the stability of procaine coated wire electrode is bad. A coated wire electrode was made by coating polyvinyl alcohol (containing procaine hydrochloride) on Ag-AgCl wire followed by covering with PVC membrane. This electrode show to have fine response performance, the stability is also improved greatly. PMID- 2618674 TI - [Determination of isosorbide dinitrate and its degradation products in pharmaceuticals by gradient RP-HPLC]. AB - Isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) and its degradation products isosorbide-5-mononitrate (5-ISMN) and isosorbide-2-mononitrate (2-ISMN), in a spray formulation were separated and determined by step gradient RP-HPLC within 8 minutes. A Shimadzu LC 4A liquid chromatograph, Nucleosil C18 5 microns 150 X 4.6 mm (ID) column, SPD 2AS spectrophotometric detector at 220 nm with variable attenuation were used, the sensitivity was kept at 0.16 AUFS in the first 4.5 min and changed to 2.56 AUFS during 4.5-12 min. Solution A (70% methanol) and solution B (5% methanol) were employed as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min in gradient elution. Good results could be obtained by CR 3A data module using external standard method. The recoveries were 98.20% (ISDN), 96.92% (5-ISMN) and 95.83% (2-ISMN) and the coefficients of correlation were 0.9990 (ISDN), and 0.9994 (5-ISMN and 2 ISMN). PMID- 2618675 TI - [The selective cytotoxicity of monoclonal antibody conjugated with mitomycin C on human gastric cancer cells]. AB - The murine monoclonal antibody (MoAb)3H11 against human gastric cancer was purified with affinity column and conjugated with Mitomycin C (MMC). The binding activity of MoAb in the conjugate retained more than 90% of the original MoAb 3H11 when the molar ratios of MMC to 3H11 was 7-8:1. The killing rate of 3H11-MMC conjugate on human gastric cancer cells BGC 823 was increased significantly than that of free MMC in vitro. The selective cytotoxicity was verified with the following results: (1) the cytotoxicity of the conjugate was much higher than that of normal mouse IgG (nMuIgG) conjugated with MMC; (2) when breast cancer cells MCF-7 was used as target cells instead of BGC 823 cells, much lower cytotoxicity of the conjugate was observed; (3) the cytotoxicity of the conjugate on BGC823 cells could be blocked when the target cells was preincubated with MoAb 3H11, but not with MoAb 3G9 which did combine with BGC823 cells at binding sites different from MoAb 3H11. Nude mice were inoculated with BGC823 cells as a model of gastric cancer and treated with conjugate 3H11-MMC, nMuIgG-MMC, MMC or PBS (ip). It was shown that the time of tumor formation and the rate of tumor growth in 3H11-MMC conjugate treated animals were significantly different from that in control groups. The rate of inhibition of tumor weights was 60.4% for the conjugate 3H11-MMC treated group which was significantly higher than for other groups. PMID- 2618676 TI - [Effects of glycyrrhiza flavonoid on lipid peroxidation and active oxygen radicals]. AB - The antiperoxidant activity of glycyrrhiza flavonoid (FG) was studied by using colorimetric estimation of lipid peroxide (MDA) formation. The scavenging effects of FG on O2-. and OH. was investigated by using chemiluminescence method and spin trapping technique in different systems. The results were as follows: FG 2.8-25 micrograms/ml effectively inhibited MDA formation induced by incubating mice liver homogenate at 37 degrees C for 1 h; FG 0.265-26.5 micrograms/ml or 2.58-258 micrograms/ml was shown to markedly scavenge O2-. in alkaline/DMSO or xanthine/xanthine oxidase systems, respectively in a concentration-dependent manner. FG 144 micrograms/ml or 258 micrograms/ml also significantly scavenged the active oxygen radicals produced by PMN stimulation with PMA or OH. produced in Fenton's reaction respectively. The results suggest that FG may be used as an antioxidant. PMID- 2618677 TI - [The pharmacokinetics of a transdermal preparation of artesunate in mice and rabbits]. AB - Qinghaosu, also known as artemisinin and arteannuin, is a new type of antimalarial drug isolated from Artemisa annua L. Its low solubility in water and oil limited its widespread clinical use. Artesunate (sodium dihydroqinghaosu hydrogen hemisuccinate monoester) is easily soluble in water and is used iv in the treatment of acute cerebral and malignant malaria. However, artesunate was shown to have a very short half-life when given iv in animals as well as in human beings. A transdermal dosage form of artesunic acid had been prepared and was reported to have reliable suppressing and killing effects on plasmobium berghei in mice. This paper reports results of pharmacokinetic studies of this preparation when applied onto a fixed area of the shaved skin of mice and rabbits. Serum concentration of the drug was determined by a method of radioimmunoassay. The drug was found to be easily absorbed from the skin. The serum concentration-time curve is depicted in figures 1. Peak concentration of 1.8 micrograms/ml was reached at about 2 h when a dose of 25 mg/kg was given to rabbits. For mice, peak serum concentrations of 2.05 and 7.11 micrograms/ml were attained in about 0.5 h after doses of 31.3 and 71.4 mg/kg, respectively, while at a dose of 6.7 mg/kg a peak level of 0.82 micrograms/ml (a concentration more than 5000 times the IC50 of artesunate in in vitro tests on plasmodium berghei for antimalarial activity) was attained at about 4 h after application of the drug. The half-lives of the drug were found to be more than 2 h for both mice and rabbits. PMID- 2618678 TI - [Synthesis and photodynamic action of porphyrin-cholesterol ester and their metal complexes]. AB - The synthesis of cholesterol-porphyrin and their metal complexes are reported. The cytotoxicity to cancer cell on exposure to light is also described. PMID- 2618679 TI - [Studies on antipeptic ulcer agents: the synthesis and QSAR analysis of heterocycle aldehyde N4-substituted phenyl(thio)semicarbazones]. AB - Forty-five condensation products of furan-, pyrrole-, and N-methyl pyrrole-alpha carboaldehyde with N4-3-or 4-substituted phenyl semicarbazides and thiosemicarbazides were designed and synthesized to optimize the antiulcer activity. Quantitative structure-activity relationships reveal that in the series of semicarbazones increase in hydrophobicity of molecules and introduction of electron-repelling groups onto the phenyl ring raise the antiulcer activity; Generally, the activity of semicarbazones is higher than that of the corresponding thiosemicarbazones. The large spans between activity and toxicity of compounds No. 17 and 30 led to further investigation of pharmacological actions. PMID- 2618680 TI - [Studies on antifertility constituents of Siegesbeckia glabrescens Mak]. AB - Three diterpenes including a new compound were isolated from the whole plant of Siegesbeckia glabrescens Mak. The new one was named as neodarutoside and its structure was elucidated as ent-3 alpha, 15,16-trihydroxy pimarane 3,15-bis-(beta glucopyranoside) based on the spectral evidence and chemical transformation. The other two were darutigenol and darutoside. Darutoside possesses the activity of termination of early pregnancy in experimental rats at a dosage of 20-40 mg/kg. PMID- 2618681 TI - [Studies on the structure of a new isocoumarin glucoside of the root sprouts of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb]. AB - Trans-p-hydroxycinnamic esters VI and an isocoumarin glucoside VII were isolated from the benzene and acetone extracts of the root sprouts of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. On the basis of physicochemical properties, spectral data (UV, IR, NMR, MS, CI-MS-MS), GC and chemical degradation, VI was elucidated as trans-p hybroxycinnamic esters of n-C22, n-C24-32, n-C34, alcohols, VII was elucidated as agrimonolide-6-Q-beta-D-glucopyranoside. VII and trans-p-hydroxycinnamic esters of n-C29-32 and n-C34 alcohols are new compounds. PMID- 2618682 TI - [Method of optimization of the solvent system for thin layer chromatography]. AB - In this article, we analyzed 81 usual solvents with Fuzzy group analytical method by a computer at first, and selected 20 better solvents for TLC. Then optimized the solvent system for TLC by means of uniform design test and optimization method--simplex method. We also worked out a modified chromatographic optimization function. This systematized method has been shown to be effective and practical in our experiments. It is not only fit to TLC, but also fit to paper chromatography and liquid chromatography. So far, no similar report has been found in the literature. PMID- 2618683 TI - [Retention index of essential oil in temperature-programmed capillary column gas chromatography]. AB - Kovats retention indexes of more than 200 kinds of natural and synthetic compounds of alcohol, aldehyde, acetal, ketone, ether, alkene, nitrile, carboxylic acid, ester, etc. were determined on polar liquid phase (DB-WAX) and nonpolar liquid phase (DB-1) by linear temperature-program capillary column gas chromatography. Some rules of part of the homologous series of compounds were summed up from the retention indexes: the rules of RI vs carbon, RI vs boiling point and RI on two columns. In order to keep the retention indexes practical, effects of initial temperature (T0), program rate (r) and average linear carrier gas velocity (u), etc. on the retention indexes were investigated. The conclusion is that the retention indexes are highly reproducible so long as the program parameters change in a certain range. Two kinds of essences, Meigui and Linglan, were identified successfully on IBM-PC/XT microcomputer by the Data Base Management System of essential oil and essence by capillary column gas chromatography and the results are satisfactory. PMID- 2618684 TI - [P-matrix spectrophotometric determination of 6 components contained in compound reserpine tablets]. AB - P-matrix method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, chlordiazepoxide, dihydralazins sulfate, promethazine hydrochloride and hydrochlorothiazide contained in compound reserpine tablets consisting of 10 components. The optimal wave-length for measurement was successfully selected based on the principle of condition number. The influence of experimental error, number of wavelength and condition number deviation of component concentration from formula were discussed. The average recoveries varied from 97-103% with CV less than or equal to 9.5% (n = 11). PMID- 2618685 TI - [The dissolution rate and physical dispersion state of preparations of biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB)]. AB - DDB is poorly soluble in water. The solid dispersions of DDB with easily soluble carriers such as polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and urea were prepared by melting and solvent methods. The two DDB-PEG 6000 systems are thermodynamically stable interstitial solid solutions. The DDB-PVP system is an amorphous precipitate and the DDB-urea system is a simple eutectic physical mixture judged by X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis methods. The dissolution rate of DDB-PEG 6000 pilule and two kinds of DDB tablets were determined. The dissolution rate of DDB-PEG 6000 pilule was found to be faster. The physical dispersion state is an important factor in relation to the dissolution rate of DDB preparations. PMID- 2618686 TI - [Quality evaluation of twelve species of Chinese Ephedra (ma huang)]. AB - The contents of six Ephedra alkaloids, namely ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, methylephedrine and methyl-pseudoephedrine, in 12 species of Chinese Ephedra collected in 24 districts were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Zorbax CN column (25 cm x 4.6 mm I.D.) was used and the temperature of column oven was 23-25 degrees C. Dibutylamine phosphate solution 0.0009 mol/L (pH 2.2) was used as the mobile phase at flow rates: 0.8 ml/min for the first 7 minutes, raised to 1.5 ml/min in 30 sec and maintained for 16 minutes. The alkaloids eluted were detected at wave-length 210 nm. The results showed that ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are the main components in these Ephedra herbs, but the contents of the six Ephedra alkaloids vary greatly with the plant species. The contents of total alkaloids are higher and ephedrine is the main component in samples derived from Ephedra sinica, E. equisetina, E. monosperma and E. intermedia var. tibetica; but in E. intermedia and E. lomatolepis, the content of pseudoephedrine is higher than that of ephedrine. Methylephedrine content is higher in E. intermedia var. tibetica produced in Xizang (Tibet) and in E. sinica produced in north-eastern China than that in other species. The results also showed that the samples derived from E. przewalskii and E. lepidosperma contain so little alkaloids (less than 0.1%) that they are considered not suitable to be used as the drug Ma Huang. It is of interest that the cultivated Ephedra sinica showed lower alkaloids content compared with that growing wild. PMID- 2618687 TI - [A new minor saponin from the leaves of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer]. AB - Two minor compounds isolated from the leaves of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer were characterized as 20(R)-protopanaxadiol (I) and 3 beta, 6 alpha, 12 beta trihydroxydammar-20 (22), 24-diene-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl-(1----2)-beta-D glucopyranoside (II) on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical evidences. I was isolated for the first time from the leaves; II was shown to be a new saponin and was named as ginsenoside-Rg4. PMID- 2618688 TI - [The effect of vanillin on the fully amygdala-kindled seizures in the rat]. AB - The anticonvulsive action of vanillin, an antiepileptic agent structurally related to vanillyl alcohol isolated from Gastrodia elata Blume, on the fully amygdala-kindled seizures was investigated. Fully kindled seizures were produced by repeated application of low intensity electrical stimulation to the basolateral amygdala once per day. Fifteen consecutive stimulations were needed to reach the first stage 5 seizures at which animals showed behavioral convulsions and electroencephalographic abnormalities. The stage 5 seizures were suppressed by vanillin ip 1 h before stimulation with the ED50 of 286 mg/kg. Meanwhile, the epileptic afterdischarge duration was significantly shortened. Phenytoin at a nontoxic dose 50 mg/kg ip obviously reduced the stage 5 seizures. The present study provides a very useful experimental model of chronic epilepsy to detect anticonvulsants. PMID- 2618689 TI - [The subcellular distribution and covalent binding of 3H-(+) and 3H-(-) gossypol in the main tissues of rats]. AB - The total and covalently bound radioactivity in various subcellular components in the main tissues of rats was measured 7 and 18 days after a single intraperitoneal and intratesticular injection of 3H-(+) and 3H-(-) gossypol. An increasing tendency of covalently bound radioactivity with time in the myocardial mitochondria and testicular cell membrane and microsomes of rats treated with (+) or (-) gossypol was found, especially in (-) gossypol treated rats. It remains to be clarified whether these are linked to the myocardial toxicity and to the antispermatogenic activity of gossypol. PMID- 2618690 TI - [Synthesis of antiviral agents acyclic nucleo-sides of 4-substituted pyrrolo [2,3 d] pyrimidine]. AB - Naturally occurring nucleosides of pyrrolo [2,3-d] pyrimidine, tubercidin, sangivamycin and toyocamycin were known as antibodies not only for their potent antitumor activity but also for their significant antiviral effects. However, none of them was developed to be a useful drug due to their high toxicity. In order to reduce the toxicity of this kind of compounds and reveal the relationship between structure and biological activity, a series of acyclic analogues of tubercidin with varied 4-substituted amino groups were synthesized. 4-chlor-pyrrolo (2,3-d) pyrimidin was used as starting material which reacted with 1,3-dibenzyloxy-glycerol-2-chloro-methylether by direct sodium salt glycosylation procedure provided the key intermediate (IX). After hydrogenation, amination of compound IX gave the final free hydroxy products. All the compounds were tested in vitro against HSV-1 and Cox B6. Only three of them (XI6, XI7, XI9) showed certain activities against Cox B6. PMID- 2618691 TI - [Synthesis and antifertility actions of gossypol derivatives and phenol aldehydes]. AB - A series of trihydroxynaphthaldehydes, polyhydroxybiphenol-asdehydes, polyhydroxybinaphthyl aldehydes and some gossypol derivatives were synthesized for antifertility experimental studies. PMID- 2618692 TI - [Synthesis of 7-(1,7-disubstituted-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-1,8-naphthyridine-3 carboxamido) -cephalosporins]. AB - A series of new 7-(1, 7-disubstituted-1, 4-dihydro-4-oxo-1, 8-naphthyridine-3 carboxamido)-cephalosporins has been prepared by acylation of the 7-amino group of 7-ADCA, 7-ACA, 7-ACT and 7-ACD with 1, 7-disubstituted-1, 4-dihydro-4-oxo-1,8 naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acid. Mixed carboxylic-carbonic anhydride method was adopted in the reactions. Isolation and purification were fulfilled with Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and centrifugal-TLC technique. Twenty four new cephalosporin derivatives were synthesized. Their structures have been confirmed by elemental analysis, IR and 1HNMR. In preliminary In vitro antibacterial sensitivity tests, most of these new derivatives were found to show good sensitivity to Gram-positive bacteria. Bacteriostasis were also observed for some Gram-negative bacteria. PMID- 2618693 TI - [Coetsoidin A, a new diterpenoid from Rabdosia coetsoides C. Y. Wu]. AB - From the leaves of Rabdosia coetsoides C. Y. Wu, a new diterpenoid, coetsoidin A (I) was isolated and its structure was established by spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction analysis. It is the first instance of a kaurene type diterpenoid possessing alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone functionality in ring B. PMID- 2618694 TI - [Studies on chemical constituents of Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa P. C. Li]. AB - A species of the genus Glycyrrhiza, G. eurycarpa P. C. Li recently reported as a new species growing in Gansu Province and Xinjiang Autonomous Region has not been studied before on its chemical constituents. This paper reports the isolation and chemical elucidation of four flavonoid glycosides from this species collected in Jinta County, Gansu Province. On the basis of physical and chemical constants and spectroscopic data (UV, IR, MS, 1HNMR and 13CNMR), compound I was confirmed as a new isoflavone diglycoside. Its structure was elucidated as formononetin-7-O[-D apio-beta-D-furanosyl(1----2)]-beta-D-gl ucopyranoside. The new compound was named glycyroside. The other three components (II-IV) were identified as liquiritin, isoliquiritin and schaftoside, respectively. PMID- 2618695 TI - [Determination of purity and molecular weight of polysaccharides by high performance gel permeation chromatography]. AB - Polysaccharides, PIB-I, PIB-II-A, PIB-II-Band PIA-I, were prepared in our laboratory. Their purity and molecular weight (Mw) were determined by high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC). The HPGPC system consisted of a two-column set, Bio-Gel TSK-50 and TSK-40 columns. 0.2 mol/L phosphate pH 6.0 buffer and 0.1 mol/L Tris-HCl pH 8.0 buffer were used as mobile phase, respectively. The void volume and total volume were measured using dextran T-2000 and glucose. The Mw of samples were determined from the standard curves which were made by standard dextran T-series. In two different mobile phases, the deviations of Mw were less than 6.0%, which showed that the method is highly sensitive, accurate, reproducible and rapid. PMID- 2618696 TI - [Simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of mixtures by multivariate spectrophotometry]. AB - By the use of stepwise regression method in conjunction with the theory of figures of merit for the multicomponent spectrophotometry, mixtures with known scope of possibly present species can be simultaneously analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. There is no need for the analysis to acquire the spectral data matrix from a series of mixture samples with varied concentration as for the case of target transformation factor analysis. Analytical results can be obtained from the spectral data vector of just one assayed sample. The method has been testified by analyzing synthetic mixtures and pharmaceutical preparations with satisfactory results. PMID- 2618697 TI - [Effects of methylflavonolamine hydrochloride on physiologic properties of isolated guinea pig atrium]. AB - The effects of methylflavonolamine hydrochloride (MFA) on the contractility, excitability, automaticity and functional refractory period (FRP) were studied in isolated guinea pig atrium. MFA (5 and 75 mumol/L) decreased the contractility, increased the threshold concentration of adrenaline to evoke automaticity of the left atria, depressed the spontaneously beating right atria and lengthened FRP. MFA, at 75 mumol/L but not at 5 mumol/L, and shifted the intensity duration curve to the right. Our results suggest that suppression of the spontaneous and the evoked automaticity and prolongation of FRP may be related to its antiarrhythmic action. PMID- 2618698 TI - [Studies of the active constituents of the Chinese drug "duhuo" Angelica pubescents]. AB - Eight coumarins isolated from the alcohol extract of the Chinese drug "Duhuo", the root of Angelica pubescents Maxim. f. biserrata Shan et Yuan (Umbelliferae) were elucidated to be columbianetin (I), columbianetin acetate (II), columbiadin (III), osthol (IV), isoimperatorin (V), bergapten (VI), xanthotoxin (VII), and columbianetin-beta-D-glucopyranoside (VIII), by chemical and spectral analysis, compound VIII was isolated from plant for the first time. All these coumarins were tested on platelet aggregation induced by 2 microns ADP. I, II, III, IV and VIII showed strong inhibiting activity against platelet aggregation. PMID- 2618699 TI - [Study on transdermal absorption of borneol-salicylic acid eutectic mixture]. AB - Borneol is an organic drug having property to form eutectic mixture with salicylic acid. We compared the transdermal absorption rate of borneol alone with that of borneol-salicylic acid eutectic mixture in hairless rats. The results showed that the borneol-salicylic acid eutectic mixture can evidently increase the absorption rate of borneol and provided a method for manufacturing borneol preparation which can easily be absorbed transdermally. PMID- 2618700 TI - [Immunosuppresive effects of wilfortrine and euonine]. AB - Wifortrine and Euonine isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. Wilfortrine and euonine (40.80 mg/(kg.d) x 4d ip) showed marked depressant effects on humoral mediated immunity using the hemolysin reaction as indices. Wilfortrine (160 mg/kg.d x 9d ip) exhibited a depressant effect on graft vs host reaction (GVHR), but wilfortrine (80 mg/(kg.d) x 9d ip) showed no definite effect. Euonine (80 mg/(kg.d) x 10d ip) showed marked suppressant effects on DNCB induced delayed hypersensitivity reaction on skin in mice. Wilfortrine and Euonine (80 mg/(kg.d) x 4d ip) significantly decreased the clearance rate of charcoal particles and the weights of spleen and thymus. PMID- 2618701 TI - [Inhibitory effect of hypoxanthine on monoamine oxidase activity]. AB - Hypoxanthine was demonstrated to have a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on type B monoamine oxidase (MAO-B) activity in liver and brain tissues, and slight inhibitory effect on type A MAO(MAO-A) activity when given orally to mice at doses of 25-500 mg/kg. When mice were given orally hypoxanthine 500 mg/kg, MAO-A and -B activities were all inhibited significantly 16 hours after administration, but the inhibitory action on MAO-A was weaker. Subcutaneous injection of the agent also produced obvious inhibition of MAO activity in the liver but no significant influence on MAO activity in brain tissue was observed. In vitro experiment showed that the action of hypoxanthine on MAO-B was competitive inhibition and that on MAO-A was competitive mixed with noncompetitive inhibition. PMID- 2618702 TI - [The constituents of C21-steroids from Dregea sinensis var. corrugata]. AB - Drevogenin I, II, two new aglycones, were isolated from Dregea sinensis var. corrugata(Asclepiadaceae). The mass spectrum suggests the presence of two isovaleryl groups. Alkaline hydrolysis of compound I with 5% methanolic potassium hydroxide yielded deacyldrevogenin Ia and isovaleric acid. The acid was esterified with methanol--surfuric acid to afford methyl-isovalerate. By GLC comparison with authentic sample, relative retention time was the same, 1H-NMR shift (delta ppm) and coupling constant were the same, too. On the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical reactions, given above the structure of aglycone I was established as C/D cis 5 alpha-H, 3 beta, 8 beta, 14 beta, 17 beta tetrahydroxy-12 beta-O-isovalery1-20-O-isovalerylpregnane. MS molecular weight 552 and elementary analysis were compatible with C31H52O8. The structure of aglycone II was established as C/D cis 5 alpha-H, 3 beta, 14 beta, 17 beta trihydroxy-12 beta-O-acetyl-20-O-benzoyl-pregnane. The mass spectrum suggests the presence of benzoyl and acetylgroups. Alkaline hydrolysis of II with 5% methanolic potassium hydroxide yielded tomentogenin IIa and an acetic acid. Partial alkaline hydrolysis of II with 8% K2CO3--MeOH--H2O absorbed a 12-hydroxy 20-O-benzoyl-pregnane. PMID- 2618703 TI - [Studies on saponins from the leaves of Panax japonicus var. bipinnatifidus(Seem.)Wu et Feng]. AB - Two new saponins, bipinnatifidusoside F1(XII) and F2(XIII), were isolated along with eleven known saponins from the dried leaves of Panax japonicus var.bipinnatifidus(Seem.)Wu et Feng collected in the Range of Qinling Mountains in China. By spectrometric analysis(FAB-MS,1H and 13CNMR,1H-1H COSY), their structures were elucidated as dammar-25(26)-ene-3 beta, 12 beta, 20(S),24 zeta tetraol-(20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-O- beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-2)-beta-D glucopyranoside (bipinnatifidusodie F1) and dammar-22(23) ene-3 beta, 12 beta, 20(S),24 zeta-tetraol-(20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-O-beta- D-glucopyranosyl(1 2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (bipinnatifidusoside F2), respectively. The known saponins were identified as ginsenoside F1,F2,F3,Rg2,Re,Rd,Rb1,Rb3, 24(S) pseudoginsenoside F11, panasenoside and majoroside F1. Compared with bipinnatifidusoside F2, majoroside F3 was corrected as dammar-22(23)-ene-3 beta, 12 beta,20(S),24 zeta-tetraol-(20-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-3-O-beta-D glucopyranoside. PMID- 2618704 TI - [Studies on the chemical constituents of Fritillaria in Hubei. X. Isolation and identification of alkaloids from Fritillaria ebeiensis var.purpurea G.D.Yu et P.Li]. AB - The bulb of Fritillaria ebeiensis var. purpurea G.D. Yu et P. Li (Liliaceae) are commercially available as the substitute for the principal Chinese traditional medicine "Beimu". This plant is easily cultivated, has high alkaloid content and conspicuous antitussive and expectorant effects. Seven C-nor-D-homo steroidal alkaloids (I-VII) were isolated from the bulb cultivated in Suizhou district, Hubei. I-IV have been identified as the known alkaloids peimine, peiminine, ebeinine and ebeinone on the basis of spectral data and by TLC and mixed mp comparison with authentic samples. The alkaloid VI, C27H43NO2, mp 186-188 degrees C, named ziebeimine, is a new alkaloid isolated from the title plant. The structure of VI has been established as 5 alpha, 14 alpha-cevanine-13, 17-dehydro 3 alpha, 6 beta-diol on the basis of its IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and mass spectra. The structure of alkaloids V and VII is still under investigation. PMID- 2618705 TI - Determination of total flavonoids in Epimedium brevicornum maxim by differential pulse polarography. AB - The polarographic behavior of icariin in various electrolytes was studied. It was found that a well defined peak was obtained in 0.05 mol/L ammonium sulfate supporting electrolyte at a potential of -1.51 V (vs Ag/AgCl). An excellent linear relationship was obtained between the concentration (1.28-3.85 X 10(-6) mol/L) and peak current. The method can be used to analyze flavonoids in small amount of medicinal herb samples. PMID- 2618706 TI - Determination of vitamin B12 by chemiluminescence analysis. AB - Chemiluminescence analysis, with flow injection, is used for the determination of vitamin B12 by means of the luminol hydrogen peroxide system. The linear range is 3 orders of magnitude and the detection limits is 10 ppb. All samples were analyzed by both this method and colorimetry and some comparison between these two methods was made as well. Because of its sensitivity, it can be used as a convenient, and rapid method for clinical drug analysis. PMID- 2618707 TI - [Determination of amitriptyline hydrochloride by zero-current oscillo potentiometric and bipotentiometric methods]. AB - Using platinum plate coated with PVC membrane as indicator electrode, amitriptyline hydrochloride was titrated with sodium tetraphenylborate by zero current oscillo-potentiometry titration and zero-current oscillo-bipotentiometric titration. Both methods are precise, audio-visual, simple and convenient and can be used in the determination of other medicines. PMID- 2618708 TI - [Studies on the controlled-release pellets of nifedipine]. AB - Controlled-release pellets of nifedipine have been prepared and evaluated by in vitro and in vivo (in dogs and human bodies) tests in the study. The pellet released drug fitted to a first-order process (K = 0.23 h-1) as wall as Higuchi's function (K = 37.05 h-1/2). After administration the concentration of these pellets was more steady than that of sustained-release pellets reported in dogs. It was also found to be steady in human. The concentration reached 20 ng/ml in about 10 minutes and stayed between 20-70 ng/ml within from 10 minutes to 15 hours. The bioavailability of the controlled-release pellets is a little higher than that of the conventional pellets. The pharmacokinetic character of nifedipine has primarily been explored in this article, and corresponds with a two-compartment model (t1/2 beta = 3.5 h). PMID- 2618709 TI - [Synthesis of some halogenated indirubin derivatives]. AB - Indirubin has been used clinically to treat chronic granulocytic leukemia, but poor solubility limited its absorption in the body. In order to reduce its side effect and raise its therapeutic effect on chronic granulocytic leukemia, six halogen-substituted derivatives were synthesized. Compounds I, II, III and V exhibited higher antitumor activity against L7212 bearing mice and W256 bearing rats than indirubin. In the parallel experiment, the most active compound III showed increase in life-span of mice bearing L7212 by 41-73%, and marked inhibitory action against W256 in rats with the inhibition rates of 48-83%, while indirubin showed 0 and 30% inhibition. PMID- 2618710 TI - [Further study on dammarane saponins of leaves of Panax japonicus var. major collected in Quinling Mountains China]. AB - In continuation of our studies on the leaves of Panax japonicus var. major (Burk.) Wu et Feng, two new dammarane saponins are isolated. By means of FAB-MS and 13CNMR, their structures were elucidated as dammar-22(23)-ene-3 beta, 6 alpha, 12 beta, 20(S), 24 section-pentaol- (20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-alpha L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-2)-beta-D- glucopyranoside (majorosids F5) and dammar-23(24) ene-3 beta, 6 alpha, 12 beta, 20(S), 25-pentaol-(20-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-6-O alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (majoroside F6). PMID- 2618711 TI - [Selective inducing ability of DL-111-1T towards mixed function oxidase in female rat liver and human amnion fluid cell]. AB - Following pretreatment of adult female rats with contragestational agent 3-(2 ethylphenyl)-5-(3-methoxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol (DL 111-1T) 20 mg/kg.d for 2 consecutive days, the hepatic microsomal MFO and UDPGT activities were induced to a constant level, being characteristic of arylhydrocarbon type of induction. Coincubation of human amnion FL cell with 0.1 mumol/L of DL-111-1T for 24 h produced a 4.5-fold induction of AHH activity of the cell. This inducing ability was 3 times that of PB, but 1/2 that of 3-MC. According to these observations, DL 111-1T may also be considered as a polycyclic arylhydrocarbon type inducer toward human amnion FL cell's MFO which contains mainly of cytochrome P-448. UDS test showed that DL-111-1T itself could not induce UDS of FL cell. PMID- 2618712 TI - [Effects of anisodamine on the metabolism of arachidonic acid by washed rat platelets]. AB - A method for distinguishing drug effects on metabolism of endogenously released arachidonic acid (AA) and exogenously added AA was developed by the use of washed rat platelets. The major metabolites of AA in washed rat platelets, measured by HPLC, were 12-hydroxyhepatadecatrienoic acid (HHT) and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE). Some factors such as concentration of AA added, incubation time and concentration of A23187 which influence the formation of AA metabolites in rat platelets were studied. The formation of HHT and 12-HETE from endogenously released AA in washed rat platelets was dose-dependently reduced by anisodamine (654-2), while the conversion of exogenously added AA to HHT and 12-HETE was not affected by 654-2. The results of the present study indicate that 654-2 decreased the formation of HHT and 12-HETE in washed rat platelets by inhibiting the release of endogenous AA. PMID- 2618713 TI - [Influence of several Chinese drugs on the glycogen synthesizing function of primary cultured adult rat hepatocytes]. AB - The influence of several Chinese drugs on the glycogen synthesizing function of normal and carbon tetrachloride-injured hepatocytes was investigated. Hepatocytes prepared from rats fasted for 16 h were incubated with 50 mmol/L glucose. Glycogen content was determined 30 and 90 min after incubation with normal and CCl4-injured cells, respectively. Insulin was used as positive control which increased glycogen content and the data coincided with that in the literature. The following results were obtained (1) Biphenyl-dimethyl-dicarboxylate (BDD) in 100 micrograms/ml concentration increased glycogen content of normal hepatocytes by 88%. It protected cells against CCl4-injury:BDD 10 micrograms/ml remarkably decreased CCl4-induced reduction of glycogen and 100 micrograms/ml showed complete protection. (2) Tremella poly-saccharide slightly increased glycogen content in normal cells, but in a concentration of 100 micrograms/ml it decreased CCl4-induced reduction of glycogen significantly. (3) Low concentration of norcatharidin (10 micrograms/ml) increased glycogen content of normal cells, but at 100 micrograms/ml concentration this effect disappeared. Furthermore, it intensified the toxic effect of CCl4 on glycogen at 10-100 micrograms/ml. (4) CL1500 (100 micrograms/ml) increased glycogen content of normal cells, but it intensified CCl4-injury effect on glycogen at the same concentration. PMID- 2618714 TI - [Synthesis of 7 beta-(6-substituted-2-quinolone-3-acetamido)cephalosporins]. AB - A series of new 7 beta-(6-substituted-2-quinolone-3-acetamido)cephalosporins has been prepared by acylation of the 7 beta-amino group of 7-ADCA, 7-ACA, 7-ACT and 7-ACD with 6-substituted-2-quinolone-3-acetic acids. CDI (N,N' Carbonyldiimidazole) method was mainly adopted and active ester method was also employed in the reactions. Isolation and purification were fulfilled with the combined methods of Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and centrifugal TLC technique. Sixteen new cephalosporin derivatives were synthesized. Their structures have been confirmed by elemental analysis, IR and 1HNMR. The preliminary in vitro antibacterial tests showed that these new compounds exhibited high activity to gram-positive and some negative bacteria. Bacteriostasis of most of the compounds was equal to cefazolin and sodium penicillin G. Compound III3, III4, III8, III10 and III11 possessed higher activity on the resistant Staphylococcus aureus S22 and Proteus vulgaris OX19 than cefazolin and sodium penicillin G. Further biological evaluation for these compounds is expected to be carried out. PMID- 2618715 TI - [Structure of pingbeidinoside, an alkaloid isolated from the stems and leaves of Fritillaria ussuriensis Maxim]. AB - A new steroid alkaloid glucoside, pingbeidinoside, was isolated from the stem and leaf of Fritillaria ussuriensis Maxim by column chromatographic techniques. On the basis of the IR, MS, 1HNMR and 13CNMR spectra of pingpeidinoside and products of its transformation, the structure of pingbeidinoside has been established as 3 beta,16 alpha,20-trihydroxy-delta 5-22,26-epiminocholestane-25-O-beta-D- glucoside. PMID- 2618716 TI - [Studies on the taxane diterpenes of the heartwood from Taxus mairei]. AB - A new taxane diterpene and three known taxane diterpenes were isolated from the heartwood of Taxus mairei grown in Fujian province of China and identified as 1 dehydroxy-baccatin VI, baccatin VI, 1-dehydroxybaccatin IV, and taxinne J on the basis of spectral data. PMID- 2618717 TI - [Studies on the chemical constituents of Aquilaria sinensis(Lour.) Gilg. IV. Isolation and characterization of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives]. AB - Six chromone derivatives were isolated from the ether soluble fraction of the alcoholic extract of Aquilaria sinensis(Lour.) Gilg. (Thymeleaceae) by silica gel chromatography. On the basis of spectrometric data (UV, IR, 1HNMR and 13CNMR as well as MS) and chemical synthesis one of them was found to be a new chromone, 6 hydroxy-2-[2-(4'-methoxylphenyl)ethyl]chromone(VI) and the other five known chromones are 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone(I), 6-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone (II), 6.7-dimethoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone(III), 6-methoxy-2[2-(3' methoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone(IV) and 6-hydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromone(V). These compounds were obtained for the first time from this plant. PMID- 2618718 TI - [Determination of three components in aspirin compound tablets by use of UV-PLS method]. AB - The optimum experimental condition for simultaneous UV-spectrophotometric determination of the contents of aspirin, phenacetin and caffeine in aspirin compound tablets (APC) and the basic principle and application of partial least squares method(PLS) in simultaneous multicomponent determination have been studied. Confidence intervals of the three components are 100.1 +/- 0.23% (aspirin), 100.0 +/- 0.25% (phenacetin) and 100.1 +/- 0.33% (caffeine) (confidence 95%). No information has ever been available in the literature for the application of PLS in pharmaceutical analysis. Compared with other traditional computing methods, PLS is a more perfect multicomponent determination method. It is especially applicable to analyzing samples in batches. It is faster and produces more accurate and reliable results. PLS provides a new method for in line UV-visible spectrophotometric automation. PMID- 2618719 TI - [Determination of allopurinol in tablets and urine by oscillopolarography]. AB - Determination method of allopurinol has been studied by the second derivative oscillopolarography. Well-defined linear relationship between concentrations and the wave height in the range 3 X 10(-7)-1 X 10(-4) mol/L and 5 X 10(-7)-1 X 10( 4) mol/L was observed, respectively, in 0.50 mol/L H2SO4 and pH 5.5 HAc-NaAc buffer. The contents of allopurinol in tablets and urine were determined. The character of the electrode reaction was explored preliminarily. PMID- 2618720 TI - [Studies on eliminating the influence of random errors of analytical methods on the content uniformity test]. AB - The conclusion drawn from the content uniformity test for a batch of solid dosage forms is influenced by the random error of the analytical method (random methodic error for short) used. Theoretically, the test by variables based on the statistical parameters of the sample has the merit of eliminating the influence of the random methodic error according to the principle of superposition of errors. In this paper, random methodic errors of some analytical methods were obtained by experiment and then used to eliminate the influence of random methodic errors on the content uniformity test by variables devised by us. Thus, the accuracy of the test is further improved. PMID- 2618721 TI - [Research on correlations between climatic factors and diosgenin content in Dioscorea zingiberensis Wright]. AB - Dioscorea zingiberensis wright is native to China. In this paper correlations between seven climatic factors (mean annual temperature, mean annual relative humidity, mean annual 5 cm soil temperature, annual precipitation. Annual sunshine hours, mean annual sunshine percentage and annual greater than or equal to 10 degrees C accumulative temperature) and diosgenin content has been reported. It is annual precipitation and mean annual 5 cm soil temperature that are real principal factors affecting the diosgenin content. The most suitable climatic range for the biosynthesis and accumulation of diosgenin is as follows: Annual precipitation: 800-900 mm, 850 mm the best. Mean annual 5 cm soil temperature: 15-17 degrees C, 16 degrees C the best. PMID- 2618722 TI - [Synthesis of polyphenolic aminocarboxylic acid derivatives as radio-actinides mobilization agents]. AB - A series of polyphenolic aminocarboxylic acid derivatives were designed and synthesized for removal of incorporated radio-actinides. Their chemical structures were confirmed by means of 1HNMR and elemental analyses. Results of preliminary animal experiments showed that most of these compounds were effective for removal of 234Thorium. PMID- 2618723 TI - [Simultaneous determination of carbamazepine and its active metabolite in serum by high performance liquid chromatography]. AB - A rapid, sensitive and simple to operate high performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of carbamazepine (CBZ) and its metabolite (10,11-epoxide carbamazepine, ECBZ) in serum has been developed. The sample was extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was evaporated to dryness and taken up with the mobile phase. Separation of CBZ and ECBZ was achieved by reversed phase chromatography using a mobile phase consisting of methanol-water (1:1) at flow rate of 0.8 ml/min on a 5 microns YWG C-18 column. Eluent was monitored at 214 nm. The method has a good linearity. The recoveries of CBZ and ECBZ were found to be 99.7% +/- 2.45 and 97.3% +/- 4.20 respectively. Precision studies for both within day and day-to-day at different concentrations provided CV values of less than 6%. Some commonly used anticonvulsants can be determined in the same procedure without interference. This method well adapted to the therapeutic monitoring of CBZ treated patients, as well as for pharmacokinetic studies. PMID- 2618724 TI - Anti-arrhythmic action of cycloprotobuxine-A. AB - Cycloprotobuxine-A (CPB-A) 1-4 mg/kg (1/100-1/25 LD50) produced therapeutic and prophylactic effects which were found to be dose-dependent on experimental arrhythmias induced by BaCl2, aconitine and chloroform. Given at equitoxic doses, the anti-arrhythmic action of CPB-A was as potent as cyclovirobuxine-D (CVB-D) and amiodarone (Amio). However, its therapeutic index (LD50/ED50) was 1.8 times that of CVB-D and 1.2 times that of Amio. The most pronounced effects of CPB-A (0.3-30 mumol/L) on the electrophysiology of ventricular muscle of guinea pig were the lengthening of APD50, APD90 and ERP. This may contribute to its anti arrhythmic action and suggests that CPB-A most likely belongs to class III anti arrhythmic drugs (prolongation of APD). Perfused with the same concentration (3 mumol/L), CPB-A brought about more significant increases in APD50, APD90 and ERP than CVB-D and Amio did. PMID- 2618725 TI - [Effects of guan-fu base A on fast response action potentials of papillary muscles of guinea pigs]. AB - Guan-fu base A is a new alkaloid first isolated from the tuber of Aconitum coreanum in China. The electrophysiological effects of guan-fu base A were examined on the isolated papillary muscles of guinea pigs by glass-microelectrode technique coupled with microcomputer real-time analysis. Guan-fu base A 50 micrograms/ml had less effect on RP, but markedly decreased Vmax and APA of the fast response action potentials. The action potential duration was shortened at all voltage levels and plateau height was lowered. ERP was prolonged relatively and activation voltage became more negative. The inhibition of guan-fu base A on Vmax showed frequency dependent effects. The above results suggested that guan-fu base A could block the fast Na+ channels and exhibited anti-arrhythmic action. PMID- 2618726 TI - [Effects of 2-[p-(dimethylamino) styryl] pyridine methiodide on action potentials of depolarized papillary muscle cells of guinea pig]. AB - Effects of 2-[p-(dimethylamino) styryl] pyridine methiodide (DSPM), nifedipine (Nif), CaCl2 and isoprenaline (Iso) on action potentials (AP) of guinea pig papillary muscle cells depolarized by high K+ (15.4 mmol/L) were studied by microelectrode technique. DSPM 45 mumols/L decreased the Vmaxf and Vmaxs of phasee O of the AP by 14 and 26%, respectively. APD90 was lengthened by 7%, amplitude of action potentials (APA) was decreased by 3%. The effects of CaCl2 on Vmaxs of phase 0 of the AP of depolarized papillary muscle cells were abolished by DSPM 45 mumols/L, but the effects of Iso were not antagonized. Effects of DSPM on Vmaxs of the AP of depolarized papillary muscle cells and the influence of DSPM to the action of CaCl2 and Iso were similar to those of Nif. It further suggests that DSPM may be a calcium antagonist. PMID- 2618727 TI - [Effects of neferine on transmembrane potentials of guinea pig myocardium]. AB - Neferine, an alkaloid first isolated from the seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn in China, possesses an anti-arrhythmic action. The effects on the action potential duration (APD) and the maximal upstroke velocity (Vmax) in different driving rates, the slow response action potentials of K+-depolarized ventricular myocardium and the ouabain-induced oscillatory potentials were studied in guinea pig papillary muscles. Neferine 10 and 50 mumols/L markedly suppressed the transmembrane potentials Vmax at 0.1-5 Hz. It (50 mumols/L) prolonged the APD at 0.5-5 Hz. Neferine 10-100 mumols/L inhibited the contractility, amplitude of action potentials and Vmax of K+-depolarized guinea pig papillary muscles in a concentration-dependent manner, and 100 mumols/L decreased the amplitude of action potentials and Vmax from 73 +/- 7 mV and 6.0 +/- 1.7 V/s of control to 57 +/- 4 mV and 3.2 +/- 0.7 V/s, respectively. In addition, neferine 50 mumols/L abolished the oscillatory potentials induced by ouabain. The results indicate that the effects of neferine on APD and Vmax seem not to be related to the frequency of stimuli, and its anti-arrhythmic action is relevant to the inhibitory effects on Na+, K+, Ca2+ currents of myocardium. PMID- 2618728 TI - [Inhibitory effect of silybin on the activity of 5-lipoxygenase of the porcine cerebral basilar artery]. AB - The chopped porcine cerebral basilar arteries (PCBA) were incubated in the modified Tyrode solution with calcium ionophore calcimycin (A-23187, Cal) 10 mumol/L in the presence of arachidonic acid 30.6 mumol/L and indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor 2.8 mumol/L. The culture was extracted and purified with a SEP-PAK column (SEP-PAK C18 Cartridge, Waters). The bioassay of the extract was then made on the isolated guinea pig ileum with the standard leukotriene D4 (LTD4) 200 pg/ml as a reference. The acetylcholine, histamine and 5-HT released by the ileum was preblocked by atropine 1 mumol/L, diphenhydramine 1 mumol/L and cyproheptadine 3 nmol/L. The contraction produced by the extract on the ileum showed the same characteristic as LTD4, and was blocked by the specific LTs antagonist FPL 55712 100 ng/ml. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography analysis indicated the presence of peaks co-chromatographing with standard LTB4, C4 and D4. The retention times of LTB4, C4 and D4 in our system were 2.2, 3.2, 5.5 min respectively. The eluates of peaks co-chromatographing with LTB4, C4 and D4 were collected and tested for contractile activity on the guinea pig ileum. Only the substances which had the similar LTC4 and LTD4 retention times exhibited contractile activities. Hence we concluded that the substances of LTs which had biological activities were mainly LTC4 and D4. The amount of LTs released from PCBA was 70 +/- 15 pg/100 mg tissue. When PCBA was preincubated with silybin 100 and 500 mumol/L, the amounts of LTs released were 27 +/- 12 and 14 +/- 6 pg/100 mg tissue, respectively (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618729 TI - [Effects of dietary K on blood pressure, prostaglandin, and kallikrein in renovascular hypertensive rats]. AB - The effects of dietary K (food and tap water both containing 1% KCl) on blood pressure and renal prostaglandin-kallikrein-kinin system were investigated in Wistar rats made hypertensive by constriction of left renal artery. Dietary K attenuated the development of hypertension and increased urine volume accompanied by increased excretion of K, but by uninfluenced excretion of Na. Dietary K also increased the urinary excretion of kallikrein, PGE2 and aldosterone in Goldblatt hypertensive rats. There was no significant difference in the values of plasma Na between the two groups with and without dietary K. These results suggest that dietary K may attenuate the development of hypertension, increase urine volume via the mechanism of enhancing production of renal PGE2 and kallikrein in hypertensive rats. PMID- 2618730 TI - [Immediate type anaphylaxis of streptomycin allergy elicited by streptomycin polymers]. AB - It has been known that streptomycin (SM) can cause some immediate type anaphylaxis even anaphylactic shock in clinical therapy. The characteristic of the substance that elicits the allergic reaction has not been reported. Using gel filtration and high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), we have found that some impurities of high molecular weights (HMW) were formed by heating acidic SM solution. The HMW impurities had a colour reaction with citric acid acetic anhydride reagent and elicited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) on guinea pigs sensitized with rabbit anti-SM-BSA serum and general anaphylaxis in guinea pigs immunized by SM-BSA. It is suggested that the impurities, SM polymers (poly-SM) related to some reactions on amino groups of SM, are the allergens of SM allergy. PMID- 2618731 TI - [Assessment of absorption and distribution of artemether in rats using a thin layer chromatography scanning technique]. AB - TLC scanning technique was found to have good specificity for studying the absorption and distribution of artemether in rats. Plasma or tissue homogenates 0.2-1.0 ml were placed in glass extraction tubes and water was added to make 1.0 ml. Each sample was extracted 3 times with 4 ml mixed organic solvent (n-pentane: dichloromethane = 1:1, vol:vol). The organic layers of 3 extractions were combined and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in 100-300 microliters of ethylacetate and spotted on TLC plates. The chromatogram was developed in solvent system consisting of petroleum ether: chloroform: ethylacetate (4:2:1). The color developing agent was 0.25 g p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde dissolved in a mixture of 2.25 ml 85% phosphoric acid, 47.6 ml of acetic acid and 20 ml of water. Artemether fat emulsion was given intravenously at the dosage of 80 mg/kg. Groups of 5 rats were killed at 15, 30, 60 and 120 min after iv. The results showed that the peak tissue levels were obtained within 15 min, the drug disappeared from the blood very rapidly, and only 0.34 microgram/ml was found in the plasma after 120 min. The highest level was found in brain which attained about 13.9 micrograms/g wet tissue 15 min after iv injection, moderate in heart, lung and skeletal muscle, whereas the levels in liver and kidney were low. At 15, 30 and 60 min, the plasma drug concentrations were 18.5, 6.9 and 2.3 micrograms/ml, and the brain drug concentrations were 14.0, 8.8 and 3.4 micrograms/g wet tissue, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618732 TI - [Electron microscopic observation of the sporogonic stage of Plasmodium gallinaceum after five antimalarials]. AB - Ultrastructural changes in Plasmodium gallinaceum oocysts and sporozoites were studies after 5 antimalarials (pyrimethamine, primaquine, artemisinine, 5-p fluorobenzoxyl-primaquine citrate and nitroquine) were administered to Aedes albopictus. Obvious disfigurement, such as abnormal vacuoles of various sizes in the cytoplasma, thickened oocyst capsules and damaged sporozoite pellical membranes were found in many oocysts and sporozoites in the mosquitoes. When the grade of infection of sporozoites in the salivary glands of the 5 different groups of mosquitoes were compared with the control, the rank test (Hc = 271) showed a very significant variance (P less than 0.01). PMID- 2618733 TI - Characteristics of the interaction of lycobetaine with DNA. AB - The characteristics of the interaction of lycobetaine (LBT) with DNA were examined by fluorescence spectrometer, disc electrophoresis and restriction enzyme analysis. The apparent binding constant of LBT with calf thymus DNA has been determined as 1.67 x 10(6) L/mol by ethidium bromide displacement method. Based on electrophoresis titration, the mode of DNA binding was found to be through intercalation. Fluorescence quenching assay showed that the intrinsic association constant and the binding site size of LBT to calf thymus DNA were 0.26 x 10(6) L/mol and 2.6 base pairs, respectively. Selective inhibition of LBT on action of some restriction enzymes showed that LBT intercalate preferentially into GC base pairs. Neither DNA strand break nor interstrand cross-link was produced by LBT. LBT did not bind to DNA covalently and did not cause DNA alkylation. PMID- 2618734 TI - [Influence of laurocapram on ultrastructures of mouse skin and sarcoma 180 membrane]. AB - Laurocapram (Lau), 1-dodecyl-hexahydro-2 H-azepin-2-one, (azone) is a new percutaneous penetration enhancer. However, the mechanism of its action for absorption promoter of other agents is still unknown. In this paper the effect of Lau on ultrastructures of skin surface and tumor cell membrane were studies. Lau (2%) suspension was applied to abdominal skin of ICR/JCL, C 57 BL mice or one side of abdominal skin of nude mouse with drug and other side with the vehicle solvent once daily for 2-3 d. The skin was excised at 4 h after the final medication for examination under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed the numerous small infolding lines which divided the skin surface into small areas with vesiculation and peeled the epidermal surface to form a few minor holes. The cuticles of the hair shaft dropped off and became thinner. Numerous desquamated cells around the orifice of the hair were fractured, detached and widened. Sarcoma 180 cells were incubated with Lau 25 micrograms/ml at 37 degrees C for 4 h. The microvilli of some cells dropped off and the size of villi became thinner and shorter. The top of some villi of the cells appeared occasionally thick to make the profile as a bat. The surface of numerous naked cells became rugged and rough and showed many black minor holes in the area of denuded cell membrane or dropped microvilli. More than 100 holes in the exposed surface of the naked cell were seen. It seemed that the Lau drilled holes on the biomembrane and enlarged the orifice of hair follicles and thus enhanced the transdermal absorption. PMID- 2618735 TI - [Effects of 8 antitumor drugs against the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma (LAX-83) transplanted under the kidney capsule of nude mice]. AB - Nude mice, inoculated with LAX 83 in bilateral subrenal capsules, were used in experimental therapy with 8 antitumor drugs. Treatment was initiated 2 d after tumor inoculation. All the drugs were ip to the nude mice daily for 7 d. At the daily doses VCR 0.4, MMC 2, CCNU 16, cis-DDP 2, AdM 2.5, 5-Fu 30, CTX 40 and MTX 2-6 mg/kg, the inhibition of the tumor growth were 100, 95.8, 91.3, 79.2, 65.2, 60.7, 62.3 and 0%, respectively. The results indicated that the effects of the drugs on nude mice inoculated with LAX-83 in subrenal capsule not only exhibited a good correlation to those in sc, but also shortened the period of experiment from 22 to 11 d. Furthermore, when LAX-83 was inoculated into the subrenal capsule of Swiss +/+ mice, the tumor tissues degenerated and disintegrated 2 d after the inoculation and replaced by inflammatory granuloma tissues 6 d later. PMID- 2618736 TI - [Mechanism of the protective action of kopsinine against hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride]. AB - Kopsinine 1 mmol/L inhibited microsomal lipid peroxidation (MDA) formation induced by CCl4 in vitro. Metyrapone, a specific inhibitor of cytochrome P-450, partially counteracted the inhibitory effect of kopsinine on MDA formation. Oral administration of kopsinine 200 mg/kg decreased the formation of diene conjugates in liver microsomes in CCl4 (1 ml/kg ig) intoxicated mice. Kopsinine also inhibited 14CCl4 covalent binding to lipids and proteins of liver microsomes. But the degree of inhibition was not as pronounced as that of inhibition of MDA. The metabolic conversion of CCl4 to carbon monoxide and the utilization of NADPH in the course of CCl4 metabolism by liver microsomes were increased by kopsinine in intro. It appears that to maintain the stability of membranes of liver cells is the mode of the protective action of kopsinine. PMID- 2618737 TI - Effects of nortriptyline on the activities of human and rat liver microsome bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase in vitro. AB - The effects of nortriptyline in vitro on the activities of optical isomer and racemate bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase in man and Wistar rat liver microsomal fractions were studied. There was a dose-dependent inhibitory effect of nortriptyline on bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase in both species. While the concentration of nortriptyline greater than or equal to 0.32 mumol/L and greater than or equal to 1.6 mumol/L, the activities of (+), (-) and (+/-) bufuralol 1' hydroxylase were significantly reduced in man and rat, respectively. The values of inhibitor concentration causing 50% reduction (IC50) to (+), (-) and (+/-) bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase were 10, 19 and 14 mumol/L for human and 4, 10, 6 mumol/L for rat, respectively. It was shown by improved Dixon's plot that the inhibitory type was competitive, and the inhibitory constant (Ki) values to (+), (-) and (+/-) bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase were 5, 3, 4 mumol/L for human and 55, 29, 43 mumol/L for rat, respectively. These results indicate that nortriptyline is a very potent competitive inhibitor to bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase in man and Wistar rat. PMID- 2618738 TI - [Effects of heparin and other chemicals on phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol in pig erythrocyte membrane]. AB - In the presence of Mg2+, the pig erythrocyte membranes were incubated with [gamma 32P]ATP at 30 degrees C for 3 min to study the effects of some chemicals on the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol. The incubations were stopped by the addition of chloroform/methanol (2:1, vol/vol) and the phospholipids were extracted with acid chloroform/methanol and separated on silica gel TLC plates. [gamma-32P] phosphatidyl-inositol-4-phosphate was quantitated by scintillation counting and autoradiography. The results indicated that heparin and neomycin inhibited the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol in a concentration dependent manner, while dimethylsulfoxide stimulated the phosphorylation at low concentration (less than 10%), but inhibited at high concentration (greater than 10%). Hexachlorocyclohexane stimulated the phosphorylation within a certain limit of concentration up to 6.4 micrograms/ml. Li2SO4 (10 mmol/L), EGTA (100 mumol/L) and theophylline (100 mumol/L) had no significant effects. PMID- 2618739 TI - Effect of proximal selective vagotomy on gastric prostaglandin content in the Shay-rat ulcer model. AB - During Shay-ulcer formation damages to the barrier of the gastric mucosa develop even before the appearance of macroscopic ulceration. Proximal selective vagotomy prevents these damages. Following pyloric ligation the prostaglandin content of the mucosa changes in parallel with the injuries of the mucosal barrier: TXB2 content of the forestomach increases, while PGF2 alpha content of both the forestomach and the antrum decreases. Following PSV operation the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha content of the mucosa decreases, whereas PGF2 alpha and TXB2 contents exhibit no alteration. As a combined effect of proximal selective vagotomy pretreatment and pyloric ligation the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGF2 alpha contents of the mucosa remain low and the TXB2 increase, otherwise detectable after pyloric ligation, does not take place. PMID- 2618740 TI - Breathing pattern of spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - The trachea of rats anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone was cannulated and the air flow velocity and the pressure of the oesophagus were measured. In the spontaneously hypertensive rats the breathing frequency was higher, the tidal volume and the effective lung resistance were smaller than that of the normotensive Wistar rats. It seems that the neurohumoral control of respiration in SHR animals differs from that of normotensive rats. PMID- 2618741 TI - Vanadium induced changes in glycogen content of Clarias batrachus (Linn) and Channa punctatus (Bloch). AB - Clarias batrachus (Linn) and Channa punctatus (Bloch) were exposed to 5, 10 and 15 ppm of vanadium and investigated the effects on tissue glycogen at 3, 6 and 9 hrs. Results indicated the variations in the level of glycogen were highest at 15 ppm after 9 hr exposure in liver than muscle, brain, kidney and heart of Clarias batrachus as compared to Channa punctatus. The variation recorded in tissue glycogen content was discussed in relation to respiratory distress, formation of mucus on the whole fish and disturbed behaviour of the fish. PMID- 2618742 TI - Effect of atrial dilatation on the tendency of atrial arrhythmias. AB - The arrhythmogenic effect of atrial dilatation was studied by electrophysiological investigations carried out on 24 dogs. Atrial distension was evoked by increasing the pressure in the right atrium (12 to 14 mm Hg) or by the balloon dilatation of the left atrium. Programmed electrical stimulation of the heart was used for the electrophysiological investigations. In addition to the superficial ECG leads also atrial and ventricular epicardial electrograms were obtained for the ECG recording. Acute atrial dilatation led to shortening of the atrial refractory period, whereas neither impulse conduction of the heart, nor pacemaker activity of the sinus node exhibited any alteration. Atrial dilatation resulted in pathological atrial irritability, and early or frequent atrial stimulation caused atrial tachycardia of shorter (non sustained) or longer (sustained) duration. Repetitive atrial extrasystoles in response to early stimuli could also frequently be observed during atrial dilatation. The obtained results indicate that atrial dilatation is arrhythmogenic and may lead to the development of atrial tachycardia. PMID- 2618743 TI - Influence of sex on gastric acid secretion and parietal cell mass in the rat. AB - The role of sex on the development and function of parietal cell was investigated in the rat. Basal gastric acid secretion and parietal cell mass were found to be significantly lower in female rats than in male. The results suggest that sex is an important factor influencing the growth and function of the gastric mucosa. PMID- 2618744 TI - Nitrate induced changes in sensoro-motor development and learning behaviour in rats. AB - Development of sensoro-motor functions and adult learning behaviour was studied in rats subjected to nitrate exposure. Pregnant and lactating dams and their offspring were supplied with drinking water containing nitrate, 1.12 or 2.24 mM KNO3, and compared with nitrate-free controls. Postnatal maturation of reflexes, that of sensory and somatic parameters and motor activity, furthermore, the acquisition of one-way avoidance and rewarded discriminative learning behaviour in adulthood were examined. Reflexes (righting, cliff-avoidance) and hearing startle reaction maturated earlier in nitrate treated groups. No difference was found in olfactory homing behaviour, in the time of eye opening and in body weight growth. Open-field motor activity was higher at days 5, 7, 10 after birth, but hypoactivity ensued after day 20. A marked learning deficit was observed both in punished and in rewarded learning paradigms. The results indicate a nitrate induced deviation in behavioural development, and an impairment in learning behaviour, particularly of discriminative type. PMID- 2618745 TI - The influence of electrocoagulation of the septum and section of the entorhinal cortex on general behaviour and memory in cats. AB - In chronic experiments on cats it was shown that the lesion of the medial part of the septum does not result in the "septal syndrome"; the ratio of the different sleep-wakefulness cycle phases remains within the baseline values; the acquisition, retrieval and extinction of instrumental alimentary conditioned reflexes proceed normally; the delayed conditioned reflexes are impaired. Massive septal lesion, including its lateral part, leads to the development of the "septal syndrome"; there are changes in the structure and percentage of the different sleep-wakefulness cycle phases; the acquisition and extinction of instrumental alimentary reflexes with the sound discrimination are markedly retarded; the performance of delayed conditioned reflexes is completely destroyed. The section of the entorhinal cortex produces an increase in the number of repeated errors and perseverative movements during performance of instrumental alimentary reflexes, the deceleration of the acquisition and extinction of instrumental alimentary reflexes, complete disturbance of the delayed conditioned reflexes and does not affect the sleep-wakefulness cycle. The problems of the role of the hippocampus and its main inputs in the regulation of the short-term operative memory in the "pure form" as well as the significance of the descending influence of the hippocampus on the regulation of general animal behavior were also discussed. PMID- 2618746 TI - Suprapontine ablation in normal and Doc-salt or one-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rats. AB - The role of suprapontine areas in the acute maintenance of the hypertension in awake Doc-salt (4 weeks of treatment) or one-kidney, one clip (1K-1C) (4 weeks after clipping) rats was studied. Mean blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before (15 min) and after (2 hours) removing all brain tissues rostral to the pons. After this procedure no change in BP was found in normal or 1K-1C rats. In Doc-salt rats the BP falls (154 +/- 4 to 110 +/- 5 mmHg; p less than 0.001). HR was increased in normal (351 +/- 10 to 446 +/- 20 beats/min; p less than 0.01) and in 1K-1C rats (350 +/- 10 to 485 +/- 12 beats/min; p less than 0.001). Clonidine injected into the cisterna magna in 1K-1C rats after suprapontine ablation lowered BP (146 +/- 6 to 118 +/- 11 mmHg; p less than 0.05) and HR (515 +/- 17 to 400 +/- 33; p less than 0.05). Pentolinium reduced BP after the suprapontine ablation in normal (116 +/- 4 to 63 +/- 5 mmHg; p less than 0.001), Doc-salt (111 +/- 5 to 53 +/- 3; p less than 0.001) and 1K-1C rats (163 +/- 8 to 59 +/- 6 mmHg; p less than 0.001). These data suggest that suprapontine structures have an important role in the acute maintenance of Doc-salt hypertension. In 1K-1C rats the acute maintenance of hypertension depends on a sympathetic activity originated below the lesion. PMID- 2618747 TI - Effect of ionic charge on detergent-induced hemolysis. AB - 7.0 microM Sodium dodecyl sulfate induces lysis on A Rh(+) red blood cells 1.6 times faster than the cationic analog dodecyl thiouronium chloride at 37 degrees C and pH = 7.30. Hemolysis isotherms show identical values for the Hill cooperativity parameters of the organic surfactants, but different dissociation parameters. The anionic detergent destabilizes red cell membranes more efficiently than the cationic analog, probably due to the predominance of negative charges on the erythrocyte membranes at physiological pH. PMID- 2618748 TI - Sexual receptivity after destruction of serotonergic terminals in hypothalamus or amygdala. AB - In order to localize the sites in the brain where serotonergic (5-HT) input may affect the performance of lordotic responses, the serotonin neurotoxin 5-7 dihydroxytryptamine was injected in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN) or in the medial amygdala (AM) in ovariectomized rats. Estrogen induced receptivity as measured by the lordotic quotient was significantly greater in animals injected in AM, but it was smaller in animals injected in the VMN, as compared to controls or animals injected with the vehicle. No differences were found when the same animals were injected with progesterone. It is proposed that serotonergic afferents exert facilitatory influences in the hypothalamus and inhibitory influences in the amygdala, as concerns estrogen-induced sexual receptivity. The integrity of 5-HT terminals in VMN and AM is not necessary for progesterone to exert its potentiating effects. PMID- 2618749 TI - [Effect of anesthesia with sodium pentobarbital on the contractile response of the rat aorta]. AB - Experiments were performed in isolated aortic rings from rats anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital ("P") or sacrificed by cervical traumatism ("T"). The response of both aortic rings ("P" and "T") was compared after K depolarizing solution (35, 50 and 100 mM) and after noradrenaline (10(-6)M. Neither the response to the different concentrations of K nor to the alpha agonist effect of NOR was significantly different in rats "P" or "T". The effect of NOR in rats "P" or "T" was not different either in the rapid or slow phase of contraction. The pentobarbital added to the bath, however, depressed the contractile response to either K+ or NOR. This depression, however, was reversible after the rinse of the preparation. We conclude that in spite of the depression produced by the sodium pentobarbital to the contractile response of aorta rings, this depression is reversible and disappeared after the usual period of stabilization. The effect then cannot explain differences in results in reports in which the animals were previously anesthetized or not. PMID- 2618750 TI - Chronotropic and inotropic responses to ASL-7022 on isolated rat atria. AB - ASL-7022 is a new synthetic catecholamine with alpha and beta adrenoceptor stimulating activity having inotropic selectivity in vivo. On the isolated rat atria, ASL-7022 produced concentration-dependent increases in spontaneous rate, developed tension (DT) and maximal velocity of contraction (+T). The maximal chronotropic and inotropic responses to ASL-7022 were similar to those obtained with isoproterenol, although the compound was less potent than isoproterenol. The inotropic and chronotropic effects of ASL-7022 were sensitive to propranolol blockade and were not affected by prazosin blockade. When the inotropic selectivity of ASL-7022 was analyzed, it was found that, like isoproterenol, each concentration of the agonist produced greater chronotropic than inotropic effect. Our results indicate the lack of an alpha 1-mediated component in the chronotropic and inotropic effects of ASL-7022 and the absence of inotropic selectivity in vitro. PMID- 2618751 TI - Action of blood serum from rats with turpentine sterile inflammation on the development of CFU erythrocyte colonies. Possible role of erythropoietin. AB - Bone marrow CFUe mice cultures were prepared in Petri dishes and the number of full developed erythrocyte colonies were counted under various experimental conditions. In certain experiments, erythropoietin (EP = 0.4 U x ml-1 in the suspending medium) or sera from normal rats (100 microliters) or from animals with chronic turpentine sterile abscesses (60 or 100 microliters), were delivered to the CFUe colonies. The number of colonies in the group without EP was almost 5 times smaller than in the group with EP. Inasmuch as some few colonies are still able to develop, even in absence of added EP, the suggestion is advanced holding that the phenomenon may represent the effect of EP already bound to the group of cells initiating differentiation. Comparisons among all experimental groups indicate that the delivery of sera from turpentine rats to cultures containing added EP, reduced significantly the number of CFUe colonies seen in controls with EP but without inflammatory serum. It is suggested that the present findings could be explained assuming an inhibition of the influence of exogenous EP, subserved by the inflammatory serum, or alternatively that this kind of rat serum induces a partial blockade of EP at receptor sites whose activation is a mandatory step for the adequate and full development of cultured erythrocytes. PMID- 2618752 TI - Comparative studies of erythroid growth factors. AB - Representative specimens from two classes of Vertebrata Sub-Phyllum, Bufo paracnemis (amphibian) and Gallus domesticus (avian) were made anemic by phenylhydrazine treatment. Appearance of serum factors able to stimulate the proliferation of mammalian erythroid cells was tested. Normal and anemic sera from Gallus domesticus and Bufo paracnemis were fractioned by alcoholic treatment and assayed by the post-hypoxic mice method, showing null uptake of 59Fe. When assayed in semisolid cultures using bone marrow murine cells at different times of incubation (CFU-E and BFU-E colonies), anemia Gallus domesticus serum showed high stimulatory activity, while anemic Bufo paracnemis serum was unable to enhance erythroid proliferation. Gel filtration chromatography of partially purified avian samples on Sephadex G-150 showed three molecular entities responsible for biological activity in vitro, with an apparent molecular weight of 29, 14 and 10 KD respectively. They were submitted to several treatments and then tested for biological activity. All factors were heat stable, sensitive to neuraminidase treatment, while dithiothreitol caused loss of activity on low molecular weight proteins. These results suggest at least under these experimental conditions, the presence of analogous erythroid factors among homeotherms amniotas. PMID- 2618753 TI - Evolution of experimental mild and severe chronic renal failure in the rat. Mathematical models. AB - Two degrees of renal insufficiency were obtained in female Wistar rats, one mild (M) and the other severe (S) by surgical resection of 2/3 or 3/4 of one kidney, followed by contralateral nephrectomy. The serum creatinine concentration (Cr) s was evaluated as an index of renal function and followed in the two mentioned groups under a normal protein diet and in "S" also under a low protein diet. The evolution was assessed by two functions of time: 1/(Cr) s and log e (Cr) s. Several differences between M and S were detected. In M a smaller initial and maximal increase in (Cr) s than in S followed by a plateau was observed; in S a decrease in (Cr) s posterior to the initial increase was detected attributed to hyperfiltration followed by a sustained increment. The lowering of protein content in the diet caused a decrement in (Cr) s. In both groups a better adjustment with the logarithmic than with the inverse function was obtained, although poorer in S rats owing to a larger variability. In order to look for a mathematical link between inulin clearance (Cl In) and (Cr) s, the relationship between Cl In vs. 1/(Cr) s, and log e Cl In vs. log e (Cr) s was studied in normal and in rats in renal insufficiency. By regression analysis we found a good adjustment with both functions from 0.58 to 1.60 mg % (Cr) s. PMID- 2618754 TI - The internal horizontal cell of the frog: spatial summation. AB - The receptive field properties of internal horizontal cells (IHCs) were studied in the frog Rana pipiens. The space constant of each cell was determined by the use of stimulus spots of various sizes or by moving a light slit across the retina, varied from 100-500 microns by the former and 100-720 microns by the latter method. A similar range of values has been reported for Xenopus although its IHCs are much larger than the IHCs of Rana. Apparently, coupling among the IHCs is more efficient in the latter than in the former retina. The large range in values suggests substantial variation in coupling efficiency among cells of the same retina. PMID- 2618755 TI - Appearance and persistence of 11 beta-hydroxypregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione (delta HOP) effect "in vivo". AB - The effect "in vivo" of 11 beta-hydroxy-pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione (delta HOP) in acute and chronic treatment was studied in mice compared to those treated with dexamethasone and vehicle. In acute experiments an injection of 2 mg/100 g body weight of delta HOP had a maximal inhibitory effect in 3H-uridine incorporation by thymocytes 18 h after the injection, disappearing 36 h later, meanwhile no change was observed in plasma corticosterone levels at any time. The dose 0.033 mg/100 g body weight of dexamethasone produced a high inhibition 5 h after the injection, and a significant decrease in plasma corticosterone was produced at this time; the effect disappeared at 24 h. In the chronic treatment delta HOP produced the maximal inhibition 5 h after the treatment; this effect was maintained until 36 h and disappeared at 48 h without change in corticosterone levels. Meanwhile dexamethasone produced the same inhibition as delta HOP 5 h after the treatment; this effect disappeared after 18 h. In those animals plasma corticosterone decreased during longer time than in acute treatment, since it continued lower than normal at 18 h and it recovered at 24 h. After 5 h of a chronic treatment delta HOP did not change thymus and spleen weights, but they decreased with dexamethasone treatment. These results suggest that the "in vivo" actions of delta HOP is different from that of glucocorticoids. PMID- 2618756 TI - Effect of adenosine on melatonin and norepinephrine release in rat pineal explants. AB - To study adenosine effect on melatonin production, rat pineal explants were incubated for 6 h with 10(-4) M adenosine or 2-chloroadenosine in the presence or absence of 5 x 10(-5) M norepinephrine (NE). Melatonin content in pineal gland and medium was measured by RIA. Both adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine increased melatonin production rate by 3-4-fold, and augmented NE stimulation by 30-40%. Addition of adenosine deaminase prior to NE reduced stimulated melatonin release by 40-46%. 2-Chloroadenosine counteracted the inhibition of NE response given by adenosine deaminase. Either adenosine or its A1 receptor agonist cyclohexyl adenosine (CHA) decreased by 20-22% 3H-transmitter release induced by a K+ depolarizing stimulus in rat pineal incubated with 3H-NE. These results suggest that adenosine affects both pre- and postsynaptic pineal mechanisms. PMID- 2618757 TI - Different behavioral reactivity of 5-HT1 sites between killer and non-killer rats after midbrain raphe lesion. AB - A behavioral reactivity study on 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 sites of isolated killer and non killer rats and on raphe lesioned killer and non-killer animals was undertaken, 5 HT1 reactivity was measured by a rank intensity scale on the forepaw treading and hind-limb abduction induced by 5-MeODMT. 5-HT2 reactivity was determined by the "shaking" behavior following 5-HTP. No behavioral differences on 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 sites were observed between isolated killer or non-killer animals. Similarly, comparable values of "shakes" were obtained on killer and non-killer lesioned rats. On the contrary, 5-MeODMT, induced a lower behavioral response on lesioned killer as compared to lesioned non-killer. This different behavioral response can not be explained by a probable difference of 5-HT terminals denervation since a similar reduction of 5-HT brain uptake was observed between both groups of rats. Finally, the decreased reactivity of 5-HT1 sites may be an index of a lower 5-HT neurotransmission and could therefore provide an explanation of the appearance of muricidal activity in some but not in all the lesioned rats. PMID- 2618758 TI - Difference between hypertonic NaCl and NaHCO3 as osmotic diuretics in dog kidneys. AB - To compare the osmotic inhibitory effects of NaCl and NaHCO3 on proximal tubular fluid reabsorption, plasma osmolality was raised by 40 mosmol kg-1 H2O by infusing hypertonic NaCl and NaHCO3 in volume-expanded dogs receiving ethacrynic acid. In five dogs studied at constant plasma pH 7.5, both NaCl and NaHCO3 reduced water reabsorption by 29 +/- 2%. However, NaCl infusion reduced bicarbonate reabsorption by 31 +/- 2%, whereas bicarbonate reabsorption remained unchanged during NaHCO3 infusion. In six dogs, bicarbonate reabsorption was kept constant during NaCl and NaHCO3 infusion by adjustments of plasma pH. At similar glomerular filtration rates (42.4 +/- 2.9 ml min-1), water reabsorption was 28.7 +/- 1.7 ml min-1 in the control period, 29.4 +/- 2.5 ml min-1 during hypertonic NaCl infusion and 20.6 +/- 1.2 ml min-1 during hypertonic NaHCO3 infusion. Therefore, NaCl did not reduce proximal tubular water reabsorption by a direct osmotic effect. By calculating the regression coefficient for the relationship between measured chloride reabsorption and maximal convective chloride flux, the effective reflection coefficient for NaCl averaged 0.11 +/- 0.01. The combination of a low reflection coefficient and high permeability may explain why hypertonic NaCl is not an osmotic diuretic. PMID- 2618759 TI - Renal denervation does not prevent dehydration-induced natriuresis in sheep. AB - Normal sheep or sheep in which the renal nerves had been extirpated were deprived of water for 2 days in order to determine whether changes in renal nerve activity contribute to natriuresis during water deprivation. Both groups of sheep showed a considerable natriuresis throughout the period of water deprivation and increases in plasma osmolality and plasma Na concentration. Renal denervation, as indicated by the absence of catecholamine fluorescence in kidney sections, was extensive. Previous experiments have suggested cerebral involvement in the induction of dehydration-induced natriuresis. The present results indicate that the efferent pathway mediating this cerebral influence on renal sodium excretion does not involve the renal nerves, suggesting a hormonal mechanism as the likely pathway. PMID- 2618760 TI - Evidence for a countercurrent exchanger in the intestinal villi of suckling swine. AB - The possible existence of a countercurrent exchanger (multiplier) in the intestinal villi of suckling swine was investigated with three different methods: (1) Comparing venous appearance of oxygen and red cells in the mesenteric vein after close i.a. injection of a blood sample equilibrated with pure oxygen and containing methaemoglobinaemic red cells. (2) Determining sodium (micrograms) over protein (mg) ratios along villi. (3) Estimating tissue osmolality in the villus tissue from measurements of freezing-point depression. It was observed that oxygen appeared earlier than red cells in the mesenteric vein after i.a. injection. Furthermore, both the chemical measurements of sodium/protein ratios in the villi and the estimations of tissue osmolality indicate that there exists a gradient of osmolalities along the villus length, the villus tip being hyperosmolar as compared to the villus base. We conclude that a countercurrent exchanger (multiplier) exists in the villi of suckling swine. Its possible pathophysiological significance is discussed. PMID- 2618761 TI - Omeprazole: inhibitor of both acid formation and translocation in gastric mucosa. AB - Omeprazole, believed to inhibit H+, K+-ATPase, was used to study acid secretion dynamics in isolated gastric mucosa. Tissue was mounted in a chamber and continuously supplied with both fresh nutrient and secretory solution (flow through). Acid secretion was monitored on and recorded by a pH-stat microprocessor set-up. In spontaneously secreting mucosa the continuous presence of omeprazole causes a monotonic decline in secretion rate to a new lower steady state. The relationship between the inhibited steady-state acid secretion rate and omeprazole concentration is expressed by the sum of two hyperbolic functions with K1s differing by a factor of more than 100. When omeprazole is removed, the secretion rate always recovers. The amount of acid suppressed depends uniquely on omeprazole exposure: it is proportional to the exposure at low exposure and disproportionate (logarithmic) at high exposure. The index of conservation declines with omeprazole exposure, i.e. the inhibition by omeprazole ranges from conservative (no net loss of acid) to non-conservative (net loss of acid). Dithiothreitol causes the inhibition by omeprazole to be conservative (index of conservation = 0) at even higher omeprazole exposure. The index of conservation was introduced to allow for numerical evaluation of both inhibitory and stimulatory effects regardless of the magnitude of the effect. It is concluded that omeprazole acts at two different sites, possibly with inhibition by sulphoxide derivatives on the formation step and sulphide derivatives on the translocation step. PMID- 2618762 TI - Post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia in the heart, skeletal muscle and skin of control and capsaicin-pre-treated pigs. AB - In the present study we have tried to characterize and quantify the post occlusive hyperaemia in the pig heart, skeletal muscle and skin circulation. In addition, the possible involvement of caspaicin-sensitive sensory nerves in the reactive hyperaemia was investigated. Reperfusion after total stop-flow ischaemia for 1, 5 or 15 min elicited a marked hyperaemia in all vascular beds studied. The post-occlusive hyperaemia after 5 min ischaemia was 512 +/- 74%, 328 +/- 94% and 444 +/- 87% in the heart, femoral artery and saphenous artery respectively. Also, in the skin the blood flow following 5 min ischaemia was increased fivefold. Furthermore, the duration of the hyperaemia after 5 min ischaemia was significantly (P less than 0.01) longer in the heart (382 +/- 32 s) than that in the femoral artery (192 +/- 27 s), saphenous artery (182 +/- 48 s) and skin (95 +/- 14 s). Increasing the ischaemic time period prolonged the duration as well as elevated the peak increase of the hyperaemia. Capsaicin pre-treatment significantly reduced (by about 70%) the tissue levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactivity (-LI), which is present in sensory nerves, but not neuropeptide Y-LI, which is of sympathetic origin, in the left ventricle of the heart, quadriceps muscle and skin in the pig. However, there were no differences in the post-occlusive hyperaemia in control and capsaicin-pre-treated pigs. Capsaicin administered intracutaneously caused a long-lasting (about 20 min) increase in skin blood flow in the pig. This enhanced blood flow was completely abolished after systemic capsaicin pre-treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618763 TI - Beta-adrenoceptor agonists and hypoxia in sheep fetuses. AB - Sheep fetuses, near term, were studied to test the influence of a tocolytic beta agonist, terbutaline, on fetal responses to hypoxia. After fetal exteriorization the drug was administered intravenously to the mother in three different doses: The max group comprised 11 ewes receiving 67-134 micrograms min-1. Seven ewes were given 30 micrograms min-1 and eight ewes were infused with 10 micrograms min 1. Seventeen fetuses served as controls. Hypoxia was induced by intermittent complete occlusions of the maternal abdominal aorta. Maternal terbutaline levels were high (range 50-748 nmol l-1) in the max group and the 30-micrograms group, whereas those in the 10-micrograms group were in the clinical range (range 11-58 nmol l-1). Fetuses in the max and 30-micrograms groups reacted to moderate hypoxia with excessive responses of heart rate, blood pressure myocardial contractility and ST waveform changes and a 50% mortality rate during severe hypoxia as compared with 12% in the control animals. Ten micrograms min-1 did not decrease the survival but caused an increase in myocardial workload and a negative energy balance during severe hypoxia. PMID- 2618764 TI - Intraventricular injection of neurotensin reduces the binding of dopamine D-2 receptors in the rat forebrain. PMID- 2618765 TI - Sensations conducted by large and small myelinated afferent fibres are lost simultaneously under compression-ischaemia block. PMID- 2618766 TI - Regulation of glomerular angiotensin II receptors in hypertensive salt-sensitive Dahl rats: absence of response to variations in salt intake. PMID- 2618767 TI - [Synthesis of derivatives of 2,4-bis(arylmethino)-8-butyl-8- azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one]. AB - In the frame-work of continued search for novel compounds with potential cholagogic or antitumour activity, some derivatives of 2,4-bis-(arylmethino)-8 butyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one were synthesized. 8-Butyl-8 azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one was condensed with selected tolualdehydes, methoxybenzaldehydes and chlorobenzaldehydes, as well as with piperonal, furfural, dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, 3-pyridine-carboxaldehyde and 4-pyridine carboxaldehyde. Products of these reactions were isolated in the form of free bases or their hydrochlorides. The obtained compounds were subjected to pharmacological studies. Two as yet investigated compounds failed to induce statistically significant increase in the volume of secreted bile, but one of them was found to display cholinergic activity. PMID- 2618768 TI - [Synthesis and biological properties of various amino alcohol derivatives of xanthone]. AB - In the search for pharmacologically active derivatives of xanthone there were obtained amino alcohol derivatives of 2 methylxanthone (I-V). Effects of compounds Ia, IIa, III and IVa on the circulatory system were investigated. PMID- 2618769 TI - [Studies of thioamides and their derivatives. VIII. Products of decomposition of quaternary salts of 1-[alpha-alkylthio-p-dimethyl- amino)benzylidene]piperidine and 1-[alpha-alkylthio-(p-trialkyl- ammonio)benzylidene]piperidine]. AB - Products of decomposition of eight quaternary salts, derivatives of 1-[alpha alkylthio-(p-dimethylamino)benzylidene]-piperidinium, in water, ethanol, pyridine and glacial acetic acid were investigated. IR and UV spectra of the obtained decomposition products were measured, and the compounds were tested for cytostatic activity. PMID- 2618770 TI - [Effect of chemical structure of various penicillins on the stability of beta lactam group in their molecules. VI. Effects of relative humidity and heat on the stability of amoxicillin trihydrate and amoxicillin sodium in the solid phase]. AB - Dependence of stability of Amoxycillin trihydrate (AMOXY. 3H2O) and Amoxycillin Natrium (AMOXY-Na) upon relative humidity (RH) and temperature was investigated using the iodometric method for the determination of Amoxycillin. The first order rate constants and activation parameters have been determined at controlled moisture conditions. The straightline relationship lg k = f(RH) at T = const. has been stated, which however is fulfilled by AMOXY-Na only at RH greater than or equal to 50%. The calculated factors of the equation lg k = a + b.1/T + c.RH proved to enable estimation of the stability of the studied antibiotics at any climate conditions. The performed kinetic studies have shown that AMOXY-Na undergoes degradation about 1.5 x 10(3) times faster than AMOXY.3H2O, at RH greater than or equal to 50%. PMID- 2618771 TI - [Studies of physico-chemical properties and structure of aluminum hydrochloride obtained from aluminum isopropanolane]. AB - Aluminium hydroxide gels were precipitated from aluminium isopropoxide by addition of water or aqueous solutions of Na2SO4, NaCl and NaNO3. The antacid activity of the gels was assessed on the basis of determinations of their total capacity to neutralize HCl, while structure of the gels was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and IR spectrometry. It has been stated that prolonged storage, higher storage temperature and presence of water promote conversion of the active form of aluminium hydroxide gels in pharmaceutical preparations into less active forms. PMID- 2618772 TI - [Comparison of the methods of in vitro evaluation of the neutralizing properties of drugs from the antacid group]. AB - Usefulness of the pH-stat method for assaying the neutralizing activity of antacids was compared with the ones of the methods based on the determination of the action time by dynamic methods. A high level of correlation between the antacid dose and the neutralization capacity has been stated. The found relationships proved to enable optimization of the antacid dosage as well as prediction of the therapeutic effect. PMID- 2618773 TI - [Study of the cytostatic activity of various derivatives of 2-quinolinohydrazine and S-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoline]. AB - Antimitotic action of nine derivatives of 2-quinolinohydrazine and nine derivatives of s-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoline was examined in comparison with that of isonicotinic acid hydrazide. The Levan's cytological method, consisting in observation of disturbances in mitotic activity in meristematic cells of Allium cepa L. roots, was employed. PMID- 2618774 TI - Calcium and magnesium concentrations in affective disorder: difference between plasma and serum in relation to symptoms. AB - Morning (0800) plasma and serum and mean diurnal (24-h) serum calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations were investigated in 56 depressed patients, 32 with acute major depression, 26 of these restudied in remission, 24 patients with longstanding depression, mainly treated with lithium, and in 27 healthy controls. All subjects were rated with the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS). Significant differences between the groups were found for 0800 and 24-h serum Ca and Mg, 0800 plasma Mg, but not for 0800 plasma Ca. Elevations of serum Ca and Mg, plasma Mg but not plasma Ca were noted in the lithium-treated patients. Sex differences for plasma but not serum levels were seen in remission and in the controls. Depressive symptoms were negatively correlated to 0800 plasma Ca in the acute state and positively to 0800 and 24-h serum Ca and Mg in remission and longstanding depression. This difference between plasma and serum in relation to symptoms could reflect a change in a calcium binding factor present in plasma but not in serum, connected with biological factors of affective disease. PMID- 2618775 TI - Lithium-induced changes in the body mass index. AB - A total of 117 manic-depressives who had been on lithium for a mean duration of 4.7 years were examined before lithium therapy and subsequently at intervals. Information relating to pre-lithium height and weight and current weight were determined and used to calculate the body mass index (BMI) for each individual. Other relevant variables such as age, sex, cumulative lithium dose, duration of therapy, thyroid profile and serum lithium levels were recorded. The results indicated that, although there was a nonsignificant increase in BMI for the whole population, lithium and sex were not significant predictors of any increase in BMI. In nearly 27% of patients BMI actually slightly decreased during lithium therapy. The overall conclusions from this study are that, in the population studied, lithium may not have exerted any pharmacological effects to increase BMI. PMID- 2618776 TI - Subjective bias in reports of poor work adjustment in depressed patients. AB - Twenty-five depressed inpatients were asked to report their adjustment at work during the 4-month period preceding their hospitalization. Two separate reports were given: the first during the acute illness phase and the second one 10-28 days later, after symptomatic remission following standardized pharmacotherapy. Thirty-two percent more patient ratings showed absence of adjustment problems on the second report compared with the first. Significant differences between the 2 reports were found in 7 of the 9 items on the Structured and Scaled Interview to Assess Maladjustment, which is designed to assess specific aspects of maladjustment at work. The changes in the scores of maladjustment correlated with the changes in the scores of depressive symptoms, and 40% of the variation in maladjustment scores was accounted for by the pessimism item of the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Much of the poor work adjustment reported by the acutely depressed patients thus seems to be caused by symptom-related subjective bias. PMID- 2618777 TI - The dexamethasone suppression test and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. AB - The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was administered to 28 subjects who met DSM-III criteria for chronic schizophrenia and shared similar environments. Samples were assayed for both plasma cortisol and dexamethasone levels. After controlling for other factors, the mean postdexamethasone cortisol level (MPDC) was correlated with the patients' score on the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). A significant relationship emerged between these 2 parameters, suggesting that the social deterioration seen in chronic schizophrenia is at least partly related to a biological disease process as reflected by the DST. The importance of quantifying the level of dexamethasone in the DST is discussed. PMID- 2618778 TI - Differentiation and prediction in schizophrenia using the metacontrast technique. AB - A perceptgenetic, projective test procedure, the metacontrast technique, was performed in a series of 66 young schizophrenics at admission in a psychiatric institution. The test responses to tachistoscopic expositions of stimulus pairs with incongruent or threatening contents are classified in terms of defense strategies representative of neurotic and psychotic states. The sample tested was followed up clinically after 14-17 years. At inception the series of subjects was dichotomized into one nonregressive (latent, pseudoneurotic, n = 42) group and one regressive, with full-blown psychotic symptoms (n = 24). The distribution of response types did not differentiate between the groups; neurotic and psychotic patterns were represented in both. At follow-up, the initial presence of signs of repression was significantly more common in such initially nonregressive patients as had escaped a later psychotic breakdown. A compound expression of test signs, hypothesized to be a predictor of future development, was shown to differentiate also between categories of outcome in terms of clinical picture and working capacity. PMID- 2618779 TI - Predictors of postpartum adjustment. AB - Identification of women at risk for problems in postpartum adaptation could allow interventions that might prevent difficulties. Eighty-five women were followed from the second trimester of pregnancy to 12 months postpartum. One year postnatally, 27 women were found to have low global severity index scores on the Symptom Check List (SCL-90) (less than or equal to 0.16), while 17 women had high global severity index scores (greater than or equal to 0.46). The high scoring group were also significantly more dissatisfied with their marriages and their partners. The high scorers also had significantly higher global severity index scores and lower intimacy with spouse scores when measured at 12-16 weeks gestation. The SCL-90 and the Miller Social Intimacy Scale, when used in the second trimester of pregnancy, appear to predict the women who may have adjustment problems in the postpartum period. PMID- 2618780 TI - Electroconvulsive therapy and cerebral computed tomography. A prospective study. AB - Cerebral computed tomography (CT) was performed before and after right-sided electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in 40 patients aged 26-87 years with major affective disorders. Nine patients with a concomitant definite or possible non acute organic brain disorder were included. Several patients had long seizure durations, maximum 6.5 min, caused by hyperventilation-induced hypocapnia. Twenty nine patients received at least 16 treatments (maximum 46). No CT changes occurred following ECT. A questionable dilatation of the left temporal horn in a 69-year-old hypertensive man who recovered completely without side effects after 3 ECT sessions was probably unrelated to the ECT. Provided sufficient oxygenation, even relatively long ECT series and seizures lasting several minutes do not cause any brain damage visible on CT. PMID- 2618781 TI - Social relationships reflected by depressive inpatients. AB - In a study of 100 inpatients suffering from depressive symptoms, the influence of cognitive characteristics (negative automatic thoughts and dysfunctional attitudes) and of the severity of depression on the emotional reflections of social relationships were investigated at admission, discharge and 3 months follow-up. The reflections of strained relation and rejection in the family or partnership were significantly determined by negative cognitive patterns and severity of depression. The prognostic aspects of the assessed psychological characteristics and the psychotherapeutic implications of the results are discussed. PMID- 2618782 TI - Outcome of panic and depression in a seven-year follow-up: results of the Zurich study. AB - In this study, the association and outcome of panic and depression were investigated in an epidemiological cohort of young adults interviewed at age 21, 23, and 28. The prevalence rates of sporadic panic, panic disorder, major depression, and recurrent brief depression were very stable. There was a clear preponderance of females in all diagnoses. Panic and depression overlapped to a large extent cross-sectionally at all 3 interviews, and this overlap increased in a longitudinal perspective. For the analysis of outcome, the subjects were divided into 4 groups according to their diagnosis at the first interview: pure panic, pure depression, mixed panic and depression, and controls. Irrespective of the first diagnosis, the 7-year outcome showed a strong tendency to develop into pure depression or mixed panic and depression at follow-up interviews. In a longitudinal perspective, cases that suffered from both panic and depression appeared more severely ill, as expressed in very high treatment rates and a high rate of lifetime suicide attempts. PMID- 2618783 TI - Delusional disorders. I. Comparative long-term outcome. AB - Of 301 first-admitted patients with delusional psychoses, 94 met DSM-III criteria of schizophrenia (S), 53 paranoid disorder (PD), 47 schizophreniform disorder (SFD), 35 schizoaffective disorder (SAD), 54 major affective disorder (AD), and 18 other disorders (OD). Retterstol selected the patients and personally interviewed them after 5-18 years, and later the author interviewed them after 22 39 (mean 30) years. At last follow-up good functioning was noticed in 42%, moderate symptoms in 22%, severe defect in 20%, and very severe defect in 16%; 40% were still delusional. On average S patients did poorest, and OD patients slightly better. AD patients had superior outcome, while PD, SFD and SAD patients showed an intermediate position, but a little closer to AD than to S. However, heterogeneous course and outcome was noticed in all diagnostic groups. PMID- 2618784 TI - Delusional disorders. II. Predictor analysis of long-term outcome. AB - A sample of 301 patients with delusional psychoses was personally followed up an average of 10 years after first admission (by Retterstol), and 30 years after admission (by the author). Using a multivariate technique the following significant predictors of outcome emerged: discharge diagnosis according to DSM III (accounted for most of the total variance), marital status, and Axis V at 10 year outcome, and diagnosis, marital status, and gender at 30-year outcome. No significant difference of outcome was found between patients living in urban and rural areas in bivariate or multivariate analyses. Women did slightly better than men at 10-year follow-up, but at 30-year follow-up men did significantly better. These results may be consistent with the hypothesis that other factors than those occurring during the premorbid period are manifest in the later course of the disorder. However, Axes IV and V proved useful, stressing the necessity of working with social as well as psychopathological issues when patients are treated. PMID- 2618785 TI - The use of case vignettes in studies of interrater reliability of psychiatric target syndromes and diagnoses. A comparison of ICD-8, ICD-10 and DSM-III. AB - This study is part of the ICD-10 field trials in which the use of case vignettes for interrater agreement has been examined. From our electronic database of 880 consecutively admitted inpatients we selected 24 cases that were transcribed to vignettes covering the first 5 ICD-10 target syndrome of dementia, substance use disorders, schizophrenia, mood and anxiety disorders. ICD-10 was compared with ICD-8 and DSM-III. The results showed that all 3 standard classification systems obtained an acceptable interrater agreement. Among the diagnoses, depressive disorders gave rise to most disagreement between the raters. Discrepancies between the methods of measuring interrater agreement were found when intraclass reliability was compared with consensus calculations for the individual patient. PMID- 2618786 TI - Inpatient adolescent psychiatry in a teaching hospital in Nigeria. AB - The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 84 adolescents admitted to the psychiatric unit of a teaching hospital in Nigeria were studied. Their ages ranged from 12-20 years (mean 17). The pattern of psychiatric disorders in this population reflected the pattern in the adult population. Major psychoses comprising schizophrenia (44%), organic brain syndrome (23%), and affective disorders (16%) predominated. Infections and drug abuse are preventable causes of organic brain syndrome. Male adolescents were as likely to be hospitalized for a major psychiatric disorder as female adolescents. The peak period for psychopathology is late adolescence. The contributions of such factors as rural urban migration, birth order, family size, polygamy and genetics to the etiology of major mental disorders in this population require further investigations. Understanding the prevalence and pattern of presentation of mental disorders in all age groups is essential for effective mental health planning. PMID- 2618787 TI - Spatial concentration of the incidence of treated psychiatric disorders in Mannheim. AB - The spatial concentration of the incidence of treated psychiatric disorders in Mannheim was determined in 2 ways. The first, the classical zone model according to Neller (1), distinguishes an inner, intermediate and outer zone. This concept was applied to data from an ecological study conducted by Hafner et al. (2) in 1965 and to those derived from the Cumulative Psychiatric Case Register for the years 1974-1980. For the second period of time we developed, in addition, a factor ecological concept. The 23 districts of Mannheim were divided into 5 areas that were as homogeneous as possible in terms of segregation and density. There was a marked increase in the concentration index for schizophrenia in the inner zone, as well as for neuroses and personality disorders between 1974-1980 as compared with 1965. There were strong concentrations in the inner zone during both periods of study for the diagnosis of alcoholism and drug addiction. Although in 1965 there was a visible concentration trend in the inner zone for affective psychoses, it had almost vanished between 1974-1980. Using the factor ecological classification we demonstrated that, with the exception of affective psychoses and neurotic depression, all diseases concentrate in the city areas that, besides being centrally located, are characterized by high population density, poor housing conditions, low social status of the residents and where foreign nationals were segregated in the 1970s. PMID- 2618788 TI - Economic motivation for smoking cessation in chronic psychotic patients. AB - For many chronic psychotic patients the sole motivation to discontinue tobacco smoking may involve economic reasons. As institutions increasingly adopt no smoking policies, economic motives for smoking cessation may take on added importance in assisting this population with smoking cessation. PMID- 2618789 TI - Effects of goal-related motivational states on the orienting of spatial attention. AB - Three experiments are presented indicating that motivational processes arising from incentive and feedback signals exert specific effects on the orienting of visual spatial attention. Subjects played a video game in which targets were presented in one of two peripheral locations. Pre-target cues were employed to orient attention to a location where points could be gained (positive incentive cue), to a location where points could be lost (negative incentive cue) or to neither location (neutral cue). Cost-benefit analyses were used to assess the consequences of such orienting. Although there was no evidence of general attentional biases favoring positive over negative incentives, all three experiments demonstrated an interaction between the incentive value of the current trial and the outcome of the previous trial. Following unsuccessful outcomes, attentional costs were greater for positive than negative incentives, whereas following successful outcomes, costs were larger for negative than positive cues. This pattern was evident for tasks involving detection, perceptual discrimination and memory scanning. These findings are discussed in light of contemporary models of motivation and the control of attention. PMID- 2618790 TI - Resources and dual-task performance; resource allocation versus task integration. AB - This study aims at contributing to the explanation of dual-task performance in terms of either resource allocation or of task interference and integration. Twenty-four subjects carried out, single and in combination, a motor interval production task and a perceptual target detection task on the basis of combined memory and display search. The demands of the target detection task were varied by increasing or decreasing the presentation rate of successive search displays. Furthermore, the presentation rate was either constant or variable. The dual-task condition had a negative effect on interval production, the extent of which was unaffected by either rate or variability of display presentation. This means that there was no evidence for synchronizing interval production with display presentation, so that the major opportunity for task integration did not substantiate. It is suggested that the two tasks use different resource pools in addition to a common mechanism, the limited capacity of which causes a general interference in dual-task conditions. PMID- 2618791 TI - Attention to auditory and peripheral visual stimuli: effects of arousal and predictability. AB - Changes in the distribution of attention among auditory and peripheral visual stimuli were examined in a choice reaction time paradigm. Two variables were manipulated: predictability of stimulus locations and arousal state of subjects. The arousal level of some subjects was raised by occasionally exposing them to brief, mild electric shocks. On most trials either a tone or a light was presented alone (single-stimulus trials). However, on 20% of the trials both a tone and light were presented simultaneously (dual trials). Two dependent variables were used to assess dominance of attention: reaction time (on all trials) and percentage of time each modality was chosen on dual trials. Neither modality was dominant when subjects were in a nonaroused state and stimulus locations were unpredictable. However, peripheral vision dominated when stimulus locations were predictable or when the subjects' level of arousal was raised. The results are discussed with reference to previous research on sensory dominance and on the facilitating or inhibiting effects of auditory stimuli on reaction time. PMID- 2618792 TI - Effect of learning on production of duration in variable motor conditions. AB - It has been suggested that increasing proprioceptive feedback and ensuring its consistency from trial to trial favours timing accuracy. The progressive acquisition of a timing performance with isometric and anisometric responses was investigated in conditions of 'inconsistent feedback', with two different methods: counting seconds or not. Subjects gripped the handle of a dynamometer during precisely 5 seconds in 4 randomly distributed conditions: 'Weak' or 'Strong' constant force, 'Slow' or 'Rapid' variable force. A first group produced the durations without counting and a second group counted seconds either mentally or aloud. Learning was examined in 4 successive blocks of trials. Average produced durations did not differ as a function of group, but the variability was reduced when subjects counted seconds. In both groups, the constant force conditions induced more accurate responses than the variable force conditions in the first block of trials. 'Slow' and 'Rapid' conditions were respectively associated with overestimation and under-estimation of response duration. These trends diminished progressively with learning. Both groups yielded sequential effects linked to duration and independent of condition. These data suggest that, whether subjects counted or not, learning was not based on condition-specific proprioceptive feedback. It may involve the elaboration of an internal temporal reference common to all conditions. PMID- 2618793 TI - Eye fixations are influenced by the distribution of information within words. AB - Reader's eye movements were monitored while they inspected isolated words in preparation for a synonym judgement task. The 10-letter words appeared on a screen near the point of fixation, with the first fixation being imposed near the beginning, or the centre, or the ending of the word. The words themselves had uneven distributions of information, in that the beginnings or the endings contained common sequences of letters in English. Three types of words were used: those with very redundant endings (e.g., yearningly), with moderately redundant endings (e.g., varnishing), and with moderately redundant beginnings (e.g., contravene). Redundancy was defined in terms of the total number of words in English which possess that particular sequence of five letters as the beginning or the ending. The experiments asked whether the convenient viewing location within a word varied according to the distribution of information, and whether the extent of redundancy in a word ending is reflected in the distribution of visual attention given to the word. The results were analysed separately for those cases where the reader made just two fixations upon the word before moving to the synonym task, and for those cases where the reader made exactly three fixations. These were the dominant fixation patterns. Evidence for the notion of a convenient viewing position consisted of long first fixations (when there were just two fixations), when this fixation was near the centre of the word. The distribution of information within the words did not influence the duration of the first fixation, although the duration of the gaze within each half-word did increase when more informative letter sequences were being inspected. The extent of redundancy was also seen to influence the inspection patterns, when a comparison was made between the two types of words with redundant endings. Words with very redundant endings received fewer fixations when the first fixation was at the beginning, and for words gaining exactly two fixations, the second fixation was shorter if the word had a very redundant ending. PMID- 2618794 TI - The effects of kinetic occlusion and categorization on amodal completion. A comment on Gerbino and Salmaso (1987). AB - The experimental study of Gerbino and Salmaso (1987) focused on the process of amodal completion, i.e. the process that leads to the impression of a total pattern in the absence of information about all parts of the pattern. One of the questions that they have attempted to answer with respect to this process is whether or not it depends on the categorization of the modal part (i.e. the part about which visual information is present) as a modification of a complete prototype. The major conclusion of their experiments is that amodal completion does not depend upon categorization. Furthermore, they interpret their results as indicating that neither the truncated form of the occluded part nor the unification/segregation of contour segments are phenomenally real. We designed some variants of the tunnel effect to demonstrate (1) that the explicit categorization of some parts of the input can have an influence on amodal completion and (2) that the truncated form of a pattern can be phenomenally real. Our results corroborate these hypotheses and can, therefore, interpreted as refuting two rather central claims of Gerbino and Salmaso (1987). The conclusion of our experiment must be that amodal completion is not as primary as they have supposed but can be influenced by kinetic occlusion and categorization stored in visual memory. PMID- 2618795 TI - Mental health in Dutch adolescents: self-reported competencies and problems for ages 11-18. AB - Beside parents and teachers, adolescents themselvess may be valuable informants about their own psychological functioning. The present study, which provides prevalence data on behavioral/emotional problems and competencies reported by adolescents aged 11-18 from the general population, was preceded by two studies providing such data for parent and teacher reported problems. The instrument used in the present study is the Youth Self Report (YSR) developed by Achenbach and Edelbrock to obtain adolescents' self-reports on their problems and competencies in a standardized way. YSRs completed by 52 adolescents on two occasions with a time-interval of 3-4 weeks revealed test-retest reliability expressed as intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.87 for total problem scores and 0.69 for total competence scores. The YSR was completed by 941 adolescents aged 11-18 from the general population. For each of the 103 problem items and 17 competence items, the prevalence rates were presented graphically for both genders in two year age-groups. To identify differences related to sex, age and socio-economic status (SES), ANCOVAs were performed on the scores for each problem and competence item as well as on total problem and total competence scores. Whereas the level of problem scores was the same across the 11-18 years age-span, girls obtained higher total problem scores with increasing age. Younger girls scored lower and older girls scored somewhat higher than boys. Implications of these findings with respect to sex differences in referral rates for children and adults are discussed. The increase with increasing age in self-reports of problems concerning inner feelings and thoughts may reflect the adolescent's change in cognitive, socio-emotional and physical functioning. We could not demonstrate significant SES differences in problem scores. Comparisons of problem scores obtained for referred and nonreferred adolescents revealed a correct classification rate of 73.6%, which seems satisfactory given the fact that parents rather than the adolescent usually initiate referrals. Comparisons of problem item scores in ANCOVAs of referred and nonreferred samples revealed significant referral status effects for 68 of the 103 problem items, with referred adolescents scoring higher than nonreferred adolescents. The largest effect of referral status was found for the item "Nervous". The third largest effect was obtained for the item "Unhappy, sad, depressed", which also showed strong discrimination between parent scores for referred and nonreferred samples. Competence scores showed much weaker discrimination between referred and nonreferred groups. PMID- 2618796 TI - [The state of the art in pediatric cardiology]. PMID- 2618797 TI - [The state of the art in otology]. PMID- 2618798 TI - Clinical applications of SPECT with special reference to oncology. PMID- 2618799 TI - [Pheochromocytoma. Various genetic aspects]. PMID- 2618800 TI - [Collapse of the aortic valve in dilated myocardiopathies: echocardiographic study]. AB - In order to clarify the early systolic partial closure (notching) of aortic valve in patients (pts) with dilated cardiomyopathy (DC), authors (AA) evaluated the M mode echocardiograms corresponding to 41 pts with DC. Pts were separated in two groups, according to the presence of systolic notching: group A (18 pts) presenting systolic notching; group B (23 pts) in which no systolic notching was observed. For each group, the same echocardiographic parameters were evaluated related to aortic root, left atrium, left ventricule (LV), aortic valve and mitral valve. Both groups were compared statistically. Results--Group A presented a reduced motion of aortic root and greater initial maximal aortic cuspids separation. AA therefore conclude that in pts with DC the systolic notching has no eventual relation with mitral regurgitation. In this setting no conclusions about LV function can be inferred, and it is suggested that systolic notching may bear some relation with differences in the distribution of transvalvular aortic flow. PMID- 2618801 TI - [Pulmonary embolism in acute myocardial infarct. Clinico-anatomic study of 19 cases]. AB - The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of pulmonary embolism as the cause of death in acute myocardial infarction; to define the anatomic and clinical profile of a subset of patients deceased by pulmonary embolism; to study the localization and characteristics of pulmonary emboli. An anatomic and clinical protocol was systematically applied to the dying patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted in a CCU of an University Hospital. Therefore, 193 patients consecutively deceased by acute myocardial infarction were studied. Sixty-four clinical parameters were evaluated together with 34 anatomic parameters concerning a very discriminative anatomic study protocol. The sole exclusion criterion for necrotic study was the lack of family consent; necropsy was thus performed in 77% of patients. Therefore, we verified that the incidence of pulmonary embolism as the cause of death was 9.8%. Delay in admission as well as the interval between the onset of symptoms and death, were longer in the deceased by pulmonary embolism than in subjects showing other causes of death. Bradycardia was absent in pulmonary embolism patients, and asystole was the terminal electric accident in the great majority of cases; heart weight was greater, and biventricular infarction and right ventricular thrombosis were also more frequent in this subset of patients. In almost half of cases, pulmonary emboli were located in the main pulmonary artery, being multiple and peripheral in four. PMID- 2618802 TI - [Alcoholism in an industrial population: diagnosis, prevalence and conditioning factors]. AB - The pattern of alcohol consumption has been studied among 92 males, workers in a factory of the Lisbon area. In this population there were three groups of ethanol consumers: I--non consumers, 6%; II--medium, up to 80g/day, 68%; III--heavy consumers, more than 80g/day, 26%. Another group (IV) was considered, for reference, with 23 patients with heavy alcoholism in the outpatients of an alcoholic addicts clinic. Besides the clinical questionnaire and medical examination, the following methods have been used and analysed: brief MAST; Le Go, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), serum glutamic oxalacetic Trasaminase (SGOT), and gama-glutamyl transpepticlase (gamma GT). The mean ethanol consumption in group IV was significantly higher than in group III (p less than 0.005), and in group III higher than in group II (p less than 0.001). Group IV demarked itself form group III due to a higher prevalence of symptoms of physical dependence (p less than 0.001), and of consumption of tranquilizers (p less than 0.01). In group III the sensitivity of brief MAST has been only 8.5% and of Le Go 13%. An increased MCV was found in 20% of individuals in group I, 4.9% in group II, 20% in group IV. The SGOT was normal in groups I and II, and increased in 8.7% of group III and 30.4% of group IV (p less than 0.05). The gamma GT was normal in group I and abnormal in 4.7% of group IV (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, approximately 25% of the workers have an excessive ethanol consumption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618803 TI - [A case of Wilson's disease studied using magnetic resonance: a new approach?]. AB - Wilson's disease is a genetically determined disorder of copper metabolism with increased deposition in brain and liver. With current imaging techniques--CT scan and conventional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)--it has been possible to demonstrate oedema, neuronal loss and reactive gliosis, but not copper deposition. In the present study we report the observations, done in one patient, using a new high magnetic field (1.5 Tesla) NMR device. In these circumstances, we are able to expand the CT scan analysis by showing not only the oedema and the brain cell death but also the probable existence of copper deposits. Will this be true, it is first instance in which it has been possible to demonstrate, by a non invasive method, increased copper deposition in Wilson's disease. This possibility may be important to monitor the therapeutic efficacy of chelating agents and also to distinguish asymptomatic homozygous patients from heterozygous healthy carriers. PMID- 2618804 TI - [Technics and technicians. Apropos of the extra-peritoneal approach to the aorta]. PMID- 2618805 TI - [Acute pancreatitis: inflammatory effusions--course and prognosis]. AB - Ten to twenty per cent of Acute Pancreatitis (AP) attacks are severe and their evolution depends on regional or systemic complications and medical of surgical management applied. Three hundred and twelve cases of AP were retrospectively studied, 51 of which had pancreatic or peripancreatic effusions (early fluid effusion--14%; pseudocyst--14%; phlegmon--43% abscess--29%). Mortality in this group (33%) was greater than in the overall population (5.9%): Alcoholic etiology, concomitant systemic complications and early surgery were determinant factors. Prognostic criteria evaluated had a predictive value of about 80%. Fifty per cent of patients with phlegmon had spontaneous resolution after medical intensive care management. Diagnosis of secondary infection of pancreatic and peripancreatic necrosis is determinant for optimal surgical management. Mortality in abscess was 40%, greater when surgical drainage was done in the first two weeks of disease. PMID- 2618806 TI - [Spirometric alterations caused by hemodialysis. Their relation to changes in the parameters commonly used to measure hemodialysis efficiency]. AB - The Forced Expiratory Volume in the 1st second (FEV1) and the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) was determined before and after a hemodialysis (HD), in 61 patients suffering from chronic renal failure (CRF). Before and after the same HD the value of the following parameters were determined: Na; K; Cl; Urea; Creatinine, Ca; P and hematocrit. We found the following values: initial FEV1 91.68%, final FEV1 100.35%, (P less than 0.001); initial FVC 87.4%, final FVC 95.87% (P less than 0.001). The 61 patients were separated in two sub-groups. In the first the FEV1 variation less than or equal to 8%, while in the second it was greater than 8%. The mean variation of the other parameters was determined in both sub-group. No significant difference was found between them. On the other hand a significant correlation was found (r = 0.06, P less than 0.03) between the improvement of pulmonary function and the ponderal loss. The correction of the hydrosaline overload seems to be an important factor in the reported spirometric improvement. PMID- 2618807 TI - [Kidney disease and pregnancy. Experience at the nephrology unit of Saint Mary's Hospital]. AB - 29 pregnancies in 27 renal patients were reviewed. The etiology of renal disease was mainly glomerular (14 patients). At the beginning of pregnancy 11 patients had renal failure and 14 patients had a high blood pressure. Only two patients had pregnancy related worsening of the renal function (the two patients had a normal renal function before pregnancy). Maternal morbidity was infrequent with no mortality. Fetal loss was 21.5% related to prematurity. There were no congenital anomalies. Renal failure at the beginning of pregnancy caused an obstetric risk factor. (greater fetal prematurity and mortality). PMID- 2618808 TI - [Relation of thyroid hormones with the total and specific serum activity of N acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase]. AB - Total serum N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), isoenzyme A (labile) and isoenzyme B (stable) activities were determined in euthyroid controls and in thyroid disease. In twenty hyperthyroid individuals total NAG (856.9 +/- 122,676 nmols/h/ml and isoenzyme A (490.3 +/- 93.592) as well as isoenzyme B (361.6 +/- 66,371), were higher than the levels in nineteen hypothyroid [total NAG = 533.105 +/- 97.927 (p less than 0.001); isoenzyme A = 280.263 +/- 61.463 (p less than 0.001); isoenzyme B = 251,580 +/- 50,530 (p less than 0.001)] or in twenty euthyroid [total NAG = 555.55 +/- 75.59 (p less than 0.001); isoenzyme A = 316.85 +/- 55.0 (p less than 0.001); isoenzyme B = 238.95 +/- 39.60 (p less than 0.001)]. Monthly assays were performed in seven hypothyroid and eleven hyperthyroid over the course of their corrective treatment with L-thyroxine (LT4: 0.1-0.2 mg (day) and propylthiouracil (PTU: 0.3-0.4/day), respectively. Total T4 was taken as the criterion for thyroid status. The reduction of hormone activity in seven hyperthyroid was accompanied by a significant decrease in enzyme activity (NAG = p less than 0.02; isoenzyme A = p less than 0.02). Isoenzyme B displayed no significant variation. In four hyperthyroid submitted to treatment with PTU there was no reduction in NAG activity and although T4 came down to normal levels. These patients still displayed symptoms of hyperthyroidism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618809 TI - [Ceroid-lipofuscinosis: ultrastructural study of 8 cases]. AB - The authors studied the clinical and ultrastructural features of 8 cases of Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinosis (NCL). Five cases of the late-infantile type and 3 cases of the juvenile type. The clinical diagnosis of all cases was confirmed by the electron microscopy analysis of the peripheral blood lymphocytes and biopsy material from the skin, palpebral conjunctiva, skeletal muscle and rectal mucosa. Our observations agree with previous reports concerning the predominance of curvilinear bodies in the cells of the late infantile type, and fingerprint-like structures in those of the juvenile type. The finding of parallel tubular arrays and NCL inclusions associated in the same lymphocyte (frequently in the same vacuole) suggests that those structures could be related to the metabolic error of NCL. Ultrastructural examination of microbuffycoats of peripheric blood lymphocytes is a simple, time-saving and reliable method that allows specific confirmation of a clinical diagnosis of Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinosis. PMID- 2618810 TI - Acute renal failure and nephrotic syndrome after maneb exposure. A new case with light and electron microscopic study. AB - A new case of nephrotoxic effect of Maneb is related. The patient used this product as fungicide and developed a progressive illness with acute renal failure. The study by light and electron microscopy revealed severe tubular lesions that disappeared some months later with tubular cell regeneration. However, in spite of the renal function returning to normal, a steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome persisted with glomerular minimal change like lesions. PMID- 2618811 TI - [Hyperplastic polyp of the colon]. AB - On re-examining 477 polyps of the colon obtained by endoscopic polypectomy, the authors describe a type of polyp with they have called hyperplasiogenous. This polyp is characterised by a proliferation of rectilinear glands, divided at their base, forming a connecting spur; this spur may form a more complex alveolar or tubulo-alveolar structure. The glands have cells with a tall, clear cytoplasm and a small, homogeneous nucleus with no irregularities or metaplasia. Endoscopically, they are small, sessile and either the same colour as the mucous membrane or redder. They are located mainly in the rectum and sigmoid colon. They are more frequently found in men and begin to appear after the age of thirty. They are often associated with tumours of the colon. The authors consider possible that the hyperplasiogenous polyp may represent an initial stage of adenoma. PMID- 2618812 TI - Tumour-surgery within the central motor strip: surgical results with the aid of electrical motor cortex stimulation. AB - Surgery of tumours within or close to the central motor area always carries the risk of a new or increased postoperative motor deficit. One reason may be the difficulty of localizing the sensorimotor region, when it is displaced or distorted by the tumour and the perifocal oedema. Recently anatomical data of the craniocerebral topography of the central sulcus became available. We safely used under general anaesthesia the intraoperative mapping of the motor cortex by direct cortical electrical stimulation. In 21 patients tumours adjacent to or within the motor area were microsurgically resected. As a result of intraoperative localization the surgical approach had to be modified in contrast to the preoperative localization of the lesion in 5 patients. No new or increased motor deficit occurred and in some cases the preoperative weakness was reduced remarkably. PMID- 2618813 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging of the intracranial epidermoid. AB - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in five cases of intracranial epidermoid. In three of the five patients, the low-density mass on the CT scans showed as low intensity on the T 1 and high intensity on the T2 weighted images. In the two other patients, the masses with high or isodensity on CT showed as high intensity on the T 1 weighted images and as high or low intensity on the T 2 weighted images. Thus, the intensity of epidermoid on MRI correlated fairly well with the CT density, although the former was more variable. The variety of intensities on MRI reflects differences in the chemical composition of the components in the epidermoid tissue in addition to differences in the solid and liquid state of the tissue. An epidermoid could have similar MRI findings as an arachnoid cyst with regard to intensities but its irregular margin provides a useful guide for differentiation. As in other tumours, MRI is superior for evaluation of the size and the extent of the epidermoid as well as the displacement of important neurovascular structures. PMID- 2618814 TI - The role of cerebrospinal compensatory parameters in the estimation of functioning of implanted shunt system in patients with communicating hydrocephalus (preliminary report). AB - Twelve patients presenting with communicating hydrocephalus were studied. In 9 cases where the mean ICP level remained below 10 mmHg the symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus were observed. All of the patients were treated by shunt system implantation. The clinical and psychological state, cranial computerized tomography and parameters of the cerebrospinal compensatory mechanisms, evaluated using the constant rate infusion test were compared before and after treatment. In most of the patients (11) the pathologically enlarged ventricles persisted. Only in three cases no clinical improvement was noticed. In this group the resistance to the cerebrospinal fluid absorption and the fluid formation rate were estimated as normal. In the group with improvement the normalization of the resistance (4), decrease in the cerebrospinal fluid formation rate (4) and decrease in the cerebrospinal system elasticity (1) can be pointed out as factors responsible for improvement manifested after shunting. Therefore the resorption resistance and the formation of cerebrospinal fluid should be considered as predictive factors in the shunt implantation in hydrocephalic patients, and play an important role in the diagnosis of this entity. PMID- 2618815 TI - Creatine-kinase-BB after severe head-injury as an index of prognosis in relation to nature of trauma and patients age. AB - Creatine-Kinase-BB (CK-BB) is a brain specific enzyme, with a prognostic value for the patient's outcome after head-injury. We have investigated 76 brain injured patients and attempted to show a correlation of the concentrations of CK BB and the Glasgow-Outcome-Scale (GOS). Patients with a CK-BB concentration of more than 50 ng/ml died. Patients, who had a CK-BB concentration less than 25 ng/ml showed only minimal neurological deficits. Intracerebral contusions and acute subdural haematomas showed the highest CK-BB concentration, indicating a high degree of braintissue-damage. CK-BB seems to have no correlation with the age of patients. Normalisation of elevated CK-BB levels do not correlate with recovery from neurological deficit. PMID- 2618816 TI - Short-term outcome in lumbar spine surgery. A prospective study (Part I). AB - A prospective survey of the outcome of lumbar surgery was carried out under conditions where all intervention was according to routine procedures. Of a consecutive series of patients 132 cases (92%) could be evaluated. The aim was to investigate possible predictive factors among self-reported data and clinical data readily available under routine circumstances. Follow-up was for six months post-operatively. Surgical findings were: herniated disc (62%), osteochondrosis (21%), other pathology (7%), and negative findings (10%). Unsatisfactory outcome was either relapse, operation before follow-up (9%) or persisting pain (30%). The surgical finding of a disc herniation predicted a significantly better outcome than any other finding. Cases previously operated upon (20%) fared equal with those operated upon for the first time irrespective of surgical findings. Self reported weighting of preoperative pain and its location showed that predominant sciatica was significantly associated with the finding of a disc herniation, but also with satisfactory outcome irrespective of the operative finding. Factors without predictive value included sex, age, number of prior back surgeries, duration and impact of symptoms, and clinical findings. The social consequences were associated with the duration of low back disease. PMID- 2618817 TI - Further observations on spinal meningeal nerves and their role in pain production. AB - Fifty-one cases of patients with back problems plus radiculopathy following the standard laminotomy or laminectomy for disc or spur excision were subjected to spinal meningeal denervation procedures. The results have been satisfactory. An autopsy finding on a patient with two previous disc surgeries was reported. There was considerable anatomical disruption of the meningeal nerves with myxoid intrafascicular changes similar to a Morton's neuroma (perineural fibromatosis), but with intact intradural spinal nerves, indicating that the damage to meningeal nerves may have been the cause of her pain. PMID- 2618818 TI - Hormonal modulation of brain tumour growth: a cell culture study. AB - Tissue samples derived from two neuroepithelial tumours and five meningiomas were obtained at surgery from seven patients and cultured in order to study the effect of dexamethasone (DEX) and testosterone acetate (TA) on cell proliferation. Glucocorticoid and androgen receptors (GR, AR) were determined both on tissue samples (7 cases) and on five out of the seven cell cultures obtained by tumours. GR and AR were present respectively in 5 and in 4 out of the tumour specimens assayed and in 4/5 and 2/3 of the tested cell cultures. DEX activity on cell growth was tested on six cell cultures. Four of them showed a significant growth inhibition at the highest drug concentration. On the contrary, a significant growth stimulation was observed in four out of the five cultures, where GR were present, using low hormone concentrations. Treatment with pharmacological doses of TA caused a significant cytotoxicity in all the tested cultures. Low TA concentrations inhibited cell growth in one out of the two cell cultures which contained AR, but were ineffective in cultures lacking AR. Our preliminary results suggest a possible role in growth regulation by DEX and TA in intracranial tumours, on the basis of the presence of specific hormone receptors. PMID- 2618819 TI - The importance of protein content in the oedema fluid for the resolution of brain oedema. AB - The infusion model of oedema is developed in the rat. Unilateral, constant volume, intracerebral infusions of oedema fluid of varying protein (bovine albumin) concentrations are performed. Brain tissue is analyzed for water content using the gravimetric technique. The authors find significant differences in the spatial distribution of brain water in the different infusion groups at 48 and 72 hours post infusion. The control infusate (mock cerebrospinal fluid) clears by 72 hours. However, infusates containing protein (32.5 and 65.0 mg/ml albumin) are not completely cleared until 5 to 8 days post infusion, with the less concentrated solution clearing more rapidly in the area of infusion at 72 and 96 hours post infusion. The data support the hypothesis that the rate of clearance of vasogenic brain oedema is dependent on the amount of extravasated protein. PMID- 2618820 TI - Vestibulospinal evoked potential versus motor evoked potential monitoring in experimental spinal cord injuries of cats. AB - Changes in vestibulospinal evoked potentials (VsEP) and motor evoked potentials (MEP) were examined in 10 cats before and after two different weight-dropping spinal cord injuries. In six animals somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) were also monitored. The recordings were done from epidural spinal cord electrodes. Before and after severe and light weight-dropping spinal cord injuries all 3 modalities were recorded at the same time intervals till the end of 4th hour postinjury. According to a scoring system, evoked potential changes below and above the level of injury were monitored, and compared with each other. This study showed that the different motor stimulation methods use different descending spinal tracts, and both can be useful as a monitoring tool. Both descending tracts carrying VsEP and MEP had similarly remarkable changes after severe spinal cord injury. These consisted of major deformation, development of an evoked injury potential and complete potential loss. During the 4 hour monitoring period, no case showed EP recovery in the severe injury group. Light spinal cord injury caused somewhat more deterioration in MEPs than VsEP. The higher numbers of severe potential alterations in the lightly injured animals suggest that MEP is a more sensitive method for spinal cord monitoring compared to VsEP and also to SEP. On the other hand, this sensitivity might be a disadvantage during intraoperative monitoring, if MEP alone were used. PMID- 2618821 TI - Diffuse axonal injury after severe head trauma. A clinico-pathological study. AB - Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) is a well known entity that affects many patients with severe head trauma. Classically DAI has been considered the pathological substrate of those cases rendered unconscious at the moment of impact and in which the CT scan does not show mass lesions. Diffuse axonal damage is almost always related to mechanisms of injury in which the rotational acceleration produces shear and tensile strains of high magnitude. In this paper we present a group of 24 patients with a severe head injury in whom the postmortem examination demonstrated unequivocal signs of DAI. Widespread axonal retraction balls, located preferentially in the centrum semiovale and internal capsule were the most constant histological finding. We divided the entire series into two subgroups. One group (15 cases), included all the patients in whom the CT scan did not demonstrate mass lesions. In the second group (9 patients) we considered patients with a diffuse axonal injury in whom the CT scan additionally demonstrated a mass lesion (6 acute subdural haematomas, 2 intracerebral and 1 extradural haematoma). The mean age of the entire group was 26 years. Twenty two patients were injured in a road traffic accident, the remaining two fell from a considerable height. All were rendered immediately unconscious on impact. Diffuse brain damage is a common finding in patients with a severe head injury and immediate coma in whom the CT scan does not show mass lesions. Diffuse axonal injury can also appear in connection with a wide spectrum of focal lesions (acute subdural haematoma, basal ganglia haematoma etc.).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618822 TI - Spinal intrathecal empyema due to Actinomyces israelii. AB - The authors report a case of a spinal intrathecal empyema caused by Actinomyces israelii in a patient who had been diagnosed, four years previously, of a left petrous apex abscess due to an unknown microorganism. The clinical course is outlined and the possibility of both lesions being related is discussed. PMID- 2618823 TI - Intraspinal thoracolumbar dermoid. Case report. AB - A dermoid is a congenital tumour. An intraspinal dermoid tumour is very rare. Most reported cases have been in children. The oldest case in literature was 40 years old. We report a case in which a 46 year old woman had a thoracolumbar intraspinal dermoid. The dermoid was partially removed by operation. The condition of the patient improved. Control MR-scan showed that the remaining tumour extended up to the level of the tenth thoracic vertebra. If radical tumour removal is difficult, e.g. due to strong capsule-tissue adherence or long tumour extension, it seems to be advisable not to force radicality but to follow the clinical course and to reoperate if tumour growth causes new symptoms. PMID- 2618824 TI - Electroretinographic findings in inherited ataxias. AB - Electroretinogram was performed in 18 patients with inherited ataxias. Eight had Friedreich's disease, 9 autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia and one early onset cerebellar ataxia with retained tendon reflexes. Abnormalities were found in one patient for each group. The most frequent were decreased b-wave amplitude in photopic and scotopic conditions and prolonged implicit time. PMID- 2618825 TI - Cerebral listeriosis in adults. Three cases report. AB - The Authors describe three autoptic cases of meningoencephalitis in adults due to an emerging pathogen, the Gram-positive bacillus Listeria monocytogenes. Only one of these was an immunosuppressed patient (recurrent carcinoma of the larynx and bladder papillomas), while no severe cause of debilitation was detected in the other two cases, excluding colonic diverticulosis in both. The post-mortem examination revealed leptomeningitis and encephalitis. Lympho-monocytic tissue reaction with perivascular cuffing was present in all the cases. The etiologic agent, L. monocytogenes, was identified by cultures from clinical or autoptic specimens. PMID- 2618826 TI - Steroid-induced disappearance of primary central nervous system lymphoma. Clinical, neuroradiological and pathological findings. AB - A 73-year-old man presented a progressive neurologic syndrome with impairment of multiple cranial nerves, ataxia and limb weakness. Neuroradiological evaluation showed multiple supra and infratentorial lesions, which completely disappeared after steroid treatment on two occasions. These neuroradiological modifications were closely correlated with clinical picture and CSF findings. Post-mortem examination showed multifocal primary CNS immunoblastic large cell lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry showed that the tumor was of B-cell origin. PMID- 2618827 TI - Bilateral cortical calcifications with benign clinical course: an unusual case of Sturge-Weber syndrome? AB - A case of a 13-year-old girl with bilateral cortical calcifications of the Sturge Weber type at CT examination, without cutaneous lesions and ocular abnormalities is described. She had seizures appearing within the first year of life which never recurred since the age of two years. At the age of ten years she began to suffer from occasional migraine attacks. Her neurological examination and psychological testing did not show any significant abnormality. This case can be regarded as an unusual atypical form of Sturge-Weber syndrome, unless the existence of a new disorder is assumed. PMID- 2618828 TI - Spontaneous priapism produced by stenosis of the lumbar canal. AB - A case of a 64-year-old man with stenosis of the lumbar canal and symptoms of compression of the cauda equina is described. This symptomatology increased after walking and was associated with spontaneous priapism. All symptoms were relieved after surgical decompression. PMID- 2618829 TI - Congenital oculo-facial paralysis (Moebius syndrome): evidence of dominant inheritance in two families. AB - Moebius syndrome is usually sporadic. The few familial cases reported in the literature have autosomal dominant inheritance, with absence of the associated congenital malformations often described in the sporadic form. Here we report two families with more than one member affected by congenital, unilateral paresis of cranial nerves, transmitted with autosomal dominant inheritance. PMID- 2618830 TI - Spinal cord dysfunction from lumbar disk herniation. AB - Two patients with a herniated disk respectively at the level of the L4-L5 and of the L5-S1 intervertebral spaces presented with pyramidal signs, bladder paralysis and radicular impairment. The symptoms subsided immediately following surgical removal of the prolapsed disk. The role of transient ischemia in the lower segments of the spinal cord as possible cause of this uncommon clinical picture is discussed, and the pertinent literature is reviewed. PMID- 2618831 TI - [Testicular microlithiasis: clinico-pathologic significance of the process]. PMID- 2618832 TI - [Effect of complementary treatment (radiotherapy, chemotherapy) on the survival of patients with T3 tumors of the bladder treated with radical surgery]. AB - We present the results obtained from the study of 65 patients with vesical carcinoma stage T3 treated with radical surgery with or without supplementary radiotherapy, with or without supplementary chemotherapy. The multivaried study of survival (Cox's model) shows that it depends significantly on the surgical complications and on the pathological state at the time of the cystectomy. Univaried analysis indicates that patients with descent from post-radiotherapy stage and those subjected to IOR (intraoperative radiotherapy) have a significantly better survival than the rest and suggests that radiotherapy improves overall survival. Influence of supplementary treatment (radiotherapy, chemotherapy) in the survival of T3 bladder tumours subjected to radical surgery. PMID- 2618833 TI - [Enuresis. Results of a new therapeutic approach]. AB - We present the results of the pharmacological treatment of a syndromic entity particularly common in childhood with a new Oybutinine Chloride drug. We point out that we have achieved positive results in more than 75% from the standpoint of improvement or clinical cure and more than 50% from the urodynamic viewpoint, in the sense of disappearance or improvement of vesical stability. We underline the perfect tolerance of the drug with very few side effects. We conclude that this drug represents a valid alternative in the treatment of this syndrome, although it would be desirable for its effects not to call for such prolonged treatment, which would result in better compliance with the dosages on the part of the patients or heir relatives in the case of small children. PMID- 2618834 TI - [Lasertripsy in the treatment of ureteral lithiasis]. AB - The pulsating colour laser generates a shock wave with a high energy power capable of shattering urinary calculi. Owing to their location and impaction, certain ureteral require intraureteral fragmentation, and ureteroscopy with a semi-rigid miniureteroscope permits the use of laser beams. We have treated 70 patients with ureteral lithiasis with this method and obtained complete fragmentation of the calculi in 61 patients, ascent of the calculus to caliceal cavities in 7, whilst no fragmentation was achieved in 2. No case required a surgical operation and no complications were observed. Laser therapy in the treatment of ureteral lithiasis. PMID- 2618835 TI - [Calcified kidney masses. Study of 23 cases]. AB - We consider the presence of calcifications in a series of 107 renal masses by means of simple X-ray, echography and CAT, in which 23 cases (21.4%) were found. The most effective exploration for revealing them was CAT (in 13% of the cases, the only one). We found a relative higher frequency of calcification in the benign masses (31%) than in the neoplastic ones (17%). In the latter we found no differences in survival as compared with the non-calcified ones. No pattern of calcification proved characteristic of benignity or of neoplasia. The variety of malignant renal mass most often calcified was the papillary hypernephroma (57.1%). PMID- 2618836 TI - [An infrequent etiologic agent of vesicointestinal fistula]. AB - We present a case of colovesical fistula originated by a foreign body (chicken bone) in a patient without prior intestinal pathology, which emigrates spontaneously to the bladder. We comment on its diagnosis and the therapy carried out. PMID- 2618837 TI - [Transverse testicular ectopy with common deferent duct]. AB - Transverse testicular ectopia is a malfunction of which there are 65 cases described in the Western literature. The pathogeny is unknown, although in the cases in which it is associated with persistence of Mullerian residue, it is attributed to a defect in the secretion of MIF (Mullerian inhibiting factor). In the other cases the fundamental cause is considered to stem from alterations in the vascularization of the genital crest, which determines the type of testicular ectopia. We present a case of crossed testicular ectopia with common deferent duct in a three-year-old male, treated by means of descent and transposition via the interscrotal septum with modified Ombredanne's technique. PMID- 2618838 TI - [Translocation T (1;15) (Q21;P13) in a male with azoospermia]. AB - The cytogenic study of a male sent to the Genetics Unit due to sterility and azoospermia revealed a translocation between chromosomes 1 and 15. The patient's age of 34, at the time of the study, and his normal phenotype. The karyotype revealed a balanced t translocation (1;15) with rupture points at 1 q21 and 15 p13, the denomination of which would be: 46,XY, t(1;15) (q21;p13). Chromosomic analysis of the other members of the family confirmed a de novo translocation. PMID- 2618839 TI - [Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the kidney: presentation of a case]. AB - We describe a case of sarcomatoid variant, renal adenocarcinoma in a 69-year-old woman, whose death took place four months after the diagnosis was effected. We underline the form of clinical and radiological presentation, its low frequency, poor prognosis and difficult anatomopathological diagnosis. PMID- 2618840 TI - [Pelvic lipomatosis: a new case]. AB - We present a fresh case of Pelvic Lipomatosis in a non obese young male. We comment on the suggestive radiological findings as well as on the therapeutic options. Although considered traditionally as a benign entity, it may cause serious physiopathological alterations in neighbouring organs. PMID- 2618841 TI - [Skin metastasis as the first manifestation of dissemination of bladder cancer]. AB - Cutaneous metastases of vesical carcinoma are an uncommon finding and generally appear amid multisystemic dissemination. We present a case of appearance of multiple cutaneous metastases in the immediate postoperative period of a patient subjected to radical cystectomy, in which this affection was the only sign of metastatic seeding. We discuss the etiopathogeny and possible evolution of similar cases. PMID- 2618842 TI - The influence of menstrual cycle changes on the tobacco withdrawal syndrome in women. AB - Women have lower quit rates in smoking cessation than men. There are several factors suggested which are relevant to women's difficulties in smoking programs. One factor cited is the problem that women experience during withdrawal. Similar physiological and psychological symptoms are reported after smoking cessation and during menstrual cycle changes. In this study we evaluated the association between withdrawal and reports of menstrual distress. Results showed that a significant correlation existed between menstrual distress symptoms and initial smoking withdrawal symptoms. Women who quit smoking in the last phase (Phase 2) of their menstrual cycle experienced greater withdrawal than those who quit in the early phase (Phase 1) of the cycle. When these results were compared with male quitters, the Phase 2 women experienced significantly greater withdrawal than males. These results suggest that women may have specific biological needs that should be addressed in smoking treatment programs. PMID- 2618843 TI - The television, school and family smoking prevention/cessation project. IV. Controlling for program success expectancies across experimental and control conditions. AB - A major issue in smoking prevention research is that no study has tried to equate program success expectancies across experimental and placebo control conditions. Equivalent overall program success expectancies should be established to help rule out the effects of extra-theoretical variables which influence program outcomes. The present study tested whether an attention-placebo (information based) smoking prevention program would produce equivalent expectancies about the likelihood of program success in comparison to an experimental social influences program. To try to equate program success expectancies, the design of the two programs differed in content but was similar in procedure. Fourteen middle schools were randomly assigned to the two conditions. As hypothesized, baseline expectancies were found to predict outcome measures, even after controlling for baseline smoking intentions, ethnic group, and gender. Second, the equivalence of program expectancies at posttest was tested. Youths held equivalent overall expectancies for success across conditions. This study suggested the need to control for program expectancies in prevention research, and showed that program expectancies could be controlled for by equating process of program delivery. PMID- 2618844 TI - Subjective dimensions of heroin urges: influence of heroin-related and affectively negative stimuli. AB - Thirty-five male drug-free heroin addicts rated their affect, craving, and withdrawal in response to boring, anxiety-eliciting, and heroin stimuli. Results revealed that: (a) heroin cues were more effective than boring or anxiety eliciting cues in prompting self-reports of craving or withdrawal; (b) heroin cues produced an affective state characterized by self-reported low-pleasure and high anxiety/tension; (c) craving was not correlated with any particular affective state, but rather was associated with a variety of negative affects- anxiety, depression, fatigue, anger; (d) the coherence (intercorrelations) of affective, craving, and withdrawal measures was greatest when addicts made their self-ratings immediately after exposure to drug stimuli; and (e) while addicts routinely reported craving without withdrawal sickness, they virtually never reported withdrawal sickness without reporting craving. These results suggested that the potential for negative reinforcement subserved stimulus elicited craving and that craving involved cognitive appraisal processes (attributions, expectations). PMID- 2618845 TI - Autonomic and subjective responses to alcohol stimuli with appropriate control stimuli. AB - Previous studies on "craving" for alcohol after exposure to olfactory stimuli for alcohol may be criticized on the grounds that the control stimuli were not really appropriate. We included exposure to a preferred nonalcoholic beverage and to a sweet food item as additional control stimuli in order to better compare the salivary, autonomic, and self-reported craving responses of alcoholics with normal social drinkers. The results indicated that the salivation measure was differentially sensitive to the alcohol stimulus, even when compared to appropriate control stimuli. It is possible that self-reported craving is a biased measure in alcoholic inpatients in treatment. PMID- 2618846 TI - Identifying eating patterns in male and female undergraduates using cluster analysis. AB - Although there is substantial research on eating patterns, little effort has been paid to developing a classification of eating behavior applicable to the general population, rather than to people seeking help for obesity or eating disorders. Using cluster analysis, this study identified six types of eating patterns among normal volunteers. One hundred and sixteen females and 70 males completed a questionnaire concerning weight history, food intake patterns, use of satiation cues, and attitudes toward weight gain. Subjects also completed the Restraint Scale (Herman & Polivy, 1975). Height and weight were measured. Factor analysis reduced the questionnaire to nine internally reliable and meaningful scales; these were then entered into a K-means cluster analysis of subjects. Of the six clusters, two represented mild forms of disordered eating, two could be considered to represent more regulated eating styles, and two were distinguished by differential sensitivity to internal satiation cues. Construct validity of clusters was explored against gender, degree of overweight and scores on the Restraint Scale. Discussion focuses on the values of a cluster analytic technique to identify multidimensional patterns of food intake. PMID- 2618847 TI - Effects of long-term storage on salivary thiocyanate concentration. AB - The stability of thiocyanate (SCN) concentration in frozen saliva samples stored for up to one year was examined. Fifteen adult smokers and five adult nonsmokers each provided six saliva samples, which were analyzed in duplicate pairs after 0, 2, and 12 months of storage at -20 degrees C in airtight containers. No significant changes in average SCN levels occurred over the storage interval. Although within-subject variability for duplicate samples analyzed at the same time was high, the mean levels in regular smokers were significantly higher than the levels in nonsmokers. PMID- 2618848 TI - An examination of the tension reduction hypothesis: the relationship between anxiety and alcohol in college students. AB - The Tension Reduction Theory posits that alcohol is consumed to achieve tension reduction. The drinking patterns of high anxiety college students differed from low anxiety college students. Eighty-one students completed the Trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Khavari Alcohol Test (KAT). Several indices of alcohol use derived from the KAT were used to assess patterns of alcohol use. Five two-way analyses of variance were conducted using gender and anxiety as factors. Hypothesis One predicted that there would be a significant difference in alcohol consumption between high and low anxiety students when a comprehensive measure of alcohol use was used. This hypothesis was supported. Hypothesis Two predicted that frequency alone would not differentiate between anxiety levels; this was also supported. The Third Hypothesis was that volume measures of beer, wine and liquor would differentiate between the high and low anxiety levels; this hypothesis was partially supported--beer volume did differentiate between groups, while wine and liquor volume did not. The final hypothesis was that there would be an interaction between gender and anxiety; this was not supported. PMID- 2618849 TI - Predicting the drinking behavior of older adults from questionnaire measures of alcohol consumption. AB - The relationship between three questionnaire measures of alcohol consumption and self-monitoring reports of drinking in the natural environment was investigated in 83 normal drinkers over 60 years of age. Following questionnaire administration subjects recorded their alcohol consumption each day for up to three months. Collaterals verified subjects' self-monitoring reports. Questionnaire scores and self-monitoring reports of frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption were generally well correlated. Regression analyses showed the Questionnaire Measure of Habitual Alcohol Use to be the best predictor of both drinking frequency and quantity. Measurement issues related to the use of verbal reports of alcohol consumption with elderly drinkers are discussed. PMID- 2618850 TI - The anatomical substrate for telencephalic function. AB - The basic thesis for this study was that the telencephalon is needed to make decisions in new situations. Subsidiary hypotheses were that the telencephalon consists of: (a) a sensorimotor system which generates motor activity from sensory input and (b) a selection system which makes choices from possible motor programs. It was postulated that the selection system should fulfil the following requirements: be accessible for past and present events, have the capacity to process this information in a nondetermined way with a possibility for ordering, and have access to motor-affecting systems (the sensorimotor system). The ability of the selection system to correlate information in a nonpredetermined way was considered most important. In short: The selection system should be able to associate any information in any combination, and have the capability for internal control of neuronal activity and external selection of motor programs (see Fig. 1A.) Xenopus laevis was chosen as a subject, since it has a relatively simple telencephalon, with characteristics that it shares with "primitive" species of different vertebrate classes, and because it is easy to maintain as a laboratory animal. The main method used was the determination of connections with HRP. The pallium was in the focus of attention, since it was considered to be the core of the selection system. Immunohistochemistry was used as an additional parameter to compare Xenopus laevis forebrain with those of other vertebrates. The results showed that the pallium can be subdivided into a rostral (third) and a caudal (two-thirds) entity. The rostral third is the main recipient for thalamic and olfactory input. The caudal two-thirds are linked up to the rostral third and have a refined microcircuitry. Efferents from the pallium remain restricted to the forebrain. The entire pallium consists of a network of intrinsic reciprocal connections and can be considered to be positioned between the medial pallium (hippocampus), septum, and amygdaloid complex (amygdala). As a whole this system targets the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus in turn projects into the striatum complex (striatum with anterior entopeduncular nucleus). The rostral dorsal pallium and the amygdaloid complex also project into the striatum complex. The striatum is positioned between the sensory input from the thalamus and olfactory bulbs, and the motor output to the medulla. It is concluded, on the basis of its straightforward input-output relations and uniform appearance, that the striatum complex fulfils the requirements for a sensorimotor system. The pallium together with the septum, amygdaloid complex, and hypothalamus fulfils the requirements for a selection system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2618851 TI - Calcium protein signaling. PMID- 2618852 TI - A comparative study about voltage-dependent Ca currents in smooth muscle cells isolated from several tissues. PMID- 2618853 TI - Interaction between calmodulin and target proteins. PMID- 2618854 TI - Activation of rabbit skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase by calmodulin--a mechanistic overview. PMID- 2618855 TI - Calcium signaling of calcium-binding proteins and drug actions. PMID- 2618856 TI - Neutralization of surface charges markedly affects the properties of bovine calbindin D9k. PMID- 2618857 TI - Conformation of a troponin-I peptide bound to troponin-C as determined by 1H NMR. PMID- 2618858 TI - Cooperativity in calcium binding and calcium dependent reactions. PMID- 2618859 TI - Structure and function of parvalbumin. PMID- 2618860 TI - Structural organization of calmodulin genes in the rat genome. AB - In summary, we present a list of phage clones we have obtained from rat genomic libraries (from lamba SC1 to lambda SC31, lambda WC1 and lambda WC40) together with cDNA clones we have obtained from a rat brain cDNA library (PRCM1,5,3 and 4). pRCM5 corresponds to 4.0 kb mRNA species observed primarily in skeletal muscle. These clones can be classified into three groups. They belong to three bona fide calmodulin genes with five to six exons called CaM I, CaM II and CaM III and four intronless retropseudogenes, one derived from CaM I and three derived from CaM II. We have not obtained retropseudogenes for CaM III so far. These three bona fide genes are transcribed into multiple sized mRNA species in a tissue-specific manner, that is, CaM I is ubiquitous, CaM II is transcribed mainly in brain and CaM III is transcribed primarily in brain and skeletal muscle. Four retropseudogenes do not appear to be transcribed. They are probably relics of inactivated genes. The physiological meanings of multiple calmodulin mRNA species and mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of these three bona fide genes will be the main subjects of our future experiments. PMID- 2618861 TI - The human calbindins: cDNA and gene cloning. PMID- 2618862 TI - Structure of the rat vitamin D-induced calbindin-D9K gene and evolution of the EF hand calcium-binding protein family. PMID- 2618863 TI - Structural organization of the human parvalbumin gene. PMID- 2618864 TI - Gene expression of a rat cerebellar Ca-binding protein, spot 35 protein. PMID- 2618865 TI - Calspermin is a testis specific calmodulin-binding protein closely related to Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases. PMID- 2618866 TI - Second messenger effects on the myosin phosphorylation system in smooth muscle. PMID- 2618867 TI - Activation of protein kinase C by short chain phospholipid micelles. AB - PKC (80 kDa) can be cleaved by limited proteolysis into distinct catalytic (50 kDa) and regulatory (32-35 kDa) fragments. After cleavage, the catalytic fragment is active in the absence of Ca2+, phospholipid, or DAG while the regulatory fragment is found associated with phospholipid and continues to bind phorbol esters in a Ca2(+)- and PS-dependent manner (28, 29). In the holoenzyme, the association of the regulatory domain with the membrane may be important to release the catalytic domain from inhibition by the regulatory domain. We have presented evidence indicating that effective membrane binding occurs through interaction with the hydrophobic and/or interfacial regions of the bilayer, and does not result from binding to individual phospholipids. In vivo and in vitro studies suggest that the binding event is carefully regulated. An important function of Ca2+ may be to modify the local structure of the membrane, and thus affect the ability of PKC to associate with it. For at least one of the isozymes, however, Ca2+ may also play an additional role at a site distant from the membrane, suggesting the possibility that the isozymes may be differentially regulated. PMID- 2618868 TI - A model for caldesmon in latch-bridge formation in smooth muscle. PMID- 2618869 TI - The domain structure of the calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase isozymes. PMID- 2618870 TI - Role of anions in platelet intra cellular calcium ion rise and arachidonic acid release induced by thrombin. PMID- 2618871 TI - Frequency-dependent inhibition of the intracellular calcium transients by calmodulin antagonists in the aequorin-injected rabbit papillary muscle. PMID- 2618872 TI - Calcium in mitosis: role of 51-kD protein in the centrosome of sea urchin egg in aster formation. PMID- 2618873 TI - Human vitamin D receptor mutations: identification of molecular defects in hypocalcemic vitamin D resistant rickets. PMID- 2618874 TI - Disregulation of cell calcium and calcium-binding proteins in experimental hypertension. PMID- 2618875 TI - Protein kinase C in cell growth and differentiation. PMID- 2618876 TI - The contribution of virus infections to our understanding of the immune system. PMID- 2618877 TI - The immune response to viral infections. PMID- 2618878 TI - Humoral response to inactivated poliovaccine in anti-HIV positive infants. PMID- 2618879 TI - Immunodeficiency associated with mumps virus. Study on a four-people family. PMID- 2618880 TI - Voluntary systems of adverse reaction reporting--Part III. PMID- 2618881 TI - [Clinical evaluation of osteocalcin in chronic hemodialysis patients]. AB - Serum level of osteocalcin was measured by radioimmunoassay in 52 patients with chronic renal failure and 92 control subjects. The patients were treated by usual hemodialysis over a 3-month period. The osteocalcin level of the patients was significantly higher than that of the control subjects, but the patients with diabetic nephropathy had a lower osteocalcin level than the patients with non diabetic nephropathy. There was a significant correlation between serum osteocalcin level and alkaline phosphatase or PTH level. On the other hand, there was no relationship between serum osteocalcin level and various parameters such as bone mineral contents, and bone cortex volume measured by the microdensitometry method. Hemodialysis affected the serum osteocalcin level. The clinical value of osteocalcin as a parameter of bone formation in chronic hemodialysis patients was discussed. PMID- 2618882 TI - [A clinical study of 55 cases of renal cell carcinoma]. AB - Fifty five cases of renal cell carcinoma were treated by nephrectomy at our department between 1970 and 1987. A retrospective analysis was performed with TNM staging system of the General Rule for Clinical and Pathological Studies on Renal Cell Carcinoma, which was established by the Japanese Urological Association in 1983. Overall 3, 5 and 10-year survival rates by Kaplan-Meier method were 74, 67 and 52%, respectively. Several factors which might be related to prognosis were analyzed. The pathological T-stage and histological grade of tumors were found to be significant prognostic factors. As compared to these factors, venous invasion appeared to be less important. With respect to clinical findings, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were found to be prognostic factors. PMID- 2618883 TI - [Endoscopic needle bladder neck suspension for female stress incontinence]. AB - Thirteen operations of endoscopic bladder neck suspension (Raz method) were performed for 12 patients with stress incontinence between October, 1986 and August, 1988. In all patients, except for one with small bladder capacity, the operations were successful. Disappearance of incontinence was maintained in 10 patients 5-27 months (mean 15.3 months) after the operation, and the success rate of this operation was 77% (10/13) at this follow up point. The operative technique was easy except for the adjustment of pulling up strength of the thread for suspension. We believe that the endoscopic needle bladder neck suspension will be performed more widely because this operation can be done safely in a short time without major complications and can produce very good results. PMID- 2618884 TI - [Intermittent intravenous high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy for advanced prostatic cancer with distant metastasis]. AB - Twelve patients with advanced carcinoma of the prostate were treated with intravenous high-dose cyclophosphamide. All were hormone-resistant cases. At an interval of 3-4 weeks, cyclophosphamide was administered intravenously. The standard dosage of cyclophosphamide was 1,000 mg/m2 and a 10% lower dose was administered to patients with liver dysfunction, anemia and elderly patients. The results of 10 patients were evaluable. One case showed objective partial response, 1 case was stable and 8 patients showed objective progression according to the NPCP efficacy evaluation standard. The overall response rate was 20%, which we did not consider satisfactory. As to toxicity of cyclophosphamide, one patient died of severe acute hepatic failure, but in others, complications were mild to tolerable. PMID- 2618885 TI - [Clinical study on 16 cases of testicular torsion]. AB - Sixteen cases of testicular torsion were experienced between 1983 and 1988. Diagnosis was confirmed by surgical exploration in all cases. The patients' age was between 10 and 31 years. Fourteen patients (88%) were in their second decade. The left side was involved in 13 cases, the right side in 2 and both sides in 1. Shortness of spermatic cord of involved side was observed in 12 cases (75%). This seemed to be one of the most important signs in differential diagnosis between testicular torsion and other acute scrotum. Prehn's sign was not available. Body temperature was more than 37 degrees C in only 1 case. Urinary tract infection was not noted. Orchiopexy was performed in 12 cases. 9 cases (75%) were treated within 24 hours after onset of the symptom. Two cases (13%) were operated more than 72 hours after onset, but repaired testis was not atrophic one year after surgery. PMID- 2618886 TI - [Clinical studies on childhood urolithiasis during the past 22 years]. AB - We have studied retrospectively 68 children who presented with urolithiasis between 1965 and 1986. Male to female ratio was 1.83 to 1 and the mean age was 9.5 years. Fifty four children (79%) had calculi in the upper urinary tract, 9 (13%) had in the lower, and 4 (6%) had calculi both in the upper and lower urinary tract. The most common presenting symptoms were gross hematuria (53%) and abdominal or flank pain (38%). Predisposing factors could be found only in 21 children (31%). Twenty four of the 68 patients (35%) had open surgery and 16 patients (24%) passed their stones spontaneously. Twenty one stones were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. Infectious stone was more frequent than in adult cases. Among children five years old and younger, infectious stone was the most frequent. Among children over five years old, the number of idiopathic calcium stone has been on the increase with the years. PMID- 2618887 TI - [Clinical study of inpatients with urolithiasis during the past 10 years]. AB - The 348 patients with urolithiasis admitted to our department between 1978 and 1987 were studied clinically. Male patients were predominant over females with the male-to-female ratio being 2 to 1. Of 404 uroliths, 389 (96.3%) were upper urinary tract stones, and 15 (3.7%) were lower urinary tract stones. Two hundred and sixty patients (74.7%) had a solitary stone, and 71 patients (20.4%) multiple stones. There were fewer patients with recurrent stones (42 patients, 12.1%) than non-recurrent stone formers. Methods of stone removal were variable including open and endourologic surgeries. The most frequent type of removal of stone was catheter extraction (92 patients, 39.8%). Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PNL) and transurethral ureterolithotripsy (TUL) were done on 6 (2.6%) and 5 (2.2%) patients, respectively. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was not done at this hospital during this period. Spontaneous passage of stone was seen in 70 patients: stones in 38 passed after catheterization. Rate of spontaneous passage of stone in untreated group was 33.5%. Calcium-containing urinary stone was the most frequent type of stone according to analysis of 56 stones with the infrared spectrometry. In conclusion, 1) etiology of urinary tract stone in all recurrent stone formers and in all patients with multiple stones must be pursued, and 2) all stones either removed or passed must be subjected to infrared spectrometry. ESWL, TUL and PNL are expected to be the main modes of stone removal instead of open surgery and conventional catheter extractions in the near future. PMID- 2618888 TI - [A case of non-functioning adrenal cortical carcinoma with pulmonary and bony metastases]. AB - A 49-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of edema and abnormal shadow in right pulmonary area. CT scan and abdominal aortography showed left adrenal mass. Moreover, the lung metastasis measured 60 x 65 mm and bony metastases were suspected in three areas on bone scanning. Under diagnosis of left non-functioning adrenal tumor with pulmonary and bony metastases, left adrenalectomy was performed. Histological diagnosis was left adrenal cortical carcinoma without lymph node metastasis. Treatment consisted of 3 g o,p-DDD and 400 mg carmofur per day after surgery. At present, pulmonary metastasis has decreased in size and bony metastases decreased in uptake on bone scan 12 months postoperatively. PMID- 2618889 TI - [Aortic perianeurysmal fibrosis causing bilateral ureteral obstruction: a case report]. AB - A 54-year-old male with the chief complaint of bilateral flank pain was admitted to our hospital. Blood chemistry test revealed marked azotemia and retrograde pyelogram showed bilateral hydronephrosis with median shift of narrowed ureters. Abdominal CT scan demonstrated a well-defined dense mass around the aorta implicating bilateral ureters. These findings were interpreted as aortic perianeurysmal fibrosis resulting in bilateral ureteral obstruction. On laparotomy, a large hard mass was found in the lower part of aorta, vena cava, common iliac vessels, inferior mesenteric artery and bilateral ureters. Because of the extension of the mass, ureterolysis and intraperitoneal displacement of ureters wrapped with isolated omentum was performed. Postoperative recovery from azotemia and ureteral obstruction was satisfactory. Biopsy specimen of the mass showed marked fibrosis with non-specific inflammation. PMID- 2618890 TI - [Triple malignancy including bladder carcinoma, prostate carcinoma and malignant lymphoma: a case report]. AB - A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of lower abdominal mass. Previously, he had received partial cystectomy and radiation of 38 Gy for bladder transitional cell carcinoma and transurethral resection of prostate and diethylstilbestrol administration for prostatic adenocarcinoma. The third tumor was located between the bladder and lower abdominal wall with inguinal lymph node swelling. Biopsy specimen revealed malignant lymphoma. After 2 courses of combination chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, prednisolone and procarbazine, complete remission was achieved. We discuss about multiple malignancies including urological organs. PMID- 2618891 TI - [Ileovesical fistula due to Crohn's disease: a case report]. AB - A 24-year-old male first experienced pollakisuria, dysuria, pneumaturia and diarrhea in May 1988. Intravenous pyelography showed a normal upper urinary tract but bladder wall irregularity at the dome was observed. Cystoscopic examination revealed bullous edema, erythema and presence of a mucous-like substance. Barium enema X-ray examination revealed inflammatory changes at the terminal ileum but no fistulous connection was noted. Mild ulceration was observed on colon fiberscopic examination. At operation, a severely inflamed lower ileum firmly adherent to the dome of bladder as well as to the sigmoid colon was observed. Fistulous communication between bladder and ileum was also noted. Resection of diseased ileum, sigmoid colon and partial cystectomy were carried out. The patient remains well, without enteric or bladder symptoms. PMID- 2618892 TI - [Spontaneous rupture of the urinary bladder]. AB - A case of non-traumatic rupture of the urinary bladder is reported. The patient, a 52-year-old woman, was admitted to our clinic with the chief complaints of dysuria and gross hematuria after hemorrhoidectomy. Ultrasonography and CT scan showed a huge mass in Retzius' cavity. Then, rupture of the bladder was diagnosed through subsequent cystoscopy and cystography. During surgery, we recognized a large defect in the anterior wall of the urinary bladder associated with reddish yellow fluid in the pelvic cavity. Histological findings showed no malignant change in the bladder. Various factors were suspected to be related to this spontaneous rupture of the urinary bladder. PMID- 2618893 TI - [Primary carcinoma of the female urethra]. AB - An 80-year-old female patient with urethral carcinoma is reported. A red, easily bleeding mass at the urethral meatus was diagnosed as transitional cell carcinoma by biopsy. Complete resection of the urethra and tubeless cystostomy were performed. Postoperative M-VAC therapy a combination of methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin and cisplatin was employed. PMID- 2618894 TI - Osteoma of the testis with its histogenetic consideration. AB - Although a few cases of osteoma in renal pelvis and urinary bladder have been reported, no cases of osteoma in the testis have been presented. A case of so called osteoma of the testis incidentally found in a 30-year-old man was presented with discussion for its histogenetic considerations. PMID- 2618895 TI - [Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis]. AB - A 74-year-old man underwent hydrocelectomy following repeated fluid aspiration, six times during the previous year. Tunica vaginalis was opened after removing about 70 ml of yellow clear fluid and many miliary sized soft papillary tumors were seen inside of the vaginal sac. These tumors were attached to the sac so closely that they were easily rubbed off with a towel. The pathological specimen showed a papillary structure combined with solid sheets of cells. The cells were cuboidal and polygonal with sparse mitotic figures and the nuclei were round or oval with prominent nucleoli. Malignancy was strongly suspected and orchiectomy was performed a month later. Pathologic examination of the operated material showed that the tumor cells invaded into the tunica albuginea, and the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma was finally made. The patient has remained well with neither recurrence nor metastasis for fifteen months. PMID- 2618896 TI - [The therapeutic effect of enoxacin on chronic prostatitis]. AB - The clinical efficacy of enoxacin (ENX) was evaluated in 39 patients having chronic prostatitis. The overall clinical efficacy of ENX was determined by three factors, (1) the effect on bacteria, (2) white blood cells in the VB3 and (3) the subjective symptoms. The overall clinical effectiveness rate was 80%. ENX eliminated 66.7% of the bacteria in the VB3. As determined from white blood cells in the VB3, 56.4% of patients were relieved of the inflammation of prostate by ENX. The subjective symptoms were improved by ENX treatment in 77% of the patients. PMID- 2618897 TI - [Occupational bladder cancer in Japan and the world]. AB - An overview of the epidemiological association of bladder cancer with occupations is presented and the proportion of occupational bladder cancer in Japan was estimated. Epidemiological features of bladder cancer in the world are also reviewed. Bladder cancer was found to have a relatively narrower international variation in incidence rate as compared to other sites of cancer such as lung or esophageal cancer. In Japan, the trend in bladder cancer mortality is apparently downward in females and virtually unchanged in males, whereas the incidence rate is increasing in males and unchanged in females in the recent decade. Approximately 45 occupations/industries were epidemiologically associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer in the world literature. The lowest proportion of occupational bladder cancer was estimated to be 0.4% in Japan, though the highest estimate was 19% in males and 12% in females. PMID- 2618898 TI - [Present status and background of occupational uroepithelial tumors]. AB - The incidence of urothelial cancers in a group of 231 dyestuff plant workers who had been exposed to benzidine (BZ) or to beta-naphthylamine (BNA) was surveyed from 1962 to 1988. Fifteen out of 231 patients (6.5%) were found to have bladder cancer with the mean age at onset of 57.1 +/- 8.7 years. The estimated average period of engaging in this dyestuff exposure for these 15 patients was 92.4 +/- 47.3 months. The mean latent periods from the initial and last exposure until tumor development were 28.8 +/- 5.7 years and 16.6 +/- 7.0 years, respectively. Good negative correlation was observed between exposure periods and latent periods from the last exposure to onset (R = -0.06814). All 15 patients demonstrated tumors in the bladder, and one patient had a metachronous upper urinary tract cancer after treatment for bladder cancer. All tumors were histologically transitional cell carcinomas except for one adenocarcinoma. For initial treatment, five underwent total cystectomy, eight had transurethral resection (TUR) of the tumor, and one had partial cystectomy. Five out of 8 patients who had TUR have developed recurrent bladder tumors, and two of those patients underwent total cystectomy for second treatments. The mean follow-up period was 8.6 +/- 5.2 years, with two dying of cancer. For detection and monitoring, flow cytometric (FCM) analyses were available in five cases with bladder tumor and in two follow-up cases after bladder preserving treatments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618899 TI - [Occupation and urothelial cancer: the background and the clinical figure]. AB - Occupational urothelial carcinomas which were developed by benzidine and beta naphthylamine have been diagnosed and treated in 60 workers. The number of cases of bladder tumor, ureteral tumor and bladder with upper urinary tract tumor was 49, 2 and 9, respectively. Death from urinary tract carcinoma was 5 (8.3%) and 12 out of 60 died from other diseases, 8 from other organ carcinomas and 4 from none cancer diseases. Organ preserving therapy for occupational urinary tract carcinoma should be selected because of high recurrence tendency, especially cisplatin-radiation or BCG instillation therapy. In future, new candidates will decrease but the fact of the patients becoming older will be important including other organ carcinomas, when we follow them up. Case control study was done by examining replies to questions answered by non-tumor-developing group and tumor developing group. Questions included alcohol, water and cigarette consumption, working duration and difference of chemical substance. A statistically significant result was obtained only in difference of production or messenger of the chemical substance (p = 0.001). PMID- 2618900 TI - [Occupational uroepithelial cancer: current status in Wakayama city and clinical study]. AB - According to the records of Wakayama Labor Standard Office, at least 1,085 workers had been exposed to benzidine or beta-naphthylamine in the dyestuff factories in Wakayama City. By October 1988, 101 of them (9.3%) were confirmed to have urinary tract tumors. Including 2 other cases exposed in Osaka, a total of 103 cases of occupational uroepithelial cancer were studied here clinically. Site of tumors was bladder in 91 cases, renal pelvis in 2, ureter in 5 and papillomatosis type in 5. The age at the time of diagnosis ranged from 25 to 87 years with a mean of 53.8 years. The average latent period was 22.7 years, but the older the age of the worker at the start of exposure, the shorter was the latent period. In Wakayama, the proper system of healthy examination for chemical workers using urinary cytology was begun in 1970. Since then, more tumor cases have been discovered in comparison to the patients admitted with subjective symptoms of hematuria. The effectiveness of this group examination was significant in the incidence of total cystectomy in surgical treatment and in survival rate. In the comparative study between the groups of patients with occupational and spontaneous bladder cancer, the average age at diagnosis in the former was about ten years younger. Although the histological grade of tumor was not different between the two groups, the incidence of total cystectomy was lower and the survival rate was significantly higher in the occupational group. PMID- 2618901 TI - [Urothelial carcinoma related to exposure to aromatic amines]. AB - Clinical and statistical observations were made on a group of 438 persons who had worked with aromatic amines (benzidine, 2-naphthylamine, 1-naphthylamine and dianisidine) with reference to their carcinogenic properties in the urinary tract. Urinary tract tumors developed in 68 (15.5%), with an average latent period of 22 years and 11 months. In these 68 cases, upper urinary tract tumors were found in 16 cases, 8 of which had bilateral lesions. The average age of onset was 48.1 ranging from 24 to 79. The incidence of tumors increased with the length of exposure to the amines. There was no finding that smoking habit increased the incidence of tumors in this group. Of the 49 new patients with bladder tumor, urine cytology was positive in 24 (49.0%) and suspicious of malignancy in 10 (20.4%), respectively. This indicated that it could be a useful screening test. Transurethral surgery was most frequently performed as an initial treatment. Recurrence occurred in 50 cases (73.5%), but 5-, 10- and 20-year survival rates were 89.0 79.3 and 64.7%, respectively, showing a good prognosis. Malignant tumors in other organs developed in 18 (4.1%) of the 438 workers. The incidence of such malignant tumors was significantly higher in the workers who had been exposed to 2-naphthylamine than in others. Our data indicate that close observation is still necessary for early detection of patient with new or recurrent urothelial carcinoma in this group. PMID- 2618902 TI - [Occupational cancer of the urinary bladder: the diagnostic value of urinary cytology in dyestuff workers exposed to aromatic amines]. AB - A total of 90 dyestuff workers who were engaged in the production of aromatic amines during the post-war period after the 2nd world war have been examined since 1967 by exfoliative cytologic examination. Those identified as class-3 or over by this first screening test were then submitted to a second screening which consisted of periodic cystoscopic examination and 1 or 2 intravenous pyelographies per year. This system of mass screening has been used for the past 20 years, and we have discovered 23 cases of bladder tumor, a case of asynchronous bilateral ureteral tumor and a case of ureteral tumor. Out of the 13 cases, bladder tumors were discovered in 6 cases within 3 months after a positive exfoliative cytology result and in 5 cases within 1 year. The presence of a tumor was confirmed in 85% of those patients within 1 year and in all of them in about 3 years. Periodic examinations have revealed all the tumors when they were about 5 mm in size and in stage 0 through A, demonstrating the usefulness of systematic examination. Treatment included intravesical instillation of anticancer agents, mostly mitomycin C, for 7 cases transurethral resection (TUR) for 8 cases and partial cystectomy was performed in one case. One patient with an asynchronous bilateral ureteral tumor was treated first by right total nephro-ureterectomy with cuff resection of bladder, and later by ureter excision and nephrostomy. This patient died of ileus in the 7th year of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618903 TI - [Occupation and tobacco as risk factors in urinary bladder cancer]. AB - A case-control study among 100 male and 39 female invasive bladder cancer patients (greater than or equal to pT2, G3 & pT1) and equal number of age- and sex-matched superficial bladder cancer patients (G1 or G2, pTa) and hospital control patients was conducted in order to analyze the influence of occupation and tobacco consumption. All patients were admitted at the Department of Urology in the Kyoto University Hospital between 1975 and 1987. There were no significant risk factors among occupations in bladder cancer except housewife in female. Cigarette smokers of both sexes were at higher relative risk than non-smokers and a significant dose response relation was observed for increasing cigarette consumption. PMID- 2618904 TI - [Benzidine dyes and risk of bladder cancer]. AB - Until the early 1970's there was little concern about dyes which contain benzidine as an integral part of their chemical structure. Furthermore, use of the finished dyes was not considered dangerous. To ascertain whether azo dyes are associated with risk of development of bladder tumors in workers who handpaint Yuzen-type silk kimonos in Kyoto, we investigated the disintegration of dyes to benzidine. In these studies, we found that in rats and mice benzidine-based dyes are metabolized to benzidine and that the azo linkage of benzidine dyes is reduced by Escherichia coli and soil bacteria. These experimental findings were reported previously. In this report, we outline an approach to these studies. Many of the dyes used to color paper, textiles, lipstick, bait used by fishermen, as well as hair dyes, and dyes used in research, for pharmaceutical products, and by defence personnel for the detection of liquid chemical warfare agents, have been shown to be potentially mutagenic or carcinogenic. We review the literature on these dyes. PMID- 2618905 TI - [Epidemiological investigation on bladder cancer and occupations]. AB - A population-based case-control study was conducted in Boston, U.S.A., Manchester, U.K., and Nagoya, Japan to assess the associations of occupations with bladder cancer in men. In Nagoya, cancer cases were identified through Nagoya Bladder Cancer Registry, and controls were randomly selected from the general population using electoral registers. Study subjects, all males, analyzed were 430 cases and 397 controls in Boston; 339 and 493 in Manchester, and 220 and 443 in Nagoya, respectively. Occupations significantly related to an increased bladder cancer risk were those manufacturing or handling dyes, leather, paint or organic chemicals in Boston, and leather or medical workers in Manchester. Occupations significantly associated with bladder cancer development were not found in Nagoya. In general, risk related to occupations was relatively higher in the younger age group (less than 65 years old) than in the older age group (greater than or equal to 65 yrs old). Statistically significant differences in bladder cancer risk were not demonstrated between manufacturing workers and service workers. PMID- 2618906 TI - [Clinical problems in patients who were exposed to carcinogens]. AB - The study of carcinogenesis is most advanced in bladder cancer through the study of what is called aniline bladder cancer. Bladder cancer has also played a key role in introducing the concept of 'occupational' cancer. Industrial Safety and Health Law defines various chemical substances as carcinogens of 'occupational' cancer, many of which are related to the urinary tract tumor, including benzidine, beta-naphthylamine, alpha-naphthylamine, 4-aminodiphenyl, 4 netrodiphenyl, auramine, magenta, orthotolidine, dianisidine, dichlorobenzidine and paradimethylaminoazobenzene. When a patient has been exposed to any of these substances, a diagnosis of 'occupational' cancer is made after consultation in the Central Labor Standards Council. Few bladder cancer patients are acknowledged as victims of 'occupational' cancer. In most cases the cause of bladder cancer remains unknown. However, cases of cancer caused by chemical substances are increasing, and many other chemical substances are probably carcinogenic. Although regulations on 'occupational' cancer have been completed, there are many cases of inconvenience in practice. In this report I investigated into such clinical problems and also studied the above-mentioned carcinogens. PMID- 2618907 TI - [Urolithiasis--changes in its treatment in the traditional surgical management]. AB - Surgical treatments for urolithiasis in the upper urinary tract are reviewed on the basis of operation statistics at the Department of Urology, Osaka University Hospital for the past 30 years from 1957 to 1986. Open surgery was applied for 1,624 patients with urolithiasis in the kidney and ureter during this period. These operations accounted for 14.4% of the 11,300 cases of urological surgery at our department. Types and frequency of operations for urolithiasis were as follows: ureterolithotomies 697 cases (6.2%), pyelolithotomies including extended pyelotomy 376 cases (3.3%), nephrolithotomies 294 cases (2.6%), partial nephrectomies 132 cases (1.2%) and nephrectomies 125 cases (1.1%). PMID- 2618908 TI - [Non-mechanical disintegration of urinary stone]. AB - Noninvasive therapy for urolithiasis such as percutaneous nephroureterolithotomy (PNL) has progressed rapidly during the last few years. Several kinds of non mechanical disintegration methods such as electrohydraulic lithotripsy, ultrasound lithotripsy, stone disintegration by laser irradiation, electric drill disintegration, microexplosion lithotripsy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy have contributed to this advancement. However, these methods are not without some problems, such as effect and technique. This paper describes the theory and effectiveness of these non-mechanical methods except extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, especially of microexplosion lithotripsy in detail. PMID- 2618909 TI - [Urolithiasis--a change in therapeutic methods extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy using a Dornier kidney lithotripter HM3]. AB - The kidney stone of less than 2 cm can be effectively treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) using a Dornier kidney lithotripter HM3 without any complication that might need other therapy. However, in the case of a large kidney stone and ureteral stone, there are some difficulties in the treatment with ESWL. To obtain better results for these stones with a Dornier kidney lithotripter HM3, in the patient having a large stone a double-J stent was placed and ureteral catheter was indwelling for the ureteral stone before ESWL. In some cases high frequency positive pressure ventilation (HFPPV) was applied to make respiratory movement of the stone minimum. An indwelling double-J stent can significantly decrease the necessity of auxiliary treatment and the incidence of high fever attack. Manipulation of a ureteral stone with a ureteral catheter did not facilitate stone disintegration, and also the success rate as compared with in situ ESWL. HFPPV can decrease the stone movement within 2 mm judged on the X ray monitor and increase the effectiveness of the shock wave on the stone, leading to minimize not only shock wave dose but also side effects from shock wave exposure. PMID- 2618910 TI - [Second generation shock wave lithotripsy: experience with the Siemens Lithostar]. AB - In 1980, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was incorporated as a nonsurgical method of stone removal in the cases of nephrolithiasis and rapidly found worldwide acceptance. Several devices commonly designated "second generation" lithotripters vs "first generation" Dornier HM3 are now under experimental or clinical trial. We report our clinical experience of ESWL using a Siemens Lithostar and compared it with that obtained using a Dornier HM3. One hundred patients were treated during the period of April through October, 1986 using an HM3, and 100 other patients were treated using a Lithostar from April to August, 1988. More cases were treated with a Lithostar than with a HM3. Nearly 10% of all patients treated by ESWL required additional therapeutic approaches (excepted ureteral stent) either with HM3 or Lithostar. However, in the cases of ureteral stone, with the Lithostar more cases required adjuvant procedures (TUL) than HM3. Significantly more shock waves were needed with Lithostar than HM3 for complete fragmentation of the same size of renal and ureteral stones. The stone free rate during a one month period after ESWL was nearly the same for HM3 and Lithostar (HM3: 84.3%, Lithostar: 83.5%). Lithostar is a multifunctional lithotriptor which has most of the advantages required by the lithotripter. PMID- 2618911 TI - [Medical management for the prevention of the recurrence of urolithiasis--with special recurrence to the patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PNL) or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)]. AB - Questionnaires about stone recurrence after treatment with percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PNL) or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) were sent to 11 hospitals in the central section of Japan. We received 255 replies on PNL cases and 157 replies on ESWL cases. These patients were evaluated for the recurrence of renal stones and the enlargement of residual stone fragments. The effect of the medical management for the prevention of recurrent stone disease on postoperative recurrence rate was also evaluated. The average follow-up period of patients treated with PNL was 21.6 months, and 18.5 months for patients treated with ESWL. In patients who underwent PNL, 25 of 162 patients (15.4%) who were treated completely without any residual stones have suffered from new stones. The residual stone or fragments enlarged in 14 of the 93 patients (15.1%) who had residual stones or fragments after the treatment. The recurrence rate was significantly higher for the recurrent stone former than the single stone former. The recurrence rate for the patients who had multiple stones, staghorn calculi and metabolic disorders such as hypercalciuria also had a high incidence. Patients who received medical treatment for the prevention of stone recurrence had a lower recurrence rate than the group not treated. Especially among the patients with hypercalciuria, the recurrence rate of stone disease in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the group not treated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2618912 TI - [Dietary habits of Japanese renal stone formers and clinical effects of prophylactic dietary treatment]. AB - The daily consumption of various nutrients and the daily habits of 241 male stone formers were investigated. The patients (especially uric acid stone formers and hypercalciuric (greater than or equal to 300 mg/day) calcium stone formers) ingested much more total protein and animal protein than healthy Japanese. However, the amount of ingested calcium by the patients (470 mg) was less than that of healthy subjects (553 mg) and did not reach the level of the daily nutritive requirement (600 mg). The amount of ingested nutrients during the evening meal by the patients was about 50% of the daily amount with over 60% of the daily animal protein being ingested at dinner. This tendency was high in subjects who were in their 20's to 40's. The interval from dinner until retiring in the patients was not different from that of healthy males, but it was under 4 hours in over 50% of those in their 30's and 40's in both groups. From these results, we thought that a rapid change in nutritional status and dietary style in the short period after World War II had strongly affected the incidence of renal stone disease in Japan. Therefore, we have established the following general guidelines: 1) increased fluid intake, especially after dinner, 2) correct and avoid unbalanced diet (the diet should include all kinds of food, with vegetables being eaten at every meal and avoidance of an excessive intake of meat), 3) eat three meals a day and avoid an excessive intake at dinner, and 4) extend the interval from dinner until retiring. By following these individual dietary guidelines, the 5-year stone recurrence rate and the stone episode rate decreased remarkably in the period of not only outpatient visits but also in the period when the outpatient visits were discontinued. From these results, we conclude that individual dietary management should be the primary measure for the prophylaxis of renal stone disease in Japan. PMID- 2618913 TI - [Clinical statistics on inpatients and operations at the Department of Urology, the Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka, 1984-1988]. AB - Statistical observation on inpatients and operations at our department between January 1984 and December 1988 revealed the following results: 1) The total number of inpatients was 1962 (male: 1658, female: 304). The most frequent diseases were bladder cancer (30.0%), benign prostatic hypertrophy (19.2%), prostatic cancer (10.6%) and renal cancer (6.7%). 2) The total number of operations was 1699. The most frequent operations were transurethral resection (TUR) of bladder tumor (22.8%), TUR prostate (20.7%), TUR biopsy (6.5%) and total cystectomy (5.4%). PMID- 2618914 TI - Effect of ofloxacin in the treatment of genitourinary tract infection with Ureaplasma urealyticum. AB - Ofloxacin was administered to 26 males infected with Ureaplasma urealyticum. The infection was confirmed by urine or semen culture. Ofloxacin, administered at daily dose of 300-600 mg for 7 to 28 days, eradicated U. urealyticum in 25 of 26 patients (92.2%). PMID- 2618915 TI - Patient-controlled analgesia in gynecologic oncology surgery. AB - A prospective comparison of conventional analgesia and patient-controlled analgesia using morphine was conducted. Each patient underwent a major gynecologic oncology procedure and was observed on the post-operative floor. All 192 patients were studied during the first three post-operative days. The findings suggest less total medication and less sedation with equal pain control in the patient-controlled analgesia group. PMID- 2618916 TI - Lymphadenitis due to atypical mycobacteria. AB - Mycobacterium scrofulaceum is a Group II atypical mycobacterium commonly associated with lymphadenitis in children. An adult is described with a rapidly enlarging preauricular mass. Culture of biopsied material isolated M. scrofulaceum, a rare cause of disease in nonimmunocompromised adults. M. scrofulaceum is usually resistant to multiple chemotherapeutic agents used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Treatment is by surgical excision of the nodes and overlying skin. PMID- 2618917 TI - Cholesterol and you--do you "Know Your Number"? PMID- 2618918 TI - Collaborative consultation: a method for improving educational services for mainstreamed students who are hearing impaired. AB - As a result of well-known recent federal mandates for appropriate special education to all disabled students, the majority of children who are hearing impaired currently are educated in public school settings, along with hearing students. Consequently, teachers of students who are hearing impaired have expanded their role to include the provision of ongoing support to regular classroom teachers, speech-language pathologists, paraprofessionals and administrators. One model for delivery of these services is that of collaborative consultation. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of collaborative consultation, and to delineate some principles that merit consideration by regular and special educators who are involved in the education of students who are hearing impaired. PMID- 2618919 TI - Evaluating the success of deaf parents. AB - Nineteen parent-child pairs completed the Parental Strengths and Needs Inventory (PSNI) and were interviewed about their relationships. Parent and child scores on the PSNI were above average, with parents expressing high interest in information about childrearing. Interviews revealed issues specific to deaf parents, such as using children as interpreters and frustration when children had poor sign language skills. Children with good sign language skills said they were generally willing to interpret for their parents, except during conflict situations. Children also reported advantages to having deaf parents: they enjoyed being bilingual and their parents tolerated noise and loud music. Study results underscore the importance of triangulation strategies in cross-cultural research. PMID- 2618920 TI - Reading comprehension of deaf adolescent residential school students and its relationship to hearing mothers' communication strategies and skills. AB - A nationwide study was conducted to examine the relationship between prelingually deaf adolescents' reading comprehension scores and their hearing mothers' communication strategies and skills. Subjects included 201 students from six randomly selected residential schools for the deaf. Correlation coefficients, stepwise multiple regression analyses and analysis of covariance showed that for this group of subjects, method of communication used by mothers had no significant relationship with their deaf children's reading comprehension scores. No significant relationship was found between reading comprehension of the children of mothers who used manual communication and the age of the child when the mother began to sign. A potential relationship was found, however, between reading comprehension scores and signing skill levels of mothers who used manual communication. PMID- 2618921 TI - An instructional guide for reducing the stress of hearing parents of hearing impaired children. AB - The impact of a self-instructional program to reduce stress levels of parents of hearing-impaired children is examined. Fifty parents with hearing-impaired children were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Participating Parents, who received a Self-Instructional Parent Program (SIPP); and Non-participating Parents, who received no such program. Findings indicate that the participating parents did not experience significant decreases in their stress levels or in the perceived incidence of misbehavior in their children in comparison with non participating parents. Participating parents, however, reported a decrease in their children's misbehavior; non-participating parents noted an increase. Additionally, the findings also associated increasing stress on the part of parents with parental perceptions of burgeoning misbehavior on the part of the child. PMID- 2618922 TI - The criterion-related validity of the WISC-R performance scale and other nonverbal IQ tests for deaf children. AB - Despite the popularity of nonverbal IQ tests for psychoeducational assessment of deaf children, criterion-related validity is lacking. This may be because nonverbal IQ tests lack criterion-related validity, or because inappropriate scaling attenuates IQ achievement correlations. Two studies used samples of deaf children to test these hypotheses. The first study (N = 33) correlated WISC-R PIQs with Stanford Achievement Test-Hearing Impaired Edition (SAT-HI) grade equivalents and age-based percentiles (rs less than .37, NS). The second study (N = 64) correlated nonverbal IQs from many tests with SAT-HI scores (rs .05 to .42). The results implicate the hypothesis that criterion scale affects IQ achievement correlations. The role of nonverbal IQ in the psychoeducational assessment of deaf children is discussed. PMID- 2618923 TI - Hearing-impaired students' performance on tests of visual processing: relationships with reading performance. AB - Performance of hearing-impaired students on selected tests of visual processing and the relationship between performance on those measures and on a test of reading comprehension were investigated. Seventy-seven subjects, all 7- and 8 year-olds, were tested using the MVPT, ITPA Sequential Memory Subtest, VADS, Jordan, VMI, Slingerland, and SAT-HI. Scores of the hearing-impaired subjects failed to match those of the hearing norm sample of the VADS test but no systematic differences were found on the other tests of visual processing. Performance IQ was strongly associated with both visual processing and reading scores. Significant portions of the variance in reading scores were explained by IQ and performance on tests of memory for visual stimuli. Visual tests without a memory component failed to explain significant portions of the variance in reading performance. PMID- 2618924 TI - Project IDEA: International Deaf Education Association. AB - This paper addresses some of the difficulties of educating the deaf in third world countries. Project IDEA (International Deaf Education Association) is an exemplary program started by the Peace Corps in Bohol, Philippines. The author made an on-sight visit to this project in 1986. Additionally, two Montana State University students completed internships there in early 1988 and their detailed accounts help form the basis for this descriptive report on the newly formed Bohol deaf community and their special educational/vocational program. PMID- 2618925 TI - Morphology of the lingual apparatus of the domestic chicken, Gallus gallus, with special attention to the structure of the fasciae. AB - A detailed redescription of the mechanically interacting structural elements of the lingual apparatus of the domestic chicken, Gallus gallus, revealed the functional and constructional role of organized connective tissue (i.e., ligaments and fasciae) as structural elements that ensure the proper biomechanical interactions among the various structures within the lingual apparatus (e.g., cartilaginous and bony skeletal elements, muscles, salivary glands, epithelial structures). Fasciae, together with extrinsic muscles, also connect the lingual apparatus to the other components of the feeding apparatus, such as the skull, jaw apparatus, and larynx. For example, the hyoid apparatus is attached to the skull by a sheath-like fascia (F. vaginalis), the internal structure of which is described here for the first time. Thus, the hyoid suspension in birds differs fundamentally from that in mammals. This study is the first to examine all biomechanically functioning structural elements that are part of the galliform lingual apparatus in a systematic and comprehensive manner. It also provides a set of novel characters that may be useful for future comparative studies in evolutionary and functional morphology. PMID- 2618926 TI - Post natal development of the neck system in the chicken (Gallus domesticus). AB - The lengths of several neck muscles and tendons and the length, width, and height of the cervical vertebrae and some additional distances were measured in the chicken in six post-hatching ontogenetic stages and adults. Each vertebra is characterized by a unique combination of growth rates. All increase most in length. Cranial and caudal width as well as height decreases relative to length during ontogeny. When the long dorsal neck muscles are assumed to provide the support for the weight of the head and half of the weight of the neck, the neck system evidently develops according to McMahon's elastic similarity theory. The assumption is justified also because the weights of head and neck together appeared to scale as predicted by elastic similarity. Short neck muscles show negative and tendons positive allometric growth, and long neck muscles grow isometrically relative to neck length. This growth pattern of the muscles and tendons is a direct consequence of the geometric relations of the different growth rates of the vertebrae. PMID- 2618927 TI - Aberrant differentiation of neuroepithelial cells in developing mouse brains subsequent to retinoic acid exposure in utero. AB - All-trans-retinoic acid induced 2 types of disorganized neuroepithelium, localized and continuous, in the exencephaly of 9-day-old mouse embryos exposed to 60 or 40 mg/kg for 27 to 30 hr in utero. The localized effect appeared as a protuberance in the wall of the telencephalon and thick neural folds in the mesencephalon with the discontinuity of the apical terminal sheet. The continuous disorganization was seen from the olfactory placode to the myelencephalon with rosettes of cells and many dense bodies in the neuroepithelium. Ultrastructurally, cells in the localized disorganizations showed swelling of Golgi complexes, coated vesicles, and rough endoplasmic reticulum resulting in degeneration. The continuous disorganizations consisted of undifferentiated homogeneous cells in which the nuclei exhibited expansion of nucleolar granular portions and coagulated heterochromatin, and cytoplasm showed monosomal dispersion. In both types of disorganized neuroepithelium, junctional complexes were seen focally at the apical side or apical processes of the rosette, with few or no microfilament bundles. A layer of microfilaments at the base of the neuroepithelial cells in controls, just above the basal lamina, was not present in the monosome dispersed cytoplasm. In the neuroepithelium of controls, one phagosome was seen in the perinuclear region in 0.8% of the cells examined, whereas in the experimental neuroepithelium 2 or more phagosomes were seen in a cell, and phagocytosis occurred by pseudopods. These findings suggest that all trans-retinoic acid induces not only cytotoxicity but also dedifferentiation in the neuroepithelial cells leading to more cell death, which activates the phagocytosis. These lesions in the neuroepithelium may be a cause of exencephaly. PMID- 2618928 TI - Development of arteriovenous anastomoses in the skin of the chicken and the influence of environmental temperature. AB - Posthatching differentiation of arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs) and the effect of heat exposure (38 degrees C) and cold acclimation (2-3 degrees C) on AVA density were studied in naked skin areas (eyelids, comb, wattles) of chickens. The AVAs were identifiable in the newly hatched chick, but they were extremely simple. The number of cell layers in the wall of the AVAs increased from two at hatching to four to five in the 5-month-old chickens. The density of the AVAs increased significantly during posthatching maturation. Cold acclimation of the chickens increased the density of AVAs by a factor of 2.1-3.2. Daily heat exposure also increased the density of AVAs significantly in the eyelids but had no effect in the other skin areas. Heat and cold had only minor effect on the vascularity of the skin; the only significant change recorded was a slight increase in the number of blood vessels in the wattles of the cold-acclimated chickens. PMID- 2618929 TI - Comparative morphology and morphometry of the nasal fossae of four species of North American shrews (Soricinae). AB - The present study compares the morphology of the nasal conchae and the relative development (i.e., surface area and neurosensory cell number) of the olfactory epithelium between four species of shrews occupying different ecotopes (Blarina brevicauda, Sorex cinereus, S. fumeus, S. palustris). The number of olfactory cells was corrected for split cell error. Data were analyzed by using size indices based on the allometric method. The convoluted shape of the maxilloturbinal in Blarina, with large respiratory epithelial surface area, could not be related with certainty to the subterranean ecotope. From the comparison between Soricinae and Crocidurinae, one major difference concerned the shape and attachment of ectoturbinal 3. Differences in the relative development of the olfactory organ are discussed with regard to differences in the use of chemical signals. The semi-fossorial B. brevicauda, with the more developed olfactory organ, is reported to possess more scent-glands and to manifest active scent marking behaviors and fecal deposits associated with territoriality. The two terrestrial species, S. cinereus and S. fumeus, have olfactory epithelia showing an intermediate development. Published accounts of fewer scent-glands and a lack of active scent-marking behavior indicate a lesser use of olfactory communication in these two species where mutual avoidance seems the rule. Indication of an even more reduced use of olfactory signals in social interactions by the semiaquatic S. palustris is suggested by its least-developed olfactory epithelium. The comparison between Soricinae and Crocidurinae supports a relationship between the development of the olfactory organ and the relative use of olfactory communication known to occur in social interactions. PMID- 2618930 TI - Scales in young Polypterus senegalus are elasmoid: new phylogenetic implications. AB - A component of the basal plate which has a plywood-like organization similar to that of the elasmoid scales of teleosts is described in the scales of Polypterus senegalus for the first time. The origin and development of this structure is studied in young (50-117 mm, standard length) and adult (225 and 240 mm) specimens using light and electron microscopy. In 50 mm fish, the scales are imbricated and composed mainly of a succession of orthogonal collagen layers forming a plywood-like structure, the isopedin. The outer surface of the scale is ornamented locally by irregular patches of collagenous material. The layers are not mineralized, whereas the superficial patches are well calcified. The isopedin thickens until it has 12-15 layers and then stops growing (88 mm fish). It mineralizes irregularly from its upper part, and two vascular regions, surrounded by woven-fibered osseous material, form on the outer and deeper surfaces of the isopedin. These regions thicken while the vascular canals close by centripetal deposition of parallel-fibered osseous tissue. The outer region is the superficial part of the mature scale (called here osteodentin), which is covered by the ganoine deposited by the epidermal cells. The deeper part constitutes the definitive basal plate, composed of parallel-fibered osseous tissue. The results show 1) that the young ganoid scales of Polypterus senegalus have a structure similar to that of typical elasmoid scales; and 2) that the isopedin structure does not change during ontogeny and so represents a permanent record of the first ontogenetic stages. The phylogenetic implication of these results is that the elasmoid scales of teleosts arose by a process of paedomorphosis. PMID- 2618931 TI - Perspectives on the past and future, Part 1. PMID- 2618932 TI - Human immunodeficiency virus (position paper). PMID- 2618933 TI - Occupational therapy and eating dysfunction (position paper). PMID- 2618934 TI - Occupational therapy in the promotion of health and the prevention of disease and disability (position paper). PMID- 2618935 TI - Uniform Terminology for Occupational Therapy--Second Edition. PMID- 2618936 TI - Application of uniform terminology to practice. PMID- 2618937 TI - AJOT articles helpful for practitioners interested in research. PMID- 2618938 TI - Therapist uses pain reduction techniques in private practice. PMID- 2618939 TI - Children's social and emotional development appears in book. PMID- 2618940 TI - Program changes students' views about working with the elderly. PMID- 2618941 TI - Evaluation of the patient's motivation for treatment during the first interview. AB - This article studies the motivations of patients for psychiatric consultation. A better understanding of patient-therapist interactions will be helpful in producing an initial psychotherapeutic intervention that, in turn, will lead to an immediate change in the patient's attitude, facilitating treatment by giving it a correct orientation. A clinical example illustrates the above points. PMID- 2618942 TI - The evolution of the self-psychological approach to depression. AB - This paper traces the evolution of the self-psychological view of depression from its roots in classical psychoanalytic theory and technique. Self psychology differs significantly from classical psychoanalysis in its theoretical understanding and its technical handling of the transferences and aggressive tendencies of depressed patients in psychotherapy or psychoanalysis. PMID- 2618943 TI - Divorce and the psychotherapist. AB - This paper explores how divorce may affect psychotherapists' personal and professional lives. It offers theoretical speculations about the effects of divorce and makes recommendations for helping divorcing psychotherapists in their work. PMID- 2618944 TI - Using countertransference in the hypnosis of trauma victims: a model for turning hazard into healing. AB - The article describes the usefulness of concepts of projective identification and the relational/structure model of countertransference in the treatment of trauma victims. Case examples are presented to illustrate how concordant, complementary, and indirect countertransference may be useful diagnostically and therapeutically. PMID- 2618945 TI - The therapeutic empathic communication (TEC) process. AB - While the communication of empathy is thought to be a curative factor in psychotherapy, current conceptualizations usually focus on empathy as only an attitude or state of mind of the therapist. A five-stage model of therapeutic empathic communication is presented. The model is applied to analyzing the therapeutic impact of empathic communication in dynamic psychotherapy. Its usefulness is demonstrated in a case example. PMID- 2618946 TI - The death instinct and the future of humans. AB - Freud's notion of the "death instinct" has been conceived of by many subsequent authors in many ways. One of the misuses of it is as an excuse for passivity in the face of the current crisis in human affairs. This paper reviews the "death instinct" concept and attempts to understand the disavowal of the dangers to our species and our planet on the basis of our current narcissistic cultural orientation. It examines the use of praxis by a variety of continental thinkers to counter this disavowal and emphasizes the obligation of all mental health professionals to participate, through direct action and through educational contributions, in the elimination of these evils. PMID- 2618947 TI - Dissociation in alternative healers and traditional therapists: a comparative study. AB - Nineteen psychiatry residents were compared to 12 community-based alternative healers on the Dissociative Experiences Scale and the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule. Neither group showed evidence of extensive psychopathology. However, the alternative healers reported more Schneiderian symptoms, extrasensory experiences, and secondary features of multiple personality disorder. Among the healers, these experiences did not seem to be indicative of psychopathology, and were in fact valued and sought after. Dissociative experiences are not necessarily indicators of psychiatric disorder in nonclinical groups. PMID- 2618948 TI - The relationship between mercury from dental amalgam and mental health. AB - The findings presented here suggest that mercury poisoning from dental amalgam may play a role in the etiology of mental illness. Comparisons between subjects with and without amalgam showed significant differences in subjective reports of mental health. Subjects who had amalgams removed reported that symptoms of mental illness lessened or disappeared after removal. The data suggest that inorganic mercury poisoning from dental amalgam does affect the mind and emotions. PMID- 2618949 TI - Can schizophrenia cause posttraumatic stress disorder? AB - Theories about schizophrenia have viewed stress and anxiety as both predisposing factors and associated features of the disorder. But these theories ignore a possible fundamental interaction: Terrifying psychotic experiences might act as traumatic events and precipitate a posttraumatic stress syndrome. We present a case of schizophrenia complicated by posttraumatic stress disorder and discuss the implications of this comorbidity for theory, research, and practice. PMID- 2618950 TI - Projective identification as a self-psychological change agent in the psychotherapy of a child. AB - The psychotherapy of a 10-year-old boy is used to demonstrate the usefulness of idealizing and mirroring transferences to help patients move from a state of lack of selfhood and self-differentiation to the development of self-structures that provide strength and self-esteem. Projective identification is presented as a therapeutic technique that can be used to facilitate this process by aiding the internalization of mirroring and idealization functions. PMID- 2618951 TI - [Characteristics of the clinical course of pathologic climacteric period from the gynecological and neurological viewpoints]. AB - Examinations of 268 women of a climacteric age, carried out with the use of neurologic, gynecologic, electrophysiologic, x-gay, biochemical, and radioimmunologic methods, have revealed a relationship between the neurologic and gynecologic symptomatology in the pathologic climacteric. The author emphasizes the necessity of a combined approach to the prescription of therapeutic measures for patients with functional uterine bleedings in the climacteric period with due consideration for the gynecologic and neurologic disorders. PMID- 2618952 TI - [Pathogenetic mechanisms of the development of "hot flushes" in patients with climacteric disorders of the sympathetic-adrenal type]. AB - Examinations of 19 patients aged 49 to 55, suffering from climacteric disorders of sympathoadrenal nature, have revealed during 42 hot flushes an activation of the sympathoadrenal section of the autonomic nervous system (increased arterial pressure, heart and respiration rates, and skin galvanic reflex), as well as activation of peripheral vasodilatation, elevated skin temperature, and increased concentrations of LH, ACTH, thyrotropic hormone (TTH), cortisol, aldosterone, and testosterone. These data suggest that the trigger mechanism of a hot flush in the patients with the climacteric syndrome represents modified (due to changes in the external or internal conditions) activity of the LH releasing factor-secreting neuron structures and of the central temperature-sensitive neurons. Activation of the sympathoadrenal section of the autonomic nervous system and of the hypothalamo-hypophyseo-adrenocortical system is explained by their important role in the adaptive reactions of the body. Increase of the TTH level results from increased activity of the thyrotropin releasing factor, contributing to the central mechanisms of thermoregulation. PMID- 2618953 TI - [Various indicators of the kallikrein-kinin system of the blood in patients of reproductive age with dysfunctional uterine hemorrhage]. AB - Fifteen women with dysfunctional uterine hemorrhages [DUH] of the reproductive period and ten women aged 20 to 30 with normal two-phase menstrual cycle were examined. Measurements of the blood plasma kallikrein and prekallikrein activities in normal females have revealed a direct correlation between kallikrein level and colpocytologic data and an inverse correlation between prekallikrein level and these data. An incessant growth of kallikrein content was detected in DUH patients, whereas their prekallikrein levels were much lower than in the controls. A manifest activation of the kallikrein-kinin system was detected in the patients with DUH of the reproductive period, augmenting with the development of the proliferative processes in the endometrium. PMID- 2618954 TI - [Pathogenetic mechanisms of the development of the cephalgic form of premenstrual syndrome in patients of older age groups]. AB - Measurements of the blood plasma gonadotropic hormones, sex steroids, and biogenic amines, and investigation of the patterns of vegetative reactions to functional tests during both menstrual cycle phases, carried out in 26 patients with the cephalgic form of the premenstrual syndrome, aged 39-49, and in 13 age matched women without this syndrome, have shown the contribution of changes in progesterone, serotonin, and histamine levels to the pathogenesis of this condition. These studies have also demonstrated a reduction of the adaptive potentials of the body, i. e. no regular rise of the tone and functional activity of the autonomic nervous system sympathoadrenal section in the lutein phase of the cycle, as well as the development of inadequate reactions in some patients aged 44-49, in whom the disease runs the most severe and long course. PMID- 2618955 TI - [Hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinemia]. AB - Blood thyrotropic hormone, thyroxin, tri-iodothyronine, FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone levels were examined in 14 patients with primary hypothyroidism and 11 normal women of reproductive age. All the women under study were subjected to functional tests with intravenous thyroliberin (TRH) and metoclopramide. All hypothyroid patients had anovulatory infertility. Hyperprolactinemia was detected in 8 of 14 patients. It is demonstrated that hyperprolactinemia, developing in cases of primary hypothyroidism, is associated with impaired dopaminergic inhibition of pituitary lactotropics. Substitution thyroidin therapy resulted in the recovery of the normal ovulatory cycle in all but one patient with secondary pituitary microprolactinoma, and 8 patients became pregnant. It is believed that damaged dopaminergic regulation of hypothalamic luliberin (RH) secretion is a direct cause of ovarian dysfunction associated with primary hypothyroidism. PMID- 2618956 TI - [Clinico-diagnostic indicators and late results of the treatment of infertility in hyperprolactinemia]. AB - Clinical manifestations of various hyperprolactinemia-associated conditions were studied in infertile females. The results of hormone therapy were evaluated with regard to various preparations employed, pregnancy outcomes in those females were followed up. PMID- 2618957 TI - [Clinical course and the effectiveness of conservative treatment of prolactin secreting pituitary adenoma]. AB - Forty-eight women with prolactin-secreting adenomas of the hypophysis and 22 patients with suspected microadenomas, aged 16 to 38, were examined. The highest blood prolactin levels and the most manifest symptoms were revealed in the patients with x-ray evidence of hypophyseal macroadenoma. Prolactin levels were lower, though still elevated, in the cases with small adenomas. In the cases with high prolactin levels but without x-ray signs of hypophyseal adenoma the clinical symptoms were less manifest. LH concentrations were significantly reduced in all the patients. Seven patients in whom parlodel therapy was ineffective were operated on. In the rest parlodel therapy, carried out for 1-2 years, was conducive to stabilization of the tumor process, despite a recurrence of hyperprolactinemia. PMID- 2618958 TI - [Treatment of obstetrical infection]. AB - Obstetrical sepsis is one of the most important causes of maternal mortality. An obligatory procedure in the management of sepsis is liquidation of the infection focus. For this purpose drainage and irrigation of the uterine cavity with Baliz 2, an antiseptic solution, were included in the complex of therapeutic measures for 49 patients with the purulent focus in the uterus. The focus was liquidated in all the cases, no complications were recorded. This recommends such procedure for the treatment of patients with obstetrical sepsis. PMID- 2618959 TI - [Chlamydia infection in infertility of inflammatory etiology]. PMID- 2618960 TI - [Changes in the levels of precursors of endogenous synthesis of prostaglandins in intrauterine contraception]. PMID- 2618961 TI - Incidence and causes of intracranial hemorrhage in infancy: a prospective surveillance study after vitamin K prophylaxis. AB - In order to evaluate the effect of vitamin K prophylaxis on the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in infants aged from 1 week to 12 months, a prospective surveillance study, from 1974 to 1988, was performed on the well defined population of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. The incidence of ICH in infancy markedly decreased, from 34.3/100,000 to 10.1/100,000 live births, with the oral administration of vitamin K2 at both birth and 1 week, or with additional supplementation at 1 month of age. The diminished incidence was attributed to the decreased occurrence of acute ICH due to late hemorrhagic disease (LHD), a late onset form of vitamin K deficiency, and chronic subdural hematoma. On comparing the possible etiological factors, and clinical and laboratory findings between these 2 groups, it became apparent that chronic subdural hematoma shared some etiological factors (such as breast-feeding, liver dysfunction and no supplementation of vitamin K) with LHD. Furthermore, chronic subdural hematoma developed in some patients who had previously had acute ICH due to LHD. These findings suggest that coagulopathy due to vitamin K deficiency, including LHD, is causally related in the majority of, if not all, cases of chronic subdural hematoma without any history of trauma or central nervous system infections. PMID- 2618962 TI - Maturation of blink reflex in children. AB - The blink reflex was examined in 57 subjects aged from neonate to adult in the alert state. The ipsilateral late response (R2) was elicited in all subjects and considered most suitable to evaluate maturational changes of the blink reflex. In a few subjects older than 3 years and of adults, the ipsilateral early response (R1) was difficult to observe. The contralateral late response (R2') could not be obtained in 32% of neonates and infants. From the observation about developmental change of an interference pattern, a latency shortening of R2 and a latency difference between R2' and R2, the blink reflex in children may be considered as mature at no later than 5 years of age. In addition, the R2 latency tended to increase temporarily through 1 or 2 years from late infancy. The reflex circuit evaluated by the blink reflex in children may partially change its makeup after the early infantile period and is almost fully mature at no later than 5 years. PMID- 2618963 TI - Fetal GM1-gangliosidosis: morphological and biochemical studies. AB - A 23-week fetus with GM1-gangliosidosis type 1 was studied morphologically and biochemically. The GM1-ganglioside content in the brain was approximately twice that of a control. A GM1-ganglioside comprised about 25% of the total ganglioside NANA (N-acetyl-neuraminic acid), whereas in control fetus brain the proportion was 14.3%. The storage of GM1-ganglioside in fetal GM1-ganglioside brain was confirmed by a thin-layer chromatogram immunostained with anti-GM1-ganglioside antibody. The accumulation of GM1-ganglioside in visceral organs (liver, spleen and kidney) was not detected with biochemical and immunochemical methods. However, in hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, renal tubular cells and spleen cells from the affected fetus, there were many vacuoles which could contain oligosaccharides as storage materials. These data suggest that pathochemical changes in the brain and visceral organs of an affected fetus are already evident in the second trimester of the pregnancy. Tissue specific accumulation of glycolipids or oligosaccharides in fetal GM1-gangliosidosis suggests that the biosynthesis or degradation of these compounds occurs at different periods. PMID- 2618964 TI - Longitudinal observation of electroencephalograms in the Rett syndrome. AB - The long-term electroencephalographical observations were documented during the course of the Rett syndrome in 8 patients. The abnormal EEG findings changed with age and the clinical stage. In the premonitory stage (birth-1.5 years of age), EEG seemed to be normal. In the acute exacerbation stage (1.5-5 years old), occipital dominant alpha wave-like activity was characteristic and persisted for a few years, but it disappeared afterwards along with the seizure activity. At around 4 years of age, when the whole spectrum of symptoms manifested, the EEG background activity in the waking stage showed higher amplitude, lower frequency and more irregular than normal. Sleep spindles were hardly observed, while frequent seizure activity was found on sleep EEG. Before the onset of epileptic attacks, paroxysmal discharges, such as diffuse spike-and-wave complexes, were noted during sleep recordings. In the chronic stage (after age 6), a monotonous theta rhythm (MTR), which was not influenced by either opening or closing of the eyes but attenuated only by a big noise or strong pain stimuli, characteristically dominated the waking tracing. The MTR was generalized over both hemispheres. After age 20, the MTR tended to be more localized to the centro parietal area. This suggests that a reduction in responsiveness to visual and other stimuli occurs in this disease, which may be attributable to a dysfunction of the reticular activating system in the brainstem. PMID- 2618965 TI - Ocular findings in Fukuyama type congenital muscular dystrophy. AB - In Fukuyama type congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), congenital muscular dystrophy and anomalies of the central nervous system are regarded as the major features, but the existence of ocular lesions has hardly been recognized as being important. In the present study, close ophthalmologic examinations were performed on 11 patients with FCMD, and we found myopia, weakness of the orbicularis oculi, congenital nystagmus, cortical blindness, optic atrophy, chorioretinal degeneration, etc. In particular, the chorioretinal degeneration observed in the ocular fundus was considered to be specific to FCMD. It is thought that these ocular lesions or changes are caused by the same mechanism as that involved in the central nervous system anomalies. PMID- 2618966 TI - Secondary amenorrhea in two sisters with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and progressive cerebellar ataxia. AB - The association of familial hypogonadism with progressive cerebellar ataxia is only rarely encountered. Both primary hypergonadotropic and secondary hypogonadotropic hypogonadism may appear with cerebellar ataxia. However, many of these patients suffer from a variety of neurological and/or somatic malformations. Females, which are relatively rarely affected, display primary amenorrhea. In this report, two sisters presented with secondary amenorrhea prior to the appearance of progressive cerebellar ataxia and were found to have hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. This unique family displays clinical evidence for the presence of a possible common mechanism responsible for progressive hypothalamic and cerebellar impairment of late onset. PMID- 2618967 TI - Decreased blood flow and oxygen metabolism in the cerebellum, brain stem and thalamus in a case with Menkes kinky hair disease. AB - Cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism were measured in a five-year-old boy with atypical Menkes kinky hair disease (MKHD) by using positron emission tomography (PET). The patient was diagnosed as having atypical MKHD because of low serum and urinary copper levels, and clinical symptoms. The CT revealed mild to moderate degrees of brain atrophy predominantly in the cerebellum. The PET demonstrated marked decreases of cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in the cerebellum, brain stem and thalamus. These findings seem to reflect the neuropathological abnormalities observed in MKHD. PET seems to be more sensitive than CT in detecting abnormalities in the affected structures. However, because this case is atypical the question of whether typical cases show similar features on the PET remains. PMID- 2618968 TI - Peripheral nerve involvement in myasthenia gravis. AB - The dermal and muscular nerves in a 13-year-old female patient affected by myasthenia gravis (MG) were subjected to ultrastructural observation. The dermal nerves mainly examined were located around the sweat glands, which were thought to be autonomic cholinergic nerves. Axonal and Schwann cell pathologies, of various degrees, such as proliferation and/or disorganized axonal microorganelles, accumulation of Reich granules and lipopigments in the Schwann cell cytoplasm, and expansion of the intraperiod line of the outer myelin loop, were observed in both types of nerves. Although this patient showed no clinical signs of peripheral neuropathy, including dysautonomia, this study indicates that there is generalized cholinergic nerve involvement in MG. PMID- 2618969 TI - Hair copper and zinc concentrations in the Rett syndrome. AB - The hair copper and zinc concentrations in patients with the Rett syndrome in 9 hospitals or institutions, and female age-matched controls were investigated. The copper and zinc concentrations in the 23 patients were 15.1 +/- 3.6 and 177 +/- 20 micrograms/g dry weight (mean +/- SD), respectively, and those in the 22 controls were 14.7 +/- 3.4 and 181 +/- 22, respectively. No significant differences were detected between the copper or zinc concentrations in the patients and controls. The copper and zinc concentrations did not change with age, or the hospital or institution. The ratio of the copper and zinc concentrations was also constant. We conclude that the hair copper and zinc concentrations in patients with the Rett syndrome are the same as those in controls. PMID- 2618970 TI - A case of acute cerebellar ataxia with an MRI abnormality. AB - A 5-year-old boy with acute cerebellar ataxia was examined by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and was found to have a lesion showing low and high signal intensity in T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively, in the left cerebellar peduncle in the acute phase. The lesion disappeared in the convalescent phase. PMID- 2618971 TI - Neurophysiological findings in the Rett syndrome. PMID- 2618972 TI - Homozygous protein C deficiency: early treatment with warfarin. AB - We present a case of homozygous protein C deficiency with neonatal purpura fulminans and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) starting shortly after birth. In addition, the infant had vitreal eye hemorrhages and intraparenchymal brain infarction, apparently as intrauterine events. Within 15 hours of institution of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) infusions the DIC resolved and the progression of purpura fulminans reversed. Warfarin (0.4 mg/kg/day) was started on the fifth day of life, followed by gradual tapering of the FFP infusions. There were no recurrences of purpura, areas of skin necrosis healed without the need for skin grafting, and the areas of brain infarction resolved without apparent sequelae. The eye and brain lesions may be intrauterine events and appear to be a regular feature of this syndrome. Family studies are essential to establish the diagnosis, although there may be no family history of thromboembolic events, as in this case. Homozygous protein C deficiency is a rare disorder, but one in which early recognition and intervention may be lifesaving. Ours is the youngest patient yet reported to be treated with warfarin anticoagulation. We were thus able to avoid the complications of long-term plasma therapy as well as the potential thrombotic complications of central venous catheter placement. PMID- 2618973 TI - Milk could decrease the bioavailability of 6-mercaptopurine. AB - The bioavailability of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) administered orally for maintenance therapy of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is highly variable. Xanthine oxidase (XO) can transform 6-MP into 6-thioxanthine (6-TX) and 6-thiouric acid (6-TUA), which have no therapeutic value. XO is found in high concentration in cow's milk. Incubation at 37 degrees C for 30 min with commercial preparations of pasteurized cow's milk results in transformation of 30% of a clinically relevant concentration of 6-MP into 6-TUA. Milk boiled for 5 min has no effect on the 6-MP. Addition of gastric juice at ratios likely to be seen in children has negligible inhibitory effect on the 6-MP destroying activity of milk. Conversely, folic acid and allopurinol markedly inhibit this effect at clinically relevant concentrations. These observations may help to optimize modalities of administration of 6-MP. PMID- 2618974 TI - MOPP therapy in children with Hodgkin's disease. AB - Between 1979 and 1987, 28 children with Hodgkin's disease were treated with MOPP (nitrogen mustard, Oncovin, prednisone, procarbazine) combination chemotherapy without radiotherapy. Twenty-four were staged clinically. Splenectomy was performed in four only. Staging was as follows: nine (32%) in stage I, five (18%) in stage II, nine (32%) in stage III, and five (18%) in stage IV. Histologic types were lymphocytic predominance in five (18%), mixed cellularity in 15 (54%), nodular sclerosis in seven (25%) and lymphocytic depletion in one (4%). All children achieved complete remission. Two in stages III and IV relapsed and were salvaged with additional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Twenty-six are in continuous relapse-free remission for periods ranging from 2 to 9 years. The relapse-free survival rate of 92% and survival rate of 100% compares favorably with results obtained using combined modality treatment. PMID- 2618975 TI - Flow cytometric determination with bromodeoxyuridine/DNA assay of sensitivity of S-phase cells to cytosine arabinoside in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. AB - The percentages of S-phase cells in leukemic and normal bone marrow cells and their sensitivity to cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) were determined by in-vitro bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd)/DNA analysis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The lymphoblasts during relapse showed a higher proliferating activity than at the time of the diagnosis. The sensitivity of S-phase cells to Ara-C was measured by the percentages of the residual S-phase cells capable of incorporating BrdUrd after incubation with various concentration of Ara-C (1 ng 10 micrograms/ml). A constant dose response was found in the normal bone marrow cells of disease-free children who were in complete remission with a marked reduction of the S-phase population at a concentration of 100 ng/ml. In the leukemic bone marrow cells, in contrast, there was a wide variation in sensitivity to Ara-C. The sensitivity did not correlate with the proliferating activity of leukemic cells. In two patients, there was a good correlation between in-vitro sensitivity and clinical response to Ara-C. PMID- 2618976 TI - Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for thalassemia in Taiwan: factors associated with graft failure. AB - Fourteen thalassemia patients (aged 1.6-13.5 years; median age of 6 years) underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) between March 1984 and May 1987. The preconditioning regimens consisted of oral busulfan, intravenous cyclophosphamide, with or without irradiation. Two of the patients, who received maternal transplants, failed to engraft but experienced autologous recovery. Of the 12 patients who received sibling marrow, two experienced autologous recovery and one developed marrow chimerism. Five patients died of complications of bone marrow transplantation: two died of intracranial hemorrhage, two died of sepsis, and one succumbed to acute graft-versus-host disease associated with cytomegalovirus infection. Six patients engrafted and have been followed for 1-4 years (median of 2.6 years) without intoward events. The overall survival rate was 64% (nine out of 14) with follow-up of 1-4 years. These results demonstrate that bone marrow transplantation can cure thalassemia but infection, graft-versus host disease, and hemorrhage were major causes of morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. Other factors of importance include the unfavorable influence of engraftment of prior multiple transfusions and sex-mismatched transplantation. In patients who fail to engraft, autologous recovery usually occurs within 2 months of transplantation. PMID- 2618977 TI - A new filtration system for bone marrow transplantation. Clinical and laboratory studies. AB - A new method of filtering marrow obtained from marrow donors during marrow transplantation is described. The technique involves a small reusable filter unit and provides a simple, inexpensive, and fast means of filtering marrow in a predominantly closed system prior to infusion into the marrow recipient. In vitro studies of marrow from 10 donors showed no reduction in granulocytemacrophage or erythroid progenitors following filtration. Clinical studies of 75 patients receiving marrow filtered by this system showed no untoward effects or interference with engraftment. We conclude that this predominantly closed filtration system is efficient and should be further evaluated in marrow transplantation. PMID- 2618978 TI - Philadelphia-chromosome positive essential thrombocythemia. Two cases in children. AB - Two cases of children with essential thrombocythemia (ET) with the presence of a Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) are presented and discussed. Diagnosis was based on their clinical presentation and marked primary thrombocytosis. The site of the Ph1 translocation, as detected by a 1.2-kb bcr genomic probe, differed in the two patients. These cases, along with other reported cases of Ph1-positive ET in the literature, suggest that the presence of the Ph1 cannot be used to rule out a diagnosis of ET. Additionally, the differing translocation sites in these cases suggests that the exact translocation site may not be significant in determining which cell lineage will predominate in a Ph1-positive myeloproliferative disorder. PMID- 2618979 TI - Malignant mediastinal germ-cell tumors in childhood: a report of two cases achieving long-term disease-free survival. AB - Two cases of malignant mediastinal germ-cell tumor are reported. Case 1 is a 20 month-old girl with endodermal sinus tumor (EST) and is, to our best knowledge, the third female pediatric case of mediastinal EST in the literature. Case 2 is a 15-year-old boy with malignant teratoma (mature teratoma with poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma). Both cases were treated by primary combination chemotherapy of vincristine, actinomycin D, and cyclophosphamide or vinblastine, cisplatin, and bleomycin, secondary operation (complete resection), radiation to the tumor bed, and some courses of consolidation chemotherapy. Malignant mediastinal germ-cell tumors have been considered to have a poor prognosis, being different from gonadal tumors; however, long-term survivals with no evidence of recurrence were achieved both in case 1 (for 55 months) and in case 2 (for 56 months). PMID- 2618980 TI - Reversibility of anatomical and functional asplenia by chronic transfusion in a child with sickle cell anemia. AB - We describe a 13-year-old black girl with sickle cell disease in whom spleen regrew after autosplenectomy during the course of a transfusion program for a cerebrovascular accident. This case illustrates the remarkable regrowth potential of the shrunken and fibrotic spleen when sickled red cells are replaced with normal cells. PMID- 2618981 TI - Unexplained bleeding associated with central venous catheter care. AB - Significant bleeding associated with inadvertent heparin overdosage may occur in children with cancer and indwelling central venous catheters. The etiology of such bleeding, as described in a child with Wilms' tumor, may not be immediately apparent. It is imperative that the proper techniques for maintenance and anticoagulation of the catheter be ascertained. PMID- 2618982 TI - Mineral balance (iron, aluminum, copper, zinc) after high-dose intravenous Desferal in a child with hemoglobin Hammersmith and Turner's syndrome. AB - A 12-day balance study with measurements of urine and stool excretion was undertaken to determine the effects of intravenous (i.v.) Desferal (293 mg/kg/24 h x 2) on iron, aluminum, copper, and zinc in a child with Hemoglobin Hammersmith and Turner's syndrome treated as a thalassemia major patient because of symptoms of anemia and ineffective erythropoiesis. Iron balance was positive, 34 mg/3 days baseline. The Desferal infusion induced iron excretion of 117 mg over 48 h, almost equally in stool and urine. This child receives approximately 20 transfusion/i.v. Desferal treatments yearly. If iron excretion is roughly the same with each treatment, it would equal 2,340 mg or 47% of her annual iron intake from transfusion. The i.v. infusions are an important part of this patient's therapy and may also be useful for other chronic transfusion patients for whom subcutaneous Desferal is inadequate for preventing continued iron accumulation. Some patients have successfully received their i.v. Desferal therapy at home, thereby decreasing hospitalization time and cost. Desferal induced moderate aluminum excretion in urine but had no effect on copper or zinc excretion. PMID- 2618983 TI - Aplastic presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: evidence for cellular inhibition of normal hematopoietic progenitors. AB - Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may rarely present with blood and bone marrow findings suggestive of aplastic anemia. Although numerous examples of ALL presenting with this phenomenon have been reported, there is no accepted explanation for the pathogenesis of this preleukemic hypoplasia. We report a case of a child with ALL whose initial presentation was characterized by pancytopenia and bone marrow hypoplasia and who had repeated episodes of pancytopenia at times of systemic relapse. In vitro coculture experiments demonstrated that the leukemic cells from this patient were inhibitory for the growth of myeloid, erythroid, and megakaryocytic progenitor cells from normal peripheral blood. This inhibitory effect exhibited a dose-dependent relationship with the number of added lymphoblasts and persisted when the lymphoblasts were irradiated to prevent leukemic cell growth. Inhibitory activity was not present in media conditioned by the growth of the patient's lymphoblasts, nor was it present in lymphoblasts from three other children with ALL with similar immunophenotype but without marrow aplasia. These data suggest that the aplastic presentation of ALL may be attributable to inhibitory properties intrinsic to the leukemic cells rather than to other host factors. PMID- 2618984 TI - Telling the truth in the face of medical uncertainty and disagreement. AB - The pediatric oncologist often must face medical uncertainty and differing opinions among consultants. This raises a dilemma about telling the truth: Does the ethical requirement for telling the truth include informing parents about uncertainties and disagreements, or does the obligation to protect from emotional burden justify withholding information? Answering this question requires an analysis of the nature of medical disagreements. It is argued that disagreements that arise because of medical uncertainties are not disagreements about facts, but disagreements in attitude, where appeal to expertise is not possible. Thus, treatment recommendations must be offered carefully, in order to avoid imposing values on patients. Physicians should make clear the reasoning behind their recommendations, as well as areas of uncertainty. This approach offers the only possibility for parents to give informed consent and to participate in responsible decision making for their child that is consistent with their own values. PMID- 2618985 TI - Serious methotrexate toxicity caused by interaction with ibuprofen. PMID- 2618986 TI - [Anesthesia and intensive care in thoracic surgery]. PMID- 2618987 TI - [Selective decontamination of the intestine--a principle of infection prevention on its way to becoming an established method?]. PMID- 2618988 TI - [Pulse oximetry monitoring of single lung anesthesia in non-cardiac thoracic surgery]. AB - The pulse oximeter provides continuous and non-invasive measurement of the arterial oxygen saturation. Pulse oximetry contributes to safer patient management because of the immediate availability of oxygen saturation values. This is particularly important in high-risk anaesthesia such as one-lung anaesthesia. Pulse oximetry is as important as ECG monitoring and invasive blood pressure monitoring and should therefore be a standard monitoring technique in thoracic surgery. With a pulse oximeter it is possible to efficiently monitor anaesthesia during one lung ventilation thereby avoid hypoxia with its life threatening complications. PMID- 2618989 TI - [Fiber bronchoscopy as an aid in placing and monitoring double lumen tubes in thoracic anesthesia]. AB - 100 thoracic surgery patients were intubated by means of a left-hand Broncho-Cath PVC Double-Lumen Tube (DLT) and 10 further patients with a right-hand tube. In 76 of the 100 left-hand DLT's safe conventional placement of the tube was successful, oriented exclusively by auscultation findings and positive pressure respiration. However, fibre-optic control showed that only 44 of these tubes were correctly positioned (57.1%). 25 DLT's were too high and 24 too low, whereas the right main bronchus had been intubated in 6 cases. 1 DLT was endoscopically correctly placed although the positioning of the tube had been considered unsatisfactory during conventional examination. Only 2 right-hand DLT's fulfilled the conventional and endoscopic criteria for correct placement of the tube. All malpositionings could be corrected via fibre optics. Recurrent tube dislocations occurred both after lateral repositioning of the patients (so that they were now lying sideways) (27.3% of all patients) and intraoperatively (24.6% of all patients). Besides, intraoperative obstructions of the tube/bronchus lumen due to blood/coagulates (49.1% of the patients) and/or secretion (46.4% of the patients) could be demonstrated and eliminated by endoscopy. Fibre bronchoscopy proved to be a decisive help to reduce the possibilities of complications associated with the use of the Broncho-Cath PVC-DLT in thoracic surgery. PMID- 2618990 TI - [The incidence of tuberculosis at an intensive care unit]. AB - From 1986 to 1988 84 patients with tuberculosis were treated in the Intensive Care Unit of the Thorax Clinic Heidelberg (2.8% of total admissions). Only 18% (n = 15) of the cases were referred in the course of conservative treatment while 82% (n = 69) were admitted after thoracic surgery. In 49 of these patients (71%) the diagnosis of tuberculosis could be confirmed only postoperatively by histological examination. This diagnosis should be considered in any ICU patient belonging to the typical groups at risk or showing clinical signs of tuberculosis, e.g. weight loss, chronic productive cough and fever. For the confirmation of the diagnosis both microscopic examination and mycobacterial cultures are necessary. In cases of open tuberculosis in which mycobacteria are identified in sputum, urine or fistula secretion, the most important step of infection prophylaxis is the isolation of these patients (single rooms) and the prevention of airborne transmission by using face masks and protective gowns. PMID- 2618991 TI - [Bilateral giant distended cysts in lymphangioleiomyomatosis of the lung as a rare cause of inflow obstruction]. AB - We report on a 27-year-old female developing acute thoracic inlet obstruction by bilateral pulmonary cysts which arose from pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis and increased with respiratory treatment. Bilateral synchronous bullectomy via median sternotomy was necessary to resolve the life-threatening condition. The most frequent differential diagnoses are tension pneumothorax and pericardial tamponade. Although this case of thoracic inlet obstruction was caused by a rare disease it may serve to recall the therapeutic problems encountered in bullous pulmonary lesions under tension, especially regarding acute volume expansion due to one-way valve mechanism during respiratory treatment or general anaesthesia. PMID- 2618992 TI - [The central nervous system arousing effects of ketamine are decreased by addition of midazolam. A post-anesthesia study of patients following maxillary surgery with spontaneous respiration]. AB - The present study was done in order to investigate the central nervous activity in patients (n = 15) after maxillo-facial surgery, 5 and 90 minutes post ketamine midazolam-anesthesia. The combination of a benzodiazepine with ketamine was thought to be beneficial to reduce the usual excitatory effects after ketamine postoperatively. In order to demonstrate these benefits EEG-power spectra as well somatosensory-evoked potentials were derived (Neurotrac). Additionally, the central nervous effects were correlated with blood pressure changes. 5 minutes post ketamine-midazolam-anesthesia EEG-power spectra showed a marked depression in the alpha, theta and delta power band when compared to the control-awake situation. However, power in the beta domain (13-30 Hz) was significantly elevated. 90 minutes post anesthesia the high power values returned back to control. In no instance were there any signs of theta-paroxysms which can be taken as an index for central excitation. In the evoked potential a significant increase in amplitude of the early N20 and late N50 peak was evident. This correlated with an increase in systolic blood pressure. 90 minutes post anesthesia only the late N50 peak still remained elevated suggesting some residual excitatory effects in the thalamo-cortical projection area to be present. The latter may reflect an increase in activity in the associative cortical areas of the cerebral cortex. In general however, the additional administration of midazolam resulted in a marked reduction in excitatory central nervous effects when compared to the well known excitation after sole ketamine injection. Thus, the beneficial venture of the two separate classes of anesthetics is advocated for clinical practice. PMID- 2618993 TI - [The postoperative treatment of hypertension with urapidil in patients with cerebrovascular aneurysms]. AB - In 10 patients with subarachnoidal haemorrhage and an identified aneurysm the blood pressure was reduced intraoperatively by means of sodium nitroprusside. Arterial and intracranial pressures were continuously recorded in all patients. In 9 patients a rebound phenomenon occurred as manifested by an increase in blood pressure during the postoperative phase after sodium nitroprusside infusion. Rapid reduction of blood pressure was achieved in all patients by a bolus injection of initially 25 mg Urapidil. Undesirably low blood pressure values were seen in a patient. The continuously recorded intracranial pressure remained in the normal range in all patients. Blood pressure reduction by means of Urapidil does not exercise any influence on intracranial pressure, in contrast to blood pressure reduction via nitroglycerin, sodium nitroprusside, dihydroalacin and diazoxide. PMID- 2618994 TI - Subcutaneous morphine in children: taking the sting out of postoperative analgesia. PMID- 2618996 TI - Avoidance of unintentional arterial cannulation. PMID- 2618995 TI - Tracheal tube cuff pressure. PMID- 2618997 TI - Laryngeal obstruction in HIV infection. PMID- 2618998 TI - Awareness with amnesia during total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol. PMID- 2618999 TI - Visible expiratory valves. PMID- 2619000 TI - Cyanosis in a parturient; central or peripheral? PMID- 2619001 TI - Pulse oximetry in the recovery room. PMID- 2619002 TI - Respiratory arrest after a caudal injection of bupivacaine. PMID- 2619003 TI - Desmopressin and bleeding. PMID- 2619004 TI - Buprenorphine as a premedicant in phaeochromocytoma. PMID- 2619005 TI - Morbidity after use of the Finapres blood pressure monitor. PMID- 2619006 TI - Cardiac arrest during laparotomy. PMID- 2619007 TI - Propofol and atracurium in familial periodic paralysis. PMID- 2619008 TI - Hazard of piggy-back intravenous infusion and a possible solution. PMID- 2619009 TI - Interscapular pain during epidural anaesthesia. PMID- 2619010 TI - The use of methylene blue in parathyroid surgery. PMID- 2619011 TI - Laryngeal mask and trauma to uvula. PMID- 2619012 TI - Difficult intubation aided by the laryngeal mask airway. PMID- 2619013 TI - Failure to inflate the cuff of a tracheal tube. PMID- 2619014 TI - Priapism and general anaesthesia. PMID- 2619015 TI - A burst sphygmomanometer cuff during intravenous regional anaesthesia. PMID- 2619016 TI - Admissions to the intensive care unit after complications of anaesthetic techniques over 10 years. 1. The first 5 years. AB - Fifty-three patients were admitted in a 5-year period to the intensive care unit as a result of a complication of an anaesthetic technique. These patients represented 1 in 1543 anaesthetics carried out in the District in the period and 2.0% of all admissions to the intensive care unit. The mortality rate was 17%. The complication was considered to be wholly or partially avoidable in 14 instances (26%). Five of these subjects died and two had a residual neurological deficit. PMID- 2619017 TI - Mortality during intensive care after orthotopic liver transplantation. AB - The postoperative course of 335 adult patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation from 1968-1987 was reviewed retrospectively to identify patients who died in the intensive care unit and the causes of death. Forty-four percent of all deaths occurred in the intensive care unit. The mortality rate in the intensive care unit peaked in 1984 (48%), but decreased to 11% in 1987. The main causes for death in the intensive care unit were infection (55%) and haemorrhage (19%). The patients who died spent more time in the intensive care unit, had a longer period of tracheal intubation and received a larger intra-operative blood transfusion than patients who died in other locations. PMID- 2619018 TI - Postoperative analgesia for haemorrhoidectomy. A comparison between caudal and local infiltration. AB - This study compared the analgesic effectiveness of local infiltration of bupivacaine with caudal extradural bupivacaine in the first 48 hours after haemorrhoidectomy. Surgical and anaesthetic protocol was rigidly standardised. The caudal group had significantly less pain in the first 6 hours after haemorrhoidectomy, and on first bowel opening, when compared to those who received local infiltration of bupivacaine. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to further analgesic requirements, complications, time to first bowel action, and duration of hospital stay. The definite advantage of caudal extradural bupivacaine for haemorrhoidectomy must be balanced against the rare but potentially serious complications associated with its use. PMID- 2619019 TI - The in vitro buffering capacity of soluble paracetamol. AB - The capacity to neutralise gastric acid was investigated in three over-the counter paracetamol preparations. Panadol (Winthrop Laboratories) showed a buffering capacity equal to that of existing antacids because of the agents used to make it dissolve. This property, together with its mild analgesic action, widespread availability and palatability, may make it a useful agent for acid aspiration prophylaxis. PMID- 2619020 TI - Transtracheal illumination for optimal tracheal tube placement. A clinical study. AB - The tracheas of 420 adult patients were intubated using the tip of a lighted stylet placed inside the lumen of the tracheal tube, just proximal to the tube cuff. The maximum point of transillumination was visible just distal to the cricoid cartilage, with proper cuff positioning. The lighted stylet was also introduced into the oesophagus to see whether transoesophageal illumination could be demonstrated. The intensity of transillumination was measured using a grading system. The distance between the bevel end of the tracheal tube and the carina was determined with a fibreoptic bronchoscope. Tracheal transillumination was graded as excellent in 81% of patients and as good in 19%, when the overhead lights were dimmed and cricoid pressure was applied. Transoesophageal illumination could not be demonstrated in any patient. The mean distance between the tip of the tracheal tube and the carina varied between 3.7 and 4 cm. Transtracheal illumination is a simple, effective and reliable method that can be used during intubation for the recognition of optimal tube placement. PMID- 2619021 TI - Effect of limb tourniquet on cerebral perfusion pressure in a head-injured patient. AB - Thirty percent of patients with severe head injury also have significant extracranial injuries. Treatment for these injuries should not be allowed to jeopardise the brain which is more susceptible to damage in these circumstances. A case is presented in which significant decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure occurred consequent upon use of a lower limb tourniquet. PMID- 2619022 TI - Anaesthesia for patients with mitochondrial myopathy. AB - The anaesthetic management for an infant with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy due to fumarase deficiency is described. Mitochondrial myopathies may produce skeletal and cardiac muscle abnormalities, central nervous system effects and metabolic problems. The solutions to the anaesthetic problems posed by these patients are discussed. PMID- 2619023 TI - Ventilator disconnexion alarm failures. The role of ventilator and breathing system accessories. AB - Pressure-sensitive ventilator disconnexion alarms do not always alarm during disconnexion of a discharging compliance ventilator such as Manley Blease, unless accurately adjusted. High flows during disconnexion result in significant pressure generation caused by outflow resistance of catheter mounts, heat and moisture exchangers, capnometer cuvettes, and angled connectors; this may lead to alarm failure because of incorrectly adjusted pressure alarm limits. The exact position of the disconnexion is critical and if the alarm's pressure sensor is placed in either the inspiratory or expiratory limb of the ventilator it makes no difference to its correct function. Nine different heat and moisture exchanges were compared in the same breathing system. Those with 15-mm male connectors generate the highest pressures on disconnexion (1.1 kPa). It is suggested that the low pressure alarm limit is set only marginally below the peak inspiratory pressure, and that it is readjusted for every patient and after every change in ventilation. Most importantly, the alarm should be shown to be functional by a trial disconnexion at the tracheal tube. PMID- 2619024 TI - Oropharyngeal volumes. AB - The volume of the mouth and pharynx was measured in 20 cadavers and ranged from 25 to 202 ml with a median value of 87 ml, a mean of 90.7 ml and a geometric (logarithmic) mean of 78.3 ml. The volume that encompasses 99% of the normal population is estimated as 215 ml if the assumption of a normal Gaussian distribution is made, or 342 ml [corrected] if a log-normal distribution is assumed. Collection containers in suction equipment intended for removing vomit from the pharynx and mouth in adults should have a useable volume of at least 500 ml. PMID- 2619025 TI - Recovery from anaesthesia in children. AB - There are no published comprehensive surveys of paediatric recovery room experience and the incidence of complications. A prospective survey was made of 16,700 consecutive admissions to the recovery room at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital during the years 1985-1988. The incidence of respiratory complications was low, with laryngospasm 0.85%. The incidence of hypotension was higher than that in adult studies; over 50% of children recorded a decrease in blood pressure in the recovery room of more than 20%, compared to values before operation. The incidence of vomiting in the recovery room was also lower than in comparable adult studies. Certain aspects of recovery room practice changed during the 4 years of the study; these included routine oxygen administration, parents in the recovery room, and our approach to postoperative analgesia. The implications of these changes are discussed. PMID- 2619026 TI - Pain relief after tonsillectomy. Effect of benzydamine hydrochloride spray on postoperative pain relief after tonsillectomy. AB - The efficacy of benzydamine hydrochloride (Difflam) spray to relieve pain from postoperative tonsillectomy was assessed, but it was found that it did not relieve the symptoms after operation when compared to matching placebo. PMID- 2619027 TI - Prophylactic analgesia for daycase termination of pregnancy. A double-blind study with controlled release dihydrocodeine. AB - The incidence and severity of pain and nausea experienced by 40 primigravid day patients who presented for vaginal termination of pregnancy were examined. Controlled-release dihydrocodeine had no effect upon the incidence or severity of these minor sequelae. The requirements for escape analgesia and antiemetic therapy were less than anticipated and possible explanations are discussed. The low incidence of significant nausea and vomiting recorded in this study confirms that vaginal termination of pregnancy may be safely performed as day cases. PMID- 2619028 TI - [Pharmacokinetic studies following intravenous and rectal administration of midazolam in children]. AB - In children, rectal midazolam is being used increasingly for premedication, as this substance is reported to have a short half-life and rapid action. Above all it is the only known diazepam derivative with a good correlation of plasma concentration and clinical action despite its receptor binding capacity. As pharmacokinetic data in children are lacking and different dose regimens for rectal premedication exist, we studied plasma concentrations in 3 groups of children. METHODS. After obtaining informed parental consent we studied children aged 3-7 years (15-30 kg body weight) ASA I status scheduled for minor elective surgery. Group 1 (n = 6) received 0.1 mg/kg midazolam i.v. for induction of anesthesia. Group 2 (n = 10) was premedicated with 0.35 mg/kg midazolam, instilled just behind the anal sphincter; group 3 (n = 5) received 0.5 mg/kg midazolam rectally. Blood samples were drawn up to 120 min after application. The anesthesia technique consisted of N2O/O2, enflurane, intubation and the use of muscle relaxants, if necessary. Midazolam plasma levels were measured by HPLC. RESULTS. There were no differences with respect to age or body weight. Group 1: half-life in children was shorter than in adults, Vdss was smaller and clearance identical. Group 2: Rectal midazolam 0.35 mg/kg has a remarkably short onset of action with peak plasma concentrations (71 ng/ml) in the range of sedative levels in adults occurring in 7.5 min. After 2 h they reached levels of 30 ng/ml. Group 3 patients had peak levels of midazolam of 246 ng/ml after 12.5 min, falling to an average concentration of 120 ng/ml after 2 h. The bioavailability of rectal midazolam, comparing the area under the median curves, is 4.7% in group 2 and 16.1% in group 3. CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacokinetics of midazolam in our patients showed a shorter half-life, probably due to the higher hepatic clearance based on the high CI in children, as midazolam is known to have a first-pass effect of 30 70%. The increased metabolic transformation and the smaller amount of fatty tissue accounts for the smaller Vdss in children compared to adults. Rectal midazolam has a remarkably short onset and especially in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg prolonged action due to ongoing resorption from the rectum as demonstrated by the clinically relevant plasma concentrations. This fact must be taken into consideration in the overall anesthesia management.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2619029 TI - [Sensory information processing during general anesthesia. The effect of propofol and ketamine on mid-latency auditory evoked potentials]. AB - Experimental evidence from various neuropsychological and neurophysiological fields indicates that an oscillatory brain mechanism in a frequency range of 30 40 Hz is necessary for adequate sensory information processing. An oscillatory component of that particular frequency range can also be observed in the mid latency auditory evoked potentials. Thus general anesthesia can be defined as a suppression of sensory information processing, and the effect of the i.v. anesthetics, Propofol and ketamine, on auditory perception and auditory-evoked potentials was therefore studied. In 22 patients anesthesia was induced with Propofol (2.5 mg/kg body weight, group I: n = 10) or ketamine (2 mg/kg body weight, group II: n = 12). Auditory-evoked potentials were recorded before, during, and after induction of general anesthesia. In the awake state, an oscillatory component with an energetically dominant 30-40 Hz frequency was present between 20 and 100 ms poststimulus latency. Propofol suppressed the mid latency oscillatory component, whereas the component persisted under ketamine. Under Propofol, the 30-40 Hz leading frequency shifted to the lower frequency range, whereas under ketamine, the AEP were still dominated by a 30-40 Hz oscillation. Propofol suppresses the oscillatory brain mechanism necessary for adequate sensory information processing like various other general anesthetics. In contrast to Propofol, ketamine does not alter auditory perception. Suppression of sensory information processing must take place at a higher cortical level in a dissociative manner. The persistence of a 30-40 Hz oscillation must be seen in connection with dreams and hallucinations as reported for the drug and may be interpreted as insufficient suppression of sensory information processing under ketamine anesthesia. PMID- 2619030 TI - [The action of ketamine on muscle contractile behavior. In vitro studies on the musculature of subjects susceptible to malignant hyperthermia]. AB - Since ketamine has been incriminated as triggering malignant hyperthermia (MH) [3, 9, 13, 14, 18], but has still been used uneventfully in MH susceptible patients, we performed an in vitro study to examine the safety of ketamine for use in human MH. METHODS. Muscle specimens of 20 patients who had muscle biopsies to diagnose MH were investigated. In every patient diagnostic contracture tests (2 halothane (Hal) and 2 caffeine (Caf) were done according to the protocol established by the European MH group (EMHG). In addition, one test unit for investigating the effect of stepwise increased bath-concentrations of ketamine (5, 10, 20, 60, 120, 240 and 960 mumol/l) and a further one serving as control (no drugs added to the bath) were used. Combined Hal (2 vol%) and Ket (960 mumol/l) tests were performed in 9 patients (4 MHS, 4 MHN, 1 MHEh). Changes in baseline contractures and mechanical twitch tension were evaluated. RESULTS. The diagnostic test showed MHS in 8, MHN in 8 and MHEh in 4 patients. Ketamine did not induce baseline contractures in any of the tests performed. Contractures induced by 2 vol% of halothane in 4 MHS muscles did not change significantly when ketamine was added to the bath (concentration 960 mumol/l). A significant, dose related decrease in mechanical twitch tension occurred, when ketamine was added to the test. At the highest concentration (960 mumol) twitch tension was reduced by 55%. Twitch tension remained stable in untreated muscles. No significant differences were found between the specimens from MHS, MHN and MHE patients. This reduction in twitch tension was more pronounced in specimens exposed to both halothane (2 vol%) and ketamine (960 mumol/l), resulting in an average decrease of 71%. CONCLUSION. In accordance with Fletcher et al., our results indicate that ketamine - at least in vitro - does not trigger MH. In MHS muscles, ketamine does not augment halothane-induced baseline contractures. The ketamine-induced reduction of mechanical twitch tension in directly stimulated human muscles has not been described before. Analogous findings in frog sartorius muscles can be found in the literature. Whereas the effect of ketamine on indirectly stimulated muscle has been investigated by several authors, the underlying mechanism of ketamine-induced twitch suppression in directly stimulated muscles is not known. Inhibition of calcium release from or accelerated uptake into the sarcoplasmatic reticulum have been reported. PMID- 2619031 TI - [Abstracts of the 3d scientific working group meeting of the German Society for Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine. 24-25 February 1989, Wurzburg]. PMID- 2619032 TI - [Comments on the paper by G. Grosse. Caudal anesthesia combined with general anesthesia in comparison with general anesthesia in outpatient circumcision]. PMID- 2619033 TI - [Comments on the paper by J. Groh et al. Anesthesia for magnetic resonance tomography]. PMID- 2619034 TI - Gas-phase sequencing after electroblotting on polyvinylidene difluoride membranes assigns correct molecular weights to myoglobin molecular weight markers. AB - Commercially available polypeptide marker kits containing peptides generated by cyanogen bromide cleavage of either horse heart myoglobin or sperm whale myoglobin have been investigated by sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), followed by electroblotting on polyvinylidene difluoride membranes, and gas-phase sequencing. It could be shown that the molecular weights assigned to the SDS-PAGE bands by the companies are incorrect. Arranged in descending order, the marker kits are composed of the following polypeptide fragments from myoglobin: positions 1-153, 1-131, 56-153, 56-131, 1 55, and 132-153. A polypeptide comprising residues 1-14 was not found. According to these results the log Mr versus Rf plot used for calibration must be revised. For the separation of low molecular weight polypeptides and peptides a new gel system based on the theory of multiphasic zone electrophoresis combined with a modified Coomassie staining procedure is reported. PMID- 2619035 TI - Chromatographic separations of serum proteins on immobilized metal ion stationary phases. AB - The separation of proteins on stationary phases consisting of a bound organic chelator and a chelated divalent transition metal has been studied as a function of (A) metal ion species; (B) mobile phase composition and pH; and (C) anion and cation concentration. Optimum separation was observed at alkaline pH on chelated nickel stationary phases. Ammonium and Tris salts reduced the affinity of the metal chelate packing for serum proteins. Halide ions caused the proteins to be more strongly bound to the stationary phase. High salt concentrations had only a small effect on the binding of serum proteins in the absence of amine containing buffers or salts. It was also observed that the ease of elution and the recovery of protein were dependent on pH and upon the presence of halides. The general order of elution of serum proteins, based on isoelectric focusing, was independent of metal ion species and elution conditions, suggesting that a single mechanism or a unique sequence of mechanisms was operative. The results suggest that ligand exchange is the major mechanism of separation under basic conditions and that hydrophobic effects are the result of the competition of nonnitrogen ions with ammonium ions or amines for ligand binding sites modifying or participating in protein binding. Protein binding studies under weak acidic conditions are also presented although the mechanism responsible for protein binding is unclear. PMID- 2619036 TI - On the theory of gel electrophoresis of DNA: extension and evaluation of the Lumpkin-DeJardin-Zimm model. AB - Using fundamental concepts of hydrodynamics in porous media, we have rederived the Lumpkin-DeJardin-Zimm (LDZ) model for the gel electrophoresis of reptating, infinitely long, worm-like chains, such as DNA. The force balance provides a constraint for evaluating the correlation among the segment-to-field angles of a given molecular conformation. We have used an approximate analytical expression to account for this correlation in order to apply the present derivation to finite chain lengths. The resulting extended LDZ model predicts a nonlinear variation of electrophoretic mobility (mu) with reciprocal chain length (1/Lc) at low electric field strengths, similar to the one observed. The present derivation is valid only at low electric field strengths, and the predictions of the extended LDZ model fit data for a dimensionless electric field strength, E1*, of less than 1.23. An empirically useful criterion for determining the onset of reptation is also described. The present treatment shows how size-exclusion effects can be included in future theories. Models based on reptation alone are shown to predict a discontinuity in the molecular chain length dependence of mobility at a critical molecular size. Such discontinuities are not observed experimentally. PMID- 2619037 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of zinc protoporphyrin and porphyrin carboxylic acids in urine. AB - A method for the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of zinc protoporphyrin and porphyrin carboxylic acids with fluorescence detection and its application are described. A mu Bondapak C18 column was employed for all the experiments in this study. The method required a pretreatment of the column with a two-component mobile phase containing 0.1 M NaH2PO4 in acetonitrile (28:15, v/v, pH 5.3) for 10 min prior to sample injection. Separation was achieved isocratically by increasing the concentration of acetonitrile in the mobile phase (0.1 M NaH2PO4:acetonitrile, 18:130, v/v, pH 5.3) 4 min after injection to complete the elution. The flow rates and the period of pretreatment of the column were studied to optimize the separation. The method was applied to determining zinc protoporphyrin and porphyrin carboxylic acids of heme biosynthesis in urine. PMID- 2619038 TI - Evaluation of protein phosphorylation state by a combination of vertical slab gel isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. AB - Conditions have been established for one-dimensional isoelectric focusing using vertical slab gel electrophoresis, followed by immunoblotting, for the measurement of the phosphorylation state of proteins. The method provides a less time-consuming alternative to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis combined with radiolabeling or immunoblotting. The main advantage of the method is that many samples can be analyzed simultaneously. The technique is applied here to the study of a mammalian initiation factor for protein synthesis, eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2). The method allows good separation and quantitation of the different phosphorylated forms of the alpha subunit of eIF-2, when used to analyze either purified eIF-2 or eIF-2 contained in complex mixtures. The method is shown to be well adapted to the measurement of rapid phosphorylation/dephosphorylation kinetics in cell extracts, as well as the measurement of the phosphorylation state of eIF-2 in cultured cells. In addition, the method is shown to confirm the existence of a second phosphorylation site on eIF-2. Although eIF-2 has been used for this demonstration of the efficacy of the method, the technique is applicable to a study of the regulation of covalent modification of any polypeptide for which antibodies are available. PMID- 2619039 TI - Probing hairpin structures of small DNAs by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. AB - The influence of temperature on the electrophoretic mobility of small DNAs, capable of forming hairpin structures, is investigated under nondenaturing conditions. Three series of hairpin-forming DNAs containing different numbers of thymidine, deoxyadenosine, and deoxyguanosine residues in their loop, and an identical sequence in the helical region, are analyzed. All show enhanced electrophoretic mobility if they adopt the hairpin conformation. The same quantitative relationship between hairpin formation and increase in electrophoretic mobility is observed for all of the three series. The constancy of this increase suggests a dependence of electrophoretic acceleration on the length of the helical region. A possible application of nondenaturing electrophoresis is monitoring the hairpin/coil transition. Another possible application is the detection of dimers formed by partially self-complementary sequences. This dimer formation is detected for completely complementary DNAs, whereas sequences which might form imperfect double helices, especially those with three bulged-out nucleotides, prefer hairpin formation. The possible applications are experimentally approached and discussed. PMID- 2619040 TI - Evaluation of the interaction of peptides with Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) by high performance immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. AB - High-performance immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography was utilized to evaluate the adsorption properties of 67 synthetic, biologically active, peptides ranging in size from 5 to 42 residues. The metal ions, Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II), were immobilized by iminodiacetic acid (IDA) coupled to TSK gel 5PW (10 microns). Two types of gradient elution (imidazole and pH) were used to evaluate peptide retention by the metal ions. A decreasing pH gradient and an increasing imidazole gradient eluted the peptides in similar order. IDA-Cu(II) and IDA-Zn(II) showed very similar selectivities for the peptides analyzed; however, IDA-Zn(II) displayed a weaker affinity for the peptides. IDA-Ni(II) showed a slightly different pattern of selectivity. Peptide adsorption effects contributed by the metal-free gel matrix were found to be relatively minor. The concentration and type of salt included in the mobile phase could affect the relative affinities of the peptides for the immobilized metal ions. Retention coefficients were assigned to individual amino acid residues by multiple linear regression analysis. Histidine showed the largest positive correlation with retention, followed by aromatic amino acid residues. Modified N-terminal residues resulted in negative contributions to retention. Analyses of peptide amino acid composition alone allowed prediction of peptide retention behavior on immobilized metal ion affinity columns. PMID- 2619041 TI - Glutathione monoesters. AB - Glutathione monoesters in which the glycine carboxyl group is esterified are effective cellular glutathione delivery agents because they are readily transported into cells and are deesterified intracellularly. In contrast, glutathione itself is not effectively transported into cells. Detailed procedures are given for the preparation of such esters from glutathione and the corresponding alcohol using hydrogen chloride or sulfuric acid as the catalyst. PMID- 2619042 TI - The spectrophotometric determination of indole-3-methanol in small samples with p dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde on the basis of the formation of an azafulvenium salt. AB - Indole-3-methanol is coupled, at acidic pH, with p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde to give a highly colored azafulvenium salt. IR, 1H NMR, and mass spectroscopic evidence indicates that this azafulvenium salt is the 2-[3'-(p dimethylaminophenyl)-2'-propenyliden]-3-hydroxymethyl-2H- indolenine hydrochloride. This reaction led us to elaborate a rapid colorimetric assay for quantitative determination of indole-3-methanol formed by peroxidases as the product of oxidation of the plant growth regulator indole-3-acetic acid. PMID- 2619043 TI - Plasma desorption mapping of the tryptic digest of 23-kDa recombinant human growth hormone. AB - Plasma desorption mass spectrometry has been used to map the tryptic fragments from the 23-kDa recombinant human growth hormone protein. The unfractionated tryptic digest was adsorbed directly onto a nitrocellulose sample foil and mass spectra were obtained in both the positive and the negative ion mode. The adsorbed sample was then washed with deionized water and its mass spectrum was again obtained. The latter spectrum revealed tryptic fragments that were not observed in the spectra of the unwashed sample, which can be attributed (to some extent) to the removal of hydrophilic residues during washing. From this study a protocol, aimed at the complete mapping of tryptic fragments, is outlined. PMID- 2619044 TI - Use of a microplate reader in an assay of glutathione reductase using 5,5' dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). AB - The use of 96-well microtiter plates and a programmable microplate reader to measure glutathione reductase in an assay based on reduction of 5,5'-dithiobis(2 nitrobenzoic acid) by GSH generated from an excess of GSSG is described. Samples are prepared in 96-well plates and absorbance at 415 nm with a reference wavelength of 595 is determined every 30 s for 3 min. The rate of increase in absorbance is directly proportional to the amount of glutathione reductase in the sample. Activity in an unknown sample is determined from a standard curve. The assay is rapid and allows many small samples to be analyzed in replicates of two or more at the same time. PMID- 2619045 TI - Glutathione monoethyl ester: high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis and direct preparation of the free base form. AB - Glutathione monoethyl ester (L-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine ethyl ester) was shown by R. N. Puri and A. Meister (1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80, 5258 5260) to be taken up by several tissues and intracellularly hydrolyzed to GSH. Since GSH itself is not significantly taken up by tissues, glutathione monoesters provide the most direct and convenient means available for increasing the intracellular GSH concentration of many tissues and cell types. In previous studies glutathione esters were prepared by HCl- or H2SO4-catalyzed esterification, and the product esters were precipitated as acidic salts by addition of ether to the reaction mixtures. In the present studies, glutathione monoethyl ester was synthesized by H2SO4-catalyzed esterification in the presence of sodium sulfate as the dehydrating agent. When no GSH remained, alcohol-washed Dowex-1 resin (hydroxide form) was added to remove sulfate and neutralize the reaction mixture. After the resin was removed by filtration, glutathione monoethyl ester crystallized in the chilled filtrate. The product was free of sulfate, GSH, and glutathione diester; its solutions in water or saline were neutral. Preparations obtained to date are nontoxic when administered to mice in doses up to at least 10 mmol/kg. Progress of the esterification reaction and purity of the product were determined quantitatively by HPLC after derivatization of the thiols with monobromobimane. Elution times of GSH, glutathione diester, and glutathione monoesters involving either the glutamyl or the glycyl carboxylate groups are reported. PMID- 2619046 TI - The partial chemical synthesis of inositol 1,2-cyclic 4,5-trisphosphate. AB - Appreciable amounts of inositol 1,2-cyclic 4,5-trisphosphate (cIP3) are formed on agonist stimulation of secretory cells, e.g., pancreas (1,2) and parotid (3,4). However, the physiological role of this compound is unknown. To obtain sufficient amounts of cIP3, we have developed a synthetic method to produce cIP3 from inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (I(1,4,5)P3). The method is an adaptation of the dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) method of Khorana et al. (5), which was originally developed to synthesize 2',3'-cyclic ribonucleotides. The method involves treatment of the pyridinium salt of I(1,4,5)P3 with DCCD in pyridine water, which cyclizes part of the 1-phosphate on the inositol ring to the 1,2 cyclic phosphate. The compound identified as cIP3 cochromatographed with authentic cIP3 in two HPLC systems and on ionophoresis. It was converted to I(1,4,5)P3 on mild acid treatment--a characteristic of cyclic inositol phosphates. Inositol 1,2-cyclic 4,5-trisphosphate is then purified by HPLC. Sufficient amounts of cIP3 can be prepared by this method to carry out numerous experiments on its possible cellular role. PMID- 2619047 TI - Quantitation of DNA fragmentation using fiberglass filters. AB - Many types of physiological and toxicological cell killing are mediated by extensive DNA fragmentation. To date, most assays used to detect DNA fragmentation have relied on cumbersome techniques to separate intact chromatin from cleaved DNA. Here we describe a filtration assay for quantitation of DNA fragmentation. Fiberglass filtermats were used to separate intact chromatin from DNA fragments. Analysis of the separation showed that intact chromatin consistently remained on filters, while DNA fragments of all (random) sizes were consistently found in the filtrates. The assay was adaptable to different DNA detection procedures and generated results comparable to those obtained using established methods in standard model systems. PMID- 2619048 TI - Measurement of the removal of O6-methylguanine and O4-methylthymine from oligodeoxynucleotides using an immunoprecipitation technique. AB - A sensitive and rapid procedure for measurement of alkyltransferase repair activity involving oligodeoxynucleotides followed by immunoprecipitation is described. Dodecadeoxynucleotides containing O6-methylguanine or O4-methylthymine were used as substrates for alkyltransferases and the reaction products of methylated or demethylated substrates were separated by precipitation with highly specific antibodies. This approach for O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase measurement is far more rapid than when the reaction products are separated by chromatography. This technique makes the assay applicable to large-scale epidemiological or clinical studies and suggests a similar methodology could be applied for other DNA repair enzymes. PMID- 2619049 TI - Control of pulsed field gel electrophoresis at short switching intervals by a microcomputer. AB - Pulsed field gel electrophoresis allows not only the separation of very large DNA molecules (up to 10 megabase pairs) but also gives an enhanced resolution in separations of DNA in the size range of 10-100 kilobase pairs (kbp). For this application, rapid alternation of the electrical field polarity is required. Here we describe equipment for the delivery of short switching pulses that is easy and inexpensive to build and is controlled by a standard microcomputer. It has proved to be useful in the separation of lambda DNA and its fragments. Parameters for enhanced separation of 23- and 48-kbp DNA molecules at high voltage gradients (15 V/cm) are presented and shown to provide superior resolution when compared to those for conventional electrophoresis at both high and low voltage gradients. PMID- 2619050 TI - Genetic analysis of human deoxyribonuclease I by immunoblotting and the zymogram method following isoelectric focusing. AB - We have devised two independent detection methods for investigating possible molecular heterogeneity and genetic polymorphism in human DNase I, in terms of both its antigenicity and enzymatic activity. One was an immunoblotting method using an antibody specific to DNase I following polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing (IEF-PAGE). The DNase I-specific antibody was raised in a rabbit using purified enzyme from human urine as the immunogen. DNase I in urine was found to exist in multiple forms with different pI values separable by IEF-PAGE within a pH range of 3.5-4.0. This method was able to detect as little as 0.1 micrograms of the purified DNase I and facilitated classification of desialylated urine samples from different individuals into several groups according to differences in DNase I isozyme patterns. About 0.5 ml of the original urine was sufficient for analysis of the isozyme patterns. The other method was the zymogram method, which had a high sensitivity and resolution almost identical to those of the immunoblotting method for analysis of DNase I patterns. It was easier to perform, more time-saving, and more useful since it did not require antibody specific to DNase I. These two methods should prove valuable for biochemical and genetic analysis of DNase I isozymes. PMID- 2619051 TI - Fast atom bombardment and tandem mass spectrometry for structure determination of cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, and glutathione adducts of xenobiotics. AB - Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB/MS) and FAB combined with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) were examined for their applicability to the structure determination of xenobiotics conjugated with the members of the glutathione family (glutathione, cysteine, and N-acetylcysteine). Comparisons between FAB/MS and thermospray MS data are made. FAB/MS is generally successful at generating molecular ion species under both positive and negative ion conditions. Upon collisional activation the adducts undergo characteristic cleavages around the sulfur providing structural information about the conjugate. The analysis of the N-acetylcysteine conjugate isolated from rat urine is presented as an example of the application of FAB/MS/MS to biological problems. PMID- 2619052 TI - Electrochemical detection of peptides. AB - A general method of wide applicability for the determination of peptides is described. Peptides longer than dipeptides react in the classical biuret reaction with Cu(II) to yield electroactive Cu(II)-peptide complexes that can be oxidized to the corresponding Cu(III) complexes. This allows the sensitive electrochemical detection of peptides following their separation by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The reaction chemistry, which is reversible, allows for the determination of peptides that lack an electroactive group or a primary amine. Selectivity for a model peptide is 10(3)-10(4) over nonelectroactive amino acids. PMID- 2619053 TI - Influence of the ratio of matrix to analyte on the fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric response of peptides sampled from aqueous glycerol. AB - Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) studies of the nonapeptide bradykinin sampled from aqueous glycerol illustrate the importance of the matrix to analyte ratio in the FAB experiment. Enhanced mass spectral results (in conventional direct probe FAB analyses) are characterized by increased ionization efficiency of the analyte together with a substantial reduction in the glycerol background signal. Replicate analyses of different bradykinin/glycerol/water mixtures show this improvement to depend upon the glycerol/bradykinin relationship and not the water/bradykinin relationship in sampling 4 nmol of bradykinin from 1% to 56% aqueous glycerol (2 microL initial sample volumes). The optimum desorption ionization occurs when the molar ratio of glycerol to bradykinin is approximately 300:1. A model emphasizing the importance of the analyte surface concentration in the matrix (with water being simply a convenient vehicle for the deposition of minute portions of glycerol) is proposed to account for the spectral enhancement. The FAB-MS enhancement behavior of four other peptides, selected for their differences in hydrophobicity (and hence, surface activity in glycerol), is compared to that of bradykinin. PMID- 2619054 TI - Assessing heterogeneity of the high-mannose glycopeptide gp432 on the variant surface glycoprotein of trypanosomes: a comparison of plasma desorption mass spectrometry and radiolabeling techniques. PMID- 2619055 TI - Quantitative imaging of boron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium distributions in cultured cells with ion microscopy. AB - A method for the conversion of intensity information in ion micrographs of freeze fractured, freeze-dried cultured cells to local dry weight elemental concentrations is presented. Homogenates generated from cultured cells are used as calibration standards. Ion microscope (IM) relative sensitivity factors for B, Ca, K, Mg, and Na with respect to the matrix element C are determined by the correlation of IM and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry analyses of the cellular homogenates. After calibration of the IM imaging system, the relative sensitivity factors are used to determine local intracellular concentrations of B, Ca, K, Mg, and Na in cultured Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Intracellular B was introduced through cellular uptake of Na2B12H11SH, a candidate therapeutic agent for boron neutron capture cancer therapy. The IM intracellular concentration results show good agreement with published electron probe X-ray microanalysis results. Estimated detection limits are in the low- to subparts-per-million dry weight concentration range. PMID- 2619056 TI - Iterative least-squares fit procedures for the identification of organic vapor mixtures by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry. AB - Least-squares fitting (LSF) was applied to the qualitative analysis of IR spectra based on comparing standard reference spectra with the sample mixture spectrum. Identification of compounds in the sample was made by judging the fit level of the spectrum of each compound with the sample spectrum. An iterative procedure was developed to eliminate compounds with the worst fit levels in order to approach an optimal fit for the sample spectrum. The qualitative analysis results obtained from the optimal fit were further used for quantitative analysis. PMID- 2619057 TI - Nanogram nitrite and nitrate determination in environmental and biological materials by vanadium (III) reduction with chemiluminescence detection. AB - Nitrite in environmental water samples is reduced at room temperature to nitric oxide in acidic medium containing vanadium (III). Nitrate is also rapidly reduced after heating to 80-90 degrees C. Nitric oxide is removed from the reaction solution by scrubbing with helium carrier gas and is detected by means of a chemiluminescence NOx analyzer. Nanogram detection limits are obtained. The method has the advantage of not requiring highly acidic solutions for nitrate reduction and has been applied to the analysis of a variety of environmental waters, sediment, plant materials, and human urine and blood serum. PMID- 2619058 TI - Statistical estimation of analytical data distributions and censored measurements. AB - A numerical method was developed for estimating the shapes of unknown distributions of analytical data and for estimating the expected values of censored data points. The method is based conceptually on the normal probability plot. Data are ordered and then transformed by using a power function to achieve approximate linearity with respect to a computed normal cumulative probability scale. The exponent used in the power transformation is an index of the distribution shape, which covers a continuum on which normality is defined as d = 1 and log normality is defined as d = 0. Expected transformed values of censored points are computed from a straight line fitted to the transformed, accepted data, and these are then back-transformed to the original distribution. The method gives improved characterization of analytical data distributions, particularly in the distribution extremities. It also avoids the biases from improper handling of censored data arising from measurements near the analytical detection limit. Illustrative applications were computed for atmospheric SO2 data and for mineral concentrations in hamburgers. PMID- 2619059 TI - Selective detection of carbon-13, nitrogen-15, and deuterium labeled metabolites by capillary gas chromatography-chemical reaction interface/mass spectrometry. AB - We have applied a new chemical reaction interface/mass spectrometer technique (CRIMS) to the selective detection of 13C-, 15N-, and 2H-labeled phenytoin and its metabolites in urine following separation by capillary gas chromatography. The microwave-powered chemical reaction interface converts materials from their original forms into small molecules whose mass spectra serve to identify and quantify the nuclides that make up each analyte. The presence of each element is followed by monitoring the isotopic variants of CO2, NO, or H2 that are produced by the chemical reaction interface. Chromatograms showing only enriched 13C and 15N were produced by subtracting the abundance of naturally occurring isotopes from the observed M + 1 signal. A selective chromatogram of 2H (D) was obtained by measuring HD at m/z 3.0219 with a resolution of 2000. Metabolites representing less than 1.5% of the total labeled compounds could be identified in the chromatogram. Detection limits from urine of 380 pg/mL of a 15N-labeled metabolite, 7 ng/mL of a 13C-labeled metabolite, and 16 ng/mL of a deuterium labeled metabolite were determined at a signal to noise ratio of 2. Depending on the isotope examined, a linear dynamic range of 250-1000 was observed using CRIMS. To identify many of these labeled peaks (metabolites), the chromatographic analysis was repeated with the chemical reaction interface turned off and mass spectra obtained at the retention times found in the CRIMS experiment. CRIMS is a new analytical method that appears to be particularly useful for metabolism studies. PMID- 2619060 TI - Radiochemical neutron activation analysis of zinc isotopes in human blood, urine, and feces for in vivo tracer experiments. AB - Enriched stable isotopes are being increasingly used for study of trace element nutrition in humans who cannot be studied by use of in vivo radioactive tracers (e.g., subjects under age 18 and pregnant women). Zinc metabolism in these subjects can be evaluated by administration of Zn enriched to 65% in the minor isotope, 70Zn (0.6% natural abundance). The enhanced 70Zn is detected later in red blood cells, plasma, urine, and feces by measuring 70Zn/64Zn or 70Zn/68Zn ratios. Stable isotope concentrations are measured by neutron activation of the samples and observation of their products: 244-day 65Zn, 14-h 69mZn, and 4-h 71mZn. Zinc-65 can be observed in these samples without chemical separations 3 weeks after irradiations, but large amounts of 24Na and other short-lived species preclude direct observation of the short-lived Zn activities. Preirradiation chemistry was developed to remove most interferences, the major steps being to place the sample on Chelex resin, elute alkali metals and alkaline earths from it, and irradiate the resin containing the Zn. gamma-Rays of 69mZn can be observed on the irradiated resin, but additional precipitation and solvent extraction steps are needed to remove 56Mn and 64Cu for clear observation of 71mZn and 65Zn within hours after irradiation. Yields for pre- and postirradiation separations are typically 85% and 70%, respectively. The stable isotope tracer method was validated by simultaneous in vivo tracing with radioactive 65Zn in four subjects. PMID- 2619061 TI - Thimble glass frit nebulizer for atomic spectrometry. AB - A thimble-shaped glass frit nebulizer has been developed for atomic spectrometry. The thimble glass frit was pressurized internally by gases such as helium (He) or argon (Ar) while the test solution was applied externally to the frit. The pressurized gas exited through the pores of the glass frit and shattered the thin liquid film flowing on the surface of the thimble-shaped device to form small droplets. A small spray chamber surrounded the nebulizer to remove the large droplets. Small droplets were then introduced into inductively coupled plasmas (ICP) sustained in either Ar or He. To reduce the memory effect noted in the frit type nebulizers, a clean-out system was also devised. Detection limits, signal-to background ratios (S/B), precision, memory effects, noise power spectra (NPS), and particle size distributions measured with the new nebulizer were compared to those of disk and cylindrical glass frit nebulizers and the commonly used pneumatic nebulizer for Ar ICP atomic emission spectrometry (AES). Analytical performance was also measured for He ICP by using frit-type nebulizers and an ultrasonic nebulizer. PMID- 2619062 TI - Thin-layer microcell for transmittance Fourier transform infrared spectroelectrochemistry. PMID- 2619063 TI - Highly stable voltammetric measurements of phenolic compounds at poly(3 methylthiophene)-coated glassy carbon electrodes. PMID- 2619064 TI - Determination of nitrite, sulphate, bromide and nitrate in human serum by ion chromatography. AB - An ion chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of trace amounts of nitrite, sulphate, bromide and nitrate in human serum, using an ODS column dynamically coated with cetylpyridinium chloride. The anions studied were eluted with 1 mM citrate - 2.5% methanol (pH 6.5) as the mobile phase and detected by an ultraviolet detector. The interfering proteins in human serum were removed by an initial filtration through an ultrafilter-paper. The many inorganic and organic anions commonly found in serum had little effect on the determination of the four anions. Recoveries of nitrite, sulphate, bromide and nitrate in serum were 107-110, 94-106, 106-110 and 92-100%, respectively. The proposed method was also applied to human saliva and urine. PMID- 2619065 TI - Gas chromatographic determination of volatile anaesthetic agents in blood. Part 1. Preparation of standard gas mixtures of volatile anaesthetic agents. AB - A method for preparing standard gas mixtures of the volatile anaesthetics halothane, enflurane and isoflurane is described. Static mixtures of gases of known concentration can be prepared manometrically by measuring the required pressure of anaesthetic gas into a bulb and diluting to atmospheric pressure with air. Standard gas mixtures in the concentration range 0-4% V/V can be prepared with an accuracy of +/- 0.01% V/V, and the relative standard error of measurements of a single standard concentration is less than 0.8%. Significant adsorptive losses in the gas sampling valve were observed for gas standards prepared in the absence of any diluent gas. These losses were not detected for measurements of standards made up to atmospheric pressure in air. A comparison with calibration procedures currently in practice is presented. PMID- 2619066 TI - Gas chromatographic determination of volatile anaesthetic agents in blood. Part 2. Clinical studies. AB - A method is described for the direct determination of the volatile anaesthetics halothane and isoflurane in blood by gas chromatography with flame-ionisation detection. The method is accurate and precise and allows rapid measurements of blood levels of anaesthetic agents. Headspace concentrations of anaesthetic agents in the concentration range 0-3% V/V are determined with an accuracy of +/- 0.01% V/V. The relative standard deviation of these results is less than 4.0%. A relatively small volume of blood is required for each determination, a factor of great significance in the treatment of children. The need for separate blood calibration graphs for each patient is discussed, further emphasising the need for a rapid calibration procedure. The results from the clinical application of this method show conclusively its suitability for the management of anaesthetised subjects. PMID- 2619067 TI - Determination of propranolol and 4-hydroxypropranolol in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography. AB - A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed to determine the levels of propranolol and its major metabolite, 4-hydroxypropranolol, in human plasma. The limits of determination are 10 ng ml-1 of propranolol and 5 ng ml-1 of 4-hydroxypropranolol using a 0.5-ml plasma sample. The stability of plasma samples stored at -30 degrees C for up to 2 months was also tested. No stabilising antioxidants were added to the samples. PMID- 2619068 TI - Determination of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in human serum by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography combined with spectrofluorimetric detection of 4-pyridoxic acid 5'-phosphate as a derivative. AB - A very sensitive spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of pyridoxal 5' phosphate (PLP) in human serum is described. The specificity is based on the selective oxidation of PLP to 4-pyridoxic acid 5'-phosphate with potassium cyanide. Separation of the highly fluorescent 4-pyridoxic acid 5'-phosphate is achieved by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Specificity is improved by a careful choice of fluorescence filters, maximised at the excitation (325 nm) and emission (418 nm) wavelengths of 4-pyridoxic acid 5'-phosphate. The detection limit for the reaction is 0.22 ng ml(-1). For quantification, the serum is spiked with PLP before protein precipitation with 3.3% m/V trichloroacetic acid. The method can be used for the determination of PLP in serum, even in vitamin B6 deficient patients. The mean value for human serum PLP from 30 healthy adults was found to be 14.6 +/- 4.8 ng ml(-1) (mean +/- standard deviation). PMID- 2619069 TI - Electrochemical detection of indole alkaloids of Catharanthus roseus in high performance liquid chromatography. AB - Hydrodynamic voltammograms for indole and five indole alkaloids with different amino functions were obtained in order to evaluate the applicability of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with coulometric detection to these compounds. With the exception of serpentine, which has a quaternary nitrogen in its structure, all the compounds were oxidised and gave net signals of greater than 25 nA pmol(-1) at potentials of between +0.2 and +0.85 V versus a solid Pd electrode in an acetate-buffered (pH 6.5) water-methanol-acetonitrile system. An HPLC assay for quantifying picomole amounts of catharanthine and ajmalicine in Catharanthus roseus cell culture samples is described. PMID- 2619070 TI - Detection of the pesticide compound 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) using fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. AB - Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance (19F NMR) spectroscopic measurements were used to determine the chemical nature and amounts of organofluorine in dosed meat baits. Earlier work implied that sodium monofluoroacetate (compound 1080) in meat baits was broken down into other organofluorine compounds such as fluorocitrate. No chemical evidence was found for such compounds. Only monofluoroacetate was detected in the prepared 1080 bait samples. Once the baits have aged, aqueous extraction fails to recover all the added 1080. Analysis using 19F NMR confirmed that the 1080 present in the aqueous extracts of the bait is recovered by Kramer's liquid chromatography method. It was shown here that the aqueous extracts do not recover all the 1080 in the meat bait. PMID- 2619071 TI - Direct determination of cadmium in urine using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman-effect background correction. AB - A procedure is described for the direct determination of cadmium in human urine using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman-effect background correction. Except for a straightforward 1 + 1 V/V dilution of samples with 1.5% nitric acid, no matrix modifier or sample pre-treatment was necessary, thus reducing the risk of contamination. The concentration of cadmium in urine was evaluated directly from a calibration graph prepared using a metal-spiked human urine pool. In this way the time-consuming method of standard additions was avoided, permitting an increased sample throughput (120-150 samples per day; 90 s per analysis) with minimal attention of the analyst. In routine use, the precision (both within day and day to day) and limit of detection were of the order of less than 10% and 0.05 micrograms l-1 of Cd, respectively. The method is suitable for the biological monitoring of cadmium in the general population or in occupationally exposed persons. PMID- 2619072 TI - Determination of thiamine using continuous flow molecular emission cavity analysis. AB - A continuous flow method for the determination of thiamine hydrochloride (20.0 240.0 microgram ml(-1), 5.9 x 10(-5)-7.1 x 10(-4)m) is described. The sample was mixed with an excess of sodium hydroxide and remained in the delay coil for 20 min at 90 degrees C. The solution was then mixed with an excess of orthophosphoric acid and the hydrogen sulphide evolved was transferred continuously into the cavity to generate a molecular++ emission of S2. The analysis is completely automated, requires no sample pre-treatment and samples can be analysed at a rate of 30 samples h(-1) with a relative error of 1-2%. The method was evaluated by carrying out an interference study with common excipients and other water-soluble vitamins, a recovery study and by the analysis of commercial formulations. Results compared well with those obtained using the official method. The method was also applied to content uniformity tests. PMID- 2619073 TI - Validation of a quantitative procedure for the extraction of sterols from edible oils using radiolabelled compounds. AB - The work described in this paper is integrated in an analytical programme organised by the Community Bureau of Reference with the aim of developing reference materials certified for sterol content. Preliminary inter-comparison of methods showed that the level of agreement of the results was insufficient for certification purposes. Errors could occur in the different steps before the final determination by gas-liquid chromatography. It was, therefore, decided to validate a quantitative procedure for the isolation of sterols. A well defined saponification-extraction method was tested using labelled sterols ([3H]cholesterol and [3H]cholesteryl oleate) and radiochemical measurements. The study has shown that total cholesterol recovery reached 100.5 +/- 1.4%, that cholesteryl ester was saponified quantitatively and that there were no appreciable amounts of degradation products. The procedure has been used as the basis for the certification of three reference materials and it has been shown that the saponification and extraction procedure leads to the quantitative recovery of sterols regardless of the nature of the fatty material tested. PMID- 2619074 TI - Simultaneous determination of tranylcypromine sulfate and trifluoperazine dihydrochloride in tablets by first- and fourth- derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometry. AB - A rapid and simple method for the simultaneous determination of trifluoperazine dihydrochloride and tranylcypromine sulphate by first- and fourth-derivative UV spectrophotometry is presented. The procedure consists of extraction in 0.2 m hydrochloric acid, filtration and measurement of the amplitudes of the first- and fourth-derivative spectra at 260 and 274 nm, respectively. A zero-crossing technique is used for the determination of trifluoperazine. Good linearity, accuracy, precision and selectivity were found, and the method is proposed for routine quality control purposes, even for the uniformity of contents test. PMID- 2619075 TI - Determination of ethacrynic acid in pharmaceutical formulations by difference ultraviolet spectrophotometry after derivatisation with N-acetylcysteine. AB - A selective difference spectrophotometric procedure is described for the assay of ethacrynic acid (a diuretic drug) in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The method is based on the reaction of the drug with N-acetylcysteine at pH 7.4 and ambient temperature, affording thiol adducts having different spectral properties, and involves the measurement of the absorbance of the reaction mixture relative to an equimolar solution of unreacted ethacrynic acid. The absorbance at 270 nm (A(270)) and the absorbance difference, delta A=A(270-A(244), obtained from the difference spectrum, were found to be linearly correlated with the drug concentration. The proposed spectrophotometric procedure was applied successfully to the determination of ethacrynic acid in pharmaceutical formulations using a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure as a reference method. PMID- 2619076 TI - Application of the least-squares method in the matrix form: simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of rifampicin and isoniazid in binary pharmaceutical formulations. AB - A least-squares method in the matrix form is described for the simultaneous determination of rifampicin and isoniazid in a mixture. The method allows the rapid analysis of binary pharmaceutical formulations with minimum error. The concentration of each component in the mixture has been determined spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbance of the mixture at 5-nm intervals from 230 to 290 nm. To calculate the matrix of the proportionality constant a standard mixture was used for each component. All data analyses were performed on a personal computer. PMID- 2619077 TI - Lectin histochemical aspects of vascular development in fetal mammalian skin. AB - The study describes lectin reactivity of the developing vascular network in fetal mammalian skin. Skin samples were taken from fetuses of different gestational age of the pig, the goat and the cat. Clearly positive, endothelial lectin staining of capillaries and smaller vessels could only be obtained during mid gestation. The sequence of lectin reactivity, demonstrating: 1st alpha-D-N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine, 2nd alpha-D-galactose and sialic acid, and 3rd alpha-L-fucose, sialic acid and probably alpha-D-mannose/alpha-D-glucose residues, emphasizes different stages of cell surface coat as well as of cell membrane development. Thus, the typical outgrowth period of developing integumental blood vessels is reflected histochemically. PMID- 2619078 TI - Histochemical fiber types in the thigh muscles of 4 chicken inbred lines. AB - Distribution, frequency and diameter of fiber types were ascertained in the thigh muscles of I, C, W and M chicken inbred lines. The iliotibialis posterior muscle is composed of FOG and FG types uniformly distributed over the whole muscle cross section. Three fiber types are demonstrated in the sartorius and semimembranosus muscles. In the superficial regions, the FOG and FG types are present only. Avian SO type appears down into the depth of the muscles. The frequency of this type and FOG type gradually increases in this direction whereas the proportion of FG type decreases. Semimembranosus muscle shows generally higher percentage of FOG fibers and lower frequency of remaining two types. Differences between inbred lines in fiber type frequencies are mostly insignificant. However, the M line with the highest live and muscle weights shows larger fiber diameter of FG and FOG types than I, C and W lines. PMID- 2619079 TI - An ultrastructural study of the development of the leptomeninx of the mouse spinal cord. AB - The ultrastructure of the mouse spinal cord leptomeninx was studied from 11 days post-conception to 5 days post natum. At all ages the cells investing the developing cord resembled immature fibroblasts. The most characteristic feature was the rough endoplasmic reticulum, filled with an amorphous ground substance and frequently branched. At first other cytoplasmic organelles were sparse apart from numerous free ribosomes. During development mitochondria became more numerous. From E11 presumptive leptomeningeal processes were joined by tight junctions and the endothelial cells of leptomeningeal vessels were united by zonulae occludentes. Collagen fibrils were found from E11 and in prenatal mice were of small diameter, although the quantity of collagen increased with age. In the postnatal mice collagen was of larger diameter with the characteristic banded appearance. PMID- 2619080 TI - Some biometric anatomical remarks on the human hyoid complex. AB - In a series of fourty dissected specimens of the human hyoid complex, the position of the hyoid level was determined by measuring and statistically processing certain parameters with regard to bony landmarks, as well as to the musculature of the hyoid biomechanical system. In spite of the conventional description, only in 30% of the cases the long axis of the greater horns run parallel to the lower margin of the mandible. On the contrary, in 30% the hyoid level has an oblique ascending course of more than 20 degrees. Moreover, in 40% of the cases the hyoid bone lies higher, closer than 1.9 cm to the plane of the mental symphysis. The above observations, strengthened by similar ones on the length of the musculature, were more frequent in women, including almost half or more than half of their population. This sexual dimorphism has to be taken into account when dealing with the functional position of the hyoid, both in normal and clinical cases. PMID- 2619081 TI - Development of the orbital region in the chondrocranium of Caretta caretta. Reconsideration of the vertebrate neurocranium configuration. AB - By studying the development of the orbital region in the Loggarhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and some placental mammals, it has become clear that the orbital region of the neurocranium should not be regarded as merely a "bowl" to contain the brain, but rather that its ventral part is originally flexured along with the cephalic flexure of the neural tube. At this flexure, the neurocranium is to be divided into 2 parts, the anterior and posterior. The anterior part of the neurocranial sheet is medially perforated by the infundibulum and gives rise to pila metoptica laterally. The post orbital cartilage represents the posterior part. From the above "Bauplan" of the neurocranium, the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) the simple homology of the reptilian and placental mammalian pila metoptica is questionable; (2) the pila antotica is produced by the absorption of the mid-dorsal part of the postorbital cartilage, while the dorsum sellae in mammals is produce by the chondrification of the middle part of the same anlage; (3) homology of the ala hypochiasmatica in mammals with the supratrabecular cartilage in reptiles is more feasible than with the cartilago hypochiasmatica; and (4) the crista sellaris in reptiles is not a part of the primary cranial wall but probably of secondary production. PMID- 2619082 TI - Fat cell size in various body region. A statistical analysis in Equus caballus. AB - In 13 horses from both sexes, between 5 months and 18 years of age, in good nutritional state, statistical evaluations of fat cell sizes were performed in 16 body regions. From direct and indirect measurements referred to the cell diameter and cell number in equivalent areas, carried out on sections from paraffin embedded material and on preparations of dissociated whole cells, it emerged that the adipose cells of the subserous fat of the abdominal floor are consistently the largest, whereas those of the orbital fat body and supraorbital fossa are the smallest. In the other regions the cells have intermediate sizes. Statistical elaboration of the data has shown that: 1) in every site the range of variation in cell size is very high; 2) in the same individual the limits of the range of variation in cell size between the fat deposits in different sites are the wider, the higher the mean cell size; 3) the limits of the range of variation in fat cell sizes between corresponding regions in different individuals are closely correlated with the mean cell size. The suggestion is advanced that in the sites with very variable cell sizes, lipids are more readily mobilized; but such hypothesis requires further substantiation. PMID- 2619083 TI - [Localization of lectin-binding sites on the neural tube of the rat]. PMID- 2619084 TI - Changes in the arrangement of actin bundles during heart looping in the chick embryo. AB - We assessed the arrangement of actin bundles in the looping chick heart. Actin filaments were stained with rhodamine-labeled phalloidin, and their total arrangement was observed in whole mount specimens. Before the straight heart tube was formed, actin bundles were in a net-like arrangement as if to indicate the cell borders. With progress of the heart tube formation, actin bundles were gradually arranged in a circumferential direction. In the looped heart, regional differences in actin arrangements were observed. In the truncus arteriosus, actin bundles ran in a net-like arrangement. In the bulbus cordis, actin bundles ran in random directions. In the ventricle, actin bundles were roughly arranged in a circumferential direction. Between these three regions, actin bundles ran in a circumferential direction especially on the concave side. Near the right contour on the ventral face, some actin bundles ran in a longitudinal direction along the axis of the tubular heart. In the bulbus cordis and the ventricle at the looped stage, there was another group of actin bundles in the inner layer of the myocardium which ran in a circumferential direction. We presume that the arrangement of actin bundles is related to heart looping. PMID- 2619085 TI - A quantitative analysis of the crossed septohippocampal projection in the rat brain. AB - The projection from the medial septal-diagonal band complex (MSDB) to the hippocampal formation is generally considered to be primarily an uncrossed projection. The present study examined the number of MSDB neurons which project to the contralateral hippocampus, the position of these cells, their identity as either cholinergic or GABAergic, and the question of bilateral collateral projections. The fluorescent dyes Fluoro-Gold or diamidino yellow were injected into 5 equally-spaced sites along the septotemporal extent of the right hippocampus of adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. In some animals True Blue (5%) was also injected in a similar fashion into the left hippocampus. Five days later the brains were processed for fluorescence microscopic examination. The number of retrogradely labeled cells on each side was counted in every fifth section (200 microns interval) through the MSDB and the percentage of contralaterally projecting neurons was calculated. Averaging across all sections and all brains, it was found that approximately 15% of the medial septal neurons and 17% of the diagonal band neurons project to the contralateral hippocampus. Most of the labeled neurons, both ipsilateral and contralateral, were present in the caudal half of the MSDB. Within the medial septum contralaterally placed cells were distributed uniformly throughout the mediolateral extent and some of these stained immunocytochemically for choline acetyltransferase or glutamic acid decarboxylase. In brains in which diamidino yellow was injected into the right hippocampus and True Blue into the left numerous neurons were observed to contain both dyes, thus indicating projections to both hippocampi. PMID- 2619086 TI - Development of the origin of the coronary arteries, a matter of ingrowth or outgrowth? AB - Inconsistencies still exist with regard to the exact mode of development of proximal coronary arteries and coronary orifices. In this regard 15 quail embryos were investigated using a monoclonal anti-endothelium antibody, enabling a detailed study of the development of endothelium-lined vasculature. Coronary orifices emerged at 7-9 days of incubation (Zacchei stages 24-26) and were invariably present at 10 days of incubation (Zacchei stage 27). We never observed more than 2 coronary orifices; these were always single in either of the facing sinuses of the aorta. A coronary orifice was always observed being connected to an already developed proximal coronary artery, which belonged to a peritruncal ring of coronary arterial vasculature. We did not find any coronary orifice without a connection to a proximal coronary artery. Moreover, at 7-9 days of incubation (Zacchei stages 24-26) we observed coronary arteries from the peritruncal ring penetrating the aortic media. In 2 specimen this coronary artery, with a lumen, was in contact with the still intact endothelial lining of the aorta. We conclude that coronary arteries do not grow out of the aorta, but grow into the aorta from the peritruncal ring of coronary arterial vasculature. This throws new light on normal and abnormal development of proximal coronary arteries and coronary orifices. PMID- 2619087 TI - The appearance, density and distribution of melanocytes in human embryonic and fetal skin revealed by the anti-melanoma monoclonal antibody, HMB-45. AB - The presence, densities, and patterns of distribution of melanocytes in the epidermis of human embryos and fetuses, ranging in age from 40 d to 140 d estimated gestational age (EGA), were studied using the HMB-45 monoclonal antibody that recognizes an antigen in melanoma cells and fetal melanocytes. Immunostained sections of skin and epidermal sheets revealed dendritic melanocytes within the basal or intermediate layers of 50 d EGA and older skin. Melanocytes could not be identified by immunostaining or electron microscopy in younger (40-50 d EGA) epidermis or in cultured epidermal cells from these specimens. However, skin from a 45 d EGA embryo grown in organ culture for 11 d stained positively with HMB-45, suggesting that melanocytes are present at the age either in the epidermis or dermis of the explant. Double-labeling experiments using ATPase and HMB-45 confirmed the specificity of HMB-45 for melanocytes and demonstrated that melanocytes and Langerhans cells are nonoverlapping populations. Melanocytes were present in the embryonic epidermis in relatively high numbers (mean value of approximately 1050 cells/mm2); they increased in density to approximately 2300 cells/mm2 during the late first trimester and early second trimester, then declined during later stages of development to a density of approximately 800 cells/mm2, within the range of values for the newborn child and young adult. Equivalent numbers of melanocytes were recognized by silver staining and with the HMB-45 antibody in an 87 d EGA test sample, indicating that HMB-45 reacted with the total melanocytic population. Melanocytes appeared to be distributed in epidermal sheets in a regular pattern. Statistical tests used to evaluate the randomness of a population revealed a tendency toward a non-random distribution in specimens younger than 80 d EGA, just prior to appendage formation and epidermal stratification into multiple layers, however there was variability in the degree of randomness for any given age. The results of this study have closed the gap in timing between the conclusion of neural crest formation and migration (around 6 weeks) and the appearance of melanocytes in the skin between 40-50 d EGA. PMID- 2619088 TI - Persistent truncus arteriosus in the Splotch mutant mouse. AB - The Splotch mutant mouse shows defects in neural crest-derived cell populations. The septation of the truncus arteriosus and the development of the aortic arch derived blood vessels was studied in homozygotes of the Splotch mutant allele Sp1H. It is shown that in homozygous mutant embryos, the septation of the truncus arteriosus does not proceed normally, resulting in persistent truncus arteriosus. The ostium of the persistent truncus arteriosus opens to the right ventricle. Frequently, variations of the aortic arch-derived blood vessels are observed. The development of the thymus, the parathyroid and the ultimobranchial bodies are also variably affected in mutants. These results provide indirect evidence, that cells contributing to the aortic arches and the septum of the truncus arteriosus in mice are derived from the neural crest. The Splotch mutant mouse is proposed to be an animal model for persistent truncus arteriosus. The implications of the vascular malformations for the midgestational death of this mutant are discussed. PMID- 2619089 TI - Elastoidin turn-over during tail fin regeneration in teleosts. A morphometric and radioautographic study. AB - During teleostean fin regeneration the actinotrichia, rods of a collagen-like protein, the elastoidin, are immersed in the blastema, maintaining their apical position. In this epimorphic event the latter fact might be achieved by either a cellular carriage or a continuous turn-over of these hyperpolimerized fibrils. By means of a 3H-proline pulse and radioautographic chase experiment of the isolated actinotrichia we have found a turn-over of collagen within the structure. From these and additional morphometric results, we present in this work an operational hypothesis of how gradually differentiating blastemal cells and an appropriately shaped basal lamina, can control the number and distribution of actinotrichia which might be under the balanced control of their synthesis and degradation. PMID- 2619090 TI - Muscle precursor replication after repeated regeneration of skeletal muscle in mice. AB - We propose that when skeletal muscle regenerates after injury, myogenic precursor cell replication commences earlier if the muscle has undergone a recent previous cycle of regeneration. To test this a series of muscles in mice were crush injured and allowed to regenerate. Then either 7 or 28 days after the initial injury, the muscles were reinjured. The onset of DNA synthesis in myogenic precursor cells was determined by injecting each mouse once with tritiated thymidine at a specific time after the second injury. All reinjured muscles were left for 10 days to regenerate to the myotube stage. The presence of autoradiographically labelled myotube nuclei indicated that these nuclei were the progeny of myogenic precursors labelled at the time of injection of tritiated thymidine. Thus the onset of muscle precursor cell replication was determined. A similar series of experiments was conducted on muscle autotransplants, injured at 28 days after transplantation and sampled 10 days later. In none of these situations did muscle precursor cell replication occur earlier than in control muscles, which were injured only once, where myogenesis commenced between 24 and 30 h after injury. The autoradiographic data do not support our hypothesis. We conclude that the increased numbers of muscle precursors reported (by various authors) after repeated cycles of regeneration, are not due to the earlier initiation of DNA synthesis in myogenic precursor cells. PMID- 2619091 TI - A comparison of the distribution of the cerebellar and cortical connections of the nucleus of Darkschewitsch (ND) in the cat: a study using anterograde and retrograde HRP tracing techniques. AB - Bidirectional transport of lectin conjugated horseradish peroxidase was employed to investigate the relative distribution of the cerebellar and cortical connections of the nucleus of Darkschewitsch in the cat. Injection of horseradish peroxidase into the deep cerebellar nuclei produced terminal labeling which extended throughout the length of the contralateral nucleus of Darkschewitsch and into the perifascicular region. Injection of horseradish peroxidase into the pericruciate cortex produced both ipsilateral terminal labeling which extended throughout the length of the nucleus of Darkschewitsch and into the perifascicular region, and ipsilateral retrograde neuronal labeling. Labeled neurons displayed a variety of shapes and sizes, were more numerous in sections cut at rostral levels of the nucleus of Darkschewitsch, and were located both within and outside fields of terminal labeling. Comparison of the distribution of labeling following cerebellar and cortical injections indicates that convergence and overlap of input from these two sources occur in the nucleus of Darkschewitsch. These findings provide the morphological basis for integration of cerebellar and cortical information in this nucleus which may, in turn, influence output from neurons which project to the cortex or to the inferior olivary nucleus. PMID- 2619092 TI - The physiological closure of ductus arteriosus in the rat. An ultrastructural study. AB - The evolution of morphological changes in the wall of the ductus arteriosus during its physiological closure in newborn rats was examined by electron microscopy. The contraction of smooth muscle cells in the tunica media seems to be the primary mechanism which leads to the physiological closure of the ductus arteriosus. For this reason our attention was centred mainly on the morphology of the tunica media. No important changes in the ultrastructure of smooth muscle cells can be observed in the early phases of the closure. Most of them exhibit ultrastructural features of cells with enhanced synthetic activity during all phases of the closure. The permanent contraction of smooth muscle cells results in their morphological changes. The most striking is the herniation of smooth muscle cell cytoplasm into the endothelial and later into adjoining muscle cells. These changes together with signs of degeneration of the smooth muscle cells are already clearly discernible 120 min after birth. The elastic component of the tunica media exhibits surprisingly fast changes. As soon as 60 min after birth, the fragmentation of elastic membranes and their structural changes provided evidence about the degradation of elastic material. The matrix vesicles, probably derived from the lysosomal apparatus of the muscle cells, may play an essential role in this process. PMID- 2619093 TI - The binding pattern of peanut lectin associated with sclerotome migration and the formation of the vertebral axis in the chick embryo. AB - Lectins have been used extensively to detect changes in carbohydrate moieties on the surfaces of embryonic cells during early development. Peanut agglutinin (PNA) in particular has been used to investigate changes related to cell differentiation. PNA has also been used to differentiate between the rostral and caudal sclerotome halves which have been shown to be functionally different, with neural crest cells and neurites traversing only the rostral half during their migration. In this study, we have sectioned and stained chick embryos between 3 and 8 days of age with PNA to examine the distribution of PNA binding sites associated with the vertebral column during this period and also to determine the fates of the rostral and caudal sclerotome halves. Ultrastructural localisation of PNA-gold conjugate showed that binding sites for this lectin were present intracellularly and extracellularly both on cell surfaces and in the matrix. At the light microscope level, a clear banding pattern emerged after staining with PNA which consisted of alternating light and dark staining along the entire length of the vertebral axis of the embryo. In the younger embryos, a simple banding pattern emerged where the rostral sclerotome half of each segment stained only lightly while the caudal half stained darkly. This banding pattern was present throughout the 6 day period of development and could be traced continuously but grew more complex as the sclerotome cells migrated to surround the notochord and neural tube and as the dorsal root ganglia developed. The rostral sclerotome half was found to contribute to the caudal part of one vertebral body and its neural arch, while the caudal sclerotome half was found to contribute to the intervertebral disc, the rostral half of the next caudal vertebra, and part of its neural arch. PMID- 2619094 TI - An attempt at creating the structure of andrological science. AB - The cognition and assessment of various spheres of behaviour and vital activity of man are possible only through a systemic approach to its study. It is necessary to point out the different levels of methodological approach to the problem of a successful development of andrology and to determine their tasks and limitations. The main sections of research of andrology must include: medico biological, philosophic-anthropological, sociological, and psychological investigations of personality. Accordingly andrology is at a junction of the natural and social sciences, i.e. an interdisciplinary science. PMID- 2619095 TI - Pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in severe immune male infertility. AB - The male partner of an infertile couple was found to have anti-spermatozoal antibodies (ASA) of the IgG and IgA class in his semen as well as agglutinating and cytotoxic antibodies in serum. His wife conceived twice after IVF-ET with ongoing pregnancies. PMID- 2619096 TI - Male subfertility and the outcome of intrauterine insemination. AB - Seven out of 27 infertile women conceived by intrauterine insemination (IUI, 26%), one of them twice. Three other pregnancies occurred spontaneously after the discontinuation of treatment. A comparison of the data obtained from 65 treatment cycles revealed that the number of motile spermatozoa per ml of ejaculate and per ml of medium after swim-up preparation was higher in the ultimately fertile group as compared to the patients who failed to conceive. It is concluded that male subfertility affects the outcome of IUI unfavorably. PMID- 2619097 TI - Modern techniques of sperm preparation--do they influence the sex of offspring? AB - Four different semen preparation methods--migration-Sedimentation technique, Sperm Select, Percoll gradient centrifugation and swim-up technique--have been tested and compared in regard to progressive motility, viability and morphology. The data obtained clearly demonstrate significant enhancement of all parameters using the techniques mentioned above. The study also demonstrated significant differences in Y chromatin-positive spermatozoa before and after semen preparation. The rate of F-body-positive spermatozoa was significantly increased by all four methods. PMID- 2619098 TI - Influence of an aromatase inhibitor (4-acetoxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione) on experimentally induced impairment of spermatogenesis in immature rats. AB - Subcutaneous treatment of immature male rats with an estrogen precursor, 19 hydroxy-testosterone (19-OHT), at a daily dose of 1 mg/animal for 14 days leads to a significant decrease in the weight of testis, ventral prostate and seminal vesicle. The peripheral levels of LH are lowered. Testicular histology indicates that the effects of 19-OHT are very similar to the known of effect induced by estradiol-17 beta. 19OHT induces a marked impairment of spermato- and spermiogenesis. The maturation division is completely inhibited. The effect of 19 OHT on spermatogenesis is partially reversed by concomitant administration of an aromatase inhibitor (4-acetoxy-4-androstene-3.17-dione, (4-AA] at a dose of 1 mg/animal/day s.c. Meiotic activity is restored, and the weights of genital organs and the serum LH values increase. 4-AA alone has no appreciable effect on the parameters examined in this study. The present results suggest that specific inhibitors of estrogen biosynthesis might not only be useful to investigate the patho-physiological role of estrogens on spermatogenesis, but also be suitable to some extent for the treatment of estrogen-induced infertility in men suffering from idiopathic oligozoospermia. PMID- 2619099 TI - Testosterone therapy in Klinefelter's syndrome (a prolonged observation). AB - Clinical observations and pituitary gonadal hormone data was gathered in six patients with Klinefelter's Syndrome during a prolonged period of time. The secondary sex characteristics increased and the gynecomastia generally disappeared. Personality changes were also noted. In half of the patients, the abnormal level of luteinizing and follicular stimulating hormone remained elevated. An enlarged sella turcica was discovered in one patient. It is concluded that testosterone therapy is beneficial in all patients with Klinefelter's Syndrome. PMID- 2619100 TI - Antifertility plant products: testicular cell population dynamicsfollowing solasodine (C27H43O2N) administration in rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). AB - Solasodine obtained from the Solanum xanthocarpum berries was administered to Rhesus monkeys for 150 days to evaluate their effect on testicular cell population dynamics. Solasodine brings about an interference with spermiogenesis at the stage XII of late spermatids. The spermatids were decreased by 69% (P less than 0.001). No significant change was found in the population of spermatogonia/primary and secondary spermatocytes. The production of immature and mature Leydig cells were decreased by 60.4% and 41.6% respectively. A significant decrease in cauda sperm count (Control: 83.1 +/- 6.3; Solasodine 1.21 +/- 0.3 million/ml) was noticed. The testicular protein, sialic acid and glycogen contents were depleted following solasodine treatments to rhesus monkeys. Bioassay studies showed the antiandrogenic nature of the compound. PMID- 2619101 TI - Immunohistochemical localization of neuropeptide Y in nerves of the male genital tract of the photoperiodically responsive Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. AB - Neuropeptide Y (NPY) was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in nerves of the male genital tract of Phodopus sungorus at long (LD 16:8) und short (LD 8:16) photoperiods. No immunoreactive nerve fibres could be demonstrated in the testis, caput and corpus epididymidis and the ventral prostate gland. Dense networks of NPY-containing nerve fibers were demonstrated in the smooth muscle layer of the sperm-transporting duct, beginning in the cauda epididymidis with increasing density towards the distal part of the ductus deferens, and in the smooth muscle layer of the seminal vesicles. At short photoperiods, the density of the NPY containing nerve plexus decreased only in the smooth muscle layer of the ductus deferens. A "trophic" influence of the large smooth muscle cells of the ductus deferens on their nerves not only in regard to their noradrenaline, but also on their NPY content is discussed. PMID- 2619102 TI - Effects of L-acetylcarnitine (LAC) on the post-injury recovery of mouse spermatogenesis monitored by flow cytometry. 1. Recovery after X-irradiation. AB - L-acetylcarnitine plays a key role in sperm metabolism and in the whole spermatogenetic process. In the present work, the influence of L-acetylcarnitine, administered i.p. (100 mg/kg body weight), on the recovery processes of mouse spermatogenesis after local acute irradiation with 10 Gy X-rays has been investigated. The effects were monitored 28, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 days after irradiation by flow cytometric analysis of cellular DNA content. In the LAC treated animals, the fraction of tetraploid cells is higher at 28 (p less than 0.05) and 45 days (p less than 0.02). Corresponding with the timing of the stages of murine spermatogenesis, the round spermatid fraction is higher at 45 days (p less than 0.1) and the elongated spermatid fraction is higher at 50 days (p less than 0.1) after irradiation. In addition, the LAC-treated animals show a faster recovery throughout the maturation process, from tetraploid to round and elongated spermatids. These results indicate that the presence of exogenous LAC could enhance the recovery of spermatogonial cells. PMID- 2619103 TI - Fructose and proteins in human semen. AB - The aim of this study was to correlate human seminal fructose determinations by enzymatic UV method with protein content, using three different methods (Biuret, Lowry, Meulemans). On one hand, the incidence on fructose levels of partial deproteinization after treatment by perchloric acid was tested: the fructose levels values increased after deproteinization 14.1 +/- 3.7 versus 4.2 +/- 1.7 mMol/l. On the other hand, physiologically, semen proteolysis occurs for many hours after collection and concerns mainly low molecular weight proteins. No modifications were found in protid levels and fructose concentrations during the first four hours, at 20 degrees C. All these data seem to indicate a better linkage of fructose to the highest molecular weight proteins and might explain the absence of fructose rise during the first four hours. PMID- 2619104 TI - Bioassay for determination of human serum luteinizing hormone (LH): a routine clinical method. AB - Serum levels of LH are used as marker of a number of pathological conditions. In the past many methods (RIA, IRMA, ELISA) have been employed to measure serum LH, these procedures, however, suffer from the drawback that they determine the immuno reactive and not the bioactive part of the hormone. An improved in vitro bioassay method for the estimation of serum LH has been described. The underlying mechanism of the assay is testosterone production by mouse Leydig cells in the presence of added LH. The method has been significantly improved in terms of sensitivity (0.2 IU/l) and simplicity; the assay is simple and does not require any special instruments and can be set up in any endocrinological laboratory. PMID- 2619105 TI - The predictive value of the postcoital test for auto- and isoimmunity to spermatozoa. AB - Twenty eight infertile couples with sperm antibodies were used in the study. The immunologic factors in the husbands and wives were compared with the results of the post coital test. The results of the study showed that the post coital test had a predictive value of 75% for male auto-immunity to sperm while only 37% of the females with sperm antibodies had a poor post coital test. It was concluded that the post-coital test is an important screening predictor of auto-immunity to spermatozoa. PMID- 2619106 TI - Two-dimensional electrophoresis of the plasma proteins of alpacas and llamas: genetic polymorphism of alpha 1B-glycoprotein and three other proteins. AB - Plasma samples of alpacas and llamas were analysed by a simple method of two dimensional (2-D) agarose gel (pH 8.6)-horizontal polyacrylamide gel (pH 9.0) electrophoresis, followed by general protein staining of gels. Genetic polymorphism in both species is described for alpha 1B-glycoprotein (alpha 1B) and three other unidentified proteins designated prealbumin (Pr), postalbumin 1 and 2 (Pa1 and Pa2). alpha 1B was identified by cross-reactivity with antisera for human and pig alpha 1B. Altogether, two alleles of Pr, two of Pa1, five of alpha 1B and three of Pa2 are described. Most of the alleles were present in alpacas and llamas. Alpacas showed a high degree of polymorphism at all four loci. Llamas showed considerable polymorphism at only the Pa1 and Pa2 loci. The theoretical probability of exclusion (PE) of an incorrectly assigned parent was estimated to be about 80% in each species by typing for the six polymorphic plasma proteins reported so far in these species. The given method of 2-D electrophoresis revealed no fixed differences in protein mobilities that discriminate between llamas and alpacas. PMID- 2619107 TI - Marek's disease and major histocompatibility complex haplotypes in chickens selected for high or low antibody response. AB - Sublines of chickens differing in genotypes at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) were developed from lines selected for high (HA) and low (LA) antibody response to sheep erythrocytes. To evaluate the influence of MHC genotypes in diverse background genomes on resistance to Marek's disease, chicks with MHC genotypes B13B13, B13B21 and B21B21 from both background genomes were exposed naturally commencing at 1 day of age. Individuals which died up to 120 days of age were autopsied to determine cause of death. Mortality due to Marek's disease was greater for HA than LA chickens and greater for males than females. Interactions of MHC genotypes with background genome and with sex suggest a complex picture of the influence of MHC genotypes. A heterozygous advantage for resistance to Marek's disease was noted, as would be predicted by genetic theory concerning maintenance of polymorphism at the MHC. PMID- 2619108 TI - Genetic polymorphism of transferrin in fallow deer, Cervus dama L. AB - A study of 15 blood protein systems in fallow deer, Cervus dama L., has revealed a transferrin polymorphism in two German populations for the first time in this species. Genetic analysis of complete families suggests that the transferrin system is controlled by one gene locus with two codominant alleles. The comparison of the present results with other studies on this species leads to the hypothesis that at least the European mainland fallow deer populations are genetically more differentiated than previously assumed. PMID- 2619109 TI - Influence of limb temperature on sensory nerve conduction velocity in horses. AB - Sensory nerve conduction velocity was measured in the lateral palmar nerve of 8 horses. The limb temperature was manipulated by external means and monitored. Alterations in the nerve conduction velocity related to limb temperature variation were identified at both increased and decreased temperatures. These were quantified and a mean value of 2.15 +/- 0.2 m/s/degree Celsius was determined. The effect of altered limb temperature should be considered in nerve conduction velocity determinations. PMID- 2619110 TI - Methods of clinical electrophysiologic study in pigs. AB - Methods of estimating motor nerve conduction, sensory nerve conduction, and f wave latency in pigs were determined. The sciatic-tibial nerves were used for motor nerve conduction and f-wave response and the superficial peroneal nerve was used for sensory nerve conduction. PMID- 2619111 TI - Waveform analysis and reproducibility of visual-evoked potentials in dogs. AB - Visual-evoked potentials (VEP) and electroretinograms (ERG) were recorded from 10 normal light-adapted adult dogs, using a 3 x 5 matrix of light-emitting diodes as a stimulator. Visual-evoked potentials were recorded from 4 scalp electrodes overlying cortical areas, whereas electroretinographic activity was recorded by 2 scalp electrodes placed near the eye and by a conjunctivally placed electrode. The waveform of the VEP consisted of 3 major positive waves (P1 through P3), with peak latencies in the 20- to 70-ms range. Waveform reproducibility was assessed by comparing peak latencies from VEP recorded on 2 separate days approximately 1 week apart. The peak latencies for P1 through P3 did not differ (P greater than or equal to 0.05) between first and second recording sessions. To substantiate the postretinal origin of VEP, recordings were made before and after unilateral optic nerve transsections in 4 dogs. Electroretinograms were also measured before and after surgery to assess the integrity of the retina. Postsurgically, VEP were absent when the eye on the surgically treated side was stimulated. Stimulation of the contralateral eye induced VEP with the same waveform shape, but latencies were slightly prolonged (P less than or equal to 0.05) compared with presurgical recordings. The only effect of optic nerve transsection on the ipsilateral ERG was a prolongation (P less than or equal to 0.05) of the b-wave. However, when postsurgical ERG values were compared with those from the intact side after surgery, there were no differences. PMID- 2619112 TI - Acute response of urine pH following ammonium chloride administration to dogs. AB - To test the acidifying ability of the distal portion of the nephrons in healthy dogs, 0.2 g of NH4Cl/kg of body weight was given PO. Samples for venous blood gas analysis and urine pH were taken hourly for 6 hours. Systemic acidemia developed, as evidenced by a statistically significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in blood pH 1 hour after NH4Cl administration. Four hours after administration, mean urine pH decreased to a low of 5.16 +/- 0.1 and was less than 5.5 3 hours after administration. Changes in urine pH 2 hours after administration were statistically significant (P less than 0.05). In human beings, NH4Cl loading is used to detect patients with distal renal tubular acidosis (defective hydrogen ion secretion by the distal nephrons) and normal acid/base values. Distal renal tubular acidosis is diagnosed if urine pH fails to decrease to less than 5.5 after NH4Cl administration. On the basis of the findings of this study, a similar value would be valid for dogs. PMID- 2619113 TI - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measurement of allergen-specific IgE antibodies in canine serum. AB - A micro-ELISA, using horseradish peroxidase-conjugated anti-canine IgE and polystyrene microtitration wells for detection of allergen-specific IgE in canine serum, was developed. Specificity of anti-canine IgE was confirmed by reversed cutaneous anaphylaxis evaluations, gel-precipitation reactions, immunoelectrophoresis, immunoaffinity chromatography, and heat inactivation. Individual allergen blanks were used to account for variable nonspecific binding among various allergens, and results were normalized using 4 reference sera. Coefficients of variation for intra-assay and interassay variability ranged from 0.77 to 5.66% and 3.15 to 9.83%, respectively. Results observed with wells coated with mixtures of various allergen extracts yielded results approximately equal to results (average) of wells containing individual components. Agreement between ELISA and skin test results ranged from 43 to 64%, depending on allergen used. PMID- 2619114 TI - Comparison of left ventricular ejection fractions determined in healthy anesthetized dogs by echocardiography and gated equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography. AB - Left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) of 8 pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs were calculated by gated equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (RVG) and by M mode and two-dimensional echocardiography (2-DE) prior to and during constant IV infusion of isoproterenol. Mean LVEF (+/- SD), determined with RVG by use of an automatic edge detection algorithm (RVG-auto) to define the left ventricular region of interest, increased from a resting value of 53.5% (+/- 4.9%) to 71.9% (+/- 6.8%) during isoproterenol infusion. Mean LVEF, determined with RVG by use of visual inspection (RVG-manual) to define the left ventricular region of interest increased from a resting value of 51.6% +/- 3.8% to 67.0% +/- 5.6% during isoproterenol infusion. Using 2-DE and the bullet formula to calculate left ventricular volume (LVV = 5/6 x cross-sectional area x length), mean LVEF increased from 52.3% (+/- 3.50) to 74.7% (+/- 5.0%). Using 2-DE area measurements and Teicholz formula, mean LVEF increased from 48.9% (+/- 5.1%) to 69.5% (+/- 6.0%). Using M-mode echocardiographic left ventricular diameter measurements and Teicholz formula, mean LVEF increased from 52.3 (+/- 9.0%) to 78.3% (+/- 8.1%). Before and during isoproterenol infusion, the mean LVEF values calculated by RVG agreed closely with mean LVEF values calculated from M-mode and 2-DE. Correlation coefficients determined from linear regression analysis of LVEF by echocardiography vs LVEF by radionuclide ventriculography ranged from 0.79 to 0.88. Correlation coefficients were higher and SEM were lower when LVEF was determined by RVG-manual, rather than by RVG-auto methods and when LVEF was calculated from 2-DE measurements, rather than from M-mode measurements. PMID- 2619115 TI - Phenolsulfonphthalein pharmacokinetics and renal morphologic changes in adult pony mares with gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicosis. AB - Changes in renal function, determined by pharmacokinetics of phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP), and renal morphologic features were examined in adult pony mares given 20 mg of gentamicin sulfate/kg of body weight, IV, q 8 h (group A) n = 7 or isotonic saline solution, IV, q 8 h, n = 5 (group B) for 14 days. Susceptibility of ponies to gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicosis was varied. Two group-A ponies developed acute renal failure and were euthanatized before treatment day 14, whereas 5 group-A A ponies did not develop physical or behavioral abnormalities after 14 days of gentamicin administration. All group-A ponies but none of group-B ponies developed ultrastructural abnormalities of the proximal tubular epithelium, consistent with gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicosis. Significant (P less than 0.05) differences were not detected in pharmacokinetic values of either group. Clearance of PSP was reduced in 4 group-A ponies that developed the most severe gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicosis. Changes in clearance of PSP were significantly (P less than 0.05) correlated with changes in the serum creatinine concentration. PMID- 2619116 TI - Cardiovascular effects of vasopressors in halothane-anesthetized dogs before and after hemorrhage. AB - Exogenously administered vasopressors (sympathomimetics) were evaluated in halothane-anesthetized dogs to determine the effects of these drugs on cardiovascular function before and after hemorrhage. Six dogs were anesthetized with thiamylal sodium (20 mg/kg of body weight) and halothane (1.25 minimal alveolar concentration) in 100% oxygen. After instrumentation, cardiac output, systemic arterial blood pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), left ventricular pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, and an index of cardiac contractility (dP/dT) were measured. Stroke volume, cardiac index (CI), stroke index (SI), rate pressure product, and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were calculated. Epinephrine (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 micrograms/kg/min [low, medium, and high doses, respectively]) and dobutamine (1, 5, and 10 micrograms/kg/min [low, medium, and high doses, respectively]) were infused. Methoxamine was given in a bolus of 0.22 mg/kg, IV. All measurements were taken at 2.5 minutes after infusion, and were repeated after removal of 40% of the estimated blood volume. Dobutamine administered at the low dose before hemorrhage increased SAP and dP/dT. At the high and medium dose, dobutamine significantly increased CI, dP/dT, and SAP, with no significant change in HR or SVR. The medium dose of epinephrine was the most effective dose of epinephrine at increasing key variables (CI, SI, dP/dT). The response of CI and SI to this dose was not significantly different from the changes seen with high-dose administration of dobutamine. The dP/dT was significantly lower with epinephrine than with dobutamine, and SVR and HR were unchanged with epinephrine, except at the low dose, which decreased SVR. PMID- 2619117 TI - Cardiovascular effects of vasopressors in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs before and after hemorrhage. AB - Exogenously administered vasopressors (sympathomimetics) were evaluated in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs to determine the effects of these drugs on cardiovascular function before and after hemorrhage. Six dogs were anesthetized with thiamylal sodium (20 mg/kg of body weight) and isoflurane (1.25 minimal alveolar concentration) in 100% oxygen. After instrumentation, cardiac output, systemic arterial blood pressure, heart rate (HR), left ventricular pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, and an index of cardiac contractility (dP/dT) were measured. Stroke volume, cardiac index (CI), stroke index (SI), rate-pressure product, and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were calculated. Epinephrine (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 micrograms/kg/min [low, medium, and high doses, respectively]) and dobutamine (1, 5, and 10 micrograms/kg/min [low, medium, and high doses, respectively]) were infused. Methoxamine was given in a bolus of 0.22 mg/kg, IV. All measurements were taken at 2.5 minutes after infusion, and were repeated after removal of 40% of the estimated blood volume. Before hemorrhage, administration of high doses of dobutamine and medium and high doses of epinephrine were equally effective at increasing CI and SI. The dP/dT was increased to the greatest degree by administration of high doses of dobutamine. Administration of the low dose of dobutamine increased dP/dT, whereas administration of the low dose of epinephrine increased CI, HR, and SI, and decreased SVR. The HR and SVR were not increased by administration of any dose of dobutamine or of the medium and high doses of epinephrine. However, methoxamine increased SVR and decreased HR. Methoxamine decreased CI, SI, and dP/dT, but increased systemic arterial pressure to the same degree as that attributed to administration of high doses of dobutamine and epinephrine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619118 TI - Small-volume resuscitation with hypertonic saline solution in hypovolemic cats. AB - We evaluated the hemodynamic effects of IV and intraaortic (aortic root) administration of 7.5% NaCl solution on hemodynamics in anesthetized cats with severe hypovolemia. Hypovolemic shock was induced by exsanguinating cats to a mean arterial blood pressure of 50 mm of Hg, which was maintained for 30 minutes prior to treatment. Shed blood volume was 38.4 +/- 2.1 ml/kg of body weight. The cats were treated with a small volume (4 ml/kg) of 0.9% NaCl solution IV, 7.5% NaCl solution IV, or 7.5% NaCl solution administered into the aortic root. The IV administration of 0.9% NaCl solution did not improve hemodynamics. The IV administration of 7.5% NaCl solution induced rapid restoration of arterial blood pressure, aortic blood flow, and cardiac contractility. Total peripheral vascular resistance decreased. The administration of 7.5% NaCl solution into the aortic root induced a further deterioration in hemodynamics resulting in death in 3 cats and a marked improvement in hemodynamics similar to that observed after IV administration of 7.5% NaCl solution in 2 cats. The duration of the beneficial hemodynamic effects after IV or intra-aortic administration of 7.5% NaCl solution did not exceed 60 minutes. Results of these studies suggested that either the IV or intra-aortic administration of 7.5% NaCl solution in cats can induce beneficial hemodynamic effects that may be of value in the field resuscitation of hypovolemic patients. PMID- 2619119 TI - Clinical reference values for serum protein electrophoresis for the llama (Lama glama). AB - Serum protein electrophoresis was performed on 71 clinically healthy juvenile and adult llamas (6 juvenile males, 7 juvenile females, 25 adult males, 13 adult females, and 20 pregnant females) to determine normal serum protein concentrations. Values were reported for each of the 5 groups because the groups were not homogeneous in all 8 peaks. Although the values reported here may serve as reference values for adults, they represent only a guideline for the juveniles because of the limited number of animals in each of these groups. PMID- 2619120 TI - Whole blood platelet aggregation in dogs with liver disease. AB - Whole blood platelet aggregation was determined in response to collagen, arachidonic acid, and adenosine diphosphate in 20 dogs with liver disease and in 20 control dogs. Platelet aggregation in response to collagen and arachidonic acid was reduced in dogs with liver disease, compared with control dogs (P less than 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in platelet response to adenosine diphosphate between the 2 groups of dogs. Adenosine diphosphate was found not to be a reliable aggregation agent for determination of whole blood platelet aggregation in dogs. Dogs whose platelets did not aggregate in response to collagen and/or arachidonic acid manifested bleeding tendencies that could be attributed to platelet dysfunction. PMID- 2619121 TI - Role of parathyroid hormone in the anemia of chronic terminal renal dysfunction in dogs. AB - Terminal renal dysfunction (TRD) was induced in 2 groups of dogs by partial surgical ablation of the kidney. Dogs of a control group and of 1 of the TRD groups were maintained on a diet containing normal phosphorus concentration, whereas dogs of the other TRD group were maintained on a low-phosphorus diet. Mild anemia developed in dogs of both TRD groups and could not be attributed to iron deficiency, increased erythrocyte concentration of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, or absolute deficiency of erythropoietin (EP). Subsequently, all dogs were acutely depleted of approximately 25% of their blood volume. Erythropoietin concentration in dogs of the TRD groups was lower than that of controls, however, erythroid regenerative capacity was comparable with that of control dogs when plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration was lowered by reduced dietary intake of phosphorus. The PCV in dogs of the chronic TRD groups had a slight positive correlation with serum EP concentration, and a significant (P less than 0.05) negative correlation with plasma PTH and serum phosphorus and creatinine concentrations, using a correlation matrix. There was no longer a significant correlation between plasma PTH concentration and PCV after controlling for serum creatinine concentration by use of a multiple linear regression analysis. A significant (P less than 0.05) negative correlation also was observed between plasma PTH and serum EP concentrations, but not between serum EP and phosphorus or creatinine concentrations. Significance of the EP and PTH association was reduced when analyzed, using a multiple linear regression analysis that included serum creatinine values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619122 TI - Twenty-four hour urinary protein loss in healthy cats and the urinary protein creatinine ratio as an estimate. AB - Urinary protein loss was determined in 12 healthy cats. Voided urine was collected and protein quantitated by the Coomassie blue method. Mean protein loss for all cats was 12.65 mg/kg/24 h (5.45 SD). Protein loss for male cats (n = 6) was 16.62 mg/kg/24 h (3.3 SD), which was significantly different (P less than 0.01) from 8.69 mg/kg/24 h (4.09 SD) for females (n = 6). A single urine protein creatinine ratio correlated well with the total urinary protein loss in mg/kg/24 h. The correlation coefficient for the protein-creatinine ratio in voided urine (UPCV) vs 24-hour urinary protein (UP-24) loss was 0.968, and that for the protein-creatinine ratio in urine obtained by cystocentesis (UPCC) vs UP-24 was 0.945. The regression equations were UPCV = 0.02145 + 0.02338 x UP-24 (mg/kg), and UPCC = 0.02667 + 0.02133 x UP-24 (mg/kg). Using the mean value plus 3 SD of urinary protein loss from the healthy cats in this study, a healthy cat would be expected to have a urinary protein loss of less than 29 mg/kg/24 h. A protein creatinine ratio from a single urine sample provides an accurate estimate of urinary protein loss in healthy cats. PMID- 2619123 TI - Aortic catheterization in cattle via the costoabdominal artery and validation for progesterone and estradiol-17 beta sample collection. AB - The abdominal portion of the aorta was catheterized in 27 cows. Local analgesia was achieved by infiltration of anesthetic agents. A 10-cm skin incision was made caudal and parallel to the 13th rib at the lateral border of the epaxial muscles. The dorsal costoabdominal artery was exposed at its first lateral cutaneous branch by careful dissection through fascial layers. A sterile polyvinyl catheter (1.52 mm OD) was inserted into the artery and was advanced 35 to 40 cm to the abdominal portion of the aorta. Catheter patency was maintained for up to 5 weeks. Concentrations of plasma progesterone and estradiol-17 beta in samples obtained from the abdominal portion of the aorta were similar to simultaneously obtained concentrations in samples from the jugular vein before and after parturition. PMID- 2619124 TI - A new bacteriophage of Corynebacterium glutamicum isolated from swine waste. AB - A bacteriophage for Corynebacterium glutamicum strain LP-6 was isolated from swine waste. It belongs to the Siphoviridae family or Bradley morphologic group B, has a narrow host range, and is sensitive to chloroform and resistant to carbon tetrachloride. The phage is unstable (96% inactivation) in swine waste stored for 4 months at 22 C. The DNA has a molecular weight of approximately 20 Md, cohesive ends, and numerous restriction endonuclease sites. The phage differs from other known C glutamicum phages. PMID- 2619125 TI - Transformation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and analysis of R factors by electroporation. AB - An efficient method for DNA transfer is essential for the genetic manipulation of any organism. Such a capacity will be required for the genetic analysis of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae as a swine pathogen, as well as for its manipulation for vaccination purposes. For this reason, the use of electroporation as a means of plasmid DNA introduction into this species was examined. The multiple antibiotic-resistant strain 80-8141 of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae harbors 3 plasmids: pYG10, pYG15, and pYG12 of 5.0, 2.7, and 2.5 kb, respectively. Electroporation of A pleuropneumoniae strain 4074 with a plasmid extract of strain 80-8141 showed that pYG10 encodes chloramphenicol resistance and that pYG12 encodes ampicillin resistance. Electrical pulse conditions for efficient electroporation of strain 4074 were examined by use of pYG10 DNA isolated from a 4074 transformant. Efficiency, expressed as transformants per microgram of plasmid DNA, increased directly with pulse amplitude. However, high efficiencies were only observed in a narrow window of pulse duration (tau = 12 to 22 ms at 6.25 kV/cm). Longer pulse durations resulted in cell death. Electroporation efficiencies increased with cell density. Yield of transformants increased directly with DNA concentration. Results indicate that electroporation can be used to efficiently transform A pleuropneumoniae and that pYG10 and pYG12 are suitable plasmid vectors for use in the genetic manipulation of this organism. PMID- 2619126 TI - Characterization of osteosarcoma cells from two sibling large-breed dogs. AB - Neoplastic cells were isolated from 2 sibling Great Dane/Labrador Retriever mixed breed dogs in which telangiectatic type osteosarcomas arose concurrently. Cells from various sites in the same osteosarcoma appeared similar in culture, but there were differences between the 2 osteosarcomas in growth characteristics and appearance of cells. Cells from 1 osteosarcoma had a small, but significant (P less than 0.05), cyclic adenosine monophosphate response to parathyroid hormone stimulation, indicating a low order of osteoblastic differentiation. Cells from the other osteosarcoma had no response to parathyroid hormone stimulation. Cells from both osteosarcomas and a concentrated cell-free filtrate from the osteosarcoma with osteoblastic differentiation were injected into nude mice, but osteosarcomas were not induced. Results of ultrastructural examination of osteosarcoma samples for viral particles were negative and supernatant fluids from cultured cells were considered negative for viral reverse transcriptase activity. PMID- 2619127 TI - Controlled test and clinical evaluation of dienbendazole against naturally acquired gastrointestinal parasites in ponies. AB - A controlled test was performed to titrate the anthelmintic dosage of dienbendazole in 24 mixed-breed ponies naturally infected with Strongylus vulgaris, S edentatus, and small strongyle species, as determined by parasitic egg and larval counts in feces. Comparison of results of treatment was made among 3 dienbendazole dosages--2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg of body weight--and a gum (excipient) mixture given by nasogastric intubation. All ponies were euthanatized and necropsied at 7 or 8 days after treatment. Trichostrongylus axei, Habronema muscae, S vulgaris, S edentatus, small strongyles, and Oxyuris equi were efficaciously eliminated in response to all doses of dienbendazole; Gasterophilus spp were not affected by any dose. There were not sufficient numbers of Draschia megastoma, Anoplocephala spp, or Parascaris equorum in the ponies to evaluate drug effect. Changes in the appearance of the intestinal lining were dose dependent; in the ponies treated with 5 and 10 mg of dienbendazole/kg, the mucosa appeared clean and smooth, though in ponies given 2.5 mg/kg, it appeared clean, but was nodular and moderately reactive to embedded immature small strongyles. In the gum mixture-treated ponies, the large intestinal mucosa was inflamed, with edematous areas, in response to infections caused by large and small strongyles. A limited clinical titration was done in 12 ponies that were fecal culture negative for S vulgaris larvae, although other strongyles were detected. Two ponies in each of 6 groups were given the following dosages: 0 (gum mixture only), 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 mg of dienbendazole/kg. One group of 2 ponies was given 5 mg of fenbendazole/kg as a standard treatment control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619128 TI - Lectin binding to small intestinal goblet cells of newborn, suckling, and weaned pigs. AB - Lectin binding of small intestinal goblet cells was examined in newborn, suckling, and weaned pigs. Sections of duodenum, proximal portion of the jejunum, distal portion of the jejunum, and ileum were embedded in a hydrophilic acrylic resin and treated with each of the following lectins: Canavalia ensiformis, Ricinus communis I, Glycine max, Ulex europaeus I, and Triticum vulgaris. Percentages of goblet cells binding each lectin were calculated within intestinal regions. Differences in lectin-binding affinity were detected among pigs of various ages and among various intestinal regions within pig age groups. PMID- 2619129 TI - [The fibronectin deficiency in normal newborn infants corrects itself very quickly]. AB - Fibronectin (FN) is a protein which acts as an opsonin and participates in anti infective mechanisms. We measured FN in cord blood from 39 normal newborns by Laurell's electroimmunoassay. The mean value of FN was 13.5 +/- 6.8 mg/dl, lesser then mean value of 26 normal children 1 mo. to 7 y. old, 27.3 +/- 8.7 mg/dl (p less than 0.001). FN continued being low, 14.1 +/- 8.1 mg/dl al 48 h. of age. Nevertheless it was normal at 15 days of age (24.6 +/- 9.7 mg/dl). FN levels were lower at 15 days of age in 19 newborns who received vitamin K (12.2 +/- 6.1 mg/dl) than in the group which was not treated (18.1 +/- 9.9 mg/dl) but the difference was not significant (p greater than 0.05). There was a close correlation between cord blood levels and levels at 48 h. (p = 0.001) and levels at 15 d. (p = 0.003). There was no relationship either with the gestational age and birth weight, no prothrombin and protein C levels. The FN decrease in the newborn can be one of the causes of the opsonization deficiency, nevertheless normalization occurred very soon, before the second week. PMID- 2619130 TI - [Brain death in the child. Review of 12 cases]. AB - Twelve brain death diagnosed children have been retrospectively surveyed. Their age ranged between seven months and thirteen years (mean = 5.7 years old). Etiology was as follows: eight of cranial trauma, two of ground-trapped asphyxia, one of hypernatremic dehydration ans one of subglottic laryngitis. When a brain death diagnosis was suggested, neurodiagnosis complementary tests were carried out eight cases presented an isoelectric EEG since the first recording and their evoked potentials did no reflect any response. Among the eight children to whom brain angiogammography was made, five presented no flow in the first study. Brain circulation signs were detected in two other children, disappearing subsequently. When the EEG was isoelectric, positive responses were never obtained from the brainstem. However, flow was detected in two cases. We suggest that, in doubtful cases, absence of brain radioisotopic activity is the most specific way to assess brain death in children. PMID- 2619131 TI - [Is the 1st year in day care so bad?]. AB - The disease incidence in one day care center is analyzed, separating 2 groups, one with child in their first day care center year, and the other with the rest. The absenteeism day is the comparative parameter. The total absenteeism days are 5.62% of the total lecture days, belonging 3.39% to the "old" children and 9.57% to the "new" ones. The total disease number is 713, corresponding 15.05% to the "old" ones, and 37.01% to the "new" ones. The absenteeism days median percentage is 3.27% on the "old" children and 10.5% on the "new". The disease incidence is detailed, distributed in 69.34% of the absenteeism days to the upper respiratory diseases. 9.28% to the lower respiratory diseases, and 5.83% to the gastrointestinal diseases. Each group in month specified. PMID- 2619132 TI - [Systemic candidiasis in children with cancer]. AB - Systemic fungal infections have long been recognized in terminally ill patients with cancer. Systemic candidiasis is the most common, the incidence having increased in the last few years. Eight children diagnosed as having systemic candidiasis during a two-year period (1987-1988) are presented. Three had an isolated fungal pneumonitis, two an hepatosplenic candidiasis, one a multisystemic involvement (hepatosplenic, pulmonary and nodular skin lesions) and the remaining two patients had a Candida sepsis with no visceral lesions having been documented. All patients had neutropenia and prolonged fever no responsive to broad spectrum antibiotics. We would like to underline the importance of an early and prolonged antifungal therapy, especially in hepatosplenic candidiasis, in order to obtain the cure. PMID- 2619133 TI - [Socioeconomic repercussions of varicella in healthy children]. PMID- 2619134 TI - [Walker-Warburg syndrome: cerebro-ocular dysgenesis and congenital muscular dystrophy]. AB - We report the case of an infant with facial dysmorphism, congenital hydrocephalus, severe hypotonia and absence of psychomotor development, with ocular and cerebral malformations consistent with the diagnosis of Walker-Warburg syndrome (WWS). Investigations included a cerebral CT scan indicative of type II lissencephaly and a muscular biopsy which showed findings of muscular dystrophy. The association of hypotonia, developmental delay and seizures with a neuronal migration disturbance and retinal involvement raised the suspicion of a peroxisomal disorder. The pertinent biochemical investigations, however, were negative. The features of this syndrome are reviewed, emphasizing the similarities with other related disorders as cerebro-oculo-muscular syndrome. We suggest that muscle involvement should be investigated in every case of WWS. PMID- 2619135 TI - [Sickle cell anemia in 2 Spanish white girls]. AB - The investigation of a chronic hemolytic anemia in a white girl reveals the presence of Hb SS (sickle cell anemia in its classic form), that carries out the same unsuspected diagnosis in her sister and the realization of both parents as carriers of the sickle cell anemia trait. Some remarks about its epidemiology and scarcity in the white race era done. We consider the essential for the diagnosis. PMID- 2619136 TI - [Familial translocation t(9;10) (q34;q22) discovered in a child with various phenotypic abnormalities]. PMID- 2619137 TI - [Campomelic dysplasia associated with anorectal atresia]. PMID- 2619138 TI - [Factor V deficiency; apropos of a case]. PMID- 2619140 TI - [15th national meeting on pediatric nephrology of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics. Toledo, 22-25 June 1988. Abstracts]. PMID- 2619139 TI - [Oro-facial-digital syndrome II: report of a case and differential diagnosis from similar clinical pictures]. PMID- 2619141 TI - [The residual cystic stump syndrome: is it reality or fantasy?]. PMID- 2619142 TI - [Late schizophrenia. A study of cases]. AB - We report the results of a study concerning patients older than 50, hospitalized for the first time for schizophrenic disorders. After a brief review of the literature, we report data about sex ratio, risk factors, social and familial surrounding, clinical picture, prognosis and we compare our results in respect to previous studies. Our research could rise some critics about DSM-III diagnostic criteria. PMID- 2619143 TI - [Present misuses of article 64 of the Criminal Code on insanity when performing the deed]. PMID- 2619144 TI - [Consumption of psychotropic drugs and medical care preceding voluntary drug poisoning in 63 patients with major depressive disorders according to the DSM III R]. AB - Twenty years after the large development of the use of psychotropic drugs and of a psychiatric formation for doctors, 63 subjects with a major depressive episode following the D.S.M. III-R criteria were interviewed in a psychiatric emergency unit about their psychotropic drugs consumption and their medical care preceding a drug self-poisoning. There is a discrepancy between the subjects' depressive pathology and their care consumption. During the depressive episode 3% of the subjects received a treatment considered to be adequate--existence of an antidepressant therapy at sufficient dosage and duration together with a medical psychological follow-up. The results indicate a relative failure of the health care system. The importance of the selection of the sample and the limits of a medical approach are stressed. The usefulness of anti-depressant drugs and the necessity for a psychiatric training for doctors cannot be questioned. Only prospective studies could demonstrate whether a better suited medical action is able to reduce the incidence of suicidal behaviour among depressive patients. PMID- 2619145 TI - [Are Pierre Janet's psychoasthenic and Krestchmer's sensitive personalities two separate entities?]. PMID- 2619146 TI - [What about productivity?]. PMID- 2619147 TI - [Demethylation and blood dosage of antidepressive imipramine drugs. Preliminary note]. AB - The ability to demethylate the classical imipraminic antidepressants is a key factor for the immediate and long-term management of long cycles primary unipolar depressions. These are preliminary observations concerning two different cases of a well-demethylating patient, and a badly-demethylating one. PMID- 2619148 TI - [The French population and drugs]. PMID- 2619150 TI - An unusual case of painful ophthalmoplegia in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. AB - A 43-year-old woman with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus had pain and horizontal diplopia. Clinical symptoms were consistent with inflammation of the right superior oblique tendon sheath, but a computed tomographic scan showed no pathology. Treatment with systemic corticosteroids reduced the symptoms, but the patient was left with a persistent muscle imbalance. PMID- 2619149 TI - The effect of ketorolac tromethamine in reducing postoperative inflammation: double-mask parallel comparison with dexamethasone. AB - Anterior chamber fluorophotometry was done after the oral administration of fluorescein sodium in patients undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens insertion before and after surgery. The administration of ketorolac solution 0.5% eye drops before and after surgery decreased the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier as much as did dexamethasone sodium phosphate solution 0.1% (dexamethasone solution) eye drops at each postoperative time period as measured by fluorophotometry. Slit-lamp observations of postoperative anterior ocular inflammation were not different between treatment groups. Both ketorolac and dexamethasone solutions were well tolerated by patients. No additional corticosteroids were given to any patients during the study. Therefore, ketorolac solution was as effective as dexamethasone solution in suppressing postoperative inflammation after cataract surgery as measured by fluorophotometry and as observed by slit-lamp examinations. This study confirms prior studies that suggest ketorolac ophthalmic solution 0.5% may be effective and safe as a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent for topical use after cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation and as a substitute for topically applied corticosteroids. PMID- 2619151 TI - Lesion-oriented orbitotomy. AB - The surgical approach to orbital tumor removal is a matter of surgical strategy and preference. Different procedures have been developed, each with its pros and cons. The frontal selective orbitotomy for removal of orbital tumors is a versatile technique with physiologic cuts, relatively small incisions, lesion orientation, fast repair, and minimal trauma. Six case reports demonstrate the use of this technique and its advantages. PMID- 2619152 TI - Ocular toxicity of tamoxifen. AB - Tamoxifen is a preferred agent for the treatment of breast cancer. While efficacious, it is not without serious side effects. Ocular toxicity to the cornea, retina, and optic nerve have been reported. We present a case of tamoxifen retinopathy and emphasize the need for periodic ophthalmologic examinations to prevent loss of vision. PMID- 2619153 TI - Biphasic fluorescence decay in kinetic vitreous fluorophotometry. AB - Eyes of 15 normal subjects and 24 diabetic patients underwent kinetic vitreous fluorophotometry at five, six, eight, ten, 24, and 48 hours after intravenous administration of sodium fluorescein 10 mg/kg. Exponential decay constants (Kv) were calculated for the period between five and 24 hours (Kv1) and for that between 24 and 48 hours (Kv2). In normal subjects and diabetic patients with background retinopathy, Kv1 was larger than Kv2, indicating biphasic fluorescence decay. However, in patients with proliferative retinopathy, Kv1 was significantly smaller than in other subjects, so Kv1 - Kv2 was smaller than that of the controls. PMID- 2619154 TI - [Superficial temporal fascia pedicle flap. Applications in cervicofacial surgery. Apropos of 20 cases]. AB - The superficial temporal fascia is formed by a fine fibro-muscular layer situated between the subcutaneous plane of the temporal region and the temporal muscle aponeurosis. The superficial temporal artery and its branches run within the fascia which acts as a veritable vessel carrying sheet. The therefore useful in that in minimises esthetic and functional complications at the donor site. This reliable, polyvalent arterialised aponeurotic type flap behaves above all as a covering or interpositional flap. Our clinical experience involves 20 cases, in addition to the applications already published: covering material in cases of loss of facial substance, otopoiesis, organisation of open techniques, we propose its use during oro-bucco-pharyngoplasty and for sealing the base of the skull. PMID- 2619155 TI - [Endoscopic surgery of the turbinates. Preliminary results]. AB - Turbinate surgery has become more precise thanks to miniaturisation and improvements in optical systems, therby allowing endoscopic surgery throughout the procedure including its posterior portion. Endoscopic turbinate surgery includes surgery of the hypertrophied middle turbinate "concha bullosa" which requires diagnosis for successful treatment (septoplasty, endonasal ethmoid surgery). Endoscopy has improved inferior turbinate cauterisation which has become more complete and precise especially for the posterior portion of the turbinate. It allows the use of new techniques: the YAG laser and the CO2 laser. Endoscopy allows good control during resection of the tail of the inferior turbinate and ensures hemostasis in the event of hemorrhage occurring during this procedure. PMID- 2619156 TI - [Taste in healthy subjects. Influence of alcohol and tobacco consumption]. AB - To define the factors which may affect gustatory function, 42 healthy subjects, without any apparent taste disorder were randomly selected and investigated by electro-gustometry and chemical gustometry. A deterioration in taste discrimination was noted in drinkers in comparison with non-drinkers, both on electro-gustometry, mean threshold (SEM: 88.0 +/- 26.5 versus 47.4 +/- 7.3 microA; p less than 0.05), and also on chemical gustometry (15.1 +/- 2.1 versus 17.4 +/- 0.7; p = 0.05) and also in smokers compared with non smokers (mean of electrical thresholds SEM 104.2 +/- 22.8 versus 38.3 +/- 5.2 microA; p less than 0.01, mean of chemical scores SEM 14.3 +/- 1.1 versus 17.9 +/- 0.9; p less than 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated the influence of the two factors alcohol and tobacco on taste, evaluated by electrogustometry (R2 = 0.36) or chemical gustometry (R2 = 0.28). These results suggest that alcohol and tobacco are liable to influence gustatory function in healthy subjects thereby suggesting that this influence should be taken into account using a corrective factor. PMID- 2619157 TI - [A new marker in oncology. Assay of gangliosides bound to sialic acid]. AB - Gangliosides are released from cells proliferating in serum and can be assayed by a LASA method. The authors report the assay method for sialic acid bound exclusively to glycosphingolipids (GASA method). They study the reliability and discuss the preliminary factors concerning this upper respiratory tract squamous cell marker. PMID- 2619158 TI - [Mobile tongue cancer. Prognostic value of lymph node invasiveness. Apropos of 744 cases]. AB - Between 1974 and 1983, 744 carcinomas of the mobile tongue were treated at Centre Oscar Lambret. 54% of the tumours were T1 T2 and 66% N0 (84% for T1 T2 - 46% for T3 T4) (UICC, 1979). The 3 and 5 year survival rates were 47% and 35% for N0 patients versus 17% and 11% for patients with palpable cervical node. In 598 patients without a previous history of neoplasm, this cancer was isolated at first examination. The pronostic study was carried out only on this group. Palpable lymph node reduced the 5 year survival to one third by affecting the local and neck control and risk of distant metastases. 311 patients underwent at least an unilaterale neck dissection. The 5 years survival rate for N- group (68%) was double that of the N+ R- group (32%) which in turn was double that of the N+ R- group (14%). The presence of 3 or more positive nodes or one infra omohyoid node divided the survival by 3 (22 and 20% respectively versus 68% for N patients). PMID- 2619159 TI - [Intra-arterial chemotherapy of ORL cancer. Value of an implantable infusion system and scintigraphic monitoring]. AB - The technical difficulties and complications related to arterial catheterisation have inhibited the development of regional chemotherapy in ENT oncology despite the numerous theoretical advantages associated with this method. We report our recent experience with a completely implantable infusion system; 12 systems were inserted, 11 unilateral and 1 bilateral. Treatment was carried out in 8 patients and the perfect biocompatibility of the material was confirmed. Good distribution of the infusion to the tumor zone and lack of cerebral diffusion were confirmed before treatment using an infusion of free Technetium. PMID- 2619160 TI - [Prosthetic vocal rehabilitation of Herrmann's type after total laryngectomy. Results apropos of 29 cases]. AB - The authors performed 29 surgical interventions of this type (24 primary and 5 secondary implantations). The treatment protocols, especially, the radio chemotherapeutic protocols, were not changed and the radiotherapeutic tolerance of these prosthetic implants was particularly outstanding. This method may find wide application as well after single total laryngectomy as after circular total pharyngeal laryngectomy with restoration by gastric transplant. Speech is generally produced as early as the 12th day and we may assert that it is much better than esophageal speech, the whole indications and results being considered. These are being discussed and sustained support by the therapeutic team appears to be necessary. PMID- 2619161 TI - [Congenital diffuse melanosis, lentiginosis, diffuse ganglioneuromatosis and multiple schwannoma of the digestive system: an original neurocristopathy?]. PMID- 2619162 TI - [Non-fatal junctional epidermolysis bullosa (generalized, atrophic and benign)]. PMID- 2619163 TI - [Netherton's syndrome in a neonate. Apropos of a case]. PMID- 2619164 TI - [Leg ulcers and prolidase deficiency]. PMID- 2619165 TI - [Scleroderma-like lesions and phenylketonuria (PKU). Role of hyperphenylalaninemia, efficacy of diet (3 cases)]. PMID- 2619166 TI - [Progeria. A case]. PMID- 2619167 TI - [Changes in the hair in a case of biotinidase deficiency]. PMID- 2619168 TI - [Neonatal milia]. PMID- 2619169 TI - [In situ corticosteroid treatment of hemangioma]. PMID- 2619170 TI - [Stiff skin syndrome]. PMID- 2619171 TI - [Proliferative fasciitis in a 6-year-old child]. PMID- 2619172 TI - [Unilateral periorbital lichen sclerous et atrophicus in a child]. PMID- 2619173 TI - [Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus and stricture of the meatus in a child]. PMID- 2619174 TI - [Pseutotumoral sarcoidosis with leonine facies. 2]. PMID- 2619175 TI - [Osseous sarcoidosis with destructive development]. PMID- 2619176 TI - [Lip ulceration disclosing systemic lupus erythematosus: 3 cases]. PMID- 2619177 TI - [Muckle-Wells syndrome: a new familial case. Demonstration of abnormalities of lymphocyte subpopulations]. PMID- 2619178 TI - [Dermatitis ulcerosa or superficial granulomatous pyoderma. Functional abnormalities of the neutrophils and transient efficacy of clofazimine]. PMID- 2619179 TI - [Superficial gangrenous pyoderma with pseudotuberculoid pathology and ocular involvement]. PMID- 2619180 TI - [Tuberous xanthoma, xanthoma striatum palmare and hypercholesterolemia following chronic cholestasis of pancreatic origin]. PMID- 2619181 TI - [Erdheim-Chester disease: a form of xanthogranulomatosis]. PMID- 2619182 TI - [Disseminated Mycobacterium marinum infection]. PMID- 2619183 TI - [Abisidia corymbifera cutaneous zygomycosis (mucormycosis), gangrenosum-like ecthyma in a non-immunosuppressed non-diabetic patient. Treatment with ketoconazole]. PMID- 2619184 TI - [Synergistic necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum, Fournier's gangrene]. PMID- 2619185 TI - [Recurrent cervical erysipela occurring in an irradiated area]. PMID- 2619186 TI - [A huge Wilson-Jones proliferating trichilemmal cyst]. PMID- 2619187 TI - [Proliferating trichilemmal cyst of the hair]. PMID- 2619188 TI - [Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx with cutaneous metastasis]. PMID- 2619189 TI - [Multiple eruptive keratoacanthoma disclosing lymphoma]. PMID- 2619190 TI - [Subungual multiple keratoacanthoma]. PMID- 2619191 TI - [Cutaneous metastases of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma]. PMID- 2619192 TI - [Regression of a congenital giant pigmented nevus of the scalp associated with congenital halo-nevi]. PMID- 2619193 TI - [Maffuci's syndrome. Embolization and surgical excision]. PMID- 2619194 TI - [Chronic Langerhans histiocytosis in an adult]. PMID- 2619195 TI - [Generalized histiocytosis X in adults. Association with cancer of the thyroid]. PMID- 2619196 TI - [Pagetoid lymphoma of the Ketron-Goodman type]. PMID- 2619197 TI - [Cutaneous manifestations of T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia]. PMID- 2619198 TI - [Lymphomatoid granulomatosis with hypereosinophilia and HTLV1 infection]. PMID- 2619199 TI - [Pseudolymphoma induced by cyclosporin]. PMID- 2619200 TI - [Scleroderma-like pityriasis rubrapilaris]. PMID- 2619201 TI - [Keratosis lichenoides chronica]. PMID- 2619202 TI - [A little known unilateral skin disease: linear basal cell nevus]. PMID- 2619203 TI - [Surgical treatment of Hailey-Hailey disease by surgical grafting (2d report): results after a 5-year follow-up]. PMID- 2619204 TI - [Pathology and productivity of the lactating cow: interrelations based on the level of lactation]. AB - The effects of sanitary problems in dairy herds on milk production have been determined using 595 cases of health problems noted in Friesian and Montbeliarde cows in a long-term feeding trial, covering over 487 lactations. Relationships between each sanitary condition and lactation characteristics were established. On a short-term basis (5 weeks), the greater milk losses were first due to lameness at turnout (56 kg) and second to winter mastitis (24 kg); the effects of lameness lasted beyond the 5th week depending on when the problem was first detected. Over the whole lactation cycle, the highest milk losses resulted from recurrent lameness: 640 kg loss for cows presenting a lameness at least three times, versus 20 kg for those presenting only one lameness. The frequency of recurrent lameness was three times higher in Friesian than in Montbeliarde cows and four times higher with grass silage-based diets as compared with hay diets. Four main types of lactation cycles were characterized on the basis of the cows' level of production, their health status, their reproduction performances and their culling rate. Cumulative differences in any of those characteristics accounted for up to a 1 800 kg difference in milk production. PMID- 2619205 TI - Relationship between the digestive microflora of the newborn and maternal microflora in rodents as evidenced by a transit marker. AB - The cutaneous and digestive microflora of the dam, constitute the main sources of bacteria likely to colonize the digestive tract of the newborn. Our objective was to study the conditions (delay, level) in relation to the maternal microflora. Spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus were used as a tracer. They were spread on the mother's udder or given per os to the mother. In our study, we used holoxenic rats and axenic mice. The tracer was then followed in newborn rats and newborn mice. Transfer of the spore from the dam to the digestive tract of the newborn were generally observed very shortly after the contact between the dam and the newborn (2 or 3 h). This transfer requires a minimal concentrations of spores 1.5 x 10(6) spores/g feces and 3 x 10(6) spores/udder for the rat; 10(6) spores/g feces and 1.5 x 10(6) spores/udder for the mouse). Transfer of spores in the digestive tract of neonates is proportional to the level of spores on the udder. But only a hundredth or less of the initial inoculum is transferred. The transfer of spores via the udder or via the maternal feces led to very similar levels of implantation of spores in the digestive tract of neonates. These results emphasize the important role of the maternal fecal and mammary microflora in the colonization of the digestive tract of the newborn. PMID- 2619206 TI - [Rapid collection of swine lymphocyte subpopulations in large quantity]. AB - Lymphocyte subpopulations derived from different pig organs (blood, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes) were separated by a simple, rapid and cheap panning technique, using either normal or ozone treated Petri dishes with bovine serum albumin. Slg+ lymphocytes could thus be obtained with a purity of up to 95% by adhesion onto Corning plastic dishes. The purified cells retained their proliferative activity with regard to lectins. The subpopulation including PT4 and PT8 was then separated by another panning on ozone-treated plastic dishes with a purity of 80-90%. PMID- 2619207 TI - Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of 19-nortestosterone urinary metabolites in cattle. AB - Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric method is used to confirm the administration of 19-nortestosterone to cattle. The most abundant metabolites detected were 19-norepitestosterone and 5 alpha-oestrane-3 beta,17 alpha-diol. PMID- 2619208 TI - [Babesia divergens: activity of long-acting oxytetracycline in the gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus]. AB - The authors studied the prophylactic activity of long-acting oxytetracycline in the gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, infected with the cattle piroplasm Babesia divergens. Parasitemia, packed cell volume (PCV) and survival rate were monitored. At 5 and 20 mg/kg, the prophylactic activity was absent and all the animals died. At 40 mg/kg, two animals out of five survived but were clinically affected and sustained a severe hemolytic anaemia. However, at 80 mg/kg, the parasitemias remained very low, the PCV's were unchanged and all the animals survived; furthermore, they were totally resistant to a challenge infection given 33 days after the primary infection. There is a good agreement between these results and those reported in cattle naturally or experimentally infected with B. divergens. PMID- 2619209 TI - [Intra-operative radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer]. PMID- 2619210 TI - [Digestive hemorrhage caused by rupture of esophageal varices. Analysis of 47 emergency surgeries]. AB - Between 1 January 1984 and 31 December 1986, 47 patients out of a total of 228 patients admitted to hospital with endoscopy-proven bleeding esophageal varices, underwent an emergency operation. The indications were massive hemorrhage in 29 patients, and rebleeding early after a first serious episode in 18 patients. Four patients underwent early reoperation for recurrent variceal bleeding. Thirty seven porto-caval shunts, 10 esophageal transections, 3 proximal gastric resections and 1 exploratory laparotomy were performed. The early results were satisfactory in 53.2% of the patients; operative morbidity and mortality were 19.1% and 27.7% respectively. Four patients died from gastric variceal bleeding soon after esophageal transection. Operative mortality was greater when the patient was Child C or operated for massive hemorrhage. Survivors were followed for at least 12 months. Two patients died from shunt occlusion and recurrent variceal bleeding. No severe encephalopathy was reported. Analysis of the results suggest that porto-caval shunt is indicated in Child A or B patients, particularly with recurrent variceal bleeding soon after a first episode controlled medically. PMID- 2619211 TI - [Technic of surgical cure of inguinal hernia by interposition of a crinoplaque]. AB - The authors report their experience based on 467 cases of cure of inguinal hernia via inguinal incision with interposition of a crinoplaque. 2.1% of recurrences were observed in a total of 381 cases followed-up (81.5%). The technique is described in detail. This method is anatomically logical, effective, associated with low morbidity and deserves an important place in the current range of treatments. PMID- 2619212 TI - [Effect of intestinal necrosis in the postoperative prognosis of acute intestinal obstruction. Experiences with 123 cases surgically treated at Bujumbura Hospital (Burundi)]. AB - The review of 123 cases of patients operated for acute intestinal obstruction emphasises the principal epidemiological factors and the necessity of a very brief delay between the first signs of obstruction and the therapeutic procedure. The high mortality in the series (25%) was due to the high incidence of necrosis observed (40%). PMID- 2619213 TI - [Mycetoma of the hand. Apropos of 10 cases]. AB - Mycetomas of the hand are a rare site of an uncommon disease, particularly in temperate climates. They are non-purulent inflammatory pseudotumours of mycotic origin. They are generally seen in Tropical Africa with a slow course progressing towards a phase of cutaneous fistula formation producing black, white or red grains depending on the fungus responsible. Ten cases are reported together with a review of the literature. Treatment must often be radical to prevent recurrence in the actinomycotic forms and this raises difficult problems of mutilating surgery of the hand for a benign and painless disease. However, ketoconazole has revolutionised the treatment of fungal varieties by allowing partial resections compatible with preservation of hand function. PMID- 2619214 TI - [Synovial chondromatosis of the hip]. AB - The authors report a case of synovial chondromatosis of the hip in physically active male adult operated on three years ago and apparently cured. Review of the literature shows that the diagnosis, essentially based on X-ray examination, bonescan and arthrography, needs to be confirmed by histological examination. Treatment must be surgical and must be carried out as soon as possible to prevent arthrosis. Surgery should include thorough excision of the synovial membrane and a curettage of the acetabular fossa to avoid recurrence. Under these conditions, prognosis appears to be excellent. PMID- 2619215 TI - [Infrahepatic hematoma secondary to gangrenous cholelithiasic hemocholecyst treated with antivitamins K]. AB - Acute haemocholecyst is a rare disorder but often reported in patients with gallstones. Rupture of the gallbladder causing hypovolaemic shock secondary to massive intraperitoneal bleeding has been reported in about fifty patients to date. We report a new case of haemocholecyst with rupture of the gallbladder in a patient with gallstones treated by anticoagulant therapy. This case is unusual in terms of the nature of the gallbladder disease: massive gangrene with complicating hemorrhage and destruction of deficient regions of the wall of the gallbladder induced an infrahepatic haematoma without hypovolemic shock, in contrast with the massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage reported in other cases. PMID- 2619216 TI - [Massive hemobilia caused by erosion of the hepatic artery by cholelithiasis with cholecysto-duodenal fistula]. AB - The authors present a case of gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to erosion of the hepatic artery by a gallstone trapped in the neck of the gallbladder. The unusual feature of this case resides in the exteriotisation of this haemorrhage via two anatomical routes: in the form of heamobilia via the common bile duct and in the form of gastrointestinal haemorrhage via a cholecysto-duodenal fistula. Haemostasis was achieved by ligation of the hepatic artery after failure of direct repair. PMID- 2619217 TI - [Primary angiosarcoma of the spleen. Apropos of a new case]. AB - The authors report a new case of primary angiosarcoma of the spleen and, after a review of the literature, they discuss its clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Primary angiosarcoma of the spleen is a very rare tumor. The diagnosis should be suspected in the case of a patient with splenomegaly and unexplained anemia, with no evidence of lymphoma, leukemia or myelofibrosis. In 30% of cases, the tumor presents in the form of spontaneous rupture of the spleen. The prognosis is very poor, as it is a highly malignant tumor, even more so in the presence of early metastases with or without spontaneous rupture of the organ. Splenectomy prior to rupture could increase the survival. Patients with or without metastatic disease may be treated by combination chemotherapy, which still remains empirical and palliative. PMID- 2619218 TI - [A case of primary hepatic fibrosarcoma]. PMID- 2619219 TI - [Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors]. PMID- 2619220 TI - [Gastrocolonic excision of cancer. Retrospective analysis of the immediate postoperative course and long-term survival in 18 patients]. AB - Eighteen patients underwent gastrocolic resection for cancer. Thirteen had primary gastric cancer and 5 had primary colon cancer (two of these 5 patients had local-regional recurrence after right hemicolectomy). Twelve resections were curative and 6 palliative. Twelve patients had more than 2 organs resected. Involvement of adjacent tissues or organs was present in 15 patients (11/13 gastric cancer and 4/5 colon cancer: 83%). All patients had immediate colonic anastomosis. The mean duration of postoperative stay was 22 +/- 8 days (SD). Mortality was 5.6% (1/18). Seven patients had post-operative complications (41%; 7/17); 3 of these 7 patients had anastomotic leakage (one colonic and two pancreatic fistulae; 3/17: 17.6%); the mean duration of postoperative stay for these three patients was 27 +/- 4 jours, (p less than 0.004). One colonic fistula complicated the 18 colonic anastomoses (5.5%). There was no reoperation in this series. The estimated 2-year survival for the entire group was 20%. The median survival was 9.5 mois; the median survival was 13.5 months after curative resections and 5 months after palliative procedure (p less than 0.01). The median survival was 8 months for gastric adenocarcinoma and 36 months for colon adenocarcinoma (p less than 0.05). Despite the poor results in gastric cancer extending to adjacent organs, complete excision is still recommended whenever feasible. Complete excision of advanced colon cancer may lead to prolonged disease-free survival depending on the lymph node status. With an acceptably low mortality, resection remains a better procedure than palliative diversion or exclusion for these advanced tumours. PMID- 2619221 TI - [Peroperative enteroscopy in recurrent hemorrhage of the small intestine]. AB - Two cases of severe, recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding due to a small vascular lesion of the small intestine are presented. In the two patients, the diagnosis was established by intra-operative enteroscopy; in the first patient during laparotomy carried out after negative preoperative investigations; in the second, 48 hours after a right ileo-colic resection was performed for Crohn's disease of the ileum thought to be the cause of the bleeding. These two cases confirm that intra-operative enteroscopy is a very effective method to detect bleeding from small intestinal lesions, and that it should be used when pre-operative investigations and intraoperative examination are unsuccessful. PMID- 2619222 TI - [Results of surgery of nerve trunks in the treatment of post-traumatic brachial plexus paralysis]. AB - Between 1972 and 1985, 256 patients with a brachial plexus injury were operated on in our institution. One hundred fifty-nine post-traumatic injuries, with a minimal follow-up of 2 years for partial palsies and 3 years for complete palsies were reviewed. Clinical examination is particularly important, and CT scan combined with myelography and more recently Magnetic Resonance Imaging ensures exact assessment of the lesions. The operative procedure is described, depending on the level and the number of injured nerve roots. Eighty-six fascicular grafts, 9 trunk grafts and 35 nerve transfers were performed. In 40 cases a neurolysis only was performed. Results were analyzed: at follow-up a motor and sensory recovery was observed in 70% of cases allowing to relieve the pain and to improve the function of the limb. The operation must therefore be performed at the appropriate time according to the most appropriate procedure depending on the number of usable roots. Secondary palliative transfers also help to improve function. PMID- 2619223 TI - [Fracture-luxation of the Lisfranc joint. Apropos of 39 cases]. AB - Lisfranc fracture-dislocations are relatively rare (two per thousand). They generally occur in multiple trauma victims and may pass unnoticed. Open reduction followed by pinned osteosynthesis and plaster immobilisation ensures a good anatomical and functional result. PMID- 2619224 TI - Colonoscopic surveillance after diagnosis of carcinoma of the colon and rectum. AB - Routine colonoscopic surveillance was undertaken in 63 patients after resection of colonic cancer. Recurrence at the anastomotic site was never shown visually or histologically. Despite this, local or metastatic progression occurred in 8 patients; thus, the stade of the mucosa is no guide to the progression of the disease. However, colonoscopy was useful in detecting polyps and second carcinomas. A plan of follow-up is advocated, based on the likelihood of development of further tumours. PMID- 2619225 TI - Early diagnosis in colorectal cancer still no benefit? AB - Delay to diagnosis from first symptom has been assessed in 332 patients with colorectal cancer treated by the three general surgeons in Trafford Health Authority. Delay was divided into three parts; that due to (a) the patient, (b) the general practitioner and (c) the hospital. There was no significant difference in delay between Dukes stage B and C patients but there was a significant difference in survival at two years between these two stages. Delay for patients with risk factors as family histories or diverticular disease was not significantly different to patients without these factors. When compared to other series delay has been shortened, particularly general practitioner and hospital delay. Fewer patients presented as emergencies and a greater proportion of patients had disease at an earlier stage. However, these favourable aspects are not reflected in an improved survival at 2 years. PMID- 2619226 TI - [An artificial salivary gland. Indications. Technical note concerning installation]. AB - Idiopathic or iatrogenic aptyalism is responsible for disabling odontostomatological symptoms and constitutes a predisposing factor for bucco dental complications. Drug treatment designed to stimulate the salivary parenchyma is doomed to failure in cases of severe, irreversible alteration of the glandular acini. The only available treatment is palliative consisting of buccal artificial salivation. Two modalities of endobuccal administration of artificial saliva have been developed: prosthesis-reservoir and "artificial salivary gland". The "artificial salivary gland" consists of a system connecting an external reservoir to the buccal cavity via a catheter implanted over part of its path. The artificial saliva stored in the reservoir is advanced mechanically as far as the mouth where it is released according to an adjustable flow rate. The insertion of a medical silicone catheter is an outpatient procedure with a simple postoperative course. Under normal conditions, one millilitre of saliva solution per hour is sufficient to ensure satisfactory humidification of the buccal mucosa. Dysfunction of the system is generally due to a mechanical problem and any consequent alterations are treated as required. The indications for "artificial salivary gland" must be reserved to semi-urgent cases with severe aptyalism and as a therapeutic relay in the context of global management of the aptyalic patient. This new modality of administration could be extended to other diseases requiring endobuccal drip treatment. PMID- 2619227 TI - Changes in osteocalcin after femoral neck fracture. AB - In a group of elderly patients with osteoporosis and femoral neck fracture, osteocalcin concentrations rose significantly in the first week after fracture fixation. The changes in osteocalcin correlated well with the changes in plasma 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (P less than 0.001). PMID- 2619228 TI - Proteinuria selectivity index in Saudi children with nephrotic syndrome. AB - Proteinuria selectivity index (PSI) was determined in 54 Saudi children with nephrotic syndrome whose renal biopsy showed minimal change in 13 and non-minimal histologic changes in 41 patients. The selectivity was determined with two pairs of proteins, IgG/transferrin and IgG/albumin. There was considerable overlap in the values of PSI in patients with minimal and non-minimal histological changes. The clinical utility of PSI in differentiating minimal change nephrotic syndrome and non-minimal change nephrotic syndrome is low. PMID- 2619229 TI - Effect of albumin and detergent on the reduction of NBT by 1-deoxy-1 morpholinofructose. AB - The effect of matrix albumin concentration on reduction of NBT by DMF has been investigated together with the effect of cationic additives. Decreased albumin concentration and increased cationic detergent concentration both increased the sensitivity of the assay due to kinetic effects, but addition of a low molecular weight cation had no effect. The reduction of NBT by glycated albumin was not increased in sensitivity by a protein matrix of low concentration. Due to the complexity and poorly understood nature of interaction between DMF and albumin in the reduction of NBT, the authors do not consider DMF to be a suitable primary calibrant for the fructosamine assay. PMID- 2619230 TI - Analytical and clinical evaluation of three sensitive thyrotropin assays. AB - Three sensitive assays (Behring, Organon and LKB-Pharmacia) for measurement of serum thyrotropin (TSH) were evaluated. All three assays showed good precision, sensitivity, linearity and for practical purposes negligible high dose hook effects. The correlations between the assays were excellent, but due to standardisation and/or matrix effects there were incomplete recoveries in two kits and the kits showed systematic differences of up to 20% in the TSH values obtained. The clinical utility of the three assays was investigated in patients with thyroidal and non-thyroidal illnesses and in healthy subjects with thyroxine binding abnormalities. According to the results of the analytical and clinical evaluation, all three kits are acceptable and reliable as first-line thyroid function tests. PMID- 2619231 TI - Critical assessment of the Amerlite free T4 assay. AB - The measurement of serum free T4 (FT4) by analogue methods has been severely criticised because the T4 analogue binds to albumin. Amersham have recently introduced a method utilising horseradish peroxidase-labelled-T4 (HRP-T4) designed to overcome this problem and have incorporated it into the Amerlite enhanced luminescence immunoassay system. We have critically evaluated this method for its analytical and clinical validity. Experiments in which anti albumin was added to normal serum suggested that the HRP-T4 label did not bind to endogenous albumin while the addition of albumin caused no significant change in FT4 concentration. Adding oleic acid up to 5 mmol/L to simulate increased non esterified fatty acid concentration did not increase the apparent FT4. Serum sampled from subjects independently allocated to clinical groups were compared with an euthyroid group. The untreated hyperthyroid group values were distinctly elevated while the untreated hypothyroid group were appropriately low. Oestrogen therapy, low TBG, familial dysalbuminaemic hyperthyroxinaemia and non-thyroidal illness groups all reflected their euthyroid status, as did pregnancy samples which also showed a tendency to lower values in late pregnancy, consistent with previous observations. In conclusion, the Amerlite FT4 method appears to overcome some of the problems associated with analogue methods. A small survey showed it to be diagnostically valid in a wide variety of clinical states. PMID- 2619232 TI - Non-extraction HPLC method for the simultaneous measurement of theophylline and caffeine in human serum. AB - A non extraction HPLC method is described for the simultaneous measurement of theophylline and caffeine in human serum using a Pinkerton ISRP column and u.v. detection at 275 nm. The method is suitable for therapeutic monitoring of theophylline levels in adults and, in particular, quantitation of both theophylline and caffeine in premature neonates where as little as 10 microL of sample can be used. Comparison of theophylline levels obtained by this method with EMIT analysis show a correlation coefficient of 0.97 (n = 37) in adults and 0.79 (n = 16) in premature neonates. There was no correlation between serum theophylline and caffeine levels in premature neonates receiving theophylline therapy. No interference was encountered from endogenous plasma components or other drugs in the 53 patients studied. Precision of the assays compares well with reported values for extraction HPLC and immunochemical analyses. PMID- 2619233 TI - A computer program to determine diagnostic decision thresholds and likelihood ratios illustrated with aspartate aminotransferase activities after a myocardial infarction. AB - We describe an enhancement of our earlier computer program which allows calculation of decision thresholds, sensitivity and specificity, and likelihood ratios of negative and positive test results for any chosen value of sensitivity or specificity. The program will also plot continuous receiver operating characteristic and decision level curves which permit examination of the contours created by using all the available data. We illustrate the value of these routines by showing that the sensitivity and specificity of serum aspartate aminotransferase changes during the course of a myocardial infarction. PMID- 2619234 TI - Investigation of a persistently raised serum AST. AB - The AST responsible for a raised enzyme activity, with otherwise normal biochemistry, in a single individual over a 16-month period has been characterized as an IgG (lambda)-AST complex by (i) estimation of the molecular size by gel exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G200, (ii) agarose gel electrophoresis, (iii) immunoprecipitation by anti-immunoglobulin antisera and (iv) adsorption on to protein A-agarose. PMID- 2619235 TI - Anomalies in pH 7.40 correction in ionised calcium analysers. AB - As a preliminary step in a study of the effects of calcium ligands on the pH standardisation of ionised calcium (Ca2+) measurement in blood, the change in Ca2+ induced by Pco2 variation was investigated in 12 serum pools on three different instruments. This type of study should yield a log Ca2+ = f(pH) linear relationship in a pH range around pH 7.40 with a slope characterising the pH sensitive calcium buffer capacity of the specimen. The pH 7.40 correction line should be horizontal. This was the case for an ICA2 analyser but not for an ICA1 or a Nova 8 analyser. The difference was due to an incorrect setting of the built in slope correction factor in the ICA2: fortuitously its value was close to the effective slopes of the serum pools used for the test. Thus the anomalous behaviour of the ICA1 and the Nova 8 was due to a discrepancy between the standard built-in algorithm and the characteristics of our serum pools. These findings led us to question the use of a constant correction factor to normalise actual ionised calcium values. PMID- 2619236 TI - How well do nurses perform blood glucose analyses at the diabetic clinic? An assessment using the Reflotron analyser. PMID- 2619237 TI - Calibration of the fructosamine assay using albumin solutions glycated in vitro. PMID- 2619238 TI - Application of the regression coefficient to timed serial serum creatine kinase measurements in the early diagnosis of myocardial infarction. PMID- 2619239 TI - Effects of sample preparation and storage on urine albumin determination. PMID- 2619240 TI - Acute effect of ethanol intake on plasma osteocalcin concentration. PMID- 2619241 TI - Biological variation of serum and urine creatinine and creatinine clearance. PMID- 2619242 TI - Unperceived dental needs in a group of Malaysian elderly patients. AB - The present study analysed the records of 342 elderly subjects aged 55 years and above of different ethnic groups to ascertain the types and level of their unperceived dental needs. The overall percentage of unperceived needs was highest among the Malays (96.1% or 74/77 subjects) and among the men (88.5% or 139/157 subjects). The unperceived need for prosthetic treatment was highest among the Malays and Chinese as well as among women, whereas the unperceived need for treatment for periodontal disease was highest among the Indians. The data for unperceived needs for prosthetic treatment as well as for treatment for caries and periodontal disease were somewhat similar among men. Within each ethnic group, variations among sex in the unperceived needs for the various dental symptoms were also noticeable. Further research is indicated to ascertain the role of traditional and cultural concepts and dogmas in determining the importance attached to the various dental health symptoms within each ethnic group. PMID- 2619243 TI - Assessment of dental care delivery to institutionalised aged in Singapore. AB - Evaluating dental care of institutionalised aged presents numerous problems largely associated with communication and cooperation. This study used administrators' assessment to evaluate cost, accessibility, availability, quality, and efficiency of existing arrangements for dental care. In-house dental care had been rated favourably in all aspects although administrators were less satisfied with it. Generally, public dental facilities received 'favourable' ratings for cost, accessibility, and availability, and self-arranged care the least 'favourable'. Administrators encountered the greatest amount of difficulty when assessing quality and efficiency. Administrators' assessment seemed to be consistent with, and reflective of, the strengths and weaknesses of the various arrangements for dental care. PMID- 2619244 TI - Treatment of 570 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma. AB - This paper presents results of treatment in 570 cases with oral cancers. The overall 5-year survival rate was 64.5% and 92.8%, 84.9%, 50.2% and 16.4%, respectively for Stages I, II, III and IV. Five kinds of therapy have been used and discussed. The mortality rate of operation was 0.35%. The 5-year survival rate of 127 and 443 cases with and without cervical node metastases was 28.3% and 74.7% respectively. The 5-year survival rates of 81, 30 and 16 cases with involvement of 1, 2 and more than 3 nodes were 33.6%, 27.9% and 6.3% respectively. The 5-year survival rates were 35.5%, 14.4% and 0% when upper, middle and lower cervical nodes were respectively involved. Forty-six cases recurred and were operated on again, their 5-year survival rate was 23%. PMID- 2619245 TI - Clinical presentation of denture hyperplasia of oral tissues. AB - A clinical study on the presentation of denture hyperplasia was conducted on 15 patients with particular reference to age group, use and care of dentures, type and location of the hyperplastic lesion. The pilot study shows that a greater proportion of the studied sample were in the 50-60 years age group with a majority of them being unaware of the presence of the lesion in their mouth. Eleven of them responded that they use their dentures day and night. The incidence of lesions occurring in the lower jaw compared with the upper jaw was approximately 2:1. The average duration of denture usage was 8.7 years. Correct use of dentures and regular maintenance with professional care can help prevent the occurrence of these lesions. PMID- 2619246 TI - The social impact of oral and facial pain in an industrial population. AB - The aim of this study is to determine the social impact of oral and facial pain in a sample involving an industrial population. Out of a total of 355 subjects interviewed, nearly one-half claimed to have oral and facial pain in the previous one month prior to the survey. The most common type of pain was that related to hot or cold fluids or sweet things followed by toothache. On the average, the pain lasted for 4.2 days (SD = 4.9) per person in the past one-month. About one in five persons with pain reported that it was severe enough to disrupt sleep. About one in ten persons reporting pain had to take sick leave because of the pain. However, only one in four persons with pain consulted a doctor or dentist. More than one-third tried to cope with the pain and did nothing while the rest tried various means of self-cure. It is therefore postulated that in this population, pain per se is a poor predictor of utilisation of dental services. Further research into pain coping behaviour and how this affects of pattern of utilisation of dental services is indicated in order to formulate a strategy to encourage the habit of seeking prompt dental care by the target population. PMID- 2619247 TI - The prevalence of unilateral mastication in a non-patient population: a pilot study. AB - One hundred and twenty-seven dental undergraduates participated in a questionnaire survey containing questions relating to their experience with craniofacial pain, jaw function, oral habits and other predisposing factors. The prevalence of chronic habitual unilateral chewers (10%) in the above selected non patient population was significantly lower than that reported in the patients suffering from craniomandibular disorders (CMD). Lateral masticatory preference was also shown to be significantly associated with symptoms such as "noises from the joints", "difficulty in opening the mouth wide", "an uncomfortable bite", "neckpains", "soreness in the teeth", "painful cheek muscles", "pain in the temples" and/or "tension in the muscles of the face and jaws". The interrelationship between unilateral mastication and CMD is discussed. PMID- 2619248 TI - The prevalence and distribution of enamel defects in 11-12 year old Malaysian schoolchildren. AB - The prevalence and symmetrical distribution of enamel defects were studied in 218 Malaysian school children aged 11-12 years old. The tooth prevalence of enamel defect was 40.3 per cent. The first permanent molars were the most severely affected, whereas the lower incisors were the least severely affected. Overall there was no sex difference. Distribution of symmetry was assessed between the right and left tooth pairs as well as for upper and lower teeth. A higher proportion of symmetry was observed for the right and left tooth pairs and the lingual surfaces showed a greater percentage of bilateral distribution. PMID- 2619249 TI - Retrograde removal of fractured endodontic instruments. AB - During root canal therapy, accidental fracture of endodontic instruments may occur. While in the majority of such cases the fragment concerned can be retrieved non-surgically, there are some occasions that surgical intervention is needed in order to remove the broken tip lodged within the root canal. In this paper the authors would like to suggest a management approach to this uncommon and extremely unpleasant complication in dental practice. PMID- 2619250 TI - Obtaining consent to oral and maxillofacial surgery. AB - The question of whether or not a patient has consented to treatment has recently become significant to all who practise oral and maxillofacial surgery. It is often linked to professional negligence when the outcome differs from the patient's perception or expectation of the operation. Consent may be oral or written, applies to referred patients and all those with physical and mental handicap and religious restrictions. Examples of procedure in discussing consent assist the surgeon to inform without creating fear. Knowledge of the benefits of informed consent and current legal opinion assist the oral and maxillofacial surgeon to avoid the pitfalls of failure to inform. PMID- 2619251 TI - Government dental service in Singapore. AB - The mission of the Singapore Government Dental Service is to prevent dental diseases and promote dental health, and to develop excellence in dentistry. The history and organisation of the Dental Service are recounted together with the development of the Hospital Dental Service, School Dental Service, Community Dental Service, Training Department and Dental Health Education. Information on the development of a new dental centre with the objective of achieving dental excellence is provided. PMID- 2619252 TI - [Concentration of lipids in ascitic fluid and the concentration gradient of albumin in blood and ascites: diagnostic significance]. AB - The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic value of ascitic fluid cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations and of serum-ascites albumin concentration gradient in the differentiation between cirrhotic and malignant ascites. These biological parameters were determined, on the one hand in 34 cirrhotic patients, 6 of them having an hepatocellular carcinoma and 6 others having a spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and, on the other hand, in 16 patients with malignant ascites, 13 of them having an abdominal extra-hepatic or pelvic cancer, and 3 others having an extra-abdominal cancer with multiple liver metastases. Ascitic carcinoembryonic antigen assay and ascitic fluid cytology were also done in the 50 patients. In differentiating the cirrhotic patients from those with malignancy, ascitic fluid cholesterol concentration (discriminating value less than 1.1 mmol/l) ascitic fluid triglycerides concentration (discriminating value 0.5 mmol/l) and serum-ascites albumin concentration gradient (discriminating value greater than 11 g/l) allowed a diagnostic efficiency of 0.92, 0.80 and 0.77, respectively. Ascitic fluid cytology showed presence of malignant cells in 3/6 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with cirrhosis, in 9/16 patients having a malignant ascites, and was negative in other patients. Ascitic carcinoembryonic antigen assay was abnormal only in 3/16 patients with malignant ascites. These results suggest that measurement of ascitic fluid cholesterol concentration must be included in the initial evaluation of patients with ascites of unknown origin. PMID- 2619253 TI - [Cholestatic hepatitis and acute kidney insufficiency during treatment with diclofenac]. PMID- 2619254 TI - [Hepatitis caused by clometacin and asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis]. PMID- 2619255 TI - [Hydrocele associated with a testicular metastasis of carcinoma of the rectum]. PMID- 2619256 TI - Adipose tissue levels of fatty acids and tocopherol in young and old women. AB - Tocopherol concentration and fatty acid composition were determined in samples of subcutaneous adipose tissue from 33 young and 28 old women. Young women exhibited more saturated fatty acids and less monounsaturated fatty acids than old women (p less than 0.01). Adipose tissue tocopherol correlated with plasma tocopherol, with r = 0.49 and p less than 0.01, when the data for young and old were combined. A negative association was found between adipose tissue tocopherol and the n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio in the old women (r = 0.42; p less than 0.05), suggesting that the tocopherol content of adipose tissue is determined not only by the intake of the nutrient but also by the tissue fatty acid composition. PMID- 2619257 TI - Effect of 5% galactose diet on galactose and dulcitol in plasma and lens of male and female pigs. AB - The study was performed to compare the galactose tolerance of male and female pigs to 5% galactose and 25% hydrolysed whey (HW; containing 5% galactose) diets. Plasma galactose and dulcitol levels were measured throughout the diet period and correlated with the lens dulcitol contents at the end of the period. On the first day of the diet there was no significant difference between male and female blood galactose levels after galactose ingestion. The consumption of HW resulted in a significant 30% decrease in the blood galactose peak in females; there was no parallel difference in males on the HW diet. The 30-day diet induced a significant decrease in galactosaemia peaks resulting from galactose ingestion in both males and females, indicating an activation of galactose metabolism. The HW diet resulted in an equivalent decrease in peak galactosaemia only in males, cancelling the initial differences observed between males and females. The final dulcitol content in the lenses appeared to be correlated with plasma galactose but not with plasma dulcitol. However, the differences in plasma galactose between males and females, or between the two diets, resulted in smaller and often non-significant differences in lens dulcitol. PMID- 2619258 TI - Direct inhibitory effect of high glucose in mesenteric artery on glucose absorption from isolated perfused rat intestine. AB - To study whether glucose level in mesenteric artery has some direct effect on the intestinal glucose absorption, the rat small intestine was isolated and vascularly and luminally perfused. The vascular perfusate consisted of Krebs Ringer bicarbonate buffer (KRB) containing 4% dextran, 0.5% albumin and 1-28 mM glucose, and the luminal perfusate consisted of KRB containing 18 mM glucose. Glucose absorption rate was decreased in a dose-dependent manner by the increasing concentration of glucose in the vascular perfusate within a range of 1 28 mM, but not changed by the addition of fructose to the vascular perfusate. It is suggested that glucose in the mesenteric artery has a direct inhibitory effect on the intestinal glucose absorption, not through a change of osmotic pressure. PMID- 2619259 TI - Affinity chromatographic identification of vitamin B12-binding proteins in egg white. AB - To identify vitamin B12-binding proteins in egg white, an affinity chromatographic isolation procedure was applied. A fraction tightly absorbed on vitamin B12 immobilized in agarose was eluted with 1 mM cyanocobalamin, and then separated by isoelectric focusing in sucrose density gradient. Two isolated proteins (or perhaps two forms of the same protein) of isoelectric points 6.2 and 7.2 and the same Mr 90,000 were found capable of detectable vitamin B12 binding. They are probably glycoproteins, each composed of a single polypeptide chain. PMID- 2619260 TI - Experimental selenium toxicity in guinea pigs: haematological studies. AB - Haematological studies were conducted in recently weaned guinea pigs fed selenium enriched barley (organic selenium) and barley mixed with sodium selenite (inorganic selenium). An attempt was made to study the effect of sodium arsenite supplementation in sodium selenite toxicity. A significant (p less than 0.01) decrease was noticed in the mean values of haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume thereby indicating a microcytic hypochromic anaemia. The anaemia was comparatively more marked in guinea pigs fed selenium-enriched barley than in those kept on barley mixed with sodium selenite. There was a significant decrease in total leucocyte count which was the result of lymphocytopenia in organic toxicity and a decrease in both neutrophils and lymphocytes in inorganic toxicity. Dietary supplementation with sodium arsenite resulted in less reduction in the mean values of different erythrocytic indices thereby indicating that addition of sodium arsenite has some protective effect against toxicity with sodium selenite. PMID- 2619261 TI - [Development of the indications for extra-corporeal lithotripsy and the impact of organizational methods on the indications]. AB - A technology assessment of ESWL for renal stones has been conducted. The development of lithotripsy during the early phase of diffusion of the technique was studied retrospectively for 1985 and 1986. This study permitted the comparison of lithotripsy practice in Paris with that in Lyon. Results show that the proportion of small (less than 10 mm) stones increased from 39% at the beginning of the period to 60% at the end in Paris and simultaneously from 41% to 53% in Lyon. The location of the calculi treated by ESWL changed significantly over the period, but only in Paris where the number of caliceal stones went from 62% to 38% and that of ureteral stones from 1% to 8%. Neither the number of stones treated during one ESWL session, nor the length of hospital stay, changed significantly during the first years of use of this treatment. However, if one excludes hospital stays of more than 15 days, the average hospital stay in Paris decreased where as the opposite was observed in Lyon. The impact of the organization of ESWL users upon medical practice is obvious in relation to the size of stones: in Lyon, where one team provides ESWL therapy for all hospital urology departments, treatment practice is more homogeneous than in Paris and more closely a resembles the international consensus. PMID- 2619262 TI - [Motor evoked potentials of the perineal floor. Preliminary results]. AB - Neuromotor pathways from the brain to the pelvic floor have been poorly documented. The recent development of Motor Evoked Potentials may well fill this gap in our basic knowledge. Our technique consists of transcutaneous stimulation of the motor cortex and sacral roots with a magnetic device while recording the evoked response from the bulbocavernosus muscle and anal sphincter. Cortical stimulation is performed first at rest and then during voluntary contraction of the examined muscles ("facilitation" procedure). Sacral root stimulation is performed at rest. Stimulation at 2 different levels allows measurement of the total transit time (brain to muscle transit time) and the peripheral transit time (sacral roots to muscle). By subtracting the latter from the former, the central transit time (brain to sacral roots) is obtained. The technique is painless, and to our knowledge no side effects have been reported. The authors present the preliminary results of this new technique. PMID- 2619263 TI - [Perineal neuralgia and Alcock's canal syndrome]. AB - Perineal neuralgia is characterised clinically by pain (burning type of perineal pain) exacerbated in the sitting position. It is secondary to impairment of the internal pudendal nerve in its musculo-osteo-aponeurotic tunnel composed by the ischium and the obturator internus muscle (ischiorectal fossa or pudendal canal). As in any nerve tunnel syndrome, pre-existing neuropathy constitutes a predisposing factor and should therefore be identified. The diagnosis of pudendal tunnel syndrome is confirmed by perineal electrophysiological investigations (detection of neurogenic muscles of the perineal floor, increased sacral latency). Treatment consists of infiltration, possible repeated, of the pudendal tunnel with a sustained-release corticosteroid under CT guidance. PMID- 2619264 TI - [Synechia of the labia minora as a cause of dysuria]. AB - Vulvar fusion is common in children but is rarely discovered in adult woman. The authors report two cases, observed in post menopausal women, and revealed by urinary symptoms. PMID- 2619265 TI - [Spontaneous rupture of the excretory urinary tract in solitary kidney. Apropos of a case report]. AB - The authors report a case of spontaneous rupture of the upper urinary tract in a solitary kidney which resolved towards cure after pyelostomy and evacuation of an encysted urinoma. The rarity of similar cases reported in the literature seems to prove that solitary kidney is not a predisposing condition. PMID- 2619266 TI - [Ureteral risk of aorto-iliac surgery. Apropos of a case report of bilateral lesion of the ureters]. AB - The authors report a case of bilateral uretero-hydronephrosis following aorto bifemoral prosthesis for termino-aortic aneurysm due, on one side, to stenosis of incorrect repair of an operative injury to the ureter and, on the other side, to a syndrome of ureteric compression due to its retroprosthetic course, which is the central feature of this aetiological, pathophysiological and therapeutic discussion. Although the objective of treatment is to preserve the kidney, the risk of treatment is dominated by the threat to the future of the vascular prosthesis. The usual technical problem can be summarised by the question: should one cut the ureter or the prosthesis? and it would appear that a urinary problem does not necessarily imply a urological solution. PMID- 2619267 TI - [Emphysematous pyelonephritis and perinephritis]. AB - The authors report an eighth case of emphysematous perinephritis and a new case of emphysematous pyelonephritis. The general features of these two diseases and their similarities are described: middle aged diabetic women, clinical picture of sepsis, gas images projected over the renal area with delayed excretion on intravenous pyelography, computed tomography reveals the exact site of the emphysematous images (perinephritic and or intraparenchymal). Emphysematous perinephritis may be an early form of emphysematous pyelonephritis. Surgical drainage of the renal compartment allows conservative management at this early stage. PMID- 2619268 TI - [Urologic surgery and risks of complaints in medical responsibility]. AB - The card-index study of specialized insurance companies allowed the analysis of 82 cases concerning urological surgical procedures. Forty-two cases went to the Civil Court, 10 to the Penal Court and 5 to the Administrative Tribunal, while 5 cases were simply declared to insurance companies without judiciary consequences. Sixty-two cases concerned private plaintiffs surgeons and 34 cases concerned non specialist urologic surgeons. Sixteen plaintiffs were compensated, 9 after a conciliatory agreement and 7 after trial. There were no penal condemnations (one case on the waiting list). Impotence was the most frequent cause for complaint which was compensated. Next, came incontinence generally secondary to endoscopic resection. Retrospectively, 19 cases seemed to be unwarranted due to the dishonesty of patients (3 patients were prosecuted for unwarranted procedures). On the other hand, 32 cases seemed to be due to a lack of information given to the patients themselves or to their families, either before of after the incriminated act. The risk of prosecution is relatively low in urology. It could be decreased by careful management of the medical chart, by rapid analysis of complications and by a constant effort to inform the patient and his family. PMID- 2619269 TI - [Urology facing the courts. The basis of professional responsibility]. AB - The liability of the urologist can be involved according to 3 procedures: The civil procedure is that of the Tribunal de Grande Instance (High Court) then the Cour d'Appel (Court of Appeal). Financial compensations are claimed from the surgeon for not respecting the medical contact. This contract is tacit, oral and carries obligations for the surgeon. The administrative procedure is that of the Tribunal Administratif (Administrative Court) then the Conseil d'Etat (Council of State). This only concerns the salaried surgeon in his salaried activities. The penal procedure is that of the Tribunal Correctionnel (Criminal Court) then the Cour d'Appel (Court of Appeal). The surgeon is then charged with a crime, usually unintensional injuries or through negligence. Although the harlm is easy to prove, the reality of the fault of the surgeon and the relation between fault and damage are far less so. It is the plaintiff (Civil Course, Administrative Cours) or the State Prosecutor (Penal Course) who must prove the fault and causality by the help of an expert's report. So, the responsibility of the surgeon can be committed. However, the development of the insurance system has allowed more widespread compensation without any fault found on the surgeon's part and increasingly frequent conciliatory procedures. PMID- 2619270 TI - [Internal urethrotomy with endoscopic resection of the callus. 32 cases with a follow-up exceeding 5 years]. AB - Thirty-two patients were operated for urethral stricture by internal urethrotomy with endoscopic resection of the callus. Complications consisted of one urethral perforation, one urethral haemorrhage and one case of acute epididymitis. With a follow-up of 5 to 15 years, the authors obtained 85% of good results for strictures less than 1.5 cm long. The success rate was 66% for strictures between 1.5 and 2 cm. The recurrence rate was high for strictures longer than 2 cm (75%). The indications for this technique therefore depend more on the length of the stricture than on its cause or its site. Lastly, endoscopic resection of the callus improves the results or urethrotomy alone by 15%. PMID- 2619271 TI - Evaluation of an antimicrobial soap formula for virucidal efficacy in vitro against human immunodeficiency virus in a blood-virus mixture. AB - The virucidal efficacy of a health care personnel hand wash product containing 0.5% parachlorometaxylenol in a sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate formula was evaluated in in vitro tests with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in the presence of 50% whole human blood. The HTLV-IIIRF strain of HIV-1 was suspended in 50% medium-50% whole human blood and exposed to various dilutions of the hand wash product for 30 or 60 s. Following detoxification, residual infectivity was determined by a lytic cytopathogenic assay in MT2 cell cultures. No infectious HIV could be detected after a 30-s exposure to the hand wash product at dilutions of 1:5 and 1:10 and after a 60-s exposure at dilutions of 1:5, 1:10, 1:20, and 1:30. More than 99.9% of the virus was inactivated at these dilutions and exposure times. PMID- 2619272 TI - Synergistic effect of quinolones and oxacillin on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species. AB - Various combinations of antistaphylococcal antimicrobial agents have been tested against 17 selected Staphylococcus isolates, including methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species. With the checkerboard technique the following combinations were tested: oxacillin-ofloxacin, oxacillin-temafloxacin, oxacillin fleroxacin, vancomycin-fleroxacin, gentamicin-fleroxacin, and rifampin fleroxacin. Against methicillin-resistant staphylococci the combination oxacillin quinolone tested at 35 degrees C always showed a fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index of less than 0.75, which is interpreted as synergistic or additive. Equal or more synergistic effects were observed at 30 degrees C. In contrast, when methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus species were tested, the FIC for the combination oxacillin-quinolone was always 1 or 2, which is considered to be indifferent. For the other mentioned combinations the FICs were also 1 or 2. Killing kinetics showed synergistic or additive bactericidal activity for the combination oxacillin-ofloxacin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species, killing 1.5 to 2.8 log10 CFU more of these per ml than did the most active drug after 24 h of incubation. This difference was not observed for methicillin-susceptible strains. In vitro evidence for the potential clinical use of quinolones in treating infections due to methicillin-resistant staphylococci in combination with a beta-lactamase-resistant penicillin is provided. PMID- 2619273 TI - Oral and parenteral therapy with saperconazole (R 66905) of invasive aspergillosis in normal and immunocompromised animals. AB - Saperconazole (R 66905) is a broad-spectrum antifungal triazole with potent in vitro activity against Aspergillus spp. A total of 279 strains were tested in brain heart infusion broth. Development of the Aspergillus spp. was completely inhibited at 0.1 and 1 microgram of saperconazole per ml for 80.3 and 99.6% of the strains, respectively. Normal and immunocompromised guinea pigs were infected intravenously with Aspergillus fumigatus and treated orally, intravenously, or intraperitoneally with saperconazole or intraperitoneally with amphotericin B. Leukopenia, neutropenia, lymphocytosis, and monocytosis were obtained with mechlorethamine hydrochloride; leukopenia, neutrophilia, and lymphopenia were obtained with cyclophosphamide. Saperconazole was dissolved for oral treatment in polyethylene glycol and for parenteral treatment in cyclodextrins. Amphotericin B was given parenterally as Fungizone (E.R. Squibb & Sons). Treatment was given once daily for 14 days. An early starting treatment was efficacious, but the activity of saperconazole was maintained even when the onset of the treatment was delayed to the moribund state. The activity of saperconazole was not altered in immunocompromised animals. Saperconazole was clearly superior to amphotericin B and free of side effects. The oral and parenteral formulations of saperconazole were equipotent. The systemic activity of saperconazole in guinea pigs was confirmed in invasive aspergillosis in pigeons. PMID- 2619274 TI - Microbial glycosylation of erythromycin A. AB - Erythromycin A (compound 1) was inactivated by Streptomyces vendargensis ATCC 25507 in fermentation. The inactivation product was isolated and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy as 2'-(O-[beta-D glucopyranosyl])erythromycin A (compound 2). The MICs of compounds 1 and 2 were determined. Compound 2 lacked antibiotic activity when tested against several gram-positive pathogens, as well as S. vendargensis. PMID- 2619275 TI - In vitro and in vivo activities of piritetrate (M-732), a new antidermatophytic thiocarbamate. AB - Piritetrate (M-732), a new topical antifungal agent belonging chemically to the thiocarbamates, was demonstrated to possess a potent selective antidermatophytic activity. In terms of its MICs in susceptibility testing, mainly done by using Sabouraud dextrose agar plates, piritetrate exhibited several- to 10-fold stronger antidermatophytic activity than tolnaftate, a reference thiocarbamate. Furthermore, piritetrate was found to show a broader antifungal spectrum than tolnaftate; relatively many species and strains of dematiaceous fungi, dimorphic fungi, and some other filamentous fungi as well as a few strains of Cryptococcus neoformans were fairly susceptible to piritetrate, while almost all the tested species and strains were resistant to tolnaftate. All the tested species of the genus Candida were, however, resistant to both compounds. Variables which can influence antimicrobial activity caused few changes in the MICs of either compound against Trichophyton mentagrophytes; however, an increase in the inoculum size resulted in a significant increase in the MICs. The antidermatophytic activities of piritetrate and tolnaftate were fungistatic but not fungicidal. Piritetrate also exhibited a more potent in vitro anti-T. mentagrophytes activity than clotrimazole or tolciclate. Piritetrate and tolnaftate had no antibacterial activity. The in vivo activity of topically administered piritetrate against experimental dermal infection of guinea pigs with T. mentagrophytes was more effective than that of tolnaftate both mycologically and clinically. Piritetrate manifested no acute toxicity in laboratory animals when administered even in large quantities by the oral, intraperitoneal, and topical routes. PMID- 2619276 TI - Postinfection therapy of arbovirus infections in mice. AB - Most antiviral agents are efficacious prophylactically in vivo, and a few are efficacious for postinfection (p.i.) therapy. To explore possibilities for p.i. therapy of encephalogenic Banzi virus (BZV) and Semliki Forest virus infections in mice, we evaluated candidate antiviral therapies after development of the first clinical signs of infection. The earliest clinical indication of BZV viremia in mice is a rise in core body temperature beginning on day 3 p.i. BZV infected mice showing elevated core body temperatures (greater than or equal to 37.3 degrees C) on days 3 and 4 p.i. were treated intraperitoneally with the interferon inducer poly(ICLC) (80 micrograms per mouse) and/or specific antiserum. Combined therapy on day 3 of a BZV infection protected over 75% of mice showing clinical evidence of viral disease before treatment. Protection against early brain infection must occur on day 4 p.i., since by that day BZV has started multiplying in the brains of the mice. Significant protection occurred with antiserum alone and increased with poly(ICLC). Similar protection was obtained during Semliki Forest virus viremia, but this infection is so rapid that the first clinical signs are reliably detectable only after viremia. PMID- 2619277 TI - WIN 57273 is bactericidal for Legionella pneumophila grown in alveolar macrophages. AB - The in vitro antimicrobial activity of WIN 57273, a new quinolone antimicrobial agent, was determined for 21 Legionella strains, using broth macrodilution and agar dilution testing methods; ciprofloxacin and erythromycin were tested as well. Three different buffered yeast extract media were used for the agar dilution studies, two of which were made with starch rather than charcoal. Broth macrodilution susceptibility testing was performed with buffered yeast extract broth and two Legionella pneumophila strains. Antimicrobial inhibition of L. pneumophila growth in guinea pig alveolar macrophages was also studied, using a method able to detect bacterial killing. The MICs for 90% of the 21 strains of Legionella spp. grown on buffered charcoal yeast extract medium were 0.125 microgram/ml for WIN 57273, 0.25 microgram/ml for ciprofloxacin, and 1.0 micrograms/ml for erythromycin. These MICs were falsely high, because of inhibition of drug activity by the medium used. Use of less drug-antagonistic, starch-containing media did not support good growth of the test strains. The broth macrodilution MICs for two strains of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 were less than or equal to 0.03 microgram/ml for WIN 57273 and ciprofloxacin and 0.125 microgram/ml for erythromycin. WIN 57273, ciprofloxacin, and erythromycin all inhibited growth of L. pneumophila in guinea pig alveolar macrophages at concentrations of 1 microgram/ml, but only WIN 57273 prevented regrowth or killed L. pneumophila after removal of extracellular antimicrobial agent. PMID- 2619278 TI - Susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria to ALP 201. AB - The activity of ALP 201 against 350 strains of anaerobic bacteria was determined by an agar dilution method. Its activity was compared with those of piperacillin, cefoxitin, imipenem, clindamycin, metronidazole, and chloramphenicol. ALP 201 and imipenem were the most active agents tested. Based on these results, ALP 201 appears to be a promising antimicrobial agent for anaerobic infections and warrants further clinical investigations. PMID- 2619279 TI - In vitro susceptibility of Nocardia spp. to a new fluoroquinolone, tosufloxacin (T-3262). AB - The in vitro activity of a new fluoroquinolone, tosufloxacin (T-3262), against 111 pathogenic Nocardia strains was studied by an agar dilution method and compared with the activities of other fluoroquinolones. All strains were susceptible to tosufloxacin, and the drug was 2 to 20 times more active than four other quinolones tested. Nocardia farcinica was the Nocardia species most susceptible to tosufloxacin. PMID- 2619280 TI - In vitro activities of cefcanel and some other cephalosporins against Pasteurella multocida. AB - Thirty-five strains of Pasteurella multocida from humans and animals were tested for susceptibility to five cephalosporins by a broth dilution method. Cefcanel showed high activity against all isolates (MIC and MBC, less than or equal to 0.64 micrograms/ml). The corresponding figure for cefaclor and cefuroxime was 2.56 micrograms/ml. Cefadroxil and cephalexin were the least active compounds tested. PMID- 2619281 TI - Tetracyclines as antiparasitic agents: lipophilic derivatives are highly active against Giardia lamblia in vitro. AB - Comparisons of the inhibitory activities of different tetracyclines have been reported for Plasmodium falciparum but no other parasites. The in vitro response of the intestinal parasite Giardia lamblia to six tetracyclines in current use was determined. In addition, the experimental drug thiacycline (EMD 33,330) was evaluated. Three groups were discerned, with representative 50 and 90% inhibitory concentrations of, respectively, 36 and 130 (tetracycline), 6.4 and 22 (doxycycline), and 1.8 and 3.4 (thiacycline) micrograms/ml. These dramatic differences in activity correlate with increased lipophilicity. PMID- 2619282 TI - Selective inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication by the ( ) but not the (+) enantiomer of gossypol. AB - The (-) enantiomer of gossypol but not the (+) enantiomer had good antiviral activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 at a concentration more than 20-fold lower than that required for cytotoxicity; however, in H9 cells the (-) enantiomer, although more potent as an antiviral agent, was more cytotoxic. PMID- 2619283 TI - Antibiotic treatment of enterococcal infection. PMID- 2619284 TI - Human acid- and thermolabile alpha-interferon-like substance: selective reactivity with a monoclonal antibody. AB - An acid- and thermolabile alpha-interferon-like substance, designated AL-IFN alpha, has been found in non-processed normal human leukocyte IFN preparations as well as sera from patients with autoimmune or other chronic diseases. Little is known about origin, production and biological activity of these IFN activities. Monoclonal antibodies were obtained which proved highly selective in neutralizing AL-IFN-alpha in both anti-proliferative and antiviral tests. While the monoclonal antibodies were strict specific, polyclonal antibodies against various interferons showed less specificity in these tests. The results suggest that AL IFN-alpha represents an antigenically distinct IFN-alpha subtype or, alternatively, a new lymphokine with antiproliferative and antiviral activity. PMID- 2619285 TI - Inhibition of hepatitis delta virus RNA replication in primary woodchuck hepatocytes. AB - Cell cultures of primary woodchuck hepatocytes can be infected with hepatitis delta virus (HDV) as demonstrated by the appearance of genomic HDV RNA 7 days after inoculation. This tissue culture system was used to study the effect of antiviral substances. Ribavirin inhibited HDV replication at a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml, if added up to three days post infection. Suramin had an inhibitory effect only when added simultaneously with the virus, at a concentration of 200 micrograms/ml. This concentration had no toxic effect on primary woodchuck hepatocytes. alpha-Amanitin showed a weak inhibitory effect only at the highest nontoxic concentration of 0.1 microgram/ml. Acyclovir had no effect. PMID- 2619286 TI - Aerobic denitrification in various heterotrophic nitrifiers. AB - Various heterotrophic nitrifiers have been tested and found to also be aerobic denitrifiers. The simultaneous use of two electron acceptors (oxygen and nitrate) permits these organisms to grow more rapidly than on either single electron acceptor, but generally results in a lower yield than is obtained on oxygen, alone. One strain, formerly known as "Pseudomonas denitrificans", was grown in the chemostat and shown to achieve nitrification rates of up to 44 nmol NH3 min-1 mg protein-1 and denitrification rates up to 69 nmol NO3(-1) min-1 mg protein-1. Unlike Thiosphaera pantotropha, this strain needed to induce its nitrate reductase. However, the remainder of the denitrifying pathway was constitutive and, like T. pantotropha, "Ps. denitrificans" probably possesses the copper nitrite reductase. PMID- 2619287 TI - Formate dependent nitrate and nitrite reduction to ammonia by Citrobacter freundii and competition with denitrifying bacteria. AB - Citrobacter freundii, Paracoccus denitrificans and Pseudomonas stutzeri were grown either singly or in mixed culture in anaerobic nitrate or nitrite limited chemostats with formate and/or succinate as electron donors and carbon sources. C. freundii reduced nitrate or nitrite stoichiometrically to ammonia. Maximum molar growth yields for nitrate (nitrite) were 15.3 (9.9) g/mol for C. freundii on formate with succinate as carbon source, 15.3 (9.5) g/mol for Ps. stutzeri on succinate and 32.3 (20.4) g/mol for Pa. denitrificans on succinate. The almost identical growth yields indicate that the ATP output of the anaerobic processes in the nitrate (nitrite) ammonifying organism and Ps. stutzeri are nearly the same. In mixed cultures with either Ps. stutzeri or Pa. denitrificans, C. freundii was the best competitor for nitrate. These results show that in anaerobic environments C. freundii may compete successfully with denitrifying organisms. PMID- 2619288 TI - Galactosyl residue in exopolysaccharide from Rhizobium meliloti JJ-1 exposed to manganese in furanoid. AB - Exopolysaccharide (EPS) elaborated by Rhizobium meliloti JJ-1 in a manganese supplemented medium was isolated. Periodate oxidation, reduction with sodium borohydride, followed by hydrolysis and subsequent capillary gas liquid chromatography of the derived alditol acetates revealed that D-galactose in this complex biopolymer is in furanoid form. This observation was further confirmed by 13carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR). PMID- 2619289 TI - Chemoattractant activity of Staphylococcus aureus serine proteinase modified human plasma alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor. AB - S. aureus serine proteinase inactivates human alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) by attacking a single peptide bond between Glu354 and Ala355 giving a modified inhibitor which is a tight complex of Mr = 4,000 and 48,000 fragments. In the present paper we show that this proteolytically inactivated alpha-1-PI is a potent chemotactic factor for human neutrophiles at a nanomolar concentration, and we discuss its potential involvement in the inflammatory reaction due to S. aureus infections. PMID- 2619290 TI - Alcohol foam use questioned. PMID- 2619291 TI - Need for substerile rooms depends on OR design. PMID- 2619292 TI - Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Interpreting, treating ventricular fibrillation. PMID- 2619293 TI - Phacoemulsification. An improved method of cataract removal. PMID- 2619294 TI - Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy. Obtaining specimens via the internal jugular vein. AB - A right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy is a useful procedure for monitoring heart transplant patients or in diagnosing and treating patients with various cardiac and systemic diseases. When performed by an experienced cardiologist, there is little risk. The procedure, however, does require the nurse to perform the necessary patient preparation and monitoring along with standard nursing care to be successful. PMID- 2619295 TI - Motivating employees. Applying motivational theories to nursing. AB - Managers provide the critical link between the delivery of nursing care and the administration. It is vital for nurse managers to provide a work environment that supports professional nursing practices. Staff nurses are taught how to carry out clinical functions. For them to develop and practice advanced clinical skills, managers have to buffer the pressures of daily operations. They must ask themselves, "Am I committed to my employees?" "Am I an enthusiastic role model for my employees?" "Do I use positive motivating techniques?" "Do I know each of my employees personally as a unique individual?" "What can I do to create an environment that supports my employees?" and "How can I make each of my employees feel respected and worthy?" If the manager, whether experienced or not, can answer these questions honestly and apply motivational techniques differently, he or she will be the best kind of manager: a true leader. PMID- 2619296 TI - Joint Commission standards. How AORN provides input. PMID- 2619297 TI - Plan now to make your retirement active, productive. AB - In his book Planning to the Years Ahead, Lester I. Tenney, PhD, professor emeritus at Arizona State University, Tempe, links Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs to retirement planning. According to Maslow, economic and security needs can be achieved through a family environment (eg, food clothing, shelter), and social acceptance, self-worth, and self-satisfaction can be achieved from social interaction, work, or leisure activities. After the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter have been achieved, people are able to move to the next level of achieving safety and security. The level of dependency that people have on satisfying these needs through work will determine how well they are at adapting to retirement. The more people depend on work alone, the harder will be the adjustment; people who are less dependent on work will find retirement easier to accept. PMID- 2619298 TI - Secure the future. A model for an international nursing ethic. AB - Fidelity, accountability, virtues, and caring have been presented as a perspective by which perioperative nurses the world over may use to analyze and begin to approach the many and varied ethical dilemmas and issues that challenge us as professional nurses today. This model is just that--a model. Think about it. Discuss it with your international colleagues this week. Apply it to situations you have faced. I welcome debate and critique, for they are elements of professional and intellectual growth. Secure the future with the new knowledge, skills, and friendships you acquire this week. We have the challenge and the opportunity to help direct the future of our practice. There is uncertainty when we function in isolation. There is strength and unity of purpose when we use our common beliefs to enhance our practice. Secure the future starting now. Care about your patients, their families, and your colleagues. I thank you again for the opportunity and the privilege to share my views with you. I salute you, my colleagues in perioperative nursing. PMID- 2619299 TI - Continuing education in ethics: a must for nurses. PMID- 2619300 TI - Health care workers face increasing liability to the driving public. PMID- 2619301 TI - Characterization of a plasmid from the ruminal bacterium Selenomonas ruminantium. AB - A 4.8-kilobase-pair plasmid was isolated from the ruminal bacterium selenomonas ruminantium HD4 by using a sodium carbonate-EDTA washing buffer to improve cell lysis (R.G. Dean, S.A. Martin, and C. Carver, Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 8:45-48, 1989). This plasmid, designated pSR1, appears to be quite stable. No evidence of plasmid DNA was detected in S. ruminantium D or GA192. All three strains were tested for antibiotic resistance, and all were kanamycin resistant (MIC, 25 to 50 micrograms/ml). Only strain D was tetracycline resistant (MIC, 25 micrograms/ml), and all strains were sensitive to ampicillin (MIC, 1 microgram/ml). pSR1 was cloned into pBR322, and a map of pSR1 was constructed by using HindIII, ClAI, BamHI, and PvuII. Although ClaI, BamHI, ScaI, and EcoRV digested recombined plasmid isolated from Escherichia coli, these restriction endonucleases were not effective in digesting plasmid isolated directly from S. ruminantium HD4. PMID- 2619302 TI - Factors affecting adhesion of Fibrobacter succinogenes subsp. succinogenes S85 and adherence-defective mutants to cellulose. AB - Fibrobacter succinogenes subsp. succinogenes S85, formerly Bacteroides succinogenes, adheres to crystalline cellulose present in the culture medium. When the cells are suspended in buffer, adhesion is enhanced by increasing the ionic strength. Heat, glutaraldehyde, trypsin, and pronase treatments markedly reduce the extent of adhesion. Treatment with dextrinase, modification of amino and carboxyl groups with Formalin or other chemical agents, and inclusion of either albumin (1%) or Tween 80 (0.5%) do not decrease the degree of adhesion. Adherence-defective mutants isolated by their inability to bind to cellulose exhibited different growth characteristics. Class 1 mutants grew on glucose, cellobiose, amorphous cellulose, and crystalline cellulose. Class 3 mutants grew on glucose and cellobiose but not on amorphous or crystalline cellulose. No substantial changes were detected in the endoglucanase, cellobiosidase, and cellobiase activities of the wild type and the mutants. These data suggest that adhesion to crystalline cellulose is specific and that it involves surface proteins. PMID- 2619303 TI - Efficacy of copper and silver ions and reduced levels of free chlorine in inactivation of Legionella pneumophila. AB - Water disinfection systems utilizing electrolytically generated copper and silver ions (200 and 20, 400 and 40, or 800 and 80 micrograms/liter) and low levels of free chlorine (0.1 to 0.4 mg/liter) were evaluated at room (21 to 23 degrees C) and elevated (39 to 40 degrees C) temperatures in filtered well water (pH 7.3) for their efficacy in inactivating Legionella pneumophila (ATCC 33155). At room temperature, a contact time of at least 24 h was necessary for copper and silver (400 and 40 micrograms/liter) to achieve a 3-log10 reduction in bacterial numbers. As the copper and silver concentration increased to 800 and 80 micrograms/liter, the inactivation rate significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased from K = 2.87 x 10(-3) to K = 7.50 x 10(-3) (log10 reduction per minute). In water systems with and without copper and silver (400 and 40 micrograms/liter), the inactivation rates significantly increased as the free chlorine concentration increased from 0.1 mg/liter (K = 0.397 log10 reduction per min) to 0.4 mg/liter (K = 1.047 log10 reduction per min). Compared to room temperature, no significant differences were observed when 0.2 mg of free chlorine per liter with and without 400 and 40 micrograms of copper and silver per liter was tested at 39 to 40 degrees C. All disinfection systems, regardless of temperature or free chlorine concentration, showed increase inactivation rates when 400 and 40 micrograms of copper and silver per liter was added; however, this trend was significant only at 0.4 mg of free chlorine per liter. PMID- 2619304 TI - Survival of Vibrio vulnificus in shellstock and shucked oysters (Crassostrea gigas and Crassostrea virginica) and effects of isolation medium on recovery. AB - When two species of shellstock oysters were artificially contaminated with Vibrio vulnificus, the bacterium survived when the oysters were stored at 10 degrees C and below. Large numbers of endogenous V. vulnificus cells were found after 7 days at both 0.5 and 10 degrees C in uninoculated control oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Oysters allowed to take up V. vulnificus from seawater retained the bacterium for 14 days at 2 degrees C. The presence of V. vulnificus in the drip exuded from the shellstock presented a possibility of contamination of other shellstock in storage. V. vulnificus injected into shucked Pacific (Crassostrea gigas) and Eastern (C. virginica) oysters survived at 4 degrees C for at least 6 days. An 18-h most-probable-number enrichment step in alkaline peptone water gave higher recovery levels of V. vulnificus than did direct plating to selective agars. The survival of this pathogen in both shellstock and shucked oysters suggests a potential for human illness, even though the product is refrigerated. PMID- 2619305 TI - Degradation of barley straw, ryegrass, and alfalfa cell walls by Clostridium longisporum and Ruminococcus albus. AB - The recently isolated ruminal sporeforming cellulolytic anaerobe Clostridium longisporum B6405 was examined for its ability to degrade barley straw, nonlignified cell walls (mesophyll and epidermis) and lignified cell walls (fiber) of ryegrass, and alfalfa cell walls in comparison with strains of Ruminococcus albus. R. albus strains degraded 20 to 28% of the dry matter in barley straw in 10 days, while the clostridium degraded less than 2%. A combined inoculum of R. albus SY3 and strain B6405 was no more efficient than SY3 alone, and the presence of Methanobacterium smithii PS did not increase the amount of dry matter degraded. In contrast, with alfalfa cell walls as the substrate, the clostridium was twice as active (28% weight loss) as R. albus SY3 (15%). The percentages of dry matter degraded from ryegrass cell walls of mesophyll, epidermis, and fiber for the clostridium were 50, 47, and 32%, respectively, and for R. albus SY3 they were 77, 73, and 63%, respectively. Analyses of the predominant neutral sugars (arabinose, xylose, and glucose) in the plant residues after bacterial attack were consistent with the values for dry matter weight loss. Measurements of the amount of carbon appearing in the fermentation products indicated that R. albus SY3 degraded ryegrass mesophyll cell walls most rapidly, with epidermis and fiber cell walls being degraded at similar rates. Strain B6405 attacked alfalfa cell walls at a rate greater than that of any of the ryegrass substrates. These results indicate an unexpected degree of substrate specificity in the ability of C. longisporum to degrade plant cell wall material. PMID- 2619306 TI - Aromatic hydroxylation and sulfation of 5-hydroxyflavone by Streptomyces fulvissimus. AB - The conversion of 5-hydroxyflavone by various microorganisms was studied. Among them, Streptomyces fulvissimus was the sole microbe which produced a new polar metabolite from 5-hydroxyflavone in addition to 5,4-dihydoxy- and 5,3,4 trihydroxyflavone. The structure of this polar metabolite was determined to be 5,4-dihydroxyflavone-4-sulfate on the basis of mass, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. These results demonstrate that S. fulvissimus catalyzes sulfation at the 4 position of 4,5-dihydroxyflavone. PMID- 2619307 TI - Natural occurrence of the mycotoxin fusarochromanone, a metabolite of Fusarium equiseti, in cereal feed associated with tibial dyschondroplasia. AB - The mycotoxin fusarochromanone, a metabolite of Fusarium fungi, is able to induce tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) in chickens under experimental conditions. On the basis of health surveillance data on TD, two broiler farms with TD prevalence rates of up to 56% were identified. In the corresponding pelleted feed samples, fusarochromanone was detected in all 12 samples analyzed by column purification and TLC, with concentrations 4 to 59 micrograms/kg. No Fusarium fungi were available from the feed because of the pelleting process, but seven Fusarium equiseti strains previously isolated from Danish cereals were checked for fusarochromanone production, and all produced fusarochromanone at 57 to 1,435 mg/kg. Thus, the potential for fusarochromanone production by F. equiseti is considerable. The identification of fusarochromanone from feed and F. equiseti was confirmed by mass, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral analyses. This is the first report of fusarochromanone as a naturally occurring contaminant. PMID- 2619308 TI - Substrate interactions during aerobic biodegradation of benzene. AB - This study dealt with the interactions with benzene degradation of the following aromatic compounds in a mixed substrate: toluene, o-xylene, naphthalene, 1,4 dimethylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrrole. The experiment was performed as a factorial experiment with simple batch cultures. The effect of two different types of inocula was tested. One type of inoculum was grown on a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons; the other was grown on a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen-, sulfur-, and oxygen-containing aromatic compounds (NSO compounds), similar to some of the compounds identified in creosote waste. The culture grown on the aromatic hydrocarbons and NSO compounds was much less efficient in degrading benzene than the culture grown on only aromatic hydrocarbons. The experiments indicated that toluene- and o-xylene-degrading bacteria are also able to degrade benzene, whereas naphthalene-, 1,,4-dimethylnaphthalene-, and phenanthrene-degrading bacteria have no or very little benzene-degrading ability. Surprisingly, the stimulating effect of toluene and o-xylene was true only if the two compounds were present alone. In combination an antagonistic effect was observed, i.e., the combined effect was smaller than the sum from each of the compounds. The reason for this behavior has not been identified. Pyrrole strongly inhibited benzene degradation even at concentrations of about 100 to 200 micrograms/liter. Future studies will investigate the generality of these findings. PMID- 2619309 TI - Enumeration of Enterobacter cloacae after chloramine exposure. AB - Growth of Enterobacter cloacae on various media was compared after disinfection. This was done to examine the effects of monochloramine and chlorine on the enumeration of coliforms. The media used were TLY (nonselective; 5.5% tryptic soy broth, 0.3% yeast extract, 1.0% lactose, and 1.5% Bacto-Agar), m-T7 (selective; developed to recover injured coliforms), m-Endo (selective; contains sodium sulfite), TLYS (TLY with sodium sulfite), and m-T7S (m-T7 with sodium sulfite). Sodium sulfite in any medium improved the recovery of chloramine-treated E. cloacae. However, sodium sulfite in TLYS and m-T7S did not significantly improve the detection of chlorine-treated E. cloacae, and m-Endo was the least effective medium for recovering chlorinated bacteria. Differences in recovery of chlorine- and chloramine-treated E. cloacae are consistent with mechanistic differences between the disinfectants. PMID- 2619310 TI - Lyophilization of rumen fluid for use in culture media. AB - The supernatant from centrifugation at 1,000 x g of strained rumen fluid was lyophilized, and the residue and sublimate fractions were used to replace fresh rumen fluid in a complete roll tube medium for enumeration of total rumen bacteria. Most of the growth-supporting nutrients in fresh rumen fluid were found in the residue fraction. With one exception, no significant differences were found in total bacterial numbers either by roll tube or most-probable-number procedures when lyophilized rumen fluid residue was substituted for fresh rumen fluid. Lyophilized rumen fluid residue was stable for at least 5 months at room temperature. Rumen fluid supernatant from centrifugation at 1,000 x g had a mean density of 1.005 +/- 0.03 g/ml and contained 1.56% +/- 0.30% dry matter. On the basis of these values, 15.68 mg of lyophilized rumen fluid residue is equivalent to 1 ml of rumen fluid supernatant from centrifugation at 1,000 x g. PMID- 2619311 TI - Development of enterobacterium-specific oligonucleotide probes based on the surface-exposed regions of outer membrane proteins. AB - Outer membrane proteins of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae consist of conserved membrane-spanning segments and hypervariable, surface-exposed regions. We demonstrate that the hypervariable DNA segments corresponding to the surface exposed regions of these proteins can be used to develop specific DNA probes for the identification of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. PMID- 2619312 TI - Plasmid homologies in Edwardsiella ictaluri. AB - Plasmids from all available non-channel catfish isolates of Edwardsiella ictaluri were classified by gel electrophoresis and hybridization methods. All isolates, regardless of source, contained classes of homologous plasmids with similar but not identical sizes. PMID- 2619313 TI - [Sperm count and seminal biochemistry of high altitude inhabitants and patients with chronic altitude sickness]. AB - Semen analysis has been studied in 9 healthy adult males from sea level (150 m), age 19-32 years old and 15 healthy males from high altitude (NA), 9 from Cerro de Pasco (4,300 m) and 6 from Morococha (4,540 m), ages 19-45 years old. Five patients with chronic mountain sickness (MMC), whose ages ranged from 23 to 52 years old were also studied. The volume and motility were similar in NA and MMC, however both were below than in sea level subjects, but still in the normal range; the number of spermatozoa per 1 ml was lower at sea level than in NA and MMC, although the total number was higher at sea level due to the higher semen volume. Fructose at sea level was 356 +/- 53 mg/100 ml (mean +/- S.E.) which is similar to NA 237 +/- 45 whereas a MMC was significantly lower, 142 +/- 60. Citric acid was lower at sea level than in NA and MMC. Na, K and Cl, were similar among the three groups. The lower concentration of fructose in MMC parallels the decreased testicular function already found in these groups. However it is worthy to point out that the fertility is preserved in all the groups. The normal reproductive function in MMC is against the concept that this process occurs as a consequence of environmental disadaptation. PMID- 2619314 TI - Trophoblast invasion during implantation of the mouse embryo. AB - The interaction between trophoblastic and maternal cells was analysed by electron microscopy on days 6, 7 and 8 of pregnancy, in the mouse. Special emphasis was given to phagocytic activity and invasiveness by the trophoblast. On the sixth day of pregnancy, the trophoblast cells are in contact with the epithelial cells of the implantation crypt, with the basal lamina of the crypt, and with cells of the antimesometrial decidua. On the seventh and eighth days of pregnancy, the trophoblastic cells interact with those of the antimesometrial decidua. The giant trophoblastic cells engulf epithelial cells, maternal blood cells and decidual cells although the pattern of phagocytosis of these structures differs. Both whole epithelial cells and blood cells were ingested. The epithelial cells were deteriorated whereas the blood cells had a normal morphology; the decidual cells were ingested following a severe process of deterioration. Processes of trophoblastic cells interposed between the epithelium of the implantation crypt and its basal lamina seem to contribute to the displacement of the epithelial cells. The invasion of the endometrium by the trophoblast begins with the penetration by processes of trophoblastic cells between the decidual cells. The contact between the surface of both cell types may be very close: adherens type junctions and focal contacts are formed between trophoblastic cells and healthy decidual cells. Trophoblastic cells ingest deteriorated or fragmented cells and gradually occupy the spaces left by the latter. PMID- 2619315 TI - Laser chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization studies in proteins: alpha lactalbumin. PMID- 2619316 TI - Use of 13C and 15N isotope labels for proton nuclear magnetic resonance and nuclear Overhauser effect. Structural and dynamic studies of larger proteins and nucleic acids. AB - This article reviews methods based on direct observation of proton NMR in macromolecules containing 13C or 15N labels. The resonances and Overhauser effects of protons attached to the labels can be edited or filtered from the remaining overlapping resonances. This leads to simplification of the spectra when labels are incorporated selectively. In 2D and related methods the label's chemical shift provides a second dimension which is useful for spectral differentiation and identification. The methods are useful for larger proteins and we describe our progress on studies of T4 lysozyme, mass 18.7 kD, in which we have already identified a large number of resonances. PMID- 2619317 TI - Nuclear relaxation rates study of GTP(gamma F)-tubulin interaction using 19F nuclear magnetic resonance. AB - To study the relationship between the exchangeable GTP binding site (E-site) and the high affinity metal binding site we synthesized P3-fluoro P1-5'-guanosine tripaosphate (GTP(gamma F), an analog of GTP. Our results show that this analog binds to the exchangeable GTP binding site of calf brain tubulin. The values of the dissociation constant and the stoichiometry of the GTP(gamma F)-Mn(II) complex as determined by EPR spectroscopy were 1.64 x 10(-4) M and one mole of manganese per mole of nucleotide, respectively. The distance separating the high affinity binding site for the divalent metal ion and the exchangeable nucleotide binding site was evaluated by using high-resolution 19F-NMR. The 31P- and 19F-NMR spectra of GTP(gamma F) were studied, both the fluorine and the gamma-phosphate were split in a doublet with a coupling constant of 936 Hz. Tubulin purified by the method of Weisenberg (Weisenberg, R.C., and Timashef, S.N. (1970) Biochemistry 9, 4110-4116) was treated with colchicine to stabilize it, GTP(gamma F) was added and the 254.1 MHz 19fluorine relaxation rates measured within the first four hours. Longitudinal and transversal relaxation rates were determined in the presence of colchicine-tubulin-Mn(II), (paramagnetic complex), or the ternary complex with magnesium (diamagnetic complex). The analysis of the temperature-dependent relaxation data indicates that the metal and the exchangeable nucleotide binding sites are separated by a maximal distance of 6 at 35 degrees C, to 8.1 A at 12 degrees C. PMID- 2619318 TI - [Language and reality: the origin of man]. AB - The author proposes: 1. That a lineage of living systems is constituted by the reproductive conservation of a manner of living under the form of an ontogenic phenotype. 2. That language is a manner of living in recurrent consensual coordinations of consensual coordinations of actions. 3. That the human manner of living entails among other things, a braiding of languaging and emotioning that we call conversation. 4. That human beings arise in the history of bipedal primates with the origin of language, and the constitution of a lineage defined by the conservation of an ontogenic phenotype that includes conversations as part of it. 5. That the magnitude of the involvement of the brain and anatomy of the larynx and face in speech as our main manner of languaging indicate that language cannot have arisen later than two to three millions year ago. 6. That rationally pertains to the operational coherences of languaging and that different rational domains are constituted by different basic notions that are accepted a priori. That is, on preference. 7. That responsibility and freedom are a function of our awareness of the participation of our emotions (preferences) in the constitution of the rational domains in which we operate. PMID- 2619319 TI - Selenium accumulation by raccoons exposed to irrigation drainwater at Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge, California, 1986. AB - In February-March 1986, eight raccoons (Procyon lotor) were collected at Kesterson Reservoir (Merced Co., California), which had received selenium contaminated irrigation drainwater, and four raccoons were collected at the nearby Volta Wildlife Area, which had not. Selenium concentrations in Kesterson raccoons averaged 19.9 ppm (micrograms/g dry wt) in liver, 28.3 ppm (dry wt) in hair, 21.6 ppm (dry wt) in feces, and 2.61 ppm (wet wt) in blood and exceeded Volta concentrations by 12, 30, 21, and 10 times, respectively. Selenium concentrations in livers of Kesterson raccoons were less than those in five of nine other mammal species sampled in 1984. Selenium concentrations in hair provided the strongest statistical separation between study areas. Hemoglobin levels in two Kesterson raccoons equalled levels reported in rats with selenium induced anemia, but the raccoons showed no illness. Amyloidosis in one Kesterson raccoon may have been selenium-induced. Our data indicate that raccoon births peaked about 2 months later than was previously reported. Based on our sample of 12 raccoons, we found no evidence that contamination by irrigation drainwater had negative effects on raccoons inhabiting Kesterson. PMID- 2619321 TI - Variations of heavy metals and arsenic in fish and other organisms from the Calcasieu River and Lake, Louisiana. AB - The edible parts of several species of fish and other marine organisms inhabiting the Calcasieu River/Lake, Louisiana were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ag, Zn and As. Concentrations of all metals measured in both intra and interspecies showed no significant variation with sample location. Differences in elemental concentrations were related to organism mobility and not to site-specific variations in metal loadings. Different species of finfish contained only trace amounts of Cd (0.02-0.08), Ag (less than 0.01-0.3), Pb (less than 0.2-0.5), and As (less than 0.1-0.3) mg kg(-1). Concentrations of Cu and Cr were highly variable, in contrast to Zn, which was present in relatively constant amounts across all species (28 +/- mg kg(-1). Sessile organisms such as oysters had the highest concentrations of heavy metals, including Cd. Periphyton and zooplankton were the only groups that showed differences in metal concentrations with sampling location. PMID- 2619320 TI - Effects of elevated foodborne selenium on growth and reproduction of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). AB - Several field studies of selenium-contaminated lakes and reservoirs have indicated the possibility of selenium-induced reproductive failure in important populations of fish. These investigators have hypothesized that bioaccumulation of selenium through the food chain led to fish selenium levels high enough to elicit toxic responses. The present investigation was designed to determine the effects of elevated foodborne selenium on the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Fish were fed a diet spiked with a mixture of inorganic (selenite and selenate) and organic (seleno-L-methionine) selenium and effects on growth and reproduction were determined. Growth was significantly inhibited at the highest selenium treatment levels evaluated (20 and 30 ppm Se). There were no significant treatment effects on any of the reproductive parameters measured. Reasons for the disparity between selenium-induced reproductive impairment observed in other species and apparent lack of impairment in fathead minnows may involve reduced bioaccumulation of selenium by minnows due to differences in gut morphology and physiology. PMID- 2619322 TI - Size-dependence of mercury (II) accumulation kinetics in the mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard). AB - Size-dependence of mercury (II) accumulation from water by the mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis was assessed under controlled laboratory conditions. Uptake rates were higher for smaller fish than for larger fish. Mean (+/- S.D.) uptake rate for mosquitofish exposed to 0.24 micrograms/L of Hg was 0.32 +/- 0.15 micrograms/g dry wt/day. Uptake rate constants were similar for the Hg (II) and elemental Hg as reported elsewhere. Both inorganic species (Hg(II) and elemental Hg) were accumulated faster than methylmercury. Elimination rate constants averaged 0.53 +/- 0.14 per day (mean +/- 1 S.D.). No significant size effects on elimination rate constants were detected. Elimination constants were similar to those reported elsewhere for elemental Hg elimination but larger than those for methylmercury elimination. PMID- 2619323 TI - Effect of tributyltin on chemiluminescent response of phagocytes from three species of estuarine fish. AB - The effect of in vitro exposure to tributyltin (TBT) on the chemiluminescent (CL) responses of kidney macrophages was examined in oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau), hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). Phagocytic activity was evaluated using a luminol-amplified chemiluminescent (CL) assay with zymosan as the stimulus. Following brief exposure to selected doses of TBT, the CL response of toadfish and hogchoker phagocytes was found to be significantly decreased at 400 micrograms/L TBT, while the croaker phagocytic activity was significantly decreased at 40 micrograms/L TBT. With 18 hr-exposure to TBT, the effect on the CL response was noticeable at lower doses (40 micrograms/L TBT for toadfish and 4 micrograms/L TBT for hogchoker). PMID- 2619324 TI - A study of steady state and kinetic regulation of chloride ion and osmotic pressure in hemolymph of oysters, Crassostrea virginica, exposed to tri-n butyltin. AB - Two sets of experiments were made to determine if bis(tri-n-butyl)tin oxide (TBT) [IUPAC: hexabutyldistannoxane] influenced osmotic pressure or chloride ion concentration in hemolymph of adult American oysters, Crassostrea virginica. In the first set, oysters were acclimated to 5, 25 or 40%;, then exposed to bis(tri n-butyl)tin oxide dissolved in seawater (0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 micrograms/L) for 11 days. Measurements of the total osmotic pressure and chloride ion concentration in hemolymph indicated that mean values of neither was significantly affected under steady state conditions. Oysters exposed to TBT exhibited a higher variation around the mean value for both total osmotic pressure and chloride ion concentration. There was significant mortality of oysters exposed to TBT in 25 and 40, but not in 5%. In a second experiment, adult oysters were acclimated to 25%, and simultaneously exposed to the TBT concentrations listed above for 10 days. Then, subgroups of oysters were abruptly moved to 5 or 40% and the time course of adjustment of hemolymph osmotic pressure and chloride ion concentration was measured. During the first 25 hr, there was little adjustment to 5% in controls or TBT exposed oysters; apparently, they remained closed most or all of the time. In marked contrast, hemolymph of oysters moved to higher salinities rapidly readjusted. Exposure to TBT had a delaying effect on the schedule of the increase in hemolymph osmotic pressure and chloride ion concentration. Results of these experiments show that TBT has an indirect effect on osmotic pressure and chloride ion concentration adjustment in oysters; it does not appear to act strongly as an anionophore to influence anion transfer across epithelia. PMID- 2619325 TI - The effects of atrazine on microcosms developed from four natural plankton communities. AB - Comparisons were made among Leffler microcosms developed from four different natural communities and exposed to 0, 20, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 micrograms/L atrazine, a commonly used herbicide. Atrazine reduced net primary productivity, pH, and net productivity/respiration ratios in all four microcosm communities. In three of the four communities, the lowest observed (P less than 0.05) effect concentration (LOEL) was 100 micrograms/L. In the fourth community the LOEL was 200 micrograms/L atrazine. The sensitivity and accuracy of bioassays with four different microcosm communities were evaluated by comparing results with values reported for acute and chronic single species bioassays, other types of microcosms, and experimental ponds exposed to similar concentrations of atrazine. The ranges of sensitivity noted in these experiments were less than the range reported for single species bioassays using common test organisms and similar to those reported for other microcosms. The similarity between Leffler microcosm results and the responses reported for the experimental ponds suggests that the Leffler microcosms accurately reflected concentrations causing ecosystem level changes in the experimental ponds. PMID- 2619326 TI - Effect of ofurace, oxadixyl, and alachlor on xenobiotic biotransformation in the rat liver. AB - Ofurace, oxadixyl, and alachlor were studied for their effect on hepatic xenobiotic biotransformation in male rats by dosing i.p. with 1 or 100 mg/kg of chemical for 7 days. Ofurace decreased ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and aniline p hydroxylase activities but induced ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activity. Glutathione S-transferase and aminopyrine N-demethylase activities responded in a non dose-dependent manner, while cytochrome P-450 content and aldrin epoxidase activities were unchanged. Oxadixyl induced P-450 content, and ethoxycoumarin-O deethylase and aminopyrine N-demethylase activities. It left ethoxyresorufin-O deethylase, aldrin epoxidase and epoxide hydrolase activities unchanged and decreased aniline p-hydroxylase activities. Alachlor induced all activities excepting aldrin epoxidase (no change) and aniline p-hydroxylase (decreased). The data indicate that each of these acylanilide pesticides interacts with the monooxygenase system but with differing patterns. PMID- 2619327 TI - Toxicity and metabolism of trichloroethylene in rat hepatocytes. AB - Trichloroethylene (TCE) hepatotoxicity is controversial. The present study was designed to investigate the mechanism of TCE hepatotoxicity. The toxicity of equimolar concentrations (5.7 mM) of TCE and its two major metabolites, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and trichloroethanol (TCL), was determined. TCE cell viability was dose- and time-dependent. Enzyme leakage correlated with decrease in cell viability; significantly increased leakage started at 1.9 mM treatment. 5.7 mM TCA or TCL was not toxic compared with the same dose of TCE. Hepatocytes isolated from phenobarbital pretreated rats exhibited no significant alteration in toxicity parameters when exposed to 1.9 and 5.7 mM concentrations of TCE. While the phenobarbital pretreatment increased the rate of metabolism of TCE. The present study suggests that TCE toxicity occurs before the formation of TCA and TCL. PMID- 2619328 TI - Analysis of six foraging behaviors as toxicity indicators, using juvenile smallmouth bass exposed to low environmental pH. AB - Six foraging behaviors were evaluated for use in toxicity bioassays with fishes. Response time and strike frequency were used to measure fish activity, average and longest fixation distance, to measure visual acuity, while prey capture frequency and strike success were used to measure fish coordination and agility. In this study, the feeding behaviors were used to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to acidic water on juvenile smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui). Feeding responses to two types of live prey, tubificids and Daphnia magna, were recorded for bass exposed to pH 4.7 and 4.2. Fish held at the lower pH level had significantly lower fixation distances, prey capture success and capture frequencies with both prey types, indicating that high levels of acidity may impair visual acuity, coordination, and agility. The foraging behaviors evaluated herein appear to be useful in toxicity testing because they are easily quantified and indicate changes that may affect growth and survival in long-term exposures. PMID- 2619329 TI - High performance liquid chromatographic separation of fish biliary polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites. AB - A modification of Krahn's procedure for the high performance liquid chromatographic (HLPC) separation of fish biliary polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) metabolites was examined by using three C-18 columns in tandem, eluted with a mobile phase gradient of 100% water to 100% acetonitile in 240 min. By following the modified procedure, the bile of spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), Atlantic croaker (Micropogonius undulatus), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus) and oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau) from the PAH-polluted Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, Virginia gave rise to large numbers of reasonably well resolved PAH metabolite peaks compared to the control Nansemond River fish. The separation of fish biliary PAH metabolites, without elaborate sample extractions (an important feature of Krahn's procedure), indicate the possibility of direct detection and quantification of critical metabolites by HPLC AND HPLC/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS). PMID- 2619330 TI - Laundry parameters as factors in lowering methyl parathion residue in cotton/polyester fabrics. AB - Cotton/polyester fabrics were contaminated with a 1.25% solution of methyl parathion (MeP) emulsifiable concentrate formulation, then laboratory laundered. The laundering variables were detergent type, concentration, water volume, and mechanical agitation. Specimens were unfinished (UN) and soil repellent finished (SR) fabrics. Heavy duty liquid and phosphate-built powdered detergents were equally effective when used in combination with a prewash product. A negative linear relationship between detergent concentration and MeP residue remaining after laundering was established. An interaction between detergent concentration and fabric finish was observed. Soil repellent finished fabrics required detergent concentrations above the recommended amount for more efficient soil removal. A negative linear relationship between water volume and after-laundering residue was observed. Water volume played a more significant role in pesticide removal than agitation during laundering. PMID- 2619331 TI - Human fetal endometrium--light and electron microscopic study. AB - Human fetal endometrium was examined by light and electron microscopy. Our study shows the following new morphological aspects: (1) Glands are already present. (2) Endometrium undergoes a maturation process during gestation and at late gestational age resembles late proliferative endometrium. (3) The nuclear bodies are present in cell nuclei throughout gestation. (4) Nucleolar channel systems (NCS) sometimes appear at a late gestational age. (5) Cells with the same morphology as that of endocrine cells are found in the basal layers of endometrium at a late gestational age. The significance of these morphological aspects is discussed. PMID- 2619332 TI - Detection of early pregnancy factor (EPF) in pregnant and nonpregnant subjects with the rosette inhibition test. AB - We tested for early pregnancy factor (EPF) using a rosette inhibition test with polyclonal anti-lymphocyte serum from the horse and two monoclonal antibodies specific for the E-receptor of T-lymphocytes. When lymphocytes were preincubated with early human pregnancy sera, rosette inhibition titres were four or more dilutions higher (P less than 0.01) than when lymphocytes were preincubated with nonpregnant sera. PMID- 2619333 TI - Circulating levels of placental protein 12 in complications of first trimester pregnancy. AB - Serum placental protein 12 (PP12) levels were determined in 34 women with threatened miscarriage in whom a diagnosis of anembryonic pregnancy (n = 19), missed abortion (n = 4), complete or incomplete abortion (n = 5), hydatidiform mole (n = 1) and subsequent abortion of a live fetus (n = 5), was made ultrasonically and confirmed by histological examination. Twenty-four of the 34 patients had one or more levels between the 10th and 90th centiles of the reference range. In 7 of the 19 patients (37%) with anembryonic pregnancy and in 3 of the 4 patients (75%) with a missed abortion, PP12 levels were markedly elevated. However, in cases where serial measurements were available (n = 6), PP12 levels were seen to fall in all cases. It is concluded that pregnancies that have failed or will subsequently fail in the first or second trimester are not associated with depressed maternal PP12 levels, suggesting that the decidual synthesis of this protein is independent of the presence or viability of the fetus. PMID- 2619334 TI - The efficiency of the cytobrush and cotton swab in obtaining endocervical cells in smears taken after conization of the cervix. AB - In a randomised study of cervical smears after conization, the efficacy of the combined wooden spatula and cytobrush was compared with that of the combined wooden spatula and cotton swab. The conization technique involved a could knife and two Sturmdorf sutures. A total of 75 women participated, 57 had smears taken with both methods. Eighteen with only one of the methods. Out of 66 taken with a wooden spatula and a cytobrush. 48 (72.7%) contained endocervical cells and 53 (80.3%) contained either endocervical or metaplastic cells. Out of 66 smears taken with a wooden spatula and a cotton swab, only 25 (37.9%) contained endocervical cells and 40 (60.6%) contained endocervical or metaplastic cells. Both differences were significant (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.05, respectively). The combined use of a wooden spatula and cytobrush is recommended for cytological smears after conization. PMID- 2619335 TI - Cycle- and function-related changes in lectin binding to human endometrium: a histochemical study with pronase treatment. AB - Forty-eight endometrial biopsy specimens were obtained during a normal menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and from patients with dysfunctional bleeding. The specimens were examined for Peanut (PNA), Soybean (SBA), Vicia villosa (VVA), Phytohem- (PHA), Lens culinaris (LCA) and Concanavalin (succ. Con A) agglutinin binding. The study was performed on paraffin sections using the pronase digestion and either the peroxidase-antiperoxidase or the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. Cycle-related changes of the PNA, SBA, VVA, and to some degree PHA binding, were based on the transfer of the cytoplasmic reaction toward the glandular lumena. PNA + and SBA + material moved to the cell surface at the transition of the follicular and luteal phase and before the basal vacuolization appeared. Functional disturbances mainly influenced the intensity of the reaction. It was true only for those lectins, whose binding pattern showed cycle-related changes. In curettings from patients with a prolonged menstrual cycle the lectin binding seen in normal late secretory endometrium was absent or significantly diminished. Lectin binding to the endometrial surface epithelium was variable; PHA was the only lectin, the binding pattern of which followed cyclic changes in the glycocalyx, detected previously by means of PAS and alcian blue methods. PMID- 2619336 TI - Tumor necrosis factor and pregnancy--a contribution to the immunology of reproduction. AB - Serum levels of the cytokine TNF (tumor necrosis factor) were determined in pregnant women during the first trimester and compared with levels in a control group of non-pregnant healthy women. A new immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) was used. In pregnant women we found a very low mean value of 2.5 pg/ml. The value was significantly higher 16.2 pg/ml in the non-pregnant group. This finding suggests suppression of macrophage activity which could favour the fetal allograft. PMID- 2619337 TI - In vitro chemosensitivity testing in the treatment of ovarian carcinoma. AB - In vitro chemosensitivity to cisplatinum, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and 5 fluorouracil was investigated in 58 cases of ovarian carcinoma using Volm's short term test. These in vitro results were retrospectively correlated with the relapse-free interval. Operative treatment in all patients (FIGO stage I (5), III (43), IV (10)) comprised maximum debulking procedure including hysterectomy, adnexectomy, omentectomy, pelvic and in most cases additionally paraaortic lymphadenectomy. Subsequently, all patients were treated with the cisplatinum epirubicin-cyclophosphamide regimen. 33/58 tumors (66%) were sensitive in vitro (inhibition of nucleic acid precursor incorporation of more than 45% as compared to untreated controls). The median relapse-free interval of patients with sensitive tumors was significantly longer than that of those with resistant carcinomas (30.3 versus 22.6 months, respectively; P less than 0.05). Histopathological evaluation showed the majority of serous cystadenocarcinomas to be sensitive (26/33 = 79%, P less than 0.05). PMID- 2619338 TI - Precocious appearance of markers of squamous differentiation in metaplastic cells of human endocervix. AB - We used immunoperoxidase methods employing antibodies against involucrin and filaggrin, both markers of squamous terminal differentiation, to study squamous metaplastic transformation in the human endocervix. Expression of involucrin and filaggrin was restricted to squamous metaplastic cells whereas columnar epithelial cells were constantly negative. Immature squamous metaplastic epithelium also showed a positive immunostaining. In mature squamous metaplasia a suprabasal homogeneous staining pattern similar to that found in the exocervical epithelium was detected, although with full-thickness filaggrin immunoreactivity in 45% of cases (P less than 0.05). These results support the hypothesis of an epithelial origin of reserve subcolumnar cells, and suggest that precocious squamous differentiation seems to take place in metaplastic cells of the human endocervix. PMID- 2619339 TI - Serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels in women with neoplasms of the lower genital tract and in healthy controls. AB - Squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels in 74 healthy volunteers, 57 patients with CIN and 91 patients with cervical carcinoma were determined by radioimmunoassay. 5.4% of healthy volunteers were above and all patients with CIN were below 3.0 ng/ml. 63.1% of 65 patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma, 1 out of 7 adenocarcinomas and 68.4% of 19 patients with recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix had elevated SCC antigen levels. Elevated posttreatment levels carried a high risk factor of tumor persistence. Increases in SCC antigen levels during follow up usually signified recurrent carcinoma. PMID- 2619340 TI - [Microscopic innervation of the spermatic ducts and the testis. III: Tubuli seminiferi recti, rete testis and ductuli efferentes testis]. AB - The cholinesterase activity and ultrastructural characteristics of the nerves in tubuli seminiferi recti, rete testis and ductuli efferentes testis have been studied in Wistar rats. The tubuli seminiferi recti and rete testis are innervated by a dense network which has varicosities containing different types of synaptic vesicles. The nerve fibres are located between the smooth muscle cells and the fibroblasts, and under the epithelial basement membrane. Inside the ductuli efferentes testis, the nerves form perivascular, subepithelial and muscle plexuses. According to the positive reaction for cholinesterase as well as the characteristics of the synaptic vesicles, these structure have at least a double adrenergic-cholinergic innervation. Our results demonstrate that the nervous fibres in ductuli efferentes testis are more abundant than in tubuli seminiferi recti and rete testis. The role of the vegetative nervous system in the initial segments of the spermatic pathways is discussed. PMID- 2619341 TI - [Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the prostate gland]. AB - The clinical, morphological, microscopic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural findings in a case of primary non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma of the prostate gland is reported. The presenting features were not distinct from those of nodular hyperplasia. Following biopsy, the lesion was classified as monoclonal IgM-secreting, low grade, malignant beta-lymphoma. We discuss the good outcome of this case and the prognostic value of several clinical and morphological parameters. Finally, the therapeutic possibilities for this tumor type are compared with those of extranodal lymphomas in other sites. PMID- 2619342 TI - [Results of short- and mid-term follow-up of patients with ureterosigmoidostomy. Quality of life]. AB - Ureterosigmoidostomy (US) had been abandoned for the Bricker technique in the last decades; however, the long-term results afforded by the latter technique have led to its replacement by new enterocystoplasty procedures. Despite the foregoing, we believe US is still a useful alternative in total cystectomy, a view supported by our results and patient quality of life. PMID- 2619343 TI - [Results of long-term follow-up of patients with ureterosigmoidostomy]. AB - The late results of ureterosigmoidostomy (US) have been known for many years; however, the incidence rates of second neoplasms that have been reported for the foregoing procedure are in disagreement with our own findings. A comprehensive review we had undertaken demonstrates that although it is a risk factor, its true incidence is much lower than that widely-accepted and published. Its very long latency period make it a currently valid surgical procedure in some adult conditions. PMID- 2619344 TI - [Cancer of the testis: risk factors and evolution of mortality in Spain (1951 1983)]. AB - Herein we report the results of a study on the mortality trends of testicular cancer in Spain from 1951-1983. The study showed that following a long period of increased mortality, overall mortality rates for all age groups have dropped in recent years. However, the mortality rate has increased for the young and middle aged males and has dropped for the older age groups. A similar finding has been observed for other countries such as the United States. We have attempted to interpret these changes based on the risk factors for this type of cancer. PMID- 2619345 TI - [Dysfunction of the contractile capacity of the detrusor muscle in post prostatectomy urinary retention]. AB - We report on 23 consecutive patients with urinary retention following prostatectomy for benign prostatic hypertrophy. The patients were clinically and urodynamically evaluated. Urodynamic work-up included flowmetry, cystomanometry, detrusor pressure-micturition flow test, and videocystography. The involvement of detrusor contractility in urinary retention was observed in 60.87% of the cases and was ascribable to lower urinary tract obstruction in 39.19%. These data permitted instituting correct treatment. PMID- 2619346 TI - [Internal urethrotomy under direct vision. Review of 183 operations]. AB - The authors report on their experience with the Sachse urethrotomy procedure performed in 125 patients from 1981-1987, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months and a maximum of 6 years. The etiology was iatrogenic in 46%, trauma in 25%, and inflammatory in 33%. Stricture was frequently localized in the bulbous urethra (63%). Local anesthesia was the most widely used particularly during the latter stage of this period. The authors prefer to use Sylastic-type catheters left indwelling for a short period of time. Their recurrence rate was 15%. Although most of the patients (67%) required one procedure, urethrotomy had to be repeated up to three times (3%) in several patients. Good results were achieved in 57%, fair in 32%, and poor in 11%. PMID- 2619347 TI - [Fibro-epithelial polyps of the urinary tract. Apropos of 2 new cases (of the ureter and bladder)]. AB - Fibroepithelial polyps are benign mesodermal tumors that may be localized at any level of the urinary tract. However, the ureter and urethra are uncommon sites and these are rarely found in the bladder. Two cases are described involving the middle ureteral third and the bladder. We discuss the different hypotheses regarding its etiology and describe the clinical features, diagnostic methods and treatment. We underscore its benign natural history, treatment by conservative surgery and non-recurrence. PMID- 2619348 TI - [An infrequent form of metastasis of carcinoma of the prostate]. AB - A case of carcinoma of the prostate metastatic to breast is reported. We highlight its rarity, its relationship with estrogen treatment, and the poor prognosis of this condition which develops in the end stages of metastatic carcinoma of prostate. PMID- 2619349 TI - [Myxoid liposarcoma of the spermatic cord]. AB - We report on a 50-year-old male patient who presented with a scrotal mass which he had noted two years earlier. Ultrasound revealed a well-defined, regular, paratesticular mass. Pathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed abundant lipoblasts and a stroma with myxoid changes, prompting a diagnosis of myxoid liposarcoma of the spermatic cord. Liposarcoma is a rare tumor of the spermatic cord which frequently metastasizes to the lumbar retroperitoneal lymph nodes. The foregoing characteristic and the histologic features of the tumor type influence treatment. PMID- 2619350 TI - [Fibrous polyp of the ureter]. AB - We report on a 72-year-old male patient with fibrous ureteral polyp which had been diagnosed following the incidental finding of a ureteral filling defect on radiographic evaluation for prostatism and gross intermittent hematuria of several months. We underscore the low frequency of this disorder and the therapeutic implications of differential diagnosis to distinguish this condition from other causes of ureteral filling defects. PMID- 2619351 TI - Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging after ESWL. Comparison at over 4,000 shock waves. AB - Twenty patients who received more than 3,000 shock waves at 20 kV during single treatment for renal calculi with the Tripter X1, were studied retrospectively after 48 hours with CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In 15 cases (85%) both diagnostic procedures were negative. In 2 cases both revealed a subcapsular haematoma and in another case perirenal urinary extravasation. We conclude that no substantial differences have been noted in postoperative complications in patients treated with 4,000 shock waves compared with those who received a smaller number of waves. PMID- 2619352 TI - Avidity of antibodies against released proteins of Yersinia spp: comparison of patients with or without reactive arthritis. AB - The avidity of IgM, IgG, and IgA class antibodies against virulence plasmid encoded proteins of yersinia, so called released proteins (RPs), was studied in the serum samples of 22 patients with yersinia triggered reactive arthritis and 22 with uncomplicated yersiniosis. The avidity of anti-RP antibodies did not differ significantly between the patient groups, even though the total amount of IgA class anti-RP antibodies was significantly higher in patients with arthritis than in those with uncomplicated yersiniosis at the early stage of infection. Earlier results with whole bacterial extracts or lipopolysaccharide as the antigens have shown an increased avidity of IgA class anti-yersinia antibodies in patients with yersinia triggered reactive arthritis. This phenomenon was not observed in antibody response against RPs, and thus production of these proteins seems unimportant at later stages of infection for the yersinia organisms stimulating the persisting and maturing antibody response in the yersinia triggered reactive arthritis. PMID- 2619353 TI - Magnetic resonance and computed tomographic imaging in the evaluation of acute neuropsychiatric disease in systemic lupus erythematosus. AB - Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT) are useful for the evaluation of central nervous system (CNS) lupus. This report describes the use of cranial MR and CT in 21 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with acute neuropsychiatric symptoms manifested by headache, seizures, focal neurological deficits, psychosis, or organic brain syndrome. Computed tomography was found to be insensitive and detected only diffuse atrophy (two cases), cerebral infarct (one case), and intracerebral haemorrhage (one case) in the 21 patients. Cranial MR images obtained with a General Electric 1.5 tesla Signa unit detected labile and fixed areas of increased proton intensity interpreted as focal oedema (eight cases), infarct (10 cases), haemorrhage (one), atrophy (seven), and acute sinusitis (two). Focal oedema was characterised by labile, high intensity lesions in the gray or white matter of the cerebellum, cerebrum, or brain stem, which completely resolved after aggressive corticosteroid treatment. Most high intensity reversible or fixed lesions evident on MR were not apparent on cranial CT images. In several patients sequential MR images were valuable in monitoring the efforts of treatment. Although histological confirmation of the high intensity brain lesions apparent on MR is desirable, prior necropsy studies suggest that pathological confirmation may be difficult owing to the paucity of recognisable brain lesions in patients with CNS lupus. It is concluded that for the evaluation of acute neuropsychiatric SLE MR is useful and provides more information than cranial CT. PMID- 2619354 TI - Fluctuations of anticardiolipin antibody levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective study. AB - In 53 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus sequential blood samples obtained during a four year period (range 6-47 months) were screened for anticardiolipin antibodies (ACAs). Disease activity and treatment with prednisone were also assessed and related to ACA concentrations. During follow up only 21 patients for ACA IgG (40%) and 25 for ACA IgM (47%) remained in the ACA category (negative, low positive, high positive) found at the first sample taken at entrance. Marked increases from negative to high positive concentrations were sometimes seen and were not accompanied by typical events such as thrombosis or thrombocytopenia (the ACA syndrome). Shifts in ACA concentrations could not always be explained by changes in prednisone dose. Also, in patients with low dose prednisone treatment or none at all (n = 22) 10 patients (45%) changed ACA IgG category and 12 patients (55%) fluctuated in ACA IgM categories during follow up. As a consequence of the variability in ACA titres relations of ACAs with the ACA syndrome depended on the blood sample studied. In the second sample, randomly taken half way through follow up, no significant relations with the ACA syndrome could be found. Anticardiolipin antibody IgG was significantly associated with disease activity in 11/47 patients (23%) and in the group as a whole. During remission ACA IgG was significantly associated with the ACA syndrome, whereas during moderate/severe disease activity in the same patients that correlation was not significant. Anticardiolipin antibody IgM was much less influenced by disease activity, and in only 4/47 patients (9%) could a significant relation with disease activity be shown. Associations of ACA IgM with the ACA syndrome were significant during both lupus flares and remission. PMID- 2619355 TI - Localisation of lysozyme mRNA in rheumatoid synovial membrane by in situ hybridisation. PMID- 2619356 TI - Is there an association between ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis? PMID- 2619357 TI - Clearance of inhaled particles in ankylosing spondylitis. AB - Patients with ankylosing spondylitis may uncommonly develop apical fibrobullous lung disease, the cause of which is unknown. It is postulated here that rigidity of the thoracic cage leads to reduced apical clearance of inhaled particles and may thereby predispose to chronic infection. Deposition and clearance of inhaled technetium-99m sulphur colloid particles were studied in eight male patients with ankylosing spondylitis who had chest wall rigidity (mean (SD) chest expansion 1.8 (1.07) cm) but normal chest radiographs. As a reference population eight healthy male volunteers were also studied. Particle deposition showed an increasing gradient from apex to base, with no significant difference between patients and controls. Clearance was assessed by comparing absolute counts, corrected for decay, at 24 hours with the baseline values. No delay in particle clearance in those with ankylosing spondylitis was apparent. PMID- 2619358 TI - A controlled study of hand function in nodal and erosive osteoarthritis. AB - Hand function using a standardised test of activities of daily living was assessed in (a) 57 patients (53 female, four male; mean age 69 years) with established (that is, symptom onset greater than 10 years before) nodal generalised osteoarthritis (NGOA); (b) 10 patients (nine female, one male; mean age 70 years) with established erosive osteoarthritis (EOA); and (c) 52 matched controls (48 female, four male; mean age 71 years) with asymptomatic, clinically normal hands. Although significant differences between controls and patient groups were observed for individual tasks, only minor global impairment was seen, the worst function occurring in patients with EOA. There was no consistent correlation between tested aspects of hand function and extent of radiographic change assessed by summated graded score for separate osteoarthritic features in individual joints. In controls increasing age correlated with longer time to complete all tasks and weaker power grip; a similar, less pronounced correlation occurred in patients. Differences between controls and patients with NGOA were most apparent in younger subjects; in the elderly (greater than 80 years) hand function was essentially the same. This study shows good functional outcome for patients with NGOA, and suggests that the OA process is of little functional importance to the aging hand. PMID- 2619359 TI - Immune complexes and rheumatoid factors in canine arthritides. AB - Thirty two domestic dogs with naturally occurring polyarthritis were investigated to determine the contribution of autoimmunity in the pathological mechanisms. Comparisons were made with canine infective arthritis (12 dogs), osteoarthritis (32), and osteoarthritis secondary to rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (19). Rheumatoid factors, immune complexes, and complement fixation (C1q binding) were measured in sera and synovial fluids. Compared with normal dogs (32), dogs with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had increased serum and synovial fluid immune complexes and rheumatoid factors. Increases were generally also seen in dogs with other arthropathies, however. Rheumatoid factors were higher in sera than in synovial fluids. Rheumatoid factors correlated with immune complex levels and complexed rheumatoid factor only in the group of dogs with RA. Both rheumatoid factors and immune complexes may contribute to the pathogenesis of canine RA but are considered to arise as a result of non-specific inflammatory mechanisms in the non-rheumatoid groups. PMID- 2619360 TI - Music related upper limb pain in schoolchildren. AB - Two British secondary schools (one a specialist music school) were surveyed to assess the prevalence of upper limb pain among specialist music students compared with students in a regular school setting. Female students tended to report pain more often than male students, but for both significantly higher prevalence was found in the music school. Pain in the regular school was most often attributed to writing, whereas in the music school it was associated with the playing of all instruments, but most particularly with cello, clarinet, and flute. Music students reported long hours of practice, but it appeared that the intensity of practice may be more important as a determinant of pain than the total hours spent practising. The results of the study are in substantial agreement with those previously published from Australia and North America. On the balance of probabilities the pain is due to overuse syndrome, which is very common in musicians and well known in writers. PMID- 2619361 TI - Antileishmanial effects of clofazimine and other antimycobacterial agents. AB - In the search for more effective alternatives to the presently-used antileishmanial drugs, the activity of the major groups of antimycobacterial compounds has been examined, both in vitro and in animal models of infection. In vitro, clofazimine was the most active compound tested, with a mean ED50 of 2.3 mg l-1 against Leishmania mexicana amazonensis, 1.4 mg l-1 against L. donovani and 0.5 mg l-1 against L. major. Other active compounds were the thiosemicarbazone, thiambutosine, and salinazid, a derivative of isoniazid. Isoniazid itself was inactive, and rifampicin only partially active. In vivo, only clofazimine displayed significant activity, and it was most effective against the cutaneous infections. It is concluded that antimycobacterial activity is in general a poor predictor of antileishmanial potency. PMID- 2619362 TI - Surface reaction of Leishmania. IV. Variation in the surface membrane carbohydrates of different strains of Leishmania major. AB - Eleven strains of Leishmania major were characterized by enzyme electrophoresis, excreted factor serotyping and lectin specificity determination. Nine of the 12 enzyme mobilities were identical for all the strains. Variation was seen in 6PGD, NH and AK. Seven serological entities were recognized, including a non-EF producing strain. A panel of six lectins and sugar inhibitors was used to determine surface membrane carbohydrate configurations, which displayed considerable variation. PMID- 2619363 TI - Albendazole is effective against established Echinococcus granulosus in gerbils: comparison of serum concentrations achieved by gavage and feed administration. AB - Serum levels of albendazole sulphoxide in gerbils infected with Echinococcus granulosus and treated with albendazole (20 or 50 mg kg-1 day-1) by gavage were dose dependent, whereas albendazole administered in feed at a rate equivalent to 80 mg kg-1 day-1 achieved serum levels calculated to be equivalent to those produced by administration of 40 mg kg-1 day-1 by gavage. This regimen, over a three-month period, was effective and reduced parasite weight to 4.6% of that in control gerbils, and the treated parasite tissue showed ultrastructural changes ranging from severe accumulation of residual bodies to total disintegration of the germinal layer. PMID- 2619364 TI - Strongyloides cf fuelleborni in Papua New Guinea: epidemiology in an isolated community, and results of an intervention study. AB - Strongyloides cf fuelleborni was found to be distributed homogeneously with respect to space and time in a semi-nomadic community in Papua New Guinean rainforest. The parasite predominantly infects children, reaching 60% prevalence in the first year of life and peaking around 80% at five years of age. Egg loads follow a similar pattern but peak earlier (at 20 months) and fall off more sharply. The few infected adults have very light infections as measured by egg count. In the first few months of life, incidence was estimated as 50% per month. Following treatment, incidence in older children was reduced to around 9% per month. By comparison, hookworm infection (probably all Necator americanus) has a much lower incidence in early life, and this increases with age. The high incidence of Strongyloides in early life is not explained by prenatal infection or by contamination from maternal faeces. PMID- 2619365 TI - Chemotherapeutic effects of Annona senegalensis in Trypanosoma brucei brucei. AB - Mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei 8/18 strain were treated orally and intramuscularly (im) with aqueous root extracts of Annona senegalensis, in doses of 27.8 mg kg-1 and 9.5 mg kg-1 respectively, for four consecutive days commencing 72 hours after the mice were infected. At these dosages the parasites were cleared from the circulation and no relapse was recorded over 60 days. The plant extract, however, had no effect on the trypanosomes when therapy was initiated at the late stages of infection, that is, about the sixth day when the parasitaemia level was 0.9 x 10(6); and all the animals died a day or two later. The herbal extracts also did not show any prophylactic action when given prior to infection. The root extract possesses different margins of safety in the mice depending on the route of administration. The therapeutic index for oral administration was 5.13, and that for im administration was 1.8. Chemical tests revealed that the plant extract contains alkaloids, saponins and tannins. Adverse reactions, especially to doses of 2.3-5.76 mg kg-1, were noted in animals that received the drug parenterally, but not when the drug was administered orally. However, A. senegalensis is shown to be therapeutically effective against T. b. brucei in mice, which agrees with the claims of Nigerian practitioners of Traditional Medicine that it is effective against trypanosomiasis in man. PMID- 2619366 TI - Congenital kala-azar. AB - An 11-month-old male infant was admitted to hospital with fever, pallor and hepatosplenomegaly, and was diagnosed as having kala-azar. The mother also suffered from kala-azar while carrying this baby. As the baby and the mother did not leave Delhi either during or after delivery, and the vector found in Delhi is not competent to transmit leishmaniasis, the infant could not have been infected by the bite of a sandfly. It therefore seems most likely that he was infected in utero--a rare route. PMID- 2619367 TI - Head lice infestation in some urban localities of NWFP, Pakistan. AB - The prevalence of head lice infestation was estimated among the general population of four urban localities in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan during 1986. Altogether 1002 persons (656 females, 346 males) were screened by visual inspection and combing of the head. The overall infestation rate was 36.7%, with females showing a higher prevalence (41.5%) than males (27.7%). The prevalence did not differ significantly with locality, and exhibited only a slight seasonal variation. Pediculosis was high in the five to 19 year old age-group, beyond which it decreased, gradually in females and abruptly in males. Higher rate of infestation in females could be attributed to their long hair. A significant negative association between pediculosis and dandruff was noticed in males but not in females. Crowding and low level of education, which reflect poor socio-economic status, apparently contributed to higher rate of infestation. Prevalence was directly related to the number of children per family, suggesting that school children perhaps play an important role in the distribution of lice. Intensity of infestation, like prevalence, was higher in females than males, and decreased with age in both sexes. PMID- 2619368 TI - The status of subspecies or strains of Echinococcus granulosus in Great Britain. PMID- 2619369 TI - First human infestations in Africa with larvae of American screw-worm, Cochliomyia hominivorax Coq. PMID- 2619370 TI - Pathogenesis of ring-haemorrhage in cerebral malaria. PMID- 2619371 TI - Capture-recapture studies with the South American malaria vector Anopheles darlingi, Root. AB - A capture-recapture experiment was undertaken in October 1987, in the Jaru district of Rondonia, Brazil, with the malaria vector Anopheles darlingi. On two consecutive nights, 160 blood-fed, 78 unfed biting and 81 unfed resting mosquitoes were released. Recapture rates of 12-19% and survival rates of 0.59 0.57 per oviposition cycle were obtained for all releases, indicating that blood feeding was not an obstacle for this population, which had a high vectorial capacity. Two A. darlingi were collected 7.2 km from the release site nine days after release. In contrast, recapture rates for 259 anophelines of nine other species released were only 2.3%. These other species also had a limited flight time and range in comparison with A. darlingi, which indicates that the latter is the only malaria vector of importance in this part of Brazil. PMID- 2619372 TI - Strongyloides and hookworm in Papua New Guinea: longitudinal studies on treated and untreated children. AB - Helminth egg counts were made on 86 treated and 38 untreated children in an isolated Papua New Guinea community before treatment and on nine subsequent occasions over an 18-month period. No predisposition could be detected to heavy or light infection with hookworm, either in the rate of reinfection or in the maximum post-treatment egg counts. Indications of predisposition in Strongyloides cf. fuelleborni were not statistically significant. In untreated children, sequential age-standardized hook-worm egg counts remained significantly correlated with each other at time lags up to nine months, but those for Strongyloides showed good correlation if made up to 14 months apart. Possible explanations include a surprising longevity of Strongyloides worms or unexpected external auto-infection. PMID- 2619373 TI - Parasitological observations on three Bolivian localities including rural communities, cities and institutions. AB - Three hundred of 381 subjects examined from the Camiri, Boyuibe and Gutierrez areas (Santa Cruz Department) harboured one to six species of intestinal helminths and/or protozoa. High infection rates were found in Camiri in the orphanage (43 of 44 persons) and in the Military Hospital (10 of 10 persons), as well as in Itanambicua (97.4%), a rural community close to the city (38 of 39 persons). No significant differences were noted between the overall parasitic prevalences observed in rural and urban environments, but the frequency of species was different. Indiscriminate defaecation, the habit of living in close association with animals, overcrowding, and especially lack of health education, are some of the factors responsible for the parasitic situation observed. PMID- 2619374 TI - On the possibility of bovine Onchocerca species infecting Simulium damnosum s.l. in the forest zone of Sierra Leone. I. Parasitological aspects. AB - As part of a study to assess to what extent Onchocerca-like infections in S. damnosum s.l. in the forest zone of Sierra Leone were likely to be of bovine origin, Onchocerca infections were studied by post mortem examination of cattle killed at Bo abattoir and by examination of skin biopsies from cattle born and reared at Njala, in the forest zone, and Musaia, in the savanna zone. Post mortem studies of 45 cattle which had originated from northern Sierra Leone and Guinea revealed a prevalence of infection with microfilariae (mff) of O. gutturosa of 87%, O. ochengi 18% and O. armillata 7%. Examination of indigenous cattle revealed transmission of O. gutturosa in both forest (Njala) and savanna (Musaia) areas, and age prevalence analysis at Njala indicated a high intensity of transmission. Autochthonous transmission of O. armillata occurred at Njala at low intensity. Onchocerca gutturosa from Sierra Leone resembled U.K. isolates of O. gutturosa in terms of glucose phosphate isomerase electrophoretic mobility and acid phosphatase activity of in situ-stained mff. Hide mapping of O. gutturosa revealed skin concentrations of mff dorsally at the withers area and also ventrally at the dewlap, brisket and upper forelegs. It was concluded that only O. gutturosa was transmitted at high intensity to cattle in the forest zone of Sierra Leone. Hence, subsequent studies were directed towards determining the vector of O. gutturosa. PMID- 2619375 TI - On the possibility of bovine Onchocerca species infecting Simulium damnosum s.l. in the forest zone of Sierra Leone. II. Biting densities and filarial infections in Simulium spp. and Culicoides spp. AB - Previous studies of bovine Onchocerca spp. in cattle in Sierra Leone indicated that only O. gutturosa was transmitted in the forest zone at high intensity. To determine its vector(s) and the extent to which Onchocerca-like infections in Simulium damnosum were likely to be of bovine origin, three lines of investigation were pursued. Firstly, a study was made of the biting flies attacking an ox bait animal over a 14-month period at Njala University Campus, near Bo. Secondly, attempts were made to infect the dominant local forest cytospecies of S. damnosum s.l. with O. gutturosa by feeding them on an infected ox under a bed-net. Thirdly, S. damnosum s.l. were infected by intra-thoracic injection of O. gutturosa microfilariae (mff). In 113 collections made at dawn and dusk at weekly intervals from the ox bait, 624 simuliids and 7740 Culicoides spp. were collected. Almost all the simuliids were S. damnosum s.l. which, on the basis of iso-enzyme examination and knowledge of local breeding sites, were identified as S. soubrense 'B'. Although this cytospecies fed readily on the ox at ventral sites where O. gutturosa mff occurred and the bed-net experiments showed that 16.1% of engorged S. soubrense 'B' ingested an average of 3.3 O. gutturosa mff each, no development occurred. The refractoriness of S. damnosum s.l. to O. gutturosa was confirmed by the intra-thoracic injection experiments. The predominant Culicoides spp. attacking the ox bait were C. krameri, C. trifasciellus and C. fulvithorax, with smaller numbers of C. schultzei. In 5803 dissected Culicoides spp., natural infections of Onchocerca-like larvae, presumed to be O. gutturosa, were found in 0.3% of C. fulvithorax, 0.1% of C. trifasciellus and 0.06% of C. krameri. It was concluded that, in the forest zone of Sierra Leone, S. damnosum s.l. is not a vector of O. gutturosa and all Onchocerca-like larvae in S. damnosum are likely to be O. volvulus, while the natural vectors of O. gutturosa are the Culicoides species C. fulvithorax, C. trifasciellus and C. krameri. PMID- 2619376 TI - Epidemiological studies on toxocariasis and visceral larva migrans in a zone of western Spain. AB - An epidemiological study on toxocariasis was carried out in a zone of Western Spain (province of Salamanca) in dogs, soil and humans, comparing the simultaneous situations in urban and rural areas. The prevalence of infection in dogs was 29.4 to 33.1%, with little difference between the areas studied. The prevalence of Toxocara eggs in soil ranged from 3.7% in Salamanca city to 9% in rural areas. Seroprevalence in humans, as shown by Dot ELISA, was higher in children (8.5% in urban areas and 4.6% in rural areas) than in adults. The statistical significance of the correlations between prevalence and the different factors that affect transmission of the parasite was studied, and its importance at local level is discussed. PMID- 2619377 TI - Effect of albendazole in experimental toxocariasis of mice. AB - Fifty-five mice were each infected with 800 embryonated eggs of Toxocara canis. Beginning on the second day of the infection, one group received a single 9 mg dose of albendazole every 24 hours for an eight-day period while a second group received 3 mg of albendazole every eight hours for the same period. On the tenth day of infection, mice in each treatment group and their corresponding controls were sacrificed, and the presence and motility of T. canis larvae in the brain were determined. With both therapeutical procedures the administration of albendazole reduced the number of larvae which reach the brain. However, for the same total dose, the administration of the drug every eight hours yielded results which were significantly superior to those produced by administering a single dose every 24 hours, reducing both the number of larvae in the brain and their motility. PMID- 2619378 TI - Evaluation of albendazole, pyrantel, bephenium, pyrantel-praziquantel and pyrantel-bephenium for single-dose mass treatment of necatoriasis. AB - An effective drug for single-dose mass treatment of necatoriasis was sought by testing three drugs and two drug combinations in Ethiopian immigrants to Israel found to have light infections. The drugs tested sequentially in single-doses were pyrantel pamoate (20 mg kg-1, 81 subjects); bephenium hydroxynaphthoate (2.5 5 g, 65 subjects); combined pyrantel and bephenium (25 subjects); combined pyrantel (20 mg kg-1) and praziquantel (40 mg kg-1) (16 subjects); and albendazole (400 mg, 77 subjects). Follow-up under conditions without likelihood of reinfection was by one stool examination. Cure rates with albendazole, pyrantel-bephenium and pyrantel-praziquantel were 84, 80 and 81% respectively; these rates were significantly higher than the 49% found for bephenium and the 51% for pyrantel (P less than 0.05). Egg reductions in those not cured were pyrantel (22%), bephenium (6%), pyrantel-bephenium (34%), pyrantel-praziquantel (3%) and albendazole (6%). Albendazole was the most promising single drug treatment; unexpected was the high effectiveness of pyrantel-praziquantel in combination. PMID- 2619379 TI - Immunoblot analysis of human gnathostomiasis. PMID- 2619380 TI - Immunoelectron microscopy for Toxoplasma antigen in association with intact tissue cysts in mouse brain. PMID- 2619381 TI - Inhibition by pentamidine isethionate of the NADPH-oxidase system of human neutrophilic granulocytes. PMID- 2619382 TI - A new vaccination procedure against cutaneous leishmaniasis. PMID- 2619383 TI - Trypanosomiasis in the Lambwe Valley, Kenya. PMID- 2619384 TI - Parasite survey of eight wild animals in the Ruma National Park. AB - Eight game animals representing seven species in the Ruma National Park in South Nyanza, Kenya, were examined for the presence of blood protozoa, ectoparasites, and helminthic and coccidian endoparasites using standard parasite-identification methods. Haematological parameters were also determined. The oribi was positive for Trypanosoma brucei ssp. and the reedbuck for T. congolense. No other blood protozoans were found. Strongyle eggs were found in the faeces of all species except the water buck. Five of eight animals harboured liver flukes and five were parasitized by ticks of the genus Amblyomma. One roan antelope was anaemic, but the other animals had haemoglobin levels within the normal range and appeared to be in a good state of health. PMID- 2619385 TI - Review of tsetse control measures taken in the Lambwe Valley in 1980-1984. AB - During an outbreak of Rhodesian sleeping sickness in the Lambwe Valley in 1980 initial tsetse control measures consisted of applications of dieldrin to the periphery of the Ruma National Park. This activity had a marked effect on the prevalence of sleeping sickness. Concern about the use of dieldrin caused the cessation of this programme and justified an aerial spray programme using endosulfan. Although the Lambwe Valley did not appear to be a good candidate for aerial spray, the endosulfan had a marked effect on tsetse fly levels and on the prevalence of sleeping sickness. Sleeping sickness cases were detected in decreasing numbers for eight months following the endosulfan programme, but the subsequent five months yielded no cases of sleeping sickness in the area. Some flies persisted, however, and they had regained high levels in about a year. As the prevalence of sleeping sickness increased another aerial spray programme was initiated in 1983, using pyrethrum as insecticide. The pyrethrum aerial spray programme did not make significant reductions in the Glossina pallidipes population or in the prevalence of sleeping sickness. A subsequent ground control programme using insecticides (dieldrin and cypermethrin) and bush clearing, conducted primarily within the National Park, has subsequently limited the prevalence of sleeping sickness to low levels. PMID- 2619386 TI - Mechanical transmission of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense by Glossina morsitans morsitans (Diptera:Glossinidae). AB - Interrupted feedings of teneral, laboratory-reared Glossina morsitans morsitans were used to study mechanical transmission of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Intervals between exposure of individual flies on parasitaemic rats and refeeding on clean rats were varied from five minutes to 24 hours. Direct transmissions were demonstrated at each interval up to 160 minutes after exposure. Proboscis dissections showed that active trypanosomes were present up to 320 minutes after exposure. No mechanical transmissions from bovine to bovine occurred in 39 attempts, when groups of 20-120 flies exposed on parasitaemic bovines were transferred immediately to uninfected cattle, but two of 40 individual flies exposed on parasitaemic bovines mechanically transmitted trypanosomes to clean rats. Proboscis dissections made immediately after flies were exposed to a bovine with a parasitaemia of 4.8 x 10(-4) trypanosomes/microliters of blood showed that 11 of 20 (55%) had active trypanosomes in the food canal. The mean number of trypanosomes per proboscis was 29.4 (+/- 20.5). Of 20 flies exposed on a bovine with a low parasitaemia, however, only one trypanosome was seen in proboscis dissections. The parasitaemia of the infected donor was an important factor in mechanical transmission. The mechanical transmission of trypanosomes from one host to another may largely depend on the infectivity threshold of the recipient host, and individual mechanically-infected tsetse flies may not transmit an infective dose. PMID- 2619387 TI - The Lambwe Valley and its people. AB - By 1936 the Lambwe Valley, which had been heavily populated in the early years of this century, was nearly devoid of people. Population since that time has increased markedly as a result of a settlement scheme and efforts made to control and eradicate Glossina pallidipes and trypanosomiasis. The formation of a game reserve (now a National Park) prevented the completion of a tsetse eradication programme and has provided an unmolested habitat for both G. pallidipes and large numbers of game animals which act as a reservoir for trypanosomiasis. Rhodesian sleeping sickness, as well as animal trypanosomiasis, have been severe problems for the local farmers who live around the boundaries of the National Park. PMID- 2619388 TI - Experimental infection of cattle with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. AB - Infection of cattle with various stocks of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense indicated that 49% developed a fatal CNS disease comparable to that found in man. Duration of disease ranged from 85 to 1613 days post infection. All eight stocks of T. b. rhodesiense tested, including those from Ethiopia and Tanzania, induced CNS disease. Blood became positive three to five days after inoculation, and after an initial peak of parasitaemia remained positive for three to five months. Subinoculation of blood into rodents subsequently became negative, although trypanosomes persisted in the lymph nodes for at least 56 to 1613 days. Only animals with CNS disease had detectable parasites in the CSF, usually after the animals had undergone severe deterioration. At post mortem examination trypanosomes could usually be found in the lymph nodes and CSF, and occasionally in the blood. Clinical signs included fever, hyperkinesia, weight loss, cerebellar ataxia, tremor, salivation and hyperaesthesia. A mild to moderate anaemia accompanied a transient thrombocytopenia and leucopenia. Animals subsequently developed leucocytosis. A pleocytosis and elevated total protein in the CSF was found, which persisted in some animals for long periods. Histopathological examination of the brain showed prominent generalized perivascular infiltrates consisting mainly of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Mott's cells were regularly observed. Vascular changes were characterized by swollen endothelium, infiltration of the vascular wall by inflammatory cells, and in some instances perivascular oedema. In the most severe cases evidence of ischaemia consisted of large numbers of astrocytes, rarefaction of the parenchyma, and areas of necrosis with loss of normal architecture. Demyelination was limited to perivascular areas. Occasionally a moderate to severe pancarditis was found. PMID- 2619389 TI - Cerebral trypanosomiasis in naturally-infected cattle in the Lambwe Valley, south Nyanza, Kenya. AB - Surveys in Zebu cattle in the Lambwe Valley in 1980 indicated that many (up to 70%) were infected with trypanosomes. The predominant parasite was Trypanosoma brucei sspl followed by T. congolense. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed a high proportion of animals with pleocytosis and elevated total CSF protein. Trypanosomes were detected in CSF and signs of a central nervous system (CNS) disease were observed. Histopathological lesions in the CNS were identical to those found in experimentally-infected cattle and consisted of perivascular infiltrations, swollen endothelium of vessels, infiltration of the vascular wall, and perivascular oedema. The severest cases showed rarefaction, astrocytosis and areas of necrosis. Infected cattle transported to the Veterinary Research Laboratory were studied for up to four years. Absence of trypanosomes from the peripheral blood was common, and even subinoculation of lymph node aspirates and CSF were usually negative. Death was preceded by a period of weight loss and the development of severe CNS signs. An attempt to cure animals with Mel-B treatment failed. Serum from naturally-infected cattle neutralized T. b. rhodesiense stocks collected in the same area. PMID- 2619390 TI - Experimental infection of goats with Trypanosoma brucei ssp. and effects of treatment with suramin and Mel-B. AB - A stock of Trypanosoma brucei ssp. isolated from a naturally-infected goat in the Lambwe Valley, Kenya, induced cerebral trypanosomiasis in experimentally-infected goats. Six of nine goats with cerebral trypanosomiasis induced by this stock were cured by a single high dose of suramin (50 mg kg-1). Two other goats appeared to be cured with this dosage of suramin but later developed abnormal central nervous system (CNS) signs and parasitaemia. Parasites first appeared in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and then in the blood and lymph nodes. Mel-B was also effective against primary and relapse cerebral trypanosomiasis in goats. PMID- 2619391 TI - Effectiveness of WR 163577 against animal trypanosomes in goats and mice. AB - A bisquinaldine, 1,6-bis-(6-amino-2-methyl-4-quinolylamino) hexane, was tested against Trypanosoma brucei ssp. in goats and against T. brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax in mice. At doses of 25 and 100 mg kg-1, the drug protected goats for at least 90 days against blood challenge with T. brucei ssp. Fifty to sixty per cent of goats challenged 180 days after treatment were protected, but all goats challenged 270 days after treatment became infected. In mice, bisquinaldine also had a marked effect on T. brucei, but only a minimal effect on T. vivax and no apparent effect on T. congolense. No drug toxicity was noted in mice even at doses of 2000 mg kg-1. Both a short-term (25 and 100 mg kg-1) and long term (100 mg kg-1) toxicity was apparent in goats treated with bisquinaldine. PMID- 2619392 TI - Trypanosoma vivax: disseminated intravascular coagulation in cattle. AB - Five crossbred cattle infected with Trypanosoma vivax (Likoni) by Glossina morsitans developed capillary haemorrhages at the onset of parasitaemia, followed by the presence of occult blood in faecal samples and eventually melena. Two animals required treatment to survive, on days 13 and 38 respectively. The other three animals cleared their parasitaemias without treatment. Packed cell volume (PCV) levels decreased in all animals to levels ranging from 7.5 to 17%. Relapse in a treated animal initiated marked haemorrhage and a loss of 14 PCV units during a six-day period. Thrombocytopenia was common to all animals, and thrombocytes decreased to levels of 4000/microliters of blood. All animals developed increased levels of fibrinogen and fibrin monomer. Prolonged prothrombin times were found in all animals, and activated partial thromboplastin times were also extended in the two animals with high parasitaemias. PMID- 2619393 TI - Natural and acquired resistance to Trypanosoma vivax in cattle. AB - Zebu x European (Z x E) crossbred cattle suffered a more severe course of disease than Boran cattle when infected with Trypanosoma vivax (Likoni) by Glossina morsitans. All Z x E animals in this study required Berenil treatment while all Borans self-cured the infection without treatment. The more severe disease in Z x E animals was characterized by longer periods of patent infection and fever, more severe anaemia and greater likelihood of haemorrhage. Cattle previously infected and cured with Berenil showed resistance and self-cured challenge infections. After self-cure cattle remained immune to tsetse fly challenge with the homologous trypanosome stock for long periods. Immunity induced by infection and drug or self-cure appeared to be specific for the homologous stock, since cattle immune to T. vivax (Likoni) showed no resistance when challenged with stocks of T. vivax isolated in Lugala, Uganda or Galana, Kenya. Severe haemorrhages, most prominent in the digestive tract, were seen in some infected cattle before treatment. PMID- 2619394 TI - Effects of splenectomy on Trypanosoma congolense infection in cattle. AB - The role of the spleen in cattle infected with Trypanosoma congolense was studied by comparing levels of parasitaemia, blood cell values, and body weights of intact and splenectomized cattle. A total of 28 Zebu x Hereford steers were used in two separate experiments. Seven animals were splenectomized at least four weeks prior to infection and two others were splenectomized 128 days after infection. Splenectomized animals were compared to 12 intact infected animals and seven intact uninfected controls. The splenectomized animals suffered no less severe anemia and no higher parasitaemia than the intact, infected cattle. Splenectomy in two animals during infection had no effect on packed cell volumes, parasitaemia or survival. Splenectomized cattle have lower levels of circulating lymphocytes following treatment than intact animals; also, the splenectomized steers lost more weight during the active infection. PMID- 2619395 TI - Trypanosoma congolense: erythrocyte indices, plasma iron turnover and effects of treatment in infected cattle. AB - Early during the course of Trypanosoma congolense infection in cattle decreases in PCV occurred and coincided with increases in both MCV and MCH. The indices reached highest levels between eight and 12 weeks post-infection. By week 20 of infection MCV and MCH had decreased to pre-infection levels even though a substantial anemia persisted. Serum iron levels were elevated at eight weeks postinfection. (Infected 271 mg dl-1 v. control 140 mg dl-1) but decreased to low levels in infected animals by Week 28 (63 mg dl-1). At eight weeks post-infection PITR was elevated in infected animals (infected 2.6 mg dl-1 day-1 v. control 0.82 mg dl-1 day-1). By Week 28, however, PITR had fallen in infected animals to 0.62 mg dl-1 day-1 indicating a severe dyshaemopoesis since PCV levels averaged only 22%. Cattle which were treated with Berenil or that self-cured the infection had normal iron parameters when tested 61 weeks post-infection. Cattle treated early during the course of infection showed a significantly greater PCV response that those treated later during infection. PMID- 2619396 TI - Demographic characteristics of the Lambwe Valley population. AB - Thirty-four per cent of the population (11,079) in the Lambwe Valley study site was under the age of 10, and 59% were under the age of 20. The population was equally divided among males and females (M/F 0.99). The crude birth rate averaged 45%; the death rate was 8% and the natural increase averaged 37%. Infant and child mortality was 66% and 108% respectively. The average household size was 8.4 individuals. The population migrated to the Lambwe Valley primarily from other areas in Kenya, although 13% were from Tanzania. The predominant tribal group was Luo (59%) followed by the Abasuba (38%). A few Luyha and Kisii were also encountered. Population increased by 3.5-fold in the 1960s, followed by a 2.5 fold increase in the 1970s. Due to an aerial spray tsetse control programme, sleeping sickness had a low prevalence in October 1981 (one of 5749). Of 339 individuals confirmed as sleeping sickness patients by hospital records from within the study site 320 (94.3%) were traced to their homes. Mortality in domestic cattle (40%), goats (47%), sheep (55%), and dogs (50%) had occurred over the previous two years during an outbreak of trypanosomiasis. PMID- 2619397 TI - Epidemiology of Rhodesian sleeping sickness in the Lambwe Valley, Kenya. AB - A total of 912 cases of sleeping sickness have been recorded from the Lambwe Valley from 1959 to 1984. After a period of decreasing prevalence in the 1970s an outbreak of disease occurred between 1980 and 1984. The incidence of disease for this five-year period was highest in areas adjoining the Ruma National Park, reaching 54% in Area I. Attack rates were highest in the 50+ age group (125) and children had significantly lower attack rates (8%) in this area of peridomestic transmission. Sex ratios of patients (M/F) were near 1.0 in areas in closest proximity to the thickets in the National Park, while in distant areas the ratios rose to 6.0. The distribution of the number of patients within different households was studied; fewer households than expected had 0 or one patient, and more than expected had three or more patients. No difference in attack rates were found between Nilotic and Bantu groups. Twelve different zymodemes were found in 136 stocks of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Four new zymodemes appeared in 1980 in the latest outbreak and accounted for 73% of the stocks isolated from man during this outbreak. Neutralization tests indicated that each trypanosome zymodeme may also represent a different serodeme. PMID- 2619398 TI - Presenting features of Rhodesian sleeping sickness patients in the Lambwe Valley, Kenya. AB - During a recent outbreak of Rhodesian sleeping sickness in the Lambwe Valley no asymptomatic Rhodesian sleeping sickness patients were found although 54% of the primary patients had mild symptoms and 9% were stuporous or comatose at presentation. The duration of symptoms was three months or less in 90% of the patients. Headache, weakness, joint and back pains and weight loss were claimed by at least 75% of the patients, while 82% of the females reported amenorrhoea and 70% of the males claimed impotency. Physical examination revealed lymphadenopathy in 86% but fever in only 36% of the patients, while chancres were found in only 16%. Patients had significantly lower levels of haemoglobin and thrombocytes than controls and their erythrocyte sedimentation rates were elevated. A comparison of both blood group and haemoglobin type between patients and controls yielded no significant differences. Fifty-seven per cent of the primary patients reporting mild symptoms had abnormal levels of leucocytes in their CSF. All relapse patients had abnormal CSF parameters. Levels of serum urea nitrogen were significantly elevated in patients, but SGOT, SGPT and total bilirubin were not. Levels of albumin and beta-globulin in patients were significantly lower than controls while gamma-globulin was elevated. Mean serum IgM levels in patients were elevated to nearly three-fold those of controls, but 35% of the individual patient values fell within the 95% range of control values. Some patients had extended prothrombin and thrombin times while fibrinogen levels were significantly elevated. No patients reported haemorrhage, and none was seen. PMID- 2619399 TI - Treatment of Rhodesian sleeping sickness in Kenya. AB - In a study of 269 sleeping sickness patients treated with Mel-B, 14 (5.2%) died during treatment. With total dosages of at least 30 ml (1.08 g), 1.4% relapsed and another 6.4% died, mostly of unknown causes, within three years of treatment, giving a success rate of 92.1% over the three years. Mel-B was used to treat 55 relapses after suramin therapy with 1.8% deaths during treatment, 3.6% relapses, and 92.7% success over at least three years. Apparent drug resistance to Mel-B was found in three patients who continued to relapse after repeated treatments. During 1980, 51 patients were treated with suramin on the basis of clinical condition without benefit of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. Subsequently 49% of these patients relapsed within three years of treatment. When 29 patients were treated on the basis of CSF evaluation only two (7%) relapsed. PMID- 2619400 TI - [Production of lincomycin by Micromonospora halophytica culture]. AB - A Micromonospara culture designated as 991/78 with activity against gram-positive cocci and bacteria was isolated from samples of silt-covered substrates from the Amu-Darya. Directed screening on a selective medium supplemented with lincomycin in an amount of 50-100 micrograms/ml was used. Identification of the antibiotic produced by the culture showed it to be lincomycin. By its taxonomic features the culture was classified as belonging to Micromonospora (subgroup II, Cinnamomea) and in particular to M. halophytica (Weinstein, Luedemann, Oden, Wagman, 1968). Up to now, it was known that lincomycin was produced only by Streptomyces cultures. PMID- 2619401 TI - [Effect of glycerin on the biosynthesis of heliomycin by Streptomyces olivocinereus]. AB - Glycerol as the sole carbon source was added to the medium or biosynthesis of heliomycin by Streptomyces olivocinereus and the effect of its concentration on the culture growth and antibiotic production was studied. The culture growth and the amount of the antibiotic synthesized per 1 unit of the fermentation broth were limited by glycerol added in quantities of 0.05 to 1 per cent. Further increasing of the glycerol concentration had no significant effect on the culture growth and antibiotic biosynthesis. The amount of the antibiotic synthesized per 1 unit of the mycelial mass relatively slightly depended on the glycerol concentration. The rate of glycerol consumption by the young 24-hour culture in batch fermentations markedly exceeded that of glycerol consumption by the 48-hour culture. The younger mycelium significantly increased its rate of glycerol consumption when the initial concentration was increased whereas the rate of glycerol consumption by the more mature mycelium did not depend on the initial concentration of the carbon source (within 0.5-2 per cent). The rate of heliomycin biosynthesis practically slightly depended on the initial concentration of glycerol. PMID- 2619402 TI - [Effect of the seeding culture media on the biosynthesis of eremomycin]. AB - Relationship of eremomycin biosynthesis to the quantity and quality of the inoculate (age, aeration rate, number of subcultures) was studied. The seed medium composition for cultivating the inoculate was defined. A procedure for cultivation of the seed material for biosynthesis of eremomycin providing an increase in the antibiotic yield by 24 per cent was developed. PMID- 2619403 TI - [Determining the biological activity of levorin by the international standard of candicidin]. AB - Levorin and candicidin represent close mixtures of heptaenic components. Their physicochemical and biological properties were also close. The antibiotics showed similar diffusive properties in their assay by the agar diffusion method. This made it possible to determine activity of the Soviet levorin standard by the International candicidin standard. For defining the levorin unit in the international units of candicidin, a scaling ratio of 9 was proposed. PMID- 2619404 TI - [Determining the sensitivity of Pseudomonas to chemotherapeutic preparations by the micromethod in liquid synthetic medium]. AB - Ever increasing interest is being displayed lately to simple, economic and standard systems for assay of antibiotic sensitivity of microbes with microtechniques in nutrient media requiring no raw materials in short supply. For determining sensitivity of Pseudomonas spp. to chemotherapeutics a liquid synthetic medium balanced by its cationic composition and containing no competing agents of sulfanylamides was used. Three procedures were comparatively estimated: the method of serial dilutions in the liquid medium with using immunological trays, the method of serial dilutions in agar and the diffusion test. In the estimation 185 strains of various Pseudomonas species were used: P. aeruginosa, P. cepacia, P. fluorescens, P. stutzeri, P. putida and P. pseudomallei. The method using the liquid synthetic medium and trays provided more precise interpretation of the results of the assay of the Pseudomonas spp. sensitivity to aminoglycosides, tetracycline, polymyxin and sulfamonomethoxine that the routine procedures. It showed some other advantages such as simplicity, low cost, low medium requirement and glassware economy. The application of the method allowed to exclude the use of expensive imported nutrient media in assay of sulfanylamide sensitivity. PMID- 2619405 TI - [Normal microflora of the pharyngeal mucosa]. AB - Aerobic microflora of the throat mucosa was studied in 518 healthy persons aged 1 to 50 years. On the basis of the study results, criteria for estimating microbiocenoses of the upper respiratory tracts were defined. It was shown that the throat symbiotic flora included three groups of microorganisms playing different roles in the development of microbiocenosis. The indigenous group consisted of representatives of Streptococcus and Neisseria and was characterized by permanent (90-100 per cent) and intensive (3-8 lg CFU/ml) colonization, broad species spectrum, associations of 2-3 and more species and no significant influence of sociological, age and season factors. The representatives of the facultative group i.e. bacteria belonging to Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium and Haemophilus were less frequent (25-50 per cent). The intensity of their isolation was lower (1-4 lg CFU/ml) and their species spectrum was narrow. The microorganisms of the transitory group were characterized by low frequency (5-20 per cent) and insignificant contamination of the throat mucosa (1-2 lg CFU/ml). The nature of the colonization was monospecific. The group was more numerous by generic composition (Candida, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Branhamella, Moraxella and Micrococcus). However, it was generally limited by one colonization type. The facultative and transitory groups were subject to age and season variation. They were also different in urban and rural populations. PMID- 2619406 TI - [Pharmacokinetic properties of pancreatic and microbial ribonucleases]. AB - Pharmacokinetic properties of pancreatic RNAase (RNAase I), RNAase of Bacillus intermedius (RNAase Bi) and RNAase of Streptomyces rimosus (RNAase Sr) were studied on albino rats. RNAase Bi was shown to be characterized by a higher rate and level of absorption into the systemic blood flow, higher retention time, lower elimination from the kidneys and tissues of the peripheral chamber (skeletal muscles) and higher distribution in the other animal organs such as the heart, spleen and brain. It was concluded by the experimental results that the higher antiviral efficacy of RNAase Bi (RNAase Bi greater than RNAase Sr greater than RNAase I), as was known from the literature data, and the ability to stimulate the immunity correlated with higher biological availability of the enzyme in the animals and could be due to its pharmacokinetic properties. PMID- 2619407 TI - [Effect of tetracycline on arylamidase activity in the liver of rabbits of different age]. AB - The effect of chlortetracycline on activity of the liver aryl amidases was studied. The antibiotic was used in a dose of 15 mg/kg for 6 days. It was noted that the use of chlortetracycline resulted in increased activity of the liver aryl amidases in young and old animals. In mature rabbits the aryl amidase activity under the experimental conditions lowered. PMID- 2619408 TI - [Drug sensitivity of Candida in patients with kidney diseases receiving immunosuppressive therapy]. AB - It was shown that prednisolone and its combination with azathioprine++ increased contamination of the patients with yeast-like fungi and promoted development of candidiasis in them to a greater extent than cyclophosphamide. In the patients treated with the immunodepressants there was observed a carrier state in regard to various yeast-like fungi: 12 species belonging to 6 genera were isolated from the pathological materials. Determination of sensitivity to antifungal drugs in 200 Candida strains revealed that amphotericin B was the most active agent. Then followed mycoheptin, nystatin and nitroxolin. Levorin was the least active drug. The MICs of the drugs for the majority of the cultures were 0.5, 4-8, 8-16 and 32 64 micrograms/ml respectively. Candida resistant strains (mainly to levorin and mycoheptin) were isolated only from recipients of kidney transplants during the early postoperative period when the patients were subjected to intensive immunodepressive and prophylactic antifungal therapy. Among the fungi of the Candida genus C. guillermondii and C. parapsilosis proved to be the most resistant. Under the hospital conditions and in vitro studies it was found that cyclophosphamide and combinations of prednisolone with cytostatics increased resistance of Candida to the antifungal drugs. Rapid increasing of the fungi resistance to levorin and mycoheptin was observed. The increase in the resistance to amphotericin B was somewhat lower and that to nitroxolin and nystatin was extremely low. The study of the combined effect of the immunodepressants and antifungal drugs demonstrated that the immunodepressants increased the antifungal activity of amphotericin B, levorin and nitroxolin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619409 TI - [Resistance to antibacterial drugs of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from healthy children and from those with Salmonella infections]. AB - A total of 2329 Enterobacteriaceae strains in bacterial associations isolated from healthy children and children with salmonellosis were tested for their resistance to antimicrobial drugs. It was shown that the aerobic microbial associations isolated from the healthy children contained higher numbers of strains sensitive or resistant to 1-3 antibiotics while the microbial associations from the children patients with salmonellosis treated with antibiotics contained higher numbers of strains resistant to 6-8 antibiotics. Resistance of the aerobic bacterial associations was mainly defined by resistance of E. coli and K. pneumoniae. The feces of the healthy children never treated with antimicrobial drugs contained strains resistant to them. The use of the antibiotics in the treatment led to increasing numbers of the resistant bacteria and changing species composition of the bacterial associations. PMID- 2619410 TI - [Comparative evaluation of the embryotoxic effect of various antibiotics]. AB - A broad spectrum of antibacterial antibiotics used in treatment of purulent inflammatory diseases in pregnant women was studied experimentally. The antibiotics included oxacillin, fusidin, kanamycin, gentamicin, cefuroxime, cephalothin and tetracycline. The embryotoxic action of the antibiotics was investigated on embryos of rats cultivated in vitro. The mediated antenatal action of tetracycline and gentamicin was studied during various gestation terms before implantation (days 1 to 7), during organogenesis (days 8 to 14) and during fetal growth++ (days 14 to 20). Prior to the delivery the data on the intrauterine death, development of the fetoplacental unit and the presence of external and internal anomalies were considered. The placenta, liver and kidneys of the fetus were examined morphologically. It was shown that tetracycline and gentamicin had embryotoxic properties as evidenced by a higher intrauterine death rate and congenital anomalies in individual fetuses. PMID- 2619411 TI - Morphometric and volumetric comparisons of human spermatozoa. AB - Morphometric measures and volumes of spermatozoa were determined for 28 human ejaculates which were previously analyzed for semen volume, sperm concentration, morphology, motility, and fertility by in vitro fertilization procedures (IVF). Morphometric measurements of sperm heads were analyzed using a Zeiss Videoplan computer, while spermatozoan volume was determined with an Elzone particle analyzer. Though a strong relationship was anticipated, correlations between the volumetric data and different morphometric measures revealed poor, insignificant values. This lack of correspondence may be due to individual differences in the thickness of the spermatozoa within a sample. Twenty-two of the ejaculates used in this study were classified as fertile and six were infertile according to the IVF procedure results. Correlations between the morphometric measurements and the volume determinations in the fertile group were all positive. In contrast, those of the infertile group were all negative with one exception (width vs. volume). PMID- 2619412 TI - Usefulness of sperm penetration assay in fertility predictions. AB - The competence of the sperm penetration assay (SPA) to predict male fertility, as determined by normal sperm morphology and the fertilizing potential, as shown by human in vitro fertilization (IVF), was investigated. A significant correlation was obtained between normal sperm morphology and the SPA (phi = 0.623). A weaker correlation was however obtained with human IVF (phi = 0.397). Notwithstanding this weak association, a positive SPA (greater than 10%) was highly predictive (95%) of human IVF success. In contrast, a negative SPA (less than or equal to 10%) was associated with a high rate of false-negatives (65%). The SPA does however warn that a male factor may be present, as the mean fertilization rate of this group of patients was markedly reduced. The preincubation period for the spermatozoa did not play a major role in the predictive ability of a SPA outcome. PMID- 2619413 TI - Transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by donor semen. AB - Therapeutic insemination by donor (TID) is being used with increasing frequency. Because many diseases, some of which are lethal, can be transmitted through semen, the American Fertility Society established guidelines for use of donor sperm. They limit TID to cases of male infertility or hereditary/genetic disorders. Donor selection requires good health and absence of genetic abnormalities; criteria for semen including normal sperm motility, concentration, and normal morphology, and blood screening for infectious agents. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing should be performed initially in donors for fresh semen inseminations. If positive, the assay is verified with a Western blot test; if negative, the donor should be screened at 6-month intervals. Frozen samples should not be used until the 180 day reevaluation of the donor. Many studies show higher pregnancy rates using fresh rather than frozen semen samples for insemination. New methods of cryopreservation minimize the deleterious effects of freezing. If these effects, namely decreased sperm motility and impaired penetration ability, are eliminated, pregnancy rates can be expected to rise. Frozen semen is preferable because it allows time for sexually transmitted diseases to manifest themselves and for specimens from those donors to be rejected prior to use. PMID- 2619414 TI - Hypoprolactinemia as related to seminal quality and serum testosterone. AB - Semen quality and serum testosterone were studied in six men with hypoprolactinemia (less than or equal to 6 ng/ml) and in normoprolactinemic controls. The incidence of hypoprolactinemia in 92 men attending an infertility clinic was 7.5%. Males with hypoprolactinemia showed in high percentage of disorders (oligozoospermia, 50%; asthenospermia, 75%; hypofunction of seminal vesicles, 67%; and hypoandrogenism, 67%). Hypoprolactinemia is a clinical disorder associated mainly with poor sperm motility. PMID- 2619415 TI - Efficacy of zona-free hamster egg sperm penetration assay as a predictor of in vitro fertilization. AB - The efficacy of the zona-free hamster egg sperm penetration assay (SPA) as a predictor of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is studied. Indications for IVF were tubal factors in 35 couples and male factors in 24 couples. The diagnostic characteristics of SPA in reference to IVF for the whole group (n = 59) were reasonably reliable. Sensitivity was 74%, specificity was 84%, and diagnostic accuracy was 81%. However in patients with male factors, SPA was less reliable in terms of sensitivity (70%), specificity (57%), and diagnostic accuracy (63%), than in patients with tubal factors where the indicators were 80%, 97%, and 94%, respectively. Semen from patients with male infertility shared notable variations in terms of sperm density and motility which may account for the low SPA predictivity. SPA seems to be a useful screening test for prediction of IVF outcome. However other semen variables should be considered before interpretation, especially in male infertility where the diagnostic accuracy is low. PMID- 2619416 TI - [The role of phadiatop in the screening of respiratory allergy]. AB - Phadiatop is a new in vitro screening test for respiratory allergy. This test, based on the RAST procedure, detects in serum, the presence of specific IgE to a mixture of common inhalent allergens. Among 70 patients (26 children and 44 adults) consulting for respiratory syndrome, Phadiatop was positive in 31 cases. There were a good correlation between this new test and skin tests (59% for adults and 92% for children), total IgE (70% for adults and 65% for children) and RAST (93% for adults and 96% for children). Phadiatop, with a specificity of 100%, a sensitivity of 82% (76% for adults and 92% for children) and an efficiency of 90% (86% for adults and 96% for children), is a more accurate test than total IgE and could be an excellent in vitro screening test for respiratory allergy. PMID- 2619417 TI - [Nematode parasites of birds of the fauna in Tunisia]. AB - 330 birds of Tunisia were necropsied; they belong to 73 species among 29 families and 13 orders. We so collect 36 species of nematodes from 9 families. The relative importance of these is variable. The best represented are: Capillariidae (6 species), Spiruridae (6 species), Acuariidae (9 species) and Filariidae (6 species). The parasitism by nematodes is not uniform. Among the 330 birds autopsied only 51 were parasited by nematodes (15.45%) among 25 of the examined birds species (34.2%). Among these 25, sixteen (64%) presented only one species of parasitic nematode, six (24%) arboured two, (8%) three and only one, (partridges) presents six species of nematodes. PMID- 2619418 TI - [A rapid method of grouping beta-hemolytic streptococci using extemporaneous coagglutination]. AB - Extemporaneous coagglutination procedure for the serological grouping of beta hemolytic streptococci is reported. Streptococcal group antigens were extracted with nitrous acid. 250 strains of groups A, B, C, F and G streptococci were tested with this method. An agreement of 100% was found between this method and the Lancefield capillary precipitation procedure. Extemporaneous coagglutination method was found to be rapid, reliable, easy and economical and could be adopted in any routine diagnostic laboratory. PMID- 2619419 TI - Role of endothelium in the secondary relaxation following contraction by various agonists in isolated rabbit superior mesenteric artery rings. AB - In isolated rabbit superior mesenteric artery rings, noradrenaline, phenylephrine and angiotensin II produce an initial contraction which is followed by a relaxation phase. No relaxation phase was observed following K+-induced contraction. This relaxation phase is significantly decreased for all agonists tested when endothelium intact rings are pretreated with methylene blue. Hydroquinone pretreatment also causes a significant reduction in the relaxation phase induced by noradrenaline and angiotensin II and completely abolished the response to phenylephrine. Removal of endothelium abolishes the secondary relaxation phase of noradrenaline and phenylephrine, but only reduces that elicited by angiotensin II. These results are taken as an indirect evidence indicating that the release of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor from endothelium of superior mesenteric artery rings by noradrenaline, phenylephrine and angiotensin II is probably one of the underlying mechanisms for the relaxation phases following the contractions elicited by these agonists. PMID- 2619420 TI - Effects of pantethine, cysteamine and pantothenic acid on open-field behavior and brain catecholamines in rats. AB - Cysteamine (1.95 mM/kg) markedly decreased the locomotor, rearing and grooming activities, as well as the number of defecation boluses in an open-field test. An equimolar dose of pantethine reduced the locomotor activity to a lesser extent, but has the same potency in decreasing the number of defecation boluses, whereas pantothenic acid did not affect the behavior of the rats. Cysteamine, and to a lesser extent pantethine, reduced the noradrenaline and increased the dopamine and DOPAC concentrations in the hypothalamus. Pantothenic acid itself did not influence the hypothalamic catecholamine concentrations. These results suggest that the lower efficacy of pantethine compared to cysteamine on both behavioral and neurochemical parameters is probably due to a rate-limiting activity of the enzyme pantetheinase in the conversion of pantetheine to cysteamine. PMID- 2619421 TI - L-alphacetylmethadol (LAAM) effects on cardiac muscarinic receptors. AB - Chronic treatment with l-alphacetylmethadol (LAAM) reduced the number of myocardial muscarinic receptors measured by either antagonist binding with [3H] quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) or agonist binding with [3H]-oxotremorine ([3H]OXO). The affinities of these binding sites for either [3H]QNB or [3H]OXO were unchanged by LAAM treatment. The ability of LAAM to antagonize the binding of [3H]QNB (125 pM) or [3H]OXO (8 nM) to myocardial membranes was tested. The measured affinity constant for LAAM was more than 200 times higher than atropine and 6 times lower than pilocarpine vs [3H]OXO binding, while the affinity constant for LAAM vs [3H]OXO was 1500 times higher than atropine, 30 times higher than methacholine but only 1.5 times higher than pilocarpine vs [3H]OXO binding. In isolated rat hearts, LAAM produced a concentration-dependent decrease in resting heart rate which was partially sensitive to inhibition by atropine. These data indicate that LAAM may act as a weak or partial agonist at myocardial muscarinic receptor sites. PMID- 2619422 TI - Effects of aprindine and disopyramide on reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and cardiac function in isolated rat hearts. AB - The effects of aprindine and disopyramide on reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and cardiac function were investigated in the isolated perfused rat heart. Occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 15 min and subsequent reperfusion provoked ventricular tachycardia in 9 out of 10 hearts and ventricular fibrillation in 7 out of 10. Aprindine or disopyramide was infused 15 min prior to the coronary occlusion in concentrations of 0.1 and 5.4 micrograms/ml, which were comparable to therapeutic free plasma concentrations in patients. Aprindine significantly decreased the incidence of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, compared with control (2/10, p less than 0.01 and 1/10, p less than 0.05, respectively). Disopyramide depressed only the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia (3/10, p less than 0.05). Neither of the drugs induced changes in heart rate, left ventricular systolic pressure, coronary flow or PR intervals, but they significantly improved the recovery of the left ventricular systolic pressure within 15 min after reperfusion, at which time most of the hearts had restored sinus rhythm. It is concluded that, at clinically effective concentrations, aprindine and disopyramide inhibit reperfusion-induced arrhythmias without deteriorating cardiac function in the isolated rat heart. PMID- 2619423 TI - Effects of guanabenz acetate on the pacemaker activity of rabbit sinoatrial node cells. AB - The effects of guanabenz acetate on the electrophysiological properties of isolated rabbit sinoatrial node were studied using conventional microelectrode and double-microelectrode voltage clamp methods and were compared with those of clonidine and guanethidine. In spontaneously beating sinoatrial node preparations, guanabenz decreased the heart rate, the maximum rate of rise (Vmax), the action potential amplitude and the rate of diastolic depolarization in a dose-dependent fashion, whereas the action potential duration at 50% repolarization was prolonged. In comparison with clonidine and guanethidine, the inhibitory potency of guanethidine on the heart rate is weaker than that of guanabenz and clonidine. On the current systems, the voltage clamp experiments showed that guanabenz reduced the slow inward current and the time-dependent potassium outward current. These observations indicate that guanabenz acts directly on cardiac tissues and its bradycardic action can be mainly explained by a reduction of delayed current systems. PMID- 2619424 TI - Cardiovascular and lethal effects of cocaine in anesthetized dogs and guinea pigs. AB - Cardiovascular and lethal effects of i.v. cocaine infusion were studied in anesthetized mongrel dogs and Hartley guinea-pigs. Dogs were anesthetized with enflurane (2.25 vol%) or urethane (1500-1700 mg/kg i.v.) and guinea-pigs with urethane (1000 mg/kg i.p.). The rate of i.v. cocaine infusion was 0.91 mg/kg/min for dogs and 1.9 mg/kg/min for guinea-pigs. In spontaneously breathing dogs and guinea-pigs, death occurred by respiratory arrest, while in artificially ventilated dogs, the terminal stage of cocaine intoxication was peripheral vascular failure. Disturbances in cardiac rhythm (AV-dissociation, ectopic pacemaking activity or irregular rate) were not observed unless mean arterial blood pressure fell to levels inadequate for coronary perfusion. All animals showed an increase in the atrio-ventricular conduction interval (PR-interval). Cardiac arrest (fibrillation or standstill) was never the primary cause of death. Sympathomimetic actions of cocaine, as monitored by heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), were not observed in dogs, while guinea-pigs exhibited only a consistent rise in MAP which was not accompanied by other signs of sympathetic activity. Changes in body temperature were not observed in either species. It is concluded that in anesthetized animals, the predominant cardiovascular and lethal effects of cocaine are the result of its local anesthetic (membrane-stabilizing) action, and that the contribution of its sympathomimetic effects, due to inhibition of neuronal uptake, is masked by its local anesthetic properties. PMID- 2619425 TI - The effect of daunomycin on platelets in vitro. AB - Daunomycin (rubidomycin, daunorubicin), an anthracycline antimetabolite used in the therapy of acute leukemia, is highly toxic to both normal and malignant cells. Treatment with daunomycin may produce thrombocytopenia and bleeding which have been attributed to bone marrow toxicity. We have examined daunomycin to determine if a direct drug effect on platelet structure and function could contribute to a hemorrhagic diathesis in some patients on therapy. Normal citrated platelet-rich plasma was reacted in vitro with daunomycin and/or collagen with structural assessment by phase and electron microscopy and functional studies by platelet aggregation, [2-14C]5-hydroxytryptamine release studies and assays for released cytoplasmic marker enzyme, lactic dehydrogenase, in the supernatant fluid. High [greater than 0.04 mg/ml (greater than 0.07 mM)] concentrations of daunomycin were associated with structural changes, specifically by platelet swelling, vacuole formation and mitochondrial swelling with interruption of the trilaminar membrane. Platelets, exposed to low doses of daunomycin, 0.001 to 0.01 mg/ml (0.00177-0.0177 mM) of platelet-rich plasma, were dysfunctional with decreased aggregation with collagen and decreased [2-14C]5 hydroxytryptamine release. These studies indicate that daunomycin has a direct effect on platelets in vitro which may explain certain instances of bleeding observed in some patients undergoing therapy. PMID- 2619426 TI - Opposing influences of D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors activation on morphine induced antinociception. AB - Subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of morphine (3-9 mg/kg) to mice induces a dose related antinociceptive effect in the tail-flick test. In animals treated with different doses of apomorphine (0.1-3 mg/kg, s.c.) the antinociceptive effect of morphine changed; low doses of apomorphine were found to potentiate, whereas higher doses of the drug decreased the antinociception induced by morphine. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of the D-2 agonist bromocriptine (0.5-2 mg/kg) increased the antinociceptive action of morphine dose-dependently. This potentiation was decreased in animals pretreated with sulpiride. The D-1 agonist SKF 38393 (4-12 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a reduction of morphine antinociception in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of SKF 38393 was decreased in animals pretreated with SCH 23390. Theophylline (12.5-50 mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment of animals decreased the morphine antinociception. Single administration of SCH 23390 increased the base line latency, while bromocriptine, SKF 38393, sulpiride, theophylline or apomorphine did not change the latency in the tail-flick test. It may be postulated that D-1 receptor activation decreases, while D-2 receptor stimulation increases the antinociceptive effects of morphine. Whether the effects of D-1 and D-2 receptors are mediated through the changes in cAMP levels remains to be clarified. PMID- 2619427 TI - Pharmacokinetics of dipyridamole-beta-cyclodextrin complex in dogs. AB - Plasma concentrations and urinary and fecal excretion of intact dipyridamole were followed in dogs after oral administration of dipyridamole-beta-cyclodextrin complex (dip-beta-CD) (capsules containing 37.5 and 75 mg of active principle), of commercial dipyridamole and of dipyridamole. HCl (tablets and capsules of 75 mg of active principle, respectively), according to a crossover design. Dip-beta CD afforded significantly shorter lag-times, higher Cmax, smaller interindividual variations of plasma concentrations and greater urinary excretion than the other two preparations, as a consequence of a better bioavailability of the former one. This amelioration seems to be due not only to an increased wettability and water solubility of the product, but also to a finer molecular dispersion in the gastrointestinal fluids which favors the contact of dipyridamole with a greater absorption surface. PMID- 2619428 TI - Are muscarinic receptors present in rat pial or intracerebral vessels? AB - Experiments were performed to determine whether muscarinic receptors were present within rat pial or intracerebral vessels. Localization of muscarinic receptors was determined by autoradiography using [3H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]-QNB) as a ligand on brain sections of the frontoparietal and the temporal cortex, the neostriatum and the hippocampus. [3H]-QNB was bound specifically to sections of rat brain in a manner consistent with the labelling of muscarinic receptors. A high density of muscarinic receptors was found primarily in the neostriatum, followed, in descending order, by the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus. However, no specific [3H]-QNB binding was observed at the level of either the pial or intraparenchymal vessels. On the basis of the present data, the existence of muscarinic receptors within rat pial arteries and arterioles, as well as within intracerebral vessels, seems to be highly questionable. PMID- 2619429 TI - Characterization of the contractile and dilatory responses to electrical field stimulation in guinea-pig and monkey isolated pial arteries. AB - Changes in vascular tone brought about by electrical field stimulation were studied in isolated guinea-pig and monkey pial arteries, using stimulus intensities similar to, or weaker than, those usually utilized by other investigators. In the guinea-pig, excitation of the smooth muscle cells was easily induced, even at low intensity stimulus parameters. This contraction faded upon repeated stimulation. Certain characteristics indicated that the response was neurogenic with excitation of perivascular sympathetic nerve terminals, despite the fact that it persisted after treatment with guanethidine and phentolamine and was only little reduced by tetrodotoxin; surgical sympathectomy or pretreatment with reserpine abolished the response, whereas removal of endothelium or mast cell degranulation was without effect. Attempts were made to further characterize the substance released. It was probably not noradrenaline, neuropeptide Y, adenosine triphosphate, serotonin, histamine or acetylcholine. In the monkey, similar low intensity stimulus parameters induced a fully tetrodotoxin-sensitive contractile response, attributable to the release of noradrenaline alone. By a minor increase in stimulus intensity, tetrodotoxin resistant contractions, probably due to direct smooth muscle activation, could easily be obtained in pial arteries from both species. Tests were also performed to elucidate whether a dilatation, caused by a neurogenic transmitter release, could be obtained in these vessels. In both species, however, only a tetrodotoxin resistant response was found, even at weak stimulus intensities, in agreement with previous observations in vessels from several other species. The present data illustrate the need for a careful choice of stimulus parameters when vascular tonic responses upon electrical field stimulation are used as an index for neurogenic release. They also demonstrate that such a response may, indeed, be neurogenic despite marked resistance to tetrodotoxin. PMID- 2619430 TI - [Various aspects of organogenesis of the colon in Gallus domesticus: morphologic observation]. AB - The authors have investigated the morphological aspects of the wall components of the developing colon in the chick embryo (Gallus domesticus) from the 7th to th 15th day of incubation. Particular attention has been given to the lumen recanalization, phenomenon which occurs also in other animal species. The most significant results can be summarized as follows: 1) the lumen is recanalized at the 7th day only at the proximal part of the colon (Fig. 1, Tav. 1), while at the distal tract it is still completely filled by an epithelial plug (Fig. 2, Tav. 1). Therefore the recanalization of the lumen takes place cranio-caudad. 2) At the 8th day the process of recanalization of the lumen shows, in the distal part of the colon, well defined modalities. Radially oriented intraepithelial spaces within the epithelium filling the lumen join other semilunar intercellular spaces, which are placed near the central part of the occluded lumen (Fig. 3). By the junction of a couple of radially oriented spaces with one semilunar space, an U-shaped intercellular space derives, which delimits an incoming epithelial fold (Tav. 3). Such a phenomenon is continued also during the 9th and 10th day of incubation (Fig. 6, Tav. 2). 3) At the 11th day the colonic lumen is completely open and, in its distal part, the appearance of the primordial previllous ridges can be observed (Fig. 7). In the proximal tract the previllous ridges develop one day later (Fig. 8). 4) At the 13th day, in the distal part of the colon, the first appearance of crypts occurs (Fig. 10). So, while the process of recanalization of the lumen is cranio-caudad, the formation of previllous ridges and crypts proceeds caudo-cranially. 5) From the 11th day onwards the lamina propria is actively involved in the process of formation of the previllous ridges. Only at the 14th day, in the distal part of the colon anlage, the appearance of the muscularis mucosae is observed (Fig. 11). 6) The muscle layer and the subserous stratum do not show appreciable morphological changes in the course the considered period of incubation. PMID- 2619431 TI - [Computerized morphometric analysis of the fiber composition of the upper and lower laryngeal nerves in humans]. AB - Phonation troubles often arise after surgical operations on the antero-lateral region of the neck in which the recurrent laryngeal ILN), was respected. This fact allows to consider the possibility that the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN), contains also fibres responsible of the motor innervation of some intrinsic muscles of the larynx. According to the suggestion that the fibre-analysis may permit to distinguish a motor from a sensory nerve (Tomasch and Schwarzacher), a computerized morphometric analysis on the fibres of the superior and inferior laryngeal nerves in the man was carried out. The nerves investigated were taken away from five patients subjected to a total laryngectomy. The fibre perimeter and the maximum diameter were evaluated in 1500 fibres in each nerve. The histograms of the obtained data shows that: 1) Two groups of fibres are distinguishable in the SLN: the first is composed by small diameter fibres that show one spike for both the parameters considered. The second group of larger fibres shows a lower spike with a larger basis. 2) In the ILN only a spike corresponding to the greatest fibres we observed for both the parameters considered. In conclusion it seems that the number of fibres of large diameter present in the SLN can justify a motor function of this nerve for some intrinsic muscles of the larynx other than the cricotiroideus. PMID- 2619432 TI - [Anatomic contribution to the study on the variety of fibrous formations of the arm in humans]. AB - The authors have examined an anatomical preparation of a human upper limb preserved in the Anatomical Museum in Bologna. The specimen was formed by bone, fibrous formations, musculus biceps brachii and musculus coracobrachialis. The soft parts were kept in situ and dried by mummification. The humerus showed abnormalities at its proximal extremity (Fig. 1) and the muscles displayed fibrous varieties: a) a fibrous sheet (Fig. 1, 2) connected the caput brevis of the musculus biceps brachii to the articular capsule of the shoulder joint; b) an aponevrosis (Fig. 1, 3) connected the musculus coracobrachialis to the same articular capsule and the humerus. These observations were discussed from an evolutionary and functional point of view. PMID- 2619433 TI - [Experimental study on the interruption of hepatic blood flow in obstructive jaundice, with special reference to the causes of death and prolonged jaundice after biliary decompression]. AB - The purpose of this investigation was to elucidate the influence of interruption of the hepatic blood flow on survival and on prolonged jaundice after biliary decompression in dogs with obstructive jaundice. There were three experimental groups. Two or three weeks after inducing obstructive jaundice by ligation of the common bile duct with cholecystectomy, the hepatic artery (group A), portal vein (group B) or both (group C) were interrupted for various intervals, with antibiotics administration. Biliary decompression was simultaneously performed with choledochoduodenostomy. The one week survival rate after the interruption of hepatic blood flow was more than 60% at 2 and 1 hours in group A, 20 and 10 minutes in group B, 10 and 5 minutes in group C at two and three weeks after biliary obstruction, respectively. Necrosis more than 50% of the liver was observed in early death cases. Edema and stasis in the bile canaliculi were markedly observed histologically in survivors in groups A and C, accompanied with significant elevations of serum T. Bil and GPT. The changes were greater in cases with longer periods of jaundice. In obstructive jaundice, hepatic artery occlusion causes hepatic necrosis, in spite of antibiotics administration, and may induce prolonged jaundice after biliary decompression. As an indicator of the prognosis, the serum total bile acid value was useful. PMID- 2619434 TI - Cholescintigraphic observation of the sphincter of Oddi motor activity in patients with gallstone. AB - In 36 cases with gallstones, biliary scintigraphy was performed before and after operation to prepare the time-activity curve in the juxta-papillary duodenum. This curve showed different patterns depending on the conditions of disease, and seemed to represent on aspect of the sphincter of Oddi phasic activity, in view of the exerted effect of caerulein administration. This method is useful as a non invasive one for the diagnosis of dynamic function of the sphincter of Oddi. PMID- 2619435 TI - [Single-daily-dose treatment of ceftriaxone for biliary tract infections and bacterial counts in bile]. AB - To evaluate the effects of ceftriaxone (CTRX) administered once daily, the biliary concentration of CTRX and daily changes in the bacterial count in bile from an indwelling T-tube were measured concomitantly. The effects on prophylaxis of postoperative infections after biliary tract surgery were also examined mainly due to clinical symptoms. The biliary CTRX levels increased rapidly and were sustained as high as 92.5-219 micrograms/ml in all patients even 24 hours after 2 g of CTRX was infused intravenously once daily. Five of 7 patients whose bile samples were positive for bacteria showed high CTRX levels in bile and almost no bacteria present after treatment. CTRX-sensitive bacteria eliminated 1 or 2 hours after the administration in response to the increase of biliary CTRX levels. The changes in bacteria count of bile may be closely related to CTRX antibiotic activity. As an antibiotic prophylaxis, other 18 patients with biliary diseases received intravenous infusion of 2 g of CTRX once daily for 5-7 days (mean 5.9 days). Thus, once-daily dose treatment of CTRX 2 g may have antibiotic effects on biliary infection and postoperative prophylaxis of biliary infections and it is indicated that the prolonged biliary levels of CTRX are essential for its efficacy. PMID- 2619436 TI - [Effect of intrapleural and/or intraperitoneal lentinan therapy on carcinomatous pleuritis and peritonitis with special reference to immunological evaluation]. AB - Eleven patients, seven with carcinomatous pleuritis and four with carcinomatous peritonitis, were treated with the intrapleural and/or intraperitoneal administration of Lentinan (4 mg/week X 4). And the following results were obtained. (1) Eight patients revealed a clinical effect; malignant effusion disappeared in two and diminished in two. In six, the cytological grade decreased. (2) Subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and pleural or peritoneal effusion mononuclear cells (PEMNC) were examined using monoclonal antibodies (OKT4, OKT8, Leu7, CD8 X CD11). These showed no change during the course of treatment. (3) NK activities of PBL didn't improved but those of PEMNC significantly improved (P less than 0.01) during this therapy. Anti-Daudi activities of PEMNC tended to be augmented during this therapy. Especially in effective cases, anti-Daudi activities were highly augmented. (4) As a side effect, only one showed an elevation of body temperature. These results indicate that intrapleural and/or intraperitoneal Lentinan administration is a useful treatment for carcinomatous pleuritis and peritonitis. PMID- 2619437 TI - [Leucine aminopeptidase activity levels in various brain regions in the rat. Effect of the acute administration of lithium]. AB - Lithium is widely accepted as an effective treatment in acute mania. However, the neurochemical mechanism of action of the ion still remains relatively obscure. In this work, the effect of acute lithium administration on Leu-aminopeptidase activity in discrete areas of the rat brain is described. Decreases in enzyme activity in the striatum and pituitary gland were observed. It is suggested that this enzyme plays a part in the mechanism of action of lithium through regulation of the activity of some neuroactive peptides. PMID- 2619438 TI - [Home care as a tool of community psychiatry]. AB - The present article tries to assess home care as tool of community mental health programs. To this end, we undertook a study with a sample of 56 patients who were visited in their own homes by workers of the Hortaleza Mental Health Center. The study reveals different conclusions about the characteristics and efficacy of this treatment modality. PMID- 2619439 TI - [Brain mapping studies in dyslexia]. AB - Brain EEG mapping has been recorded during three different conditions, rest closed eyes, rest open eyes, and reading task, in a group of 22 dyslexic children, age mean 9.3 years, range 8-11, and control group of normal readers of the same age. All the subjects were right-handed, and laterality was assessed through the Edinburgh test. The individual maps in dyslexic and controls were averaged, and mean maps of both groups were obtained for a very different experimental condition. Rest closed eyes maps of dyslexics and controls disclose a powerful and symmetric alpha over occipital areas, with higher energy peak at 8.5-9.5 Hz., without significant differences in both groups. Brain maps centered in the fast beta band, 18-25 Hz., disclose significant differences in control group versus dyslexics, with more power in control group over all areas. Our findings suggest less adequate brain activation in dyslexics during reading tasks. PMID- 2619440 TI - [Prognostic value of CAT scanning in spontaneous supratentorial cerebral hemorrhage. Multivariate study in 114 patients]. AB - Prognostic computed tomographic findings for 30-day outcome (survival or death) were retrospectively assessed in 114 patients with spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage. All were treated nonsurgically. CT scans were used to determine location and size of the lesion, presence or absence of intraventricular spread, degree of mass effect and presence or absence of cortical atrophy. Mortality rate was 25.6%. Size of hemorrhage, presence of intraventricular spread and cortical atrophy were multivariately associated with outcome and therefore, acting jointly, contribute substantially to the prediction of outcome. In patients with intraventricular spread who died, age and systolic blood pressure on admission were significantly higher. PMID- 2619441 TI - [Cervical myelopathy in atlanto-axial dislocation: evaluation of 2 cases by nuclear magnetic resonance]. AB - One patient with Down's syndrome and another who sustained acute cervical trauma developed signs of cervical myelopathy. In both, the cervical roentgenograms showed an atlanto-axial subluxation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine revealed a severe compression of the cord in the first case and a deformity of the C1 vertebral body, which caused a mild narrowing of the dural sac, in the second. Although MRI allowed an optimal visualization of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues, the images failed to correlate with the degree of severity of the presenting clinical signs and with the outcome. PMID- 2619442 TI - [Spontaneous non-hypertensive cerebral hematomas]. AB - A retrospective study of 35 non-hypertensive intraparenchymal brain hematomas (NHBH) is made to evaluate their etiopathogenesis and the therapeutic approaches employed. A comparison is made with the hypertensive hematomas seen during the same period. Among the NHBH there were 5 vascular malformations (VM (14%), 5 hematomas secondary to brain tumors (14%), 2 amyloid angiopathies (6%), 2 cases of coagulation dysfunction (6%), 3 hematomas secondary to anticoagulation therapy (9%), and one hematoma in an intravenous drug abuser (3%). No etiological diagnosis was established in the remaining 17 cases (48%). The NHBH were predominantly lobar (43%), and incidence was greater among young patients. Mortality was 20%. All cases were diagnosed by brain CT, the latter suggesting pathology underlying the hematoma in 3 tumoral hematomas, in 2 VM confirmed arteriographically, and in one patient with suspect VM not confirmed by angiography. A total of 22 angiographies were performed: the latter were diagnostic in all VMs and negative in the tumor hematomas, amyloid angiopathies and in those hematomas of unknown etiology where angiography was performed. Fifteen patients were operated on. We recommend that in patients with brain hematomas but without antecedents of arterial hypertension or with an atypically situated hematoma, a careful examination should be carried out to discard all possible causes of brain hemorrhage, together with the early performing of contrasted CT scans and posterior angiography. If the latter prove negative, the patient should undergo a clinico-radiological follow-up, together with an histological study of the blood clot if operated on. PMID- 2619443 TI - [The effect of cadmium poisoning on glucose transformation in skeletal muscles]. AB - Long-time effects of Cd on carbohydrate metabolism were investigated in male Wistar rats. A dose of 0.3 mg/kg body weight of Cd in acetate form was subcutaneously injected to the experimental animals twice a week through 3 months. Selected enzyme activities of glycolysis as well as concentrations of glycogen, glucose, pyruvate, lactate, triglycerides, and free fatty acids (FFA) were determined in blood serum, muscles, liver, and fatty tissues. The experimental animals differed from the control group, in that Cd intoxication was followed by decline in the blood serum only of pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities. In the liver, however, all enzyme activities were reduced. Glycogen glucose and FFA levels were increased. Intramuscular alterations were found to depend on the fibre type. The severest disturbance of glycolysis was recordable from red long fibres, whereas rapid white fibres were more resistant. The change in FFA concentration may be interpreted as some compensation for the impairment of carbohydrate metabolism in the energy balance. PMID- 2619444 TI - [Seasonal variations of the mitotic activity of thymocytes in CBA mice]. AB - Considerable seasonal variations were exhibited by mitotic activities of thymocytes in CBA mice. In April and May they were about twice as high as in October and November. Biorhythmic changes in mitotic activity of thymocytes should be taken into consideration for any study of drug effects on the thymus. PMID- 2619445 TI - [Short term effects of carbon disulfide on the intracardial irritation development and transmission in the rat]. AB - Studies were conducted into effects of acute and subacute CS2 application on intracardiac irritability and conduction in rat. Aconitine-induced arrhythmia and the coronary occlusion method were used as pathophysiological models. Under physiological conditions, short-time exposure to CS2 caused deceleration of intracardiac impulse conduction, while under pathophysiological conditions, modified arrhythmia or reduced survival rate was the result. PMID- 2619446 TI - [The effect of pollen on the changes in the liver of laboratory rats evoked by ethionine, carbon tetrachloride, allyl alcohol and galactosamine]. AB - Doses of 50 mg/kg body weight and 200 mg/kg of Cernitin T 60 and Cernitin GBX may be used over 14 days for effective protection of rat liver cells from toxic action of ethionine. Application of CCl4 caused damage to the liver of rats. Such damage may be mitigated by both Cernitin preparations, particularly by Cernitin T 60. The damage was further reduced by Cernitin, following administration of allyl alcohol, with increase in transaminase, phosphatase, and bilirubin activities being used as criteria for measurement. The liver-protecting effect of Cernitin was confirmed in histopathological investigations. Cernitins prevented much of the damage actually caused by galactosamine. PMID- 2619447 TI - [The absorption behavior of chemotherapeutics after intrauterine administration in cattle]. AB - The uterus of cattle is an organ of excellent absorptive properties, as has been demonstrated by the examples of a sulphonamide and of penicillin. This is true for all cyclic phases. Absorption was somewhat delayed, when animals were in di oestrus or pro-oestrus. A comparison between rates of absorption by clinically intact and pathomorphologically altered uteri showed absorption of Solupront and Ursopen 40,000 to be much faster in cases of disease. Experimental results as well as knowledge so far obtained on protein binding capacity are likely to support the conclusion that in the pathologically altered uterus bacteriostatic effects of sulphonamides are low due to the high amount of p-aminobenzoic acid which is present as a direct antagonist in pus and cellular detritus. PMID- 2619448 TI - [The modification of the toxic effects of phenyl mercury by the adaptive reactions of the rat kidney. 1. Timely development of adaptation]. AB - Doses of 0.5 mg/kg body weight, 1.5 mg/kg, 3.0 mg/kg, 7.5 mg/kg, and 15.0 mg/kg of phenylmercury acetate (PMA), as a model substance, were administered to Ico:WIST rats, over periods of 1, 5, 20, and 40 days, for the purpose of studying time-dependent and dose-related buildup of adaptive alterations in kidney. Substance-related damage to kidneys was assessed with reference to functional and morphological parameters. Application of organic PMA resulted exclusively in accumulation in kidneys of inorganic Hg, as had been shown by determination of residues. One single application of a toxic dose of phenylmercury acetate caused severe structural and functional necrobiotic damage. Repetitive applications caused renal damage in response to lower daily doses but caused also adaptation of kidneys to effect of higher doses. Adaptation was characterised by unambiguous reduction in necrosis, increase in regenerative cells in tubular epithelium, limited enzyme excretion in urine as well as restitution of impaired functional parameters and proteinuria. These findings are discussed in some detail, with reference being made to effects of other Hg compounds and possible mechanisms of adaptation. PMID- 2619449 TI - [Modification of the toxic effects of phenylmercury by adaptive reactions of the rat kidney. 2. Adaptation to phenylmercury acetate, cadmium chloride and cupric chloride]. AB - ICO:WIST rats were pretreated over 20 days, using oral administration of subtoxic doses of 1.5 mg/kg body weight of phenylmercury acetate (PMA) 15 mg/kg of CdCl2 and 15 mg/kg of CuCl2, to investigate correlations between nephrotoxic effects of PMA, on the one hand, and buildup through various extraneous substances of adaptive reactivity, on the other. This was followed by application of an acutely toxic dose of 15 mg/kg of PMA. Its effect was compared by morphological and functional investigations with conditions in unchallenged animals. The method, according to all findings, did not cause major renal damage, on completion of PMA, CdCl2, and CuCl2 pretreatment. Nephrotoxic effects induced to pretreated animals (1.5 mg/kg of PMA) by 15 mg/kg of PMA were clearly below those induced to untreated animals. However, PMA effectiveness on kidneys was much higher in animals which had received CdCl2 or CuCl2 pretreatment. Such possible controllability of toxic PMA efficacy through adaptation to various extraneous substances is likely to underline the need for differentiated assessment of progressive and regressive elements related to adaptive reaction. PMID- 2619450 TI - Experimental colonic anastomosis in bovines--and angiographic study. AB - 4 different methods of colonic anastomosis, single and double layer inversion and eversion, were performed on cowcalves. Hypervascularization of neovascularized arterioles at the cut ends of colon were visualized on the 7th day by all techniques. The arterioles, later one, tended to reorganise towards normalcy. Inversion technique showed better vascularization at the anastomotic site, and the vascular pattern was nearly normal on the 14th and 28th days from surgery. Eversion technique did not exhibit satisfactory revascularization of the anastomotic site on the 7th day of study. A radiopaque area, davoid of arterioles, was noted on the 14th and 28th days from surgery. PMID- 2619451 TI - [Isolation and characterization of ts-mutants of Pasteurella multocida]. AB - Temperature-sensitive mutants were isolated and characterised from wild strains of A, D, and A/D serotypes of Pasteurella multocida by mutagenic treatment, using N-methyl-N-nitro-n-nitrosoguanidine. The mutants differed from parent strains by growth intensity at 41 degrees C and 43 degrees C as well as by reduced virulence to mice and decreased toxin formation capacity. Mice were totally protected from intraperitoneal challenge infection, using the tenfold LD100, by two subcutaneous injections of 10(7) mutant germs. PMID- 2619452 TI - [The content of Hb in blood and proteins, Fe, Fe-binding capacity, Cu and Zn in the blood plasma of sows and their piglets at the time of birth, after the uptake of colostrum and with different Fe supply]. AB - Keeping of piglets on slatted metal floor, without complementary iron supply, caused anaemia within seven days from parturition. Hb levels in the blood dropped from 7.00 +/- 1.16 to 3.47 +/- 0.74 mmol/l. Iron deficit reduced growth and vitality. The iron levels in blood plasma of the piglets tested varied between 5 and 35 mumol/l, immediately after parturition. Intraperitoneal or oral administration of Fe-dextran (150 mg Fe) on the first day after parturition resulted in physiological iron levels in blood plasma, after seven days. Yet, when 14 days had passed, the levels were similar to those recorded from piglets without additional iron supply. Iron bonding capacity of blood plasma increased in piglets of all groups up to the seventh day from birth. Death occurred, on the second day of age, to many piglets with protein levels below 50 g/l plasma. Copper levels in blood plasma of newborn piglets were below those recordable from sows, but they went up by more than three times of their original values up to the seventh day from birth. In piglets, zinc, levels of blood plasma after parturition were higher than those of sows and went up by some 50 percent, within seven days from birth. PMID- 2619453 TI - [Stimulation of prenatal development in laboratory animals by nootropics]. AB - Described in this paper is the use of nootropics for stimulation of prenatal development of laboratory animals. Investigations, in that context, led to the discovery of so far unknown and unexpected properties of this group of medicaments. Foetal weight gain, reduction of teratogenicity, and decrease in implantation loss proved to be some of them. PMID- 2619454 TI - Fractionation of cock spermatozoa. AB - An account is given of the methodology for fractionation of cock spermatozoa into head and tail fractions by ultrasonication, followed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Quantitative estimates of DNA attested to 89.4% purity of the head fraction and low contamination of tails with heads. Recovery of protein and malic dehydrogenase (MDH) activity, following sperm fractionation, averaged 94.3% and 95.7%, respectively. Contamination of the head fraction with tails, as assessed by MDH assay, was only 4.65%, and the purity of the tail fraction was 91%. Intensive succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity was histochemically localised in the separated tail fraction and in the tail portion of intact spermatozoa. However, SDH activity was discernible neither in the head fraction nor in the head of intact spermatozoa. PMID- 2619455 TI - Effect of orally administered furazolidone on volume and sperm concentration of dwarf and non-dwarf cock semen. AB - 2 groups of 20 cocks each were selected at random from non-dwarf White Leghorn (28 weeks post-hatch) and dwarf Krishna-J (38 weeks post-hatch) genotypes. The treated groups comprised 10 White Leghorn and 10 Krishna-J cocks. The remaining birds served as controls. 8 weeks prior to furazolidone treatment, semen was collected from both control groups at regular 4-day intervals, for 4 weeks. Cocks of the treated groups of both genotypes were administered furazolidone (0.14 g/bird/day) for 7 consecutive days. Semen was collected from all cocks at regular 4-day intervals for 4 weeks. Semen from the cocks of the same group was pooled. The pooled ejaculate volume and sperm density did not differ significantly in the 2 genotypes. The semen output as well as sperm density increased along with progressive attainment of sexual maturity. Furazolidone treatment caused significant reduction in semen volume as well as sperm concentration in either genotype. PMID- 2619456 TI - [Anaphylactic shock in swine. 6. Experimental studies of the therapeutic use of adrenalin]. AB - Young landrace 05 pigs, involved in experimental investigations of anaphylaxis, were tested for the therapeutic effect of adrenaline. Clinical pattern, arterial blood pressure, and white blood count were clearly affected in a positive manner by adrenaline. It, therefore, is thought to be properly suitable for medicamentous therapy of anaphylaxis. PMID- 2619457 TI - [The detection of in vitro capacitation of bull sperm by heparin treatment]. AB - The capacitating effect of heparin upon spermatozoa from original and deep-frozen semen was characterised, using new methods for detection of inducible acrosomal reaction and heparin-mediated sperm aggregation, and was compared with frequently used capacitation by media of high ion strength. Heparin treatment was undertaken also by means of two culture media, "defined medium" (DM) and TCM 199, with 10% fetal calf serum. Higher motility was maintained by means of 10 I.U. of heparin/ml (= 77 micrograms/ml) which also proved helpful in achieving higher capability of inducible acrosomal reaction, as compared to pretreatment, using media of high ion strength. This applied to both fresh and deep-frozen sperm. The highest level of inducible acrosomal reaction was achieved after 2 hours of heparin action on fresh sperm and 30 minutes of action on deep-frozen sperm. That highest value was at its maximum, when TCM with 10% fetal calf serum had been used. This was the medium, after all, in which photometrically recorded aggregation of motile spermatozoa was at its fastest rate, reaching its maximum after about 60 minutes. The photometrically recorded activated motility of spermatozoa occurred more frequently in TCM, as compared to DM. Preparation of bull sperm in TCM 199 with fetal calf serum and heparin may be recommended as an effective and time-saving method for in vitro capacitation. PMID- 2619458 TI - [Development of specific technics for the prevention of mycoplasma infections in swine]. AB - Four experimental series were run in 2 experiments with 44 unweaned piglets to test non-inactivated vaccine from ts-mutant M-60 of Mycoplasma (M.) arginini and from attenuated strains of CH-2 M. hyorhinis, EP-29 M. hyosynoviae, M. suipneumoniae, and B-1 Acholeplasma laidlawii. Similar deviations of clinical and immunological parameters were recorded from piglets inoculated with the above vaccine and infected with pathogenic mycoplasma cultures. These deviations, however, were less strongly pronounced in animals which had been inoculated. Mycoplasma species were re-isolated from bronchial lymph nodes and lungs of 62.5% of inoculated piglets. Lasting residual virulence was recorded from the attenuated mycoplasma strains. That residual virulence had no substantial impact upon growth and development of the piglets under laboratory conditions, throughout the period of observation. The above results are likely to suggest the advisability of further studies for the development of a vaccine from ts-mutants and attenuated strains of pathogens of mycoplasmosis in swine. PMID- 2619459 TI - [Preparation of Mycoplasma antigens and appropriate swine antisera]. AB - An account is given in this paper of results obtained from development of methods for preparation of mycoplasma antigens and appropriate antisera from swine, as compared to normal swine sera. The exercise had been undertaken with the view to diagnosing mycoplasmosis in swine, on the basis of long-time complement fixation in microvolume. Tests were applied to 5 patterns of vaccination of swine, using antigens from mycoplasma. Benefits and drawbacks are discussed in some detail. Also described are methods for preparation, preservation, and storage of mycoplasma diagnostics which retain their suitability for the above diagnostic approach on the basis of 2-4 years of shelf life. PMID- 2619460 TI - On the aetiopathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumonia in calf. AB - A pure culture of Mycoplasma (M.) bovis was isolated from calves with respiratory disease, exhibiting the picture of lymphohistiocytic proliferative pneumonia with presence of eosinophil plasmatic cells. A mixed infection of M. bovis and Pasteurella (P.) multocida was demonstrated in calves with exudative pneumonia. Both M. bovis and Haemophilus (H.) somnus were recovered from calves with necrotic pneumonia. All 3 organisms--M. bovis, P. multocida, and H. somnus--were present in cases of exudative-necrotic pneumonia. It was also shown that M. bovis played a primary role in the aetiopathogenesis of respiratory diseases caused by mixed infections. PMID- 2619461 TI - Mycoplasma infection as disposing factor to Streptococcus dysgalactiae mastitis. AB - The authors studied a synergistic effect of an arginine hydrolising, but glucose negative mycoplasma strain (9293/3/2/1) and Streptococcus (Str.) dysgalactiae. Both agents, as mono-infections, caused only slight mastitis, but if the udder had been previously infected with mycoplasma, Str. dysgalactiae provoked very severe mastitis. PMID- 2619462 TI - [Mycoplasma (M.) bovis antiserum "Dessau"--a diagnostic material for the identification of M. bovis]. AB - Mycoplasma bovis antiserum "Dessau" was used to investigate 4,553 mycoplasma strains, between 1985 and 1987, using a method described elsewhere. This diagnostic Agent is successfully used at present at all Regional Institutes of Veterinary Services throughout the GDR. PMID- 2619463 TI - [Comparative studies of the suitability of different culture media for the isolation of Mycoplasma californicum from milk samples]. AB - Mycoplasma (M.) californicum und M. bovigenitalium mastitis had occurred in four herds. 240 milk samples of 120 cows were tested for M. californicum, using in parallel nine different culturing substrates and test methods. Included were 120 initial and 120 final milk samples. Inoculation of milk to medium-I broth containing V-factor yeast extract, incubation at 37 degrees C for 5 days, subsequent spreading onto cattle blood agar with staphylococcal nutrix, followed by 5 days of incubation proved to be superior to all other culturing substrates and methods tested and resulted in positive detection of M. californicum in 69 milk samples. M. californicum was identified in 70 milk samples by combination of all 9 test variants. No significant difference was found to exist with regard to isolation results between initial and final milking samples. PMID- 2619464 TI - [Experimental infections of bulls with Mycoplasma (M.) bovis and M. bovigenitalium]. AB - M. bovis or M. bovigenitalium species experimentally used in intrapreputial infection were re-isolated from 7 of 8 bulls. Clinically manifest diseases did not develop at all, though slight inflammatory lesions were recorded from the genital tract of 2 animals. Mycoplasma findings are discussed together with results obtained from spermatological and hematological investigations. PMID- 2619465 TI - [Detection certainty of the contamination of bull sperm with mycoplasma]. AB - Tests for presence of mycoplasmas were conducted on 20 insemination bulls known as mycoplasma spreaders, with 5 sperm pellet batches of 20 pellets each being investigated for each animal. Mycoplasma contamination was positively recorded from 83 of the above 100 batches. Mycoplasma (M.) bovigenitalium, M. californicum. M. arginini, M. bovirhinis, and Acholeplasma laidlawii were typed by means of indirect immunofluorescent technique, which confirmed the presence also in the GDR of mycoplasma species described in the literature and detected in sperm samples. The solid culturing media used in the above tests, medium-B agar and cattle blood agar with staphylococcal nutrix, proved to be equally suitable for isolation of mycoplasma from sperm samples. Mycoplasma was positively identified in about one third of all pellets/batches tested. 3 pellets to one batch should be sufficient a random sample size from which to obtain information at least very close to real contamination. PMID- 2619466 TI - [Detection of mycoplasmas in experimentally-infected bull sperm]. AB - Bull sperm pellets experimentally infected with various concentrations of Mycoplasma (M.) bovis, M. bovigenitalium, and M. californicum were stored several months at -196 degrees C and were subsequently tested for mycoplasmas, using different methods and culturing media. M. bovis was reliably identified by laboratory diagnosis up to a concentration of 10(2) cfu/pellet. M. bovigenitalium and M. californicum were found to make higher demands on the quality of culturing substrates. Recommended are 1-h broth incubation and 5-d broth breeding. PMID- 2619467 TI - [The "in vitro" effect of antibiotics on mycoplasmas under conditions of the preparation of bull sperm]. AB - Bull sperm was experimentally contaminated with Mycoplasma (M.) bovis, M. bovigenitalium, and Acholeplasma laidlawii (10(5) colony-forming units/ml sperm). Antibiotics were tested for their effectiveness under conditions of preparation of sperm for artificial insemination, primarily for their capability of killing all mycoplasma by the end of sperm equilibration (cooling to +4 degrees C within 5 h). Mycoplasma decontamination was achievable only by means of nourseothricin and lincospectin, in a concentration of 0.8 mg/ml sperm diluent which did not yet impair bull sperm vitality. PMID- 2619468 TI - Investigation of survival time of some poultry mycoplasmas. AB - Glucose-fermenting poultry mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma [M.] gallisepticum, M. pullorum, M. gallinaceum, M. gallopavonis) were tested in 2 experiments for their survival time at 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C on 18 different materials used on farms and in hatcheries. All mycoplasmas survived up to 16 days in egg yolk at both temperatures. On other materials, like egg shell, egg white, paper trails, feather, and others mycoplasmas generally survived 2 to 16 days at 20 degrees C. M. gallinaceum and M. gallopavonis proved more resistant to the environment than M. gallisepticum and M. pullorum. PMID- 2619469 TI - Biochemical and serological study of two mycoplasma strains isolated from geese. AB - 2 mycoplasma strains were isolated, one from the phallic lymph of a gander and the other from a cloacal swab of a laying goose. The strains proved to be different from mycoplasma species isolated from geese before. Strain No. 1223 is a glucose-negative and arginine-negative species belonging to the genus Mycoplasma. In the growth inhibition test, it fails to react with hyperimmune sera raised in rabbits against the presently known mycoplasma species of avian origin nor with sera produced against mammalian mycoplasma species sharing its biochemical properties. Strain No. 1225 belongs to the digitonin resistant Acholeplasmataceae family. It is glucose-positive and aesculin-positive. It is negative by all the other tests and fails to react with sera produced against the presently known acholeplasma species. PMID- 2619470 TI - [The frequency of detection of Mycoplasma meleagridis in breeding turkeys depending on the laying age]. AB - Coating of air sacs was recorded from day-old chicks from parents with Mycoplasma (M.) meleagridis infection, with positive findings being obtained from 9.52% of all animals early in the laying period and from 34.09% up to the 8th laying week. M. meleagridis was isolated from palatine and cloacal swabs taken of laying hens and insemination cocks, with positive findings being 50-60% prior to the laying period (28th week of age), 100% at start of laying, and 80% in the 14th laying week. M. meleagridis was identified in 50% of all embryonated eggs as of the 1st laying week and in 100% as of the 4th week. M. meleagridis was cultured from 30.67% of all sperm samples tested, between the 30th and 46th week of production. Differences were found to exist between individual cocks, with 4 cocks being without M. meleagridis at all. There was usually agreement between positive M. meleagridis findings from sperm and cloacal swabs. M. meleagridis was eliminated from cock sperm by spectinomycin (0.6 mg/ml diluting medium), but M. iowae was not. PMID- 2619471 TI - [Diagnostic experiences in the routine restrained inspection of turkey stock for mycoplasma infections]. AB - A combined culturing medium has been developed and has proved to clearly increase rates of detection of avian mycoplasmas, as compared to mycoplasma culturing media previously used in the GDR. The medium can be used to culture all mycoplasma species relevant to turkey. Experimental studies have shown that pH values should be between 7.0 and 7.2 in liquid culturing media and should not exceed 7.2 in mycoplasma agar, in order to be capable of isolating, in cases of mixed infections, not only Mycoplasma (M.) meleagridis but also M. gallisepticum. Culturing media should be incubated at 38.5 degrees C. The living animal should best be diagnosed by examination of palatine and cloacal swabs, with sperm being additionally checked of insemination cocks. A monitoring programme has been drafted for mycoplasma-free broods of turkey parents. PMID- 2619472 TI - Immunoglobulin concentration in the blood serum of foals suffering from pneumonia associated with mycoplasma infection. AB - Clinical, microbiological, haematological, and immunological investigations were carried out in mares and their foals of 2 studs. A considerable number of foals fell ill with pneumonia, the mortality rate was high. Mycoplasmas were mostly isolated from nasal swabs and from the lungs. The isolation rate of bacteria was lower. Serum IgG concentration was reduced in the diseased or dead foals compared to that of healthy animals, the data stress in importance of IgG in the development of respiratory diseases also in foals. PMID- 2619473 TI - Epizootiological examination of a respiratory disease associated with mycoplasma infection in horse. AB - The authors examined 585 samples from 92 mares of 2 studs and 346 nasal swabs taken from their foals for the presence of mycoplasmas. The positive rates of mares and foals were 81.5% and 71.7%, respectively, with positivity of samples being variable. Clinical symptoms developed in 2-4 waves and lasted 3-7 days, with intervals of 7-12 days. The disease started in April among foals born in February, at an average age of 88 days. Later on, the average age of the affected foals decreased. There was a correlation between presence of mycoplasmas in nasal cavity and disease of foals. PMID- 2619474 TI - [Mycoplasma infections in sheep, goats and yaks]. AB - Mycoplasmas were isolated from yak calves in Mongolia, the 1st experience worldwide with this species. They were also isolated from pathologically affected sheep and goat lambs. The disease was experimentally reproduced in yak calves as well as in sheep and goat lambs. Clinical manifestations were identical with those recordable from animals with spontaneous outbreak of the disease. This had been for the 1 time ever that a therapy was tested on animals with mycoplasmosis, using water with addition of oligodynamic silver. Something between 95 and 100% of all patients were clinically cured. The experimental vaccine involved was found to offer protection against mycoplasmosis to sheep and goat lambs. Damage association with mycoplasmosis was found to occur 1st in liver, spleen, and lymph nodes and to be subsequently proliferated to lung and other organs. Respiratory mycoplasmosis is the common definition used at present but is not in conformity with the pathological processes involved, as the major role is played by liver damage. Mycoplasmosis in these 3 species, therefore, should better be named mycoplasmosis bovi hepatica. PMID- 2619475 TI - [Mycoplasma infections in farm animals: specific prevention of infectious (contagious) agalactia in the sheep and goat]. AB - The authors of this paper have produced live vaccine to cope with infectious agalactia in goat. The vaccine (culture) was used on 360, 924 goats kept on ajmaks in Bajanchongor and Gobi-Altaj, in 1986. The number of pathologically affected goats went down by a factor of 4.5, as compared to 1985. Mortality was reduced to one third. Abortions declined by a factor of 2.6 and infertility among goats by 1.6. The conclusion is that sheep of the Mongolian breed are not susceptible to infectious agalactia. Large-scale production tests of live cultures supported hopes for successful action on this infectious disease under Mongolian conditions. PMID- 2619476 TI - Detection of mycoplasmas in cell cultures, using L6M, containing 6-methylpurine deoxyriboside. AB - Methods for the detection of mycoplasmas in cell cultures with 6MPDR are rapid and inexpensive and do not require special skill in the mycoplasma culturing. Properties of L6M, a dry, lyophilised, sterilised, and thermostabile reagent containing 6MPDR, are described. Its diagnostic value is comparable to that of the liquid, 6MPDR containing reagent MycoTect requiring storage at -70 degrees C. PMID- 2619477 TI - [Antibiotic resistance of mycoplasmas from cell cultures]. AB - Investigations were conducted on 36 mycoplasma isolates to elucidate their resistance behaviours to kanamycin, gentamycin, neomycin, tylosin, oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, and tiamulin. Only the latter proved to be highly effective, whereas all 36 strains were absolutely resistant to kanamycin, gentamycin, and neomycin, while 16 strains were resistant to all of the above antibiotics but tiamulin. Comparison of resistograms was found to provide some limited way of comparing strains and possibilities for detection of sources of contamination. Tiamulin may be used for improvement of cell cultures on account of its good cellular compatibility and high effectiveness on mycoplasmas. PMID- 2619478 TI - [The inactivation of mycoplasmas and bacteria in calf serum by 60Co gamma rays]. AB - Reported in this paper is the use of 60Co gamma radiation to inactivate mycoplasmas in calf serum, newborn calf serum, and fetal calf serum. A dose of 3 kGy, independent of dose rate, was found to be sufficient for inactivation in the above sera of several mycoplasmas, including Acholeplasma laidlawii, Mycoplasma (M.) orale, M. arginini, M. hyorhinis, and M. bovis. The critical dose proved to be at 2 kGy. No difference was found to exist between the above species in susceptibility to irradiation in diluted sera (50%) and 10% in Eagle MEM). Sensibility of wild mycoplasma strains was found to be identical with that of laboratory strains. Hence, 60Co gamma irradiation of sera appears to be a safe method by which to make sera mycoplasma-free. Bacillus subtilis in calf serum was inactivated by doses above 18 kGy, with the critical dose being 15 kGy. PMID- 2619479 TI - [The capacity of Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis and seven other Mycoplasma species for hemadsorption, sperm adsorption, hemolysis and peroxide formation]. AB - Searching for potential virulence markers of Ureaplasma (U.) urealyticum and Mycoplasma (M.) hominis, simple laboratory methods were used to detect strain specific properties. Haemadsorption, sperm adsorption, haemolysis, and peroxide formation were tested on clinical isolates and type strains of U. urealyticum and M. hominis in comparison to reference strains of seven other Mycoplasma species. In contrast to M. bovis, M. gallisepticum and M. pulmonis, all strains of M. hominis and U. urealyticum failed to adsorb human spermatozoa and erythrocytes from five vertebrate species to their colonies. Unexpectedly, colonies of M. arthritidis PG 6 adsorbed both human erythrocytes and spermatozoa. Using various methods, the known haemolytic and peroxide activities of the reference strains could be confirmed. None of the U. urealyticum strains tested demonstrated lysis of human or ovine erythrocytes or peroxide production. On the other hand, 76 of 108 isolates of M. hominis showed an alpha'- or beta-haemolysis of different degree. However, this phenomenon could not be reproduced in all cases and it was not attributable to the activity of a peroxide. None of the methods used in this study were found to be suitable for detection of possible virulence factors of U. urealyticum or M. hominis. PMID- 2619480 TI - [Detection of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in patients with leukospermia]. AB - Cytological and microbiological tests were applied to urethral and prostate secretion, initial, midstream, and postmassage urine, and ejaculate of 61 patients with granulocyte counts of approximately 2 million/ml sperm, using the working principle of four-tube testing. Findings included 8 cases of chronic urethritis (caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in 5 instances, Ureaplasma (U.) urealyticum in 2, and Mycoplasma (M.) hominis in 1), 11 cases of chronic bacterial prostatitis, most of them in concomitance with urinary tract infections, and another 11 cases of "abacterial" prostatitis caused by mycoplasma (U. urealyticum in 10 cases, M. hominis in 1). No pathogens at all were recordable from 31 patients, among these 22 without leucocyte proliferation in urethral and prostate secretion nor in urine sediments. While no positive cytological findings were recordable from controls, significant germ counts of U. urealyticum were exhibited by 4 probands. The above findings are discussed together with their problematic interpretation. PMID- 2619481 TI - [The occurrence of adherence factors in Enterobacteriaceae from bacteriological meat examination and from food hygiene research material]. AB - An account is given in this paper of the occurrence of 131 specific adherence factors (CFA 1a, CFA 1b, K88, K99) and 216 unspecific adherence factors (CT I) of Enterobacteriaceae strains from 917 bacteriological carcass inspection samples and of 23 or 87 identical strains recorded from 682 food hygiene samples. Identification was based on mannose-resistant and mannose-sensitive hemagglutination (MRHA and MSHA). Particular consideration was given to 3 aspects, occurrence of Escherichia coli adherence factors in bacteremic dissemination in bacteriological carcass inspection, parallel presence of additional virulence factors, and the hemagglutination spectrum of MSHA. PMID- 2619482 TI - [Long-term cryopreservation of microbial strains relevant to food hygiene]. AB - Experiments on long-time cryopreservation at -20 degrees C were conducted, using 42 microbial strains of relevance to food hygiene. Blood slant agar was coated with 10% glycerol solution, so that all strains were in re-culturing conditions, following 12 months of storage. Re-culturing of 18 in 20 of the microbial genera used in the experiment was possible after 24 months of storage, if strains had been kept only in 10% glycerol solution. The method proved suitable particularly for strain keeping of highly sensitive genera (Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Shigella). PMID- 2619483 TI - [The detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus using modified culture media]. AB - Studies have been completed for the detection of Vibrio(V.) parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus in Baltic Sea fish. The author had prepared for that purpose a liquid culturing medium and a solid substrate. The percentage of positive findings is remarkable. The results so far recorded should be a good reason for further studies. PMID- 2619484 TI - [The secondary microbial colonization of organ samples for bacterial meat examination]. AB - The capability of bacteria to penetrate liver, spleen, and kidney samples was investigated, using one strain each of Salmonella typhimurium. Serratia marcescens, and Micrococcus luteus. The intact organ capsule was found to be an effective barrier to bacterial invasion, even at room temperature and with high contamination doses. Injuries to or absence of the organ capsule led to massive secondary germ colonisation of samples within 5 hours, even under conditions of cool storage. Germ colonisation of the sample interior will inevitably start from cut surfaces and cannot be prevented, if samples have to be stored several hours or transported, since sterile sampling is not possible under slaughterhouse conditions. Hence, new approaches have to be found to bacteriological carcass inspection. PMID- 2619485 TI - [Urinary protein level determination as a rapid method for the detection of contamination of slaughtered swine]. AB - Reference is made to work undertaken by Stehle (1983) on rapid semiquantitative determination of urinary protein in pigs for slaughter to identify premortal strain and stress, with additional studies being conducted into the suitability of the method. The investigations performed for this study covered urinary protein samples from 59 living and 762 slaughtered pigs. The Biophan E paper strip test was applied to groups of animals, and, when compared to high-accuracy laboratory determination of urinary protein, it provided sufficiently accurate information on the presence of stress-related proteinuria. Its accuracy, however, proved to be insufficient, when individual animals were examined. The number of clearly stressed slaughter pigs was unexpectedly high, although the same animals had been rated clinically inconspicuous prior to slaughter. Brief rest period resulted in significant rise of stress. The Biophan E paper strip test was found to be suitable for instantaneous determination of stress and strain on pigs for slaughter. PMID- 2619486 TI - [A simple semiquantitative determination of trenbolone acetate and trenbolone in biological material from farm animals]. AB - A technique of high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC plates) by which to identify the anabolic substance of trenbolone acetate (TBA) and its metabolite trenbolone is described in this paper. Plasma, bile, urine, faeces, liver, and meat can be used for testing. The sensitivity of the method is 1 ng. Additional reliability criteria are enumerated. Semiquantitative TBA determination has proved to be suitable in random sampling for residual analysis. PMID- 2619487 TI - [Experimental laboratory diagnostic and residual toxicological studies in young cocks after feeding mercury-disinfected seed with and without selenium supplementation]. AB - A feed loading experiment was applied in 2 phases to 45 young cocks over 12 weeks, using 1.2 (N, N-bis/methylmercury/-p-toluolsulphamide)-dressed wheat (50% of base ration). The experimental animals were White-Leghorn laying hybrids. Investigations were conducted to study the effects of exclusive exposure to mercury and those of mercury with addition of 0.2 mg of sodium selenite/l drinking water on biochemical parameters (calcium, phosphorus, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, activity of alkaline phosphatase, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and leucocyte count) as well as on parameters relating to toxicological residues (selenium and mercury levels in liver, musculature, and kidneys). Statistically secured differences were found to exist between the experimental groups with regard to selenium and mercury in the liver and mercury concentrations in kidneys. These data have shown that the problem of residualisation cannot be solved by selenium supplementation in parallel to methylmercury loading. The results recorded are likely to confirm the need for a general ban on feeding mercury-dressed seed. PMID- 2619488 TI - [The differentiation of Bordetella (B.) bronchiseptica strains. 8. The protective behavior of B. bronchiseptica strains in mice in relation to the loss of K factors]. AB - K factors are phase-dependent, instable antigen components of B. bronchiseptica. Loss of K factors was induced by passaging on 10% horse blood agar. All K factors were not simultaneously eliminated. Cultures obtained from various passages were checked on white mice by Lienotox testing and in protectivity experiments. Culturing of B. bronchiseptica on 10% horse blood agar in Phase I probably had an adverse impact on expression of virulence-dependent factors. K factor expression in B. bronchiseptica was found to depend on both phase condition and culturing medium. PMID- 2619489 TI - [Behavior of back fat thickness, the activity of NADP-dependent dehydrogenases from adipose tissue and adipose tissue constituents fat and protein and their evidence for energy metabolism in dairy cows]. AB - Studies were conducted into 60 Friesian dairy cattle in the GDR for determination of dorsal fat thickness (DFT), activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) in adipose tissue, concentrations of fat and protein in adipose tissue, 2 weeks ante partum as well as 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 28, 36 weeks post partum, and liver fat levels, 2 and 4 weeks post partum. DFT, ICDH, GPDH, ICDH-GPDH ratio, fat level, fat-protein quotient, changes in DFT, GPDH, and fat-protein quotient exhibited significant relations with the weeks of lactation. The above 60 experimental cows were subdivided by 6 groups of half-siblings consisting of 10 animals each. Significant differences were found to exist between these groups of half-siblings with regard to DFT, GPDH, ICDH-GPDH ratio, and fat-protein quotient. Within each of the half-sibling groups, significant differences were found to exist between individuals for DFT, ICDH, GPDH, ICDH-GPDH ratio, and fat-protein quotient. The above parameters can be used to describe the energy metabolism of dairy cow via quantitative and temporal curves of fat mobilisation and fat deposition. In the context of both animal health and breeding, more attention should be given to determination of mobilisation and deposition of fat as well as to the post partum energy deficit. PMID- 2619490 TI - [Correlative morphological studies of the heart of guinea pigs]. AB - Investigations were conducted to record the following morphological parameters from hearts of guinea pigs (alb/Jena, inbred strain): absolute and relative heart weight as well as weights of left and right ventricles and of the interventricular septum. Correlations are described and discussed between the values recorded as well as between those values and body weight and changes in the course of ageing. The point is made that investigations of this kind are helpful in describing heart development in its totality and may provide better prerequisites for appraisal of pathological conditions. PMID- 2619491 TI - [Detection of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae specific antibodies in the serum of experimentally-infected swine by ELISA and immunoblotting]. AB - In an attempt to characterize the immuno response of the animal organism to experimental infection, ELISA and immunoblotting were used to test the antibody levels of erysipelas hyperimmune sera (HIS) which had been induced by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Also, 5 pigs were accidentally chosen to check on individual curves of antibody formation, following periodical inoculation up to HIS collection. All HIS verified and confirmed by the mouse protective test responded by high titres. Yet, the results so far obtained from HIS titration have failed to be conclusive as to valency. The animals selected for these experiments exhibited differentiated antibody levels during the phase of immunisation, although they were at one and the same level, when measured by the final titre, following last boostering. The desired rise in antibody levels was achieved only by the 4th to 9th boostering in almost all cases. Extinction values determined by ELISA were confirmed or supplemented by the results obtained from immunoblotting. PMID- 2619492 TI - [Fertility results after insemination of a moderate count of cock sperm, diluted in Blumberger cock sperm diluent and homologous seminal plasma]. AB - Incomplete studies into artificial insemination of White Leghorn hens appear to suggest that the generally common number of cock spermatozoa per insemination can be considerably reduced without adverse consequences for reproduction results. Fertilisation rates between 89.4 and 94.9% were recorded from inseminations of as little as 20 x 10(6) spermatozoa, based on tenfold dilution of ejaculate collections in Blumberg Cock Sperma Diluent (BCSD) or homologous seminal plasma or differentiated combinations of both. Addition of increasing amounts of seminal plasma, however, caused decline in hatching rates as a result of rising embryonic mortality. Best suitability was recorded from a diluent combination of 75% of BCSD with 25% of seminal plasma, with the hatching rate being 85.0%. PMID- 2619493 TI - [The effect of steroid hormone administration after ovariectomy on the peripheral hormone kinetics and uterine development in gilts. 1. Effects on cyclic gilts]. AB - Studies were conducted into effects of various steroid hormone doses on uterus development and steroid levels in blood plasma and endometrium of ovariectomized cyclic gilts. Differences were found to exist between experimental and control animals with regard to uterus weight and length in the wake of ovariectomy and steroid treatment. Steroid concentrations in blood plasma exhibited discernible changes, depending on dosage. As to endometrial hormone concentrations, some dependence on applied progesterone doses was recordable only from oestrone sulphate levels. PMID- 2619494 TI - Specific killing of mouse leukemic cells with ricin A-chain immunotoxin. AB - Monoclonal IgM antibody against L1210V leukemia was coupled with ricin A-chain using N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP) as a cross--linking agent. The coniugate had potent concentration--dependent cytotoxicity against L1210V, L1210 and RL male 1 cells being completely non toxic to EL-4, P388, RPC-5 and mouse bone marrow cells. The minimum time required for killing L120V leukemia cells was 30h of in vitro exposure, at a concentration 10(-6) M (as assessed by trypan blue test). However, 1h contact of L1210V cells with immunotoxin was sufficient to completely inhibit proliferation of leukemic cells subsequently inoculated into compatible mice. The toxicity could be potentiated by addition of NH4Cl, that shortened minimum exposure time to 18h and 45 min respectively. PMID- 2619495 TI - Blood transfusions and the development of cytotoxic antibodies in dialyzed patients. AB - In our work we investigated factors which can influence the alloimmunization and especially the ranges of cytotoxic antibodies that develop in patients on dialysis awaiting their first graft. Up to 15 liters of administered blood the proportion of immunized patients is rather stabile, not exceeding 50%. After further transfusions the percentage of immunized patients is growing rapidly reaching about 85%. Hyperimmunization, marked by cytotoxic antibodies with more than 80% panel reactivity is significantly more frequent in patients who obtained 15 and more liters of blood. In females the hyperimmunization is about 4 times more frequent than in males. PMID- 2619496 TI - Correction of the abnormal ratio of OKT4+ to OKT8+ peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients suffering from juvenile arthritis (JCA) by the extract from calf thymuses. AB - Children suffering from JCA showed an elevated percentage of OKT4+ T lymphocytes and an increased ratio of OKT4+ to OKT8+ lymphocytes. Several children showing a significant aggravation of the disease, were selected for a 3-week treatment with TFX. In 7 out of 10 patients a pronounced clinical and laboratory improvement was registered, accompanied by a normalization of the OKT4+ to OKT8+ lymphocyte ratio. PMID- 2619497 TI - Usefulness of the analysis of broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) cellular composition in diagnosis and monitoring of pulmonary sarcoidosis treatment. AB - The paper presents the results of the analysis of BAL composition in 45 patients with diagnosed pulmonary sarcoidosis in various phases of its development. The examination was performed before the treatment, in the 6th week and 3rd month of the treatment and after its termination. In the treatment encorton was applied for 2 years. In the analysis of cell composition of the lavage the percentage of lymphocytes, macrophages and granulocytes was calculated. Before the treatment the high percentage of lymphocytes occurred along with relatively diminished percentage of macrophages. The highest lymphocyte level was noted in the pulmonary phase of sarcoidosis which amounted to 58.8 +/- 15.5 and the lowest in the nodulary phase 38.5 +/- 14.1. In the 6th week of the treatment BAL cell composition approached the control value. The results obtained hereby evidence that the changes in BAL cell composition may be successfully applied in the diagnosis, dynamics of development and monitoring of sarcoidosis treatment. PMID- 2619498 TI - Effect of epinephrine, propranolol, and verapamil on the chemiluminescence of neutrophils in duodenal ulcer patients. AB - To answer the question whether beta-adrenergic receptor agonists or antagonists and calcium channel blocking agents affect activation of neutrophils in vivo, the chemiluminescence (CL) test was employed. The intensity of emitted photons was amplified by luminol. The effect of investigated agents was measured after stimulation of isolated peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) with opsonized zymosan particles. The investigations were performed on 9 duodenal ulcer patients, aged 19-23 years, after informed consent. Single subcutaneous dose of epinephrine (0.014 mg/kg) induced a marked increase in PMNL number and a moderate, but significant, decrease in CL 30 min after injection. Verapamil (0.15 mg/kg intravenously) diminished CL, propranolol (0.1 mg/kg intravenously) enhanced CL, but 150 min after injections CL was approaching the initial values. The obtained results suggest that the investigated compounds may modify the PMNL function in vivo. PMID- 2619499 TI - Effect of verapamil on chemiluminescence of peripheral blood neutrophils during hemodialysis in chronic uremic patients. AB - Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of resting and opsonized zymosan-activated neutrophils isolated from the peripheral blood was determined in 10 chronic uremic patients during early period of hemodialysis without verapamil or preceded by verapamil injection. Verapamil was found to diminish depression of neutrophil chemiluminescence both at rest and following activation with opsonized zymosan. The drug also diminished transient hemodialysis neutropenia. The results seem to indicate that verapamil may exert beneficial effects on inflammatory reactions induced by hemodialysis in chronic uremics. PMID- 2619500 TI - A study of human embryonic cells treated with UV-inactivated measles virus. AB - Some features of persistent infection were observed in human embryonic fibroblast cells (CLV21K cells) after single treatment with UV-inactivated measles virus. Morphological changes and chromosomal abnormalities were found. In subsequent passages of CLV21K cells, viral antigens were discovered by rosette haemadsorption, immunofluorescence tests and electron microscope or scanning electron microscope studies. No infectious virus was found. PMID- 2619501 TI - Antigenic characteristics of circulating granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (CFU GM) in idiopathic myelofibrosis and polycythaemia vera defined by monoclonal antibodies. AB - The antigenic characteristics of "early" (type 1) and "late" (type 2) granulocyte macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM) from patients with polycythaemia vera (PV) and idiopathic myelofibrosis (MF) were studied using antimyeloid murine monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) and anti-HLA-DR McAb (L243) in a complement dependent cytotoxic assay followed by culture in methyl cellulose. The results were compared with the previously published data on the antigen phenotype of CFU GM from normal bone marrow and peripheral blood. McAbs L243, MY9, S3-13 and S17 25 reacted with lower percentage of CFU-GM from patients with PV and MF than with their normal counterparts MCAbs R1.B19 and WGHS 29.1, which recognized the antigens on "late" CFU-GM (type 2), reacted with a high proportion of day 7 CFU GM from MF peripheral blood and normal marrow but did not react with CFU-GM from PV and normal peripheral blood. The antigens recognized by two other McAbs (53/10 and PM81) were present on some of normal CFU-GM and were not found on CFU-GM from MF and PV peripheral blood. Our data suggest that CFU-GM in the circulation in MF differ from those in normal blood, perhaps because they are released from the spleen which in this disease has haemopoietic function. PMID- 2619502 TI - Polymorphism of acid phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.2) including some rare variants in Wroclaw (south-west Poland) area. Utility in population and criminalistic studies. AB - In a sample of 7467 inhabitants of Wroclaw and Lower Silesia, the frequencies of ACP alleles were determined as ACPa = 0.3466. ACPb = 0.5684, ACPc = 0.0848, ACPr = 0.001. The above frequencies are similar to those described in other population samples. Phenotypes with rare gene ACPe were described in Poland for the first time. Utility of ACP phenotyping in criminalistical investigation of legal instruments is strongly limited by low stability of enzyme and change of electrophoretic image. PMID- 2619503 TI - Binding of histamine by gastric juice. AB - Ability of in vitro histamine binding by gastric juice was tested in aspirates from 10 normal subjects, collected during basal acid output (BAO) as well as after pentagastrin stimulation (maximal acid output - MAO). Histamine binding by 1 ml of gastric juice averaged 218.7 micrograms and after stimulation with pentagastrin was about 31% higher. PMID- 2619504 TI - Impaired histamine binding by gastric juice of patients with duodenal ulcer. AB - Histamine binding by gastric juice from 32 patients with duodenal ulcer and 22 control subjects was tested in vitro. The patients had substantially decreased histamine binding both in basal output as well as in pentagastrin stimulated output. The authors suggest that this phenomenon is involved in etiopathogenesis of chronic ulcer disease. PMID- 2619505 TI - Ascorbic acid inhibits polymorphonuclear leukocytes influx to the place of inflammation--possible protection of lung from phagocyte-mediated injury. AB - Ascorbic acid as a scavenger of oxidants derived from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) may have clinical significance in antioxidant prevention of emphysema. However, there is a risk relevant to its administration because this drug was reported to enhance PMNL chemotactic response and thus could create protease burden in the lower airways. In this study we have investigated the effect of ascorbic acid on the PMNL influx to the place of inflammation developed in the mouse pleural cavity after injection of zymosan-activated serum (ZAS). We also evaluated the influence of ascorbic acid on human PMNL spontaneous migration, chemotaxis to ZAS and n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) under agarose. The previous ascorbic acid intraperitoneal administration (single dose 10 mg per day for 3 following days) inhibited leukocyte influx. Total number of cells found in the cavity, number of PMNL and lymphocytes was 2.4, 3.5, 1.7 fold lower than in animals without ascorbic acid, respectively. In vitro ascorbic acid (concentrations of 1 to 10 mg/dl) enhanced PMNL spontaneous migration, concentrations 10 mg/dl and higher inhibited PMNL chemotaxis to ZAS and had no influence on migration of the cells toward FMLP. These results suggest that ascorbic acid may be useful for prevention of lung oxidant injury not only as oxidant scavenger but also as an inhibitor of PMNL influx to the pulmonary tissue. PMID- 2619506 TI - Problems in taxonomy of streptomycetes. AB - The bacterial species concept has different bearings. It is used to define "natural" entities with low intra-group variation, but also to serve more subjective purposes. One of problems in Streptomyces taxonomy is that it applies the species concept in both ways, i.e. both to clarify natural relationships and to protect potential (bio)technological inventions. The latter usage has introduced a streptomycetal "technospecies" which may require definition and description in other terms and by other tools than the "nomentaxospecies" which represent a more objective approach to Streptomyces taxonomy. Genetic engineering creates "man-made" microorganisms which are characterized by completely different sets of criteria as compared to their natural counterparts, which may imply needs for different taxonomies for both kinds of organisms. However, since they may occur side by side in one environment both "man-made" and "natural" streptomycetes have to be identified and classified by the same methods and tools, but in such a way which allows their separation. PMID- 2619507 TI - Synthesis of L-cysteine derivatives of immunotropic activity. AB - The new immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agents have been searched in a group of the synthetic L-cysteine and 3-acetyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid derivatives. Synthesis of 17 compounds is reported. PMID- 2619508 TI - Cysteine-induced changes of low molecular sulfhydryl/disulfide ratio in rat lymphoid cells. AB - Changes in total protein and nonprotein sulfhydryl content, cell membrane sulfhydryls and mitogen response were examined after incubation of rat lymphoid cells with L-cysteine. Distribution of 35S L-cysteine within the metabolic pool of low molecular thiols and protein thiols was determined by quantitative analysis of metabolites of the oxidative taurine pathway, glutathione, mixed disulfides and protein-associated radioactivity. Significant, incubation time dependent increase of [3H] thymidine, [3H] uridine and [14C] leucine incorporation was observed in cysteine-preincubated, PHA-stimulated lymph node cells. Subsequent inhibition of PHA-response of lymphocytes and a marked increase of intracellular content of free (reduced form) cysteine was observed as a result of constant supply of cysteine into cells from the incubation medium. Maintenance of [35S] L-cysteine, transported into thymocytes within 3 hours, mainly in -SH form, was dependent on the constant presence of cysteine in the medium and slightly dependent on its concentration (0.01-10 mM). Cysteine catabolites of the oxidative taurine pathway, i.e. taurine, cysteinesulfinic acid and cysteic acid, as well as glutathione, low molecular mixed disulfides, protein cysteine mixed disulfides and proteinincorporated cysteine increased proportionally to the time of cysteine uptake but not to the increasing amounts of intracellular free cysteine. These results support the hypothesis of changed-SH/SS equilibrium of low molecular thiols due to the presence of high amounts of free cysteine, reflecting cell metabolism and functions. PMID- 2619509 TI - Nitrogranulogen: a strong inhibitor of human lymphocyte proliferation. AB - The immunosuppressive activity of an alkylating agent Nitrogranulogen (NTG) was studied and compared with a major active metabolite of cyclophosphamide (4HCy). Both agents inhibit the human T and B cell proliferation in vitro induced by pure T cell (PHA) and B cell (SAC) mitogens. NTG is slightly less active than 4HCy and it is much less toxic to human lymphocytes. Furthermore, NTG appears to have a more selective inhibitory action against B cells. PMID- 2619510 TI - The influence of the calcium channel antagonist verapamil on histamine release from target cells. AB - The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of verapamil on anti-IgE induced histamine release from basophils isolated from the blood of 10 atopic asthma patients. The results of the investigations showed that verapamil in concentration of 10(-2)M - 10(-6)M significantly inhibits histamine release from basophils of asthmatic patients. The degree of inhibition of histamine secretion depends on the concentration of the drug. Our studies suggest that verapamil may be useful in combination with more conventional drugs in the treatment of asthmatic patients, particularly those with ischemic heart diseases or hypertonia. PMID- 2619511 TI - Influence of harringtonine on human leukemia cell differentiation. AB - The influence of low doses of harringtonine (Ht) on differentiation of blood cells from acute myeloblastic (AML) and lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients diagnosed according to FAB classification was tested. Out of five cases of ALL only in one case differentiation into mature lymphocytes appeared. In two cases out of four of AML differentiation was seen in one case into more mature granulocytic series and in another one into monocytes. Two out of 3 acute myelomonocytic leukemias (AMMOL) differentiated, one into more mature granulocyte cells and one into monocytes. One of our patients with AML (M2) in relapse was treated with ht using HOAP (harringtonine, oncovin, adriblastine, prednisone) schedule with good but transient effect. Prior to therapy in vitro tests performed with ht showed differentiation of leukemic cells into more mature granulocyte cells. PMID- 2619512 TI - Biological evaluation of mitoxantrone dihydrochloride synthesized by a new method. I. Acute toxicity and antitumor activity in mouse transplantable tumor systems. AB - A high antitumor activity of mitoxantrone dihydrochloride, synthesized according to a new method, was demonstrated in mice with i.p. growing tumors: P388 leukemia in CD2F1 and B16 melanoma in B6D2F1 hybrid strains. The preparation was ineffective when administered to mice with subcutaneously implanted solid tumors: Lewis Lung carcinoma, 16/C mammary adenocarcinoma or B16 melanoma. This finding is consistent with data reported by others for mitoxantrone produced by American Cyanamid Co. Acute toxicity of the tested compound was evaluated after single i.p. or i.v. administration to male and female CD2F1 and B6D2F1 mice. PMID- 2619513 TI - Biological evaluation of mitoxantrone dihydrochloride synthesized by a new method. II. Comparison of Now 85/34 and Novantrone (Lederle) acute toxicity and antitumor activity. AB - A basic biological similarity of the newly synthesized mitoxantrone dihydrochloride preparation Now 85 with the Lederle's Novantrone was tested in simultaneously carried out comparative evaluations of acute toxicity and antitumor activity. PMID- 2619514 TI - Investigations on the antiproliferative effects of amino acid antagonists targeting for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Part II--The antileukemic effect. AB - Amino acid antagonists with proven or potential inhibitory activities on aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases were tested for their antiproliferative effect against the murine leukemic cell line P388D1. Micromolar concentrations of the compounds S-tritylcysteine (18), fenitropan and beta-chloroalanine gave strong growth inhibition. In the mouse only 18 was effective against leukemia P388 (T/C = 211%). The inhibitory effect on aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and the antiproliferative action on P388D1 or P388 could not be correlated. PMID- 2619515 TI - Synthesis and characterization of steroid-linked N-(2-chloroethyl)nitrosoureas. AB - Syntheses of steroid-linked N-[N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N'-nitrosocarbamoyl]-(CNC-) amino acid esters and -amides with potential antineoplastic activity are described. The esters are prepared by reaction of CNC-amino acids with steroids using N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The corresponding amides are prepared by reaction of 1-(CNC-amino acyloxy) pyrrolidine-2,5-diones with 17 beta-amino-3-hydroxy-1,3,5(10)-estratriene or 17 beta-O-[4-(6-aminohexylamino)-1,4-dioxo-butyl]-estradiol. Estradiol-17 beta hemisuccinate is esterified with N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N'-(2-chloro-ethyl)-N' nitrosourea (HECNU). Spectroscopic characteristics and relative binding affinities to steroid receptors are given. PMID- 2619516 TI - Synthesis and Ca-antagonist activity of some benzhydryl derivatives. AB - The preparation of a series of benzhydryl derivatives is described. Their activities as Calcium-antagonists were evaluated on the taenia coli of the guinea pig. These new compounds show lower activities as Ca-antagonists than Cinnarizine. PMID- 2619517 TI - Antimicrobial activity of basic cholane derivatives, VIII. AB - Two series of new compounds derived from deoxycholic acid have been synthesized: 3,12-dioxo-5 beta-cholan-24-N-substituted amides and their 3 beta-amino and 3 beta-N-alkylamino derivatives. The first series of five compounds 1-5 carries at C-24 the residue of benzylamine, morpholine, diethanolamine, N,N-diethyl ethylenediamine, and N-methylpiperazine. The second series of twenty compounds 1A D - 5A-D was prepared by means of reductive amination starting from the compounds of the first series. This reaction proved to be regioselective and stereospecific: it attacks only C-3 of the steroid moiety and introduces the following axial beta-oriented substituents: amino, methylamino, ethylamino, and benzylamino. The compounds of the first series showed moderate scattered antimicrobial activity; while introduction of the 3 beta-amino and 3 beta-N alkylamino residue greatly increased activity towards Gram (+) strains; even yeast and fungi appear to be sensitive towards this last series of compounds. The results have been discussed with respect to the nature of the substituents both at C-3 and C-24, the highest activity being associated to the hydrophobicity of these residues. PMID- 2619518 TI - Paraspinal muscle pathology in experimental scoliosis. AB - Paraspinal muscle biopsies from ten rabbits with experimentally induced scoliosis and from four healthy controls were analyzed histologically and histochemically. Scoliosis was induced by two different methods: six animals underwent unilateral damage of the dorsal column of the spinal cord (mean curve: 22 degrees) and four costotransversectomy (mean curve: 47 degrees). In eight scoliotic animals myopathic changes were detected on the muscles of the concave side. Only those animals which underwent costotransversectomy showed a neuropathic pattern with cronic denervation changes on the convex side. As regards the fiber type distribution, the control group showed a higher percentage of type-I fibers, which were similar on both sides of the spinal cord. No fiber proportion asymmetry could be detected in the muscles on the concave side in normal or scoliotic rabbits. There was a tendency to depart from normal values, in two different ways, on the convex side of scoliotic animals. Thus, in contrast to the medullary damage group, the muscles of the costotransversectomized rabbits showed an increased proportion of type-I fibers. Taken together, our findings support the hypothesis that myopathic changes as observed in human idiopathic scoliosis are a consequence of the postural deformity. Fiber type distribution does not appear to be related to the curvature in the same way. PMID- 2619519 TI - The surgical treatment of metatarsus primus varus in the adult. AB - As a surgical treatment of metatarsus primus varus in the adult, metatarsal osteotomy toward valgus near the base with internal fixation using a 40-mm AO small-fragment cancellous screw, in which a medical cortical console has a stabilizing function for the support of the screw head, has proved successful in 31 cases. PMID- 2619520 TI - Pott's disease and extrapleural anterior decompression. Results of 108 consecutive cases. AB - Between 1973 and 1988, 108 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis were treated by anterior extirpation and interbody fusion at Ankara University Medical Faculty, Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology Department. In 96 cases the operations were performed intrapleurally, as Hogston described. For 12 patients who had spinal involvement at lower thoracic and upper lumbar segments an extrapleural and extraperitoneal approach was used. The extrapleural approach is strongly recommended for patients who have compromised pulmonary reserve. When this approach is used adequate exposure can be obtained and postoperative rehabilitation of patients is facilitated. Advantages and disadvantages of the extrapleural approach and the results obtained from 108 patients are presented. PMID- 2619521 TI - Histopathological features of unilateral stapling in animal experiments. AB - Blount stapling of the proximal medial tibial growth was performed in 10-week-old domestic pigs. A total of 37 animals for up to 17 weeks were followed up. The histological evaluation showed a different reaction of the growth plate in the medial (stapled), central and lateral area. Up to 6 days after stapling the morphological features were characterized by deviations of the cell column from the axial alignment. Herniations of mature chondrocytes as well as isles of epiphyseal cartilage splintered into the adjacent metaphyseal cancellous bone were seen. From the 10th to the 11th postoperative day on there was a decline in the number of distal hypertrophic and degenerating cartilage cells due to impaired proliferation. Cell atrophy due to disturbed maturation or cell degeneration was evident. Local clusters of chondrocytes with loss of columnar arrangement indicated impaired chondrogenesis. Twenty-eight days after the operation coarser structures and changed alignment of cancellous bone characterized the morphological picture. The postoperative follow-up showed epiphyseal plates bounded by mature bone blocks or even a distinct sheet of horizontally oriented bone plates on the metaphyseal side. Many metaphyseal findings, such as augmented hypertrophic cells in the early postoperative period, or platelike limitations of the epiphyseal plate complete the morphological picture. PMID- 2619522 TI - Long-term results of the Girdlestone hip. AB - The Girdlestone hip is a possible alternative in cases where reconstruction and reimplantation appear hopeless. Only a minority of the 22 patients we followed for up to 16 years have had results ranging from good to satisfactory. PMID- 2619523 TI - Reaction of the bone structure to methotrexate-Palacos flow y. Experimental investigations in animals. AB - With the combined osteosynthesis of pathological fractures in association with tumors and/or metastases in mind, E. Merck (Darmstadt, FRG) developed a bone cement containing a cytostatic agent, methotrexate-Palacos flow y (MTX-Pf). The animal-experimental study presented here investigates the tolerability of MTX-Pf in the femurs of rabbits with lateral comparison. In these investigations we used both the concentration of 0.63% MTX, as is currently used in standard clinical surgery, as well as a much higher concentration of 2.5% MTX. The histological sections were investigated using microradiographic methods and provided no indication of any significant differences between the femora with the MTX-Pf implantation and those into which standard Palacos flow y had been implanted. PMID- 2619524 TI - Biological aspects of long-term failure of autografts after cruciate ligament replacement. AB - The alterations of the ultrastructure of the posterior cruciate ligament autograft of patellar tendon origin were examined in a sheep model 1 year after surgery. The ultrastructure was also compared with that of the normal contralateral posterior cruciate ligament and patellar tendon. The most striking finding was the unimodal distribution of the collagen fibrils, with a predominance of loosely packed thin fibrils in the central portion of the autograft. The results suggested that the remodeled autograft tissue became highly organized but never exhibited the ultrastructural features of a ligament. This could be responsible for the decreased biomechanical properties and the long term failure of a patellar tendon autograft. PMID- 2619525 TI - Fractures of the dens and risk of pseudarthrosis. AB - This study deals with 49 fractures of the dens treated at the Orthopedic Department of Athens University during the past 17 years. These fractures represent 14.2% of all cervical fractures treated during the same period at our department. Forty-one cases have been reviewed and analyzed, the average follow up time being 10 years (1-16). Pseudarthrosis was found to be present in seven cases (17%), and its relationship to different factors was examined. The type of fracture and particularly the direction of the fracture line were found to be major factors leading to pseudarthrosis. Many other factors, such as displacement, traction, the stability obtained, the presence of associated injuries, and the time elapsed till treatment was started, as well as the age of the patients, seem to play--alone or in combination--important roles in the development of pseudarthrosis. These factors have been classified according to their importance and graded. With a total of 10 points or more a dens fracture is characterized as a fracture "at risk of pseudarthrosis", i.e., a fracture with a higher possibility of developing a pseudarthrosis. This knowledge may contribute to proper and earlier management of such an injury. PMID- 2619526 TI - Isolated avulsion fracture of the anterior tubercle of the atlas. AB - Avulsion fracture of the tubercle of the atlas is a rare injury which is probably frequently overlooked. The fracture results from hyperextension of the neck against contraction of the long flexors. We describe two different fracture patterns and discuss the anatomical implications thereof. PMID- 2619527 TI - Refixation of muscular insertions after endoprosthetic replacement of the proximal humerus. AB - We describe the refixation of muscle insertions after resection of the proximal humerus in tumor patients. The prosthesis specially designed for this purpose carries large drill holes in the places corresponding to the anatomical sites of the muscle insertions. The muscles are attached to the prosthesis by means of tendon strips from the fascia lata. This can be expected to produce better functional results and to prevent subluxation. PMID- 2619528 TI - Aneurysmal bone cysts of the dorsal spine. AB - Aneurysmal bone cyst is an uncommon but interesting condition, more so when it involves the vertebrae. Three cases of aneurysmal bone cysts of the dorsal spine, suspected on clinicoradiological findings and confirmed by histopathology, are reported in this paper. The authors believe that when the disease affects the pedicles or transverse processes of a vertebra, the plain roentgenographic findings are quite typical of the disease, and a confident radiological diagnosis is possible in the majority of cases. PMID- 2619529 TI - Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia associated with progressive arthropathy. An unusual disorder mimicking juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. AB - A family is presented with three affected siblings suffering from a rare form of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia with progressive arthropathy affecting most joints of the body except for the craniofacial skeleton. This syndrome, probably of autosomal recessive inheritance, clinically presents diffuse and chronic joint involvement and should be differentiated from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic disorders. PMID- 2619530 TI - [Considerations on the principles of treatment of aseptic pseudarthrosis of the leg with the Ilizarov method]. AB - The surgical treatment of aseptic pseudarthrosis of the leg may be summarised in the following methods, the indications of which are based on the features of the centre of the lesion: hypertrophic or closed pseudarthrosis: paraosteal osteosynthesis with a plate; osteoperiosteal decortication and autoplastic bone transplant; intramedullary osteosynthesis (Kuntscher, Rush); external osteosynthesis; plaster; atrophic or lax pseudarthrosis: paraosteal osteosynthesis with a plate; osteoperiosteal decortication and autoplastic bone transplant; intramedullary osteosynthesis (Kuntscher, Rush); fibula-pro-tibia; intertibio-fibular transplant. PMID- 2619531 TI - [Congenital metatarsus varus]. AB - The authors report on "congenital primitive metatarsus varus". After discussing the incidence, etiology, pathogenesis and classification, the clinical features and associated malformations are evaluated. Then they go into treatment details affirming, according to the literature, that this malformation is susceptible to complete regression if treated bloodlessly during the early months of life, and in any case, before the onset of loss of ambulation, by manipulations followed by a series of plaster casts and finally by corrective braces and shoes. If this treatment is fruitless or in cases seen at an advanced age and with a high degree of varus, there are several surgical operations that achieve satisfying results operating on tendons or on articular capsules. PMID- 2619532 TI - [The "ligamental equivalents" of malleolar fractures caused by trauma from tibio tarsal pronation]. AB - The author, after analyzing a series of 7 cases of so-called "equivalents" of malleolar fractures, underlines the opportunity for correct evaluation of articular stability when observing an X-ray of a fracture due to rotation towards the exterior of the fibula. The test, under anesthesia, enables us to confirm the clinical suspicion of injury to the deltoid ligament and suggests surgical treatment for young patients and/or sportsmen. PMID- 2619533 TI - [Surgical treatment of fractures of the neck of the radius in children and adolescents. Review of 24 cases]. AB - At the Orthopaedic Clinic of the University of Perugia from 1973 to 1984, 28 fractures of the neck of the radius were treated with open reduction in children aged between 4 and 15. Follow-up evaluation showed a high percentage of poor results (33.3%) frequently associated with a deficit of pronation and supination. Clinical results were related both to the severity of the displacement and to the radiographic results at follow-up. Open reduction is essential in highly displaced fractures, but it can be avoided in those with minor displacement. PMID- 2619534 TI - [Post-traumatic deformities of the lower limbs. Pathogenetic and treatment considerations]. AB - The authors studied post-traumatic deformities of the lower limbs, outlining the main pathological features. Furthermore they describe the different progression of the pathology in adults and children, due to their different capability for adaptation. Finally, they report in detail on their two-years experience in using the Ilizarov external fixator. PMID- 2619535 TI - [Double fractures of the tibia: comparison of methods of treatment]. AB - The experience regarding the treatment of bifocal fractures at the Orthopedic Clinic of the University of Padua during a five-year period (1980-1985) is reported. The bloodless method has been abandoned in favor of modern osteosynthesis techniques, which have permitted a shorter healing time, with fewer cases of hospitalization and a more favorable outcome. PMID- 2619536 TI - ["Open sky" grafting of autoplastic spongy tissue in the treatment of chronic post-fracture osteomyelitis. Histological observations]. AB - On the basis of material taken from Padua's Institute of Clinical Orthopedics (25 operations performed according to the Papineau method between 1980 and 1986), the authors give particular attention to some little-known histological facts: a) about granulation tissue, and b) about cancellous tissue nestled in the infection sites in bone. PMID- 2619537 TI - [Our experience in the treatment of idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femur head by evidement and filling with bone grafts]. AB - The authors relate their experience in treating idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head with bone grafting. CASES: 18 hips under control for a period varying from 8 to 3 years. Radiographic and clinical assessment before and after surgery according to Ficat, Arlet and Merle D'Aubigne. Four patients were affected with idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Results were very good in 4 cases and quite good in 2 cases. Only one third of the results could be regarded as positive. This modest achievement is partly due to the method employed. In order to obtain better results, however, an early diagnosis is required and patients who are operated on should have quite a good bone mineralization. PMID- 2619538 TI - [Negative results of the scintigraphic examination in osteoid osteoma]. AB - The AA. report an unusual case of intraarticular osteoid osteoma of the elbow. Therefore the lesion was strongly suspected; the diagnosis was made only one year after the onset of symptoms by the use of Tc99m MDP bone scan specifically on the blood-pool image. Two earlier bone scans were made with negative results. Considerations have been made by the AA. on the metabolic behaviour of the tumor as shown by scintigraphic scans. PMID- 2619539 TI - [Osteoid osteoma: ultrastructural aspects]. AB - The authors take into consideration the ultrastructural aspects of osteoid osteoma and discuss the cellular and subcellular features of this neoplasm. Special attention is given to functional adaptability, which is specific for this type of cell, related to the degree of development of the neoformation. PMID- 2619540 TI - [Review of 115 cases of osteoid osteoma]. AB - 115 cases of osteoid osteoma treated over more than 18 years is reported. In 1 case the nidus was manifested in 2 different sites after 14 years. The following is emphasized: the terminology for osteoid osteoma should be changed in reference to osteoblastoma; osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma constitute different aspects of the same neoplasia; the number of observations of osteoid osteoma increases as there is greater knowledge on the varieties of the tumor; treatment, which is exclusively surgical, may be limited to excision of the nidus, in order to guarantee the best healing possible. Resection should be limited to observations where the nidus is masked by osteosclerosis. PMID- 2619541 TI - [A case of vertebral giant cell tumor: clinical observation and treatment]. AB - The authors describe a giant cell tumor of the 2nd lumbar vertebra with a bulky retroperitoneal manifestation, relapsed four months after surgical removal, cured through the association of cobalt therapy and chemotherapy, and which was followed by secondary vertebral instability with symptoms of neurological suffering, stabilized with posterior arthrodesis (Harrington plus bone grafting) with checks, after recovery, four years from the discovery of the tumor. The authors underline the difficulty of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of giant cell tumors localized in the vertebrae. PMID- 2619542 TI - [Diagnostic problems in Ewing's sarcoma]. AB - Ewing's sarcoma presents diagnostic problems with several inflammatory processes (osteomyelitis, osteoperiostitis, eosinophilic granuloma) and other bone tumors. Clinical, radiographic and laboratory findings must be supported by a careful biopsy. Delimitation of reticulosarcoma and metastatic neuroblastoma is also extremely difficult from a histopathological point of view. PMID- 2619543 TI - [Characteristics of the articulation heads in the elbow joint in relation to flexor-extension movements]. AB - The angles involved in the physiological movements of the humero-ulnar joint have been studied by a semiautomatic image analyzer on 50 dried humeri and 50 dried ulnae and on 50 radiographs of normal elbow joints (22 male and 28 female). The angle (A) formed by the diaphyseal axis and the lower humeral epiphysis equals 34 degrees +/- 3.97 (media + s.d.) in dried bones; 35 degrees +/- 6.05 (male) and 35.5 degrees +/- 4.7 (female) in the radiographic images. The angle (B) formed by the trochlear notch axis and the horizontal plane equals 22.5 degrees +/- 5.31 in the dried bones; 28 degrees +/- 5.57 (male) and 25.5 degrees +/- 6.98 (female) in the radiographic images. According to these data the flexor-extension movement of the elbow joint is possible when the humeral angle (A) is less than 45 degrees even if this angle (A) is required to be more than the ulnar one (B). PMID- 2619544 TI - [Cannulated guide with a mandrel containing a rounded tip for the introduction of trans-skeletal wires]. AB - The authors present a cannulated guide with a rounded tip used to insert trans skeletal wires for external circular fixators. Based on their experience, the authors confirm the effectiveness of the tool particularly in safeguarding vessels and nerves. The instrument is a definite aid to the surgeon, and does not penalize the time required for surgery. PMID- 2619545 TI - A long term study of Charnley total hip replacements. AB - This study concerns our first 100 Charnley low friction arthroplasties. The follow-up of the surviving forty hips ranged from 14.4 to 16.2 years (average 15.3 years). Thirty-nine of the original 100 hips were lost to follow-up due to death. Twenty-one could not be traced. There had been six known failures (defined as removal or revision of the prosthesis), two of which occurred in the surviving forty hips. Femoral component failure had occurred twice as often as acetabular failure. Survival analysis was performed using the last follow-up from all 100 hips. This depicted 91% survival of the arthroplasty (both components), 91% survival of the femoral component, and 96% survival of the acetabular component at fifteen years. Clinical evaluation of the surviving forty hips revealed 87.5% good and excellent results. This represented a small decline from 95% good and excellent results in the same hips at the ten year follow-up. Radiographic evaluation of thirty-two of forty hips demonstrated 6% migration of acetabular components, and 7% loose femoral components, while 31% of the acetabular components and 50% of the femoral components showed no sign of loosening. Femoral loosening was positively correlated with femoral shaft diameter. Measurable polyethylene wear was present in twenty-seven of thirty-two hips. The wear ranged from 0.2 to 8.5 millimeters (average 1.85 millimeters). Wear was associated with male sex and with calcar resorption. PMID- 2619546 TI - [Aseptic loosening of the Charnley prosthesis]. AB - Out of 100 Charnley prostheses implanted for idiopathic arthrosis and followed up a minimum of 5 years after surgery, 59 were fixed, 24 were characterised by probable radiologic loosening of the femoral component, 13 by probable loosening, and 4 by possible radiologic loosening of the acetabular component. None of the patients was submitted to further surgery. Some of the features of the patients were found to be associated with a higher incidence of femoral loosening. In most of the cases loosening was minimal, only radiologic, and not clinically apparent, and numerous technical improvements in the use of cement and in the design of the prosthesis were introduced subsequent to the period when these patients were operated on. PMID- 2619547 TI - [Our experience with the uncemented isoelastic total hip prosthesis]. AB - Between May 1981 and May 1987, 250 isoelastic hip prostheses were implanted. The first 180 (from May '81 till May '86) were called for a visit. 130 (72%) came and were assessed with a minimum review time of 1 year. We ignore the reasons for which 28% of the patients did not turn up (death or others). 81% of the patients had good or very good results after surgery. Three patients developed infections (2.3%); none of these was revised. Four developed loosening of the femoral component; two of these underwent revision surgery and are doing well now. We did not notice any loosening of the acetabular component. The recommended period of gait support was of 2 months of no weight bearing with two canes and of two months of partial weight bearing with one cane. No component had broken. We had 1 femoral fracture incurred during surgery which healed with routine management. These early results are very encouraging, but the effectiveness of this prosthesis will require longer follow-up data to be confirmed. PMID- 2619548 TI - [Inaugural lecture at the international symposium on "Congenital Hip Dislocation: Today" in memory of Marino Ortolani. Montegrotto Terme (Padua): 23-25 October, 1988]. PMID- 2619549 TI - [Total hip prosthesis according to Charnley. Review of our cases]. AB - This is a follow-up study of 363 Charnley hip replacements out of 548 implanted from 1970 to June 1984. Clinical results, with a 2-year minimum follow-up (average 5 years, maximum 15 years) are excellent or good in 89.5% of the cases. In the group with minimum 5-year follow-up (average 7, maximum 15 years) the clinical results remain good to excellent in 89.2% of the cases. Radiographic results have been studied in the group with minimum 5-year follow-up. Component stability or radiographic loosening have been studied, taking into account the presence of radiolucent lines between bone and cement, between metal and cement, or based on component migration or positional shift. We have detected radiographic loosening in 11.5% of the acetabular and 13.5% of the femoral components. A correlation was sought between radiographic loosening and some clinical (diagnosis, weight, follow-up period) and radiographic (postoperative component position, polyethylene wear, cement technique, periosteal reaction, myositis ossificans) parameters. There is no strong relationship between radiographic loosening and clinical results, as 28 of 35 radiographically loose prostheses maintained excellent or good results. Finally, the results of a selected group of 29 hips, with a minimum follow-up of 10 years, is reported. PMID- 2619550 TI - [The method of finite elements in evaluation of the mechanical behavior of the Ilizarov apparatus]. AB - An accurate, rapid response technique for ascertaining the mechanical behavior of the Ilizarov apparatus has been developed. A widely-adopted numerical method (finite elements), is used to achieve simulation of the apparatus configuration, whereby the orthopedic surgeon is able to custom tailor the apparatus to the clinical situation. Experimental activity verifies the validity of the finite element simulation and provides information on the magnitude and type of loads affecting the apparatus during implantation. From this information it is possible to inocuously derive objective parameters characterizing the evolution of patient rehabilitation. PMID- 2619551 TI - [The applicable merit of untreated, HCl-treated and partly-hydrolysed straw meal in the feeding regimen of piglets after early weaning. 4. Histological findings in the digestive epithelium of the piglet]. AB - In studies with piglets of the country race the applicability of variously treated straw materials was tested in comparison with conventional concentrate feeding (I) after an early weaning date (30th-35th day of life) over an 8-week period (1st-8th week of keeping). In the rations containing 10% straw (straw concentrate mixtures), untreated (II), HCl treated (III: HCl treatment without steaming) and partly hydrolyzed straw meal (IV: HCl treatment with subsequent steaming) were used in the feeding. Samples were taken of 4 killed animals each in the 2nd and 8th weeks of keeping for the qualitative histologic assessment of palatum durum, oesophagus and stomach, duodenum and caecum, colon ascendens, colon descendens and rectum. Although significantly lower pH values in the stomach were registered after the feeding of feed mixtures III and IV due to increased acidity (pH value decrease by 1.3 to 1.5 units) in comparison to the values in I and II, the lamina epithelialis of the palatum durum remained intact in all groups and without any signs of cauterization. Equally, considerable changes in the comparison of the feeding groups could not be detected in the structures of the oesophagus and the stomach walls or in the qualitative histologic assessment of the duodenum and the caecum. However, there were clearly distinguishable group specifics with regard to the formation of lymphoreticular tissue in the stomach and for the colon ascendens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619552 TI - [Parameters of nitrogen metabolism for male broilers of Tetra 82 descent]. AB - In several growth and N-balance experiments with male broilers of the genotype Tetra 82 the course of live weight and parameters of N-metabolism were investigated. Semi-synthetic feed mixtures of different protein concentration but equal protein quality (protein mixture: 70% soybean meal and 30% fish meal) were used in the trials. Data from N-balance investigations were reckoned up in the N turnover model from Gebhardt (1963). The course of maximum (N-balance plus endogenous N-loss) capacity in dependence on live weight was regressive calculated. Based on this regression a possibility of calculation of efficiency depended protein and amino acid requirement for the whole fattening period in dependence on live weight, protein intake and protein quality (A.b) was illustrated. PMID- 2619553 TI - Effect of lasalocid sodium and molasses on performance of fattening lambs and on rumen liquor and blood parameters. AB - Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of sugar beet molasses (0, 8 and 16%) with or without lasalocid sodium (33 ppm) on rumen liquor and blood parameters of sheep, and on fattening reared Karagouniko breed lambs. In Expt. 1 six adult Karagouniko fistulated wethers were fed six different pelleted diets. The results showed that lasalocid decreased (P less than 0.01) total VFAs concentration in the rumen (7.1%) by reducing (P less than 0.001) acetic, n butyric and iso-valeric acids while increased (P less than 0.001) propionic acid concentrations. The same trends were observed in molar proportions of the individual VFAs. The total VFAs production was also depressed by 13.75% when molasses were used at the level of 16%. No interaction among the main treatments was observed with the exception of L X M with 16% molasses where the propionic acid concentration decreased, and those of butyric and iso-valeric acids increased. Lasalocid did not alter the mean values of rumen liquor pH and ammonia nitrogen concentration while molasses increased the later parameter. No significant differences on dietary protein degradability were observed among treatments. Lasalocid reduced the beta-HBA concentration by 13% in the blood while molasses increased it (P less than 0.001). Free fatty acids' concentration was decreased by the molasses inclusion to the diets, while lasalocid didn't alter blood glucose concentration. Finally, the number of protozoa in the rumen liquor was reduced by 49 and 70% at 0 and 5 hours post feeding respectively with the addition of lasalocid to the diets, regardless of the use of molasses. In Expt. 2 utilized 86 weaned male Karagouniko fattening lambs, with initial mean LW 13 kg, for 60 days. They were assigned to six groups and fed ad libitum with diets of the same composition as in Exp 1. Lasalocid increased the growth rate by 8.6%, reduced feed consumption by 4.8% (P less than 0.005) and improved feed conversion by 11.8%. Molasses also improved growth rate by 16-34% and increased feed consumption by 15-22%. The interaction of L X M to feed consumption was significant (P less than 0.001). None of the treatments had an effect on carcass characteristics. Finally lasalocid showed its positive action when it was used in combination with molasses in ruminants' diets. PMID- 2619554 TI - [Determination of the benzo(a)pyrene content of microbial biomasses and protein feed]. AB - A method for the fluorimetric determination of benzo(a)pyrene content is presented consisting of classical clean-up steps. The method was applied to microbial biomasses and different feed stuffs. The investigated yeasts grown on carbohydrates keep the limit of 5 ppb benzo(a)-pyrene recommended by the IUPAC. Yeast samples of the VEB Petrolchemisches Kombinat Schwedt grown on petroleum distillate have a constant quality with benzo(a)pyrene contents at 1 ppb. A selection of bacterial biomasses shows also contents less than 5 ppb. The benzo(a)pyrene contents of biomasses cultivated on liquid manure exceed the given limit. PMID- 2619555 TI - Glutathione transferases in human nasal mucosa. AB - Glutathione transferase (GST) was investigated with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate in tissues specimens of human nasal mucosa. The average +/- (SD) of GST activity in the cytosol was 76.8 +/- 21 nmol/min/mg with a range of 47-113. Using affinity chromatography and isoelectric focusing, the isozymes of GST from human nasal mucosa have been purified and characterized. On the criteria of isoelectric point, substrate specificities, apparent subunit molecular weight, sensitivity to characteristic inhibitors and immunological properties the major GST purified (about 85% of total activity) can be identified as class pi GST. Although a limited amount of class alpha GST was expressed by human nasal mucosa, no class mu isoenzymes was noted. In addition, we have also identified a GST subunit that cannot be related to any of three major classes of human GST. PMID- 2619556 TI - Reproductive toxicity and pharmacokinetics of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p dioxin. 1. Effects of high doses on the fertility of male rats. AB - A study on the reproductive toxicity of 14C-TCDD in male rats was performed. Two dose regimes were applied subcutaneously: TCDD-25 (initial dose: 25 micrograms/kg body wt; maintenance dose: 5 micrograms/kg body wt) and TCDD-75 (initial dose: 75 micrograms/kg body wt; maintenance dose: 15 micrograms/kg body wt); the maintenance dose was administered once weekly. The rats were treated for 10 weeks before they were mated and throughout the entire mating period. The dose regime TCDD-75 led to a mortality rate of 93% within a period of 16 weeks. The first animals died during 4 weeks, and an LD50 was reached after 8 weeks. The dose regime TCDD-25 did not cause any mortality over a period of 12 weeks; but an LD10 was reached within 13-20 weeks. The body weight was significantly decreased in both groups treated with TCDD after 1 week of treatment. It stabilized in the TCDD-25-group 4 weeks after treatment and stayed at this level until the end of the treatment period. The most significant finding is the delayed fertilization by the treated males; 15% of the males were found to be sterile. The mating index (84%) and fertility index (14 +/- 11 days) of the TCDD-25-group were lower when compared with controls (95%, 8 +/- 5), but the pregnancy index was not reduced. Application of the chosen TCDD doses led to clear-cut morphological changes of the testes. The Sertoli cells were changed (increased occurrence of vacuoles, swelling of endoplasmatic cavities), and the contact between the Sertoli cells and spermatogonia was disturbed, which might indicate an inhibited maturation of spermatozoa precursors. PMID- 2619557 TI - All-trans retinoic acid and 13-cis-retinoic acid in the rat whole-embryo culture: abnormal development due to the all-trans isomer. AB - 9.5-day-old rat embryos were exposed to 3 micrograms 13-cis retinoic acid (13-cis RA)/ml culture medium or 1 microgram all-trans retinoic acid (all-trans-RA)/ml culture medium for different time intervals of the culture period (test substance exposure periods alternated with test substance-free periods). These studies were performed to confirm the hypothesis (Klug et al. 1989) that the effect of 13-cis RA on embryonic development in vitro is predominantly caused by its isomerisation to all-trans-RA. A 12 h exposure of the rat embryos to 13-cis-RA during different periods of culture did not interfere with normal development. However, a 12 h exposure of the embryos to all-trans-RA in the first three quarters of the culture period significantly interfered with normal development and caused clear cut and typical abnormalities. Embryonic exposure to 13-cis-RA, for periods of more than 12 h, caused severe interference with normal development and led to branchial effects very similar to those observed following to a 12 h exposure to all-trans-RA. PMID- 2619558 TI - Liver toxicity due to 1,2-dichloropropane in the rat. AB - The effect of 1,2-dichloropropane on rat liver was studied after short (5 days) and long term (4 weeks) i.p. administration. Animals were injected daily with 10 500 mg/kg body wt 1,2-dichloropropane and biochemical and histological changes of liver were investigated. Treatment was monitored by measuring urinary mercapturic acid excretion. A significant increase of mercapturate excretion was observed at all dose levels, with no further increase during the treatment; at lower doses a return to baseline values occurred within 48 h after the end of treatment. Mercapturate excretion at the end of weeks 2, 3 and 4 of treatment was significantly lower than that observed at the end of week 1. The liver reduced glutathione content was different after single or repeated injections. A dose dependent decrease of liver reduced glutathione was observed after a single injection and a dose-dependent increase after 4 weeks. The liver biochemical pattern after 4 weeks of treatment (characterized by a decrease of cytochrome P 450 and by an increase of reduced glutathione and glutathione S-transferase activity) suggests a hyperplastic evolution of the liver cells, probably a repair mechanism induced by early depletion of reduced glutathione. Light microscopy confirms that the prevalent alterations are regenerative in type (atypical mitosis and hyperplastic nodules). Areas of focal necrosis are isolated, and trend to disappear after long term treatment. PMID- 2619559 TI - Late preventive effects against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver necrosis of the calcium chelating agent Calcion. AB - In agreement with the hypothesis that changes in calcium homeostasis might be significant in late stages of chemically-induced liver cell injury, a calcium chelating agent, Calcion, was able to partially prevent CCl4-induced liver necrosis observed at 24 h, when treatment was given as late as 6 or 10 h after the hepatotoxin. Calcion had minor or no effects on covalent binding of reactive metabolites to cellular components, or on lipid peroxidation or on CCl4 levels reaching the liver. Calcion treatment of CCl4-poisoned animals decreased CCl4 induced calcium increases in liver and increased glutathione levels decreased by hepatotoxin at 24 h. Calcion treatment was not able to prevent CCl4-induced fatty liver. Calcion protective effects were body temperature dependent but they were cancelled when Calcion-treated poisoned animals were kept normothermic. Results suggest that Calcion protective effects might be linked to calcium chelation or alternatively that they might derive from decreases in body temperature. PMID- 2619560 TI - In vivo and in vitro regional differential sensitivity of neuropathy target esterase to di-n-butyl-2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate. AB - Organophosphate-induced delayed polyneuropathy (OPIDP) is initiated by inhibition/aging of more than 70-75% of neuropathy target esterase (NTE). Di-n butyl-2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate (DBDCVP) (1 mg/kg s.c.) inhibited 96%, 86% and 83% of NTE in brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerve, respectively, and induced a typical central peripheral distal axonopathy in hens. A lower dose (0.45 mg/kg s.c.) caused 90%, 83% and 54% NTE inhibition in the same organs; by contrast, hens developed a spastic ataxia with axonal degeneration in spinal cord but not in peripheral nerve. With a dose of 0.2 mg/kg s.c., a suprathreshold inhibition of NTE was produced in brain (78%) but not in spinal cord (56%) and peripheral nerve (33%) and no morphological or clinical signs of neuropathy developed in hens. With doses up to 4.0 mg/kg s.c., acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition was similar throughout the nervous system. In vitro time-course inhibition studies showed a different sensitivity to DBDCVP of NTE from peripheral nerve (ka = 5.4 x 10(6)) relative to that from spinal cord (ka = 13.9 x 10(6)) or brain (ka = 20.6 x 10(6)). In vitro I50s of DBDCVP for AChE were similar in brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerve (11-17 nM). These data support the hypothesis that the critical target for initiation of OPIDP is located in the nerve fiber, possibly in the axon and also suggest that peripheral nerve NTE has a different sensitivity to DBDCVP than the brain enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619561 TI - The interaction of aluminium with soluble protein kinase C from mouse brain. AB - The interaction of aluminium ion species with soluble protein kinase C, Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, from mouse brain has been examined in vitro. The activity of protein kinase C was increased by addition of Ca2+ displaying an EC50 value of 10.3 +/- 1.1 x 10(-6) M. The A1 species inhibited the activity with an IC50 values of 8.6 +/- 0.5 x 10(-5) M and 2.7 +/- 0.3 x 10(-5) M in the presence of 0.5 mM Ca2+ and absence of Ca2+, respectively. Concerning the EC50 for Ca2+ activation, this was increased by the A1 species in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, the inhibition was of a non-competitive type with respect to H1 histone and of a mixed type with respect to ATP. It is likely that the inhibition was caused by 1) the blocking of Mg2+ binding to ATP, 2) the blocking of CA2+ binding to protein kinase C. Our results suggested that protein kinase C was involved in neurotoxicity of A1. PMID- 2619562 TI - Oxidation of cardiac myoglobin in vivo by sodium nitrite or hydroxylamine. AB - A non-vascularized fish heart model was used to assess the oxidation of cardiac myoglobin in vivo by compounds known to cause methemoglobinemia. Buffalo sculpin (Enophrys bison) were cannulated from the afferent branchial artery to permit repeated blood sampling and injected intraperitoneally with sodium nitrite, hydroxylamine or aniline. Methemoglobin was formed by sublethal levels of sodium nitrite or hydroxylamine. For hydroxylamine, the time to peak effect was less than 1 h. For sodium nitrite, the onset was less rapid and the effect more prolonged. Aniline had no effect on hemoglobin at any concentration tested. Cardiac myoglobin, assayed at the time of peak effect on hemoglobin, was oxidized in a dose-dependent manner by sodium nitrite or hydroxylamine. At high doses of sodium nitrite (50 and 100 mg/kg), the oxidation of myoglobin exceeded that of hemoglobin. The reverse was true of hydroxylamine at all concentrations tested. This study suggests that possibility that cardiac myoglobin is oxidized in occupational or other exposures to sodium nitrite, hydroxylamine and related compounds. PMID- 2619563 TI - Inhibition of serum cholinesterase by trialkylphosphorothiolates. AB - The kinetics of inhibition of horse serum cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) by six trialkylphosphorothiolates was studies (25 degrees C, pH 7.4). The compounds were : OOS-trimethylphosphorothiolate (OOS-Me), OSS-trimethylphosphorodithiolate (OSS Me), SSS-trimethylphosphorotrithiolate (SSS-Me) and their corresponding ethyl analogues (OOS-Et, OSS-Et, SSS-Et). The second order rate constants of inhibition ranged from 7.2 to 2128 mol-1 1 min-1, of inhibition ranged from 7.2 to 2128 mol 1 1 min-1, and the enzyme/inhibitor dissociation constants from 0.079 to 1.5 mM. The ethyl esters were better inhibitors than their methyl analogues and the OSS compounds were better inhibitors than the OOS- or SSS-compounds. The same structure-activity relationship is known to hold for the reaction of the compounds with acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7). PMID- 2619564 TI - [Structural changes in the rat cerebral cortex induced by alcohol in combination with aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors]. AB - The cerebral parietal cortex in rats subjected to an acute (single) and subacute (for 5 days) ethanol effect in combination with aldehyde dehydrogenase (AldDG) (enzymes classification 1.2.1.3 AldDG) inhibitors--disulfiram and cyanamide--has been investigated histochemically and electron microscopically. The inhibitors mentioned produce an essential decrease of AldDG activity in the cerebral cortex; it remains in some structures even 6 days after their single administration. Against the background of AldDG inhibitors alcohol produces more noticeable structural disorders in the cerebral cortex, they are possibly connected with accumulation of a highly toxic ethanol metabolite-acetaldehyde--in blood and with its easy penetration into the brain. This demonstrates an important role of AldDG in protection of the brain from alcoholic (aldehydic) lesions, as well as a peculiar danger for the brain of ethanol in combination with inhibitors of this enzyme. PMID- 2619565 TI - [Mechanism of the development of neuroparalytic keratitis]. AB - There is a hypothesis that for appearance of the neuroparalytic keratitis a decisive role has cessation of discharge of trophic factors, demonstrating a polypeptide nature. from sensitive nervous endings. In order to check the hypothesis, deafferentation of the eye has been performed by means of electrocoagulation of the trigeminal sensitive nucleus in the medulla oblongata. Despite the fact that as a result of the operation connection of the sensitive cells with the periphery is preserved, the neuroparalytic keratitis occurs at the same time, as after sectioning the trigeminal nerve branching. The suggestion on excessive discharge of catecholamines from the sympathetic terminals as the cause of deafferentational disorders is not confirmed. The eye desympathization does not prevent appearance of the neuroparalytic keratitis. It is supposed that discontinue of information current to the center makes regulation of the peripheral tissues homeostasis impossible, that is the cause of the trophic disturbance. PMID- 2619566 TI - [Characteristics of the reconstruction of collateral pathways after surgical decompression of the portal system]. AB - In 20 mongrel dogs after a preliminary stenosis of the portal vein, formation of the spleno-renal or mesenteric-caval anastomosis has been performed. For revealing the vessels vital portography, injection of roentgenopaque masses and morphometry have been carried out. The spleno-renal anastomosis ensures a selective outflow of blood from the esophago-gastro-splenic zone. The collaterals, developing as a result of the porto-caval anastomoses with the anterior vena cava, and the collaterals, developing as a results of the porto portal anastomoses, disappear. The mesenteric-caval anastomoses favourably affects the intestinal hemodynamics. The bypasses of the blood stream, developed between the portal vein and posterior vena cava reduce predominantly. The decompressive angioanastomoses result in local hypertension in the posterior vena cava system. PMID- 2619567 TI - [Ultrastructural analysis of collagen fibers in the conductive and working myocardium of the sinoatrial region of the human heart]. AB - Qualitative and quantitative electron microscopic analysis of collagenous fibers has been performed in the sinusal node (SN) and perinodal working myocardium of the right atrium (RA) in the hearts of 22 men, died at the age of 23-63 years. Five of them died from alcoholic cardiomyopathy, 8--from coronary cardiac disease and 9--from noncardiac causes and craniocerebral trauma (group of comparison). In 21 cases seven types of ultrastructural changes of the collagenous fibers have been revealed in the SN (changes in the form, size and degree of their osmiophilia). As a whole the volumetric density of the collagenous fibers in the selection makes 24.4 +/- 1.6% from the volume of the SN conductive myocardium and 5.7 +/- 0.8% from the volume of the RA perinodal working myocardium. Content of the collagenous fibers in the SN does not depend on the death cause, age of the dead or on degree of the cardiac hypertrophy. Content of the collagenous fibers in the RA is 2.2 times higher at a sudden coronary death, than in the group of comparison. With age in the RA the volumetric density of the collagenous fibers increases by 1.9 times, and with rise in the cardiac mass, it increases by 2.2 times. The data obtained are discussed in order to understand the role of the collagenous fibers in functioning of the sinoauricular area both normal and at the cardiac pathology. PMID- 2619568 TI - [Effect of vascular factors and aging on the ultrastructure of neurons of the human cerebral cortex]. AB - Neuronal ultrastructure of the frontal and temporal cerebral cortex has been studied in persons 36-, 39-, 50-, 70-year-old, died from the ischemic heart disease and 73-, 83-year-old, whose deaths are not connected with vascular pathology. The neurons can be divided into several groups, depending on osmiophilic degree of their nucleus and cytoplasm: I--electron-light, II- electron-opaque, III--with dark nucleus and light cytoplasm and IV--with light nucleus and dark cytoplasm. The protein-synthesizing apparatus (PSA) is subjected to the earliest and most essential disorders. Its changes in the I group of neurons at the age of 36-50 years are mainly of compensatory-adaptive character, while at the age of 73 and 83 years the dystrophic changes of the PSA result in hollowness of the cell, that evidently makes the base of the cell ageing mechanism. Presence of electron opaque neurons is not a sign of ageing, and depends on various pathology, in the given case on the ischemic heart disease, that causes certain vascular disorders in the brain. Variability of the ultrastructures of the electron opaque neurons and essential changes of some part of them, observed in the brain of the 72-year-old man confirm that the vascular factor is an important one in pathology of neurons. Dependence of lipofuscin appearance in neurons on the manifestation degree of the pathological process and ageing in them is discussed. PMID- 2619569 TI - [Luminescence of activated phagocytes]. AB - By means of microscope-cytofluorometry "Luman-13" intensive proper luminescence of neutrophilic granulocytes and monocytes in blood and pus, that reduce nitroblue tetrazolium has been investigated. The luminescence is localized in the cytoplasmic areas free from formazan; formazan itself does not demonstrate any luminescence. Two types of luminescence have been revealed: dark blue-blue and yellow-green. According to the luminescence spectral analysis stimulation with radiation at the wave length 360 nm produces luminescence of the I type with its maximum in the area of 450-470 nm and 520-535 nm. When stimulation with light at the wave length is 460 nm, the luminescence spectrum++ of the II type possesses the main maximum at 535 nm. Luminescence spectra of neutrophilic granulocytes and monocytes are similar. The luminescence stripe in the area 450-470 nm results from reduced pyridinenucleotides, luminescence with the wave length 520-535 nm- from oxidized flavoproteins. PMID- 2619570 TI - [Proliferation and differentiation in the development of myoneural tissue in birds]. AB - Using the alkaline dissociation technique in the ciliary-iris complex of chick embryos 5-19 days of development by mean of 3H-thymidine and 3H-leucine radiography, qualitative cytochemistry and morphometry methods morpho-functional parameters of cell and simplast development in the myoneural tissue have been studied. As a result of divergent differentiation of the stem cells two differons are formed in the myoneural tissue: cellular and simplastic. They both interact in composition of the muscle fiber. The proliferation is specific for the cellular differon, and synthesis of specific proteins takes place in the simplasts. The proliferation and differentiation in the avian myoneural tissue occur on the base of competitive+ type of metabolism, while in the iris pigmentocytes--on the base of non-competitive++ interaction of DNA and specific protein synthesis. A conclusion is made concerning common mechanisms of development for the skeletal muscle and myoneural tissues. They are based on the single type of interaction of proliferation and differentiation processes in histogenesis of the two tissues. PMID- 2619571 TI - [Changes in cells of the adenohypophysis after its simultaneous implantation with various hypothalamic nuclei]. AB - In 55 mature male rabbits and in 65 hypophysis-ectomized inbred male rats (body mass 200-230 g) implantation of the adenohypophysis with supraoptic, paraventricular and arcuate hypothalamic nuclei into the anterior chamber of the eye has been performed. The adenohypophyseal cellular structure has been estimated by means of light and electron microscopy from 12 up to 26 days of implantation. At a direct influence to the implanted adenocytes of the hypophysis substances of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei ensure stimulation of their proliferative processes, accompanied with increase of DNA synthesis. Besides, secretory process enhances in some somato-, mammo- and thyreotropocytes. Discovery of such cells as thyreo-, mammo- and corticotropocytes in newly-formed epithelial proliferates is considered as a fact of their possible functional differentiation de novo. Implantation of the adenohypophysis with the arcuate hypothalamic nuclei reveals activation in folliculin stimulating hormone in gonadotropocytes. During the process of secondary differentiation this group of adenocytes makes the greatest part of the cells. Somato-, mammotropocytes inhibit cytodifferentiation. PMID- 2619572 TI - [Embryonic induction and development of the ultimobranchial body in the embryogenesis of amphibia]. AB - At early embryonal and larval stages of development 7 species of amphibia have been studied. The ultimobranchial anlage and processes resulted in formation of the secretory follicle are investigated. Dynamics on changes of amount of the gland cells and the first appearance of capillaries are analyzed. In Anura and Urodela the anlage of the ultimobranchial gland develops from the epithelial lining of the pharynx behind the last branchial pocket rudiment. The gland is asymmetric and can be laid either in the right or in the left side of the body. Death of calcitonin-secreting cells is compensated at the expense of repeated anlage of follicles from the pharyngeal epithelium. The newly formed follicles can either incorporate into the existing gland, or form independent follicles. For amphibia formation of the capillary network around the gland after beginning of the follicular secretion is specific. Owing to these data, it is possible to conclude that the stimulus for the gland to become overgrown with capillaries is the beginning of calcitonin secretion. PMID- 2619573 TI - [Changes in body composition and motor skills of young weight lifters during physical training]. AB - In the course of an intense weightlifting training of young athletes the change characteristics of the first phase was an increase in lean body mass, while in the second phase it was the improvement of motor abilities. Obviously, the improvement of weightlifting performance took place at a pace matching motor conduction development. The influence to be drawn concerning training methodology is that at least a half or one whole year of conditioning is necessary to create the somatic and functional preconditions of a possibly correct execution of the weightlifting technique. This finding warns against encouraging to take in competitions at an early age as well as against employing great weights in training, because both of these are likely to severely disturb outlined healthy sequence of morphological and functional development. PMID- 2619574 TI - [Morphocytochemical reaction of the main exocrinocytes of the proper gastric glands to orchiectomy]. AB - In the experiment performed on 52 white male rats by means of light and electron microscopy, cytochemistry and biochemistry, it has been stated that bilateral removal of the testes inhibits proliferation of epitheliocytes in the collum of the proper gastric glands and their differentiation into the main exocrinocytes. This results in decreasing amount of the latter and in development of certain destructive processes in them. They concern mainly the protein-synthesizing apparatus and to a less degree the mitochondrial and lysosomal apparatus. RNA content, ATPase activity oxidoreductase of Krebs cycle and pentose-phosphate shunt decreases, and that of glycolysis increase. Pepsinogen synthesis and its extrusion are inhibited; this is accompanied with a decreased proteolytic activity of the gastric juice. Regenerative processes in the main exocrinocytes are also inhibited. PMID- 2619575 TI - [Vimentin-positive epithelial cells in aggregated lymphoid nodules (Peyer's patches) in rabbits]. AB - Peculiarities of cytoskeleton in membranous cells and disposition of the latter in the cupola epithelium in aggregated lymphoid nodules++ (ALN) have been studied in the ileum of 5 rabbits. The material has been fixed in liquid nitrogen and in the mixture of paraformaldehyde and glutar aldehyde. Methods of immunomorphology, high resolving light and transmissive electron microscopy have been used. Monoclonal antibodies to vimentin are selectively bind with a specific population of the ALN cupola epithelial cells. These cells are regularly arranged in the epithelium of the cupola lateral part and they are absent in the epithelium of the intestinal crypts, villi and apex of the cupolas. In the lateral epithelium of the cupolas surface, nearer to their base vimentin-positive++ epitheliocytes make contacts with single interepitheliocytic lymphocytes, and nearer to the apex they surround compact groups of the interepitheliocytic lymphocytes. The vimentin positive++ epitheliocytic cells are identified as M-cells. PMID- 2619576 TI - [Quantitative evaluation of the functional state of adrenergic innervation of the arteries]. PMID- 2619577 TI - [Possibility of using potassium dichromate for detecting phospholipid-containing ultrastructures of nerve tissue]. PMID- 2619578 TI - [Hyperplasia of the adrenergic nerve fibers of the vessels and myocardium in rats with spontaneous hypertension]. AB - Adrenergic innervation of the myocardium vessels was morphometrically studied in 4-, 8-, 12- and 20-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The increase of cardiac adrenergic nerves was found in the early period of persistent hypertension (in 12-week-old SHR). In the vessels this increase was more pronounced and started earlier, at prehypertensive stage (in 4-week-old SHR). The data obtained confirm the hyperplasia of the terminal part of the sympathetic nervous system, this reflecting the increased sympathetic influence on cardiovascular system in hypertension. PMID- 2619579 TI - [Micromalformations of the cerebral vessels and their role in the development of stroke]. AB - 30 micromalformations (MMF) of brain vessels that were not diagnosed either clinically or at the autopsy were found histologically in 25 autopsy cases and in 3 patients after the surgical operation. MMF were, in half of the cases, the cause of the stroke which was mistakingly considered a complication of the arterial hypertension, cerebral atherosclerosis or rupture of saccular aneurysm of the brain base arteries. Clinically, MMF were either latent or manifested as recurrent disturbances of the brain circulation of the ischemic or (more frequently) haemorrhagic type. When clinically manifested MMF were revealed at the age of 15-32 years; at the age of 65-74 years they were found incidentally at the autopsy. Their predominant localization was in the brain stem, contiguous ventricular wall and in the cerebellum with its tunic. The following histological types can be distinguished: telangiectasia, venous, cavernous, arteriovenous, nonclassified, varicosis. Clinico-anatomical characterization of each type is presented. The medico-legal importance of MMF and the principal possibility of their treatment (when duly diagnosed) is pointed out. PMID- 2619580 TI - [The pathomorphologic differential diagnosis of cardiomyopathies (based on data from postmortem contrast cardioventriculography)]. AB - A detailed study was made of the hearts from 52 subjects who had died from three types of cardiomyopathy (dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive) and 54 death victims who comprised control groups. Postmortem contrast cardioventriculography and volume-weight cardiometry were applied. The characteristic cardioventriculographic differential and diagnostic criteria were established. Dilated cardiomyopathy was characterized by a drastic increase in the ventricular volumes along with changes in the type and arrangement of the interventricular septum. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy showed forms of septal hypertrophy with diminished left ventricular cavity taking a definite form. Restrictive cardiomyopathy was distinguished by lower ventricular volumes with signs of obliteration, changes in the parietal endocardium and events of calcification. PMID- 2619581 TI - [Lymphocytic infiltration and mitotic activity of the epithelium in villous tumors of the large intestine]. AB - Morphostatistical analysis of the lymphocytic infiltration intensity and mitotic activity in 34 colon villous tumours is performed depending on the degree of dysplasia, the presence or the absence of invasive growth. The above parameters changed during the various stages of tumour progression and can be taken into account in the process of histological verification of difficult cases. PMID- 2619582 TI - [The structural bases of liver cell aging and age-related characteristics of their reactivity]. AB - The liver of the 8-, 24-, 30- and 38-month-old Wistar male rats were studied morphometrically in the light and electron microscope under normal conditions and after bleeding and enterosorption. Under both conditions--ageing and bleeding- the hepatocyte death (apoptosis and colliquative necrosis) occurs resulting from the progression of granular and hydropic degeneration. Apoptosis develops mainly in the 1st zone and necrosis in the 3rd zone of the liver acinus this being due to the pattern of blood supply. The hepatocyte death through the apoptosis is followed by immunocompetent cell response. Compensatory processes in ageing are manifested in the hepatocyte hypertrophy this being due to the hyperplasia of cytoplasmatic structures, smooth cytoplasmic network particularly. PMID- 2619583 TI - [Morphologic and morphometric characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]. AB - Seventy endomyocardial biopsies of the left and right ventricular wall taken from 23 patients during catheterization of the heart cavities have been studied. There were three groups of patients: those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) (7 patients), those with dilated cardiomyopathy (11) and 5 patients with chronic myocarditis. The most characteristic features of HCMP were as follows: 1) muscle fiber hypertrophy, 2) hypertrophy of cardiomyocyte nuclei, 3) perinuclear cardiomyocyte nimbus, 4) disorganization of muscle fibers, 5) the decrease of the nucleus-cytoplasmic ration. The degree of these parameters was scored 0 to 3. Maximum total score was 15 (100%). If histological index of HCMP was higher that 60%, the diagnosis of HCMP was considered to be confirmed. The method possesses a high sensitivity (87.5%) and specificity (95%) and can be used in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of HCMP. PMID- 2619584 TI - [The intraoperative diagnosis of cardiomyocyte damage]. AB - The morphology of myocardial biopsies taken in the course of the operative valve prosthesis is studied light and electron microscopically with the use of the fuchsinorrhagic index and tracer test. The dynamics and morphogenesis of cardiomyocyte injury depend upon their initial state. The myocardial changes characteristic of mitral valvular disease progress during the cardiac arrest. Besides that, observed the destabilization of membrane systems, tracer penetration of the injured cells and inner organelles, the fall of redox potential of mitochondria, the disturbance of the acidic hydrolases compartmentalization, the accumulation of multilamellar bodies indicating the membrane alteration. The combination of these changes determines the myocardial contractility in the period of rehabilitation and raises the risk during the prolonged operations. The suggested tests simultaneously give structural and metabolic estimation of the cardiomyocyte organelles in respect to the prognosis of irreversible injuries. PMID- 2619585 TI - [The significance of morphologic characteristics of the tumor for the prognosis of 5-year survival of patients with kidney cancer]. AB - The study of 130 surgical and autopsy cases of renal carcinoma allowed us to identify morphological features of the highest importance for the prognosis of the 5-year survival: the stage of tumour according to pTNM classification, the degree of malignancy as determined by quantitative criteria, the pattern of growth, the tumour node size the growth into the renal vein and its branches, relative volume of the necrotic foci. These criteria help to bring about the individual prognosis and individual treatment. PMID- 2619587 TI - [Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty in mitral stenosis. A change in the established therapeutic orientation?]. PMID- 2619586 TI - [Marble disease in a young infant]. AB - A case of marble bone disease in a 7-month-old child is presented. A genetical assessment showed a sporadic type of inheritance. Pathologic bone formation with a replacement of the bone marrow spaces of the pelvic bones, vertebrae, long bones, extramedullary haemopoiesis in the liver, lymph nodes, skull bones are found morphologically. PMID- 2619588 TI - [Hemodynamic profile of patients with normal coronary cineangiography]. AB - The authors reviewed 1474 consecutive selective coronary arteriograms performed on patients with suspected coronary insufficiency for the diagnosis of obstructive coronary disease and found 281 (19.1%) cases of apparently normal coronary arteries. These patients presented mean age of 47 +/- 10 years; they were 135 (48%) males and 146 (52%) females. The objective of this study was to obtain the hemodynamic profile of these patients for the following parameters: a) aortic and left ventricular pressures; b) volumes, ejection fraction, segmentary contraction, wall thickness and mass of left ventricle; c) morphology, mobility and competence of the mitral valve. Eight groups of patients were selected: 1) without hemodynamic alterations - 18.9%; 2) with systemic arterial hypertension - 48.7%; 3) with abnormal myocardial contraction - 16.7%; 4) with idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy - 6.4%; 5) with mitral valve prolapse - 2.5%; 7) with myocardial bridge of the left anterior descending coronary artery - 1.8%; 8) with coronary arterial microfistula of the left ventricle - 0.4%. It is desirable to determine before situations of cardiac emergencies, whether provoked ischemia, as detected by noninvasive stress testing, is present before the performing coronary arteriography in patients, specially females, with systemic arterial hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, disorders of ventricular contraction or mitral valve prolapse. PMID- 2619589 TI - [Ultrastructural aspects of the atrial cardiac myocytes in albino rats subjected to the effects of cold]. AB - The authors intended to study the fibers of atrial muscle of rats submitted to cold. The results specially showed the destruction of the mitochondria structure. The cristae are destroyed in part by the stress provoked. The possible factors that influence the stress provoked by the cold are discussed. PMID- 2619590 TI - [Left ventricular mechanics in Chagas' disease and dilated cardiomyopathy: echocardiographic study]. AB - For purposes of studying left ventricular mechanics, 184 chronic chagasic and 85 primary cardiomyopathy patients were submitted to an extensive invasive (LV cine, right and left cardiac catheterization and coronarography) and non-invasive protocol. The afterload, (mean wall stress), the contractile status (ejection fraction and circumpherential shortening) and the degree of hypertrophy (mass index) were assessed by M mode echocardiography. There was a very early increase of afterload in 8% of chagasic patients without evidences of LV myocardial involvement in the left cineventriculogram (group I-A). This increased afterload was accompanied by signs of inadequate hypertrophy in 15% of patients with early segmental myocardial damage (group IB). In contrast, ejection fraction and % circumpherential shortening were depressed only in patients with clinical evidences of congestive heart failure. Dilated primary CM patients showed similar findings, except for a more evident depression of contractility in those cases without signs of congestive heart failure (group II) and more hypertrophy than equivalent group III chagasic patients. Measurements of mean systolic wall stress and mass index are valuable parameters for identification of those patients with early increased after-load and inadequate hypertrophy which could benefit from the administration of oral vasodilators. PMID- 2619591 TI - [Coronary angioplasty in elderly patients. A therapeutic option]. AB - Of 304 consecutive percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties (PTCA) performed between March 86 and March 88, 61 patients were 65 years or older. The indications for PTCA were: stable angina, unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction with suitable anatomy. In elderly patients, the female sex, and the calcific deposits, were more frequent than in the younger group (p less than 0.0001). Primary success was achieved in 82%, vs 88% in patients younger than 65 years; complications and mortality were also statistically irrelevant between the two groups. Late clinical follow-up ranging from 3 to 36 months (mean 10) showed that symptomatic improvement was achieved in 86% of elderly patients in whom PTCA was successful (vs 80% in the younger group). These data support the safety and clinical effectiveness of PTCA in elderly symptomatic patients with suitable anatomy. PMID- 2619592 TI - [Pulmonary artery aneurysm. Report of 2 cases]. AB - The clinical suspicion of pulmonary artery aneurysm was made in two patients from the clinical signs and radiographic features. The echocardiographic studies showed features concerned with this pathology, and hemodynamic studies confirmed the diagnosis by pulmonary angiography. Both patients presented pulmonary valve insufficiency due to the huge pulmonary artery and dilatation of the valvular annulus. Other congenital malformations of the heart and pulmonary hypertension were not present in these patients. Surgical treatment was indicated in both patients. Surgery in patient no. 2 consisted of resection of the main pulmonary artery aneurysm and replacement with a valved conduit bovine pericardium and anastomosed with a patch of bovine pericardium connecting the left and right pulmonary arteries. The postoperative period was uneventful. PMID- 2619593 TI - [Combined surgical treatment of endocarditis of the right atrium by Aspergillus sp and pulmonary fungus ball. Report of a case]. AB - Endocarditis due to Aspergillus is rare and associated with a high mortality. The authors report the case of a 23 year-old patient with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome who was admitted with dyspnea and loss of weight. The physical examination showed split second sound and presystolic accentuation. In the chest x ray there were cavities in the upper lobe of the right lung and pleural thickening. The echocardiogram and the hemodynamic evaluation demonstrated an image suggesting a right atrial tumor. The patient was operated on under cardiopulmonary bypass, a vegetation in the valve of the inferior vena cava was resected and a lesion of the right lung was also resected. The histologic study showed that the lesions was caused by Aspergillus. The patient had had an uneventful recovery, was discharged on the 13th postoperative day and is well 65 months after the operation. PMID- 2619594 TI - [Transseptal puncture. Renewed interest for balloon mitral valvuloplasty]. PMID- 2619595 TI - [Anatomic study of the coronary arteries in transposition of great vessels]. AB - The authors studied 64 hearts presenting transposition of the great arteries, in order to evaluate the pattern of distribution and origin of the main coronary arteries. Regarding the origin in each sinus of Valsalva, there was no significant difference with the data from the literature. It was also evaluated the precise site of origin inside the sinuses, which were divided in three thirds: the medial and those adjacent to the valvar commissures. We observed that, although the coronary ostia took origin from the medial third in more than half of the cases, there was some variation when considering the different patterns of distribution. This observations is relevant, since, when Jatene's procedure is considered, the surgical disinsertion of a coronary artery may put at risk the valvar leaflet, when the ostium is near the commissure. PMID- 2619596 TI - [Abstracts. 13th Interamerican Meeting on Cardiology, 45th meeting of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology]. PMID- 2619597 TI - Males in midwifery. PMID- 2619598 TI - Birthing a baby. PMID- 2619599 TI - The midwife as an agent of change. PMID- 2619600 TI - Midwives: the key to reduced morbidity. PMID- 2619601 TI - Intervention: "making childbirth harder". Interview by Blanche Clark. PMID- 2619602 TI - Safe motherhood: a midwifery imperative. PMID- 2619603 TI - [Toxic demyelination of the central nervous system. I. Effect of an intercalating gliotoxic drug on the spinal cord in Wistar rats]. AB - Small volumes of ethidium bromide were injected into the dorsal columns of the spinal cord of Wistar rats. It was induced a demyelinating process, variable in nature and speed of repair according to the dose used. The induced lesions were classified into three groups (type I or fast lesions; type II or slow lesions; type III or intermediate lesions) according to the histological appearance and extension of remyelination. In some lesions or in areas within the same lesion, myelin and glial cell debris were rapidly processed by macrophages and the naked axons soon remyelinated by Schwann cells. In other lesions of similar duration, or areas within the lesions, myelin underwent transformation into mazes of membranes which persisted around the axons for long periods of time. In the lesions which contained such myelin-derived membranes, macrophages were scant and remyelination by Schwann cells was slow and arduous. It may be concluded that the slow resolution of some lesions resulted from the time elapsed between intoxication and disappearance of myelin-related cells. That time difference determined that the cellular responses to demyelination took place in an area devoid of glial cells and therefore without a support for the cellular migration needed for the removal of myelin debris and eventual remyelination. This investigation indicates that the development and outcome of demyelination may be altered by the cellular events that occur during oligodendrocyte degeneration. PMID- 2619604 TI - [Toxic demyelination of the central nervous system. II. Biological aspects of Schwann cells observed during the tissue repair process]. AB - The gliotoxic chemical ethidium bromide when injected locally in the rat spinal cord induced areas of demyelination which developed at various times according to the dose used. High doses induced lesions of fast development (type I) and intermediate lesions (type III) whereas low doses induced slow lesions (type II). Following the demyelinating process, naked axons were remyelinated either by oligodendrocytes or Schwann cells (SC) depending on their location in areas respectively with or without astrocytes. In most lesions the area remyelinated by SC was prominent. In lesions of slow development it was possible to observe the factors that influenced SC behavior within the central nervous system. Following the initial invasion from subpial areas and perivascular spaces, SC expansion depended on the presence of a stable extracellular matrix. In type I lesions this matrix was present due to the inflammatory nature of the process. In type II lesions that matrix did not occur thus SC only could migrate among demyelinated axons using them as stepping stones. Between adjacent SC thin diameter collagen fibres could be detected. It was not found any evidence of SC migration along the naked axons. PMID- 2619605 TI - [Evaluation of antigenic fractions of Cysticercus cellulosae for the immunodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis using antibody-lectin conjugates]. AB - In an attempt to find out some fraction with high antigenic activity for the immunodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis a crude extract from Cysticercus cellulosae was fractioned by Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. The protein elution profile revealed two distinct peaks (fractions I and III) and a heterogeneous fraction containing several peaks (fraction II). The crude extract and the fractions were tested by Erythro-Lectin Immuno Test (Erythro-LIT) using cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with neurocysticercosis. The results of Erythro-LIT antibody titers showed that most of the anticysticercus antibodies recognized antigenic components contained in the fraction II. PMID- 2619606 TI - Factors affecting diazepam availability from intravenous admixture solutions. AB - The authors studied the availability of parenteral solutions of diazepam in glass bottles or polyethylene (PE) containers during infusion through polyvinyl chloride (PVC) administration sets. Diazepam solutions in concentration of 1000 mg/500 ml in 0.9% sodium chloride (NS) and 5% glucose (G5W) injection were infused at a flow rate of 30 ml/h, and samples were taken from the bottle and at the end of the administration set, till 12 hours of infusion. The samples were tested in triplicate using ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The greatest loss of diazepam was observed in all solutions at 30 minutes of infusion (63.5% G5W glass, 60.5% NS glass, 55% G5W PE and 58% NS PE from the original concentration of 200 micrograms/ml). The diazepam concentrations in the containers did not significantly changed. The loss of diazepam from solutions infused through PVC administration sets should be kept in mind in severe clinical situations as status epilepticus, tetanus and eclampsia. PMID- 2619607 TI - [Evolutive neurologic evaluation and cortical functions in a sample of children from the 1st grade of an elementary school]. AB - The authors observed 24 children that are studying for the first time in the first grade of the elementary school. They were observed through the classical neurological examination, the evolutive neurological examination and through tests for evaluation of cortical functions. It is analyzed the school performance in report to the evolutive neurological performance and to the tests for cortical functions. Results obtained are compared and discussed. The authors conclude that the usage of these two evaluation instruments is able to discriminate the good from the bad school performance. PMID- 2619608 TI - [Pott's disease in children]. AB - Twenty seven cases of Pott's disease in children between 6 months and 14 years of age are reported. They were observed during a two years period, with a follow-up time till 18 months. In report to their ages 67% were lower than 6 years old and two of them lower than one year old. There was a male sex predominance. The 'hump' sign was the most frequently observed. The most frequent damage localization was at dorsal level. All patients received treatment with four drugs, 14 of them needed orthopedic methods, and only 6 were submitted to surgical correction. In more than 50% of the patients there was good outcome toward cure or improvement with sequelae. PMID- 2619609 TI - [Pituitary adenomas: immunohistochemical study of 167 cases]. AB - One hundred and sixty seven cases of pituitary adenoma were analysed using the immunocytochemical method of the Avidin-Biotin Complex (ABC), described by Hsu et al. (1981). Six pituitary anti-hormones were utilized: anti-prolactin (aPRL) at a 1:1,500 dilution; anti-growth hormone (aHGH) at a 1:4,000 dilution: anti adrenocorticotrophic hormone (aACTH) at a 1:3,000 dilution; anti-thyrothrophic hormone (aTSH) at a 1:3,000 dilution; anti-luteinizing hormone (aLH) at a 1:1,000 dilution; and a anti-follicle-stimulating hormone (aFSH) at a 1:300 dilution. Incubation period was 14 to 16 hours at 4 degrees C. The survey of clinical, laboratory and radiological data of cases of pituitary adenomas was performed after reading the stained slides using the immunocytochemical method. Of the 167 cases of pituitary adenomas, 136 (81.4%) disclosed a positive immunoreaction to one or more anti-hormones, and the positivity index of neoplastic cells varied from 1 to 90%. The immunoreaction was positive exclusively to one anti-hormone in 80 cases (58.8%) and to two or more anti-hormones in 56 cases, and the association most frequently found was between both aPRL and aHGH. The positivity to the immunoreaction was distributed as follows: -100 cases were positive for aPRL, exclusively in 4 cases; -65 cases were positive for aHGH, exclusively in 22 cases; -31 cases were positive for aACTH, exclusively in 8 cases; -5 cases were positive for aTSH, exclusively in one case; -one patient presented an adenoma positive to aLH and another patient to aFSH. PMID- 2619610 TI - [Cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities in 170 cases of AIDS]. AB - Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was analysed in 170 AIDS patients. All of them showed HIV positive serological tests. All of them showed neurologic syndromes related to AIDS. The time period of the investigation was July 1984-April 1989. In 8 cases (4.7%) CSF composition was normal. Lymphoma cells were observed in three cases. Aseptic meningities occurred in 34 cases (20.1%). Aetiological diagnosis of associated infection was established in 88 cases: cryptococcosis in 28 (35.9%); toxoplasmosis in 20 (25.6%); syphilis in 10; candidiasis in 3; Chagas disease in 2; tuberculosis in 1; nocardiosis in 1; schistosomiasis in 1. Antibodies for other virus were detected in 7. Bacteria were isolated in 5 cases. Anti-HIV antibodies were tested in CSF samples of 55 cases: they were found in 48 (87.3%). Two or more associated infections were observed in 15 cases. Changes of CSF composition in AIDS are discussed taking into account changes reported. PMID- 2619611 TI - [Cerebrospinal fluid in infection of the central nervous system by yeasts of the genus Candida: analysis of 11 cases]. AB - This study is based on the analysis of 44 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 11 patients with central nervous system (CNS) Candida infection. Risk factors for CNS fungal infection were present in all patients. Five had a chronic meningitis syndrome; two had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); two had cranial trauma followed by chronic meningities; one had intravascular disseminated coagulation syndrome and sepsis; and one had systemic candidiasis after kidney transplant. Etiological diagnosis was made in all by the CSF examination. Nine cases had positive CSF culture for Candida. Two patients presented the yeast in the direct examination, and one of them had reagent complement fixation test for Candida in three successive samples of CSF. Changes found in the CSF composition are discussed in order to evaluate the inflammatory response to CNS infection by Candida. PMID- 2619612 TI - [Histochemical study of the skeletal muscle in multiple sclerosis]. AB - The authors present muscle histochemistry of ten patients of multiple sclerosis. The clinical diagnosis was based on criteria established by Poser et al. (1983). The main pathological findings observed were: lymphoplasmocitary vasculitis, increase in the number of 2B type fibers, inflammatory cells (macrophages) in the intramuscular ends of the motor nerves, amounts of lipids and 'moth-eaten' fibers. The presence of vasculitis observed in our cases contributes with the etiopathogenic hypothesis of an autoimmune lesion in multiple sclerosis. There is no correlation between the clinical and histological atrophy observed. PMID- 2619613 TI - Non-epileptic myoclonus and mitochondrial encephalomyopathy. AB - Two brothers presented to us with a progressive myoclonic syndrome with slight cerebellar symptoms. Neurological examination disclosed moderate cerebellar signs and pale optic discs; asymmetric, asynchronous and arrhythmic myoclonus, an arrthesthesic deficit and no muscular weakness. EEG background activity was moderately slow with no irritative discharges. CT was normal in both cases. Intermittent photic stimulation increased the frequency of the myoclonic jerks, which became bilateral and synchronous, progressing to a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. EPs and MRI in one case were normal. Anticonvulsant drugs were ineffective. The diagnosis of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy was based on the finding, in muscle specimens, of thickened basement membranes with myofibrillary degeneration and increased number of mitochondria peripherally distributed and with a dense granular matrix and some vacuoles. The clinical and EEG data suggest a subcortical origin for this type of myoclonic syndrome. PMID- 2619614 TI - [A side effect of flunarizine: severe parkinsonism]. AB - The author describes the cases of eight patients with severe Parkinson syndrome who had their symptoms vanished after suspension of flunarizine, except for one case whose symptoms remitted partially. The author intention is clearly to alert to this unfavorable reaction, since there may be a lot of patients treated like having Parkinson disease in use of flunarizine. PMID- 2619615 TI - Mitochondrial dysfunction in myasthenia gravis. Report of a case. AB - The case of an 11-year-old boy with external ophthalmoparesia, tetraparesia and bilateral eyelid ptosis is reported. He was 7-years-old when first symptoms appeared. Anticholinesterasic drugs were used. He was submitted to muscle biopsy. The results of histochemistry analysis showed storage of granulous material at the subsarcolemmal region of muscle fibers by SDH. Increase in the number of mitochondria with electron dense bodies was found at electron microscopy. Anticholinesterasic drugs administration was interrupted and consequently he got worse, and bouts of dyspnea occurred. Due to this worsening anticholinesterasic agents were reintroduced together with prednisone, and he improved. Due to clinical and histological expressions we think it is possible that morphological mitochondrial alterations may occur also in myasthenia gravis. PMID- 2619616 TI - [Miller Fisher syndrome: a report of 4 cases and review of the nosologic position]. AB - Four typical cases of the Miller Fisher syndrome with external ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and generalized areflexia but no muscular weakness or sensory impairment of the limbs are reported. The nosological position of this disorder is reviewed. PMID- 2619617 TI - [One-and-a-half syndrome: anatomo-clinical considerations apropos of a case]. AB - A 36 years-old man was admitted in September 1987. For 5 years he suffered from 4 recurrent episodes of throbbing headache, tinnitus, nausea, diplopia and divergent strabismus to which a facial palsy was recently added. In all episodes, the symptoms disappeared spontaneously and completely. A neuro-ophthalmological examination at admission disclosed an exotropia of the right eye, gaze paralysis to the left, paralysis of adduction of the left eye and preserved right eye abduction which triggered a rhythmic horizontal nystagmus. The upward and downward gazes and the convergence were well preserved. Moreover, there was a left peripheral facial palsy, and Babinski sign at the right side. Auditory evoked potentials were slowed at the mesencephalopontine transition. CT scan showed a low-density area with no contrast enhancement at the left pontine tegmentum and a left anterolateral atrophy of the pons. CSF examination showed increase in protein content and increase in the IgG content. Additional investigation included a dopplerometry of the cervical arteries, a panangiography and a bidimensional echocardiography which were normal. Diagnosis of one-and-a half syndrome was made, possibly secondary to multiple sclerosis, and immunossuppressive therapy was initiated. PMID- 2619618 TI - [Inclusion dermoid cyst of the anterior fontanel region in adults: report of a case]. AB - The author describes one case of congenital inclusion dermoid cyst located over the region of the anterior fontanel in an adult patient aged 24 years. The question of racial prevalence is discussed and considerations on the incidence of these cysts in adult patients are made based on the review of cases previously reported in the literature. PMID- 2619619 TI - An experimental study of mucociliary pathology of the eustachian tube in otitis media with effusion induced by irradiation. AB - We have examined the function and fine structure of the mucociliary system of the eustachian tube in an experimental study of otitis media with effusion induced by X-ray irradiation. Functional examination demonstrated that the ciliary activity was diminished in such a condition, while morphological observations showed pathological findings including compound cilia, vacuolation of ciliated cells and expansion of intercellular space. These findings show that irradiation-induced otitis media with effusion results in impairment of the mucociliary system. As evidenced by these studies, the mucociliary system in the eustachian tube has an important role in the clearance of fluid produced in the tympanic cavity as well as affording improvement in this disease. PMID- 2619620 TI - Proceedings of the 1989 annual meeting of the German Society for Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 7-11 May 1989, Kiel. Abstracts. PMID- 2619621 TI - Denture soft linings: materials available. AB - Denture soft lining materials are products which are applied to the fitting surfaces of dentures for the purpose of achieving a more equal distribution of load and reduction of local point pressures. These materials have provided a focus for research and controversy for over 100 years. In that time large numbers of products have been advanced as the ideal soft denture liner. This paper discusses the five main groups of materials that have been available to dentists: the natural rubbers, vinyl co-polymers, hydrophilic polymers and the silicone and acrylic based soft lining materials. PMID- 2619622 TI - A keloidal scar of the floor of the mouth and its associations. Case report. AB - A case of extensive scarring of the floor of the mouth mucosa is reported. Its unusual position and possible association with keloid formation of the skin is discussed. PMID- 2619623 TI - Measurement of thermal expansion coefficient of human teeth. AB - The coefficient of thermal expansion of specimens from 60 freshly extracted human teeth were measured over the range 10-80 degrees C using a dilatometer. The coefficient increased rapidly above 50 degrees C, but there was no significant variation with tooth age between 10 and 70 years. The average values obtained were 16.96 (SD 3.83) x 10(-6)/degrees C for enamel, 10.59 (SD 2.38) x 10( 6)/degrees C for dentine, 11.90 (SD 4.42) x 10(-6)/degrees C for crowns and 9.44 (SD 0.61) x 10(-6)/degrees C for roots. PMID- 2619624 TI - Attitudes of Victorian dentists to removable partial denture prosthodontics: treatment planning. AB - A survey of the attitudes of dentists in Victoria to various aspects of the treatment planning phase of removable partial denture prosthodontics was undertaken. Data were analysed and compared with those obtained from an identical study in South Australia. Those Victorian dentists who graduated in the 1960s, those who worked in multiple-practitioner practices, or non-rural areas, and those who had an added interest in removable prosthodontics were more likely to stress the importance of a greater number of attributes than those who graduated in the 1950s or 1970s, or those who worked alone, in rural areas, or had no particular interest in the discipline. Results indicated also that Victorian dentists tended to place greater emphasis on many of the concepts embraced by the questions asked than their interstate colleagues. It is suggested that, in addition to formal education, intraprofessional relationships and interest in a discipline are factors which might influence the concepts and attitudes of general practitioners. PMID- 2619625 TI - Survey of dental practice/dental education in Victoria. Part I. Questionnaire/general aspects. AB - A questionnaire was designed to canvass the opinions of dentists registered with the Dental Board and resident in the State of Victoria, with a view to assessing the present undergraduate curriculum in relation to clinical dental practice. All respondents were requested to provide information about age, sex, registration, type/location of practice and qualifications. The questionnaire sought opinions from all respondents regarding the priority to be given to basic sciences and medical sciences as well as the introduction of topics not presently included in the undergraduate course. Questions were also posed in relation to physical assessment of applicants for the dental course, the timing of introduction to clinical procedures and the desirability of an intern year (Section A). Other sections were designed to ascertain the current trends and busyness of general dental practice (Sections B and C) and of restricted/specialist practice (Sections C and E), the views of recent graduates and postgraduates with respect to the appropriateness of their training for clinical practice (Sections D and F, respectively) and, in a separate questionnaire, the perceived views of graduating students with respect to their training for registration as dentists. The results of the survey were prepared in the form of four papers, namely, General aspects (Part I). Recent graduates/graduating students (Part II), Current trends in general dental practice (Part III) and Specialist dental practice (Part IV). This paper deals with the results of Section A of the survey which, it is suggested, need to be considered in any review of the curriculum. PMID- 2619626 TI - How many times do we have to prove the case for fluoridation? PMID- 2619627 TI - Dietary fluoride supplements. PMID- 2619628 TI - The future of dentistry. PMID- 2619629 TI - Developments in light-cure lining materials. PMID- 2619630 TI - The Australian Dental Association product recognition programmes. PMID- 2619631 TI - Individual AIDS insurance. PMID- 2619632 TI - First branchial cleft anomaly: a report of case. AB - A rare case of first branchial cleft anomaly in a 21-year-old female is described. A fistulous tract was located near the angle of the mandible and anterior to the sternocleidmastoid muscle, extending upwards under the facial nerve and opening into the external auditory canal. The tract was completely removed and the facial nerve was preserved. Histopathologic examination revealed that the tract was composed of keratinizing squamous cell epithelium with adnexal structures and cartilage. PMID- 2619633 TI - Clinical and histopathological studies of olfactory neuroblastoma. AB - Six patients of olfactory neuroblastoma were treated, and two of them were studied with electron microscopy and immunohistochemical staining. These patients, four male and two female, ranged in age from 37 to 73 years old. Five patients had nasal bleeding, and only one patient had frontal pain and optic disorder without nasal bleeding. None of the patients had metastasis. However, three patients had local recurrence and invasion into the intracranial region. The tumors of three patients were confined to the nasal cavity and one or more paranasal sinuses. The tumors of the other three patients extended beyond the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Two patients, treated with radiotherapy and cryosurgery, died of the disease 7 and 21 years after treatment, respectively. Two patients, treated with radiotherapy alone or a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, died of other causes without recurrence 2 and 3 years later, respectively. A patient treated with craniofacial resection alone is still alive after 4 years. However, he has local recurrence and has been treated with radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The last patient, treated with craniofacial resection following radiotherapy, is still alive after 3 years without any symptoms of recurrence. The two most recent cases were studied with electron microscopy, stains for PAS, Grimelius and Bodian, and immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. The tumor cells of one case were well differentiated because they contained neurosecretory granules and neurites, and the tumor cells of the other case were poorly differentiated because they contained only neurites-like structures. PMID- 2619634 TI - Reevaluation of treatment of ranula. AB - Ranulas or mucoceles of the floor of the mouth are cysts arising from the sublingual glands. Experience with 27 such patients over the past 10 years is reviewed. Successful treatment was achieved by excision of the cyst with the sublingual gland. PMID- 2619635 TI - Electron microscopic study on the esophageal mucosa in human fetuses. AB - Morphogenetic studies of the esophageal mucosa in human fetuses have been few and there is only one report at the ultrastructural level. We thus studied the esophageal mucosa in human fetuses (at the gestational ages from the 7th to 21st week) by scanning (SEM) as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our results and the review of the literature lead to the following conclusions: 1) Primary cilia were seen in the 7th and 8th week of gestation. 2) Ciliated cells appeared around the 8th week of gestation. They increased in number according to the fetal ages, but gradually decreased after the 14th week of gestation. Their degenerative process at the ultrastructural level was similar to that reported previously. 3) The stratified squamous epithelia appeared at the 14th week of gestation, but the squamous cells remained immature even at the 21st week. 4) Glycogen granules in non-ciliated cells decreased as the differentiation of the cells proceeded, suggesting that they provide an energy source necessary for the cell differentiation. PMID- 2619636 TI - The application of modified platysma pedicle flap and osteomyocutaneous flap in the head and neck reconstructive surgery. AB - The authors reported the reconstruction of the postoperative defect in 9 cases of cancer of buccal mucosa, oropharynx, tongue, and the floor of the mouth with a modified platysma pedicle flap and another 3 cases of defects after total maxillectomy with platysma osteomyocutaneous flap. The results were satisfactory. PMID- 2619637 TI - Congenital adrenal hyperplasia family studies using the short ACTH test. AB - Because of the increasing use of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) levels with the short adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) test in the detection of 21-hydroxylase deficiency, the diagnostic efficiency of the test was evaluated in patient and family studies of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency and of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11-hydroxylase (11OH) deficiency (the latter disorder now overlaps basally with the milder non-classical 21 hydroxylase deficiency [NC-CAH]). Stimulated 17-hydroxyprogesterone level (17OHP30), 17-hydroxyprogesterone increase (delta 17 OHP) and the ratio 17 hydroxyprogesterone increase to cortisol increase (delta 17OHP/delta cortisol) were the parameters from the short ACTH test derived for assessment. 17-OHP30 provided complete differentiation of NC-CAH from the controls and heterozygotes, but overlap between NC-CAH and 11-OH occurred. Complete differentiation of NC-CAH from 11-OH was achieved using delta 17OHP. The heterozygotes showed best differentiation from the controls using delta 17OHP/delta cortisol with a diagnostic accuracy of 70%, however marked overlap of heterozygotes and NC-CAH with 11-OH was found. The short ACTH test proved to be a valuable technique with the further detection of homozygotes (n = 3) and heterozygotes (n = 5) in the 13 families studied. However, when interpreting the short ACTH test a careful choice of parameters should be made. It should be kept in mind that mild NC-CAH patients can only be differentiated from 11OH patients by using delta 17OHP. PMID- 2619638 TI - Outcomes following the use of rational guidelines in the management of jaundiced newborn infants. AB - In 1975, rational guidelines for management of the jaundiced newborn infant were introduced to the Mercy Maternity Hospital, Melbourne. The guidelines were produced as four charts, each chart covering a particular birthweight range. The charts have been used widely. The effect of introduction of the charts has been examined by comparing the years 1971-74 with 1975-77. An overall decrease occurred in the use of phototherapy, without an increase in the use of exchange transfusion or in those with a serum bilirubin level above 339 mumol/L. The difference was not explained by an alteration in the spectrum of causes of jaundice. Long-term follow-up of jaundiced infants managed according to these guidelines revealed a satisfactory outcome despite a significant reduction in active treatment. The associated avoidance of potential side effects of treatment of the jaundiced newborn infant warrants consideration of the use of these charts by other neonatal units. PMID- 2619639 TI - Faecal incontinence in childhood: a multidisciplinary approach including biofeedback. AB - One hundred and seven children with faecal incontinence were evaluated and managed over a 3 year period by a multidisciplinary team. After initial clinical assessment, evaluation of defaecatory mechanisms (using a balloon model) and assessment of personal-social development and self-concept were undertaken. Management was based on initial bowel evacuation, short-term laxatives, and habit training involving systematic use of positive reinforcement; 69 children received biofeedback conditioning. Idiopathic megacolon with constipation and soiling was the most common finding (98 cases). Other diagnoses included previously undiagnosed neurogenic bowel (three cases), post-surgical and anomalies (four cases), and psychogenic encopresis (two cases). Idiopathic megacolon was characterized by decreased rectal sensation, increased threshold for external sphincter relaxation and an inability to evacuate. Faecal incontinence was associated with an undesirably low social self-concept (70% of the 40 evaluated), but was not related to a delay in development (mean general developmental quotient = 105 +/- 8, for the 35 tested). Family psychopathology warranting referral for family therapy was found in 14 children (13%). The management programme yielded a short-term (3 months) cure rate of 68% and a long-term (12 months) cure rate of 90%, with 10% having continued soiling which varied from occasional to several incidents/week. No significant improvement in self-concept was observed overall, although marked improvements were observed in some children. We conclude that disordered defaecatory dynamics are a major determinant of faecal incontinence in children. Undesirably low social self concepts but normal developmental ability accompany this condition. Management is facilitated by a multidisciplinary approach, acknowledging the role of both behavioural and physiological components of the problem.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619640 TI - Radiological and clinical features of basal ganglia infarction in tuberculous meningitis. AB - A patient with choreoathetosis and dystonia who had computerized tomography evidence of basal ganglia damage resulting from tuberculous meningitis is presented. It is important to distinguish these extrapyramidal movements from fits, and the observation of such movements in a clinical setting of meningitis should alert physicians to the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis. PMID- 2619641 TI - Congenital tuberculosis. AB - A 7 week old baby presented with generalized lymphadenopathy, obstructive jaundice and massive hepatosplenomegaly. The clinical picture closely resembled a case of disseminated malignancy. Soon after the diagnosis of tuberculosis was made by pathological examination of a lymph node, the patient died. An autopsy revealed primary tuberculous foci in the liver and massive lymphadenopathy at the porta hepatis consistent with transplacentally acquired tuberculosis. The importance of early diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition is emphasized. PMID- 2619642 TI - Infant sleeping position and cot death. PMID- 2619643 TI - Senate Select Committee report on sheep husbandry. PMID- 2619644 TI - The right of veterinarians to prescribe. PMID- 2619645 TI - Relationship between serving capacity of beef bulls as predicted by the yard test and their fertility during paddock mating. AB - Six experiments were conducted to determine the relationship between the serving capacity of bulls as predicted by a 40-min yard test and their fertility during paddock mating, measured by the conception rate at first oestrus and the pregnancy rate at the end of 10 weeks of mating. Twenty bulls varying in serving capacity from 1 to 11 were mated to 40 heifers each. As serving capacity of the bulls increased from 1 to 7, conception rate increased from 18 to 70%. Average conception rates achieved by 4 bulls with low serving capacity (25.3%), 8 bulls with medium serving capacity (61.4%) and 7 bulls with high serving capacity (72.3%) were all significantly different from one another. Bulls of low serving capacity (1 or 2 services) impregnated a significantly lower proportion of their heifers (40.3%) than bulls with medium (91.2%) or high (95.3%) serving capacity. It was concluded that bulls of serving capacity 1 or 2 (in 40 min) should be considered unsound for breeding. An explanation for the results and their implication in beef production is discussed. PMID- 2619646 TI - Dislocation of the coxo-femoral joint in dairy cows. AB - Coxo-femoral dislocation was diagnosed in 40 dairy cows. Of the 40 cases, 19 were in a cranio-dorsal direction, 2 caudo-dorsal, 17 caudo-ventral (into the obturator foramen), and 2 cranio-ventral. Thirty cases (75%) were successfully treated by closed reduction. Most cows were treated within 12 h of the dislocation occurring. Treatment was less successful in cases of caudo-ventral dislocation and unsuccessful cases predominated among cows with concurrent obstetrical paralysis or milk fever, and very heavy Friesians. PMID- 2619647 TI - Prognostic factors for recovery from coxo-femoral dislocation in cattle. AB - Details were recorded of 47 cases of coxo-femoral dislocation observed in cattle over 1 year. Treatment was successful in 20/47 (42.6%) cases using a method of closed reduction. Factors that most strongly influenced the prognosis were identified. The most useful single prognostic factor was whether the cow was able to stand before reduction. Other factors that also had a strong positive influence on the prognosis were: age less than 3y, bodyweight less than 400kg and duration of dislocation less than 12h. Nineteen unsuccessful cases were examined at the knackery. Four were found to have a fracture of the proximal femur. The coxo-femoral joint was carefully dissected in the other 15 cases and there was no evidence of hip dysplasia. A seasonal incidence of dislocations, which coincides with the calving and mating periods, was demonstrated during the survey and from practice records for the previous 3 years. PMID- 2619648 TI - Evaluation of dressings to aid healing of mulesing wounds on sheep. AB - Five proprietary and one experimental dressing were compared with no treatment in their ability to aid healing of mulesing wounds in over 1900 young lambs. Healing was judged as the completeness of shrinkage of the mulesing cuts and the condition of scabs on the new skin surface. When assessed at 21 d it was found that treatment with Heriots Crown Wound Powder or Coopers Mulesing Powder offered a significant advantage over leaving the wounds untreated. Neither aqueous organophosphate washes, Defiance nor Defiance containing 0.08% chlorfenvinphos offered any healing advantage over controls. However, washing the wounds with an aqueous organophosphate solution aided healing more than the Defiance-based dressings. It was considered that the powders or the washes encouraged quick scab formation either by creating a dry covering (powders) or by washing away blood and allowing fast drying of the wound. The Defiance-type dressings slowed healing by keeping the wound moist for up to 10 d, but healing was not significantly different to the untreated group by 21 d. PMID- 2619649 TI - Nutritional myopathy in goats. AB - A nutritional myopathy in unweaned fibre goats aged 2 to 4 mths is described in 3 flocks from the tablelands of New South Wales. Clinically affected animals were illthrifty and in circulatory failure prior to being found dead. At necropsy, there was pronounced ascites, pulmonary congestion and marked mottling of the liver. Chalky white streaks and patches were obvious in the myocardium, particularly in the right ventricular wall. Skeletal muscles varied from grossly normal to generally pale. Histologically, the myocardium exhibited areas of severe acute myonecrosis with mineralisation and adjoining areas of phagocytosis and fibrosis. In 2 of 3 flocks, some skeletal muscles showed a mild subacute myopathy. Marked hepatic congestion extended to periacinar haemorrhage and necrosis in some areas. Dietary imbalances of selenium, vitamin E and polyunsatured fatty acids were probable factors in the pathogenesis of the condition. PMID- 2619650 TI - Observations on blood coagulation after snakebite in dogs and cats. AB - Blood samples from 13 cases of snakebite, 6 in dogs and 7 in cats, were tested for activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP). Four cases were tested for fibrinogen concentration. Based on the results of a commercially available ELISA test, 9 cases were caused by tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) and 1 case by a brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis). Three other cases had clinical signs and increased creatine phosphokinase values which suggested tiger snake envenomation. Although the period post-envenomation varied, results indicated a marked prolongation of the APTT and PT in 5 of 6 dogs. Three of these 5 dogs also had increased FDP values and 3 (of 3 examined) were hypofibrinogenaemic. Clinical manifestations of this coagulopathy were: haematoma formation after venepuncture (3 cases), gingival petechiae (1 case) and hyphaema (1 case). In contrast, there was minimal or no prolongation of the APTT and PT values, and no increase in FDP, in all 7 cats. Furthermore, no cat exhibited clinical signs of a coagulopathy. PMID- 2619651 TI - Underestimation of potassium concentration in equine urine when measured by ion specific potentiometry. PMID- 2619652 TI - Comparison of immunogenicity and virulence between Babesia bigemina parasites from continuous culture and from a splenectomised calf. PMID- 2619653 TI - Hairballs in feedlot-raised calves. PMID- 2619654 TI - The toxicity for cattle of bufadienolide cardiac glycosides from Bryophyllum tubiflorum flowers. PMID- 2619655 TI - Urinalysis in captive koalas. PMID- 2619656 TI - Streptococcus suis isolated from pigs in South Australia. PMID- 2619657 TI - Treatment of lesions on the penis and prepuce of bulls. PMID- 2619658 TI - Identification of Gasterophilus haemorrhoidalis in Queensland. PMID- 2619659 TI - Proceedings of the Conference on Australian Perspectives in Veterinary Virology. 11-12 May 1989. PMID- 2619660 TI - An adsorption-elution technique for the recovery of influenza virus from water. AB - A virus adsorption-elution (viradel) procedure was modified and evaluated for the concentration of influenza virus from water. Influent pH, flow rate, eluent pH and composition, and a second-step concentration method were evaluated. The viradel procedure in combination with a chicken erythrocyte adsorption technique resulted in up to 3200-fold concentration of influenza virus from 100 liters of tap water. PMID- 2619661 TI - Prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni in selected domestic and wild birds in Louisiana. AB - Prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni was determined in a selected population of domestic and free-living birds submitted for necropsy to the Louisiana State Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. The 445 cases examined included 13 orders of birds and yielded C. jejuni in 45 cases, representing an isolation rate of 10.1%. Prevalence was highest in Galliformes (25.2%), followed by Anseriformes (12.9%) and Columbiformes (8.3%). Only one isolation was made out of 179 Psittaciformes examined. Penner serotypes 1, 2, 4, and 16 were most commonly identified among the C. jejuni isolates. This study emphasizes the importance of Galliformes as reservoirs of C. jejuni. The commonality of these serotypes with isolates derived from humans suggests the zoonotic potential of Galliformes in relation to human campylobacteriosis. The isolation rate of 12.9% in Anseriformes implicates free-living and migratory waterfowl as carriers of C. jejuni. Results confirm that Psittaciformes represent a low risk of C. jejuni infection in humans. PMID- 2619662 TI - Host immune response to northern fowl mite: immunoblot and lectin blot identification of mite antigens. AB - White leghorn hens were experimentally infested with northern fowl mites (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) and antibody responses to mite immunogens were monitored over 12 weeks. Mite burdens increased during the early phase of infestation and declined over the latter weeks of the study. Antigen was prepared from homogenized whole mites, which were then sonicated and extracted with non ionic detergent. Antigen extract was fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and antibody-reactive polypeptides were identified by immunoblotting. At the start of infestation, hens had natural, pre existing antibodies that reacted with several mite-extract components. Individual hens had different natural antibody reactivities; however, all birds had immunoglobulins reactive with extract polypeptides of 117,000, 77,000 and 36,000 molecular weight. A variety of mite extract components reacted with hen antibodies generated in response to experimental infestation. The number of antibody-reactive mite polypeptides increased through week 8 of infestation and then decreased by week 12. Fifteen polypeptides of northern fowl mite extract were reactive with antibodies developed by the majority of infested birds. These commonly reactive polypeptides had molecular weights ranging from 40,000 to 160,000. Glycoconjugates of fractionated mite extract were identified by blotting with lectins that have different carbohydrate binding specificities. Also identified were lectins that bound extract components with the same molecular weights as those moieties complexed by immunoglobulins of infested birds. PMID- 2619663 TI - In ovo competition between distinct virus populations in an avian influenza isolate. AB - Embryo lethality patterns induced by an avian influenza virus isolate (A/Tk/Ws/68/H5N9) suggested that it contained more than one genetic form. Two different virus populations were recovered from the isolate by plaque isolation and limit-dilution cloning and were characterized with respect to their biological and molecular properties. They were very closely related but exhibited strikingly different mean death times (MDT) in 10-day-old chick embryos. One was rapidly embryo lethal (REL), while the other was slowly embryo lethal (SEL). The REL isolate demonstrated a small but measurable mortality rate in 4-week-old chicks, as did the parental isolate. The SEL isolate, however, was nonlethal to 4 week-old chicks. The embryo MDT induced by the parental isolate revealed a biphasic death pattern reflecting expression of both REL and SEL populations. Mixing experiments, using different amounts of the two cloned populations, demonstrated that expression of their unique phenotypic property (either REL or SEL) was competitive. The number of early or late embryo deaths was directly related to the input levels of each respective virus. The only molecular difference thus far detected between the two populations is in the nonstructural (NS) gene, with the REL clone possessing a faster migrating electrophoretic form of that RNA than the SEL clone. Both forms of the NS gene were present in the original parental isolate. This study thus demonstrates the competitive coexistence of two closely related virus populations within a single natural isolate. PMID- 2619664 TI - The effect of pressure on turkey breast skin. AB - In an attempt to experimentally reproduce focal ulcerative dermatitis (FUD) in turkeys, pressures of 94, 136, and 240 mmHg were applied for 2, 4, or 6 hr daily for 4 consecutive days to unfeathered breast skin of six 9-week-old toms. No gross lesions occurred either immediately after treatment or during a 10-day post treatment period, and no microscopic changes were present in the skin at the conclusion of the trial. These findings suggest that avian skin is resistant to pressure-induced decubital ulceration and that pressure is unlikely to be either the cause of or a significant contributor to FUD. PMID- 2619665 TI - A combination chemical/physical method for repeated restraint of turkeys. AB - A method for the repeated long-term restraint of young turkey toms was developed. Fifteen mg xylazine/kg body weight was administered intramuscularly (IM) to each of 60 toms whose heads and bodies were then covered with surgical stockinette secured with adhesive tape during a total of 229 restraint events (RE). Toms then were restrained in dorsal recumbency for 2, 4, or 6 hr daily for 4 days. Those restrained for 6 hr received an additional IM injection of 10 mg xylazine/kg body weight after 3 hr of restraints. Three toms with airsacculitis or pneumonia died during restraint, and one with pneumonia died during the night between RE. The mean body temperature of restrained toms declined during the first 150 min of RE and then stabilized. Toms restrained 6 hr daily lost weight during the 4 treatment days. Toms restrained 2 hr and 4 hr gained weight, but the latter group did not gain weight as quickly as the former. PMID- 2619666 TI - The effect of oxytetracycline on the severity of airsacculitis in chickens infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum. AB - Four groups of mycoplasma-free commercial broilers were challenged with the R strain of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) at 14 days of age. Groups received feed containing either no medication, or 500 ppm or 1000 ppm oxytetracycline (OTC) beginning at age 13 days, or 1000 ppm OTC beginning at age 15 days. All broilers were vaccinated with a live mild Massachusetts infectious bronchitis vaccine at 17 days of age. Air sac lesions were scored at age 24 days. In two almost identical experiments, all OTC treatment groups had significantly lower mean air sac lesion scores than the unmedicated challenged controls. Groups that were fed 1000 ppm OTC in feed had significantly lower mean air sac lesion scores than groups that were fed 500 ppm OTC in feed. There was no significant difference in mean air sac lesion scores between the groups fed 1000 ppm OTC in feed beginning at 13 days of age and those fed 1000 ppm OTC in feed beginning at 15 days of age. PMID- 2619667 TI - Intestinal cryptosporidiosis in chickens. AB - In a retrospective examination of histopathology reports from Aug. 1, 1985, through Sept. 31, 1987, 10 cases of small- or large-intestinal cryptosporidiosis (not epithelial cryptosporidiosis of the bursa of Fabricius) were found in chickens. Infection was evenly distributed among young chickens. Incidence of intestinal cryptosporidiosis increased during 1987. Although all infected birds were clinically ill, signs or gross lesions of intestinal disease were not always present. In all cases, mild to marked histologic lesions were associated with Cryptosporidium sp.; however, intestinal tracts were not cultured for other infectious agents. The numbers of Cryptosporidium sp. and character of inflammatory response were not significantly correlated. A difference (P = 0.01) among intestinal segment (small vs. large) infection with Cryptosporidium was seen. Light-microscopic appearance and organ distribution of Cryptosporidium sp. suggest that in addition to C. baileyi, other Cryptosporidium species infect chickens. Until the diagnostic procedure for outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease in poultry routinely includes histopathology, fecal flotation, and virus, bacteria, and chlamydia cultures, and until species of Cryptosporidium are isolated, identified, reported, and investigated experimentally, the importance of intestinal cryptosporidiosis in chickens will remain unknown. PMID- 2619668 TI - Recent advances in filtered-air positive-pressure (FAPP) housing for the production of disease-free chickens. AB - Design and performance information on a filtered-air positive-pressure (FAPP) housing system for disease-free poultry flocks is presented. The system includes many special features that result in excellent biological security, easy cleanup and maintenance, efficient control of environment, and a centralized alarm in the event of problems. The system has now housed eight flocks without any major problems. Based on its performance thus far, it should be useful as a reliable housing system for disease-free poultry. PMID- 2619669 TI - Pasteurella anatipestifer infections in California turkey flocks: circumstantial evidence of a mosquito vector. AB - Outbreaks of Pasteurella anatipestifer infections in California turkey flocks were investigated and found to have a seasonal distribution, with a peak incidence in fall, coinciding with peak Culex mosquito populations. An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that mosquitoes may serve as vectors for P. anatipestifer infections in turkeys. Four 7-week-old turkey poults were exposed for 7 days to mosquitoes captured from turkey barns during a field outbreak of P. anatipestifer serotype 1 infection. One turkey developed serum antibodies to serotype 1, detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, and was resistant to an intravenous inoculation of P. anatipestifer serotype 1 at 4 weeks postexposure. Giemsa-stained blood smears from this bird and from three 7-week old turkeys inoculated intravenously with P. anatipestifer revealed the presence of rod-shaped bacteria in or on the surface of host erythrocytes. No such rod shaped bodies were found on erythrocytes of an uninoculated control turkey. PMID- 2619670 TI - Fowl cholera in broilers. AB - Pasteurella multocida, the etiologic agent of fowl cholera, was isolated from six broiler flocks in Georgia during summer 1988. The flocks ranged in age from 20 to 46 days, represented four companies, and spanned a distance of 50 miles. Increased mortality and lameness were the clinical signs present in all affected flocks. Bacterial isolation and agar gel precipitation for somatic antigen serotyping revealed that three of the cases were caused by serotype 1,3, two by serotype 3,4, and one by serotype 3. To prove the virulence of these organisms, two isolates were selected to challenge 5-week-old broilers. Mortality and lameness resulted from this challenge, and P. multocida was reisolated. PMID- 2619671 TI - Pasteurella multocida infection in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). AB - Three flocks of Japanese quail, approximately 75,000 birds each, experienced acute high mortality beginning at 24 to 28 days of age. Gross lesions were absent or were composed of either multifocal small pale areas on livers and spleens or lungs slightly darker in color than normal. Histopathology revealed multifocal splenic and hepatic necrosis and interstitial pneumonia. Pasteurella multocida, serotype 3,4, was isolated from affected tissues. The quail were successfully treated with chlortetracycline, and the organism was apparently eliminated from the premises by thorough cleaning, disinfection, and insect and rodent control. Experimental studies showed Japanese quail to be highly susceptible to disease caused by the P. multocida isolated from the affected flocks. PMID- 2619672 TI - Primary glossal squamous-cell carcinoma in a Spanish Cochin hen. AB - A primary glossal squamous-cell carcinoma was diagnosed in an adult Spanish Cochin hen. Grossly, there was locally extensive ulceration of the tongue. Histologically, the submucosa was diffusely infiltrated by islands, nests, and fronds of variably differentiated squamous epithelial cells. Neoplastic cells extended into the underlying muscular layer and stimulated intense scirrhous and inflammatory reactions. PMID- 2619673 TI - Diarrhea associated with small-intestinal cryptosporidiosis in a budgerigar and in a cockatiel. AB - Small-intestinal cryptosporidiosis has not been described in budgerigars or cockatiels. Organisms of the genus Cryptosporidium were found during histologic examination of segments of small intestine from a budgerigar with chronic weight loss and from a cockatiel that died acutely. Parasitism was accompanied by non purulent inflammation (lymphocytes and plasma cells predominated). Bacterial and viral pathogens were not isolated. The death of the budgerigar was attributed to malassimilation interpreted to have been caused by Cryptosporidium. The cause of death in the cockatiel was inhalation pneumonia. Because the index of suspicion for cryptosporidiosis was low, samples for isolation of Cryptosporidium were not collected. In the future, cryptosporidiosis should be included as a differential diagnosis for weight loss and death in pet birds, and isolation and speciation of Cryptosporidium sp. should be attempted and reported. PMID- 2619674 TI - Elective caesarean hysterectomy. Indications and outcome: a 17-year experience of 140 cases. AB - In an earlier report of 86 elective Caesarean hysterectomies (1970-1979) we showed that the operation was associated with few complications but a high blood transfusion rate. In this paper we report an extended series comprised of 140 cases (1970-1986), and compare results of the 1970's series with that of the 1980's. The operative and postoperative complications were minimal during the entire period. The blood transfusion rate which was 64% in 86 cases of the 1970 1979 period decreased to 17% in 54 cases of the 1980-1986. Our results show that Caesarean hysterectomy is a safe procedure with some long-term advantages; therefore this option should be discussed with women who ask for tubal sterilization at the time of Caesarean section. PMID- 2619675 TI - Pregnancy loss with phospholipid antibodies: improved outcome with aspirin containing treatment. AB - The obstetric outcome in 37 patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) is described. The APAs were measured by the lupus anticoagulant assay and/or more recently anticardiolipin antibodies. There were 15 patients with SLE who without therapy had 51/58 pregnancy failures, either abortion or fetal death in utero, a failure rate of 88%. Likewise, 22 patients without definite SLE lost 69/87 pregnancies, a failure rate of 79%. After treatment the pregnancy wastage rate was 55% and 25% in the 2 groups respectively. When treatment regimens used were examined in detail the improvement with therapy was most clearly evident in the group who received low dose aspirin (75-150 mg) in association with immunosuppression. This improvement was most apparent in the patients without definite SLE. PMID- 2619676 TI - Incidence of prematurity and low birth-weight in an immigrant Chinese population. AB - This paper analyses the incidences of prematurity (gestation less than 37 weeks) and low birth-weight (birth-weight between 500 and 2,500g) in liveborn singleton infants born in Australia to mothers of the Chinese race. The incidence of prematurity was lower in infants born to mothers from Hong Kong (4.6%), to those from an almost exclusive Chinese population (5.5%) and to those that comprised a predominantly Chinese population (6.1%) when compared to that in a mainly non Chinese population (7.7%). The incidence of low birth-weight was lower in infants born to mothers from Hong Kong (3.5%) and to those born to an almost exclusive Chinese population (4.1%) but not to those born to a predominantly Chinese population (5.9%) when compared to that in those born to a mainly non-Chinese population (5.9%). The incidence of major fetal malformations was similar in these Chinese and non-Chinese populations. This study confirms that Chinese have a significantly low incidence of prematurity and that this finding remains true when they live in Australia. Detailed prospective studies are required in immigrant Chinese to determine why they have such a low incidence of prematurity and to determine the incidence of fetal malformations which is said to be different than in Caucasian populations. PMID- 2619677 TI - The prediction of intrauterine growth retardation in remote area aboriginal women using serial fundal-symphysial height measurements. AB - A well recognised, simple and effective method of charting uterine growth by measuring the fundal-symphysial height serially was used in 3 tribal Aboriginal communities in East Arnhemland. A total of 34 women were followed with serial measurements using a nomogram derived from Quaranta et al. There were 7 births with recorded birth-weights of 2,500g or less (range 2,130g-2,500g). Six of these had serial fundal height measurements consistently at or below the 10th percentile. These 6 babies were also found to be small for gestational age. There were 13 births with recorded birth-weights between 2,500g-3,000g. Four of these babies had serial fundal height measurements at or below the 10th percentile and 3 of the 4 were small for gestational age. It is suggested that fundal-symphysial height measurements may be useful in the detection of intrauterine growth retardation, particularly in remote areas where there is a shortage of experienced medical personnel. It can be used by trained Health Workers and provides an objective record of antenatal progress. PMID- 2619678 TI - Serum uric acid levels in normal pregnancy. AB - Sixty-four patients were assessed throughout pregnancy to determine normal serum uric acid levels (mean +/- 2SD). Serum uric acid levels increased significantly from early pregnancy levels of 0.13-0.33 nmol/L to levels of 0.18-0.45 mmol/L at full-term (p less than 0.005). Factors implicated in uric acid homeostasis contributing to these changes are discussed. PMID- 2619679 TI - Induction of ovulation with human pituitary gonadotrophin (HPG): the Australian experience. PMID- 2619680 TI - The effects of a mother's second pregnancy on the firstborn child. AB - Mothers in the last trimester of the second pregnancy admit to being less active, more tired and moody than previously. Many were more anxious than usual. Their first child frequently showed behavioural changes. Those surveyed were between 1 1/2 and 4 years of age and showed more clinging, sleep disturbance and misbehaviour with tantrums than expected. It is presumed that the mother's pregnancy induces anxiety in her child with consequent behavioural changes. PMID- 2619681 TI - Ethical aspects of surrogacy. AB - Ethical issues related to surrogacy are explored and an argument made for its ethical approval in circumstances where the particularities of the case warrant this approach to reproduction. Despite recent and impending legislation to prohibit commercial surrogacy in some States of Australia, although data are difficult to obtain, unofficial and anecdotal reports from medical practitioners specializing in the management of infertility throughout the country indicate an increasing number of requests for surrogacy and increasing referral of infertile couples to the USA for commercial surrogacy arrangements. PMID- 2619682 TI - Patient age and success in a human IVF programme. AB - Previous studies suggest that at around 40 years of age, pregnancy rates achieved by IVF programmes fall and pregnancy loss rates increase. The actual age at which this occurs has not been clearly delineated. This study of 2,692 patients including 94 aged 41 or over shows that satisfactory pregnancy rates can be achieved up to and including age 40. As age 40 is approached the pregnancy loss rate increases to around 40%. In the 41 years and over group the pregnancy rate was poor at 6% (6/94) and the pregnancy loss rate very discouraging at 83% (5/6). PMID- 2619683 TI - Lymph node metastasis in early endometrium cancer. AB - The incidences of pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastases in 106 patients with clinical Stage 1 endometrium cancer are presented. All patients were primarily surgically staged and treatment consisted of peritoneal cytology assessment, type II radical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingooophorectomy, pelvic and paraaortic total lymphadenectomy. Pelvic lymph node metastases were present in 15.1% and paraaortic lymph node metastases in 8.5% of the patients. Multiple prognostic factors were evaluated in respect to nodal status. This study adds credence to primary surgical staging with total pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy regardless of presence or absence of the various risk factors. PMID- 2619684 TI - Trends in invasive cancer of the cervix uteri in New South Wales, 1973-1982. AB - Data from the New South Wales (NSW) Central Cancer Registry comprising all new cases of, and deaths from, invasive cancer of the cervix uteri registered in persons aged 15 years and over for the 10-year period 1973 to 1982 were examined using log-linear regression to determine whether incidence and mortality had been changing in NSW. Allowing for the estimated fraction of women who had undergone hysterectomy, this cancer had decreased significantly in incidence (-1.3% per year) as well as mortality (-3.6%). There were no significant trends in relation to age at diagnosis, stage at diagnosis or histological type. Overall, younger age at diagnosis was associated with an earlier stage at presentation and there was no evidence for a trend towards more severe disease in young women during the 10-year period. No evidence was found for an increasing incidence of adenocarcinoma. By 1982 the age-standardized incidence rate was 10.4 per 100,000 (12.5 per 100,000 after adjustment for the hysterectomy fraction). Cancer of the cervix uteri was more common in Inner and Western Sydney and less common in the Northern Metropolitan region of Sydney and rural New South Wales. PMID- 2619685 TI - Expression of multiple tumour markers in serum from patients with ovarian carcinoma and healthy women. AB - Serum samples from 70 patients with bulky ovarian carcinomas, 46 patients with surgically extirpated Stage I ovarian carcinomas, and 108 aged-matched healthy control subjects were assayed for 10 tumour-associated antigens. Levels of expression of each antigen were progressively increased in treated Stage I and bulky disease patients over healthy controls. Levels of expression in treated Stage I patients inversely reflected the interval between surgery and collection of the sample. For patients with bulky disease, determination of correlation coefficients of expression of each antigen against each other antigen showed that in 9 of 45 such relationships, the coefficients were greater than 0.30, suggesting significant coexpression. The best correlation was found for CA125 and MSA, HMFG2 and MSA, DCA and MSA, and DCA and HMFG2. By multivariate discriminant function analysis, the combination of 2 assays (CA125 and NB/70K) was found to increase specificity of detection of ovarian carcinoma over one assay alone (CA125). Use of more than these 2 assays increased sensitivity only marginally. The attained specificity is insufficient for use as a screening assay for ovarian cancer alone, given the low prevalence in the community of this disease. PMID- 2619686 TI - A new combination chemotherapy for the treatment of endodermal sinus tumour. PMID- 2619687 TI - The association of anovulation and endometriosis in the infertile female. AB - Ninety-six infertile patients with endometriosis were studied and their endometriosis staged according to the Revised American Fertility Society Classification. Anovulation was detected in 19% of the 32 patients with Stage 1 disease but in only 3% in the remaining 64 patients with Stage II, III and IV disease. These results show that contrary to traditional belief, anovulation does occur in a significant number of patients with endometriosis, especially in minimal or mild disease. PMID- 2619688 TI - Pyoderma gangrenosum of the vulva. PMID- 2619689 TI - Sinusoidal-like fetal heart rate tracing in a case of acute fetomaternal haemorrhage. PMID- 2619690 TI - Obstructive sleep apnoea during pregnancy requiring tracheostomy. AB - The case is presented as an unusual example of the benefit of tracheostomy during pregnancy in a patient with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. PMID- 2619691 TI - Transmission of cardiotocograph material by facsimile for expert interpretation. PMID- 2619693 TI - Proceedings of the VI national meeting of cytometry. Pavia 20-22 September 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2619692 TI - Acute puerperal inversion of the uterus. PMID- 2619694 TI - Proceedings of the XXIII National Congress of the Italian Society of Histochemistry. Pavia, 18-20 September 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2619695 TI - Digitalis cardiotoxicity: cellular calcium overload a possible mechanism. AB - Isolated perfused guinea pig (Langendorff) heart was employed to determine if the myocardial mechanical dysfunction (mechanical toxicity) produced by toxic concentration of ouabain (1 microM) was accompanied by alterations in mitochondrial function. Ouabain (1 microM) produces a transient increase in the myocardial contractile force and then a continuous decline in the left ventricular mechanical function. Mitochondria isolated from ouabain perfused hearts showed a significantly higher rate of 45Ca2+ uptake and reduction in oxidative phosphorylation. The rate of ATP generation was reduced by almost 50% at the time of contracture development. Verapamil or nifedipine, when combined with ouabain in the perfusion medium, delayed or abolished the mechanical toxicity in a dose dependent manner. The mitochondria isolated from these hearts demonstrated normal rate of Ca2+ uptake and ATP generation capacity. The data indicate that the cardiac mechanical dysfunction induced by toxic doses of ouabain may be associated with mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and dysfunction and that the Ca2+ channel blockers may have a protective effect. PMID- 2619696 TI - Geometry of the conduit coronary artery in diastole is determined by the volume of the left and right ventricles. AB - In the canine heart placed in a bath the ramus interventricularis anterior (RIA) was perfused under constant pressure. Segment length and diameter of RIA were monitored by ultrasound technique, coronary pressure by electromanometer. Increasing the volume of the left ventricle by up to 150% of the physiological value increased the segment length by 3.73-12.72% and decreased the diameter by 3.14-9.37%. Similar increments of right ventricular volume increased coronary segment length by 4.38-13.02% and decreased diameter by 2.85-16.45%. In concert with the dynamics of heart deformation segment length and diameter changes were larger in the proximal (close to the basis of the heart) than in the distal part of the artery (close to the apex). Implications of this phenomenon in physiological and/or pathophysiological regulation processes are presented. The results have a methodological implication for in situ studies of coronary smooth muscle activity. When the diameter of the coronary artery is taken as an indicator of smooth muscle activity the ventricular volumes should be kept constant. PMID- 2619697 TI - Glutathione alters calcium responsiveness of cardiac skinned fibers. AB - The glutathione status of cardiac muscle, that is the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) changes in certain forms of cardiomyopathy and during reperfusion of ischemic heart. Here we show that it also affects the sensitivity of contractile proteins to calcium. GSH (4 mM) increased the pCa50 for force development in skinned fibers by 0.2 pCa units and increased force by 44% +/- 5.4% at pCa 5.6 whereas GSSG (4 mM) decreased it by 54% +/- 17.8% at pCa 5.6. Half maximal activations and inhibitions were seen with 4 mM GSH or GSSG, respectively. In contrast to GSH, the reducing agent dithiothreitol at 5 mM had no activating effect. Our results suggest that the loss of contractility observed after a reperfusion of the ischemic heart may, at least in part, be due to a decreased responsiveness of the contractile proteins due to an altered glutathione status. PMID- 2619698 TI - Effect of D-600 on ischemic and reperfused rabbit myocardium: relation with timing and modality of administration. AB - In this study we have investigated the possibility that D-600, a phenylalkylamine calcium antagonist, protects the isolated rabbit heart against ischemia and reperfusion-induced damage. D-600 was either subcutaneously injected (2mg/kg, twice daily for 5 to 6 days) in the rabbit before isolation of the heart, or delivered to the isolated hearts in the perfusate (10(-7) M), either at the onset of ischemia and during reperfusion, or only during post-ischemic reperfusion. Ischemia (90 min) was induced by reducing coronary flow from 25 to 1 ml/min, followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Myocardial damage was determined in terms of mechanical function, release of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and noradrenaline, mitochondrial function, calcium homeostasis, and endogenous stores of ATP and creatine phosphate (CP). Administration of D-600 to the rabbits or to the isolated hearts at the time of ischemia exerted protection. There are four groups of evidence in support of this conclusion: 1) the rise in diastolic pressure during ischemia was diminished with greater recovery of developed pressure during reperfusion; 2) CPK and noradrenaline release during reperfusion were reduced; 3) the oxygen consumption and ATP generating capacities of mitochondria were better maintained; and 4) associated with this preservation of mitochondrial function was the maintenance of near normal calcium homeostasis and of endogenous ATP and CP stores. The two different modalities of administration did not produce substantially different results. When administered to the isolated hearts after the ischemic period, D-600 failed to improve mechanical recovery and release of endogenous substances. However, it reduced mitochondrial calcium overload and improved ATP production. The mechanism of the protective effect of D-600 seems to be multiple: energy-sparing effect, reduction of the toxicity mediated by endogenous catecholamines, and direct inhibition of mitochondrial calcium transport. PMID- 2619699 TI - Binding of bepridil to isolated rat heart mitochondria. AB - We investigated mass action of isolated rat heart mitochondria with the calcium antagonist bepridil. At pH 7.20 bepridil in basic form b associates rapidly with the mitochondrial membrane but the amount fixed is higher in non-energized mitochondria than in mitochondria energized by succinate or ATP Mg2+. This effect is related to the dissociation state of the drug since conditions favoring the acidic form bH+ suppress this difference. Tritiated bepridil bound to mitochondrial membrane is only partially displaced by high concentrations of unlabeled drug (greater than or equal to 510(-5) M). No membrane energization effect is noted on this displacement. Binding values of bepridil to mitochondrial membrane (KD 1.710(-5) M; Bmax 23.8 nmol.mg-1 protein) show only low affinity receptor sites. Bepridil binding to the lipid part of the inner membrane surface is postulated. This interaction is used to explain some of the in vitro effects of this calcium antagonist on membrane bound enzyme activities. PMID- 2619700 TI - Anti-ischemic and membrane stabilizing activity of calmodulin inhibitors. AB - In the control perfused working rat hearts subjected to 25 min global ischemia, reperfusion resulted in a 50% recovery of the hemodynamic functions. A concentration-dependent improvement of this recovery and a reduction of the postischemic lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was caused by calmidazolium (CMZ), trifluoperazine (TFP), and chlorpromazine (CPZ) added prior to ischemia. The drugs were not effective when added only to the reperfusate. The concentrations of CMZ, TFP, and CPZ producing the half-maximal effects were 2.5 X 10(-9) M, 1.5 X 10(-7) M and 3 X 10(-7) M, respectively. Prolongation of the ischemic period caused a progressive deterioration of the functional recovery of the hearts while the total postischemic LDH release showed, at the same time, an initial gradual rise followed by a later decay. In untreated hearts the duration of ischemia resulting in 50% loss of hemodynamic function and in a maximal LDH release was 25 min. TFP (10(-6) M) and CMZ (10(-7) M) prolonged these times by 4 7 min and 5-10 min. respectively. TFP, CPZ, and CMZ protected the erythrocytes from osmotic hemolysis. The maximum anti-hemolytic activity was produced by 3 X 10(-6) M CMZ, 3 X 10(-5) M TFP, and 10(-4) CPZ. The concentration-dependency of this effect was not affected by low concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). Neither TFP nor CMZ prevented the hemolysis produced by 10(-3) M SDS. It is concluded that the delay in the development of the ischemic injury produced by TFP and CMZ is due to the effects of these drugs as calmodulin antagonists rather than as membrane stabilizers. PMID- 2619701 TI - Mitochondrial calcium in hearts subjected to lipid peroxidation with contracture development. AB - In the present study we have investigated isolated rat hearts perfused with oxygen radicals generated by xanthine oxidase and hypoxanthine. The influence of verapamil (1 mg.1(-1] pretreatment on oxygen radical-induced contracture development and decrease in contractility was examined. In addition, we have measured mitochondrial calcium and magnesium levels in control hearts and hearts perfused with oxygen radicals with and without addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. The presence of oxygen radical-induced lipid peroxidation was confirmed by the increased level of conjugated diens in lipid extracts from oxygen radical-perfused hearts. Verapamil prevented contracture development in hearts perfused with oxygen radicals. Diastolic pressure measured with a left ventricle balloon was at the end of the experiments. 18 +/- 3 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM) with verapamil and 66 +/- 9 mm Hg without (p less than 0.001). Perfusion with oxygen radicals resulted in a reduction in mitochondrial calcium from 14.63 +/- 0.93 to 8.26 +/- 0.61 nmol.mg-1 (p less than 0.001) which was partly reversed by superoxide dismutase and catalase. Mitochondrial magnesium levels were unchanged in all groups. PMID- 2619702 TI - Less peri- and postoperative inotropic support in open-heart patients with vasomotor waves during cardiopulmonary bypass? AB - Although vasomotor waves (VMW) (Mayer waves) were recognized more than one century ago their physiological role is still under discussion. During cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) the appearance of VMW is random. The clinical significance of the phenomenon was studied by comparing open-heart patients with (n = 33) or without (n = 33) VMW of arterial pressure during CPB. The patients with VMW had higher perfusion pressure (p less than 0.05) and vascular resistance (p less than 0.01) during bypass and higher mean arterial pressure before and after CPB. During CPB the need for vasoconstrictors was of lesser magnitude (p less than 0.01) but the need for vasodilators was of greater magnitude (p less than 0.001) in patients with VMW and they also less frequently needed inotropic support at weaning from CPB (p less than 0.05) or after CPB (p less than 0.01). The use of inotropics was also shorter (p less than 0.01) during intensive care in the patients with VMW. Based on the present results the open-heart patients who had VMW during CPB appeared to have higher arterial blood pressure and to need less pharmacological cardiovascular support during the intraoperative and the immediate postoperative period. PMID- 2619703 TI - Effect of dietary palm kernel oil and biotin on the fatty liver and kidney syndrome in broiler chicken. AB - The effect of feeding biotin and palm kernel oil to broiler chicks on the appearance of Fatty Liver and Kidney Syndrome (FLKS) was investigated. A total of 480 broiler chicks was divided into two equal batches each of which was divided into 6 groups of 40 chicks per group. Each group was further subdivided into equal units of 20 chicks. Six dietary levels of biotin (40, 80, 120, 160, 200, and 240 mcg/kg feed) were given to the first batch of chicks, while the second batch had 2% palm kernel oil added to the six dietarybiotin levels. These two basic rations were supplemented with biotin in order to obtain six levels of the vitamin in the rations. The results showed that the 2% palm kernel oil forage affected FLKS mortality and the minimum biotin requirement. FLKS mortality was significantly reduced in case of palm kernel oil supplement. A lower amount of biotin (120 mcg/kg feed) was needed in case of palm kernel oil supplement-as compared with the necessary biotin (160 mcg/kg feed)-in order to prevent FLKS mortality when palm kernel oil was not contained in the rations. The biochemical analysis of the liver and kidney syndrome-coupled with the correlation and regression analysis of the data collected-showed that a minimum of 120 mcg/kg feed was needed by broiler chicks for the prevention of FLKS. PMID- 2619704 TI - Management of clinical cases of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) disease in goats. AB - Clinical cases of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) disease in goats were treated symptomatically. Broad spectrum antibiotics, intestinal sedatives and fluid therapy were used for the treatment of pneumonia, diarrhoea and the restoration of the body fluid ionic balance. Good feeding and nursing in warm, draught-free pens are necessary. Lemon fruit and Citrus aurantium proved to be effective for the treatment of the orf-like labial scabs. This treatment raised the survival rate of goats by 13.3%. PMID- 2619705 TI - Ultrathin-layer isoelectric focusing for bovine serum transferrin phenotyping. PMID- 2619706 TI - Human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase pseudogenes: molecular evolution and a possible mechanism for amplification. AB - We screened two human genomic libraries and isolated 14 different clones, designated lambda G1 and EG1-EG13, homologous to human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPD) cDNA. Subcloning and sequencing these recombinant phages led us to classify them as five different pseudogenes (psi G1-psi G5). All these sequences show such features typical of processed pseudogenes as numerous mutations, insertions, and deletions. The identity of numerous mutated sites among these pseudogenes and the presence of two Alu sequences flanking both ends of psi G1 suggest that GAPD pseudogenes originated from a unique reverse transcribed mRNA followed by gene duplication. The rate of nucleotide substitutions per site per year for known GAPD functional genes is low both for the synonymous substitutions (1.87 x 10(-9] and for the nonsynonymous substitutions (0.12 x 10(-9] and indicates that the GAPD cDNA sequence is well conserved not only at the amino acid level, but also at the nucleotide level. The rate of nucleotide substitutions per site per year for GAPD pseudogenes shows a higher value (5.9 x 10(-9] and suggests that these pseudogenes do not have any functional role. PMID- 2619707 TI - The effect of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase genotype on in vitro specific activity and in vivo flux in Mytilus edulis. AB - Four samples of the mussel Mytilus edulis were taken between 1984 and 1987 from Stony Brook, New York, and used to study the glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) polymorphism in this species. In vitro specific activity and in vivo flux measured in the same animals were found to be significantly correlated. A significant effect of GPI genotype on flux was observed in one of the samples; overall, significant evidence of effect of genotype on enzyme activity was also obtained. GPI activities of common genotypes tend to deviate less from the population mean than those of rare (frequency less than 5%) genotypes. This suggests the possibility that rare GPI genotypes are rare as a consequence of having biochemical properties that deviate from an optimum level and, therefore, having a lower fitness. In support of this hypothesis, we found in one of our samples that shell length is a concave function of GPI activity with an intermediate optimum activity level. PMID- 2619708 TI - Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-3-PDH; EC 1.1.1.8) variation in adult Plebeia droryana bees (Apidae, Hymenoptera). PMID- 2619709 TI - Plasma trehalase activity and diabetes mellitus. AB - Trehalase is an enzyme which hydrolyzes the disaccharide trehalose, yielding glucose. It is widespread in nature and found in various human tissues as well as in human plasma. The synthesis and degradation of its substrate trehalose have been considered as being implicated in carbohydrate transport mechanisms. Trehalase activity has been examined in both normal subjects and diabetic patients. In the normal subjects, the frequency histogram of the enzyme activity is bimodal, indicating the existence of genetic polymorphism. The proposed model of a single autosomal locus with two alleles has been verified, with 27% of the population tested belonging to the "low-activity" phenotype and 73% being of the "high-activity" phenotype. Males have higher mean plasma trehalase activity than females. Apparently, the reverse appears to be the case in the diabetic subjects. The mean value for all nondiabetics and that of diabetics were computed and the difference was found to be statistically significant (F = 7.02, N1 = 3, N2 = 56, P less than 0.01). An experiment showed that neither the abnormally high concentration of glucose in diabetics nor any other constituent of the diabetic plasma caused an increase in plasma trehalase activity (t = 0.0724, P greater than 0.10). A Woolf and Haldane test to determine association of diabetes mellitus and plasma trehalase phenotype indicated a highly significant association with the high-activity phenotype (chi 2 = 18.5350, P less than 0.01). Thus the inference is that people with high plasma trehalase activity are more prone to develop diabetes mellitus than people with low enzyme activity. PMID- 2619710 TI - Differential expression of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase in reciprocal F1 hybrids of a C3 and a C4-like Flaveria species. AB - Stable reciprocal hybrids between Flaveria pringlei (C3) and F. brownii (C4-like) have been produced by standard breeding techniques. There are no differences in the isoelectric focusing patterns of the catalytic subunits of the ribulose-1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from F. pringlei, F. brownii, or the reciprocal hybrids. The enzyme from both species also contains an identical noncatalytic subunit polypeptide. However, the carboxylase enzyme from F. brownii contains another isomeric form of noncatalytic subunit polypeptide which is resolveable by isoelectric focusing. This isomeric form constitutes about 50% of the total noncatalytic subunits in this species. It comprises only about 10% of the total noncatalytic subunit population in the C3 x C4 plants, but about 42% of the noncatalytic subunits in the reciprocal cross. The concentrations of the holoenzyme in the reciprocal hybrids are comparable to those of the respective maternal parent. We hypothesize that a differential inheritance of parental chloroplasts by the reciprocal hybrids may be associated with this apparent maternal influence on the expression of the noncatalytic polypeptides and the holoenzyme concentration. PMID- 2619711 TI - Intraspecific genetic variability in mitochondrial DNA of the screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax). AB - Mitochondrial DNA variability has been analyzed in the primary screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) using restriction endonuclease fragment patterns and restriction site mapping. A total of 30 different screwworm lines originating from Texas to Costa Rica and the Island of Jamaica was examined using 15 restriction endonucleases. Eleven of the restriction enzymes revealed polymorphism and yielded 16 mitochondrial genotypes or haplotypes. Two of the haplotypes were widely distributed, haplotype 1 being found scattered across southern Mexico and haplotype 2 along the west coast of Mexico. Haplotype 1 also appeared paired with several other haplotypes in mixed lines that were most likely the result of collecting an egg mass to which more than one female had contributed or to some form of contamination by haplotype 1 after introduction into the laboratory. These lines became fixed before single insects were examined and thus it is impossible to rule out heteroplasmy. The other 14 haplotypes were found in only a single locale and 12 of these were found in only one line. The average sequence diversity among 27 mainland lines was about 0.5%. The two Jamaican lines and one east coast mainland line differed from the others by greater than 2%. The pattern of geographical distribution, a small number of apparently recurring haplotypes and a substantial number (75%) of the haplotypes unique, bears similarities to patterns observed in other insects such as Drosophila. The high frequency of unique genotypes in southern Mexico suggests a population with a very reduced gene flow, which may have had a positive effect on the sterile male release control program. PMID- 2619712 TI - Protein metabolism in the tumour-bearing mouse. Rates of protein synthesis in host tissues and in an Ehrlich ascites tumour at different stages in tumour growth. AB - We have investigated the time course of the changes in protein metabolism in skeletal muscle and liver in mice during the progression of growth of an Ehrlich ascites tumour. The rate of protein synthesis in muscle begins to fall very rapidly, and the decrease is clearly established by the time the tumour first becomes visible at 4 days after implantation of the cells. Liver protein synthesis increases substantially, and protein breakdown in muscle increases, but the onset of both these changes occurs later than the fall in muscle protein synthesis. A decrease in food intake in these animals occurs very rapidly after introduction of the cells. The fractional rate of protein synthesis in the tumour cells falls from 73%/day at 5 days to 26%/day at 12 days after injection, but on an absolute basis the rate of protein synthesis in the tumour at 5 days of growth is very small compared with that in muscle and liver. These results are consistent with the notion that the initial effects on muscle protein synthesis and food intake are brought about by humoral factors rather than as direct consequences of the metabolic demands of the growing tumour. PMID- 2619713 TI - The distribution, induction and isoenzyme profile of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase in isolated rat liver parenchymal, Kupffer and endothelial cells. AB - The distribution and inducibility of cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) and glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.19) activities in rat liver parenchymal, Kupffer and endothelial cells were studied. In untreated rats glutathione S-transferase activity with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 4 hydroxynon-2-trans-enal as substrates was 1.7-2.2-fold higher in parenchymal cells than in Kupffer and endothelial cells, whereas total, selenium-dependent and non-selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activities were similar in all three cell types. Glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in parenchymal and non parenchymal cells isolated from untreated rats were separated by chromatofocusing in an f.p.l.c. system: all glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes observed in the sinusoidal lining cells were also detected in the parenchymal cells, whereas Kupffer and endothelial cells lacked several glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes present in parenchymal cells. At 5 days after administration of Arocolor 1254 glutathione S-transferase activity was only enhanced in parenchymal cells; furthermore, selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity decreased in parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells. At 13 days after a single injection of Aroclor 1254 a strong induction of glutathione S-transferase had taken place in all three cell types, whereas selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity remained unchanged (endothelial cells) or was depressed (parenchymal and Kupffer cells). Hence these results clearly establish that glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase are differentially regulated in rat liver parenchymal as well as non-parenchymal cells. The presence of glutathione peroxidase and several glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes capable of detoxifying a variety of compounds in Kupffer and endothelial cells might be crucial to protect the liver from damage by potentially hepatotoxic substances. PMID- 2619714 TI - Interaction of rat glutathione S-transferases 7-7 and 8-8 with gamma-glutamyl- or glycyl-modified glutathione analogues. AB - Analogues of GSH in which either the gamma-glutamyl or the glycyl moiety is modified were synthesized and tested as both substrates for and inhibitors of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) 7-7 and 8-8. Acceptor substrates for GST 7-7 were 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and ethacrynic acid (ETA) and for GST 8-8 CDNB, ETA and 4-hydroxynon-trans-2-enal (HNE). The relative ability of each combination of enzyme and GSH analogue to catalyse the conjugation of all acceptor substrates was similar with the exception of the combination of GST 7-7 and gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-L-Asp, which used CDNB but not ETA as acceptor substrate. In general, GST 7-7 was better than GST 8-8 in utilizing these analogues as substrates, and glycyl analogues were better than gamma-glutamyl analogues as both substrates and inhibitors. These results are compared with those obtained earlier with GSH analogues and GST isoenzymes 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 [Adang, Brussee, Meyer, Coles, Ketterer, van der Gen & Mulder (1988) Biochem. J. 255, 721 724] and the implications with respect to the nature of their active sites are discussed. PMID- 2619715 TI - Time courses of the responses of pyruvate dehydrogenase activities to short-term starvation in diaphragm and selected skeletal muscles of the rat. AB - In the fed state, the percentages of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDH) in the active form (PDHa) in diaphragm and a selection of skeletal muscles (adductor longus, soleus, extensor digitorum longus, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius) ranged from 8% (soleus) to 38% (gastrocnemius). Major decreases in PDHa activities in all of these muscles were observed after 15 h of starvation, by which time activities were less than 40% of the fed values. In general, the response to starvation was observed more rapidly in muscles of high oxidative capacity. The patterns of changes in skeletal-muscle PDH activities during the fed-to-starved transition are discussed in relation to changes in lipid-fuel supply and oxidation. PMID- 2619716 TI - The pool of histones in the nucleosol and cytosol of proliferating Friend cells is small, uneven and chasable. AB - This study examines the histones pools in the nucleosol and cytosol of proliferating Friend cells. By using the conventional approach, detectable amounts of these molecules were found in both compartments; however, only H3 and H2B were identified in nucleosol, and H3, H2B and H4 in cytosol. The authenticity of each of these histones was verified by two independent methods, migration in SDS/polyacrylamide gels and peptide mapping. When the sensitivity of the approach was increased by radiolabelling with 125I, two additional proteins, migrating as H2A and H4, were observed in nucleosol. Even by this approach, however, H1 was not detected. Direct quantitative measurements of the histones in both compartments indicated that these pools are uneven and small. This was found also in experiments involving inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide. Considered together, our data do not support the idea of the existence of preformed histone heterocomplexes or octamers. Instead the assembly of nucleosomes during replication occurs by a successive deposition of individual core histones. PMID- 2619717 TI - Molecular species composition of the major phospholipids in brain and retina from rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Occurrence of high levels of di-(n 3)polyunsaturated fatty acid species. AB - The molecular-species compositions of the diacyl classes of the major phospholipids from the brain and retina of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) were determined. A total of 46 possible species was identified. Didocosahexaenoyl species were major components of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) from retina, comprising 14.1, 41.3 and 28.3% of the respective totals. This species was also abundant in PE and PS from brain, accounting for 14.9 and 19.9% of the totals respectively. Small amounts of di-polyunsaturated fatty acid species [C22:6(n-3) with C20:5(n 3), and C22:6(n-3) with C22:5(n-3)] were also found in these phospholipids. Phosphatidylinositol (PI) from both tissues contained no di-polyunsaturated fatty acid species. Retinal PI contained 40.1% C18:0-C20:4(n-6) with 14.9% of C18:0 C20:5(n-3); brain PI contained 42.3% of C18:0-C20:5 and 10.4% of C18:0-C20:4 species. Brain PC contained a substantial amount of nervonic acid-containing species with the pair C18:1-C24:1/C24:1-C18:1 comprising 8.9% of the total. PMID- 2619718 TI - The presence and possible functions of the matrix metalloproteinase collagenase activator protein in developing enamel matrix. AB - The developing enamel matrix contains mostly amelogenins, which are hydrophobic proline-rich proteins. During amelogenesis, the amelogenins are presumably hydrolysed and removed from the enamel. Recently a number of metalloproteinases that may be important in amelogenesis have been identified in zymograms of the developing enamel matrix. In the present study an antibody specific for the matrix metalloproteinase collagenase activator protein (CAP) was characterized and used to identify this metalloproteinase in enamel. Immunoblotting showed that the CAP proteinase was present in the enamel matrix. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that the proteinase is localized in the enamel matrix, most specifically along the dentino-enamel junction. Purified CAP was found to hydrolyse amelogenin protein. Possible functions of the proteinase in the enamel matrix are discussed. PMID- 2619719 TI - Identification of the haem-binding subunit of cytochrome b-245. AB - Cytochrome b-245 from neutrophil plasma membranes contains two types of subunit with apparent molecular masses from gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS of 23 kDa and 76-92 kDa. Radiation-inactivation analysis revealed a single exponential decay process for the visible absorption of the haem chromophore in the membrane, corresponding to a molecular mass of 21 +/- 5 kDa for the haem containing polypeptide chain. Sedimentation equilibrium of the cytochrome solubilized by the detergent Triton N101 showed that the protein was polydisperse, with a molecular mass of approx. 350 kDa for the smallest detectable species. In another detergent, n-octyl beta-O-glucopyranoside (octyl glucoside), the molecular mass of the haem-containing particle was found to be 20 30 kDa. Thus the quaternary structure of the protein breaks down in this detergent. The haem group is inferred to be attached to the smaller subunit. PMID- 2619720 TI - Translational regulation of ferritin synthesis in rat liver. Effects of chronic dietary iron overload. AB - In rats with chronic dietary iron overload, a higher amount of liver ferritin L subunit mRNA was found mainly engaged on polysomes, whereas in control rats ferritin L-subunit mRNA molecules were largely stored in ribonucleoprotein particles. On the other hand, ferritin H-subunit mRNA was unchanged by chronic iron load and remained in the inactive cytoplasmic pool. In agreement with previous reports, in rats acutely treated with parenteral iron, only the ferritin L-subunit mRNA increased in amount, whereas both ferritin subunit mRNAs shifted to polysomes. This may indicate that, whereas in acute iron overload the hepatocyte operates a translation shift of both ferritin mRNAs to confront rapidly the abrupt entry of iron into the cell, during chronic iron overload it responds to the slow iron influx by translating a greater amount of L-subunit mRNA to synthesize isoferritins more suitable for long-term iron storage. PMID- 2619721 TI - Activities of antioxidant enzymes in fibroblasts cultured in vitro in the presence of hydralazine. AB - Variations in superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity were studied in fibroblasts cultured in the presence of hydralazine, a drug known to be an inducer of the so-called collagen-like syndrome. The results demonstrated that both superoxide dismutase and catalase undergo a marked decrease in their activity, whereas glutathione peroxidase manifests a significant increase in its activity after treatment with hydralazine as compared to control cell cultures. Also the lipid peroxide concentration as expressed by the malondialdehyde amount was estimated in the above cultures. The altered antioxidant enzyme activity and the presence of byproducts of free radical damage support the possibility that the action of hydralazine leading to the pathogenesis of collagen disease-like syndrome involves an abnormal free-radical metabolism. PMID- 2619722 TI - [Phosphoethanolamine--a substrate of alkaline phosphatase isolated from rat calvaria]. AB - Alkaline phosphatase from calvaria of 8 to 12-day-old Wistar rats was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by a simple procedure (homogenisation, solubilisation by Triton X-100, DEAE-Sephacel ion exchange chromatography). For the holoenzyme, a Mr of about 160 kDa was determined, and it seems to consist of two identical subunits. The pH optima for the hydrolysis of phosphoethanolamine and p nitrophenylphosphate are 10.0 and pH 9.0-10.5, respectively. The rate constants for the hydrolysis of phosphoethanolamine, p-nitrophenylphosphate and other phosphomonoesters at pH 10.0 are comparable, but the Km values differ by one to two orders of magnitude. At physiological pH (7.5) the maximum hydrolysis rate of the substrates phosphoethanolamine and p-nitrophenylphosphate was only 8% and 5%, respectively, of that determined at the pH optimum. On the basis of the kinetic data an in vivo function of alkaline phosphatase in bones as a monophosphate ester hydrolyzing enzyme seems unlikely. PMID- 2619723 TI - A new synthetic peptide with elastase inhibiting effect. AB - A new peptide, obtained by chemical synthesis, inhibits porcine pancreatic elastase activity "in vitro" with an IC50 of 24 mmol/l. The effect of the peptide was also tested on human plasma elastase by using plasmas with different levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin. The synthetic peptide apparently decreased the amount of normal plasma elastase, assayed by an immunoenzymatic method, with a dose dependent effect and an IC50 of 13 mmol/l. In plasma with higher amounts of alpha 1-antitrypsin the IC50 value was 18 mmol/l. PMID- 2619724 TI - [Degradation and association of glucagon by intact human erythrocytes]. AB - To extend the knowledge about systemic glucagon metabolism, intact human erythrocytes were tested for association and degradation of glucagon. When erythrocytes were incubated at 37 degrees C in 0.15 M NaCl solution, glucagon and 125I-glucagon were degraded, depending both on time and hematocrit. At a hematocrit of 0.45, about 20% of 1 nM initial glucagon were degraded during 4 h of incubation. Furthermore, cellular association of glucagon took place amounting to about 10% of the initial glucagon. Nearly 3% of the initial glucagon, but 40% of the cell-associated hormone were found to consist of intracellularly accumulated glucagon degradation products. Despite of nondetectable hemolysis after 60 min of incubation at 37 degrees C, a glucagon-degrading activity was eluted from the cells into the medium. This degrading activity was quantitatively inhibited by Contrykal, EDTA, and o-phenanthroline. Both glucagon degradation and association by human red cells were quantitatively inhibited by bacitracin. These results provided evidence for a participation of human erythrocytes in glucagon metabolism in vitro. PMID- 2619725 TI - Evaluation of type D retroviruses as diagnostic tools in HIV infections. AB - A type D retrovirus isolated from a permanent human cell line (PMFV) was employed as diagnostic reagent both in Southern transfer hybridization experiments using the cloned genome as a probe and in immunoblot analysis using SDS disrupted virus particles. Hybridization experiments performed under conditions of different stringencies revealed a close homology of PMFV to SAIDS type D retroviruses of serotype 1 (SRV-1, SAIDS retrovirus D/NE), a related homology to the prototype type D virus (MPMV) and to viruses of serotype 2 (SRV-2), but no homology to the endogenous type D retrovirus of squirrel monkeys (SMRV) and the human AIDS virus (HIV-1). Antigens of PMFV showed cross-reactivity only to antibodies of a SAIDS infected macaque, but no reaction to anti HIV-antibodies of seropositive patients. Thus, the type D virus isolated from a human cell line and closely related to SAIDS type D viruses of macaques is not related to the AIDS virus in humans. PMID- 2619726 TI - Effects of modified respiratory rhythm on heart rate variability during active orthostatic load. AB - The experiments were carried out to study the influence (a) of 3 different respiratory frequencies (0.12, 0.20 and 0.35 Hz) on heart rate power spectra during orthostatic load with special reference to the peak frequency of mid frequency heart rate fluctuations, and (b) of variation in respiratory depth on this peak frequency in supine position. The peak frequency of mid-frequency heart rate fluctuations was shifted to lower frequency values in response to orthostasis despite the constant respiratory frequency for either posture. No differences in peak frequency were observed between respiratory frequencies of 0.20 and 0.35 Hz in both supine and standing position and between the two extreme patterns of respiratory depth. We suggest that the shift of the peak frequency of mid-frequency heart rate fluctuations to the lower end of the heart rate power spectrum during orthostasis represents an original effect independent of depth and frequency of respiration. PMID- 2619727 TI - Investigations on the deformability of human red blood cells stored in different preservative solutions: relation between cellular hemoglobin concentration and in vivo survival. AB - In continuation of earlier studies (Kucera, W. et al.: Biomed. Biochim. Acta 44, 1459-1467, (1985); Wegner, G. et al.: Biomed. Biochim. Acta 46, 605-609 (1987] the in vivo of human red blood cells (RBC) stored for 35 or 42 days in different anticoagulant and preservative media was analyzed with regard to the main influencing factors. We found a significant partial correlation (2 alpha = 0.001; n = 75) between the in vivo survival and the mean cellular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC; rp = -0.70) as well as on a lower level (2 alpha = 0.01; n = 75) with the ATP content (rp = 0.35). By calculating the internal viscosity as a determinant of RBC deformability from MCHC values and non-linear fitting an equation for the survival prediction for known MCHC values of stored RBC was found. Low pressure filterability through cellulose filters characterizing cellular deformability is interpreted in relation to viability of stored RBC. PMID- 2619728 TI - Effects of methylmercury on mouse epididymis and spermatozoa. AB - Intramuscular administration of methylmercury (MeHg) into mice at doses of 10 and 20 micrograms per day and animal for 30 days exerts toxic effects on the epididymal histoarchitecture, sperm motility, sperm count and sperm energy metabolism. Scanning electron microscopic study showed changes in the cauda epididymal sperm morphology. All these factors contributed finally to a failure of the fertility in MeHg treated mice as evidenced by a significant reduction in the average number of implantation sites or their absence in females cohabited with treated males. The decline in the serum testosterone levels by high dose indicates a decreased testicular androgen synthesis. PMID- 2619729 TI - Failure of ambroxol to influence the allergen induced bronchial constriction in sensitized guinea pigs. AB - The action of ambroxol was tested in an in vivo guinea pig asthma model. Ambroxol, a compound with antiallergic properties effects the mediator releasing cells in vitro and surfactant secretion from alveolar type II cells. This paper deals with the action of ambroxol in an in vivo asthma model in guinea pigs. Ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs were artificially ventilated by negative chest wall pressure, using a tank respirator. Breathing parameters were measured pneumotachographically. The experimental animals were treated with 50 mg/kg ambroxol i.p. for 5 days; control animals received saline only. The results indicate that pretreatment with ambroxol had no significant effect on the allergic bronchial constriction, while in vitro ambroxol effects on mediator releasing cells and surfactant production point to antiallergic properties. An explanation of the failure of allergenic preventing effects of ambroxol in vivo may be its insufficient concentration in the tissue. PMID- 2619730 TI - Similar endothelium-independent arterial relaxation by carbon monoxide and nitric oxide. AB - In organ bath and bioassay experiments the relaxing effect of carbon monoxide on femoral, carotid and coronary artery preparations of the dog was shown to be similar to those of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and nitric oxide. PMID- 2619731 TI - N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine inhibits chemiluminescence and accelerates phagocytosis in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. AB - Treatment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes with the soluble and cell penetrating thiol N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine (2-MPG) inhibits luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence induced by opsonized zymosan, which is believed to be a measure for the generation of reactive oxygen species, and accelerates the rate of phagocytosis measured as ingestion of zymosan particles. It is discussed that 2 MPG protects the phagocyting cells from oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species that are formed during particle ingestion. PMID- 2619732 TI - First demonstration of porphyrins in the lacrimal glands: similarity to the Harderian gland. AB - The Harderian gland of rodents is the only known tissue with physiological occurrence of high concentrations of porphyrins. In this report we describe the occurrence of considerable concentrations of porphyrins in the extra-orbital and intra-orbital lacrimal glands of the male rat. Similarly as in the Harderian gland, HPLC analysis revealed protoporphyrin as being the prevalent porphyrin homologue in the lacrimal glands. The results may contribute to elucidation of the yet unknown function of the Harderian gland and its porphyrins. PMID- 2619733 TI - Characterization of mitochondrial functions in digitonin-permeabilized rat liver cells. AB - Mitochondrial functions were investigated in permeabilized rat liver cells. For permeabilization isolated hepatocytes were treated with digitonin using a perifusion technique. After permeabilization the cell count was almost unchanged, and the mitochondrial marker enzyme, glutamate dehydrogenase, was decreased to as little as 83%. The mitochondria in permeabilized cells were functionally intact, a finding evident from a marked stimulation of respiration by ADP, inhibition by carboxyatractyloside, and stimulation by uncoupler. The ADP-stimulated and uncoupled respiration rates with succinate as substrate were comparable to those reported for isolated mitochondria, whereas the rates with NAD(+)-dependent substrates were somewhat higher. The ratios between ADP-stimulated and carboxyatractyloside-inhibited respiration rates were in the range noted for isolated mitochondria with identical substrates. Almost unchanged ADP-stimulated and carboxyatractyloside-inhibited respiration rates were found for at least 180 min after digitonin treatment. The preparation exhibited only a low extramitochondrial ATPase activity which was partially inhibited by vanadate. PMID- 2619734 TI - Energy state, glycolytic intermediates and mitochondrial function in the liver during reversible and irreversible endotoxin shock. AB - Metabolites of the energy and carbohydrate metabolism and mitochondrial function in the liver were compared in rats with reversible as well as with irreversible shock. 6 h after induction of shock there was a close correlation between the severity of shock and the energy state of the liver. Only rats with irreversible shock showed a marked deterioration in parameters of the adenylate system, whereas in animals with reversible shock the energy state remained at control levels. Liver glycogen and glucose stores declined similarly in all shocked rats. The capacity of isolated liver mitochondria to produce ATP did not essentially differ in reversible and irreversible shock. Further investigations should consider the intracellular environment in evaluating the mitochondrial function in vivo during endotoxin shock. PMID- 2619735 TI - Postrest contractions as an example for the regulation of the course of isometric twitch. AB - Postrest contractions (PRC) of isometrically contracting rabbit papillary muscles are used to analyse how the shape of the twitch can be explained by existing models for the accompanying Ca-regulation. By the change of the extracellular Ca concentration (Cae) potentiated or depressed PRC were produced. The course of the twitch is separated by mechanical indices commonly used. The results fit some biochemical and electro-physiological findings, as the regulatory role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the Na-Ca exchange, but do not reflect others. The sharp separation between an early and late phase of the contraction and relaxation, respectively, is limited by the overlapping of different Ca regulating processes. PMID- 2619736 TI - Enhanced formation of lipid peroxides might contribute to the high sensitivity of spontaneously hypertensive rats towards isoproterenol-induced myocardial damage. AB - Lipid peroxidation as well as enzyme and isoenzyme activities in heart and blood plasma were investigated in 8- and 20-week-old SHR after administration of 40 mg/kg body weight isoproterenol in comparison to WKY rats in order to examine the susceptibility of the hearts of hypertensive animals towards catecholamine induced damage. The mortality of SHR after isoproterenol application was distinctly higher as compared with WKY rats. SHR showed significantly higher concentrations of lipid peroxides in the myocardium after isoproterenol. Distinctly higher plasma activities of CK, isoenzymes of LDH and ASAT as well as markedly lower CK activities in the myocardium point to an enhanced sensitivity of SHR to catecholamine-induced damage. The results obtained in this study favour the suggestion that an exaggerated nonenzymatic and perhaps enzymatic formation of peroxidized lipids in the myocardium might contribute to this increased sensitivity. PMID- 2619737 TI - Effect of hypobaric hypoxia and almitrine on voluntary salt and water intake in carotid body denervated spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - The effect of moderate hypobaric hypoxia and almitrine bismesylate (almitrine) on salt and water intake was investigated in carotid body denervated (CBD) and sham operated (SO) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The animals were kept singly in metabolic cages and given free access to food, water and a 2.5% NaCl-solution. Oral administration of almitrine and exposure to hypobaric hypoxia for five days evoked a suppression of voluntary salt intake in SO-SHR, but not in CBD-SHR. Exposure of SO and CBD-SHR to hypobaric hypoxia resulted in a significant decrease in water intake in animals of both groups on the first day of hypoxia. Stimulation of the arterial chemoreceptors by almitrine induced no change in water intake similar to that evoked by hypobaric hypoxia. These results prove that stimulation of the arterial chemoreceptors has a direct effect on salt appetite but not on water intake in SHR. PMID- 2619738 TI - Restricted cardiovascular and cerebral performance of intra-uterine growth retarded newborn piglets during severe hypoxia. AB - In 7 term born two-day-old intra-uterine growth retarded (IUGR) piglets cardio- and cerebrovascular, metabolic and EEG reactions were studied at rest and during severe hypoxia in comparison to 17 normal-weight piglets. In IUGR piglets even in control conditions a distinct cerebral blood flow (CBF) elevation, lower cerebrovascular resistance and oxygen consumption in the higher perfused brain regions at diminished arterial blood pressure were observed. Also the arterial glucose concentration was in the borderline hypoglycemic range, however, cerebral glucose delivery was nearly maintained. IUGR piglets survived a 1-h hypoxic period (paO2 = 25-30 mmHg) less frequently. The main reason was the distinctly restricted emergency reaction with a lack of arterial blood pressure increase and blood glucose elevation as well as a reduced (higher perfused brain regions) or absent CBF increase (lower perfused brain regions). Thereby, even in the early stage of hypoxia cerebral oxygen delivery in both brain compartments and oxygen consumption in the latter were decreased followed by a further decrease of the arterial blood pressure. The latter factor was essential for acute cardio vascular-cerebral insufficiency. PMID- 2619739 TI - Psychotropic activity of angiotensin II and its fragments Val-Tyr-Ile-NH2 and Val Tyr-Ile-His-NH2. AB - Angiotensin II (A II) significantly enhanced the motor activity of rats in the open field as measured by forward locomotion, rearings and bar approaches while the tripeptide [A II(3-5)] and the tetrapeptide [A II(3-6)] were ineffective in this test. Also, the stereotyped behavior produced by apomorphine (2 mg/kg) or amphetamine (6.5 mg/kg), both given intraperitoneally, was significantly more intense in rats receiving an icv injection of A II but not A II(3-5) or A II(3 6). A II significantly increased the rate of acquisition of active avoidance while AII(3-5) and AII(3-6) were ineffective. Finally, a remarkable improvement of performance in the passive avoidance situation was caused by AII, and none by AII(3-5) and AII(3-6). These results show that 3-5 and 3-6 fragments of AII are not responsible for the psychotropic activity of their parent octapeptide and suggest that AII(3-7) pentapeptide should be the fragment in question. PMID- 2619740 TI - Effect of pyridostigmine and syntostigmine pretreatment on the inhibition of acetylcholinesterases by o-pinacolyl-methylphosphonofluoridate. In vitro experiments with rat tissues. AB - The inhibition kinetics of O-pinacolyl-methylphosphonofluoridate and two carbamates (pyridostigmine and syntostigmine) on the acetylcholinesterase from rat erythrocytes, brain and diaphragm have been studied in vitro. The affinity of O-pinacolyl-methylphosphonofluoridate to carbamates pretreated acetylcholinesterase was tested. In vitro addition of pyridostigmine and/or syntostigmine to acetylcholinesterase prior to the organophosphate provided a weak protection against acetylcholinesterase inhibition by this potent organo phosphorous inhibitor. PMID- 2619741 TI - Of men, molecules, and (ir)reducibility. AB - The subject of (ir)reducibility in biochemistry has resurfaced recently in the literature. Along with it comes a renewed emphasis on the organizational complexity of the living state and, more broadly, concern over the unity of the sciences. PMID- 2619742 TI - Cellular localization and age dependent changes in mRNA for glutathione S transferase-P in rat testicular cells. AB - Using Northern blotting techniques we report that mRNA for Glutathione S transferase-P (GST-P or GST 7-7) is present in rat testis. GST-P mRNA was detected in cultured Sertoli cells, cultured peritubular cells, as well as in transplantable Leydig cell tumor. However, no GST-P mRNA was detected in rat germ cell fractions. There was a marked increase in mRNA for GST-P from day 5 to day 20 in rats, after which a decrease was seen. The decreased level of mRNA for GST P in the testis after 20 days of age, coincided in time with the exponential increase in germ cells, and accompanying relative decrease in somatic cells. The results show that mRNA for GST-P is primarily present in somatic cells of the rat testis. PMID- 2619743 TI - Effects of dietary benzo(a) pyrene on intestinal phase I and phase II drug metabolizing systems in normal and vitamin A-deficient rats. AB - Feeding of vitamin A-deficient diet to male weanling rats for 10 weeks caused significant increase in the activities of Phase I enzyme system, i.e., cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5 and arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase in the proximal, middle and distal segments of the intestine. Of the Phase II enzymes studied, UDP glucuronyltransferase showed significant decrease whereas glutathione S transferase showed significant increase. Treatment with benzo(a)pyrene caused greater induction in the levels of Phase I enzymes in deficient animals as compared to controls. In contrast to this, benzo(a)pyrene treatment induced the level of UDP-glucuronyltransferase in control rats more than in deficient rats. Intestinal NADPH cytochrome C-reductase and glutathione S-transferase remained insensitive to benzo(a)pyrene induction. PMID- 2619744 TI - The influence of molecular crowding on the binding of glycolytic enzymes to cytoskeletal structure. AB - In a study of the interactions between glycolytic enzymes and cytoskeletal structure, the effect of increasing the degree of molecular crowding by the addition of protein was studied. This treatment resulted in an increased degree of binding of all the glycolytic enzymes, but with the most marked increases occurring with phosphofructokinase, enolase and pyruvate kinase. The significance of this data has been discussed in relation to the relative affinities of interaction of the individual components, the influence of molecular crowding and the physiological significance of this phenomenon. PMID- 2619745 TI - Increase in glutathione disulfide level regulates the activity of microsomal glutathione S-transferase in rat liver. AB - Glutathione disulfide stimulates the activity of rat liver microsomal glutathione S-transferase 2-fold after incubation at 25 degrees C for 10 min. When the microsomes were incubated with the disulfide for over 20 min, the transferase activity increased to the same extent as in the case of N-ethylmaleimide (6 fold). Even in the presence of reduced glutathione, some enhancement of the transferase activity was observed. The data presented here are evidence that increase in glutathione disulfide level, e.g. by lipid peroxidation, on endoplasmic reticulum causes the upregulation of microsomal glutathione S transferase activity. PMID- 2619746 TI - Actin-binding ability of the protein with the molecular weight of 47,000 phosphorylated during platelet activation. AB - The platelet protein, P47, with the molecular weight of 47,000 that is phosphorylated during platelet activation is closely associated with secretion from granules in these cells. P47 interacts with actin directly or indirectly. We investigated the ability of P47 to bind to actin by actin-affinity chromatography. In the eluate from an actin-Sepharose column, there was no phosphorylated P47, but in the first fraction that passed through the column, there was. The results suggested that P47 does not bind to actin directly. PMID- 2619747 TI - Pyruvate metabolism by lymphocytes: evidence for an additional ketogenic tissue. AB - The rate of utilization of pyruvate (at various concentrations) was measured in lymphocytes prepared from rat mesenteric lymph nodes. The quantitative contribution of pyruvate to CO2, lactate, aspartate, alanine, citrate, acetate, acetyl-CoA and ketone bodies accounted for the pyruvate metabolized. Pyruvate utilization was depressed by increasing concentrations of pyruvate. The maximum catalytic activities and selected intracellular distributions of the following enzymes of pyruvate, citrate and acetyl-CoA metabolism were measured: citrate synthase, ATP-citrate lyase, lactate dehydrogenase, acetyl-CoA hydrolase, acetylcarnitine transferase, NAD+- and NADP+- isocitrate dehydrogenases, HMG-CoA lyase, HMG-CoA synthase, Pyruvate dehydrogenase, acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, 3 oxoacid-CoA transferase, 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and pyruvate carboxylase. Acetyl-CoA formed from pyruvate did not contribute to the respiratory energy metabolism of resting lymphocytes. Instead acetyl-CoA was converted to acetoacetate by reactions which may favour the pathway catalyzed by acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase and 3-oxoacid-CoA transferase. Acetate, acetyl- and palmitoyl-carnitine inhibited the decarboxylation of [1-14C] pyruvate. These observations may be connected with the suppression of pyruvate utilization by increased pyruvate substrate concentration. Only very small amounts of either pyruvate or acetate were incorporated into lipids in resting lymphocytes. The amounts incorporated were partitioned in approximately the same pattern into FFA, T.G., cholesterol and cholesterol esters. Taken together the data show that pyruvate metabolism is directed inter alia at the formation of acetoacetate which may serve as a lipid synthesis precursor. When pyruvate utilization and metabolism was enhanced by concanavalin A, then acetoacetate formation was not favoured and from this it is proposed that the acetyl units may then be directed into lipid synthesis and may also make a contribution to the energy metabolism of the activated lymphocyte. PMID- 2619748 TI - RNA polymerase I and II activities in different brain regions of young, adult, and old rats. AB - The activities of RNA polymerase I and II were assayed in nuclei isolated from different regions (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, corpus striatum and pituitary) of brains from young (10 days), adult (6 months), and old (2 years) rats. The RNA polymerases I and II activities generally increased during maturation, i.e., from 10 days to 6 months of postnatal age and then showed a decrease from 6 months to 2 years of age in all the regions except in cerebral cortex where the RNA polymerase II activity was highest at 10 days but showed a gradual decrease through the lifespan up to 2 years. PMID- 2619749 TI - The anticoagulant activity of Malayan cobra (Naja naja sputatrix) venom and venom phospholipase A2 enzymes. AB - Malayan cobra (Naja naja sputatrix) venom was found to exhibit an in vitro anticoagulant activity that was much stronger than most common cobra (genus Naja) venoms. The most potent anticoagulants of the venom are two lethal phospholipase A2 enzymes with pI's of 6.15 and 6.20, respectively. The anticoagulant activity of the venom is due to the synergistic effect of the venom phospholipase A2 enzymes and polypeptide anticoagulants. Bromophenacylation of the two phospholipase A2 enzymes reduced their enzymatic activity with a concomitant drop in both the lethal and anticoagulant activities. PMID- 2619750 TI - Inhibition of DNA methylation in Friend erythroleukemia cells by actinomycin D. AB - Actinomycin D caused the production of hypomethylated DNA in cultured Friend erythroleukemia cells at cell culture concentrations of 1-4 ng per ml. Inhibition of DNA methyltransferase in cell-free assays was kinetically complex, with mixed type inhibition. Cornish-Bowden graphical analysis was used to derive a Ki of about 35 nmol Act D per mg DNA. Although nuclei from drug-treated cells were found to contain hypomethylated DNA and DNA methyltransferase could be extracted from the nuclei, the methyl-accepting ability of DNA in whole nuclei themselves was not elevated. We conclude that the low level of Act D bound to DNA in the nuclei is sufficient to prevent the remethylation of hypomethylated sites. PMID- 2619751 TI - Suppression of the activities of T-lymphocyte-related enzymes in spleen by administration of an immunosuppressant, 15-deoxyspergualin. AB - We investigated the effects of both (-) and (+)-enantiomers of 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG), an immunosuppressant, on enzyme networks in spleens of ICR mice. Of the 14 hydrolytic enzymes tested, the activity of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV (DAP-IV) was found to be significantly suppressed by the administration of (-)-DSG but not by that of (+)-DSG. In contrast, the activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (GlcNAc-ase) was suppressed by the administration of both enantiomers of DSG. Judging from the previous reports of ours and others which suggested specific relations of these enzymes to T-lymphocytes, the above findings may warrant further studies of these enzymes in relation to immunologic functions of the body. PMID- 2619752 TI - Different pathways of DNA synthesis are operative in the fat body of Spodoptera litura (insecta) during larval and pupal development. AB - In Spodoptera litura, the DNA content of the fat body increases during the last larval instar. Radiolabelling studies reveal high degree of H3-thymidine incorporation in the fat cell DNA, during last larval stage of development. At prepupal stage the DNA synthesised during larval development is degraded, at least partially and the resultant nucleotides are most likely used as building blocks for the fat cell DNA synthesis during pupal development and pupal-adult metamorphosis, because very little H3 -thymidine injected into pupae is incorporated in DNA, though in fact, significant amount of DNA is synthesised during this period. PMID- 2619753 TI - Hydrogen ion titration of 12 S rape seed protein and partial N-terminal sequence of one of it's subunits. AB - The high molecular weight 12 S protein from rape seed was isolated in a homogeneous form and characterized. Six subunits were isolated by PAGE in the presence of SDS and 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethanol. These subunits (s1 to s6) were found in the protein in the weight ratio of 1.32:1.2:1.15:1.0:1.21:1.11. The molecular weights and first two N-terminal amino acids of the isolated subunits were 64,800 and phenylalanine, alanine (s1), 50,650 and valine, tyrosine (s2), 42,500 and phenylalanine, leucine (s3), 28,800 and threonine, glutamic acid (s4), 19,100 and cystine, isoleucine (s5) and 15,600 and alanine, phenylalanine (s6). The number of side chain carboxyl, imidazole and epsilon-amino groups were calculated from the hydrogen ion titrations, which were in agreement with the amino acid assay. Besides, the N-terminal amino acid sequence upto 43 residues for one subunit (s6) is reported using Edman degradation. PMID- 2619754 TI - Interactions of thorium and cerium with adenine nucleotides. AB - The present study demonstrates an effect of the actinide, Thorium (Th), and the lanthanide, Cerium (Ce), on the non-enzymatic hydrolysis of adenine and guanine nucleotides. Thorium was found to be a more effective catalyst of the reaction than Cerium. Further, both the elements promoted the binding of Creatine kinase (CK) to Cibacron blue F3 GA, the substrate analogue of the enzyme, even in the absence of Mg2+, the physiological cofactor. These observations imply that toxic heavy metals can mimic the functional effects of the essential elements despite differences in their physicochemical properties. PMID- 2619755 TI - Affinity of a DNA with highly repetitive sequence for nuclear proteins from rat liver. AB - A nuclear scaffold fraction (designated P fraction elsewhere) comparable to a nuclear matrix was prepared from rat liver. This fraction was composed mainly of 45-49 kDa proteins and high-molecular-weight proteins (more than 90 kDa). In addition, a 370-bp repetitive sequence DNA fragment was derived predominantly from the EcoRI digest of the deproteinized P fraction. By an immunoblot affinity assay with the P fraction, the fragment was shown to have affinity for each of the 107- and 115-kDa proteins. Moreover, by a filter binding assay with a mixture of these proteins, the affinity level was estimated to be about 6 times as high in the native (double-stranded) fragment as in the denatured (single-stranded) fragment. PMID- 2619756 TI - Amino acid sequence of nerve growth factor purified from the venom of the Formosan cobra Naja naja atra. AB - Nerve growth factor (NGF) was isolated from the venom of the Formosan cobra (Naja naja atra). The amino acid sequence was determined by a combination of conventional methods. The total number of amino acid residues was 116, giving a molecular mass of 13,057 Da. The sequence was identical with that deduced from the nucleotide sequence of an NGF cDNA from the venom gland of Naja naja siamensis, reported by Selby et al. [J. Neurosci. Res., 18, 293-298 (1987)]. PMID- 2619757 TI - Role of calcium on protein phosphorylation in collagen-stimulated platelets. Effect of a new dihydropyridine derivative. AB - We investigated the effect of extracellular calcium on protein phosphorylation stimulated by collagen in rabbit platelets. We found that collagen-induced increase in 40 kDa protein phosphorylation was maximum at 2 mM Ca2+, and was evident in buffer with zero Ca2+ but not in the presence of EGTA. We also studied the effects of a new dihydropyridine derivative, which has antithrombotic properties, on protein phosphorylation induced by collagen. This compound inhibited the phosphorylation of 40 kDa and 20 kDa protein independently of the extra-cellular Ca2+. The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent but not time dependent and was more evident when the drug was added before or simultaneously with collagen. PMID- 2619758 TI - Campylobacter pylori colonization factor shows specificity for lactosylceramide sulfate and GM3 ganglioside. AB - The specificity of Campylobacter pylori cell surface lectin, a presumptive colonization factor, was investigated using various sulfated and sialic acid containing glycolipids. C. pylori cells, cultured from human antral mucosal biopsies, were incubated with intact and modified glycolipid preparations and examined for agglutination inhibition of human erythrocytes. Titration data revealed that the inhibitory activity was highest with lactosylceramide sulfate and GM3 ganglioside, while galactosylceramide sulfate GM1, GD1a and GD1b gangliosides were less effective. A strong inhibitory activity towards C. pylori hemagglutin was also observed with an antiulcer agent, sucralfate. The inhibitory effect of both types of glycolipids was abolished by the removal of sialic acid and sulfate ester groups, thus indicating that sulfated and sialic acid containing glycolipids with terminal lactosyl moieties serve as mucosal receptors for colonization of gastric epithelium by C. pylori. PMID- 2619759 TI - Isolation and characterization of an unusual form of L-amino acid oxidase from King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) venom. AB - The L-amino acid oxidase (EC 1. 4. 3. 2) from King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) venom was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined to be 140000 when examined by gel filtration and 68000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme had an isoelectric point of 4.5 and an intravenous LD50 of 5 micrograms/g in mice. It is a glycoprotein and contains two moles of FAD per mole of enzyme. The enzyme exhibited unusual thermal stability and unlike most other venom L-amino acid oxidases, it was stable in alkaline solution and was not inactivated by freezing. PMID- 2619760 TI - Gene expression and differentiation in F9 mouse embryonal carcinoma cells. AB - The mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line F9 differentiates in vitro in a manner analogous to the formation of extraembryonic (parietal or visceral) endoderm from inner cell mass cells in early embryogenesis. After retinoic acid addition to cells in monolayer culture, differentiation to parietal endoderm proceeds over several days. Early changes in gene expression are seen before differentiation becomes irreversible, and may be mediated post-transcriptionally. Midway through differentiation, transcription of a group of endogenous and exogenous (viral) genes rises. Increased activity of the DNA-binding transcription factor AP-1 has been implicated in this rise in transcription, but it has not been determined whether this is the only factor involved. In the third phase of differentiation, a group of proteins characteristic of parietal endoderm appears. The F9 cell system may be significant in being among the first in which altered transcription factor activity responsible for changing gene expression during differentiation is understood. PMID- 2619761 TI - Hormonal regulation of gene expression. AB - In this presentation, three facets of the topic will be addressed: signal specificity, receptor specificity and kinetics. First, both clinical and co transfection studies show cortisol to be a potent mineralocorticoid agonist when it occupies Type I (mineralocorticoid) receptors. Cytosol Type I receptors from various tissues, and recombinant-derived human renal mineralocorticoid receptors, show equivalent affinity in vitro for aldosterone and for cortisol, which circulates at approximately 100-fold higher levels. In vivo, aldosterone specificity of Type I receptors in physiological mineralocorticoid target tissues reflects local metabolism of cortisol (but not of aldosterone), to receptor inactive cortisone, by the microsomal enzyme 11 beta OH steroid dehydrogenase. Secondly, alpha-lactalbumin synthesis in the mid-pregnant rat mammary gland explant is stimulated by very low doses of glucocorticoids, but progressively inhibited at higher doses, and is exquisitely sensitive to progestin blockade. To reconcile these data, we have developed a model of transcriptional regulation involving multiple overlapping glucocorticoid and progesterone regulatory elements. Finally, in the Porsolt swimming rat model, the effect of adrenalectomy on a learned response is reversed by glucocorticoid administration up to an hour after the conditioning experiment. PMID- 2619762 TI - Mechanisms by which prolactin and glucocorticoids regulate casein gene expression. PMID- 2619763 TI - Processing of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor. AB - The transcellular transport of polymeric immunoglobulins (pIg) across mucosal epithelia is mediated by a membrane glycoprotein known as the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR). The intracellular routing of the pIgR has been used as a model to study protein traffic. Examination of the biosynthesis and processing of the pIgR in mammary gland and liver have led to a working hypothesis for pIgR routing in the cell. These hypotheses are currently being tested in an immortalized cell line derived from rabbit mammary gland alveolar cells. PMID- 2619764 TI - Experimental characterization of the autophagic-lysosomal pathway in isolated rat hepatocytes. AB - When isolated rat hepatocytes are incubated under amino-acid-free conditions autophagy is maximally activated and overall lysosomal proteolysis is greatly enhanced. To facilitate this, cytoplasmic material is sequestered by autophagic membranes, and the resulting autophagosomes enter the lysosomes by a fusion process to have their contents degraded. The various steps in the autophagic lysosomal pathway have been investigated by utilizing reversible electropermeabilization to introduce radioactive sugar probes into the hepatocyte cytosol. The inert disaccharide sucrose and the inert trisaccharide raffinose have been used as sequestration probes to study the sequestrational step of autophagy, while the hydrolysable disaccharide lactose has been used to study the fusion and intralysosomal hydrolysis steps. Sucrose and lactose have been used to map the extent of convergence between the autophagic and endocytic (heterophagic) pathways. Sequestration of native cytosolic enzymes has been measured to investigate the question of selectivity in the autophagic process. Finally, the effect of insulin on the sequestrational step has been evaluated. PMID- 2619765 TI - Regulation of genes associated with drug metabolism. AB - Exposure of animals to foreign chemicals results in the induction of many enzymes. The mitochondrial enzyme 5-aminolaevulinate synthase (ALV-S) is induced to supply haem for cytochrome P-450 (P-450) enzymes, the key proteins in drug detoxification. The drugs phenobarbital and 2-allyl-2-isopropylacetamide (AIA), although structurally different, elevate levels of ALV-S and a specific class of P-450s, the phenobarbital-inducible P-450s. Synthesis of ALV-S is negatively controlled by the end-product haem and it is proposed that drugs induce P-450 apoprotein which sequesters haem. Studies at the mRNA level show that ALV-S and P 450 are drug induced in a highly tissue-specific fashion and that haem represses mRNA levels in all but erythroid tissues. In liver, drugs activate ALV-S gene transcription and haem represses, but this mechanism does not operate in erythroid cells. Studies on the drug-induction mechanism of phenobarbital inducible P-450s in chick embryo liver show that increased mRNA levels result from P-450 gene activation together with a significant post-transcriptional mechanism. PMID- 2619766 TI - Protein folding and intracellular transport: studies on influenza virus haemagglutinin. PMID- 2619767 TI - Role of protein disulphide-isomerase in the expression of native proteins. AB - Formation of native disulphide bonds is a post-translational modification associated with the folding and assembly of secretory proteins. The process is catalysed within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum by the enzyme protein disulphide-isomerase (PDI), which is abundant in secretory cells and catalyses thiol: protein-disulphide interchange in vitro with very broad protein substrate specificity. The presence of PDI within microsomal vesicles is essential for efficient and rapid cotranslational disulphide bond formation during protein synthesis in vitro. The sequence of PDI is now known from several species, and shows the presence of two domains closely homologous to thioredoxins. Chemical modification data confirm the role of the thioredoxin domains in thiol:disulphide interchange activity, and structural models of these domains can be built based on homology with thioredoxin. Thus PDI is both strongly implicated in the process of native protein folding in vivo and well characterized at the molecular level. In addition to its disulphide-isomerase activity, PDI participates as a component of the enzyme prolyl-4-hydroxylase, and further functions have also been proposed. PMID- 2619768 TI - Peptide signals for protein degradation within lysosomes. AB - In this article we summarize our findings concerning a pathway by which cytosolic proteins can be selectively taken up and degraded within lysosomes. Serum deprivation of cells in culture activates this pathway, and only proteins that contain peptide sequences related to KFERQ are degraded at an enhanced rate. Approximately 30% of intracellular proteins contain such peptide sequences, and we speculate about the physiological relevance of the selective degradation of these proteins in response to serum withdrawal. Several rat tissues also contain proteins with peptide sequences related to KFERQ, and the amount of these proteins is reduced in response to starvation. Finally, we present recent results suggesting that this selective uptake of cytosolic proteins by lysosomes is not through classical macroautophagy. Instead, the selective uptake appears to be similar to other protein sorting pathways such as protein translocation through the endoplasmic reticulum or protein import into mitochondria. PMID- 2619769 TI - [Calcium modulators of the anellated dihydropyridine type. Synthesis and pharmacologic action]. AB - The anellated dihydropyridines 4a-l can be gained by Hantzsch-like synthesis from 5,5-dimethylcyclohexanedione (1), the aromatic aldehydes 2a-l and methyl-beta aminocrotonate (3). Cyclisation of the side chains with bromosuccinimide or pyridiniumbromideperbromide leads to the octahydrofuro[3,4-b]chinoline-diones 4m p. Structures of type 4 are characterized by the spectroscopic data. Positive inotropic effects, caused by calcium agonism, are exerted by the tested substances at the isolated, electrically stimulated left guinea pig atrium, 4j being the most potent with an intrinsic activity of 0.79, compared with ethyl 4 [2-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]-1, 4,5,7-tetrahydro-2-methyl-5-oxo-furo[3,4 b]pyridine-3-carboxylate. BaCl2-induced contractions at the guinea pig ileum are suppressed dose-dependently. PMID- 2619770 TI - Modification of drug metabolic processes by compounds which intervene with the function of cytochrome P-450 as a mono-oxygenase and as an oxidase. AB - Pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, spironolactone, tocopherol acetate and ethanol were tested for their effect on lipid peroxidation using microsomal membranes or linoleic acid as substrates and Fe++/ascorbate or Fe++ as electron sources. The steroids had no effect on lipid peroxidation, tocopherol and ethanol presented potent and mild antioxidant activity, respectively. Pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, spironolactone, ethanol and tocopherol acetate were examined for the effects on the body's response to drugs. It was found that the former three agents increased the resistance to zoxazolamine, hexobarbital and chlorzoxazone and tocopherol acetate increased only that against chlorzoxazone. The test compounds were examined for their effect on the in vivo reduction of p nitrobenzoate and the in vitro metabolism of zoxazolamine, hexobarbital, ethylmorphine and procaine. The two steroids and ethanol enhanced the metabolism almost in all cases, while tocopherol acetate increased only ethylmorphine N demethylation very significantly. PMID- 2619771 TI - [In vitro interaction of mezlocillin with fluorouracil and mitomycin]. AB - The interaction of mezlocillin (Baypen) with either fluorouracil (5-fluorouracil, 5-FU) or mitomycin was tested in vitro by incubating colorectal carcinoma cell line HT 29 with varying concentrations of mezlocillin, 5-FU, mitomycin and the combinations of mezlocillin + 5-FU and mezlocillin + mitomycin. Inhibition of colony growth in soft agar of treated compared with untreated cells was used as an in vitro response parameter. Concentration ranges were representative for regional chemotherapy with mitomycin or 5-FU and perioperative antibiotic therapy with mezlocillin. Mezlocillin, 5-FU and mitomycin showed dose-dependent inhibition of colony growth. Mezlocillin produced a maximal toxicity of 16% at 1000 micrograms/ml. Toxicity of 5-FU was reduced by addition of mezlocillin. The increase of colony growth after coincubation of mezlocillin with 5-FU (compared to cells treated with 5-FU alone) at a mezlocillin concentration of 10 micrograms/ml was 47% to 116%, at 100 micrograms/ml 44% to 132%, depending on the 5-FU test concentrations. The 5-FU toxicity in some instances was nearly abolished. There was no interaction between mezlocillin and mitomycin. The interference of mezlocillin with 5-FU-toxicity should be respected in case of combined perioperative antitumor and antibiotic therapy with 5-FU mezlocillin. Similar interactions with related antibiotics cannot be excluded. PMID- 2619772 TI - Synthesis, antibacterial activity and structure-activity relationships of N substituted 3-methyl-4-diazo-5-pyrazolecarboxamides. AB - A number of N-substituted 3-methyl-4-diazo-5-pyrazolecarboxamides (IVa-p) have been synthesized and tested for their in vitro antibacterial activity. All the compounds have been assayed against several representative Gram-negative and Gram positive bacteria, as well as against some intestinal bacterial species. Some of the 4-diazopyrazoles IVa-c have shown a quite interesting broad-spectrum activity, while they are ineffective against the "protective" intestinal flora. The structure-activity relationships of the series have been studied quantitatively, via both univariate and multivariate methods: the results are consistent and permit some rationalization of the behaviour of the compounds investigated. PMID- 2619773 TI - Effects of methenamine on mouse lymphoma cells. AB - Methenamine, (hexamethylenetetramine H) is a well tolerated drug used in the therapy of E. coli or herpes virus induced diseases. It is detectable in blood for many hours. H behaves similarly to salicylic acid, which has been known just as long, and also has a variety of target points independent of each other. In acid pH medium a dissociation of toxic disintegration products is suggested. During the cell cycle the intracellular pH in many cellular compartments shows a wide variation. Caused by the disintegration products H inhibits the proliferation of L 5178 Y cells and decreases the cell volume and size of the nucleus. Thus in the eukaryotic cell H can be therapeutically important and therefore may prove successful not only against bacteria and viruses. PMID- 2619774 TI - Application of an analytical method to calcium acetylhomotaurinate determination in urine. AB - After urine purification, plasma and urine concentrations of calcium acetylhomotaurinate (Acamprosate, CaAOTA) were determined with a high-performance liquid chromatography method following i.v. administration of the drug in two dogs. Results obtained in serum were in good agreement with those found previously. The CaAOTA urine determination is a promising method to be used in healthy volunteers. PMID- 2619775 TI - Simultaneous determination of the main metabolites of dipyrone by high-pressure liquid chromatography. AB - A simple, rapid, and sensitive procedure is described for the determination of the main metabolites of dipyrone in plasma and urine. After adding isopropyl aminoantipyrine as internal standard and a deproteinizer the plasma of urine samples are alkalized and extracted with chloroform. The residue of the evaporated organic phase is dissolved in mobile phase and separated by HPLC. The compounds are detected by ultraviolet light at 265 nm. The following metabolites can be determined selectively by this method: 4-methylamino-antipyrine, 4 aminoantipyrine, 4-formylaminoantipyrine and 4-acetylaminoantipyrine. The detection limit for all four metabolites is 0.1 microgram/ml in plasma and 2 micrograms/ml in urine. The results of a human pharmacokinetic study are also presented. PMID- 2619776 TI - Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of the antiarrhythmic agent [3H]-diprafenone in the rat. AB - After acute intravenous (i.v.) administration of 3 mg/kg of 3H-labelled 2'[2 hydroxy-3-(1,1-dimethylpropylamino)propoxy]-3-phenylproiop henon hydrochloride ([3H]-diprafenone), plasma radioactivity levels declined biphasically with half lives of 0.2 h (alpha-phase) and 1.5 h (beta-phase), respectively. After acute oral administration of 9 mg/kg, absorption was prompt but continued, similar to a zero-order process, over many hours resulting in plateau-like plasma levels up to 5-6 h and a subsequent slow decline with a beta-half-life of 6-8 h. Absorption varied between 50 and 80%. Distribution of [3H]-diprafenone was rapid and tissue levels in general paralleled blood levels. After i.v. dosing highest levels of radioactivity were found in the lung; after oral application in the gastrointestinal tract. Radioactivity was distributed into subcellular organelles and the cytosol resulting in an apparent volume of distribution (Varea) of 4-5 l/kg. About 95% of the 3H-activity given was excreted in urine (20%) and faeces (75%) within 48 h after i.v. administration. After oral application, total 3H recovery was substantially lower. After i.v. dosing most of the 3H-label found in faeces originated from biliary excretion and was almost completed within 4 h after administration. After oral application, biliary excretion varied between about 5 and 35% indicating protracted absorption. 3H-radioactivity was reabsorbed and subject to extensive enterohepatic cycling. After repetitive oral administration, total radioactivity reached a steady state after 4-5 days. The corresponding cumulation factors R ranged between 2 and 3. A decline in elimination rate is likely. [3H]-Diprafenone was metabolized rapidly and quantitatively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619777 TI - Antiarrhythmic activity of the local anaesthetic fomocaine and some of its analogues. AB - A series of fomocaine (N-[3-(4-phenoxymethylphenyl)propyl] morpholine hydrochloride) derivatives modified e.g. in the basic center and/or in the molecular moiety linking the two phenyl rings were investigated for antiarrhythmic activity in vitro and in vivo. Propafenone, quinidine, lidocaine, and fomocaine served as reference drugs throughout all experiments. In the in vitro experiments on guinea pig atrial preparations, the prolongation of the functional refractory period (FRP) and the reduction of the maximal driving frequency (MDF) were both taken as a measure of antiarrhythmic activity. Several fomocaine derivatives proved to be significantly more active in the in vitro assays than the reference drugs fomocaine, lidocaine or quinidine. Usually, the compounds containing a piperidine or a hexamethyleneimino ring system as a basic center exerted greater effects on FRP and MDF than the analogues containing a morpholine ring. Besides their effects on FRP and MDF, all drugs investigated produced negative inotropic responses in isolated guinea pig atria. The magnitude of this effect usually correlated well with the extent of FRP prolongation or MDF reduction. Based on the results of the in vitro experiments, some of the most active fomocaine derivatives were also tested for their ability to prevent aconitine-induced arrhythmias in the anaesthetized rat. While fomocaine itself was inactive, two fomocaine analogues containing an -O(CH2)3- chain linking the two phenyl rings showed pronounced antiarryhtmic activity in this in vivo preparation. LD50 determinations in mice revealed that these two agents show a lower acute toxicity than lidocaine and propafenone while being somewhat more toxic than quinidine and fomocaine. PMID- 2619778 TI - [The effect of dimetindene on liver and kidney function in the cholestatic rat]. AB - Dimetindene (active principle of Fenistil) belongs to the group of H1 antihistamines which are used in the treatment of allergic disorders. An experimental approach was made to clarify the risk of dimetindene application during the conditions of an impaired liver function as a consequence of extrahepatic cholestasis (bile-duct ligation). Acute and subchronic treatment with dimetindene (1 and 10 mg/kg p.o., respectively) did not enhance the effect of cholestasis on the parameters of liver function (plasma bile acids, glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase) or kidney function (creatinine, urea retention in plasma). It is concluded that the use of dimetindene in the treatment of pruritus during cholestasis is without notable risk. PMID- 2619779 TI - Pharmacokinetics and tolerance of repeated oral doses of loxiglumide. AB - The study was conducted on 6 adult healthy subjects (5 males and 1 female) in order to investigate the pharmacokinetics and tolerance of repeated b.i.d. oral administration for 7 days of tablets containing 400 mg of loxiglumide (CR 1505). The pharmacokinetics of loxiglumide in plasma after the first single dose of 400 mg is characterized by a lag time of 16 +/- 4 min, a rapid invasion (kinv = 10 h 1), a Cmax of 11.9 +/- 5.1 mg/l at tmax of 2.3 +/- 0.8 h, a mean residence time (MRT) of 6.9 +/- 1.1 h and an AUC of 60.6 +/- 16.3 (mg/l) x h. After the last dose of 400 mg the lag time was 17 +/- 6 min, the Cmax 12.7 +/- 3.8 mg/l at tmax of 2.1 +/- 0.8 h, a MRT of 11.0 +/- 1.9 h and an AUC of 109.8 +/- 39.9 (mg/l) x h. The increases of the AUC and of MRT were statistically significant and are probably due to an accumulation of loxiglumide which occurs during the repeated dose course and reaches the steady state within 48 h of repeated administration. Due to this accumulation the Cmax increased by 7%. The increase was not statistically significant or clinically relevant. No dose adjustment seems required during a repeated dose dosing schedule with 400 mg b.i.d. In the urine loxiglumide and 3 metabolites were found, which were called Metabolite (Met.) 11.2, Met. 12.0 and Met. 12.8. Met. 12.0 was the most abundant, accounting for 45% of the loxiglumide related substances excreted in the urine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619780 TI - [Comparison of the bioavailability and pharmacokinetic profile of a theophylline pellet formulation designed for once-daily dosage with a pellet preparation designed for twice-daily dosage]. AB - In a double blind randomized cross-over design including 18 healthy male volunteers a pellet formulation designed for twice-daily dosage (reference formulation) and of common use in the Federal Republic of Germany was compared to Euphylong-pellets (formulation E) with respect to bioavailability and pharmacokinetic profile. Volunteers received 500 mg theophylline each as pellets enclosed in a capsule on day one at 8 p.m. Serum levels of theophylline were monitored in 2 to 4 h intervals until 48 h after ingestion of the drug. After a five day wash-out period the medication was changed according to the protocol. There was no difference in extent of absorption, maximum serum concentration and absolute residual concentration after 24 h. The increase in serum concentration was slower with formulation E than for the reference formulation which led to a difference in tmax (10 vs. 7 h), the percentage of residual concentration after 24 h (47 vs. 32%) and a plateau time that was 25% longer for formulation E. Absorption profiles of the reference formulation showed in 6 of 18 subjects dose dumping phenomena which were not be observed for formulation E. The low interindividual variability in the pharmacokinetic profiles with formulation E is attributed to the independence of the drug release with respect to different possible gastrointestinal influences. PMID- 2619781 TI - Suitability of long-acting metoclopramide for prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced delayed nausea and vomiting. AB - Delayed nausea and emesis are common after cancer chemotherapy, especially cisplatin-containing regimens. Often no, or inadequate, prophylactic antiemetic cover is prescribed in these usually ambulant patients. Metoclopramide is a very effective drug in preventing the acute emetic and nauseating effects of cisplatin. The long-acting metoclopramide formulations (in the present study: Gastrosil retard) may be effective in preventing the delayed toxicity. 12-hourly dosing of 60 mg long-acting metoclopramide in a typical oncology ward situation led to stable metoclopramide levels of approximately 100ng/ml in the observed 74 h in 18 patients, with the well-known wide plasma concentration variability. The clinical efficacy of long-acting metoclopramide in this indication remains to be evaluated. PMID- 2619782 TI - Influenza immunization of high-risk patients. PMID- 2619783 TI - Serum cholesterol levels and six-year mortality from stroke in 350,977 men screened for the multiple risk factor intervention trial. AB - We examined the relation between the serum total cholesterol level and the risk of death from stroke during six years of follow-up in 350,977 men, 35 to 57 years of age, who had no history of heart attack and were not currently being treated for diabetes mellitus. The diagnosis of stroke and the type of stroke were obtained from death certificates. Using proportional-hazards regression to control for age, cigarette smoking, diastolic blood pressure, and race or ethnic group, we found that the six-year risk of death from intracranial hemorrhage (International Classification of Diseases, ninth edition [ICD-9], categories 431 and 432) was three times higher in men with serum cholesterol levels under 4.14 mmol per liter (160 mg per deciliter) than in those with higher cholesterol levels (P = 0.05 by omnibus test across five cholesterol levels). On the other hand, a positive association was observed between the serum cholesterol level and death from nonhemorrhagic stroke (P = 0.007). The inverse association of the serum cholesterol level with the risk of death from intracranial hemorrhage was confined to men with diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg, in whom death from intracranial hemorrhage is relatively common. We conclude that there is an inverse relation between the serum cholesterol level and the risk of death from hemorrhagic stroke in middle-aged American men, but that its public health impact is overwhelmed by the positive association of higher serum cholesterol levels with death from nonhemorrhagic stroke and total cardiovascular disease (ICD-9 categories 390 through 459). PMID- 2619784 TI - Decision analysis: a tool of the future: an application to unruptured arteriovenous malformations. AB - Overwhelming and confusing data regarding the natural history of arteriovenous malformations can confound physicians attempting to advise patients whether surgery of unruptured arteriovenous malformations is indicated. Decision analysis is a new mathematical tool that allows physicians to compare options in such patients. With the use of a simple office computer, a software program was devised to compare surgical versus conservative options in a hypothetical 25-year old man. The computer model weighs the important considerations of patient age, mortality and morbidity rates of the physician performing the surgery, rebleeding from the arteriovenous malformation, and patient desires, using the Markov process. When mortality and morbidity rates are reasonable, the mathematical process supports surgical intervention in the hypothetical patient. Patient guidelines for older patients and future plans for the model using grading systems are discussed. PMID- 2619785 TI - In response to Dr. Kurt's letter (V&H Tox. Oct. '88) PMID- 2619786 TI - Trends in evolution of specialty choice. Comparison of US medical school graduates in 1983 and 1987. AB - This study describes the evolution of specialty choices among US medical school seniors in 1983 and 1987. Its purposes were to determine the specialty interests of the 1987 cohort as these 11,264 students proceeded through medical school and to compare their evolving specialty plans with those of the 10,321 US medical school seniors in 1983. As the 1987 cohort advanced through medical school, they became increasingly interested in general and subspecialty internal medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, anesthesia, radiology and rehabilitation medicine and less interested in family practice, general surgery, pathology, and public health. Compared with the 1983 cohort, 1987 seniors were significantly less likely to choose general internal medicine and more likely to choose internal medicine and pediatric subspecialties. Similar proportions of each cohort of seniors chose family practice. Between 1983 and 1987, men's interest in pediatrics, general surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology declined, while their interest in the surgical subspecialties, anesthesia, and rehabilitation medicine increased. PMID- 2619787 TI - The influence of fetal number on antepartum uterine activity. AB - Home uterine activity monitoring was performed by 54 women with singleton, 30 with twin, and 34 with triplet gestations. Data were analyzed to determine the relationship between antepartum uterine activity, preterm labor, and fetal number. Preterm labor in singleton and twin gestations was preceded by significant increases in pre-labor contraction frequency (P less than .01). However, in triplets, preterm labor was not preceded by increased pre-labor contractions. Triplet and twin gestations with term labor were associated with higher baseline contraction frequencies than were high-risk singleton gestations with term labor (P less than .05). Fetal number had no impact on pre-labor contraction intensity, although triplet gestations had a significantly greater proportion of uterine activity occupied by low-amplitude, high-frequency contractility. PMID- 2619788 TI - Relation of sources of systemic fluoride to prevalence of dental fluorosis. AB - The prevalence of dental fluorosis in a nonfluoridated area was determined and related to the reported fluoride ingestion histories of the children examined. A convenience sample of 543 schoolchildren in rural areas of Michigan was examined for fluorosis using the Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis. Questionnaires that asked about previous use of fluorides were sent to parents of all children examined. The response rate was 76 percent (412 usable questionnaires). A criterion for inclusion in the data analysis stipulated that only fluorosed surfaces that occurred bilaterally would be included. Fluorosis was found on 7 percent of all tooth surfaces and only in the mild form. Twenty-two percent of the subjects were classified as having fluorosis. Dietary supplement was the only fluoride that was found to be significantly related to the occurrence of fluorosis. A greater proportion of the subjects with fluorosis listed physicians, rather than dentists, as the source of fluoride prescriptions. The results demonstrate similarities to the fluorosis reported in other studies in nonfluoridated areas, but also suggest the need to minimize the occurrence of fluorosis through proper assessment of a child's fluoride exposure and the judicious use of additional fluoride. PMID- 2619789 TI - Intracranial hypoglossal neurinoma with extracranial extension: review and case report. AB - A case of neurinoma affecting the intracranial part of the hypoglossal nerve is reported. Symptoms and signs, radiological findings, and operative results of other cases are reviewed. The value of computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in local diagnosis and the feasibility of a one-stage operation for total removal of tumors with extracranial extension are discussed. PMID- 2619790 TI - Interleukin-1 production by human monocytes in ageing and disease. AB - Interleukin-1 mediates the febrile response which is often said to be reduced in the elderly. Interleukin-1 production by monocytes cultured in vitro and stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide was measured. Three groups of subjects were studied; 40 normal young, 33 well elderly and 40 elderly with a history of repeated infection. No difference in interleukin-1 secretion was found between the groups. When the group with recurrent infection was subdivided into those with a history of fever and those with no record of fever accompanying their infection, the group without fever produced significantly less interleukin 1 (p = 0.035). PMID- 2619791 TI - Sedation for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: a comparative study of midazolam and diazepam. AB - Comparison of the ease of upper endoscopy, patient tolerance, and amnestic effect, using diazepam, midazolam, or no sedation, was performed on 149 patients. Midazolam and diazepam sedation produced better conditions and improved patient acceptability. Midazolam was associated with better patient tolerance, less thrombophlebitis, and more amnesia than diazepam, but shared a similar recovery time. Midazolam should replace diazepam as the drug of choice in those patients requiring sedation for upper endoscopy. PMID- 2619792 TI - Cryosurgical treatment of nodular neurodermatitis with Refrigerant 12. AB - Neurodermatitis is a relatively common skin condition characterized by patches of scaly, pruritic skin in one or more of several classic locations. It can be treated with cryosurgery using Refrigerant 12 with successful clinical and aesthetic results. PMID- 2619793 TI - Pseudohypoaldosteronism--distinct disease or compensatory mechanism? PMID- 2619794 TI - Reducing risk of accidental injury from scalpel blades. PMID- 2619795 TI - The dark consequences of marital rape. PMID- 2619796 TI - Analytical study of three-compartment pharmacokinetic models: concentration, area under curves, mean residence time. AB - The analytical expression for the drug concentration in each of the three compartments of a pharmacokinetic model, following any type of administration, is obtained from the transfer or elimination coefficients alone, without numerical approximation. Important applications of this result are the fitting of experimental data and the calculation of the areas under concentration curves or of the mean residence time of the drug in a given compartment or in the system as a whole. PMID- 2619798 TI - Improvement of inhaler technique. PMID- 2619797 TI - Greed can kill our healthcare system. PMID- 2619799 TI - One bad apple affects a barrel of apples. PMID- 2619800 TI - Is psychosurgery yesterday's treatment? PMID- 2619801 TI - The effects of "noise suppression" hearing aids on consonant recognition in speech-babble and low-frequency noise. AB - We evaluated the performance of experienced hearing-aid users wearing seven different commercially available "noise-suppression" hearing aids. Two hearing aids, the Audiotone A-54 and the Telex 363C, used amplitude compression. The others, two versions of a Maico hearing aid SP147, a Richards ASE-B, a Rion HB 69AS, and a Siemens 283ASP, are designed to attenuate specific frequency regions in the presence of noise. Sixteen subjects listened to 13 consonants in the form (i)-consonant-(i) with six replications per consonant (78 items). Performance was measured with the compression or noise-suppression circuit on and off in the presence of speech-babble noise and in continuous low-frequency noise. Measurements were also obtained with the suppression circuit "off" but without any background noise. The results suggested that only a few subjects benefitted from the noise-suppression circuits, and in several cases performance in noise was poorer with the noise suppression circuit than without it. An information transfer analysis of the errors indicated that enhanced or decreased performance was generally a result of changes across all phonetic features, not specific ones. PMID- 2619802 TI - Medication dosages during pediatric emergencies: a simple and comprehensive guide. PMID- 2619803 TI - Soft-tissue sarcoma: neutrons versus photons for post-operative irradiation. PMID- 2619804 TI - Determination of the lower limit of detection. PMID- 2619805 TI - Serum marker for Merkel cell tumour. PMID- 2619806 TI - Release of gastrin by secretin. PMID- 2619807 TI - Comments on examination for licensure. PMID- 2619808 TI - Treatment with Refrigerant 12. PMID- 2619809 TI - Vision recovery in amblyopia. PMID- 2619810 TI - Ultraviolet radiation-induced suppression of contact hypersensitivity in relation to Padimate O and oxybenzone. PMID- 2619811 TI - Insurance and the presymptomatic diagnosis of delayed-onset disease. PMID- 2619812 TI - Intracranial hypoglossal neurinoma. PMID- 2619813 TI - Treatment of hypertension. PMID- 2619814 TI - Do oscillatory potentials and macular recovery time reflect metabolic control of diabetes mellitus? PMID- 2619815 TI - Maitotoxin-induced liver cell death involving loss of cell ATP following influx of calcium. AB - Maitotoxin, one of the most potent marine toxins known, produced cell death in cultures of rat hepatocytes with a TD50 of 80 pM at 24 hr. The cell death, as indicated by a dose- and time-dependent leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), was also associated with the leakage of [14C]adenine nucleotides from hepatocytes prelabeled with [14C]-adenine. The toxic effect of maitotoxin was completely abolished by the omission of calcium from the culture medium. The cell death induced by maitotoxin increased with increasing concentrations of calcium in the medium. Treatment of hepatocytes with low concentrations of the toxin (less than 0.5 ng/ml) resulted in increases in 45Ca influx into the cells. At higher concentrations of maitotoxin (greater than 1ng/ml), the initial increase in 45Ca influx was followed by the release of the 45Ca from the cells into the medium. Since the 45Ca release paralleled the LDH leakage, the release of calcium was due to cell death. The 45Ca influx, [14C]adenine nucleotide leakage, and LDH leakage were effectively inhibited by verapamil, a calcium channel blocker. Maitotoxin also induced a time- and dose-dependent loss of ATP from hepatocytes, which preceded the [14C]adenine nucleotide and LDH leakage. Thus, it appears that the cell death resulting from maitotoxin treatment is caused by the elevated intracellular calcium, which in turn inhibits mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation causing depletion of cell ATP. Loss of cell ATP may be the causative event in the maitotoxin-induced cell death. PMID- 2619816 TI - Airborne endotoxin associated with industrial-scale production of protein products in gram-negative bacteria. PMID- 2619817 TI - Pulmonary oedema after carbamazepine overdose. PMID- 2619818 TI - Measles immunization for international travelers. PMID- 2619819 TI - Inadequacies in emergency admission communications. PMID- 2619820 TI - Gap junction shape and orientation at the cardiac intercalated disk. PMID- 2619821 TI - Message from AIDS case. PMID- 2619822 TI - The psychology of postponement in the medical marriage. PMID- 2619823 TI - Oil spill health effects. PMID- 2619824 TI - Trying RU 486 in Third World countries. PMID- 2619825 TI - Empirical study of empathy. PMID- 2619826 TI - Health promotion in work settings. PMID- 2619827 TI - Cyanide toxicity. PMID- 2619828 TI - EMS in France. PMID- 2619829 TI - Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in the Oxford region. PMID- 2619830 TI - Pertussis vaccination. PMID- 2619831 TI - Comment on the article by Goldenberg. PMID- 2619832 TI - Are health insurers denying patients quality care? PMID- 2619833 TI - Screening for raised cholesterol in a small suburban town. AB - Raised serum cholesterol (above 7.8 mmol/l) occurs as frequently as diabetes mellitus. A voluntary screening programme to identify people with raised cholesterol has proved popular. PMID- 2619834 TI - Banking on improvement. PMID- 2619835 TI - Strain gauge and photoelastic evaluation of the load transfer in the pelvis in total hip replacement: the effect of the position of the axis of rotation. AB - Aseptic loosening of the acetabular component is the principal long-term complication in total hip replacement. Radiographic evidence suggests a higher incidence of loosening with medialization of the axis of rotation of the acetabular cup. A simplified two-dimensional photoelastic investigation of the load transfer in the pelvis demonstrates that the stress distribution is substantially changed when this axis of rotation is medialized. Strain gauge measurements on three dry hemi-pelvic bones confirm this effect. It is postulated that the redistribution of load resulting from medialization may result in inadequate skeletal support for the acetabular component predisposing to loosening. PMID- 2619836 TI - A study of the cracking sounds from the metacarpophalangeal joint. AB - The familiar cracking sounds produced by distraction of the metacarpophalangeal joints were studied using accelerometers and a computerized signal analysis system. The joints were distracted in a controlled manner using a motorized device which simultaneously monitored the load on the joint and its extension. The load and extension parameters and those from the signal analysis were used to examine diurnal variation, the effects of multiple distractions, distraction speed, hand temperature and loading between distractions, and to show that in many cases, the energy contained in a crack signal, expressed as a ratio of the articular cartilage volume, exceeded a known level needed to produce articular cartilage damage. PMID- 2619837 TI - Failure and hydrodynamic function testing of explanted pericardial and porcine bioprosthetic valves. AB - The long-term durability and function of cardiac bioprostheses can be affected by both calcification and mechanical failure of the tissue. The mechanisms of failure and hydrodynamic function of 66 explanted bioprostheses have been studied. The majority of porcine valves were heavily calcified with leaflet tears adjacent to the calcification at the commissures. These tears caused prolapsed leaflets and regurgitation of between 30 and 70 per cent. Only three porcine valves had tissue failure in the absence of calcification. The majority of pericardial valves failed due to leaflet tears at the edge of the frame in the absence of macroscopic calcification. These tears also produced prolapsed leaflets and large regurgitation in hydrodynamic tests. Three pericardial valves were heavily calcified and stenotic without leaflet tears. Leaflet dynamics in the pericardial valves were affected by host tissue ingrowth which produced increased pressure drops across the valves, an asymmetrical open position and leaflet flutter. In the absence of calcification and leaflet tears, there was little change in the function of explanted porcine valves. PMID- 2619838 TI - The differentiation of loose and secure femoral implants in total hip replacement using a vibrational technique: an anatomical and pilot clinical study. AB - ANATOMICAL STUDY: The common pathway to failure in total hip replacements is loosening of the acetabular and femoral components. The reliable diagnosis of this loosening is difficult. A non-invasive technique has been developed which analyses a vibration signal transmitted through the femur. This can distinguish between a femoral component which is loose and one which is firmly fixed. Charnley femoral components were cemented securely into ten cadaver femurs and the transmitted vibration signal recorded. The prostheses were then loosened first at the cement-prosthesis and then at the cement-bone interface. The tests were then repeated. Consistent and distinct differences between output vibration signals were observed between the firmly implanted and the loss prostheses. PILOT CLINICAL STUDY: Seven patients admitted for revision surgery because of clinical and radiological evidence of femoral implant loosening were tested using this technique. A further four patients with secure femoral components were tested approximately two weeks after total hip replacement. The differences in output signal, which had been observed between firmly implanted and loose prostheses during the anatomical study, were again demonstrated. PMID- 2619839 TI - Twisting of the human back in forward flexion. AB - This paper addresses the role of torsion in the production of spinal injury and in particular the possibility of injury resulting from torsion combined with flexion. The back movement of 16 normal male subjects was measured using a non invasive, three-dimensional measurement system for assessing spinal mobility, the opto-electronic CODA-3 scanner. Measurements were made of the ability to twist the back while standing upright and in two flexed postures. Rotational ability was shown, in general, to be increased in a flexed posture, presumed to be due to an opening of the lumbar zygapophysial joints. This suggests that twisting in a flexed posture could be a mechanism for intervertebral disc injury. PMID- 2619840 TI - Design of a load cell for the Wagner distractor. AB - A leg length inequality can be treated by using a Wagner distractor. With this apparatus, it is possible to extend the upper or lower leg slowly. By analysing the measurements of the axial force acting on the femur or tibia the treatment can be optimized and soft tissue damage prevented. To measure the axial force, a load cell has been designed and constructed. This load cell is built into a Wagner distractor and connected with a specially designed measuring amplifier. The load cell and amplifier do not interfere with the lengthening procedure. They are safe for the patient and have an acceptable error of 7 per cent. So far, some test measurements were performed on two patients in the Rummelsberg Hospital in West Germany. The load cell proved to function in a clinical situation. PMID- 2619841 TI - Design of a lengthening element for a modular femur endoprosthetic system. AB - A malignant tumour may develop around the knee joint of a child. In the majority of cases it will then be necessary to resect the involved bone with adjacent tissue. A joint team of Groningen University Hospital and University of Twente is currently working on the project of developing a modular endoprosthetic system to bridge the defect resulting from the resection. Since the other, normal, leg continues to grow, the endoprosthetic system will have to include an element the length of which can be adjusted non-invasively. The main conditions to be met by the lengthening element are non-invasive continuous adjustability and a maximum total lengthening of 114 mm. This was achieved by using an external magnetic field. Animal experiments showed that the lengthening element worked well, although moisture infiltrated the telescopic tubes and the lengthening element was covered by proliferating bone at an early stage. Also, the necessary magnetic field proved to be larger than calculated. In a revised design, these problems are resolved. In vitro tests show that the new lengthening element meets all requirements. PMID- 2619842 TI - [A new case of allo-anti-LWab]. AB - A patient admitted to hospital for hip replacement was found incompatible in pretransfusion testing due to allo-anti-LWab antibody, as well as anti-JKb, anti E and anti-IH antibodies. The patient had a rare phenotype LW(a-b-ab-). The antibodies were acquired though pregnancy and/or transfusion. This newly discovered anti-LWab allowed us to study and emphasize the relevant serological and transfusional aspects related to incompatibility caused by "public" antibodies in association with other alloantibodies. We attempted to update the LW system in the light of Sistonen and Tippett's recent discoveries. We collected the required compatible units of blood through autologous donations and a Central Canadian Red Cross Registry for rare donors. PMID- 2619843 TI - [Transfusion technology. Methods of scientific information]. PMID- 2619844 TI - [Purification of human thrombin by affinity chromatography for its use in preparations for biological coagulation]. AB - Biological glue is obtained by mixing different specific plasma proteins including a serine protease, thrombin. Surprisingly at present the thrombin used in such a mixture is from equine or bovine origin while all other components are from human. In this paper we described a particular efficient and specific chromatographic method for the purification of human thrombin usable as a serine protease in the preparation of biological glue. A pure and active thrombin is obtained from a plasma fraction after adsorption on benzamidine-Spherodex followed by an elution with non specific (sodium chloride gradient) or biospecific competitors (arginine methylester or benzamidine). The obtained thrombin with a yield close to 80% and a purification factor close to 160, showed good properties in the replacement of animal thrombin in the condition of biological glue. PMID- 2619845 TI - Dermatology diagnosis: necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. PMID- 2619846 TI - A physical fitness program for health professionals and students. AB - During the last decades, there have been an increasing interest in exercise as a tool for maintaining good health status. The goal of this study was to measure physiologic response to exercise and level of fitness before and after 8 weeks exercise training program, three sessions per week. The participants, a group of fourteen male employees and students at the Medical Sciences Campus, U.P.R. School of Medicine, followed an exercise prescription which included a warm up session (5-10 mins), aerobic training for 20 minutes at intensity of 60-80% of heart rate maximum, progressive resistive strength training and cool down period (5-10 mins.). They evidenced decrease in resting heart rate and resting systolic blood pressure, improvement in estimated aerobic capacity, increase in hand grip strength and decrease in percent of body fat. These results were found to be in accordance with reviewed literature. PMID- 2619847 TI - Xanthoma of the choroid plexus: a case report during gestation. AB - Xanthomas of the choroid plexus are rare lesions of the central nervous system. The scarcity of reported cases probably accounts for the little information available about their origin, growth and spread. In the present article, we report the case of a 17 week old fetus with a xanthoma of the choroid plexus. The tumor extended from the trigone of the right lateral ventricle into the inter hemispheric fissure, a defect at the junction of the splenium with the cerebral hemisphere. The size of the xanthoma suggested a time to double-size of a few days and an inception in the second month of gestation. The case illustrates the potential rapid growth of these tumors during gestation and a route for their spread outside of the ventricles. PMID- 2619848 TI - Cholesterol caveats. PMID- 2619849 TI - [Lost years of potential capacity: mortality in Puerto Rico, 1986]. AB - This article uses the indicator "Years of Potential Life Lost" (YPLL) to rank the major causes of premature death in Puerto Rico. This highlights the importance of accidents. When the YPLL computed for 1986 are compared to those for 1977, we can detect reductions in premature mortality due to cerebrovascular diseases and arteriosclerosis, and marked increases due to diabetes, homicides, and pneumonias and influenzas. The latter three causes are highly associated with lifestyles; the prevention of premature mortality in Puerto Rico therefore requires behavioral changes and environmental measures to reduce the risk factors linked with the etiology of these conditions. PMID- 2619850 TI - [Medical waste tracking: a new responsibility for the medical professional]. PMID- 2619851 TI - A sixteen-factor personality test for predicting automobile driving accidents of young drivers. AB - The predictive value of the Cattell 16-factor personality test on the occurrence of automobile accidents among conscripts during their 11-month military service in a transportation section of Finnish Defense Forces was examined. Automobile driving experience before and during the follow-up as well as the occurrence of traffic accidents and penalties before and during the follow-up period were investigated. Complete data on personality, mileage, and traffic accidents plus penalties were obtained for 597 conscripts. In this population, altogether 91 automobile accidents were recorded for 82 conscripts. A logistic model showed that impulsivity and adventurousness (high score in factor H), naivete and excessive trustfulness (low score in factor L), and poor self-control (low score in factor Q3) predicted significantly, and guilt proneness and depression (high score in factor O) almost significantly the subsequent occurrence of motor vehicle accidents. Factors L and Q3 remained significant when only accidents of which the subject was found guilty were being predicted. All these personality factors are related to the control of emotions. The results indicate that the 16 factor personality test is valuable when selecting safe drivers in a population of young male adults with little previous driving experience. PMID- 2619852 TI - Observed use of automatic seat belts in 1987 cars. AB - Usage of the automatic belt systems supplied by six large-volume automobile manufacturers to meet the federal requirements for automatic restraints were observed in suburban Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. The different belt systems studied were: Ford and Toyota (motorized, nondetachable automatic shoulder belt), Nissan (motorized, detachable shoulder belt), VW and Chrysler (nonmotorized, detachable shoulder belt), and GM (nonmotorized detachable lap and shoulder belt). Use of automatic belts was significantly greater than manual belt use in otherwise comparable late-model cars for all manufacturers except Chrysler; in Chrysler cars, automatic belt use was significantly lower than manual belt use. The automatic shoulder belts provided by Ford, Nissan, Toyota, and VW increased use rates to about 90%. Because use rates were lower in Ford cars with manual belts, their increase was greater. GM cars had the smallest increase in use rates; however, lap belt use was highest in GM cars. The other manufacturers supply knee bolsters to supplement shoulder belt protection; all--except VW--also provide manual lap belts, which were used by about half of those who used the automatic shoulder belt. The results indicate that some manufacturers have been more successful than others in providing automatic belt systems that result in high use that, in turn, will mean fewer deaths and injuries in those cars. PMID- 2619853 TI - Pedestrian safety at traffic signals: a study carried out with the help of a traffic conflicts technique. AB - Most pedestrian accidents in built-up areas occur at intersections. Even after signalization the number of accidents involving pedestrians often remains high. After reviewing the published evidence, this paper describes how the Traffic Conflicts Techniques has been used to examine the risk to pedestrians at 120 intersections. The principal results indicate that signalization of a high-speed intersection (mean speed above 30 km/h in at least one arm) reduces pedestrian risk to approximately half. If mean speed in every arm is below 30 km/h signalization also reduces pedestrian risk, as long as most vehicles are not turning. Another finding from these studies was that a crosswalk should be located less than two meters from the intersection to optimize pedestrian safety. The conflict studies as well as analyses of accident data show that one should examine separately accidents between turning vehicles and "green-walking" pedestrians and accidents involving pedestrians walking against red light. The effect of an exclusive pedestrian signal phase (scramble) was tested at three sites and proved to be very safety-beneficial in a small town, while in Stockholm it did not prove effective because of a high percentage of red-walkers. Vehicle delay, as well as pedestrian delay, increased at all three sites. Data collected at 152 crosswalks has been used to estimate the parameters of a multivariate model of the frequency of "red-walking." The size of the town and traffic volumes appear to be the major factors influencing this frequency. Additional insight has been obtained from personal interviews of 450 persons. These indicate that shorter waiting times and police enforcement are considered the most efficient measures to reduce the frequency of red-walking. PMID- 2619854 TI - Disaggregate model of highway accident occurrence using survival theory. AB - The analysis of discrete accident data and aggregate exposure data frequently necessitates compromises that can obscure the relationship between accident occurrence and potential causal risk components. One way to overcome these difficulties is to develop a model of accident occurrence that includes accident and exposure data at a mathematically consistent disaggregate level. This paper describes the conceptual and mathematical development of such a model using principals of survival theory. The model predicts the probability of being involved in an accident at time t given that a vehicle has survived until that time. Several alternative functional forms are discussed including additive, proportional hazards and accelerated failure time models. Model estimation is discussed for the case in which both accident and nonaccident trips are included and for the case with only accident data. As formulated, the model has the distinct advantage of being able to consider accident and exposure data at a disaggregate level in an entirely consistent analytic framework. A conditional accident analysis is undertaken using truck accident data obtained from a major national carrier in the United States. Model results are interpretable and generally reasonable. Of particular interest is that segmenting accidents in several categories yields very different sets of significant parameters. Driver service hours seemed to most strongly effect accident risk: regularly scheduled drivers who take frequent trips are likely to have a reduced risk of an accident, particularly if they have a longer (greater than eight) number of hours off-duty just prior to a trip. PMID- 2619855 TI - Relative risk of death from ejection by crash type and crash mode. AB - In virtually all circumstances, the chance of survival in a crash is much greater if the occupant is not ejected from the vehicle. Several estimates of the increased risk of death as a result of ejection (ranging from 2.5 to 25) have been made, but none were specific to the crash mode and most did not control for crash severity. The current study examined the relative risk of fatality due to ejection, by crash type and crash mode, using the Fatal Accident Reporting System data from the years 1982 through 1986. Crash type was defined as either single vehicle or multivehicle and crash mode included rollover, nonrollover, and/or direction of impact. Crash severity was controlled for using a paired comparison method of analysis. Both crash type and crash mode were found to have substantial effects on the relative risk of death due to ejection. In addition, risk differences across seating position exist. Depending on crash mode or type, the risks ranged from about 1.5 to 8. Single-vehicle rollover crashes have the highest increased risk of death due to ejection: about eightfold for the driver and sevenfold for the right front passenger. PMID- 2619856 TI - Defective equipment and tractor-trailer crash involvement. AB - The role of defective equipment in large truck crashes on interstate highways in Washington State was investigated using a case-control study design. For each large truck involved in a crash, three trucks were randomly selected from the traffic stream at the same time and place as the crash, but one week later both crash and comparison trucks were inspected by Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers of the Washington State Patrol. The effects of truck equipment condition, truck operating characteristics (carrier type, carrier operation, and truck load), and driver characteristics (driver age, hours of driving) on crash involvement were analyzed by comparing their relative frequency among crash involved and comparison sample tractor-trailers. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio for each factor. Overall, 77% of tractor trailers in crashes and 66% of those not involved in crashes had defective equipment warranting a citation. Forty-one percent in crashes had defective equipment warranting taking the truck out of service, and 31% not in crashes had these defects. Brake defects were the most common type and were found in 56% of tractor-trailers in crashes; steering equipment defects were found in 21%. The relative risk of crash involvement for trucks with brake defects was about one and one-half times that for trucks without brake defects. For trucks with steering defects, the relative risk of crash involvement was at least twice that for trucks with steering defects, the relative risk of crash involvement was at least twice that for trucks without defects, and the risk increased substantially for trucks with out-of-service steering defects. PMID- 2619857 TI - Testing and evaluation of a Hybrid III load sensing face. AB - To detect localized facial forces in laboratory car crash conditions, a load sensing face (LSF) was developed. Piezoelectric sensors provide pressure time histories. Design properties and characteristics of the LSF are described, as well as the sensor technique used. Sled tests with a LSF equipped dummy are presented. The purpose was to evaluate the efficiency of the method in registering facial impact magnitude and location with different restraint and seat position combinations. The LSF was also used in drop testing of steering wheels. Various impact velocities and impact points as well as the reapeatability were studied. PMID- 2619858 TI - Chemical and pharmacological investigations on 2H-pyridazino[4,5-b] [1,4]benzothiazin-1(10H)-one derivatives. AB - The methylation of 2H-pyridazino [4,5-b][1,4]benzothiazin-1(10H)-one-5,5-dioxide 2 and the oxidation of 2-methyl-2H-pyridazino[4,5-b][1,4]benzothiazin-1(10H)-one 3 produced the same compound 4. On the contrary, in the 2-dialkylaminoalkylic series, the dialkylamino-alkylation and the oxidation reactions, carried out on compounds 2 and 8 respectively, afforded derivatives 7 and 9. In addition, the behaviour to the oxidation of the corresponding 10-methyl and 10 dialkylaminoalkyl analogues is also described. The synthesized compounds were tested for their analgesic, antiexudative and anti-inflammatory activities. The pharmacological results showed that in general dialkylaminoalkyl derivatives are more active than methyl derivatives. In particular, compounds 7 b, 9 b and 11 c exhibited an analgesic activity comparable to that of phenylbutazone; moreover 10 substituted compounds 11 a, 11 b and 11 c, screened p.o. as anti-inflammatory agents in rats, resulted equipotent to phenylbutazone and more active than 2 substituted isomers. These activities are coupled with a high LD50 and a very low ulcerogenic potential. PMID- 2619859 TI - Carboxymethyl- and carboxy-derivatives of 7H- and 5H-1,2,4-triazolo [3,4 b][1,3,4] thiadiazine: synthesis and biological evaluation. AB - Some carboxymethyl- and carboxy-derivatives of 7H- and 5H-1,2,4-triazolo [3,4 b][1,3,4] thiadiazine were prepared. Their structure are discussed on the basis of IR, NMR and mass spectra. The synthesized compounds were subjected to a preliminary pharmacological screening for antiinflammatory-analgesic activity and to microbiological test on various species of mycetes and bacteria. PMID- 2619860 TI - Quinolizidine derivatives as potential antitumoral agents. AB - The activity against lymphocytic leukemia P 388 has been evaluated for thirteen compounds bearing a quinolizidine moiety bound respectively to a phenothiazine nucleus or other isosteric tricyclic systems (12-17), as well to a quinoxalinone (18-20) or an indole (21-24) nucleus. All tested compounds resulted inactive. PMID- 2619861 TI - Dimethyl cathate: synthesis and pharmacological investigation. AB - Dimethyl cathate was synthesized through a reaction sequence starting from 3,4 pyridinedicarboxylic acid anhydride, and hydrolyzed to the not yet described cathic acid. Pharmacological screening procedures only showed a protection against the convulsive effect of pentylenetetrazol. PMID- 2619862 TI - Synthesis and pharmacological study of 4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-4a-substituted benzo(h)cinnolin-3(2H)ones. AB - A series of 4,4a,5,6- tetrahydro-4a-substituted-benzo(h)cinnolin-3(2H)-one (II a e) (III a) were synthesized and evaluated pharmacologically in comparison with the 4a-unsubstituted congeners (I), which were reported to be potent antithrombotic and antihypertensive agents. All the test compounds, apart from (II e) (R2 = OCH3) and (III a) (R1,R2 = H), displayed significant antihypertensive activity. In particular (II a) (R1,R2 = H) was more active than the unsubstituted analogue (I a). Moreover (II d) (R1 = OCH3), (II e) (R2 = OCH3) and (III a) showed antithrombotic activity comparable to or higher than that of ASA. PMID- 2619863 TI - Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some 1-arylideneamino-2-mercaptoimidazole derivatives. AB - A new series of 1-arylideneamino-2-mercaptoimidazole derivatives obtained by condensation of 1-amino-2-mercaptoimidazole derivatives with variously substituted aromatic aldehydes is described. Investigation of their antimicrobial properties showed a good antibacterial activity for some of the tested compounds on some gram-positive micro-organisms. PMID- 2619864 TI - Hypoglycaemic activity of carbothioamides and related 1,2,4-thiodiazolidines. AB - N-[imino(ethyl ethylidine hydrazine)methyl]-N-aryl-2- amino-carbothioamidine hydrochlorides with ethylmethylketothiosemicarbazone in acetone medium at 0-5 degrees C. The carbothioamides were oxidized by H2O2 to 1,2,4-thiodiazolidine derivatives. The 4-Cl derivative in both the series was the most active hypoglycaemic agent. The compounds lowered mean blood sugar levels (MBSL) by 38.81% (compound 2, Table II) and 15.19% (compound 2, Table III) respectively after 24 hours of drug treatment. The compounds also showed antidiabetic activity in alloxan diabetic rats. PMID- 2619865 TI - Phosphonium salts exhibiting selective anti-carcinoma activity in vitro. AB - Tetraphenylphosphonium cation (TPP) and other phosphonium cations selectively inhibited the growth in vitro of human pancreatic carcinoma-derived cells (PaCa 2) and Ehrlich Lettre Ascites cells (ELA) when compared with untransformed monkey kidney epithelial cells (CV-1). In contrast, neither cisplatin nor cytosine arabinoside showed significant selectivity using these lines. Evidence is presented to support the conclusion that the carcinoma-selective antiproliferative activity of phosphonium salts is due to selective accumulation caused by the abnormally high membrane potentials in carcinoma cells. Inhibition of TPP uptake into PaCa-2 and ELA cells by potassium and (for PaCa-2) valinomycin demonstrates that higher membrane potentials account for the carcinoma-selective uptake and cytostatic selectivity of the cation. For TPP chloride and 16 other phosphonium chlorides with a variety of structures, selective inhibition of PaCa 2 growth relative to CV-1 was optimal for the eight falling in a narrow range of octanol/water partition coefficients (between 0.013 and 0.24). A similar optimal selectivity range was observed for ELA cells relative to CV-1. The relationship between partition coefficients and cytostatic selectivity suggests that the rates of diffusion across cytoplasmic and mitochondrial membranes are key factors in the structure/anticarcinoma selectivity relationship for delocalized phosphonium salts in vitro. The relationship could prove useful for the design of other carcinoma-selective delocalized cations. PMID- 2619866 TI - Identification of local determinants of DNA interstrand crosslink formation by cyclophosphamide metabolites. AB - The anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide produces cytotoxic effects by DNA interstrand crosslink formation. Current knowledge of local physicochemical factors in DNA influencing crosslink formation in DNA has been based on physical models of Watson-Crick DNA. Specific interactions between DNA and cyclophosphamide metabolites determining formation and stabilization of interstrand crosslinks have been identified by advanced molecular computational methods. These results predict that the more favorable DNA sequence for interstrand crosslinking is 5'-GC-3' rather than the previously proposed 5'-CG-3' and that thymine methyl groups adjacent to guanine will inhibit interstrand crosslinking. In addition the conformational and energetic consequences of formamido-pyrimidine adducts and local water interactions with the drug-DNA complex were identified. These simulations of interstrand crosslinking provide a fundamental basis for understanding the mechanism of action of nitrogen mustard type alkylating agents, and a rationale for the prospective design of more effective anti-tumor agents. PMID- 2619867 TI - Studies on DNA damage and induction of SOS repair by novel multifunctional bioreducible compounds. I. A metronidazole adduct of dirhodium (II) tetraacetate. AB - A novel bifunctional hypoxia-selective compound [Rh2(O2CCH3)4.2C6N3O3H9] has been synthesized and its genotoxic and potential mutagenic effects studied with reference to those of dirhodium tetraacetate (RAc) and metronidazole. The properties of the two functional components have been examined by comparing its oxic genotoxicity, a measure of the DNA damage induced by RAc, with its anoxic genotoxicity by electrochemical reduction, a measure of DNA damage resulting from the combined activity of reduced nitro group intermediates and RAc. The induction of DNA SOS repair has also been studied as well as the strand-breaking ability of the compound using viscometry. The genotoxic effects observed are proportional to the drug concentration over the range tested and the compound exhibits a high selective toxicity differential to hypoxic bacteria. The strand-breaking and mutagenic properties are governed by the metronidazole component and other effects, such as inhibition of DNA synthesis, are governed by the RAc component. PMID- 2619868 TI - Remarkable differences between the species distributions of various bis(guanylhydrazones) at physiological conditions, and their possible involvement in the strict structural requirements for antileukemic activity. AB - The first systematic study on the acid-base properties of the antileukemic agents glyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (GBG) and methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) and of their non-antileukemic monoalkyl- and dialkylglyoxal analogs is reported. At physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C), the species distribution of GBG and MGBG differs remarkably from that of their inactive congeners, a noteworthy proportion of GBG (10.2%) and MGBG (4.0%) existing in the form of the free base while the corresponding proportion of their non-antiproliferative analogs is only 0.5% or less. Ethylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (EGBG), which has antiproliferative properties in vitro but is devoid of antileukemic activity in vivo, is intermediate between the two groups, 2.6% of it existing in the free base form. In contrast to what has been generally assumed, at physiological conditions, the predominant species of GBG, MGBG, and EGBG is the monocation form and not the dication. Considerable proportions of other congeners also exist in the monocation form. At slightly higher pH values that are of interest because of the known antimitochondrial effects of GBG and MGBG (and, in high concentrations, EGBG), the species distribution of GBG and MGBG differs even more remarkably from that of the dialkylglyoxal analogs. Thus, at pH 8.0 and 37 degrees C, as much as 36% of GBG and 19% of MGBG exist in the free base form, the corresponding proportion of EGBG being 14% and that of the other congeners studies only ca. 3 4%. On the basis of the results, it appears possible that the unusually strict structure-activity relationships of this class of antineoplastic agents may be based on the remarkable differences between the species distributions of the various congeners. The hypothesis is presented that the actual antiproliferative and antimitochondrial species of the compounds is the free base form. A compilation of pKa1 and pKa2 values, measured by potentiometric methods in 0.1 M NaCl (aq) at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C, is given for six bis(guanylhydrazones). The species distribution curves of the compounds (at 37 degrees C) are given for the pH range 6-10. PMID- 2619869 TI - Fab fragments of monoclonal antibodies protect the human acetylcholine receptor against antigenic modulation caused by myasthenic sera. AB - The human cell line TE671 produces large amounts of muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR). TE671 cells were used to determine the specificity of antibodies which can increase the internalization rate of AChR (antigenic modulation) and to test procedures for protecting AChR against this mechanism. The half-life of AChR both in the absence and the presence of anti-AChR antibodies was very similar to that of AChR on human muscle cell cultures. The relative contribution of different anti-AChR antibody fractions to the total antigenic modulation capacity of human myasthenic sera was investigated by competition experiments between Fab fragments of anti-AChR monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and intact antibodies (MoAb or myasthenic sera). Fab fragments, which do not induce antigenic modulation, were allowed to shield the corresponding regions of the AChR. Intact antibodies were subsequently added. It was found that protection of the main immunogenic region (MIR), but not of a region on the beta subunit, essentially blocked the modulatory effect of the intact anti-MIR MoAbs, and approximately 80% of that of myasthenic sera. These data suggest that anti MIR antibodies are mainly responsible for the loss of human AChR via antigenic modulation. Furthermore the observation that Fab fragments of anti-MIR MoAbs can efficiently protect AChR against antigenic modulation may have therapeutic implications. PMID- 2619870 TI - Serum concentrations of IgM, IgG1, IgG2b, IgG3 and IgA in C57BL/6 mice and their congenics at the lpr (lymphoproliferation) locus. AB - The serum concentrations of IgM, IgG1, IgG2b, IgG3 and IgA were determined in mice of C57BL/6 background, from weaning to one year of age, by quantitative isotype-specific, indirect double sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Only limited data could be obtained for the IgG2a isotype in the present study. The mean serum Ig levels found for 6-month-old B6 mice were 0.22 mg/ml for IgM, 0.28 mg/ml for IgG1, 1.22 mg/ml for IgG2b, 0.18 mg/ml for IgG3, 0.075 mg/ml for IgA and about 0.7 mg/ml for IgG2a. In comparison with mice of the wild strain, C57BL/6 mice homozygous at the lpr (lymphoproliferation) locus showed very high increases in serum Ig levels when older than 20 weeks. With 6 month-old B6 lpr mice, increases in concentration were found for all tested heavy chain isotypes: 6 to 6.5-fold for IgA (0.45 mg/ml) and IgG1 (1.82 mg/ml), 9-fold for IgG3 (1.6 mg/ml), 11 to 11.5-fold for IgM (2.44 mg/ml) and IgG2b (13.8 mg/ml) and about 8-fold for IgG2a (5.5 mg/ml). Therefore homozygosity at the lpr locus provides the conditions for generalized, poly-isotypic rather than isotype specific restricted Ig enhancement. This observation may be more compatible with hyperinducibility of all B-cell subclasses than with excessive production of T cell-derived factors whose activity would be expected to be restricted to some T dependent subclasses, and at least to affect IgM-committed B cells to a lesser extent than other B-cell classes. PMID- 2619871 TI - Autoantibodies against a nuclear 56 kDa protein: a marker for inflammatory muscle disease. AB - Antibodies to a 56 kDa nuclear protein have been found in the sera of 85% of patients with myositis using an immunoblotting technique. This auto-antibody appears to be relatively disease-specific though more frequently detectable in both adult and childhood onset dermatomyositis. In adult patients with myositis the anti-56 kDa antibody level reflects disease activity. This antibody is thus much more frequently found than previously described disease-specific autoantibodies in patients with myositis such as the Jo-1 antibody, and may represent a useful diagnostic aid in patients with muscle weakness. PMID- 2619872 TI - Abstracts of the Second European Conference on Myasthenia Gravis. Tremezzo, Italy, 12-14 June 1989. PMID- 2619873 TI - Immunology 1989: where it stands and where it is going. PMID- 2619874 TI - Heat shock proteins and immunity. PMID- 2619875 TI - An eclectic summary of the symposium on autoimmunity. PMID- 2619876 TI - MHC and antigen presentation. PMID- 2619877 TI - Hemopoietic stem cells and B-lymphocyte differentiation. PMID- 2619878 TI - Complexity of MHC class III genes and complement polymorphism. PMID- 2619879 TI - Thymic ontogeny and selection of alpha beta and gamma delta T cells. PMID- 2619880 TI - Structure-function relationships of the complement components. PMID- 2619881 TI - Altered growth factor dependence and transforming growth factor gene expression in transformed rat tracheal epithelial cells. AB - The role of peptide growth factors in neoplastic progression of transformed rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells was assessed by examining growth factor requirements and expression of growth factor and growth factor receptor genes in normal and transformed RTE cells. Neoplastically transformed cell lines showed decreased requirements for bovine pituitary extract, insulin, and epidermal growth factor compared to normal primary RTE cells. Neoplastic RTE cell lines expressed significantly increased levels of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) RNA and secreted TGF alpha into the media, suggesting an autocrine role for this growth factor. Increased levels of TGF alpha RNA were also observed in the preneoplastic stages of the same cell lines, indicating that increased TGF alpha expression is an early event in the multistage process of neoplastic transformation of RTE cells. TGF beta transcripts were also overexpressed in neoplastically transformed cell lines. Our studies suggest that aberrant expression of growth factors may play an important role in the development and/or maintenance of the transformed phenotype in RTE cells. PMID- 2619882 TI - Role of TGF-beta in normal differentiation and oncogenesis in rat liver. AB - Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is capable of eliciting a myriad of biological responses associated with cellular proliferation, as well as effects unrelated to the control of cell growth. We examined the possible role of TGF-beta 1 in the differentiation of rat liver epithelial (RLE) cells in vitro and studied the cellular distribution of TGF-beta 1 transcripts and protein during in vivo differentiation of oval cells. Furthermore, we followed the cellular distribution of TGF-beta 1 transcripts and protein during chemical hepatocarcinogenesis. By using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques, we showed that both TGF-beta 1 transcripts and protein are localized in nonparenchymal cells in normal liver, are expressed in oval cells during very early stages of hepatocytic differentiation in vivo, and are exclusively expressed in the nontumorous mesenchymal cell compartment during hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, we showed that TGF-beta 1 is capable of inducing differentiation of RLE cells in vitro consistent with early stages of hepatocytic lineage differentiation. Our data indicate that the RLE cells similar to the oval cells in vivo may be an epithelial progenitor cell for hepatocytic cell lineage in adult mammalian liver. PMID- 2619883 TI - Effect of varying dosages and adjuvants on antibody response in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) immunized with the porcine zona pellucida Mr = 55,000 glycoprotein (ZP3). AB - Using the porcine zona pellucida Mr = 55,000 (ZP3) glycoprotein as immunogen, the effect of varying ZP3 dosages (50 micrograms, 25 micrograms, 5 micrograms) or adjuvants (200 micrograms ZP3 with either Freund's, A1[OH]3, or a muramyl dipeptide analog [MDP] on antibody response was evaluated in female squirrel monkeys. Although the dosage range investigated did result in dose-dependent titration profiles, antisera from all dosage groups demonstrated in vitro contraceptive potential. MDP was as effective an adjuvant as Freund's in eliciting high titers of antibodies demonstrating contraceptive potential. A1(OH)3 was not an effective adjuvant in this system. Fertility data, utilizing those monkeys in the dosage study, suggested that an RIA titer greater than 40% binding was necessary to prevent pregnancy. We conclude that in the squirrel monkey system, a 50 micrograms dosage of ZP3 should be adequate for inhibiting fertility and that MDP would serve as a satisfactory alternative adjuvant for Freund's. PMID- 2619884 TI - Major histocompatibility genes and reproduction. PMID- 2619885 TI - Ovarian antigens and infertility. PMID- 2619886 TI - [Analysis of Ostrea gigas Thunberg from Xinhua, Jiangsu]. AB - This paper compares the ultramicrostructure, infrared spectrum and Meigen reaction of the ancient Ostrea gigas shell from Xinhua County, Jiangsu Province, with those of fresh Ostrea gigas shell from Fujian Province. It was shown that the histomorphology of the ancient Ostrea gigas shell is the same as that of the fresh one and both shells are composed of calcite. PMID- 2619887 TI - [Study on the biological nature of ginseng pearl knot]. AB - Pearl knots of the root system of cultivated ginseng in different ages and different development stages were studied and compared with wild ginseng. It has been found that the biological nature of pearl knots is the foundation of seasonal absorbing root of ginseng. It is pointed out that to remove the cold proof matter later and keep suitable soil water in spring are important to prevent cold injury and promote growth of root system of ginseng. Key words ginseng; pearl knot; seasonal absorbing root PMID- 2619888 TI - [A study on induction of callus tissue and regeneration of plants in Pinellia ternata (thunb.) Breit]. AB - This article discusses the inducing of callus tissue and regenerating of the plant in Pinellia ternata. Callus tissue could be induced in the MS medium with 2,4--D 1.5mg/L and ZEA 0.1mg/L and seedling could be differentiated in the MS medium with 6--BA 2mg/L and NAA 0.1mg/L. PMID- 2619889 TI - [Experimental studies on the significance of processing Eucommia ulmoides Oliv]. AB - The inhibitory action on isolated uterus of middle-pregnancy mice have been compared in Eucommia ulmoides and its salt water processed product. It has been found that after processing the inhibitory action on the automatic contraction of isolated uterus, the antagonism on spasmodis contraction caused by acetylcholine are increased, but the antagonism on spasmodis contraction caused by pituitarium posterius and the Pb content are decreased. PMID- 2619890 TI - [Determination of hydroxygenkwanin and genkwanin in flos Genkwa before and after processing by a TLC-scanner]. AB - Thin-layer chromatography and a dual wavelength TLC-scanner (Shimadzu CS-910) were used for the determination of hydroxygenkwanin and genkwanin in flos Genkwa before and after processing with vinegar. The result shows that the amounts of hydroxygenkwanin and genkwanin in processed products were increased. The amounts of the said two constituents were different in various products. PMID- 2619891 TI - [Qualitative identification of tongxiening granules]. AB - According to the physical and chemical properties of effective constituents in Tongxiening granules, experiments were conducted on physical, chemical and TLC identifications of this preparation. Reliable data may provide a basis for the establishment of its quality standards. PMID- 2619892 TI - [Quantitative determination of total alkaloids in radix Gelsemii and its preparation using a colorimetric method with acid dye]. AB - This paper deals with the quantitative determination of the total alkaloids in Radix Gelsemii and its preparation by colorimetric method with acid dye. It is shown that the mean contents of total alkaloids in Radix Gelsemii and its alkaloids injection were 0.621% and 5.02 mg/ml respectively, and the mean recovery was 96.87%. PMID- 2619893 TI - [A new athraquinone compound from the stem and leaves of Tripterygium wilf or dii Hook. f]. AB - A new anthraquinone compound was isolated from the stem and leaves of Thipterygium wilfordii. The structure was elucidated to be 1,8-dihydroxy-4 hydroxymethylanthraquinone on the basis of UV-VIS,IR,HNMR and MS analysis. PMID- 2619894 TI - [Isolation and identification of flavonoids and organic acids from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino]. AB - Three constituents were isolated from the aerial parts of Gynostemma pentaphyllum. They were identified as rutin (I), ombuoside (II) and malonic acid (III) by physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic methods. They are reported present in G.pentaphyllum for the first time. PMID- 2619895 TI - [Determination of saikosaponins in radix Bupleuri using HPLC]. AB - A high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of saikosaponin a, c and d in Radix Bupleuri was developed. YMC-pack A-314 ODS column (6 x 300mm) with an eluent consisting of acetone-water (58:42) at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min was used. The saikosaponins were monitored by a differential refractometer without being converted into the corresponding diene derivatives in advance. Megestrol was used as the internal standard. The recovery rate of saikosaponins was higher than 95% and the coefficient of variation (CV) was 3.08%. The contents of saikosaponins a, c and d of 13 species of Radix Bupleuri collected in different districts of China were evaluated by this method. PMID- 2619896 TI - [TLC densitometric determination of oleanolic acid in Ligustrum lucidum Ait]. AB - A method for the determination of oleanolic acid in Ligustrum lucidum was studied by means of TLC densitometry. The method is easy, rapid and accurate. PMID- 2619897 TI - [Effect of an extract from the cauline of Piper kadsura ohwi on endotoxin-induced hypotension and lung injury in rats]. AB - Arterial hypotension and high-permeability pulmonary edema were induced by intravenous injection of platelet activating factor (PAF) or endotoxin in rats. Pre-treatment with extract from the Cauline of Piper kadsura attenuated endotoxin induced hypotension and lung injury, which may result from the PAF antagonistic effect of Piper kadsura. PMID- 2619898 TI - [Effect of Rhodiola kirilowii (Regel.) Maxim on preventing high altitude reactions. A comparison of cardiopulmonary function in villagers at various altitudes]. AB - The highland villagers are subject to abnormalities in their cardiopulmonary function as they move from 2500m altitude to 4475m altitude areas. Rhodiola kirilowii can efficiently protect the villagers from the above said mountain reaction. PMID- 2619899 TI - Microcomputer exposure timer--a simple device for checking constant potential and medium frequency generators. PMID- 2619900 TI - Judet's views of the acetabulum: a demonstration of their importance. PMID- 2619901 TI - The HDCR--the change in regulations for module F. PMID- 2619902 TI - Coping with the HDCR--a student's viewpoint. PMID- 2619903 TI - Intra-abdominal observation. PMID- 2619904 TI - Coping with the HDCR--a counsellor's viewpoint. PMID- 2619905 TI - Extended role of the nurse. PMID- 2619906 TI - The use of video prints in digital imaging. PMID- 2619907 TI - Non-accidental injury. PMID- 2619908 TI - A practising faith--Buddhism. PMID- 2619909 TI - Imaging of colorectal cancer using an 111-indium labelled monoclonal antibody. PMID- 2619910 TI - Imaging the painful pelvis--a case for high technology. PMID- 2619911 TI - A strategy for reduction of radiation to patients due to diagnostic x-ray exposures. PMID- 2619912 TI - Physical quality control for screening mammography. AB - In this article I discuss the physical factors affecting the quality of a mammogram and describe a radiographer-based management system for monitoring and controlling imaging constancy. The test objects and protocols have been used to date in three fixed and one mobile locations with success. PMID- 2619913 TI - Education and the care of the patient: is there room for improvement? PMID- 2619914 TI - Using a curved cassette for the axial view in double contrast shoulder arthrography. PMID- 2619915 TI - [Lactic acidosis in recovered asphyctic newborn infants]. AB - Thirty newborn babies delivered by elective caesarean section were studied. They were randomly placed in two groups. The first group consisted of newborns who scored 3 or less on the Apgar scale at one minute and 8 or more after five minutes. The other group included newborns which scored 8 or higher at one minute and 9 at five minutes. Blood samples were obtained from the umbilical cord which allowed for the measuring of the infants' pH, serum gases and pyruvic lactic acid levels. An increased level lactate was found in asphyctic infants. Five cases presented lactic acidosis which continued to be persistent in four of them an hour after they were born. Although increased levels of lactate were found also in the control group, they never presented lactic acidosis. No correlation was found between the pH and lactate levels nor between lactate and bicarbonate. A clear correlation between lactic acidosis and fetal distress was documented. It was concluded that lactate quantification is a useful indicator of neonatal asphyxia. Lactic acidosis; Apgar scores; asphyxia. PMID- 2619916 TI - [The anemic gap in depressed newborn infants]. AB - Thirty cesarean section-delivered newborn were studied. Fifteen of them scored from 0 to 3 and, 8 and greater on the Apgar scale when measured at one and five minutes, respectively. The other 15 scored 8 or more at one minute and 9 at five minutes. Arterial electrolyte and blood gases were measured in samples obtained from the umbilical cord. The anion gap formula was then applied. The average weight of the depressed newborns was found to be less than for those of the control group. The mean gestational age for both groups was 39 weeks. The average values for electrolyte, bicarbonate and the anion gap were found to be practically the same in both groups. No correlation was found between the pH and the gap nor for the gap and the hydrogen ion concentration [H+]. The correlation between the gap and the bicarbonate was 0.78. No differences were seen between anion gap values for the newborn with lactic acidosis or hyperlactemia when compared to those of the control group. It is therefore concluded that the anion gap is not useful for the detection of newborns suffering from metabolic acidosis. Anion gap; bicarbonate; Apgar score; depressed neonates; metabolic acidosis. PMID- 2619917 TI - [Effect of fasting and maintenance solutions on perioperative blood glucose in children]. AB - The effects of fasting on preoperative glycemic levels and the influence of different intravenous solutions on postoperative sugar levels are discussed. Sugar levels were determined in 90 children, randomly placed in three groups, (according to the solution they were administered-A: Ringer-lactate, B: glucose at 5%, C: mixed-2 x 1) at the time they entered the hospital, after fasting previous to the anesthetic induction, and in the immediate postoperative period. In 14.4% of the cases hypoglycemia was found during the anesthetic induction, increasing as the fasting period was prolonged. The postoperative hyperglycemia seen in Group B was important, the other groups showed no significant changes. We recommend that the fasting period be no longer than 12 hours and to immediately start intravenous restitution if this period is extended further. Also, only Ringer's lactate solution or a 2 to 1 mixture is recommended to be used during surgery in order to avoid preoperative hypoglycemia and postoperative hyperglycemia. Glycemia; fasting; perioperative solutions. PMID- 2619918 TI - [Levels of L-carnitine in the Venezuelan infant population]. AB - The L-carnitine blood serum and amniotic fluid levels were measured in 133 samples obtained from clinically healthy patients: 39 pregnant women with a fetal gestational age ranging from 14 to 40 weeks, 13 newborn children less than a day old, 19 newborn children between the ages of 1 and 30 days, 8 breast-feed babies and 19 children over two years of age. No significant statistical differences were seen in the maternal blood serum and amniotic fluid samples for the different gestational ages considered in the study. The average values were found to be 22.6 +/- 5.1 nmol/mL for maternal blood serum and 25.3 +/- 9.4 nmol/mL for amniotic fluid. The blood serum levels were found to be greater in the group between the ages of 1 to 30 days, reaching levels of 43.1 +/- 7.4 nmol/mL. In the group aged 1 month-18 years, the serum levels were on the average 34.3 +/- 6.7 nmol/mL. The variations found among these groups reflect characteristics specific of our population. These values should be further researched since they differ from those values reported by the Anglo-Saxons. L-carnitine concentration; blood serum level; amniotic fluid level. PMID- 2619919 TI - [Electrolytes in toxemic fetuses]. AB - The study shows the gasometric and electrolytic features during the first five day from newborns from toxemic mothers. It is a prospective study, carried out during a four month period at the obstetrics premature ward at the Gynecological Obstetrics Hospital of "La Raza" Medical Center. Thirty-three newborn babies with evidences of toxemia and who had not received any intravenous therapy were studied. Blood samples were taken and serum calcium, phosphorus and magnesium levels were measured at 24, 48, 72 and 120 hours after birth. The results showed that six patients (18%) were anemic, and another had polycythemia. Twelve others (36%) had plaquetopenia, one had hypercalcemia, another hypocalcemia, and eleven (33%) presented hypophosphatemia. Of the initial 33 patients, 75% presented metabolic acidosis which spontaneously corrected itself within the following 72 hours. Three showed signs of hypernatremia, four hyponatremia, and two others hyperkalemia, with a return to normal levels within the next 24 hours. No chloride alterations were found in any of the patients. Some newborn babies born from toxemic mothers can spontaneously correct their electrolytic and acid-base imbalance within 72 hours of their birth. Electrolytes; toxemia. PMID- 2619920 TI - [Hemangioendothelioma of the pancreas and choledochus, as a cause of cholestatic neonatal and Kasabach-Merrit syndromes]. AB - Vascular congenital abnormalities are common in children and are often seen in skin and soft tissues. They are rarely observed in internal organs. They may be found singly or in a multiple fashion. The liver is the most frequently affected organ by this disease. The most common histological variety is the hemangioendothelioma. This is a rare neoplasm of the pancreas. The case of a six month old boy with a pancreatic head hemangioendothelioma, associated with thrombocytopenia and digestive track bleeding is presented. The case is clinically interesting due to the vascular malformation and its location. These in turn caused obstructive neonatal jaundice and very severe liver lesions which contributed to the child's death. Paradoxically, the neoplasm is not considered malignant and the secondarily produced liver lesions could have been prevented if the patient would have been diagnosed correctly and at an earlier stage. Hemangioendothelioma; Kasabach-Merrit syndrome; neonatal cholestatic syndrome. PMID- 2619921 TI - [Actinomycosis of the bladder in a girl]. AB - Abdominal actinomycosis is a rare finding in pediatric patients and its location in the urinary bladder is exceptional. On the other hand, immunodepression can be found in several disorders including that of actinomycosis. The purpose of this study was to report a case of urinary bladder actinomycosis seen in a seven year old girl. No risk factors were found. It was diagnosed as an abdominal tumor which was successfully surgically removed and treated with penicillin. During her recovery, she suffered from a transitory cell-mediated depression of her immune system which later returned to normal once treatment as installed. The pathogenesis of actinomycosis is presented and a review of the literature is cited. Actinomycosis; immunodepression; bladder. PMID- 2619922 TI - [Adrenoleukodystrophy. Diagnosis of a typical case using magnetic resonance]. AB - A case of a two and a half year old boy with unexplained repeated episodes of hyponatremic dehydration and hyperkalemia, as well as noticeable psychomotor retardation and hyperpigmentation is presented. His neurologic development was considered normal until he was two, when he progressively began to regress. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed white matter demyelination and cortical atrophy as well as primary adrenal insufficiency when stimulated with ACTH. Both magnetic resonance imaging and the ACTH stimulation test are useful for the diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy. Adrenoleukodystrophy; hyponatremic dehydration; cutaneous hyperpigmentation; white matter degenerative disease; magnetic resonance imaging. PMID- 2619923 TI - Developmental changes in the glycosylation and binding properties of human fibronectins. Characterization of the glycan structures and ligand binding of human fibronectins from adult plasma, cord blood and amniotic fluid. AB - Fibronectins from human adult plasma, fetal plasma and from amniotic fluid obtained during early and late gestation were compared with respect to (i) their reactivity with lectins, (ii) their binding to the physiological ligands gelatin and heparin, and (iii) the role of the carbohydrate residues in the binding to these two ligands. The two fibronectin isoforms displayed distinct developmental differences in both glycosylation and binding properties: (i) Proportions of tri/tetraantennary complex glycans compared to the fraction of biantennary structures, as inferred from the reactivity with concanavalin A, were highest in amniotic fluid fibronectin from late pregnancy, lower in amniotic fluid fibronectin from early gestation, and even lower in fetal and adult plasma fibronectins. Likewise, fucose (alpha 1-6) linked to the innermost N acetylglucosamine of the chitobiosyl core, defined by reactivity with Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA), was present primarily in amniotic fluid fibronectin, and decreased in content during gestation from the 2nd. to the 3rd. trimenon. Both fetal and adult plasma fibronectins were only weakly reactive with LCA, indicating a low content of (alpha 1-6) linked fucose residues. After prior treatment with sialidase, both plasma and amniotic fluid fibronectins strongly reacted with erythrocyte phytohaemagglutinin (E-PHA), indicating that both fibronectin isoforms contain bisecting (beta 1-4) N-acetylglucosamine residues. Amniotic fluid fibronectins showed much greater reactivity than adult and fetal plasma fibronectins with wheat germ agglutinin; binding of this lectin to amnion fluid fibronectins was not decreased by desialylation indicating the presence of poly(N-acetyllactosamine) units. Whereas amniotic fluid fibronectins were strongly reactive with peanut agglutinin, neither adult nor fetal plasma fibronectins did bind to this lectin unless after prior desialylation. Hence, both fibronectin isoforms contain O-glycan residues that are fully sialylated in fetal and adult plasma fibronectins, but only partly sialylated in amniotic fluid fibronectins. According to these differences, glycosylation of plasma and amniotic fluid fibronectins is under developmental regulation. (ii) Amniotic fluid fibronectins had a significantly lower binding activity for both heparin and gelatin than plasma fibronectins. Moreover, amnion fibronectin from late gestation displayed a significantly lower binding to these two ligands than amnion fibronectin from early gestation. Fetal plasma fibronectins had a lower binding activity for gelatin than adult plasma fibronectin. (iii) Treatment of fibronectins with sialidase, fucosidase and removal of N-glycans with endoglycosidases H and F did not affect binding to gelatin and heparin, indicating that the interaction of plasma and amnion fibronectin with these two ligands is not influenced by their oligosaccharide moieties. PMID- 2619924 TI - Inverse relationship between renal and urinary kallikrein during chromate-induced acute renal failure in rat: urinary kallikrein excretion as a possible recovery index. AB - Acute renal failure (ARF) was induced in rat following a single injection of sodium chromate. A transient polyuria and a 10-fold decrease in glomerular filtration rate was immediately observed after sodium chromate administration. Urinary sodium and potassium excretion were reduced within 24 h and remained decreased for 8 to 10 days. Progressive recovery of normal renal functions, mainly electrolyte excretion and filtration rate was observed 12 days after sodium chromate administration. Urinary kallikrein excretion (UKE) was decreased only 48 h after sodium chromate administration. However the proportion of the active and inactive form excreted was unchanged. UKE remained also at a reduced level for 8 to 10 days and returned progressively to base-line level. The kallikrein content in the tissue was significantly increased immediately after sodium chromate administration and recovered normal values 12 days later. The increase of kallikrein in the tissue is more likely unspecific due to impaired protein transport than a specific stimulation of renal kallikrein biosynthesis. The decreased UKE may indicate a distal tubular reversible dysfunction in this ARF model. These reductions in electrolyte excretion, glomerular filtration and UKE were associated with selective morphological lesions. Whereas the glomeruli were intact, important damages affected proximal tubule cells which appeared necrotic and showed presence of vacuoles, liquefaction of cytoplasmic material and lost of microvilli. Less marked lesions were however observed in distal tubules, particularly large vacuoles were present at the apical poles of the tubule cells, the sites of kallikrein secretion. These distal damages may be involved in the increase of tissue concentration and in the decrease of UKE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619926 TI - Dental groomers. PMID- 2619925 TI - The phospholipase A2-induced increase in the permeability of phospholipid membranes to Ca2+ and H+ ions. AB - The permeability of liposomes prepared from beef heart mitochondrial phospholipids was studied after treatment with phospholipase A2. The permeability to H+ ions was measured by recording the rate of change of pH in the external medium following an addition of an aliquot of alkali to liposomes with a highly buffered inner medium, while the penetration of Ca2+ ions into liposomes was measured in liposomes loaded with arsenazo III. There was a doubling of H+ permeability when the lysophospholipid content was increased to 2% by treatment with phospholipase A2, and a tripling at 4%. Entrapped sucrose leakage from liposomes became apparent at above 6% lysophospholipid. Treatment with phospholipase A2 stimulated Ca2+ penetration into liposomes driven by a valinomycin-induced diffusion potential or a nigericin-induced H+ gradient. The data are discussed in relation to the mechanism of damage to mitochondria occurring in Ca2+ overload as well as in phospholipase A2-induced cellular damage. PMID- 2619927 TI - Antimicrobial therapy in dentistry. PMID- 2619928 TI - Surgical tooth extraction in two cases of impacted, abnormally developed teeth. PMID- 2619929 TI - Full crown restorations. PMID- 2619930 TI - Bleaching nonvital teeth in canines. PMID- 2619931 TI - Definitions and nomenclature of nucleic acid structure parameters. PMID- 2619932 TI - A self-consistent formulation for analysis and generation of non-uniform DNA structures. AB - A fully self-consistent formulation is described here for the analysis and generation of base-pairs in non-uniform DNA structures, in terms of various local parameters. It is shown that the internal "wedge parameters" are mathematically related to the parameters describing the base-pair orientation with respect to an external helix axis. Hence any one set of three translation and three rotation parameters are necessary and sufficient to completely describe the relative orientation of the base-pairs comprising a step (or doublet). A general procedure is outlined for obtaining an average or global helix axis from the local helix axes for each step. A graphical representation of the local helix axes in the form of a polar plot is also shown and its application for estimating the curvature of oligonucleotide structures is illustrated, with examples of both A and B type structures. PMID- 2619933 TI - Defining the structure of irregular nucleic acids: conventions and principles. AB - The algorithm "Curves", that we have recently presented in this journal (J. Biolmol. Str. Dynam. 6, 63-91 (1988], is updated to take into account the conventions developed at the Cambridge meeting on DNA curvature (September 1988) and extended to the calculation of local parameters. In addition, the principles which govern the choices made in establishing the Curves algorithm are compared with the approaches adopted by other authors. PMID- 2619934 TI - Conformational and helicoidal analysis of 30 PS of molecular dynamics on the d(CGCGAATTCGCG) double helix: "curves", dials and windows. AB - A new procedure for the analysis of the structure and molecular dynamics of duplex DNA is introduced, in which comprehensive visualization of results and pattern recognition is greatly facilitated. The method involves determining the values of the conformational and helicoidal parameters for each structure entering the analysis using the method "Curves" developed by Lavery and Sklenar, J. Biomol. Str. Dyn. 6, 63 (1988), followed by a novel computer graphic display of the results. The graphic display is organized systematically using conformation wheels, or "dials", for each IUPAC torsional parameter and "windows" on the range of values assumed by the linear and angular helicoidal parameters, and is presented in a form isomorphous with the structure per se. The complete time evolution of the conformational and helicoidal parameters of a DNA double helix can then be depicted in a set of six composite figures. Dynamical aspects of helix bending are also subsumed in this analysis. The procedure is illustrated with an analysis of the structures of canonical A and B forms of DNA and the 300 degrees K native dodecamer duplex d(CGCGAATTCGCG). The "dials and windows" are then used for a comprehensive analysis of 30 psec of molecular dynamics on the dodecamer in the vicinity of a canonical B-DNA energy minimum. This involves presentation of the time evolution of 206 conformational and 230 helicoidal parameters for the dodecamer. A number of interesting structural features can be recognized in the analysis, including crankshaft motions, BI - BII transitions, sugar repuckerings, and a description of spontaneous helix bending at what corresponds to the 1 degrees and 2 degrees "hinge points" indicated in the crystal structure. Our approach is expected to be directly useful for critical analysis of the effects of various assumptions about force field parameters, hydration and electrostatic effects and thus contribute to the development of reliable simulation protocols for nucleic acid systems. Extension of the method to present differential changes in conformational and helicoidal parameters is expected to be valuable for the analysis of structural and molecular dynamics studies of the reorganization and adaptation of DNA on complexation with various drugs and regulatory proteins. PMID- 2619935 TI - Variance of writhe for wormlike DNA rings with excluded volume. AB - We have calculated the variance of the equilibrium distribution of a circular wormlike polymer chain over the writhing number, less than (Wr)2 greater than, with allowance for the excluded volume effects. Within this model the less than (Wr)2 greater than value is a function of the number of Kuhn statistical segments, n, and the chain diameter, d measured in Kuhn statistical lengths, b. Simulated DNA chains varied from 200 to 10,000 base pairs and the d value varied from 0.02 to 0.2. Theory predicts a considerable ionic strength dependence of the DNA superhelix energy as a consequence of the change in the DNA diameter. A comparison with the available experimental data has yielded an estimate of the DNA torsional rigidity, the Kuhn statistical length, and the effective diameter of the double helix under conditions of the complete screening of the DNA electrostatic potential. PMID- 2619936 TI - The synthetic DNA duplex of poly d(Abr5U).poly d(Abr5U) adopts an A-DNA-like structure. AB - An X-ray fiber diffraction study of the synthetic DNA duplex poly d(Abr5U).poly d(Abr5U) shows that its sodium salt adopts an unexceptional A-DNA-like structure. Similar to A-DNA, two molecules are packed in a monoclinic unit cell (a = 2.23 nm, b = 4.14 nm, c = 5.61 nm and alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees) of space group C2. Because of its dinucleotide chemical motif, the c-repeat is twice that in A-DNA but, notably, corresponding backbone conformation angles of adjacent nucleotides are almost identical. This is in marked contrast to many B-like conformations of polydinucleotides. PMID- 2619937 TI - Conformational change of the L-shaped tRNA(Phe) molecule. AB - Fluorophore of proflavine was introduced onto the 3'-terminal ribose moiety of yeast tRNA(Phe). The distance between the fluorophore and the fluorescent Y base in the anticodon of yeast tRNA(Phe) was measured by a singlet-singlet energy transfer. Conformational changes of tRNA(Phe) with binding of tRNA(2Glu), which has the anticodon UUC complementary to the anticodon GAA of tRNA(Phe), were investigated. The distance obtained at the ionic strength of 100 mM K+ and 10 mM Mg2+ is very close to the distance from x-ray diffraction, while the distance obtained in the presence of tRNA(2Glu) is significantly smaller. Further, using a fluorescent probe of 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin introduced onto pseudouridine residue psi 55 in the T psi C loop of tRNA(Phe), Stern-Volmer quenching experiments for the probe with or without added tRNA(2Glu) were carried out. The results showed greater access of the probe to the quencher with added tRNA(2Glu). These results suggest that both arms of the L-shaped tRNA structure tend to bend inside with binding of tRNA(2Glu) and some structural collapse occurs at the corner of the L-shaped structure. PMID- 2619938 TI - Interpretation of DNA vibration modes: III--The behaviour of the sugar pucker vibration modes as a function of its pseudorotation parameters. AB - A systematic study of the sugar pucker characteristic vibration modes as a function of its geometrical conformations, has been performed. The present investigation is based on the Wilson GF method and a non-redundant valence force field. The calculated results allow to assign the modes arising mainly from the sugar motions and present in quasi whole vibrational spectra related to the right or left-handed double-helices (i.e., 1050 cm-1, 960 cm-1 and 890 cm-1). Moreover, the conformation dependent modes as those at 860 cm-1 and around 810 cm-1 (A form) as well as the one located around 830 cm-1 (B form) are interpreted by the present investigation. The possibility of the interaction of the latter modes with the phosphate group motions along the DNA double-helical chains are also discussed. PMID- 2619939 TI - Interpretation of DNA vibration modes: IV--A single-helical approach to assign the phosphate-backbone contribution to the vibrational spectra in A and B conformations. AB - A calculated approach based on the Higgs method for assigning the vibration modes of an infinite helicoidal polymeric chain has been performed on the basis of a reliable valence force field. The calculated results allowed the phosphate backbone marker modes of the A and B forms, to be interpreted. In the dynamic models used, the bases have been omitted and no interchain interaction was considered. The calculation can also interprete quite satisfactorily the characteristic Raman peaks and infrared bands in the 1250-700 cm-1 spectral region arising from the sugar or sugar-phosphate association and reproduce their evolution upon the B----A DNA conformational transition. They clearly show that the phosphate-backbone modes in the above mentioned spectral region constitute the optical branches of the phonon dispersion curves with no detectable variation in the first Brillouin-zone. PMID- 2619940 TI - Conformational characteristics of mixed sugar puckered deoxydinucleoside triphosphate units d-pCpGp and d-pGpCp from energy minimization studies. AB - The deoxydinucleoside triphosphate units d-pCpGp and d-pGpCp were subjected to a rigorous theoretical investigation with a view to describing their distinctive conformational characteristics. For each unit 216 probable three-dimensional forms defined by the backbone-base dihedral angles and sugar pucker modes were considered for conformational energy minimization process and scrutinized with reference to properties, such as base-stacking, hydrogen-bonding, internal flexibility and base sequence-phosphate influence. The P-O bond torsions and the phosphate groups were treated with special attention. The results reveal a number of preferred conformational states other than the known helical forms, such as, A , B-, C-, Z-, and Watson-Crick conformation. Many interesting one-step (change in only one of the dihedral angles or sugar puckers) conformational transitions which involve just about a kcal/mol of energy came to light. The two base sequences CG and GC were noted to differ strikingly in many of their conformational characteristics. PMID- 2619941 TI - Conformational characteristics of mixed sugar puckered deoxytetranucleoside triphosphate d-GpCpGpC from energy minimization studies. AB - As a continuation of our theoretical studies on nucleic acid subunit systems, in this article we consider the case of the tetranucleoside d-GpCpGpC, the minimally ideal representative unit for analyzing the relative stabilities of different forms of homo- and mixed helical conformation of polynucleotides. The four sugar rings are kept so as to generate B-genus, B+A genus and Z-genus conformations. Twenty five helical conformational states which resulted from judicious mixing of A-, B-, C-, W-, and Z-, states locally are subjected to energy minimization permitting the 19 dihedral angles to vary simultaneously. Conformational states corresponding to regular helical forms and mixed helical forms, when analyzed provide valuable information as to the local conformational flexibility and transitions available to polynucleotides. PMID- 2619942 TI - New methodology for computer-aided modelling of biomolecular structure and dynamics. 1. Non-cyclic structures. AB - A general methodology is proposed for the conformational modelling of biomolecular systems. The approach allows one: (i) to describe the system under investigation by an arbitrary set of internal variables, i.e., torsion angles, bond angles, and bond lengths; it offers a possibility to pass from the free structure to a completely fixed one with the number of variables from 3N to zero, respectively, where N is the number of atoms; (ii) to consider both, a single molecule and a complex of many molecules, (e.g., proteins, water, ligands, etc.) in terms of one universal model; (iii) to study the dynamics of the system using explicit analytical Lagrangian equations of motion, thus opening up possibilities for investigations of slow concerted motions such as domain oscillations in proteins etc.; (iv) to calculate the partial derivatives of various functions of conformation, e.g., the conformational energy or external constraints imposed, using a standard efficient procedure regardless of the variables and the structure of the system. The approach is meant to be used in various investigations concerning the conformations and dynamics of biomacromolecules. PMID- 2619943 TI - New methodology for computer-aided modelling of biomolecular structure and dynamics. 2. Local deformations and cycles. AB - A new methodology for the conformational modelling of biomolecular systems (1) is extended to local deformations of chain molecules and to flexible molecular rings. It is shown that these two cases may be reduced to considering an equivalent molecular model with a regular tree-like topology. A simple procedure is developed to analyze any flexible rings (the five- and six-membered sugar rings of carbohydrates and nucleic acids, in particular) and local deformation regions by energy minimization. Dynamic equations are also derived for such molecular systems. As a result, a unified approach is proposed for the efficient energy minimization and simulation of dynamic behavior of multimolecular systems having any set of variable internal coordinates, local deformation regions and cycles. Advantages and domains of applicability of the approach are discussed. PMID- 2619944 TI - Clinical research in cancer: a time for consensus. PMID- 2619945 TI - Chemosensitivity testing in a tumor acquisition, propagation, and preservation program. AB - Chemosensitivity assays were carried out as part of a tumor acquisition, propagation, and preservation program for cancer biotherapy. In addition to biopsy specimens, tumor cells propagated in culture or tumor xenografts grown in nude mice were submitted for chemosensitivity assay when sufficient biopsy material was unavailable. Chemosensitivity was tested utilizing the adhesive tumor cell culture system. A total of 154 specimens was submitted for testing; 96 specimens were assayed. Success rates were 55% for primary cancer biopsies, 67% for metastases, 69% for xenografts, and 70% for cell lines. There were no significant differences evident when the sensitivity to drugs of tumor cells originating from biopsies, xenografts, or tissue culture were compared. Sufficient data were available for 18 patients to compare clinical results of drug treatment with predictive results from the chemo-sensitivity assay. Assay results indicating insensitivity appeared to predict resistance; however, assays indicating sensitivity were not predictive. These results suggest that propagated tumor material, such as xenografts and cultured cell lines, may be useful when biopsy tissue is not available. PMID- 2619946 TI - Multiple cycles of constant infusion recombinant interleukin-2 in adoptive cellular therapy of metastatic renal carcinoma. AB - Twenty patients were treated with metastatic renal cell cancer with 5-day cycles of constant infusion recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) at 3 X 10(6) U/m2/day and with infusion of in vitro activated autologous mononuclear cells. The initial eight patients completed all rIL-2 and cellular therapy in a single 25-day treatment period. The subsequent 12 patients entered a 6-month treatment program involving two separate 15-day cycles of cellular therapy followed by four monthly cycles of maintenance rIL-2. Among eight patients in the 25-day treatment program, there were two with partial response (PR) and one with minor response (MR). None of these responses exceeded 2 months in duration. Among the 12 patients undergoing recycling of therapy, there were two with complete response (CR), two with PR, and one with MR. All four patients with CR or PR in this group demonstrated continuing response with recycling of treatment and none relapsed while receiving maintenance interleukin-2. Three remain in remission at 10, 11, and 12 months. These pilot data confirm that patients can tolerate multiple cycles of adoptive immunotherapy involving constant infusion rIL-2 and suggest that recycling of therapy is necessary to achieve clinically meaningful results. PMID- 2619947 TI - Family caregiving to dependent older adults: stress, appraisal, and coping. AB - Articles presented in this 1987 APA symposium adopt a stress, appraisal, and coping framework for conceptualizing the experience of family caregiving. Each article emphasizes 2 themes: (a) caregivers' adaptation to the chronic demands of in-home caregiving and (b) factors that mediate the relationship between caregiving stress and caregiver's adaptation. The articles presented in this symposium illustrate both the utility of this theoretical approach to studying caregiving stress and the difficulty inherent in its use. PMID- 2619948 TI - Age-related differences in employee absenteeism: a meta-analysis. AB - Meta-analyses were performed on 34 samples that included correlations of the age and employee absenteeism relationship. Samples were categorized into 2 groups for voluntary absenteeism and involuntary absenteeism based on the frequency index and the time-lost index, respectively. Results indicated that both voluntary and involuntary absence are inversely related to age. Unexplained variance remained for each of the absence measures after variance due to sampling error and measurement unreliability was statistically estimated. Work demand was negatively associated with age, but not in the expected direction. Work demand did not moderate the age-absence relationship for either voluntary or involuntary absence. Sex moderated the relationship between age and voluntary absenteeism only. For men, the relationships were negative; for women, they did not differ significantly from 0. Implications for research and human resource management practices regarding aging and absenteeism are discussed. PMID- 2619949 TI - Speaking about feelings: conceptions of emotion across the life span. AB - Self-descriptions of emotions in 72 participants aged 10 to 77 were assessed. Responses were reliably scored in terms of a 4-level cognitive-developmental coding scheme for each of 4 emotions: anger, sadness, fear, and happiness. Results showed that those younger or lower in ego level and verbal ability described emotions in terms of sensorimotor actions, outer appearance, conventional and technical descriptions, rigid impulse monitoring, and an emphasis on control and the ideal. Those older or of higher ego level and verbal ability conveyed a vivid sense of the experience, had explicit knowledge of bodily sensations, accepted conflict within self and others, and displayed flexibility and delay of action. These findings suggest that understanding of emotions develops along a dimension of cognitive complexity over the life span. This dimension, in turn, is related to life span changes in coping and defense. PMID- 2619950 TI - A developmental study of practical problem solving in adults. AB - Previous research indicates that young and middle-aged adults perform better than other age groups on problems similar to those they might encounter in their everyday lives. However, elderly adults have not performed better than other age groups on problems designed to give them the advantage. In order to ensure that the problems used in the present study were ones that elderly adults might encounter, elderly adults were recruited to help develop the problems. The resulting problems were administered to adults between the ages of 20 and 80. Performance was found to increase from the 20- to 40-year-old age group and decrease thereafter. Thus, when elderly adults devise practical problems that are intended to give elderly adults the advantage, the elderly adults still perform less well than do middle-aged adults. PMID- 2619951 TI - Perceptual speed in adulthood: cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. AB - Cross-sectional data on age differences in perceptual speed are presented from the Seattle Longitudinal Study for the age range 22-91 years (N = 1,620, first assessed in 1977; N = 628, first assessed in 1984). In addition, 838 subjects were followed over the 7-year interval. Markers of perceptual speed were the Identical Pictures and Finding A's tests from the ETS Kit of Factor-Referenced Tests. Significant age differences, age changes, and cohort differences were found at both observed variable and latent construct levels. Cross-lagged correlations examine the role of perceptual speed in predicting later performance on other abilities (Verbal Meaning, Inductive Reasoning, Spatial Orientation, Number, and Word Fluency). When perceptual speed is partialled out of scores for these abilities, aging effects are reduced markedly for all abilities, but least for Spatial Orientation and Inductive Reasoning. PMID- 2619952 TI - Ratings of managerial skill requirements: comparison of age- and job-related factors. AB - This article examines how individual characteristics (age, experience) and organizational characteristics (department, level) influence the skill requirements rated as being important for managerial jobs. One hundred ninety seven managerial employees completed a survey composed of 20 skill dimensions pertinent to supervisory positions in the mining industry. Organizational level and departmental affiliation were correlated with job skill importance ratings. Ratings of skill importance were also correlated with the age of the person being rated, years of experience, and the age of the rater. As predicted, correlations with ratee age varied across different skill dimensions. This study has implications for fair employment practices to the degree that raters base evaluations of a job on the age of incumbents vs. job relevant characteristics. PMID- 2619953 TI - Memory and age differences in spatial manipulation ability. AB - Young and old adults were asked, in 3 experiments, to make decisions about the identity of line segment patterns after either adding or subtracting line segments from the original pattern. On some of the trials, the line segments from the initial display were presented again in the second display to minimize the necessity of remembering early information during the processing of later information. Although this manipulation presumably reduced the importance of memory in the tasks, it had little effect on the magnitude of the age differences in any of the experiments. Because the 2 groups were equivalent in accuracy of simple recognition judgments, but older adults were less accurate when the same types of decisions were required in the context of an ongoing task, the results suggested that older adults may be impaired in the ability to retain information while simultaneously processing the same or other information. PMID- 2619954 TI - Verbal and visuospatial recall by younger and older subjects: use of matched tasks. AB - In this study, 18 older (over age 65, M = 75.61 years) and 18 younger (below age 40 and over age 17, M = 26.44 years) healthy volunteers were tested on verbal and visuospatial recall. Tasks were matched on discriminating power. Older Ss performed worse than younger Ss on both tasks. The older Ss also showed a larger deficit in visuospatial than in verbal recall, relative to the younger Ss. These results are consistent with the theory of aging according to which verbal tasks are more resistant to deterioration than are nonverbal tasks. A psychological explanation based on lifetime experience with verbal material is preferred over the physiological explanation advocating faster aging of the right hemisphere. PMID- 2619955 TI - A longitudinal study of the performance of hypertensive and normotensive subjects on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. AB - Performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale was followed over two 5- to 6-year intervals for essential hypertensive Ss (EH; n = 22) free from medical complications and for normotensive Ss (N; n = 20). EH were treated with adrenergic beta-blocking drugs, diuretics, or both. Mean age was 46 years (SD = 12.6 years), initially (Time 1). Results were unaltered by adjustment for initial age. N improved modestly on the Verbal scale, from Time 1 to Time 2 only. EH neither improved nor declined on the Verbal scale. Scores remained unchanged for both EH and N Ss for the Performance scale. Overall, and at Times 2 and 3, Verbal scores were lower for the EH group. It was concluded that neither decline nor improvement in cognitive function over time are necessary outcomes of modest, carefully treated, uncomplicated hypertension in the middle years. PMID- 2619956 TI - Adult age differences in working memory. AB - Active and passive measures of short-term memory over a large segment of the adult life span were compared. Two hundred twenty-eight volunteers, aged 30 to 99 years, performed the digit span forward and backward task, the Peterson-Peterson task, and a new working memory task in which active manipulation of information is emphasized. Age differences were slight for passive tasks. For the working memory task, significant declines were found between the ages of 60 to 69 and 70+ years. It is suggested that the age differences may be due to a decrease in the flexibility with which processing changes are made. PMID- 2619957 TI - The structures of different diastereomers of bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl phenyl sulfoxide. AB - Three diastereomers of bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl phenyl sulfoxide were prepared by Diels-Alder [4 + 2] cycloadditions between phenyl vinyl sulfoxide and cyclopentadiene. The isomers were separated by column chromatography on silica gel and repeated recrystallizations gave the pure racemates of three of the four possible diastereomers. It proved to be impossible to assign the stereochemistry of the products from low-resolution NMR spectra. The X-ray diffraction studies of the three diastereomers showed the relative configuration at the two chiral centers and these stereochemical assignments were, subsequently, correlated with the two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic results. Compound (I), exo-(2R*,8S*) bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl phenyl sulfoxide [or the exo-(2S*,8R*)-isomer], C13H14OS, Mr = 218.31, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 10.517 (2), b = 10.914 (2), c = 9.642 (3) A, V = 1106.7 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.31 g cm-3, Cu K alpha, lambda = 1.54178 A, mu = 22.14 cm-1, F(000) = 464, T = 138 (2) K, R = 0.042 for 1151 data. Compound (II), exo-(2RS,8RS)-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl phenyl sulfoxide, C13H14OS, Mr = 218.31, triclinic, P1, a = 8.775 (4), b = 16.353 (8), c = 7.804 (3) A, alpha = 90.67 (3), beta = 101.08 (4), gamma = 85.64 (5) degrees, V = 1095.8 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.32 g cm-3, Mo K alpha, lambda = 0.71069 A, mu = 2.18 cm 1, F(000) = 464, T = 138 (2) K, R = 0.062 for 3264 data. The two molecules in the asymmetric unit are crystallographically independent, but their conformations are similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619958 TI - Structure-activity relationships of antiarrhythmic agents: crystal structure of amiodarone hydrochloride and two derivatives, and their conformational comparison with thyroxine. AB - Amiodarone.HCl (I), 2-butyl-3-benzofuranyl 4-[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]-3,5 diiodophenyl ketone hydrochloride, C25H30I2NO3+.Cl-, Mr = 680.78, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 17.124 (2), b = 17.079 (2), c = 9.162 (1) A, beta = 98.37 degrees, V = 2651.2 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.71 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.7107 A, mu = 24.73 cm-1, F(000) = 1332, T = 294 K, R = 6.6% for 5515 data; desethyl-amiodarone.HCl (II), 2-butyl-3-benzofuranyl 4-[2-(ethylamino)ethoxy]-3,5-diiodophenyl ketone hydrochloride, C23H26I2NO3+.Cl-, Mr = 654.74, monoclonic, P2(1)/c, a = 23.867 (2), b = 10.134 (1), c = 10.287 (2) A, beta = 93.91 (2) degrees, V = 2482.5 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.75 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.07107 A, mu = 26.37 cm-1, F(000) = 1276, T = 294 K, R = 5.7% for 5916 data; benziodarone (III), 2-ethyl-3 benzofuranyl 4-hydroxy-3,5-diiodophenyl ketone, C17H12I2O3, Mr = 518.09, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 17.564 (2), b = 8.294 (1), c = 11.587 (2) A, beta = 93.20 (2) degrees, V = 1685.55 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 2.04 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.7101 A, mu = 36.99 cm-1, F(000) = 976, T = 294 K, R = 6.2% for 4311 data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619959 TI - Cryocrystallography of ribosomal particles. AB - Crystals suitable for X-ray study have been prepared from biochemically active ribosome particles or their complexes with tRNA and polypeptide chains. At ambient temperature the useful lifetime of these crystals under synchrotron irradiation is limited to a few minutes. However, upon cooling to cryogenic temperatures around 85 K, the original resolution limit (up to 4.5 A) can be recorded and radiation damage is virtually eliminated. Hence it has become possible to collect a complete data set from one single crystal. Crystals were cooled as rapidly as possible, either in a cold gas stream, or by immersion in liquid propane. Before cooling crystals were transferred either to an inert hydrocarbon environment, or to solutions similar to the crystallizing ones but with a higher viscosity. In several cases soaking in a cryosolvent was required. Crystallographic data were collected with intense synchrotron radiation. Full data sets have been measured for native and derivatized crystals of 50S ribosomal subunits from H. marismortui as well as from their complexes with tRNA and nascent polypeptide chains, from the wild type and a mutant of 50S subunits from B. stearothermophilus, and from crystals of native and derivatized 30S ribosomal subunits from T. thermophilus. PMID- 2619960 TI - Crystal structure of 1-methyluracil from neutron diffraction at 15, 60 and 123 K. AB - The crystal structure of 1-methylpyrimidine-2,4-dione (1-methyluracil, C5H6N2O2) has been determined at 15, 60 and 123 K from neutron diffraction data. Molecules lie in the eightfold special positions (symmetry m) of space group Ibam, with a = 13.213 (2), b = 13.172 (2), c = 6.163 (1) A at 15 K. Full-matrix least-squares refinements based on 807 (15 K), 805 (60 K) and 815 (123 K) reflections with sin theta/lambda less than 0.69 A-1 converged with R(F2) = 0.023, 0.024 and 0.024 respectively. Bond lengths and angles have e.s.d.'s less than 0.002 A and 0.2 degrees. Detailed analysis of the anisotropic thermal parameters gives estimates of the zero-point internal vibrations for all nuclei and also for molecular rigid body thermal vibrations at 15, 60 and 123 K. With thermal-vibration corrections there is good agreement in bond lengths and angles at the three temperatures. PMID- 2619961 TI - Structural studies on the biosides of Digitalis lanata: bisdigitoxosides of digitoxigenin, gitoxigenin and digoxigenin. AB - The crystal structures and conformations of bisdigitoxosides of digitoxigenin (I), gitoxigenin (II) and digoxigenin (III and IV) have been determined using single-crystal X-ray crystallographic techniques. Crystals of (I), (II) and (IV) were grown from ethyl acetate solutions of the glycosides while (III) was grown from a solution of the digitoxoside in ethanol. As in other cardiac glycosides the ring junctions A-B and C-D are cis. The D ring in these structures shows different conformations while the A, B and C rings remain conformationally similar. Although digitoxigenin bisdigitoxoside and gitoxigenin bisdigitoxoside differ from each other in the absence and presence of a hydroxyl group at C(16) of the D ring, these two biosides crystallize in the space group P2(1)2(1)2 [corrected] and are isomorphous. The presence of the hydroxyl group at C(16) does not affect the orientation of the lactone ring and the conformation of the molecule. Digoxigenin bisdigitoxoside crystallizes in two different crystal systems with four molecules of water in the orthorhombic form and one molecule of ethyl acetate in the triclinic form. In both forms the hydroxyl at C(3') of the first sugar forms a hydrogen bond with the ring oxygen of the second sugar. This has also been observed in the trioside digoxin. The torsion angle C(13)-C(17) C(20)-C(22) in the two forms differs by 7 degrees.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619962 TI - A comparison of the crystal structures of some quaternary trimethylammonium salts related to dopamine and noradrenaline with those of the corresponding amines: a comment on their nicotine-like biological activities. AB - The crystal structures of seven substituted phenethylammonium salts and one (phenylpropyl)-ammonium salt have been determined. (I) Trimethyl(phenethyl)ammonium iodide, C11H18N+.I-, Mr = 291.2, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1) (No. 19), a = 6.040 (2), b = 7.689 (2), c = 26.528 (9) A, V = 1232 (1) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.56 g cm-3, Mo K alpha radiation (lambda = 0.71073 A), mu = 25.33 cm-1, F(000) = 576, T = 298 K, R (wR) = 0.0302 (0.0305) for 1991 reflections with I greater than 3 sigma (I). (II) (p Hydroxyphenethyl)trimethylammonium iodide, C11H18NO+.I-, Mr = 307.2, triclinic, P1 (No. 2), a = 9.619 (1), b = 9.926 (1), c = 14.179 (2) A, alpha = 95.24 (1), beta = 97.50 (1), gamma = 98.97 (1) degrees, V = 1317.2 (3) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.55 g cm-3, Mo K alpha radiation (lambda = 0.71073 A), mu = 23.79 cm-1, F(000) = 608, T = 298 K, R (wR) = 0.0351 (0.0373) for 4320 reflections with I greater than 3 sigma (I). (III) (m-Hydroxyphenethyl)trimethylammonium iodide hemihydrate, C11H18NO+.I-.1/2H2O, Mr = 316.2, monoclinic, P2(1)/n (non-standard, No. 14), a = 8.048 (2), b = 9.782 (3), c = 17.447 (7) A, beta = 90.15 (1) degrees, V = 1374 (2) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.53 g cm-3, Mo K alpha radiation (lambda = 0.71073 A), mu = 22.86 cm-1, F(000) = 628, T = 298 K, R (wR) = 0.0719 (0.0655) for 1006 reflections with I greater than 1 sigma (I).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2619963 TI - The structures of 1-deoxy-(N-methyloctanamido)-D-glucitol (MEGA-8) and 1-deoxy-(N methylundecanamido)-D-glucitol (MEGA-11). AB - 1-Deoxy-(N-methyloctanamido)-D-glucitol, C15H31NO6 (MEGA-8), crystallizes in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), Mr = 321.4, a = 4.865 (1), b = 9.186 (3), c = 39.097 (9) A, V = 1747.24 A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.22 Mg m-3, lambda (Cu K alpha) = 1.5418 A, mu = 0.78 mm-1, F(000) = 704, R = 0.035 for 1318 reflections. 1-Deoxy-(N methylundecanamido)-D-glucitol, C18H37-NO6 (MEGA-11), crystallizes in space group P1, Mr = 363.5, a = 4.950 (1), b = 5.6027 (8), c = 19.162 (4) A, alpha = 83.19 (2), beta = 89.76 (2), gamma = 76.28 (2) degrees, V = 512.64 A3, Z = 1, Dx = 1.18 Mg m-3, lambda (Mo K alpha) = 0.7107 A, mu = 0.093 mm-1, F(000) = 200, R = 0.061 for 1898 reflections. The glucitol C-atom-chain conformation is different in the two structures. In MEGA-8 it is fully extended, whereas in MEGA-11 it is bent. The alkyl C-atom chains are fully extended in both structures. The molecular packing is different. In MEGA-8 it is head-to-head bilayer with intercalating alkyl chains, whereas in MEGA-11 it is monolayer head-to-tail with non intercalating alkyl chains. The hydrogen bonding in MEGA-8 is a finite chain; in MEGA-11 it includes a homodromic four-bond cycle. PMID- 2619964 TI - Correlation between occupancy and temperature factors of solvent molecules in crystal structures of proteins. AB - Correlation between occupancy and temperature factors during the refinement of a disordered molecule is discussed on the basis of their effects on an atomic scattering factor curve. When the resolution of the data is limited, occupancy and temperature factors affect scattering-factor curves in a similar fashion, and therefore they are correlated. An examination of this correlation suggests that small deviations (0.1) of occupancy factors from their tentative values may be compensated by suitable changes in temperature factors when the data are limited to medium (2.5 A) resolution. PMID- 2619965 TI - Segmented anisotropic refinement of bovine ribonuclease A by the application of the rigid-body TLS model. AB - The anisotropic displacements of selected rigid groups in bovine ribonuclease A have been refined from X-ray diffraction data by the application of the rigid body TLS model. The rigid groups chosen were the side chains of tyrosine, histidine and phenylalanine and the planar side chains of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, asparagine and arginine. The method has also been applied to the co-crystallizing active-site sulfate anion. This has enabled the description of the motion of the above-mentioned side-chain atoms by anisotropic displacement ellipsoids from a 1.45 A refinement. The hydrophobic side groups in the protein core show mainly translational motion, with mean-square librations of 20 deg2 which are similar to those found in some close-packed crystals of small organic molecules. Librational displacements are much more significant in the hydrophilic side groups where their magnitudes can be correlated with solvent accessibility. Large librations of some solvent exposed side chains correspond with the breakdown of a simple TLS model and the existence of multiple orientations of the side groups. The TLS model has also been applied to the whole protein molecule and shows that the average motion is approximately isotropic with little librational character. PMID- 2619966 TI - Explicit Fourier representations of non-ideal hypercentric P.D.F.'s of magnitude of E. AB - Explicit non-ideal hypercentric distributions of the magnitude of the normalized structure factor have been derived and investigated for the space group P1. One of the distribution types investigated arises when the asymmetric unit of P1 consists of several identical centrosymmetric motifs, interrelated by additional non-crystallographic centres of symmetry. The ideal version of such distributions was studied by Rogers & Wilson [Acta Cryst. (1953), 6, 439-449]. The other distribution type studied originates from atomic arrangements in which the asymmetric unit is composed of several unrelated centrosymmetric fragments that may differ in their sizes and chemical compositions. Explicit non-ideal probability density functions (p.d.f.'s) of the magnitude of the normalized structure factor were formulated for both above types of distribution as Fourier series, were evaluated numerically and were compared with appropriately simulated distributions of magnitude of E. The computations were carried out for a range of atomic compositions, and numbers of unrelated centrosymmetric fragments that comprise the asymmetric unit; both of these factors have a significant influence on the deviation of the hypercentric p.d.f.'s from the values predicted on the basis of the central-limit theorem approximation. PMID- 2619967 TI - On the probabilistic theory of isomorphous data sets: general joint distributions for the SIR, SAS and partial/complete structure cases. AB - By characterizing isomorphism in reciprocal space [i.e. diffraction data sets are isomorphous if they have the same geometry (the same reciprocal-lattice unit cell) and the same symmetry] it is shown that the diffraction data of a native protein and of its heavy-atom derivatives, the calculated data of a partial structure and the observed data of its associated complete structure, and the Friedel-pair data of an anomalously scattering crystal structure all belong to the more general class of isomorphous data sets. Their joint probability distributions for two- and three-phase structure invariants are shown to be isomorphous: they have the same functional form and differ only in individual atomic scattering factors. General joint probability distributions, which can be used for any isomorphous data pairs, are presented. PMID- 2619968 TI - The probability distributions of X-ray intensities in fiber diffraction: largest likely values for fiber diffraction R factors. AB - R factors in fiber diffraction are generally lower than in conventional crystallography, because of the cylindrical averaging of fiber diffraction data. The probability distributions for fiber diffraction intensities, analogous to Wilson's distributions for crystal diffraction intensities, are derived, and from these the largest likely values of R are estimated. These values depend on the size and symmetry of the diffracting particle and on the resolution of the analysis, and range from 0.586 for systems for very high symmetry (as in crystal diffraction) to much lower values for systems of low symmetry. PMID- 2619969 TI - Exact conditional distribution of a three-phase invariant in the space group P1. I. Derivation and simplification of the Fourier series. AB - An exact expression is derived for the conditional probability density function of a three-phase invariant and the general result is applied to the space group P1. The expression for the conditional density is given in terms of a sixfold Fourier series. A straightforward numerical evaluation of this series, without further analysis, is extremely time consuming. Much of the present paper is therefore devoted to an exposition of symmetries hidden in the various summations. The computational effort required for the evaluation of the above expression is thereby reduced to manageable proportions in a number of interesting cases. Results of numerical computations of the exact conditional density are given in the second paper in this series. It is also shown that the exact expression for the conditional probability reduces to that given by Cochran [Acta Cryst. (1955), 8, 473-478]. PMID- 2619970 TI - Exact conditional distribution of a three-phase invariant in the space group P1. II. Calculations and comparison with the Cochran approximation. AB - The conditional probability density function of a three-phase invariant is computed from exact expressions derived and discussed in the first paper of this series [Shmueli, Rabinovich & Weiss (1989). Acta Cryst. A45, 361-367] and comparisons are presented of these computations with the approximate conditional density due to Cochran [Acta Cryst. (1955), 8, 473-478]. Conditional variances computed from the exact and approximate expressions are also compared. The computations are carried out for the space group P1. This is the first numerical comparison of conditional phase-invariant statistics evaluated from exact and approximate expressions. The discrepancy between these two kinds of statistics appears to be negligible if the E values involved are small and the number of atoms in the cell is moderately large. Very significant discrepancies are observed when the number of the atoms in the unit cell is small, as well as in the case of the presence of an outstandingly heavy atom. For a given triplet of magnitudes of E values or a fixed atomic composition of the unit cell the exact conditional density functions tend to have sharper peaks than the approximate ones. PMID- 2619971 TI - X-ray refinement of protein structures by simulated annealing: test of the method on myohemerythrin. AB - The recently developed method of structure factor refinement by molecular dynamics with simulated annealing [Brunger, Kuriyan & Karplus (1987). Science, 235, 458-460] is tested on the 118 residue protein myohemerythrin. A highly refined structure for this protein at 1.3/1.7 A resolution has recently been published [Sheriff, Hendrickson & Smith (1987). J. Mol. Biol. 197, 273-296]. This is compared with the results of simulated annealing refinement (with no manual intervention) starting from an earlier model for the protein from a stage in the refinement when conventional least-squares methods could not improve the structure. Simulated annealing reduces the R factor at 2.5 A from 39 to 31%, with uniform temperature factors and no solvent molecules and with similar stereochemistry; the comparable value for the manually refined structure is 27.9%. Errors in backbone and sidechain positions up to about 3 A are corrected by the method. The error in backbone positions for roughly 85% of the initial structure is within this range, and in these regions the r.m.s. backbone error is reduced from 1.1 to 0.4 A. For the rest of the structure, including a region which was incorrectly built due to a sequence error, the procedure does not yield any improvement and manual intervention appears to be required. Nevertheless, the overall improvement in the structure results in electron density maps that are easier to interpret and permit identification of the errors in the structure. The general utility of the simulated annealing methodology in X-ray refinement is discussed. PMID- 2619972 TI - Depression and reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors--new perspectives. PMID- 2619973 TI - Biochemical aspects of the pharmacology of moclobemide. The implications of animal studies. AB - Administration of moclobemide--a relatively short-acting, reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A)--to experimental animals potentiates the pressor responses to intravenously injected tyramine, but such effects are moderate, short-lived, and much less apparent when the tyramine is given orally. The ability of moclobemide to potentiate the pharmacological actions of amine substrates for MAO-A in in vitro preparations is very weak, unless the drug is 'activated' by prior incubation with the tissues. However, animal experiments, both in vitro and in vivo, can give realistic indications not only of the mode of action of inhibitors of MAO and any toxicity, but also, in the case of MAO inhibitors, of the chance of potentially life-threatening hypertensive crises following inadvertent ingestion of amine-containing food or medicaments. Animal tests may also reveal any influence MAOIs have on amines released from non neuronal stores. PMID- 2619974 TI - Effect of a reversible monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor (moclobemide) on sleep of depressed patients. AB - The effect of moclobemide, a short-acting, reversible, preferential monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor in a 4-week therapeutic trial, on the sleep of ten depressed patients, was assessed by polysomnographic recordings. Compared with their time on placebo, patients receiving moclobemide showed improved sleep continuity, particularly during the intermediate and late stages of drug administration. The total increase in sleep time was comprised of larger amounts of stage 2 non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Withdrawal of moclobemide was followed by a further increase of REM sleep, although values did not surpass those sometimes observed in adults with normal sleep. In these patients, the symptoms of depression were rated as being significantly improved during the study period. PMID- 2619975 TI - Antidepressants of the future. PMID- 2619976 TI - A European study of views on the use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors. AB - A total of 1269 psychiatrists, from 15 European countries, completed a questionnaire assessing treatment choice in depressive and anxiety disorders, with particular focus on diagnostic and other factors determining use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Tricyclic and similar antidepressants were used most commonly--MAOIs were used as first-choice therapy for depressive or anxiety disorders only by a minority but were commonly a second-choice treatment for atypical depressives. Use was inhibited by interactions and side-effects rather than by perceived ineffectiveness. Cross-national differences in treatment were considerable but diagnostic differences in case history vignettes were much smaller. PMID- 2619977 TI - Negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Symposium. London, 17-18 September 1987. Proceedings. PMID- 2619978 TI - Negative symptoms: relationship to other schizophrenic symptom classes. PMID- 2619979 TI - Depression, affect and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. PMID- 2619980 TI - The diagnostic specificity of negative symptoms and their psychopathological context. PMID- 2619981 TI - The Manchester Scale. A standardised psychiatric assessment for rating chronic psychotic patients. PMID- 2619982 TI - The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS): rationale and standardisation. PMID- 2619983 TI - The WHO Psychological Impairments Rating Schedule (WHO/PIRS). I. Introducing a new instrument for rating observed behaviour and the rationale of the psychological impairment concept. PMID- 2619984 TI - The WHO Psychological Impairments Rating Schedule (WHO/PIRS). II. Impairments in Schizophrenics in cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective--the Mannheim experience in two independent samples. PMID- 2619985 TI - Behavioural Observation Schedule (BOS), PIRS 2nd edition. A revised edition of the PIRS (WHO, Geneva, March 1978). PMID- 2619986 TI - Rating of negative symptoms using the High Royds Evaluation of Negativity (HEN) scale. PMID- 2619987 TI - [Formal requirements and a cultural approach to the control of slow-release dosage forms]. AB - Problems related with controlled release dosage forms are reported. The need for a standard criteria regarding both nomenclature and dissolution test is pointed out. The purpose is to permit a suitable control of the controlled release characteristics. PMID- 2619988 TI - [Formulation and antileukemic activity of quinolizidinylalkylaminic derivatives of naphthoquinone and anthraquinone]. AB - By reacting three quinolizidinylalkylamines with 1,4-naphtoquinone, 2,3 dichloronaphto-1,4-quinone and 1-chloroanthraquinone nine compounds were obtained which are of interest as antitumoral, antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic agents. These compounds, so far, have been tested against lymphocytic leukemia P 388 in mice and found inactive. PMID- 2619989 TI - [Preparation and antileukemic activity of quinolizidinylalkyl-derivatives of 4 aminoquinoline and 9-aminoacridine]. AB - By reacting three quinolizidinylalkylamines with 4,7-dichloroquinoline and 6,9 dichloro-2-methoxyacridine six derivatives of 4-aminoquinoline and 9 aminoacridine were obtained. These compounds, which are of interest as potential antibacterial, antiprotozoarian, anti-helminthic and antitumoral agents, so far have been tested against lymphocytic leukemia P 388 and found to be inactive. PMID- 2619990 TI - Potent inhibitors of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase associated with serum lipoprotein particles. AB - Lipoprotein fractions from some individuals have inhibitory effects on rat liver adenylate cyclase. Precipitation of the lipoprotein fractions with acetone released an inhibitory factor, which was soluble in acetone-H2O (3:1, v/v). The inhibition was greater against glucagon-stimulated activity than against basal activity. Acetone extraction increased the potency of inhibition. All three lipoprotein fractions, i.e., very low, low, and high density lipoproteins, released some inhibitory component after acetone extraction. The inhibitor was concentrated in the lipoprotein fractions, since acetone extraction of plasma did not release an inhibitor. The acetone extract from the very low density lipoprotein was the most inhibitory. This material was further purified and partially characterized. The inhibitor had a molecular mass of about 500. It was inhibitory at micromolar concentrations. The material was sufficiently hydrophobic to migrate in normal-phase thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Nuclear magnetic resonance results indicated that it was not a polar lipid. There were several different inhibitory factors that were separable by TLC. The sequestration of these inhibitors into lipoproteins reduced their effectiveness in inhibiting the action of counter-regulatory hormones, such as glucagon. PMID- 2619991 TI - Acetylcholinesterase and nonspecific cholinesterase activities in rat liver: subcellular localization, molecular forms, and some extraction properties. AB - Subcellular distribution and some extraction properties of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) (EC 3.1.1.7) and nonspecific cholinesterase (ChE) (EC 3.1.1.8) were studied in rat liver employing subcellular fractionation techniques. All purified subcellular fractions were enriched in total cholinesterase activity over the homogenate. Plasma membrane and Golgi fractions showed a significant enrichment in AchE activity, while ChE activity was enriched in both rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Subcellular fractions were subjected to conditions that selectively release proteins having varying degrees of association to membranes. High-pH treatment (known to release peripheral and soluble proteins) extracted ChE activity, but more than 90% of AchE activity remained associated to the pellet. Solubility properties and molecular forms of AchE and ChE in this tissue were studied by extraction in high-salt medium with and without Triton X-100, followed by velocity sedimentation centrifugation. Most of AchE activity (88%) (41% G4 and 59% G2 + G1) was detergent soluble; 42% of ChE activity (detected only as G2 + G1) was high-salt soluble, whereas remaining ChE activity was detergent soluble. These results indicate not only a different subcellular location for both enzymes, but also point to a differential association to membranes. AchE behaves as an integral membrane protein and ChE behaves as a peripheral or a luminal soluble protein. PMID- 2619992 TI - Studies on the structure and intrinsic innervation of the normal human prostate. AB - Prostates from eight adult males (age range 17-63 years) were employed in this investigation. Six glands were obtained from multiorgan transplantation donors at the time of organ harvesting, and two additional glands, at routine post-mortem. Microscopic examination has shown that the majority of acini in the peripheral parts of the gland were individually relatively small and lined by an epithelium two to three cells in thickness. In contrast, acini in the central part of the gland were usually large and contained numerous prominent epithelial folds within the lumen. On the basis of morphology, a clear distinction between peripheral and central acini was not observed. The distribution of autonomic ganglia both within and adjacent to the prostate was studied, and nerve cell bodies containing both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and neuropeptide immunoreactivity were identified. The distribution and density of AChE-positive nerves associated with smooth muscle in either the peripheral or central parts of the prostate were indistinguishable. In addition, the majority of acini in peripheral and central regions possessed a rich subepithelial plexus of autonomic nerves. VIP-positive nerve fibers were found in relation to the epithelium lining acini in central and peripheral regions of the gland. In contrast, nerves possessing NPY immunoreactivity occurred only in relation to the smooth muscle trabeculae of the prostate. PMID- 2619993 TI - Neuronal influences on glial progenitor cell development. AB - The role of cell-cell interactions in the development of bipotential glial progenitor cells in cultures of rat cerebellum and optic nerve was studied. In the cerebellar cultures, progenitor cells divide slowly and most of their progeny develop into additional progenitor cells. Progenitor cells isolated from postconfluent cultures of cerebellum, however, develop rapidly into oligodendrocytes when grown in a serum-free medium. Factors secreted or shed into the medium by young cerebellar interneurons stimulate optic nerve progenitor cells to divide and promote the survival of progenitor cells. These factors appear to alter the function of the internal clock that regulates the timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation. These results suggest that the neuronal microenvironment can influence the lineage decisions of multipotential glial progenitor cells. PMID- 2619994 TI - Cell-specific and developmental regulation of a nerve growth factor-human growth hormone fusion gene in transgenic mice. AB - We recently showed that a nerve growth factor-human growth hormone (NGF-hGH) fusion gene containing the promoter and 750 bp of 5' flanking region is transcriptionally active in the NGF-secreting L929 mouse fibroblast cell line. For the present experiments, we extended the 5' flank by 5 kb and constructed transgenic mice. These mice began to secrete hGH into saliva at puberty. hGH was detected immunocytochemically in the granulated convoluted tubular cells of the submandibular gland (SMG). SMG levels of hGH mRNA were 10-fold higher in adult males than in females. hGH mRNA was very abundant in SMG, moderately abundant in heart, brain, and kidney, rare in skin and adrenal gland, and undetectable in lung, liver, and spleen. Thus, the NGF-hGH gene reflects NGF gene expression. We conclude that basal NGF gene transcription is regulated by sequences in the cloned NGF gene fragment. PMID- 2619995 TI - Expression of a multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and mutational analysis of its autoregulation. AB - Autophosphorylation of multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase converts it from a Ca2(+)-dependent to a Ca2(+)-independent or autonomous kinase, a process that may underlie some long-term enhancement of transient Ca2+ signals. We demonstrate that the neuronal alpha subunit clone expressed in COS-7 cells (alpha-CaM kinase) is sufficient to encode the regulatory phenomena characteristic of the multisubunit kinase isolated from brain. Activity of alpha CaM kinase is highly dependent on Ca2+/calmodulin. It is converted by autophosphorylation to an enzyme capable of Ca2(+)-independent (autonomous) substrate phosphorylation and autophosphorylation. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we separately eliminate five putative autophosphorylation sites within the regulatory domain and directly examine their individual roles. Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase activity is fully retained by each mutant, but Thr286 is unique among the sites in being indispensable for generation of an autonomous kinase. PMID- 2619996 TI - Distinct patterns of cAMP-dependent protein kinase gene expression in mouse brain. AB - In situ hybridization was used to localize cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) mRNAs in the adult mouse CNS. The PKA holoenzyme contains two catalytic (C) subunits and a regulatory (R) subunit dimer. Our studies demonstrate expression of two isoforms of C (C alpha and C beta) and four isoforms of R (RI alpha, RI beta, RII alpha, and RII beta) in the CNS. mRNAs for C alpha, RI alpha, and RI beta preferentially localize in the neocortex, caudate-putamen, hypothalamus, thalamus, and hippocampus. Hybridization with C beta and RII beta probes is clearly distinguished from the C alpha-like pattern by a reduced level of hybridization in the thalamus and by a relative increase in expression in the dentate gyrus compared with cell layers CA1-3 in the hippocampus. RII alpha transcripts are very specifically localized in the medial habenula. The differential expression of PKA subunit genes suggests that functional differences in cAMP responses within neural tissues may be mediated by the biochemical properties of specific PKA isoforms. PMID- 2619997 TI - Concanavalin A modulates a potassium channel in cultured Aplysia neurons. AB - A novel 100 pS K(+)-selective ion channel is frequently observed in cell-attached membrane patches from cultured Aplysia neurons. The activity of this channel is moderately voltage-dependent, but channel openings are rare and brief even when the patch is strongly depolarized. However, the activity of the channel is increased dramatically by the addition of the lectin concanavalin A (Con A), to the patch pipette. The channel is also activated by Con A in the bathing medium, suggesting that the lectin's action is via an as yet unidentified intracellular second messenger. In the one single-channel patch studied, Con A had no effect on the channel mean open time; rather it decreased the average duration of the long closed times between bursts of openings. Thus Con A increases either the open probability of single channels, the number of functional channels in the patch, or both. The functional significance of the Con A-induced modulation of K+ channel activity remains to be determined. PMID- 2619998 TI - Stimulated rabbit alveolar macrophages secrete a growth factor for type II pneumocytes. AB - The type II pneumocyte plays a principle role in the maintenance and repair of the pulmonary alveolar epithelium by increasing its rate of proliferation under conditions of epithelial damage. This investigation examined the role of the alveolar macrophage in the control of type II cell division through its ability to produce specific growth factors when activated in vitro. Type II cells were isolated from adult male rabbits and cultured in the presence of media and matrix that support cell proliferation. Proliferation was assessed by cell counting and pulsing with [3H]thymidine, followed by measurements of labeling index and TCA insoluble radioactivity. Alveolar macrophages were cultured in serum-free media in the presence of a particulate stimulus. Conditioned media was diluted and added to type II cell cultures. Conditioned media from stimulated macrophage cultures was found to double basal type II cell proliferation, whereas media from unstimulated macrophage cultures had no effect. Macrophage production of type II cell growth-promoting activity was dependent on the concentration of the stimulus and the length of the incubation. Investigation into the identity of the growth regulating protein established that it is heat labile, insensitive to reduction and acidic conditions, and sensitive to trypsin digestion. Its molecular weight appears to be greater than or equal to 25 kD. Addition of several characterized growth factors to type II cell cultures demonstrated that other known growth promoting products of macrophages do not act as type II cell growth factors. The evidence presented suggests that in vitro activated alveolar macrophages produce a type II cell growth factor that may play a critical role in mediating repair of the alveolar epithelium. PMID- 2619999 TI - Increased synthesis and mRNA of surfactant protein A in oxygen-exposed rats. AB - Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is an abundant glycoprotein in surfactant that is synthesized and secreted by alveolar type II cells and likely has important roles in mediating surfactant function and metabolism. In the present study, we demonstrate that exposure to 85% oxygen increased alveolar lavage and lung SP-A, and that these increases were related to increased SP-A synthesis and mRNA. Adult rats were exposed to room air or to 85% oxygen for 3, 5, or 7 days. Continuous exposure to hyperoxia progressively increased SP-A content, with a 20-fold increase in alveolar lavage and a 10-fold increase in lung SP-A content observed after 7 days. SP-A-specific mRNA increased in the lungs of rats exposed to oxygen, occurring with a time course similar to the increase in tissue SP-A. SP-A mRNA was increased 7-fold after 7 days of oxygen exposure. Synthesis of SP-A was increased 2- to 3-fold and secretion was increased 6- to 7-fold by type II epithelial cells isolated from oxygen-exposed rats. We conclude that exposure to hyperoxia increased lung and alveolar SP-A pool sizes. Increased expression of SP A was related, at least in part, to increased SP-A mRNA and increased SP-A synthesis and secretion by type II epithelial cells. PMID- 2620000 TI - Alveolar macrophage-particle relationships during lung clearance. AB - Retention kinetics for insoluble particles that deposit in the lung oftentimes resemble a multicomponent process during alveolar clearance, with each component appearing to follow simple first-order kinetics. Inasmuch as alveolar macrophages (AM) are thought to play an important role in particle removal from the lung, a study was undertaken to examine particle-AM relationships during the clearance of particles to obtain information on potential AM mechanisms that could provide the underlying bases for the lung retention kinetics of the particles. Adult, Fischer 344 rats were intratracheally instilled with 1.6 x 10(7) (approximately 86 micrograms) polystyrene microspheres (approximately 2 microns diam). On Days 7, 14, 57, 85, and 176 thereafter, subgroups were killed, their lungs were lavaged, recovered cells (greater than 95% AM) were counted, the frequency distribution of the particles among the AM was determined (e.g., zero, 1 to 2, 3 to 4 particles/AM), and the total numbers of particles lavaged were estimated. The lavaged lungs were solubilized, and unlavaged particles were also counted. The sums of the lavaged and unlavaged particles were used to estimate retained lung burdens at each postinstillation time. The lung retention data followed a pattern consistent with the sum of two negative exponential components, i.e., an earlier, more rapid component and a slower, longer term component. The rates at which the AM disappeared from a given particle category also were biphasic for AM that contained up to 14 microspheres. The rates of both the earlier and longer term components of such disappearance were found to increase with increasing AM burdens. Over an AM burden range of 1 to 10 microspheres, the proportion of AM that disappeared via rapid components also increased as the particle burden defining an AM category increased. At higher particle burdens, the proportion of AM that disappeared by an early component appeared to markedly diminish; an early component for AM disappearance was no longer resolvable for AM that contained greater than 15 microspheres. The net effect of these phenomena was that retained lung burdens over time became progressively contained in AM with lesser burdens of particles. The results from this study suggest that the rate(s) of translocation of particle-containing AM from the lung during lung clearance may be related to their individual particulate burdens. These findings, however, are also consistent with a gradual redistribution of particles among the lung's AM population over time concurrent with AM removal from the lung. Regardless, the biphasic nature of the lung retention data qualitatively was generally evident for particle-containing AM as well. PMID- 2620001 TI - The cellular response to stress. PMID- 2620002 TI - [Scholarly nursing research is the basis for quality patient care]. PMID- 2620003 TI - [Ethical problems concerning the feeding of aged patients and of patients in the terminal stage]. AB - The purpose of this study was to explain the nurses' and the special nurses' decision making and the facts with it in connection to eating problems with the old, seriously demented patients and with the old cancer patients in terminal stage. The study was carried out by interviewing 40 nurses and special nurses. Twenty of them was working with dementia patients in the wards of two health centers and twenty nurses had experience by caring cancer patients in terminal stage in one central hospital. The structural interview schedule was used and the interviews were recorded. It was found in the study, that the most nurses in cancer care didn't want to feed a patient against his will. In dementia care most of the nurses were ready to feed a patient. The opinion of relatives, order given by a physician, the attitudes of the other medical staff and the suffering caused by feeding the patient were the facts, which effected to the decision making of the nurses, especially in dementia care. PMID- 2620004 TI - [Motivation research in nursing sciences. A description of the basic motivation of nursing science]. AB - The purpose of this article is to describe the function of the motivation research within caring science as well as to study the caritas motive as the basic motive of caring science. As a basic motive is understood a phenomenon, e.g. caring, as a finished whole, which defines its structure and gives it its real character. The task of the systematic caring science is to study the basic motive of caring. The caritas motive can, from the point of view of the ideal history, be seen as one of the basic motives of caring. The caritas motive is formed on the basis of the responsibility the nurse is prepared to take for the patient. Does the caritas motive have a chance, a task in today's caring? Altogether 81 students in the initial phase of their specialized studies were asked this question. The answers given by the students show a desirability profile which outlines more holistic and caritative caring. The students believe in the chance of the caritas motive. Although 73% of the students stated they had found an expression to the caritas motive, before all hope and love. We have got a chance to affect the trends within caring through our consciousness of the basic motive of caring. PMID- 2620005 TI - [Quality assurance in nursing in Finnish health care organizations]. AB - The purpose of this study is to describe the present situation in quality assurance in nursing in Finnish hospitals and health centers. The data was collected by questionnaires from the nurse leaders in 20 hospitals and in 28 health centers around Finland during the autumn 1987 and spring 1988. They were asked what has been done in their organizations in quality assurance in nursing; methods, areas, co-operators and problems they faced in their quality assurance programmes. Quality assurance in nursing is in the beginning. The nurses are discussing about the concepts of quality, quality assessment, quality assurance and measurements of quality in nursing. In 67% of organizations belonging to this study the nurses have begun to write the standards and criterias in nursing practice. Only in one hospital and in one health center nurses had measured the quality of nursing with some method. PMID- 2620006 TI - [Nursing work management of administrative and educational resources in nursing service development]. PMID- 2620007 TI - [In situ nick translation for detection of DNA damages in glioma cells]. AB - DNA damaging agents such as nitrosoureas are widely used for the treatment of malignant gliomas. Therefore, quantitative measurement of DNA damages induced by antineoplastic drugs is useful to judge the efficacy of the drug and understand the pharmacological action of the drug. We have utilized in situ nick translation method to demonstrate "nicks" in DNA of glioma cells treated by various antineoplastic agents. Exponentially growing rat 9 L glioma cells (4 x 10(4] were seeded in the chamber slide. After fourty eight hours, the medium was changed to that containing various concentration of the drug (ACNU, cis-DDP, BLM, ADM and VP 16) and the cell was treated for 1 hour. Then, the cell was fixed for 10 minutes in methanol-acetic acid (v/v 3:1). Following fixation, the cell was incubated in the nick translation mixture containing E. coli DNA polymerase I, 3H-TTP, and 4 dNTP's (ATP, GTP, CTP, CTP and TTP) for 10 minutes at room temperature. The slide was dipped in the autoradiographic emulsion, exposed for 4 days at 4 degrees C, and then developed, the number of the silver grains over nuclei was counted under the microscope. For comparison of the effect of the drug to glioma cells, IC50 (inhibitory concentration of the drug for 50% cell kill) of each drug was determined by treating the cell for 48 hours at the various concentration of the drug. Small number of the silver grains was noted in cells with no treatment. Over IC50 as the concentration of the drug increased, the number of the nick increased in cells treated with bleomycin or adriamycin which are known to produce single strand breaks in DNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620008 TI - [A trial of ACNU and radiation therapy with sensitizing agents for malignant gliomas]. AB - Twelve cases of malignant gliomas (anaplastic astrocytoma 4, glioblastoma 8, recurrent 3, primary 9) were treated with ACNU and radiation with sensitizing agents after the surgical removal of the tumor. BUdR, Vidarabine (Ara-A), Aciclovir (ACV) were applied for sensitizing agents. BUdR was administrated intraarterially prior to radiation (380 rad, two times a week), and Ara-A and ACV intravenously during and after the radiation. Total dosage of the radiation was 50-60 Grey for each case. All recurrent and eight primary patients died. The mean survival time of the recurrent patients was 17.7 months, while that of the primary patients was 13.4 months. One of the primary patient was glioblastoma and is still surviving more than 24 months by now. The complete response (CR) rate of the primary tumor patients observed by computerized tomography (CT) scan was 5/9. We can expect the availability of this trial for malignant gliomas because of high CR rate in primary tumor cases. PMID- 2620009 TI - [Crossed cerebellar diaschisis in hydrocephalus--a case report]. AB - A case of hydrocephalus in which a crossed cerebellar diaschisis with single photon emission CT (SPECT) using 123I-iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) disappeared by a ventriculo-peritoneal shunting operation, was reported. A 54-year-old female had a clipping surgery for a aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery on April 9, 1987. Post-operatively, she had a transient mild aphasia. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) study with 123I-IMP-SPECT had showed low perfusion in the left frontal and temporal lobe. But after a month, clinical symptom and CBF findings had improved. She had been doing well after the discharge until October, 1987, when she developed disorientation. CT on re-admission showed the ventricular dilatation with periventricular low density (left greater than right). 123I-IMP-SPECT study showed the crossed cerebellar diaschisis which was a low perfusion in the left frontal, temporal, parietal, thalamus, basal ganglionic area and in the opposite cerebellum. A ventriculo-peritoneal shunting operation was performed which brought the disappearance of the crossed cerebellar diaschisis and the clinical improvement. The phenomenon of crossed cerebellar diaschisis has been reported in a lot of literatures. However, those diseases were located in unilateral supratentorium. It has been speculated that crossed cerebellar diaschisis is the transneural metabolic change through the cortico-ponto-cerebellar pathway by supratentorial lesion. Crossed cerebellar diaschisis in hydrocephalus has not been reported so far.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620010 TI - [Significance of "on-off phonation test" to detect oral diadochokinesia in dysarthric patients]. AB - Oral diadochokinetic abilities in 6 patients with ataxic dysarthria (ATAXICs), 6 with spastic dysarthria (SPASTICs), 3 with parkinsonism (PARKINs), and 6 normal subjects (NORMALs) were investigated using repetition of monosyllable /pa/ and "on-off phonation test" in which they had been requested to repeat interrupted vowel /a/ as fast as possible. Oscillographic as well as photographic records of the speech acoustic signal were obtained to analyse interval for a syllable, which consisted of voiced and unvoiced intervals, and peak-value of voiced interval. The results were as follows: 1) ATAXICs and SPASTICs showed prolonged interval for a syllable, yet that of PARKINs was within normal range, when tested either in /a/ or in /pa/. 2) Standard deviation and coefficient of variation for intervals of syllable and those of peak-values in voiced interval could not distinguish their characteristics among ATAXICs, SPASTICs, and PARKINs. 3) In "on off phonation test", ATAXICs showed prolonged unvoiced intervals, while SPASTICs did prolonged voiced intervals. Results suggested that hypotonic laryngeal muscles in ATAXICs might result in prolongation of unvoiced interval, but that prolonged voiced interval related to biased hypertonus of laryngeal adductor. It is concluded that "on-off phonation test" could, with reasonable sensitivity, reflect the phonatory dynamics of laryngeal muscles in dysarthric patients. PMID- 2620011 TI - [Basilar artery migraine associated with transient global amnesia]. AB - Transient global amnesia (TGA) is an unusual form of the amnestic syndrome, clinically characterized by profound disturbance of short-term memory with preservation of immediate recall and long-term memory. Spontaneous recovery is the rule and is usually complete within several hours. The etiology of TGA is not clear. It is considered to be caused by transient ischemia confined to the medial temporal lobe, an area supplied by branches of the vertebrobasilar system. Basilar artery migraine is a well-known syndrome, first described by Bickerstaff. Besides pulsating headache, the dominant symptoms are vertigo, ataxic gait, tinnitus, dysarthria, paraeshesia in the hands, homonymous hemianopsia and sometimes drop-attacks. These symptoms are associated with vertebrobasilar system dysfunction. In this paper, three migraine patients, suffering from one episode of TGA, were reported. All patients were women. Case 1 was a 48-year-old woman with a history of common migraine. Case 2 was a 48-year-old woman with a history of classic migraine. Case 3 was a 59-year-old woman with a common migraine. Family history of migraine exists in case 1 and case 3. Their migrainous attacks began in their twenties and thirties. They suddenly suffered migraine with the symptoms of vertebrobasilar dysfunction. These symptoms are ataxic gait (Case 1, 2, 3), dysarthria (Case 1, 2), vertigo (Case 1, 3) and homonymous hemianopsia (Case 1, 3). Simultaneously three patients had TGA. Duration of retrograde amnesia were about twenty-four hours (Case 1), about thirty minutes (Case 2) and about three hours (Case 3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620012 TI - [Experimental focal cerebral ischemia produced by embolization with silicone cylinder in normotensive (NTR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR): comparison of neurological and pathological findings]. AB - A focal cerebral ischemic model was produced by occlusion of the intracranial main cerebral artery with a silicone cylinder in normotensive (NTR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Main cerebral artery could be successfully occluded in approximately 90%. The most frequent embolized site was the distal part of the internal cerebral artery (ICb) and less frequently the horizontal segment of the anterior cerebral artery (Al). Mortality rate of NTR with ICb occlusion (NTR-ICb) was 43% at 72 hours after embolization and that of SHR with ICb occlusion (SHR-ICb) was 67% at 24 hours after embolization. NTR-ICb showed neurological signs (i.e. circling movement, hemiparesis, poor response to pain stimuli) and histologically, showed infarction in the deep cerebral structures (i.e. thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and internal capsule) accompanied with mild disruption of blood-brain barrier (BBB). SHR-ICb showed more serious neurological signs and more severe cerebral infarction in the deep cerebral structures with severe disruption of BBB. In SHR-ICb, ischemic cerebral edema was more prominent which may deteriorate symptoms and pathological findings compared to NTR-ICb. This embolization model is proposed to be useful for studying the pathophysiology of focal cerebral ischemia, especially, early ischemic edema. PMID- 2620013 TI - [Case report: hemiballism due to a putaminal cavernous hemangioma]. AB - A rare case of reversible hemiballism due to putaminal pathological process in a 51-year-old woman is described. She was hospitalized for evaluation of hemiballism and muscle weakness on the left side. A cranial computed tomography scan demonstrated a high density lesion in the right putamen with enhancement on delayed scan. Angiographic examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging with T1 weighted showed a isodense lesion in the right putamen, while T2 weighted image revealed a ring like low signal area around a high signal lesion. These findings were compatible with the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma. In order to establish the final diagnosis, CT-guided stereotaxic biopsy was carried out. But histological specimen showed only gliosis and calcification. Immediately after the biopsy, a small hemorrhage took place in the right putamen extending to the head of caudate nucleus head. Following this episode, hemiballism ceased, however, it gradually returned along with absorption of hemorrhage. The speculated pathophysiology of this on-and-off hemiballism was as follows; it initially developed as the result of suppression of inhibitory fibers from the striatum to the pallidum by a minor hemorrhage of putaminal cavernous hemangioma, and ceased by declining the activities of the pallidum due to interruption of excitatory fibers from the thalamus and the cortex to the striatum. PMID- 2620014 TI - [Capillary permeability factor produced by C 6 glioma cells: role in peritumoral brain edema and possible mechanism of glucocorticoid action]. AB - We studied whether C6 glioma cells produce a diffusible factor that increases capillary permeability of rat brains. Culture supernatant after 4 hours' incubation of C6 glioma cells in serum-free medium was obtained (SUP-N). SUP-N was concentrated 80-fold by dialysis-concentration (MW cut off was 10 kd) (SUP C). These two supernatant fractions were tested for capillary permeability activity by their infusion into normal rat brains (right caudate-putamen). Control materials (MEM or concentrated MEM) were also infused into the left caudate-putamen as well as supernatants. Capillary permeability was measured by a quantitative autoradiographic method with 14C-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and expressed as an unidirectional blood-to-brain transfer constant (K). Effects of infusates were quantitatively estimated by two parameters, i.e., the highest K value (Kmax) (microliter/g/min) and the spatial extent (D1/2) (mm). The protein concentration of SUP-N and SUP-C was 15 and 950 micrograms/ml, respectively. SUP N showed a slight increase of capillary permeability, particularly, around the needle track (infusion site) in the brain, but it was not significantly different from the control on the value of Kmax. On the other hand, SUP-C markedly increased capillary permeability (Kmax; SUP-C: 10.83 +/- 0.99, control: 2.53 +/- 0.22, p less than .001) and the effect was much more extensive than that of SUP-N (D1/2; SUP-C: 2.23 +/- 0.26, SUP-N: 0.83 +/- 0.07). A factor in SUP-C increased capillary permeability after a lag phase of 1.5 hours reaching the maximum after 6 hours of infusion, and 24 hours later the effect declined to 30% of Kmax at 6 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620015 TI - [Postoperative intracranial pressure in severe cases with hypertensive intracerebral hematoma]. AB - The relationship between the postoperative ICP and the size of hematoma on CT scan and the time of operation was studied to evaluate their influence on the therapeutic results in the severe cases with hypertensive intracerebral hematoma. Twenty one patients of putaminal hemorrhage with severe neurological deficit (semicoma) were studied. ICP was monitored continuously by the Subdural balloon method after craniotomy to remove the hematoma. The relationship between the postoperative ICP level (High ICP: above 40 mmHg, Moderate ICP: 40-20 mmHg, Low ICP: below 20 mmHg), the size of hematoma estimated from CTscan (Large: more than 80 ml, Medium: less than 80 ml), the time from onset to removing hematoma and the therapeutic results were evaluated. The outcome six months after onset was determined according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Of 6 cases with Medium hematoma operated on within 8 hours, Low ICP was found in 5 cases (83%) and Moderate ICP was in one case (17%). Of 6 cases with Medium hematoma operated on after 8 hours, High and Moderate ICP were found in 3 cases (50%), respectively. In the cases with Large hematoma, Low ICP was not observed, but High ICP was found in 4 of 7 cases operated on within 8 hours (57.1%) and the other three indicated Moderate ICP (42.9%). High ICP was found in two cases with Large hematoma operated on after 8 hours (100%). The outcome of High ICP cases was severe disability in 4 cases, vegetative state in one and dead in 4, and that of Moderate ICP cases was moderate disability in 3 cases and severe disability in 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620016 TI - Ecology and public health. PMID- 2620017 TI - The Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH): an instrument for change or maintaining the status quo. PMID- 2620018 TI - New initiatives in health manpower development in the western Pacific regional office of WHO. PMID- 2620019 TI - The ethics of health service delivery: a challenge to public health leadership. PMID- 2620020 TI - Social mobilization for immunization and primary health care. PMID- 2620021 TI - Hepatitis B infection in Vanuatu: age of acquisition of infection and possible routes of transmission. AB - Seroepidemiological studies of hepatitis B were carried out on diverse groups of children (477) and adults (629) from the Pacific Island country of Vanuatu. In children under 14 years, prevalences of HBsAg and of all markers were 6% and 53.3% respectively; in adults greater than or equal to 20 years the prevalences were 15% and 70%. Age specific prevalence of hepatitis B infection (all markers) was low in infancy (less than 1 year) but rose sharply afterwards, suggesting that the main mechanism of transmission was horizontal spread. This finding is consistent with other developing country studies from the Pacific Islands and elsewhere. In view of the main ages and mechanisms of transmission of hepatitis B in children in developing countries and the need for simple and inexpensive immunisation strategies in this context, it is recommended that mass vaccination of all infants with hepatitis B vaccine be undertaken in hyperendemic areas. PMID- 2620022 TI - Hearing loss and otitis media on Guam: impact of professional services. AB - In less than two decades, there has been a dramatic reduction in the prevalence of otitis media and perforations among Guam's school-aged children. In addition, hearing loss due to chronic middle ear disease as a cause of disqualification from military service has dropped from a first rank order cause to next-to-last. However, there has been no reduction in the prevalence of otitis media in the preschool population. The reduction in chronic ear disease is the result of improved access to primary care, intensive hearing screening, wide availability of audiologic diagnostic and follow-up services, and comprehensive otologic care. It is essential that these services continue to be available to Guam's children to avoid a reversal of these dramatic gains. Attention must now focus on how to achieve similar gains for Micronesian children who remain restricted in their access to these resources. PMID- 2620023 TI - Knowledge, attitude and practice factors in childhood acute respiratory infections in a peninsular Malaysia health district. AB - This study compares the knowledge, attitudes and practice of mothers in two ethnic groups with regard to acute respiratory infections (ARI) in their child. Most had traditional beliefs as to the cause of ARI with only a minority knowing the causes. Most mothers were aware of the effect of frequent attacks of ARI on the health status of their child and of the importance of early treatment. Reasons for their becoming worried during an episode of ARI in their child indicated that problems of distance, transportation and arrangements for care of their other children predominate. A large proportion of the respondents felt that their present knowledge of ARI was inadequate and were thus interested in obtaining more information. PMID- 2620024 TI - Mental health patients in primary health care services in Nepal. AB - Patients attending two primary care settings in Nepal (a village health post and a district hospital outpatient department) were screened for psychiatric morbidity using the Self Reporting Questionnaire. Approximately one-quarter of all patients screened were found to have psychiatric morbidity. Women presenting were found to have higher frequency of "psychiatric caseness" than men. All these psychiatric patients presented with physical complaints, none with psychological, and the most common physical symptoms presented were abdominal pain, headache and cough. Health worker recognition of these cases was 29% in the health post and 0% in the hospital. Conclusions are drawn regarding the need for sufficient and relevant psychiatric teaching in health worker curriculae. PMID- 2620025 TI - Cancer occurrence in Vanuatu in the South Pacific, 1980-86. AB - A total of 269 pathologically confirmed carcinoma cases (118 male, 151 female) were recorded in the seven year period 1980 to 1986 in Vanuatu, an island nation within the Melanesia region in the South Pacific. Cervical cancer was numerically the most important malignancy in females (25% of all female cancers). In males, liver cancer was the most commonly observed (14.4% of all male cancers). Almost one-half (44.4%) of the available paraffin blocks from liver carcinoma cases (18 cases) demonstrated positivity of HBV antigens in liver tissue. The most interesting feature was the high proportion of thyroid cancers, especially in females. It represented 12.1 percent of all cancers in female and 5.2 percent in male Melanesians in Vanuatu. These percentages were found to be even higher than among Hawaiians for whom the highest incidence rates in the world have been recorded. Since our study was based solely on pathologically diagnosed cases, the findings should be regarded as minimum estimates. PMID- 2620026 TI - Province of origin of hepatitis B surface antigen carriers among blood donors in Port Moresby. AB - A paper published in the Medical Journal of Australia in 1972 gave a breakdown of Port Moresby blood donors by HBS Ag carrier status and area of origin. It has lately become possible to test whether such geographical subsamples provide reliable evidence of the carrier status in the home areas, and it appears that, except for the Islands provinces, they do not. Traditional lifestyles conduce to the maintenance and spread of the virus, which is much more prevalent in the provinces than in the capital. PMID- 2620027 TI - Patterns of pesticide usage by cereal crop farmers in Western Australia. AB - In Western Australia there has been an increase in the use of herbicides in recent years due to a change in farming practices. This change, together with more general public concern over exposure to chemicals, has resulted in farmers expressing concern over the possible long term health effects from exposure to herbicides. As part of a long term study of the possible health effects from such exposure, a survey was carried out to establish the extent of pesticide use within the cereal farming community of Western Australia. Of the 9,408 properties surveyed, 2,921 responses were received which represents a 32.2% response rate. The results indicate that a wide range of chemicals are used as insecticides, fumigants, seed dressings, seed pickles, herbicides, and rodent poisons. At the time of the survey in 1985, products containing prespruf and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2 bis (p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) were the most popular insecticide, and products containing diquat, diclofop-methyl, chlorsulfuron and glyphosate as active ingredients represented the four most popular herbicides. PMID- 2620028 TI - The continuing care contract. PMID- 2620029 TI - Press misrepresentation. PMID- 2620030 TI - MGDS examination. PMID- 2620031 TI - 'Sugar: the autumn issue'. PMID- 2620032 TI - Well hidden sugar. PMID- 2620033 TI - 'Lifesaver' seminars. PMID- 2620034 TI - 'Audit--a cause for TMJ dysfunction'. PMID- 2620035 TI - 'Rubber dam acceptance'. PMID- 2620036 TI - 'The use of various handwashing agents to decontaminate gloved hands'. PMID- 2620037 TI - A longitudinal study of the value of a spatial relations test in selecting dental students. AB - Potential academic ability, practical skill and personality characteristics should all be assessed in selecting dental students. Of these, practical skill commonly receives the least attention, largely because valid and reliable predictive tests are not available. The Spatial Relations Test, which might be used for this purpose, was administered to 1391 applicants to a dental school. There was little correlation between the results of the test and GCE 'A' level grades, showing that the test measured different abilities. However, there was a strong relationship between poor scores on the test and the number of students resigning from the course or failing to graduate on time. PMID- 2620038 TI - The changes in dental caries experience of 12-year-old schoolchildren in two Somerset schools. A review after an interval of 25 years. AB - The examination of 12-year-old children attending schools in central Somerset, where similar examinations were conducted 6, 19 and 25 years previously, has indicated that the caries experience of the children in these schools is continuing to decrease, and at a faster annual rate than previously. The average DMFT was 1.05; it was 5.36, 3.44 and 2.77 25, 19 and 6 years previously. The major reduction over the last 6 years is in the average number of filled teeth per child. The treatment philosophy of the practitioners caring for the children has changed and now appears to be appropriate to the treatment need. PMID- 2620039 TI - Practice visits. AB - This article reviews the practice visiting procedures employed in vocational training. The particular usage examined is that employed in the West Midlands region after a 10-year development period, although most regions employ a similar format. It is hoped that the article will be of particular assistance to practitioners contemplating an application to become a trainer. PMID- 2620040 TI - Tackling a bus with a toothbrush. AB - 'Been there...done that...now what?' Is this what can be said of all dentists following Vocational Training? In fact, it is the title of a booklet given to all Ventures following an expedition with Operation Raleigh. PMID- 2620041 TI - The Capitation Study--your questions answered. AB - In the August 23, 1986 issue of the British Dental Journal, an account of the Capitation Study was published in the form of questions and answers. The study had just commenced and general dental practitioners were interested to learn the reasons for its conduct, who was carrying it out, how it was planned and what eventual effect it might have on dentists' professional lives. Now that the study has ended and the results have been collated and delivered to the Department of Health, readers might wish to be reminded of its aims, conduct and outcome. During the study, many practitioners asked interesting questions, some of which this article will attempt to answer. PMID- 2620042 TI - Chronic leukaemias: can they be cured? Part 1: Chronic myeloid leukaemia. AB - Chronic myeloid leukaemia, a clonal myeloproliferative disorder with a biphasic nature, is characterised by a specific chromosomal aberration, the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome. The Ph chromosome is the result of a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 and involves the ABL and BCR genes resulting in a chimeric mRNA encoding a specific protein, termed P210. At present, there is no convincing evidence that to maintain the leucocyte count within the normal range prolongs the duration of the stable chronic phase or of survival, and the objectives of treatment are simply to alleviate symptoms or to delay their onset. It has, however, become clear that bone marrow transplantation performed during the chronic phase using an HLA-identical sibling donor offers the best chance of a cure. PMID- 2620043 TI - A double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of mebeverine and mefenamic acid in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea. AB - OBJECTIVE: i) To compare the efficacy of mebeverine, mefenamic acid and placebo in relieving the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhoea. ii) To compare the incidence of concurrent effects during treatment with mebeverine, mefenamic acid and placebo. DESIGN: Double-blind, prospectively randomised, three-way crossover study of mebeverine, mefenamic acid and placebo during three consecutive menstrual cycles. SETTING: University health centres in the UK. PATIENTS: Sixty four females suffering from primary dysmenorrhoea who experienced pain during every menstrual cycle. INTERVENTION: Dosage was two capsules, three times daily, of mebeverine, mefenamic acid or placebo. Each mebeverine capsule contained 135 mg mebeverine hydrochloride, and each mefenamic acid capsule contained 250 mg mefenamic acid. Paracetamol (up to 2 x 500 mg) was permitted, if required, as rescue analgesia. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Details of pain severity, nausea, abdominal bloating and disruption to daily activities were recorded by means of clinician assessments and patient diaries. Patients indicated their treatment preference after three cycles. Mebeverine and mefenamic acid were superior to placebo in reducing pain severity (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.02 respectively), and mefenamic acid reduced the level of disruption to normal activities (p less than 0.01). The number of concurrent effects reported was five during treatment with mefenamic acid and one each during treatment with placebo and mebeverine. CONCLUSIONS: Mebeverine and mefenamic acid are effective in relieving symptoms of dysmenorrhoea. PMID- 2620044 TI - Clinical investigation of acute lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage. AB - Over a four-year period (1984-1987) nine consecutive patients presented with acute lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage requiring emergency investigation with scintigraphy (using radionuclide-labelled blood-pool agent), angiography or colonoscopy or a combination of these. Angiography in two patients was unhelpful. Of three colonoscopic examinations, two were technically unsatisfactory. In two patients with persistent bleeding requiring urgent surgery, scintigraphy located the bleeding site pre-operatively, while in five patients with negative scintigraphy bleeding settled spontaneously without operative intervention. The relative merits of the above investigations are discussed. PMID- 2620045 TI - Ambulatory electrocardiography in the elderly: an audit. AB - In a retrospective analysis of 264 episodes of ambulatory electrocardiography (AECG) in 252 elderly out-patients the overall diagnostic yield was only 12 per cent. However, AECG was found to be of significant value in detecting symptomatic tachyarrhythmias, and in confirming the diagnosis of the 'sick sinus syndrome'. The AECG results influenced the management plan in at least 16 per cent, and changes in drug treatment in 10 per cent. When interpreted critically, AECG is useful tool in the investigation of elderly patients with symptoms such as syncope, faintness, dizziness and unexplained falls. PMID- 2620046 TI - Sigmoid colon carcinoma presenting within left inguinal hernias. PMID- 2620047 TI - An unusual presentation of colorectal carcinoma. AB - The skin is rather an unusual site of metastasis from carcinoma of the rectum. When the skin is involved, it tends to be part of the picture of widespread terminal malignant disease. Consequently, survival after the appearance of skin metastases is usually short. It is uncommon for skin metastases to be a presenting feature, and especially so if the involved skin is on the distal part of a limb. We would, therefore, like to present such a case. PMID- 2620048 TI - Domestic violence: one outlook. PMID- 2620049 TI - Gynaecological impact of sexual and physical abuse by spouse. A study of a random sample of Norwegian women. AB - A sample of 150 women aged between 20 and 49 was randomly selected from the census of the city of Trondheim, Norway. Of the 131 eligible for the study, 13 refused to participate; the participating 118 women were interviewed by a gynaecologist. Detailed information about their present and previous spouse(s) and about sexual problems and gynaecological symptoms was obtained. Physical abuse by spouse had occurred in 20 (18%) of the 111 women who had ever lived in a relationship, and sexual abuse in 19 (17%). Eleven (10%) had experienced both physical and sexual abuse. A history of physical abuse with or without sexual abuse by spouse was associated with sexual problems in the present or in previous relationships. Reported abuse by spouse was also associated with a higher frequency of gynaecological symptoms at the time of interview. PMID- 2620050 TI - The effect of anorexia nervosa on skin thickness, skin collagen and bone density. AB - The effects of anorexia nervosa on skin thickness, skin collagen content and bone density were investigated in a cross-sectional study of 36 women with anorexia nervosa with a 4-year median duration of amenorrhoea and compared with a group of 33 women of comparable age without anorexia and with normal periods. The median skin thickness, assessed radiologically, was significantly reduced (P less than 0.01) from 0.88 mm in the comparison group to 0.70 mm in the anorectic group and the median collagen content was significantly reduced from 209 micrograms/mm2 in the comparison group to 164 micrograms/mm2 in the anorectic group (P less than 0.05). The median bone density in the comparison group was 0.93 gHA/cm2 at the lumbar spine and 0.84 gHA/cm2 at the proximal femur. These values were greatly reduced in the women with anorexia nervosa to 0.77 gHA/cm2 and 0.65 gHA/cm2 respectively (P less than 0.01). Our findings confirm the loss of bone mass with anorexia and demonstrate the coexistent loss of skin thickness and skin collagen content. This association supports the hypothesis that a generalized loss of collagen is a major factor in the causation of osteoporosis following oestrogen deficiency. PMID- 2620051 TI - The prognostic significance of the half-life of serum CA 125 in patients responding to chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian carcinoma. AB - Various prognostic factors were studied in 29 patients with stage III or IV ovarian cancer who responded to initial chemotherapy after initial diagnostic surgery. The half-life of CA 125 in serum during initial chemotherapy was the most important prognostic indicator for survival (P less than 0.001) and the chance of achieving complete remission (P = 0.012). A CA 125 half-life of less than 20 days, 20-40 days and greater than 40 days appears to identify patients with a good, intermediate or poor prognosis, the two year actuarial survival being 76%, 48% and 0% respectively. The change of achieving a complete remission was 15% and 67% respectively for patients with a serum CA 125 half-life of greater than 20 or less than 20 days. PMID- 2620052 TI - Survey of attitudes to testing for human immunodeficiency virus infection in antenatal clinics in West Glamorgan. AB - A total of 1023 women attending hospital antenatal clinics in West Glamorgan was surveyed by means of a self-administered questionnaire, to determine their attitudes to HIV testing in pregnancy. The response rate was 98%. Of the responders, 94% had no objection to their antenatal blood specimen being tested for HIV infection. Of the non-objectors, 55% wished their permission to be asked first, and 92% wished to be informed of the result, i.e. they wished for named testing. With regard to knowledge of other tests for infectious diseases performed on antenatal blood specimens, only 1.5% had totally correct knowledge, and only one in three knew that their blood was tested for syphilis. The implications of anonymous and named HIV testing are discussed, together with estimates of prevalence of HIV infection in women attending antenatal clinics, the rate of vertical transmission, and the prognosis for an infected baby. PMID- 2620053 TI - Melanoma and pregnancy: a long-term follow-up. AB - Treatment of the pregnant woman with melanoma is contentious. With the aid of a computerized melanoma register, in which pregnancy data can be recorded, 290 women with melanoma were reviewed (249 alive and 41 dead). Overall, 23 patients were pregnant at the time of diagnosis of melanoma, and another 23 became pregnant at some time after primary treatment of a melanoma. Pregnancy appears to have no significant influence on the survival of patients with melanoma, but it is recommended that pregnancy should be avoided for the first three years following excision of a melanoma. PMID- 2620054 TI - 2308 second trimester terminations using extra-amniotic or intra-amniotic prostaglandin E2: an analysis of efficacy and complications. AB - A total of 2308 mid-trimester terminations using PGE2 extra-amniotically (1608) or intra-amniotically (700) has been analysed for efficacy and immediate and early morbidity. The mean induction-to-abortion intervals were similar for the two routes. Overall, 67% of the patients were in hospital for 1 night. Morbidity rates were similar for the two administration routes and were no higher than those reported for second trimester terminations using dilatation and evacuation. Minor side-effects of vomiting occurred in 1006 (44%) and diarrhoea in 320 (14%). Forty (1.7%) lost more than 500 ml of blood during termination and 13 (0.6%) were transfused. Major complications were extremely rare and genital tract trauma only occurred in 4 (0.17%) and proven pelvic infection in 2 (0.08%) patients. Thirty three (1.4%) were readmitted and required a surgical evacuation of the uterus. Since long-term complications have been assessed for this method of termination and found to be infrequent, we see no reason to consider a change in methods for second trimester terminations. PMID- 2620055 TI - Comparison of the Foley catheter and dinoprostone pessary for cervical preparation before second trimester abortion. AB - The Foley catheter and a 3 mg dinoprostone pessary (Prostin E2) were compared as methods for cervical preparation before second trimester dilatation and evacuation. The catheter was well tolerated and provided significantly greater change in cervical dilatation and improved cervical compliance. The Foley catheter would seem to provide a readily available and efficacious means of cervical preparation. PMID- 2620056 TI - Development of an invasive macroprolactinoma: a possible consequence of prolonged oestrogen replacement. Case report. PMID- 2620057 TI - Evidence of redistribution of cardiac output in asymmetrical growth retardation. PMID- 2620058 TI - The obstetric vacuum extractor is the instrument of first choice for operative vaginal delivery. PMID- 2620059 TI - Solution structure of the EcoRI DNA sequence: refinement of NMR-derived distance geometry structures by NOESY spectrum back-calculations. AB - The solution structure of the self-complementary DNA duplex [d(CGCGAATTCGCG)]2, which contains the EcoRI restriction site sequence GAATTC at the center, has been studied by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Time dependent nuclear Overhauser effect spectra were used to obtain the initial cross relaxation rates between 155 pairs of protons. These initial cross-relaxation rates were converted into interproton distances and entered into a distance (bounds) matrix. A distance geometry algorithm (DSPACE) was used to create embedded starting structures and to refine these structures until they showed good agreement with the distance matrix; symmetry constraints were included in the refinement procedure, making the two strands in the refined distance geometry structures virtually identical and significantly improving the agreement with the distance matrix. The NOESY spectrum for one of these distance geometry structures was then calculated from the explicit coordinates by numerically integrating all the z-magnetization transfer pathways among neighboring protons within a specified radius. Distances in this distance geometry structure that did not agree with the experimental NOESY time course were then adjusted accordingly. This process was iterated until a good agreement between calculated and experimental NOESY spectra was reached. The final structure, which generates good agreement with the experimental NOESY spectrum, displays kinks at the C3-G4 base step and at the A6-T7 base step that appear to be similar to those reported for the EcoRI restriction site DNA bound to its endonuclease. The solution structure is not the same as the crystal structure of this DNA duplex. PMID- 2620060 TI - Structure of bovine adrenal dopamine beta-monooxygenase, as deduced from cDNA and protein sequencing: evidence that the membrane-bound form of the enzyme is anchored by an uncleaved signal peptide. AB - A full-length cDNA for dopamine beta-monooxygenase (D beta M) from bovine adrenal glands has been cloned and sequenced. The soluble and membrane-derived forms of D beta M have also been sequenced from their N-termini. While the observed sequences for the soluble protein correspond to those previously reported [Joh, T.H., & Hwang, O. (1986) Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 493, 343-350], the heavy subunit of membrane-derived enzyme is found to contain a unique N-terminus. Alignment of this N-terminus with that deduced from cDNA cloning indicates identity at 22 (and possibly 26) out of 27 residues. This comparison leads us to conclude that the membranous form of bovine D beta M retains an uncleaved N-terminal signal peptide as the source of membrane anchoring. PMID- 2620061 TI - Fluorescence studies of the conformational dynamics of parvalbumin in solution: lifetime and rotational motions of the single tryptophan residue. AB - The fluorescence properties of the single tryptophan residue in whiting parvalbumin were used to probe the dynamics of the protein matrix. Ca2+ binding caused a blue-shift in the emission (from lambda max = 339 to 315 nm) and a 2.5 fold increase in quantum yield. The fluorescence decay was nonexponential in both Ca2(+)-free and Ca2(+)-bound parvalbumin and was best described by Lorentzian lifetime distributions centered around two components: a major long-lived component at 2-5 ns and a small subnanosecond component. Raising the temperature from 8 to 45 degrees C resulted in a decrease in both the center (average) and width (dispersion) of the major lifetime distribution component, whereas the center, width, and fractional intensity of the fast component increased with temperature. Arrhenius activation energies of 1.3 and 0.3 kcal/mol were obtained in the absence and in the presence of Ca2+, respectively, from the temperature dependence of the center of the major lifetime distribution component. Direct anisotropy decay measurements of local tryptophan rotations yielded an activation energy of 2.3 kcal/mol in Ca2(+)-depleted parvalbumin and indicated a correlation between rotational rates and lifetime distribution parameters (center and width). Ca2+ binding produced a decrease in the width of the major lifetime distribution component and a decrease in tryptophan rotational mobility within the protein. There was a rough correlation between these two parameters with changes in Ca2+ and temperature, so that both measurements may be taken to indicate that the structure of Ca2(+)-bound parvalbumin was more rigid than in Ca2(+)-depleted parvalbumin. PMID- 2620062 TI - The nature of protein dipole moments: experimental and calculated permanent dipole of alpha-chymotrypsin. AB - The electric dichroism of alpha-chymotrypsin has been measured in buffers of various pH values and ion compositions. The stationary dichroism obtained as a function of the electric field strength is not compatible with an induced dipole mechanism and clearly shows that alpha-chymotrypsin is associated with a substantial permanent dipole moment. After correction for the internal directing electric field according to a sphere model, the dipole moment is 1.6 X 10(-27) C m at pH 8.3 (corresponding to 480 D). This value decreases with decreasing pH (to 1.2 X 10(-27) C m at pH 4.2), but is almost independent of the monovalent salt concentration in the range from 2 to 12 mM and of Mg2+ addition up to 1 mM. The assignment of the permanent dipole moment is confirmed by analysis of the dichroism rise curves. The dichroism decay time constants of (31 +/- 1) ns at 2 degrees C can be represented by a spherical model with a radius of 25-26 A, which is consistent with the known X-ray structure. The limiting linear dichroism is slightly dependent on the buffer composition and demonstrates subtle variations of the protein structure. As a complement to the experimental results, electric and hydrodynamic parameters of alpha-chymotrypsin have been calculated according to the known X-ray structure. Bead model simulations provide the center of diffusion, which is used to calculate dipole moments according to the equilibrium charge distribution evaluated from standard pK values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620063 TI - Contribution of the N-terminal region of hirudin to its interaction with thrombin. AB - Hirudin is a 65-residue polypeptide that specifically inhibits thrombin by forming a tight, noncovalent complex with the enzyme. The role of the two amino terminal valine residues and the N-terminal alpha-amino group of hirudin in the formation of the complex has been investigated by site-directed mutagenesis and chemical modification. Replacement of the two N-terminal valyl residues of recombinant hirudin by polar amino acids resulted in an increase in the inhibition constant (KI). In contrast, replacement of these residues by hydrophobic amino acids had little effect on the value for KI. These results demonstrated that the hydrophobic nature of the N-terminal residues of hirudin was important for its interaction with thrombin. Addition of a single amino acid to the N-terminus of hirudin resulted in a marked increase in the value of KI. A similar effect was observed when the positive charge of the alpha-amino group was removed by acetylation. In contrast, amidination of this group, which preserves the positive charge, resulted in a less pronounced increase in the value of KI. Thus, it appears that a positive charge immediately adjacent to the N-terminal hydrophobic residue is required for optimal binding to thrombin. PMID- 2620064 TI - Polymerization of Antarctic fish tubulins at low temperatures: energetic aspects. AB - Tubulins were purified from the brain tissues of three Antarctic fishes, Notothenia gibberifrons, Notothenia coriiceps neglecta, and Chaenocephalus aceratus, by ion-exchange chromatography and one cycle of temperature-dependent microtubule assembly and disassembly in vitro, and the functional properties of the protein were examined. The preparations contained the alpha- and beta tubulins and were free of microtubule-associated proteins. At temperatures between 0 and 24 degrees C, the purified tubulins polymerized readily and reversibly to yield both microtubules and microtubule polymorphs (e.g., "hooked" microtubules and protofilament sheets). Critical concentrations for polymerization of the tubulins ranged from 0.87 mg/mL at 0 degrees C to 0.02 mg/mL at 18 degrees C. The van't Hoff plot of the apparent equilibrium constant for microtubule elongation at temperatures between 0 and 18 degrees C was linear and gave a standard enthalpy change (delta H degree) of +26.9 kcal/mol and a standard entropy change (delta S degree) of +123 eu. At 10 degrees C, tubulin from N. gibberifrons polymerized efficiently at high ionic strength; the critical concentration increased monotonically from 0.041 to 0.34 mg/mL as the concentration of NaCl added to the assembly buffer was increased from 0 to 0.4 M. Together, the results indicate that the polymerization of tubulins from the Antarctic fishes is entropically driven and suggest that an increased reliance on hydrophobic interactions underlies the energetics of microtubule formation at low temperatures. Thus, evolutionary modification to increase the proportion of hydrophobic interactions (relative to other bond types) at sites of interdimer contact may be one adaptive mechanism that enables the tubulins of cold-living poikilotherms to polymerize efficiently at low temperatures. PMID- 2620065 TI - Isolation of a photoactive photosynthetic reaction center-core antenna complex from Heliobacillus mobilis. AB - A photoactive reaction center-core antenna complex was isolated from the photosynthetic bacterium Heliobacillus mobilis by extraction of membranes with Deriphat 160c followed by differential centrifugation and sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. The purified complex contained a Mr 47,000 polypeptide(s) that bound both the primary donor (P800) and approximately 24 antenna bacteriochlorophylls g. Time-resolved fluorescence emission spectroscopy indicated that the antenna bacteriochlorophylls g are active in energy transfer to P800, exhibiting a decay time of 25 ps. The complex contained 1.4 menaquinones, 9 Fe, and 3 labile S2- per P800. The complex was photoactive with an exponential decay time of 14 ms for P800+ yet showed no EPR-detectable Fe-S center signal in the g less than or equal to 2.0 region, either by chemical reduction to -600 mV or by illumination of reduced samples. The complex is similar to photosystem I of oxygen-evolving photosynthetic systems in that both the primary donor and a core antenna are bound to the same pigment-protein complex. PMID- 2620066 TI - Antitumor drug nogalamycin binds DNA in both grooves simultaneously: molecular structure of nogalamycin-DNA complex. AB - The three-dimensional molecular structures of the complexes between an interesting antitumor drug, nogalamycin, and two DNA hexamers, d[CGT(pS)ACG] and d[m5CGT(pS)Am5CG], were determined at high resolution by X-ray diffraction analyses. Two nogalamycins bind to the DNA double helix in a 2:1 ratio with the aglycon chromophore intercalated between the CpG steps at both ends of the helix. The nogalose and aminoglucose sugars lie in the minor and major grooves, respectively, of the distorted B-DNA double helix. The binding of nogalamycin to DNA requires that the base pairs in DNA open up transiently to allow the bulky sugars to go through. Specific hydrogen bonds are found in the complex between the drug and guanine bases. We suggest that nogalamycin may prefer GC sequences embedded in a stretch of AT sequences. PMID- 2620067 TI - Cobalt(II)-substituted class III alcohol and sorbitol dehydrogenases from human liver. AB - The catalytic zinc atoms in class III (chi) alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) from human liver have been specifically removed and replaced by cobalt(II) with a new ultrafiltration technique. The electronic absorption spectrum of class III cobalt ADH (epsiolon 638 = 870 M-1 cm-1) is nearly identical with those of active site substituted horse EE and human class I (beta 1 beta 1) cobalt ADH. Thus, the coordination environment of the catalytic metal is strictly conserved in these enzymes. However, significant differences are noted when the spectra of class III ADH-coenzyme complexes are compared to the corresponding spectra of the horse enzyme. The spectrum of class III ADH.NADH is split into three bands, centered at 680, 638, and 562 nm. The class III ADH.NAD+ species resembles the alkaline form of the corresponding horse enzyme complex but without exhibiting the pH dependence of the latter. These spectral changes underscore the role of the coenzymes in differentially fine tuning the catalytic metal for its particular function in each ADH. The noncatalytic zinc of class III ADH exchanges with cobalt at pH 7.0. While 9 residues out of 15 in the loop surrounding the noncatalytic zinc of class III ADH differ from those of the class I ADH, the electronic absorption spectra of cobalt in the noncatalytic metal site of class III ADH establish that the coordination environment of this site is conserved as well. The spectrum of cobalt SDH differs significantly from those of cobalt ADHs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620068 TI - Thermodynamics of protein-RNA recognition in a highly conserved region of the large-subunit ribosomal RNA. AB - Ribosomal protein L11 from Escherichia coli specifically binds to a highly conserved region of 23S ribosomal RNA. The thermodynamics of forming a complex between this protein and several different rRNA fragments have been investigated, by use of a nitrocellulose filter binding assay. A 57-nucleotide region of the RNA (C1052-U1108) contains all the protein recognition features, and an RNA fragment containing this region binds L11 10(3)-10(4)-fold more tightly than tRNA. Binding constants are on the order of 10 microM-1 and are only weakly dependent on K+ concentration (delta log K/delta log [K+] = -1.4) or temperature. Binding requires multivalent cations; Mg2+ is taken up into the complex with an affinity of approximately 3 mM-1. Other multivalent cations tested, Ca2+ and Co(NH3)63+, promote binding nearly as well. The pH dependence of binding is a bell-shaped curve with a maximum near neutral pH, but the entire curve is shifted to higher pH for the smaller of two RNA fragments tested. This result suggests that the smaller fragment favors a conformation stabilizing protonated forms of the RNA recognition site and is potentially relevant to a hypothesis that this rRNA region undergoes an ordered series of conformational changes during the ribosome cycle. PMID- 2620069 TI - Two-dimensional NMR studies on the anthramycin-d(ATGCAT)2 adduct. AB - Two-dimensional NMR experiments were performed on the adduct of anthramycin with d(ATGCAT)2 to obtain the assignments of the nucleotide base and sugar protons as well as the anthramycin protons. Anthramycin is covalently attached to a guanine 2-amino group, forming the d(ATamGCAT).d(ATGCAT) modified duplex. The anthramycin protons in the minor groove exhibit NOEs to several nucleotide protons. The network of anthramycin-nucleotide NOEs and the measurement of the 10-Hz coupling constant between the anthramycin H11 and H11a protons shows that anthramycin is covalently attached as the S stereoisomer at the anthramycin C11 position with the side chain of anthramycin oriented toward the 5' end of the modified strand. The NOE data show that the anthramycin-modified duplex is in a right-handed conformation with all bases in an anti conformation. Analysis of the J1'-2' coupling constants for the resolved H1' resonances shows that the S-type conformation of the sugars is highly preferred. PMID- 2620070 TI - AIDS: the anatomy of an epidemic. PMID- 2620071 TI - Platelet-activating factor in human luteal phase endometrium. AB - Platelet-activating factor (PAF; 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3 phosphorylcholine) is one of the most potent mediators of vascular permeability. PAF levels change in the rabbit endometrium just prior to implantation, which suggests that PAF may be a key substance transducing preimplantation embryonic signals. To study whether PAF was present in the human endometrium, and if so, to determine the cellular origin and hormonal regulation of endometrial PAF, specimens were obtained from 14 women (aged 23-42 yr) undergoing elective hysterectomy during the luteal phase of the cycle (plasma progesterone levels greater than 2 ng/ml). No specimens were taken from women with malignant uterine pathology. Stromal cells and epithelial glandular cells were separated by collagenase and DNAse digestion, and then cultured to confluence in vitro in medium 199. Radioimmunoassays of prostaglandin F (PGF) and prolactin in the culture media were used to confirm cell type and viability. PGF release into the culture medium from stromal cells was low (control 1.52 +/- 0.20 ng/ml), and unchanged by hormone treatment. In contrast, release of PGF from unstimulated glandular cells was 6.05 +/- 0.52 ng/ml, and was significantly increased (p less than 0.05) by estradiol or progesterone plus estradiol, to 12.17 +/- 1.67, and 8.60 +/- 0.81, respectively. Progesterone alone was without effect. Prolactin was secreted by stromal cell cultures, increasing steadily from 24 to 120 h. The levels in the medium were increased by progesterone. PAF activity was assessed by rabbit platelet aggregation and serotonin-release bioassays after lipid extraction and separation by thin-layer chromatography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620072 TI - Effects of preoptic and hypothalamic lesions in female turkeys during a photoinduced reproductive cycle. AB - Prolactin (Prl) is released by electrical stimulation in the turkey hypothalamus and preoptic area (POA). Possible trajectories for POA efferents to the median eminence (ME) were tested by placing lesions in the POA, the lateral hypothalamus (LHy), or the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) of reproductively quiescent turkey hens, then subjecting them to long photoperiods while monitoring their blood Prl levels and nesting activities. In addition, lesions were made in the VMN of a group of incubating hens to learn whether the lesions would cause the elevated Prl levels to fall or interfere with incubation behavior. Lesions in medial POA, LHy, or VMN prevented the onset of incubation and prevented the large rise in Prl associated with it. However, these lesions did not interfere with the initial, more gradual Prl rise caused by increasing daylengths. Lesions in LHy or VMN appeared to interfere with a pathway lying laterally from POA to ME. Electrical stimulation in medial POA, which caused an increase in circulating Prl, failed to do so in hens with LHy or VMN lesions. Lesions in the VMN of incubating hens caused them to leave the nest and suffer a large decline in Prl, both within 48 h. It is tentatively suggested that incubation behavior and its associated elevated Prl are prevented by the POA lesions and that lesions in LHy or VMN, which mimic POA lesion effects, interfere with POA efferents projecting to ME. PMID- 2620073 TI - Progesterone induction of the uterine milk proteins: major secretory proteins of sheep endometrium. AB - Progesterone induction of the uterine milk proteins (UTMP), the major secretory products of the ovine uterus during pregnancy, was studied in ovariectomized ewes given physiological levels of progesterone for 0, 2, 6, 14, or 30 days. Western blotting of uterine flushes and of endometrial explant culture medium, endometrial RNA analyses on dot and Northern blots, and immunocytochemistry performed on uterine tissue sections demonstrated the presence of low levels of UTMP mRNA and UTMP protein after 6 days of progesterone therapy, and increasing levels of UTMP production and secretion after 14 days. Highest activity was observed at Day 30. The induction of the UTMP progressed from small amounts of antigen present in the supranuclear region of a few epithelial cells in deep and middle-depth regions of uterine glands in the Day 6 progesterone-treatment group to large amounts detected in epithelial cells spread throughout the length of the glands in later groups. UTMP production was also identified in the uteri of intact ewes at Day 16 (but not earlier) of the estrous cycle and during early pregnancy (Days 14 to 22). Production of a protein similar to the UTMP was also noted in the uterus of a pregnant cow. The UTMP provide a good model of a progesterone-responsive secretory protein in a mammal whose synthesis is increased gradually over a period of weeks. PMID- 2620074 TI - Maternal recognition of pregnancy in the goat: effects of conceptus removal on interestrus intervals and characterization of conceptus protein production during early pregnancy. AB - Goat conceptuses were surgically removed from the uterus at different days during early pregnancy and cultured for 24-30 h in the presence of L-[3H]leucine to determine the effects of embryo removal on the interestrus interval and to characterize in vitro synthesis and release of conceptus proteins. Normal cyclic and animals (controls) exhibited interestrus intervals of 20.44 +/- 0.89 days. Removal of conceptuses on Days 13 and 15 did not alter interestrus intervals compared to cyclic animals. Removal of conceptuses on Day 17 and times thereafter resulted in significant (p less than 0.05) prolongation of interestrus intervals. These results demonstrate that maternal recognition of pregnancy in the goat occurs between Days 15 and 17. Proteins synthesized and released into the medium by conceptuses were first detectable at Day 16 by the analytical method employed (two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by fluorography). The major protein synthesized at this time was acidic (pI = 5.2-5.7) and consisted of two isotypes with molecular weights of about 17,000. Although patterns of protein production became more complex with conceptus development, this protein remained as a major product through Day 21 but not afterwards. This protein, as well as two other low molecular weight acidic proteins (Mr approximately equal to 21,000, 23,000; pI = 5.7-6.0) were shown by immunoprecipitation to react with anti-ovine trophoblast protein-1 (oTP-1) serum. Hence, these products may comprise a caprine trophoblast protein-1 (cTP-1) complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620075 TI - Role of adjuvants in inhibitory influence of immunization with porcine zona pellucida antigen (ZP-3) on ovarian folliculogenesis in bonnet monkeys: a morphological study. AB - Female bonnet monkeys were immunized with 55 kDa porcine zona antigen (ZP-3), with either complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or sodium phthalylated lipopolysaccharide (SPLPS) as adjuvant. Anti-ZP-3 antibody titers were monitored and the effect of immunization on the ovarian morphology was assessed by high resolution light microscopy. The study demonstrated that both adjuvants used were equally potent in eliciting antibody response against ZP-3. Although no morphological damage to ovarian components was observed in animals immunized with SPLPS as adjuvant, immunization using CFA resulted in profound ovarian follicular atrophy, sparing only the primordial follicles. The atrophic phenomenon involved those follicles that either already had or were in the process of forming zona pellucida. The results of this study indicate that choice of adjuvant may be an important consideration for immunization against zona antigens. These findings encourage further investigations for developing better immunization regimen aimed at using zona antigens for immunocontraception. PMID- 2620076 TI - Survival of sheep x goat hybrid inner cell masses after injection into ovine embryos. AB - Modified blastocyst injection techniques were used to inject immunosurgically isolated sheep x goat hybrid inner cell masses (ICM) into ovine blastocysts, with subsequent transfer of composite embryos to ovine recipients. Hybrid embryos were collected from does artificially inseminated with Barbados ram semen. A total of 13 live and 2 aborted offspring resulted from the 34 composite embryos transferred to recipient ewes (38% embryo survival). Of the 15 offspring, 4 exhibited phenotypic hybridism and 2 (13%) of these were determined to be hybrid mean value of -sheep chimeras by karyotype, serum protein and isoenzyme analyses, and fiber identification. Each of the 4 was produced by an injection procedure that involved damage of the ovine host ICM. One additional offspring was unusual in appearance, but the presence of hybrid cells was not proven. Similarly, caprine ICM were immunosurgically isolated and injected into ovine blastocysts that were then transferred to ovine recipients. Of the 13 composite embryos transferred, 12 offspring were produced (92% embryo survival). Eleven were overt goat mean value of -sheep chimeras and, of these, 7 were also blood chimeras. The hybrid ICM was shown to be capable of contributing to normal embryonic and fetal development after injection into an ovine blastocyst but may be less likely to be incorporated with the ovine host ICM than is the caprine ICM. PMID- 2620077 TI - Capacitation of bovine sperm by heparin: inhibitory effect of glucose and role of intracellular pH. AB - Bovine sperm incubated with heparin for 7.5-8.5 h underwent an acrosome reaction in the absence but not the presence of glucose (5 mM). When sperm were incubated under capacitating conditions with heparin for 4 h, glucose inhibited sperm penetration of oocytes (p less than 0.01) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LC) induced acrosome reactions. Addition of glucose for the last 0.25 h of a 4.25-h incubation with heparin had no effect on ability of sperm to acrosome-react in response to LC. Nonmetabolizable sugars 3-O-methyl glucose, 2-deoxyglucose, sucrose, and sorbitol did not inhibit capacitation as judged by sperm sensitivity to LC or fertilization (p greater than 0.05), but capacitation was inhibited by the glycolyzable substrates glucose, mannose, and fructose (p less than 0.05). The glycolytic inhibitor, fluoride, reversed glucose inhibition of capacitation in a dose-dependent manner similar to its effect on glucose uptake by sperm. Extracellular pH declined from 7.4 to 7.2 during a 4-h incubation of sperm with heparin and glucose. The decline of extracellular pH during sperm incubation with glucose did not affect capacitation, since only an extracellular pH below 7.02 inhibited capacitation. The intracellular pH (pHi) of sperm increased 0.40 units over a 5-h incubation under capacitating conditions. The change in pHi was inhibited by glucose. Incubation of sperm with heparin and glucose for 12 h resulted in capacitated sperm as judged by both LC sensitivity and fertilizing ability. These studies demonstrate that glycolyzable substrates delay capacitation of bovine sperm and suggest the effect is in delaying an alkalinization of pHi. PMID- 2620078 TI - Differentiation of blastocysts derived from in vitro-fertilized rhesus monkey ova. AB - Six in vitro-fertilized ova were cultured for 10 to 13 days in vitro. All six had formed blastocysts with cavities, five had hatched from the zona pellucida, and one had attached to the substrate. After fixation and preparation for examination by light and electron microscopy, it was determined that all but the youngest blastocysts had developed substantial amounts of syncytial trophoblast, which morphologically resembled the syncytial trophoblast present in the first 2 days of implantation in vivo. One of the smaller blastocysts had developed syncytial trophoblast but had not hatched from the zona. All of the blastocysts showed indications of loss or inadequate development of the inner cell mass constituents, indicating that the culture conditions were suboptimal for these constituents. Apparent C-type virus particles were abundant, budding from the basal surface of the syncytial trophoblast. Because the type of trophoblast formed was that normally associated with epithelial invasion and formation of the trophoblast plate, it is suggested that such blastocysts would be useful for in vitro implantation studies as well as studies of formation of syncytial trophoblast. However, other methods should be developed for study of postimplantation embryo development. It is also noted that the inadequate differentiation of the epiblast and endoderm would not have been apparent without microscopic examination. PMID- 2620079 TI - Morphology and fertilizability of zona-free hamster eggs separated into halves and quarters by centrifugation. AB - When mature hamster eggs were freed from their zonae pellucidae and centrifuged in a Percoll gradient, each egg was separated into a light half and a heavy half. Chromosomes remained in their original position during centrifugation, resulting in the production of light and heavy halves with and without chromosomes. When the eggs were treated with cytochalasin D (CD) and then centrifuged, the chromosomes moved to the centripetal pole and were extruded rapidly before each egg separated into halves or fragments. In the eggs without CD treatment, the density of cortical granules was reduced in the centripetal region of the egg. In those treated with CD, the density of the granules was reduced in both centripetal and centrifugal regions of the egg. Both light and heavy halves were fertilizable. There was, however, a notable difference between light and heavy halves. Most of the heavy halves supported development of sperm nuclei into pronuclei, whereas only few of light halves could do so, suggesting that most of light halves were lacking or deficient in materials necessary for the development of a sperm (male) pronucleus. When the light and heavy halves were centrifuged further, each separated into two quarters. The lightest quarter, which was almost totally devoid of organelles, was buoyant and very fragile. Spermatozoa could fuse with it, but the incidence of the fusion was low. In this quarter, the sperm nucleus could decondense, but could not develop into a pronucleus. This was in marked contrast with other three quarters in which sperm nuclei could develop into well-formed pronuclei. PMID- 2620080 TI - Human chorionic gonadotropin increases chromatin solubility in isolated bovine and human luteal nuclei. AB - We have previously demonstrated that bovine and human luteal nuclei contain human chorionic gonadotropin/luteinizing hormone (hCG/LH) receptors and that these gonadotropins can directly stimulate nuclear membrane enzyme activity (nucleoside triphosphatase) involved in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) transport from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The present studies were undertaken to investigate the effect or hCG on chromatin solubility, reflecting perhaps synthesis and transport of RNA, in isolated bovine and human luteal nuclei. hCG increased chromatin solubility in a concentration-dependent manner. This hCG effect is either blocked or substantially reduced by the addition of hCG antiserum; denatured hCG had no effect and cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate could not mimic the hCG response. hCG had no effect on chromatin solubility in bovine liver or kidney nuclei and hormones other than hCG, human LH, or the beta subunit of hCG had no effect on chromatin solubility in bovine luteal nuclei, demonstrating the tissue and hormone specificity of the response. These findings further strengthen the concept of direct gonadotropin regulation of nuclear functions of luteal cells. PMID- 2620081 TI - Different morphological and steroidogenic patterns in oocyte/cumulus-corona cell complexes aspirated at in vitro fertilization. AB - We attempted to correlate distinct morphological data on cumulus cells to oocyte and cumulus cell activity. Oocyte/cumulus-corona cell complexes, which were mature 4 h after aspiration, were divided into four subgroups designated according to the type of cumulus culture morphology after 3 days of culture: type A, compact clumps; type B, partially spread clumps; type C, nonhomogeneously spread cells; and type D, homogeneously spread cells. Fertilization and cleavage rates of mature oocytes appeared to differ according to their prospective cumulus culture morphology. Fertilization and cleavage rates were 81.5 and 62.6%, respectively, in oocyte/cumulus-corona cell complexes yielding type D cumulus cells, versus 54 and 34%, respectively, in those yielding type A cumulus cells. Basal secretion of progesterone in type A cumulus cells was 105.2 +/- 10.3 ng/ml compared to 231.8 +/- 22.5 ng/ml in type D cumulus cells (p less than 0.001). Testosterone and estradiol secretion exhibited a significant difference as well: testosterone was 293 +/- 10 pg/ml in type A cumulus cells versus 224 +/- 11 pg/ml in type D cumulus cells (p less than 0.001), and estradiol was 4.6 +/- 0.4 ng/ml in type A cumulus cells versus 3.5 +/- 0.3 ng/ml in type D cumulus cells (p less than 0.05). The present study demonstrated by indirect means that oocyte/cumulus corona cell complexes, characterized as mature a few hours after aspiration, are composed of a heterogeneous population and differ in their potential for fertilization and consequent cleavage. PMID- 2620082 TI - [Classification of implants with reference to safety considerations]. AB - Implants are listed both in the German Drug Law (Arzneimittelgesetz) and in the Regulations of the Safety of Medical Technical Equipment (Medizingerateverordnung). In recent time, various guidelines concerning implants have been under discussion in Europe. It is surprising to note that more than one set of guidelines has been thought to be necessary. The present article discusses possible definitions of some of the terms employed in connection with implants, and attempts to identify the differences and common features of implants under aspects of safety, thus providing a broader base for public discussions. An analysis of the implants presently available has shown that it is useful to establish a hierarchy of possible hazards that takes into account the danger to the patient under worst-case conditions. A survey has demonstrated that in the worst case, most implants are associated with only an impairment or inconvenience for the patient, but no threat to life. In contrast, a minority of implants are of such a nature that in the case of severe failure, a life-threatening situation can develop for the patient. Such a hazard is not dependent upon whether the implant has a driving energy source or not. These findings indicate that within the framework of safery considerations, more attention need to be paid to "passive" implants than has been the case so far. PMID- 2620083 TI - [Design of partial pelvic replacement with calculation of stresses on the pelvic bone using the finite element method]. AB - Although tumors of the pelvic region are relatively rare, with regard to the provision of an individual prosthesis, they make great demands both on the engineer and on the surgeon. In the case of partial pelvic replacement, the main problem is that of fixation. The direction of the preload by the screw and counternut in the anchorage should make possible the introduction of forces into the bone that closely mimic the natural pre-operative situation, in order to keep bone remodeling and stressing to a minimum. A three-dimensional finite element (FE) analysis of the stresses at work in the pelvic bone was performed using an FE model of the pelvis constructed on the basis of computed tomographic data, since with the FE method it is possible to obtain information about deformations, internal stresses and local forces acting on the bone. The results show that the main stressing of the bony pelvis occurs in the region of the acetabulum and the iliosacral joints, and that further points of loading are located in the lower region of the ischium-and this while standing on one leg, on the side of the supporting leg. PMID- 2620084 TI - [Material related aspects of surface structured endoprostheses]. AB - In this article technical problems of surface-structured endoprostheses for cementless implantation are discussed. On the basis of four prostheses (two hip and two knee endoprostheses) various different porous coating technologies are compared. One sintered sphere layer, a cast sphere layer, a cast layer with "spongy-bone" structure and a plasma sprayed coating were compared. The quality of the bonding between the prosthesis and the porous surface layer was examined metallographically using polished specimens, with additional investigation of fraction surfaces of special tension test specimens. Additional information is given on the notch effect of the different coatings, in terms of a reduction in fatigue strength. The notch sensitivity differs for each material, and the reduction in fatigue strength is discussed for different implant alloys and different technologies for surface structuring. The investigation shows that the present quality of surface-structured endoprostheses is not satisfactory. We would like to thank the Dr. Johannes Heidenhain Foundation for financial support of this research. PMID- 2620085 TI - [Carbon fiber reinforced polysulfone--a new implant material]. AB - Carbon fibre reinforced polysulfone is a composite material which contains two materials of well known biocompatibility. In comparison to metals this composite material has some advantages which makes it favourable particularly for implants in tumor surgery. The custom made arrangement of fibres in the composite allows the development of implants with special mechanical properties. The radiolucency of the material avoids problems caused by the reflection of x-rays, using metal implants. This special property allows the exact calculation of postoperative radiation doses of tumor patients. Simultaneously the structures behind the implants are not hidden. All implants can be machined during the operation to adapt them to the individual anatomical situation. Animal experimental and clinical applications of plates, screws and spinal segmental replacement implants made of this composite material have shown good results so far. PMID- 2620086 TI - Determination of erythrocyte transit times through micropores. II. Influence of experimental and physicochemical factors. AB - A new red blood cell filtration system, termed the Cell Transit Time Analyzer (CTTA), has been developed in order to measure the individual transit times of a large number of cells through cylindrical micropores in special "oligopore" filters; the system operates on the electrical conductometric principle and employs special computer software to provide several measures of the resulting transit time histogram. Using this system with filters having pore diameters of 4.5 or 5.0 microns and length to diameter ratios of 3.0 to 4.7, we have evaluated the effects of several experimental factors on the flow behavior of normal and modified human RBC. Our results indicate: 1) linear RBC pressure-flow behavior over a driving pressure range of 2 to 10.5 cm H2O with zero velocity intercepts at delta P = 0, thus suggesting the Poiseuille-like nature of the flow; 2) resistance to flow or "apparent viscosities" for normal RBC which are between 3.1 to 3.9 cPoise and are independent of driving pressure and pore geometry; 3) increased flow resistance (i.e., increased transit times) for old versus young RBC and for RBC made less deformable by DNP-induced crenation or by heat treatment at 48 degrees C; 4) increased mean transit time and poorer reproducibility when using EDTA rather than heparin as the anticoagulant agent. Further, using mixtures of heat-treated and normal RBC and various percentile values of the transit time histogram, we have been able to demonstrate the presence of sub-populations of rigid cells and thus the value of measurements which allow statistical analyses of RBC populations. PMID- 2620087 TI - Red cells slide as they form doublets and deform in rouleaux. AB - Mammalian erythrocyte aggregation increases when the levels of plasma proteins favoring aggregation rise. Red cell aggregate formation has been attributed to noncovalent bonding of adjacent erythrocyte plasma membranes by these proteins and similar macromolecules. The proposed membrane to membrane noncovalent bonds would keep each membrane from sliding during aggregate formation because the bonds responsible for maintaining cell-cell contact would need to be disrupted. Because past studies of doublet formation suggested that the membranes might slide during contact expansion, we embedded latex particles in the membranes of individual human red cells and recorded doublet formation on video tape. The cells were suspended in a buffer that contained polyvinylpyrrolidone at a concentration sufficient to cause a moderately elevated sedimentation rate. The latex particles remained stable in position relative to each host cell during doublet formation, indicating that sliding was involved. We also stretched individual rouleaux using a glass rod and observed that latex particles attached to red cells whose contact area was reduced by the motion maintained their position during their return to a normal shape. These studies show that erythrocyte aggregate formation is accomplished by membrane sliding and that aggregate shape change and disruption during blood flow commonly involve sliding. The sliding motion argues that the attraction between red cell membranes generated by an array of elongated macromolecules involves a delocalized rather than a noncovalently coordinated adhesion. PMID- 2620088 TI - Estimation of hematocrit profile symmetry recovery length downstream from a bifurcation. AB - Downstream from a microvascular bifurcation the distribution of blood cells in the vessel lumen is not symmetric. A diffusion process is used to model the rearrangement of red cells as blood flows between junctions in the microcirculation. A Fourier series approach is used to solve the model diffusion convection equation in slit geometry. Both flat and parabolic velocity profiles are considered. The eigenvalues, found using the Rayleigh-Ritz method, are used to find an upper bound on distance required for a symmetric red cell distribution to be obtained. The method has also been applied to cylindrical geometry and the computed symmetry recovery lengths are compared to distances between bifurcations measured in vivo. These estimates indicate that red cell distributions are frequently asymmetric in the microcirculation. Such asymmetries can have a strong effect on plasma skimming and material balance calculations. PMID- 2620089 TI - Effects of non-Newtonian blood and metabolic states of the blood and vessel wall on the optimum design of single vessels and the vascular bifurcation. AB - Employing the optimality principle, we attempted to predict the effects of non Newtonian blood and the metabolic states of individual vessel segments on the optimum vascular design. Our results implied that irrespective of the vessel caliber, the optimum flow rate of non-Newtonian blood through a cylindrical vessel is less than that of Newtonian blood by not more than some 12-13%, even though the non-Newtonian nature is within the pathologically-realistic highest range. Non-Newtonian blood does not exert the slightest degree of influence on the optimum geometry of the vascular bifurcation. In contrast, as the metabolic state of the vessel wall overwhelms that of the blood, the optimum flow through the cylindrical vessel becomes markedly increased: the optimum relative caliber of the branch of the bifurcation decreases and the optimum branching angle increases. PMID- 2620090 TI - Viscoelastic properties of the oxygenated sickle erythrocyte membrane. AB - Although most apparent in permanently misshapen irreversibly sickled erythrocytes (ISC), biochemical and structural alterations are present in the majority of sickle cell membranes. The relationship of membrane rigidity to cell shape and its dependence upon the internal hemoglobin cytosol are not clarified. We therefore examined the frequency dependent viscoelasticity of oxygenated, packed sickle red cell and ghost suspensions and hemoglobin solutions prepared from density gradient separated ISC and reversibly sickled cell (RSC) fractions. Low amplitude, oscillatory shear was applied in a Weissenberg cone and plate viscometer and the resultant viscoelastic signals provided a dynamic viscosity (eta') and elastic storage modulus (G') which varied with frequency of deformation. The viscoelastic response of the cell and ghost suspensions reflected the material properties of the membrane over most of the frequency range tested. Sickle erythrocyte, red ghost, and white ghost suspensions demonstrated greater viscocoelasticity than comparable normal suspensions. The viscoelastic magnitude of ISC was several-fold greater than normal, with little variation of viscoelasticity with frequency. RSC samples which were characterized by normal shape, size, and internal hemoglobin concentration were also significantly harder than normal, although similar in frequency dependence. Red ghosts prepared from ISC manifested 80% of the viscoelasticity of intact ISC despite diminution of the internal hemoglobin concentration by 90%. Under conditions of low amplitude shear, the behavior of the RSC membrane is compatible with a cytoskeleton possessing an increased number of molecular associations. The mechanical stability of the ISC membrane is related to a substantial, intrinsic reorganization of the cytoskeleton. PMID- 2620091 TI - Effect of procaine hydrochloride on the aggregation behavior and suspension viscoelasticity of human red blood cells. AB - The present study examined the effects of procaine hydrochloride (PRHCL), a cationic local anesthetic, on the aggregation behavior of human red blood cells (RBC); the effects of PRHCL on RBC suspension viscoelasticity, cell shape, volume and density were also investigated. Four indices of RBC aggregation, induced by autologous plasma or 3 g% dextran T70, were evaluated by a computerized light transmission method, and the viscous and elastic components of the complex viscosity were determined by oscillatory viscometry. Low concentrations of PRHCL (8 x 10(-5) to 8 x 10(-4) M) significantly (p less than 0.05 or better) reduced the extent of aggregation (maximal decrease of 22% at 8 x 10(-4) M), but did not alter the viscoelastic components, cell shape, volume or density. The anti aggregating effect of PRHCL (8 x 10(-4) M) in plasma significantly (p less than 0.005) decreased with time; this temporal effect was abolished by addition of eserine (1 x 10(-4) M). High concentrations of PRHCL (8 x 10(-2) M) caused: 1) increased extent of aggregation and decreased strength of the aggregates (p less than 0.01 or better); 2) elevation of both viscoelastic components for cells in plasma or buffer; 3) a discocyte-stomatocyte shape change; 4) decreased cell density (p less than 0.001) without alteration of cell volume. Our results at low concentrations of PRHCL suggest a mechanism based on an increase of RBC negative surface potential; at the highest concentration, the effects are most likely due to altered cell shape and deformability, and to decreased RBC negative surface potential. PMID- 2620092 TI - Evaluation of microcytic red cells. PMID- 2620093 TI - Discriminant functions. AB - Discriminant Functions (DFs), first described by Fisher in 1936, have been applied to the classification of microcytic disorders such as iron deficiency and heterozygous thalassemia. Mathematically DFs are weighted linear combinations of variables. If the underlying assumption of multivariate normality is valid DFs provide the best possible classification. Variables may need to be transformed before the DF is derived. When two groups have to be classified it is easy to visualise the DF. With one variable the DF is represented by the point which provides the best separation. In the bivariate situation the two groups form ellipses and the DF is the best line of separation whilst in the trivariate case the two groups are ellipsoids and a plane forms the best separation. Ratios and power functions are equivalent to DFs but they are less efficient and less rigorously derived. To apply DFs in hematological practice it is necessary to carefully select the measurements to be included and to define the case selection criteria. Once the DF has been derived it should be tested on a new data set and its transferability assessed. Like any single test the DF will have sensitivity and specificity which may need to be adjusted by changing the "cut-off" if the DF is used for screening rather than for differential diagnosis. PMID- 2620094 TI - Nonrandom distribution of genotypes among red cell indices. AB - Venous blood samples were obtained from 25,302 healthy adults in Kentucky, USA. The red cell indices measured on these samples were evaluated by multiple stepwise regression analysis to derive an algorithm capable of discriminating the 138 individuals within this population who had genotypes AA, AC, AS or AA beta thalassemia. The simple discriminant MCV2 x MCH with a cut-off set at 1530 detected 137 out of 138 of the heterozygotes with a false positive rate in this population of 4.4%. Other discriminants tested produced fewer false positives but also missed a sufficient number of heterozygotes to be unacceptable for genetic counselling purposes. PMID- 2620095 TI - A new red cell discriminant incorporating volume dispersion for differentiating iron deficiency anemia from thalassemia minor. AB - A novel red cell discriminant function [MCV2 x RDW/(Hgb x 100)] was compared to six other discriminants in 102 patients with established mild iron deficiency anemia and 33 patients with beta-thalassemia minor. The discriminant incorporates the two key measurements of erythrocyte cell volume distribution, namely the mean (MCV) and standard deviation (RDW), which are known to be helpful for distinguishing between these two frequent causes of microcytic hypochromic anemia. Data used for the learning set to develop the new discriminant were obtained using an electrical impedance automated whole blood analyzer (Coulter S + IV) and were applied as a validation set for six other discriminants. The discriminant was also tested on smaller subsets of the patients groups using data obtained on either an alternate electrical impedance instrument (Sysmex E-5000) or a laser light scattering based system (Technicon H*1). From the comparison it was concluded that use of a discriminant function that incorporates a measurement of red cell volume dispersion results in enhanced accuracy for distinguishing iron deficiency anemia from thalassemia minor. PMID- 2620096 TI - Utilization of a new index to distinguish heterozygous thalassemic syndromes: comparison of its specificity to five other discriminants. AB - In 1984, a new index (the Makris index) combining erythrocytic and platelet parameters was described for the discrimination of the heterozygous thalassemic syndromes (beta and alpha). The algorithm is [(MCV/RDW)/(MPV/PDW)] divided by the RBC count in millions and requires for input the MCV, RDW, MPV, PDW, and RBC. The critical value used for separating the heterozygous thalassemic subjects is 1.84, which is the mean value plus 2 SD of our heterozygous subjects (confidence limit 95%). Because this index utilizes a confidence limit that includes 95% of affected persons, all individuals with values smaller than this need further investigation. It should be noted that the specificity of the index can be increased using the mean value of our heterozygous group plus 3 SD (X + 3 SD = 1.30 + 3*0.27 = 2.11, confidence limit 99%). In a series of 1510 "normal" subjects examined, 154 were designated as abnormals. None of the rest had abnormalities of cellular morphology or red cells osmotic resistance. The algorithm is readily incorporated into the software of an automated, whole blood analyzer. Using an expert system, we compared the sensitivity and specificity of the Makris index to five other discriminants (Mentzer, Shine et al., England et al., Green, and Bessman et al.). The Makris index distinguished between heterozygotes and normals without misdiagnosis. PMID- 2620097 TI - The use of inference strategies in the differential diagnosis of microcytic anemia. AB - A new expert system developed on a Macintosh personal computer using a commercially available artificial intelligence shell was compared with four different discriminant functions (DFs) for the differentiation of microcytic anemia into etiologic categories. Several databases were used with a different composition but all contained at least some samples from thalassemic individuals and from patients with iron deficiency anemia. The DFs analyzed were those proposed by England and Fraser, Green and colleagues, Mentzer, and by Shine and Lal. None of the databases performed satisfactorily when used singly, whereas very high false-positive rates were obtained by one of them. The diagnostic efficiency was somewhat improved by combining several DFs. An expert system using an artificial intelligence "shell" with an "interference engine" was developed using cluster analysis and a set of learning examples. The input necessary for the system to achieve a conclusion consists of MCV, RBC, and RDW as well as a statement as to whether the patient has anemia. Based upon the values of these parameters, the expert system will give an "advice" regarding the probabilities for thalassemia, iron deficiency, and/or other probabilities such as previous transfusions, anemia of chronic disease, laboratory error, etc. In a prospective trial, the system functioned with an accuracy of better than 85%. PMID- 2620098 TI - Distinction of microcytic disorders: comparison of expert, numerical discriminant, and microcomputer analysis. AB - Presumptive distinction between iron deficiency and heterozygous thalassemia by analysis of the automated blood count and differential continues to be a challenge. We compared two proposed numerical discriminants (MCV2 x MCH, and MCV2 x RDW/100 x Hb) with an analytic microcomputer program (BCDE2 Lea & Febiger). In 7114 subjects, the numerical discriminants and the BCDE2 program correctly identified greater than 90% of thalassemia. In subjects with iron deficiency, the BCDE program was greater than 90% sensitive and specific for positive identification, while the numerical discriminants were less than 75% sensitive and specific at inferential identification. The numerical discriminants, BCDE2, and 17 experts in blood counting were asked to interpret the blood-count data in 7 fully-defined actual cases. The mean experts' score was 5.65 cases correct out of 7. The BCDE program was correct in all cases. The numerical discriminants could not analyze all cases, and both were incorrect in at least one case. We conclude that for the task of analyzing blood counts for microcytic disorders, microcomputer analysis by BCDE outperforms both numerical discriminant functions and analysis by expert hematologists. PMID- 2620099 TI - The performance characteristics of an expert system for the "on-line" assessment of thalassemia trait and iron deficiency--Micro Hema Screen. AB - An Expert System (ES) approach to the assessment of thalassemia trait and iron deficiency was evaluated by transferring data from a Coulter S-Plus II Analyzer to an Apple II e computer. The discriminant rules of the algorithm were derived retrospectively from multivariate analysis of an existing data base. The parameters used were MCV, RDW, HGB, RBC, MPV, and PLT. Subsequently, the system has been evaluated for its ability to detect thalassemia and hemoglobinophathies in 1671 females and 1490 males in a real laboratory setting. The 845 cases of microcytosis among them were used to estimate the real frequencies of the diagnostic groups as identified by the ES (Micro Hema Screen). "On-Line" assessment of microcytosis may provide a quick method of acquiring and processing the data from an automated analyser. It can be applied in thalassemia and iron deficiency discrimination either as an intralaboratory primary assessment or as a population screening method. PMID- 2620100 TI - An expert system applied to the diagnosis of anemia with special reference to myelodysplastic syndromes. AB - An expert system is described that includes interpretation of the results from a complete blood count as well as data from bone marrow aspiration. The system utilizes Bayes' rule. It has previously been tested on 180 cases of anemia including 20 benign and malignant hematologic disorders. On the data set, the system achieved 84% satisfactory diagnoses. In the present study, patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and with disorders of heme synthesis have been added to the test cases. For support, the expert system requires an IBM Personal Computer or equivalent. The program is available commercially (Coulter Electronics, Hialeah, FL). PMID- 2620101 TI - The clinical utility of discriminant functions for the differential diagnosis of microcytic anemias. AB - Several groups of authors have derived discriminant functions (DFs) based on red cell indices (primarily MCH, MCV, and RDW) that can be used to differentiate iron deficiency from thalassemia minor. The Technicon H*1 analyzer provides a direct MCHC measurement (termed the CHCM), in addition to the conventional computed value (Hgb/PCV). To evaluate the clinical utility of red cell discriminant analysis, chart review was performed in 176 cases for which hemoglobin characterization and quantitation studies had been requested. Six published discriminants were evaluated for cases of clearly defined iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia minor. Overall diagnostic efficiency ranged from 50%-82%, and the diagnostic performance of three of the discriminants failed to achieve statistical significance. Mean values for both MCHC and CHCM were significantly lower in patients with iron deficiency than in patients with other causes of microcytic anemia. It was also observed that MCHC was significantly greater than CHCM in patients with iron deficiency anemia, but not in patients with other causes of microcytic anemia. Both MCHC and the difference between MCHC and CHCM showed potential value as parameters for the differential diagnosis of iron deficiency from other causes of microcytic anemia. It was noted, however, that in 67% of the cases studied, the use of a DF could not have resolved the diagnosis to the extent that hemoglobin characterization and quantitation studies were no longer indicated. PMID- 2620102 TI - Platelet aggregation and ATP secretion in whole blood of normal cats and cats homozygous and heterozygous for Chediak-Higashi syndrome. AB - A rapid and simple technique using the Whole Blood Lumi-Aggregometer was used to study storage pool disease in Chediak-Higashi homozygote and heterozygote cats. Feline Chedlak-Higashi platelets aggregated after the addition of both ADP and collagen. During platelet aggregation, ATP secretion was assayed; the whole blood aggregometer is effective in detecting decreased levels of secretable ATP in homozygote cats. No storage pool deficiency was found in heterozygote cats. However, upon analysis of impedance tracings, a decreased platelet aggregation response was seen in both homozygote and heterozygote cats. These results suggest that prolonged bleeding times in Chediak-Higashi cats may involve a mechanism in addition to a dense granule deficiency. PMID- 2620103 TI - Immature cells identified by the H-1 hematology analyzer predicts thymidine incorporation after mitogenic stimulation. AB - The incorporation of thymidine by lymphocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was correlated with the number of immature cells identified by the Technicon H-1 as blasts. The number of blasts and thymidine incorporation plateaued on day 3. At that time, a high linear correlation between the two variables was found (r = 0.949, p less than 0.01). The H-1 evaluated the samples in 60 seconds as compared to 3 hours of processing required to calculate thymidine incorporation. We conclude that the number of immature cells identified by the Technicon H-1 can predict the degree of thymidine incorporation after stimulation of peripheral blood cells with PHA. The H-1 may replace the more time consuming and dangerous use of radioactive thymidine incorporation in evaluating patients' functional immunologic status. PMID- 2620104 TI - Differential contractile responses of pressurized porcine coronary resistance sized and conductance coronary arteries to acetylcholine, histamine and prostaglandin F2 alpha. AB - The reactivities of porcine resistance-sized arteries (270 microns o.d.) and conductance coronary arteries (4.2 mm o.d.) were compared in the presence of a functional and morphologically intact endothelium using a pressurized in vitro preparation. In resistance vessels, acetylcholine (ACh) produced maximal diameter reductions of 42% and the EC50 was 0.19 microM. Constrictions to histamine and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), however, were either absent or minimal. In contrast, maximum diameter constrictions of conductance vessels were 19, 33 and 22% in response to ACh, histamine and PGF2 alpha, respectively. Corresponding EC50 values were 0.58, 2.8 and 2.9 microM. The significant differences in reactivity between resistance and conductance arteries underscore the potential importance of regional specialization in the coronary blood flow regulation. PMID- 2620105 TI - [Hormonal regulation of GCDFP-15 secretion in breast tumors. Study of cultured cells]. AB - We studied the hormonal regulation of the Gross Cystic Disease Fluid Protein 15 kd (GCDFP-15) which is secreted by mammary epithelial cells. Its precise role is still unknown. For some authors, it is associated with a risk of breast cancer, and for others with a functional differentiation of the cells. We measured the secretion of GCDFP-15 by an immunoenzymatic method in culture media and cytosols of mammary epithelial cells MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and HBL-100. We also measured the GCDFP-15 secreted by explants of human tumors in organ cultures. We compared the basal values of GCDFP-15 with those obtained after estradiol, dihydrotestosterone and tamoxifen stimulations. Our results show a decrease of GCDFP-15 production with estradiol and an increase with dihydrotestosterone and tamoxifen. These variations are not systematically correlated with variations of cell growth. This study highlights the interest of GCDFP-15 as a tumoral marker; the study of GCDFP 15 level variations could be useful in the monitoring of cancer response to hormonal and/or chemotherapeutic treatment. PMID- 2620106 TI - [Should removal of the ovaries be considered in the treatment of breast cancer in 1989?]. PMID- 2620107 TI - [A method of assaying VP16 (etoposide) in the plasma using high performance liquid chromatography]. PMID- 2620108 TI - [Kinetics of the incorporation of anthracyclines in human lymphocytes]. PMID- 2620109 TI - [Flavone acetic acid and LY 186641 interfere in various ways in Jaffe's reaction]. PMID- 2620110 TI - [Effect of sandostatin on the growth of transplantable pancreatic tumors in rats]. PMID- 2620111 TI - [Nanoparticles of doxorubicin: colloidal vectors in the treatment of hepatic metastases in animals]. PMID- 2620112 TI - [Vectorization of antineoplastic drugs by low density lipoproteins: incorporation of acyl celiptium and metabolism of complexes in the cellular receptor of human fibroblasts]. PMID- 2620113 TI - [Meningeal passage of folinic acid in treatment protocols using LAL with methotrexate in children]. PMID- 2620114 TI - [Phase I pharmacokinetics of flavone-acetic acid]. PMID- 2620115 TI - [Cellular pharmacokinetics of melphalan alone or in combination on human lymphoma or lymphoblasts]. PMID- 2620116 TI - [Comparison of the pharmacokinetics of cisplatin administered by the intraperitoneal route in 2 dosages: 100 and 200 mg/m2]. PMID- 2620117 TI - [Pharmacokinetic study of active ultrafiltrable platinum during a 5-day course of continuous constant flow infusion of cisplatin with modification of the dosage]. PMID- 2620118 TI - [Comparative pharmacokinetics of oxaliplatin after intraperitoneal and intravenous administration]. PMID- 2620119 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of pirarubicin (THP-doxorubicin) in patients with cancer]. PMID- 2620120 TI - [Phase I trial and pharmacokinetics of VM 26 combined with cisplatin administered by the intraperitoneal route without mixing time]. PMID- 2620121 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of epirubicin in alcoholic patients]. PMID- 2620122 TI - [Intravenous adriamycin in ambulatory patients: value of an optimal planification of sampling times combined with a Bayesian evaluation of pharmacokinetic parameters]. PMID- 2620123 TI - [Optimization using the pharmacokinetics of the therapeutic index of CDDP-5 FU treatment over 5 continuous days]. PMID- 2620124 TI - [48-hour continuous infusion of vindesine (followed by cisplatin) in advanced lung cancer. Chronopharmacokinetic data and clinical efficacy]. PMID- 2620125 TI - [Individualization of the dosage of high-dose methotrexate by assaying plasma concentration. Therapeutic value in osteogenic sarcoma]. PMID- 2620126 TI - [Relative frequency of breast cancer in men in Brazzaville]. PMID- 2620127 TI - [Multidisciplinary approach. Disagreement in a case of cavum cancer]. PMID- 2620128 TI - [Assay of the laminin P1 using a radioimmunologic technic: applications in oncology]. AB - Laminin, a high molecular weight glycoprotein, is one of the three principal constituents of basement membranes. It plays an important role in the interaction of cells with the basement membrane as it is involved in cell differentiation and proliferation. It may also be used in the metastatic diffusion process of the tumor. Serum concentration of laminin was measured by radioimmunoassay in 157 patients suffering from various malignancies. Laminin levels were significantly elevated in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma, and in patients with ovarian, stomach and colorectal cancers when compared with healthy controls. Good correlation could be found between serum laminin concentration and concentrations of other markers. The serum laminin level seems to be a valuable parameter for observation of the course of digestive malignancies, in association with the serum concentration of ACE, CA 19-9 and CA 50. PMID- 2620129 TI - [A case report of cat scratch disease which mimicked a metastasis of lung cancer]. AB - A 67-year-old woman to our hospital because of the swelling of lymph nodes in the right inguinal region. Eighteen months before, right lower lobectomy was performed for primary lung cancer (papillary adenocarcinoma). In September 1986, she noticed the swelling of lymph no does in the right inguinal region and low grade fever. At first she was suspected to have a metastasis of the lung cancer. Lymph node biopsy was performed. The pathological examination revealed purulent lymphadenitis with granulomatous change, and Gram-negative Warthin Starry stain positive rods were found. In addition, she admitted a history of keeping cats fourteen years. Therefore the diagnosis of cat scratch disease was made. Six months later, she became free of the associated symptoms. We feel pathological confirmation of suspicious lymph nodes is important in the treatment of patients with history of malignancy. PMID- 2620130 TI - [An epidemiologic study on patients with lung disease, using a data base management system and the histopathologic diagnosis]. AB - A new pathologic data base management system was introduced in the Section of Pathology, Clinical Laboratory, of this hospital for an efficient sorting and searching past data and for the rapid epidemiological study of them. By the use of this system, the incidence and the age and sex distribution of various diseases were studied in a total of 1,264 patients received pathological examination for surgically operated specimens or biopsied materials at the Chest Disease Research Institute Hospital, Kyoto University, from January, 1986 to December, 1988. A gradual increase in the number of frozen section samples of surgically removed organs and of open lung biopsies was noted during this period. Adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma amounted to 42.5%, 32.9%, 12.2%, and 7.5% of primary lung cancers, respectively. The male-to-female ratio of patients with primary lung cancers was 2.9:1 but there was no significant difference in the age distribution among four types of the primary cancers in both sexes. Two hundred and ninety nine (32.6%) patients were diagnosed as non-neoplastic lung diseases: 121 infectious (13.2%), 69 granulomatous (7.5%), 62 pulmonary fibrotic (6.8%) and 47 miscellaneous non neoplastic (5.1%) diseases. PMID- 2620131 TI - [Technical problems on right lung transplantation]. AB - This report describes the technique of the allo-transplantation of the right lung of an adult mongrel dog. Compare to the transplantation of the left lung, we found several pitfalls in the right lung transplantation. 1) The intraatrial groove of the recipient must be divided carefully just at the middle of the right and the left atrium in order to make a generous cuff for the left atrial anastomosis. 2) It is preferable to divide azygos vein to perform easy anastomosis of right pulmonary artery and right bronchus. 3) Care must be taken to make left atrial cuff in donor lung since we did not divide intraatrial groove in the donor animal. It was necessary to make the left atrial cuff with a part of the right atrium attached. PMID- 2620132 TI - [Lung transplantation--patient selection, case reports, and time factors]. PMID- 2620133 TI - [Respiratory care system in lung transplantation]. PMID- 2620134 TI - [Three cases of chronic respiratory failure]. AB - Three patients with chronic respiratory failure of various etiology, who have (had) been in the hospital for some years, were presented. The case 1 is male and was 57 years old on admission. He has been suffered from right thoracic emphysema from October '83, which is under chronic infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with bronchial fistula and aortic valve insufficiency. His pulmonary function is severely restrictive and the grade of his dyspnea has been V of Hugh-Jone's criteria and he is now unable to leave from bed. The case 2 is male and was 41 y.o. on admission. He has been ill with diffuse cystic bronchiectasis from 33 y.o. and bronchorrhea (greater than 200 ml/day) with chronic infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been lasting and recurrent attacks of infection have progressively worsened of his pulmonary and cardiac functions. He is now indispensable to assist ventilation by artificial respirator every 2-3 days. The case 3 was male and 27 y.o. on admission. He had admitted because of severe dyspnea due to familial pulmonary fibrosis on August '86. His disorder had been progressive and resistant against repeated corticosteroid therapy. He died of respiratory failure at 30 years old. The transplantations of lung and heart-lung for critical patients with respiratory failure have been challenged in North America and Europe, but in Japan, many social and medical problems about transplantation have yet been unresolved. The indications for and against lung or heart-lung transplantation to these three patients was discussed with reference to English literatures. PMID- 2620135 TI - [Noninvasive ventilatory support on chronic respiratory failure with hypoventilation]. AB - Chest negative pressure ventilation (CNPV) and intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) through a nose mask were used for ventilatory support of 4 patients with chronic respiratory failure due to old tuberculosis (2 patients), chronic pulmonary emphysema, and kyphoscoliosis (VC, 0.91 +/- 0.16 L; %VC 31.2 +/ 3.2; FEV1.0, 0.62 +/- 0.19 L). These ventilatory supports were used for relief of chronic arterial CO2 retention, weaning from the mechanical ventilation, therapy for the acute exacerbation on the chronic respiratory failure, and the relief of the respiratory muscle fatigue. After CNPV and IPPV through a nose mask, PaCO2 showed a significant fall from 75.7 +/- 14.8 Torr to 60.2 +/- 12.3 Torr (p less than 0.01). All patients showed improvement of clinical symptoms. Two patients have continued CNPV at home on a regular basis. We conclude that CNPV and IPPV through a nose mask significantly improve hypoventilation and quality of life in some patients with chronic respiratory failure. PMID- 2620136 TI - [Psychological background of patients using home oxygen inhalation therapy, their prognosis and the possibility for lung transplantation]. PMID- 2620137 TI - [Lung transplantation at Toronto General Hospital]. PMID- 2620138 TI - [Ultrastructural bases for the synthesis of ribosomal RNA in the nuclei of the parotid gland. The role of intranuclear bodies]. AB - Identification and numerations on electron microscopic samples of rat parotid glands revealed an unexpected high frequency of nuclear bodies in acini and in striated ducts. Three different morphological types of nuclear bodies were identified: type I corresponded to a circular outline of finely fibrillar or granular bodies. Type II exhibited an outer fibrillar cortex surrounding a central lucent core. Type III possessed a thick granular or fibrillar cortex surrounding dense granules. Type IV nuclear bodies appeared to be circumscribed by a thick lamellar cortex and contained dense and heavy stained granules. The biochemical content of the nuclear bodies mostly corresponds to proteins and it was possible to demonstrate slight quantities of RNA. Recent studies seem to confer to some of those nuclear bodies a possible role in RNA processing or transport. It is however peculiar to find nuclear bodies in striated ducts which are not involved in active protein synthesis as the acini. PMID- 2620139 TI - Ultrastructural changes of collagen and elastin in human gingiva during orthodontic tooth movement. AB - After 15 days of mesializing or distalizing orthodontic treatment, 10 permanent premolars of young patients were extracted with the interdental gingiva. The connective tissues of the compressed or stretched interdental papillae were compared to that of untreated samples by light and transmission electron microscope. Large collagen fibres bundles represented by fibrils with a banding pattern of 64 nm and a mean diameter of 75 nm were observed in compressed interdental gingiva. Several elastic fibres with a mean diameter of 950 nm were also present. In some central areas of compressed gingiva collagen fibrils longitudinally split into widely spaced microfibrils were often observed in proximity to the elastic fibres. In stretched and untreated interdental papillae the collagen fibrils presented a mean diameter of 66 nm and 57 nm respectively. In both groups, few elastic fibres ranging in diameter 600 nm were seen. The increased size of the gingival collagen fibrils undergoing pressure and tension is indicative of remodelling of the fibrous collagen system. The fair increase in number and size of elastic fibres in compressed gingiva suggests that the elastic fibre system takes over the place whenever a collapse of the collagenous framework occurs. PMID- 2620140 TI - Patho-morphological study of the supplemental groove. AB - The following results have been obtained in consequence of patho-morphological examination regarding the supplemental groove. 1. Light microscopic observation of cross-sectioned supplemental grooves revealed that most of them were shallow in the form of plate or bowl. Some of the supplemental grooves had contents not described in the past and the structure of the contents was not clear under a light microscope. The contents were found in 22% of the supplemental grooves examined. 2. The contents in supplemental grooves which were confirmed under a light microscope were found to consist of enamel itself when examined by means of an electron microscope. Microhardness measurements of this enamel showed less than one third the values of normal enamel. By means of microradiography, it was established that radiolucency of this enamel was, for the most part, much higher than normal enamel. 3. It was ascertained that enamel with low hardness and high radiolucency constitutes the contents of supplemental grooves. Judging from its tissue properties, the contents were believed to be susceptible to attack by caries. This view was supported by the results of an investigation of caries sites in supplemental grooves. PMID- 2620141 TI - Behaviour of adenylic and pyridinic compounds in gingival tissue after a short term exposure to air. AB - Biochemical variations of adenine and pyridine compounds in human gingival grafts during the period between excision and implantation have been studied. These groups of compounds are considered as "indicators" of the metabolic and energetic status of the living cells. Adenylic compounds such as ATP, ADP and AMP are involved in numerous metabolic processes as "modulators" of allosteric enzymes. NAD+ and NADP+ are involved in the carbohydrate metabolism as co-factors of many reactions of oxydoreduction. The exposure to air of the gingival tissue induces modifications in the energy state of the cells as well as in the ox-reox system. No variation is detectable in the intermediates of the pyridine compounds cycle. PMID- 2620142 TI - Comparison of the dental health status of 8 to 14-year-old children in France and in Jordan, a country of endemic fluorosis. AB - In the present paper, data obtained from a survey dealing with dental carie, dental fluorosis and gingival health, involving 2618 Jordanian schoolchildren, aged 8 to 14, were compared with data from another survey dealing with 1058 schoolchildren of the same age groups living in a non-fluoridated area in the west of France. As regards dental carie in temporary teeth, up to the age of 12, the dft and dfs scores were higher in France than in Jordan. Over the age of 12, the difference was no longer significant. As regards dental carie in permanent teeth, the data showing that Jordanian children are less subject to caries than the French were very highly significant. Also, it was shown that caries index in girls was higher than in boys. These data were not significant in the French survey, but highly significant in the Jordanian investigation. A possible explanation is that, due to the custom of the country, boys in Jordan drink much more tea (with high fluoride content) than girls. As regards gingival health, an interesting finding was that, compared to the French children, the percentage of Jordanian children presenting gingivitis is remarkably low. The fluoride content of the dental plaque might play a restricting and preventing role. PMID- 2620143 TI - [The effects of the CO2 laser on human dentin and cementum]. AB - Polarizing microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis have been used to study the effects of the radiations of a CO2 laser equipment on the dentine and cementum of sound human permanent teeth. The typical lesions induced in dentine and cementum differ only lightly because of the different composition of the tissues. They assume a crater-like aspect and show structural alterations, less and less severe when moving away from the beam focal center. The morphological analysis of the tissues, which loose their organic components through combustion, suggests that such lesions are the consequences of a very fast overheating followed by a fast cooling. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the hydroxyapatite of the tissues submitted to the thermic stress does not undergo phase transformation, which means that the temperatures remain lower than 1200 degrees C. PMID- 2620144 TI - Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography of glycopeptides. AB - A practical procedure for isolating and purifying glycopeptides is described, viz. enzymatic hydrolysis-gel permeation chromatography-ion exchange chromatography-reversed phase HPLC. Using this procedure 28 glycopeptides from hen ovalbumin have been isolated some of which hitherto have not been identified. Water was a suitable mobile phase for preparing pure glycopeptides, and control of column temperature was important for good separations and reproducible retention times. Structural confirmation was by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. PMID- 2620145 TI - Identification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of long-chain fatty acids and alcohols from hamster meibomian glands using picolinyl and nicotinate derivatives. AB - Meibomian secretions from the hamster were hydrolysed with base and examined as TMS, [2H9]TMS, methyl ester/TMS, picolinyl ester/TMS and nicotinate/TMS derivatives by capillary GC/MS. Over 90 compounds, representing over 89% of the hydrolysed fraction, were identified. Fatty acids with chain lengths from 10 to 32 carbon atoms were found, the most common of these were in the C15 to C18 and in the C25 to C30 regions. Chain types were predominantly iso or anteiso branched, mono-unsaturated (C16 and C18) and straight. Fatty alcohols were mainly from the iso or anteiso series and tended to have longer chain lengths; the major alcohols had anteiso-25 and 27 and iso-26-chains. In these respects the secretions were similar to those reported earlier from other species, although fewer mono-unsaturated compounds with longer chains (C20 to C30 region) were found than in the rat and human. The steroid fraction was characterized by a larger number of compounds than normally present in secretions of this type. The major compound was cholesterol, in common with that in all other examined species except the rabbit. PMID- 2620146 TI - Multidimensional chromatographic separation of estrogen receptors. AB - Analyses of estrogen and progesterone receptors in biopsies of breast carcinoma play a vital role in the selection of patients likely to respond to hormone manipulation. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation has been the reference method in the determination of estrogen receptors in human breast carcinoma cytosols. To reduce assay time and circumvent prolonged manipulation of labile receptor preparations, high performance liquid chromatography techniques in the size-exclusion and ion-exchange modes were compared as potential alternate methods for the rapid separation of receptor isoforms. Multidimensional analyses were performed by reapplying estrogen receptor isoforms obtained from high performance size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography to sucrose density gradients and vice versa. This confirmed that the estrogen-binding components identified by high performance liquid chromatography appear to correspond to estrogen receptor species from sucrose density gradients. PMID- 2620147 TI - Simultaneous analysis of furosemide and bumetanide in horse plasma using high performance liquid chromatography. AB - A high performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the simultaneous determination of furosemide and bumetanide in horse plasma. The C8 (3 microns) reversed phase column (4.8 x 150 mm) provided clear separation of furosemide and bumetanide with other components present in the horse plasma. The detection limit for both the drugs was 10 ng/mL. Both drugs were stable in plasma (at natural or acidic pH) for up to 24 h. The method is sufficiently sensitive to detect furosemide levels in plasma obtained from horses receiving a therapeutic dose of furosemide. PMID- 2620148 TI - Simultaneous determination of some organophosphorus pesticides by high performance liquid chromatography. AB - An HPLC method for the simultaneous detection of six organophosphorus pesticides (Dimethoate, Ethion, Malathion, Phorate, Phosalone and Parathion) on a Zorbex ODS column using methanol + water (80:20) as solvent is described. PMID- 2620149 TI - Purification of the membrane protein enzyme lipoamidase by affinity chromatography. AB - Lipoamidase, a membrane glycoprotein enzyme, was purified from brain membrane by means of various affinity columns. A column with immobilized Arg-Phe-NH2 was found to be the most effective. After loading the crude material of the membrane, and extensive washing of the column with sodium chloride (0.3 M) solution, the enzyme activity was eluted by a solution containing 1% of nonionic detergent (Nonidet P-40). The fractions containing the lipoamidase activity were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and a single protein band detected in this fraction. On the other hand, lipoyl-affinity columns with various resins were not effective in enzyme purification. Single step chromatography on the Arg-Phe-NH2 column enriched the membrane enzyme lipoamidase by 40-fold. The mechanism by which this affinity resin effectively enriches the enzyme remains to be elucidated. PMID- 2620150 TI - High performance ion exchange chromatography of human plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase. AB - Highly purified monomeric human plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), completely free of apolipoprotein D, has been chromatographed on a MonoQ HR 5/5 anion exchanger. LCAT eluted as symmetrical peaks after 12.8 min and 14.8 min at pH 5.0 and pH 6.0, respectively, using a linear NaCl gradient. The corresponding concentrations of NaCl effecting desorption of LCAT from the anion exchanger were 125 mM and 175 mM. At both pH values human serum albumin eluted earlier and was well separated from the enzyme. Rechromatography of LCAT in the eluates from these experiments at acid pH, on high performance gel filtration, demonstrated absence of aggregation. The nonspecific adsorption during anion exchange chromatography at pH 5.0 and pH 6.0 was negligible, as demonstrated by a linear relationship between injected amounts of LCAT and recorded peak areas for a 2-20 micrograms protein range. Zone immunoelectrophoresis assay indicated unaltered immunoreactivity of the eluted LCAT. PMID- 2620151 TI - Electron impact mass spectrometry of substituted 1,3,8-triazaspiro[4,5]decan-4 ones. AB - The neuroleptic butyrophenone drug spiroperidol (8-[4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl]-1 phenyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro [4,5]decan-4-one) and related compounds are valuable tools for mapping the dopamine receptors in the brain. During the development of the radiochemical synthesis of these compounds with very short-lived isotopes suitable for positron emission tomography studies, positive electron impact mass spectrometric information was obtained. Ion series are present in the spectra of all 12 compounds studied, which unambiguously allow recognition of type and site of substitution on the spiro system. PMID- 2620152 TI - Quantitative determination of arecoline in plasma by gas chromatography chemical ionization mass spectrometry. AB - A capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for the quantitative analysis of arecoline in plasma has been developed for concentrations in the range 1-50 ng ml-1. Hexadeuterated arecoline was utilized as the internal standard. The removal of drug from plasma was accomplished by a two-step liquid/liquid extraction procedure involving a wash step followed by extraction with 5% triethyl amine in ethyl acetate. The GC/MS determinations were carried out with temperature-programmed capillary GC and ammonia chemical ionization mass spectrometry. The [M + H]+ ions of both analyte and internal standard were monitored at m/z 156 and 162, respectively. The method is linear and has sufficient sensitivity, precision, accuracy and selectivity for analysis of drug levels in human plasma. PMID- 2620153 TI - Positional isotopic analysis of 13C-labelled glucose by mass spectrometry: applications to the study of gluconeogenesis in liver cells. AB - The aim of the present investigation was to ascertain whether mass spectrometric analysis of glucose allows determination in small samples (0.01 nmol) of the sites and the extent of labelling of glucose produced by isolated liver cells from various gluconeogenic labelled precursors. The electron impact spectrum of the methyloxime pentatrimethylsilyl derivative of natural glucose affords fragment ions retaining specific carbon atoms, i.e. 1-2 (m/z 160), 1-2-3 (m/z 262), 3-4-5-6 (m/z 319), 4-5-6 (m/z 217), 5-6 (m/z 205), 6 (m/z 103). The mass fragmentography analysis of the same derivative of commercially available labelled glucose molecules (1-13C, 6-13C, 2-2H, 3-2H, 6,6-2H2) permitted evaluation of the degree of specificity of these fragment ions, and development of a calculation method for isotope incorporation. Using this methodology we found that incubation of hepatocytes with (2-13C)glycerol, (1,3-13C)glycerol or NaH13CO3 plus pyruvate or lactate produced (2,5-13C)glucose, (1,3,4,6-13C) glucose or (3,4-13C)glucose, respectively. The extent of labelling was measurable on individual carbon of the glucose molecule except for carbon 1. The lowest enrichment detectable on carbon 1-3 or 3 was found to be 0.5%. In conclusion, gas chromatography mass spectrometry is a reliable method for positional isotopic analysis of 13C-labelled glucose, and appears useful in the study of the gluconeogenic pathway. PMID- 2620154 TI - Routine gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of fatty acid methyl esters using the ion trap detector. AB - About 60 long-chain fatty acids occur naturally in lipids of biological tissues and fluids, oils, fats and waxes. The ion trap detector (ITD) offers a convenient but powerful means for the routine analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of such fatty acids as their methyl esters (FAMES). Enhanced [M + 1]+ ions may be formed at higher sample levels of 50 ng or more. However, spectra still retain a predominantly electron impact (EI) character. Using the classical mass spectral performance test compound methyl stearate as an example, good library comparisons were obtained for spectra run over a dynamic range of 2 pg to 225 ng, when a mid-range ITD spectrum run on 7.5 ng was used as a reference. Almost equally good spectral comparisons were found with literature reference spectra run on both quadrupole and sector conventional mass spectrometers. Using human plasma phospholipid FAMES as an example, along with an ITD-generated EI spectral library of FAMES standards, it was seen that for most of the components present the mass spectral library comparison was good enough to permit identification based on mass spectrometry alone. For all components, a combination of gas chromatographic retention index and mass spectral information permitted an unequivocal identification. PMID- 2620155 TI - The identification of a dihydrodiol metabolite of propranolol excreted in horse urine. PMID- 2620156 TI - Computer program (SEQPEP) to aid in the interpretation of high-energy collision tandem mass spectra of peptides. AB - An algorithm (SEQPEP) that aids in the interpretation of high-energy (greater than 1 kV) collision-induced dissociation mass spectra of peptide ions generated by fast atom bombardment (FAB) ionization is described. The only required input is a list of product ion masses and relative abundances generated by the mass spectrometer data system, the mass of the precursor [M + H]+ ion, and the mass of any C-terminal modification, if present (e.g., amide). Possible N-terminal modifications and amino acid compositions are not required as input. In the output, sequences are ranked according to the fraction of total product ion current that can be accounted for as either sequence-specific or non-sequence specific fragment ions. These are listed by ion type. One of the major advantages of this program over algorithms described earlier is the incorporation of ion types more recently discovered. Also, this program is much faster, requiring less than 5 min of central processing unit time for an input of as many as 100 product ions. The results obtained from 50 peptides, including some generated when sequencing a protein of previously unknown structure, are discussed. PMID- 2620157 TI - Preparation and mass spectral characterization of pentafluorobenzyl derivatives of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl-nucleobase DNA adducts. AB - Pentafluorobenzyl (PFBz) derivatives of the following nucleobases were prepared: cytosine, 5-methylcytosine, O2-methylcytosine, O2-ethylthymine, O4-ethylthymine, 5-hydroxymethyluracil, N6-methyladenine, O6-methylguanine, O6-hydroxyethylguanine and O6-hydroxyethylpurine. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance was diagnostic for O- versus N-attachment of the PFBz moiety: the resonance of the methylene carbon appeared in the range 29.15-42.13 ppm for NCH2C6F5, and 58.45-69.01 for OCH2C6F5. Considerable structural information was provided by mass spectrometry with ionization by electron impact. All of the derivatives were detected with high sensitivity and specificity by gas chromatography with detection by electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry, reflecting not only their chemical and physical stability, but also their strong tendency to form a structurally diagnostic anion, [M - PFBz]-, in high yield under these ionization conditions. PFBz derivatives are therefore attractive forms of alkyl-substituted nucleobases for analysis by mass spectrometry. PMID- 2620158 TI - The use of thermospray liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the class identification and structural verification of phytoestrogens in soy protein preparations. AB - The thermospray mass spectra of the phytoestrogens have intense protonated molecular ions but contain few or no ions indicative of structure. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was used to obtain daughter ion spectra containing ions unique to the different structural characteristics of each phytoestrogen subclass and was used both to confirm identification and propose structures for unknowns. In addition to unique daughter ion spectra, MS/MS was used as a class identifier to detect phytoestrogens through the neutral loss of 56 (due to consecutive losses of CO) that is common to all members of this family. Several sources of soy protein were investigated to confirm the presence or absence of phytoestrogens. In one preparation investigated, daidzein and genistein were detected as well as an unknown phytoestrogen of the Biochanin A subclass. This unknown has been tentatively identified as 6,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone using its daughter ion spectrum. PMID- 2620159 TI - Quantitative determination of naltiazem in human plasma by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. AB - A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric procedure has been developed for the quantification of a diltiazem analog, naltiazem, in human plasma. The assay utilizes an extraction at neutral pH with hexane:ethylene dichloride:methyl-t butyl ether (70:20:10), selective ion monitoring, methane or ammonia positive chemical ionization mass spectrometry and stable isotope dilution. The method has been used to analyze plasma concentrations of naltiazem in clinical samples over a range of 2-200 ng ml-1, using 1 ml of plasma. PMID- 2620160 TI - Identification of metabolites of ampicillin using liquid chromatography/thermospray mass spectrometry and fast atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry. AB - Mass spectrometry is combined with liquid chromatography (LC/MS) and mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to identify ampicillin and two known metabolites--ampicillin penicilloic acid and ampicillin piperazine-2,5-dione--in human urine samples. Identifications were based on the fact that the metabolites or degradation products contain a substructure of ampicillin. In addition, two previously unidentified components in human urine samples were detected, corresponding to newly discovered metabolites or degradation products of ampicillin. Different chromatographic retention times in the LC mass spectra indicated two different compounds. However, the tandem mass spectra of these two components were similar, suggesting that they are stereoisomers. The use of LC/MS and MS/MS confirmed that the unknown components are the (3S,5R) and (3S,5S) epimers of ampicillin penilloic acid. Further study showed that only one of the components was eliminated from the body; the other arises from interconversion to the epimer in a urine sample. It is speculated that the component produced in vivo is the (3S,5R) epimer of ampicillin penilloic acid. PMID- 2620161 TI - Analysis by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of 4,4-dicarboxy-5-(pyridoxyl 5'-phosphate)-proline, of 4-carboxy-5-(pyridoxyl-5'-phosphate)-proline and 4,4 dicarboxy-5-pyridoxylproline. AB - gamma-Carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) reacts easily and quantitatively with piridoxal 5'-phosphate in H2O at room temperature, to give the 4,4-dicarboxy-5-(pyridoxyl 5'-phosphate)-proline (1). This product has been characterized by fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry, including the B/E linked scan technique, ultraviolet and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. In order to support further on the structure of 1, the 4-monodecarboxyderivative (2), obtained by heating compound 1 at 100 degrees C for 30 min and the 5'-dephosphoderivative (3), obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of 1 with alkaline phosphatase, were also analysed by FAB and 1H NMR techniques. FAB was shown to be the only adequate ionization technique to deal with such thermolabile and non-volatile compounds and could provide an elegant and fast method to detect Gla in biological matrices. PMID- 2620162 TI - Characterization and serial propagation of mouse prostate epithelial cells in serum-free medium. AB - Epithelial cell cultures derived from the ventral prostate of normal adult mice have been propagated in serum-free medium. The cultures were initiated and maintained in Ham's F-12 nutrient mixture supplemented with insulin (5 micrograms/ml), EGF (10 ng/ml), hydrocortisone (0.5 micrograms/ml), cholera toxin (10 ng/ml), bovine pituitary extract (25 micrograms protein/ml) and antibiotics. The cells exhibited microvilli on cell surfaces, interdigitations and junctional complexes including desmosomes between cells, and cytokeratins in cytoplasm which are characteristic of epithelial cells. In addition, the cells exhibited the tissue-specific markers, prostatic acid phosphatase and prostate-specific antigen. PMID- 2620163 TI - Endocytosis in spermatids during spermiogenesis of the mouse. AB - In the course of spermiogenesis in the mouse, spermatid cytoplasm contains numerous membrane pits, vesicles and membranous tubules which are frequently anastomosed. Pale and dense multivesicular bodies (MVB) and secondary lysosome like structures are also present in the cytoplasm. In order to study the pathway of non-specific adsorptive endocytosis in spermatids, cationic ferritin (CF) was directly microinjected into the lumen of seminiferous tubules, and added to germinal cell culture. Tissue and cultures were fixed at various time intervals after injection. Two-5 hr after microinjection of tracer, CF was found simultaneously in vesicles, tubules, MVB and in lysosome-like bodies present in spermatids at all steps of spermiogenesis. Various membranous components of the Golgi medulla, and the innermost transsaccule of the Golgi cortex were labelled simultaneously. In primary cultures of spermatids, the vesicles contained the marker 5 min after its deposition; 10 min after deposition, CF was evident in tubules; at 30 min, CF was present in pale MVB; at 1 hr, the dense MVB and lysosome-like bodies were labelled. Finally, at 2 hr 30 min, vesicles and tubules of the Golgi medulla contained CF grains. Apparently spermatids are very active cells in the process of adsorptive endocytosis throughout spermiogenesis. Endocytosis in spermatids is probably one of the mechanisms involved in the uptake of material used to build up spermatozoa components. The strong labelling of the Golgi region probably point to its role in recycling endocytosed membranes. PMID- 2620164 TI - Proliferative response of foetal liver peroxisomes to clofibrate treatment of pregnant rats. A quantitative evaluation. AB - Liver peroxisomes during prenatal development were studied by means of morphological and morphometric analysis in foetuses growing both in untreated and in clofibrate-treated rats. Pregnant rats were fed a standard diet (25 g/d) containing or not 0.8% clofibrate during the week preceding sacrifice and livers were excised from 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21-day old foetuses and newborn rats. The morphometric analysis of hepatocyte peroxisomes, performed by a semiautomatic method in specimens incubated with 3,3' diaminobenzidine, shows that the peroxisome volume density and average diameter in test animals were significantly increased over the control values. While the increase in the average diameter was roughly the same (X 1.4) at all examined stages, the volume density increased over the control values particularly in foetuses over 19d-old and in newborn rats; over the same period the peroxisome numerical density also significantly increased over the control values. Finally, the average diameters of peroxisome profiles in test rats showed a more dispersed distribution (SD 40%) than in control animals (SD 30%). These results demonstrate that clofibrate, given to rats during pregnancy, induces peroxisomal proliferation in the livers of their foetuses. Data are discussed in view of the models proposed for peroxisomal biogenesis. PMID- 2620165 TI - Intracellular pH and the increase in protein synthesis accompanying activation of Xenopus eggs. AB - Metabolic activation following egg fertilization corresponds to an increase in protein synthesis and the initiation of DNA synthesis, which lead to cell division and development of the embryo. Since in several biological systems protein synthesis is regulated by intracellular pH (pHi), we have decided to investigate the situation during Xenopus egg activation. We confirmed that egg activation is accompanied by a pHi rise of 0.3 pH unit. Measurements of the rates of protein synthesis is unactivated and activated eggs, after microinjection of 3H-leucine, demonstrated that activation was followed by a 2.5-fold increase. Treatment of unactivated eggs with weak bases also increased pHi, but did not result in an increase in the rate of protein synthesis. Moreover, in vitro translation in cytoplasmic extracts was found to be pH-independent, at least between 6.8 and 8.2. PMID- 2620166 TI - A possible role of actin in the mechanical control of the cell cycle. AB - Sail-sheet Cultures (SSC) are those in which the cells are i) grown within the meshes of inert grids ii) exposed to nutrients from most sides iii) attached to one another only at the edges like sail of a yacht (hence, the name 'sail-sheet') and iv) have the advantage of three-dimensional structure similar to an in vivo situation. We grew fibroblasts from chicken heart explants as SSC and studied the effect of mechanical stretching on the F-actin content of these cells. This study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that the effect of tension on the cell cycle may be channeled through the microfilaments. Data from this preliminary study suggested that short-term mechanical stretching of sail-sheets, using low frequency tension (1.0 Hz), diminishes F-actin. Thus, it may be possible to relate the decrease in the F-actin content of these cells to the slowing down of their locomotory activity, possible rounding up, and division. This study might contribute to the understanding of the mechanical control of the cell cycle and be of relevance in the phenomena such as healing of wounds and control of the cell division in tumors. PMID- 2620167 TI - Restoration of dysgenic murine (mdg) myotube contraction after addition of Schwann cells from normal mice in vitro. AB - Muscular dysgenesis in mutant mice is characterised by failure of excitation contraction (E-C) coupling and consequent loss of skeletal muscle contraction. Contractile activity is restored in vitro by the addition of normal mice cells (11) (18) (7). In the present study we show a new model: contraction and ultrastructural organization of dysgenic myotubes are restored by coculture with Schwann cells from normal mice. PMID- 2620168 TI - Immunoelectron microscopical identification of the uncoupling protein in brown adipose tissue mitochondria. AB - The distribution of the uncoupling protein (UCP) in brown adipocyte mitochondria of the hibernant Muscardinus avellanarius was obtained by ultrastructural immunocytochemistry. In both cryosections and sections of Lowicryl-embedded material UCP was localized in the mitochondrial cristae of brown adipocytes, but not in liver mitochondria. It should now be possible to easily identify the morphology of cells committed to BAT differentiation in the tissue as well as in cell culture. PMID- 2620169 TI - Effect of growth conditions on production of violacein by Chromobacterium violaceum (BB-78 strain). AB - 1. Chromobacterium violaceum (strain BB-78 isolated in Brazil) produces violacein, a substance potentially useful in phototherapy and with antibiotic and trypanocide activity. Culture conditions were optimized for the production of violacein and changes in nutrients, temperature and pH were correlated to cellular growth. 2. Methionine was the only absolute requirement for growth. Alanine, arginine, tryptophan and vitamin B12 stimulated growth and the microorganism utilized both the D and L forms of methionine. L-Tryptophan and its metabolites were important as a carbon source for violacein production and bacterial growth. 3. The highest yields of violacein were obtained by incubation in liquid medium and in the absence of light at pH 7.0 and 28 degrees C for 24 h. PMID- 2620170 TI - Sugar inhibition of the lectin jacalin: comparison of three assays. AB - 1. Three assays were used to test nine sugars for inhibition of jacalin activity prepared from Artocarpus integrifolia. Rat spleen proliferation was unsuitable since the measurement of the effects of sugars against jacalin binding was complicated by their simultaneous metabolic effects on the cells. 2. Based partly on a sheep red blood cell hemagglutination assay and mainly on human serum protein precipitation, the following potencies in relation to D(+)-galactose (taken as 1) were obtained: 1-0-methyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside, 40; methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside and D(+)-galactose, 1; 1-0-methyl-alpha-D glucopyranoside, 0.4; 1-0-methyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, 0.2; D(+)-mannose, 0.12; beta-D-(-)-fructose, 0.08; alpha-D(+)-glucose and 1-0-methyl-beta-D glucopyranoside, less than 0.04. PMID- 2620171 TI - Leishmania donovani donovani and Leishmania donovani chagasi as antigens in a direct agglutination assay for the diagnosis of kala-azar. AB - The need for a reliable method for the immunological diagnosis of kala-azar is imperative. Leishmania donovani donovani and L. donovani chagasi culture promastigotes were compared as antigens in a direct agglutination test (DAT) for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. Both antigens were successfully employed for the DAT, showing 100% sensitivity and greater than 98% specificity when used to test sera from Brazilian and African kala-azar, Chagas' disease, malaria, filaria and syphilis patients, and on sera from Brazilian controls. Cross-reactions were sometimes observed when cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis patient sera were tested. The cross-reactions were completely abolished by the addition of 0.78% 2-mercaptoethanol to the serum diluent. These data show that this improved DAT can be used for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. PMID- 2620172 TI - Sympathetic and parasympathetic changes in heart rate control during dynamic exercise induced by endurance training in man. AB - 1. Seven healthy young men of sedentary habits were submitted to a 10-week period of endurance physical training on a cycle ergometer. The training program caused a 15% increase in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and a 16% reduction in resting heart rate (HR). Before and after training, these volunteers performed dynamic exercise (DE) on a cycle ergometer at loads of 25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 w for 4 min at each level. The same exercise protocol was applied to 13 sedentary individuals and to 7 athletes (medium distance runners) who showed a VO2max of 39.4 and 53.8 ml/kg, respectively. HR was continuously monitored throughout the period of effort at each workload. 2. During the first 10 s of DE, a period when tachycardia is mediated almost exclusively by vagal withdrawal, the athletes presented a more rapid increase in HR than sedentary subjects. The same tendency was observed in the sedentary individuals after the training period, although of a lesser magnitude. 3. During the DE phase in which sympathetic mediation plays an important role (between 30 s and 4 min), the athletes presented a lower HR increase than the sedentary individuals, and the same response pattern was observed in the group submitted to physical training. Total HR increase (from 0 to 4 min) induced by DE was lower in athletes than in sedentary subjects and was not changed by training of the sedentary subjects. 4. These results suggest that aerobic training decreases the slow sympathetic and increases the fast parasympathetic contribution to HR during dynamic exercise at the same absolute workloads. 5. These functional changes in the autonomic control of HR may or may not be associated with modifications of absolute HR values which increase from rest to the end of exercise. In contrast to what happens in athletes, the autonomic adaptations observed after short-term aerobic training may occur during DE without changes in the total HR response. PMID- 2620173 TI - Does the oxygen tension of coronary sinus blood reflect myocardial oxygen tension? AB - Coronary sinus blood oxygen tension (CSpO2) and myocardial oxygen tension (MpO2) were measured simultaneously during cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. Oxygen tension was measured using a polarographic method. Myocardial ischemia caused a reduction (5 +/- 1.5%; P less than 0.05) in CSpO2 and a decrease (56.5 +/- 10.1%; P less than 0.001) in MpO2. Reperfusion induced a rapid but transient increase (35.9 +/- 4.3%; P less than 0.001) in CSpO2 above the basal state while MpO2 returned gradually to the basal state. These results indicate that CSpO2 is of little value for the detection of changes in myocardial oxygen metabolism during the initial phase (seconds) of cardiac reperfusion. PMID- 2620174 TI - Gas liquid chromatography of amines produced by the Enterobacteriaceae. AB - 1. Gas liquid chromatography (GLC) was used to test the production of amines by 85 strains of Enterobacteriaceae. 2. The strains tested produced cadaverine, beta phenylethylamine, putrescine, iso-amylamine, 2-methylbutylamine and iso butylamine. 3. Although the overlap in amine production between obviously different genera and species limits the general applicability of this methodology in clinical microbiology, the results obtained demonstrate the possibility of differentiating Proteus rettgeri from other Proteus species, Escherichia coli from Proteus species and Salmonella species from Shigella species on the basis of their amine composition. 4. In general, members of the Enterobacteriaceae family produce qualitatively similar amine profiles, though differing quantitatively in the amounts of individual amines produced. GLC proved to be useful for separating amines and for providing tentative peak identification. PMID- 2620175 TI - Hemoglobin H disease caused by two gene deletions. AB - 1. A white Brazilian woman not of Asian origin was found to have Hb H disease of moderate severity. 2. Gene mapping demonstrated that the disease was caused by the association of two abnormal alpha-globin gene clusters on chromosome 16: one with a deletion which removed the two functional alpha genes and the other carrying the 3.7-kb rightward deletion, which leaves a single functional alpha gene. 3. These data illustrate the necessity for systematic molecular approaches to the diagnosis of this heterogeneous group of diseases. PMID- 2620176 TI - Bancroftian filariasis in the metropolitan area of Recife (Pernambuco State, Brazil): clinical aspects in histologically diagnosed cases. AB - Clinical data on 75 patients, 33 males (44%) and 42 females (56%), with histopathological diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis observed in Recife are presented. The disease predominated in young people. Lymph nodes, especially those of the inguinal region, were the most common site of lesion while the female breast represented the most frequent extra-nodal involvement. The index of clinical suspicion was low, neoplasias being the main preoperatory diagnosis. PMID- 2620177 TI - Addition of nerve growth factor to the interior of a tubular prosthesis increases sensory neuron regeneration in vivo. AB - The sciatic nerve of adult mice was transected and the proximal and distal nerve stumps were sutured into a polyethylene tube. The tubes were implanted either empty, or the lumen was filled with pure collagen or a mixture of collagen/nerve growth factor (NGF). Six weeks later, cells in the L3-L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were retrogradely filled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The data demonstrate that the addition of NGF to the interior of the tubular prosthesis can significantly increase the regeneration rate of sensory neurons. PMID- 2620178 TI - Testes alterations in pubertal benznidazole-treated rats. AB - To determine the side effects of benznidazole, an antiparasitic chemotherapeutic agent against chagasic infection, rats were treated with 80 mg benznidazole kg-1 day-1, p.o., for 30 days, while controls received the vehicle. Treated animals developed severe testicular atrophy (0.25 +/- 0.02 g/100 g vs 0.44 +/- 0.02 g/100 g for the controls), though plasma testosterone level, relative weight of seminal vesicles and prostate were similar to those of the controls. Histological examination of the testes revealed a statistically significant alteration in the spermatogenic process with a marked decrease in the frequency of meiosis, number of tubular sections with mature spermatids and depletion of germinal epithelium. PMID- 2620179 TI - Anxiolytic effect of carbamazepine measured in the elevated plus-maze. AB - The anxiolytic effect of carbamazepine was measured in rats placed in an elevated plus-maze. Doses from 5 to 40 mg/kg, ip, of carbamazepine increased the percentage of open arm entries as well as the percentage of time spent in the two open arms of the maze. Both of these measures are interpreted as indexes of anxiety. The total number of entries in either the open or the two enclosed arms, considered as an index of general activity, was not changed by the drug. Therefore, carbamazepine caused a selective anxiolytic effect as measured in the elevated plus-maze, which is predictive of clinical efficacy. PMID- 2620180 TI - Effects of floor surface and environmental illumination on exploratory activity in the elevated plus-maze. AB - We determined the effects of floor surface (wire mesh, WM+, or smooth wood, WM-) and environmental light intensity (20 or 1200 lux) on the exploratory activity of rats in an elevated plus-maze using 15 rats in each group. Rats tested on the wire-mesh floor under low environmental light intensity presented a two-fold increase in the total number of arm entries compared to WM+/high light, WM-/high light or WM-/low light. The relative frequency of open arm entries was greater under WM+/low light (38 +/- 3% vs 20 +/- 5%, 19 +/- 3% and 13 +/- 3% for WM-/low light, WM+/high light and WM-/high light, respectively), as was the percent of time spent in the open arms (27 +/- 4% vs 9 +/- 3%, 8 +/- 2% and 5 +/- 1% for WM /low light, WM+/high light and WM-/high light, respectively). These behaviors are associated with "aversiveness" as measured with this test. The present results demonstrate that baseline values for drug studies may be decreased or increased by selecting the appropriate type of floor surface and intensity of environmental illumination, thereby permitting more sensitivity, and thus selectivity, for measuring anxiolytic or anxiogenic drug effects, respectively. PMID- 2620181 TI - Behavioral effects of neurotensin applied to periventricular structures of rats. AB - Neurotensin (NT), an active neuropeptide, and bicuculline, a GABA-A receptor antagonist, were microinjected into the rat medial hypothalamus (MH) or the dorsal periaqueductal gray matter (DPAG). Bicuculline (80 pmol) produced behavioral activation which included jumping and NT (1-20 nmol) caused a dose dependent behavioral activation accompanied by catalepsy rather than jumping. These results suggest that the behavioral activation produced by NT may be due to an interaction of the neuropeptide with specific receptors while its cataleptic effect may be attributed to the blockade of dopamine receptors. PMID- 2620182 TI - Antigenic relationship among antihemorrhagic factors from snake and opossum plasmas. AB - Immunological relationships among antihemorrhagic factors (AHF) present in the plasma of different snakes and a mammal (opossum) were studied. Antibodies were prepared against purified Bothrops jararaca and Didelphis marsupialis aurita (opossum) AHF. The antigen-antibody reaction was determined by direct ELISA and by the competition of homologous antigen-antibody reaction with a heterologous competitor antigen. Plasmas from several snakes and from opossum were used as antigens. Anti-AHF (B. jararaca) reacted only with snake plasmas. Antibody against opossum AHF was detectable only when the homologous antigen was used. Differences in the reactivity of snake plasmas with antibodies against B. jararaca were demonstrable only when a competition assay was used: B. alternatus showed a reaction pattern similar to that of B. jararaca while Crotalus durissus terrificus and the nonvenomous snake, Wanglerophis merremii, presented reduced reactivity. PMID- 2620183 TI - Reduced phagocytic activity mediated by C3b and Fc monocyte receptors from children with sickle-cell disease. AB - The causes of high morbidity due to infection among children with sickle-cell disease (SD) are unknown. Immunological studies have focused on spleen function, on the alternative complement pathway, and recently on phagocytic activity. We evaluated Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis (sheep red cells opsonized with rabbit anti-E IgG, EA) and C3b receptor-mediated phagocytosis (zymosan particles incubated with fresh serum) in 27 children with SD. The control group consisted of 28 normal children matched by age and sex. The phagocytic indices obtained for cells from patients with SD were significantly lower than those for the controls (P less than 0.001), both when EA and zymosan were used and independent of whether the zymosan particles were incubated with patient serum or with a pool of normal sera. The results suggest the absence of abnormalities in the alternative complement pathway but do indicate an intrinsic cellular defect. PMID- 2620184 TI - Effects of prenatal diphenhydramine administration on sexual behavior in rats. AB - In order to study the involvement of the brain histamine system on the sexual behavior of rats prenatally exposed to the histamine H1 receptor blockader, diphenhydramine (DPD), the female lordotic response and male sexual behavior were analyzed. The results show that the lordotic response in the prenatal DPD-treated rats was increased in relation to control animals. Impairment of male sexual behavior was indicated by an increase in ejaculation latency, in the number of mounts and a decrease in the number of ejaculations up to 30 min after the first intromission. Prenatal exposure to DPD thus appears to alter female and male sexual behavior on reaching adulthood. PMID- 2620185 TI - Macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide release a selective neutrophil recruitment inhibitory factor: an in vivo demonstration. AB - Intravenous injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 20 micrograms/kg) and of a factor originating from LPS-stimulated macrophage monolayers (Neutrophil Recruitment Inhibitory Factor, NRIF) inhibited neutrophil migration into peritoneal cavities induced by carrageenin in rats for up to 24 h. Mononuclear cell migration induced by thioglycollate was also inhibited by the same treatment with LPS but was not affected by NRIF. We conclude that NRIF specifically blocks neutrophil migration and we suggest that NRIF released into the circulation may constitute an important determinant of septicemia. PMID- 2620186 TI - Striatal dopamine receptor supersensitivity after long-term haloperidol treatment of hypophysectomized rats. AB - Dopamine (DA) receptor sensitivity was studied after long-term treatment with haloperidol (0.5 and 3.0 mg/kg, ip, single daily dose) or saline in hypophysectomized and intact rats. Haloperidol treatment for seven days produced a 25 to 125% increase in [3H]-spiroperidol binding to striatal DA receptors in a dose-dependent fashion. The increase in binding sites (Bmax) was similar in both hypophysectomized and intact rats when compared to controls. The present results show that hypophysectomy does not effect the supersensitivity of striatal DA receptors induced by long-term haloperidol treatment. PMID- 2620187 TI - Involvement of eicosanoids and PAF in immune-complex alveolitis. AB - An immune-complex-mediated hypersensitivity reaction induced in the rat lung was followed by release of the eicosanoids thromboxane, prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 into the bronchoalveolar space. Concomitantly, there was a decrease in the number of circulating platelets. The thrombocytopenia was inhibited by a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin), a platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist (BN-52021) and an inhibitor of thromboxane (econazole), but was not affected by a lipoxygenase inhibitor (NDGA). These results suggest the involvement of eicosanoids and PAF in the immune complex hypersensitivity reaction in the rat lung and indicate the occurrence of interactions between PAF and thromboxane. PMID- 2620188 TI - Participation of the serotonergic system in the regulation of water and electrolyte balance. AB - To determine the possible participation of the serotonergic (5-HT) system in the regulation of water and electrolyte balance, rats were submitted to two sessions of water overloading and the 5-HT agonist MK 212 was administered intracerebroventricularly (icv) in 1.0 microliters 20 min after the second session. Urine volume and sodium and potassium excretion were then measured over a period of 120 min. Microinjection of MK-212 (1 micrograms/animal) caused a significant reduction (24 to 57%; mean, 43%) in natriuresis throughout the experimental period, and the administration of 10 micrograms/animal caused a 26 41% reduction (mean, 33%) in kaliuresis. At 20 micrograms/animal, MK-212 did not change any of the parameters investigated. No significant change in urine volume was detected after any of the treatments used. PMID- 2620189 TI - Effect of brain natriuretic peptide on dehydration- or angiotensin II-induced water intake in rats. AB - The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of 3rdV injection on water intake of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), which is structurally different from the atrial natriuretic peptide. BNP was recently isolated from porcine brain and appears to have a different precursor than the family of atrial natriuretic peptides. Central administration of BNP 3rdV decreased water intake. At a dose of 2.0 nmol/rat, BNP partially inhibited dehydration-induced water intake and completely blocked the stimulatory effect of 478 pmol/rat angiotensin II in rats. PMID- 2620190 TI - Pressor responses of clonidine injected into some prosencephalic areas of conscious rats. AB - The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of clonidine injection into some prosencephalic areas of unanesthetized rats on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). Injection of 40 nmol clonidine in 1.0 lambda 150 mM NaCl into the medial septal area, lateral hypothalamus, lateral preoptic area and lateral ventricle caused the same increase in MAP, 38 +/- 3 to 41 +/- 5 mmHg, and decrease in HR, -65 +/- 10 to -94 +/- 13 bpm (mean +/- SEM, N = 9 to 11 animals). These results show that clonidine can act on several prosencephalic areas to induce a pressor response in the conscious rat. PMID- 2620191 TI - Horizontal optokinetic reflex in the opossum Didelphis marsupialis aurita. AB - Electro-oculographic recordings were performed in 10 opossums. The optokinetic reflex was elicited by projecting a random dot stimulus on a cylindrical screen moving horizontally from left to right or right to left at various constant speeds. Binocular stimulation yielded the same response as the temporal to nasal monocular condition. The nasal to temporal monocular response was always less than that to the opposite direction: 50% at 3 degrees/s and 15% at 18 degrees/s. These results are discussed in a comparative context. PMID- 2620192 TI - The relation between head and apparent visual field motion in the pigeon (Columba livia). AB - In order to study the relationship between the apparent motion of the visual field as a function of head motion, we have developed an equation that describes the apparent displacement of objects in the visual field produced by a general movement of the head consisting of a rotation plus a translation. We then used this equation to simulate the apparent motion of the visual field of a pigeon produced by rotation of the head about axes parallel to those of its anterior semicircular canals. PMID- 2620193 TI - Ether and immobilization stress effects on pituitary adrenal function in hemidecorticate rats. AB - Hemidecortication (HD) (left cerebral hemisphere) was performed in rats with the aim of analyzing the modulating effect of the cerebral cortex on the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal axis. Corticosterone release induced either by ether or immobilization stress was evaluated in control (C) and HD rats. The percentage increase in corticosterone was greater in HD than in C rats after 15 min of ether stress (HD = 142%, C = 50%) and after 60 min of immobilization stress (HD = 197%, C = 126%). An in vitro test showed that the release of ACTH induced by corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) from hemipituitary fragments from HD rats was not different from that in control rats. These results suggest an inhibitory effect of the cerebral cortex on the hypothalamus which may modulate the secretion of corticotropin releasing peptides. PMID- 2620194 TI - Labelling of the platyhelminth Dugesia tigrina with 99mtechnetium. AB - The study of the labelling of planaria with 99mTc shows that the incorporation of radioactivity in this platyhelminth increases with an increase in SnCl2 concentration from 0.13 to 1.3 microM, reaching a plateau in the range of 1.3-130 microM then decreasing with 1300 microM. At concentrations of 1.3 and 13 microM SnCl2, a stronger binding of 99mTc was obtained. The biological viability of the labelled planaria was not altered when the described methodology was used. The advantage of this new labelling technique is that it is possible to obtain a platyhelminth preparation labelled with a radionuclide that is very cheap, is easily available and is a gamma emitter with a photon energy of 140 keV. PMID- 2620195 TI - Anaerobic threshold estimation by statistical modelling. AB - Anaerobic threshold (AT) is usually estimated as a change point problem by visual analysis of the cardiorespiratory response to incremental dynamic exercise. In this study, two phase linear (TPL) models of the linear-linear and linear quadratic type were used for the estimation of AT. The correlation coefficient between the classical and statistical approaches was 0.88, and 0.89 after outlier exclusion. The TPL models provide a simple method for estimating AT that can be easily implemented using a digital computer for the automatic pattern recognition of AT. PMID- 2620196 TI - Effect of hepatic artery ligation on liver metabolism in rats. AB - The rat is an experimental model of orthotopic liver transplant that does not need arterial revascularization of the transplanted liver. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of hepatic artery ligation on hepatic metabolism in rats. After 2, 3 or 24 h of hepatic artery ligation, no significant differences in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase were observed. Bile flow decreased significantly 3 h after arterial ligation (P less than 0.05) and returned to normal after 24 h (P less than 0.05). PMID- 2620197 TI - Influence of the KCl concentration on rat sinus node recovery time in vitro. AB - The influence of changes in the KCl concentration of the bath fluid ([KCl]o) on the corrected sinus node recovery time (CSNRT) was studied using the continuous pacing method (M1) and the method of stimulation with premature pulses (M2). M1 and M2 were compared in Krebs-Henseleit solution containing normal (4.6 mM), low (3.1 mM, LoKCl) and high (6.1 mM, HiKCl) [KCl]o. The results revealed that HiKCl increased CSNRT (P less than 0.01) and changed the prematurity-CSNRT relationship (P less than 0.01), whereas LoKCl did not change CSNRT. M1 and M2 were different (P less than 0.01) regardless of [KCl]o, except for pacing intervals near the spontaneous cycle length. PMID- 2620198 TI - Calcium-osmolality interaction in the inotropic response of isolated rat atria to increased sodium concentration. AB - The effects of osmolality (300 and 450 mOsm/l) and external calcium concentration ([Ca2+]o: 0.87, 1.13, 1.47 and 1.92 mM) on the inotropic response of isolated rat left atria to an increase of 97.8 mM in extracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]o) were studied. The evoked tensions developed during 30 min after the exposure to increased [Na+]o increased with increasing [Ca2+]o. In iso-osmotic solutions, tension was lower than in hyperosmotic solutions when [Ca2+]o was 0.87 and 1.13 mM, but not for higher [Ca2+]o, revealing a Ca2(+)-osmolality interaction in the determination of the inotropic response. PMID- 2620199 TI - [Experimental goiter formation]. AB - Nodules formation in goiter is still poorly understood due to the lack of an adequate animal model. The key role of iodine in the increased heterogeneity of iodine metabolism and in cold follicle formation has been demonstrated. Administration of iodide excess to goitrous mice induces follicle cell necrosis and thyroiditis. Necrosis and inflammation can be prevented by reducing the iodine dose, giving T3 or T4, or combining iodide with antithyroid drugs or vitamin E. This suggest that iodide toxicity is related to excessive production of free radicals. During inflammation, Ia positive interstitial cells were increased in number whereas no Ia expression was seen in follicular cells. PMID- 2620200 TI - [Study of new brain peptides using genetic engineering methods]. AB - Using the methods of molecular biology, we have been able to clone 5 rat brain specific cDNAs coding for brain specific proteins. The partial sequencing of the first of those clones gave no homology with the genes contained in Genebank and EMBL data bank. In the future, we intend to look for a possible effect of those brain specific proteins on the neuronal activity of rat brain neurons. PMID- 2620201 TI - [Pulmonary circulation and autonomic nervous system]. AB - The function of the autonomic innervation of the pulmonary vasculature remains incompletely understood. Recent studies have contributed to a better understanding of pressure-flow relationships within the pulmonary circulation in intact dog experimental models. This methodological approach has been used to show that, in normal hyperoxic or moderately hypoxic lungs, the sympathetic nervous system exerts a net vasodilatating effect, while the parasympathetic nervous system does not seem to participate to the regulation of vasomotor tone. These results underscore that research in "traditional" physiology still is implicated in ongoing progress in physiopathology and therapeutics. PMID- 2620202 TI - [Anti-inflammatory effects of histamine]. AB - Most of the body's histamine is stored in the granules of tissue mast cells and blood basophils. Free histamine regulates gastric acid secretion, acts as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and is a potent mediator of allergic inflammation. Histamine may also exert negative influences on human inflammatory cells in vitro. Evidence is provided here that the administration of histamine in man may depress the chemotactic response of the PMNs and spontaneous or pulsed T-lymphocyte proliferation. Thus, histamine has indeed, in man, some antiinflammatory actions which may explain the increased sensitivity of asthmatics to respiratory infections. PMID- 2620203 TI - Psychiatric manifestations of frontal lobe tumours. PMID- 2620204 TI - Physical health of the long-term mentally ill in the community. Is there unmet need? AB - A clinical assessment was made of 145 long-term users of hospital and social services day psychiatric facilities, and 84 consented to laboratory pathological screening. We recorded data on relevant medical care where that was being provided. Based on clinical assessment, 59 patients (41%) were judged to have medical problems potentially requiring care. Based on pathological screening 39 (44% of those assessed) had unmet needs, and this rating was associated with poor compliance with attendance and treatment plans. Altogether, 12 patients had important unmet needs, mainly for detailed medical investigation, although none required immediate hospital admission. Long-term patients should be medically reassessed and supervised at appropriate intervals. PMID- 2620205 TI - Life events, life difficulties and confiding relationships in the depressed elderly. AB - A total of 101 elderly depressed patients and 85 community residents (matched for age and sex) were interviewed about life events, difficulties, and confiding relationships. Significantly more of the depressed sample reported at least one severe event in the three months before the onset of their illness. Lack of a good confiding relationship was associated with depression in men but not in women. In this relatively affluent Australian sample, life difficulties were rare and, probably as a result, were not significantly associated with depression. PMID- 2620206 TI - Impaired lymphocyte stimulation by mitogens in severely depressed patients. A complex interface with HPA-axis hyperfunction, noradrenergic activity and the ageing process. AB - To investigate the relationships between the immune apparatus, major depression, and HPA-axis and noradrenergic activity, the authors measured the lymphocyte stimulation responses to the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and concanavalin A (CON A), post-dexamethasone cortisol (DST) values and 3 methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) excretion in 24-hour urine samples from 48 patients. We found that lymphocyte responses to PHA and PWM in melancholic and psychotic depressives were significantly lower than in minor depressives. The lymphocyte responses to PHA, PWM and CON A showed significantly negative correlations with age, DST results and HRSD score. Responses to PHA were significantly negatively correlated with MHPG excretion. Up to +/- 33% of the variance in the three mitogenic lymphocyte responses could be explained by canonical correlation with age, DST results and MHPG values. PMID- 2620207 TI - The psychiatric consequences of spontaneous abortion. AB - Sixty-seven women were interviewed four weeks after spontaneous abortion. As determined by the Present State Examination, 32 of these women were psychiatric cases. This rate is four times higher than in the general population of women. In each case the diagnosis was depressive disorder, a finding confirmed by scores on three depression rating scales. Many women showed typical features of grief. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with a history of previous spontaneous abortion, and less so with childlessness. PMID- 2620208 TI - HIV infection: psychiatric findings in The Netherlands. AB - A psychiatric consultation was requested in 51 in-patient cases of HIV infection. Reasons for referral included counselling, the evaluation of depressive symptoms, and the treatment of delirium. The most common DSM-III diagnoses included: delirium (n = 13), major depressive disorders (n = 12), dementia (n = 5), and adjustment disorders with depressive or anxious mood (n = 5). The psychiatric treatment of patients with HIV infection does not differ fundamentally from that of other medically ill patients with similar psychiatric symptoms. However, the psychiatric treatment of patients with HIV infection can be hampered by the fear of contagion, negative attitudes towards homosexuals and drug users, and over identification or avoidance reactions. PMID- 2620209 TI - Effects of ethanol on the NMR characteristics of rat brain. Acute administration, dependency, and long-term effects. AB - In rats, neither acute administration of ethanol nor the establishment of ethanol dependence by chronic administration for 28 days produced significant 1H-NMR relaxation changes. However, chronic ethanol intake for six months produced a transient rise in T1, with no change in T2 or water content. The significance of these results for study in man is discussed and a hypothesis is proposed to explain discrepant differences between T1, T2 and water content. It is suggested that T1 change with long-term ethanol exposure is related to altered free/bound water state secondary to cell membrane changes. PMID- 2620210 TI - Suicide and related behaviour from river bridges. A clinical perspective. AB - A survey was conducted of 47 suicides, 16 failed suicides, and 24 attempted suicides that occurred from Brisbane river bridges over 15 years. Compared with findings from other suicide surveys, subjects of bridge suicides and failed suicides had a much higher rate of schizophrenia (46%), with hallucinations often precipitating the jump. They also had extensive histories of previous self-harm. Those who attempted suicide by jumping had a higher rate of personality disorder (58%) compared with findings from other attempted suicide surveys, and had very extensive histories of previous self-harm which tended to continue beyond the bridge incident. Both groups had histories of extensive previous psychiatric care. PMID- 2620211 TI - Studying the 'Grammar of Psychotherapy' Course using a student and control population. Some results, trends and disappointments. AB - In a study of the effects of the teaching of the 'Grammar of Psychotherapy' Course, 26 subjects were matched with 27 controls. The students were found to have significantly better interviews than the controls as rated by their patients and by independent blind assessment of their audiotapes six months later. There are some trends which were of interest, although not statistically significant. PMID- 2620212 TI - Aggressiveness, anxiety and drugs. PMID- 2620213 TI - Paedophilia and hyperprolactinaemia. AB - The case of a man presenting with paedophilia who has found to be hyperprolactinaemic is described. There is possibly a link between paedophilia and endocrine disorders. PMID- 2620214 TI - Neuroleptic malignant syndrome in a case of post-partum psychosis. AB - A 27-year-old woman with a post-partum psychosis developed NMS which proved difficult to diagnose because of the organic features of the presenting illness. Possible contributory factors to the development of NMS included exhaustion, a non-specific viral illness, and rapid loading with haloperidol. PMID- 2620215 TI - Anterior tumour of the corpus callosum with atypical depression. AB - We report a patient with an anteriorly placed tumour of the corpus callosum presenting with primarily depressive symptoms, without any associated neurological abnormality. It is important to be alert to the possibility of an organic cause to depression. PMID- 2620216 TI - Familial manic-depressive illness with deleted short arm of chromosome 21: coincidental or causal? AB - A 35-year-old Arab lady and her mother, both with bipolar manic-depressive illness and 46,XX,21p-(pcen----pter), are reported. The clinical significance of this association is considered. PMID- 2620217 TI - The effects of loss of taste and smell in a case of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. AB - A woman with a mixed eating disorder is reported. Her disorder did not remit after a head injury which caused her to lose her sense of taste and smell. PMID- 2620218 TI - Unresolved grief presenting with features of a negative therapeutic reaction. AB - A 44-year-old depressed widow in psychodynamic psychotherapy suffered repeated relapses of symptoms following improvement. This was seen as a negative therapeutic reaction. PMID- 2620219 TI - The myth of hysteria as illness. PMID- 2620220 TI - Comparison of diazepam and buspirone. PMID- 2620221 TI - ASC and water intoxication. PMID- 2620222 TI - Self-harm and depressive disorder. PMID- 2620223 TI - Trichotillomania. PMID- 2620224 TI - Failure to convulse with ECT. PMID- 2620225 TI - Pseudodementia. PMID- 2620226 TI - Beclomethasone mania. PMID- 2620227 TI - What does a team expect from its doctor? PMID- 2620228 TI - Back injuries to fast bowlers in cricket: a prospective study. AB - Eighty-two high performance young male fast bowlers (mean age 16.8 years) were tested immediately prior to the season for selected kinanthropometric and physiological data. Subjects were also filmed both laterally (200 Hz) and from above (100 Hz) while bowling so that their front foot impacted a force platform during the delivery stride. The players then completed a log book over the ensuing season that detailed their training and playing programmes. All cricket related injuries over this season were assessed by a sports physician who used computerized tomography to assist in the diagnosis of spinal injuries. At the completion of this season the players were grouped according to their injury status (Group 1--bony injury to a vertebra; Group 2--soft tissue injury to the back that caused the player to miss at least one game, and Group 3--no injuries). A one-way analysis of variance was used to identify if any variables were significantly (P less than 0.05) different between the three groups, and a Scheffe post hoc comparison was used to determine which groups were significantly different. Eleven per cent of the players sustained a stress fracture to a vertebra(e) (L4 to S1), while 27 per cent sustained a soft tissue injury to the back. Bowlers with a low longitudinal foot arch were more likely to develop a stress fracture than those with a high arch. Shoulder depression and horizontal flexion strength for the preferred limb and quadriceps power in the non-preferred limb were also significantly related to back injuries. Results suggest that bowlers with the above physical characteristics, who bowl with these biomechanical techniques for extended periods, are predisposed to back injuries. PMID- 2620229 TI - Injury rates during the 1988 US Olympic Team Trials for taekwondo. AB - Injury rates were recorded during the 1988 US Olympic Team Trials for taekwondo involving 48 men and 48 women. The injury rate for men (12.74/100 athlete exposures) was about 40 per cent higher than the rate for women (9.01/100 athlete exposures). The foot and the head were the most frequently injured body parts. Contusions were the predominant type of injury, and concussions were recorded for both men and women. A large proportion (41 per cent) of the men's injuries were the result of receiving a blow from an unblocked attack. For the women the most common injury situation (40 per cent) was while attacking with a kick. For both men and women, 15 per cent of the reported injuries were time-loss injuries. The head injuries found in this study are discussed with reference to the high impact velocities and momentum levels generated during taekwondo kicking. Recommendations are made with regard to protective equipment testing and rule changes to reduce the possibility of cerebral injury. PMID- 2620230 TI - Exercise-induced knee joint laxity in distance runners. AB - The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of exercise on knee joint laxity. If exercise induced laxity is physiological, incorporation of this quality into a ligament replacement material would be indicated. Twenty recreational long distance runners average age 41 (range 24 to 50 yr) were tested before and immediately after 30 minutes of running. Using a computerized goniometer type instrument (Acufex KSS), knee flexion, axial tibial rotation and anterior-posterior tibial displacement were simultaneously recorded, while the runners underwent tests of static as well as dynamic knee joint laxity. At 30 degrees of knee flexion, a maximum increase of 16 per cent in mean total anterior posterior laxity post-exercise was found. At the examination 30 minutes post exercise, laxity at 30 degrees of knee flexion was still increased. However, laxity at 90 degrees of knee flexion had decreased to pre-exercise levels or below. Anterior tibial displacement, recorded during eccentric quadriceps activity (0 to 90 degrees of knee flexion) with weights attached to the foot, showed a maximum of 18 per cent increase in total anterior-posterior laxity post exercise. It is suggested that the laxity increase is caused in part by a true ligamentous laxity increase, and in part by a decreased resting tone of the fatigued muscles. PMID- 2620231 TI - Incidence of tibial fracture in child skiers. AB - Skiing is an increasingly popular sport amongst both adults and children. Opportunities for skiing within the United Kingdom are limited, but the introduction of increasing numbers of dry ski slopes has made the sport more available. The nature of injuries sustained by adults on snow and dry slopes is well documented, but this is less true of childhood injury, especially on dry slopes. A consecutive series of 92 patients with skiing injuries is presented. Both dry slope and snow slope injuries are included. The incidence of tibial fracture in children was ten times that of adults. The nature of all injuries sustained during the study period is documented, the childhood tibial fractures are described in detail, and possible aetiological factors are discussed. PMID- 2620232 TI - Training induced physiological and metabolic changes associated with improvements in running performance. AB - The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between improvements in running performance and some of the prominent physiological and metabolic adaptations to endurance exercise training. Twelve male undergraduates agreed to participate in this study (trial group), aged matched physical education students provided a control group. Running performance, assessed as a five km time trial, improved from 19.69 +/- 2.24 to 19.22 +/- 2.03 min in the trial group (P less than 0.01) after training. Maximal oxygen uptake values increased from 56.0 +/- 6.1 to 60.7 +/- 5.4 ml.kg-1.min-1, the running speed equivalent to a blood lactate reference concentration of 4 mmol.l-1 (V-4 mM) increased from 3.79 +/- 0.77 to 4.04 +/- 0.71 m.s-1, and the rate of oxygen consumption at 3.58 m.s-1 (running economy) increased from 43.3 +/- 3.2 to 45.0 +/- 3.4 ml.kg-1.min-1 (P less than 0.01). The control group did not show any significant changes. The improved five km times in the trial group were significantly correlated (r = -0.71; P less than 0.01) with changes in the running economy rather than changes in the VO2 max (r = -0.07; ns), or V-4 mM (r = -0.13; ns) suggesting the increased rate of oxygen utilization reflected a greater oxidative degradation of metabolic substrates together with a slower rate of lactate production. PMID- 2620233 TI - Non-elite marathon runners: health, training and injuries. AB - A questionnaire was given to all participants of the Wonderful Copenhagen Marathon 1986 regarding demographic information, health, training, previous injuries and methods used to prevent these. A total load of 2158 Danish runners participated and 1426 (68 per cent) replied. Fifty per cent of the runners were training 30-60 km per week and 25 per cent more than 60 km per week. Forty-one per cent were members of running clubs. The runners were equally distributed between all social groups. Most runners were slim (mean BMI 22.3 +/- 1.87 (SD)), healthy, non-smokers who rarely suffered from serious injuries, but 31 per cent had had injuries that prevented them from training during the last year. Nearly all performed stretching exercises and methods to avoid injuries. Fifty per cent of the runners tried to optimize their performance by changing their diet in the days before the run. Seventeen per cent used the classical high carbohydrate diet and 33 per cent other special diets. PMID- 2620234 TI - A survey of shinty injuries in the Highlands during 1987-88. AB - Shinty is an ancient game, related to hurling and hockey, that is played in the Highlands of Scotland. A survey of shinty injuries was carried out during one season. The injury rate and location of injuries is provided. A comparison is made with other ball sports. PMID- 2620235 TI - Analysis of hurling and camogie injuries. AB - In 1984, 4500 people with sport injuries attended the Cork Regional Hospital. Of these, 817 were injured in the national game of hurling and camogie. Hand injuries were the most frequent occurring in approximately one third of injured players (33 per cent) and of these, just half had a closed metacarpal fracture. Facial injuries were the second most frequent category (28 per cent). Almost one third of these were nasal fractures, while forehead and eyebrow lacerations, fractured zygoma, loss of teeth are also common. Sport eye injuries referred to the Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in Cork during the same period amounted to 107, of which 26 occurred in hurling. It is believed that a properly designed protective head gear would largely eliminate such facial and eye injuries. PMID- 2620236 TI - Acute metabolic effects of exercise in bodybuilders using anabolic steroids. AB - Four male bodybuilders who had started taking anabolic steroids were monitored during exercise. Most metabolic indicators were similar to bodybuilders not taking steroids; i.e. metabolic acidosis with little change in glucose. However, there is a marked elevation of creatine kinase. PMID- 2620237 TI - Training volume, androgen use and serum creatine kinase activity. AB - Serum creatine kinase (CK) activities were investigated in elite male strength athletes (n = 20) during normal weight training and bodybuilding training (one training session per day), during high volume strength training (two sessions per day) and during strength training (one session per day) with the use of high dose synthetic androgens (five athletes in each subgroup). The findings demonstrated that the increase in serum CK was highest in the subgroup using androgens. These results suggest that strength training with the use of androgenic steroids leads to higher serum CK activities than normal strength training. PMID- 2620238 TI - Endurance fitness and blood lactate concentration during stepping exercise in untrained subjects. AB - The purpose of the present study was to explore the possibility that reference blood lactate concentrations, determined during stepping exercise, could be used to derive an index of endurance fitness. The traditional measure of endurance fitness, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and the individual relationships between blood lactate concentration and submaximal VO2 were determined during stepping for 10 untrained males. VO2 max values were 48.7 +/- 5.1 ml.kg-1.min-1 (mean +/- sd). The time to exhaustion during stepping at 80 per cent VO2 max (38.82 +/- 17.83 min) provided an additional measure of endurance fitness. The per cent VO2 max at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mM was correlated significantly with endurance time (rho = 0.75, P less than 0.05). These results show that a submaximal step test can be used to determine oxygen uptake and per cent VO2 max at a reference blood lactate concentration. However, for this group of subjects, per cent VO2 max at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mM showed only a modest correlation with endurance. PMID- 2620240 TI - Non-invasive cardiac imaging. PMID- 2620239 TI - Postero-lateral subluxation of the superior tibio-fibular joint. AB - Foot drop resulting from subluxation of the superior tibio-fibular joint is described in a female dancer. Spontaneous resolution of the nerve injury occurred over two months with no residual joint instability. Expectant management is recommended for this injury. The potential for this unusual injury, in a wide variety of sports, is pointed out. PMID- 2620241 TI - [Late post-poliomyelitis syndrome]. AB - The late post-poliomyelitic syndrome is not rare (23 cases in the author's experience) despite the apparent eradication of the acute anterior poliomyelitis. It has been described as the late occurrence of recent motor disturbances in a patient with a previous history of acute poliomyelitis in childhood the sequelae of which have been stabilized for more than ten years. The functional sequela of purely mechanic origin as well as the musculoskeletal syndrome described by some authors do not enter in this framework. The occurrence of a muscular weakness and wasting resulting from a further damage of the peripheral motor neuron is only taken into consideration. The clinical expression is often focal, more rarely diffuse. The mechanism remains unknown. PMID- 2620242 TI - [100 years of identification (from man to his genome)]. AB - It is a set of descriptive features or traits characterising an individual that serves as the basic for the identification of his person. Some of these traits are of interest mainly in police investigations; others, of which the interest is more particularly scientific, are rapidly gaining recognition. Anthropometric methods enable the identification of recidivist criminals. Anthropometric description is based on bone measurements taken in conjunction with the spoken portrait and recorded distinguishing marks--the features concretely represented in the descriptive photograph. This method was first supplemented and then supplanted, both for description and identification, by dactyloscopy. Investigations involving corpses are often extremely difficult. Several facts concerning bone and/or teeth could be relevant in determining the race, sex, height and age of the person whose remains are examined. Traces and stains as "clues" of hereditary and congenital properties of blood (erythrocytic, enzymatic, plasmic and leucocytic systems, factors and groups) and of sperm (with, in this case, secretor and non secretor properties) do provide and increasingly precise description of an individual but only a certain degree of probability for his identification; at best, they can only exclude an individual, but cannot prove his involvement. A knowledge of the patterns of the nucleotides in the Deoxyribo Nucleic Acids, which are the same in all the cells of an individual but differ from individual to individual, provides an ultimate means of arriving at certainty in the comparison: samples-suspect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620243 TI - [Gate control of the nociceptive message: applications to the treatment of pain]. AB - An hyperactivity of convergent neuron in the posterior horn of the spinal cord is a common process for somatic and neuropathic pain. That hyperactivity can result from excess or total defect of afferents impulses. She always signify a failure of the gate control. Analysis of that failure is essential for therapy. PMID- 2620244 TI - [The cytotoxicity of oxidized lipoproteins]. AB - The peroxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and their subsequent cytotoxicity is believed to be involved in the atherogenesis. The aim of this work was to determine the possible involvement of lipid peroxides in the cytotoxicity of lipoproteins. We report a new experimental model system constituted by lipoproteins treated by short-UV radiations which result in a major lipid peroxidation without functional alteration of apoproteins. UV radiations induced the following lipid modifications: the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased considerably in all lipid classes; the level of natural antioxidants, i.e. vitamin E and carotene, dropped dramatically; conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were notably increased; apoproteins from LDL exhibited little structural modification but no functional alteration. The cytotoxicity was studied in lymphoblastoid cell lines established from lymphocytes derived from normal subjects or from patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. High density lipoproteins (HDL) were shown to inhibit the cytotoxicity induced by low doses of peroxidized LDL; the protective effect of HDL was complete up to the ratio ApoB/ApoA close to 1. In addition, vitamin E and catechin, two well known antioxidants, blocked the cytotoxicity of peroxidized LDL. These results corroborate the possibility of the synergic effect of HDL and antioxidant molecules for the protection of cells against oxidized LDL that are incorporated through the LDL-receptor pathway. PMID- 2620245 TI - Malignant mesotheliomas in Kure City, Japan: the relationship of asbestos exposure. AB - Eighteen patients with malignant mesothelioma were seen at Kure Mutual Aid Hospital over a 10-year period. According to occupational history, chest x-ray manifestations, and evidence of asbestos bodies in the tissue, 13 of these cases were definitely thought to be due to exposure to asbestos as a result of two or three of these items testing positive. Kure City is one of the major ship building cities in Japan since the 1920s. Most of the 18 patients worked in ship building before and during World War II. Malignant mesothelioma appeared about 40 years after their first exposure to asbestos. In western countries, most malignant mesotheliomas are thought to be induced by exposure to asbestos fibers (1,2). Consequently, there has been a serious effort to deal with this problem recently, including lowering rate of exposure. In Japan, however, there have been few reports that asbestos fibers caused malignant mesothelioma (3). This report suggests that an increased incidence of malignant mesotheliomas in a specific area of Japan may also be due to exposure to asbestos fibers. PMID- 2620246 TI - In vitro chemosensitivity of two Ewing's sarcoma cell lines: implication for autologous bone marrow transplantation. AB - Intensive chemotherapy requiring rescue with autologous bone marrow may be an encouraging mode of treatment for poor prognosis Ewing's sarcoma (ES). In vitro chemosensitivity test may be useful for establishing an effective purging condition. We studied the in vitro effects of a variety of chemotherapeutic agents on two established ES cell lines (ES-5838 and ES-A4573) and marrow colony forming unit-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM). 4-Hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4 HC), at 100 microM produced complete inhibition (greater than 5 log) of clonogenic growth of both ES cell lines and spared 6.9% of normal CFU-GM growth. Etoposide (VP-16), at 100 microM produced 3-3.5 log inhibition of ES cell lines and complete inhibition of CFU-GM growth. Adriamycin (ADR) and vincristine (VCR) were more cytotoxic to ES-5838 cells than ES-A4573 cells. ADR at 1 microM produced 99.7% inhibition of ES-5838 cells, 92.2% of ES-A4573 cells, and 86% inhibition of CFU-GM. VCR at 1 microM produced 98.6% inhibition of ES-5838 cells, only 43.7% of ES-A4573 cells, and 75% inhibition of CFU-GM growth. Addition of verapamil did not enhance VCR cytotoxicity of ES cell lines. These studies indicate that 4-HC may be a useful agent for purging metastatic ES cells from the bone marrow for autologous marrow transplantation. PMID- 2620247 TI - The potential benefit of granulocyte transfusion therapy. AB - The future of granulocyte transfusions depends in large part upon our ability to overcome technical problems, particularly related to dose. Certainly the attempts at technical improvements have made an impact on granulocyte availability and donor pools large enough to support twice daily transfusions should also improve the efficacy of a series of transfusions. The majority of bacterial infections in neutropenic patients do not necessitate granulocyte transfusions due to the rapid empiric use of modern broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, a proportion still do, and selection of appropriate candidates for granulocyte transfusions may improve the outcome. The use in fungal infections remains experimental, but as has been said by others in addition to myself, should be studied. Issues of histocompatibility remain complex. Patients rendered severely immunocompromised may have less of an alloimmunization response to transfusion products, but alloimmunization continues to be a complication of granulocyte transfusions. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplant have the advantage of access to an HLA matched marrow and granulocyte donor. The techniques of granulocyte transfusion therapy must continue to be improved and utilized in part because our microbial foes continue to change and to resist our antibiotic improvements. As George Bernard Shaw said: "There is at bottom only one genuinely scientific treatment for all diseases and that is to stimulate the phagocytes. Drugs are a delusion". PMID- 2620248 TI - The role of busulfan/cyclophosphamide regimens in allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2620249 TI - Clinical cancer therapy with IL-2. PMID- 2620250 TI - On the costs of smoking. PMID- 2620251 TI - Radiation therapy and rectal cancer. PMID- 2620252 TI - Busulfan and cyclophosphamide in allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2620253 TI - Doxorubicin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent with activity reported in many malignancies, including soft tissue sarcomas. PMID- 2620254 TI - Squamous cell carcinoma radioimmunoassay. PMID- 2620255 TI - TTS-fentanyl. PMID- 2620256 TI - XomaZyme-791 and XomaZyme-H65. PMID- 2620257 TI - CL 287,110 and CL 286,558. PMID- 2620258 TI - CYT 103. PMID- 2620259 TI - Post-natal pattern of cell proliferation in retinal pigment epithelium of mice studied with tritiated thymidine autoradiography. AB - The post-natal proliferative activity of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells was studied using [3H]thymidine autoradiography in albino mice. A rise in RPE cell proliferative activity during the early post-natal stages was revealed. There were two peaks of labelling: in the posterior RPE area on day 1 and in the RPE periphery on day 3. Almost 80% of RPE cells in the posterior area passed through the acytokinetic mitosis and became binucleate, whereas in the periphery the majority of cyclic cells passed through complete mitosis and accounted for RPE cell multiplication. PMID- 2620260 TI - Ontogenetic analysis of embryonic palatal type I and type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozymes. AB - The developmental processes of cell growth and differentiation are important mechanisms regulating tissue and organ formation. These processes appear to be dependent on the ligand-receptor interactions of various hormones, growth factors, and extracellular matrix molecules. In turn, ligand-receptor interactions may elevate intracellular levels of second messengers. Among the second messengers, cyclic AMP (cAMP) is known to activate cAMP-dependent protein kinases (cAMP-dPK) by binding to two major regulatory subunit isoforms, RI and RII, of this enzyme. The present study examined the occurrence of changes in the cAMP-dPK isozyme patterns during the critical period of murine palatal ontogeny between days 12 and 14 of gestation. Cyclic AMP-dPK in cytosolic preparations (27,000 x g) of murine embryonic maxillary and palatal tissue were analyzed by DEAE chromatography and photoaffinity labelling with 8-azido-[32P]cAMP followed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. Both techniques indicated shifting patterns of expression of RI (45,000 Mr) and RII (52,000 Mr) regulatory subunits during palatal ontogeny. Immunohistochemical localization of RI and RII revealed more intense fluorescence in the palatal epithelial layer by days 13 and 14 with an apparent greater intensity of immunostaining on the basal aspect of the epithelial layer. These results suggest an important role for cAMP-dPK in epithelial-mesenchymal cell signalling during development of the murine palate. PMID- 2620261 TI - Involvement of endogenous galactoside-binding lectin of Xenopus laevis in pattern formation of Xenopus neurites in vitro. AB - Galactoside-binding lectin has been purified from Xenopus laevis embryos at the stage of neural crest migration. Addition of this lectin to neurite cultures correlates with the appearance of fascicles of greater diameter and shorter length compared with controls. Lectin-treated neurites are also more spread out on the substratum than their controls. The potent hapten inhibitor of the endogenous lectin, thiodigalactoside (TDG), was also added to these cultures. TDG treated neurites are less well spread out than the controls; fascicle diameters and lengths are not altered. These results suggest that galactoside-bearing receptors and endogenous galactoside-binding lectin are present in these neurites and can participate in controlling neuronal morphogenesis in vitro, although to differing extents. PMID- 2620262 TI - Neural differentiation of Xenopus laevis ectoderm takes place after disaggregation and delayed reaggregation without inducer. AB - When Xenopus blastula or early gastrula ectoderm is disaggregated and cells are kept dispersed for up to 5 h prior to reaggregation, the resulting spheres will differentiate into large neural structures. In contrast, dissociated and immediately reaggregated ectoderm will only differentiate into ciliated epidermis (so-called 'atypical epidermis'). Ectoderm treated with mesoderm-inducing XTC conditioned medium during the period of reaggregation immediately after disaggregation will only form one- or two-cell types (notochord and somites) only. Ectoderm treated with XTC-factor prior to disaggregation will differentiate into a large variety of cell types. PMID- 2620263 TI - [Postburn changes in serum levels of calcitonin, parathyroid hormone and 25 hydroxycholecalciferol]. AB - Postburn changes in serum levels of Alterations in serum Calcium (Ca), Phosphates (Pi), alkaline-phosphatase (ALP), calcitonin (CT), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-hydroxy Vitamin D (25 OHD) levels in 14 burn patients were studied. The results indicated: (1) Hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia occurred during burn shock. Hypocalcemia was closely associated with the degree of burn and patient's condition. (2) Serum CT and PTH levels were significantly increased in severe burn patients compared with controls on day 1. Then the parameters tended to decrease to normal levels. (3) CT/Ca ratio or CT/Pi ratio might be a sensitive index to indicate the degree of burn and patient's condition. PMID- 2620264 TI - [Cervical nerve root transfer from the healthy side in the treatment of brachial plexus root avulsion]. AB - Cervical nerve root transfer from the healthy side for treatment of obstinate brachial plexus root avulsion was designed in August, 1986. Up to the present, we have performed the operation in 50 cases. Preliminary effective rate reached 70% in 1-2 years follow-up studies. The anatomical basis of the operation and the rationality of C7 nerve root transfer from the healthy side are discussed in detail in this paper. Long term follow-up studies showed that C7 nerve root transfer from the healthy side does not affect the functions of the healthy side. The authors believe that bridging C7 nerve root of the healthy side with the ulnar nerve of the affected side yields better results than bridging it free or vascular pedicle sural nerve. Factors affecting the results of C7 nerve root transfer from the healthy side are analyzed in this paper. PMID- 2620265 TI - [Analysis of blood vessel invasion by cells of thyroid follicular carcinoma using image processing combined with immunohistochemistry]. AB - By means of image processing combined with immunohistochemistry, we determined the nuclear morphometric parameters, DNA content and thyroglobulin content in angio-invasive cell and noninvasive cell groups in 5 cases of thyroid follicular carcinoma. The results showed that the two cell groups are quite different from each other. Morphologically, angio-invasive cells showed smaller nuclear size and irregular nuclear shape. DNA content in invasive cells was far more than in noninvasive cells. In addition, invasive cells contain more thyroglobulin than non-invasive cells. PMID- 2620266 TI - [An electric T test topographic map study of the brain in uremia]. AB - This paper reports the results of statistical mapping on cerebral electric power abnormal distributions in 35 cases of uremia, using cerebral electrical T test topographical map method. The results indicated that the abnormal wide distribution of cerebro-electric activity of uremia was significant (P less than 0.01). The power density of slow wave markedly increased in the right parietal region. The power density of alpha wave obviously decreased in the right parietal side. This study clearly showed that the brain lesions have both the generality of diffuse damage and the particularity of focal damage. A region was seriously invaded by the lesion. The brain lesions have metabolic and toxic encephalopathic features. PMID- 2620267 TI - [IgG subclasses in the serum and circulating immune complexes in patients with Kawasaki disease]. AB - IgG subclass levels in sera of 17 patients with Kawasaki disease were determined and a significant increase of IgG 1 (P less than 0.001) and IgG 3 (P less than 0.001) was found in the patients compared with 22 age-matched healthy children, while IgG 2 and IgG 4 were normal or slightly decreased. IgG immune complexes were measured by SPA-ELISA combined with PEG precipitations, and 8 out of 17 patients (47.1%) were found to have CIC values above the normal control range (geometric mean +2 SD). IgG subclass composition in CIC was analysed. The subclasses in CIC were predominantly in IgG 1 and IgG 3. Because the antibody responses to different antigens have IgG subclass restriction. These results suggest that the change of serum and CIC IgG subclasses in Kawasaki disease may be related to the pathogenesis of the disease. PMID- 2620268 TI - [Effect of long-term testosterone therapy on the masculation of hypogonadal men]. PMID- 2620269 TI - [Epsilon 4: a genetic factor susceptible to hypercholesterolemia]. PMID- 2620270 TI - [Production and application of anti-human platelet GP IIb/IIIa monoclonal antibodies]. AB - Four types of anti-human platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP IIb/IIIa)monoclonal antibodies (McAb), termed HIP2, HIP4, HIP7, HIP8, were obtained in our laboratory. All of them recognized GP IIb/IIIa complex except that HIP2 recognized GP IIb. As to the effect of the four McAbs on platelet aggregation, the results showed: 1) HIP4 and HIP8 can completely inhibit platelet aggregation induced by ADP or collagen, but not that induced by thrombin or ristocetin. 2) HIP2 was able to activate platelet aggregation directly. But it is Ca++ and complement dependent; 3) HIP7 did not show any effect on platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP, thrombin or ristocetin. When clinically studied, some cases of platelet-associated diseases such as thrombocytasthenia and thrombocytopenia had abnormal responses to the above McAbs. In addition, we also found that these McAbs can stimulate hematopoiesis in CFU-E assay. PMID- 2620271 TI - [Surgical treatment of hemolytic anemia]. AB - The therapeutic effect of splenectomy in 70 cases of hemolytic anemia are reported. The diagnosis and therapeutic effects were analysed. It was evident that the effects were related to different types of hemolytic anemia. The HS type had the best result. Gallstones were detected in 6 cases of this series. Splenectomy and cholecystectomy were performed together in 5 cases. The median incision of upper abdomen was selected. The authors believe that the causes of infection after splenectomy are complicated and they cannot be explained by Igs alone. PMID- 2620272 TI - [Acute promyelocytic leukemia and 15;17 chromosome translocation]. AB - Cytogenetic studies using Giemsa R-bands after a short term culture of bone marrow or peripheral blood were done in 20 cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), including three cases of microgranular variant. As a result, t (15;17) cells were found in all the cells, and the percentages of the abnormal cells were 38-100%. In 2 cases, t(15;17) was seen in 88% and 65% of the cells in cultured specimens, whereas no such translocation was seen in direct specimens. Among 6 cases treated with tretinoin, 5 achieved complete remission, and among 14 cases treated by HOAP protocol 2 achieved complete remission. Reexamination of 4 of these cases during the stage of complete remission failed to find t(15;17). These data revealed that t(15;17) may probably be present in all cases of APL, and therefore is a very useful diagnostic criterion, especially in cases of micro granular APL. But the detection rate is determined by methodology, which requires special precaution. PMID- 2620273 TI - [Determination of fetal sex by amplification of Y-chromosome-specific DNA]. AB - This paper describes a rapid and highly sensitive method for determination of fetal sex. Y-chromosome-specific sequences as well as Alu-specific sequences were amplified with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Then fetal sex was determined by comparison of the two amplified DNA sequences. Polymerase chain reaction can be performed on lysed amniotic fluid cells or chorionic villus samples or dried blood spots on filter paper blot without prior DNA extraction. The analysis of the amplified DNA was performed immediately by agarose gel electrophoresis without DNA hybridization with radioactive probe. By using this method, determination of sex was performed on 3 fetuses at risk for DMD, and on 2 fetuses at risk for hemophilia, prenatal detection was confirmed by examination of the neonates. PMID- 2620274 TI - [Pathologic and radiologic study of parosteal osteosarcoma. Report of 17 cases]. AB - 17 cases of parosteal osteosarcoma (POS) were studied radiologically and pathologically. It was found that the differentiation of the tumor component in the narrow basic area was the poorest and the surrounding part was the next. The tumor has the tendency to invade the cortex and then infiltrate the surrounding soft tissues in the early stage of tumor formation at the narrow basic area. We have summed up four types of essential X-ray features of cortical erosion and their pathological bases, clarified the limited ability of X-ray to reveal early cortical invasion and the range of infiltration. It seems that POS has the tendency of dedifferentiation on the whole, not being limited in one subtype. PMID- 2620275 TI - [Studies of pathogenesis of acute aplastic anemia by dry-cell culture]. PMID- 2620276 TI - [Hemodynamic effects of external counterpulsation in treating acute right ventricular infarction]. PMID- 2620277 TI - [Transthoracic radical treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome: report of 9 cases]. PMID- 2620278 TI - [Therapeutic effects of ivermectin on hookworm infection and its parasiticidal action on various parasitic stages]. PMID- 2620279 TI - [Psychiatric care of the elderly]. AB - The number of the aged people hospitalized "for psychiatric reasons" is growing steadily. Nevertheless, it has been evidenced that most of them do not need admission into psychiatric institutions or, when admitted, do not receive relevant care for a rapid discharge. Moreover, unnecessary hospitalization of the elderly into psychiatric departments or institutions may quickly deteriorate their health status for various reasons (coresidence with the severely mentally ill, psychologic destabilization due to loss of their familiar environment...). There is a need for transforming certain psychiatric hospitals into nursing homes for the aged, but this raises many administrative questions unresolved for the time being. For example, the law of 31 December 1970 does not allow public hospitals to run institutions not aimed at providing inpatient medical care in a strict sense. There is also an evident need for expanding outpatient care to the elderly. This in turn raises a number of management issues concerning the reorientating of personnel, the coordination of the activities of various bodies and personnel categories...etc... PMID- 2620280 TI - [Health policy and financing in Tunisia]. AB - Programmes for expanding preventive medicine were designed. They were considered part of the measures for promoting health cost containment. In practice, they were not given high priority. During the last decade, the budget of the Department of Health had a lower growth rate than the total budget of the State. Scarcity of resources, coupled with the demographic upward trend and growing per capita demand for health services were deteriorating the care provided to the population. To improve the situation, the National Sickness Insurance Fund created on its own 6 polyclinics. They were soon full of patients and the quality of the services they rendered were lowered. Moreover all the health system is facing two challenges: (i) the resistance to reorientating the system to better serve a larger segment of the population; (ii) the "clientelism" which leads resources to where they are not mostly needed. As a result, the country is divided into two parts: (a) the West, where there is an urgent need for beds and simple equipment; (b) the East, already well-equipped, where practitioners are applying for high-tech devices. PMID- 2620281 TI - Health manpower demand and supply: economic and non-economic interferences. PMID- 2620282 TI - Health manpower development in Sweden. PMID- 2620283 TI - The role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in patients with hemoptysis and a normal chest roentgenogram. AB - We reviewed the charts of 478 patients who had fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) performed for evaluating hemoptysis with a normal chest roentgenogram. FOB provided a definite diagnosis of endobronchial lesion in only 10 patients (2.1%): bronchogenic carcinoma in 2 patients, bronchial adenoma in 1 patient, tracheal cancer in 1 patient, foreign body in 3 patients and endobronchial tuberculosis in 3 patients. FOB neither visualized tumor mass nor localized the bleeding site in 300 (95.8%) of 313 patients with mild hemoptysis. However, the bleeding site could be localized by FOB in 56% of the patients (n = 165) if the bleeding amount exceeded 60 ml/day. In conclusion, in patients with hemoptysis and normal chest roentgenograms, routine FOB may not rule out airway malignancy. In contrast, it is a good diagnostic tool for localizing the bleeding site if patients present with moderate amount of hemoptysis. PMID- 2620284 TI - [Adult femoral shaft fracture treated with an intramedullary nail]. AB - Femoral shaft fractures often happen, and usually indicate only one part of the traumatic injuries sustained by the body. Preoperative evaluation and management may be life-saving. The favored treatment of fracture itself is now intramedullary nailing. There were 144 adult cases treated with intramedullary nails and followed up for at least two years at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from July 1981 to June 1984. The results revealed a high union rate 96.5% (139/144): closed method 100% (34/34), open method 95% (105/110). Significant complications requiring repeated annoying surgical reintervention were rare, only 4% (6/144), due to deep infection or nonunion. Bone union period was about four months. Range of motion of knee was also satisfactory. This study suggests enough benefit of the delayed closed intramedullary nailing in the management of femoral shaft fractures. PMID- 2620285 TI - [The treatment of esophagojejunal anastomotic stricture after total gastrectomy]. AB - From December 1983 through December 1988, 200 cases of total gastrectomy were performed in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The esophagojejunostomy was performed with EEA staplers in 196 cases, and with hand suture in 4 cases. Twelve cases developed anastomotic stricture after the operation. All of these 12 anastomoses were done with EEA 28 mm staplers. Four of the 12 patients received no further treatment either because the symptoms were mild or because of development of carcinomatosis. Six patients received endoscopic YAG laser treatment, only 2 had good results. Four Patients received balloon dilatation, 2 of them had good results, 4 patients received surgical intervention after failure of the balloon dilatation or YAG laser treatment. Of the 4 patients who underwent surgery, the thoracoabdominal approach was used in 3, and a thoracotomy in 1. Three patients received side to side esophagojejunostomy to bypass the stricture site. In the remaining patient, stricture was excised and a new end to end anastomosis was done with hand sutures. All of these 4 patients had good results after the operation. There are many possible mechanisms of the development of anastomotic stricture. Anastomotic leakage, technical error, lack of mucosa-to-mucosa apposition, size of the EEA stapler and tissue ischemia all have been regarded as the possible causes of anastomotic stricture. Once the esophagojejunal anastomosis stricture occurs, treatment should be done to relieve dysphagia. From the results of our patients, endoscopic YAG laser is not a satisfactory treatment for anastomotic stricture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620286 TI - [Evaluation of the effect of glass ionomer liner on microleakage of light-curing composite resin restoration]. AB - Light-curing composite resin restorations with acid etching technique and bonding agents cannot completely reduce the degree of microleakage. One initial report by Dr. Mclean (1985) describing glass ionomers as Class V cavity liners suggested that this product was superior to a resin/dentin bond to avert marginal leakage under a light curing composite. In this study, Wu's silver staining technique was used to evaluate the effect of glass ionomer liner on microleakage of light curing composite-Silux. Twenty one caries-free human molar teeth were selected for study. The Class V cavities were prepared on the buccal and the lingual surface of each tooth. Teeth were divided into 3 groups. Group I: Scotchbond/Silux and Liner/Scotchbond/Silux. Group II: Scotchbond/Silux and Hybond. Group III: Liner/Scotchbond/Silux and Hybond. The degree of microleakage were evaluated with Dr. Going's method by three dentists. The results of this study indicate that Ketac bond Glass ionomer liner was ineffective as a restoration in resisting microleakage on the gingival wall of cavities. PMID- 2620287 TI - Aneurysm of the internal carotid artery simulating pituitary tumor with panhypopituitarism--a case report. AB - A 59-year-old female patient presented with conscious disturbance and hyponatremia. Baseline endocrine studies revealed secondary hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism. Further studies of skull X-ray, brain CT scan, dynamic endocrine tests and visual field examination favored pituitary tumor with panhypopitutarism. Trans-sphenoid surgical intervention was arranged. However the management was changed because the preoperative carotid angiography revealed the mass lesion over the cavernous sinus region was an aneurysm, not a pituitary tumor. The patient refused surgical intervention for the aneurysm and received thyroxine and cortisone replacement until the present time. Because the surgical treatment of an aneurysm is different from a pituitary tumor, we reported this case to emphasize the importance of routine carotid angiography in the evaluation of the sellar mass. PMID- 2620288 TI - Collision tumor of the stomach--a case report. AB - A case of synchronous occurrence of a primary ulcerating adenocarcinoma and primary low grade malignant lymphoma of the stomach is reported. Histologically, main portion of both tumors are separated by an intermediate transitional zone. Regional lymph nodes are involved by both tumors. PMID- 2620289 TI - Leiomyoma of the ovary--a case report. AB - Primary ovarian leiomyoma is rare. About 40 cases have been reported in the literature. A case report of leiomyoma of ovary and the literature review was presented. PMID- 2620290 TI - [Horizontal root fracture repaired by cementum--a case report]. AB - Horizontal root fractures are rare among dental trauma. According to Dr. Andreasen's report there are four types of repairs after root fractures. They are 1. healing with calcified tissue; 2. interposition of connective tissue; 3. interposition of connective and bony tissue; 4. interposition of granulation tissue. This report presented a case of horizontal root fracture in a 27 years old female patient. The patient had a trauma in the front teeth about 15 years ago. Spontaneous healing occurred without dental treatment at that moment. However, symptoms appeared recently as a dento-alveolar abscess. Radiograph revealed a horizontal fracture at the middle third of the root portion of the left upper central incisor, and irregular hard tissue over the fractured area. Histologically, the main component of repair tissue is cementum. PMID- 2620291 TI - In vitro inhibition of nitrogen mustard efficacy by postincubation of treated cells in serum protein. AB - Lettre-Ehrlich cells were loaded with sufficient HN2 to produce about a 98% cell kill. Postincubation of the HN2-loaded cells in PBS resulted in the loss of about 40% of their HN2 without changing the cytolytic effect, supporting the proposal that only bound drug was effective. Postincubation of the HN2-loaded cells in PBS which contained 2% bovine serum albumin or in cell-free mouse ascitic fluid (1.8% protein) resulted in the same relative cellular HN2 loss as well as a 79% decrease in the cell kill. The cytolytic effect of HN2 is believed to be dependent on the degree to which the drug crosslinks DNA in 2 sequential reactions. It seems likely that such crosslinking occurred in nearly all of the PBS-postincubated cells, as they were nearly all killed. By analogy, albumin postincubation apparently blocked the competition of such crosslinking. PMID- 2620292 TI - Choline uptake is increased by Ca++ and liposomes+ Ca++ in ascites tumor cells. AB - Steady-state uptake of choline by Lettre-Ehrlich tumor cells in vitro, resulting in cell-to-medium ratios of 10 or more, is significantly increased by 0.2-1.0 mM Ca++ as well as by dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline multilamellar liposomes + Ca++. The increases occur in spite of a decrease in carrier affinity, as indicated by the Km, and therefore result either from increased carrier velocity or utilization of new carriers. About half of the labelled choline which is taken up is firmly bound to cells. That label which freely leaves cells is phosphocholine, thus, these cells utilize choline mainly in phospholipid synthesis. Choline and nitrogen mustard (HN2) share a plasma membrane carrier but the intracellular distribution of HN2 into DNA, RNA and protein, contrasts with that of choline, into phospholipid. PMID- 2620293 TI - Proteins excreted by primary human colon carcinoma cells (SW 480) promote spreading and growth of metastatic human colon carcinoma cells (SW 620) in serum free medium. AB - The growth behavior of the two human colon tumor cell lines (SW 480, primary and SW 620, metastatic), originating from the same patient, was studied in six different serum-free media (SFM) [GF3, Chee's essential medium plus insulin, transferrin and selenium; GF3F, GF3 plus fetuin; GF4, GF3 plus linoleic acid-BSA; GF5, GF4 plus fetuin; GF5E, GF5 plus EGF; GF5T, GF5 plus triiodothyronine]. SW 480 grew in all of the SFM. In contrast, SW 620 grew only in four SFM. The cells did not grow in GF3 and GF4. When grown in SFM, SW 480 attached much more firmly to the dishes than SW 620 as determined by the time required to detach the cells with trypsin-EDTA (SW 480, greater than 20 min and SW 620, less than 5 min). It was speculated that SW 480 cells excrete proteins in SFM which influence attachment and growth of the cells. Growth behavior of SW 480 cells which did not grow in GF3, was studied using GF3 medium and SW 480 substratum dishes. SW 620 cells readily attached to the SW 480 substratum dishes and grew. Furthermore, when SW 620 cells were grown on substratum prepared from serum-supplemented medium incubated in the absence of cells (serum substratum), the cell growth was comparable to the cell growth on SW 480 substratum in GF3. Substratum from SW 480 cells and the serum substratum were compared for their components using SDS-PAGE system. The SW 480 substratum contains many more components than serum substratum. A protein band at 60 kD appears to be common in both SW 480 and serum substrata. PMID- 2620294 TI - Cytotoxic and DNA-damaging effects of 1,2-bis(sulfonyl)hydrazines on human cells of the Mer+ and Mer- phenotype. AB - A series of 1,2-bis(sulfonyl)hydrazines with the capacity to function as alkylating agents have been evaluated for their toxicity towards Mer- HT29 and Mer- BE cells, and for their ability to produce DNA damage expressed as single strand breaks and DNA interstrand cross-links. Compounds of this class with methylating potential showed a marked difference in their capacity to inhibit the growth of Mer- and Mer+ cells, being considerably more toxic to BE Mer- cells. Dose-dependent DNA single-strand breaks were induced by these agents, with the quantity of breaks produced in Mer- and Mer+ cells being essentially the same. Maintenance of these lesions did not appear to explain the differential in toxicity to BE and HT29 cells. A chloroethylating compound of this class was also more toxic to Mer- BE cells than to Mer+ HT29 cells, but the differential toxicity was considerably less than that of the methylating agents of the series. The chloroethylating agent did not produce measurable single-strand breaks of the DNA of treated cells, but caused more DNA interstrand cross-links in Mer- cells than in Mer+ cells. Thus, DNA interstrand cross-links may be at least in part responsible for the cell kill produced by this agent. The findings suggest that methylating and chloroethylating derivatives of the 1,2-bis(sulfonyl)hydrazine family have different biochemical determinants of their cytodestructive actions. PMID- 2620295 TI - Capillary gas-chromatographic analysis of monosaccharides: improvements and comparisons using trifluoroacetylation and trimethylsilylation of sugar O-benzyl- and O-methyl-oximes. AB - Two new procedures for the gas-chromatographic analysis of monosaccharides are reported. One involves derivatization of the sugars by reaction with O benzylhydroxylamine followed by trifluoroacetylation with N methylbis(trifluoroacetamide) and chromatography on a DB-1701 capillary column. This technique probably provides the best resolution achieved to date of the C3 C6 aldoses, as well as of the corresponding alditols. Ketoses can be qualitatively analyzed by this method, but complications interfere with their quantitative analysis. The second procedure also involves initial derivatization as the O-benzyloxime, but is followed by trimethylsilylation with 1 trimethylsilylimidazole, and chromatography on a DB-17 column. This technique is particularly useful for C5 sugars, C6 ketoses, and mixtures of sugars, alditols, and/or lactones. A number of additional, critical, observations on the derivatization and capillary gas-chromatographic analysis of monosaccharides are described. PMID- 2620296 TI - An efficient, stereoselective synthesis of 4-E- and 4-Z-D-erythro-sphingenine and related compounds from 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose. AB - Efficient, stereoselective synthesis of 4-E- and 4-Z-D-erythro-sphingenines having C16, C18, and C20 carbon-chains was achieved in 13 steps, starting from allyl 2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside. 2-Amino-1,6-di-O tert- butyldiphenylsilyl-2-N,3-O-carbonyl-2-deoxy-D -allitol was used as the key intermediate. PMID- 2620297 TI - Steric course of the hydrolysis of alpha,alpha-trehalose and alpha-D-glucosyl fluoride catalyzed by pig kidney trehalase. AB - We are unable to confirm the report of Labat et al.3 that pig kidney trehalase hydrolyzes alpha,alpha-trehalose to form solely alpha-D-glucose. Highly purified trehalase from pig renal cortex was found, in reactions monitored by 1H-n.m.r. spectra, to hydrolyze alpha,alpha-trehalose with the formation of both alpha- and beta-D-glucose. That the beta anomer constitutes the enzymically mobilized glucosyl residue is indicated by the further finding that beta-D-glucose is the product formed on hydrolysis of alpha-D-glucosyl fluoride by the enzyme. Present results show the stereochemical behavior of pig kidney trehalase in hydrolyzing alpha,alpha-trehalose to be indistinguishable from that reported by ourselves and others for trehalase preparations from a range of biological sources including rabbit renal cortex. PMID- 2620298 TI - Stereoselective synthesis of 1,1-dialkyl-1-methoxymethyl glucosides (acetal glucosides). AB - The synthesis is described of highly acid-sensitive, 1,1-dialkyl-1-methoxymethyl glucosides (acetal-glucosides) as potential anti-cancer prodrugs. Reaction of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-O-trimethylsilyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (4) severally with various aliphatic and alicyclic ketones and methyl trimethylsilyl ether, in the presence of catalytic amounts of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, afforded the corresponding acetylated acetal-beta-glucosides, e.g., acetone gave 1-methoxy-1-methylethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7a). Likewise the alpha-anomer (8a) of 7a was obtained from the alpha-anomer of 4. Deacetylation of the tetra-acetates then gave the acetal-alpha- and -beta glucosides. PMID- 2620299 TI - Selective bromoacetylation of alkyl hexopyranosides: a facile preparation of intermediates for the synthesis of (1----6)-linked oligosaccharides. AB - Bromoacetylation of methyl beta-D-galacto- (1), alpha-D-galacto- (6), beta-D gluco- (18), (22), and alpha-D-manno-pyranoside (31), and benzyl beta-D glucopyranoside (27), gave the corresponding 6-O-bromoacetyl derivatives 2, 7, 19, 23, 32, and 28 in 50-60% yields. Bromoacetylation of methyl 3-O-benzyl-beta-D galactopyranoside (11) afforded methyl 3-O-benzyl-6-O-bromoacetyl-beta-D galactopyranoside (12, 60%) as well as methyl 3-O-benzyl-2,6-di-O-bromoacetyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (13, 14%). Compounds 2, 7, 19, 23, 32, 28, and 12 were benzoylated and the fully protected derivatives obtained were dehaloacetylated with thiourea to afford the methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-D-glycopyranosides of beta galactose (5), alpha-galactose (9), beta-glucose (21), alpha-glucose (25), and alpha-mannose (34), as well as benzyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (30) and methyl 3-O-benzyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (15). These compounds can be used as nucleophiles for the synthesis of (1----6)-linked oligosaccharides. The conversion 1----5 could be performed without isolation of the intermediates. The treatment of bromoacetyl derivatives with benzoyl chloride in pyridine resulted in the benzoylation of the remaining free hydroxyl groups and the simultaneous substitution of bromine by chlorine, yielding the corresponding mono-O-chloroacetyl derivatives. Benzoylations with benzoyl bromide avoided this secondary event. Glycosyl donors differentially substituted to allow further extension of the oligosaccharide chain at position 6 of D-glucose, D galactose, and D-mannose, and sequentially at positions 6 and 3 in the case of the D-galactosyl donor derived from 15, were readily obtained by treatment of the appropriate, fully protected methyl glycosides with 1,1-dichloromethyl methyl ether in the presence of a catalytic amount of zinc chloride. PMID- 2620300 TI - Chemical combination of 6-deoxy-6-mycoloylamino-alpha,alpha-trehalose and N acetyl-6-O-(aminoacyl)muramoyl dipeptide. AB - 6-Deoxy-6-mycoloylamino-alpha,alpha-trehalose, a biologically active derivative of 6,6'-di-O-mycoloyl-alpha,alpha-trehalose (TDM), and N-acetyl-6-O-(aminoacyl) muramoyl dipeptide (MDP) were joined chemically by a succinic acid unit. The compounds synthesized showed activities that are characteristics of both TDM and MDP. PMID- 2620301 TI - Studies of the synthesis of sugar phosphonates related to 3-deoxy-D-manno-2 octulosonic acid (Kdo). AB - In attempting to synthesize the analogue of beta-Kdo (2R)-2-carboxy-6-(1',2' dihydroxyethyl)-4,5-dihydroxy-D-manno-1,2 lambda 5-oxaphosphorinan-2-one (6) as an inhibitor of the enzyme CMP-Kdo synthetase, which is involved in the biosynthesis of the lipopolysaccharide component of the outer membrane of Gram negative bacteria, (2R)-6-(1',2'-dihydroxyethyl)-2-ethoxy-3,4,5-trihydroxy 4,5:1', 2'-di-O-isopropylidene-D-glycero-D-talo-1,2 lambda 5-oxaphosphorinan-2 one (8) was converted into (2S)-6-(1',2'-dihydroxyethyl)-4,5-dihydroxy-4,5:1',2' di-O-isop rop ylidene-2-vinyl-D-manno-1,2 lambda 5-oxaphosphorinan-2-one (16), but alkene cleavage to give the target carboxyphosphonate failed. Reduction oxidation-Arbuzov reaction on the intermediate (2R)-6-(1',2'-dihydroxyethyl)-2 ethoxy-4,5-dihydroxy-4,5:1', 2'-di-O-isopropylidene-D-manno-1,2 lambda 5 oxaphosphorinan-2-one (11) gave the 2S isomer of the protected target compound, but removal of the protecting groups gave the acyclic product dilithium (D-manno 2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexyl)phosphinatoformate (24). N.m.r. studies of the intermediates allowed assignment of stereochemistry at P for all compounds via 2JP,H coupling constants. PMID- 2620302 TI - Production and partial characterization of the extracellular polysaccharides from oral Streptococcus salivarius. AB - The production of polysaccharides from sucrose by extracellular enzymes from oral Streptococcus salivarius isolates and the physico-chemical properties of water insoluble products (IPs) were investigated. Extracellular enzymes from all the 18 strains tested produced insoluble alpha-D-glucans (IGs) as well as soluble beta-D fructans, and formed adhering deposits on glass. Generally, the IPs (mostly IGs) of S. salivarius strains differed from the S. sobrinus IPs by (a) containing significant proportions of alpha-D-(1----4)-, in addition to alpha-D-(1----3)- and alpha-D-(1----6)-glucosyl linkages, and much higher proportions of alpha-D-(1 ---3) than alpha-D-(1----6) linkages, (b) being more susceptible to hydrolysis by mutanase than by dextranase, (c) possessing low or no streptococcal cell agglutinating ability, and (d) showing weaker adhesion to a glass surface. The degree of the polysaccharide adherence differed greatly among the S. salivarius strains and, therefore, they were divided into three groups of adherence producers; heavy, moderate, and slight. The IPs of the three groups contained, generally in descending order, a higher proportion of higher-molecular-weight fractions, and consisted of higher proportions of IG containing higher proportions of -(1----6)-alpha-D and -(1----4)-alpha-D glucosyl linkages and (1-- -3,6) branches, but showed higher susceptibility to hydrolysis by mutanase as well as dextranase. Thus, the production and the properties of extracellular insoluble alpha-D-glucans from sucrose differ considerably between oral S. salivarius and cariogenic S. sobrinus. PMID- 2620303 TI - Structure determination of three neutral oligosaccharides obtained from horse colostrum. PMID- 2620304 TI - A kinetic study of the solvolysis of 1,6-dibromo-1,6-dideoxygalactitol (Mitolactol). PMID- 2620305 TI - Isolation and preliminary characterization of fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides with blood-anticoagulant activity from the brown seaweed Hizikia fusiforme. PMID- 2620306 TI - The crystal and molecular structure of phosphoenolpyruvic acid. AB - Phosphoenolpyruvic acid crystals, obtained by slow concentration of an aqueous solution, are triclinic, space group P1, with a = 5.905(5), b = 8.135(8), c = 14.095(15) A, alpha = 104.70(8), beta = 97.72(8), gamma = 100.99(8) degrees, and Z = 4. Two crystallographically independent phosphoenolpyruvic acid molecules differ in the orientation of the phosphate group relative to the enolpyruvate moiety. The phosphate groups have different tetrahedral distortions, and their P O(ester) bond-lengths are 1.578(3) and 1.583(3) A. All OH groups are involved in intermolecular hydrogen bonds. PMID- 2620307 TI - Liver diseases associated with hepadnavirus infection. A study in duck model. AB - Among four hepadnaviruses, we studied liver diseases of duck hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected animals. There was close correlation of viral infection and development of liver diseases. The presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was observed in Chinese ducks. We previously showed that duck HBV DNA was integrated in the neoplastic cells. Analysis of duck HBV integrants revealed the similarity to the reported structures of HBV integrants. To develop effective antiviral therapy, we tested adenine arabinoside (Ara-A), phosphonoformate, azido deoxythymidine (AZT), and dideoxycytidine (DDC) in this in vivo model. Significant suppressive effects on viral replication were observed by phosphonoformate and adenine arabinoside, but AZT and DDC failed to show significant antiviral effects. This may be related to a unique pathway of replication in hepadnaviruses. PMID- 2620308 TI - Hereditary hepatitis in LEC rats: accumulation of abnormally high ploid nuclei. AB - The LEC (Long-Evans with a cinnamon-like coat color) rat is a new mutant strain with hereditary hepatitis. The rate of DNA synthesis, the relative amounts of binucleated cells, and the polyploidizations of LEC hepatocytes have been analyzed. Markedly high polyploidy, such as 32n and 64n, were detected after manifestation of hepatitis; however, no aneuploidy was detected. Bi-, tri- and tetranucleated cells whose nuclei occasionally differed in size were observed after the manifestation of hepatitis. In addition to small hepatocytes and oval cells in the periportal area of the hepatic lobule, enlarged cells with huge nuclei were also labeled with BrdU, indicating that in LEC rats suffering from hepatitis abnormal mitosis may be relevant to high polyploidization and multinucleation. Polypeptide analysis using 2D-PAGE detected the apparent lack of expression of two polypeptides, p29.5 and p30, in LEC liver cells; however, linkage analysis indicated no correlation between these peptide defects and the manifestation of hepatitis. PMID- 2620309 TI - Replicative cultures of adult human and rhesus monkey liver epithelial cells. AB - Exploratory experiments indicate that media containing lipids, phosphoethanolamine, epidermal growth factor, insulin, cholera toxin, bovine pituitary extract, chemically denatured serum, and triiodothyronine will support replicative cultures of normal liver epithelial cells obtained from adult Rhesus monkey and human donors. In addition, we have extended the culture population doubling potential of the human liver epithelial cells by their transfection with a plasmid containing the SV40 virus T-antigen gene. The T-antigen gene-containing cells continued to express albumin through 40 population doublings. Finally, results of preliminary experiments suggest that it may be possible to induce human liver epithelial cells to undergo differentiation to hepatocyte-like cells either by injecting them into the spleen of an athymic nude mouse or by incorporating them into a collagen "tissue equivalent" matrix. PMID- 2620310 TI - Treatment of chronic type B hepatitis. AB - Therapy for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is primarily directed at those patients with evidence of replicative infection because they are most at risk for developing chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and possibly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although a number of agents or therapeutic approaches have been tested against HBV infection, only a few have been subjected to controlled clinical trial. Corticosteroid therapy, particularly if prolonged, may be harmful and should be avoided. Adenine arabinoside monophosphate (Ara-AMP) has potent inhibitory effects on HBV replication, but its use is limited by severe neurotoxicity. At present, prolonged treatment with alpha interferon offers the most promise as a beneficial therapy for chronic type B hepatitis. Alpha interferon consistently induces permanent clearance of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and HBV DNA from serum more often than in untreated patients. Present efforts are directed at determining the factors predictive of a favorable response to interferon, and attempting to increase the response rate by using alpha interferon in combination with other antiviral or immunomodulatory agents. PMID- 2620311 TI - A study of cardiorespiratory dynamics with step and ramp exercise tests in normoxia and hypoxia. AB - The ability of the cardiorespiratory system to adapt to the demands of increased exercise intensity was studied under the effects of hypoxia with two different submaximal cycling exercise protocols. A step transition in work rate from 25 W to 105 W and a ramp increase in work rate from a baseline of 25 W with a slope of 40 W.min-1 were used. Eight healthy male subjects each completed maximal exercise tests to exhaustion, as well as six repetitions of the step and the ramp, during normoxia and during hypoxia (FIO2 = 14%, balance N2). VO2 was measured breath by breath and cardiac output (Q) was estimated beat by beat by impedance cardiography. Kinetic analyses of the VO2 and Q data were performed to obtain the gain and the total lag time. With hypoxia, the gain of the VO2 response was no different from normoxia, at 10.6(SEM 0.1) ml.min-1.W-1, but total lag time increased from 23.0(2.2) s to 32.5(2.6) s (p less than 0.05). In contrast, with ramp exercise there was a significant reduction in the gain or slope of the VO2 response from 9.4(0.2) ml.min-1.W-1 in normoxia to 9.0(0.1) ml.min-1.W-1 in hypoxia, while total lag time was no different between normoxia and hypoxia, at 19.7(3.3) v 21.4(2.9) s. Both the gain and total lag time of the step tests were significantly different from the ramp test. Kinetics of Q during the step transition did not differ between normoxia and hypoxia, at 26.5(2.3) v 31.0(4.9) s, respectively (NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620312 TI - Central haemodynamic changes during lower body positive pressure in patients with congestive cardiac failure. AB - Fifteen patients with moderately severe and severe chronic congestive heart failure were studied to determine the central haemodynamic results of short term increases in lower body positive pressure. Central haemodynamic variables were determined by Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheterisation and arterial cannulation. Graded increases in lower body positive pressure were applied to supine patients using Medical Anti-Shock Trousers (MAST). Increasing lower body positive pressure by 25 mm Hg and 55 mm Hg caused increases in mean right atrial pressure (6.0 to 13.2 to 17.9 mm Hg; p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.0001 respectively) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (26.8 to 35.5 to 41.3 mm Hg; p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01 respectively). No significant changes were seen in left heart filling pressures or in pulmonary vascular resistance. Furthermore, there were no significant increases in indices of cardiac work (cardiac index, left ventricular stroke work index, right ventricular stroke work index or cardiac power output) despite the increased right heart filling pressures. These results show that in patients with longstanding severe congestive heart failure, short term increases in cardiac return may increase right heart pressures but do not appear to cause either beneficial or detrimental changes in left heart haemodynamic indices. PMID- 2620313 TI - Circulatory effects of acute normovolaemic haemodilution in rats with healed myocardial infarction. AB - This study evaluated the haemodynamic response to different degrees of acute normovolaemic haemodilution with hetastarch at rest and during preload and afterload stress in 123 anaesthetised Sprague-Dawley rats divided according to cardiac status (sham operated, n = 46; no myocardial infarction, n = 47; large myocardial infarction, n = 30). Histological infarct size was 41 (SEM 2)%. Cardiac output was recorded using an electromagnetic flow probe. The preload test was achieved by rapid infusion of blood adjusted for packed cell volume, while the afterload test was achieved by an aortic clamp technique. Prior to haemodilution, rats with large myocardial infarction had lower (p less than 0.05) cardiac index, stroke volume index, left ventricular dp/dt, and oxygen delivery, and higher left ventricular end diastolic pressure compared with sham operated rats and rats with no myocardial infarction. Haemodilution to a haematocrit of 30% in all three groups resulted in a similar significant (p less than 0.05) rise in cardiac index and stroke volume index such that blood pressure was maintained despite the decrease (p less than 0.05) in peripheral resistance. Compared with sham operated rats, rats with large myocardial infarcts haemodiluted to packed cell volume of 20% had a more limited rise in cardiac index of 14 (SEM 6) v 45(12)%, p less than 0.05, and a greater fall in oxygen delivery of 50(5) v 28(9)%, p less than 0.05 which was associated with a higher left ventricular end diastolic pressure of 6.6(1.0) v 3.7(0.4) mm Hg, p less than 0.05. Following preload and afterload stress, rats with large myocardial infarcts had lower (p less than 0.05) left ventricular developed pressure, peak cardiac index and peak stroke volume index compared with sham operated rats and rats with no myocardial infarction, independent of packed cell volume. The data suggest that large myocardial infarctions impaired the ability of the left ventricle to pump blood and generate pressure. This diminished left ventricular performance was most apparent in response to preload and afterload stress and at the lowest level of haemodilution employed (packed cell volume 20%). PMID- 2620314 TI - Electrical and mechanical effects of strontium in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres. AB - The electrical and mechanical effects of strontium were studied in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres perfused in vitro. In a nominally calcium free solution, strontium (1.35-10.8 mmol.litre-1): (1) caused a time, rate and concentration dependent shift of the plateau to more positive potentials, prolonged the action potential and decreased the maximum diastolic potential; (2) increased the time to peak and amplitude of the twitch and caused a tonic force which relaxed only on repolarisation; (3) was rapidly overcome in its effects by calcium (1.35-2.7 mmol.litre-1); (4) was antagonised by manganese (1 mmol.litre-1) and cadmium (0.1 0.2 mmol.litre-1); (5) was potentiated by noradrenaline (0.1 mumol.litre-1); (6) could induce action potentials in 27 mmol.litre-1 [K]o; (7) induced a tail following the action potential when the pacemaker potential had been blocked by caesium; (8) could induce a tail in 8 mmol.litre-1 [K]o which sustained force development and was reduced by calcium antagonists; (9) if applied to a quiescent fibre, induced a prolongation of the first resumed action potential and tonic force but a small twitch, and these effects were antagonised by calcium and manganese; and (10) induced a strong twitch after a period of quiescence in low [Na]o. It is concluded that the pronounced and progressive electrical and mechanical effects of strontium in cardiac Purkinje fibres are due to an enhanced strontium influx (due to inability of strontium to substitute for calcium in the inactivation of Isi) and to strontium extrusion through an electrogenic Na-Sr exchange. PMID- 2620315 TI - The effect of atrial dilatation on the genesis of atrial arrhythmias. AB - The effect of atrial stretching on the genesis of atrial arrhythmias was studied in 26 dogs. Left atrial dilatation was produced by inflation of a balloon catheter. Electrophysiological studies were performed by programmed electrical stimulation of the atrium and ventricle. The irritability of the atrium markedly increased when it was distended and atrial arrhythmias (sustained or non sustained atrial tachyarrhythmias) could regularly be induced by administration of an early extrastimulus or--more rarely--by atrial burst pacing. In 10 cases spontaneous atrial tachycardia appeared during atrial balloon dilatation. The atrial effective refractory period shortened and the atrial conduction time lengthened on atrial stretching, while other electrical variables (cycle length, sinus node recovery time, atrioventricular conduction time, intraventricular conduction, ventricular refractory period, QT interval) remained unchanged. Atrial balloon dilatation was not accompanied by marked haemodynamic changes, and the left ventricular pressure curve, the contractility of the left ventricle and the central venous pressure did not change significantly on atrial stretching. The experimental data suggest that the atrial dilatation plays an important part in the pathogenesis of atrial arrhythmias. PMID- 2620316 TI - Effect of changes in load on monophasic action potential and segment length of pig heart in situ. AB - There is increasing evidence that mechano-electric feedback, defined as a change in mechanical state that precedes and alters transmembrane potential, operates in a wide variety of preparations and species including man. Load reduction is becoming a common therapeutic tool in a variety of clinical settings but the electrophysiological effects of these manoeuvres is not known. In this study the effect of changes in loading conditions on the time course of ventricular repolarisation were examined in the in situ heart in 13 pigs anaesthetised with halothane. Monophasic action potentials, electrocardiograms and segment length changes were recorded from the left ventricular epicardium using suction operated devices. Afterload was decreased by intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside, and increased by aortic cross clamping. Infusion of sodium nitroprusside resulted in a rise in action potential duration (measured at 70% repolarisation) in all 21 infusions (mean 3.4 ms), which was linearly related to the fall in systolic left ventricular pressure (r = 0.72, p less than 0.001) and the change in minimum systolic segment length (r = 0.46, p less than 0.05), but not to the change in maximum diastolic length (r = 0.33, NS). Aortic constriction, sufficient to elevate peak systolic left ventricular pressure back to the control level, restored the changes in action potential duration to normal. In addition, there were concomitant changes in the QT interval and T wave of the epicardial ECG. These findings show that mechano-electric feedback operates in the in situ heart and has potential importance in the clinical setting where changes in systemic blood pressure may directly alter cardiac electrophysiology. PMID- 2620317 TI - Cardiovascular profile of a new anti-arrhythmic agent, SC-40230. AB - The cardiac and general haemodynamic effects of SC-40230, a newly developed anti arrhythmic agent with both class 1a and 1b properties, were assessed in two different types of experiments using anaesthetised dogs, and in experiments using isolated cat papillary muscles. At the canine anti-arrhythmic dose (9 mg.kg-1 intravenously), SC-40230 decreased the maximum rate of rise of the left ventricular pressure (LV dP/dtmax) by 20%. It decreased heart rate slightly, and lowered (greater than 10%) blood pressure only at doses greater than the canine anti-arrhythmic dose. In these experiments there were dose dependent increases in the P-R interval and the QRS duration. In isolated cat papillary muscles, SC 40230 had a weak negative inotropic effect (IC20 = 3.3 X 10(-5) mol.litre-1) which was less than that previously reported for disopyramide phosphate (IC20 = 1.8 X 10(-5) mol.litre-1) or mexiletine (IC20 = 2.1 X 10(-5) mol.litre-1). These findings suggest SC-40230 has a minimal cardiovascular and haemodynamic side effect potential in its anti-arrhythmic dose range. If these results are confirmed in clinical studies, SC-40230 may have an improved side effect profile versus other anti-arrhythmic drugs such as disopyramide. PMID- 2620318 TI - Cardiorespiratory effects of D-Ala-2-Me-Phe-4-Met-(0)-ol enkephalin in the third ventricle, and in anterior hypothalamic and paraventricular areas of the rat brain. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate the cardiorespiratory effects of the synthetic Met-enkephalin, D-Ala-2-Me-Phe-4-Met-(0)-ol enkephalin (FK 33-824) after its administration into the anterior hypothalamic area, paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei and third ventricle. Wistar rats, anaesthetised with pentobarbitone and breathing spontaneously, received an injection of FK 33-824, 1 or 2 micrograms into one of these three areas. FK 33-824 produced significant (analysis of variance, p less than 0.05) and sustained hypotension of similar degree following injection into any one of these three sites. Significant (p less than 0.05) reductions in heart rate and respiratory rate were also observed. Hypotension and bradycardia occurred, but to a lesser degree, when respiratory depression was prevented by mechanical ventilation. FK 33-824 produced fatal bradyarrhythmias in spontaneously breathing and mechanically ventilated animals. When respiratory depression was prevented by mechanical ventilation, survival was lowest after third ventricular administration followed by paraventricular and anterior hypothalamic injections. Thus D-Ala-2-Me-Phe-4-Met-(0)-ol enkephalin produced marked vasodepression and respiratory depression in the rat. These effects were interrelated but reductions in heart rate and blood pressure also occurred independently of the respiratory depression. PMID- 2620319 TI - The effect of flow on Doppler estimates of bioprosthetic mitral valve function in vitro. AB - In order to assess the effect of flow on peak transmitral velocity and pressure half time and to test the Hatle orifice area formula, four Carpentier-Edwards mitral prostheses were studied in a positive displacement flow simulator at 20 different stroke volume/rate combinations using a constant left ventricular filling curve. Peak transmitral velocity was directly related to mean flow and differed significantly between the individual values (F79 = 38; p less than 0.00001). There was, however, no significant difference in pressure half time between the four values (F79 = 0.04; p = 0.99). Pressure half time was directly related to diastolic time interval (r = 0.98, y = 0.41x - 17.84; p less than 0.00001), but was independent of stroke volume. There was only a moderate inverse correlation between pressure half time (T1/2) and orifice area (r = 0.56, y = 0.67 + 69/T1/2; p less than 0.0001). These results are consistent with the suggestion that pressure half time is more closely related to the shape of the left ventricular filling curve than to orifice area in normally functioning bioprostheses. PMID- 2620320 TI - Measurement of transmural distribution of phosphorus metabolites in the pig heart by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy. AB - We used the phase modulated rotating frame imaging technique to measure transmural distribution of phosphorus metabolites in 10 anaesthetised ventilated pigs using a double surface coil placed on the surface of the left ventricle. Anaesthesia was maintained in five animals with halothane, barbiturate and nitrous oxide and in five others with intravenous chloralose. 31Phosphorus spectra were acquired, gated to expiration and systole. From phantom experiments the resolution of the experiment was shown to be approximately 2 mm. The anatomical limits of the myocardium were identified by the appearance of 2,3 diphosphoglycerate peaks from red blood cells. The limits of the epicardium were confirmed by obtaining images after placing a phantom containing fluorophosphate on the surface of the heart. The endocardium was identified by inserting a small balloon catheter through the centre of the coil into the left ventricular cavity, filling it with 0.5 ml of fluorophosphate and pulling it gently against the endocardium. No transmural differences in phosphocreatine to ATP ratio were identified in the normal heart. The animals anaesthetised with chloralose showed a significantly higher phosphocreatine to ATP ratio compared to those anaesthetised with halothane and barbiturate. The chloralose animals tended to have a higher blood pressure and a lower heart rate when compared to the other animals. No transmural differences, however, were identified in either group. When regional ischaemia was produced using a snare to occlude the left coronary artery, phosphocreatine fell and the signal from the inorganic phosphate + 2,3 diphosphoglycerate region increased. The inner wall tended to become more acid compared to the outer wall during ischaemia. These experiments show that the phase modulated rotating frame imaging technique can be used to study the effects of changes in workload, ischaemia, or pharmacological intervention on transmural distribution of metabolites in the heart and thus help elucidate factors responsible for subendocardial vulnerability to stress. PMID- 2620321 TI - Increased myocardial microvascular utilisation and flow during atrial pacing. AB - To determine the influence of heart rate on regional coronary flow, the coronary vascular and microvascular responses to increased heart rate were examined in anaesthetised open chest New Zealand white rabbits. Coronary blood flow was measured with labelled microspheres. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (150 mg.kg-1) was given to mark the perfused microvessels. The FITC-dextran was given at various intervals before removal of the heart. Alkaline phosphatase stain was used to locate the total microvasculature. Increase in heart rate from 272(SD23) to 339(13) beats.min-1 increased the coronary blood flow from 198(56) to 288(82) ml.min-1.100 g-1. The subendocardial/subepicardial flow ratio was not altered by pacing. Total capillary density averaged 2508(363).mm-2 and arteriolar density was 1.74(4.1).mm-2. There were no significant regional or treatment differences in these values. The increase in blood flow with pacing was accompanied by a uniform increase in the percentage of the microvasculature perfused in the subepicardial and the subendocardial layers of the left ventricular free wall, from 58(6)% to 75(10)% for capillaries and from 54(17)% to 81(19)% for arterioles. These results show that enhanced heart rate increases the coronary blood flow and the density of the perfused microvessels uniformly across the ventricular wall. Thus both the coronary vascular and microvascular reserves are used in the rabbit heart during tachycardia. PMID- 2620322 TI - Effects of atrioventricular interval on left ventricular diastolic filling assessed with pulsed Doppler echocardiography. AB - Effects of changes in atrioventricular interval on left ventricular diastolic filling were studied using pulsed Doppler echocardiography in 14 patients with programmable dual chamber pacemakers. Peak early diastolic filling velocity (E) and peak atrial filling velocity (A) were measured from the transmitral flow velocity pattern at three different atrioventricular intervals under the same pacing rate of 80 beats.min-1 in each patient. When the atrioventricular interval was switched from intermediate [148(SD10) ms] to short [68(11) ms], stroke volume did not change significantly [60(14) to 58(13) ml], but E increased from 39(12) to 44(11) cm.s-1 (p less than 0.05), and A decreased from 48(8) to 38(9) cm.s-1 (p less than 0.05). At the short atrioventricular interval, incomplete atrial emptying by the atrial contraction seemed to cause a reciprocal increase in the early diastolic filling. When the atrioventricular interval was switched from intermediate to long [234(16) ms], stroke volume, E and A did not change significantly [57(14) ml, 37(13) cm.s-1, 51(8) cm.s-1 respectively]. At the short and long atrioventricular intervals, atrial filling always changed in the direction opposite to that of early diastolic filling. Changes in stroke volume as well as peak early diastolic filling velocity caused by altering atrioventricular interval were pronounced in aged patients and patients with decreased early diastolic filling. In conclusion, left ventricular diastolic filling patterns can be affected by atrioventricular interval even without any concomitant pathological changes in the left atrial or ventricular function. These effects should not be taken lightly, especially in patients with decreased left ventricular early diastolic filling. PMID- 2620323 TI - Relationship between local oxygen consumption and local and external cardiac work: effect of tachycardia. AB - This study was designed to determine the extent of coupling between regional myocardial segment work and corresponding regional oxygen consumption, and to examine whether tachycardia induced changes in regional work are translated into corresponding changes in external cardiac work. In the open chest anaesthetised dog, the heart was paced at frequencies of 120-270 beats.min-1. Global and regional myocardial O2 supply, consumption, and balance were evaluated at each heart rate, and correlated with corresponding functional changes. Global cardiac function was evaluated from aortic flow, blood pressure, and left ventricular pressure. Coronary sinus flow and O2 saturation were used to calculate O2 consumption. The integrated multiple of myocardial shortening (ultrasonic dimension crystals) by corresponding force (strain gauge arch) during an averaged beat was used to express regional segment work. Regional coronary blood flow was measured with radioactive microspheres, and microspectrophotometry was used to evaluate O2 saturation in small arteries and veins. These indices were used to calculate regional myocardial oxygen consumption. NADH redox levels were recorded by surface fluorometry, and were found to increase with heart rate by up to 67%. Increasing heart rate from 120 to 180 beats.min-1 increased regional work from 3040(SEM 220) to a peak of 4290(280) mm.g-1.min-1, whereas external cardiac work did not increase [67.0(2.6) to 65.3(4.4) mm Hg.litre-1.min-1] and fell further at the highest rates. Regional oxygen consumption increased from 6.16(0.47) to 8.29(0.53) ml O2.min-1.100 g-1 and was linearly related to regional work at all heart rates (r = 0.971, p less than 0.05). External cardiac work fell by about 26% whereas global myocardial oxygen consumption increased by 49% during tachycardia. It is concluded that myocardial oxygen consumption is more closely related to regional segment work than to external work, and that tachycardia significantly raises the oxygen cost of external work of the heart. PMID- 2620324 TI - Nitric oxide synthesised from L-arginine mediates endothelium dependent dilatation in human veins in vivo. AB - Endothelium derived relaxing factor (EDRF) has been identified as nitric oxide, synthesised from the amino acid L-arginine, a process which is inhibited by the L arginine analogue NG-monomethyl L-arginine (L-NMMA). We have studied the effect of local infusions of L-NMMA on venous reactivity in healthy volunteers. Studies were performed using the veins on the back of the hand. The diameter of a single dorsal hand vein was measured in healthy subjects who had taken 600 mg of aspirin 30 min before the experiment. Changes in diameter were recorded during local infusions of noradrenaline, bradykinin, acetylcholine, glyceryl trinitrate, L- and D-arginine and its NG-monomethyl derivatives. L-NMMA (100 nmol.min-1) stereospecifically inhibited vasodilatation induced by acetylcholine and bradykinin (p less than 0.02) but not that induced by the endothelium independent vasodilator glyceryl trinitrate. L-NMMA (100 nmol.min-1) potentiated the venoconstrictor effect of a high dose of acetylcholine (100 nmol.min-1) without affecting the action of noradrenaline and without having a direct venoconstrictor effect in doses up to 10 mumol.min-1. These results show that the venous effects of certain vasodilators in man are mediated through the release of nitric oxide (EDRF) synthesised from L-arginine. They also highlight differences in basal and stimulated production of nitric oxide between arteries and veins. PMID- 2620325 TI - Effects of antifungals on the viability of heart valve cusp derived fibroblasts. AB - Fibroblasts were isolated from fresh porcine aortic cusps and their identity confirmed morphologically and biochemically. The fibroblasts were used to assess the cytotoxicity of nystatin and amphotericin B at room temperature and 4 degrees C, following exposure periods of 4, 24, and 48 h. Except at the highest concentration and the longest exposure period at room temperature, nystatin had little detrimental effect compared with the nystatin free control. In contrast, amphotericin B proved highly cytotoxic. Published protocols for the use of amphotericin B in the disinfection of viable heart valve allografts would result in little residual fibroblast viability. We recommend that amphotericin B is no longer used in this situation. PMID- 2620326 TI - Effects of low extracellular sodium concentration on reperfusion induced arrhythmias: changes in the myocardial sodium, potassium and calcium contents in isolated guinea pig hearts. AB - Isolated guinea pig hearts subjected to global ischaemia were used to investigate whether low extracellular Na+ exerts an anti-arrhythmic action against reperfusion arrhythmias, and the effects of extracellular Na+ manipulation upon myocardial ion contents (Na+, K+ and Ca2+) during ischaemia and reperfusion were studied. Using an optimal concentration of 144 mmol.litre-1 of extracellular Na+, hearts were subjected to 10, 20, 25, 30 or 40 min of global ischaemia followed by 25 min reperfusion. A bell shaped curve was obtained such that with increasing durations of ischaemia from 20 to 30 min there was an increasing incidence of reperfusion arrhythmias. Beyond this optimum (at which 100% exhibited reperfusion induced ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia) there was a decline in the susceptibility of the hearts to arrhythmias. Low extracellular Na+ was given 5 min prior to the global ischaemia and maintained during reperfusion. With extracellular Na+ of 24, 54, 84 and 114 mmol.litre-1, reperfusion induced ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia were reduced from their control incidence of 91% and 100% to 8% (p less than 0.001) and 17% (p less than 0.001), 17% (p less than 0.01) and 17% (p less than 0.001), 41% (p less than 0.05) and 50% (p less than 0.05), and 91% and 91%, respectively. Both ischaemia induced Na+ gain and K+ loss were inhibited by low extracellular Na+ (24 mmol.litre-1). During reperfusion, myocardial Na+ was further increased in the control group and this value was lower in the low extracellular Na+ group. In control hearts, myocardial K+ was suddenly increased during the first 5 min of reperfusion, then continuously decreased until the end of reperfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620327 TI - Circulating regulatory factors and neuroendocrine function. Satellite symposium of the XXXI International Congress of Physiological Sciences. Smolenice Castle, Czechoslovakia, June 26-July 1, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2620328 TI - [Possibilities in the use of ambulatory oxygen therapy in practice]. AB - Of 524 patients suffering from chronic obstructive bronchopulmonary disease and cryptogenic fibrotizing alveolitis according to accepted criteria 49 patients were selected fro long-term domestic oxygen treatment. In the course of 3-4 weeks comprehensive treatment of the basic disease 10 patients improved to such an extent that ambulatory oxygen therapy was no longer indicated. One patient was eliminated from treatment because he was a heavy cigarette smoker. In eight patients ambulatory oxygen therapy was started. The remaining 30 patients, i.e. 61%, fully indicated for oxygen treatment did not have ambulatory treatment because oxygen concentrators are not available. This shortage must be rapidly resolved. PMID- 2620329 TI - [Risk factors in subarachnoid hemorrhage]. AB - The author evaluates in a retrospective study a group of 148 patients with subarachnoidal haemorrhage, focused on the cause of death. A sufficient angiographic examination was made in 68 patients. The source of haemorrhage was detected in this group in 68.6%, in 66 patients an aneurysm was detected, only in two patients an arteriovenous malformation. Fifty-one patients were operated. The operation was delayed after stabilization of the patients, on average to the 36.8 day after the haemorrhage. Twenty per cent of the patients died. The most frequent cause of death were general systemic complications which accounted for 50% of the general mortality. In some instances there was a confirmed or probable participation of vasospasm. The other most frequent cause of death was a vasospasm with ischaemic cerebral changes and a 20% ratio in the death rate. A relapse of haemorrhage accounted also for 20% of the deaths. From the assessed data ensues the necessity to devote a greater effort to prevention and treatment of general complications and vasospasms in addition to hitherto relatively successful pharmacological of relapses of haemorrhage by antifibrinolytics. An important part of this prevention and treatment will be early diagnosis and early surgical treatment of vascular malformations. PMID- 2620330 TI - [Monitoring the effectiveness of amiodarone in the treatment of ventricular ectopic arrhythmias]. AB - The authors included in their investigation a total of 18 patients (15 men and 3 women) with electric instability of the ventricular heart muscle during programmed stimulation of the ventricles. They administered amiodarone to the patients by the oral route, 200 or 400 mg per day for a period of 3 to 13 months. They compared the subjective symptomatology, the finding on monitoring of the ECG with the patient in bed or by means of Holter's system and the results of programmed stimulation of the ventricles before and after amiodarone administration. There was a marked decline in the frequency of subjective symptoms reported by the patients (above all syncopes disappeared completely) and there was a marked decline or complete disappearance of serious ventricular ectopic dysrhythmias. Amiodarone eliminated electric instability of the ventricles as proved by programmed stimulation of the ventricles completely in 39% and partly in 11% of the subjects. PMID- 2620331 TI - [Personal experience with lower extremity lengthening]. AB - The authors submit results of surgical treatment of unequal extremities in 10 patients. In nine cases by gradual distraction the affected lower extremity was extended, in one female patient the upper extremity. Ilizarov-type fixation devices proved useful. The maximum attainable increment is 8-9 cm, in the described group a prolongation by 2-8.5 cm was achieved, the mean period of distraction being three months. Up to 4 cm the distraction was made at a rate of 1 mm per day. When extending the leg by more than 4 cm, also the Achilles tendon must be extended and a tibiofibular syndesmosis by means of a screw must be made. Indications for surgical prolongation of the extremities must be carefully contemplated. PMID- 2620332 TI - [The clinical picture and development of aortic aneurysms in older persons]. AB - The authors discuss 11 patients with aortal aneurysms (AA) which they diagnosed in the course of 1983-1988. In seven instances the abdominal aorta was affected; once the ascending part and once the arch; twice the descending part and once the whole aorta. In four patients the aneurysm had a dissecting character. Patients of advanced age were involved (73.9 +/- 9.7 years) with multiple morbidity and frequently also general advanced atherosclerosis which was the main cause of development of aneurysms. The authors analyze the clinical picture and course of AA in different patients and draw attention to their great variability. In the discussion they deal with the position of diagnostic methods, analyze critically the causes, course and prognosis of AA incl. interpretation of their own group of patients. In view of the frequent (and rising) incidence of AA in old age, the authors consider it important to pay attention to this problem also from the aspect of clinical gerontology. PMID- 2620333 TI - [Central pontine myelinolysis]. AB - The authors describe a case of central pontine myelinolysis in a 43-year-old female alcoholic, confirmed by post-mortem examination, as for technical reasons in lifetime neither CT nor MR examinations could be made. Despite the relatively scarce incidence of the disease, as mentioned in the literature, this possibility must be taken into consideration in particular in young alcoholics. PMID- 2620334 TI - [The artificial heart from the aspect of results thus far and from the aspect of further perspectives for research and clinical practice]. AB - The author gives an account of the present position in the development of research of artificial hearts and mechanical support whereby special attention is paid to research in the CSSR which holds one of the foremost places in the world. When resolving some basic questions of long-term biological adaptation to the activity of the mechanical system, i.e. the artificial heart, this research becomes very important as a unique model for investigation of the isolated peripheral circulation the reactions of which are not affected by the action of the biological heart which has been eliminated. Moreover, specific conditions are created for the investigation of other general biologically important problems (hormonal regulation, metabolic factors, leading to calcification of biomaterials and its prevention, problems of dynamics of the coagulation system, thrombogenesis etc.) in the organism with an artificial heart. At present there are essentially two methods suitable for clinical application, i.e. mechanical support of the heart of the type of mono- or biventricular bypass with total replacement of the heart as a temporary operation before subsequent transplantation. Both these methods are promising. Further intensive research of the long-term survival of subjects with an artificial heart creates in addition to typical features of fundamental research the basis for permanent implantation of an artificial heart in clinical work which is another important stage of clinical applications. PMID- 2620335 TI - [The development and use of nitrate therapy]. AB - The authors describe the development of nitrates from substances of the first generation (nitroglycerin and isosorbide dinitrate) to the use of mononitrates. They explain the mechanism of their action, the haemodynamic effects and the phenomenon of nitrate tolerance. The authors present also their own experience with nitrate therapy in angina pectoris and heart failure based on haemodynamic monitoring and recommend its rational use. PMID- 2620336 TI - [Smokers' mitochondrial cardiomyopathy]. AB - The authors analyze the metabolic background of mitochondrial myopathies of the skeletal musculature in humans. They summarize their results assembled over years pertaining to functional disorders of mitochondria of the heart muscle in experimental models of passive smoking in rabbits. Based on comparison of these disorders with disorders in mitochondrial myopathies they reach the conclusion that the concept of smokers' mitochondrial myopathy is justified. PMID- 2620337 TI - [24-hour ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure and the diagnosis of resistant hypertension]. AB - Twenty-four hour ambulatory monitoring of the blood pressure (BP) is a new non invasive examination method which makes it possible to follow up the BP in the patients' environment--at work, at home during sleep. Casual assessment of BP in the surgery causes in some patients an alarm reaction to the assessment, the so called "white coat phenomenon", and thus frequently does not reflect the considerable variability of BP associated with physical activity and changes of the psychic state in the course of the day. Monitoring of the BP is an important part of investigations comparing the action of different antihypertensive drugs, it is, however, also helpful in clinical practice. It makes possible a more satisfactory evaluation, in particular in patients with mild hypertension, and frequently also more accurate assessment of the diagnosis. In some patients where despite treatment higher BP readings persist, monitoring of the BP makes it possible to differentiate patients with truly resistant or inadequately treated hypertension from those who have substantially higher BP readings in the surgery than in the course of the day. PMID- 2620338 TI - [Myocardial infarct. Results and tactics in reperfusion therapy]. AB - In a group comprising a total of 217 patients with a recent myocardial infarction, who were treated with streptokinase the authors provided evidence that early recanalization of the coronary occlusion occurred after superselective intracoronary administration in 81 and 83% of the patients. After intravenous streptokinase administration they recorded early recanalization in 62%. They found a significant diminution of the infarction focus and improved left ventricular function, as compared with patients treated in the "classical" way by antiarrhythmic drugs, beta-blockers and vasodilatating drugs. The follow up of some other indicators is also in favour of significant improvement after thrombolytic treatment--thrombi in the left ventricle, cardiac decompensation, development of an aneurysm, myocardial rupture. Conversely an argument against thrombolytic treatment are more frequent haemorrhagic complications--16%. However, in these complications no deaths were recorded nor the need of an operation or discontinuation of maintenance anticoagulant treatment. In reperfused patients no hospitalization mortality was recorded. Reocclusions occurred most frequently during the first four weeks after treatment and only after intracoronary administration--10%. According to the authors this is due to residual stenoses more serious ones, 75% of the lumen--the higher incidence of reocclusions in significant stenoses is statistically evident. The only prevention of reocclusions is immediate follow up of PTCA after intracoronary thrombolysis. The intravenous administration of streptokinase in myocardial infarctions is according to the authors a safe method and they recommend its use in all coronary units in the CSSR. PMID- 2620339 TI - Optimum spectral windows to minimize quantum noise of ratiometric intracellular fluorescent probes. AB - When fluorescent indicators are used to measure intracellular ligands in single cells, the quality of the data is usually limited by quantum (shot) noise. For indicators which shift excitation or emission wavelengths upon ligand binding, a ratiometric method is usually employed. In choosing the spectral windows for excitation or collection of fluorescence, there is a trade-off between maximum sensitivity to ligand binding, and maximum collection of light. We show that there is a well-defined optimum choice of windows which minimizes the error caused by quantum noise in the estimated ligand concentration. An algorithm for determining these optimum windows is presented. As an example, we consider the measurement of intracellular calcium by indo-1 fluorescence emission ratio in cardiac myocytes. The optimum wavelength bands for collection of fluorescence are considerably wider than those commonly employed. The use of these windows in a pulsed-excitation time-resolved calcium measurement instrument resulted in improved signal to noise ratio of the calcium signal. PMID- 2620340 TI - Hepatoxicity evaluation in rats given a single overdose of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol). AB - Of the various parameters measured in the Serum of rats given a single overdose of acetaminophen (APAP), methaemoglobin (M-Hb) free and conjugated bilirubin seem to be better diagnostic indicators of APAP poisoning than alkaline phosphatase (ALP). PMID- 2620341 TI - Paediatric solid malignant tumours in Zimbabwe. AB - This paper presents solid childhood tumours seen in Zimbabwe. There were equal number of boys and girls under the age of fifteen years presenting with malignant tumours. Different tumours however showed differences in the sex frequencies. The commonest tumour seen was the Wilm's tumour with lymphomas as the second commonest tumour. Burkitt's lymphoma was very rare as were tumours of the central nervous system. PMID- 2620342 TI - An autopsy survey of peptic ulcer disease at Ibadan. AB - The frequency of peptic ulcer disease remains highly controversial worldwide and from this environment there is little information either on the mortality and the factors contributory to death from the disease or on the associated conditions in patients with asymptomatic ulcers. The purpose of this study was to focus on these issues in an autopsy population at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. The overall incidence of peptic ulcer disease was 5 percent and the disease was a direct cause of death in 1.5 percent of the autopsy population. Bleeding was the most frequent cause of death from peptic ulcer disease and was responsible for 72.2 percent of the deaths due directly to ulcer disease. This was followed by ulcer perforation found in 25.9 percent of the deaths. The factors contributing to mortality include non-compliance with treatment and delay in presentation at the hospital. Correlations have been demonstrated in all age groups between asymptomatic peptic lesions and severe pathological conditions such as typhoid septicaemia. The relevance of this later finding is briefly discussed. PMID- 2620343 TI - Alpha-1-antitrypsin, immunoglobulins and radiological type in Nigerians with pulmonary tuberculosis. AB - Tuberculin skin test tended to be more intensely reactive in the caseonodular and other groups than the military group. Serum IgA, IgG and IgM and alpha-I antitrypsin levels were higher in Northern Nigerians with pulmonary tuberculosis than in controls. IgA and IgG levels were higher in miliary tuberculosis than caseonodular and cavitating tuberculosis. The cavitatory lesions in tuberculosis may not result from autodigestion by inflammatory proteases since alpha-I antitrypsin-the major inhibitor of proteases was not deficient in cavitatory tuberculosis. While an unqualified immunological spectrum of tuberculous disease in our patients has not clearly been demonstrated due to limited facilities, our results show a tendency to this spectrum. PMID- 2620344 TI - An endometriotic cyst of the left ovary in pregnancy--a case report. AB - A case of an endometriotic cyst of the left ovary in a pregnant Nigerian woman is presented. Left ovarian cystectomy was performed at the 18th week of gestation. The patient had a spontaneous vaginal delivery of a 3.54kg live male baby. PMID- 2620345 TI - Mesenteric cysts in Nigerians. AB - Mesenteric cysts are uncommon and are said to be rarer among blacks than in caucasians. We report six mesenteric cysts seen in five patients over a 9 1/2 year period with an incidence of one in 48,497 hospital admissions. there were three males and two females. Ultrasonography was carried out in three of our five cases. There is need to include mesenteric cyst in the differential diagnosis of an abdominal mass. Surgery was the mainstay of treatment. At laparotomy, five of the cysts were found in the mesentery of the small bowel. Simple enucleation was done in one patient while cyst resection with adjacent bowel was carried out in three patients. There were two cysts in the youngest patient and these were internally drained. All the patients did well with uneventful post-operative period with no mortality. Follow up had been from 14 months to 6 years. PMID- 2620346 TI - Roles of microfilaments in exocytosis: a new hypothesis. AB - We observed the dynamic changes in the localization of microfilaments during the exocytic secretion of rat parotid and submandibular gland acinar cells, and obtained results which led us to propose a new concept of microfilament function in exocytosis. With the electron microscopy, NBD-Phallacidin (NBD-PL) fluorescence technique and immunohistochemistry for myosin, microfilaments consisting of F-actin and myosin were localized mainly underneath the luminal plasma membrane. Microfilaments were not detectable around the secretory granules which were stored in the cytoplasm, but were clearly observed around them whose membranes were continuous with the luminal plasma membrane. When viewed with NBD PL and myosin fluorescence, the area of fused granule membranes revealed bright fluorescence in association with the luminal border, so that the luminal membrane undergoing exocytosis appeared like a 'bunch of grapes'. When excess exocytosis was stimulated by isoproterenol (IPR), the number of individual 'grapes' increased dramatically, indicating that the secretory granules are surrounded by microfilaments after the fusion with the luminal membrane. Microfilaments thus continuously undercoat the luminal membrane during exocytosis although the exocytic process involves the dilation and subsequent reduction of the luminal membrane due to the addition and removal of secretory granule membranes. This reduction of the dilated luminal membrane following exocytosis was, however, inhibited when the microfilaments were disrupted by cytochalasin D. Following this treatment, the lumina was expanded extraordinarily and the secretory products remained in the enlarged lumina, showing that the release of secretory products is inhibited when the microfilament function is disturbed. These results indicate that 1) microfilaments are localized mainly underneath the luminal plasma membrane and act as an obstacle to exocytosis when cells are at the resting phase and 2) at the secretory phase microfilaments allow exocytosis by disorganizing their barrier system and then, by encircling the discharged secretory granule membranes, provide forces for the extrusion of secretory products through the action of the acto-myosin contractile system. PMID- 2620347 TI - Factors of the shape change of human erythrocytes induced with lidocaine. AB - We studied the molecular mechanism of the shape change of erythrocytes with a local anesthetic, lidocaine. The shape of human erythrocytes changed from discocytes to stomatocytes in the presence of lidocaine when ATP was present. But, the shape of resealed cells which were prepared with 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4) containing 2 mM ATP-MgCl2 and various substances was not changed from discocytes to stomatocytes with lidocaine. When intact cells and resealed cells which were prepared with various concentrations of Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4) were incubated with various concentrations of lidocaine and their membrane proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, the densities of bands 62K, 28K and 22K depended on lidocaine concentration: in particular, that of band 28K changed remarkably. These membranous 62K-, 28K- and 22K-proteins agreed with cytoplasmic 62K-, 28K- and 22K-proteins in molecular weight. We propose that not only ATP but also the 62K-, 28K- and 22K-proteins in the cytoplasm are concerned with the shape change of human erythrocytes induced with lidocaine. PMID- 2620348 TI - Effect of butyrate on the expression of the human preprourokinase gene introduced into Chinese hamster ovary cells. AB - A plasmid containing the human preprourokinase gene cDNA under the control of the simian virus 40 early region promoter was introduced into CHO-K1 cells and recombinant cell lines secreting a relatively high level of urokinase were obtained. In the course of studying the effects of various agents on the recombinant cell lines, we found that exposure of recombinant cells to 5 mM butyrate for 24 hours resulted in a 2-3 fold increase in urokinase production. The induction by butyrate was dose-dependent. The half maximal dose was approximately 2 mM; maximal stimulation occurred at 5-10 mM. Cell growth, on the other hand, was inhibited by butyrate concentrations greater than 2.5 mM. The response of cells to butyrate was rapid: a significant increase in urokinase production was observed 6 hours after exposure to 5 mM butyrate. Butyrate treatment increased not only the extracellular level but also the intracellular level of urokinase. PMID- 2620349 TI - Plant saponins can affect DNA recombination in cultured mammalian cells. AB - Some plant extracts and products are known to affect mammalian cells, tissues and organisms as they contain a toxic substance or a metabolic stimulant. Our biochemical investigations revealed that some plant saponins can increase the cellular DNA repair activity and the general recombinase activity measured by in vitro assay (1). In the experiments described here, HeLa cells were cultured for several days with plant saponins or flavonoids and analyzed to measure i) recombination activity of the cell extract by induction of Tcr colonies from two mutant DNAs (mutants 1 and 2, which are both tetracycline sensitive) after transformation into E. coli recA-, and ii) repair synthesis of nuclear DNA followed by incorporation of 3H-thymidine. Saikosaponins a, b1, d, ginsenosides Rb1, Re, Rh and flavonoid baicalin caused a significant stimulation of intermolecular recombination. It is worth noting that none of the plant saponins and flavonoids had any inhibitory or toxic effect at concentrations less than 25 micrograms/ml in the culture media. PMID- 2620350 TI - Papers presented at the 3rd Symposium on Cell Biology. Tokyo, May 12, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2620351 TI - [The effect of different types of infant nutrition on indicators of lipid metabolism in 1-to-4-year-old children]. AB - The authors present the results obtained in investigations of the influence of different infant diets on some indicators of lipid metabolism in a group of healthy children followed up from birth and aged 1-4 years at the time of the investigation. The work is a continuation of previous investigations which provided evidence of the influence of breastfeeding on blood lipid levels and the cholesterol distribution in different lipoprotein fractions during the early postnatal period. The analysis of the plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein cholesterol in children breastfed for varying periods and children not breastfed bottlefed) at the age of 1, 1.5 and 2 years did not reveal substantial differences. The percentage ratio of cholesterol in different lipoprotein fractions in children aged 2 years and the risk indexes were, however, more favourable in children breastfed for the longest period. Similar results were recorded also in children aged 4 years. The apolipoprotein B plasma level which was assessed by immunoelectrophoresis was throughout the investigation higher in bottlefed children although the differences were not statistically significant. PMID- 2620352 TI - [Use of the interruption method in the measurement of respiratory tract resistance in children]. AB - In a group of 50 children with a negative case- history as regards airways and lacking acute respiratory disease, the authors assessed the resistance of the airways on a whole-body plethysmograph and by using the interruptor method on a Bronchoscreen (Jaeger) apparatus. The authors found a satisfactory correlation of the two methods (r = 0.7). When relating the resulting values of resistance to height, greater differences were found between the two methods in younger children; with increasing height the differences disappear. For the relationship of the resistance assessed by the interruptor method and height in our group a Rint regression equation was calculated [kPa/(l/s)] = -0.00765 X height (cm) + 1,565. PMID- 2620353 TI - [Monitoring serum theophylline levels in children. Use of saliva for prediction]. AB - In 28 children suffering from asthma--20 boys and 8 girls aged 3-19 years, weighing 18-79 kg--theophylline concentrations in serum and saliva were assessed. For detection the spectrophotometric method of Schack and Waxler and the fluoroimmunoassay TDA AMES were used. Under conditions of non stimulated salivary secretion the pH values of the secretion varied as a rule between 6.0 and 7.5 which did not influence significantly the amount of theophylline passing from blood into saliva. The authors found a very close correlation between the theophylline concentrations after administration of Syntophylline in saliva and serum (r = 0.9169, p less than 0.001) and Spophylline (r = 0.9369, p less than 0.001). Comparison of serum theophylline concentrations calculated from the salivary values on the one hand and the same serum theophylline concentrations actually assessed revealed that their difference varied up to 1 microgram.ml-1. PMID- 2620354 TI - [Zellweger's cerebrohepatorenal syndrome. Case report]. PMID- 2620355 TI - [16q+ partial trisomy in a 7-day-old surviving neonate]. AB - A proband with a complex malformation; chromosomal examination revealed partial trisomy for the long arms of chromosome 16. The child's father, the father's twin brother and the father's mother are carriers of the balanced translocation 14/16. PMID- 2620356 TI - [Tumor of the left atrium and supraventricular tachycardia in the fetus--prenatal diagnosis and treatment]. AB - During the 29th week of gestation the authors diagnosed supraventricular tachycardia of the foetus and pathological echogenity in the region of the mitral valve, most probably of tumourous aetiology. By transplacental digitalization the supraventricular tachycardia was controlled; according to Doppler analysis the tumour did not interfere with the flow to the mitral orifice. Post-natally the diagnosis of a tumour in the left atrium was confirmed. Surgery was so far postponed in view of the normal haemodynamics. PMID- 2620357 TI - [Genetic technology of substances important from the therapeutic and diagnostic aspects]. PMID- 2620358 TI - [Trends in demographic indicators in Czechoslovakia in 1988]. PMID- 2620359 TI - [The Williams-Beuren syndrome in a boy with mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome]. PMID- 2620360 TI - [Isolated congenital mitral valve cleft as a cause of mitral insufficiency in a 7 year-old boy]. PMID- 2620361 TI - [Continuing care of pediatric patients with tumors]. PMID- 2620362 TI - [Mucoepidermoid tumor as a less common form of bronchial adenoma]. PMID- 2620363 TI - [Health care priority requirements in old age]. AB - Based on the results of long-term research of the health and social position of elderly subjects priority needs are discussed. This comprises adequate care in acute diseases, incl. their signalization, essential hospitalization and long term treatment in sanatoria and dispensary care. The main link in the provision of comprehensive geriatric care are local health communities. For the dispensary care of the old people a special methodical procedure was recommended and priorities were defined for the first stage of implementation of the eventual dispensarization of old people. Already in the first stage it is recommended to dispensarize all people above 75 years. PMID- 2620364 TI - [The role of internal medicine and hospitals in preventive services]. AB - Preventive care is an integral part of the integrated, differentiated, modern therapeutic and preventive doctrine which in the present period of ideas on health and disease holds the most important position in ensuring active health, so-called superhealth. The effectiveness of a wide complex of preventive measures can be ensured only if the entire society participates. Health workers whose profession it is to protect health must all participate in prevention at all work places incl. hospitals. Without the participation of in-patient departments the health services cannot fulfill their preventive role in the health protection of individuals and society. The tasks of internal medicine, incl. internal in patient departments, ensue from the contemporary main tasks of this basic medical discipline. The authors give an account of the main forms of preventive activities in hospitals and draw attention to the complexity of implementation of clinical prevention at the present time. The implementation of preventive activities in clinical departments and the participation of hospital staff in prevention should not be impeded by any administrative or conceptual barriers or regulations for the activities of health institutions. PMID- 2620365 TI - [Reliability of data on the major causes of death]. AB - The authors discuss problems of the correct assessment of the diagnosis of the main cause of death in the appropriate form, based on results of 228 doctors of different specialities. They assessed the agreement between the diagnosis of the main cause of death made by doctors of different specialities and the pathologist and whether the entry was correct from the formal aspect. Of all 2185 diagnoses 52.3% were correct, 46.3% incorrect and 1.4% were not entered on the form. Of all 1012 incorrect diagnoses 62.9% were incorrect as regards their content and 37.1% as to the place of entry on the form. In complicated cases only 18.2% diagnoses were correct. With regard to the revealed facts the authors recommend to investigate the morbidity by causes separately for those subjected and not subjected to post-mortem examinations. The authors also make suggestions how to improve the reliability of data on the main cause of death. PMID- 2620366 TI - [Diseases of the circulatory system as a cause of disability in machine-works factories]. AB - The author analyzes a group of 154 invalid subjects where the main cause of invalidity was cardiovascular disease. The investigation was made in a large engineering factory in 1986 and 1987. The group (92% men and 8% women) accounted for 31% of all invalid subjects. The incidence of invalidity on account of cardiovascular diseases per year was approximately 2/1000 workers. Invalidity on account of cardiovascular diseases affects in particular manual male workers, most frequently those aged 50 years and above. Most seriously and most frequently affected are patients with ischaemic heart disease. PMID- 2620367 TI - [The new legislative modification regarding the prevention of alcoholism and other drug addictions]. PMID- 2620368 TI - Iodine deficiency disorders. PMID- 2620369 TI - Tea dust--an occupational hazard. PMID- 2620370 TI - Prolactin concentrations during the normal menstrual cycle: rhythms within rhythms. AB - Prolactin concentrations were measured in frequent blood samples collected over a 2 h period randomly distributed during day and night, during the follicular and the luteal phases of the normal menstrual cycle in women. Episodic fluctuations in prolactin concentrations were observed throughout the 24 h period and the pattern of these fluctuations appeared to vary depending on the time, and sleep wake state. Thus a changing pattern of the 'primary pulse' of prolactin may be responsible for the time related and sleep related changes in prolactin during the 24 h period. PMID- 2620371 TI - Susceptibility to rubella virus among Sri Lankan women. AB - Immunity to the rubella virus was tested in 534 women in the childbearing age by the haemolysis-in-gel test, and 228 (43%) were found to be susceptible. This level of susceptibility is higher than that found in most temperate countries and mainland populations, and similar to descriptions in a few island and rural populations in the tropics. Although rubella epidemics do not occur in Sri Lanka, cases of congenital rubella and rubella complicating pregnancy are diagnosed. But the risk of congenital deformity in the foetus is not sufficient cause for a legal abortion in Sri Lanka. Under the circumstances it appears appropriate to use the measles--mumps--rubella vaccine rather than the measles vaccine for vaccination of infants or to introduce rubella vaccination of teen-age girls or female school leavers. Furthermore wherever possible, primipara could be screened by inexpensive methods such as the haemolysis-in-gel test and offered rubella vaccination after partus. PMID- 2620372 TI - Perspectives of physicians in Sri Lanka on periodic abstinence. AB - Since physicians strongly influence both national family planning policy and individuals' contraceptive choice, a survey was conducted to learn about the perspectives of Sri Lankan physicians (n-100) regarding periodic abstinence methods of family planning (PA). Female doctors (28% of the sample) were twice as likely to have ever provided PA advice to their clients as their male counterparts. Providers of PA were more likely to have ever personally used this form of contraception than PA non-providers. Regardless of PA provider status, all physicians most frequently recommended pills, injectables and IUDs to their clients. They had very good knowledge of the temperature method. The scientific foundation of this method is studied in medical school, suggesting that if the other modern methods (Billings and sympto-thermal) were incorporated into medical school curricula, physicians might be more willing to discuss, refer or provide other modern, scientific forms of PA to their clients. PMID- 2620373 TI - Health and social aspects of the elderly. A preliminary community survey. AB - A preliminary study was designed to assess the health and social aspects of the elderly in a semi-urban community. Fifty-one elderly persons living in the community were randomly selected from the population registers in Kotte health area. The cognitive state, physical disabilities, social interactions, family attitudes towards the elderly, problems associated in caring for them and assistance needed by the families were assessed by using a semi-structured interview. The prevalence of disabilities of the elderly both cognitive and physical, are similar to those in the west, but the relations' perception of the elderly and their problems appear to be different. The importance of social and cultural perspectives in the care of the elderly are briefly discussed. PMID- 2620374 TI - The need for better planning in the management of head injured patients. PMID- 2620375 TI - Quality of life in patients with ischaemic heart disease. PMID- 2620376 TI - A study of prescribing in rural Sri Lanka. AB - A total of 2,344 prescriptions written for 800 outpatients attending eight peripheral health institutions in Sri Lanka were studied to establish the prescribing trends of Assistant Medical Practitioners (AMPs) and Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPS) who are the chief providers of health care in rural Sri Lanka. Bacterial infections accounted for 30.7% of the morbidity, with viral fever, influenza or the common cold for another 22.6%. Analgesics were the most commonly prescribed class of drugs with antimicrobials second (20% and 15.2% of all prescriptions respectively). Antimicrobials were prescribed for 42.4% of patients. Of all prescriptions 80.4% were judged appropriate (rational), and 98.6% were prescribed in correct dosage. Those considered unnecessary included mixtures, vitamins and antimicrobials. The therapeutic management of three cases of acute emergencies was satisfactory. PMID- 2620377 TI - Halitosis and abuse of antibiotics. Report of a case. AB - A case of halitosis caused by the abuse of antibiotics is presented. The abuse of tetracycline resulted in a black hairy tongue and halitosis in this patient. Periodontal therapy and the withdrawal of tetracycline corrected these problems. This is the first patient with halitosis due to abuse of tetracycline seen in our clinic. PMID- 2620378 TI - Pyloric obstruction following the ingestion of corrosive acid. AB - Pyloric obstruction is a well documented end result of ingestion of corrosive acid. Whereas the oesophageal mucosa is resistant to damage, the pyloric spasm and the resultant pooling of acid in the pre-pyloric region, causes injury to this area. The fibrosis of the gastric wall with motility disturbances, and the diminution of acid and pepsin production from damage to the glandular elements, would weigh against the addition of a vagotomy to the drainage procedure. A case of ingestion of concentrated sulphuric acid and the management of its late sequelae, are discussed. PMID- 2620379 TI - Preventable acute organophosphate poisoning deaths. AB - Poisoning with cholinesterase inhibiting insecticides such as organophosphates (OP) is a major health problem in Sri Lanka, with over 10,000 hospital admissions and over 1,000 hospital deaths annually. Atropine and pralidoxime are the most useful antidotes in the treatment of OP poisoning. Three cases of fatal OP poisoning are described where although the initial diagnosis and therapy were correct, patients did not survive due to inadequate atropine therapy. The need for continuous monitoring and administering adequate doses of atropine in OP poisoning for several days is stressed. PMID- 2620380 TI - [Traumatic lesions of the diaphragm (experiences with 36 cases)]. AB - The Authors report on their experience with 36 cases of traumatic lesions of the diaphragm. Such lesions should be suspected in all cases of thoraco-abdominal trauma. The possibility of a preoperative diagnosis depends entirely on thorough chest x-rays and administration of contrast medium via a nasogastric tube. In emergency surgery, lesions of the diaphragm are treated by the laparotomy route, which allows complete exploration of the abdominal cavity. The morbidity and mortality of such lesions depend on the associated lesions, on prompt diagnosis and surgery and on appropriate postoperative treatment. PMID- 2620381 TI - [Spontaneous pneumothorax (therapeutic consideration)]. AB - The Authors report the results achieved in 74 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. The treatment was conservative in 66 patients. The surgical treatment was performed in 8 patients operated with monolateral resection of apical bullae (7 cases) or lobectomy (1 case) through lateral thoracotomy. PMID- 2620382 TI - [Acute alithiasic cholecystitis (pathogenetic and clinical considerations)]. AB - The authors address the topic of acute acalculous cholecystitis and examine the related aetiopathogenetic and clinical problems, taking as their starting point two cases of the disease observed in their department. PMID- 2620383 TI - [Treatment of large laparoceles with non-reabsorbable prosthetic material (our experience)]. AB - A series of 96 patients who underwent "eventration repair" using Mersilene-Mesh, according to Rives technique between jan 1983 and june 1988 is reported. The Authors stress the excellent results and the low cost of this method: there were no recurrences, postoperative complications were rare (18.7%) and their recover was complete, the patient was allowed to return to work earlier after easy and prompt convalescence. PMID- 2620384 TI - [Appendico-cecal invagination (considerations on a case)]. AB - Taking as their starting point the observation of an isolated case of appendicocecal invagination in a homogeneous series of 4,200 appendicectomies observed, the authors take the opportunity of addressing in some detail the many aspects of the problem posed by this rare condition. With the aid of a review of the literature, an attempt is made to define and explain the aetiology, pathogenesis and classification of such forms. The authors review the various clinical criteria and instrumental aids available for reaching a correct diagnosis, assessing their respective virtues and defects, especially as regards the radiological, ultrasonographic and endoscopic investigations used; they come to the conclusion that none of these is in itself specific for this condition, and stress that a clinical suspicion of appendicocecal invagination can only emerge of the basis of an overall assessment of the various test findings in conjunction with actual clinical experience. Lastly, the authors review the therapeutic possibilities and conclude that surgical therapy, which varies from case to case, is the most reliable approach, in that the endoscopic therapy attempted by some cassies an excessively high degree of risk. PMID- 2620385 TI - [Thromboembolic complications in pediatric orthopedics. Multicentric collection of 33 case reports]. AB - We report 33 cases of venous thrombosis of the limb, in children aged 15 years or less (average age is 10 years old): 22 acute thrombophlebitis have been treated, 11 children shown post-phlebitic disease. The thrombus was found, most of the time, in the iliac and/or femoral vein. Acute complications were seen in 30% of our cases, and 25% treated children reviewed, had post-phlebitic sequelae. Congenital disease of hemostasis (deficiency of antithrombin III, protein C or S) must be detect before anticoagulant start, because such deficiency influence the treatment and the prognosis. There is non indication for preventive treatment, because of the rarity of spontaneous thrombophlebitis by children. Nevertheless, we can draw an "high risk" population: antecedent of phlebitis, antecedent of congenital disease of hemostasis, antecedent of thrombophlebitis by parents below 40 years old, thrombogenic disease (homocystinuria), vertebral arthrodesis. PMID- 2620386 TI - [Peri-nephritic phlegmon in children. Apropos of 13 cases]. AB - The authors present their experience on perinephric abscess in children based upon a series of 13 cases in 12 children. After review of the classical data given by the clinical inquiry and radiology, a special regard is given to new imaging investigations which have considerably improved diagnosis. Treatment also has been ameliorated by advent of percutaneous drainage under echography or tomodensitometry control. PMID- 2620387 TI - [The Jaubert de Beaujeu technic in the treatment of hiatal hernia in newborn infants and children. Results apropos of 810 patients surgically treated from 1960 to 1986]. AB - 810 patients have been operated from 1960 to 1986 for gastroesophageal reflux. The surgical management has always been the same by an abdominal approach: dissection and repositioning of lower esophagus, closure of the columns, fixation of the esophagus to the columns, fixation of the gastric tuberosity to the esophagus and making an anterior valve. 59% of the patients have less than one year and 14.5% have been operated for respiratory syndromes. Mortality was 1.2% and 7% of patients developed post-operative complications. Because geographic diversity of the patients only one year results have been studied. 56 patients have been lost for follow up. 90.4% of patients have a clinical and radiological good result. PMID- 2620388 TI - [The limy bile syndrome in newborn infants. Apropos of a case]. AB - This is a report of a limy bile syndrome in a little girl aged 21 months, whose gall-bladder is spontaneously visible on the abdominal X Ray, with a biliary stone inside. The limy bile syndrome is very rare in infancy and childhood and is found more exceptionally in new-born. Only 12 cases were found out in medical literature among children aged from 3 to 15. The pathogenesis of the disease is unknown, but its diagnosis is very easy. The treatment is surgical and consists in cholecystectomy with per-operative cholangiography although drainage of the biliary mould can happen. PMID- 2620389 TI - [Closed thoracic trauma and vaginal rupture in children]. AB - The author describes a case of closed cervico thoracic trauma in a girl of 6 1/2 years complicated with a rupture of the Douglas peritoneal cul de sac and of the posterior wall of the vagina. The pathogenesis is discussed. PMID- 2620390 TI - [Hypotrophic and duplicated appendix. A case in a child]. AB - A case of hypotrophic double appendix with inflammation is reported. Duplication of the appendix is rare, and fewer than 80 cases have been reported in the literature. The classification of these cases and possible aetiology are discussed. PMID- 2620391 TI - [Diagnostic and therapeutic problems posed by a conjunctival site of Kaposi's disease in AIDS]. PMID- 2620392 TI - [Corneal perforation: a new solution...]. AB - Two patients with perforation were treated with an inert vitrous teflon alloplast, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (E.PTFE). Details of the surgical technique are discussed. PMID- 2620393 TI - [2 years' evaluation of vision screening at nursery schools in Bordeaux]. AB - The role of the primary care agents is fundamental to the early detection of amblyopia though careful assessment of visual acuity. We find our personal experience of a check up realized in Bordeaux infant schools. 15% of children under the age of 6 years had a visual anomaly. PMID- 2620394 TI - [New models of the punctum plug and inserter]. PMID- 2620395 TI - [A unrecognized cause of corneal edema: foreign body of the corneal angle]. PMID- 2620396 TI - [The role of corneal graft in surgery of keratoconus]. PMID- 2620397 TI - [Analysis of 15 cases of explantation]. PMID- 2620398 TI - [Analysis of 3 cases of phako-antigenic uveitis]. PMID- 2620399 TI - [Congenital glaucoma of dominant autosomal transmission apropos of a family. Management]. AB - The study of three consecutive generations of patients having a late revelation congenital glaucoma, make us discuss about several kinds of inheritance of the congenital glaucoma, especially the dominant autosomal form, well adapted to a genetic counsel which is necessary in all the cases, because of the severity of this disease. PMID- 2620400 TI - [Avulsion of the optic nerve and neovascular glaucoma]. PMID- 2620401 TI - [Incidence of ocular hypertension in melanoma of the eye]. PMID- 2620402 TI - [Results of the evaluation of invasiveness of choroid melanoma over 4 years. Apropos of 16 cases]. PMID- 2620403 TI - [Choroidal folds after vitrectomy followed by gas exchange]. PMID- 2620404 TI - [Retrospective studies of 47 intraocular lead bullets]. PMID- 2620405 TI - [The vitreous body. Knitting needles...]. PMID- 2620406 TI - [Reticulated dystrophy of the posterior pole: apropos of a case]. AB - An observation of reticulate dystrophy is explained, with the particularity to show, without associated affection, a distinct distortion of the electrics explorations, and a small fall of vision. PMID- 2620407 TI - [Severity of toxocariasis. Treatment]. PMID- 2620408 TI - [Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Contribution of electron microscopy]. PMID- 2620409 TI - [A case of organized hematoma of the upper right muscle caused by contusion]. PMID- 2620410 TI - [Diagnosis of a large orbital muscle using a scanner]. PMID- 2620411 TI - [The eye of the infant]. PMID- 2620412 TI - [An expert system in ophthalmology]. PMID- 2620413 TI - [Results of a survey of morbidity among ophthalmologists in Aquitaine]. PMID- 2620414 TI - [Ethambutol and the optic nerve]. AB - Author describe two clinical observations of optic neuropathy due to the systemic absorption of antibiotics used against tuberculosis. Two items are pointed out: swelling of the optic disc and functional improvement of electro-physiologic and colorimetric tests 6 months after the end of the treatment. He think that optic disc swelling is the clinical manifestation of an anatomical and volumetrical increase of the neuronal axon due to blockade of the axoplasmic transport without demyelinating lesions. This could explain the functional improvement. PMID- 2620415 TI - [Eye medulloepithelioma. Apropos of 2 cases]. AB - The authors report two cases of medullo-epithelioma of ciliary body found in two young children. They describe the main clinical symptoms which are often non specific (cataract, glaucoma). Diagnosis is based on histological findings following enucleation: the tumor is developed from the ciliary body cells and has often a local malignancy. Metastasis are rare. PMID- 2620416 TI - [Retinal detachment and sarcoidosis]. AB - A 27 year old patient with histologically proven conjunctival sarcoidosis developed a posterior uveitis with retinal giant tear and inversion of retina. The patient was treated systemically with steroids and the retinal detachment healed by usual operation, visual acuity 6/10. PMID- 2620417 TI - [Perifoveolar photocoagulation of subretinal macular retrofoveolar neovessels using monochromatic and color lasers (indications, technic and results)]. PMID- 2620418 TI - [Retinal detachment in pseudophakia. Results apropos of 74 cases]. AB - If the pseudophakic retinal detachment presents certain analogies with aphakic detachment; it as however a certain specificity: higher frequency of macular involvement, of proliferative vitreoretinopathy, of detachments without tears. In addition pseudophakic detachments must be analysed according to the mode of extraction and implantation. PMID- 2620419 TI - [Classification of retinal degeneration in children]. AB - A classification of the hereditary retinal degenerations in childhood is presented. It is based on an histopathologic approach. It includes rods and cones dysfunctions, pigment epithelium degenerations and vitreoretinal degenerations. Each of them is studied according its own clinical, electrophysiologic, evolutive and genetic characteristic features. PMID- 2620420 TI - [Cystoid macular edema, retinal detachment and vitreous detachment]. PMID- 2620421 TI - [Apparent accommodation of the aphakic eye corrected by an artificial lens]. AB - We measured apparent accommodation in 51 pseudophakic eyes (44 patients, after implantation of anterior (15 eyes) or posterior (36 eyes) intraocular lens. Glasses for distant vision were born during the test. The mean apparent accommodation was 1.89 +/- 0.91 dpt. 25 among these 51 pseudophakic eyes who were tested without their glasses showed a mean apparent accommodation that was not different in statistical and clinical terms. The mean accommodative power of 25 phakic and presbyopic eyes used as controls was 1.31 +/- 1.01 dpt. For these 51 pseudophakic eyes the correlation between apparent accommodation and the reciprocal of the pupillary diameter is the most significant (r = 0.79): the smaller the pupil, the greater the apparent accommodation. There was a negative correlation between apparent accommodation and anterior chamber depth (r = 0.64). No correlation was found between pseudo-accommodation and corrected visual acuity, corneal astigmatism and refractive error. PMID- 2620422 TI - [Endothelial involvement of injection of silicone into the vitreous body]. AB - Intraocular silicone oil tamponade is used as an adjunct to vitrectomy in the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The authors analyzed the effect of silicone oil on the corneal endothelium in 28 patients (10 phakic and 18 aphakic). In the phakic group, the endothelial cellular loss is small, no significant. In the aphakic group, the endothelial cellular loss is 20%. PMID- 2620423 TI - [Quantitative analysis of corneal excisions using argon fluoride excimer laser (193 nanometers)]. AB - Excimer lasers represent a new and distinctive class of laser-tissue interaction termed photoablation. They can ablate materials with a high degree of precision and minimal damage to surrounding structures. The argon Fluoride excimer laser, which offers the possibility of non-contact corneal cutting, has a potential for clinical application of keratorefractive surgery. Since each pulse of excimer laser etches some amounts of tissue from the cornea, the repetitive pulses focused to a narrow line can create linear excisions. In this study, a quantitative analysis of both depth and width of corneal excisions was made on cadaver eyes at a given fluence (600 mj/cm2) and a constant repetitive rate (20Hz). The amount of ablation per pulse was not constant and the excisional depth did not show a linear correlation with pulse numbers. Both the depth and width of transversal excisions were more homogenous than those of radial excisions along the entire length of ablation. PMID- 2620424 TI - [Failure of trabeculectomies. 15 years' evaluation]. AB - Several means should allow to go for a surgical treatment more often in glaucoma. PMID- 2620425 TI - [Pseudo-exfoliation. Biomicroscopic contribution to pathogenic theories]. AB - Demonstration of long-term biomicroscopic findings: the pseudoexfoliation material is first to be seen in the zonulo-capsular area; adhesions of zonular bundles initially occur, followed by the development of a primitive layer on the lenticular capsule. Local polymerisation seems more likely than sedimentation of polymerised substances. Deliberation of vascular and mechanical factors as well as secondary and accompanying symptoms. PMID- 2620426 TI - [Pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma in eastern Algeria. Clinical study]. AB - The authors present the results of a study concerning 656 patients, over 40 years old, presenting a glaucoma, or a Capsular pseudoexfoliation, or both. These patients have been admitted at the Annaba Ophthalmology Clinic between September 1st, 1984 and September 1st, 1987. Frequency, age, sex, glaucoma-CPE association, opening and pigmentation of the iris-cornea angle, as well as the level of intraocular pressure, are studied. It turns out that the pseudoexfoliative glaucoma represents 53% of all glaucoma, that it is a particular form of primitive glaucoma, generally with open angle, of severe evolution, but that it can be controlled with an adequate treatment, often surgical. PMID- 2620427 TI - [Clinical applications and critical evaluation of helium-neon laser interferometry]. AB - Exploration of macular function in patients opaque media has been performed routinely with Helium-Neon Laser interferometry for more than 5 years. Our results in patients with cataract, macular diseases, retinal detachment and functional amblyopia are reported. Accurate correlations, overestimations and underestimations are differentiated with special emphasis on overestimations. PMID- 2620428 TI - [Tonometry yesterday and today]. AB - Instrumental tonometry was developed in the second half of XIX century, especially when local anesthesia of the cornea became available. Imbert-Fick mathematical law and the building, 75 years later, of the excellent Goldmann tonometer were the principal steps of aplanation tonometry; however, this technique is now limited by the difficulties encountered in updating and automatizing the evaluation of aplanated surface. In the other hand, there are some evidence that the ocular tension, as evaluated with Goldmann tonometer, could be different of manometric intraocular pressure in the vitreous cavity, especially when the cornea is abnormal. New tonometers utilizing electric deformimeters technology might be developed particularly to perform continual eye pressure monitoring. PMID- 2620429 TI - [Electrooculography and study of contrast sensitivity in the diagnosis of eye diseases]. AB - Electrooculography and study of contrast sensitivity allow us to explain by the trouble of pursuit or saccadic movements the inability of some subjects to read or work. Presentation of clinical cases of pursuit inability or of trouble of contrast sensitivity. PMID- 2620430 TI - [Eales' disease: therapeutic considerations]. AB - Five cases of Eales syndrome are analysed in this report. The tuberculous etiology of this disease oblige, during the treatment, a medical survey. After photocoagulations, a medical treatment with acetylsalicylic acid seem to be useful to decrease evolution of this thrombosant vasculopathy. A precocious vitrectomy gives good results. PMID- 2620431 TI - [Optic atrophy in children in Pyle's craniometaphyseal dysplasia]. PMID- 2620432 TI - [Mycoplasma conjunctivitis: myth or reality?]. PMID- 2620433 TI - [Experience with Hydrogel soft implants]. PMID- 2620434 TI - [Radiotherapy in the treatment of melanoma of the conjunctiva]. PMID- 2620435 TI - [False and real macular neovascularization]. PMID- 2620436 TI - [Fechner's paradox: clinical symptomatology]. AB - The Fechner's paradox is a visual phenomenon characterized by the fact that the monocular luminosity seems greater than the binocular luminosity. It's a simple and non-dissociating method for the clinical study of the binocular vision. In pathology, the Fechner's paradox may be abolished, or inverse, or may exist spontaneously. The abnormalities were induced by strabismus, or by some others ocular diseases disturbing the binocular vision (unilateral cataract, retinal lesions). PMID- 2620437 TI - [Ophthalmology in France from the European perspective]. PMID- 2620438 TI - [Palpebral Merkel cell tumors apropos of 3 cases]. AB - The Merkel-cell tumor is a recently individualized (1972) malignant skin tumor. The diagnosis is made on the pathology. It consists of an intra-dermal proliferation of small regular cells with large nucleus and reduced cytoplasm. The evidence of neurosecretory granules and paranuclear intermediate filaments by electron microscopy is suggestive of a Merkel-cell tumor. Following a review of the literature and 3 personal observations the authors have detailed the clinical, anatomopathologic and evolutional characteristics of palpebral localizations. PMID- 2620439 TI - [The association of primary acquired conjunctival melanosis, malignant melanoma and Parinaud's dermoepithelioma]. AB - The association of a primary acquired conjunctival melanosis, a malignant conjunctival melanosis, and a nevus cysticus, has never been reported in the literature, as far as we know. If the coexistence of a malignant melanosis and a primary acquired melanosis may be explained easily, it is still difficult to construe the presence of a nevus cysticus, since it is usually a mild tumor, that does not degenerate. PMID- 2620440 TI - [Macroscopic aspects of arterial vascularization of the orbit]. AB - The authors report the result of 80 orbital dissections, after injection with latex of the arterial system. They insist upon the course of the ophthalmic artery, usually found, upon his possible variations: specially under-crossing of the optic nerve, absence of an extra-conical passage. After all, the authors describe the principal branches of the artery. PMID- 2620441 TI - [Surgical treatment of sequelae of Basedow's orbitopathy]. AB - Sequellae of Graves' orbitopathy often need a functional or cosmetic correction. The different procedures are reviewed with special commentary (orbital decompression, surgery of oculomotor disturbances, lid retractions and orbital fat protrusion). A modified procedure for levator lengthening is described. PMID- 2620442 TI - Effects of a tactile stimulation/range-finding programme on the development of VLBW-neonates during the first year of life. AB - To investigate long-term effects of a hospital-based neonatal intervention programme, we performed a follow-up study on the development of very low birthweight neonates who were subjected to a tactile stimulation/range-finding programme. At corrected ages up to 1 year we evaluated weight-for-length gain, length, head circumference, psychomotor development, ankle mobility, tactile responses, motor behaviour and physical/neurological status. Significant differences between groups were found in weight-for-length gain in the girls and on items 'inspects own hands' and 'playing with feet to mouth' of the psychomotor development profile. These results suggest that our programme influences growth and enhances the infant's adaptive behaviour. PMID- 2620443 TI - Preschool language intervention--a follow-up of some within-group differences. AB - A more detailed study was made of the children who had been followed-up by Urwin, Cook & Kelly (1988) 4-8 years after leaving a preschool language group. Children were independently allocated into groups according to their speech and language diagnosis prior to entry to the Unit. There were two major dimensions- receptive/expressive versus expressive only, and phonology versus non-phonology. Comparisons were made between the group as indicated by children's performance at follow-up for measures of ability, achievement, language and social functioning. Conclusions are drawn about the long-term effects of the early language difficulty and preschool intervention. Attention is also drawn to differences in perceiving the effects of language difficulty between the specialist professionals on the one hand and parents and teachers on the other. PMID- 2620444 TI - Behaviour management cards as a method of anticipatory guidance for parents. AB - The purpose of this research project was to determine whether reading informational cards about appropriate developmental and behavioural expectations of children and non-violent approaches to child behaviour management would result in significant changes in parental knowledge and/or behaviour. Pre- and post-test data are compared and self-reports from parents about changes in feelings and behaviour subsequent to reading the cards are reported. PMID- 2620445 TI - Patterns of referral for children with speech disorders. AB - This paper presents information about a sample of 200 children aged 3-6 years in four Health Authorities. They were referred routinely for speech therapy. Age of referral, distribution within the family, sex and sources of referral are indicated and discussed. PMID- 2620446 TI - The preschool medical: an evaluation of this examination and its role in child health surveillance. AB - Records of 244 preschool medicals were studied retrospectively. The value of the examination to the children, their parents and teachers, and the use of clinical medical officer time was considered. Fifty-seven per cent had previously undetected problems deemed to require follow-up. This number was subsequently corrected to 50% in the light of current practice. Fourteen per cent warranted referral to other professionals and 4.5% received treatment. The high number of vision defects noted suggests further study. Fifteen per cent of the parents wished to discuss concerns about their children with the clinical medical officer. Clinical medical officer practice varied, but showed the incidence of follow-up to be inversely proportional to the referral rate. The number of previously undetected problems recorded in the survey supports medical examination of all children at this age. However, review of criteria and further study is indicated to make the best use of resources. PMID- 2620447 TI - The effect of vitamin E therapy on plasma and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation in chronic hemodialysis patients. AB - The effect of vitamin E therapy on plasma and erythrocyte (RBC) lipid peroxidation was investigated in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Before vitamin E therapy, both plasma and RBC lipid peroxidation values of chronic hemodialysis patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls. Treatment with vitamin E (300 mg/day) for 1 month resulted in a significant decrease of lipid peroxidation. Vitamin E therapy may be a promising approach to prevent peroxidation of membrane lipids in chronic renal failure. PMID- 2620448 TI - Reactive oxygen species production in whole blood from AIDS patients. PMID- 2620449 TI - Oxidative hemolysis in erythrocytes with unstable hemoglobins. PMID- 2620450 TI - Bioluminescent assay for serum adenosine deaminase with immobilized bacterial luciferase. AB - We describe a bioluminescence method for measuring adenosine deaminase activity in serum. The method involves use of batchwise enzyme reaction containing adenosine, alpha-ketoglutarate, glutamic dehydrogenase and NADH. The resulting solution is injected to the continuous-flow bioluminescence system. In the system, a bacterial luciferase and NAD(P)H:FMN oxidoreductase are covalently co immobilized on Sepharose 4B. Carrier solution (pH 6.8) for bioluminescence reaction contains FMN and decanal. The continuous-flow light-emitting system, in which the reactor (flow cell packed with immobilized enzyme) is placed in front of a photomultiplier tube inside a photon counter, is versatile and simple. Concentration and response are linearly related from 1.2 to 92.5 pmol per injection of ammonia. The precision of the method is satisfactory (coefficient of variation 3.9-6.8%). We validated the technique by comparing results with conventional assay method (UV method). Normal values for adenosine deaminase activity of serum ranged from 7.0 to 22.0 U/l in agreement with those obtained by other method. The Sepharose 4B-immobilized enzymes are stable for more than one year. This assay system could be used as a routine clinical laboratory test in the diagnosis of liver damage. PMID- 2620451 TI - The relationship of plasma acetate with glucose and other blood intermediary metabolites in non-diabetic and diabetic subjects. AB - In investigating the interrelations of plasma acetate with glucose metabolism, we established that fasting plasma acetate levels (mmol/l) were greater in the diabetic than non-diabetic individuals (p less than 0.001). Plasma acetate and glucose levels correlated in all subjects (non-diabetic and diabetic) as a whole (rs 0.28, p less than 0.0001) and in the diabetics alone (rs 0.35, p less than 0.001). After i.v. glucose (20 g/m2 body surface area), plasma acetate levels increased further in the diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. Plasma acetate also increased when non-diabetic individuals consumed 75 g oral glucose. Moreover, while plasma acetate levels had returned to fasting values by 90 min in the non-diabetic subjects after oral and i.v. glucose, levels remained elevated in the diabetics after i.v. glucose. The K rate constant of glucose elimination after i.v. glucose in the diabetics correlated negatively with acetate values at many time points. In the non-diabetics, changing acetate and glucose levels after oral glucose also correlated at multiple time points. These results suggest that the plasma acetate level is influenced by variations in glycaemia and provide further evidence for an impaired rate of acetate metabolism in diabetes. PMID- 2620452 TI - Serum alkaline DNase activity in normal or nonhospitalised individuals. AB - According to previous observations, the variations in serum alkaline DNase activity (SADA) appeared to be useful in monitoring malignant disease. In this study, SADA was measured in 625 individuals to explore nontumor-related factors which may influence SADA levels. The overall range in SADA was 0.2-82.3 kU/l. Women aged 50-79 years had higher (p less than 0.001) levels of SADA than younger females. A similar but less consistent effect of age was noticed in men (0.01 less than p less than 0.05). Older men had lower (0.01 less than p less than 0.05) SADA levels than the older women. Old women substituted with estrogens had lower (0.01 less than p less than 0.05) levels of SADA than those not treated with estrogens. SADA levels in pregnancy as well as postparturition were lower (p less than 0.001) than SADA values in nonpregnant females of similar age. In fertile women, no SADA variation was observed during the menstrual cycle and there was no significant effect of contraceptive pills. In males, SADA seemed unrelated to testosterone or cortisol levels but varied during the day. Smoking, alcohol consumption and drug therapy appeared to be without effect on SADA. PMID- 2620453 TI - A preliminary study of serum class II levels in healthy individuals and bone marrow transplant patients. AB - A double-determinant ELISA has been developed to measure class II major histocompatibility complex molecules in blood from healthy individuals and patients who received either an allogeneic or an autologous bone-marrow transplant. Levels were higher in pre-transplant patients than in healthy individuals, and in the majority of patients, these levels rose even higher at 4 weeks post-transplantation. At later times after transplantation, it was difficult to draw firm conclusions, because the number of values available were too limited. Nevertheless, in the autologous group with no graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), levels were consistently lower at 6 months and one year; in the allogeneic group these long-term levels varied. As class II antigens are expressed on skin and rectal epithelia in GVHD, this study suggests that serial measurement of serum class II levels may be useful for monitoring GVHD in bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2620454 TI - Intraerythrocytic water relaxation rates in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. An NMR investigation. AB - Water relaxation rates 1/T2 in erythrocytes from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients were studied by NMR. The spin-spin relaxation time of water protons in erythrocyte suspension was measured in the presence of a paramagnetic reagent which did not enter the cell. Our results show that red blood cell membranes exhibit a diminished water permeability in some ALS patients. Moreover, the activation energy value of water is lower in ALS patients than in healthy controls. PMID- 2620455 TI - Radioimmunoassay of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in biological fluids. Circulating NPY levels depend on renal function. AB - A second antibody solid phase radioimmunoassay for measuring neuropeptide Y (NPY) in biological fluids is introduced. The sensitivity of the method allows also measurements of sub-normal levels of plasma/serum NPY, necessary for obtaining further information of possible biological actions of circulating NPY. Characteristics of the NPY assay procedure are presented together with clinical experiments forced upon a possible renal dependence for NPY. Our data show that NPY at least partly is eliminated by the kidneys. Whether the highly increased NPY levels in patients with renal failure also are involved in the hypertensive mechanisms in these patient groups has to be further evaluated. PMID- 2620456 TI - Biochemical and neurophysiological parameters in hemodialyzed patients with chronic renal failure. AB - Serum concentrations of accumulated solutes, standard clinical biochemistry, and parameters of clinical neuropathy, were determined in hemodialyzed patients with chronic renal failure. Analyses by high-performance liquid chromatography included creatinine, pseudouridine, urate, p-hydroxyhippuric acid, hippuric acid, indoxylsulfate, tryptophan, tyrosine, 3-indoleacetic acid, and a number of as-yet unidentified solutes. Standard biochemical parameters were measured; aluminium, parathyroid hormone, serum electrolytes and enzymes, hemoglobin, bilirubin, phosphate and urea. Measures of clinical neuropathy were: maximal motor nerve conduction velocities, and Hoffmann reflex latency. Several solutes had higher concentrations when nerve function was impaired. Serum total LDH, and total calcium levels correlated positively with values of the Hoffmann reflex, as did serum hippuric acid concentrations. Concentrations of p-hydroxyhippuric acid and two fluorescent compounds correlated negatively with motor nerve conduction velocities. In principal component analysis a number of 'organic acid-like' substances, like hippuric acid and p-hydroxyhippuric acid, were shown to associate multivariately with the neurophysiological variables while urea, creatinine, urate and phosphate were not. PMID- 2620457 TI - Progress in clinical enzymology. A selection of papers from presentations at the 7th International Congress on Clinical Enzymology. Osaka, Japan, September 11-14, 1988. Proceedings. PMID- 2620458 TI - Different patterns of leakage of cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes. AB - The mechanisms of leakage of intracellular enzymes, and especially the cytosolic and mitochondrial isozymes of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), in ischemic rat liver were studied. On recirculation of ischemic liver, cytosolic AST (cAST) promptly appeared in the blood. Release of cytosolic enzymes, including cAST and lactic dehydrogenase, resulted from disruption of blebs that protruded from parenchymal cells into the sinusoidal space. When these blebs were formed in ischemic liver, mitochondria still remained in core regions of the injured cells and were not found in the blebs. Consistent with this fact, mitochondrial AST (mAST) did not leak into the circulation from ischemic liver until most of the cAST had leaked out. This delayed leakage of mitochondrial enzymes was also consistent with the fact that the mitochondrial membranes maintained a diffusion barrier against matrix enzymes even after anoxia for 2 h, when their oxidative phosphorylation capacity had been lost. These results indicate that mitochondrial enzymes are liberated into the blood only after appreciable disintegration of the cells, probably necrosis, and that the cumulative activity of mAST in the blood should reflect the extent of necrosis in ischemic organs better than that of cAST. PMID- 2620459 TI - Immunological and ultrastructural analysis of loss of tubular membrane-bound enzymes in patients with renal damage. AB - The pathophysiological background of shedding of membrane-bound enzymes from the proximal tubule was assessed in urine specimens of patients with renal damage applying immunospecific affinity-chromatography, immunotitration, ultracentrifugation, electroimmunodiffusion, immunohistology, as well as negative staining technique. Compared to healthy controls, patients with kidney injury, e.g. after administration of potentially nephrotoxic drugs (cytostatics, contrast media) revealed an increased excretion rate of vacuolar membrane fragments (50 500 nm) into urine. The brush border (BB) of the proximal tubule was identified as a main source of urinary blebs as concluded from immunoelectrophoretic and immunohistochemical analysis. In addition, the marker enzyme profile of urinary vacuolar blebs was similar to that of the BB membrane from human kidney. The results further evidenced that, during the initial phase of tubular injury, 5-10 nm surface glycoproteins of the BB, among them Ala-Leu-aminopeptidase and portions of gamma-glu-transpeptidase, are released into urine; this might be followed by increased blebbing of macromolecular BB fragments, indicating more severe membrane disruption. PMID- 2620460 TI - Laboratory and clinical features of lactate dehydrogenase subunit deficiencies. AB - Heterozygous subjects with lactate dehydrogenase (LD) subunit deficiencies do not always show a low serum LD activity. Thus, it is necessary to examine the serum and erythrocyte LD isozyme patterns when screening for these conditions. We assessed patients with heterozygotes for H and M subunit deficiency by immunoblotting with anti-H subunit antibody. We could not find any protein or variant proteins in the heterozygous subjects with M subunit deficiency. On the other hand, the existence of variant protein was confirmed in the heterozygous subjects with H subunit deficiency. However, in one patient with homozygous for H subunit deficiency, no H subunit protein was observed. It is suggested that possibly many types of LD subunit deficiency may exist. Only patients with homozygous for M subunit deficiency show common patterns of clinical findings. All patients with LD subunit deficiencies have the risk of misdiagnosis of other clinical conditions from laboratory data because LD release is reduced. Thus it is important to detect them as a latent hereditary symptom poor disorders recognizing in laboratory medicine. PMID- 2620461 TI - Perifusion of human granulosa-luteal cells: response to LH stimulation. AB - LH pulse frequency and amplitude vary significantly during the menstrual cycle; however, it is not clear what significance the secretory pattern has for the ovary. We have developed an in-vitro perifusion system in which luteinized human granulosa cells (GC) can be exposed to various patterns of gonadotrophin stimulation. GC were recovered following follicle aspiration for in-vitro fertilization, grown on Cytodex-3 for 6 days, and then perifused with medium containing LH (or hCG), delivered with differing pulse frequencies and amplitudes. When pulses of LH were applied to the cells, progesterone secretion rose initially and then fell to the baseline as the LH concentration declined. Pulsatile administration of LH, over a period of 10 h, stimulated progesterone secretion more efficiently than did continuous LH. Finally, delivery to the cells of pulses of hCG, a ligand known to bind to the LH receptor but with binding characteristics distinct from those of LH, failed to elicit pulses of progesterone. PMID- 2620462 TI - Serum growth hormone binding protein activity in healthy neonates, children and young adults: correlation with age, height and weight. AB - Serum growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) activity was estimated in healthy neonates (n = 6), children and adolescents (n = 97) and young adults (n = 19). GHBP activity was measured by incubating 125I-hGH (human growth hormone) (approximately 25,000 c.p.m.) with serum (100 microliters) in the presence and in the absence of excess unlabelled hGH, followed by separation of specifically bound 125I-hGHBP complexes from free 125I-hGH by gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA44 minicolumns. The results are expressed as the percentage specific binding relative to an adult reference serum (%RSB), after correction for endogenous hGH of the unknown serum. The between-assay coefficients of variation for two sera of %RSB activity of 51.2 and 115.4% were 6.0 and 7.0% respectively. In neonates, low values of serum GHBP were found (%RSB = 27.1 +/- 5.0 SEM) followed by a major rise during the first 6 years of life to a mean value (%RSB = 68.3 +/- 4.1 SEM) which more than doubled that of neonates. Thereafter, values rose progressively throughout childhood and puberty to reach maximum values in young adults (%RSB = 95.0 +/- 3.1 SEM). A novel observation was that serum GHBP activity correlated significantly with height standard deviation score (SDS) (males: r = 0.77, P less than 0.001; females: r = 0.56, P = 0.01) and weight SDS (P less than 0.001) for both sexes before puberty. During puberty GHBP correlated only with weight SDS in males (r = 0.60, P less than 0.01). In all age groups studied, no correlation could be found between serum GHBP and height velocity. PMID- 2620463 TI - Return of fertility after twelve years of autoimmune ovarian failure. AB - Autoimmune ovarian failure is widely regarded as irreversible, although ovarian biopsy characteristically shows follicles surrounded by lymphocytes. Two previous reports of pregnancy in this condition both followed institution of steroid replacement therapy (Finer et al., 1985; Cowchock et al., 1988). We report a case in which fertility spontaneously returned to normal twelve years after the diagnosis of autoimmune ovarian failure. PMID- 2620464 TI - Tamoxifen prolongs luteal phase in premenopausal women but has no effect on the size of uterine fibroids. AB - Tamoxifen (20 mg per day) was administered for at least 3 months to six premenopausal women with uterine fibromyomata. In all the women there was an increased variability in the length of the menstrual and ovarian cycle associated with a significant lengthening of the luteal phase (16.9 +/- 3.5 vs 12.5 +/- 1.5 days, mean +/- SD, P less than 0.02). The concentration of oestradiol and progesterone in plasma and their metabolites in urine (oestrone glucuronide and pregnanediol) increased reflecting multiple follicular development and ovulation. There was a significant rise in the concentration of FSH during the luteal phase of the cycle (8.0 +/- 2.9 vs 2.0 +/- 1.7 U/l, P less than 0.01). There was no change in the size of the uterine leiomyomata. These results demonstrate that the antioestrogen tamoxifen results in an increased secretion of gonadotrophins by antagonizing the effects of oestradiol at the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary. The lengthening of the luteal phase suggests oestradiol may play a role in the mechanism of luteal regression either locally or via feedback effect on gonadotrophins. PMID- 2620465 TI - The kidney is the major site of cortisone production in man. AB - The major site of cortisol metabolism in man has been thought to be the liver. Studies in patients with either congenital or acquired deficiency of 11 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (an enzyme responsible for the interconversion of cortisol to cortisone) suggested that the kidney was an important site of cortisone production. In 88 patients with proven renal disease but normal liver function, arbitrarily divided into four groups on the basis of plasma creatinine, 0900 h plasma cortisone was significantly reduced in all groups when compared with 47 controls (e.g. 21 +/- 3 nmol/l (mean +/- SEM) in patients with plasma creatinine greater than 0.45 mmol/l vs 62 +/- 3 nmol/l in controls, P less than 0.001). 0900 h plasma cortisol was not significantly different. There was an inverse correlation between plasma creatinine and plasma cortisone (r = -0.55, p less than 0.01). Four anephric patients had a 0900 h plasma cortisone level of 6 +/- 1 nmol/l. We conclude that the kidney is a major site for the conversion of cortisol to cortisone and hence cortisone production in man. The relevance of this to the pathophysiology of salt and water metabolism in renal disease remains to be elucidated. PMID- 2620466 TI - Overview on papers presented at the Second International Interdisciplinary Conference on Hypertension in Blacks. PMID- 2620467 TI - Second International Interdisciplinary Conference on Hypertension in Blacks: a symposium. Atlanta, Georgia. Proceedings. PMID- 2620468 TI - Anatomic substrate differences between black and white victims of sudden cardiac death: hypertension, coronary artery disease, or both? AB - Despite recent declines in mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD), it remains the major cause of death in the United States for blacks and whites. Although the prevalence of the ischemic syndromes in blacks and whites is similar, cardiac mortality and sudden cardiac death rate are higher in blacks. Recent attempts to explain the excess mortality in blacks have focused on barriers to health care and on sociocultural differences in perceptions of and responses to symptoms of CHD. However, the anatomic substrates of ischemia and sudden cardiac death are also different in blacks and whites. Obstructive coronary artery disease tends to be more severe in whites, while blacks have a greater prevalence of hypertensive heart disease. A body of evidence has recently emerged showing that the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an important, potent predictor for subsequent cardiac death and that the mortality risk of LVH may be particularly high when underlying coronary disease is present. The greater prevalence and severity of hypertension and LVH in blacks may explain the higher cardiac mortality in blacks, even in the presence of less severe coronary disease. The reason why mortality risk is increased in the presence of LVH has not been established. Evidence suggests that it may be due to the increased predisposition to malignant arrhythmias and the increased frequency of potentially lethal silent ischemic events that occur in hypertensive individuals, particularly those with LVH. PMID- 2620469 TI - Regional and racial differences among stroke victims in the United States. AB - Examination of the 1980 age-adjusted mortality data by geographic region shows that death rates for black males and females are higher in the Southeast than in other parts of the United States. The reason for these higher death rates was sought by examining the NHANES II data. The prevalence of hypertension among black females was significantly higher in the Southeast (44%) than in all other regions (34%). The prevalence of hypertension among males, both black and white, and among white females in the Southeast was similar to that in all other regions. Although black and white hypertensives in the Southeast were as aware of their condition as hypertensives in the rest of the nation, the rate of hypertension control among black females in the Southeast was significantly lower than elsewhere. In addition, both male and female black hypertensives in the Southeast were more likely to be obese than their counterparts in the other regions. Analysis of smoking patterns showed that among hypertensives in the Southeast, only white males had higher rates of smoking than their counterparts elsewhere in the United States. PMID- 2620470 TI - A mechanism for the development of fixed primary (essential) hypertension: insights from population-based studies using echocardiography. AB - Two recent observations based on echocardiographic studies in large population based studies may have far-reaching implications: The concentric form of left ventricular hypertrophy emerges prominently in white Framingham (MA) men aged 40 49 years, and ten years later in white Framingham women. This parallels the pattern of emergence of fixed primary hypertension in white Framingham adults. Normotensive black teenage boys in Bogalusa have an echocardiographic profile that parallels more closely the profile of middle-aged white Framingham men and women than white teenage boys and girls. As noted, the former echocardiographic profiles are strongly associated with fixed primary hypertension in older adults and may be the harbingers of the premature development of fixed primary hypertension in the young black boys. These findings fit into a chain of observations that: (1) give new insight into the mechanism for premature development of primary hypertension and that should ultimately lead to closing the loop needed to characterize the cause of such hypertension: (2) may ultimately help to explain the excess of premature cardiovascular, renal, and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality in the U.S. black population compared with the white population; and (3) may lead to new, more effective strategies for reducing such excess morbidity and mortality. PMID- 2620471 TI - Pathogenesis of hypertension in black and white children. AB - Studies of cardiovascular risk factors in children conducted in the Bogalusa Heart Study provide a better understanding of the early natural history of essential hypertension. Contrasts in the biracial community of Bogalusa furnish some clues as to why essential hypertension is more prevalent in blacks. Black children tend to have higher blood pressure levels than whites. Autopsy studies and echocardiographic examinations have provided evidence of early cardiac enlargement in children and young adults with blood pressure levels in the 90th percentile. This suggests that the anatomic changes related to high blood pressure levels occur early in life. Blacks have lower plasma renin and serum dopamine beta-hydroxylase levels than whites. In general, obesity is not as closely correlated with higher blood pressure levels in black children as in white children. Prevention of hypertension should begin in early life. A major approach may be to educate children about cardiovascular risk factors and to encourage them to adopt healthy lifestyles while still young. PMID- 2620472 TI - Histopathology of severe renal vascular damage in blacks. AB - During the 1970s renal biopsies were obtained after blood pressure had been controlled in 41 black patients in Memphis who had severe hypertension plus excretory renal failure. An additional 13 binephrectomy specimens were also studied. This material yielded significant information on the state of the renal arteries--arterioles under these circumstances. Fibrinoid necrosis of the afferent glomerular arteriole and proliferative glomerulitis were not noted. Rather, the vascular lesion characterized by the accumulation of smooth muscle cells and mucopolysaccharide in the intima attended by a marked narrowing of the lumen was dominant. This lesion caused pronounced ischemia associated with obsolescence of glomeruli, atrophy, and fibrosis (end-stage kidney). This lesion has been renamed musculomucoid intimal hyperplasia as a result of changes revealed by electron microscopic and histochemical studies. Since this study the incidence of this severe vascular disease of the kidney in the same geographic area has been markedly reduced. There are a number of possible reasons for this change in incidence, but a major one appears to be improved treatment of hypertension and better compliance with antihypertensive therapy. Why such extreme changes occur in a subset of hypertensive blacks is not known. It is apparent that without improved antihypertensive treatment, this type of end-stage renal disease due to severe vascular damage will continue to be encountered. PMID- 2620473 TI - Obesity and hypertension. PMID- 2620474 TI - The association between obesity and hypertension in blacks. AB - The relationship between obesity (or overweight) and hypertension among blacks warrants careful consideration because of the substantial prevalence of both obesity and hypertension in the black population. Based on the relative risks of hypertension for overweight and nonoverweight persons in the 1976-1980 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 21% of hypertension in black men and 18% of hypertension in black women can be attributed to overweight. In terms of numbers affected, approximately 330,000 cases of hypertension among black men and 500,000 cases of hypertension among black women in the 25- 74-year age range may be related to obesity. Thus, although several sources suggest that obesity is less strongly associated with hypertension in blacks than whites, obesity clearly plays a significant role in hypertension in blacks. The benefits of weight loss for black hypertensives may include not only reduction in blood pressure but also--as an independent effect--regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, which is also excessively prevalent in blacks compared with whites. Weight control and weight reduction warrant high priority in treatment regimens for overweight black hypertensives. PMID- 2620475 TI - Centrally acting alpha-2 agonists, peripherally acting adrenergic-blocking drugs, and direct vasodilators in the treatment of mild and moderate essential hypertension. AB - The experience with three groups of antihypertensive agents in a large hypertension clinic serving a black patient population is reported. A retrospective review of clinic records was undertaken to determine the efficacy and adverse effects of the centrally acting adrenergic agonists methyldopa and clonidine, the alpha-1 antagonist prazosin, and the direct vasodilator hydralazine in patients with mild and moderate hypertension. Treatment with methyldopa, clonidine, or prazosin, usually in combination with a diuretic produced a 30 to 38 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure, and a 24 to 28 mmHg reduction in diastolic blood pressure. Similar declines in blood pressure levels occurred when hydralazine was used with an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist or beta adrenoceptor blocking agent. Evidence of clinical efficacy, defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure to below 140 mmHg and in diastolic blood pressure to below 90 mmHg, was observed in 80% or more of the patients. An 88% efficacy rate was seen with methyldopa. Effective doses of the drugs varied considerably; most patients, however, responded at a dose close to the average dose for each agent. The most serious adverse effect observed was elevation of hepatic enzyme levels in patients receiving methyldopa, which necessitated withdrawal of the drug. Two patients treated with 0.4 mg clonidine twice a day experienced "rebound" hypertension when the drug was abruptly discontinued. Overall, good clinical efficacy and patient acceptance were found with these three groups of antihypertensive agents. PMID- 2620476 TI - Current aspects of high blood pressure research in Africa. AB - Hypertension in Africa represents a challenge and an opportunity. As the two epidemics of infection and malnutrition are increasingly brought under control, increasing morbidity and mortality from hypertension have been documented and offer a challenge for prevention. Heterogeneity within and between African populations offers opportunities for detecting clues to the etiology and pathogenesis of hypertension. For example, populations in urban areas have already shown a greater prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and hypertensive heart and kidney disease than those in rural areas. The generally better lipid profiles in African blacks compared with whites is associated not only with low rates of coronary heart disease, but also with low prevalences of hypertensive retinopathy, despite substantial prevalences of hypertension in African blacks. Areas of Africa with a natural abundance of salt, such as Gambia and Senegal, tend to have indigenes with less tendency to retain a salt load than those from areas that are traditionally salt poor. PMID- 2620477 TI - Hypertension as a cause of lower than expected death rates from coronary artery disease among blacks. AB - Coronary risk factors are more prevalent among blacks than whites in the United States. It is therefore paradoxical that age-adjusted death rates for coronary artery disease (CAD) are similar in the two racial groups. The major risk factor for CAD that is more common among blacks than whites is hypertension, which increases the risk of CAD by two- to fourfold, depending on the presence of smoking, hypercholesterolemia, or other factors. Two general hypotheses have been advanced to explain the lower than expected CAD rates among blacks: (1) the presence of some protective factors, such as increased levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL); or (2) selective loss of CAD-prone black individuals due to other causes of mortality. Analysis of age-specific death rates from the vital statistics records strongly suggests that differential survival in the black and white populations, i.e., mortality selection, is the primary explanation of this phenomenon. We sought to test this hypothesis by examining an entirely independent data base. Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey for the years 1973-1984 were evaluated to determine whether there were age-related differences in case-fatality rates between whites and blacks, and whether a crossover pattern in mortality could be discerned. The results demonstrate that in-hospital case-fatality rates for acute myocardial infarction (MI) were 10% to 70% higher for each of the 10-year age groups for blacks up to age 70 years, at which time a crossover occurred. The median age at which death due to MI occurred in blacks was approximately 5 years earlier than in whites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620478 TI - Leukoencephalopathy after cisplatin therapy. AB - Cisplatin is a neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agent known to cause sensory peripheral neuropathy or ototoxicity. We report a patient with an oropharynx carcinoma who developed a multifocal, necrotizing leukoencephalopathy after cisplatin treatment. This indicates that cisplatin can induce, similar to other chemotherapeutic agents, demyelinating, necrotizing lesions in the white matter of the cerebrum. PMID- 2620479 TI - Sialidosis type I: pathological study in an adult. AB - Histological and ultrastructural findings observed throughout the nervous system and the extranervous organs in a case of sialidosis type I, also known as normosomatic group, are reported. The patient was a 22-year-old male with non familial progressive myoclonus, macular cherry-red spot, moderate cerebellar syndrome and normal intelligence. Biochemical study showed an alpha-N acetylneuraminidase deficiency in cultured fibroblasts. A complete and early autopsy was performed. Neuropathological study showed two prominent lesions: the first one was a fine cytoplasmatic vacuolation in several neurons of the cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus and the second one was a diffuse neuronal intracytoplasmic storage of lipofuscin-like pigment (LLP). As for the extranervous organs the main light and electron microscope findings were observed in the hepatocytes and in the Kupffer's cells, which showed an enlarged cytoplasm and lipopigment granules in different amount. Vacuoles containing dense lamellar bodies were found in tubular epithelial cells of the kidney. To our knowledge this is the first complete autoptic study of a case of sialidosis type I. PMID- 2620480 TI - Bilateral hypoplastic internal carotid arteries with multiple cerebral aneurysms. AB - A 60-year-old man with massive subarachnoid hemorrhage is reported. Radiologically, bilateral occlusion of the internal carotid arteries and multiple cerebral aneurysms of the saccular type were detected. Postmortem examination revealed that the internal carotid arteries were markedly diminutive and completely occluded by mesenchymal fibrous tissue. The pathogenesis of the diminutive internal carotid arteries and the cerebral aneurysms were briefly discussed. PMID- 2620481 TI - Reactive astrocytes and macrophages in the brain stem of SIDS victims? Eleven age and sex-matched SIDS and control cases. AB - The investigation was carried out on 11 sudden infant death (SIDS) cases which were compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Six brain nuclei were selected for evaluation. Using immunohistochemical methods, macrophages were selectively demonstrated by detection of lysozyme; reactive astrocytes, by detection of intracytoplasmic albumin (marker of prior impairment of blood-brain barrier function) or GFAP. No lysozyme-positive cells were demonstrable in the brain stem of any of the examined cases. Although a greater number of reactive, GFAP expressing astrocytes were found in the SIDS cases, 3 of the 11 SIDS cases (compared to 5 controls) had no reactive astrocytes in any of examined brain nuclei. Reactive astrocytes, however, were identified in more than half the controls. Sections treated with anti-albumin serum were evaluated quantitatively. Total number of non-neuronal cells, relative proportion of astrocytes, and proportion of albumin-positive astrocytes were determined. Paired brain nuclei were counted on both sides of the brain stem. The number of non-neuronal cells, astrocytes, and albumin-positive astrocytes in the SIDS cases did not differ significantly from those in the controls. No statistically relevant difference was established between the right and left parts of the brain stem. The findings were discussed in light of the literature. PMID- 2620482 TI - Meningioma with extensive vacuolization--a contribution to the pathogenesis of intratumoral cyst formation. AB - Seven cases of meningioma with extensive vacuolization are reported. Upon plain CT, two cases appeared as diffuse hypodense masses, while two cases were mixed density masses consisting of iso-dense and low-density components. A diffuse marked enhancement effect was seen in three cases and a thin ring enhancement effect appeared in one case. In four of these cases, macroscopic cysts were observed. It is suggested that the formation of macroscopic cysts or microscopic vacuoles mimics the developmental process of the subarachnoid space in the embryo. A review of the literature on this phenomenon is presented. PMID- 2620483 TI - Oesophageal transit time and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. AB - Oesophageal computerized dynamic scintigraphy with 99 mTc was used to evaluate oesophageal motility in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients without upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Twenty-nine patients, 10 women and 19 men, mean age 38 +/- 12 yr (range 17-55), mean duration of diabetes 15 +/- 8 yr (range 3 30) and 15 controls were studied. Background or proliferative retinopathy was found in 72.4% of patients, incipient or clinical nephropathy in 48.3% and peripheral neuropathy in 62% of them. In all, oesophagitis and/or other disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract were excluded by barium studies and endoscopy. Oesophagus scintigraphy with 99 mTc sulphur colloid was performed in each subject after fasting for at least 3 hr in the supine position and repeated after few minutes to assess its reproductivity. The rate of passage of the fluid bolus through oesophagus was analyzed by computer and oesophageal transit time (OTT) for the whole oesophagus was measured by time-activity curves. All diabetic patients were screened for autonomic cardiovascular function by standard tests and, on the base of results, assigned to cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy positive (CVAN-positive) or to cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy negative (CVAN negative) group. Abnormal oesophageal motility (OTT less than 14 sec as mean +/- 2 SD of controls) was found in 68.7% of CVAN-positive and in 15.4% of CVAN negative patients (p less than 0.05). CVAN-positive patients resulted older and had significantly longer duration of diabetes than other patients. Furthermore, they showed higher frequency of severe retinopathy, nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy and prolonged OTT compared with CVAN-negative patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620484 TI - Inability to detect parasympathetic autonomic neuropathy in experimental canine diabetes mellitus in an electrocardiographic study. AB - Resting electrocardiography was used to evaluate parasympathetic control of the heart rate and heart rate variability in 25 adult alloxan-diabetic dogs and 34 nondiabetic controls. The duration of diabetes (mean +/- SEM) was 3.0 +/- 0.3 yr. Such long-term diabetes had no apparent effect on resting heart rate, maximum R to R interval variation, or percentage of subjects exhibiting respiratory sinus arrhythmia. In addition, despite significant differences in glycemic control between experimental groups, no differences in the above electrocardiographic parameters were demonstrated. Electrocardiographic indices of autonomic function were not significantly correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin concentration, age, or duration of diabetes. Up to 40% of diabetic humans develop autonomic neuropathy (diabetic autonomic neuropathy), with virtually all studies showing higher heart rates and greater heart rate variability in diabetics as compared to nondiabetic controls. The absence of electrocardiographic indicators of autonomic neuropathy in this study suggests that the dog is less susceptible to the development of diabetic autonomic neuropathy than is the diabetic human and therefore may be a poor model for many studies. PMID- 2620485 TI - The effect of alloxan induced diabetes in the rabbit on placental transfer of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids. AB - In situ perfusion of the fetal side of the placenta of five normal and eight diabetic anaesthetized rabbits was performed. The does were infused with a mixture of 14C palmitic acid and 3H glucose whilst simultaneous maternal blood and placental perfusate samples were taken for 90 min. Radiolabelled palmitate and glucose levels in the perfusate closely followed levels in the maternal plasma in both normal and diabetic animals. Total placental non-esterified fatty acid transfer was 0.96 mumol/min in the diabetic animals, although due to the considerable variation within the groups this was not statistically significantly more than the 0.58 mumol/min transferred in the normal rabbits. This transfer was significantly affected by maternal uteroplacental blood flow. Total placental glucose transfer was significantly raised in the diabetic (5.0 mumols/min) compared with the normal (1.8 mumols/min) animals, reflecting maternal hyperglycaemia in the diabetic rabbits. Placental glucose transfer was also significantly correlated with maternal uteroplacental blood flow. Maternal diabetes thus increases the placental flux of nutrients to the fetus in the rabbit. PMID- 2620486 TI - Insulin autoantibodies in mouse models of insulin-dependent diabetes. AB - To clarify the significance of insulin autoantibodies (IAA) in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, we measured the IAA longitudinally in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, and in high-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes (high-SZ) and EMC virus induced diabetes (EMC) in mice, and compared the data with the occurrence of insulitis. The IAA were detected by the polyethylene glycol (PEG) method using 125I-(Tyr A14) human insulin. The IAA were found in 38% of NOD mice and correlated with the occurrence of insulitis. The prevalence of IAA was 0% before the appearance of insulitis, 80% at 12-14 weeks of age and 30% after 20 weeks of age in female NOD mice. In male NOD mice, IAA were found in 45% at 12-14 weeks of age and 20% after 20 weeks. In high-SZ mice, IAA were detected in several mice while insulitis was not present. In EMC-virus induced diabetic mice, IAA and lymphocytic infiltration into the islets were detected 4-14 days after EMC virus infection. These results suggest that (a) IAA are markers for islet autoimmunity in NOD mice, (b) the presence of IAA does not always reflect insulitis, (c) the presence of IAA is not sufficient for the development of overt diabetes and (d) the appearance of IAA may reflect a difference of the immune response genotype. PMID- 2620487 TI - Protein characterization of sexually mature and immature forms of Schistosoma mansoni. AB - 1. Protein composition of different stages of Schistosoma mansoni was compared using specific antisera, 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 14-C-leucine incorporation into proteins. 2. Major qualitative differences were detected when an anti-membrane antiserum was used. 3. 2D gel electrophoresis showed that the protein composition varied when mature and immature females were compared, whereas no differences were noted when mature and immature male worms were compared. 4. Experiments measuring protein synthesis by the different schistosome stages confirmed that upon maturation, only the female schistosomes displayed qualitative differences. 5. The protein pattern of the male schistosomes did not vary significantly as a function of development. PMID- 2620488 TI - Thermal behaviour of A4 lactate dehydrogenase purified from the heterothermic and sympatric vertebrate species Brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), tench (Tenca tenca), smooth (Triturus vulgaris) and alpine newt (Triturus alpestris). AB - 1. The A4 lactate dehydrogenase isozyme was purified to homogeneity from the tissues of Brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), tench (Tenca tenca), smooth newt (Triturus vulgaris) and alpine newt (T. alpestris). 2. These four species share their geographical distribution in the same freshwater habitats, often live together in the same station and two of them are congeneric. Steady-state kinetic investigations have shown that: 3. Km (apparent) for pyruvate vs. temperature and (apparent) product Ki (Pyruvate) and Ki (Lactate) are fairly similar among species; 4. kcat/Km decreases with temperature in the case of the newts but increases in the case of both lamprey and tench; 5. Thermostability does not correlate to preferred ambient temperature and, in particular, tench LDH starts being inactivated up to 65 degrees C. 6. Thermostability does not correlate with activation energy either; 7. No clear relationships can be demonstrated either between activation energy and conformational transitions in the molecule (these latter indicated by breaks in the Arrhenius plots) nor between activation energy and molecular flexibility, investigated by melting experiments. PMID- 2620489 TI - Effects of anaerobiosis on adenine nucleotide levels and the release of ATP by Leishmania major promastigotes. AB - 1. Leishmania major promastigotes showed a large decrease in ATP and increases in ADP and AMP contents after 4 min of anaerobiosis. 2. When ADP was added to intact promastigotes, it was completely metabolized, apparently by its conversion to adenosine extracellularly followed by adenosine uptake, further metabolism intracellularly, and release of hypoxanthine. Under anaerobic conditions, adenosine uptake was strongly inhibited and ADP degradation was stopped at adenosine. 3. Under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, ATP was released into the medium. ATP release was specific, since ADP and AMP were not detectable extracellularly even when their external degradation was inhibited with molybdate. PMID- 2620490 TI - Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in blood from various vertebrates. AB - 1. Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was determined in whole blood samples from 17 selected vertebrates of 5 classes, using 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (the aldehyde derived from dopamine) as substrate. 2. Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in blood was widely but unevenly distributed among the species studied. 3. Mean aldehyde dehydrogenase activities in the range of 40-140 nmol/min.ml blood (measured at 37 degrees C, pH 8.8) were found in blood from man, monkey, rabbit, guinea pig and mouse (C57BL and NMRI strains), with the highest activity in rabbit blood. 4. Much lower aldehyde dehydrogenase activities (0.5-7.5 nmol/min.ml blood) were found in blood from Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rat, dog, cat, horse, pig, chicken, caiman, frog and rainbow trout, whereas the activities in blood from DBA mouse, cow, sheep and crucian carp were close to the detection limit. PMID- 2620491 TI - Estimation of nuclear DNA content by flow cytometry in fishes of the genus Xiphophorus. AB - 1. By use of flow cytometry we measured nuclear DNA content in cells from 16 stocks representing 9 species of the genus Xiphophorus. 2. Significant differences were detected between certain stocks and species with respect to DNA content. 3. Male-female differences were apparent in 5 of 7 stocks in which males and females were studied. 4. Estimation of nuclear DNA content is of potential significance in connection with the genetics of sex determination and the study of taxonomic relationships. PMID- 2620492 TI - Liver uricase in Camelus dromedarius: purification and properties. AB - 1. Uricase (urate: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.7.3.3) was purified 750-fold from the liver of Camelus dromedarius. 2. The enzyme is a tetramer with a Mr of 100,000, displays high specificity for uric acid with a Km of 12 microM and is inhibited by a selected number of purine derivatives carrying oxygen at the C2 position. 3. The effect of pH and the inhibition by thiol compounds and chelating agents on the enzyme activity is reported. 4. Some lines of evidence suggesting the possibility of interaction of camel liver uricase with oligonucleotides are presented. PMID- 2620493 TI - Brown adipose tissue in lean and fat selection lines of sheep identified by immunodetection of uncoupling protein in western blots of tissue homogenates. AB - 1. Uncoupling protein (UCP) was purified from perirenal adipose tissue of 2-day old lambs by a procedure involving Triton solubilization and hydroxyapatite treatment. It has an apparent Mr of 34,000. 2. Rabbit anti-sheep UCP and rabbit anti-rat UCP each cross-reacted with both rat and sheep UCP in Western blots, indicating that the major antigenic determinants of the sheep UCP and rat UCP are similar. 3. In Western blots, the anti-sheep UCP showed tissue specificity by detecting a band corresponding to UCP only in brown adipose tissue, but not in heart or liver homogenates. 4. The Western blotting procedure was used to analyse sheep tissues. UCP was detected in samples of perirenal, omental, back and lymph node fat from 2-day-old lambs, but not in heart, liver, muscle or kidney samples. 5. UCP was not detected in any tissue samples from 34-day-old or 7-month-old lambs. 6. Comparison of the amount of UCP in perirenal fat of 2-day-old lambs from lean, fat and control selection lines, using the Western blotting procedure, showed no apparent difference. PMID- 2620494 TI - Fractionation and purification of some muscular and visceral ciguatoxins extracted from Carribean fish. AB - 1. Cigautoxins (CTX) were extracted from flesh and viscera of seven large roving predatory fishes: Caranx bartholomaei, Caranx latus, Seriola dumerili, Alectis crinitus, Scomberomorus cavalla, Sphyraena barracuda and Gymnothorax funebris. 2. Generally each extract consisted of close-related CTX which were separated according to their polarity by Florisil column chromatography into a fast-acting CTX containing group and a slow-acting CTX containing group. 3. The shortest survival time of mice (ts) was low for the former group (less than 10 min) and high for the latter (greater than or equal to 29 min). 4. The level of purity had no influence on the range of ts values. The presence of these two CTX groups in different extracts did not from experimental conditions. 5. Attempts to convert fast-acting CTX to slow-acting CTX and vice-versa were negative. G. funebris and S. barracuda had an especially high content of unstable fast-acting CTX. 6. Purification of the slow-acting CTX was achieved by fast elution chromatography and Sephadex LH20 gel filtration. 7. The ts values of these CTX were identical for five species (40-44 min) but not for S. barracuda (29-32 min). 8. Thus ciguatoxic extracts from Caribbean fish were composed of several close-related CTX. PMID- 2620495 TI - Stability of liver nuclear proteins in inbred strains of mice. AB - 1. A remarkable similarity in the gel patterns of liver nuclear proteins between four inbred strains of mice (A.CA, B10.A, CBA and DBA/2) was observed. 2. Only a very few quantitative differences were detected in the protein spot patterns of nucleoplasmic (spot of about 41 kDa) and chromatin (spot of about 37 kDa) non histone proteins between those strains of mice. 3. Comparison of two-dimensional gel patterns of non-histone proteins from males and females revealed a few sex linked spots. Nucleoplasmic protein with molecular weight of about 59 kDa and chromatin proteins with molecular weights of approximately 47 and 57 kDa were more abundant in liver nuclei of male mouse. PMID- 2620496 TI - Characterization of shell gland lipids from chickens (Gallus domesticus) producing strong or weak egg shells. AB - 1. The reduction in egg shell strength in hens at the end of the first reproductive cycle was not associated with abnormal uterine or body fat accumulation. 2. The phosphatidylcholine concentration was greater in the shell glands of hens producing strong egg shells compared to that of producing weak egg shells. 3. Differences were not detected in the total lipid or cholesterol concentrations or the fatty acid profiles of phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine fractions. 4. Following an induced molt, the fatty acid profile of the total lipid fraction of the shell gland was altered with a decrease in stearic acid and an increase in oleic acid. 5. The results demonstrate that alterations in egg shell strength are mainly associated with changes in shell gland phospholipid polar head group composition and not with changes in phospholipid fatty acid profile or cholesterol concentration. PMID- 2620497 TI - Age-related changes of lipid fractions and total fatty acids in the serum of female and male rats aged from 37 to 1200 days. AB - 1. Total lipids and the lipid fractions cholesterol ester, triacylglycerols, free cholesterol, free fatty acids and phospholipids as well as the fatty acid patterns of total lipids were measured in the serum of female and male rats (Wistar SPF, strain Hannover) aged 37-1213 days. 2. All parameters were monitored every 49th day. Five female and five male animals were used in each experiment. 3. All lipid fractions showed a significant positive linear regression vs age in both sexes. There were multiple significant differences in lipid fractions between the sexes. 4. Among the fatty acids only docosahexaenoic acid shows a significant correlation with age in both sexes. PMID- 2620498 TI - Regulation of the rate of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation in liver mitochondria from hibernating ground squirrels, Citellus undulatus. AB - 1. The rates of oxidation of various substrates (beta-hydroxybutyrate, succinate, ascorbate + TMPD) and the rate of ATP synthesis in liver mitochondria from active and hibernating ground squirrels were measured. 2. It was shown that the rate of mitochondrial respiration is significantly lower in hibernating animals than in active animals. 3. The degree of inhibition of mitochondrial respiration in hibernating ground squirrels was found to correlate with the length of the respiratory chain fragment involved in the oxidation of a given substrate. 4. The inhibition of mitochondrial respiration in hibernating animals was accompanied by a decrease in the rate of ATP synthesis. 5. The activity of phospholipase A2 in liver mitochondria from hibernating ground squirrels was found to be decreased. The activation of phospholipase A2 by Ca2+ ions eliminated the inhibition of respiration almost completely. 6. It was assumed that the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration during hibernation is (a) related to the suppression of phospholipase A2 activity and (b) caused by the reduced rates of electron transport through the respiratory chain and/or of substrate transport across the mitochondrial membrane. PMID- 2620499 TI - Structural analysis of hemolymph proteins from Schistosoma mansoni (Trematoda) susceptible and resistant Biomphalaria glabrata (Gastropoda). AB - 1. Five different molecular weight polypeptides from serum (cell-free hemolymph) of Schistosoma mansoni-resistant and susceptible strains of Biomphalaria glabrata, were examined by two-dimensional 125I-peptide mapping and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). 2. Peptide mapping indicated that all five radiolabeled polypeptides within and between the two snail strains had similar migration patterns when cleaved with pepsin or alpha-chymotrypsin, thus revealing a shared structural homology. All peptides chosen for analysis appeared to be structurally similar to the 160 kDa hemoglobin molecule. 3. Separations of the radiolabeled enzyme digests by HPLC confirmed results seen in the mapping experiments since all chromatograms had similar elution patterns. 4. Minor differences in the peptide maps and chromatograms within and between snail strains may be due to quantitative differences in the amount of protein present and/or variations in the primary amino acid sequences of the proteins chosen for analysis. PMID- 2620500 TI - Comparison of kinetic and regulatory properties of high S0.5 form of AMP deaminase from chicken and pigeon liver with AMP deaminase from rat and ox liver. AB - 1. The high S0.5 form of AMP deaminase from avian liver was shown to display a two times lower S0.5 value than the single mammalian enzyme form. 2. Avian enzymes showed several fold higher affinity to the activator (ATP) but lower affinity to inhibitors (GTP and Pi) than the mammalian AMP deaminases. 3. GTP was shown to exert a biphasic: activating and inhibitory effect on all the enzymes tested, the chicken and pigeon enzymes being activated within a much broader range of effector concentration. 4. In the presence of 3 mM ATP the activity of avian enzymes was not affected by high GTP and Pi concentrations, in contrast to AMP diaminase from rat liver which was strongly inhibited by GTP under the same experimental conditions. 5. The differences of the regulatory properties described are discussed in terms of adjustment of avian liver AMP deaminase to a faster adenylates' catabolism and thus urate synthesis. PMID- 2620501 TI - The relationship between N-terminal sequences and immunological characterization of crustacean hemocyanins. AB - 1. N-terminal amino acid sequences of seven crustacean hemocyanin subunits were determined and compared together with a number of known N-terminal sequences. 2. Within crustacean infraorders, relationships of subunits were established. Relationships based on N-terminal sequences were compared with a classification based on immunological characterization. PMID- 2620502 TI - Partial amino acid sequence of a hemocyanin subunit from Palinurus vulgaris. AB - 1. Hemocyanin from the spiny lobster Palinurus vulgaris was separated into two fractions, which were designated as subunits a and b. 2. 55% of the amino acid sequence of subunit b has been determined. A comparison with Panulirus interruptus hemocyanins shows 78% sequence identity with subunit a and 56% with subunit c. It has carbohydrate attached to domain one. Two half-cystines have been substituted, indicating that it probably possesses only one disulfide bridge. Heterogeneity has been observed in seven out of 380 positions determined so far. 3. Subunit a is almost identical with subunit b. In contrast to Panulirus interruptus and Panulirus japonicus, Palinurus vulgaris hemocyanin contains no c type subunit. 4. A position in the tentative evolutionary tree of arthropod hemocyanins based on sequence differences has been assigned to Palinurus vulgaris subunit b. PMID- 2620503 TI - Comparative study of mammary gland development and differentiation between beef and dairy heifers. AB - Sixteen Hereford and 16 Holstein heifers were used to study the relationship of milk production potential to mammary development and differentiation. Heifers were slaughtered at 150, 180, and 260 days of first gestation and at 49 days of first lactation. Prolactin binding capacity of mammary tissue was 2.5 fold higher in dairy than beef heifers at day 260 of gestation (27.2 vs 11.0 fmols/mg protein). In both breeds, maximal growth hormone binding in liver coincided with the beginning of the rapid phase of mammary growth at 180 days. Mammary tissue from dairy heifers released more casein and alpha-lactalbumin during in vitro incubations than tissue from beef heifers. No differences were observed between breeds with respect to incorporation of [14C]acetate into lipids. Mass of dairy mammary tissue at 49 days of lactation was 3.3 times greater (16.4 vs 4.9 kg) and produced 5.7 times more milk (20.3 vs 3.5 kg/day) than its beef counterpart. The total DNA content and the RNA/DNA ratio of lactating dairy mammary tissue was approximately twice that of lactating beef mammary tissue. The data suggested that the higher milk production observed in dairy cattle is a result of a greater number of secretory cells and greater activity per cell. PMID- 2620504 TI - The influence of human growth hormone on preadipocyte development in serum supplemented and serum-free cultures of stromal-vascular cells from pig adipose tissue. AB - The influence of human growth hormone (hGH) on the differentiation of preadipocytes was examined in primary cultures of stromal-vascular (s-v) cells from porcine adipose tissue. In these experiments, cells were exposed to test media for 7-8 days after seeding and plating for two days in fetal bovine serum. In serum-free (insulin, transferrin and selenium) cultures hGH (1 and 10 nM) reduced the number and size of fat cell clusters (P less than .05) by 50% relative to controls (no hGH). Differentiation of preadipocytes was assayed by labelling dividing cells with tritiated thymidine under identical conditions and then exposing cultures to test media for seven days. Fat cells were then separated from the other cells and radioactivity was determined in each fraction. In serum containing (2% pig serum) cultures hGH (10 nM) inhibited (P less than .05) the differentiation of labelled preadipocytes. In cultures with serum and with 1 microM insulin and in serum-free cultures, 1 and 10 nM hGH reduced (P less than .05) the levels of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) specific activity by approximately 50%. However, hGH (1 and 10 nM) had no affect on GPDH activity in cultures with serum but without insulin. These studies indicate that hGH significantly impedes porcine preadipocyte development in vitro. Therefore, the decreased rate of adipose tissue growth observed in pigs chronically treated with GH could be due in part to impaired preadipocyte growth. PMID- 2620505 TI - Secretion of the major progesterone-induced proteins of the sheep uterus by caruncular and intercaruncular endometrium of the pregnant ewe from days 20-140 of gestation. AB - An experiment was performed to evaluate the types and quantity of proteins secreted by intercaruncular endometrium at days 20, 60, 100 and 140 of gestation and caruncular endometrium from days 100 and 140 of gestation. Tissues were obtained from ewes made unilaterally pregnant. Based on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the major proteins present in uterine fluid at days 60-140 of gestation were the uterine milk proteins (UTM-proteins), a pair of structurally-related, progesterone-induced polypeptides with molecular weights of 55,000 and 57,000. These proteins were also present in uterine fluid at day 20, but the major protein at this time migrated coincident with albumin. Cultured explants of endometrium at all days of pregnancy produced UTM-proteins as their major radiolabelled product for both caruncular and intercaruncular endometrium. The amount of protein secretion in vitro was greater (P less than .04) for intercaruncular endometrium than for caruncular endometrium but was not significantly affected by stage of gestation or local presence of the conceptus. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that UTM-proteins were present in glandular and luminal epithelium of intercaruncular endometrium and in both epithelial and stromal elements of caruncular endometrium. It was concluded that the UTM proteins are produced earlier than previously described (i.e., day 20). In addition, caruncles contribute to the uterine secretory protein milieu through the secretion of proteins that are similar to that produced by the glandular intercaruncular epithelium. PMID- 2620506 TI - Extension of short cycles in postpartum beef cows by intrauterine treatment with catecholestradiol. AB - Eight multiparous beef cows were used to examine the effects of intrauterine infusion of catecholestradiol (4-hydroxylated estradiol) on development and function of the first corpus luteum after parturition. Calves were weaned on day 1 (day 0 = parturition) to initiate formation of a corpus luteum (CL) by approximately day 10 or 11. Before CL formation, on days 5 to 9, cows received twice daily infusions of catecholestradiol (4 micrograms; n = 4) or vehicle (n = 4) into the uterine horn opposite the previous pregnancy. Plasma progesterone during the first estrous cycle was elevated longer (P less than .001) and reached a higher (P less than .001) concentration in cows treated with catecholestradiol. The decline in progesterone was associated with an increase in plasma 13,14 dihydro, 15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) in all cows infused with catecholestradiol. In contrast, a rise in PGFM at the end of the first short cycle was detected in only one of four cows treated with vehicle. Furthermore, PGFM concentrations were linearly related (R2 = .870; P less than .001) to concentrations of progesterone. Estradiol-17 beta concentrations were not different during the infusion period, but after formation of the first CL, estradiol remained elevated (P less than .01) in cows that received vehicle. Results of this experiment suggest that exposure of postpartum beef cows to catecholestradiol extended luteal function in association with enhanced PGFM release. PMID- 2620507 TI - The effects of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin on follicular development, mating and pregnancy in mink. AB - Forty-four female ranch mink, maintained out-of-doors under standard conditions, were exposed to natural photoperiod supplemented with a period of artificial light from approximately 2300 hr to 0300 hr from early January to mid February. Breeding was initiated on March 1. After repeated attempts to breed the animals, it was determined that the likelihood of their breeding was very low, presumably due to the artificial and asynchronous long-day photoperiod. In an attempt to induce breeding, the mink were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: saline, 25 International Units (IU) PMSG, 37.5 IU PMSG and 50 IU PMSG. Significantly different (p less than 0.05) patterns of breeding success were observed following PMSG treatment. Approximately 90% of the 37.5 and 50 IU PMSG treated females bred while only 30 to 50% of the females in the saline and 25 IU PMSG-treated groups bred. More importantly, there was a marked difference in successful pregnancies observed between the saline- and PMSG-treated animals. None of the saline-treated females bore offspring while 40% of the animals that were treated with PMSG gave birth, with litter size averaging between 4 and 5 kits per female. Histological evaluation of ovaries obtained from an additional 13 animals treated in a similar fashion demonstrated that PMSG treatment significantly increased the number of small follicles. These results demonstrate that the exogenous administration of PMSG has a potential application in increasing the reproductive efficiency of female mink with functional ovarian tissue yet rendered infertile due to other factors. PMID- 2620508 TI - Patterns of tonic luteinizing hormone release and ovulation frequency in suckled anestrous beef cows following varying intervals of temporary weaning. AB - Thirty postpartum Brahman crossbred cows were utilized to determine the effects of varying intervals of temporary weaning on tonic LH secretion and ovulation. Cows were assigned randomly on day 17-21 postpartum to one of five groups: 1) Suckled Ad libitum, 2) 48-hr weaned, 3) 72-hr weaned, 4) 96-hr weaned, or 5) 144 hr weaned. The mean maximal rise in LH pulse frequency due to weaning occurred within 2 days and averaged 221 percent of time 0 values. The frequency of LH pulses was greater (P less than .06) in weaned than in suckled controls. This temporal increase was self-limiting, displaying an acute rise followed by a variable rate of decline in all groups. However, pulse frequency remained elevated relative to suckled controls for the longest period of time for weaning durations of 96 and 144 hr (P less than .10). In 48-hr and 72-hr weaned cows, a rapid reversal of the initial increase in LH pulse frequency was observed following calf return. A significant linear regression (y = 1.9 +/- .64x; P less than .03) described the increase in LH pulse frequency that occurred in cows which ovulated following weaning. Nonovulators were sensitive to calf return and responded by exhibiting a linear decline (y = 2.87 - .43x; P less than .04) in LH pulse frequency following this event. The amplitude of LH pulses increased (P less than .02) during the period after calf return in ovulators, but did not change in nonovulators. Percentage ovulating by day 10 increased (P less than .05) with increased weaning duration past 72 hr.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620509 TI - Clinical patch test data evaluated by multivariate analysis. Danish Contact Dermatitis Group. AB - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of individual explanatory factors, such as sex, age, atopy, test time and presence of diseased skin, on clinical patch test results, by application of multivariate statistical analysis. The study population was 2166 consecutive patients patch tested with the standard series of the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG) by members of the Danish Contact Dermatitis Group (DCDG) over a period of 6 months. For the 8 test allergens most often found positive (nickel, fragrance mix, cobalt, chromate, balsam of Peru, carba-mix, colophony, and formaldehyde), one or more individual factors were of significance for the risk of being sensitized, except for chromate and formaldehyde. It is concluded that patch test results can be compared only after stratification of the material or by multivariate analysis. PMID- 2620510 TI - Percutaneous absorption of 3 organic solvents in the guinea pig (V). Effect of "accelerants". AB - The influence of "accelerants" on the percutaneous absorption of 3 organic solvents (butanol, toluene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane) was investigated in the guinea pig. DMSO in binary and ternary mixtures with various concentrations, the result of adding 0.1 M C18 fatty acids, and of pretreatment with DMSO and olive oil, were studied. Addition of DMSO (binary solutions) resulted in increased or decreased absorption of the solvents related to their water solubility. There was reduced absorption of toluene and trichloroethane in binary mixtures with DMSO, while DMSO in binary mixture with butanol gave a marked increase, with concentrations of 50 and 75%. Pretreatment with DMSO resulted in a decrease in the absorption of toluene and a marked increase in the absorption of butanol. The same tendency was seen when skin was pretreated with olive oil under occlusion. The results indicate that the effect of DMSO is related to the water solubility of the penetrant. PMID- 2620511 TI - Contact allergy to the UV-absorber Tinuvin P in plastics. AB - Contact allergy to the UV-absorber 2-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)benzotriazole (Tinuvin P) was revealed in a patient with wrist dermatitis caused by a plastic watch strap. A high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed and subsequent chemical analysis showed the presence of Tinuvin P in the watch strap. The possibility of cross-reactions between Tinuvin P and various substituted benzotriazole compounds was investigated. No cross-reactions were found. PMID- 2620512 TI - Post-application occlusion substantially increases the irritant response of the skin to repeated short-term sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) exposure. AB - Occlusion often, but not always, enhances percutaneous absorption and thus may facilitate skin irritation. Quantitative data about the impact occlusivity may have on minimal irritant stimuli to which the skin is exposed in daily life, and which may lead to chronic irritant contact dermatitis, are however lacking. Irritant stimuli were administered by repeated application of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in an open application procedure. After the open exposure, the skin was either left open or occluded with plastic. Skin irritancy was assessed by means of visual grading and by transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements. Post-exposure occlusive treatment markedly enhanced the irritant response. 5 consecutive daily applications produced more irritation, with or without occlusion, than alternate day application. Occlusion may be a relevant factor in the development of irritant contact dermatitis from certain chemicals. PMID- 2620513 TI - Irritant contact dermatitis in a child caused by the plastic tube of an infusion system. PMID- 2620514 TI - Sensitizing potential of cyclobutenediones. PMID- 2620515 TI - Pacemaker dermatitis. PMID- 2620516 TI - 4-day patch test reactions to neomycin and formaldehyde. PMID- 2620517 TI - Clinical evidence of cross-sensitivity between thiosalicylic acid, a contact allergen, and piroxicam, a photoallergen. PMID- 2620518 TI - Trial of 0.5% versus 0.375% potassium dichromate. European Environmental and Contact Dermatitis Research Group (EECDRG). PMID- 2620519 TI - Acupuncture needle dermatitis. PMID- 2620520 TI - Condom advice in rubber urticaria. PMID- 2620521 TI - Thimerosal in standard antigenic extracts. PMID- 2620522 TI - Type III membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in primary Sjogren's syndrome. AB - Glomerulonephritis is a rare complication of primary Sjogren's syndrome. When glomerulonephritis does occur, it is usually due to membranous, focal proliferative, or membranoproliferative lesions. There have been fewer than 20 reported cases of glomerulonephritis in primary Sjogren's syndrome, only three of which have been membranoproliferative. We report a case of primary Sjogren's syndrome complicated by Type III membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, a specific type of mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis never before reported in this setting, and describe a clinical course terminating in rapidly progressive renal failure. PMID- 2620523 TI - Airway intubation in injured patients at the scene of an accident. AB - Trauma patients requiring intubation at the scene of the accident were entered into a study from June 1985 to June 1987 to determine: 1) the success rate of intubation by flight crews and 2) factors important in managing the difficult airway at the scene. One hundred thirty-six patients were reviewed. The success rate of trauma patients intubated in the field was 92.6%. The success rate of each procedure was, orotracheal 87%, and nasotracheal 77.6%. Six out of the 10 patients unsuccessfully intubated had vomiting or blood in the oropharynx which was cited as the reason for failure of intubation. All 24 patients requiring medications (paralytics and sedatives) for intubation were successfully intubated. Trismus and combativeness were the indications for medication usage. An aeromedical crew (MD, RN, RT) can successfully intubate trauma patients at the scene of the accident. Severe facial injuries with vomiting and blood in the oropharynx are factors in intubation failure. The use of muscle relaxants and sedatives facilitates difficult intubations. PMID- 2620524 TI - Suprascapular nerve palsy. AB - Isolated traumatic suprascapular nerve palsy without associated fracture is a rare occurrence. Localized segmental muscle atrophy limited to the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles associated with weakness in initiating abduction and in external rotation of the shoulder should suggest the diagnosis. Electromyography will confirm the diagnosis by excluding nerve root and brachial plexus involvement with denervation potentials limited to the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. PMID- 2620526 TI - The latest beef over cholesterol. PMID- 2620525 TI - The conviction to care. The McKinney Scholarship Fund. AB - In response to the AIDS crisis and the critical need for competent and trained health care providers for the growing number of persons with AIDS, the McKinney Scholarship Fund has been recently established with the Stewart B. McKinney Foundation, and will be announced in December. As the first fund of its kind in the country, the McKinney Scholarship Fund will provide funding and financial assistance to qualified individuals who have demonstrated the ability and desire to go to school to work in the medical field with persons with AIDS, but who cannot afford to do so. At the present time, it is sponsored and endorsed by the Connecticut State Medical Society, the Hartford County Medical Association, the Connecticut Nurses' Association, the Hartford County Bar Association, and the Insurance Association of Connecticut. PMID- 2620527 TI - Is rationing in our future? PMID- 2620528 TI - Opportunity fleeting; judgment difficult. PMID- 2620529 TI - Clinical and metabolic effects of a pill containing 30 mcg ethinylestradiol plus 75 mcg gestodene. AB - The clinical and metabolic effects of a short-term treatment with a combination contraceptive pill containing 30 mcg ethinylestradiol and 75 mcg gestodene were evaluated in a group of 31 healthy women. The pill exerted good cycle control and the incidence of irregular bleeding was low. Side effects rarely occurred, and an improvement in premenstrual symptoms was reported during pill intake. Among the different biochemical parameters tested to monitor the coagulatory system, the only modification observed was an increase of fibrinopeptide A plasma levels, confirming that low-dose pills have less effects on the haemostatic system than oral contraceptives with a higher estrogen content. No significant modification in plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-CH), HDL2-CH, nor low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were observed. HDL3-CH levels were significantly increased. Moreover, the pill did not significantly alter the fasting insulin and glucose levels nor their response to an oral glucose tolerance test. It may be suggested that this new formulation has high efficacy and clinical acceptability, primarily due to the total absence of any adverse metabolic effect. PMID- 2620530 TI - Health care provider and contraceptive care setting: the relationship to contraceptive behavior. AB - This study examines contraceptive delivery characteristics and their association with contraceptive behavior. Data were collected in telephone interviews from a national sample of 1057 women who were using female contraceptives. The overwhelming majority of the sample obtained contraceptive services from gynecologists and other physician specialists and were seen in private facilities. Whereas nearly half of the providers recommended use of specific methods, only one-fourth discouraged use of particular methods. The pill was both the most frequently recommended and most commonly discouraged method. With regards to the provision of contraceptive information, practitioners were most likely to discuss the effectiveness of a method. In three of the four categories examined, a higher percentage of non-MDs than MDs gave information to their patients. Although the majority of women reported they were satisfied with the quality of care, mean satisfaction ratings were higher for female providers compared to male providers. PMID- 2620531 TI - Pharmacokinetics of norethindrone: effect of particle size. AB - In 24 healthy women between the ages of 19 and 35 years who had not used oral contraceptive preparations for at least 60 days, it was found that the smaller the particle size of norethindrone (NET) administered, the higher was the plasma NET level obtained. Three different preparations having particle sizes of NET smaller than 250 microns, 44 microns or 10 microns were tested in a crossover pattern. The time required to reach maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) became shorter with decreasing particle size, 1.69 hr, 1.52 hr and 1.06 hr, respectively. As particle size was reduced, the maximum NET plasma concentration (Cmax) increased for the 3 different 1 mg NET preparations, i.e. 8.66 ng/ml, 10.53 ng/ml and 15.73 ng/ml. A trial with a 2 mg NET preparation made with NET utilizing the 44 microns same material displayed a Tmax similar to the 1 mg NET preparation having the same particle size while the Cmax reached a level of 17.56 ng/ml. The area under the plasma concentration versus time curve from 0-24 hrs and the extrapolated total area under the curve, increased with decreasing particle size. The use of a smaller particle size allows for more rapid dissolution or oral contraceptive tablets when measured in vitro; however, there is no evidence that such faster dissolution leads to a significant difference in efficacy. Oral contraceptive tablets have, since their inception, utilized both large and small NET particle size material in various preparations. PMID- 2620532 TI - Cervagem/Dilapan for preoperative cervical dilatation prior to vacuum aspiration for termination of first trimester pregnancy. A prospective randomized study. AB - The present study included 40 healthy nulliparous women admitted to the hospital for termination of first trimester pregnancy. The patients were randomly allocated to two study groups. One group was treated for 4 hours with one 1 mg Cervagem vaginal suppository prior to vacuum aspiration, the other was treated 4 hours with a Dilapan osmotic dilator intracervically. The patients were continuously supervised during treatment and after operation. Side effects and analgesic consumption were recorded. At operation the degree of cervical dilatation, blood loss and operative complications was registered. Dilapan was more effective and more uniform in dilating the cervix (p less than 0.05) and eventual further dilatation was easier (p less than 0.05). The blood loss was higher in the Dilapan-treated group (p less than 0.05). Side effects of postoperative pain and use of analgesic injections were higher in the Cervagem group (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that both methods are effective in dilating the cervix prior to vacuum aspiration, with Dilapan being the more effective dilator with the lower frequency of side effects. PMID- 2620533 TI - Effect of cupric ions on the initiation protein synthesis rate in the human endometrium. AB - The effect of cupric ions on the initiation protein synthesis rate of the human endometrium was studied. Addition of copper to the complete ribosomal system decreased the binding of [3H]Met-tRNA(i) to the isolated ribosomes with a plateau at about 70% inhibition with concentrations higher than 150 microM. The initiation activity was GTP-dependent with a maximum at 2 mM. This activity was very rapid, requiring 5 min to complete the reaction. Incubation of isolated initiation factors with copper (300 microM) inhibited the formation of the ternary complex. When the complete system was reconstituted with salt-washed ribosomes after ternary complex formation, no significant change on the inhibition pattern was observed. Addition of initiation factors to 5-min preincubated salt-washed ribosomes with 300 microM copper, after the elimination of excess copper, induced only a 12% decrease on Met-tRNA(i) binding. This effect was not modified by the presence of Sparsomycin, an elongation inhibitor. It was concluded that copper interferes with the initiation process, probably at the ternary complex formation level. PMID- 2620534 TI - The hemodynamics of simple and sequential iliofemoral grafts in dogs three months after insertion. AB - Hindlimb pressures and flows were measured 3 months after insertion of simple and sequential iliofemoral grafts in the hindlimbs of dogs to determine which type of graft provides the highest blood flow under resting and vasodilated conditions. Under resting conditions, the sequential graft had 94 percent greater distal blood flow than the simple graft. The pressure gradients across the grafts were comparable. When the hindlimb was dilated by intra-arterial injection of adenosine, both distal and proximal blood flows increased in both graft types. The sequential graft, however, provided higher proximal flows than the simple graft although the pressure gradients were increased by the same magnitude across both graft types. Therefore, our data indicated that 3 months after insertion, sequential iliofemoral grafts provide improved vascular flows compared with simple grafts under resting and dilated conditions. PMID- 2620535 TI - Experimental donor-transmitted pneumonia in a model of canine orthotopic unilateral lung allotransplantation. PMID- 2620536 TI - Acute experimental pancreatitis causes prolonged impairment of rat pancreatic secretion. PMID- 2620537 TI - Effect of magnesium on dopamine-induced postischemic injury in the isolated rat heart. PMID- 2620538 TI - Glutamine-enhanced diets in stressed rats improve nitrogen balance. PMID- 2620539 TI - Polymorphonuclear leukocyte filtration in a porcine model of cardiopulmonary bypass. PMID- 2620540 TI - Caffeine inhibits gallbladder absorption. PMID- 2620541 TI - Immunohistochemical analysis of accelerated graft atherosclerosis in cardiac transplantation. AB - HHT was performed between minimally genetic mismatched inbred strains of rats. There was no evidence of rejection and immunosuppressive therapy was not instituted. Immunohistochemical analysis using peroxidase conjugated monoclonal anti-rat ASMA of cardiac arterioles in which AGAS developed revealed a decreased peroxidase signal. The data suggest that modulation of actin expression in subintimal cells of cardiac arterioles may play a critical role in the pathologic development of AGAS. PMID- 2620542 TI - Roller and centrifugal right ventricular assist devices have similar effects on pulmonary hemodynamics in a nonischemic heart model. PMID- 2620543 TI - Intravascular plastic catheters potentiate tumor necrosis factor release and cardiac dysfunction secondary to infection. PMID- 2620544 TI - Cerebrospinal fluid drainage does not counteract the negative effect of sodium nitroprusside on spinal cord perfusion pressure during aortic cross-clamping. PMID- 2620545 TI - [Medical fees in unsuccessful treatment sequelae and errors in patient education]. PMID- 2620546 TI - [Interventional percutaneous diagnosis and therapy of the bile ducts]. PMID- 2620547 TI - [Percutaneous drainage of abdominal abscesses]. PMID- 2620548 TI - [A new concept in surgical treatment of anal incontinence]. AB - A new treatment of anal incontinence has been presented. This method combines the postanal repair of Parks with a sphincteroplasty by autologous large saphenous vein. The vein has no trophic requirements and has a high containing economy. Manometrically, a highly active high pressure zone has been proven. Histologic examinations have shown flubless healing in the intestinal wall of the free vein transplant when prestretched accordingly. PMID- 2620549 TI - [Percutaneous drainage treatment of abscess and fluid retention following abdominal surgery]. AB - 61 patients with abdominal abscesses and fluid collections as a postoperative complication underwent percutaneous drainage. 60 abscesses, 11 haematomas, 3 steril seromas and 3 bile collections were drained. The fluid collections were associated with biliary or enteric fistulae in 16 cases. The percutaneous drainage was successful in 69%, additional surgery was required in 15%. The overall mortality rate was 13%. Reasons for drainage failure were infected clots, phlegmonic abscesses and pancreas involvement of the abscesses. PMID- 2620550 TI - [Primary wound healing of the sacral cavity following rectum amputation, also a comment on the discussion contribution by G. Jatzko and D. Schlapper, Chirurg (1988) 59: 855]. AB - A retrospective study has shown that 46 consecutive abdominoperineal resections (including 3 proctocolectomies due to Crohn's disease or non-classifiable colitis) performed by 6 surgeons showed no signs of wound-healing impairment at the site of the perineal wound or in the sacral cavity. The main points which describe the solution are: orthograde intestinal lavage, prophylactic perioperative antibiotics, closure of the pelvic peritoneum, combined treatment of the sacral cavity with iodoform tamponade and closed drainage. PMID- 2620551 TI - [Abdominal intercostal nerve pain. A contribution to differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain]. AB - Intercostal nerves and their vascular supply can be impinged in a fascial gap of the m.rectus abdominalis and cause neural pain simulating visceral symptoms. The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and proven by histological demonstration of cicatricial impingement of an intercostal nerve. The disease can be cured by simple resection of the impinged nerve. PMID- 2620552 TI - [Rectal prolapse--extracorporeal resection with the surgical stapler]. PMID- 2620553 TI - [A rare complication following endoscopic papillotomy--gallstone ileus]. PMID- 2620554 TI - [Gigantic pheochromocytoma. Report of 2 cases]. PMID- 2620555 TI - [Degenerative lesions of the rotator cuff of the shoulder. Current status of the surgical treatment]. AB - With age there is a progressive deterioration in the capsulo-tendinous cuff of the shoulder: When rotator cuff lesions are limited (in general to the supra spinatus), the cuff remains continent and functional, thereby ensuring good centering of the humeral head. At this stage antero-superior arthrolysis may be indicated for cases of failure of conservative treatment. When there is a large degree of capsulo-tendinous perforation (affecting posteriorly the supra spinatus), the cuff no longer ensures centering of the humeral head and friction with the lip of the acromion progresses until an eccentric arthrosis of the shoulder develops. The surgical treatment of choice is then a deltoid flap procedure which fills in the loss of substance in the cuff and centers the humeral head. The course of eccentric arthrosis of the shoulder itself involves three stages: --stage I: limited to acromio-humeral friction where a deltoid flap is indicated as treatment; --stage II: extension or arthrosis to the gleno humeral level, but without formation of a neoglenoid, where an unrestricted gleno humeral prosthesis, centered by a combined flap procedure, is in our opinion the best surgical solution; --stage III: where the formation of an eccentric supero medial neoglenoid produces very unpredictable functional results after arthroplastic procedures. PMID- 2620556 TI - [Meeting of the Moroccan Society of Surgery and the Academy of Surgery. Rabat, 9 November 1988]. PMID- 2620557 TI - [Treatment of post-poliomyelitis paralytic scoliosis of more than 80 by skeletal traction followed by posterior vertebral arthrodesis fixed with Luque's segmental spinal device]. AB - We present 45 consecutive cases of post-poliomyelitic paralytic scoliosis, with an angle ranging from 90 degrees to 145 degrees (mean 117 degrees), seen in subjects aged between 12 and 16 years, and treated by arthrodesis using a Luque type segmental spinal apparatus with, in the cases showing an oblique pelvis, anchoring to the pelvis using the Galveston technique. Post-operative contention was not performed. Neurological complications were not seen in any patient. There were no cases of rupture of either rods or wires. The loss of correction at one year was between 5 and 10 degrees. The technique was shown to be effective when obliqueness of the pelvis was not present. In rigid forms, with an oblique pelvis, a circumferential arthrodesis is indicated provided that a rigid apparatus has not previously been inserted thereby preventing supplementary correction via the posterior route. PMID- 2620558 TI - [Arteriopathies of the lower limbs in adults under 40 years of age]. AB - In Morocco, thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is the most common cause of obliterating arteriopathy in subjects under 40 years: 252 cases out of 291, versus 21 cases of diabetic arteritis and 18 miscellaneous causes. The anatomo clinical appearance is in keeping with the criteria for Buerger's disease with the exception of superficial migratory thrombophlebitis. The absolute basis of treatment has been the total definitive discontinuation of smoking. Platelet anti aggregant agents have also been used. Aside from limited resections of distal gangrenous regions (168 cases), surgery has been limited to lumbar sympathectomy without adrenalectomy (154 cases). Out of 133 patients regularly followed up for more than one year, results were good in 102 patients. The 39 poor results occurred exclusively in patients who continued or restarted smoking. PMID- 2620559 TI - [Aneurysms of the renal artery. Personal experience in 101 cases]. AB - The authors operated on 101 aneurysms of the renal artery in 97 patients. A great majority of the patients had dysplastic aneurysms. In most cases, the aneurysm was associated with other lesions: of the renal artery (41 cases), of the kidney (17 cases), of the aorta or of other visceral arteries (10 cases) or of other organs (4 cases). Renal artery dysplastic aneurysms are usually saccular and have a fibrous neck. Their walls are frequently very thin, predisposing to rupture. Intrasaccular thrombosis is rare. In nearly all patients, the aneurysms were discovered on angiography performed because of arterial hypertension. When no stenosis of the renal artery is present, the aneurysm itself cannot be held responsible for the hypertension. Treatment consisted of 16 nephrectomies and 85 arterial repairs; 16 of the repairs were performed by ex situ surgery. Modalities of repairs depend on anatomical arrangement of the vessels. Use of an arterial substitute is optional: an arterial autograft is the material of choice. Surgical repair protects against the threat of aneurysmal rupture. Arterial hypertension is cured only when an associated stenosis has been repaired. Surgical treatment is recommended in most cases. Failures have considerably decreased with experience and the use of ex situ repair. PMID- 2620560 TI - [Continent urostomy using a hydraulic ileal valve. Apropos of 160 cases]. AB - We report our experience of continent urostomy about 160 cases. This study described the continence mechanism by the hydraulic valve. This one is made by isolating of 14 cm long ileal loop which is invaginated. It was adapted to six reservoirs: 142 ileocecums, 9 ileal pouchs, 4 bladders, 3 sigmoids, 1 rectum and 1 colonic transverse segment. The follow-up was few months to 14 years. 145 patients are continent, the continent urostomy was well tolerated by the upper urinary tract. The complications of the valve and their management are analysed. PMID- 2620561 TI - [Injuries of the spleen: conservative treatment or exeresis?]. AB - The authors report their experience with splenic preservation in a series of 36 patients. 77 patients with splenic injury were seen during the period from 1982 to 1987. In 41 cases splenectomy had to be carried out. This was for splenic contusions secondary to road traffic accidents in 36 cases and iatrogenic per operative lesions in 5 cases. Intra-omental splenic autotransplantation was performed in 4 cases. In 36 other patients, the spleen was able to be preserved. Hemostasis was fairly obtained using infra-red photocoagulation (24 cases), splenorrhaphy (8 cases), surrounding the spleen with a resorbable mesh (3 cases) or by partial splenectomy (1 case). Only 1 case of transient and moderate secondary hemorrhage was seen and did not require further surgery. The authors define the legitimacy of splenic preservation and its indications and also stress its limitations. They insist on the following contraindications: preexisting splenic disease, subject on anticoagulants, labile blood pressure, multiple intra abdominal lesions, presence of intra-peritoneal infection, severe cranio encephalic lesions, age over 70 years. Study of this series shows that conservative treatment is most often justified for splenic trauma. Nevertheless, in view of the real but rare risk of OPSI, it is better to have a correct splenectomy than an incorrectly preserved spleen. PMID- 2620562 TI - [Closed injuries of the liver. A series of 70 surgical cases (1983-1988)]. AB - Analysis of a series of 70 cases of closed trauma to the liver seen between 1983 and 1988, confirms the gravity of these lesions even when good transport and reception facilities exist for injured patients. The combined efforts of resuscitation and surgery fail for two reasons: the severity of actual hepatic disruption and the existence of extra-hepatic injury in patients with multiple trauma. The major threat comes from the hemorrhagic syndrome which is responsible for almost half the deaths. The dogma advising emergency surgical intervention still remains, if only to evaluate the exact degree of liver trauma and to deal with coexisting intra-abdominal lesions. The surgical intervention should be adapted to the hepatic lesion without attempting complicated technical procedures. In the absence of coagulopathy, resection should be reserved for massive lesions. Most often direct hemostasis and parenchymal suture are sufficient. This should always be attempted if it appears reasonable. In more severe situations, especially if a coagulopathy exists, packing is a wise and logical procedure. Surgical abstention should especially be reserved for cases of unruptured central or sub-capsular hematoma, in a stable hemodynamic situation, under strict surveillance in a specialised surgical department. In contrast to the high initial mortality (40%), the subsequent course is generally favorable and without specific sequelae even after major disruption or hepatic resection. The use of an appropriate therapeutic strategy will reward the surgeon with a cure in 6 out of 10 cases of closed hepatic trauma. PMID- 2620563 TI - [Surgery of hydatid cysts of the liver: 581 patients, 952 cysts]. AB - Over a period of 20 years, surgery was carried out in 581 patients for 952 hydatid cysts of the liver. Patients included 372 females and 209 males, aged from 6 to 70 years, with a mean age of 34 years. 52% of patients were aged between 20 and 40 years. The cyst was single in 324 patients, double in 102, triple in 22 and multiple in 133. Treatment most often consisted of resection of the projecting dome of the cyst (78%), and more rarely pericystectomy (5.5%), hepatic resection (3.5%) or external drainage (4.2%) via a median incision in 412 cases and a subcostal incision in 126 cases. Capitonnage of the residual cavity was combined with resection of the projecting dome, 176 cases included a cystobiliary fistula with migration occurring in 30 cases. Morbidity was 20% and included, in particular, 45 cases of subphrenic abscess. 19 patients showed signs of recurrence and 16 underwent further surgery. Overall mortality was 2.06% i.e. 12 patients. In endemic countries, resection of the projecting dome remains a method which gives good results and has a low mortality and morbidity. PMID- 2620564 TI - [Septic diaphyseal pseudarthrosis. Practice during war and peace time. Apropos of 130 cases]. AB - 130 septic diaphyseal pseudoarthroses (SDP) were treated over a period of 10 years, 58 in the context of a war situation and 72 in civilian practice. The two etiologies differed in that the size of the initial associated cutaneous lesion was much greater in battle injuries. A staged treatment procedure was applied in 110 cases: treatment of the infection, followed by osteogenic grafts and depending on the case, stabilisation of the assembly or replacement of internal by external fixation materials. More recently, the use of muscular or musculocutaneous pedicle flaps has enabled, in a single procedure, the eradication of osteitis and the implantation of cortico-trabecular bone in 20 SDP producing 19 consolidations and 2 cases of residual osteitis. PMID- 2620565 TI - [Exeresis of liver metastases: indications and results]. AB - Between 1980 and 1987, 38 patients with liver metastases have been operated on. In 28 cases the primary tumor was a colo-rectal carcinoma. 11 lobectomies and 27 minor resections or segmentectomies have been performed. The post-operative mortality was 5%. The actuarial survival for the metastases of colo-rectal carcinomas was 54% at 2 years, 27% at 3 years and 18% at 5 years. The results of this series are compared to those of the literature, to discuss indications, technical modalities and prognostic factors of the surgical treatment of liver metastases. PMID- 2620566 TI - [Cancer of the stomach: an epidemiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic study]. AB - The authors report 203 cases of gastric cancer collected between 1974 and 1987 without prior selection. Analysis of these records provided the following information: From an epidemiological viewpoint, there was no predominance of blood group A; a certain number of gastric lesions preceded or coexisted with the cancer. From a clinical viewpoint epigastric pain and general physical deterioration were the most frequent presenting signs. Physical examination was normal in 32.5% of patients, while 34.4% presented a palpable epigastric mass. Diagnosis was confirmed by a combination of radiology (transit studies of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum) and endoscopy with multiple biopsies. These procedures were carried out in 88% and 72% of patients respectively. 87% of patients were operable and resection was possible in 50%. Subtotal gastrectomy was performed in 61% of cases where resection was possible. The overall operative mortality was 8.5% and 20% for extended total gastrectomy. Actuarial survival was only correctly evaluated in 42% of operated patients. It was estimated to be 5%. PMID- 2620567 TI - [Caustic esophageal stenosis in children: report and prevention]. AB - From 1976 to 1988, 22 caustic burns of the esophagus in children were treated by retrograde dilatations (21 cases), by surgical resection and end-to-end anastomosis (2 cases) and by myotomy of the residual stricture after 12 to 18 months retrograde dilatations (4 cases). 3 deaths are recorded which might have been avoided; the treatment was successful in 11 cases and failed in 4 cases which led to the replacement of the esophagus; dilatations are being continued in 4 cases. In view of these results, the choice of the treatment should not be restricted either to conservative treatment continued in spite of poor results or systematic surgical replacement of the esophagus at an early stage. Furthermore, the use of an intraluminal splint has proved efficient in preventing esophageal stricture in 4 cases of caustic burns at stage III. PMID- 2620568 TI - [Esophagoplasty in caustic esophageal stenosis in children]. AB - Over a period of 30 years, 53 children suffering from caustic stenosis of the oesophagus were treated by oesophagoplasty. The left colon was most often used (49), though on occasions a Gavriliu gastric tube (3) or the right ileo-colon was used (1). Technical failure occurred in 7 cases with left esophagocoloplasty and this was treated with either a gastric tube (4) or right esophagocoloplasty (3). Oesophagectomy to prevent cancer was carried out on 20 occasions after the oesophagoplasty, on 23 occasions at the same time at the oesophagoplasty, and has yet to be carried out in 6 children. Early mortality was zero; 4 uncomplicated cervical fistulae occurred; 12 anastomotic stenoses were cured by dilatation and 5 required further surgery. Death occurred in 3 children as a late event: one at 2 months, due to difficulty with deglutition, one at 2 years, due to meningococcal septicemia, and one at 3 years due to obstruction from adhesions. Peptic reflux was seen in 3/9 Gavriliu plasties and in 6/45 coloplasties. Functional sequelae were absent in 29 cases and 12 cases suffered occasional episodes of obstruction. The best procedure appeared to be posterior mediastinal esophagocoloplasty combined with resection of the damaged oesophagus. PMID- 2620569 TI - [Partial and total reconstructions of the esophagus. Report on 140 cases]. AB - This work is based on 140 cases of esophageal reconstructions collected during 17 years from 1970 to 1987. Those interventions were performed for 62 cancerous esophageal lesions, 8 peptic stenosis and 70 caustic stenosis. The immediate and long-term results will be presented. Important points of the reconstructions will be stressed. PMID- 2620570 TI - [Cytosol estrogen, progestin receptors and secretory endometrium in infertile women]. AB - The serum levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), FSH, PRL and cytosol estrogen and progestin receptors (EcR, PcR) contents in the endometrial tissues were analyzed in patients with inadequate secretory endometrium. The result shows that EcR and PcR are significantly lower (EcR: P less than 0.01; PcR: P less than 0.05) in these patients than those of control group. The inadequate secretory changes of endometrium correlated with insufficient EcR and PcR contents rather than with decreased levels of serum E2, P, FSH and PRL. The authors suggest that during treatment of such patients both the hormonal levels in the peripheral blood and the EcR, PcR contents in the tissue should be considered at the same time. PMID- 2620571 TI - [Female infertility due to tubal obstruction--management and clinicopathologic study of 66 cases]. AB - Sixty-six cases of female infertility due to obstruction of fallopian tubes from December 1984 to June 1988 were analysed. A discrepancy of 28.8% existed between hysterosalpingography and operative findings, e. g. X-ray revealed blocked tubes, but during operation the tubes were found to be patent. The abnormal and marked tortuosity giving rise to resistance to the passage of oil at the ampullar portion of tubes in the majority of cases may be the explanation. Pathological examination of 48 specimens revealed the chief cause of obstruction was nonspecific infection (50.0%). The next tuberculous infection (31.3%). The third isthmic nodular salpingitis (6.25%) and the fourth endometriosis (4.2%). Operative procedures were done for the purpose of ovum pick-up and to treat the diseased tubes. Three cases of clinical pregnancy as the result of intra operative ovum pick-up in a program of IVF/ET occurred after 1987 when our IVF technology gradually improved. This result suggests that operation on the tubes did not jeopardize the process of implantation. Among the 14 cases followed up for more than one year 3 cases became pregnant. Operations to relax and straighten up the tortuous part of the tubes or instillation of fluid into the tubes and transplantation of the healthy tube into the single horn uterus were effective. To do an anastomosis on the chronically inflamed and thickened tubes was not helpful. PMID- 2620572 TI - [Tubal anastomosis for reversal of sterilization with microsurgical technic in 246 women]. AB - Tubal anastomosis for reversal of sterilization was performed with microsurgical technique in 246 women, from January 1985 to June 1987. The operation time after tubal sterilization averaged 43.5 months. The patients (99.6%) were followed-up for 3-33 months. Intrauterine pregnancies occurred in 178 cases, the rate being 72.4%. The factors which influence success rate are the tubal length after anastomosis and the mode of original tubal ligation. Postoperative instillation of fluids into fallopian tubes should be performed early to prevent adhesions and early intercourse should also be encouraged. PMID- 2620573 TI - [Dystocia and intracranial hemorrhage in perinatal autopsy]. AB - A statistic analysis of 1,421 perinatal autopsies from our institute in 30 years divided into 5-year groups, matched with clinical data was reported. Dystocia rate was 2.3 times increased mainly because the number of cesarean section was increased 6.8 times. The rate of intracranial hemorrhage has not been reduced significantly in the 6-groups. However in the last 5 years intracranial hemorrhage due to trauma as result of dystocia has decreased. The development of intracranial hemorrhage depends upon the birth weight and the degree of anoxia: the lower the birth weight, the more severe the anoxia, the more intracranial hemorrhage. The location of hemorrhage is intraventricular and subarachnoid. The higher the birth weight, the more the traumatic type of intracranial hemorrhage, and the location of bleeding was subdural due to tentorial tear of the cerebellum. Trauma occurred more frequently with severe anoxia. In the neonatal intracranial hemorrhage group 2/3 died within 2 days; a few died after one week. PMID- 2620574 TI - [Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn contents of the maternal and umbilical cord serum in pregnancy induced hypertension]. AB - Calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc in the maternal and umbilical cord serum were measured in 106 patients suffering from pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and 106 controls. Mean maternal serum values of Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn in the PIH group were 2.460 mmol/L, 0.839 mmol/L, 35.094 mol/L and 8.408 mumol/L,respectively and were compared with the corresponding Values of 2.765 mmol/L, 0.834 mmol/L, 31.486 mumol/L, and 9.657 mumol/L in the controls. The Ca and Zn levels were lower and Cu higher in the PIH group (P less than 0.05 or P less than 0.01). No significant difference was found in the four elements in umbilical cord serum between the PIH cases and controls, indicating that the fetus can maintain an adequate Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn homeostasis even in pregnancy-induced hypertension. However, PIH cases had a lower Ca level in maternal serum than in umbilical cord serum. This study suggests that maternal serum Ca, Cu and Zn are related to PIH, and Ca might have a causal role in the development of PIH. PMID- 2620575 TI - [Intestinal metastasis and surgery in ovarian cancer: analysis of 62 cases]. AB - Sixty-two cases of ovarian cancer with intestinal metastatic tumors larger than 2 cm in diameter were treated from January, 1982 to October, 1987, accounting for 28.1% of a total of 221 cases of ovarian cancer admitted during the same period. Metastasis to the large intestine was observed in all 62 cases, of which the rectosigmoid was involved in 59(95.2%). Metastasis to the small bowel was observed in 26. A complete or optimal resection of the intraperitoneal tumors was achieved in 46(74.2%). Resection of the metastatic tumors of intestine was performed in 40 cases. Resection of the bowel was carried out in 22 and a colostomy was done in 6. During followup, 17 patients (27.4%) survived, 39 died and 6 had recurrent disease. The mean survival time for 17 patients achieving complete remission was 30.3 months. Of these, 10 have survived for more than 2 years and 7 for more than 3 years. The role and feasibility of bowel surgery in the treatment of ovarian cancer are discussed. PMID- 2620576 TI - [Evaluation of benign ovarian tumour surgery]. AB - Eighty patients with benign ovarian tumour including 54 cases of enucleation and 26 cases of salpingo-oophorectomy were followed-up. The results showed that the menstruation and fertility of post-enucleation patients were better than those of post-salpingo-oophorectomy. The tumour relapses revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The pathology of 12 cases of ovarian tissue enucleated showed that most ovarian tissue outside the tumours were normal ovarian cortex and primordia follicles. The advantages of ovarian tumour enucleation were discussed. PMID- 2620577 TI - [An epidemiologic study of the risk factors leading to prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation]. AB - A case-controlled epidemiologic study on the risk factors leading to prematurity and IUGR was carried out in 7 rural areas in Shunyi County, Beijing. 88 prematures, 83 IUGR and 509 normal controls were included in this study and 142 factors have been taken into consideration. The result revealed that strong or abrupt physical and psychic stroke to the gravidae were the main risk factors for prematurity while maternal poor health and malnutrition played a leading role in IUGR. Deficient in-take of various diet constituents might also play a part in both prematurity and IUGR Preventive measures, based on this study are postulated. PMID- 2620578 TI - [Clinical study of fetal echocardiography]. AB - Fetal echocardiography was studied by PUMC Hospital Xi' an and Harbin Medical University in collaboration. 320 fetuses were examined with M-mode. 2D and pulsed Doppler echocardiograph during one year. 7 cases of congenital heart disease were found including four ASD, one VSD, one complex deformity (single atrium, left ventricle undeveloped and pulmonary arteria) and one heart tumor (rhabdomyoma). Normal fetal echocardiographic and Doppler parameters were detected in 313 normal fetuses. The characteristic of abnormal fetal echo are: (1) The diameter of the arterial and ventricular chambers increased with increasing fetal age. (2) Fetal RV/LV = 1.1, RA greater than or equal to LA. (3) The thickness of the RV free wall is same as that of the LV free wall and septum. The fetal Doppler echo revealed: (1) The peak velocity of pulmonary artery in the early systole. (2) Peak A/Peak E greater than 1 in mitral and tricuspid valves Doppler spectra. The characteristic of fetal echocardiography consists of prominence of the right ventricle and high pulmonary pressure in the fetus. PMID- 2620579 TI - [Research on predicting neonatal acid-base status]. AB - Intrapartum monitoring and umbilical arterial blood pH study were carried out in 103 cases of normal pregnancy from March 1987 to December 1987. A stepwise linear regression analysis was done on 23 factors concerning the status of the newborns and 5 significant umbilical arterial blood pH, related ones that is fetal scalp blood pH, duration of the second stage of labour. Maternal blood PCO2, BB and M/F delta BDHb5. It is considered that Fischer's FHR-monitoring scoring system M/F delta pH and status of amniotic fluid etc, bear no relation to umbilical arterial blood pH. From these 5 significant factors, a regression equation was obtained so that the acid-base status of newborns can be predicted. PMID- 2620580 TI - [Serum copper levels and pathologic changes in the fetal membranes in cases of premature rupture of the membranes]. AB - 140 samples of serum and amnionic membrane collected from 60 patients with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and 20 controls were assayed for levels of essential trace elements by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICPAES). 72 samples of amnionic membranes were examined by pathologist with HE. Van Gieson's and Wright's strain. The serum copper level in PROM cases was significantly lower (23.438 8 +/- 3.292 4 mumol/L) as compared with that of the controls (30.044 1 +/- 4.416 1 mumol/L), P less than 0.01. The serum and tissue level of essential trace elements (Cr, Mn) showed no difference. The collagen and elastin in the amnionic membranes were sparse and weak. It is pointed out that the low copper level and the sparse and weak collagen and elastin in amnionic membranes may be related to PROM. PMID- 2620581 TI - [Relation of estrogen and bone loss in postmenopausal women]. AB - Seventy-six women were divided into three groups: child-bearing age (A), premenopausal (B) and postmenopausal (C). In addition 14 cases were randomly chosen from group C (0-5 years after menopause) for estrogen treatment (5 micrograms ethinylestradiol daily for one month). Serum levels of sex steroids and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined as an index of bone formation. Ratios of fasting urinary calcium to creatinine (Ca/Cr) and of hydroxyproline to creatinine (Hyp/Cr) were taken as indexes of bone resorption. Radial bone mineral content (BMC) was measured by single photon absorptiometry. In group C serum ALP Ca/Cr and Hyp/Cr were increased by 20%, 31% and 33%, and the respective values were reduced by 11%, 33% and 24% after estrogen therapy. In group C there was a significant lowering of radial BMC as well as serum E1 and E2 levels. PMID- 2620582 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine adhesions]. AB - Twenty-four cases of intrauterine adhesions (Asherman's syndrome) were reported. The characteristic clinical picture was amenorrhea of hypomenorrhea accompanied by periodic lower abdominal pain. Intrauterine adhesions were demonstrated by hysterography in 14 cases. Lysis of adhesions was performed in 14 patients through vaginal route and in 3 by abdominal hysterotomy. Cyclic abdominal pain disappeared after treatment in all patients and normal menses were established in 16 cases (94%). In 11 patients with intrauterine adhesions developing after trauma, 3 conceived for 4 times all resulting in full term deliveries of healthy babies. The etiologic factors method of diagnosis and treatment of intra-uterine adhesions and prevention of readhesion are discussed. PMID- 2620583 TI - [Prediction of the malignant tendency of hydatidiform mole by determination of DNA content]. AB - The cellular DNA content of paraffin-embedded molar tissue blocks obtained from the first curettage was measured by flow cytometry in 64 cases of hydatidiform mole. Of these 64 cases 32 developed malignant changes and 32 remained persistently benign during a period of follow-up of 0.5 to 7.5 years. The proportion of aneuploid was 59.4% in patients demonstrating malignant changes and 34.4% in those with persistent benign diseases. The difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). This preliminary result suggests that DNA aneuploid may be used as a parameter for the prediction of possible malignant changes and selecting of indications for prophylactic chemotherapy. PMID- 2620584 TI - [Cellular DNA content of human cervical carcinoma]. AB - Microspectrophotometric measurement of the cellular DNA content of 73 cervical carcinoma specimens was carried out. The tumor was diploid in 7 cases, tetraploid in 2 and aneuploid in 64. The cases could be divided into hyperploid and hypoploid groups using the DNA index of 1.5 as demarcation. The DNA content was found to be closely related to the histologic types and mitotic figures of the tumors. Hyperploidy was more frequently seen in large-cell carcinoma and hypoploidy in small-cell varieties. PMID- 2620585 TI - IgE, mast cells and the allergic response. Proceedings of a symposium. London, 11 13 April 1989. PMID- 2620586 TI - [A study of personality type and its pathogenetic effect on patients with cerebrovascular disease]. AB - A survey of the personality types of 85 patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) was made in comparison with those of 100 healthy persons. A personality behaviour scale in the form of questionnaires was used. The result showed that not only the total scores (TH + CH) of the patients, group were much higher than those of the healthy subject group (P less than 0.01), but the scores of TH and CH were also higher than those of the control group respectively. This group of CVD patients have similar personality types as the group of patients "A" type of personality being dominant in both groups. Using the method of multiple steps and regression analytical procedures with the help of an IBM PC/XT microcomputer, fourteen independent variables (X1-14) and six dependent variables (Y1-6) were analysed individually. The results revealed that the usual, conventional risk factors such as elderly age, history of hypertension, obesity, alcoholism, and etc. Would be the most important pathogenic elements. Although the "A" type of personality ranked behind the above mentioned factors, yet its importance should not be neglected. PMID- 2620587 TI - [A 3 to 6-year follow-up study of 414 cases of cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage]. AB - To study the long-term prognosis, we performed annual follow-up examinations on 414 patients who had survived cerebrovascular accidents, including 334 cases of cerebral infarction and 80 cases of cerebral hemorrhage. All patients had been admitted to the Neurological Service of our hospital from January 1, 1976 to December 31, 1980, and were followed up for 3-6 years. The life-table method, the log rank test, and the rank sum test were used to determine the cumulative marked improvement rate, the cumulative recovery rate of pathological reflexes, the cumulative survival rate, and the cumulative recurrence rate. The results revealed the marked improvement rate in cerebral infarction was 81.98%, while in cerebral hemorrhage 89.87% at the end of 3 years after discharge. The recovery rate of pathological reflexes was 52.59% in cerebral infarction, 54.75% in cerebral hemorrhage at the end of 4 years. The cumulative survival rate was 58.67% in cerebral infarction, 53.36% in cerebral hemorrhage at the end of 6 years. The cumulative recurrence rate was 49.39% in cerebral infarction, 49.81% in cerebral hemorrhage at the end of 6 years. PMID- 2620588 TI - [Observation of plasma levels of antithrombin-III and plasminogen in acute cerebrovascular disease]. AB - In 75 patients with acute cerebral vascular disease (infarction 43, TIA 4, cerebral hemorrhage 25, subarachnoid hemorrhage 3), the plasma levels of Antithrombin-III (AT-III) and plasminogen (Plg) were measured within one week stroke patient and with 27 non-stroke patient as controls. The results showed: the plasma AT-III level was of no significant difference between the patients with hemorrhagic or ischemic cerebral vascular disease group and control group; the plasma plg level was a significant decrease in ischemic cerebral vascular disease groups (cerebral infarction. TIA), and it was of significant difference between the cerebral infarction group, or the TIA group and those of the control group (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.01) respectively. In view of these results suggest that measuring of Plasma Plg level is a valuable unspecific assays indicator for ischemic cerebral vascular diseases. Finally, the relationship between high coagulation and acute cerebral vascular disease was discussed. PMID- 2620589 TI - [A study of superoxide dismutase in erythrocytes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy]. AB - In orders to search for possible events in the pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase has been determined in thirty-seven patients and fifteen carriers of DMD, comparison to fourty-five age-matched normal controls, seventeen cases of infantile, Kugelberg Welander type spinal muscle atrophy. The results showed that superoxide dismutase activity were elevated especially in early periods of disease in DMD but not in other groups of patients. These findings suggest that alterations of SOD do not constitute the primary mechanism of inducing membrane damage. A considerable increased SOD activity in DMD patients may be a compensatory phenomenon secondary to muscle degeneration. PMID- 2620590 TI - [The preliminary experience of MRI diagnoses in multiple sclerosis: a report of 3 cases]. AB - In this report, 3 patients with suspected MS were studied by MRI. All patients were performed with spin-echo (SE) pulse sequence. A pulse repetition time (TR) of 1800 msec. and echo time (TE) of 33, 66, 99, 132 msec. producing a T2-weighted image. The result showed that MS is characterized by numerous long T2 lesions in the paraventricular white matter. Brain stem lesions were seed in all 3 patients. MRI is a very useful diagnostic tool for diagnosis of MS. PMID- 2620591 TI - [Diagnostic value of delayed enhancement CT scan for syringomyelia]. AB - The article reported nine cases with syringomyelia confirmed by delayed enhancement CT scan. It was emphasized that the delayed enhancement CT scan was helpful not only to as certain position, shape, and size of lesions, but also to be fairly significant to the diagnosis of syringomyelia without typical manifestation, especially in differential diagnosis. It was suggested that delayed enhancement CT scan should be taken as a routine examination method for syringomyelia in hospitals having CT scan. PMID- 2620592 TI - [The preliminary investigation of cholinesterase in depression]. AB - In this paper the activity of blood cholinesterase and serum cholinesterase were reported in 32 depressions without physical disease. There were 20 males and 12 females. Prior to study none of the patients received antidepressants, lithium and antipsychotics or other therapies. The control group consisted of 43 normal healthy persons (male: 32, female: 11). The results showed that the mean activity unit of blood cholinesterase and serum cholinesterase were lower in major depression than in the control group. Particularly more lower in the activity of blood cholinesterase in patients with very severe depression and longer course of depression. The differences were statistically significant. Based on the review of literatures, some authors suggested that the low activity of blood cholinesterase would be consistent with the hypothesis, that depression is associated with reduced cholinesterase activity in the brain. The reason for the mechanism is not clear. Whether it is a biological marker of depression, this needs further investigation. PMID- 2620593 TI - [An epidemiologic study of neurosis among 3809 aged people with special reference to factors influencing its outcome]. AB - An epidemiological survey was conducted to assess the prevalence as well as clinical features of neurosis among 3,809 aged people in an urban residential area of Beijing with 50,639 population. It was found, contrary to expectation, that the prevalence was 2.96% and preponderant symptoms seemed to be worrisome, tense, irritable and depressive. Neurasthenia and anxious--depressive neurosis were most frequently diagnosed before or after the age of 60, respectively. Factors were analysed in relation to the causation of illness, indicating that family status, family structure, personal attitude toward life and physical disability were important ones. 91 of total 113 cases manifested either exacerbation or fluctuation of symptomatology and 77 cases (86.6%) encountered stressful life event, such as bereavement, family conflict or solitude. No case was found to have impairment of social function when tested by SDSS. It was finally concluded that neurosis of aged people seems to be one of those urgent mental health issues to be tackled over. PMID- 2620594 TI - [Clinical analysis of 47 cases of epilepsy]. AB - This article makes a clinical analyses of the general data concerning 47 epileptic cases in our hospital, and especially reports on the forensic psychiatric assessment of two out of the seven criminal cases, their history of illness and responsibility. In the assessment of such cases, special emphasis should be laid on the diagnosis of the epilepsy so as to avoid misdiagnosis. The author suggests that the patient folds no responsibility for his criminal behaviour during the attack. But he should be responsible in a diminished criminal for his criminal behavior when he is only suffering from a personality disorder, since he has some discriminative and self-control ability. PMID- 2620595 TI - [Family life events and behavior problems in children]. AB - In this paper, Family Life Event Questionnaire and Children Behavior Questionnaire were applied to measure the 402 subjects between 3-15 years old from 301 rural and urban families. The results showed that family life events were accompanied with behavior problems in children. Six events, which can be concluded into the inappropriate management for parents to control the children, the harmful family atmosphere and the parents' inferior role, related with the behavior problems closer than the other events. PMID- 2620596 TI - [Anaerobes in biliary tract infection]. AB - Bile specimens from sixty-nine patients who had undergone biliary tract surgery or PTC have been subjected to bacteriological study by anaerobic and aerobic techniques. Among 50 specimens from the patients with hepatolithiasis, anaerobes were detected in 74.0%, and aerobes in 98.0%. 11 bile specimens from cholecystolithiasis, only 27.3% anaerobes and 36.4% aerobes were detected. Eight patients with biliary duct tumour had sterile bile. The most common isolated anaerobes was bacteroides and with an average of 1.7 species detected. All bile specimens are mixed infections. The incidence of bacterial infection are higher in the pigmented calcium stone than cholesterol stone. This study showed that metronidazole is the drug of choice in the treatment of anaerobic bile infection. PMID- 2620597 TI - [The double-chambered right ventricle. Report of 8 cases]. AB - From April 1985 to 1988, of 264 patients under went repair of congenital heart defect, 8 patients with double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) were successfully managed. All patients survived well. The catheterization and angiocardiography in the right ventricle(RV) play an important role in the preoperative diagnosis. To avoid missing and incorrect management the surgeon must keep the possibility of DCRV in mind during repair of a VSD. A dimple in the anterior wall of the RV during systole represents the underlying attachment of the aberrant muscular bundle. The right ventricular outflow tract must be explored when through a right atriotomy to repair the VSD and the tricuspid valve must be examined when through a right ventriculotomy. PMID- 2620598 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux]. AB - From 1962 to 1988, 17 patients with esophageal hiatal hernia with or without gastroesophageal reflux were treated. Among these, 14 patients received various types of gastroesophageal junction reconstructive procedures. Experience demonstrated that the clinical studies including gastroesophagography, endoscopy and intraluminal pressure patterns of esophagus are important diagnostic measures. It also seems, to us that intraluminal esophageal pressure monitoring during surgical operation is particularly useful in determining the adequacy of gastroesophageal reconstruction and may provide a dynamic evaluation of function of the gastroesophageal junction area. Some aspects of diagnosis and surgical treatment are discussed in detail. PMID- 2620599 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of open thoraco-abdominal injuries]. AB - From January 1954 to December 1987, 42 cases with open thoracoabdominal injuries were surgically treated. The causes of trauma were gun shot in 11, stabbing in 28, and buffalo horn injury in 3 cases. 24 cases were complicated with shock and 29 cases had more than two thoracoabdominal organs injured. 3 patients died postoperatively, an operative mortality rate of 7.1%. The authors discussed the problems of nomenclature, diagnosis and treatment and emphasized that: (1) open wound with thoracic and abdominal cavities and diaphragm involved simultaneously should be called open thoraco-abdominal injury; (2) surgical treatment is often delayed if diagnosis depends solely on X-ray examination; (3) operative approach should be carefully selected according to circumstances. PMID- 2620600 TI - [Surgical treatment of thalamic tumors]. AB - 15 cases of thalamic tumor are presented. Among them, 6 cases were diagnosed by ventriculography and angiography before 1980. Since 1981, 9 cases were diagnosed by CT scan. Operation was refused in 3 cases. Lateral ventriculo and superior sagittal sinus shunt was performed in one case. Open biopsy by craniotomy followed by ventriculo-interhemispheric fissure shunt was done in 2 cases. Partial resection of tumor in 8 cases. Total resection was achieved in one case. The choice of treatment of thalamic tumors is discussed. The author prefers direct operation for that may got some tumor tissues and could made the actual diagnosis pathologically. The quantity of tumor removed is decided according to the situation. Raised intracranial pressure must be controlled by shunt, and preventing its infection is very important. PMID- 2620601 TI - [Cryptococcal granuloma of the brain. Report of 7 cases]. AB - 7 cases of cryptococcal granuloma of the brain are reported. All were confirmed pathologically by autopsy or operation. The granuloma involved not only cerebral hemisphere but also the basal ganglion, hypothalamus, cerebellum and brain stem. It's clinical character and CSF examination are closely similar to the findings of tuberculous meningitis, and the larger toruloma is easy to be mistaken as brain tumor. The authors introduced several valuable methods of diagnosis of these patients. The indications of operation as well as medication are discussed also. PMID- 2620602 TI - [Preoperative management of scoliosis by positioning the trunk on its convex side]. AB - A new method, hanging the scoliotic trunk on its convex side, for preoperative management of scoliosis was described and has been used on 36 patients with good result. The weight used varied individually from 10 kg to 40 kg to lift the convex side 5 to 8 cm above the bed surface on which he or she lay. Hanging in this way in about 2 weeks would stretch out and relax the soft tissues on the convex side, resulting in maximum correction. This method is simple, effective and without side effect. We would think that it is an ideal way for preoperative correction of idiopathic scoliosis. PMID- 2620603 TI - [Acute rupture of lumbar intervertebral disc caused by violent manipulation]. AB - Five cases of acute rupture of lumbar intervertebral disc caused by violent manipulation are reported. After protrusion of the lumbar intervertebral disc were treated by violent manipulation, the lumbo-leg pain were severe suddenly. The operations found that the annulus fibrosus had ruptured and the nerve root or cauda equina was constricted by the nucleus pulposus which had entered into the spinal canal. It must be emphasized that their is in danger of more damaging intervertebral disc degenerated by violent manipulation, then the adhesion of the nerve root will occur gradually. We don't suggest to make violent manipulation for the patient with the nerve root injured. We have acquired good results in treating protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc by combined therapy and they are introduced in this article. PMID- 2620604 TI - [Fracture-dislocation of pelvis in the adult female: clinical analysis of 105 cases]. AB - Pelvic fractures with or without dislocation in 105 females, aged above 15 years, were studied. 47.6% of the fractures was through the antero-posterior ring. Among the complications, genital organ injury happened in 15 patients (14.5%): rupture of uterus in 5 (3 wombs conceived over 3 mon, 1 in period of nursing, 1 in normal state), rupture of ovary in 2, rupture of ovarian tube in 1 and laceration of vagina in 7. They were treated accordingly in urgent need. Follow-up of 1 to 5 years, averaging 5.3 years, showed various sequelae related to original pelvic trauma, of which accounts were given. It is worthy to emphasize that 45 of 75 patients (60%), who had become pregnant later, experienced dystocia due either to deformed pelvis or contracted vagina. 30 of the 45 patients had to undergo cesarean section. 15 other patients (14.3%) became barren following pelvic trauma, though they expected to be mother. Causes of the secondary sterility were discussed. Some patients experienced difficulty in sexual activity because of spoiled vagina, being involved by displaced bone fragment intrusion or by cicatricial contracture of itself. In short, in view of obstetrics, displaced pelvic fracture--dislocation should be reduced early following resuscitation of the patient, and be maintained steady by traction until union or by internal fixation if needed. PMID- 2620605 TI - [A renal function survey in paraplegic patients of the Tangshan earthquake]. AB - The writers had investigated 307 patients with paraplegia caused by Tangshan earthquake on July 28, 1976 and analysed their renograms. The results showed that the incidence of the abnormal renogram was 22.8% and significantly higher in the males and the patients with urinary incontinence than in the females and patients with urinary regularly. The renography was compared with the ultrasonography and their coincidence ratio was 93.5%. The relation among the abnormal renogram, urinary incontinence and sex is discussed. PMID- 2620606 TI - [Pedicle ilio-inguinal axial flaps: clinical analysis of 140 cases]. AB - Pedicle ilio-inguinal axial flaps were carried out in 140 cases with hand injury. The success rate of the operation was 97.85%. The authors consider that the high success rate was due to rare occurrence of vascular variation of the flap and more simplicity of the technique with less complications. This kind of flap could be used in cases of replacement of scar, acute injury and infective wound of hand. The donor area of ilio-inguinal flap is quite concealment. It is much better in cosmetic consideration. But still some disadvantages were existed such as fixation of the arm making discomfort to the patient, and bulky of the hand because of the subcutaneous fat in some cases. PMID- 2620607 TI - [Urethroplasty using a pedicled skin graft of prepuce in the operative repair of hypospadias]. AB - Urethroplasty was carried out with pedicle skin of prepuce in 6 patients with the hypospadias since Feb 1987. The satisfactory results have been achieved and no post-operative complications of urethral fistula and stenosis were found in all patients. The authors consider that the operative procedure is simple, time saving, and satisfactory for hypospadias. PMID- 2620608 TI - [The synergistic effect of low-dose cyclosporine and fluocinolone acetonide on the survival of rat allogenic skin graft]. AB - Either cyclosporine (CsA) or fluocinolone acetonide (FA) may prolong the survival of skin allografts. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of combination of these two treatments. BUF rat skin was transplanted to LEW rat. The mean survival time (MST) of control grafts was 9.9 days. In rats fed low dose CsA (2.5 or 5mg/kg/day, blood CsA 221 or 631 micrograms/ml), the MST were 16.0 days. When FA with or without CsA topically applied only, their MST were 22.7 or 24.1 days. If topical application of CsA + FA in combination with low dose oral CsA, the grafts survived indefinitely when the treatment was continued (100 days). The synergistic effect of CsA and topical FA is significant and provides a potential safe means for prolonging skin allograft survival following burn injury. PMID- 2620609 TI - [Effect of naloxone on experimental head injury in cats]. AB - Forty-five cats were randomly divided into four groups: (1) the control group (n = 11); (2) the head injury group (n = 17); (3) the naloxone group (n = 8); (4) the saline group (n = 9). Naloxone (10mg/kg) was directly injected into cisterna cerebello-medullaris 2 hours after injury. The results showed that naloxone had some effects in maintaining MABP, CPP, lowering of ICP and edema of brain). PMID- 2620610 TI - [Treatment of retinal neovascularization secondary to branch vein occlusion with argon laser photocoagulation]. AB - 20 cases (22 eyes) of retinal neovascularization (RNV) secondary to branch vein occlusion were treated with argon laser photocoagulation. The RNV and the area of nonperfusion in these eyes were detected by fluorescein angiography. The results showed that argon laser photo coagulation was a highly effective therapy for RNV which was refractory to treatment. Photocoagulation minimized or resolved RNV and prevented recurrent vitreous hemorrhage. The relationship of RNV with the area of nonperfusion, the selection of the direct or indirect modality, and the points of note for success and prevention of complications were discussed. PMID- 2620611 TI - [Management of traumatic threatened retinal detachment]. AB - 10 cases of symptomatic retinal tear and discoid edema from perforating injury are reported as traumatic threatened retinal detachments. All 10 patients were fresh cases with clear refractive media, among them were 1 case of retinal discoid edema that led to retinal detachment, subsequently cured by secondary operation, 3 cases of symptomatic retinal tear that were surrounded by photocoagulation, and 6 cases of discoid edema that were encircled by photocoagulation 'dams' to absorb the subretinal fluid for final photocoagulatory closing of the perforation. All these 9 cases were saved from retinal detachment by prophylactic photocoagulation at an early stage. PMID- 2620612 TI - [Fundus examination of newborns on Tibet plateau]. AB - Fundus examination of 255 newborns in high altitude Tibet revealed that the optic discs were of orange-pink colour with clear margin and over ten small vessels. The C/D ratio in 500 eyes (98.04%) was 0.3 or less, and none was 0.6 or over. The C/D ratio in both eyes of 242 babies (94.90%) was symmetrical and in only 1 case (0.39%) it differed by 0.2. The macula of all infants was dark red with no foveal reflection. Some of the veins were engorged. Retinal hemorrhages were found in 64 cases (25.10%), 12 cases in the macular region and 1 case on the optic disc. Retinal edema was present in 30 cases, cotton wool exudates in 30 cases, vitreous artery in 6 cases, and congenital cataracts in 1 case. The mechanism of retinal changes were discussed. PMID- 2620613 TI - [ERG characteristics of congenital stationary night blindness]. AB - The ERG of 9 cases (18 eyes) of congenital stationary night blindness with normal fundi or myopia were tested. All eyes showed absence of rod ERG and cone ERG with normal a-wave. Scotopic mixed ERG were of the negative type in 7 eyes and the subnormal type in 11 eyes. The b/a ratio was reduced in all eyes. The ERG characteristics are useful for the classification, estimation of the probable location of the lesion, and differential diagnosis of the disease. PMID- 2620614 TI - [Significance of flicker VEP and pattern VEP in the diagnosis of optic nerve and pathway diseases]. AB - Both flicker VEP and pattern VEP of 23 patients (34 eyes) were recorded for their objective evaluation as visual function tests in diseases of the optic nerve or optic pathway. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. The flicker VEP is independent of poor visual acuity or opacities in the refractive media; however, the combined use of both methods is useful for accurate diagnosis of certain visual morbidities. PMID- 2620615 TI - [Ocular findings in multiple sclerosis]. AB - 13 (59%) of 22 cases of confirmed multiple sclerosis were of acute or subacute onset and 12 cases (18 eyes) had acute retrobulbar neuritis with acute visual impairment as the initial symptom. During the course of disease, other ocular complaints occurred, such as ptosis, diplopia, nystagmus, pupil signs, visual field defects, or optic nerve disorders. The initial symptoms, clinical manifestations, morbid course, diagnosis, and pathological findings were also touched upon. PMID- 2620616 TI - [Rotational corneal auto-grafting]. AB - Fifteen (15) cases of rotational corneal autografting were performed in patients with adherent leukoma, sequelae of anterior segment burns, corneal ulcer, and corneal fistula. The optical and cosmetic effects were good in 14 of the 15 eyes in which the grafts were clear in the pupil area. The indications, technique, advantages and shortcomings of this operation were discussed. PMID- 2620617 TI - [Growth and contractility of cells from diabetic pre-retinal membrane in primary tissue culture]. AB - Cells grew out in tissue culture from 7 out of 12 diabetic pre-retinal membrane specimens. Cell types of epithelium, glia, macrophage, blood vessel, and fibroblast-like cells were distinguished by inverted phase microscopy, electron microscopy and immunostaining. Electron-microscopy demonstrated abundant cytoplasm fibrils in some of the cells, and immunostaining for actin showed great variation in the intensity of staining. An Mg++ ATP contraction assay on 81 detergent-treated cells revealed a 25% average reduction in the cell area. Immunostaining for cytokeratin and GFAP following the Mg++ ATP assay showed no significant difference in cell contraction among epithelial, glial and other cells. The role of fibroblast-like cells and the contraction of pre-retinal membrane were discussed. PMID- 2620618 TI - [Tissue culture of infant corneal endothelial cells]. AB - The authors report a new technique to culture infant corneal endothelial cells. 38 donor corneas were from sudden death infants aged from 5 days to 18 months. Corneal endothelial cells with Descemet's membrane were stripped from the stroma. After actions of trypsin, collagenase and hyaluronidase, the pure corneal endothelial cells were cultured at 35 degrees C, in 95% air and 5% CO2. The cells grew well without adding any mitogen in the tissue culture medium and attained confluency in 2-3 weeks, when they morphologically resembled natural corneal endothelium. With this technique, sufficient quantities of normal live cells become available for researches of human corneal endothelial cells. PMID- 2620619 TI - [Trace element contents in the transparent lens and the senile cataract lens]. AB - The contents of trace elements Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe in 38 senile cataract lenses and 37 transparent lenses were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. It was found that the contents of the elements in senile cortical cataract lenses were markedly different from those in transparent lenses. Comparing transparent lenses with senile nuclear cataract lenses, there was only difference in the content of Mn. It was therefore inferred that the occurrence of senile cataract was directly related to the deficiency of trace elements. PMID- 2620620 TI - [The biochemical mechanism in vitro of pericyte drop-out in diabetic retinopathy]. AB - An experimental pathologic model of pericyte drop-out was established with capillary pericytes in culture medium of high glucose concentration. The high glucose activated the sorbitol pathway, reduced the intracellular myo-inositol content and disturbed the inositol phospholipid metabolism which resulted in a decrease in the inositol trisphosphate (IP3) level. The correlation of suppressed IP3 level with reduced DNA synthesis was evident, suggesting the mechanism that retinal pericytes degenerated in high glucose concentration. In vitro test of adding myo-inositol and/or aldose reductase inhibitor to the high-glucose medium reversed the inositol phospholipid metabolism and the decreased DNA synthesis, which could hold promise for the clinical prevention and treatment of early diabetic retinopathy. PMID- 2620621 TI - [Electrophysiological changes of the retina after hypothermic vitreous surgery]. AB - Local ocular hypothermia has been introduced as a possible alternative to performing intraocular surgery at the room temperature. The authors evaluated experimentally the effect of prolonged local hypothermia on the ERG. 22 rabbits underwent pars plana vitrectomy followed by continuous irrigation of the vitreous cavity for 1 hour. In the right eye, the temperature of the irrigating solution was 7 degrees C which lowered the intravitreal temperature to 15 degrees C; in the left eye, the solution was at room temperature and the intravitreal temperature was 24 degrees C. Flash ERG was performed pre-operatively and one week postoperatively on all eyes. There was no statistically significant difference in the post-operative ERG changes between the right and left eyes. The authors concluded that no harmful ERG changes were detected as near as 1 week following exposure to hypothermia for 1 hour. PMID- 2620622 TI - [A blindness prevention monitoring system and its application]. AB - The authors conducted a survey of blindness and low vision in the population of 49,770 in Zhong Ning County of Ningxia Province and opened up blindness prevention and treatment with emphasis on cataract. Sight was restored to 88% of the curable blind, bringing down the rate of blindness from 0.24% to 0.14%. A blindness prevention monitoring system of 4 levels was established and its application and significance in the prevention of blindness explored. PMID- 2620623 TI - [Correction of post-operative strabismus after scleral encircling procedures]. AB - The scleral encircling or explant procedures for treatment of retinal detachment usually lead to post-operative strabismus, due to traumatic muscular adhesion to the globe, explant interference with muscular function, nerve damage and muscular paralysis, excessive or prolonged stretching of the muscle and surgical muscular reattachment at an improper site. In addition, there may be muscular atrophy or cicatrizing transformation due to compression. In 3 patients, the authors made use of the cicatricial tissue in place of the original muscle with or without surgical adjustment of the other ocular muscles. Satisfactory cosmetic result and ocular motility were obtained in all 3 cases. PMID- 2620624 TI - [Optic nerve decompression by the transorbital sphenoethmoidal approach]. AB - 5 cases of intracanalicular optic nerve injury were treated with decompression by the transorbital-sphenoethmoidal approach. The methodology and a typical case were presented. The indications and principles of the operation were discussed. The authors deemed the procedure facile, safe and with few complications, hence worthy of recommendation for early adoption, preferably within 2 weeks after the trauma for good effect. PMID- 2620625 TI - [Measurement of the anterior chamber depth by the micrometer eyepiece]. AB - Measurement of the anterior chamber depth by the micrometer eyepiece of the slit lamp is simple and easy. Refractive errors of the eye are important; they may cause a difference of over 0.6 mm when the chamber depth is between 2.6-4.3 mm. The variations of the difference are revealed in a curve, and by using a precalculated table, the actual chamber depths can be found for the apparent measured depths. The effects of the radius curvature and the thickness of the cornea are also discussed. PMID- 2620626 TI - [Ultrastructure of human cancer cells during mitosis]. AB - 200 mitotic cancer cells from 35 varieties of human malignant tumor were studied by electron microscope. The results showed that: 1. Besides the a typical mitotic figures observed under light microscope, there was no significant difference in ultrastructure during the mitotic phase between cancer cell and non-cancer cell; 2. Judging by the ultrastructure of the tumor cell, about 90% of mitotic tumor cells seemed to be undifferentiated, there was no unique characteristic by which a cell differentiation could be made. Only 10% of the mitotic tumor cells belonged to poorly differentiated cells with the cell origin identified. None of the mitotic figures was found in well-differentiated tumor cells. Pathologically, it was reasonable to classify the tumor according to the degree of cell differentiation; 3. During mitosis, the nucleoli disappeared completely or presented themselves in small pieces scattered in the vicinity of the chromosome. No euchromatin was seen and most of polyribosomes were depolymerized into monoribosomes. The ultrastructure seemed to indicate that protein synthesis was inhibited in the mitotic cycle; and 4. In about one half of the mitotic tumor cells, paired cisternae (or confronting cisternae) were found in the cytoplasm, while paired cisterna was observed in a few cells among the thousand tumor cells in the interphase, so paired cisterna was obviously related to the mitotic cycle. PMID- 2620627 TI - [Immunoregulatory effect of polysaccharide of Acanthopanax senticosus (PAS). I. Immunological mechanism of PAS against cancer]. AB - The effect of PAS against cancer and its immunoregulatory function were studied. The results indicated that PAS was able to inhibit tumor growth and prolong the survival time of tumor-bearing mice significantly at the dose of 100 mg/kg/day, ip. In addition, PAS was also able to increase the response of murine spleen cells to Con A and LPS, the amount of IgM and IgG PFC in murine spleen and the DTH response induced by BSA. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of PAS on tumor growth is related to the enhanced immune response. PMID- 2620628 TI - [In vitro effect of epirubicin on human esophageal carcinoma cell line (Eca 109)]. AB - Epirubicin is toxic, even at low concentration, to human esophageal carcinoma cell line (Eca 109). The survival response of exponential population growth of cells is biphasic: n = 1, Do = 0.27 micrograms/ml for 1 hr in the most sensitive population; Do = 7.90 micrograms/ml for 1 hr in the more resistant population. There was rapid cell killing effect at a high concentration (10 micrograms/ml Epirubicin for 1 hr). Exposure of cultured Eca 109 cells to Epirubicin led to an accumulation of cells with DNA content of S and G2 phases. Morphologic changes were mainly confined in the nucleus but cytoplasm was also affected when higher drug concentration or longer exposure time were used. Effects of epirubicin on cell growth, cell survival and cell cycle progression is dependent on both drug concentration and the duration of exposure. PMID- 2620629 TI - [Clinical significance of serum CEA determination in the diagnosis of colo-rectal cancer]. AB - Serum CEA levels of 581 specimens obtained from 350 colo-rectal cancer patients and 61 specimens from 54 non-tumor subjects were determined by sandwich method of CEA-EIA McAb kit supplied by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products. In patients with primary colo-rectal cancer, the serum CEA level was 15.0 +/- 52.1 ng/ml and 37.9% of patients gave a CEA level greater than 5 ng/ml. In recurrent colo-rectal cancer patients, serum CEA increased to 124.2 +/- 454.8 ng/ml with a positive rate of 78.0%. Both the CEA value and the positive rate of patients in clinically tumor-free period after surgery were 2.9 +/- 2.2 ng/ml and 16.5%, respectively. Serial follow-up CEA assays in selected cases were helpful to reflect the clinical status. Generally, CEA is useful to predict prognosis and to guide follow-up management. PMID- 2620630 TI - [Scanning electron microscopic examination of 50 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)]. AB - Fifty cases of NHL were studied by scanning electron microscopy to study the possible differences in the surface morphology of tumor cells between T cell and B cell NHL. Acid naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity test, the stain of antiserum samples of gamma, mu, alpha, kappa, lambda chains with the peroxidase antiperoxidase immune complex method (PAP method) and classification under light microscope were done for all the cases. It was found that the surface morphology of T cell lymphoma cells differed from that of B cell lymphoma. There were a lot of granular protrusions with a few pseudopodia processes on the surface of B cell lymphoma. But on the surface of T cell lymphoma, there were only more or less wrinkles and less granular protrusions. There were long pseudopodia processes on the surface of tumor cells of B cell lymphoma, particularly on the follicular cleaved cell type. The follicular cleaved cell lymphoma had better prognosis with mean survival time of more than four years. There may be other factors responsible for the long survival time. As compared to the lymphoblastic and polymorphic types, the follicular cleaved cell lymphoma has less euchromatin, less mitosis, slower growth rate and higher cohesiveness between tumor cells. The better prognosis is also closely related to the morphology of the tumor cells. With the aid of long processes, the tumor cells are connected with each other to form follicular structure and the movement of tumor cells is restricted. Hence, infiltration and metastasis of the tumor are less pronounced than the lymphoblastic type and T polymorphic cell type. PMID- 2620631 TI - [Mutagenic activity in urine from smokers detected by sister chromatid exchange (SCE) of peripheral lymphocytes]. AB - Mutagenic activity in urine from smokers was detected by SCE. Human peripheral lymphocytes were treated with 50 microliters urine (contain 0.1 mg creatinine) from 63 smokers and 34 non-smokers for SCE analysis. The results showed that there was significantly higher SCE frequencies (7.82 +/- 1.12/cell) of lymphocytes treated with urine of smokers as compared with those of non-smokers (6.49 +/- 1.12/cell) (P less than 0.001). However, the mutagenicity in urine of smokers who smoked 20 cigarettes/day was similar to those of smokers on 10 cigarettes/day. Intake of mutagens from food might be responsible for the low level mutagens in urine of some non-smokers. This test may provide a sensitive, economical bioassay for evaluating cancer risk in smokers. PMID- 2620632 TI - [Thermotolerance of tumors MA737 and LA795 of mice]. AB - The effects of splitted heating of tumor, alone or in combination with local radiation, were studied on mouse mammary cancer MA737 in JB 2 mice and lung cancer LA795 in 739 mice. Hyperthermia was done by immersing the tumor-bearing foot into a water bath at 44 +/- 0.2 degrees C. When combined with radiation, 8 Mev beta irradiation from a linear accelerator was given. The response was assessed by tumor growth retardation calculated according to a special computer program. A priming dose of 5 to 6-minute exposure to 44 degrees C was followed, after various time intervals (1, 4, 5, 24 hr), by a longer exposure. Thermotolerance was induced in these two animal tumor models. Tolerance to heat, however, did not affect the combined effect of hyperthermia and radiation. Electron microscopic examination of the treated tumors confirmed the synergistic killing effect of the combined treatment. PMID- 2620633 TI - [Distribution pattern and risk factors of lung cancer in Qidong rural area]. AB - Distribution pattern, epidemiologic trend and risk factors of lung cancer in rural area were studied and analysed based on the data of Qidong cancer registry (1972-1986), of sampling survey of cigarette smoking rate among rural residents, and of consumption of cigarette and fuel in Qidong. The results showed that: 1. Lung cancer mortality had increased from 9.00/10(5) in 1972 to 20.03/10(5) in 1986 with annual increase rate of 5.88%; 2. Lung cancer mortality in 1980s (1984 1986) was increased by 61.68% as compared with that in 1970s (1974-1976), in which the male incidence was increased by 79.99% and female, 25.73%; 3. Cigarette consumption in rural area increased rapidly, and the mean daily sale of cigarette per Qidong person in 1986 was four times as high as that in 1950, those trends will continue to influence lung cancer mortality of this area in the near future; and 4. The consumption of industrial and civilian fuel in Qidong rural area are also on the increase. However, the relationship between air pollution and lung cancer remains to be studied. In view of the above-mentioned facts, epidemiologic and etiologic research on lung cancer in rural area must be emphasized. An appeal for campaign on abstinence of smoking in rural area, especially for non-smoking education in the youth should be waged urgently. PMID- 2620634 TI - [Campylobacter pyloridis (Cp) infection of gastric mucosa in the high and low risk areas of gastric cancer in Liaoning province]. AB - Gastric biopsies in 690 subjects from the high and low risk areas of gastric cancer were examined for identification of Cp in the gastric mucosa by Warthin Starry, Gimenez and Gram's stains. The result showed that the positive rate was 60-62% in the high risk area whereas it was only 12.6% in the low risk area in Liaoning province. 81-85% of the positive subjects had active chronic gastritis including chronic superficial and atrophic gastritis. The result indicates a close correlation between the active chronic gastritis and Cp infection. Therefore, control of the Cp infection in the gastric mucosa is very important for lowering the incidence of chronic gastritis, a well known precursor of gastric cancer. PMID- 2620635 TI - [Serum testosterone level of patients with cardiac or gastric carcinoma]. AB - Serum testosterone level (STL) was examined in 25 male patients with cardiac or gastric carcinoma before and after operation and 28 male patients with benign diseases as control. The preoperative STL of patients with carcinoma was lower than that of the control (P less than 0.001). Postoperatively STL of these patients rose to the level of control group. When cancer recurred, STL again dropped to low level. STL was lower when cancer had invaded beyond the serosa than that limited to the musculature. Therefore, STL may be a good parameter for diagnosis and prognosis in patients with cancer of the stomach and gastric cardia. PMID- 2620636 TI - [Cervical anastomosis of the stomach transposed through the esophageal bed- report of 536 cases]. AB - Cervical anastomosis of the stomach transposed through the esophageal bed after subtotal resection of esophagus was performed in 536 patients with esophageal cancer during the past 15 years. It comprised 41.2% of all esophagotomy. This operation can be used for lesion at every segment of the esophagus except carcinoma of gastric cardia. Its advantages are: 1. The lesions can be radically resected; 2. The distance of transposition is short; 3. The patient's position need not be changed during the whole course of the operation, and the operative trauma is smaller than the conventional method with three incisions; 4. The stomach lying in the esophageal bed is more physiological; and 5. The procedure of cervical anastomosis is easy and safe. The authors recommend that the cervical anastomosis be adopted instead of anastomosis above the arch of aorta, and be performed through the esophageal bed. PMID- 2620637 TI - [Subungual malignant melanoma--30 year review of cases]. AB - Twenty-five patients with subungual malignant melanoma confirmed by pathology from 1958 to 1987 were reported. There were 19 males and 6 females. 76% of the lesions occurred on the finger and 24% on the foot. The most common site was the thumb or great toe. 16/25 of the patients had history of subungual pigmented streaks. As trauma at the lesion site might initiate subungual melanoma (28%), doctors should pay close attention to the subungual black pigmented streaks or a mass below the nail with a history of trauma in order to avoid mis-diagnosis. In these 25 patients, the diagnosis was delayed in 19, and 10 of them already had regional lymph node metastasis. Surgical treatment still played a major role for subungual melanoma. According to the clinical staging, various degrees of amputation at different levels and regional lymph node dissection were recommended. The 5-year survival rate in this group was 28% (7/25). PMID- 2620638 TI - [Primary esophageal adenocarcinoma--report of 19 cases]. AB - Primary esophageal adenocarcinoma is rare. Nineteen such cases treated in our hospital during 1972-1985 are reported. Of these patients, 15 were treated by surgery. Only one of them survived for more than 3 years. The prognosis was worse than that of the squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Esophageal adenocarcinoma is of three origins: ectopic gastric mucosa, esophageal intrinsic gland, and Barrett's esophagus. In our series, only one case was proved to be due to malignancy of the Barrett's esophagus. PMID- 2620639 TI - [Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver]. AB - Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver is not common. Of the 76 patients who underwent hepatectomy in our hospital from 1986-1988, 4 had inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver. It comprised 5.2% of patients subjected to liver resection during the same period. These 4 patients were misdiagnosed as primary liver cancer and desmoid tumor of the upper abdominal wall by ultrasonography and CT scan before operation. The inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver had long clinical course, less symptoms, and clear capsule, tenacity in nature and no liver cirrhosis on operation. The patients received modified hepatectomy without any postoperative complications. Hepatic resection is the treatment of choice. If contra-indicated, steroid can be used. PMID- 2620640 TI - Vestibular function in the elderly. PMID- 2620641 TI - Neuroanatomy and physiology of the vestibular system relevant to dysequilibrium in the elderly. AB - Vestibular disorders will often be seen in the company of nonvestibular disorders, rendering the care of the affected patient a multidisciplinary challenge. It is the particular role of the otolaryngologist to provide expertise on the diagnosis and management of vestibular system dysfunction. PMID- 2620642 TI - The pathology of peripheral vestibular disorders in the elderly. AB - We describe a clinical classification of vertigo commonly seen in the elderly and caused by peripheral vestibular disorders. The classification includes inducible transient vertigo and noninducible protracted vertigo. The peripheral vestibular disorder includes abnormalities of sensory, neural, and mechanical structures and is often asymmetric. Determination of the pathogenesis of these disorders is often speculative. Pathogenesis may include degenerative, infectious, neoplastic, and vascular insults to the vestibular labyrinth. PMID- 2620643 TI - Quantitative vestibular function testing in elderly patients with dizziness. AB - Electronystagmography was used to examine 103 elderly patients complaining of dizziness. This series of tests included tests for pathologic nystagmus, saccades, smooth pursuit, and optokinetic nystagmus, as well as bithermal caloric testing and rotational testing. One or more specific diagnoses were identified in 100 patients (86.2%), with the two most common diagnoses being benign positional vertigo (30 patients, or 25.9%) and cerebrovascular disorders (25 patients, or 21.6%). An abnormality was found on ENG in 75 (65%) of the patients tested, the most common of these being a unilateral hypoexcitability to caloric stimulation. In most cases, the ENG data was used to support a presumptive diagnosis that was based on the patient's history and examination, although in 4 cases ENG provided the critical diagnostic information by identifying decreased caloric and rotational responses in patients with nonspecific dizziness and dysequilibrium. PMID- 2620644 TI - The clinical use of dynamic posturography in the elderly. AB - We provide an overview of the clinical uses of dynamic posturography. Although the equipment described to perform this testing is expensive, the concepts, especially those for sensory organization, can be applied for +20.00. To apply the six sensory organization conditions, one merely needs some way to disrupt proprioceptive information by maintaining ankle angle and providing for visual conflict stimuli. We found that proprioceptive information can be disrupted easily by asking the patient to stand on a thick (4-inch) dense piece of foam rubber like that used in cushions for furniture. Visual stabilization conflict can be provided by having the patient wear a 19- to 20-inch Japanese lantern with a head-mounting system in the center so that the patient's movements do not reflect themselves in relative movements to the visual environment. With use of these two simple tools, the six sensory organization tests can be approximated in a clinical situation in a short time and can provide some relative information about a patient's postural control capabilities. With minor additional work, a quantitative measure of output that gives indications of the amount of anterior posterior sway also can be provided. For elderly patients with a variety of problems ranging from general unsteadiness to frank vertigo, the risk of falling can be devastating, and it is important to provide a thorough investigation of the total balance system. The systematic investigation, qualitatively or quantitatively, of integration of sensory input and motor outputs provides a dimension that typically has been lacking in the routine "dizzy patient workup" for all ages but especially for elderly patients. Therefore, the application of the postural maintenance theory with the above-described procedures or variations in these procedures appears to have a great deal of clinical relevance in the evaluation of patients with gait and balance disorders. These types of evaluations represent an adjunct or addition to the evaluation of the vestibular system and the vestibulo-ocular reflexes and by no means should be considered a substitute for that traditional evaluation. It is the combination of information that can provide the clinician with a more global picture of the entire balance system and its functional capabilities. PMID- 2620645 TI - A clinical approach to the management of geriatric dysequilibrium. AB - Falls and balance disorders are common and dangerous in the elderly. However, several practical measures and operations in selected cases may reduce the danger and disabilities associated with these balance disturbances. PMID- 2620646 TI - Exercise strategies for vestibular disorders. AB - Two exercise approaches can be used in the treatment of decreased or absent vestibular function--adaptation of the vestibular system and the substitution of alternative strategies to replace vestibular function. If the patient has remaining vestibular function, exercises that enhance vestibular adaptation are emphasized. Patients with complete loss of vestibular function are given exercises that promote substitution of alternative strategies for the lost vestibular function. The exercises can be modified according to certain characteristics of the vestibular system. Vestibular function tests such as caloric, rotational, and posturography tests provide necessary information for deciding which exercise approach is most appropriate for the patient. PMID- 2620647 TI - [Human resources in 5 Latin American countries. Analysis of indicators]. PMID- 2620648 TI - [Chile: innovations in odontology teaching]. PMID- 2620649 TI - [Argentina: curricular transformation]. PMID- 2620650 TI - [Brazil: the curriculum and medical practice]. PMID- 2620651 TI - [Mexico: comparative evaluation of 2 projects in medical education. Follow-up of graduates]. PMID- 2620652 TI - [Colombia: a study of the human resources of nutritionist-dietitians]. PMID- 2620653 TI - [Bolivia: the work situation of medical doctors graduating from the medical school of La Paz and Cochabamba between 1981 and 1985]. PMID- 2620654 TI - [A teaching model for pediatrics specialization]. PMID- 2620655 TI - [Opinions on alcoholic beverage consumption and alcoholism among university students]. PMID- 2620656 TI - Influence of thyroid hormone supply on EEG frequency spectrum. AB - In 5 patients after total thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine ablation the frequency analysis of EEG based on fast Fourier transformation was performed and the results obtained during hypothyroid state and after the substitution treatment with thyroid hormones were compared. During the hypothyroid state the most remarkable finding was the increase of percentage representation of fast frequencies in beta 1 and beta 2 bands, while such values in alpha band including a dominant frequency in that band were reciprocally decreased. After the period of treatment with triiodothyronine during which clinically euthyroid state has been achieved (i.e. decrease of Achilles tendon reflex time, decrease of TSH and of T3 level) no significant changes in the distribution of EEG frequencies spectrum were found, but in all patients a dominant frequency in alpha band was increased at least for 1 Hz. Only after the treatment with thyroxine (Eltroxin Glaxo) the interrelations between individual frequencies of EEG spectrum returned to the normal range and a further increase in dominant alpha frequency was found. The correlation between a dominant frequency in alpha band and thyroxine level in serum was highly significant. These findings are in agreement with our previous observations in 43 subjects where a dominant alpha frequency in healthy controls was always higher than that in hypothyroid subjects and was significantly related to T4 level. The findings of continuing EEG signs of brain hypothyroidism even after achieving of clinical euthyroidism and normal peripheral parameters under increased serum T3 and low T4 level are in full agreement with experimental observations on the importance of local deiodination of T4 in brain tissue and on the risk of hypothyroxinemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620657 TI - Study of the role of tryptophanyl and arginyl residues in the specific binding of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine to rat liver nuclear receptors. AB - The role of tryptophane and arginine residues of rat liver receptors for the specific binding of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) was studied by chemically modifying the receptor molecule. Soluble T3 receptor fraction was prepared from purified rat liver nuclei and the kinetics of the modification of a tryptophane indol ring of nuclear receptor by N-bromsuccinimide (NBS) in the presence of excess -SH protecting agent was examined. Moreover the kinetics of the formation of N5-(4-oxo-1,3-diazospiro[4,4]non-2-ylidene)-I-ornithine or N7,N8-(1,2 dihydroxycyclohexyl-1,2-ylene)-L-arginine from arginine residue(s) of nuclear receptor by 1,2-cyclohexanedione was investigated. The efficiency of the reactions were followed spectrophotometrically and the modified nuclear receptor fraction separated from chemical modifiers on a Sephadex G-25 column was assayed at pH 8.0 for T3 specific binding. The T3 specific binding was tested by Scatchard plot analysis. No changes in nuclear receptor Ka or MBC were observed after 1,2-cyclohexanedione treatment. Tryptophanyl residue(s) of the receptor molecule may play an effective role in the maintaining the nuclear receptor in a conformation optimal for T3 binding. PMID- 2620658 TI - Comparison of the effect of amiodarone and benziodarone on thyroxine metabolism and surface ECG. AB - This study examined whether or not the electrophysiological effect of amiodarone on the heart is mediated through its action on thyroxine metabolism. Serum thyroid hormones and ECG were evaluated before and serially during amiodarone (15 subjects) and benziodarone (15 subjects) administration. Both amiodarone and benziodarone shifted the peripheral conversion of thyroxine (P less than 0.001 for amiodarone and P less than 0.001 for benziodarone) towards reverse triiodothyronine and away from triiodothyronine, whilst TSH levels initially fell and then rose with both drugs. After amiodarone the heart rate decreased (P less than 0.025), whilst the PR (P less than 0.005) and the QT interval (P less than 0.005) corrected for the heart rate increased. By contrast with benziodarone only the PR interval decreased (P less than 0.05). Since both drugs had roughly similar effects on thyroid hormone metabolism but different ones on the ECG, our results provide indirect evidence against the hypothesis that the antiarrhythmic effects of amiodarone are mediated through a decrease in the serum T3 presented to the peripheral tissues. PMID- 2620659 TI - Thyroid functional status and TSH receptors of cold nodular tissue. AB - TSH receptors of plasma membrane fractions of human cold thyroid adenoma and perinodular thyroid tissues (PTT), assumed by pathohistological analysis to be normal, were examined. In perinodular thyroid tissues (PTT) obtained by partial thyroidectomy from twelve euthyroid female patients 125I-TSH binding (as determined by equilibrium binding analysis on particulate plasma membrane preparations) was found to be significantly increased as compared with scintigraphically cold thyroid nodular tissues (CTN). In all examined thyroid tissues Scatchard analysis of TSH binding revealed two kinds of binding sites: these with high affinity showed a significantly increased dissociation constant (Kd1), while these with low affinity showed a decreased dissociation constant (Kd2) in PTT as compared with CTN. The capacity of low affinity binding sites in PTT was found to be decreased in comparison with CTN tissues. These results suggest that the changes in affinity of TSH receptors sites as well as iodine deficiency of thyroid tissues may be an important events in functional status of analysed perinodular and cold nodular thyroid tissues. PMID- 2620660 TI - Effect of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol on fracture healing and on general posttraumatic skeletal response in rats. AB - The authors investigated the effect of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D3) on the local healing process following an artificial fracture of the rat tibia and on the general posttraumatic response of the skeleton to local trauma. The results showed a significant increase in dry weight of fractured tibias as compared with contralateral intact bones which was due to the newly formed callus. 1,25(OH)2D3 significantly increased the weights of tibias which can be explained by its stimulatory effect on callus formation. The uptake of 85Sr into bones resembling the metabolic pathways of calcium was significantly higher in fractured bones as compared with intact ones. 1,25(OH)2D3 significantly reduced the uptake of 85Sr. There was a significantly higher whole body retention of 85Sr in the rats with fractured bones. The administration of 1,25(OH)2D3 significantly reduced the retention of 85Sr in the fractured bone and the concomitant reduction of the whole body retention of 85Sr most likely reflected the increase in intestinal calcium absorption induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 with the consequent decrease in the specific activity of 85Sr administered in a single injection. The general posttraumatic response was reflected by increased dry weight of non-fractured bones. 1,25(OH)2D3 showed a contributory effect on this increase which may indicate that the general response consisted in increased bone formation. The uptake of 85Sr in non-fractured bones was reduced which was also most probably due to a decrease of specific activity of 85Sr. 1,25(OH)2D3 significantly accentuated the reduction of the uptake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620661 TI - Apparatus for blood sampling from small laboratory animals during gravitational overload. PMID- 2620662 TI - Neuropeptide Y- and somatostatin-like immunoreactivities in ganglioneuroma, ganglioneuroblastoma and neuroblastoma. AB - Neuropeptide Y (NPY)- and somatostatin (SS)-like immunoreactivities (LI) were investigated in tumor tissues of one ganglioneuroma (GN), 3 ganglioneuroblastomas (GNB) and one neuroblastoma (NB) by radioimmunoassay. NPY-LI was detected from all 5 tumor tissues (16.4-1247 pmol/g wet tissue). Sephadex G-50 column chromatography and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that most of the NPY-LI in tumor extracts was eluted in an identical position to synthetic human NPY except one GNB (case 2). In this case, most of the NPY-LI was eluted in a higher molecular weight region than synthetic human NPY in Sephadex G-50 column chromatography and in a more hydrophobic position in HPLC. SS-LI was detected from 4 tumor extracts except one GNB (case 2) (21.3-787 pmol/g wet tissue). Sephadex G-25 column chromatography and reverse phase HPLC revealed that SS-LI in tumor extracts was eluted just after the void volume and then in the same positions as SS-28 and SS-14. These results suggest that NPY, SS 14 and SS-28 exist in tumor tissues of GN, GNB and NB, and most of the NPY-LI in one GNB was a higher molecular and more hydrophobic form of NPY-LI. PMID- 2620663 TI - Cushing's syndrome due to huge nodular adrenocortical hyperplasia with fluctuation of urinary 17-OHCS excretion. AB - A 51-yr-old male patient with Cushing's syndrome due to huge nodular adrenocortical hyperplasia is described. Urinary 17-OHCS was not suppressed by a high dose of (8 mg) dexamethasone and showed rather a tendency to paradoxical response. There was no response to metyrapone. Plasma cortisol showed a hyperresponse to insulin-induced hypoglycemia and a rapid response to corticotropin releasing hormone-lysine vasopressin (CRH-LVP) administration without an obvious ACTH response. Plasma cortisol responded to synthetic ACTH. Urinary 17-OHCS did not show parallel changes with plasma cortisol. These results and computerized tomography data suggested huge multiple nodular adrenocortical hyperplasia, which was confirmed later by surgery. The left and right adrenal glands weighed 105 and 45 g, respectively. Hyper-reaction of the adrenal gland to a small change in plasma ACTH or "unknown factors" may cause not only the discrepancy between cortisol and ACTH response but also the development of autonomous nodules in the adrenal gland. PMID- 2620664 TI - A case of primary aldosteronism with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis treatment. AB - A 56-year-old man with primary aldosteronism and chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis is described. He complained of numbness of the extremities and showed persistent hypopotassemia in spite of anuria. In the endocrinological examination, a very high plasma aldosterone concentration was observed, while plasma renin activity was within the normal range. From the abdominal Computed Tomography (CT), adrenal scintigraphy, and segmental venous sampling data, he was diagnosed as primary aldosteronism due to left adrenocortical adenoma. In this case, hypopotassemia could not be explained by potassium loss through the kidneys, which suggests potassium excretion in the gastrointestinal tract as the mechanism of hypopotassemia. This was clearly shown from a potassium-balance study and the results of spironolactone administration. Our report is on the first case showing hypopotassemia due to primary aldosteronism in spite of anuria. If a patient treated with maintenance dialysis should have persistent hypopotassemia, as in the present report, it is necessary to consider an association with primary aldosteronism. PMID- 2620665 TI - Pubertal growth spurt induced by human chorionic gonadotropin in hypogonadotropic growth hormone-deficient children. AB - Eight hypogonadotropic growth hormone-deficient children were treated with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) while they continued to receive a fixed dose of HGH for a one year period. They were observed for changes in somatomedin C (IGF-I) and height increase velocity. Mean somatomedin C was 0.79 +/- 0.30 U/ml in normal prepubertal children (N = 7) and 0.78 +/- 0.31 U/ml in prepubertal normal short children (N = 22). At pubertal stage 3, somatomedin C was 2.21 +/- 1.23 and 2.05 +/- 0.44 U/ml in normals (N = 5) and in normal short children (N = 7), respectively. When 3000-5000 units/week of HCG were given to each of the 8 hypogonadotropic growth hormone-deficient children who were receiving HGH at a mean dose of 0.33 +/- 0.05 IU/kg/week, testosterone increased from less than 0.3 ng/ml to more than 5 ng/ml at 6 months in 3 cases and at 12 months in 2 cases, while the testosterone concentration was less than 3.5 ng/ml in the remaining 3 cases. The rate of height increase rose significantly (p less than 0.001) from 5.2 +/- 1.0 to 9.3 +/- 1.4 cm/year mimicking the normal pubertal growth spurt. However, the mean somatomedin C concentration was 0.44 +/- 0.23 before therapy, 0.33 +/- 0.30 at 6 months and 0.31 +/- 0.14 U/ml at 12 months after the start of HCG therapy. It is concluded that the pubertal growth spurt induced by HCG in hypogonodotropic GH-deficient male children is not mediated by the increase in somatomedin C production. PMID- 2620666 TI - Interaction between prolactin and rabbit mammary prolactin receptor in the presence of environment-modifying agents. AB - The binding assay of prolactin (PRL) to the receptor in the rabbit mammary gland was carried out with varying concentrations of NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, glycerol, glucose, sucrose and urea. The agents did not affect the binding capacity. The ionic bond-breaking agents (NaCl and KCl) had little effect on changes in the association rate constant (k+1) of PRL binding to the receptor and the dissociation rate constant (k-1) of bound PRL. The inclusion of other agents changed the k+1 and the k-1. Among the agents examined, chaotropic salts (CaCl2 and MgCl2) inhibited the binding of PRL greatly, and were the most effective in decreasing the k+1. Both hydrogen- and hydrophobic bonds are involved in the interaction between PRL and the receptor. The data suggest that hydrophobic bonding is primarily an important force participating in the binding of PRL to its receptor. PMID- 2620668 TI - Monograph on groundwater quality. PMID- 2620667 TI - Mechanism of biphasic action of mono- and bivalent salts on the binding of prolactin to the receptor in the rabbits mammary gland. AB - The influence of NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2 on the binding of prolactin (PRL) to its receptor was investigated. The salts were dissolved in a metallic ion-free binding buffer and had biphasic effects on changes in the association rate constant (k+1) of PRL binding, depending on their concentrations: there was an increase in the k+1 at lower concentrations and a decrease at higher concentrations. The dissociation rate of bound PRL was unaffected. NaCl at any concentration did not change the binding capacity. Bivalent salts, at higher than 25 mM, increased the capacity about 1.6-fold as compared to the 0 mM control. By cross-linking the PRL-receptor complex, the band of a molecular weight (Mr) 34,500 receptor could always be detected on the autoradiogram. An Mr 78,000 receptor appeared only after incubation with bivalent salts. Data indicate that the binding of PRL to an Mr 78,000 receptor is directly regulated by bivalent cation. PMID- 2620669 TI - Groundwater pollution by nitrates from livestock wastes. AB - Utilization of wastes from livestock complexes for irrigation involves the danger of groundwater pollution by nitrates. In order to prevent and minimize pollution, it is necessary to apply geological-hydrogeological evidence and concepts to the situation of wastewater irrigation for the purposes of studying natural groundwater protectiveness and predicting changes in groundwater quality as a result of infiltrating wastes. The procedure of protectiveness evaluation and quality prediction is described. With groundwater pollution by nitrate nitrogen, the concentration of ammonium nitrogen noticeably increases. One of the reasons for this change is the process of denitrification due to changes in the hydrogeochemical conditions in a layer. At representative field sites, it is necessary to collect systematic stationary observations of the concentrations of nitrogenous compounds in groundwater and changes in redox conditions and temperature. PMID- 2620670 TI - The hydrogeological role of an aquitard in preventing drinkable water well contamination: a case study. AB - Groundwater pollution has become a worrisome phenomenon, mainly for aquifers underlying industrialized areas. In order to evaluate the risk of pollution, a model of the aquifer is needed. Herewith, we describe a quasi-tridimensional model, which we applied to a multilayered aquifer where a phreatic aquifer was coupled to a confined one by means of an aquitard. This hydrogeological scheme is often met in practice and, therefore, models a number of situations. Moreover, aquitards play and important role in the management of natural resources of this kind. The model we adopted contains some approximations: the flow within the aquifers is assumed to be horizontal, whereas leakage is assumed vertical. The effect of some wells drilled in these aquifers is also taken into account. In order to evaluate the leakage fluxes that correspond to different exploitation conditions, we numerically solve a system of quasilinear and time-dependent partial differential equations. This model has been calibrated by the hydrogeological data from a water supply station of the Milan Water Works, where water is polluted by some halocarbons. Our simulations account for several experimental facts, both from the hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical viewpoints. Maxima of computed downward leakage rates are found to correspond with measured pollutant concentration maxima. Other results show how the aquitard can help in minimizing the contamination of drinkable water. PMID- 2620671 TI - Serum levels of ciprofloxacin after single oral doses in patients with septicemia. AB - Ciprofloxacin serum levels were measured after administration of the drug to 36 patients with septicemia (at least one positive blood culture) who were able to take oral medication. Patients were randomly allocated to receive ciprofloxacin 500 mg p.o. (n = 21) or 200 mg i.v. over 30 min (n = 15). A first dose was administered 18-30 h after the last positive blood culture (day 1), and a second dose four days later (day 5) in some patients. In addition to ciprofloxacin, standard antibiotics were administered. Organisms isolated were Escherichia coli (15), other gram-negative bacteria (6), Streptococcus pneumoniae (7), Staphylococcus aureus (2), and other gram-positive bacteria (6). None of the patients vomited. Ciprofloxacin serum concentrations 1 h after oral administration were in the range 0.09-2.32 mg/l, and 2 h after administration in the range 0.5-7.27 mg/l. The average terminal half-life was 8.6 h. In individual patients serum concentrations and area-under-the-curve values were compared. Poor correlation was found between values measured on day 1 and day 5 after oral administration, whereas the correlation was excellent after i.v. administration. Serum levels 2 h after oral administration were 30-900 times the MICs for the gram-negative organisms, but were in the range of the MICs for the gram-positive organisms in some cases. In conclusion, ciprofloxacin serum levels are difficult to predict in septicemia patients after oral administration, but probably suffice to treat infections caused by gram-negative organisms. PMID- 2620672 TI - Single-dose ciprofloxacin in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women. AB - In a randomised, double-blind trial two single-dose regimens of ciprofloxacin were evaluated for treatment of acute urinary tract infection (UTI) in women. Fifty-three women received 250 mg and 46 750 mg of ciprofloxacin. Seven days after treatment the eradication rate was 81.1% and 82.6% in the low and high dose groups respectively; the clinical cure rate at 28 days was 64.1% and 73.9% respectively. In women with recurrent UTI a significantly better response was found with the high dose regimen (92% versus 68%; p less than 0.001). It is concluded that a single 250 mg dose of ciprofloxacin is effective for treatment in most women with acute UTI, but in women with recurrent infection a 750 mg dose is preferable. PMID- 2620673 TI - Antibacterial activity of the new carbapenem meropenem (SM-7338) against clinical isolates. AB - The in vitro antibacterial activity of the new carbapenem antibiotic meropenem (SM-7338) against 567 clinical isolates was evaluated. SM-7338 exhibited activity against a broad spectrum of organisms, including aerobes and anaerobes, and was superior to the other beta-lactam drugs tested (piperacillin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefoxitin). SM-7338 was more active than imipenem, gentamicin and amikacin against Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. SM-7338 was less potent than imipenem against staphylococci and enterococci, but the activity of the two antibiotics against anaerobes was similar. SM-7338 and imipenem showed a high bactericidal activity at a concentration of 2-4 x MIC. PMID- 2620674 TI - Clinical role of the quinolones today and in the future. PMID- 2620675 TI - Increasing incidence of Corynebacterium group D2 strains resistant to norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. PMID- 2620676 TI - Double infections with human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 in Spanish subjects. PMID- 2620677 TI - Coronary vasomotor tone. E.S.C. Working Group on Angina Pectoris and Myocardial Blood Flow. 26-28 May, Cologne, F.R.G. Proceedings. PMID- 2620678 TI - Abnormal diffuse coronary vasomotion. AB - Although coronary artery spasm and abnormal vasoconstriction have undergone considerable investigation, it remains difficult to assess coronary vasomotor tone. To address this problem, the combination of two pharmacological tests (IV injection of 0.4 mg ergometrine followed 5 min later by IV injection of 3 mg isosorbide dinitrate) was performed after the routine procedure of coronary arteriography. Two indexes were defined: total coronary vasomotion (TCV) and maximal total coronary vasomotion (max TCV). These indexes were measured in 20 normal subjects and the normal values were 28.2 +/- 14% and 50.8 +/- 19.2% respectively. Among the 2758 patients who underwent the two tests, a group of 40 patients with normal coronary arteries, no focal spasm and diffuse abnormal coronary vasomotion (DAV) was identified. Eleven patients had vasoconstriction and vasodilatation within the normal range and were identified only by the combination of the 2 tests. All the 40 patients complained of angina at rest and three had had a previous myocardial infarction in the area supplied by the vessel with DAV. During a spontaneous episode of pain at rest 7 patients had ST segment elevation, and 7 a T wave inversion. Thus, these indexes of total coronary vasomotion could be useful to identify patients with abnormal vasomotor tone which could not be detected by the conventional provocative tests. PMID- 2620679 TI - Dilatation of epicardial coronary arteries and attenuation of provoked coronary vasoconstriction by nisoldipine. AB - By using quantitative coronary angiography, this study evaluated the coronary artery dilative action of intravenous nisoldipine and furthermore examined the efficacy of the agent to prevent an ergonovine-provoked increase in the coronary arterial tone. Ten patients suspected of either vasospastic or mixed form of angina pectoris underwent coronary angiography under resting conditions, after 3 micrograms kg-1 of intravenous nisoldipine and finally after a cumulative dose of 0.7 mg of ergonovine maleate. The ergonovine-provocation was performed subsequent to a second intravenous administration of 3 micrograms kg-1 nisoldipine. Coronary artery diameters were measured in angiographically normal, proximal segments by using a computer assisted procedure with automatic contour detection. The following results are given as the mean +/- SEM of the percentage changes in the diameters of 30 coronary artery segments. Nisoldipine produced dilatation of the epicardial coronary arteries with a mean increase in the diameters by 9.5 +/- 1.3% with respect to baseline (P less than 0.01). Subsequent ergonovine-testing caused coronary artery vasoconstriction with a mean diameter decrease of 7.7 +/- 1.3% below baseline (P less than 0.01). Though nisoldipine did not totally block the ergonovine-induced increase in the coronary vasomotor tone, there was a significant attenuation of the coronary constriction compared with patients without any premedication (7.7 +/- 1.3% versus 13.6 +/- 0.6%, P less than 0.01). The ability of nisoldipine to dilate epicardial coronary arteries but also to reduce a provoked coronary artery constriction promises therapeutic effectiveness for both the prevention and release of angina pectoris caused by an increased coronary vasomotor tone. PMID- 2620680 TI - Drug plasma levels and coronary vasodilation after isosorbide dinitrate chewing capsules. AB - Five, ten and fifteen min after sublingual administration of 10mg isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) in chewing capsules, in 10 patients with coronary artery disease, ISDN plasma levels were correlated with the dilation of epicardial coronary arteries as well as with changes in aortic blood pressure and heart rate. Due to the rapid and extensive drug absorption, maximal ISDN plasma levels averaged 138 +/- 73 ng ml-1 and were already obtained after 5 min; they declined to 102 +/- 76 and 62 +/- 34 ng ml-1 in the 10th and 15th min respectively. In 7 patients isosorbide mononitrate plasma levels were still negligibly low (less than 30 ng ml-1). Mean diameters of 'normal' coronary segments increased by an average of 20 +/- 10%, 26 +/- 11% and 27 +/- 13% (P less than 0.001) at 5, 10 and 15 min respectively compared to control. The maximal drop in systolic aortic pressure (147 +/- 19 to 115 +/- 15 mmHg; P less than 0.01) as well as the maximal increase in heart rate (66 +/- 4 to 80 +/- 11 beats min-1; P less than 0.01) were observed in the 15th min; diastolic aortic pressure and double product remained constant. Due to the long persistence of coronary dilation and haemodynamic changes, none of these drug effects correlated significantly with the ISDN plasma levels. In addition, the minimal diameters of 10 coronary stenoses were measured in 7 patients; with ISDN 7 stenoses showed dilation ranging from 23% to 98%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620681 TI - Coronary vasodilation with dihydropyridines--a pharmacokinetic study. AB - In 26 patients with coronary artery disease, the mean diameters of angiographically 'normal' epicardial coronary arteries were assessed with the aid of a computer-assisted contour detection system (CAAS) before and up to 15 min after onset of a 4-min intravenous-infusion of 2 mg nifedipine (13 patients, group I) or 1 mg nisoldipine (13 patients, group II). Maximal coronary dilation amounted to 20 +/- 9% (4th min) in group I and to 18 +/- 9% (15th min) in group II. In addition, in group II changes of the minimal diameters of 9 coronary obstructions were measured; the maximum increase averaged 28 +/- 15% (7th min). In order to compare the pharmacokinetic properties of these compounds the dilation of the 'normal' coronary segments was correlated with the respective drug plasma levels; maximal plasma concentrations averaged 62 +/- 21 ng ml-1 (7th min) in group I and 17 +/- 7 ng ml-1 (4th min) in group II respectively. A positive, linear correlation between coronary dilation and plasma levels was only found with nifedipine (P less than 0.05); with nisoldipine, however, coronary dilation developed in form of a hysteresis curve, when plotted against plasma levels, probably due to the high receptor affinity of this substance. The prolonged efficacy of nisoldipine could be favourable in oral long-term treatment of patients with coronary artery disease. PMID- 2620682 TI - Effect of intracoronary and intravenous propranolol on human coronary arteries. AB - The effect of intracoronary and intravenous propranolol on coronary vasomotion was evaluated in 28 patients with coronary artery disease. Luminal area of a normal and a stenotic coronary vessel segment was determined at rest, during submaximal bicycle exercise and 5 min after 1.6 mg sublingual nitroglycerin administered at the end of the exercise test involving biplane quantitative coronary arteriography. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (n = 12) served as the control group, group 2 consisted of 10 patients with intracoronary administration of 1 mg propranolol and group 3 of six patients with intravenous administration of 0.1 mg kg-1 propranolol prior to the exercise text. In the control group there was coronary vasodilation (+23%, P less than 0.01) of the normal and coronary vasoconstriction (-29%, P less than 0.001) of the stenotic vessel segment during bicycle exercise. After sublingual administration of 1.6 mg nitroglycerin there was vasodilation of normal (+40%, P less than 0.001 vs rest) and stenotic (+12%, NS vs rest) vessel segments. In group 2 intracoronary propranolol was not accompanied by a change in coronary vessel area but both normal (+13%, P less than 0.05) and stenotic (+22%, P less than 0.05) vessel segments showed coronary vasodilation during bicycle exercise. After sublingual nitroglycerin there was further vasodilation of both normal (+31%, P less than 0.001 vs rest) and stenotic (+45%, P less than 0.01 vs rest) arteries. In group 3 intravenous administration of propranolol was associated with a decrease in coronary luminal area of both normal (-24%, P less than 0.001) and stenotic ( 31%, P less than 0.001) vessel segments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620683 TI - Nisoldipine as a vasodilator in endothelium-deprived large coronary arteries of isolated working rabbit hearts. AB - The effect of nisoldipine on the vasoconstrictor effect of histamine on coronary vascular resistance, cardiac performance and myocardial oxygen consumption was determined in this study. In a supported working heart preparation a perfluorochemical emulsion (FC-43) was used a perfusate. To enhance the sensitivity of the large coronary arteries to vasoconstrictor stimuli, the endothelium was removed mechanically from the large coronary arteries. The changes in coronary artery diameter were documented by colour arteriography. Nisoldipine reduced the constriction of coronary arteries and the decrease in coronary flow induced by histamine. Nisoldipine abolished or reduced the decrease in cardiac output, left ventricular end systolic pressure, dP/dt and myocardial oxygen consumption. In the supported working heart preparation, nisoldipine is an effective dilator of large coronary arteries deprived of endothelial lining. PMID- 2620684 TI - Response to histamine of the intact coronary system in an isolated rabbit heart preparation. AB - In isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts concentration-response relations for histamine were analysed with and without H2-receptor blocker cimetidine (10( 5) mol l-1). The diameter of large epicardial coronary arteries was determined by video angiometry. Global coronary flow and left ventricular isovolumetric pressure were continuously registered. Histamine concentration (10(-7)-6 X 10(-6) mol l-1) reduced the diameter of large coronary arteries up to -50%, however, this vasoconstriction was maximal after 1 min and was then attenuated within the following 20 min. Coronary flow and left ventricular pressure were not significantly altered. In the presence of cimetidine the histamine-induced vasoconstriction was stabilized and not reversed with time. Moreover, the extent of vessel wall narrowing was intensified (up to -70%) when compared with histamine alone. Furthermore, severe functional myocardial failure was observed (flow reduction to 40% of control). PMID- 2620685 TI - Intimal proliferation in coronary arteries of normolipidaemic pigs with a fixed stenosis: the effects of fish oil. AB - In order to investigate the effect of fish oil on intimal proliferation of coronary arteries with a fixed stenosis, piglets were fed a diet to which either 9% (w/w) lard fat (L, n = 8) or 4.5% (w/w) lard fat and 4.5% (w/w) mackerel oil (ML, n = 8) was added for 4 months. The stenosis was applied by implanting a Teflon constrictor around the left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) after the animals had been on their diet for two months. Levels of plasma cholesterol and triglycerides did not change in L, but decreased in ML, while ADP induced platelet aggregation in whole blood was higher in L than in ML. At the end of the dietary period the animals were anaesthetized and myocardial perfusion and systolic segment length shortening (SLS) were measured while the hearts were paced at 160 pulses min-1. Transmural blood flow to the non-LADCA nourished zones were normal and similar for L and ML, but impaired in the LADCA-perfused myocardium. In particular the subendocardial layers of L were hypoperfused resulting in a larger loss of SLS in L than in ML. A significantly higher encroachment due to intimal proliferation was found in L (62 +/- 7%) than in ML (11 +/- 4%) at the site of the constrictor while this was less than 2% adjacent to the constrictor. We conclude that the presence of the constrictor causes intimal proliferation and that the fish oil-induced changes in platelet aggregation may play a role in determining the extent to which this occurs. PMID- 2620686 TI - Differential effects of n-3 fatty acids on the regression of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries and the aorta of the pig. AB - Atherosclerosis was induced in 13 Yorkshire pigs (4 weeks; 7-10 kg) by endothelial balloon denudation of the aorta and left anterior descending coronary artery and a diet containing 2% (wt/wt) of cholesterol, 8% (wt/wt) of lard fat and 0.5% (wt/wt) of bile acids. After 8 months 7 animals (group I) were sacrificed to determine the extent to which atherosclerosis had developed. The other 6 animals (group R) received a diet (no cholesterol, 5% (wt/wt) of lard fat and 5% (wt/wt) of fish oil) for 4 months. In I plasma cholesterol increased from 2.29 to 9.02 mmol l-1 after 8 months and in R it returned to 1.89 mmol l-1 after 12 months. Less marked changes occurred in plasma HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. ADP-induced platelet aggregation and the number of platelets remained constant in I whereas both parameters were reduced in R after 12 months. In the lesions of the abdominal aorta of I, cholesterol, cholesterol ester, phospholipid and triglyceride contents were 4.97, 2.08, 4.20 and 0.77 micrograms g-1 wet wt, respectively, whereas in R these values (3.02, 0.47, 2.70 and 0.44 micrograms g-1 wet wt, respectively), were close to the values measured in non abraded vessel wall specimens. The Sudan IV-positive area of the aorta was 34 +/- 9% in I and 10 +/- 4% in R (P less than 0.05). Luminal encroachment of the denudated left anterior descending coronary artery was 11 +/- 3% in I and 13 +/- 3% in R (P greater than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620687 TI - Poststenotic ischaemic myocardial dysfunction induced by peripheral nociceptive stimulation. AB - Sympathetic activation increases cardiac performance, and the increased myocardial oxygen demand is adequately met by an increase in coronary blood flow after metabolic coronary dilation under normal conditions. Distal to a severe coronary stenosis, however, activation of cardiac sympathetic nerves induces myocardial ischaemia by alpha 2-adrenergic coronary constriction. Activation of cardiac sympathetic nerves is one of the autonomous reactions associated with acute somatic pain. Therefore we investigated the effects of acute somatic pain on regional myocardial function distal to a severe coronary stenosis. In 5 anaesthetized, vagotomized dogs activation of cardiac sympathetic nerves was achieved by electrical stimulation of the nervus peronaeus superficialis. To analyse regional myocardial function, myocardial wall thickness was continuously measured by sonomicrometry in the circumflex-perfused posterior and in the anterior (control) myocardium. Under control conditions, nociceptive stimulation increased systolic wall thickening of the posterior myocardium from 10.9 +/- 3.9% to 13.6 +/- 5.0%. With a severe stenosis on the left circumflex coronary artery, systolic wall thickening was reduced to 7.0 +/- 2.5% and further decreased to 4.6 +/- 2.3% during nociceptive stimulation. Intravenous injection of 27 micrograms/kg fentanyl prevented the deterioration of poststenotic myocardial function during nociceptive stimulation. CONCLUSION: Acute somatic pain can induce ischaemic myocardial dysfunction distal to a severe coronary stenosis by activation of cardiac sympathetic nerves. Fentanyl not only prevents the pain sensation but also poststenotic ischaemic myocardial dysfunction. PMID- 2620688 TI - Coronary flow increases induced by adenosine and adenine nucleotides are mediated by the coronary endothelium: a new principle of the regulation of coronary flow. AB - Intracoronary adenosine as well as the adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP, AMP, beta, gamma-methylene-ATP, diadenosine-tetraphosphate, and polyadenylic acid) do not elicit their dilatory effects directly at the smooth muscle cells of the resistance vessel wall, but indirectly, via the endothelium. This must be concluded, since for these compounds the coronary endothelium represents an impermeable barrier between intra-arterial and intra-capillary spaces on the one hand, and the interstitium on the other. Furthermore, in equimolar concentrations the substances investigated induce quantitatively very similar increases in flow, although they are characterized by a highly differing metabolism during their passage through the coronary system as well as by great differences in molecular weight. These endothelium-dependent reactions cannot be influenced by 10(-4)M methylene blue, 10(-5)M haemoglobin, or pre-perfusion with 10(-6)M indomethacin. Accordingly, neither the EDRF nitric oxide nor PGI2 can be considered to be the mediator of these particular increases. There are now, however, observations indicating that the coronary endothelium and the smooth muscle cells of the coronary resistance vessels act as an electrically communicating 'syncytium'. In the light of these recent discoveries, a new principle of coronary flow regulation is suggested. PMID- 2620689 TI - Endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF): a defence mechanism against platelet aggregation and vasospasm in human coronary arteries. AB - The goal of this investigation was to examine the interactions that can occur between platelet and endothelial cells, especially in human coronary arteries. In a first series of experiments, the effect of human endothelial cells (cultured on microcarrier beads) was tested on the aggregation of washed human platelets. Endothelial cells completely inhibited platelet aggregation. The prostacyclin mediated anti-aggregatory component could be blocked with indomethacin. The remaining anti-aggregatory effect of endothelial cells could be prevented with the EDRF inhibitors, gossypol, haemoglobin and methylene blue. This indicates that the endothelial autoacoids, EDRF and prostacyclin, are both inhibitors of platelet aggregation. In a second approach we investigated the effect of aggregating platelets on the tone of human coronary arteries obtained during heart transplantation. Aggregating platelets produced strictly endothelium dependent relaxations of coronary arterial strips. These relaxations were mainly mediated by EDRF, because inhibition of vascular prostacyclin synthesis with aspirin did not inhibit the relaxations significantly, but the relaxations were abolished by the aforementioned EDRF inhibitors. Platelet-derived adenosine 5' diphosphate (ADP) is mainly responsible for the stimulation of EDRF production in coronary endothelial cells. ADP was an endothelium-dependent vasodilator, and apyrase (ADP-ase) completely prevented platelet-induced vasodilation. The other platelet products, serotonin and thromboxane A2, were weak and potent constrictors of coronary arteries, respectively. These data suggest that the ADP released by aggregating platelets stimulates the coronary endothelium to produce EDRF. EDRF overrides the constrictor effects of serotonin and thromboxane A2 and exerts an inhibitory effect against further platelet aggregation or adhesion. PMID- 2620690 TI - How critical is frame selection in quantitative coronary angiographic studies? AB - To analyse quantitatively a coronary arterial segment from a cineangiogram, an end-diastolic or neighbouring frame is usually selected. However, different cardiologists may select other (although usually neighbouring) frames, even when the same selection criteria are followed. It is also possible that the frames are selected from different cardiac cycles. In this study the effects of such phase shifts on the reproducibility of the quantitative measurements were studied. In a total of 38 consecutive patient films obtained at a filmspeed of 25 frames s-1, the frame phi demonstrating the severity of a lesion optimally as judged by a senior cardiologist, the three preceding frames, the three following frames and one frame exactly one cycle prior to or following frame phi were selected; frame phi was always chosen in the end-diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. In each film one coronary arterial segment with a focal lesion was analysed quantitatively in these total of 8 frames with the Cardiovascular Angiography Analysis System (CAAS). No significant differences were found in the mean difference and the standard deviations of the differences (variabilities) in the obstruction diameter, interpolated reference diameter, percent diameter stenosis, extent of the obstruction and area of atherosclerotic plaque obtained in the various frames with respect to frame phi. Therefore, it may be concluded that the selection of a cineframe for quantitative analysis in the end-diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle is not very critical.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620691 TI - Influence of ionic and non-ionic radiographic contrast media on the vasomotor tone of epicardial coronary arteries. AB - The effect of ionic and non-ionic contrast media on the vasomotility of epicardial coronary arteries was investigated in 21 patients during coronary angiography by use of either diatrizoate-76% (10 patients, group A) or iopromide 370 (11 patients, group B). Coronary angiograms were taken in RAO 30 degrees projection before (= reference) and directly after (t0) diagnostic angiography of the left coronary artery (approx. 7 dye injections in approx. 7 min). Additional angiograms in the same projection followed after 1, 3, 6 and 10 min. Mean diameters of angiographically normal coronary segments were analysed with an automatic edge detection system (CAAS). With diatrizoate-76% coronary dilation at t0 averaged 18.9 +/- 6.7% (P less than 0.001); it correlated positively (P less than 0.001) with the number of diagnostic injections performed per min (mean 1.2 +/- 0.3 min-1), and negatively (P less than 0.5) with the time interval between the last diagnostic contrast injection and t0 (mean interval 73 +/- 35 s). Coronary dilation was unchanged 1 min after t0 (18.3 +/- 5.4%, P less than 0.001) and was still present after 6 min (6.2 +/- 4.6%, P less than 0.01). With iopromide-370 coronary dilation at t0 was mild (5.4 +/- 4.3%; P less than 0.05); the subsequent injections led to minimal insignificant dilation. It is concluded that in quantitative angiographic studies on changes in coronary vasomotor tone repeated coronary angiograms should be taken with non-ionic contrast media; furthermore adequate injection intervals of greater than 3 min should be observed. PMID- 2620692 TI - Validation of a digital angiographic model to quantitate autoregulatory vasodilation of the coronary system. AB - Compensatory vasodilation of the distal coronary vascular bed is the major autoregulatory mechanism in response to coronary stenosis. Using impulse response analysis (IRA) of digital angiographic time-density curves, myocardial contrast transit was modelled as two-compartment system to obtain total coronary transit times (T) and microcirculation transit times (Tmicro) as parameters of flow (Q) divided by distribution volume (V) of the corresponding compartments. IRA parameters were compared with electromagnetic Q in eight dogs. At rest, Vmicro/V increased (P less than 0.02) from 0.69 +/- 0.08 in normal arteries (n = 25) to 0.86 +/- 0.06 in stenotic arteries (n = 24). With maximal vasodilation during hyperaemia, Vmicro/V was similar for normal (0.89 +/- 0.05; n = 19) and stenotic arteries (0.9 +/- 0.05; n = 18). There was a close linear (r = 0.88) correlation between 1/Tmicro and Q during hyperaemia. However, at rest with intact vasomotor tone, 1/Tmicro and Q were linearly related (r = 0.94; n = 12) only when Q was reduced below normal by tight stenosis; but the relationship became curvilinear in non-Q-limiting stenosed and normal arteries due to progressive decrease in Vmicro. Instead, resting 1/Tmicro demonstrated a very close linear correlation with coronary flow reserve (r = 0.95). We conclude that two-compartmental modelling of coronary contrast transit reflects stenosis-mediated autoregulatory vasodilation of the coronary microcirculation by a single measurement at rest. PMID- 2620693 TI - Coronary effects of adenosine in conscious man. AB - Adenosine has been reported to play an important role in several cardiac functions, including the regulation of total and regional myocardial perfusion. This hypothesis is based on extensive investigations in animal models, but very limited information is available on the cardiovascular actions of adenosine in conscious man and the effects of the intracoronary administration of adenosine are unknown. The purpose of this study was to measure total and regional coronary blood flow after bolus injections of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 mg of adenosine into the left anterior descending coronary branch. A three-thermistor thermodilution catheter was advanced into the coronary sinus to measure simultaneously the great cardiac vein flow and the coronary sinus flow. Six patients with normal coronary angiograms and normal ventricular function completed the study. Intracoronary injections of adenosine were free from significant adverse effect and caused a dose-related increase of great cardiac vein flow. A linear relation was found between flow increment and the log of adenosine dose (y = 18.929x + 74.84, r2 = 0.951). The highest flow, measured after the maximal dose, was almost three times greater than control flow (155 +/- 2 vs 58 +/- 3 ml min-1, P less than 0.001). We also observed a flow response in the territory not directly exposed to adenosine, as indicated by a marked increase of coronary sinus blood flow that was linearly related to the adenosine dose (y = 29.113x = 112.635, r2 = 0.98). These preliminary observations suggest: (1) Intracoronary injections of adenosine in conscious man can be performed without significant adverse effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620694 TI - Modification of morphine-induced analgesia, tolerance and dependence by bromocriptine. AB - The effect of two doses of bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist, on morphine-induced analgesia, tolerance and dependence was investigated in mice. Bromocriptine at doses of 0.04 and 0.08 mg/kg did not affect the baseline tail flick latency of mice but potentiated the morphine analgesia. Pretreatment of mice with 5 mg/kg of sulpiride, a D-2 antagonist, not only blocked the effect of 0.08 mg/kg of bromocriptine but also antagonized the morphine analgesia. Control animals given daily injections of 10 mg/kg of morphine rapidly developed tolerance to the analgesic effect. A combined treatment of bromocriptine with morphine given daily suppressed the development of tolerance to morphine analgesia. However, development of tolerance to morphine analgesia was not significantly modified in the animals treated daily with bromocriptine (0.08 mg/kg) plus sulpiride (5 mg/kg). Acute dependence was induced by the administration of 100 mg/kg of morphine. The administration of bromocriptine 30 min before naloxone significantly decreased the ED50 value for naloxone for inducing jumping in mice. Coadministration of sulpiride and bromocriptine attenuated the ability of bromocriptine to potentiate the withdrawal syndrome of morphine dependence. The results indicate that bromocriptine potentiates morphine analgesia, suppresses the development of tolerance to morphine analgesia but exacerbates opiate withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice. These effects of bromocriptine appear to be mediated via D-2 receptors. PMID- 2620695 TI - YM461, a PAF antagonist, blocks antigen-induced late airway responses and airway hyperresponsiveness in allergic sheep. AB - We examined the effect of an orally active antagonist, YM461, of platelet activating factor (PAF) on antigen-induced early and late airway responses and on the development of airway hyperresponsiveness 24 h after challenge in allergic sheep. Early and late airway responses were determined by measuring specific lung resistance (SRL) before and periodically after challenge. Airway responsiveness was determined from the slopes of dose-response curves of SRL vs. increasing doses of carbachol aerosol. The sheep were challenged with Ascaris suum antigen once after vehicle treatment (control) and once 1 h after oral administration of 3 or 10 mg/kg YM461 (each trial was greater than or equal to 14 days apart). Airway responsiveness to carbachol was determined 1-3 days prior to and 24 h after antigen challenge. In control 1 and control 2 trials antigen challenge caused significant peak early (288 and 292%, respectively) and peak late (103 and 124%, respectively) increases over baseline in SRL. SRL returned to baseline 24 h after challenge but the sheep developed airway hyperresponsiveness as indicated by the 2.6-fold increases in the slopes of the carbachol dose-response curves in the control trials. YM461, 3 and 10 mg/kg p.o., significantly inhibited the late responses (66 and 82%, respectively) and blocked the development of airway hyperresponsiveness at 24 h. The early responses were not significantly reduced in either trial. These results suggest that PAF contributes to the antigen induced late airway responses and associated airway hyperresponsiveness in allergic sheep. PMID- 2620696 TI - Indomethacin blocks the anorexic action of interleukin-1. AB - It has been reported recently that the central nervous system actions of interleukin-1 are mediated by the prostaglandin system in the brain. The present study was therefore performed in order to examine the hypothesis that indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis, might alleviate the interleukin-1-induced suppression of food intake in rats. The i.p. injection of interleukin-1 (2 micrograms/rat) resulted in a significant decrease in food intake. The pre-injection of indomethacin (0.5 mg/rat), however, completely blocked the anorexic action of the monokine, while indomethacin on its own did not affect food intake. These results suggested that indomethacin might be clinically useful for improvement of the anorexic state of patients with acute infectious diseases. PMID- 2620697 TI - Quinacrine decreases the slow inward current and force in guinea pig ventricular tissue. AB - In guinea pig isolated ventricular myocytes, quinacrine (40 microM) decreases the action potential amplitude and duration, and markedly decreases the slow inward current (Isi). A lower quinacrine concentration (20 microM) has similar but smaller effects. In guinea pig papillary muscles, quinacrine decreases contractile force reversibly. Thus, in myocardial fibers the decrease in Isi by quinacrine appears to predominate over the inhibition of Na-Ca exchange found in membrane vesicles. PMID- 2620698 TI - Butorphanol precipitates abstinence in morphine dependent rats. AB - Butorphanol precipitated a withdrawal syndrome in rats receiving continuous intracerebroventricular infusions of morphine for three days. However, the potency of butorphanol to induce defecation, urination, teeth chattering and escape behavior was one to two orders of magnitude less on a molar basis than that of naloxone. Wet shake behavior, a prominent feature of naloxone precipitated withdrawal, was absent in morphine dependent animals challenged with butorphanol. These data indicate qualitative as well as quantitative differences in the withdrawal syndromes induced by butorphanol and naloxone. PMID- 2620699 TI - Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) has a peripheral site of action for antinociception. AB - In the rat carrageenan model of inflammation, systemically administered CRF significantly reduced hyperalgesia, edema and hyperthermia. While hypophysectomy had no effect, adrenalectomy blocked the effects of systemic CRF on edema and hyperthermia, and tended to reduce the peptide's ability to suppress hyperalgesia. When CRF was injected into one of two bilaterally inflamed hindpaws, it significantly inhibited hyperalgesia via a peripheral mechanism. In this model of inflammation, the antinociceptive effects of CRF are peripherally mediated, while the anti-inflammatory effects are dependent on the adrenal gland. PMID- 2620700 TI - Inhibition of aftercontractions and phasic calcium release by yohimbine in ferret papillary muscle. AB - Phasic release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum occurs in all mammalian cardiac preparations when the intracellular calcium concentration is sufficiently high. The phasic calcium release is often sufficient to trigger electrophysiological responses and aftercontractions. These can be detrimental to normal cardiac function. We induced phasic calcium release in ferret papillary muscles loaded with the calcium indicator aequorin. Development of phasic calcium release was associated with an increase in resting and peak [Ca2+]i. Inhibiting sodium channels with yohimbine reduced resting [Ca2+]i and prevented phasic calcium release. We propose a mechanism where by reduced [Na+]i, and the subsequent increased efflux of calcium via sodium/calcium exchange reduced [Ca2+]i. PMID- 2620701 TI - Effects of Mytilus inhibitory peptides on a giant neurone of Achatina fulica Ferussac. AB - Among several identifiable neurones of Achatina fulica Ferussac, RAPN (right anterior pallial neurone) was sensitive to the two Mytilus inhibitory peptides (MIPs), H-Gly-Ser-Pro-Met-Phe-Val-NH2 ([Ser2]MIP) and H-Gly-Ala-Pro-Met-Phe-Val NH2 ([Ala2]MIP), and their fragments, H-Pro-Met-Phe-Val-NH2 (MIP-(3-6)) and H-Met Phe-Val-NH2 (MIP-(4-6)). These peptides, applied either locally by pneumatic pressure or in the bath, produced a slow outward current with an increase in membrane conductance. The other two related peptides, H-Gly-Ala-Pro-Met-Val-Phe NH2 ([Ala2, Val5, Phe6]MIP-NH2) and H-Gly-Ala-Pro-Met-NH2 ([Ala2]MIP-(1-4)-NH2), were ineffective. The potency order of the four effective peptides was determined from their dose-response relations: [Ser2]MIP greater than [Ala2]MIP greater than MIP-(3-6) greater than MIP-(4-6). The ED50 of [Ser2]MIP was about 3 X 10(-5) M. Relations between the outward current (nA) and the conductance increase (microseconds) produced by the four peptides were quite linear (Y = 0.03416 X 0.01083, r = 0.98677). The reversal potentials for [Ser2]MIP (ES-MIP) measured with various extracellular K+ concentrations ([K+]0) were fitted to the Nernst equation, being identical with EK. ES-MIP was not affected by changing [Na+]0 and [Cl-]0. PMID- 2620702 TI - Individualities in post-serotonin attenuation and Na+/K+ pump activity in vascular smooth muscle. AB - Prior treatment with serotonin (10(-8)-10(-7) M for 6 min) attenuated responses of rabbit mesenteric arteries to norepinephrine (NE) by 18-62%, but was without effect on the responses of the rabbit aorta. K+ relaxation responses in the mesenteric arteries were enhanced by serotonin, but in the aortic strips K+ relaxation occurred either before or after treatment with serotonin. Maximum relaxation to monensin was similar in the two tissues. Post-serotonin attenuation and K+ and monensin relaxation were blocked by ouabain, indicating that they depended on Na+/K+ pump stimulation. Intracellular Na+ contents (Nai) were determined in the vessels by the Li substitution method. Nai was greater, and was increased to a greater extent by serotonin and K(+)-free physiological salt solution in the mesenteric artery compared to the aorta, suggesting that the cell membrane of the mesenteric artery is leakier to Na+ than is that of the aorta. We conclude that the absence of post-serotonin attenuation in the aorta results from the failure of serotonin to increase Nai and thereby to stimulate the Na+/K+ pump in this tissue. This study demonstrates that important individualities in vascular smooth muscle reactivity even in the same animal may result from differences in membrane permeability to sodium. PMID- 2620703 TI - Interleukin-1 beta stimulates the release of vasopressin from rat neurohypophysis. AB - The release of vasopressin from the isolated superfused rat neurohypophysis was measured. The electrically evoked release of vasopressin after phasic submaximal stimulation was increased on exposure to the cytokine, interleukin-1 beta (44 pM). The release returned to its control level when the peptide was withdrawn. The results indicates a permissive role of interleukin-1 beta in the release of vasopressin. PMID- 2620704 TI - Evidence that neuromedin U may regulate gut motility in reptiles but not in mammals. AB - Neuromedin U-8 induced a monophasic and concentration-dependent contraction of intact small intestine from the turtle, Pseudemys scripta, whereas the peptide had no effect upon the motility of rat and guinea pig gut. The maximum response produced by neuromedin U-8 was 56% of that produced by acetylcholine and 62% of that produced by potassium chloride. The potency and maximum response to neuromedin U-8 were unaffected by tetrodotoxin and atropine. The data suggest that neuromedin U may play a role in regulation of gut motility in lower vertebrates but not in mammals. PMID- 2620705 TI - Patterns of electric organ discharge activity in the weakly electric fish Brienomyrus niger L. (Mormyridae). AB - In this study we investigated the electric organ discharge (EOD) activity of the mormyrid fish Brienomyrus niger when they were not affected by conspecific EODs. The fish emitted two types of EOD patterns: phasic and tonic sequences of pulse intervals (SPIs). The phasic SPI occurred in the form of stereotyped, individual specific bursts in EOD activity which we called scallop. Tonic SPIs varied in mean EOD repetition rate and pulse interval stability, and consisted of either regular activity with mean frequencies exceeding 10 Hz and a coefficient of variation (cv) below 15%, or variable activity with mean rates below 10 Hz and cv's of 15% and above. Individual fish predominantly generated one of the three patterns: "variable", "regular", or "scallop". Most fish emitted "variable" activity, but "regular" activity was typical of females and "scallop" of males. We suggest that these SPIs may facilitate individual recognition. The dynamics of the electromotor command system, as reflected by the fish's EOD activity, is compared with that of the well-studied mammalian inferior olive, and mechanisms for a possible self-regulatory central pattern generator are discussed. PMID- 2620706 TI - Populations of retinal neurones marked with DAPI in lower vertebrates. AB - Retinae of teleosts, the marine sparid Boops boops and the fresh water cyprinid Carassius auratus, and amphibians, the anuran Rana pipiens and the urodele Ambystoma tigrinum, were stained in vitro with DAPI (4'6-diamidino 2 phenylindole). In all the preparations tested DAPI consistently stained nuclei in the ganglion cell layer, and three levels of nuclei could be observed from IPL (inner plexiform layer) to INL (inner nuclear layer) in the bogue, goldfish and frog retinae. In the goldfish retina a dense mosaic of stained horizontal cell nuclei was also observed. Both single and double cones were stained in fish; no photoreceptor staining could be found in amphibian retinae. Goldfish and frog retinae were incubated with 5'7'-DHT (dihydroxytryptamine) to compare the distribution of DAPI-stained cells with that of putative serotoninergic neurones. Fluorescent cells were found in the ganglion cell layer, and at two levels distally. In fixed retinae only a regular array of cells was found in the proximal INL, and interestingly the cell density equalled the density of serotoninergic amacrine cells. No other fluorescing cells could be detected. In the fixed frog retina two populations of fluorescent cells were found in the INL. For both species tested 5'7'-DHT and DAPI fluorescent populations did not overlap. The images of fluorescent cells were then processed, in order to improve image quality and assess if, in living tissue, cell types could be separated according to differences in intensity of fluorescence. It emerged that the size of fluorescent nuclei is inversely proportional to their optical density. PMID- 2620707 TI - Cardiovascular regulation in the mudpuppy Necturus maculosus at rest and during short term exercise. AB - Prebranchial blood pressure (Pva), heart rate (fH) and plasma catecholamine concentration were measured in the mudpuppy Necturus maculosus at rest and during exercise. During exercise, both fH and Pva increased, as did the plasma noradrenaline concentration. There was no significant effect on Pva after injection of the adrenergic neuron blocker, bretylium, in resting animals, neither did bretylium affect the exercise-induced increase in Pva. This suggests that there is no adrenergic nervous tone on the vasculature at rest or during exercise. The alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine had no effect on the resting Pva in the bretylium-treated animals, but it abolished the increase in Pva during exercise. This is compatible with the view of no influence on Pva by the plasma catecholamines at rest, while during exercise the increase in plasma noradrenaline concentration is responsible for the increase in Pva. Injection of atropine elevated resting fH, and reduced or abolished cardiac arrythmia, indicating an inhibitory cholinergic tone on the heart at rest, and that variations in this tone are responsible for the intrinsic variation seen in untreated animals. After the atropine treatment, there was still an increase in fH during exercise. The beta-adrenoceptor antagonist sotalol decreased fH in resting atropinized animals, and inhibited the exercise-induced tachycardia, implying that there is an additional beta-adrenoceptor-mediated adrenergic tone, affecting the heart both at rest and during exercise. The cholinergic tone decreased during exercise with a concomitant increase in adrenergic tone. Falck Hillarp fluorescent histochemistry was used to study the presence of adrenergic nerve fibres and other catecholamine-storing cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620708 TI - Bombesin-like immunoreactivity and the effect of bombesin in the gut, circulatory system and lung of the caiman, Caiman crocodylus crocodylus, and the crocodile, Crocodylus porosus. AB - The presence of bombesin-like material in nerves and endocrine cells of the gastrointestinal canal, the circulatory system and the lung of the caiman, Caiman crocodylus crocodylus, has been investigated with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). The effect of bombesin has been studied on the vascularly perfused lung and on isolated strip preparations of the gut wall of the caiman, and on the circulatory system in vivo in both the caiman and the crocodile, Crocodylus porosus. Bombesin-like immunoreactivity is present in water and acid extracts of the muscle layer and the mucosal layer of the gut. IHC demonstrated a dense network of nerve fibres in the sub-mucosa, circular muscle layer and myenteric plexus of the whole gut. A more sparse innervation by single fibres often following septal edges or small vessels is found in the lung. Systemic vessels are innervated by a loose plexus of small fibre bundles. The levels of immunoreactive material in the lung and heart were low. Bombesin is excitatory on strip preparations of the smooth muscle layers of the intestinal wall, and causes an increase in inflow resistance in the perfused lung. In vivo, bombesin increases the blood flow in the left aorta and the coeliac artery. PMID- 2620709 TI - Branchial blood flow distribution in the blue shark (Prionace glauca) and the leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata). AB - Electromagnetic flow (EMF) quantification of total cardiac stroke flow is not feasible for most elasmobranchs because the vascular anatomy precludes probe placement adjacent to the heart and proximal to all afferent branchial arteries (aba). Most previous studies report a fractional cardiac flow, made with the EMF probe placed on the ventral aorta between the innominate arteries and aba 3. Estimation of total cardiac stroke flow from such data requires a flow correction factor obtained by sacrificing the fish, and carrying out a two step in situ/in vitro flow calibration procedure which is based on tenuous assumptions. Ventral aortic blood flow measurements using the EMF techniques were carried out on large blue sharks, and radiographic imaging studies of ventral aortic and branchial blood flow were done on leopard sharks to verify previously estimated fractional cardiac stroke flow correction factors. The innominate flow fraction determined for both species in these studies are similar and agree with previous estimates for elasmobranchs. EMF data for Prionace show 38% of cardiac stroke flow goes to the innominate arteries, 23% into aba 3, 12% into aba 4, and 27% into aba 5. Radiographic analyses with Triakis reveal that 32% of its cardiac stroke volume flows into the innominate arteries which is in agreement with the in situ/in vitro fractional flow estimate (33%). PMID- 2620710 TI - The metabolic rate of an active, tropical elasmobranch, the lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris). AB - The oxygen consumption of an active tropical elasmobranch, the lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris), was measured at different swimming speeds in an annular respirometer. The resulting power-performance curve had a slope of 0.36 which is similar to that of moderately active teleosts. The standard metabolic rate of this elasmobranch (95 ml O2.kg-1.h-1 was higher than that of other sharks, whereas the routine metabolic rate (110 ml O2.kg-1.h-1) was less than that of other elasmobranchs previously studied. Active metabolic rate (226 ml O2.kg-1.h 1), measured in one individual, was the highest for any elasmobranch measured to date. The cost of living of the tropical water lemon shark was calculated to be approximately 2.5 times greater than that of a temperate water shark, but not as high as a salmonid. It is possible that previous generalizations on the poor aerobic performance of sharks are based on data from the less active, temperate water sharks, and are misleading since the metabolic rate of this more active species compares well with active teleosts. PMID- 2620711 TI - Plasma catecholamines in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) during hypoxia. AB - Plasma catecholamines (CAs) were assayed radioenzymatically in normoxic and variably hypoxic rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Results were grouped according to four levels of progressively deeper hypoxemia. Only in animals where PaO2 fell below 6.7 kPa, were both adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA), slightly, but significantly, increased. In contrast, substantial increases of plasma CAs occurred when PaO2 was reduced below 3.99 kPa (increment factor: A = 3.8, NA = 3.4). Comparisons between dose/response data from the literature and the present results suggest that plasma CAs might have a functional role during deep hypoxia. The regulatory role during mild hypoxia remains uncertain due to the lack of data concerning plasma CA prebranchial concentrations and of more precise dose/response relationships. PMID- 2620712 TI - Body size and metabolic rate in the laboratory rat. AB - When the basal metabolic rates of living beings from different species are compared, a relationship between metabolic rate (M) and body size (S) can be identified as follows: M = a Sb, where b is close to 3/4. The present study investigated whether the same relationship applies within a species. In the laboratory rat, Rattus norvegicus, it was found that b can vary considerably from one sample of animals to another. The value of b was also affected by the activity level of the animals, but not by moderate cold exposure. The best estimate for the basal intraspecific b in the rat may be closer to 2/3 than to 3/4, but the variability of the experimental data prevent a definite conclusion at this point. Further research is necessary to explain the variability between different samples of rats. PMID- 2620713 TI - Hidden reproductive costs in the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). AB - The costs of parental behaviour (fanning) were examined in male 1+ and 2+ three spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) by comparing the loss of wet mass incurred by starved parental males during the egg care period to those incurred by starved non-parental males during this same period. To evaluate which tissues were most affected, we compared the wet and dry masses of the tissues in our starved fish with those of an additional group of fed non-parental fish. While parental and non-parentals did not differ in their absolute loss of wet mass (two age classes combined), parentals had a significantly lower total dry mass than both fed and starved non-parentals (two age classes combined). These data suggest that the parental behaviour of males imposes an energetic cost which these males hide by increasing their water content. The difference in dry mass of the tissues of parental and non-parental males was most pronounced in the tissues remaining after removal of the muscles from the carcass, i.e. the skin, the vertebral column and the head. While age 1+ fish lose significantly less wet mass over the breeding cycle than age 2+ fish, this loss of mass represented a greater proportion of the body mass of 1+ than of 2+ fish. This may explain why fewer age 1+ fish than age 2+ successfully breed at our field site. PMID- 2620714 TI - Abortion and fear of AIDS. PMID- 2620715 TI - Running a risk: women and HIV. PMID- 2620716 TI - When urban adolescents choose abortion: effects on education, psychological status and subsequent pregnancy. AB - A group of 360 black teenage women of similar socioeconomic background who sought pregnancy tests from two Baltimore family planning providers was followed for two years to determine if those who obtained abortions were adversely affected by their abortion experience. After two years, the young women who had terminated their pregnancies were far more likely to have graduated from high school or to still be in school and at the appropriate grade level than were those who had decided to carry their pregnancy to term or those whose pregnancy test had been negative. Those who had obtained an abortion were also better off economically than were those in the other two groups after two years. An analysis of psychological stress showed that those who terminated their pregnancy had experience no greater levels of stress or anxiety than had the other teenagers at the time of the pregnancy test, and they were no more likely to have psychological problems two years later. The teenagers who had obtained abortions were also less likely than the other two groups to experience a subsequent pregnancy during the following two years and were slightly more likely to practice contraception. Thus, two years after their abortions, the young women who had chosen to terminate an unwanted pregnancy were doing as well as (and usually better than) those who had had a baby or who had not been pregnant. PMID- 2620717 TI - Children's experience in single-parent families: implications of cohabitation and marital transitions. AB - Data from the National Survey of Families and Households indicate that 10 percent of children born between 1960 and 1968 were born outside of marriage and that before age 16, another 19 percent experienced the dissolution of their parents' marriage. When parental death and other causes of family disruption are also considered, 36 percent of the children in that age cohort had been separated from at least one parent before they reached age 16, compared with 22 percent of children born two decades earlier. In all, 27 percent of nonmarital births between 1970 and 1984 were to cohabiting couples; the proportion was 40 percent for Mexican Americans, 29 percent for non-Hispanic whites and 18 percent for blacks. About two-thirds of cohabiting couples who had children during the 1970s eventually married; however, before these children reach age 16, 56 percent of them are likely to experience the disruption of their parents' marriage, in comparison with 31 percent of children born to married parents. Overall, about half of all children born between 1970 and 1984 are likely to spend some time in a mother-only family, and more than half of these children reach age 16 without having had a stepfather. PMID- 2620718 TI - Early sexual activity among adolescents in small towns and rural areas: race and gender patterns. AB - A 1987 survey of 758 eighth-grade students from three rural counties in Maryland revealed that 61 percent of males and 47 percent of females have engaged in sexual intercourse, and that 77 percent of black students and 40 percent of whites have ever had intercourse. A logistic regression analyzing the effects of race and gender shows that the odds that young black teenagers would have had intercourse are over five times those for whites, and that the odds for males are about twice those for females. The introduction of developmental, individual, academic and behavioral factors into the regression model has little effect on these odds ratios. Separate logistic analyses of four subgroups--white males, white females, black males and black females--reveal no consistent associations between sexual activity and the factors examined. For example, such types of problem behavior as cigarette smoking and use of alcohol or certain other drugs are associated with the likelihood of sexual activity, but the specific type of behavior involved differs by subgroup: Cigarette smoking is related to an increased likelihood of sexual activity just among white females, while alcohol consumption is associated with sexual experience among black females and white males only. Use of drugs other than marijuana or alcohol is linked to a 5-9 times greater risk of sexual activity among whites, but not to any significantly increased risk among blacks, whereas living in a town (rather than in the country) is significantly associated with the likelihood of sexual intercourse among both white and black males, but not among females of either race.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620719 TI - Antiprogestin drugs: medical and legal issues. PMID- 2620720 TI - Reconsidering the age limits on pill use. PMID- 2620721 TI - Contraception: short-term vs. long-term failure rates. PMID- 2620722 TI - [The early detection, dispensary care and phytotherapy of peptic ulcer patients]. PMID- 2620723 TI - [Laser therapy in diseases of the digestive organs]. PMID- 2620724 TI - [Strabismus in children]. PMID- 2620725 TI - [Allergy to the action of cold]. PMID- 2620726 TI - [Humeroscapular periarthritis]. PMID- 2620727 TI - [The treatment of suppurative wounds of the stump of the extremities]. PMID- 2620728 TI - [The fundamentals of the prevention of intrauterine fetal pathology]. PMID- 2620729 TI - [The treatment of vibration disease in coal miners]. PMID- 2620730 TI - [Frostbite and overall body cooling]. PMID- 2620731 TI - [Spinal fractures, first aid and treatment]. PMID- 2620732 TI - [Threatened spontaneous abortion in a patient with hyperandrogenemia]. PMID- 2620733 TI - [Acute drug-induced hemolytic anemia]. PMID- 2620735 TI - [The diagnosis and treatment of anomalies during labor]. PMID- 2620734 TI - [Endometrial polyps]. PMID- 2620736 TI - [Endometriosis]. PMID- 2620737 TI - [Mitral valve prolapse]. PMID- 2620738 TI - [The dispensary observation of children delivered by cesarean section]. PMID- 2620739 TI - [The prevention and treatment of stenocardia]. PMID- 2620740 TI - [Arthrosis deformans of the hip joint]. PMID- 2620741 TI - [Anti-arrhythmia agents]. PMID- 2620742 TI - [Primary uterine inertia]. PMID- 2620743 TI - [Pericarditis. Liver cirrhosis]. PMID- 2620744 TI - [Uterine myoma and mastopathy]. PMID- 2620745 TI - [The care of patients with an external osteosynthesis apparatus]. PMID- 2620746 TI - [The effect of ionizing radiation on the health of the population]. PMID- 2620747 TI - The role of the limbal cornea in vision. AB - The eagle retina is bifoveal. The temporal fovea, which can resolve targets subtending half a minute or less must depend upon its peripheral cornea for such sharp resolution. Our studies showed the eagle cornea to be thinner, scatter less light and be more spherical than the human cornea. Further experimental studies determined the resolving power of the human peripheral cornea. Using, normal subjects, pinholes placed at the edge 8 mm dilated pupils yielded 20/30 visual acuity and normal contrast sensitivity measurements. Thus it is recommended that optical iridectomy be considered, in appropriate cases of corneal blindness with patches of clear peripheral cornea when no donor corneal material is available. PMID- 2620748 TI - Staphylococcal infection and the limbus: study of the cell-mediated immune response. AB - The relationship between enhanced cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to staphylococcal antigens, expressed as delayed hypersensitivity (DH), and the development of catarrhal infiltrates at the limbus in the rabbit has been explored by others. This DH is required for infiltrates to develop in the rabbit cornea when it is exposed to conjunctival inoculation with live Staphylococcus aureus cells. Similar investigations have not been pursued in the human, although St. aureus has been isolated from lids of patients with sterile marginal ulcers. We have tested 69 patients with blepharitis, eleven with and 58 without associated symptomatic marginal keratitis, for DH to killed whole cells of St. aureus and St. epidermidis and protein A; quantitative cultures have also been collected from lids and conjunctivae. Preliminary findings show that nine out of 11 patients with symptomatic marginal keratitis, requiring treatment with steroids, have enhanced DH to St. aureus cell wall antigens. We suggest the hypothesis that this type of marginal keratitis in the human is the result of enhanced CMI at the limbus to St. aureus cell wall antigens. PMID- 2620749 TI - Limbal disease in trachoma and other ocular chlamydial infections: risk factors for corneal vascularisation. AB - Ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, whether of genital or endemic trachoma origin, usually produces diffuse infiltration and swelling of the scleral limbus, grey infiltrates of the corneal limbus, and superficial extension of vessels onto the corneal limbus. In genitally transmitted C. trachomatis infections, subepithelial infiltrates have been reported as well. In classic endemic trachoma, limbal changes also include limbal follicles which resolve, leaving Herbert's peripheral pits, and an extensive vascular pannus. To evaluate the limbal changes in trachoma, follow-up studies were done in 1986-1987 in a group of 213 children originally seen between 1969-1972. Pannus formation occurred at a much earlier age than conjunctival scar formation and was an excellent predictor of later severe conjunctival scarring. The evidence from this study suggests that the mechanisms for corneal pannus formation from the limbus are quite different from those for scarring of the conjunctiva. PMID- 2620750 TI - Computer simulation of arcuate and radial incisions involving the corneoscleral limbus. AB - We have created a computer model of the eye that improves upon previous models with two assumptions: (1) the cornea is considered anisotropic, and (2) the strain tensor is non-linear for large displacements. Values used include those for Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and three coefficients of anisotropia. A finite element computer program was used to stimulate the behaviour of the eye. Four simulations were done: (1) a full thickness arcuate limbal cataract incision, (2) a partial thickness arcuate corneal relaxing incision, (3) a partial thickness radial incision extending across the limbus, (4) a partial thickness radial incision confined to the cornea. A full thickness corneal arcuate incision for cataract induced more change in corneal shape than a limbal incision. However, the gaping is more important in the limbal incision. Partial thickness arcuate corneal relaxing incisions were found to be more effective with a clear zone 3-5 mm in diameter. Radial incision simulation demonstrated little enhancement of the effect of the incisions when across the limbus. PMID- 2620751 TI - Decrease of ultraviolet-induced DNA injury in human skin by p-aminobenzoic acid esters. AB - The effect of a sunscreen containing a p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) ester on ultraviolet-induced DNA injury was assessed on human epidermal cells by the measure of unscheduled DNA synthesis intensity. Our results show that DNA repair was reduced by approximately 50%. Therefore, sunscreens based on PABA esters might be expected to reduce photocarcinogenesis. PMID- 2620752 TI - Multiple subcutaneous abscesses due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in an immunocompetent host. AB - A 58-year-old immunocompetent man presented with a 9-month history of several disseminated subcutaneous ulcerative nodules, fever and weight loss. Histopathological changes were not specific. X-ray of the chest disclosed a large right hilar density highly suggestive of a lung carcinoma. All these manifestations eventually proved to be caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which grew from sputum and skin. We report this case because of its striking clinical features. PMID- 2620753 TI - Hereditary angioedema associated with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. AB - The increased occurrence of various autoimmune diseases has recently been reported in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE). This is especially the case in different forms of lupus erythematosus, but also other autoimmune diseases. We report a 24-year-old female patient who 10 years ago developed the clinical symptoms of HAE which occurred at the same time as subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The results of both immunological investigations and histocompatibility antigen genotyping gave no clear insight into the causal interrelationship of both diseases. PMID- 2620754 TI - Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (Ofuji's disease): efficacy of isotretinoin. AB - The case of a 30-year-old man with a 6-year history of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) is reported. Isotretinoin (1 mg/kg/day) led to a dramatic improvement of all the lesions within 2 weeks. The withdrawal of the drug was followed by a recurrence after 10 days of the papulopustular, follicular and pruritic lesions. Reintroduction of isotretinoin was successful. The benefits of isotretinoin in the treatment of EPF have, to the best of our knowledge, never been reported previously. The mechanisms underlying this efficacy may involve the inhibition of the eosinophilic chemotactic factors thought to be present in sebaceous lipids and in the stratum corneum of patients suffering from EPF. PMID- 2620755 TI - Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis treated with indomethacin. PMID- 2620756 TI - Sweet's syndrome in pregnancy. PMID- 2620757 TI - Primary hemostasis, platelet functions and coagulation in psoriasis. PMID- 2620758 TI - Hypertrichosis induced by diazoxide in idiopathic hypoglycemia of infancy. PMID- 2620759 TI - Coexistence of psoriasis vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus. PMID- 2620760 TI - In reply. Nuchal nevus flammeus. PMID- 2620761 TI - The 71st annual meeting of the Swiss Society for Dermatology and Venerelogy. Zurich, September 15-16, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2620762 TI - Anion transport systems in the mouse erythrocyte: kinetic studies in situ and after expression of mouse erythroid band 3 protein in oocytes of Xenopus laevis. PMID- 2620763 TI - Interactions of signal and transit peptides with membrane proteins and phospholipids. PMID- 2620764 TI - Modified precursor proteins as tools to study protein import into mitochondria. PMID- 2620765 TI - Structure and function of databases. PMID- 2620766 TI - Provision of biosciences information in the academic environment: compact disc read only memory. PMID- 2620767 TI - Creation of inhouse databases. PMID- 2620768 TI - An electronic database for molecular biology. PMID- 2620769 TI - Databases for forensic science. PMID- 2620770 TI - Protein sequence databases: database management, data structures and data access. PMID- 2620771 TI - A relational database of protein structure. PMID- 2620772 TI - The human genome project: approaches to the automation of sequence data input. PMID- 2620773 TI - Databases, artificial intelligence and knowledge-based systems for molecular biology. PMID- 2620774 TI - Chemical databases processing using parallel computer hardware. PMID- 2620775 TI - Solubilization of protein fatty acyltransferase from placental membranes and cell free acyl transfer on to exogenous and endogenous acceptors. PMID- 2620776 TI - Acylation of cell proteins. PMID- 2620777 TI - Fatty acylation of erythrocyte proteins. PMID- 2620778 TI - Phosphatidylinositol-glycan-tailed membrane proteins: the biochemistry of glycolipid anchors. PMID- 2620779 TI - Structure determination of acylated proteins. PMID- 2620780 TI - Effect of omega-3 fatty acids in diet of type I diabetic subjects on lipid values and hemorheological parameters. AB - Twelve type I (insulin-dependent) diabetic subjects in stable metabolic control for at least 3 mo received a controlled diet containing 50% carbohydrate, 35% fat, and 15% protein. Calorie intake varied from 1800 to 2200 calories, depending on individual needs. Part of the polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids (omega 6FAs) were isocalorically exchanged with omega 3FAs (2.7 g/day provided by fish oil concentrates) for 10 wk. Subject selection was based on the fact that the atherogenic index (total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL chol]) remained greater than 5. Total cholesterol did not change, but HDL-chol (P less than .05) increased significantly, and the mean +/- SD atherogenic index decreased from 5.9 +/- 1.1 to 5.1 +/- 1.3. Plasma triglyceride levels also decreased (P less than .05). There was a small (approximately 2%) but significant (P less than .05) decrease of whole-blood viscosity at low shear rate because of a similarly small (approximately 2% decrease (P less than .05) of plasma viscosity. Erythrocyte viscosity values and the erythrocyte transit time, measured with the St. George's filtrometer, remained unchanged during fish oil intake. Four weeks after stopping the omega 3FA administration, the triglyceride level was again increased (P less than .05) and was even higher than the starting value (P less than .05). Plasma and whole-blood viscosity also increased to the starting levels, demonstrating that lipid alterations are accompanied with blood viscosity changes in the presence of a stable metabolic control. PMID- 2620781 TI - Epidemiological correlates of diabetic neuropathy. Report from Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study. AB - The natural history of diabetic neuropathy and its risk factors are not well understood, apart from the recognition that prevalence increases with duration and, in many studies, degree of glycemia. The role of potential risk factors was therefore evaluated in a cross-sectional analysis from the baseline examination of the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study. We present results from the first 400 subjects seen at baseline examination. Neuropathy was determined by a trained internist with a standardized examination and was defined as the presence of at least two of three criteria: abnormal sensory or motor signs, symptoms consistent with neuropathy, and decreased tendon reflexes. The prevalence of neuropathy in this cohort was 34% (18%, 18-29 yr old, 58% greater than or equal to 30 yr old) with no difference by sex. By focusing on subjects greater than or equal to 18 yr old, all significant univariate variables (e.g., duration, glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1]) were analyzed in 3 multiple logistic regression models: all subjects greater than or equal to 18 yr old and separating the same subjects into two groups based on age (18-29 and greater than or equal to 30 yr). Duration, HbA1, smoking status, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were found to be associated with neuropathy in the models for the greater than or equal to 18-yr-old group and the greater than or equal to 30-yr old group. In the 18- to 29-yr-old group, duration, HbA1, and hypertension status were found to be significantly associated with neuropathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620782 TI - Myocyte contracture, vascular resistance, and vascular permeability after global ischemia in isolated hearts from alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. AB - Coronary vascular hemodynamics, albumin permeation, and myocyte contractility were assessed in isolated hearts from 6-mo alloxan-induced diabetic (ALX-D) rabbits during 3 h of reperfusion after 40 min of global no-flow ischemia. Residue-detection data, generated during the single passage of a bolus of 125I labeled bovine serum albumin (125I-BSA) through the coronary vasculature, were used to estimate indices of vascular function, including the mean transit time of 125I-BSA, the fractional rate of intravascular clearance of 125I-BSA, and 125I BSA permeation of coronary vessels. During reflow after ischemia in hearts from control rabbits, vascular resistance increased approximately three times that at baseline, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) increased 8-10 times, and maximum +dP/dt recovered 0.4 times baseline, whereas the fractional rate of washout of intravascular 125I-BSA decreased to less than one-half of baseline values (was prolonged 2-fold), and albumin permeation and mean-transit time were increased 3 and 5 times baseline, respectively. In hearts from diabetic rabbits, vascular resistance was similar to the control group before ischemia but increased only one-third as much during reflow after ischemia. Increases in LVEDP during reflow were approximately 50% lower than controls, and +dP/dt recovered approximately 2.5 times more than in control hearts. 125I-BSA permeation in diabetics was similar to controls before ischemia, but during reflow increased 6 times (approximately 2 times controls). Washout of intravascular 125I-BSA was prolonged approximately 20% versus baseline during 3 h of reflow in hearts from diabetic rabbits. Thus, ALX-D in the rabbit delayed ischemia-reperfusion injury to myocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells while increasing vascular albumin permeation. PMID- 2620783 TI - Normal insulin-receptor cDNA sequence in Pima Indians with NIDDM. AB - Pima Indians have served as a model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Within this population, inherited insulin resistance is a primary determinant of abnormal glucose metabolism. The insulin receptor is regarded as a "candidate gene" that could potentially be defective in Pima Indians or other populations with NIDDM. To directly address the question of potential insulin receptor genetic defects in Pima Indians, we isolated and sequenced insulin receptor cDNA from two Pima Indians with NIDDM. Small amounts of lymphoblast RNA were used to generate first-strand cDNA, which was then amplified via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this way, seven overlapping segments of insulin-receptor cDNA were obtained. With the exception of the alternatively spliced 36-base pair exon 11, which is not expressed in lymphoblasts, the complete coding region of the mature proreceptor was examined with a combination of direct sequencing and sequencing of subcloned PCR segments. The nucleotide sequence in both subjects was identical to previously published insulin-receptor cDNA sequences obtained from healthy subjects. These data indicate that abnormalities of insulin binding and receptor function that have been previously observed in vitro with fresh and cultured cells from Pima Indians may be consequences of the diabetic milieu and/or genetic abnormalities in molecules that interact with the insulin receptor. PMID- 2620784 TI - Differential degradation of intracellular proteins in human skin fibroblasts of mitotic and mitomycin-C (MMC)-induced postmitotic differentiation states in vitro. AB - Rates of degradation of short- and long-lived proteins were analysed in homogeneous fibroblast cultures of mitotic or mitomycin C (MMC)-induced postmitotic states. When the highly mitotic MFII type cells--the major cell type of so called "early passage" or "young" fibroblasts--differentiate into MFIII type cells, the last mitotic fibroblast type, and further into MMC-induced postmitotic fibroblasts, the degradation of short-lived proteins increases by a factor of 1.4, resulting in significantly reduced half-lives of these proteins in the postmitotic fibroblasts. From the highly mitotic MFII to the final postmitotic PMFVI-type cells via the intermediates MFIII, PMFIV and PMFV, the half lives (t1/2) of short-lived proteins decrease by a total of 122 min in average, from 362 to 240 min. Degradation of long-lived proteins did not change significantly from cell type MFII to PMFVI. As analysed by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis the half-lives of the mitotic and postmitotic cell-type specific proteins except one, protein PIVa (33 kDa; Pi 5.0), range between 33.2 h and 62.9 h. Protein PIVa, the first protein specific for postmitotic cells, is initially expressed 18 h after the induction of the postmitotic state by mitomycin C (MMC) and has a half-life of approximately 66 min. This may indicate that protein PIVa could function as one possible regulatory factor controlling the postmitotic differentiation state. PMID- 2620785 TI - Comments on the LD50 and acute eye and skin irritation tests. The Animals in Research Committee of the Society of Toxicology and approved by the SOT Council. AB - Conduct of any form of testing of potentially hazardous materials in animals, including lethality or eye and skin irritation testing, should be undertaken only after careful consideration of the necessity for, the objectives behind, and the possible alternatives to, such testing. Acute toxicity testing to determine an approximate lethal dose provides a basis for a comparison of the relative toxicities of different materials. These data are used to classify materials for transportation and labeling, to provide information for treatment of acute intoxications, to aid in dose selection for subsequent toxicity studies, and to provide comparison data for evaluation and validation of alternative methods in toxicology. Although the classical LD50 test provides a general estimate of the quantity of chemical likely to cause death, much of the same information can be provided by other forms of testing in which significantly fewer number of animals are employed. Acute eye and skin irritation tests on chemical substances are conducted in order to characterize the hazards associated with ocular or dermal exposure. At present, tests in intact animals are the only means of assessing the potential hazard from such exposure other than direct testing in man. Although validated in vitro alternatives to eye and skin irritation tests in animals are not available currently, many tests under development show promise and may be useful as initial screening techniques. Complete validation of these alternate forms of testing for irritation may reduce the need to use whole animals. Until these procedures have been thoroughly tested and validated, the investigator will have to rely on conventional methods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620786 TI - Symposium on lung cancer risk of exposure to radon. PMID- 2620787 TI - Teratogenic assessment of 2,4-dichlorophenol in Fischer 344 rats. AB - The potential maternal, embryotoxic, and teratogenic parameters of 2,4 dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) were evaluated in Fischer 344 rats following oral administration in corn oil on Days 6 through 15 of gestation. Dose levels were 0, 200, 375, and 750 mg/kg/day. Females were sacrificed on Gestation Day 20 and cesarean sections performed. The fetuses were weighed, sexed, measured for crown rump length, and examined for external malformations. A skeletal examination was conducted on one-half of the fetuses after staining with alizarin red S. The remaining fetuses were fixed in Bouin's solution and examined for visceral anomalies and developmental variations. Maternal body weight gain inhibition occurred in all 2,4-dichlorophenol-treated groups during the treatment period. Four treatment-related deaths occurred in the 750 mg/kg/day group. Additional indicators of maternal toxicity included urogenital staining of the fur at all levels tested, and an increased incidence of hair loss and respiratory rales at the 750 mg/kg/day level. Fetal examinations did not reveal differences in the incidence of external, visceral, or skeletal fetal malformations in any treatment group, when compared with the control group. A slight increase in early embryonic death occurred in the high-dose group only. Fetal weights were lower in the high dose group than in the control group. Variations in skeletal structure were expressed among fetuses exposed to 750 mg/kg/day during organogenesis. These included delayed ossification of sternal elements and vertebral arches. The reduced fetal weights, intrauterine survival, and retarded ossification may represent a slight degree of embryotoxicity or fetotoxicity in this group. The test material was not teratogenic at any dose level. PMID- 2620788 TI - Developmental toxicity of 1,1,1-trichloroethane in CD rats. AB - 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCEN), a major industrial and household solvent, was evaluated for pre- and postnatal developmental effects in Sprague-Dawley rats. This study was designed to assess the repeatability of a report (S.C. Dapson, D.E. Hutcheon, and D. Lehr, Teratology 29, 25A, 1984) that indicated that 10 ppm TCEN in drinking water caused cardiac malformations in developing rats. In the present study, TCEN (97% pure) was administered in the drinking water at target concentrations of 3, 10, and 30 ppm, using 0.05% Tween 80 as an emulsifying agent. Two control groups, one receiving deionized/filtered water and the other receiving a vehicle control solution containing 0.05% Tween 80 and 0.9 ppm 1,4 dioxane, a stabilizing agent found in the bulk chemical, were also included. Male and female breeders (more than 30 per group) were exposed to the control solutions or test compound for 14 consecutive days prior to cohabitation and for up to 13 days during the cohabitation phase. Sperm-positive females (24-29 per group) continued to be exposed to these formulations during pregnancy and lactation to Postnatal Day (PND) 21. Parental animals exhibited a slight aversion to the 30-ppm drinking water during the premating exposure. No significant effect on reproductive competence of the parental animals or postnatal growth and development of the offspring to PND 21 was noted. A slight increase in mortality from implantation to PND 1, possibly due to high mortality in one litter, was observed in the 30-ppm dose group. There was no indication of an increase in the incidence of cardiac or other malformations in PND 21 pups. In summary, TCEN administered at 3, 10, and 30 ppm in the drinking water had no significant effect on the morphological development of CD rats. PMID- 2620789 TI - Prenatal reserpine exposure alters cardiovascular parameters in rat offspring. AB - Electrocardiograms (ECGs) and blood pressures (BPs) were recorded and evaluated in postnatal rats that had been exposed in utero to 0.375 or 0.75 mg reserpine/kg/day sc on Gestational Days (GD) 12-15. These doses caused reduced maternal weight gain during pregnancy and decreased pup body weight at birth, as well as reduced heart weight during the preweaning period. There were no changes in other maternal parameters or in litter size. During the postweaning period, pup body weight was reduced only at the highest dose at Postnatal Days (PND) 30 and 60. By PND 342, the weight reduction was no longer significant when compared to controls. Lead II ECGs were recorded in conscious animals on PND 30, 60, and 342; BPs were recorded in anesthetized animals on PND 346. Several ECG parameters were attenuated by prenatal reserpine exposure: R wave and S wave amplitudes and the QRS interval in males, and the PR interval in females. The BP recordings showed that low-dose males had significantly higher pulse pressures than did high dose males, but neither group was significantly different from controls. Following an intraarterial norepinephrine challenge, resultant peak pulse pressure was greater in high-dose females than in controls. These results indicate that subtle, long-term, sex-specific alterations in cardiovascular parameters were produced by prenatal reserpine treatment at doses that altered body weight in young animals at PNDs 30 and 60, but this change was no longer apparent at PND 342. PMID- 2620790 TI - Comparison of fetotoxic effects of a dermally applied complex organic mixture in rats and mice. AB - A high-boiling (288-454 degrees C), coal-derived complex organic mixture (COM) has been shown to be teratogenic in rats following inhalation and oral routes of exposure. To determine whether similar changes also occur after dermal exposure to this COM, pregnant rats and mice were exposed during periods of organogenesis (Days 11 to 15 of gestation). Shaved backs were painted with 0, 500, or 1500 mg/kg of the COM (control, low, or high dose, respectively); the exposed area was not occluded. Maternal weight gain during the gestation period decreased with increasing dose in rats but not in mice. Examination of rat fetuses on Day 20 of gestation showed that resorptions had occurred in more than 90% of low- and high dose litters (vs 6% in the control group). In mice, fetal examinations on Day 18 of gestation showed that resorptions occurred in 71% of litters from both exposure groups (vs 14% in the controls). Fetal measurements indicated that both the weight and the length of rat fetuses decreased with increasing dose, but mouse fetuses were unaffected. Cleft palates, absent in the control groups, were observed in 50 to 55% of the high-dose group and 5 to 8% of the low-dose fetuses of both species. Small fetal lungs occurred in nearly 100% of the exposed rat fetuses and in 25% of the high-dose mice; the incidence of small lungs was 1% in control animals. Other variations observed in exposed groups included edema and reduced ossification in the rat and renal pelvic cavitation in the mouse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620791 TI - Inhalation toxicity study of formamide in rats. AB - Formamide is a widely used solvent for the manufacture and processing of plastics, and the possibility for inhalation exposure exists for workers. To assess the toxicity of repeated inhalation of sublethal concentrations of formamide, three groups of 10 male Crl:CD BR rats each were exposed nose-only for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks to design concentrations of 100, 500, or 1500 ppm of formamide vapor in air. A control group of 10 male rats was exposed simultaneously to air only. At the end of the exposure period, blood and urine samples were collected for clinical analyses, and 5 rats per group were killed for pathologic examination. The remaining 5 rats per group were retained for a 14 day postexposure observation (recovery) period and then subjected to the same clinical and pathologic examinations. Male rats exposed to 1500 ppm had significantly depressed body weights and body weight gains during the exposure and recovery periods compared to controls. Clinical pathologic examinations revealed that decreased platelet and/or lymphocyte counts were observed in rats exposed to 500 or 1500 ppm of formamide. Pathologic examinations revealed compound-related microscopic changes in the kidneys of rats exposed to 1500 ppm formamide. Minimal to severe necrosis and regeneration of renal tubular epithelial cells were observed principally in the outer stripe of the outer medulla and in cortical medullary rays. Based upon the hematologic and clinical chemical parameters measured, the no-observed-effect exposure concentration for repeated inhalation of formamide was considered to be 100 ppm, under the conditions of this study. The findings of treatment-related microscopic lesions in the kidneys as well as increases in mean absolute kidney weights and kidney-to body weight ratios reflect the target organ toxicity. PMID- 2620792 TI - Percutaneous absorption and excretion of xenobiotics after topical and intravenous administration to pigs. AB - Interspecies comparisons suggest that the weaning pig is a suitable surrogate for man in percutaneous absorption studies. Despite known anatomical and physiological similarities between porcine and human skin, very few investigations of percutaneous absorption phenomena have been conducted in pigs. This study examined radiolabel excretion patterns after intravenous (iv) and topical administration of six 14C-radiolabeled compounds in weanling Yorkshire sows. Radiolabel recovery from excrement collected over 6 days following iv doses in physiological saline (200 micrograms, 10 muCi) showed that malathion (M), parathion (P), caffeine (C), and benzoic acid (B) were primarily excreted into urine (greater than 80%), while greater fractions of testosterone (T, 72%) and progesterone (R, 35%) were fecally eliminated. Percutaneous absorption was determined from total urine and fecal excretion of radiolabel after topical application, corrected for incomplete excretion following iv administration. Topical doses in ethanol (200 micrograms, 10 muCi) were applied at a surface concentration of 40 micrograms cm-2 and penetrated in the following rank order (percentage dose): B (25.7%) greater than R (16.2%) greater than C (11.8%) greater than T (8.8%) greater than P (6.7%) greater than M (5.2%). Fecal clearances of radiolabel, expressed as a percentage of total excretion, were greater after topical administration for four of the six compounds (B, C, P, and T, p less than 0.05). Calculations based on urinary excretion alone underestimated percutaneous absorption determined from total excretion by 5-30%, although the difference between the two estimates was statistically significant only for C (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620793 TI - Acute toxicity of perfluorodecanoic acid in C57BL/6 mice differs from 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. AB - Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) is a 10-carbon straight-chain fatty acid. Its toxicity in rats has been reported to resemble that produced by exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Mice which are "responsive" to TCDD toxicity carry the Ahb allele, while mice homozygous for the Ahd gene are less sensitive to TCDD toxicity. To characterize the toxicity of PFDA and determine if it is under the control of the Ah locus, female responsive C57BL/6N (Ahb/b) mice and congenic C57BL/6J mice, differing only at the Ah locus (responsive, Ahb/b; heterozygous responsive, Ahb/d and "nonresponsive," Ahd/d), were administered a single oral dose of PFDA, at levels from 0 to 320 mg/kg body weight, observed daily for overt signs of toxicity, and weighed three times weekly. In the wild type congenic C57BL/6J (Ahb/b) subline, mice were killed at 2, 7, 14, and 30 days following exposure. All other mice were killed on Day 30. Serum was taken from the C57BL/6N mice for analysis of thyroid hormone levels. Selected organs from all mice were weighed and fixed for histopathological examination. Dose-related mortality was observed as early as 5 days postexposure and time-to-death was inversely related to dose. Dramatic decreases in body weight occurred shortly following treatment in all strains. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels increased with increasing dose. There was a marked increase (p less than 0.05) in absolute and relative liver weights and a significant decrease in thymus weights. Hepatocellular hypertrophy was observed in all treated mice other than controls. A marked increase in hepatocyte peroxisomes was observed in all treatment groups. Thus, in contrast to TCDD, the acute toxicity of PFDA in the female C57BL/6 mouse does not vary with the Ah allele and is distinct from that reported for TCDD. PMID- 2620794 TI - Effects of cefamandole on spermatogenic development of young CD rats. AB - The testicular toxicity of cefamandole, a beta-lactam antibiotic with an N methylthiotetrazole side chain, was evaluated in neonatal rats. Cefamandole caused delayed maturity of the germinal epithelium of neonatal rats when given on Postpartum Days 6 through 36. In rats given daily subcutaneous injections of 1000 mg/kg during this period, the most mature germinal cells were acrosome phase spermatids, whereas control rats had spermatids in the maturation phase. In studies of specific developmental phases, the effect of 1000 mg/kg daily cefamandole was primarily on the initial waves of spermatogonia during the period of rapid development (Postpartum Days 4 through 13). In animals treated from birth to Postpartum Day 8 and evaluated sequentially on Postpartum Days 5 through 9, there were no morphologically discernible effects on the transformation of gonocytes to immature spermatogonia, but there were slight degenerative changes in the first waves of developing spermatogonia. Cefamandole, 1000 mg/kg daily, given Postpartum Days 14 through 18 during the initial phase of spermatocyte development, also caused a slight degenerative change of the initial waves of pachytene spermatocytes. The significance of the findings in neonatal rats is unknown because differences in spermatogenic development between rat and human preclude direct extrapolation of the effects of cefamandole in neonatal rats to effects in humans. PMID- 2620795 TI - Results and evaluations of 48 continuous breeding reproduction studies conducted in mice. AB - Results of 48 continuous breeding reproduction (RACB) studies are summarized and control data from these studies are used to determine the statistical sensitivity of each endpoint from different parts of these studies. Results of testing individual chemicals compared well with results of multigeneration studies reported in the literature. Continuous breeding studies were able to discriminate reproductive toxicants from nontoxicants, and provided valuable structure activity information. When mice in continuous cohabitation produce multiple litters, the statistical sensitivity of fertility endpoints is quite high and is comparable to that associated with other sensitive indicators of reproductive function, such as testis weight and sperm parameter measures. The principal advantages of the RACB protocol in comparison to multigeneration studies are: (1) the increased sensitivity and statistical power, (2) the ability to monitor progression of toxicity and to detect subfertility, (3) use of a battery of endpoints including sperm measures, (4) the ability to determine the affected sex(es), and (5) slightly reduced testing time. PMID- 2620796 TI - Tissue drug accumulation and ultrastructural changes during amiodarone administration in rats. AB - Pulmonary and hepatotoxicity are the two major side effects of chronic amiodarone therapy. We studied the accumulation of amiodarone and its principal metabolite, desethylamiodarone, in lung and liver of rats treated ip for 21 to 23 days with either 40 or 80 mg/kg/day amiodarone. The ultrastructural changes in liver, lung, and alveolar macrophages in saline controls and in rats on the two amiodarone dosage regimens were investigated. There was a dose-dependent increase in amiodarone and desethylamiodarone levels in serum and in tissues. The desethylamiodarone/amiodarone ratios in liver and lung, but not in serum, increased significantly with increasing dose. Serum also contained another metabolite, monodeiodinated desethylamiodarone. Increase in vacuolization and presence of whorled lamellar inclusion bodies in alveolar macrophages occurred with an increase in dose and higher lung amiodarone and desethylamiodarone levels. Electron microscopy of the liver of amiodarone-treated rats revealed the presence of large inclusion bodies partially filled with amorphous material in the cytoplasm. The quantitative relationship of the above changes to organ toxicity and to phospholipidosis that accompanies amiodarone administration remains to be established. PMID- 2620797 TI - Assessment in rats of the gonadotoxic and hepatorenal toxic potential of dibromochloropropane (DBCP) in drinking water. AB - This investigation was undertaken to assess the potential of ingested 1,2-dibromo 3-chloropropane (DBCP) to cause testicular and hepatorenal injury, in light of the paucity of data applicable to risk assessment of DBCP in drinking water. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were supplied ad libitum with water containing 0, 5, 50, 100, and 200 ppm DBCP for 64 days. A dose-related decrease in water consumption occurred during the study. The 200-ppm animals drank less than half as much water as controls, consumed less food, and subsequently exhibited significantly lower body weight gain. DBCP ingestion thus was not directly proportional to the level of chemical in the water, although daily and cumulative intake of DCP were concentration dependent. Average daily intake of DBCP for the 64-day exposure period was as follows: 5 ppm = 0.4 mg/kg/day; 50 ppm = 3.3 mg/kg/day; 100 ppm = 5.4 mg/kg/day; 200 ppm = 9.7 mg/kg/day. Blood samples were taken after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of exposure and at the terminal sacrifice and assayed for serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, and ornithine-carbamyl transferase activities and BUN levels. No evidence of liver damage at any exposure level was indicated by either the clinical chemistry indices or histopathology. Histologic examination revealed an apparent increase in the number of nuclei per renal proximal tubule cross-section in the 200-ppm group, possibly indicative of an increased turnover of proximal tubular cells. A slight, but statistically significant, decrease in absolute testicular weight was manifest in the 200-ppm animals, although the decrease was not significant when testicular weight was calculated as g/100 g body wt. Epididymal sperm counts and serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and intratesticular testosterone levels were not altered by any dose of DBCP. A qualitative histopathological examination of the testicular seminiferous epithelium failed to reveal any abnormalities in the spermatogenic process. PMID- 2620798 TI - Allosteric binding of nickel(II) to calmodulin. AB - The binding of Ni(II) to calmodulin (CAM) in the presence and in the absence of Ca(II) was investigated by equilibrium dialysis in order to test the physicochemistry of direct Ni(II)-CAM interactions that might be responsible for the effects of this metal on CAM observed in vivo. Samples containing 5 microM CAM, 5 mM Tris/HCl buffer (pH 7.4), and NaCl to maintain the ionic strength I = 3600 microM, with or without 200 microM CaCl2, were dialyzed at 37 degrees C against 1-300 microM 63NiCl2. In the presence of Ca(II), the CAM molecule has two binding sites for Ni(II) (K1 = 7.25 x 10(5) M-1; K2 = 3.79 x 10(5) M-1) (Hill coefficient = 1.20 +/- 0.03 SE). In the absence of Ca(II), a complicated Ni(II) binding curve is obtained indicating formation of many mutually interacting complex species. Binding of Ni(II) to CAM in the presence of Ca(II) is inhibited slightly by added MnCl2 (50 microM) and very strongly by CuCl2 and ZnCl2 (10 microM). To elucidate the mechanism of this inhibition, binding of Zn(II) (0.5-50 microM 65ZnCl2) to CAM in the presence of Ca(II) (200 microM) was also studied. The maximum molecular ratio of Zn(II) to CAM in the Zn(II)/Ca(II)/CAM complex approached 0.5. Thus, the observed inhibition by Zn(II) of the Ni(II) binding to Ca(II)/CAM does not involve competition for the same binding sites but is rather caused by a conformational arrangement of CAM in its Ca(II)/Zn(II) complex that is different than the Ca(II) complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620799 TI - Compartmental modeling of the long-term retention of insoluble particles deposited in the alveolar region of the lung. AB - The state of the art for modeling the retention of inhaled insoluble particles deposited in the alveolar region of the lung is briefly reviewed, and a new compartmental model of long-term retention is proposed. Wherever possible, this new model favors the replacement of simple first-order kinetics of particle transport processes in the lung by quantified mechanisms derived from or suggested by experimental data of published studies in lung physiology and histopathology. In particular, all macrophage-mediated transport processes, including classical alveolar clearance onto the mucociliary escalator, are modeled as dependent on actual macrophage mobility and are assumed to be influenced by the finite macrophage life time. The mobility is predicted to decrease with increasing particle burden of the macrophage, and there is a limit to the macrophage capacity for accumulating burdens of insoluble particles by phagocytosis. Furthermore, at high particle burdens, macrophages will be progressivity sequestered by irreversible aggregation and immobilization. Using published data on Fischer 344 rats for a quantitative demonstration of the patterns of the new model under chronic exposures, a basic set of model parameters predicts that, at moderate particle deposition rates, retention is limiting itself by establishing a steady state, and the alveolar burden is almost completely eliminated during the postexposure period. However, at high particle deposition rates, the alveolar particle burden increases continuously during the exposure period, and only a small fraction of the deposit is subject to clearance after termination of exposure. In qualitative terms, these are typical features of the "overload" effect which has been observed in a number of recent chronic aerosol inhalation exposure studies with animals. PMID- 2620800 TI - Re: A blind reanalysis of a random subset of NCI bioassay studies: agreement between rats and mice, a series of papers published in the February 1989 issue of Fundamental and Applied Toxicology (Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 12, 189-241, 1989) PMID- 2620801 TI - [Correlation between Selvester's QRS score and left ventricular function at rest and during effort in patients who survived myocardial infarction]. AB - This study was carried out in order to determine if there is any correlation between QRS score and left ventricular function at rest and during exercise after single myocardial infarction. Selvester's QRS scoring system to determine infarct size by observing Q and R standard 12-lead ECG was independently applied by three cardiologists. Left ventricular function was determined using the resting angiographic LVEF, the pulmonary wedge pressure in supine position and during exercise. The total work performed and the heart rate and systolic blood pressure percentage increase (delta) were also considered. Forty-eight male pts (mean age 52.3 +/- 8.7) were studied within 2 months after acute myocardial infarction. The site of the myocardial infarction was anterior in 13, inferior in 20, inferior plus posterior in 15. There were poor correlations between QRS score and left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.44) and pulmonary wedge pressure in supine position and during exercise, total work performed, delta heart rate and delta systolic blood pressure. There was no significant difference in mean QRS score between pts with abnormal (greater than 12 mmHg) and normal resting pulmonary wedge pressure in supine position (10.8 +/- 8.4 vs 7.3 +/- 5.8) or between pts with abnormal (greater than 20 mmHg) and normal exertional pulmonary wedge pressure (10.5 +/- 8.4 vs 7.4 +/- 5.7). In conclusion, the QRS score, obtained up to 30 days following an acute myocardial infarction, is not useful in determining left ventricular function at rest or during exercise. PMID- 2620802 TI - [Stroop's color-word test as a mental stressor in the functional evaluation of recent myocardial infarction: comparison with arithmetic calculation]. AB - To assess the power of Stroop's color-word test to induce cardiovascular arousal in cardiac patients, 10 postinfarct patients underwent Stroop's test, as well as the mental arithmetic test, which was assumed to be the gold standard. Both stressors induced significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure; the differences between these increases were not statistically significant. Stroop's test is a useful alternative to the mental arithmetic test in the study of cardiovascular responses to mental stress. PMID- 2620803 TI - [The association of arithmetic calculation and noise as a mental stressor in the functional evaluation of recent myocardial infarction]. AB - To evaluate the possible augmented power of mental arithmetic when given to the subjects during noise, 12 postinfarct patients underwent mental arithmetic in the standard way and then the same stressor with a white noise: mental arithmetic significantly increased (p less than 0.05) the heart rate, while mental arithmetic and white noise significantly increased (p less than 0.05) heart rate, systolic and mean blood pressure, as well as skin conductance. Nevertheless, the increments in heart rate, blood pressure and skin conductance induced by the two different ways of stressing did not significantly differ. Thus, adding white noise to mental arithmetic does not seem to be useful to increase the power of mental arithmetic in order to elicit cardiovascular responses. PMID- 2620804 TI - [Hypokinetic cardiomyopathy. A possible result of myocardial contusion]. AB - Myocardial contusion is a frequent complication of blunt chest trauma. Ventricular involvement is generally segmental and exhibits a favourable evolution. We describe the case of a 44-year-old male who suffered an acute blunt thoracic injury with a consequent stable worsening of his functional class. His first electrocardiographic examination 30 days after the trauma showed negative T wave in V3-V6 leads while one and two-dimensional echocardiography exhibited a diffuse damage of the morphology of the left ventricle and a lowering of the fractional shortening (FS) of its end-diastolic diameter (EDD): FS = 23%, EDD = 6.9 cm, diastolic eccentricity index = 65%, systolic eccentricity index = 70%. During a follow-up period of thirteen months ECG became normal after a short time while the echocardiogram maintained its initial abnormalities and the patient maintained his compromised functional class. We report this peculiar pattern of myocardial contusion evolution which has not previously been described. PMID- 2620805 TI - [Prolonged myocardial ischemia after the high-dose dipyridamole test]. AB - The intravenous dipyridamole test is considered a safe procedure with a very low incidence of severe cardiac effects and is routinely used in the diagnosis and prognosis of coronary artery disease. We report the case of a 63-year-old female with negative exercise stress test who developed prolonged and extensive myocardial ischemia after the high-dose intravenous dipyridamole echocardiography test. Aminophylline and nitroglycerin were employed but were ineffective and the patient was successfully treated with systemic thrombolysis. At coronary angiography, 48 hours later, a 50% stenosis in the proximal LAD was documented. We stress that high-dose intravenous dipyridamole can induce a severe ischemic response whose occurrence is unpredictable according to the pre-test clinical features. PMID- 2620806 TI - [Meta-analysis. A systematic approach to the synthesis of knowledge]. PMID- 2620807 TI - [Clinical applications of the heart-lung transplant. Clinical results 5 years after the start of the program at Papworth]. AB - In this study is reviewed the experience at Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire, and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, with combined heart-lung transplantation. Between April 1984 and June 1989, 73 patients have undergone heart-lung transplantation. Donors and recipients were carefully matched with regards to serology, morphology and cytomegalovirus compatibility. Heart preservation was based on use of cold St. Thomas' cardioplegic solution; a pulmonary preservation fluid has been developed that allows distant organ procurement with a single pulmonary artery flush technique (Papworth solution). The recipients were: 21 pts with Eisenmenger's syndrome, 15 pts with pulmonary hypertension, 37 pts with pulmonary disease (including 22 cystic fibrosis). The results are: no surgical mortality; no acute cardiac rejection episodes. Twenty three patients died (16 with infections, 3 with obliterative bronchiolitis, 2 with cerebral embolism and 2 others). The actuarial survival rate at one year is 73.2%; 63% at two years and 47.4% at four years. The use of transbronchial biopsy of the lung has provided accurate early and safe diagnosis of pulmonary rejection. Development in organ preservation and patient management, as well as careful selection of recipients and donors, have led to the effective use of resources and thereby to these good results. PMID- 2620808 TI - Discrimination of facial expressions of emotion by depressed subjects. AB - A frequent complaint of depressed people concerns their poor interpersonal relationships. Yet, although nonverbal cues are considered of primary importance in interpersonal communication, the major theories of depression focus little attention on nonverbal social perception. The present study investigated the ability of depressed, disturbed control, and normal American adults to make rapid discriminations of facial emotion. We predicted and found that depressed subjects were slower than normal subjects in facial emotion discrimination but were not slower in word category discrimination. These findings suggest that current theories of depression may need to address difficulties with nonverbal information processing. There were also no significant differences between depressed and disturbed control subjects, suggesting that the unique social behavioral consequences of depression have yet to be identified. PMID- 2620809 TI - Probability learning and Piagetian probability conceptions in children 5 to 12 years old. AB - This study focused on the relations between performance on a three-choice probability-learning task and conceptions of probability as outlined by Piaget concerning mixture, normal distribution, random selection, odds estimation, and permutations. The probability-learning task and four Piagetian tasks were administered randomly to 100 male and 100 female, middle SES, average IQ children in three age groups (5 to 6, 8 to 9, and 11 to 12 years old) from different schools. Half the children were from Middle Eastern backgrounds, and half were from European or American backgrounds. As predicted, developmental level of probability thinking was related to performance on the probability-learning task. The more advanced the child's probability thinking, the higher his or her level of maximization and hypothesis formulation and testing and the lower his or her level of systematically patterned responses. The results suggest that the probability-learning and Piagetian tasks assess similar cognitive skills and that performance on the probability-learning task reflects a variety of probability concepts. PMID- 2620810 TI - [Cytogenetic localization of Acph-1 and Lap-1 genes in virilis group Drosophila]. AB - Gene Acph-1 coding for acid phosphatase was localized on Drosophila virilis chromosome 2 in the region 20A-20E and in D. texana and D. imeretensis homologous regions of the chromosomes 2. Gene Lap-1 coding for leucine aminopeptidase was linked to Acph-1 gene and localized in the 20E-20G region for these Drosophila species. The cytogenetical localization of two genes was determined after analysing recombinant chromosomes by isozymic and cytological methods in the progeny of interspecific hybrids. PMID- 2620811 TI - [Genetic analysis of fertility of male mice with various t-haplotypes]. AB - Fertility of 47 mouse males carrying various combinations of lethal, t-haplotypes (t6/tw18, t12/tw18, Tw73/tw12, tw5/tw18, t6/dt5, t12/tw12, tw5/twPa-1, tw18/twPa 1, tw5/tw12) was studied in crosses with females of different genotypes. The t haplotypes studied belong to 7 main groups of complementation. The presence of at least two factors of fertility in the t-complex was revealed. The influence of female genotype on the degree of male fertility was also demonstrated. The data presented confirm that different combinations of lethal complete t-haplotypes exhibit sterility, with the exception of t8/tw18 compound. PMID- 2620812 TI - [Genetic geography of inherited dimorphism of ear wax by its consistency]. AB - Data on cerumen types were collected in three population groups of Pamir mountain region. The observed frequencies of dominant w and recessive d alleles which determine wet and dry types of ear wax are equal, accordingly: in Khuf population (Western Pamir) to 0.6603 and 0.3397; in Pastkhuff population (Western Pamir) to 0.6078 and 0.3922; in Kirghizes of Central Pamir to 0.3606 and 0.6394. We present data on cerumen types in 23 populations of the USSR also. The world information on distribution cerumen types was summed up (over 80 populations). No connection of gene frequencies of cerumen with natural abiotic factors of environment was revealed. Strong correlation of the genes described with mongoloid peculiarities was established: epicanthus r = 0.718, the haplotype Gmz, a, b, 0, 3, 5, s, t (Gm(1, 11, 13, 15, 16) r = 0.522. PMID- 2620813 TI - [Variability of anthropometric traits at birth in healthy children and children suffering from acute respiratory diseases in the first year of life]. AB - Variation of 5 anthropometric traits at birth in groups of normal children who had suffered from acute respiratory diseases during their first year of life was studied in Russian migrant and native population inhabiting the Western area of Baikal-Amur Railway. It was shown that affected children from migrant and native population had lower average values of all traits, as compared with normal children. In order to reduce the number of variable, the principal component analysis was applied. Stronger similarity was found between groups of normal children from native and migrant populations than between normal children and affected children from one population. This can be the evidence of the formation of similar adaptive norm for children from both Russian populations. PMID- 2620814 TI - [Nonspecific inherited risk factors for acute respiratory diseases in children living in the western part of the Baikal-Amur railway]. AB - Variation of 9 polymorphic loci was compared in 2 groups of children from Russian native and migrant population of Western area of Baikal-Amur Railway--those who suffered from acute respiratory diseases during first year of life and their parents, and normal children and their parents. Frequencies of genotypes 1-1 (HP locus). 00 (ABO locus), and pp (F locus) were significantly higher in normal children than in the affected ones. Heterozygosity observed in native parents of the diseased children was lower as compared with other groups. It was possible to distinguish two groups, according to the degree of genic similarity: the first one included healthy children and their parents from migrant and native population, the second one included all affected children and their parents. Significance of association between phenotypes at 3 loci (HP, ABO, P) and predisposition of the children to acute respiratory diseases were evaluated. A conclusion was made that in children of both migrant and native Russian parents similar combinations of anthropological traits and gene markers are the factors of their nonspecific resistance to acute respiratory diseases. PMID- 2620815 TI - [Analysis of genetic models of the diallele crossing system. Additivity in Hayman's algorithms]. AB - Analysis of Hayman's algorithms was carried out on models by dependent gene distribution with various contributions of genes from parents. It is shown that resultant additivity of traits can be explained by various interaction of alleles both within locus and between loci. PMID- 2620816 TI - [Genetic-epidemiologic analysis of uterine myoma: assessment of repeated risk]. AB - The results of myoma uteri family analysis are presented. Average estimates of family risks were: 26.6% for proband's sisters, 19.73% for proband's daughters (up to 44-years-old), 15.81% for proband's mothers. The estimate of heritability of the disease calculated according to the sibs data was 0.792 +/- 0.018, which points to the essential role of hereditary factors in the development of myoma uteri. The table of recurrence risk was calculated on the basis of the data obtained which may be used for forming risk groups in the course of mass physical examination. PMID- 2620817 TI - The genetics of abnormal abdomen, incomplete abdomen, and bobbed in Drosophila buzzatii. AB - Five stocks of Drosophila buzzatii with superficially similar abdominal disruptions including partial tergite and sternite loss were isolated by inbreeding. Three of the stocks have indistinguishable phenotypes, the inheritance of which is maternally influenced. This phenotype and its mode of inheritance bear similarities with those of Abnormal abdomen in D. melanogaster. The phenotype in the fourth stock is slightly different and is due to a single autosomal recessive gene, which we denote incomplete abdomen. In the fifth stock the trait is limited to females, and in appearance and mode of inheritance resembles bobbed in D. melanogaster. Furthermore, only in this stock are rDNA deletions evident. The combined frequencies of the three types of abdominal aberration were found to be around 1% in several samples from wild and laboratory populations of D. buzzatii. PMID- 2620818 TI - Synaptonemal complex analysis of hybrid cattle. I. Pachytene substaging and the normal full bloods. AB - Meiotic chromosome pairing abnormalities in full-blood and hybrid Bos taurus and B. indicus cattle have been surveyed by electron microscopy of pachytene synaptonemal complex spreads. In this paper the full-blood spreads are described in detail, including the use of XY and nucleolar morphology and other measured parameters for pachytene substaging. Pairing abnormalities were observed in up to 9% of the full-blood spreads. Most of these pairing abnormalities (83%) occurred in early-pachytene spreads, suggesting that the mechanism of synaptic adjustment may operate in cattle. PMID- 2620819 TI - Restriction map and alpha-amylase activity variation among Drosophila mutation accumulation lines. AB - The specific activities of alpha-amylase were measured for two sets of mutation accumulation lines, each set having originated from a different lethal-carrying second chromosome and SM1(Cy) chromosome and having been maintained by a balanced lethal system for about 300 generations. Significant variation was found to have accumulated among lines of both sets. Because of dysgenic crosses in the early generations of mutation accumulation, insertions or deletions of transposable elements in the Amy gene region were suspected of being the cause of this variation. In order to test this possibility, the structural changes in the 14 kb region of these chromosomes that includes the structural genes for alpha-amylase were investigated by restriction map analysis. We found that most part of the activity variation is due to replacements of a chromosomal region of SM1(Cy), including the structural genes for alpha-amylase, by the corresponding regions of the lethal chromosomes. One line also contained an insertion in this region but this line has an intermediate activity value. Thus, insertions of transposable elements into the Amy gene region were not found to be responsible for the new variation observed in alpha-amylase activity. If we remove those lines with structural changes from the analysis, the genetic variance of alpha-amylase specific activity among lines becomes non-significant in both sets of chromosomes. PMID- 2620820 TI - Paternal inheritance of egg traits in mice: a case of genomic imprinting. AB - Eggs from reciprocal hybrids between the C57BL/6By and BALB/cBy strains were tested for their susceptibility to attack by hyaluronidase and pronase. There were significant reciprocal differences between the F1 females in the responses of their unfertilized eggs to both enzymes. The F1 hybrids from BALB mothers showed the increased susceptibility characteristic of C57BL whilst the F1 hybrids with C57BL mothers were more resistant to both enzymes, like BALB mice. Eggs from the four kinds of reciprocal F2 hybrid females also showed patroclinous patterns of susceptibility. A patroclinous difference was found between reciprocal crosses of the CXBD and CXBE recombinant inbred strains but not in crosses between recombinant inbred strains with similar phenotypes. Cross fostering did not alter the phenotypes of the C57BL and BALB females or those of their reciprocal F1 hybrids. The findings are interpreted in terms of differential genomic imprinting of paternally inherited information. The possible general usefulness of patroclinous differences between reciprocal F1 females in revealing differences in imprinting is noted. PMID- 2620821 TI - Gene dosage effects on transmission ratio distortion and fertility in mice that carry t haplotypes. AB - Complete t haplotypes can be transmitted at distorted ratios from heterozygous +/t male mice as a consequence of t-specific alleles at a series of t complex distorter loci (Tcd-1t through Tcd-4t) and a t complex responder locus. Partial t haplotypes that lack the Tcd-2t allele cannot be transmitted at the very high ratios characteristic of complete t haplotypes. The breeding studies reported here tested the possibility that the absence of Tcd-2t could be compensated for by the presence of double doses of other Tcdt alleles. The results indicate that a double dose of Tcd-4t alone will not work, but that a double dose of both Tcd 1t and Tcd-4t can promote a very high transmission ratio in the absence of Tcd 2t. These results suggest that the extent to which transmission ratios are distorted is dependent upon the absolute level of expression of the individual Tcd genes. Further studies of genotypic effects on transmission ratio distortion, as well as fertility, lead to the suggestion of a fifth t complex distorter (Tcd 5) locus within t haplotypes. PMID- 2620822 TI - Genomic imprinting: normal complementation of murine chromosome 16. AB - Parental imprinting effects for chromosome 16 were investigated using disomic animals which were obtained by mating (Rb32Lub x Rb2H) F1 mice. Two allelic forms of the enzyme CuZn-superoxide dismutase, Sod-1a and Sod-1c, were used to identify maternally or paternally disomic animals. Both types of disomic animals were found with the expected frequencies and did not visibly differ from one another or from non-disomic animals. These results indicate that the genomic imprinting mechanism either does not act on chromosome 16, or, if it does, does not do so in a manner which affects normal development. PMID- 2620823 TI - A population genetical model for sequence evolution under multiple types of mutation. AB - DNA sequencing and restriction mapping provide us with information on DNA sequence evolution within populations, from which the phylogenetic relationships among the sequences can be inferred. Mutations such as base substitutions, deletions, insertions and transposable element insertions can be identified in each sequence. Theoretical study of this type of sequence evolution has been initiated recently. In this paper, population genetical models for sequence evolution under multiple types of mutation are developed. Models of infinite population size with neutral mutation, infinite population size with deleterious mutation and finite population size with neutral mutation are considered. PMID- 2620824 TI - Neuronal development in the Drosophila compound eye: rap gene function is required in photoreceptor cell R8 for ommatidial pattern formation. AB - In the compound eye of Drosophila, cell-cell interactions are thought to play an important role in the determination of neuronal cell fate and pattern morphogenesis. Recent work on the bride of sevenless (boss) gene has demonstrated an inductive role for photoreceptor R8 in the differentiation of photoreceptor R7. These studies have shown that while R8 differentiates early in the scheme of ommatidial assembly, it continues to play an active role in subsequent patterning events. We describe studies on a new genetic locus rap (retina aberrant in pattern), whose functions are critical for normal pattern formation in the developing eye. Mutations in the rap gene perturb the early stages of pattern formation and lead to a variable number of photoreceptor cells (R cells) in each ommatidium. Experiments with a temperature-sensitive allele have shown that rap gene function is required during the period of development when pattern formation occurs. In addition, a somatic mosaic analysis of rap has shown that its function is required only in photoreceptor cell R8 for normal ommatidial patterning. These studies suggest an important role for rap in the initial events leading to pattern formation and are consistent with R8 playing a central role in directing ommatidial pattern formation. PMID- 2620825 TI - The beta-globin stage selector element factor is erythroid-specific promoter/enhancer binding protein NF-E4. AB - The analysis of transcriptional regulatory proteins is often hampered because such factors are present in cells in only sparing abundance. Although direct biochemical purification has been successfully applied to the analysis of many of these factors, such methods are labor intensive and expensive. We have developed an alternative strategy to identify and characterize such trans-acting factors and have used it to analyze the proteins that interact with the chicken adult beta-globin gene enhancer and promoter. The methodology involves (1) a sensitive 'reverse' radioimmunoassay used for the identification of antibodies to sequence specific DNA-binding proteins, and (2) a monoclonal antibody-based DNase I footprint selection technique, which unambiguously identifies proteins responsible for particular footprints. Because this methodology relies on the isolation of antibodies to sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins, it should be of general utility in studying any trans-acting regulatory factor for which a specific DNA-binding sequence can be identified. In the present analysis, we report the identification of a 65-kD protein that is present only in mature definitive (adult) chicken erythroid cells. We show that this protein (termed NF E4) binds to closely related sequences present in both the beta-globin promoter and enhancer. Biochemical analysis of extracts prepared from both nonerythroid and a variety of erythroid cell types suggests that NF-E4 is the trans-acting factor that confers definitive erythrocyte stage-specific transcriptional activation to the adult beta-globin gene. PMID- 2620826 TI - Developmental modulation of protein binding to beta-globin gene regulatory sites within chicken erythrocyte nuclei. AB - We describe the interaction of two adjacent binding sites in the chicken beta globin gene promoter with regulatory factors present in erythroid cells. One of these sites is a palindromic sequence (Pal) that binds a member of the nuclear factor 1 family; the other is the CACCC sequence found in most adult beta-globin promoters. Transfection of primary erythrocytes with plasmids carrying the gene coupled to truncated promoters reveals that the Pal site inhibits and the CACCC site stimulates expression. Nuclease protection experiments on intact nuclei show that at early stages of embryonic development, the CACCC site is occupied and the Pal site is vacant, but as development progresses, the Pal site is filled gradually and the CACCC site loses its bound protein. Beyond day 15 of development, Pal is completely occupied and CACCC is empty in vivo. Parallel DNase I footprinting and gel retardation studies in vitro show that nuclear extracts contain sharply increasing Pal-binding activity as development proceeds, but CACCC-binding activity falls off only slightly. We show that the two factors bind to their sites in vitro in an anticooperative manner and conclude that this could account for the observed changes in site occupancy in vivo. Our results suggest that the Pal factor may play a role in the shutdown of adult beta-globin expression late in erythroid development. PMID- 2620827 TI - Early dihydrofolate reductase gene amplification events in CHO cells usually occur on the same chromosome arm as the original locus. AB - We used fluorescence in situ hybridization to examine the products of early DNA sequence amplification events in CHO cells. Nine independent populations of cells were selected for resistance to 0.4 microM methotrexate (MTX), and mitotic chromosome spreads were hybridized to a mixture of cloned cosmids representing approximately 273 kb of contiguous DNA sequence from the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) locus. Of the nine populations, eight contain cells that have amplified the DHFR domain. Cells in the remaining population displayed only the two single copy loci on chromosomes 2 and Z2. Of the eight amplificants, one carries amplified DHFR genes on chromosome 2, six on chromosome Z2, and one on an unidentified chromosome. Some cultures carry additional amplified genes on other chromosomes, probably resulting from bridge/breakage/fusion cycles or translocations. In six of the eight amplificants, both single-copy parental loci are detected at their original positions, and amplicon clusters are situated at least 50 megabases (Mb) away on the same chromosome arm, often at the termini. Amplification occurred at or close to the original site of the DHFR gene in only one population. Our results are not consistent with models in which initial amplification events occur by over-replication of the parental locus followed by recombination in loco. Because amplified DHFR sequences occur most often on the same chromosome arm as the parental DHFR gene but at a considerable distance from it, our results are most compatible with either sister chromatid exchange between widely separated sites or with a form of conservative intrachromosomal duplication analogous to transposition in bacteria. PMID- 2620828 TI - The gene encoding ARS-binding factor I is essential for the viability of yeast. AB - The gene encoding a yeast ARS-binding protein, ABF I, has been cloned by screening a genomic lambda gt11 library using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against ABF I. ABF I is of interest because it not only binds to ARSs but also to the 5'-flanking region of genes encoding proteins involved in transcription, translation, respiration, and cell-cycle control. The cloned gene has been used to prepare null mutants, which further demonstrate the importance of the ABF I protein by showing that it is essential for vegetative growth. ABF1 maps to chromosome V. The DNA sequence of the ABF1 gene reveals several motifs characteristic of DNA-binding proteins but shows no overall similarity to any protein of known function. PMID- 2620829 TI - Histone H1 subtype-specific consensus elements mediate cell cycle-regulated transcription in vitro. AB - In this study we used nuclear extracts from centrifugally elutriated cell populations to study histone H1 transcriptional regulation during the cell cycle. Analysis of mutations within the H1 promoter establish that both of the H1 subtype-specific consensus elements participate in induction of transcription upon entry into S phase. The DNA binding activity of H1TF2, which specifically interacts with the H1 proximal subtype-specific element, is increased in S-phase nuclear extracts, whereas no increase in DNA binding is observed for the H1 distal subtype-specific DNA transcription factor H1TF1 or the H2b subtype specific factor OTF1. These data strongly support the idea that histone gene subtype-specific transcription factors are important for S-phase-dependent expression of histone genes. Further studies of these factors will be important for increased understanding of the transition from G1 to S phase of the mammalian cell cycle. PMID- 2620830 TI - The effects of gene conversion control factors on conversion-induced changes in allele frequencies in populations and on linkage disequilibrium. AB - Conversion control factors (ccfs) are widespread. They control conversion properties at their target loci, affecting the conversion frequency and the amount and even the direction of gene conversion disparity. Three major types of ccf can be recognised. Experimental studies of the effects of ccfs have been combined with theoretical studies and modelling to examine the effects of ccfs on the evolutionary population genetics of alleles at the target locus. The ccf alleles present can greatly affect the rate and the direction of conversion induced changes in target locus allele frequencies. Gene conversion can both cause and remedy linkage disequilibrium, with causation being related to polymorphism for ccfs. Disparity in conversion direction does not by itself necessarily cause linkage disequilibrium. PMID- 2620831 TI - Metaphase karyotype differentiation in eight species of the montium subgroup of Drosophila. AB - The metaphase karyotypes of eight species of the montium species subgroup of Drosophila are described, of which the information pertaining to six species is new to the literature. Each of these species studied was distinctly different from the others with respect to the metaphase chromosomes, this remarkable degree of differentiation being mainly due to the extensive variability of the 4th and of the Y chromosomes. PMID- 2620832 TI - Direct sequencing of bacteriophage T4 DNA with a thermostable DNA polymerase. AB - We present a simple and convenient protocol for the direct sequencing of bacteriophage T4 genomic DNA. The method utilizes the thermostable DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus (Taq) and 32P-end-labeled oligodeoxyribonucleotide primers to produce extension products that allow the analysis of at least 200 nucleotides (nt) on a single sequencing gel. Single-nt changes in the template were easily detectable following an overnight exposure of the autoradiograms. Comparison of sequences from fully modified T4 DNA containing glucosylated hydroxymethyldeoxycytosine or from templates containing cytosine showed little difference in sequence clarity. These techniques considerably simplify the molecular analysis of T-even bacteriophages and should be compatible with automated sequencing methods which employ 5'-end-labeled primers. PMID- 2620833 TI - Nucleotide sequence and expression of the catechol 2,3-dioxygenase-encoding gene of phenol-catabolizing Pseudomonas CF600. AB - Pseudomonas CF600 degrades phenol and some of its methylated derivatives via a plasmid-encoded catabolic pathway. The catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23O) enzyme of this pathway catalyses the conversion of catechol to 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde. We have determined the nucleotide (nt) sequence of the dmpB structural gene for this enzyme, and expressed and identified its polypeptide product in Escherichia coli. The xylE gene of TOL plasmid pWWO and the nahH gene of plasmid NAH7 encode analogous C23O enzymes. Comparison of these three genes shows homology of 78-81% on the nt level and 83-87% homology on the amino acid level. PMID- 2620834 TI - Characterization of a loss-of-function mutation in the isopenicillin N synthetase gene of Acremonium chrysogenum. AB - The N-2 strain of Acremonium chrysogenum accumulates the beta-lactam precursor tripeptide delta-(L-alpha-amino-adipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine and has no discernible activity for three of the cephalosporin C (Ce) biosynthetic enzymes. This phenotype is consistent with a mutation either within pcbC [the isopenicillin N synthetase (IPNS)-encoding gene] or in a pathway-regulator gene. To distinguish these possibilities we have cloned and sequenced pcbC from strain N-2. There is a single C----T mutation at nt 854 within the coding sequence, changing aa 285 from proline to leucine. An IPNS-specific monoclonal antibody recognises a catalytically inactive IPNS protein in extracts of N-2 cells. These findings suggest that strain N-2 carries a simple IPNS mutation and that IPNS or its biosynthetic product isopenicillin N is involved in regulation of the later stages of the Ce biosynthetic pathway. PMID- 2620835 TI - Human capitalism and intergenerational justice. PMID- 2620836 TI - Comparing the economically advantaged and the pension elite: 1980 census profiles. AB - The number of economically advantaged retirees has grown rapidly since World War II. About 50% of retired individuals and 40% of retired households in the U.S. in 1980 had family income of more than double the poverty level. Economically advantaged retired households are most often headed by married, noncentral-city homeowners who show residential stability. They tend to have multiple income sources, some with income from at least three sources (the pension elite). PMID- 2620837 TI - The social construction of retirement among professionals 50-60 years old. AB - This study documents the range of images held about retirement among a group of professional men and women 50-60 years old. The decade of the fifties is a point of transition in the development of professionals' consciousness about retirement. Examined are the work contingencies influencing whether respondents anticipate retirement positively. Those who have unfinished agendas at work, have high job satisfaction, perceive retirement as financially unfeasible, and retain their health are least likely to anticipate retirement favorably. PMID- 2620838 TI - The structure of simple reminiscence. AB - This study sought to better delineate the nature of simple reminiscence, that is, the recall of past experiences. Studies of how reminiscence might enhance late life development have been inconclusive, at least in part because of inadequate definition and measurement of the process. Using the comparative method, the investigator analyzed transcripts of older adults' reminiscences and found that the process consists of four elements: selection, immersion, withdrawal, and closure. PMID- 2620839 TI - A controlled evaluation of reminiscence and current topics discussion groups in a nursing home context. AB - In this randomized study, we compared the psychological well-being of elderly nursing home residents who participated in reminiscence and current topics group discussions with a control group of residents. We rated participants happiness/depression, activity, mood, and functional levels before and after the group interventions. The intervention had a significant effect only on the happiness/depression measure, with both intervention groups showing positive changes compared to the control group. PMID- 2620840 TI - No great expectations: the underpinnings of life satisfaction for older women. AB - Interviews with 30 older women (age 65-75) and 30 middle-aged women (age 40-50) revealed that, although having the same average global life satisfaction, the two groups differed significantly in salient sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction and in the aspirations on which they based their judgements about satisfaction. Health was more salient for older than middle-aged women. Material well-being was important to the satisfaction of both groups, but was more often cited as a future aspiration of the middle aged. Older women strove to maintain the status quo or prevent fears from being realized, while middle-aged women looked forward to achievements and acquisitions. PMID- 2620841 TI - Co-residence with adult children: a comparison of divorced and widowed women. AB - This study compares patterns of co-residence with adult offspring for divorcees and widows, aged 40 and over, using 1985 Current Population Survey data. Co residence with offspring is most likely for recent widows in midlife and recent divorcees in later life. Older recent divorcees are less likely than recent widows to be household heads in these living situations. Finally, daughters appear especially important in the co-resident situation of divorcees. These results are discussed in light of changing patterns of divorce and widowhood in later life. PMID- 2620842 TI - Proximity as a mediating influence on the perceived aging parent-adult child relationship. AB - This research examines whether proximity has a mediating influence on the quality of the relationship between aging parents and adult children. Results of LOGIST regressions indicate no difference in quality of relationships between groups of parents whose children live near them and whose children live more than 60 miles away. Significant predictors of the relationships for the proximate group were personal sense of control and education, and for the distant group, sex of the child, and number of living children. Our findings support the contention that the modified extended family can maintain psychological closeness regardless of physical distance. PMID- 2620843 TI - Autonomy and decision making between single older women and their caregiving daughters. AB - We examined perceptions of decisional autonomy and decision-making processes among 64 elderly, single mothers and their caregiving daughters. Mothers were highly involved in decisions affecting their lives, ranging from daily care to major health decisions; daughters were particularly influential over major health, financial and housing decisions. Mothers' level of personal care dependency was negatively associated with both mothers' and daughters' confidence in the mothers' decision-making abilities. PMID- 2620844 TI - Concordance between physicians and their older and younger patients in the primary care medical encounter. AB - To test the hypothesis that less concordance exists between older patients and their physicians than between younger patients and their physicians, we examined agreements between physicians and patients on the major goals and topics discussed during an outpatient medical encounter. Using coded audiotapes of the medical visit, patient postvisit interviews, and physician questionnaires, concordance was found to be significantly greater for younger patients and their physicians than for older patients and their physician on the major goals and major medical topics discussed during the primary care interview. This paper explores possible explanations for these findings. PMID- 2620845 TI - Differences in the household composition of elders by age, gender, and area of residence. AB - Using a new procedure for coding the relationships of elders to other household members, we examined age, gender, and area-of-residence differences in household type and generational composition. The majority of elders live in some form of family household; most prevalent are two-person, married-couple-only households at ages 65-79, one-person households at ages 80-89, and two-generation households at ages 90+. Overall, elders are more likely to live in two- than in three generation households. PMID- 2620846 TI - Taking the clinic to the clients: geriatric health care in a residential setting. AB - Satellite clinics in three apartment buildings for seniors and disabled adults bring primary health care services to individuals who might otherwise be reluctant to use them. A clinical nurse specialist, social worker, and physician work as a team to help clients remain functional and continue to live independently. Health education programs, counseling, and the staff's familiarity with the clients' milieus contribute to a comprehensive wellness-oriented service. PMID- 2620847 TI - Tenant resource coordinators: an experiment in supportive housing. AB - Supportive housing has been recognized as one option that allows older individuals to remain in the community. In this paper we examine the concept of a tenant resource coordinator (TRC) within an elderly persons' housing unit to link social and health services with housing as a type of supportive housing. Findings suggest that the TRC functions to convey information about services to tenants and vice versa. As such, the TRC fulfills the role of facilitator between two existing systems, community services and housing. PMID- 2620848 TI - Family-professional partnerships for addressing Alzheimer's disease. AB - A partnership project for collaboration between families and professionals was demonstrated in eight Massachusetts communities. The project proved successful in its strategies to heighten public awareness, strengthen interagency networking, and improve community resources. PMID- 2620849 TI - Effect of oxygen concentration on the formation of malondialdehyde-like material in a model of tissue ischemia and reoxygenation. AB - This study was conducted to explore the functional relationship between oxygen concentration during tissue reoxygenation after ischemia and the extent of postischemic lipid peroxidation, an indicator of reoxygenation injury. Excised rat liver or kidney tissue was rendered ischemic for 1 h at 37 degrees C, minced into 1 mm3 fragments, and then reoxygenated for 1 h in flasks of buffered salt solution containing various amounts of oxygen. Production of malondialdehyde-like material (MDA) was measured to indicate lipid peroxidation. MDA production was minimal at oxygen tensions less than 10 mmHg, increased sharply from 10 to 50 mmHg, and plateaued at approximately 100 mmHg. A similar functional relationship was produced by a simple mathematical model of free radical mediated lipid peroxidation in biological membranes, suggesting that MDA production is indeed caused by free radical oxidation of membrane phospholipids and that the oxygen effect is governed by simple competition between chain propagation and chain termination reactions within the membrane. These experimental and analytical results confirm that relatively low concentrations of oxygen are sufficient to produce oxidative damage in post-ischemic tissues. PMID- 2620850 TI - Effect of ethanol on lipofuscin accumulation in cultured rat cardiac myocytes. AB - The objective of this study was to determine the effect of ethanol on in vitro life span, rate of contraction and lipofuscin content of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Lipofuscin was quantified by microspectrofluorometry. The effects of 0, 3.1, 6.5, and 12.5 mM ethanol on myocytes, kept under an ambient oxygen concentration of 20% and 40%, were studied. Exposure to low concentrations of ethanol resulted in a decrease in the amount of lipofuscin whereas exposure to high concentration of ethanol caused an increase in the level of lipofuscin. The length of cell survival in controls and 3.1 mM ethanol exposed myocytes was similar under 20% oxygen, but was longer in the latter group under 40% oxygen, as compared to controls. The total number of contractions in 3.1 mM ethanol-exposed myocytes were, respectively, 4% and 8% higher under 20% and 40% oxygen atmosphere than in control cells. PMID- 2620851 TI - Electrocardiac responses associated with the fear paralysis reflex in infant rabbits and rats. Relation to sudden infant death. AB - It is a controversial issue whether non-hereditary prolonged cardiac repolarization (increased QT-interval in ECG) is a cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The QT-interval has, however, been found to be normal at rest. The present experiments on infant rats and infant and adult rabbits demonstrate a transient QT-prolongation during the innate fear paralysis reflex elicited by a variety of frightening stimuli. This reflex has previously been proposed as a triggering mechanism for SIDS. It may represent an extrinsic cause of QT prolongation which adds to an intrinsic defect in repolarization previously reported. The present findings lend further support to the fear paralysis theory of SIDS. PMID- 2620852 TI - Cardiac manifestations of myotonic dystrophy. AB - Twenty-four patients with Myotonic Dystrophy (MyD), age 19-66 years, underwent non-invasive cardiac evaluation which included physical examination, resting and 24 h ECG recording, echocardiography, and multigated radionuclide (Tc99) scanning (MUGA) to assess left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Only 4 of the 24 patients studied did not display any cardiac pathology. Though most patients (20 out of 24) were free of cardiac symptomatology, 15 had abnormal resting ECG. In 12 of the patients mild rhythm disturbances were present in the 24 h ECG monitoring. Left ventricular contraction impairment was a most striking feature; it was noted in 8 patients, in whom the LVEF was below 50%. The apical region was the most affected. Seventeen patients showed abnormal echocardiographic findings: mitral valve prolapse was noted in 8, dilatation of left atrium in 5 and of the left ventricle in 2 of the 24 patients. No correlation between the severity of muscular impairment and the cardiac manifestation was seen. No correlation was found between disease duration or severity (as judged by the functional capacity of the patients) and its cardiac manifestations. PMID- 2620853 TI - Age-dependent changes in visually guided saccadic eye movements. AB - Voluntary horizontal saccadic eye movements (SEM) were recorded in 148 drug free healthy subjects (15-75 years of age). None had history and/or objective evidences of CNS abnormalities. SEM recordings took place always at the same time of the day, after a standard lunch. Peak saccadic velocity (PSV), saccade latency (SL) and saccade accuracy (SA) were extracted for each saccade session. A negative linear correlation was found between SEM parameters (PSV, SA, SL) and age. Aged subjects showed a significant (p less than 0.01) elongation of the to locate the target, a significant (p less than 0.01) decrease in PSV and a significant (p less than 0.01) decrement in SA. PMID- 2620854 TI - On the stability with age of anagram forming. AB - Twelve young and 12 old subscribers to an Italian magazine of riddles were invited by mail to form an anagram from a string of meaningful words consisting of 30 letters. Each of the participants was classified as either "overskilled" or "normal". All of the overskilled subjects, regardless of age, employed the 30 letters, whereas only the 50% of the remaining subjects did so. Even stronger differences were seen with regard to the number of complete anagrams. The overskilled elderly outscored the young adults, but the latter paid more attention to the quality of the anagrams. The article confirms previous results on the stability with age of anagram ability. PMID- 2620855 TI - Pharmacologic evaluation of cardiovascular reflex responses in migraine patients: lack of central sympathetic modulation? AB - To characterize autonomic imbalance in migraine, we compared the cardiovascular reflex responses of 10 migraineurs and 10 healthy subjects after pharmacological noradrenergic stimulation or inhibition. A battery of 5 autonomic tests was administered on basal conditions as well as after pretreatment with drugs acting at different levels on the noradrenergic pathway: pseudoephedrine, clonidine, guanethidine, indenolol, prazosin. Our data confirm a predominantly sympathetic hypofunction in migraine and provide evidence for an impairment of the central autonomic control. PMID- 2620856 TI - The evaluation of sellar region tumours with pattern visual evoked potentials. AB - Pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEPs) were performed on 20 patients with sellar tumours. The aim was to assess the validity of full-field PVEPs combined with a topographic recording in chiasmatic compression. They were abnormal in 95% of the patients, with variable patterns (absent or distorted responses). Our results show that PVEPs are very sensitive in revealing compression on visual pathways and that they correlate with the progression of the tumour. However, they are not reliable in detecting the chiasmatic or retrochiasmatic site of the lesion and relative visual field defect, because of the multidirectional extension of the tumour. PMID- 2620857 TI - The effects of acetyl-l-carnitine on experimental models of learning and memory deficits in the old rat. AB - Experimental models of learning and memory deficits in aged rats can be studied by means of behavioural tests that provide an important tool for evaluating the effect of drugs on these parameters. Active and passive avoidance tests showed a clear impairment of learning and memory capacity of old rats. These tests were also used to study the behavioural effect of acetyl-l-carnitine in aged rats. The subchronic treatment with this drug was followed by a significant improvement of acquisition and retention of avoidance responses, indicating a facilitation of learning and memory capacity of aged rats. PMID- 2620858 TI - Memory encoding processes in mild and severe dementia. Preliminary data. AB - Memory coding processes can be divided according to their attentional requirement into "automatic" and "effortful". The aim of current research was to explore both automatic and effortful processes in early and late stages of Alzheimer type dementia. Patients were classified on the basis of restrictive clinical and neuropsychological criteria, in order to pinpoint possible specific impairments in the two patients' subgroups. The present paper reports preliminary data about 15 mildly and 15 severely demented patients. Statistical analysis showed that both the automatic and the effortful coding processes are impaired at the late but also at the early stages of dementia. PMID- 2620859 TI - Type of diabetic sensory neuropathy and autonomic involvement. AB - Thirty controls and 39 diabetic patients were studied by means of nerve conduction and autonomic tests. Standing by lying (S/L) heart rate ratio was done to test cardiac vagal function. The fall of systolic blood pressure (BP) from lying to standing (greater than or equal to 30 mmHg) was done to test sympathetic function. In 30 controls the S/L ratio was 1.28 (SD 0.1), and none of them had BP fall. In 10 diabetic patients without clinical neuropathy, S/L ratio was 1.28 (SD 0.01) and BP fall was not present. In 8 diabetic patients (with predominantly large fibre type), S/L ratio was 1.0 (SD 0.0) and the BP fall was not present. In 7 diabetic patients (with predominantly small fibre type), S/L ratio was 1.07 (SD 0.05) and 2 patients had BP fall. In 14 diabetic patients with mixed large and small fibre type, S/L ratio was 1.02 (SD 0.04) and 8 patients had BP fall. Sympathetic dysfunction is related to the type of sensory neuropathy. Vagal function is not related to any specific type, but it is related to the presence of polyneuropathy. PMID- 2620860 TI - The pathogenesis of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: an open problem. AB - Reviewing clinical, pathological and neuroimaging findings on idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus many clues arise towards an association with cerebrovascular disease. This hypothesis, however, should be confirmed by further studies. PMID- 2620861 TI - Alcohol research in different countries. Subsidiaries and projects. PMID- 2620862 TI - Fetal demise associated with lupus anticoagulant: clinical features and results of treatment. AB - There are many reports in the literature associating lupus anticoagulant with fetal death. Successful pregnancies have been reported following suppression of the antibody by prednisone and the addition of antiaggregants and possibly anticoagulants. This report describes our experience treating such patients and the outcome of subsequent pregnancies. The results are less successful than the figures in the literature, 13 live births out of 27 pregnancies in 19 patients. This may be due to lupus anticoagulant being diagnosed as the cause for a wide variety of clinical presentations including habitual first trimester abortion, mid trimester fetal death, intrauterine growth retardation and placental dysfunction in the third trimester. Our experience shows that steroids and antiaggregants have a definite place in cases of second and third trimester fetal death and in cases of clinical systemic lupus erythematosus. However, lupus anticoagulant is one of a spectrum of autoantibodies whose pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated. It is questionable whether this regimen of treatment has a place in patients with no previous fetal loss or in cases of primary habitual abortion. PMID- 2620863 TI - Incidence of adhesions in the true pelvis after pelviscopic operative treatment of tubal pregnancy. AB - 33 patients with tubal pregnancies, who had been treated by pelviscopy with organ preservation between 1978 until the beginning of 1988 have had follow-up examinations from within 4 months to 2 years after their first operation. In 15 (45%) of these 33 patients we found adhesions in the true pelvis on initial pelviscopy; these adhesions were lysed in all cases. During a second inspection of the abdominal cavity-either by laparotomy (Cesarean section; 4 patients) or by repelviscopy (29 patients)-mainly avascular, filmy adhesions on one or both adnexae were found in 17 cases (52%). The pelviscopic treatment of ectopic pregnancy does not completely prevent the development of postoperative adhesions. The concomitant pelviscopic adhesiolysis during the treatment of ectopic pregnancy reduces the degree of severity of the recurring adhesions. PMID- 2620864 TI - Urinary polyamine excretion patterns in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. AB - Free and acetylated urinary putrescine, spermine and spermidine levels (UPA) and total polyamine excretion were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in 57 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and 43 control patients. Mean UPA levels were higher and the number of abnormal UPAs per sample greater for cancer patients but maximum single UPA sensitivity was only 29%. No control subject had more than 2 abnormal UPA values compared with 42% of patients with EOC. Rising UPA levels reflected progressive disease in 83% of patients and fell with tumour response in 66%. PMID- 2620865 TI - Comparative analysis of the inherent radiosensitivity of ovarian carcinoma. AB - Success or failure of radiation therapy in patients with ovarian carcinoma is due to the inherent radiosensitivity of both the tumor cell and the surrounding normal tissues. The D0 value were 1.65 Gy for benign mesothelium, 1.50 for the ovarian carcinoma, and 1.45 Gy for the fibroblasts. The ovarian carcinoma cells had a similar n value (1.7) to the mesothelial (n = 2.5) or fibroblast (n = 1.2) cells. Similarly, the 24-hour potentially lethal damage repair ratios were 2.26 for the tumor cells and 2.2 for the benign cells. The kinetics of the induction and repair of DNA strand breaks caused by X-ray irradiation were similar for the three cell types. PMID- 2620866 TI - Importance of factor-IX-dependent prothrombinase formation--the Josso pathway--in clotting plasma. AB - We report a study on the importance of factor IX activation in thromboplastin dependent coagulation in plasma. Diluted, CaCl2-containing thromboplastin solutions at constant phospholipid concentration were used to trigger the coagulation in plasma from patients with congenital factor IX and factor VIII deficiency in the presence and absence of added factors IX and VIII, and the generation of thrombin activity was monitored. When coagulation is triggered with the high thromboplastin concentrations normally used in clinical routine tests, the generation of thrombin activity in plasma of patients with congenital factor IX deficiency before and after reconstitution with purified factor IX appears identical. When, however, coagulation is triggered with low thromboplastin concentrations, a clear dependency of the generation of thrombin activity on the concentration of factor IX becomes evident at factor IX concentrations lower than 30 nM (about 40% clotting factor activity). Factor VIII is a compulsory cofactor for this factor IX activity because the prothrombinase activity at optimal factor IX concentration is still critically dependent upon the amount of factor VIII present. The lower the amount of thromboplastin, the higher the importance of factor IX and factor VIII activation in thromboplastin-dependent coagulation. This suggests a role of this pathway in pathophysiological thrombin formation. PMID- 2620867 TI - Computerized analysis of the in vitro activation of the plasmatic clotting system. AB - We analyzed the kinetics of the clotting system by a chromogenic substrate method in plasma with isolated factor deficiency. The sigmoidal extinction curve obtained was mathematically described by an equation with four constants K(i) relating to the activity of clotting factors and to the concentration of fibrinogen. The analysis of constants obtained from dilution series of factor deficient plasma revealed a distribution pattern differing from one factor to another both for the extrinsic and the intrinsic system. The observations indicated that isolated factor deficiency may be identified through the analysis of 2 of the 4 constants, K(1) being the time value of the point of inflection of the extinction curve and K(2) a measure for the slope of the curve at the point of inflection. The observation was confirmed by a reclassification through nearest-neighbor discriminant analysis of K(1) and K(2) which revealed a correct classification in the pathological range for all factor deficiencies investigated with the exception of factors VIII and IX, the distribution patterns of which were superposed within the limits of distribution. PMID- 2620868 TI - Fibrinolytic and amidolytic activities of elastase-and chymotrypsin-like proteases in spleen and leukocytes of some mammals. AB - Nonplasmin-mediated fibrinolytic activities were extracted with 2 M NaCIO4 from the spleen and leukocytes of nine species of mammals. The amidolytic and fibrinolytic activities of extracts were measured using Suc-Ala-Tyr-Leu-Val-pNA for elastase-like protease (ELP) and Suc-Tyr-Leu-Phe-pNA (or Suc-Ile-Pro-Phe-pNA) for chymotrypsin-like protease (CLP). ELP and the fibrinolytic activity in the human spleen and leukocytes exhibited the highest values among the nine species. The relative order of amidolysis by CLP was as follows: hamster greater than rat greater than mouse greater than dog in the spleen and hamster greater than rat = ox greater than dog in leukocytes. Neither fibrinolytic nor amidolytic activity was measurable in spleens and leukocytes of pigs and rabbits. The ratios of ELP to CLP activity in the spleen or leukocytes of each of the species varied significantly from those observed in humans. The amidolytic activity of the spleen in control mice was low; however, that of mice which had been intraperitoneally inoculated with sarcoma 180 cells was enhanced and further accompanied by an increase in the number of granulocytes and in fibrinolytic activity. These results suggest that the enhancement of spleen amidolytic and fibrinolytic activities is induced by an increase of granulocytes in the circulation. PMID- 2620869 TI - Thromboembolic manifestations and congenital factor V deficiency: a family study. AB - A case of congenital factor V deficiency is reported. Despite this defect in blood coagulation, the patient had experienced recurrent thrombophlebitis and was referred to us because of deep venous thrombosis of the lower limbs associated with pulmonary embolism. Both functional and immunological assays documented a deficiency of factor V (12 and less than 10%, respectively). The available family members were investigated and the same defect was found in 2 brothers of the propositus, who also suffered from thrombotic diseases (recurrent thrombophlebitis and myocardial infarction). The propositus has been treated with long-term oral anticoagulant therapy, no hemorrhagic complications or thrombotic recurrences being recorded in 2 years' time. PMID- 2620870 TI - Fatal thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura despite plasmapheresis. A case report of autopsy findings. AB - Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a syndrome characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, neurologic abnormalities, fever and renal dysfunction. Prior to modern therapy, fewer than 3% of patients survived. However, with plasmapheresis, up to 82% of patients survive. We report a case of recurrent TTP which proved fatal despite plasmapheresis. At autopsy the hyaline thrombi found were notably smaller and of shorter duration than those of untreated TTP. These findings suggest that therapy had brought about an abatement of the microthrombotic process in spite of the fatal outcome. PMID- 2620871 TI - Congenital factor XIII deficiency with multiple benign breast tumours and successful pregnancy with substitutive therapy. A case report. AB - A 34-year-old woman with congenital factor XIII (FXIII) deficiency and multiple connective tissue tumours is reported. The subunit a of FXIII was totally absent in her plasma, platelets and histiocytes of breast fibroadenomas and considerably reduced in the monocytes (below 5%). The plasmatic level of subunit b was also reduced (25%). She had a bleeding tendency and habitual abortions. Fresh frozen plasma therapy permitted a successful pregnancy. PMID- 2620872 TI - A standard for low molecular weight heparins. PMID- 2620873 TI - [Blood pressure of Yemenites in Israel similar to that of other Israelis]. AB - Studies of Yemenite immigrants shortly after their arrival in Israel reported markedly low blood pressures. A community survey was conducted in the town with the most Yemenite immigrants, 40 years after their immigration. Blood pressures were measured by family practice physicians in the course of their routine clinical work. The averages of 3432 measurements recorded in 4955 adults were the same as those reported in studies of other Israeli populations for all age groups, except in women over the age of 60, in whom it was low. Pressures rose with age from 20 to 65 years, falling off slightly in the oldest age groups. The distribution curve was positively skewed, with a tail of higher values. Hypertension was diagnosed in 153, and elevated blood pressure, not confirmed as hypertension, was recorded in an additional 226. Except in older women, the clinical epidemiology of blood pressure in Yemenites in Israel is indistinguishable today from that of the general population. PMID- 2620874 TI - [Referrals to the surgical emergency room]. AB - A review of 871 consecutive patients referred to our surgical emergency room is presented. 54% were self-referred, 18% were soldiers referred by army physicians and only 8% were referred by family physicians. Only 60% lived in the hospital admission area. The average stay in the emergency room was 4.1 hours, and only 6.5% needed to be hospitalized. We suggest setting up first aid stations in hospitals to serve as pre-emergency rooms, and that only cases that really require its services be referred to the emergency room. PMID- 2620875 TI - [Bilateral hydronephrosis and erythrocytosis]. AB - A 36-year-old woman who developed extreme erythrocytosis following partial correction of severe bilateral hydronephrosis by bilateral ureterolithotomy is presented. Hydronephrosis appears to stimulate renal synthesis and release of erythropoietin. The mechanism could involve increase in medullary hypoxia by increased pressure of the renal pelvis on the medullary vasculature. This might be especially marked when the renal blood supply is compromised by concomitant atherosclerosis, as in this case. PMID- 2620876 TI - [Posterior penetrating ocular injury]. AB - The management of posterior penetrating ocular trauma includes thorough preoperative evaluation and exploration and careful debridement with excision or repositioning of the uvea. Vitreous incarceration should be avoided and the sclera and cornea should be reapproximated. Preventive antibiotic and steroid therapy are indicated. Vitreoretinal evaluation includes CT scan, ultrasonography and electroretinography. Vitrectomy should be performed within 5-10 days after injury when there is retinal detachment, an opaque vitreous, extensive vitreous hemorrhage, double perforating injuries, or a reactive foreign body. When there is endophthalmitis or chalcosis, vitrectomy should be performed earlier. A 22 year-old man with severe penetrating trauma of the eye is presented. PMID- 2620877 TI - [Organic aciduria in Canavan disease]. AB - 3 male and 2 female infants with Canavan disease proven in some by brain biopsy, whose symptoms appeared within the first 4 months of life, are presented. Urinary organic acids were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. All excreted large amounts of N-acetylaspartic acid, probably secondary to decreased activity of its hydrolase. The pathogenetic mechanism is not well understood. Analysis of urinary organic acids can replace brain biopsy in the diagnosis of this condition, and the diagnosis can now be made prenatally. PMID- 2620878 TI - [Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis]. AB - A 50-year-old man with thyrotoxicosis complained of recurrent bouts of weakness. On admission all his voluntary muscles were paralyzed except for those of the face, and hypokalemia was found. Thyrotoxic, hypokalemic periodic paralysis is very rare among Caucasians. This is the first case to be reported from Israel. PMID- 2620879 TI - [Torsion of the appendix in a child]. AB - Torsion of the vermiform appendix is a rare condition that simulates acute appendicitis. An 8-year-old girl with symptoms suggestive of acute appendicitis is reported. At operation the appendix was found to be twisted 72 degrees and was resected. PMID- 2620880 TI - [Abortions--changing aspects]. PMID- 2620881 TI - [Voice and speech problems in Parkinson's disease]. PMID- 2620882 TI - [Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in neonatal respiratory failure]. PMID- 2620883 TI - [Value of self-measured blood pressure]. PMID- 2620884 TI - [Colchicine in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver]. PMID- 2620885 TI - [Papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas]. AB - Papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas, usually found in the tail, is a relatively benign tumor that occurs predominantly in young women. We report a 17 year-old girl admitted for investigation of an abdominal mass found on routine examination. At operation a 12 cm solid mass was found originating from the tail of the pancreas. Distal pancreatectomy was performed and histopathological examination revealed a solid papillary cystic tumor. PMID- 2620886 TI - [Neonatal hemochromatosis]. AB - Neonatal hemochromatosis (NH) is a rare disorder characterized by signs of hepatic insufficiency. The rapidly progressive course terminates in death in utero or in the early neonatal period. Histopathologically, there is increased tissue iron deposition in many organs, particularly the liver, pancreas, heart and endocrine glands, but the extrahepatic reticuloendothelial system is relatively unaffected. Cases of NH are distributed in a pattern consistent with an error of metabolism inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. We present a premature infant who died 44 days postpartum of severe hepatic failure. Postmortem examination established the diagnosis of NH. PMID- 2620887 TI - [Rectoscopies in a family medicine clinic]. AB - As part of an ongoing quality-control program, a retrospective survey of all rigid rectoscopies performed by a family physician as a diagnostic procedure in 1985-1986 was undertaken. 35 men and 27 women were examined after an average wait of 2.5 days. Most were referred because of rectal bleeding. 3 malignant and 4 benign rectal tumors were diagnosed. In cases with no pathological finding, a subsequent barium enema and/or colonoscopy resulted in the diagnosis of 2 more proximal cancers. This frequency of tumors is relatively high compared with other series, in which there had not been systematic screening for early detection of colonic cancer. There were no complications of the rectoscopies. This survey strengthens our impression that rectoscopy can be carried out effectively by the family physician in the clinic. PMID- 2620888 TI - [Routine omentectomy during Tenckhoff catheter insertion for peritoneal dialysis]. AB - Peritoneal dialysis is now one of the main methods of treating acute and chronic renal failure, and the number of patients treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), instead of hemodialysis, is increasing. The most commonly used device for CAPD is the Tenkhoff catheter. The major complications after its insertion are infection and catheter obstruction. To reduce the incidence of obstruction and related complications, usually the result of omental occlusion of catheter ports, we performed routine omentectomy on insertion of the catheter. During 1984-1987 we inserted 56 Tenckhoff catheters for CAPD in 32 males and 20 females ranging in age from 2.5 to 83 years (mean 50.1 +/- 19.7). 32 suffered from end-stage renal disease and 20 from acute temporary renal failure. In 87% local anesthesia was used, and in the others general anesthesia. Omentectomy was performed in 81%. In only 8 patients (15%) omentectomy could not be performed, as the omentum was either too short or was adherent to the abdominal wall as a result of previous abdominal surgery. In an additional 2 patients the omentum was not resected, in 1 because of previous surgery for a perforated duodenal ulcer and in the other because the procedure was performed at the bedside. Peritonitis followed in 14 cases, but in 12 of them it completely resolved after administration of antibiotics. Over a follow-up period of 32 months there was only 1 case of catheter obstruction, significantly fewer than reported in other series. We conclude that routine omentectomy during insertion of the Tenckhoff catheter for CAPD under local anesthesia is safe and reduces the incidence of catheter obstruction during short and long term use. PMID- 2620889 TI - [Corpus callosotomy in intractable epilepsy]. AB - 6 males and 3 females, 2-17 years old, underwent partial or complete corpus callosotomy as treatment for medically intractable epileptic seizures. All benefited from the procedure. Evidence for unilateral cerebral damage on computerized tomography or a nonlocalized focus with secondary contralateral spread were the criteria for patient selection. The best results were obtained in atonic seizures. Long term side effects were minor and were minimized by staging the callosal resection. If partial callosotomy is effective, complete resection is unnecessary. PMID- 2620890 TI - [Verrucous carcinoma of the penis]. AB - Malignant tumors of the penis are rare, and constitute only 1% of all tumors in males. The disease is more common in the black population of the USA due to genetic links and the rarity of circumcision. Penile carcinoma is extremely rare in Israel, only 10 cases having been reported during a period of 20 years. Verrucous carcinoma, often called giant condyloma acuminata, constitutes a subgroup of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. The first description was by Buschke in 1925, and was followed by that of Loewenstein in 1939. The tumor is usually limited to the penile glans and does not invade lymph nodes. We present a 44-year-old Arab with verrucous carcinoma treated by partial amputation of the penis. He had been circumcised 11 years previously. During 18 months of follow-up there was no recurrence. PMID- 2620891 TI - [Questions by adolescents about dieting]. AB - In recent years there has been increasing concern and involvement of Israeli adolescents with dieting. An increase in the incidence of obesity has been emphasized by the mass media. This has been marked by an increase in the number of questions on dieting sent anonymously by 12 to 14 year-olds to a column in a popular youth magazine about adolescent sexuality. These letters include requests for diets to prevent obesity in general and fatness of certain parts of the body in particular, such as the thighs or buttocks; questions as to side-effects of diets already started, particularly amenorrhea; and questions about the onset of bulimia and anorexia nervosa, expressing fear of the consequences. This study gives examples of the questions and the answers, and indicates the professions of those to whom the applicants were referred for further diagnosis and treatment. Newer techniques of health education with regard to adolescent dieting are urgently needed so that the health staff can promote insight and indicate the need for treatment at as early a stage as possible. The use of mass media in a suitable manner is critical, given the increase in diet-advertising. PMID- 2620892 TI - [Low-fat milk as a cause of infantile colic and failure-to-thrive in the breast fed baby]. PMID- 2620893 TI - [Chronic myeloid leukemia and liver disease]. PMID- 2620894 TI - [Inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system. Meningitis- meningoencephalitis--abscess]. PMID- 2620895 TI - [Production of monoclonal antibodies against tooth germs of hamster or rat by in vitro immunization]. AB - The in vitro immunization procedure for the production of monoclonal antibodies has several advantages over the in vivo procedure; e.g. it requires a much smaller amount of immunogen and only a few days are required for immunization. However, no in vitro immunization procedure for the production of monoclonal antibodies against tooth germs has been reported. By means of in vitro immunization, we tried to produce monoclonal antibodies against the components of tooth germs which would be useful for immunohistochemical investigation of the development of tooth germs. Spleen cells of mice were immunized with a homogenate of molar tooth germs from hamsters or rats. The hybridomas produced were screened by immunohistochemical examination of paraffin sections of tooth germs. We obtained five monoclonal antibodies reacting with the dental tissues; ameloblasts, odontoblasts, enamel, dentin, predentin, and dental sac. One of them reacted specifically with only ameloblasts and one with ameloblasts and enamel, but the others are not specific for individual dental tissues. The results demonstrate that in vitro immunization is a satisfactory method for producing monoclonal antibodies useful for immunohistochemical investigation of tooth germs. PMID- 2620896 TI - [Diagnostic viewpoints in deep leg-/pelvic venous thrombosis]. AB - In 60 to 90% of patients with deep vein thrombosis, successful recanalization with prevention of postthrombotic syndrome and decreased risk of pulmonary embolism can be achieved through early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, thrombolysis or surgical correction. In our experience, if treatment is delayed more than four days after onset, the results are unfavorable; in the latter case, provided necrotizing inflammation is not present, we treat only with anticoagulation. The indication for surgery is considered established if thrombolytic treatment is contraindicated, in the presence of necrotizing inflammation, if thrombolysis is unsuccessful and for recurrent pulmonary embolism which is carried out mostly with a caval filter. Anticoagulation alone in most patients will not lead to successful results. Sixty percent of deep vein thromboses arise ascending from lower leg thromboses. Further points of predilection are the junctions of the popliteal vein, the veins in the inguinal region and the caval bifurcation. In principle, any calf pain should suggest the possibility of beginning lower leg thrombosis. With regard to the history, it is important to know if the event is the first of its kind or recurrent (Table 1). Additionally, deep vein thrombosis may be suspected in the presence of local trauma, in women on contraceptives, in patients with hemoblastoses, after surgery in the lower pelvic or leg region and, in particular in women, in the presence of pelvic venous impediment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620897 TI - [Normal values of the growth of the pulmonary arteries in children. An angiography study]. AB - Systolic and diastolic diameters of the pulmonary artery anulus (PA-A), pulmonary artery sinus (PA-S), pulmonary artery trunc (PA-St), as well as those of the right and left pulmonary arteries (RPA, LPA) were measured from cineangiograms of 51 infants, children and adolescents without heart disease (n = 16) or with cardiovascular malformations which had no hemodynamic relevance (n = 35). The following diagnostic categories were included in the normal group: pulmonary stenosis (n = 16), bicuspid aortic valve (n = 4) or subvalvular aortic stenosis (n = 2), all with a systolic gradient lower than 15 mm Hg, aberrant innominate artery (n = 5), small PDA (n = 3) or small VSD (n = 2) and patients with Kawasaki disease without coronary aneurysms (n = 3). The patients were sedated and studied in a fasting state and in the supine position. Angiocardiographies were performed in the right ventricle or/and in the pulmonary artery. A grid or the known diameter of the catheter was used for calibration purposes. The corresponding systolic and diastolic diameter values were averaged in order to obtain a mean diameter of each vascular segment. All measurements were correlated with the body length and the body surface area (BSA). A root exponential function [square root of y = a(1 - e-bx) + c] was used, the regressions coefficients of which can be explained by physiological means. In this function c2 is the theoretical minimal diameter and (a + c)2 the theoretical maximal diameter of a cardiovascular structure; in this way the growth of the cardiovascular dimensions could be well defined mathematically and correlated strongly (r = 0.99) with body length and BSA. Different exponents were found for the pulmonary artery anulus, sinus, trunc as well as right and left pulmonary arteries. All the diameters showed a systolic increase between 8 to 10% above diastolic measurements. The anulus had an average diameter 16% smaller than the sinus and 9% than the distal region of the pulmonary artery; the right pulmonary artery was 7% larger than the left. A limitation of the study was that the diameters were measured in single projections only, necessitating the assumption of a circular cross section of the cardiovascular structures. The angiographically determined PA-A was larger than those of formaldehyd-fixed hearts. This finding indicates that the fixation method may alter the anatomic structures probably due to shrinkage process. PA-S measurements were closest to echocardiographic diameters measured by other authors. PMID- 2620898 TI - [Normal values of the growth of the aorta in children. An angiography study]. AB - Angiocardiography is a standard procedure for quantification and evaluation of congenital heart disease. Knowledge of the diameters at the level of aortic valve ring, ascending and descending aorta can contribute to the decision in repair of congenital heart disease. Moreover, they are helpful for postoperative follow-up studies. In order to establish normal standards, analysis was performed on 51 cineangiograms obtained from infants, children and adolescents with no evidence of heart disease (n = 16) or only hemodynamically irrelevant cardiovascular malformations (n = 35). The individual diagnoses in these patients appear in the accompanying publication in this issue. Patients with bicuspid aortic valve or subvalvular aortic stenosis were excluded from measurements of the aortic valve ring, the sinus and the ascending aorta. Angiocardiography was performed in a fasting state, after sedation and in the supine position with injections of contrast material in the pulmonary artery and or in the left ventricle and ascending aorta. For purposes of calibration, a grid or the known diameter of the catheter was used. Systolic and diastolic diameters of the aortic valve ring (AO R), sinus (AO-S) and distal region, between sinus valsalvae and ascending aorta (AO-D), as well as those of the isthmus (DAO-I), postisthmic region (DAO-PI) and descending thoracoabdominal aorta (DAO-T) were measured. To obtain a mean value for each vascular structure, the corresponding systolic and diastolic diameters were averaged. The mean diameter was referenced to body length and body surface area (BSA).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620899 TI - Nonsurgical treatment of gallstones: where do we go from here? PMID- 2620900 TI - Results of sclerotherapy in 100 patients comparison of the outcome between schistosomiasis and hepatitis B. AB - One hundred patients received sclerotherapy for acutely bleeding esophageal varices. Seventy per cent of these patients had chronic liver disease due to schistosomiasis or hepatitis B. The remaining 30% had chronic liver disease of other etiology, including alcohol in 2%. Our study shows a favorable outcome of sclerotherapy in the schistosomal group during a mean follow-up period of 39 months. Esophageal varices were completely sclerosed in 53.3% of schistosoma patients, in 37.5% of hepatitis B, and in 42.3% of other groups. The rebleeding rate was 11.1% in schistosomiasis, 43.8% in hepatitis B and 33.3% in other groups. The overall mortality rate was 4.4% in the schistosomal group, 50.0% in the hepatitis B, and 40% in other groups. Rebleeding from gastric varices occurred in 17 patients, 13 of whom died, including 11 who were operated on for bleeding gastric varices and died following surgery. PMID- 2620901 TI - Antinuclear autoantibodies in chronic liver diseases. AB - Circulating autoantibodies are often observed in liver disorders, especially in those thought to have an autoimmune etiology-such as primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and chronic active hepatitis (CAH). The pathophysiologic role of these antibodies, however, remains obscure. The present study was performed to evaluate the incidence and diagnostic value of different antinuclear antibodies in chronic liver diseases, and to assess whether the antibodies are a non-specific expression of the hypergammaglobulinemia observed in these disorders. We measured six different antinuclear and closely related antibodies (against ssDNA, dsDNA, Poly (I), Poly (dT), RNA and cardiolipin) and their IgG, IgA and IgM isotypes in the sera of 86 patients with autoimmune, as well as other chronic liver diseases- namely, PBC, CAH, alcoholic (AC) and cryptogenic cirrhosis (CC). Antibodies against all the various nuclear antigens were detected in all diseases studied. The incidence ranged from 4% (anti-cardiolipin-IgG in CC) to 74% (anti-Poly (dT) IgM in PBC). Although the antibody profiles differed among the various disease entities, they were not distinct enough to be of any clinical diagnostic value. In alcoholic cirrhosis antibody levels correlated with corresponding immunoglobulin isotype levels (notably IgA), suggesting a non-specific expression of hypergammaglobulinemia. In the other liver diseases such a correlation was lacking, favoring the existence of an underlying specific antigenic stimulation, or some other more specific immune dysfunction. PMID- 2620902 TI - Percutaneous cholecystostomy in acute acalculous cholecystitis. AB - Percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed in 8 poor-surgical-risk patients with acute acalculous cholecystitis. Seven patients had had previous laparotomy, 1 patient a coronary bypass operation. A transhepatic approach was used in all patients. Insertion of the drainage catheters was guided by ultrasound and fluoroscopy. Percutaneous drainage was successful in all patients, with no need for further surgical intervention. Two patients died, for reasons unrelated to the gallbladder disease. Percutaneous cholecystostomy may be definitive treatment for acute acalculous cholecystitis in the critically ill patient. PMID- 2620903 TI - Long-term results of highly selective vagotomy for the treatment of duodenal ulcer. AB - Between 1971 and 1987, highly selective vagotomy (HSV) was carried out in 984 patients suffering from duodenal ulcer disease. In 97.3% of these cases, the surgical intervention was uncomplicated, the related mortality being 0.3%. During the follow-up period the postoperative condition of the patients was checked once a year wherever possible; in 92.3%, follow-up was continued until december 1987, the maximum period of postoperative follow-up being 16 years. No prognostically reliable indication of the risk of ulcer recurrence was obtained from an analysis of gastric juice. In 79.1% of the cases who underwent surgery, the result was good to satisfactory, while 11.7% had functional complaints such as dumping or diarrhea. The probability of developing a recurrent ulcer within 16 years after the initial operation was 29.7%. This rate of recurrence is determined among other things, by the discovery of clinically quiescent ulcers during the yearly follow-up examinations, when these are performed carefully, and over a sufficiently long period. PMID- 2620904 TI - HLA-A, B, C and DR antigens in chronic hepatitis B viral infection. AB - To study the role of genetic factors in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver diseases, HLA typing with 47 specificities of HLA-A, B, C and DR loci using Terasaki's 2-stage microlymphocytotoxicity method was performed in 253 normal subjects and 305 patients with various HBV-related liver diseases, including 95 healthy carries of HBV, 30 with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), 74 with chronic active hepatitis (CAH), 51 with liver cirrhosis and 55 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The frequency of HLA-B17 was significantly higher in patients with HCC than in healthy carriers (27.3% vs 4.2%, Pc less than 0.01). A similar situation was noted for HLA-DR3 in a comparison of patients with CAH and healthy carriers (37% vs 10%, Pc less than 0.05). Comparisons among various groups involving other specificities were statistically nonsignificant. It is concluded that genetic predisposition to the development of CAH, as well as HCC is present in HBsAg carriers, and further clarification of underlying mechanisms is needed. PMID- 2620905 TI - Percutaneous fibercholangioscopies. AB - This is a report on our experience in 309 percutaneous fiberendoscopies of the biliary tract done in 106 patients of the 115 scheduled for the procedure. We describe the relevant approaches, techniques, complications and results. In particular, percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopies (PTCS) were accomplished on transhepatic percutaneous drainages located radiologically in 35 patients: in 13 for differential diagnosis to distinguish between malignant and benign stenoses (diagnostic accuracy in 92% of the biopsies), in 22 cases with therapeutic intent, including 14 lithotomies for extrahepatic biliary tract calculosis, combined in 4 cases with a simple dilatation of the papilla and a percutaneous "descending" papillotomy; in 7 patients a dilatation of the biliary tract (BT) or of the stenosis of a biliodigestive anastomosis was accomplished (malignant in 4 patients, benign in 3 patients). In 38 patients postoperative percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopies were performed along surgically located transparietohepatic drains, both to assess the biliodigestive anastomosis healing process carried out by two different techniques (30 patients), and to complete the biliary tract drainage as part of the primary and secondary endoscopic surgical treatment of massive intrahepatic lithiasis. In two further patients affected by such pathology, PTCS was done in combination with fibercholangioscopy performed via a transjejunal approach using a Volker drain on a Y-shaped loop. Nine of these patients were treated successfully and one patient later underwent a left hepatectomy, since attempts to drain that area had remained unsuccessful. The transjejunal approach was carried out in 3 patients as a diagnostic measure: in two cases to check the lithotomy, and in one case to check a cholangiojejunal anastomosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2620906 TI - Percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy of intrahepatic gallstones under endoscopic control. AB - Percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy in association with endoscopic control and balloon catheter dilatation of stenosed cholangiojejunostomy was successfully used in the treatment of a 53-year-old man with intrahepatic gallstones and severe cholestasis. Previously, he had undergone several biliary surgery operations, but all interventions were complicated by stenosis. The good results obtained in this case lead us to consider percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy a possible alternative to surgical treatment of complicated gallstones. PMID- 2620907 TI - Isolation and characterisation of satellite DNA from Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. AB - Nuclear DNA isolated from hypocotyls (H), proliferating callus (PC) and differentiating callus (DC) of Brassica juncea contains a satellite DNA which can be resolved in actinomycin-D/CsCl gradients. The satellite DNA undergoes changes, when an in vitro culture is raised from hypocotyl tissue and forms a higher percentage of the genome in PC and DC than in mature differentiated tissue (hypocotyl). All the three satellite DNAs are GC-rich compared to main band DNAs. Satellite DNA of H has higher Tm and GC content than that of the PC and DC satellites. A 200 bp basic repeat unit from hypocotyl nuclear DNA has been cloned and characterised. PMID- 2620908 TI - Inactivation of leucine aminotransferase with diethylpyrocarbonate and rose bengal: evidence for an active site histidine residue. AB - Modification of leucine aminotransferase by diethylpyrocarbonate or rose bengal sensitized photo-oxidation caused rapid inactivation of the enzyme. The inactivation of leucine aminotransferase depended on the concentration of the reagent, the time of incubation and exhibited pseudo-first order kinetics. Rose bengal-sensitized photo-oxidation was maximum at pH 6.5 and 9. Substrates leucine and alpha-ketoglutarate protected the enzyme against inactivation by these reagents, thus suggesting participation of histidine residue at the substrate binding site. PMID- 2620909 TI - Purification and properties of goat liver catalase: two pH optima. AB - Goat liver catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) has been purified to homogeneity using the techniques of ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography and gel-filtration through Ultrogel AcA-34 involving two alternating steps of column chromatography. The homogeneity of the purified enzyme was tested by native and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis. The enzyme is a tetramer having a subunit molecular weight of 58,000 +/- 3000, contains six sulfhydryl groups per mole of the enzyme and shows pH optima at pH 6.8 and 7.7. The kinetic data show no cooperativity between the substrate binding sites. Tryptophan, indoleacetic acid, cysteine, formaldehyde and sodium azide inhibit the enzyme non-competitively with Ki values of 4 +/- 1, 2.5 +/- 0.8, 6 +/- 1.5, 0.48 +/- 0.15 and 0.0013 +/- 0.0003 mM, respectively. Sulfhydryl group binding agents as well as thiol reagents inhibit the enzyme activity. PMID- 2620910 TI - Unique bioactivation of tiazofurin--studies with resistant cells. AB - Using resistant cells mechanism of action of new oncolytic nucleoside, tiazofurin (2-beta-D-ribofuranosyl thiazole-4 carboxamide, RTC) was studied in tissue cultured cells of Chinese Hamster Ovary cells (CHO-cells). Tiazofurin got converted in CHO-cells to tiazofurin-monophosphate and to NAD-analogue, a potent inhibitor of inosinate dehydrogenase. Resistant cells produced tiazofurin-5' monophosphate in vitro but had a much reduced capacity to produce NAD-analogue, indicating absence of any effect of tiazofurin on incorporation of [14C]formate into guanine, inhibition of inosinate dehydrogenase as well as GTP levels in resistant cells. Using competition with various possible substrates it is found that the initial tiazofurin metabolism is catalysed by nicotinamide nucleoside kinase and NAD-analog formation is mediated by NAD-pyrophosphorylase. Decreased activity of the latter enzyme found in tiazofurin resistant cells not only inhibited the NAD analog formation from tiazofurin-5'-monophosphate but also the NAD-formation from nictotinamide-5'-monophosphate. PMID- 2620911 TI - Phospholipid composition of Mycobacterium smegmatis susceptible and resistant to antitubercular drugs. AB - The phospholipid composition, distribution and metabolism in mono drug resistant mutants towards antitubercular drugs, viz, streptomycin, ethambutol and isoniazid, were investigated. Though their total phospholipid content was not altered significantly, changes were observed in their individual phospholipid content. Reduced biosynthesis and degradation of phospholipids (monitored by pulse and chase technique using [32P]orthophosphoric acid as a precursor) was observed in all the mutants studied. The subcellular distribution of phospholipids revealed accumulation of phospholipids in the cell walls and reduction in cell membranes of the drug-resistant mutants. Similar alterations were seen in individual phospholipids of these subcellular fractions. PMID- 2620912 TI - Role of liquid membrane phenomenon in the biological actions of prostaglandins: studies on prostaglandin E1 and prostaglandin F2 alpha. AB - Modifications in the transport of relevant permeants to their respective sites of action due to the liquid membranes formed by prostaglandins in association with lecithin and cholesterol have been discussed in the light of biological actions of prostaglandins. It has been shown that the phenomenon of liquid membrane formation is likely to make a significant contribution to the biological actions. PMID- 2620913 TI - Water-induced precipitation of cholesterol dissolved in organic solvents in the absence and presence of surfactants and salts. AB - The precipitation of cholesterol dissolved in organic solvents, viz. methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, acetone and 1,4-dioxane, by the addition of water has been studied. The effects of the solvents towards the precipitation follow the order: methanol greater than ethanol greater than acetone greater than dioxane greater than n-propanol greater than iso-propanol, the solvent dioxane however exhibits a change in the order at higher concentration. Additives like Triton X-100, sodium cholate, sodium deoxycholate, sodium dehydro cholate, sodium salicylate and sodium chloride have some protective action against precipitation, the maximum protection being that of Triton X-100. The additives have shown better protective action in propanols and dioxane than in methanol, ethanol and acetone. Analysis of solvent composition and dielectric constant has revealed specific solvent effects on the water-induced precipitation of cholesterol. Thermodynamic analysis of the precipitation phenomenon and the unique role of solvent structure on cholesterol precipitation has been discussed. PMID- 2620914 TI - Ultraviolet radiation-induced photodegradation and 1O2, O2-. production by riboflavin, lumichrome and lumiflavin. AB - Although UVA (320-400 nm) is considered less harmful to skin as compared to UVB (290-320 nm) and UVC (200-290 nm) radiation, certain endogenous chromophores may enhance UVA-induced cutaneous reactions by largely O2-dependent photodynamic reactions. Photodegradation pattern and singlet oxygen (1O2), superoxide anion radical (O2-.) producing capacity of riboflavin (RF), lumiflavin (LF) and lumichrome (LC) were examined to assess their phototoxic potential under UVA. Photolysis of RF upon exposure to UVA, UVB or UVC revealed considerable degradation to LF and LC with a near identical spectral pattern of photodegradation between 250-500 nm. Both LF and LC were stable to UVA (3 J/cm2) and UVB (400 mJ/cm2), whereas RF was photodegraded by 30 and 20%, respectively, under similar irradiation conditions. UVA-sensitized LF and LC respectively, produced nearly 15% higher and 60% lower yield of 1O2 in comparison to RF, whereas, O2-. was generated predominently by RF. Both RF and LF thus appeared to be potential chromophores for evoking deleterious effects of UVA in normal human skin. PMID- 2620915 TI - Quantitative structure activity relationship studies on 3-triazines using van der Waal volume and molecular connectivity index. AB - QSAR studies have been performed on the homologues of 3-triazines, using molecular connectivity index and van der Waal volume as structural parameters. The regression analysis has shown good correlation between antitumour activity and the two structural parameters. PMID- 2620916 TI - [Evaluation of the efficacy of a new antimycotic molecule for topical use: naftifine]. AB - The antifungal efficacy and tolerability of naftifine (cream, gel, 1% solution), were tested in an open, mycologically controlled study in 29 patients (mean age 32.7 +/- 2.8 years; 15 males, 14 females) with dermatomycosis caused by dermatophytes and yeasts. Particularly, 16 patients were affected with Tinea corporis; 11 patients by Pityriasis Versicolor and 2 other by cutaneous candidiasis. The mean treatment period was 32.9 days in a range from 1 to 44 days. Only one patient, with cutaneous candidiasis dropped out on the first day, because of a primary irritative dermatitis. All the remaining patients (96.4%) were recovered, and the severity of clinical symptoms, particularly erythema and itching, showed a very rapid decline. Two weeks after the treatment, a relapse emerged from a fungal growth culture, only in 2 patients (6.8%) affected with Microsporum canis. Local side effects, mostly burning, were recorded in 2 patients (6.8%). PMID- 2620917 TI - [Growth factors in the pathogenesis of progressive systemic sclerosis]. AB - Scleroderma is a connective tissue disorder characterized by vascular lesions, fibrosis and inflammation. The pathogenesis of this disease is not clear. A vascular lesion, possibly caused by deposition of immune complexes or by release of cytotoxic factors, seems to be at the origin of the disease. As a consequence, platelet adhesion and activation might occur in sclerodermic patients. The observation that platelet might release, upon aggregation, a potent mitogenic factor, named Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) has focused interest on platelets as the potential mediators of the fibrotic process, characteristic of systemic scleroderma. We found an increased mitogenic activity in plasma derived serum (PDS) of a group of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), as compared to control subjects. The activity was inhibited by incubation with anti PDGF IgG's, suggesting that abnormal PDGF levels might indeed be present in plasma of PSS patients. PMID- 2620918 TI - [Von Willebrand factor multimers in systemic scleroderma]. AB - In scleroderma endothelial cell damage plays an early and pivotal role in the pathogenesis of sclerotic lesions. In our study we determined whether or not plasma from 11 consecutive patients with scleroderma contained a subset of larger than normal (supranormal) multimers of von Willebrand factor which are potent inducers of platelet aggregation and adhesion. Supranormal multimers were found in all patients, but in none of the normal controls. Supranormal multimers may contribute to the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis by inducing platelet aggregation and enhancing adhesion to subendothelium. PMID- 2620919 TI - [The multitest in evaluating cellular immunity]. AB - It has been recently shown that the skin has a really active role in the immune system. The evaluation of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity is an important step for the screening of the cell-mediated immune response. The multitest system contains seven antigens and 1 control put together in the same instrument. The results obtained with multitest are more reliable than those with monoantigenic systems. The Authors studied 138 patients affected by diseases with presumable cell-mediated immune deficiency. The comparison between clinical suspicion of immune deficiency, laboratory tests, and multitest showed statistically the usefulness and reliability of this test as a part of the screening for cellular immune deficiency. PMID- 2620920 TI - [Solar keratosis. Morphometric observations on atypia and polarity of keratinocytes of the basal stratum]. AB - Nuclear morphometric parameters and polarity of basal keratinocytes have been evaluated by computerized image analysis in solar keratoses, comparing the results with normal sun-exposed skin and squamous cell carcinoma 1st Broders degree. The cellular index demonstrated higher levels in all keratoses. The morphometric nuclear parameters revealed major values in atrophic, bowenoid, acantholytic, hypertrophic and pigmented solar keratoses, respectively. The loss of polarity demonstrated higher levels in bowenoid, atrophic, hypertrophic, pigmented and acantholytic histotypes, respectively. Solar keratoses could be classified as in situ carcinomas rather than precancerous lesions. PMID- 2620921 TI - [Condylomata acuminata of the external genitalia and dysplasia of the uterine cervix]. AB - Condylomata acuminata of the external genitalia and dysplasias of the uterine cervix The prevalence of cervical abnormalities indicative of papillomavirus infection and/or dysplasia was evaluated in a group of women previously treated for vulvar condylomata acuminata. The results obtained seem to demonstrate that the women affected by vulvar condylomata acuminata are particularly exposed to the risk of acquiring slight or moderate grade dysplasias. However, the lack of severe dysplasias in our patients tends to suggest that cervical dysplasias associated to vulvar condylomata acuminata are characterized by a poor inclination towards neoplastic evolution. PMID- 2620922 TI - [Late secondary syphilis]. AB - A case of late secondary syphilis characterized by morphologically and topographically typical papulo-nodular and nodulo-ulcerative lesions is described. In the course of the late secondary stage nodular and ulcerous lesions arise as precursors of the tertiary stage. Therapy with penicillin caused the rapid regression of the disease with slight residual atrophy and dyschromia. PMID- 2620923 TI - [Dermatologic manifestations of tuberous sclerosis in children. A study of 6 cases]. AB - Typical cutaneous findings in tuberous sclerosis are present in over 90% of cases and represent one of the earliest markers of the syndrome. Our study, based on 6 pediatric cases, underlines how the skin manifestations vary with the patient's age. Hypopigmented maculae were usually present at birth and remained often the only clinical sign during the first few years of age. Angiofibromas on the face appeared later and were followed by orange-peel patches and then by periungual fibromas. The high spontaneous new mutation rate of tuberous sclerosis seems to be confirmed by our study in which clinical evaluation of first-degree relatives of all patients was negative. PMID- 2620924 TI - [Lymphadenosis benigna cutis of the mammary areola: Lyme borreliosis?]. AB - This lesion began two months after a tick bite on the left breast, occurring during a trip in Karst (highland behind the city of Trieste). This area represents an ecological shell for Ixodes ricinus, hard tick often infested with Borrelia burgdorferi, the aetiological agent of Lyme disease. Some days after tick-bite, the patient developed a typical ECM of the left breast; this lesion resolved in two months. Shortly after, an erythematous, infiltrated nodule appeared on the left areola; ist size was about two cm. Histological diagnosis confirmed that the lesion was a LABC; the lymphocytic infiltrate consisted in a large number of B cell (detected with monoclonal antibodies). Indirect immunofluorescence for Borrelia burgdorferi (after absorption with Treponema phagedenis) was positive (titre 1/128-IgG). The lesion was treated with doxycycline, 200 mg/day per os for two weeks. The lesion cleared up three months after the end of therapy. Till today (two year thereafter), the patient didn't present with local or general signs of Lyme borreliosis; furthermore the serological test for Borrelia burgdorferi became negative. PMID- 2620925 TI - [Eccrine angiomatous nevus]. AB - A case of eccrine angiomatous nevus of the leg in a 21 year-old woman is reported. The lesion present since birth was painful on pressure and exhibited hyperhidrosis. Histological examination of the lesion showed an increased number of eccrine structures without structural abnormalities with an angiomatous vascular component. In addition, there were some neural sheets. Problems of differential diagnosis and histogenesis of the eccrine angiomatous hamartoma are discussed. PMID- 2620926 TI - Lipid peroxidation in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis L.) spermatozoa: effect of added vitamin C and glucose. AB - Addition of 2.5 mM vitamin C or 40 mM of glucose to washed buffalo spermatozoan suspensions in Ca2(+)-free Kreb's Ringer Hanseliet saline buffer (pH 7.0) resulted in significant lower malonaldehyde concentration and higher spermatozoan motility and liver spermatozoa compared to control levels after 45 min of aerobic incubation at 37 degrees C or pre-incubation levels. PMID- 2620927 TI - 2-Deoxy-D-glucose induced modification of chromosomal damage in UV-irradiated peripheral human leukocytes. AB - UV-irradiation (0.6 J/m2) of peripheral human leukocytes 27 hr after PHA stimulation induced a considerable mitotic delay in the cultures. Approximately two thirds of the chromosomal aberrations induced by UV were gaps of the chromatid and isochromatid types. Treatment with glucose antimetabolite 2-deoxy-D glucose (2-DG) alone did not induce any chromosomal damage. Presence of 2-DG (5 mM, equimolar with glucose) for 2 hr after UV-irradiation resulted in a significant reduction in the frequency of cells with aberrations. Decrease in the total aberrations per cell was also observed. The data are consistent with earlier observations that 2-DG reduces the manifestation of radiation damage in normal proliferating cells. PMID- 2620928 TI - Allantoin excretion in snakes. AB - Allantoin, which is generally regarded as absent in the excreta of snakes, has been demonstrated in the urinary deposits of 7 species of snakes by a sensitive paper chromatographic method. It appears that allantoin is the end product of purine catabolism in these animals. PMID- 2620929 TI - Effect of denervation on loss of ions in chick skeletal muscle. AB - Leaching behaviour of chick gastrocnemius muscle has been studied with respect to the loss of Na+, K+ and Ca2+ ions in a donor-solvent (muscle-water) system under normal as well as denervated conditions. An attempt has been made to explain the alterations in the rate of electrolytic loss in terms of membrane dysfunctions induced as a result of loss of neural control. PMID- 2620930 TI - Maturation events of epididymis in albino rats during puberal transition under hypo and hyperprolactinemia. AB - Hypoprolactinemia inhibited epididymal energy metabolism and steroidogenesis and retarded growth of epididymal structure. Hyperprolactinemia promoted the above parameters. Bromocriptine had no direct effect on epididymis, while prolactin directly influenced the tissue metabolism. The epididymal maturation seems to be dependent on the circulating levels of prolactin. PMID- 2620931 TI - Utilization of seminal proteins by house gecko, Hemidactylus brooki(Gray), sperm for motility. AB - Five protein fractions of medium electrophoretic mobility were observed in the seminal plasma of H. brooki. On incubation of sperm in phosphate buffered saline and Zn and Mg free buffer, both containing seminal plasma, two of the protein fractions disappeared while a third fraction had become weak. The results suggest that H. brooki sperm utilize seminal proteins for motility. PMID- 2620932 TI - A simplified method for culture of human fetal heart tissue. AB - Human fetal heart tissue obtained consequent to suction termination of pregnancy between 6 and 12 weeks of gestation were cultured as explants and maintained in a viable state, with spontaneous contractions up to 75 days. Ultrastructural morphology of the explant revealed that the cells remained healthy up to 21 days in culture. The model can therefore be used for experimental studies during the first 3 weeks in culture. PMID- 2620933 TI - Mechanism of haloperidol-induced miosis. AB - Haloperidol administration (iv) has been shown to produce miosis in dogs. In the present study on rabbits, haloperidol administration (iv) produced dose-related miosis but when administered intracerebroventricularly, it failed to produce any change in pupillary size. Higher degree of miosis was observed when haloperidol was administered directly into the anterior chamber of eye. Haloperidol pretreatment failed to significantly modify the mydriasis produced by phenylephrine or atropine. These observations suggest that the miosis produced by haloperidol is a peripheral effect, and also that the miosis is not mediated through the blockade of alpha adrenoceptors of radial muscles or stimulation of cholinoceptors of circular muscles of iris. PMID- 2620934 TI - Effect of hepatoprotective ayurvedic drugs on lipases following CCl4 induced hepatic injury in rats. AB - Effects of kumari asav, kumari kalp, arogyavardhini and tamra bhasma used in Ayurved and Siddha medicine for the treatment of liver disorders have been studied on acid, alkaline and lipoprotein lipase activities of liver, adipose tissue and kidney and hormone sensitive lipase activity of adipose tissue following CCl4 induced liver injury in albino rats. The treatments of CCl4 and the above drugs show significant alterations in the lipolytic activities of liver, adipose tissue and kidney. Role of these enzymes during hepatoprotection by above drugs has been discussed. PMID- 2620935 TI - Effect of ayurvedic medicines on beta-glucuronidase activity of Brunner's glands during recovery from cysteamine induced duodenal ulcers in rats. AB - Biochemical and histochemical studies revealed decreased beta-glucuronidase activity in the Brunner's glands of duodenal ulcerated rats. The enzyme activity showed gradual increase during recovery. Rats treated with a mixture of Ayurvedic medicines (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Terminalia chebula, Piper longum and Shanka Bhasma) recovered faster with concomitant increase in beta-glucuronidase activity in the Brunner's glands. It can be concluded that Ayurvedic medicines used do not act as antacid but improve the secretory status of Brunner's glands involved in the protection against duodenal ulcer. PMID- 2620936 TI - Metabolism of 3-chlorobenzoate by a Pseudomonas (diff) spp. AB - Pseudomonas (diff) spp. was isolated from a complex petrochemical sludge, using benzoate as the sole source of carbon. The organism could metabolize 3 chlorobenzoate, releasing approximately 30% of organically bound chloride. 3 Chlorodihydrodihydroxybenzoate and 3-chlorocatechol were confirmed as pathway intermediates by mass spectral and HPLC analysis. About 3-fold higher levels of catechol 1,2-oxygenase were detected in cells grown on 3-chlorobenzoate as compared to that of benzoate. 3-Chlorocatechol inhibited the catechol 1,2 oxygenase activity, when used as assay substrate. A 15-fold purified catechol 1,2 oxygenase had a Km of 0.37 mumole and Vmax of 2.3 with 3-chlorocatechol. Catechol gave Km of 0.2 mumole and Vmax of 40, suggesting that 3-chlorocatechol is not metabolised further and hence blocks the metabolic pathway for 3-chlorobenzoate degradation. In contrast catechol 1,2-oxygenase was not inhibited by 4 chlorocatechol and probably is an intermediate for the total/complete degradation of 3-chlorobenzoate (approx. 30%). PMID- 2620937 TI - An ELISA method for quantitation of tubulin using poly-1-lysine coated microtiter plates. AB - A new, sensitive and convenient ELISA method has been developed for quantitation of tubulin using poly-1-lysine (PLL) coated multiwell microtiter plates. Binding of tubulin to untreated plastic surface of microtiter plates was extremely poor. Coating of wells with PLL enhanced the binding and facilitated quantitation by ELISA. Binding of tubulin was followed by stepwise additions of rabbit anti tubulin IgG, HRP-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG and colour reagent. The method has been successfully applied to quantitate the tubulin content of extracts from rat brain and liver as evident from the excellent correlation of the results with those obtained from 3H-colchicine binding assay. The detection limit is as low as 5 ng, which is relatively better than that of the previous RIA methods. The ELISA method does not involve the use of any radioactive compound and all reagents required for this assay are commercially available. PMID- 2620938 TI - Toxic effects of garlic extract and garlic oil in rats. AB - Significant rise in urea and D-aspartate aminotransferase and inhibition of alkaline phosphatase in serum were observed in rats fed garlic extract (2 ml/100 g body wt, intragastrically) for 10 days. The liver showed histological changes. Garlic oil feeding (10 mg/100 g body wt, intragastrically) after 24 hr fasting was found lethal. The cause of death appears to be acute pulmonary oedema. On histological examination, all the organs of the dead rats revealed severe congestion. However, similar feeding of garlic oil was well tolerated by rats in the fed state. Also, 24 hr fasted rats could tolerate this dose of garlic oil, provided they were previously adapted to garlic oil feeding. PMID- 2620939 TI - Conditioned taste aversion in lesser bandicoot rat, Bandicota bengalensis. AB - The lesser bandicoot rat after ingesting a sublethal dose of 0.025% zinc phosphide, in preferred food millet (Pennisetum typhoides) grains, for 4 days, showed aversion for 5-6 days towards plain millet offered in choice with the less preferred sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) grains. The aversion response to nontoxic bait was stronger (aversion index greater than 0.7) for first 3-4 days in individual and for 1-2 days in paired rats. 100% or more shift in aversion index from pre-treatment to post-treatment periods indicated that the aversive and naive partners of the heterosexual and unisexual female pairs mutually influence the feeding preferences of each other as a result of which they showed aversion for first 2-3 days to the plain food in which poison was given to one of the partner earlier. PMID- 2620940 TI - Virulence of Giardia lamblia: an in vitro study on host-parasite interaction. AB - Trophozoites of G. lamblia, a human parasite, were lysed by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) of healthy individuals during in vitro interaction. However, the parasite damaged PMNL of giardiasis patients. A prior treatment of giardia trophozoites with anti-giardia serum, caused agglutination of pathogen and, thereby, the cytotoxic capacity of the parasite was reduced. Interaction of giardia-trophozoites with peritoneal macrophage, derived from infected mouse, reduced the phagocytic activity of the latter to 43% (against 100% in control). Macrophage activity was, however, stimulated to 131% when the mice were immunized with giardia antigen prior to experimental infection. Giardia extract proved cytotoxic at a dose of 0.7 mg, to HeLa cells in tissue culture. These in vitro studies offer experimental evidence of the cytotoxic and immuno-toxic behaviour of G. lamblia towards the host cells. PMID- 2620941 TI - Failure of familiar males to prevent alien male-induced implantation block (the Bruce effect) in laboratory mice. AB - Implantation failure in newly inseminated females induced by exposure to alien males (the Bruce effect) was significantly reduced when the females were housed with the stud male. By contrast, newly inseminated females housed with a familiar male during exposure to alien males exhibited a high rate of implantation failure. The results suggest that the protective effect of the stud male on implantation is not because of the familiarity of the female with his odour cues. The results are consistent with the view that the newly inseminated female mouse identifies her coital partner as an individual because she becomes 'imprinted' with his odour during the pericopulatory period. PMID- 2620942 TI - Biochemical changes in lipids during follicular growth and corpora lutea formation and regression in rat ovary. AB - A biochemical study has been made on quantitative and qualitative changes in lipids of small (less than 300 microns), medium (300 to 550 microns) and large (less than 550 microns) follicles and in the fully developed and regressing corpora lutea. The total lipid content increased in the growing follicles and corpora lutea. Phospholipids formed the major component of total lipids in small sized follicles and developed corpus luteum. The cholesterol amount increased with the growth of follicles but decreased in the developed and regressing corpora lutea. Glycerides were the main fraction of total lipids in regressing corpora lutea. Free fatty acids were present in minor quantities in the growing follicles and corpora lutea. The physiological significance of these lipid changes is discussed. PMID- 2620943 TI - Haemolysins of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains passaged in mice. AB - Some phenotypically non-haemolytic strains of V. parahaemolyticus were observed to produce haemolysins after two passages in mices. Depending on the strain, both heat stable and heat labile haemolysins were induced. The heat stable haemolysin so induced, was immunologically different from the thermostable direct haemolysin produced by Kanagawa positive strains of V. parahaemolyticus. PMID- 2620944 TI - Adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to buccal epithelial cells of smokers & non smokers. AB - In vitro adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to buccal epithelial cells was assessed among smokers (51.9 +/- 20.8) and non-smokers (24.7 +/- 9.6) and found to be significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in smokers. The higher incidence of respiratory tract infection in smokers may be related to the enhanced adherence and better colonization of this bacterium in the throat. PMID- 2620945 TI - Standardisation of quantitative direct gas liquid chromatography for early detection of bacteria in blood cultures. AB - Blood cultures with strains of aerobic, facultative and obligate anaerobic bacteria were studied by quantitative direct gas liquid chromatography for early diagnosis of bacteraemias. Small amounts of volatile and nonvolatile fatty acids were detected in uninoculated blood cultures. Bacteroides fragilis produced acetic (27.6 mumol/ml), propionic (1.0 mumol/ml), isovaleric, (0.6 mumol/ml), lactic (4.5 mumol/ml) and succinic (2.7 mumol/ml) acids after 48 h. Blood cultures inoculated with Clostridium perfringens and Fusobacterium nucleatum produced large amount of butyric acid (2.5 and 18.8 mumol/ml respectively) along with acetic, propionic, lactic and succinic acids on day 2 of incubation. Blood cultures with Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, beta haemolytic streptococci (group A) produced only acetic, lactic and succinic acids. Pseudomonas aeruginosa produced only small amounts of succinic (0.6 mumol/ml) and acetic acids (2.4 mumol/ml) on day 5 of incubation. Blood cultures inoculated with anaerobic bacteria produced multiple volatile fatty acids within 24 to 48 h of incubation. Since these acids could be detected earlier than the organism in cultures, they may be useful in the early diagnosis of anaerobic bacteraemias/septicaemias. PMID- 2620946 TI - Impact of 50 years of vector control on the prevalence of Brugia malayi in Shertallai area of Kerala state. AB - This article examines the long term effects of vector control on the prevalence of B. malayi infection and disease, by comparing the results of 3 earlier studies (1934, 1955, 1976) in one area of south India with a recent (1986) survey. The data indicate that disease and infection prevalence have declined continuously over the last 50 years. Infection has declined (from 21 to 2%) more markedly than disease (from 24 to 10%). Age-specific data indicate that this difference is due to the irreversibility of the clinical signs and the long term survival of diseased cohorts. The results indicate that the prevalence of clinical brugian filariasis can be reduced using vector control and that such control programmes cannot be evaluated in short term or by using crude morbidity statistics. PMID- 2620947 TI - Exploration of antileishmanial activity in heterocycles; results of their in vivo & in vitro bioevaluations. AB - A total of 51 imidazoles, pyrroles, quinolines and isoxazolines compounds were screened for antileishmanial activity in vivo and in vitro, using Leishmania donovani as the test parasite. The screening revealed hitherto unknown antileishmanial activity in these heterocycles. Three of the compounds screened (one belonging to isoxazoline series and two from pyrrole series) showed significant anti-leishmanial activity, ranging from 86-91 per cent inhibition in hamsters. When tested in vitro, using macrophage amastigote culture system, these compounds showed inhibition of 62-78 per cent at 30 micrograms/ml concentration. PMID- 2620948 TI - Isolation & characterization of tumour angiogenesis factor from solid tumours & body fluids from cancer patients. AB - Tumour angiogenesis factor (TAF) was isolated from malignant solid tumours (10) and from pleural and peritoneal fluids (10) collected from cancer patients. Normal tissues and body fluids from individuals with no clinical history of cancer did not show any detectable levels of TAF. Also, no angiogenic activity was detectable in the benign tumour samples studied (2). The TAFs isolated were all ribonucleoproteins. Molecular weight determination by SDS-PAGE (9%) of the TAFs isolated by DEAE cellulose chromatography of tumour extracts showed them to be 18,000 dalton (D) ribonucleoproteins, while the TAFs isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography (using immobilized anti-TAF IgG) of solid tumour extracts and body fluids had a molecular weight of 38,000 D. The TAFs isolated by both the methods were found to be angiogenic by the chick chorioallantoic membrane and the mouse intradermal assays. Immunoaffinity chromatography could be used for the one-step purification of TAF from solid tumour extracts as well as from body fluids. PMID- 2620949 TI - Limitations of the therapeutic regimens for myelodysplastic syndrome. AB - Thirty patients of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) were treated over a period of 2 yr using 3 different treatment regimens. Twelve patients received hydroxyurea, 4 were given low dose cytosine arabinoside and 14 others were treated with an aggressive acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) induction regimen. A low complete remission was obtained in the first 2 groups (17 and 25% respectively), whereas 9 (64%) patients attained complete remission with the AML induction regimen. Remission in the latter group was associated with prolonged and severe pancytopenia requiring intensive support. Patients in all the 3 groups had a short duration of remission culminating in death with progressive marrow failure or evolution to AML, indicating the limitations of the current treatment strategies for MDS and highlighting the need for exploring newer therapeutic approaches. PMID- 2620950 TI - A simple ELISA for detection of ovulation. AB - A rapid, simple, two-step test for the detection of ovulation has been developed. The test is based on ELISA of pregnanediol glucuronide, a metabolite of progesterone, in urine collected specifically over a period of 3 h. The test is completed in 20 min and the results are assessed visually by naked eye. PMID- 2620951 TI - Feasibility of parenteral iron therapy as a field approach for management of pregnancy anaemia. AB - The feasibility of parenteral iron administration for treatment of pregnancy anaemia, in field conditions was investigated. High reaction rates were observed (30-40%) with either intramuscular (im) or intravenous (iv) iron-dextran complex (test dose). Mothers with lower body weight had higher reaction rates with both im or iv iron-dextran complex. In pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) the reaction rate was significantly lower. Our study indicates that under the existing situations of the health care system in India and the poor body weight and weight gain of Indian women during pregnancy, parenteral iron therapy for controlling anaemia may not be a feasible approach, at the field level. PMID- 2620952 TI - Role of d-tubocurarine in suppression of cardiovascular responses following endotracheal intubation. AB - The role of d-tubocurarine in blocking the hypertensive tachycardiac response following laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation was evaluated in 45 female patients aged 20-40 yr. The patients belonging to grade I (of American Society of Anaesthesiologists) and undergoing elective surgical procedures under general anaesthesia were allocated in 3 equal groups. Patients in the 3 groups received 1.5 mg/kg succinylcholine, 0.6 mg/kg d-tubocurarine and 0.12 mg/kg pancuronium bromide, respectively for intubation. There were no dysrhythmias in any of the groups following endotracheal intubation. There was significant (P less than 0.01) fall in blood pressure following induction prior to intubation in all the three groups. Maximum fall was noted in group II (23.53 +/- 7.21 mmHg in mean arterial pressure). Following endotracheal intubation, blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly (P less than 0.01) in all 3 groups. Maximum increase was observed in group I (26.4 +/- 4.95 mmHg in mean arterial pressure and 19.07 +/- 6.54 beats/min in heart rate). Blood pressure and heart rate increases in groups II and III were comparable. Our findings indicate that hypotension produced by d-tubocurarine through ganglion blockade is not effective in attenuating the cardiovascular responses following endotracheal intubation. It is also possible that increased cardiovascular response following endotracheal intubation may not be due to sympathetic ganglion stimulation. PMID- 2620953 TI - Effect of bronchodilators on surfactant system of lung. AB - Pulmonary surfactant activity of healthy male albino rats was estimated in terms of the maximum and minimum surface tension values of alveolar washings and the phospholipid content of the extract. The results obtained in these (control) animals were compared with those in three groups of animals treated with therapeutic doses of terbutaline, adrenaline and aminophylline. A significant decrease in the surface tension values without a significant increase in the phospholipid content was observed with aminophylline, whereas a significant increase in phospholipid concentration without a significant decrease in surface tension values was observed in case of terbutaline and adrenaline. These findings suggest that aminophylline, in addition to a bronchodilator action, lowers the elastic resistance of lung. The study also indicates caution in interpreting phospholipid concentration as surfactant activity. PMID- 2620954 TI - Influences of vestibulo-cerebellum on kindling in the cat. AB - The development of amygdaloid kindling was assessed under conditions of pharmacological depression of the nodular areas of vestibulocerebellum and also following vestibular stimulation in chronically prepared cats. The results demonstrated that a single intra-nodular micro-injection of procaine hydrochlorides could significantly facilitate such epileptogenesis for at least several days. The number of kindling trials required to reach the first generalized convulsions was significantly increased by natural vestibular stimulation in comparison with control kindled animals. The intensity of fit, development of amygdaloid seizures and the convulsions were reduced markedly within a week by pre-conditioning the kindled animals with daily vestibular stimulation for 15-30 min. In addition, analysis of the behaviour of sleep-wake cycle indicated a significant increase in total sleep time and in the percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. These findings suggest that the natural rotational vestibular stimulation may result in a durable modification of brain function through development of enduring focal sensitization of catecholamine mediated inhibitory mechanisms, reflecting the tonic inhibitory influences of the vestibulo-cerebellum in regulating the development and attenuation of epileptic states. PMID- 2620955 TI - Histopathological study of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis. AB - A total of 418 gallbladders removed surgically as chronic cholecystitis or carcinoma gallbladder were studied retrospectively for the presence of xanthogranulomas which were found in 45 (10.8%). The age of patients with xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis ranged from 15 to 80 yr with a mean of 45.3 indicating an early presentation of the disease in our population. The male to female ratio was 1:8. The gallbladder was invariably thickened and calculi of cholesterol or mixed type were present in all cases. Xanthogranulomatous foci appeared as yellowish nodules 2-15 mm in size, on the mucosal surface. In some gallbladders, the involvement was diffuse and these foci extended to the surrounding structures. Histologically, xanthogranulomas encompassed the full thickness of the gallbladder wall with variable extension into adjacent fat and connective tissue. This entity deserves distinct clinicopathological recognition, particularly because of a possible confusion with malignancy and the associated complications. PMID- 2620956 TI - Adrenocortical involvement in aluminium phosphide poisoning. AB - The effect of aluminium phosphide (AlP) which is a systemic poison on the adrenal cortex was studied in 30 patients of AlP poisoning. A significant rise in the plasma cortisol level (greater than 1048 nmol/l) was observed in the twenty patients. Mortality was 50 per cent. Autopsy study could be undertaken only in 10 patients. Histopathology showed mild to moderate changes. In the rest (10 patients), the adrenal cortex was critically involved and the cortisol level failed to rise beyond normal levels (less than 690 nmol/l). The histopathology revealed severe changes (complete lipid depletion, haemorrhage, necrosis etc.) and all these patients died. In the critically ill patients, the cortisol levels remained low because of severe adreno-cortical involvement. The changes in the adrenal cortex could be due to shock or to cellular toxic effect of phosphine. The histopathological changes in various viscera showed congestion, edema and cellular infiltration. In the heart, there were patchy areas of necrosis, while the liver showed fatty changes and the lungs showed, in addition areas of gray/red hepatization. There was no adrenal apoplexy or extensive haemorrhage that could explain shock in these patients. Cardiogenic shock could not be confirmed due to lack of facilities for haemodynamic monitoring, but there was histopathological evidence in support of cardiovascular shock. PMID- 2620957 TI - Blood sugar lowering potentiality of selected Cucurbitaceae plants of Indian origin. AB - Using five experimental models, the blood sugar lowering efficacy of eight plants of Cucurbitaceae family has been assessed. The ethanolic extract of Cucumis sativus Linn, Cucumis melo utilissimum Roxb, Cucumis melo Linn, Benincasa hispida Thunb Cogn and Tricosanthes anguina Nees, when administered in 250 mg/kg dose, orally to rats failed to lower blood sugar or to depress the peak value, after glucose load. However, ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia Linn plant and Coccinia indica Whit and Arn root significantly lowered blood sugar in fasted model and depressed the peak value in glucose loaded model. Ethanolic extract of Tricosanthes dioica Roxb plant caused a significant lowering of blood sugar in fasted rats and depressed the peak value in glucose loaded single and longterm fed groups of rats. The ethanolic extract of the aerial part of T. dioica also induced significant depression in the peak values in the glucose loaded models. PMID- 2620958 TI - Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency & neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. AB - Seventy four neonates with hyperbilirubinaemia and 47 non-jaundiced (control) neonates were studied for evidence of G6PD deficiency by spectrophotometric assays and 3 screening tests viz., ascorbate cyanide test, methaemoglobin reduction test and fluorescent spot test. The incidence of G6PD deficiency was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in the hyperbilirubinaemic neonates (35.1%) as compared to non-jaundiced neonates (6.4%). The G6PD levels in the hyperbilirubinaemic neonates were significantly lower than in the non-jaundiced neonates (P less than 0.05). In 9(12.2%) hyperbilirubinaemic neonates G6PD deficiency was present, without evidence of any other factor known to cause hyperbilirubinaemia. Results of screening tests were essentially similar. However, even with all the screening tests, 11 of 29 neonates (37.9%) with mild G6PD deficiency were not detected showing the limitation of these tests. PMID- 2620959 TI - Effect of GABA, muscimol and picrotoxin given in third ventricle on serum cholinesterases and monoamine oxidase and on plasma succinic dehydrogenase in rats. AB - Effect of injection in third ventricle of GABA, the GABA agonist muscimol, and the GABA antagonist picrotoxin on the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) in serum and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) in plasma has been studied. Surprisingly, the AChE, BuChE, MAO and SDH enzymes activity were inhibited by GABA and muscimol, while they were enhanced by picrotoxin. PMID- 2620960 TI - Ventilatory and diffusion studies in smoker and non smoker flour-mill workers. AB - Various pulmonary function tests, FVC, FEV1/FVC%, PEFR, EFR25-75, MVV and Tlco were measured in 25 asymptomatic male flour mill workers and 50 healthy subjects not working at flour mill, to assess the effect of flour dust on lungs. All the subjects of different groups were well matched in their anthropometeric parameters and socio economic status. In smoker flour mill workers significant reduction was present in both ventilatory and diffusion functions of lungs, which was more pronounced in subjects who consumed larger quantity of tobacco and were exposed to flour dust for longer duration. On the other hand deterioration of pulmonary functions in non smoker flour mill workers was found to be statistically not significant. The relative strength of both the parameters viz tobacco and flour dust for impairment of pulmonary functions is discussed for being a pointer to further studies. PMID- 2620961 TI - Antipyretic activity of diacetyl para-amino phenol. AB - Diacetyl para-amino phenol (DAPAP) was generated by interaction between aspirin and paracetamol in a mechanical shaker. It revealed antipyretic activity in albino rats. The antipyretic action was found to be having the same onset of action and duration as that of aspirin. This compound lacked ulcerogenic and analgesic activity. DAPAP therefore may have safety as an antipyretic drug in patients with history of peptic ulcer. PMID- 2620962 TI - Methylmercury induced biochemical and histochemical alterations in rat testis. AB - The methylmercurry chloride (MMC) administered at doses of 5 and 10 micrograms/kg over a period of 90 days to male rats caused enzymatic impairments in testicular tissue. The study at intervals of 15, 30, 60 and 90 days showed gradual diminution of testicular weight and gradual decrements in testicular protein and inhibition in testicular succinic dehydrogenase activity. Histochemical and biochemical studies revealed that testicular acid phosphatase activity was also inhibited at both the doses of MMC treatment. The inhibition of enzyme activity in testicular tissues after MMC treatment caused the impairment of both spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in rats. PMID- 2620963 TI - Peak expiratory flow rates in Libyan adolescents. AB - Peak expiratory flow rates of 578 Libyan boys and 527 Libyan girls aged 12 to 21 years were determined. The prediction formulae that best describe the data are as follows: Boys: PEFR = 160 X Stature 1.87 Girls: PEFR = 130 X Stature2.44 Statistically significant correlations were found between peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and standing height, sitting height, body mass index, body surface area and age in both sexes. Stature (standing height) is marginally better as an index of body size in explaining the variability of the ventilatory capacity. The relationship between PEFR and age in girls appears to correlate with the relationship between PEFR and body mass index. The difference in the slope for girls when compared with that for boys is attributed to the obesity/over weight of the girls. PMID- 2620964 TI - A study of pulmonary function of competitive swimmers. AB - Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) of 45 swimmers who swam a distance of 2 to 5 kms per day regularly were compared with age, sex, height and weight matched controls. VC, IRV, FVC, FEV1 and V25 were higher in swimmers (S) than controls (NS) by 20%, 25%, 37.4%, 30.1% and 15.1% respectively. The effect of the period of training on PFT's was also analysed. Inspiratory capacity was significantly higher in Gr IS than NS probably due to a reduction in FRC, FVC and FEV1 were higher in Gr. II than NS. Greater differences were seen between Gr. IV S and NS, where FVC, FEV1, V75 and PEFR were higher by 50.2%, 38.2%, 69.4% and 25% respectively in the S than NS. Probably the first parameter to increase is IC. The greater differences in PFT values of Gr. IV S and NS may be due to hypertrophy of the diaphragm which requires hard work for prolong period. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these observations. PMID- 2620965 TI - Altered maternal thyroid function: fetal and neonatal development of rat. AB - Influence of maternal thyroid status on fetal and neonatal development of rats has been studied. Maternal hypothyroidism resulted impaired reproduction and intrauterine growth retardation of offsprings as revealed by their reduced body weight, heart weight, body length and tail length. Offsprings born to hypothyroid mothers showed very high rate of mortality and none of them survived beyond eight days. Maternal hyperthyroidism did not cause any abnormality on reproduction. Hyperthyroid mothers showed increased rate in body weight gain during pregnancy which was associated with increased weight of body and heart of fetuses born to hyperthyroid mothers. Plasma thyroxine was not measurable in fetus from hypothyroid mothers till 21st day of gestation. The results of the present study showed that maternal thyroid status plays an important role in fetal and neonatal growth and development. PMID- 2620966 TI - Leucocyte and serum ascorbic acid levels in mothers and their newborn in semi arid western India. AB - Leucocyte ascorbic acid (LAA) and serum ascorbic acid (SAA) have been estimated in 50 pregnant women, their newborn infants, and 14 non-pregnant women living in the semi-arid region of western India. LAA was significantly higher in the newborn as compared to their mothers, the mean values being 35.52 +/- 6.85 and 23.94 +/- 5.84 micrograms/10(8) cells, respectively (P less than 0.01). The sex and birth weight of the infant, however, did not influence its ascorbic acid status. Pregnant women had relatively lower SAA (0.81 +/- 0.22 mg/dl) and LAA (23.94 +/- 5.84 micrograms/10(8) cells) as compared to the matched non-pregnant group (1.01 +/- 0.26 mg/dl and 29.98 +/- 8.45 micrograms/10(8) cells). But despite the semi-arid, draught prone geographical region and the hemodilution which accompanies pregnancy, none of the mothers had a clearly subnormal vitamin C status. PMID- 2620967 TI - The antimyoclonic action of clonazepam through a GABA--independent mechanism. AB - The present study investigates whether clonazepam exerts its antimyoclonic action through a GABA independent mechanism. We have studied the antimyoclonic effect of clonazepam and compared it with that of aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA), a GABA transaminase inhibitor, against myoclonus induced by picrotoxin, a GABA receptor antagonist and allylglycine, a drug which inhibits synthesis and release of GABA. We have also investigated the effect of clonazepam against picrotoxin-induced myoclonus in rats pretreated with either AOAA or submyoclonic dose of allylgylycine. Clonazepam pretreatment inhibited both picrotoxin and allylglycine induced myoelonus whereas AOAA was effective in inhibiting only picrotoxin induced myoclonus. The protective effect of clonazepam against picrotoxin-induced myoclonus was potentiated by AOAA pretreatment. Moreover, clonazepam afforded protection against picrotoxin-induced myoclonus in rats pretreated with a submyoclonic GABA reducing dose of allylglycine. These findings indicate that a GABA independent mechanism may also be involved in the antimyoclonic action of clonazepam. PMID- 2620968 TI - Visual evoked potential in young adults: a normative study. AB - It is important to acquire adequate normative data of visual evoked potential before using it as a diagnostic tool. A study using visual evoked potential with pattern (VEP-P) was conducted in Twenty male and seven female young healthy subjects of 17-35 years age. Ag/Agcl electrodes anchored on scalp with collodion at O1-A1, O2-A2 (10-20 system), with transition skin to electrode impedence kept at less than 5 K ohms were connected to MEB 5200 Evoked potential Recorder (Nihon Kohden, Japan). The evoked responses to 256 visual stimuli were recorded using transient pattern reversal (checker size 32'), frequency 1/sec and contrast between black and white checks 67%. The responses were averaged by the computer and absolute peak latency values for P100 alongwith other positive and negative waves worked out. P100 latency of 95.37 +/- 6.85, amp. 6.4 +/- 2.38 for males and 91.07 +/- 49 msec, amp. 6.88 +/- 2.79 microv for females are being reported. The P100 latency values of present study are similar to those reported in age and sex matched subjects of the western world, indicating that there are no ethnic variations in P100 of VEP. PMID- 2620969 TI - DFP induced changes in acetylcholinesterase activity and glycogen level in certain brain regions of mice. AB - DFP in acute dose (2 mg/kg i. p.) in mice significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase AChE) activity in five regions of brain i.e. cerebral cortex, corpus striatum, medulla, cerebellum and hypothalamus. The inhibition was accompanied by depletion of glycogen from these regions 1 hr after DFP administration. The inhibition of enzyme activity was more in corpus striatum and medulla and glycogen depletion was more in cerebral cortex in comparison to other regions of the brain. These changes may be due to stimulatory effect of DFP on these regions of brain in mice. PMID- 2620970 TI - Effects of upper respiratory infections on the forced expiratory volumes and flow rates. AB - The effects of an upper respiratory infection on some commonly measured spirometric indices have been determined in this study. The forcod vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, forced expiratory flow in the middle half of the vital capacity and the peak expiratory flow were significantly lower during the infection. This stresses the need in cross sectional and longitudinal pulmonary function evaluation, to avoid testing a subject while he has an upper respiratory infection. PMID- 2620971 TI - Ingestive behaviour of starved rats after single intraperitoneal injection of fresh plasma from well-fed rats. AB - Ingestive behaviour of control and experimental rats following 96 hours of starvation was studied. The control animals were injected normal saline intraperitoneally (I.P.) whereas the experimental animals were injected I.P. with fresh plasma obtained from well fed rats. Having been presented with food 15 minutes after the injections, the food intake (Gms +/- SEM) of control animals for the first five hours after injection was 6.00 +/- 0.44, whereas, the intake in experimental animals for the same period was 0.55 +/- 0.05. The food intake was significantly suppressed for the next three days, attaining the normal values by the 4th day. Since all the rats were starved prior to injection, all of them increased in weight during the four days of study, but the increase seen in the experimental group was much subdued. Therefore the plasma factor, suppresses not only the food intake but also the gain in body weight. PMID- 2620972 TI - Persistent limb pain and raised serum alkaline phosphatase the earliest markers of subclinical hypovitaminosis D in Kashmir. AB - The present study was an attempt to assess the cause of persistent pain in lower limbs among children from Kashmir. The study was conducted on one hundred children attending Paediatric out-patient department of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar. All the children were in the age group of 5 to 14 years. They showed markedly raised levels of serum alkaline phosphatase, whereas serum phosphorus, serum calcium levels and antistreptolycin O-titres were normal in 93% cases. None of them had any rheumatic or rheumatoid pathology. Among 15 suspected clinical rickets only three were established radiologically. Dietary and socio-economic history revealed deficient vitamin D intake and less exposure to sun. It was hypothesized that sub-clinical vitamin D deficiency could be a major cause of persistent pain in lower limbs and raised serum alkaline phosphatase could be the earliest marker of vitamin D deficiency. It was confirmed by injecting single dose of vitamin D (3 lac I. U.) which relieved bone pain and lowered the levels of serum alkaline phosphatase to normal within 14 weeks of initiation of therapy. PMID- 2620973 TI - Synthesis and biological activities of 2,4-diethyl-3,5-diaryl imino-1,2,4 thiadiazolidines. III. PMID- 2620974 TI - Optimal age for measles vaccination. PMID- 2620975 TI - Design and equipment for newborn care units in developing countries. PMID- 2620976 TI - Transport of sick neonates: practical considerations. PMID- 2620977 TI - Immune status following measles vaccination in infants and evaluation for the need of revaccination. AB - In this prospective study, immune status of children vaccinated in infancy was determined at age 12-18 months. In 200 children, preimmunization protective measles hemagglutination (HI) antibody titres (greater than or equal to 1:8) were present in 38.5% of children of 6-8 months, the frequency decreased to 17.6 and 14.3% in age groups 9-11 and 12-18 months, respectively followed by an increasing incidence of 52.5% in those more than 18 months of age. Paired measles HI titre was estimated in 56 children, the post vaccination sample was taken at age 12-18 months, 3-9 months after measles vaccination. Most of the children (98.0%), with no detectable antibody titre, had a protective titre. Again a significant number (p less than 0.001) of children aged 12-18 months had protective HI titres compared to non-vaccinated. These findings suggest that when vaccinated at 9-11 months in our country, there is no need for revaccination later. PMID- 2620978 TI - Measles antibody levels in 3 to 9 months old infants. AB - Measles HI antibody titre was estimated in 248 infants aged 3 to 9 months. A total of 129 (52.02%) infants were seropositive (HI antibody titre more than 1:8). Geometric mean titre (GMT) and percentage of seropositive infants decreased with age and was minimum i.e., 5.52 and 22.22% respectively at the age of 7 months. After the age of 7 months the GMT and percentage of seropositive infants increased indicating that optimum age-of measles immunization in the area studied is around 7 months. Percentage of seropositivity did not differ significantly in relation to sex, socio-economic status and national status of infant. PMID- 2620979 TI - Immunological profile in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. AB - Thirty cases of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia of varying etiology, severity and duration; and twenty six normal healthy newborns were subjected to various tests of cellular and humoral immunity. The results revealed a significant depression of all the parameters of cellular immunity in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia of greater than or equal to 10 mg/dl as compared to the control values. The depression of immunological profile in these newborns was seen to be more pronounced with increasing duration and severity of jaundice. A limited assessment of the humoral immunity by the B cell count and serum immunoglobulin IgG levels, however, showed no significant difference from the control. PMID- 2620980 TI - Birth asphyxia and neurodevelopmental outcome. AB - Thirty six neonates with severe birth asphyxia (Apgar score less than or equal to 3 at 1 min), 32 with moderate birth asphyxia (Apgar score 4 to 6 at 1 min) and 35 controls (Apgar score greater than or equal to 7 at 1 min) matched for weight and gestation were followed up prospectively for neurodevelopmental outcome. Fetal distress occurred more frequently in babies with severe birth asphyxia when compared to controls (p less than 0.05). Six neonates with severe birth asphyxia had abnormal neurological signs such as delayed sucking, hypo or hypertonia, apneic spell or seizures. Of these, only two had delayed developmental milestones (Developmental Quotient less than 70) and features of cerebral palsy. Both of these babies developed seizures during first 24 hours, did not suck and required gavage feeding. The study highlights the fact that a vast majority of survivors of birth asphyxia enjoy good quality of life thus emphasizing the need for vigorous management of asphyxiated babies at birth. PMID- 2620981 TI - Goodwin's high risk score and neonatal outcome: an evaluation. AB - Goodwin's high risk scoring system was applied to a total of 725 expectant mothers at the onset of labor. The risk score ranges from 0-10, the quantum of risk increasing with the higher scores. Their newborns were assessed at birth in terms of Apgar score, birth weight, gestation age and occurrence of morbidity and/or mortality during the hospital stay. Twenty one were stillborn and out of 700 singleton liveborn, 92 developed some significant illness, of which 28 expired. The incidence of preterms, low birth weights and asphyxiated babies increased with increasing risk score. The mean risk score for alive and dead babies in perinatal period was 1.55 and 5.06, respectively. The scoring system can be easily applied at the District hospital level and CHCs but not at the level of dispensaries and PHC where the facilities for even the baseline investigations are not available and one has to decide about a home or hospital delivery. PMID- 2620982 TI - Ultrasonic evaluation of complicated meningitis. AB - Sixty children of proven meningitis and with clinical suspicion of its complications and open fontanelle were evaluated by real time ultrasound. Twenty of these patients had normal ultrasound findings while 40 showed varied sonographic features suggesting complications of meningitis, e.g., ventricular dilatation, pus in the ventricles, increased periventricular echogenicity, brain abscess, subdural effusion, porencephalic cysts, etc. Ultrasound is very useful in the diagnosis and serial follow up of these complications. PMID- 2620983 TI - Implementation of universal immunization programme in two districts. PMID- 2620984 TI - Childhood morbidity in mobile hospital camps in Himachal Pradesh. PMID- 2620985 TI - Pregnancy at teenage--risk factor for lower birth weight. PMID- 2620986 TI - Poncet's disease. PMID- 2620987 TI - Acute renal failure due to renal infiltration with lymphoreticular malignant cells. PMID- 2620988 TI - A middle fossa arachnoid cyst in association with a suprasellar dermoid cyst. PMID- 2620989 TI - Late hemorrhagic disease: a first manifestation of neonatal hepatitis due to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. PMID- 2620990 TI - Pertussis vaccine. PMID- 2620991 TI - Pertussis vaccine. PMID- 2620992 TI - Tubercular meningitis after BCG vaccination. PMID- 2620993 TI - DC cardioversion of supraventricular tachycardia in neonate. PMID- 2620994 TI - Free samples of baby foods and feeding bottles. PMID- 2620995 TI - Symposium on natriuretic factors, sodium, calcium and hypertension. Proceedings of the 11th National Congress of Cardiology. Ancona, Italy. PMID- 2620996 TI - Erythrocyte Na+, K+ pump inhibition after saline infusion in essentially hypertensive subjects: effects of canrenone administration. AB - The effects of a 2-litre isotonic saline infusion, with and without prior oral canrenone (150 mg) administration, on erythrocyte Na+, K+ pump, urinary sodium excretion and arterial pressure were evaluated in nine patients with essential hypertension. Ouabain-sensitive Na+ efflux in fresh erythrocytes was used as an index of Na+, K+ pump activity, and the inhibitory effect on this ion efflux of preincubation of erythrocytes in plasma was used to test the presence of a circulating ouabain-like substance. Erythrocyte Na+, K+ pump activity decreased significantly (P less than 0.01) after saline infusion; canrenone administration was able to prevent this inhibition. Plasma from hypertensive patients obtained before saline infusion significantly (P less than 0.01) inhibited the Na+, K+ pump of erythrocytes from normal subjects, while plasma taken after the saline infusion plus canrenone was unable to produce any significant inhibition. Both systolic and diastolic arterial pressure fell significantly (P less than 0.05) only at the end of saline infusion with prior canrenone administration. This study supports the hypothesis that protection of Na+, K+ pump against endogenous inhibitors, other than exogenous, seems to be a pharmacological effect of canrenone, and may partly explain its antihypertensive activity. PMID- 2620997 TI - Peripheral vascular hyperreactivity in arterial hypertension. AB - Recent invasive research has revealed vascular hyperreactivity in arterial hypertensive subjects. We have studied the peripheral vascular reactivity by means of basic hand telethermography followed by a modest active vessel test, in order to verify the type and intensity of constrictive vessel response in different groups. Basic telethermography is followed by cooling of the hand in water at 10 degrees C for 30 seconds; after 2 minutes a telethermography control is carried out. Two responses were distinguished: normal and pathological. We have studied 3 groups of 20 subjects each: group A suffering from apparent arterial hypertension not undergoing therapy; group B with familial arterial hypertension, and group C control. We could not find a meaningful difference in the basic thermogram of the different groups. After stimulation, we found the difference to be statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: hypertensive subjects give a pathological response to active blood vessel agents. The vascular hyperreactivity becomes manifest before an abnormal increase in blood pressure is recognized and a genetic cause is found. PMID- 2620998 TI - Effects of verapamil on reoxygenation and programmed electrical stimulation induced ventricular arrhythmias in the isolated heart. AB - The antiarrhythmic effect of verapamil was tested on spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias during reoxygenation after 15 min of glucose-free hypoxia and on programmed electrical stimulation-(8 stimuli + 1 or 2 extrastimuli) induced ventricular fibrillation in isolated Langendorff perfused guinea pig hearts. Verapamil (1 mg/l) added during hypoxia and reoxygenation significantly reduced, during reoxygenation, the incidence of arrhythmias (46%, N = 13 vs. controls 87%, N = 30; P less than 0.01), of ventricular fibrillation (0%, N = 13 vs. controls 70%, N = 30; P less than 0.001) and of programmed stimulation-induced ventricular fibrillation (0%, N = 10 vs. controls 100%, N = 16). No effect was observed on programmed stimulation-induced ventricular fibrillation during hypoxia (90%, N = 10 vs. controls 100%, N = 10). Verapamil added during reoxygenation reduced the incidence of reoxygenation arrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation (47% and 29%, N = 17, P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05 vs. controls, respectively) but it had no effect on programmed stimulation-induced ventricular fibrillation (100%, N = 10). It is likely that verapamil exerts its antiarrhythmic effect by preventing cellular calcium overload during hypoxia and reoxygenation. PMID- 2620999 TI - Bogus-pipeline effects on self-reported college student drug use, problems, and attitudes. AB - This study examined whether a bogus objective measure (bogus-pipeline) would increase self-reported drug measures in a selected college population. A sample of 152 subjects were randomly assigned to receive: (1) a verbal bogus-pipeline protocol (VBP), (2) a printed cartoon bogus-pipeline (CBP), or (3) a questionnaire-only control (QOC). No significant differences were found in the proportions of college students in pipeline and control conditions reporting current social, illegal, and nonmedical prescription drug use, as well as drug related problems and attitudes. A significantly greater proportion of subjects receiving the verbal bogus-pipeline procedure (p = .006) reported heavy cigarette use. PMID- 2621000 TI - From theory to practice: the planned treatment of drug users. Interview by Stanley Einstein. PMID- 2621001 TI - Prognosis in a smoking cessation program. AB - In an attempt to develop a heuristic model of outcome in smoking cessation programs, pretreatment measures of smoking behavior, smoking severity, chronicity of smoking, addictive liability, and health functioning were utilized in order to predict outcome on the number of cigarettes smoked and carbon monoxide (CO) levels at 6-month follow-up. The results of multiple regression analyses supported the view that addictive liability, as indicated by high nicotine ingestion, contributed to higher levels of smoking on follow-up. Poor health status also predicted higher smoking levels on follow-up, as did pretreatment measures of the number of cigarettes smoked per day. However, measures of smoking severity (carbon monoxide and thiocyanate levels) at pretreatment were negatively related to smoking behavior on follow-up. The number of years of smoking history was negatively related to smoking behavior on follow-up. These results need to be cross-validated with larger samples, but the results suggest that prognosis in smoking cessation is worsened by addictive liability and poor health, but not by severe levels of smoking behavior or chronicity in smoking. PMID- 2621002 TI - A 12-year comparison of hospitalized veterans' attitudes toward smoking and smoking cessation. AB - A 48-item questionnaire designed to measure attitudes toward smoking and interest in smoking cessation was administered to 76 male patients hospitalized at the New Orleans VA Medical Center and the results were compared to three previous administrations of the same instrument 4, 8, and 12 years earlier. With the exception of age, most of the responses were similar to those on the previous administrations. Significant differences were found in the number of veterans over 62, the number of smokers who have been unable to quit for more than a week, those stating that they need assistance to stop smoking, and those indicating that they would participate in treatment to help them stop smoking. It appears that the aging VA patient population contains a large number of patients who are unable to stop smoking on their own and who feel they need assistance to stop smoking. Implications for VA policy are discussed. PMID- 2621003 TI - Alcohol use and psychological distress: a comparison of Americans and West Germans. AB - This paper examines the relationship between alcohol use and tendencies toward depression and anxiety among Americans and West Germans. It was found that anxiety was not significant in promoting drinking, although depression was associated with alcohol use for Americans only. Nevertheless, the West Germans consumed more alcohol than Americans, and this study suggests that culture underlies the difference in alcohol consumption. PMID- 2621004 TI - The impact of quality of family life on drug consumption. AB - The nuclear family, particularly its role modeling during primary socialization, is found to exert an influence as strong as or stronger than the more stock-in trade factors typically used for explaining alcohol and drug ingestion. With regard to the general North Queensland population quality of family life, past and current parental drinking are of almost equal importance. PMID- 2621005 TI - Development of psychosocial scales for the assessment of adolescents involved with alcohol and drugs. AB - There are differences among adolescents who use alcohol and other drugs not only in the extent and pattern of their use, but also with respect to the factors that may have contributed to or accompany their involvement with drugs. The Personal Experience Scales (PES) is a new self-report inventory developed to assess psychosocial factors that may: (1) predispose or perpetuate adolescent chemical involvement, (2) complicate chemical abuse treatment, or (3) require treatment in their own right. This paper provides an overview of the development of the PES. Scale construction procedures, scale characteristics, and evidence of scale validity are reported. PMID- 2621006 TI - The quantity and frequency of drinking among undergraduates at a southern university. AB - This study examines patterns of alcohol use among undergraduates at a moderate size university in the deep South. The results reveal that 84% of the students consumed alcohol and that Infrequent, Light, and Moderate drinking was the rule. However, 14% of the students were Heavy Drinkers, who were primarily White males, from each academic level, and fraternity members. The drinking circumstances and the complications which resulted from use varied between the drinking types. Heavy drinkers began to drink at the elementary and middle school age levels, and were introduced to alcohol outside the home. Moreover, the greater the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, the greater the likelihood of experiencing alcohol-related problems regardless of an individual's sex, race, or year in college. PMID- 2621007 TI - Quantity-frequency and diary measures of alcohol consumption for elderly drinkers. AB - Three measures were studied for estimating alcohol consumption by elderly drinkers. The diary measure resulted in significantly greater reported daily alcohol consumption (p = .004) and number of drinks consumed per week (p = .07) compared with a 7-day and 28-day quantity-frequency measure. No differences were found between diary and Q-F measures in classifying elderly as drinkers versus nondrinkers, and heavy versus light drinkers. Likely factors contributing to the apparent advantage of the diary measure over the Q-F measures are that it offers elderly a prompt to recall, and that it provides a direct estimate of alcohol consumption based on "actual" versus "usual" alcohol use. Shortcomings of the retrospective diary are discussed. PMID- 2621008 TI - The MMPI profiles of narcotics addicts. II. Ethnic and criminal history effects. AB - Data from 240 male heroin addicts admitted to the California Civil Addict Program (CAP) were analyzed to determine if incarceration before or after first narcotics use--a behavioral marker termed "sequence"--was significantly related to MMPI profile scores. Furthermore, this relationship was examined separately for Anglos and Chicanos. Results indicate that those Anglo addicts who had been incarcerated before they first used narcotics had significantly elevated scores for Paranoia (Pa) and Schizophrenia (Sc), two scales of the psychotic triad. A significant sequence-by-ethnicity interaction was found, in which the sequence effect was not manifested in Chicano addicts. PMID- 2621009 TI - From theory to practice: the planned treatment of drug users. Interview by Stanley Einstein. PMID- 2621010 TI - Childhood nervous system tumours: an assessment of risk associated with paternal occupations involving use, repair or manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment. AB - Parental occupational exposures to chemical carcinogens have been associated with malignancies in offspring. Recent studies have raised the issue that electromagnetic fields may play a role in carcinogenesis. We conducted a population-based case-control study testing for an association between the occurrence of a nervous system tumour in a child and paternal employment at the time of the child's birth in occupations involving potential exposure to low frequency electromagnetic fields, primarily in the electrical and electronics industries. Birth certificate data, including parental occupation information, of 499 children who died in Texas from intracranial and spinal cord tumours were compared with 998 controls randomly selected from Texas livebirths. The odds ratio for paternal employment in industries involving potential electromagnetic field exposure was 1.6 (p less than 0.07). A risk of 3.5 (p less than 0.05) was detected for fathers who were electricians. The additional presence of chemical exposures in these diverse occupations and industries must also be considered. PMID- 2621011 TI - Graphical representation of cancer incidence data: Chernoff faces. AB - The method introduced by Herman Chernoff in 1971 uses a computer to convert multivariate data to a cartoon face, the features of which are controlled by the variable values. This paper describes the application of a Chernoff-type face in cancer statistics. The technique is demonstrated with a subset of the data derived mainly from Vol.V of Cancer Incidence in Five Continents. A program in BASIC is used to draw on a dot matrix printer the cancer incidences faces representing eight variables: age-standardized incidence rate, proportion of incident cases, time trend in incidence, mean age at diagnosis, histological verification, mortality/incidence ratio, death certificate only cases and duration of cancer registration. PMID- 2621012 TI - Cancer risks in New Zealand farmers. AB - Previous New Zealand case-control studies have found increased risk for leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma in farmers. We report here a further series of New Zealand Cancer Registry based case-control studies of farming and site-specific cancer risks. These involved 19,904 males aged 20 years or more who were registered with cancer between 1980 and 1984. For each cancer site, the registrations for other sites formed the control group. Farmers had elevated risks for malignant melanoma (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [Cl] 1.05-1.50), and for cancer of the lip (OR = 2.43, 95% Cl 1.81-3.27), rectum (OR = 1.19, 95% Cl 1.03-1.38), bone (OR = 1.95, 95% Cl 1.00 3.80), prostate (OR = 1.26, 95% Cl 1.13-1.41) and brain (OR = 1.34, 95% Cl 1.04 1.74). Decreased risks were observed for cancer of the larynx (OR = 0.66, 95% Cl 0.45-0.96), lung (OR = 0.70, 95% Cl 0.63-0.77) and testis (OR = 0.58, 95% Cl 0.39 0.88). Livestock farmers had a relatively high risk for brain cancer, while the risk for cancer of the lip was highest among dairy farmers. Farmers also had increased risks for cancer of the lymphatic and haematopoietic system (International Classification of Disease 9th edn (ICD) 200-208) (OR = 1.24, 95% Cl 1.08-1.42), leukaemia (OR = 1.24, 95% Cl 0.99-1.55) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (OR = 1.24, 95% Cl 0.99-1.56), as described previously. PMID- 2621013 TI - Family history of ovarian cancer patients: a case-control study. AB - In order to obtain a more correct estimate of cancer incidence in relatives of cases with ovarian cancer and relatives of age-matched controls, information was obtained on family size, date of birth and death, and cancer history. The average total number of first degree (parents and siblings) and some second degree (uncles and aunts) relatives for cases (15.03) and controls (15.22) is very similar. Of all the relatives 33% were Alberta residents or decreased in Alberta after 1966 so they could be checked in the population based Alberta Cancer Registry. There was a 14% level of error in the information provided, 9% for first degree relatives and 25% for uncles and aunts. The errors included missed malignancies, benign lesions quoted as malignancies, incorrect cancer site and inaccurate dates of birth, diagnosis or death. Results were compared between the relatives of cases and controls using either all relatives or only Alberta residents. For the Alberta residents, expected numbers of malignancies were calculated by age/sex-specific person/years and age/sex-specific incidence rates. The number of relatives with ovarian cancer is significantly higher in cases than in controls in both data sets, but shows a limited relative risk of 2.61 (95% confidence limits 1.12-1.59). Clustering of cases is exceptional, only one patient out of 197 had two relatives with ovarian cancer and this was a case with a larger than average total number of relatives. In conclusion, although there is a significantly higher incidence of ovarian cancer in the family history of cases than of controls, it is not very common and only nine out of 197 cases (4.6%) presented with such background. PMID- 2621014 TI - Serum cholesterol and primary brain tumours: a case-control study. AB - The association between serum cholesterol level and primary brain tumours in adults was studied in a case-control study. Some 150 cases were compared with 649 hospital-based controls. An association between elevated serum cholesterol level and primary brain tumours was found. This relationship was concentrated in meningioma cases and may represent a marker for an elevated socioeconomic status. PMID- 2621015 TI - The changing pattern of coronary heart disease in Australia. AB - In this paper we describe a method for constructing long series of comparable mortality statistics from published figures that are subject to periodic changes in coding practice. The case discussed in some detail is that of Australian coronary heart disease mortality 1931-1985, the coding of which has been liable to alteration on four occasions due to revisions to the procedures of the International Classification of Diseases. Reference is made to comparable work on US figures and it is shown that the Australian data require relatively smaller adjustments. PMID- 2621016 TI - Ethnicity and other characteristics predictive of coronary heart disease in a developing community: principal results of the St James Survey, Trinidad. AB - A ten-year community survey was undertaken to investigate the high coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence among people of Indian (South Asian) descent in Trinidad, West Indies. Of 2491 individuals aged 35-69 years, 2215 (89%) were examined and 2069 (83%) found to be clinically free of CHD at baseline. After exclusion of 71 of minority ethnic groups, 786 African, 598 Indian, 147 European and 467 adults of Mixed descent were followed for CHD morbidity and mortality. In both sexes, adults of Indian origin had higher prevalence rates of diabetes mellitus, a low concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and recent abstinence from alcohol than other ethnic groups. Indian men also had larger skinfold thicknesses than other men. In participants free of CHD at entry, the age-adjusted relative risk of a cardiac event believed due to CHD was at least twice as high in Indian men and women as in other ethnic groups. In men, blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration were positively and independently related to risk of CHD, whereas alcohol consumption and HDL cholesterol concentration were inversely associated with risk after allowing for age and ethnic group. The ethnic contrasts in CHD persisted when these characteristics were taken into account. In the smaller sample of women, only ethnic group was predictive of CHD as defined. The failure of point estimates of risk to explain the high CHD incidence in Indians calls for focus on age of onset of risk and examination of other potential risk factors such as insulin concentration. PMID- 2621017 TI - Exercise time relationship to coronary risk factors in Kuwaiti adult males 1985 1986. AB - Two hundred and sixty-nine apparently healthy Kuwaiti men, aged 20-49, from 800 randomly selected Kuwaiti families, were examined for cardiovascular fitness and risk factors for coronary heart diseases (CHD). The risk factors were examined by exercise stress test on Quinton-2000 ECG monitor and treadmill Q-model 24-26, Bruce protocol, along with Ergo-oxyscreen, by laboratory tests of fasting blood lipid levels, and by interview using a questionnaire. The sample was stratified into three age groups, 20-29, 30-39, and 40-49. For the entire sample, the results showed that a number of the investigated factors were significantly correlated with the duration of treadmill exercise time. Univariate analysis indicated that performance was inversely correlated with age, cholesterol levels, cholesterol:HDL ratio, triglycerides and uric acid, weight, body-build indexes, body density, resting heart rate, blood pressure (BP), personal history of CHD, and smoking habits. Most of the observed significant correlations were particularly pronounced in the younger age groups, 20-39 years. In this group, significant results in the analysis of variance were found between the treadmill performance time and a number of risk factors, including: cholesterol levels, age, cholesterol:HDL ratios, triglycerides, uric acid, heart rate, elevated systolic blood pressure, and obesity. PMID- 2621018 TI - The association between physical fitness and cardiovascular disease risk factors in children in a five-year follow-up study. AB - The relation between physical fitness and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors was studied in 633 children selected from all fourth grades in 37 elementary schools in New York. They were participating in the control group of an intervention study to reduce CVD risk factors in children. Blood pressure, total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and physical fitness were measured at baseline and at four subsequent examinations during five years of follow-up. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) at baseline was highest in children with poor physical fitness. The five-year change in physical fitness was inversely associated with the change in SBP, ie, children with the strongest decline in physical fitness showed the largest rise in SBP. HDL cholesterol at baseline was lowest in boys with poor physical fitness. The five-year change in physical fitness was positively related to the change in HDL cholesterol levels in boys; ie, boys with the largest decline in physical fitness had the largest decrease in HDL cholesterol level. These observations indicate that unfavourable long-term changes in physical condition in childhood may be related to unfavourable changes in blood pressure and serum lipids. PMID- 2621019 TI - A population-based case-control study of temporal arteritis: evidence for an association between temporal arteritis and degenerative vascular disease? AB - The first population-based incident case-control study of temporal arteritis (TA) in the US was conducted using the unique data resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. During the period 1950-1985, 88 newly diagnosed cases of biopsy-proven TA were identified among residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota. Cases were each matched to four Olmsted County community controls on age, sex and duration of community medical record. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for marital status, education, Quetelet index, pregnancy, age at menopause, thyroid disease, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, angina, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke. Multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis identified statistically significant adjusted OR for smoking (2.3, 95% CI = 1.3-4.1). Elevated ORs which were not statistically significant were noted for angina, myocardial infarction, and peripheral vascular disease. These data suggest that TA and arteriosclerosis may share a common causal pathway. Alternatively, histopathological misclassification of temporal artery biopsies may have resulted in the observed association. Due to the limited power of this population-based study, multicentre collaboration should be encouraged to more precisely define the epidemiology of TA. PMID- 2621020 TI - The relationship between alcohol consumption and social status in Stockholm. Has the social pattern of alcohol consumption changed? AB - Data from the Stockholm Health of the Population Study in 1984 (n = 6217) show small differences in mean alcohol consumption and in the prevalence of high consumers in various socioeconomic and educational categories of both sexes. Among young people mean consumption was higher in those who had low formal education, equal to 18.8 g 100% ethanol among men aged 18-24 years and 5.9 g for those with public elementary school education, while the corresponding figures for young women were 16.7 and 1.8 g respectively. Those reporting a high alcohol consumption (greater than or equal to 35 g 100% ethanol/day among men and greater than or equal to 25 g among women) had a relative risk over 7 of having been inpatients with alcohol-related diseases during 1980-1984. Our results, together with other recent Swedish survey data, indicate a change in the socioeconomic distribution of alcohol consumption over time. This change is analysed in relation to Swedish alcohol policy, changes in various socioeconomic categories, and the increase in information about alcohol. PMID- 2621021 TI - Assessment of dietary nitrate intake by a self-administered questionnaire and by overnight urinary measurement. AB - The relationship between dietary intake and urinary excretion of nitrate was investigated among 35 male and 24 female graduate students in Boston. The dietary assessment method consisted of a self-administered semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire currently used for large-scale epidemiological studies. Calculated mean daily nitrate intake was 1.83 mmol for men and 2.96 mmol for women; broccoli and green leafy vegetables accounted for 60% of the total. Urinary measurements involved two overnight specimens with a mean collection time of approximately 13 hours. The ratio of intra-to-inter individual variance in urinary nitrate excretion (lambda) was 1.87. The simple correlation coefficient between intake and excretion of nitrate was found to be 0.20; after correction for the within-person variation by using lambda, the correlation coefficient was 0.28. Adjustment for gender, age and Quetelet's index in multiple regression analyses resulted in a partial correlation coefficient between nitrate intake and excretion of 0.37 (p = 0.005). Correction for within-person variation in urinary excretion increased this partial correlation coefficient between intake and excretion to 0.59 (95% CI = 0.03 to 0.87). These data suggest that a self administered questionnaire may provide useful information on usual nitrate intake, and indicate the need to pursue this possibility further. PMID- 2621022 TI - Food-based validation of a dietary questionnaire: the effects of week-to-week variation in food consumption. AB - The reproducibility and validity of responses for 55 specific foods and beverages on a self-administered food frequency questionnaire were evaluated. One hundred and seventy three women from the Nurses' Health Study completed the questionnaire twice approximately 12 months apart and also recorded their food consumption for seven consecutive days, four times during the one-year interval. For the 55 foods, the mean of correlation coefficients between frequencies of intake for first versus second questionnaire was 0.57 (range = 0.24 for fruit punch to 0.93 for beer). The mean of correlation coefficients between the dietary records and first questionnaire was 0.44 (range = 0.09 for yellow squash to 0.83 for beer and tea) and between the dietary records and the second questionnaire was 0.52 (range = 0.08 for spinach to 0.90 for tea). Ratios of within- to between-person variance for the 55 foods were computed using the mean four one-week dietary records for each person as replicate measurements. For most foods this ratio was greater than 1.0 (geometric mean of ratios = 1.88), ranging from 0.25 (skimmed milk) to 14.76 (spinach). Correlation coefficients comparing questionnaire and dietary record for the 55 foods were corrected for the within-person variation (mean corrected value = 0.55 for dietary record versus first questionnaire and 0.66 versus the second). Mean daily amounts of each food calculated by the questionnaire and by the dietary record were also compared; the observed differences suggested that responses to the questionnaire tended to over-represent socially desirable foods. This analysis documents the validity and reproducibility of the questionnaire for measuring specific foods and beverages, as well as the large within-person variation for food intake measured by dietary records. Differences in the degree of validity for specific foods revealed in this type of analysis can be useful in improving questionnaire design and in interpreting findings from epidemiological studies that use the instrument. PMID- 2621023 TI - Comparison of a food frequency questionnaire with a diet record. AB - The associations between levels of nutrients derived from a 24-hour diet record and a food frequency questionnaire were assessed in a sample of 433 men and women. The food frequency questionnaire was administered three years after the completion of the diet record. Spearman correlations were all statistically significant; they varied from 0.36 for energy to 0.15 for vitamin A. Comparison of distributions into fifths showed few people grossly misclassified. A model was developed to assess the correlations which would be expected under various conditions of within and between subject variance for each nutrient, errors in measurements and drift in intake over time. The best possible correlation that could be obtained using the within and between subject variations in intake previously published, and with no measurement error or drift over time, was 0.60 for energy and 0.34 for vitamin A. Using a realistic measure of measurement error (standard deviation on log scale of 0.12 for diet record method, 0.06 for drift over time and 0.18 for food frequency method) the correlations obtained in the modelling were very similar to that observed. This study shows that it may be appropriate to use a food frequency questionnaire instead of a diet record to estimate intakes in population based epidemiological studies. PMID- 2621024 TI - Lead poisoning among household members exposed to lead-acid battery repair shops in Kingston, Jamaica. AB - To investigate the risk of lead poisoning among household members exposed to 'backyard' battery repair shops (BBRS) in Kingston, Jamaica, environmental and blood lead (PbB) were measured at 24 households (112 individuals) with a BBRS worker or located at a BBRS premises and at 18 neighbourhood control households (74 individuals). Elevated PbB (greater than or equal to 25 micrograms per decilitre [micrograms/dl]) was common among subjects of all ages living at BBRS premises, especially among children less than age 12, 43% of whom had PbB greater than 70 micrograms/dl. Potentially hazardous soil and house dust lead levels were also common at BBRS premises, where 84% of yards had soil lead levels above 500 parts per million (geometric mean 3388 parts per million [ppm] at BBRS premises households with a BBRS worker). Geometric mean blood and environmental lead levels were significantly lower at control households, where less than 10% of subjects in all age groups had elevated PbB (maximum 33 micrograms/dl). Sharing a premises with a BBRS was a stronger determinant of household blood lead and environmental contamination than was the presence of a BBRS worker in a household. Blood lead levels were associated with soil and house dust lead levels in all age groups. We conclude that small battery repair shops, which have also been described in other developing countries, create a high lead poisoning risk for nearby residents. PMID- 2621025 TI - Determinants of chronic mucus hypersecretion in a general population with special reference to the type of tobacco smoked. AB - Data from a prospective study of 3884 smokers and 3676 non-smokers followed for five years were analysed to investigate the determinants of chronic mucus hypersecretion (CMH). During the follow-up 414 (10.7%) smokers and 140 (3.8%) non smokers developed CMH. The influence of the type of tobacco smoked (plain cigarettes, filter cigarettes, pipe and cheroots/cigars), lifetime tobacco consumption, age, alcohol consumption, and socioeconomic status on the development of CMH was assessed in men and women separately using multiple logistic regression. In smokers of both sexes, the risk of developing CMH increased significantly with lifetime tobacco consumption and almost significantly with age. In male smokers, the risk of developing CMH increased with alcohol consumption but was not significantly related to the type of tobacco smoked. In female smokers, the risk of CMH increased significantly with short school education and was, after adjustment for the amount of tobacco smoked, approximately twice as high in cigarette smokers as in cheroot smokers. However, as female cheroot smokers on the average consumed much more tobacco than female cigarette smokers the incidence of CMH was almost the same in the two groups. Among current non-smokers, the risk of developing CMH increased with age and previous tobacco consumption. It is concluded that although a number of factors are associated with the development of CMH, tobacco smoking, regardless of the type of tobacco, is a major determinant of CMH. PMID- 2621026 TI - Socioeconomic status in childhood asthma. AB - This study examines the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and asthma prevalence and the use of asthma medication. One thousand and fifty European children aged eight and nine years were studied by parent completed questionnaire and histamine inhalation challenge. After controlling for sex of the child and for smokers in the house there were significantly higher lifetime (P = 0.029) and current (P = 0.046) prevalence rates of wheeze in children in low SES groups. There was no relationship between SES and asthma diagnosis, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR: PD20 less than 7.8 mumol), or any combination of BHR with symptoms or diagnosis. The use of bronchodilators and asthma prophylactic drugs was less frequent in the low SES groups of children with wheeze in the last 12 months both with concurrent BHR or irrespective of BHR than in those in high SES groups. PMID- 2621027 TI - Nitrosatable drug exposure during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcome. AB - Recent investigations have suggested that drugs that are amines can undergo endogenous or exogenous nitrosation reactions to form N-nitroso compounds. These compounds have been extensively characterized in animal models as carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens. In order to examine the possible effects of exposure to nitrosatable drugs during gestation on pregnancy outcome, data were utilized from the Collaborative Perinatal Project of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke. Pregnancy outcomes for 6061 pregnancies in which the mother ingested a drug known to undergo nitrosation were compared with 6921 randomly sampled pregnancies without such exposure. The major outcome factors of interest were birth defects, fetal, neonatal and infant death and birthweight. Our findings suggest that no significant increases in risk of fetal, neonatal and infant death or low birthweight were associated with nitrosatable drug exposure during pregnancy. However, the risk of a tumour in the offspring of exposed mothers was increased (relative risk, RR = 2.29; 95% Cl 0.99-5.26). Increases in relative risk of major malformations was also observed and this increase was greater when exposure during the first four months of pregnancy was examined separately (RR = 1.33; 1.11-1.58). There were specific individual malformations that were observed to have increased relative risks (for example: eye malformations, hydrocephaly, craniosynostosis and meningomyelocoele/meningocoele) but interpretation was difficult due to multiple comparisons and some of these observations were associated with wide confidence intervals. These types of adverse pregnancy outcomes were consistent with animal study outcomes. PMID- 2621028 TI - The prevalence of hearing impairment and reported hearing disability among adults in Great Britain. AB - Estimates for the prevalence of self-reported hearing disability and measured hearing impairment as a function of age in the adult population of Great Britain (GB) are reported from two 2-stage surveys. The main study was conducted in Cardiff, Glasgow, Nottingham and Southampton, with rigorous audiological assessment at the second stage. A supplementary study used a sample representative of GB with simplified domiciliary audiological assessments. In the main study, neither stage showed any gross bias arising from the particular cities chosen; the estimates from the first stage are free of bias arising from non-response. The estimates from the second stage are relatively free of bias arising from non-attendance. For the present purposes, defining a 'significant' level of hearing impairment as at least 25 dBHL averaged over the frequencies 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz, 16% of the adult population (17-80 years) have a bilateral, and about one in four a unilateral or bilateral, hearing impairment. About 10% of the adult population (aged 17+) report bilateral hearing difficulty in a quiet environment. PMID- 2621029 TI - Risk factors for deaths due to respiratory infections among Brazilian infants. AB - In a population based case-control study, 127 Brazilian infants who died due to a respiratory infection were compared with 254 neighbourhood controls. The main risk factors associated with mortality were low socioeconomic status (including low levels of parental education) and--after adjustment for socioeconomic status- lack of breastfeeding, lack of supplementation with non-milk foods, crowding, the number of under-fives in the family, lack of a flush toilet, low birthweight, low weight-for-age and having a young mother. In a multivariate analysis, the variables found to be most closely associated with mortality were breastfeeding, education of the father, the number of under-fives, family income and birthweight. Having a low weight-for-age was also strongly associated with mortality but the retrospective nature of the study makes this finding difficult to interpret. PMID- 2621030 TI - Increasing rate of pneumonia hospitalizations in the Bronx: a sentinel indicator for human immunodeficiency virus. AB - To describe secular trends in pneumonia hospitalizations in the Bronx, New York City from 1982-1986, we analysed all cases with a discharge diagnosis of pneumonia, excluding Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), for Bronx residents by age, sex, neighbourhood, and length of stay (N = 21,822). Hospital deaths from PCP and immune disorders were analysed separately as a non-recurrent indicator of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related disease prevalence by age, sex and geographical areas. From 1982 to 1986, pneumonia hospitalizations increased 132% among males and 100% among females aged 25-54, an age group accounting for 90% of adult AIDS cases in the Bronx, as compared to a 21% rise among males and 38% among females in all other age groups (p less than 0.001). Pneumonia rates increased most in those population groups with the highest rates of PCP and immune disorders. An ecological correlation of pneumonia hospitalization with this measure of AIDS prevalence for residents of a small geographical area is evident (r2 = 0.92). The observed increase in pneumonia hospitalizations, believed to be related to underlying prevalence patterns of HIV in this population, accounts for a significant and previously unrecognized burden on the local health care system. From 1983-1986, these 'excess' pneumonias in the Bronx accounted for 14,707 days of hospitalization--equal to 42% of the total days attributed to all hospital admissions for AIDS per se. PMID- 2621031 TI - Analysis of the household distribution of trachoma in a Gambian village using a Monte Carlo simulation procedure. AB - Studies on the household distribution of trachoma have reached conflicting conclusions. This paper describes a cross-sectional survey of endemic trachoma in a Gambian village. Cases of active trachoma were mapped, and the compound and household distribution of the disease analysed by a Monte Carlo simulation procedure which takes into account differences in the size and age distribution within individual households. Significant clustering of active trachoma cases both by village compound (p less than 0.0001) and bedroom (less than 0.05) were detected supporting the concept that intra-familial transmission of trachoma is important. There was no evidence of spatial clustering of rooms with higher than expected prevalence of trachoma. Clustering of disease in space or time provides important evidence of infectious aetiology and route of transmission. The methods discussed here are generally applicable in the study of other infectious diseases. PMID- 2621032 TI - Epidemic measles in an isolated unvaccinated population, India. AB - Between June and September, 1986, an outbreak of measles occurred in Pilkhi Primary Health Centre area (population 56,000) in Tehri Garhwal district, Uttar Pradesh, India. Overall, 1092 cases were identified and 62 died; case-fatality ratio was 5.7%. Illness was restricted primarily to children below 15 years of age; 38% cases were in children under 5 and 58% between 5-14 years of age. To better characterize the outbreak, a survey was conducted in 13 affected villages. The age of the cases ranged from 5 months to 19 years (median = 7.0 years). The age-specific attack rates were 22.4%, 54.5%, 46.2% and 35.3% for children under 1, 1-4, 5-9, 10-14 years of age respectively. In as many as four villages, the attack rate in children below ten was 80% or more. Secondary attack rate among family members was 70%. Overall, 82% of children with measles developed complications which consisted mainly of pneumonia, diarrhoea and dysentery. The age-specific case-fatality ratios in infants and children 1-4 years of age were 23.1% and 11.5% respectively; thereafter the rates tended to decline with increasing age and was higher in females than in males (less than 0.05). Pneumonia which was a complication in 39% of measles cases contributed to 56% of deaths. Traditional beliefs and customs in the area were strong and did not encourage treatment of measles cases. Although a measles vaccination programme has been launched in India since 1985, only 30 districts could be covered during the first year and another 90 during 1986.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621033 TI - Estimating incidence of whooping cough over time: a cross-sectional recall study of four Swedish birth cohorts. AB - Incidence of whooping cough was studied in Goteborg, Sweden, in four random samples of birth cohorts from 1972, 1977, 1978 and 1980. To obtain data a postal questionnaire to parents was used and methodologically explored. Vaccination data were taken from health cards. Four years after stopping vaccination cumulative incidence in the unvaccinated cohort born 1980 had risen to levels of the prevaccination era. Sex differences in susceptibility were not seen. Efficacy of the Swedish manufactured non-adsorbed whole cell pertussis vaccine was low. In a developed country like Sweden a cross-sectional study of random samples from the community with recall data may give useful information on the incidence of a disease like whooping cough at a comparatively low cost. PMID- 2621034 TI - Persistent diarrhoea in a rural area of Bangladesh: a community-based longitudinal study. AB - As part of a health impact evaluation of a water supply and sanitation project in a rural area of Bangladesh, diarrhoeal morbidity was recorded in children 0-4 years of age using weekly recall in household interviews, during the period March 1984 to December 1987. During the baseline year, 1984, the incidence rate of all diarrhoea episodes (3.8 episodes per child per year), and those defined as persistent, duration greater than 14 days (0.6 episodes per child per year), showed a similar age distribution, peaking in the 12-23 month age group. Sixteen per cent of all episodes were classified as persistent, and this proportion was greatest in the 0-5 month age group (25%). Children suffering at least one episode of persistent diarrhoea in 1984 also experienced a higher incidence of acute diarrhoea (less than = 14 days duration) than those suffering acute diarrhoea only (4.2 versus 3.7 episodes per child per year). Persistent diarrhoea showed a similar seasonal pattern to that of all episodes. Rates of abdominal pain, isolation of Shigella spp and a diagnosis of dysentery were significantly higher in persistent episodes than in acute episodes. Closer follow-up of children during 1986 and 1987, through the recording of all periods of absence of the child from the home, showed that overall diarrhoea incidence rates were little affected when absence was taken into account, but that the incidence of persistent diarrhoea and the proportion of episodes classified as persistent were significantly reduced. The implications of this methodological problem are discussed. PMID- 2621035 TI - Analytical implications of epidemiological concepts of interaction. AB - In contrast to definitions based on statistical or biological concepts, Rothman has adopted an unambiguous epidemiological definition of interaction in which two factors are not 'independent' if they are component causes in the same sufficient cause. This leads to the adoption of additivity of incidence rates as the state of 'no interaction'. However, there are other considerations which generally favour the use of multiplicative models. This implies an apparent dilemma as to how an analysis can be conducted which combines the advantages of ratio measures of effect with the assessment of independence in terms of a departure from additivity. These apparently contradictory goals can be reconciled through the analysis of separate and joint effects. This approach is discussed with reference to studies of asbestos exposure, cigarette smoking and lung cancer. PMID- 2621036 TI - Incidence density matching with a simple SAS computer program. AB - Incidence density matching is the method of choice for selecting controls in nested case-control studies, but its use has been limited by its computational complexity. We describe incidence density matching in nested case-control studies with a simple and flexible SAS computer program. The program contains no restrictions on the number of matching factors, although it is usually only necessary to match on age (in incidence density fashion) and on gender. The program is illustrated with data from an historical cohort study of the mortality experience of workers at an asbestos textile manufacturing plant. PMID- 2621037 TI - Selection bias in case-control studies using relatives as the controls. AB - Investigators have suggested using relatives of cases as the control group when studying complex diseases thought to have a major genetic component. However, there is a concern about possible bias and we developed a model to examine the possibility of bias in the selection of relatives as the control group. Assuming the exposure-specific risks of disease remain constant over time, the results indicate that even when there is a correlation in the exposure status among relatives, selection of controls from relatives of cases does not, of itself, introduce bias in the estimate of effect. PMID- 2621038 TI - Thyroid cancer: incidence, mortality and histological pattern in Denmark. AB - In Denmark, as in many other countries, the incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing, while mortality from this disease is decreasing. The proportionate distribution of cell types is similar to that seen elsewhere. The increase in incidence in other countries has been attributed to the increased use of radiation for benign conditions of the head and neck. This cannot explain the increase in incidence in Denmark, and other factors may contribute importantly to the changing picture of thyroid cancer. PMID- 2621039 TI - On randomized controlled trials and lifestyle interventions. AB - Randomized controlled trials (RCT) are viewed as the ultimate method for evaluation. The author claims that RCT do not enable full evaluation of lifestyle interventions in particular. Lifestyle interventions usually affect several diseases not measured by RCTs and the people who have undergone these interventions also have an impact on the lifestyle in their immediate environment. These potential biases indicate that RCTs underestimate the value of lifestyle interventions. PMID- 2621040 TI - The Field Epidemiology Training Programmes. PMID- 2621041 TI - Fall and rise in asthma mortality in Italy, 1968-84. PMID- 2621043 TI - Rapid epidemiologic assessment. PMID- 2621042 TI - Frequency of HIV infection in patients attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in Italy. PMID- 2621044 TI - Disposal of faeces of children under two years old and diarrhoea incidence: a case-control study. AB - This is a report on the relationship of disposal of faeces of children under two years old and diarrhoeal incidence from a clinic-based case-control study. Based on data on 275 cases and 381 controls recruited from 16 clinics in Metropolitan Cebu in the Philippines over a five-month period, the results showed that unsanitary disposal of young children's stools was associated with a 34% increase (OR = 1.34) in clinically diagnosed diarrhoeas and a 63% increase (OR = 1.63) in pathogen-positive diarrhoeas relative to those who were following sanitary practices. Despite several methodological limitations, the findings suggest that the exposure variable under investigation might be an important risk factor for diarrhoeas. Further studies are indicated because of the value of identifying specific hygiene behaviours related to the transmission of enteric pathogens for purposes of formulating interventions. PMID- 2621045 TI - Evaluation of a simplified method for estimation of early childhood mortality in small populations. AB - The provision of simple health technologies in less developed countries has far outpaced the capabilities to evaluate their impact on health in general, and early childhood survival in particular. In rural Haiti, attempts to monitor the impact of health care delivery programmes have been frustrated by some of the same problems encountered elsewhere; ie lack of practicable yet scientifically sound methodologies that interface well with ongoing service delivery programmes. The 'preceding birth' technique, originally advanced by Brass and Macrae, holds promise as just such a method. Its practical appeal derives largely from simple data requirements. In its simplest form, the method requires only responses to a single question put to mothers at delivery regarding the survival status of her previous child. They have shown that the proportion of immediately preceding births dying before the 'index' birth date provides a good approximation of the standard life table probability of death before the second birthday. Given that in rural Haiti, as in much of the less developed world, few women deliver in clinic or hospital where such data could be systematically obtained, exploitation of the preceding birth method would require identification of a convenient and unobtrusive point of contact between questioner and mothers who have recently delivered. In Haiti, two options arose: (1) interview women at home after childbirth, and (2) interview women when they bring the 'index' child seeking vaccination or some other child survival intervention. Both of these deviate from the original technique of Brass and Macrae with respect to the timing and method of data collection, and could therefore introduce serious complications to the interpretation of trends in child mortality. To study this, we examined the effects of adapting the preceding birth method to a rural less developed country setting in Mirebalais, where since 1983 primary health care activities have been administered by MARCH (Management and Resources for Community Health), a private voluntary health organization. The Mirebalais study used a pregnancy register, originally developed for targeting of services, to identify women who were expected to have given birth during the 12-month period before each of two survey rounds. Brief interviews with these women would provide direct life table estimates of child mortality level and trend with which to compare estimates produced from use of the preceding birth method in modified form. Direct estimates of the probability of dying before the second birthday were 138/1000 from first round data and 134/1000 from second round data, indicating a 3% decline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2621046 TI - Use of ethnographic research for instrument development in a case-control study of immunization use in Haiti. AB - A rapid ethnographic assessment of barriers to health service utilization was conducted to identify maternal factors predicting use of child immunizations in Haiti. Methods included four focus group interviews, four natural group interviews, individual interviews with 14 health care providers and participant observation at vaccination posts. Analysis of qualitative data identified five categories of maternal factors associated with immunization use: competing priorities, low motivation, socioeconomic constraints, perceived accessibility of services, fears about health or social consequences and knowledge and folk beliefs related to vaccines. Selected variables among these factors were incorporated into a survey instrument designed to compare mothers of completely vaccinated children (cases) with mothers of incompletely vaccinated children (controls). The questionnaire was administered to 299 randomly selected mothers (217 cases, 82 controls). Bivariate and multivariate analyses found that of the factors identified through ethnographic research, only vaccine-related knowledge was significantly associated with immunization status. The utility and constraints of using ethnographic research for instrument development in epidemiological studies are discussed. PMID- 2621047 TI - Hospital visitor-companions as a source of controls for case-control studies in the Philippines. AB - Hospital visitor-companions are being used as a source of controls in an ongoing case-control study on breast cancer in the Philippines. As a tool for rapid epidemiologic assessment in obtaining research data for case-control studies, visitor-companions may serve as an alternative source of controls. To determine their generalizability and consistency, this proposed group was compared to neighbourhood controls and to hospital-patient controls. Hospital visitor companions were comparable to neighbourhood controls in terms of cooperation in the interviews, height, weight, marital status, longest residence, education, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, annual income, proportion with salaried jobs, ownership of house, land, and business, number of people living in the house, number of siblings, medical history, parity, menopausal status, breast feeding practices, and use of oral contraceptives. Neighbourhood controls however had longer interview durations than visitor-companion controls (p less than 0.05). Hospital-patient controls were less likely to breast feed, had lower alcohol intake, and had more exposure to chronic diseases and diagnostic x-ray than visitor-companion or neighbourhood controls (p less than 0.05). It was concluded that visitor-companions may usefully serve as an alternative source of controls for case-control studies when their limitations are taken into consideration during analysis. PMID- 2621048 TI - A low-cost competitive approach to weight reduction in a Native American community. AB - Native Americans from two Indian communities, Zuni and Pine Hill, New Mexico, participated in a weight loss competition that utilized promotional, educational and motivational techniques to bring about changes in dietary and exercise behaviors. This evaluative study documents the impact of age, sex, tribal affiliation, initial weight, educational level, employment status, dietary attitude and exercise patterns on program completion and goal attainment. Of 271 participants, 122 (45 percent) completed the competition and lost five pounds or more ('finishers/goal weight achievers'); 127 (47 percent) completed the competition but failed to lose five pounds ('finishers/non-goal achievers'); and 22 (8 percent) did not complete the competition ('non-finishers'). Non-finishers had significantly fewer years of formal education and were more likely to be self employed or unemployed than finishers. Finishers/goal weight achievers had a significantly greater proportion of males, a greater initial weight and an increased compliance with record-keeping compared to finishers/non-goal achievers. The relative success of the Zuni-Pine Hill 'Eat Right' weight loss competition establishes its importance as a public health model for health behavior change in communities with similar population profiles. PMID- 2621049 TI - The effect of dietary fat content and composition on adipocyte lipids in normal and diabetic states. AB - Cellular insulin resistance is a common feature of the diabetic and obese state. To determine the effect of dietary fat and the insulin resistant state of diabetes on adipose tissue composition, control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were fed four diets differing in fat content (10 percent w/w or 20% w/w) and polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratios (0.2 or 2.0) for 6 weeks. At 3 weeks diabetes was induced in half the animals in each diet group. Increasing the fat content and P/S ratio of the diet increased the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and decreased the contents of monounsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids. The higher level of C-18:2(6) and the lower levels of C20:4(6) and monounsaturated fatty acids observed in diabetic animals is consistent with altered desaturase enzyme activity. Diet and diabetes induced compositional changes in essential and non-essential fatty acids in the adipose tissue may alter the total body pools of available fatty acids for the synthesis of other lipids such as phospholipids. PMID- 2621050 TI - Blunted glucose-induced thermogenesis in 'overweight' patients: a factor contributing to relapse of obesity. AB - Glucose-induced thermogenesis was studied in 12 overweight patients (9F and 3M) before (mean body weight +/- s.e.m. 83 +/- 2 kg) and after weight loss (68 +/- 2 kg), and in eight of the same patients following relapse of body weight gain (84 +/- 5 kg). Expressed as a percentage of the energy content of the 100 g oral glucose load, glucose-induced thermogenesis was lower in the overweight before weight loss (6.5 +/- 0.5 per cent, P less than 0.05), after weight loss (3.9 +/- 0.6 per cent, P less than 0.01) and after weight regain (6.3 +/- 0.9 per cent, P less than 0.05) than in a group of lean control subjects, matched for sex and age (8.3 +/- 0.5 per cent). Basal energy expenditure was lower after weight reduction than before (1.16 +/- 0.04 vs 1.41 +/- 0.08 kcal/min, P less than 0.01). In the formerly overweight patients, the combined effect of a decreased basal energy expenditure and an attenuation of glucose induced thermogenesis resulted in a postprandial energy expenditure which was markedly lower than in the overweight state (P less than 0.001). Following relapse of obesity, glucose-induced thermogenesis remained attenuated compared to control subjects. These results suggest that a lowered basal energy expenditure and a reduced glucose-induced thermogenesis contribute to the positive energy balance which results in relapse of body weight gain after cessation of a hypocaloric diet. PMID- 2621051 TI - Training-induced vascular and metabolic adaptations in normo(11 week)- and hyper(18 week)-glycemic obese Zucker rats. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate the peripheral vascular and metabolic adaptations induced by aerobic training in normoglycemic (11-week-old) and hyperglycemic (18-week-old) insulin-resistant male obese Zucker rats (OZR). OZR were treadmill trained 6-11 (T6-11), 11-18 (T11-18), or 6-18 (T6-18) weeks of age at 15 m/min. 17 percent grade, 1 hour/day, 5 days/week. Forty-eight hours after the last training session and after a 12 hour fast, a tail vein blood sample was obtained for analysis of glucose and insulin concentrations, cholesterol, and glycosylated hemoglobin fraction. Glucose uptake and hindlimb vascular resistance were measured during extracorporeal perfusion of the hindlimb (1.0mU insulin/ml). Trained animals were compared to sedentary age-matched obese (S-OZR) and lean (LZR) animals. S-OZR were hyperinsulinemic and obese at 6 weeks of age, mildly hypercholesterolemic and hyperglycemic at 11 weeks, and profoundly hyperglycemic at 18 weeks. Training did not affect body weight or serum cholesterol. Fasting insulin and glucose concentrations were not different between sedentary and trained OZR, except T6-18 which had higher insulin and lower glucose concentrations. The insulin/glucose ratio was lower in OZR animals and was not altered by 6-7 week training (T6-11, T11-18), but was normalized by 12 week training (T6-18). No significant differences in glycosylated hemoglobin fractions were observed between groups. Normalization of glucose uptake was observed in trained 11-week-old OZR, and a statistically non-significant (P = 0.10) 40 percent improvement was observed in trained 18-week-old OZR. Hindlimb vascular resistance was elevated in the S-OZR, relative to LZR, at 11 and 18 weeks of age, and was reduced with training. One hour/day exercise training normalized hindlimb vascular resistance and glucose uptake in 11-week-old OZR, but only moderately improves these vascular and metabolic variables in 18-week old hyperglycemic animals. Prolonged (12 weeks) training reduced the severity of fasting hyperglycemia in older animals, but at the expense of an increased fasting insulin concentration. PMID- 2621052 TI - Effects of adrenalectomy on muscle fibre growth and fibre-type composition in obese-hyperglycaemic (ob/ob) and lean mice. AB - Adrenalectomy of obese mice increases the weights of their skeletal muscles towards normal. We have investigated whether this increased growth was specific for the fast phasic muscles and white, glycolytic fibres most affected by obesity and whether the proportions of the different fibre types were restored to normal. Male obese hyperglycaemic mice (ob/ob) and lean mice were adrenalectomized at 6 weeks of age and examined 6 weeks later. In obese mice body weight gain and blood glucose were markedly decreased, although still higher than in lean mice. The weight of the heart was decreased to normal in obese mice and unaffected in lean mice. In lean mice the weights of the biceps brachii, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles increased by similar small amounts after adrenalectomy. In obese mice the fast gastrocnemius and biceps brachii recovered most in weight, the soleus somewhat less, but all remained smaller than in lean adrenalectomized mice. The increased growth of the biceps brachii in obese mice after adrenalectomy was non specific with a similar increase in size of all fibre types, including the fast red fibres which were not affected by obesity. Fibre type proportions were not normalized by adrenalectomy of obese mice but were significantly changed in adrenalectomized lean mice. We conclude that it is possible only partially to normalize muscle weight and fibre type composition in obese mice by adrenalectomy. We suppose that its effects are manifest because of other defects such as insulin resistance and that these are not all reversed by adrenalectomy. PMID- 2621053 TI - A validation study of body fat distribution as determined by self-measurement of waist and hip circumference. AB - The accuracy of self-measured waist and hip circumferences is investigated in 200 men and women 30-85 years old. Systematic bias is not found in circumferences measured by the men. Female subjects tend to underestimate waist circumference. This error is greatest in women with central fat distribution (characterized by waist:hip ratio). Misclassification of fat distribution pattern may result from this error, which may in turn lead to underestimation of associations between fat pattern and disease risk. PMID- 2621054 TI - Factors influencing waist/hip ratio in randomly selected pre- and post-menopausal women in the dom-project (preliminary results). AB - In 452 pre- and post-menopausal women aged 41-75, participating in a breast cancer screening programme, we studied the associations between several factors and waist/hip ratio. Differences in waist/hip ratio between pre- and post menopausal women could be accounted for by age and degree of obesity. In post menopausal women, waist/hip ratio was positively related to age, independently of the degree of obesity. Post-menopausal women who reported to use oestrogens for menopausal complaints were found to have lower waist/hip values compared to non users (0.74 vs 0.78 P less than 0.05). Waist/hip ratio was not related to age at menopause, age at menarche or parity. We confirmed that the Quetelet's index is positively related to waist/hip ratio and that, at least before menopause, smokers have higher waist/hip values compared to non-smokers although the mechanisms for such an association remain obscure. Hypertension was associated with abdominal fat distribution in premenopausal but not in post-menopausal women. Diabetes mellitus was associated with abdominal fat distribution in post menopausal women. These observations in this cross-sectional study suggest that environmental factors (smoking and oestrogen use after menopause) relate to the distribution of fat over the body. The other observations illustrate the importance of stratifying for menopausal status in studies on fat distribution in women. PMID- 2621055 TI - Long term actions of d-fenfluramine in two rat models of obesity. I Sustained reductions in body weight and adiposity without depletion of brain serotonin. AB - In a treatment regimen designed to simulate clinical situations, d-fenfluramine was administered chronically (28 days) via osmotic minipumps to lean and obese female rats. Drug effects were assessed in dietary obese, ovariectomized obese, estradiol-treated ovariectomized and unoperated Chow-fed rats. Various central and peripheral effects of d-fenfluramine were measured and compared to effects of dietary restriction as well as posttreatment changes. d-Fenfluramine suppressed food intake and body weight in all but estradiol-treated rats and was especially effective in obese ovariectomized rats. This method of administration did not deplete brain 5-HT within 28 days. The measured drug actions that may be important in: appetite suppression and weight loss include chronic stimulation of brain 5-HT activity without depletion; stimulation of (Na+- K+)ATPase activity; reduction in lipoprotein lipase activity and effects on carbohydrate metabolism. PMID- 2621056 TI - Changes in feeding efficiency and carcass composition in rats on repeated high fat feedings. AB - Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed ad libitum two cycles of 10 weeks of a high-fat (HF) diet, followed by 5 weeks of control chow (CH). During the initial 10 weeks (weeks 1-10) the HF fed male rats had an increased rate of weight gain and feeding efficiency (FE) in comparison to CH-fed controls. In the female HF-fed rats, the FE was higher during weeks 1-5 than that seen in CH-fed females. The male HF-fed rats had significantly higher levels of FE than the female HF-fed rats during the first 10 week period. At the end of the tenth week, the HF-fed rats weighed significantly more than CH-fed controls. HF-fed male rats gained more weight than HF-fed female rats. During the 5 week period (weeks 11 16) of CH feeding, the body weight of the HF-fed rats was reduced. At the end of week 16 there was no difference between the body weights of the CH and HF fed rats. During the second cycle of HF feeding (weeks 16-25) the HF-diet further increased body weight gain in both male and female rats compared with CH-fed controls. There was no reduction in FE in HF-fed male and female rats during this period when compared to the first ten week HF feeding period. After the last 5 week period (weeks 26-30) of CH feeding, the formerly HF-fed rats had similar body weights as the control rats, but still had more body fat than control rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621057 TI - [Obstructive respiratory disorders]. PMID- 2621058 TI - [Iodine deficiency and preventive use of iodine in West Germany]. PMID- 2621059 TI - [Current problems in health care occupations. Professional Society of Hospital Physicians in the Society of German Internists]. PMID- 2621060 TI - [Nocturnal bradycardic arrhythmia in sleep related respiratory disorder--is cardiac pacemaker therapy indicated?]. PMID- 2621061 TI - [Campylobacter pylori associated gastritis]. PMID- 2621062 TI - Anti-idiotype response to selected neutralizing monoclonal antibodies generated against adenovirus type 2 fiber. AB - A series of monoclonal antibodies was prepared against purified adenovirus type 2 fiber. These antibodies were produced by both classical techniques and by electrofusion. Fifty antibodies were obtained, and five were selected which had the following characteristics: (i) they were able to reduce adenovirus 2 infection of Hep-2 cells; (ii) they had different light-chain structures and (iii) they did not react with denatured fiber. The five antibodies (AdF18, AdF38, AdF41, AdF2D3, AdF3B1) recognized between them three periodate-insensitive epitopes on the fiber. AdF18 bound to both adenovirus type 2 and type 5; all the others were specific to type 2. Polyclonal anti-idiotype antibodies to these antibodies were produced in rabbits and were purified extensively on immunoaffinity columns. Anti-idiotypes to AdF38 and AdF41 were able to inhibit virus infectivity, and anti-AdF41 completed with fiber for binding to the surface of Hep-2 cells. PMID- 2621063 TI - A potexvirus isolated from Silene pratensis. AB - A potexvirus, silene virus X (SVX), was isolated from the weed Silene pratensis. Infectious preparations contained nucleoprotein rods predominantly 546 nm in length, consisting of a 6.9-kb polyadenylated single-stranded RNA and a 29-kd capsid protein. Double-stranded RNAs of 17.1, 7.0, 5.7, and 4.6 kbp were isolated from SVX-infected plants. In vitro translation products of SVX single-stranded or denatured double-stranded RNAs reacted with SVX antiserum. Hybridization studies with SVX cDNAs showed no nucleotide homology with seven other potexviruses. The virus is more closely related serologically to narcissus mosaic virus than to nine other potexviruses. PMID- 2621064 TI - Molecular cloning and physical mapping of the DNA of Miscanthus streak geminivirus. AB - Molecular cloning and physical mapping of miscanthus streak virus (MiSV) circular double-stranded (ds) DNA was carried out. The circular dsDNA was isolated from leaves of Miscanthus saccariflorus (Gramineae) infected with MiSV. In addition to the monomeric circular dsDNA form in MiSV-infected leaves, there were minor circular dsDNA populations of twice (dimer) and approximately half genome length. The size of monomeric circular dsDNA was about 2.67 kilobase pairs. The evidence presented suggests that the genome of MiSV consists of one component. PMID- 2621065 TI - Cardiovascular manifestations in Kawasaki disease. AB - Thirteen patients with Kawasaki disease were reviewed. The average age at presentation was 31 months (range: 6 weeks to 8 years). Mean follow up was 36 months, with a range of 5 to 53 months. Cardiovascular manifestations were present in 9 patients. These comprised pericarditis with myocarditis (2), pericardial effusion (4), coronary artery ectasia (3), coronary artery aneurysms (3), peripheral artery aneurysm (1) and peripheral vasculitis (1). Treatment consisted of aspirin alone in 11 and gammaglobulin with aspirin in 2 patients. One patient with coronary artery involvement died following a myocardial infarction. A large coronary artery aneurysm persists, 31 months after initial detection in another patient. Spontaneous resolution of the cardiovascular complications occurred in the remaining seven patients. The importance of clinical awareness and detailed evaluation and follow up of the cardiovascular system in Kawasaki disease is emphasised. There is also a need, however, to exclude other diagnoses which may have a similar clinical presentation. PMID- 2621066 TI - Low potassium cardioplegia: its effect on the incidence of complete heart block following cardiac surgery. AB - To investigate whether the concentration of potassium ion in cardioplegic solution was related to the incidence of complete heart block in patients undergoing myocardial revascularisation 163 consecutive cases were studied. Cardiac arrest was with St. Thomas' hospital cardioplegic solution in all patients. Ongoing myocardial protection was provided with St. Thomas' hospital solution (potassium concentration 20 mmol/l) in 56 patients (group A) and with Ringer's injection (potassium concentration 4 mmol/l) in 107 patients (group B). These two groups were studied sequentially. The incidence of complete heart block was higher in group A than in group B. Following aortic unclamping, 27 per cent of patients in group A compared to 14 per cent in group B exhibited the phenomenon (p less than 0.05). At the time of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass the incidence was 20 per cent in group A compared to 10 per cent in group B (p less than 0.1). No differences were demonstrated between the two groups in terms of myocardial recovery, morbidity or mortality. PMID- 2621067 TI - Two lymphomas: a potential diagnostic dilemma. AB - We report a patient with mycosis fungoides of 20 years standing who developed mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease. Full investigation, including biopsy, is essential when recurrent mycosis fungoides is suspected to outrule a second lymphoma as the results may affect management. Case History A Caucasian male presented aged 41 years with an eczematous rash affecting his trunk and upper and lower limbs. There was no lymphadenopathy/organomegaly or mucosal disease. Biopsy showed mucosis fungoides. This was controlled over the next two decades with simple emulsifying creams and topical corticosteroids, the disease remaining confined to the skin. Nineteen years after the diagnosis of mucosis fungoides, he developed an isolated left groin node, biopsy of which showed mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease. Staging investigations were undertaken and the patient was found to have stage 1A disease (Ann Arbor). He was treated with combination chemotherapy (Nitrogen Mustard, Vincristine, Procarbazine and Prednisolone) and has had no recurrence of his Hodgkin's lymphoma, follow-up being seven years. His mycosis fungoides skin lesions improved temporarily with the cytotoxic therapy, but have subsequently progressed to the tumorous stage. Only temporary improvements in these lesions have resulted from total skin electron therapy, local electron irradiation and P.U.V.A. PMID- 2621068 TI - Further thoughts about tonsillectomy. PMID- 2621069 TI - The undergraduate medical curriculum. PMID- 2621070 TI - Spontaneous miscarriage: "this hidden grief". PMID- 2621071 TI - Monoamine oxidase inhibitors--new insights into old problems. PMID- 2621072 TI - Recognising dementia. PMID- 2621073 TI - "I listen--I forget: I read--I remember". Information booklets for patients. PMID- 2621074 TI - Management of spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage. AB - One hundred and six patients with suspected or confirmed spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage were analysed to determine the management and referral patterns. The cases were classified into six groups on the basis of the computerised tomography (CT) scan/lumbar puncture (LP) findings. Subarachnoid haemorrhage was the commonest lesion. Thirty-four point four per cent of these were complicated. LP was performed inappropriately in a large number of cases. Late referral was a problem in some instances. In suspected intracranial haemorrhage CT scan is the investigation of choice. Lumbar puncture should be deferred and only performed following consultation with a neurosurgeon. PMID- 2621075 TI - Risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer. AB - A case control study of risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) was carried out on 396 patients and individually age and sex-matched controls. Cases were significantly more likely than controls to have had a rural domicile (P = 0.007), light eye colour (P = 0.004) a tendency to develop sunburn very easily (P less than 0.05) and a family history of NMSC (P less than 0.001). Other indices of exposure or sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) radiation did not differ significantly between the two groups. It is suggested that while the role of UV radiation in the aetiology of NMSC is not in doubt, other factors not yet identified must also be important, at least among the Irish population. PMID- 2621076 TI - A clinical role for right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy. AB - There is considerable uncertainty about the value of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) in the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected primary myocardial dysfunction. To determine the clinical utility of this procedure in patients referred to our centre, we reviewed the clinical records and biopsy findings of the first 21 consecutive patients in whom we performed right ventricular EMB. Patients were divided into four groups according to the clinical indications for EMB: unexplained congestive cardiac failure and a dilated heart (Group 1: 11 patients); unexplained congestive cardiac failure and a non dilated heart (Group 2: three patients); unexplained cardiomegaly in the absence of cardiac failure (Group 3: one patient); suspected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) (Group 4: six patients). Histological examination of EMB tissue obtained from all patients in Group 1 as well as the single patient in Group 3 showed non specific features judged to be compatible with a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy. Accordingly, in all patients in Groups 1 and 3, a potentially treatable cause of primary myocardial dysfunction was excluded. Biopsy examination demonstrated the presence of a specific disease process in two of three patients in Group 2 (one patient had amyloidosis, the other endomyocardial fibrosis). In five of the six patients in Group 4, the biopsy findings were either diagnostic or suggestive of HCM. Our results suggest that EMB is a clinically useful tool in patients presenting with features suggestive of a primary myocardial disorder. PMID- 2621077 TI - Severe pneumococcal infection: a one year survey. AB - Invasive pneumococcal infection is a major health problem with considerable mortality. In most patients the diagnosis is relatively straightforward but this study points out that in many, especially children, it is difficult because of a lack of clinical signs of septicaemia. While chronic respiratory disease is a major predisposing factor, malignancy and immune disorders are also common underlying features. Certain risk groups may benefit considerably from vaccination. The treatment of established infection is now complicated by the emergence of resistant strains, but penicillin remains the mainstay of therapy. PMID- 2621078 TI - Renal failure and thyroid function tests: the effects of commencing haemodialysis. AB - Thyroid function tests are often noted to be abnormal in patients with chronic renal failure. We investigated thyroid and pituitary function in six patients with renal failure. In order to study the effects of improvement in the uraemic state on these tests, they were repeated after regular haemodialysis was commenced. Serum thyroxine and free thyroxine levels were at the lower limit of the normal range prior to dialysis and both showed a non-significant increase after regular haemodialysis was started. The TSH response to TRH (TRH test) decreased in five of the six patients after dialysis but this did not achieve statistical significance. The abnormalities in thyroid function tests often observed in clinically euthyroid patients with renal failure do not appear to change significantly after the institution of regular dialysis. PMID- 2621079 TI - Primary gastric lymphoma: incidence and role of surgery. AB - The histological subgroups of primary gastric tumours presenting to one surgical unit over two successive six year periods were analysed and the therapeutic value of gastric resection assessed. An increased incidence of gastric lymphoma (13% relative to 5%) occurred in the second six year period. This increase could not be attributed to improved morphological or histochemical techniques. The diagnosis of lymphoma was confirmed preoperatively in 13 (94%) of the 14 patients by a combination of multiple endoscopic biopsies and brush cytology. Five of the six patients who underwent a potentially curative resection are tumour free at a mean follow-up of four years. Histological grading, whether high or low, had no bearing on survival. Gastric lymphoma is increasing in incidence and should be considered in the evaluation of gastric tumours as surgical resection at present offers the best prospect of long term survival. PMID- 2621080 TI - Campylobacter enteritis in a pregnant woman with hypogammaglobulinaemia. PMID- 2621081 TI - AIDS: can we cope? AB - AIDS has become far more than just another disease; it has become a sensitive political issue, a social and moral problem, a cause of international tensions, a favourite media story and a cause for despair among those who may be infected. Familiarity breeds, if not contempt, then at least complacency; the risk of infection for individuals, even those who are highly sexually active, is often not personalized - people still perceive AIDS as something that happens to other people, not to themselves. PMID- 2621083 TI - Caesarean section and maternal mortality in Dublin. PMID- 2621082 TI - Infant care: the value of the six week check. AB - A review of the routine six week post-natal examination of the well-baby was performed. Eighty-one percent of infants born in the Rotunda attended for a hospital based review during the study period and 42% of these had experienced some problem during the six weeks from birth (rashes 20%, snuffles 10.7%, irritability 7.6% and eye infections, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, cyanotic/breath holding episodes). These problems were dealt with by the hospital outpatient department (55%), the mothers themselves (30%), general practitioners (12.5%) and public health nurses (2.5%). Significant problems not detected at birth were present in 12 infants (3%) and eight infants (2%) required hospital admission. This review illustrates a relatively low rate of problems not previously detected and that the majority of problems arising in the first six weeks of life require advice alone. There is also clearly scope for improving the community based services and increasing their involvement in this aspect of infant health. PMID- 2621084 TI - Potassium-sparing diuretics and hyperkalaemia--still a problem. PMID- 2621085 TI - Is hepatitis B confined to residential mental handicap centres? PMID- 2621086 TI - Matter of Westchester Medical Center (O'Connor). PMID- 2621087 TI - Cruzan v. Harmon. PMID- 2621088 TI - Early prognosis in anoxic coma: an analysis of the major clinical criteria. PMID- 2621089 TI - Should nutrition and hydration be provided to permanently unconscious and other mentally disabled persons? PMID- 2621090 TI - Should nutrition and hydration be provided to permanently unconscious and other mentally disabled persons? PMID- 2621091 TI - Is "substituted judgment" a valid legal concept? PMID- 2621092 TI - Is "substituted judgment" a valid legal concept? PMID- 2621093 TI - Decisions at the end of life. PMID- 2621094 TI - Kepler v. Georgia Int'l Life Ins. Co. PMID- 2621095 TI - Conservatorship of Morrison. PMID- 2621096 TI - In re Jane Doe. PMID- 2621097 TI - Stepp v. Review board of the Indiana Employment Security Division. PMID- 2621098 TI - In re guardianship of Grant. PMID- 2621099 TI - Our credo: a cap on costs equals reduction in quantity and quality of care. PMID- 2621100 TI - MAST: an integral part of Hawaii state emergency medical services. AB - The 68th Medical Detachment of the U.S. Army, stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, has provided MAST (Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic) transport services to the civilian population of Oahu for the past 15 years. Compared to the 31 units located all across the Mainland, this unit is the most active, flying more than 200 missions per year, with a cumulative total of over 3,000 missions since its inception in 1974. Yet, despite its important role in transporting critical patients from the field and providing a beneficial community service, many health professionals do not know what MAST is nor what it does. PMID- 2621101 TI - Asymptomatic intrathoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis: a report of three cases. AB - Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is observed in people suffering from severe anemia of prolonged duration and appears to be a compensatory mechanism for disturbed medullary hematopoiesis. The hemoglobinopathies (such as thalassemia, spherocytosis, and sickle cell disease), neoplastic diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, and others, including myelofibrosis and osteitis fibrosa cystica, are associated with EMH. These diseases and their resultant anemia have in common the ability to stimulate erythropoietin production, which in turn may stimulate hematopoiesis in organs of mesenchymal origin. The liver and spleen are the most common sites of EMH; however, other sites, including the falx cerebri, thoracic cavity, retroperitoneal area and pelvis have been reported. When present, intrathoracic EMH is most frequently associated with thalassemia. Spinal cord compression and hemothorax have also been reported as complications of intrathoracic EMH. PMID- 2621102 TI - [Andrologic indications for in vitro fertilization: is there a true therapeutic gain?]. AB - Andrological indications for human in vitro fertilization (IVF) are assumed if this is not carried out because of gynaecologically conditioned sterility but to overcome poor semen quality. The fertilization rate of human oocytes in IVF is lower when oligo-astheno-terato-zoospermia (OAT syndrome) is present than in the case of normozoospermia, even if it can be guaranteed that the number of spermatozoa incubated is the same in each case. The further development of the fertilized oocyte following embryo transfer, however, does not depend on semen quality. There have been attempts to determine the fertilization ability of spermatozoa prior to their use in IVF in order to enhance the prognosis of the technique. The results of the hamster-oocyte penetration test (HOP test) correlate only poorly with the outcome of human IVF. Testing of the acrosome reaction in vitro is also unsuitable as a predictor of the results of IVF. So far, the "normality" of spermatozoa can only be demonstrated by the direct observation of fertilization of the oocyte. In view of the high costs of IVF, a controlled, randomized study comparing the success rates of IVF in andrological indications and of other treatment procedures is urgently necessary. PMID- 2621103 TI - [Pachydermoperiostosis. Clinical aspects, classification and pathogenesis]. AB - There are 2 different forms of the rare disorder of connective tissue "pachydermoperiostosis": a primary form called Touraine-Solente-Gole (TSG) syndrome, and a secondary one, called Bamberger-Pierre-Marie syndrome (BPM). The manifestations of the two forms are very similar, but differential diagnosis is possible because BPM syndrome occurs in association with certain diseases of internal organs and effective treatment of these is followed by regression of the skin manifestations. Therefore, it seems reasonable merely to refer to primary and secondary forms of pachydermoperiostosis, rather than distinctly named syndromes. The pathogenesis of pachydermoperiostosis is unknown. Obviously a hereditary disturbance of metabolism in the connective tissue is involved, and manifestation of the disease can be either primary or secondary as a result of still unknown triggering factors. PMID- 2621104 TI - [Epidemiology of dysplastic nevus]. AB - The dysplastic naevus is regarded as a precursor of malignant melanoma of the skin and has distinctive features that are apparent on clinical and particularly histological examination. Epidemiological studies on the incidence of dysplastic naevi in Europe have not yet been reported. A total number of 500 white males (median age: 19 years) have been examined. Macroscopically dysplastic naevi were detected in 2.2%. This result corresponds to reports from the United States of America and Australia. PMID- 2621105 TI - ["Schnyder's rule" of heritability of skin tumors and its extension to cases of segmental presentation]. AB - "Schnyder's rule" states that multiple tumours of the skin are dominantly inherited, whereas solitary tumours of the same histological type are noninherited. This rule may be extended to cover segmental cases representing somatic mutations. PMID- 2621106 TI - [Cutaneous metastatic Crohn disease]. AB - A 27-year-old patient had firm, subcutaneous nodules on both legs. Histological examination revealed that they were epitheloid granulomas with necrotic areas. After the exclusion of infectious granulomas this finding suggested an association with Crohn's disease. Clinical investigations showed an acute form of Crohn's disease. We interpreted our findings as a cutaneous granulomatous reaction in Crohn's disease. In the literature this is referred to as metastatic Crohn's disease. PMID- 2621107 TI - Training of persons for the delivery of the Staying Healthy After Fifty Program. AB - The process by which volunteers were selected and trained to conduct a national health promotion program for older Americans, Staying Healthy After Fifty (SHAF), is described in this article. Feedback was elicited from participants (N = 210) concerning the training they received in educational team workshops using pre and postwork-shop questionnaires. The areas of focus during training were: medical issues, lifestyle and consumer issues, and class management and process skills. Information regarding the quality of the training procedures was also collected. In addition, 50 educational teams supplied data for a field evaluation which covered the content of the SHAF program and the educational materials and methods used. The results of the evaluation of the training of persons to deliver SHAF indicated that the team approach used was successful in delivering the program effectively to consumers and in establishing a network of high quality instructors. PMID- 2621108 TI - Evaluation of the Staying Healthy After Fifty educational program: impact on course participants. AB - A study to evaluate the impact of a medical self-care program on older adults was conducted. The test group (n = 161) participated in an 11-session educational intervention with training in clinical skills, lifestyle, and the use of health services. The comparison group (n = 164) received no intervention. The test group was assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and six months post intervention and the comparison group was assessed at corresponding intervals. The results indicated that medical self-care instruction produces substantial improvements in health-related knowledge, health skills performance, and health actions. This study produced no evidence, however, that medical self-care instruction has any effect on health status, the utilization of medical care, or other aspects of life quality. PMID- 2621109 TI - Hawaii Asian-American response to the Staying Healthy After Fifty program. AB - A nationwide project conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons, the American Red Cross, and the Dartmouth Institute for Better Health to disseminate a health promotion program for older adults included a study to test its ability to serve different ethnic minorities. This article reports how the Staying Healthy After Fifty Program, designed for the general United States population, was introduced into the State of Hawaii, how it was adapted for use with two Asian-American groups, the Japanese and Filipinos, and on the benefits reported by participants. To determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of the adapted SHAF program, a quasi-experimental design, involving a test group and a comparison group whose members completed questionnaires at three points in time, was used. The results of the data collected from the Hawaiian population were consistent with the results of the general U.S. population skills, health activities, and health care cost skills areas. Participants were very pleased with the course and its quality, as noted in the high ratings of course satisfaction. PMID- 2621110 TI - Interorganizational collaboration and dissemination of health promotion for older Americans. AB - This article describes how a successful health promotion program for older adults was adapted and disseminated through collaboration of the American Association of Retired Persons, the American Red Cross, and the Dartmouth Institute for Better Health. The details of this effort are presented in three sections: the conceptual framework used to build the collaborative relationship, the outcomes, and an analysis of these experiences as they relate to the diffusion of innovations in organizations. The problems encountered are discussed as well as the need for more time to elapse before judging the ultimate success of the diffusion of the program. PMID- 2621111 TI - Serotonergic denervation does not reduce brain uptake of n-isopropyl-p [123I]iodoamphetamine in vivo. AB - The relation between brain uptake of radiolabeled n-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine [( 123I]IMP) and serotonin re-uptake sites was studied in vivo by lesioning serotonergic nerve endings. The reduction of brain serotonin demonstrated the effectiveness of the procedure. Accumulation of radioactivity/g brain tissue was higher in the lesioned than in the sham-operated rats. This was explained by the loss of body weight of the lesioned animals, allowing an increased distribution to the brain. These results demonstrate that the in vivo distribution and binding of [123I]IMP in the brain is not limited to the specific serotonin re-uptake sites on nerve endings. PMID- 2621112 TI - In vivo assessment of 6-deoxy-6-[18F]fluoro-D-galactose as a PET tracer for studying galactose metabolism. AB - The potential of 6-deoxy-6-[18F]fluoro-D-galactose (6-[18F]FdGal) as an in vivo tracer for studying galactose metabolism in tumors and liver was investigated. High uptake and rapid clearance of the radioactivity were observed in many organs of mice after i.v. injection of the tracer. D-Galactose loading did not affect liver uptake. Three experimental tumors showed a slightly higher uptake than other tissues, and rat brain tumor was clearly visualized by autoradiography. However, the radioactivity in tumors decreased rapidly. In the liver, a significant amount of the tracer was found in a galactonate form, while this oxidation was a minor metabolic pathway in the tumors. In both tumor and liver tissues, small amounts of the tracer were incorporated into macromolecular glycoconjugate via phosphate and uridylate forms as intermediate precursors. These results indicate that 6-[18F]FdGal is not suitable for studying galactose metabolism in vivo because of the low affinity of the tracer for the metabolism. PMID- 2621113 TI - Localizing efficiency of [48V]vanadyl-pheophorbide in tumor as a new tumor imaging agent. AB - [48V]vanadyl-pheophorbide (48V-Pheo) was synthesized by insertion of 48V into pheophorbide (Pheo), a decomposition product from chlorophyll. At 24 h after injection, 48V-Pheo showed a clearer image of an FM3A tumor than inorganic 48V. This agent also accumulated in MH 134 and S 180 tumors as well as in FM3A tumors. The imaging efficiency was dependent on the affinity of Pheo for tumors. 48V-Pheo seems to be suitable as a tumor imaging agent in conjunction with photodynamic therapy. PMID- 2621114 TI - Structural characterization of a metal-based perfusion tracer: copper(II) pyruvaldehyde bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone). AB - Copper(II) pyruvaldehyde bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone), Cu(PTSM), has been obtained as a dark red crystalline solid from EtOH-DMSO solvent mixture and structurally characterized by x-ray crystallography. The molecule possesses the expected pseudo-square planar N2S2 metal coordination sphere; however, the copper center also interacts through its axial coordination site with the sulfur atom of an adjacent Cu(PTSM) molecule in the crystal lattice. The structure of this compound is compared with the structures of other metal complexes that have been proposed in the nuclear medicine literature as perfusion tracers. PMID- 2621115 TI - Twenty-four-hour whole-body retention of 47Ca-chloride: an index of global bone metabolism in rat models. AB - The 24-h whole-body retention (24-h WBR) of 47Ca-chloride was measured over a 4 week period in three rat models verified by histologic study. In the osteomalacic and osteoporotic groups the 24-h WBR values were significantly lower and higher, respectively, than in the control group from the 2nd week. Quantitative assessment of bone radiographs by microdensitometry revealed significant osteopenia in these groups at the 4th week. The 24-h WBR values of 47Ca were found to differentiate the three rat models from the early stage of disease development. PMID- 2621116 TI - Synthesis and in vivo testing of a bromobutyl substituted 1,2-dithia-5,9 diazacycloundecane: a versatile precursor for new 99mTc-bis(aminoethanethiol) complexes. AB - 7-(4'-Bromobutyl)-3,3,11,11-tetramethyl-1,2-dithia-5,9-di azacycloundecane (6) an intermediate for the preparation of new 99mTc-bis(aminoethanethiol) complexes (99mTc-BAT) was synthesized from the corresponding 7-(4'-phenoxybutyl) derivative (5) by ether cleavage with HBr/AcOH. To demonstrate its versatility as an alkylating agent, 6 was reacted with the amines piperidine, morpholine, NH3 and 1 phenyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro(4,5)decan-4-one, yielding the corresponding N-alkylated amines. Mild ring opening affording the BAT-ligands was achieved by reductive cleavage of the disulphide bonds with threo-2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-dimercaptobutane. The 99mTc-BAT complexes prepared by the tin-reduction method proved to be stable under in vitro conditions. With the exception of the 7-(4'-aminobutyl) substituted one, the 99mTc-BAT complexes revealed octanol-buffer partition coefficients (P) of P greater than 1 at physiological pH. The complexes proved to be neutral and the amount of ultrafiltrable 99mTc-BAT complex varied between 8 18%. In contrast to the good in vitro characteristics, the brain uptake values in CD-1 mice were comparably low. PMID- 2621117 TI - Effect of 3-methyl-branching on the myocardial retention of radioiodinated 19 iodo-18-nonadecenoic acid analogues. AB - The effect of methyl-branching at the 3(beta-)-position on myocardial uptake and retention of fatty acids where radioiodide has been stabilized as a terminal trans-(E)-vinyl iodide has been evaluated in fasted rats. The syntheses of two new dimethyl-branched fatty acids, 17-iodo-3,3-dimethylheptadecanoic acid (14) and (E)-19-iodo-3,3-dimethyl-18-nonadecenoic acid (19), are described. Tissue distribution studies in fasted rats with [125I]-19 showed significant heart uptake (2 min, 4.56% dose/g), and prolonged retention (60 min 4.10% dose-g). These results suggest that [123I]-19 is a good candidate for further studies of regional myocardial fatty acid uptake patterns by SPECT. PMID- 2621118 TI - Synthesis, characterization and biodistribution of neutral and lipid-soluble 99mTc-PAT-HM and 99mTc-TMR for brain imaging. AB - Two new ligand systems for complexation with 99mTc were prepared. The two analogs of bisaminoethanethiol (BAT): N,N'-bis(2-methyl-2-mercaptopropyl)-2,2 dimethylpropylenediamin e (PAT-HM) and N,N'-bis[2-(2-ethyl-1-mercaptopropyl)] ethylenediamine (TMR), form neutral and lipid soluble complexes with 99mTc that readily penetrate the blood-brain barrier following i.v. injection into rats. Although the 99mTc chelates do not display the prolonged brain retention required for use in single photon emission computed tomographic imaging studies, the fact that each ligand forms a neutral and lipid-soluble complex of high chemical stability when coordinated with 99mTc warrants further investigation to increase the site- and organ-specificity of these agents. PMID- 2621119 TI - Studies on the metabolic fate of 111In-labeled antibodies. AB - Indium-111-labeled antibodies, though providing superior photon flux to iodine labeled antibodies, can exhibit high levels of accumulation in some non-target organs. In an effort to understand the nature of this non-target uptake we have evaluated the molecular weight of 111In species retained in several tissues by radio-FPLC (sizing chromatography) following injection of [111In]DTPA 5G6.4, a murine monoclonal antibody, into normal mice. Blood, liver and kidneys were removed, and liver and kidneys were homogenized at several time points after antibody injection. The proportion of 111In-containing species was found to vary with the tissue and with time. Analysis of blood showed only radiolabeled antibody. In the liver, several 111In species were identified with molecular weights compatible with intact antibody, [111In]transferrin, and low molecular weight complexes, with an increase in the proportion of [111In]transferrin and low molecular weight species occurring over time. While the same molecular weight species were also identified in the kidneys, the kidneys contained the largest percentage of low molecular weight species which increased over time. When 125I labeled 5G6.4 was injected and the tissues similarly analyzed, only radioactive material with the molecular weight of intact antibody was detected. Comparison of two methods of purification of [111In]labeled antibody after labeling revealed a significant difference in the organ uptake of radiolabeled products for 111In. Although dialysis was sufficient for the removal of labile 111In, as determined by TLC, subsequent sizing chromatography on Bio-Gel P-60 dramatically dropped the hepatic and renal uptake of 111In relative to blood and diminished the proportion of the low molecular weight species present on sizing FPLC of extracts from tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621120 TI - Endoprosthetic insertion for malignant obstructive jaundice: a retrospective review. AB - We reviewed 13 cases of biliary endoprosthetic insertion for malignant obstructive jaundice from August 1983 to May 1987, and recorded (1) location and etiology of the obstruction, (2) length of time the endoprosthesis remained functional, and (3) complications related to the endoprosthesis, its insertion, or its long-term function. Of the 13 patients, 3 had pancreatic carcinoma, 3 had cholangiocarcinoma, and 3 had metastatic disease to the porta hepatis. The underlying malignancy was not histologically proved in four patients despite evidence of neoplasm by percutaneous cholangiography and computerized tomography. These four patients were not considered good surgical risks and were referred for percutaneous therapy. The longest endoprosthetic patency was 3.5 years. Three patients experienced obstruction of the endoprosthesis at 3, 4, and 9 months after insertion, respectively. Two of the endoprostheses were subsequently removed endoscopically, while the third was extracted through a new percutaneous tract with use of a balloon angioplasty catheter. Complications related to endoprosthetic insertion included bilous hydro pneumothorax (1 patient), subcutaneous and subcapsular liver abscess (1 patient), postinsertion cholangitis (4 patients), and reflex ileus (1 patient). PMID- 2621121 TI - Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated malignancies. AB - Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated malignancies are a concern to all physicians. Because patients usually are seen initially by nonspecialists, primary care physicians, especially, may find useful information about AIDS related malignancy. Cancers remain a part of the clinical definition of AIDS. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are the malignancies most frequently seen in AIDS. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome KS occurs in young men between 20 and 40 years of age, and involves the skin in more than 90% of patients. Visceral dissemination is common. The prognosis is related to immune functional status and the extent of disease involvement. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is generally a B-cell malignancy. Advanced disease at presentation and proclivity for central nervous system involvement are characteristic. Knowledge of the common manifestations of these cancers, methods of diagnosis, and potential treatment options is important for physicians. PMID- 2621122 TI - Use of platelets in transfusion medicine. AB - Platelet transfusions are beneficial to treat or prevent bleeding in the thrombocytopenic patient. They are frequently used in patients with hypoplastic bone marrow, in cardiovascular surgery patients, and those involved in trauma. Because platelets have short survival, large numbers of platelet units are required. Also, platelet transfusions are expensive and not without complications. They can cause alloimmunization, provoke transfusion reactions, or transmit infectious disease, of which hepatitis C (non-A, non-B hepatitis) is of greatest concern. Therefore, documented indications and close monitoring of the transfused platelets are necessary. PMID- 2621123 TI - Proceedings of the thirty-second annual AOA Research Conference, 1988. Part III. Abstracts. PMID- 2621124 TI - Women in love in the '80s. PMID- 2621125 TI - Neuroscience, psychiatry, psychoanalysis--crisis and opportunity. PMID- 2621126 TI - Masters of the universe: children's toys as reflections on contemporary psychoanalytic theory. AB - The emergence of contemporary object relations theory and self psychology as potent theoretical forces has led to rich discussion with far-reaching implications for clinical, developmental, and metapsychological theory. This article examines these developments using as a medium the Masters of the Universe figures and stories, which have captured the imaginations of a broad spectrum of phallic-oedipal and oedipal-aged children. A series of interrelated theoretical questions will be discussed: (1) the nature and character of aggressive drives and whether these are innate and instinctual or disintegration products secondary to emphatic failure; (2) the extent of internalization of mental representations at this point in development; and (3) the status of Kohut's "grandiose self" and "idealized object" vis-a-vis traditional perspectives on phallic-oedipal and oedipal development. PMID- 2621127 TI - The significance of the analyst's individual personality in the therapeutic relationship. PMID- 2621128 TI - Freud, Janet and evolution: of statuettes and plants. AB - The systems of Janet and Freud are briefly presented, compared, and interpreted as different variations of the application of the theory of evolution to psychopathology. Although both men accepted a hierarchical view of the psyche, Freud held that there existed an ubiquitous and inherent conflict between phylogenetic strata of the mind, while Janet maintained that with the exception of disease states, the psyche was a unified organizational structure. PMID- 2621129 TI - Microtubules and their relationships with other cytoskeletal components at cholinergic tectal synapses in culture. AB - Cholinergic synapses (identified by selective staining with tannic acid) of explant cultures of avian optic tectum were examined by electron microscopy after exposure of the cultures to a microtubule-stabilising drug, Taxol. The presynaptic components of such synapses commonly contained microtubules but they were never in close association with the presynaptic specialisation. Postsynaptically, microtubules commonly ran into, or close to, the postsynaptic density and/or were linked to it by 3-5 nm filaments, which, along with other filamentous cytoskeletal elements, were a prominent feature of tannic acid stained cholinergic synapses. This study also provided some evidence that acetylcholine receptors may be present in both presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes at early stages of synapse formation and in the postsynaptic membrane alone at later stages. PMID- 2621130 TI - Enterocyte ultrastructure and uptake of immunoglobulins in the small intestine of the neonatal lamb. AB - Although the small intestine of the sheep is relatively mature at birth, there are still vacuolated enterocytes present for at least 2 days in distal regions. In the distal regions, vacuolated cells possess a range of vesicle morphology which might be indicative of at least 2 separate routes for enterocyte handling of proteins taken up from the lumen. The localisation of immunoreactive immunoglobulins within the enterocytes, presumably of colostral or milk origin, in both proximal (non-vacuolated) and distal (vacuolated) regions, does not follow patterns which suggest orderly renewal at closure. It is suggested that closure is not solely brought about by epithelial cell replacement. PMID- 2621131 TI - An anatomical investigation of the nasal venous vascular bed in the dog. AB - Physiological experiments have demonstrated that the canine nasal mucosa has two venous systems that differ in blood pressure and flow. An investigation of the vascular arrangements and histological characteristics of the nasal venous vascular bed was performed to search for anatomical structure(s) responsible for their functional separation. Parietal bicuspid valves were found to be present in both venous systems, being particularly abundant at the two extremities of the nasal cavity and less frequently found over the turbinates. Ostial valves were found to be present guarding the entries of tributaries into the periosteal venous plexus, collecting veins and outflow veins of the nasal mucosa. The collecting veins of the posterior venous system were found to be much larger and to contain a greater amount of muscle than those of the anterior venous system. The parietal valves are suggested to be the anatomical structures responsible for the functional separation of the two venous systems whereas the ostial valves might act as a throttle mechanism, regulating blood flow into the cavernous periosteal venous plexus and the collecting veins of the posterior venous system. The physiological significance of the presence of venous valves and their distribution in the nasal mucosa as well as the probable functions of the collecting veins of the posterior venous system are discussed. PMID- 2621132 TI - Ultrasonic investigation of the circumoral musculature. AB - Real-time ultrasound with a high frequency probe is used to image the circumoral musculature with the lips relaxed and contracted. The ultrasonic images show that muscle tissue makes up only a part of the total thickness of the lip, and varies among individuals in shape, transonicity (clearness) and thickness. The muscle layer in the upper lip is sandwiched between layers of facial and lingual connective tissue, while the muscle image in the lower lip lies close to the lingual surface. In a relaxed state the muscle layer in the lower lip is significantly thicker than that in the upper lip, and a mean difference also occurs in contraction, but to a considerably lesser degree. Thus the upper lip muscle appears to increase in thickness during contraction relatively more than does that of the lower lip. Furthermore, the contraction in the upper lip seems to occur fairly uniformly along the lip from left to right. The muscular changes in the lower lip are more complex, even though embryologically complexity is ascribed properly to the upper lip. In the lower lip contraction seems to occur in the lateral parts and in the mentalis muscle, but in the midline the orbicularis oris muscle remains quite inactive. More complex arrangements are essential merely to ensure support of the lower lip against gravity. PMID- 2621133 TI - The fine structure of the human fetal urinary bladder. Development and maturation. A light, transmission and scanning electron microscopic study. AB - The urinary bladders of 27 human fetuses, aged 7 weeks to full term, were studied by light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy to establish the sequence of events in the development and maturation of the organ during fetal life. In the early specimens, 7-12 weeks old, the urinary bladder was lined by a bilayered, cuboidal and glycogen-rich epithelium. During the 13-17th weeks the epithelium thickened, a third layer developed and by light microscopy it now resembled urothelium. By 21 weeks this had evolved into a 3-4 layer thick epithelium with typical ultrastructural urothelial characteristics. Smooth muscle cells emerged from the condensed mesenchyme of the bladder wall by the 12th week of gestation, initially in the cephalic part of the organ but spreading within a week into the caudal end. Our findings indicate that the human fetal bladder undergoes a series of vital developmental changes during 13-21 weeks of gestation finally acquiring the typical urothelial lining and a well-developed muscular coat. PMID- 2621134 TI - Axon numbers in rat oculomotor, trochlear and abducent nerves. AB - In the rat oculomotor, trochlear and abducent nerves, large and small classes of myelinated fibres can be clearly distinguished. Small myelinated axons comprise a larger proportion of the total in the oculomotor nerve than in the other two. Mean counts enable the myelinated preganglionic parasympathetic outflow of the oculomotor nerve to be estimated at 216 fibres. Unmyelinated fibres are most frequent in the abducent nerve and least frequent in the trochlear nerve. PMID- 2621135 TI - Detailed morphology of the stapedius muscle of the rat. An integrated light microscopical, morphometrical, histochemical, immunohistochemical and electron microscopical study in relation to function. AB - The stapedius muscle of the rat, a very small muscle, appeared to have several atypical morphological characteristics. The muscle fibres were found to be irregularly shaped and composed of relatively small bundles of myofibrils. Mitochondria were distributed irregularly, i.e. in long strands, between the bundles of myofibrils. Enzyme histochemically, most fibres could be classified as fast oxidative glycolytic fibres (IIA). Only 5% of the fibres appeared to be slow twitch fibres; however, these fibres also had a high glycolytic capacity and therefore could not be classified as the classical slow twitch fibres. The immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal anti-heavy chain myosin isotypes showed discrepancies when compared to the enzyme histochemical results. Moreover, different adult heavy chain myosin isotypes appeared to coexist in one single muscle fibre. The results suggest that the muscle has an isometric contraction pattern and that it can contract rapidly with great endurance. This endows the muscle with properties suitable for a function in the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss and also in impact noise over longer periods of time. PMID- 2621136 TI - A stereological study of the ependyma of the mouse spinal cord. With a comparative note on the choroid plexus ependyma. AB - Applying different stereological techniques, the total ependymal volume in the spinal cord of mice was estimated to be 83 x 10(6) microns cubed, the number of cells to be 163,000 and the mean ependymal cell volume to be 510 microns cubed. Compared to choroid plexus cells in the third ventricle, the ependymal cells in the spinal cord contained a smaller mitochondrial volume (9.8% versus 4.6% of cell volume) and less rough endoplasmic reticulum (2.1% versus 0.4%). These findings indicate that the metabolic activity of the ependyma in the spinal cord is lower than that in the choroid plexus. Compared to liver and exocrine pancreatic cells, ependymal cells in both locations must be considered to have a rather low metabolic activity. PMID- 2621137 TI - The functional anatomy of tensor fasciae latae and gluteus medius and minimus. AB - The more accurate description of the anatomy of the glutei and the new biomechanical theory that has been presented describe the abductor mechanism as a system in which the tensor fasciae latae has the primary function of balancing the weight of the body and the non-weight-bearing leg during walking. Gluteus medius with its three parts and phasic functions is responsible for the stabilisation of the hip joint in the initial phase of the gait cycle. It is important also in initiating the major gait determinant of pelvic rotation. Gluteus minimus functions as a primary hip stabiliser during the mid- and late phase of the gait cycle. PMID- 2621138 TI - Quantitative comparison of luteal histology in the rat and rabbit: changes from mid- to late gestation. AB - Progesterone secretion by the corpora lutea (CL) of rats and rabbits declines from a peak, at about Day 16 of gestation, to near term (Day 22 rats and 28 rabbits). However there are major differences between the two species in CL growth and blood flow over this period. In the present work quantitative histological measurements were made of CL at these stages to examine the accompanying structural changes. Eight rats and five rabbits were examined at each stage: standard morphometric techniques were used. There was gross discrepancy between the two species in the histology of their CL at peak secretory activity. Although the proportions of the major tissue components were similar, the rabbit luteal cell (52 pl) was five times larger than that in the rat (9 pl). There was substantially less vascular and interstitial space in the rabbit, all characteristics which might affect transport processes between luteal cell cytoplasm and blood. Over the period examined, there was no change in CL volume in the rat but a 37% reduction in the rabbit due to loss of luteal cells. The vascular space in the rat, however, was reduced, whereas that in the rabbit declined only in proportion to the overall decrease in CL volume. These results show that structurally there is a substantial difference in patterns of early regression between the two species which reflect different mechanisms involved. PMID- 2621139 TI - Cytoarchitectonic organisation of the abducens nucleus in the pigeon (Columbia livia). AB - The distribution of abducens nucleus motoneurons and internuclear neurons was determined in the pigeon (Columbia livia) by injecting horseradish peroxidase or fluorochromes into the ipsilateral lateral rectus muscle and/or in the contralateral oculomotor nucleus. A small degree of intermingling of motoneurons and internuclear neurons in the caudal two thirds of the nucleus and an almost complete segregation of both types of neurons in the rostral third was observed. Both labelled populations, motoneurons and internuclear neurons, were more numerous at the central part of the abducens nucleus. Motoneurons were preferentially located nearer the medial longitudinal fasciculus and less numerous at the rostral end of the nucleus. Internuclear neurons were preferentially located further from the medial longitudinal fasciculus and were less abundant at the caudal end of the nucleus. The evolutionary trend of the relative location of both types of neurons is discussed in relation to the degree of conjugate eye movements. PMID- 2621140 TI - Age related changes in neuron number in the mouse lateral vestibular nucleus. AB - The number of large neurons in the lateral vestibular nucleus of the mouse brain decreases in number after 25 months of age, from 488 at 25 months to 298 at 31 months. The number of small neurons in the nucleus remains constant up to 31 months of age. Large neurons accumulate lipofuscin from 25 months and their mean nuclear diameter increases significantly between 25 and 28 months of age. Small neurons contain very little lipofuscin even at 31 months of age and their mean nuclear diameter remains constant between 6 and 31 months. The difference in response of the two types of neurons to ageing may be due to their connections. Large neurons project to spinal motor neurons which decline in number with age and they receive projections from Purkinje cells in the anterior lobe of the cerebellum which also decline in number with age. Small neurons mainly project to the oculogyric nuclei in at least one of which (the abducens) there is no loss of neurons up to 31 months of age. PMID- 2621141 TI - The significance of intestinal flow in the maturing of B lymphocytes and the chicken antibody response. AB - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of intestinal material on the maturing of B lymphocytes in the bursa of Fabricius and on the antibody response to SRBC. Experiments were carried out on chicks whose burso-cloacal stalk had been ligated at hatching, in order to avoid any contact between the bursal tissues and intestinal material. Chicks subjected to a sham operation, or not operated at all, were used as controls. Results obtained by immunoperoxidase test, using an anti-chicken Ig antiserum, indicate that burso-cloacal stalk ligature leads to an increase in B cells in the bursa of Fabricius 20 days after the operation and a slight decrease after 60 days. The response to SRBC reveals an increase after 20 days, though no variations are found with respect to controls after 60 days. Thus, B lymphocytes mature independently of intestinal stimuli. Furthermore, observations carried out at the age of 20 days indicate that B lymphocytes disappear almost completely from the area of cloacal lymphoid infiltration in chicks with a ligated bursa. It is hypothesised that together with a systemic peripheralisation of B lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs and in blood, there exists an intramural local peripheralisation, which is interrupted by ligature of the burso-cloacal stalk. PMID- 2621142 TI - Neoglycoprotein binding distinguishes distinct zones in the epithelia of the porcine eye. AB - The presence and location of specific endogenous lectins in the anterior epithelia of the porcine eye were determined by histochemical staining using biotinylated glycosylated carrier molecules. Endogenous lectins with specificities for galactosides, alpha-mannosides and beta-xylosides were present in the conjunctival epithelium, but the corneal anterior epithelium appeared essentially free of histochemically demonstrable endogenous lectins. The corneal posterior epithelium contained a rich and complex set of endogenous lectins. The transitional area between conjunctival and corneal anterior epithelia at the limbus cornea contained, in striking contrast to either of the epithelia bordering it, cells expressing endogenous lectins in considerable wealth and variety. PMID- 2621143 TI - Histochemical study of the differentiation of microglial cells in the developing human cerebral hemispheres. AB - Applying nucleoside diphosphatase (NDPase) histochemistry, the appearance and differentiation of microglial cells in the developing human cerebral hemispheres were investigated by light and electron microscopy. In the pallium of the 38 days old human embryo, a few round NDPase-positive cells (round cells) were observed in the expanding zone. Although distinct blood vessels had not yet formed within the wall of the pallium, some cellular elements resembling haemopoietic cells were noticed in the expanding zone. In the 51 days old fetus, blood vessels displaying NDPase activity were seen in the mantle and marginal layers, and some invaded the matrix. Several round NDPase-positive cells were distributed, mainly around the vascular sprouts (primitive blood vessels) in the matrix. In the marginal layer, NDPase-positive cells exhibiting short cytoplasmic processes were encountered (poorly ramifying cells). In the 58, 66 and 82 days old fetuses, the round NDPase-positive cells were seen mainly in the matrix or subcortical layer where vascular sprouts were conspicuous and the poorly ramifying cells were in the subcortical and marginal layers. In the two latter fetuses, NDPase-positive cells showing long highly ramifying cytoplasmic processes (highly ramifying cells) were noted mainly in the marginal layer and sometimes in the subcortical layer. In the 5 months old fetuses, numerous NDPase-positive cells were distributed in the mantle, subcortical and marginal layers, and most of them appeared to belong to the populations of the poorly or highly ramifying cells. On the basis of the ultrastructural features, the round cells and highly ramifying cells were regarded as amoeboid cells and microglial cells, respectively. These findings suggest that at least some amoeboid cells are transformed into microglial cells via the stages of poorly ramifying microglial cells, and also that, in the human cerebral hemispheres, appearance of the microglial elements is closely related with vascularisation, especially in the early developmental stages. PMID- 2621144 TI - The lacrimal fossa in Indians. AB - The boundaries and shape of the lacrimal fossa and the bones that make it up are described in 120 skulls. PMID- 2621145 TI - Differentiation of alpha and gamma motoneurons by the retrograde uptake of horseradish peroxidase. AB - The classification of motoneurons based on size alone may not be an absolute morphological criterion. There appears to be a fair difference in the pattern of horseradish peroxidase uptake between the phrenic and the intercostal motoneurons. Hence we would like to suggest that the gamma and the alpha motoneurons differ in the horseradish peroxidase uptake. PMID- 2621146 TI - Fine structure of lymph pathways in nodes from the superficial inguinal lymph centre in the pig. AB - In the pig lymph node most lymph passes from afferent lymphatics to trabecular sinuses in centrally located dense nodular tissue. The lining of these sinuses is continuous adjacent to the trabecula but it is interrupted by numerous gaps adjacent to the parenchyma. Where the trabeculae end, their associated sinuses are continuous with the many interstitial spaces, up to 10 microns across, in the diffuse tissue. Lymph percolates through these spaces and is directly exposed to large numbers of macrophages with elaborate cytoplasmic veils and to reticular fibres which could be involved in antigen retention. Parts of the diffuse tissue are arranged into sinuses and cords in a manner similar to the medullary tissue in other species and a subcapsular sinus is also present over the diffuse tissue. There are gaps in the lining of these sinuses through which they communicate with the interstices of the parenchyma. Lymph flows from the sinuses in the diffuse tissue into efferent lymph vessels; these are usually in the capsule or along the plane of fusion of adjacent node anlagen. PMID- 2621147 TI - A quantitative study of the histochemical and morphometric characteristics of the human cricopharyngeus muscle. AB - Samples of human cricopharyngeus muscles obtained at postmortem were assessed for fibre type composition and fibre size. Fibre type was determined using serial cryostat sections exposed to several histochemical reactions; narrow fibre diameter and fibre area were measured from photomicrographs using a digitiser interfaced to a microcomputer. Results were compared with values from samples of vastus lateralis obtained from the same subjects. Cricopharyngeus muscle, in comparison with vastus lateralis, contained significantly more oxidative fibres but fewer glycolytic fibres and significantly more Type I fibres but fewer Type IIB. Cricopharyngeal fibres were significantly smaller than the fibres in vastus lateralis and in neither muscle were fibre sizes normally distributed. In each muscle most Type I fibres were oxidative, and the ratio of oxidative: glycolytic fibres was similar for Type IIA and IIB fibres. The fibre type proportions and fibre sizes in cricopharyngeus did not vary significantly with age or between males and females. The composition of cricopharyngeus--mostly Type I oxidative fibres and few Type II glycolytic fibres--correlated well with the functions of sustained tonicity to prevent aerophagia and occasional forceful contraction during deglutition. PMID- 2621148 TI - Neuronal populations in the submucous plexus of the human colon. AB - The submucous plexus of the human distal colon was studied in order to determine whether or not it contains two or more ganglionated plexuses which can be separately identified. Nerve cells were visualised in sections through the wall of the distal colon, and in wholemount preparations of laminae from the submucous plexus by staining for NADH-diaphorase activity. The submucous plexus appeared to contain three identifiable plexuses: Henle's plexus was located adjacent to the circular muscle layer, Meissner's plexus was located adjacent to the muscularis mucosae and a third intermediate plexus was found which lay closer to the muscularis mucosae than to the circular muscle. In Henle's plexus, there were fewer smaller neurons than in the other plexuses: 15.1% had an area less than 180 microns 2, while in the intermediate plexus and in Meissner's plexus the equivalent figures were 43.1% and 43.2%, respectively. In Meissner's plexus, approximately half the ganglia were associated with single fibre tracts and half with two or more fibre tracts, but in the intermediate plexus and Henle's plexus, approximately three quarters of the ganglia were associated with single fibre tracts and the remaining quarter with multiple tracts. PMID- 2621149 TI - Sarcomere length changes in muscles of the human thigh during walking. AB - In a previous investigation (Cutts, 1988a) sarcomere lengths were determined for muscles of the thigh in the anatomical position, and a method devised for the prediction of sarcomere lengths at other positions. In the present investigation, this information was used to predict the sarcomere length changes in the muscles of the thigh during walking, in conjunction with cine film and bone models of experimental subjects. When compared with the length tension curve for human muscle (Walker & Schrodt, 1973), the results indicate that during walking the muscles operate at sarcomere lengths near the plateau of the curve, where maximum tension can be realised. PMID- 2621150 TI - Stability of neuron and glial number in the abducens nerve nucleus of the ageing mouse brain. AB - The number of neurons and glia in the mouse abducens nerve nucleus was estimated at 6, 25, 28 and 31 months of age. There was no significant variation in either the number of neurons (mean 118) or glia (mean 168) or in the glia to neuron ratio (mean 1.42) with age. Mean neuronal and glial nuclear diameters also remained constant and there was no obvious loss of Nissl substance and only a minimal accumulation of lipofuscin in neuronal perikarya with age. The apparent lack of age-related changes in neurons of the abducens nucleus could be a consequence of the high degree of motor activity in the extrinsic eye muscles during both the waking and sleeping states. PMID- 2621151 TI - Ultrastructural studies on the development of the blood-epididymis barrier in immature rats. AB - The development of the blood-epididymis barrier in immature rats (8, 11, 14, 18, and 21 days old) was examined with an electron microscope using lanthanum nitrate as an electron dense tracer. A gradual increase in the development of the blood epididymis barrier was noted with age. On Day 8, lanthanum was frequently detected in both the intercellular spaces and the lumen. On day 14, no lanthanum penetration into the lumen was observed in 75% of the junctions in the caput, 40.3% in corpus, and 30% in cauda epididymidis. On Day 18, only 7.5%, 9%, and 15%, of the junctions in the caput, corpus, and cauda epididymidis, respectively, remained permeable to lanthanum. No lanthanum was observed in the lumen of any tubules in the 21-day-old rat epididymis. These findings indicate that the postnatal development of the blood-epididymis barrier is gradual, and that its formation is virtually completed by Day 21. As with adult rats, the zonula occludens is the ultimate structural component of the blood-epididymis barrier in immature rats (Agarwal and Hoffer, 1985). PMID- 2621152 TI - Human sperm mitochondrial function related to motility: a flow and image cytometric assessment. AB - Current evaluation of male fertility, routinely estimated by sperm count, motility, and morphology, provides only crude information about the fertility state of individuals. Both flow and image cytometry were applied to mitochondrial activity and sperm motility respectively. Sperm samples from fertile donors were concomitantly measured for Rhodamine 123 (Rh123) uptake (an estimation of mitochondrial activity), percentage of dead cells, and motility characteristics, such as percentage of motility, curvilinear velocity, and amplitude of lateral head displacement. These measurements were done under experimental conditions known to modulate sperm motility (temperature and time course survival in a capacitating medium). Bimodal distributions were found for Rh123 uptake. Flow cytometry-derived parameters were essentially time-dependent whereas motility characteristics were primarily temperature-dependent. Correlations were found between various flow cytometry-derived parameters and motility characteristics. Most of the correlations were obtained after a 24 h incubation in a capacitating medium. The most significant correlation in every experimental condition concerned the percentage of motile spermatozoa and the Rh123 uptakes. The drop in motility observed after a 24 h incubation was paralleled by a markedly lower drop in mitochondrial activity. The data suggest that these two complementary techniques represent an improvement in basic and/or clinical assessment of the functional spermatozoa status. PMID- 2621153 TI - The differential effects of the indazole-carboxylic acid derivative, tolnidamine, on Sertoli cell protein secretion. AB - The indazole-carboxylic acid derivative tolnidamine (TOL) has marked antispermatogenic activity in rats. Previous morphological and biochemical studies indicate that Sertoli cells are one of the targets of this compound. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of TOL on the in vitro secretory functions of primary Sertoli cell-enriched cultures prepared from rats of different ages by monitoring the changes of three known Sertoli cell proteins, androgen binding protein (rABP), transferrin (rTF), and testibumin (rTB). The addition of TOL at the beginning of the culture period reduced the plating efficiency of Sertoli cells; however, TOL did not induce a significant change in cell number if it was added 24 h after plating of the cells. Sertoli cell enriched cultures prepared from tests of 10-day-old rats were highly sensitive to TOL as evidenced by a marked inhibition in secretions of rABP, rTB, and rTF in all experiments. In cultures prepared from 15- and 20-day-old rats, TOL had no apparent effect on rABP secretion, but reduced rTF and increased rTB secretion. Thus, TOL has a differential effect on the secretion of individual proteins in Sertoli cells cultured from rats between 10 and 20 days of age. This phenomenon is presumably a consequence of the progressive maturation of Sertoli cells in the seminiferous epithelium. PMID- 2621154 TI - Quantitative assessment of nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity in normal men using a home monitor. AB - Current methods now permit the measurement of nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) in men with erectile dysfunction. But the relationship of rigidity to tumescence and the changes in rigidity with age have not been defined in normal men. Accordingly, the authors assessed NPTR in 47 normal men using a portable, take-home monitor (Rigiscan). Penile tumescence time was found to decrease with advancing age (p less than 0.05), whereas the number of erectile episodes and penile rigidity did not significantly change with age for men in the third through sixth decades (p less than 0.05). Using area-under-the-curve as an integrated measure of amplitude and duration, significant correlations between tumescence and rigidity (p less than 0.001), and between tip and base measurements (p less than 0.001) were found. With these normative data, prospective studies should determine the sensitivity and specificity of various NPTR parameters in the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction. PMID- 2621155 TI - Isolation and characterization of agglomerins A, B, C and D. AB - New antibiotics, agglomerins A, B, C and D, were isolated from the culture broth of a bacterial strain identified as Enterobacter agglomerans. These antibiotics are acidic in nature and their sodium salts are obtained as colorless crystalline powders, soluble in lower alcohols. All the antibiotics shows characteristic UV maxima at 248 and 298 nm. Molecular formulas: A, C15H21O4Na; B, C17H23O4Na; C, C17H25O4Na and D, C19H27O4Na; were indicated by elemental analysis and MS. These antibiotics are active against a wide variety of anaerobic bacteria and weakly against aerobic Gram-positive bacteria in vitro. PMID- 2621156 TI - Novel cytocidal antibiotics, glucopiericidinols A1 and A2. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, structure elucidation and biological characteristics. AB - Two novel antibiotics, glucopiericidinols A1 (1) and A2 (2) were isolated from the cultured broth of Streptomyces sp. OM-5689. The structures of these two compounds were deduced employing spectroscopic analyses. These antibiotics showed potent cytocidal activities against HeLa S3 cells in vitro (MIC 1: 0.39 microgram/ml, 2: 0.10 microgram/ml) when the cells were exposed to the antibiotics for 3 days. Although 1 and 2 showed no activity at 1,000 micrograms/ml against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeast or fungi, they did have inhibitory activity against Piricularia oryzae (MIC of 1: 125 micrograms/ml, of 2: 31 micrograms/ml). PMID- 2621157 TI - New diterpenoid antibiotics, spirocardins A and B. AB - New antibiotics spirocardins A and B were isolated from the culture broth of an actinomycete isolated from a soil sample collected near Lake Hibara, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The producing strain was classified as Nocardia sp. SANK 64282. The antibiotics were isolated from the culture filtrate by solvent extraction and purified further by silica gel and preparative reverse phase column chromatography. They were primarily active against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and limited species of Gram negative bacteria such as Bacteroides fragilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae. They were also moderately active against several species of Mycoplasma. The molecular formulae of spirocardins A and B were C20H30O6 and C20H32O6, respectively. From their physico-chemical characteristics they were revealed to be diterpenoid antibiotics with closely related structures and the former was easily converted to the latter by the reduction with NaBH4. PMID- 2621158 TI - Cispentacin, a new antifungal antibiotic. II. In vitro and in vivo antifungal activities. AB - Cispentacin [-)-(1R,2S)-2-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid) is a new antifungal antibiotic possessing potent anti-Candida activity. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and IC100 values of cispentacin against clinical isolates of Candida albicans were in the ranges 6.3 approximately 12.5 and 6.3 approximately 50 micrograms/ml, respectively, by turbidimetric measurement in yeast nitrogen base glucose medium. No significant activity was seen against any yeasts and molds when tested by the agar dilution method using three different agar media: KNOPP's agar, yeast extract-glucose-peptone agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar. This antibiotic demonstrated good therapeutic efficacy against a systemic Candida infection in mice by both parenteral and po administrations. The 50% protection dose (PD50) values after single iv and po administrations were 10 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. It was also effective in a systemic infection with Cryptococcus neoformans and in both lung and vaginal infections with C. albicans in mice. Cispentacin did not induce acute lethal toxicity at 1,000 mg/kg by iv injection and 1,500 mg/kg by ip and po administrations in mice. PMID- 2621159 TI - Sandramycin, a novel antitumor antibiotic produced by a Nocardioides sp. Production, isolation, characterization and biological properties. AB - A new antitumor antibiotic, sandramycin, was isolated from cultured broth of a Nocardioides sp. (ATCC 39419) and purified by solvent partition and column chromatography. Sandramycin, a new depsipeptide, was moderately active in vitro against Gram-positive organisms and in vivo against leukemia P388 in mice. PMID- 2621160 TI - Leinamycin, a new antitumor antibiotic from Streptomyces: producing organism, fermentation and isolation. AB - Leinamycin (DC 107) is newly discovered antitumor antibiotic with an unusual 1,3 dioxo-1,2-dithiolane structure. Five different producing strains were isolated from soils collected in Japan during 1985-1988 and were taxonomically assigned as Streptomyces. Fermentation studies indicate: Leinamycin was unstable in culture broth. A chemically defined medium could be designed for a preferable production. Streptomyces sp. S-140 grew on medium supplemented with Zn2+ and high porus polymer resin and accumulated 32 micrograms/ml of leinamycin. Improved isolation methods are described along with identification of mikamycin A co-produced with leinamycin by the strain S-140. PMID- 2621161 TI - AT2433-A1, AT2433-A2, AT2433-B1 and AT2433-B2 novel antitumor compounds produced by Actinomadura melliaura. II. Structure determination. AB - The chemical structures of AT2433-A1 (2), AT2433-A2 (3), AT2433-B1 (4) and AT2433 B2 (5) were elucidated by degradation and spectroscopic studies. Compounds 2-5 are disaccharides closely related to rebeccamycin. The aglycone in 2 and 3 was determined to be 6-N-methyl-11-chloro-5H-indolo[2,3-a]pyrolo[3,4-c]carbazole and in 4 and 5 it was determined to be 6-N-methyl-5H-indolo[2,3-a]pyrolo[3,4 c]carbazole. Compounds 2 and 4 are 4-N"-methyl analogs of 3 and 5. PMID- 2621162 TI - Eremomycin--new glycopeptide antibiotic: chemical properties and structure. AB - By a combination of chemical and spectroscopic (1H and 13C NMR) studies the structure of a glycopeptide antibiotic eremomycin has been elucidated. It is closely related to vancomycin, but differs in sugar and chlorine content. The eremomycin aglycone contains monodechlorovancomycinic acid; the only chlorine atom is situated in the second amino acid after the N-terminal amino acid residue of the peptide. The sugar part is composed of glucose and two residues of an amino sugar shown to be 2,3,6-trideoxy-3-amino-C-3-methyl-L-arabino-hexopyranose (4-epi-vancosamine). One of the amino sugar residues is a component of the disaccharide 2-O-(alpha-L-4-epi-vancosaminyl)-beta-D-glucopyranose, attached to a triphenyl ether moiety; the position of another one is at the serine oxygen in the C-terminal region of the aglycone. PMID- 2621163 TI - Erythromycin A oxime 11,12-carbonate and its oxime ethers. AB - Erythromycin A oxime 11,12-carbonate (5a) and its oxime ethers 5b approximately 5p have been prepared and their antibacterial activities compared with those of erythromycin A (1) and its 11,12-carbonate 2. The oxime 5a and many of its oxime ether derivatives showed good activity in vitro against Gram-positive and the more permeable Gram-negative organisms, in some cases being even more active than the carbonate 2. PMID- 2621164 TI - Synthesis and antitumor activity of new anthracyclines. AB - New anthracyclines including 2-deoxy-L-fucose, 2-deoxy-L-rhamnose and 2,6-dideoxy 2-iodo-alpha-L-mannose as sugar moieties, respectively 8, 11 and 14, have been obtained by glycosidation of the 4-demethoxy-9-hydroxymethyl-9-deacetyl daunorubicinone (1) with appropriate sugars under Koenigs-Knorr conditions. They were found to display high cytotoxicity on L1210 leukemia, but also an outstanding antileukemic activity in mice in the case of 8 and 14. PMID- 2621165 TI - Nucleotide sequence of SN-07 chromophore binding site. AB - DNase I footprinting was used to investigate binding sites for SN-07 chromophore on DNA fragments prepared from pBR322. Six sites were protected on about 150 base pair DNA fragments by SN-07 chromophore, but not by related anthracycline antibiotics from DNase I digestion. All the protected sites contained the dinucleotide sequence 5'-GC-3', but no other regularities could be discerned. A drug-induced conformational change of DNA was suggested by enhancement of DNase I sensitivity between the protected sites. These results support covalent interaction of the carbinolamine function of SN-07 chromophore to 2-amino group of guanine residues. PMID- 2621166 TI - In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity of KT3777, a new orally active carbacephem. AB - KT3777 is a novel carbacephem antibiotic structurally identical to cefaclor (CCL), except that the sulfur atom of position 1 of the cephem nucleus has been replaced by carbon. KT3777 was investigated for in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities in comparison with CCL, cephalexin (CEX) and amoxicillin. The MIC50 of KT3777 ranged from 0.2 to 3.13 micrograms/ml for clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. KT3777 possessed an antibacterial spectrum and potency similar to that of CCL. However, against E. coli and K. pneumoniae, KT3777 was about twice as active as CCL. KT3777 was more active than CEX against all strains tested. Killing-curve studies demonstrated bactericidal activity of KT3777 at concentrations above the MIC. KT3777 showed good affinity for penicillin-binding proteins 1A, 1Bs, 3 and 4 of E. coli NIHJ JC-2. The protective effect of KT3777 against systemic infections in mice was comparable to that of CCL with a few exceptions and about 3 to 7 times greater than that of CEX. KT3777 also proved effective against localized infections such as acute pneumonia and ascending urinary tract infections in mice. PMID- 2621167 TI - Mycinamicins, new macrolide antibiotics. XI. Isolation and structure elucidation of a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of the mycinamicins, mycinamicin VIII. PMID- 2621168 TI - New virginiae butanolides from Streptomyces virginiae. PMID- 2621169 TI - Selective cytotoxic activity of brefeldin A against human tumor cell lines. PMID- 2621170 TI - Studies on free radical scavenging substances from microorganisms. I. Carazostatin, a new free radical scavenger produced by Streptomyces chromofuscus DC 118. PMID- 2621171 TI - Proposal to name the vancomycin-ristocetin like glycopeptides as dalbaheptides. PMID- 2621172 TI - Cephalosporin and aminoglycoside utilization in different parts of the world. AB - Cephalosporin and aminoglycoside utilization in Hong Kong during 1984, 1985 and 1986, were evaluated from wholesale data and compared with corresponding Swedish statistics and with UK data from a survey of non-hospital prescriptions. Details regarding each drug and category were collated, adjusted for population and if appropriate expressed as defined daily doses (DDDs)/1000 inhabitants/day. With respect to cephalosporins: (a) overall sales (especially those of the newer and more expensive parenteral drugs) were increasing; (b) parenteral sales were much larger in Hong Kong hospitals than in the community (up to about 106 versus 16 kg/million inhabitants/year respectively), but in Sweden they were comparable (up to about 38 and 41 kg/million inhabitants/year respectively); (c) non-hospital oral utilization appeared greater in the UK than in Sweden and Hong Kong (up to about 0.7, 0.4 and 0.4 DDDs/1000 inhabitants/day respectively); (d) oral sales to hospitals were greater in Hong Kong than Sweden (up to 0.3 compared to 0.1 DDDs/1000 inhabitants/day respectively) and (e) oral paediatric formulations (liquids) were most popular in Hong Kong, a higher proportion of children in Hong Kong being one possible reason. Non-hospital sales of gentamicin and kanamycin in Hong Kong were much greater than in Sweden (up to about 0.20 and 0.06 vs. 0.01 and 0.00 DDDs/1000 inhabitants/day respectively), whereas UK utilization appeared almost non-existent. Topical neomycin sales in Hong Kong were much more popular than in Sweden (up to about 60 vs. 9 g/million inhabitants/day). These regional differences in antibiotic utilization may be related to respective health care systems (and thus the affordability and availability of drugs) and prescribing preferences (cultural and/or promoted by drug companies), quite apart from possible differences in drug efficacy, drug tolerance and the prevalence and severity of various infections. PMID- 2621173 TI - The activity of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid against Pseudomonas pseudomallei. PMID- 2621174 TI - Activity of quinolones against Campylobacter pylori in vitro. PMID- 2621175 TI - A simple stacked disc technique for testing bacterial susceptibility to antimicrobial agents in combination with sulbactam. PMID- 2621176 TI - A comparison of aztreonam and imipenem induction of class I beta-lactamase in Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047. AB - Aztreonam and imipenem were shown to induce Class I beta-lactamase in Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 to a similar extent. Quantitatively, however, aztreonam was far less efficient as an inducer than imipenem. Optimum induction by aztreonam required a concentration of 200 mg/l, which was 800-fold greater than the concentration of 0.25 mg/l of imipenem which resulted in the optimum induction. The differences in the concentrations of aztreonam and imipenem that gave optimum induction were related to the inherent antibacterial activities of the antibiotics when these were determined under the conditions of broth culture. The beta-lactamase activity of sonicated cell samples following induction was inhibited by the presence of aztreonam but not by imipenem. The inhibition was overcome by first washing the cell samples from induced cultures and then incubating the sonicates for a prolonged period at 4 degrees C. It is proposed that the phenomena of an optimum inducing concentration and the interference with the assay of beta-lactamase by the presence of residual antibiotic demonstrated in this study with aztreonam and imipenem would be of relevance when applied more broadly to studies of beta-lactamase induction. In particular these would have a profound effect on the results of studies which attempt to compare the efficacy of beta-lactams as inducers of Class I beta-lactamase. PMID- 2621177 TI - In-vitro activity of flomoxef, a new oxacephem group antibiotic, against Nocardia in comparison with other cephalosporins. AB - The susceptibility of 113 strains of pathogenic Nocardia, N. asteroides, N. farcinica, N. nova, N. brasiliensis and N. otitidiscaviarum to a new oxacephem antibiotic flomoxef was determined by an agar dilution method in comparison with those of 13 other cephalosporins. Flomoxef was two to 50 times more active against these pathogenic Nocardia than other cephalopsorins tested. However, there were differences in susceptibility to this antibiotic among these Nocardia strains. N. asteroides was the most sensitive species, followed by N. farcinica and N. nova. N. brasiliensis was moderately sensitive and N. otitidiscaviarum was resistant. PMID- 2621178 TI - Acyclovir concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid at steady state. AB - A long-term clinical trial of acyclovir, 800 mg tid, as a therapeutic agent in multiple sclerosis (MS) is in progress. In three patients paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were sampled after one, four, eight and twelve months of continuous treatment. These samples were collected 1.5 h before or 1.5 h after an oral dose. Acyclovir concentrations were assessed by radioimmunoassay. In the CSF, the acyclovir concentration was relatively stable, with a mean of 0.83 microM, while the serum acyclovir concentration was variable with mean peak and trough concentrations of 4.08 and 2.47 microM, respectively. In two other MS patients the acyclovir concentration time profile in serum and CSF was studied at steady state during the 8 h dose interval. In this study the acyclovir concentration in the CSF was only slightly affected by the fluctuations in serum and the acyclovir CSF/acyclovir serum ratio was apparently not influenced by the blood-brain barrier function. We found no indication of an accumulation of acyclovir in cerebrospinal fluid after one to twelve months of oral treatment. PMID- 2621179 TI - The prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Haemophilus influenzae in Ireland. AB - From January to April 1988, 36 clinical microbiology laboratories in Northern Ireland and Eire took part in a survey to determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Haemophilus influenzae. All isolates were collected and despatched to a coordinating laboratory where identification was confirmed and antibiotic sensitivity tests repeated. One thousand seven hundred and ninety strains were available for analysis. Of these, 10.9% were resistant to ampicillin (10.2% being beta-lactamase producers), 0.4% to amoxycillin-clavulanate, 2.1% to cefaclor, 3.7% to chloramphenicol, 2.6% to erythromycin, 4.1% to tetracycline, 2.6% to sulphonamide and 5.1% to trimethoprim. One hundred and nine strains (6.3%) were resistant to two or more of the antibiotics tested and 31 (1.7%) exhibited combined resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and tetracycline. The prevalence of resistance to ampicillin and chloramphenicol was higher than had been previously recorded in largescale studies conducted on the British mainland. PMID- 2621180 TI - Trimethoprim resistance in gram-negative bacteria isolated in South Africa. AB - Resistance to trimethoprim was surveyed in 2914 Gram-negative bacteria isolated in three hospitals in South Africa. Bacteria were collected from November 1986 to January 1987 and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of trimethoprim for each isolate was determined. The overall resistance rate (MIC greater than 8 mg/l) was 56.2%, and high-level resistance (MIC greater than 1024 mg/l) occurred in 24.0% of the total. The frequency of resistance in isolates of Enterobacteriaceae was 48.5% (MIC greater than 8 mg/l). Of the organisms isolated from urine specimens, 49.1% were resistant to trimethoprim, 71.8% of these being highly resistant. Investigation of 36 isolates for the presence of the type I and/or type II dihydrofolate reductase genes showed that eight isolates reacted with the type I probe but none with the type II probe. PMID- 2621181 TI - Antimicrobial usage and microbial resistance in a university hospital during a seven-year period. AB - The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staph. aureus and Escherichia coli isolated in a university hospital, and the usage of antimicrobial agents within and outside the hospital was established for a seven-year period. The overall resistance to antimicrobial agents increased markedly for Staph. epidermidis but remained constant for the two other species. In Staph. epidermidis, a pronounced increase was seen in prevalence of resistance to penicillin, sulphonamides, trimethoprim, erythromycin and chloramphenicol, whereas resistance to streptomycin and tetracycline decreased. The trends in usage of beta-lactam antibiotics were identical within and outside hospital as opposed to the use of erythromycin and sulphonamides. The highest degree of correlation between antimicrobial usage and resistance to an antimicrobial was obtained using a corrected figure for antimicrobial usage paying regard not only to the use of a particular antimicrobial agent but also to a fraction of the usage of other antimicrobials which may co-select for the resistance trait. PMID- 2621182 TI - An information campaign--an important measure in controlling the use of antibiotics. AB - Denmark is one of the countries using the smallest quantity of antibiotics in proportion to its population. Nevertheless, the use of ampicillin and co trimoxazole has been found to be undesirably high. An information campaign was carried out to reduce the ampicillin and co-trimoxazole usage and to increase the penicillin usage as a consequence. To evaluate the efficacy of the campaign 602 general practitioners participated in the study, and the antibiotic treatment of 7607 patients, treated in week 13 in 1987, was recorded. These prescriptions were compared with the prescriptions recorded in two previous but identical investigations in 1979 and in 1983. The prescribing habits had changed significantly after the information campaign, resulting in national savings of two million Danish kroner/million inhabitants/year. Information could be an important measure in controlling the worldwide use of antibiotics. PMID- 2621183 TI - Non-surgical treatment of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. PMID- 2621184 TI - Male sexual dysfunction after stroke. AB - Male sexual functions namely libido and potency were evaluated in fourteen right handed stroke patients. Half of the studied patients had reduced libido while reduced potency was found in 86% patients. Right hemispheric stroke patients had significantly higher reduction in libido as compared to left hemispheric stroke patients. Libido may have some specific cortical or limbic representation in right cerebral hemisphere. PMID- 2621185 TI - Autonomic function tests in cases of chronic severe anaemia. AB - Autonomic functions were studied in 30 adult cases of chronic severe anaemia (CSA) and equal number of age and sex matched healthy controls. Blood pressure and heart rate responses to standing, to respiration (expiratory-inspiratory ratio), to Valsalva manoeuvre (Valsalva ratio) and to hand immersion in ice cold water and given 1.8 mg of atropine intravenously were studied. Patients with CSA had significantly high basal pulse rate and low blood pressure as compared to control subjects (p less than 0.001). The expiratory inspiratory ratio was abnormal in 30% of the cases of CSA (p greater than 0.10) valsalva ratio was abnormal in 50% of cases (p less than 0.01) and postural tachycardia was observed in 60% of cases (p less than 0.001). Normal response to hand immersion in ice cold water was observed in 56.6% of cases (p less than 0.001). Atropine resulted in tachycardia in 73.4% of cases of CSA as compared to 86.7% of controls (p less than 0.10). All the cases of CSA showed one or more abnormal response and in 16.6% of cases all responses were abnormal. PMID- 2621186 TI - Endoscopic injection treatment of non-variceal bleeding lesions of upper gastro intestinal tract. AB - Endoscopic injection of actively bleeding non variceal lesions with polidocanol was performed in 15 patients. Eleven of them had associated diseases. Haemostasis was achieved in 12 (80%). Three of them rebled. However, bleeding stopped by reinjection in two and spontaneously in one patient. No significant local or systemic complication was observed. This therapy avoided emergency surgery in 12 of 15 patients. Thus endoscopic injection treatment can be utilized for managing bleeding due to non variceal lesions. PMID- 2621187 TI - Bone marrow biopsy in staging of malignant lymphomas. AB - Seventy cases of malignant lymphoma studied for bone marrow involvement by Jamshidi needle trephine biopsy are reported. Bone marrow involvement was detected in 27 cases. Bone marrow biopsy helped the advancement of disease to stage IV in 22 cases though they were in stage I-III initially. Jamshidi needle biopsy was found to be a very useful diagnostic tool for detection of lymphoma deposit in the marrow. PMID- 2621188 TI - Erythrocyte morphology under phase contrast microscopy in haematuria. AB - Fresh urine samples from twenty patients with macroscopic haematuria were examined by phase contrast microscopy to study the erythrocyte morphology. Other appropriate investigation like - renal biopsy in suspected glomerulonephritis and appropriate urological investigations in other cases to prove the site of origin of erythrocyte were done in all cases. Changes in erythrocyte morphology were observed in all the 12 patients with histological evidence of proliferative glomerulonephritis. These changes included extrusion of cell cytoplasm (39.5%), 'Doughnut' cell (26.5%) budding cell (15%) and cell membrane rupture with loss of cytoplasm (15%). Overall 83.3% of the erythrocytes showed some morphologic change or the other. In 8 patients where bleeding was into the pelvicalyceal system, ureter or bladder, 95% of RBCs showed no discernible morphologic change. It is concluded that the morphological changes in the erythrocyte identified under the phase contrast microscope can help to differentiate between glomerular and non glomerular causes of bleeding. PMID- 2621189 TI - Correlation of exercise induced hypotension and development of complications during treadmill stress test. AB - Exercise induced hypotension was observed in 41 of 354 patients studied. Fourteen of 41 as against 3 out of the remaining 313 developed complications, like atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, heart block, severe angina and left ventricular failure. Close monitoring of BP during exercise testing is mandatory. PMID- 2621190 TI - HDL-cholesterol--a sensitive parameter of hepatic function in infective hepatitis. AB - HDL-cholesterol was estimated along with other biochemical parameters of hepatic function in infective hepatitis. Infective hepatitis was characterized by significantly decreased levels of HDL-cholesterol. Follow up studies indicated a good correlation of changes in HDL-cholesterol to severity of disease in all the cases whereas standard liver function tests showed equivocal changes in some cases. HDL-cholesterol may serve as a sensitive indicator of hepatic function in infective hepatitis. PMID- 2621191 TI - Cranial nerve palsies in benign intracranial hypertension. AB - Benign intracranial hypertension may occasionally be associated with various cranial nerve palsies. A case with multiple cranial nerve involvement is presented. PMID- 2621192 TI - Unilateral spino cerebellar degeneration (a case report). PMID- 2621193 TI - Trunkal tremor: orthostatic or essential? AB - A sixty two year old man who presented with tremors of trunk and lower limbs, appearing only on standing, is reported. The tremor frequency was 14-16 Hz and there was co-contraction of antagonistic muscles. No therapeutic benefit was noted with propranolol, primidone and diazepam. The possible pathogenesis of this rare orthostatic trunkal tremor and its relationship with essential tremor are discussed. PMID- 2621194 TI - DC cardioversion and coronary artery spasm. AB - Marked ST segment elevation which occurred following DC shock given for conversion of lone atrial fibrillation in a 55 years old male is reported. This was possibly coronary artery spasm induced by direct current and adds one more complication to the many already described. PMID- 2621195 TI - Erythromycin in rheumatoid arthritis. PMID- 2621196 TI - Radiological signs in pulmonary sarcoidosis. PMID- 2621197 TI - Accidental intestinal myiasis. PMID- 2621198 TI - Hypomagnesaemic atrial fibrillation in a case of aluminium phosphide poisoning. PMID- 2621199 TI - Exophthalmic thyrotoxicosis in a patient with normal-sized thyroid gland. PMID- 2621200 TI - [Comparative evaluation of a new colon preparation method prior to a double contrast barium enema: toward discontinuation of the cleansing enema]. AB - Evaluation of the efficacy and adequacy for double contrast barium enema of a recently described oral lavage solution associated with bisacodyl (Prepacol) and its comparison with a traditional method of colon cleansing (low-residue diet, cathartics and water enema) are reported. Two similar groups of 100 outpatients were compared. The new cleansing method presents several interesting advantages: time saving for the nurse of the radiology department and the patient himself (cleansing enema is no longer required), better patient acceptance, equal evacuation of fecal residue but significantly better evacuation of residual liquid resulting in better mucosal coating. PMID- 2621201 TI - A case of intracranial chordoma investigated by MRI and CT studies. AB - MR imaging of an intracranial chordoma is described. The tumor appeared strongly hyperintense on T2 weighted images and moderately hypointense on T1 weighted images with a strong homogeneous contrast enhancement after IV administration of Gadolinium Dota. MR is superior to CT in delineating the tumor margins and in defining its relationship to the brainstem, optic chiasm and the vasculature, providing essential pre-operative information. PMID- 2621202 TI - Systemic scleroderma involving the GI tract. PMID- 2621203 TI - CT and MR diagnosis of cerebellar hypoplasia. PMID- 2621204 TI - Splenic lymphoma. PMID- 2621205 TI - Leiomyosarcoma of the vena cava. PMID- 2621206 TI - Rounded atelectasis. PMID- 2621207 TI - Calcified mass of the renal parenchyma. PMID- 2621208 TI - Yersinia enterocolitis. PMID- 2621209 TI - Solitary eosinophilic granuloma of the vertebra. PMID- 2621210 TI - Extensive meningioma. PMID- 2621211 TI - Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus. PMID- 2621212 TI - Gaucher disease. PMID- 2621213 TI - Isoprenaline and the pancreas in dogs. AB - 1. In conscious dogs basal pancreatic secretion per 100 min was significantly reduced by 0.75 microgram kg-1h-1 of isoprenaline. The expected spontaneous peaking was seen only after stopping the drug. 2. Following propranolol, the 100 min pancreatic secretion was less than control but greater than secretion after isoprenaline. The interpeak interval was increased, and the perigee levels (interpeak) were higher than in the controls. Peak protein secretion was unaltered but volume was reduced. 3. Guanethidine did not abolish periodicity but it prolonged the interpeak interval. Protein peaks and 100-min totals were lower than control and volume perigees higher. 4. It is concluded that beta adrenoreceptor stimulation inhibits pancreatic secretion. Adrenergic antagonists exert similar inhibitory effects indicating a complex role for the sympathetic nervous system in the control of pancreatic secretion. PMID- 2621214 TI - Desorption and exchange properties of adsorbed albumin on apatite. Influence of long-term interfacial residence times. AB - A technique using 125I-labeled proteins was employed to study static adsorption properties and slow exchange and desorption processes of human albumin in contact with synthetic hydroxyapatite beads. With the aid of a thermostated "minicolumn," the adsorption isotherm was obtained during a so-called multiadsorption process, and could be described by a Langmuir adsorption model (K = 1.10 x 10(10) cm3.mol 1). All kinetic desorption and exchange experiments could be fitted by a simple exponential function of time. No influence of long-term interfacial residence times on characteristic relaxation times or percentage of desorbed or exchanged proteins could be detected in the present system. On the other hand, as compared to the low surface coverage domain, the small percentage of desorbable and high percentage of exchangeable molecules in the adsorption plateau domain was attributed to a bimolecular exchange process. PMID- 2621215 TI - Repair of experimental arteriotomy in rabbit aorta using a new resorbable elastin fibrin biomaterial. AB - A new artificial connective matrix which results from two reactions of fibrinogen and fibronectin on elastin was used to obturate a slit made in the abdominal aorta of rabbit. The so-called Elastin-Fibrin biomaterial behaved as a scaffold through which all the different structures were restored to their former condition. At 3 months, the material had disappeared and no thrombus, no inflammation or reject had been detected. PMID- 2621216 TI - Effects of synthetic calcium phosphates on the 3H-thymidine incorporation and alkaline phosphatase activity of human fibroblasts in culture. AB - Gingival fibroblasts were cultured with four different calcium phosphate minerals (hydroxyapatite, whitlockite, beta-tricalcium phosphate, and octocalcium phosphate). 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA and alkaline phosphatase specific activity were determined after different incubation periods. As a consequence of the phagocytosis of calcium phosphates crystals, we pointed out, compared to control, a stimulation of the rate of 3H-thymidine incorporation and sharp decreases in alkaline phosphatase activity. The magnitude of the alkaline phosphatase activity inhibition was observed to be increased with the solubility of the materials. We propose that the effects of calcium phosphates on alkaline phosphatase and 3H-thymidine incorporation could be calcium-mediated events, resulting from intracellular dissolution of phagocytized materials. We suggest that in vitro determination of 3H-thymidine incorporation and alkaline phosphatase activity, which are highly sensitive tests, could be involved in evaluation procedures of calcium phosphates biomaterials. PMID- 2621217 TI - Establishment of a neovascular bed in a collagen-impregnated polyurethane sponge. AB - A technique for promoting vascularization of a polyurethane sponge is demonstrated in the present study. Collagen-impregnated polyurethane sponges (Hypol, 2002) Foamable Hydrophilic Prepolymer (FHP) were implanted in the femoral fossa of rats for 1 day to 6 weeks. The ligated femoral artery/vein was pulled through the sponges to facilitate more complete neovascularization. Light microscopic evaluation of the implanted sponges revealed that significant vascularization had occurred by the seventh day of implantation, and was maximal by the fourth to sixth week. Sponges containing collagen had a more thorough vascularization process than sponges without collagen, perhaps due to a more uniform pore size as demonstrated by scanning EM. Time course studies suggested that the artery/vein pull-through enhanced the development of the neovascularization process in the center of the sponges. We conclude that significant vascular tissue in-growth can be developed in polyurethane sponges and that both collagen and centrally placed blood vessels help promote the vascularization process. Potential applications could extend to a variety of bioartificial systems including endocrine or hepatic transplantation, soft-tissue prosthetic materials, bone grafts, or drug delivery systems. Further studies would be useful in providing additional information on the factors promoting neovascularization, and on the potential applications of this methodology using the present or similar biomaterials. PMID- 2621218 TI - A micromechanical technique for monitoring cell-substrate adhesiveness: measurements of the strength of red blood cell adhesion to glass and polymer test surfaces. AB - We report a novel method for rapid comparison of the relative strength of adhesion of cells to different solid surfaces. A vertically oscillating micropipette is brought above an individual cell in such a manner that it makes contact with the cell at the lower limit of its travel. The pressure within the micropipette is gradually reduced until the cell attaches to the micropipette by suction and is lifted from the solid surface. The reduction in pressure required to detach a cell depends on the specific cell/substrate combination and serves as a relative measure of the strength of cell adhesion. A particular advantage of this approach over conventional methods is the ability to select particular cells from a population. As a test of the reproducibility of the method and its ability to distinguish the strength of adhesion of cells to different solid surfaces, we have used it to measure the adhesiveness of human red blood cells to hydrophilic glass, tissue culture grade polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polymethyl methacrylate. We find that results for the same surface are highly reproducible and that the method is capable of distinguishing small differences in the adhesiveness of red blood cells to the above surfaces. PMID- 2621219 TI - Adhesive bone cement both to bone and metals: 4-META in MMA initiated with tri-n butyl borane. AB - In order to develop a new bone cement which is expected to prevent loosening of a prosthesis by better adhesion, the cement composed of 4-methacryloyloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride (4-META) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) as monomers and tri n-butyl borane (TBB) as an initiator was evaluated. The tensile bond strength between bone and metals adhered with 4-META/MMA-TBB cement was above 7 MPa. The values were higher than that with conventional bone cement (1 MPa) or MMA-TBB cement (2 MPa). Therefore, 4-META was effective for improving adhesion. When cohesive failure of the bone was observed with the scanning electron micrography after the tensile test, fracture occurred on the bone side below the interface between the bone and the 4-META/MMA-TBB cement. This result showed that the cement adhered tightly to both the bone and metals. Thus, it is concluded that the 4-META/MMA-TBB cement is useful as an adhesive bone cement. PMID- 2621220 TI - Identification of plasma proteins adsorbed to hemodialyzers during clinical use. AB - An investigation has been made of the protein layers formed on hemodialysis membranes during clinical use. Dialyzers having membranes of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), Cuprophane, cellulose acetate (CA), and saponified cellulose ester (SCE) were examined. Immediately following dialysis the dialyzers were washed free of blood and the membranes eluted with 2% SDS. The eluates were examined by SDS-PAGE followed by protein immunoblotting. Antisera to 16 common plasma proteins were used to probe for the presence of these proteins in the eluates. Most of the proteins tested for were found in the different eluates, suggesting that the protein layers are extremely complex. The protein compositions were qualitatively different on the different membranes. Except for HMWK the contact phase clotting factors were present in very small amounts and were largely activated. The clear presence of HMWK and the relatively small amounts of fibrinogen provide support for the occurrence of the Vroman effect. Fibrinogen was found to be degraded and this may be related to the observation that plasminogen was activated to plasmin. Complement C3 was an abundant component of all eluates. It was degraded to small fragments in a way which could not be related to complement activation. Many of the other proteins, particularly those of high molecular weight, were extensively degraded. It is speculated that this heretofore unremarked phenomenon may be due to the action of enzymes released by cell damage. PMID- 2621221 TI - Microtubules rich in modified alpha-tubulin characterize the tail processes of motile fibroblasts. AB - The organisation of microtubules rich in post-translationally modified alpha tubulin has been investigated in a fibroblast cell line (NIH-3T3-T15) that can be reversibly transformed. An immunofluorescence microscopy study of the static non transformed cells has revealed a central distribution of wavy microtubules showing post-translational modifications. When transformed there is a marked increase in cell motility and the appearance of long thin cytoplasmic 'tails'. These tails have been found to contain conspicuous bundles of post translationally modified microtubules that run down the length of the processes and terminate close to the plasmalemma. Both detyrosinated and acetylated alpha tubulin are present as major species in these modified microtubules. Such a pattern of modified microtubules is only occasionally seen in the untransformed NIH-3T3-T15 cells. We have also found them to be present in other transformed fibroblast lines. The presence of bundles of microtubules rich in modified alpha tubulin in the cell tails is correlated with a marked reduction in the numbers of F-actin stress fibres. The possible role of these modified stable microtubules in cell motility is discussed. PMID- 2621222 TI - The fate of the centrosome-microtubule network in monocyte-derived giant cells. AB - Avian monocyte-derived giant cells in vitro, which are in many respects similar to osteoclasts, display a complex microtubule array that plays a prominent role in cell spreading. It is organized by a polygonal row of regularly spaced centrosomes surrounding an irregular cluster of nuclei. The immediate progenitor cells are binucleate cells with a single microtubule-organising center (MTOC), the result of the congregation of the two individual centrosomes. The one-to-one correspondence between numbers of centrosomes and nuclei in giant cells suggests that the centrosome of each precursor cell has been conserved through the fusion process. This is in marked contrast to the absence of centrosomes in myotubes, another example of a differentiated cell derived from the fusion of progenitor cells. PMID- 2621223 TI - Anaphase onset and dephosphorylation of mitotic phosphoproteins occur concomitantly. AB - The cyclical phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the centrosome during mitosis was analyzed by immunofluorescence methods using the MPM-2 antibody, which reacts with a subset of mitotic phosphoproteins. Quantification of MPM reactivity indicated that centrosomal phosphorylation attained a maximal level just prior to anaphase onset. This level was maintained in metaphase cells blocked from further mitotic progression with the microtubule depolymerizing agent nocodazole. However, when nocodazole was added to cells that had just initiated anaphase, the level of centrosomal phosphorylation decreased rapidly as in untreated anaphase cells. We conclude that the onset of dephosphorylation of the centrosome coincided with the onset of anaphase and continued in the absence of chromosome movement. Dephosphorylation of MPM-2 reactive phosphoproteins may be taken as a biochemical indicator of anaphase onset. PMID- 2621224 TI - Cellular asymmetry in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. AB - Although largely bilaterally symmetric, the two sides of the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can be distinguished by the location of the single eyespot. When viewed from the anterior end, the eyespot is always closer to one flagellum than the other, and located at an angle of approximately 45 degrees clockwise of the flagellar plane. This location correlates with the position of one of four acetylated microtubule bundles connected to the flagellar apparatus. Each basal body is attached to two of these microtubule rootlets. The rootlet that positions the eyespot is always attached to the same basal body, which is the daughter of the parental/daughter basal body pair. At mitosis, the replicated basal body pairs segregate in a precise orientation that maintains the asymmetry of the cell and results in mitotic poles that have an invariant handedness. The fusion of gametic cells during mating is also asymmetric. As a result of asymmetric, but different, locations of the plus and minus mating structures, mating preferentially results in quadriflagellate dikaryons with parallel flagellar pairs and both eyespots on the same side of the cell. This asymmetric fusion, as well as all the other asymmetries described, may be necessary for the proper phototactic behavior of these cells. The invariant handedness of the spindle pole, eyespot position, and mating structure position appears to be based on the inherent asymmetry of the basal body pair, providing an example of how an intracellular pattern can be determined and maintained. PMID- 2621225 TI - Fine-structural aspects of bromodeoxyuridine incorporation in sister chromatid differentiation and replication banding. AB - The structure of harlequin-stained chromosomes following substitution with low levels of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) over two cell cycles and high levels over the last part of one cycle (replication banding) was studied in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. By using correlative light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was shown that the effects of both the ultraviolet light (u.v.) and hot SSC treatment steps of the harlequin staining procedure were necessary to obtain sister-chromatid differentiation (SCD) or replication banding. u.v. treatment alone resulted in dark Giemsa staining of both chromatids with SEM morphology of short compact protuberances and an overall flattened smooth appearance in both the unsubstituted and BrdUrd-substituted chromatids, a morphology essentially similar to that of untreated chromosomes. SSC alone on the other hand resulted in dark-staining chromatids with an SEM morphology of raised, loosely packed loops of fibres in both types of chromatids. u.v. and SSC treatment together resulted in differentiation, with dark-staining unifilarly (TB) chromatids in the LM corresponding to raised loosely packed loops in the SEM and pale bifilarly (BB) chromatids corresponding to the smooth compact flattened SEM appearance. Where the BrdUrd-substituted strand became the template (BT), or when the nascent strand TB contained high levels of BrdUrd substitution in replication banding, the chromatid stained pale and showed the compact smooth appearance in the SEM. The Giemsa staining ability and ultrastructural morphology of harlequin staining is discussed with respect to putative DNA loss and also in terms of preferential protein-protein, protein-DNA cross-linkage in BrdUrd containing DNA. These changes are also compared with the ultrastructural morphology observed after other banding methods, where deterioration of protein and DNA-protein interaction resulting in aggregation of chromatin fibres appears to be the major mechanism. PMID- 2621226 TI - Three-dimensional analysis of the organization of human chromosome domains in human and human-hamster hybrid interphase nuclei. AB - This report describes the intranuclear organization of chromosomes in human hamster hybrid nuclei and in human cell nuclei. The target chromosomes were stained using in situ hybridization with biotinylated, chromosome-specific DNA probes. Bound probe was detected with fluorescein-avidin. Hybridizations were performed to fixed nuclei in aqueous suspension in order to preserve their three dimensional morphology. Total nuclear DNA was stained with DAPI. Three dimensional information about the organization of DNA and probe within the nucleus was obtained by optical sectioning. The human chromosomes in human hamster hybrid nuclei were found to be confined to 'domains' that were maintained during the cell cycle. Different spatial localization patterns of the human chromosomes were seen in interphase nuclei of two different hybrid cell lines. The positions of chromosome-specific repetitive sequences in human fibroblast interphase nuclei were also studied using probes for the telomeric region of chromosome 1p (1p36), the centromeric region of chromosome 9 (9q12) and the long arm of the Y chromosome (Yq12). These studies showed that the two 1p telomeric loci are located near the nuclear surface. The chromosome 9 centromeric loci are similarly located. Simultaneous hybridization of the chromosome 1 telomeric probe (target size approximately 200 kb; b, base) and the Y-specific probe (target size greater than 2Mb), demonstrate that the binding sites of the two probes can be distinguished in the same nucleus on the basis of domain size. PMID- 2621227 TI - The translaminal fibrils of the human amnion basement membrane. AB - The organisation of extracellular matrix beneath the human amniotic epithelium was investigated in order that the co-ordinate synthesis of basal lamina and stroma by these cells could be better understood. Transmission electron microscopy of intact tissue confirmed that stromal matrix fibrils are located between the cell surface and the basal lamina, and also penetrate the lamina. The distribution of the supralaminal fibrils and their association with the lamina was further investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after removal of the overlying epithelium. Five complementary procedures were used to remove the cells from the underlying lamina. Trypsin-EDTA treatment caused the epithelial cells to retract or detach from the lamina. SDS or ammonium hydroxide was used to extract the epithelium, which was then removed by physical shearing. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that the lamina densa and supralaminal fibres were present after extraction by these agents. Incubation in CHAPS, a zwiterionic detergent, did not remove the epithelium but permitted exposure of the basal lamina by mechanical scoring. Extraction with boric acid followed by osmium tetroxide produced epithelial disruption and revealed the lamina and stroma in different areas. Although the extraction pattern was different in each case, all of the five methods confirmed that individual fibrils and fibril bundles are present on the apical surface of, and enter, the lamina densa. Examination of the stromal surface of the basal lamina after fracture revealed fibrils passing from the stroma into the lamina densa. We therefore suggest that, in this tissue, newly synthesised stromal matrix components appear in an assembled fibrillar form between the basal cell surface and the basal lamina before becoming associated with the sublaminal stroma. PMID- 2621228 TI - Enolase exists in the fluid phase of cytoplasm in 3T3 cells. AB - We have investigated the intracellular distribution and mobility of the glycolytic enzyme enolase, using functional fluorescent analogs labeled with the succinimidyl esters of carboxyfluorescein (F1-enolase) and carboxytetramethylrhodamine (Rh-enolase) In contrast to aldolase, neither native enolase nor labeled enolase gelled filamentous actin (F-actin), as measured by falling-ball viscometry, indicating a lack of interaction between enolase and F actin. Fluorescence redistribution after photo-bleaching (FRAP) measurements of the diffusion coefficient (D) of F1-enolase in aqueous solutions gave a value of D37,aq = 6.08 x 10(-7) cm2s-1, and no immobile fraction, consistent with a native molecular weight of 90,000. These values were not significantly different with Rh enolase, or in the presence of F-actin, 2-phosphoglycerate or F-actin-aldolase gels, demonstrating that neither F1-enolase nor Rh-enolase binds to F-actin or aldolase in vitro. FRAP measurements of F1- and Rh-enolase microinjected into living Swiss 3T3 cells revealed spatial differences in the diffusion coefficient, but not the mobile fraction. In the perinuclear cytoplasm, we measured an apparent diffusion coefficient of 1.1 x 10(-7) cm2s-1, compared to 7.1 x 10(-8) cm2s-1 in the peripheral cytoplasm, with approximately 100% mobility of F1- or Rh enolase in both regions. Imaging of cells co-injected with Rh-enolase and size fractionated FITC-dextran (FD-90) revealed that Rh-enolase entered the nucleus, while FD-90 was excluded. Ratio imaging showed a relatively high nuclear ratio of Rh-enolase/FD-90, and a uniform cytoplasmic ratio, with no indication of increased concentration of enolase around stress fibers. These data demonstrate that Rh- and F1-enolase do not bind to F-actin in vitro, and are 100% mobile in vivo. Together with our recent finding that a significant fraction of aldolase binds to F-actin in vitro and is immobile in vivo, these data suggest a correlation between actin-binding activity and cytoplasmic mobility of glycolytic enzymes. PMID- 2621229 TI - Cellular localization of the SerH surface antigen in Tetrahymena thermophila. AB - We have purified the SerH surface antigen of T. thermophila by a novel and simple procedure and produced specific antisera against it. By the use of various immunochemical techniques, we have investigated the intracellular distribution of the antigen and shown that SerH is not only abundant in the cortex but also in the digestive apparatus of the ciliate. In each of these two localizations, SerH occupies a variety of compartments: in the cortex it can be found in the surface coat, the exocytotic mucocysts, the endocytotic parasomal sacs and as an integral protein of the membrane; in the digestive apparatus, SerH is found around ingested bacteria, in the cytoplasm surrounding the cytopharynx and the forming food vacuoles, and, seemingly, as a membrane-associated protein in young food vacuoles. Pulse-chase experiments have shown that feeding dramatically increases the global turnover of SerH. Besides these localizations, SerH is principally found in clumps around dense intracytoplasmic spheres, which could be mucocyst precursors. Indirect evidence is presented that SerH is routed to the peripheral or extracellular compartments via the mucocysts. The antigen is absent from alveolar, nuclear or mitochondrial membranes. We propose that SerH covers any membrane in contact or future contact with the extracellular medium. PMID- 2621230 TI - Onset of expression of peanut lectin-binding glycoproteins is correlated with stratification of keratinocytes during human epidermal development in vivo and in vitro. AB - During gestation the epidermis develops from a single layer of ectoderm into a layer of keratinocytes overlaid by a layer of periderm; this is followed by a progressive increase in the number of layers of keratinocytes, until finally the distinct granular and cornified layers characteristic of mature epidermis are formed. As part of our investigation into the function of the peanut lectin binding glycoproteins of cultured human keratinocytes, we have examined their expression at different stages of human epidermal development. We found that the onset of expression of the glycoproteins coincided with the transition from a two to a three-layered epidermis, both in vivo and in organ culture. In adult epidermis, the patterns of binding of peanut lectin and Limax flavus lectin are complementary, with peanut binding more strongly to suprabasal keratinocytes and Limax flavus lectin binding more strongly to cells in the basal layer. We found that the complementary pattern of binding of the two lectins was established at, or shortly after, the onset of stratification and retained throughout development. In contrast, expression by keratinocytes of involucrin, a protein precursor of the cornified envelope, occurred after stratification had begun. Finally, we identified the peanut lectin-binding glycoproteins of adult epidermis by immunoblotting with an antiserum raised against the glycoproteins of cultured neonatal keratinocytes. In conclusion, expression of the peanut lectin-binding glycoproteins is an early event in epidermal development, and this would be consistent with a role for the glycoproteins in stratification. PMID- 2621231 TI - Type V collagen synthesis and deposition by chicken embryo corneal fibroblasts in vitro. AB - Chick embryo corneal fibroblasts were grown in culture to study the processes whereby fibroblasts regulate the deposition and organization of the collagenous, secondary stroma. The effects of an existing type I collagen substratum, cell density, and serum concentration on type V collagen synthesis were investigated. Type V collagen represented approximately 20% of the total fibrillar collagen synthesized, regardless of whether the cells were subcultured, grown on untreated or collagen-coated plastic, grown under confluent or subconfluent conditions, or grown in the presence of low (0.1%) or high (10.0%) serum concentrations. The synthesis of type V collagen remained constant at 20% of the total collagen when cells were grown in 1.0% serum, even though total collagen synthesis increased nearly twofold when compared to total synthesis in 0.1% or 10.0% serum. Immunocytochemistry with anti-collagen, type-specific monoclonal antibodies revealed a homogeneous population of cells synthesizing types I and V collagen. The fibrils deposited by cells grown in a three-dimensional collagen matrix contained a helical epitope on the type V molecule that was inaccessible unless the fibrillar structure was disrupted, mimicking the situation in situ. The production in vitro of heterotypic fibrils, with a constant I/V ratio and molecular packing mimicking the natural stroma, offers opportunities for studying in more detail this important process, which is essential for optical transparency. PMID- 2621232 TI - [Diagnosis and surgical treatment of abdominal angina caused by atheromatous stenosis of the digestive arteries]. AB - The diagnosis and technical aspects of revascularization are discussed in a series of 14 consecutive cases of intestinal arterial insufficiency. The typical clinical presentation of post-prandial pain and weight loss was found in 12 out of 14 cases. Gastroenterological investigations demonstrated associated lesions in 8 cases, including 5 cases of gastroduodenal ulcer disease where this was initially considered responsible for the symptomatology. No case of malabsorption was noted. Angiography demonstrated involvement of the three splanchnic vessels in 7 cases, two vessels in 6 cases and one vessel only in the remaining case. The revascularization techniques were as follows: reimplantation of the superior mesenteric (n = 1), bypass from the sub-renal aorta (n = 5), or a sub-renal aortic graft (n = 2) or supra-coeliac aorta (n = 6). Control angiography demonstrated permeability in 9 out of 10 cases where this examination was carried out. The early results included one post operative mortality. From a nutritional and functional point of view they were three failures and ten good results. Overall, follow up and survival ranged from 6 months to 9 years. In five cases death was due to secondary causes. Abdominal angina occurs in a population at high vascular risk. In view of this etiology the diagnosis should be considered at an early stage and this also explains the secondary mortality. Gastroduodenal ulcerative lesions may occur as part of the clinical presentation. The angiographic data confirmed the Mikkelsen rule, however the functional effects of stenosis could be better evaluated by pulsed echo-doppler.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621233 TI - [Value of magnetic resonance imaging in cancer of the endometrium. Apropos of 3 cases]. AB - Magnetic nuclear resonance imaging offers a new approach for assessing the spread of endometrial cancer. Clinical and histopathological data correlated well in two cases; in the third patient, the degree of vesicovaginal wall involvement was more difficult to appreciate. RMN accurately characterizes the tumor and provides information on how deeply the myometrial lesion extends, as well as on isthmic and cervical involvement. Such evaluation is conducive to more precise prognostic conclusions and may be strategically influencial on therapeutic behavior. PMID- 2621234 TI - [Hypothenar aneurysm of the ulnar artery. Apropos of a case treated by excision and anastomosis]. AB - A case of aneurysm of the ulnar artery, located in the region of the hypothenar eminence is reported. This true traumatic aneurysm had a reconstructive treatment, considering the arterial anatomy of the patient's hand. A resection followed by an end to end anastomosis has been done with a good post-operative result at two years and a half. The unusualness of this pathology, the predominance of its traumatic and occupational etiology are emphasized. True and false traumatic aneurysms are described. The diagnosis of aneurysm is primarily clinical. Arteriography is interesting in the preoperative check-up. Reconstructive surgery is now preferred. PMID- 2621235 TI - [Serum and tissue silver levels after burns treated with silver compounds]. AB - This study was performed in order to investigate serum and tissue silver levels in burns which were used 10 percent silver nitrate as a topical agent. We formed four groups of animals and pulverized 10 percent silver nitrate solution to the first group (GI) that included ten rabbits of which backs were burned by boiling water and silver sulphadiazine cream to second group (GII) with nine rabbits. We carried out 10 percent silver nitrate solution to the first control group (GIII) and silver sulphadiazine cream to the second control group (GIV) each of which had seven animals with unburned skin. We obtained blood samples from every animal before and after application of topical agent on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 15th, 21st and 28th. We determined serum and tissue silver levels by atomic absorption spectrophotometer in kidney and liver of the animals which were sacrificed on the 28th day. In first and second groups we found that serum silver values reached on 3rd day to the maximum level and then the values decreased gradually. We also determined that diminution of the serum silver levels were prominent following on 15th day. It was shown that there was no silver in the serum on 28th day except four animals. The silver deposition in the liver was much more than in the kidney. Between these two groups there was significant difference neither in the serum on the same days nor the tissue silver levels. According to these data it was concluded that serum and tissue silver levels with 10 percent silver nitrate used in burns produced no difference from that of 1 percent silver sulphadiazine cream. PMID- 2621236 TI - [Severe lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage in adults. Apropos of 38 cases]. AB - Retrospective study of 38 cases of serious intestinal or rectal hemorrhage in the adult occurring between 1974 and 1987 demonstrated a wide variety of lesions responsible. Malignant tumours (21%) and ischemic lesions (13%) were most often implicated. Colonic diverticulosis and angiodysplasia were each responsible for 8% of cases. The most effective means of exploration were rectosigmoidoscopy and coelio-mesenteric arteriography together with per-operative endoscopy. The diagnosis remained uncertain in only 8% of cases. Treatment was essentially surgical (32 patients). Post-operative mortality (26%) was high, in keeping with the severity of the lesion responsible for the hemorrhage. Serious lower intestinal hemorrhage requires a two-fold management: the institution of intensive care resuscitation and as soon as the patient state permits, etiological investigation. After recto-sigmoidoscopy, which generally allows lower intestinal hemorrhage to be eliminated, arteriography and per-operative colonoscopy have in our experience a high diagnostic yield in cases of persistent hemorrhage. Where bleeding stops spontaneously, colonoscopic examination, after suitable preparation, remains a worthwhile investigation. PMID- 2621237 TI - [Abdominoperineal amputation and radical lymphadenectomy (mesenteropelvic) in the treatment of cancer of the lower rectum. Anatomosurgery]. AB - The authors describe their anatomical study upon the use of the total pelvic lymphadenectomy in addition to the classic abdominoperineal amputation following Miles in the treatment of lower rectal cancer. They used a modification of the "cellulectomie pelvienne" de Brunschwig et Huguier applying to the rectum the procedure originally born for the surgery of uterine cancer. They underline the bad results of the conventional surgery in terms of survival and local recurrence due to the incomplete lymphatic resection. In front of the biology of the rectal cancer, which is a neoplasm with prevalent local malignity and high lymphotropism, this technique, which removes almost all the lymphnodes of the pelvis, can really improve the results of this surgery. PMID- 2621238 TI - [Cutaneous metastasis revealing carcinoid tumor in a 82-year-old patient]. PMID- 2621239 TI - [An unusual complication of inverting linear mechanical anastomosis: a giant flesh bud of the small intestine]. PMID- 2621240 TI - A clinical virology database for a regional virology service. AB - We describe a laboratory information system employing a virus and chlamydia database developed over seven years which is used by a regional laboratory, performing virus and chlamydia testing. The information system is implemented on a University mainframe computer and accessed by computer terminals in the laboratory. The database is used to identify patients, store patient test results, minimize clerical work and improve accuracy of reported results. The database also serves as a patient registry for use in education and research. PMID- 2621241 TI - Dot-ELISA for serodiagnosis of human infections due to Western equine encephalitis virus. AB - A standard dot-ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was modified for use in detecting IgM and IgG class antibodies to Western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus in serum samples from humans infected with this virus. Nitrocellulose membranes were soaked in supernatant fluid from WEE virus-infected cell cultures, air dried, and blocked with bovine protein. Serum samples were pipetted onto sections of the nitrocellulose, incubated, and washed. Addition of antibody to human immunoglobulin conjugated to alkaline phosphatase and enzyme substrate were used to detect the antibodies. Of 13 samples positive for IgM antibody to WEE virus by IgM antibody capture ELISA, 12 were positive by IgM dot-ELISA. IgG antibody to WEE virus was detected by dot-ELISA in 7/8, 10/14 and 7/10 samples with neutralizing, hemagglutination-inhibiting, or complement-fixing antibodies, respectively. PMID- 2621242 TI - Isolation, purification and characterization of infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) from penaeidshrimp. AB - A protocol was developed for the isolation and purification of the infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) of penaeid shrimps. Cesium chloride-banded virus obtained from three sources of infected shrimps was found to have a buoyant density of 1.33 g/cm3. Also, electron microscopical studies employing negative stain revealed isometric particles having a size of 19 +/- 1 nm. Colorimetric analysis of its nucleic acid type indicated that these particles contain only RNA. PMID- 2621243 TI - Successful bone marrow transplantation with split lymphoid chimerism in DiGeorge syndrome. AB - A female infant with DiGeorge syndrome associated with severe T-cell immunodeficiency underwent a successful bone marrow transplantation from her HLA identical, mixed leukocyte culture-nonreactive brother at 5 months of age. Mature circulating T cells and mitogen-induced proliferative responses were detectable at 10 days posttransplant, and by 8 months post-transplant functional T- and B cell reconstitution was documented by normal responses to mitogens and normal levels of serum immunoglobulins as well as in vitro and in vivo T-cell reactivity to specific antigens and production of specific antibody to T cell-dependent antigens in vivo. Phytohemagglutinin-induced interleukin-2 production and cell surface interleukin-2 receptor expression improved posttransplant, with normal production values observed by 8 months posttransplant. Histologic examination of appendix and thoracic lymph node obtained 9 and 17 months posttransplant, respectively, revealed near-normal lymphoid architecture, with germinal center formation providing morphologic confirmation of reconstitution. Stable split lymphoid chimerism with T cells of donor origin and B cells remaining recipient in origin was documented by sex chromosome analysis. Two years posttransplant the subject remains free of serious infections. In conclusion, this case indicates that bone marrow transplantation can produce peripheral immunoreconstitution without need for significant thymic influence, most likely by providing a source of postthymic T cells, and that bone marrow transplantation should be considered a therapeutic option in patients with DiGeorge syndrome associated with severe T cell deficiency. PMID- 2621244 TI - Vertical transmission of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I): detection of proviral DNA in HTLV-I carrier gravida. AB - The seroprevalence rate of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) in pregnant women in the Osaka district was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis. Twenty-one (1.0%) of 2192 samples tested were positive for both assays and the seropositive parturients were found to be integrated with HTLV-I proviral DNA in their mononuclear cells by a DNA dot blot hybridization assay using HTLV-I DNA probe or by a selective DNA amplification technique using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). On the other hand, proviral DNA was not detected in cord blood of the neonates born to the carrier mothers, indicating that transplacental infection of HTLV-I during pregnancy could be excluded. The results support the hypothesis that postpartum infection via breast milk plays a significant role among the possible perinatal transmission routes. PMID- 2621245 TI - Spontaneous production of bone-resorbing lymphokines by B cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. AB - The culture supernatant of B cells from patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who had never been treated with corticosteroids had bone resorbing activity (BRA) which stimulated the 45Ca release from prelabeled murine fetal bones. Then we studied the characteristics and the relationship of this BRA with several lymphokines previously reported. The BRA was eluted as three peaks at approximately 17,000, 35,000, and 80,000 daltons by Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography. Recombinant (r)IL 1 alpha, rIL 1 beta, and rTNF possessed BRA, but rIL 4 and rIL 6 did not. Furthermore, the BRA from SLE B cells was absorbed with anti-IL 1 alpha antibody but not with anti-IL 1 beta and anti-TNF antibody. Therefore, the fact that SLE B cells produce BRA which corresponds to IL 1 alpha and IL 1 alpha produced by B cells might be one of the causes of bone destruction in SLE patients. PMID- 2621246 TI - Selective antibody deficiency to Haemophilus influenzae type B capsular polysaccharide vaccination in children with recurrent respiratory tract infection. AB - Fifty-one children between 22 and 158 months of age referred to an immunology clinic with a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections were prospectively evaluated for immunologic abnormalities. Ten of the subjects had a poor response to the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) capsular polysaccharide vaccine (failure to mount a twofold increase in titer or achieve a postimmunization titer greater than 0.2 micrograms ab/ml). There were no differences in mean serum concentrations of IgG, IgM, IgA, isohemagglutinins, or anti-tetanus toxoid between the responders and the nonresponders. None of the 10 nonresponders were deficient in IgG2. Eight of the vaccine failures were immunized with an Hib conjugate vaccine (HbOC) consisting of Hib capsular oligosaccharides coupled to diphtheria toxin. All responded with at least a fivefold increase in antibody after primary immunization with HbOC. Seven of the eight had a postHbOC primary immunization titer greater than 1.0 microgram/ml. This study demonstrates that some children with recurrent infections and with normal IgG subclasses are unable to respond to Hib capsular polysaccharide. This defect, which can be circumvented by presenting the polysaccharide antigen in an alternative form, may be contributing to the symptomatology experienced by these patients. PMID- 2621247 TI - The obsolescence of distinct domestic and international health sectors. PMID- 2621248 TI - The paradox of hunger and economic prosperity in America. AB - Within a period of twenty years, America discovered that many of its citizens were hungry, acted to greatly reduce this problem through an array of federal programs, and, in the 1980s, learned that hunger has reappeared in epidemic proportions. The return of hunger to the U.S. is associated with economic and tax policies that have reallocated income distribution from poor and middle-income groups to the wealthy, and with a corresponding failure to utilize the federal government to protect high-risk population groups from undernutrition associated with growing economic deprivation in the nation. PMID- 2621249 TI - The misuse of law as a barrier to injury prevention. AB - Injury prevention relies heavily on law to require or prohibit particular behaviors (e.g., seatbelt use laws or drunk driving laws) and to establish specific standards (e.g., Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards). But opponents of such laws often make effective use of distortion and misunderstanding of the law to hinder preventive efforts. Injury prevention advocates must be prepared to counter such disinformation. They can do so by (I) focusing on prevention goals, not laws, (2) openly discussing the law, (3) refusing to be defensive in legal arguments, (4) daring opponents to test their assertions in court, and (5) taking the political offensive on issues of legal rights. PMID- 2621250 TI - The impact of marijuana decriminalization: an update. AB - The available evidence indicates that the "decriminalization" of marijuana possession had little or no impact on rates of use. Although rates of marijuana use increased in those U.S. states which reduced maximum penalties for possession to a fine, the prevalence of use increased at similar or higher rates in those states which retained more severe penalties. There were also no discernable impacts on the health care systems. On the other hand, the so-called "decriminalization" measures did result in substantial savings in the criminal justice system. PMID- 2621251 TI - Fatal crash involvement and laws against alcohol-impaired driving. AB - It is estimated that in 1985 about 1,560 fewer drivers were involved in fatal crashes because of three types of drinking-driving laws. The laws studied were per se laws that define driving under the influence using blood alcohol concentration (BAC) thresholds; laws that provide for administrative license suspension or revocation prior to conviction for driving under the influence (often referred to as "administrative per se" laws); and laws that mandate jail or community service for first convictions of driving under the influence. It is estimated that if all 48 of the contiguous states adopted laws similar to those studied here, and if these new laws had effects comparable to those reported here, another 2,600 fatal driver involvements could be prevented each year. During hours when typically at least half of all fatally injured drivers have a BAC over 0.10 percent, administrative suspension/revocation is estimated to reduce the involvement of drivers in fatal crashes by about 9 percent; during the same hours, first offense mandatory jail/community service laws are estimated to have reduced driver involvement by about 6 percent. The effect of per se laws was estimated to be a 6 percent reduction during hours when fatal crashes typically are less likely to involve alcohol. These results are based on analyses of drivers involved in fatal crashes in the 48 contiguous states of the United States during the years 1978 to 1985. PMID- 2621252 TI - Mammography: a critical evaluation of its role in breast cancer screening, especially in developing countries. AB - Screening for breast cancer using mammography alone, or mammography plus physical examination of the breasts, reduces mortality from breast cancer in women age 50 69. The evidence for effectiveness in older women is less clear. If effective in younger women, benefit is delayed compared to that seen in women age 50 or more. The increasing incidence of breast cancer in developing countries, and the late stage at diagnosis of most disease, supports efforts to introduce screening for breast cancer. However, the requirements of mammography in terms of technology and skilled personnel make it difficult to apply in most developing countries at present. There is a need to evaluate simpler screening tests, such as physical examination of the breasts and breast self-examination, as they can be applied by existing health personnel, and more readily integrated into medical care. PMID- 2621253 TI - Health for all by the year 2000: alcohol and the Nordic countries. AB - One of the European targets in the "Health for all by the year 2000" programme is to reduce alcohol consumption significantly by the turn of the century. This article describes how this target, and especially the 25% goal included in it, has been adopted in the Nordic countries. With the exception of Denmark, alcohol has for a long time been regarded as a serious public health problem, and the reduction of total consumption of alcohol has been held as one of the most important ways of combating alcohol problems. In the 1980s Sweden and Norway have accepted the European 25% goal with the least reservations. In Finland the target has been regarded as unrealistic. Yet Finland, like Iceland, has accepted the goal of reducing total alcohol consumption but left the amount unspecified. In Denmark, controlling total alcohol consumption has been consistently held to be an irrelevant way to reduce alcohol problems. The alcohol policy measures suggested to reach the targets are the classical ones: price increases, restrictions in alcohol availability, and more efficient information and education. One cannot, however, avoid the observation that very few concrete measures have been taken so far and that many forces work against a reduction in alcohol consumption. The European alcohol target has affected alcohol policy in the Nordic countries in terms of target setting and programme design. It remains to be seen whether the forces advocating more restrictive alcohol control policy will be strong enough to generate concrete action plans and implement the accepted targets in actual alcohol policy measures. PMID- 2621254 TI - National community health worker programs: how can they be strengthened? AB - This article is based on a collaborative research study of policy and practice in national community health worker (CHW) programs in developing countries. The study involved a review of the relevant literature, case studies in Botswana, Colombia and Sri Lanka, and an international workshop where the future of such programs was discussed. The findings of this research are discussed under four headings: unrealistic expectations, poor initial planning, problems of sustainability, and the difficulties of maintaining quality. It is clear that existing national community health worker programs have suffered from conceptual and implementation problems. However, given the interest and political will, governments can address these problems by adopting more flexible approaches within their CHW programs, by planning for them within the context of all health sector activities rather than as a separate activity, and by immediately addressing weaknesses in task allocation, training and supervision. CHWs represent an important health resource, whose potential in extending coverage and providing a reasonable level of care to otherwise underserved populations must be fully tapped. PMID- 2621255 TI - A progressive proposal for a national medical care system. Council on Medical Care, National Association for Public Health Policy. PMID- 2621256 TI - A comparative study of two deep tests of articulation. AB - The purpose of this study was to compare the articulatory responses of children with articulatory disorders under two stimulus conditions: (1) the traditional two-picture elicitation procedure for compound words (McDonald, 1964) and (2) a single-picture elicitation procedure modeled after Clark (1985). This investigation has provided evidence that an additional factor for consideration when assessing contextual influences is the type of elicitation stimuli. The findings parallel the discrepancies between articulation performance in response to single-word stimuli and connected speech samples. PMID- 2621257 TI - The effect of stimulus color on naming performance of aphasic adults. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effect that color in visual stimuli may have on the confrontation naming ability of aphasic patients. A group of 11 nonfluent and fluent aphasic adults were administered identical black and white and colored versions of a naming test. Administration procedure for the tests required that a phonemic cue be given in the event of an incorrect response. The results revealed that the presence of color in the visual stimuli did not result in significantly improved naming performance in either group of subjects. Only the addition of the phonemic cue resulted in improved naming performance for both the nonfluent and fluent aphasic subjects. Further, no additional benefit was seen when color and cue were simultaneously presented. PMID- 2621258 TI - Cohesion in schizophrenic narratives, revisited. AB - Many investigations into schizophrenic speech dysfunction have not taken into account the mechanisms for normal speech production. Moreover, not all investigators have ensured that schizophrenic subjects belong to that group which does show deviant speech structures. We chose speech-disordered subjects who were asked to produce a narrative after viewing a short videostory. This provided a context in which to interpret even deviant narratives and in which to determine cohesive ties. It proved necessary to modify Rochester and Martin's categories of cohesive ties. No significant difference was found in the use of such ties overall. However, when examined category by category a pattern of different usage is evident, showing that schizophrenics suffer from a true dysfunction in narrative production. PMID- 2621259 TI - Acquisition of American Sign Language versus Amerind signs in a mentally handicapped sample. AB - The differential acquisition of American Sign Language versus Amerind signs was investigated in a moderately to severely mentally handicapped sample. The subjects (n = 10) were selected from a residential training facility and each had a mental age within the range 3;0-5;0 years. Twenty signs were taught to each subject, 10 American Sign Language signs and 10 Amerind signs. An Alternating Treatments Design was selected to facilitate comparison of the relative efficacy of the two sign systems across single subjects. Five signs were presented per week (2 weeks) in each sign system. Results showed that a significantly greater (p less than .001) number of Amerind as compared to American Sign Language signs were acquired during Week 1, Week 2, and across both weeks. Retention results, after 1- and 2-week delays, showed that subjects continued to reproduce significantly more Amerind than American Sign Language signs. The results were thought to be due to the more concrete and less complex nature of the Amerind system. Implications of these results for this and similar samples are discussed. PMID- 2621260 TI - Intelligibility of older versus younger adults' CVC productions. AB - In studies of aging voice, listeners have reported that older speakers articulate less precisely than younger speakers. To determine if intelligibility changes with age, younger and older adults read CVCs embedded in a carrier phrase. Listeners reported the target word said by the speakers. More errors were made on the older speakers' productions than on the younger speakers', although age alone was not statistically significant. Results are reported for age, sex, and position of error in the target word. PMID- 2621261 TI - A descriptive analysis of emergency visits to an inner city family practice center. AB - A six-month prospective study of daily emergency visits was performed at an inner city family practice center in order to understand the utilization pattern of emergency services. 487 visits were identified during the study period. In general, patients of junior residents made more visits. The majority of visits (97%) were nonemergent. The most common presenting complaint was a general symptom (17%), although the most frequent diagnosis was in the supplementary category (17%) that includes medication renewals, the completion of forms and maternal and child health care. Females, the unemployed, the elderly, and individuals with poverty levels of income were most frequently seen in the emergency setting. The reasons for these patterns and the need for further investigations in this area are discussed. PMID- 2621262 TI - Willingness to provide care to AIDS patients in Ohio nursing homes. AB - Results of a mail survey of long term care facilities in Ohio regarding willingness to consider admission of AIDS patients are presented. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between a variety of organizational and respondent factors and the willingness of the facility to admit AIDS patients. In addition, the impact of specific changes on willingness to admit AIDS patients, the concerns of administrators, and suggested alternatives for the care of AIDS patients were examined. Findings indicate that about 11 percent of responding long term care facilities would consider admission of AIDS patients. No organizational or respondent characteristics were associated with greater likelihood of considering admission of AIDS patients. About 25% of respondents indicated their facility would consider admission of AIDS patients if specific facility or reimbursement changes were made. The major concerns of respondents if AIDS patients were admitted were loss of staff and worry that current residents would leave the facility. About sixty percent of respondents indicated their preferred choice for providing care to AIDS patients was separate long term care facilities for AIDS patients. The implications for public policy information based on these findings are discussed. PMID- 2621263 TI - Lay volunteers' knowledge and beliefs about AIDS prevention. AB - The imperative to inform the public about the risks of HIV-infection and AIDS, combined with an acute shortage of resources for doing so, has led to an unprecedented number of lay volunteers who are performing functions normally reserved for health professionals. In many communities, the general public may receive much of their information about HIV-transmission and AIDS prevention from lay volunteers who work for community-based AIDS awareness programs. Therefore, it would be of interest to know whether lay volunteers' own knowledge and beliefs about AIDS are accurate and consistent with promoting safer sex and if they are not so initially, whether they are readily amenable to change after training by health professionals. To investigate these issues, pre-/post-questionnaires were administered to lay persons in training to become volunteers for the NO/AIDS Task Force in New Orleans, Louisiana. Prior to training, lower knowledge volunteers differed from their higher knowledge peers on 2 of the 5 Health Belief Model (HBM) dimensions: perceived vulnerability (p .057) and barriers (p .002). After training, these differences disappeared, and all volunteers scored 100% on the knowledge section. Lay volunteers' opinions are also provided about where, in what format, and by whom adults and teenagers should be taught about AIDS. PMID- 2621264 TI - Process and outcome evaluation of preventive care for infants in two types of practices. AB - Process and outcome of preventive and promotive infant care have been evaluated in a maternal and child health (MCH) service and compared with that of a comprehensive care family practice (FP), both serving a low middle class population in West Jerusalem. Both services are provided by the Community Health Center of the Department of Social Medicine. Community oriented primary care is integrated into the practices, including ongoing surveillance of the communities' health status. Preventive and promotive programs have been developed, implemented and evaluated. The process evaluation indicated a similar use of the preventive service in the MCH and FP services. Some of the routines were carried out to a lesser extent in the FP than in the MCH framework, such as growth monitoring, hearing tests and advice on iron supplementation. The small difference in compliance with routines did not affect a child's growth between birth and one year of age, but the anemia rate in the FP practice was higher than in the MCH practice. The high level of care and relatively small differences in process and outcome between the two types of services have been achieved by ongoing inservice training, a high level of personnel, similar protocols and supervision in both practices. PMID- 2621265 TI - Setting an agenda for research on adolescence. PMID- 2621266 TI - Adolescent identity: an appraisal of health and intervention. PMID- 2621267 TI - Ethnic differences in adolescents' identity status and associated behavior problems. AB - The relationships between ethnicity and identity status and between identity status and behavior problems, social competence, and self-esteem were examined among 330 White, Black, Puerto Rican and Filipino students in an integrated high school. Identity status (i.e., achieved, moratorium, foreclosed, or diffuse) was defined on the basis of a 24-item self-report inventory on which students rated their explorations of options and/or commitments to choices in their occupational, political, and religious domains. Ethnic status was also assessed in an 8-item questionnaire which assessed exploration and commitment to one's ethnic role. White students in the upper grades reported significantly higher moratorium scale scores and perceived themselves as more likely to have explored and be committed to their ethnic role than minority youth. There were no significant ethnic differences in the relationships of identity status to behavior problems, social competence or self-esteem. Adolescent boys were significantly more likely to be in moratorium regarding their ethnic role than girls. Grade and sex differences in identity status were consistent with those predicted by developmental researchers. Across all ethnic groups, ratings of moratorium status were associated with significantly more behavior problems, less social competence, and lower self-esteem. PMID- 2621268 TI - Identity and intervention. AB - The evidence, I thought, seemed clear enough. Frazier had claimed some innovations in behavioral techniques which I wanted to know more about, but I could imagine a potent technology composed of the principles already used by politicians, educators, priests, advertisers and psychologists. The techniques of controlling human behavior were obvious enough. The trouble was, they were in the hands of the wrong people--or of feeble repairmen. PMID- 2621269 TI - Outlook of British dentists towards their profession. AB - Dental practice in Britain has undergone significant changes in recent years. These changes have undoubtedly affected the outlook of dentists towards dentistry. This study was undertaken to examine the current outlook of general dental practitioners working in the General Dental Service. A representative sample of 1000 dentists was surveyed by mail. The response rate was 73.7 per cent. Most characteristic of the respondents' outlook on various aspects of their profession is the wide diversity of opinion. Neither respondent gender or practice location were associated with outlook. More preventively oriented dentists and those whose practices were most busy, however, were found to have a more positive outlook. PMID- 2621270 TI - Dental erosion in patients with chronic alcoholism. AB - Tooth wear attributed to the physical wear of teeth by clenching and grinding (attrition) has been described previously in alcoholic patients. However, the pattern of wear seen in the series of cases reported here is more consistent with chemical damage (erosion) than attrition. A possible mechanism for this process is suggested, and it is further suggested that erosion is likely to play a more important role in the wear of the teeth in chronic alcoholic patients than attrition. PMID- 2621271 TI - Current status of the cast metal inlay: a survey of dental schools in the UK and Hong Kong. AB - This study reports on the current status of the gold inlay in the undergraduate curriculum of Dental Schools in the UK and at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Hong Kong, to determine if the decline in the use of the cast gold inlay over the past 20 years is reflected in teaching at undergraduate level. A questionnaire, which was mailed to all the heads of departments of conservative dentistry in the UK, was designed to determine current teaching in respect of cast inlays. The results show that although the majority of UK dental schools continue to teach direct and indirect inlay techniques, a minority (4 and 5 respectively) no longer incorporate a practical exercise in this teaching. Reasons cited for the discontinuation of the technique are varied but the availability of simpler, more conservative techniques is emphasized. Examination of the treatment records at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Hong Kong, where the Class II inlay technique is taught both theoretically and practically, shows that only a small proportion of all posterior cast restorations fitted between May 1983 and April 1988 were inlays (4.6 per cent). PMID- 2621272 TI - Adherence of oral streptococci to composite resin restorative materials. AB - The frequency of oral streptococcal bacterial isolates detected on composite resin squares attached to maxillary first molars in 12 volunteers was 62.1 per cent. These cocci consisted of Streptococcus mitior (52.8 per cent), S. sanguis (20.2 per cent), S. oralis (8.6 per cent), S. salivarius (1.0 per cent) and S. anginosus (0.3 per cent). An electron microscopic study of these organisms labelled with [3H]thymidine for in vitro adhesiveness to the resin revealed that S. mitior was the most adhesive, and that its pronounced adhesiveness is associated with its characteristic extracellular ultrastructure. PMID- 2621273 TI - The effect of placement technique upon the compressive strength and porosity of a composite resin. AB - This paper examines the effect of two placement techniques upon the compressive strength and level of porosity of specimens of a composite resin. Those specimens prepared by a condensation technique had a significantly lower mean compressive strength (P less than 0.05) and value of Weibull modulus (P less than 0.05) than specimens prepared using a smearing technique. No significant differences in the overall mean percentage area occupied by porosity and mean number of pores were demonstrated (P greater than 0.05) between the two placement techniques. Specimens prepared using the smearing technique, however, had significantly smaller mean maximum pore diameters (P less than 0.05) than those prepared using the condensation technique. It is therefore desirable when placing composite resins to reduce to a minimum handling procedures that are likely to influence the levels of porosity within the material. PMID- 2621274 TI - The nature and effects of composite finishing pastes. AB - Specimens of composite resins, contoured and finished with a series of microfine diamonds, were finished with a selection of commercially available composite finishing pastes. The resulting surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface profilometry. Samples of the pastes were investigated using SEM and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. All the paste systems employed an abrasive of similar composition and particle size. The selection of finishing pastes produced marked improvements of the surfaces of the composite resins. The small differences measured between the performances of the four finishing pastes included in this study could not be corroborated by SEM evaluation. Therefore, within the limitations of this study, there was little evidence to suggest that any one paste system was superior to the others. The results of this study indicate that commercially available composite resin finishing pastes of the type investigated may be used to improve the surface of all types of contemporary composite resins and may be of particular value in finishing the concave surfaces of restorations of composite resins following contouring and finishing with microfine diamond burs. PMID- 2621275 TI - Retrograde root filling using antibiotic-containing, radiopaque, bone cement. AB - An investigation is reported on the in-vitro behaviour, characteristics and properties of three gentamicin-containing radiopaque bone cements that are considered to be promising retrograde root-filling materials. Three commercially available cements, CMW-1G, CMW-3G and Palacos R with gentamicin were studied with regard to bacteriocidal properties, tissue compatibility in cell culture, and ability to seal tooth cavities as evidenced by dye diffusion. Results were compared and contrasted with those obtained with an amalgam. The antibiotic containing cements investigated are considered to have some distinct advantages over amalgam when used as retrograde root-filling materials in vitro. Amalgam was found to have poor bacteriocidal properties and poor tissue compatibility but slightly better apical sealing abilities than the cements. No apparent drawbacks were found with the cements. PMID- 2621276 TI - Effects of a solution of a succinic aldehyde on elastomeric impressions. AB - This study investigates the effect of a 10 per cent solution of a succinic aldehyde on impressions of three representative elastomeric materials. For each material ten specimens were required for each of six immersion periods ranging from 10 min to 72 h at 23 degrees C and including immediate and delayed immersions. Control groups, each of five specimens, were investigated in air and water. The specimens were formed against a standard ruled block (ADA No. 18). Before and after immersion/storage the impression surface of each specimen was assessed, scored and measured to determine dimensional stability and any attenuation and loss of detail. The results indicate that following all immersion/storage periods there was no loss of detail. Whereas dimensional changes of c. -0.5 per cent and +1.0 per cent were observed for the addition and condensation cured silicones, respectively, after 72 h immersion in the solution, zero dimensional changes were observed following the recommended immersion period for sterilization (4 h). However, with the polyether impressions, a 4 per cent expansion occurred after 4 h in the test solution and 9 h in the aqueous control. No significant differences were found between data relating to immediate and delayed immersions. It is concluded that the immersions in the test solution had no effect on surface detail; only the silicone impressions exhibited acceptable dimensional stability during prolonged immersions (4-72 h) in the test solutions and aqueous control, and that the polyether specimens withstood immersion in the test solution for the 10-min period recommended for disinfection. PMID- 2621277 TI - [The interaction of the coloboma and aphakia mutant genes in mice]. AB - The eye development has been studied in the 12-day-old, 14-day-old embryos and in neonates of Cm/+ ak/ak genotype. The gene coloboma (Cm) in heterozygous state causes a typical coloboma of the iris and the gene aphakia (ak) blocks the lens development in the homozygotes. It has been shown that in Cm/+ ak/ak mice the eyes go through mainly the same abnormal development as that in +/+ ak/ak animals. In mice of both genotypes the lens morphogenesis blocking at the vesicle stage and the retinal fold in the dorsal half of the eye develops. However, the ventral retinal fold which is characteristic for the +/+ ak/ak mice does not form in the Cm/+ ak/ak animals that is the result of the interaction of Cm and ak genes in the eye morphogenesis. The Cm gene suppressing the growth of the retina ventral half inhibits the formation of its fold in Cm/+ ak/ak embryos. As a result of the gene interaction a certain normalization of the eye development compared to the +/+ ak/ak mice is observed in the Cm/+ ak/ak animals. The obtained data show that the Cm gene expresses in the cell clones of the retina ventral half. PMID- 2621278 TI - [The recording of ATP in the erythrocytes using luciferase injected into the cells]. AB - The luciferase preparation obtained from fireflies Luciola mingrelica has entrapped into the human erythrocytes by means of reversible osmotic lysis. The addition of luciferin to such erythrocytes leads to the appearance of luminescence, conditioned by the entrance of luciferin into the cells. Luciferin is uniformly distributed between cells and external medium. Luciferin transport through the erythrocyte membrane is a result of simple diffusion. Values of rate constant of luciferin transport through the membrane lie between 0.009-0.021 l/s 1 cells for erythrocytes of different donors. The maximum luminescence intensity increases monotonously with rise of temperature and luciferin concentration. The dependence of the maximum luminescence intensity on luciferin concentration is described by Michaelis kinetics. Obtained in different experiments, values of luciferase Michaelis constant for luciferin inside erythrocytes lie between 4.1 21.5 microM. Luminescence intensity of the luciferase containing erythrocytes depends on the intracellular ATP concentration. Under the same luciferin concentration the correlation of luminescence intensities of control erythrocytes with normal ATP level and erythrocytes depleted without glucose is near to correlation of their ATP concentrations. After the addition of glucose to the depleted erythrocytes their ATP concentration rises and luminescence intensity approaches to the level of control erythrocytes. Luciferase entrapment permit one to control rapid ATP concentration changes in the erythrocytes. PMID- 2621279 TI - [The action of 15-fluorine derivatives of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha on isolated smooth muscles]. AB - The effect of exchange of 15-hydroxyl for fluor on biological activity of PGF2 alpha and PGE2 on isolated smooth muscles of different organs has been studied. The exchange leads to significant increase in contractile (100-fold) and relaxation (1000-fold) activity of PGF2 alpha on smooth respiratory muscles. At the same time, the effect of 15-fluor-15-deoxyprostaglandin F2 alpha on smooth muscles of intestinal and vascular tracts did not differ from that of PGF2 alpha. Similar modification of PGE2 led to the decrease (10-fold) both in contractile and relaxation activity on all studied types of smooth muscles. The data obtained have been discussed within the boundaries of prostanoid receptor classification (Kennedy, 1982). Fluor derivative of PGF2 alpha may be used for pharmacological differentiation of EP-receptors. PMID- 2621280 TI - [The effect of natural and synthetic antioxidants on the profile of the parietal pH of the digestive tract in rats under normal and pathologic conditions]. AB - The effect of natural (alpha-tocopherol) and synthetic (Dibunol and VN-3) antioxidants on H+ ion concentration in paramucous layer (PpH) of gut, duodenum, caecum, jejunum, and rectum in normal and vagotomized rats has been estimated 7, 14, and 30 days after introduction of the drugs. Vagotomy leads to transformation of the PpH shape of digestive tract. The effect is most pronounced at 7 days and reveals itself as an increase in PpH in gut, the decrease in PpH in duodenum and caecum. Introduction of E vitamin for 7 days led to the decrease in gut PpH and the increase in duodenum PpH in both groups of animals. Dibunol and VN-3 did not exert significant influence on the PpH of digestive tract of normal and vagotomized rats. An inhibitory effect of VN-3 on gut contractile activity in both groups of animals has been observed. PMID- 2621281 TI - [The trace element composition of the organs and tissues of animals administered a highly dispersed powder and copper sulfate]. AB - Changes in the content of microelements in blood, heart and liver after a single subcutaneous injection of aquatic suspension of highly dispersed powder and copper sulphate in different doses were investigated. Injection of highly dispersed powder and copper sulphate was shown increase phase fluctuations of copper, zinc and iron level in all organs under study. It was demonstrated that irrespective of the form and dose of injection copper does not break interrelation modus between zinc and copper, characteristic of the control and does not change zinc/copper ratio. Bioavailability of highly dispersed copper powder injected in organism at the dose 0.2 mg/kg was found to be somewhat higher than that of sulphate. PMID- 2621282 TI - [The antifibrinolytic action of the D-dimer fragment]. AB - The effect of D-dimer on the process of plasmin hydrolysis of unstabilized and crosslinked fibrin has been studied. Less degraded early, intermediate, and late products of fibrin cleavage have been revealed by electrophoresis of reduced and nonreduced samples. The molecular mechanism of antifibrinolytic effect of the D dimer is supposed to be determined by shielding of peptide regions of monomer fibrin, localized both in N-terminal area of beta chain and in alpha, beta, and gamma chains between D and E domains. A notion has been proposed of autoinhibition of fibrinolytic reaction as a phenomenon related to the physical chemical regulation of fibrinogen transformation into fibrin. PMID- 2621283 TI - [Protein synthesis in the organs of the long-tailed suslik (Citellus undulatus) in various functional states]. AB - Protein synthesis has been observed in brain and liver of susliks during hibernation using specific radioactivity assay and cycloheximide inhibitor analysis. The data on cycloheximide sensitivity and radioactivity of total protein fractions after differential centrifugation suggest that protein synthesis during hibernation is mostly carried out on microsomes. Experiments on protein synthesis in cell-free extracts from liver of suslik at various functional states indicated that the pool of polyribosomes during hibernation is similar to that during wakening period and waking state. This may ensure high intensity of protein biosynthesis at increase in body temperature during wakening. PMID- 2621284 TI - [The mechanism of superoxide dismutase functioning: a multicenter model]. AB - A new model of superoxide dismutase (SOD) functioning has been proposed on the basis of recent data. This model takes into account both experimental data and results of quantum mechanics calculations. One substrate molecule (superoxide radical) binds copper ion in active center of SOD, and the second superoxide radical interacts with a peripheral region of the enzyme. Uncoupled electron from the active center is transferred to the peripheral superoxide anion. This results in formation of oxygen molecule in the active center, and of hydrogen peroxide molecule in the peripheral region. PMID- 2621285 TI - [Computer-automated calculation of allowed human body weight]. AB - A body weight (BW) classification has been proposed. It has been used in a PC program which compared BW of the patient with the current international criteria for "optimal" and "normal" BW depending on the sex, age, height, complexion, and estimated the level of obesity. The program has been tested on a group of students. The studies demonstrated that most men and women had average BW. Excessive BW was found in 29% women and 5% men. Besides, fat women are psychologically predisposed to have excessive BW, and thin ones, insufficient BW. The complexion of the patient significantly influences the allowed BW. PMID- 2621286 TI - [The plasmids of Pseudomonas syringae]. AB - The paper deals with occurrence of plasmids in P. syringae strains belonging to seventeen pathovars: the strains were isolated in the USSR and other countries. One to four different plasmids having molecular weights of 20 to 90 Md have been found in various strains of the following twelve pathovars: holci, cerasi, aptata, tabaci, populi, pisi, lupini syringae, lachrymans, phaseolicola, glycinea, atrofaciens. Both virulent and avirulent P. syringae strains appear to carry such plasmids. Plasmids of incompatibility group P-2 do not occur in the strains studied. PMID- 2621287 TI - [The absence of DNA methylase activity in Drosophila cells]. AB - DNA methylase activity has been studied in partially purified extracts from cultured cells, embryos, and adult Drosophila flies. No significant level of transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosylmethionine with formation of 5 methylcytosine and 6-methyladenine was observed. Methylase activity in Drosophila cells as compared to bovine lymphocytes and rat liver is either absent or at least 5000-15,000 times lower and hence cannot be detected using the present method. PMID- 2621288 TI - [The induction of the beta state of the comuton regulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by 2,4-DNP and malonate]. AB - The effect of 2,4-DNP and malonate on tissue-specific uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation (OP) of rat liver and kidney mitochondria by homologous comutons has been studied. The addition of 2,4-DNP in the presence of comuton induced beta state of comuton regulation. Transfer of liver mitochondria from alpha to beta state also resulted from partial inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase activity of addition of 0.25-0.35 mM malonate. This suggests that the transfer to beta state may be caused by de-energization of mitochondria. PMID- 2621289 TI - Mid-arm circumference and mid-arm circumference: head circumference ratio for assessing longitudinal growth in hospitalized preterm infants. AB - In order to study the usefulness of upper mid-arm circumference (MAC) and mid-arm circumference:head circumference ratio (MAC:HC) measurements in assessing longitudinal growth in hospitalized preterm infants, we prospectively measured weights, lengths, occipitofrontal head circumferences (OFC), MACs, MAC:HCs, weight/length for age, nutritional intakes, and serum transthyretin and albumin levels in 50 preterm, low-birth-weight, appropriate for gestational age newborn infants during their first 4 postnatal weeks and at hospital discharge. At some time during hospitalization, weight measurements were abnormal (greater than or equal to 2SD from the gestational age mean) in 48% of the infants as compared with 24% with abnormal MAC measurements (p = 0.002). Abnormal MAC:HCs occurred in 25% of the infants as compared with 68% with abnormal weight/length for age values (p less than 0.001). During weeks 2-4, when nutritional intakes were adequate and serum transthyretin and albumin levels were normal, mean weight gain velocity was less than intrauterine rates and was significantly slower than MAC velocities, which were at or greater than intrauterine rates (p less than 0.001). At discharge, when all infants were gaining weight at intrauterine rates, weight measurements were still abnormal in 28% of the infants as compared with 10% of infants who had abnormal MACs (p = 0.005). Similarly, only 12% of infants had abnormal MAC:HCs as compared with 25% of infants with abnormal weight/length for age values at discharge (p = 0.05). The MAC and MAC:HC are useful for assessing longitudinal growth in preterm infants since they do not overestimate the prevalence of malnourishment during periods of apparent protein-calorie sufficiency. PMID- 2621290 TI - Comparisons of body composition derived from anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance methods. AB - This study compared bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) measurements with current bedside techniques for determination of body composition in 18 normal volunteers to evaluate the relative usefulness of these methods as adjuncts to assessment in surgical nutrition. Anthropometrics (weight, height, and two skinfold thicknesses) and age and sex were used to derive body density (D) or total body water (TBW) by two methods. Method 1: D was calculated from the logarithm of skinfold thickness according to Durnin and Womersley, adapted for age and sex. Method 2: TBW was calculated from height, weight, and sex according to Hume and Weyers. Resistance and reactance were measured with a four terminal impedance plethysmograph; from these data plus height, weight, and sex, lean body mass (LBM) was derived. In each instance, Siri's and Pace and Rathburn's equations were used to derive the remaining parameters of body composition: D, total body fat (TBF), TBW, and LBM. Using the paired t-test, no statistically significant differences were seen in any parameter determined by the different methods. These results show that D, TBW, TBF, and LBM in a population of healthy individuals under steady-state conditions can be estimated by anthropometric derived formulas with the same relative accuracy as that provided from estimates based upon BIA measurements. PMID- 2621291 TI - Serum vitamins A and E, beta-carotene, and selenium in patients with breast cancer. AB - A total of 89 subjects including 30 breast cancer patients with distal metastases, 29 patients with benign breast disease, and 30 healthy subjects were studied. Serum samples from these subjects were obtained from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Breast Cancer Serum Bank, Bethesda. Serum concentrations of vitamin A and its transport proteins (prealbumin and retinol-binding protein [RBP]), beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium were determined. For each of these parameters the mean for the breast cancer patients was lower than that of the healthy subjects. The differences between healthy subjects and patients with either breast cancer or benign breast disease were, however, statistically significant only in the case of RBP (p less than 0.05). In the case of vitamin A and its transport proteins these differences were reduced by comparing the cancer patients with the benign breast disease patients rather than with the healthy controls. This indicates that the low serum levels for those three parameters may be merely a consequence of disease in general rather than a feature of cancer per se. PMID- 2621292 TI - A calcium salt of an insoluble synthetic bulking laxative in elderly bedridden nursing home residents. PMID- 2621293 TI - Serum cholesterol, fat intake, and breakfast consumption in the United States adult population. AB - Morgan et al demonstrated that adults who consumed ready-to-eat cereals had significantly lower fat and cholesterol intakes than those who ate other foods at breakfast. Not discussed in that study was the effect of breakfast consumption habits on serum cholesterol levels. The NHANES II study of 11,864 adults was used to both verify the Morgan et al results with a different sample and to extend that research by including serum cholesterol. The analysis disclosed that serum cholesterol levels are lowest among adults eating a breakfast that includes ready to-eat cereal and highest among breakfast skippers. PMID- 2621294 TI - Alterations in plasma lipid levels resulting from tofu and cheese consumption in adult women. AB - Changes in the concentration of plasma lipids were assessed in 10 normolipidemic adult women in response to alternate 3-week controlled feeding of similar low-fat diets containing either tofu or cheese. Plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were significantly lower (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001, respectively) following consumption of the tofu compared to the cheese diet, whereas no significant differences were observed in VLDL-cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, or in total triglycerides. To assess whether protein source (animal vs vegetable) exerted an independent effect on plasma lipids, lipid responses to alternate 3-week feeding of tofu-and cheese-containing diets in which the amount and type of dietary fat were equilibrated were examined in five additional women. The finding of similar plasma lipid responses to the modified treatments suggested the high P/S ratio of tofu was primarily responsible for the observed hypocholesterolemic response. An independent effect of protein source on plasma lipids was not supported. PMID- 2621295 TI - Determination of intracellular free magnesium by nuclear magnetic resonance in human magnesium deficiency. AB - Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is a common clinical problem. As Mg is predominantly an intracellular cation and Mg deficiency may exist despite normal serum Mg (sMg) concentrations, we have utilized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques in an attempt to measure intracellular free Mg (Mg2+) in red blood cells (RBC). Twenty normal subjects, 22 hypomagnesemic patients, and 17 normomagnesemic alcoholic patients were studied. Mean RBC Mg2+ in normal subjects (178 +/- 6.3 microM) was significantly greater than in hypomagnesemic patients (146 +/- 7.1 microM, p less than 0.002). RBC Mg2+ correlated with sMg concentration (r = 0.54, p less than 0.001). In addition, four normal subjects were given a low Mg diet for 3 weeks. There was a progressive fall in both the sMg concentration and RBC Mg2+ during Mg depletion, with a concomitant rise in retention of a parenterally administered Mg load. These data suggest that the determination of intracellular Mg2+ by NMR may be a useful research tool in assessing the effect of changes in Mg2+ on intracellular processes. Its utility in the clinical evaluation of disorders of Mg deficiency remains to be determined. PMID- 2621296 TI - The effect of race on serum ferritin during parturition. AB - The purpose of this study was to determine whether differences in ferritin levels due to race were large enough to alter interpretation of ferritin test results during pregnancy. Patients were screened for hemoglobinopathies and other diseases known to affect ferritin levels. Maternal blood samples were obtained at delivery and analyzed for hemoglobin, hematocrit, and ferritin. One hundred thirty-four white and 69 black parturients were studied. Race was found to significantly affect serum ferritin levels p less than 0.001). Whereas blacks had a mean hemoglobin level 0.6 g/dl lower than whites, their mean serum ferritin level was 7.6 ng/ml higher (18.97 +/- 13.6 vs 11.41 +/- 9). No differences were found in the number of red blood cells, smoking status, or most other clinical variables. The mean serum ferritin level of anemic black parturients was higher, although not significantly different, than that of white nonanemic parturients (14.2 +/- 9.5 vs 12.1 +/- 9.4 ng/ml). Furthermore, increasing parity significantly decreased serum ferritin in both races (p less than 0.004). This was not due to differences in the interval between pregnancies. The results show conclusively that black parturients have significantly higher ferritin levels than white parturients. Therefore, different norms need to be established for blacks and whites if ferritin is used to screen for anemia during pregnancy. PMID- 2621297 TI - Conditioned diminution of brain stimulation hyperphagia. AB - It is well established that electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus (ESLH) can lead to stimulus-bound feeding in many different species. The present study examined the effect of a warning signal on ESLH-induced feeding. When rats are warned of ESLH (through Pavlovian conditioning), their latencies to start eating from ESLH onset are longer (approximately 2.5X) than when they are not warned. Thus, the rats are able to prepare for the maladaptive situation of eating when satiated. PMID- 2621298 TI - Normal serum response to oral beta-carotene in humans. AB - This study was performed to determine (1) the normal serum response to a single oral dose of beta-carotene (BC), (2) the effect of meal timing and serum response to meal lipids on serum BC, (3) the effect of administered BC on other serum carotenoids and retinoids, and (4) the relationship of body composition to serum BC response. Subjects consumed one BC dose with a liquid 500 kcal BC-free diet; fasting and hourly venous blood was collected for 8 hours and again at 24 hours. A second liquid BC-free meal was consumed 4 hours post-dosing; this midday meal was omitted in some subjects. Serum BC levels rose and peaked initially at 5 hours, but continued to be absorbed in most subjects, remaining significantly elevated at 24 hours as compared to baseline values (p less than 0.001), independent of BC dose. The area under the BC absorption curve (8-hr AUC) increased linearly with BC dose and correlated positively with peak serum triglycerides (TG) after a meal (n = 26 tests, r = 0.56, p less than 0.003). Omission of the midday meal significantly delayed the initial BC peak to 7 hours (p less than 0.0004). Serum levels of retinol, alpha-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein remained unchanged. Serum retinyl esters did not rise in all subjects following BC intake; when it did, retinyl esters rose and peaked concomitantly with BC, but declined within 8 hours. There was no correlation between the initial serum BC, peak BC, 24-hr BC, 8-hr AUC, or peak serum TG and the percentage of body fat. We conclude that: (1) the timing of the serum response to oral BC is independent of dose, (2) the serum BC response is greater in those with a greater serum triglyceride response to meal lipids, (3) BC at the doses given does not alter the levels of other serum carotenoids, and (4) there is no correlation between the serum BC parameters measured and adiposity. PMID- 2621299 TI - Effects of acute starvation on vitamin A status in rats. AB - Maintenance of vitamin A stores in the body is dependent on a number of basic metabolic processes. These processes, such as protein and carbohydrate metabolism, are disrupted in acute starvation, and, as a result, alterations in vitamin A status may result. We investigated this possibility in 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats. The rats were starved for 24, 48, and 72 hr but had free access to water. At 24 hours of starvation, the plasma retinol concentration was depressed, but not significantly so. After 48 and 72 hours of starvation, however, the plasma retinol concentration decreased to less than half of the control values (61 +/- 4 vs 124 +/- 12 nmol/dl at 72 hours, mean +/- SEM, (p less than 0.005). The hepatic retinoid (retinyl esters + retinol) concentration (nmol/g liver) was increased at 24 and 48 hours of starvation compared to controls (p less than 0.05), and by 72 hours the concentration was 56% greater in starved rats than in fed controls (p less than 0.001). The total hepatic retinoid content (mumol/total liver) was decreased moderately at all periods of starvation compared to controls (p less than 0.05). In both starved and fed animals, the total hepatic content per 100 g body weight, a measure of total vitamin A reserves, was statistically the same. These results demonstrate that acute starvation in rats alters the vitamin A equilibrium between the plasma and hepatic stores without affecting the overall vitamin A reserves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621300 TI - Equipment for ophthalmological photography: Part 1. AB - This article is intended to be a survey of the ophthalmic photographic equipment available on the Dutch market. The lack of certain products on the Dutch market is due to the lack of representation and/or low saleability. The first part of this survey deals, in alphabetical order, with equipment for photography of the anterior segment, and the second part deals with the fundus camera, which follows in a later issue. PMID- 2621301 TI - Development of an educational module for surgical training: a case study. AB - This paper describes the design of software that will be used as part of an interactive video programme for the training of otolaryngologists. Although the construction of the programme is still in progress, some insight is given into the process by which the ideas were first developed and the production and evaluation of the prototype software. The procedure chosen was stapedectomy. PMID- 2621302 TI - Clinical photography: a method of accurate documentation. PMID- 2621303 TI - [Fechner's paradox, a binocular vision test]. AB - Fechner's paradox is a visual phenomenon which may be summarized as follows: a subject looks at an illuminated screen in binocular vision; one of the eyes is provided with a photometric neutral filter (density 1,3), the other eye remaining uncovered. When the uncovered eye is covered by means of a cover-test, the apparent luminosity of the viewing screen seems to decrease; but when the eye with the filter is covered by the cover-test, the apparent luminosity of the screen seems to increase: this fact is apparently paradoxical, since a part of the luminous stimulus of the eyes was suppressed: this is Fechner's paradox. The exact mechanism of this phenomenon is not yet clear; nevertheless, it is a primordial phenomenon of binocular vision, is easy to use in clinical strabological practice. Our present study was an application of Fechner's paradox in 119 strabismic subjects, 5 kinds of responses were obtained: 2 normal kinds of responses: Fechner's paradox symmetrical (41 subjects) or asymmetrical (29 subjects), i.e. 60% normal responses; and 3 kinds of pathological responses: mononuclear abolition (34 subjects), binocular abolition (10 subjects) and inversion of Fechner's paradox (5 subjects). The comparison between these responses and the clinical features was as follows: 1) Fechner's paradox was normal in 78% of subjects when the difference between the visual acuities of the two eyes was below 5/10, i.e. without true ambylopia; Fechner's paradox was abnormal in 74% of subjects when the difference was greater than 5/10; unilateral abolition of Fechner's paradox was not clearly related to the differences in visual acuity, but bilateral abolition and inversion of the phenomenon was related to ambylopia of one eye.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621304 TI - [Does peripheral iridectomy increase the risk of retinal detachment in patients with aphakia or pseudophakia?]. AB - A retrospective study of 107 cases of retinal detachment in aphakic and pseudophakic eyes showed different types of retinal break depending upon surgical method. Three techniques were studied: intracapsular extraction (ICCE), intracapsular extraction with anterior chamber lens implant (ICCE, AC-IOL), and extracapsular extraction with posterior chamber lens implant (ECCE, PC-IOL). Results were compared for each technique with and without peripheral iridectomy. Typical aphakic and pseudophakic retinal breaks were found only in eyes having undergone peripheral iridectomy: our conclusion is that peripheral iridectomy is a risk factor for typical retinal breaks. PMID- 2621305 TI - [Measurement of visual acuity in infants in 6 minutes: Teller's Acuity Cards]. AB - Most of the development of infant visual function occurs during the first year of life. Early pathological symptoms affecting visual or oculomotor processes, particularly ocular misalignment or amblyopia, should be detected and treated at the earliest age. Orthoptic and ophthalmological tests have been available for a long time but there remained a need for a convenient test for measuring visual acuity. Preferential looking techniques fulfill this demand and have been proven reliable and convenient to estimate visual acuity in preverbal infants. A new commercial presentation of the test, called Teller Acuity Cards, is described. Testing an infant was rapid, 5 to 6 minutes for a normal child, and easy because the child enjoys the convivality of the situation. Space requirement is reduced. Measures were taken from a population of 50 normal children aged 4 to 12 months. All children responded in the three situations, binocular and monocular (there was no blind eye in the group). Grating acuity values were higher than those obtained by projection preferential looking techniques. Binocular acuity was 6.5 cycles/deg (approximately 2.5/10) at 4 months of age, 9.8 cycles/deg (approximately 3.3/10) at 9 months and up to 13 cycles/deg (approximately 5/10) around 12 months. Acuities were found to be half an octave lower in monocular condition as compared to binocular. Orthoptic and ophthalmological check-up of infants is important, especially in case of children at risk of visual disorder. In most instances acuity can be preserved by therapeutic action provided it is initiated during the first year of life, when sensitivity to appropriate stimulation is at its peak.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621306 TI - [Biomicroscopy of the fundus oculi using a 90 diopter lens]. AB - An improved method of indirect biomicroscopic examination of the ocular fundus has been made possible with the use of a + 90 D lens since 1985. Its special optical characteristics make it a very useful instrument. During this study of 220 retinal detachments we compared this instrument with other methods for examining the ocular fundus (Goldmann fundus contact lens, panfundoscope, binocular indirect ophthalmoscope with a 20 D lens). Other uses for the lens are described. This non-contact examining technique provides excellent visualisation, a wide field of vision, and good patient tolerance. The 90 D lens is particularly useful in vitreo-retinal management of retinal detachment both during and immediately after surgery. PMID- 2621307 TI - [Giant basocellular carcinoma of the eyelid]. PMID- 2621308 TI - [Long-term follow-up and etiologic factors in edematous forms of central retinal vein obstruction]. AB - We report a study of 61 cases of retinal vein occlusion, followed for 3-10 years. The oedematous form only were studied; 39 were branch vein occlusion (BVO) and 22 central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Of the CRVO's 5 were female, 17 were male, ages ranged from 5 to 75 years, averaging 58 years of the BVO's there were 19 females and 20 males with ages ranging from 27 to 79 years, averaging 61 years. High blood pressure and atherosclerosis were the most frequent causes. High intraocular pressures were mostly associated with CRVO (25%). Study of serum lipids and blood coagulation are most useful in CRVO in young patients. Platelet agreggation anomalies, protein C deficiency were seen in some cases. Visual prognosis is relatively good; bilateralisation was seen in 5% of BVO and in 9% of CRVO. Visual acuity better than 20/200 was observed in 87% of BVO and in 75% of CRVO. PMID- 2621309 TI - [Vitreous hemorrhage complicating age-related macular degeneration. Apropos of 18 cases]. AB - Vitreous hemorrhage as a complication of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is not a frequent event: 19 cases (out of 18 patients) are reported, corresponding to 0.6% of the patients with ARMD seen in the Department of Ophthalmology of Creteil between January 1st, 1979 and December 31, 1986. The relation between ARMD and vitreous hemorrhage was easy to establish on fundus examination after the resorption of the hemorrhage. However, during the acute hemorrhagic phase, the diagnosis was helped by the other eye fundus examination: this second eye presented with ARMD lesions in 15 out of 18 cases (78.9%). The most challenging differential diagnosis was the choroidal melanoma, when a subretinal hematoma hindered all underlying structures. Vitreous hemorrhages originated generally from well developed subretinal new vessels (17 cases out of 19) arising from the choroid. A retinal pigment epithelium tear, spontaneous or secondary to photocoagulation, was suspected to be the cause of the vitreous hemorrhage in one eye. Finally drugs (3 cases) and systemic diseases (6 cases) seemed to play a role. Visual prognosis is poor in most cases, as the result of the destruction of the macular photoreceptors (six eyes only retained a visual acuity equal or better than 20/400). Laser photocoagulation of the subretinal new vessels was possible for 5 eyes and allowed stabilisation of visual acuity in 2 eyes and improvement in one eye. Vitreous hemorrhage cleared in 16 out of 19 during the follow-up period and vitrectomy was therefore not performed in our series and not indicated at early stages. PMID- 2621310 TI - [Medium-term preservation of human corneas in an enriched culture medium at +37 degrees Centigrade]. AB - A study of 36 penetrating keratoplasties using donor corneas stored at +37 degrees C in organ culture incubation for an average of 12 days prior to transplantation is reported. The criteria for the survival of corneal grafts were mean central corneal thickness, clarity of the cornea and mean endothelial cell density. A total of 86% of the grafts remained clear after 12 months follow-up time. The mean central corneal thickness was 0.47 mm. The mean endothelial cell density was 1452 cells/mm2. Based on the results of this study, organ culture reported here appears to be a safe and efficient method of medium to long-term corneal storage. PMID- 2621311 TI - [Acanthamoeba keratitis. Epidemiologic and parasitologic study]. AB - The amebic keratitis with Acanthamoeba are until now rare, but however increasing as their diagnosis is better, and the contact lens wearers more numerous. The authors present the clinical and parasitological features of cases they did diagnose since 1986. In the immunological sphere, the T4 lymphocytes were 20% less than the normal for the first patient, and the third one had a very low level of immunoglobulins A. In the evolution sphere, the first one did received a keratoplasty; the second one has been successfully treated with propamidine isethionate; for the third one, the treatment with propamidine isethionate was nonuseful and a keratoplasty which was finally performed did show off numerous amebic cysts. In the parasitologic sphere, Acanthamoeba polyphaga was isolated from the first case, Acanthamoeba quina from the second one and Acanthamoeba lugdunensis from the last one. These last two cases are the first which did permit to isolate these amoebae, morphologically near to the first species. PMID- 2621312 TI - [Collodion baby. Apropos of a case with eye manifestations]. AB - We report a case of a male collodion baby, born at term of a consanguineous couple of Afghan origin. The new-born baby displayed a pseudo-dysmorphic syndrome predominant of the face, with a marked ectropion of the upper and lower eye-lids and chemosis, without corneal involvement. The condition improved with time but complete regression was not obtained. Collodion baby syndrome is a pathologic skin condition observable during the neonatal period. Long term evolution is towards ichthyosis in 90% of cases, and resolution in 10%. PMID- 2621313 TI - [Treatment of ectasic filtering blebs with argon laser photocoagulation]. AB - One of the complications of glaucoma filtering procedures is the development of an excessively large functioning filtering bleb. Five such cases were treated by Argon laser photocoagulation of the bleb surface, this having been previously colored by use of sterile Rose Bengal eye drops (not by methylene blue used by Fink and coll. (2) in certain cases). Results in these five cases were spectacular: immediately, there was considerable decrease in bleb size, good persisting filtration and the disappearance of symptoms; in the ???? ???, there was persistence of good results and ???? ?? complications. For all these reasons: ease at procedure, ambulatory treatment, good results, absence of complications, one ??????? prefer argon laser photocoagulation of the bleb surface to either cryotherapy or surgery. PMID- 2621314 TI - Aminophylline induced oxidative metabolism in isolated canine polymorphonuclear leukocytes. AB - Adenosine reportedly mediates myocardial and skeletal blood flow, bronchoconstriction, and cellular production of toxic oxygen radicals. Cellular effects of adenosine can be antagonized by the methylxanthines, which are widely used in the clinical treatment of obstructive airway diseases. Methylxanthine compounds such as aminophylline and theophylline inhibit the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of smooth muscle, reversing pathogenic states of bronchoconstriction. Recent techniques in flow cytometry allow examination of individual cells for the electrophysiological and metabolic cellular side effects of methylxanthine therapy. We report that the flow cytometric examination of isolated canine peripheral neutrophils, in the presence of therapeutic concentrations of aminophylline resulted in small but significant membrane depolarization and almost fivefold increases in baseline cytosolic H202 levels. If aminophylline is capable of direct in vitro activation of isolated canine neutrophils it may have the capacity to potentiate neutrophil activation in vivo: indirectly by competing with circulating modifiers, such as adenosine, for cell surface receptor sites and directly by the induction of toxic oxygen radicals as demonstrated here. H202 induction by aminophylline and other xanthine derivatives may become clinically important in instances of vascular occlusion, stasis, or instances of reperfusion where neutrophils may become activated. In an activated state, neutrophils could contribute to pathogenicity and tissue damage by indiscriminantly releasing oxygen-reactive species. PMID- 2621315 TI - Effects of rifampin treatment on contact sensitivity reactions to oxazolone in Balb/C mice. AB - Treatment of mice with rifampin (Ri, 100-200 mg/kg) affected the course of contact sensitivity (CS) reactions to oxazolone. The effects which were seen as either partial inhibition or enhancement of the response, under one set of conditions, could be abrogated or even reversed if conditions of either induction, elicitation and time of measuring reactions were altered. In addition, amount of Ri used for treatment and time of treatment in relation to the induction of CS reactions also influenced the effects observed. PMID- 2621316 TI - Effects of in utero exposure to cyclophosphamide in mice. II. Assessment of immunocompetence of offspring from 5 to 10 weeks of age. AB - Offspring of mice treated with cyclophosphamide (Cy; 1, 2.5 or 5 mg/kg) during pregnancy (6-18 days of gestation) and tested for immunocompetence from 5 to 10 weeks of age were found to have defective reticuloendothelial clearance. The main effects were: a) increased elimination half time (T 1/2) of 51Cr-labeled SRBC from circulation, b) decreased liver uptake of 51Cr and c) impaired ability of the spleen, mostly affecting the female pups, to compensate for decreased liver uptake. The highest dose group suffered the most pronounced effects. This group was also found to have increased IgG immunoglobulin levels at 7 weeks of age. IgG antibody production in response to specific antigenic stimulation and delayed hypersensitivity reactions to oxazolone did not appear to be affected by Cy treatment. PMID- 2621317 TI - The effect of marijuana smoke exposure on murine sarcoma 180 survival in Fisher rats. AB - Fisher rats were treated for 28 or 60 days to multiple exposures to the smoke of marijuana or marijuana placebo cigarettes. Primary, secondary and in some instances tertiary tumor implants were performed. Murine sarcoma 180 tumor cells (7.5 x 10(7)) were implanted subcutaneously on day 1, 14 and 28 following initiation of smoke exposure (28 day studies) or on day 1, 14 after cessation of smoke exposure (60 day studies). Tumor areas were measured on alternate days beginning on the second or third day after implantation for 13 or 14 days. Exposure to both marijuana and placebo smoke for 28 days (6, 9 and 18 cigarettes per day) resulted in suppressed growth of secondary and tertiary implants. Administration of delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (50 mg/kg, i.p., 20 days) failed to suppress the growth of primary and secondary tumors. This suggests that noncannabinoid constituents of the smoke may contribute to the suppression of tumor growth. Exposure of rats to 9, but not 4 or 6, marijuana or placebo cigarettes per day for 60 days suppressed the growth of primary but not secondary tumors. Thus, the effects of smoke exposure appear to be lost by two weeks after cessation of treatment. The possible existence of a non-cannabinoid immunostimulant in the smoke is discussed. PMID- 2621318 TI - In vitro effect of interferon alpha-2b on T lymphocyte transformation and leukocyte migration inhibition in patients with chronic brucellosis. AB - The in vitro effect of IFN-a on lymphocyte transformation and specific immune response against Brucella antigens was studied in 33 patients with chronic brucellosis and 10 normal controls. The following immunologic in vitro tests were applied: PHA activated lymphocyte transformation test using Bromodeoxyuridine and a monoclonal antibody in the presence and absence of 50 and 100 IU IFN Alpha-2b and leukocyte migration inhibition test against Brucella antigens in the presence and absence of 100 and 500 IU of IFN Alpha-2b. Patients were further divided to 2 subgroups according to a positive or negative migration inhibition test. Our results showed that T lymphocyte transformation was similar in patients and controls and that the addition of 50 IU IFN resulted in a significant increase of transforming cells whereas in the concentration of 100 IU IFN only anergic patients and controls responded positively. IFN also resulted in a significant leukocyte migration inhibition only in anergic patients and controls. These findings suggest that the chronic infection is not due to a generalized cellular immunodeficiency state and that IFN Alpha-2b might be a promising therapeutic approach in anergic patients. PMID- 2621319 TI - Killing of tumor cells with pleiotropic drug resistance by OK432-activated effector cells. AB - The inactivate streptococcal preparation OK432 activates the cytotoxic function of natural killer (NK) cells. Moreover, it induces cytotoxic activity against freshly isolated tumor cells. The present study was aimed at assessing whether OK432-activated effector cells expressed cytotoxicity against tumor cells pleiotropically resistant to cancer chemotherapy agents. OK432-treated lymphoid cells killed the multidrug resistant (MDR) LOVO DX line as efficiently as drug sensitive parental LOVO N carcinoma line. Effector cells involved in killing MDR cells were low density large granular lymphocytes with NK functions. Activation of effector cells has the potential to complement conventional cytoreductive therapy by eliminating residual-tumor cells surviving and resistant to chemotherapy. PMID- 2621320 TI - Role of tumour necrosis factor in the enhanced sensitivity of mice to endotoxin after exposure to lead. AB - Heavy metals administered to animals, at doses which appear relatively innoxious by themselves, enhance susceptibility to endotoxin. The mechanisms which underly this phenomenon are not yet fully understood. In this study we investigated the role of the cytokine Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF), an important mediator of the effects of endotoxin, in this phenomenon. First it was studied whether lead enhances sensitivity of mice to endotoxin and to TNF. Lead appeared to enhance sensitivity to both endotoxin and TNF resulting in mortality of mice at low endotoxin and TNF doses. Next we studied the influence of lead on serum TNF levels after stimulation by endotoxin. Lead treated mice showed lower TNF blood levels two hours after injection of endotoxin and lead. Six and eight hours after injection TNF levels of lead treated mice were higher compared to those of mice injected with endotoxin only. In the last part of our investigation, we studied the influence of a monoclonal hamster anti TNF antibody on the effect of combined lead-endotoxin exposure. Administration of the antibody prevents lethality completely. Our data indicate that TNF plays a central role in the phenomenon of the enhanced susceptibility of animals to endotoxin after exposure to lead. The enhanced susceptibility to endotoxin is caused by an enhanced susceptibility to TNF and possibly by a prolonged exposure to a higher level of TNF. PMID- 2621321 TI - Serum immunoglobulins, complement levels and lymphocyte subpopulations in phenytoin-treated epileptic patients. AB - The peripheral blood lymphocytes, serum immunoglobulins, C3 and C4 complement protein concentrations of 20 patients with idiopathic epilepsy who were receiving phenytoin were examined and compared with 30 healthy controls in order to obtain a detailed profile of the effects of the drug on the humoral and cellular immune systems. The T-lymphocyte subsets were identified using monoclonal antibodies. A significant decrease in suppressor T-cells (p less than 0.05) and an increase in the ratio of T-helper to T-suppressor lymphocytes (p less than 0.01) have been found. Furthermore, an increase in B-lymphocytes (p less than 0.01) and a significant rise in serum Ig M concentrations (p less than 0.05) have been observed. No significant changes in serum concentrations of Ig G, Ig A and complement proteins were detected. PMID- 2621322 TI - Influence of arecoline on immune system: I. Short term effects on general parameters and on the adrenal and lymphoid organs. AB - Arecoline, a suspected carcinogenic/cocarcinogenic alkaloid was screened to explore in detail its immunomodulatory influence in murine model system. The oral LD50 value for male mice was 371 mg/kg bw whereas it was 309 mg/kg bw for female mice. The subcutaneous LD50 value for both sexes was 97 mg/kg bw. Only a marginal difference was observed in intraperitoneal LD50 values between male (120 mg/kg bw) and female (109 mg/kg bw) mice. Arecoline was administered subcutaneously to male mice at subtoxic dose levels (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg bw) for 1, 2 and 3 weeks on a daily basis. In groups where significant decreases in body weight were present (at 20 mg/kg bw for both sexes), reductions in thymus weight were also noted. Spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, and kidney showed moderate reductions in their weights. Histopathological effects at 20 mg/kg bw included lymphocyte depletion of the thymic cortex, and the B and T lymphocyte areas in spleen and MLN. In concordance with the zona fasciculata hypertrophy of adrenals, corticosterone concentration in serum increased depending on the dose with a significant elevation at 20 mg/kg bw. While total protein, albumin, glucose, acid phosphatase and hemoglobin concentrations were not altered, increases in SGOT and SGPT levels were observed at the high dose. The white and red blood cell counts decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Marked reduction in cell number of thymus, and moderate effect on cellularity of spleen and MLN, were observed at 20 mg/kg bw. In vitro exposure of rat thymocytes to arecoline resulted in a biphasic oxygen consumption response with progressive increase in oxygen consumption, reaching a maximum value at 10(-5) M and decreasing sharply at 10(-3) M. Exogenously added substrates such as glucose, pyruvic acid and lactic acid retarded the fall in the oxygen consumption induced at 10(-3) M arecoline. These observations demonstrate the effects of arecoline on lymphoid organs, which may be due to its direct action or through the elevation of corticosterone. PMID- 2621323 TI - The stimulation of EL-4 cells to produce interleukin-2 and its potential use in immunocytotoxicity testing. AB - The ability of EL-4 thymoma cells to produce interleukin-2 (IL-2) following exposure to phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and Concanavalin A (Con A) has been studied in vitro using medium containing either 10% or 1% fetal calf serum (FCS). The potent stimulatory effect of PMA on IL-2 production by EL-4 cells has been confirmed by measuring 3H-thymidine incorporation by the IL-2-dependent T cell line, CTLL-2, in the presence of conditioned medium (CM) from stimulated cultures. EL-4 cells produced several times more IL-2 when cultured in medium containing 10% FCS than when only 1% FCS was present. Added together, PMA and Con A acted synergistically in some EL-4 cell cultures. The ability of E:-4 cells to produce IL-2 was maintained after further incubation without stimulants. CM with IL-2 activity from stimulated EL-4 cells could prove useful in immunotoxicity testing. PMID- 2621324 TI - Natural killer activity in Fischer-344 rat lungs as a method to assess pulmonary immunocompetence: immunosuppression by phosgene inhalation. AB - Phosgene, also known as carbonyl chloride, carbon oxychloride, and chloroformyl chloride, is a toxic air pollutant and a potential occupational health hazard. Studies were initiated (a) to evaluate the measurement of pulmonary natural killer (NK) activity as a method to assess pulmonary immunocompetence, and (b) to determine whether exposure to phosgene resulted in local pulmonary or systemic immune dysfunction. Fischer-344 male rats were exposed either to filtered air or to 1.0 ppm phosgene gas for four hours. The effect of phosgene on lung NK activity was quantified at different times after acute phosgene exposure. Pulmonary NK activity was measured by mincing lung tissue into small pieces prior to incubation with collagenase. Whole-lung homogenate was assayed for NK activity utilizing a 4 hour 51-Cr-release assay with YAC-1 cells as target cells. Acute phosgene exposure resulted in a suppressed pulmonary NK activity on days 1, 2, and 4 after exposure; however, normal levels of biological activity were observed 7 days after exposure. The suppressed NK activity was not restored after removal of adherent cells from the lung homogenate, thus indicating that the effect of phosgene on NK activity was not due to immunosuppression via mobilization of suppressor alveolar macrophages. Pulmonary immunotoxicity was also observed after exposure at 0.5 ppm, while no adverse effects were observed at 0.1 ppm phosgene. Systemic immunotoxic effects were observed for NK activity in the spleen, but not in the peripheral blood. It is thus important in pulmonary immunotoxicology to evaluate systemic immune functions, since secondary effects--distant to the original interaction--may occur with potentially serious consequences. Cells exhibiting natural killer activity comprise a part of the nonspecific innate immunity that is important in defense against both neoplastic and viral diseases. Any perturbation of this important nonspecific immunological mechanism may result in a compromised host more susceptible to infectious and neoplastic disease. PMID- 2621325 TI - Potent inhibition of interleukin 1 beta-mediated human melanoma (A375.6) lysis by corticosteroids, staurosporine, and tilorone. AB - The mechanism of human interleukin (IL)-1 beta-mediated cytolysis was studied in a human melanoma cell line, A375.6. Purified recombinant human IL-1 beta produced 50% cytocidal activity at 50 pg/ml. A variety of compounds were tested for their ability to interfere with A375.6 lysis. Compounds were added simultaneously with IL-1 beta (100 pg/ml), and tumor cytolysis was measured after 72 hr of culture by release of 125I from DNA of A375.6 cells labeled with [125I]-dUrd. A variety of anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive agents (including auranofin, chloroquine, cyclosporin A, d-penicillamine) and several cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitors (AA-861, BW755c, and indomethacin) lacked protective activity. Similarly, phospholipase inhibitors (mepacrine and 4-bromophenacyl bromide), putrescine, inhibitors of lysosomal activity (chloroquine and NH4Cl), calcium channel blockers (nifedipine and verapamil), calmodulin inhibitors (W-7 and calmidazolium), and inhibitors of ADP ribosylation (nicotinamide and 3 aminobenzamide) were inactive. In contrast, corticosteroids (dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, and paramethasone acetate), tilorone, and protein kinase C inhibitors (1-[5-isoquinolinyl-sulfonyl]-2-methylpiperazine and staurosporine) significantly inhibited IL-1 beta-mediated A375.6 cytolysis. These compounds also interfered with tumor necrosis factor-mediated lysis of A375.6, suggesting common mechanisms of tumor cytotoxicity by these monokines. This model may be useful for delineating intracellular biochemical events integral to IL-1 action. PMID- 2621326 TI - Effects of X-ray irradiation on natural killer (NK) cell system. II. Increased sensitivity to natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF). AB - Irradiation with low-doses of X-rays of tumor cells elevated their susceptibility to lysis by natural killer (NK) cells in an accompanying paper. Cytotoxicity assays conducted at the single cell level revealed that X-ray irradiation of K562 cells did not affect the number of effector-target conjugates but increased the frequency of dead conjugated target cells. During interaction with K562 cells large granular lymphocytes released a soluble cytotoxic factor (NKCF) that killed the target cells. X-ray irradiation did not affect the NKCF stimulatory ability of K562 cells, while it elevated their sensitivity to the lytic effect of NKCF. In contrast to X-rays, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation of K562 cells did not elevate their NK sensitivity but rather reduced it. Treatment with mitomycin C produced no effect on NK sensitivity. These results indicate that X-ray irradiation elevates the target sensitivity to NKCF, which may be involved in the increased NK sensitivity, and that the X-ray effect may be different from that of UV radiation or DNA synthesis inhibition. PMID- 2621327 TI - [Dosimetry comparison of pelvimetry methods using conventional radiologic technic and x-ray scanner]. AB - The aim of this study is to compare conventional and CT-scan X-ray pelvimetry. Doses have been measured on the surface and in deep tissues as well as total doses received by the patients. With CT the fetus and the mother were exposed to 1/10th of the total dose delivered using conventional X-rays. The method is acceptable and the high quality of the films achieved make CT-scanning pelvimetry safer than X-ray pelvimetry. PMID- 2621328 TI - [Psychologic reactions of patients at the announcement of a treatment plan for cancer of the breast. Apropos of 6 exemplary case reports]. AB - Basing our clinical study on six typical cases, the different types of psychological responses to the announcement of the treatment options for patients with breast cancer are analysed by their frequency: anxiety with self-control, shunning of reality, questioning, anxiety attack, negation of the diagnosis or negation of the usefulness of the treatment. This classification allows the physician to recognize and analyse better the patient's reactions in order to establish the essential reciprocal trust for their complete observance to the most efficient treatment. Anxiety, linked to the meaning of the word cancer, is the most important component. The different reactions are caused by the patient psychological defenses mechanisms. As for the treatment, the real difficulty is to differentiate anxiety from reactional depression and from true depression. Treatment of anxiety should not be systematic and begins by reassuring the patient with a better patient-physician relationship. PMID- 2621329 TI - [Epilepsy and pregnancy. Apropos of 50 cases]. AB - This work is a report on the follow-up of 50 pregnant epileptic women who were looked after in the Gynaecological and Obstetric Service of La Pitie-Salpetriere in Paris. These patients had a generalised form of the disease. Well controlled patients usually had simple pregnancies. On the other hand half of those who had frequent attacks were worse during the pregnancy. It is rare for complications to occur either in the mothers or the neonates. The element that is most serious is the risk of malformation, which is three times as great whatever treatment is used and it does seem to increase according to the number of attacks occurring during the pregnancy. It therefore seems important that all epileptics should be stabilised before each pregnancy and medication should be given and controlled. It is important all the same that these are at-risk pregnancies that require clinical and ultrasound supervision. PMID- 2621330 TI - [Uterine rupture. Apropos of 155 cases observed in Conakry (Republic of Guinea)]. AB - From 155 cases of uterus rupture observed during 5 years at the CHU of Donka (Conakry), the authors are reminding: a) the high frequency of this obstetrical emergency: 0.74% of child births and 12.76% of the extractions by caesarean section: b) the high rate of maternal mortality: 25.16%. They insist on: 1. The important role of some parameters: socio economic conditions, lack of an appropriate infrastructure and of a qualified staff leading to a lack of obstetrical observation, parity, age of pregnant women, way of recruiting.... 2. The necessity to apply a correct supervision of the pregnant women and of delivery by establishing a good system of prenatal examination. The therapeutic problems, including the future of the mother and of the child are discussed, insisting on the necessity of the chirurgical celerity in case of dystocia. PMID- 2621331 TI - [Significance of HCG injection for ovulation induction and of ovulation prediction factors in the practice of artificial insemination using donor sperm. A randomized study]. AB - This randomised study was carried out on 77 patients who underwent 269 cycles of donor insemination (AID). The randomization was carried out to decide whether HCG should be used or not to provoke ovulation. The results in AID show, in our study, that using HCG in estimating oestradiol makes very little difference. On the other hand, measuring LH and the quality of the sperm that is used for the insemination seem to us to be important, whereas the quality of the cervical mucus is absolutely fundamental. Ultrasound makes it possible to determine the date when the AID should be carried out in difficult cases. The use of HCG to release the oocytes can be discussed when the cervical score is less than 7 when the other parameters are favourable, and in particular when the diameter of the dominant follicle is 18 mm or more. A higher pregnancy rate should be able to be obtained in AID if all parameters are looked at. PMID- 2621332 TI - [Lymph node clearing in cancer of the breast. Final results of a national survey]. AB - The author sent out a questionnaire to all surgeons who were likely to be operating on cancers of the breast; breast surgeons, gynaecologists and general surgeons in France. He was able to contact more than a third of all those who operate for cancer of the breast in France each year. The author analysed the present situation in regard to lymphatic clearance in cancers of the breast. He tried to establish what the indications and the technique are that are used at present. He could emphasize those where there was a consensus of opinion, areas where there was disagreement, and he was able to analyse the complications and how in the end to prevent them. The results show that axillary clearance is at present the best recognised prognostic step that can and it is virtually unanimously recognised to be effective. Axillary lymph node clearance is the most commonly practised procedure: the first two stages of Berg grade I and II are explored. It is quite clear that the nerve to the serratus anterior muscle and to the latissimus dorsalis have to be preserved. The accessory nerve to the medial brachial cutaneous nerve which supplies the internal surface of the arm should usually be preserved wherever possible to lessen the paresthesias or lack of sensation that can occur on the inner surface of the arm. Lymphocele occurs as the most common complication (12%). Internal mammary clearance is rarely carried out. PMID- 2621333 TI - [Use of a slow-release form of salbutamol in the treatment of threatened premature labor. A comparative study of 52 randomized cases compared with the immediate release form]. AB - A randomised study was carried out to compare the effect of ordinary salbutamol with controlled release salbutamol as far as the sedative effect on the uterine muscle was concerned. Modifying the molecule for salbutamol gives it characteristics of a true "retard" form. This makes it possible to prescribe 2 tablets a day in 2 doses to copy the sedative effect on uterine muscle achieved when the treatment is given intravenously in cases of threatened onset of labour. The study was a double blind one with a placebo being used in two parallel groups after the populations had been compared for similar characteristics as far as the past history, the body build and the number of pregnancies was concerned. This made it possible to show that the two forms are strictly comparable and that there are no adverse side effects. This form of "retard" salbutamol seems to be particularly useful in repeated attacks of threatened premature labour and makes it likely that it will be taken more regularly with the avoidance of peaks in plasma and therefore improved tolerance. Furthermore, the action is longer and effective overnight. PMID- 2621334 TI - [Active management of labor. Preliminary results]. AB - Concerned by the raise in cesarean section rate we introduced a more active management of labor derived from the Dublin experience. This involved a more accurate diagnosis of labor, associated with early diagnosis and augmentation of nonprogressive labor by oxytocin. Two groups of patients who delivered before and after the method was applied were compared. Cesarean section rate fell from 29.6% to 21% (p less than 0.01) and the mean duration of labor was reduced by two hours in nulliparas (from 7 h to 5 h: p less than 0.0005) and by one hour 15 minutes in multiparas (from 4 h 15 min to 3 h: p less than 0.0005), without change in the number of forceps deliveries and the perinatal outcome. Our cesarean section rate remains high. This is largely due to the number of high-risk pregnancies (10% preterm deliveries), the percentage of nulliparas (49%) and the systematic abdominal delivery of breech in nulliparas. PMID- 2621335 TI - [Cervical infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis at a family planning center: prevalence, analysis of risk factors, prediction model]. AB - Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) was detected by culture in 111/600 patients aged 15 to 55; overall prevalence 18.5%, 17% among asymptomatic (52/306) and 20% (59/294) among symptomatic patients. The difference is not significant. Contraceptive practices have no significant influence upon CT prevalence, except for the obvious protective effect of barrier methods. From the history, the clinical and paraclinical findings, four factors (history of genital infection, partner with urogenital symptoms, ectopy, inflammatory changes on a smear) can be combined to produce an index for predicting CT cervical infection. Others factors (age, no pregnancies, mucopus from the cervical os, inflammatory or dysplasic Pap smear, and signs of upper genital tract infection) are indicators of presumption and can be useful to selectively screen asymptomatic or symptomatic patients. PMID- 2621336 TI - Adaptation of the uterine arcade in rats to pregnancy. AB - In order to study the adaptation of the uterine arterial system to pregnancy we measured vascular dimensions and other growth related data (DNA content and [3H]thymidine incorporation rate) on excised uterine arcades, pressurized to 100 mmHg, of rats before and during pregnancy (day 8, 18 and 21 of gestation). The vascular conductance of the arcade was calculated using a numerical method. In order to investigate the response of the arcade to flow impairment during early pregnancy, the same measurements were repeated on uterine arcades from pregnant animals (day 21 of gestation), where the left uterine artery had been ligated on day 8 of pregnancy. In adult virgin rats, the uterine arcade was 0.3 +/- 0.05 mm wide and 50 +/- 5 mm long. With these vascular dimensions the vascular conductance of the arcade (2.5 microliters/(s x mmHg] was calculated to be inadequate for the blood supply to the pregnant uterus at term. During the course of pregnancy modest changes were seen: The arcade increased 80% in length, 30% and 80% in internal diameter at the ovarian and cervical origin respectively and 6 times in conductance. Weight of the arcades increased 2-3-fold, [3H]thymidine incorporation rate 7-fold whereas the DNA mass remained constant. Ligation of the uterine artery on day 8 caused a 2 times increase in internal diameter of the ovarian (open) origin of the arcade without change in weight, whilst the cervical (ligated) origin of the arcade had the same internal diameter as that of the control group. The calculated vascular conductance of the ligated arcade was the same as for controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621337 TI - Meclofenamate does not affect lung development in fetal sheep. AB - Prostaglandins may be involved in some aspects of fetal lung development, including surfactant metabolism, tracheal fluid production, and possibly lung growth. In the fetus, during the days before delivery, plasma PGE2 concentration increases and concurrently, tracheal fluid production decreases and surfactant production increases. To determine whether the increase in PGE2, specifically plasma PGE2 concentration, is responsible for these changes, we continuously infused the prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, meclofenamate (0.7 mg/h per kg), into 8 fetal sheep for 5-13 days before delivery; 5 control fetuses received a continuous infusion of solvent for 5-11 days before delivery. Meclofenamate infusion significantly decreased plasma PGE2 concentrations until the day of delivery. However, meclofenamate did not affect tracheal fluid production or its decrease before delivery, fetal plasma cortisol concentration, surfactant content of tracheal fluid and lung tissue, organ weights, lung weights, or lung DNA and protein content. We conclude that the changes in lung development during the days before delivery are not dependent on the usual high fetal plasma concentration of PGE2 or its increase before delivery. PMID- 2621338 TI - Ovine fetal coronary and cerebral vascular responses to forskolin. AB - The time related hemodynamic responses to forskolin-elicited increases in cAMP were studied in the near-term fetus. Catheters and electrodes were inserted into 6 fetal sheep to measure arterial, venous and thoracic pressures, electrocorticogram, and electrocardiogram. At gestational day 134, experiments were performed to determine the effect of forskolin infusion (400 micrograms/ml at 1.03 ml/min for 5 min) on fetal blood pressure, coronary and cerebral blood flow and resistance. Blood flow measurements were made using 15 microns microspheres labelled with radioactive isotopes during the control period and at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 45 min after forskolin infusion. Forskolin infusion was always initiated during a high-voltage electrocortical epoch and was given twice in each animal. In each case, forskolin caused electrocortical activity to change from high-voltage state to an intermediate voltage state. Blood pressure fell significantly by the end of the infusion period and returned to control levels 10 min later. Fetal heart rate and coronary blood flow were immediately elevated by forskolin (P less than 0.01) whereas cerebral blood flow did not increase until 5 min later (P less than 0.01). Cerebral blood flow was still elevated (P less than 0.05) 45 min after the end of forskolin infusion, whereas coronary blood flow had returned to control levels. Both cerebral and coronary vascular resistance fell significantly in response to forskolin infusion (P less than 0.01). This effect lasted at least 15 min and had returned to control levels 45 min after forskolin had been terminated. PMID- 2621339 TI - Indomethacin antagonizes the ethanol-induced suppression of breathing activity but not the suppression of brain activity in the near-term fetal sheep. AB - The effect of indomethacin on the ethanol-induced suppression of fetal breathing movements, low-voltage electrocortical (ECoG) activity, and electro-ocular (EOG) activity was studied in the near-term fetal sheep. Ten conscious instrumented pregnant ewes (between 129 and 131 days of gestation; term, 147 days) received 1 h maternal intravenous infusion of 1 g ethanol/kg total body weight and simultaneous fetal treatment with either indomethacin (2 mg/kg fetal body weight/h) (n = 5) or an equivalent volume of phosphate buffer (n = 5) intravenously for 9 h. Fetal ECoG activity, EOG activity, and fetal breathing movements were monitored continuously over the experimental periods. In animals treated with ethanol and buffer (n = 5), fetal breathing movements were suppressed for 8 h and low-voltage ECoG and EOG activity was suppressed for 2 h below preinfusion levels. In animals treated with ethanol and indomethacin (n = 5), fetal breathing movements were elevated for 13 h but low-voltage ECoG and EOG activity remained suppressed for 3 h below preinfusion levels. The data suggests that indomethacin can antagonize the ethanol-induced suppression of fetal breathing movements, but does not alter the ethanol-induced suppression of ECoG or EOG activity. PMID- 2621340 TI - The placenta releases branched-chain keto acids into the umbilical and uterine circulations in the pregnant sheep. AB - There was net uptake of branched-chain keto acids by the fetus from the umbilical circulation. Mean fetal uptake of the 3 keto acids 2-keto isovalerate, 2-keto isocaproate and 2-keto methylvalerate was 1.8 mumol/min per kg of fetus. The concentrations in the umbilical vein for these keto acids were 10.9 +/- 3.8 microM (mean +/- SD: 2-keto isovalerate), 19.7 +/- 6.1 microM (2-keto isocaproate) and 14.8 +/- 5.3 microM (2-keto methylvalerate) respectively. The coefficients of extraction for the same keto acids were 17.2%, 16.8% and 11.9% respectively. Fetal uptakes (both mumol/min and mumol/min per kg fetus) were positively correlated with umbilical supply. There were concentration gradients across the placenta, with fetal concentration: maternal concentration ratios of 3.3 +/- 1.5 for 2-keto isovalerate, 2.1 +/- 0.8 for 2-keto isocaproate and 1.3 +/ 0.6 for 2-keto methylvalerate. The net release of 2-keto acids into the umbilical circulation may conserve the carbon skeleton of branched-chain amino acids for fetal metabolism and growth. In the uterine circulation there was not a consistent pattern of release from or uptake by the uteroplacental tissues. It is suggested that branched-chain keto acids may contribute to fetal growth or energy metabolism. PMID- 2621341 TI - The nursing assessment of the patient with cardiac pain on the coronary care unit. AB - The accurate and swift assessment of cardiac pain is an essential requirement to prevent and relieve potential complications of myocardial ischaemia and infarction. Whilst on the coronary care unit, it is the nurse who maintains constant 24 hour contact with the patient, and offers first line treatment for pain control and relief of symptoms. In order to improve the quality of care given by nursing staff, an appropriate pain assessment tool is essential. A number of assessment tools are described and their potential and actual use on the coronary care unit evaluated. Given the limited applicability of those discussed for use with cardiac pain, the need for an accurate pain assessment tool remains an essential requirement for the coronary care nurse, to ensure that patient care reaches its highest potential. PMID- 2621342 TI - Children's human needs in intensive care. AB - Human needs can be considered as a framework for nursing care. The purpose of this study was to find out which human needs are relevant to nursing critically ill children. Yura and Walsh (1983) listed 35 basic human needs and their classification was used in this study. The shifting emphasis of the human needs of 30 children after open-heart surgery was compared during the operation day, the middle day and the last day in intensive care. The results were classified in six groups, depending on how the emphasis of the needs varied and how well the nurses were able to evaluate the human needs. The need for rest and leisure was the only need that became strongly emphasised during the whole period of intensive care. Some of the human needs became emphasised at the beginning or at the end of intensive care and some of the needs did not become emphasised at all in intensive care. Nurses were not able to assess some of the human needs. This study can be used as a pilot study for further research when trying to find out why certain needs become emphasised in critically ill children and how the needs can be met more effectively. PMID- 2621343 TI - A study into the views of intensive care nurses on the psychological needs of their patients. AB - This small scale study examined the way in which ICU nurses perceived the psychological needs of their patients. Data was collected through the use of semi structured interviews, and was then analysed using a modified grounded theory approach. Two overall themes were developed from the data, one being the way in which ICU nurses make choices about the organisation of their work and the other nurse-project relationship. Secondly the theme of the nurse-patient relationship was developed, in which ICU nurses experience difficulty in communicating with their patients. Paradoxically it would appear that the quality of this communication becomes poorer when the patient is more able to participate in the communication process. This problem in communication is substantiated by research into other areas of nurse-patient communication. PMID- 2621344 TI - Effects of tracheal suctioning on neonates: a review of the literature. PMID- 2621345 TI - A study of the teaching of nursing research using the project method to post basic registered nurses on ENB course 100 (general intensive care nursing for RGN). AB - The study examined how a project based on the research process was included in ENB Course 100 and how effective this method was in teaching course members about nursing research. The data was collected by a postal questionnaire to course teachers and by pre- and post-project questionnaires to 12 course members taught by the investigator. Most course teachers include a project in their programme and felt this met the research objective required by the ENB. Advantages of the method described were improved problem-solving skills, awareness and understanding of research and implications arising for clinical practice. Disadvantages include limitations of time, quality, ethical considerations and selecting suitable topic areas. The course members had received little instruction on nursing research prior to the course, but their attitudes to it were positive. Following the project, they described the practical experience of data collection and analysis as the most enjoyable aspects, and the least enjoyable as interpretation and writing up of results. Attitudes to nursing research had improved or remained positive from the experience of the project method. It was recommended that the project be considered as a method of teaching nursing research in this post-basic course. PMID- 2621346 TI - The role of IMA in national family welfare. PMID- 2621347 TI - Clinical significance of IgE in bronchial asthma. AB - Total mean serum IgE levels of 63 patients (aged 16-49 years) suffering from bronchial asthma and 64 control subjects (aged 19-40 years) were estimated by RIA method. Mean serum IgE level of patients and control subjects was 1132 +/- 643 units/ml and 43 +/- 26 units/ml respectively. The difference between the two values was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). Four per cent of the patients had serum IgE levels within normal limits. No significant correlation was found between mean serum IgE level of the patients and the duration of the disease. Differences in mean serum IgE level of male and female patients and control subjects was not statistically significant. The mean serum IgE level of patients in the age group of 21-40 years was highest (F = 1.33, p less than 0.05). Significantly elevated levels of serum IgE were observed in patients with both personal and family history of atopic disease in comparison to patients with only personal or family history only (p less than 0.05). As such the estimated raised level of IgE was significant in view of the severity of atopic asthma. PMID- 2621348 TI - Giant cell tumour around ankle. PMID- 2621349 TI - Tropical pyomyositis. PMID- 2621350 TI - Primary tuberculosis of the appendix. PMID- 2621351 TI - Carotid cavernous fistula. PMID- 2621352 TI - Ulnar nerve injury: an unusual complication of basilic vein cut open. PMID- 2621353 TI - Leiomyosarcoma of jejunum. PMID- 2621354 TI - Occupational health and safety and general practitioners. PMID- 2621356 TI - Biomedical advances. PMID- 2621355 TI - Spontaneous perforation of bile duct. PMID- 2621357 TI - An evaluation of modified Widal test in the diagnosis of enteric fever. AB - Serum samples obtained from 50 bacteriologically positive cases of Salmonella Typhi infection as well as 50 healthy individuals were subjected to conventional and modified Widal tests simultaneously. A 4-fold difference in the titres was noticed in 50 sera of the test group and no change in the titres of the control group. The early rising 'O' antibodies which are of IgM in nature and formed due to recent infection are inactivated by 2-mercaptoethanol while it has no effect on IgG antibodies which are formed due to flagellar 'H' antigens or due to anamnestic response or by nonspecific reasons. The use of modified Widal test along with conventional one can therefore help in the diagnosis of enteric fever with certainty. PMID- 2621358 TI - Mean frontal QRS axis and pulmonary artery pressures in rheumatic mitral stenosis. AB - The relationship between the mean frontal QRS axis calculated from the scalar 12 lead ECG, and the pulmonary artery (PA) pressures obtained by cardiac catheterisation in 64 cases of isolated rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS), was analysed. An overall trend of rightward axis shift with increasing PA pressures was observed; the best correlation was seen with systolic PA pressures (r = 0.51). It was possible to recognise 3 categories of patients: (1) With an axis of 70 degrees and below, systolic PA pressures were below 70 mm Hg in 82.4% of cases and below 80 mm Hg in 94% of cases; diastolic pressures were below 40 mm Hg in 88.2%; mean PA pressures were below 50 mm Hg in 88.2% cases. (2) With an axis of 71 degrees to 100 degrees, systolic PA pressures ranged from 30 to 120 mm Hg, diastolic PA pressures from 12 to 60 mm Hg and mean PA pressures from 19 to 80 mm Hg. (3) With an axis of above 100 degrees, systolic PA pressures were over 70 mm Hg in 95.5% of cases, diastolic PA pressures more than 30 mm Hg in 90.9%, and mean PA pressures more than 45 mm Hg in 90.9% cases. It was therefore possible to predict, with reasonable accuracy, the range of PA pressures in patients with isolated MS, except in those cases with an axis between 71 and 100 degrees. PMID- 2621359 TI - Placental transfer of paracetamol. AB - Paracetamol (1 g orally) was given to each of 10 healthy pregnant women undergoing normal vaginal delivery at the onset of second stage of labour. Following delivery, there was no significant difference in the serum concentration of paracetamol in the mother and the foetus (p less than 0.1), the mean value being 5.925 +/- 2.15 mg/ml and 7.875 +/- 2.22 mg/ml respectively. Paracetamol may be recommended as a safe analgesic-antipyretic during pregnancy and labour. PMID- 2621360 TI - Study of candida and Trichomonas vaginalis in Leucorrhoea. AB - Of 150 clinically suspected cases of leucorrhoea, 44 cases (29.33%) showed growth of candida and 30 cases (20%) of trichomonas, by wet preparation. Among the candida species the most frequent isolate was C albicans (56.8%), followed by C tropicalis (20.4%), C krusei (11.4%), C stellatoidea (9.1%) and C parapsilosis (2.3%). The higher incidence was found among the pregnant women than among non pregnant women. Among pregnant women multipara in third trimester showed higher incidence of candida and trichomonas infection. PMID- 2621361 TI - Assessing efficacy of therapeutic intervention on myocardial infarction process by enzymatic prediction method. AB - Efficacy of drug therapy in reduction of enzymatically estimated infarction size, was often assessed by enzymatic prediction method. But the drawback of this method is that, this can assess neither the utility of early administration of drug therapy nor the clinical effects of the drug. Predicted infarction size (PIS) does not include reinfarctions. Therefore, in such studies cases of reinfarctions are either to be excluded or PIS should be compared with modified infarction size (MIS). Moreover, a large number of patients (not a few ones) should be included in trial for correct assessment of the utility of therapy. PMID- 2621362 TI - Injection compression sclerotherapy for varicose veins. AB - Twenty limbs with varicose veins were subjected to injection compression sclerotherapy. Satisfactory results were obtained in all the cases. The technique and results are presented with the aim that this technique will be practised in more and more centres in India. PMID- 2621363 TI - Ramsay Hunt syndrome. PMID- 2621364 TI - Crossed renal ectopia with fusion. PMID- 2621365 TI - Infiltrative squamous cell carcinoma of right temporal bone. PMID- 2621366 TI - Headache. PMID- 2621367 TI - Magnitude of tuberculosis problem in India. PMID- 2621368 TI - Penetrating chest trauma: a review of 150 cases. AB - Penetrating injuries of the chest with emphasis on the policy of selective management in 150 cases, 145 males and 5 females, with age ranging from 5-60 years were reviewed. Chest pain and breathlessness were the commonest presenting features. Haemorrhagic shock and haemoptysis were noted in 30% and 20% cases respectively. Fire arms injury was the leading cause of chest trauma, being present in 80 (53.33%) cases. Except for 6 (3 cases had superficial stab wounds and 3 died on way to operation theatre), all patients (144) needed surgical intervention (tube thoracostomy drainage in 110 and major operation in 34 patients). There were 7 deaths in this study; massive haemorrhage was the cause of death in 4 and septic shock in 3 cases. An overall success rate of 95.34% was observed in this series. PMID- 2621369 TI - Study on blood level of human placental lactogen in abnormal pregnancy. AB - The hormone human placental lactogen (HPL) was measured in 15 expectant mothers with pre-eclamptic toxaemia, 5 with postdated pregnancy and 2 mothers with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). These levels were compared with that of 43 expectant mothers without any complications. In preeclamptic toxaemia (PET), HPL showed higher or normal values but in severe cases of PET and in those with proteinuria, hormone level was depressed as compared to normal pregnancy. Also in younger mothers (22 years or less) with the complication, the hormone level was low, though no relation with parity was observed. In case of IUGR, the hormone level was within the normal range although one pregnancy ended in intra-uterine foetal death. Low level of the hormone was found in pregnancies ending in low birth weight babies and in postdated pregnancies with foetal postmaturity syndrome. PMID- 2621370 TI - Xerophthalmia in school children. AB - The prevalence of xerophthalmia was studied in 5135 school children of Jodhpur ranging between 6 and 16 years of age. The total prevalence of xerophthalmia was found to be 9.89%. Night blindness (XN) and milder conjunctival form (XIA, XIB) of the disease were predominantly prevalent in the studied population. Corneal disease (X2, X3A, X3B) was found in 8 cases and xerophthalmia scar (XS) in only one case. Recognition of early xerophthalmia and urgent vitamin A therapy is of paramount importance to preclude the onset of the corneal stage and irreversible blindness. It is suggested that xerophthalmia screening be made an essential component of routine medical check-up in schools with XN (night blindness with or without conjunctival xerosis) and XIB (Bitot's spots) used as criterion for screening to effectuate early detection and treatment of xerophthalmia. PMID- 2621371 TI - Ryle's tube drainage of afferent loop after partial gastrectomy and that of gall bladder after cholecystojejunostomy. AB - Ryle's tube drainage of the afferent loop effectively prevented duodenal blow-out or anastomotic leakage in 40 patients undergoing partial gastrectomy for recurrent peptic ulcer. Similarly the same procedure was adopted in 20 cases of cholecystojejunostomy. The tube prevented anastomotic leakage and decompressed the biliary tree by effective bile drainage from the very 1st day thus favouring the prognosis. There was no complication observed directly related to either procedure in the present series. PMID- 2621372 TI - Intracranial tuberculomas. PMID- 2621373 TI - Mima polymorpha meningitis in a neonate. PMID- 2621374 TI - Systemic lupus erythematosus in a young male. PMID- 2621375 TI - Nutrition and sports performance. PMID- 2621376 TI - A mechanism for spatial brightness contrast enhancement and a basis for the duplicity of vision. AB - Cones are connected to bipolar cells connected to rods by processes extending laterally from the cone terminals (Sjostrand, 1958). The cone connections have been studied further in the rabbit retina. Structurally these connections are typical synaptic connections. It can be deduced that these connections must affect the onresponses of bipolar cells connected to rods in such a way that spatial brightness contrast is enhanced. The connections raise the threshold for rod vision and slow down the changes in the membrane potential of on-bipolar cells. These effects offer an explanation for the duplicity of vision. PMID- 2621377 TI - The Z-band lattice in skeletal muscle in rigor. AB - Previous work with tetanized and relaxed muscle has shown a correlation between active tension and the structure of the Z-band. This suggests that there is a correlation between the cross-bridge binding in the A-band and the structure of the Z-band. Using electron microscopy and optical diffraction we have examined this correlation in glycerinated muscle in rigor and in unstimulated intact muscle. We have found that the Z-bands of muscles in rigor always show the basketweave form, while those of the unstimulated muscles always show the small square form. The basketweave form found in rigor muscles is similar in form and dimension to that found in tetanized muscle. Thus it appears that the small square form of the Z-band is found in physiological states with little cross bridge binding and the basketweave form is found in states with a high degree of cross-bridge binding. PMID- 2621378 TI - Effects of clofibrate treatment and of starvation on peroxisomes, mitochondria, and lipid droplets in mouse hepatocytes: a morphometric study. AB - Adult male mice of the NMRI strain were treated with a diet containing 0.5% clofibrate for 4 days to study its effects on peroxisomes, mitochondria, and lipid droplets in hepatocytes. Animals were also starved overnight to study the additional effects of starvation. Starvation of control animals had small effects on peroxisomes while the mitochondria became enlarged and occupied more of the cytoplasm. The number and fractional area of lipid droplets increased fivefold. Clofibrate treatment caused a doubling in number and average size of peroxisomes. No significant effects were observed in the number of mitochondrial profiles or lipid droplets although the size of the latter decreased to a third the value of the fed control. Starvation of clofibrate-treated animals led to a slight increase in the number of peroxisomes although their average size decreased by 30%. Mitochondrial average area increased and their fractional cytoplasmic area increased despite the decrease in numerical density. The number of lipid droplets increased twofold compared to that of clofibrate-treated animals while the size was not affected. PMID- 2621379 TI - Ontogenetical changes in adipose tissue of the cat: convertible adipose tissue. AB - The ultrastructural characteristics of the inguinal, interscapular, and perirenal adipose tissue in kittens and cats were studied. There were no qualitative differences among adipocytes in the three anatomical areas. The only recorded difference was in the amount of lipids stored in the adipocytes in younger stages. Immediately after birth lipids occupied 25% of the volume in the inguinal area, 15% in interscapular fat tissue, and 10% in perirenal fat tissue. At this stage the adipose tissue morphologically resembled brown adipose tissue (BAT) of rodents. Two weeks after birth, lipids accumulated and adipocytes in the inguinal area became unilocular and appeared similar to white adipose tissue (WAT). A similar transition occurred approx 25 days after birth in interscapular fat and approx 6 weeks after birth in the perirenal area. No morphological signs of any cell degradation or destruction, nor any increased activity of preadipocytes, were seen during this conversion from BAT-like to WAT-like adipose tissue. The conversion of the adipose tissue was correlated with a decrease in vascularization and innervation, a loss of intercellular connections, and a changed mitochondrial population. Mitochondria in multilocular adipocytes resembled those in typical BAT which contain uncoupling protein ("UC mitochondria"). After conversion to unilocular adipocytes the amount of mitochondria was halved, their cristae even more reduced, and their appearance was of a WAT-type (UCP-lacking mitochondria, which are coupled under physiological conditions; "C-mitochondria"). Since this category of adipose tissue differs from both typical brown and white adipose tissue, the name "convertible adipose tissue" (CAT) is proposed. Apparently adipose tissue from comparatively large mammals is of this convertible type. PMID- 2621380 TI - Multiple cold abscesses in a borderline lepromatous patient on multidrug therapy. AB - A 25-year-old male patient was diagnosed as a case of borderline lepromatous (BL) type of leprosy in erythema nodosum leprosum type reaction. He was put on multidrug treatment. He took regular treatment. Approximately a year after the beginning of the treatment he developed multiple cold abscesses and later tuberculosis of the left hip joint. He was given antitubercular treatment with 4 drugs and the abscesses were treated surgically. He showed good response. This unusual case and the role of intermittent rifampicin is discussed. PMID- 2621381 TI - For how long should a multibacillary leprosy patient be treated? PMID- 2621382 TI - Clofazimine induced nail changes. AB - Two cases of lepromatous leprosy with erythema nodosum leprosum who were on high doses of clofazimine, showed discoloration of nail plate, subungual hyperkeratosis and onycholysis. These nail changes gradually disappeared when the dose of clofazimine was reduced. PMID- 2621383 TI - [Treatment of experimental murine candidiasis with liposome-encapsulated amphotericin B]. AB - Multilamellar liposomes composed of phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidic acid and cholesterol at a molar ratio of 4:1:4 were prepared so as to entrap a solution of amphotericin B (AMB) and its efficacy in the treatment of murine systemic candidiasis were studied. There were marked differences in susceptibility to systemic candidiasis among several strains of mice. The number of cultivable Candida albicans increased remarkably in the kidney up to 6.4 X 10(5) c.f.u./g, but not so marked in the lung, when challenged i.v. with 3.7 X 10(5) fungal cells into a relatively resistant strain BALB/C mice. Liposome-encapsulated amphotericin B (L-AMB) permitted larger doses of AMB to be administered without the occurrence of the acute anaphylaxis-like and subacute toxicity as expressed by a decreased renal function. The mice treated with a single injection of 4 mg/kg of L-AMB showed the prolonged survival after challenge. The results obtained showed that the use of liposomes as a drug delivery system for AMB would improve significantly the therapeutic efficacy of the antibiotic against candidiasis. PMID- 2621384 TI - [Oral immunization against tetanus, using liposome-entrapped tetanus toxoid]. AB - A study was made on oral immunization using a tetanus toxoid. Liposome entrapped tetanus toxoid (LTT) was p.o. administered to cats and serum antibody responses were examined. As a result it was known that the LTT antigen induced antibody production in the serum and that an antitoxin antibody titer higher than 0.1 IU/ml, a prophylactic level against tetanus, was produced. On the contrary to this, no antibody was detected in the group administered a tetanus toxoid alone throughout the test period. Also, when an absorbed tetanus toxoid (ATT) was booster-injected to cats p.o. primed with LTT, high responses of the secondary immunization were obtained. Moreover, in case LTT was p.o. administered as a booster antigen, the antitoxin titer in the serum showed a rapid, steep elevation. From these results it has been clarified that LTT on p.o. administration produces an antibody equivalent to the subcutaneous inoculation of ATT. PMID- 2621385 TI - Water quality and isolation of Vibrio cholerae non-O1 from an aquatic environment. AB - According to reports hitherto on the isolation of Vibrio cholerae non-O1 from the environment, environmental conditions at the time of detection differ depending on whether isolation is from the sea or rivers. We based this study on two rivers of differing water quality and studied the trend of a bacteria indicator to observe the conditions of existence of V. cholerae non-O1. 1) It was thought that V. cholerae non-O1 did not flow from the land or other areas of pollution but existed at those points in the river from which they were isolated. 2) The proportion of V. cholerae non-O1 isolated was higher for the river with a higher degree of water pollution and higher in areas of high pollution in both rivers. 3) In rivers with a low degree of pollution or having a small range in water quality, an increase in Cl- and PO4(3-) ions, or an increase in the number of bacteria grown on nutrient agar medium at 37 degrees C for 24 hours appears to increase the frequency of isolation of V. cholerae non-O1. 4) Approximately 13% of the samples of isolated V. cholerae non-O1 exhibited the cholera enterotoxin strain. PMID- 2621386 TI - [Effects of transfer factor on chronic hepatitis B in childhood]. AB - Nine children, 1 to 13 years of age, with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B received transfer factor (T.F.) monotherapy for 3 to 17 months, and were monitored by check-ups every six months from serum HBeAg, anti-HBe and GPT. In 12 months, 4 subjects became HBeAg negative and had normal serum GPT. In 22 to 48 months, 6 of the nine subjects had negative HBeAg and normal GPT, 2 had positive HBeAg and high GPT values. The remaining 1 subject who was observed for six months after T.F. therapy remained HBeAg positive with a high GPT values. No side effects were observed. These preliminary observations may indicate beneficial effects of T.F. on the natural course of chronic hepatitis B in childhood, though the ultimate effects awaits longer and well controlled clinical trials. PMID- 2621387 TI - [A case report of meningitis and sepsis due to Enterococcus faecium complicated with strongyloidiasis]. AB - A 80 year-old male was transferred to our department on 18th Aug. 1988, for high fever and clouding of the consciousness. He had been treated with steroid hormone (betamethasone 3.0 mg/day for 15 days) for his uveitis. Enterococcus faecium was isolated from both blood and spinal fluid, and then Strongyloides sterocoralis was revealed both in the sputum and stool. Anti-Human T-cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1) antibody was also positive serologically. At first, beta-lactam antibiotics were used for the treatment of purulent meningitis and sepsis, but after performing sensitivity tests for E. faecium, the antibiotics were changed to rifampicin (RFP), fosfomycin (FOM) and ofloxacin (OFLX) for their excellent activity against the organism. After the clinical symptoms, subsided, thiabendazole was used for disseminated strongyloidiasis in daily doses of 2,500 mg for six days initially. The drug was used three times with two week intervals. Both bacterial and parasite infections subsided and no recurrence has been noticed until now. This is the first case of meningitis caused by E. facium complicated with strongyloidiasis. PMID- 2621388 TI - [Bronchoalveolar lavage in diffuse panbronchiolitis]. PMID- 2621389 TI - [Regulation of heme oxygenase gene expression]. PMID- 2621390 TI - [Studies on the cell cycle in synchronous cultures of higher plant cells]. PMID- 2621391 TI - [Surface changes of dental alloys in oral environment--Part 1. Accuracy of EPMA analysis and its applicability to estimate corrosion of dental alloys]. AB - The purpose of this study is to find out the analytical accuracy and the detection limit of the EPMA, which are the important factors when analyzing the changes in the surface condition or the composition of the dental metals used in an oral environment. The results were as follows: 1) The EPMA used in the analysis had an excellent detection limit which was less than 0.005% for Fe, Cr, Si, Cu and Mo. 2) The X-ray detection limit measured for the elements in the alloys were close to that of the pure elements. 3) The results of the quantitative analysis for the standard samples using the EPMA were close to the results of the chemical analysis for each of the samples, with their differences within 1%. 4) When the quantitative results between the mirror polished surfaces and the surfaces treated with different grits of Emery papers were compared, the error was within 1% for the major component elements even when treated with the rough #80 Emery paper. 5) The effects of the inclination of the sample surfaces on the results of the analysis were small for the non-precious metals. Even with the precious metals, it was within 1% of the measurement error when the inclination was less than 2 degrees. PMID- 2621392 TI - [Study on proliferation and function of periodontal ligament fibroblasts and osteoblastic cells under hypoxia]. AB - There have been many reports recognizing vascular changes on pressure side of periodontal tissues during orthodontic tooth movement. The vascular changes cause local hypoxia which seems to affect the phenotypes of periodontal tissue cells. In order to clarify the effect of hypoxia on proliferation and function of periodontal tissue cells, DNA content, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production under a hypoxic condition in both periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PLF) and osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1 cells) were examined in vitro. PLF were cultured from human periodontium and identified by both morphologic characterization and presence of ALP. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Under 10% O2 condition, the activity of proliferation in PLF did not change but that of osteoblasts was inhibited. 2. ALP activity in PLF was stimulated but that of osteoblasts was inhibited under the hypoxic condition. 3. Production of PGE2 in osteoblasts increased after 7 days of hypoxia though that in PLF decreased. In addition, the enhancement of PGE2 production in osteoblasts was due to activation of both phospholipase A2 and PGE2-synthesizing enzymes. 4. From the orthodontic point of view, hypoxia on the pressure side may induce bone resorption by inhibiting mineralization activity of osteoblasts and enhancing production of PGE2 in osteoblasts. PMID- 2621393 TI - [Response properties of the neurons in the cervical cord to stimulation of the inferior alveolar nerve in the cat]. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate the neuronal mechanisms of the clinical symptoms of unusual muscle stiffness and/or pain in the neck and shoulder sometimes observed in patients suffering from chronic pulpal or periodontal diseases. Physiological properties of the neurons responding to the inferior alveolar nerve stimulation (inferior alveolar nerve driven-neurons: IANDNs) were studied by recording single unit activities in the upper cervical cord in cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose. The results were as follows: (1) IANDNs were widely distributed from the dorsal horn to the ventral horn in the gray matter of the cervical cord (C2 and C3). (2) IANDNs were subdivided into two types of neurons based on the latencies of the spike responses: fast-type (F type) (n = 60) and slow-type (S-type) (n = 101). (3) Two possible pathways from the inferior alveolar nerve to the cervical spinal cord participating in these spike responses were assumed: one was through the trigeminal spinal nucleus and the other through Probst's tract by way of the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus. These results suggest that the impulses originating from dental inflammatory loci might drive IANDNs in C2 or C3 and that their activities may evoke contraction of the neck muscles, resulting in their stiffness and cervical back pain. PMID- 2621394 TI - [A method for evaluation of compressive ability in mastication by chewing gum containing polycarbonate microcapsules]. AB - Evaluating masticatory ability is a fundamental subject in dentistry. However there is no sufficient clinical method for it. The purpose of this study was to evaluate compressive ability in mastication from compressive energy in mastication. To measure compressive energy from compressive transformation of a material before crushing, a new artificial material, CHEWING GUM CONTAINING POLYCARBONATE MICROCAPSULES, was originated. And by the material, a method for evaluation of compressive ability was made. The method was tested on 11 persons in the twenties (6 males, 5 females). The results were as follows: 1) The coefficient of variations of values that were measured 5 times on one male subject was 4.24%. 2) The distribution of values that were measured on 11 subjects ranged widely. The ratio of the minimum value to the maximum value on 9 adults of normal occlusion was 1 : 3.0. Compressive energy and occlusal contact area in mastication were calculated from these values. The results show that the method for evaluation of compressive ability is one of the new clinical methods for evaluation of masticatory function. PMID- 2621395 TI - [Response properties of single sensory units innervating human temporomandibular joint]. AB - The purpose of this study was to examine the response patterns of single sensory units innervating the human temporomandibular joint to the displacements of the mandibular head. 13 single sensory units were recorded from the auriculotemporal nerves of five adult subjects by the method of microneurography and the response patterns were analyzed. The results obtained were as follows: (1) The response patterns of the same unit to the directions of the mandibular movements were classified as Slowly Adapting Type and Fast Adapting Type according to the characteristics of their adaptation. (2) The threshold value of the Fast Adapting Type was higher than that of the Slowly Adapting Type. (3) Increasing the rate of the mandibular opening movements in the initial stage, the firing frequency of the units increased in the response pattern of the Slowly Adapting Type. It was concluded that the sensation in the directions of the displacements of the mandibular head can be induced by the response patterns of the impulses in the nerve fibers innervating the temporomandibular joint. PMID- 2621396 TI - Early active mobilisation following flexor tendon repair in zone 2. AB - In a prospective study, 114 patients with 138 zone 2 flexor tendon injuries were treated over a three-year period. Early active mobilisation of the injured fingers was commenced within 48 hours of surgery. 98 patients (86%) were reviewed at least six months after operation. Using the grading system recommended by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the active range of motion recovered was graded excellent or good in 77% of digits, fair in 14% and poor in 9%. Dehisence of the repair occurred in 11 digits (9.4%) and in these an immediate re repair followed by a similar programme of early active mobilisation resulted in an excellent or good outcome in seven digits. PMID- 2621397 TI - Flexor tendon repair in zone 2 followed by controlled active mobilisation. AB - Over a two-year-period, 34 adult patients who had suffered zone two flexor tendon injuries to 38 fingers (70 tendons) were managed post-operatively by a regime of early active mobilisation. The results of this technique, assessed by the Strickland criteria after a mean follow-up period of 10.2 months, compared favourably with other more cumbersome methods. PMID- 2621398 TI - Flexor tendon repair using a "six strand" method of repair and early active mobilisation. AB - A "six strand" method of tendon repair has been used to treat 36 fingers with flexor tendon lacerations. Following surgery, active mobilisation in a protective splint was begun immediately. 63% of lacerations were in zone 2 and 27% in zone 1. 69% and 100% respectively achieved an excellent or good result using Buck Gramcko's assessment method. 81% of all the fingers were rated excellent or good. PMID- 2621399 TI - Primary repair of flexor tendons in no-man's land using the Becker repair. AB - Forty-three digits with severed flexor tendons in no-man's land have been repaired using a modified Becker's technique. The results are analysed according to the type of laceration and associated injuries. Using White's method, 70% obtained satisfactory, 8% fair, and 22% poor results. There were three ruptures but most poor results were due to stiffness after crushing injuries or when both vascular bundles had been divided. PMID- 2621400 TI - Continuous passive motion following flexor tendon repair. AB - A prospective study was performed of 20 consecutive patients with 35 flexor tendon lacerations, in whom post-operative mobilisation was carried out using the Toronto Mobilimb Continuous Passive Motion machine for the first 4 1/2 weeks. Overall the results assessed by Buck Gramcko criteria were 17 (85%) excellent or good, 3 (15%) fair and no poor results. Taking the 17 fingers with zone II lacerations, 14 (82%) were excellent or good, 3 (18%) fair and no poor results. PMID- 2621401 TI - Flexor pollicis longus tendon repair: a comparison between dynamic and static splintage. AB - A retrospective review of 51 patients with isolated flexor pollicis longus tendon repairs has been undertaken to determine the value of post-operative splintage. Evaluation by the Buck-Gramcko criteria confirms the benefit of controlled dynamic mobilisation. Overall, 44% of patients treated by immobilisation post operatively achieved good or excellent results compared with 60% treated by dynamic traction. For repairs in zone 2, the results of mobilisation were significantly better, 62% achieving good or excellent results compared to 33% treated by fixed splintage. PMID- 2621402 TI - Proximal coiling of the profundus tendon after laceration of the finger. AB - Three patients who had delayed primary repair of a severed flexor digitorum profundus in the finger were found to have proximal coiling of the tendon in the palm. These patients' hands had been inadequately immobilised during the interval between injury and surgery. The most likely pathomechanics of this unusual finding is secondary retraction and coling of the severed tendon from unrestrained muscle contraction after division of the tendon. Precautions should be taken when retrieving the tendon stump for tenorrhaphy. PMID- 2621403 TI - Triggering secondary to an untreated partially-cut flexor tendon. AB - A case is reported where a flap cut of the radial slip of the flexor digitorum superficialis triggered on the proximal border of the A2 pulley within a healed intact tendon sheath. Shaving the flap resolved the problem. This illustrates another post-traumatic mechanical cause of triggering after partial division of flexor tendons. PMID- 2621404 TI - The effect of ultrasound on the healing of repaired cockerel tendon: is collagen cross-linkage a factor? AB - The acid solubility of the collagen of cockerel tendon demonstrates a similar degree of intermolecular acid-labile cross-linkage to that found in adult human tendon, implying similar maturity of the collagen. By contrast, rabbit tendon collagen demonstrates a dissimilar degree of cross-linkage suggesting immaturity of the collagen. Since this cross-linkage is likely to be related to mechanical properties, the cockerel may well be a better animal model than the rabbit for the study of tendon healing. The application of ultrasound to sutured cockerel tendons produced no change in the mechanical strength of the tendon at six weeks, or its propensity to form adhesions, relative to untreated control sutured tendons. This contrasts with the decrease in strength after ultrasound found by previous workers using rabbits. PMID- 2621405 TI - Herpes of a digit. AB - Herpetic digital infection is being diagnosed increasingly by hand surgeons. A case of herpetic infection of a digit in an eight months old child is described. PMID- 2621406 TI - Herpetic whitlow of the digits. AB - Herpes simplex viral infection of the digits, also known as herpetic whitlow, is a rather common hand problem encountered in dental and medical personnel. Treatment is controversial. This report summarises the author's successful experience in a series of ten patients using a non-operative local care technique, supplemented when indicated by a systemic antiviral agent. PMID- 2621407 TI - Clinodactyly: an unusual presentation. PMID- 2621408 TI - The Wrightington classification of rheumatoid wrist X-rays: a guide to surgical management. AB - We have reviewed the pre-operative radiological appearances, the type of operation performed and the results of surgery of 234 wrists in 179 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Based on this, a classification of X-rays of the rheumatoid wrist is described. It is designed to provide practical guidance to the surgeon who is planning surgery in a patient with rheumatoid disease. The surgical choices at each stage of the disease are briefly discussed. PMID- 2621409 TI - Replacement of the trapezium with a silicone elastomer universal small joint spacer. AB - 31 patients have been received between one and five years (average 2 3/4 years) after replacement of the trapezium with a silicone elastomer universal small joint spacer for carpo-metacarpal arthritis. Good pain relief was achieved in 84% and most patients retained 80% of power and movement compared to the other hand. Two prostheses fractured and two more subluxed painfully; another two were too big, causing pain, and had to be removed. Minor damage to the radial nerve occurred in four patients. PMID- 2621410 TI - Experience with the Herbert screw in the treatment of scaphoid fractures. PMID- 2621411 TI - Antioxidant treatment of diabetic rats inhibits lipoprotein oxidation and cytotoxicity. AB - Increased lipid peroxidation products were detected in a lipoprotein fraction containing very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) obtained from rats made diabetic by streptozotocin injection. The enhanced oxidation in the diabetic VLDL plus LDL fraction correlated with the in vitro toxicity of this lipoprotein fraction to proliferating fibroblasts. In contrast, high density lipoprotein (HDL) was not cytotoxic. That the increased oxidation and development of cytotoxic activity in the diabetic VLDL + LDL was related to the diabetes was shown by the fact that insulin treatment of diabetic animals inhibited both oxidation and cytotoxicity of VLDL + LDL. In contrast, treatment of diabetic rats with the antioxidants vitamin E or probucol after diabetes was established also inhibited both the in vivo oxidation and in vitro cytotoxicity of diabetic VLDL + LDL, but without altering hyperglycemia. Vitamin E or probucol treatment thus allowed separation of the oxidation process from the hyperglycemia occurring in experimental diabetes. The mechanisms by which diabetes in humans or experimental animals leads to the various manifestations of tissue damage are unknown; however, these studies demonstrate for the first time that a relationship exists between the in vivo oxidation of lipoproteins in diabetes and the potential for tissue damage as monitored by in vitro cytotoxicity. Furthermore, these results suggest that the mechanism for certain aspects of tissue damage accompanying experimental diabetes may be mediated by lipid peroxidation products. PMID- 2621412 TI - Ketonic bile acids in urine of infants during the neonatal period. AB - Ketonic bile acids have been found to be quantitatively important in urine of healthy infants during the neonatal period. In order to determine their structures, the bile acids in urine from 11 healthy infants were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS) and three samples with particularly high levels of ketonic bile acids were selected for detailed studies by ion exchange chromatography, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, microchemical reactions, and GLC-MS. The major ketonic bile acid was identified as 7 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-oxo-5 beta-chol-1-enoic acid, not previously described as a naturally occurring bile acid. The positional isomer 7 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-oxo-4-cholenoic acid, recently described as a major urinary bile acid in infants with severe liver diseases, was also excreted by most infants. Three acids related to cholic acid were identified: 7 alpha, 12 alpha dihydroxy-3-oxo-, 3 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-7-oxo-, and 3 alpha, 7 alpha dihydroxy-12-oxo-5 beta-cholanoic acids. Five bile acids having one oxo and three hydroxy groups were also present. Based on mass spectra and biological considerations two of these were tentatively given the structures 1 beta, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-3-oxo- and 1 beta, 3 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-7-oxo 5 beta-cholanoic acids. Some of the others had a hydroxy group at C-4 or C-2. The levels of ketonic bile acids were higher on the third than on the first day of life, and lower after 1 month. The formation and excretion especially of 3-oxo bile acids is proposed to result from changes of the redox state in the liver in connection with birth. PMID- 2621413 TI - Zonal heterogeneity of peroxisome proliferation and morphology in rat liver after gemfibrozil treatment. AB - The effect of gemfibrozil on the fine structure of peroxisomes across the rat liver lobule was investigated by light and electron microscopy using the alkaline diaminobenzidine (DAB) medium for the visualization of catalase peroxidatic activity. The oral administration of gemfibrozil for 2 weeks induces a striking heterogeneity in the lobular distribution of peroxisomes. The size and shape of peroxisomes, variety of matrix modifications, catalase content, and position within the cell, are functions of the zonal localization of the hepatocytes. The largest and most numerous peroxisomes were found in the centrilobular region indicating that these cells are most sensitive to peroxisome proliferation. On the other hand, the greatest variety of peroxisome shapes and matrix alterations (tubules and plates) was seen more peripherally in the mid-zonal and periportal regions. The larger, round centrilobular peroxisomes stained less intensely than the elongated peroxisomes found more peripherally, indicating a discrepancy between peroxisome size and catalase content. A distinct population of small irregularly shaped peroxisomes, lacking matrix specializations and containing variable catalase content, was found in the mid-zonal region. Peroxisomes in the centrilobular region were located within areas of the cell containing SER and glycogen while those in the more peripheral region were relegated to areas of the cytoplasm separate from RER and SER. In addition to modifications of peroxisomes, gemfibrozil treatment resulted in a proliferation and formation of whorled configurations of SER. This was particularly evident in the mid-zonal region, where single peroxisomal profiles could be seen surrounded by whorls of SER membranes. The results suggest that rat liver hepatocytes of the centrilobular region are the most sensitive to peroxisome proliferation and those of the periportal area are most susceptible to peroxisome matrix alterations after gemfibrozil treatment. PMID- 2621414 TI - Concentrations of cholestenoic acids in plasma from patients with liver disease. AB - The concentrations of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid, 3 beta,7 alpha dihydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid, and 7 alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-4-cholestenoic acid were determined in plasma from patients with different liver diseases and compared with those of unconjugated and conjugated C24 bile acids. The levels of the cholestenoic acids were similar in patients with extrahepatic cholestasis and in controls (median concentration 153 and 162 ng/ml, respectively), whereas significantly elevated levels were found in plasma from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (median concentration 298 ng/ml) and alcoholic liver cirrhosis (median concentration 262 ng/ml). As expected, conjugated C24 bile acids were elevated in most patients whereas the corresponding unconjugated compounds were low in cholestasis and elevated in alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The levels of the individual C27 acids were usually positively correlated to each other and also to the levels of conjugated C24 bile acids in plasma from patients with liver cirrhosis. In contrast, there was no correlation between the levels of C27 acids and conjugated bile acids in patients with extrahepatic cholestasis. The levels of unconjugated C24 bile acids were not correlated to C27 acids or conjugated bile acids in any of the groups. The results indicate that there is a close metabolic relationship between the individual C27 acids, that they do not participate in an enterohepatic circulation, and that the liver is important for their elimination/metabolism. PMID- 2621415 TI - Concentrations of cholestenoic acids in plasma from patients with reduced intestinal reabsorption of bile acids. AB - The concentrations of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid, 3 beta,7 alpha dihydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid, and 7 alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-4-cholestenoic acid were determined in plasma from patients treated with cholestyramine or subjected to resection of the ileum or colon. The values were compared with those for conjugated and unconjugated C24 bile acids. Patients with an intact ileum but without colon had normal levels of cholestenoic acids. Patients treated with cholestyramine or with ileal resection had elevated levels of 7 alpha-hydroxy-3 oxo-4-cholestenoic acid (median values 189 and 233 ng/ml, respectively, compared to 85 ng/ml in controls). The levels of the other two C27 acids were normal in cholestyramine-treated and low in ileoresected patients and were positively correlated to each other but not to the 3-oxo-delta 4 acid. There were no consistent correlations between the levels of C27 acids and those of conjugated or unconjugated C24 bile acids. The results indicate an increased formation of 7 alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-4-cholestenoic acid in subjects having a stimulated activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase. PMID- 2621416 TI - Identification of bile alcohols in rat bile. AB - Bile alcohols in rat bile were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Six bile alcohols were newly identified as minor constituents in addition to 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,26-tetrol, major bile alcohol of rat bile. The bile alcohols newly identified were 27-nor-5 beta cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24,25-pentol, 5 alpha-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,26-tetrol, 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24,26 pentol, 5 alpha-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,25,26-pentol, 5 beta cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,25,26-pentol, and 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,6 beta,7 beta,25,26-pentol. The biliary bile alcohols of the rat occurred mainly as the sulfuric acid esters and, in lesser amounts, as glucuronoconjugated and unconjugated forms. The amount of total bile alcohols was about 27.9 nmol in 1 ml of bile. PMID- 2621417 TI - Lipoprotein, apolipoprotein, and lipolytic enzyme changes following estrogen administration in postmenopausal women. AB - To test whether estrogen can modulate the cholesterolemic response to an Occidental diet, six healthy postmenopausal women were studied for 84 days while ingesting a solid food diet of constant composition high in cholesterol content (995 mg/d). In the middle of the study, estrogen (17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol, 1 microgram/kg per day) was administered orally. Ingestion of the diet for the initial 28 days did not alter lipoprotein lipid or apolipoprotein (apo) levels. However, with just 4 days of estrogen use there were significant decreases in apoE (-36%), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (-26%), and postheparin plasma hepatic triglyceride lipase activity (HTGL) (-61%), and an increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) triglyceride (72%). These changes persisted throughout the estrogen use. The percent change in HTGL with 4 days of estrogen correlated inversely with the percent change in HDL triglyceride (rs = -0.94). After 28 days of estrogen there were also significant increases in HDL cholesterol (21%), HDL2 cholesterol (42%), apoA-I (37%), and apoA-II (9%), and a decrease in apoB (-11%). The level of apoE at this juncture correlated inversely with the level of HDL cholesterol (rs = -0.90), and the levels of HTGL and apoA-I correlated with HDL2 cholesterol (rs = -0.89 and rs = 0.89, respectively). Thus, HTGL may play a role in both the early estrogen-related changes in HDL triglyceride and apoE and the late estrogen-related changes in HDL cholesterol, apoA-I, and apoA-II. PMID- 2621418 TI - Molecular species of phosphatidylcholine in abetalipoproteinemia: effect of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase and lysolecithin acyltransferase. AB - In order to study the role of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) in determining the molecular species composition of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and the specificity of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) in human plasma, we studied the PC species composition in plasma from abetalipoproteinemic (ABL) and control subjects before and after incubation at 37 degrees C. The ABL plasma contained significantly higher percentages of sn-2-18:1 species (16:0-18:1, 18:0-18:1, and 18:1-18:1) and lower percentages of sn-2-18:2 species (16:0-18:2, 18:0-18:2, and 18:1-18:2) as well as sn-2-20:4 species (16:0-20:4, 18:0-20:4, and 18:1-20:4). Similar abnormalities were found in the PC of ABL erythrocytes, while the PE of the erythrocytes was less affected. The relative contribution of various PC species towards LCAT reaction in ABL plasma was significantly different from that found in normal plasma. Thus, while 16:0-18:2 and 16:0-18:1 contributed, respectively, 43.8% and 15.9% of the total acyl groups used for cholesterol esterification in normal plasma, they contributed, respectively, 21.5% and 37.9% in ABL plasma. The relative contribution of 16:0-20:4 was also significantly lower in ABL plasma (4.7% vs. 9.0% in normal), while that of 16:0-16:0 was higher (6.4% vs. 0.5%). However, the selectivity factors of various species (percent contribution/percent concentration) were not significantly different between ABL and normal plasma, indicating that the substrate specificity of LCAT is not altered in the absence of VLDL and LDL. Incubation of ABL plasma in the presence of normal VLDL or LDL resulted in normalization of its molecular species composition and in the stimulation of its LCAT activity. Addition of LDL, but not VLDL, also resulted in the activation of lysolecithin acyltransferase (LAT) activity. The incorporation of [1-14C]palmitoyl lysoPC into various PC species in the presence of LDL was similar to that observed in normal plasma, with the 16:0-16:0 species having the highest specific activity. These results indicate that the absence of apoB containing lipoproteins significantly affects the molecular species composition of plasma PC as well as its metabolism by LCAT and LAT reactions. PMID- 2621419 TI - Albumin redirects platelet eicosanoid metabolism toward 12(S) hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. AB - Albumin is a major determinant of eicosanoid formation, affecting autacoids important in cell-cell interactions. We delineated three mechanisms by which albumin controlled platelet eicosanoid formation: 1) Albumin diverted free arachidonate toward 12-lipoxygenation. 2) Albumin enhanced release of arachidonate from phospholipids. 3) Albumin inhibited incorporation of arachidonate from the medium into platelet phospholipids. 12(S) Hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHTrE) formation was reduced 70% by albumin as compared to that formed in albumin-free medium. In sharp contrast, formation of 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), the platelet lipoxygenase product, was much less influenced by albumin. Moreover, 12-HETE production in the presence of albumin was markedly increased and prolonged after aspirin treatment. These data suggested that albumin redirected released endogenous arachidonate from cyclooxygenase to lipoxygenase. Therefore, the metabolic fate of arachidonate present in the medium of stimulated platelets was studied by adding tracer [3H]arachidonate 30 sec before thrombin. Albumin increased arachidonate metabolism by lipoxygenase 7-fold as compared to albumin-free controls, while cyclooxygenation increased 2.7-fold. Redirection of eicosanoid metabolism by albumin toward lipoxygenase products constitutes a heretofore undescribed and potentially important physiological role for albumin. In vitro utilization of albumin may reflect in vivo events in thrombosis and hemostasis more accurately than previous studies without albumin could appreciate. PMID- 2621420 TI - Receptor-mediated uptake of low density lipoprotein stimulates bile acid synthesis by cultured rat hepatocytes. AB - The cellular mechanisms responsible for the lipoprotein-mediated stimulation of bile acid synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes were investigated. Adding 280 micrograms/ml of cholesterol in the form of human or rat low density lipoprotein (LDL) to the culture medium increased bile acid synthesis by 1.8- and 1.6-fold, respectively. As a result of the uptake of LDL, the synthesis of [14C]cholesterol from [2-14C]acetate was decreased and cellular cholesteryl ester mass was increased. Further studies demonstrated that rat apoE-free LDL and apoE-rich high density lipoprotein (HDL) both stimulated bile acid synthesis 1.5-fold, as well as inhibited the formation of [14C]cholesterol from [2-14C]acetate. Reductive methylation of LDL blocked the inhibition of cholesterol synthesis, as well as the stimulation of bile acid synthesis, suggesting that these processes require receptor-mediated uptake. To identify the receptors responsible, competitive binding studies using 125I-labeled apoE-free LDL and 125I-labeled apoE-rich HDL were performed. Both apoE-free LDL and apoE-rich HDL displayed an equal ability to compete for binding of the other, suggesting that a receptor or a group of receptors that recognizes both apolipoproteins is involved. Additional studies show that hepatocytes from cholestyramine-treated rats displayed 2.2- and 3.4 fold increases in the binding of apoE-free LDL and apoE-rich HDL, respectively. These data show for the first time that receptor-mediated uptake of LDL by the liver is intimately linked to processes activating bile acid synthesis. PMID- 2621421 TI - Lovastatin treatment inhibits sterol synthesis and induces HMG-CoA reductase activity in mononuclear leukocytes of normal subjects. AB - The mechanism by which competitive inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase decrease serum cholesterol is incompletely understood. The few available data in humans suggest that chronic administration of the competitive inhibitor, lovastatin, decreases serum cholesterol with little or no change in total body sterol synthesis. To further define the effect of lovastatin on cholesterol synthesis in normal subjects, we investigated the effect of a single oral dose of lovastatin and a 4-week treatment period of lovastatin on mononuclear leukocyte (ML) sterol synthesis as a reflection of total body sterol synthesis. In parallel, we measured serum lipid profiles and HMG-CoA reductase activity in ML microsomes that had been washed free of lovastatin. ML sterol synthesis did not significantly decrease (23 +/- 5%, mean +/- SEM) at 3 h after a single 40-mg dose of lovastatin. With a single oral 80-mg dose, ML sterol synthesis decreased by 57 +/- 10% (P less than 0.05) and remained low for the subsequent 6 h. With both doses, total HMG-CoA reductase enzyme activity in microsomes prepared from harvested mononuclear leukocytes was induced 4.8-fold (P less than 0.01) over baseline values. Both the 20-mg bid dose and the 40-mg bid dose of lovastatin administered for a 4-week period decreased serum cholesterol by 25-34%. Lovastatin at 20 mg bid decreased ML sterol synthesis by 23 +/- 6% (P less than 0.02) and increased ML HMG-CoA reductase 3.8 times (P less than 0.001) the baseline values. Twenty four hours after stopping lovastatin, ML sterol synthesis and HMG-CoA reductase enzyme activity had returned to the baseline values. The higher dose of lovastatin (40 mg bid) decreased ML sterol synthesis by 16 +/- 3% (P less than 0.05) and induced HMG-CoA reductase to 53.7 times (P less than 0.01) the baseline value at 4 weeks. Stopping this higher dose effected a rebound in ML sterol synthesis to 140 +/- 11% of baseline (P less than 0.01), while HMG-CoA reductase remained 12.5 times baseline (P less than 0.01) over the next 3 days. No rebound in serum cholesterol was observed. From these data we conclude that in normal subjects lovastatin lowers serum cholesterol with only a modest effect on sterol synthesis. The effect of lovastatin on sterol synthesis in mononuclear leukocytes is tempered by an induction of HMG-CoA reductase enzyme quantity, balancing the enzyme inhibition by lovastatin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2621422 TI - Characterization of serum and urinary bile acids in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: effect of ursodeoxycholic acid treatment. AB - We have studied the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on the serum and urinary bile acids in seven patients with moderate to severe primary biliary cirrhosis. Bile acids were characterized by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantified by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Serum bile acids were elevated 26-fold over control values, with 2.2 times more cholic acid than chenodeoxycholic acid. Urinary bile acid output was elevated 22-fold over control values with a cholic acid:chenodeoxycholic acid ratio of 1.6. In addition, lithocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, 1 beta-hydroxycholic acid, 1 beta-hydroxydeoxycholic acid, and hyocholic acid were identified in both serum and urine; the proportions of the 1- and 6-hydroxylated bile acids were much higher in urine than in serum of the patients (32.1% versus 4.2%). Three months of placebo administration did not change the serum and urinary bile acid composition. In contrast, ursodeoxycholic acid feeding (12-15 mg/kg body weight per day) for 6 months resulted in a 25% decline in the total serum bile acid concentration from the pretreatment values. The proportion of ursodeoxycholic acid increased from 2.1 to 41.2% of total bile acids, so that total fasting serum endogenous bile acid levels decreased 62.4%. Ursodeoxycholic acid feeding substantially increased urinary bile acid output, with ursodeoxycholic acid comprising 58.1%. The proportion of 1- and 6- hydroxylated endogenous bile acids was reduced by 45.5% from pretreatment levels and approximately 4.5% of the urinary bile acids were omega-muricholic acid, 1 beta-hydroxyursodeoxycholic acid, and 21-hydroxyursodeoxycholic acid. These results demonstrate significant changes in the serum and urinary bile acid pattern in primary biliary cirrhosis during ursodeoxycholic acid treatment. The beneficial effect of ursodeoxycholic acid may be due to reduction of the hydroxylated derivatives of endogenous bile acids together with the appearance of hydroxylated derivatives of ursodeoxycholic acid or it may be due to displacement of the more hydrophobic endogenous bile acids by the hydrophilic ursodeoxycholic acid. PMID- 2621423 TI - Analysis of aminophospholipid molecular species by high performance liquid chromatography. AB - A new method is described for the separation of individual molecular species of the aminophospholipids, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. Trinitrobenzene-sulfonic acid was used to derivatize both aminophospholipids and the derivatives were purified by thin-layer chromatography. A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography technique was developed to separate and quantify individual molecular species based upon ultraviolet detection of the attached chromophore. The retention times of the molecular species on the C18 reversed-phase column were longer with increasing carbon chain length and decreasing degree of unsaturation of fatty acyl chain. The overall procedure allowed a quantitative recovery of the aminophospholipid species. The lower limit of detection was about 10 pmol and a linear response was observed in the range of 0.1-10 nmol of phospholipid. Using this method, we were able to separate and quantify trinitrophenyl-phosphatidylethanolamine molecular species of both subclasses (diacyl and alkenyl) from human red blood cells and rat brains. Separation of species was confirmed by gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the fatty acid content of each peak and by thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This new method provides a convenient and sensitive technique for studies of aminophospholipid molecular species composition. Furthermore, it appears to be a useful tool for the analysis of asymmetric distribution of these species in biological membranes. PMID- 2621424 TI - Development of a mass spectrometric method to quantitate platelet activating factor in mouse urine. AB - Platelet activating factor (PAF) is a lipid mediator of inflammation released by a variety of stimulated inflammatory cells. It may be involved in immune glomerulonephritis. Thus, its measurement in urine could give information on the mechanism of this disease. We present here a method to measure PAF in mouse urine, using gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS) in the selected ion recording (SIR) mode. Before instrumental analysis, the extracted and purified samples were hydrolyzed and derivatized with pentafluorobenzoyl chloride. Different experimental conditions are presented and discussed to corroborate the analytical findings. PAF levels in mouse urine were 2.08 +/- 0.46 ng/24 h. This procedure might represent a new experimental tool to establish the possible role of PAF as mediator of tissue damage in renal disease. PMID- 2621425 TI - A fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometric method to quantitate lysophosphatidylserine in rat brain. AB - A method to quantitate lysophosphatidylserine by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry using 1-hexa-decanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine as internal standard is described. The standard curve is linear with a correlation coefficient r2 = 0.999 from 10 to 1000 ng. This curve has been used to quantitate LPS in rat brain using phosphorus assay as a test control. We found 475 +/- 70 ng of LPS in 1 mg of tissue (n = 3). This method presents advantages due to its sensitivity and its capability to give molecular information of the unmodified compound. PMID- 2621426 TI - Effect of ethanol on natural killer cell activity in vitro. AB - The effect of ethanol on kinetic stages of natural killer (NK) cell activity was studied in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) were either co cultured or pre-incubated with various ethanol concentrations and assayed for NK cell activity with a "4-hour chromium release assay" and a "single cell cytotoxicity assay in agarose" simultaneously. Direct addition of ethanol to the assay system resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of NK cell activity. The percentage of lysed conjugated target cells was suppressed from a control value of 21.2% to 17.0%, 15.1%, 11.8% and 10.0% with an ethanol concentration of 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1.0%, respectively. NK cell recycling was also inhibited. A 24-hour pre-incubation with ethanol, however, resulted in NK cell activity enhancement. The enhancement was around 20% with a 0.25% ethanol concentration and around 45% with a 0.5% and a 1.0% ethanol concentrations. The enhancing effect was noted mainly at the cytolysis stage after binding of effector cell with target cells. PMID- 2621427 TI - Acute effects of fever, fasting and aspirin on infant rat gastric mucosa. AB - Clinical experience shows that young children with gastrointestinal bleeding have frequently had some preceding febrile illness for which aspirin was administered. Febrile young children often have poor food or liquid intake, or have been in a fasting state because of diarrhea, vomiting or anorexia. The objective of this study was to determine the acute effects of fever, fasting and oral aspirin administration on the gastrointestinal mucosa. One hundred and sixty-eight infant rats, from 21 to 28 days of age and weighting from 70 to 120 g were studied. Random assignment was made to eight groups (Grs): Control (Gr I); aspirin administration only (Gr II); fasting only (Gr III); fever only (Gr IV); aspirin and fever (Gr V); fasting and fever (Gr VI); aspirin and fasting (Gr VII); and aspirin, fever and fasting (Gr VIII). Aspirin was given orally in a single daily dose of 200 mg/kg for two days. Fever was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 0.6 ml salmonella vaccine. Fasting time lasted from 40 to 48 hours (8 hours prior to the beginning of the experiment to the end of study). The severity of the gastric bleeding was estimated by scoring the number of petechiae and the percentage of the hemorrhagic erosion area from grade 0 to 3. Results showed that rats in Grs VII and VIII had significantly more severe grades of petechiae and hemorrhage than the other groups. These were the groups where the risk factors of fasting and aspirin administration coexisted. In addition to fasting, Gr VIII had fever, but this group did not show more gastric mucosal damage than Gr VII showed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621428 TI - Factor analysis for the presence of serum HBV DNA in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. AB - To elucidate the role of HBeAg and other influential factors for the presence of serum HBV DNA and their interactions, serum HBV DNA was examined in 68 patients with chronic HBV infections and 23 HBsAg negative persons by molecular hybridization. Based on the univariate analysis, the positive rate of HBV DNA was higher in patients with HBeAg (31/43, 72.1%) than in patients with anti-HBe (5/22, 22.7%) with an odd ratio of 8.78. The positive rates of HBV DNA between men and women were not significantly different, and the positive rates of HBV DNA were not related to the SGPT levels. The mean age of patients without HBV DNA was higher than that of patients with HBV DNA (p value less than 0.025), and the positive rate and concentration of HBV DNA were decreased with increasing age (p value less than 0.005). The positive rates of serum HBV DNA among different histological changes were not statistically different. However, the discordance of HBV DNA and HBeAg/anti-HBe was increased when the liver parenchymal damage became severe (p less than 0.05). Only 5 patients were anti-D positive and 3 of them had serum HBV DNA. To exclude interactions of the influential factors, multivariate analysis was also performed. HBeAg was the only significant factor for the presence of serum HBV DNA when logistic regression was used (p less than 0.001). The age was an important factor when the concentration of serum HBV DNA was considered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621429 TI - Cushing's syndrome: analysis of 188 cases. AB - From January 1962 through April 1988, 188 patients with Cushing's syndrome were hospitalized at the Veterans General Hospital. Iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome was found in 123 (65.4%) of the patients. The other 43 patients (22.9%) had excess secretion of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and 22 patients (11.7%) had benign or malignant adrenocortical tumors. The clinical features and the functional reserve of the adrenal glands in those patients with iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome were evaluated. A retrospective analysis of the diagnostic rate of the various endocrine evaluations and the radiological examinations was also carried out. Four approaches were used in the management of Cushing's syndrome: (1) pituitary surgery, (2) pituitary irradiation, (3) adrenal surgery, and (4) drug therapy. Both the clinical and hormonal responses to these four management types were evaluated. The endocrinological, radiological, surgical and pathological experiences of 25 patients with Cushing's disease treated with pituitary surgery are presented. Five patients (20%) had an atypical endocrine pattern (20% false negative). Twenty-four patients received a pituitary CT scan and 16 patients (66.7%) had positive CT findings. Of these 25 patients, 19 had pathology-proven microadenomas (less than 1cm), one had macroadenoma (greater than 1cm) and 5 had no evidence of adenomatous tissue. Among the 22 patients with adrenal Cushing's syndrome, 4 (18%) were suffering from adrenocortical carcinoma and 18 (82%) with benign adrenal tumors. The incidence of left adrenal adenoma was approximately twice that of right adrenal adenoma. The cure rate of adrenocortical adenoma by surgical treatment with unilateral adrenalectomy was excellent, but for adrenocortical carcinoma was poor. PMID- 2621430 TI - Perinatal outcome of chorionic villus sampling versus amniocentesis. AB - This study assesses the relative risks of first trimester transcervical chorionic villus sampling (CVS) versus midtrimester amniocentesis performed between April 1986 and March 1988. The most common indication for prenatal diagnosis was advanced maternal age. We discovered 5.1% chromosomal aberrations in CVS compared to 1.0% in amniocentesis. Bleeding was the most frequent early complication, and only 1 case had major hemorrhage with subsequent spontaneous abortion. The fetal loss rate (gestational age less than 28 weeks) was 4.5% in CVS versus 1.2% in amniocentesis, which was not significantly different from the background fetal loss rate reported in normal pregnancies after an 8-week gestational age. Three cases of fetal loss after CVS were probably procedure-related; 1 case had spontaneous abortion and 2 cases had chorioamnionitis. Therefore, we considered that the causal relationship between CVS and the infection was highly probable. The clinical pregnancy outcome indicated that there were no differences in overall perinatal mortality, Apgar score, body weight, body length, gestational age at delivery, intrauterine growth retardation, placenta weight and placental disorders between the CVS group and the amniocentesis group. The pregnancies did not reveal any specific effects of the prenatal diagnostic procedure, but a long term pediatric follow-up is needed. PMID- 2621431 TI - Growth in children with nephrotic syndrome. AB - To assess the long-term growth status and the effects of steroid therapy on the linear growth of nephrotic children, growth patterns were analyzed in 52 patients who had been followed for 2 to 12 (5.51 +/- 2.82) years. They were divided into 2 groups: (1) Group A had less favorable clinical courses, this included 29 children with frequent relapsing, steroid-dependent, and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndromes; (2) Group B, consisting of 23 nephrotic children with occasional or no relapse. When assessed by a growth velocity index (GVI) and a change in standard deviation score of height (delta SD score), 24 patients (46%) were found to have growth impairment; of these, 21 (88%) belonged to Group A. The mean adult height of 6 Group A patients was subnormal when compared to normal adults, while the value for 6 Group B patients was normal. Based on covariance analysis, steroid usage of more than 6 months per year with a dose higher than 0.2 mg/kg/day (and/or 0.4 mg/kg/48h) was found to be the major determinant on the growth pattern of nephrotic children. In conclusion, high-dose prednisolone therapy should be administered no more than 6 months per year if normal growth and adult height are desired. PMID- 2621432 TI - Surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. AB - Twenty-nine female patients were diagnosed as stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and treated with different surgical procedures from March 1982 to December 1987. One patient was operated on twice. The surgical procedures included the Marshall Marchetti-Krantz(M-M-K) operation in 2 cases, Burch's operation in 2 cases, revised Pereyra's needle suspension in 9 cases and the modified Pereyra-Stamey's operation in 17 cases. Two of the 29 cases were lost to follow-up. The mean duration of follow-up after operation was 44 months. Five patients responded poorly to treatment. The other 22 cases are in good and continent condition. The success rate of the four different procedures were, M-M-K operation 50%(1/2), Burch's operation 100%(2/2), revised Pereyra's needle suspension 66.7%(6/9), and modified Pereyra-Stamey's operation 94.1%(16/17), respectively. Since the application of the Pereyra's needle in SUI, the Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz and Burch's operations have been performed rarely because of their complexity and the entrance into the abdomen. On the contrary, the revised Pereyra's needle suspension and Stamey's procedure became gradually popular. We started with the revised Pereyra's needle suspension for SUI in 1982, and experienced a high failure rate with this procedure. Thus, we modified the procedure using dacron bolsters like Stamey to take over the helical suture in the bladder neck. We conclude that a modified Pereyra-Stamey's procedure is a simple operation with a high success rate. PMID- 2621433 TI - Surgical management of musculoskeletal involvement in hemophilic patients. AB - Since the establishment of a Hemophilic Center at the National Taiwan University Hospital in 1984, all hemophilic patients have been registered. They have received regular follow-ups by specialists in appropriate fields. Orthopedic surgeons are assigned to evaluate and handle the complications of the musculoskeletal system. From January 1984 to April 1988, 20 of these patients were referred for various reconstructive procedures. Seventeen had a moderate to severe depletion of factor VIII and 2 had a severe factor IX deficiency. The indications for surgery include pain, swelling, frequent bleeding, and flexion contracture of the involved joints. Knee joints outnumbered the others. The operative procedures included: synovectomy in 7 patients, total knee replacement in 3 patients, total hip replacement in 1 patient, tendon reconstruction and supracondylar osteotomy of the femur in 3 patients, excision of a pseudotumor or cyst in 4 patients and amputation in 2 patients. Postoperatively, joint pain was relieved greatly, recurrent bleeding became rare and walking ability was significantly improved. To prevent a decrease in the arc of motion of the operated knee joint, exercise was initiated early using a continuous passive motion machine with promising results. Postoperative complications were minimal. Indications for various surgical procedures, and the details of hematological handling are discussed. PMID- 2621434 TI - Use of health services by the elderly in the Taipei area. AB - This study examined the effects of the predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics on the use of health services by the elderly which includes hospital care, physician services, herb doctor services, self-medication with western drugs, and self-medication with herb drugs. The data for the analysis came from a household interview survey of 1,519 non-institutionalized elderly individuals residing in Taipei city and Taipei county. The results indicated that (1) the elderly tended to use health services frequently; (2) most of the explained variance of health services utilization could be attributed to the need variables as well as the enabling variables; and (3) the type of health services used was related to the regular medical care system selected and the type of health needs. The research and policy implications for delivering health care to the elderly were discussed. PMID- 2621435 TI - Clear cell sarcoma of tendons and aponeuroses (malignant melanoma of soft parts): report of 2 cases. AB - Clear cell sarcoma of tendons and aponeuroses (CCSTA, malignant melanoma of soft parts), first described by Enzinger in 1965, is a rare and slow-growing soft tissue tumor mainly affecting the extremities of young adults. The tumor is believed to be a tumor of melanocyte, although its histogenesis is not definitely established. Here we report 2 cases of CCSTA with typical clinical and pathological features. A tumor grew from the right ankle of a 32-year-old man (case 1) and from the left foot of an 18-year-old woman (case 2). The tumors were deep seated and intimately bound to tendons or aponeuroses without involvement of the overlying skin. Grossly, they were greyish white, variegated with brown or black patches. Histologically, the tumor cells were arranged in nests or fascicles and composed of fusiform or polygonal cells with clear cytoplasm. Ultrastructurally, they consisted of closely apposed cells with intracytoplasmic melanosomes. Case 1 was found to have distant metastases within 6 months and died 1 year later. Case 2 received postoperative radiotherapy and was free of recurrence or metastasis 14 months after operation. The treatment of CCSTA should include radical excision, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The prognosis is poor. PMID- 2621436 TI - Abnormal cardiovascular responses to postural changes and pharmacologic agents in a case of Shy-Drager syndrome. AB - A 64-year-old carpenter had an unsteady gait, severe dizziness, nocturia, and a loss of erection for more than 4 years. The neurological manifestations consisted of a wide-based ataxic gait, bilateral dysmetria with intentional tremor, staccato speech, rigidity, bradykinesia, and an iris-thinning. There was reproducible orthostatic hypotension. A sweat test revealed severe anhidrosis. Nicotine and methylbenzene sensitivity was absent, whereas norepinephrine infusion test showed a significant elevation of blood pressure. The resting plasma norepinephrine level on recumbency was low and a subnormal surge was noted on standing or exercise. We conclude that the clinical features caused by a degenerative process involving both the central and peripheral autonomic systems, together with atrophy of other systems in this patient, constitute the Shy-Drager syndrome. PMID- 2621437 TI - [Immunohistochemical study on colorectal carcinoma]. PMID- 2621438 TI - [Significance of left atrial thrombus in prediction of systemic arterial embolization in rheumatic mitral valve disease: a two-dimensional echocardiographic study]. PMID- 2621439 TI - Distribution of virulence plasmids within Salmonellae. AB - The virulence region of the Salmonella dublin 50 MDa plasmid shared homology with 678 of 1021 salmonellae tested in colony hybridization experiments. The majority of S. dublin, S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis isolates tested hybridized with the region whereas, with the exception of S. hessarek, S. pullorum and S. gallinarum, other serotypes did not. Homologous virulence regions were plasmid encoded. In S. typhimurium a common 60 MDa plasmid was present in all phage types tested but not in DT4, DT37 and DT170. Smaller plasmids showing partial homology were found in DT12, DT18, DT193 and DT204C. In S. enteritidis a distinct plasmid profile for each of eight phage types was observed. Hybridizing plasmids were found in DT3, DT4, DT8, DT9 and DT11 whereas DT7, which was plasmid free, and DT10 and DT14, which harboured plasmids, did not hybridize. The extent of homology shared between S. dublin, S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis virulence plasmids was about 10 MDa and appeared conserved. Virulence plasmids from S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis did not show homology with a region of the S. dublin 50 MDa plasmid which was not associated with virulence functions whereas plasmids of about 24 MDa and 38 MDa in some S. typhimurium phage types did. The association of conserved virulence regions upon differing plasmids within salmonellae is discussed with reference to possible mechanisms of distribution and evolution of virulence genes. PMID- 2621440 TI - Production of cell-bound and vesicle-associated trypsin-like protease, alkaline phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase by Bacteroides gingivalis strain W50. AB - Bacteroides gingivalis strain W50 was grown in batch and continuous culture on complex medium with haemin. In batch culture, cell-bound levels of trypsin-like protease (EC 3.4.21.4), alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) and N-acetyl-beta glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30) increased during the exponential phase of growth. These enzyme activities were also detected in extracellular vesicles and in extracellular soluble forms in the supernatant fluid, but in lower amounts per unit biomass compared to cell-bound levels. In continuous culture, at high relative growth rates (0.7-0.9 murel), the highest proportions of enzyme activities were cell-bound. In contrast, at low relative growth rates (0.1-0.2 murel), highest enzyme levels were detected in the extracellular vesicle fraction. Levels of extracellular soluble enzymes were always low compared to cell-bound or extracellular vesicle levels, but were highest at low relative growth rates. All three enzymes appeared to be relatively stable in their soluble forms. Vesicle production appeared to be associated with actively growing cells but was influenced by growth rate. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that cell-bound 'periplasmic' enzymes are encapsulated into vesicles which are subsequently released by the cells. Therefore, levels of total extracellular enzyme (extracellular vesicle plus extracellular soluble) may depend on the rate of vesicle formation superimposed on the rates of production of 'periplasmic' enzymes in the cell. PMID- 2621441 TI - Arsenical resistance of growth and phosphate control of antibiotic biosynthesis in Streptomyces. AB - Twenty-six wild-type Streptomyces strains tested for resistance to arsenate, arsenite and antimony(III) could be divided into four groups: those resistant only to arsenite (3) or to arsenate (2) and those resistant (8) or sensitive (13) to both heavy metals. All strains were sensitive to antimony. The structural genes for the ars operon of Escherichia coli were subcloned into various Streptomyces plasmid vectors. The expression of the whole ars operon in streptomycetes may be strain-specific and occurred only from low-copy-number plasmids. The arsC gene product could be expressed from high-copy plasmids and conferred arsenate resistance to both E. coli and Streptomyces species. The ars operon expressed in S. lividans and the arsC gene expressed in S. noursei did not render the synthesis of undecylprodigiosin and nourseothricin, respectively, phosphate-resistant. In addition in wild-type strains of Streptomyces phosphate sensitivity of antibiotic biosynthesis did not show strong correlation with resistance of growth to arsenicals. PMID- 2621442 TI - Heat shock at an elevated temperature improves transformation efficiency of protoplasts from Podospora anserina. AB - We have developed an improved transformation procedure for the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina. This procedure is based on the observation that a heat shock at an elevated temperature (48 degrees C) improves the competence of P. anserina protoplasts for transformation 5- to 10-fold. This is observable only if the heat shock is applied before the addition of transforming DNA. An increase in competence is observed immediately after the heat shock, and heat-shocked cells are still competent after 20-30 min. The mechanism by which heat shock improves competence remains unclear. The modified transformation procedure gives as many as 200-500 stable transformants per microgram of plasmid DNA containing the P. anserina ura5 gene. This should allow direct cloning of P. anserina genes from a cosmid library. PMID- 2621443 TI - Monoclonal antibodies reacting with the exopolysaccharide xanthan from Xanthomonas campestris. AB - We have prepared murine hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies against the exopopolysaccharide xanthan from Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris 646 after fusing NSO myeloma cells and spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with xanthan. Four hybridomas, secreting antibodies designated A6 (IgM kappa), B3 (IgM kappa), D1 (IgM kappa), and D3 (IgG2A kappa), were selected for further studies. All antibodies reacted with a range of different xanthans. Competition studies using variants of the exopopolysaccharide as competitors suggested that specificity was mainly against the side-chain. One of the antibodies (B3) appeared to require the fully acylated side-chain with the pyruvylated terminal mannose as the immunodominant part. The three others were assumed to be directed against the nonsubstituted trisaccharide with the inner mannose-glucuronic acid being immunodominant. None of the antibodies reacted with cellulose (the xanthan backbone). Using immunoblotting techniques on nitrocellulose paper both a mixture of monoclonal antibodies, and also polyclonal ascitic fluid, could detect xanthan quantities of approximately 0.1 microgram. PMID- 2621444 TI - Location of a single beta-tubulin gene product in both cytoskeletal and mitotic spindle microtubules in Physarum polycephalum. AB - In the mutant BEN210 of Physarum polycephalum several beta-tubulins are detectable. beta 1-tubulin is unique to the myxamoeba, beta 2-tubulin is unique to the plasmodium, and the mutant beta 1-210 tubulin encoded by the benD210 allele is present in both cell types. In order to analyse the subcellular distribution of the beta 1-210 polypeptide, we prepared cytoskeletons from myxamoebae and mitotic spindles from plasmodia, and examined the tubulin polypeptide composition of these microtubular organelles by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The results show that the beta 1-210 tubulin is present in microtubules of both the cytoskeleton and the intranuclear mitotic spindle. Thus a single beta-tubulin gene product can participate in multiple microtubular organelles in distinct cellular compartments. PMID- 2621445 TI - Inhibition of the binding of penicillin to the pneumococcal penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) by exogenous cell wall peptides. AB - Incubation of pneumococci with D-alanine-containing peptides naturally occurring in peptidoglycan protected cells against lysis and killing by beta-lactam antibiotics near MIC. Such peptides caused decreased binding of the antibiotic to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), primarily PBP 2B. This provides direct evidence in vivo for the hypothesis that beta-lactams act as substrate analogues and identifies PBP 2B as a killing target in pneumococci. PMID- 2621446 TI - Purification and properties of glycerol:NADP+ 2-oxidoreductase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. AB - Glycerol:NADP+ 2-oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.156) was isolated from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, purified and characterized. It had an Mr of 57,000, and SDS-PAGE revealed two polypeptides, of Mr 25,000 and 30,000. Its coenzyme requirement was satisfied exclusively by NADP. The pH optimum for glycerol oxidation was 9.5, for dihydroxyacetone reduction 6.0. Rates of oxidation with some structurally related diols were three- to six-fold lower than for glycerol, while glyceraldehyde and other carbonyl compounds showed negligible rates of reduction. Neither monovalent nor divalent cations activated the enzyme. Apparent Km and Vmax values were determined. The enzyme is similar to glycerol dehydrogenases isolated from Mucor javanicus and from Dunaliella parva but differs considerably from the glycerol:NAD+ 2-oxidoreductase of S. pombe. PMID- 2621447 TI - Use of a fractionated coupled transcription-translation system in the study of ribosomal resistance mechanisms in antibiotic-producing Streptomyces. AB - The coupled transcription-translation system, formerly involving extracts of Streptomyces lividans, has been developed such that it functions with ribosomes (or their subunits) from at least 20 different Streptomyces species. This fractionated system has been used to investigate the antibiotic responses of ribosomes from various Streptomyces which synthesize inhibitors of protein synthesis. Of the 11 organisms included in this study, two strains possessed ribosomes that were specifically resistant to the autogenous antibiotic. These were Streptomyces pactum and Streptomyces karnatakensis, both of which produce pactamycin. Ribosomal subunit exchange analysis further demonstrated that resistance to pactamycin in those strains is due to some property of the 30S ribosomal subunits. PMID- 2621448 TI - Sequence of pilin from Bacteroides nodosus 351 (Serogroup H) and implications for serogroup classification. AB - The nucleotide sequence of the pilin gene from Bacteroides nodosus strain 351, currently classified as serogroup H, subgroup 2 (H2) has been determined. The gene encodes a single polypeptide (prepilin) of 160 amino acids and Mr 17,150. However, pilin isolated from B. nodosus 351 migrates as two distinct bands in sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, due to an internal peptide bond cleavage. Amino acid sequence studies of pilin from B. nodosus 351 have established that the cleavage occurs between 72Ala and 73Ser of the mature protein sequence. Comparisons of gene and amino acid sequences of pilin from B. nodosus 351 with the corresponding sequences from strains of serogroups D and H1 indicate that these sequences share a close relationship. However, the level of sequence identity between B. nodosus 351 pilin and pilin from strain 265 of serogroup H1 is lower than anticipated for strains within a serogroup and suggests that B. nodosus 265 and B. nodosus 351 should not be classified within the same serogroup. PMID- 2621449 TI - Plasmid diversity within the genus Chlamydia. AB - Examination of 12 Chlamydia psittaci strains recovered from nine different host species (three avian and six mammalian) revealed the presence of a 7.5 kb plasmid in all isolates except two ovine abortion strains, the human strain IOL207 and the Cal 10 strain. Restriction mapping analysis distinguished four different plasmids that were associated with avian, feline, equine and guinea-pig C. psittaci isolates, respectively. The restriction maps of these four C. psittaci plasmid types all differed from that of the plasmid recovered from C. trachomatis L2/434. Despite this plasmid diversity, which is likely to be of taxonomic importance, all four plasmids identified within the species C. psittaci were found to share some sequence homology, which was mapped to two separate regions in the plasmid molecules. One region, which showed a high degree of homology between C. psittaci plasmids and also detectable homology with the C. trachomatis plasmid, may represent a common replication control region for plasmids of this genus. PMID- 2621450 TI - Protoplast transformation of Bacillus stearothermophilus NUB36 by plasmid DNA. AB - An efficient protoplast transformation system was established for Bacillus stearothermophilus NUB3621 using thermophilic plasmid pTHT15 Tcr (4.5 kb) and mesophilic plasmid pLW05 Cmr (3 kb), a spontaneous deletion derivative of pPL401 Cmr Kmr. The efficiency of transformation of NUB3621 with pLW05 and pTHT15 was 2 x 10(7) to 4 x 10(8) transformants per micrograms DNA. The transformation frequency (transformants per regenerant) was 0.5 to 1.0. Chloramphenicol resistant and tetracycline-resistant transformants were obtained when competent cells of Bacillus subtilis were transformed with pLW05 [2.5 x 10(5) transformants (microgram DNA)-1] and pTHT15 [1.8 x 10(5) transformants (micrograms DNA)-1], respectively. Thus, these plasmids are shuttle vectors for mesophilic and thermophilic bacilli. Plasmid pLW05 Cmr was not stably maintained in cultures growing at temperatures between 50 and 65 degrees C but the thermostable chloramphenicol acetyltransferase was active in vivo at temperatures up to 70 degrees C. In contrast, thermophilic plasmid pTHT15 Tcr was stable in cultures growing at temperatures up to 60 degrees C but the tetracycline resistance protein was relatively thermolabile at higher temperatures. The estimated copy number of pLW05 in cells of NUB3621 growing at 50, 60, and 65 degrees C was 69, 18, and 1 per chromosome equivalent, respectively. The estimated copy number of pTHT15 in cells of NUB3621 growing at 50 or 60 degrees C was about 41 to 45 per chromosome equivalent and 12 in cells growing at 65 degrees C. PMID- 2621451 TI - Efficiency of the polymerase chain reaction for the detection of human immunodeficiency virus type (HIV-1) DNA in the lymphocytes of infected persons: comparison to antigen-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and virus isolation. AB - Seventy-one human immunodeficiency virus type (HIV-1)-positive patients were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), virus isolation, and antigen detection for the existence of HIV in blood. The identification of HIV DNA by PCR, using three different pairs of primers, yielded a clearly higher detection rate (86%) than with two primer pairs (75%) and was far more sensitive than virus isolation (45%) and antigen ELISA (14%). The PCR-negative results were clearly correlated to asymptomatic clinical stages. However, there was a limited correlation between the clinical stage of disease and the amount of HIV DNA that could be detected in equal numbers of CD4+ cells from different patients, which might be due to their treatment with azido-thymidine (AZT). PMID- 2621453 TI - Preliminary evidence that azidothymidine does not affect hepatitis B virus replication in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. AB - The effect of azidothymidine (AZT) on hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication was determined in three patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Serum viral DNA was present, and its concentration either remained the same or increased in two patients. Since AIDS patients may be infected with a variety of viral agents in addition to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the effects of the antiviral agents and biological modifiers on other common viral infections should also be determined in developing new approaches to HIV infection. Our results give preliminary evidence that AZT does not affect HBV viral replication in vivo. PMID- 2621452 TI - Immune blot analysis of viral surface proteins in serum and liver of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. AB - The small and the middle surface proteins of hepatitis virus form either the virion or the 22 nm particle both of which are secreted. The large surface protein by itself remains cell bound in artificially transfected cell culture unless it is accompanied by an excess of the smaller protens. Its behavior in vivo is not yet well studied. Using specific monoclonal antibodies for immunoblotting, we found an abundance of small surface protein in the serum of chronic virus carriers and moderate amounts in the liver irrespective of viremia. The large surface protein was present in the serum and the liver of viremic carriers. In nonviremic carriers, the large protein was absent from serum, but in the liver a shorter form of the large protein was readily detectable. These findings suggest a complex regulatory mechanism of the viral surface protein depending on the expression of other viral gene products. PMID- 2621454 TI - Detection of supercoiled hepatitis B virus DNA and related forms by means of molecular hybridization to an oligonucleotide probe. AB - A novel assay for supercoiled and other fully double-stranded forms of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in blood is presented that utilizes molecular hybridisation to a radiophosphorous-labeled oligonucleotide probe. The probe [5' d(ACGTGCAGAGGTGAAGCGA)] is complementary to the S(+)-strand sequence furthest downstream, at the end of the gap. We examined blood specimens from 137 healthy HBsAg-positive individuals, applying the probe to dots representing 2-3.5 ml serum or plasma. We found that supercoiled HBV is present in many HBV DNA positive blood specimens albeit in small quantities. Of the 104 specimens that were positive for HBV DNA of any form, 53 annealed to the probe. Serial specimens from the same subject taken over a period of months showed that the proportion of supercoil to other HBV DNA forms was variable. The presence of supercoil HBV DNA was not closely correlated with the level of serum HBV DNA polymerase. The supercoil is an HBV DNA form that can persist in the liver in the presence or absence of other replicative intermediates. This assay may enable further characterization of the status of HBV infection. PMID- 2621455 TI - Epidemiology of human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infections in a subpopulation of Afro-Caribbean origin in England. AB - Epidemiological studies on neurological diseases in residents of Afro-Caribbean origin in the West Midlands region of England have identified eight patients with tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP), all of whom were found to be infected with human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type 1 (HTLV-1). The husband of one of the patients with TSP was also infected with HTLV-1 and had a T-cell lymphoma. In addition, six asymptomatic HTLV-1-infected first-degree relatives of the TSP patients have been found. By anonymous testing of over 700 sera obtained from individuals of Afro-Caribbean, African, or Asian ethnic origin, seven HTLV-1 infected individuals were detected, who were all immigrants from the Caribbean. Overall, these numbers yielded a seroprevalence of HTLV-1 infections of 3.4% among the immigrant population of Afro-Caribbean origin, which is comparable with the prevalence of HTLV-1 in Jamaica in an equivalent age and sex cohort. Sera were tested for HTLV-1 antibody by means of three different procedures: passive particle agglutination test (Serodia), indirect enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Dupont), and indirect immunofluorescence test (in-house, using HTLV 1-infected MT2 cells). The results of all three tests correlated very well with each other. HTLV-1 antibody titres in TSP patients were on the whole significantly higher than those of asymptomatic carriers, but some of the apparently healthy first-degree relatives and one anonymously tested individual had titres as high as most of the TSP patients. PMID- 2621456 TI - Immunoglobulin isotypes of anti-HBc and anti-HBe and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA elimination in acute hepatitis B. AB - Antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and e antigen (anti-HBe) were assayed in 46 sera from ten patients with acute hepatitis B utilizing immunoglobulin class- and subclass-specific enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). The sera were sampled 1 to 512 days after onset of hepatic symptoms. Four patients cleared HBsAg rapidly, within 24 days, and six patients cleared HBsAg slowly, within 27 74 days after the onset of symptoms. In three of the patients with rapid clearance of HBsAg, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was not detected in sera tested during the first week after onset. The fourth patient was not tested until 12 days after onset and was then found to be negative for HBV DNA. In four of the patients with slow clearance of HBsAg, HBV DNA was present during the first week of illness. In the other two patients, HBV DNA was not detected in the first serum, 11 and 17 days after the onset of illness. Anti-HBc IgM and IgA1 were detected in all patients, with maximum titers shortly after onset. Anti-HBc IgG1 was present in all sera tested. Anti-HBc IgG2 was not detected in any of the sera. Anti-HBc IgG3 and IgG4 were detected in all patient sera, with IgG3 paralleling IgG1, and IgG4 mainly in sera long after onset. Anti-HBe IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4 were detected in three, two, and two patients, respectively. Anti-HBe IgG2, IgM, IgA1, or IgA2 was not found in any patient. The time required for maximum titer of anti-HBc IgG1 was shorter in the patients with rapid clearance of HBsAg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621457 TI - Prevalence of antibody to current influenza virus strains in adolescents. AB - During the Spring of 1986, 118 pupils aged 15-18 years were surveyed for the presence of humoral antibodies to five influenza strains. Prevalence of humoral immunity (HI) antibodies and immunity was found to be related to the year of the strain's emergence and to length of circulation time in the community. A high percentage of the adolescents were not immune to one or more of the tested strains. More than 40% of the studied group were not immune to the old A strains A/Philipines 2/82 (H3N2) and A/Chile 1/83 (H1N1), nearly 70% were not immune to the two B strains (B/USSR 100/83 and B/Ann Arbor 1/86), and almost the entire group (96%) was unprotected against the recent strain A/Singapore 6/86. Only one pupil was immune to all five strains; 35.6%, 22.2%, 17.8%, and 9.2% were immune to one, two, three, or four of the strains, respectively; and 14.4% were not immune to even one strain. PMID- 2621458 TI - An outbreak of acute flaccid paralysis in Jamaica associated with echovirus type 22. AB - An outbreak of acute flaccid paralysis in Jamaica in 1986 associated with echovirus type 22 is described. Six patients aged 1 to 27 years developed acute onset of severe flaccid paralysis, with inability to walk. Three cases had facial weakness, four required intensive care with assisted ventilation, and two died. Echovirus type 22 was isolated from the stool of two patients who showed a significant increase in antibody titre. Echovirus type 22 was also isolated from the stool of another patient who had aseptic meningitis without any neurological deficit. There was no evidence of poliovirus infection in any of these patients, most of whom were fully immunized. Of the four surviving cases with flaccid paralysis, three had residual weakness in their lower limbs and walked with an abnormal gait 3 years after the acute paralytic attack. This is the first report in the literature of acute flaccid paralysis associated with type 22 echovirus. PMID- 2621459 TI - Herpes simplex virus infections in male and female mice following pinna inoculation: responses to primary infection and artificially induced recurrent disease. AB - The pathogenesis of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is now well understood. After humans or experimental animals recover from primary infection, the virus remains latent in sensory ganglia of the peripheral nervous system. Latency, for the most part, remains unresolved, and elucidating the mechanisms involved with latency has proved difficult. The requirement for unravelling HSV latency is the availability of a reproducible animal model. Previously, the mouse ear model has been extensively characterized; however, many studies using this model have involved female mice only despite evidence that recurrent HSV infection in humans may vary by gender. We inoculated male and female mice subcutaneously in the pinna with varying amounts of one of four strains of HSV and monitored the mice for signs of primary infection. Following recovery from primary infection, mice were induced to develop recurrent disease. In addition, we attempted to isolate virus from dorsal root ganglia of mice suspected of harboring latent virus. There were no differences in the response of male and female mice to either primary infection or artificially induced recurrent disease when inoculated with the same virus. Differences were noted when female mice were inoculated with different strains of virus. PMID- 2621460 TI - Supracondylar fracture of the femur following total knee arthroplasty. AB - Three supracondylar femur fractures above total knee arthroplasties in two patients were treated with a Brooker-Wills intramedullary locking nail. All three fractures healed while preserving nearly all of the prefracture range of motion. The nail provides stable internal fixation with good control of rotation and allows early range of motion. The technique can be considered if the fracture is at least 8 cm proximal to the joint line. PMID- 2621461 TI - Long-term survival analysis of the posterior cruciate condylar total knee arthroplasty. A 10-year evaluation. AB - Long-term survivorship analysis was applied to 394 cruciate condylar type total knee arthroplasties. Clinical and radiographic parameters were evaluated. Failure was defined in three separate survival curves as revision, radiographic loosening, and a pain rating of 20 or less on the HSS knee score scale. Survival at 10 years, using only revision or recommended revision as the criterion for failure, was 94.7%. With the addition of the other two criteria, survival fell to 81% at 10 years. The posterior cruciate condylar knee survival is comparable to that of the total condylar knee when using comparable definitions of failure. PMID- 2621462 TI - Clinical results after revision and primary total hip arthroplasty. AB - Results after 184 primary and 227 revision total hip arthroplasties were compared with an emphasis on rates of failure leading to reoperation and intra- and postoperative complications and on the clinical outcome of the nonrevised arthroplasties in the two series. The failure rate was 7% (11 of 156) in the primary series, versus 27% (54 of 195) in the revision series. The rate of complications was substantially higher after revision, due to 16% (36 of 227) intraoperative fractures of the femoral shaft and 6% (14 of 227) postoperative dislocations. Clinical assessment of the nonrevised arthroplasties in the two series revealed no difference with regard to relief of pain. For patients with concomitant disabling conditions functional outcome was inferior after revision, but for patients without such conditions the functional results of the two series were equal. The favorable clinical results of the nonrevised arthroplasties in the revision series must be seen in relation to the very high rate of failure leading to reoperation. PMID- 2621463 TI - On the correlation between micromotion and histology of the bone-cement interface. Report of three cases of knee arthroplasty followed by roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis. AB - The bone-cement interface from the tibial components in three clinically successful unicompartmental Marmor arthroplasties was studied histologically. The migratory behavior of the prostheses had been followed by roentgen stereophotogrammetic analysis (RSA) since their insertion 5-7 years prior to retrieval for reasons other than mechanical loosening. The prostheses migrated during the first 3 years, after which no further migration occurred. Clinical and RSA data thus suggest stable fixation. All interfaces were made up entirely of soft tissue. In the sagittal portion, between the prosthesis and the tibial eminence there was mostly fibrous tissue, while the region underneath the prostheses consisted largely of highly differentiated fibrocartilage. This histologic picture is compatible with a migratory pattern, as measured by RSA, of stable fixation after an initial remodelling period, which the authors believe has the potential of good long-term results. PMID- 2621464 TI - Survivorship analysis of failure pattern after revision total hip arthroplasty. AB - Failure, defined as established indication for or performed re-revision of one or both components, was analyzed using survivorship methods in 306 revision total hip arthroplasties. The longevity of revision total hip arthroplasties was inferior to that of previously reported primary total hip arthroplasties. The overall survival curve was two-phased, with a late failure period associated with aseptic loosening of one or both components and an early failure period associated with causes of failure other than loosening. Separate survival curves for aseptic loosening of femoral and acetabular components showed late and almost simultaneous decline, but with a tendency toward a higher rate of failure for the femoral component. No differences in survival could be found between the Stanmore, Lubinus standard, and Lubinus long-stemmed femoral components. A short interval between the index operation and the revision and intraoperative and postoperative complications were risk factors for early failure. Young age was a risk factor for aseptic loosening of the femoral component. Intraoperative fracture of the femoral shaft was not a risk factor for secondary loosening. No difference in survival was found between primary cemented total arthroplasty and primary noncemented hemiarthroplasty. PMID- 2621465 TI - Considerations in the comparison of cemented and cementless total hip prostheses. AB - Based on conservative models of the revision rates for cemented and uncemented hip arthroplasties, the required number of patients for a study to show significant uncemented superiority was determined using standard statistical techniques. A review of the literature was done to ascertain the revision rates for cemented total hip arthroplasties. Patients with osteoarthritis who were older than 50 years had an average revision rate of 1% per year, while those younger than 50 years had revision rates in excess of 2% per year. Specific conditions of the hip were also associated with increased failure rates, most notably the implantation of a revision arthroplasty for a previously failed total hip arthroplasty. Assuming that the uncemented hip had a long-term revision rate of 0.5% per year and an early lack of biologic fixation in 1% of patients, it was found that a 5-year study would have to include at least 2,800 patients (1,400 in each group) if the study population had a cemented failure rate of 1% per year and a total of 230 patients in those having a cemented failure rate of 2% per year. The patients needed for a 10-year evaluation would be 700 and less than 100, respectively. Altering the long- or short-term revision rate for uncemented total hip arthroplasty had relatively little effect on the study size. This analysis indicates that a comparison study would be best done in patients who have high failure rates with cemented total hip arthroplasties. Multicenter trials involving younger patients or those undergoing revision surgery are ideally suited for such an investigation. PMID- 2621466 TI - In vitro analysis of proximal femoral strains using PCA femoral implants and a hip-abductor muscle simulator. AB - The strains produced in the proximal femur by noncemented and cemented PCA femoral implants have been compared to each other and to the strains in the same intact femur. The effect on the strain pattern of a hip-abductor muscle simulator was also tested. Nine embalmed femora were tested; two were used for development of the protocol, one was covered with a reflective photoelastic coating, and six were instrumented with eight strain gauge rosettes on each femur. For a given body weight on the photoelastically coated intact bone, the abductor-simulator increased the mean shear strains on both the medial (132%) and lateral (153%) aspects, with standard deviations of 13% and 20%, respectively; however, no strain-concentrated areas were observed. With an abductor simulator on the strain gauged femurs, calcar shear strains were significantly reduced (P less than .01), from those on the intact bone, by both noncemented and cemented implants. These reductions were 74.2% and 91.8%, respectively, with no significant difference between the two techniques. Reductions in shear strain were noted at midstem on the medial side for the noncemented (20.5%) and cemented (35.9%) implants; however, only the cemented implants produced significantly less (P less than .05) strain than the intact bone at this location. At midstem on the medial aspect of the femur, there was a significant difference (P less than .05) between the data for the cemented and noncemented implants. Analysis of variance identified no other regions of significant change. PMID- 2621467 TI - Radiographic measurements in protrusio acetabuli. AB - The radiographic data of 48 hips in 40 patients with painful, progressive protrusio acetabuli treated with cemented total hip arthroplasty and medial acetabular reinforcement using autologous or homologous bone grafts were reviewed. Twelve separate measurements were performed on the preoperative, postoperative, and most recent radiographs of each case to determine which measurements were the most useful in diagnosing protrusio acetabuli and in following preoperative and postoperative migration. The minimum follow-up period was 10 years (mean, 12.3 years). Vertical migration and horizontal distance, two measurements utilizing an X-Y coordinate system based on the acetabular teardrop, were found to be most useful. The cases with postoperative progression demonstrated vertical migration more often than medial migration. PMID- 2621468 TI - Three-dimensional angio-computed tomography. New technique for imaging the acetabulum and adjacent vessels in a patient with acetabular protrusio. AB - An arterial injury is an infrequent but potentially lethel occurrence after primary or revision total hip arthroplasty complicated by an acetabular protrusio. Frequently, a plain radiograph and an arteriogram are used to assess the major arteries around the hip. The limitations of these techniques are well documented. A novel technique for documenting the spatial relationships of the external iliac and common femoral arteries to the acetabulum employs an arterial study combined with a three-dimensional computed scan. An angiocatheter is inserted by conventional radiographic technique and a standard computed scan with 3-mm sections is obtained and reconstructed to a three-dimensional image. The scan provides an accurate three-dimensional image of the osseous architecture and arterial images around the acetabulum. Even in the presence of a metallic arthroplastic component, the resolution of the three-dimensional angio-computed scan is sufficient to identify the external iliac artery adjacent to the pelvis. PMID- 2621469 TI - Anatomy of the proximal femur as seen with three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging. AB - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being applied successfully to the study of the musculoskeletal system with notable recent advances, including the use of three-dimensional imaging techniques. The authors introduce three-dimensional MRI as a technique for examining proximal femoral anatomy and suggest its use as an improvement on current methods for prosthetic hip design. The proximal femurs of 14 cadavers were scanned using a three-dimensional FISP technique and the images were subsequently manipulated on a three-dimensional MRI image-processing workstation to produce rotated surface reconstructions and multiplanar reformatted images. The surface rotations showed that the marrow cavity contours closely follow the contours of the external cortex. Axially reformatted images allowed relative area measurements of the marrow cavity, quantifying the variability between subjects. PMID- 2621470 TI - Cardiac arrest following the use of hydrogen peroxide during arthroplasty. AB - A case is reported in which cardiac arrest immediately followed the use of hydrogen peroxide during preparation of the femoral canal during hip arthroplasty. The most likely cause of the arrest was thought to be oxygen embolism. The authors suggest that the use of peroxide in an unvented femoral canal may be hazardous, as it has been shown to be in other closed cavities in the body. PMID- 2621471 TI - A method of tack fixation of tibial bone grafts in total knee arthroplasty. AB - A simple and secure method of bone graft fixation using a tack is described for reconstruction of peripheral tibial defects during cemented and uncemented total knee arthroplasties. In use since 1985, this method facilitates minimization of tibial bone resection and provides an intrinsically stable platform for tibial component seating. This method is technically simple to perform with routine primary total knee arthroplasty equipment and is especially helpful for intermediate-sized grafts, which are too small to be handled conveniently with screws. PMID- 2621472 TI - RM isoelastic total hip arthroplasty. PMID- 2621473 TI - Effect of prenatal exposure to ethanol on the ultrastructure of layer V of mature rat somatosensory cortex. AB - Recent data have shown that the structure and function of layer V pyramidal neurons, e.g. corticospinal neurons, is altered by prenatal exposure to ethanol. We examined the effect of ethanol on the ultrastructure of layer V in somatosensory cortex. Timed pregnant rats were fed a diet containing 6.7% (v/v) ethanol (E) or pair-fed a nutritionally matched control diet (C). Thirty-day-old offspring of these mothers were prepared by standard electron microscopic techniques. The somata of pyramidal and local circuit neurons and the neuropil were analysed. Prenatal exposure to ethanol induced alterations in the somata of both populations of neurons. The parallel stacking of cisternae characteristic of C-treated rats was disorganized in E-treated rats. Moreover, the Golgi complex and lysosomes occupied a larger fraction of the somata of E-treated rats. The number and frequency of symmetric axosomatic synapses, but not asymmetric axosomatic synapses, formed by both types of neurons were significantly greater in E-treated rats. Gestational exposure to ethanol produced a variety of changes in the neuropil. Dendrites, particularly dendritic shafts, occupied less space in E-treated rats. In contrast, axons accounted for significantly more of the neuropil in E-treated rats than in controls. This increase in axonal space was due to a significantly greater coverage by non-myelinated axons and a significantly smaller coverage by myelinated axons in E-treated rats than in C treated rats. Although the overall frequency of synapses was similar in both treatment groups, there were significantly more asymmetric synapses in E-treated rats, and most of these were axospinous synapses. These differences may contribute to documented physiological changes such as the lower rate of glucose utilization in layer V of somatosensory cortex of E-treated rats and they may underlie the mental retardation which is characteristic of children with foetal alcohol syndrome. PMID- 2621474 TI - Developmental alterations in membrane organization of rat subpial astrocytes. AB - Subpial astrocytic processes were examined in developing rats, mainly with complementary replicas, to see how orthogonal arrays of particles (OAs) are formed and become numerous in membranes covered by basal lamina. Only a few (4.2%) endfeet in the membranes contacting the basal lamina (subpial membranes) had acquired OAs by the 19-day foetal stage. The number of endfeet provided with OAs increased drastically in the prenatal period, continued to increase at birth (P0), and somewhat more slowly in the early postnatal period (P0-P3), reaching 100% at P10. There were neuronal processes as well abutting on the basal lamina at the pial surface but they were easy to distinguish from astrocytic endfeet because of their larger intramembrane particles (IMPs), which are sparsely distributed and in patch-like aggregations. The distribution density of OAs in differentiated astrocytic endfeet also increased very gradually with age until P0, a little faster in the early postnatal period, and drastically from P10 to adult. Ordinary globular IMPs increased in number with age and continued to increase in the lateral membrane where OAs were still very few, though less rapidly in the subpial membrane as OAs became numerous. With maturation, larger IMPs became conspicuous in the lateral membrane but not in the subpial, suggesting that larger IMPs were predominantly used to form OAs. We have proposed the idea that relatively large IMPs line up to form single linear arrays (SLs), appearing as grooves on the E face, and that occasionally some SLs line up in multiple rows [multiple linear arrays (MLs)] and that SLs or MLs fuse with one another to become rod-like strands, then divide into squares to become OAs. SLs and MLs appeared ontogenetically earlier than OAs, and continued to appear in membranes provided with OAs. In areas where membranes were bent, transition of these three structures was observable and the proportion of OAs increased with age. Further, in such areas, alignment of OAs was different according to membrane curvature: concentric in and around protrusions, perpendicular to the edge of invaginations. This unique association of OA alignment with membrane curvature suggests that OAs contribute to some membrane stability in the area covered by the basal lamina and provide the membrane with special resistance to bending. PMID- 2621475 TI - Post-embryonic development of rectifying electrical synapses in the crayfish: ultrastructure. AB - The post-embryonic development of the rectifying Giant Fibre-Motor Giant (GF-MoG) synapse and the Giant Fibre-Segmental Giant (GF-SG) synapse has been investigated using electron-microscopy. In adults, the MoG and SG neurons make contact with the GFs by sending narrow 'finger-like' processes through the glial and connective tissue sheath surrounding each GF. The junctional region is characterized by closely apposed membranes (approximately 4 nm separation) traversed by regularly spaced connections, and large (60-80 nm) spherical vesicles in the presynaptic fibre. In newly hatched crayfish junctional contact is made over extensive areas of flat membrane apposition, due to the absence of a thick connective sheath around the giant fibres. Initially the junctional region is dominated by contacts which are morphologically indistinguishable from chemical synapses, i.e. 1. The apposed membranes are separated by a cleft of approximately 20-30 nm (an order of magnitude larger than the cleft distance at electrotonic synapses). 2. There is pre- and post-synaptic thickening of the junctional membranes with a dense cytoplasmic material. 3. Small (25-40 nm) pleomorphic vesicles are found on the presynaptic side of the junction, commonly in association with a dense presynaptic bar. Regions of junctional contact displaying the adult electronic-type morphology first appear at approximately one week post-hatching. At this age they are limited in distribution and occupy a central position in the area of contact surrounded by a broad 'chemical-like' annulus. During subsequent development these sites with electrotonic-type morphology grow in relative size, so that the 'chemical-like' sites become compressed towards the edges of the regions of contact. The adult type of morphology, in which the 'chemical-like' regions are vestigial, is achieved approximately two months after hatching. PMID- 2621476 TI - Inhibition of protein synthesis during CNS myelination produces focal accumulations of membrane vesicles in oligodendrocytes. AB - Optic nerves of Xenopus tadpoles were exposed to cycloheximide to identify changes that occur during CNS myelin membrane formation when protein synthesis is inhibited. Groups of stage 51-56 tadpoles were immersed in either 10 or 20 micrograms ml-1 cycloheximide, and at specified times between 12 and 18 h after initial immersion tadpoles were killed and their optic nerves prepared for ultrastructural analysis. As early as 12 h there were alterations in oligodendrocytes from treated animals compared with control animals. The number of polyribosomes in the perikarya and cell processes was greatly reduced and the rough endoplasmic reticulum was disorganized. Mitochondria and microtubules were normal in appearance. Many oligodendroglial tongue processes at the inner margin of the myelin sheath were enlarged, occasionally indented the axon and were filled with vesicular profiles. Vesicles were noted in other cytoplasmic regions of oligodendrocytes and focal changes in the lamellar structure of myelin were found in paranodal regions. The internodal portions of the myelin sheath, axons and astrocytes appeared normal. Polyacrylamide gels of optic nerves showed that the incorporation of 35S-methionine into polypeptides had been almost completely inhibited by treatment with cycloheximide. These observations suggest that cycloheximide, by inhibiting synthesis of myelin proteins, alters the ability of oligodendrocytes to incorporate membrane components into CNS myelin sheaths. PMID- 2621477 TI - Neural cell adhesion molecule is expressed by smooth muscle cells during the development of the rat vascular system. AB - The presence and distribution of neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) was examined by light and electron microscopical immunocytochemistry in the descending thoracic aorta, the superior mesenteric artery and mesenteric arteries from fetal and adult rats (embryonic day 15 to post-natal day 90). In embryonic and early post-natal rats, N-CAM immunoreactivity was localized in perivascular nerves, in the smooth muscle cell plasma membrane and basal lamina. In nerves, N CAM-immunoreactive sites were found associated with both the axon and Schwann cell membranes. N-CAM immunoreactivity was also found associated with the surface of adventitial fibroblast-like cells and with collagen fibrils, in regions where these fibrils were in contact with smooth muscle cells. In mature vessels N-CAM immunoreactivity was found to be restricted to the perivascular innervation and the surface of fibroblast-like cells. These observations indicate that N-CAM is expressed transiently in rat vascular tissues during development and is localized not only on the surface of smooth muscle cells but also in association with extracellular matrix components. PMID- 2621478 TI - Substructure in the assemblies of intramembrane particles in astrocytic membranes. AB - Assemblies are a specialization of intramembrane structure in astrocytes which is concentrated in astrocytic processes at the interface with vascular and cerebrospinal fluid compartments. When astrocytic processes are rapidly frozen and then freeze-fractured at very low stage temperature, the constituent particles of assemblies fracture in at least two planes in the lipid bilayer. The true outer surface of the astrocytic membrane can be exposed by etching rapidly frozen tissue and in such preparations the assemblies are seen to extend through the extracellular half of the membrane to be exposed on the surface to the extracellular fluid. The dimensions of the particles, their tendency to fracture at several levels and their exposure to the extracellular space all indicate that they are not composed solely of lipid. We conclude that assemblies represent a protein which partially or entirely bridges the membrane and which may serve a transport function. PMID- 2621479 TI - Muscle fibre loss and reinnervation after long-term denervation. AB - Cutaneous pectoris muscles of frog (Rana temporaria) were investigated 19.5-40 months after denervation. On whole mounts a heavy reduction in size and number of muscle fibres is noticed; in two muscles studied with semithin and ultrathin sections the number of remaining muscle fibres is 149 and around 120, while one of the contralateral muscles contains 250 and control muscles of equal sized frogs between 220 and 320 (n = 18) fibres. By electron microscopy muscle fibres undergoing degeneration or phagocytosis can be seen (3 of 20 muscle fibres present in a single ultrathin cross-section). On the other hand several profiles contained within one common basal lamina sheath are present in 14 of 20 fibres, indicating satellite cell proliferation. In one preparation 40 months after denervation not a single muscle fibre or axon is present, suggesting that eventually, without nerve supply, muscle fibres entirely disappear. Upon spontaneous reinnervation or implantation of the hypoglossal nerve 16 months after denervation, synapses are formed with the remaining muscle fibres. When studied 3.5-24 months after nerve implantation muscles innervated by few axons only (less than 10, 10-20 axons) contain a low number of muscle fibres (mean 44 +/- 41 SD, n = 6), while all muscles with a larger number of axons have more than 150 muscle fibres (n = 6). This indicates that unless large numbers of axons regenerate and/or when reinnervation is delayed muscle fibre loss continues to occur. The presence in one muscle of motor axons but only six muscle fibres 24 months after nerve implantation indicates that muscle fibre loss cannot be reversed, or recovery is extremely slow. This observation is interpreted as evidence for the exhaustibility of the satellite cell pool. PMID- 2621480 TI - A case of ameloblastoma diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology. AB - A preoperative presumptive diagnosis of ameloblastoma is sometimes made in the light of available clinical and radiological data, which are generally not very characteristic. The final diagnosis can only be made on the basis of histologic features. In this paper, a case of ameloblastoma diagnosed preoperatively by fine needle aspiration cytology is presented and the potential value of this technique for diagnosing oral lesions is discussed. PMID- 2621481 TI - Surgical correction and osteoplasty for forward dislocation of temporomandibular joint. AB - Surgical correction and osteoplasty were carried out in one case of prolonged and three cases of recurrent forward dislocation of the temporomandibular joint, two of the patients in the latter cases having mental disorders and one having a cerebral lesion. A hockey-stick-shaped preauricular incision was made, ending in the hair-bearing part of the temple. Then, the temporal fascia and muscle were divided anteriorly from the temporal bone. In two aged patients, a fragment of the zygomatic arch was pushed out and down, joining under the articular tubercle. In two younger patients, the cortical bone of the mandible was separated by sagittal split-ramus osteotomy for mandibular prognathism, and two graft blocks removed from the iliac bone were implanted between the root of the posterior zygomatic arch and the anterior cut-edge of the articular tubercle. In 3 of the 4 patients, the fragments or grafts were fixed by means of ligation using wire so as to make contact with the root of the posterior zygomatic arch. There was no recurrence of dislocation during a period of 2-5 years after surgery. PMID- 2621482 TI - Periodontal status (CPITN) of six-to fifteen-year-old west Malaysian aborigines (Proto-Malays). AB - A survey of 303 six- to fifteen-year-old Proto-Malay children was carried out in Selangor, West Malaysia. The examinations were carried out using a chair-table and natural daylight. Periodontal status was assessed using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). The findings revealed a generally low prevalence of periodontal disease affecting only 25.08% of the sample examined. Of these, 15.72% were found to have a score of 1 (bleeding of the gingiva), while 9.36% had calculus on the tooth surface. In terms of treatment needs, 24.75% required dental health education. The relationship between these findings and the possible causes are discussed. PMID- 2621483 TI - The interrelated effects of n-6/n-3 and polyunsaturated/saturated ratios of dietary fats on the regulation of lipid metabolism in rats. AB - The effects of various n-6/n-3 (0.45-9.31) and polyunsaturated/saturated (P/S; 0.25-6.08) ratios of dietary fatty acids on various lipid parameters were studied in rats using a combination of palm oil, safflower oil, soybean oil and perilla oil. When the n-6/n-3 ratio was changed while maintaining a constant P/S ratio (1.2), the concentration of serum cholesterol tended to increase linearly with the increasing n-6/n-3 ratio, whereas liver cholesterol tended to decrease. Serum triglyceride level increased linearly up to a n-6/n-3 ratio of approximately 5, whereas liver triglyceride was not influenced. When the n-6/n-3 ratio was kept relatively constant (5.6-6.4), serum and liver cholesterol levels decreased up to a P/S ratio of approximately 2, whereas serum triglyceride tended to be low below this value. The ratio of arachidonate to linoleate in tissue phosphatidylcholine (PC) was also influenced by the n-6/n-3 and P/S ratios; it increased up to a n 6/n-3 ratio of approximately 4, whereas it decreased up to a P/S ratio of approximately 2. The percentage of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid (n 3) in tissue phosphatidylcholine was positively related to dietary n-3 fatty acid levels. Prostacyclin (PGI2) production by thoracic aorta reached a plateau at a n 6/n-3 ratio approximately 5, whereas it tended to decrease with an increasing P/S ratio. Platelet production of thromboxane A2 exhibited a parabola-like pattern with a peak value at a n-6/n-3 ratio of approximately 2, whereas it was independent of the P/S ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621484 TI - Effect of dietary proline on proline metabolism in the neonatal pig. AB - The effect of two dietary concentrations of proline (10.3 and 15.8 g/kg) on proline-metabolizing enzymes [pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) reductase and proline oxidase], plasma and tissue free proline concentrations and growth were investigated in the 2- to 13-d-old pig. Diet had no effect on growth or enzyme activity. Diet had a significant (P less than 0.05) effect on the concentration of free proline in plasma, liver, intestine and muscle, but no effect in kidney. These data suggest that the magnitude and pattern of change of P5C reductase activity is not influenced by the concentration of proline in the diet. The lower plasma and tissue free proline concentrations in the piglets fed the basal diet compared with piglets fed the proline-supplemented diet and the lack of effect of diet on enzyme activity suggest there was inadequate proline in the basal diet, and those piglets were unable to increase proline synthesis to maintain normal proline concentrations. PMID- 2621485 TI - Metabolism of cyst(e)ine in rat enterocytes. AB - Cyst(e)ine was metabolized by rat enterocytes to pyruvate and inorganic sulfur but not to taurine. Cystine was the major extracellular form of cyst(e)ine present during the incubation, and addition of bathocuproine disulfonate, a copper chelator that maintained 60% of the total cyst(e)ine in the sulfhydryl form, had no effect on total sulfur release from cyst(e)ine. Oxidation of cyst(e)ine to 35SO4(2-) or 14CO2 was reduced by about 50% when unlabeled cysteinesulfinate was added to incubations of enterocytes with labeled cyst(e)ine. Thus, about one half of cyst(e)ine metabolism appeared to involve its oxidation to cysteinesulfinate and the transamination of cysteinesulfinate to the putative intermediate sulfinylpyruvate, which decomposes to yield sulfite and pyruvate. The remainder of cyst(e)ine catabolism in enterocytes appeared to involve release of sulfur from cyst(e)ine prior to its oxidation. Inhibition of gamma-cystathionase by propargylglycine, although incomplete, resulted in substantial inhibition of cyst(e)ine catabolism. The accumulation of cysteinethiosulfonate, which forms nonenzymatically upon incubation of cyst(e)ine with thiosulfate, and the inhibition of cysteinethiosulfonate formation by propargylglycine demonstrated the catabolism of cyst(e)ine by beta-cleavage catalyzed by gamma-cystathionase. Sulfide released from cyst(e)ine in this reaction appeared to be oxidized to thiosulfate before it was further oxidized to sulfite and sulfate. In addition to being oxidized to sulfate, some of the sulfite formed by enterocytes reacted with cyst(e)ine in the incubation medium to form sulfocysteine. Activities of enzymes of cyst(e)ine catabolism in rat enterocytes corresponded with the observed metabolism of cyst(e)ine by various pathways. PMID- 2621486 TI - Response of B-6 vitamers in plasma, erythrocytes and tissues to vitamin B-6 depletion and repletion in the rat. AB - We determined the response patterns of B-6 vitamers in blood and tissues to vitamin B-6 depletion and repletion. B-6 vitamers were measured in plasma, erythrocytes, liver, muscle, kidney, heart, brain, spleen and lung by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography in male rats pair-fed control or vitamin B-6-deficient diets for 2 or 4 wk, or for 4 wk followed by 1 wk of repletion with the control diet (n = 4/group). Food intake (15.6 +/- 0.3 g/d, mean +/- SEM; n = 28) and body weight (190 +/- 2 and 290 +/- 5 g at wk 0 and 5, respectively; n = 28) of control groups were not different from those of deficient groups throughout the study. After 2 wk of vitamin B-6 depletion, tissue concentrations of pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and pyridoxamine phosphate (PMP) were about 50% and 10-40% lower, respectively, in the deficient than in the control group (except for spleen PMP); in plasma and erythrocytes, PLP and pyridoxal concentrations were about 90% lower in the deficient group. Differences in vitamer concentrations between control and deficient groups were not larger after 4 wk of depletion than after 2 wk. Vitamer concentrations in plasma, erythrocytes and all tissues returned to control levels after 1 wk of repletion with the control diet. These results demonstrate that B-6 vitamers in blood and tissues of the rat respond quickly and reversibly to changes in dietary vitamin B 6, with larger percentage changes occurring in plasma and erythrocytes than in tissues. PMID- 2621487 TI - Biochemical markers for assessment of niacin status in young men: levels of erythrocyte niacin coenzymes and plasma tryptophan. AB - Seven male subjects housed in a controlled metabolic unit for 80 d were fed diets containing amounts of niacin and tryptophan ranging from 6.1 to 32 niacin equivalents (NE) per day. Erythrocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide nucleotide phosphate (NADP), activity of nicotinic acid mononucleotide phosphoribosyltransferase (NMNPRT), plasma tryptophan levels and the urinary excretion of organic acids were measured during dietary periods of low (6.1 or 10.1), adequate (19) and high (25 or 32) NE intake. With both low NE diets, NAD levels in erythrocytes decreased by approximately 70% and increased during repletion with an adequate NE diet. NADP levels remained relatively unchanged. Plasma tryptophan levels decreased by 40% and 10% in subjects ingesting diets of 6.1 and 10.1 NE/d, respectively. A daily 7.8-g leucine supplement during repletion was not associated with changes in plasma tryptophan levels or erythrocyte NAD and NADP levels at the end of the period. No changes in NMNPRT activity or organic acid excretion were found during the study. The results indicate that the erythrocyte NAD level may serve as a sensitive indicator for the assessment of niacin status. Also, a niacin index, the ratio of erythrocyte NAD to NADP, below 1.0 may identify subjects at risk of developing a niacin deficiency. PMID- 2621488 TI - Repletion of folate-depleted rats with an amino acid-based diet supplemented with folic acid. AB - Folate depletion and repletion protocols are not well standardized. Weanling rats were moderately depleted of folate in 28 d with a folate-free purified diet based on 17% amino acids as the nitrogen source. They were then folate repleted for 23 d with the amino acid diet supplemented with either 125, 250, 500, 1000 or 2000 micrograms folic acid/kg. Hematology, growth and tissue folate levels were measured in subsets of the rats when they were 24 (baseline), 52 (depleted) and 75 d old (repleted). The same measurements were made in control rats that had been fed 2 mg folic acid/kg of the amino acid diet for the same period of time. Our findings show that with repletion, growth of previously depleted rats is in direct proportion with the level of supplementation up to 1000 micrograms folic acid/kg diet. Serum folate levels of repleted rats also increased in proportion to supplementation between 500 to 2000 micrograms/kg diet, and liver folate levels increased proportionally with the level of supplement within the range of 125 to 2000 micrograms/kg diet. The 2000 micrograms/kg supplement was sufficient to restore liver folate levels equivalent to that of controls, but body weight and serum folate levels failed to catch up with that of controls in the 23-d repletion period. There was a nonlinear relationship between serum and liver folate levels: serum folate remained constant at about 6 micrograms/l as liver folate increased to about 7 micrograms/g, then serum folate diverged by increasing to 120 micrograms/l with only minor increases in liver folate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621489 TI - Effects of vitamin B-6 deficiency on selenium metabolism in the rat. AB - Rats were fed for 23 d diets adequate or deficient in vitamin B-6 and containing selenium as either sodium selenite, selenocysteine (SeCys) or selenomethionine (SeMet). They were then injected with 75Se of the same chemical form and killed 2 d later. Tissue deposition of stable and radiotracer selenium and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) were used to assess selenium utilization. Erythrocyte levels of selenium and GSHPx were lower in vitamin B-6--deficient animals for all forms of selenium; however, 75Se deposition in erythrocytes was not affected by vitamin B-6 status. The activities of cystathionine lyase, aspartate aminotransferase and selenocysteine lyase were lower in livers of vitamin B-6--deficient rats than in vitamin B-6--supplemented rats. The proportion of liver and kidney 75Se soluble in 5% trichloroacetic acid and 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol was consistently lower in vitamin B-6--deficient animals, but cation-exchange chromatography of tissue extracts did not identify a specific low molecular-weight species. Tissue retention of 75Se provided as SeMet was increased in vitamin B-6--deficient animals, but the proportion of 75Se retained in muscle and liver as SeCys was significantly reduced. These findings suggest that the conversion of SeMet to a form available for GSHPx synthesis is reduced by vitamin B-6 deficiency. PMID- 2621490 TI - Do dietary levels of pantothenic acid regulate its intestinal uptake in mice? AB - While regulation of intestinal transporters is established for other nutrients, evidence concerning regulation of intestinal vitamin transport is scanty. Hence, we compared intestinal pantothenic acid (PA) uptake in mice fed diets with high, normal and deficient PA levels. PA uptake is distributed along the small intestine, Na(+)-dependent and saturable. Signs of PA deficiency were weight loss or reduced growth, then hair loss and exudation around the eyes, then diarrhea and hindleg paralysis and splenomegaly, and finally death. Treatment of mice with an antibiotic was found to be necessary to elicit severe signs of PA deficiency, probably because mice normally can obtain PA synthesized by intestinal bacteria. Dietary PA levels had no effect on intestinal PA uptake at 5 microM. A small increase in the Vmax of uptake, observed in late-stage deficiency, is probably too small to be physiologically significant. Comparison with published results for other water-soluble vitamins suggests that intestinal transporters may be regulated only for vitamins absorbed predominantly by carrier-mediated transport and subject to natural deficiency states. PMID- 2621491 TI - Iron and folate utilization in reproducing swine and their progeny. AB - The purpose of this investigation was to assess the usefulness of maternal and neonatal swine as animal models for studying iron (Fe) and folate nutrition during reproduction and growth. Sows (n = 18) were fed a purified diet containing 0.6 mg folate/kg diet and either 25 (Fe-) or 125 (Fe+) mg iron/kg diet throughout gestation and lactation. Litters were culled to eight on d 2 of lactation and four piglets/litter were given an intramuscular injection of iron dextran (100 mg/kg body wt). Plasma and red blood cell folate concentrations among all sows decreased (greater than 50%) after conception (P less than 0.001). Plasma folate concentration of Fe- sows was 47% and 69% of Fe+ sows on d 7 and 21 of lactation, respectively (P less than 0.05). All sows secreted milk that contained low levels of folate (12-36 nmol/l) and was devoid of long-chain folylpolyglutamates. While mean milk folate concentration significantly decreased after d 1 of lactation among Fe- sows, no such decrease was observed in milk from Fe+ sows (P less than 0.05). Liver folate concentration was significantly reduced in piglets nursed by Fe- sows and given intramuscular iron dextran. It is concluded that there is an increased dietary requirement for folate and iron during reproduction in swine, and that current recommended amounts of folate (0.6 mg/kg diet) and iron (80 mg/kg diet) may be underestimates of requirements for reproduction. Further, results show that iron nutrition may alter folate utilization in maternal and neonatal swine. PMID- 2621492 TI - Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase and proline oxidase activity in the neonatal pig. AB - Recent evidence suggests that proline is an indispensible amino acid in the diet of the young pig. A dietary requirement may relate to the activity and developmental changes of the enzymes that synthesize and degrade proline. The activity of pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) reductase (EC 1.5.1.2), which catalyzes the final step in proline synthesis, and proline oxidase (EC number not assigned), which catalyzes the initial step in proline degradation, were measured in four piglet tissues from birth through to the postweaning period. There were significant changes in the activity of P5C reductase with age, but the magnitude and direction of change were dependent upon age and tissue type. Compared to literature values for the rat [5.1-82.4 mumol/(min.g tissue)], the activity was low in the piglet [1.3-18.6 mumol/(min.g tissue)]. The activity of proline oxidase was low in the piglet [0-0.6 mumol/(min.g tissue)] compared to literature values for the rat [0-5.3 mumol/(min.g tissue)] and low compared to P5C reductase [1.3-18.6 mumol/(min.g tissue)], indicating that further decreases in the activity of proline oxidase would not provide the piglet with a mechanism for conserving proline if dietary supply were limiting. PMID- 2621493 TI - Effect of environmental enrichment during nutritional rehabilitation on body growth, blood parameters and cerebral cortical development of rats. AB - Environmental enrichment has been reported to aid recovery from behavioral deficits associated with malnutrition in infants and young rats. This study investigated whether corresponding neuroanatomical changes could be detected. Rats were suckled either by well-fed dams or dams malnourished during lactation. At weaning, well-fed males were either housed in pairs (standard condition, SC) or 12 per large cage with toys (enriched condition, EC) and fed a 17% protein diet (SC control and EC control, respectively). Malnourished pups were fed either a 17% (rehabilitation; "rehab") or a 6% (low protein) protein diet and housed in the SC or EC environment (SC rehab, EC rehab, SC low protein, and EC low protein). After 30 d there were no differences in hematocrit, serum total protein and albumin levels between SC and EC animals. Rehab rats had significantly lower serum total protein and albumin levels than did controls. Cortical thickness and dendritic branching of occipital cortex pyramidal cells were evaluated. Early malnutrition did not permanently affect cortical thickness. EC rehab rats had thicker cortices than did SC rehab rats at almost all locations measured. SC rehab rats had fewer high order dendrites than did SC controls. The difference in dendritic branching between EC and SC rats was 44% among rehab rats, 21% among controls and 11% (not significant) among low protein-fed rats. Environmental enrichment during nutritional rehabilitation enhances dendritic branching and thickness of the occipital cortex. PMID- 2621494 TI - Influence of chronic energy intake restriction on intestinal alkaline phosphatase in C3H/Bi mice and autoimmune-prone MRL/lpr,lpr mice. AB - The influence of chronic energy intake restriction (CEIR) on the level and activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase was investigated in mice of the autoimmune-prone MRL/lpr,lpr strain and in mice of the autoimmune-resistant C3H/Bi strain. In both strains of mice, CEIR of 40% resulted in a significant increase in intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) specific activity in MRL/lpr,lpr mice after 10 wk of feeding, and in C3H/Bi mice after 6 wk of feeding. An increase in the amount of immunoreactive alkaline phosphatase antigen was also found to be associated with the increased enzyme activity in CEIR mice. These results suggest that a specific induction of an intestinal enzyme occurs or, alternatively, that there is a specific relative decrease in synthesis of intestinal proteins other than IAP as a function of CEIR. Thus, CEIR appears to regulate the expression of proteins in the small intestine in a specific manner. PMID- 2621495 TI - Recommended amounts of nutrients do not abate the toxic effects of an alcohol dose that sustains significant blood levels of ethanol. PMID- 2621496 TI - Health policy brief: obstetrics in nonmetropolitan Oklahoma. AB - This brief is a summary of a 68-page analysis of a survey conducted by the Center for Health Policy Research, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Tulsa. There are 9 appendices and 96 data analysis tables in the complete analysis. The survey was conducted in the summer and fall of 1988. Survey instruments were mailed to all Oklahoma obstetricians and family and general practitioners not practicing in Tulsa or Oklahoma counties. There were 300 responses, 274 of which were validated for inclusion into the study. The complete survey will be of interest to some institutions and groups and is available upon request. Customized analysis of the survey variables also is available to interested parties upon request. PMID- 2621497 TI - Septic arthritis in the geriatric population. AB - Septic arthritis has emerged as an important infection in geriatric patients. Between 25% and 50% of all cases of nongonococcal bacterial arthritis in nonprosthetic joints occur in patients over the age of sixty years. Thirty-three percent of nongonococcal septic arthritis occurs in the geriatric population. In this retrospective study of geriatric septic arthritis, 22 patients were reviewed. The major predisposing factor was prior history of arthritis, with the knee being the most commonly affected joint. Staphylococcus aureus was the major pathogen, with gram-negative organisms accounting for a significant number of infections. We think that empiric antibiotic coverage for gram-negative organisms should be initiated at the time of treatment only in patients with multiple predisposing factors for septic arthritis. The disease also may be more indolent than previously reported, leading to delayed diagnosis, treatment, and increased morbidity and mortality. PMID- 2621498 TI - [Psychosomatic aspect of a choking lump sensation in the throat]. AB - In order to elucidate the relationship between a choking lump sensation in the throat and psychosomatic status, the authors subjected 339 in-patients above 17 years of age with various kinds of otorhinolaryngologic diseases and evaluated their psychosomatic conditions by means of two questionnaires: Cornell Medical Index Questionnaire (CMI) and Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI). According to the answer to one of the CMI questions "Do you often feel a choking lump in your throat?", the patients were divided into two groups: "Yes" group and "No" one. "Yes" group comprised 51 males (56.1 +/- 15.6 years old of mean +/- SD age) and 34 females (57.9 +/- 13.9 years old) and "No" group 170 males (57.7 +/- 14.3 years old) and 84 females (47.8 +/- 15.8 years old). The data were analysed for comparison between the two groups and the following results were obtained. Patients with benign and malignant oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal diseases were included in the "Yes" group with a significantly higher rate when compared to the patients with benign and malignant ear or nasal diseases. Patients in "Yes" group made significantly more complaints and judged to be significantly more neurotic and autonomic nerve dysfunctioning than those in "No" group. Therefore, diseases in the pharyngolaryngeal region more likely produces abnormal sensation in the throat as well as many other symptoms relating to the autonomic nerve function. PMID- 2621499 TI - [Effect of Impletol injection into paratonsillar tissue on abnormal sensation in the throat]. AB - If the abnormal sensation, such as a lump or choking, in the throat was mainly caused by inflammatory changes in the palatine tonsils or their surrounding tissues and conveyed via vagal nerve branches distributing there, the sensation might be reduced by topically injected Impletol (Procaine and caffeine in saline solution), i.e. Impletol test for focal tonsillitis. One hundred patients with abnormal sensation in the throat were injected Impletol (Impletol group), 50 patients were injected saline solution alone (Saline group) and 50 patients had injection needle simply inserted into the peritonsillar tissues (Needle group). The Impletol group showed the best result and was followed by Saline group and then Needle group. Namely, the degree of sensation reduced by 80% or more in 38% of the Impletol group and by 50% or more in 62% of them. Those rates were 26% and 60% for Saline group and 28% and 52% for Needle group, respectively. Though the results were indicative of the effectiveness of the Impletol injection for the abnormal sensation in the throat, the difference among these three groups was not statistically significant. PMID- 2621500 TI - [Audio-vestibular functions in patients with hemifacial spasm]. AB - Audio-vestibular functions and its laterality were evaluated preoperatively on the affected side and the non-affected side of 57 patients operated upon to relieve hemifacial spasm (HFS). One patient had hearing impairment and tinnitus on the affected side and showed abrupt high tone sensorineural loss, directional preponderance and ABR abnormalities. On another patient, the latencies for wave III and V from the affected ear were prolonged, while there was no audiovestibular symptoms. However, there was no significant difference in audio vestibular symptoms, ABR findings, pure tone thresholds and caloric results between the affected ears and the non-affected ears of the remainder. We believe that HFS and the microvascular compression of the eighth cranial nerve are two different diseases. PMID- 2621501 TI - [Maxillary sinus by waters' view-superimposed structures]. AB - The image of the maxillary sinus obtained by Waters' view contains such superimposed structures as lateral extensions of the sphenoidal sinus and posterior ethmoidal cells. Planimetric evaluations were done for the maxillary sinus itself and the two superimposed sinuses. The medial portion of maxillary sinus is occupied by these two sinuses and the areas covered by these amount to one third of the maxillary sinus' area. To properly interpret the radiolucency of the maxillary sinus, the areas covered by these two sinuses and the areas corresponding to the zygomatic recess should be avoided. The proper radiolucency of the maxillary sinus should be evaluated at the central portion, namely at and around the point where the vertical line passing the inferior orbital canal and the horizontal line passing the foramen rotundum meet each other. PMID- 2621502 TI - [Combination effect of photodynamic therapy and microwave hyperthermia on experimental squamous cell carcinoma in vivo]. AB - We investigated the time course of Hematoporphyrin oligomer (HpO) uptake to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) transplanted into C3H mice after intraperitoneal (i.p.)-injection by measuring its fluorescence intensity. The fluorescence intensity was maximum at 83 hr after the i.p.-injection. The tumors once disappeared by the single application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) or microwave hyperthermia at 83 hr after HpO i.p.-injection. However, all the tumors treated with these single modalities recurred within 4 weeks after the treatments. Therefore, we investigated the therapeutic effect of microwave hyperthermia in combination with PDT at 83 hr after HpO i.p.-injection. As the results, the combination effect was the strongest when high-dose therapy was used as the first choice of therapy, irrespective of the orders of the treatments and no tumor regrowth occurred over 45 days after tumor disappearance. PMID- 2621503 TI - [The use of fibrin glue for the repair of experimental nasal CSF leak in rats]. AB - Surgical repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak requires the production of a seal competent to resist CSF pressure during the period of healing. Direct suturing, packing with muscle and fat grafts, and coverage with mucosal or muscle flaps have been effective in repairing most CSF leaks. Fibrin glue will improve the results of a CSF leak repair by providing better adhesion of the graft and improving the initial seal during healing. Experiments were performed on 39 rats to assess the effectiveness of fibrin glue in repairing experimentally produced CSF leaks. CSF leak was produced by creating defects at the cribriform plate. There were four experimental groups; 1. no treatment control; 2. fibrin adhesive alone; 3. muscle packing alone; 4. fibrin glue with muscle packing. The CSF leaks were evaluated 3 weeks after repairs. Persistent CSF leakage was noted in 89% of group 1, 55% of group 2, 33% of group 3, and 22% of group 4. The result in the muscle plus fibrin glue group suggests that fibrin glue, by its adhesive sealing properties, improves the results of muscle packing alone for the treatment of nasal CSF leak. PMID- 2621504 TI - [Appropriate lymph node dissection in thyroid adenocarcinoma]. AB - Thirty-four patients underwent thyroid surgery for papillary and follicular adenocarcinomas in the period from 1985 to 1989. Fourteen patients were treated with local neck dissection and 20 patients, with modified or radical neck dissection. Cervical lymph node metastasis was found in 25 patients (74%). Our recent policy for lymph node dissection is as follows: When deep cervical lymph node metastasis is clinically demonstrated, radical or modified neck dissection is performed. In patients without clinically demonstrated metastasis, local neck dissection and sampling of the internal jugular chain are performed. When microscopic metastasis is found in frozen sections, modified neck dissection is added. Thus we could select patients for modified neck dissection and choose appropriate neck dissection for more complete cancer clearance without losing postoperative functions. PMID- 2621505 TI - [Stress ulcer following head and neck surgery--a clinicopathological study]. AB - A clinicopathological study of 6 cases of stress ulcer following head and neck surgery treated at Kurume University Hospital from 1986 to 1989 was completed. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1) 4 cases were male and 2 cases were female. The average age was 71 years. 2) All cases were found after head and neck surgery of malignant tumors. 3) The frequency was 0.3% in all surgical cases, and 1.2% in surgical cases of malignant tumors. 4) Of these 6 cases, 3 cases were found after surgery of maxilla. 5) The majority of stress ulcer occurred suddenly and early after surgery. 6) The majority of stress ulcer occurred in the upper portion of the body of stomach. 7) Operation was performed in all cases. 8) Five cases were cured by surgery. One case was died of cardiac failure. 9) It is important to know that the stress ulcer following head and neck surgery of malignant tumor is not rare, and to take care of it after surgery. PMID- 2621506 TI - Integrating AIDS prevention and chemical dependency treatment. PMID- 2621507 TI - Prevention and chemical dependence treatment needs of special target populations. AB - The prevention and treatment of HIV infection are particularly difficult in certain subpopulations unless consideration is given to their unique characteristics. These characteristics and the strategies to address them are considered with respect to adolescents, rural/low-incidence populations, gay and bisexual men, African-Americans, Latinos, women, and the mentally ill. Alcohol and other drug use must always be addressed in treatment and prevention efforts even if patients do not meet the full criteria for chemical dependence. Health care providers need to consider their own biases as well as the overt and covert messages they project in order to provide the best possible care to these subpopulations. PMID- 2621508 TI - AIDS and chemical dependency: prevention needs of adolescents. AB - Prevention of adult AIDS cases should begin during childhood and adolescence, taking into account such issues as personal vulnerability, perceived control, and behavioral change. High-risk sexual and drug using behaviors in adolescents should be viewed within a developmental perspective, focusing on cognitive development (Piaget), psychosocial development (Erikson), and moral development in males (Kohlberg), females (Gilligan), and children (Damon). Public health educators have emphasized the high-risk behaviors of unsafe sex and needle sharing, with considerably less attention given to the role of alcohol and other drug intoxication in the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. Adolescents are often uncomfortable discussing sexual matters with their partners. Therefore, alcohol or other drugs may be used to reduce sexual anxiety. Such drug use prior to sexual activity may impair judgment, and risks may be taken that might not have been taken in a more sober condition. PMID- 2621509 TI - AIDS and chemical dependency: special issues and treatment barriers for gay and bisexual men. AB - Because gay and bisexual men continue to be the largest at-risk group for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related conditions, the special role of substance abuse, and not just intravenous drug abuse, must be understood in order to provide adequate services and prevention. Gay men and women appear to have a higher incidence of substance abuse than the general population. Genetic, biochemical, societal, and cultural factors may all contribute to this increase, especially the overwhelming impact of societal homophobia. To address the treatment barriers to gay and bisexual men seeking or needing treatment for HIV related conditions, chemical dependence or both, the gay community should be seen like any other minority community. The social and cultural norms of this widely varied community should be studied: the socialization of being gay in mainstream society, including the awareness of being different; the coming-out process; and dealing with internalized homophobia need to be understood. In addition, the resistance or anxiety health care providers may feel in working with gay or bisexual men or with HIV-related conditions should be addressed. PMID- 2621510 TI - AIDS prevention and chemical dependence treatment needs of women and their children. AB - Female partners of male drug users may not recognize that they are endangered by sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, even when women acknowledge this problem, there are multiple subsequent impediments to behavior change. Chemically dependent women also have specific additional needs. Most chemical dependence outreach and treatment programs are not yet designed to address the issues of contraception, pregnancy, motherhood, child rearing, and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Chemically dependent women may not only give birth to drug-affected infants but they may also perpetuate an intergenerational cycle of inadequate parenting. Most women at risk for HIV infection are in their childbearing years. Infection of either or both mother and infant further complicates an already complex problem. Multiple interdisciplinary resources are needed to integrate AIDS prevention and treatment with chemical dependence treatment for women and their children. PMID- 2621511 TI - AIDS prevention in low-incidence areas. AB - AIDS has been largely described as a problem of major urban areas. However, states in which there is a low incidence of AIDS are dealing with issues from somewhat different perspectives than high-incidence states. The terms "low incidence" and "high incidence" can be misleading: If one state compares its AIDS cases to another state, the comparison may indeed show a comparatively low incidence of AIDS. However, if the comparison is made with other diseases within the same state, a quite different picture may emerge. In low-incidence states, some individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may seek medical care from physicians who have more experience in treating AIDS cases, both because of a perception of better medical care and less stigmatization. Although the numbers may be relatively small, the number of HIV/AIDS patients seeking care in large metropolitan areas may add to the health care burden already being seen in some parts of the country. PMID- 2621512 TI - Testing for human immunodeficiency virus in chemical dependence treatment programs. AB - This article examines the issue of testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in chemical dependence treatment programs. Three types of treatment programs are considered: 21- to 28-day inpatient, eight-week outpatient, and methadone maintenance. Through discussion by groups of chemical dependence treatment providers, recommendations are made in regard to issues of who to test, when to test, confidential versus anonymous testing, charting policies, informed consent, elements of pre- and posttest counseling, and the duty to warn others. PMID- 2621513 TI - The argument for HIV-antibody testing in chemical dependence treatment programs. AB - Controversy surrounds the issue of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing in chemically dependent patients. However, HIV testing can be clinically and therapeutically useful in chemical dependence treatment programs. Prerequisites for HIV testing include: staff education, high-quality pre- and posttest counseling for patients, assurance of confidentiality of results, and the use of accurate screening and confirmatory tests. Reasons to offer voluntary HIV testing in chemical dependence treatment programs include: appropriate medical evaluation and treatment, prevention of the spread of HIV infection, and support for working through the crisis of a positive diagnosis. Voluntary informed consent should be obtained prior to HIV testing; involuntary testing and mass screening are not justified. Testing decisions should be individualized, with the focus on the patient's participation based on treatment- and health related decisions. PMID- 2621514 TI - The argument against HIV-antibody testing in chemical dependence treatment programs. AB - As HIV continues to spread among chemically dependent populations, chemical dependence treatment programs are beginning to address the issue of routine HIV antibody testing. While there are many rationales given for testing, only two are deemed acceptable in chemical dependence treatment programs: to permit medical personnel to institute therapy promptly; and to assist in behavior modification (risk reduction). Early intervention is deemed premature because federal regulations disallow the use of drugs, such as AZT, until T-4 cell counts are lower than 200. In addition, many clients may not stay in treatment long enough to institute therapy and ongoing treatment. Many experimental drug trials exclude drug addicts and women. Chemically dependent individuals have neither the knowledge nor the funds to obtain experimental drugs from other countries. Moreover, current protocols of HIV test-related counseling are insufficient to assist clients in changing their high-risk behaviors. Many chemically dependent clients who receive a positive test result relapse to drug abuse or act out sexually; many who receive a negative test result deny the need to change behaviors to avoid infection. Additionally, test result validity and discrimination are presented as deterrents to testing. In long-term treatment situations, where HIV/AIDS education and counseling are done over time as part of treatment and where support systems are in place, HIV testing can be an aid in behavior change. PMID- 2621515 TI - Substance abuse treatment modalities in the age of HIV spectrum disease. AB - AMSAODD's Third National Forum on AIDS and Chemical Dependency presented a session about the theory and practicality of combining pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment modalities to maximize the social, psychological, and physical health of patients. Synthesizing methadone maintenance for opioid dependence with abstinence modalities for cocaine dependence and alcoholism was discussed. Chronic adequate methadone treatment allows normalization of neuroendocrine function, is associated with normal natural killer-cell activity, and has proven efficacious in retaining patients in chemical dependence treatment, and thus decreasing the risk for transmission of HIV infection. Individualization of treatment is then exemplified by four clinical vignettes that were discussed by a panel of experts. PMID- 2621516 TI - Combined treatment modalities: the need for innovative approaches. AB - Much of what is accepted as conventional chemical dependence treatment is not supported by rigorous clinical studies. However, the considerable supportive literature and data on methadone treatment has not ensured this treatment modality's acceptance by the medical and/or chemical dependence treatment community. The now obvious connection between AIDS and intravenous drug use demands an objective assessment of and inclusive approach to this problem. The need for effective treatment--both multimodal and acceptable to the addict--is discussed. Data are presented describing the characteristics of a successful methadone program that supports long-term treatment and adequate individual dosing. The disparity between the data and general attitudes toward methadone treatment is discussed. The variable quality among methadone treatment programs is also addressed, urging improved quality of care throughout the modality. It is suggested that quality of life issues are perhaps more important than the drug free state. Some observations on recovery-oriented methadone treatment are made. A definition of abstinence that provides for appropriate use of licit psychoactive drugs is proposed. PMID- 2621517 TI - Coping with AIDS: strategies for patients and staff in drug abuse treatment programs. AB - HIV infection creates difficulties for patients and staff in drug abuse treatment programs. This article reviews significant problems and coping strategies, drawing on experience in a drug abuse treatment program where a third of the patients are HIV infected. Patient-related problems include denial, anger, depression, and isolation. The coping strategies that patients use can exacerbate their illness. Effective coping strategies may involve the development of mutual support groups and public education. Staff-related problems include the fear of infection, protecting confidentiality, the need to develop new treatment goals, and recognizing the limitations of drug abuse treatment. To lessen the fears of infection, programs can exercise clear body substance precautions, conduct frequent inservice training, and hold periodic updates for staff. To adequately protect confidentiality, programs can keep up with rapidly changing laws and guidelines. To modify treatment goals, programs can alter admission standards for HIV-infected patients, change treatment methods to minimize the impact of occasional relapses, develop medical referral networks, and give special consideration to counselors who treat HIV-infected patients. To cope with the limitations of drug abuse treatment, programs can support counseling staff in coping with emotionally stressful clinical problems and to avoid burnout. PMID- 2621518 TI - Is there still a place for the Kasai procedure in the treatment of extrahepatic biliary atresia? PMID- 2621519 TI - Long-term follow-up study of patients with cholangitis after successful Kasai operation in biliary atresia: selection of recipients for liver transplantation. AB - Since the introduction of cyclosporine A, liver transplantation has become accepted as the therapy for end-stage liver disease. However, there are no definite criteria for liver replacement in biliary atresia. We investigated (a) the survival rate after hepatic portoenterostomy (n = 131), (b) liver function tests in fatal cases after an initially successful hepatic portoenterostomy (n = 9), and (c) liver function tests in the patients with episodes of cholangitis after a successful surgical treatment (n = 8). Patients with persisting jaundice after the surgery cannot be expected to survive long, and therefore they definitely should undergo liver transplantation. When total bilirubin concentration was above 10 mg/dl in patients with cholangitis after a successful operation, conservative therapy had almost no effect. Therefore, patients with total bilirubin levels above 10 mg/dl should be considered for liver transplantation. Of the liver function tests, only total bilirubin was reliable as a marker for hepatic failure in the end stage of biliary atresia. Prolongation of thrombo test and episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding also were used in selection of patients for liver replacement. PMID- 2621520 TI - Acute liver injury after protracted seizures in children. AB - Three children were observed to have extensive liver injury following protracted seizures. Two recovered with supportive care and one died from central nervous system complications. When first measured, the levels of aminotransferases were minimally elevated, but they increased to 250 to 8,000 times normal within 12 to 24 h after the seizure episode. They fell to near normal over the next 8 to 11 days in the survivors, and to one sixth of the peak level by 4 days in the patients who died. A percutaneous liver biopsy from one child demonstrated centrolobular necrosis consistent with severe ischemic injury. Common causes for liver dysfunction, including viral hepatitis, drug hepatitis, and Reye syndrome, were excluded on clinical, serologic, and histologic grounds. We reason that hepatic injury resulted from ischemia. We speculate that prior treatment with anticonvulsants, which are capable of inducing mixed-function oxidases in the liver, aggravated the ischemia-reperfusion injury by increasing the production of reactive oxygen intermediates and reducing cytoprotective mechanisms. Prevention of such injury should be directed toward control of seizures and early respiratory support when seizures occur, not restructuring medication regimens. PMID- 2621521 TI - Lipid abnormalities in pediatric hepatic allograft recipients. AB - Lipid profile analyses were performed on serum samples from six children (ages 4 17 years) who had previously been subjected to orthotopic liver transplantation. All six patients were receiving prednisone and cyclosporine and four were additionally receiving azathioprine. Marked elevations in serum triglycerides (greater than 95%) were seen in 3/6 patients, while a notable decrease (less than 5%) in HDL-cholesterol was noted in 4/6 patients. Total serum cholesterol was normal in all patients. Postheparin lipase activity determined in the serum of one patient revealed a significant decrease compared with control values. These observations suggest the need for studying large numbers of liver transplant recipients to determine the prevalence of lipid abnormalities and to consider their potential contribution to the development of premature atherosclerotic disease. PMID- 2621522 TI - Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in syndromic paucity of interlobular bile ducts. AB - Severe failure to thrive is an important feature in children with both syndromic and nonsyndromic paucity of interlobular bile ducts (PILBD). Thirteen children age 7 months-11 years with PILBD had pancreatic secretions in duodenal aspirate measured for 40 min after secretin-pancreozymin stimulation, six of these children had chronic diarrhoea. Studies were also performed in seven children age 2-12 years who presented with failure to thrive or nonspecific diarrhoea that subsequently resolved. The results of the control and the PILBD children were similar except in the six with chronic diarrhoea. These children had significant reductions in total volume of duodenal aspirate (p less than 0.05), bicarbonate concentration (p less than 0.02) and output (p less than 0.05), and in lipase concentrations (p less than 0.005). Five of these children have had a reduction in stool frequency and more rapid weight gain since receiving pancreatic supplementation. In children with PILBD and diarrhoea, pancreatic insufficiency may be a contributory factor to poor weight gain. These children may benefit from pancreatic extract supplementation. PMID- 2621523 TI - Chest pain and dysphagia in adolescents caused by diffuse esophageal spasm. AB - Five adolescents, 13-18 years of age, underwent esophageal manometric studies because of chronic symptoms suggestive of esophageal dysfunction. Four of five patients had episodic nonexertional midchest pain; two patients experienced intermittent dysphagia. The manometric findings for these adolescents were consistent with a primary motility disorder known as diffuse esophageal spasm, a condition not previously reported in this age group. This represents approximately 1% of all pediatric patients undergoing esophageal manometry at our institution for the past 5 years. They have been followed for at least 2 years and three have experienced gradual resolution of their symptoms with normalization of manometric findings. Our report emphasizes two main points: (a) Diffuse esophageal spasm may cause chest pain and dysphagia in adolescents; and (b) the clinical history and esophageal manometric findings establish the diagnosis of diffuse esophageal spasm. PMID- 2621524 TI - Neurovascular and thromboembolic complications of inflammatory bowel disease in childhood. AB - Vascular complications occurred in 3.3% (6 of 180) of children with chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Clinical disease activity was severe in four of six patients who presented with these symptoms. In contrast to adults, in whom deep vein thrombotic complications predominate, the majority of children had involvement of the CNS including encephalopathy, arteritis, arterial occlusion, and thromboembolism. One patient died 3 1/2 years later from progressive intestinal and neurological deficits: morbidity included blindness, epilepsy, and developmental delay. Hematological parameters varied widely. Prevention is not always possible, but risk factors include: (a) family history of collagenosis (83% incidence), (b) severe inanition and immobility, (c) delayed hospitalization, and (d) clinical presentation with cutaneous vasculitis. Therapy must be individualized. PMID- 2621525 TI - A noninvasive method for determining patterns of milk intake in the breast-fed infant. AB - A noninvasive adaptation of the test-weighing method has been devised for continuously monitoring milk intake in breast-fed infants. This procedure consists of counting the number of swallows from videotaped sessions of individual feeds and correlating them to the corresponding pre- and postnursing weights of the infants. The method has been tested on four nursing sessions in twins aged 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 months. A high correlation was found between swallow counts and weight gain of the babies. The patterns of milk intake as monitored by these two parameters were similar. This method has the advantage of not disrupting the natural nursing process because test-weighing during the feeding session is not necessary. In addition, it allows for longitudinal studies and uses relatively simple equipment, i.e., a balance and a video camera. It is further suggested that monitoring swallowing in the manner described herein may be a valuable addition to studies on sucking behavior in human infants. Finally, it is noted from the data presented that the pattern of milk transfer in a mother breast-feeding twins is different from that observed in mothers breast-feeding singletons who were monitored by means of a cross-sectional test-weighing procedure. PMID- 2621526 TI - Milk lactose, citrate, and glucose as markers of lactogenesis in normal and diabetic women. AB - A study was undertaken to define an appropriate marker of lactogenesis II (the onset of copious milk secretion) in mothers, and to determine the effect of diabetes on this marker. Changes in the concentrations of three milk components- lactose, citrate, and glucose--were measured in 38 normal mothers and 6 type I diabetic mothers up to 10 days after birth. Milk yield was measured in 12 of the normal mothers, and all mothers were asked to note the time of milk "coming in" (the feeling of overfullness of the breasts). The average concentrations of lactose, citrate, and glucose in milk were low for the first 24 h after birth, then between 24 and 48 h after birth there was a rapid increase in the concentrations of lactose and citrate, and this transitional period was followed by a plateau period that began between 60 and 84 h after birth. For individual mothers the transitional period for citrate began 32 +/- 9 h (n = 13) and finished 77 +/- 10 h (n = 17) after birth, and for lactose the transitional period finished at 53 +/- 12 h (n = 29) after birth. For diabetic mothers these times were significantly later. The average 24-h milk intake by infants increased from 82 to 556 ml/24 h between 24 and 144 h after birth. Milk intakes were correlated with the concentration of lactose (r = 0.52, n = 51, p less than 0.001), citrate (r = 0.47, n = 47, p less than 0.001), and glucose (r = 0.69, n = 50, p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621527 TI - Thiamine status in urban adolescents: effects of race. AB - To evaluate thiamine status in an urban adolescent population, we performed two investigations. In Study I, we compared whole blood thiamine levels in 101 healthy adolescents from varied racial backgrounds with those that had been obtained previously in 146 healthy white adults from a different geographic locale. Blood thiamine values were significantly lower in the adolescents as a group, but the differences were entirely due to the lower levels in the black adolescents. To explore further these differences (Study II), we compared thiamine status in 34 adolescents with that of their parents using measures of both whole blood thiamine content and of erythrocyte transketolase activity. White adolescents had significantly higher total whole blood thiamine values than black adolescents, and white parents had significantly higher thiamine values than black parents by both total whole blood assay and level of transketolase activity. There were no differences in thiamine status between adolescents and parents of the same race. Racial composition is an important variable to consider in population surveys of thiamine status. PMID- 2621528 TI - Serum concentrations of vitamin D metabolites in rachitic Libyan children. AB - Twenty-two consecutive patients with rickets were studied in Benghazi, Libya. All were less than 2 years old. Rickets was associated with traditional cultural habits that limited sunshine exposure of the mothers and their infants, and with breast-feeding. Serum concentrations of the vitamin D metabolites 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and other parameters of mineral metabolism were typical of vitamin D deficiency disease, as was the biochemical and clinical response to treatment. Minimum safe serum levels of 25-OHD (20 nmol/L), and the serum levels of vitamin D metabolites in response to vitamin D treatment, were identical to previously obtained results from native Norwegian and Norwegian immigrant children with rickets, suggesting lack of racial differences in response to vitamin D. Fifty percent of the patients had adequate levels of vitamin D metabolites at the time of diagnosis, indicating that they had recently received oral vitamin D or cutaneous exposure to sunshine. Many cases of rickets in the area may, therefore, be spontaneously cured when the children's maturity allows adequate mobility and independence to achieve exposure to sunshine. PMID- 2621529 TI - Clinical zinc deficiency during zinc-supplemented formula. AB - A 2 1/2-month old preterm infant had failure to gain weight with high caloric intake, and had generalized persistent dermatitis and mild diarrhea. The patient was being fed zinc-supplemented cow's-milk-based formula (Osterfeed). High caloric intake of 8 weeks' and topical treatment of 11 weeks' duration were futile. A thorough investigation revealed low serum zinc concentration. Administration of zinc sulfate 150 mg/day resulted in brisk weight gain and complete clearing of skin lesions. The infant maintained normal levels of zinc 4 months after zinc therapy was discontinued, while being fed unmodified cow's milk and a diet of corn flour. The probability that zinc-supplemented formulas do not meet the high zinc requirements of premature infants is raised. The importance of plasma or serum zinc examination in preterm infants with slow growth velocity or failure to gain weight despite adequate caloric intake, with or without skin lesions and diarrhea, is emphasized. PMID- 2621530 TI - Failure to label baboon milk intrinsically with iron. AB - The widely held belief that 50% of the iron in human milk is absorbed is based on studies that have used an extrinsic radioactive iron tag. To determine the validity of an extrinsic tag, it is necessary to label the milk intrinsically with one isotope and to compare absorption of this isotope with absorption of another isotope added as the extrinsic tag. We chose the baboon as a model and infused 59Fe intravenously. In each of three attempts we failed to label the milk intrinsically. PMID- 2621531 TI - Spinal cord tumor-associated syrinx mimicking abdominal epilepsy: a rare cause of childhood abdominal pain. AB - A 10-year-old child presented with recurrent abdominal pain. Abdominal epilepsy was suspected as conventional criteria for the diagnosis were met, including an apparent therapeutic response to anticonvulsant medication. Seven months later the patient developed recurrent abdominal pain, a gait disorder, and atrophy of the right thigh and calf. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed a thoracic syringomyelia. Anticonvulsant medications were discontinued and a syringoperitoneal shunt was placed with resolution of symptoms. This appears to be a previously undescribed presentation for syringomyelia and emphasizes the importance of considering alternative central nervous system disorders before the diagnosis of abdominal epilepsy is made. PMID- 2621532 TI - Crohn's disease in cystic fibrosis. AB - We report on three patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) who developed gastrointestinal symptoms of Crohn's disease (CD). Two patients developed enteroenteric or enterocutaneous fistulas. The diagnosis of CD is based on typical endoscopic, radiologic, and histological features of epithelioid granulomas in two children. PMID- 2621533 TI - Concurrent pancreatic and growth hormone insufficiency in Johanson-Blizzard syndrome. AB - Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is one of the recognised features of the Johanson-Blizzard syndrome; other features include hypothyroidism, sensorineural deafness, aplastic alae nasi, developmental delay, and growth retardation. Twenty one cases of the syndrome have been described to date. The child reported here was diagnosed in the neonatal period, but despite early pancreatic and thyroid replacement therapy his growth remained poor. Anterior pituitary function studies demonstrated growth hormone deficiency, subsequent administration of growth hormone has resulted in an improvement in his growth velocity. This feature has not been well documented and should be considered as a factor contributing to the growth retardation which is a constant feature of this syndrome. PMID- 2621534 TI - Cisapride and cystic fibrosis. PMID- 2621535 TI - A carbon-13 breath test to characterize glucose absorption and utilization in children. PMID- 2621536 TI - Investigation of paediatric gastrointestinal problems in the U.K. or paediatric gastroenterologists do it ... differently. PMID- 2621537 TI - A method for diagnosing and planning the treatment of adolescent drug abusers (the Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis [ADAD] instrument). AB - There is a need for a diagnostic method and an instrument appropriate for adolescent drug abuse clients, that permits the assignment of clients to the most appropriate treatment setting, provides the basis for individualized treatment planning, and facilitates comparability across research studies. The development of the Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis (ADAD), a 150-item instrument with a structured interview format, modeled after the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) (which is for adults), is described. The ADAD produces a broad-spectrum comprehensive evaluation of the client, the interviewer's ten-point severity ratings, and composite scores for each of nine life problem areas that are often relevant to the treatment needs of adolescent drug abuse clients. A series of validity and reliability tests are described. The characteristics of the standardization sample (N = 1,042), and the comparison of the characteristics of the three subsamples (outpatient, residential or non-hospital, and inpatient) are also presented. PMID- 2621538 TI - The incidence of anabolic steroid use among competitive bodybuilders. AB - The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of anabolic steroid use among competitive male and female bodybuilders in Kansas and Missouri. A profile was established for users and non-users of anabolic steroids. The results of this study indicated that more than half of the male bodybuilders (54%) were using steroids on a regular basis compared to 10 percent of the female competitors. The types of steroid used were investigated and revealed that on average, four different types of anabolic steroid were used during the year, with individual use ranging from one to fifteen different types; including Dianabol, Deca Durabolin, Anavar, Testosterone, Androl 50, Winstrol, Primobolan, Equipoise, Finaject, Parabolin, HCG, Primacetate, Enanthate, Halotestin, and Maxibolin, in order of the most to least frequently used. The female bodybuilders reported that they had used an average of two different steroids including Deca Durabolin, Anavar, Testosterone, Dianabol, Equipoise, and Winstrol. The principal reason bodybuilders used steroids was related to their perception that these drugs were an important factor in winning competitions. Another important motivating factor for use was consistent with reports that significant gains in strength could be achieved by including anabolic steroids as part of the training regimen in spite of the reported adverse side-effects. PMID- 2621539 TI - Impact of a Student Assistance Program. AB - A half-time Student Assistance Program (i.e., 20 hours per week) was designed and implemented for two semesters in an urban high school in New Jersey. The findings indicate that the proportion of the students who used the SAP increased with time. In both time periods, males outnumbered the females in use of the SAP and the most frequently cited of the presenting problems for both males and females were alcohol and drug issues and problems. Educators were the primary source of referral to the SAP. PMID- 2621540 TI - A covariance structure model test of antecedents of adolescent alcohol misuse and a prevention effort. AB - As part of an alcohol misuse prevention evaluation, questionnaires were administered to 4,157 junior high school students to determine levels of alcohol misuse, exposure to peer use and misuse of alcohol, susceptibility to peer pressure, internal health locus of control, and self-esteem. A conceptual model of the antecedents of adolescent alcohol misuse and the effectiveness of a prevention effort was tested using covariance structure modeling techniques. The factor loadings for the model were all moderate to high, indicating that the observed variables served well as measurement instruments for the latent variables. The hypothesized structural relationships among the latent variables of alcohol misuse, exposure to peer use and misuse of alcohol, susceptibility to peer pressure, internal health locus of control, and self-esteem were supported by the data. The full model explained 45 percent of the variance in alcohol misuse in the analysis based on the total sample. The direct effect of the intervention on alcohol misuse was small but significant in the hypothesized direction. The direct effects of the intervention on susceptibility to peer pressure and internal health locus of control were not significant. The model was tested separately for groups of students who had high versus low scores on susceptibility to peer pressure in order to test the interaction between susceptibility to peer pressure and exposure to peer use and misuse of alcohol. The percentage of variance accounted for in alcohol misuse did not increase upon testing the model separately for students who had high versus low scores on susceptibility to peer pressure. Observed differences in the significance of the parameter estimates between the high and low susceptibility to peer pressure groups suggest that different approaches to the design and evaluation of substance abuse prevention programs may be necessary for different subgroups of students. PMID- 2621541 TI - An outcome evaluation of refusal skills program as a drug abuse prevention strategy. AB - In recent years successful strategies developed in the antismoking campaign became the basis for widely publicized and federally endorsed antidrug "Just Say No" programs. Similarly, many refusal skills programs have been introduced as a new strategy in adolescent drug abuse prevention. However, none of these programs have been evaluated. While employing a typical refusal skills program entitled "WHOA! A Great Way To Say NO," the effectiveness of the program was examined. Through this outcome evaluation, it has been learned that the program was not able to impact on the "high-risk" attitudinal syndromes that are closely related to student drug involvement. Unexpectedly, a significantly larger proportion of students in the program felt it was more difficult to say "No" at the time of the posttest than during the time of the pretest. This seems to suggest that the program participants became more attentive to the issues surrounding saying "No" or, perhaps, were more sensitized to the whole issue involving saying "No," thereby making it more difficult for them to say "No" during the posttest period. PMID- 2621542 TI - Pre-service teachers use of and attitudes toward alcohol and other drugs. AB - Drug attitude and use assessment of 598 undergraduate students revealed attitudinal differences between anticipated occupation groups and drug use patterns that paralleled prior studies which used college student samples. Results are discussed as they pertain to the education of those planning to enter the teaching profession. PMID- 2621543 TI - Improvement as the opposite of deterioration. PMID- 2621544 TI - Long-term results of bifocal therapy for accommodative esotropia. AB - We studied the long-term course of 65 accommodative esotropes who required bifocals to maintain alignment at near. Average follow-up was 10.5 years. Forty patients (61.5%, group DC [bifocals discontinued]) were able to discontinue bifocal use after an average of 5.5 years wear. Twenty-five (38.5%) continued to wear bifocals (or a suitable alternative such as reading glasses), after an average 9.7 years of follow-up. Surgical correction of deteriorated accommodative esotropia was performed for 20 patients (50%) in group DC, and nine (36%) of those in group C[bifocals continued]. Surgery produced an average reduction in the accommodative convergence relationship (near esodeviation in prism diopters [pd] minus corrected distance measurement, AC/A) of approximately 10 pd in both groups. Surgical patients unable to discontinue bifocal wear began with a clinically higher AC/A than those in group DC. Non-surgical patients in group DC experienced spontaneous improvement of the AC/A over time (average, 6.2 pd). On average, this did not occur in those of group C. Average age of bifocal discontinuation was 9.7 years in surgical patients and 9.3 years in the non surgical. Surgical patients had significantly lower hyperopia (+2.4 diopters [D]), than non-surgical (+3.5 D), and an earlier age of onset of bifocal wear (3.29 versus 4.64 years). Although bifocals may be successfully discontinued in a majority of patients at an average age of 9.5 years, a significant percentage require long-term wear, some, despite surgery. The only factor that predicted long-term bifocal wear was a relatively high AC/A. PMID- 2621545 TI - Prematures with and without regressed retinopathy of prematurity: comparison of long-term (6-10 years) ophthalmological morbidity. AB - Forty-two ex-prematures having had regressed forms of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) during the neonatal period were compared with 42 matched non-ROP ex premature controls at ages 6 to 10 years. The overall incidence of ophthalmologic problems was 55% in the ROP and 36% in the non-ROP group. Strabismus, amblyopia, and refraction anomalies occurred more frequently in the ROP group. In this group, a significantly greater number of children had decreased vision in one or both eyes compared to the non-ROP group. Although the incidence of ophthalmologic problems in the ROP group was considerably higher, the incidence in the non-ROP group still turned out unexpectedly high. this implicates that non-ROP very low birth weight neonates should also be considered to be at a greatly increased risk for later visual problems. Regular ocular examinations, mandatory for the ROP group, thus should be included in follow-up programs of non-ROP very low birthweight neonates as well. PMID- 2621546 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging in retinoblastoma and retinocytoma: a case report. AB - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is playing a growing role in the evaluation of ocular and orbital tumors. We report the case of a 26-month-old child presenting an undifferentiated retinoblastoma with a differentiated retinocytoma component in his left eye. After the eye was enucleated, we could correlate the clinicopathologic findings with the MRI scans. Both the undifferentiated retinoblastoma and the differentiated retinocytoma components could be determined on magnetic resonance imaging. Because different levels of metabolic activity within a tumor mass may influence largely T1 and T2 parameters, accurate determination of these values may be useful in determining the differentiation of a retinoblastoma, enabling a better therapeutic approach and assessment of the response to treatment. PMID- 2621547 TI - The neonatal fundus in maternal toxemia. AB - Toxemic changes in the maternal fundus and their relationship to fetal prognosis have been studied. A study of the neonatal fundus in maternal toxemia revealed a 76.67% incidence of vascular changes similar to those seen in the maternal fundus. Arteriolar spasm, focal or generalized, was present in 23 of the 30 neonates seen. A pallor of the disc was present in six cases. Four infants, 13.33%, had either extensive dot and blot retinal hemorrhages with soft exudates, or a serous retinal detachment. The last four neonates died within the first postnatal week. This work highlights the fact that retinal vascular decompensation mirrors similar changes in the cardiopulmonary or cerebral circulation and should be considered as a determinant of the fetal prognosis in maternal toxemia. PMID- 2621548 TI - Follow up retrospective study of compliance with a standard of care for retinopathy of prematurity in one neonatal intensive care unit. AB - A retrospective chart review was conducted to determine the impact of recently instituted guidelines on compliance with the standard of care for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at the University of Utah Medical Center. In a previous study, it was found that infants eligible for participation in a National Institutes of Health-funded study of ROP were routinely receiving screening eye examinations, whereas infants who qualified for ROP screening according to the standard of care, but not eligible for the study, were seen infrequently. Consequently, a plan to improve the compliance with the standard of care for all infants who fit the standard criteria was implemented. The comparison revealed significant improvement in compliance rates. In one subgrouping of infants, compliance rose from three of 16 (18.75%) infants screened for ROP according to the standard of care, to nine of 11 (82%) infants screened for ROP according to the revised standard. This increase in compliance appears to be due to adherence to guidelines recommended in an earlier study, which included increasing staff awareness of the standard of care, designating a person to schedule and track infants who fit the screening criteria, and including the need for ROP screening on the admission and discharge summary. PMID- 2621549 TI - Changes in the aphakic refraction of children with unilateral congenital cataracts. AB - Forty-two infants who presented to the Children's Hospital in Boston with unilateral congenital cataracts and had cataract surgery by 6 months of age received serial refractions (N = 369) of their aphakic eyes during the first 4 years of life. The 14 patients followed most intensively (185 refractions) showed a rapid decrease in mean spherical equivalent during the first year of life from +30.75 D to +26.36 D, with a less rapid decrease thereafter (24 months, +23.02 D; 36 months, +21.19 D; 48 months, +20.86 D). The rate of change per month decreased from .43 D between 1 and 6 months, .37 D between 6 and 12 months, .30 D between 12 and 18 months, .24 D between 18 and 24 months, and less than .19 D per month thereafter. This study shows that the refractive error of the aphakic eye of patients treated for unilateral congenital cataracts decreases most rapidly during infancy and less rapidly during the next few years of childhood. This information will be helpful in facilitating the treatment of these infants by allowing an approximation of their future contact lens refractive power changes. PMID- 2621550 TI - Visual impairment in a case of juvenile Paget's disease with pseudoxanthoma elasticum: an eleven year follow up. AB - An 11-year follow-up of a child presenting with Paget's disease of bone, and who subsequently developed pseudoxanthoma elasticum, is described. The influence of therapy on the ocular manifestations was disappointing. Calcitonin did not prevent the occurrence or progression of angioid streaks, and Argon laser photocoagulation of complicating subretinal neovascular membranes failed to prevent visual loss. PMID- 2621551 TI - Transformation of corneal epithelial cyst into anterior chamber implantation cyst and scleral cyst: a rare occurrence. AB - An 8-year-old boy underwent a penetrating keratoplasty for a corneal epithelial cyst. After surgery an anterior chamber implantation cyst appeared. Repeated Neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser treatments failed to eradicate this cyst; it later extended into the sclera together with the collapse of the anterior chamber cyst. The possible mechanism underlying the development of these cysts is discussed. PMID- 2621552 TI - Synthesis and biological activity of 6-acyl-3-substituted-2(3H)-benzoxazolones. AB - The preparation of a series of 6-acyl-3-substituted-2-(3H)-benzoxazolones is described. Their structures have been elucidated by UV, IR, NMR, MS and elementary analysis. These compounds have been tested for their antimicrobial activities against to Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus, ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus faecalis RSKK 10541, Candida parapsilosis, Candida albicans, Candida pseudotropicalis, Candida stellatoidea. PMID- 2621553 TI - [Social and psychological aspects of pharmacodependence. Liege, January-March 1989]. PMID- 2621554 TI - [Some definitions and many questions]. PMID- 2621555 TI - [The personality of the drug dependent]. PMID- 2621556 TI - [Toxic psychosis and the social environment]. PMID- 2621557 TI - [Drugs and the law]. PMID- 2621558 TI - [Some psychological aspects of toxic psychosis]. PMID- 2621559 TI - [Family medicine and toxic psychosis]. PMID- 2621560 TI - [The pharmacist and toxic psychosis]. PMID- 2621561 TI - [Reactions and interactions of drugs]. PMID- 2621562 TI - [Studies on the synthesis of antiulcer agents. VI. Synthesis and antiulcer activity of dihydrobenzofuranone derivatives]. AB - The derivatives (2) of 3-(2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-5-benzofuranyl) acrylic acid (2b) were synthesized. The compounds (3a-g) in which bromo, methoxy, nitro, amino or acetamido group was introduced on the benzene ring of the derivatives (2) and the compounds (3h-k) in which acryloyl moiety was introduced on the 6- or 7-position of the benzofuranone skeleton also synthesized. Furthermore, propionic acid derivatives (4a-c), acetic acid derivatives (4d-g), formic acid derivatives (4h-k) and oxyacetic acid derivatives (5) were prepared by converting the acryloyl moiety of the derivatives (2) into propionyl, acetyl, formyl and oxyacetyl groups. These compounds were tested for antiulcer activities. Among these compounds, 1-[3-(2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-5 benzofuranyl)acryloyl]piperidine (2d) and 4-[3-(2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-5 benzofuranyl)acryloyl] morpholine (2g) were found to have stronger antiulcer activities. PMID- 2621563 TI - [Studies on the synthesis of antiulcer agents. VII. Synthesis and antiulcer activity of dihydrobenzofuranone derivatives]. AB - A number of 2-substituted 2,3-dihydro-3-oxo-5-benzofuranylacryloyl derivatives were synthesized and tested for antiulcer activities in order to study structure activity relationships. Significant antiulcer activities were found in only the compounds (2e-g, p, s) in which hydroxymethyl and methyl groups or acetoxymethyl and methyl groups were introduced on the 2-position of the benzofuranone skeleton. Among the compounds tested, 1-[3-(2,3-dihydro-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl 3-oxo-5-benzofuranyl)acryloyl ] piperidine (2e) was the most promising compound. PMID- 2621564 TI - [Dissolution and absorption behavior of meclizine dihydrochloride from soft gelatin capsules]. AB - Two kinds of soft gelatin capsules containing meclizine dihydrochloride (MZ) were prepared by using a medium-chain length triglyceride as a base. One is a self emulsifying type, and the other is an oil dispersing type. The release of MZ from soft capsules and its in vivo absorption behavior were examined and compared with those of a commercial tablet. The release of MZ from the self-emulsifying soft capsule which was only slightly affected by pH was greater than those from the oil dispersing soft capsule and commercial tablet. The serum levels of MZ after the administration of preparations orally to beagle dogs increased in the order of self-emulsifying soft capsule, commercial tablet, oil dispersing soft capsule. This result suggests that the self-emulsifying soft capsule is useful for the increase of the bioavailability of the drug. PMID- 2621565 TI - [Enhanced percutaneous absorption of formoterol furmarate via pulsed iontophoresis. I. Effect of constant current and constant voltage]. AB - The effect of iontophoresis on percutaneous absorption of formoterol fumarate (FF) was investigated in vitro with abdominal skin excised from guinea pig. By passive diffusion, the flux at steady state for stripped skin was about 230 times greater than that for intact skin. Therefore, it is suggested that stratum corneum is a barrier for the percutaneous absorption of FF. Penetrated amount of FF increased significantly with an increase in donor concentration from 0.035% to 0.07%. Under the constant current iontophoresis the large flux accompanied with the high applied voltage was shown at the beginning of iontophoresis. Thereafter the flux decreased with a decrease in applied voltage. Under the constant voltage iontophoresis a linear relationship between penetrated amount of FF and time was observed. PMID- 2621566 TI - [Enhanced percutaneous absorption of formoterol fumarate via pulsed iontophoresis. II. Effect of polarity, pulse frequency and duty]. AB - To clarify the effect of polarity, pulse frequency and duty on the iontophoretic transport of formoterol fumarate (FF), in vitro and in vivo studies were performed with guinea pigs. In the in vitro studies, the flux at steady state was enhanced by the factor 7.61 with anodal iontophoresis in comparison with control, whereas, with cathodal iontophoresis it was restrained by the factor 0.79. When pulse frequency was varied from 0 to 40 kHz, the flux at steady state was enhanced with an increase in pulse frequency. In the in vivo studies with varying the duty of pulse potential from 10 to 100%, the maximum plasma concentration of FF was obtained at a 30% duty. In contrast, the plasma concentration of FF achieved at 100% duty was not high. With stripped skin, no significant difference in the plasma concentration of FF was shown between iontophoresis and control. Consequently, it is suggested that iontophoresis contributes to FF penetration across stratum corneum. PMID- 2621567 TI - [Enhanced bioavailability of digoxin by gamma-cyclodextrin complexation: evaluation for sublingual and oral administrations in humans]. AB - The inclusion complex of digoxin with gamma-cyclodextrin was prepared in a molar ratio of 1:4, and evaluated for sublingual and oral administrations in humans. In the dissolution tests of digoxin tablets, the increase in dissolution rate and decrease in acid hydrolysis were attained by gamma-cyclodextrin complexation. The serum levels of digoxin after sublingual and oral administrations to human healthy volunteers in the form of complex tablets were higher than the digoxin alone, particularly in the case of the sublingual form of gamma-cyclodextrin complex. The present data suggested that the sublingual administration of the rapid dissolving form of gamma-cyclodextrin complex may be useful for improving the bioavailability of digoxin due to the prevention of acid hydrolysis in stomach and the enhancement of drug absorption rate. PMID- 2621568 TI - Fungal flora of poultry feedstuff ingredients. AB - One hundred and ten samples representing five types of poultry feed ingredients were mycologically examined. These samples included soybean meal, ground maize, cotton-seed cake, wheat bran and fish meal (22 samples each). Among the 73 mesophilic fungal species, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger and A. fumigatus were the most dominant. A. terreus, A. flavipes, Mucor circinelloides, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium moniliforme and Rhizopus stolonifer were found to be common on a particular ingredient and less common on the remainders. Of the twelve thermophilic and thermotolerant species, A. fumigatus, Thermomyces lanuginosus, Rhizomucor pusillus and Thermoascus thermophilus prevailed on one or more type of the different ingredients. Marked variations were observed in the rancid fatty compounds of the different samples and the values ranged between 0.663 and 3.900 mg malonaldehyde per kg sample. PMID- 2621569 TI - The delivery of peptides. Summary of papers presented at the symposium. International Conference on Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacology. May 30, 1988, Jerusalem, Israel. Proceedings. PMID- 2621570 TI - Pseudopolymorphism and phase stability in four solid forms of (6R,7R)-7-[2-(5 amino-1,2,4-thiadiazol-3-yl)-(Z)-2-methoxy- iminoacetamid]-3- [(4-carbamoyl-1 quinuclidinio)methyl]-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo - [4,2,0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylate (E1040). AB - (6R,7R)-7-[2-(5-Amino-1,2,4-thiadiazol-3-yl)-(Z)-2-methoxy- iminoacetamid]-3- [(4 carbamoyl-1-quinuclidinio)methyl]-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo [4,2,0]oct-2-ene-2 carboxylate (1; E1040) was isolated as alpha-(decahydrate), beta-(pentahydrate), and gamma-form (anhydrate) crystals and the X-ray amorphous form. The relationship between the pseudopolymorphic crystal forms of this compound and water content was studied by X-ray diffractometry, coulometric moisture analysis, thermal analysis, and hygroscopic and vacuum-freeze-drying experiments. The phase transition of crystalline 1 clearly indicated the effect of water content on dehydration. During dehydration, hydrated alpha-form (decahydrate) crystals and beta-form (pentahydrate) crystals became anhydrate gamma-form crystals, with the diffraction angle shifting toward shorter spacing accompanied by line broadening. These results indicate conversion of hydrate 1 crystals to the anhydrous form and contraction of the crystal lattice. It was estimated that the decahydrate (alpha form) crystals contain 8 mol/mol crystal water and 2 mol/mol adhesion water, and that the pentahydrate (beta-form) crystals contain 4 mol/mol crystal water and 1 mol/mol adhesion water. These estimates were made by comparing the data from equilibrium hydration experiments and vacuum-freeze-drying experiments. It thus follows that gamma-form crystals are anhydrate and the X-ray amorphous form exists in either the hydrous or anhydrous form. PMID- 2621571 TI - Effect of amiodarone on the disposition of acetaminophen in the rat. AB - Amiodarone has been demonstrated to form a cytochrome P-450Fe(II):metabolite complex. The administration of other agents which form this type of complex, such as troleandomycin, has been shown to deplete hepatic glutathione content. Depletion of glutathione will result in an increased synthesis of glutathione and an increased utilization of cysteine. Since inorganic sulfate and glutathione share cysteine as a common precursor, we postulated that amiodarone pretreatment may reduce the sulfation of drugs. To test this hypothesis, the effect of amiodarone pretreatment on acetaminophen disposition was examined in the rat. Acetaminophen (150 mg/kg) was administered to rats pretreated with amiodarone hydrochloride (100 mg/kg/d) or diluent for 5 d. There were no significant differences in the urinary recovery of acetaminophen sulfate or the partial clearance of acetaminophen to the sulfate metabolite between control and amiodarone-pretreated animals. There was a trend toward an increased urinary recovery of acetaminophen glucuronide in animals pretreated with amiodarone, but this did not reach statistical significance. Amiodarone pretreatment had no effect on the renal clearances of acetaminophen or its metabolites. These results suggest that amiodarone pretreatment does not alter the sulfation of drugs and that the formation of an amiodarone P-450Fe(II):metabolite complex is quantitatively insignificant. PMID- 2621572 TI - Hypolipidemic activity of cyclic imido alkyl ethers, thioethers, sulfoxides, and sulfones. AB - N-Substituted alkyl ethers, thioethers, sulfoxides, and sulfones of cyclic imides (e.g., phthalimide, saccharin, 1,8-naphthalimide, succinimide, and 2,3 dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione) were shown to have potent hypolipidemic activity at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg/d in rodents. These N-substitutions afforded no improvement over other known N-substitutions (e.g., butyl, 3-butanone, or the propionic acid derivatives of phthalimide, saccharin, and 2,3-dihydrophthalazine 1,4-dione) compared with the respective parent compounds. However, 2 (methoxyethyl)-1H-benz[de]isoquinoline-1,3-(2H)dione (3a), 2-[2 methylsulfinyl]ethyl-1H-benz[de]isoquinoline-1,3-(2H)dione (3c), 1-(2 methylsulfinyl)-2,5-pyrrolidenedione (4c), and 1-(2-methoxyethyl-2,5 pyrrolidenedione (4a) significantly improved activity compared with parent compounds, as well as previously reported N-substituted analogues, reducing serum cholesterol levels and serum triglyceride levels by 40%. The thioether of succinimide afforded a 54% reduction of serum cholesterol and a 41% reduction of serum triglyceride levels in mice after 16 d. The alkyl thioethers of 1,8 naphthalimide and succinimide significantly lowered cholesterol levels in serum VLDL and LDL, while the alkyl thioethers of succinimide elevated HDL cholesterol content. Tissue lipids were reduced in the liver and aorta by these selected derivatives. The activities of regulatory enzymes in de novo synthesis of hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride were inhibited by the selected 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives. In situ cholesterol and cholic acid reabsorption from intestines were suppressed by the presence of the agents. PMID- 2621573 TI - Design, synthesis, DNA binding, and biological activity of a series of DNA minor groove-binding intercalating drugs. AB - A group of pseudopeptides, molecular combination of the natural antitumor agents distamycin or netropsin and the anilinoacridine chromophore (which is related to the synthetic antileukemic drug amsacrine) has been synthesized. Their DNA binding properties were determined and discussed in terms of their structural differences and in relation to their observed base-dependent binding. Binding data are consistent with a model in which the acridine nucleus occupies an intercalation site and the netropsin or distamycin residue resides in the DNA minor groove. Cytostatic and cytotoxic activities against a murine cell line are reported, as well as significant differences in the inhibition of DNA synthesis. PMID- 2621574 TI - 6-bis-(2-chloroethyl)amino-6-deoxy-D-galactopyranose hydrochloride: synthesis, chemical characterization, murine P388 antitumor activity, and bone marrow toxicity. AB - 6-Bis-(2-chloroethyl)amino-6-deoxy-D-galactopyranose hydrochloride has been synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for antitumor activity and bone marrow toxicity in mice. The 1D- and 2D-NMR studies show the compound to exist as a beta anomer chair conformation (23%), alpha-anomer chair conformation (22%), and several equilibrating boat conformations or furanose forms (55%). A single ip LD10 dose of 15.0 mg/kg produced antitumor activity against the murine P388 leukemia superior to that achieved with an equitoxic dose of nitrogen mustard. In normal mice, this 15.0-mg/kg dose produced minimal depression of peripheral white blood cells and no significant decrease in absolute neutrophil counts. A reduction in toxicity was also demonstrated for human bone marrow CFU-GM, as compared with nitrogen mustard and L-PAM. This and other sugar-containing mustard compounds may represent a class of antineoplastic alkylating agents with reduced bone marrow toxicity. PMID- 2621575 TI - Relationship between in vivo first-order intestinal absorption rate constant and the membrane permeability clearance. AB - An attempt was made to explore the quantitative relationship between the intestinal absorption data obtained from in vivo studies and in situ perfusion studies. The time course of the fraction remaining to be absorbed of L-glucose, erythritol, and urea in the small intestine following the intrajejunal administration to rats was described by a one-compartment model. Thus derived first-order intestinal absorption rate constants (ka) obtained from the in vivo studies in rats were compared with the membrane permeability clearances (CLa,m) estimated in a single-pass perfusion system. Not only were ka and CLa,m in the same increasing order of L-glucose less than erythritol less than urea, but also the operational luminal volumes given as CLa,m/ka were in agreement with the in vivo luminal volume of jejunum estimated by an inulin dilution method. This result suggests that the in vivo intestinal absorption rate (or ka) can be correlated with the intestinal membrane permeability (or CLa,m) by taking the in vivo luminal volume into account. PMID- 2621576 TI - Effects of long-term hydration leading to the development of polar channels in hairless mouse stratum corneum. AB - Dramatic increases in in vitro permeability coefficients have been observed following the long-term hydration (days) of hairless mouse skin. The effect is greatest for extremely polar or ionized solutes. Differential scanning calorimetry has been utilize in complementary studies in an attempt to assess if the altered permeability may be due to the irreversible alteration of lipid fluidity or keratin structure. The melting range of the lipid endotherms appears to be unaffected when stratum corneum is subjected to hydration conditions similar to those in the permeability experiments. Endotherms attributed to keratin appear to be altered by long-term hydration. However, no quantitative correlation was found between the keratin endotherm area and the permeabilities. The permeability data fit a model where the total permeability coefficient at a given time is the sum of the permeability coefficients associated with the lipid route and the polar route. Permeation increases with hydration time due primarily to alteration of the polar route. Based on molecular weight, no limitation of diffusion in the polar pathway was detected. PMID- 2621577 TI - Phenytoin prodrug 3-phosphoryloxymethyl phenytoin (ACC-9653): pharmacokinetics in patients following intravenous and intramuscular administration. AB - A phenytoin prodrug, 3-phosphoryloxymethyl phenytoin (ACC-9653; 1), has been developed with more favorable physicochemical properties than phenytoin for parenteral administration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of 1 following iv and im administration in adult patients receiving chronic oral phenytoin monotherapy. Each patient (9 males, 1 female) received a single iv dose of undiluted 1 equivalent to their twice daily phenytoin dose (100-200 mg). An equivalent dose of im 1 was administered in the gluteus maximus muscle one week later. Serial blood samples were obtained after each dose. Phenytoin and 1 concentrations were measured using HPLC. Compartmental analysis using weighted nonlinear least squares, and noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis were performed on each patient's concentration-time data. Data following iv 1 in eight of ten patients were best described using a two-compartment model. Mean pharmacokinetic parameter estimates for iv 1 in these patients were central volume of distribution (Vdc) of 0.040 +/- 0.0084 L/kg and plasma disappearance half-life (t1/2 alpha) of 8.0 +/- 2.9 min ("conversion" t1/2). Overall mean clearance (CL) was 0.24 +/- 0.080 L/kg/h in the 10 patients. Mean pharmacokinetic parameter estimates for im 1 were a rate constant (ka) of 2.47 +/- 1.41 h-1 and an absolute bioavailability (F) of 100.5 +/- 20.3%. Mean observed tmax values for phenytoin were 0.57 +/- 0.26 and 1.46 +/- 0.76 h following iv and im 1, respectively. Model-independent estimates of clearance agreed well with the compartmental analyses. Steady-state predose phenytoin concentrations did not significantly vary from the comparable concentrations following iv 1 administration (p = 0.22).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621578 TI - Effect of temperature and fat content on the solubility of hydrochlorothiazide and chlorothiazide in milk. AB - The solubility of hydrochlorothiazide and chlorothiazide in milk has been studied. Experiments were carried out at 5, 15, 25, and 37 degrees C on a buffer solution of pH 6.5, a 2.6% solution of casein, bovine skim milk samples, and bovine milk samples with fat contents of 0.75, 1.70, and 3.50%. The "total" solubility of both drugs in the media studied was higher than the buffer solubility. The highest "total" solubility for both drugs was observed in skim milk. Based on binding data of thiazides to milk, the "total" solubility was split into "free" and "bound" solubility. The increases of solubility noted cannot be explained on the basis of drug-milk binding data. The enhancement of solubility was attributed to the increase of intrinsic solubility of drugs in milk. Results of the thermodynamic analysis of solubility data showed that a different solubilization process of hydrochlorothiazide may be responsible for the high solubility values found in skim milk for this drug. In contrast, the thermodynamic parameters of chlorothiazide in all types of milk are similar, indicating a common solubilization mechanism. The biopharmaceutical significance of the findings is discussed in light of the freeze-dried drug-milk formulations and coadministration of drugs with milk in general. PMID- 2621579 TI - Enantioselective aspects of the disposition of dl-threo-methylphenidate after the administration of a sustained-release formulation to children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. AB - It has been shown previously that immediate-release dl-threo-methylphenidate (Ritalin) undergoes stereoselective disposition in human adults as well as in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Although the sustained release formulation of dl-threo-methylphenidate (Ritalin-SR) has been demonstrated to be effective in sustaining the attention of the children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, there are no data on plasma levels of methylphenidate after administration of the sustained-release formulation. The purpose of this present investigation was twofold: (1) to determine whether the levels of methylphenidate were sustained for over a time period of 8 h, and (2) to examine enantioselective aspects of the pharmacokinetics following the ingestion of the sustained-release formulation. Six children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder were given 20 mg of sustained-release dl-threo methylphenidate. Plasma samples were harvested for a period up to 12 h following ingestion of the drug. The levels of both the enantiomers were sustained for a period of 8 h (the plasma levels of d-methylphenidate were 8- to 10-fold higher than those of the l-enantiomer in the profiles of all six children). Mean areas under the plasma level time curves were 132.78 +/- 92.47 ng.h/mL for d methylphenidate and 12.73 +/- 7.37 ng.h/mL for l-methylphenidate. The values of oral clearance and apparent volume of distribution calculated for l-enantiomer were higher than the corresponding values for the d-antipode. PMID- 2621580 TI - Numerical stability of pharmacokinetic deconvolution algorithms. AB - The sensitivity of pharmacokinetic deconvolution algorithms with respect to simulated experimental error has been studied. Approximations of cumulative absorption profiles reconstructed from simulated data sets with normally distributed random error were compared with corresponding known input functions. The coincidence of both functions was assessed in 600 numerical experiments by the nonparametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. A constrained iterative nonlinear regression procedure based on the analytical convolution of multiphasic zero order input functions with linear disposition models was found to perform well under conditions where the results of direct numerical deconvolution and model based mass balance methods were unsatisfactory. PMID- 2621581 TI - Sustained active ingredient release from drugs: statistical model for random sample assessment in vitro. AB - A method is presented according to which tolerances for active ingredient release from pharmaceutical dosage forms are calculated. The procedure is based on a statistical model. In accordance with this, the mean value is specified as a measure of the amount of active ingredient released, and the standard deviation as a measure of the uniformity of the active ingredient release. The determination of drug release tolerances is standardized. Based on clinically tested samples, changes arising from the manufacture and the storage are taken into account, thus establishing a manufacturing standard. Depending on the information available, a dynamic adaption of drug release tolerances (e.g., during the development phase) is recommended. PMID- 2621582 TI - Pharmacokinetics of an oral sustained-release diltiazem preparation. AB - The pharmacokinetics of a new oral sustained-release diltiazem preparation (HER SR, QD) was investigated in dogs and humans. The mean plasma diltiazem concentration in dogs after oral administration of HER-SR showed a prolonged plasma concentration and a double peak. The bioavailability of HER-SR compared with that of a conventional diltiazem preparation (HER) in dogs was approximately 80%, a value that is relatively close to that of humans. The plasma diltiazem concentrations with a double peak in dogs were analyzed using multifraction absorption models. The HER-SR preparation was apparently divided into two fractions (14.3 and 85.7 mg) in the gastrointestinal tract, each fraction was absorbed at rate constants of 4.560 and 0.152 h-1, respectively, and the lag time of the slow-release component was 8.3 h. The plasma diltiazem concentration data in humans after repetitive oral administration of HER-SR were also analyzed using multifraction absorption models. The initial amount of the fast- and slow-release components were 14.8 and 85.2 mg, respectively. The absorption rate constants were 0.730 h-1 for the fast-release component and 0.060 h-1 for the slow-release component. The lag time of absorption for the slow-release component was 6.0 h. The pharmacokinetic parameters were close to those obtained in dogs except for Ka1 and Vd/F. The results confirm that HER-SR had desirable pharmacokinetic characteristics as judged from the simulated plasma diltiazem concentration and the peak-to-trough fluctuation (fluctuation parameters) calculated using the simulated plasma diltiazem concentration. In addition, population pharmacokinetics of HER-SR after repetitive oral administration was examined in humans. PMID- 2621583 TI - Spherical agglomerates of water-insoluble drugs. AB - Spherical pellets of poorly soluble drugs (micronized griseofulvin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, sulfadiazine, or tolbutamide) were prepared by dispersing each drug in solutions of the ionic polysaccharides chitosan or sodium alginate, and then dropping these dispersions into solutions of the respective counterions tripolyphosphate or calcium chloride (CaCl2). The droplets instantaneously formed gelled spheres by inotropic gelation. Strong spherical beads with a narrow particle size distribution and low friability could be prepared with high yield and a drug content approaching 98%. The flow properties of micronized or needle like drug crystals were significantly improved by this agglomeration technique when compared with nonagglomerated drug crystals. The ionic character of the polymers resulted in pH-dependent disintegration of the beads. Chitosan beads disintegrated in 0.1M HCl, while calcium alginate beads stayed intact in 0.1M HCl but rapidly disintegrated in simulated intestinal fluids. In addition to scanning electron microscopy, dissolution and disintegration tests were used to characterize the drug pellets. PMID- 2621584 TI - Ion-paired reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography assay for determination of ceftriaxone in human plasma and urine. AB - A rapid, sensitive, and specific ion-paired reversed-phase HPLC assay for ceftriaxone in human plasma and urine is described. Small volumes (50 microL) of sample are deproteinized with acetonitrile and are directly injected on a C18 analytical column. The UV absorbance is monitored at 280 nm. The assay is linear between 1 and 125 micrograms/mL of ceftriaxone, with less than 10% coefficient of both intra- and interday variation. Chromatography was specific for ceftriaxone as endogenous compounds and 30 common drugs did not interfere. The assay was used in open heart surgery patients where potential interference from corticosteroids was overcome. PMID- 2621585 TI - A sensitive method for assay of a novel tricyclic compound using coulometric electrochemical detection. AB - A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method using coulometric electrochemical detection in the oxidative mode has been developed for the analysis of 3-(9-chloro-5,6-dihydro-11-H-pyrrolo[2,1-b][3]benzazepine-11-ylidene- N,N-dimethyl-1-propanamine(E)-Z-butenedioate hydrogen maleate (1) in plasma of patients dosed with 2-8 mg/kg/d of the drug. Concentrations as little as 0.1 ng/mL of 1 in plasma can be estimated with a mean coefficient of variation of 7.4 +/- 1.08%. The utility of the procedure was demonstrated by the analysis of 500 patient samples from a rising multiple-dose study. PMID- 2621586 TI - Should you market your dental practice ... and how do you begin. PMID- 2621587 TI - 5-Hydroxytryptamine acts at 5-HT2 receptors to decrease potassium conductance in rat nucleus accumbens neurones. AB - 1. Intracellular recordings were made from neurones in the nucleus accumbens in slices from the rat brain maintained in vitro. 2. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT.1-100 microM) depolarized 170 of 203 (84%) neurones and caused them to discharge action potentials. The depolarization was associated with an increase in the input resistance, and was reversed in polarity by conditioning hyperpolarization; this reversal potential was linearly related to the logarithm of the extracellular potassium concentration. 3. Application of 5-HT to neurones voltage-clamped near their resting potential (typically about -80 mV) caused an inward current and a decrease in the slope conductance. The current caused by 5-HT reversed polarity at the potassium equilibrium potential. Analysis with an equivalent circuit model of the neurone at steady state indicated that 5-HT selectively reduced the inward rectifier potassium conductance. 4. The depolarization caused by 5-HT persisted in tetrodotoxin (1 microM). It was reduced but not abolished by a solution that contained lower levels of calcium (0.24 instead of 2.4 mM), higher levels of magnesium (5 instead of 1.2 mM), and cobalt (2 mM). 5. The depolarization caused by 5-HT was competitively antagonized by the 5-HT2 antagonists ketanserin and mianserin with dissociation equilibrium constants of 3 and 45 nM respectively: spiperone (300 nM) also blocked the action of 5-HT. The depolarization was not mimicked or blocked by a number of other agonists and antagonists selective for the 5-HT1 and 5-HT3 receptor types. PMID- 2621588 TI - The photoreceptors in atypical achromatopsia. AB - 1. The receptoral mechanisms underlying the vision of two atypical achromats of the complete variety were studied with standard psychophysical procedures. 2. Under scotopic conditions the spectral sensitivity of each achromat was well described by the CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) scotopic sensitivity function and the recovery of sensitivity after a retinal bleach showed characteristic duplex behaviour with the time constant of recovery of the slower phase matching that of normal rod vision for both foveal and peripheral stimulation. 3. Their spectral sensitivity was measured under conditions of chromatic adaptation in order to reveal any residual middle or long wavelength cone activity. Only one photopic spectral responses was found and this was adequately described by the spectral sensitivity function of Stiles pi 3 mechanism of normal vision. 4. Increment threshold measurements as a function of background intensity revealed a double-branched function in the fovea. The lower branch was found to have the spectral sensitivity of the rods; the upper branch that of Stiles' pi 3 mechanism. Stiles-Crawford measurements of directional sensitivity confirmed that the branch with the rhodopsin action spectrum had the directional sensitivity of rods and that the branch with the action spectrum of pi 3 had the directional sensitivity of cones. 5. These was no evidence for hue discrimination under photopic conditions. Regions of apparently normal performance on hue discrimination tests on more careful examination could be explained by luminosity judgements mediated by short wavelength-absorbing receptors. 6. We reject the notion of there being rhodopsin-filled cones in the fovea of these subjects. The foveal and peripheral vision of each of these achromats can be adequately described in terms of the participation of only two types of receptor, namely normally functional rods under scotopic conditions and normally functioning short wavelength-absorbing cones under photopic conditions. They are therefore functional blue mono-cone monochromats, an explanation which was originally proposed by Blackwell & Blackwell (1957) over thirty years ago. PMID- 2621589 TI - Epidural anaesthesia and cardiovascular responses to static exercise in man. AB - 1. In human subjects, sustained static contractions of the knee extensors were performed in one leg with the same absolute (10% of the initial maximal voluntary contraction) and relative (30% of the maximal voluntary contraction immediately prior to the static exercise) intensities before and during epidural anaesthesia. Epidural anaesthesia reduced strength to 62 +/- 8% of the control value and partially blocked sensory input from the working muscles. During contractions performed with the same relative force, the increases in mean arterial pressure and heart rate were greater during control contractions than during epidural anaesthesia. During contractions at the same absolute force, there was no significant difference in magnitude of cardiovascular responses between control contractions and contractions performed during epidural anaesthesia. 2. The metabolic role in the exercise pressor reflex was assessed by applying an arterial leg cuff 10 s before cessation of exercise and through the following 3 min of recovery. Although mean arterial pressure and heart rate decreased immediately after cessation of exercise, application of the arterial occlusion cuff resulted in higher post-exercise mean arterial pressure and heart rate values. Control and epidural mean arterial pressures during arterial occlusion were not significantly different. 3. The results of this study suggest that the reflex neural mechanism rather than the intended effort (central command) is important in determining the blood pressure and heart rate responses to static exercise in man. That is, when epidural anaesthesia diminishes sensory feedback and produces muscular weakness, central command does not determine the cardiovascular response. This conclusion, however, is opposite to that derived from experiments with partial neuromuscular blockade which demonstrated the importance of central command in determining the cardiovascular response to static exercise (Leonard, Mitchell, Mizuno, Rube, Saltin & Secher, 1985). Taken together, these two studies are complementary and support the concept that both central and reflex neural mechanisms play roles in regulating arterial blood pressure and heart rate during static exercise in man. PMID- 2621590 TI - Human photopic vision with only short wavelength cones: post-receptoral properties. AB - 1. Spatial and temporal contrast sensitivities were investigated in two subjects whose photopic vision has been previously shown to be subserved by only short wavelength cones. 2. Spatial contrast sensitivity was uniformly reduced compared with that of the normal trichromatic observer. Peak contrast sensitivity reached 40 which is a factor of 2-3 better than previous estimates and extrapolated acuity was around 15 cycles deg-1. Central, non-aliased grating acuity was between 6-9 cycles deg-1. This declined with eccentricity such that at 20 deg it was around 1 cycle deg-1. 3. The variation in contrast sensitivity across the visual field was measured for a range of different spatial frequencies. It was found to be of the same form as that for the normal trichromat but reduced in overall sensitivity. 4. Temporal contrast sensitivity was measured for two different spatial frequencies and found to exhibit the spatio-temporal covariation which is typical of normal trichromatic vision. Temporal acuity exhibited a strong dependence on illuminance and reached asymptotic values of around 40-45 Hz. While this is more than a factor of two above most previous estimates for the short wavelength receptors of normal vision it agrees with some more recent estimates obtained using a different technique. Temporal resolution was found to be evenly distributed across the visual field. 5. Similarities were found between the post-receptoral properties of these achromats and the properties of the isolated blue mechanism of normal vision and also the properties of normal luminance contrast processing in general. The present results provide an upper bound on the contribution of the short wavelength mechanism to normal vision and also provide a suitable model of its possible contribution to the processing of luminance contrast in the normal visual system. PMID- 2621591 TI - Local neuronal circuitry underlying cholinergic rhythmical slow activity in CA3 area of rat hippocampal slices. AB - 1. Intracellular and extracellular recordings were obtained from the CA3 area of rat hippocampal slices to study cellular and synaptic mechanisms underlying rhythmic slow activity (RSA). In all impaled CA3 pyramidal neurones, continuous applications of carbachol, a non-hydrolysable cholinergic agonist, induced first a brief non-rhythmic excitation and then periodic bursts of RSA which could persist for several hours. Each burst of RSA consisted of 4-10 Hz oscillatory depolarizations which had a rise time much slower than conventional EPSPs recorded in the same cell. 2. The carbachol-induced RSA was blocked by atropine; therefore the cholinergic stimulation involved muscarinic receptors. 3. Analyses of simultaneous recordings from pairs of neurones, or a neurone and a glial cell, or a neurone and the extracellular field, indicated that carbachol-induced RSA was synchronous in a large population of CA3 pyramidal neurones. 4. Complete removal of the dentate gyrus and CA1 region did not block carbachol-induced RSA in CA3, but applications of tetrodotoxin or inorganic Ca2+ channel blockers (Cd2+, Co2+ or Mn2+) abolished carbachol-induced RSA. This suggested that the RSA involved propagation of action potentials through a local synaptic network in the CA3 area. 5. Carbachol-induced RSA was reversibly blocked by a broad-spectrum excitatory amino acid antagonist (kynurenic acid), but not by two selective N methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists (DL-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid or DL 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid), a GABAA antagonist (bicuculline), or a GABAB antagonist (phaclofen), suggesting that carbachol-induced RSA involved primarily non-NMDA excitatory amino acid, but not GABAergic, synapses. 6. Raising extracellular [Ca2+] beyond 7 mM, which should significantly weaken the polysynaptic recurrent excitation among CA3 pyramidal neurones, abolished carbachol-induced RSA. This suggests that the recurrent excitation among CA3 pyramidal neurones is necessary for carbachol-induced RSA in the CA3 area. However, our experiments cannot clarify whether the recurrent excitation, alone, is sufficient for carbachol-induced RSA. PMID- 2621592 TI - Voltage-dependent properties of electrical synapses formed between identified leech neurones in vitro. AB - 1. The voltage-dependent properties of rectifying and non-rectifying electrical synapses formed between identified leech neurones were quantified during their regeneration in vitro. 2. Junctional conductance increased with time in culture. This was evaluated by making comparisons between cell pairs maintained in vitro for differing amounts of time, as well as by taking repeated measurements from a single cell pair at different time intervals. 3. Non-rectifying electrical synapses were formed between certain identified neurones of the same type. Thus, Leydig cells cultured with Leydig cells established non-rectifying electrical connections, as did Retzius cells, longitudinal motoneurones (L cells) and anterior pagoda (AP) cells, each paired with its own cell type. 4. Rectifying synapses developed when sensory neurones (P cells or N cells) were paired with the other neurones mentioned above that form non-rectifying connections between themselves. The cell combinations examined were L cell-P cell. Leydig cell-N cell, and AP cell-P cell. The direction of current flow across these rectifying synapses was consistently from the sensory neurone to the other cell in the pair. 5. Non-rectifying connections early in the process of synapse regeneration (1-3 days) showed non-linearities greater than those observed in established non rectifying synapses. There was a subtle, but clear, voltage dependence even at the later stages of synapse formation (4-18 days). 6. In contrast to non rectifying connections, rectifying synapses formed between cells at early times in culture showed less voltage dependence than those observed at later times. 7. The marked non-linearities of the non-rectifying connections at early stages in synapse formation along with the reduced voltage dependence of the rectifying connections within the same time period revealed unexpected similarities between the two. At the early stages of synapse formation, the two types of electrical synapse were essentially indistinguishable for one direction of junctional current. PMID- 2621593 TI - Ionic basis for the intrinsic activation of rat supraoptic neurones by hyperosmotic stimuli. AB - 1. Magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs) were impaled in the supraoptic nucleus of rat hypothalamic explants maintained in vitro. Current- and voltage clamp analysis of the osmotically induced response was performed at 34 degrees C. 2. Addition of mannitol or NaCl to cause a rise in fluid osmolarity (greater than +6 mosM) caused a membrane depolarization whose amplitude increased when elicited from more hyperpolarized levels. Changes in temperature (34-28 degrees C), addition of TTX, or superfusion with Na(+)-free or Ca2(+)-free solutions did not block the osmotically induced depolarization. In control solutions the response was consistently accompanied by an increase in the frequency of spontaneous postsynaptic potentials. Thus, osmotic stimuli have a direct effect on MNCs, and they also apparently activate other neurones which are presynaptic to these cells. 3. Under voltage-clamp, hyperosmotic stimuli induced an inward current (Io) accompanied by an increase in membrane conductance. The current was unaffected or slightly enhanced by doubling the external K+ concentration. Io was also characterized by a linear I-V relation (between -100 and -50mV) and an extrapolated reversal potential near -10 mV. Io presumably results from the activation of a voltage-independent and non-selective cationic conductance. 4. Hyperosmotic stimuli did not affect the depolarizing after-current (IDAP) responsible for the production of phasic bursts. However, the inward shift of the post-spike I-V curve caused by Io could reduce or eliminate the region of net outward current which lies negative to spike threshold in silent neurones. Thus in MNCs displaying IDAP, activation of Io by a rise in osmotic pressure can induce or enhance phasic bursting activity. 5. Application of hyperosmotic stimuli sufficient to excite most MNCs (+20 to +80 mosM) did not elicit a response from any of seventeen neurones impaled in areas lateral and caudal to the supraoptic nucleus. Recordings obtained from three CA1 neurones in slices of rat hippocampus revealed that stimuli in excess of +100 mosM are required to evoke appreciable non-specific depolarizations. 6. These studies indicate that the specific endogenous osmosensitivity of MNCs results from the activation of the intrinsic current Io. Furthermore, interactions between Io and IDAP explain how osmotic stimuli can lead to the induction of phasic bursting activity, a response which is known to potentiate the secretion of vasopressin from the neural lobe. PMID- 2621594 TI - Dorsomedial medulla stimulation activates rat supraoptic oxytocin and vasopressin neurones through different pathways. AB - 1. This study utilized retrograde anatomical tracer techniques and in vivo extracellular electrophysiological studies to examine caudal ventrolateral and dorsomedial medulla afferents to supraoptic nucleus neurosecretory neurones in male Long-Evans rats. 2. In one series of experiments, pentobarbitone anaesthetized animals were subjected to ventral exposure of the hypothalamus and rhodamine-tagged latex microspheres (0.05-0.2 microliter) were injected into one supraoptic nucleus. Following perfusion with paraformaldehyde-glutaraldehyde 18 24 h later, cell counts were obtained of rhodamine- and/or catecholamine-labelled neurones in the caudal ventrolateral and dorsomedial medulla both ipsi- and contralateral to the injection site. 3. In the caudal ventrolateral medulla, each injection labelled fewer than 15% of the catecholaminergic neurones; with small injections, most (68-100%) of the rhodamine-labelled neurones also displayed catecholamine histofluorescence. In the caudal nucleus tractus solitarii, one half to one-third as many rhodamine-labelled cells were observed, but a higher percentage (13-100%) of these were non-catecholaminergic. 4. Extracellular recordings were obtained from antidromically identified supraoptic neurones classified as vasopressin (n = 106) or oxytocin (n = 26) secreting. Single cathodal pulses (0.2 ms duration, 0.02-0.08 mA) applied in the caudal half of the ipsilateral nucleus tractus solitarii evoked a transient (30-50 ms) activation of 63% of both vasopressin- and oxytocin-secreting neurones. Mean latencies (+/- S.E.M.) for vasopressin and oxytocin cells were 49.8 +/- 1.0 and 46.5 +/- 2.4 ms respectively; these were not significantly different. Similar responses were noted to contralateral stimuli applied to four vasopressin and two oxytocin cells. 5. Vasopressin neurones activated by caudal nucleus tractus solitarii stimulation displayed similar patterns of response to stimulation in the caudal ventrolateral medulla. However, latencies from the nucleus solitarius (mean 47.6 +/- 1.4 ms; n = 59) were significantly longer (P less than 0.05) than from the ventrolateral medulla (41.5 +/- 2.0 ms; n = 17). In eight out of eleven vasopressin neurones tested, interruption of synaptic transmission through the ventrolateral medulla reduced or abolished the caudal nucleus tractus solitarii evoked excitation but had no effect on their response to baroreceptor activation. This manoeuvre affected zero out of five oxytocin cells similarly excited by nucleus solitarius stimulation. 6. These observations indicate that visceral input mediated through the nucleus tractus solitarii is transmitted differentially to supraoptic vasopressin- and oxytocin-secreting neurones. PMID- 2621595 TI - Effects of small changes in carotid sinus pressure on renal haemodynamics and function in dogs. AB - 1. In dogs anaesthetized with chloralose and artificially ventilated, the carotid sinuses were vascularly isolated and perfused with arterial blood. Mean aortic pressure was held constant at 111 +/- 2 mmHg (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 18) by means of a pressure bottle connected to the aorta and a Starling resistance. Both vagus nerves were sectioned in the neck and propranolol hydrochloride (1 mg kg-1 h-1) or atenolol (0.5-4 mg kg-1 h-1) was administered. The left and right renal blood flows were measured by electromagnetic flowmeters (wrap-round probes), glomerular filtration rate by creatinine clearance, urinary sodium by flame photometry and solute excretion by osmometry. 2. In six dogs decreasing pressure in the isolated carotid sinuses from 119 +/- 4 to 78 +/- 3 mmHg (n = 9) resulted in significant decreases in renal blood flow by 18 +/- 3% (P less than 0.01), glomerular filtration rate by 41 +/- 9% (P less than 0.01), filtration fraction by 30 +/- 11% (P less than 0.05), urine flow by 46 +/- 6% (P less than 0.001), sodium excretion by 46 +/- 9% (P less than 0.001) and osmolar excretion by 44 +/- 6% (P less than 0.001). Fractional sodium excretion did not change significantly. Increasing carotid sinus pressure back to 120 +/- 4 mmHg (n = 6) resulted in increases in all the variables to values not significantly different from those at initial high carotid pressure. 3. Ligation of left renal nerves at low carotid sinus pressure (83 +/- 3 mmHg, n = 5) caused significant increases in all of the variables in the left kidney. After ligation, changes in carotid sinus pressure produced no effect on the denervated left kidney, but in the three dogs in which the responses of the right kidney were also tested, the usual responses after denervation of the left kidney were seen. 4. The results show that changes in carotid sinus pressure around the normal range can result in significant reflex effects on renal haemodynamics and function and that these effects are mediated solely by renal sympathetic nerves. The influence of any extrarenal humoral factors seems to be minimal. PMID- 2621596 TI - Rectification of synaptic and acetylcholine currents in the mouse submandibular ganglion cells. AB - 1. Synaptic currents and responses to acetylcholine (ACh) were recorded from mouse submandibular ganglion (SMG) cells under whole-cell voltage clamp. 2. The peak amplitude of excitatory synaptic currents (ESCs) as well as the currents evoked by the ionophoretic application of ACh followed a unique non-linear current-voltage (I-V) relation. The chord conductance of the whole-cell currents decreased with depolarization of the membrane potential and became virtually 0 at 50 mV. 3. The decay of ESCs was described by two exponential functions. Both the fast (tau f) and slow (tau s) time constants were sharply decreased at depolarizing potentials beyond -40 mV, being insensitive to hyperpolarizing potentials more than -50 mV. 4. Single ACh receptor channels were characterized by the whole-cell current noise analysis. The single-channel currents followed Ohm's law at negative membrane potentials but tended to reach a plateau at positive membrane potentials. The mean slope conductance measured between -40 and -20 mV was 28.5 pS. 5. The product of the number of functional channels (N) and the probability of a channel being open (p) showed a steep voltage dependence. The value of Np at 20 mV was only 31% of that at -20 mV. 6. The noise power spectrum was best fitted by a double-Lorentzian function. Both the fast (tau f) and slow (tau s) time constants were sharply decreased by depolarizations beyond 20 mV. being less sensitive to membrane potentials more negative than -30 mV. 7. The non-linear I-V relation of ESCs was attributed in part to the voltage dependence of p and in part to the voltage dependence of the single-channel conductance (gamma) of ACh receptor channels. PMID- 2621597 TI - Differential modulation by pulmonary stretch afferents of some reflex cardioinhibitory responses in the cat. AB - 1. Cats were anaesthetized with a mixture of chloralose and urethane, and were artificially ventilated, the thorax being opened via a medial sternotomy. 2. Various cardiovascular receptors were stimulated during reflex inhibition of the central inspiratory neurones produced by electrical stimulation of both superior laryngeal nerves simultaneously, while the afferent input from the lungs was held constant by temporarily interrupting artificial respiration, the lungs being held static in their expiratory position. 3. Reflex cardioinhibitory responses were elicited by stimulation of (a) the carotid body chemoreceptors by intracarotid injections of cyanide; (b) the arterial baroreflex by controlled elevations of the blood pressure; (c) the carotid sinus baroreceptors by raising the pressure in isolated perfused carotid sinus preparations; (d) cardiac receptors by left atrial injections of veratridine, and (e) pulmonary C fibres (including J receptors) by right atrial injections of phenyl biguanide. 4. The effects of single inflations of the lungs on these reflex cardioinhibitory responses were studied and compared with the effects of the various inputs alone. 5. Stepwise increases in lung volume, while having no consistent effect on arterial blood pressure, progressively diminished the arterial chemoreceptor-induced bradycardia to a value of about 7% of the control response without lung inflation. The pulmonary afferents were less effective on reflex responses from other inputs, the corresponding values being: arterial baroreflex, 66%; carotid baroreceptors, 66%, and cardiac receptors, 70%. These effects of lung inflation were abolished by selective denervation of the lungs. 6. In contrast, the size of the bradycardia evoked by pulmonary C fibre stimulation was, on average, unaffected by inflation of the lungs. In some tests the response was actually increased. 7. The differential modulation by lung inflation of these reflex cardioinhibitory responses were the same after upper thoracic sympathectomy indicating that pulmonary afferents and cardiac efferents involved fibres in the vagus nerves. 8. The possible central mechanisms responsible for the differential modulation by lung inflation of cardioinhibitory reflexes are discussed. PMID- 2621598 TI - Activation and desensitization mechanisms of muscarinic current response in single pancreatic acinar cells of rats. AB - 1. In single, enzymatically dissociated, rat pancreatic acinar cells both ACh stimulation and IP3 (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate) injection can evoke Ca(+) dependent transient current responses. However, exogenously applied IP3 (10 microM) gradually loses its ability to induce the Ca2(+)-dependent response (an increase in [Ca2+]i) during cell incubation with a saline solution. 2. Administration of IP4 (inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, 10 microM) together with the IP3 (the injection of IP3-IP4 mixture) allows partial recovery of the response, but not full replication of the response induced by ACh (0.2 microM). Injection of IP4 alone never induces the current response. 3. The sensitivity of IP3 recovers after short-term administration of ACh (0.2 microM), and in turn, the ACh-induced response is augmented by the presence of internal IP3. These results suggest that a synergism between IP3 and another ACh-induced substance plays an important role in muscarinic Ca2+ signalling. 4. ACh-induced responses are inhibited by pre-incubation (10 min) with an activator of protein kinase C, TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, 16 nM), or augmented by pre-incubation (10 min) with an inhibitor, H-7 (1-(5-isoquinoline-sulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, 10 microM), whilst IP3-induced responses are unaffected by that with both agents. These results indicate that protein kinase C acts negatively on the signalling elements prior to the formation of IP3. 5. The oscillatory responses, induced by cell dialysis with a nominally Ca2(+)-free (ca 1-10 microM) solution containing GTP gamma S (100 microM), are unaffected by the pre-treatment with TPA or H-7. In addition, these responses and/or those triggered by short-term stimulation with ACh and internal GTP gamma S are not influenced by external ACh. On the other hand, the oscillatory responses recorded in acinar cells pre-treated with H-7 are tightly controlled by external ACh. 6. Taken together these results suggest that activation of protein kinase C does not affect the activity of GTP-binding protein, but disconnects the link between the muscarinic ACh receptor and GTP binding protein, or inhibits ACh binding to the receptor, in rat pancreatic acinar cells. PMID- 2621599 TI - Activation of cells in the anterior pretectal nucleus by dorsal column stimulation in the rat. AB - 1. The responses of neurones in the anterior pretectal nucleus (APTN) to electrical stimulation of the dorsal columns at twice the threshold for A fibres were studied in the rat anaesthetized with urethane. 2. APTN cells were excited by dorsal column stimulation. Forty-six discharged phasically in response to a single stimulus. Sixteen cells did not respond phasically but slowly increased the discharge rate with repeated stimulation. 3. Electrical stimulation of the contralateral gracile fasciculus caused neurones in the APTN to discharge with a variable latency of 2-22 ms. Stimulations of the ipsilateral gracile and contralateral cuneate fasciculi had weaker effects. 4. Microinjection of DL homocysteic acid into the contralateral gracile nucleus increased the discharge rate of APTN neurones. Microinjection of gamma-aminobutyric acid into the contralateral gracile nucleus blocked the gracile fasciculus evoked excitation of APTN neurones. 5. On thirteen occasions cells in the gracile nucleus were driven antidromically by electrical stimulation of the APTN. 6. It is concluded that electrical stimulation of the gracile fasciculus activates a monosynaptic excitatory input to the APTN. PMID- 2621600 TI - Antinociceptive effects of dorsal column stimulation in the rat: involvement of the anterior pretectal nucleus. AB - 1. The effects of stimulating A fibres in the dorsal columns on the responses of dorsal horn neurones to intense cutaneous stimuli were studied in the rat anaesthetized with urethane. 2. Multireceptive cells deep in the lumbar dorsal horn were excited for 5-10 ms by dorsal column stimulation and subsequently responses to noxiously hot water placed on the cutaneous receptive field were reduced for the following 4-5 min. Seven of the cells studied projected to the brain via the contralateral anterolateral funiculus. 3. If the discharge of the multireceptive neurones was raised by ionophoretic application of DL-homocysteic acid, a brief period of inhibition lasting for 100-150 ms was seen following a single stimulus to the dorsal columns. Studies were conducted to determine if this brief inhibition could account for the long-lasting inhibition of responses to high-threshold stimuli. 4. Dorsal columns were transected at cervical levels. Stimulation caudal to the transection evoked only the brief excitation and subsequent inhibition for 100-150 ms. No long-lasting inhibition of high threshold cutaneous afferent input was seen. 5. Stimulation of the dorsal columns rostral to transection did not evoke the brief excitation or inhibition of multireceptive dorsal horn neurones. However, the 4-5 min inhibition of responses to high-threshold cutaneous stimuli was present. 6. The long-lasting inhibition of responses to high-threshold stimuli by dorsal column stimulation was blocked by microinjection of gamma-aminobutyric acid into the anterior pretectal nucleus (APTN) but not by microinjections into adjacent areas of the brain. 7. Ipsilateral lesions of the dorsolateral funiculus at the cervical level also blocked the long-lasting inhibitory effects of dorsal column stimulation. 8. It is concluded that the brief excitation and inhibition of multireceptive dorsal horn neurones is due to antidromic action potentials passing caudally in the dorsal columns to activate spinal segmental mechanisms. The longer-lasting inhibition of responses to high-threshold cutaneous stimuli is due to action potentials ascending in the dorsal columns to activate cells in the APTN which in turn activate a descending inhibition mediated by the dorsolateral funiculus. PMID- 2621601 TI - Effects of ouabain on potassium transport and cell volume regulation in rat and rabbit liver. AB - 1. We have examined whether the apparently ouabain-resistant fraction of cellular volume regulation in liver slices under isosmotic conditions is due to a failure of ouabain to cause complete inhibition of the coupled transport of Na+ and K+. The ion and water contents of rat and rabbit liver slices were altered by pre incubation at 1 degree C and then allowed to recover at 38 degrees C, with or without ouabain or other inhibitors. The net movements of ions and water were determined during the recovery. The influx of 86Rb under steady-state conditions was taken as a measure of unidirectional influx of K+. 2. Concentrations of ouabain for half-maximal inhibition of 86Rb influx were 0.15 mM for rat and 0.15 microM for rabbit liver slices, with maximal inhibition at 2 mM and 10 microM respectively. Inhibition of net K+ reaccumulation closely followed inhibition of 86Rb influx. 3. The 86Rb influx persisting in the presence of maximally inhibiting concentrations of ouabain was not reduced by inhibitors of cellular respiration or glycolysis. 4. In rat liver slices, about 50% of net water extrusion was resistant to 2 mM-ouabain; rabbit liver showed a much smaller, but statistically significant, extrusion of water in the presence of 10 microM ouabain. 5. In rat liver slices, a small, net uptake of K+ continued in the presence of amytal alone, when water extrusion was completely inhibited; by contrast, ouabain gave complete inhibition of K+ uptake while permitting 50% of the control water extrusion. 6. Isolated rat hepatocytes in primary culture were pre-incubated at 4 degrees C for 20 h. They recovered their original K+ content within 60 min of restoration to 37 degrees C. Ouabain, 1-2 mM, completely prevented this recovery. 7. The results imply that ouabain completely inhibits the coupled transport of Na+ and K+ in both rat and rabbit liver slices. Thus, the fraction of total water extrusion continuing in the presence of maximally inhibiting concentrations of ouabain is the consequence of a truly ouabain resistant mechanism. PMID- 2621602 TI - Stimulation of chloride secretion by N-formyl-methionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP) in rabbit ileal mucosa. AB - 1. Formyl-methionyl peptides are potent neutrophil chemoattractants which may be involved in inflammatory responses in the intestine. Effects of formyl methionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP) on electrical properties and Cl- fluxes were examined with the Ussing chamber technique employing stripped segments of rabbit ileal mucosa. 2. Serosal but not mucosal addition of FMLP elicited a transient (peak effect within 2 min), concentration-dependent (maximal effect at 30 nM and half-maximal effect at 3 nM) increase in short-circuit current (Isc) which was not inhibited by pretreatment of the tissue with mepyramine (10 microM), tetrodotoxin (0.1 microM) or atropine (10 microM). The related peptides FMLP benzylamide (FMLP-benz) and methionyl-leucylphenylalanine (MLP) produced concentration-dependent increases in Isc which were qualitatively similar to FMLP. The order of potencies of these peptides was FMLP-benz greater than FMLP greater than MLP. 3. The lack of an effect of mucosal FMLP (300 nM) on Isc does not appear to be due to metabolism since addition of an aliquot of this bathing solution to the serosal bathing solution of a naive tissue increased Isc as expected. Addition of FMLP (30 nM) to the serosal bathing solution of a tissue pre-stimulated with serosal FMLP (30 nM) failed to elicit a response. 4. The increase in Isc produced by FMLP (30 nM) was inhibited by removal of Ca2+ from the serosal bathing solution and by removal of Cl- from both bathing solutions. FMLP (30 nM) increased the serosal-to-mucosal flux of Cl- and decreased the transepithelial conductance (Gt). 5. The cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors indomethacin (1 microM), mefenamate (10 microM) or piroxicam (30 microM) added to both the serosal and mucosal bathing solutions inhibited the increase in Isc elicited by FMLP (30 nM). 6. Measurement of release of immunoreactive thromboxane B2, 6-keto PGF1 alpha and PGE2 revealed that FMLP (30 nM) selectively increased PGE2 release by an indomethacin-sensitive pathway. 7. Thus, in addition to being potent chemoattractants, formyl-methionyl peptides stimulate electrogenic Cl- secretion and also increase prostaglandin production. PMID- 2621603 TI - Effects of dehydration and rehydration on thermoregulatory sweating in goats. AB - 1. Measurement of rectal temperature (Tr), sweat rate, respiratory frequency (f) and respiratory evaporation (Eresp) were made in one Nubian and four Alpine Toggenberg goats while they stood for 90 min in a climate chamber at 40 degrees C ambient temperature (Ta). The animals were studied when they were hydrated, when they had been dehydrated by 48 h water deprivation, and when they were rehydrated by voluntary drinking of water or saline or by intraruminal water administration. Plasma osmolality (Posm), plasma protein concentration (PP) and haematocrit (Hct) were measured before every experiment and before and after voluntary drinking. 2. Hydrated animals increased evaporation by panting and sweating during heat exposure and Tr rose about 1 degree C. The rate of sweating was as high or higher than Eresp. Dehydrated animals had lower sweat rates and higher Tr than hydrated animals, but f and Eresp were the same in hydrated and dehydrated animals. 3. When dehydrated goats were allowed to drink after 60 min of heat exposure, sweating began abruptly within 3 min of the start of drinking in every animal whether water or saline was drunk. Sweat rate returned to hydrated levels or higher before any change occurred in Posm, PP or Hct. Respiratory frequency was higher after drinking than in dehydrated animals which were not allowed to drink. 4. When water was administered by rumen tube after 60 min of heat exposure, sweating in the Nubian occurred with a short latency, similar to the onset after drinking. In the other four animals, sweating onset occurred on average at 13 min 42 s after intraruminal water administration. 5. It is concluded that sweating is a significant avenue of evaporative heat loss in these goats when they are hydrated and exposed to high Ta. Sweat rate is markedly reduced after water deprivation but returns to hydrated levels within 3 min after the start of drinking. The rapid recovery of sweating after voluntary drinking is not initiated by changes in Posm or in blood volume and does not appear to depend upon osmoreceptors in the mouth or gastrointestinal tract since it occurs after drinking either water or saline. The arrival of water in the rumen may be sufficient to initiate immediate sweating in some goats, but the act of drinking is necessary in others. PMID- 2621604 TI - Direct evidence of active sympathetic vasodilatation in the skin of the human foot. AB - 1. During operative aorto-femoral vascular reconstructions on sixteen patients, the sympathetic chain was stimulated electrically between the L2 and L4 ganglia while blood flow was monitored by laser doppler flowmeters from the skin on the sole of the foot and the ankle and by an electromagnetic flowmeter from the deep femoral artery. Epidural anaesthesia to at least the T6 level was used which excluded reflex effects. 2. Stimulation (10 Hz) at 1-12 mA current strengths for 30 s evoked both reductions and increases of blood flow in glabrous and hairy skin. Initial short-lasting flow increases (durations 9-19 s) followed by sustained decreases were common: sometimes there were sustained flow increases at low and decreases at high current strengths. 3. In the deep femoral artery (supplying predominantly muscle) only flow reductions were evoked. 4. The results provide evidence for sympathetically mediated vasodilatation in the skin of the human foot whereas leg muscles may be supplied by vasoconstrictor nerves only. PMID- 2621605 TI - Slow inward tail currents in rabbit cardiac cells. AB - 1. A whole-cell gigaseal suction microelectrode voltage-clamp technique has been used to study slow inward tail currents in single myocytes obtained by enzymatic dispersion of rabbit ventricle and atrium. A variety of stimulation protocols, Tyrode solutions and pharmacological agents have been used to test three hypotheses: (a) that the slow inward tail current is generated by an electrogenic Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger; (b) that a rise in [Ca2+]i, due to release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum can modulate the activity of this exchanger; and (c) that the uptake of calcium by the sarcoplasmic reticulum is a major determinant of the time course of the tail current. 2. As shown previously in amphibian atrium and guinea-pig ventricle, slow inward tail currents can be observed consistently under conditions in which action potentials and ionic currents are recorded using microelectrode constituents which only minimally disturb the intracellular milieu. 3. In ventricular cells, the envelope of these tail currents obtained by varying the duration of the preceding depolarizations shows that (a) the tail currents are activated by pulses as short as 10 ms, and reach a maximum for pulse durations of 100-200 ms, (b) the rate of decay of the tail current gradually increases as the activating depolarizations are prolonged, and (c) the tails cannot be due to deactivation of calcium currents, in agreement with other studies in frog heart. 4. When the mean level of [Ca2+]i is raised following inhibition of the Na(+)-K+ pump by strophanthidin (10(-5) M) or reductions in [K+]o (0.5 mM), the slow inward tail grows in size prior to the onset of a contracture or other signs of calcium-induced toxicity. 5. In a number of different preparations, replacement of [Ca2+]o with BaCl2 markedly or completely inhibits the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger, whereas Sr2+ replacement does not have this effect. In myocytes from rabbit ventricle the slow inward tails are reduced significantly and decay more slowly in 0.5-2.2 mM-BaCl2 Tyrode solution, while in 2.2 mM SrCl2 these tails are not altered. 6. The slow inward tail also shows a dependence on [K+]o, corresponding to previous data on Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange in other tissues. Increasing [K+]o in the Tyrode solution to a final concentration of 10-15 mM results in a marked inhibition of the slow tails. This effect cannot be accounted for by changes in the inwardly rectifying potassium current, IK1. 7. The slow tail currents were changed significantly by increasing the temperature of the superfusing Tyrode solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2621606 TI - Comparison of sodium-calcium exchanger and transient inward currents in single cells from rabbit ventricle. AB - 1. Whole-cell voltage-clamp measurements have been made in rabbit ventricular myocytes under conditions in which both Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger currents (IEX, slow tails) and transient inward currents (ITI or TI) can be recorded. A number of experimental manoeuvres have been used in an attempt to separate or dissociate these two currents. 2. As expected, partial inhibition of the Na(+)-K+ pump by application of 0.54 mM [K+] Tyrode solution or 10(-5) M-strophanthidin induced TI currents which were recorded in the presence of IEX slow tails. 3. Complete inhibition of the Na(+)-K+ pump with zero [K+] Tyrode solution resulted in larger and more frequent TIs but smaller IEX tails. 4. A somewhat similar dissociation between ITI and IEX was observed when NaCl was reduced to 37.5 mM by using LiCl to replace NaCl. This inhibited the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger current, but induced ITI. 5. Transient inward currents and IEX tails could also be separated by selected patterns of stimulation (voltage-clamp depolarizations): following the second pulse of a pair of stimuli, IEX was significantly reduced whereas the TIs increased in size and frequency. 6. Additional experimental tests involving changes in external divalent ions could also separate these two currents. Increasing [Ca2+]o 3-fold increased the TIs without changing IEX. Shortly after [Ca2+]o was replaced with either [Ba2+]o or [Sr2+]o the TIs were blocked but IEX was unchanged. Application of MnCl2 (1 mM) and elevation of [K+]o inhibited IEX but did not significantly change the TI currents. 7. Application of caffeine (5 10 mM) or ryanodine (2 x 10(-6) M) blocked the TI currents at times when the IEX tails were not changed. 8. In combination these results suggest that even though both IEX and ITI are triggered (activated) by increases in [Ca2+]i, these two currents are distinct. IEX is generated by electrogenic Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange, while the TI currents may be due to Ca2(+)-activated cation-selective channels in the sarcolemma. PMID- 2621607 TI - Electrical behaviour of myenteric neurones in the gastric corpus of the guinea pig. AB - 1. Electrical behaviour of ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus of the guinea pig stomach was investigated using intracellular recording methods. 2. Three subpopulations were identified and classified for convenience of discussion as gastric I, II and III neurones. Gastric I neurones were characterized by repetitive spike discharge during depolarizing current pulses and by higher input resistance than the other types. Gastric II neurones discharged one or two spikes only at the onset of long-lasting depolarizing current pulses. Gastric III neurones did not discharge spikes to depolarizing current pulses and had higher membrane potentials and lower input resistances than the other types. Non stimulus evoked discharge ('spontaneous' discharge) did not occur in any of the neurones. 3. Resting membrane potentials were generated primarily by resting K+ conductance, but were smaller than the estimated K+ equilibrium potential. Analysis based on the constant field equation predicted lower K+ conductance in gastric I than in gastric III neurones. 4. Action potentials in gastric I and II neurones were suppressed or blocked by tetrodotoxin. Spikes that were broadened by tetraethylammonium appeared to have an inward component of Ca2+ current. 5. Hyperpolarizing after-potentials were associated with the spikes of both kinds of neurones. These after-potentials had much shorter duration (less than 300 ms) than the post-spike hyperpolarization of AH/type 2 intestinal neurones and unlike intestinal neurones there was no latency between the positive after-potential of the spike and the onset of the hyperpolarization. After-hyperpolarization in the gastric neurones was enhanced when the spikes were broadened by tetraethylammonium and was suppressed by removal of Ca2+ from the bathing solution. 6. Treatment with either tetraethylammonium or 4-aminopyridine enhanced excitability and induced 'spontaneously' occurring repetitive spike discharge. 7. The electrophysiological behaviour of gastric myenteric neurones differed significantly from intestinal neurones. This was interpreted as specialization of the neural networks that control and co-ordinate the activity of vastly different effector systems in the two regions of the alimentary canal. PMID- 2621608 TI - Synaptic behaviour of myenteric neurones in the gastric corpus of the guinea-pig. AB - 1. Synaptic behaviour of ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus of the corpus of the guinea-pig stomach was investigated using intracellular recording methods. Synaptic potentials were evoked by focal electrical stimulation of interganglionic fibre tracts or the surface of the ganglion containing the cell body from which the recording was obtained. 2. Fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) mediated by nicotinic cholinergic receptors were the most common stimulus-evoked or spontaneously occurring synaptic events. 3. Fast EPSPs were evoked in every neurone and most neurones received multiple inputs from axons arriving in several different interganglionic fibre tracts. Several neurones received input from multiple axons in individual fibre tracts. 4. Fast EPSPs were evoked at stimulus frequencies up to 80 Hz without evidence of the 'run-down' phenomenon that characterizes fast EPSPs in the intestine. 5. Trains of EPSPs in the ganglion cell soma occurred with relatively long latencies following spike discharge evoked by intracellular current injection in the same neurone. This appeared to reflect return of excitatory synaptic input to the soma along recurrent connections within the synaptic network. 6. The safety factor for fast EPSPs to evoke spike discharge was highest for gastric I neurones. Probability of fast EPSPs triggering spikes was intermediate in neurones classified electrophysiologically as gastric II and was lowest in gastric III neurones, which never discharged spikes during a fast EPSP. 7. No slow excitatory or inhibitory synaptic potentials, like those found in intestinal ganglion cells, were evoked in gastric neurones by focal stimulation of the fibre tracts. 8. The results suggest that myenteric neurones in the gastric corpus of the guinea-pig have distinctive synaptic behaviour different from intestinal neurones in the same animal. This may be a reflection of adaptation for neural control of the specialized function of the effector systems in this region of the stomach. PMID- 2621609 TI - Intracellular Ca2+ transients during rapid cooling contractures in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. AB - 1. We measured intracellular Ca2+ transients during rapid cooling contractures (RCCs) in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator, Indo-1. 2. Rapid cooling of myocytes from 22 to 0-1 degrees C induced a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i which preceded the peak of the contraction and was sometimes large enough to saturate Indo-1. This indicates that [Ca2+]i may reach greater than 10 microM during an RCC. 3. The [Ca2+]i during the RCC slowly declined from its peak value and most of this decline in [Ca2+]i can be attributed to slow reaccumulation of Ca2+ by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in the cold. RCCs induced in the absence of Cao2+, were not different from control, supporting previous conclusions that RCCs depend exclusively on intracellular Ca2+ stores. 4. RCCs are depressed by long rest periods (rest decay) or by exposure to ryanodine or caffeine, which supports conclusions that RCCs are due to Ca2+ release from the SR. The rest decay of RCCs can be almost completely prevented by applying Nao(+)-free solution during the rest period. This implies that the loss of SR Ca2+ during rest depends on the sarcolemmal Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange (and not the sarcolemmal Ca2(+)-ATPase pump). 5. Rapid rewarming during an RCC normally leads to an additional transient contraction (or rewarming spike), without any increase in [Ca2+]i. Thus, the rewarming spike might be attributable to an increase in myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity induced by rewarming. 6. A second RCC is used to assess the fraction of Ca2+ which is re-sequestered by the SR during relaxation from the first RCC. In control solution progressive RCCs decline in amplitude, but in Na(+)-free, Ca2(+)-free solution they are of constant amplitude. We conclude that the SR Ca2+ pump and Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange are responsible for relaxation and that the latter may account for 20-50% of relaxation. 7. These results support the use of RCCs as a useful means of assessing SR Ca2+ content in intact cardiac muscle cells. PMID- 2621610 TI - Cross-bridge movement in rat cardiac muscle as a function of calcium concentration. AB - 1. By applying the X-ray diffraction method to chemically skinned papillary muscles of the rat, the transfer of myosin heads from the thick to the thin filaments was studied as a function of Ca2+ concentration. 2. No significant transfer of the heads occurred when the Ca2+ concentration was below the threshold of contraction (pCa 6.2). 3. During the maximum isometric contraction at pCa 4.4, 80% of the myosin heads were transferred to the thin filament. 4. When the muscle was activated isometrically at low Ca2+ concentrations (pCa 6.2 5.8), where the average tension was less than 20% of the maximum, a disproportionately large number of myosin heads were transferred to the thin filament. 5. It was concluded that a significant fraction of the heads transferred at the low Ca2+ concentrations does not produce tension. PMID- 2621611 TI - Sympathetic nerves in the mediation of renal response to localized stimulation of atrial receptors in anaesthetized dogs. AB - 1. Dogs were anaesthetized with chloralose and artificially ventilated. Localized stimulation of left atrial receptors for 23-25 min was achieved by distension of three small balloons at the pulmonary vein-atrial junctions and one in atrial appendage. Renal blood flows were measured by electromagnetic flow probes, glomerular filtration rate by creatinine clearance, urinary sodium excretion by flame photometry and solute excretion by osmometry. The mean aortic pressure was held constant at 92.2 +/- 2.4 mmHg (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 27) by means of a pressure bottle connected to the aorta and beta-adrenergic receptor activity was blocked by continuous infusion of propranolol (17 micrograms kg-1 min-1, I.V.). 2. In twelve dogs stimulation of left atrial receptors resulted in significant increases of 11.8 +/- 2.4% (P less than 0.001) in renal blood flow; 32.5 +/- 7.2% (P less than 0.001) in glomerular filtration rate; 19.5 +/- 5.0% (P less than 0.005) in filtration fraction: 36.3 +/- 9.0% (P less than 0.001) in urine flow: 32.7 +/- 9.2% (P less than 0.005) in sodium excretion: 36.6 +/- 9.9% (P less than 0.005) in osmolar excretion and a decrease of 31.3 +/- 11.2% (P less than 0.025) in free water clearance. Left atrial pressure and heart rate did not change significantly. In eight of the dogs ligation of the renal nerves resulted in similar changes in all of the renal variables; subsequent stimulation of atrial receptors did not cause significant changes in the renal variables. 3. In five additional dogs, in which heart rate and aortic pressure were allowed to change, stimulation of left atrial receptors for the same period resulted in significant increases in heart rate (4.3 +/- 0.7%. P less than 0.001) and mean aortic pressure (2.0 +/- 0.6%, P less than 0.025). Under this condition both the intact right kidneys and the denervated left kidneys showed significant responses in urine flow, sodium excretion, osmolar excretion and free water clearance. 4. The results show that the renal sympathetic nerves mediate the primary renal responses to atrial receptor stimulation, at least in the short term. The influence of any humoral factor in this reflex seems to be secondary to changes in heart rate and systemic blood pressure, possibly via arterial baroreceptors. PMID- 2621612 TI - The monosynaptic excitatory connections of single trigeminal interneurones to the V motor nucleus of the rat. AB - 1. We have used the extracellular spike-triggered averaging method to identify a population of trigeminal interneurones that make monosynaptic connections within the V motor nucleus. The experiments were performed on rats anaesthetized with pentobarbitone (60 mg/kg I.V.; supplementary doses given as necessary to maintain a deep level of anaesthesia). 2. A tungsten microelectrode (tip exposure of some 200 microns) was inserted into the masseter motoneurone pool to allow recording of extracellular activity. A glass electrode filled with DL-homocysteic acid was used to make simultaneous extracellular recordings of the firing of single neurones in the region immediately caudal to the motor nucleus. 3. Fifty-eight out of 166 interneurones tested gave unitary extracellular fields in the motor nucleus. The responses consisted of a terminal spike (presynaptic spike) followed by a negative field of duration approximately 3 ms and amplitude 0.4-10.8 microV. The mean latency between the positive peak of the terminal spike and the onset of the field (synaptic delay) was 0.43 ms (S.D. = 0.10 ms), and the mean latency from the onset of the interneurone spike to the positive peak of the presynaptic spike was 0.35 ms (S.D. = 0.22 ms). Thus the interneurones project directly to the motor nucleus where they then make monosynaptic connections. 4. The negative extracellular fields were taken to reflect an excitatory synaptic input onto neurones within the motor nucleus. The fields were of maximum amplitude at the point of maximum masseter motoneurone antidromic field, suggesting that the connection may be onto elevator motoneurones. 5. The location of the interneurone appeared to the main factor governing the likelihood of obtaining a field. Interneurones located more than 400 microns from the caudal border of the motor nucleus rarely produced fields whereas most of those located within this distance gave fields. This pattern of distribution is strikingly similar to that of trigeminal interneurones labelled by the transneuronal transport of wheatgerm agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase after an intramuscular injection of the tracer into the masseter muscle. We suggest that this provides electrophysiological support for the suggestion that the tracer does indeed label interneurones by means of retrograde transsynaptic transport. PMID- 2621613 TI - Task-dependent changes in cutaneous reflexes recorded from various muscles controlling finger movement in man. AB - 1. Cutaneous reflex responses have been recorded from muscles involved in the control of finger movement following electrical stimulation of the digital nerves of the fingers in man. 2. Recordings have been made while subjects performed various manual tasks. 3. Reflexes recorded while subjects performed a relatively isolated finger movement consisted of an initial short-latency increase in muscle electrical activity, followed by a decrease, followed by a prominent longer latency increase. The long-latency excitatory component was smaller or absent during those grips used in the present study. 4. The short-latency excitatory (E1) and inhibitory (I1) components of the cutaneomuscular reflex response are mediated via spinal pathways. The second longer-latency excitatory component (E2) is of supraspinal origin, requiring the integrity of the dorsal columns, sensorimotor cortex and corticospinal tract (Jenner & Stephens, 1982). The results of the present study suggest that one or more of these supraspinal pathways is more active when a finger is used in a relatively isolated manner than when the same finger participates in any of the gripping manoeuvres used in the present experiments. PMID- 2621614 TI - Task-dependent changes in the size of response to magnetic brain stimulation in human first dorsal interosseous muscle. AB - 1. Electromyographic responses have been recorded from human first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) in response to magnetic and transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the brain. 2. Following magnetic but not electrical stimulation of the brain, the recorded EMG response was larger when FDI was active during voluntary isometric index finger abduction than during a power grip. 3. In the same experiment, cutaneous reflex responses have been recorded from FDI following electrical stimulation of the digital nerves. The long-latency excitatory component at about 60 ms (E2) was larger when recorded during voluntary finger abduction than during a power grip. This difference in size of E2 with task bore no simple relationship to the difference in size with task of the motor response to magnetic brain stimulation. 4. The results are discussed in relation to the presumed site of action of magnetic and electrical brain stimulation. It is concluded that the results may best be interpreted by assuming a higher level of cortical activity during a voluntary index finger abduction than during a grip and that this could in part explain the task-dependent changes in the long latency response to cutaneous stimulation. PMID- 2621615 TI - The effect of loading on position sense at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the human index finger. AB - 1. Proprioceptive acuity was tested at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the index finger of normal subjects. 2. Examination of the ability of the subjects to match finger positions (position matching procedure) revealed that digital nerve block (DNB) of the finger resulted in characteristic alignment errors at the extremes in all subjects. 3. When one finger (target finger) is positioned close to full extension, all subjects hyperextended the anaesthetized matching finger, whilst target finger positioning towards full flexion resulted in hyperflexion of the matching finger. At intermediate positions the pattern of matching errors was more variable but tended to be consistent for a given subject. 4. When the matching finger was isotonically loaded into flexion, there was little change in matching performance for most subjects. However, when the matching finger was anaesthetized, such loading now produced clear alteration in performance in all subjects. This indicates that muscle receptors contribute to proprioceptive sensations at this joint, but require other afferent sources to optimally resolve position when the finger is loaded. 5. Two other test procedures (angle reproduction and assigned positions) were assessed and compared with the results obtained by the position matching technique. Although alterations in proprioceptive performance during DNB could be detected with these procedures, they tended to be less sensitive than the position matching procedure. PMID- 2621616 TI - Effect of intracellular and extracellular pH on contraction in isolated, mammalian cardiac muscle. AB - 1. Intracellular pH (pHi) and Na+ activity were recorded (ion-selective microelectrodes) in guinea-pig papillary muscle and the sheep cardiac Purkinje fibre while simultaneously recording twitch tension. The effects of intracellular acidosis and alkalosis upon contraction were investigated. 2. A fall of pHi produced by reducing pHo was associated with a fall of twitch tension. Similarly, a rise of pHi produced by raising pHo produced a rise of twitch tension. The time course of the changes in tension correlated with the time course of changes of pHi rather than pHo. These results are consistent with previous work showing that acidosis inhibits contraction and that the inhibition depends upon a fall of pHi. 3. Changes of pHi were produced while maintaining pHo constant at 7.4. Removal of NH4Cl or addition of sodium acetate (pHo 7.4) reduced pHi but this gave either an increase of tension (papillary muscle) or an initial fall followed by a subsequent recovery of tension (Purkinje fibre). The increase or recovery of tension occurred despite the fact that there was an intracellular acid load. Thus, reducing pHi at constant pHo can increase tension whereas reducing pHi at low pHo (6.4, see paragraph 2) inhibits tension. 4. The increase of recovery of tension during intracellular acidosis produced at a constant pHo (7.4) was associated with a rise of intracellular sodium activity (aiNa). Amiloride (1.5 mmol/l), an inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange, prevented the rise of aiNa during intracellular acidosis and also prevented the recovery of tension. It is concluded that the increase or recovery of tension at low pHi is secondary to a rise of aiNa caused by stimulation of Na(+)-H+ exchange. A rise of aiNa will elevate Ca2+ via sarcolemmal Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange and thus will elevate tension. 5. An intracellular acidosis produced by reducing pHo (6.4) does not elevate aiNa in the Purkinje fibre. In papillary muscle, aiNa rises but this occurs slowly and the rise is 50% smaller than that seen when the same intracellular acidosis is induced at normal pHo (7.4). The net depression of tension under these conditions thus correlates with the lack of a large rise of aiNa. 6. Knowing the quantitative dependence of tension upon both aiNa and pHi in the two tissues it is possible to predict the recovery of twitch tension during intracellular acidosis at constant pHo (7.4), using the changes of pHi and aiNa measured under these conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2621617 TI - Differing control of neural activities during various portions of expiration in the cat. AB - 1. Activities of the phrenic nerve, intercostal nerve and nerves innervating the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle of the larynx and triangularis sterni (TS) muscle of the chest wall were recorded in decerebrate, vagotomized, paralysed and ventilated cats. 2. Neural inspiration was defined by the phase of phrenic activity. Neural expiration was divided into two phases with phase I corresponding to the duration of TA activity and phase II to TS activity: intercostal nerves discharged across both phases. 3. Phrenic activity was terminated prematurely by electrical stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve or of the dorsolateral region of the rostral pons. Following stimulation, neural activities during phase I of expiration rose and those during phase II fell in most animals. 4. Stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve during phase I caused augmentations of both TA and TS activity. At the termination of stimulation, a phase of TA discharge was recorded followed by a phase of TS activity. The durations of these post-stimulation phases of TA and TS activities approximated those of cycles without stimulation. 5. Stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve during phase II caused a resetting of neural expiration. Following stimulation, phases of TA and TS activity were recorded which had durations approximating those of cycles without stimulation. 6. The current required to induce a premature onset of phrenic activity by stimulation of the dorsolateral region of the rostral pons fell dramatically with the change from phase I to phase II of expiration. 7. We conclude that the control of neural activities differs markedly between phase I and phase II of expiration. The data support the hypothesis that post-inspiratory medullary respiratory neurones play a fundamental role in the definition of the ventilatory cycle. PMID- 2621618 TI - Sodium depletion decreases hepatic metabolism of vasoactive intestinal peptide in the rabbit. AB - 1. Reports that a greater natriuresis occurs after gastric rather than intravenous sodium loads suggest that a gastric sodium monitor exists which releases a humoral natriuretic factor. As vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is natriuretic, it might act as this mediator. To determine whether it released from the gut in response to sodium we measured VIP levels in portal and systemic plasma of anaesthetized rabbits after a gastric sodium load. Levels of VIP in systemic plasma were also measured in conscious rabbits after gastric and portal sodium loads to determine the contributions of anaesthesia or increased sodium concentration in the portal tract to any observed rise in systemic VIP levels. 2. In the anaesthetized rabbit study portal and systemic VIP levels had both increased significantly from control values by 5 min after the sodium load in the low salt diet group (P less than 0.025, portal: P less than 0.05, systemic). By 10 min the levels in systemic and portal plasma were equal. 3. In the conscious rabbits an increase in systemic VIP levels was observed in the group on a low salt diet after a gastric but not a portal sodium load. 4. We conclude that VIP is released in response to gastric sodium loads in rabbits on low salt diets and that hepatic metabolism of VIP is reduced in this group. PMID- 2621619 TI - Cerebral regulation of renal sodium excretion in sheep infused intravenously with hypertonic NaCl. AB - 1. The natriuretic response to intravenous infusion of 2 M-NaCl was investigated in six conscious sheep. This hypertonic NaCl load resulted in relatively small, physiological (2-3 mmol l-1) increases in plasma Na+ concentration and was followed by a natriuresis with a maximum mean urinary sodium excretion 5 times higher than pre-infusion values. 2. Intravenous infusion of isotonic NaCl, delivering the same Na+ load as hypertonic NaCl infusion, did not induce natriuresis. This suggested, therefore, that with the hypertonic sodium load administered in the present study, the rise in plasma Na+ and/or tonicity rather than increase in blood volume is important in evoking the natriuretic response. 3. Intracerebroventricular infusion of low-Na+ artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reduced CSF Na+ concentration, decreased plasma vasopressin (AVP) levels and caused a copious water diuresis. This was associated with excessive loss of water and large increases in plasma Na+ concentration and osmolality. 4. The natriuresis induced by intravenous hypertonic NaCl load could be blocked by lowering CSF Na+ concentration in situations where water diuresis was either prevented or reduced by intravenous infusion of AVP or by delayed intracerebroventricular infusion of low-Na+ CSF, respectively. 5. The results of the present study provide further evidence that renal sodium excretion can be controlled by the central nervous system. PMID- 2621620 TI - Two components of potassium current activated by depolarization of single smooth muscle cells from the rabbit portal vein. AB - 1. Using the patch-clamp technique at 20-23 degrees C membrane currents were recorded from single smooth muscle cells enzymatically isolated from the rabbit portal vein. Single-channel currents were observed in outside-out patches excised from these. 2. Outward current elicited upon depolarization from -70 mV was not activated as a result of Ca2+ influx. It could be divided into two components: an inactivating, 4-aminopyridine- and phencyclidine-sensitive low-noise current (IdK), and a non-inactivating, tetraethylammonium (TEA)- and charybdotoxin sensitive high-noise current (IcK). 3. IdK activated with a threshold around -40 mV and was carried by K+. It was substantially inhibited by 4-aminopyridine (5 mM) or phencyclidine (0.1 mM) but was insensitive to TEA+ (4 mM), charybdotoxin (0.1 microM) or apamin (0.1 microM). Upon stepping to 0 mV it reached a maximum within about 0.2 s. The time course of its activation could be described by a fourth-order single exponential; the time constants of these exponentials changed e-fold every 56 mV. It inactivated in a time- and voltage-dependent manner with a fast and slow component, and was about 50% available at -30 mV. From single channel recordings in isolated patches single channels underlying this current have a small unitary conductance (around 5 pS). 4. IcK did not inactivate significantly over 6 s. It activated with a less negative threshold than IdK, usually near 0 mV when the pipette solution contained 0.8 mM-EGTA with no added calcium. It was blocked by TEA (4 mM) or charybdotoxin (0.1 microM), but not by 4 aminopyridine (5 mM), phencyclidine (0.1 mM) or apamin (0.1 microM). Estimates of the single-channel conductance from the noise variance of the whole-cell current IcK indicated a value at +80 mV of 115 pS, very similar to that of the large conductance Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels studied in these cells using single channel recording. 5. The results suggest that outward current evoked by depolarization from the resting potential can be carried by 100 pS Ca2(+) activated K+ channels and by small-conductance delayed-rectifier K+ channels. It is likely that opening of both types of channel contributes to the repolarization phase of the action potential in this smooth muscle. PMID- 2621621 TI - Changes in force and intracellular metabolites during fatigue of human skeletal muscle. AB - 1. The relationship between intracellular metabolites and the generation of force during fatigue has been examined in the first dorsal interosseous muscle of the hand. With the arm made ischaemic, the muscle was fatigued by three bouts of maximal voluntary contraction, leaving approximately three minutes ischaemic rest between contractions. During one series of experiments intracellular phosphorus metabolites were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance during the intervals between the fatiguing contractions: in the second series contractile properties were tested with brief electrical stimulation during the rest intervals. 2. The relationships between loss of force and change in metabolite concentrations obtained with four normal subjects were compared with those from one subject with myophosphorylase deficiency (MPD) who could not utilize muscle glycogen and therefore produced no hydrogen ion from glycolysis during exercise. 3. For both the MPD and normal subjects the relationship between relative force loss and inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentration was curvilinear, force changing little in the early stages of the contraction when the intracellular Pi was accumulating rapidly but falling faster when the Pi was above 25 mM and increasing relatively slowly. 4. In the normal subjects intracellular pH fell from a mean of 7.03 +/- 0.01 (mean +/- S.E. of mean, n = 19) in the fresh muscle to 6.51 +/- 0.02 at the end of the fatiguing exercise; force, as a percentage of the initial value, fell in proportion to the increase in H+ concentration. In the MPD subject pH did not change and force loss was therefore independent of H+ accumulation. In the normal subjects the force of the fatiguing muscle showed an approximately linear relationship with the concentration of the monobasic form of inorganic phosphate. However, the MPD subject showed a quite different relationship, with force loss being much greater for a given concentration of monobasic phosphate. This result indicates that monobasic phosphate is not a unique determinant of force loss in fatigued muscle. 5. During the first 60 s of recovery in the normal subjects, pH remained low while force recovered, indicating a mechanism of force loss that was independent of H+ accumulation. However, the recovery of force was not complete, so that for comparable phosphocreatine contents the recovering, more acid, muscle generated less force than the muscle that was being fatigued. It was estimated that H(+)-dependent and independent mechanisms contributed roughly equally to the observed force loss. The relationship between force and the concentration of monobasic phosphate differed in fatiguing and recovering muscle. PMID- 2621622 TI - The metabolic causes of slow relaxation in fatigued human skeletal muscle. AB - 1. The relationship between slowing of relaxation and changes of intracellular pH and phosphorous metabolites has been examined in human skeletal muscle during the development of fatigue and subsequent recovery. Results obtained with normal subjects have been compared with those from a subject with myophosphorylase deficiency (MPD) who produced no H+ from glycolysis during exercise and therefore afforded the opportunity of assessing the role of H+ in the slowing of relaxation. 2. Subjects fatigued the first dorsal interosseous muscle in a stepwise fashion under ischaemic conditions, with intervals between the fatiguing contractions during which the relaxation rate was measured from brief tetanic contractions and the muscle phosphorous metabolites and pH were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. 3. After 21 s maximal voluntary contraction under ischaemic conditions, relaxation in the MPD subject slowed to approximately 50% of the rate in the fresh muscle at a time when the intramuscular pH had not changed. This demonstrates that there is a mechanism causing slowing of relaxation that is independent of H+ accumulation. 4. The normal subjects showed a slow recovery of relaxation compared to the MPD subject when the circulation was restored. The main difference in the intracellular metabolite concentrations between MPD and normal subjects at this time was that, for the latter, the pH remained low (around 6.5) for at least 60 s after the circulation was restored. The results suggest that the slow recovery is a consequence of continuing acidosis, i.e. the existence of a pH-dependent mechanism of slowing. 5. The existence of a pH-dependent mechanism was further indicated by the fact that for the normal subjects, for a similar intracellular concentration of phosphocreatine, relaxation of the recovering muscle was approximately half that of the fatiguing muscle. This was at a time when the pH of the recovering muscle was 0.3-0.4 units less than in the partially fatigued muscle. 6. The results show that in normal muscle there are at least two processes that lead to slow relaxation in fatigued muscle: one due to H+ accumulation, the other being independent of H+. PMID- 2621623 TI - Voltage-activated currents recorded from rabbit pigmented ciliary body epithelial cells in culture. AB - 1. The whole-cell recording mode of the patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the presence of voltage-activated currents in the isolated pigmented cells from the rabbit ciliary body epithelium grown in culture. 2. In Ringer solution with composition similar to that of the rabbit aqueous humour, depolarizing voltage steps activated a transient inward current and a delayed outward current, while hyperpolarization elicited an inwardly rectified current. 3. The depolarization-activated inward current was mainly carried by Na+ and was blocked by submicromolar concentrations of tetrodotoxin. This current in many cells was sufficiently large to produce a regenerative Na+ spike. 4. The depolarization-activated outward current was carried by K+ and blocked by external TEA and Ba2+. Its activation appeared to be Ca2(+)-independent. 5. The hyperpolarization-activated inward current was almost exclusively carried by K+ and was blocked by Ba2+ and Cs+. For large hyperpolarizations below -120 mV, this current exhibited a biphasic activation with a fast transient peak followed by a slower sag, that appeared to be due to K+ depletion. 6. The voltage-dependent K+ conductances probably act to stabilize the cell membrane resting potential and may also play a role in ion transport. The function of the Na(+)-dependent inward current is unclear, but it may permit the electrically coupled epithelial cells of the ciliary body to conduct propagated action potentials. PMID- 2621624 TI - Respiratory responses to sustained isometric muscle contractions in man: the effect of muscle mass. AB - 1. Respiratory responses to sustained isometric contractions of a small mass of muscle (the finger flexors) during handgripping, and of a larger mass of muscle (the quadriceps) during extension of the leg at the knee, have been studied in man. 2. For both masses of muscle the increases of ventilation and of oxygen consumption were greater for contractions at 40% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) than for contractions at 20% MVC. 3. The increase of ventilation was not related to the mass of muscle involved. 4. At 20% MVC oxygen consumption during contraction of the quadriceps was greater than that during handgripping. At 40% MVC the oxygen consumptions were similar. The oxygen debts following both handgrip and knee extensor contractions at 20% MVC were negligible. Following 40% MVC contractions of the quadriceps a significant oxygen debt was recorded but no debt was apparent following 40% MVC contractions of the finger flexors. 5. The increases of ventilation during isometric exercise were generally inappropriately high for the increases of gas exchange. This led to reductions of the end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PET,CO2), especially towards the end of exercise. 6. Following 40% MVC handgripping hyperventilation continued despite the reduced alveolar PCO2. By contrast, following 40% MVC knee extension PET,CO2 transiently rose above the resting level, but did not stimulate ventilation. 7. It appears that following fatiguing isometric contractions hyperventilation continues and appears to be independent of alveolar PCO2. It is suggested that stimuli which increase ventilation during exercise may continue to act during the early phase of recovery. PMID- 2621625 TI - Autonomic nervous control of nasal vasculature and airflow resistance in the anaesthetized dog. AB - 1. In pentobarbitone-anaesthetized dogs with constant-flow vascular perfusion of nasal mucosa on both sides, nasal airway resistance, vascular resistance, vascular capacitance (via changes in total venous outflow) and blood flow in the anterior and posterior venous systems were measured. 2. Electrical stimulation of the cut peripheral ends of the cervical sympathetic trunk, caudal nasal nerve, or major palatine nerve increased vascular resistance and decreased vascular capacitance and airway resistance. Propranolol and atropine had no effect on the responses while bretylium completely abolished them; phentolamine greatly lessened the vascular resistance response and partially decreased the vascular capacitance and airway responses. Hence, sympathetic stimulation causes constriction of the resistance vessels via alpha-adrenergic mechanism and constriction of capacitance vessels via alpha-adrenergic as well as some non adrenergic and non-cholinergic mechanisms. 3. Denervation of the cervical sympathetic trunk, caudal nasal nerve and major palatine nerve decreased nasal vascular resistance and increased vascular capacitance and airway resistance, suggesting tonic sympathetic discharge to nasal mucosa via caudal nasal and major palatine nerves. 4. Electrical stimulation of the nerve of pterygoid canal decreased vascular resistance but increased vascular capacitance (in the posterior venous system) and airway resistance to low-voltage stimulation (below 10 V), and decreased vascular capacitance (in the anterior venous system) and airway resistance to high-voltage stimulation (above 10 V). Hexamethonium reversed the vascular resistance response as well as vascular capacitance and airway responses to high-voltage stimulation. Bretylium and phentolamine enhanced the vascular resistance response and reversed vascular capacitance and airway resistance responses to high-voltage stimulation. Hence, low-voltage stimulation results in parasympathetic dilatation of resistance and capacitance vessels whereas high-voltage stimulation results in parasympathetic dilatation of resistance vessels and sympathetic constriction of capacitance vessels. The parasympathetic vasodilatation was atropine resistance and the sympathetic vasoconstriction was partially via alpha-adrenergic mechanisms. 5. Denervation of the nerve of pterygoid canal did not affect vascular resistance, vascular capacitance or airway resistance suggesting negligible tonic parasympathetic and sympathetic discharges to nasal blood vessels via the nerve. 6. Simultaneous optimal stimulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves resulted in vasoconstriction, especially in capacitance vessels, suggesting sympathetic predominance over parasympathetic control. PMID- 2621626 TI - Chloride and bicarbonate transport in fetal red cells. AB - 1. Chloride (JCl) and bicarbonate (JHCO3) self-exchange flux in fetal human red cells was studied at 0-38 degrees C as 36Cl- and [14C]HCO3- efflux. 2. Both at 0 and 38 degrees C JCl showed a bell-shaped pH dependence with a broad maximum at pH 7-8. JCl was 99.7% inhibited by the binding of 1.1 x 10(6) 4,4' diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonate (DIDS) molecules per cell membrane. 3. By raising the temperature from 0 to 38 degrees C JCl, at external concentration (C0) = 150 mM, increased about 200 times to 5 x 10(-8) mol/(cm2 s), the half-time of the tracer efflux being 80 ms at 38 degrees C and pH 7.2. Under conditions where Co = (110 mM-Cl- + 25 mM-HCO3-), JCl also increased by about 200 times, while JHCO3 increased only about 100 times, as temperature was raised from 0 to 38 degrees C. 4. The apparent activation energy (EA) of Janion was not constant, but increased gradually with decreasing temperature. Assuming that the change of EA with temperature consists of two components JCl, under both experimental conditions, had average values of EA = 117-120 under and EA = 73-78 kJ/mol above a 'breaking' point at 15-20 degrees C, while JHCO3 showed an EA = 100 below and EA = 48 kJ/mol above 25 degrees C. 5. We conclude that the anion transport protein becomes built into the membrane at a very early stage of life, and that the kinetics of Janion in fetal red cells show characteristics that are similar to those of adult red cells. 6. Our results suggest that the CO2 transport capacity of the fetal blood can be exploited during rest nearly as efficiently as that of adult blood. PMID- 2621627 TI - Increased microvascular resistance to blood flow in the rat hindlimb after perfusion with neuraminidase. AB - 1. The ability of blood to flow through capillaries with diameters smaller than that of erythrocytes and leucocytes has been explained hypothetically on the basis of electrostatic repulsion between vessel walls and circulating cells, but in the absence of in vivo evidence. Following our discovery of extraordinarily high densities of sialic acids on endothelial surfaces, we have now devised experiments to determine to what extent microcirculatory blood flow might depend on these negative charges. 2. Hindlimbs of rats anaesthetized with ether and pentobarbitone were perfused through the femoral artery at constant volume with continuous recording of inflow resistance: first with carotid arterial blood containing continually infused acetylcholine at concentrations which minimized peripheral resistance without affecting heart rate; then for 5 min with buffered saline containing acetylcholine at the same concentration plus neuraminidase (from Vibrio cholerae, at 0.1 mg/ml) to remove endothelial sialic acids (for control experiments without neuraminidase); and then again with acetylcholine infused carotid blood. 3. As a consequence of the saline perfusion, there was a rapid initial rise and fall of inflow resistance. The subsequent changes in resistance were calculated as the difference between its lowest value in the first 10 min and the value after 60 min. Controls and neuraminidase-perfused groups were compared using the t test for unpaired measurements. 4. In four control experiments inflow resistance decreased by 10-40% (14 +/- 10%, mean +/- S.E.M.). In three experiments with neuraminidase, inflow resistance increased by 24-38% (29 +/- 4%, mean +/- S.E.M.). The difference between the saline and the neuraminidase-perfused groups was significant (P less than 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621628 TI - Activation by odorants of cation-selective conductance in the olfactory receptor cell isolated from the newt. AB - 1. Ionic selectivity of the conductance activated by n-amyl acetate (odorant activated conductance) was analysed in isolated olfactory receptor cells under the whole-cell voltage clamp condition. 2. Solitary receptor cells had a resting membrane potential of -44.7 +/- 7.0 mV (mean +/- S.D.; n = 70). Application of 10 mM-n-amyl acetate caused a depolarizing response in about 30% of the cells. Sensitivity to the odorant was maximum at around the apical dendrite. 3. Odorant induced an inward current to cells voltage clamped at their resting potential and bathed in the standard medium. The response amplitude was voltage dependent, and the polarity reversed at +2.5 +/- 2.2 mV (n = 6). The I-V relation was almost linear at membrane potentials more positive than -20 mV, with an average slope of 3.14 +/- 1.59 nS (measured at 0 mV), but showed a marked outward rectification at voltages more negative than -30 mV. 4. Removal of external Ca2+ increased the amplitude of the odorant-induced current and prolonged response duration, but did not cause a significant change on the reversal potential. Thus, Ca2+ affected the kinetics of the conductance, but did not seem to be a dominant charge carrier in the physiological condition. 5. Reduction of external Na+ concentration [( Na+]o) (replaced with choline) shifted the reversal potential by about 57 mV per 10-fold change of [Na+]o. Removal of external Cl- (replaced with glutamate ions) did not affect the reversal potential. 6. The odorant-activated conducting channels were permeable to all alkali metal ions. The permeability ratios were: PLi:PNa:PK:PRb:PCs = 1.25:1:0.98:0.84:0.80. 7. The present study strongly suggests that the olfactory receptor potential is generated by an increase in the membrane conductance to alkali metal ions. PMID- 2621629 TI - Nucleotide modulation of the activity of rat heart ATP-sensitive K+ channels in isolated membrane patches. AB - 1. We have measured the ATP dependence of KATP channel activity, and the effect of various metabolites on this relationship, in inside-out membrane patches isolated from rat ventricular myocytes. 2. The inhibition of KATP channel activity by ATP could be described as a sigmoid function of [ATP] with a Hill coefficient (HATP) of 2 and a half-maximal inhibition at an ATP concentration (Ki, ATP) of 25 microM, in the presence of 0 mM, or 0.5 mM, total [Mg2+]. The non hydrolysable ATP analogue, AMP-PNP, also inhibited the channel with Ki, AMP-PNP = 60 microM and HAMP-PNP = 2. 3. Acidosis caused a small, but significant, increase in Ki, ATP from 25 microM at pH 7.25 to 50 microM at pH 6.25, but phosphate and lactate were without effect (at 20 mM) on channel activity. 4. In the absence of ATP or Mg2+, ADP3- inhibited channel activity with Ki, ADP = 275 microM, and HADP = 1.2. Other purine and pyrimidine triphosphates, diphosphates and monophosphates also inhibited the channel with apparent order of inhibitory effectiveness ATP greater than AMP-PNP greater than ADP greater than CTP greater than GDP = AMP = ITP. 5. In the absence of Mg2+, but in the presence of 40 microM-ATP, channel inhibition by GTP, ITP, CTP, GDP, ADP or AMP was additive with inhibition by ATP. 6. In the presence of 0.5 mM-Mg2+ and 40 microM-ATP, inhibition by GTP, GMP and AMP was still additive with inhibition by ATP. The diphosphates ADP and GDP, however, paradoxically increased channel activity in the presence of ATP. This increase in channel activity appeared to result from a competitive increase in Ki, ATP, MgADP did not appear to cause any inhibition of channel activity. 7. We conclude that, in cardiac tissue, KATP channels are regulated by [ATP], and that this regulation is sensitive to other intracellular nucleotides, Mg2+, and pH, but not to phosphate or lactate. A simple, interactive two binding-site model is consistent with the nucleotide-dependent regulation that we observe. PMID- 2621630 TI - Direct measurement of ACh release from exposed frog nerve terminals: constraints on interpretation of non-quantal release. AB - 1. Acetylcholine (ACh) release from enzymatically exposed frog motor nerve terminals has been measured directly with closely apposed outside-out clamped patches of Xenopus myocyte membrane, rich in ACh receptor channels. When placed close to the synaptic surface of the terminal, such a membrane patch detects both nerve-evoked patch currents (EPCs) and spontaneous quantal 'miniature' patch currents (MPCs), from a few micrometres length of the terminal, in response to ACh release from the nearest three to five active zones. 2. Chemical measurements of ACh efflux from whole preparations revealed a spontaneous release rate of 4.1 pmol (2 h)-1, and no significant difference in resting efflux between enzyme treated and control preparations. The ratio of enzyme-treated to contralateral control muscle efflux averaged 1.17, indicating that enzyme treatment did not affect spontaneous ACh release. Vesamicol (1.7 microM), which blocks the ACh transporter in synaptic vesicles, decreased the spontaneous release of ACh to 67% of control. 3. In the absence of nerve stimulation, the frequency of single channel openings recorded by outside-out patch probes adjacent to nerve terminals was very low (1-2 min-1), and little different at a distance of hundreds of micrometres, suggesting that if ACh was continually leaking from the terminal in a non-quantal fashion, the amount being released near active zone regions on the terminal was below the limit of detection with the patches. 4. Direct measurements of the sensitivity of the patches, coupled with calculated ACh flux rates, lead to the conclusion that the amount of ACh released non-quantally from the synaptic surface of the frog nerve terminal is less than one-tenth the amount expected if all non-quantal release is from this region of the terminal membrane. 5. Following a series of single nerve shocks or a 50 Hz train of nerve stimuli, the frequency of asynchronous single-channel openings increased for several seconds. This transient increase in channel openings was not sensitive to movement of the patch electrode a significant distance (4 microns) away from the active sites, or to manipulations previously reported to block non-quantal transmitter leakage, including addition of 10 mM-Ca2+ or 1.7 microM-vesamicol to the bath. These channel openings appear to be due to an accumulation of ACh which originated from many evoked quanta, and not the effect of locally increased non quantal ACh release due to nerve stimulation. 6. We conclude that transmitter leakage at adult frog terminals is either localized to a source other than the synaptic surface of the nerve terminal, or released in a widespread and diffuse fashion from many sources, which may include the nerve terminal. PMID- 2621631 TI - Effects of age on calcium transport activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum in fast- and slow-twitch rat muscle fibres. AB - 1. The calcium transport activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) was measured in chemically skinned single fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibres from young (3 months) and old (23-24 months) rats. Contractile properties, the myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition and enzyme histochemical features were studied in relation to the SR characteristics. 2. In fast-twitch single motor units, the contraction time of the isometric twitch increased (P less than 0.001) from 13 +/ 1 ms in young animals to 18 +/- 2 ms in old ones. In the slow-twitch soleus, the contraction (P less than 0.001) and half-relaxation (P less than 0.05) times increased from 30 +/- 5 and 45 +/- 10 ms, respectively, in the young animals to 43 +/- 3 and 55 +/- 4 ms in the old ones. The proportion of slow-twitch (type I) fibres increased (P less than 0.05) with age in the soleus from 92 +/- 6 to 98 +/ 2% and the proportion of fast-twitch fibres (type IIA) decreased (P less than 0.01) from 6 +/- 5 to 0 +/- 0%. 3. The Ca2+ accumulation capacity (an index of SR volume), the rate of Ca2+ uptake and the fractional rate of SR filling (an estimate of the specific activity of the Ca2+ pump) were decreased by 18 (P less than 0.05), 32 (P less than 0.01) and 32% (P less than 0.001), respectively, in the old fast-twitch muscle fibres. In the slow-twitch muscle fibres, on the other hand, no significant age-related changes were observed in the Ca2+ transport activity of the SR. Thus, ageing exerts a differential influence on SR volume and function in fast- and slow-twitch fibres. 4. It is concluded that an age-related impairment of intrinsic SR function and a decrease in SR volume are probable factors underlying the decreased speed of contraction of fast-twitch muscle fibres in old age. In the slow-twitch soleus, on the other hand, one or more other mechanisms are responsible for the age-related decrease in the speed of contraction. The loss of fast-twitch muscle fibres in old soleus is one mechanism, but not the dominant one. PMID- 2621632 TI - Kinetics of phototransduction in retinal rods of the newt Triturus cristatus. AB - 1. The kinetics of photoresponses to flashes and steps of light of rods, from the retina of the newt Triturus cristatus, were analysed by recording the membrane current with a suction electrode. 2. In dark-adapted conditions the relation between the normalized amplitude of the photoresponse at a fixed time 1 s after the onset of light and the light intensity could be fitted by an exponential or a polynomial relation. In the presence of a steady bright light the same relation could be fitted by a Michaelis-Menten relation. 3. The kinetics of photoresponses to light stimuli was reconstructed using a model in which: (i) three molecules of guanosine 3'.5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) open a light-sensitive channel; (ii) light activates the enzyme phosphodiesterase, which hydrolyses cyclic GMP, thus closing light-sensitive channels: (iii) Ca2+ ions permeate through light sensitive channels: and (iv) intracellular Ca2+ inhibits, in a co-operative way, the enzyme cyclase, which synthesizes cyclic GMP. 4. The model reproduces the shortening of the time to peak of brief flash photoresponses from about 1080 ms to about 690 ms with brighter lights. The model also explains the shortening of the time to peak to 350 ms observed in the presence of a steady light and the lack of a further acceleration with brighter flashes of lights. 5. The presence in the model of an intracellular calcium buffer accounts for the partial reactivation of the photocurrent following a step of light, lasting several seconds. The time course of this reactivation is not accelerated by a steady bright light both experimentally and in the model. 6. After the extinction to a long step of light the photocurrent showed a rapid partial reactivation, which was followed by a slow component of the photoresponse which extinguished with a rate constant of about 0.05 s-1. The model explains the origin of this slow component by assuming that the inactivation of excited rhodopsin is partially reversible. 7. The model is also able to explain the particular changes of kinetics when different amounts of exogenous calcium buffers are incorporated into rods (Torre, Matthews & Lamb, 1986). PMID- 2621633 TI - The Mg2+ block and intrinsic gating underlying inward rectification of the K+ current in guinea-pig cardiac myocytes. AB - 1. The blockade by Mg2+ and intrinsic gating of the channel, which underlie the rectification of the inward rectifier K+ current, was investigated using the oil gap voltage clamp method in isolated guinea-pig ventricular cells. 2. The inward rectifier K+ current was isolated by subtracting trans-gap currents recorded at an extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]o) of 0 mM from those obtained at 14 mM [K+]o in the presence of a given concentration of intracellular Mg2+ ([Mg2+]i). The reversal potential (V0) of the difference current was near the equilibrium potential for K+ (EK). 3. On repolarization across EK, the inward rectifier K+ current showed a rapid exponential increase. The time constant decreased with increasing hyperpolarization, but it was independent of both [Mg2+]i and the preceding depolarization. 4. When the pre-pulse potential was made progressively positive between V0-20 and V0 + 30 mV, the amplitude of the time-dependent component became larger and the preceding current jump decreased at any [Mg2+]i. With pre-pulses more positive than V0 + 40 mV, the time-dependent component started from almost the zero current level at 2 microM [Mg2+]i. At higher [Mg2+]i (350, 500 and 3000 microM), however, the time-dependent component became smaller as the pre-pulse potential was made more positive than V0 + 40 mV. 5. When the membrane was depolarized from a potential of full activation at 2 microM [Mg2+]i, the initial jump in the outward current was ohmic and was followed by an exponential decay. The time-dependent component of the inward current, recorded on repolarization after increasing durations of the preceding depolarization, developed as the outward current decayed. The time constants of both processes were in good agreement. 6. At 500 microM [Mg2+]i, the outward current on depolarization was instantaneously rectified. The time-dependent component recorded on repolarization developed with prolongation of the pre-pulse with a time course slower than at 2 microM [Mg2+]i. The envelope time course became slower as the potential of the depolarization became more positive. 7. Lowering the temperature from 23 to 15 degrees C slowed the time-dependent current with an apparent Q10 of about 3.5 at V0. 8. Based on the experimental data, kinetic parameters were estimated for a model of Mg2+ block, which well simulated the inward-going rectification of the K+ current. 9. It is concluded that the instantaneous inward rectification on depolarization is due to the Mg2+ block at physiological [Mg2+]i.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2621634 TI - Intracellular recordings from pancreatic ganglia of the cat. AB - 1. The anatomy, morphology, and electrophysiology of parasympathetic ganglia of cat pancreas were studied in vitro. 2. Pancreatic ganglia existed as an interconnected plexus of small ganglia (ten to fifty cells) lying in the interlobular connective tissue. Occasionally smaller ganglia (four to ten cells) were observed lying on or within nerve trunks. 3. Electron micrographs revealed the presence of neurones and satellite cells as well as unmyelinated axons and nerve terminals. Nerve terminals contained small clear vesicles and/or large, dense-cored vesicles. 4. Intracellular recording of electrical activity revealed the presence of two types of ganglion cells. Type I ganglion cells exhibited resting membrane potentials that ranged from -40 to -63 mV and input resistances that ranged from 8 to 168 M omega. They responded to intracellular depolarizing current with action potentials, and received synaptic inputs which when activated caused fast and slow depolarizing responses. Type I cells were considered to be ganglionic neurones. Type II ganglion cells had higher resting membrane potentials that ranged from -61 to -83 mV, lower input resistances that ranged from 5 to 83 M omega and were electrically unexcitable. Repetitive stimulation of preganglionic nerves evoked a slow depolarization that was frequency dependent. Type II cells were considered to be satellite cells. 5. Stimulation of nerve trunks both central and peripheral to the ganglia evoked multiple, subthreshold, fast EPSPs in all type I cells tested. Fast EPSPs were blocked by the nicotinic antagonist hexamethonium. 6. Antidromic potentials were also observed following stimulation of either central or peripheral nerve trunks but never both. 7. In type I cells repetitive stimulation of both central and peripheral nerve trunks resulted in a slow, synaptically mediated depolarization which persisted during superfusion with nicotinic and muscarinic receptor antagonists. 8. Periods of low frequency, spontaneous fast EPSPs and action potentials were observed in all type I cells tested. 9. It was concluded that parasympathetic neurones in cat pancreatic ganglia receive convergent fast and slow synaptic inputs from central and possibly peripheral sources and may function in vivo as sites of integration. The occurrence of spontaneous synaptic potentials in pancreatic ganglia suggests the possibility of intrinsic neural control of pancreatic function. PMID- 2621635 TI - Activation and adaptation of transducer currents in turtle hair cells. AB - 1. Transducer currents were recorded in turtle cochlear hair cells during mechanical stimulation of the hair bundle. The currents were measured under whole cell voltage clamp in isolated cells that were firmly stuck to the floor of the recording chamber. 2. Stimuli were calibrated by projecting the image of the hair bundle onto a rapidly scanned 128 photodiode array. This technique showed that, while the cell body was immobilized, the tip of the bundle would follow faithfully the motion of an attached glass probe up to frequencies of more than 1 kHz. 3. The relationship between inward transducer current and bundle displacement was sigmoidal. Maximum currents of 200-400 pA were observed for deflections of the tip of the bundle of 0.5 microns, equivalent to rotating the bundle by about 5 deg. 4. In response to a step deflection of the bundle, the current developed with a time constant (about 0.4 ms for small stimuli) that decreased with the size of displacement. This suggests that the onset of the current was limited by the gating kinetics of the transduction channel. The onset time course was slowed about fourfold for a 20 degrees C drop in temperature. 5. For small maintained displacements, the current relaxed to about a quarter of the peak level with a time constant of 3-5 ms. This adaptation was associated with a shift of the current-displacement relationship in the direction of the stimulus. The rate and extent of adaptation were decreased by lowering external Ca2+. 6. Adaptation was strongly voltage sensitive, and was abolished at holding potentials positive to the reversal potential of the transducer current of about 0 mV. It was also diminished by loading cells with 10 mM of the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA. These observations suggest that adaptation may be partly controlled by influx of Ca2+ through the transducer channels. 7. Removal of adaptation produced asymmetric responses, with fast onsets but slow decays following return of the bundle to its resting position; the offset time course depended on both the magnitude and duration of the prior displacement. 8. In some experiments, hair bundles were deflected with a flexible glass fibre whose motion was monitored using a dual photodiode arrangement. Positive holding potentials abolished adaptation of the transducer currents, but had no influence on the time course of motion of the fibre. We have no evidence therefore that adaptation is caused by a mechanical reorganization within the bundle. PMID- 2621636 TI - Lymph flow in sheep limbs during local exposure to subatmospheric pressure. AB - 1. Lymph flow and pressure were measured via cannulae inserted into afferent lymphatics draining the feet of anaesthetized sheep. 2. When the cannula outlet was at limb level, local exposure of the limb to graded decreases in ambient pressure caused graded increases in lymph flow with pressure values down to -50 mmHg. 3. When the cannula outlet was lowered below limb level to offset the negative pressure gradient imposed on the lymphatic vessels by suction, lymph flow rose progressively with decreasing ambient pressure values down to -70 mmHg. 4. When negative pressure gradients were imposed on the lymphatic vessels by raising the lymphatic cannula outlet in progressive steps above limb level, the vessels were able to expel lymph against gradients of up to 50 mmHg but lymph flow was greatly reduced against a gradient of 70 mmHg. 5. The results suggest that subatmospheric pressure may affect local lymph flow in two ways. By increasing blood capillary transmural pressure it may increase lymph flow by increasing tissue fluid formation. By imposing a negative pressure gradient along the lymphatics it may decrease lymph flow, especially at the most negative pressures, and the lymph flow response to subatmospheric pressure may be the algebraic sum of both effects. PMID- 2621637 TI - Factors affecting aerobic recovery heat production and recovery ratio of frog sartorius. AB - 1. Sartorius muscles of Rana temporaria, equilibrated at 20 degrees C in Ringer solution buffered with phosphates, were stimulated isometrically for 0.2 up to 0.75 s at lengths varying from 1.03 to 1.48 times rest length, L0. The aerobic recovery heat was measured for 10.5 min after contraction. 2. The recovery heat production had a complex time course, showing a variable delay to maximum, declining thereafter. In most cases, the rate of heat production did not decrease monotonically; attention was focused on the slow exponential decay which only persisted from 1.5-5 min after contraction. This latter part of the time course was considered as strictly aerobic and characterized by the time constant tau s. 3. Increasing the tetanus duration from 0.2 to 0.75 s increased initial heat Qi and recovery heat Qr in proportion, so that the recovery ratio R (Qr/Qi) did not change; it was equal to 1.29 +/- 0.03 (S.E.M.; n = 44) for muscles at about L0. The kinetics of heat production were modified with longer tetani; in particular, tau s was increased from 2.2 to 5.2 min. 4. When muscles were stretched beyond L0, as long as there was no increase of the resting heat rate (stretch response or 'Feng effect'), recovery heat production had a similar evolution to that in muscles at about L0; R was constant and equal to 1.21 +/- 0.03 (n = 46). 5. When muscles were sufficiently stretched to develop a stretch response, R increased proportionally to the stretch response. The effect seemed independent of the contractile machinery, as it vanished concomitantly with the stretch response, while force and Qi remained unchanged for the length considered. The kinetics were also modified--the delay to maximum was no longer detected and tau s most likely increased. 6. Substitution of 60% of the NaCl of the Ringer solution by NaI (mol/mol) produced a significant increase of R, mainly due to the increase of Qr. 7. The results show that neither the time course nor the amount of aerobic recovery heat Qr are strictly determined by the amount of initial heat Qi. The hypothesis is discussed that Qr might include a variable fraction due to processes which are not directly implicated in the actin-myosin interactions, possibly those involving the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and the rate of resting metabolism. PMID- 2621638 TI - Synovial capillary distribution in relation to altered pressure and permeability in knees of anaesthetized rabbits. AB - 1. The hydraulic conductance of the synovial lining of the rabbit knee increases greatly at intra-articular pressures (IAP) above 9 cmH2O. A structural cause was sought by fixing synovium in situ at less than or equal to 5 cmH2O IAP (ten animals) or 25 cmH2O IAP (five animals) and examining histological sections morphometrically. 2. The synovial lining was found to be a highly deformable sheet of very vascular connective tissue, with 47 x 10(3)-73 X 10(3) capillaries per cm2 section. 150-260 cm2 endothelial surface per cm3 tissue and a vascular volume of 2.4-5.7%. 3. The thickness of the lining averaged 14-19 microns at low IAP and was reduced at high IAP; in suprapatellar synovium, where changes were most marked, thickness fell by 24-47%. The loose subsynovial space expanded. 4. The average distance separating capillary near-edges from the joint cavity approximately halved from 3.75 and 7.47 microns at low IAP (harmonic and arithmetical means respectively) to 1.82 and 3.35 microns at high IAP. Capillaries remained patent and their number density did not change significantly at high IAP. 5. It is concluded that a reduction in the extravascular path length for fluid exchange contributes to the increase synovial conductance at high IAP, but the path length changes were not sufficient to account fully for the conductance changes. PMID- 2621639 TI - Ultrastructure of transport pathways in stressed synovium of the knee in anaesthetized rabbits. AB - 1. The hydraulic conductance of the synovial lining of a rabbit knee increases greatly when intra-articular pressure (IAP) is raised above approximately 9 cmH2O (yield point). To investigate the cause, synovium was fixed in situ by perfusion at controlled IAP and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Micrographs of synovium fixed below yield pressure (atmospheric pressure and 5 cmH2O IAP, ten joints) and above it (25 cmH2O IAP, five joints) were analysed by morphometry. 2. The discontinuous cellular lining consisted of fibroblast-like cells (67%) and macrophage-like cells (33%) separated by interstitium-filled gaps. Interstitium formed 26-36% of the surface below yield pressure. Depending on sample site the surface gaps averaged 1.9 +/- 0.2 to 2.4 +/- 0.2 microns wide below yield pressure (mean +/- S.E.M. throughout). Above yield pressure the mean gap width increased by 42-64% (P less than 0.05, analysis of variance). 3. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the lining varied with distance below the surface. In a plane 5 microns deep, the intercellular distances and interstitial area fraction were almost double those at the surface. Classic periodic collagen fibrils (diameter 50 +/- 3 nm) abounded at 5 microns depth whereas the surface interstitium was richer in Ruthenium Red-staining microfibrils (diameter 9.3 +/- 0.7 nm) associated with 93 nm period fibrous long-spacing bundles. 4. Averaging over all the tissue between the surface and the 5 microns deep plane, the mean interstitial volume fraction was 0.61 +/- 0.05 at 5 cmH2O and 0.67 +/- 0.02 at 25 cmH2O (n.s.). 5. Capillary fenestrae (8.5 +/- 1.1 per fenestrated profile) and intercellular junctions were unaltered at high IAP. The tortuosity of the capillary-to-joint cavity path was 1.50 +/- 0.01 below yield pressure and 1.86 +/ 0.24 at 25 cmH2O (n.s.). 6. Intra-articular tracers (ferrocyanide, ferritin and glycogen) permeated synovial interstitium without evidence of preferential pathways. Ferrocyanide delineated the capillary intercellular junction as a permeable channel. Ferritin and glycogen were phagocytosed by the macrophages. 7. In suprapatellar areolar synovium, the most extensive and most altered tissue, the ratio of interstitial area to path length increased maximally 4.1 times between 5 and 25 cmH2O IAP. This represents a substantial contribution to the physiologically estimated rise in interstitial conductance (14 x) but does not wholly explain it. PMID- 2621640 TI - Long-latency stretch reflexes of two intrinsic muscles of the human hand analysed by cooling the arm. AB - 1. The arm was cooled to examine the effect of slowing nervous conduction on the latency of various reflex responses of the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) and the first dorsal interosseus (FDI) muscles. A reflex dependent upon slow afferents acting with a short central delay should be slowed by more than one of comparable initial latency, but dependent upon fast afferents acting with a long central delay. The F wave seen in the EMG on stimulating the ulnar nerve was used to assess the effect of cooling in slowing fast fibres. 2. Cooling showed that the prominent long-latency excitation evoked on stretching one or other muscle by displacing the appropriate finger is medicated by fast afferent fibres. 3. Both fast cutaneous and group I muscles afferents were found to be capable of contributing to the long-latency responses. The muscle afferent contribution was consistently dominant for slow 'stretches', while a cutaneous afferent contribution was sometimes recognizable for finger taps. 4. The distinction proved possible because the cutaneous afferents from the relevant finger run in the median nerve for FDI and the ulnar nerve for ADM. The cooling produced much greater slowing of conduction for the ulnar nerve. 5. The prior suggestion that spindle group II afferents are responsible for the major part of the long-latency component of the human stretch reflex thus fails to stand; however, some contribution has not been finally excluded. PMID- 2621641 TI - Rheogenic sodium-bicarbonate co-transport across the retinal membrane of the frog retinal pigment epithelium. AB - 1. Na+ and HCO3- transport across the retinal membrane of the frog retinal pigment epithelium was studied by means of double-barrelled Na(+)- and pH selective microelectrodes. Transient changes in the intracellular pH and in the intracellular Na+ activity were monitored in response to abrupt changes in the Na+ concentration and in the HCO3- concentration on the retinal side of the epithelium, and in response to transepithelial currents. 2. Removal of Na+ from the retinal side of the epithelium caused a depolarization of the membrane potential across the retinal membrane, a decrease in the intracellular Na+ activity and a decrease in the intracellular pH. 3. An increase in the HCO3- concentration on the retinal side of the epithelium from 27.5 to 50 mM caused a hyperpolarization of the membrane potential across the retinal membrane, an increase in the intracellular Na+ activity and an increase in the intracellular pH. 4. Passage of a transepithelial current of 30 microA in the choroid-to-retina direction caused an increase in the intracellular Na+ activity and an increase in the intracellular pH. 5. The data are interpreted as evidence for rheogenic co transport of Na+, HCO3- across the retinal membrane of the frog retinal pigment epithelium. 6. The transient changes described under 2, 3 and 4 above were blocked by 0.5 mM-4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2.2'-disulphonic acid (SITS). The Na(+)- HCO3- co-transport was not inhibited by 1 mM-amiloride. PMID- 2621642 TI - Bradykinin-evoked changes in cytosolic calcium and membrane currents in cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. AB - 1. Cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells were voltage clamped using a single microelectrode while cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was simultaneously measured using the fluorescent calcium indicator, Indo-1. 2. The resting current-voltage relationship was non-linear and exhibited marked inward rectification near the resting potential. In about 60% of cells examined, superfusion of saline resulted in a hyperpolarization and decrease in inward current. This result did not depend on the presence of agonist and is consistent with the presence of extracellular potassium accumulation in restricted spaces around the cell and the known dependence of the inward rectifier. In other cells there was no effect. 3. Resting [Ca2+]i was sensitive to membrane potential, decreasing continuously with membrane depolarization over the range -70 to +60 mV. This result is consistent with a simple pump-leak model and suggests that voltage-dependent calcium channels are not present in these cells. 4. Bradykinin (10 microM) increased [Ca2+]i after a delay of approximately 3 s. [Ca2+]i reached a peak after a further 3 s and declined over several minutes. 5. During the rise in [Ca2+]i evoked by application of bradykinin, there were no changes in the current-voltage relationship of the cell. These results question the role of a receptor-operated non-selective cation channel in mediating the increase in [Ca2+]i. This observation, coupled with the observed delay in the agonist-evoked response suggests that a second messenger system is involved in mediating the increase in [Ca2+]i. 6. Changes in the current-voltage relation started to occur about 30 s after the application of agonist. These changes could be explained by the activation of large-conductance potassium and non-selective cation channels with a reversal potential near 0 mV. The latter channels may mediate the plateau phase of the agonist-evoked response. 7. The results are discussed with respect to the pathways for calcium entry into the cell and possible explanations for discrepancies between the results of this and other studies are presented. PMID- 2621643 TI - Autogenetic inhibition from contraction receptors in the decerebrate cat. AB - 1. Autogenetic inhibition from contraction receptors was measured by eliciting contractions of the soleus muscle in the decerebrate cat. Inhibitory feedback was detected when the tension increment f, produced by stimulating motor fibres in the presence of a background reflex contraction, was smaller than the tension d elicited by the same stimulus in the absence of reflex action. Tendon vibration was applied throughout to clamp primary spindle afferents at a constant firing rate, thereby preventing spindle unloading from disfacilitating the reflex contraction. 2. The reduction in tension d--f varied roughly linearly with the size of the tension stimulus f. Feedback gain was proportional to d--f/f, i.e. the ratio of inhibited tension to stimulus tension. It was computed by averaging over several measurements obtained with stimuli of different sizes, and ranged between 0 and 0.88 in ten animals. The average gain, 0.39, implies that voluntary muscle force is reduced by approximately 27% through the direct inhibition of alpha-motoneurones from homonymous contraction receptors. 3. Inhibitory feedback gain did not appear to co-vary with the background reflex contraction. When measured without vibration, however, a positive covariance did emerge, suggesting that this is due to unloading of muscle spindles, either by extrafusal muscle shortening or by inhibition of fusimotor neurones. 4. Inhibited tension varied linearly with the estimated increment in Ib afferent firing. On the assumption that group Ib afferents carried the entire inhibitory signal, inhibitory feedback gain measured with vibration was used to predict the size of the gain if vibration had not been applied. Feedback gain calculated in this way was reduced by still did not vary with reflex tension. 5. In one animal with signs of brain stem trauma, feedback gain was increased to around six. It is argued that inhibitory feedback in the intact animal can rise to comparable values, as a result both of convergence of signals from different muscles and of supraspinal facilitation. PMID- 2621644 TI - Effects of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid on responsivity and spatial summation of X cells in the cat retina. AB - 1. We studied the effect of locally applied 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB) on the response of X-type cat retinal ganglion cells to stimulation by sinusoidal gratings of photopic mean luminance. 2. Application of APB produced a decrease in the mean firing rate of on-centre X cells, but an increase in the mean firing rate of off-centre X cells. 3. The response and responsivity of both on- and off centre X cells to drifting sinusoidal gratings were suppressed by APB. Under control conditions, the response amplitude was linear with grating contrast for contrasts less than 10%. During APB application, the slope of the contrast response curve was reduced, and linearity was maintained for a larger range of contrast. 4. Assuming that APB acts selectively on the cone to depolarizing bipolar cell synapse, the suppression of the response of on- and off-centre X cells suggests a functional link between depolarizing bipolar cells and both types of X cell. 5. Because APB reduces the centre response of both on- and off centre X cells, caution should be observed in interpreting the effect of APB on higher visual centres in terms of the blockage of 'on' signals leaving the retina. 6. By analysing the spatial frequency tuning curve before and during APB application in terms of the difference-of-Gaussians model of receptive field structure, it was found that the balance between the integrated strengths of the centre and surround was not modified by APB. APB, however, had a differential effect on the summating area of the centre and surround. While the centre radius was unaffected by APB, the surround radius was reduced. This suggests that the peak sensitivity of the surround mechanism was reduced less severely than the peak sensitivity of the centre mechanism. 7. Strychnine also suppressed the response of the centre mechanism of both on- and off-centre X cells to drifting gratings. PMID- 2621645 TI - The effects of lesions on autogenetic inhibition in the decerebrate cat. AB - 1. The effects of spinal and brain lesions on autogenetic inhibition from contraction receptors were studied in the decerebrate cat. Inhibitory feedback gain was estimated by measuring the effect of tension perturbations on reflex contractions of the soleus muscle. Tendon vibration was used to clamp the firing rate of primary spindle afferents, to prevent spindle unloading from disfacilitating the reflex contraction. In addition, secondary spindle afferents could be selectively excited by stimulating fusimotor fibres during muscle vibration. 2. Following an acute contralateral or bilateral dorsal transection of the spinal cord at L3, the vibration reflex tension fell by between 50 and 74% in three decerebrate animals. This was accompanied by a variable increase in inhibitory feedback, ranging between 180 and 360%. 3. In two animals, selective stimulation of fusimotor fibres supplying soleus muscle was without effect in the presence of muscle vibration both before and after the spinal lesion. In the third animal, a small and variable reduction in tension could be obtained only after the lesion, implying that an inhibitory pathway from homonymous secondary spindle afferents to alpha-motoneurones was released. 4. In a separate series of experiments, contralateral cerebral lesions were made 2-12 months prior to the acute inhibitory feedback measurement. Inhibitory feedback gain was increased, on average twofold in decerebrate animals with chronic cerebral lesions, when compared to control decerebrate animals. 5. Selective stimulation of fusimotor fibres to excite spindle secondary afferents was uniformly without effect in decerebrate animals with chronic cerebral lesions. In one animal spinal transection had only a minor effect on extensor tone and on inhibitory feedback gain, in contrast to the control decerebrate cats. 6. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the use of animals with spinal and supraspinal lesions as models of spasticity. PMID- 2621646 TI - Electrical and mechanical activity of rabbit prostate smooth muscles in response to nerve stimulation. AB - 1. The rabbit prostate contains two smooth muscle bundles: one forms the capsule of the prostate and the other runs longitudinally in the outermost layer of the prostate. The former was contracted by exogenously applied noradrenaline (NA) and the latter by acetylcholine (ACh), and were therefore identified as NA-sensitive and ACh-sensitive muscles, respectively. 2. In the NA-sensitive muscle, exogenously applied NA, but not ACh, depolarized the smooth muscle membrane, and this action of NA was antagonized by prazosin but not by yohimbine. The membrane of the ACh-sensitive muscle was depolarized by ACh and hyperpolarized by NA. The former was antagonized by atropine and the latter by phentolamine. 3. In both bundles, electrical stimulation of intramural nerves elicited a biphasic junction potential: an excitatory junction potential (EJP) followed by an inhibitory junction potential (IJP). In the NA-sensitive muscle, the EJP was resistant to alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonists and sensitive to guanethidine, while the IJP was sensitive to apamin and resistant to alpha- or beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists or guanethidine. The EJP and IJP elicited in the ACh-sensitive muscle were inhibited by atropine and apamin, respectively, but both potentials were resistant to alpha or beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists or guanethidine. 4. Transmural nerve stimulation elicited a twitch contraction in both muscle bundles, and the contractions in the NA-sensitive muscle were partially inhibited by prazosin and blocked completely by guanethidine. The contraction of the ACh-sensitive muscle was blocked by atropine. Contractions produced by exogenously applied NA and ACh were antagonized by prazosin and atropine, respectively. 5. It is concluded that in the rabbit prostate there are two smooth muscles bundles which are respectively contracted with associated depolarization by NA or ACh. The NA sensitive muscle receives adrenergic excitatory and non-adrenergic non cholinergic inhibitory innervation. The ACh-sensitive muscle receives cholinergic excitatory and non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory innervation. PMID- 2621647 TI - Dynamic response of the coronary circulation to a rapid change in its perfusion in the anaesthetized goat. AB - 1. We tested predictions of a mathematical formulation of a hypothesis of dynamic control of coronary blood flow by tissue oxygen tension. 2. The rate of change of adjustment of the coronary circulation to a step change in arterial perfusion was analysed in the cannulated main stem preparation of the anaesthetized goat. The variable studied was the ratio between driving pressure and coronary flow, each averaged per heart beat. The response of this ratio was measured following a sudden change in perfusion pressure with constant-pressure perfusion and a sudden change in flow with constant-flow perfusion. 3. The rate of change of the pressure-flow ratio was quantified by t50, the time required to establish half of the completed response. For a pressure decrease t50 was 4.9 +/- 0.2 s (n = 35) (mean +/- S.E.M., n = number of individual measurements), 11.3 +/- 1.2 s (n = 25) for a flow decrease, 14.5 +/- 1.6 (n = 34) for a pressure increase and 25.1 +/- 2.3 (n = 19) for a flow increase. 4. No effect of the level of flow or pressure on t50 was found for a decrease in perfusion. Furthermore, with a flow increase, the t50 value did not depend on the level of flow, which is in agreement with the outcome of earlier experiments where the response to a change in heart rate was measured. With a pressure increase, the mean t50 value of the pressure-flow ratio was lower at high perfusion pressure but the difference with low perfusion pressure was not significant (P = 0.11). 5. The t50 value in the cases of an increase in pressure and flow are similar to those found for a change of heart rate in an earlier study. 6. Unlike step changes of metabolic rate, some of the measured responses to mechanical step changes were not predicted by the oxygen hypothesis. It is suggested that the increased rate of coronary adjustment induced by the reduction of coronary perfusion is due to arteriolar smooth muscle mechanics which apparently differ in strength depending on the direction of change of the arteriolar dimensions. 7. This suggestion is strengthened by the results of experiments in which smooth muscle responses were abolished with adenosine. PMID- 2621648 TI - Neural correlates of horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex cancellation during rapid eye movements in the cat. AB - 1. The aim of the present study is to describe the behaviour of identified second order vestibular neurones in the alert cat during eye saccades. A selection of neurones which are involved in horizontal eye movements has been made. The activity has been compared with a selected sample of abducens motoneurones recorded in the same animals. 2. Alert head-fixed cats were used for this study. Eye movements were recorded by the scleral search coil technique. Abducens motoneurones were identified by antidromic stimulation from the VIth nerve with chronically implanted electrodes. They were recorded extracellularly. 3. Second order vestibular neurones were identified by orthodromic stimulation from the vestibular organs. They were recorded intra-axonally and injected with horseradish peroxidase after recording of their physiological characteristics. Their morphology was reconstructed from frozen sections. 4. All the recorded vestibular neurones showed various amounts of eye position sensitivity. The firing rate (F) - horizontal eye position (H) characteristics are compared for abducens and vestibular neurones. The population average values are F = 33 + 4 H for motoneurones and F = 51 + 2.4 H for vestibular neurones. 5. All recorded vestibular neurones showed an increase of discharge rate during contralateral horizontal saccades and a strong decrease or pause during ipsilateral saccades. Firing rate - horizontal eye velocity sensitivity has been calculated. 6. Results suggest a strong inhibitory input on vestibular neurones from the saccadic generator. This mechanism underlies the suppression of the vestibulo-ocular reflex during saccades. Our results suggest that in the cat, for saccades of amplitude smaller than 20 deg, there is a variable degree of suppression which is provided by a projection of excitatory bursters (EBNs) on second-order vestibular neurones through inhibitory type II neurones. 7. We also conclude from this study that the eye position sensitivity of vestibular second-order neurones is in fact a motor signal indicating a motor error, i.e. the amount of head or eye movement which remains to be done in order to align gaze on target with the eyes centred in the orbit. PMID- 2621649 TI - Gating of the afferent volley of the monosynaptic stretch reflex during movement in man. AB - 1. The time course of the changes in presynaptic inhibition of Ia fibres to soleus motoneurones has been investigated during a voluntary ramp-and-hold plantar flexion. 2. Monosynaptic Ia facilitation of the soleus H reflex was evoked by stimulation of the inferior soleus (homonymous) and femoral (heteronymous) nerves. Changes in presynaptic inhibition of the Ia fibres mediating the conditioning volleys were inferred from changes in the amount of reflex facilitation evoked by such constant conditioning stimulations. 3. At the beginning of the voluntary contraction, both homonymous and heteronymous Ia facilitations were markedly increased with respect to their rest values. Then, they dropped abruptly in the middle of the ramp, whatever the ramp duration. 4. The stronger the contraction at the end of the ramp, the larger the initial increase in reflex facilitation. 5. These results indicate that presynaptic inhibition of Ia terminals on motoneurones of the contracting muscle is decreased during the first half of the ramp and then returns to its rest level. It is argued that these changes in presynaptic inhibition are centrally programmed, and it is suggested that, under certain conditions, presynaptic inhibition can be modulated according to both the strength and timing of the contraction. 6. The functional role of the resulting changes in the gain of the stretch reflex is discussed. PMID- 2621651 TI - Monocyte/macrophage functions in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. AB - Peripheral blood monocytes and draining lymph node macrophages from patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, monocytes from patients with oral leukoplakia and those from healthy donors were assessed for FcR. HLA-DR expression and interleukin-1 (IL-1) production after activation with LPS or IFN gamma. Monocyte cytotoxicity was also tested after activation with LPS, IFN gamma, IL-2 singly, or in combinations at suboptimal concentrations. The results showed that the percentage of activated monocytes expressing FcR was significantly low in untreated oral cancer patients, however, the proportion of HLA-DR positive cells was normal. The unstimulated monocytes from oral cancer patients showed spontaneous generation of IL-1. Upon activation, few patients could produce IL-1 to normal levels. The unstimulated monocytes from untreated patients and treated patients with recurrence also exhibit significantly higher tumoricidal activity. Treatment of monocytes with combinations of two modulators (IFN gamma, LPS and IL-2) induced significantly higher cytotoxicity. PMID- 2621650 TI - Centre components of cone-driven retinal ganglion cells: differential sensitivity to 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid. AB - 1. Changes in different components of the cone-driven centre responses of cat retinal ganglion cells were studied before and during local application of 2 amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB). Responses were elicited with bar stimuli whose luminance was above ('brighter') or below ('dimmer') the photopic background luminance. The bars were centrally located, and were similar in width to the receptive field centre. 2. APB acted differently on the on- and off-centre cells. For on-centre X and Y cells, all components of the responses to bright and dim bars were diminished by APB. For the off-centre X and Y cells. APB reduced all components except the transient increase in firing rate when the bright bar was turned off or when the dim bar was turned on. 3. These results suggest that the centre response mechanism of off-centre X and Y cells comprises APB-sensitive and APB-resistant components. The APB-sensitive component is more sustained and responds to both brightening and dimming stimuli. The APB-resistant component is more transient and responds primarily to dimming stimuli. For on-centre X and Y cells only APB-sensitive components could be demonstrated. 4. Experiments with stationary sinusoidal gratings modulated at 0.5-10 Hz showed that responses of off-centre cells were more affected by APB at low than at high temporal frequencies, confirming that the APB-sensitive pathway is responsible for more of the low temporal frequency responses. As expected from the responses to bar stimuli, APB had a uniform effect at all temporal frequencies in on-centre cells. 5. For off-centre cells, the APB-sensitive component is probably derived from input from depolarizing bipolar cells, and the APB-resistant component is derived from hyperpolarizing bipolar input, although one or both pathways could also involve amacrine cells. The combination of these pathways increases the range of temporal frequencies to which the cell can respond and also increases the range of response amplitudes. 6. The lack of differential effects on on-centre cells may have several explanations. The most likely explanations are that only depolarizing bipolars contribute significantly to the centre responses of these cells under the conditions of these experiments, or that there is an APB sensitive synapse somewhere in the retina besides the one from cones to depolarizing bipolars. PMID- 2621652 TI - Langerhans cells expressing HLA-DQ, HLA-DR and T6 antigens in normal oral mucosa and lichen planus. AB - We compared Langerhans cells (LC) expressing HLA-DQ, HLA-DR and T6 antigens in biopsies from the same oral mucosal site in 12 patients with oral lichen planus and eight healthy volunteers. LC expressing each antigen were observed in all the specimens, but in lichen planus the cells were located in higher levels of the epithelium than in controls. Compared with controls, lichen planus contained significantly more HLA-DQ-positive LC (P = 0.04) and fewer HLA-DR-positive LC (P = 0.05), but there was no such difference in T6-positive LC. In lichen planus specimens, there were significantly more LC expressing HLA-DQ and T6 than HLA-DR (P = 0.0001 and 0.02 respectively); no such differences were found in normal mucosa. Epithelial cells in lichen planus expressed HLA-DR antigen, but not HLA DQ or T6 antigens. We conclude that in lichen planus there is modulation of HLA DR and HLA-DQ antigen expression by LC, or differences in the number of LC expressing those antigens. PMID- 2621653 TI - A postmortem study of senile amyloidosis of the tongue. AB - In a postmortem study, the authors examined 50 tongue specimens from old people, in order to detect amyloid deposits. No single case could be detected. PMID- 2621654 TI - Salivary and serum antibodies to gliadin in the diagnosis of celiac disease. AB - Salivary IgA and serum IgA and IgG antibodies to crude gliadin and alpha-gliadin were measured in adult patients with untreated celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and normal controls. Antibody levels in saliva and serum in untreated celiac disease were significantly higher than in other groups. Alpha gliadin antibodies appeared to be a better discriminator for serum but not for saliva. The assay of salivary IgA antibodies to gliadin offers a non-invasive test which would be particularly useful in the investigation of celiac disease and for monitoring compliance with a gluten-free diet. PMID- 2621655 TI - Dental and jaw changes in primary hyperoxaluria. AB - A case of teeth and jaw changes in primary hyperoxaluria is described. The patient, a 25-yr-old man, was treated by kidney transplantation twice, and finally by combined liver and kidney transplantation. The teeth and jaw changes consisted of deposition of oxalate crystals in the gingiva, in the pulp and in the vicinity of bone and dentin. The resorption of bone and dentin was extensive. PMID- 2621656 TI - Multiple uterine leiomyoma with metastasis of an occult pulmonary carcinoma (a case report). AB - A rare case of metastatic leiomyoma of the uterine corpus presenting with haemoptysis is presented. PMID- 2621657 TI - Idiopathic extensive spontaneous venous thrombosis (a case report). AB - Two patients with extensive spontaneous venous thrombosis are reported. Both had documented evidence of polyserositis, transient abnormalities of liver function tests along with normal coagulograms. Although one patient had a short, self limiting illness, the other required treatment with coumarin derivatives. The relevant literature is discussed. PMID- 2621658 TI - Littre's hernia in a child--an operative surprise (a case report). AB - The incidence of Littre's hernia in children is unknown. The diagnosis is usually made at operation or autopsy. One case in an eight month old infant is described. Heterotropic mucoglandular tissue causing nodularity and adhesions was noted in the diverticulum. Though histological findings in Littre's hernia are not mentioned in previous reports, we believe that Littre's hernia could often be associated heterotropic mucosa. PMID- 2621659 TI - Di-George's syndrome with multiple infections (an autopsy report). AB - Di-George's syndrome is a rare condition of congenital immunodeficiency. An infant presented as hypocalcemic tetany with multiple infections. Autopsy confirmed the hypoplasia of thymus and thyroid associated with other anomalies. A brief of the relevant literature is presented. PMID- 2621660 TI - Solitary rectal ulcer of tuberculous origin (a case report). AB - We report our experience in diagnosing a case of anal tuberculosis which presented with an ano-rectal ulcer. The necessity of careful study in differentiating the lesion from carcinoma has been illustrated. PMID- 2621661 TI - Leg ulcer in a case of thalassemia minor (a case report). AB - A rare case of leg ulcer in a 28 years old woman with thalassemia minor is reported. PMID- 2621662 TI - Variations in normal hepatobiliary scintigraphy in Indian population. AB - Hepatobiliary scintigraphy was performed with Tc99m iminodiacetic acid (IDA) analog, in 100 apparently healthy adults, to study the variations in the normal hepatobiliary scintigraphy. Gall bladder (GB) was visualised in 43% at 15 min; 87% at 30 min, 90% at 45 min and 99% at 60 min and the small intestine (SI) was visualised in 24% at 15 min, 69% at 30 min, 76% at 45 min and 92% at 60 min. Left hepatic duct was prominent in 45%. Reciprocal relation between SI and GB was observed in 21%. PMID- 2621663 TI - Anti-convulsant therapy in eclampsia. AB - Seventy four patients presented with eclampsia at N.W.M. Hospital. Bombay. Among the patients with eclampsia, 64.9% were primis, 29.7% were gravida II-IV and 5.4% were grand multis. As many as 40.5% patients were less than 20 years of age, while 2.7% were over 30 years of age. 48.7% had antepartum convulsions, 40.5% had intrapartum convulsions, while 8 patients convulsed in the postpartum period. Besides standard management of eclamptic patients, 3 protocols of anticonvulsant therapy were utilised. 27% were managed with diphenyl hydantoin sodium, 43% with magnesium sulphate, and 30% by combination of diazepam and pentazocine. The maternal and perinatal outcome was evaluated. Control of convulsions was superior with magnesium sulphate while perinatal outcome was best with diphenyl hydantoin. PMID- 2621664 TI - Post-puerperal Cu-T insertion: a prospective study. AB - One hundred and sixty eight consecutive women accepting copper T (CuT) intrauterine contraceptive device in the post-puerperal period were studied. Out of them, 63 could be followed after 6 weeks of insertion and 65 after 6 months of insertion. The risk of heavy bleeding, pain in abdomen etc. were no greater than those usually found when interval CuT insertion is carried out. There was no case of uterine perforation leading to migration of CuT. But the expulsion rate was found to be high i.e. 16.4%. CuT is a very useful post-puerperal contraceptive method and should be given more importance in MCH programme. PMID- 2621665 TI - A new peridural needle-the 'LOLO' needle. AB - Peridural needles in present day use have a compromised function because of their circular cross section. An ideal peridural needle must be sharp to cut the spinal ligaments and at the same time blunt enough to ensure prevention of dural perforation. This ideal function is only possible if the bevel and tip of the needle are not inversely related as is the case in circular cross section needles. The 'LOLO' peridural needle developed by us is free of this compromise. It has a square cross section with a long, sharp eccentric tip. The bevel is flat and rectangular. The side opening is 4 mms from the tip of the needle through which the catheter is deflected out. Such a design is sharp to traverse the spinal ligaments and also effectively ensures dural tenting and prevent perforation. These properties have been proved by a myelographic study and compared to other conventional needles. PMID- 2621666 TI - Chloramphenicol resistant Salmonella species isolated between 1978 and 1987. AB - During the ten year study i.e. 1978 to 1987, out of 53,251 cases of suspected enteric fever, S.typhi was isolated from 4005 cases (7%) and S.para typhi 'A' from 1108 cases (2.5%). A total of 52 strains of S. typhi and 4 strains of S.para typhi 'A' were found to be resistant to chloramphenicol. Minimal inhibitory concentration was greater than 256 micrograms/ml of all the strains of S.typhi and S.para typhi 'A'. PMID- 2621667 TI - Comparative study of methods of detection of hepatitis 'B' surface antigen (HBsAg). AB - The serum samples were collected from 52 patients of acute viral hepatitis and 235 hospital staff from Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases. HBsAg was detected in their sera by counter-immuno-electrophoresis (CIEP), reverse passive hemogglutination (RPHA) and by micro-enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Among the patients, HBsAg was detected in 12 cases (23%) by CIEP, in 18 cases (34%) by RPHA and in 23 patients (45%) by ELISA. In the hospital staff, HBsAg was detected in 4 samples (1.7%) by CIEP, in 8 samples (3.5%) by RPHA and in 32 samples (13.5%) by ELISA. Thus ELISA was found to be the most sensitive technique in detecting HBsAg. PMID- 2621668 TI - Non-specific abdominal pain--a clinical entity. AB - A total of 48 cases of non-specific abdominal pain admitted in one year period were studied. Routine investigations of blood, urine, stool and X-ray examinations done after admission were negative. The pain was relieved in 48 hours time with analgesics and antispasmodics. During their follow-up in the out patient department a variety of causes were discovered on investigations. PMID- 2621669 TI - Somatization: the somatic presentation of psychiatric illness. Selected papers from the 32nd annual conference on the Society for psychosomatic research. PMID- 2621670 TI - Transcultural patterns of somatization in primary care: a preliminary report. AB - The ethnic origins of patients consulting their general practitioners (GP) were determined using criteria of country of birth, religion and preferred language. Three samples with preferred languages of English, Gujarati or Urdu were compared on a standardized interview with regard to symptom complaint, perception and attribution and also completed the General Health Questionnaire and Illness Behaviour Questionnaire. Their GPs provided diagnoses and ratings of physical and mental disorders. Compared with the English group, the Gujaratis had fewer psychosocial complaints, perceived less anxiety and were more likely to attribute their complaints to physical causes. They had higher scores on the Hypochondriasis and Denial scales. Their GPs rated them as less likely to have relevant physical or mental disorders. The Urdu group was intermediate in most respects. Thus somatization was commoner in these two Asian groups with different ethnic origins. However, overall levels of somatization appear to be high even in the English group. No significant differences were found between groups for complaints or ratings of depression, and the differences found in the somatization process appear to be related only to anxiety. PMID- 2621671 TI - Somatic emotional disorders in childhood and adolescence. AB - We conducted a short-term follow-up study of severe somatic emotional disorders in 93 children and adolescents. Our aim was to investigate whether the type of physical presentation influenced the outcome in terms of symptoms and subsequent use of medical services. Three groups of patients were identified. Two groups presented with neurological symptoms and were divided into a pseudo-epilepsy group (n = 23) and other hysterias (n = 30); and a third presented with non neurological symptoms which we termed 'other somatic presentations' (n = 40). Cases in the hysteria groups were significantly more likely to be female and post pubertal. Polysymptomatic presentations accounted for 85% of all cases and were as common in boys as in girls at all ages. The greatest number of symptoms was found in the pseudo-epilepsy group. None of the hysterias met DSM III-R criteria for somatization disorder. Outcome in terms of residual physical symptoms and subsequent use of medical services was poorest for the pseudo-epilepsy group, and nearly 40% of these patients were judged by their general practitioner to be unchanged since discharge. By comparison, 85% of all other somatic cases were judged improved since discharge from hospital out-patients. Neither polysymtomatic presentations nor persistent physical symptoms at discharge predicted a poor outcome in any group. The general practitioners considered the psychiatric treatment to have been helpful in the majority of cases, even when the somatic outcome was rated as unchanged. PMID- 2621672 TI - The treatment of somatization: teaching techniques of reattribution. AB - Patients commonly present to general practitioners with somatic symptoms for which no adequate physical cause can be found, which are accompanied by the symptoms of an anxiety state or a depressive illness. These illnesses pose a major public health problem, but little is known about optimal management. A three stage model is proposed to encourage patients to reattribute these symptoms, and relate them to psychosocial problems. These stages are; feeling understood; changing the agenda; and making the link. A videotaped learning package is described suitable for use with vocational trainees in general practice, consisting of demonstrations of component parts of the model followed by micro-teaching, as a preliminary to video-feedback of actual interviews with such patients. PMID- 2621673 TI - The treatment of somatization: evaluation of a teaching package with general practice trainees. AB - A teaching package is described which aims to improve the management of somatization by general practice trainees. The package comprises a training videotape in which a model (described in the preceding paper) is demonstrated, together with material for paired role-play of new skills and small group videofeedback of consultations. Evaluation of the teaching package reveals that the skills can be effectively learned. PMID- 2621674 TI - A cognitive-behavioural approach to hypochondriasis and health anxiety. AB - Primary hypochondriasis is a poorly understood condition for which there is no accepted effective treatment. A cognitive-behavioural formulation is described which identifies the psychological processes and factors involved in the aetiology and maintenance of the condition. Using this formulation, it is also possible to account for the development and course of health concerns in non hypochondriacal individuals. Modification of the aetiological and maintaining factors identified by the cognitive-behavioural formulation should provide an effective treatment for primary hypochondriasis. Cognitive-behavioural treatment strategies derived directly from the formulation have been used successfully in case-studies and require further systematic evaluation. PMID- 2621675 TI - The relation of type A behavior and vital exhaustion with physiological reactions to real life stress. AB - Type A behavior and a Vital Exhaustion/Depression cluster seem to be the most crucial elements of the psychological 'coronary risk profile'. The question is, what physiological mechanisms intervene between these characteristics and CHD risk. In the present study the relationship was investigated between type A behavior and Vital Exhaustion on the one hand and the reaction of blood pressure, catecholamines and cholesterol to a real life stressor (Ph.D. thesis defence) on the other. Type A was shown to be related to a stronger response of adrenaline and diastolic blood pressure to the stressor. Vital Exhaustion was also positively correlated with the adrenaline reaction, and moreover, with cholesterol base level, stress induced cholesterol change, and noradrenaline and cholesterol stress levels. It was suggested that the relation between Vital Exhaustion and cholesterol parameters may originate in noradrenaline induced lipolysis. Type A and Vital Exhaustion may exert their influence on coronary risk by way of different physiological mechanisms. Type A via exaggerated hemodynamic reactivity, and Vital Exhaustion via lipid metabolism. PMID- 2621676 TI - Fatigue and heart disease. The association between 'vital exhaustion' and past, present and future coronary heart disease. AB - In order to study the association between vital exhaustion and different manifestations of coronary heart disease, a prospective study was conducted among 3877 males, aged 39-65. This group was studied during a mean period of 4.2 years. Vital exhaustion, a mental state characterized by unusual fatigue, a feeling of being dejected or defeated, and increased irritability, were assessed by means of the Maastricht Questionnaire. Subjects who scored in the upper third were labelled as exhausted and were compared with those who scored in the lower or middle third. The age-adjusted relative risk of angina pectoris at screening that was associated with vital exhaustion was 4.17 (p less than 0.01); that of unstable angina pectoris at screening was 17.21 (p less than 0.001). No association was observed between vital exhaustion and past myocardial infarction, except in the youngest age group (OR = 3.76; p = 0.05). Among the subjects free from coronary heart disease at screening, 54 cases of angina pectoris, 38 cases of non-fatal myocardial infarction, and 21 cases of fatal myocardial infarction were observed during follow-up. The age-adjusted relative risk of angina pectoris at follow-up was found to be 1.86 (p less than 0.03) and that of non-fatal myocardial infarction was found to be 2.28 (p less than 0.001). No association was found between vital exhaustion and fatal events. PMID- 2621677 TI - Cardiovascular responses in the laboratory and in the natural environment: is blood pressure reactivity to laboratory-induced mental stress related to ambulatory blood pressure during everyday life? AB - Cardiovascular activity recorded at rest and during mental stress in the laboratory was studied in relation to ambulatory recorded cardiovascular activity at work and at home. Fifty-five Type A men (M = 42.4 years) underwent a standardized laboratory mental stress protocol in which systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate were recorded at baseline and during a 15 min mental arithmetic task (MAT). On a subsequent day, ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate were recorded at 20 minute intervals for 12-14 hr during normal activities at home and at work. Subjects completed a behavioral diary concurrently with each cuff inflation. High and Low groups were identified based upon a median split of their cardiovascular response levels at baseline and during the MAT. Subjects with high systolic blood pressure levels during the MAT had high systolic blood pressure at home, at work, during physical activity, and when they reported being 'stressed'. Baseline systolic blood pressure in the laboratory was less consistently related to ambulatory systolic pressure across ambulatory conditions. Diastolic blood pressure at baseline was related to ambulatory diastolic blood pressure at work, at home, and when resting. Diastolic blood pressure during the MAT was associated with higher diastolic pressure at work and at home. Heart rate at baseline and during the MAT was related to heart rate at work and during physical activity. Change scores derived by subtracting mean values during the MAT from baseline resting levels were not associated with ambulatory blood pressures or heart rates under any daily conditions. In the best case, systolic blood pressure measured during the MAT was related to systolic blood pressure during physical activity, to systolic blood pressure and heart rate during mental stress, to systolic and diastolic blood pressure at rest, and to systolic blood pressure and heart rate at work but not at home. We conclude that levels of blood pressure and heart rate measured in the laboratory, but not reactivity (i.e, change scores) during the MAT, are related to blood pressure and heart rate levels recorded in the natural environment, especially in the work setting. PMID- 2621678 TI - [MRI: projectiles, bullets and counter-indications]. AB - The authors present an overview of contraindications of MRI studies with bullets and projectiles. All shell splinters are ferromagnetic. There is a very large variety of bullets and their study cannot be exhaustive. In addition, same bullets of different series can be or not ferro-magnetic. Therefore, all projectiles must be considered as ferromagnetic until evidence of the contrary is found. PMID- 2621679 TI - [Contribution of radiology to the diagnosis and treatment of nasopharyngeal fibroma. Apropos of 6 cases]. AB - The authors report about their experience with 6 cases of nasopharyngeal fibroma. They emphasize the interest of CT examinations in the diagnostic study, and above all in the assessment of regional extension. The angiographic study must be as complete as possible, and should include an embolization within 2 to 5 days prior to surgical excision as often as this is possible. Embolization is a simple procedure if performed strictly and carefully in order to avoid any complication. PMID- 2621680 TI - [Spontaneous regression of disk herniation. Apropos of 7 cases]. AB - The author report 5 cases of lumbar radiculopathy and 2 cases of low-back pain with disc herniation in which a CT Scan shows spontaneous disappearing or regression of disc herniation. This spontaneous regression is especially observed in young patients on average: 18 to 19 months. His mechanism is discussed. PMID- 2621681 TI - [Fracture of the temporal bone. Evaluation of 123 cases]. AB - Out of 2,888 blunt head injuries that were treated at the Hermann Hospital Trauma Center of the University of Texas at Houston, only 123 temporal bone fractures were diagnosed in 110 patients. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed with high resolution computerized tomography of the temporal bones. Three main categories of fractures were identified: oblique in 74%, longitudinal in 13% and transverse in 13%. The clinical manifestations included hemotympanum in 83%, cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea in 21% and Battle's sign in 10.6%. One third of the patients had conductive hearing loss, 1/2 had mixed hearing loss and the rest sensorineural loss. On exploration, the most frequent middle ear pathology was incudostapedial joint dislocation. Immediate facial paralysis was observed in 64 patients. Only 11 patients needed facial nerve exploration following signs of denervation, the rest recovered spontaneously. Thirteen patients who had delayed facial paralysis also recovered spontaneously. One third of the patients had persistent unsteadiness 6 weeks following the injury. Other unusual complications encountered include 6 cases of abducent paralysis, 2 cases of trigeminal paralysis and 2 cases of aseptic sigmoid sinus thrombosis. PMID- 2621682 TI - [Desmoid tumors of the mesentery in Gardner's syndrome. Value of x-ray computed tomography]. AB - 3 cases of desmoid tumours of the mesentery occurring as part of Gardner's syndrome are reported. In 2 cases, CAT scanning was carried out. We underline the value of this examination compared to other imaging methods. It allows the establishment of a diagnosis, investigation for complications, the operability to be assessed and is useful for monitoring patients. Its major value is in avoiding an unnecessary laparotomy, a factor certain to produce recurrence, in certain patients. Other alternative therapy may then be proposed. PMID- 2621683 TI - [Thrombophlebitis of the ovarian vein. Apropos of 2 cases]. AB - Thrombophlebitis of the ovarian vein is a rare post-partum complication. Its diagnosis is said to be difficult, but was greatly facilitated by the progress made in imaging. The authors report about two cases identified with computed tomography. Evolution was favorable in both cases with an anticoagulant and antibiotic treatment. PMID- 2621684 TI - [Portal venous gas and necrotizing enterocolitis. Apropos of a case diagnosed by x-ray computed tomography]. AB - Hepatic portal vein gas is defined as the presence of gas in the portal system. Its presence is exceptional in adults and indicates severe disease. The prognosis depends on the cause of the pathology and not on the portal vein gas itself. We report the case of a patient with acute abdominal pain associated with vascular and neurological symptoms; abdominal C.T. scan revealed hepatic portal vein gas and supported the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis. PMID- 2621685 TI - Development of the seminiferous tubules after neonatal hemicastration in the boar. AB - Development of the prepubertal seminiferous tubules of the right testis was characterized morphometrically every 14 days from 10 to 122 days of age in intact boars (I) and boars hemicastrated (HC) on Day 10 of life from two herds (Trial 1 and Trial 2). Comparisons were made between the remaining testis of Group HC boars and one testis in Group I boars. By 38 days of age seminiferous tubule length in Group HC boars was double (P less than 0.0001) that in Group I boars. Seminiferous tubule length did not differ between trials within treatments. The diameter of the seminiferous tubule was similar in Group HC and I boars but was greater (P less than 0.05) in Trial-1 than Trial-2 boars from Day 80 to 122 of life. Relative mass (mass of tissue/body mass) of Sertoli cells became 2-fold greater (P less than 0.0001), in Group HC than in one testis of Group I boars by 38 days of age and this difference was maintained throughout the experimental period. The relative mass of Sertoli cells was greater (P less than 0.05) in Trial-1 than Trial-2 boars within each treatment between 80 and 122 days of age. The relative mass of gonocytes was similar for all groups and treatments of boars. By 122 days of age the relative mass of spermatogenic cells was greater (P less than 0.05) in Group HC than in one testis of Group I boars and greater (P less than 0.01) in Trial-1 than Trial-2 boars within each treatment. Onset of spermatogenesis was first observed at 80 and 94 days of age in boars in Groups HC and I, respectively. Development of seminiferous tubule lumen was first observed at 94 and 108 days of age in boars in Groups HC and I respectively. Seminiferous tubule lumen, taken as a measure of fluid secretion of the Sertoli cells, occupied a greater (P less than 0.01) portion of seminiferous tubule in Trial-1 than Trial-2 boars within each treatment at the end of the experimental period. It is concluded that neonatal hemicastration of boars rapidly caused a compensatory seminiferous tubule elongation apparently due to Sertoli cell proliferation and an earlier onset of spermatogenesis. However, the gonocytes do not proliferate until they transform into spermatogonia. PMID- 2621686 TI - Hormonal requirements for the growth and differentiation of hamster preantral follicles in long-term culture. AB - Preantral follicles from pro-oestrous and oestrous hamsters were isolated enzymically (Stages 1-5) and by microdissection (Stage 6) and cultured for up to 168 h in the absence or presence of 100 ng ovine FSH or LH separately or combined or 1 or 10 micrograms progesterone or estradiol-17 beta in serum-free defined medium and exposed to 1 muCi [3H]thymidine for 24 h before termination. In the presence of insulin and hydrocortisone but not gonadotrophins, the morphology of follicles from pro-oestrous animals at Stages 1-4 (1-4 layers granulosa cells; no theca) were unaffected for up to 48 h whereas for Stages 5 (5-6 layers granulosa cells and developing theca) and 6 (7-8 layers granulosa cells and theca), atresia was prominent by 24 h. FSH significantly reduced the percentage of atretic follicles in Stages 1-5 throughout the culture period; but was effective only up to 96 h for Stage-6 follicles. LH was also effective, albeit to a lesser extent. FSH increased follicular labelling indexes during every 24-h labelling period and, during a pulse-chase period, follicular DNA content and granulosa cell numbers. FSH, but not LH, induced differentiation by 96 h of preantral follicles at Stage 6 into small antral stages (Stages 7-8). FSH and LH together induced almost the same effect as FSH alone. However, neither progesterone nor oestradiol had any significant long-term effects on DNA synthesis and oestradiol induced atresia beyond 24 h. Both FSH and LH induced follicular maturation in vitro as evident from increases in progesterone, androstenedione and oestradiol production. Follicles (Stages 1-4) collected from oestrous hamsters responded to FSH to a lesser extent than did those from pro-oestrous animals, possibly because of in-vivo exposure to periovulatory changes in gonadotrophins; however, an antrum formed in Stage-6 follicles by 72 h. PMID- 2621687 TI - Direct luteotrophic effect of oestradiol-17 beta on pig corpora lutea. AB - Five gilts each received intraluteal implants releasing about 4.4 +/- 1.1 (Group 1), 15.0 +/- 1.1 (Group 2) or 22.4 +/- 1.0 (Group 3) micrograms oestradiol/day as determined by in-vitro incubation of implants of similar weight and oestradiol content. On Day 11 of the oestrous cycle (Day 0 = first day of oestrus), 3 CL in one ovary received oestradiol implants, 3 CL in the other ovary received vehicle implants, and all other CL in both ovaries served as uninjected control CL. An additional group of 6 animals served as controls and included 4 animals receiving bilateral vehicle implants (3 CL per ovary) on Day 11 and 2 unoperated gilts. All animals were slaughtered on Day 19 of their oestrous cycle, and the weight, progesterone content and concentration of each CL were determined. In Group 3 gilts, luteal weight, progesterone content and concentration were greater by 68.7 +/- 24.0 mg, 6.54 +/- 1.33 micrograms and 7.54 +/- 2.00 ng/ml respectively (P less than 0.01) in oestradiol-implanted CL than in vehicle-implanted CL, which appeared to be similar to uninjected control CL. No differences were seen between oestradiol-17 beta and vehicle-treated CL in CL from gilts in Groups 1 or 2. All CL of Group 3 gilts were heavier and contained a greater content and concentration of progesterone (P less than 0.01) than gilts in Groups 1 and 2, and in controls for which the values were similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621688 TI - Development of the testicular interstitium after neonatal hemicastration in the boar. AB - Development of the prepubertal interstitium of the right testes was characterized every 14 days from 10 to 122 days of age in intact boars (I) and boars hemicastrated (HC) at 10 days of age from two herds (Trial 1 and Trial 2). Comparisons were made between the remaining testis of Group-HC boars and one testis in Group-I boars. The relative mass (mass of component/body mass) of interstitium was 151% greater (P less than 0.001) in Group-HC than Group-I boars by 52 days of age. The relative mass of interstitium was greater (P less than 0.01) in Trial-1 than Trial-2 boars within each treatment from 80 to 122 days of age. The relative mass of interstitial space was 76% greater (P less than 0.05) in Group-HC than in one testis of Group-I boars by 52 days of age and greater (P less than 0.05) in Trial-1 than Trial-2 boars within each treatment from 80 to 122 days of age. The relative mass of Leydig cells was 254% greater (P less than 0.0001) in Group-HC than Group-I boars by 52 days of age and remained greater (P less than 0.05) in Group-HC than Group-I boars from 52 to 122 days of age. By 52 days of age the relative mass of Leydig cell nuclei and cytoplasm was 235% and 265% greater (P less than 0.0001) in Group-HC than Group-I boars, respectively, and both remained greater (P less than 0.05) in Group-HC than in Group-I until 122 days of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621689 TI - Alteration of follicular steroid secretion and thecal morphology after in-vitro exposure of individual pig follicles to follicle regulatory protein. AB - Medium-sized (4-6 mm) pig follicles were incubated for 10 h and then examined via light microscopy. Treatment with pig FSH resulted in significantly increased concentrations of oestradiol, testosterone, androstenedione and progesterone in the medium. Follicle regulatory protein (FRP) alone (1 micrograms/ml) decreased follicular secretion of oestradiol (56%) and progesterone (53%) but stimulated the secretion of testosterone (226%) and androstenedione (139%). In the presence of 1 ng FSH/ml, the inhibitory effect of FRP on oestradiol secretion was enhanced (74%), progesterone values were unaffected and secretion of testosterone and androstenedione were reduced by 66% and 53%, respectively. All effects of FRP were fully overcome by 1 micrograms FSH/ml. The incidence of atresia, as defined by granulosa cell pycnosis, was similar in all treatment groups (1-3 of 10 follicles per group). The remaining follicles had intact granulosa cells. However, follicles treated with FRP (1 micrograms/ml) + FSH (1 ng/ml) had pycnotic nuclei in the theca interna cells, in the presence of an intact stratum granulosum. External exposure of follicles to FRP may not reflect physiological conditions since, in vivo, thecal pycnosis is never observed before granulosa cell pycnosis. However, the present results indicate that FRP is potentially capable of altering both follicular morphology and steroidogenesis. We suggest that FSH and FRP interact to affect follicular development. PMID- 2621690 TI - Suckling-induced prolactin release potentiates mifepristone-induced lactogenesis in pregnant rats. AB - Suckling, starting at 19:00 h on Day 18 of pregnancy, induced a significant increase in serum prolactin concentration at 20:00 h on Day 19 of pregnancy, but no increase in mammary gland casein or lactose content. Mifepristone (2 mg/kg) injection at 08:00 h on Day 19 of pregnancy induced significant increases in casein, but not in lactose, 24 h after administration. Mifepristone alone did not induce prolactin secretion, indicating that lactogenesis was induced by placental lactogen in the absence of progesterone action. When mifepristone was injected into suckling rats, serum prolactin concentrations were higher than in the untreated suckling rats. Casein in these rats increased significantly 12 h after mifepristone administration and lactose at 24 h after. If the suckling mifepristone-treated rats were given two injections of bromocriptine (1.5 mg/kg) at 12:00 h on Days 18 and 19 of pregnancy, serum prolactin concentrations were not increased by suckling, but casein and lactose concentrations in the mammary gland showed values similar to those obtained in the mifepristone-treated non suckling rats. Mifepristone can therefore potentiate suckling-induced prolactin release in pregnant rats, demonstrating a direct central inhibitory action of progesterone on prolactin secretion. This suckling-induced prolactin secretion, unable to induce casein or lactose synthesis in the presence of progesterone, enhanced significantly synthesis of these milk components in the absence of progesterone action (rats treated with mifepristone). Fatty acid synthase, which is stimulated by the suckling stimulus in lactating rats, was not modified by mifepristone or suckling in pregnant rats. PMID- 2621691 TI - Fractionation and characterization of oxytocinases in human semen. AB - Two isoenzymes of oxytocinase activity were fractionated from human seminal plasma by acrylamide-agarose gel chromatography and partly characterized using S benzyl-L-cysteine-p-nitroanilide (BCN) and L-leucine-p-nitroanilide (LN) separately as substrates. These isoenzymes appeared to be metallo-aminopeptidases with different elution volumes (90 ml and 150 ml), apparent molecular weights (unknown value and 300,000) and pH optima (6.8 and 7.0 with BCN and 7.2 and 7.4 with LN), but with similar substrate affinity and thermal sensitivity, and susceptibility to EDTA, divalent metal ions, L-methionine, polypeptide hormones and prostaglandins. A comparison of the enzymic properties with pregnancy associated oxytocinases suggests that seminal oxytocinases are related more closely to amniotic fluid isoenzymes than to pregnancy serum, placental and uterine isoenzymes. PMID- 2621692 TI - Effects of oestradiol implants on the ovulation rate of the ewe. AB - In a series of 5 experiments, ewes were treated with implants releasing oestradiol-17 beta and the effects on ovulation rate were observed. Large doses of oestradiol-17 beta (greater than 20 micrograms/day) produced anovulation while smaller amounts only reduced the proportion of twin ovulations. Amounts of exogenous oestradiol comparable to ovarian production rate in the luteal phase (less than 1 microgram/day) produced a significant (P less than 0.01) suppression in ovulation rate. Treatment during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle was most effective, but treatment during the luteal phase alone also appeared to suppress ovulation rate. Furthermore, in 2 of 3 experiments ewes treated with low amounts of oestradiol during the first half of the luteal phase were less likely to have multiple ovulations at the subsequent oestrous period. The results support the hypothesis that oestrogen is involved in the physiological control of ovulation rate in the ewe, but this action is probably not restricted to the assertion of dominance by a maturing follicle during the follicular phase. PMID- 2621693 TI - Significance of germ cells for the expression of testicular endocrine function in rats. AB - Germ-cell depletion was induced in rats by busulphan administration during the fetal period (Group B). Although a sigmoidal increase of serum testosterone concentration was observed 1 h after the administration of graded doses of hCG (0.3-15.0 i.u./100 g body weight) in intact rats and those in Group B, a shift in the dose-response curve to the right was observed in the latter, suggesting that the sensitivity of testicular response to gonadotrophin was lower in germ cell depleted rats. However, since the sensitivity was almost identical for both groups of rats for isolated Leydig cells incubated in vitro for 3 h with hCG (0.5 312.5 i.u./ml), the intrinsic nature of the cells was not affected in Group B rats. When the responses of testicular tissue blocks were examined in the in vitro incubation system, reduced sensitivity reappeared for those from Group B rats, and the presence of testicular tissue components including seminiferous tubules was considered to be responsible for the difference in Leydig cell sensitivity between intact rats and those exposed to busulphan. By the combination of in-vivo and in-vitro experiments, we have demonstrated that germ cells are involved in the endocrine function of the testis. PMID- 2621694 TI - Light and scanning electron microscopy of fallow deer (Dama dama) spermatozoa. AB - No basic differences in size (mean +/- s.d. for at least 300 spermatozoa), shape and ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of fallow deer were detected (1) in comparison to other artiodactyls, (2) between different fallow bucks, and (3) between different months of the fertile season. The total length of the normal spermatozoon was 67.2 +/- 1.2 microns. The flat, paddle-shaped head was 8.2 +/- 0.3 microns long, 4.4 +/- 0.2 microns for the greatest width, 1.9 +/- 0.2 microns for basal width and, approximately 0.7 microns in thickness. The tail measurements were 13.7 +/- 0.3 microns for the midpiece, 0.5 +/- 0.1 microns for the diameter of the midpiece, 42.6 +/- 0.9 microns for the principal piece, and 2.7 +/- 0.6 microns for the endpiece. Spermatozoa with abnormalities such as cytoplasmic remnants and droplets, bent and coiled tails, as well as microcephalic forms were observed. PMID- 2621695 TI - Immunoinhibition of human fertilization in vitro by antibodies to the cumulus oophorus intercellular matrix. AB - Rabbit polyvalent antiserum raised against the solubilized cumulus matrix was a powerful inhibitor of human fertilization in vitro, affecting sperm-zona pellucida interaction. Both sperm binding to, and penetration of, the zona pellucida were severely impaired by the anti-cumulus matrix antiserum, whereas no effects of this antiserum on cumulus matrix solubilization or penetration of zona free human eggs were evident. Moreover, the anti-cumulus antiserum partly neutralized the acrosome reaction-inducing activity of the cumulus matrix. These results warrant further research into the functional specificity of different cumulus matrix components and into the effects of the respective antibodies on reproductive function as a possible lead to a new approach to contraceptive vaccine development. PMID- 2621696 TI - Effect of active immunization of pre-partum and post-partum cows against prostaglandin F-2 alpha on lifespan and progesterone secretion of short-lived corpora lutea. AB - Mature beef cows were actively immunized pre partum (N = 5) or post partum (N = 10) against a PGF-2 alpha-ovalbumin conjugate or against ovalbumin alone (control; N = 5). All cows in the control group exhibited first oestrous cycles which were of short duration (less than or equal to 12 days). Mean specific serum binding to [3H]PGF-2 alpha in the control group was consistently less than 1%. In the pre-partum PGF-2 alpha-immunized cows, lifespan and progesterone secretion of the first corpus luteum formed post partum was maintained for greater than 39 days. Specific serum binding to [3H]PGF-2 alpha in pre-partum and post-partum PGF 2 alpha-immunized cows was elevated. Lifespan of the first corpus luteum formed in post-partum PGF-2 alpha-immunized cows was short (less than 10 days; N = 1), normal (mean = 22 days; N = 4) or maintained (greater than 31 days; N = 5). Luteal lifespan was dependent upon serum PGF-2 alpha antibody titres, with cows exhibiting higher titres frequently having prolonged luteal lifespans after first ovulation. We conclude that active immunization of beef cows against PGF-2 alpha extends the lifespan and progesterone secretion of corpora lutea anticipated to be short-lived. These results support the concept that the shorter lifespan of some corpora lutea in post-partum cows is due to a premature release of PGF-2 alpha from the uterus. PMID- 2621697 TI - Patterns of plasma progesterone, androgen and oestrogen concentrations and in vitro ovarian steroidogenesis during embryonic diapause and implantation in the mink (Mustela vison). AB - Peripheral plasma progesterone concentrations exhibited an increase 10 days before implantation, coinciding with the resumption of blastocyst growth and with a decrease in plasma androgen values (DHA, androstenedione, testosterone). No definite pattern of oestrone was observed and oestradiol concentrations remained undetectable. The production of steroids by dispersed luteal cells showed that the growth of the corpora lutea paralleled that of blastocysts and resulted in hypertrophy followed by hyperplasia of the luteal cell. The production of progesterone in the medium increased with blastocyst size up to implantation; it was enhanced by mink charcoal-treated serum, but prolactin, LH, FSH or a combination of these hormones did not affect the progesterone production, whatever the stage of diapause. DHA and androstenedione secretion increased in the two last stages of blastocyst growth and was enhanced by LH. The conversion of androstenedione and testosterone into oestrone and oestradiol was observed at all stages of embryonic diapause, indicating that corpora lutea contain aromatase activity even at an early stage. The secretion of oestrone was higher than that of oestradiol. The non-luteal tissue contributed up to 50% of the steroid production; while progesterone and androgen production remained constant, that of oestradiol decreased at the end of the delay period. These results indicated a change in the size and the secretory capacity of the luteal cell related to blastocyst development and implantation. Although progesterone was the main product of the corpora lutea, androgens and oestrogens were also secreted. PMID- 2621698 TI - Temporal associations among ovarian events in cattle during oestrous cycles with two and three follicular waves. AB - For 18 two-wave interovulatory intervals in heifers, the follicular waves were first detected on Days -0.2 +/- 0.1 and 9.6 +/- 0.2, and for 4 three-wave intervals on Days -0.5 +/- 0.3, 9.0 +/- 0.0 and 16.0 +/- 1.1 (ovulation is Day 0). The day-to-day mean diameter profile of the dominant follicle of the 1st wave and the day of emergence of the 2nd wave were not significantly different between 2-wave and 3-wave intervals. There were no indications, therefore, that events occurring during the first half of the interovulatory interval were associated with the later emergence of a 3rd wave. The dominant ovulatory follicle differed significantly (P less than 0.05 at least) between 2-wave and 3-wave intervals in day of emergence (Day 9.6 +/- 0.2 and 16.0 +/- 1.1), length of interval from emergence of follicle to ovulation (10.9 +/- 0.4 and 6.8 +/- 0.6 days), and diameter on day before ovulation (16.5 +/- 0.4 and 13.9 +/- 0.4 mm). The mean length of 2-wave interovulatory intervals (20.4 +/- 0.3 days) was shorter (P less than 0.01) than for 3-wave intervals (22.8 +/- 0.6 days). The mean day of luteal regression for 2-wave and 3-wave intervals was 16.5 +/- 0.4 and 19.2 +/- 0.5 (P less than 0.01). For all intervals, luteal regression occurred after emergence of the ovulatory wave, and the next wave did not emerge until near the day of ovulation at the onset of the subsequent interovulatory interval. In conclusion, the emergence of a 3rd wave was associated with a longer luteal phase, and the viable dominant follicle present at the time of luteolysis became the ovulatory follicle. PMID- 2621699 TI - Evidence of an association between the survival of embryos and the periovulatory plasma progesterone concentration in the ewe. AB - Plasma progesterone concentration and embryo survival were determined during successive pregnancies in ewes throughout one breeding season. The probability of an embryo surviving was associated with the progesterone concentration on the days around ovulation, with the timing of the increase from periovulatory to luteal values, and with the rate at which progesterone concentrations increased. Individual embryo survival decreased both as the number of corpora lutea increased, and towards the end of the breeding season; the latter effect could be explained entirely by differences in progesterone concentration. Considerable variation in progesterone secretion and in embryo survival was observed within the same ewes during successive pregnancies. Such variability in progesterone concentrations during early pregnancy may be a cause of some embryo mortality. PMID- 2621700 TI - Morphological and functional characterization of large antral follicles in three breeds of sheep with different ovulation rates. AB - Morphological and functional features of large ovarian follicles from three breeds of sheep, with different ovulation rates (Finnish Landrace N = 12, Finnish Landrace X Scottish Blackface N = 16, Merino X Scottish Blackface N = 16) were compared by integrating three techniques; ink labelling, in-vitro oestradiol production and morphological classification. The follicles were removed at two stages of the follicular phase, 1 (PG + 1) or 2 (PG + 2) days after PGF-2 alpha treatment and compared after monitoring their rates of growth with the use of ink labelling. After ovariectomy all follicles greater than or equal to 1 mm in diameter were dissected, and the 8 largest were incubated individually for 2 h to assess their ability to secrete oestradiol and testosterone. After incubation the follicles were processed for histological examination and checked for atresia. An analysis of the follicle population was based on in-vitro oestradiol secretion rates in all three breeds; an oestrogen-active population producing 500-8100 pg oestradiol/ml/h and an oestrogen-inactive population producing 0-499 pg oestradiol/ml/h. A comparison of the 3 approaches demonstrated agreement on 94.3 +/- 1.2% of occasions. Ink-labelling demonstrated that all follicles identified as oestrogen-active were increasing in size. Within oestrogen-active follicles significant correlations were detected between oestradiol production and testosterone production (r = 0.42), oestradiol production and granulosa cell number (r = 0.45) and between oestradiol production and mitotic index (r = 0.38). A regression model fitting breed, stage of atresia, granulosa cell number, in-vitro testosterone production and mitotic index demonstrated that granulosa cell number is a characteristic which contributes significantly to the variation of in-vitro oestradiol production in oestrogen-active and oestrogen-inactive follicles. There was no significant difference between breeds in the mean number of ink-labelled follicles growing from Day PG - 1 to Day PG + 1. There was a significant difference between the breeds in the number of ink-labelled follicles growing between Days PG + 1 and PG + 2 (Days 1 and 2 of the follicular phase), the number being similar to the ovulation rate for the breed. The majority of the oestrogen-active follicles had been recruited by Day PG - 1, although in the Finnish Landrace genotypes more than 30% were recruited on or after Day PG + 1 compared to less than 10% in Merino x Scottish Blackface ewes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2621701 TI - Ovarian cyclicity and follicular recruitment in unilaterally ovariectomized mice. AB - Halving the numbers of follicles in young adult mice by unilateral ovariectomy resulted in compensatory Graafian follicle growth with a reduction by about 25% of the expected number of oestrous cycles. The impact of the operation on the numbers and dynamics of preantral follicles during the first 2 months after ovariectomy was studied using a compartmental mathematical model to analyse differential follicle counts. There were changes in growth and/or death rates at all stages of follicle development, and the patterns emerging were time dependent. The rate of follicle survival from the pool of unilaminar stages was paradoxically reduced, but those forming two granulosa cell layers continued to develop towards Graafian size. As the frequency of follicle death declined, the numbers of healthy large preantral and antral stages in unpaired ovaries rose to approach those in pairs of age-matched control ovaries, suggesting that follicles otherwise undergoing atresia were being rescued. In the long-term, follicle dynamics after unilateral ovariectomy at young ages did not appear to compromise fecundity seriously. PMID- 2621702 TI - The cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus). AB - The duration of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in 5 mature Bali bulls was 11.75 days (standard error of estimate 0.52 days). The relative frequencies of the stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium (morphological classification) of Bali cattle differed from other cattle and buffalo in that there were lower frequencies of Stage 1 and 2 tubules, and higher frequencies of Stage 3, 6 and 7 tubules. PMID- 2621703 TI - Reduced male reproductive capacity in mice with high genetic potential for post weaning growth. AB - Male reproductive capacity was examined in 5 lines of mice which differed markedly in mature body weight (30-73 g) due to selection for growth and/or substitution of the high growth gene (hg). Testes weight ranged from 0.75-0.77% of body weight in control lines to 0.33% in the largest mice which had the hg gene in a growth selected background. Both selection for growth and the hg gene in a control background reduced absolute testes size (0.200 and 0.207 g vs 0.236 and 0.228 g in control lines) as well as relative testes size although body weight was increased by at least 50%. Although the combination of growth background and hg gene reduced sperm production per g testis compared to the outbred control, the primary cause of reduced sperm production per mouse in lines containing either the growth background or the hg gene alone was reduced absolute testes size. At 24, but not at 11, weeks of age, the hg gene reduced sperm motility. In these lines, high genetic potential for post-weaning growth was associated with decreased male reproductive capacity. PMID- 2621704 TI - Prostaglandin production by horse embryos and the effect of co-culture of embryos with endometrium from pregnant mares. AB - Embryos, endometrial biopsies, and uterine lavage fluid were collected from pregnant and non-pregnant mares 14 days after ovulation. Embryos were cultured for 20.5 h with and without endometrial tissue from pregnant mares, and endometrial tissue was cultured alone. Endometrial content of PGF tended to be higher (P = 0.06) in non-pregnant than in pregnant mares, but the amount of PGF released from tissue during culture was similar for pregnant and non-pregnant mares. Lavage fluid from non-pregnant mares also tended (P = 0.08) to contain higher concentrations of PGF. Coincubation of embryos with endometrium from pregnant mares significantly (P = 0.01) lowered concentrations of PGF in medium. Tissue concentrations and release of PGE-2 and 6-keto-PGF-1 alpha were similar in endometrial samples from pregnant and non-pregnant mares and prostaglandin production was unaffected by the presence of an embryo during incubation. Horse embryos released all three prostaglandins during a 20.5-h incubation. PMID- 2621705 TI - Properties of heparin binding to purified plasma membranes from bovine granulosa cells. AB - Bovine granulosa cells were disrupted by nitrogen cavitation and the resulting membrane vesicles were isolated by centrifugation using a self-generating Percoll gradient. Transmission electron microscopy and marker enzyme assays revealed a highly enriched preparation of plasma membrane vesicles with little contamination from intracellular organelles. The membranes were examined for their ability to bind [3H]heparin under a variety of physical conditions. Binding was dependent largely on electrostatic interactions which were sensitive to alterations in the ionic strength and pH of the medium. Optimal binding was obtained in the absence of added salt and at pH 6.5 but reduced by 50% at 150 mM-NaCl or at pH values above 7.5. Heparin binding to the membranes was abolished by a 1-h pretreatment with chymotrypsin, plasmin, pronase or trypsin. Detergent treatment of the membranes had various effects, depending on the ionic characteristics of the detergents used. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gels of plasma membrane proteins revealed a complex pattern of polypeptides with Mr of 10,000-120,000. Autoradiographic analysis of plasma membrane proteins on Western blots labelled with 125I-labelled heparin revealed 3 major heparin-binding proteins with molecular weights of 14,000-16,000. These studies report a new method of rapidly obtaining purified membranes from a limited population of granulosa cells. The characterization of the binding domains as membrane-associated proteins provides opportunities for numerous additional studies. Detergent solubilization of the membranes without appreciable loss in binding activity should simplify attempts to purify the binding proteins. Further analysis of the interactions of these molecules with native follicular fluid GAGs at various stages of granulosa cell development should provide useful insights into the role of complex carbohydrates in follicular maturation. PMID- 2621706 TI - Reproductive performance and fetal growth in female mice from lines divergently selected on the basis of plasma IGF-1 concentrations. AB - Reproductive performance, mammary gland weight and plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were examined in 18-day-pregnant mice from lines divergently selected on the basis of plasma IGF-1 concentration. Females of the high IGF-1 (H) line were 14% heavier than those of the low IGF-1 (L) line at mating but did not differ in conception rate during a 15-day mating period. H line females produced significantly larger litters by an average of 1.5 fetuses (19%), heavier fetuses (7%), greater total fetal weight (30%), heavier placental discs (15%), greater total placental weight (35%) and heavier mammary glands (18%). Plasma IGF-1 values were 12% greater in H-line than L-line females at Day 19 of gestation but the line difference was not significant. It is concluded that differences between the lines in litter size and mammary gland weight are most likely due to differences in maternal bodyweight (which are in turn a consequence of selection for plasma IGF-1 at puberty). Whether the difference in fetal weight is a function of fetal capacity to grow in utero or ability of the dam to provide nutrients for fetal growth is yet to be determined. PMID- 2621707 TI - Development of preimplantation goat (Capra hircus) embryos in vivo and in vitro. AB - Preimplantation goat embryos were cultured with or without goat oviduct epithelial cells in Earle's 199 medium + 10% goat serum (E199 + 10%GS), and in three different simple chemically defined media. In-vivo development was characterized by an extended 8- to 16-cell stage followed by a rapid cleavage rate in the next 3 cell cycles. Culture of 1-8-cell embryos in Medium E199 + 10%GS led to cleavage arrest at the 8-16-cell stage, while in the chemically defined media embryos developed poorly and a high percentage failed to pass the 8 16-cell stage. In co-culture, however, a high percentage (77% and 96%) of 1-2 cell and 4-8-cell embryos, respectively, developed beyond the 16-cell stage. In co-culture, 1-2-cell embryos maintained cleavage rates equivalent to those in vivo until the 8-cell stage, but thereafter cell numbers lagged behind those in vivo, and by 168 h after ovulation, cell numbers (+/- s.e.) in vitro were 47.6 +/ 7.9 compared to 238 +/- 27.2 in vivo (t = 6.93, P less than 0.001). The results demonstrate that co-culture of embryos with oviduct cells allows a high percentage of embryos to develop through the period of cleavage arrest, providing a favourable environment for development through the 1-16-cell stages but a less adequate environment for development to the blastocyst stage. PMID- 2621708 TI - Quantitative study of the development of isolated mouse pre-antral follicles in collagen gel culture. AB - Follicles were isolated from the ovaries of 10-day-old C57BL6/CBA F1 hybrids by mechanical and enzymic treatment, embedded in a collagen-gel matrix to maintain the 3 dimensional integrity of the follicle and cultured for up to 14 days. Gels were removed at various times during the culture period and prepared for histology. Follicles grew from unilaminar to multilaminar stages within 6 days of the culture period. A more detailed assessment of growth by counting follicles at different stages and measuring oocyte and follicle diameters showed that follicle growth was maintained for up to 14 days in culture. Initially the proportion of unhealthy follicles was high but this declined after 6 days in culture. PMID- 2621709 TI - Influence of age and medium on formation of epithelial cords in the rat fetal ovary in vitro. AB - Fetal ovaries of 14.5-day-old rats were cultured for periods of up to 19 days in control medium or in medium conditioned by the preliminary culture of testes from fetal or young rats. In all ovaries, after 12 days of culture in either medium, epithelial cords were noted having an aspect identical to that of seminiferous cords present in fetal testes explanted at 14.5 days and also cultured for 12 days, i.e. the epithelial cords appeared in ovaries when there was no 'male' or testicular influence. The appearance of histological preparations suggested that the disappearance of the germ cells might bring about a reorganization of the follicular cells in epithelial cords during the differentiation period of the first follicles. With ovaries cultured in conditioned medium, degeneration of the germ cells was more marked, follicles were rare and intra-ovarian cords were greater in number than in ovaries cultured in control medium. The ovaries thus transformed produced the anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) although they lacked the "germinostatic activity" normally developed by testes of fetal or young rats. This germinostatic activity prevents the multiplication of oogonia when the testes and ovaries are co-cultured in vitro. The transformed ovaries therefore do not have all the functional capacities of fetal testes. PMID- 2621710 TI - Relationship between pre-partum relaxin concentrations and farrowing intervals in the pig. AB - Gilts were treated on Day 112 of gestation with saline or a prostaglandin (PG) F 2 alpha analogue. In control gilts there was a rise in the relaxin concentration from 48 h before the onset of delivery, peaking between 12 and 28 h pre partum followed by a steep fall. The relaxin concentrations at each 1-h time interval were analysed in relation to the farrowing interval for each gilt using correlation analysis. There was a significant (at least P less than 0.05) positive correlation between the relaxin concentration and the farrowing interval at every time period from 14 to 2 h before delivery. In contrast there was little relationship between concentrations of progesterone, oestrone and oestradiol-17 beta and farrowing intervals. The gilts treated with PGF-2 alpha analogues had steroid profiles indistinguishable from those in controls but differing relaxin secretion patterns. Relaxin concentrations peaked at 1-2 h after PGF-2 alpha injection and this was followed by a second smaller increase closer to the time of delivery in 7 out of 12 gilts. The 'two-peak' gilts had significantly higher relaxin concentrations at farrowing and took significantly longer to farrow than did the 'one-peak' gilts (P less than 0.005). These results suggest that high relaxin concentrations during the last 14 h before the onset of parturition are associated with increased farrowing times, but are not associated with any increase in neonatal mortality. PMID- 2621711 TI - Polyamines and other accessory sex gland secretions in human seminal plasma 8 years after vasectomy. AB - In 56 males, vasectomized 8 years previously, and in 56 age-matched non vasectomized controls, a number of secretory products of prostatic, seminal vesicular and epididymal/testicular origin were used to monitor post-operative changes in accessory sex gland function. Significant reductions were observed in seminal plasma volume (3.0 vs 4.9 ml, P less than 0.01), and the total ejaculate contents of zinc (5.1 vs 9.7 mumol, P less than 0.01), magnesium (10.6 vs 26.5 mumol, P less than 0.01), PAP (371 vs 1260 IU, P less than 0.005) and citric acid (76.7 vs 127.9 mumol, P less than 0.05), indicating a major impact on secretions of prostatic origin. Unaltered PGE-1 (54.3 vs 53.2 micrograms, P less than 0.95) and fructose (3.9 vs 4.5 mumol, P greater than 0.1) indicated no effects on the secretory function of the seminal vesicles. A marked reduction was demonstrated in the ejaculatory contents of the polyamines, spermidine (366 vs 650 nmol, P less than 0.005) and spermine (5435 vs 11 804 nmol, P less than 0.05) but not their acknowledged precursor, putrescine, which is also of prostatic origin. PMID- 2621712 TI - Glutathione metabolism in cultured Sertoli cells and spermatogenic cells from hamsters. AB - Isolated spermatocytes and spermatids from hamsters contained a large amount of glutathione (GSH) (approximately 40 and 30 nmol GSH/mg protein, respectively), but showed a spontaneous decrease of GSH content during prolonged incubation (t1/2 approximately 35 h). Incubation of the germ cells in the presence of the glutathione biosynthesis inhibitor buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) provided evidence that the cells can perform glutathione synthesis. This synthesis, however, was not sufficient to maintain the GSH content of the isolated cells, or to restore the cellular GSH pool after depletion caused by exposure of the cells to the glutathione S-transferase substrate, diethyl maleate (DEM). Cultured Sertoli cells, containing approximately 10 nmol GSH/mg protein, had a more active BSO-sensitive GSH synthesis system. The Sertoli cells, but also tubule fragments containing Sertoli cells and germ cells, were able to restore their GSH pool after DEM-induced depletion. DEM treatment of the tubule fragments resulted in a 90% decrease of the GSH content of the spermatocytes and spermatids present within the fragments. The GSH levels of the tubule fragments and the enclosed germ cells were restored during a subsequent incubation in the absence of DEM. As indicated above, such a recovery was not observed for isolated spermatocytes and spermatids. The results illustrate the importance of Sertoli cell-germ cell interaction, and point to a role of Sertoli cells in glutathione synthesis by the germ cells. PMID- 2621713 TI - Melatonin can induce year-round ovarian cyclicity in red deer (Cervus elaphus). AB - From 17 February 1987 (Day 1) to 5 June 1988 (Day 475), 6 red deer hinds which had been in natural daylength (NL/M) and 6 hinds which had been in continuous artificial light for the previous month (CL/M) were each given melatonin (5 mg in feed) daily at 15:00 h. Six controls (C) received unsupplemented feed. From Day 1 all hinds were in natural daylight and ovarian cyclicity was assessed from plasma progesterone concentrations. Group C first went into anoestrus on 15 March 1987 (Day 27 +/- 9.2 (s.e.m], recommenced cyclicity on 23 October (Day 249 +/- 2.3) and went into anoestrus again on 2 April 1988 (Day 411 +/- 8.7). Group CL/M first went into anoestrus 31 days earlier (P less than 0.05) on 12 February (Day -4 +/- 7.8), before the start of melatonin treatment; 4 hinds then recommenced ovarian cycles 132 days earlier (P less than 0.001) on 13 June (Day 117 +/- 5.8) and continued to cycle for a longer period than did controls. Group NL/M hinds were cyclic at the start of melatonin feeding and continued to cycle for 1 year or more (N = 6). Plasma prolactin concentrations remained suppressed (less than 20 ng/ml) for the duration of melatonin-feeding (Groups CL/M and NL/M) whereas control values (Group C) were elevated (20-120 ng/ml) between April and August (P less than 0.05). The ovarian response by hinds to melatonin therefore depends on initial reproductive status and recent photoperiodic history, and continued administration to cyclic hinds stimulates prolonged ovarian cyclicity irrespective of the time of year. PMID- 2621714 TI - In-vivo and in-vitro determination of components of rabbit early pregnancy factors. AB - Two types of rabbit early pregnancy factor (EPF) components, prepared from the in vitro perfused ovary and oviduct and from serum ammonium sulphate fractions, were investigated to elucidate the source of EPF production. The state of the animals, i.e. pregnant, pseudopregnant, unstimulated or platelet activating factor (PAF) treated, and order of addition of the components to the assay lymphocytes were varied to characterize conditions of production and expression of EPF activity. Although each component alone had no EPF activity, combination of two components, i.e. ovary and oviduct components, or serum precipitate and supernatant components, expressed EPF activity. The oviduct and serum supernatant components were produced in pregnancy and pseudopregnancy but the ovary and serum precipitate components were produced only in pregnancy. The similarity of the production pattern and ability of the perfusate and serum components to yield EPF activity when combined suggests that they are similar or the same. The sources of stimulation of EPF production did not appear to affect component production because the activity produced by the perfused ovary and oviduct in pregnancy or in response to PAF stimulation appeared similar. Oviduct and supernatant components apparently bound directly to lymphocytes. These results suggest that EPF components are produced in the ovary and oviduct individually and that the combination of the two components expresses EPF activity in the rabbit. PMID- 2621715 TI - In-vitro development of zygotes from superovulated prepubertal and mature gilts. AB - Ten prepubertal and 8 mature gilts were superovulated with PMSG and hCG, and inseminated with fresh boar semen. Zygotes were surgically recovered from oviducts 54-60 h after hCG. One and 2-cell zygotes were randomly allotted to Medium PL (modified BMOC-3 supplemented with 0.1 mM-EDTA and 1.5% BSA) or Medium G (Medium PL without pyruvate or lactate). Eggs were washed twice in medium, and placed in microdrops of medium overlaid with silicon oil for culture in an humidified 5% CO2, 5% O2, 90% N2 environment, then observed daily for 6 days. Development of eggs was dependent (P less than 0.001) on the interactive effects of age of gilt (prepubertal versus mature) and medium type (PL versus G) used in culture. A greater proportion of eggs cultured in Medium G developed further than did eggs in Medium PL (P less than 0.001). Additionally, a greater proportion of eggs from mature gilts developed further than did eggs from prepubertal gilts (P less than 0.02). We suggest that these results provide evidence that zygotes resulting from superovulation regimens of prepubertal gilts do not possess the same capacity for in-vitro development as do zygotes from pubertal gilts. PMID- 2621716 TI - Aspects of reproduction in female Ross seals (Ommatophoca rossii). AB - Ovaries were collected from 26 Ross seals shot in the King Haakon VII Sea south of the 60 degrees latitude during 3 periods, between 12 January and 2 February 1980-1982. The structure of the ovaries resembled that of other pinnipeds. A corpus luteum was found in 18 of 26 females, which therefore were regarded as reproductive. However, no females were lactating or visibly pregnant (presence of fetus in the uterus). Of the remaining 8 females (non-reproductive), 3 had neither a corpus luteum nor a corpus albicans. Ovulation did not alternate between ovaries in 4 of 10 females. Ovarian weight was greater in reproductive females than in non-reproductive females, and was also correlated with presence of a corpus luteum. Follicular development was more advanced in reproductive females than in non-reproductive females, and it was also more pronounced in the ovary containing a corpus luteum. The finding of a high percentage of females with a corpus luteum, but with no fetus in the uterus, together with histological characteristics of the ovarian structures in the present study, and earlier published data on mating, pupping and moulting, provide circumstantial evidence for delayed implantation in Ross seals. PMID- 2621717 TI - Binding of bovine follicular fluid glycosaminoglycans to fibronectin, laminin and low-density lipoproteins. AB - Interactions of bovine follicular fluid glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) with extracellular matrix (ECM) components fibronectin and laminin and with low density lipoproteins (LDL) were examined using affinity chromatography. Glycosaminoglycans from small (diameter less than 5 mm) and large (diameter 11-20 mm) follicles were isolated from follicular fluid. The dermatan sulphate or heparan sulphate from small or large follicles was applied to Fn-, Lm- or LDL Sepharose columns. Portions of each fraction of the bound or unbound GAG were then subjected to gel filtration h.p.l.c. for quantification. The binding interaction between dermatan sulphate and fibronectin was significantly greater than between heparan sulphate and fibronectin (P less than 0.05); the binding interaction between GAGs from small follicles and fibronectin was significantly greater than between GAGs from large follicles (P less than 0.05). The binding interaction between GAGs from small follicles and laminin was significantly greater than for GAGs from large follicles (P less than 0.05). Dermatan sulphate from small follicles bound to fibronectin (42%), laminin (36%) and LDL (14%) and that from large follicles bound to fibronectin (14%), laminin (23%) and LDL (14%). Heparan sulphate from small follicles bound to fibronectin (17%), laminin (15%) and that from large follicles bound to fibronectin (13%), laminin (10%) and LDL (6%). These results suggest that dermatan sulphate, but not heparan sulphate, from follicles at different stages of development exhibit a varied ability to interact with components of the ECM. Both substances bound to LDL comparably in small amounts. PMID- 2621718 TI - Intrauterine infusion of highly enriched bovine trophoblast protein-1 complex exerts an antiluteolytic effect to extend corpus luteum lifespan in cyclic cattle. AB - Intrauterine infusion of enriched bovine trophoblast protein-1 complex (bTP-1) resulted in extension of interoestrous intervals and corpus luteum function in cyclic cattle. Conceptus proteins were obtained by culture of Day 17-18 conceptuses for 72 h. Media from the first (n = 28), second (n = 26) and third (n = 19) 24 h of conceptus incubations were utilized. A highly enriched preparation of bTP-1 was obtained by a combination of ammonium sulphate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, and h.p.l.c. gel filtration. Degree of purity of the final preparation was confirmed by gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting with antiserum to ovine trophoblast protein-1. Jersey cattle (3 per group) received intrauterine infusions, twice daily from Day 15.5 to 21.0, of bovine serum albumin, the entire array of bovine conceptus secretory proteins (bCSP) from the 3 days of conceptus culture, or bTP-1. Infusions were via a catheter into the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum. Oestrous cycle length in bTP-1 treated cows (26.1 +/- 1.3 days) was greater than for cows given BSA (19.5 +/- 1.3 days) or bCSP (21.5 +/- 1.3 days). Similarly, progesterone concentrations in serum remained elevated for a longer period of time for bTP-1-treated cows than for cows treated with BSA or bCSP. Residual variance associated with vena cava concentrations of PGF-2 alpha at Days 19-21 after oestrus (which included the variance between 15-min periods within cows) was reduced in cows treated with bTP 1 as compared to other groups. Lack of a bCSP effect may have been due to low amounts of bTP-1 in conceptus-conditioned medium from cultures of greater than 24 h. None the less, purified bTP-1 was effective in extending luteal function and appears to be the antiluteolytic agent of early pregnancy. PMID- 2621719 TI - Dog and cat reproduction, contraception and artificial insemination. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Canine and Feline Reproduction. Dublin, Ireland, July 1-2, 1988. PMID- 2621720 TI - Effect of duration of PMSG treatment on induction of oestrus, pregnancy rates and the complications of hyper-oestrogenism in dogs. AB - In anoestrous bitches, the use of 5 or 10 days of daily PMSG treatments (20 i.u./kg/day) before a single injection of hCG (500 i.u./dog) did not affect the timing of induced pro-oestrus (4-6 days) but did result in a greater incidence of conception (3 of 6 vs 6 of 17), a high rate of successful pregnancy (50% vs 0%), lower preovulatory oestrogen concentrations, and reduced incidence of complications due to hyper-oestrogenism such as thrombocytopenia (0% vs 29%). These results suggest an advantage of 5 over 10 days of priming with PMSG, at the doses used before hCG injection, for induction of fertile oestrus in bitches. PMID- 2621721 TI - Effect of light manipulation on ovarian activity and melatonin and prolactin secretion in the domestic cat. AB - Ovarian activity was assessed by the determination of oestradiol-17 beta concentrations in plasma and indirectly by sexual interaction with a male. In one experiment, cats (N = 10) were studied initially for 50 days in a 14-h light (14L) regimen, then for 90 days in 24L (N = 6) or 8L (N = 4). At approximately 45 days after the onset of 24L, all animals had increased oestradiol-17 beta concentrations during waves of folliculogenesis compared to previous values obtained under 14L. The incidence of oestrous cycles decreased under 24L to 1 per month compared to 2 per month under 14L. In the 8L animals, oestrous cycle activity ceased immediately with the change from 14L to 8L. Oestradiol-17 beta concentrations were significantly lower during 8L than in interoestrus in the same animals under 14L. In a second experiment, ovaries and uteri were removed in the 3rd day of oestrus from animals in 24L and 14L photo-periods (N = 3 in each). The increased oestrogen production was associated with a 2-fold increase in the number of large, preovulatory follicles. Prolactin concentrations were significantly lower in animals in 24L than 14L during both oestrus and interoestrus as well as during oestrus compared to interoestrus during both 24L and 14L. Melatonin concentrations were significantly lower in animals in 24L than 14L during interoestrus. Prolactin values were significantly higher in 8L than in 14L and 24L. These results indicate that exposure of the cat to continuous light (24L) stimulated folliculogenesis while an 8L regimen inhibited folliculogenesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621722 TI - Effect of melatonin on photoperiod responses, ovarian secretion of oestrogen, and coital responses in the domestic cat. AB - Ovarian activity was studied in cats treated with melatonin under different photoperiods and during folliculogenesis. The effect of melatonin on coital responses of LH release and sexual refractoriness was also studied. Some cats were treated with melatonin (5 mg every other day) while under a photoperiod stimulatory (24L:0D) or inhibitory (8L:16D) for ovarian activity. Ovarian activity was determined by oestrogen analysis of plasma and sexual receptivity by interaction with a male. Melatonin suppressed ovarian follicle development in animals exposed to 24L:0D during a 60-day photoperiod regimen. However, melatonin did not block perception of the 24L:0D regimen since there was increased oestrogen synthesis during ovarian follicular cycles immediately after the end of treatment (compared with the 45 days normally required for a response to 24L:0D). The administration of melatonin to animals kept in 8L:16D resulted in 3/4 animals becoming sexually receptive with normal follicular growth patterns beginning about 70 days into the treatment period. In a second experiment, the administration of 5 mg melatonin on the 2nd day of follicle growth resulted in suppression of oestrogen synthesis. In a third experiment, melatonin administration tended to decrease the amount of LH released in response to coitus on the 3rd day of oestrus although the difference was not significant. Melatonin administration increased the duration of sexual refractoriness after coitus. PMID- 2621723 TI - Effects on pseudopregnancy, pregnancy and interoestrous intervals of pharmacological suppression of prolactin secretion in female dogs and cats. AB - Cabergoline, a new ergoline derivative, is a potent prolactin inhibitor. In this review, results are combined from previously published and unpublished blind laboratory and open clinical studies with cabergoline in pseudopregnant, pregnant and lactating bitches, in bitches with normal and prolonged cycles, and in pregnant queens. Dose-response studies in nursing bitches, using puppy weight as an endpoint, revealed that a dose of 5 micrograms/kg/day orally (for 5 days) was the optimal dose with a minimum of side effects. This dose effectively lowered blood prolactin concentrations in pregnant bitches and was partly luteolytic during the 1st half of gestation, and fully luteolytic during the 2nd half of gestation. Consequently, pregnancies were terminated in the 2nd half of pregnancy in the bitch, and in the queen. Treatment successes with pseudopregnancy and true and false lactation, including cases of eclampsia, were greater than 90%. The same level of success was seen in bitches with prolonged cycles (anoestrus). A 7 10-day treatment period resulted almost uniformly in oestrus, and restored fertility in greater than 80% of all bitches mated. Cycles were occasionally shortened in bitches treated for false lactation. Attempts to shorten cycles routinely in beagle bitches, in a commercial breeding operation, with a dose of 5 micrograms/kg/day for 14 days during months 4, 5 or 6 of the cycle were unsuccessful. PMID- 2621724 TI - Physiological aspects of pregnancy and parturition in dogs. AB - During late pregnancy (greater than 50 days) the pattern of uterine electrical activity is characterized by episodes of activity lasting 3-10 min and recurring at a low frequency (maximum 2.5/h). During the last 7 days before delivery there is a progressive qualitative change in activity which is correlated with the decrease in plasma progesterone concentration. Together with significant quantitative changes in uterine activity which occur during the last 24 h before parturition and after the sharp fall in progesterone concentration this suggests that progesterone plays a crucial role in the process of parturition in the bitch. Experiments with a calcium-channel antagonist have demonstrated the important role of Ca2+ ions in uterine contractility in dogs, but further investigations will be necessary to illustrate the clinical significance of hypocalcaemia in relation to primary uterine inertia. By marking all fetuses in utero before term by means of a radio-opaque substance, it was demonstrated that, when one or more pups were left in each uterine horn after birth of a pup, 78.2% of the pups were expelled from the contralateral horn. Assessment of the blood gas and acid-base status in spontaneously born puppies indicated that the initial state of acidosis is more severe than in several other domestic species. A mild to severe combined respiratory-metabolic acidosis occurs in almost every newborn puppy. PMID- 2621725 TI - A retrospective study of 40 cases of canine pyometra-metritis treated with prostaglandin F-2 alpha and broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs. AB - Bitches with pyometra were treated with dinoprost, a prostaglandin F-2 alpha-THAM salt or luprostiol, a synthetic PG analogue and oral broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs. PGF-2 alpha treatment lasted 2-26 days and dosage varied from 26.8 to 258 micrograms/kg. Clinical cure from symptoms was achieved in 33/40 bitches. Of 14 bitches from which the owners opted to breed, 9 eventually produced litters. Long term complications were anoestrus, recurrence of metritis, failure to conceive and abortion. One or more of these complications were recorded in 9 of 20 bitches for which long term information was available. PMID- 2621726 TI - Efficacy of oral epostane administration to terminate pregnancy in mated laboratory bitches. AB - Epostane was administered orally for 7 days at doses of 10-300 mg/dog/day, starting at early oestrus, mid-oestrus, or metoestrus in 162 mated beagle bitches. With the exception of the early oestrus group receiving 10 mg epostane dog/day x 7 days, the incidence of dogs whelping in all other treatments was statistically lower than that of the placebo-treated control group (P less than 0.01). The ED50 and ED90 values were 19.5 and 43.2 mg/dog, respectively, for administration at early oestrus, and 8.6 and 24.0 mg/dog, respectively, for administration at metoestrus. Progesterone concentrations were significantly decreased after administration at oestrus or metoestrus in all epostane-treated groups compared to those given placebo. There were no adverse reactions or clinically significant changes in laboratory parameters or health of the bitches related to the use of epostane. There were no changes in the reproductive performance of epostane-treated bitches at the next oestrus after treatment compared to placebo controls, and there were no reproductive problems noted in the progeny of epostane-treated bitches. These results suggest that the minimally effective dose of epostane for application during metoestrus is approximately 2.5 mg/kg and the effective dose range is about 2.5-5.0 mg/kg body weight. Oral epostane is potentially a novel agent for the safe interception of unwanted pregnancy in dogs. PMID- 2621727 TI - Development of novel embryotoxic compounds for interceptive fertility control in the dog. AB - Studies in pregnant rats, hamsters and guinea-pigs with a series of 2 phenyltriazole isoindoles and isoquinolines and related compounds have demonstrated that these agents are potent abortifacients. These compounds were very effective when administered around the time of implantation and less effective even at higher doses when administered several days before or after implantation. Most of the members of these series of compounds are effective with a single injection although the dosage can be 5 or more times as large as that needed for each of 5 daily injections. The least soluble compounds, L-14105 and L 12717 (Lotrifen), have the longest duration due to slow clearance from the injection site and were the most potent abortifacients. Experiments in beagle and mongrel dogs treated with L-10492, L-10503, L-11204 and Lotrifen during various stages of gestation indicated that all were most efficacious when administered around Day 20 of pregnancy. Lotrifen was the most potent. High abortifacient potency and slow release from the injection depot permitted treatment of bitches during any of the first 15 days after mating with a dosage low enough to reduce unwanted side effects to acceptable levels. Toxic manifestations in all species generally were related to the gastrointestinal tract and consisted of reduced feeding, anorexia and loss in body weight, vomiting by non-rodents, congestion of the intestines and in some animals there was blood loss from this tract. The mechanism of activity has not been defined, but the abortifacient activity is primarily limited to the early post-implantation period. PMID- 2621728 TI - Gamete physiology and timing of ovulation and fertilization in dogs. AB - Ovulation in most bitches occurs between 48-60 and 72 h from the onset of oestrus. The eggs are ovulated as primary oocytes and are not capable of being fertilized until about 60 h after ovulation when they undergo the first meiotic division to become secondary oocytes. By this time the ova have descended through two-thirds of the oviduct. Ova are fertilizable from the time of undergoing the first meiotic division at 60 h after ovulation until about 108 h after ovulation, i.e. for a period of about 48 h. The period during which the spermatozoa remain capable of fertilization in the female reproductive tract is thought to be about 5 days. The mating period during which conception is possible is thus about 7 days from the onset of oestrus. PMID- 2621729 TI - Ovulation detection and timing of insemination based on hormone concentrations, vaginal cytology and the endoscopic appearance of the vagina in domestic bitches. AB - The fertilization period, the time when fertilization can occur, can best be determined using a combination of vaginal cytology and morphology of the vaginal mucosa, behaviour and endocrinology. Neither vaginal cytological changes nor standing oestrus are reliable indicators of the fertilization period per se although with natural mating or when using AI with fresh semen there may be enough biological leeway for pregnancy to follow insemination timed using these parameters alone. This is indicated by the well recognized fecundity of bitches mated early or late in oestrus. Precise discrimination of the fertilization period, which is often required and is necessary for AI using frozen semen, can be achieved by using vaginoscopy to detect the onset of shrinkage with angulation of the mucosal folds. Vaginoscopy is also useful to determine the probable end of the fertilization period and the transition to a 'metoestrous' vaginal smear is also useful in this regard. Detection of the LH peak enables the start of the fertilization period to be forecast quite precisely but, in lieu of practical assays with which to measure plasma LH, a rise in plasma progesterone concentration to 6-8 ng/ml may be more practical. PMID- 2621730 TI - Factors influencing the success rate of artificial insemination with frozen semen in the dog. AB - The conception rate and fecundity of 36 bitches artificially inseminated with frozen semen from various sources were investigated: 8 bitches were inseminated with semen frozen at the clinic, and 28 were inseminated with imported frozen semen. The mean progressive post-thaw motility of semen was 60%. Fourteen bitches were inseminated once only and 22 bitches were inseminated twice at 1-2-day intervals. An overall conception rate of 67% (24/36) was obtained with a mean litter size of 6.4. One insemination yielded a slightly lower conception rate than 2 inseminations (64 vs 69%). Among bitches which were inseminated twice, non pregnant bitches had significantly lower mean plasma progesterone concentrations at the second insemination than did pregnant bitches, and this indicates that the second insemination was performed too early. Correct timing of inseminations is therefore essential to obtain pregnancy with frozen semen. PMID- 2621731 TI - Insemination of beagle bitches with frozen semen. AB - Behaviour, vaginal cytology and plasma progesterone concentrations were monitored during oestrus in a group of 6 beagle bitches before intrauterine insemination with frozen semen. At intervals after insemination, the reproductive tracts were examined for evidence of conception, which occurred in 5 of the bitches. One pregnant bitch had received treatment with stilboestrol before insemination. PMID- 2621732 TI - Fertility in dogs in relation to semen quality and the time and site of insemination with fresh and frozen semen. AB - In this study 470 bitches were inseminated; 405 with fresh semen into the cranial vagina and 65 with frozen semen transcervically into the uterus. The pregnancy rate was 65.7% with fresh semen and 41.5% with frozen. When corrected for stage of oestrus at the time of insemination and for semen quality the pregnancy rate was 83.8% with fresh semen and 69.3% with frozen semen. The pregnancy rate improved with an increase in the number of inseminations. Inseminations with fresh semen before the time of ovulation (less than 17.3 nmol progesterone/l) were often successful. With frozen semen the peripheral plasma level of progesterone at the time of insemination was greater than 30 nmol/l in all but 1 of the bitches that became pregnant. This difference is assumed to be attributable to a longer survival time of several days for fresh semen than for frozen-thawed semen. Cytological scoring was a satisfactory method for determining the stage of oestrus when using fresh semen, but more precise methods are needed when using frozen semen. Semen quality was difficult to correlate with fertility. Pregnancies were obtained with fresh semen of inferior quality, although the litter size was smaller. With frozen semen no pregnancies resulted when the semen quality was poor. Litter size was estimated to be 21.5% smaller in bitches inseminated with fresh semen compared with naturally mated bitches. Litter size in bitches inseminated with frozen semen was 23.3% smaller than in bitches inseminated with fresh semen. Puppy deaths occurred in 35.5% of the litters in this study. The overall puppy death rate during the first 3 weeks of life was 11.9%. Although not statistically significant, there was a tendency for bitches treated with antibiotics at the time of mating or during early pregnancy to have a higher pregnancy rate and a larger litter size. There was also a tendency for breed differences in pregnancy rate, although not significant. PMID- 2621733 TI - Artificial insemination in fox breeding. PMID- 2621734 TI - Structural aspects of luteal function and regression in the ovary of the domestic dog. AB - Corpora lutea (CL) in various stages of regression were collected from 52 cross bred bitches. Plasma progesterone concentrations were measured by RIA and various morphological and histochemical parameters of the regressing CL were studied. These included overall glandular and cellular dimensions; the processes of lipid accumulation and pigmentation; and the activities of the enzymes succinic dehydrogenase, non-specific esterase, and acid phosphatase. The ultrastructural appearance of the luteal cells in the various stages of regression were also described. Four of these stages, i.e. R1, R2, R3 and R4, approximately 2 months apart and beginning at 60 days after ovulation, were recognized. The first 3 were typical of the phases of regressive metoestrus, early anoestrus and late anoestrus, respectively, using conventional terminology. By R4 a new cycle had begun. The mature secretory stage with zero regression (R0) was used as a baseline whereby degrees of regressive change in the other stages could be judged. On this basis, R1 was considered a stage representing functional luteolysis and early lipid accumulation and R2 represented a lag phase in the regressing CL with ongoing lipid accumulation but the luteal cells remaining relatively intact. These regressive changes had intensified by R3, with luteal cells becoming autolytic and the resulting cell debris being removed by invading macrophages. By R4, the macrophages had fused forming giant cells and the corpus albicans had the appearance of a non-immunologically dependent granuloma. PMID- 2621735 TI - Leiomyoma of the female urethra. A case report. AB - A huge vaginal mass arose from the urethra, causing obstruction and urinary retention. Preoperative biopsy revealed a benign leiomyoma. Vaginal excision of the mass was performed without complications. PMID- 2621736 TI - Estrogen and progesterone receptors in endodermal sinus (yolk sac) tumor. Evaluation of immunocytochemical and biochemical methods. AB - Frozen tissue from four ovarian and two testicular endodermal sinus (yolk sac) tumors was studied with both biochemical and immunocytochemical methods to detect the presence of estrogen receptors (ERs) and progesterone receptors (PRs). Using the biochemical assay, one of the ovarian tumors was shown to contain low levels of ERs, whereas in the remaining five tumors no ERs were detected, and PRs were undetectable in all six tumors. In the frozen sections immunostained for ERs and PRs, no specific nuclear staining was detected in any of the six tumors. Since the immunocytochemical method provides a more tissue-specific evaluation of hormone receptors, the low level of ERs detected in one tumor using the biochemical assay is attributed to nonspecific binding. It appears that endodermal sinus tumor expresses neither ERs nor PRs. PMID- 2621737 TI - Effect of acetaminophen on fetal acid-base balance in chorioamnionitis. AB - The effect of antipyretic treatment with acetaminophen on fetal status was examined in eight laboring women febrile with chorioamnionitis. After a fetal heart rate tracing and scalp blood gas level were obtained near maximum maternal fever, a 650-mg acetaminophen suppository was administered. If the temperature remained greater than 101 degrees F, the dose was repeated in one to two hours. The fetal heart rate tracing was analyzed again after the mother's fever was reduced by acetaminophen. All patients delivered within four hours of the first dose. Umbilical artery blood gases were obtained at delivery. Significant improvements in the bicarbonate concentration and base deficit were noted at the time of delivery as compared to the scalp gas at the height of the maternal fever. The fetal heart rate tracings at the height of the maternal fever, characterized by tachycardia, poor variability and late decelerations, changed to a normal heart rate pattern without decelerations when the mother's fever was reduced. Hence, in the laboring gravida with chorioamnionitis, reducing maternal fever with acetaminophen improves fetal status and thereby may reduce the probability of cesarean section for fetal distress. PMID- 2621738 TI - Free-standing birth centers in California. Program and medical outcome. AB - During 1985, 25 free-standing birth centers (FSBCs) were operating in California. All had a written or verbal backup agreement with a hospital that averaged six minutes away from the center. Seventy-four percent of the deliveries in these centers were attended by obstetricians, 6% by certified nurse-midwives, less than 1% by family physicians and 19% by a team of physicians and midwives. Between 1979 and 1985, over 10,000 women were admitted in labor in California FSBCs. Medical outcome data were collected for 1984 and 1985. The medical outcome for births in these centers demonstrates that FSBCs, while existing under the aegis of an "alternative" philosophy, are associated with a low cesarean section rate, low neonatal mortality and no neonatal mortality. PMID- 2621739 TI - The nonstress test. Transmission from the home. AB - The Genesis Fetal Monitor System, which includes a recorder, a communication module and a receiver system, accurately and rapidly transmits a complete antenatal fetal monitor tracing over standard telephone lines and duplicates the original tracing at the receiver center. Transmission time for a 20-minute nonstress test is less than 2 minutes. The time required to generate a duplicate strip is less than 30 seconds. In all cases in this study the original and generated tracings were superimposable. No significant technical problems were encountered. Bioelectronic fetal assessment can be performed from a nonhospital setting, including the patient's home, with immediate interpretation of the tracing by skilled consultants. PMID- 2621740 TI - Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix and vagina in a woman with mixed gonadal dysgenesis. A case report. AB - Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix and vagina occurred in a woman with 45,X/46,XY gonadal dysgenesis. The patient had no known exposure to synthetic estrogen prenatally and did not receive exogenous estrogen at any time. PMID- 2621741 TI - Spontaneous small bowel obstruction associated with a spontaneous triplet gestation. A case report. AB - Spontaneous bowel obstruction in pregnancy is a rare event and usually associated with a prior history of surgical procedures or infection. Its symptoms can mimic physiologic changes in pregnancy or preterm labor. We treated a woman who had a triplet gestation and whose lack of predisposing factors delayed the diagnosis of obstruction. The patient delivered prematurely at 22 weeks and required surgery to alleviate the obstruction. The possibility of intestinal obstruction should be entertained in any pregnant woman presenting with nausea, vomiting and an overdistended uterus. PMID- 2621742 TI - Multiple uterine rupture and crushing injury of the fetal skull after blunt maternal trauma. A case report. AB - Multiple pelvic fractures and explosive-type uterine lacerations occurred in a previously healthy 17-year-old primigravida involved in a motor vehicle accident. The fetus suffered a crushed skull and was completely extruded with the placenta from the uterus. Treatment was complicated by severe disseminated intravascular coagulation with secondary fibrinolysis. Thrombelastography enabled us to rapidly evaluate the patient's coagulation status and to monitor her response to goal directed therapeutic interventions (surgery, specific blood product therapy and epsilon-aminocaproic acid). PMID- 2621743 TI - Ectopic pregnancy in a noncommunicating tube of a unicornuate uterus. A case report. AB - A unicornuate uterus occurred with an ectopic pregnancy in a noncommunicating tube on the left and a normal tube and ovary with a corpus luteum on the right. In such cases the heterotopic tube should be removed to reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy and to eliminate competition between the tubes for the transmigrating sperm and oocyte. PMID- 2621744 TI - Fusion of liposomes and rat brain microsomes examined by two assays. AB - Liposomes are prepared from rat brain microsomal lipid and loaded with either Tb3+ or dipicolinic acid (DPA) to test fusion with the Tb-DPA assay. They are also loaded with octadecyl Rhodamine B chloride (R18) to test fusion with the R18 assay. The addition of either Ca2+ or Mg2+ to loaded liposomes develops fluorescence with both assays. The fluorescence elicited by Mg2+ is similar to that elicited by Ca2+ if assessed with R18, but much higher if determined by Tb DPA. The Ca2(+)-dependent fluorescence of the Tb-DPA complex is not suppressed by the addition of EDTA, and therefore it is internal to vesicles. The contrary is true for the Mg2(+)-dependent fluorescence. Rat brain microsomes can be disrupted by adding octylgucoside and reconstituted by removing it by dialysis. We use this procedure to load microsomes with DPA. This allows the use of the Tb-DPA assay for testing the fusion of rat brain microsomes. Reconstituted microsomes fuse with liposomes. This fusion has characteristics similar to those of liposome liposome fusion. However, no microsome-microsome fusion could be detected with either method. The two methods give different results, owing to the chemical properties of the assays. Indeed Tb-DPA implies the retention of vesicle content, whereas this is not required by the R18 assay. PMID- 2621745 TI - Transport of glutamine in Xenopus laevis oocytes: relationship with transport of other amino acids. AB - We have investigated transport of the amino acid glutamine across the surface membranes of prophase-arrested Xenopus laevis oocytes. Glutamine accumulation was linear with time for 30 min; it was stereospecific with a Km of 0.12 +/- 0.02 mM and Vmax of 0.92 +/- 0.17 pmol/oocyte.min for L-glutamine. Transport of L glutamine was Na(+)-dependent, the cation not being replaceable with Li+, K+, choline, tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane (Tris), tetramethylammonium (TMA) or N methyl D-glucamine (NMDG); external Cl- appeared to be necessary for full activation of Na(+)-dependent glutamine transport. Two external Na+ may be required for the transport of one glutamine molecule. L-glutamine transport (at 50 microM glutamine) was inhibited by the presence of other amino acids: L alanine, D-alanine, L-leucine, L-asparagine and L-arginine (about 60% inhibition at 1 mM); L-histidine, L-valine and glycine (25 to 40% inhibition at 1 mM); L serine, L-lysine, L-phenylalanine and L-glutamate (45 to 55% inhibition at 10 mM). N-methylaminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB) had no effect at 10 mM, but 2 aminobicyclo[2,2,1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH) inhibited Na+/glutamine transport by about 50% at 10 mM. L-glutamine was a competitive inhibitor of the Na(+)-dependent transport of L-alanine, D-alanine and L-arginine; this evidence is consistent with the existence of a single system transporting all four amino acids. Glutamine uptake in oocytes appears to be catalyzed by a transport system distinct from the cotransport Systems A, ASC, N and Gly, although it resembles System B0,+. PMID- 2621746 TI - Competitive action of divalent cations and D600 in frog slow muscle fibers. AB - Single, slow muscle fibers from Rana temporaria were equilibrated in normal Ringer's. 95 mmol/liter K(+)-solution containing various concentrations of Ca2+, Ni2+, Mn2+ or Mg2+ was applied, and the ensuing contractures were recorded isometrically. While peak tension (Fmax) was little affected, maintained tension (measured 1 min after onset of contracture) strongly depended on the concentration and species of divalent cations. Tension was maintained at its peak value in the presence of all species of divalent cations provided their concentrations were adequately increased. Dose-response curves were hyperbolic; Lineweaver-Burk plots revealed straight lines with different slopes intersecting near 1/Fmax, and indicating the following order of efficiency: Ni2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Mn2+ much greater than Mg2+. Hill plots for these cations resulted in straight lines with slopes near 1. Qualitatively similar relationships were obtained with contracture solutions containing D600 (3-12 mumol/liter). However, under these conditions higher concentrations of Ca2+ or Ni2+ were required in order to fully maintain tension. After a step concentration change in the medium during contracture, the effects of Ca2+ or D600 were detectable only after a delay of 9 and 18 sec, respectively. It is concluded that divalent cations and D600 compete for the same binding site according to a 1:1 reaction. This site is presumably located inside the transverse tubular system and controls inactivation of the contractile force. PMID- 2621747 TI - Gonorrhea and inner city women. PMID- 2621748 TI - Race, sex, economics, and tobacco advertising. PMID- 2621749 TI - Comparisons of black and white smoking-attributable mortality, morbidity, and economic costs in the District of Columbia. AB - Cigarette smoking is generally considered to be the most important preventable cause of death in the United States. To determine the public health impact of smoking in the District of Columbia, the DC Commission of Public Health calculated smoking-attributable mortality, morbidity, and economic costs in this predominantly black population. In 1985, an estimated 933 district residents died from smoking-related diseases, resulting in 3535 years of potential life lost. Cigarette smoking contributed to approximately 13.5% of all District deaths in 1985 (N = 6921) and accounted for 30% of all deaths of persons over age 20, far exceeding the affect of other potentially preventable causes of mortality. Black residents, especially black men, shared a disproportionately greater burden of smoking-attributable mortality when compared with white residents. These smoking attributable deaths resulted in over $110 million in direct medical and indirect morbidity and mortality costs to District of Columbia residents. The results indicate that cigarette smoking is a major contributing cause of the black-white disparity in health status in the District of Columbia. PMID- 2621750 TI - Moral beliefs of physicians, medical students, clergy, and lay public concerning AIDS. AB - A questionnaire was developed to assess religiously based moral beliefs about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The questionnaire was administered to a group of primarily black physicians, a selection of freshman medical students, two groups of clergy representing contrasting philosophical orientations, a group of young urban black and white attendees of a black cultural event, and two groups of older whites from rural Tennessee who were attending health fairs. Other attitudes about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and related issues were also assessed. Results showed that 40% to 70% of rural whites strongly endorsed the idea that acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a product of "divine intervention" or "divine retribution." More than half attributed the epidemic to a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Two of five conservative clergy strongly agreed with the idea of divine intervention, whereas only one in 20 liberal clergy concurred. Approximately one in 10 physicians endorsed these propositions. The responses of freshman medical students were strikingly similar to those of physicians, except that less than half as many believed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome represents the fulfillment of a biblical prophecy. Physicians were remarkably similar to rural whites and conservative clergy in their distrust of the experts concerning the potential contagion of human immunodeficiency virus. When responses to several key items on the questionnaire were combined to create a measure of "conservatism," mean total scores differentiated all groups in the manner predicted. We conclude that religiously based moral beliefs about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome can have dangerous implications for the treatment of its victims by society and its caregivers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621751 TI - Anatomical and profile analysis of the female black American nose. AB - An anatomical and anthropometric study was conducted that compared nasal pyramid measurements of Negroid with Caucasian skulls and surface measurements of black with Caucasian controls. Eight external surface measurements were used to develop a classification system to show the range of the female black American nose. This classification will be described along with the range of measurements on which it is based. This classification may provide a better understanding of the anatomic characteristics of the normal variation of Negroid noses, and thus improve the surgeon's ability to evaluate black patients for rhinoplasty. PMID- 2621752 TI - Multiple synchronous primary intra-abdominal neoplasms. AB - Multiple synchronous primary intra-abdominal neoplasms involving more than one organ system are rare, particularly if the appendix is involved. We report a patient with synchronous primary lesions in the colon, appendix, and the kidney. We also discuss the incidence of this entity with respect to sex and age, the organs most often involved in instances of multiple primary lesions, and review the criteria for differentiation of synchronous versus metachronous lesions. PMID- 2621753 TI - Help for healers with student loan troubles. PMID- 2621754 TI - The National Medical Association and our challenges as we enter the next decade. PMID- 2621755 TI - Nondrug treatment of hypertension: a survey of black physicians in New York State. AB - A survey of 64 black physicians in New York State was completed in April 1988 concerning physicians' approach to the nondrug treatment of hypertension. The physicians clearly support the use of nonpharmacologic treatment of mild hypertension, particularly for patients with diastolic blood pressure of 90 to 94 mmHg. However, very little time appears to be spent counseling patients with respect to diet and weight reduction. There was considerable variability in the degree of confidence felt by physicians in recommending nondrug approaches to hypertension control. An overwhelming majority of physicians felt that their training did not adequately prepare them for counseling patients about diet specifically or for practicing preventive medicine generally. The findings of this survey suggest a need for significantly increased attention to training physicians during both medical school and residency in prevention, patient counseling, and health promotion. PMID- 2621756 TI - Sport, science and sports sciences. PMID- 2621757 TI - Improvements in heat tolerance induced by interval running training in the heat and in sweat clothing in cool conditions. AB - To compare the effectiveness of training in heat and in sweat clothing in cool conditions on improving heat tolerance, two groups of active subjects (n = 6 in each) performed an interval running heat-tolerance test before and after a 7-day experimental treatment. On each treatment day the subjects attempted to complete 4 x 15 min interval treadmill running periods (a 7.5 s effort every 30 s, on 15 km h-1, 15% grade; the same exercise format as the heat-tolerance test), which were interspersed with 5-min recovery periods (total time each day = 80 min). Group 1 (heat) ran in shorts, socks and shoes in hot humid conditions, and Group 2 (sweat clothing) ran in cool conditions dressed in shorts, socks and T-shirt covered by a polyester-cotton tracksuit, over which was worn 100% nylon spray proof pants and jacket (cotton lined) with an acrylic cloth bobble hat (beanie) on the head. Both groups displayed changes typical of heat acclimatization over the 7-day period, with significant decreases in final rectal temperature (Tr) and heart rate (HR) being evident, but no change in sweat loss. Mean skin temperature (Tsk) was similar in both groups during the training sessions (heat group: 34.8 35.7 degrees C; sweat clothing group 34.9-35.5 degrees C). After the heat tolerance test, both groups had significantly lower Tr, Tsk and HR values than before, and sweating sensitivity (g m-2 h-1 degrees C rise in Tr) was significantly increased. There was only one significant difference between the two groups (Tsk, 20th min value). It was concluded that training in sweat clothing in cool conditions can provide the same improvements in heat tolerance as training in hot humid conditions where a fixed exercise intensity and duration are used. PMID- 2621758 TI - The effect of velocity-specific strength training on peak torque and anaerobic rowing power. AB - This study investigated the effect of low- and high-velocity resistance training on isokinetic peak torque and anaerobic power output. Eighteen male varsity oarsmen were blocked on peak knee extension torque at 3.14 rad s-1 and assigned to a high-velocity resistance training group (HVR), a low-velocity resistance training group (LVR) or a control group. Subjects trained four times a week for 5 weeks. Each training session included three circuits of 12 stations using variable-resistance hydraulic equipment. The HVR training significantly improved peak torque (P less than 0.05) in knee extension and flexion at 2.61, 3.14, 3.66 and 4.19 rad s-1. The LVR training produced significant improvements (P less than 0.05) in peak torque for knee extension and flexion at 0.52, 1.05, 1.57 and 2.61 rad s-1. High positive correlations were found between peak torque and anaerobic power outputs for all groups. However, no significant changes occurred in 15 s power output, average 90 s power output or peak blood lactate in either training group. These results indicate that velocity-specific strength training does not necessarily improve anaerobic power output in a different exercise mode despite the high positive correlation between isokinetic strength and anaerobic power output. PMID- 2621759 TI - A biomechanical comparison of the topspin and backspin forehand approach shots in tennis. AB - Three-dimensional (3-D) high-speed cinematographic techniques were used to record topspin and backspin forehand approach shots hit down-the-line by high performance players. The direct linear transformation (DLT) technique was used in the 3-D space reconstruction from 2-D images recorded via laterally placed phase locked cameras operating at 200 Hz. A Mann-Whitney U-test was calculated for the different aspects of the topspin and backspin shots to test for significance (P less than 0.05). A significant difference was recorded between topspin and backspin shots in the angle of the racket at the completion of the backswing. The racket was taken 0.48 rad past a line drawn perpendicular to the back fence for topspin trials, but only rotated 0.86 rad from a line parallel to the net in the backspin shot. Maximum racket velocities occurred prior to impact and were significantly higher in topspin (26.5 m s-1) compared to backspin (16.6 m s-1) trials. This resulted in the topspin trials recording a significantly higher ball velocity compared to backspin trials (27.6 m s-1 vs 21.7 m s-1). Pre-impact racket trajectories revealed that in topspin shots the racket moved on an upward path of 0.48 rad while in backspin shots it moved down at an angle of 0.34 rad. In the topspin trials impact occurred significantly further forward of the front foot than in backspin shots (0.26 m vs 0.05 m) while the angle of the racket was the same for both strokes (0.14 rad behind a line parallel to the net). The mean angle of the racket-face at impact was inclined backwards by 0.11 rad for backspin strokes and rotated forward by 0.13 rad for topspin strokes. Angles of incidence and reflection of the impact between the ball and the court showed that backspin trials had larger angles of incidence and reflection than topspin strokes. PMID- 2621760 TI - Relationships between multidimensional competitive state anxiety and cognitive and motor subcomponents of performance. AB - This study examined the relationship between multidimensional competitive state anxiety and cognitive (i.e. digit span) and motor (i.e. perceptuo-motor speed) subcomponents of performance in an experimental group of hockey players during the period leading up to an important hockey match, and also in a control group of hockey players before a routine training session. Using a 'time-to-event' experimental paradigm, an increase in somatic anxiety 20 min before the hockey match was accompanied by improved perceptuo-motor speed performance. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that somatic anxiety was negatively related to digit span performance, whilst somatic anxiety and self-confidence were positively related to perceptuo-motor speed performance. These findings suggest that somatic anxiety may be an important source of performance variance. PMID- 2621761 TI - Urea production during prolonged swimming. AB - Male interscholastic swimmers (n = 8) completed a 4572 m training swim in in 62 +/- 1.1 min (means +/- S.E.) with terminal heart rate and blood lactate of 152 +/ 6 beats min-1 and 6.9 +/- 0.89 mM, respectively. Sweat rate (0.48 +/- 0.095 l. h 1) was lower than similar intensity cycling (1.5 +/- 0.13 l. h-1) or running (1.1 +/- 0.14 l. h-1). Post-swim serum urea N (11.6 +/- 0.71 mM) was elevated (P less than 0.05) vs pre-swim (4.6 +/- 0.39 mM). Post-swim urine volume (860 +/- 75 ml 24 h-1) was reduced (P less than 0.07) and resulted in an elevated (P less than 0.05), but delayed (24-84 h), post-exercise urea N excretion. Although the reduced urine and sweat production during the swim undoubtedly contributed to the elevated serum urea, there must be another explanation because together they could only account for 38% of the observed increase. On the basis of the magnitude of serum urea increase, it appears that the swim caused an increase in urea production (amino acid oxidation). The failure to observe larger increases in urinary urea during recovery indicates that either urea excretion following exercise continues for prolonged periods of time (greater than 48 h) or another significant mode of nitrogen excretion exists. PMID- 2621762 TI - An anthropometric analysis of elite Australian track cyclists. AB - An anthropometric analysis was conducted on 35 elite male Australian track cyclists having a mean age of 22.6 years and who had been competing on average for 9 years. The relationship of anthropometric parameters to both bicycle saddle height and cycling performance was also investigated. Subjects were allocated, for purposes of comparison, to an endurance or sprint group on the basis of their competitive event. The group members in total were ectomorphic mesomorphs of height 178 +/- 4.8 cm and weight 72.5 +/- 6.6 kg on average. Percentage of saddle height to lower limb length averaged 99 +/- 1.6%, and significant correlations existed between strength and both body mass (r = 0.57) and thigh girth (r = 0.55). No significant correlation was seen between any anthropometric parameter and performance in an individual event. Cyclists in the spint group were heavier (76.2 +/- 7.4 vs. 70.0 +/- 4.7 kg, P less than 0.01) and stronger (258 +/- 44.4 vs. 216 +/- 30.5 Nm, P less than 0.01), and had larger chest (98.2 +/- 6.2 vs. 92.4 +/- 2.9 cm, P less than 0.01), arm (33.0 +/- 2.2 vs. 30.7 +/- 1.6 cm, P less than 0.01), thigh (57.5 +/- 3.4 vs. 54.3 +/- 2.5 cm, P less than 0.01) and calf girths (37.8 +/- 1.7 vs. 36.2 +/- 1.9 cm, P less than 0.05) than cyclists in the endurance group. They were also more mesomorphic (5.3 +/- 0.7 vs. 4.7 +/- 0.8, P less than 0.05) and less ectomorphic (2.3 +/- 0.9 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.6, P less than 0.05) than the endurance cyclists. PMID- 2621763 TI - The effect of stress inoculation training on self-reported stress, observer's rating of stress, heart rate and gymnastics performance. AB - Eighteen volunteer female subjects received preliminary instruction in a simple gymnastics bench sequence. They were then given a pre-intervention test on a bench at ground level. Self-reported distress, an independent observer's ratings of distress and heart rates were monitored immediately prior to performance of the sequence. Performances were also videotaped and formally scored by a qualified gymnastics judge. Subjects were then randomly assigned to a stress inoculation training group or a 'no stress management' training control group. Stress inoculation group subjects then received seven sessions of training in relaxation, imagery and making self-statements in order to develop a set of coping skills. Control group subjects also received seven training sessions during which they practised a series of coordination exercises, but no psychological stress management training was given to this group. All subjects were then re-tested on the bench sequence but this time at a height of 1.52 m. Self-reported stress, observer's ratings of distress and heart rate were recorded as before. Performance was again videotaped for scoring. The stress inoculation group reported significantly less stress prior to the test on the elevated beam than the control group. However, the groups did not differ in terms of heart rate. Further, the stress inoculation group performed reliably better than the control group on the elevated bench. PMID- 2621764 TI - Serial electrocardiographic and angiographic changes of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. AB - The characteristics of ECG findings as they relate to myocardial changes during long-term course of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) were studied. Serial changes in ECG were compared with changes left ventriculogram and bi ventriculogram in 15 patients with HCM without intraventricular conduction disturbance. Serial changes in ECG findings, with special reference to the negative T wave, were categorized in three groups; 1) 5 patients with increase or appearance of the negative T wave (A-1 group). 2) 4 patients with decrease or disappearance of the negative T wave (A-2 group). 3) 6 patients without significant changes in the T wave (B-group). A-1 group presented a marked increase in SV1 + RV5, and of the thickness of anterior and apical wall, and a decrease of the peak dV/dt/EDV (end diastolic volume-normalized peak filling rate), serially. End diastolic volume (EDV) and ejection fraction (EF) did not change significantly. The configuration of left ventriculogram changed from a round form to a spade-like form. A-2 group presented a marked decrease in SV1 + RV5, the thickness of anterior and apical wall, peak dV/dt/EDV and peak dV/dt/V (left ventricular volume of the time of peak filling-normalized peak filling rote). EF decreased serially, 2 cases of A-2 group presented the clinical picture of dilated cardiomyopathy in the end stage. In B group, SV1 + RV5, the wall thickness and left ventricular function did not change, serially. In conclusion, serial observations of ECG are useful for assessing alterations in wall thickness, LV-form and LV-function. PMID- 2621765 TI - Effects of coronary artery bypass surgery on regions showing persistent defects in thallium myocardial images. AB - The indications for revascularization surgery and its effects on myocardial regions showing persistent defects in thallium myocardial images are controversial. The effects of aortocoronary bypass surgery on myocardial perfusion and wall motion in the regions with persistent defects were evaluated in 47 patients with thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography and left ventriculography. In areas showing persistent thallium defects preoperatively the rate of improvement of perfusion was only 24% by postoperative thallium imaging, and 57% by wall motion analysis. These results were significantly inferior to those of regions with transient defects, which were 84% and 82%, respectively. A persistent defect may not be a definitive marker of a non-viable scar, but the results of surgery on such regions were unsatisfactory. It is concluded, therefore, that revascuralization surgery in regions with persistent defects is not always recommended and that the indications for surgery should be individually determined with operative risk balanced against benefits. PMID- 2621766 TI - Preventive distinction of patients with primary or secondary hypertension by discriminant analysis of chronobiologic parameters estimated on 24-hour blood pressure patterns. AB - This investigation deals with a statistical probatory that patients with primary (PH) or secondary (SH) hypertension may be correctly diagnosed by a discriminant analysis of the chronobiologic characteristics computed on the 24-hour blood pressure (BP) patterns. The methodology concerning non-invasive 24-h BP monitoring, chronobiologic analysis and the discrimination process is detailed. Substantial dissimilarities were found in the statistical distribution for systolic and diastolic BP rhythmometric parameters (mesor, amplitude and acrophase) by a retrospective assessment of two groups, consisting of 54 patients with PH and 16 patients with SH. The group-related distribution for rhythmometric parameters was found to be significantly different to generate a statistically significant intergroup discriminatory boundary. The discriminant analysis correctly diagnosed patients with PH and SH in a percentage of about 91% and 63%, respectively. The high incidence of success is convincing that the combination of 24-h BP monitoring/chronobiologic analysis/discrimination process cna be a practical tool for confidently selecting patients with a presumable PH or SH. PMID- 2621767 TI - Acute myocardial infarction shortly after negative exercise test and reperfusion by intracoronary thrombolysis. AB - A 67-year-old man developed an acute myocardial infarction shortly after normal exercise testing. His clinical history and findings from emergency coronary arteriography suggested that coronary artery spasm followed by intraluminal thrombosis might have been responsible for the myocardial infarction. Although intracoronary thrombolysis two hours after the onset of chest pain provided continued patency of an occluded vessel, serial myocardial perfusion scintigraphies documented myocardial injury, which was probably induced by reperfusion, rather than myocardial salvage. PMID- 2621768 TI - Prevalence and clinical significance of silent myocardial ischemia in exercise test. AB - Prevalence of silent myocardial ischemia in exercise test was retrospectively reviewed from 749 tests performed for 513 patients with definite evidence of ischemic heart disease. The clinical significance was studied and absence of transient ischemia, occurrence of transient ischemia with and without pain were observed in 48%, 30% and 22% of the tests, respectively. Anginal pain was frequently observed in exercise tests for patients with severe coronary artery disease and low exercise tolerance. A large number of tests showing ischemic response were discontinued due to symptoms other than anginal pain and hence silent myocardial ischemia could be thought to be a result of ischemic state which does not reach the angina threshold. Silent myocardial ischemia was frequently observed during usual daily life. However, a definite correlation between severity of transient ischemia and presence or absence of chest pain in the same individuals was not obtained from the study. A day to day variation in the angina threshold might be responsible. In general, silent myocardial ischemia was not rare. However, the consistent condition was very unusual. In angina of effort (EA) and old myocardial infarction (OMI), 3.7% and 12.3% were silent, respectively. A higher incidence was obtained in OMI than in EA. This is important for the management of these patients. The mechanism of silent myocardial ischemia and the cause of the different incidence of this state between EA and OMI were not defined and remained to be further studied. PMID- 2621769 TI - Silent myocardial ischemia during Holter monitoring in ischemic heart disease. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and characteristics of silent myocardial ischemia in patients with proven ischemic heart disease using ambulatory ECG monitoring, and to clarify possible mechanisms for the absence of symptoms during these attacks. A total of 182 patients, including 78 patients with stable effort angina (EA), 12 with unstable angina (UA), and 92 with prior myocardial infarction (MI), were examined. During daily activities, 43% and 56% of all transient ST-segment depression observed was asymptomatic in patients with EA and MI, respectively. In addition, 74% of all ischemic episodes were asymptomatic in patients with UA. In patients with EA, 35% exhibited both symptomatic and asymptomatic attacks, and the duration and magnitude of ST segment depression were greater for symptomatic attacks than for asymptomatic attacks. On the other hand, in patients with MI, 55% had only asymptomatic attacks. When asymptomatic episodes in patients who had only asymptomatic attacks were compared with symptomatic episodes in patients who had only symptomatic attacks, asymptomatic episodes tended to be associated with a greater magnitude of ST depression. They were also significantly longer in duration than the symptomatic episodes. All patients with UA had both symptomatic and asymptomatic episodes, and the magnitude and duration were significantly greater during the former. These results lead us to conclude that: (1) silent myocardial ischemia is observed frequently in patients with EA and MI during daily activities. In particular, patients with MI tend to have more severe silent ischemia. (2) In patients with EA and UA, the severity of ischemia is a fundamental factor in determining the presence or absence of pain during an ischemic attack.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621770 TI - Clinical and prognostic significance of silent myocardial ischemia in survivors after acute myocardial infarction. AB - To clarify the clinical and prognostic significance of silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) after acute myocardial infarction (MI), the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis after discharge in 525 medically treated survivors after acute MI were investigated. According to the presence of post-infarction angina and results of all exercise tests during hospitalization, 309 patients without ischemic episodes were classified into control group, 59 patients with SMI into SMI group and 157 patients with post-infarction angina into AP group. Previous MI (29%, 24%, 11%, respectively), non-Q wave MI (34%, 34%, 15%) and multivessel disease (69%, 61%, 33%) were more frequent in the SMI and AP groups than in the control group. These indicated clinical characteristics in patients with SMI were similar to those in patients with angina pectoris. The incidence of angina prior to MI onset in patients with SMI was lower than in patients with post-infarction angina. This may suggest that there is some common mechanism keeping them silent in the pre- and post-MI period. During the mean follow-up period of 5.5 years, 93 patients died and 78 had a recurrent MI. Cumulative total and cardiac mortality, and incidence of recurrent MI by actuarial method were higher in the SMI as well as AP group than in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in prognosis between SMI and AP group. We conclude total ischemic burden, not only symptomatic but SMI, should be treated using currently available therapeutic modalities for further improvement of long-term prognosis in survivors after acute MI. PMID- 2621771 TI - Silent myocardial ischemia in the aged: a retrospective study from the evaluation of necropsy hearts. AB - The diagnosis of silent myocardial ischemia in the aged remains controversial. In this study to evaluate the basic state of silent ischemia in the aged, a total of 972 consecutive autopsy cases (mean 79.0 yrs of age) were analyzed in terms of coronary atherosclerotic diseases. The following results were obtained: (1) Severe coronary occlusive lesions simultaneously detected in the three major coronary arterial branches were found in 85 cases (8.7%), of which 10 (12%) had neither history of angina nor myocardial infarction (MI), which may correspond to one representation of silent ischemia. (2) There were 218 cases of MI (22.4%), of which 106 (49%) were never documented to have MI during life. The latter may correspond to unrecognized MI. It was considered to be caused by 1) small or middle-sized MI in 66 cases and 2) lateral or nontransmural MI in 29 out of 40 large MI cases (more than 4.9 cm in diameter). (3) 30 cases (54%) out of 56 fresh and large MI with a correct diagnosis revealed no chest pain. This is an incidence of painless MI in the aged. This painless group showed a significant difference in the incidence of a correct diagnosis of MI (51% vs 89%), combined arrhythmia (47% vs 79%) and the association of CVD (47% vs 11%) compared with chest pain group. PMID- 2621772 TI - Myocardial perfusion in silent myocardial ischemia: investigation by exercise stress myocardial tomography with thallium-201. AB - To investigate myocardial perfusion in silent myocardial ischemia, we performed exercise stress myocardial tomography with thallium-201 (T1) in 85 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Exercise stress myocardial tomography was obtained both immediately after exercise and three hours later. Patients were classified into two groups according to the presence (Symptomatic Group, n = 36) or absence (Silent Group, n = 49) of chest pain during exercise stress. Clinical features (age, gender and history of myocardial infarction) and arteriographically determined severity of CAD were the same in both groups. The extent of myocardial ischemia (% Ischemia) estimated by exercise stress myocardial tomography was the same in each group (30 +/- 10% in Silent Group, 28 +/- 12% in Symptomatic Group, NS). The severity of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia was expressed as a minimal value of myocardial T1 washout rate (minimal WOR) of each patient. Although exercise heart rate was identical in both groups, minimal WOR in Silent Group was significantly higher than that of Symptomatic Group (4 +/- 10% vs -16 +/- 14%, p less than 0.001). The study in patients who exhibited both silent and symptomatic ischemia showed same results. These findings suggest that the severity of ischemia is a fundamental factor in determining the presence or absence of pain during exercise induced ischemia. PMID- 2621773 TI - Silent myocardial ischemia in patients with myocardial infarction: evaluation with positron emission computed tomography. AB - To evaluate myocardial blood flow and glucose utilization, N-13 ammonia and F-18 deoxyglucose positron emission tomography were performed in 33 patients with myocardial infarction. The N-13 ammonia study was performed at rest and during supine exercise, and the F-18 deoxyglucose was done at rest after greater than or equal to 5 hours of fasting. Based on angina, exercise-induced hypoperfusion, and deoxyglucose uptake, 3 groups of patients were classified; 10 patients in group I (neither angina nor exercise induced hypoperfusion), 8 patients in group II (painless exercise-induced hypoperfusion) and 15 patients in group III (anginal patients with/without exercise-induced hypoperfusion). The F-18 deoxyglucose positron study demonstrated accumulation of deoxyglucose in 6 patients in group I, 7 in group II, and 14 in group III. Thus, our results indicated that a significant number of patients with antecedent myocardial infarction had exercise induced hypoperfusion and/or altered glucose metabolism without accompanying anginal pain. PMID- 2621774 TI - Clinical significance and management of silent myocardial ischemia in patients with angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. AB - The present study was canued out to clarify the relationship between silent myocardial ischemia in patients with angina pectoris and onset of myocardial infarction, and the former's prognostic significance. The peak incidences of onset of myocardial infarction in patients were at 2 a.m., 9 a.m., 2 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m., and the peak onsets of transient silent myocardial ischemia in angina pectoris patients were at 9 a.m., 2 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. Thus the most likely onset times were almost the same with both events. Of 169 patients with coronary artery disease admitted for treatment, 128 patients had no anginal attacks during follow-up and the remaining 41 had persistent angina despite adequate medical treatment. Holter monitoring electrocardiography was performed twice with the non-angina patients, during admission. Of these 128 patients, 54 showed no silent myocardial ischemia on either of the electrocardiographic recordings, 34 showed silent ischemia with the first Holter monitoring but not with the second one, and the remaining 41 showed silent myocardial ischemia on both tests. The subsequent incidences of "cardiac events" were 9.4%, 14.7%, and 36.6%, respectively for these three groups. Therefore, it is concluded that the presence of silent myocardial ischemia is closely related to onset of myocardial infarction and is an important prognostic factor in patients with coronary artery disease. PMID- 2621775 TI - Silent myocardial ischemia in patients with variant angina. AB - Twenty-four hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recording was performed in 56 patients with variant angina admitted to the coronary care unit in order to evaluate the incidence and pathophysiology of silent episodes of ST elevation. Of 696 episodes of ST elevation of more than 0.1 mV identified during a recording period of 141 days, 531 (76%) episodes were completely silent. The incidence of silent episodes increased as the number of total ischemic episodes per day increased. Silent ST elevation revealed a significantly shorter duration and a lower intensity than symptomatic ST elevation. However, there were wide overlaps in the duration and intensity of ST elevation between silent and symptomatic episodes. In some patients, silent and symptomatic episodes of similar duration and intensity were observed. Arrhythmias during ischemic episodes such as premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, high grade atrioventricular block, and sinus arrest were observed in 32 of 56 patients, 57% of cases and 9% of the total episodes. Arrhythmias were more common during symptomatic episodes (29%) than during silent ones (9%, p less than 0.01), but serious arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia, high grade atrioventricular block and sinus arrest occurred even during silent episodes. In both silent and symptomatic episodes, the duration and intensity of ST elevation were significantly lower in ischemic episodes with arrhythmias than in those without arrhythmias. These results suggest that 1) the majority of ischemic events are silent in patients with variant angina; 2) the severity of ischemia seems to be an important factor as the cause of anginal pain, but additional factors may be involved; 3) arrhythmias were more common during sympatomatic than silent episodes. PMID- 2621776 TI - Assessment of silent and symptomatic ischemia in daily activity by an ambulatory ventricular function monitor. AB - We have assessed the sequential changes in left ventricular function and ECG in 39 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) using an ambulatory ventricular function monitor. Following radionuclide ventriculography, the instrument detectors were placed over the region of the left ventricle and lung, and beat-to beat left ventricular time activity curve and modified V5 ECG data were continuously monitored for up to 6 hours (mean 2.5 hours), while the patient performed various daily activities. Thirty-six episodes of transient ejection fraction (EF) decrease (6-18%) were recorded in 16 patients, 12 were symptomatic and 24 asymptomatic. ST segment changes were recorded in 6 of the 12 symptomatic and 5 of the 24 asymptomatic episodes. In 10 of the 12 symptomatic episodes, EF began to drop 30 to 90 seconds before the onset of the symptoms. Of 14 episodes of significant ST segment depression in five patients, 11 were associated with a significant EF decrease. We conclude that the combination of left ventricular function and ECG monitoring is a promising means for determining incidence of silent and symptomatic ischemia and for severity of ischemia in patients with CAD. PMID- 2621777 TI - Plasma bradykinin and prostaglandin metabolism and exercise testing in patients with silent myocardial ischemia compared with patients with painful myocardial ischemia. AB - Bradykinin, alone or in combination with prostaglandin, is thought to produce pain in patients with coronary heart disease. To elucidate this further, we have investigated and compared serum bradykinin, TXB2 and 6 KPGF1 alpha levels in patients with silent myocardial ischemia (SMI, n = 18), painful myocardial ischemia (PMI, n = 8) and normal subjects (NL, n = 18). In addition, SMI and PMI subjects were given exercise testing and the results then compared. After Holter monitoring for 48 hours, exercise testing was performed. Blood was sampled in the morning between the Holter and exercise regimen. Maximal heart rate, systolic blood pressure and the double products were not significantly different between the SMI and PMI groups. The duration of exercise for the SMI group was 7.08 +/- 2.1 min vs 5.9 +/- 1.9 in the PMI group (p less than 0.10). Plasma bradykinin was 14 +/- 3 pg/ml in the SMI group and 15 +/- 3 in the PMI group (N.S), whereas it was 7 +/- 4 in the NL (p less than 0.05). The TXB2/6KPGF1 alpha for the SMI group was 1.3 +/- 0.3, which was significantly higher than that for the NL group (0.8 +/- 0.3, p less than 0.01), though this did not greatly differ from the PMI group (1.2 +/- 0.3). These results suggest that SMI patients under Holter monitoring who manifest no symptoms but show significant ST segment depressions must receive the same careful attention given to PMI patients. In both group of patients bradykinin and prostaglandin metabolism is similarly changed, as was demonstrated by exercise stress testing. PMID- 2621778 TI - Chemotherapy in Japan. Its dawn and development. PMID- 2621779 TI - [Determination of the MIC of cefotetan against freshly isolated gram-negative bacilli]. AB - Antimicrobial activities (MICs) of cefotetan (CTT) against 575 strains of 16 spp. of Gram-negative bacilli isolated in 1988 were determined to investigate distribution of MICs in comparison with those of cefmetazole (CMZ), cefoxitin (CFX), latamoxef (LMOX) and cefazolin (CEZ). The change in frequencies of incidence of cephem-resistant strains in the latter half of the 1980 was also investigated. Distribution of MIC of CTT varied with test strains. No or very few MICs were at or higher than 12.5 micrograms/ml at an inoculation of 10(6) cfu/ml, thus rates of CTT-resistant strains were low among Escherichia coli, Citrobacter diversus, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Providencia spp., and Haemophilus influenzae. High rates of resistance to CTT were observed, however, among Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter spp., Serratia marcescens, Morganella morganii, and Bacteroides fragilis. 2. Most CTT-resistant strains of C. freundii, Enterobacter spp. and S. marcescens were also resistant to LMOX. These resistant strains were considered to be multi-resistant strains to antibiotics including oxime type cephalosporins and monobactams. 3. Cephem-resistant E. coli was confirmed to be resistant to 22% of CEZ, 14% of CFX, 10% of CMZ and 2% of CTT tested. The incidence of cephem-resistant E. coli unconditionally showed an increasing tendency. 4. The incidence of resistant strains against cephamycins including CTT is discussed with regard to the mechanism of resistance against all beta-lactam antibiotics, and the problem of the appearance of resistant strains is close and inseparable from social background. PMID- 2621780 TI - [Clinical laboratory approach to estimating the effective administration dose of imipenem/cilastatin. Evaluation of the disk susceptibility test and its interpretation system]. AB - In vitro activities of imipenem/cilastatin (IPM/CS) against 413 clinical isolates were studied through the evaluation of MICs and the results of disk susceptibility tests. The MICs were determined using the agar dilution method at an inoculum level of 10(6) CFU/ml. The MIC80s of imipenem (IPM) against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were 25 and 1.56 micrograms/ml, respectively, showing a bimodal MIC distribution. However, the distribution of MICs against other bacteria studied was of monomodal pattern. Group A Streptococcus, Enterococcus faecalis were inhibited by IPM at dose levels less than 0.025 and 6.25 micrograms/ml, respectively. IPM inhibited Escherichia coli at 0.20 microgram/ml, Klebsiella pneumoniae at 0.39 microgram/ml, Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 3.13 micrograms/ml except one strain showed a MIC of 25 micrograms/ml, Serratia spp. at 3.13 micrograms/ml except one with MIC greater than 100 micrograms/ml, Citrobacter freundii at 0.78 microgram/ml and Enterobacter spp. at 0.39 microgram/ml. Indole (-) Proteus and indole (+) Proteus were inhibited by this drug at levels of 3.13 and 1.56 micrograms/ml, respectively. The reliability of the IPM disk diffusion susceptibility test in quantitative estimation of antimicrobial activities was well demonstrated using commercialized 8 mm diameter Showa disks containing 30 micrograms antibiotic and also disks containing 1-30 micrograms prepared in this laboratory. For the interpretation of the Showa disk susceptibility test, a 4 category system was used. In the 4 category system for Showa IPM disk the following classification of inhibitory zone diameters has been proposed; ( ) MIC less than or equal to 3 micrograms/ml, (++) MIC greater than 3-15 micrograms/ml, (+) MIC greater than 15 60 micrograms/ml, (-) MIC greater than 60 micrograms/ml. The results of the test using Showa 30 micrograms disk against various clinical isolates were accurately classified into the 4 groups, showing false positive 8 out of 304 strains (2.6%) and false negative 1 of 304 strains (0.3%). With Showa 30 micrograms disks subclassification of strains with MIC less than 3 micrograms/ml cannot be achieved. In this study, however, the differentiation of strains with MICs less than 1 microgram/ml was made with disks containing 5-10 micrograms, which afforded to set MIC break points at 1 and 3 micrograms/ml. According to current concepts on pharmacokinetics for antibiotics including the penetration of drugs into tissues and inflammatory fluids, serum protein binding of drugs appears to be one of the important determinants of drug distribution in the body. Only free, unbound drug molecules can readily pass through capillary pores into tissue fluids except in the hepato-biliary system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2621781 TI - [A clinical study of pulmonary tissue uptake of cefuzonam and its use in prophylaxis of postoperative infections]. AB - From our study on cefuzonam (CZON), a new antibiotic agent, with regard to pulmonary tissue uptake and use in prophylaxis of postoperative infections in 20 patients undergoing thoracotomy, we were able to reach the following conclusions: 1. Following intravenous infusion over 1 hour of 1 g of CZON immediate preoperatively, the mean serum concentration at 1 hour after commencement of the infusion reached at 41.5 micrograms/ml (serum peak value), then gradually decreased with a half-life in the beta-phase of 1.20 hours. 2. The mean CZON concentration in normal pulmonary tissue at 1 hour after commencement of the infusion was 12.7 micrograms/g with a half-life in the beta-phase of 1.28 hours. Although the number of cases examined was small at only 4, the mean pulmonary tissue level in obstructive pneumonitic lesions was 13.7 micrograms/g, and an average half-life in the beta-phase was 1.65 hours. 3. Mean bronchiolar CZON concentrations at 2, 4, and 6 hours after commencement of the infusion were 14.5, 3.1, and 2.8 micrograms/g, respectively, with a half-life in the beta-phase of 3.53 hours. 4. Among the patients undergone thoracotomy with use of CZON, no postoperative infections occurred nor severe adverse reaction was observed. CZON attained good transfer in the pulmonary tissues, particularly in the bronchiolar tissue, hence it appears useful as a prophylactic against postoperative infections in respiratory disease. PMID- 2621782 TI - [Study on cefotaxime in respiratory surgery: transfer to lung tissue and kinetics in serum]. AB - Cefotaxime (CTX) was intravenously administered in a dose of 1 g to patients just prior to lung surgery. Lung tissue specimens were collected at 1, 2 and 3 hours after the CTX administration, and the concentration of CTX in each specimen was determined. At the same time, the concentration of CTX in the serum was also measured. The results are summarized below. 1. Determination of the CTX concentration in the lung tissue using bioassay showed values of 3.78 +/- 1.93 micrograms/g at 1 hour after CTX administration, 1.91 +/- 0.92 microgram/g at 2 hours, and 1.19 +/- 1.04 micrograms/g at 3 hours. 2. Determination of the CTX concentration in the serum using bioassay showed values of 36.9 +/- 14.4 micrograms/ml at 30 minutes after CTX administration, 22.5 +/- 10.5 micrograms/ml at 1 hour, 12.8 +/- 6.32 micrograms/ml at 2 hours, 8.52 +/- 5.54 micrograms/ml at 3 hours, and 3.98 +/- 3.19 micrograms/ml at 6 hours. The serum half-life was calculated to be 1.82 hours. 3. The CTX concentration of 3.78 +/- 1.93 micrograms/g in the lung tissue at 1 hour after CTX administration was more than 10 times higher than the MIC80 values for Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC80 less than or equal to 0.025 microgram/ml) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (0.05 micrograms/ml), 2 of the principal causative organisms of respiratory tract infections. The pattern of change in concentrations of CTX in the serum of these surgical patients was concluded to be similar to the pattern in healthy adult subjects. On the basis of the results summarized above, it appears that CTX is a useful antimicrobial agent for application in the field of respiratory surgery. PMID- 2621783 TI - [Acute toxicity studies of miporamicin and its degradation products and metabolites in the mouse and rat]. AB - Acute toxicity studies of miporamicin and its trace ingredients, degradations and metabolites were conducted in mice and rats. 1. Following oral administration of miporamicin (MPM), none died among mice or rats even at the highest dosage levels. Therefore, its LD50 values were estimated to be greater than 2,500 mg/kg for mice and greater than 2,000 mg/kg for rats. The LD50 value of MPM was the highest by oral route, followed, in order, by subcutaneous route and intravenous route. There was no difference in this respect between sexes of animals studied. 2. No signs of abnormalities were observed among mice or rats following oral administration of MPM. In animals dosed with MPM by subcutaneous route, such inflammatory reactions as swelling, subcutaneous hyperemia and hemorrhage, and loss of hair incrustation at the site of injection were noted. Animals among those given MPM by intravenous injection developed postdosing depression of motor activity, respiratory depression or arrest, tremor and convulsion. 3. Deaths from administration of MPM were estimated to be due to paralysis of respiratory function inasmuch as fatally affected animals exhibited respiratory depression and cyanosis and, subsequently, respiratory arrest was followed by cardiac arrest. 4. Trace ingredients, metabolites and degradation products of MPM proved to be essentially the same as MPM in acute toxicities. PMID- 2621784 TI - [Subacute toxicity study of miporamicin in rats by twenty-eight-day administration in feed]. AB - A 28-day oral dosage test of miporamicin (MPM), a new macrolide antibiotic, was performed to assess its toxicologic potential in groups of male and female rats receiving the compound in feed. Five graded dosage levels of 0, 3,200, 8,000, 20,000, and 50,000 ppm were employed for treatment with MPM in feed and the treatment period was followed by a 28-day recovery phase observation period. 1. No deaths occurred throughout the course of the experiment. Animals receiving 50,000 ppm developed signs: ruffled hair coat and emaciation, which disappeared following withdrawal of the drug. 2. The MPM-50,000 group displayed depression of weight gain and decrease of feed and water intake during the treatment period. During the posttreatment recovery phase observation period the animals showed recovery in weight gain rate as well as in feed and water intake. 3. The achieved compound dosage was 273 mg/kg/day in males and 288 mg/kg/day in females in the MPM-3,200 group, 721 and 773 mg/kg/day respectively in the MPM-8,000 group, 1,738 and 1,856 mg/kg/day in the MPM-20,000 group, and 3,405 and 3,611 mg/kg/day in the MPM-50,000 group. 4. Hematological examinations revealed low values for RBC, WBC, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration and decreased platelet counts in the MPM 50,000 group, which were considered to be due to the decreased feed intake. These changes disappeared or abated following withdrawal. 5. Of various serum biochemical parameters assessed, total protein, albumin, glucose and triglycerides showed lowered values in the MPM-50,000 group. All these changes were considered to be attributable to the decreased feed intake. During the ensuing recovery phase observation period, all these parameters showed restoration or abatement in parallel with the recovery in feed intake. 6. Urine analysis disclosed decrease of urine volume, lowered electrolyte concentration and elevation of urine osmolarity in the MPM-20,000 and the MPM-50,000 groups. These changes were considered to be secondary to cecal enlargement which is commonly seen with antibiotic medication, or to the decreased feed and water intake. Following drug withdrawal, all these changes disappeared with the recovery in feed and water intake and abatement of cecal hyperplasia. 7. At terminal necropsy, diminution of body fat and atrophy of the spleen and thymus that correlated with emaciation were noted in the MPM-50,000 group. Dose-related enlargement of the caecum was also noted in the treated groups. All these changes disappeared or abated following withdrawal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2621785 TI - [Six-month chronic toxicity study of miporamicin in rats]. AB - A six-month oral toxicity test of the new macrolide antibiotic miporamicin (MPM) was carried out in male and female rats receiving the compound in feed at concentrations of 1,280, 3,200, 8,000, or 20,000 ppm. The animals were further observed for recovery for 2 months after the completion of the treatment period. 1. No death occurred at any dosage levels throughout the study period. The only notable signs observed were marginal blepharitis and aging-associated changes that were seen occasionally among the treated and control rats. There were no symptomatic changes of particular note. 2. Body weight, feed intake and water consumption data did not reveal any noticeable change. 3. The achieved test compound intake was 69 mg/kg/day for males and 82 mg/kg/day for females in the MPM-1,280 group, 176 mg/kg/day for males and 207 mg/kg/day for females in the MPM 3,200 group, 436 mg/kg/day for males and 519 mg/kg/day for females in the MPM 8,000 group, and 1,080 mg/kg/day for males and 1,280 mg/kg/day for females in the MPM-20,000 group. 4. No changes attributable to these treatments were noted in the hematological examination or serum biochemical tests. 5. Urinalysis disclosed mild changes with respect to urine volume, urinary electrolyte concentration and osmolarity. Animals recovered from all these changes during the recovery phase observation. 6. At gross pathologic examination a dose-related enlargement of the caecum was observed. The change disappeared or diminished following the 2-month recovery phase observation. 7. Organ weight analysis showed a dose-related increase of weight of the caecum. Animals recovered or abated in this respect during the 2-month recovery phase observation. 8. Histopathologic examination revealed no adverse toxicologic changes other than spontaneous or aging associated ones. 9. No abnormalities were noted in the liver or in the kidneys as examined by electron microscopy. 10. The maximum non-effective level of MPM thus was estimated to be 20,000 ppm at which no organic damage occurred. PMID- 2621786 TI - [Oral dosage study of miporamicin administered during the period of fetal organogenesis in rats]. AB - Experiments were conducted to assess the effects of miporamicin (MPM) on prenatal and postnatal development of fetuses and offsprings of rats receiving the compound at oral dosages of 40, 200, or 1,000 mg/kg/day during the organogenesis stage of gestation. The drug treatment had no appreciable effect on maternal body weight during pregnancy or lactation period. The rats showed decreased food intake and increased water intake during gestation period in the groups given greater than or equal to 200 mg/kg/day, and increased food and water intakes during lactation period in the group given 1,000 mg/kg/day. There was no macroscopic evidence of changes indicative of any effect of the treatment in the viscera of rat dams at terminal necropsy. Observation of the fetuses did not reveal any effect of the treatment with MPM with respect to the number of implantations, the number of living fetuses, the death rate of fetuses or incidence of external, visceral, or skeletal anomalies. Male fetal weights were low in the groups given greater than or equal to 200 mg/kg/day. Observation of the offspring post partum failed to disclose any abnormalities indicative of adverse effects of the treatment with respect to birth index, viability index, weaning index, postnatal external differentiation, body weight changes, external morphology, skeleton, viscera, organ weight, functional and behavioral tests, emotion, learning ability, or reproductive performance, or in respect of prenatal development of their fetuses (F2). It is concluded from the results that no effect dose levels of MPM was 40 mg/kg/day in rat dams, 40 mg/kg/day also for their fetuses, and 1,000 mg/kg/day for postnatal development of the offspring under the experimental conditions described. PMID- 2621787 TI - [Miporamicin teratogenicity study in rabbits]. AB - A teratogenicity study on miporamicin (MPM) was performed in New Zealand White rabbits. Following suitable dose range finding experiments, 60 mated rabbits were randomised into 4 treatment groups, each containing 15 animals. These animals were dosed once daily, by oral gavage, over days 6-18 inclusive of gestation, where the day of mating was designated as day 0. The dose levels applied were 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day. A standard dose volume of 5 ml dosing suspension per kilogram body weight was applied, the vehicle being an 0.5% solution of carboxymethylcellulose in distilled water. There was an effect on maternal food consumption at 200 mg/kg/day: cessation of consumption by over one quarter of the animals in the group. Under the conditions of this study, MPM had no effect on the outcome of pregnancy at dose levels of up to 200 mg/kg/day. There was generally no significant effect on either the mother or the conceptus at 100 mg/kg/day. PMID- 2621788 TI - [Studies on antigenicity and contact sensitivity of miporamicin]. AB - Experiments were performed to assess antigenicity and contact sensitivity of miporamicin (MPM) with the results leading to the conclusions as follows: 1. In the test to find out if an active systemic anaphylactic reaction would occur in guinea pigs, none of the animals developed any typical signs of anaphylactic reaction. 2. All the sera samples obtained from guinea pigs which had been given sensitizing injections of MPM proved negative for homologous PCA reaction. 3. In a test to see if PCA reaction would occur in rats, all the sera samples obtained from mice which had been given sensitizing injections of MPM did not cause positive reactions. 4. MPM was negative for contact sensitivity tested in guinea pigs; thus, no evidence of contact sensitizing potential was observed. Thus, MPM has proven to be not antigenic in guinea pigs or mice, nor to have any contact sensitivity in guinea pigs under the testing conditions employed. PMID- 2621789 TI - [Mutagenicity studies of miporamicin]. AB - Mutagenic activity of miporamicin (MPM), a new macrolide antibiotic for animal use, was examined using the reversion test with bacteria, the chromosomal aberration test with mammalian cells in culture and the micronucleus test with rodents. In the reversion test, MPM exhibited severe growth inhibition effect on the test bacteria but caused no increase of revertant colonies over the baseline levels, alone or in combination with S 9 mixture. In the chromosome aberration test, MPM induced a medium grade increase of chromosome aberrations at high concentrations, but induced no increase of polyploid cells over the control level. In the micronucleus test, MPM had no effect on induction of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte even at the 1/2 LD50 dose. From these results, we concluded that MPM has no effect on the induction of point mutations but has a weak clastogenicity which is detectable only by in vitro tests. PMID- 2621790 TI - [Local irritation study of miporamicin in male rabbits]. AB - Local irritation effect of miporamicin (MPM), a new macrolide antibiotics for animal use, on skin and ocular tissues was determined in rabbits by the primary skin irritation test and ocular irritation test, respectively. In the former test, P.I.I. and inflammatory findings increased with increasing exposure time to MPM. A short-time contact with MPM caused relatively little effect on ocular tissues. Contrarily, a long-time contact with MPM caused medium or high degree of inflammatory reactions on cornea, iris and conjunctiva tissues. The increased inflammation was naturally accompanied with increases of the DRAIZE score. All these results suggest that MPM per se has local irritation effect on both skin and ocular tissues. PMID- 2621791 TI - [A selective inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase isolated from an alkalophilic strain of Bacillus species]. AB - Many alkalophilic bacteria were found to produce inhibitors of protein kinases. We isolated a novel inhibitor of protein kinase from an alkalophilic strain of Bacillus species. This substance was A heat-stable peptide with a molecular weight of 13,000 daltons. It was found to be a selective inhibitor of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase (A kinase). The inhibition of a kinase by this substance was non-competitive with histone or ATP. It behaved distinctly; other known inhibitors such as H-7, H-8, Staurosporine, K-252 and Erbstatine inhibit protein kinase less selectively and their functions are competitive with either substrate or ATP. This inhibitor was found to bind to the regulatory subunits of A kinase and markedly inhibited the separation of the catalytic subunits from A kinase induced by the binding of cAMP despite of no effect on the binding of cAMP. Thus, the activation step of A kinase was influenced by this inhibitor. This molecule had no effect on the inhibition by cAMP of CHO cell proliferation. This may have been due to the inability of this molecule to reach the target in the cell. Modification of the molecule itself or the administration method is needed for cellular or animal application. PMID- 2621792 TI - [Chemical properties of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Vibrio anguillarum PT514]. AB - Vibrio anguillarum, one of the causative agents of fish vibriosis, is serologically and biochemically divided into three groups (A, B and C). The chemical composition and molecular architecture of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from V. anguillarum PT 514, which belongs to serogroup B, were investigated. The LPS contained glucose (Glc), fructose (Fru), L-glycero-D mannoheptose (L-D Hep), glucosamine (GlcN) and 4-amino-4,6-dideoxyglucose as sugar constituents in molar ratios of 8.9:0.7:3.0:1.1:1.6. Sephadex G-50 gel chromatography of a degraded polysaccharide fraction separated from the LPS by 5% acetic acid hydrolysis suggested that the O-specific polysaccharide region consists of, in average, as much as 29 moles of Glc per 3 moles of L-D Hep, while the core polysaccharide contains at least Glc, L-D Hep and GlcN in molar ratios of 3.2 : 3.0 : 0.2. Fru and 4-amino-4,6-dideoxyglucose components were released from LPS on weak-acid hydrolysis, indicating that PT 514 LPS is distinguishable from those of Vibrio anguillarum belonging to the other serogroups. 2-Keto-3 deoxyoctonate (KDO), a common sugar constituent of gram-negative bacterial LPS, was not detected by Weissbach's color reaction under the conventional hydrolysis condition, but O-phosphoryl KDO was found in the strong-acid hydrolysate (4 M HCl, 100 C, 45 min). This substance was identical, at least in high-voltage paper electrophoresis, to 5-O-phosphoryl KDO.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2621793 TI - [Induction by mycoplasmas of tumor necrosis factor-alpha from macrophages]. AB - Several species of mycoplasmas including M. pneumoniae, the causative agent of human respiratory infection, were investigated for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induction. The cytotoxic activity to Meth A cells of peritoneal macrophages purified from BALB/c mice was enhanced markedly when cultured with either viable or nonviable mycoplasmas. The supernatant of macrophage culture mixed with mycoplasmas, M. pneumoniae or A. laidlawii, showed a potent cytotoxic activity to TNF-alpha-sensitive but not to TNA-alpha-insensitive L cells. Addition of anti-TNA-alpha antiserum inhibited completely the cytotoxic activity of the supernatant, indicating that the cytotoxic activity is due mostly to TNF alpha. These results strongly suggest that mycoplasmas possess an activity to induce TNF-alpha, which enhances the cytotoxic activity of macrophages and prevent infection with mycoplasmas in vivo. PMID- 2621794 TI - [Megakaryocyte proportion versus nucleated cells in the peripheral blood showing leukoerythroblastosis]. AB - Megakaryocytes in the peripheral blood in which leukoerythroblastosis was recognized were studied by electron microscopy on the vertically cut section of the buffy coat of the blood, and percentages of them in 10,000 nucleated cells distributed from the top of the bottom of the buffy coat were counted. In 15 of 31 patients, percentages of peripheral blood megakaryocytes ranging from 0.01% to 0.64% were seen. There was difference of the result among diseases shown peripheral blood megakaryocytes. Namely, in patients with myelofibrosis and CML, in whom extramedullary hematopoiesis was predominant, many cases ascertained peripheral blood megakaryocytes were demonstrated. Because of this result, the extramedullary hematopoiesis appears to play an important role to the presentation of megakaryocytes in the peripheral blood. On the other hand, patients indicating both megakaryocytes and abnormal sideroblasts in the peripheral blood had sideroblastic anemia marrow. This result seems to show that a part of megakaryocytes are directly flowed out from the marrow into the blood simultaneously accompanied with abnormal sideroblasts. PMID- 2621795 TI - [Relapse of acute monocytic leukemia present with skin and tracheal involvement]. AB - A 34 year-old female was admitted because of anemia and leukopenia. Her bone marrow contained abundant blastic cells, which were histochemically positive for peroxidase and alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, but negative for ASD chloroacetate esterase. She was diagnosed as acute monocytic leukemia (FAB, M5a). Complete remission was achieved after the administration of BHAC, daunorubicin, 6MP and prednisolone, and she was discharged after consolidation therapies. But shortly later, she noticed hoarseness and erythematous nodules on her breast and abdomen. Though the examinations of peripheral blood and bone marrow did not show any abnormality, hoarseness rapidly worsened and she complained of dyspnea. X-ray and CT scan demonstrated narrowing of the trachea under the cricoid cartilage, and trans-tracheal biopsy revealed leukemic involvement. In addition, erythematous skin lesion showed the infiltration of leukemic cells by biopsy. Although radiation and chemotherapy was initiated, she died of pneumonia. We tried to discuss the laryngo-tracheal and skin involvement of acute monocytic leukemia as early symptoms of relapse. PMID- 2621796 TI - [A case of cutaneous T cell lymphoma improved with local administration of tumor necrosis factor]. AB - A 63-aged woman with cutaneous T cell lymphoma successfully treated with local administration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was reported. She was admitted to our hospital because of tumors and subcutaneous nodules on her bilateral inner thigh. A pathological study of her skin of right inner thigh showed mononuclear atypical cells with hyperlobulated nuclei. In peripheral blood the same lymphoid cells were found. Immunohistochemical staining of these cells was positive for OKT-3 and OKT-4, but negative for OKT-8. No lymph node swelling and no visceral involvement were detected by a CT scan and a Echography of the chest and the abdomen. A diagnosis of cutaneous T cell lymphoma was made (stage IIb TNM classification). Although the chemotherapy of VEPA and CHOP was done, about 70% (PR) of the bilateral inner thigh tumors were retracted. Owing to the interstitial pneumonia aroused in the period of bone marrow suppression and cardiomyopathy after chemotherapy, we gave up further systemic chemotherapy. And then the local administration of TNF was done and the disappearance of the bilateral inner thigh tumors was obtained. Our therapy with local administration of TNF for CTCL in the first report. PMID- 2621797 TI - [Severe aplastic anemia successfully treated with cyclosporin A and prednisolone]. AB - A 7-year-old boy was admitted to our department complaining pale face and subcutaneous bleeding in August, 1987. Peripheral blood analysis showed pancytopenia of WBC 2,600/microliter, RBC 148 x 10(4)/microliter and platelets 5,000/microliter. Bone marrow biopsy revealed hypocellularity. Granulocytes 104/microliter, reticulocytes 4,290/microliter and platelets 5,000/microliter were compatible with the diagnosis of severe aplastic anemia based on the criteria of the Ministry of Public Welfare in Japan. Prednisolone (PDN) was initially indicated and bolus methylprednisolone, metenolone and ALG therapy followed with no hematological improvement. Fifteen months after admission, in addition to 0.5-1 mg/kg/day of metenolone, Cyclosporin A (CyA) was started at a dose of 12 mg/kg/day for a week and 6 mg/kg/day thereafter. After a week from administration of CyA, 1 mg/kg/day of PDN was given because his bleeding tendency became worse. But this combination was complicated with liver damage and hyperglycemia to discontinue both drugs. These adverse effects were subsided within 7 days by cessation of the drugs. CyA was started again at a dose of 6 mg/kg/day without any response for 4 weeks. Then PDN was added together at a reduced dose of 0.5-1 mg/kg/day. Hematological response was obtained promptly. Granulocytes reached 1,500/microliter, hemoglobin 10.2 g/dl and platelets 26,000/microliter after 3 months of therapy. Afterward the patient became transfusion independent. The most effective method of CyA administration for aplastic anemia is still controversial. Alternative use of CyA, considering combination of steroids or anabolic steroids, in patients who failed to respond to conventional immunosuppressive treatments should be further investigated. PMID- 2621798 TI - [Conversion of acute leukemia from a T-lymphoid to a myeloid phenotype]. AB - A 7-year-old girl with an acute leukemia was reported whose blasts showed conversion from a T-lymphoid to a myeloid phenotype. At the onset of the disease, the blasts were negative for peroxidase and displayed FAB L1 morphology. Surface marker analysis revealed only CD7 antigen. Although complete remission was achieved, an extramedullary relapse was identified as having a several subcutaneous tumors 15 months later. Tumor cells showed the same marker expression as that of the blasts at the onset. After short term culture without an addition of any differentiation stimulators, the blast cells expressed CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD25 antigens. The karyotype was 46, XX, t(12; 21) (p11; q22). The intensive chemotherapy and radiation therapy were carried out, however, a hematological relapse occurred 12 months later. At this time, the blasts were strongly positive for peroxidase and expressed HLA-DR and CD33 antigens with disappearance of the CD7 antigen. Chromosome analysis revealed the additional abnormalities (del (7) (p15), -17, +der (17) t (17;?) (p13;?]. PMID- 2621799 TI - [Clinical and laboratory studies in seven patients with pre-B cell leukemia in children]. AB - We have experienced and treated seven patients of pre-B cell leukemia in childhood. Clinical, cytological and ultrastructural characteristics of them were studied. Most of them had higher counts of white blood cells, hepatosplenomegaly, high value of lactic dehydrogenase and various karyotype abnormalities at onset. The chromosomal translocation t (1; 19) that is supposed to be specific to pre-B cell ALL was found in four of seven of our cases. In the seven patients, survival was studied in comparison to that of 27 common ALL patients at our hospital that are common in childhood acute leukemia. Although no difference in remission duration and survival time between pre-B cell ALL patients and common ALL group, there have been seen the tendency that remission and survival were of shorter duration for patients with pre-B cell ALL. PMID- 2621800 TI - [Acute myelomonocytic leukemia with inv (16) (p13 q22) disappeared abnormal karyotype during complete remission]. AB - A 21-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of anorexia and general malaise in July, 1988. On admission, the white blood cell count of 18,600/microliters with 72% leukemic cells. The bone marrow aspirate showed 76.8% immature monocytes, 10% mature and immature eosinophils. Leukemic cells were 66.6% myeloperoxidase positive cells, and 20.6% naphthylbutyrate esterase positive cells. The lysozyme activity in urine was high. Cytogenetic analysis revealed the presence of 46 XY inv (16) (p13 q22). Under the diagnosis of acute myelomonocytic leukemia with eosinophilia (M4Eo) associated with inv (16) (p13 q22), one course of DCMP induction therapy was performed. After complete remission, the bone marrow aspirate showed disappearance of inv (16) (p13 q22), and associated with decreased residual leukemic cells. PMID- 2621801 TI - [IgA RIPA inhibitor in a case of acquired von Willebrand syndrome]. AB - Acquired inhibitor of von Willebrand factor-platelet interaction occurring in a 57 year-old female has been partially characterized. She had no personal or familial bleeding tendencies, but presented a subcutaneous hematoma of recent origin. She was diagnosed as having an acquired von Willebrand syndrome because she had low levels of FVIII complex in plasma, with platelet adhesiveness to glassbeads and RIPA decreased. This inhibitor was classified as an IgA immunoglobulin, and had no activity against any component of FVIII complex. The purified IgA by the chromatographic technology interacted with normal platelets to inhibit RIPA. Following 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) infusion, she had higher immediate rise in all components of FVIII complex in plasma, with no rapid decline. Plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers analyzed by 1.5% SDS-AGE technology revealed to be identical with those of normal plasma. These studies suggest that the abnormality of ristocetin-induced vWF-platelet interaction by IgA RIPA inhibitor and the reduction of all vWF multimers (like type IA von Willebrand disease) may have a relationship with the pathogenesis of bleeding diathesis in this case. PMID- 2621802 TI - [Chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation due to abdominal true aneurysm in two cases--effect of anti-platelet and anti-fibrinolytic therapy]. AB - Case 1: 75 years old male was admitted to our hospital with anterior chest subcutaneous bleeding. Coagulation study revealed that fibrinogen and alpha 2-PI decreased, and FDP, FPA, B beta 15 approximately 42 and D-dimer increased. Case 2: 78 years old male was admitted to Shingu City Hospital with a left hip subcutaneous hematoma. Coagulation study revealed that fibrinogen, ATIII and alpha 2-PI decreased, and FDP increased. US and CT showed abdominal true aneurysm in both cases. Either severe infection or malignancy was not found. Ticropidine and T-AMCHA were medicated for 8 days in case 1, and for 18 months in case 2. Symptom and coagulation study improved in these cases. Due to some side effects such as appetite loss and liver dysfunction in case 1, and diarrhea in both cases, we changed the therapy to mini-dose heparin therapy. This therapy also proved effective. It is concluded that anti-platelet and anti-fibrinolytic therapy are effective for chronic DIC with abdominal true aneurysm. PMID- 2621803 TI - [CD33-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia with breast tumor and cavernous sinus tumor]. AB - A 38-year-old woman was diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (L2) in Oct. 1985. After VP and AdVEMP therapy, complete remission was obtained. In Oct. 1987, she noticed bilateral breast tumors and leukemic cell infiltrations were shown in a biopsy specimen of the breast tumor. Bone marrow was occupied with 94 percent blasts. The second complete remission was achieved by the AdVP therapy. In Nov. 1988, she developed double vision and photophobia. The examinations of CT and MRI showed cavernous sinus tumor, and 20 percent blasts were recognized in a bone marrow aspirate. The leukemic cells were negative for peroxidase, but were positive for both lymphoid and myeloid cell surface markers (CD2, CD5, CD7, CD33). The two color flowcytometry showed that CD5 and CD33 were simultaneously expressed on the leukemic cells. PMID- 2621804 TI - [Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura which was effectively treated by plasma exchange therapy--involvement of vWF and endothelial cell injury]. AB - A 49-year-old man with a one-week history of general fatigue and several other symptoms, including hematuria, numbness of the mouth, anemia and thrombocytopenia, was admitted because of an episode of convulsions and unconsciousness after blood transfusion. A diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) was then made, and treatment with steroids, anti platelet agents, transfusion of fresh frozen plasma was started. However, since no improvement was seen, on the third day of admission, treatment with plasma exchange was instituted (total plasma exchange volume was 18.1 iota), and his clinical and hematological conditions improved markedly. Since then, he has been in a remission state for about three years. Laboratory examinations during the acute phase showed increase of vWf: Ag, decrease of RCof/vWf: Ag, increase of vWf large multimers and a high endothelial cell injury activity by the patient's serum. In the next day following the plasma exchange therapy, RCof/vWf: Ag improved, but not to the normal range. One and a half years later, while in the remission phase, the vWf multimers and endothelial cell injury activity normalized. Thus, these findings show further evidence on the involvement of endothelial cell injury and vWf in the pathogenesis of TTP. PMID- 2621805 TI - [Non-Hodgkin lymphoma associated with a long history of protein losing enteropathy]. AB - A 32-year-old man with an 18-year history of protein losing enteropathy (PLE) was admitted to hospital for abdominal distention. On physical examination, he had massive pleural effusion, ascites and edema of the right leg, but no superficial lymphadenopathy or organomegaly. Laboratory studies revealed mild microcytic anemia and hypoproteinemia. alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance was elevated (316 ml/day). Examination of ascites disclosed numerous lymphoblastoid cells of B cell phenotype with mu chain and lambda light chain of immunoglobulin (Ig) in the cytoplasm. Southern blot analysis showed monoclonal rearrangement of mu chain and lambda chain genes. No evidence of lymphomatous involvement of lymph nodes and non-lymphoid organs was found by CT scan, ultrasound echography and gallium scan of the chest and abdomen. Bone marrow biopsy was negative. Thus, a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) stage IVB limited in the pleural and peritoneal cavities was made. He was treated with the combination chemotherapy of BACOD with high dose ara-C or methotrexate followed by 4 doses of autologous LAK cell infusion resulting in no significant response. The massive pleural effusion, ascites and edema of the leg have not been improved. We consider this to be a rare case of NHL associated with PLE which is extremely resistant to chemotherapy or LAK therapy. PMID- 2621806 TI - [A T-cell type non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a near-triploid karyotype]. AB - A 16 year-old boy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was reported. Although Hodgkin's disease was suspected by the presence of Reed-Sternberg-like cells and lacunar cells histologically, a diagnosis of NHL was made because of atypism and monoclonality of the background's cells as well as the morphology of invasive cells in the bone marrow. The tumor cells expressed, CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5 and CD7 antigens, which corresponded to the phenotype of helper-inducer T-lymphocytes. In the analysis of their karyotypes, 16 out of 24 cells revealed normal karyotype, while all the rest showed near-triploidy. Common abnormality was identified as trisomies of No. 1, 3, 5, 16, 21 chromosomes, tetrasomies of No. 10, 19, 20 chromosomes, and 4q+, 7q+, 14p+. Multimodal chemotherapy was successful to induce the patient promptly into complete remission. He has been free from the disease for approximately 12 months. Thus far, triploid clones in hematopoietic malignancies have rarely been described. More importantly, the appearance of them in pediatric lymphoid neoplasms has not yet been reported. PMID- 2621807 TI - [Blood chemical analysis, urinalysis, immunologic tests--interpretation of the data]. PMID- 2621808 TI - [Clinical significance of red cell enzyme activities]. PMID- 2621809 TI - [Clinical significance of erythrocyte transketolase analysis]. PMID- 2621810 TI - [Clinical significance of non-specific esterase and its isoenzymes of blood cells]. PMID- 2621811 TI - [Clinical significance of erythrocyte sorbitol analysis]. PMID- 2621812 TI - [Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and the diagnosis of leukemia]. PMID- 2621813 TI - [Hexosaminidase isoenzymes in leukemia]. PMID- 2621814 TI - [Diagnosis of leukemia and peroxidase in leukemic cells]. PMID- 2621815 TI - [Clinical significance of hemoglobin analysis]. PMID- 2621816 TI - [Clinical significance of erythrocyte glycosylated hemoglobin A1 and hemoglobin A1C analysis]. PMID- 2621817 TI - [Clinical significance of bacterial protein toxin analysis in biochemical tests]. PMID- 2621818 TI - [Clinical significance of serum enkephalin analysis in pituitary function tests]. PMID- 2621819 TI - [Plasma oxytocin levels in normal subjects and various conditions]. PMID- 2621820 TI - [Clinical significance of serum somatomedin-C analysis in pituitary function tests]. PMID- 2621821 TI - [Clinical significance of cryoglobulin analysis in biochemical tests]. PMID- 2621822 TI - [Clinical significance of serum neurophysin analysis in pituitary function tests]. PMID- 2621823 TI - [Clinical significance of vasopressin analysis in pituitary function tests]. PMID- 2621824 TI - [Clinical significance of serum prolactin analysis in pituitary function tests]. PMID- 2621825 TI - [Clinical significance of serum beta-lipotropic hormone and melanocyte stimulating hormone analysis in pituitary function tests]. PMID- 2621826 TI - [Clinical significance of serum calcitonin analysis in endocrine tests of the thyroid-parathyroid system]. PMID- 2621827 TI - [Clinical significance of serum calcitonin gene related peptide analysis in endocrine tests of the thyroid-parathyroid system]. PMID- 2621828 TI - [Clinical significance of glycated albumin analysis in biochemical tests]. PMID- 2621829 TI - [Clinical significance of serum free thyroxine analysis in endocrine tests of the thyroid-parathyroid system]. PMID- 2621830 TI - [Clinical significance of serum free thyroxine index in endocrine tests of the thyroid-parathyroid system]. PMID- 2621831 TI - [Clinical significance of serum reverse T3 analysis in endocrine tests of the thyroid-parathyroid system]. PMID- 2621832 TI - [Clinical significance of serum monoiodothyronine analysis in endocrine tests of the thyroid-parathyroid system]. PMID- 2621833 TI - [Clinical significance of serum diiodothyronine analysis in endocrine tests of the thyroid-parathyroid system]. PMID- 2621834 TI - [Clinical significance of serum triiodothyronine analysis in endocrine tests of the thyroid-parathyroid system]. PMID- 2621835 TI - [Clinical significance of serum parathyroid hormone analysis in endocrine tests of the thyroid-parathyroid system]. PMID- 2621836 TI - [Clinical significance of serum parathyroid hormone-related protein analysis in endocrine tests of the thyroid-parathyroid system]. PMID- 2621837 TI - [Clinical significance of catecholamine analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nervous system]. PMID- 2621838 TI - [Clinical significance of serum chromogranin A analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nervous system]. PMID- 2621839 TI - [Clinical significance of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol analysis in endocrine tests of the medulla and sympathetic nervous system]. PMID- 2621840 TI - [Clinical significance of serum dopamine-beta hydroxylase analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nervous system]. PMID- 2621841 TI - [Clinical significance of vanillylmandelic acid analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nervous system]. PMID- 2621842 TI - [Clinical significance of serum protein and fraction analysis in biochemical tests]. PMID- 2621843 TI - [Clinical significance of homovanillic acid analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nervous system]. PMID- 2621844 TI - [Clinical significance of metanephrine and normetanephrine analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nervous system]. PMID- 2621845 TI - [Clinical significance of aldosterone analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal cortex]. PMID- 2621846 TI - [Clinical significance of serum androstenedione analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal cortex]. PMID- 2621847 TI - [Clinical significance of serum 11-deoxycortisol analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal cortex]. PMID- 2621848 TI - [Clinical significance of urinary 6 beta-hydroxycortisol analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal cortex]. PMID- 2621849 TI - [Clinical significance of collagen gene expression in biochemical tests]. PMID- 2621850 TI - [Clinical significance of serum 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal cortex]. PMID- 2621851 TI - [Clinical significance of serum pregnenolone analysis in endocrine tests of the adrenal cortex]. PMID- 2621852 TI - [Clinical significance of androstanediol analysis in endocrine tests of the gonadal and placental system]. PMID- 2621853 TI - [Clinical significance of serum estrone analysis in endocrine tests of the gonadal and placental system]. PMID- 2621854 TI - [Clinical significance of serum and urinary estriol analysis in endocrine tests of the gonadal and placental system]. PMID- 2621855 TI - [Clinical significance of procollagen peptide analysis in biochemical tests]. PMID- 2621856 TI - [Clinical significance of blood 17 alpha-hydroxy pregnenolone analysis in endocrine tests of the gonadal and placental system]. PMID- 2621857 TI - [How to use the normal range in clinical pathology]. PMID- 2621858 TI - [Clinical significance of urine protein and its fraction analysis in biochemical tests]. PMID- 2621859 TI - [Clinical significance of fibronectin analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621860 TI - [Clinical significance of ferritin analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621861 TI - [Clinical significance of myosin light chain analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621862 TI - [Clinical significance of laminin analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621863 TI - [Significance of serum colloidal reaction in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621864 TI - [Age, sex and genetics in normal value]. PMID- 2621865 TI - [Clinical significance of thymol turbidity test]. PMID- 2621866 TI - [Significance of zinc sulfate turbidity test]. PMID- 2621867 TI - [Clinical significance of acid phosphatase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621868 TI - [Clinical significance of aspartate aminotransferase isoenzyme analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621869 TI - [Clinical significance of adenosine deaminase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621870 TI - [Clinical significance of arylamidase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621871 TI - [Clinical significance of arylesterase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621872 TI - [Clinical significance of alkaline phosphatase and its isozyme analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621873 TI - [Clinical significance of argininosuccinate synthetase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621874 TI - [Clinical significance of alcohol dehydrogenase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621875 TI - [Clinical significance of aldolase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621876 TI - [Clinical significance of isocitrate dehydrogenase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621877 TI - [Clinical significance of C1-esterase inhibitor analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621878 TI - [Clinical significance of serum elastase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621879 TI - [Clinical significance of ornithine carbamoyltransferase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621880 TI - [Clinical significance of catalase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621881 TI - [Clinical significance of chymotrypsin analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621883 TI - [General concept of quality control in clinical laboratory test results]. PMID- 2621882 TI - [Clinical significance of guanase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621884 TI - [Clinical significance of glutathione peroxidase analysis in biochemical laboratory analysis]. PMID- 2621885 TI - [Clinical significance of glutamate dehydrogenase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621886 TI - [Clinical significance of creatine kinase analysis in biochemical laboratory tests]. PMID- 2621887 TI - [Significance of cholinesterase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621888 TI - [Significance of cystyl aminopeptidase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621889 TI - [Significance of superoxide dismutase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621890 TI - [Significance of alanine aminotransferase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621891 TI - [Significance of serum trypsin analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621892 TI - [Significance of alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621893 TI - [Significance of pyruvate kinase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621894 TI - [Significance of pepsinogen analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621895 TI - [Significance of monoamine oxidase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621896 TI - [Significance of lactate dehydrogenase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621897 TI - [Significance of lysozyme analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621898 TI - [Significance of ribonuclease analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621899 TI - [Significance of malate dehydrogenase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621900 TI - [Significance of leucine aminopeptidase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621901 TI - [Significance of pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621902 TI - [Drug effects on laboratory test results]. PMID- 2621903 TI - [Significance of urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621904 TI - [Significance of urinary alkaline phosphatase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621905 TI - [Significance of urinary beta-glucuronidase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621906 TI - [Significance of free amino acid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621907 TI - [Significance of aminobutyric acid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621908 TI - [Significance of serum ammonia nitrogen analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621909 TI - [Significance of carnitine analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621910 TI - [Significance of guanidino compound derivatives analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621911 TI - [Significance of creatinine analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621912 TI - [Significance of creatine analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621913 TI - [Significance of uric acid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621914 TI - [Significance of BUN and non-protein nitrogen analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621915 TI - [Clinical significance of purine analogs and related enzyme metabolism]. PMID- 2621916 TI - [Significance of hydroxyproline analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621917 TI - [Significance of methylguanidine analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621918 TI - [Significance of methylhistidine analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621919 TI - [Significance of 1,5-anhydroglucitol analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621920 TI - [Significance of inulin analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621921 TI - [Significance of galactose analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621922 TI - [Sampling and preservation of test materials]. PMID- 2621923 TI - [Significance of xylitol analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621924 TI - [Significance of glucose analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621925 TI - [Significance of N-acetyl neuraminic acid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621926 TI - [Significance of fructosamine analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621927 TI - [Significance of fructose analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621928 TI - [Significance of proteoglycan analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621929 TI - [Significance of mannose analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621930 TI - [Significance of citric acid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621931 TI - [Significance of ketone body analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621932 TI - [Significance of acetate analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621933 TI - [Significance of oxalic acid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621934 TI - [Significance of lactate analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621935 TI - [Significance of pyruvate analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621936 TI - [Future trends in the clinical laboratory]. PMID- 2621937 TI - [Significance of methylmalonic acid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621938 TI - [Immunochemical determination of apolipoproteins in plasma]. PMID- 2621939 TI - [Significance of free fatty acid and its fraction analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621940 TI - [Significance of endotoxin analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621941 TI - [Significance of lipid peroxides analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621942 TI - [Significance of serum bile acid and the fraction analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621943 TI - [Significance of cholesterol analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621944 TI - [Significance of lipid transfer protein analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621945 TI - [Significance of triglyceride analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621946 TI - [Significance of phospholipase A analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621947 TI - [Significance of lipoprotein lipase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621948 TI - [Significance of lipoprotein and fraction analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621949 TI - [Significance of lipoprotein-X analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621950 TI - [Significance of phospholipid and fraction analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621951 TI - [Significance of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621952 TI - [Significance of retinyl palmitate analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621953 TI - [Significance of inositol analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621954 TI - [Significance of carotenoid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621955 TI - [Significance of nicotinic acid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621956 TI - [Significance of vitamin A analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621957 TI - [Significance of vitamin B1 analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621958 TI - [Significance of vitamin B2 analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621959 TI - [Significance of vitamin B5 analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621960 TI - [Significance of vitamin B6 analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621961 TI - [Significance of vitamin C analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621962 TI - [Determination of vitamin D and its metabolites in human plasma and its application to the clinical study]. PMID- 2621963 TI - [Determination of vitamin D binding protein in human plasma and its application to the clinical study]. PMID- 2621964 TI - [Significance of vitamin E analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621965 TI - [Significance of biotin analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621966 TI - [Significance of vitamin K analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621967 TI - [Significance of ubiquinone analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621968 TI - [Significance of retinol-binding protein analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621969 TI - [Significance of folic acid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621970 TI - [Significance of chloride analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621971 TI - [Significance of potassium analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621972 TI - [Significance of calcium analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621973 TI - [Significance of sodium analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621974 TI - [Significance of magnesium analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621975 TI - [Significance of inorganic phosphorus analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621976 TI - [Significance of osmotic pressure in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621977 TI - [Significance of plasma bicarbonate analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621978 TI - [Significance of arterial oxygen tension and saturation analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621979 TI - [Significance of arterial pH determination in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621980 TI - [Significance of base excess analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621981 TI - [Significance of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621982 TI - [Recent progress in clinical laboratory instruments]. PMID- 2621983 TI - [Significance of delta-aminolevulinic acid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621984 TI - [Significance of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621985 TI - [Significance of urobilinoid analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621986 TI - [Significance of dipyrrole bile pigment analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621987 TI - [Significance of biliverdin analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621988 TI - [Significance of bilirubin analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621989 TI - [Significance of porphobilinogen deaminase analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621990 TI - [Significance of porphyrin analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621991 TI - [Clinical significance of the indocyanine green test]. PMID- 2621992 TI - [Clinical significance of the sodium thiosulfate clearance test]. PMID- 2621993 TI - [Clinical significance of the para-aminohippuric acid clearance test]. PMID- 2621994 TI - [Clinical significance of the phenolsulfonphthalein test]. PMID- 2621995 TI - [Clinical significance of the bromosulfophthalein test]. PMID- 2621996 TI - [Significance of aluminium analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621997 TI - [Significance of cadmium analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621998 TI - [Significance of chromium analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2621999 TI - [Significance of mercury analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2622000 TI - [Significance of selenium analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2622001 TI - [Significance of serum iron analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2622002 TI - [Significance of copper analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2622003 TI - [Significance of lead analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2622004 TI - [Significance of nickel analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2622005 TI - [Significance of bismuth analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2622006 TI - [Significance of arsenic analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2622007 TI - [Significance of unsaturated and total iron binding capacity in clinical tests]. PMID- 2622008 TI - [Significance of manganese analysis in clinical tests]. PMID- 2622009 TI - [Clinical significance of prothrombin time]. PMID- 2622010 TI - [Laboratory information systems in high intelligent age]. PMID- 2622011 TI - [Clinical significance of factor V analysis in blood coagulation tests]. PMID- 2622012 TI - [Clinical significance of factor VII analysis in blood coagulation tests]. PMID- 2622013 TI - [Clinical significance of factor IX analysis in blood coagulation tests]. PMID- 2622014 TI - [Clinical significance of factor X analysis in blood coagulation tests]. PMID- 2622015 TI - [Clinical significance of factor XI analysis in blood coagulation tests]. PMID- 2622016 TI - [Clinical significance of factor XII analysis in blood coagulation tests]. PMID- 2622017 TI - [Clinical significance of factor XIII analysis in blood coagulation tests]. PMID- 2622018 TI - [Clinical significance of Fletcher factor and Fitzgerald factor analysis in blood coagulo-fibrinolysis tests]. PMID- 2622019 TI - [Clinical significance of von Willebrand factor analysis in blood coagulo fibrinolytic tests]. PMID- 2622020 TI - [Clinical significance of plasminogen activator analysis in blood coagulo fibrinolytic tests]. PMID- 2622022 TI - [Clinical significance of abnormal fibrinogen analysis in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis tests]. PMID- 2622021 TI - [Clinical significance of plasminogen activator inhibitor analysis in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis tests]. PMID- 2622023 TI - [Clinical significance of fibrinopeptide A and B beta 15-42 analysis in blood coagulo-fibrinolytic tests]. PMID- 2622024 TI - [Clinical significance of amyloid protein analysis in biochemical tests]. PMID- 2622025 TI - [Fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP)]. PMID- 2622026 TI - [Clinical significance of FDP-E analysis in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis tests]. PMID- 2622027 TI - [Clinical significance of soluble fibrin monomer complex analysis in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis tests]. PMID- 2622028 TI - [Clinical significance of the thrombelastograph in blood coagulo-fibrinolytic tests]. PMID- 2622029 TI - [Clinical significance of tissue factor analysis in blood coagulo-fibrinolytic tests]. PMID- 2622030 TI - [Clinical significance of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time in blood coagulo-fibrinolysis tests]. PMID- 2622031 TI - [Clinical significance of platelet factor 4 analysis in blood coagulo fibrinolytic tests]. PMID- 2622032 TI - [Clinical significance of bleeding time in blood coagulo-fibrinolytic tests]. PMID- 2622033 TI - [Clinical significance of circulating anticoagulant analysis in blood coagulo fibrinolytic analysis]. PMID- 2622034 TI - [Clinical significance of asialo GM1 analysis in blood cell chemical tests]. PMID- 2622035 TI - [Clinical significance of abnormal hemoglobin analysis in blood cell chemical tests]. PMID- 2622036 TI - [Clinical significance of carboxyhemoglobin analysis in blood cell chemical tests]. PMID- 2622037 TI - [Clinical significance of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase analysis in blood cell chemical analysis]. PMID- 2622038 TI - [Clinical significance of glutathione analysis in blood cell chemical analysis]. PMID- 2622039 TI - [Clinical significance of the neutrophil alkaline phosphatase score]. PMID- 2622040 TI - [Clinical significance of cytochrome b5 reductase analysis in blood cell chemical tests]. PMID- 2622041 TI - [Clinical significance of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate analysis in blood cell chemical tests]. PMID- 2622042 TI - [Clinical significance of sulfhemoglobin analysis in blood cell chemical analysis]. PMID- 2622043 TI - [Clinical significance of red cell glycolytic intermediate analysis]. PMID- 2622044 TI - [Clinical significance of erythrocyte glutathione reductase analysis]. PMID- 2622045 TI - [BVC (bias to variance characteristic) analysis]. AB - The average and variance of diagnostic rating scores obtained when many physicians read one image represents the bias to variance characteristics (BVC) in image diagnosis and are parameters reflecting the quality of image that are the objects, and the physicians' characteristics in image diagnosis. They were experimentally confirmed. Combination of the results of BVC analysis with ROC analysis was shown to clarify the structure and origin of the ROC curve and to improve the interpretation of the ROC curve that was the final results of evaluation. Furthermore, it was suggested the if BVC was used as complementary data in a case study, there was a possibility of it being useful for clarify the clinical, technical and physical factors affecting the results of image diagnosis. PMID- 2622046 TI - [Computed tomography of gastric cancer]. AB - CT scans of 52 patients with advanced gastric cancer were reviewed, and the layer structure of the gastric wall was analyzed. Administration of 600 ml water, orally, expanded the gastric wall, while patients were in the prone position. Intravenous infusion of contrast media was routinely administered. We found that the normal layer structure of the gastric wall could be shown despite the cancer in the lesion. Borrmann 3 and 4 types. We guess that CT has a possibility in the assessment of the spread in the wall of gastric cancer. PMID- 2622047 TI - [Radio-Geometric consideration of basal indentation using phantoms and specimens]. AB - With the aid of colon-polyp phantoms, basal indentation (BI) of polypoid lesions on double-contrast examinations of the colon was studied. Our findings indicated that BI is a function of radio-geometric projections and its morphology (arcuate, angular and trapezoid) depends on size, shape and surface pattern of a polypoid lesion. These findings were also substantiated by specimen and clinical radiography. PMID- 2622048 TI - [67Ga-scintigraphic finding of colorectal carcinoma; the basis of clinicopathologic viewpoint]. AB - Twenty-seven cases of colorectal carcinoma were evaluated by 67Ga-scintigraphy on the basis of clinicopathologic viewpoint. On each cases, 67Ga-scintigraphy was performed just before the operation, and resected specimen was also examined after the operation. In 17 cases (63%), the lesions were demonstrated on preoperative 67Ga-scintigraphy, on the other hand, all the lesions were clearly detected on images taken from resected specimen. Thus, it seems to be no doubt to accumulate 67Ga-citrate to colorectal carcinoma, and 67Ga-scintigraphy appears to be more useful imaging modality to detect the disease when the routine detectability becomes more higher because of some technical application. PMID- 2622049 TI - [An experimental study on mesenteritis and deformities of the intestinal canal; with special reference to the changes with time of deformities (angulation, distortion, coil-like appearance)]. AB - 1. The relationship of the mesenteric inflammation with intestinal loop deformities was made clear and changes of these deformities were examined with time, using experimental model rabbits. 2. The above rabbit was laparotomized and was caused to develop mesenteritis by applying acetic acid onto sigmoid mesentery and descending colic mesentery, then the abdomen was closed. Subjects were divided into 2 groups (A and B); A group and B group were re-laparotomized 3-7 and 21 days later, respectively and were observed for mesentery and loop appearance, then were extirpated for sigmoid colon and descending colon with mesenterium attached thereto. Roentgenograms were taken first with attachment of mesentery, secondly there-without. Then, the intestinal canal was opened and the mucosal surface was observed, together with bleeding and blood flow disturbance in the depth of the wall in transmitted light. 3. As a result, the following conclusions were obtained: 1) Macroscopically, mesentery was marked with redness for A group and with thickening and twitch due to cicatricial contraction for B group. 2) A group near to the third day showed remarkable shortening, narrowing and marginal irregularity of the loop, which disappeared with time and were scarcely observed for B group; these deformities were considered to involve mesenteric inflammations and ischemia caused by secondary blood flow disturbance. 3) A group near to the 7th day and B group showed remarkable angulation, distortion and coil-like appearance; these deformities are considered to have been caused by thickening (stiffness) of the mesentery and its attachment and twitch-distortion due to cicatricial contraction. 4) Coil-like appearance disappeared upon cutting off the mesentery from the loop.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622050 TI - [Anatomy of hepatoduodenal ligament on MR imaging]. AB - We assessed the capability of MR imaging to demonstrate the details of hepatoduodenal ligament consisting of portal vein, hepatic artery, bile duct, and lymph nodes. MR imaging was superior to CT in showing these structures, especially bile duct and lymph nodes, which is thought to result from high contrast resolution of MR imaging. PMID- 2622051 TI - [Intracranial lipoma; MR imaging]. AB - Reported here are five patients with intracranial lipoma. Three of these had pericallosal lipoma. One patient had a lipoma in the quadrigeminal cistern. The remaining one had a lipoma in the interpeduncular cistern. All of these tumors were clearly demonstrated and were homogeneously hyperintense on T1-weighted MR images. One patient with a pericallosal lipoma had also partial agenesis of the corpus callosum. However, all patients had no symptoms relating these tumors. It was concluded that MR imaging is useful for diagnosing intracranial lipomas and associating anomalies. PMID- 2622052 TI - [Arthrography of temporomandibular joint; a practical approach]. AB - A practical approach to the arthrography of the temporomandibular joint is presented. More than 80 cases have been performed in one year in our institution with the failure rate of less than 10% and very low complication rate. Advantages and disadvantages of arthrography compared to MR are discussed. PMID- 2622053 TI - [Radiation therapy of early glottic cancer (T1N0M0); retrospective review of historical control]. AB - From November 1977 through April 1982, a total of 91 patients with early glottic cancer (T1N0M0) were treated with the open field technique of 4 MV X-ray using parallel opposed fields in bandage. Radiation dose administered was 60 Gy in 30 fractions over 6-week periods. Actuarial 5-year disease-free survival rate was 88.7%. Significant prognostic factors of local control were tumor length, tumor width, tumor type, tumor response at 40 Gy and 60 Gy. Ultimate local control rate by salvage surgery was 97% and voice preservation rate was 91%. PMID- 2622055 TI - [Left lobe lung collapse with radiographic appearance of periaortic lucency]. PMID- 2622054 TI - [Appraising the storing of X-ray images]. AB - We compared the cost to store X-ray films among storing them by themselves, utilizing rental stock, converting to microfilm and entering images into optical file system. We used microcomputer and spread sheet system on it for this comparison. Storing X-ray films by themselves is the most inexpensive, but the cost is depend on the price of land. Rental stock is the second. If the price of land is high, microfilm is most inexpensive. Optical file system is much expensive. It is not suit to store X-ray images which are already being stored as X-ray films. Beside of the cost, we should also estimate the factors as accessibility to image, easiness of use the systems etc. PMID- 2622056 TI - [A case of defective inferior vena cava]. PMID- 2622057 TI - [Superselective angiography of lower gastrointestinal bleeding; a report of three case]. AB - Angiography was performed in three patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Extravasation was demonstrated only with superselective catheterization of a branch of superior mesenteric artery. However, this bleeding was not demonstrable with conventional catheterization of superior mesenteric artery. Superselective catheterization is suggested as a useful technique to detect lower gastrointestinal bleeding. PMID- 2622058 TI - [The correlation of serum IgE and IgE-RAST of mite, egg white, milk, soybean, rice and wheat: a study by analysis of regression curves]. AB - The correlation of variation in serum IgE and IgE-RAST in 364 cases of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) aged 4 months to 78 years was analysed by comparison with the scatter diagram and fifth dimension regression curve representing the serum IgE and IgE-RAST scores of mite, egg white, milk, soybean, wheat and rice. The antigens indicating a high IgE-RAST score varied according to age. They were egg white and milk in infancy and mite from one to fifteen years of age. Rice and wheat came later. A high value of serum IgE with AD was seen to depend on the production of specific mite IgE antibody and to be influenced by each specific IgE antibody production, which varied according to age. It seemed that egg white and milk were initiators of AD and mite acted as a promotor. Rice and wheat were accelerators in patients with adult type AD. It was confirmed that, for AD patients of all ages, improvement of the environmental antigens and diet therapy was necessary. PMID- 2622059 TI - [Electric current around dental metals as a factor producing allergenic metal ions in the oral cavity]. AB - Allergy to dental metal alloys has been reported to occasionally cause dermatitis, stomatitis, lichen planus and pustulosis palmaris et plantaris. According to Faraday's law of electrolysis, when electric current flows into an anode, cationic metal ions dissolve in parallel with the amount of the electric current. Therefore, when patients hypersensitive to metals have suffered from the above mentioned persistent dermatoses, measurement of voltages and electric currents around the dental alloys of the patient's oral cavities was deemed necessary, in order to investigate whether or not such dental metals have been supplied causative metal ions to the patients. For the investigation of electrochemical dissolution of metal ions; firstly, voltages and electric currents between the mucous membrane and standard dental alloy tips placed in the oral cavities of each 15 healthy volunteers and patients were measured. Secondly, the same study was performed with the mucous membrane and actually installed dental metals with 158 patients who showed positive reactions to dental metal series patch test allergens composed of 19 reagents. The results were as follows: 1) Voltages between the mucous membranes and standard metal plates placed in the oral cavities varied depending on the composition of the dental metal. 2) The above-mentioned voltages changed when various food were present in the oral cavity. 3) With the dental metals actually present in the metal-hypersensitive patient's oral cavities, the voltages between the adjacent mucous membrane and dental metals varied greatly, depending on the individual patient rather than on the types of metal. Certain alloys acted as cathodes with some patients, but as anodes with others. 4) Amalgam and silver alloys showed higher voltages and more electric current with the smaller ranges of variation than other kinds of alloys. Both of these alloys tended to act as anodes, therefore, the electrochemical dissolution of metal ions was expected to be higher than with other metals. 5) The voltages and electric currents were often higher between mucous membrane and metals than between metals. These findings indicate that the patient's own mucous membrane acts as cathode for the electrochemical dissolution rather than the dental metals. 6) Measuring the voltage and electric current in the patient's oral cavities is technically easy, and is considered to be valuable since the tendancy of electrochemical dissolution of metal ions from the dental metals is clearly demonstrated. PMID- 2622060 TI - [Analysis of Raynaud's phenomenon in systemic scleroderma: comparative study with that in vibration disease]. AB - Raynaud's phenomenon in systemic scleroderma (SD: 37 cases) was analysed and compared with that of vibration disease (VD: 21 cases) in order to clarify the entity of SD. Raynaud's phenomenon was provoked by cold exposure, high temperature (hot water) exposure, mental stress and vibration stress, which were seen in 37 cases, 22 cases, 7 cases and 3 cases of SD, respectively. However, in VD patients, 21 cases were provoked only by cold exposure other than for vibration stress (1 case). Raynaud's phenomena in SD and VD patients differed in appearance duration, and color changes. These data lead to the conclusion that the vascular responses of SD for extrinsic factors including vibration stress and cold exposure may be different from those of VD. PMID- 2622061 TI - [A case of lupus pneumonia treated by pulse therapies and plasma exchange therapy]. AB - A case of interstitial pneumonia accompanying SLE (lupus pneumonia) was reported. Shortness of breath in this patient was aggravating very rapidly even during methyl prednisolone pulse therapy, but the patient was relieved from this symptom soon after double filtration plasma exchange was carried out. We concluded that some cases which are resistant to pulse therapy and whose prognosis is very poor might be saved by plasma exchange. PMID- 2622062 TI - [A new type of viral wart? A case of viral wart having intracytoplasmic filamentous substances]. AB - Reported was a 16-year old Japanese girl suffering from peculiar viral warts on the soles. All lesions showed whitish punctate keratotic appearance. Three biopsy specimens taken from one patient were found to have particular intracytoplasmic basophilic eosinophilic filamentous substances in each cell. These intracytoplasmic substances were quite different from those of myrmecia, which was described as inclusion wart by Lyell and Myles. Myrmecia is caused by human papillomavirus type 1 (HPV-1) and its intracytoplasmic substances are characterized by numerous intracytoplasmic eosinophilic granules. In spite of that immunohistologically papillomavirus common antigens were detected, HPV-1,2,4 was never detected by in situ hybridization method in our case. We assume that our case is a new type of viral wart. PMID- 2622063 TI - Detection of a novel antigen (1G12) on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from cancer patients by a sensitive radioimmunoassay. A possible marker for the early diagnosis of cancer. AB - A murine monoclonal antibody designated 1G12 has been produced by immunizing mice with A549 human lung adenocarcinoma. Using radiolabeled monoclonal antibody 1G12, a sensitive radioimmunoassay to detect 1G12 antigen has been developed. The antigen was detected on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). A study was performed to examine the frequency of distribution of this antigen on the surface of PBMC from healthy donors and patients with cancer. An antigen level of above 30 units per 1 x 10(6) PBMC was considered positive. None of 41 healthy donors (0%) and 16 of 96 patients (16.7%) with benign diseases of the lung, ovary, and uterus were positive. In contrast, 27 of 41 patients (65.8%) with lung cancer, 14 of 18 patients (77.8%) with ovarian cancer, and 16 of 27 patients (59.2%) with uterine cervical cancer had elevated levels of 1G12 antigen. When patients were grouped by stages of cancer, PBMC from patients in relatively early stages (stages I and II) also gave positive results, i.e., 9 of 17 patients (59.2%) with lung cancer, 6 of 10 patients (60%) with ovarian cancer, and 11 of 22 patients (50%) with uterine cervical cancer of these stages were positive. These results suggest that the detection of 1G12 antigen on PBMC of patients may be useful for early diagnosis of cancers. PMID- 2622064 TI - Effect of long-term treatment with sulfatide on hyperlipidemia and progression of atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits. AB - Changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins and progression of atherosclerosis with age were examined in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits with or without treatment with sulfatide. The injection of sulfatide solution caused a reduction of serum triacylglycerols for five months including the period of treatment, but afterwards, failed to lower the level of total cholesterol, triacylglycerols and phospholipids, and to suppress the progression of atherosclerosis. Concentrations of LDL as a major serum lipoprotein in WHHL rabbits with or without the treatment with sulfatide were found to be about 64 fold those of normal rabbits by immunological assay using anti-LDL antiserum, whereas the contents of total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and phospholipids in WHHL rabbit sera were found to be about 10-fold those of normal rabbits. All WHHL rabbits with or without the treatment with sulfatide contained very small amounts of HDL. Types of apoproteins of isolated LDL and VLDL fractions suggested that the former seemed to be derived from VLDL remnant, and the latter to be derived from chylomicron remnant. It was noted that all WHHL rabbit sera had a significant increased amount of lysophosphatidylcholine, and that the fatty acid composition of total serum lipids had almost no change except for slight decrease in arachidonic acid with age. Pathological examination showed that severe atherosclerotic lesions were not so different between WHHL rabbits with or without treatment with sulfatide at age over 22 months. PMID- 2622065 TI - Schistosoma japonicum: the effect of serum fractions precipitated by ammonium sulfate on viability of schistosomula. AB - The effect of serum fractions precipitated by a saturated ammonium sulfate solution on viability of Schistosoma japonicum schistosomula was investigated. Axenized cercariae were incubated for 10 days at 37 degrees C in NCTC 109 supplemented with the 34%, 40%, 50%, 62% and 68% fractions of human or rabbit serum in an equivalent concentration to 10% serum. Only larvae cultured in media with the 68% fraction of human or rabbit serum retained the transparent feature and active motility, while the larvae cultured in other media became opaque and immotile. This was also true in media with human serum albumin or fatty acid-free human serum albumin at concentrations of 1.0 and 10.0 mg/ml of NCTC 109. On 10 day culture a part of larvae in the medium with the 68% fraction of human serum began to feed on red blood cells and the intestine was nearly closed by 21 days. These results suggest that serum fraction of 68% ammonium sulfate consisting of albumin is an important constituent in supporting the further growth of schistosomula in vitro. PMID- 2622066 TI - Quantitative and qualitative differences in serum HBV DNA between HBeAg positive carriers and those positive for anti-HBe. PMID- 2622067 TI - [31st meeting of the Japanese Society of Nephrology. 12-14 October 1988, Nara. Proceedings]. PMID- 2622068 TI - Autoimmunity and glomerulonephritis. PMID- 2622069 TI - [Renal failure and cardiac function]. PMID- 2622070 TI - [Diabetic nephropathy]. PMID- 2622071 TI - [The current status and problems of renal transplantation]. PMID- 2622072 TI - [Treatment of urolithiasis: recent progress and problems]. PMID- 2622073 TI - [Renal diseases and cellular immunity]. PMID- 2622074 TI - [Erythropoietin: the significance in therapeutic system of renal failure; clinical efficacy of erythropoietin]. PMID- 2622075 TI - [Progressive factors of renal injury: exercise and blood pressure]. PMID- 2622076 TI - [A new pharmacotherapy of renal diseases]. PMID- 2622077 TI - [Lipoprotein glomerulopathy: a novel glomerular disease presenting with peculiar morphological findings]. PMID- 2622078 TI - [Evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics by 123I-IMP in cerebral AVMs before and after operation by using SPECT]. AB - To evaluate cerebral hemodynamics by N-isopropyl-p-[123I]-iodoamphetamine (123I IMP) preoperative and postoperative (after 1 day, and after 7-10 days) regional cerebral blood flow scan, 6 arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) which performed total removal operations were studied by using a ring type SPECT "HEADTOME". We performed the dynamic scan just after the intravenous injection of 222 MBq (6 mCi) of 123I-IMP, then the static scan 20 minutes after the intravenous injection. In preoperative dynamic scans of all cases, only the first frame image showed the increased activity on the nidus probably because of the blood pool. Preoperative static scans of all cases showed the remarkable decreased activity on the nidus, and decreased activity surrounding the nidus probably because of the peripheral steal phenomenon. In postoperative scan of the next day, 4 out of 6 cases showed the transient decreased peripheral steal, particularly 2 out of those 4 cases showed the transient hyperperfusion probably because of the normal perfusion pressure breakthrough (NPPB). And, 2 out of 6 cases showed transient peripheral low perfusion on much larger area than those of the preoperative scans probably because of the focal brain damages and edemas. We conclude that 123I-IMP SPECT on AVM is very useful to decide the indication of the removal operation, and to estimate the postoperative risk, and to evaluate the preoperative and postoperative cerebral hemodynamic changes in the peripheral area of AVM. PMID- 2622079 TI - [SPECT measurement of cerebral hemodynamics in transient ischemic attack patients -evaluation of pathogenesis and detection of misery perfusion]. AB - To evaluate the cerebral hemodynamics and the pathogenesis by regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV), 42 transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients and 9 normal volunteers were studied using SPECT. We classified these patients into Group A (n = 23: no occlusion or stenosis of the internal carotid or middle cerebral artery; non large vessel disease) and Group B (n = 19: chronic occlusion or severe stenosis of the internal carotid or middle cerebral artery; large vessel disease). We obtained rCBF with 133Xe inhalation and rCBV with 99mTc-red blood cells. Of 9 normal volunteers aged 43-70 yr (mean age 59.8 +/- 8.3 yr), the mean rCBF was 45.8 +/- 5.1 (ml/100 g brain/min), the mean rCBV was 4.0 +/- 0.4 (ml/100 g brain). The examination was done by comparing the values of the affected hemispheres of Group A and Group B patients with the mean rCBF and the mean rCBV of normal volunteers. Eleven out of Group A patients and 15 out of Group B patients showed decreased rCBF. But of those patients, no patients of Group A showed increased rCBV and 6 out of 19 Group B patients showed increased rCBV. Thromboembolic mechanism which is of Group A patients and Group B patients without increased rCBV, and hemodynamic mechanism which is of Group B patients with increased rCBV were considered as the main cause of TIA. Decreased rCBF and increased rCBV in Group B patients can be assumed as the misery perfusion as reported in PET studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622080 TI - [An examination of left ventricular peak filling rate and ventricular relaxation rate by simultaneous acquisition of radionuclide ventriculography and left ventricular pressure]. AB - We investigated whether peak filling rate (PFR) obtained from ECG gated radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) reflects left ventricular (LV) relaxation rate or not. Five patients with angina pectoris, 5 patients with old myocardial infarction and 6 controls were studied by simultaneous acquisition of RNV and LV pressure. RNV was performed in modified left anterior oblique position before and during angiotensin II (A II) infusion to elevate their blood pressure about 25 mmHg (A-1) and 50 mmHg (A-2). The data were acquired in a list mode and LV volume curves were reconstructed by forward and backward gating from the R wave of ECG. Actual PFR and corrected PFR by stroke volume (/SV), by end diastolic volume (/EDV), by instantaneous volume (/IV) were calculated from LV volume curve and its first differential curve. LV pressure was simultaneously measured by the catheter-tip micromanometer, and the time constant (T) of assumed exponential decline in LV pressure was calculated as index of LV relaxation rate. Although there was no correlation between actual PFR and T, corrected PFR (/EDV) and PFR (/IV) correlated with T. PFR (/EDV) decreased and T increased during A-1 and A-2. Decrease of PFR (/EDV) corresponded with increase of T. Thus, corrected PFR (/EDV) obtained from RNV reflects the rate of LV relaxation, and was considered to be an useful index to evaluate LV diastolic function. PMID- 2622081 TI - [Radioimmunoimaging of malignant melanoma with In-111-labeled monoclonal antibodies 96.5 and ZME 018]. AB - This paper includes the results of imaging and kinetic studies on two kinds of In 111-labeled monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), 96.5 and ZME 018, which are known to have capability of recognizing different surface antigens present in malignant melanoma cells. These MoAbs were supplied by Hybritech Inc. through Teijin Ltd. The former MoAb (96.5) was used on 11 cases of malignant melanoma and one case of basal cell carcinoma, and the latter MoAb (ZME 018) was used on 6 cases of malignant melanoma and one case of basal cell carcinoma. As for the malignant melanoma, the results obtained from both patients groups were compared to each other. Twenty-four out of 31 lesions in the former group and 9 (including 2 occult lesions) out of 10 lesions in the latter group were visualized. However, these positive ratios can not be compared to each other because of the very small number of the lesions in the latter group. One basal cell carcinoma each from both groups were faintly visualized. Distribution patterns of these In-111 labeled MoAbs were similar to each other. Except for the first two cases in the former group, labeling efficiencies were 94.3 +/- 0.7% with 96.5 and 92.0 +/- 0.6% with ZME 018. Urinary excretions on the 1st day were 8.3 +/- 0.9% with the former and 9.3 +/- 0.3% with the latter. However, there was no statistical difference. Following the 1st day, these values changed at the level of several per cent from the 2nd to 4th day, showing a subtle and gradual rise and slightly lower values for In-111-ZME 018. But, again, there were no statistical differences. Whole body retention curves in both groups were similar to each other, and blood clearance curves were also found similar in both groups. HAMA titers were checked in all patients and were found elevated after the administration in most of the cases. Although the number of patients tested in this series is small, especially with In-111-ZME 018, both MoAbs labeled with In 111 seem to be equally capable of visualizing malignant melanoma. Possibility of the treatment of malignant melanoma with this kind of technique was also discussed. PMID- 2622082 TI - [A fundamental study on the metabolism of glycosylated low-density lipoprotein]. AB - Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is considered to be one of the accelerating factors in atherosclerosis. Recently, it has been pointed out that nonenzymaticaly glycosylated LDL (Glc.LDL) is increased in the blood of diabetic patients. In this study, the binding ability of Glc.LDL to culturer cells and its clearance rate in New Zealand White rabbits were examined to the purpose of elucidating those metabolism. Human LDL was taken from healthy subjects and prepared by the ultracentrifugation method, then was glycosylated in vitro by adding [D]glucose. The incorporation of covalently bound glucose increased linearly from beginning and get to the plateau after 12 days of incubation. Surface binding of 125I Glc.LDL to cultured human fibroblasts was low degree compared to that of native 131I-LDL. The clearance rate of 125I-Glc.LDL in rabbits was slower than that of native 131I-LDL. The half-time for Glc.LDL was 85 hours, and for native LDL the time was 10 hours. Finally, Glc.LDL in human plasma was measured by a m aminophenylboronic acid affinity column. Preliminary data revealed that the Glc.LDL level was 10.6 +/- 3.0% in diabetic patients (n = 21) and 5.25 +/- 1.1% in non-diabetes (n = 18). The relationships between Glc.LDL and glucose in human plasma for all patients (n = 39) showed linearity and the correlation coefficient was about 0.87 (p less than 0.001). PMID- 2622083 TI - [Separate evaluation of beta-methyl fatty acid uptake and perfusion in rat myocardium]. AB - The kinetics and distribution of I-125 beta-methyl iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) in rat's heart were studied for separate evaluation of perfusion and metabolism. Tl-201 and BMIPP were simultaneously injected. The experimental groups consisted of control (C), glucose (G) and sodium lactate loaded group (L). In C, myocardial uptake at 5 minutes after BMIPP injection was 3.60% ID/g and remained constant up to 60 minutes. The myocardium/lung ratio (2.44) and the myocardium/muscle ratio (4.55) of BMIPP were almost equal to those of Tl-201. But myocardium/liver ratio was low (1.31). In G, myocardial uptake of BMIPP (1.94 +/- 0.36% ID/g) and g-BMIPP/Tl (0.31 +/- 0.03) at 15 minutes after injection were significantly decreased (p less than 0.001) than those of C (3.16 +/- 0.18% ID/g and 0.48 +/- 0.05). In L. myocardial perfusion was decreased and g-BMIPP/Tl (0.73 +/- 0.14) was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than those of C. Coefficient of variance of the density within a myocardium, and the ratio of inner to outer layer of myocardium (I/O ratio) were calculated from autoradiogram by videodensitometry. The myocardial distribution of BMIPP was more inhomogeneous, and the I/O ratio was lower than that of Tl-201, although these were not specific for metabolic interventions. In conclusion BMIPP is suitable for SPECT imaging and dual nuclide imaging by BMIPP and Tl-201 will provide informations about myocardial fatty acid metabolism and perfusion. PMID- 2622084 TI - [Assessment of cerebral blood flow in intracerebral hematoma using IMP-SPECT]. AB - To evaluate cerebral blood flow in intracerebral hemorrhage, we performed single photon emission computed tomography using N-isopropyl [I-123] p-iodoamphetamine (IMP-SPECT) in 20 patients. IMP-SPECT was carried out using rotating gamma camera at 30 min, and 4 hrs after injection. The results were compared with those by computed tomography (CT). In all cases, the extent of hematoma by IMP-SPECT was larger than that of CT. All cases were divided into 3 groups according to the extent of peripheral area zone of hematoma by IMP-SPECT. There were 10 cases with initial hypoperfusion and complete redistribution (Group I), 6 with initial perfusion defect and complete redistribution (Group II), 4 with initial perfusion defect and incomplete redistribution (Group III). Group III had extensive hematoma compared to Group I. The extent of peripheral area zone of hematoma could be considered as the decreased blood flow area by increased intracerebral pressure and the amplitude of redistribution may be correlated with celler damage. In conclusion, IMP-SPECT was useful to asses the viability of peripheral zone of hematoma. PMID- 2622085 TI - [An attempt of thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging during transient coronary arterial occlusion by PTCA]. AB - To evaluate the myocardial perfusion during transient coronary occlusion, we attempted to obtain the myocardial scintigraphy during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Tl-201 was injected at the last inflation of angioplastic balloon and occlusion was kept on for 60 sec. Planar images or SPECT were obtained immediately after PTCA. With this protocol, myocardial perfusion defects were observed during PTCA and fully redistributed 3 hours after Tl injection. Extent of ischemic lesions were almost same as that observed during exercise in two cases without collateral vessels. In a case with well visualized collateral vessels, perfusion defect was smaller in PTCA images than that in exercise stressed images. We conclude that intravenous injection of Tl-201 during PTCA is useful to assess the alteration of myocardial perfusion due to transient coronary occlusion without increasing the risk of angioplastic procedure. PMID- 2622086 TI - [Evaluation of transient dilation of the left ventricle on exercise thallium-201 scintigraphy]. AB - We have noted that some patients with ischemic heart disease have a pattern of transient dilation of the left ventricle on the immediate post exercise images as compared with 3 hour redistribution images. We assessed correlation between transient dilation of the left ventricle and coronary arteriographic findings in 32 patients with ischemic heart disease and 15 controls. Initial and delayed conventional short axis tomographic images were obtained after reconstruction of 20 projections acquired over 180 degrees. Thirty six radii by every 10 degrees were generated from the center of the middle myocardial images of the short axis. An area surrounded by thirty six points of maximal count on each radius was calculated in initial and delayed images. Transient Dilation Index (TDI) as an index of dilation was determined by dividing an area in initial image by an area in delayed image. There was no difference in TDI between patients with 1 vessel disease and controls, but TDI in patients with two vessel disease and patients with three vessel disease was larger than that in controls. Thus, transient dilation of the left ventricle on exercise Tl scintigraphy was likely to be related to number of stenotic vessel. We concluded that TDI as a simple quantitative index of transient dilation of the left ventricle was useful for detecting multi vessel stenosis. PMID- 2622087 TI - [Basic and clinical studies on SPan-1 RIABEAD kit: usefulness in patients with pancreatic and biliary tract cancer]. PMID- 2622088 TI - [Clinical application of an ambulatory monitoring system (VEST) with cadmium telluride (CdTe) detector--Evaluation of left ventricular function immediately after exercise]. PMID- 2622089 TI - Opioid effects of racemic ketamine on the excitability of sciatic nerve and skeletal muscle fibers of the frog. AB - The effects of +/- ketamine were tested on the excitability of frog sciatic nerves using a sucrose gap apparatus and skeletal muscle fibers using intracellular microelectrodes. When applied extracellularly by perfusion, ketamine depressed the action potential of sciatic nerves in a dose-dependent manner. This depression was partially antagonized by the simultaneous treatment with a small concentration of naloxone. However, when the ketamine was applied intracellularly by placing it in a compartment with a cut end of the nerve, only very small and inconsistent decreases were produced. Ketamine also blocked excitability in skeletal muscle by depressing the sodium conductance (gNa). This also could be partly antagonized by the addition of a small concentration of naloxone to the solution bathing the muscle. These results support previous findings by other workers that ketamine has a stereospecific opioid agonist effect in addition to its other actions. PMID- 2622090 TI - Role of adrenal glucocorticoids in the blockade of the development of analgesic tolerance to morphine by footshock stress exposure in mice. AB - To elucidate the mechanism for the suppression by concurrent footshock (FS) exposure of the development of morphine tolerance, the effect of adrenalectomy and a possible participation of glucocorticoids in the mechanism were examined. The analgesic effect of morphine was potentiated in adrenalectomized (ADX) mice, and further enhancement of the effect was shown by the simultaneous exposure to FS (2 mA, 0.2 Hz, 1 sec duration for 15 min) stress, while no such effects were observed in sham-operated (Sham) animals. Daily morphine treatment developed tolerance in Sham and ADX mice. The combined treatment with FS stress suppressed the development of morphine tolerance in Sham mice, whereas such suppression was abolished by adrenalectomy. The suppression of tolerance development was restored in ADX mice by supplement of prednisolone. In contrast to FS stress which produces analgesia through an opioid receptor, forced swimming stress which exerts analgesia through a non-opioid mechanism did not affect the development of morphine tolerance in both Sham and ADX mice. Thus, an opioid mediated stress, FS, could prevent the development of morphine tolerance, and adrenal glucocorticoids play an essential role in the mechanism. PMID- 2622091 TI - Some correlations between procaine-induced convulsions and monoamines in the spinal cord of rats. AB - The relationships between the convulsions induced by the local anesthetic procaine and monoamines in the spinal cord were investigated in rats. The levels of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) in the spinal cord were time-dependently increased after procaine (170 mg/kg, i.p.), which induced clonic convulsions, but the level of norepinephrine (NE) was unchanged. The rats that died during convulsions had a marked increase in DA. Phenobarbital (25 mg/kg, s.c.) produced both depletion of DA and elevation of 5-HT in the spinal cord and completely protected rats against convulsions. A 5-HT precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP; 20-80 mg/kg, i.p.), suppressed the convulsions in a dose-dependent manner as shown by a decrease in the incidence and a prolongation of the latency, but a DA precursor, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA; 20-80 mg/kg, i.p.), markedly shortened the latency. Furthermore, the effect of L-DOPA on the convulsions was inhibited by the combination of 5-HTP. alpha-Methyl-p-tyrosine (20-80 mg/kg, i.p.) or DL-p-chlorophenylalanine (20-80 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of NE and DA or 5-HT biosynthesis, had a slight effect on the convulsions. These results suggest that procaine causes significant elevations of rat spinal DA and 5-HT in the convulsive process and suggest that dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons may be associated with procaine-induced convulsions. PMID- 2622092 TI - Occurrence of degradation products of chicken transferrin in murine circulating blood. AB - To determine the true survival of an exogenous substance in the circulation, it is requisite to assess that of the intact molecules. We studied the survival of chicken transferrin (Tf) in murine circulating blood after i.v. injection. With the aid of polyacrylamide-gel isoelectric focusing, direct immunofixation and densitometry, degradation products of chicken Tfs were found, and the disappearance rate of intact molecules was rather higher than that obtained by the single radial immunodiffusion method. These results strongly suggest that the degradation products must be taken into consideration in studies on the clearance of proteinous substances. PMID- 2622093 TI - Diabetes-induced enhancement of prostanoid-stimulated contraction in mesenteric veins of mice. AB - We investigated the influence of the diabetic state on the contractile response of longitudinal segments of isolated mesenteric vein to prostanoids and leukotriene (LT), and the contribution of the vascular endothelium to modulation of the contractile response was determined. The normal mesenteric vein and de endothelialized veins of normal (ddY), diabetic KK-CAy and streptozotocin ddY mice (150 mg/kg, i.v., 6 weeks) were used. In the diabetic state, the contractions produced by noradrenaline (60 microM), high K+ solution (143.4 mM), and the thromboxane A2 analogue U-46619 (29 nM-29 mM) were not affected, and LTD4 (0.1 nM-1 microM)-induced contraction was suppressed. Contractions induced by prostaglandin (PG) E2 (0.2 microM-2 mM), PGF2 alpha (0.3 microM-0.3 mM) and the prostacyclin derivatives PGI2-Na (10-100 microM) and TRK-100 (0.2 microM-2 mM) were significantly enhanced in the presence of an intact vascular endothelium, but not in de-endothelialized segments. The increase in PGF2 alpha (0.28 mM) contractions was dependent on age (correlation coefficient r = 0.36, significant difference, P less than 0.05) and blood glucose (r = 0.88, significant difference, P less than 0.01), but was independent of obesity. The contractile response to PGD2 (0.3-0.9 mM) was enhanced in both intact and de-endothelialized segments. These results indicate that the diabetic state affects prostanoid responses in an endothelium-dependent manner, except for the PGD2 response, which is independent of the endothelium. PMID- 2622094 TI - Inhibitory effect of the newly synthesized pyridazinone derivative NZ-107 on bronchoconstriction induced by slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis in the guinea pig. AB - We have investigated the effect of a newly synthesized compound NZ-107, 4-bromo-5 (3-ethoxy-4-methoxybenzylamino)-3(2H)-pyridazinone, on bronchoconstriction induced by slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) in the guinea pig. Orally administered NZ-107 (10 mg/kg, 2 hr) inhibited antigen-induced SRS-A mediated bronchoconstriction in sensitized guinea pigs. NZ-107 (2 mg/kg, i.v., 1 min) prevented the antigen-induced response about as well as the SRS-A antagonist FPL-55712 and rapidly reversed it. This rapid reversal by NZ-107 but not FPL 55712 also appeared with the leukotriene (LT) D4-induced contraction of the isolated trachea. NZ-107 more selectively inhibited the LTD4 response than those of histamine, acetylcholine and KCl. Compared to FPL-55712, NZ-107 was one fifteenth less potent in inhibiting the LTD4 response, but two-fold more potent in inhibiting the LTC4 response. NZ-107 inhibited the LTD4 response of the trachea 10-fold more potently than that of the ileum (-log IC50: trachea 5.61, ileum 4.56). The combination of NZ-107 (1 microM) with the beta-agonist isoproterenol had no synergistic effect on the LTD4 response, but those of theophylline and papaverine had large effects. From these results, NZ-107 is a selective inhibitor of the SRS-A response and may be useful in the therapy of bronchial asthma and other diseases in which the LTs are thought to be involved. PMID- 2622095 TI - The evidence for the involvement of the 5-HT1A receptor in 5-HT syndrome induced in mice by tryptamine. AB - The involvement of the 5-HT1A receptor in the 5-HT syndrome (head weaving and hindlimb abduction) induced in DBA mice by tryptamine was investigated. Methysergide, (-)propranolol and spiperone suppressed both the head weaving and hindlimb abduction induced by tryptamine. However, ketanserin and ICS 205-930 did not affect them. Haloperidol induced small decreases in the head weaving, but had no effect on the hindlimb abduction. These results indicate that the 5-HT syndrome induced by tryptamine in mice is mediated by the 5-HT1A receptor. Therefore, 5-HT syndrome may also be associated with the 5-HT1A receptor in mice, as it is in rats. PMID- 2622096 TI - Enhancing effect of antitumor polysaccharide from Astragalus or Radix hedysarum on C3 cleavage production of macrophages in mice. AB - Effects of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) and Radix hedysari polysaccharide (RHPS) on the third component of complement (C3) cleavage production of macrophages in ICR mouse were investigated by the immunofluorescent method. By two hours after intraperitoneal injection of 500 mg/kg of APS or RHPS, there was an obvious increase in the deposition of C3 on peritoneal macrophages. When APS or RHPS was injected 5 times (1 time/day), the proportion of C3 positive macrophages was more than that of 1-time injection. At the same time, the number of peritoneal macrophages also increased. Since C3 cleavage product occurred with the activation of C3, the results suggest that the immuno-potentiating action of APS and RHPS may be related to the activity of mouse complement C3. PMID- 2622097 TI - Effects of nicotine on gastric contractile response to stimulation of the vagal afferent fibers in cats. AB - Effects of nicotine on the delayed gastric contraction due to vagal afferent stimulation were studied. Cats were pretreated with phentolamine (2 mg/kg, i.v.) and propranolol (1 mg/kg, i.v.). The delayed contraction was inhibited by nicotine (100 to 2000 micrograms/kg, i.v.) in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of the delayed contraction by nicotine was blocked by hexamethonium (20 mg/kg, i.v.). The results suggested that nicotine inhibits the delayed contraction by activation of hexamethonium-sensitive inhibitory neurons in the vagal pathway to the stomach. PMID- 2622098 TI - Determination of catecholamines and their metabolites in adrenals of stress loaded and wild suncus (Suncus murinus). AB - The contents of catecholamines and their metabolites were measured in the adrenals of 3 groups of suncus. The first group was naive housed suncus; the second, suncus with stress-loading; and the third, wild ones. There were no significant differences in dopamine, norepinephrine and normetanephrine levels among the control, stress and wild groups. The content of epinephrine, however, decreased in the stress and wild group to 57% and 18%, respectively. These results suggest that housed suncus can easily react to stressful circumstances. PMID- 2622099 TI - [The effects of planning leadership behavior on the subordinates' person perception]. AB - According to the two factor theory of leadership, leaders were instructed to behave both gently and strictly. However, how can be achieved such behavior? Here, a solution to this problem is suggested by an analysis of subordinates' person perception. Yamada (1987) analyzed the data of PM leadership surveys, and found three factors; Maintenance [M.] (corresponds to "Consideration" in the Ohio Study) Planning (Initiating Structure), and Pressure (Production Emphasis). It was found that High Planning supported the independence of M. from Pressure. The purpose of this experimental study was to test the effect of Planning behavior on cognitive structure. Sixty-four female subjects performed a maze task using computer simulation. In the high Planning condition, the leader displayed direction signs, whereas no sign was displayed in the low Planning condition. Each condition was further subdivided into two Pressure conditions (High or low) by the amount of linguistic behavior. The result of the survey data was supported. M. cognition decreased by increasing Pressure cognition in the low Planning condition, but no correlation was found between M. and Pressure in the High Planning condition. PMID- 2622100 TI - [The relation of person's motives for self-disclosure and the congruency of personality judgment by discloser and recipient]. AB - This study examined the relationship of a person's motives for self-disclosure and degree of self-disclosure to the congruency of personality judgment by the discloser and recipient. The subjects used were 76 pairs of close friends, members in each pair being of the same sex. Personality judgments of disclosers were executed by the disclosers themselves as well as the recipients; and disclosers were also asked to fill out (SMI) and (JSDQ). Results demonstrated that (JSDQ) had no relation to the congruency of personality judgments, but the motives had. In particular, persons who were apt to disclose based on mostly the emotional motive had the minimum congruencies on their personality judgment by disclosers and recipients. PMID- 2622101 TI - [Combination of self-reinforcement and external-reinforcement on matching-to sample learning]. AB - This study aimed at to investigate the combined effects of self-reinforcement (SR) and external-reinforcement (ER) on a matching-to-sample learning task. Four colored cards with four different marks (20, 10, 0, -10) were employed. Subjects of 27 college students were divided into three groups; SR, ER, and SR-ER groups, and they were requested to choose correct cards to score 20 marks in each trial. Subjects in SR and SR-ER groups were required to express their degrees of confidence by exhibiting either one, two or three chips of token accordingly. Following results were obtained. First, reinforcing powers were greater under both SR and SR-ER conditions than ER condition. Second, SR-ER group manifested a remarkably higher learning effect compared to SR group. This is interpreted as that the former established a sort of self-assurance due to ER contingency during this learning condition. Finally, the number of chips SR and SR-ER groups presented corresponded to the hitting rate of marks between n and n + 1 trials. PMID- 2622102 TI - [The individual structure of self-image: an analysis of interrelations among WAI responses of university students]. AB - The present study investigated the structure of self-image based upon interrelations among statements collected by means of T.S.T. or so-called the WAI (Who am I?) technique. The WAI is a technique for investigating self-attitude or self-image, in which each subject writes 20 statements responding to a question "Who am I?" After responding to the WAI, 50 university students participated in an experiment, in which each subject evaluated the strength of interrelations among statements by classification and paired-judgements, judged the meaning of each statement using 20 common items, and responded to questions about the results of the preceding sessions in the experiment. The structure of self-image of each subject was obtained by using cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling techniques. The structure common to all subjects was obtained by analysing the 20 common items with INDSCAL. The results revealed that the individual structures can be grasped by these methods and that the common structure has four dimensions, i.e., dimensions of General Evaluation, Physical Body, Internal versus External Issues, and Friendship. PMID- 2622103 TI - [A study of the process of self-concept formation in adolescence: an investigation of self-descriptions using the Twenty Statement Test (TST)]. AB - The Twenty Statement Test (TST) was administered to four groups of subjects consisting of fifth graders in an elementary school, second graders in a junior high school, senior high school and university. In addition to the traditional analysis of TST in which the major emphasis is on content aspects of mode of self with respect to elementary contents of self-descriptions, further analysis was undertaken in terms of structural aspects of mode of self by focusing on the relation of the self with the elementary contents of self-descriptions. The results of the content-oriented analysis conformed in general to those reported by other investigators in the past. The structurally-oriented analysis indicated a decrease in descriptions of the relationship of the self to things, events and persons in one's environment and an increase in these aspects with respect to one's own traits. It was suggested that by employing both these analytic procedures, an enhanced understanding of self-concept might be facilitated. PMID- 2622104 TI - [A device to display moving objects for visual stimulation in the early development: with numerical control of a pulse motor]. AB - In order to observe oculomotor responses to moving objects in infants and the profoundly retarded, a control system of moving objects was developed. The system consists of two parts, the one is to control movement, while the other is to display stimuli. The movement control part is made of a microcomputer, a pulse motor, and a rail, which guides a stimulus carrier with slight friction. The pulse motor rotates 1.8 degrees, according to the input of one pulse. Therefore, the microcomputer can control the velocity of movement of a heavy object exactly. The microcomputer detects the position of a stimulus carrier, counting the number of pulses and receiving signals from switches attached to the rail. The stimuli displaying part controls lighting with respect to the position of a stimulus carrier. Applying this system to a profoundly retarded subject, whose DA was three months, smooth pursuit oculomotor responses at the same velocity as the stimulus were observed in EOG recordings. Measurement of duration of those responses was achieved. PMID- 2622105 TI - [Prostaglandins released from the isolated perfused arterial segment and vasocontractile response--influence of plasma constituents and platelets]. AB - In the present study, relationship between each level of PGE, TX B2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha in the effluent perfusate and vasocontractile response to noradrenaline (NA-R) was examined using the isolated perfused arterial segment of a rabbit ear. The following results were obtained. 1. NA-R was significantly augmented under the conditions infusing either platelet poor plasma (PPP) or platelet rich plasma (PRP), when compared with the control one during perfusion of modified normal Krebs solution (N-R) alone. 2. During PPP infusion, PGE level alone and during PRP infusion, both PGE and TX B2 levels showed significant increment in comparison with the each control ones during perfusion of N-R, respectively. 6-keto-PGF1 alpha level was significantly altered under the conditions infusing neither PPP nor PRP. 3. There was the positively significant correlation between delta NA-R and delta (TX B2/PGE ratio), which represent the difference between the control value during perfusion of N-R and the one during infusion of either PPP or PRP, respectively. From the results obtained, it seems possible to draw the conclusion that the augmentation in NA-R induced by PPP or PRP relates, at least in part, to the secondary alteration of PGE and prostanoids metabolism in the arterial preparation. PMID- 2622106 TI - [Studies on colonic motor correlates of spontaneous defecation in conscious dogs]. AB - The colonic motilities during defecation were studied by means of extraluminal strain gauge force transducers in six conscious dogs. A set of eight transducers was implanted in each dog: one was on the terminal ileum and the remaining seven were on the whole length of the colon equidistantly. As Karaus & Sarna had already described in 1987, giant migrating contractions (GMC) that were initiated in the proximal colon and rapidly migrated caudad before defecation were reconfirmed also in this study to be motor equivalent of mass movements. Several new findings in addition were obtained. At spontaneous defecation, a reflex relaxation was always observed at the distal end of the colon. This colonic outlet relaxation (COR) usually occurred synchronously with the initiation of GMC at the proximal colon and lasted until GMC had arrived at the distal end. Evacuation of feces occurred during this COR. COR was not observed at defecation induced by neostigmine or prostaglandin F2 alpha. After bilateral pelvic nerve section, both GMC and COR were completely abolished. Instead, group of low amplitude caudad migrating contractions occurred at the proximal or middle colon and were followed by frequent evacuation of small amount of loose stools. COR was not observed at this type of defecation. It is suggested from this study that not only GMC but also COR are the essential motor correlates of spontaneous defecation. Both GMC and COR are under control of pelvic nerves. PMID- 2622107 TI - [Value of the analysis of left-ventricular systolic time intervals in the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease provoked by intravenous infusion of isoproterenol]. AB - The aim of the study was to evaluate the value of analysis of left ventricular systolic intervals during Isuprel test in diagnosis of ischemic heart disease. 30 patients with ischemic heart disease without myocardial infarction in the past (group I) and after myocardial infarction (group II) as well as 15 healthy persons (group III) underwent the study. Electrocardiograms and polycardiograms were analyzed by means of Weissler's method. In patients with CAD during Isuprel test decrease of QS2I, LVETI, LVETI/S1S2 and increase of Q-1, ICT, PEPI, PEP/LVET were stated in comparison with healthy persons. Sensitivity of Isuprel test estimated by ST segment analysis was 80%, specificity 100%, predictive value for CAD confirmation 100% and for its exclusion 71.4%. Diagnostic value of Q-1, QS2I and LVETI intervals and PEP/LVET index did not statistically significantly differ from ST segment diagnostic value. Sensitivity of Isuprel test estimated by means of these intervals analysis was 63.3%, specificity 93.3-100%, predictive value for CAD confirmation 95-100%, and for its exclusion 56-57.7%. Analysis of left ventricular systolic intervals during Isuprel test is a valuable complement of an ECG examination. PMID- 2622108 TI - [Angioplasty in acute and chronic occlusion of the coronary arteries]. AB - An attempt of mechanical restoration of coronary artery patency and its angioplasty was carried out in 37 patients including 9 with acute myocardial infarction within 5 hours after the onset of an angina pain. The procedure was effective in 17 patients (45.9%), including 6 with acute myocardial infarction (66.7%). Mean time of a coronary artery occlusion was 5.1 weeks in the group with a good result in comparison with 17.2 weeks in the group with the unsuccessful procedure. In patients in whom restoration of a coronary artery patency was carried out within up to 3 months after its occlusion the procedure was effective in 64 per cent of them. Effectiveness of restoration of a coronary artery patency and its dilatation depends on the time from its occlusion to the procedure. The early attempt of the restoration of a coronary artery patency is effective in the majority of patients. In cases of the unsuccessful recanalization of a coronary artery occluded for a short time the main limitation of the procedure effectiveness was the vessel anatomy. The follow-up of 17 patients after a successful procedure showed restenosis or reocclussion in 6 of them (35%). It was referred in 1 case to the patient in whom restoration of a vessel patency was carried out during acute myocardial infarction (17%), and in 5 others to patients with a chronic occlusion of a coronary artery (45.5%). PMID- 2622109 TI - [Intravenous streptokinase treatment of acute myocardial infarction. I. Effect of the treatment on the course of infarction and the patency of the artery supplying the infarction area]. AB - 128 consecutive patients with a first myocardial infarction, admitted within 4 hours after the onset of an angina pain, were divided into two groups according to the history of the peptic ulcer. Group I (with a negative history, n = 72) received intravenously 1,000,000 units of streptokinase followed by intravenous heparin infusion for 5-7 days. Group II (with a positive history, n = 56) was the control one. In hospital mortality was 2.8% in group I and 5.3% in group II (N. S.). Coronarography performed during second or third week of hospitalization revealed the patency of a coronary artery supplying an infarcted region twice as frequent in group I than in group II (78% vs 41%, p less than 0.001). Percentage of patients with the early serum peak of CKMB activity (from 8 to 12 hours from the start of therapy) suggesting early recanalization of a coronary artery supplying an infarcted region was significantly higher in group I (44.7% and 70.1%) than in group II (7.8% and 19.5%). Both differences between groups were significant (p less than 0.001). Early serum peak of CKMB activity (from 8 to 12 hours from start of treatment) was stated respectively in 46.5% and 81.4% of patients of group I in which subsequent coronarography revealed the patency of a coronary artery supplying the infarcted region. PMID- 2622110 TI - [A map for recording of 15 precordial leads improves the sensitivity of the exercise test]. AB - Authors analyzed ecg recordings of 112 exercise tests performed in males aged 29 62. 15 precordial leads map (inclusive of V1-V6 standard leads) was used to record ecg tracings. In 22 patients (19.5%) ischemic, electrocardiographic changes were only observed at non-standard leads. Obtained data indicate higher sensitivity of the exercise test with ecg recordings enriched by additional leads. PMID- 2622111 TI - [Early exercise test after myocardial infarction. Our experience-- results of the examinations of 102 patients]. AB - The paper presented results of early exercise tests performed after myocardial infarction in 102 patients. Examinations were performed on the average, 22 days after the onset of myocardial infarction symptoms. In 52 patients a positive results of the exercise test was stated: lowering of ST-T segment (n = 25), ventricular arrhythmias (n = 16), ST-T segment elevation (n = 15), angina pain (n = 5), and a fall of systolic arterial pressure (n = 4). Two of above mentioned symptoms were observed in some patients. Exercise test was limited by a pulse rate (70% of predictive, maximal pulse rate and) or the work load (up to 125 Watts). No significant complications were observed. PMID- 2622112 TI - [Study of the late results of reimplantation of heart valve prostheses based on 15-year experience]. AB - Authors studied two groups of patients, in which a cardiac valvular prosthesis was reimplanted within 15 years. Data of patients reoperated on (group A) were used to estimate indications, surgical methods, postoperative course and late results. Data of patients which underwent surgery and then requiring reoperation (group B) were used to evaluate the percentage of reoperation falling to 1 patient/1 year according to a primary implanted valvular prosthesis: 42 patients were divided into two groups. 3 perioperative and 12 late deaths (totally 28.3%) were stated in the group A. 5- and 10-year survival rates were 83.3% and 65.6%, respectively. In the group B the lowest percentage of reoperation (1 patient/1 year) were stated in patients with mitral Starr-Edwards 6120 valve (029) and Bjork-Shiley aortic valve (0.13). The highest percentage of reoperation was observed in patients with biological prosthetic valves (homograft or heterograft- 4.64) and in comparison with patients with primary implanted mechanical prostheses (0.24). Those differences were statistically significant (p less than 0.001). PMID- 2622113 TI - [Ventricular fibrillation in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome treated with small doses of cytarabine]. AB - The paper presented a case of a patient with type III by FAB myelodysplastic syndrome, in whom during a low dose cytarabine therapy ventricular fibrillation occurred. Authors discussed roles of anemia, ischemic heart disease and hypokalemia as factors which could increase circulatory system sensitivity on cytarabine action. PMID- 2622114 TI - [Our experience with transvenous ablation of the atrioventricular node]. AB - In 7 patients conventional a-v nodal ablation was performed using electrical energy delivered from the cardioverter via a catheter-electrode positioned near His bundle area. In all patients indication for the ablation were rapid symptomatic supraventricular arrhythmias refractory to previous pharmacological treatment. During the ablation 1-2 discharges of 200-300 J energy were used, repeating the procedure in 2 patients after 24 hours. In all patients the complete a-v block was obtained and the injury of the postero-septal accessory pathway in 3 subjects. Patients were pacemaker dependent without recurrences of supraventricular arrhythmias with rapid ventricular response. Except mild and local myocardial lesion expressed by transient increase of indicatory enzymes we did not observed any other complications directly related to the ablation procedure. Our modest experience in application of conventional a-v nodal ablation proves that this procedure could and should be used in selected patients at the medical centers having the appropriate equipment and experience in clinical electrophysiology. PMID- 2622115 TI - OSHA's approach to infectious disease problems in the dental office. PMID- 2622116 TI - Reactions of the lectin anti-AHP from the edible snail Helix pomatia with N acetyl-D-galactosamine of streptococci. AB - The lectin anti-AHP obtained from the albumen gland of the edible snail, Helix pomatia, was used for the routine identification of group C streptococci. Without any exception all 1,045 strains of group C streptococci (S.equisimilis, and S.zooepidemicus, and S.dysgalactiae) were agglutinated by the Helix lectin, but none of the 12,264 strains of group A, 1,346 strains of group G, 330 strains of group B as well as that of other streptococcal groups. The presence of type specific T antigens of group A streptococci in group C streptococci does not influence the agglutinability of S.equisimilis (group C). A few but not all strains of S.milleri either carrying or not group G specific carbohydrate and S.sanguis with group H antigen were agglutinated by the Helix lectin Anti-AHP. This suggests that terminal N-acetyl-D-galactosamine of these bacteria reacted with the Helix lectin (Anti-AHP). Therefore the Helix lectin is very useful tool for identification of group C streptococcus as well as for immunological studies. PMID- 2622117 TI - Development of Babesia ovata in the haemolymph of the tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis. AB - The haemolymph of adult tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (H. longicornis) infected with Babesia ovata (B. ovata) was examined at regular intervals. As a result kinetes could be detected in the haemolymph 15 days after engorgement. The kinetes detected could be classified into three types on the basis of their morphological characteristics. They increased gradually in number, reaching a maximum 23 days later. Then they tended to decrease in number, disappearing almost completely from the haemolymph 38 days after the engorgement of ticks. PMID- 2622118 TI - Low responsiveness of lymphocytes from normal individuals against the stimulation with pokeweed mitogen. AB - The responsiveness of peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) as B cell activator was studied in adult healthy subjects by immunoglobulin synthesis system in culture. We have shown that lymphocytes from some healthy subjects have low responsiveness in the polyclonal antibodies secretion following PWM stimulation but not PPD stimulation by Protein A-reverse hemolytic assay. In this system, when irradiated T cells (CD4+) as helper T cell were added to B cells from autologous or allogeneic subjects, helper T cell function of immunoglobulin synthesis on the low response groups to PWM significantly decreased. Whereas normal responses to PPD stimulation were observed in the presence of helper T cells (CD4+). The low responsiveness of lymphocytes stimulated with PWM but not PPD may be related to reduced functions of helper T cell populations. Thus the healthy subjects were classified into high, normal and low response groups with PWM on the basis of antibody production. PMID- 2622119 TI - Morphological observations of Babesia ovata in bovine lymphocyte. PMID- 2622120 TI - [Corneal endothelial damage in congenital and juvenile glaucoma]. AB - Corneal changes are typical for infantile glaucoma. In newborns, Descemet's membrane and the stroma are still soft, and distend when intraocular pressure rises. Cell counts were performed under the reflecting microscope to determine whether the endothelium is affected when corneal diameter increases and changes occur in Descemet's membrane. The mean endothelial cell density of 20 patients with congenital or secondary juvenile glaucoma, aged between 4 and 29 years, was found to be 2780/mm2. Even though increased corneal diameter was the most common primary symptom of buphthalmos, there were no relationships between corneal diameter on the one hand and postoperative endothelial cell density, visual outcome, or postoperative pressure on the other. In children who had had corneal edema followed by ruptures of Descemet's membrane the number of endothelial cells was significantly reduced, visual outcome was worse, and there were more problems with regulation of intraocular pressure. Lower-than-average endothelial cell densities were also found in some patients with secondary glaucoma. PMID- 2622121 TI - [Technic and initial results of capsule sack implantation of hydrogen lenses using a small incision]. AB - Hydrogel lenses are flexible and hydrophilic. The IOGEL lens can be folded with Faulkner forceps and implanted through a 3.5 mm incision. Inadvertant contact with the endothelium causes only minimal cell loss. In April 1988, the authors switched from sulcus to bag fixation and have since inserted 35 lenses. Capsulorhexis appears to guarantee stability and centration. Complications are rare and minor in nature, and can be avoided by adopting an appropriate technique. While retaining all the advantages of phacoemulsification, the procedure considerably accelerates physical and visual rehabilitation. However, long-term results must be awaited. PMID- 2622122 TI - [Assessment of visual acuity in simulation and aggravation]. AB - Following a review of various tricks and techniques described in the literature for measuring the visual acuity of less cooperative patients, three new methods are presented. The first is based on the so-called "preferential-looking" method, which has been in use for several years to determine the visual acuity of infants and small children. The second method uses polarizing filters to separate the beam paths of the two eyes and a flashlamp to project the test symbols, to prevent the patient from finding out by blinking which eye is being tested. In the third method the stimuli are presented on a computer monitor; the beam paths of the two eyes are separated by special spectacles which can briefly cover either eye while a test symbol is being shown. The results so far are encouraging. PMID- 2622123 TI - [Enzyme activities of the retina and vitreous body following experimental implantation of a brass splinter]. AB - Brass splinters weighing 28 mg were implanted in the center of the vitreous of rabbit eyes. After a few days the well-known infiltration and liquefaction of the vitreous body were observed, together with retinal necrosis. Cellular and lysosomal enzymes usually found only in very low concentrations in the vitreous body increased more than a hundredfold during the inflammatory process and the increasing opacification. The enzymes assayed were lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), phosphofructose aldolase (ALD), glycerinaldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), glutathione reductase (GR), beta-N-acetylglucose aminidase (NAcGA), and cathepsin D. The kinetics of enzyme reproduction in the vitreous suggested that the cellular enzymes of the energy producing metabolism might originate both from the invading leukocytes as well as from the degrading retina. It seems likely that the cathepsin-D occurring in the vitreous originates mainly from the retina, and the beta-N-acetylglucose aminidase mainly from the pigment epithelium. The pathologically increased enzyme activity might well permit diagnostic conclusions concerning the intensity and stage of destruction of the retina by brass poisoning. PMID- 2622124 TI - [Fluorescence photometry study of the normal rat retina before and following fluorescein administration]. AB - Semiquantitative fluorescein photometric studies were performed on the retinas of lyophilized rat eyes. Before injecting the fluorescein, the right, dyeless eyes were enucleated under anesthesia with ketamine hydrochloride. The left eyes were removed between 20 seconds and two hours after intravenous injection of fluorescein. Histologic sections of each of the posterior segments were measured fluorophotometrically. The photometric values of most of the fluorescein-dyed retinal sections were higher than those of the contralateral (dyeless) control eyes. With increasing duration of observation the differences between the sections which contained fluorescein and those which did not diminished, although some temporary and limited increases occurred. The higher extinction values of the specimens containing fluorescein are in agreement with the quantitative results of Grimes et al. (1982), who found fluorescein in all retinal layers. Anesthesia-induced acidoses cannot be ruled out may be considered minimal. The information value of quantitative and semiquantative results is certainly superior to qualitative results is certainly superior to qualitative findings. PMID- 2622125 TI - ["Morning glory syndrome" and "Handmann's anomaly" in congenital macropapilla. Extreme variants of "confluent optic pits"?]. AB - Seventeen optic disks with morning glory syndrome were measured in absolute and relative size units (millimeters and parapapillary retinal vessel caliber) in 5 and 12 eyes, respectively. Their respective mean areas were 7.47 +/- 2.63 mm2 and 7.84 +/- 4.96 mm2. They were significantly (Mann-Whitney test) larger than 457 unselected normal optic nerve heads (2.69 +/- 0.70 mm2; p less than 0.0001) and 15 optic disks with pits (4.84 +/- 1.42 mm2; p less than 0.001). They are the largest optic nerve heads, probably with constant postnatal size, measured so far, and form part of a spectrum of optic disk anomalies and diseases whose frequency correlates with the size of the optic disk. This spectrum includes abnormally small optic nerve heads with increased prevalence of drusen, pseudopapilledema and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, asymptomatic macrodisks with physiologic, "pseudoglaucomatous" macrocups, symptomatic macrodisks with pits and, finally, optic nerve heads with morning glory syndrome. The last-mentioned may be considered an extreme variation of optic disks with pits which have combined to form a single macropit covering the entire optic nerve head. PMID- 2622126 TI - [Pathogenesis of congenital vitreous cysts]. AB - Unilateral congenital vitreous cysts (VC) were observed in two young patients. The vitreous was highly liquefied in both. Biomicroscopially, the ball-shaped VC in the first patient was seen to be detached from the surrounding tissues and hence highly mobile. The potato-shaped VC in the second patient was attached to the posterior lens surface by a short, thread-like strand and was therefore only slightly mobile. Partially vascularized prepapillary strands were observed in the patient's fellow eye. Two different pathogenic mechanisms may be postulated, namely (1) that the VC was squeezed or jarred loose from the ciliary body pigment epithelium (first patient), or (2) that the VC resulted from impaired retrogression of the primary vitreous or the hyaloid artery (second patient). PMID- 2622127 TI - [Acquired ocular melanosis]. AB - A case of ocular melanosis with a 24-year follow-up is presented. On the basis of the course and the results of histologic findings (conjunctival biopsy) it was classified as benign acquired melanosis with pronounced junctional activity. The constantly changing clinical appearance, ranging from a deep black conjunctiva to ultimately white tissue, is described and discussed. PMID- 2622128 TI - Effect of intramedullary bone cement fixation on fracture healing. AB - The effect of bone cement implanted in the marrow cavity on the fracture healing process was assessed in rabbits with an experimentally induced transverse fracture of the tibia. In the cement treated animals external callus formation occurred slowly, due to poor bone-forming capacity of the endosteum and a failure to form a bridge at the fracture site. Numerous resorption cavities then occurred in the cortical bone. The microangiogram revealed a lack of blood supply from the marrow in the cement treated group. Thus, the histological changes were probably due to obstruction of the marrow blood supply to cortical and endosteal bone. PMID- 2622129 TI - Plasma apolipoprotein and lipid profiles in infants in the first year of life. AB - Five different apolipoproteins (apo) and lipid profiles were studied in breast fed mature (BM), brest-fed premature (BP), formula-fed mature (FM) and formula fed premature (FP) infants in the first year of life. The plasma apo A-1, B, C-II and C-III levels in all groups of infants increased rapidly after birth until 4 weeks of age, and then became stable. On the other hand, apo A-II levels did not change markedly in any of the groups of infants during the neonatal period, but there was a gradual increase in mature infants thereafter. At 12 months of age, apo A-I, A-II and B remained significantly lower than in adults. There were no significant differences in any of the apolipoprotein levels between BM and FM infants or between BP and FP infants except for apo A-I and C-III of premature infants at 3 weeks of age. When premature and mature infants were compared, premature infants showed lower apolipoprotein levels except for apo A-II, and the differences were especially prominent in the neonatal period. Plasma triglyceride levels rapidly increased in the neonatal period and were stable thereafter. Whereas plasma total cholesterol levels increased gradually until one year of age. There were no differences between breast-fed and formula-fed infants. Both triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in premature infants were lower than those in mature infants during the neonatal period. Thus, the proportional change in plasma lipids and apolipoprotein levels during this study period may indicate that lipoprotein composition is not markedly deteriorated even in different nutritional condition in the first year of life. PMID- 2622130 TI - Three distinct types of rat brain protein kinase C: their molecular heterogeneity and individual enzymological properties. AB - Protein kinase C exists as a large family of multiple subspecies with subtle individual characteristics. Three types of protein kinase C designated type I, II, and III were purified from rat brain cytosol, which have been shown to correspond to the cDNA clones, gamma, beta, and alpha, respectively. Their relative activities in the whole brain tissue were found to be roughly 26%, 49%, and 25% with H1 histone as a substrate. Type II enzyme was an unequal mixture of two subspecies (roughly 1 : 7) encoded by beta I and beta II-sequences which differ from each other only in a short range of their carboxyl-terminal end regions. Although the three types have closely similar structures, they show a slightly different mode of activation and kinetic properties. Type I enzyme was sensitive to synthetic permeable diacylglycerol and significantly activated by low concentrations of free arachidonic acid. Type II enzyme exhibited substantial activity without elevated Ca2+ levels, and responded well to diacylglycerol and, to some extent, arachidonic acid. Type III enzyme shows nearly full activity in the presence of higher concentrations of arachidonic acid but is less sensitive to synthetic permeable diacylglycerol. The amino acid sequences predicted by cDNA analysis have indicated that the three types of protein kinase C have a tandem repeat of amino acid residues, that resemble the characteristic in "cysteine-zinc DNA-binding finger motif." Type I, but not type II or III enzyme could be activated by Zn2+ and showed some affinity for DNA-agarose, although its significance remains unclear. It is concluded that the three types of protein kinase C show subtle individual characteristics, and possibly play distinctly different physiological roles in signal transduction. PMID- 2622131 TI - [Nursing care of aged (V). Self care for the aged]. PMID- 2622132 TI - [Ethnonursing methods in maternal and child nursing]. PMID- 2622133 TI - [Sexual identity and sexual education of the adolescent]. PMID- 2622134 TI - [Hallmarks of success in nursing practice]. PMID- 2622135 TI - [A case study on computer application in nursing]. PMID- 2622137 TI - [Nursing care of the aged (V). Mobility impairment related to skeletal and joint diseases in the aged]. PMID- 2622136 TI - [A study on the depression level of pregnant women and puerpera]. AB - The samples of this study were 100 pregnant women that visited for antenatal care Chunchon Songshim Hospital and Chunchon Provincial Hospital (Maternal Child Health) and 100 puerpera that were admitted for childbirth to those hospitals August 1 through 31, 1989. The writer is interested in the depression level of pregnant women during pregnancy and that of puerpera after delivery. The results of this study's analysis are: 1. As for the depression level of all the pregnant women and puerpera, the S.D.S. (Self-rating Depression Scale) of the former was 25.4 and that of puerpera, 25.2, and no significant difference was found between the two groups (p greater than 0.05). 2. The analysis by the items showed that the S.D.S. Score of 6 items in pregnant women was higher than in puerpera, and that of 2 items in puerpera was higher than in pregnant women. Generally S.D.S. Score of pregnant women was found higher. 3. As for the length of pregnancy, the S.D.S. Score of pregnant women in early pregnancy (24.5) was higher than that of those in late pregnancy (17.8) to show significant difference between the two (p less than 0.05). 4. As for the depression level of puerpera by the sex of the newborn, the S.D.S. Score of puerpera that gave birth to female babies (2.26) was higher than that of puerpera that gave birth to male babies (1.84) to show significant difference between the two (p less than 0.05). 5. The S.D.S. Score of pregnant women who lived with her husband's parents was higher than that of those who lived without them. And the S.D.S. Score of pregnant women who lived with her husband's parents (28.5) was higher than that of puerpera (26.1) to show significant difference between the two (p less than 0.05). PMID- 2622138 TI - Intra-individual variation in plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activities and the monitoring of uptake of organo-phosphate pesticides. AB - The measurement of plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activities is used to monitor absorption of anti-cholinesterase organo-phosphorus compounds. A fall in an individual's enzyme activity signifies excessive exposure if it is clearly greater than the normal intra-individual variation found in unexposed subjects. The extent of normal variation in enzyme activity as measured is dependent on both the true intra-individual biological variation and the precision of the method used. This report defines normal variation in plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activity using the assay developed and used routinely in our laboratory. We have also defined the relation between the precision of the assay used by a laboratory and the sensitivity with which a significant depression in successive enzyme measurements can be detected. This allows occupational physicians, who use cholinesterase measurements to monitor organo-phosphate exposure, to establish percentage depressions from their method precision data that may possibly indicate organo-phosphate uptake between successive enzyme measurements. We have calculated that, with our analytical precision, percentage drops between two successive measurements that are greater than 15 and 7.5 per cent for the plasma and erythrocyte enzymes respectively suggest significant organo-phosphorus absorption in pesticide workers. PMID- 2622139 TI - Uses and limitations of microcomputers for epidemiological research in occupational health. AB - The rapid improvements in microcomputer systems have contributed to ease of performance of epidemiological research in occupational health. Computers now available can aid in all stages of research- from the early stages of literature review to data collection, analysis and presentation. Optical storage devices now allow large occupational health data bases to be stored on a single compact disc, with the information accessible by microcomputer. Hand-held computers and optical scanners allow paperless collection of field data. Epidemiological analysis and data presentation is easily done with software packages, some of which are in the public domain. However, there are limitations in the use of computers for any epidemiological research. Investment of time is required to learn the use of a computer. Care needs to be taken to ensure accurate data entry, and correct choice has to be made of methods for subsequent statistical analysis. Microcomputers are valuable as labour saving devices, but cannot replace proper planning, execution and appropriate data analysis in epidemiological research in occupational health. PMID- 2622140 TI - Control of tuberculosis in health service workers: the role of the chest radiograph. AB - Chest radiograph reports were reviewed retrospectively in 1994 new employees in the Leicestershire Health Authority to assess the use of this examination in detecting and preventing tuberculosis. No evidence suggestive of active tuberculosis was found in the cases reviewed indicating that the chest radiograph is of limited value. A discussion of these findings and a review of previous work suggests that a change in screening policy with the pre-employment chest radiograph performed only on selected groups would have no significant effect on the incidence of tuberculosis in staff or patients. The savings both in radiation exposure and financially would be considerable. PMID- 2622141 TI - Six month follow-up of fourteen victims with short-term exposure to chlorine gas. AB - Fourteen cases, 5 with pre-existing COAD, exposed to up to 30 p.p.m. chlorine gas in an accidental leakage, were followed up clinically, radiologically and by spirometry at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 6 months. All the patients were asymptomatic by 2 weeks and did not reveal any radiological abnormality. The FVC, FEV1 and FVC observed/predicted improved at 4 weeks (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01) and the improvement in FEF0.25-0.75 reached statistical significance (p less than 0.05) at 6 months. The mean improvement in FVC was 0.84 l and FEV1 was 0.6 l at 4 weeks. The 5 patients with pre-existing COAD did not show any evidence of additional lung damage. The observations have been consistent with acute tracheobronchitis with trends towards complete recovery. PMID- 2622142 TI - Cross-sectional study of health effects of cryolite production. AB - A cross-sectional health study of 101 cryolite workers was performed, using spirometry and a questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between the index of smoking and a decrease in FEV1 (per cent). There was no significant correlation between work-related exposure and lung function. Many cryolite workers described a group of symptoms appearing after 15 to 30 min of heavy dust exposure: nausea, followed by epigastric pain with relief after spontaneous or provoked vomiting. Thirty-four (33.6 per cent) workers complained of nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea in relation to work, compared to 3.8 per cent of 1752 men participating in the Copenhagen Male Study. PMID- 2622143 TI - Mean wheal diameter in skin tests for castor bean extracts in castor bean allergic workers of eastern Sudan. AB - The mean wheal diameter by prick test for castor bean (Ricinus communis, Euphorbiaceae) extracts was measured in a castor bean allergic population. Three types of castor bean extracts namely Cimmaron, Pacific and dust (a mixture of Cimmaron, Pacific and hull), were applied at 1/10,000 dilutions with a control solution. The subjects comprised 318 male workers who were divided into four groups with a fifth control group of 63 male workers. The solutions were tested on three subject groups with Cimmaron in the first, Pacific in the second, and dust in the third. All three extracts were applied in the fourth and the control groups. The results have shown that the Cimmaron type gives a larger wheal diameter than Pacific or dust at the same concentration. There were statistically significant differences between the wheal diameters caused by different extracts in the same subjects. The possibility of producing a type of seed containing less amount of allergen could be considered and experimented on by the agricultural research bodies. PMID- 2622144 TI - Setting up a microcomputer in a small Occupational Health department. AB - The cost of microcomputers has fallen dramatically in recent years with the result that many small Occupational Health (OH) departments have turned to computerization. Occupational Health physicians with little if any previous computing experience may be called upon to oversee the introduction of a computer into an OH department and subsequently decide upon relevant equipment purchase. This article discusses the necessary hardware and software which would allow the development of a powerful and worthwhile OH computer system for a modest outlay. PMID- 2622145 TI - Viewpoint '89 examining examinations: pre-employment medical examinations. PMID- 2622146 TI - Clinical application of IMZ plasma sprayed titanium cylinder implants. PMID- 2622148 TI - Submucous cleft palate. PMID- 2622147 TI - Emergency medicine in dentistry. PMID- 2622149 TI - Significant reduction found in dental X-ray exposures in Tennessee. PMID- 2622150 TI - Reliable local anesthesia in emergency treatment. AB - Patients today expect and demand painless dentistry. Problems arise when a patient presents with a dental emergency, and the dentist is not able to meet the expectations and demands for painless dentistry because the "conventional" anesthetic blocks and infiltrations simply are not effective. This paper will examine some of the reasons for ineffective anesthesia and will explain several supplemental anesthetic injection techniques to better serve his/her patients' needs. PMID- 2622151 TI - Palatal migration of two mesodens in a prehistoric Tennessee Indian: a case for the blood vessel thrust theory of tooth movement. AB - The skull of a prehistoric, Middle Mississippian, American Indian shows two mesodens that migrated to the distal margin of the palate. These teeth are positioned in such a way as to avoid the most common intraoral forces affecting tooth movement. The resorption of the palatal bone, distal to the teeth indicates movement caused by forces predicted by the Blood Vessel Thrust Theory. PMID- 2622152 TI - Quality relationships enroll patients in quality dentistry. PMID- 2622153 TI - Toxic methemoglobinemia. PMID- 2622154 TI - Acanthamoeba keratitis in Tennessee: a growing problem in patients wearing contact lenses. AB - All physicians evaluating a painful red eye in a contact lens wearer should consider the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis. Although it remains relatively rare, the incidence of this infection is on the rise. Clues to the correct diagnosis include a corneal abrasion that fails to heal appropriately, pain out of proportion to the clinical findings, and a history of poor contact lens hygiene. Prompt recognition and appropriate ophthalmologic intervention can improve the visual outcome for patients with this devastating corneal infection. PMID- 2622155 TI - Public health departments' dilemma in preventing HIV infection among young adults threatened by sexually transmitted disease. PMID- 2622156 TI - Subclavian artery injury. PMID- 2622157 TI - A case of secondary diabetes mellitus. PMID- 2622158 TI - Radiology case of the month. CT scan quiz. Diverticulitis, with pericolic abscess and fistula. PMID- 2622159 TI - Overview of the Tennessee Cancer Reporting System. PMID- 2622160 TI - Damn the torpedoes--full speed ahead! PMID- 2622161 TI - Population screening for plasma cholesterol: community-based results from Memphis. PMID- 2622162 TI - HIV blood counseling. PMID- 2622163 TI - Best start: breastfeeding for healthy mothers, healthy babies--a new model for breastfeeding promotion. PMID- 2622164 TI - 1989 membership roster. Tennessee Medical Association. PMID- 2622165 TI - [A low passing rate at the first National Examination for Nursing and Welfare Personnel]. PMID- 2622166 TI - [Check point in nursing management: a suggestion for coordinated activities of team nursing during evenings]. PMID- 2622167 TI - [Questions and answers in nursing management: problems with nurses who skip study sessions]. PMID- 2622168 TI - [Check point in nursing management: a thorough personal interview at the end of the first year of nursing to encourage a professional start in nursing]. PMID- 2622170 TI - [Interview with Mrs. Miki Hanada on volunteer activities to help the aged]. PMID- 2622169 TI - [Questions and answers on nursing surveys and report writing: delays in the daily start of the ambulatory service and a suspected cause in physicians]. PMID- 2622171 TI - [Check point in nursing education: understanding the respective roles of the clinical and teaching personnel in clinical training and resultant mutual cooperation]. PMID- 2622172 TI - [Questions and answers on nursing education: the need to teach with the aid of various pieces of equipment]. PMID- 2622173 TI - [Check point in nursing education: profound learning by students to understand the dignity of life]. PMID- 2622174 TI - [Questions and answers in clinical training. Difficulties in selecting leaders in a group study]. PMID- 2622175 TI - [Nursing education at the college and junior college levels. Education which is possible only at universities--nursing education at universities]. PMID- 2622176 TI - [Nursing education at the college and junior college levels. Education which is possible only at universities--nursing education at colleges]. PMID- 2622177 TI - [Nursing education at the college and junior college levels. Legislative goals in university and junior college education]. PMID- 2622178 TI - [Nursing education at the college and junior college levels. An example at Saniku Gakuin Junior College]. PMID- 2622179 TI - [Nursing education at the college and junior college levels. An example at the Japan Red Cross Musashino Junior College for Women]. PMID- 2622180 TI - [Nursing education at the college and junior college levels. An example at Mie Prefectural Nursing Junior College]. PMID- 2622181 TI - [Nursing education at the college and junior college levels. An example at Aono Gakuin Junior College]. PMID- 2622182 TI - [Nursing education at the college and junior college levels. An example at Kobe University Junior College for Medical technology]. PMID- 2622183 TI - [Nursing education at the college and junior college levels. An example at the Junior College for Medical Technology, University of Industrial Medicine]. PMID- 2622184 TI - [Nursing education at the college and junior college levels. A survey among graduates of 4-year college-level nursing courses]. PMID- 2622185 TI - [Nursing education at the college and junior college levels. Utilization of graduates of 4-year nursing schools]. PMID- 2622187 TI - [A report on model home nursing service. Unification of the service by the introduction of a computer system]. PMID- 2622186 TI - [Impression on the final report by the committee evaluating terminal care]. PMID- 2622188 TI - [Communication as the key of organization]. PMID- 2622189 TI - [My experience in nursing. A new start from zero by reopening an abandoned hospital]. PMID- 2622190 TI - [Approach in clinical training in nursing. 9. Coordinating the views held by the clinical and teaching personnel (3)]. PMID- 2622192 TI - [Man and nursing. On nursing care. 9. Care as a profession: a discussion]. PMID- 2622191 TI - [Planning of a clinical course in adult nursing within the framework of the revised curriculum]. PMID- 2622193 TI - [Evaluation of the methods for classification and analysis of the information used during psychiatric nursing processes--through expression of classification, nursing diagnosis and sequence of events in diagrams]. PMID- 2622194 TI - [Observation of self in nursing actions. 3. Help to be given and help practiced with cooperation of the patient]. PMID- 2622195 TI - [Report on a model home nursing service: for the establishment of regional comprehensive home nursing care]. PMID- 2622196 TI - [Voice of nursing supervisors to be heard by their superiors and colleagues]. PMID- 2622197 TI - [Approach in combining the collective training and the job training--an attempt at leadership development among the nursing staff with 4-to-5 years of experience through on-the-job training]. PMID- 2622198 TI - [A learning experience through student unrest]. PMID- 2622199 TI - [Approach in clinical training. 8. Coordinating the views of the clinical and teaching personnel]. PMID- 2622200 TI - [Goals and application of each segment of the basic clinical training in nursing theory]. PMID- 2622201 TI - [Man and nursing. Care in nursing. 7. Technics by hands, eyes and words (2). A discussion]. PMID- 2622203 TI - [Observation of self in nursing actions. 2. Pitfalls in professionalism and the process of feeling]. PMID- 2622202 TI - [Survey on sensitivity of nursing students and new nursing school graduates]. PMID- 2622204 TI - [Death of a hospice patient as the starting point--home nursing at Bethlehem, Pa]. PMID- 2622205 TI - [An impression of the ICN Congress, held at Seoul, Korea]. PMID- 2622206 TI - [Check point in nursing management: improvement of patients' environment as a nursing responsibility]. PMID- 2622207 TI - [Questions and answers on nursing management: hasty assignment of a nursing supervisor and subsequent personnel problems]. PMID- 2622208 TI - [Check point in nursing management: encouragement of nursing leaders without excessive interference]. PMID- 2622209 TI - [Questions and answers on nursing surveys and report writing: shortening of the time spent on liaison between nursing teams and subsequent problems]. PMID- 2622210 TI - [Interview with Dr. Masamichi Sakanoue on improvement of services to patients]. PMID- 2622211 TI - [Check point in nursing education: re-evaluation and improvement of the nursing curriculum with the cooperation of the teaching personnel]. PMID- 2622213 TI - [Check point in nursing education: a focus on errors made by students]. PMID- 2622212 TI - [Questions and answers on nursing education: problems of a nursing instructor who has been accustomed to clinical practice]. PMID- 2622214 TI - [Questions and answers on clinical training: a student's difficulty in personal contact and her doubt in success as a nurse]. PMID- 2622215 TI - [Overcoming a generation gap: youth representing the trend of the generation]. PMID- 2622216 TI - [Overcoming a generation gap: the age of soft egoism]. PMID- 2622217 TI - [Overcoming a generation gap: a discussion; prerequisites in nurturing a new generation]. PMID- 2622219 TI - [Use of the resources of the private sector to meet the nursing manpower shortage]. PMID- 2622218 TI - [Overcoming a generation gap: understanding individuals before blaming the young generation]. PMID- 2622220 TI - A report on the LSU oral biopsy service. PMID- 2622221 TI - Louisiana State University School of Dentistry alumni survey results. PMID- 2622222 TI - Highlights in oral and maxillofacial surgery. PMID- 2622223 TI - ADA forecast of active dentists. Dental Education and Manpower Committee. American Dental Association. PMID- 2622224 TI - Forecast of active dentists. United States, West South Central region and the State of Louisiana. Dental Education and Manpower Committee. American Dental Association. PMID- 2622225 TI - Non-specific oral ulceration resembling lichen planus. A case report. PMID- 2622226 TI - Automatic detection of sounds and murmurs in patients with Ionescu-Shiley aortic bioprostheses. AB - The problems encountered in the automatic detection of cardiac sounds and murmurs are numerous. The phonocardiogram (PCG) is a complex signal produced by deterministic events such as the opening and closing of the heart valves, and by random phenomena such as blood-flow turbulence. In addition, background noise and the dependence of the PCG on the recording sites render automatic detection a difficult task. In the paper we present an iterative automatic detection algorithm based on the a priori knowledge of spectral and temporal characteristics of the first and second heart sounds, the valve opening clicks, and the systolic and diastolic murmurs. The algorithm uses estimates of the PCG envelope and noise level to identify iteratively the position and duration of the significant acoustic events contained in the PCG. The results indicate that it is particularly effective in detecting the second heart sound and the aortic component of the second heart sound in patients with Ionescu-Shiley aortic valve bioprostheses. It has also some potential for the detection of the first heart sound, the systolic murmur and the diastolic murmur. PMID- 2622227 TI - Computer-assisted method for the analysis of postprandial gastrointestinal motility in conscious dogs. AB - A fully automated system to quantify different parameters of gastrointestinal motility and gastroduodenal co-ordination in conscious dogs was designed and built around a personal technical computer (HP 9816). Online it performs sampling of contractions on four different sites of the digestive tract for two dogs simultaneously, data reduction, drift correction and storage of data on hard disk. Offline it performs baseline determination, peak detection, calculation of motility parameters such as amplitude and interval, plus co-ordination between gastric and duodenal motility and presentation of the results in both tabular and graphic form. To illustrate the possibilities and advantages of the computer analysis the early postprandial motor patterns for antrum, duodenum and jejunum were quantified during the first hour after administration of a small test meal. PMID- 2622228 TI - Electric impedance cuff for the indirect measurement of blood pressure and volume elastic modulus in human limb and finger arteries. AB - A new plethysmograph, the electric impedance cuff, was designed for the indirect measurement of blood pressure, volume elastic modulus Ev and compliance Ca in human limb arteries. This comprises a compression chamber filled with electrolyte solution and a tetrapolar electric impedance plethysmograph whose electrodes are placed inside the chamber; the former for controlling transmural arterial pressure Pt, and the latter for detecting total limb volume Vo, mean arterial volume Va and its variation delta Va. Systolic and mean arterial pressure in the upper arms, forearms and fingers were measured by detecting pulsatile impedance variation during the gradual (3-5 mm Hg per heart beat) increase (or decrease) in chamber pressure by the volume oscillometric technique. Diastolic and pulse pressure delta P were calculated from these pressure values. Compliance Ca = delta V/delta P and volume elastic modulus Ev = delta P/(delta Va/Va) were recorded at various Pt levels, controlled by the compression pressure. Although this is a kind of impedance plethysmograph, the volume change in a limb segment can be detected by this method without passing electric current through the limb. PMID- 2622229 TI - Interpretation of skeletal muscle four-electrode impedance measurements using spatial and temporal frequency-dependent conductivities. AB - Spatial and temporal frequency-dependent conductivities are used to interpret four-electrode conductivity measurements on skeletal muscle. The model qualitatively explains the observed dependence of the experimental data on the temporal frequency of the injected current, the angle between the electrode array and the fibre direction, and the distance between the electrodes. PMID- 2622230 TI - Dynamic thermographic imaging method for quantifying dermal perfusion: potential and limitations. AB - A new method of quantifying dermal perfusion on a regional basis using a dynamic thermographic technique is investigated. The technique is based on the relationship between dermal perfusion and the rate of skin surface reheating following the application of a transient cold challenge predicted by a theoretical model. Measurements were made using images from a Philips thermographic camera under rigorously controlled conditions. Experimentation on undisturbed volar forearm skin of normal subjects showed that measurements could be repeated with good accuracy but that differences in normalised reheat temperatures between subjects were highly dependent on subcutaneous fat thickness. Comparisons between normal and occluded forearms indicated that reheat temperatures were not sensitive to changes in low levels of dermal perfusion. Conversely, stimulation of dermal blood flow with prostaglandin E2 did produce significant differences from control conditions, but quantifying the extent of this hyperaemia was limited by the effects of intersubject variations in fat thickness. Quantifying skin blood flow from skin temperature reheat rates is shown to be limited by a lack of sensitivity and a dependence on subcutaneous fat thickness, although dynamic thermography is able to provide useful information on regional variations in skin perfusion which could not be reliably obtained from static temperature measurements alone. PMID- 2622231 TI - Method for the measurement of susceptibility to decubitus ulcer formation. AB - A method for measuring the susceptibility of a patient to develop decubitus ulcers is described and initially evaluated. It is based on an indirect, noninvasive measurement of the transient regional blood flow response after a test pressure load which simulates the external stimulus for pressure-sore formation. This method was developed to determine the individual risk of a patient and to study the subfactors which contribute to the susceptibility. This would also offer the possibility of evaluating the effect of preventive treatment aimed at reducing the susceptibility. The method was found to discriminate between preselected elderly patients at risk on the one hand, and non-risk patients and healthy young adults on the other hand. No differences in blood flow responses were found between the non-risk elderly patients and the healthy young adults. This suggests that age per se is not a factor in the formation of pressure sores. In the risk group the recovery time after pressure relief was found to be three times as long as the duration of the pressure exercise. This indicates that the recovery time after pressure exercise may be as important as the period of pressure exercise in deducing the risk of developing decubitus ulcers. PMID- 2622232 TI - Digital contrast enhancement for online portal imaging. AB - Seven digital contrast enhancement algorithms were implemented and evaluated for application to images obtained with an online video portal imaging system. An objective quantitative comparison shows that superior contrast enhancement is obtained using histogram modification techniques. Additional tests made on an image of a humanoid phantom indicate that local (adaptive) histogram modification methods can produce a better contrast in detail than their global counterparts, if the original image is nonuniform in intensity. PMID- 2622233 TI - Wideband acoustic transmission of human lungs. AB - The measurement of sound transmission in human lungs has shown promise to reveal, by noninvasive methods, information about the structure of peripheral airways and lung tissue. The paper gives a detailed explanation of the instrumentation and testing methods developed to measure sound transmission through human lungs and thoracic structures in the 5-20 kHz frequency range and describes in detail experiments comparing the acoustic lung transmission patterns of four different subject groups. The experimental results are compared with those predicted by an acoustical model of sound transmission through lung parenchyma. PMID- 2622234 TI - Laboratory-scale finned-rotor impeller for dialysis. AB - Dialysis of blood and other fluids may be accomplished using semi-permeable membranes. Most commonly used are the commercially available hollow-fibre dialysers, which have large priming volumes, an important consideration especially when laboratory techniques are being developed. With dialysis tubing (DT), however, priming volumes are readily controlled. To ensure adequate mass transfer, mixing of both dialysate and DT content is necessary. An impeller-based dialyser which consists of two open-boxed finned rotors facilitates both dialysate and DT content mixing. The operation of this device relies on the difference in hydrodynamic forces acting on opposite ends of the rotors, causing rotation in the vertical plane. This laboratory device was assessed via mass transfer trials in which saline and washed-packed erythrocytes were dialysed against hypo- and hypertonic dialysate, allowing estimation of the DT's overall mass-transfer coefficient. Experimental correlation between the angular speeds of the impeller's rotation in the horizontal plane omega H and finned rotors' rotation in the vertical plane omega V were also established. Results indicate that the osmolality of the DT's content follows an exponential decay, and that omega V is strongly dependent on both omega H and the submergence depth of the impeller. PMID- 2622235 TI - Three-dimensional reconstruction of cardiac displacement patterns on the chest wall during the P, QRS and T-segments of the ECG by laser speckle interferometry. AB - A noninvasive and noncontact technique based on the principle of laser speckle interferometry has been developed to record the cardiac displacements observed on the chest wall. These displacements are then reconstructed in the form of three dimensional plots, during the P, QRS and T-waves of the ECG. A comparison of these patterns shows that the mechanical activity of each region varies significantly during these phases of cardiac cycle. As these displacements depend on the clinical status of the heart, its use with a cardiac patient shows the functional changes of the affected regions in the form of alteration of these patterns. PMID- 2622236 TI - Analysis of the dynamic characteristics of pressure transducers for studying respiratory mechanics at high frequencies. AB - Differential pressure transducers are commonly used to study respiratory mechanics at physiological frequencies as well as during external forcing at high frequencies. In the latter condition, measuring errors could occur if the input impedance of the pressure transducers is not sufficiently large with respect to that of the respiratory system. In this work we analysed the input impedance Z and the transfer function H of two common pressure transducers (Validyne MP-45 and Celesco LCVR) equipped with membranes of different sensitivities and with connecting tubes of different lengths. Z was measured by the tube method and H was measured by comparison with a flat-response pressure transducer. In agreement with the predictions based on a simple lumped-parameters model, we found that Z reached very low values, especially at the frequencies where H had a resonance peak. For instance, for the widespread Validyne MP-45 transducer (200 Pa) with connecting tubes of 16 cm length and 3.8 mm internal diameter a minimum of Z of 8300 Pa s litre-1 at 96 Hz was measured; at that frequency the amplitude of H attained a value of 3.1. Using the above transducer model we simulated the measurement of a rat input impedance up to 128 Hz using Validyne and Celesco transducers. With the Validyne MP-45 (200 Pa), equipped with the same connecting tubes as above, the computed error reached up to 50 per cent for the real part and 140 per cent for the imaginary part. PMID- 2622237 TI - Observation of the propagation direction of human electrogastric activity from cutaneous recordings. AB - Electrogastric signals have been successfully measured both intraluminally and cutaneously. Although it has been claimed by several researchers that the propagation direction of the electrogastric activities cannot be observed from cutaneous recordings, it is the aim of the paper to show that it is feasible. The reason why the propagation direction has never been observed from cutaneous recordings is that the reported methods for the abdominal measurements are not adequate. In the paper it is pointed out that the stomach should be localised before the measurement and the electrodes should be attached along the longitudinal axis of the stomach. PMID- 2622238 TI - Analogue-to-digital user interface adaptor for the microcomputer's game port. PMID- 2622239 TI - Device for tensile testing of rabbit patellar tendons. PMID- 2622240 TI - [Mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases in Spain: where are we going?]. AB - Spain is one of the european countries with a lowest mortality rate by cardiovascular diseases (although they are the leading cause of mortality) and, specifically, by ischemic heart disease. The trends in the last 16 years for which data are available point to a reduction of the former in 1.07% in males and 1.53% in females for the complete study period (1968-1984) and a trend towards the stabilization of the latter (a reduction of 0.45% in males and 1.88% in females from 1978 to 1984). The apparently unfavorable evolution of the classical risk factors of coronary artery disease, however, makes that its future outcome is uncertain. Therefore, their control is a basic aim of the policy for the control of this disease. PMID- 2622241 TI - [Infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and delta virus in homosexual males]. AB - Serological markers of hepatitis B (HBV) and human immunodeficiency (HVI) viruses were investigated in the sera of 90 homosexual males. In addition, in HBsAg positive individuals antibodies against delta virus (DV) were also investigated. Forty sera (44.4%) were positive for HBV and HIV, 61 (67.7%) for HBV and 52 (57.7%) for HIV. HBsAg was detected in 8 cases (8.8%), 7 of which had positive anti-HIV sera. In no case infection by DV was detected. These data show the high prevalence of HBV and HIV infection in the study population. They also suggest that the HBsAg carrier status is more common among HIV positive homosexual males and that the investigated homosexual population has not yet been infected by DV. PMID- 2622242 TI - [Mediastinoscopy]. PMID- 2622243 TI - [Analgesic effect of a somatostatin analog, SMS 201-995, on headache associated with tumor of the hypophysis]. AB - A female is reported with a pituitary tumor secreting growth hormone which remained active and induced invalidating headache in spite of previous treatment with surgery and radiotherapy. Treatment with the sustained action somatostatin analogue, SMS 201-995, was started and headache was improved in a matter of minutes, even if normalization of hormone hypersecretion was not demonstrated. The pathophysiological mechanisms possibly implicated in the improvement are discussed, and this therapeutic option in patients with headache unresponsive to common analgesics is emphasized. PMID- 2622244 TI - [Hepatotoxicity: a new side effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid]. PMID- 2622245 TI - [Ataxic hemiparesis syndrome caused by capsular hemorrhage]. PMID- 2622246 TI - [Cushing's syndrome and empty sella turcica]. PMID- 2622247 TI - [Functional asplenia associated with systemic lupus erythematosus]. PMID- 2622248 TI - [Non-ketoacidotic hyperosmolar diabetic decompensation: should parenteral hydroelectrolytic restoration always be used?]. PMID- 2622249 TI - [Transient cerebellar syndrome secondary to heat stroke]. PMID- 2622250 TI - [Usefulness of dyslipemia control for reducing the risk of cerebral vascular accidents]. PMID- 2622251 TI - [A community outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Barcelona: clinical and microbiological study]. AB - In February and March 1989 a community-acquired outbreak of legionnaires' disease developed in Barcelona, involving at least 56 patients (48 males and 8 females) with a mean age of 60 years (range 22-87). 70% were smokers, 20% alcohol abusers, 50% had chronic bronchitis and 20% were immunologically depressed. The most common signs and symptoms were: fever (100%), features of lung condensation (77%), cough (51%), stupor (27%), diarrhea (18%), thoracic pain (18%, hyponatremia (53%), increased serum level of hepatic enzymes (44%) or CK (37%), and renal failure (21%). Radiological involvement was bilateral in 30% of cases. In most patients the diagnosis was made by seroconversion (70%). Late seroconversion (between 4 and 14 weeks) was seen in 20 patients, whose age was significantly higher than that of patients with early seroconversion (p less than 0.02). All cases were caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. Forty-six patients (81%) were admitted to the hospital and 10 (18%) required tracheal intubation. Although all received erythromycin, seven patients died. Hypoxemia, leukopenia, hyponatremia and renal failure were associated with a higher mortality rate. However, after multivariate analysis renal failure appeared as the only independent prognostic variable. Finally, it was concluded that in the community-acquired outbreaks of pneumonia Legionella pneumophila infection should be ruled out. PMID- 2622252 TI - [A community outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Barcelona: epidemiologic and environmental study]. AB - The investigation of the outbreak of legionellosis which developed in Barcelona in February 1988 included: 1) a case-control study, with the patients with Legionella pneumophila pneumonia (n = 56) and those with pneumonia by other organisms (n = 109) in the Hospital Clinic i Provincial (HCP); 2) a review of refrigeration towers and the water supply system; 3) a meteorological study, and 4) a survey of the construction works being carried out in the HCP area. The cases lived in the urban district 2 more often than the controls (odds ratio = 3.73, 95% confidence intervals 1.8-7.6), and were not associated with hospitals of hotels. L. pneumophila was not recovered from the environmental samples. The temperatures were unusually high, with a low air humidity. In the area near the HCP demolition materials were frequently removed. A causative focus was not detected; it cannot be ruled out, however, that the source of the outbreak was the removal of demolition materials in the affected area on the days preceding the epidemic outbreak. PMID- 2622253 TI - [Simple refractory anemia. Response to treatment using maturative factors]. AB - Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are disorders characterized by a profound impairment of proliferation and maturation of hematopoietic cells. The prognosis is poor owing to the occurrence of severe cytopenia or to the common leukemic transformation of these conditions. At present there is no available effective treatment for patients with MDS. A patient is reported with simple refractory anemia which responded to therapy with high doses of maturative factors (folic acid and vitamin B12). This therapy resulted in the disappearance of transfusion requirements and in the increase of peripheral blood cell counts. It is concluded that, in view of the lack of toxicity of the treatment with madurative factors, this therapy should be attempted in a sequential fashion in all patients with MSD. PMID- 2622254 TI - [Aortic arch: an unusual source of cerebral and systemic embolism. A clinicopathologic case]. PMID- 2622255 TI - [Treatment with zidovudine of thrombopenia associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Changes in erythropoiesis]. PMID- 2622256 TI - [Acute respiratory insufficiency caused by varicella in a pregnant woman]. PMID- 2622257 TI - [Changes in tubular reabsorption of sodium after a single dose of clonidine]. PMID- 2622258 TI - [Aortic stenosis and intestinal angiodysplasia: is there an established association?]. PMID- 2622259 TI - [Hyperthyroidism, hypercalcemia and symmetrical and uniform increase in technetium 99m MDP uptake]. PMID- 2622260 TI - [Infectious endocarditis in patients with liver cirrhosis]. AB - To evaluate the clinical and microbiological features of infective endocarditis in patients with cirrhosis we compared 18 episodes of endocarditis in these patients with a control group of patients without liver disease. In 61% of patients with cirrhosis the origin of infection was unknown. Four patients developed endocarditis as a consequence of bladder catheterizations and two after hepatic biopsy. None of the four with previously known valvular heart disease had received antibiotic prophylaxis during these procedures. As compared with the control group, the patients with cirrhosis had more infections by enterococci (38.8% vs 11%; p less than 0.007) and non-viridans streptococci (38.8% vs 7.4%; p less than 0.001) and significantly less infections by viridans streptococci (11% vs 42.5%; p less than 0.01). The mortality rate associated with endocarditis was 38.8% and 22% in patients with and without cirrhosis, respectively (less than 0.1; NS). Infective endocarditis in patients with cirrhosis is often a complication of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures and has distinctive microbiological features. PMID- 2622261 TI - [Diagnostic usefulness of neurospecific enolase determination in pleural fluid]. AB - To investigate the diagnostic usefulness of the measurement of neurospecific enolase (NSE) in pleural fluid 116 consecutive patients with pleural effusion were prospectively evaluated. In 95 of them, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was also measured for comparative purposes. The habit of smoking did not apparently influence the NSE levels. In the 43 malignant effusions the mean value of NSE (25.0 +/- 27.4) was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than in benign effusions (8.7 +/- 7.1). The values above 12 ng/ml had a sensitivity of 51% for malignancy, with a specificity of only 74%. The specific sensitivity of NSE was lower than that of CEA; neither individually nor as a whole these markers modified the diagnostic yield of cytology (67%). The mean value of NSE in tuberculous pleural effusions (14.4 +/- 8.3), different from that found in malignancies (p less than 0.05), was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than that found in other benign diseases (6.2 +/- 4.7). The results of this study demonstrate the nonspecific character of an increased level of NSE, and the low diagnostic yield of this enzyme as a pleural tumour marker. PMID- 2622262 TI - [Treatment of Thomas' disease]. PMID- 2622263 TI - [Letters to the Editor and Short Communications]. PMID- 2622264 TI - [Thyrotropin-producing adenoma of the hypophysis]. AB - A patient with a thyrotropin (TSH) secreting pituitary adenoma had hyperthyroidism with high levels of thyroid hormones and inadequate TSH secretion. After the challenge with thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), TSH level did not change. The normalization of plasma levels of thyroid hormones with antithyroid drugs was followed by an important increase in TSH levels. The adenoma was resected by the transphenoidal route and the diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical study. Inadequate TSH secretion persisted after surgery, and radiation therapy with lineal accelerator was attempted. At present, one year after radiation therapy, inadequate TSH secretion requiring antithyroid drugs persists. We describe this clinical picture and briefly discuss the literature. PMID- 2622265 TI - [A 61-year-old male with headache, coffee-ground vomit, disorientation and dysarthria]. PMID- 2622266 TI - [Should antibodies against HTLV-1 be analyzed in Spanish blood donations?]. PMID- 2622267 TI - [Antinuclear envelope antibodies and primary biliary cirrhosis]. PMID- 2622268 TI - [Behavior of serum laminin in patients with hepatopathies. Preliminary experience]. PMID- 2622269 TI - [Peritonitis caused by Mycobacterium gordonae in a male patient infected by the human immunodeficiency syndrome virus]. PMID- 2622270 TI - [Influence of the degree of liver lesion and nutritional status on lipoprotein concentrations in alcoholic patients]. PMID- 2622271 TI - [Dementia as an unique manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency]. PMID- 2622272 TI - [Variability of erythema nodosum as the presenting form of sarcoidosis]. PMID- 2622273 TI - [Infective endocarditis caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci: a review of 19 cases]. AB - The clinical, microbiological and echocardiographical features as well as the response to therapy of 19 cases of infective endocarditis (IE) caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are reported. Six patients had native valve IE, 11 had prosthetic valve endocarditis and 2 were associated with catheters in right cardiac chambers. In the group of native valve IE, 11 patients were heroin abusers and 4 had previous valvular disease. IE was left sided in 3 cases, mixed in 2 and right sided in 1. All CNS were methicillin-sensitive. The echocardiogram detected vegetations in 5 of the 6 cases. One patient required surgery and another died. In the group of prosthetic valve IE, 5 patients had early endocarditis and 6 had late endocarditis. A bioprosthesis was involved in 5 cases, a mechanical prosthesis in another 5, and an annuloplasty annulus in one. The involved prosthesis was aortic in 5 cases and mitral in 6. The echocardiogram detected vegetations in 3 cases (27%) and prosthetic dysfunction in 4. One patient had a relapse, 8 (73%) required valve replacement and 3 died. Although the greatest incidence of IE caused by CNS is found among patients with prosthetic valves, it can also be seen in patients with underlying valvular heart disease, drug abusers and patients with indwelling catheters in right cardiac chambers. PMID- 2622274 TI - [AIDS dementia complex as the 1st manifestation of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]. AB - In a prospective follow-up period from September 1987 to August 1988, the AIDS dementia complex (ADC) was the presenting clinical feature in six of 102 patients in whom AIDS was diagnosed in the Hospital Clinic i Provincial from Barcelona. The clinical picture was characterized by subcortical type deterioration and motor disturbances. Cerebrospinal fluid investigation and imaging techniques excluded other types of neurological involvement, and the diagnosis was confirmed at autopsy in two patients. The present study suggested that: 1) the ADC may be the presenting feature of AIDS in patients with unknown seropositive status; 2) in our area, ADC represents one of the most common causes of dementia in young patients, and 3) although a specific marker permitting a definitive clinical diagnosis is not available, at the time of diagnosis all patients had a severe degree of cellular immunosuppression induced by type 1 human immunodeficiency virus. PMID- 2622276 TI - [The review article]. PMID- 2622275 TI - [Sicca syndrome caused by large granulated lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - The proliferation of large granulated T lymphocytes (LGL) with neutropenia and splenomegaly can be observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in a similar way to Felty's syndrome. We report a female with long standing AR, xerophthalmia, xerostomia, neutropenia and LGL lymphocytosis. The phenotype of the latter was CD3+, CD8+, HNK1+. She was treated with methotrexate and corticosteroids. The genetic rearrangement study did not show monoclonality. Although LGL lymphocytosis can infiltrate several organs, salivary glands infiltration has not been reported. The development of a sicca syndrome can be a feature of LGL lymphocytosis and induce diagnostic mistakes in RA. PMID- 2622277 TI - [Value of substituted benzamides in controlling acute post-cisplatin emesis]. PMID- 2622278 TI - [Treatment of vomiting caused by cytostatic agents]. PMID- 2622279 TI - [Hypocalcemic cardiopathy as a cause of cardiac insufficiency]. PMID- 2622280 TI - [The course of acute hepatitis B and B + D]. PMID- 2622281 TI - [Neurologic complications of aortic aneurysm]. PMID- 2622282 TI - [Isolation of Haemophilus sp in urethral exudates]. PMID- 2622283 TI - [Bernard-Horner syndrome with recurrent and phrenic ipsilateral paralysis]. PMID- 2622284 TI - [Thrombocytopenia in hemophilic children]. PMID- 2622285 TI - [Susceptibility to chronic HLA-system-associated lymphocytic thyroiditis. Its relationship with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus]. AB - The genetic association between HLA-system and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) related or not to type I diabetes mellitus (IDDM), have been analysed in three groups of children: 16 with CLT, 9 with CLT and IDDM, 11 with IDDM and 200 normal controls. The DQw1 antigen (75% vs 55%) was found associated with CLT, furthermore the observed increase of DR1 and DR2 antigens (37% respectively) is secondary to the linkage disequilibrium that exists between them and DQw1. DR3 antigen (60%) was found significantly increased (p less than 0.001) in CLT patients compared with the control group (24%). In diabetic patients, DR3 and DR4 were found in 85% and 63% respectively (p less than 0.001). The DR3 associated haplotype in CLT patients was different from the diabetic one's. All the diabetics, but one, were DR3-B18 haplotype carriers, but this association was only found in 25% CLT patients. The titre of thyroid microsomal antibodies (MCHA) was more frequent in the patients with DQw1 antigen (MCHA DQw1+ : 1/1072; DQw1- : 1/606). The CLT predisposition in childhood may be influenced by genes located within the HLA-region probably more than one, different from the genes related to IDDM. One of this genes closed to the HLA-DQ region, will be involved in the production of autoantibodies. PMID- 2622286 TI - [The tobacco habit in patients using home oxygen therapy]. AB - The persistence of smoking habits results in a worse prognosis of patients with chronic airflow limitation. Some authors consider that oxygen therapy at home (OTH) is meaningless if the patient does not give up smoking. To assess the number of smokers in a group of 65 patients on OTH, a questionnaire on smoking habits was administered and the CO concentration in the expired air was measured. 27.7% of the study patients smoked; 12.3% admitted that they smoked on being questioned and the remaining 15.4% were identified by CO concentrations in the expired air equal to or higher than 10 ppm. There were no significant differences between the groups of smokers and nonsmokers regarding age and pulmonary function, but the rate of those declaring a poor compliance with OTH was higher among smokers. PMID- 2622287 TI - [Thromboangiitis obliterans associated with small-vessel vasculitis]. AB - The existence of thromboangiitis obliterans has been questioned for some years. However, it is now accepted as a specific condition within the wide group of vasculitis. We report a patient with this condition, who, as usual, was a male smoker. The illness presented with thrombophlebitis migrans, which is an uncommon initial feature. The patient also had small vessel cutaneous vasculitis, which is an extremely uncommon association. We report the case and discuss some aspects of the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease. PMID- 2622288 TI - [Retroperitoneal liposarcoma. Clinico-pathological analysis of 6 cases]. AB - Six patients with retroperitoneal liposarcoma are reported. Their mean age was 58,66 years. There were four males and two females. The symptoms or signs at presentation were: abdominal mass (5 cases); abdominal pain (3 cases); sustained fever (2 cases), and lower limb edema (1 case). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed large masses with different density. Distant metastases were not documented. All patients underwent laparotomy, and the tumor was not resectable in 2 cases. In the histological study, liposarcoma was shown to be myxoid in 4 cases, pleomorphic in one and round cell type in the remaining case. In 3 patients local relapse was observed. The longest survival was 38 months and the shortest one 3 months. It was concluded that the leading cause for consultation in these patients was an abdominal mass. Remarkably, two patients had the uncommon feature of sustained tumoral fever. CT was shown to be the most useful diagnostic method. The good general condition of the patients with large tumoral masses was remarkable. The most common variety was myxoid, local relapse was frequent and the survival was poor. PMID- 2622289 TI - [Toxicologic emergencies]. PMID- 2622290 TI - [Bone tuberculosis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]. PMID- 2622291 TI - [Informed consent and the Clinical Trials Committees]. PMID- 2622292 TI - Telematics and sentinel health information system with general practitioners in Aquitaine, southwest France. AB - A sentinel health information system using a telematics system to collect epidemiological data from a network of general practitioners (GPs) making up 5% of the GP population was set up in October 1986 in Aquitaine, France. In the first year, four topics were under surveillance. The GPs reported data for each case diagnosed by filling out a questionnaire displayed on their home terminal (Minitel), which transmitted the data by standard telephone lines to a central minicomputer located in the Bordeaux University Medical Centre. Regular feedback was provided to the participating GPs, public health officials and the Bordeaux Medical School. A detailed report of GP participation is presented, the reliability of our findings is discussed in terms of the motivational factors of participants, and the usefulness of the system is evaluated both for immediate teaching implications and for future research possibilities. PMID- 2622293 TI - Predicting the potential for recovery within 24 hours of a head injury. AB - A linear discriminant model is applied to clinical and radiological signs from 492 consecutive head injuries transferred to a neurosurgical unit over a period of four years. Unstable discriminators may be eliminated and those remaining transformed to interval scales in order to release their full prognostic potential. Patient selection criteria included being in coma, judged in the accident and emergency (A & E) department to be susceptible to developing a complicating secondary event, having a depressed fracture and presenting evidence of leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. These criteria are considerably less restrictive than in most other head injury series. The study is also ambitious in attempting prognosis after only 24 hours. The virtues of early and accurate prognosis include counselling of relatives, patient selection for new forms of treatment and to provide an aid towards medical audit. Neither the relaxed attitude towards patient selection nor the speed of prognosis is found to jeopardize the overall efficiency of allocation which is as high as 91.5%. In fact misallocation is only slightly increased if prognosis is attempted within 60 minutes of admission to the A & E department. PMID- 2622294 TI - A method for early detection of abnormal trends in serial clinical examination results over time. AB - In this paper we describe a method for the early detection of changing health conditions which may eventually lead to serious disease. The method makes use of health screening test results accumulated for individuals and can be applied to those who have taken at least four health examinations. The degree of abnormality is calculated using a logistic regression equation. The variables defining the equation are selected by factor analysis and a stepwise variable selection method based on the likelihood ratio criterion. Statistical estimates include linear regression coefficients, isotonic regression probabilities and their standard deviations. These are used to represent trends in health screening results over time. The method is illustrated using a sample of 308 persons with gastric cancer and 3002 healthy persons. Cross-validations were also performed. PMID- 2622295 TI - Development of an experimental hospital database system using a relational database management system. AB - The development of an integrated database system for the satisfactory support of the information processing requirements of a modern hospital is clearly a major task with many associated problems. A design and implementation procedure for the development of a relational hospital database system based on an experimental relational database management system is presented which should help overcome some of the problems currently encountered. A brief outline of the application and the underlying database management system is given and a standardized procedure for the design of the multilevel database schemata is presented. The associated problems and procedures required for such a development are also examined and a number of theoretical conclusions and claims are tested in a real life application environment. PMID- 2622296 TI - Effects of nicergoline in experimental models related to pathogenesis of migraine. AB - The effect of nicergoline on cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebrovascular resistance, the constriction of cerebral vessels caused reflectorily or by 5 hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and on the transport of 5-HT in rat brain synaptosomes was studied using different experimental models. Nicergoline reduced cerebrovascular resistance in the carotid and vertebrobasilar system. The drug decreased carotid blood flow and local cortical CBF, preceded in some experiments by short-lasting CBF increase. Nicergoline almost completely inhibited brain vessels responses in the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems after tibial nerve stimulation. Simultaneously, inhibition of reflectory discharges of the sympathetic nerves was observed. Nicergoline showed an antiserotonin action by antagonizing the 5-HT effect on the cerebral circulation and inhibiting 5-HT induced constriction of isolated rabbit basilar artery. The inhibition of uptake and enhancement of the release of 5-HT from brain synaptosomes indicates its ability to affect neuronal transmission in serotoninergic neurons. The effects of nicergoline are probably involved in the realization of its antimigraine action. PMID- 2622297 TI - An automated method for the evaluation of jumping activity in mice. Effects of clonidine on morphine withdrawal. AB - A fast and simple method for the evaluation of jumping activity in morphine abstinent mice is described. Number, height and distribution of jumps were recorded automatically by means of photocell detectors coupled to a programmable recorder. The effects of the alpha 2-agonist clonidine on morphine withdrawal jumping were also studied. This drug did not significantly modify the total number of jumps performed by morphine-withdrawn mice, but decreased the intensity of the jumps and modified their distribution. It is concluded that the simultaneous evaluation of the three variables mentioned can provide complementary information about the actions of drugs on morphine withdrawal jumping; in this way, the methodology described is useful for performing this kind of study. PMID- 2622298 TI - Antineoplastic action of egg-white lysozyme on the growth of MCa mammary carcinoma and TLX5 lymphoma in the CBA mouse. AB - The antitumor effects of egg-white lysozyme, at dosages between 25 and 100 mg/kg/day given for 5 to 14 days, was examined in CBA mice bearing MCa mammary carcinoma or TLX5 lymphoma. At early stages of tumor growth the antitumor action of lysozyme is statistically significant, independently from the route of administration (e.g., i.v. and oral admixed with food). With larger tumor masses, oral administration of lysozyme is effective on s.c. tumor growth but not on i.m. tumors. The effects of lysozyme in mice bearing TLX5 lymphoma consist of reduction of the capacity of tumor cells to form brain metastases: the effect is mediated by spleen cells. Dietary intake of lysozyme is also active in prolonging the survival time of animals treated with surgery and postsurgical cisplatin treatment. These effects indicate lysozyme to be an active substance, effective on the growth of malignant tumors and capable of synergizing with conventional therapies such as surgery plus cisplatin for the control of disseminated tumors in mice. PMID- 2622299 TI - Sentence processing in a second language: the timing of transfer. AB - Traditional approaches to second language performance have typically focused on form-related aspects of transfer, without addressing the issue of real-time constraints inherent in the comprehension process. The current study uses an on line sentence comprehension paradigm to investigate how and when three different cues (word order, noun-verb agreement morphology, animacy relations) to thematic role assignment interact during comprehension. Results indicate that monolingual English speakers depend on word order, often making thematic role assignments immediately after the first noun is encountered, and generally do not attend to morphological information. In contrast, native German speakers depend on morphological cues in their native language, delaying responses until all potential cues are in. When the same subjects perform the task in their second language, English, a similar result is observed, indicating that German-based processing strategies are transferred to on-line processing in the second language. The findings are related to a psycholinguistic model of language performance, the Competition Model, proposed by Bates and MacWhinney (1987, in press). PMID- 2622300 TI - Comprehension of temporal terms by good and poor readers. AB - Poor beginning readers often have difficulty comprehending spoken sentences with complex syntactic structures. This study attempts to identify the reasons for this difficulty. Second-grade good and poor readers were tested for comprehension of spoken sentences containing the temporal terms before and after. Processing load was varied systematically while holding syntax constant in an effort to determine whether processing factors contribute to poor readers' comprehension problems, or whether poor readers are simply lacking the structural knowledge required to understand sentences containing temporal terms. The poor readers' high level of performance under conditions of reduced processing demands suggests that their misinterpretations in spoken language understanding may be due, in large part, to limitations in verbal working memory. PMID- 2622301 TI - [Sorption unit for regeneration of dialysis solution in artificial kidney]. AB - The authors present the results of the tests of an adsorption unit model for a renal dialyzer comprising ligand-metabolic material. The solution is effectively purified of urine, ammonium, creatinine, uric acid, sulphates and phosphates. Hydrodynamic properties of the unit were investigated. The resistance of the unit in operating condition does not exceed 150 mm Hg. PMID- 2622302 TI - [Operative automated monitor of hemodynamics using a tetrapolar rheogram]. AB - An automatic microprocessor complex is used for measurements, automatic calculations and registration on the screen of the TV monitor; along with the 24 hemodynamic ADPD parameters at the tetrapolar rheograms, ECG and arterial pressure. The complex is based on BIS K180IBMI. PMID- 2622303 TI - [Algorithm of automatization in processing of interference-suppressing detection of the ECG signal]. AB - The algorythm for the detection of R-waves in the interference environment, formation of massive uninterrupted durations of R-R intervals and for measurement of statistical parameters of the intervals duration for the diagnosis of a person's state in its active process is described. PMID- 2622304 TI - [Hydrodynamics of disk artificial heart valves with different design characteristics]. AB - Bench tests for 38 models of artificial heart valves (AHV) with different design parameters allowed us to decide in favour of the valves with reduced eccentricity (compared to the serial AHV of the EMAHV type) according to its resistance in the constant flow. Out of the compatibility checks of the design parameters tested it was concluded that the disk did not make the complete calculated angle when rotated. The dependence of AHV resistance on the disk rotation angle showed that there is no necessity to increase that angle more than 70 degrees for the mitral valve and more than 75 degrees for the aortic AHV. PMID- 2622305 TI - [Providing automated analysis of cardiac rhythm]. AB - Interface for the input of binary codes, which reflect the duration of ECG R-R intervals as well as the software for data loading into a 3-25 computer and their recording on the magnetic tape were described. Three specialized rhythm analysing programmes allowing one to get the description and graphic image of variability and rhythm structure and the reaction on its influence are stated. PMID- 2622306 TI - [Preparation of specialized program kit for analysis of medical information]. AB - The experience of the specialised software package application for medical information analysis is described in the article. Factors that make usage of the medical information systems complicated and the ways to overcome those has been stated herein. This software package can be widely applied for the analysis of the medical information in social hygienic screening system in city hospitals. PMID- 2622307 TI - [Electromyograph unit for automated analysis of interference electromyogram]. AB - Electromyograph unit for an automated analysis of the interference electromyogram is intended for quantitative analysis of the interference electromyogram, drawn aside by a needle electrode. The offered unit is very simple in design and allows to get the objective data of the functional state of the neuromuscular system. PMID- 2622308 TI - [Modification of I-41 connector used in microprocessor medical devices]. AB - The proposed modification eliminates drawbacks of the present 1-41 splint. The set of microprocessor modules is based on the described splint. The unification of the modules on the basis of the modified splint is effective for its design and introduction into serial production. PMID- 2622309 TI - [Experience in the work with illuminator compressors for flexible endoscopes]. AB - Question related to the influence of the compressor height on the efficiency of the medical pneumohydraulic soft endoscopes was considered. It was stated that geometrical pressure on the system's branch input for forwarding air/water is essentially increased with the increase of distance from the floor to the light source, where the system's compressor is located. In the described version the pressure is increased by 25 per cent, which increase the efficiency of the mentioned above system. The clinical tests proved all those points. It was recommended to place the light source with the compressor possibly higher to the floor level. PMID- 2622310 TI - [Increasing the duration of artificial heart valves "EMIKS"]. PMID- 2622311 TI - [Epidemiologic study of functional disorders in the elderly]. AB - Numerous observations have evidenced the high prevalence of psychosomatic disturbances in the third age, so much so that this type of pathology is second in order of frequency in the elderly. In the light of these data a study has been carried out on functional disturbances in the third age related to certain psychological and sociobiological variables. The purpose of the research was to assess the effective influence of these "extrinsic" variables in the psychosomatic disturbance observed through the psychophysiological test carried out in the different groups examined. The results of the study are discussed and some keys for interpreting the data observed are put forward. PMID- 2622312 TI - [Life style and psychopathology in management work]. AB - Some remarks on the psychopathological approach to the problems inherent in man's adaptation to work are presented. Analysis of the literature on the subject shows that thus far its application has been fairly limited. Four cases of managers and professionals studied through Rorschach psychodiagnosis and an Adlerian clinico psychodynamic approach are examined. The conclusion is that a working life style has proved rewarding although it has left unsolved deep problems that surfaced out of crisis situations not directly involving adaptation to work. PMID- 2622313 TI - [Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations on agitated depression understood as a mixed affective state]. AB - Since they were first described, mixed affective states have created problems of differential diagnosis. In clinical practice various cases previously diagnosed as other conditions but identifiable as mixed states within a bipolar disorder have been encountered. In particular there are cases of agitated depression that can pose a serious clinical problem since the agitation may be exacerbated by the use of antidepressant drugs. In contrast it has been found useful to treat the maniacal component of these states, an approach that has obtained remissions and overall improvements in the clinical picture. PMID- 2622314 TI - [Orientations and prospects in psychiatry]. AB - It is pointed out that despite the promising light cast by biological psychiatry, the discipline remains totally in the dark about the aetiology of mental illness. It is also shown that recent statements by certain psychoanalysts are both factitious and illogical, hampering the progress of psychiatry that, today more than ever before, needs the cooperation of every school from the biological to the social, the psychodynamic and, above all the organic. PMID- 2622315 TI - [Sudden sexual violence and personality study using the Rorschach test]. AB - The literature reveals that women subjected to sexual violence are more often afflicted with psychological problems for life, even long after the event. The Rorschach test was used to examine several victims of sexual violence in order to identify any significant structural elements. The outstanding features were a sexual and identity problem that persisted even in the absence of specific clinical problems as well as affective inhibition and borderline signs, particularly among the younger women on whom the sexual attack had been earlier and more dramatic. PMID- 2622316 TI - [Mucous diaphragm of the cervical esophagus. Apropos of 38 cases discovered during upper endoscopy at the General Hospital of Dakar. Relationship with the Kelly-Paterson or the Plummer-Vinson syndrome]. AB - At the occasion of 15,000 high endoscopies performed during the past 5 years at the general Hospital of Dakar (Senegal) 38 mucous diaphragms of cervical esophagus were discovered. 36 patients are Black Senegalese; 29 females and 9 males with a mean age of 37. Dysphagia was present 29 times and anemia 22 times. Endoscopies diagnosis is easy, putting into light a mucous diaphragm at the level or immediately below Killian mouth. 18 of these cases have been classified as Kelly-Paterson syndrome. Performed in 30 patients, the treatment consists in breaking down the mucous diaphragm with an endoscope. It is difficult to keep on endoscopic monitoring, although it is essential because the risk of cancerisation. PMID- 2622317 TI - [Current therapeutic attitude in volvulus of the pelvic colon in tropical areas]. AB - Diagnosis of the acute sigmoid volvulus is made by opacification of the colon by water-soluble chemicals. Therapeutic attitude is oriented by the results of an emergency colonoscopy. An emergency laparotomy is indicated when the mucosae presents an ischemic or necrotic aspect; a resection without anastomosis is performed according to Bouilly-Volkman's intervention in the best cases, Hartman's one in others. A normal colonoscopy authorizes a medical treatment with attempt of detorsion by passage of a flatus tube per rectum. A controlled success permits a delayed intervention ten days after with resection and anastomosis. Failure of medical treatment returns the surgical approach in emergency circumstances] PMID- 2622318 TI - [Campaign against human African trypanosomiasis in the focus of Douala (Republic of Cameroon). The value of Testryp CATT]. AB - The focus of African human trypanosomiasis at Douala was evaluated in 1973 for the last time. The authors report on the results of their prospective survey. The methodology was characterized by utilizing Testryp C.A.T.T. as immunological case finding field test. 11,614 people were surveyed and 5 positive CATT revealed. But such results have be weighted by the rate of people present (52.2%) and by the fact that the selected area was not fully covered. On the other side, the authors examine the operational feasibility of Testryp CATT as immunological case finding field test. Over almost 12,000 tests performed, the feasibility appears very good. PMID- 2622319 TI - [Clinical and hematological profile of hemoglobin C Ziguinchor (Cz) in Western Africa]. AB - The authors report 10 cases of Hb C Ziguinchor share out in 3 features ACz, SCz, Cz-PHHF (HPFH: hereditary persistence of foetal hemoglobin). The clinical and hematological study of the features has allowed the following conclusions: the Hb Cz is a rare mutant specific of the Negro and which original focus may be in Senegal. The heterozygote form (ACz) does not present any clinical manifestation. The association Hb S-Hb Cz brings about a serious hemoglobinopathy which has clinical and hematological features like the sickle cell disease (SS). The association Hb Cz-HPFH is relatively supported in spite of episodic painful crisis. PMID- 2622320 TI - [Epidemiological aspects of human African trypanosomiasis in south Chad]. AB - The authors are recording results of a clinical, parasitological and immunological sample survey about african human trypanosomiasis in the South Chad where old focus has been reexplored. In 1988 the situation ever remains as a problem in some areas (Tapol, Ranga) where high prevalence rates are found again. PMID- 2622321 TI - [Missed opportunities in vaccination. A survey in an urban milieu in Cotonou (Benin)]. AB - The authors report the results of a survey on missed opportunities for immunization. The exit interview surveys were carried out at seven clinics in Cotonou (Benin). Missed opportunities show a level from 15% among children and from 21% among attending women. The authors are insisting about the "daily immunization" for the whole country. PMID- 2622322 TI - [Resection of the distal part of the humerus in neglected elbow dislocations. Apropos of 23 case reports]. AB - The authors describe the results obtained in 23 resections of the lower extremity of the humerus in neglected elbow dislocation examined after periods of between 7 years to 4 months. Results on elbow mobility are satisfactory in more than 70% of the cases, taking into consideration initial disability. But the cost of such intervention to be paid is often a laxity of the elbow and diminished strength. Indications are inveterate disabling dislocation, in case of immediate or late failure of open reductions. PMID- 2622323 TI - [Open reduction of the elbow. Apropos of 29 neglected dislocations]. AB - The authors describe results and technical difficulties faced in a series of 29 elbow dislocations using the open technic, then observed over a period between 5 years and 4 months. Results obtained are satisfactory, taking into consideration the primary stiffness. Results on stability are better than those obtained by resection of the lower part of the humerus. Dislocations by the open technic have to be envisaged first in neglected luxations. Indications are limited to patients crippled and limited to non-functional position. PMID- 2622324 TI - [Cellulitis, Haemophilus meningitis and measles. Apropos of a case report]. AB - We report in a 13 months old child, with measles, a case of cellulitis, otitis and meningitis due to ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae Two facts are emphasized: the promoting aspect of measles/malnutrition and the empirical treatment of meningitis in resistant Haemophilus influenzae in tropical areas. PMID- 2622325 TI - [Field realities: surgical activities in an isolated medical station]. AB - The authors, general practitioners graduate at the Tropical Medicine Institute (Le Pharo-Marseille-France), report on their surgical activities for 22 months in the isolated medical post of Kaedi (Mauritania). They put emphasis on the necessity of a multidisciplinary teaching and training before any posting in this type of hospital, not important enough to receive specialized practitioners. PMID- 2622326 TI - Pathogenesis of Treponema hyodysenteriae: induction of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor by a treponemal butanol/water extract (endotoxin). AB - Biological activities of lipopolysaccharide-like (LPS-like, phenol/water extract) and endotoxin-like (butanol/water extract) preparations from Trepomena hyodysenteriae were examined. The treponemal phenol/water and butanol/water extracts were less toxic than E. coli LPS for murine peritoneal exudate cells (PECs). The treponemal phenol/water extract did not stimulate the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) from murine PECs. The treponemal butanol/water extract did induce production of IL-1 and TNF but at doses 5- to 50-fold higher than E. coli LPS. Natural killer cell activity was augmented by the treponemal butanol/water extract but not by the phenol/water extract. Suppression of a splenic anti-SRBC plaque forming cell response was observed when the LPS-like and endotoxin-like preparations from T. hyodysenteriae were administered 24 h prior to injection of the SRBC. These findings indicate that the butanol/water extracted material from T. hyodysenteriae is more biologically active than the phenol/water extracted material and that the treponemal endotoxin may contribute to the inflammatory response of swine dysentery by inducing IL-1 and TNF production. PMID- 2622327 TI - Vaccination route, infectivity and thioglycollate broth administration: effects on live vaccine efficacy of auxotrophic derivatives of Salmonella choleraesuis. AB - An aromatic-dependent, therefore non-virulent, derivative of a mouse-virulent strain of Salmonella choleraesuis previously shown not to be effective as a live vaccine when given intraperitoneally (i.p.) to Itys mice, was administered to BALB/c mice. Two doses given i.p. or by feeding did not protect against i.p. or oral challenge with 50 to 5000 LD50 of the virulent ancestor strain. By contrast two doses given intravenously (i.v.) gave almost complete protection against i.p. or oral challenge with 500 LD50 and some protection against larger doses. The number of live bacteria (cfu) in the liver and spleen 24 h after administration of the live vaccine was less than 1% of the number inoculated i.p., but c. 25% of the number injected i.v. The number of cfu in the gut 24 h after oral vaccine administration was only c 10(-5) of the number fed. Administration of thioglycollate broth i.p. 5 days before i.p. vaccination increased recovery of live vaccine cfu in the liver and spleen and its protective efficacy. In each case the live vaccine did not multiply extensively in vivo. We have previously shown that a purine- and a thymine-requiring derivative of S. choleraesuis were each considerably attenuated but unlike the aro derivative were effective as i.p. live vaccines in mice. Doses of these strains (c. 10(4) cfu) found protective were administered i.p. to BALB/c mice. Each strain multiplied extensively in the liver and spleen to c. 10(7) cfu by day 6. All these results are in agreement with a correlation of protective efficacy of a live vaccine with the persistence of a large number of the vaccine bacteria in the liver and spleen for several days. PMID- 2622328 TI - Delayed type-hypersensitivity response of inbred strains of Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) to lethal or non-lethal lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infections. AB - In adult Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), intraperitoneal or footpad inoculation of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) strains, WE or Armstrong (ARM), caused systemic infection and induced serum LCMV-antibody. Hamster and virus strain-dependent lethal disease also occurred. With WE, MHA and PD4 inbred hamsters failed to eliminate infection and died of wasting disease. LSH and CB inbred hamsters resisted lethal WE-disease and cleared infection. LVG hamsters and inbred LHC hamsters were intermediate in WE-susceptibility; some died of wasting, while others survived with little illness. Resistance to lethal WE-disease directly correlated with a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to live-virus footpad inoculation. In WE-resistant LSH and CB hamsters, DTH-responses were induced by intraplantar WE-inoculation; footpad edema began by 5 days, reached maximum thickness by 7 to 9 days, and subsided thereafter. In the other hamster strains, DTH to WE could not be elicited. Unlike WE, ARM was hamster-avirulent; infections were self-limited and did not induce DTH. All survivors of primary LCMV (WE or ARM)-infection resisted secondary WE-challenge, and did not develop DTH to LCMV. Immunosuppressive treatments, abrogating DTH and antibody responses to LCMV, rendered all hamsters susceptible to lethal WE infection. Hamster DTH most likely mediated resistance to virulent LCMV infection. PMID- 2622329 TI - Bordetella adenylate cyclase is a virulence associated factor and an immunoprotective antigen. AB - Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis are both causative agents of whooping cough outbreaks. Although not expressing the pertussis toxin, B. parapertussis induces, in a murine model, an acute hemorrhagic edematous alveolitis, similar to that observed with B. pertussis. These data suggest that the pertussis toxin may only play an accessory role in the acute pulmonary syndrome observed during Bordetella infection. Both with B. pertussis and B. parapertussis, the ability to induce lethal pulmonary lesions is associated with enhanced in vitro adenylate cyclase expression and activity. We also demonstrate that passive immunization with specific anti-B. pertussis adenylate cyclase antibodies or active immunization with purified B. pertussis secreted adenylate cyclase protect mice against a lethal respiratory challenge with B. pertussis or B. parapertussis. Our results suggest that adenylate cyclase might be the primary cytotoxin responsible for mouse pulmonary lesions during respiratory tract infection with B. pertussis or with the related species B. parapertussis and is a protective antigen of B. pertussis. PMID- 2622330 TI - Membrane proteins of Francisella tularensis LVS differ in ability to induce proliferation of lymphocytes from tularemia-vaccinated individuals. AB - T lymphocyte-mediated immunity is important for resistance to Francisella tularensis. To characterize the specificity of this immunity, we used membrane proteins and two lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preparations. Both membrane proteins were heat-modifiable, as indicated by their migration in sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). One had an apparent molecular mass (Mm) of 120 kilodaltons (kDa) when solubilized in the SDS buffer at room temperature, but 17 kDa after heating. The respective values for the other protein were 35 kDa before and 40 kDa after heating. Both proteins were purified by a preparative SDS-PAGE. The LPS-containing preparations were isolated by aqueous phenol (WP) or PCP (phenol-chloroform-petroleum ether) extraction (LPS R), and rendered protein-free by treatment with proteinase K. Lymphocytes from nine subjects immunized with a live tularemia vaccine from one to three years earlier responded specifically to both an F. tularensis whole cell antigen and the 17 kDa protein in the lymphocyte blast transformation test. By contrast, the 40 kDa protein and the two LPS preparations did not stimulate any detectable lymphocyte proliferation. PMID- 2622331 TI - Mycoplasma pulmonis V-1 surface protein variation: occurrence in vivo and association with lung lesions. AB - The V-1 antigen of Mycoplasma pulmonis is exposed to the surface of the mycoplasma and has an immunoblot banding pattern that varies in vitro between and within strains. To determine if V-1 variation occurs in vivo, we infected C3H/HeNCr mice intranasally with 5 X 10(8) colony-forming units of M. pulmonis strain 5782C. We isolated M. pulmonis clones from the respiratory tracts of mice up to 28 days post-infection, then used anti-V-1 monoclonal antibody P39 to visualize their V-1 immunoblot banding patterns. By the 28th day following infection, 92% of the recovered clones had variant V-1 banding patterns. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between the severity of lung lesions and the percentage of V-1 variant clones recovered from the respiratory tracts of individual mice. These studies prove that V-1 variation does occur in vivo, and suggest that mice with more severe pulmonary lesions tend to have more V-1 variant clones as a percentage of the M. pulmonis population. Thus, variation in the V-1 protein may be a mechanism by which M. pulmonis persists in the in vivo environment, possibly by evasion of host immune surveillance or by alteration of its surface membrane to take better advantage of its environmental niche in the host. PMID- 2622332 TI - Genetic and phenotypic variation in the capsulation and virulence of culture collection strains of Haemophilus influenzae type b. AB - Haemophilus influenzae type b strains deposited in the National Reference Collections of the United States, United Kingdom and Sweden are derived from strains isolated in the United States during the 1940s. With respect to both the genetic locus for capsulation and to virulence, assessed in the infant rat bacteremia model, these strains are no longer representative of clinical isolates which currently cause meningitis and other serious infections in children all over the world. Alternative well-characterized strains resembling current common clinical isolates may often be more suitable for the study of Haemophilus influenzae pathogenicity. PMID- 2622333 TI - Phylogeny of some Fusarium species, as determined by large-subunit rRNA sequence comparison. AB - Fifty-two strains from eight species of Fusarium were analyzed by rapid rRNA sequencing. Two highly variable stretches (138 and 214 nucleotides) of the 5' end of the 28S-like rRNA molecule were sequenced. Such stretches permit evaluation of the divergence between closely related species and even between varieties within a species. The phylogenetic tree computed from the number of nucleotide differences shows seven Fusarium species to be more closely related to one another than the eighth species, F. nivale, is to them. On the basis of these data, we discuss both the phylogenetic value of taxonomical criteria and the impact of our findings on the demarcation of the genus Fusarium. We conclude that this method is suitable for establishing a precise phylogeny between closely related species within a genus. PMID- 2622334 TI - srRNA evolution and phylogenetic relationships of the genus Naegleria (Protista: Rhizopoda). AB - A rapid RNA sequencing technique was used to partially sequence the small-subunit ribosomal RNA (srRNA) of four species of the amoeboid genus Naegleria. The extent of nucleotide sequence divergence between the two most divergent species was roughly similar to that found between mammals and frogs. However, the pattern of variation among the Naegleria species was quite different from that found for those species of tetrapods characterized to date. A phylogenetic analysis of the consensus Naegleria sequence showed that Naegleria was not monophyletic with either Acanthamoeba castellanii or Dictyostelium discoideum, two other amoebas for which sequences were available. It was shown that the semiconserved regions of the srRNA molecule evolve in a clocklike fashion and that the clock is time dependent rather than generation dependent. PMID- 2622335 TI - Evidence from nuclear sequences that invariable sites should be considered when sequence divergence is calculated. AB - It has long been known, from the distribution of multiple amino acid replacements, that not all amino acids of a sequence are replaceable. More recently, the phenomenon was observed at the nucleotide level in mitochondrial DNA even after allowing for different rates of transition and transversion substitutions. We have extended the search to globin gene sequences from various organisms, with the following results: (1) Nearly every data set showed evidence of invariable nucleotide positions. (2) In all data sets, substitution rates of transversions and transitions were never in the ratio of 2/1, and rarely was the ratio even constant. (3) Only rarely (e.g., the third codon position of beta hemoglobins) was it possible to fit the data set solely by making allowance for the number of invariable positions and for the relative rates of transversion and transition substitutions. (4) For one data set (the second codon position of beta hemoglobins) we were able to simulate the observed data by making the allowance in (3) and having the set of covariotides (concomitantly variable nucleotides) be small in number and be turned over in a stochastic manner with a probability that was appreciable. (5) The fit in the latter case suggests, if the assumptions are correct and at all common, that current procedures for estimating the total number of nucleotide substitutions in two genes since their divergence from their common ancestor could be low by as much as an order of magnitude. (6) The fact that only a small fraction of the nucleotide positions differ is no guarantee that one is not seriously underestimating the total amount of divergence (substitutions). (7) Most data sets are so heterogeneous in their number of transition and transversion differences that none of the current models of nucleotide substitution seem to fit them even after (a) segregation of coding from noncoding sequences and (b) splitting of the codon into three subsets by codon position. (8) These frequently occurring problems cannot be seen unless several reasonably divergent orthologous genes are examined together. PMID- 2622336 TI - Mechanized derivation of linear invariants. AB - Linear invariants, discovered by Lake, promise to provide a versatile way of inferring phylogenies on the basis of nucleic acid sequences (the method that he called "evolutionary parsimony"). A semigroup of Markov transition matrices embodies the assumptions underlying the method, and alternative semigroups exist. The set of all linear invariants may be derived from the semigroup by using an algorithm described here. Under assumptions no stronger than Lake's, there are greater than 50 independent linear invariants for each of the 15 rooted trees linking four species. PMID- 2622337 TI - An in situ transgenic enzyme marker to monitor migration of cells in the mid gestation mouse embryo. Somite contribution to the early forelimb bud. PMID- 2622338 TI - Insertional inactivation of the downless gene in a family of transgenic mice. AB - The mouse downless (dl) gene is a morphogenetic gene that plays a role in dermal epidermal interaction and regulation of hair follicle induction during fetal development. We report here the identification of a transgenic mouse line with an insertional mutation in the dl gene. The genomic sequences flanking the transgenic insert have been cloned and used as hybridization probes to confirm that the mutant transgenic mice are homozygous for the transgenic insert and that the site of integration lies on mouse chromosome 10. Genomic probes that are close to or within the downless gene are now available and should permit the characterization of a gene that is involved in induction of a specific type of epithelial morphogenesis. PMID- 2622340 TI - Return visits can be decided in six minutes. PMID- 2622339 TI - Molecular linkage of the nif/fix and nod gene regions in Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii. AB - Nucleotide sequence analysis of a 2.5kb region downstream of the nifA gene from Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii has resulted in linkage, at the DNA sequence level, of the nifEN, nifHDK, fixABCX, nifA gene cluster with the nodEF, nodD, nodABCIJ genes. Four genes have been identified within this intervening region. Immediately 3' to the nifA gene is the nifB gene and the nifB-linked ferredoxin-encoding fdxN gene. Downstream of fdxN in R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii and in Rhizobium meliloti, we have identified an open reading frame which has not been described previously and which we propose to designate fixU. Downstream of fixU in R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii is a nod gene, nodT, which is contiguous with nodJ (B. Surin et al., manuscript in preparation). As a result of this study, the linkage relationships of 22 symbiotic genes spanning a 24 kb region of the symbiotic plasmid from R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii are now known. PMID- 2622341 TI - Dental health benefits advantageous to employees. PMID- 2622342 TI - Dietary fluoride supplements for Missouri's children--the role of the dentist. PMID- 2622343 TI - Smokeless tobacco: a major league concern. PMID- 2622345 TI - Complex carbohydrates. Part F. PMID- 2622344 TI - Paid dental: a benefit where everyone wins. PMID- 2622346 TI - Two-dimensional proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. PMID- 2622347 TI - Tandem mass spectrometry of oligosaccharides. PMID- 2622348 TI - Characterization of O-linked saccharides from cell surface glycoproteins. PMID- 2622349 TI - Mycobacterial glycolipids: isolation, structures, antigenicity, and synthesis of neoantigens. PMID- 2622350 TI - Synthesis and characterization of ganglioside GM3 derivatives: lyso-GM3, de-N acetyl-GM3, and other compounds. PMID- 2622351 TI - Conversion of galactosyl residues to 6-amino derivatives for attachment of functional groups. PMID- 2622352 TI - Quantitative conversion of mucin-type sugar chains to radioactive oligosaccharides. PMID- 2622353 TI - Characterization of human tracheobronchial mucin glycoproteins. PMID- 2622354 TI - Lectin affinity chromatography of glycolipids and glycolipid-derived oligosaccharides. PMID- 2622355 TI - Galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-binding protein and mannose/L-fucose/N acetylglucosamine-binding proteins from rat peritoneal macrophages. PMID- 2622356 TI - Snowdrop lectin. PMID- 2622357 TI - Allomyrina dichotoma lectins. PMID- 2622358 TI - Vegetative tissue lectins from Dolichos biflorus. PMID- 2622359 TI - Endoglycoceramidase from Rhodococcus species G-74-2. PMID- 2622360 TI - Adhesion of eukaryotic cells to immobilized carbohydrates. PMID- 2622361 TI - Analysis and purification of oligosaccharides by high-performance liquid affinity chromatography. PMID- 2622362 TI - Di- and trigalacturonic acid and delta 4,5-di- and delta 4,5-trigalacturonic acids: inducers of proteinase inhibitor genes in plants. PMID- 2622363 TI - Glycation of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase and its inactivation: identification of glycated sites. PMID- 2622364 TI - Separation of oligosaccharides using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. PMID- 2622365 TI - Monosaccharide analysis of glycoconjugates by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. PMID- 2622366 TI - Immunoblotting and immunobinding of acidic polysaccharides separated by gel electrophoresis. PMID- 2622367 TI - Medical informatics and education. PMID- 2622368 TI - Crisis of meaning and medical informatics education: a burden and/or a relief? AB - Starting with the quotation by Paul Ricoeur: Man needs love indeed; he needs justice still more; but most of all he needs meaning, this paper states that in this present situation medical education does not prepare students to deal with human needs, neither their own nor those of their patients. This is due to the almost exclusive devotion to hard sciences, contaminated by unscientific ideological drift, which tends to negate subjectivity and to suppress any significance of human destiny. Although medical informatics, by definition, eliminates meaning and knowledge, it can - if properly used as a complement and not as a competitor of human intelligence - help to renovate medical education, introduce true humanistic dimensions, and restore the element of human subjectivity. PMID- 2622369 TI - Medical informatics and education: the profession as gate-keeper. AB - Modern health care systems, both at the policy as well as the delivery level, are becoming increasingly data-dependent. The profession of Medical Informatics is beginning to emerge as a distinctive discipline that functions as the point of entry of the relevant data into the systems and as the medium of their manipulation. Medical Informatics therefore finds itself in a gate-keeper position: i.e., in the position of someone who effectively controls the use of these data and whose actions set the parameters of what will be done with them. This position, in turn, places special ethical obligations on the profession as a whole as well as on the individual professionals. It is unlikely that the nature of these obligations, or indeed their very scope, will be appreciated without some training in ethics; and it is also unlikely that the ethical problems that arise in the conduct of the profession can be handled smoothly without some ethical education. Medical Informatics, as a profession, should therefore insist that the education of its members involve not only technical parameters but also include some education in ethics. The pay-off for this would come not only in terms of an integrated functioning of the profession as a whole, but also in a much more firmly established legal and social position. PMID- 2622370 TI - New premises and new tools for medical care and medical education. AB - Medical care and medical education can be supported more than in the past by using new tools and new premises for the effective linkage between bodies of knowledge and the use of that knowledge. The medical record can be converted from a source-oriented record to a problem-oriented record, enabling to trace not only what was done, but why it was done. These possibilities reveal new insights in the use of databases, problem lists, problem-oriented plans, and problem-oriented progress notes and flowsheets. It brings about a new behavior in teaching which replaces memorizing facts, new possibilities for medical care, and new responsibilities both for physicians and patients. We now have knowledge-coupling tools that can be used directly with the patients at the time of problem solving. Patients are becoming active participants in this process, bringing about new roles for experts as well as expert systems. PMID- 2622371 TI - The status of medical informatics in Canadian medical schools. AB - Many have suggested that information technology in its various forms will continue to have an effect on all aspects of medicine, including medical education. If so, the introduction of information technology into medicine brings with it critical educational policy questions. This paper reports on the findings of an inquiry into the impact of information technology on medical education. It reviews the extent to which Canadian and American medical colleges have adopted the 1985 recommendations of the American Association of Medical Colleges. In particular, it looks at the recommendations that "medical informatics should become an integral part of the medical curriculum" and that "the teaching of medical informatics should include opportunities for specific instruction in its fundamentals as well as adequate examples of its application throughout the medical curriculum". PMID- 2622372 TI - Education in medical informatics in The Netherlands: a nationwide policy and the Erasmus curriculum. AB - The curricula of all Medical Faculties still bear the characteristics of an era in which the physician was not educated in managing medical information systems, using communication networks, and processing knowledge. In attempting to formulate the prerequisites for developing and adjusting future curricula, we discuss the evolution of medical information technology during the past 25 years and give examples to illustrate that, by extrapolating current trends, future developments in information technology, medicine and education can be predicted. A plea is made for a strong interaction between scientific developments in medical informatics and academic education. In addition, a model based on our experience in medical informatics education of over 15 years, is pointed out. Furthermore, a nationwide policy on medical informatics in The Netherlands, is discussed. Our treatise is concluded by presenting the outline of the curriculum in medical informatics at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. Educational recommendations conclude the paper. PMID- 2622373 TI - Integration of medical informatics with other courses in the medical curriculum. PMID- 2622374 TI - Medical education system in Czechoslovakia: achievements and perspectives of medical informatics education. PMID- 2622375 TI - Informatics in professional education. AB - The University of Maryland at Baltimore (UMAB) is a professional school campus, including schools of Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Graduate Studies, and Social Work and Community Planning. In late 1987, UMAB convened a Task Force on Informatics, intended to support the campus as it worked to become a Centre of Excellence for Informatics. The Task Force reviewed the current computing environment at UMAB and the individual schools. In assessing the state of the art in informatics, its work was supplemented by the formation of external advisory committees of national and international informaticians. Deliberations proceeded according to a methodology designed to develop factual databases and to generate consensus. The Task Force report, which is excerpted in the following paper, established a tiered taxonomy of competencies; defined the three levels; and set forth program models for the two higher levels. Special note was made of the programs in nursing and dental informatics newly established at UMAB. The report concluded with three recommendations, each with detailed action points identified. PMID- 2622376 TI - Informatics in dental education: a horizon of opportunity. AB - Computers have presented society with the largest array of opportunities since the printing press. More specifically in dental education they represent the path to freedom from the memory-based curriculum. Computers allow us to be constantly in touch with the entire scope of knowledge necessary for decision making in every aspect of the process of preparing young men and women to practice dentistry. No longer is it necessary to spend the energy or time previously used to memorize facts, test for retention of facts or be concerned with remembering facts when dealing with our patients. Modern information management systems can assume that task allowing dentists to concentrate on understanding, skill, judgement and wisdom while helping patients deal with their problems within a health care system that is simultaneously baffling in its complexity and overflowing with options. This paper presents a summary of the choices facing dental educators as computers continue to afford us the freedom to look differently at teaching, research and practice. The discussion will elaborate some of the ways dental educators must think differently about the educational process in order to utilize fully the power of computers in curriculum development and tracking, integration of basic and clinical teaching, problem solving, patient management, record keeping and research. Some alternative strategies will be discussed that may facilitate the transition from the memory based to the computer-based curriculum and practice. PMID- 2622377 TI - Nursing informatics competencies. AB - The purpose of the paper is to present both the processes and the results of a task force organized to recommend nursing informatics competencies for practicing nurses, nurse administrators, nurse teachers and nurse researchers. The competencies are designed to be useful in preparing nurses for their specific roles. The criterion for inclusion of a specific informatics competency statement was task force consensus. PMID- 2622378 TI - Health informatics education in the Third World. AB - The state of the art is summarized showing many efforts but only few results which can serve as demonstration examples for developing countries. Education in health informatics in developing countries is still mainly dealing with the type of health informatics known from the industrialized world. Educational tools or curricula geared to the matter of development are rarely to be found. Some WHO activities suggest that it is time for a collaboration network to derive tools and curricula within the next decade. PMID- 2622379 TI - Teaching hospital information systems by simulating what really happens. AB - This paper discusses the teaching of a course which simulates what a hospital goes through when it conceptualizes the need for a Hospital Information System, identifies its goals and objectives for the system, prepares a Request for Proposal (RFP), and selects a particular system. The course is taught entirely in simulation and role playing modes. Students are taken on site visits, vendors come to the University to demonstrate their systems, and consultants are brought in to give advice. The pros and cons of this particular style of teaching are discussed. PMID- 2622380 TI - Health information science at UVic: the student perspective. AB - The graduates and students of the School of Health Information Science (HIS) at the University of Victoria (UVic) have pioneered the Canadian sphere in health informatics since 1982. After six years of growth this co-operative education program has matured and establishment of a research base and graduate school has become a recent focus. In this context an evaluation of the HIS curriculum and co op work experience from the student perspective was undertaken. Eighty-five persons, including 50 upper level students were surveyed. Thirty-five graduates were tracked and queried regarding their present employment, job satisfaction, future goals and perception of their professional status. In particular, students were queried on the retrospective value and/or shortcomings of the HIS co-op program. Their perceptions on the training that they have had or that they observe as leading to successful careers is documented. The student view on the ascribed role of 'change agent' and concerns regarding the lack of professional identity are noted. The implications of these findings on the future form of the Health Information Science curriculum and the direction of its educational model are subsequently discussed. PMID- 2622381 TI - Why we need laboratories for applied research in academic information. AB - A common vision for an electronic management environment is emerging. Fundamental to this vision is a radical change in the way that knowledge is captured, stored, manipulated, visualized and accessed. To bring these visions to reality, partnerships need to be formed between authors, publishers, and libraries. Research and development in knowledge management is essential and universities must identify more clearly their roles as knowledge creators and distributors. PMID- 2622382 TI - The role of biometry in the training of medical informaticians. AB - Medical informatics and medical biometry, as well as the medical biometrician's and medical informatician's fields of activity, overlap significantly. The affinity between the two disciplines can be illustrated by a comparison of the definitions of both disciplines, by examples of research projects for which the application of methods from both fields is necessary in order to complete the project successfully, and by an analysis of the professional fields of medical informatics graduates working in their occupation. Therefore, a stronger integration of both disciplines is advocated. PMID- 2622383 TI - Teaching medical informatics to biomedical engineering students: experiences over 15 years. AB - The Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Informatics at Linkoping University in Sweden were established in 1972-1973. The main purpose was to develop and offer courses in medicine, biomedical engineering and medical informatics to students in electrical engineering and computer science, for a specialization in biomedical engineering and medical informatics. The courses total about 400 hours of scheduled study in the subjects of basic cell biology, basic medicine (terminology, anatomy, physiology), biomedical engineering and medical informatics. Laboratory applications of medical computing are mainly taught in biomedical engineering courses, whereas clinical information systems, knowledge based decision support and computer science aspects are included within the medical informatics courses. PMID- 2622384 TI - The postgraduate medical informatics programme at the University of Cape Town. AB - The Medical Informatics education programme at the University of Cape Town was developed as part of the postgraduate education programme run by the Department of Biomedical Engineering. The aim of the programme is twofold: a) To give students a broad background in Medical Informatics, to enable them to participate in the development, planning and management of information systems to support health care in South Africa, and b) To enable them to do a research project in a specialised area, thus learning research techniques, and contributing to the development of Medical Informatics as a discipline. Students benefit from participating in a postgraduate programme in a multidisciplinary department, which is firmly linked to the health care environment. A more specialised Medical Informatics programme is planned, but the multidisciplinary nature of work in this field will continue to be emphasised. PMID- 2622385 TI - "Desktop knowledge": a new focus for medical education and decision support. AB - Physicians today are faced with "data overload" and, paradoxically, "information underload"--the inability to locate pertinent, needed knowledge in a sea of data with which they are inundated. Increasingly, the professional functions of the physician are becoming focused on the desktop workstation, in terms of its ability to provide "windows" into local databases and knowledge resources, and to serve as an access port to other networked resources. A challenge we now face is to develop means for structuring the vast potentially available knowledge resources in such a manner that access to pertinent knowledge can be facilitated, and to develop acceptable interfaces to the knowledge resources so that a user can effectively navigate through them. The complexity of this task is due to the nature of the knowledge resources--knowledge can be in a variety of forms, ranging from textual and pictorial material, to structured representations, to more dynamic embodiments in the form of procedures. In the Decision Systems Group we have focused on the development of a prototype desktop knowledge management environment known as Explorer-2, with the objective of providing a consistent interface for access to a wide variety of knowledge. Our accomplishments to date encompass the incorporation into the Explorer-2 environment of adaptations of textbook chapters and books, image data bases, simulations, and expert systems. Navigational aids are provided by a semantic net browser using both MeSH and augmented taxonomies and by a graphical overview map.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622386 TI - MSMS takes a first-hand look at Sweden's no-fault patient insurance fund. PMID- 2622387 TI - Can the Swedish system be transplanted? Probably not, say hospital execs. PMID- 2622388 TI - Michigan insurers speak out on Sweden's medical malpractice system. PMID- 2622389 TI - Malpractice reform: time for a new approach, says trial lawyer. PMID- 2622390 TI - "There are no cure-alls to our problems," says Rep. David Gubow. PMID- 2622391 TI - Swedish system gives state legislator a new perspective. PMID- 2622392 TI - The David Rivlin case. Implications for Michigan physicians. PMID- 2622393 TI - Article on low-level radioactive waste is examined, criticized. PMID- 2622394 TI - Different correlations of drug susceptibilities to colonial morphology in Mycobacterium avium complex strains. AB - In Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare complex strains isolated from patients who were not treated previously by any antituberculosis drugs or from fowls, the colonial morphology, smooth, domed, opaque (SmD) or smooth, flat, transparent (SmT) colonial forms, significantly correlated with susceptibilities to rifampicin, minocycline, streptomycin, kanamycin, enviomycin, ethambutol, and sulfadimethoxine, whereas it did not correlate with susceptibilities to isoniazid, cycloserine, and ethionamide. Strains with the SmT colonial morphology were more resistant to the former seven drugs than strains with the SmD colonial morphology. Since the susceptibilities to antituberculosis drugs with large molecules correlated with the colonial morphology, it has been suggested that a permeability barrier that allows passage of small molecules but prevents passage of large molecules exists in the strains with the SmT colonial morphology. PMID- 2622395 TI - Altered immune responsiveness in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. AB - In order to detect abnormalities in humoral immunity and to determine immunogenetic traits underlying chronic glomerulonephritis, sera from 260 patients who had chronic glomerulonephritis and who were undergoing hemodialysis were tested for naturally occurring antibodies against mycoplasma and 22 different viruses. Among the 23 microorganisms tested, antibody titers were significantly lower against 12, higher against 3, and no different against 8 when compared with titers of 43 normal subjects. The data were analyzed further by plotting each in a 23-dimensional space according to their standardized antibody titers. Multivariate cluster analysis by the Ward's method revealed 3 large clusters differing from each other in natural antibody titers, and one of the clusters included 74% of the normal controls, while two other distinct clusters comprised the majority of the patients. The level of BUN, creatinine, and duration of hemodialysis treatment did not differ significantly among patients in these three different clusters. Our study suggests that patients with chronic glomerulonephritis being treated by hemodialysis have altered levels of naturally occurring antibodies to microorganisms. This alteration is not caused by just the uremic state or hemodialysis but immunogenetic regulation may also play a part. PMID- 2622396 TI - Isolation of the saprophytic strain of MC-3 and participation of the cell surface structure in predation. AB - From a predatory bacterium, MC-3, a mutant strain which lost predation ability was isolated by chance selection. Biological properties of the mutant were the same as the parent except only saprophytic property. Properties of the parent and the mutant strains of MC-3, such as bacteriolytic activity of the culture supernatant, digestion of peptidoglycan of the host bacteria, and growth by utilizing the host cells or their cytoplasmic substances, suggested that cell surface structure of the host cell plays an important role in predation and host specificity. PMID- 2622397 TI - Altered virulence of a pleiotropic Staphylococcus aureus mutant with a low producibility of coagulase and other factors in mice. AB - The virulence of a pleiotropic Staphylococcus aureus mutant with an extremely low producibility of coagulase and other factors was investigated in mouse. A mutant strain, designated as CL-1, showed the same LD50 and the same intrarenal proliferation as its parental strain, when the mutant organisms were inoculated in mice in high doses. The mutant organisms, however, showed a diminished intrarenal proliferation compared with its parental organisms in low doses. This mutant strain expressed a pleiotropic phenotype such as a concomitant reduction in the producibility of coagulase, alpha-toxin, and Panton-Valentine leucocidin. The total effect due to the reduction in producibility of various factors on the virulence of the mutant strain was investigated with studies on the bacterial resistance to the phagocytic activity of leucocytes. A possible role of coagulase and that of some other staphylococcal exoproteins in the pathogenesis of S. aureus were discussed. PMID- 2622398 TI - [The lactate oxidase activity of Aerococcus viridans cultures]. AB - The oxidase activity of Aerococcus viridans is a result of the functioning of aerobic NAD-independent lactate dehydrogenase. Two fractions of flavin-containing protein which oxidize D- and L-isomers of lactic acid are revealed during the enzymic complex electrophoresis in PAAG. The enzymic complex and eluates of both fractions possess the antagonistic activity relative to 27 test-cultures of bacteria. PMID- 2622399 TI - [The effect of mineral salts on the growth and development of Bacillus thuringiensis strain H14 266/2-1]. AB - Potassium phosphates in the concentration of 1.0 g/l are the most favourable for the growth and development of the culture of Bacillus thuringiensis H14 266/2-1. The data obtained may be used when optimizing the medium for the submerged cultivation of a bactoculicide producer. PMID- 2622400 TI - [The effect of Aerococcus viridans--the basis of the new therapeutic-prophylactic preparation M-bacterin--on the biological properties of Staphylococcus aureus]. AB - Representatives of the normal microflora from genus Aerococcus, in particular strain Aerococcus viridans 167 isolated from breast milk are studied for their effect on biological properties of Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in vivo. It is established that the number of viable cells of the staphylococcus cultivated in the presence of antagonists in the beef-extract agar decreases progressively with each following passage, the population dying after the seventh-eight passage. Electronograms fix deep changes in the cell ultrastructure. A degree of changes in biological properties depends on the duration of the antagonist action. The results obtained reveal one of the mechanisms of the antagonistic action of aerococci-antagonists producing hydrogen peroxide. PMID- 2622401 TI - [The collagenolytic activity of bacteria of the genus Bacillus isolated from different ecological sources]. AB - The ability to hydrolyze collagen was studied in 262 cultures of spore-forming aerobic bacteria isolated from the soil, human and animal organism, from insects and also of collection strains. 53% of the studied cultures possessed the collagenolytic activity. The most active strains are isolated from the human and animal organism. PMID- 2622402 TI - [The determination of the interdependence of the infectivity of different groups of birds with the influenza virus by using mathematical modelling]. AB - When studying sera in the hemagglutination-inhibition reaction which has been taken from 772 fowls of 82 species caught in certain regions of the Dnieper in 1981-1987 the antibodies to 29 strains of the influenza virus are revealed, all of them being of human and animal origin. The serological examination has shown the circulation of the influenza virus with hemagglutinin H13 in a wide range of water fowls, the level of antibodies to it being dependent on the species of fowls and season. Using the mathematical simulation it was possible to establish the relation of the influenza virus infection in groups of semisynanthropic and tame fowls to the titre of antibodies determined in the synanthropic species as well as ecological insulation of the so-called "wild fauna". PMID- 2622403 TI - [The isolation and characteristics of antibiotic-containing liposomes]. AB - The results of studies on the incorporation of a number of antibiotics into liposomes and the use of gamma irradiation for sterilization of phospholipid vesicles are presented. The toxicity of hydrochloride tetracyclin in free and liposomal forms is estimated for golden hamster with different methods of administration. PMID- 2622404 TI - [The sensitivity to antibiotics and chloramine B of opportunistic microorganisms isolated from patients]. AB - Strains of staphylococci, klebsiella, proteins, blue pus bacillus and enterobacteria resistant not only to antibiotics but also to chloramine, a disinfectant, were isolated from the test material samples obtained from patients with different purulent-inflammatory processes. The following strains are revealed among the test microorganisms: sensitive simultaneously to antibiotics and chloramine; sensitive to antibiotics but resistant to chloramine; sensitive to chloramine but resistant to antibiotics; simultaneously resistant both to antibiotics and chloramine. PMID- 2622405 TI - [World trends in the development of biotechnology]. AB - The role of biotechnology in the solution of the production problem and creation of new energy source is discussed. Certain operations of biotechnological processes are considered. A system approach to train specialists in the field of biotechnology is suggested. PMID- 2622406 TI - [Activity of endopolygalacturonase in culture fluid of experimentally prepared polyploid cultures of Saccharomyces vini]. AB - The action of colchicine solutions on a diploid Saccharomyces vini culture used in viniculture yielded three polyploid strains. The strains differ from the parent culture in their cell morphology and a higher endopolygalacturonase activity. PMID- 2622407 TI - [Kinetics of growth and development of Mycobacterium rubrum under conditions of periodic culturing]. AB - The kinetics of growth, development, carotenogenesis and changes in the composition of the reaction medium were studied in the course of Mycobacterium rubrum batch cultivation in synthetic and complex media. The culture growth was found to be composed of five phases in the synthetic medium and of four phases in the complex medium. When the culture was grown in the synthetic medium, the phenomenon of distinct diauxy was recorded by changes in the specific growth rate as well as the economic and metabolic coefficients. These growth changes were shown to be associated with the fact that the culture started to assimilate sucrose instead of glucose at the subsequent growth phases, and carbotenogenesis was found to be uncoupled with the period of active biomass and protein synthesis. PMID- 2622408 TI - [Change in the structural organization of Mycobacterium rubrum cells upon the action of ethidium bromide]. AB - The action of ethidium bromide on Mycobacterium rubrum cells was studied. The culture growth was found to depend on ethidium bromide (EB) concentration in the medium. The reaction of EB with nucleoid DNA was shown to be specific and changes in the nucleoid structure were detected. Low EB doses (ca. 2 micrograms/ml) caused DNA despiralization in many cells. The process was reversible, which accounted for the elevated ability of reactivation at low EB doses. A higher EB dose (ca. 5-10 micrograms/ml and more) made the nucleoid structure coarser and denser in most cells and the nucleoid broke down to small fragments. As a result, due to the pool of enzymes present in the cells prior to EB addition, secondary changes developed. They involved all the cellular structures as well as the metabolism of lipids, polyphosphates, and glycogen. As a rule, these changes were incompatible with the cell viability. PMID- 2622409 TI - [Grouping of Micromonospora based on their cultural-morphologic features, antibiotic-sensitivity and formation of antibiotics]. AB - 500 Micromonospora cultures were subdivided into nine groups on the basis of their cultural-morphological properties, the ability to produce antibiotics of certain chemical classes, and the sensitivity to 18 different antibiotics: aurantiaca (I), cinnamomea (II), cinnamomea-vinacea (III), cinnamomea-olivacea (IV), nigra (V), nigra-violacea (VI), lilacinescens (VII), coerulea (VIII) and brunnea (IX). Cultures belonging to groups I, II, III, V and VI are moderately sensitive to most of the antibiotics and often occur in natural substrates. Black Micromonospora cultures (groups V and VI) mostly produce aminoglycoside antibiotics while brown cultures (groups II and III) form macrolide antibiotics. Cultures belonging to groups IV, VII, VIII and IX have a higher sensitivity to most of the antibiotics and are rarely isolated from natural substrates. These cultures have a weak ability to produce antibiotics. PMID- 2622410 TI - Risk factors for asbestosis in workers of asbestos mills. AB - The analysis was based on a set of fifteen factors, characterising: the value of exposure to dust hazard, social status of the subjects involved, presence of diseases in the anamnesis, habits, etc., with the aim of establishing their effect on the possibility of developing asbestosis among the female workers of asbestos mills. Mathematical methods of pattern recognition were used for this multifactorial analysis. The decisive rule, obtained on the "training" principle, helped to differentiate the observations made in a reference group with the following accuracy: "without asbestosis": 87.5% correct answers, and "with asbestosis": 88.9% correct answers, which confirms the possibility of predicting the individual risk of developing asbestosis by analysing the set of risk factors. The use of the improved dermatoglyphic technique contributed to demonstrating the significance of the genotype in producing a predisposition towards asbestosis. The experience acquired demonstrates the possibility of medico-occupational selection for work involving asbestos exposure with simultaneous improvement of dust abatement measures at the factory. PMID- 2622411 TI - [A follow-up study of 304 cases of suspected pathology caused by benzene seen in 1950-71]. AB - A group of 304 subjects admitted to the Institutes of Occupational Health of Milan and Pavia (Italy) between 1951 and 1970 for suspected benzene intoxication were retrieved from hospital records and their mortality experience was examined up to 31 December, 1986. The aims of the study were: 1) to estimate, in quantitative terms, the risk associated with benzene exposure in that area in the time period considered (these risks had already been reported, but merely as case reports); 2) to investigate the possibility of an increased frequency of neoplasms other than leukaemia; and 3) to further investigate the exposure history of these subjects. In the absence of data on the population at risk, mortality was analysed via the mortality odds ratio (MOR) method. A local population mortality experience was used as reference. Twenty-eight malignant neoplasms were observed (MOR = 2.2; 95% confidence interval = 1.3-3.7), 15 of which were haematologic neoplasms (MOR = 13.3; 95% confidence interval = 8.0 22.2). No odds ratio increases were observed for any of the other tumour sites or types. Eleven observed blood diseases represented a large numerical increase in the odds ratio. For all the haematologic neoplasms there had been an estimated exposure to airborne benzene concentrations above 20 ppm. However, no conclusions on dose-response relationships can be drawn from these data because of the approximate evaluation of individual exposure and, especially, because the study group most probably consisted of a highly selected sample of the exposed population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622412 TI - [Evaluation of thermal comfort in a student population: predictive value of an integrated index (Fanger's predicted mean value]. AB - Practical applications and predictive values of a thermal comfort index (Fanger's PRV) were verified on a sample school population (1236 subjects) by studying the relationships between thermal sensations (subjective analysis), determined by means of an individual questionnaire, and the values of thermal comfort index (objective analysis) obtained by calculating the PMV index individually in the subjects under study. In homogeneous conditions of metabolic expenditure rate and thermal impedence from clothing, significant differences were found between the two kinds of analyses. At 22 degrees C mean radiant and operative temperature, the PMV values averaged 0 and the percentage of subjects who experienced thermal comfort did not exceed 60%. The high level of subjects who were dissatisfied with their environmental thermal conditions confirms the doubts regarding the use of the PMV index as a predictive indicator of thermal comfort, especially considering that the negative answers were not homogeneous nor attributable to the small thermal fluctuations (less than 0.5 degree C) measured in the classrooms. PMID- 2622413 TI - [Urinary excretion of mutagens and cisplatin among the nursing staff at a medical oncology department exposed to cytostatic drugs]. AB - Exposure to cytostatic drugs was assessed in a group of 9 nurses employed in a hospital cancer therapy department by measuring the post-shift levels of urinary mutagens and cis-platinum. A slight but significant increase in urinary mutagenic activity compared to 11 controls was observed in the non-smokers: the mean values of mutagenic activity on the Ta100 strain in the presence of both microsomal and deconjugating enzymes were 4418 +/- 1186 and 2468 +/- 1681 respectively. Conversely, the urinary platinum concentration was below the detection limit of the analytical method (10 micrograms/l) in all samples. The increased urinary mutagenic activity in the exposed group can probably be attributed to the absorption of cyclophosphamide either during preparation and administration of the drug, or due to accidental contact with contaminated biological fluids, in view of the fact that the level of mutagens in urine samples from cyclophosphamide-treated patients is extremely high (up to 319,478 revertants/g creatinine in the case we examined). PMID- 2622414 TI - [Angiopathy caused by vibration and CREST syndrome: beware of hidden pathologies!]. AB - The etiologic definition of an occupational disease should be achieved via an accurate differential diagnosis. A careful assessment of any clinical features that are atypical or unusual for the disease in question can sometimes lead to the identification of other morbid states that are either hidden or show few symptoms, and may or may not interfere with the occupational picture. The case described is of a man who, after working for 10 years with vibrating tools, developed a vibration disease with typical circulatory alterations in the hands and osteoarticular and neurological alterations. However, the appearance of a necrotic ischaemic lesion at the tip of the second finger of the right hand and signs of sclerodactylia in the second finger of both hands led us to suspect the presence of another concomitant disease. The finding of anticentromere antibodies suggested the presence of a CREST syndrome, which is a serologic variant of diffuse scleroderma. More in-depth investigations and examination of the state of other organs and apparatuses confirmed the diagnostic suspicion, with evidence of impairment also of the cardio-pulmonary system. The presence of the CREST syndrome was interpreted as a state of hypersusceptibility to the traumatic action of vibrating tools on the vascular system. PMID- 2622415 TI - [Occupational asthma caused by inhalation of cuttlefish bone dust]. AB - This report describes a new case of occupational asthma in a goldsmith. A 25-year old female suffered attacks of urticaria and asthma at each exposure to the dust of cuttle-fish bone used to polish gold jewellery. A specific occupational bronchial provocation challenge showed a dual asthmatic response with a maximum fall in FEV1 of 26% of the baseline value after 6 hours. A prick-test with crude cuttle-fish bone dust in glycerin 10% also gave a positive response. PMID- 2622416 TI - Government nuclear accident planning--do doctors have confidence in it? PMID- 2622417 TI - Doctors' attitudes on civil defence and nuclear weapon issues. AB - 97 out of 219 doctors responded to a questionnaire on medical aspects of nuclear weapons. A majority of the respondents considered that the then-current civil defence planning was not a valuable use of National Health Service resources, and that an attack with nuclear weapons would cause a degree of suffering beyond the profession's capacity to treat; thought doctors should have a special voice on nuclear issues; and believed Britain should not be increasing its nuclear weapons, and that if expenditure on them were reduced, the savings should go on health. The high support for organizations like MAPW was gratifying. PMID- 2622418 TI - On population aspects of group disasters: an evolutionary view. AB - Simple mathematical models were constructed (using a DEC PDP 11/40 computer) to evaluate the probable significance of differences between individuals in adaptive reserve--survival time (modelled as "failure rate")--for group survival and of basic population parameters (fertility and mortality) for the gradual compensation of group size/age distribution of a population after an acute group disaster. The results indicate that reversion to prehuman biological regulative mechanisms probably occurs, and that after short-lasting group disasters the time course for compensation (normalization) of population size and age distribution (when probable values of fertility and mortality were considered) is prolonged. PMID- 2622419 TI - [Severe course of delirium tremens. Results of treatment and late prognosis]. AB - 80 patients (P) (68 men and twelve women) with the diagnosis of delirium tremens were retrospectively analyzed and reexamined over a period of ten years (1974 to 1984). Included were only patients who--after failure of oral medication- required intravenous therapy with Chlomethiazol and thereby intensive care treatment. Mean age was 46.2 (26 to 75) years. During the observation period delirium tremens increased in frequency by 11% each year. Nine patients had two, six patients three and two patients four episodes of delirium tremens. In 86.7% delirium tremens occurred with fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis, epileptic seizures, cirrhosis and hepatic coma, gastrointestinal hemorrhage and pancreatitis. Eight patients (10%) died in hospital at a mean age of 53.2 years. None of the deceased had less than three (on average four) complicating or associated diseases. These were mostly pneumonia, cirrhosis, hepatic coma, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The mean duration of intravenous Chlomethiazol therapy was 4.7 (0.25 to 20) days, the applied dose 26.2 (0.8 to 78.6) grams, there being no significant difference between survivors and non-survivors. Of the 72 survivors 62 were invited for follow-up examination after an average of five years. During this period another twelve patients (15%) died of pneumonia, gastrointestinal bleeding, cardiocirculatory failure and accidents. Life expectancy was only 9.3 years. Of 29 patients who came for follow-up, 55% showed clinical evidence of alcohol dependency, 65% had elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622420 TI - [Pronounced cardiovascular, osseous and ophthalmologic changes in a patient with Marfan syndrome]. PMID- 2622421 TI - [Colonic stenosis caused by acute recurrent pancreatitis]. PMID- 2622422 TI - [Selenium in celiac disease]. AB - Statistically significant lower levels of selenium (p less than 0.001) have been found both in 37 celiac subjects at free diet and in 36 at gluten-free diet with respect to controls. In patients at free diet the deficit of selenium can be attributed to malabsorption, while in patients at gluten-free diet it may be due to the diet itself. Recently low serum levels of selenium have been observed in several neoplasias; furthermore it's known that celiac patients show an increased incidence of gastrointestinal tumors related to known levels in standard population. Long term monitoring is therefore necessary to integrate diet with selenium in patients showing persistent deficit of this element. PMID- 2622423 TI - [Sensitivity to antibiotic drugs of isolated bacteria in urinary infections in children]. AB - The need for an early start to antibiotic therapy during infections of the urinary ways in paediatrics, even before knowing the infecting strain and chemosensitivity tests, often makes it difficult to choose the drug to be used. The present study examines all the urine samples reaching the Microbiology Laboratory of Rome University's Paediatrics Clinic between 1986 and 1988, highlighting infecting species and respective chemosensitivity. The samples were also distinguished on the basis of sex and origin (hospitalised patients and out patients). From the data so examined it was noted that some antibiotics give a broader cover against the species most frequently encountered during urinary way infections. PMID- 2622424 TI - [A new computerized file of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - A computerized database for patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is presented. The program has been developed using PRIST (Patient Record Information System Tool), a flexible tool specifically oriented to clinical data management. The database consists of three main sections: the fixed record devoted to anamnestic data, the periodic record collecting the clinical, laboratory and instrumental data and the balance record devoted to a periodic balance of the disease course. The major advantages of our database are: time saving data handling, elastic procedures and easy retrospective data collection. PMID- 2622425 TI - [Correlation between indicators of the fertile period of the menstrual cycle and ultrasonically-determined ovulation]. AB - The authors intend to verify the reliability of some indices set up for the assessment of the fertile period of the menstrual cycle in women. The patterns of the following indices were studied and related to the day of ovulation, as detected by pelvic ultrasonography, in 42 cycles in healty women: the urinary surge of luteinising hormone tested by radioimmunoassay (R.I.A.), urinary surges of estrone-3-glucuronide (E1-3-G) and pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide (Pd-3 alpha-G) tested by chemiluminescence immunoassay, cervical mucus at the vulva and basal body temperature (B.B.T.) recorded by self-observation. The patterns of these parameters have shown a various temporal relationship and reliability for detection of the fertile days of the menstrual cycle. PMID- 2622426 TI - Pituitary enlargement in post-surgical hypothyroidism misdiagnosed as thyrotroph neoplasia. Report of a case. AB - Primary hypothyroidism may be associated with enlargement of the sella turcica, due to thyrotroph hyperplasia, in its turn due to the lack of feedback control by thyroid hormones. It may develop independently of the severity or of the duration of thyroid failure. A 42-year-old woman was referred to us. She presented us with a CT scan compatible with a pituitary microadenoma, in the left part of the sella. The patient showed obvious signs of myxedema, due to subtotal thyroidectomy which had been performed 14 months before, because of the presence of multinodular goiter. After operation, the patient has been discontinuously and inappropriately treated with desiccated thyroid. She complained of headache, nausea, galactorrhea without amenorrhea. Serum T4 (0.8 micrograms/dl), serum T3 (47 ng/dl) and TSH (174.5 +/- 60.1 mU/l: M +/- SD of 4 assays) were compatible with primary hypothyroidism as confirmed by TSH hyper-response to i.v. TRH (200 micrograms) and i.v. domperidone (10 mg), and by the normal TSH decrease after orally administered 2.5 mg bromocriptine or 90 min continuously infused 800 micrograms GHIRH. Moreover, an abnormal GH response to TRH was observed, whereas basal and appropriately stimulated PRL levels were normal. Serum alpha-subunit was marginally high (5.92 ng/ml), but alpha-subunit/TSH molar ratio fell within the normal range (0.1 molar ratio). Complete suppression of basal and TRH stimulated TSH values was achieved after a 14-day L-T3 (120 micrograms per day) and 4-month L-T4 (200 micrograms per day) administration. L-T4 treatment, first administered at suppressive doses (200 micrograms per day for 4 months) and subsequently at substitutive doses (150 micrograms per day for 2 months), induced complete remission of symptoms along with normalization of the CT scan picture. PMID- 2622427 TI - [Thyroid hormones and lipid metabolism in the elderly]. PMID- 2622428 TI - [A clinical-statistical study on oral health of a sample of young population]. AB - The hygienic-health condition of the oral cavity in a sample of the youth population has been assessed. Eating habits, preventive measures taken with regard to the teeth and condition of the dental arch were all considered. Sociocultural differences were observed in the distribution of the incidence of caries, poor knowledge of correct oral hygiene techniques and little motivation. PMID- 2622429 TI - [Concentration of thromboxane B2 in gingival tissues in relation to main clinical parameters of periodontal health]. AB - Considering the role played by some metabolites of Arachidonic Acid in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, the Authors have investigated on the existence of a relation between the Thromboxane B2 concentration in gingival tissues and the principal clinical Indices of periodontal health: Gingival Index, Plaque Index, pocket depth, and Bleeding Time Index. The results showed that just the bleeding Index resulted to be well related to the Thromboxane B2 tissue concentration and then to the level of inflammation of deep periodontal tissues. On the ground of these data the Authors underline the importance held by the bleeding index in the showing to the Clinician the therapy necessity of a periodontal site in order to prevent a possible future attachment loss. PMID- 2622430 TI - [Lower fourth molar: pathogenesis and treatment]. AB - After having examined the many theories on the pathogenesis of molar polydontias, the paper describes a very interesting clinical case involving the lower 4th molar. The results suggest that the most reliable theories are those postulating either the hyperactivity of the epithelial tract or the proliferous production of enamel (in the broadest sense). PMID- 2622431 TI - [Cherubism. Description of a case]. AB - A case of cherubism, with a follow-up of ten years, is reported. The comparison between the radiographic examinations carried out now and ten years ago allows some considerations on the course of the disease. PMID- 2622432 TI - [Superior fourth with supernumerary root]. AB - Description of a fourth superior with an over-numbered root and the problems that follow, mostly relating to the endodontic level treatment, are presented. PMID- 2622433 TI - [Bilateral bifid mandibular canal. Presentation of a case]. AB - Following the fortuitous finding of a bilateral bifid mandibular canal, suspected on the basis of orthopanoramic X-ray examination, CT of the mandibular region was carried out. As a result of this investigation, a bifid conformation of the mandibular canal was unequivocably evidenced. PMID- 2622434 TI - [Vertical and lateral canal obturation technics: an SEM study]. AB - After a critical review of the literature on root canal filling techniques, an SEM study of the differences between the vertical and lateral condensation techniques is described. PMID- 2622435 TI - [Technics of general anesthesia in pediatric age. A clinico-statistical study]. AB - A personal series is reported in regard to the clinical and instrumental assessment and possible anaesthetic treatment of the anaesthesia candidate. PMID- 2622436 TI - [Is therapy of temporomandibular dysfunction an orthodontic problem? II]. AB - The changes of the condylo-meniscus fossa space relations by the use of the Bassani's plate in cases of temporo-mandibular dysfunctions have been studied. PMID- 2622437 TI - [Apical granulomas and apical root cysts of inflammatory origin. A statistical study on 328 cases observed at the Ambulatory Services of Odontostomatology of the Ospedale Martini, via Tofane 71, Turin]. AB - 328 cases of chronic tooth lesions (apical granulomas and bone cysts) were examined in the Dental Surgery of the Martini Hospital in Turin and many received a later check-up. The complete series was statistically analysed in terms of lesion frequency in the different areas of the dental arch, lesion diameters and the chances of successful surgical intervention. PMID- 2622438 TI - [Clinical study on the prevalence of dental caries in patients with juvenile diabetes mellitus]. AB - The authors present the results of a epidemiological transversal study concerning 26 type I diabetic patients: as a control have been observed 24 healthy subjects, similar for age and sex to the diabetic patients. The results show a higher incidence of caries in diabetic patients than in the healthy subjects; this is probably due to the high carbohydrates diet of the young patients. PMID- 2622439 TI - [Odontostomatological problems in patients with neoplastic pathology treated by chemotherapy. A bibliographic review]. AB - A careful examination of the mouth should be a routine check in patients affected by neoplasms before commencing chemotherapy. This allows an appropriate programme of odontostomatologic treatment to be drawn up and put into practice before, during and after the administration of anti-blastic drugs. Together with instructions for the maintenance of oral hygiene which should be given to the patient, this treatment will reduce the morbidity and mortality which is induced, either directly or indirectly by chemotherapy. PMID- 2622440 TI - [Current views on the treatment of salivary gland tumors. A bibliographic review]. AB - The paper discusses current views on the subject of the treatment of salivary gland tumours, based on the largest and most important studies reported in the literature. In particular, it takes into consideration the role of preoperative biopsy, the extension to be given to operations, the opportunity of using surgical and/or radiotherapeutic treatment for the neck, and factors which influence prognosis. PMID- 2622441 TI - Contemplating the impacted third molar. PMID- 2622442 TI - Compassionate dentists do their part. PMID- 2622443 TI - Leadership starts in your office. PMID- 2622444 TI - A health care proposal: universal access with fiscal responsibility. PMID- 2622445 TI - Chief complaint. PMID- 2622446 TI - Laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection. AB - The implications of a diagnosis of HIV infection are far-reaching. Thus, accurate interpretation of laboratory tests becomes critical. The authors provide descriptions of the tests now available and discuss the utility of each. PMID- 2622447 TI - Initial results of a program in liver transplantation. AB - St. Louis University established a liver transplant program in early 1988. The authors report on the program's first 10 months in operation, emphasizing the careful planning and cooperation the medical center must undertake to ensure the program's success. PMID- 2622448 TI - Breast cancer incidence among women in Missouri. Implications for cancer control. AB - During the past decade, the incidence of breast cancer in Missouri women has apparently increased. As this study shows, however, this apparent rise is due to the early detection of localized cancers--those with higher cure rates. The implications of the findings are discussed. PMID- 2622449 TI - Missouri State Medical Association 1989-90 policy manual. PMID- 2622450 TI - Spectrum of spontaneous mutations in a cDNA of the human hprt gene integrated in chromosomal DNA. AB - Altered sequences were determined of 52 independent spontaneous mutations occurring in a cDNA of the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) gene, which was integrated into chromosomal DNA of the mouse cell as a part of the retroviral shuttle vector. Spontaneous mutations comprised a variety of events: base substitutions, frameshifts, deletions, duplications, and complex mutational events, and were distributed randomly over the coding region of the gene. Frameshifts were the most frequent mutational event (38%), and base substitutions were the next most frequent (25%), followed by deletions (19%). Frameshift and deletion mutations commonly occurred preferentially at sites flanked by short direct repeats. Short inverted repeats were frequently found to be associated with duplication and complex mutational events. Analysis of the sequence alterations in the mutant genes suggests that misalignment mutagenesis represents an important molecular mechanism for the generation of spontaneous mutations in eukaryotic cells. PMID- 2622451 TI - A class II patatin promoter is under developmental control in both transgenic potato and tobacco plants. AB - A new member of the patatin gene family belonging to the class II subfamily was isolated and characterized by DNA sequencing. In order to study the expression profile of this gene, the promoter was fused to the beta-glucuronidase gene and transferred to potato and tobacco. Histochemical analysis revealed high expression in a few defined cells in potato tubers and in a specific layer of both potato and tobacco root tips. In contrast to the developmentally and metabolically regulated class I patatin gene B33 this gene was not inducible by elevated levels of sucrose. Expression of this chimaeric gene was also found in callus and suspension cultures of potato. PMID- 2622452 TI - Identification and nucleotide sequence of the delta-lysin gene, hld, adjacent to the accessory gene regulator (agr) of Staphylococcus aureus. AB - A Tn551 insertional mutation in the accessory gene regulator (agr) locus of the Staphylococcus aureus chromosome resulted in the decreased production of at least seven extracellular toxins and enzymes and a simultaneous increase in the production of protein A and coagulase (Recsei et al. 1986). Adjacent to this locus we have now identified another gene, hld, transcribed into a 0.5 kb RNA which codes for the staphylococcal delta-lysin. The expression of hld was totally repressed in a strain carrying the agr insertional mutation. Hybridization with strand-specific probes and primer extension analysis revealed that hld and agr are transcribed in opposite directions, starting 188 nucleotides apart. The hld gene is mainly expressed during the post-exponential growth phase and is totally repressed during early exponential growth. Determination of hld mRNA half-life in different growth phases indicated that this regulation is at the level of transcription. PMID- 2622453 TI - Biomembranes in health and disease. An international conference. Lucknow, November 1-4, 1988. Proceedings. PMID- 2622454 TI - Isolation of an anorexigenic protein from membranes. AB - Satiety means an internal state that leads to termination of eating. We have isolated an anorexigenic glycoprotein (M.W. 50,000 dalton) from human and rat erythrocyte membrane and from rat liver plasma membrane. The substance isolated from all these membrane sources has almost same onset and offset anorectic effect in rats deprived of food for 96 h as well as in normally fed rats without any rebound. Similar properties of membrane anorectic substance and plasma satietin indicated that it has membrane origin. The results also suggest that the loss of appetite in chronic diseases involving damage or turn-over of cell membranes could be due to release of a glycopeptide from cellular membranes into the circulation. PMID- 2622455 TI - Fluorescence studies on erythrocyte membrane isolated from Plasmodium berghei infected mice. AB - The erythrocyte host cell plays a key role in the well defined developmental stages of the malarial parasite growth and propogation in the erythrocyte cycle of malaria. The host cell serves the parasites by supplying metabolites and removing the catabolites produced by the obligatory parasites. It has been observed that the plasma membrane of the infected cells show a substantially higher fluidity due to the depletion of cholesterol content from the host cell. The protein component of the membrane is also modulated due to the insertion of new polypeptides of the parasitic origin, which confers upon it new antigenic properties. We have studied the membrane fraction isolated from mice erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium berghei using fluorescent probes like DPH, ANS and series of fluorenyl fatty acids, which permit depth dependent analysis of membrane. We have observed that there is a marked difference in the fluorescence emission wavelength maximum, the dissociation constant Kd of ANS when bound to normal and infected erythrocytes, though relatively small differences are observed in the fluorescence polarisation values of the two cell types. The fluorenyl fatty acids also show the differences when bound to normal and infected erythrocytes, indicating that either they are in a different environment or they have differing binding properties to the two cell types. PMID- 2622456 TI - Attack on neoplastic cell membranes by therapeutic antibody. AB - Mouse monoclonal antibody is not well fitted to destroying tumour cell targets. Complement and cellular effectors are inefficiently recruited, the cells can undergo antigenic modulation, antigen-negative mutants can arise, and the tumour bearing subject can amount an immune response against the therapeutic antibody. This paper describes the preparation of two chimeric antibody derivatives designed to cirvumvent some of these problems. The first derivative is FabFc, prepared by linking Fab' gamma from monoclonal antibody to Fc gamma from human IgG. The bismaleimide linking agent forms a thioether bond with an SH group released by reduction of SS bonds in the hinge of each constituent. The second derivative is bisFabFc, formed by a bismaleimide in this case joining two FabFc molecules via a free SH in the Fc hinge of each. As regards antibody activity against target cells bisFabFc can be univalent (one active, one inactive Fab arm), bivalent, or bispecific (with each Fab arm directed against a different cell surface antigen). Its juxtaposed dual Fc regions are designed to promote cooperative binding of effectors. Some preliminary characterization in vitro has employed antibodies of anti-idiotypic specificity directed against guinea-pig L2C leukaemic B lymphocytes. The parent mouse IgG1 antibody failed to invoke complement cytotoxicity or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, while the chimeric derivatives yielded good killing in both systems. In complement lysis bivalent bicFabFc outperformed univalent, which in turn outperformed the FabFc monomer. PMID- 2622457 TI - Interactions between cyclic AMP-dependent protein phosphorylation and lipid transmethylation reactions in isolated porcine cardiac sarcolemma. AB - Premethylation of purified porcine cardiac sarcolemma (SL) in the presence of 0.15, 10 and 150 microM S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) did not change the phosphorylation of SL proteins catalyzed either by intrinsic cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (cAK) or by added catalytic (C) subunit of this enzyme. On the other hand, membrane exhibited increased lipid methyltransferase activity after preincubation with MgATP and C subunit. Prephosphorylation of membranes stimulated the total [3H]-methyl incorporation into SL lipids assayed at 0.15 microM [3H]AdoMet due to an enhancement of Vmax and without changes in the Km value for AdoMet. Analysis of the methylated lipid products revealed an increased methyl group incorporation into a nonpolar lipid fraction whereas phosphatidylethanolamine-N-methylation was not affected by phosphorylation. The results suggest that the cyclic AMP-mediated signal transduction at the level of cardiac SL is not affected by methylation-induced modifications of the membrane lipid microdomains. On the other hand, an intrinsic SL lipid methyltransferase activity is apparently not related to the N-methylation of phospholipids, is modulated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein phosphorylation. PMID- 2622458 TI - Intracellular degradation by liver endothelial cells. AB - Investigations were carried out on the intracellular fate of formaldehyde treated bovine serum albumin (F-BSA), in liver non-parenchymal cells. This paper reports the observations and results obtained by us. The first part of our work involved the injecting of the compound into either a) normal rats, b) rats injected with Triton WR 1339 or c) rats treated with mannan. Fractions obtained after differential and isopycnic centrifugation in sucrose gradients, were analysed by SDS-gel electrophoresis and fluorography. The degradation takes place in a two step process. The molecule is first split into radiolabeled compounds that are still acid precipitable. This is followed by the appearance of acid soluble radioactive molecules. In a sucrose gradient the first kind of degradation products exhibit a distribution totally different from that of acid soluble degradation compounds. In the second part of our experiments, fairly pure fractions of the organelles, known to be involved in the endocytic pathway i.e. endosomes, transfer lysosomes and accumulation lysosomes (marked by the presence of either Triton WR 1339 or mannan) were isolated and incubated with [125I]-F BSA. These experiments revealed that endosomes, isolated by us, are incapable of degradation. Accumulation lysosomes arising exclusively from liver non parenchymal cells (in which mannan had accumulated) though rich in certain hydrolases eg. arylsulfatase did not have an efficient proteolytic machinery. Our results, both from in vivo and in vitro studies, suggest that the first degradation step occurs in one type of structure (probably not endosomes), a sort of hybrid endosome-lysosome (as they are not affected by glycyl-1-phenyl-2 napthylamide) and the second step in a different type of lysosomes, what we have designated transfer lysosomes. PMID- 2622459 TI - Hydrogen peroxide permeation across liposomal membranes: a novel method to assess structural flaws in liposomes. AB - Hydrogen peroxide permeation across large multilamellar vesicles of defined and complex lipid composition was shown to obey precise kinetic relationships for the activity of the occluded catalase. Careful assay conditions precluded simultaneous peroxidative damage to the lipids. The kinetic data was consistent with a barrier role for the bilayer for hydrogen peroxide permeation. More interestingly, hydrogen peroxide permeation across liposomes of complex lipid mixtures exhibited osmotic inhibition of permeation of hydrogen peroxide. On the other hand, purified egg lecithin vesicles did not exhibit any effect of external osmolality on hydrogen peroxide permeation in an experimentally defined non-lytic zone of external osmolarity. These results argue in favour of a heterogeneous, heteroporous structure of bilayers with complex lipid composition. PMID- 2622460 TI - Nonspecific stimulation of host defense by Corynebacterium kutscheri. I. Antitumor effect. AB - The effect of local injection of formalin-killed Corynebacterium kutscheri (FK.CK) on mouse survival after the intraperitoneal inoculation of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in outbred ddY mice or P388 leukemia cells in inbred CDF1 mice was investigated. Treatment of mice in the dose range of greater than 10(6) organisms per mouse conferred the substantial protection on both mice. The initial phase of antitumor effect consisted of the marked increase in the number of peritoneal exudate cells and the enhanced cytotoxicity of peritoneal exudate cells. The Winn assay disclosed that antitumor effect by which tumor-burden mice could survive was attributable to nonadherent splenocytes whose activity was impaired by treatment with anti-T cell serum and complement. A single injection of FK.CK induced the cytotoxicity to three different murine tumor cells in serum of treated mice without a boosting injection of endotoxin. Furthermore, the generation of effector cells and serum cytotoxicity seemed to be paralleled by that of the delayed-type hypersensitivity to this organism. Thus, the antitumor resistance induced by C. kutscheri is considered to be in part T cell mediated. PMID- 2622461 TI - Familial studies on the occurrence of natural autoantibodies. AB - Natural autoantibodies are often incidentally found in healthy individuals who are not first-degree relatives of known patients with autoimmune diseases. In an attempt to examine whether there exists a familial tendency in the production of such natural autoantibodies, 134 healthy members of 32 families were examined for antibodies against ss-DNA, ds-DNA, poly (I), poly (G), cardiolipin, histones, Sm, RNP, SS-A (Ro) and SS-B (La), using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Only 16 of the 134 subjects (11.9%) were found to possess autoantibodies in their sera in a titer exceeding the mean by 3 SD, and none of the 'positive' subjects were related. We conclude that in contrast to the familial occurrence of the autoantibodies of first-degree relatives of patients with autoimmune disease, there is no familial tendency in the occurrence of natural autoantibodies. PMID- 2622462 TI - The role of natural killer cells in experimental murine salmonellosis. AB - This study was designed to determine if murine natural killer (NK) cells play a role in host protection against a Salmonella typhimurium challenge infection. Outbred ICR mice injected intravenously with either attenuated (RIA strain) or virulent (SR-11 strain) salmonellae elicited enhanced killing of YAC-1 targets, which was maximal at 24 h after challenging. When NK cells were depleted with antiasialo GM1 prior to challenging, the splenic bacterial numbers were significantly less in this group of mice compared to sham-injected and challenged animals. The rabbit antiasialo GM1 sera had no detectable direct or indirect effect on the salmonellae. Our results indicate that the NK or natural suppressor cells may be functioning as down-regulators. PMID- 2622463 TI - Human IgG1 and mouse IgG3 but not monomeric IgM or IgE facilitate antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by human natural killer cells. AB - Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity depends upon the interaction of target-cell-bound immunoglobulins with the Fc receptor expressed on different effector cells, notably natural killer (NK) cells. Here, we first generated over 1,500 mouse monoclonal antibodies against Raji, an NK-resistant human target cell. We confirmed IgG3 as the most efficient mouse immunoglobulin for the mediation of human NK ADCC and demonstrated pentameric IgM to be a nonmediator. Since the inability of IgM to mediate ADCC could have been due to steric hindrance secondary to the large size of IgM, we reduced and alkylated pentameric IgM and obtained a high percentage of monomers. These monomers did not mediate ADCC either, although they too promoted binding between NK cells and the Raji targets. Further, IgE anti-trinitrophenyl (TNP) antibodies were unable to mediate human NK ADCC of TNP-coated Raji cells. Next, we selected highly sensitized renal patients whose sera contained high titers of HLA and non-HLA antibodies. We demonstrated that human IgG1 facilitated the mediation of ADCC by human NK cells whereas human IgG3 and IgM did not. PMID- 2622464 TI - [Cariogenicity of polydextrose and refined polydextrose as a substrate]. AB - Polydextrose is a randomly bonded condensation polymer of glucose, containing minor amounts of bound sorbitol and citric acid. This material has been developed for a reduced-calorie bulking, bodying or texturizing agent in the manufacture of low-calorie foods. The effect of polydextrose or refined preparation which has been eliminated saccharides under molecular weight of 500 in polydextrose, on cariogenicities of Streptococcus mutans group (serotype a-g) and certain oral microorganisms was studied. Some of S. mutans strains (serotype c and f) metabolized polydextrose at a low level and produced 20% lactic acid as compared with glucose. It did not serve as a substrate for plaque formation and cellular aggregation of S. mutans group and did not utilized water-insoluble glucan synthesis by glucosyltransferase from S. mutans PS-14 (c) or S. sobrinus 6715 (g). In the adherence experiment using polydextrose, heat killed cells of S. mutans labelled with 3H and GTase, the amount of cells that adhered to the smooth surface was almost 0. Further, polydextrose inhibited sucrose dependent water insoluble glucan synthesis. The case of refined polydextrose was not utilized for the growth, acid production, cellular aggregation and plaque formation of Streptococcus mutans group (serotype a-g). Refined polydextrose also did not produce lactic acid by certain oral microorganisms. It did not serve as a substrate for water-insoluble glucan synthesis and cellular adherence by GTase from S. mutans PS-14 (c) or S. sobrinus 6715 (g). Further, refined polydextrose inhibited sucrose dependent cellular adherence by GTase from S. mutans PS-14(c). SPF SD rats infected with S. sobrinus 6715 were fed a diet containing 20% refined polydextrose or 20% sucrose for 48 days. A significantly (p less than 0.01) lower caries score (mean +/- SE, 4.74 +/- 0.86) was observed in the rats fed a diet containing refined polydextrose than the control (31.17 +/- 0.33). Also, the value of caries score of rats fed a diet containing the refined polydextrose was almost equal as that of the rats fed a diet containing cornstarch only. PMID- 2622465 TI - [Effects of aging on respiratory function: with special reference to timed vital capacity]. AB - In order to study the effects of aging on the respiratory function, the examinations were made on the forced vital capacity (FVC), % forced vital capacity (%FVC), peak expiratory flow (PF), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1.0%). A total of 427 healthy male ranging in age from 22 to 59 years served as the subjects of the present study. The following were the results of this investigations. 1. The results of the measured values for FVC, %FVC, PF and FEV1.0% by age group showed a decrease in accordance with becoming older, thus showing a negative correlation with aging. 2. The major component analysis and the discriminant analysis were made for each of the above measurement items and the discriminant function Z was obtained by the following formula: Z = 0.177 x (age) + 0.0001 x (FVC) - 0.006 x (% FVC) - 0.009 x (FEV1.0%) - 0.023 x (PF) - 5.238. The discriminant border value Z was 0.244, which divided the subjects into two groups; the young (22-37 years of age, N = 245) and the middle aged (38-59 years of age, N = 182). 3. Some discriminant features were also observed within the middle-aged group between the younger (38-49 years of age) and the older (50 59 years of age) sub-groups. In evaluating the effects of aging on the respiratory function, three age-groups rather than two (young and middle-aged) maybe useful in many respects. 4. With the young group, there observed no correlations between the aged and each of the measurement items.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622466 TI - [Survey of postgraduate education by questionnaire]. AB - The dentists are expected to keep up with the progress of medico-dental knowledges and techniques through continuing education and practice, and to contribute to the health of the nation. In order to investigate the status quo of the dentists, a questionnaire relating to their view on postgraduate or continuing education was sent to a total of 200 dentists. The following were the results of the questionnaire. 1. Some popular ways of self-study by the dentists were to attend lectures and seminars sponsored by the dental association and to read dental journals and books at home, which comprised more than 60 percent. 2. Some topics for continuing education favored by the dentists were anesthesiology in its broad sense including emergency relief and the study of systemic control, anesthesiology in its restricted sense, oriental medicine, and other topics such as injection, medical dispute, questioning, and clinical inspection. It is noteworthy that the topics related to anesthesiology were most favored. 3. Audio visual aids like video-tapes, which enable the dentists study by themselves at their leisure hours at home, will be a favourable ways of continuing education for busy dentists. PMID- 2622467 TI - [Effect of driftodontics in which the method of the Vari-Simplex discipline (straight arch wire technique) was used]. AB - In 1979, Dr. R.G. Wick Alexander visited Japan at the invitation of the Japan Orthodontics Society to introduce the fundamental concepts and techniques of The Vari-Simplex Discipline. Since then, this method had arcused keen attention in Japan. This author attended a course of this method and has applied it clinically. The paper also examines the case of 32 male and female patients from 7 to 24 years age, to validate the effect of Driftodontics stressed by this method. As a result, regarding the upper jaw, in all 8 cases of (Formula: see text) extraction in the permanent dentition, the upper infraversional canines physiologically moved to the spaces after extraction. Regarding the lower jaw, in all 6 cases of (formula; see text) extraction in the permanent dentition, the teeth moved physiologically in desirable directions of correcting crowding in lower anterior teeth. However, in all 11 cases of non extraction in the permanent dentition, there was no tendency toward such movement (Driftodontics). On the other hand, 7 cases were observed in mixed dentition, although no teeth were extracted, teeth moved in desirable directions of correcting crowding in lower anterior teeth in 6 cases, except one case. The author believes Driftodontics to become very important principles in the orthodontic treatment. PMID- 2622468 TI - [Energy dispersive X-ray analysis of human deciduous teeth dentin]. AB - Human deciduous molars were ground and polished in order to be examined by an analytical electron microscopy. An energy dispersive X-ray analysis system attached with a scanning electron microscope was used to analyze the teeth dentin both qualitatively and quantitatively. Calcium and phosphorus and also magnesium could be detected in the intertubular dentin of their teeth. The calcium content of the interglobular dentin was lower than those of the other part of dentin. The magnesium content was almost 4% (atomic %). The magnesium content in the dentin was higher than those in the enamel and cementum of the same specimen. It was suggested that some magnesium was contained in the dentin crystal structure. PMID- 2622469 TI - Detection of fiber type grouping: further improvements to the enclosed fiber method. PMID- 2622470 TI - Sparing of the flexor carpi ulnaris in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. AB - A common misconception attributes sparing of the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) to its innervating branch arising "at or above the elbow." We examined the relationship of FCU branches to the medial epicondyle (ME) and humeroulnar aponeurotic arcade (HUA) in 30 cadaver elbows. In only three did the first FCU branch arise at or proximal to the ME. In 36 UNE cases with fibrillations in the first dorsal interosseous, the FCU was normal in 10, mildly abnormal in 11, and severely abnormal in 15. FCU involvement correlated with the severity of the neuropathy and with whether compression was retroepicondylar or at the HUA. We conclude that sparing of the FCU in UNE is unrelated to the level of origin of its innervating branch, but rather is related to the internal neural topography and to the severity and level of compression. PMID- 2622471 TI - Electrophysiologic evaluation of spinal cord motor conduction. AB - Spinal cord motor conduction was determined by stimulating with a monopolar needle at the C5 cord level and recording evoked motor potentials from the ipsilateral tibialis anterior muscle. Minimal F wave and direct motor latencies from the peroneal nerve were used to calculate peripheral conduction time. Mean velocity index (defined as the distance from C5 to L4 divided by central conduction time) of 15 normal subjects was 64.9 m/sec (SD 7.5). In 5 patients with multiple sclerosis the mean velocity index was 40.6 m/sec (SD 6.5), whereas in 3 patients with cervical myelopathies, due to extradural compression, the mean velocity index was 32.8 m/sec. A repeat study in one of the latter patients, 4 days after removal of a C5 disc, documented a marked improvement in cord conduction. In a patient with a thoracic and cervical syrinx, cervical cord stimulation on the clinically affected side failed to evoke a motor potential, whereas the unaffected side was normal. This method provides a simple and effective way to evaluate spinal cord motor conduction using routine electrodiagnostic equipment. PMID- 2622472 TI - Denervated single myofibers: neurite interactions and synaptic molecules. AB - As a first step in defining the molecular cues that may be important for reinnervation of long-term denervated muscle, single adult rat muscle fibers that had been denervated from 2 to 24 months in vivo were maintained in culture for 5 days. Embryonic ventral spinal cord explants were added to some of these cultures. Interactions of neurites with individual short-term (up to 5 months) and long-term (17-24 months) denervated muscle fibers were compared with neurite interactions in cultures of young adult muscle fibers (from 3 to 5-month-old rats) or aged muscle fibers (from 17 to 26-month-old rats). We found the following. (1) Three molecules that are found at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) -acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), and gelasmin (an acetylcholine receptor clustering factor that is found enriched at NMJ of adult muscle)--were reduced with increasing periods of denervation but not with aging. (2) The number of neurite contacts at junctional regions of muscle fibers that were formed and maintained on cultured muscle fibers depended on denervation time of the muscle in vivo; very few contacts were made or maintained on long-term denervated fibers. (3) Gelasmin, but not AChE or AChRs, was found at points of neurite contact on all muscle fibers examined, raising the possibility that it may serve as a cue for reinnervation and that its loss from long-term denervated muscle may be, at least in part, involved in the failure of neurite contacts to be made or maintained in culture and possibly in vivo. PMID- 2622473 TI - Automatic analysis of heart rate variation: I. Method and reference values in healthy controls. AB - Many patients referred to an electrophysiological laboratory may have autonomic dysfunction. Some parasympathetic tests are based on the assessment of heart rate variation induced by breathing, Valsalva maneuver, and standing. We have developed fast and practical computer-based methods to analyze heart rate variation using standard EMG equipment and a personal computer. For quantitative description we have evaluated different algorithms, both earlier described and new ones. Findings in patients with diabetes have been compared with those obtained from healthy subjects in order to determine the diagnostic utility of the various algorithms. The optimal algorithm has been chosen by this and other criteria, and a reference database from healthy subjects has been developed. PMID- 2622474 TI - Functions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and individuality of Jorge Lobo's disease: absence of the specific leukocyte digestive defect against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. AB - Peripheral blood neutrophils (PMNs) from a patient with Jorge Lobo's disease (JLD) digested well phagocytosed Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. We found no circulating antibodies against P. brasiliensis in the patient's serum. Such neutrophils showed myeloperoxidase activity and also digested normally phagocytosed Candida albicans. We had previously reported the presence of a specific digestive deficiency of PMNs from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PARA) vis a vis P. brasiliensis. Current findings provide new information about leukocyte functions in JLD and bolster the view that JLD, PARA and their respective causative microorganisms are distinct. PMID- 2622475 TI - Dermatophytes and keratinophilic fungi in cats and dogs. AB - During an 11 month period from January to November 1987, dermatophytes and keratinophilic fungi were isolated from 70 (75%) of 93 cats and 62 (36.9%) of 168 dogs. The most common isolate was Microsporum canis from 54 (58%) cats and 33 (19.6%) dogs, followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes from 5 (5.4%) cats and 9 (5.3%) dogs, Aphanoascus fulvescens (4 cats and 9 dogs), M. gypseum (5 dogs), Tr. terrestre (3 dogs) Myceliophthora vellerea (2 dogs) and Chrysosporium indicum, Chr. merdarium and Chr. tropicum from cats. Alternaria, Scopulariopsis, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aspergillus and Acremoniumspp., in descending frequency, were the most commonly found fungi in cats and dogs. The frequent infestation by the mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae on M. canis cultures suggest that mites may play a part in the carriage of fungi among animals. This mycophagous mite could disperse the fungi in animal hair by way of their fecal pellets during a transitory infestation. In this instance, the female mite can lay eggs and these could hatch on the animal's hair or in Petri dishes in which hair samples are cultured. In this event the future prospects of animal prophylaxis against dermatophytes could be made more effective by the regular use of acaricide agents on animal hair. PMID- 2622476 TI - Identification of certain false-positive results in the Cand-Tec test for candidal antigen. AB - By repeated testing of sera after heating (56 degrees C, 15 min) certain false positives in the Cand-Tec test can be identified from the thermo-resistance of the reaction. True titers are drastically reduced by such pretreatment of sera. The thermostable antigen giving rise to falsely positive agglutination is not identical with mannan. PMID- 2622477 TI - Effect of 5-fluorocytosine and 5-fluorouracil on human and rat hepatic cytochrome P 450. AB - Hepatotoxicity is a well-known side effect of the antifungal drug 5 fluorocytosine. The underlying mechanisms of this toxicity are unknown. The present in vitro study was, therefore, designed to assess the influence of 5 fluorocytosine and 5-fluorouracil on the hepatic cytochrome P 450 concentration in human and rat liver microsomes. Incubation of human or rat hepatic microsomes for 1 h with 5-fluorocytosine up to 500 micrograms/ml or with 5-fluorouracil up to 200 micrograms/ml did not influence the cytochrome P 450 concentration. In comparison the amount of cytochrome P 450 in human liver, however, was lower than in rat liver microsomes and a more interindividual variation was observed. PMID- 2622478 TI - Isoelectric focusing applied to taxonomic differentiation of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex and the related Trichophyton interdigitale. AB - Somatic extracts from dermatophytes of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex and of Trichophyton interdigitale grown on trypticase soy broth were prepared for analytical isoelectric focusing in thin layer polyacrylamide gels over the pH range 4-6.5. A total of 44 strains were studied: 8 Arthroderma benhamiae (4 Americano-European and 4 African races), 4 Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii, 6 Trichophyton mentagrophytes and 26 Trichophyton interdigitale. Laser densitometric analysis revealed two outstanding clusters of profiles. The first one matched with the Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii profile and gathered all the Trichophyton interdigitale strains studied and 4 Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The second one corresponded to the Arthroderma benhamiae profile and gathered 2 Trichophyton mentagrophytes. This isoelectric focusing analysis suggests on one hand that Trichophyton interdigitale might be the anamorph species corresponding to the teleomorph Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii, and on the other hand that Trichophyton mentagrophytes might correspond to two teleomorph species, either Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii or Arthroderma benhamiae. PMID- 2622479 TI - Tumor therapy with shock waves requires modified lithotripter shock waves. PMID- 2622480 TI - Circa-minute rhythm in human vibratory output. PMID- 2622481 TI - Antifungal activity of Caloglyphus polyphyllae sex pheromone and other mite exudates. Pheromone study on astigmatid mites, XXIV. PMID- 2622482 TI - The isolation of littorine from a Duboisia hybrid. PMID- 2622483 TI - Developmental potential of nuclei from mouse teratocarcinoma cells. PMID- 2622484 TI - Context memorization in the song-learning of birds. PMID- 2622485 TI - Wheelchairs by design. PMID- 2622486 TI - Hydrocolloid dressings in accident and emergency. PMID- 2622488 TI - The challenge of change. PMID- 2622487 TI - Innovation in Navy medicine: what can we expect? PMID- 2622489 TI - Nonaircrew frequent flier training. PMID- 2622490 TI - The Hippocratic Oath's secrecy clause: a view from the courts. PMID- 2622491 TI - Food handlers: a potential high risk group for hypercholesterolemia. PMID- 2622492 TI - [Psychological aspects of craniomandibular dysfunction]. AB - The role of psychological factors in the etiology and maintenance of craniomandibular dysfunction has been examined in different ways. A relation has been found between certain personality characteristics and craniomandibular dysfunction-complaints. The cause/effect relation however is unclear. The influence of stress on CMD has been demonstrated. The importance of socalled illness behaviour as a result of the complaints, especially with chronic patients has been increasingly recognized. The psychological treatment of CMD-patients often includes some form of relaxation therapy, and methods aimed at diminishing the influence of stress for example the teaching of coping skills. Motivating the patient not to seek a purely dental solution to his problem is one of the most important elements of a successful treatment program. A multidisciplinairy approach seems to be a promising approach to these multifactorially determined problems. PMID- 2622493 TI - [Combined orthodontic-surgical treatment of an overjet]. AB - Following a description of the characteristics and development of the Class II, division 2, the possibilities of orthodontic treatment and combined orthodontic surgical treatment are discussed. PMID- 2622494 TI - [Fluoride and mottled enamel]. AB - The prevalence of mottled enamel in permanent teeth of children, visiting the pediatric clinic of the Dental School ACTA in Amsterdam and using fluoride, has been examined utilizing the Thylstrup-Fejerskov index for enamel fluorosis. Of all children examined (n = 83) 74% exhibited mottled enamel, varying from a very mild to a moderate degree. The amount and degree of mottling increased when children started using fluoride at an earlier age. A high frequency of toothbrushing along with a high concentration of 0.15% fluoride in toothpaste, in combination with ingesting fluoride tablets, may be responsible for the high prevalence of enamel fluorosis. PMID- 2622495 TI - [Fluorosis in Senegal]. AB - A survey was done to register the prevalence of dental fluorosis among children aged 7-16 years and the occurrence of skeletal fluorosis among adults aged 40-60 years living in regions in Senegal where fluoride concentrations in the drinking water ranged from less than 0.1 mg/l to 7.4 mg/l. In the area where the fluoride concentration in the drinking water was 1.1 mg/l milder forms of dental fluorosis were found, the prevalence being 68.5%. In areas where fluoride concentrations exceeded 4 mg/l the prevalence of dental fluorosis reached 100%. Kyphosis was very prevalent in a community whose drinking water contained 7.4 mg/l fluoride. Radiographs of the vertebral column, hand and wrist of 3 adults with kyphosis confirmed the diagnosis of skeletal fluorosis. High sweat loss and a high intake of water because of the hot weather may account for the present findings. The World Health Organisation guidelines for the fluoride concentration in drinking water seems unsuitable for countries with a hot, dry climate. PMID- 2622496 TI - [Dental survey (Leot-project): aims, sampling and participation]. AB - In 1986 a nationwide dental survey was carried out in the Netherlands. Aims of the study were to assess the prevalence of dental diseases, needs and demands for care and dental behavior in the Dutch adult population aged 15 years and more. The paper describes sampling procedures, stratification factors and field organization of the study. As a result, representative (baseline) data of prevalence and need for care of dental diseases are now available. Those data will be published in a number of separate papers in this journal. PMID- 2622497 TI - [Recent views of fluoride in dentistry]. AB - Although the importance of fluorides in the prevention of dental caries has been known for many decades, research in this field is still continuing. This has resulted both in new concepts of the mechanisms of action of fluorides and in new therapies and products to prevent dental caries. PMID- 2622498 TI - [Prevention of oral side effects in children receiving chemotherapy]. AB - Especially in children the frequency of oral complications associated with cancer chemotherapy is high. The dentist plays an important role in preventing or reducing these sometimes life-threatening problems. Oral symptoms of the underlying disease, oral sequelae from chemotherapy, patient-related factors and a preventive oral care program will be discussed. PMID- 2622499 TI - [Playing with probabilities in dentistry]. AB - Dependent from the probabilities of success and failure, one takes risks in daily live. These probabilities are in some instances easily estimated, in other circumstances more difficult to determine. The latter holds especially true in case of 'conditional' probabilities. In regard to dentistry, these probabilities are of importance too; if, for instance, one has to choose between endodontic treatment versus extraction, obliteration of the rootcanal and periapical pathologic processes posses a negative influence on success. This article describes how a probability is changed when a condition datum is assimilated, with use of fictive examples. PMID- 2622500 TI - [Analysis of patient records in an orthodontic practice]. AB - The dentist often refers children to the orthodontist. Little is known why these children were referred or about the subsequent decisions of the orthodontist. In this article the data of some 400 children, 12.0 years average, from an orthodontic private practice are analysed. The relationship between sex, age, oral habits, trauma of the chin, profile, arch crowding, extraction and treatment period are reported, in an attempt to find a stereotype for children referred to an orthodontist. The profile most probably was not the reason to refer the children to the orthodontist. Crowding in the upper front teeth, however, was especially in older children. PMID- 2622501 TI - [Spontaneous correction of the rotation of the permanent central lower incisors]. AB - On the basis of a series of dental models from children between five and nine years (twice-yearly examination) with final models being made of 319 of these children at the age of 16, determinations were made of the rotation of the permanent central lower incisors 'shortly after complete eruption of the cutting edge' at the age of 16. The study showed that spontaneous correction amounts to 53% and 60% respectively for an original mesio-lingual rotation (type less than 90 degrees) and for an original disto-lingual rotation (type greater than 90 degrees). PMID- 2622502 TI - [Prevalence of TMJ signs and symptoms in the Dutch adult population]. AB - In 1986 a nationwide dental survey was carried out in The Netherlands. One of the sub-objectives of the study was to assess the prevalence of TMJ signs and symptoms in the Dutch adult population. A stratified sample of 3526 persons, aged 15 to 74 years, participated in the study. Participants in the clinical examinations were asked by questionnaire about subjective signs and symptoms of TMJ. Clinical examination of joint sounds, deviation and pain during mandibular movements were also performed. With regard to the Helkimo classification it can be stated that 78.4% of the participants had no subjective signs and symptoms of TMJ, whereas clinically recorded 55.6% were symptomfree. 4.9% had severe subjective signs and symptoms, and 2.8% had clinically recorded severe signs and symptoms of TMJ. In general a higher percentage of women in comparison to men showed signs and symptoms of mandibular dysfunction. Only 1.4% of the people with severe subjective signs and symptoms had sought for professional help. PMID- 2622503 TI - [Use of a dental health education center]. AB - In the year 1986 1910 persons made use of the services of a dental health education center in Amsterdam. One day a week a dentist could be consulted. The rest of the week other members of the team were available for answering questions. Almost 30% of the questions concerned dental treatment, diagnosis of treatment plan, 20% dental fees and other financial aspects of treatment and questions for folders, posters et cetera accounted for another 20%. Only 5% of the questions referred to preventive matters. A quarter of the dentist's interventions consisted of giving a second opinion. More women than men, and more privately insured than sick fund insured contacted the center. PMID- 2622504 TI - [Magnetic retention in implantology]. AB - The use of magnets in dentistry is not very common. The reason for this is, that the available room in the mouth allows only the use of very small magnets, and often the space between both magnets is too large. This leads to a poor retention. The development of new rare earth magnets offers now a retention comparable with the retention of precision attachments. Possibilities for the use of magnets in dental implantology are discribed. PMID- 2622505 TI - [Genioplasty]. AB - Genioplasty can enhance the esthetic features of the face. The operative procedure concerns mainly osteotomy of the lower border of the anterior region of the mandible. The commonly used types of osteotomies are discussed and subdivided in all planes of reference. PMID- 2622506 TI - [Measurement of dentists' treatment conceptions]. AB - It was hypothesized that dentists have different conceptions of treatment. A distinction was made between a relational dimension with extremes a communicative and a directive conception and a dental dimension with extremes a restorative and a preventive conception. For the measurement of the conceptions a questionnaire of fourty-three items was constructed. The questionnaire was administered to 149 dentists in The Netherlands. Using factor analysis eleven items were selected for the relational dimension and also eleven items for the dental dimension. Cronbach's coefficient alpha is .75 for the relational dimension and .78 for the dental dimension; the correlation of the two dimensions is .21. Therefore, the conceptions can be measured using the questionnaire. The conception of the dentists is in general communicative; the variation between the restorative and preventive conceptions is rather large. PMID- 2622507 TI - [Periodontal disease in Dutch adults]. AB - A nationwide epidemiological survey was carried out on a stratified sample (age, sex, SES and area) of 2784 dentate people in the age of 15-74 years. Prevalence of plaque, gingivitis, calculus and pockets was recorded. About 85% of the individuals had gingivitis. The percentage of individuals with calculus varied from 40% (15-19 years old) to 76% in the oldest age group (65-74 year). More then 50% of the people, aged 30 and over had pockets greater than 3.5 mm. PMID- 2622508 TI - [Clients' satisfaction with services of a dental health education center]. AB - In the year 1986 1910 persons made use of the services of a dental health education center. About 90% of the clients were satisfied, more than satisfied or very satisfied with the services of the dentist and other members of the team. Consultation of the dentist resulted in most cases in the question posed being answered, in more than a third of the cases in consenting with the treatment advised by the own dentist, in nearly a quarter of the cases in a change of dentist. Almost 70% of the clients would be willing to pay $10 for consultation of the health education center's dentist. PMID- 2622509 TI - [Premalignant lesions and conditions of the oral mucosa]. AB - An overview is presented of the premalignant lesions and conditions of the oral mucosa. The dentist can play an important role in the detection of these lesions, thereby reducing the chance of premalignant transformation. PMID- 2622510 TI - [Oral malignancies. The dentist's responsibility in early diagnosis and prevention]. AB - In view of his professional training the dentist should be prepared to play an important role in the early diagnosis of oral malignancies. Furthermore, the dentist has a responsibility in the primary prevention of not only oral cancer, but also of cancer in other sites of the body, by providing the appropriate information to his patients about cancer preventive measurements. PMID- 2622511 TI - [Treatment of oral cancer]. AB - Patients with oral cancer are usually treated in cancer units. Surgery and radiotherapy are the most important treatment modalities, as has been discussed in this review article. The prognosis of small cancers, that have not yet produced metastatic lymph nodes is excellent. Therefore, early diagnosis is of vital importance. PMID- 2622512 TI - [Psychological problems of patients with orofacial cancer]. AB - An insight is presented of the psychological and social problems of patients with orofacial cancer. For most patients the diagnosis of cancer is the same as the idea of dying. The majority of the patients sees only a limited future perspective for themselves. A positive attitude by the family plays an important part in the ultimate acceptance of orofacial mutilation. PMID- 2622513 TI - [Training in oral cancer and precancer; guidelines from the Commission of the European Community]. AB - An advisory committee, comprising the twelve members of the European Community, has prepared a report on training in oral cancer and precancer. Recommendations have been made for both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs. The dental curriculum should equip the general practitioner to play a major role in the prevention and early detection and diagnosis of oral malignancies. Furthermore, emphasis is placed upon the necessity of clinical experience during basic training. PMID- 2622514 TI - [Periodontal treatment need in the Dutch adult population]. AB - In 1986 a nationwide dental survey was carried out in The Netherlands. One of the objectives of the study was to assess the periodontal treatment need in the Dutch adult population. A stratified sample of 3526 people aged 15 to 74 years, participated in the study. Based on the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) it can be stated that more than 90% of the adult population of 25 years and over needs oral hygiene education and scaling in one of more sextants (TN2). Complex treatment, scaling and oral hygiene education (TN3) is needed in 19 to 28% of the population aged 45 year and over. The estimated time for performing the necessary periodontal treatments, based on four different time assessments, varied from 12.4 to 31.1 million hours. PMID- 2622515 TI - [Dentists' opinion on the utility of a dental health education center]. AB - Dentists' opinion on the utility of a dental health education centre was assessed. More than 80% of the dentists hold the opinion that such a centre is in the interest of both patients and dentists. The health education provided by the centre should, according to three quarters of the respondents, be directed to prevention and treatment; one quarter is in favor of health education directed to prevention only. The overall judgement on getting a second opinion is positive. Nevertheless, 22% judges asking for a second opinion as a sign of mistrust in one's own dentist. More than half of the dentists feel that a dental health education centre should be totally or partly financed by the Dutch Association of Dentists. PMID- 2622516 TI - [Intracerebral graft of a line of chromaffin cells. Immunologic aspects and role of nerve growth factor in survival and differentiation of the graft]. AB - The efficiency of neuronal grafts is correlated with the differentiation of the grafted cells and the connections they establish with the host tissue. The prolonged survival of a chromaffin cell line (PC12) transplanted into an immunodepressed rat brain shows that neuronal differentiation is correlated with the amount of nerve growth factor (N.G.F.) present in the grafted structure. This result is in agreement with in vitro studies. The characterization of other factors that influence the differentiation of PC12 cells in culture could lead to an increase in the efficiency of intracerebral grafts of adrenal medulla cells in Parkinson's disease. PMID- 2622517 TI - [Remarks on callosotomy in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy]. AB - In this report 17 patients with long-standing non-focal epilepsy underwent callosotomy (this was total in two patients and performed in two stages, and anterior-subtotal in the remaining patients). In all patients the atonic hypertonic seizures with sudden falls were the most disabling epileptic fits. Callosotomy proved efficient in controlling atonic fits in 10 out of 15 patients in whom surgical results are evaluated. In 3 additional patients the frequency of atonic fits was reduced by more than 50%. In the remaining two patients, no therapeutic effect was observed. Callosotomy was less effective on seizures which were not atonic. Therefore, this procedure appears to be indicated in patients in whom atonic fits are predominant. The main effect of callosotomy is to transform drug-resistant seizures into drug-sensitive ones. Neuropsychological sequels are insignificant unless the splenium is severed. However, considerable psychic and behavioral improvement was nearly always observed after surgery. Despite the fact that on a therapeutic level results were often satisfactory, a number of practical problems still remain. These concern the full spectrum of indications for callosotomy, the extent of corpus callosum section, choice of methods in severely mentally retarded patients and, finally, the age at which the operation should be carried out. PMID- 2622518 TI - [Successful separation in 1974 of craniopagus twins united at the vertex. Indications, technics, follow-up after 14 years]. AB - On July 22, 1974, 55 days after delivery, the separation of female craniopagus twins united at the vertex was performed. This case was very similar to the case published by Voris in 1957 after separation in 1955. Surgery was decided because the neurological examination was normal in both twins, because there was no body malformation, because the angiogram as well as isotopic scintigraphy showed two normal brains, two superior sagittal sinuses and two torcular areas with a short venous union in the middle of the bone defect. In addition, Sophie and Sonia were suffering from respiratory disturbances due to their position. Surgery was easy (90 min) using the operative microscope; intubation and placing intravascular tubes for hemodynamic monitoring were difficult and lasted 4 hours. After all it took 14 years and 23 operations to complete the reconstructive surgery of the bone and skin. Cranioplasty was finally performed using vitallium plates. On their 14th birthday a neuropsychological investigation was performed with an IQ of 94 in Sophie and 76 in Sonia. Both girls are nubile and enjoy a normal school attendance. PMID- 2622519 TI - [Intramedullary neurenteric cyst without an associated malformation. Case report]. AB - The authors report a case of an intramedullary neurenteric cyst without any associated dysraphic lesion. Unlike extramedullary intradural forms, this type of malformation remains rare. Our observation is one of the first to have been evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Theories concerning the embryogenesis of neurenteric cysts as well as their clinical characteristics and surgical treatment are discussed. PMID- 2622520 TI - [Early resection of the orbital band in coronal craniostenosis]. AB - The authors report a case history of bilateral coronal synostosis in Apert's syndrome, treated by fronto-orbital band resection and linear craniectomy of the pathologic sutures. The authors emphasize the rapidity of this procedure, its safety for fragile children and its immediate results. PMID- 2622521 TI - Arginine vasopressin 4-9 retards spatial alternation learning. AB - Thirty adult male rats were randomly divided into three groups and prepared with either posterior parietal, medial frontal or sham neocortical injuries. After a 10-12 day recovery interval, access to water was restricted to a 30-min period per day and the rats were trained to run in a T-maze for a reward of sweetened water. After reaching a pre-training criterion, osmotic mini-pumps (Alzet 2002) were installed subcutaneously. For the next 14 to 15 days, the pumps delivered chronically either 0 or 1.2 micrograms of arginine vasopressin 4-9 (AVP 4-9) dissolved in bacteriostatic saline while the animals were trained on a reinforced spatial alternation task. Analysis of variance on the number of errors committed to a criterion of at least 80% correct alternations in two consecutive training sessions, or a ceiling of 50 errors (attained by two rats with parietal lesions), revealed a significant retardation in animals administered AVP 4-9 during training. These results demonstrate that this centrally active metabolite of vasopressin can interfere with the acquisition of a cognitive learning task when administered concomitantly with training. PMID- 2622522 TI - The effects of anesthetics on the concentrations of cholecystokinin octapeptide sulfate-like immunoreactivity in rat brain regions. AB - Cholecystokinin octapeptide sulfate-like immunoreactivity (CCK-8S-LI) was determined by radioimmunoassay in rat brain areas following injections of pentobarbital, halothane and chloral hydrate. Time-dependent changes in the concentrations of CCK-8S-LI were different between pentobarbital and chloral hydrate in all brain regions studied. After pentobarbital injection, CCK-8S-Li peaked at 30-60 min in the frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, striatum and substantia nigra; after chloral hydrate injection, CCK-8S-LI peaked at 120 min in the hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens and substantia nigra. Both anesthetics induced almost the same sleeping times. Halothane inhalation caused increases in the concentrations of CCK-8S-LI in the amygdala and hippocampus. In addition, following intracardial perfusion of saline for 30 min after pentobarbital anesthesia, the concentrations of CCK-8S-LI increased in the nucleus accumbens, and decreased in the frontal cortex. These results suggest that since different anesthetics cause different changes in CCK levels, anesthetics affect studies of these neurons. PMID- 2622523 TI - Caerulein-induced antinociception: interaction with morphine and opioid antagonists in the rat. AB - The relationship between CCK- and opioid-activated systems in antinociception is not clear. The effects of morphine, naloxone and naltrexone on the antinociceptive effect of systemically administered caerulein was determined using the paw pressure test in the rat. Caerulein treatment significantly increased paw pressure threshold with an ED50 of 30 micrograms/kg (22.2 nmol/kg) and was considerably more potent than morphine in this respect (ED50 of 882 nmol/kg). The opioid antagonists naloxone and naltrexone were found to potentiate the antinociceptive effect of caerulein (30 micrograms/kg) whilst abolishing the effect of morphine at doses of 3 micrograms/kg and above. Co-administration of caerulein (30 micrograms/kg) with low doses of morphine, normally ineffective in the paw pressure test, abolished caerulein-induced antinociception. However the effects of antinociceptive doses of morphine were depressed by caerulein (30 micrograms/kg), showing a mutual antagonism between caerulein and opioid activated effects. In contrast to these observations, morphine pre-injection (3h before testing) was found to significantly potentiate caerulein-induced antinociception revealing a differential interaction between opioid and CCK systems at different time points. The results indicate that CCK and opioids produce antinociception by separate, yet overlapping mechanisms. PMID- 2622524 TI - Oxytocin stimulates oxytocin release from isolated nerve terminals of rat neural lobes. AB - Nerve endings from rat neural lobes isolated by homogenization were placed on a filter and constantly superfused. The effects of exogenous oxytocin and vasopressin (both added at 1 nM concentration) on basal and stimulated release of oxytocin and vasopressin were investigated. Stimulated release was evoked by 30 mM potassium and a simultaneous increase in osmolarity. A stimulatory effect of oxytocin on basal and evoked release of oxytocin was found while there was no effect on vasopressin release. The addition of vasopressin did not induce any change in the release of either hormone. The positive feedback mechanism observed with oxytocin might be active during the discharge of oxytocin which is known to occur in bursts. PMID- 2622525 TI - Trophic support of the developing cochleovestibular ganglion by its peripheral target in vitro does not depend on neuronal cell division. AB - A trophic effect on the development of the cochleovestibular ganglion in the presence of its synaptic target tissue, the embryonic otocyst, has been shown in organ cultures. The basis for this trophic effect could be increased neuronal proliferation or enhanced postmitotic survival and differentiation. In order to determine if the trophic effect influenced neuronal proliferation, organ cultures of combined otocyst and cochleovestibular ganglion (embryonic stages 23-24) were grown 14 days in vitro in the continuous presence of [3H]thymidine. Serial sections of the explants made at each stage were assayed for autoradiographic labeling of cell nuclei and for numbers of cochleovestibular ganglion neurons. Explants were well developed morphologically and contained numbers of ganglionic neurons within the same range as previously reported. Many other well differentiated cell types were also present, including hair cells, supporting cells, other epithelial cells, cartilage, connective tissue, and perineuronal satellite cells. All of these non-neuronal cell types had undergone DNA synthesis in vitro, as evidenced by their heavily labeled nuclei. The cochleovestibular ganglion neurons were the only cell type with unlabeled nuclei, indicating that they had not divided or synthesized DNA during the two-week incubation. Thus all of the identifiable cochleovestibular ganglion neurons must have become postmitotic in the explants. Since ganglion cell division is still occurring in situ when the neurons are explanted, neuroblasts either failed to divide or failed to produce neuronal progeny in the culture conditions used. Therefore, the dependence of the cochleovestibular ganglion neurons on their normal target tissues most likely reflects a trophic effect on their postmitotic survival and differentiation. PMID- 2622526 TI - The effect of blocking sodium influx on anoxic damage in the rat hippocampal slice. AB - The in vitro rat hippocampal slice was used to study the effect of tetrodotoxin, a sodium channel blocker, on anoxic damage. Tetrodotoxin improved recovery of the evoked population spike after anoxia and reduced the fall in adenosine 5' triphosphate during anoxia. Electrophysiological responses to perforant pathway stimulation were recorded in the dentate granule cell layer before, during and after 10 min of anoxia, with and without tetrodotoxin. Preincubation with tetrodotoxin permitted recovery of the evoked population spike to 43 +/- 10% (mean +/- standard error) in the post-anoxic period; this compared to 3 +/-3% recovery in untreated tissue (P less than 0.005). Similar studies of the CA1 pyramidal cells, which are more sensitive to anoxia, showed that tetrodotoxin improved recovery of the postsynaptic response after 5 min of anoxia. The recovery was 69 +/- 15% of its pre-anoxic level when treated with tetrodotoxin. This compares to no recovery in untreated tissue (P less than 0.005). Biochemical studies demonstrated a significantly reduced fall in adenosine 5'-triphosphate levels during levels in the dentate granule cell layer fell to 1.4 nM/mg dry wt, whereas following treatment with tetrodotoxin they only fell to 2.2 nM/mg. Since it required only 5 min of anoxia to damage the CA1 pyramidal cells, adenosine 5' triphosphate levels were measured in this region after 5 min of anoxia. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate levels in the CA1 region fell to 2.2 nM/mg in untreated tissue after 5 min of anoxia, compared to 2.9 nM/mg in the tetrodotoxin-treated tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622527 TI - Effect of thalamic parafascicularis nucleus stimulation in regulation of serotoninergic transmission in the cat caudate nucleus: involvement of autoreceptors in the dorsalis raphe nucleus. AB - The mechanisms involved in parafascicularis nucleus control on serotoninergic neurons projecting into the caudate nucleus were investigated in "encephale isole" cats. The effects of unilateral stimulation of the parafascicularis nucleus on the release of newly synthesized [3H]serotonin were simultaneously determined in the ipsilateral caudate nucleus and the dorsalis raphe nucleus using push-pull cannulae. The actions of various pharmacological treatments performed either in the caudate nucleus or in the dorsalis raphe nucleus were also examined. The electrical or chemical stimulation of the parafascicularis nucleus induced a decrease in striatal [3H]serotonin release and an increase in [3H]serotonin release in the dorsalis raphe nucleus. The blockade of cholinergic (mecamylamine) and glutamatergic (PK 26124) transmissions at the striatal level did not modify the thalamic stimulation-induced effect on serotonin release in the caudate nucleus or in the dorsalis raphe nucleus. However, a decrease induced by parafascicularis nucleus stimulation in serotonin release in the caudate nucleus could not be observed when the autoreceptors present on serotoninergic nerve cell bodies localized in the dorsalis raphe nucleus were blocked by a methiothepin perfusion within the nucleus. These results indicate that the parafascicularis nucleus controls striatal serotonin transmission by inducing changes in the nerve activity of serotoninergic neurons in the dorsalis raphe nucleus via somatodendritic serotonin release and autoreceptors. PMID- 2622528 TI - An ultrastructural analysis of serotoninergic neurons in the nucleus raphe magnus of the rat. AB - The synaptic organization of serotonin elements in the nucleus raphe magnus of adult rat was investigated by electron microscopic immunocytochemistry with an antiserum against serotonin itself. Immunoreactive somata in the nucleus raphe magnus were usually of the same size (7-15 microns) and showed similar cytological features as their unlabeled congeners. The serotonin perikarya were contacted by a few unlabeled axon terminals containing round synaptic vesicles, and gave rise to dendrites which often ran perpendicularly to the midline. These dendrites received many contacts from axon terminals containing round or pleomorphic synaptic vesicles, but themselves failed to show vesicular aggregates or membrane differentiations suggestive of synaptic specialization. Immunoreactive axon terminals were numerous and mostly contained round or pleomorphic vesicles. Several exhibited synaptic contacts on dendrites, but there were also others which did not show any synaptic membranous differentiation, even when followed in serial sections. Immunostained myelinated as well as unmyelinated axons could be observed. These results provide a first description of the morphology and synaptic organization of the serotonin neurons in adult rat nucleus raphe magnus. PMID- 2622529 TI - Symptomatic and asymptomatic 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-treated primates: biochemical changes in striatal regions. AB - Administration of the neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, to primates produces an excellent behavioral model of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. In the vervet monkey, regional biochemical differences in the striatum of two 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-treated groups were examined one to two months after treatment and compared with controls; one group displayed no observable gross motor abnormalities after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine treatment (asymptomatic), whereas the other group became markedly parkinsonian (symptomatic). In both 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine-treated groups massive depletions of dopamine and homovanillic acid concentrations were observed in the striatum; generally, dopamine losses in the symptomatic group (greater than 95%) were greater than in the asymptomatic group (greater than 75%). However, in striatum, a marked heterogeneity in 1 methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine susceptibility was found; certain striatal regions having 99% depletion of dopamine even in asymptomatic monkeys. Overall, in ventromedial regions of striatum the losses of dopamine and homovanillic acid concentrations were less than in dorsolateral regions at the same coronal level. There was a significant negative correlation between control homovanillic acid/dopamine ratios and susceptibility of examined regions to 1 methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine toxicity. Unlike idiopathic, but similar to postencephalitic, Parkinson's disease, dopamine and homovanillic acid levels in caudate nucleus were not spared relative to putamen; in fact, in the asymptomatic group caudate nucleus dopamine and homovanillic acid concentrations were depleted to a greater extent than in putamen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622530 TI - High-affinity and selectivity of neosurugatoxin for the inhibition of 22Na influx via nicotinic receptor-ion channel in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells: comparative study with histrionicotoxin. AB - In cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells, neosurugatoxin and histrionicotoxin inhibited carbachol-induced influx of 22Na, 45Ca and secretion of catecholamines with IC50 of 27 nM and 3 microM, respectively. The inhibitory effects of neosurugatoxin were reversed by the increased concentrations of carbachol, whereas those of histrionicotoxin were not. Histrionicotoxin at concentrations higher than 10 microM also reduced veratridine-induced influx of 22Na, 45Ca and secretion of catecholamines, while neosurugatoxin had no effects. High K-induced 45Ca influx and catecholamine secretion were not altered by either neosurugatoxin or histrionicotoxin. The present findings suggest (1) neosurugatoxin competitively inhibits nicotinic receptor-ion channel complex at nanomolar concentrations, but has no effects on voltage-dependent Na channel and voltage dependent Ca channel; (2) histrionicotoxin at micromolar concentrations non competitively suppresses nicotinic receptor-ion channel complex. Higher concentrations of histrionicotoxin also interferes with voltage-dependent Na channel, but has no effect on voltage-dependent Ca channel; (3) neosurugatoxin, due to its high-affinity and selectivity, may be a useful probe for studying nicotinic receptors in nervous tissues. PMID- 2622531 TI - Quantitative autoradiography of the rat brain vesicular monoamine transporter using the binding of [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine and 7-amino-8-[125I]iodoketanserin. AB - The binding of [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine, a specific ligand of the monoamine transporter present on serotonin and catecholamine synaptic vesicles, was studied on rat brain sections. The characteristics of binding (Kd = 5.0 nM, k1 = 0.13 x 10(6) M-1 s-1; k-1 = 0.66 x 10(-3) s-1) were similar to those previously observed on tissue homogenates. The rostrocaudal topographical distribution of dihydrotetrabenazine binding sites was analysed by quantitative autoradiography. High labelling was observed in regions richly innervated by monoaminergic systems: dopamine in the striatum and olfactory tubercles, noradrenaline in the striatal fissure and in the paraventricular and dorsomedial hypothalamus and serotonin in the lateral septum, islands of Calleja and suprachiasmatic nucleus. Cell bodies were also labelled in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area (dopamine), in locus coeruleus (noradrenaline) and in raphe nucleus (serotonin). The pituitary gland (particularly the neural lobe) and the pineal gland were also labelled. Low labelling was observed in various areas of the cerebral cortex and in the cerebellum. Unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the substantia nigra dramatically reduced [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine labelling in the ipsilateral striatum. Moreover, ketanserin has recently been shown to possess a nanomolar affinity for the vesicular monoamine transporter, and autoradiographic localization of brain monoaminergic synaptic vesicles was also obtained by means of the derivative 7-amino-8-[125I]iodoketanserin in the presence of 5 hydroxytryptamine2 and alpha 1 antagonists, although the non-specific labelling was higher than with [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine. It is concluded that [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine may represent a valuable monoaminergic marker in in vitro autoradiographic studies. PMID- 2622532 TI - Localization of C-PON immunoreactivity in the rat main olfactory bulb. Demonstration that the population of neurons containing endogenous C-PON display NADPH-diaphorase activity. AB - The presence of the neuropeptide C-terminal flanking peptide of neuropeptide-Y, C PON, has been investigated in the main olfactory bulb of the rat using conventional fluorescence and peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemical techniques. The distribution of immunoreactive structures to C-PON was examined in both horizontal and coronal sections. Endogenous C-PON was localized within two types of short-axon cells including (1) superficial short-axon cells in the glomerular layer and (2) deep short-axon cells lying in the deepest portion of the granule cell layer and in the adjacent white matter. In addition, varicose immunoreactive processes were detected in all layers, although they were more numerous in the deepest portion of the granule cell layer. Immunoreactive cell bodies and processes were also observed in the nucleus olfactorius anterior and in the intrabulbar portion of the anterior commissure. Nevertheless, immunoreactive structures were not localized in the lateral olfactory tract. The indirect immunofluorescence technique to detect endogenous C-PON in combination with the enzyme histochemical demonstration of NADPH-diaphorase activity, in single sections, showed that the NADPH-diaphorase procedure is a reliable marker for these C-PON positive cells. Also, indirectly, that, in the rat main olfactory bulb, C-PON and neuropeptide-Y are contained in the same cell types. Many glomeruli were stained following the NADPH-diaphorase procedure, but they were not C-PON immunoreactives. Results of this study provide evidence suggesting that C-PON may influence polysynaptically the function of mitral cells and, therefore, the olfactory bulb output. PMID- 2622533 TI - Demonstration of monoamine oxidase-A and -B in the human brainstem by a histochemical technique. AB - The distribution of both monoamine oxidase subtypes, monoamine oxidase-A and -B, is demonstrated in brainstems from 16 humans by use of a histochemical technique. The results presented here, focus primarily upon the aminergic areas of the substantia nigra, the locus coeruleus and the raphe nuclei. While dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra revealed no staining for monoamine oxidase, noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus stained positively with the monoamine oxidase-A substrate serotonin, and serotonergic neurons of the raphe nuclei were stained by the monoamine oxidase-B substrate beta-phenylethylamine. In addition, data are presented showing that glial cells stain predominantly for monoamine oxidase-B. PMID- 2622534 TI - Vasoactive intestinal peptide-like immunoreactivity in rodent taste cells. AB - The neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide was localized to taste buds of the posterior tongue regions of hamsters and rats by immunocytochemical techniques. Tissue sections, taken from foliate and circumvallate papillae, generally revealed taste buds in which all cells were immunoreactive; however, occasionally some taste buds were found to contain highly reactive individual cells adjacent to non-reactive cells. Additionally, some non-reactive taste buds were observed. Taste buds that displayed vasoactive intestinal peptide-like immunoreactivity usually had a tendency for much darker staining at the apical ends of the cells than the basal ends, suggesting a polar cytoplasmic distribution of the peptide. The multi-functional roles of vasoactive intestinal peptide in other physiological systems combined with both its cytoplasmic localization in taste cells and the known histochemistry/ultrastructure of taste cells raises interesting speculations of this peptide's function in gustation that include secretion, stimulation of a second messenger system, and neuromodulation. PMID- 2622535 TI - [The diagnostic value of delta-R and delta-Q as positive criteria of the ergometry test in a group of patients with angina pectoris of effort]. AB - ECG-exercise tests were performed in 29 patients affected by effort chest pain. All patients underwent coronary angiography and/or revealed positive results in the cycloergometer effort test. The aim of the study was to evaluate ultrasonic variations in the R and Q waves due to maximal effort, so as to increase the information provided by the effort ECG. In the coronary angiographic test, 21 out of 29 patients revealed significant hemodynamic coronary stenosis; 10 patients were affected by previous myocardial necrosis; 8 patients showed no hemodynamic coronary lesions (OV). In the OV patients a statistically significant increase was observed in the Q wave at maximal effort in comparison with average basal values; on the other hand, there was a decrease, although not significant, in voltage at peak effort in patients with coronary stenosis. R wave amplitude was smaller in comparison to basal values in OV patients, while a significant increase was observed in the 21 patients with coronary lesions. PMID- 2622536 TI - [Fibrinogen, a cardiovascular risk factor]. AB - Fibrinogen level is an independent predisposing factor for coronary heart disease and has a prognostic significance comparable with that of cigarette smoking, serum cholesterol level and hypertension. In our study fibrinogen levels were measured in 45 patients with cardiovascular disease of which 25 (55%) had a high fibrinogen level and in 45 persons healty, of which only 3 (6.6%) increased fibrinogen. The impact of fibrinogen level on the risk of cardiovascular disease was more consistent in men of all ages considered. The authors note that the independent contribution of fibrinogen to the cardiovascular risk may reflect hypercoagulability, hyperviscosity and increased platelet aggregation. Therefore they consider, the dosing of fibrinogen level important in the research of cardiovascular risk factors. PMID- 2622537 TI - [Cardiac arrhythmias during dialysis. An unresolved problem]. AB - The incidence of the arrhythmias in 47 patients subjected to chronic hospital dialysis using different techniques has been assessed. Cardiopathies and non cardiopathies were assessed separately. In the first group, no significant differences were observed with respect to the presence of heart rhythm disturbances. The second group showed increased ventricular arrhythmias during the intradialysis and postdialysis period. A statistical correlation was carried out between the presence of arrhythmias and various parameters (technique of dialysis, weight difference, ultrafiltrate/hour, age). The only statistically significant correlation in the non-cardiopathies was age. PMID- 2622538 TI - [Cardiocirculatory adaptations during the initial phases of pregnancy. An echo Doppler assessment]. AB - During pregnancy the cardiovascular apparatus meets an important process of morphofunctional adjustment. However the very moment when this happens is not very well known. We observed thirty patients during the various GIFT phases (Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer) that consists in the intratubal transfer of male and female gametes and that represents also an ideal model for the study of pregnancy in the early phases. With echo-Doppler technique morphological and functional parameters of the left ventricle have been evaluated and at the same time estradiol and progesterone blood variations have been determined. In all the thirty patients to the increase of E2 corresponds a significative increment of telediastolic (Dd) and telesystolic (Ds) diameter and of systolic index (SI) and cardiac index (CI). At the same time a significant reduction of mean arterial pressure and of the index of a systemic vascular resistance has been observed. These data say that the systolic flow increment is not due to an increase of the ejection fraction but to an increase of the diastolic filling. The utilised mechanism has nothing to do with inotropism but to the preload reserve according Starling principle. The increase of the systolic output is the almost unique cause of the cardiac capacity increment because there is only a light increase of heart rate. Those patients in which GIFT gave a positive results, these variations are sustained while in the group of those patients not pregnant one can see a rapid return to basic values of the various parameters (except the presence of a significative Dd increment) together with the reduction of plasmatic E2. In conclusion our work results say that significative cardiovascular adjustments are evident from the earliest pregnancy phases and that these changes one can related to E2 plasmatic variations. PMID- 2622539 TI - [Evaluation at midterm of the clinico-instrumental efficacy and tolerance of picotamide in patients with obliterative arteriopathy of the lower limbs]. AB - After a 4-week wash-out period, picotamide was administered to 25 patients affected by chronic arteriopathy of the lower limbs (scale 2 according to Fontaine) at a dose of 900 mg/die for 90 days, and then at a dose of 600 mg/die for a further 90 days, in order to assess its efficacy according to the following parameters: duration of gait, residual pressure index (RPI) resting the ankles, hematochemicals, electrocardiogram. At the end of the study a statistically significant increase was observed in the duration of gait and RPI at the ankles and, of the hematochemical parameters, in an increase in fibrogenic degradation products. Adverse reactions were only observed in 3 patients and regressed spontaneously. In conclusion, picotamide was found to be efficacious in patients affected by chronic obliterating arteriopathy of the lower limbs with the possibility of reducing the dose after 3 months of therapy. PMID- 2622540 TI - [Effects of extracorporeal circulation and hypothermia on cellular immune activity in patients undergoing heart surgery]. AB - Aspecific cellular reactivity was assessed in patients who underwent open heart surgery. The authors conclude that depressed PMN activity measured as O2- production is not linked to anaesthesiological procedures, hemodilution and hypothermia. No conclusive reports are possible on the role of pulmonary reinfusion or plasmatic and cellular mechanism of depression. PMID- 2622541 TI - [Pulsed magnetic fields. Observations in 353 patients suffering from chronic pain]. AB - Three hundred-fifty-three patients with chronic pain have been treated with pulsed electromagnetic fields. In this work the Authors show the result obtained in the unsteady follow-up (2-60 months). The eventual progressive reduction of benefits is valued by Spearman's test. We noted the better results in the group of patients with post-herpetic pain (deafferentation) and in patients simultaneously suffering from neck and low back pain. PMID- 2622542 TI - [Block of the cervical plexus in surgery of the carotid artery. Our experience with 142 cases]. AB - The main anesthesiological problem in TEAC operations is the possibility of evaluating the degree of tolerance after carotid artery clamping. When facing this situation, some anesthesiologists prefer to administer general anesthesia, others prefer loco-regional anesthesia. On the basis of their background and experience, the Authors, from 1.1.1987 to 12.31.1988, have performed 142 nerve blocks of the superficial and the cervical plexus. The proposed technique is simple. No side effects are observed. Moreover it is gratifying for the surgeon and safe from risks for patients. Loco-regional anesthesia permits a close neurologic monitoring that is easily understandable and inexpensive. When performing this kind of surgery, this technique seems to be valid and effective. PMID- 2622543 TI - [Antibioticotherapy based on statistics in intensive therapy]. AB - The authors present the epidemiological data concerning nosocomial infections in their Intensive Care Unit, and discuss an antibiotic strategy statistically oriented by these data. In their experience, treatment based on statistical criteria, brought to a reduction in antibiotic consumption with particular regard to broad-spectrum antibiotics, and to a decrease in individual budget. PMID- 2622544 TI - [Prospective evaluation of the role of abdominal echocardiography in the treatment of seriously traumatized patients]. AB - The reliability of abdominal ultrasonography (US) in a clinical algorithm for emergency management of blunt trauma was evaluated prospectively. From November 1, 1987 to December 31, 1988, of 111 severe trauma victims admitted to our ICU, 63 were screened according to protocol by US for peritoneal fluid and splenic and/or hepatic injuries. The mean age was 49.6 years. The mean ISS and APACHE II Score was 26.9 and 13.7 respectively. The sensitivity of US for detection of peritoneal fluid was 95%, specificity 97.6%, positive predictive value 95%, negative predictive value 97.6% with a prevalence of 31.7%. For hepatic and splenic injuries instead the results were not as good as for abdominal fluid. Twelve patients underwent laparotomy and 6 with abdominal injuries were successfully treated nonoperatively with serial US examinations. Overall mortality was 12 (19%). No patients died for delayed or missed diagnosis of abdominal injury. PMID- 2622545 TI - [Propofol versus thiopentone. A hemodynamic study]. AB - The authors, after a brief introduction concerning the importance of the use of NCCOM3 (Non invasive Continuous Cardiac Output Monitor) for the non invasive assessment of the haemodynamic parameters (Cardiac Output, Heart Rate, Ventricular Ejection Time, Stroke Volume), compare the haemodynamic variations induced by two types of intravenous anesthesia in 40 patients, selected at random, who underwent anesthesia for minor gynaecological procedures in the day hospital. The results obtained show that the haemodynamic variations induced by thiopentone and propofol are almost analogues until the end of surgery, while a difference, even though statistically non significant, was observed at the moment of reawakening. The authors would like to underline the synergism of two drugs and fentanyl as regards to the depressive effects on blood circulation. PMID- 2622546 TI - [Cannulation of the thoracic duct during central venous catheterization]. AB - A case of inadvertent thoracic duct catheterization during transjugular central venous cannulation is reported. The clinical manifestations as well as the difficulties encountered in recognizing such a complication are analyzed. So, the necessity to obtain a radiographic confirmation of central venous catheter site is strengthened. PMID- 2622547 TI - [Septic shock in a case of purulent pericarditis. Usefulness of hemodynamic study with Swan-Ganz catheterization]. AB - In a case of cardiac tamponade the hemodynamic study with Swan-Ganz catheter was useful to confirm the diagnosis and to assess the correct therapy, otherwise the case was complicated with septic shock by purulent pericarditis and could mislead the diagnosis. PMID- 2622548 TI - [Cancer of the esophagus in the elderly]. AB - After a review of the literature a study was conducted into oesophageal cancers among elderly patients in Pavia University's Institute of Surgical Pathology in 1974-1985. The results led to the following conclusions: this disease occurs most often among the elderly especially those in their sixties; symptoms (dysphagia, weight loss, regurgitation with epigastric and retrosternal pain are initially unclear which makes early diagnosis difficult; most cases require surgery. It is concluded that the appropriate tests should be performed at the first warning signs and that, once the condition is diagnosed, the elderly patient should be prepared for surgery which should be as radical as possible. PMID- 2622549 TI - [A modified Hill's procedure in the surgical treatment of hiatal hernia]. AB - After an introduction on the problems regarding indications and surgical management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, the Authors describe the technique they use, which is a modification of Hill's posterior gastropexy, involving the placement of suture through the median arcuate ligament, without exposing the celiac axis. The preliminary results of a prospective randomized clinical trial, conducted at the Surgical Clinic Department of Catholic University, Rome, are described. The trial evaluated early and late results of Hill's modified technique versus a control group, in which a Dor technique has been used. Intraoperative oesophageal manometry has been performed in both groups, to set the cardioplasty more properly. Ninety-one patients out of 132 have been studied; 65 had a good response to medical therapy and 26 have been operated upon. In 9 cases (6 Dor and 3 Hill) intraoperative manometry was performed. All patients have been studied pre-operatively with upper g.i. series, endoscopy with biopsies, oesophageal manometry and 24-h pH monitoring; this protocol has been repeated after 3 to 6 months postoperatively, to evaluate the results more accurately. The preliminary data, although statistically non significant because of the small study group, seem to favour the Hill modified technique, both for complication and reflux control. Further data are needed to confirm them. PMID- 2622550 TI - [Duodenopancreatectomy with conservation of the pylorus]. AB - The authors report on their initial experience with pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy. In the last three years 11 patients with neoplastic disease of the pancreatic head and ampullary region underwent the above mentioned procedure. The surgical technique carefully preserved the blood supply and innervation to the antro-pyloric region and duodenum was transected 2 cm distal to the pylorus. Postoperative mortality was 9%. Postoperative nasogastric suction was required for eight days (median). Long term results are quite good with a satisfactory restoration of intestinal function and a weight gain of 95% of pre illness weight. At the present time preserving the pylorus appears an usefull modification of Whipple procedure. PMID- 2622551 TI - [Lymphovenous anastomosis in severe ascites]. AB - The authors dealt with 37 patients suffering from advanced liver cirrhosis with ascites. Eighteen patients out of them underwent Denver peritoneum-jugular shunt as a first choice procedure, the other 19 patients underwent lymphovenous anastomosis. The extremely advanced hepatic damage and the general conditions of these patients discouraged us to perform a portocaval shunt. In the 19 patients who underwent lymphovenous anastomosis we had no mortality rate. Two patients showed post-operative complications: 1 patient complained which hoarseness regressed in 5 months and the other patient suffered from a spleno-mesenteric portal thrombosis with digestive hemorrhage from gastro-esophageal varices. In 6 patients out of 19 who underwent lymphovenous anastomosis, we did not obtain any immediate positive effects on ascites. In 4 patients, after 3 months, the ascites came back ingravescent and in the other 9 patients the positive effects on ascites were still evident after 1 year. Despite failure to obtain very comforting results, they suggest to employ this technique at any rate, as the first procedure, to make ascites more "manageable", because of its safety. PMID- 2622552 TI - [Cancer of the stomach, the choice of surgery based on correct staging: total or subtotal gastrectomy?]. AB - On the basis of the literature and of personal experience, the problem of the extent of demolition time, total gastrectomy or subtotal gastrectomy for patients suffering from stomach cancer is analysed. It is considered that total gastrectomy does not always lead to longer survival by comparison with subtotal gastrectomy and that in certain cases the latter, after careful consideration of a series of variables, may be the operation of choice. PMID- 2622553 TI - [Clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapy of thrombosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm]. AB - In a consecutive series of 640 surgically treated abdominal aortic aneurysms, 4 patients affected by thrombosis of the abdominal aortic aneurysm were observed. All aneurysms were five centimeters in diameter or smaller and all the patients complained of chronic claudication. In spite of the old opinion that considered abdominal aneurysmal thrombosis an useful event, we believe that the angiographic and clinical picture of juxta-renal aortic occlusion points to surgical treatment. PMID- 2622554 TI - [Factors determining prognosis in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm in the rupture stage]. AB - Personal experience in the treatment of 70 ruptures of the subrenal abdominal aorta over the past 15 years is reported. The various factors determining prognosis are analysed with particular reference to the time between onset of symptoms and admission to hospital, clinical condition (state of shock, kidney function) and rupture location (anterior or posterior). Preoperative investigations and types of surgical treatment are described together with results. Despite the high mortality rate it is concluded that time and rupture location are the decisive factors in the prognosis for these patients, since all other factors are more easy to monitor and modify using modern techniques of intensive postoperative care. PMID- 2622555 TI - [Aneurysm of the popliteal artery: clinical aspects and therapy]. AB - Experience of the operative treatment of 45 popliteal aneurysms in 41 patients is reported. The importance of immediate surgical reconstruction whenever a popliteal artery aneurysm has been detected is stressed. In fact, the patency rate of the arterial substitutes which are utilised in the reconstructive technique, and therefore the fate of the affected limbs, is chiefly based on the presence of a sufficient run off. Ischaemic complication due to peripheral embolization or sudden thrombosis of the aneurysmatic sac is very often followed by the irreversible closure not only of the tibioperoneal arteries but also of most collateral vessels. PMID- 2622556 TI - [Non-operative treatment of loss of lip tissue in the emergency room. Description of a clinical case and general considerations]. AB - A case of partial avulsion of the upper lip in a nine year old boy, treated conservatively, is presented. The advantages of the non-operative treatment of a mostly mucosal and submucosal tissue loss of the lip are discussed, as opposed to the techniques of immediate repair. PMID- 2622557 TI - [Carcinoma of the breast and conservative surgical therapy. Current approaches and presentation of a personal case series]. AB - After re-emphasising the concept of breast cancer as a systemic disease whose prognosis depends more on biological activity than the local evolution of the tumour, the paper compares tumour size and axillary lymph node involvement in 2 groups of patients with Stage PT1 and PT2 breast cancer, in order to justify a preference for conservative surgery (QU.A.RT) even for tumours over 2 cm in diameter. PMID- 2622558 TI - [Bacteriologic monitoring in a surgical department with emergency services. Epidemiologic analysis and study of sensitivity to antibiotic therapy]. AB - The two year experience with 2091 biological cultures and the related antibiograms has been reported on the basis of a prospective, computerized study. The incidence of germs coming from each fluid collected has been analyzed as well as the sensibility to various antibacterial drugs. The gram negative such as Escherichia Coli, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella, Serratia and Enterobacter resulted more frequently isolated; in addition a revival of gram positive strains (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus) was noted too. PMID- 2622559 TI - [Mesenteric venous hypertension in an adolescent with common ileocolic mesentery]. AB - The case of a twelve year-old boy suffering from "common ileocolic mesentery" with surgical finding of very serious splanchnic venous dilatation is presented. Mesenteric arteriography was the most useful test for diagnosis. The surgical technique has been compared with that described by other Authors. PMID- 2622560 TI - [Distal gastric volvulus as a cause of acute occlusion in paraesophageal hernia. Considerations on a clinical case]. AB - A case of distal volvulus of the stomach as a cause of acute intestinal obstruction in a paraesophageal hernia is presented. The patient, an old woman aged 82, had been suffering from abdominal pain and vomiting for about 48 hours. She successfully underwent emergency operation for the reduction of hernia and plasty of the hiatus anterior the esophagus. On the basis of personal experience and review of literature data, stress is laid on the high incidence of paraesophageal hernia complications and the importance of early diagnosis and surgical repair is underlined. PMID- 2622561 TI - [Acute unrestrainable digestive hemorrhage caused by primary neurogenic tumor of the duodenum]. AB - An extremely rare case of primary benign neurogenic tumour of the duodenum that determined a picture of severe digestive haemorrhage is reported. PMID- 2622562 TI - [Acute stress ulcer and elective surgery. Do indications for anti-H2 prophylaxis exist?]. AB - One hundred-eighty-one patients who underwent major surgical procedures were retrospectively considered to value the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding. Upper-gastrointestinal-tract bleeding occurred in only one patient (0.5%). The Authors suggest that only critically ill patients require prophylactic use of cimetidine. PMID- 2622563 TI - [The role of early protein restriction in patients with initial renal insufficiency]. AB - The effect of early protein restriction (0.6 g:kg/p.i./die) in patients suffering from initial kidney failure for a period of two years has been studied. The hypoprotein diet proved effective in slowing development of kidney damage in so far as a stabilization was observed in renal function parameters during the hypoprotein diet period compared to the non-diet period. PMID- 2622564 TI - [Changes in biliary secretory immunoglobulins A in mice fed whey proteins]. AB - A whey protein diet has been shown to enhance splenic immune response to sheep red blood cells (SBRC) in mice. This study was designed to investigate the influence of the type of dietary protein on the biliary secretory IgA. A/J mice were fed defined formula diets containing either 20% whey protein, or 20% casein. Another group was fed Purina mouse chow. After 3 weeks of dietary treatment the body weight of each mouse was recorded and the gall-bladder was removed and its whole content analyzed by ELISA to determine S-IgA secretion. Body weight curves were similar in all dietary groups; higher biliary levels of S-IgA appeared in the whey protein fed mice than in the casein (p less than 0.025) or purine (p less than 0.025) fed mice. Dietary protein type may have a direct influence on the immune response in the gastrointestinal tract, without affecting body weight. PMID- 2622565 TI - [Cytodiagnosis of suspect lesions of the esophagus and stomach. Histocytological correlations in 435 cases]. AB - This report analyses the results obtained using endoscopic cytodiagnosis in upper gastrointestinal lesions. Cytological and bioptic samples were taken from 435 lesions, in 435 patients. Specificity was 0.99% and sensitivity 0.9%. The accuracy of the endoscopic sampling and in preparing the cytological slides had a decisive influence on the obtaining of these results. The time required for a good cytological sample is the same as required for a biopsy. As employed the cytodiagnosis of esophago-gastric lesions was really useful, and indeed essential in diffuse mucosal lesions. PMID- 2622566 TI - [Influence of coffee on plasma lipids]. AB - The influence of coffee on plasma lipids has been largely investigated during the last twenty years, but still many doubts remain about this subject. For this reason the influence of the assumption of coffee on plasma lipids, in healthy people, during six weeks has been studied. The coffee was prepared with an Italian coffee-machine (moka). No relationship was found between coffee assumption and increase of hematic cholesterol. PMID- 2622567 TI - [Quick freezing in the preparation of special hospital diets]. AB - The study has been undertaken to test the usefulness of the freezing-method on foods in the dietary formulations of the Hospital Food Service. Thirty-six recipes of specific diets (blended, liquid diets and diets of normal texture with high and low protein content) have been tested. These recipes were precooked and frozed within 2 hours. They were tested for taste, texture, aspect and colour by the same staff of the Dietetic Service (2 Dietitians and 2 Cooks). Twenty-eight recipes, after being reheated, have shown satisfactory results for all the characteristics tested. The time from freezing (test 15, 30, 45 days after freezing) does not influence the results. The freezing method is then useful for the most part of the specific Hospital Diets. A stock of frozen preparations can be used at any moment even by not qualified personnel and let a better work organization of the Dietetic Service Kitchen. PMID- 2622568 TI - [The effect of hypophysectomy on liver regeneration in the rat]. AB - Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in Wistar rats, hypophysectomised and otherwise has been studied. In almost all hypophysectomised rats, the regenerative processes were much less evident than in the non-hypophysectomised controls; only some hypophysectomised animals showed effective liver regeneration through an as yet unclear mechanism. PMID- 2622569 TI - [The aging heart and its pathology. An epidemiological study of 229 cases based on a clinical and radiological classification]. AB - The paper studies epidemiological distribution of the aging heart and its pathology in a sample of 229 subjects (101 male and 128 female) on the basis of a clinical and radiological classification into cardiological phenotypes. This study involved the use of mathematical statistical procedures following a standard method using SIR database (Scientific Information Retrieval) software implemented on the CDC Cyber 170/730 mainframe in the Trieste University Computing Center that is connected with the Chair of Geriatric Pathology. Using this software it was possible to assess the epidemiological significance of the usual clinical parameters, and show that the most representative cardiopathy is the 3rd type, i.e. the hypertrophic-ischemic cardiopathy belonging to the large aortic heart. Its natural pathogenesis is independent of risk factors and relates to the aging of muscular and connective tissues in which the coronary circulation is involved in the deterioration of the cardiovascular system and is therefore different from the primary ischemias of adults. PMID- 2622570 TI - [An indirect hemagglutination study of total IgE and complement fractions C3c and C4 in patients with hepatic hydatidosis and undergoing therapy]. AB - The trend of antibodies tested with indirect hemagglutination, of total IgE and complement fraction was examined in patients with liver hydatid disease, treated with surgery and benzoimidazoles. PMID- 2622571 TI - [Basal and postprandial blood gastrin in peptic ulcer. The physiopathological considerations in relation to different locations of the lesion]. AB - A different pathophysiological mechanism is widely accepted for gastric and duodenal ulcer. In particular, the exact role of gastrin in the determinism of nonhormone-dependent peptic ulcer disease has been completely clarified. The aim of the present study was to analyse fasting and postprandial serum gastrin levels in 99 duodenal ulcer patients, 17 gastric ulcer patients and 11 subjects presenting an association of gastric and duodenal ulcer. The possible correlation between postprandial gastrin concentrations and basal and maximal acid output in the 3 groups of patients has also been investigated. Fasting serum gastrin levels do not appear different among the 3 classes of patients, while postprandial gastrin concentrations are statistically higher at 15 minutes in duodenal ulcer patients and in subjects with the association of gastric and duodenal ulcer as compared to gastric ulcer patients. Mean fasting and stimulated gastrin levels are higher in gastric ulcer females than in males during the entire test and with a statistically significant difference at 30 minutes. The concentrations of the hormone are not different in males of the 3 groups of patients at basal time, while they are statistically lower at 15 and 30 minutes in gastric ulcer males compared to those with duodenal ulcer and the association of the localization. Finally, positive correlation has been observed between B.A.O. and M.A.O. and postprandial gastrin concentration in the 3 groups of patients, while there is an inverse correlation between the previous parameters as regards sex, both in gastric and duodenal ulcer. PMID- 2622572 TI - [Extracorporeal support technics in the treatment of multisystem failure. Our experience]. AB - Mortality rate among patients with septic, oliguric, multiple organ failure is high. Conventional hemodialysis has often detrimental effects on critically ill patients. Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH), continuous arteriovenous hemodialysis (CAVH/D) and continuous arteriovenous hemodialysis associated with sequential plasmapheresis (CAVHP/D) could reduce mortality in septic (hypercatabolic, oliguric) ARDS induced MOF patients. These techniques are simple and can be managed without superspecialized personnel. PMID- 2622573 TI - [Postoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of soft-tissue sarcomas of the limbs: 63 consecutive cases]. AB - Sixty-three patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the limbs received postoperative radiotherapy during the period from 1969 to 1985. The 5 years actuarial survival rate was 77% in 17 patients who underwent wide surgical operations + RT, 59% in 28 patients with marginal surgical excision + RT, 64% in 18 patients who received salvage RT after several recurrences. Locoregional control was higher in the patients with wide surgical operations + RT, while there were no significant differences in the disease free survival from lung metastasis among the three groups of patients. PMID- 2622574 TI - [Primary hyperparathyroidism and peptic ulcer]. AB - The prevalence of peptic ulcer disease was retrospectively analysed in 35 patients affected by primary hyperparathyroidism consecutively observed from 1977 through 1987. Eight of the examined patients (22.8%) had peptic ulcer (7 duodenal and 1 gastric ulcer), that in five cases (14%) represented the first clinical manifestation of the endocrine disease. A Zollinger-Ellison syndrome was demonstrated in three cases (8.5% of the total series, 37% of the patients with ulcer). There was no difference in calcium, gastrin and parathormone serum level between patients with and without ulcer, excluding patients with Zollinger Ellison syndrome. These data confirm the high prevalence of peptic ulcer disease in hyperparathyroidism, but the mechanism causing this association remains to be elucidated. PMID- 2622575 TI - [Clostridium difficile enterocolitis in subjects treated with wide-spectrum antibiotics]. AB - After a concise description the main aetiopathogenic features of clostridium difficile colitis, three clinical cases are reported. It is considered that this disease could be easily cured as long as high risk patients are determined. PMID- 2622576 TI - [The relationship between high-density lipoproteins, thromboxane B2 and arteriosclerosis in a case of primary hypoalphalipoproteinemia]. AB - Data in the literature suggest that cases of hypoalphalipoproteinemia involve an increase in thromboxane B2 (TXB2) together with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. A recent detailed examination of a 32-year-old man revealed clinical and biochemical features strongly indicative of that pathology. The case presented several unusual features: marked infiltration of the skin and mesenteric lymph nodes by histiocytic lipids with sufficient hyperplasia to induce acute intestinal occlusion combined with an in vivo TXB2 generation curve, subsequently inhibited by aspirin, that was comparable to the curves of the control subjects. Furthermore there were no signs of early atherosclerotic damage so that it was possible to postulate the hypothesis that despite the 50% drop in alpha-lipoprotein levels, they were still sufficient to ensure normal turnover of the other lipoproteins so that, however complex the clinical condition, it was an incomplete expression of a phenotype. PMID- 2622577 TI - [Disseminated intravascular coagulation and acute hepatic necrosis at the end of pregnancy. A case report]. AB - A 30-year-old woman in the 36th week of her second pregnancy, suddenly developed jaundice with remarkable liver necrosis, accompanied by generalized bleeding due to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). She underwent a caesarean and a dead foetus was extracted from the uterus. Heparin and frozen plasma infusion resulted in a prompt recovery from the haemostatic disorder. The course of the disease involved the successive appearance of haemorrhagic shock, intestinal ileus and pulmonary embolism all of which she recovered from. The liver biopsy showed severe cholestasis without derangement of the lobular structure. Hypotheses of acute veno-occlusive disease caused by the DIC, and acute fatty liver of pregnancy are discussed. PMID- 2622578 TI - [Cutaneous tuberculosis with multifocal visceral involvement]. AB - The case of a young Senegalese man who developed a form of cutaneous tuberculosis associated with a disseminated disease, successfully treated with appropriate antitubercular chemotherapy is reported. We found Mycobacterium Microti in the cutaneous ulcers, the only organism isolated after many cultural and microscopical examinations of different exudates and tissues. This mycobacterium was considered up to now to be pathogenic to rodents, but not man. Its possible pathogenicity to man (under certain situations) is also suggested, and it is expected that this possibility will be supported by other reports in the near future. In addition, stress is laid on the problems of diagnosis and classification of the cutaneous tuberculosis, so uncommon in the Western Hemisphere, and its possible association with leprosy. PMID- 2622579 TI - [Administration of uterotonic drugs at the end of the expulsion stage. Comparison of the use of oxytocin and ergometrine maleate]. AB - In spite of the large diffusion of uterotonic drugs some doubts persist about which preparation and which dosage are the most suitable. For such a reason a group of pregnant women, to whom ergometrine maleate was administered at the delivery of the anterior shoulder of the fetus, was compared by the authors to an analogous group formed by pregnant women to whom oxytocin was administered under the same conditions. Pregnant women not submitted to a pharmacologic control of the third stage of labour served as a control group. Each study group was thereafter divided into 2 subgroups: the former is composed by patients submitted to episiotomy and the latter by patients not submitted to this procedure. Our results have shown the usefulness of both drugs in the active management of the third stage of labour, whereas different side effects may occur. PMID- 2622580 TI - [Use of ofloxacin in 45 cases of infection of the lower urinary tract in women]. AB - Forty-five female patients affected by lower urinary tract infections without secondary complications were examined. Ofloxacin was administered in three different dosages in order to evaluate drug efficacy and tolerance: 600 mg/day for 3 days in 22 cases; 300 mg/day for 3 days in 22 cases; 600 mg/day for 5 days in 1 case. Adverse effects were insignificant; clinical remission was virtually complete and urine tests proved negative in 98% of cases. On the basis of these findings it is possible to state that Ofloxacin therapy is efficacious in lower urinary tract infections without secondary complications in women. PMID- 2622581 TI - [Treatment with danazol of breast adenosis. A comparative note]. AB - The term "mammary adenosis" describes chronic congestion of the mammary gland, whose principle symptom is painfulness. The Authors report the results obtained during therapy, which utilised three different pharmacological treatments: danazol, progestogen vitamin compounds. Evaluations made were both subjective (pain) and objective (clinical details), classified in those levels: recovery, improvement, persistence of symptoms. Results were evaluated after 3 and months of treatment, and then at four months after suspension of treatment; these were then compared. The best results were obtained with danazol, although there was a greater number of side effects. PMID- 2622582 TI - [Obstetrics in Somalia. Maternal and infant mortality in the metropolitan area of Mogadishu. The current situation and future prospects]. AB - Maternal and infant mortality in Somalia are very high: the obstetric situation of the country in relation to socioeconomic conditions is presented. The factors responsible for this tragic situation are outlined critically and, finally, the essential points of a pilot project aimed at lowering maternal mortality for obstetric causes from current levels (1,100/100,000 live births) which cannot be accepted even in a developing country, are summarised. PMID- 2622583 TI - [Elephantiasis of the vulva and the legs. Medical and surgical treatment of a case of lymphatic filariasis]. AB - After reviewing the main causes of elephantiasis in tropical countries, the results of combined medical and surgical treatment of a case of lymphatic filariasis are reported. Medical treatment consists of a cycle of high-dose mebendazole (40 mg/kg/die) and subsequent cycles of diethylcarbamazine at a habitual dose (6 mg/kg/die). In the interval, the elephantiasic right lip was removed surgically. The overall clinical results was good. Noteworthy was an unwanted, leukopenising side-effect of high-dose mebendazole. PMID- 2622584 TI - [A case of pulmonary embolism after cesarean section]. AB - The authors describe a case of pulmonary embolism occurred to a young woman (24 years old) after a Cesarean operation. All the evolving stages of the disease are examined till to the complete recovery of the patient. They conclude underlining the importance of an opportune diagnoses and an adequate therapy for a favourable prognoses quoad vitam et valetitudinem. PMID- 2622585 TI - [Voluntary interruption of pregnancy using the Karman method and T-lymphocyte dependent immunity]. AB - The lymphocyte subsets T4 and T8 in 25 women in the first trimester before and after voluntary interruption of pregnancy after Karman, have been evaluated. Our results demonstrated no significant change in the composition of T-subsets in any of the patients, so we can think this procedure does not modify the mechanisms of the T-lymphocyte dependent immunity. PMID- 2622586 TI - [Serum myoglobin in pregnant women treated with tocolytics and carnitine]. AB - Forty-two pregnant women threatened by miscarriage or premature delivery have been studied. A group of 21 gravidas was treated with ritodrine and potassium chloride. The treatment protocol of another group of 21 gravidas included carnitine (2 g infusion with phleboclysis). It was thus observed that the haematic concentration of myoglobin increases about twice by comparison with normal values during i.v. tocolytic treatment whereas tocolytics per os do not affect the blood level of myoglobin (phenomenon observed in another group of 10 gravidas also suffering from threatened miscarriage or premature delivery). The use of beta 2-mimetics involves the onset of at times serious side-effects and methods have been sought to anticipate and prevent them. Measurement of serum myoglobin is intended as a useful investigation for monitoring tocolytic therapy which, as a result of its myotoxicity in the cardiac and skeletal musculature demands extremely cautious use. Moreover, the use of carnitine did not modify the blood concentration of myoglobin, whereas it obtained beneficial results on the onset of beta 2-mimetic induced side-effects. PMID- 2622587 TI - [Use of low-dose danazol in adenosis of the breast]. AB - Mammary adenosis is a very common affliction which, it has been calculated, affects between 7 and 15% of women of child-bearing age. The Authors report the results obtained during treatment of this condition with danazol in those different dosages (50, 100 and 200 mg per day). Results were evaluated at 3 and 6 months during therapy, and then 4 months after suspension of the treatment. Effects were evaluated in terms of changes in the symptomatic pain and in the actual clinical record. Side effects were also examined in terms of age and obstetric history. The therapy produced good results with all those dosages used. The lowest dosage gave the most favourable long-term effects, also in terms of the scarsity of side-effects. PMID- 2622588 TI - [Cefotetan in preoperative prophylaxis in gynecologic surgery]. AB - The Authors report on the effectiveness of a 2nd generation "cephalosporin" (Cefotetan) used in preventive antibiotic treatment connected with gynaecological surgery. Two hundred hospital patients were involved in the experiment and were divided into 4 groups: 1) the first and second groups were given a "short-term" preventive antibiotic treatment (a single dose before the operation); 2) the third and fourth groups were given antibiotics continuously in the post-operative period. In those patients in groups I and III (who had operations for abdominal laparotomies) the incidence of fewerishness was 12% in those patients treated with the "short-term" therapy, and 10% in those receiving post-operative treatment. Sepsis on the suture developed in none of these cases. Urinary infection occurred in 6% of these patients in group I as compared with 2% in group III. During post-operative treatment of patients in group II and IV (who had had minor gynaecological operation) the incidence of inflammation with slight temperature was very much lower only 4% of the cases treated with "short-term" preventive antibiotics and only 2% in those patients receiving continuous preventive treatment. In no case was these sepsis of the suture. Urinary infection occurred in 4% of patients on "short-term" therapy (group II) but in none of the patients in group IV. Side effects were in all cases only slight and of brief duration, especially in group I and II who received the single pre operative dose of the antibiotic. PMID- 2622589 TI - [Cystic microglandular hyperplasia of the cervix uteri. Presentation of 2 clinical cases]. AB - Two cases of cystic microglandular hyperplasia of the cervix, one with exocervical and the other with endocervical site are reported. These clinical cases were presented because of the rarity of this type of lesion and because of the difficulty of differentiating them from a well-differentiated cervical adenocarcinoma; noteworthy is the lack of a progestinic climate in the two patients, a situation that is considered highly predisposing. PMID- 2622590 TI - [Bilateral hydrothorax with hydromediastinum after cannulation of the left internal jugular vein]. AB - A rare case of combined bilateral hydrothorax and hydromediastinum was encountered during Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) via incannulation of the left internal jugular vein in a patient with advanced cancer of the portio. The possible anatomical and technical causes of this very serious complication were investigated in order to assess the importance of specific manual technique and to supply appropriate instrumental back-up that could prevent the recurrence of this sometimes fatal complication of TPN. PMID- 2622591 TI - A new, simple and precise method for the determination of right ventricule forward ejection fraction in first-pass radionuclide cardiography. AB - A new method is presented for the determination of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) in first-pass radionuclide cardiography. The method is simple to apply and it provides RVEF values with an experimental standard deviation of 3.4% over the whole range of right ventricular ejection fractions. The method determines RVEF from analysis of time-activity curves from regions of interest (ROIs) over representative portions of the right atrium and the pulmonary artery (RVEFRAPA). Hence, the problem of demarcation of the right ventricle from adjacent structures is avoided. RVEFRAPA was 0.658 +/- 0.067 (mean +/- 1 S.D.) in a normal group of 36 adult women. This value was not significantly different from the RVEF of 0.641 +/- 0.072 (mean +/- 1 S.D.) determined by separate areas over the right ventricle in the end-diastole and end-systole (RVEFRVSA). In a repeatability study comprising 25 subjects covering a wide range of RVEF values, the standard deviation of RVEFRAPA was 4.4 times smaller than that of RVEFRVSA. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) determined in the equilibrium gated radionuclide cardiography following the first-pass study was 0.692 +/- 0.065 (mean +/- 1 S.D.) for the normal group. Hence, LVEF is slightly higher than RVEF in normals. PMID- 2622592 TI - Neutrophil activation during cell separation procedures. AB - Leucocytes labelled with 111In or 99Tcm are used as diagnostic agents for detecting sites of infection by scintigraphy. Before radiolabelling is performed, leucocytes are isolated from whole blood. The effect of isolation procedures on neutrophil activation has been studied by measuring the neutrophil elastase produced during incubation of whole blood with three erythrocyte sedimentation agents (dextran 70, hydroxyethyl starch and methylcellulose) and two density gradient media (Percoll and Mono-Poly Resolving Medium). Neutrophil elastase was measured using a standard radioimmunoassay. At 21 degrees C, dextran caused no elastase release while hydroxyethyl starch and methylcellulose induced significant release (p = 0.01 and p less than 0.01 resp.). All three agents caused significant elastase release at 37 degrees C. When whole blood was incubated with Percoll and Mono-Poly Resolving Medium, no release of neutrophil elastase was observed. These results show that neither density gradient medium induces neutrophil activation but that certain erythrocyte sedimentation agents do. Of the three sedimentation agents investigated, dextran is the agent of choice if neutrophil activation is to be minimized. PMID- 2622593 TI - Is 99Tcm hexamethyl-propyleneamine oxime uptake in the tissues related to glutathione cellular content? AB - The relationship between the concentration of tissue glutathione (GSH) content and uptake of 99Tcm HMPAO in Sprague Dawley rats was investigated. The GSH content of rat tissue was depleted with diethyl-maleate (DEM) and the ratio of GSH in control to GSH depleted rat was approximately twice that in the brain, liver, kidney, spleen and lung. The GSH content in all the organs studied except the liver had no statistically significant relationship with the uptake of 99Tcm HMPAO. The apparent increase of radioactivity in the liver was due to longer retention of 99Tcm HMPAO. This longer retention was due to stasis of bile flow as confirmed by subsequent experiments in which cholecystokinin (CCK) was administered to GSH depleted rats and compared to the uptake of GSH depleted rats without injection of CCK. PMID- 2622594 TI - [Radiation pathomorphosis of malignant melanoma of the uveal tract of the human eye]. AB - The paper describes peculiarities of changes in uveal melanomas after beta application. It is shown that the degree of changes depends on the intensity of action, the cellular type of the tumor and the degree of its pigmentation. The most radiosensitive proved to be spindle cell B, mixed and epithelioid melanomas. Less radiosensitive are pigmented tumourous cells. The most intensive postradiation changes, were characterized by development of long-term existence of coagulation necrosis, growing of cellular polymorphism, hyperploidy, polynucleosis, appearance of apoptosis. The study of the reaction of monolayer culture of uveal melanomas on beta application has confirmed different radiosensitivity of melanoma cells of a different kind as well as has revealed that the growing of cellular polymorphism is a morphologic manifestation of a postradiation degeneration. The degree of postradiation changes correlated with the duration of monolayer culture of the tumor. PMID- 2622595 TI - [The importance of fluorescence angiography in the examination of patients with suspected choroidal tumor]. AB - The paper describes results of examination of 31 patients aged from 19 to 63 years. Ophthalmoscopically, a grey focus with clear or vague limits, flat or prominent was seen on the eye fundus of all patients. The examination included determination of visual acuity, perimetry, ultrasound echography, fluorescence angiography of the eye fundus. By the character of changes of angiograms 5 groups were distinguished. In 20 eyes nevus of the choroid was diagnosed, in 8 eyes- melanoblastoma, in 3 eyes--central dystrophy of the retina. A conclusion is made that fluorescence angiography is of great importance in different diagnosis of choroidal new formations as well as in dispensary observation over patients with nevus of the choroid. PMID- 2622596 TI - [Late results in treating uveal melanomas. A comparative evaluation of enucleation and organ-preserving treatment methods]. AB - The paper analyses late results after treatment of 629 patients with choroidal and ciliary body melanomas. The method of drawing up thorough tables of mortality allowed to receive indices of 5-year survival and lethality after enucleation and organ-preserving methods of treatment. Comparative assessment of effectiveness of enucleation and organ-preserving methods of treatment proves the advantage of the latter in case of small uveal melanomas in the plan of preserving the life, ability to work and professional qualification of the patients. PMID- 2622597 TI - [The potential for organ-preserving treatment in large uveal melanoma]. AB - As compared with enucleation, organ-preserving treatment (photocoagulation, local excision, radiotherapy) of uveal melanoma doesn't worsen the prognosis for the patient's life. However, it was used chiefly for tumors of stages T1-T2, the prominence of the tumor not exceeding 4-5 mm. The purpose of the present communication was a study of the possibility of organ-preserving beta radiotherapy for treatment of uveal melanomas T3, the prominence of the tumor exceeding 5 mm. A new Soviet beta applicator (ruthenium-106, rhodium-106) was used for treatment of 21 patients with melanoma T3N0M0, who had refused enucleation. Average summary doses on the surface of the sclera were 1561 +/- 41 Gr. Clinical results (the follow-up period ranging from 12 to 20 months) were the following: total resorption of the tumor--3 cases; the volume of the tumor reduced by 1/2 and more--9 cases, by less than 1/2--7 cases; the size of the tumor remained unchanged--2 cases. Enucleation was made in 2 patients 3 and 4 months after radiation. The results obtained have shown beta therapy to be effective in some cases of uveal melanoma T3, this allowing to widen indications to organ-preserving treatment. PMID- 2622598 TI - [Characteristics of the immune status of patients with uveal melanoma during the performance of organ-preserving treatment]. AB - The paper presents data about changes in the immune status of patients with uveal melanoma in the process of organ-preserving treatment. The presence of 2 types of reaction on the treatment are shown. They are characterized by intensification or depression of the cellular immunity, in particular of its T-cellular link. The type of reaction depends on the initial state of the immune reactivity of the body, the size of the tumor and the type of the injurious factor. The increase of immune reactivity correlates with the best clinical outcomes of the treatment. This allows to use the determination of the immune status in prognosticating the outcome of treatment. PMID- 2622599 TI - [Monocular near-point accommodation and the blood supply to the ciliary body of the amblyopic eye in schoolchildren with concomitant strabismus]. AB - Visual acuity, the character of fixation, the angle of deviation, refraction, monocular determination of accommodation and blood supply of the ciliary body have been studied in 50 schoolchildren (100 eyes) with convergent strabismus and amblyopia of various degree. Children with amblyopia of high and moderate degrees have shown a sharp fall or absolute absence of the positive part of relative accommodation and reduced blood supply of the ciliary body. Between the mentioned indices and degree of amblyopia there exists a positive connexion. PMID- 2622600 TI - [Intra-arterial infusion therapy via the external carotid artery system in emergency combined treatment of the eye]. AB - The proposed new method--prolonged infusion of a mixture of medicinal preparations through the superficial temporal artery--is based on researches confirming a considerable role of external carotid branches in the eye blood supply. The method used in 42 patients with different eye diseases (neuritis, endophthalmitis, burns) is shown to be highly effective. PMID- 2622601 TI - [Scleroplasty results in progressive myopathy with the use of allogeneic amnion]. AB - The paper analyses results after surgical intervention in 105 patients with progressive myopia (113 eyes), using allogeneic amnion for the period of two last years. Myopia remained stable in 62 eyes, and among the fellow non-operated eyes- only in 8. Visual acuity with correction rose in 50 and remained unchanged in 54 eyes. This can be regarded as a positive result when it concerns progressive myopia. Allogeneic amnion is an accessible, reliable, simple in working up material for scleroplasty. The operation described can be made under local anesthesia both in adults and children. PMID- 2622602 TI - [The choice of the method for surgical correction of strabismus]. AB - The analysis of results after surgical treatment of 300 patients with strabismus of different kind has shown that the effectiveness of the treatment depends on correct determination of the squinting eye, the choice of the operation muscle, the degree of the dosage of recession and/or resection. The differential approach to the surgical method can be provided by the individual map-scheme developed by the author. PMID- 2622603 TI - [The results of cosmetic prosthesis in patients in relation to the method of formation of a moveable base for the prosthesis following removal of the eyeball]. AB - The paper analyses remote results of cosmetic prosthesis (more than 4 months) in 107 patients with anophthalmos. For formation of the stump after enucleation different methods were used: simple enucleation; enucleation with suturing of rectus muscles to the conjunctiva of the eye ball; enucleation followed by introducing a lavsane implant into the cavity of the Tenon's capsule; evisceration followed by introducing a lavsane implant into the cavity of the scleral disc. The best results were achieved in groups of patients when enucleation was followed by plastic formation of a mobile volume stump using a vascular wicker, crimped lavsane prosthesis. PMID- 2622604 TI - [The treatment of chalazion by cryogenic action]. AB - The paper describes a proposed and approved method of cryogenic action for treatment of chalazion. Under local anaesthesia by application of 2% or 0.5% instillation of 0.5% dicaine, a two-cycle cryogenic action was conducted for 15 20 seconds through the skin or conjunctiva by means of a cryogenic applicator, cooled by liquid nitrogen, with a removable tip of various form and size depending on the size and volume of chalazion. The freezing was stopped when the icy zone involved all the formation and 1-2 mm of healthy tissue. Cryodestruction was accomplished within 3-7 days, but sometimes 2-8 sessions were required. Total resolution of chalazion was achieved in 47 of 50 patients. The method is simple, can be conducted in outpatient's conditions, doesn't lead to temporary loss of ability to work and may be recommended for use by ophthalmologists. PMID- 2622605 TI - [Laser transscleral contact-compression coagulation of the fundus oculi tissues]. AB - Experimental investigations were carried out in monkeys and rabbits for the purpose of quantitative and qualitative assessments of contact transscleral methods of action on intraocular, structures using ruby and AIH with Nd lasers adapted with a quartz monofiber. It was found that compression of a monofiber into the sclera produces its clarification, this providing effective transmission of radiation without any loss. Essential distinctions of the character of interaction between laser radiation and eye coats in transmission of radiation by a monofiber with its compression into the sclera allowed to substantiate and recommend for a clinical usage the contact-compression transscleral method of laser microsurgery. PMID- 2622606 TI - [A structural study of crystallins in the normal and cataractous crystalline lens by x-ray diffraction]. AB - Nucleus of the normal and cataractous human lenses were studied by means of the X ray diffraction method. The conformational changes, as it is shown, take place during cataract formation. The similar as in senile cataract, conformational changes of bovine lens crystallins were induced by UV irradiation. PMID- 2622607 TI - [The organizational aspects of increasing treatment efficacy in patients with retinal detachment]. PMID- 2622608 TI - [The clinical picture and treatment of acute vascular optic neuropathies]. PMID- 2622609 TI - [Magnetophoresis with the use of ophthalmic drug films in corneal microtrauma]. PMID- 2622610 TI - [Modified argon laser discission of secondary cataracts with the use of Abrakham's contact lens]. PMID- 2622611 TI - [The clinical picture and diagnosis of orbital neuroblastoma in children]. PMID- 2622612 TI - [A variant in the inheritance of tapetoretinal dystrophy]. PMID- 2622613 TI - [A case of congenital external fistula of the lacrimal sac complicated by chronic suppurative dacryocystitis]. PMID- 2622614 TI - [The encapsulation of a contact lens]. PMID- 2622615 TI - Delayed subretinal fluid absorption after pneumatic retinopexy. AB - Eight of 38 eyes consecutively treated with pneumatic retinopexy were found to have delayed subretinal fluid absorption (DSRFA). In six of eight eyes, a shallow pocket of loculated fluid developed with small subretinal pigment precipitates, possibly a unique feature associated with pneumatic retinopexy. Although loculated DSRFA may not affect the anatomic success, poor visual outcome can result if the macula is involved (4 eyes). Loculated submacular DSRFA may cause bothersome postoperative symptoms, because its resolution may be prolonged for months. Factors found significantly associated with DSRFA were subretinal precipitates and heavy cryotherapy. Demarcation lines, dependent subretinal fluid by the macula, long duration of detachment, and phakic status were factors more frequently found in eyes with than without DSRFA, although the correlations lacked statistical significance. A detailed description of loculated DSRFA after pneumatic retinopexy not found in the literature is presented. PMID- 2622616 TI - Evaluation of prior primary malignancy as a determinant of uveal melanoma. A case control study. AB - To examine whether individuals with a history of malignancy are at increased risk for uveal melanoma developing, the authors conducted a case-control study comparing history of prior malignancy among 197 New England cases and 385 matched controls identified by random digit dialing (RDD), and 337 cases residing within the United States and 800 sibling controls. Estimated relative risks for uveal melanoma associated with nonskin cancers were 1.2 (95% confidence interval [Cl], 0.61-2.3) and 0.9 (95% Cl, 0.49-1.5) for RDD and sibling comparisons, respectively. Prior skin malignancy (melanoma and basal or squamous cell types) tended to increase the estimated risk in both groups (case/RDD comparison: relative risk, 1.5; 95% Cl, 0.67-3.5 and case/sibling comparison: relative risk, 1.7; 95% Cl, 0.93-2.9). Among females, history of a malignancy was associated with a higher risk in the case/RDD comparison only (relative risk estimate, 2.2; 95% Cl, 0.97-5.1). These results suggest that the association of prior malignancies with uveal melanoma is weak. Cutaneous malignancies and uveal melanomas may share some common risk factors. PMID- 2622617 TI - Rural endophthalmitis. AB - The antibiotic regimens recommended for empiric use in posttraumatic endophthalmitis are based on data collected from medical centers in large metropolitan areas. In rural areas, trauma resulting in endophthalmitis frequently involves injuries with perforating objects that are contaminated with organic matter. These rural cases therefore may not be comparable with endophthalmitis occurring after nonrural injuries. A 10-year retrospective analysis was performed to investigate the incidence of rural endophthalmitis as well as determine the type of causative organisms. Endophthalmitis developed in 24 (30%) of 80 patients with rural penetrating trauma, compared with 23 (11%) of 204 patients with nonrural penetrating trauma. Of 24 patients, Bacillus spp were isolated in 11 (46%), followed by gram-negative rods in 7, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 6, and streptococcal species in 5. In 10 (42%) of these 24 patients with rural trauma, more than one organism was isolated. Bacillus spp were involved in six (60%) of ten of these mixed infections. Based on these findings, the authors suggest an intravitreal regimen of gentamicin along with either vancomycin or clindamycin for the empiric therapy of rural endophthalmitis. PMID- 2622618 TI - Syphilitic uveitis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected and noninfected patients. AB - Seventeen patients with luetic uveitis had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and lumbar puncture to determine if the HIV-positive status altered the clinical profile of syphilis. Twelve of the 17 patients tested positive for HIV. All 12 patients had abnormal lumbar punctures, but only two of the five HIV negative patients had abnormal results of spinal taps. Ocular disease also was more severe in the HIV-positive group. PMID- 2622619 TI - A retinopathy on Guam with high prevalence in Lytico-Bodig. AB - A pigmentary retinopathy resembling that sometimes seen in posterior ophthalmomyiasis interna was found in 26 (53.1%) of 49 Chamorro patients from Guam who have Lytico-Bodig (also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Parkinsonism-dementia complex of Guam). In nine cases, the retinopathy was bilateral. Similar changes were found in 6 (16.2%) of 37 clinically normal individuals from southern villages on Guam that have a high incidence of Lytico Bodig, and in 1 (3.1%) of 32 individuals from Saipan, an island north of Guam that has a low incidence of the disease. These results indicate the possibility of an association-between Lytico-Bodig and a retinopathy on Guam that may be parasitic in origin. Occurrence of a similar association in other debilitating diseases on Guam and frequency of occurrence of retinopathy in Guamanians with Lytico-Bodig after leaving Guam have yet to be determined. PMID- 2622620 TI - North Carolina macular dystrophy, revisited. AB - Progression of the maculopathy in North Carolina macular dystrophy (NCMD) was not well documented. Thus, the author recently examined 22 affected members of the original kindred. Evidence of progression of the macular disease was sought through comparison of the recent fundus findings with old fundus photographs and from subjective complaints of worsening visual acuity. Only 1 of the 22 affected subjects had evidence of such change. Additionally, two new findings of NCMD were observed: (1) severe macular lesions which were staphylomatous or excavated in appearance, not flat, and atrophic as previously described; and (2) peripheral retinal drusen variably present in affected subjects, in contrast to the "normal peripheral retina" originally described. These new findings, along with the generally stable course of the disease would seem to alter our understanding of the relationship of NCMD to other dominant macular dystrophies. PMID- 2622621 TI - Sorsby's fundus dystrophy. A clinical study. AB - A survey was undertaken of a family known to have Sorsby's fundus dystrophy. Fifty members were reviewed, and 14 were found to be affected. Many of Sorsby's original conclusions were confirmed, including the pattern of inheritance and age of visual loss. Yellow material was present at the level of Bruch's membrane early in the course of the disease. However, the earliest phenotypic marker was delayed filling of the choriocapillaris. Abnormalities of choroidal perfusion became more profound and extended centrifugally with time. The loss of central vision was commonly due to atrophy of the outer retina and choroid. Subretinal neovascularization was a rare occurrence. The homology between this dystrophy and age-related macular disease underlines the importance of the clinical findings in this family. PMID- 2622622 TI - Visual outcome in cystic craniopharyngiomas treated with intracavitary phosphorus 32. AB - Seven patients with cystic craniopharyngiomas were treated with stereotactic instillation of radioactive phosphorus-32 (32P). Five patients had been previously treated with various combinations of surgery and external beam irradiation, whereas two had the 32P instillation at a primary therapy. Visual acuity improved in 13 eyes and remained stable in 1. Visual fields normalized in three patients, improved in two, and remained stable in two. Two patients received single treatments with 32P, whereas five required multiple instillations for recurrent cyst expansion. PMID- 2622623 TI - Glioneuroma associated with colobomatous dysplasia of the anterior uvea and retina. A case simulating medulloepithelioma. AB - The left eye of an otherwise healthy child was enucleated at the age of 2 months because of an enlarging mass involving the temporal iris, ciliary body, and anterior retina. The initial histopathologic diagnosis was malignant medulloepithelioma with orbital extension. Closer study revealed a superotemporal chorioretinal and ciliary body coloboma; dysplasia of the adjacent retina; a glioneuromatous mass replacing the temporal ciliary body, chamber angle structures, and iris and extending through the sclera to involve the insertion of the lateral rectus muscle; neuroepithelial elements resembling medulloepithelioma; and abnormally developed iris pigment epithelium, and dilator and sphincter muscles. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the main mass consisted of neurons positive for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), synaptophysin and neurofilaments, and glial cells expressing vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and S-100 protein. The neuroepithelial elements reacted positively for cytokeratins and S-100 protein, in addition to NSE and vimentin, suggesting ciliary epithelial rather than embryonic retinal origin. The tumor was rediagnosed as glioneuroma, which in this case was part of a widespread colobomatous dysplasia of the anterior uvea and retina. The patient is alive without metastases or local recurrence 2 years following enucleation and subtotal removal of the lesion. PMID- 2622624 TI - Sagittal CT scans debated. PMID- 2622625 TI - Reliability indices for automated visual fields. PMID- 2622626 TI - [Ceramic implants in the surgical treatment of aseptic necrosis of the femur head]. PMID- 2622627 TI - [Predicting the development of degenerative and dystrophic lesions of the hip joint of dysplastic etiology]. AB - On the basis of the roentgenologic changes in 368 patients in 184 children with hip joint dysplasia and developing degenerative and dystrophic lesions in it the authors have proposed a prognostic table of roentgenologic values of the hip joint in various age groups of the patients who may develop degenerative and dystrophic lesions. Prognosis of the development of a degenerative and dystrophic lesion of the hip joint allows to considerably reduce the quantity of its appearance and progress. PMID- 2622628 TI - [Biomechanical substantiation of the form and position of endoprosthesis of the acetabular vault in dysplasia]. AB - Many surgical methods have been suggested for the reconstruction of the vault of the acetabulum affected by dysplasia. However, the absence of the mathematical substantiation in most of them makes the choice of an optimal intervention difficult. In this paper a graphic analysis of the forces acting on the formed vault of the acetabulum is presented. It is demonstrated that the chosen pyramidal form and the position of the endoprosthesis are adequate to the pressure of the femoral head. The calculations that have out have been carried shown that the forces contributing to the consolidation of the whole construction act in the "endoprosthesis-hipbone" contract area. These mathematical prerequisites are the substantiation for the clinical application of such kind of endoprosthesis both for children and for adults with dysplasia of the vault of the acetabulum. PMID- 2622629 TI - [Reconstructive operations in the supra-acetabular region of the dysplastic hip joint in children using a migrating osteo-muscular tissue complex]. AB - The paper is devoted to the surgical treatment of children with dysplastic pre- and coxarthroses, particularly to reconstruction of the supra-acetabular++ area of the hip joint using a migrating osteo-muscular+ tissue complex, i.e. a graft taken from the upper flaring portion of the ilium together with the growth area and the tailor's muscle attached to it, which allows to reduce the terms of the treatment, to exclude a further recurrence of the deformation and to interrupt the present phenomena of arthrosis. In all the 52 operated patients aged 5 to 12 years with the follow-up periods up to 6 years the anatomical and the functional results were good. The mean rating according to the Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics was 4.8 points. PMID- 2622630 TI - [Characteristics of the diagnosis and treatment of juvenile epiphysiolysis of the femur head]. PMID- 2622631 TI - [Mechanical properties of the bone tissue of the femur head]. AB - The authors have perfected the method of determining the firmness of elastic biological tissues. The values of firmness of the cartilaginous and spongy tissues in radial directions and in normal planes have been studied including the directions that coincided with the action of the resultant force on the femoral head. It is possible to make a conclusion that areas possessing equal firmness are situated at the same distance from the centre of the joint, while the higher firmness areas alternate with the spherical lower firmness areas. A suggestion is made that such mechanical structure improves the properties of the femoral head. PMID- 2622632 TI - [Chondrolysis of the hip joint in patients with juvenile epiphysiolysis of the femur head]. PMID- 2622633 TI - [Etiology and pathogenesis of aseptic necrosis of the femur head in children]. AB - The authors have investigated the blood supply of the hip joint in aseptic necrosis following a bloodless reduction of a congenital dislocation of the hip with the help of serial angiography in 6 patients aged 3.5 to 8 years. The angiographic examination has allowed us to determine a reduction in the vascular field on the side affected by hip joint dysplasia as compared with the values on the conventionally normal side. The experimental investigation of the vessels by means of introduction of a radiopaque mixture has demonstrated that in case of a non-physiological position of the lower extremities (Lorenz I) a compression of the blood supplying vessels of the hip joints takes place. PMID- 2622634 TI - [Dynamic angioscintigraphy and static scintigraphy of the hip joint in the complex diagnosis of Legg-Perthes disease]. AB - The author has studied the peculiarities of the initial passage of an osteotropic radiopharmacologic drug along the femoral arteries and its distribution in the femoral head in 55 children with Perthes' disease and in 25 children with diseases and injuries of the hip joint with similar symptoms as well as in 22 children from the control group. In normal conditions the asymmetry of the drug distribution does not exceed +/- 10%. The presence of the drug hypofixation focus (the relative level being below 90%) in the upper pole of the femoral head associated with a reduction of the blood flow in the femoral artery on the affected side is typical for the early stage if Perthes' disease. These symptoms precede the appearance of the roentgenologic signs of the femoral head lesion. PMID- 2622635 TI - [Outcome of decompression operations in the treatment of Legg-Perthes disease]. AB - The authors evaluate the results of 90 decompression operations in 68 patients with Perthes' disease at stages I-IV; the mean age of the children was 8.3 +/- 1.2 years and the follow-up period after the surgery was from 6 months to 10 years. Decompression operations made in the clinic have been protected by author's certificates No. 942712 and No. 1050672. The results were excellent and good in 87.8% and satisfactory in 12.2%. Decompression operations are substantiated from the pathogenetic viewpoint. They interrupt the pathologic process in the epiphysis, contribute to a rapid restoration of the femoral head, are characterized by low traumatism and may be performed simultaneously on both sides which precipitate the children's rehabilitation. The best results have been observed in the children aged 5 to 7 years and at stages I and II of the disease. The surgical treatment has allowed to reduce the terms of the treatment of the children 3 to 4-fold as compared with the conservative method. PMID- 2622636 TI - [Surgical tactics in the treatment of pathologic dislocation and subluxation of the hip joint]. AB - The authors substantiate the indications for various extraarticular surgical interventions taking into consideration a great diversity of pathologic changes in the proximal end of the femur and in the acetabulum. Preference is given to combined interventions on the bones of the pelvis and on the femur. The indications for the 5 major versions of the operation for pathologic dislocations and subluxations of the hip are presented. 50 of the 52 operated joints were examined 1 to 8 years later; in 36 cases the results were good, in 10 cases satisfactory and in 4 cases bad. PMID- 2622637 TI - [Early diagnosis of aseptic necrosis of the femur head in adults]. AB - Having analysed the case histories of 121 patients with unilateral aseptic necrosis of the femoral head the authors revealed early roentgenologic symptoms of aseptic necrosis in the other hip which was normal on admission in 19 patients with absence of the clinical signs of the disease. In other 13 patients at different terms after the exposure of the roentgenologic changes (up to 9 years) a clinical picture of aseptic necrosis of this previously normal joint developed. A picture that is characteristic both of the preclinical stage and of other stages of aseptic necrosis of the femoral head may be revealed in the roentgenograms during the initial examination of the patient, which is connected with some peculiarities of the course of the disease. PMID- 2622638 TI - [Osteotomy in the complex treatment of coxarthrosis]. AB - The author presents the substantiation of the use of intertrochanteric osteotomy of the femur in 174 patients with coxarthrosis. On the basis of clinical, roentgenologic and biomechanical data two basic operations are recommended: Pauwels-I and Bombelli, which together with various supplements depending on the stage, the form, the age and other peculiarities bring stable positive results within 10 and more years. PMID- 2622639 TI - [Surgical treatment of trochanteric fractures of the femur in middle-aged and elderly patients using a bunch of metal rods]. AB - The authors describe their experience in the treatment of 55 patients with trochanteric fractures of the femur operated with a bundle of elastic rods (after Ender). Their mean age was 80 (61-98) years. The control group comprised 83 patients who had received conservative treatment and 53 patients who had been treated surgically with a three-blade nail with diaphyseal plate. The method is characterized by low traumatism and is accompanied by little blood loss, that is why no hemotransfusion was made in most cases. The danger of infection at the fracture site is minimal as it in not exposed. A sufficiently stable fixation of the fragments allows to make an early activation of the weakened patients, which is necessary for the prevention of hypostatic complications. The operation is simple and easy; it may be successfully mastered by broad sections of the doctors; an electro-optical++ transducer is required in the operating room. PMID- 2622640 TI - [Experience with using autologous transfusion of ultraviolet- irradiated blood]. AB - Autotransfusion of ultraviolet irradiated blood (TUVIB) has been included into the complex of treatment of 96 elderly and senile patients with fractures of the proximal end of the proximal end of the femur. The MD-73M apparatus has been used. The values of central hemodynamics, the threshold of tactile and pain sensitivity, the immune status and the coagulative system of blood have been studied. A high efficacy of TUVIB in this group of the patients has been pointed out, and a conclusion has been made about the necessity of individual choice of the doses of ultraviolet irradiation of autologous blood on the basis of adaptive reaction of calm activation. The side effects and the complications in performing TUVIB, the ways of their prevention and treatment have been considered. PMID- 2622641 TI - [Characteristics of the structure and dynamics of disability in degenerative and dystrophic diseases of the hip joint]. AB - The author has analysed the structure of disability of 142 patients with degenerative and dystrophic diseases of the hip joint (91 with coxarthrosis and 51 with osteonecrosis of the femoral head) after studying its dynamics for 3 to 10 years. Among coxarthroses the share of posttraumatic ones was especially significant, which was often due to inadequate treatment of the displaced trans articular++ fractures of the pelvis. Attention is paid to a considerable occurrence of idiopathic osteonecrosis (up to 1/3 of the whole number of cases with degenerative and dystrophic pathology of the hip joint). A necessity of differential approach to these patients during the examination is stressed with more decisive acknowledgement of group 2 of disability at stage I and II of the disease with compulsory early surgical treatment which may prevent the development of persistent disability. At the same time the surgical treatment of coxarthrosis (intertrochanteric osteotomy), while contributing to a stabilization of the process, hardly affects the dynamics of disability. PMID- 2622642 TI - [Experimental and clinical substantiation of laser therapy of wounds and trophic ulcers]. AB - The authors have studied the results of 120 experiments on 60 guinea-pigs and 110 rabbits who received the treatment of modelled fenestrated musculocutaneous wounds and trophic ulcers respectively on the replanted extremity and on the back with helium and neon laser until they healed completely. The authors have demonstrated that the laser therapy accelerates the process of reparative regeneration. In 50 intact rabbits who received local irradiation with helium and neon laser there was an increase in the activity of lysosome enzymes and in the protein metabolism values in the blood serum. The use of the helium and neon laser with the specific density of the irradiation rate of 2.5 mWt/cm2 and the exposition during 5 minutes in the treatment of trophic ulcers and persistent wounds in 56 patients as well as in 38 patients with consequences of injuries to the main blood vessels, the nerve trunks, the muscles and the tendons of the extremities before and after the reconstructive operations testifies to its high efficacy. PMID- 2622643 TI - [The biological role of the structural-deformable properties of the cartilage and of the synovial fluid in the reduction of intra- articular friction]. AB - The authors have studied the problem of low friction of biopolymers. The most common approaches to the explanation of the mechanism of joint lubrication are characterized. It has been demonstrated that the role of elastohydrodynamic action during the friction of the cartilages is insignificant. On the basis of the experimental data a comparison of the structural and mechanical and anti friction++ properties of the synovial medium has been made. It has been demonstrated that the results obtained, taking into consideration the regularity of the surface layers structure and the deformation properties of the cartilage testify in favour of the previous suggestion concerning the influence of the liquid crystal compounds on low friction and wear in the joint. PMID- 2622644 TI - [Inhibition of prostaglandins in the prevention of wound infection in open fractures of the crural bones]. PMID- 2622645 TI - Binocular vision, age and symptoms. AB - Changes with age in heterophoria, associated heterophoria, fixation disparity and stereopsis for near vision were investigated in a sample of 187 subjects (age range from 10 to 65 years) divided into six age groups. With increasing age, heterophoria, associated heterophoria and fixation disparity increased in the exo direction. No change in stereopsis was found. A comparison with visual symptoms for near vision indicated a relationship between symptoms and the magnitude of fixation disparity and associated heterophoria for all age groups, but no relationship was found between the presence of symptoms and heterophoria measurement. No relationship between the presence of symptoms and the central slope of the forced vergence fixation disparity curve was found. These findings suggested that neither the measurement of heterophoria nor the forced vergence disparity curve are appropriate tests in the assessment of binocular vision anomalies. However, fixation disparity and associated heterophoria are related to binocular problems for near vision in all age groups. PMID- 2622646 TI - Criteria for decompensation in binocular vision. AB - Two groups of patients, one under 40 years of age and the other 40 years and over, were divided into subgroups according to whether they had symptoms associated with near vision. A method developed in 'signal detection theory' was used to determine whether a value could be found for heterophoria, or associated heterophoria, which would predict which patients had symptoms due to decompensated heterophoria in normal routine investigation. Receiver operator characteristic curves (ROC curves) were constructed to look for these cut-off values between patients with, and without, symptoms. No value for dissociated heterophoria was found that would discriminate between the symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. It is concluded that heterophoria measurement is not useful as a routine procedure. In the case of associated heterophoria, for the under 40 years age group, patients with a value of 1 prism dioptre or more are more likely to have symptoms than not, and one-third of patients with close work problems have a value of 2 prism dioptres or more. It was rare to find any asymptomatic patient with a value as high as this. In the 40 years and over age group those with an associated heterophoria of 2 prism dioptres or more are more likely to have symptoms than not. One-third of patients in the latter age group, with symptoms, have a value of 3 prism dioptres or more whilst it is rare to find an asymptomatic patient with a value as large as this. PMID- 2622647 TI - Presbyopia correction and the accommodation in reserve. AB - One method of determining the additional correction for presbyopia suggests leaving a percentage of the amplitude of accommodation in reserve. The rationale for this assumption seems logical because using all of the available accommodation is not sustainable without discomfort. However there is no empirical evidence indicating what percentage of the amplitude of accommodation should actually be left in reserve. Common figures adopted have been one-half and one-third. In this investigation the percentage of accommodation used is deduced mathematically after having determined the following: 1. The 'add' by the direct subjective clinical method. 2. Measured the amplitude of accommodation. 3. Measured the reading distance in 305 presbyopes ranging from 40 to 83 years of age. The results showed a small decline in the amplitude of accommodation up to the age of 52, after which age the measurements were scattered about a steady level. This finding suggests that after the age of 52 the results are based on the depth-of-focus of the eye. Females had slightly greater accommodation than males of the same age. The power of the add was significantly correlated to the age of the subject. The mean percentage of accommodation used for the 305 subjects was found to be 50.7%, thus confirming the rule of leaving half of the accommodation in reserve, although there were large variations: there were differences between males and females and with age the percentage of measured accommodation used, after having determined the correct add, diminished. Similarly the percentage of accommodation also decreased for shorter reading distances. PMID- 2622648 TI - Contrast sensitivity with contact lens corrections for presbyopia. AB - We measured contrast sensitivity at three distances (330 mm, 660 mm and 4 m) with six contact lens and two multifocal spectacle corrections for presbyopia. The two spectacle corrections were D-segment bifocals and trifocals and the contact lens corrections were distance contact lens with lookover spectacles, soft progressive bifocals, soft concentric bifocals, monovision, modified monovision, and hard crescent segment bifocals. The spectacle corrections in general gave better results for the contrast sensitivity function (CSF), than did the contact lens corrections. Distance contact lenses with lookover spectacles performed best of the contact lens corrections used. However, the differences in CSF between the various contact lens corrections were small and not statistically significant. PMID- 2622649 TI - Human tear film pre-rupture phase time (TP-RPT)--a non-invasive technique for evaluating the pre-corneal tear film using a novel keratometer mire. AB - A non-invasive method of assessing the stability of the human pre-corneal tear film is described using a novel keratometer mire designed in the form of a grid pattern (HIR-CAL Grid). In a laboratory environment, the technique measures with ease and little variability the time taken for the tear film to loose stability and enter the pre-rupture phase (TP-RPT) before rupturing (BUT). This technique may prove useful in evaluating the stability or otherwise of the pre-corneal tear film of prospective contact lens wearer and the pre-contact lens tear film stability on differing current and new contact lens materials. PMID- 2622650 TI - Use of the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue test in the examination of congenital colour vision defects. AB - Results for the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue test are reported for 238 male subjects with congenital colour vision defects (47 protanopes, 17 protanomalous trichromats, 57 deuteranopes and 117 deuteranomalous trichromats). The results are analysed in terms of the error score and the presence of an axis of confusion. A wide range of results is obtained in each diagnostic group and the error score cannot be used to distinguish between dichromats and anomalous trichromats. Approximately 50% of subjects with anomalous trichromatism obtain error scores less than 100 without an axis of confusion. These subjects could be mistakenly identified as having normal colour vision if pseudoisochromatic and colour matching tests are not employed. The prime use of the F-M 100 Hue test is in vocational guidance. PMID- 2622651 TI - Analysis of a progressive addition lens population. AB - Analysis of 98 progressive addition lens (PAL) wearers was undertaken using both mailed questionnaires and by assessing patient records. Statistical analysis was undertaken to investigate the nature and dependent variables of a PAL population. The PAL patients were from the Aston University undergraduate optometric clinic. Social survey techniques, such as the use of personalized mail, first-class stamps, and follow-up letters, were employed to produce a high return rate for the questionnaire. The number of returned questionnaires reached 89.9% of those originally sent which may be considered to be highly representative. The clinical survey showed the success rate for the undergraduate clinic to be either 85.7% or 80.6% depending upon the criterion for successful wear. PMID- 2622652 TI - Clinical evaluation of the Humphrey autorefractor. AB - A study is made of the accuracy and repeatability of the Humphrey autorefractor (HAR) objective refraction for different refractive groups as measured against subjective refraction. The value of the autofogging mechanism in objective refraction for different refractive groupings is assessed. PMID- 2622653 TI - Binocular accommodation reaction and response times for normal observers. AB - Accommodation was recorded from right and left eyes of visually normal observers in both binocular and monocular viewing. Reaction and response times were similar in monocular and binocular viewing and are not influenced by eye dominance. Far to-near responses were significantly quicker than near-to-far responses. The origin of this difference may be a feature of the elastic properties of the accommodation mechanism. Limited data are presented that indicate that the slowing of accommodation speed with age affects the near-to-far response disproportionally. Errors in the initial direction of response were fewer in binocular viewing in comparison with monocular viewing. PMID- 2622654 TI - The effect of accommodative hysteresis on apparent distance. AB - The influence of accommodative hysteresis on monocular distance perception was examined in 18 visually normal young adults. Tonic accommodation and apparent distance were measured immediately before and after a 10 minute period of sustained focus at either the accommodative nearpoint or farpoint. Separate sessions were used for the two sustained focus conditions. On each session, apparent distance was assessed for both a highly effective and a non-effective accommodative target viewed at a constant optical distance of 3D. Sustained focus at the nearpoint resulted in a significant increase in the apparent distance of the highly effective accommodative target, as well as in tonic accommodation. Sustained focus at the farpoint yielded a slight decrease in tonic accommodation, but no significant alteration in the apparent distance of the highly effective accommodative target. No tendency for change in the apparent distance of the non effective accommodative target was observed under either the nearpoint or farpoint condition. The results suggest that accommodative distance information is linked to the level of monocular blur-driven accommodative innervation necessary for clarity of focus. PMID- 2622655 TI - Ageing parameters of the ocular lens by scanning fluorophotometry. AB - A Beer-Lambert analysis of fluorophotometric scans of ocular lenses has been carried out. It is shown that an assumption of a single flourophor allows us to calculate the distribution of this fluorophor along the central lens axis. For the great majority of lenses in our study, covering a wide range of ages, our results are in essential agreement with published results on excised lenses. For a small subset of lenses in the study the assumption of a single fluorophor is found to be unsatisfactory. In these cases a reasonable symmetry assumption allows us to estimate the distribution of an additional agent which removes light from the entering or exiting beams without contributing to the fluorescence. The fact that this agent is restricted to the lens nucleus and that it occurs in lenses in which nuclear changes are clinically evident suggests that it is an expression of nuclear cataract. PMID- 2622656 TI - Use of reflecto-modulometry to study the optical quality of the inner retina. AB - The modulation of interference fringes reflected by the peripheral fundus is always lowered by passage through the outer segments of the photoreceptors. In addition, it also may be degraded by passage through a diseased inner retina or through the choroid (in cases where there is only light pigmentation of the fundus). The contributions of the inner retina and choroid can be differentiated by varying the spatial frequency of fringes, or by studying the directionality of the fundus reflection. Reflecto-modulometry seems to be an appropriate method for analysing pathological changes in the optical quality of the inner retina. PMID- 2622657 TI - Multiple applications of the NCT: an assessment of the instrument's effect on IOP. AB - The feasibility of the American Optical Non-Contact Tonometer as an instrument for tonography was assessed. It was found that after 20 measurements in quick succession, there was a statistically insignificant change in IOP. Multiple intraocular pressure (IOP) readings with this instrument are helpful in determining an abnormally high IOP from an aberrant recording. PMID- 2622658 TI - Axial chromatic aberration of the human eye: frequency or wavelength? AB - The axial chromatic aberration of the human eye is nearly perfectly described by a linear function when expressed in terms of frequency rather than wavelength. Since linear functions are simple to work with and more readily understood, there are advantages for the expression of these data in terms of frequency. PMID- 2622659 TI - Apparent changes in the refractive index of hydrogel lenses. PMID- 2622660 TI - Autoperimeters--essential clinical tools or white elephants? PMID- 2622661 TI - Proposals for new reduced and schematic eyes. PMID- 2622662 TI - Corneal asphericity and refractive error. AB - The relationship between corneal curvature measured by classical keratometry and refractive error raises the question of a possible systematic relationship between refractive error and the degree of corneal asphericity. A recomputation and analysis of previously published data leads to the conclusion that the different refractive groups have similar values of the parameter 'p' and differ only in the apical radius of the cornea. PMID- 2622663 TI - The measurement of the corneal ellipse for the contact lens practitioner. AB - A keratometric instrument is described which can be used to measure the p-value of the corneal ellipse. The performance of the instrument is compared with that of the Guillbert Routit topographical keratometer and the Wesley Jessen P. E. K. The application of the p-value to contact lens fitting is discussed. PMID- 2622664 TI - Theoretical principles of optical pachometry. AB - Various configurations have been suggested for the optical measurement of corneal thickness by slit beam doubling, and corresponding ray traces have been provided to relate actual thickness to apparent thickness. In this report, a set of equations is provided which apply to the general situation in which neither the angle of illumination nor the angle of observation are aligned with or symmetrical about the normal to the cornea. An explicit solution to these equations giving true corneal thickness in terms of apparent thickness cannot be established, and an iterative procedure is used to develop a relationship for a number of different pachometer configurations. The near linearity of these relationships suggests the existence of a simple equation to relate these entities. By making appropriate assumptions, a linear approximation relating the inverse of the true thickness to the inverse of the apparent thickness is developed. An equation for determining the location of measurements of peripheral corneal thickness is also derived. The equations presented here may be generally applied to all optical pachometer configurations, can be used to estimate the relative contributions of various sources of error in pachometry and provide a basis for obtaining uniform absolute derivations of corneal thickness. PMID- 2622665 TI - A longitudinal study of the changes in the static accommodation response. AB - The results are described of a 10-year study of the longitudinal changes in the static response of an individual subject during the approach to absolute presbyopia. The amplitude of accommodation declines linearly with age. A new finding is that the magnitude of the slope of the linear portion of the response/stimulus curve also reduces with age, as does the level of tonic accommodation. PMID- 2622666 TI - Adaptive disorders of accommodation and vergence in binocular dysfunction. AB - Disturbances of binocular vision are described clinically by the Duane-White classification in terms of the magnitude of the accommodative-convergence ratio (AC/A). Convergence excess and convergence insufficiency are assumed to result from high and low AC/A ratios respectively. It is assumed that the abnormal AC/A ratio is an independent variable that underlies abnormal phorias. However, recent studies have demonstrated that the AC/A ratio is inversely related to the adaptability of tonic accommodation (lens adaptation) and directly related to adaptability of tonic vergence (prism adaptation). We have tested whether clinical categories of convergence excess and convergence insufficiency are associated with insufficient and excessive adaptation of tonic accommodation and tonic vergence. Results demonstrate greater amplitude and duration of accommodative after-effects (lens adaptation) in the convergence insufficiency than the convergence excess group. Vergence after-effects (prism adaptation) had the reverse trend for the two groups. These results indicate that adaptive disorders of accommodation and vergence may underlie binocular disorders in symptomatic patients categorized as convergence excess and convergence insufficiency. PMID- 2622667 TI - OKN asymmetries and binocular function in amblyopia. AB - Asymmetrical optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) means that OKN has a lower gain (slow phase eye velocity/stimulus velocity) for monocular temporalward than nasalward visual field motion. OKN tends to be asymmetric in amblyopia, leading to suggestions of a link between OKN asymmetry and binocularity in the literature. The present study measured OKN in 13 amblyopes and five normal subjects. In an attempt to identify those binocular cells used in the OKN response, the degree of OKN asymmetry was compared with binocularity assessed by two different techniques: (1) stereopsis and (2) interocular transfer of threshold elevation (IOT). Horizontal monocular OKN was recorded for three different stimulus velocities in each subject. All the amblyopes were found to be stereoblind, although three amblyopes showed OKN asymmetries close to those found for the normal group. More association was seen between interocular transfer of the threshold elevation and OKN asymmetry; not all amblyopes demonstrated reduced IOT, but those amblyopes with no IOT all had OKN asymmetries more than 125% of the mean of the normal group. However, no association was seen between the amount of OKN asymmetry and the degree of IOT. The results are discussed in terms of the role of different groups of binocular neurones for OKN and the effect of the sensitive periods of development on these binocular neurones. PMID- 2622668 TI - The effect of pupil size on static and dynamic measurements of accommodation using an infra-red optometer. AB - The study examines to what degree the output of the Canon Auto-ref R1 infra-red (IR) optometer is affected by variations in pupil size for both static measurement of refractive error and for continuous recording of accommodation when switched to its modified mode of operation. In the normal static mode of operation the measurement of refractive state simply depends on the position of the peak photodetector output for each of three meridians: it does not depend on signal amplitude and hence pupil size. However, in continuous mode the actual output of a single photodiode is measured and the measurement is susceptible to changes in pupil size that occur within the area of the exit pupil utilized by the instrument. Using static and dynamic recording on model and human eyes the study shows that a 10% reduction in output signal relative to the maximum output level (for a constant stimulus) occurs for pupil sizes of 3.9 mm. The relatively small exit pupil has important advantages with regard to the use of mydriatic drugs and task-induced changes in pupil diameter. PMID- 2622669 TI - Myopia in optometry students: family history, age of onset and personality. AB - The relationship between refractive error and family history, age of onset and personality was investigated in 189 optometry students. Subjects completed a questionnaire requesting details of their refractive history, type of correction and their family history. Subjects also completed an Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). Subjects were categorized as hyperopes, emmetropes or myopes on the basis of their questionnaire responses. No significant relationship was found between refractive group and the prevalence of myopia in parents. Myopic subjects, however, showed a significantly higher prevalence of myopic siblings. Furthermore, late-onset myopes showed a higher prevalence of myopic siblings than early-onset myopes. No significant personality differences were found between the refractive groups. PMID- 2622670 TI - Causes of blindness and partial sight in the Bradford Metropolitan District from 1980 to 1985. AB - A retrospective review of the BD8 forms submitted for the period 1980-85 in the Bradford Metropolitan District was conducted to ascertain the incidence and causes of blindness and partial sight. A total of 1485 cases were registered in this period of which 755 (50%) were included in the Blind register and 730 (49.2%) in the Partially Sighted register. Age-related macular degeneration was the most important cause of visual handicap, accounting for 43.9% of all registrations, followed by glaucoma (16.2%), diabetic retinopathy (6.3%), myopic degeneration (6.1%), optic atrophy (4.4%), cerebrovascular disease (3.8%), cataracts (3.6%), retinal vascular occlusive disease (3.2%), corneal opacities (3.0%), congenital anomalies (2.7%), retinitis pigmentosa/tapeto-retinal degeneration (1.9%), retinal detachment (1.8%) and others (3.1%). The ratio of female to male registrations was 1.8:1. Eighty-four per cent of this sample population was above the age of 60 years at the time of registration. PMID- 2622671 TI - Anthropometry for children's spectacle frames. AB - Facial measurements of 154 Caucasian children aged 5-14 were taken, to provide statistical information for spectacle frame manufacturers. The main differences compared with adult measurements were in the following dimensions: temple width, head width, bridge height, projection, splay angle and front to bend. The range of the 'distance between rims' measurement of adults, was similar to that of children. A number of differences between this group and a small group of Afro Caribbean children was encountered. PMID- 2622672 TI - A model for the determination of VECP latencies. AB - The time between stimulus event and onset of the visually evoked cortical potential (VECP) reflects the dynamic transmission characteristics of the precortical part of the visual system. A simple mathematical model describing this sub-system with regard to the triggering of luminance VECP is presented. The four functional parameters of the model can be calculated from the measured latency versus stimulus intensity curve of luminance VECP and can provide a quantitative evaluation of the functional state of the precortical visual system for clinical use. Some experiments and first clinical results show the applicability of the model. PMID- 2622673 TI - Detection of change of size by young and old observers. AB - Thresholds for detecting change of angular size were determined for a range of angular separations in young and elderly observers. We found no differences in thresholds between these subjects groups. Thresholds for detection of change of visual angle increased with angular separation in a power function relationship. Angular size change judgements based on successive views of a target are apparently not significantly affected by age. PMID- 2622674 TI - Spatial summation in young and elderly observers. AB - We measured detection thresholds for targets over a range of sizes at both photopic and scotopic luminance levels in young and elderly observers, and used these data to estimate spatial summation areas 10 degrees in the retinal periphery. There were differences in detection thresholds between the young and old groups at photopic and scotopic luminances, but no differences in spatial summation areas at either background luminance level. PMID- 2622675 TI - Peripheral visual acuity and age. AB - We measured the peripheral visual acuity of a group of eleven older subjects (mean age 54.2 years) and a group of seventeen young subjects (mean age 22.1 years). Peripheral visual acuity was measured using Konig bars with critical detail subtending 2.4 and 4.8 minutes of arc. The older group showed a substantial reduction of peripheral visual acuity. PMID- 2622676 TI - Effect of a scotoma on eye movements during visual search. AB - Eye movements have been recorded during a free visual search task both with and without an artificial foveal scotoma. Results of the eye movement measurements show that neither fixation durations nor mean saccade amplitudes are significantly modified by the loss of foveal vision. PMID- 2622677 TI - An analysis of three meridional keratometric measurement of the anterior corneal surface. AB - Analysis of measurements taken in three meridians of a toroidal optical surface can produce a spherocylindrical result without having to locate the principal meridians. This technique is assessed for the anterior corneal surface using keratometry. Good agreement is found with measurements taken in the principal meridians making this a suitable method for the assessment of the eye's optical surfaces by Purkinje image measurement. PMID- 2622678 TI - Congenital pit of the optic nerve. AB - Congenital pit of the optic nerve is a rare condition which can lead to serous retinal detachment. A case history of a patient with a small pit of the optic nerve is presented and management by the optometrist is discussed. PMID- 2622679 TI - Low vision aids (evaluation of 185 patients). AB - One hundred and eighty-five referred patients with various eye pathologies were evaluated retrospectively after they had undergone an examination and issued with a prescription for low vision. The majority of patients (77%) benefited from the prescribing of low vision aids (LVA). Spectacle-mounted magnifiers, high reading additions and telescopes were used as LVAs. Visual acuity, age and magnification are important factors in the assessment of an LVA. PMID- 2622680 TI - The futile search for the square of the sphero-cylinder. PMID- 2622681 TI - Ectopic pupil associated with cerebral cortical injuries: a sentinel observation. PMID- 2622682 TI - Modelling angle alpha. PMID- 2622683 TI - Symptoms in central serous retinopathy. PMID- 2622684 TI - Measurement of amplitude of accommodation. PMID- 2622685 TI - Neuroanatomical and physiological aspects of vision. Papers presented at the annual meeting of the Applied Vision Association. Oxford, 3-5 April 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2622686 TI - Do direct ophthalmoscopes put the patients' eyes at risk? PMID- 2622687 TI - [Eye enucleation in the treatment of malignant neoplasms of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses]. AB - During the years 1966-80 96 patients with malignant tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses were treated surgically in ENT Clinic of Medical Academy Cracow, Poland. Exenteration of the orbit was performed in 34 cases. 7 patients (20.6%) survived five years. In 15 with the orbit bone lesions but with intact periosteum the exenteration of the orbit was not performed and 80% of these patients survived five years. PMID- 2622688 TI - [Current theories on the role of palatine tonsils]. AB - The immunologic function of the palatine tonsils was discussed, especially the physiology and pathology in some cases. PMID- 2622689 TI - [Tarflen-metal prosthesis in the surgical treatment of otosclerosis]. AB - The authors described the prosthesis for otosclerosis surgery. It is made by plastic material connected with the tantalum+ or platinum wire. The mode of prosthesis adaptation and taking into the place was described. The prosthesis was devised and produced by Instytut Przemyslu Tworzyw i Farb Gliwice (Poland). PMID- 2622690 TI - [Study of directional preponderance in central disorders of the vestibular system]. AB - The aim of this work was the evaluation of the caloric responses in central disturbances of equilibrium. The symptoms studied were: incidence of directional preponderance with etiology and symmetry of responses versus canal paresis. 232 patients with central disturbances of vestibular system were examined by use of Fitzgerald-Hallpike test. The magnitude of the caloric response was stated as mean value of angular velocity of nystagmus slow phase. Both symmetric directional preponderance and coexistent with canal paresis can be found in disturbances of the central nervous system, not depending on etiology. PMID- 2622691 TI - [Surgical rehabilitation of voice and speech after total or nearly-total laryngectomy]. AB - 18 years of the own experience in phoniatric and surgical rehabilitation of voice and speech in laryngectomized was discussed. Within the surgical methods the authors comprised not only the vocal shunt formation, but also the surgical transformation of air-in-oesophagus-collection and the section with interposition of pharyngo-oesophageal sphincter (method devised by authors). By now the oesophagus speech is most convenient. The alloplastic shunt formation is indicated in cases with psychologic difficulties, unsuccessful oesophageal voice rehabilitation and in necessity of quick regaining the good speech. PMID- 2622692 TI - [Comparison of auditory threshold and loudness in the Bing test]. AB - The threshold and loudness comparison techniques of the Bing test were performed in a quantitative manner in both ears of 14 subjects. The results were related to their air-bone gap at 500 Hz. The study showed that the air-bone gap influenced a positive occlusion effect, but did not influence its subsequent magnitude. The magnitudes of the results of the occlusion test performed in these two ways were significantly related to each other. PMID- 2622693 TI - [Primary cancer of the sphenoid sinus]. AB - A rare case of primary cancer in sphenoid sinus was described. The treatment consisted of surgery and radiotherapy. PMID- 2622694 TI - [A case of amyloidosis of the larynx]. AB - A case of surgically treated amyloidosis of the larynx is presented. Current opinions on the structure of amyloid are given. PMID- 2622695 TI - [A case of rhabdomyosarcoma of the nasopharynx in a child]. PMID- 2622696 TI - [Cancer of the middle ear in our cases]. AB - The author presented the review of literature and own cases history of middle ear cancer. The incidence, treatment and prognosis were discussed as well as the necessity of early diagnosis by use of operational microscopy. PMID- 2622697 TI - [A case of elongated styloid process syndrome]. AB - The elongated styloid process was discovered during tonsillectomy in the tonsilar loge. However, the patient complaints were typically for chronic tonsillitis. PMID- 2622698 TI - [Social responsibilities in pediatrics and their realization in Czechoslovakia. 1. Social pediatric responsibilities of an ambulatory care pediatrician in general practice]. AB - A survey is given on social-paediatric tasks of ambulantly practising children's specialists--who are acting as family doctors--in Czecho-Slovakia. Among other things they are obliged to inform and to advise the parents in respect to their healthy and to their ill children, to observe and to secure a healthy development of all children within the reach of their responsibility as well as to cooperate with all the sociable institutions in case of special problems concerning children. A special centre of gravity for those tasks means to be the care for chronically ill and handicapped children as well as to act as experts in all problems and legal proceedings. PMID- 2622699 TI - [Social responsibilities in pediatrics and their realization in Czechoslovakia. 2. Social responsibilities of practice at ambulatory and inpatient pediatric departments]. AB - A survey is given on the structure and the function of the ambulant and stationary paediatric care in Czecho-Slovakia. The treatment is effected according to the system of territorial reaches as well as to a graduated care according to three stages of care. The co-operation between the ambulant and the stationary reach is characterized by manifold implications concerning other various medical specialists too. On all the levels the parents of the children are fully integrated. PMID- 2622700 TI - [Social responsibilities in pediatrics and their realization in Czechoslovakia. 3. Social aspects of the pediatric care of children at public facilities]. AB - A survey is given on the standard co-operation of the paediatrician in the care of children in creches, in infant institutions, in children's homes, in children's psychiatric hospitals as well as in sanatoria. PMID- 2622701 TI - [The development of chest circumference in the first 3 years of life--results of a longitudinal study]. AB - The chest circumference of 175 children (84 boys, 91 girls) was investigated from birth to the age of three years. Boys were shown to have greater distance values than girls. The growth velocity was highest in the first trimenon. The distance values of our children are lower than those of children investigated in the same territory during the periods of 1958/60 and 1970/71. The chest circumference as related to body length was found to be lower than described in previous investigations. These results are possible to recommended as reference values. PMID- 2622702 TI - [Pneumococcal infections in children: hemolytic-uremic syndrome]. AB - By the example of a case-report diagnostic and therapeutic features of the haemolytic-uraemic syndrome are discussed within the frame of infections by pneumococci. In case of infections by pneumococci but also of those ones caused by other bacteria or viruses neuraminidase may be set free, that on its part may lead to an enzyme-induced haemolysis and in some cases also to a damage of other cell systems. In case of an active share of the kidney a haemolytic-uraemic syndrome may be the consequence. PMID- 2622703 TI - [Newborn infants of mothers with cardiopathy or nephropathy]. AB - The prognosis for pregnancy in chronically ill women (mainly heart or kidney diseases) has improved dramatically. However, despite a decrease in the parent's mortality, foetal mortality and morbidity remains unchanged because of the consequences of the mother's disease and treatment on foetal physiology. The mother must be informed of the risks and the medical supervision during the pregnancy. The follow-up and the medical and/or surgical management during pregnancy and at birth are discussed. Pregnancies in women with heart diseases often have a favourable outcome. In women with renal failure, transplantation can result in a successful pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child. The pediatrician is involved in all decisions during pregnancy and must undertake long-term surveillance of the child in order to detect for any somatic or psychological abnormality which might appear later on in life. PMID- 2622704 TI - [Treatment of essential hypercholesterolemia by normolipidemic drugs in children]. AB - The authors list the principal normolipidemic drugs. Only cholestyramine (Questran) and some fibrates (fenofibrate: Lipanthyl for instance) are registered for pediatrics. Cholestyramine acts by sequestering biliary acids, and thereby inhibiting intestinal cholesterol resorption. It is the primary drug used for children, when diet has been unable to restore normal cholesterol values. PMID- 2622705 TI - [Familial congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by 11 beta-hydroxylase. Failure of prevention of sexual ambiguity and prenatal diagnosis]. AB - In a sepharad family from Morocco, 2 children out of 4 had congenital adrenal hyperplasia with 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency. The index case had a very severe genital masculinization (Prader V), diagnosed at 18 months of age. For the fourth pregnancy, dexamethasone was given from the 8th to the 24th week of amenorrhea, in order to prevent the virilization of a female fetus. The treatment was interrupted for 5 days, at the 20th week, because of amniocentesis. As the amniotic steroid concentrations were normal, the treatment was stopped. Nevertheless the neonate also has severe virilization of the external genitalia and postnatal hormonal studies confirmed the diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency. The reasons for the failure of the treatment are analyzed. PMID- 2622706 TI - [Congenital pseudohypoaldosteronism: apropos of 6 cases]. AB - Pseudohypoaldosteronism is a congenital disorder, with an as yet unclear pathophysiology, mode of inheritance and frequency. We have recently diagnosed 6 cases in a relatively short period of time, which suggests that the frequency of the disease may be underestimated. This may be due to a high variability in the clinical expression and to the existence of asymptomatic forms. Autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive modes of inheritance have been reported which probably correspond to different underlying mechanisms. PMID- 2622707 TI - [Milk consumption in 10-month-old infants. Effects on iron intake]. AB - A study was conducted in 278 10-month-old infants, examined in 2 health care centres in Paris. The dietary history method was used to evaluate their food consumption: 54.5% were receiving usual cow's milk (semi-skimmed or whole milk), 44% adapted infant formulas, and 1.5% cow milk products only. There was no relationship between the quality of milk consumption of these infants and the socio-economic level or the nationality of their parents. Infants receiving usual cow milk had an iron intake lower than the recommended daily amounts while those who were fed with the adapted infant formulas had an adequate daily iron intake. PMID- 2622708 TI - [Outcome of the kidney with vesico-ureteral reflux. Apropos of 129 cases]. AB - The final status of the kidneys of 129 children suffering from vesico-ureteric reflux was studied. The growth of the kidneys was comparable in the surgically treated and in the medically treated group. However, growth was better when the kidneys had been normal initially than when they presented renal scars. New scars were more frequent in the medically treated group, and/or when scars were already present at diagnosis of vesico-ureteric reflux. Our results are in agreement with those in the literature. PMID- 2622709 TI - [Prevention of Haemophilus influenzae type B infections: the contribution of conjugated polyosidic vaccines]. PMID- 2622710 TI - [Tuberculosis in children in 1989]. PMID- 2622711 TI - [Myxoma of the right atrium]. AB - A case of right atrial myxoma is reported in a 6-year-old boy. This type of cardiac tumour is infrequent at this age and its localisation on the right atrium is extremely rare. The clinical diagnosis may be evoked in the presence of a changing cardiac murmur; two-dimensional cardiac ultrasonography is currently the best method for non-invasive assessment. Good surgical results are linked to an early resection, with careful manipulation of the tumour and large removal of the implantation base. PMID- 2622712 TI - [Proximal trisomy 19q. Interstitial deletion and ring chromosome derived from 19q]. AB - A proximal 19q duplication was observed in lymphocytes of a young boy with mental retardation, dysmorphism (weight excess, macrocephaly, downward slanted palpebral fissures, hypertelorism, broad nose, typical mouth), without visceral malformation. His mother had an interstitial deletion and ring chromosome derived from 19q. PMID- 2622713 TI - [Epidemiologic profile of accidents in Tunisian children]. AB - The results of a retrospective study of 2,108 accidents in 0-14-year-old children are presented, recorded over a 1-year period at the Sfax Medical Centre, Tunisia. The average age of the children was 6 years 4 months. Our results show that 85% of the accidents were domestic (traumatisms 72%; poisoning 11%). The frequency and gravity of poisoning due to scorpion bites is emphasized: it represented 7% of the accidents, 35% of mortality due to accidental causes and a lethality rate of 10%. The total mortality rate due to accidental causes was 2%. Five per cent of the patient population had sequelae. Factors influencing the nature and gravity of the accident have been analysed and some recommendations have been made regarding prevention of accidents in children. PMID- 2622714 TI - [Incidence of cancer in children throughout the world]. AB - The International Agency for Research on Cancer has coordinated a worldwide study of the incidence of cancer in childhood. Contributors from over 50 countries have provided data. This paper presents a summary of some of the major results. The incidence rates and relative frequencies of childhood cancers are described according to 12 diagnostic groups, defined mainly in terms of tumour morphology. Variations in the risk of those tumours between different countries and different ethnic groups provide important information on the relative importance of environmental and genetic factors in their aetiology. PMID- 2622715 TI - Factor analysis and predictive validity of microcomputer-based tests. AB - 11 tests were selected from two microcomputer-based performance test batteries because previously these tests exhibited rapid stability (less than 10 min, of practice) and high retest reliability efficiencies (r greater than 0.707 for each 3 min. of testing). The battery was administered three times to each of 108 college students (48 men and 60 women) and a factor analysis was performed. Two of the three identified factors appear to be related to information processing ("encoding" and "throughput/decoding"), and the third named an "output/speed" factor. The spatial, memory, and verbal tests loaded on the "encoding" factor and included Grammatical Reasoning, Pattern Comparison, Continuous Recall, and Matrix Rotation. The "throughput/decoding" tests included perceptual/numerical tests like Math Processing, Code Substitution, and Pattern Comparison. The output speed factor was identified by Tapping and Reaction Time tests. The Wonderlic Personnel Test was group administered before the first and after the last administration of the performance tests. The multiple Rs in the total sample between combined Wonderlic as a criterion and less than 5 min. of microcomputer testing on Grammatical Reasoning and Math Processing as predictors ranged between 0.41 and 0.52 on the three test administrations. Based on these results, the authors recommend a core battery which, if time permits, would consist of two tests from each factor. Such a battery is now known to permit stable, reliable, and efficient assessment. PMID- 2622716 TI - Social-psychological environments and cognitive achievement. AB - Differences in social-psychological environments between parochial and public schools, and between mathematics and English courses, were investigated for 317 boys and girls in Grade 10. Multivariate and univariate analyses of variance produced significant main effects and an interaction of school x subject. Differential validities of environmental variables in predicting achievement using multiple regression suggested that perception of the learning environment for course content substantially predicted achievement in that course content. Incremental validity of the learning environment with achievement when IQ was partialled out was also substantial. Implications for instructional effectiveness and school organization are discussed. PMID- 2622717 TI - Hemispheric specialization for processing Chinese characters: some evidence from lexical decision vocal reaction times. AB - Lexical decision vocal reaction times (RT) were obtained for a group of Chinese subjects to unilateral tachistoscopically presented pictorial, single, and combination Chinese characters. The RT showed a significant right visual-field advantage, with significant correlations of performance between the visual fields for each type of character. Error analysis gave a significant interaction between visual fields and error type--significantly more false positive errors occurred following left visual-field inputs. These results suggest that the left hemisphere was responsible for processing each type of character, possibly reflecting superior postaccess lexical-decision processes. PMID- 2622718 TI - Belief in life after death and suicide rates by region. PMID- 2622719 TI - Temporal lobe signs and enhanced pleasantness scores for words generated during spontaneous narratives. AB - Temporal lobe function has been strongly implicated in the processes of semantic selection. Within this context, enhanced activity of deep mesiobasal structures is expected to influence the affective dimensions of language use. Quantitative measures of the evaluative (pleasantness) dimension but not the activity (arousal) dimension of words generated during narratives of subjective experiences within an exotic setting were significantly correlated with the numbers of temporal lobe signs. PMID- 2622720 TI - Attitudes of in-home care aides toward elderly persons: refinement of the Oberleder Attitude Scale. AB - The Oberleder Attitude Scale was reduced from 25 to 16 items and was factored into three major concepts, potential, limitations, and stereotypes. Responses of 345 in-home care aides indicated that the 345 aides held positive attitudes toward their elderly patients. PMID- 2622721 TI - Relations among nightmare frequency and ego strength, death anxiety, and sex of college students. AB - The present study was designed to investigate empirically the relationship between self-reports of nightmare frequency and ego strength and death anxiety in both men and women. In addition, the interrelations among these variables were assessed. 20 undergraduates with high frequencies of nightmares and 20 with low frequencies (10 men and 10 women per group) were administered the Barron Ego Strength Scale and a death anxiety scale. Significant differences were found between nightmare groups on the Barron scale for men and women but none on the death anxiety scale either by nightmare frequency or sex. A significant negative correlation of -.47 between death anxiety and ego strength was found for women and in one high frequency group. Women with high frequencies of nightmares showed the highest correlation, -.83. These data suggest that nightmare frequency may be a mediating factor in the relationship between ego strength, death anxiety, and sex of subject. PMID- 2622722 TI - Pubertal timing and menstrual attitudes in adolescent Nigerians. PMID- 2622723 TI - A chronobiological test for cognitive styles: Chrono-Trial Making. AB - This paper presents a description of the test, Chrono-Trail Making, an adaptation of the format of the Trial Making Test of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery. Generated were 28 parallel forms adapted from Part A; another 28 forms were adapted from Part B. These forms are assumed to be of similar difficulty and to have the same physical characteristics as the two parts of the original test. Each of the series of 28 was given consecutively at 15-min. intervals. Examination of scores confirms the identification in 24 young men of a Basic Rest-Activity Cycle (BRAC) of 90- to 100-min. periods. These, it was proposed, may refer to two different cognitive styles. PMID- 2622724 TI - Effects of the eyerobics visual skills training program on static balance performance of male and female subjects. AB - 10 male and 10 female students in physical education aged 19 to 23 yr. were each randomly assigned to both the experimental and control groups. Experimental subjects were given the 4-wk. Eyerobics visual skills training to assess its effects on static balance performance as measured on a balance stabilometer. Analysis indicated that the women performed significantly better than the men over-all. Balance performance by the trained group improved significantly. PMID- 2622725 TI - Auditory and visual effects on solutions to computerized mathematics problems as a function of rate of digit presentation. AB - This exploratory investigation concerned the effects of both auditory and visual stimulus variations on the accuracy of mental solutions to addition problems presented on a computer screen (CRT). 5 intensities of background noise and 5 background hues were presented randomly to 123 undergraduate volunteers as they mentally summed 25 numerals ranging from 1 to 5 at rates of either 1 sec. or 3 sec. per numeral timed from the onset of the previous numeral. A 2 x 2 x 5 mixed splitplot factorial analysis of variance gave a significant difference in errors between rates of digit presentation with greater accuracy associated with the 3 sec. rate. There was no significant difference in mean errors for auditory vs color modalities, yet a post hoc Newman-Keuls paired-comparison test of decibel levels at the 1-sec. rate of digit presentation gave a significant difference in mean errors between 60-dB and 70-dB sound-pressure levels (SPLs) of white masking noise. Also, a post hoc F test on differences between successive stages indicated significant differences suggesting a "learning set." Comparisons between 'everyday' instances of these noise levels are made with implications for optimal computational environments. PMID- 2622726 TI - Comparison of paragraph comprehension test scores with reading versus listening reading and multiple-choice versus nominal recall administration techniques: justification for the bypass approach. AB - Eight groups of learning disabled children (N = 100), categorized by the clinical Lexical Paradigm as good readers or poor readers, were individually administered the Gilmore Oral Reading Test, Form D, by one of four input/retrieval methods: (1) the standardized method of administration in which the child reads each paragraph aloud and then answers five questions relating to the paragraph [read/recall method]; (2) the child reads each paragraph aloud and then for each question selects the correct answer from among three choices read by the examiner [read/choice method]; (3) the examiner reads each paragraph aloud and reads each of the five questions to the child to answer [listen/recall method]; and (4) the examiner reads each paragraph aloud and then for each question reads three multiple-choice answers from which the child selects the correct answer [listen/choice method]. The major difference in scores was between the groups tested by the recall versus the orally read multiple-choice methods. This study indicated that poor readers who listened to the material and were tested by orally read multiple-choice format could perform as well as good readers. The performance of good readers was not affected by listening or by the method of testing. The multiple-choice testing improved the performance of poor readers independent of the input method. This supports the arguments made previously that a "bypass approach" to education of poor readers in which testing is accomplished using an orally read multiple-choice format can enhance the child's school performance on reading-related tasks. Using a listening while reading input method may further enhance performance. PMID- 2622727 TI - Relations of sociodemographic variables and cognitive ability: a comparative analysis of the cognitive scores of high school seniors. AB - This paper compares subgroups using cognitive scores from a test battery administered to high school seniors in the base year survey in 1980. The procedures used to select the sample were designed to yield a data base that can be statistically projected to represent the national population of about 3,040,000 high school seniors. Comparisons were performed to examine differences in cognitive scores by age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and census region. Boys scored higher than girls on mathematics and visualization tests, but lower on the picture-number and mosaic comparison tests. Mean scores of the two sexes on the vocabulary and reading tests differed by less than 0.1 SD. Asian/Pacific Islanders had higher means than white students and other minority groups on the mathematics, mosaic comparisons, and visualization test, but their scores did not differ significantly from those of white students on the other three tests. Means for Hispanics were lower than those for white students but higher than those for black students, except on reading. Mean scores of Cubans exceeded those of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans or other Hispanics. A positive correlation 0.40 obtained between test scores and the socioeconomic status or education attained by the examinees' mothers. Students in New England had the highest means except on visualization for which the highest scores were in the West, followed in order by those in the Middle Atlantic, West North Central, East North Central, Pacific, Mountain, South Atlantic, East South Central, and West South Central regions. PMID- 2622728 TI - Locus of control, depression and suicidal ideation. PMID- 2622729 TI - Time perception and the Stroop task. AB - Three experiments were conducted to assess the effects of the Stroop task (color word incongruities) on observers' estimates of 30-sec. inspection periods. The experiments differed in psychophysical procedure; the three classic methods of production, reproduction, and verbal estimation were employed. Observers underestimated the passage of time, compared to doing nothing, when they were engaged on the Stroop task. However, judgments of duration on the Stroop task were shorter than those made in the control condition of naming color dots only when the method of production was employed. These findings are similar to results with mental arithmetic tasks and contribute to the understanding of the relationship between cognitive processing and time perception. PMID- 2622730 TI - Aging and the influence of contextual contrast on vowel identification. AB - This study examines possible differences between young and older adult listeners in the effect of contextual contrast on vowel identification using a vowel anchoring procedure. All listeners identified a 7-step [i]-[I] continuum under both an equiprobable control condition and an anchoring condition (in which one endpoint stimulus occurred four times more often than any other single stimulus token). Phoneme boundaries in the anchoring condition shifted toward the anchor endpoint, as expected, for both groups, but there was a significant effect of age when [i] served as the anchor. Evidence of an increase in response bias for older adult listeners was also found. PMID- 2622731 TI - Mini-mental state examination and brain age quotient--short form: relationship and demographic correlates. AB - Modest intercorrelations between scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Brain Age Quotient were obtained for 30 men in a VA medical program for alcoholic dependency, rs with age and education were small. As the two measures are reasonably different, they may be applied to advantage in studies of behavioral intervention. PMID- 2622732 TI - Mechanisms involved in the Munsterberg "shifted chequerboard" illusion: an empirical test. AB - In the present work three alternative hypotheses proposed as explanations of the Munsterberg illusion are discussed: the Moulden and Renshaw 1979 hypothesis, which explains this effect using Helmholtz's 1856 "irradiation theory," the Gregory and Heard 1979 hypothesis, which proposes a mechanism of "border locking," and the McCourt 1982 hypothesis, which sustains a relation between this effect and brightness induction phenomena. To check these hypotheses, we took four measures, each one obtained by using a different pair of patterns mounted on circular displays which could be tilted by 360 degrees. The results do not support McCourt's hypothesis but, on the other hand, they seem to be partially in agreement, or at least not to be in disagreement, with the hypotheses both of Moulden and Renshaw and of Gregory and Heard. PMID- 2622733 TI - Dual attention to dynamically structured naturalistic events. AB - Videotapes of two naturalistic events, a basketball-like game and a vocalizing human face, were presented in a dual-task situation, with subjects responding to target events in individual episodes. The fact that the stimulus episodes consisted of natural motions permitted subjects to base their attention on the partially determinate structure that characterizes such motions. Simultaneous visual presentations were in full transparent overlap. the auditory presentations were overlapped spatially. Performance on the dual task improved significantly in all experimental conditions over two days of practice. Performance approached control-group ceiling levels for events available to different modalities (hearing and sight). When information was available only in a single modality, performance was lower over-all, but practice effects were still significant. The results are discussed in the context of a cognitive skills approach to attention. PMID- 2622734 TI - Diagnostic efficacy and stability of the Minnesota Percepto-Diagnostic Test with psychotic and nonpsychotic psychiatric patients. PMID- 2622735 TI - Listeners' perceptual strategies in word recognition: shadowing misarticulated speech. AB - The purpose of the study was to examine the perceptual salience of various types of phonetic, lexical, and prosodic information by examining subjects' responses to altered words in a continuous speech-shadowing task. 48 subjects shadowed a prose passage in which the word initial consonant of 14 two-syllable words was altered by either mispronouncing or deleting it. Analysis of responses showed that subjects made use of lexical stress and stressed vowel information during word recognition to cope with the altered auditory signal. PMID- 2622736 TI - Order of item difficulty on picture arrangement: data from a normal elderly sample. AB - In a sample of 226 normal elderly persons the order of item difficulty for the WAIS-R Picture Arrangement subtest was examined. Means for age and education were 80.8 yr. (SD = 5.2) and 10.9 yr. (SD = 2.9), respectively. The current order of items does not conform to the expectation of increasing difficulty. When testing elderly persons, intrasubtest scatter on Picture Arrangement should not be used to infer pathology. PMID- 2622737 TI - Presleep cognitive hyperarousal and affect as factors in objective and subjective insomnia. AB - The role of presleep cognition in insomnia was studied in normal sleepers and insomniacs with either (1) psychophysiological insomnia, an objective disorder of initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS), or (2) DIMS without objective findings (subjective insomnia), as defined by two nights' polysomnographic baseline data. During the experimental night in the sleep laboratory, 24 subjects were interviewed at intervals during the presleep/sleep-onset period. Judges' ratings of subjects' spontaneous reports and subjects' responses to questionnaire items were analyzed for cognitive quality. Objective insomniacs had more frequent cognitive activity than the subjective insomniacs. Both insomnia groups reported more negative thoughts than the controls. Cognitive hyperarousal as a factor in objective insomnia was not clearly supported. PMID- 2622738 TI - Empathy, self-esteem and creativity among junior ballet dancers. AB - 62 junior ballet dancers from the Finnish National Opera (44 girls, 18 boys, ages 9 to 17 yr.) completed the Battle Self-esteem Inventory Form B or AD, the Tennessee Self-concept Scale, 2 factors from Coopersmith's Self-esteem Inventory, 10 items from Rosenberg's scale, the modified Mehrabian and Epstein Empathy Scale, a questionnaire on hobbies, the Rorschach and the Figural B Form of Torrance's creativity test. Analysis showed dancers trained 4-5 nights/week, tended to have creative hobbies, were more empathetic and sensitive (especially girls) than controls. Dancers had higher self-esteem than the normative sample. PMID- 2622739 TI - Influence of stronger attentional manipulations on the processing of dichotic inputs in right-handers. AB - Recent studies have shown that a pronounced right-ear advantage can occur within dichotic tasks when persons of a particular sex are directed to focus their attention onto the right ear. To examine the effects of attentional bias on laterality more precisely, we provided subjects a greater number of focused-ear trials. Analysis indicated a very strong right-ear advantage in men and women under the right-focus condition as well as a significant left-ear advantage for both sexes with directed left-focus. These findings suggest that sustained ear attendance exerts a powerful influence on dichotic performance. PMID- 2622740 TI - Nonconscious perception, where are you? AB - In three studies, no evidence of nonconscious perception was found, although general procedures used in previous studies reporting the effect were followed. Presence/absence thresholds (Exps. 1 and 2) or recognition threshold (Exp. 3) were established for each subject. There was no difference in the effects of related and unrelated primes on voice reaction time during a word naming task. These findings raise questions about the robustness of nonconscious priming effects. PMID- 2622741 TI - Psychology of computer use: XVI. Effect of computer-pointing devices on children's processing rate. AB - Computer-pointing devices for input into microcomputers have become a commonplace component in direct manipulation interfaces. Use of these peripheral devices by children should result in processing rates comparable to those obtained when children are pointing with their fingers or other means. Recent research suggests that children's processing rates are substantially lower when they are manipulating computer devices. One possibility is that a child's motor system is subjected to a greater load because the child's hands are not visible while the action of pointing with a computer is being carried out. The effect of two conditions (viewing hands, not viewing hands) on 6-, 8-, and 10-yr.-old children's processing rates was investigated. Results showed that there was no difference between the two conditions although low processing rates similar to those previously obtained were recorded. PMID- 2622742 TI - The taxonomy and course of childhood autism. AB - The hypothesis that prognosis in autism would vary across subgroups was explored through cluster analysis of 52 cases. Four clusters related mainly to presence or absence of mutism, speech pathology, and lack of social responsiveness. Children who were mute and socially unresponsive on admission had particularly poor outcomes at follow-up 4.5 yr. later. For a third of the 35 subject followed, the Vineland Social Quotients (mean 46.0 for all subjects) had declined. PMID- 2622743 TI - Is locomotor distance estimation guided by visual imagery? AB - 70 subjects were tested for their visual subscale scores on the Movement Imagery Questionnaire and also for their ability to walk, without vision, to a previously viewed target location 9 m away. Imagery ability was hypothesized to correlate with accuracy of "blind" target-directed walking which the literature suggests, without empirical support, is imagery-dependent. No support for this hypothesis was found. Low, medium, and high imagers showed no differences in ability to reproduce target distance accurately or consistently by walking the estimated distance without further visual updating. The results call into question whether task performance is imagery-based or whether subjects use alternative strategies to approach the target. PMID- 2622744 TI - Juvenile delinquency and child pedestrian accidents: an ecological analysis. AB - Data on child pedestrian and cycle accidents and on juvenile delinquency were expressed as population-adjusted rates and covaried with social and demographic data for 120 districts in Calgary, Western Canada. Earlier results were confirmed, in that high rate areas on the indicators employed tended to coincide, identifying particular urban areas with high rates of many types of social problems. PMID- 2622745 TI - Psychological abuse among college women in dating relationships. AB - A questionnaire designed to measure psychological abuse and kindness was responded to by 90 college women involved in dating relationships. Analysis indicated that, while many relationships were low abuse/high kindness, a substantial number were characterized by high abuse/low kindness, high abuse/high kindness and low abuse/low kindness. An analysis of these different categories of dating relationships as well as explanations as to why young women should be in such negative relationships are included. The study also indicated significant differences between women's reports of feelings and behaviors. Finally, a comparison of past versus present relationships showed proportionately few significant differences in behaviors but many significant differences in feelings. The major finding, that some college women are in dating relationships characterized by psychological abuse, was explored, and comparisons to the literature on wife abuse and courtship violence were also included. PMID- 2622746 TI - Factor analysis of the Reitan-Indiana Neuropsychological Test Battery. AB - The Reitan-Indiana Neuropsychological Test Battery was administered to a sample of 116 normal children aged 5 to 7 yr. A principal components factor analysis showed that six different areas of functioning were being measured. The neuropsychological dimensions were identified as Analytic-Synthetic Visual-motor Ability, Perceptual Organization, Crossed Modality Motoric Efficiency, Directed Motor Speed, Patterned Critical Discrimination, and Strength. Regression equations for estimating a child's scores on the six factors were presented. The dimensions were related to previous factor-analytic studies with young children. PMID- 2622747 TI - Use of a motor creativity test with young learning disabled boys. AB - The Torrance Test of Thinking Creatively in Action and Movement, developed to measure the motor creativity of children ages 3 to 8 yr., has been subjected to little psychometric study. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using this instrument with young learning disabled boys and to determine whether differences between learning disabled boys and the test manual's nondisabled normative sample (n = 193) were significant. Subjects were 30 learning disabled boys (M = 8.11 yr.), representing seven different school systems. Significant differences were noted between two groups on fluency, imagination, and total motor creativity but not on originality. Test-retesting over 1 to 14 days gave coefficients of .71 to .89. The alpha coefficient for total test internal consistency was .79. PMID- 2622748 TI - Fuzzy logical approach to perception of dot numerosity. AB - The present study utilized a fuzzy logical approach for understanding human perception or judgments of dot numerosity. In Exp. 1 subjects were required to view dot patterns and to judge the truthfulness of the single and combined statements which asserted that the number of dots was large. The results indicated that (a) the rules based on the minimum and maximum truthfulness of the component statements best approximate subjective conjunction and disjunction about dot numerosity, when subjects kept the operations of the standard logic system in mind. (b) When the subjects based their judgments on perceptive impression, their judgments were best fitted by the multiplicative form. PMID- 2622749 TI - Reliability of the Jenkins Activity Survey in assessing Type A behavior pattern in middle-aged Nigerians. PMID- 2622750 TI - Effects of different intensities of fatigue on performing a sport skill requiring explosive muscular effort: a test of the specificity of practice principle. AB - The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of high, moderate, and low physical fatigue on performing the shot put, a sport skill that requires explosive muscular effort. 44 subjects practiced the shot put until mastery was achieved. They then experienced one of four fatigue intensities during a 20-trial practice period (no fatigue, 45, 60 or 75% of their predicted maximum oxygen uptake) to induce light, moderate, or heavy fatigue, respectively, after which subjects then engaged in criterion performance for 5 trials under each of the fatigue intensities, with one week in between. Distance thrown and expert assessment of performance technique were dependent variables. Analysis indicated that criterion performance was optimal for both distance and form after subjects experienced light fatigue during practice and criterion performance. The specificity of practice hypothesis was partially supported for the light fatigue condition, but not for the other intensities. PMID- 2622751 TI - Chronic suicide attempters who switch methods and those who do not. PMID- 2622752 TI - Learning effects while passively viewing the Necker cube. AB - Over a 2-wk. period 15 high school students passively viewed a Necker cube for 5 trials (90 sec. per trial). The number of reversals per trial indicates there were practice effects. Measures of tolerance of ambiguity (Tolerance of Ambiguity), anxiety (General Anxiety Scale and Test Anxiety Scale), and rigidity (Breskin's Rigidity) were administered. Pearson correlations indicate that tolerance of ambiguity was not associated with viewing an ambiguous figure, the Necker cube. Analysis also suggests the more rigid the person's outlook, the fewer reversals were reported, and exposure to viewing the figure lowers anxiety. PMID- 2622753 TI - Apical K+ channels of frog diluting segment: inhibition by acidification. AB - The apical potassium conductance of the amphibian diluting segment is regulated by the intracellular pH. Alkalinisation of the cytosol, whether directly by bathing the cell in an alkaline medium, or following activation of an apical Na/H exchanger by aldosterone, results in an increase in the K conductance. Early distal tubules were isolated from slices of Frog kidneys and the apical membranes exposed by everting the tubule with the aid of microperfusion pipettes. Single channels in the apical membrane were studied in the cell-attached configuration while the tubules were bathed in Ringer with a pH of either 7.4 (control) or 6.6 (acid). Under control conditions single channel currents were readily seen at the resting membrane potential. Upon acidification of the superfusion solution the open probability of the channels was decreased from 0.76 to 0.15. Thus the reduction in apical conductance is brought about, at least in part, by a reduction in the open probability of the channels upon cellular acidification. PMID- 2622754 TI - Evidence for electrogenic Na-glucose cotransport in tracheal epithelium. AB - We demonstrate that electrogenic glucose coupled Na+ absorption accounts for about 20% of the residual, amiloride and Cl- insensitive, Na+ transport in isolated (equine) trachea. Either glucose removal from the mucosal side or addition of 10(-4) M phloridzin, a known pharmacological inhibitor of Na-glucose cotransport in small intestine and kidney proximal tubule, results in depolarization (lumen referenced to bath) of the transepithelial potential difference (Vt) and in a significant decrease of the equivalent short circuit current Ieq by 4 mV and 4 microA/cm2, respectively, without affecting the transepithelial resistance (Rt). Neither glucose removal nor the application of phloridzin on the basolateral side have a significant or consistent effect on the bioelectric parameters. PMID- 2622755 TI - Inhibitory actions of adenosine differ between ear and mesenteric arteries in the rabbit. AB - In isolated ear and mesenteric arteries of rabbit, adenosine inhibited nerve mediated contractions to a similar extent. However, the amplitude of the excitatory junction potentials evoked by perivascular nerve stimulation was increased by adenosine in the ear artery and decreased in the mesenteric artery. Outflows of noradrenaline and its metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, evoked by perivascular nerve stimulation were increased and decreased by adenosine in the ear and mesenteric arteries, respectively. Adenosine hyperpolarized the smooth muscle cells, by increasing potassium conductance of the membrane, with no relation to the endothelial cells. The hyperpolarizing action of adenosine was stronger in the ear artery than in the mesenteric artery. The inhibition of the nerve-mediated contraction by adenosine may be mainly due to postjunctional events in the ear artery and prejunctional events in the mesenteric artery. PMID- 2622756 TI - Membrane currents in lizard motor nerve terminals and nodes of Ranvier. AB - Presynaptic membrane currents were recorded by external electrodes and nodal membrane currents were obtained by the voltage clamp technique in motor nerve endings and nodes of Ranvier of the lizard Anolis carolinensis. Although of compact shape, lizard motor endings display relatively long terminal branches; they exhibit, in agreement with previous findings in mouse and frog motor terminals, Na, Ca and K conductances, the latter consisting of a voltage- and a Ca-dependent type. Lizard nodes of Ranvier, like those of the frog, but unlike those of the mouse, exhibit a K conductance. These observations provide an explanation for the differences and similarities in presynaptic wave form configuration between the lizard and the other two species. PMID- 2622757 TI - Societa Italian de Fisiologia. XL annual general congress (autumn meeting). 26-28 September 1988, Alghero, Italy. Abstracts. PMID- 2622758 TI - Variations of membrane cholesterol alter the kinetics of Ca2(+)-dependent K+ channels and membrane fluidity in vascular smooth muscle cells. AB - The patch-clamp technique and fluorescence polarization analysis were used to study the dependence of Ca2(+)-dependent K+ channel kinetics and membrane fluidity on cholesterol (CHS) levels in the plasma membranes of cultured smooth muscle rabbit aortic cells. Mevinolin (MEV), a potent inhibitor of endogenous CHS biosynthesis was used to deplete the CHS content. Elevation of CHS concentration in the membrane was achieved using a CHS-enriching medium. Treatment of smooth muscle cells with MEV led to a nearly twofold increase in the rotational diffusion coefficient of DPH (D) and to about a ninefold elevation of probability of the channels being open (Po). The addition of CHS to the cells membrane resulted in a nearly twofold decrease in D and about a twofold decrease in Po. Elementary conductance of the channels did not change under these conditions. These data suggest that variations of the CHS content in the plasma membrane of smooth muscle cells affect the kinetic properties of Ca2(+)-dependent K+ channels presumably due to changes in plasma membrane fluidity. Our results give a possible explanation for the reported variability of Ca2(+)-dependent K+ channels kinetics in different preparations. PMID- 2622759 TI - A reappraisal of frog muscle chloride conductance-voltage relations at pH9. AB - Voltage clamp experiments in muscle show that the steady state chloride conductance at pH 9 remains rather independent of [Cl-]o, for [Cl-]o in the range 165-265 mM. The steady state conductance-voltage relation has a maximum near Vrest -20 mV. The initial-conductance-voltage relation obtained when the voltage is stepped away from a constant conditioning value (e.g. the resting potential) approaches an asymptotic maximum for hyperpolarizing steps and a minimum for depolarizing steps. The conductance declines with time if the test voltage is more negative than the resting potential, but remains constant if it is more positive. When the conditioning voltage is varied and the test kept constant the initial conductance at the step is also seen to be sigmoidal, if the test step is hyperpolarizing: for large negative conditioning steps the conductance at the test potential approaches the same asymptotic value as does the steady state relation, independent of the test voltage. At positive conditioning voltages it approaches a maximum asymptote which is dependent on the test voltage. When the test step is positive-going the initial conductance at the step is weakly dependent on the conditioning voltage and for large negative conditioning potentials is larger than predicted from the steady state relation. In summary, during hyperpolarizing voltage steps the chloride conductance seems to decline due to a "gating" phenomenon, but openstate conductance seems to be voltage dependent, and at membrane potentials more positive than the resting it rapidly (within the settling time of the clamp) assumes a value almost independent of any preceding (conditioning) voltage. PMID- 2622760 TI - Sensitization of articular afferents to mechanical stimuli by bradykinin. AB - In 18 cats anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose, we recorded from thin myelinated and unmyelinated articular afferents of the medial articular nerve of the knee joint. Bradykinin was injected intra-arterially close to the knee, alone and in combination with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and changes of the responses of single afferents to movements of the knee were monitored. Bradykinin changed the mechanosensitivity in 20 of 28 afferents inducing movement sensitivity in initially unresponsive units, lowering the threshold for movements in high threshold afferents and/or enhancing pre-existing responses to innocuous and/or noxious joint movements in low and high threshold units. Also the application of PGE2 and bradykinin within a short interval sensitized the majority of these afferents, and in about 50% of the afferents the effect of the combination was superior to those induced by the single substances. We conclude that the inflammatory mediator bradykinin is able to sensitize articular afferents for movement stimuli and that PGE2 may enhance this effect. It is suggested that in arthritis inflammatory mediators act synergistically in the initiation and stabilization of the increased mechanosensitivity of slowly conducting articular afferents. PMID- 2622761 TI - Contraluminal para-aminohippurate (PAH) transport in the proximal tubule of the rat kidney. VI. Specificity: amino acids, their N-methyl-, N-acetyl- and N benzoylderivatives; glutathione- and cysteine conjugates, di- and oligopeptides. AB - In order to evaluate the specificity of the renal contraluminal PAH transport system for amino acids, oligopeptides and their conjugates, the inhibitory potency of these substances against contraluminal [3H] PAH influx has been determined. For this, inhibition of 3H-PAH flux from the interstitium into cortical tubular cells of the rat kidney in situ has been measured. Apparent Ki values were evaluated by a computer program assuming competitive inhibition. Unconjugated amino acids (glycine, cysteine, alanine, leucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, aspartate, glutamate, arginine, ornithine and lysine) do not inhibit [3H] PAH influx. The very hydrophobic tryptophan, however, does. N-alpha methylation does not change this behaviour. N-alpha-acetylation does not evoke interaction with the PAH transporter when it occurs with glycine, cysteine (to yield mercapturic acid), arginine, ornithine and lysine. However, it renders alanine, leucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, L-aspartate moderately, and L glutamate strongly, inhibitory. The acetylated D-isomers of alanine, leucine and phenylalanine exert a higher inhibitory potency compared with the respective L isomers. N-alpha-benzoylation of L-lysine is ineffective. N-alpha-benzoylation, however, evokes interaction with the PAH transporter, when it occurs with ornithine less than arginine less than histidine less than glycine = leucine less than alanine = phenylalanine = aspartate = glutamate. Dipeptides interact with the PAH transporter according to their hydrophobicity (Nozaki scale down to 0.9, Fauchere scale up to 1.0). N-acetylation does not change this behaviour. Hydrophobicity also renders oligopeptides, as angiotensin II, inhibitory against PAH transport. Similarly the anionic angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitors Captopril, Enalapril and Ramipril inhibit contraluminal PAH influx. PMID- 2622762 TI - Downhill walking induces rapid shallow breathing. AB - To examine the effect of downhill walking a form of negative work on ventilation, we studied the exercise responses of 13 healthy subjects during uphill and downhill walking on a treadmill. Each test lasted 16 min and the peak work rate was 5.6 kph with either a positive or negative 14% grade. Throughout each test we recorded VO2, VE, f, VT, HR, systolic BP and Borg's rating of perceived exertion. At the target work rates of 5.6 kph +/- 14% grade, VO2 and VE were three times greater in uphill compared with downhill walking. However, in downhill walking, f was greater compared with uphill walking wherein VT approximated baseline values, reflecting rapid shallow breathing, and VT appeared to increase after reaching some critically-low level. These trends persisted when VO2 was held constant (p less than 0.01). HR and systolic BP increased and decreased with the positive and negative grade respectively. At a constant VO2 however, HR was significantly higher during downhill compared with horizontal walking (p less than 0.01) whereas systolic BP was not significantly different (p greater than 0.05). We conclude that there is a significant difference in the ventilatory responses between the two types of work performed on a treadmill. Specifically, downhill walking is associated with rapid shallow breathing which may be countered by a protective feedback mechanism at critically-low levels of VT. PMID- 2622763 TI - The effect of long-term administration of alpha 1-blocker prazosin on capillary density in cardiac and skeletal muscle. AB - The effect of prazosin on heart and muscle blood flow and capillary density was studied in rats. In acute experiments, alpha 1-blocker prazosin almost trebled blood flow in fast skeletal muscles [tibialis anterior (TA) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL)], but did not affect coronary flow when infused i.v. at a dose of 0.5 microgram.ml-1.min-1 for 30 min. Prazosin in an equivalent dose was then given orally over a period of 5 weeks to investigate its effect on capillarisation in heart and skeletal muscle. Capillary density (CD, capillaries.mm-2), estimated in frozen sections stained for alkaline phosphatase, was similar in the hearts of prazosin-treated and control rats. Capillary/fibre ratio in skeletal muscles increased from 1.52 +/- 0.019 in control EDL to 1.69 +/ 0.01 (P less than 0.001) and from 1.56 +/- 0.04 in control TA to 2.16 +/- 0.04 (P less than 0.001). In TA, the increase was greater than in EDL both in the glycolytic periphery (from 1.30 +/- 0.13 to 1.75 +/- 0.11, P less than 0.025) and the oxidative core of the muscle (from 1.837 +/- 0.14 to 2.51 +/- 0.12, P less than 0.005). Unilateral crush of the lateral peroneal nerve and subsequent reinnervation over the next 7 weeks resulted in redistribution of fibre types from a typical mosaic pattern into groups composed of fibres of similar oxidative capacity. Capillary density as well as capillary/fibre ratio in purely glycolytic areas was lower when compared to supply of glycolytic fibres in normal muscles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622764 TI - Simultaneous recording of cell volume, membrane current and membrane potential: effect of hypotonic shock. AB - Using the slow whole-cell recording technique (Horn & Marty 1988), we measured the change of membrane current and potential induced by a hypotonic shock, while simultaneously monitoring the cell size. A transient depolarization could be measured which was accompanied by a transient change of the membrane current. The maximal cell size was reached before the depolarization and the current adopted their maximal values. Volume regulatory decrease could also be observed in Ca2(+) free hypotonic bath solutions, but the time course of cell shrinking as well as the change of membrane current and potential was slowed down. In contrast, a regulatory volume decrease could not be observed in whole-cell records and the cell size steadily increased. The data show that the slow whole-cell recording technique is suitable for analysis of ion transport systems involved in volume regulation. PMID- 2622765 TI - Standards of excellence for home care organizations. PMID- 2622766 TI - Standards of excellence for Home Care Organizations. Professional standards. PMID- 2622767 TI - Standards of excellence for Home Care Organizations. Paraprofessional standards. PMID- 2622768 TI - Standards of excellence for Home Care Organizations. Hospice standards. PMID- 2622770 TI - Standards of excellence for Home Care Organizations. Home medical equipment standards. PMID- 2622769 TI - Standards of excellence for Home Care Organizations. Infusion therapy standards. PMID- 2622771 TI - Standards of excellence for Home Care Organizations. Pharmacy standards. PMID- 2622772 TI - A constructive approach to thumb sucking. PMID- 2622773 TI - A perspective on chemical dependency in the health professions. PMID- 2622774 TI - [Evaluation of symptoms and clinical findings in patients in the oral surgery/medicine department in a university clinic]. AB - The paper present a survey of data of 353 outpatients from the Department of oral surgery and oral medicine, Dental faculty, and the Department of maxillofacial surgery, Haukeland Hospital, University of Bergen, collected and evaluated during two separate weeks (weeks 9 and 47) in 1985. The patients are described according to age, sex, risk factors due to general diseases, symptoms and clinical findings. Out of a total of 353 patients 15 were hospitalized, 3 of them needing urgent help and 12 treated according to long-time plans. The remaining patients were all treated as outpatients. A relatively high frequency of risk patients was found, especially among patients above 50 years of age. This group of patients is expected to increase in the future. The authors emphasize the importance of accurate anamnestic data, especially in regard to drug-treatment and consumption. Hence, it should be emphasized that accurate anamnestic data and critical evaluation of patients within oral surgery and oral medicine are of increasing importance to the dentist. PMID- 2622776 TI - [The Northernmost AIDS-information Center in the world]. PMID- 2622775 TI - [ZVD(zidovudine) can retard the progress of AIDS, however, will no heal]. PMID- 2622777 TI - [Tracing of infectious (AIDS, chlamydia, gonorrhea) diseases]. PMID- 2622778 TI - [Dispute over patient-testing in Tromso]. PMID- 2622779 TI - [Knowledge provides security]. PMID- 2622780 TI - [The project "stop AIDS"]. PMID- 2622781 TI - [Video on HIV in prisons]. PMID- 2622782 TI - [The development of HIV infection in Norway]. PMID- 2622784 TI - [Child abuse and neglect]. PMID- 2622783 TI - [Odontologic psychometry: a scale for measuring fear of dentistry (or dentists)]. AB - A sample of 157 elementary school children, 94 boys and 63 girls aged 10-13, answered two questionnaires related to dental anxiety: Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS) and a scale constructed for the investigation, the Dental Tension Scale (DTS), in which the first of three questions is "Are you afraid of going to the dentist?" (DTS1). The mean on CDAS (M = 8.61, SD = 2.71) is in good accordance with earlier published results, and has significant moderate to good correlation with DTS (r = 0.73, p less than 0.01) and DTS1) (r = 0.74, p less than 0.01), in particular for the girls (r = 0.75 and r = 0.87 respectively). There are significant (p less than 0.01) intercorrelations for pairs of items on CDAS and DTS, varying form r = 0.34 to r = 0.66. The CDAS results are for the time being the only available norms in Norway, and further studies are needed to establish norms for different age groups and on a national basis. The single question "Are you afraid of going to the dentist?" appears to be promising as a valid measure of the overall self-reported dental anxiety, which is in support of some earlier findings. The results in the present article are a first step in search of reliable and valid predictors for the development of debilitating dental anxiety in children. PMID- 2622785 TI - [Abuse and neglect--a challenge for the dentist]. AB - The article defines five types of abuse; physical abuse, neglect, failure-to thrive, emotional and sexual abuse. Problems related to incidence is discussed. There is no national survey of the first four types. But results from a few quantitative and qualitative studies in limited geographical areas are referred to. The need for integrating several theoretical frame of references such as the psychodynamic model, the sociological model, the interaction model as well as others to be able to understand and handle the problem is stressed. The need for interprofessional cooperation and for the dentists to engage themselves in this is argued. PMID- 2622786 TI - [Child abuse and neglect: medical aspects]. AB - Child abuse and neglect is a global problem that effects children of all ages and social classes. The article discusses some of the medical aspects of child abuse. As the presence of "proof" in the form of an obvious physical injury is often lacking, it is of the utmost importance that professional people are sensitive to the signs and symptoms (signals) to which abuse and neglect may be one of many possible diagnoses. Teamwork between the relevant professional groups is essential to solve the problem. PMID- 2622787 TI - [Child abuse and neglect: odontologic aspects]. PMID- 2622788 TI - [CPITN (Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs)--what is its use and what does it mean?]. AB - CPITN was originally designed for describing periodontal treatment needs in populations. It has also been used to describe the prevalence of periodontal conditions and as a screening test to identify patients who need complex or simple treatment. The results from the present study show that the index will over-estimate the prevalence of calculus, but will give a correct estimate of bleeding. The index is acceptable as a screening test if "1 or more sextants with CPITN score 4" is chosen as a screening criterion. PMID- 2622789 TI - [Periodontal disease--specific or nonspecific infection?]. AB - The concept of a non-specific etiology of periodontal disease has been predominant during the last century. It was believed that this disease was caused by the normal oral microbial flora and dependent on the state of the immune system of the host. The specific plaque hypothesis, which is currently discussed, claims that specific oral bacteria cause different forms of periodontal disease. High counts of these bacteria have been found in association with different forms of periodontal disease. These bacteria have also been found to have stronger pathogenic potential than other members of the oral microbiota. It is concluded that there are different forms of periodontal disease and that some of these forms are probably opportunistic infections associated with different microbial etiologies. PMID- 2622790 TI - [Referral of periodontal cases]. PMID- 2622791 TI - [Periodontal treatment--is there a point in carrying out therapy? Case report]. PMID- 2622792 TI - Disorders of skeletal occlusion and temporomandibular joint disease. PMID- 2622793 TI - First soft tissue study utilizing a pulsed Nd:YAG dental laser. PMID- 2622794 TI - Your dental office hazard communication program. PMID- 2622795 TI - [Combined effects of tobacco smoking, occupational factors and atmospheric air pollution as risk factors of bronchial carcinoma. Results of retrospective studies in Cracow]. AB - A case-control study was conducted in order to assess the combined effect of smoking, occupation and air pollution on lung cancer risk. Cases were male and female residents of Cracow whose deaths occurred within a 6 years period (1980 1985) and were attributed to primary lung cancer. The control series were selected by frequency matching to cases by sex and age (+/- 5 years) from the subjects who died of other causes than cancer or respiratory diseases. Through a mailed simple questionnaire data were collected on demographic variables, occupation, smoking habits and residency. Estimates of adds ratio were found to increase with the amount of prior cigarette consumption expressed in pack-years. In men the odds ratio estimates for suspected occupational exposure in men lasting longer than 20 years was 1.72 (1.39-2.17); for job category (manual vs nonmanual) 1.27 (1.01-1.62). Both occupational variable did not reach significance level in women. The standardized odds ratio for the highest air pollution level in men was 1.47 (1.08-2.01), while for women found to be insignificant. PMID- 2622796 TI - [Changes in the pattern of cigarette smoking in Poland 1976-1986]. AB - The work was to define changes in the structure of tobacco smoking over 1976-1986 in representative samples of Polish population and changes in the public opinion on the role of smoking in the development of cancer respiratory system. It was found a 4% decline in the total number of smokers which was caused by a slump in number of smoking men. Despite the fact that women were more frequently convinced of causative relation between tobacco smoking and cancer of respiratory system, the percentage of female smokers has increased. This particularly applies to women with university-level education and the "white collars". It is, thus, advisable to design new methods and ways for health education that would allow for psychological and lifestyle factors associated with the smoking habit of Polish women. PMID- 2622797 TI - [Preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of the screening examinations for breast cancer. Results of the examinations of women working at industrial plants in the Ochota district]. AB - Organization and results of breast cancer screening, of working women from 5 institutions are presented. 1144 women out of 1821 invited, entered the examination. In 958 in addition to clinical examination of the breast, xeromammography has been performed. In the group of women less than 40 years of age no suspicions of cancer changes have been detected and in the group of age 40 60 years in 4 cases suggestive of cancer changes have been present. In two the presence of malignancy have been confirmed. The total detectability of cancer in the examined group (0.18% in total and 0.32% in the over 40 years group) has been compared with detectability presented in the literature. The organizational feasibility and effectiveness of the breast cancer screening of women employed in some institutions suggest the possibility of further expansion of this activity. PMID- 2622798 TI - [Effect of sera from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on the morphology of granulocyte-macrophage colonies grown from murine bone marrow cells and the cells of murine myelomonocytic leukemia WEHI 3B D+]. AB - Active role of the T lymphocytes in the regulation process of the granulo- and monocytes colonies formation has been recently emphasized. The cells are a source of number of factors stimulating proliferation and differentiation of both, the steered stem cells and multipotential cells. The possibility of the liberation by some classes of T lymphocytes of substances with inhibitory faculties is also recently suggested. Such vast function of these cells in the process of granulo- and monocyte formation in normal conditions brings forward the question of their role in the proliferating diseases of the lymphatic system especially in connection with some research indicating the presence of changes of the regulators in the course of proliferating diseases of the bone marrow. Taking into account above data investigations have been carried on aimed at the demonstration to what degree stimulators or inhibitors which can be present in the blood serum of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are able to determine the composition and morphology of colonies arising from stem cells of bone marrow and of the cells of myelomonocytic leukemia of WEHI 3B,D+ line. This creates the possibility of determination of the nature of the examined substances and of the effect to the treatment on their concentration. The activity of the regulators has been examined in the semi-liquid agar culture "in vitro" applying the Bredley and Metcalf method. The effect of the treatment applied on the investigated parameters has been also assessed. In children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia prior to the initiation of treatment, the increased activity distinctly stimulating the growth of granulocytic and only slightly of macrophage colonies has been present.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622799 TI - [Radiotherapy of tonsillar cancer. II. Tumor repopulation and normal tissue tolerance]. AB - Clinical data of the 72 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil irradiated with 60Co (results of treatment presented in the I part of this paper) have been used to analyse the importance of physical and biological factors influencing local control probability and risk of late effects in normal tissues. It was noted, that overall treatment time strongly influences tumour control but is less important for late effect of pharyngeal mucosa. With extension treatment time over 50 days, local control rate decreases dramatically almost to zero. Tumour response is less sensitive to change in dose per fraction than late responding pharyngeal mucosa. This suggestion is supported by high alpha/beta value of 25.0 Gy, calculated for cancer of the tonsil and relatively low alpha/beta value of 1.0 Gy for pharyngeal mucosa. Results suggest that improvement of local control of cancer of the tonsil with no increase in late complication rate might be expected using altered fractionation scheme, eg. accelerated hiperfractionation. This radiation treatment is based on dose per fraction less than 2.0 Gy, given in two fraction per day, in overall treatment time as short as possible. PMID- 2622800 TI - Opiocortin and catecholamine input to CRF-immunoreactive neurons in rat forebrain. AB - Neural input to distinct and separate populations of CRF-immunoreactive (ir) neurons in rat forebrain was investigated. The relationship of opiocortin and/or catecholamine fibers to different groups of CRF-containing neurons was elucidated using single and dual labeling immunocytochemical procedures. Antibodies to CRF, ACTH(1-39) and the catecholamine synthesizing enzymes which are tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and phenylethanolamine-N methyltransferase (PNMT) were utilized. CRF-ir neuronal populations are localized predominantly in the following regions of rat forebrain: bed nucleus of stria terminalis, medial preoptic area, suprachiasmatic and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of hypothalamus and central nucleus of amygdala. The present study demonstrates that CRF-ir neuronal groups in rat forebrain are not homogenous in that each population received a characteristic neural input. CRF-ir neurons in the PVN received a dense input of ACTH-, TH-, DBH-, and PNMT-ir fibers. In contrast, CRF-ir neurons in the central nucleus of amygdala are colocalized predominantly with TH-ir fiber/terminals. In the ventral portion of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, TH-, ACTH- and DBH-ir fibers are demonstrated in close anatomical proximity to CRF-containing perikarya; in the dorsal portion of this nucleus, TH-ir fiber/terminals are colocalized with CRF-ir neurons. In the suprachiasmatic nucleus, neither opiocortin- nor catecholamine-immunostained fibers are observed in association with CRF-ir neurons. Our data suggest that there is a transmitter specificity of neural input to each CRF-ir neuronal population in rat forebrain. PMID- 2622801 TI - Insulin binding in the hypothalamus of lean and genetically obese Zucker rats. AB - Recent reports have suggested that the obesity and hyperphagia of the genetically obese Zucker rat may be related to defective insulin action or binding in the hypothalamus. We used quantitative autoradiography to determine if insulin binding is altered in specific hypothalamic nuclei associated with food intake. Insulin binding was measured in the arcuate (ARC), dorsomedial (DMN), and ventromedial (VMN) hypothalamic nuclei of 3-4-month-old lean (Fa/Fa) and genetically obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. A consistently reproducible 15% increase in the total specific binding of 0.1 nM [125I]-insulin was found in the ARC of the obese genotype. A slight increase in insulin binding in the DMN was also found. No difference in specific insulin binding was found between genotypes in the VMN. Nonlinear least squares analysis of competitive binding studies showed that the Kd of the ARC insulin binding site was 33% higher in the lean rats than in the obese rats, indicating an increased affinity for insulin. No difference in site number (Bmax) was found in the ARC, DMN or VMN, and no evidence was found for reduced insulin binding in the hypothalamus of the obese (fa/fa) genotype. The results suggest that hyperphagia and obesity of the obese (fa/fa) Zucker rat genotype may be associated with increased insulin binding in the arcuate nucleus. PMID- 2622802 TI - Characterization of a 3H-arginine8-vasopressin binding site in the cingulate gyrus of the rat pup. AB - Autoradiographic analysis of 1, 8, 16 and 26-day-old rat brains showed 3H arginine8-vasopressin (3H-AVP) binding to the cingulate gyrus-dorsal hippocampus (CG) only in the 8-day-old rat brain. Saturation analysis of CG membranes prepared from pups (7-10 days) and adults (90 days) revealed a small but significant increase in binding site concentration in adults compared to pups. However, the Kd of the 3H-AVP binding site increased significantly with age. The Kd of 3H-AVP binding to pup CG membranes was 0.9 +/- 0.1 nM, while the adult CG was 5.7 +/- 1.0 nM. The pharmacological specificity of 3H-AVP binding sites in the pup and adult CG was similar, but differed markedly from the profile observed in adult septal membranes. The primary specificity difference between the pup CG and septum was the reduced potency of certain V1 receptor antagonists. In competition experiments the CG binding site showed a reduced affinity for the V1 antagonist, [d(CH2)5, Tyr(Me)]AVP. This reduced affinity for the V1 antagonist was also documented autoradiographically using 3H-[d(CH2)5, Tyr(Me)]AVP. The data suggest that the 3H-AVP binding site expressed in the pup CG is not identical to the V1 type receptor present in the periphery and brain of the adult rat. PMID- 2622803 TI - Acute and long-lasting effects of peripheral injection of caerulein and CCK-8 on the central GABAergic system in mice. AB - Acute and long-lasting effects of peripheral injection of caerulein (CLN) and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on the gamma-aminobutylic acid (GABA) content and the GABA accumulation by aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) in the discrete brain regions of mice were examined. The content and accumulation of GABA in the striatum, hypothalamus, and frontal cortex was measured with high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). The GABA content slightly decreased in the striatum 60 min after CLN and CCK-8 were administered, whereas it slightly increased in the hypothalamus and frontal cortex. Moreover, with CLN and CCK-8, the GABA accumulation after AOAA treatment decreased in the striatum and hypothalamus 30 min after injection. Meanwhile, when administering CLN, the GABA content as well as the GABA accumulation after AOAA treatment increased in the striatum and frontal cortex 1 day after injection, and continued to increase the second and third day in the striatum. These results showed that peripheral injection of CLN and CCK-8 had effects on the central GABAergic system with local specific actions, and also the long-lasting and time-dependent biphasic effects of CLN. PMID- 2622804 TI - [Selected immunologic parameters and infections in children in over 1 year after completion of the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. AB - An analysis of infection incidence within one year after completion of the treatment for the acute lymphoblastic leukemia was performed in the group of 24 children. Infections incidence was related to the selected immunological parameters, mainly T4 and T8 lymphocyte subpopulations assayed with monoclonal antibodies. T4/T8 cells ratio (Ix) was determined. It was found that moderate decrease in the total lymphocyte count and Ix exist in children one year after completion of the treatment. This index is more significantly lower in children with more frequent infections while the absolute numbers of T4 and T8 lymphocytes are relatively increased. The obtained results suggest that no significant immunosuppression is observed in children affecting the number and the course of infections. PMID- 2622805 TI - [Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia in patients with diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphatic systems]. AB - Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia was diagnosed in the course of haematopoietic and lymphatic disorders such as chronic granulocytic leukemia, chronic myelofibrosis, chronic lymphatic leukemia, Osler's disease, chronic monocytic leukemia, and lymphoplasmocytic lymphoma, in 11 patients (6 women and 5 men) aged between 33 and 81 years (mean age 58.8 years) treated at the Haematological Out Patient Clinic of the Postgraduate Medical Education Centre within 1977-1987. The following laboratory tests were carried out: 1) morphology of the peripheral blood and bone marrow, especially some haematological parameters concerning erythrocytes and blood platelets; 2) biochemical tests reflecting erythrocytes disintegration; 3) haemostasis. All examined patients suffered from haemolytic anaemia of various degree with characteristic changes in erythrocyte shape (helmets, tear-drops etc.). Haemolytic origin of anaemia was confirmed by the increased LDH activity. In the majority of patients no compensative stimulation of haematopoiesis (reticulocytosis, red blood cells hyperproliferation in bone marrow) was seen. Clinical symptoms of haemostatic disorders such as haemorrhagic diathesis and vein thrombosis were diagnosed in 50% of the patients. Blood platelet counts ranged from markedly decreased to significantly increased. Bone marrow smears did not show increased number of megacariocytes. Bleeding time was prolonged in the majority of examined patients while prothrombin index- decreased). Abnormal fibrinogen levels (decreased or increased) were found in the majority of patients with fibrin degradation products. Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia in these patients differ from the typical Moschowitz's disease clinically probably due to the lack of compensative stimulation of erythropoiesis and lower thrombocytopenia. PMID- 2622806 TI - [Clinical and hematological analysis of acute granulocytopenia]. AB - Retrospective analysis of 13 patients treated for the acute granulocytopenia at the Institute of Haematology for the last 10 years was carried out. Drugs were the most common causative factor. Comparing the results of the similar analysis several years ago in which the significant role was played by chloramphenicol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents were the main cause. Infective complications were seen in all analysed patients. Broad spectrum antibiotics were used in all patients. Glycocorticosteroids were given to 9 patients while leucocytic concentrates to 7 patients. Remission was achieved in 12 patients, one female patient with the history of exposition to plant protection agents and increased levels of chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons--died. Intensive antibacterial therapy significantly lowered mortality of the analysed patients in comparison with the similar group analysed earlier. Recurrence of granulocytopenia was seen in 5 patients following the contact with causative agent. Recurrencies were finished with remission. PMID- 2622807 TI - [Evaluation of the NBT test by cytochemical and spectrophotometric methods]. AB - Reduction of NBT by polymorphonuclear neutrophils was determined with two methods techniques: cytochemical according to Park and spectrophotometrical according to Raman and Poland. 40 tests in healthy men were done. Statistical significance correlation was observed between results obtained using these two techniques. The authors suggest that spectrophotometric technique is easier, more objective and requires less blood for testing. PMID- 2622809 TI - Eurotherapeutics III. Proceedings of a conference on risk factors in vascular disease: strategies for treatment. Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 29 September to 1 October 1988. PMID- 2622808 TI - [Factors influencing the knowledge of the population concerning neoplasms]. PMID- 2622810 TI - The European (EAS) and the American (NCEP) cholesterol guidelines: are they still adequate? PMID- 2622811 TI - Hyperglycaemia as a cardiovascular risk factor. PMID- 2622812 TI - Phenylketonuria: diagnosis and management. Proceedings of a symposium. London, 17 June 1987. PMID- 2622813 TI - Maternal phenylketonuria. AB - The exact mechanism of fetal damage in maternal phenylketonuria (PKU) is uncertain and although the fetus is heterozygotic for the gene coding for phenylalanine hydroxylase its immature hepatic enzyme system may be the reason for its inability to deal adequately with transplacental phenylalanine uptake. Several aspects of the management of maternal PKU are discussed and several case studies are presented. Dietary treatment should begin preconceptually despite evidence that post-conceptual treatment can have an acceptable outcome. Maternal recognition of the need for pre-conceptual treatment should increase with improvements in intellectual abilities of PKU girls resulting from neonatal screening and appropriate dietary management. PMID- 2622814 TI - Phenylketonuria diet in adolescents--energy and nutrient intake--is it adequate? AB - The age at which phenylalanine (PA) restricted diet can be safely terminated in phenylketonuria (PKU) children has been the subject of discussion but a recent United States collaborative study has provided data showing that blood PA level should be kept below 10 mg/dl at least through adolescence. This presents nutritional problems in providing an adequate diet to meet the adolescent growth spurt in the absence of reliable information on the nutrient requirements of PKU adolescents. The problem is complicated by the emotional development of adolescence presenting compliance difficulties. The use of a computer programme to calculate nutrient intake and appropriate amino acid restricted diets for adolescents is described. It has been shown using the computer programme that an amino acid mixture specially adapted for use by adolescents is needed to provide sufficient vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Nutritional deficiency in adolescent PKU children may be a factor contributing to developmental abnormality. PMID- 2622815 TI - Outcome of early detected and early treated phenylketonuria patients. AB - Data from the US PKU Collaborative Study are reviewed and compared with data from UK and the rest of Europe in order to assess the outcome of dietary management. Early treated phenylketonuria (PKU) children have a good outcome. However, to achieve this the diet needs to be fairly strict for at least the first 10 years of life and perhaps should be maintained for a long period subsequently. Lifelong dietary management may be beneficial. PKU individuals in general have slightly lower IQ than their normal siblings and there is a greater tendency to display difficulty in mathematics and conceptual thinking. PMID- 2622816 TI - Effect on hatchability of tilting instead of turning chicken eggs during incubation. AB - Six experiments were conducted to examine the feasibility of "tilting" instead of turning chicken eggs during incubation to provide a near constant air flow pattern. At hourly intervals eggs were tilted 45 degrees in opposite directions for consecutive intervals and returned to their original orientation. Eggs were oriented either vertically (large end up), at a 45 degree angle, or horizontally. Comparisons were made in terms of hatchability of fertile eggs, hatchability of transferred eggs, embryonic mortality, and malpositions. Tilting instead of turning depressed hatchability regardless of orientation. Depressions were cumulative and additive, with significant depression for all eggs tilted during the 1st wk of incubation, and diminished effects the 2nd and 3rd wk. Late incubation embryonic mortality was elevated in the tilted groups, and frequency of malpositions increased. Malposition II predominated in the tilted groups oriented 45 degree or horizontally, whereas Malposition III predominated in the controls and in the tilted groups oriented vertically. It was concluded that tilting incubating eggs is not a viable alternative to conventional turning practices. PMID- 2622817 TI - Effect of refeeding following short-term deprivation of feed or water, or both, on selected physiological parameters for broiler chickens. AB - Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of refeeding broilers following a 12-h fast on body weight, serum glucose, serum protein, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, serum sodium, serum potassium, and plasma refractive index. Four fasting regimens were utilized in each experiment: 1) full feed and water (control); 2) no feed with full water; 3) full feed with no no water; and 4) no feed and no water (NFNW). Following the 12-h fast, all birds were returned to feed and water with ad libitum access. Birds deprived of feed or water, or both, for 12 h gained more weight attributable to feed and water consumption than did the control birds during the 12-h refeeding period. Following refeeding, serum glucose values for the birds receiving only water during the fast were higher initially than those for the control birds; glucose values for the NFNW birds returned to normal. Hemoglobin values for birds receiving no feed during the fast initially were higher than for the control group after refeeding. The other blood parameters measured remained virtually unchanged during the 12 h monitored after refeeding. PMID- 2622818 TI - Maturation of resistance to salmonellosis in newly hatched chicks: inhibition by cyclosporine. AB - The development of resistance to salmonellosis and the basis of resistance in newly hatched chickens were investigated. Newly hatched chickens are inherently susceptible to salmonellosis but develop resistance rapidly to Salmonella infection during the first 5 days of life. Newly hatched chickens were treated with cyclosporine, the thymic (T)-cell-specific, immunosuppressive agent (T cell). The resultant changes in T-cell responsiveness to mitogens, in vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity, and resistance to salmonellosis were measured. The results demonstrated that cyclosporine reduced in vitro T-cell responses to T cell-specific mitogens, suppressed in vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity (tuberculin skin-test reactions), and impaired the development of native resistance to salmonellosis. These results indicate that development of resistance to salmonellosis in newly hatched chicks depends on a fully functional capacity for cell-mediated immunity. Therefore, the development of effective vaccines for reducing the contamination of live birds with Salmonella probably should include strategies for enhancing the early development of cellular immunity. PMID- 2622819 TI - Genetically engineered antigen confers partial protection against avian coccidial parasites. AB - A fusion protein of beta-galactosidase and Eimeria tenella produced in a recombinant Escherichia coli strain was injected into chickens and elicited partial protection against an oral challenge with Eim. tenella parasites. The fusion protein contained a 31 kilodalton (kD) coccidial antigen designated as 5401. The DNA sequencing of the 5401 antigen-coding sequence revealed that this protein segment was highly negatively charged and strongly hydrophilic, and contained an amino-acid sequence repeated five times. A dose-titration study showed that immunizing chickens with a single subcutaneous injection of the 5401 antigen at 1,200 to 4,800 nanograms (ng)/bird in Freund's complete adjuvant decreased lesion scores, mortality, and feed conversions compared to unimmunized, challenged controls. Using the 1,200 and 2,400 ng/bird of the 5401 antigen, group weight gains were higher than for the unimmunized, challenged birds. In three other trials using the 5401 antigen at 2,400 ng/bird with light, medium, and heavy coccidial infections, significant protection was evidenced by reduced lesion scores, increased individual weight gains, or both. In addition, feed conversions were reduced when compared with unimmunized controls or birds immunized with a noncoccidial protein E. coli extract. Western blot analysis of sporozoite preparations with serum from 5401-immunized birds labeled two antigenic bands of 66 and less than 200 kD. These results indicate that the coccidial proteins produced in E. coli are potentially effective immunogens for protecting chickens against avian coccidiosis. PMID- 2622820 TI - Ochratoxin A and dietary protein. 1. Effects on body weight, feed conversion, relative organ weight, and mortality in three-week-old broilers. AB - An experiment with a completely randomized 3 x 4 factorial design was used to study the effects of ochratoxin A (0, 2, and 4 mg/kg) and protein (14, 18, 22, and 26%) in three-wk-old broilers. The diets were based on ground yellow corn and dehulled soybean meal. Four hundred and eighty Hubbard x Hubbard broilers were randomly placed in battery brooders, with 10 birds per pen. Each treatment was replicated four times. Body weight increased with rising levels of protein, and decreased with rising levels of ochratoxin A (OA). The efficiency of feed utilization was improved in broilers fed 22 and 26% protein, compared with broilers fed 14 and 18% protein. The efficiency of feed utilization was lower for the birds fed 4 mg/kg of OA, compared with broilers fed 0 and 2 mg/kg of OA, respectively. Using OA increased the relative weight of the liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, proventriculus, gizzard, and heart and also significantly decreased the relative weight of the bursa of fabricius. A significant interaction between OA and protein was seen in terms of the relative weight of the liver, pancreas, and gizzard, indicating that the rising protein levels spared the OA effect on those organs. Mortality was highest among the broilers fed 4 mg/kg of OA. Protein regression coefficients (beta's) were positive with respect to 21-day body weight and were negative for the feed:gain ratio and mortality, suggesting that protein provided beneficial effects. PMID- 2622821 TI - Ochratoxin A and dietary protein. 2. Effects on hematology and various clinical chemistry measurements. AB - The health status of broilers fed diets with varying protein contents in the presence of ochratoxin A (OA) were evaluated using clinical-chemistry techniques for blood analysis. A completely randomized, 3 x 4 factorial design was utilized: 14, 18, 22, and 26% of dietary protein and 0, 2, and 4 mg/kg of OA. The broilers were raised to 3 wk of age, at which time blood was collected and various hematological parameters were evaluated. The serum was analyzed for various enzyme activities and for concentrations of metabolites and minerals using an automated, clinical-chemistry analyzer and an atomic-absorption spectrophotometer. Adding OA to the diets of broilers decreased the hemoglobin concentration, corpuscular volume, and the activity of serum alkaline and phosphatase but increased the activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase. Adding protein to the diet increased the activity of the serum aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, and alkaline phosphatase. Adding OA to the diet of broilers decreased the concentrations of serum total protein, as well as the concentrations of albumen and cholesterol and increased the concentrations of serum creatinine and uric acid. The concentrations of serum total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen, and triglyceride were increased by adding protein to the diet. The concentrations of calcium, potassium, and inorganic phosphorus in the serum decreased when OA was added to the diet; but the concentrations of calcium and potassium content in the serum increased along with dietary protein. A regression analysis suggested that dietary protein was synergistic toward OA with regard to the blood levels of cholinesterase, lactate dehydrogenase, and glucose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622822 TI - Effects of dietary energy on semen production, fertility, plasma testosterone, and carcass composition of broiler-breeder males in cages. AB - One hundred-fifty broiler breeder males were raised to 17 wk of age in floor pens using standard procedures. The males were placed in individual cages at 18 wk of age in an environmentally controlled house and fed for recommended BW to 29 wk of age. At 30 wk of age, birds were randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments. Diets consisted of 10% CP and 1,600, 2,000, 2,400, 2,800, or 3,200 kcal ME/kg feed (Groups 1600, 2000, 2400, 2800, and 3200, respectively). Birds were ejaculated twice weekly; semen characteristics, BW, and serum testosterone (T) were determined every 4 wk. Fertility determinations were made at 38 and 48 wk. At the end of the experiment (60 wk of age), body composition was measured. The percentage of body fat was reduced in Groups 1600, 2000, and 2400. Body weight, percentage of males producing semen, semen weight (SW), total spermatozoa per ejaculate (TS), and T were all reduced in Groups 1600 and 2000; semen concentration (SC) was reduced in Group 1600, compared to the other treatments. Group 2400 had the highest percentage of carcass protein; Groups 1600 and 3200, the lowest percentage. Body weight, percentage of protein, and percentage of fat were quadratically related to dietary energy. The T, SW, SC, and TS were linearly and positively related to the energy level. PMID- 2622823 TI - Using the amniotic cavity of the developing chick embryo for the in vivo culture of early-stage mammalian embryos. AB - The fertile chicken egg may provide an effective, inexpensive method for promoting the development of early-stage embryos from other species. Presently, the loss of viability associated with the in vitro culture of mammalian embryos is hindering the use of in vitro fertilization with farm animals. Consequently, alternative in vitro laboratory methods are needed for the culture of mammalian embryos. A new method has been developed that involves the culture of mammalian embryos in the amniotic cavity of a developing chick embryo. Chick embryos were placed into shell-less incubation (37 C) at the 72-h developmental stage. After 24 h of shell-less incubation, agarose-embedded mammalian embryos were injected into the amniotic cavity of the chick embryo. The mammalian embryos were first placed into a drop of liquid agarose. One to four embryos were then aspirated into a beveled injection pipette and cooled, allowing the agarose to harden. Following penetration of the amnion with the beveled pipette, the agarose cylinder containing the embryos was expelled into the amniotic cavity. The shell less culture system was then returned to incubation at 37 C for an additional 72 to 96 h. Following incubation, the amniotic cavity containing both chick and mammalian embryos was isolated and the agarose-embedded mammalian embryos were harvested. Significantly more embryos developed in the chick embryo amnion than in the control medium alone. Results obtained using this method on laboratory animals (mice) and on domestic mammals (goats and cattle) indicate that the chick embryo amnion can support the development of early-stage, mammalian embryos to the blastocyst stage of development.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622824 TI - Effect of acclimatization to an excreta-collection harness on excreta energy voided during a nitrogen-corrected true metabolizable energy bioassay. AB - Two TMEn bioassays were made with adult cockerels to test the hypothesis that excretion inhibition, observed previously as induced by excreta-collection harnesses, can be overcome by a suitable acclimatization period. Each experiment was designed as a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial with normal birds and acclimatization birds fitted with harnesses or housed over collection trays and given one of three dietary treatments. The acclimatization period was 5.75 days. The harnesses generally reduced excreta energy output, and their removal was followed by a compensatory increase. Acclimatization failed to eliminate the harness effect. PMID- 2622825 TI - Effects of monensin and bambermycins on the performance of market turkeys. AB - The effects were examined of monensin and the bambermycins in feed on growing turkeys. The drugs were used alone and in combination. A total of 1,600 hen and tom turkeys were divided into 32 pens. Four treatments were used, including 45 or 90 g/ton (907 kg) monensin either to 10 wk of age or to market age with and without adding of 2 g/ton of bambermycins. Evaluation parameters, including body weight, feed efficiency, and mortality, were done at 6, 10, and 13 wk of age for hens and 6, 10, and 18 wk of age for toms. Adding bambermycins increased body weights of hens at 10 wk of age and toms at 6 and 10 wk of age. No differences among treatments were noted at market weight within any of the parameters studied. No differences among treatments were noted in efficiency or mortality by the conclusion of the trial. PMID- 2622826 TI - The safety of early abortion. PMID- 2622827 TI - Occupational medicine and GPs. PMID- 2622828 TI - A young man with diabetes. AB - A diagnosis of diabetes seems catastrophic to most young people. Not only do they have to learn about the complexities of the disease, they also have to come to terms with the fact that their lifestyle has changed forever. PMID- 2622830 TI - Primary prevention of hypertension. PMID- 2622829 TI - A practical guide to RU486. PMID- 2622831 TI - Screening at-risk groups for Chlamydia trachomatis. PMID- 2622832 TI - Good control slows diabetic retinopathy. PMID- 2622833 TI - Saunas can prevent the common cold. PMID- 2622834 TI - Asthma clinics: audit. AB - Our three articles on general practice asthma clinics conclude by considering the ways in which the effectiveness of the clinic can be measured. PMID- 2622835 TI - Bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. AB - Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are aetiologically distinct diseases with different treatments. Though it was described more recently, bulimia nervosa occurs more commonly. Accurate diagnosis and early treatment should reduce the mortality of both conditions. PMID- 2622836 TI - Intracranial space-occupying lesions in the elderly. AB - The nature of intracranial space-occupying lesions can now be accurately diagnosed without invasive investigations. Many lesions occur in the elderly for whom neurosurgery has an added risk, but it can restore independence and improve the quality of life. PMID- 2622837 TI - Renal replacement therapy. I. AB - Virtually all patients with end-stage renal disease can achieve a better quality of life with renal replacement therapy. Given that a group practice with 10,000 patients may have two dialysis or transplant patients, it is important to know what is on offer. The first stage of renal replacement therapy is dialysis and the principles and problems are discussed here. In the next issue dietary management, drug therapy and the role of transplantation will be considered. PMID- 2622838 TI - Common regional pain syndromes. III. AB - In the last article of this mini-series, the local treatment of plantar fascia enthesopathy and medial knee pain are discussed. PMID- 2622839 TI - Preventive medicine and screening. I. AB - The preventive aspects of primary care have become increasingly important in the past decade and the new contract and the White Paper 'Working for patients' have focused further attention on them. A question in the MRCGP exam is almost inevitable. PMID- 2622840 TI - Ocular problems in practice. PMID- 2622841 TI - Examination of the eyes. AB - A deliberate and methodical approach to the examination of the eye makes diagnosis and management easier. Here the basic equipment required is outlined, together with a scheme of examination for those not experienced in examining eyes. PMID- 2622842 TI - Squint. AB - The most important squints to diagnose are the concomitant squints of childhood as they can lead to amblyopia, which is irreversible after the age of ten years. Familiarity with the cover test is desirable, and early referral for treatment essential. PMID- 2622843 TI - The ageing eye. AB - Most of the problems which occur due to aging of the eye present first to the GP. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis so that appropriate reassurance, treatment or referral can ensue. PMID- 2622844 TI - Managing the red eye. AB - The commonest causes of a red eye, excluding trauma, are conjunctivitis, allergies and lid conditions. These can usually be managed by the GP and are not serious if properly treated. Keratitis and corneal ulcers, acute iritis and acute glaucoma are uncommon conditions but are always serious and require immediate referral to an ophthalmologist for treatment. PMID- 2622845 TI - Seasonal affective disorder. AB - Depression during winter has been found to respond to treatment with simulated daylight. Seasonal affective disorder should be distinguished from other forms of depression which can also occur in winter before prescribing light therapy. PMID- 2622846 TI - Women in GP politics. PMID- 2622847 TI - A man with epigastric pain. PMID- 2622848 TI - What is a keratoacanthoma? PMID- 2622849 TI - Screening for psychiatric illness in the elderly. AB - Regular screening of the elderly is becoming an integral part of primary health care. A screening clinic for the early identification of mental health problems in the elderly is discussed here, paying particular attention to the use of practical and simple screening tools and the importance of cooperation between primary care and hospital services. PMID- 2622850 TI - Renal replacement therapy II. AB - The treatment of renal failure includes dietary modification, drug treatment and hormonal supplements as well as renal transplantation. The rationale for these therapies and the associated problems likely to present to the GP are given practical consideration. PMID- 2622851 TI - Preventive medicine and screening II. AB - Preventive screening always involves balancing the practical costs and limitations against the potential benefits. This article considers the cost benefit equation with reference to some topical examples which may feature in the MRCGP exam. PMID- 2622852 TI - Dermatology. PMID- 2622853 TI - Cold-induced skin disorders. AB - Skin conditions caused by cold temperatures are not uncommon. Recognition is generally easy at a clinical level, but awareness of the much less common underlying disorders is important. Treatment, both physical and pharmacological, is aimed at keeping the body warm and maintaining vasodilation. PMID- 2622854 TI - Yuletide dermatitis. AB - An unwelcome aspect of the festive season is contact dermatitis. This may be a gift of cosmetics, jewellery or clothing, or may be food related. It is important to be aware of the possible causative agents as the mainstay of management is withdrawal. PMID- 2622855 TI - Radiation exposure. AB - Many assumptions about the sources of our daily exposure to radiation may be incorrect. Surprisingly, the average dose from nuclear discharge per year is less than that from natural sources, and people who work in the nuclear industry have the same average yearly dose as aircrew. PMID- 2622856 TI - Noninvasive assessment of lipid disposition in treated and untreated atherosclerotic rabbits. AB - In an effort to visualize whole body cholesteryl ester (CE) deposition using the nuclear medicine imaging technique of gamma camera scintigraphy, 125I-cholesteryl iopanoate (125I-CI), a nonhydrolyzable CE analogue, was used as a marker for CE deposition in atherosclerotic New Zealand white rabbits. Groups of animals were fed either a cholesterol-enriched diet (2%, w/w) or the same diet supplemented with the hypolipidemic drugs colestipol (1%, w/w) and/or clofibrate (0.3%, w/w). Injections of 125I-CI were administered biweekly. At the end of 15 weeks, animals were scintigraphically scanned and sacrificed for tissue analysis. The results demonstrated that while drug treatment had no significant effect on plasma lipid levels, it substantially lessened atherosclerotic involvement in the thoracic abdominal aorta. These differences in aortic lipid accumulation were reflected in the whole-body scans which showed a reduction in tissue accumulation of 125I-CI in the drug-treated groups. Gamma camera scintigraphy thus represents a rapid means of visualizing tissue CE accumulation which could facilitate the evaluation of lipid-lowering drug efficacy and possible antiatherosclerotic effect. PMID- 2622857 TI - Determination of the relative amounts of anhydrous carbamazepine (C15H12N2O) and carbamazepine dihydrate (C15H12N2O.2H2O) in a mixture by powder x-ray diffractometry. AB - A powder x-ray diffraction technique has been developed to quantify the relative amounts of anhydrous carbamazepine (C15H12N2O) (I) and carbamazepine dihydrate (C15H12N2O.2H2O) (II) when they occur as a mixture. The theoretical basis of this technique was developed by Alexander and Klug (Anal. Chem. 20:886-889, 1948). The powder x-ray diffraction patterns of I and II revealed that the lines with d spacings of 6.78 and 9.93 A were unique to I and II, respectively. The ratio of the integrated intensity of the 6.78 A line in a mixture of I and II to the intensity of the 6.78 A line in a sample consisting of only I was calculated as a function of weight fraction of I in the mixture. These ratios were also experimentally determined, and there was a good agreement between the theoretical and the experimental intensity ratios. Similarly good agreements between the theoretical and the experimental intensity ratios for the 9.93 A line of II were obtained. The samples were compressed into tablets and subjected to x-ray analysis. When compressed to a certain pressure, the particles tended to orient the same way in replicate samples resulting in highly reproducible intensity values. Compression into tablets was necessary because the powder samples yielded unsatisfactory results. PMID- 2622858 TI - The beagle dog as an animal model for a bioavailability study of controlled release theophylline under the influence of food. AB - Beagle dogs were evaluated as an animal model to study the effect of food on the bioavailability of two commercially available oral controlled-release theophylline products. The products were administered with and without food in single doses, and the bioavailability parameters were compared with those following an i.v. aminophylline dose. The total plasma theophylline clearance in dogs following an i.v. dose was 0.128 liter/hr/kg and the volume of distribution was 0.8 liter/kg using a one-compartment model. The absolute bioavailabilities of these two products under fasting conditions were 31 and 48%, respectively. The food increased the bioavailability of one product and decreased the bioavailability of the other. The overall trends in relative bioavailability of these two products with and without food appeared to be similar to those reported in humans. PMID- 2622859 TI - High performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) determination of centchroman in human serum and application to single-dose pharmacokinetics. AB - A simple and sensitive (2 ng/ml) HPLC method with fluorescence detection has been developed to measure serum concentrations of centchroman, a new nonsteroidal antifertility agent. The method was sufficiently sensitive to follow the drug over 21 days in human volunteers. Pharmacokinetic parameters of centchroman were determined after a single oral dose of 60 mg (2 x 30-mg tablets) in two healthy female volunteers. Centchroman is slowly eliminated from serum, showing a biexponential disappearance curve from serum. The terminal half-life of centchroman in the two volunteers was 168 and 175 hr, respectively. PMID- 2622860 TI - Hollow fibers as an oral sustained-release delivery system using propranolol hydrochloride. AB - Fibers were spun by the downward configuration of the wet spinning technique. This configuration is capable of encapsulating nonspherical and/or coarse particles. We examined encapsulation of propranolol hydrochloride and the ability of the fibers to act as a sustained-release delivery system for propranolol hydrochloride as a model drug. The U.S.P. basket dissolution method was used to evaluate the in vitro drug release kinetics and the effect of the aspect ratio (length/diameter) on drug release. For in vivo evaluation, selected fibers were administered to dogs in gelatin capsules. The results of these in vitro and in vivo studies were compared to those obtained with a marketed sustained-release propranolol product (Inderal LA). The fiber delivery system provided a sustained release profile of plasma propranolol concentrations similar to that observed with Inderal LA. PMID- 2622861 TI - Effect of a change in the luminal perfusion rate on intestinal drug absorption studied by a simple unified organ clearance approach. AB - A recently proposed simple, noncompartmental, unified organ clearance approach was employed to study the effect of change in luminal perfusion rate (Q) on the steady-state intestinal absorption extraction ratio (E) of drugs. The equation used for correlation or prediction is E = H/(Q + H), where H is the apparent intrinsic intestinal absorption clearance of drug and assumed to be constant under linear conditions. Reported experimental data from intestinal perfusion studies in rats were used to evaluate the applicability or accuracy of the above equation. It was found that the mean difference between the predicted and the reported E values for seven steroids with a very wide range of partition coefficients between n-octanol and water (P) was 4.37% as Q was reduced from 0.497 to 0.247 ml/min. Reported changes in E due to multiple variation in Q (up to about 10 times) for hydrocortisone, progesterone, and iopanoic acid were satisfactorily predicted. The relationship between H and log P and the potential limitation of the present absorption approach are discussed. The present limited study also indicates that the absorption of the steroids with higher lipophilicity is usually less flow dependent. PMID- 2622862 TI - Evaluating the deformation kinetics of sucrose crystals using microindentation techniques. AB - The deformation kinetics of sucrose crystals were evaluated using the Vickers microindentation technique. A (100) face of a crystal of sucrose was indented for varying lengths of time at temperatures ranging from 23 to 103 degrees C, and the deformation kinetics analysis proposed by Verrall et al. (1) was employed to calculate the strain rate and stress from the indentation time and the size of the indentation. Two kinetic parameters, the activation volume and the activation energy, were calculated from the experimental data and compared to those of other materials on normalized scales. The results suggest that the deformation kinetics of sucrose resemble those of ice, the crystal lattice of which is highly hydrogen bonded, similar to that of sucrose. PMID- 2622863 TI - Macromolecular prodrugs. XVI. Colon-targeted delivery--comparison of the rate of release of naproxen from dextran ester prodrugs in homogenates of various segments of the pig gastrointestinal (GI) tract. AB - We have determined initial rates of naproxen formation from dextran-naproxen ester prodrugs incubated in homogenates of various segments of the pig GI tract. Drug liberation proceeded 15-17 times faster in cecum and colon homogenates than in aqueous pH 7.4 buffer or homogenates of the small intestine. The degree of conjugate substitution did not affect the liberation rates, whereas enhanced drug activation was observed with decreasing molecular size of the carrier dextran. During incubation in colon homogenates the average molecular weight of the dextran prodrugs decreased. The mechanism of drug activation from the prodrugs may therefore involve an initial depolymerization step of the dextran chains by dextranases secreted from bacteria in the pig colon. The generated small fragments then serve as substrates for esterases and other hydrolases. PMID- 2622864 TI - Carcinogenic potential of cooked food mutagens (IQ and MeIQ) in Wistar rats after short-term exposure. AB - Two potent cooked food mutagens, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo/4,5-f/quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo/4,5-f/quinoline (MeIQ), were examined in an initiation-promotion assay in the male wistar rat. Fourteen doses of 10 mg IQ or 10 mg MeIQ/kg b.wt. were given during initiation, followed by promotion with 500 p.p.m. phenobarbital sodium (PB) in the drinking water up to week 58. A small number of tumours of Zymbal's gland were seen in all groups treated with IQ or MeIQ, irrespective of PB-treatment. Though the promotional regimen failed to produce the expected number of liver tumours, it did induce a significant amount of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) activity. These results suggest that even short exposures to low doses of IQ or MeIQ produce persistent procarcinogenic lesions in the rat, and that secondary factors, e.g. promoters or high cell turnover, may over time develop these lesions into cancer. PMID- 2622865 TI - Membrane actions of ethanol on rabbit sino-atrial node studied by voltage clamp method. AB - Electrophysiological effects of ethanol on rabbit sino-atrial node were studied by means of the double-microelectrode voltage clamp method. In spontaneously beating preparations, ethanol (above 1%) decreased the maximum rate of depolarization of the action potential. Furthermore, 3% ethanol produced a significant decrease in the action potential amplitude, the action potential duration at 50% repolarization and the rate of the diastolic depolarization. Of the current systems, voltage clamp studies showed that ethanol reduced the slow inward current, the time-dependent potassium outward current and the hyperpolarization activated inward current. These observations indicate that ethanol does not have an effect on a single current system, but directly modifies the spontaneous discharge of sino-atrial node pacemaker cells due to a reduction of the time-dependent current systems. PMID- 2622866 TI - Enhanced gentamicin nephrotoxicity after experimental biliary obstruction in rats. AB - To explore whether bile duct ligation increased the risk for gentamicin nephrotoxicity, male Wistar rats were subjected to bile duct ligation or sham surgery and given either gentamicin 20 mg/kg or saline twice daily intraperitoneally for 8 days. Bile duct ligated and gentamicin injected rats elicited a decline in renal function and tubular cell necrosis after 8 days of treatment whereas equal dosage regimen in sham operated rats exhibited no evidence of renal dysfunction. In addition, though serum and kidney gentamicin levels were higher in bile duct ligated rats (1.84 +/- 0.11 micrograms/ml versus 0.20 +/- 0.03 microgram/ml, and 1453 +/- 164 micrograms/g versus 698 +/- 138 micrograms/g of cortex, respectively, P less than 0.05). The data indicate that complete biliary obstruction enhances renal sensitivity to gentamicin. PMID- 2622867 TI - The effect of ethanol on 35S-TBPS binding to mouse brain membranes in the presence of chloride. AB - The effect of in vitro and in vivo administration of ethanol on the binding of 35S-t-butyl-bicyclophosphorothionate (35S-TBPS) to cortical brain membranes of C57Bl mice was investigated using KCl (100 mM) containing assay media. The in vitro addition of ethanol produced a dose-dependent inhibition of basal 35S-TBPS binding. In the presence of chloride ions, GABA and pentobarbital had a biphasic action (stimulation followed by inhibition) on 35S-TBPS binding, whereas diazepam only stimulated the binding. Ethanol reduced the stimulatory effects of GABA and pentobarbital in a dose-dependent manner, but had no effect on the enhancement of 35S-TBPS binding produced by diazepam. 35S-TBPS binding to cortical brain membranes was inhibited by the putative Cl- channel blocking agent DIDS. This inhibitory action of DIDS was significantly, and dose-dependently reduced by ethanol (greater than or equal to 100 mM ethanol). Chronic ethanol ingestion in vivo, which produced tolerance to and physical dependence on ethanol in the animals, did not alter the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of GABA and pentobarbital on 35S-TBPS binding. The enhancement of 35S-TBPS binding produced by diazepam was slightly, but significantly, enhanced in brain membranes from animals which had undergone 24 hours of ethanol withdrawal. Chronic ethanol treatment did not change the potency of picrotoxin and of the peripheral BDZ receptor ligand RO 5-4864 to competitively inhibit 35S-TBPS binding. Our results suggest that in vitro addition of ethanol alters the activity of the GABA/benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptor complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622868 TI - Neurophysiological and behavioural effects of combined exposure to 2,5 hexanedione and acetone or ethanol in rats. AB - Rats were dosed with 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD), acetone, ethanol or combinations of these for 6 weeks. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was measured in the tails of the rats once a week from the third week of dosing. Behaviour was monitored during the whole experiment as performance on a rotarod, in 30 sec. sessions. 2,5 HD alone showed a significant effect on NCV and rotarod performance after 3 weeks of dosing. Acetone, but not ethanol, together with 2,5-HD had an additional significant effect on NCV and rotarod performance of the rats. This additional effect was seen from the 4th dosage week. The mechanism behind this effect is partly unknown. PMID- 2622869 TI - Administration of activated charcoal or sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) as gastric decontamination for lithium intoxication: an animal model. AB - To determine whether sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS; Kayexalate) is effective in decreasing the absorption of lithium (Li) and to test the assumption that Li is poorly adsorbed by activated charcoal, 130 mice were administered an orogastric dose of LiCl (250 mg/kg) followed immediately by orogastric SPS (10 g/kg, SPS Group), activated charcoal (6.7 g/kg, AC Group), or water in an equivalent volume (Control Group). Subgroups of each of the 3 groups were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4 and 8 hr after treatment and serum analyzed for Li concentration. Statistical analyses revealed no overall difference between the AC Group and the Control Group. However, the SPS Group differed from both the Control and the AC Group at each time interval, with Li concentrations significantly lower in the SPS Group. These results demonstrate that: 1) SPS, in this study, effectively reduced serum Li concentrations in an in vivo model, and 2) activated charcoal did not. PMID- 2622870 TI - Effect of isopropanol on rat brain monoamine levels. AB - Changes in monoamines were studied in discrete areas of brain with varying dose of isopropanol. Acute administration of isopropanol (0.463 g/kg, 0.925 g/kg and 1.85 g/kg) decreased dopamine level in hypothalamus, pons medulla and cerebral cortex and whereas it was increased in striatum and cerebellum. Noradrenaline level was reduced in all the brain areas studied. Adrenaline level was increased in hypothalamus, striatum, midbrain and pons medulla, and decreased in hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Serotonin level was increased in hypothalamus, midbrain, pons-medulla and cerebral cortex, and decreased in striatum and hippocampus. These changes were dose-dependent. It is concluded that isopropanol causes changes in brain monoamine content that this effect is not the same in all the regions of the brain. PMID- 2622871 TI - A rapid two-step purification of rat cystatin C, one major inhibitor of cysteine proteinases. AB - Rat cystatin C was purified to apparent homogeneity from rat urine after induction of a tubular dysfunction with sodium chromate. Twentyfold concentrated urine was chromatographed by a rapid purification procedure. A two-step purification including affinity chromatography on carboxymethyl papain- Sepharose and high-resolution anion exchange chromatography was developed. The purified protein has an apparent molecular mass of 15 kDa and pI of 10.2; its aminoacid composition was similar to human cystatin C. As opposed to previous data, purified urinary rat cystatin C did not contain significant amounts of carbohydrate. Antisera against rat cystatin C, raised in rabbits, partially cross reacted with human and mouse cystatin C, indicating their antigenic similarities. Like human cystatin C, native rat cystatin C, named slow form, is degraded into a more acidic form, called fast form, by a loss of N-terminal amino acids; fast form displayed a pI of 9.4. PMID- 2622872 TI - Purification and characterization of invertase from a novel industrial yeast, Schwanniomyces occidentalis. AB - The use of yeast as an expression system for heterologous proteins offers several potential advantages with respect to industrial scale-up and genetics over other expression systems, but suffers from several drawbacks. For example, the secreted proteins of S. cerevisiae, found in the periplasm, are hyperglycosylated and the organism has a limited range of usable substrates. Other yeasts have similar disadvantages in addition to producing a variety of proteases. We have investigated the use of Schwanniomyces occidentalis as a host for developing a gene expression system in which these and several disadvantages are minimized. The present paper describes the isolation and characterization of an invertase from cell free supernatants of the yeast Schwanniomyces occidentalis grown on lactose. The enzyme is a beta-D-fructofuranoside-fructohydrolyase, composed of two identical subunits of 76,000 to 78,000 da. with a native molecular mass of 125,000 +/- 25,000 da. of which approximately 17% can be attributed to N-linked carbohydrate. The enzyme has a Vmax of 0.49 +/- 0.025 units, a Km of 21 +/- 1.5 mM, and temperature and pH optima of 55 degrees C and 3.9-4.5, respectively. The amino acid sequences of the amino terminal region and an internal tryptic peptide support an 81% identity with the invertase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The enzyme is induced by low glucose and is catabolite repressed. PMID- 2622873 TI - Rapid purification of overexpressed T4 DNA polymerase. AB - A method for purifying T4 DNA polymerase from cells harboring overexpression plasmids is described. T4 DNA polymerase is precipitated from induced, lysed cells with polyethyleneimine, then extracted and fractionated further with (NH4)2SO4 before chromatography on a column of single-stranded DNA cellulose. This procedure can be completed in three days and consistently provides enzyme preparations which are at least 98% pure. When necessary, one further chromatography step provides T4 DNA polymerase suitable for recombinant DNA applications. PMID- 2622874 TI - Purification of acetyllactosamine-specific tomato lectin by erythroglycan sepharose affinity chromatography. AB - Tomato lectin is specific for oligomers of poly-N-acetyllactosamine containing 3 repeating Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc (beta 1-3)-disaccharides. As such it is highly useful for purifying oligosaccharides or glycopeptides with poly-N acetyllactosamine character. We have found the lectin very useful as an affinity reagent for isolating glycoproteins or glycoprotein domains having poly-N acetyllactosamine glycosylation. Conventional preparation of tomato lectin by ovomucoid-Sepharose affinity chromatography was found to be unsatisfactory due to instability of column and bleeding of ovomucoid into eluents requiring the necessity for additional purification steps following affinity chromatography. We prepared a column of human erythrocyte band 3 carbohydrate glycopeptide (erythroglycan) attached to Sepharose as an affinity matrix. The purification of tomato lectin to homogeneity in one step on this column matrix is described in this report. PMID- 2622875 TI - Micropreparative capillary zone electrophoresis of recombinant human interleukin 3. AB - Micropreparative capillary zone electrophoresis of recombinant human interleukin 3 (rhIL-3) in untreated fused silica is presented. Results show that nanogram quantities of rhIL-3 can be collected off the capillary and then identified by amino acid sequencing and SDS-gel electrophoresis. PMID- 2622876 TI - [Survey of the initial treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in West Germany. A study by the German Central Committee for the Prevention of Tuberculosis]. AB - 1405 adult patients were selected for assessment who had been newly notified in the years 1986/87 with confirmed diagnosis of active progressive pulmonary tuberculosis who required treatment. Of these, 83.5% excreted tubercle bacilli in the sputum; radiographic lung cavities were confirmed in 53.6%, and 859 (61.1%) had a concomitant disease. 1173 patients (94.2%) were hospitalized for initial treatment and only 232 (5.8%) received outpatient treatment. The median duration of the hospital stay was 12 weeks. Isoniazid and rifampicin were prescribed in 96% and 93% patients, respectively, mostly all the time, ethambutol in 75% initially and in 50% throughout, streptomycin in 50% initially. Three or four drug regimens including pyrazinamide in the initial phase were employed in 76% of the patients. Premature discontinuation of therapy for different reasons was noted in 135 patients (9.5%). Of these, treatment was discontinued in 59 (4.2%) due to death; 37 (2.6%) patients died due to tuberculosis. Adverse reactions were observed in 193 patients (13.7%); 0.3% of the patients discontinued chemotherapy because of toxicity. The duration of chemotherapy was between 9 and 12 months in the majority of patients; 30%, however, were treated for more than 12 months. The chemotherapy of 6-months duration was performed only in about 10% of treated patients. Among the patients who completed the treatment, this proved effective in 98%. Although the majority received initially the rational chemotherapy with a three or four drugs regimen, it is concluded that the inpatient stay and the outpatient duration of chemotherapy in the routine clinical practice is too long, therapy control is insufficient. PMID- 2622877 TI - [Epidemiologic recording of bronchial asthma in the school child]. AB - Bronchial asthma is the most frequent chronic disease in childhood. Nevertheless, no definition of the disease is known that would enable a satisfactory epidemiological recording of asthma. In 704 schoolchildren, typical signs and symptoms of asthma were recorded within the framework of a standardized interview. The occurrence of asthmatic symptoms was quantified by means of a symptom score. In 555 of the probands, bronchial reactivity was tested by means of an inhalative challenge with carbachol. The information gathered from the interview and the carbachol challenge test was placed in relationship to the family doctor's diagnosis of "bronchial asthma". Lifetime prevalence of asthma diagnosed by the family doctors is 4.97% with a clear male predominance. The asthmatic symptoms showed varying frequencies and validity compared with the family doctor's diagnosis. The occurrence of dyspnoea appears to be particularly sensitive (77%). Dyspnoea coincident with exercise is highly specific (99%). The sensitivity of the combination of carbachol test and symptom score is 92% and the specificity is 75%. The instruments described above offer a reliable possibility for epidemiological field research to record the prevalence of bronchial asthma in schoolchildren. PMID- 2622878 TI - [Allergy to sesame seeds]. AB - Two cases of allergy due to the ingestion of sesame seeds are described. Sesame seeds must be considered to be an extremely potent allergen. They cause severe allergic reactions with pruritus, generalized erythema, angio-oedema of the uvula, clinical shock and wheezing. Such reactions are usually preceded by milder ones ("shock fragments"), which, if promptly and correctly diagnosed and treated, may prevent clinical progression of symptoms. Therefore, it is important to recognize hypersensitivity to sesame seed without delay so that the patient may eliminate the causative agent and use suitable medication in the event of a dietary indiscretion. Sesame oil ingestion may not produce any similar reaction. The consumption of sesame seeds is increasing throughout the world. This suggests that the incidence of hypersensitivity to sesame seed will probably increase by the same proportion. PMID- 2622879 TI - [Oleothorax 40 years later]. AB - Between 1930 and 1950 the induction of an oleothorax was widely accepted as treatment of patients with progressive tuberculosis. Now, the late complications of this therapeutic approach can occasionally be observed. A patient with an oleothorax induced forty years ago and extensive x-ray exposure through frequent fluoroscopie follow-up is presented. In addition, he has a carcinoma of the lung infiltrating the chest wall. The late complications of oleothorax and the possibility of a radiation-induced malignancy are discussed. PMID- 2622880 TI - [The German Society of Pneumology and Tuberculosis. Activities of the Committee on Patient Education]. PMID- 2622881 TI - [The clinical x-ray characteristics of the soft tissues of the lower extremities in diabetics]. AB - The authors present the results of clinicoroentgenological and immunological investigations of the state of lower limb soft tissues in 117 patients with diabetes mellitus. Vascular wall calcification and soft tissue edema were noted practically in all the patients with a period of disease over 1 year. X-ray investigation permitted the detection of vascular lesion at early stages of complication development, in most of the patients even at the preclinical stage. A degree of lower limb vascular lesion is not related to a type of diabetes mellitus and the patients' age. There is direct correlation between the affection of the walls of medium size vessels and vessels of the fundus of the eye. The frequency and severity of lower limb vascular lesion, polyneuropathy and nephropathy grow significantly with an increase in a period of disease. A parallel decrease of immunoglobulins is noted. The affection of osseous tissue does not depend on a period of disease and shows insignificant correlation with a degree of vascular lesion. PMID- 2622882 TI - [Disorders of blood coagulation and microcirculation in diabetics]. AB - Determination of platelet aggregation and disaggregation and the use of coagulogram indices reflecting the main stages of blood coagulation (the levels of fibrinogen and soluble complexes of fibrin-monomer, fibrinolytic activity) are recommended for the diagnosis of chronic DIC-syndrome in patients with diabetes mellitus. This syndrome is noted in diabetic patients before the development of clinical symptoms of microangiopathy but in parallel with microcirculatory disorders according to the results of conjunctival biomicroscopy. Platelet aggregation indices show correlation with the conjunctival index in diabetic patients even before the development of a clinical picture of diabetic retinopathy. PMID- 2622883 TI - [The sex steroid content of the blood serum in women suffering from postmenopausal osteoporosis]. AB - The levels of estradiol, estrone, androstendione, and testosterone were investigated in 25 women aged 56-69 with postmenopausal osteoporosis and in healthy women using radioimmunoassays. Relatively high levels of estradiol, estrone and androstendione were revealed in the study group as compared to the control group. The results obtained showed no association between the development of postmenopausal osteoporosis and deficiency of estrogens because in the healthy controls a decrease in the level of sex hormones was more noticeable. Taking into account the mechanism of the effect of estrogens on osseous tissue and its receptors, calcitonin secretion and, possibly, vitamin D3 synthesis, one can regard a relative elevation of the level of estrogens in postmenopausal osteoporosis as a compensatory protective phenomenon. PMID- 2622884 TI - [Combined hypothyroidism and adrenal failure against the background of a tuberculous process in a female patient with ischemic heart disease]. PMID- 2622885 TI - [2 cases of autoimmune polyendocrinopathies]. PMID- 2622886 TI - [The differential diagnosis of pachydermoperiostosis]. PMID- 2622887 TI - [Enhanced ovarian sensitivity to gonadotropins in anestrus in sheep]. AB - Superovulatory doses of PMSG and hCG, injected to anestrus crossbred ewes, induced more intensive luteinization of large follicles and progesterone secretion in ewes, lambed by twins (9) at first pregnancy, then in the cases of singleton lambed ewes or nonlambing ones (12). The ovaries of 2 ewes, lambed by twins, have healthy follicles, with increased estradiol concentration in their follicular fluid despite the presence of ovulatory follicles, giving corpora lutea. It is concluded that enhanced ovarian reactivity at anestrus can be related to the reserves of the reproductive system in more prolific ewes. PMID- 2622888 TI - [The adrenocortical function of female hamadryas baboons under prolonged hypokinesia]. AB - The paper is concerned with the results of a study of hormonal function of the adrenocortical system of female Papio hamadryas during 28-day clinicostatic hypokinesia which started at various phases of the menstrual cycle. A 2-phase response of the investigated system to prolonged hypokinesia was established. The activation of corticosteroid secretion on the 1st day of hypokinesia was changed further on by the inhibition of adrenocortical endocrine function. The intensity and duration of activation action of hypokinesia were markedly determined by the initial phase of the menstrual cycle: adrenocortical reactivity in the follicular phase was higher than in the luteal one. Differences in a degree of inhibition of some fractions of corticosteroids were established: an inhibitory effect of hypokinesia was more pronounced for the precursors of cortisol, corticosterone and aldosterone. The type of circadian rhythms of corticosteroids and a response of the adrenocortical system to additional stress make it possible to associate a decrease in adrenocortical hormonal activity during prolonged hypokinesia with changes in the activity of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. PMID- 2622889 TI - [Disorders of cardiac contractile function and myocardial adrenoreactivity during stress depending on the thyroid hormone level]. AB - An effect of the administration of thyroid hormones at small doses (on the one hand) and hypothyroidism (on the other hand) on stress-induced changes of myocardial contractility and adrenoreactivity was studied in experiments on 86 random bred male rats. The use of thyroid hormones at small doses irrespective of a drug form prevents stress-induced decrease of cardiac contractility and preserves a sufficiently high level of myocardial adrenoreactivity. The suppression of thyroid function of the thyroid gland led to a decrease in adrenoreactivity and caused more profound disorder of contractility in stress. All these data suggest that physiological doses of thyroid hormones prevent cardiac contractility disorders and preserve sufficiently high myocardial adrenoreactivity. PMID- 2622890 TI - [Changes in the ratio of secreted thyroid hormones under the action of adrenaline, propranolol and thyrotropic hormone]. AB - The injection of 0.5 mM of adrenalin and 3.3 X 10(-3) M of propranolol in the thyroid artery of the thyroid lobe perfused in a thermostatic chamber (37 degrees C) 1h after the beginning of perfusion caused a decrease in the index of thyroid deiodination by 48 and 37%, respectively. Adrenalin injection 2 h after TSH lowered the stimulating effect of the latter on thyroxine thyroid conversion. A conclusion is made that adrenalin testing can suppress the activity of thyroid conversion of T4 into T3 and decrease the activity of TSH-stimulated deiodination. PMID- 2622891 TI - [The significance of an increased protein and fat content in the food ration of rats for the development of stable alloxan diabetes]. AB - An effective model of stable and prolonged alloxan diabetes in rats was described. For this purpose the rats were kept on a synthetic diet with the increased level of proteins and lipids during 1-2 mos. before i.v. injection of alloxan at a dose of 35-40 mg/kg with subsequent feeding by this ration during all the time of the experiment. This model of experimental diabetes ensures a high level of hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia as well as a high titer of activity of the diabetogenic factor, to the same extent, as in rats kept on the common laboratory ration. PMID- 2622892 TI - [The action of adaptogenic plant preparations in experimental alloxan diabetes]. AB - Experiments on mice and rats with alloxan diabetes were conducted for comparative assessment of the effectiveness of therapeutic use of adaptogenic plant pharmaceuticals as well as some other commonly used plant drugs. Of marked antidiabetic properties were root and leaf ginseng tincture (LGT), Echinopanax tincture, extracts of Eleutherococcus, Rhodiola (ER) and Leuzia which decreased the blood level of glucose in a CTT (5 g h of glucose per I kg of the animal body mass) from 17.15 to 11.19, 11.50, 12.72, 11.69, 13.47 mmol/l and increased the alloxan-reduced level of liver glycogen by 50-80% (P less than 0.05). Aralia and Schizandra tinctures for this diabetic model were ineffective. Yarrow, everlastings and birch leaf tea also possessed marked hypoglycemic and glycogen sparing properties. The most effective experimentally plant adaptogens LGT and ER increased the blood level of insulin in alloxan diabetic rats in a GTT from 16.75 up to 44.42, 35.31 microU/ml and decreased the level of glucagon from 495 to 195 and 138 pg/ml, respectively. The authors discussed mechanisms of antidiabetic, insulinotropic and hypoglucagonemic action of the effective plant pharmaceuticals and the prospects of their use in multimodality therapy of diabetes mellitus of type I. PMID- 2622893 TI - [The rehabilitation of patients with diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease]. AB - The results of bicycle ergometry testing were studied in 20 patients with diabetes mellitus of type II without clinical signs of circulatory insufficiency, 21 patients with postinfarction cardiosclerosis with undisturbed carbohydrate tolerance, and in 18 healthy persons. The blood level of glucose in patients with diabetes mellitus was investigated on an empty stomach and 30, 60 and 120 min. after physical exercising. Similar changes of bicycle ergometry results were found in diabetic and CHD patients. In compensation of diabetes in response to graded physical exercise glycemic changes were absent, in decompensation glycemia increased in 30 and 60 min. and returned to the basal level 120 min. after testing. Since the results of bicycle exercises in diabetic (compensated) and CHD patients were the same, the principles of their physical rehabilitation must be identical. In patients with decompensated diabetes mellitus a hyperglycemic reaction to graded physical exercise serves the basis for reduction of motor activity in patients with decompensated diabetes mellitus. PMID- 2622894 TI - Cytopathogenicity of Naegleria fowleri in mammalian cell cultures. AB - A total of 13 strains of Naegleria fowleri were cytopathogenic for lung, kidney, foreskin, ovary, connective tissue, neuroblastoma, laryngeal carcinoma, and cervical carcinoma mammalian cell lines. The strains of N. fowleri varied considerably in their ability to produce a cytopathic effect (CPE). Likewise, the different mammalian cell lines exhibited varying degrees of susceptability to the cytopathogenicity of the amebae. The African green-monkey kidney (Vero) cell line proved to be useful for assessing the cytopathogenic potential of N. fowleri strains. Although one strain failed to produce CPE in Vero-cell cultures, it did so in the two neuroblastoma cell lines. Other factors affecting the extent of CPE produced were incubation temperature, ameba: mammalian cell ratio, and the length of time during which amebae were maintained in cell culture. PMID- 2622895 TI - Protective immunity against Angiostrongylus cantonensis in rats following sensitizing infections. AB - Three strains (ACI, August and Wistar) of rats previously sensitized by oral infection with intact third-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis developed significant protective immunity to challenge infections 6 weeks later. The degree of the immunity was highest in the August strain of rats, followed by Wistar and ACI rats. Protective immunity appears to affect both third-stage larvae and fourth- and/or fifth-stage worms. ACI rats showed poor antibody responses, especially in the IgE fraction. When 24-day-old young adult worms were transferred from the brain of donor rats into the peritoneal cavity of sensitized rodents, peritoneal eosinophils predominantly adhered to the worm surfaces in vivo. PMID- 2622896 TI - Variation of electrophoretic karyotypes among Naegleria spp. AB - All species and subspecies of the genus Naegleria were subjected to karyotype analysis by contour-clamped homogeneous electric field and transverse alternating field electrophoresis. The former technique proved to be superior in detecting differences in karyotype. The chromosome pattern of each species and subspecies was found to be distinct. Between 15 and 23 bands were resolved, with chromosome sizes ranging from a few hundred kilobases to about 1.5 Mb. Hybridisation with cloned rDNA identified one band in all species, corresponding to the rDNA plasmid that does not migrate according to its molecular weight because it is circular. In Willaertia magna a similar size distribution was found, in contrast to Giardia and Entamoeba, which have only very large chromosomes. Within the pathogenic N. fowleri some strains showed slight differences in chromosome pattern. The karyotype differed more between strains within the subspecies N. and andersoni than between the two species N. fowleri and N. lovaniensis. The results suggest that karyotype analysis cannot be used to identify a Naegleria species but is useful for stock identification, gene localisation, genetic exchange studies and epidemiological investigation of the pathogenic N. fowleri. PMID- 2622897 TI - Detection of hybrid phenotypes in African trypanosomes by high resolution two dimensional gel electrophoresis. AB - High resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and autoradiography were used to analyze the protein phenotypes of Trypanosoma brucei (T.b. brucei and T.b. gambiense) clones suspected of being hybrids. Procyclic culture forms of parental and suspected hybrid trypanosomes were biosynthetically labeled with [35S]methionine and labeled proteins were resolved by multiple 2D PAGE (the ISO-DALT system) to allow accurate inter-gel comparisons. Autoradiography of the gels showed that the parental clones had qualitative differences in at least seven sets of spots. Five of these sets represented charge differences and one represented proteins of altered relative molecular mass (Mr) and charge. Autoradiographs of the gels of the putative hybrid trypanosomes showed both forms of the proteins found separately in the parental clones indicating that new, nonparental phenotypes had been generated by transmission of mixed trypanosome clones through tsetse flies. The 2D-PAGE patterns from parasites cultivated for extended periods were identical, showing that the individual cloned parasites were phenotypically stable. The results indicate that analytical 2-D gels can be used to study the phenotypes of "parental" or "hybrid" African trypanosomes without having any previous knowledge of the molecular characteristics of the parasites. In addition, the technique allows an extension of phenotypic analysis to hundreds of different proteins in populations of cloned parasites. PMID- 2622898 TI - Coproantigens in gut tapeworm infections: Hymenolepis diminuta in rats. AB - A capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Hymenolepis diminuta coproantigen in detergent-solubilised faecal supernatants was developed. The assay was sensitive to 400 ng H. diminuta protein/ml faecal supernatant and to 30 ng/ml in PBS 0.3% Tween. Faecal antigen levels started to rise on day 7 post infection and peaked on day 20. Following drug treatment of infected rats with 10 mg/kg praziquantel, there was an initial steep rise in faecal antigen levels, followed by a decline to background levels for uninfected animals by day 7 post treatment. When assayed against faecal supernatants prepared from H. microstoma, H. citelli, Diphyllobothrium ditrenum, Necator americanus, Strongyloides ratti and Nematospiroides dubius infections as well as uninfected animals, all results from these groups were 2 SD below those for animals infected with H. diminuta. The application of such a test to important intestinal cestodiases in man is discussed. PMID- 2622899 TI - Characterization of West African Trypanosoma (Trypanozoon) brucei isolates from man and animals using isoenzyme analysis and DNA hybridization. AB - A total of 18 West African Trypanosoma (Trypanozoon) brucei stocks isolated from man and animals were characterized using isoenzyme analysis with isoelectric focusing (IEF) and DNA hybridization. They were compared with four T. (T.) brucei isolates from East and West Africa that had previously been analysed and well defined. All experiments were carried out with cell lysates of procyclic trypanosomes produced in vitro. The different stocks could be separated into two distinct groups according to their isoenzyme and DNA patterns. The homogeneous group of T. b. gambiense was characterized by zymodeme A and highly specific DNA banding patterns (type G) always associated with stable human serum resistance. The non-gambiense group (consisting of T.b. rhodesiense and T.b. brucei) was determined by a great variation in these markers. Our results clearly indicate the existence, of T.b. rhodesiense-like parasites in West African patients. Due to their lack of human serum resistance, the four characterized animal isolates can be referred to as T. b. brucei. PMID- 2622900 TI - Human chorionic gonadotropin-like immunoreactivity in schistosomes and Fasciola. PMID- 2622901 TI - Hatching of Schistosoma mansoni eggs is a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent process. AB - The effect of calcium channel blockers (diltiazem and verapamil) and a calmodulin antagonist (W-7) on the hatching of Schistosoma mansoni eggs in fresh water was studied. The hatching of the eggs was inhibited by diltiazem and W-7 in a dose dependent fashion and only slightly by verapamil. The present study indicates that the hatching of S. mansoni eggs is a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent process. PMID- 2622902 TI - An NMR-based molecular dynamics simulation of the interaction of the lac repressor headpiece and its operator in aqueous solution. AB - The results of a 125 psec molecular dynamics simulation of a lac headpiece operator complex in aqueous solution are reported. The complex satisfies essentially all experimental distance information derived from two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2-D-NMR) studies. The interaction between lac repressor headpiece and its operator is based on many direct- and water-mediated hydrogen bonds and nonpolar contacts which allow the formation of a tight complex. No stable hydrogen bonds between side chains and bases are found, while specific contacts occur between both nonpolar groups and, to a lesser extent, through water-mediated hydrogen bonds. The simulated complex structure in water is intrinsically stable without application of nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) distance restraints, while being compatible with most of the available biochemical, genetic, and chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) data. PMID- 2622903 TI - Comparing short protein substructures by a method based on backbone torsion angles. AB - An efficient algorithm was characterized that determines the similarity in main chain conformation between short protein substructures. The algorithm computes delta t, the root mean square difference in phi and psi torsion angles over a small number of amino acids (typically 3-5). Using this algorithm, large numbers of protein substructure comparisons were feasible. The parameter delta t was sensitive to variations in local protein conformation, and it correlates with delta r, the root mean square deviation in atomic coordinates. Values for delta t were obtained that define similarity thresholds, which determine whether two substructures are considered structurally similar. To set a lower bound on the similarity threshold, we estimated the component of delta t due to measurement noise from comparisons of independently refined coordinates of the same protein. A sample distribution of delta t from nonhomologous protein comparisons identified an upper bound on the similarity threshold, one that refrains from incorporating large numbers of nonmatching comparisons. Unlike methods based on C alpha atoms alone, delta t was sensitive to rotations in the peptide plane, shown to occur in several proteins. Comparisons of homologous proteins by delta t showed that the active site torsion angles are highly conserved. The delta t method was applied to the alpha-chain of human hemoglobin, where it readily demonstrated the local differences in the structures of different ligation states. PMID- 2622904 TI - Salt or ion bridges in biological systems: a study employing quantum and molecular mechanics. AB - Equilibrium geometries and binding energies of model "salt" or "ion" bridge systems have been computed by ab initio quantum chemistry techniques (GAUSSIAN82) and by empirical force field techniques (AMBER2.0). Formate and dimethyl phosphate served as anions in the model compounds while interacting with several organic cations, including methyl ammonium, methyl guanidinium, and divalent metal ion (either Mg2+ or Ca2+) without and with an additional chloride; and a divalent metal ion (either Mg2+ or Ca2+), chloride, and four water molecules of hydration about the metal ion. The majority of the quantum chemical computations were performed using a split-valence basis set. For the model compounds studied we find that the ab initio optimized geometries are in remarkably good agreement with the molecular mechanics geometries. Several calculations were also performed using diffuse fractions. The formate anion binds these model cations more strongly than does dimethyl phosphate, while the organic cation methyl ammonium binds model anions more strongly than does methyl guanidinium. Finally, in model compounds including organic anions, Mg2+ or Ca2+ and four molecules of water, and a chloride anion, we find that the equilibrium structure of the magnesium complex involves a solvent separated ion pair (the magnesium ion is six coordinate), whereas the calcium ion complex remains seven coordinate. Molecular mechanics overestimates binding energies, but the estimates may be close enough to actual binding energies to give useful insight into the details of salt bridges in biological systems. PMID- 2622905 TI - A computer model to dynamically simulate protein folding: studies with crambin. AB - The current work describes a simplified representation of protein structure with uses in the simulation of protein folding. The model assumes that a protein can be represented by a freely rotating rigid chain with a single atom approximating the effect of each side chain. Potentials describing the attraction or repulsion between different types of amino acids are determined directly from the distribution of amino acids in the database of known protein structures. The optimization technique of simulated annealing has been used to dynamically sample the conformations available to this simple model, allowing the protein to evolve from an extended, random coil into a compact globular structure. Many characteristics expected of true proteins, such as the sequence-dependent formation of secondary structure, the partitioning of hydrophobic residues, and specific disulfide pairing, are reproduced by the simulation, suggesting the model may accurately simulate the folding process. PMID- 2622906 TI - A hydrophobic cluster forms early in the folding of dihydrofolate reductase. AB - The rapid kinetic phase that leads from unfolded species to transient folding intermediates in dihydrofolate reductase from Escherichia coli was examined by site-directed mutagenesis and by physicochemical means. The absence of this fluorescence-detected phase in the refolding of the Trp-74Phe mutant protein strongly implies that this early phase in refolding can be assigned to just one of the five Trp residues in the protein, Trp-74. In addition, water-soluble fluorescence quenching agents, iodide and cesium, have a much less significant effect on this early step in refolding than on the slower phases that lead to native and native-like conformers. These and other data imply that an important early event in the folding of dihydrofolate reductase is the formation of a hydrophobic cluster which protects Trp-74 from solvent. PMID- 2622907 TI - Substrate specificities in class A beta-lactamases: preference for penams vs. cephems. The role of residue 237. AB - Site saturation mutagenesis has been carried out at Ala-237 in RTEM-1 beta lactamase to assess the role of this site in modulating differences in specificity of beta-lactamases for penams vs. cephems as substrates. (An Ala-237 Thr mutation had previously been shown to increase activity on cephems by about 30-80%.) Screening of all 19 possible mutants on penams and cephems revealed the even more active Ala-237 Asn mutant. Detailed kinetic analysis shows that this mutant has about four times the activity toward cephalothin and cephalosporin C as the wild-type enzyme. Both mutations reduce the activity toward penams to about 10% that of RTEM-1 beta-lactamase and lower by about 5 degrees C the temperature at which the enzyme denatures. Functional properties of the other mutants have also been surveyed. The most interesting aspect of these results is that two quite disparate amino acids, threonine and asparagine, when introduced for Ala-237, cause such similar changes in enzyme specificity while more similar residues do not alter the catalytic properties of the enzyme to such a significant degree. PMID- 2622908 TI - The interaction of calmodulin with fluorescent and photoreactive model peptides: evidence for a short interdomain separation. AB - Calmodulin is known to bind target enzymes and basic, amphiphilic peptides in a Ca2(+)-dependent manner. Recently, we introduced a photoaffinity label, p benzoylphenylalanine (Bpa), into the sequence of a model, alpha-helical, calmodulin-binding peptide. When the Bpa residue was introduced at the third position of the peptide, Met-144 on the C-terminal domain of calmodulin was labeled, whereas when the photolabel was placed at the thirteenth position, Met 71 on the N-terminal domain was labeled. Assuming that both peptides bind in similar orientations, these results are not consistent with the crystal structure of calmodulin, in which the domains are held at a significant distance from one another by a long alpha-helical segment. To test the assumption that both peptides bind in similar orientations, we have synthesized a calmodulin-binding peptide with the photolabel in both the third and the thirteenth positions. Upon photolysis, this peptide forms a cross-link between Met-71 and Met-124 on the N- and C-terminal domains, respectively. Furthermore, a peptide with a Bpa in the thirteenth position and a Trp residue in the third position was also synthesized. After photocross-linking the Bpa residue of this peptide to Met-71 of calmodulin, it could be shown that the fluorescence properties of the Trp residue were consistent with its side chain being buried in a hydrophobic pocket on the C terminal domain of calmodulin. These data indicate that, when complexed with basic, amphiphilic peptides, calmodulin can adopt a conformation in which its two domains are significantly closer than in the crystal structure of the uncomplexed protein. PMID- 2622909 TI - Structural determinants of the conformations of medium-sized loops in proteins. AB - Loops are integral components of protein structures, providing links between elements of secondary structure, and in many cases contributing to catalytic and binding sites. The conformations of short loops are now understood to depend primarily on their amino acid sequences. In contrast, the structural determinants of longer loops involve hydrogen-bonding and packing interactions within the loop and with other parts of the protein. By searching solved protein structures for regions similar in main chain conformation to the antigen-binding loops in immunoglobulins, we identified medium-sized loops of similar structure in unrelated proteins, and compared the determinants of their conformations. For loops that form compact substructures the major determinant of the conformation is the formation of hydrogen bonds to inward-pointing main chain atoms. For loops that have more extended conformations, the major determinant of their structure is the packing of a particular residue or residues against the rest of the protein. The following picture emerges: Medium-sized loops of similar conformation are stabilized by similar interactions. The groups that interact with the loop have very similar spatial dispositions with respect to the loop. However, the residues that provide these interactions may arise from dissimilar parts of the protein: The conformation of the loop requires certain interactions that the protein may provide in a variety of ways. PMID- 2622910 TI - Use of restrained molecular dynamics in water to determine three-dimensional protein structure: prediction of the three-dimensional structure of Ecballium elaterium trypsin inhibitor II. AB - Refinement of distance geometry (DG) structures of EETI-II (Heitz et al.: Biochemistry 28:2392-2398, 1989), a member of the squash family trypsin inhibitor, have been carried out by restrained molecular dynamics (RMD) in water. The resulting models show better side chain apolar/polar surface ratio and estimated solvation free energy than structures refined "in vacuo." The consistent lower values of residual NMR constraint violations, apolar/polar surface ratio, and solvation free energy for one of these refined structures allowed prediction of the 3D folding and disulfide connectivity of EETI-II. Except for the few first residues for which no NMR constraints were available, this computer model fully agreed with X-ray structures of CMTI-I (Bode et al.: FEBS Lett. 242:285-292, 1989) and EETI-II complexed with trypsin that appeared after the RMD simulation was completed. Restrained molecular dynamics in water is thus proved to be highly valuable for refinement of DG structures. Also, the successful use of apolar/polar surface ratio and of solvation free energy reinforce the analysis of Novotny et al. (Proteins 4:19-30, 1988) and shows that these criteria are useful indicators of correct versus misfolded models. PMID- 2622911 TI - The surface area of monomeric proteins: significance of power law behavior. AB - The coefficients in a power law fit of accessible area versus molecular weight for high-resolution monomeric protein structures are assessed with respect to statistical accuracy using bootstrap analyses, and with respect to physical significance using model systems and the concept of roughness or fractal structure of the protein surface. PMID- 2622912 TI - Acid-induced dimerization of skeletal troponin C. AB - We have investigated pH-dependent changes of the properties of troponin C from rabbit skeletal muscle. At pH 7.5 this protein is a monomer and at pH 5.2 it is a dimer. In contrast, bovine cardiac troponin C remains essentially monomeric at pH 5.2. Bovine brain calmodulin is not a dimer, but significantly aggregated at the same acidic pH. The dimerization of skeletal troponin C was demonstrated by low speed (16,000 rpm) sedimentation equilibrium measurements carried out at 20 degrees C and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions. Dimer formation was significantly inhibited in the ultracentrifuge at rotor speeds of 30,000 and 40,000 rpm at 20 degrees C, and was completely prevented at a rotor speed of 40,000 rpm and 4 degrees C. This temperature and pressure dependence of dimerization strongly suggests that hydrophobic bonding is a major factor in promoting skeletal troponin C association at pH 5.2. The intramolecular distance between Met-25 and Cys-98 of rabbit skeletal troponin C deduced from fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements increased by a factor of two upon lowering the pH from 7.5 to 5.2, indicating a pH-dependent transition in which the protein changed from a relatively compact conformation to an elongated conformation. The proton-induced increase in the energy transfer distance is related to the acid-induced dimerization of the protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622913 TI - The red cell. Seventh Ann Arbor Conference. Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Red Cell Metabolism and Function. Ann Arbor, Michigan, October 25-27, 1988. PMID- 2622914 TI - Isolation and characterization of cDNA clones for human, bovine and rabbit liver cytochrome b5 mRNA's. PMID- 2622915 TI - Toward a comprehensive biochemical model of human erythrocyte: relationship between metabolic and osmotic state of the cell and the state of hemoglobin. PMID- 2622916 TI - Extrusion of partially degraded mitochondria during reticulocyte maturation. PMID- 2622917 TI - Erythrocyte metabolism in potoroid, macropodid and vombatid marsupials. PMID- 2622918 TI - Fine tuning of polymerized pyridoxylated hemoglobin as a red blood cell substitute. AB - Hemoglobin (Hb), modified by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) and polymerized by glutaraldehyde (GA) to yield polymerized pyridoxylated Hb (Poly-PLP-Hb), is currently the prime candidate for a hemoglobin-based red cell substitute. However, hematuria and excessive oxygen-binding affinity have been associated with poly-PLP-Hb after transfusion. These phenomena have not yet been explained. In the present communication, we show that pyridoxylation, which is known to reduce the oxygen-binding affinity of Hb to physiological levels, also inhibits the subsequent polymerization of Hb by GA. We attribute poly-PLP-Hb associated hematuria and high oxygen affinity to rapid elimination of these unpolymerized Hb species, leaving in the circulation the polymerized, less-highly pyridoxylated species with excessive oxygen-binding affinity. We proposed a mechanism for PLP inhibition of Hb polymerization, and discuss the implications of our findings for quality control in the preparation of poly PLP-Hb as a red cell substitute. PMID- 2622919 TI - The intravascular persistence of crosslinked human hemoglobin. PMID- 2622920 TI - Catabolism and excretion of crosslinked hemoglobin. PMID- 2622921 TI - The molecular biology of variation in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. AB - The complete cDNA sequence of G-6-PD is now known, and the application of modern technology has made it possible to rapidly accumulate sequence data regarding G-6 PD variants. The information that has become available demonstrates that there are several different types of G-6-PD A(-) but all have in common the mutation that is characteristic of G-6-PD A(+), viz. a substitution of G for A at nucleotide 376. Moreover, the same nucleotide substitutions have been found in Spanish and Italian subjects, indicating that the G-6-PD A(-) mutation is much more common in non-African populations than had been thought. G-6-PD Mediterranean, on the other hand, seems to be more uniform than had been thought previously. A wealth of information regarding structure/function relationship of enzymes is potentially available through the study of G-6-PD variants. PMID- 2622922 TI - Studies of the mechanism of the vasoconstrictor activity of stroma-free hemoglobin in the isolated perfused rat kidney and rabbit heart. AB - We have found that DBBF-Hb and Hb Ao have significantly less vasoconstrictor activity than unmodified Hb in the rabbit heart. In striking contrast to these findings, DBBF-Hb and unmodified Hb have comparable hemodynamic effects in the isolated kidney. We have demonstrated that lipophilic contamination of fraction V BSA causes vasoconstriction in the coronary vasculature and speculate that similar contaminants may contribute to the vasoconstrictor activity of SFH solutions. Finally, we have shown that renal vasoconstriction induced by DBBF-Hb is reversed by acetylcholine as well as nitroprusside. These studies suggest that renal vasoconstriction induced by DBBF-Hb is not related to inhibition of EDRF. These studies make it clear that SFH solutions have different effects on the heart and kidney vasculature. The use of both heart and kidney models should provide important information on the mechanisms by which SFH causes vasoconstriction in these two organs. PMID- 2622923 TI - Methemoglobin-induced decrease of vascular reactivity to human stroma-free hemoglobin in isolated perfused rabbit hearts. PMID- 2622924 TI - Liposome encapsulated hemoglobin: stabilization, encapsulation, and storage. AB - Liposome encapsulated hemoglobin has numerous advantages as a red cell substitute. LEH has no blood type and can be made virus-free and sterile in large quantities. The technology is compatible with the use of either human or bovine hemoglobin and does not require chemical modification of the hemoglobin. Cofactors can be included in the liposome to modify the P50 and to prevent methemoglobin formation. The inclusion of dissacharides stabilizes the LEH during freezing and dehydration and provides a method for long-term storage. Most importantly, LEH can sustain life in animals after removal of red cells to lethal levels for periods commensurate with a 16-20 hour circulation half-life. PMID- 2622925 TI - Studies of erythropoietin gene expression in the mouse erythroleukemic cell lines IW32 and NN10. PMID- 2622926 TI - Metabolic development in erythropoietin-dependent maturation of erythroid cells. AB - 1. Metabolic development was investigated in splenic erythroblasts isolated from Friend virus infected mice and maintained in culture with erythropoietin. 2. We found that immature erythroid cells not only possess a highly oxidative metabolism, but also glycolytic activity, both of which decrease drastically in the course of maturation. 3. Most purine and pyrimidine compounds which are found in immature erythroid cells are still present in mature erythrocytes. 4. While total adenine nucleotide levels fall, the 2,3-DPG pool increases during erythroid development. PMID- 2622927 TI - Erythrocyte-specific overproduction of adenosine deaminase: molecular genetic studies. AB - A kindred with an autosomal dominant form of chronic hemolytic anemia has been found to have a 40- to 70-fold elevation in erythrocyte adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in association with depletion of red blood cell (RBC) ATP pools. ADA activities in B lymphoblasts, skin fibroblasts, and granulocytes were normal. There were no alterations in the kinetic properties of partially purified proband ADA. We have shown by Western blot analysis that the elevation in ADA activity is accompanied by a corresponding increase in the amount of immunoreactive ADA protein. Southern blot analysis of proband DNA ruled out gene amplification and revealed no gross insertions, deletions, or rearrangements in the ADA gene. Northern blot analysis demonstrated a marked increase in the amount of ADA mRNA in proband and sibling reticulocytes compared to high reticulocyte controls. ADA mRNA levels in B lymphoblasts from the proband, sibling, and GM558 cell line were normal. Cloning and sequencing of proband reticulocyte cDNA revealed normal ADA mRNA sequence. No polymorphisms were detected among the seven clones studied. RNase mapping of the 5'- and 3'-non-coding sequences confirmed the quantitative increase in reticulocyte ADA mRNA and verified that these regions were normal in length and sequence. Southern blot analysis of DNA from four affected and three unaffected family members revealed two restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) which segregate with the ADA allele from the unaffected grandfather. Both RFLPs are present in the unaffected grandchild and absent in the affected grandchild. These findings are consistent with a cis- mutation within the ADA gene, but they do not rule out a trans- mutation affecting some non-ADA regulatory factor. We conclude that erythrocyte-specific ADA overproduction is associated with increased amounts of structurally normal ADA mRNA. This increase may result from either increased transcription of the ADA gene or altered post transcriptional processing resulting in increased stability of the RNA transcript. Further elucidation of the defect should provide valuable insights into the normal tissue-specific regulation of the ADA gene and the mechanisms by which erythroid cells regulate gene expression during differentiation. PMID- 2622928 TI - Functional role for glycophorin C and its interaction with the human red cell membrane skeletal component, protein 4.1. PMID- 2622929 TI - Residual hemin in the membrane is a cause of red cell distortion. PMID- 2622930 TI - Introduction and expression of human beta globin genes into primitive murine hematopoietic progenitor cells by retrovirus mediated gene transfer. PMID- 2622931 TI - Iron compartments associated with sickle RBC membranes: a mechanism for the targeting of oxidative damage. PMID- 2622932 TI - How to give a scientific talk. PMID- 2622934 TI - Multipoint mapping and linkage based upon affected pedigree members--Genetic Analysis Workshop 6. Proceedings of a workshop. Long Beach, Mississippi, October 10-12, 1988. PMID- 2622933 TI - Propylene glycol-induced Heinz body formation and D-lactic acidosis in cats. PMID- 2622935 TI - Genetic Analysis Workshop 6: Multipoint mapping of loci in the region of cystic fibrosis. PMID- 2622936 TI - Affected sib pair IBS methods: detection of linkage and genetic models. PMID- 2622937 TI - Multipoint analysis by simplifying general expressions of likelihood. PMID- 2622938 TI - A linkage test with identity-by-descent marker data from pairs of affected relatives. PMID- 2622939 TI - Analysis of affected sib pairs using information from extended families. PMID- 2622940 TI - Identity-by-descent analysis using all genotype solutions. PMID- 2622941 TI - A comparison of some sib-pair linkage methods and multiple locus extensions. PMID- 2622942 TI - Comparison of the affected-pedigree-member and lod-score methods. PMID- 2622943 TI - Linkage analysis for a disease with a complex mode of inheritance in a simulated data set. PMID- 2622944 TI - Methods for detecting linkage using simulated data. PMID- 2622945 TI - On the use of affected individuals for linkage. PMID- 2622946 TI - Linkage analysis in non-Mendelian disorders. PMID- 2622947 TI - Linkage analysis with fixed prevalence: application to simulated data. PMID- 2622948 TI - A simple scheme for preliminary ordering of multiple loci: application to 45 CF families. PMID- 2622949 TI - Gene mapping of a simulated complex disease. PMID- 2622950 TI - Effect of sequential sampling rules and ascertainment correction on genetic analysis. PMID- 2622951 TI - Linkage and mode of inheritance in complex traits. PMID- 2622952 TI - Power and type I error in affected sib-pair methods under restricted estimation conditions. PMID- 2622953 TI - The detection of linkage and heterogeneity in nuclear families when unaffected individuals are considered unknown. PMID- 2622954 TI - Power of the sib-pair and lod-score methods for linkage analysis of quantitative traits. PMID- 2622955 TI - Information for detecting linkage when sampling affected individuals. PMID- 2622956 TI - Mapping rare recessives from data on affected individuals: a comparative analysis. PMID- 2622957 TI - Multipoint analysis of 47 loci on chromosome 7q. PMID- 2622958 TI - Linkage map of anonymous loci near the CF gene. PMID- 2622959 TI - Pairwise permutation algorithm for ordering loci. PMID- 2622960 TI - Preliminary ordering of multipoint linkage data. PMID- 2622961 TI - Multipoint linkage analysis of the cystic fibrosis region. PMID- 2622962 TI - Ordering loci in the cystic fibrosis region. PMID- 2622963 TI - Disease associations and disequilibrium mapping. PMID- 2622964 TI - Statistical inference in the gene order problem: theoretical aspects. PMID- 2622965 TI - SCHESIS: computation in a multipoint linkage analysis program. PMID- 2622966 TI - Mapping strategies for multiple linked markers. PMID- 2622967 TI - Locating the cystic fibrosis gene on the basis of linkage disequilibrium with markers? PMID- 2622968 TI - Multipoint linkage: statistical evaluation. PMID- 2622969 TI - Genetic Analysis Workshop 6: Linkage analysis based on affected pedigree members. PMID- 2622970 TI - Endogenous inhibitor of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase in human placenta. AB - An endogenous inhibitor of NAD-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) in human placenta has been anticipated, but not yet isolated. In this study, we used acetone to extract an inhibitor of PGDH from a 10,000/g supernatant fraction of human placenta and partially purified it by precipitation at pH 5.2. The inhibitor was heat stable and resistant to trypsin, but easily inactivated by lipase treatment. It appears to be a kind of lipid with a low molecular mass of less than 1000 daltons. Inhibitory activity showed pH dependency with an inhibitory peak at pH 11 and a plateau from pH 8.0 to 9.0. The pattern of inhibition was competitive with regard to PGE2 and uncompetitive with regard to NAD at pH 8.0. The Ki value for PGE2 was calculated to be 18.9 microM. This endogenous inhibitor may have an important role in prostaglandin catabolism in human placenta. PMID- 2622971 TI - Beneficial effect of long-term PGE1-treatment in left ventricular heart failure. AB - Five male patients aged 34-47 years with congestive heart failure showed an improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at rather low PGE1-doses (10-30 ng/kg/min) without affecting blood pressure or heart rate. LVEF was estimated by means of radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) prior to and during i.v.-infusion of PGE1 at increasing dose rates (10-100 ng/kg/min). Therefore, we administered to these responders PGE1 at a rate of 20 ng/kg/min i.v. continuously on a long-term basis by means of a portable infusion pump. Until up to 4 months the remarkable benefit in LVEF induced by PGE1 was still present to a comparable extent in all the patients. No rebound desensitization phenomenon occurred either on platelet activity or on LVEF. PGE1, via a more practical route of application or by a stable analogue, may be a promising therapy at this stage of cardiomyopathy (CMP). PMID- 2622972 TI - Effects of platelet activating factor (PAF) and its receptor antagonist BN 52021 on isolated perfused guinea-pig heart. AB - The cardiac effects of PAF and its antagonist BN 52021 have been investigated on the isolated perfused guinea-pig heart maintained at a constant hydrostatic perfusion pressure of 80 cm water. In this model, PAF (1 x 10(-11) to 1 x 10(-7) moles) induced a dose-dependent coronary vasoconstriction, a decrease in heart rate and a fall in contractile force. BN 52021 (1 x 10(-6) to 2 x 10(-4) M) dose dependently inhibited the vasospasm induced by PAF (1 x 10(-10) moles). BN 52021 also antagonized the decrease in coronary flow and heart rate, but not that of contractile force induced by a high dose of PAF (1 x 10(-7) moles). This dose of PAF also significantly (p less than 0.001) provoked a marked release of TxB2 but did not alter the generation of 6 Keto PGF1 alpha, PGE2 or LTC4. The PAF-induced increase in TxB2 release was completely abolished by BN 52021. PMID- 2622973 TI - Transpulmonary prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolism in sheep: an in vivo model. AB - We investigated transpulmonary enzymatic conversion of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF) to the 13,14-dihydro-15-keto metabolite (PGFM) in normal and acutely lung injured sheep. PGF was infused directly into the right ventricle. Sequential, simultaneous blood samples were drawn from the pulmonary artery (PA) and aorta (A). PGF and PGFM plasma concentrations were quantitated by double antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA). The pulmonary conversion rate of PGF in normal lung was established over a wide range of concentrations in intubated, normoxic, and hemodynamically stable sheep. Both zero and first order kinetics were present. PGF had no physiological effects on either pulmonary or systemic hemodynamics at any infusion rate studied. Acute lung injury was produced by intravenous injections of oleic acid into the PA until the resting mean pulmonary artery pressure doubled. Infusions were then repeated and fractional metabolism of PGF across the lung was assessed. PGF, at infusion rates of 2 micrograms/kg/min and 8 micrograms/kg/min, was metabolized greater than 70% respectively. Thus, there was no difference between control or experimental groups in PGF conversion. We conclude that the in vivo sheep lung has an extensive substrate-dependent capacity to metabolize PGF and this mechanism is resistant to severe acute oleic acid lung injury. PMID- 2622974 TI - Allogenic stimulus induces prostaglandin and thromboxane production in T lymphocytes. AB - We have examined the influence of an allogeneic stimulus on T lymphocyte prostanoid synthesis. PGE2 and TXB2 (the stable product of TXA2) were determined by radioimmunoassay. When T cells were derived from alloimmunized animals, the production of PGE2 and TXA2 was significantly higher than that of non-immunized cells. Moreover, T immune lymphocytes in the presence of the immunized alloantigen showed an increment in prostanoid production. We propose that the allogeneic stimulus provides a signal to the T lymphocytes for an increase in prostanoid synthesis. PMID- 2622975 TI - Pharmacology of UK-38485 (dazmegrel), a specific inhibitor of thromboxane A2 synthetase. AB - Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthesis in rabbit and human platelet rich plasma (PRP) was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by UK-38485 (dazmegrel) when the PRP was aggregated with collagen, arachidonic acid and ADP. The level of inhibition was time-dependent. That is, the dose-response curves shifted to lower concentrations with increasing incubation times with UK-38485 prior to addition of aggregation agents. Following bolus intravenous injections of UK-38485 in rabbits, the elimination from serum fitted a 3-exponential curve. The terminal elimination phase had a half-life of 69.8 +/- 3.8 min. Oral treatment of rabbits with UK 38485 for 2 weeks showed that animals with serum concentrations of 0.358 +/- 0.091 microgram/ml of the inhibitor had TXA2 synthesis inhibited in serum by 83.8 +/- 7.1%. This corresponded to animals which were treated with 20 mg/kg/day of the inhibitor. PMID- 2622976 TI - Effects of intraventricularly applied gangliosides and N-acetylneuraminic acid on acquisition and retention performance of a brightness discrimination task in rats. AB - The effects of intraventricularly applied gangliosides (about 90 to 120 nmoles/10 microliters) and N-acetylneuraminic acid (800 nmoles/10 microliters) on acquisition and retention of a brightness discrimination task were studied in rats. Single injection of GT1b and N-acetylneuraminic acid improved the retention performance. GM1 showed an enhancing effect on both acquisition and retention, while GD1a and GD1b exerted no influence on the behavioral parameters tested. The findings presented show how memory may be improved by exogenous application of substances commonly occurring in the mammalian body. PMID- 2622977 TI - Isolation and characterization of alarm pheromone from electric shock-induced earthworm secretion. AB - Electric stimulation of earthworms, Lumbricus terrestris, causes secretion of a yellow mucus which has alarm properties for conspecifics and chemoattractive properties for garter snakes. An alarm pheromone was isolated and purified to homogeneity from the mucus by means of permeation, thin-layer and high performance liquid chromatographies. The purified substance was highly active as an alarm chemosignal to earthworms (L. terrestris), but it did not elicit alarm responses from either sandworms (Nereis virens) or bloodworms (Glycera debranciata). It was not a snake chemoattractant. The alarm pheromone could not be retained with 1 kDa cut-off dialysis tubing, and it was eluted from a Bio-gel P2 column ahead of p-nitrophenol. These data suggest an apparent mass greater than 139 Da but less than 1 kDa. The order of solubility of this alarm pheromone is H2O greater than DMSO greater than MeOH greater than 2-propanol greater than acetone. It was thermostable, and it fully retained activity after heating at 100 degrees C for 1 hour. This alarm pheromone fluoresced under u.v. light, and it showed an optimal excitation wavelength of 420 nm and emission wavelength of 465 nm. PMID- 2622978 TI - Behavioral and developmental effects in suckling mice following maternal exposure to the mycotoxin secalonic acid D. AB - Pregnant mice (dams) were gavaged once on gestational day 13 with 4 ml/kg of dimethylsulfoxide vehicle containing 0 (groups 15, 25 and negative control) or 25 (positive behavioral teratogenic control group) mg/kg of secalonic acid D (SAD). While nursing their offspring, dams were gavaged on postgestational days 1 to 10 with vehicle containing 0 (negative and positive control groups), 15 (group 15) or 25 (group 25) mg/kg/day of SAD. Gestational lengths, maternal pregnancy weights, litter sizes, neonatal sex ratios, neonatal physical appearance and female birth weights were unaffected by prenatal treatment, but male pups born to positive control dams weighed less (p less than 0.05) than negative control group. Compared to negative control, the positive control dams gained significantly more weight while nursing their offspring. Prenatal (positive control) and postnatal (15, 25) SAD exposure delayed ontogeny of surface righting, olfactory discrimination and hindlimb grip behaviors in males and females, and testes descent in males. Negative geotaxis in male and female offspring of group 25 and male offspring of positive control group, as well as times of incisor eruptions of both sexes in groups 15 and 25 were delayed. A significant dose-response effect in olfactory discrimination existed between the groups exposed to postnatal SAD. SAD was behaviorally teratogenic following both prenatal and early postnatal exposure. PMID- 2622979 TI - Components of the opioid withdrawal syndrome in mice are thermoregulatory responses. AB - C57BL/6J mice were rendered physically dependent on morphine by giving them ad lib access to a drinking fluid containing 0.2% saccharin and morphine for 14 days at 20-22 degrees C. Core body temperatures were monitored by radio telemetry, which obviated the need for restraint, handling, or otherwise disturbing the animals. Consistent hyperthermia was present throughout the morphine intoxication phase, followed by hypothermia after the withdrawal syndrome had been precipitated by naloxone challenge (2.0 mg/kg, IP) at 22.5 degrees C. The hypothermia could be blocked by exposing the animals to a 34.5 degrees C ambient temperature, which also prevented the occurrence of tremor and "wet dog shakes." In contrast, the other withdrawal signs monitored were not significantly affected. In a second experiment, mice were given the same morphine-saccharin drinking fluid as before, except that a choice was provided between two interconnected home cages (23 degrees C vs. 35 degrees C) throughout the experiment. A marked preference for the 35 degrees C cage was seen during intoxication, which served to enhance the hyperthermia due to morphine. Following withdrawal, when hypothermia is evident, the preference for the 35 degrees C cage declined to control levels. These results suggest that hypothermia is both a consequence and a contributor to the opioid withdrawal syndrome. PMID- 2622980 TI - Chronic injections of saline produce subsensitivity to nicotine. AB - The routine handling of rats and the injection of saline is a stressor. The authors report that chronic twice daily injections of normal saline (1 ml/kg IP) for 14 days produced subsensitivity to the hypothermic effects of nicotine (1 ml/kg IP). The weekly injection of nicotine (1 mg/kg IP) does not produce this effect. The investigators propose that their findings reflect the effect of chronic stress on a nicotinic mechanism. Lithium, desipramine, fluoxetine, and amitriptyline also alter the thermic response to systemically injected nicotine. A nicotinic mechanism(s) may be involved in the neurobiology of chronic stress, actions of antidepressants, and conceivably the pathophysiology of depression. PMID- 2622981 TI - The synergistic effect of concurrent spinal and supraspinal opiate agonisms is reduced by both nociceptive and morphine pretreatment. AB - The antinociceptive effect of morphine administered into the periaqueductal gray (PAG), the intrathecal space (ITH) and concurrently, into both sites (in a 1:1 dose ratio), was assessed in 1) nontolerant rats, 2) rats made tolerant to the effect of morphine on the tail-flick (TF) test and 3) rats that were tested on the TF during chronic saline administration. In nontolerant rats, concurrent morphine injections produced a multiplicative antinociceptive effect (ED50 = 0.392 microgram, total dose) relative to that obtained after separate PAG (ED50 = 2.8 micrograms) or ITH (ED50 = 6.7 micrograms) injections. The multiplicative effect of concurrent morphine administration was significantly reduced in rats made tolerant to morphine (one 3 mg/kg SC injection and TF test per day for six days). Opiate synergy was also reduced but to a smaller extent in rats that were repeatedly tested on the TF during chronic saline administration (one SC injection and TF test per day for six days). Neither chronic morphine nor saline pretreatment altered the dose-response function to intrathecal morphine. However, both morphine and saline pretreatment significantly reduced the antinociceptive effect of morphine administered into the PAG. The data indicate that concurrent morphine administration into the PAG and ITH space results in a synergistic antinociceptive action which is reduced by performance of the nociceptive response, even in the absence of opiate administration. We suggest that the decrease in opiate synergism produced by nociceptive assessment (behavioral tolerance) is mediated supraspinally, while the additional decline resulting from morphine administered in conjunction with the nociceptive tests (opiate tolerance) is mediated by a combined action at spinal and supraspinal sites. PMID- 2622982 TI - Disruption of FR-40 by 5-HT agonists. I. Effects of chronic imipramine or trazodone. AB - Doses of LSD, quipazine, 8-OHDPAT and TFMPP were established that prominently disrupted FR-40 operant response pattern in two groups of rats. Subsequently, one group received daily intraperitoneal (IP) injections of imipramine, 2.5 mg/kg, for 4 weeks, then 10 mg/kg for 2 additional weeks. The second group received 5 mg/kg/day, IP, of trazodone for the first 4 weeks, then 20 mg/kg/day for the next two weeks. For these periods and the 3 weeks after discontinuing the chronic drug treatments (washout), test doses of the 4 agonists were evaluated twice weekly in random order for their effects to decrease FR-40 reinforcements and increase pauses. No consistent, systematic changes in sensitivity to the agonist effects on FR-40 behavior were observed during chronic drug treatments, although significant effects were at times observed. However, during the washout period in the imipramine group, both LSD and 8-OHDPAT effects on reinforcements were reversed to baseline levels. The effect of 5-OHDPAT on pauses during washout in this group was also attenuated. During washout in the trazodone group, the 8 OHDPAT-induced pausing and loss of reinforcements was reduced so as to be not significantly different from baseline values. Previous studies have demonstrated antagonism of LSD- and quipazine-induced disruption of FR-40 by pretreating with the 5-HT2-selective antagonist pirenperone (28). Since chronic antidepressants down-regulate brain 5-HT2 binding sites, the effects of LSD and quipazine were expected to be attenuated, which was not the case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622983 TI - Disruption of FR-40 by 5-HT agonists. II. Effects of chronic phenelzine or isocarboxazid. AB - Effects of chronic treatment with the monoamine oxidase inhibitors phenelzine and isocarboxazid on disruption of FR-40 operant responses by 5-HT agonists have been studied. Three groups of rats that were trained in the FR-40 operant schedule showed marked disruption by 0.1 mg/kg IP lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 2 mg/kg IP quipazine (Q), 0.05 mg/kg SC 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8 OHDPAT), and 1 mg/kg SC (m-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)piperazine (TFMPP), administered twice weekly in random order. Subsequently, one group received daily IP injection of phenelzine (5 and 10 mg/kg), the second group received 5 mg/kg IP of isocarboxazid, and the third group received vehicle (0.5% methyl cellulose) for 24 days (Period 1 and Period 2). For these periods and 12 days after discontinuing the MAOI treatments (Washout Period), test doses of 5-HT agonists were evaluated for their effects to decrease reinforcements (R) and increase pauses (P). No change in sensitivity to the LSD, Q and TFMPP effects on FR-40 behavior was observed in the vehicle-treated group. However, an attenuated effect of 8-OHDPAT was found in this group. In phenelzine- and isocarboxazid-treated rats the disruption of FR-40 responses by LSD and 8-OHDPAT were significantly reduced during Period 1, Period 2 and Washout Period. A significantly less effect on disruption in FR-40 responses by quipazine and TFMPP during Period 2 and the Washout Period was also seen. Since MAO inhibitors appear to down-regulate both 5 HT1 and 5-HT2 binding sites in brain, the attenuated effects of the 5-HT agonists were anticipated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622984 TI - Temporal parameters of cathinone, amphetamine and cocaine. AB - Rats were trained to discriminate intraperitoneally administered 0.8 mg/kg 1 cathinone from its vehicle in a two-lever operant procedure. The normal injection to-session interval was fifteen minutes. When tested in session at 2-180 min postadministration, cathinone discrimination was seen to have a rapid onset (5 minutes) and offset (60 minutes). When the same rats were tested with either 0.8 mg/kg d-amphetamine or 10.0 mg/kg cocaine at the same postinjection time periods, the peak discriminative generalization to each of these other psychostimulants was observed to be later, i.e., an onset of action at 15-30 minutes with a slightly longer duration of action. The results indicate that cathinone exerts discriminative response control within five minutes of intraperitoneal injection and that it has a shorter duration than amphetamine and cocaine. PMID- 2622985 TI - Effects of d-amphetamine on choice of social versus monetary reinforcement: a discrete-trial test. AB - Two mutually exclusive options were concurrently available to eight volunteers during 60-min experimental sessions. Subjects chose every three minutes between conversing with another same-sex volunteer and providing speech monologues for monetary reinforcement. d-Amphetamine (12.5 and 25 mg/70 kg) significantly increased choice of social over monetary reinforcement. Drug-produced increases in choice of the social option were associated with increases in total seconds of speech and the rate of social conversation. d-Amphetamine also increased subject ratings of effects indicative of greater sociability such as friendliness, elation and energetic. These results suggest that d-amphetamine can increase the relative reinforcing effects of social interaction. PMID- 2622986 TI - Dose-dependent effects of atropine on behavioral and physiologic responses in humans. AB - Atropine is an antimuscarinic which has been frequently studied with learning and performance tasks using both human and animal subjects. However, interpretation of data from human studies is limited by the relatively narrow range of doses used in most such studies. In the present study a wide range of atropine doses (0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 mg/70 kg) were given, intramuscularly, to human volunteers to assess the effects of atropine on a variety of behavioral measures, subject ratings, and physiologic function. The time course of responses was examined over 24 hours. Behavioral measures were a computerized Performance Assessment Battery (PAB) which contained measures of logical reasoning, short-term memory and rapid arithmetic, a Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and a psychomotor test of hand-eye coordination (Circular Lights). Administration of atropine produced both time- and dose-dependent effects on most measures used, although sensitivity varied across measures. At the 1.5 mg dose, no effects on performance were detected, however, after 6.0 mg reliably and 3.0 mg occasionally, impairments occurred on measures of accuracy and speed of performance. These effects generally began by 1.5 hours postdrug and returned to baseline by 7-9 hours postdrug. In contrast, certain subject ratings and physiologic variables were affected by lower doses of atropine, showing deviations from baseline at 1.5 mg and producing a time course of effects that was both earlier in onset and longer in duration than was observed with the performance measures. The present results have practical implications for the clinical utilization of atropine in situations in which optimal performance is required. PMID- 2622987 TI - The effects of naloxone on body rotation-induced analgesia and anorexia in male mice. AB - The effects of body rotation in a horizontal plane and the opiate antagonist, naloxone, on the nociceptive responses and the feeding behavior of male mice were examined. In the first experiment the mice were rotated (70 rpm, schedule of 15 sec on; 5 sec off) for 60 minutes or exposed to sham rotation for the same duration. Midway through the rotation or sham procedure the mice were either injected with naloxone (1 mg/kg) or isotonic saline. At the end of the 60-minute treatment period the animals were placed on a warm surface (47.5 degrees C) and their latency to show a foot-licking response was measured. The rotation procedure produced a significant (p less than 0.01) increase in response latency in the saline-injected mice and the naloxone injections blocked this analgesic effect. This finding provides evidence for opioid involvement in the rotation induced analgesia. In Experiment 2 mice on a food restriction schedule were rotated (70 rpm, 15 sec on; 5 sec off) or sham exposed for 60 minutes. Midway through this treatment period the mice were either injected with naloxone (1 mg/kg) or isotonic saline. Following the treatment period the mice were given access to food for 2 hours. The rotation procedure produced a significant (p less than 0.01) reduction in feeding (anorexia) in the first 30 minutes of food access for the saline-injected mice. Injections of naloxone significantly (p less than 0.05) enhanced the rotation-induced anorexia. These experiments demonstrate that rotation-induced analgesia in mice is blocked by the opiate antagonist, naloxone, whereas rotation-induced anorexia is not.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2622988 TI - Sleep extension, enhanced alertness and the sedating effects of ethanol. AB - Twelve, healthy young men (mean age 25.6 years) consumed either ethanol (0.75 g/kg producing a peak breath ethanol concentration, BEC, of 0.060% on average) or placebo at 0900-0930 hr after spending 8 hr time-in-bed (TIB) the previous night and once again after 7 or 8 consecutive nights of 10 hr TIB. Latency to sleep onset (on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test, a standard measure of daytime sleepiness/alertness) was tested at 1000, 1200, 1400 and 1600 hr and divided attention performance was assessed at 1100 hr. Ethanol reduced sleep latency and divided attention performance and the sleep extension improved both sleep latency and divided attention performance. Sleep extension attenuated the sedating effects of ethanol; sleep latency after extending sleep did not differ between placebo and ethanol. While the effects of ethanol on performance still were detectable after sleep extension, the level of performance was at the 8-hr TIB placebo level. BEC peak and decline (determined before each latency test) did not change with the sleep extension. Hence, reduced BECs do not account for the reduction in the disruptive effects of ethanol with sleep extension. PMID- 2622989 TI - Ethanol stimulation after chronic exposure in C57 mice. AB - The effects of chronic exposure to ethanol via an ethanol containing diet on locomotor activity and on the response to depressive and stimulatory doses of ethanol were examined in C57BL/6cr (C57) mice. Mice maintained for approximately 3 weeks on a liquid diet in which 25% of the calories derived from ethanol had blood levels ranging from undetectable to 60 mg% when sampled at 2200 hr. They were less active than nutritionally equivalent controls, were less depressed by a high dose of ethanol (3 g/kg), and were more stimulated by a low dose of ethanol (2 g/kg). The results establish that chronic EtOH exposure via liquid diets attenuate its depressive effect and exacerbate its stimulatory effect on locomotor activity of C57 mice as previously shown for other strains or for rats. The increased activity elevation in chronically exposed mice may reflect an unmasking of excitation upon developing tolerance to EtOH depression. PMID- 2622990 TI - Unexpected responses of the obese "cafeteria" rat to the peptide FMRF-amide. AB - The relationship between the acute effects of FMRF-amide on central monoamines and feeding effects were investigated simultaneously in normophagic and "cafeteria" rats. This tetrapeptide is considered as being representative of an endogenous related peptides family with antagonistic properties on opioid-induced behavioural effects. In normophagic rats, no feeding effect was observed, but there was a decrease in serotonergic metabolism similar to that induced by the classical antagonist, naltrexone. However, in the "cafeteria" rats, FMRF-amide enhanced food intake and increased serotonergic metabolism, exhibiting the classical effects of opiate agonists. Since the effects of FMRF-amide differ according to the ponderal and/or nutritional status, this peptide would appear to act rather as a modulator than a true opiate antagonist on food intake. This raises the question as to the exact role of the recently-discovered endogenous FMRF-amide related family in obesity and/or stimulated feeding patterns. PMID- 2622991 TI - Effects of repeated apomorphine and haloperidol treatments on subsequent behavioral sensitivity to apomorphine. AB - In a 2 x 2 factorial design, four groups of rats (n = 10 each) were injected daily with haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg IP) or its injection vehicle and apomorphine (1.0 mg/kg SC) or its vehicle for 21 consecutive days. Then, following a six-day drug-free rest interval, all rats were tested for locomotor activity in photocell arenas after an apomorphine injection on four additional days. Major findings were as follows: (a) rats pretreated with apomorphine were significantly more active following an apomorphine injection than rats pretreated with vehicle; (b) the development of sensitization to apomorphine was completely blocked by the concurrent administration of haloperidol during the pretreatment phase; and (c) pretreatment of rats with haloperidol alone did not affect subsequent sensitivity to apomorphine. These results suggest that the development of behavioral sensitization to apomorphine is related specifically to the stimulation of dopamine receptors. PMID- 2622992 TI - Effects of buspirone on plasma catecholamines, heart rate, and blood pressure in stressed and nonstressed rats. AB - The influence of buspirone upon plasma catecholamine levels, heart rate, and mean arterial blood pressure was studied in stressed and nonstressed rats. Measures were obtained directly via indwelling aortic catheters. Drug or vehicle were given acutely (10 mg/kg, IP) or twice a day for 10 days (10 mg and 20 mg/kg, SC). In nonstressed rats, a single dose of buspirone increased markedly plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels and decreased significantly heart rate with no effect on blood pressure. During stress, stress-induced increases in catecholamine levels were further elevated by the drug, whereas stress-induced increases of heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure were reduced. In chronically-pretreated rats, the effects of buspirone were similar to those observed after an acute injection. These effects of buspirone on plasma catecholamines are very different from those seen with other anxiolytics, whereas effects on heart rate and blood pressure are more similar. PMID- 2622993 TI - Behavioral effects of morphine in mice: role of experimental housing. AB - Behavioral effects of morphine were assessed in isolated-timid Swiss mice, and were compared with those observed following morphine administration in nonaggressive-grouped subjects. For this purpose saline- and morphine- (0.5, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg, IP) injected isolated-timid and nonaggressive-grouped mice interacting with a social partner were observed during a 4-min test. Three main points emerged from the results: a) in basal conditions, compared with social mice, in timid mice the offensive ambivalent behaviors were significantly less pronounced, while the defensive ambivalent behaviors (and all flight behaviors) were significantly more evident; b) 2.5 mg/kg of morphine increased offensive and decreased defensive ambivalent behaviors in timid mice; c) in social mice morphine (2.5 mg/kg) treatment increased defensive ambivalent behaviors and time spent in crouch. The results, which show that the behavioral effects of morphine depend on the state of the individual, are interpreted on the basis of the antiemotional properties of this opiate. PMID- 2622994 TI - Temperature affects ethanol lethality in C57BL/6, 129, LS and SS mice. AB - The effect of ambient and body temperature on ethanol lethality in inbred strains and selected lines of mice was investigated. C57BL/6J, 129/J, LS/Ibg and SS/Ibg mice were exposed to 23 or 34 degrees C following IP injection of lethal ethanol doses (8.2, 6.0, 6.5 or 7.0 g/kg ethanol, respectively). All mice exposed to 23 degrees C during intoxication became markedly hypothermic, with mean body temperatures dropping to lows of 27.9, 30.3, 33.0 and 33.3 degrees C in C57, LS, SS and 129 animals, respectively. Compared to the 23 degrees C groups, exposure to 34 degrees C offset the ethanol-induced hypothermia and significantly increased percent mortality in all four mouse genotypes. Exposure to 34 degrees C increased mortality at 24 hours postinjection from 15% to 95% in SS mice, from 37.5% to 100% in 129 mice and from 50% to 100% in LS and C57 mice. Blood ethanol data suggest that the present results cannot be explained by temperature-related changes in ethanol elimination. These results provide further evidence that body temperature during intoxication can have major effects on mortality rates in mice. PMID- 2622995 TI - Vasoactive intestinal peptide: behavioral effects in the rat and hamster. AB - The behavioral effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of the brain gut peptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were quantified with a behavioral sampling technique in home-caged, nondeprived, male and female albino rats and golden hamsters. ICV VIP sex-dependently decreased observed resting behavior during 1 hr after injections in both rats and hamsters at 0.1-10.0 micrograms. Grooming behavior was increased in hamsters, and rearing and standing behaviors were increased in rats, sex-dependently at VIP doses that decreased resting. Drinking behavior was suppressed in rats by VIP at 10.0 micrograms. Intraperitoneal (IP) VIP (100.0 micrograms/kg) increased 5% ethanol intake and decreased eating behavior in fluid-deprived male rats. The increase in ethanol intake produced by IP VIP was prevented by IP cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK, 4.0 micrograms/kg). VIP potently controls resting and ingestive behaviors, suggesting a role for this neuropeptide, along with CCK, in the feedback regulation of rodent behavior. PMID- 2622996 TI - Inhibition of mouse-killing behavior by S-adenosyl-L-methionine in midbrain raphe lesioned and olfactory-bulbectomized rats. AB - The effect of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), a methyl donor, on mouse-killing behavior in rats with lesions of the midbrain raphe nuclei and in olfactory bulbectomized rats was investigated. Systemic administration of SAM at doses of 180 and 320 mg/kg IP caused a significant inhibition of both kinds of mouse killing behavior. The inhibitory effects of SAM on both types of mouse-killing behavior were almost equipotent. Microinjection of SAM at 10-100 micrograms/rat into the lateral ventricle also inhibited mouse-killing behavior induced by raphe lesions in a dose-dependent manner. The ED50 value of SAM for this effect was 38.6 (18.4-81.4) micrograms/rat. It is concluded that SAM has inhibitory effects on mouse-killing behavior in both raphe-lesioned and olfactory-bulbectomized rats through a site of action in the central nervous system. PMID- 2622997 TI - Taste vs. CNS effects in voluntary oral opiate intake: studies with a novel device and technique. AB - An apparatus is described which negates the influence of rats' position preferences by presenting alternative solutions at the same location. The licks for both solutions were monitored over consecutive short intervals by lick detectors with computer capture of data. Rats given a choice between water and dilute solutions of the high-potency opiates etonitazene (1.0-5.0 micrograms/ml) or fentanyl (10-50 microgram/ml) either licked equally for the two solutions, or gradually developed a preference or aversion regarding the opiate over the course of several days. In contrast, preferential licking for solutions with a definite taste, saccharin or quinine, was established in hours. These data indicate that the taste per se of these opiates is not aversive to rats, and that preferences for or aversions to the opiates have some other base, presumably one or more actions on the central nervous system. PMID- 2622998 TI - Time-dependent generalization of morphine stimulus properties to meperidine: antagonism by naloxone. AB - The time course of the stimulus generalization to morphine by meperidine (20 mg/kg) was determined in rats trained to discriminate morphine (10 mg/kg) from saline in a standard two-lever procedure with food reinforcement. It was found that morphine lever selection following meperidine was a strictly time-dependent phenomenon. Naloxone (0.3 mg/kg) antagonized the stimulus properties of both morphine and meperidine; however, the antagonism was significantly more pronounced against morphine. The results suggest that there may be certain differences in the neuropharmacology of the stimulus properties of morphine and meperidine. PMID- 2622999 TI - Differential effects of clonidine analogs on food intake in rabbits and monkeys. AB - The present study examined the effect of structural analogs of clonidine on feeding in both rabbits and monkeys. In rabbits, lofexidine and tizanidine either did not influence or decreased food intake in contrast to clonidine, which stimulated food intake. Lofexidine elicited easily observed decreases in motor behavior with several of the doses used in the study. Changes in motor behavior induced by tizanidine were more subtle. Conversely, lofexidine and tizanidine significantly increased feeding behavior in Stumptail macaque monkeys, as did clonidine. The results suggest that, in contrast to rabbits, Stumptail monkeys are more useful in searching for an 'orectic' effect of clonidine analogs. PMID- 2623000 TI - Midazolam induces amnesia in a simple, one-trial, maze-learning task in young chicks. AB - We report a simple, one-trial, learning paradigm which we have developed for use in young chicks. Chicks were separated from their brood mates and placed in a small isolation chamber. A 'T' corridor, or maze, connected the isolation chamber to the brood space, allowing the chick to escape isolation stress and rejoin the brood. When the chick successfully negotiated the corridor, the latency to perform this task was recorded. On a subsequent trial, any improvement in the speed of performance was reasoned to reflect the chick's memory of the task. Undrugged chicks always showed significant improvement in task latency if they were replaced in the maze 3 hours after a successful escape, suggesting that they had remembered the task. Chicks given midazolam (0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg, IP), a benzodiazepine, before the first escape, showed no improvement on their second escape. Improved performance was seen, however, if a second injection of midazolam was given before the second escape, suggesting a state-dependent effect. PMID- 2623001 TI - Antinociceptive effect of intrathecal morphine in tolerant and nontolerant spinal rats. AB - The antinociceptive effect of intrathecal morphine on the tail-flick (TF) reflex of rats was significantly enhanced within one day after spinal transection (ED50 = 0.125 microgram) relative to the effect obtained in intact rats (ED50 = 5.9 micrograms). By 20-30 days after spinalization the potency of intrathecally administered morphine had substantially declined. Intact rats, made tolerant to the antinociceptive effect of systemic morphine (3.0 mg/kg, SC on each of seven consecutive days), were not tolerant to intrathecal morphine (ED50 = 6.5 micrograms). In contrast, rats that were pretreated with either morphine alone, repeated TF tests alone, or both of these treatments, were tolerant to intrathecal morphine when tested one day after spinal transection. The results suggest first, that the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal morphine in intact rats is tonically inhibited by descending supraspinal input and that removal of this input is responsible for the enhanced antinociceptive effect of intrathecal morphine in spinal rats. Second, the data suggest that tolerance to the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal morphine in intact rats may also be tonically inhibited by supraspinal input, because spinal opiate tolerance is expressed after spinal transection. PMID- 2623002 TI - The effects of intrastriatal hormones on the dorsal immobility response in gonadectomized male and female rats. AB - Previous research has shown that intrastriatal estradiol potentiates the dorsal immobility response in ovariectomized female rats. In order to test whether the gonadal steroid hormones act on the male striatum in the same way, gonadectomized male and female Long-Evans hooded rats were given bilateral intrastriatal implants of 17 beta-estradiol (17 beta-E2), 17-alpha-estradiol (17-alpha-E2), 2 hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2), 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OH-E2), or cholesterol. Four hours after the hormone implant the dorsal immobility response (DIR) was measured. In the ovariectomized females, the DIR was significantly potentiated only by 17 beta-E2 and 17-alpha-E2. In the castrated males, the DIR was significantly potentiated by 17 beta-E2, 17-alpha-E2, 2-OH-E2, and 4-OH-E2. While the DIR durations did not differ between males and females after intrastriatal cholesterol, the males had significantly longer DIR durations after each of the other hormones. These results are discussed in terms of estradiol stereospecificity and the properties of catechol estrogens in male and female rats. PMID- 2623003 TI - Day and night locomotor activity effects during administration of (+) amphetamine. AB - Rats were given continuous subcutaneous amphetamine infusions (0, 2, 6, 10 and 20 mg/kg/day) via osmotic minipumps. The effects of these treatments on the locomotor activity of rats were determined over both light and dark phases of a 12-hr light/dark cycle for 336 consecutive hours. It was observed that tolerance to the locomotor stimulant actions of (+)-amphetamine is both dose- and light/dark cycle-dependent. Locomotor stimulation induced by the two highest doses remained high during both day and night throughout the period of treatment, except for the first few days and nights with the highest dose. Tolerance developed only to the effects of the two lower doses, and only during the day. Effects of the low doses on locomotor activity and on circadian patterns of locomotor activity are roughly similar to those previously observed with continuous administration of a selective dopamine D2 agonist. This behavioral similarity suggests that dopamine released by continuous administration of low doses of (+)-amphetamine may be producing its effects via selective actions on DA D2 receptors in vivo. PMID- 2623004 TI - On the development of behavioral tolerance to organophosphates. I: Behavioral and biochemical aspects. AB - The development of tolerance to organophosphates (OPs) was investigated by SC injections of saline and sublethal doses of DFP or soman three times per week or every other day for at least 4 weeks. Shuttlebox performance was tested 1 hr and 24 hr after the injections. Notwithstanding a progressive inhibition of AChE to very low values in various organs, shuttlebox performance was virtually normal 24 hr after the OP injections. However, whereas the performance decrements measured 1 h after the injection of DFP practically disappeared in the course of weeks, the decrements 1 hr after soman remained approximately the same. These differences between the effects of DFP and soman cannot be explained: 1) by differences in inhibition or de novo synthesis of AChE in various regions of the CNS, the striated muscle or blood, 2) by differences in the reductions of the muscarinic receptors in various regions of the CNS, 3) by differences in the number of nicotinic receptors in the diaphragm muscle, or 4) by differences in phosphorylphosphatase (DFP-ase or somanase) activity in blood plasma or liver. PMID- 2623005 TI - Caffeine ingested under natural conditions does not alter taste intensity. AB - It has been reported that prolonged application of 10 micromolar (microM) caffeine (CAF) to the dorsal surface of the tongue may markedly enhance the perceived intensity of many taste stimuli, including NaCl and several noncarbohydrate sweeteners. The present study investigated the effect of oral CAF vs. placebo ingestion on perceived taste intensity. Ingestion of CAF (5.5 mg/kg) raised median salivary CAF levels to 19.8 microM at 50 minutes post-dose, when subjects evaluated the intensity of solutions of 5 noncarbohydrate sweeteners, 2 carbohydrate sweeteners, 2 bitter tastants, NaCl, citric acid, 2 odors, and a tone. Taste solutions were prepared using either 1) deionized water or 2) 10 microM CAF as the medium, and all stimuli were rated for intensity on a 9-point category scale. There was no effect of condition (CAF or placebo) or tastant medium on any response measure. The results suggest that perceptions of taste intensity are not appreciably altered under natural conditions of CAF ingestion and subsequent lingual adaptation to microM levels of CAF in saliva. PMID- 2623006 TI - Effects of environmental enrichment on voluntary ethanol intake in rats. AB - The effects of exposure to four environmental rearing conditions on subsequent voluntary ethanol intake were examined. Male weanling rats were were reared in either an enriched environment or individually for 90 days. After the 90-day environmental exposure period, the initial groups (Enriched and Isolated) were randomly subdivided into four groups (Enriched, Enriched/Isolated, Isolated, and Isolated/Enriched) and exposed to increasing concentrations of ethanol (3% to 9% v/v) in a free choice with water. Therefore, half the animals raised in the enriched environment were permanently placed into individual cages (Enriched/Isolated) for the remainder of the study. Likewise, half of the animals previously reared individually were exposed daily (0900-1700) to the enriched environment (Isolated/Enriched). Results indicated that the enriched animals consumed greater amounts of ethanol as compared to all other groups. In contrast, rats placed in isolation following 90 days of enrichment demonstrated significant reductions in voluntary ethanol intake. The data suggest that rearing in an enriched environment for 90 days and continued exposure following 111 days of age, are necessary to enhance voluntary ethanol consumption. PMID- 2623007 TI - Diterpene sclareol glycol inhibits clonidine-induced aggressive responses in mice. AB - The effects of a reversible activator of adenylate cyclase sclareol glycol (SG), a semisynthetic diterpene of the labdane family, on the aggressive behavior induced by a high dose of clonidine in mice were studied. SG was applied at doses well below the lethal dose. Aggressive behavior induced by clonidine at a dose of 30 mg/kg IP was decreased in a dose-dependent manner by SG (1, 5, 25 mg/kg IP). The aggressive responses were abolished by doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. It is suggested that the inhibitory effects of SG on clonidine-induced aggressive behavior are realized mainly via its effect on adenylate cyclase and perhaps involving synaptic transmitter action. PMID- 2623008 TI - Behavioral and electroencephalographic effects of the adenosine1 agonist, L-PIA. AB - The effects of N6-(L-2-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (L-PIA), an A1 agonist, were measured on both spontaneous locomotor activity and electroencephalographic (EEG) measures of sleep in rats. L-PIA strongly inhibited motor activity at 100 micrograms/kg intraperitoneally (IP), a dose which had no statistically significant effects on EEG-defined sleep. A higher dose of L-PIA (200 micrograms/kg) increased the latency to sleep initiation and inhibited later REM sleep. These results demonstrate that L-PIA can produce a state of apparent behavioral quiescence in the presence of EEG-defined arousal. PMID- 2623009 TI - Differential actions of central alloxan upon opioid and nonopioid antinociception in rats. AB - Spontaneous or induced diabetes, as well as glucose loading, reduce opiate antinociception, presumably through induction of hyperglycemia. While peripheral administration of alloxan is a potent pancreatic beta-cell toxin, intracerebroventricular (ICV) alloxan reduces glucoprivic feeding in the absence of hyperglycemia, presumably through interactions with specific brain glucoreceptors. Our laboratory demonstrated that opioid-mediated 2-deoxy-D glucose (2DG) antinociception is significantly reduced by central pretreatment with alloxan, and that this deficit is reversed by coadministration with 3M-D glucose. The present study compared ICV and intravenous (IV) routes of alloxan (200 micrograms) upon morphine (1-10 mg/kg, SC) analgesia on the tail-flick and jump tests in rats, and evaluated these effects in terms of concomitant changes induced by ICV alloxan upon nonopioid-mediated continuous cold-water swim (CCWS: 2 degrees C for 3.5 min) antinociception. Two weeks following central, but not peripheral pretreatment with alloxan, morphine (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg, SC) antinociception was markedly (30-56%) reduced on both nociceptive tests. In contrast, central pretreatment with alloxan respectively reduced (30 min) and subsequently potentiated (60 and 90 min) CCWS antinociception on the jump test. Alterations in antinociception by central alloxan occurred in the absence of changes in basal nociceptive thresholds, hypothermia or hyperglycemia. These data suggest that central alloxan may be acting upon either specific, but unidentified brain glucoreceptors and/or a glucoprivic control mechanism. PMID- 2623010 TI - CRF and restraint-stress decrease exploratory behavior in hypophysectomized mice. AB - Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and restraint-stress both decrease exploratory behavior in rats and mice. The involvement of pituitary-adrenal hormones in eliciting these behavioral effects was examined using hypophysectomized mice. Forty minutes of restraint decreased exploratory behavior in hypophysectomized mice just as it did in intact animals. Similarly, CRF (50 ng) injected into the lateral cerebral ventricles of hypophysectomized mice decreased exploratory behavior. Therefore, the restraint- and CRF-induced decreases of exploratory behavior are apparently independent of the activation of ACTH secretion from the pituitary. It seems likely that CRF acts intracerebrally to elicit this effect of restraint, especially because a CRF antagonist can reverse the effects of restraint. PMID- 2623011 TI - Bombesin-induced hypothermia in food-deprived rats. AB - Three separate experiments were conducted to characterize the effects of bombesin on core body temperature in food-deprived rats and further evaluate the role of food deprivation in this response. Previous research has demonstrated that naloxone reverses bombesin-induced hypothermia in cold-exposed rats. The present study was unable to demonstrate a similar reversal under conditions of food deprivation following naloxone. In a second experiment, cold exposure (11 degrees C) was shown to potentiate bombesin-induced hypothermia in food-deprived rats. Taken together, these data support the notion that bombesin-induced hypothermia in food-deprived and cold-exposed rats represent the activation or disruption of different thermoregulatory mechanism(s). The final experiment evaluated the effects of bombesin microinfusion into the preoptic area of the anterior hypothalamus on core body temperature. Animals were tested under conditions of food satiation, food deprivation, and insulin pretreatment. Bombesin produced hypothermia in food-deprived and insulin-treated rats. No hypothermia was observed in food-satiated rats. Our finding supports the notion that factors associated with the fasting state are important for the production of hypothermia by bombesin in food-deprived rats. PMID- 2623012 TI - The effect of prenatal treatment with MPTP or MPP+ on the development of dopamine mediated behaviors in rats. AB - Systemic exposure to the neurotoxin MPTP produces a Parkinsonian syndrome in man and primates, but not in adult rats. However, embryonic rat dopamine neurons in cell cultures are selectively destroyed by MPTP. This study examined whether similar effects on dopamine neurons occur in vivo, by studying dopamine-mediated behaviors in rats prenatally treated with MPTP or its active metabolite MPP+. Pregnant rats were injected daily with MPTP, MPP+, or vehicle from gestational day (E)13 until birth. There were time-dependent increases in spontaneous locomotor and rearing activity. Offspring of both the MPTP and MPP+ groups were hyporesponsive to d-amphetamine (1 mg/kg IP) at postnatal day 21. This hyporesponsiveness persisted at postnatal day 50 in the pups from MPTP-treated mothers. However, the striatal concentration of dopamine and its metabolites DOPAC and HVA were not significantly affected by the prenatal MPTP or MPP+ treatments. Both MPTP and MPP+ groups had significantly increased stereotypic responses to apomorphine (0.2 mg/kg SC) on both postnatal days 21 and 50. These results demonstrated persistent postsynaptic supersensitivity to dopaminergic agonists following prenatal MPTP/MPP+ treatment. That fetal rats develop long term sequelae after prenatal exposure to MPTP/MPP+ suggests a different sensitivity of the immature rat dopamine neurons than in adult rats. Understanding this difference may provide useful information in the development of animal models of Parkinson's Disease. PMID- 2623013 TI - Caffeine and cigarette smoking: behavioral, cardiovascular, and metabolic interactions. AB - Coffee drinking and cigarette smoking are strongly correlated behaviors which have been suggested to act synergistically to produce adverse health consequences, particularly coronary heart disease (CHD). We studied in smokers the influence of four days of multiple daily doses of coffee containing different doses or no caffeine on cigarette smoking behavior, nicotine intake from smoking, heart rate and blood pressure, circadian serum glucose, and urinary catecholamine excretion. We observed a tendency toward greater cigarette consumption during caffeine consumption, and a tendency toward higher plasma nicotine levels during low-dose caffeine compared with the no-caffeine condition; however, these effects were small. No caffeine effects on any other of the above parameters were observed. Previously published research has usually studied effects of single doses of caffeine, which does not account for development of tolerance to effects of caffeine. If caffeine does contribute to CHD risk, it is not likely to be related to caffeine effects on smoking behavior, nicotine intake, blood pressure, heart rate, glucose tolerance, or catecholamine release. Adverse effects of long term caffeine consumption on lipids cannot be excluded. PMID- 2623014 TI - Studies of dioxole ring substituted 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) analogues. AB - The 3,4-ethylidenedioxy and 3,4-isopropylidenedioxy analogues, EDA and IDA, respectively, of 3, 4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) were compared to MDA in drug-stimulated [3H]-serotonin overflow from prelabelled rat hippocampal slices, [3H]-dopamine overflow from prelabelled rat caudate slices, in their ability to displace the 5-HT2 agonist R-[125I]-DOI from rat brain cortical binding sites. They were also compared in the two-lever drug discrimination assay in rats, utilizing d-LSD tartrate (0.08 mg/kg) or MDMA.HCl (1.75 mg/kg) as the training stimulus. MDA and EDA were nearly equipotent in inducing release of both [3H] monoamine transmitters, while IDA was considerably less potent. Pretreatment of hippocampal slices with the 5-HT-uptake inhibitor fluoxetine (3.2 microM) blocked the [3H]-5-HT overflow induced by MDA. In the drug discrimination experiments, complete substitution occurred with all three drugs in both LSD- and MDMA-trained rats. The ED50 values indicated that MDA had about twice the potency of EDA, and five times the potency of IDA in MDMA-trained rats. In the LSD-trained animals, MDA was about three times more potent than EDA and about seven times more potent than IDA. The KI values for displacement of R-[125I]-DOI generally parallel the results of the LSD transfer tests. PMID- 2623015 TI - Lithium effects on adjunctive alcohol consumption. III: FT-shock as the inducing schedule. AB - Under conditions in which a mild shock (0.5 mA, 200 msec) was delivered, independently of the subject's behavior, every 90 sec (an FT 90-sec shock schedule), subjects receiving chronic lithium chloride in their drinking water (25 mEq/l), showed a rapid acquisition of an adjunctive alcohol consumption, while subjects in the control groups did not. Following termination of the FT shock condition (extinction), subjects in all groups showed an increase in alcohol consumption, relative to both baseline and adjunctive levels. PMID- 2623016 TI - Scopolamine impairs both working and reference memory in rats: a replication and extension. AB - Rats were trained to run in a spatial, radial maze for sucrose reward using a procedure that permitted determination of two memory functions [working memory (WM) and reference memory (RM)]. Injections of saline, 0.1, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg of scopolamine hydrobromide were administered using a Latin-square design; a single dose (0.4 mg/kg) of scopolamine methylbromide served as a control for peripheral drug effects. The smallest dose of scopolamine (0.1 mg/kg) had no measurable effect on performance, but as the dose was increased to 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg there were increases in both WM and RM errors, in errors of omission, and increases in running time. These results support the view that the effects of scopolamine on performance in the radial maze is not specific for working memory, but rather the effects are more general in nature. PMID- 2623017 TI - Stress adaptation and hypersensitivity in 5-HT neuronal systems after repeated foot shock. AB - The relationship between adaptation to stress and change in sensitivity of the 5 hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neuronal system was studied in rats exposed to repeated foot shock stress for up to 10 days. Although hypolocomotion, freezing behavior and loss of weight were observed after in the initial stress, relief from these behavioral changes developed by the 3rd and persisted for another 7 days, indicating the development of stress adaptation. Following an IP injection of 5 methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT), rats exposed to the stress for 10 days, but not for 5 days, displayed enhanced forepaw treading, tremor and Straub tail compared to control rats. These results suggest that the hypersensitivity of the 5-HT system after repeated stress may be in part related to the neuronal mechanism of stress adaptation. However, since hypersensitivity was not observed after exposure for 5 days, when adaptation was maximal, it is proposed that the 5 HT system may participate in the maintenance of adaptation rather than its development. On the other hand, no change in 5-HT1, 5-HT1a and 5-HT2 receptor binding assays was found after chronic stress, suggesting that the hypersensitivity of 5-HT system may not be accompanied with changes in the numbers of 5-HT receptor binding sites. The results of beta-adrenergic receptor binding determined simultaneously were also discussed with reference to previous reports of stress-induced reduction in beta-adrenergic receptor density. PMID- 2623018 TI - Monologue speech: effects of d-amphetamine, secobarbital and diazepam. AB - Drugs of abuse from different pharmacological classes increase social conversation. Alcohol and d-amphetamine also increase rates of talking in subjects producing speech monologues in an isolated context. This latter finding suggests that the increases observed during dyadic social conversation may represent general increases in talking and not specific effects on social interaction. The present study was conducted to assess whether other abused drugs also increase monologue speaking. The acute effects of secobarbital (0, 50, 150, 250 mg), d-amphetamine (0, 25 mg) (Experiment 1), and diazepam (0, 10, 20, 40 mg) (Experiment 2) were investigated in healthy, adult volunteers. Secobarbital and d amphetamine both increased the total amount of speech emitted, while diazepam generally had no effect or decreased talking. Experiment 3 was conducted to further compare the effects of secobarbital (0, 50, 150, 250 mg) and diazepam (0, 5, 15, 25 mg) using a within-subject, crossover design. Secobarbital increased talking in three of the four subjects studied, while diazepam, again, had no effect or decreased talking. In contrast to the differences noted with talking, secobarbital and diazepam both decreased response rates in a nonverbal performance task (i.e., circular-lights procedure); they also produced many similar effects on various subject-rated measures of drug effect. Thus, the differences in the effects of these two compounds on talking are not the result of a general difference in their overall profile of behavioral effects. In summary, the results obtained with secobarbital and d-amphetamine further demonstrate that an explicitly social context is not a necessary condition to observe drug-produced increases in speech quantity. The failure of diazepam to reliably increase talking in the present study illustrates the existence of some pharmacological specificity in the effect of drugs on human speech, and suggests another way in which the behavioral effects of the barbiturates and benzodiazepines may differ. PMID- 2623019 TI - Acute effects of inhaled dichloromethane on the EEG and sensory-evoked potentials of Fischer-344 rats. AB - Acute effects of inhaled dichloromethane on the spontaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) and sensory-evoked potentials (EPs) were characterized and compared to previously observed effects of toluene; both solvents are common components of abused solvent mixtures. Twelve adult male Fischer-344 rats with chronic epidural electrode implants served as subjects. Each rat was exposed for 60 min to 5,000, 10,000, and 15,000 ppm dichloromethane while held in a plastic restrainer that also served as a head-only exposure chamber. The sequence of exposures was counterbalanced across rats, and the exposures were separated by about one week. To characterize the time course of any changes, somatosensory and flash EPs were recorded every 5 min during the first 45 min of the exposures. As was the case with toluene, electrophysiologic waveforms recorded from different sensory systems, and components of these waveforms, reacted in different ways to dichloromethane. With respect to the FEP and SEP the two solvents produced quite different effects. Toluene increased the amplitudes of early FEP components, eliminated late components, induced oscillations in visual cortex, and had no discernible effects on component latencies. In contrast, dichloromethane eliminated the N1 component, at moderate exposure had little or no effects on amplitudes of the later components (N3 through N4), did not induce oscillations, and had significant effects on latencies. Whereas toluene dramatically increased SEP component amplitudes at moderate concentrations with diminishing effect at higher concentrations and exposure times, dichloromethane rather uniformly decreased SEP amplitude in a simple concentration-related way. Toluene and dichloromethane had similar effects on BAER component latencies. They both caused component (P1 through P5) latencies and the P1-P5 interwave time to increase. However, whereas toluene increased early and late (but not middle) component amplitudes, dichloromethane decreased the amplitudes of early and late components and increased the amplitudes of middle components. These results emphasize the acute pharmacologic specificity of different solvents and suggest that differences in chronic neurotoxicity might also be found; they also suggest that predictable interactions might be found with acute and chronic exposure to mixtures that contain such solvents. PMID- 2623020 TI - A comparison of interoceptive and exteroceptive discrimination in the pigeon. AB - In pigeons performing a conditional discrimination under a second-order, color tracking procedure, stimulus control of responding was established using a blinking versus a nonblinking light as exteroceptive stimuli (light discrimination group). Another group performing under the same second-order schedule of reinforcement was trained to discriminate the interoceptive stimuli produced by an IM injection of 1.5 mg/kg phencyclidine (PCP) versus saline (drug discrimination group). In the drug-discrimination group, administration of PCP or pentobarbital resulted in dose-dependent increases in PCP-appropriate responding, while, in general, d-amphetamine did not result in appreciable drug-appropriate responding. In the light-discrimination group, all three drugs over the same dose ranges resulted in decreased discriminative control over responding. In both groups, doses of PCP and pentobarbital which resulted in intermediate (30 to 70%) levels of stimulus-appropriate responding were associated with responding at a single key position rather than tracking a key color. In contrast, intermediate responding after d-amphetamine administration was not associated with position responding in either group. These results emphasize the similarity between discriminative control maintained by interoceptive drug stimuli and exteroceptive visual stimuli. PMID- 2623021 TI - Context-dependent cocaine sensitization: differential effect of haloperidol on development versus expression. AB - Repeated, intermittent administration of psychomotor stimulants has been shown to produce increasing effects (behavioral sensitization) in many species of animals. In a novel two-day sensitization paradigm, rats that received a single high dose of cocaine (40 mg/kg) compared with saline on day 1 showed an increased locomotor response to a challenge dose (10 mg/kg) on day 2. This effect is conditioned or context-dependent; i.e., it is only observed if the rats received cocaine in an environment similar to the test environment. If the cocaine-induced hyperactivity on day 1 is prevented with pharmacological agents such as haloperidol and diazepam, sensitization on day 2 does not occur. Furthermore, although moderate (0.2 mg/kg) and high doses (0.5 mg/kg) of haloperidol (day 1) prevented the development of sensitization to cocaine, they were ineffective when given prior to the day 2 challenge dose in preventing the expression of sensitization. Thus, this type of cocaine sensitization appears to involve conditioning, show stimulus generalization, and offer a possible model for clinical neuroleptic nonresponsiveness once stimulant-induced pathological behavior has been induced. PMID- 2623022 TI - One trial conditioning with apomorphine is blocked by cycloheximide. AB - Rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of substantia nigra were treated with 0.05 mg/kg apomorphine and observation of their circling behavior was made. Twenty minutes after the apomorphine treatment they were injected with saline or 2 mg/kg cycloheximide. Two weeks after drug treatment, control animals exhibited rapid contralateral rotation in response to being placed in the rotation environment. This conditioned rotation was not observed in cycloheximide-treated animals. After the first test trial animals received a second apomorphine administration, this time followed by saline injection in both groups. Subsequent to the second apomorphine treatment both groups showed conditioned rotation. PMID- 2623023 TI - Phorbol esters and forskolin infused into midbrain central gray facilitate lordosis. AB - Several peptides, when infused into the MCG, facilitate lordosis in estrogen primed female rats. Since these peptides can act through cAMP and/or protein kinase C, and these second messenger systems have been implicated in neuromodulation, this study examined if pharmacological agents which stimulate these systems would facilitate lordosis. Ovariectomized female Fisher rats were given bilateral cranial cannulae targeted to the MCG, or cortex dorsal to MCG, and allowed at least a week to recover. Forty-eight hours after injection of 1.25 micrograms estradiol benzoate (EB), 1 microliter of each of the following was infused into the MCG (n=8-12): 1) forskolin (5 micrograms/microliter 50% DMSO); 2) phorbol-20-oxo-20-deoxy-12,13-dibutyrate (PBu; 5 micrograms/microliter 50% DMSO); 3) both forskolin and PBu (2.5 micrograms of each/microliter); 4) vehicle (50% DMSO). In a separate study of identical design, 1 microliter of another phorbol ester (12-myristate 13-acetate) was infused into the MCG of EB-primed rats. Forskolin and phorbol esters each facilitated lordosis maximally at 60-90 minutes after infusion. Combining both agents also facilitated lordosis, and vehicle had no effect. These results suggest that infusing agents which stimulate cAMP and protein kinase C into the MCG can facilitate lordosis in estrogen-primed female rats. PMID- 2623024 TI - Self-administration of the isomers of pentobarbital and secobarbital by rhesus monkeys. AB - Previous studies have shown that the isomers of pentobarbital and secobarbital have behavioral effects that are qualitatively similar to those of the racemic mixture, but that the S-(-) isomers are more potent than the R-(+) isomers. The present study was designed to compare the reinforcing effects of the isomers of these compounds to those of the racemic mixtures in monkeys experienced in the intravenous self-administration of barbiturates. Rhesus monkeys (N = 3) were prepared with indwelling intravenous catheters and allowed to self-administer racemic pentobarbital in 1-hour sessions under a fixed ratio 5 schedule. When responding was stable, various doses of (+,-) pentobarbital, (+,-) secobarbital and single doses of both isomers of these compounds were substituted for the baseline drug in a mixed order. All of the compounds functioned as positive reinforcers in all monkeys. R-(+) isomer were self-administered at higher rates than the racemic mixtures which were self-administered at higher rates than the S (-) isomers. The results demonstrate that both isomers of these barbiturates can function as positive reinforcers. PMID- 2623025 TI - Oxytocin-induced motor disturbances: relationship with penile erection and yawning. AB - The intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of oxytocin at doses between 5 and 100 ng induced repeated episodes of penile erection and yawning, while at doses between 100 ng and 10 micrograms it induced motor disturbances often culminating in barrel rotation in rats. The intensity of motor disturbances was inversely correlated to the number of yawning and penile erection episodes. Pretreatment with the dopaminergic agonist apomorphine (80 and 240 micrograms/kg SC) failed to modify the incidence of motor disturbance induced by high doses of oxytocin, but markedly reduced the intensity of the symptomatology in a dose-dependent manner. The present results suggest that high doses of oxytocin induce motor disturbances which mask penile erection and yawning, and that brain dopaminergic systems have a protective role against this symptomatology. PMID- 2623026 TI - Antidepressant effects of rolipram in a genetic animal model of depression: cholinergic supersensitivity and weight gain. AB - The effects of rolipram, a new generation antidepressant which is a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, on the selectively bred Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) of rats, a genetic animal model of depression, was studied. Acutely, rolipram produced comparable decreases in temperature and activity in the FSL and the Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats. Upon chronic treatment there was a trend for rolipram to counteract the shock-induced suppression of activity in the FSL rats, suggesting an antidepressant-like effect. However, both groups gained a significant amount of weight, which appeared to be associated with polydipsia and polyuria. In addition, both groups were significantly more affected by the muscarinic agonist, oxotremorine, than their vehicle-treated counterparts. Thus, the FSL rats, which are genetically supersensitive to cholinergic agonists, are even more sensitive following chronic treatment with rolipram. These unexpected findings suggest that rolipram may not be appropriate as an antidepressant for humans because of undesirable side effects. PMID- 2623027 TI - Effects of xylamidine on peripheral 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced anorexia. AB - Rats injected peripherally with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) showed a dose dependent decrease in food intake following overnight fasting. The peripheral 5 HT-2 antagonist xylamidine had no effect on food intake when administered alone, but antagonised 5-HT-induced anorexia. However, at the highest dose of 5-HT (5 mg/kg), both doses of xylamidine (1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg) displayed the same degree of antagonism to the anorectic effect, but failed to block it completely. The results are discussed in terms of 5-HT receptor subtypes, and it is suggested that non-5-HT-2 receptors may be partially responsible for the mediation of peripheral 5-HT-induced anorexia. PMID- 2623028 TI - Behavioral effects of prenatal haloperidol exposure. AB - Pregnant albino rats were exposed to vehicle (CON), 2.5 mg/kg (LOW) or 5.0 mg/kg (HIGH) haloperidol (HAL) from the sixth through the twentieth day of gestation. The effect of prenatal HAL exposure on offspring was assessed with the following five behavioral measures: 1) milk-induced behavioral activation on the sixth postnatal day (PND 6), 2) shock-precipitated wall climbing (PNDs 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17), 3) amphetamine-induced stereotypies (PND 30), 4) apomorphine-induced stereotypies (PND 30) and 5) duration of barbiturate anesthesia (PNDs 34 and 62). Measures taken very early in life indicated that prenatal HAL reduced arousal. Inactivity scores were elevated in HAL-exposed pups on PND 6 during milk-induced behavioral activation. Shock-precipitated wall climbing was reduced in the HAL animals on PNDs 9 and 11, but not thereafter. At PND 30, no prenatal treatment effect was detectable on stimulant-induced stereotypies or on duration of barbiturate anesthesia. On PND 62, barbiturate anesthesia duration was significantly reduced in both sexes of HIGH HAL animals. These findings suggest that prenatal HAL effects follow a dynamic, changing course as the exposed rat pup matures. Early reductions in arousal (milk-induced behavior and shock precipitated wall climbing) wane with age, perhaps to be replaced by an actual increase in arousal as HAL pups approach adulthood. PMID- 2623029 TI - Cortisol and behavior: 1. Adaptation of a radioimmunoassay kit for reliable and inexpensive salivary cortisol determination. AB - We adapted a commercial serum cortisol radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit for use with saliva specimen. Using 50 microliters sample volume, the lower sensitivity was found to be 0.02 microgram/dl with intraassay variation coefficients between 5.4 and 8.9% at different concentrations. The 50% intercept was either 0.5 or 0.26 microgram/dl (50 or 100 microliters standard/sample volume). Fifty-four early morning samples from healthy adults showed absolute concentrations which are closely comparable to respective data from other laboratories. A comparison of 35 saliva samples which were each assayed with the adapted RIA as well as with three other commercial kits revealed high correlations between these assays (r = .94 to r = .97). Data on salivary cortisol responses to CRH stimulation and dexamethasone suppression in healthy subjects further the validity of the assay results. The most important contribution of this assay modification, however, is thought to be its impact on analysis costs: The protocol presented in this paper allows for reliable salivary cortisol measures with a reduction of costs for analytical material to 25% compared to serum determinations. PMID- 2623030 TI - Centrally administered CCK-8 suppresses activity in mice by a "peripheral-type" CCK receptor. AB - Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) administered either systemically (IP) or centrally (ICV) suppresses several types of behavior in mice including exploratory locomotion, rearing and grooming. At doses equimolar to those active for CCK-8, neither desulfated CCK-8 (CCK-8-DS), nor the protected C-terminus tetrapeptide fragment, BOC-CCK-4, is behaviorally active when administered either centrally or systemically. A potent and selective antagonist to the peripheral type (Type A) CCK receptor, A-65186, when given systemically, blocked the effects of systemically administered CCK-8, but failed to block the effects of ICV administered CCK-8. Central administration of A-65186 blocked the effects of ICV administered CCK-8. These results demonstrate that administration of exogenous CCK-8 to mice can suppress exploratory locomotion by acting either centrally or peripherally and that in either case the demonstrated behavioral effects are mediated via a "peripheral" type (Type A) CCK receptor. PMID- 2623031 TI - Interactions between RO 15-4513 and ethanol on brain self-stimulation and locomotor activity in rats. AB - Experiments were conducted to elucidate the behavioral effects of RO 15-4513, a putative alcohol antagonist, when administered alone or in combination with alcohol. Two groups of animals were trained to lever-press for brain self stimulation (ICSS) on either a fixed ratio:15 or a fixed interval:15 second schedule of reinforcement. RO 15-4513 (0.1-3.0 mg/kg) reduced the rate of lever pressing for ICSS in both groups. RO 15-4513 (1.0 mg/kg) further reduced rates when combined with alcohol (0.1-1.7 g/kg), and this effect was especially marked in the fixed ratio paradigm. Other groups of animals were tested in a locomotor activity apparatus. In contrast to the depression of lever-pressing in the ICSS experiments, RO 15-4513 produced a graded increase in locomotor activity. When combined with alcohol (0.1-1.7 g/kg), 1.0 mg/kg RO 15-4513 also increased locomotor activity. Thus, the depression in schedule-controlled behavior was not associated with a generalized behavioral depression. These results demonstrated that RO 15-4513 has potent behavioral effects of its own that are consistent with its classification as an anxiogenic compound. PMID- 2623032 TI - Effects of food deprivation on subjective responses to d-amphetamine in humans. AB - The effects of 24 hours of food deprivation on the subjective response to 10 mg oral d-amphetamine were studied in 12 healthy normal volunteers. A within subjects design was used in which subjects ingested amphetamine and placebo capsules in both a fed and a fasting state. Each of the four experimental conditions-FED/DRUG, FED/PLACEBO, FAST/DRUG, FAST/PLACEBO--was enacted twice according to a randomized block design. Three subjective effects questionnaires, the Profile of Mood States, the Addiction Research Center Inventory, and the Visual Analogue Scale, were completed prior to and 1, 3 and 6 hr after the early morning capsule ingestion. Typical elevations in such subjective effects as elation and vigor were obtained after amphetamine ingestion in both feeding conditions, but fasting neither potentiated nor attenuated the drug response. Subjects at the end of the session, however, were more likely in the FAST/DRUG condition than in the FED/DRUG condition to label the capsule they had ingested at the beginning of the session as a stimulant. PMID- 2623033 TI - Phenylpropanolamine and amphetamine disrupt postprandial satiety in rats. AB - Two tests of the behavioral specificity of the anorectic effects of amphetamine (AM) and phenylpropanolamine (PPA) were done. Intraperitoneal injections of each drug reduced the size of condensed milk test meals in 30-min pellet-deprived rats. The dose-response relations in semi-log coordinates were linear and parallel, but AM (ED50, 2.0 +/- 0.1 mumol/kg) was about ten times more potent than PPA (ED50, 24.6 +/- 0.1 mumol/kg). Periprandial behaviors were observed using a time-sampling technique. Both AM and PPA disrupted the normal behavioral sequence of postprandial satiety throughout their anorectic ranges, but they did so differently. AM increased postprandial exploratory behavior, decreased or eliminated resting, and, at larger doses, elicited stereotypy. In contrast, PPA inhibited both grooming and exploration, and increased resting. The drugs' effects on water intake were tested in 17-hr water-deprived rats. AM's adipsic effect (ED50, 2.3 +/- 0.1 mumol/kg) was similar to its anorectic effect. PPA also inhibited drinking, although slightly less potently (ED50, 56.6 +/- 0.1 mumol/kg) than it did feeding. Thus, under conditions maximizing the anorectic potencies of systemically administered AM and PPA in rats, both drugs inhibited feeding nonspecifically rather than by eliciting normal postprandial satiety. PMID- 2623034 TI - Region selective increase in activities of CNS cholinergic marker enzymes during learning of memory tasks in aged rats. AB - The effects of learning memory tasks on activities of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the frontal cortex (FC), hippocampus (HC) and cerebellum of aged rat brains were studied in comparison with those of young adult rats. Aged rats were significantly inferior than young adult rats in both active avoidance (two-way shuttle box) and water-filled multiple T-maze learning. ChAT activity in the FC of aged rats was significantly increased after 5 days of training in an active-avoidance learning task. ChAT activity in the HC of aged rats was also significantly increased after 6 days of training in a water filled multiple T-maze. These changes did not occur in young adult rats after either 2 or 5 days of active avoidance training, or in aged rats after 10 days of training, both of which were after the maximum level of learning of active avoidance task had been attained. AChE activity was significantly lower in the FC and HC of nontrained aged rats when compared with that of nontrained young adult rats. The reduced activity of AChE in both brain regions of nontrained aged rats rose to almost the same level as that in young adult rats in nontrained and trained states in an active avoidance task. From these findings, it is hypothesized that the task-dependent elevation in the activities of the central nervous system (CNS) cholinergic marker enzymes in trained aged rats may be compensatory changes to keep a relevant level of neurotransmission in the face of specific motor and/or cognitive insults. PMID- 2623035 TI - Inhibitory action of various 5-HT1B receptor agonists on rat masculine sexual behaviour. AB - The systemic administration of the 5-HT1B receptor agonists, RU 24969 (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg), TFMPP (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg) and mCPP (0.75 and 1.0 mg/kg) resulted in an inhibition of rat masculine sexual behaviour reflected as a reduction in the proportion of copulating animals. Additionally, the analysis of the sexual behaviour of the animals obtaining ejaculation revealed that RU 24969 and TFMPP administration resulted in an increase in the number of mounts and in a prolongation of the intromission and ejaculation latencies and of the postejaculatory interval. Administration of mCPP increased the number of mounts preceding ejaculation. None of these changes could be attributed to a motor coordination impairment since none of these drugs, at the doses tested, produced changes in a treadmill test. The administration of the 5-HT1A agonist, ipsapirone (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) resulted in a facilitation of the sexual behaviour expressed as a reduction in the number of intromissions preceding ejaculation accompanied by a shortening of the ejaculation latency. Present data show a differential action of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor subtypes in the control of rat masculine sexual behaviour. The hypothesis that the endogenous serotonin inhibitory action on copulation is mediated via the 5-HT1B receptor subtype is proposed. PMID- 2623036 TI - The effect of protein or carbohydrate breakfasts on subsequent plasma amino acid levels, satiety and nutrient selection in normal males. AB - Normal subjects were fed protein or carbohydrate breakfasts. Both meals were in the form of a chocolate pudding and had similar sensory qualities. At lunchtime subjects were allowed to select from a buffet. The protein breakfast had a greater satiating power than the carbohydrate breakfast, but there was no difference in overall selection of protein or carbohydrate at lunchtime. However, the carbohydrate breakfast did decrease selection of apple, the only pure carbohydrate food available at lunchtime. In a second experiment changes in plasma amino acid levels were studied after subjects received carbohydrate breakfasts containing 0, 4, 8 or 12% protein, or a danish pastry. Only the 0% protein breakfast increased tryptophan availability to the brain. These experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that alterations in brain 5 hydroxytryptamine, brought about by dietary alterations in brain tryptophan, regulate selection of protein and carbohydrate. The results suggest that this mechanism was not operating in our experiments. PMID- 2623037 TI - Comparative pharmacological and biochemical studies between butorphanol and morphine. AB - A number of in vivo and in vitro studies were undertaken to compare the pharmacological and biochemical effects of the partial agonist, butorphanol, with that of morphine. Both compounds were equipotent antinociceptive agents in the rat tail withdrawal test. In the acetic acid writhing test butorphanol had approximately 3.5 times the antiwrithing activity on a molar basis than morphine. In a study of the effects of these compounds on body temperature, butorphanol as well as morphine produced hyperthermia after acute dosing. Additionally, butorphanol produced a profound diuresis and decrease in urine osmolality after acute administration. In contrast, morphine produced an antidiuresis throughout most of the study period with no significant changes in urine osmolality from control. Butorphanol administration had no effect on respiratory rate, while morphine markedly decreased respiratory rate. In in vitro radioligand displacement studies, butorphanol was a potent competitor against 3H-DAGO, 3H DPDPE, and 3H(-)-EKC binding, exhibiting 3, 10, and 30 times more activity, respectively, than morphine. Both compounds were weak inhibitors of 3H-(+)-SKF 10047 binding, yielding IC50 values of in excess of 1 microM. The results indicate that butorphanol has multiple actions on the opioid receptor system, and shares similarities as well as differences in its mechanism(s) of actions with morphine. PMID- 2623038 TI - Parallel development of ethanol tolerance and operant compensatory behaviors in rats. AB - This experiment was designed to detect compensatory learning that has been suggested to occur during the course of tolerance development to ethanol's effects on operant performance. The effects of presession ethanol injections on the development of tolerance to ethanol's effects on operant performance in an afternoon Fixed-Ratio (FR) task was assessed in rats that were concurrently performing in a morning DRL task. Only presession saline injections were administered for the DRL task. A cumulative dosing procedure was used to establish initial and postethanol exposure dose-effect curves for both tasks. Daily presession ethanol administration produced a 3-fold shift-to-the-right in the dose-effect curve for FR-task performance. No changes were evident in the FR task performance of controls that received daily saline injections. However, during the period of daily ethanol injections and during subsequent cumulative dose tests, the ethanol, but not the control, group displayed dose-related increases in total DRL-task responses relative to baseline. These DRL data were interpreted as reflecting the development of rate-increasing behaviors that compensated for and contributed to the tolerance of ethanol's rate-decreasing effects on FR-task performance. PMID- 2623039 TI - Time structure analysis of behavioral acts using a computer pattern recognition system. AB - The spontaneous behavior of rats was monitored, classified and analyzed using a recently developed computer pattern recognition system. The K-function, a parameter developed for statistical research on spatial point processes and patterns, is used to analyze the temporal structure of behavioral acts or the joint relationship of separate acts. Forty male rats were observed in two experiments. In Experiment 1 untreated rats were observed and the temporal structure of their behavior was analyzed to establish an estimate of the false positive error rate appropriate for use in such analyses. In Experiment 2, 20 control rats and 20 rats exposed to 2.0 mg/kg d-amphetamine were monitored using the computer pattern recognition system. The data from Experiment 1 showed that the false-positive rate was approximately ten percent or less. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the temporal structure of spontaneous motor behavior of amphetamine-treated rats was significantly disrupted. PMID- 2623040 TI - Motivational effects of smoked marijuana: behavioral contingencies and high probability recreational activities. AB - Fifteen adult male research volunteers, in five groups of three subjects each, lived in a residential laboratory for up to 20 days. All contact with the experimenters was through a networked computer system, and subjects' behaviors were monitored continuously and recorded. During the first part of each day, subjects remained in their private rooms doing planned work activities, and during the remainder of each day, they were allowed to socialize. One or two cigarettes containing active marijuana (1.3-2.7% delta 9-THC) or placebo were smoked during both the private work period and the period of access to social activities. Two-or three-day contingency conditions requiring subjects to engage in a low-probability recreational activity in order to earn time that could be spent engaging in a high-probability recreational activity were programmed during periods of placebo and active marijuana smoking. During placebo administration, the contingency requirement reliably increased the amount of time that subjects spent engaged in the low-probability instrumental activity and decreased the time spent engaged in the high-probability contingent activity. During active marijuana administration, however, the increases in instrumental activity were consistently smaller than observed under placebo conditions. The decreases in high-probability contingent activity were similar across drug conditions. Smoking active marijuana was thus observed to produce instrumental decrements under motivational conditions involving recreational contingencies. PMID- 2623041 TI - In vivo changes in brain catecholamine release from rat hypothalamus following olfactory bulbectomy. AB - The mechanism eliciting mouse-killing behavior (muricide), induced by bilateral olfactory bulbectomy, has been shown to involve the brain noradrenergic system; this is because muricide is specifically inhibited by the drugs which potentiate the activity of catecholaminergic neurons such as tricyclic antidepressants. Our previous reports also demonstrated that the hypothalamic noradrenaline (NA) contents increased in the rats which exhibited muricide. To further examine the hypothalamic noradrenergic function in muricide, a push-pull perfusion technique was applied for direct measurement of NA release from the lateral (LH) and ventromedial (VMH) hypothalamus in freely moving rats. Subsequently, the perfusates, including catecholamines and their metabolites were measured by means of high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC ECD). Three days after olfactory bulbectomy, 67% of the rats elicited muricide and NA release from LH tended to decrease. Moreover, 7 days after olfactory bulbectomy, most of the rats elicited muricide and NA release from LH was significantly decreased, but not from VMH. On the other hand, dopamine (DA) release from VMH without LH conversely increased on the 7th day after olfactory bulbectomy. These results suggest that the dysfunction of the noradrenergic system caused by the decrease in NA release from LH played an important role for the incidence of muricide. PMID- 2623042 TI - Differential sensitivity of long-sleep and short-sleep mice to high doses of cocaine. AB - The cocaine sensitivity of male and female long-sleep (LS) and short-sleep (SS) mice, which have been selectively bred for differential ethanol-induced "sleep time," was examined in a battery of behavioral and physiological tests. Differences between these two mouse lines were subtle and were seen primarily at high doses. At high doses, SS mice were more sensitive than LS mice, particularly to cocaine-induced hypothermia; however, significant hypothermia was not seen except at doses which were very near to the seizure threshold. During a 60-min test of locomotor activity, LS mice showed greater stimulation of Y-maze activity by 20 mg/kg cocaine than SS mice. Consistent with the finding of subtle differences in sensitivity to low doses of cocaine. LS and SS mice did not differ in sensitivity to cocaine inhibition of synaptosomal uptake of [3H]-dopamine, [3H]-norepinephrine or [3H]-5-hydroxytryptamine. However, consistent with the finding of differential sensitivity to high doses of cocaine, SS mice were more sensitive to the seizure-producing effects of the cocaine and lidocaine, a local anesthetic. It is hypothesized that the differential sensitivity of these mouse lines to high doses of cocaine is due to differential sensitivity to cocaine's actions on systems that regulate local anesthetic effects. Selective breeding for differential duration of alcohol-induced "sleep-time" may have resulted in differential ion channel structure or function in these mice. PMID- 2623043 TI - Dopamine in the nucleus accumbens during cocaine self-administration as studied by in vivo microdialysis. AB - The extracellular dopamine (DA) concentration in the nucleus accumbens was measured following intravenous cocaine administration. The DA concentration increased in a dose-dependent manner following a single intravenous infusion of cocaine. The concentration of DA was observed to increase and stabilize in a schedule-dependent manner when cocaine was repeatedly administered 15-, 5- and 2.5-minute intervals. When cocaine was administered in regular intervals to animals by an experimenter or when animals self-administered cocaine. DA concentrations stabilized substantially above the basal level. These data support research that suggests that reinforcing properties of cocaine are primarily mediated by DA release in the nucleus accumbens. The data and pharmacokinetic calculations indicate that the DA concentration increases for a short period following each infusion. It then falls to a level until the animal again self administers the drug. Animals may regulate self-administration responding for cocaine in order to maintain DA levels above a certain level, yet titrate responding so that aversive effects are not produced. PMID- 2623044 TI - GABA turnover in the brain of rat lines developed for differential ethanol induced motor impairment. AB - The role of GABAergic neurons in the differential sensitivity to ethanol between the AT (Alcohol Tolerant) and ANT (Alcohol Nontolerant) rat lines developed for low and high degree of motor impairment from ethanol, was studied by comparing the effect of ethanol (2 or 4 g/kg, IP) on GABA turnover in different regions of the brain in these rat lines. GABA turnover was estimated from the accumulation of GABA after inhibition of GABA aminotransferase with aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA, 50 mg/kg, IP) given 10 min after administration of ethanol. The rats were killed two hours after the AOAA treatment with focused microwaves. The concentrations of GABA, aspartate, glutamate, glutamine and taurine were analyzed with HPLC. The saline-treated ANT rats were found to have a higher concentration of GABA in the striatum and a higher rate of GABA accumulation in the cerebellum than the AT rats. Ethanol suppressed the accumulation of GABA in both lines, but the suppression was significantly greater in the AT rats than in the ANT rats. In specific regions, this line difference was significant in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum with the higher ethanol dose. No line differences were found in the brain or tail blood ethanol concentration. AOAA increased the concentration of glutamine, decreased that of aspartate and glutamate, and did not modify that of taurine. The AOAA-induced changes in the concentrations of these amino acids were, however, minor relative to those found in the concentrations of GABA. The results that GABAergic mechanisms are involved in the differential sensitivity to the motor-impairing effects of ethanol between the AT and ANT rats. PMID- 2623045 TI - Relationships between sustained sucrose-feeding and opioid tolerance and withdrawal. AB - This study examines the effect of sustained sucrose consumption on the development of tolerance to morphine analgesia (20 mg/kg IP injections) and subsequent, naloxone-precipitated withdrawal (2 mg/kg IP). Food intakes are also measured. Sprague-Dawley rats were allowed ad lib access to a 20% sucrose solution in addition to their normal diet. Pain thresholds and intakes were monitored for two weeks, then morphine tolerance was induced, followed by precipitated withdrawal. Tolerance was assayed by the tailflick method, and withdrawal was gauged by weight loss. The animals given access to sucrose developed lowered pain thresholds prior to tolerance induction relative to those of control animals, but they failed to exhibit any differences from controls in tolerance development of severity of withdrawal. The induction of tolerance first decreased, then increased sucrose consumption and steadily decreased chow consumption. Naloxone-precipitated withdrawal decreased chow consumption, but failed to affect the ingestion of the sucrose solution. It is concluded that changes in opioid function caused by sustained sucrose-feeding are insufficient to affect the development of tolerance to morphine analgesia; however, tolerance induction biphasically alters sucrose consumption. PMID- 2623046 TI - The effect of pre- and postoperative procedures on physostigmine- and apomorphine induced yawning in rats. AB - Previous experiments have shown that the potentiation of physostigmine-induced yawning by nifedipine is abolished by sham-lesioning procedures in rats, whereas the nifedipine potentiation of apomorphine-induced yawning is unaffected. The present results demonstrate that either the presurgical drug treatment (desmethylimipramine and pentobarbital) or 7 days isolation was alone sufficient to reduce the yawning response to physostigmine and abolish its potentiation by nifedipine. The sham-lesioned rats responded normally to a combination of apomorphine and nifedipine. These results suggest that the stress associated with standard operative procedures can differentially affect drug interactions with yawning induced by either apomorphine or physostigmine and that caution should be exercised when interpreting results from animals that have been similarly stressed. PMID- 2623047 TI - A method for computer control of morphine ingestion by rats. AB - In this paper, we describe a method for controlling the administration of liquid diet and morphine to sixteen rats using a computer. Morphine ingestion treatment was performed with 6 feeding occasions per 24 hr, all experimental animals receiving similar drug doses. The amount of drug was individual and based on body weight at each feeding occasion. Control and experimental animals were kept under isocaloric conditions. Corrections of drug doses in order to compensate for changes in body weight were made every 24 hr. Sensors registered the exact time of complete drug and diet consumption and prevented overdistribution. Rats were administered 103 mg/kg b.wt. morphine during 24 hr. In another experiment rats were administered 191 mg/kg b.wt. morphine during 48 hr, and no weight loss or decrease in fluid diet intake was registered during the time of drug administration in either of the experiments. After exclusion of morphine from the fluid diet, the body weight loss was 6.1% and 8.3%, respectively, and the liquid diet intake decreased by 12.4 ml and 13.4 ml, respectively, compared with control animal intake. This demonstrates the induction of physical drug dependence. A major advantage of using computer-aided administration of morphine-admixed, fluid diet is the stepwise, small dose increments provided several times a day, resulting in higher drug dose per unit time when compared with ingestion procedures using one feeding occasion per day. The method enables rats to rapidly ingest large morphine doses under standardized conditions. PMID- 2623048 TI - In vivo interactions of NAN-190, a putative selective 5-HT1A antagonist, with ipsapirone. AB - The actions of NAN-190, a putative 5-HT1A antagonist, were assessed in rats. The selective 5-HT1A agent ipsapirone suppressed operant responding, but this effect was not antagonised by NAN-190, which suppressed responding itself in a dose related manner, and had additive effects when administered with ipsapirone. These data do not support suggestions that NAN-190 is a 5-HT1A antagonist. NAN-190 may be a 5-HT1A partial agonist which can antagonise effects of full 5-HT1A agonists. PMID- 2623049 TI - Evidence that the increased anxiety detected in the elevated plus-maze during chlordiazepoxide withdrawal is not due to enhanced noradrenergic activity. AB - Rats displayed a reduction in the percentage of time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus-maze 24-30 hours after withdrawal from chronic chlordiazepoxide treatment (10 mg/kg/day IP for 4 weeks). This indicated an anxiogenic response in this test. This anxiogenic response was not significantly reversed by DL propranolol (5 and 10 mg/kg IP) or clonidine (0.02 and 0.04 mg/kg IP). These results provide no evidence to suggest that the anxiogenic effects of chlordiazepoxide withdrawal are mediated by an increase in noradrenergic activity. The possible involvement of multiple transmitter systems in benzodiazepine withdrawal symptomology is discussed. PMID- 2623050 TI - Photosensitized reactions of poly(U) with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) and peroxydisulfate. AB - The reactions of polyuridylic acid [poly(U)] with Ru(bpy)3(3+) [Ru(III)] and SO4. , following UV and visible light irradiation of Ru(bpy)3(2+) [Ru(II)] in the presence of S2O8(2-), were studied in an argon-saturated aqueous solution using time-resolved absorption and conductivity methods. The kinetics of the Ru(III) conversion to Ru(II) in the presence of poly(U) was monitored spectroscopically either in the absence of SO4.- [rapid mixing with Ru(III)] or in its presence (after laser flash excitation, lambda exc = 353 nm). The conversion of Ru(III) to Ru(II) is complete at a [nucleotide]/[sensitizer] (N/S) ratio greater than or equal to 10 (rate constant k = 12 s-1) for rapid mixing and at N/S greater than or equal to 6 (k = 15 s-1 at N/S = 10) after laser pulsing. Conductivity measurements following the laser pulse revealed a fast conductivity increase (risetime less than 10 micros), due to the formation of charged species and protons. A slower increase in the 0.1-0.5 s range was observed for poly(U) but it is considerably smaller for poly(dU) and absent in uracil containing monounits. The slow increase is unaffected by pH changes in the 3.5-7 range, markedly reduced in the 7-9 range and is replaced by a slight decrease in conductivity in buffered solutions. An explanation is that poly(U)-bound excited Ru(II) reacts with S2O8(2-) forming Ru(III) and SO4.- as oxidizing species both of which react with poly(U) bases. The resulting base radicals react with Ru(III) or the ligands in the ruthenium complex, producing protons which give rise to the slow conductivity increase (k = 15 s-1 at N/S = 10). The formation of single-strand breaks and the ensuing release of condensed counterions does not appear to contribute significantly to the slow conductivity signal. At N/S less than 10 the observed rate and extent of Ru(III)--Ru(II) conversion and of the slow proton production vary markedly with the N/S ratio. PMID- 2623051 TI - In vivo photodegradation of chlorpromazine. AB - The in vivo photodegradation of chlorpromazine (CPZ) in the skin was investigated after systemic administration of 3H-CPZ to shaven Wistar rats and exposure to UV A. Promazine (PZ) and 2-hydroxy-promazine (2-OH-PZ) appeared to be formed in irradiated rats, but not in the skin of rats kept in the dark. This indicates that upon irradiation with UV-A the PZ-radical is formed which can be held responsible for the photobinding to eye and skin constituents as observed earlier [Schoonderwoerd and Beijersbergen von Henegouwen (1987) Photochem. Photobiol. 46, 501-505]. Chlorpromazine-sulfoxide (CPZSO) is a major metabolite of CPZ. Less CPZSO was found in the skin of irradiated rats compared to those kept in the dark. As this appeared not to be caused by photobinding or photodegradation of CPZSO it can be concluded that CPZSO is not a photoproduct of CPZ under these experimental conditions. This study shows that the in vivo photodegradation of CPZ proceeds via the promazinyl radical rather than via the radical cation. PMID- 2623052 TI - Effect of light and Triton X-100 on the size of protoplasts from Ulothrix gigas. AB - An electronic particle-size analyzer (Coulter Counter with Channelyzer) was used both to monitor the purity of large numbers of protoplasts during sequential steps in their isolation from Ulothrix gigas and also to detect changes in volume (swelling or growth) after incubation of purified protoplasts under various conditions. Protoplasts almost devoid of contaminating debris, but heterogenous in size, were obtained by pelleting partly-purified protoplasts through sucrose solutions. Pure protoplasts of discrete sizes were obtained by centrifuging these resuspended protoplasts on iso-osmotic mannitol/sucrose gradients. The protoplasts were shown to enlarge (swell) and then burst when transferred to increasingly hypotonic solutions or when incubated in Triton X-100. The rate of protoplast enlargement (growth) was also monitored on the Coulter Counter and differences in size of large populations were discernible within 2 h in protoplasts incubated under low light, and growth rates of such protoplasts could be assessed for up to 36 h. The Coulter Counter provides a rapid, reproducible and sensitive method for measuring the size distribution of large numbers of protoplasts. This, combined with the techniques described here for the isolation of protoplasts from U. gigas in high yield and purity, provides a system eminently suitable for investigating a wide array of physiological and developmental processes in plant protoplasts. PMID- 2623053 TI - Effects of sex, thyro-parathyroidectomy, and light regime on levels and circadian rhythms of wheel-running in rats. AB - Intact and thyro-parathyroidectomized (TPX) Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were observed for 24 days under a 12:12 light:dark cycle (Entrainment), followed by 20 days in constant dim red light (Free-Run). Circadian periods and levels of wheel-running activity were examined. Intact females and TPX males were significantly more active and had significantly shorter free-running circadian periods than intact males, and the effects of TPX in females were different from those in males. Circadian periods in TPX females were slightly, but not significantly, shorter than in intact females, and activity levels in TPX females were nonsignificantly depressed relative to intact females. It was also found that day versus night activity levels differed more in TPX animals than in intact animals, especially during entrainment, suggesting that TPXs may be more sensitive to some effects of light. A number of possible explanations for the effects of TPX are considered, including changes in thyroid and calcitonin levels, interactions with gonadal hormones, and possible developmental effects of thyroid hormones on the circadian system. It is also possible that rhythm changes are secondary to alterations in activity levels. Human manic depressives reportedly have an unusually high incidence of thyroid, parathyroid, and calcium regulation abnormalities, display shortened circadian sleep-wake rhythms and abnormal levels of activity, and may also be hypersensitive to some effects of light; in addition, depression predominates in women, whereas mania predominates in men. The present results suggest that thyroid dysfunction could be partially responsible for the some of these abnormalities, and for sex differences in the manifestations of these disorders. PMID- 2623054 TI - Scopolamine treatment and fimbria-fornix lesions: mimetic effects on radial maze performance. AB - Long-Evans female rats were "trained" in an 8-arm radial maze and subsequently tested under systemic treatment with physostigmine (0.05 mg/kg, IP), scopolamine methylbromide (MBr) and scopolamine hydrobromide (HBr; 0.5 mg/kg, IP), whose effects were compared to those of aspirative lesions of the fimbria-fornix pathways. During the predrug trials, rats with lesions showed impaired performances compared to those of intact rats. Whereas physostigmine had no significant effect in either group, scopolamine HBr impaired performances of intact rats in a manner closely parallel to all measured behavioral effects of the lesions (errors, "correct arms" and strategies). The scopolamine HBr-induced deficits were not correlated with the percentage of "spatial" strategies. Under scopolamine HBr treatment the performances of rats showing preferences for "spatial" strategies did not differ significantly from those of rats showing preferences for "orientation" strategies. These results provide further support for the involvement of cholinergic processes in working memory and suggest that scopolamine-induced central cholinergic disruption may mimic the effects of fimbria-fornix lesions in an 8-arm radial maze. They also somewhat qualify previous reports on 1) the poor sensitivity of an uninterrupted radial maze testing procedure to pharmacological treatment and 2) the abilities of rats to resist muscarinic blockade depending on the strategies they use in the maze. PMID- 2623055 TI - Scopolamine impairs response-to-change based on distal cues in the rat. AB - The effect of a scopolamine injection (1 mg/kg, IP) on response-to-change behavior was investigated in two experiments. After exploration of a T-maze with one arm black and the other white (Trial 1), rats were tested with both arms either black or white (Trial 2). Experiment 1 revealed that the opportunity to make body turns into the arms did not help scopolamine-injected rats to locate the changed arm after visual exploration of the arms during Trial 1. Saline injected animals chose the changed arm. In Experiment 2, rats were allowed to move freely into the arms during Trial 1. During Trial 2, they were tested either from the same start as that used during Trial 1 or from a different start 180 degrees from the original start. While scopolamine-injected animals reacted appropriately to the change when tested from the same start, they were impaired when tested from the opposite start. In both conditions, saline-injected animals chose the changed arm. These results, together with others, support the notion that the cholinergic system plays a crucial role in the processing of distal information. PMID- 2623056 TI - Learning and meal-associated drinking: meal-related deficits produce adjustments in postprandial drinking. AB - Two experiments examined the effect of meal-related water deficits on the distribution of meal-associated drinking. In the first procedure free-feeding rats received 10-, 20-, or 30-min delays between the end of a meal and the subsequent availability of postprandial water. Each delay condition remained in effect for 10 consecutive days. The primary effect of the delay was to postpone the intake of postprandial drinking. None of the delay conditions produced an increase in preprandial drinking. However, when the rats were returned to baseline following the delay conditions a pronounced rebound effect was obtained in the proportion of postprandial drinking. The second experiment followed the same general procedure except that 5-min access to water was always presented after each meal and before the postprandial water restrictions. Under this procedure the rats increased their water intake during the 5-min period when the postprandial restrictions were imposed. These findings show that meal-related water deficits can affect the timing and proportion of postprandial drinking, but provide no evidence that meal-related deficits increase preprandial drinking. The results suggest that the anticipation of meal-related water deficits may play a role in shaping the rat's postprandial drinking pattern. PMID- 2623057 TI - Female rats in a competitive situation: medial hypothalamic lesions increase and ovariectomy decreases success and aggression. AB - Competition for food was observed between pairs of ovariectomized female rats with medial hypothalamic lesions or sham lesions. A second series of tests observed food-competition between ovariectomized and sham-ovariectomized females. Competing pairs were continuously housed together and maintained on a 23-hr food deprivation schedule. Competition occurred as each rat attempted to maintain access to a spout containing liquid food that only one animal could lick at a time. Female rats made hyperdefensive by medial hypothalamic lesions maintained access to a food spout significantly longer than their sham-lesioned cagemates. The lesioned animals were also significantly more aggressive than their sham lesioned cagemates. Sham-ovariectomized rats maintained access to the food spout significantly longer than their ovariectomized cagemates. The intact cagemates were also more aggressive. These results suggest that defensive aggression heightened by medial hypothalamic lesions is displayed in a competitive situation by females as has been demonstrated previously with males. Further, ovariectomy in females appears to decrease aggression and success in a competitive situation as does gonadectomy in males. These results suggest that homologous biological mechanisms modulate aggressive behavior in male and female rats. PMID- 2623058 TI - Rats' short-term memory for brief electrical stimulation of the ventral tegmental area of the brain. AB - Short-term memory for brief electrical stimulation of rats' ventral tegmentum was assessed in a delayed conditional discrimination procedure in which trials began with a train of either low- or high-intensity stimulations. After a delay (i.e., retention interval) ranging from 0.01 to 4 sec, a lever was inserted, accompanied by a dim or a bright light. Lever-pressing was rewarded with food on low intensity-dim light and high intensity-bright light trials, but not on low-bright or high-dim trials. Discrimination ratios, based on relative responding on rewarded trials, indicated that subjects were able to remember the electrical stimulations, but that there was sometimes substantial forgetting after the 4-sec retention interval. The implications of these results for an understanding of the stimulus properties of electrical brain stimulation were discussed. PMID- 2623059 TI - Selective olfactory pathway lesions differentially affect runway behavior of the rat. AB - Selective bilateral lesions of the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) and/or the anterior limb of the anterior commissure (AAC) were performed on male rats and their influence on performance of a simple task studied. Rats had to enter and run down an alley for water reward. Whatever the lesion, all the rats succeeded in learning the task but some differences appeared in comparison with intact and sham-operated rats. AAC rats acquired faster the task, whereas LOT rats and AAC + LOT rats took longer to reach the learning criterion. PMID- 2623060 TI - Influence of the estrous cycle, ovariectomy and estradiol replacement upon the acquisition of conditioned avoidance responses in rats. AB - The changes in the acquisition of conditioned avoidance responses (CARs) and the performance of some spontaneous behaviors were examined across the estrous cycle of female rats. CARs were facilitated during diestrus, impaired at proestrus and practically abolished at estrus and metestrus. Motor activity and head shaking were minimally affected with the stages of the cycle. Motor activity was increased at metestrus and head shaking decreased at estrus. At 14 days following ovariectomy, there was a significant enhancement of CARs which was antagonized by the daily administration of estradiol benzoate (10 micrograms/kg) for three days. Ovariectomy also increased grooming behavior and estradiol replacement returned grooming to its basal level. The results suggest an inhibitory control of estradiol on CARs and grooming. The involvement of other hormones which also varied across the estrous cycle and its interaction with brain catecholamine systems, particularly dopamine, are discussed. PMID- 2623061 TI - Flavor preferences conditioned by intragastric fat infusions in rats. AB - The present series of experiments determined if rats would learn to prefer cue flavors that were paired with intragastric (IG) infusions of fat. Adult female rats were fitted with gastric catheters and were trained to drink a flavored (CS+) solution, e.g., cherry-water, associated with IG infusions of a corn oil emulsion. On other days, an alternately flavored (CS-) solution, e.g., grape water, was paired with IG infusions of water. The preference between the CS solutions was then assessed with 2-bottle choice tests. In Experiment 1, food restricted rats were given saccharin-sweetened CS solutions for 10 min/day followed by IG infusions of a 7.1% oil emulsion or water. In subsequent choice tests they displayed a small (60%) but significant preference for the CS+ solution. In Experiments 2-5, rats had access to the CS solutions for 20 or 23 hr/day; drinking the CS solutions automatically triggered IG infusions of oil or water (electronic esophagus preparation). Infusions of 7.1% oil failed to produce a significant preference for the CS+ solution in rats given ad lib access to chow, and offered unsweetened CS flavors. Increasing the oil concentration (14.5% and 29%) did not facilitate the formation of a preference, nor did infusing the rats with a preingested oil emulsion. However, rats restricted to 2 hr/day access to chow, and 20 hr/day access to the CS solutions acquired a significant (85%) preference for the CS+ flavor; subsequent training and testing with saccharin sweetened CS solutions increased the preference for the CS+ flavor to 95%. Ad lib fed rats trained with saccharin-sweetened CS solutions also developed a reliable preference (76%) for the CS+ flavor paired with IG oil; this preference persisted during four extinction tests when both CS+ and CS- flavors were paired with IG water. These results demonstrate that, as with other macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein), the postingestive effects of fats can condition flavor preferences, and suggest that the postingestive actions of nutrients play an important role in food selection and reward. PMID- 2623062 TI - Aggression in male mice: rapid-onset attack of lactating female mice following termination of hyperphysiological testosterone treatment. AB - Gonadally-intact or castrated and testosterone-(T) treated male mice display aggressive behavior towards olfactory-bulbectomized male (OBM) stimuli, but not towards lactating female (LF) stimuli. By comparison, T-treated female mice display aggressive behavior towards both OBM and LF stimuli. The purpose of the present experiment was to determine if male mice given hyperphysiological T treatment would display "female-typical" attack of OBM and LF stimuli. Hyperphysiological T-stimulation did not lead to the display of aggressive behavior towards OBM and LF stimuli; only OBM stimuli were attacked, suggesting a qualitative behavioral sex difference in response to T. However, the major finding of this study occurred following the termination of T-treatment. Castrated males that had previously received hyperphysiological T-treatment began to attack LF stimuli within 48 hr of treatment termination. By comparison, castrated males that had previously received physiological T-stimulation, as well as a gonadally-intact control group, generally began to attack LF stimuli 3-4 weeks following treatment-termination/castration. It is suggested that this unusual treatment-termination-induced behavioral display occurs via neurochemical mediation. PMID- 2623063 TI - Effects of weight cycling in female rats. AB - Recent reports indicate that weight cycling (repeated periods of weight gain and loss) cause an organism to become an energy conserver, meaning that the organism gains weight more quickly and loses weight more slowly during subsequent weight cycles. The effects of weight cycling on rates of weight gain and loss, caloric efficiency, and ad lib wheel running were investigated with three groups of adult female rats: 1) cycling (cycled twice); 2) maturity control (cycled once); and 3) chow control (not cycled). The cycled group evidenced weight-gain periods of 36 and 21 days, respectively, and showed a significant increase in food efficiency during the second weight-gain period, relative to the first. There was no evidence that maturation was responsible for this phenomenon. Time required to lose weight and ad lib wheel running were not influenced by weight cycling. These findings suggest that weight cycling may make maintenance of normal weight more difficult and have implications for human weight-control programs. PMID- 2623064 TI - Weekly phase shifts of rhythms self-reported by almost feral human students in the USA and Spain. AB - Eleven students in the USA and fifteen students in Spain wrote their wake-up and to-sleep times on forms for a month. The subjects reported large day-to-day phase shifts of magnitude comparable to those of travelers and shiftworkers. All individuals exhibited some large phase shifts of their day-to-day wake-up and to sleep times (largest shift average, 4.54 hours; range, -12.7 to +13.9 hours). The students had daily cycles and weekly cycles in their wake-up and to-sleep times. Synchrony (entrainment) with the 24-hour environment was achieved by large weekly phase advances (individual averages ranged 1.2-4.8 hours) rather than by small daily adjustments. There was considerable variation in awake time: there were 2-3 hour differences between individuals, and there were 3.2 hour differences depending on day of the week. Alarm use appeared to be the Zeitgeber, in contrast to laboratory studies which show light and social Zeitgebers for humans. There was a 4 hour difference between the Spanish and USA students which was attributed to the 5 hour difference in time zones. Wake-up time and prior to-sleep time were interdependent. PMID- 2623065 TI - Factors influencing the self-selection of calcium in lactating rats. AB - The effect of varying litter size and preventing milk delivery on the self selection of calcium in lactating rats was assessed in two experiments. In Experiment 1, two groups of lactating rats, one having a litter size adjusted to four pups (n = 10) on the day after parturition and the other a litter size adjusted to 16 pups (n = 9), were given ad lib access to a 2.4% solution of calcium lactate, demineralised water, and a calcium deficient diet. Calcium, water and food intake were compared for these two groups both before impregnation and during 16 days of lactation. Females nursing 16 pups increased their calcium and food intake over the course of lactation more than did mothers nursing four pups. In Experiment 2, female rats were divided into four groups consisting of 10 nonimpregnated, 10 impregnated, 10 impregnated galactophore-cut, and nine sham operated impregnated animals. To maintain pup health, and thus equivalent suckling stimulation among groups, litters of 8 pups were switched between galactophore-cut, impregnated and colony foster mothers every twelve hours. Over the course of lactation galactophore-cut dams showed an increase in calcium intake compared to nonlactating females and further, took in similar quantities of calcium to both intact and sham-operated impregnated animals in the first week of lactation. These studies showed that female rats do selectively increase their calcium intake during lactation. Moreover, this increase varies as a function of litter size and persists in the absence of milk delivery. PMID- 2623066 TI - Intrahypothalamic injection of RU486 antagonizes the lordosis induced by ring A reduced progestins. AB - We explored the possibility that ring A-reduced progestins facilitate lordosis in estrogen primed rats through their interaction with an intracellular progestin receptor (PR) by using RU486. This drug binds with high affinity to the PR, thus preventing the action of progesterone (P). Ovariectomized estrogen-primed rats (2 micrograms estradiol benzoate 40 hr earlier) were bilaterally injected into the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMHN) with 1 microgram of: P, 5 alpha pregnanedione or 3 beta,5 beta-pregnanolone in 1 microliter oil. All three progestins effectively facilitated lordosis, tested at four and eight hours after intrahypothalamic injections. The ability of RU486 to counteract progestin induced lordosis was assessed by infusing 10 micrograms of this agent into the VMHN along with any of the progestins. RU486 antagonized the lordosis induced not only by P (67% reduction) but also that induced by 5 alpha-pregnanedione and by 3 beta,5 beta-pregnanolone (47% and 93% reductions, respectively). Results suggest that ring A-reduced progestins may act through the PR mechanism to facilitate lordosis, i.e., in a fashion similar to P. PMID- 2623067 TI - Chronic stressors, tonic immobility and leucocytic responses in the domestic fowl. AB - Tonic immobility (TI) fear reactions and heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratios were measured in individually caged Brown Leghorn pullets before and after their exposure to one of three procedures lasting approximately 72 hr. These were: ad lib feeding (controls), fasting (removal of food) or frustration of feeding (fasting plus denial of access to visible food). H/L ratios were elevated after fasting or frustration, illustrating the stressful nature of these procedures, but remained unaltered in the controls. Pretreatment TI responses were similar in all groups. Susceptibility and response duration were reduced upon retesting presumably through habituation, but this effect was relatively homogeneous across groups. Any direct effect of fasting/frustration upon fearfulness seemed unlikely because the mean TI responses of control and stressed birds were similar. However, whereas a rank order based on TI durations was repeatable upon retesting in the controls, it was destabilised in the stressed groups. Positive intraindividual correlations were found between pretreatment TI durations and subsequent H/L responses to fasting/frustration. This suggests that leucocytic responses to chronic stressors may be greater in fearful pullets than in less fearful birds. PMID- 2623068 TI - Adult susceptibility induced by preweaning shifts of Zeitgeber in rats (II). AB - The exposure of young rats to atypical time indicators (Zeitgeber) between birth and weaning modifies the reactivity of adult rats. Rats treated in this way early in life are isolated at day 130 for 14 days and then put through a distributed trials learning in a Y maze. Day after day performances show a deficit of this group compared to controls in the evolution of daily success scores as well as in the number of negative reinforcements received. When the rats are left for 30 min or more in the test room before the beginning of the daily trials, the difference between control and experimental groups decreases, though it does not completely disappear. It is concluded, therefore, that the early alteration of the Zeitgeber modifies the later reactivity of the adult rat and affects its capacity to face a learning situation. PMID- 2623069 TI - Effects of maternal hormones on 'timidity' and attraction to pup-related odors in female rats. AB - The present study was designed to determine whether changes in 'emotionality' and responses to odorants that occur in the postpartum rat are due to the same configuration of hormones that facilitate the expression of maternal behavior. Ovariectomized females were implanted with silastic capsules containing progesterone and estradiol or cholesterol for a 19-21 day period and were tested 1 or 7 days later for emergence behavior, ambulation in the open-field and responses to nesting-material containing different odorants. All females were given two tests in which clean nest-material was presented and two with lactating nest material. In comparison to cholesterol animals hormonally primed animals emerged more rapidly into the open-field, crossed more squares while in the field and spent more time around the odor stimulus. Moreover, hormonally primed animals crossed more squares in the region around the odor source when lactating nest odor was present than when it was not and, under the lactating nest odor condition, crossed more squares in the stimulus region than did any other group. This study suggests that the Bridges' regimen of progesterone and estradiol reduces general 'timidity,' reflected in open-field performance, and increases attraction to pup-related odors. These hormone-induced behavioral changes may well contribute to the heightened maternal responsiveness also produced by these hormones. PMID- 2623070 TI - The inhibitory effects of fluprazine on parental aggression in female mice are dependent upon intruder sex. AB - Lactating resident mice respond differently to male and female intruder conspecifics, showing defensive attack towards the former and offensive attack towards the latter. The effects of fluprazine (1-5 mg/kg) on this differential response pattern have been assessed. Although fluprazine increased the latencies of attack on male intruders, a very much more potent inhibitory effect was observed on attacks directed towards female intruders. Fluprazine also modestly reduced social investigation of female intruders and increased nest-oriented behaviour irrespective of the intruder's sex. As the pattern of attack on intruders, exploration, fear responses and maintenance behaviour all remained largely intact under drug treatment, it seems unlikely that the drug's inhibitory action on attack involves fear potentiation and/or olfactory impairment. It is suggested that the greater sensitivity of offensive attack to the inhibitory actions of fluprazine may reflect the relative degree of threat to resident parental investment posed by male and female conspecific intruders. PMID- 2623071 TI - Morphine-induced inhibition of ovulation in normally cycling rats: neural site of action. AB - Intracerebral injection of morphine (3 micrograms/0.2 microliter of solvent) on the day of proestrus at 1200 hr bilaterally in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) and median eminence-arcuate (ME-ARC) region inhibited ovulation in the cycling female rats. The morphine antagonist, lethidrone (2 micrograms/0.2 microliter of solvent) when injected in the mPOA and ME-ARC region followed by intraperitoneal morphine (3 mg/100 g body weight) administration, was found to reverse the ovulation blocking action of this opiate. Implantation site at which morphine was effective in blocking ovulation were restricted to a narrow medial band encompassing the mPOA and ME-ARC region. Our data are consistent with the view that the endogenous opioid peptides in mPOA and ME-ARC region of the hypothalamus may be involved in the physiological regulation of the central neural events which lead to ovulation in the rat. PMID- 2623072 TI - Reduced behavioral responses to intranigral muscimol following chronic ethanol. AB - Increased biochemical measures of GABA activity are observed after acute administration of ethanol and decreased activity has sometimes been observed after chronic ethanol exposure. Since chronic alterations in neurotransmitter activity may result in changes in receptor function, it is possible that changes in GABA-receptive neurons may accompany chronic ethanol treatment. In the present study we examined the incidence of muscimol-induced motor behaviors in ethanol naive and chronic ethanol-treated animals. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received bilateral cannula implants into substantia nigra pars reticulata for subsequent administration of muscimol or saline. After recovery from surgery, rats received chronic treatment in ethanol-vapor inhalation chambers for 15 days. Animals were then removed from the chambers and examined 10 hours after removal. Muscimol resulted in a general increase in motility in both control and ethanol-treated animals. Animals withdrawn from chronic ethanol exposure, however, exhibited significantly less muscimol-stimulated, repetitive 9 Hz movements. These results suggest that GABA receptive cells within the substantia nigra or its vicinity may be functionally less responsive to GABAergic stimulation after chronic ethanol administration. PMID- 2623073 TI - Cephalic postprandial thermogenesis in human subjects. AB - To study the role of food palatability on postprandial thermogenesis, a study was designed in which human subjects ingested palatable food while O2 consumption was measured continuously during 30 minutes before and 60 minutes after the meal. In a first experiment (normal feeding), the subjects ate a portion of sugar pie containing 1672 kJ. A rapid increase in O2 consumption was noted which reached a peak value at about 15 minutes from the beginning of the meal. In a second experiment (sham feeding), the subjects were given the same food and they were asked to chew it and to spit it out. During the first 30 minutes following the meal, sham feeding produced a significantly larger increase in O2 consumption than meal feeding, whereas in the second postprandial period the thermogenic effect of food was larger with meal feeding. The integrated elevation of O2 during one hour was the same with meal feeding as with sham feeding. These results show that sensory stimulations without food being absorbed caused an important increase in O2, and confirms in humans the presence of a cephalic postprandial thermogenesis. In the third experiment (blank feeding), the subjects mimicked the muscular activities associated with feeding such as hands, arms, jaw and throat movements. Blank feeding produced a small and transient increase in O2 consumption. An elevation of plasma norepinephrine was observed during the cephalic phase and this effect was significantly larger with sham than with meal feeding. Subjective ratings for palatability, hunger reduction and degree of fullness were higher with meal than with sham feeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2623074 TI - "Behavioral despair" test predicts stress ulcer in WKY rats. AB - Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar rats were exposed to Porsolt's forced-swimming test of "behavioral despair." In addition to floating time, which was the measure of despair, headshakes, bobbing, diving and struggling time were also recorded. Rats were subsequently exposed to the activity stress (A-S) ulcer procedure. Wistar rats had the highest struggling time scores and the fewest A-S ulcers. WKY rats were judged as more depressed and their ulcer severity scores were significantly greater as compared to SHR and Wistar rats. In addition, a within strains analysis revealed that WKY rats with high despair scores also had the most severe stress-ulcer scores. These data suggested that stress-ulcer disease may be more prevalent in animals which are prone to depression as defined by the Porsolt test. The value of WKY rats as an animal model to study the relationship between depression and stress ulcer is discussed. PMID- 2623075 TI - Entrainment of activity to multiple feeding times in rats with suprachiasmatic lesions. AB - Entrainment of wheel running to two or three food access times per day was investigated in rats with SCN lesions. When two feeding times (1.5 hr each) were presented 8 hr apart, all rats entrained to both. Anticipatory activity (AA) to the second feeding time was greatly diminished when the interval was reduced to 5 hr. An 8 hr phase delay of one feeding time resulted in delaying transients and a concomitant reduction of AA to the unshifted schedule. Seven rats were maintained on 3 feeding times (1 hr each) per day at 6-6-12 hr intervals, followed by 8-8-8 hr intervals. Six rats displayed some AA to two of three access times, but no rat anticipated all 3 access times simultaneously. AA occasionally shifted from one access time to another. In all conditions, entrainment was much less stable compared to single access times. Typically, the instabilities in AA were suggestive of transients, i.e., a temporary loss of entrainment. The results appear most consistent with a model consisting of 2 internally coupled pacemakers that are entrained by feeding. PMID- 2623076 TI - Long-term profiles of sleep-related hemodynamic changes in the postoperative chronic cat. AB - The long-term postoperative changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) during sleep in cats (n = 4) were observed. In the first or second week after surgery, MAP and HR in slow wave sleep (SS) just prior to paradoxical sleep (PS) were higher than those in PS as described in previous reports. In the fourth or fifth week after surgery, the above relationships of MAP and HR between SS and PS were inverted as demonstrated in the present study. The results show that getting true physiological control data is not so simple but a complex task. PMID- 2623077 TI - Effects of cholecystokinin and calcitonin on evoked brain potentials and satiety in man. AB - Central nervous effects of the peptides cholecystokinin (CCK) and calcitonin (CT) were tested in an attention task for their effects on Auditory Event Related Potentials (AERPs) and for their effects on satiety and activation as measured in self-rating scales. Thirteen healthy subjects received either 3 IDU/kg bodyweight CCK 1-33, 0.1 IU/kg bodyweight CT and placebo according to a double-blind within subject cross-over design. Subjects had fasted for at least 16 hr prior to the experiment. CCK induced the feeling of satiety after stimulation with the preparation of a meal. The peptides prevented an attenuation of the N2-component of the AERP after the preparation of a meal, indicating that the subjects were less distracted by the food cues. The results suggest that the central nervous effects of CCK and CT may constitute an aspect of satiated behavior. PMID- 2623078 TI - Circadian behavioral rhythms during various light-intensity cycles in rats. AB - Sleep, ambulation and drinking were recorded on 5 kinds of light-intensity cycles fluctuating between 300 lux and 0 lux with a 24-hr period in rats. The waveforms of the cycles were rectangular wave (RA), sinusoidal wave (SO), triangular wave (TA), descending saw-tooth wave (ST-d) and ascending saw-tooth wave (ST-a). Each condition was maintained for 28 days. Thereafter, the rats were released into constant darkness (DD) for 20 days. The circadian behavioral rhythms clearly entrained to RA, SO, TA and ST-a, but not to ST-d. The waveforms of the behavioral rhythms varied depending on those of the fluctuating light-intensity cycles, and were quite different from those in RA and DD. Daily amounts of slow wave sleep and paradoxical sleep were hardly affected by the lighting conditions, while those of ambulation and drinking were decreased on the other light intensity cycles than RA. These results present new aspects of entrainment and masking of circadian rhythm by light. PMID- 2623079 TI - Blood glucose prior to meal request in humans isolated from all temporal cues. AB - The factors responsible for meal initiation in man are not known. Recently, a small, transient decline in blood glucose was found to precede meals in freely feeding rats (1). To determine whether a similar decline in blood glucose precedes meals in humans, we measured plasma glucose concentration before and after requests for lunch on 4 different days in each of 7 subjects living in a setting that eliminated temporal cues and most or all external prompts for eating. Under these conditions, subjects could request any meal at any time by naming it and specifying its content. Meals were promptly prepared and served. Blood was sampled at randomized intervals averaging 20 minutes. Blood samples from 120 minutes preceding the subject's request for lunch to 90 minutes after the request were analyzed for glucose by the hexokinase method. The mean plasma glucose concentration did not change significantly from about 1 hour before lunch request to 20-30 minutes after the request. A transient decline in glucose similar to that reported in the rat was observed prior to only 1 of the 28 lunches. Given the ease of obtaining food and the absence of the usual temporal and psychosocial cues for eating, the results are not consistent with the hypothesis that meal requests in humans are triggered by a transient decline of plasma glucose concentration. The hypothesis is not disproven, however, since the intersample intervals of about 20 minutes may have failed to detect decreases of blood glucose that were smaller or of shorter duration than those of the rat. PMID- 2623080 TI - Modification of the gerbil's taste behavior by the sucrose taste antagonist p nitrophenyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside. AB - Since the gerbil's chorda tympani nerve response to sucrose is antagonized by p nitrophenyl alpha-D-glucopyransoide (PNP-Glu), the present taste aversion behavioral experiments sought to determine whether the gerbil's behavioral gustatory responses could be modified by adding PNP-Glu to taste solutions. Results demonstrated that the gerbil's aversion to sucrose was affected by the addition of PNP-Glu, but that the avoidance was overcome by the addition of high enough concentrations of the antagonist. When mixtures of sucrose and quinine were tested, the gerbil's sucrose aversion was unaffected, nor was any change noted in the taste behavior of gerbils trained to avoid 0.1 M sodium chloride after the addition of PNP-Glu. PMID- 2623081 TI - Satiety in the obese Zucker rat: effects of carbohydrate type and acarbose (Bay g 5421). AB - Despite the obese Zucker rat's hyperphagia on carbohydrate diets such as laboratory chow, this laboratory has found that its satiety response to glucose and other simple sugars is comparable to that of its lean control rat. To further investigate carbohydrate satiety in the Zucker rat, the short-term feeding behavior of obese and lean rats was observed following intragastric infusions (7.2 kcal in 10 ml) of corn starch and the starch hydrolysates Polycose and dextrin. There were no reliable between-genotype differences in the feeding inhibitory effects of Polycose and dextrin. However, in obese rats, the satiety effect of corn starch was delayed and reduced compared to that observed in lean rats (p less than 0.04). To modify the effect of corn starch, rats were administered 0.2 or 0.6 mg/infusion of the carbohydrate digestive inhibitor acarbose (Bay g 5421). Acarbose significantly reduced the satiety effect of corn starch in lean rats (p less than 0.001), and further attenuated satiety in obese rats (p less than 0.02). Since secretion of pancreatic amylase, the enzyme that initiates starch digestion, is decreased in obese rats, this result suggests that alterations of digestive and/or absorptive processes may underlie the obese rat's impaired satiety response to complex carbohydrate. PMID- 2623082 TI - Involvement of a Spiroplasma citri plasmid in the erythromycin-resistance transfer. AB - An erythromycin-resistant strain (M4 Er-1) was selected from Spiroplasma citri M4+. The transfer by transformation of the erythromycin-resistance character to the erythromycin-sensitive S. citri strain R8A2+ was studied. Transfer became effective and reproducible when cells were treated with alkali cations plus polyethylene glycol. Comparison of the efficiency of transformation of the erythromycin-sensitive strain S. citri R8A2+ by total and extrachromosomal DNA purified from the erythromycin-resistant strain M4 Er-1 showed that the plasmid pM42 was able to transfer the erythromycin-resistance. pM42 was mapped with restriction endonucleases and found to be related to the pMH1 plasmid previously isolated from S. citri MH. Hybridization analysis of DNA from sensitive and resistant strains has shown that a sequence from pM42, analogous to a sequence from pMH1, was integrated at a specific locus in the chromosome of the erythromycin-resistant cells, i.e., of the transformed R8A2 cells and of the spontaneous mutant M4 Er-1 strain. PMID- 2623083 TI - The complete nucleotide sequence of a small cryptic plasmid from Lactobacillus plantarum. AB - The complete nucleotide sequence of a cryptic plasmid isolated from a Lactobacillus plantarum strain has been determined. The plasmid, designated pC30i1, has a molecular size of 2140 bp and a GC content of 37%. The sequence contains one major open reading frame (ORF R) of 951 bp, encoding a basic polypeptide of 317 amino acids, and a molecular weight of 36,956. ORF R shows extensive sequence similarity with genes coding for replication-associated proteins in a group of gram-positive plasmids known to replicate via single stranded intermediates (ssDNA plasmids), and a stretch of 9 amino acids in the translation of ORF R closely matches a conserved region in these proteins, as well as the active site of the phi X174 Rep protein. Sequences similar to the ssDNA plasmid origins of replication are also present in the pC30i1 sequence, strengthening the hypothesis that pC30i1 belongs to the ssDNA plasmid family. The other main feature of the pC30i1 sequence is a noncoding region consisting of 14 direct, imperfect repeats of a 17-bp sequence, which may have an incompatibility function. PMID- 2623084 TI - Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the ColIb shufflon. AB - The R64 shufflon is a novel type of DNA rearrangement in which four DNA segments invert independently or in groups. The related plasmid ColIb carries a variant shufflon. The present sequence analysis shows that the ColIb shufflon consists of three DNA segments that are highly homologous to the A, B, and C segments of the R64 shufflon. The 329-bp D segment of R64 is not present in the ColIb shufflon. As in the case of R64, the ColIb shufflon may act as a biological switch to select one of the six open reading frames in which the N-terminal region is constant while the C-terminal region is variable. PMID- 2623085 TI - Conserved DNA sequences in chlamydial plasmids. AB - Two 7.4-kb plasmids from Chlamydia psittaci have been cloned and characterized. These plasmids are quite distinct from the 6.2-kb C. psittaci and the C. trachomatis plasmids when compared by restriction endonuclease analysis. The plasmids show considerable cross-hybridization, with only a small region highly conserved and identified as a 4 X 22-bp tandemly repeated region. This sequence is identical in the two size categories of C. psittaci plasmids and differs from C. trachomatis plasmids by only 2 bp in the 22-bp motif. AT-rich clusters 5' to the repeat region which are present in C. trachomatis and Escherichia coli plasmids were absent from both classes of C. psittaci plasmids. Extensive regions are less highly conserved but show a sufficient degree of cross-hybridization to suggest that the plasmids are homologous. PMID- 2623086 TI - [EEG study of patients with various depressive disorders]. PMID- 2623087 TI - [Maternity blues and post-partum depressive disorders--with special reference to clinical statistics and endocrinologic studies]. PMID- 2623088 TI - [Physiopathology and therapeutic countermeasures in depressive disorders and an animal model]. PMID- 2623089 TI - [Treatment of periodic depressive disorders in adolescents and prevention of recurrence]. PMID- 2623091 TI - [Cognitive therapy of depressive disorders]. PMID- 2623090 TI - [Introduction of chronopharmacologic therapy of depressive disorders--a double blind study using clomipramine]. PMID- 2623092 TI - [Group therapy of depressive disorders]. PMID- 2623093 TI - [Physiopathology and classification of eating disorders]. PMID- 2623094 TI - [Abnormal eating behavior patterns and psychological factors]. PMID- 2623095 TI - [Body image of patients with eating disorders]. PMID- 2623096 TI - [Clinical characteristics of twenty-five male patients with eating disorders]. PMID- 2623097 TI - [Drug therapy of eating disorders]. PMID- 2623098 TI - [Psychotherapy of eating disorders]. PMID- 2623099 TI - Cross-national generalizability of dimensions of perceived parental rearing practices: Hungary and The Netherlands; a correction and repetition with healthy adolescents. AB - In a previous study, an attempt was undertaken to examine whether dimensions of parental rearing style as measured with the Egna Minnen Betraffande Uppfostran (EMBU) on dimensions of Rejection, Emotional Warmth, Overprotection, and Favoring Subject can be generalized from Dutch adult samples, for whom they were originally interpreted from factor analyses, to an Hungarian adult sample. The findings suggested either differences in the meaning of the constructs between Hungarians and the Dutch or the presence of errors of translation in the Hungarian version. To rule out the possibility of inadequate translation, the Hungarian item-content was cross-checked by our Hungarian coworkers and, after reformulating several items, used for obtaining new data with a sample of adolescents. On the whole, negative findings with the old version disappeared with the new; clear evidence was found here for qualitative similarity/identity of the Rejection, Emotional Warmth, and Overprotection dimensions across the Dutch and Hungarian samples. Further studies with Hungarian persons are needed to examine whether these dimensions generalize from (nonpatient) adolescent to adult samples. PMID- 2623100 TI - Approaches to studying and creativity: is there a link? AB - The Approaches to Studying Inventory and two creativity measures (Torrance's Circles Test and Guilford and Hoepfner's Unusual Uses Test) were administered to a sample of 308 Caribbean adolescents to assess the correlations between their approaches to studying and creative performance. No significant relationships emerged. PMID- 2623101 TI - Approach to the medically ill borderline patient: a case study. AB - Description and discussion are provided of the problems involved in the medical treatment of a patient with borderline character structure who has become seriously medically ill. PMID- 2623102 TI - Work profiles of research statisticians. AB - Analysis of work profiles of 138 persons who had published in the Journal of the American Statistical Association showed this study group published more often than 128 members of the Association and tended to enjoy research, being less interested in the theoretical contribution of their work and more interested in the likelihood of work being published. Administrative and committee duties were impediments for those who published. PMID- 2623103 TI - Behavioral, psychological, and demographic predictors of physical fitness. AB - Achieving higher levels of physical fitness has become a goal of many American both for personal reasons (e.g., improved health and well-being) and for organizational reasons (e.g., corporate cost-savings; operational effectiveness). Understanding the factors which relate to physical fitness could help people improve their fitness. This study examined 1,357 Navy men to estimate the associations among behavioral, psychological, and background factors and four components of physical fitness: (a) cardiorespiratory endurance (1.5-mile run), (b) muscular endurance (sit-ups), (c) flexibility (sit-and-reach test), and (d) body composition (estimated percent fat). Controlling for exercise activities, physical fitness was positively associated with "wellness" behaviors, believing in the importance of physical fitness, expecting to reach/maintain ideal weight, being athletic as a youth, and education; fitness was negatively associated with tobacco use, "preventive/avoidance" behaviors, age, and ever being overweight. Identifying and dealing constructively with such factors may help to structure better fitness programs tailored to the individual. PMID- 2623104 TI - Job and personal factors related to job stress and risk of developing coronary artery disease. AB - Results indicated that job stress is affected by physical stressors, role conflict, quantitative workload, job boredom, and whether one has an external locus of control. Coronary artery disease potential, as measured by the cholesterol ratio, was affected by sex, height-weight index, and smoking. PMID- 2623105 TI - Character structure and performance on the MMPI. AB - In a sample of 74 normal adults, a typology of character structure based on the developmental theory of Piaget was used to predict performance on the MMPI. The typology's validity was assessed by examining its empirical relationship to 11 clinical scales of the MMPI. Significant differences among the character types were noted for 5 of the 11 scales examined (Hypochondriasis, Depression, Masculinity/femininity, Psychasthenia, and Ego strength). There were significant differences on three additional scales (Hysteria, Psychopathic deviate, and Hypomania) between subtypes of the most numerous character type, which included two-thirds of the subjects studied. Differences among the character types and subtypes were generally consistent with expectations. PMID- 2623106 TI - Social approval of suicide and suicide rates. PMID- 2623107 TI - Reliability and validity of the Beck Depression Inventory for a white and Mexican American gerontic population. AB - Scores on the Beck Depression Inventory from 51 white and Mexican-American gerontic subjects (M age = 70.2 yr.) gave an internal consistency coefficient of .80, so reliability was satisfactory. A parallel validity paradigm yielded a significant product-moment coefficient of .79. No significant mean differences emerged for sex of respondents or for ethnic groups, contributing support for use of Beck's scale with aging minority groups. Beck's scale appears reliable and valid for use in written self-report applications. PMID- 2623108 TI - Relationship of DUI recidivism to moral reasoning, sensation seeking, and MacAndrew alcoholism scores. AB - 115 convicted male DUI offenders were treated with Moral Reconation Therapy during their incarceration. Postrelease recidivism status (arrests) was correlated with the pretest, posttest, and change scores on the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale, Sensation Seeking Scale, Life-purpose scores, and Moral Reasoning scores. Analysis showed that recidivism correlated positively and significantly with the pretest scores on the MacAndrew scale and approached significance with both pre- and posttest scores on the Sensation Seeking Scale. Recidivism status correlated negatively and significantly with scores on the highest levels of moral reasoning (Scale 6 pretest and posttest and Principled Reasoning pretest). PMID- 2623109 TI - Attitude toward and experience of industry-based alcohol recovery programmes: a survey of 161 Scottish organizations. AB - This paper reports the results of a survey of 161 Scottish organizations which asked questions in four areas: attitudes of employers toward alcoholism, present disciplinary practice on alcohol-related behaviours, structural features of firms relevant to their policy in discipline in this matter, and employers' views on support available in implementing a work-based alcohol-recovery programme. Results indicated (a) favourable attitudes toward the treatment of alcoholism generally but some doubt as to the practicalities of work-based programmes, (b) a proportion of firms (25.5%) with some form of alcoholism policy, (c) written programmes being associated with firms employing a more skilled workforce and possessing a large personnel department, (d) a willingness by employers to use external voluntary agencies in a recovery programme. PMID- 2623110 TI - Malingering emotional distress on the SCL-90-R: toxic exposure and cancerphobia. AB - This study reports that 100% of 52 untrained volunteers were able to fake psychopathology on the SCL-90-R at a level comparable to the average range for psychiatric patients. Although not questioning the nonforensic clinical usefulness of the instrument, the author cautions SCL-90-R users to employ the instrument with care in contexts in which deception is an issue. Data on efforts to fake cancerphobia and emotional distress secondary to toxic exposure are presented. PMID- 2623111 TI - Premenstrual changes, the gentle Ms. Jekyll and the hideous Ms. Hyde: the saga of catchy titles, myths and facts. AB - Methodological deficiencies in studies of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are briefly pointed out in response to a recent article. The detrimental effect of the nonsubstantiated use of the description "Ms. Hyde" in titles of articles on PMS is emphasized, even if the authors attempt to provide evidence for its disqualification. PMID- 2623112 TI - The role of Addington v Texas on involuntary civil commitment. AB - The United States Supreme Court in 1979 set the standard for involuntary commitment. This decision, styled Addington v Texas, raised the burden of proof required to commit persons from the usual civil burden of proof of "preponderance of the evidence" to "clear and convincing" evidence. There was no reduction in the rates of commitment as a result of the decision. The proportion of patients committed in Texas grew in almost linear fashion during the years 1972-1986. Various economic, sociological, and treatment factors may have more influence on commitment of patients than does a court decision. PMID- 2623113 TI - Use of the Adjective Generation Technique to measure effects of training parents. AB - A modified instruction of the Adjective Generation Technique was used to evaluate the effects of a training program for parents. The modified technique was completed by 12 parents (1 father, 11 mothers) who were asked to describe themselves from their children's perspective, prior to and following the completion of a parents' training program. There was a significant reduction in parents' perceptions of anxiety and a significant increase in favorability. PMID- 2623114 TI - Alcohol abuse and performance appraisal ratings. AB - 274 adult volunteers completed a questionnaire concerning how different behaviors and emotions, which may be attributed to alcohol abuse, would affect their performance appraisal ratings of an individual who exhibited those behaviors or emotions. The appearance of behaviors and emotions that might signify alcohol abuse resulted in lower ratings. There was no difference between supervising and non-supervising raters or between male and female raters. Problems in permitting the symptoms to affect performance ratings are discussed. PMID- 2623115 TI - Validating the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, Brief Form with educable mentally retarded students. AB - To examine the validity of the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement Brief Form, standard scores were correlated with Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Test standard scores and WISC-R Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs. Kaufman scores were strongly related to Woodcock-Johnson scores and moderately related to WISC-R scores. Mean comparisons between composite scores were not significant. These outcomes were congruent with data reported in the Kaufman test manual and offer positive support for the concurrent validity of this test. PMID- 2623116 TI - Correlates of psychological distress in involuntary job loss. AB - This study estimated correlates of psychological distress with a heterogeneous sample of American subjects (N = 122; M age = 33.5 yr.) who were involuntarily displaced from work. Expectation of finding a new job is a significant source of psychological distress in job loss after taking into account length of unemployment and economic dependence. Psychological distress also showed significant negative association with self-esteem and significant positive relationship with job-seeking effort. Other important findings are discussed. PMID- 2623117 TI - Type A behavior, depression and suicidal ideation. PMID- 2623118 TI - Perceived problem-solving skills and drinking patterns among college students. AB - The cognitive social-learning-theory literature on alcohol abuse points to failure to generate appropriate alternative behaviors to drinking as a major predictor of relapse to drinking. Viewing drinking as a continuous variable, ranging from abstinence to abuse, it should be possible to demonstrate a relationship between problem-solving abilities and drinking patterns. The hypothesis that individuals' perceived problem-solving skills are related to their pattern of alcohol use was examined. It was expected that poorer perceived problem-solving skills would be related to maladaptive use of alcohol in response to problem situations. 192 students in Introductory Psychology at a midsized southern university participated. Each subject completed questionnaires assessing frequency and quantity of alcohol use, and stimuli associated with the onset of drinking. The Problem-solving Inventory was used to measure perceived problem solving skills. Drinking pattern variables were formed by factor analysis. Canonical correlation analysis of the data supported the hypotheses. Students with lower confidence in problem-solving capabilities reported greater use of alcohol to cope with negative emotions and to escape from responsibilities than students with high confidence in their abilities. Amount of alcohol consumed was not related to problem-solving skills. PMID- 2623119 TI - Reactions, expectancies, and college students' drinking. AB - This study examined the relationship between adolescent girls' drinking behavior and the expected reactions of parents and friends to this behavior. Analysis indicated that friends were expected to be generally more approving than parents of frequency and quantity of current drinking. The discussion focused on these results and their relationship to competing hypotheses about adolescents' alcohol use. PMID- 2623120 TI - Effect of encouragement on performance of young and old subjects on a task involving lipreading. AB - Two tests of lipreading ability were constructed, one using numbers and the other of sentences including visual cues. The tests were given to two groups of men, one older group aged 40 yr. and over (n = 110) and a younger group of less than 40 yr. (n = 70). Requests to guess produced a higher mean score for the older subjects on the lipreading tests containing the greater amount of information. It is suggested that differences in the effect of encouragement on performance between young and old may be related to both age and cultural factors. PMID- 2623121 TI - Children's perceptions of counter-depressive activities. AB - Children's perceptions of counter-depressive activities were examined as a function of their sex, age, and level of depression. In Study 1, 322 children aged 8 to 12 yr. were asked to identify as many counter-depressive activities as possible. Girls provided more counter-depressive responses than boys and more often reported Help-seeking responses, while boys more frequently produced both Activity and Recreation responses. In Study 2, 98 children, ages 8 to 14 yr., completed the Children's Depression Inventory and generated counter-depressive activities. Girls provided more counter-depressive activities than boys, and older children provided more counter-depressive activities than younger ones. Although depression scores were unrelated to the types of counter-depressive activities provided, they were modestly, though statistically significantly, correlated with the number of counter-depressive activities: as depression increased, children listed fewer coping activities. The relationship between children's perceptions of counter-depressive activities and those of adults is discussed. PMID- 2623122 TI - Self-esteem and stress as factors in abuse of children. AB - A comparison of stress and self-esteem as made between a group of 23 couples in treatment who had abused their children and 23 control couples who were matched for age, race, sex, education, and occupation. Stress was measured by the Recent Life Changes Questionnaire. Self-esteem was measured by a synthesis of 38 items selected by mental health professionals from the Clarke Parent/Child Relations Questionnaire and the Self-description and Mate Description Form. Analysis of variance showed that couples who had abused their children had significantly greater stress than control couples. However, there was no significant difference between the groups on the measure of self-esteem. There was also no interaction effect of stress with self-esteem on abuse. While it seems well established that stress is a major contributor in child abuse, the interaction of stress with personality factors of parents who abuse their children remains uncertain. PMID- 2623123 TI - Note on the Kirsling, et al. paper. PMID- 2623124 TI - The association of gender identity disorder with parental separation. AB - 56 boys diagnosed with gender disturbance, ages 3 to 18 yr. (mean age 8.4 yr.), were classified according to family structure. The proportion of gender-disturbed subjects separated from one or both parents (66%) was significantly higher than the 35% to 48% separated from one or both parents in comparable US general population statistics. PMID- 2623125 TI - Health locus of control changes during a workshop in behavioral medicine. PMID- 2623126 TI - Effect of music tempo on task performance. AB - Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of music tempo on task performance. In Study 1, 44 undergraduate business students were asked to be "workers" in a stock market project by collecting closing stock prices and calculating the percentage of change in the price from week to week. Subjects were randomly divided into groups such that they either listened to fast-paced music while they worked, to slow-paced music, or to no music. Analyses of variance and covariance were conducted on both the quantity and quality of the subjects' work, using music listening habits as a covariate. There were no differences in either the quantity or quality of the work produced by the groups. There were some methodological concerns regarding Study 1, so a second study was conducted. The 70 undergraduate business students in Study 2 completed the same task under the same music conditions as in Study 1. Analyses of variance indicated women performed significantly better than men, performance was significantly higher in the rock condition than in the heartbeat condition, and subjects in the rock condition had a significantly higher perceived level of distraction by the music. PMID- 2623127 TI - Immigration and rates of personal violence (suicide and homicide). PMID- 2623128 TI - Family involvement and outcome in treatment of alcoholism. AB - The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of spouses' (or significant others') involvement in the treatment of alcoholism. Altogether 80 adult patients who had been treated for alcoholism participated. There were three groups who varied in involvement: Group I whose spouses attended 3 or fewer group therapy sessions per week, Group II whose spouses attended 4 or more sessions per week, and Group III whose spouses were treated as inpatients for coalcoholism. Information was gathered through personal interviews as part of the treatment follow-up plan no less than six months after release. The results suggest strong associations between greater family involvement and abstinence (at least six months), better family relations, and positive feelings about self. Further work should consider factors contributing to greater spousal involvement and the nature of support received after treatment. PMID- 2623129 TI - The construct validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory: some data from down under. AB - The Maslach Burnout Inventory has been used to measure burnout among workers in the helping professions. The construct validity of the inventory was examined using a sample of 750 Australian postprimary (high school) teachers. Analyses of teachers' responses confirmed a three-factor structure and showed the inventory to be a reliable instrument. PMID- 2623130 TI - Opinions on abortion as measured by the lost-letter technique. AB - This study uses a postal card as a modification of the "lost letter" technique to obtain information about abortion attitudes. The message on the cards (which can be read easily by the finder) included 100 with a promise to donate money to a proabortion committee, 100 to an antiabortion committee, and 100 contained a neutral message having nothing to do with abortion. 50 of each type of card were dropped in one of two urban areas. There were more antiabortion than proabortion cards mailed, but the highest return rate of neutral cards suggests a need for additional study of abortion attitudes. PMID- 2623131 TI - Decreasing speech anxiety of female prisoners. AB - This study compared self-reported speech anxiety experienced by female prisoners before and after attending a special program within a state vocational facility. With high scores on the Personal Report of Confidence as a Speaker, 13 women volunteers were treated in a program incorporating various techniques including systematic desensitization, cognitive restructuring, skills training, and shaping. These components were presented in six 2-hr. sessions. Pre- and posttreatment comparisons showed a significant decrease in speech anxiety. Discussion focuses on basic characteristics relevant to this sample (short attention span and low reading levels) and limitations of an institutional nature such as excessive noise, lack of privacy, and restrictions on possession of study materials. PMID- 2623132 TI - Relationship of divorce to self-concept, self-esteem, and grade point average of fifth and sixth grade school children. AB - 61 children (33 in Grade 5 and 28 in Grade 6) participated and were administered the Piers-Harris Self-concept Test, the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory--School Form, and the Children's Depression Inventory. At the end of the school year grade point averages (GPAs; 12-point scale) were calculated and Iowa Tests of Basic Skills were taken from their transcripts. Among the 58, 21 children were from divorced homes (10 girls and 11 boys) and 37 were from nondivorced homes (21 girls and 16 boys). Other subjects' data were not used because some data were missing. Children from divorced homes scored significantly lower on the self concept test, self-esteem tests, and GPAs than children from nondivorced homes, although both scores would be considered average. Girls had significantly higher GPAs than boys. Children from divorced homes scored significantly higher on the Children's Depression Inventory than children from nondivorced homes, but there were no significant effects for the composite score from the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills for marital status of parents. Present results agree with prior observations that divorce has negative effects upon the children involved. PMID- 2623133 TI - Diminished TSH release after a course of ECT: altered monoamine function or seizure activity? AB - The release of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) after the first and last treatments in a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was measured in nine depressed patients free of neuroleptic drugs. There were close correlations between altered TSH release after a course of ECT and changes in bilateral spike wave activity (r = 0.99, p less than .0.001) and total seizure length (r = 0.72, p less than 0.05) as measured by six-channel electroencephalogram. The close correlation of TSH release after ECT with seizure activity makes it unlikely that the study of TSH release will provide new insights into the mode of action of this controversial treatment. PMID- 2623134 TI - Vasopressin, vasopressin fragments and a C-terminal peptide of the vasopressin precursor share cardiovascular effects when microinjected into the nucleus tractus solitarii. AB - Arginine-vasopressin (VP), the VP fragments VP-(1-8), [pGlu4,Cyt6]VP-(4-9) and (4-8), and a fragment of the C-terminal glycopeptide of the VP precursor [CPP-(22 39)] decreased blood pressure and heart rate in anesthetized rats when microinjected bilaterally into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). The magnitude of the effect was similar at doses of 20 pg, except for VP-(1-8) which required about 500 pg. The strongest decrease in blood pressure and heart rate was observed with 100 pg VP. Higher doses of other peptides either were ineffective [CPP-(22-39)] or increased blood pressure [( pGlu4,Cyt6]VP-(4-9) and -(4-8)). VP metabolites thus may participate in the control of cardiovascular functions exerted by VP. The effect of CPP-(22-39) indicates that the C-terminal glycopeptide of the VP precursor contains biological activity, which may support the cardiovascular action of VP in the NTS. PMID- 2623135 TI - Measurement of overall and cardiac norepinephrine release into plasma during cognitive challenge. AB - Measurements of plasma norepinephrine concentrations and norepinephrine spillover into plasma were used to gauge sympathetic nervous system activation during cognitive challenge (forced mental arithmetic) in 12 human subjects. Norepinephrine levels were influenced by the sampling site, with the fractional increase being greatest for norepinephrine spillover from the heart (where norepinephrine release almost trebled), intermediate for the arterial plasma norepinephrine concentration and total body norepinephrine spillover (50-70% increase), and inconsequential for antecubital venous plasma norepinephrine levels (less than 20% increase). These findings are explained by patterning of the sympathetic response, which only minimally involves the sympathetic outflow to the skeletal muscle of the forearm but preferentially involves the heart. Antecubital venous plasma norepinephrine levels are not sufficiently sensitive to allow satisfactory monitoring of the sympathetic neural outflow to organs, such as the heart, which are selectively activated in the response to mental challenge. PMID- 2623136 TI - Molecular analysis of aldolase B genes in the diagnosis of hereditary fructose intolerance in the United Kingdom. AB - To investigate the molecular basis of hereditary fructose intolerance, we have studied 12 British patients, all of whom were found to carry a single mutation in the gene coding for aldolase B. We have estimated the frequency of this lesion, termed A149P, amongst affected individuals in the population and predict that a diagnosis may be made non-invasively in more than 83 per cent of cases by demonstrating the presence of this allele. Genetic diagnosis and detection of asymptomatic carriers of the disease may be achieved by the specific amplification of DNA derived from mouthwash samples followed by hybridization to allele-specific oligonucleotides. PMID- 2623137 TI - Treatment of chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection with human lymphoblastoid alpha interferon. AB - Ten patients with evidence of continuing HDV replication were treated with lymphoblastoid alpha-interferon and eight more were followed as a non-randomized control group. Four out of eight patients who completed one year of follow-up had cleared HDV-RNA from the serum whilst none of the control group did so. In these four responding cases there was a transient increase in transaminase levels during treatment and in two, this was followed by improvement. One patient also cleared HBV and seroconverted to anti-HBs (antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen--HBsAg). In one patient with sustained loss of HDV, recurrence of HDV infection was detected 18 months after completion of treatment. These data suggest that alpha-interferon can inhibit HDV replication in the short term but relapse after one to two years may occur. Inhibition of HDV-RNA is associated with improvement in the inflammatory liver disease and now larger studies are required to determine whether it influences survival. PMID- 2623138 TI - Pseudoclubbing in chronic renal failure. AB - Seven patients with chronic renal failure developed a peculiar abnormality of the fingers referred to as pseudoclubbing. All had radiological evidence of severe secondary hyperparathyroidism and elevated parathormone levels measured by C terminal assay. Treatment with vitamin D and calcium, parathyroidectomy or renal transplantation resulted in radiological healing but the deformity of the finger tips did not improve. Although these patients represent a group with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism, autonomous secretion of parathormone is not a necessary accompaniment of this disorder. PMID- 2623140 TI - Registries, rare diseases, and results. PMID- 2623139 TI - Variable corticosteroid sensitivity of thymic cortex and medullary peripheral type lymphoid tissue in myasthenia gravis patients: structural and functional effects. AB - The thymus has been studied in myasthenia gravis patients to assess the effects of previous immunosuppression on total yields of cell suspension, immunohistology and culture responses. The reduction in cell yields by pretreatment with corticosteroid was very variable. In 16 of 32 cases, cortical, medullary and total cell numbers were all greatly reduced ('depleted cases'), whereas in the others, they were within or near the typical range for untreated myasthenics. Cortical thymocytes were even more depleted than precursor thymic blasts. Thus the interpatient differences in sensitivity to corticosteroid recently described for mature T cells also affected immature cortical thymocytes and their differentiating medullary progeny. In the medulla, mature (CD3+) T lymphocytes and germinal centres were enriched by the loss of cortex and appeared relatively healthy, but somewhat depopulated. Concomitantly, in-vitro T-cell responses to acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and production of anti-AChR antibody and total IgG by thymic cells were usually well within the typical range (assessed per 10(6) cells). Moreover, the total productivity of the entire thymus was reduced almost entirely by the cellular depopulation rather than by decreased function per surviving cell. Thus the main actions of this alternate day therapy with corticosteroids were apparently on total peripheral cell numbers, and perhaps on activated cells and effector mechanisms too, and its thymic effects were inessential. PMID- 2623141 TI - [Interpretation of radiographs]. PMID- 2623142 TI - [Marketing is more than dental sacrifice]. PMID- 2623143 TI - [Perspectives of vaccine development for HIV-infections (II)]. PMID- 2623144 TI - [New ITI-implant concept--indications and clinical aspects]. PMID- 2623145 TI - [Correction of open bite with SR-Isosit-N blended shell crown. Case report]. PMID- 2623146 TI - [Hand instruments for cavity preparation]. PMID- 2623147 TI - [Clinical follow-up of ceramic blended artificial teeth with Dentitan frame]. PMID- 2623148 TI - [Tooth buildup using the BKS-root screw (Endo-screw-synthesis)]. PMID- 2623149 TI - [Assessment of adult occlusion with help of Reinhardt/Reinhardt classification]. PMID- 2623150 TI - [Problems of vitality tests in autologous third molar transplantation--case report]. PMID- 2623151 TI - [Practical experience with therapeutic replantation]. PMID- 2623152 TI - [Fluoride varnish application as partial aspect of dental prevention]. PMID- 2623153 TI - [Interpretation of radiographs]. PMID- 2623154 TI - [Objectivity of subconscious parafunctions with help of integrated electromyography]. PMID- 2623155 TI - [Anesthesia progress in dental treatment (II)]. PMID- 2623157 TI - [Parapin--new system of parapulpal pin anchorage. 1. Indications, requirements, instrumentation]. PMID- 2623156 TI - [Patient regulation for improving office management]. PMID- 2623158 TI - [Information avalanche on the theme, AIDS]. PMID- 2623159 TI - [Basics of high quality nutrition]. PMID- 2623160 TI - [Telephone--an important communication aid in the dental office]. PMID- 2623162 TI - [Dope and its results]. PMID- 2623161 TI - [Orthodontics and orthodontic appliances in working area of the dental assistant (III)]. PMID- 2623163 TI - [Patient at risk from viewpoint of the dental assistant]. PMID- 2623164 TI - [Influence of nutrition practices on caries incidence and common health findings]. PMID- 2623165 TI - [Waiting room (I)]. PMID- 2623167 TI - [Effect of odors on human conduct]. PMID- 2623166 TI - [Orthodontics and orthodontic appliances in working area of the dental assistant (IV)]. PMID- 2623168 TI - [Dysgnathia--or programmed reasonable reciprocal mounted occlusion (I)]. PMID- 2623169 TI - [Structural biology as a basis for reconstruction of natural tooth substance]. PMID- 2623170 TI - [Please finish two "black" plates!]. PMID- 2623171 TI - [Manipulation of gypsum-bonded investment materials]. PMID- 2623172 TI - [Stereomicroscope use in dental technology]. PMID- 2623173 TI - A longitudinal study on infant growth during the first sixth months of life, in relation to the nutrition of the lactating mothers and to the breastmilk output. PMID- 2623174 TI - [Lysozyme activity in the blood serum and lysosomes and lysosomal supernatant of neutrophils in patients with psoriasis treated by the PUVA method]. AB - The determinations of the activity of lysozyme in the serum, lysosomes and lysosomal supernatant of neutrophil granulocytes were done in 33 patients with generalized psoriasis and in 19 healthy controls. A decrease of lysozyme activity was demonstrated in the serum, lysosomes and lysosomal supernatant in the patients. During treatment by the PUVA method this activity rose gradually above the values in the control group. Systematic determination of lysozyme activity may help in monitoring of treatment progress. PMID- 2623175 TI - [Histological evaluation of the elements of elastic fibers of the rabbit skin after administration of 30% elastin preparation]. AB - The performed evaluation covers the elastic fibre elements in the dermis of rabbits after the preparation of 30% elastin in propylene glycol was rubber in. Moreover, the effect of elastin on the degree of proliferation of fibroblasts, isolated from the rabbit's skin, was determined in vitro. It has been found out that the used preparation exerts a stimulating effect on elastogenesis, but no differences in the degree of proliferation of the fibroblasts under in vitro condition were observed. PMID- 2623176 TI - [Detection of the presence of formaldehyde in textiles by using color tests with acetylacetone and chromotropic acid]. AB - In 61 textile materials of cotton, wool and synthetic fibre formaldehyde was determined using colour tests with acetylacetone and chromotropic acid. Full agreement of the results of both tests was demonstrated. In 61 studied materials formaldehyde was demonstrated in 44 samples and in 17 samples it was absent. Formaldehyde was present in materials submitted to end-use finish. The possibility was showed also of formaldehyde passage from the finished materials into materials not containing it following their storage together. Frequent washing and ironing of materials after finish may lead to formaldehyde loss from the materials. The usefulness is stressed of colour tests for the diagnosis and prevention of formaldehyde-induced clothing-related eczema. PMID- 2623177 TI - [Comparative analysis of the incidence and the results of the treatment of lip cancer during the periods of 1967-1976 and 1977-1986]. AB - In relation to the period 1967-1976 in the last decade a lower number of patients with labial carcinoma was observed. The tumour developed with equal frequency in males and females, and the age of the patients was more advanced. A greater proportion of cases classified as T1T2N0M0 may be an evidence of earlier diagnosis of the tumour in most cases. Surgical treatment is the method of choice in such cases. Histological verification in cases with suspected metastases to the regional lymph nodes indicated a low incidence of these metastases. PMID- 2623178 TI - [Alopecia areata in a woman with marked hypoandrogenism]. AB - A woman with alopecia areata is reported in whom low levels of total and free testosterone were found in serum. The possibility of coexistence of alopecia areata with hypoandrogenism is stressed. PMID- 2623179 TI - [Skin changes in Hodgkin's disease. Case report]. AB - A case of Hodgkin's disease was observed in the Warsaw Institute of Haematology. Involvement of the skin developed ++during uncontrolled and refractory pathological process, despite multiple changes of cytostatic programmes. The histological type of the lesions, nodular sclerosis, suggested a milder course of the disease. PMID- 2623180 TI - [Zinc in crural varicose ulcers]. AB - In 20 patients with crural varicose ulcers with mean duration of 11 years the zinc level was determined in plasma and erythrocytes. The measurements were done using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Low plasma zinc level was found in 15% of cases, and in erythrocytes in 10% of cases. The difference from the control group was not significant statistically. The study showed that before administration of zinc-containing preparations to patients with crural varicose ulcers determination of zinc level in plasma is advisable for establishing the usefulness of this treatment. PMID- 2623181 TI - [Incidence of HIV infections among the patients of the outpatient clinic of the Institute of Venereology]. AB - The presence of anti-HIV antibodies was sought in 1061 patients (818 men and 243 women) with various sexually transmitted diseases; the group of men contained 29 homosexuals (3.5%) and 26 were bisexual (3.2%). Together these deviants accounted for 7.1% of the group. EIA test confirmed with the Western-blot test gave positive result in 11 patients, including 10 homosexual and bisexual men, that is in 18.2% of the subgroup of men with this deviation, and in 1 heterosexual man (0.13%). Over one-half of them had or had had syphilis, and in the subgroup of homosexuals the patients with syphilis amounted to 36%. The proportion of HIV infections in homosexuals, patients of outpatient clinics for sexually transmitted diseases, is much higher than in heterosexual patients in these clinics and homosexuals not treated in these clinics. Patients in outpatient clinics for sexually transmitted diseases are a high risk group for HIV infection (especially homosexuals with syphilis) and should be tested for the presence of anti-HIV antibodies. PMID- 2623182 TI - [Value of the Kiel morphological classification in the clinical aspects of non Hodgkin's lymphoma]. AB - After an estimation of the 3 years treatment results and the survival probability in 99 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas it was found that the use of Kiel classification made possible isolation of two clinical forms differing in their prognosis. The 3 years survival of the low-grade (LG) group involving the lymphocytic, the centrocytic and the centrocytic-centroblastic lymphomas has been obtained in 43%, 40% and 69% of patients, respectively (mean 57%). The high-grade (HG) group involving the centroblastic, the immunoblastic, the lymphoblastic and the nonclassified lymphomas shoved the 3 years survival corresponding to 22%, 20%, 7% and 30%, respectively (mean 19%). In both morphological subgroups (LG and HG) the prognosis was better in patients with the limited extent and extranodal localization of the neoplasm. The only possibility of achieving cure was obtaining of full remission. PMID- 2623183 TI - [Psychosocial conditions of attempted suicide among children and adolescents in the light of our studies]. AB - The study comprised 30 children aged 12 to 17 years, including 22 females and 8 males, treated or consulted in the Psychiatry Department of the Medical Academy Institute of Pediatrics in Warsaw due to the realized trial of suicide. The psycho-demographical and the biological factors as well as direct causes preceding the suicidal trial have been analysed. It has been stated that the suicidal trials are dominated by the family conflicts and the bad emotional contacts among both the parents and children which in a majority of cases are associated by problems of school education. The cognitive functions of subjects studied were on the whole within the normal range. PMID- 2623184 TI - [Effect of hemodialysate and its peptide fractions on stromal cells and heme synthesis in bone marrow cultures and the activity of selected enzymes and GSH and in human erythrocytes. V. Effect on AChE activity in the erythrocytes of healthy persons and patients with terminal renal failure]. AB - Effect of hemodialysate and its three peptide fractions on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE, E.C. 3.1.1.7) activity in erythrocytes from healthy subjects and patients with terminal renal insufficiency treated by repeated hemodialyses. It has been shown that erythrocytes from hemodialysed patients have statistically significantly increased activity of the enzyme if compared with that in healthy subjects. Both hemodialysate and its three peptide fractions after the 3 hours lasting incubation with erythrocytes from healthy subjects and from the patients induced no alteration in the enzyme activity except fraction III having incubative concentration 270 micrograms/ml calculated against the protein concentration. Fraction III exerted statistically significant inhibitory effect on the acetylcholinesterase activity in erythrocytes from healthy subjects. PMID- 2623185 TI - [Programs of immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory therapy of primary idiopathic glomerulonephritis. III. Rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis and the use of converting enzyme inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome]. PMID- 2623186 TI - [Acute circulatory and respiratory insufficiency in meningitis]. PMID- 2623187 TI - Pharmacokinetics and organ catabolism of cholecystokinin octapeptide in pigs. AB - The pharmacokinetics and organ catabolism of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) were studied in pigs. In conscious animals, intravenous infusion of increasing doses of CCK8 (2.9-232.3 pmol.kg-1.min-1) resulted in a linear increase of plasma CCK-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI). At the cessation of infusion of the largest dose of CCK8, plasma CCK-LI promptly returned to near basal values. The half disappearance time (t1/2), metabolic clearance rate (MCR) and distribution volume (DV) were estimated to be 0.55 +/- 0.03 min, 134.8 +/- 10.8 ml.kg-1.min-1 and 107.9 +/- 13.0 ml.kg-1, respectively. In another group of anesthetized animals, infusion of CCK8 at similar doses produced higher plateau plasma CCK levels and the t1/2, MCR and DV were calculated to be 0.68 +/- 0.06 min, 32.5 +/- 3.9 ml.kg 1.min-1 and 45.2 +/- 5.6 ml.kg-1, respectively. Estimates of first-pass immunological degradation through various vascular beds were in the range 27-66%, with in decreasing order the kidney, liver, hindleg, followed by the brain and gut. These results indicate that immunoreactive CCK8 is rapidly cleared from plasma during passage through several vascular beds. The peptide is only partly inactivated during hepatic transit and so may exert hormonal effects upon its release from intestinal stores. PMID- 2623188 TI - Non-amidated forms of VIP (glycine-extended VIP and VIP-free acid) have full bioactivity on smooth muscle. AB - The aim of the present study was to elucidate the importance of the C-terminal amide group for the biological activity of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Two synthetic peptides lacking the amide group: VIP having a carboxyl group at the C-terminus and the intermediate biosynthetic precursor, glycine-extended VIP were compared with VIP itself regarding the ability to inhibit spontaneous activity in smooth muscle strips from rat stomach and human Fallopian tube. Both the glycine-extended VIP and VIP having a carboxyl group at the C-terminus caused a significant and dose-dependent inhibition of smooth muscle activity and displayed dose-response curves similar to VIP. The potencies of the VIP variants did not differ significantly from that of VIP. Thus, alpha-carboxyamidation of VIP is not a prerequisite for biological activity. PMID- 2623189 TI - Effects of cholera toxin, Escherichia coli heat stable toxin and sodium deoxycholate on neurotensin release from the ileum in vivo. AB - Neurotensin (NT) is a biologically active peptide found in specialized epithelial cells (N-cells) in the distal small intestine. In this study we tested the hypothesis that NT may be released by luminal secretagogues, i.e., cholera toxin, Escherichia coli heat-stable toxin and sodium deoxycholate. Cholera toxin elicited net fluid secretion in anesthetized cats. This secretion was accompanied by an increased release of NT-like immunoreactivity (NTLI) into the mesenteric vein when NTLI was measured with either a C-terminally or a N-terminally directed antibody. An increasing plasma NTLI concentration (N-terminally directed antibody) was recorded in the mesenteric vein and femoral artery in cholera experiments. These results indicate that cholera toxin releases NT from the small intestine. Since neurotensin causes intestinal fluid secretion at least in part via an activation of enteric nerves we propose that the N-cell functions as a 'receptor cell' which activates an intramural secretory reflex upon luminal stimulation by cholera toxin. This study does not support a similar role for NT in the secretion elicited by the heat stable toxin of Escherichia coli or by sodium deoxycholate since we were unable to demonstrate any intestinal release of NTLI after exposing the intestine to these secretory agents. PMID- 2623190 TI - Release of PYY from pig intestinal mucosa; luminal and neural regulation. AB - The localization, molecular nature and secretion of Peptide YY (PYY), a putative gut hormone belonging to the Pancreatic Polypeptide family of peptides, was studied in pigs. Immunoreactive PYY was identified in a population of endocrine cells in the mucosal epithelium of the pig ileum. Release of PYY was observed in isolated perfused pig ileum in response to luminal stimulation with glucose and vascular administration of the neuropeptide gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve supply to the distal small intestine in intact anaesthetized pigs resulted in release of PYY into the circulation. Stimulation of the splanchnic nerves did not affect the basal release of PYY. PYY immunoreactivity extracted from ileal tissue or released to plasma or perfusate from the ileum was indistinguishable from synthetic porcine PYY by gel filtration and reverse phase HPLC. It is concluded that the secretion of PYY in the pig ileum may be regulated not only by nutritional luminal factors, but also by postsynaptic parasympathetic nerves. PMID- 2623191 TI - Clearance of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the porcine pulmonary circulation. AB - The clearance of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the lung was determined in pigs. To measure the first pass uptake, a bolus of VIP (0.9 pmol.kg 1 and 9 pmol.kg-1) with an inert intravascular marker, indocyanine green (ICG), was injected into the right atrium. The percent uptake of VIP after the higher bolus, as estimated by comparing the levels of VIP and ICG in the pulmonary artery and the aorta, was 36 +/- 6% during control infusion and 36 +/- 13% during continuous infusion of VIP (3 pmol.kg-1.min-1). The VIP concentrations in the pulmonary artery and the aorta were not different under baseline conditions, but during continuous VIP infusion the levels of plasma VIP in the pulmonary artery were higher than those in the aorta (24.3 +/- 1.6 pmol.l-1 and 20.4 +/- 1.3 pmol.l-1, resp. P less than 0.0001). These results indicate that the lung is not a source of plasma VIP, but the pulmonary circulation is a substantial contributor to the removal of VIP from plasma. PMID- 2623192 TI - Effect of antibodies to the neuropeptide GRP on distention-induced gastric acid secretion in the rat. AB - The present study examined and compared the effects of muscarinic blockade, beta adrenergic blockade and immunoneutralization of the neuropeptide gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) on distention-induced gastric acid secretion and gastrin release. In response to distention of rat stomachs with 0.9% NaCl, acid output rose from 3.5 +/- 0.5 mumol H+/30 min to 15.4 +/- 2.5 mumol H+/30 min (P less than 0.01). Intravenous administration of 4 mg/kg propranolol did not affect the acid secretory response to distention, however both 2 mg/kg atropine and 6 mg/kg pirenzepine significantly decreased gastric acid secretion by 44.8 +/- 7.8% and 40.9 +/- 5.7% (P less than 0.05), respectively. When specific antibodies to GRP were infused intravenously, the acid secretory response to distention was nearly abolished, decreasing to 5.1 +/- 0.8 mumol H+/30 min (P less than 0.01). In contrast to the effects on acid secretion, GRP antiserum did not significantly alter the gastrin release observed following distention. Results of these studies indicate that, under the conditions of these experiments, the acid secretory response to gastric distention may be independent of its effect on gastrin release. Although distention-induced gastric acid secretion may be partially governed by muscarinic pathways, the acid secretory response to distention in the rat appears to involve GRP-containing neurons. PMID- 2623193 TI - Effect of immunoneutralisation of cholecystokinin on bombesin-stimulated pancreatic enzyme secretion in the rat. AB - Infusion of bombesin stimulates plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) and pancreatic enzyme secretion in various species, including the rat. This study was undertaken in two groups of four conscious rats with a cannulated pancreatic duct to determine the role of endogenously released CCK in mediating the effect of bombesin on pancreatic enzyme secretion. Infusion of 2 ml CCK antiserum or normal rabbit serum for 40 min was followed 10 min later by infusion of 18 pmol/kg bombesin for 30 min and after an interval of 90 min by infusion of 24 pmol/kg CCK for 30 min. After administration of control rabbit serum, pancreatic protein secretion increased by 3.2 +/- 1.0 mg/30 min during bombesin and 4.0 +/- 1.5 mg/30 min during CCK, while the plasma CCK increments were 1.7 +/- 0.5 pM and 7.0 +/- 0.9 pM for the bombesin and CCK infusions, respectively. Immunoneutralisation with the CCK antiserum did not significantly affect bombesin-stimulated pancreatic protein secretion (3.6 +/- 1.3 mg/30 min), but almost abolished the pancreatic protein response to CCK (0.5 +/- 0.2 mg/30 min). It is therefore concluded that CCK is not an important mediator of the stimulatory effect of bombesin on the pancreas in the rat. PMID- 2623194 TI - Identification and characterization of N-glycosylated and phosphorylated variants of proenkephalin A-derived peptides in bovine adrenal medulla, spinal cord and ileum. AB - Recent studies have shown that during its biosynthesis in bovine adrenal medulla, the opioid precursor proenkephalin A, may be both N-glycosylated and phosphorylated. To investigate whether these chemical modifications were common to proenkephalin A processing in other tissues, we have sought to characterize enkephalin-containing peptides from bovine adrenal medulla, spinal cord and ileum. The peptides were identified using antiserum L189, specific for the C terminus of Met-enkephalin Arg6Gly7Leu8 (MERGL), and L152, specific for the C terminus of Met-enkephalin Arg6Phe7 (MERF). Glycosylated MERGL-immunoreactive peptides of 23, 20, 16 and 13 kDa were identified in adrenal medulla using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and concanavalin A Sepharose affinity chromatography. Sephadex G50 gel filtration fractionated the glycosylated peptides into two immunoreactive peaks. Similar peaks of concanavalin A-binding MERGL immunoreactivity were detected in extracts of spinal cord and ileum, although there were differences in relative proportions of the two peaks. Antiserum L152 identified phosphorylated N-terminally extended variants of MERF when boiling water extracts of adrenal medulla, spinal cord and ileum were separated by anion exchange chromatography. In adrenal medulla these peptides were more than 99% phosphorylated, whereas in both ileum and spinal cord there was a relatively higher proportion of the unphosphorylated peptide. The results indicate that N-glycosylation and phosphorylation of proenkephalin A occurs in adrenal medulla, spinal cord and ileum, although there are tissue specific differences in the relative proportions of the modified and unmodified peptides. PMID- 2623195 TI - DPen2-[DPen5]enkephalin, a delta opioid receptor-selective analog of [Leu]enkephalin, impairs avoidance learning in an automated shelf-jump task in rats. AB - Both [Leu]enkephalin and DPen2-[DPen5]enkephalin, a delta opioid receptor selective analog of [Leu]enkephalin, impaired acquisition of an automated shelf jump response in rats. A similar level of impairment was produced by equimolar doses of the two enkephalins. As is seen for [Leu]enkephalin when tested in a one way active avoidance task, the dose-response function for the impairment produced by DPen2-[DPen5]enkephalin in the automated shelf-jump task is U-shaped. These results, together with our previous findings that DPen2-[DPen5]enkephalin and [Leu]enkephalin both impair acquisition of a one-way active avoidance response in mice, and that [Leu]enkephalin impairs acquisition of that same response in rats, support our suggestion that delta opioid receptors are implicated in the effects of [Leu]enkephalin on conditioning. In addition, these results indicate that the involvement of delta opioid receptors in acquisition impairment extends to two species of rodents and to two different avoidance conditioning tasks. PMID- 2623196 TI - Enhancement of gentamicin-induced inhibition of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in rabbit renal proximal tubular brush-border membrane by furosemide. AB - Gentamicin inhibited phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis catalyzed by rabbit renal phospholipase C in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition was potentiated by furosemide in a dose-dependent manner. Furosemide may enhance gentamicin nephrotoxicity by potentiating the inhibitory effect of gentamicin on brush border membrane PI degradation. PMID- 2623197 TI - Intraocular pressure changes during hemodialysis: prevention of excessive dialytic rise and development of severe metabolic acidosis following acetazolamide therapy. AB - The response of intraocular pressure (IOP) to hemodialysis was investigated in 55 patients with end-stage kidney disease enrolled in a chronic dialysis program. The mean level of IOP, measured by the Goldman applanation tonometer, before dialysis was slightly lower than that of a control group of 50 healthy subjects (14.9 +/- 2 mm Hg vs 15.6 +/- 1.9 mm Hg. p = .07). During dialysis IOP underwent an excessive rise (7.8 to 12.5 mm Hg) in 10 patients (group 1), remained unchanged (variations below 2 mm Hg) in 41 patients (group 2), and decreased (3.1 to 5.1 mm Hg) in 4 patients (group 3). In group 1 patients, gonioscopy showed a narrow angle between iris and lateral cornea. Conversely, the anterior chamber angle was normal in patients of groups 2 and 3. The effect of a 7-day course of acetazolamide therapy (500 mg per day orally) on IOP was investigated in group 1 patients. Acetazolamide was capable of preventing the excessive IOP rise during dialysis. The mean reduction of such a dialytic rise was 8.1 mm Hg. However, despite this effect, in these patients the IOP level after dialysis still remained significantly higher than that of patients of group 2 (18.1 +/- 1 mm Hg vs 14.9 +/- 0.8 mm Hg. p less than .0001). Acetazolamide therapy precipitated in all patients a severe metabolic acidosis (blood pH fell from 7.38 +/- 0.02 to 7.24 +/- 0.03, p less than .0001; and bicarbonate concentration from 21 +/- 2.5 mmol/liter to 12.3 +/- 2.4 mmol/liter, p less than .0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2623199 TI - Sixth International Symposium of Nephrology at Montecatini: Kidney, Proteins, and Drugs. June 1-3, 1989, Montecatini Termi, Italy. Abstracts. PMID- 2623198 TI - Dietary eicosapentaenoic acid does not modify cyclosporin-induced inhibition of angiotensin II-stimulated prostaglandin synthesis in mesangial cells. AB - Clinical and experimental cyclosporin A (CSA) nephrotoxicity is characterized by alterations in renal hemodynamics and a reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The mesangial cell may be a target for the actions of CSA. CSA has been shown to activate the renin angiotensin system and to increase the excretion of TXB2 (the stable metabolite of TXA2). This study investigated the role of CSA and mesangial cell prostaglandin release in mediating some of the alterations in renal hemodynamics. Primary rat mesangial cell cultures (first passage) were exposed to CSA followed by stimulation with angiotensin II (AII) 10(-7) M. PGE2 and TXB2 release was measured after 5 and 15 minutes incubation. Experimental CSA nephrotoxicity in rats has been shown to be reduced by the use of MaxEPA fish oil (containing eicosapentaenoic acid) as the vehicle for CSA. Therefore, the experiments were repeated using mesangial cells obtained from rats fed an enriched eicosapentaenoic acid (MaxEPA) diet for 3 weeks. CSA significantly inhibited AII stimulated PGE2 release in both experiments. There was no increase in TXB2 release. Alterations in membrane fatty acid composition, available for prostaglandin synthesis, did not alter the results. This study demonstrated that CSA significantly inhibits AII-stimulated prostaglandin release. The increased excretion of TXB2, seen with CSA treatment, does not arise from the mesangial cells, and the protective effect of MaxEPA, as a vehicle for CSA, is not due to its effects on mesangial cell prostaglandin release. PMID- 2623200 TI - The role of aluminum in the pathogenesis of anemia in an outpatient hemodialysis population. AB - Anemia is a well-defined complication of aluminum overload in chronic dialysis patients which may be present before other manifestations of aluminum toxicity are obvious. Causes of anemia in chronic renal failure are multiple, and at the present time there is no marker for aluminum-induced anemia. Deferoxamine (DFO) treatment can correct aluminum-related anemia and microcytosis, but may be associated with side effects. Because of the possible role of aluminum in red blood cells in causing the anemia associated with aluminum overload, we attempted to test red blood cell (RBC) aluminum as a marker for aluminum-associated anemia and to assess the prevalence of aluminum-associated anemia in an outpatient dialysis population. Both random plasma aluminum and RBC aluminum correlated well with the increase in plasma aluminum seen following DFO challenge. However, RBC aluminum was affected less by changes in oral aluminum intake than plasma aluminum. There were strong correlations of RBC and plasma aluminum to corpuscular volume (MCV) in our patients. Moreover, patients within the highest quartile of RBC aluminum had a lower mean MCV (82.1 +/- 1.7 vs 89.6 +/- 1.7, p less than .01) and hematocrit (HCT) (24.3 +/- 4 vs 28.2 +/- 1.5, p less than .05) than those within the lowest quartile. These data suggest that aluminum toxicity is an important cause of microcytic anemia in outpatient hemodialysis patients. Prospective long-term studies are needed to further define the usefulness of RBC aluminum in diagnosing and following hemodialysis patients with aluminum-induced anemia. PMID- 2623201 TI - [Sleepiness: a problem more complex than it seems]. PMID- 2623202 TI - [Narcolepsy, an epidemic?]. AB - Narcolepsy, was first described in 1880, is a chronic, disabling disease characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and abnormal REM manifestations. It is estimated that, in Brazil, 15,000 to 150,000 cases may exist, but is was only since the first sleep laboratories were installed in the country that the disease began to be recognized. It created a sudden increase in the number of diagnosis which actually simulates an epidemics in the medical records. The existence of a sleep laboratory, however, is not necessary for the diagnosis of the disease. An informed clinician can identify it during the interview. The goal of this paper is to inform about the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of the disease through the report of four selected cases. PMID- 2623203 TI - [Use of antimicrobial agents and bacterial resistance at a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro]. AB - The oropharynx and intestinal microflora of patients from intensive care and infectious disease units of an university hospital were compared to that of healthy individuals in order to evaluate the influence of antibiotic therapy on the colonization with enterobacteria and antimicrobial resistance patterns. Enterobacteria were recovered from 70% of the throat specimens; 90% of these individuals were under antimicrobial therapy. The antibiotic resistance patterns were suggestive of plasmid-mediated resistance. More than 20% of the strains were resistant to fosfomycin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Approximately 50% of resistant bacteria showed resistance to at least four antibiotics. PMID- 2623204 TI - [Pregnancy in patients with renal transplantation]. AB - From 1969 to 1987, 35 pregnancies occurred in 31 women with renal transplant. Four of them were still pregnant when this study was concluded. There was one ectopic pregnancy. All patients received azathioprine and prednisone. In the majority of patients the glomerular filtration rate increased in a way similar to normal pregnant women. In five cases there was a progressive loss in renal function. In four of them this was attributed to preexistent renal damage. No toxemia occurred. Anemia developed during 11 pregnancies and blood transfusion was required for five women. Four patients had urinary tract infection which was easily controlled with antibiotics. One patient had severe arterial hypertension, secondary to chronic rejection. One patient developed jaundice reverted with reduction in azathioprine doses. One woman died of septicemia secondary to fetal death, during the 6th month of pregnancy. Twenty children were born with no abnormalities, although many of them were underweighted. Two thirds of pregnancies were delivered by cesarean section. No harm to the pelvic allograft occurred in vaginal deliveries. There have been 4 abortions (2 of them were induced with no medical indication). Four pregnancies (26 to 39 gestational weeks) ended in stillborn babies: the mothers had impaired renal function associated with hypertension and proteinuria. One newborn died of pulmonary infection two days after delivery. Another was born with microcephaly and polydactilia and survived 6 years. No breast feeding was allowed. PMID- 2623205 TI - [Complex pelviperineal injuries: systematization of the treatment]. AB - The authors review the cases of complex pelviperineal injuries admitted to the Emergency Service of the Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo during the period 1983-1988. The management of these patients followed a protocol that consisted of: exhaustive lavage of the injury with extensive debridement, leaving the wound widely unsutured, matured loop colostomy, lavage of the distal colon, scheduled revisions at 48 to 72 hour intervals, intensive antibiotic treatment and early total parenteral nutrition. Thirty one patients were treated following these procedures, with a decrease in mortality due to sepsis from 50% to 16.1%. PMID- 2623206 TI - [Diagnosis of osteoporosis using dual photon densitometry]. AB - Osteoporosis is often diagnosed after fracture occurrence, when therapy is less effective. The dual photon densitometry has been the proposed method for osteoporosis early diagnosis. In the present study is presented our experience on the lumbar vertebral and femoral neck bone mass measurement by utilizing a Lunar DP-3 densitometer in normal young 82 volunteers and 103 women with radiologically and clinically diagnosed osteoporosis. The values found in osteoporotical patients were significantly lower when compared to those normals either in lumbar vertebrae (L2-L4) or in the femoral neck. The method's coefficient of variation was less than 0.5%, when determinated with a synthetic phantom aid and less than 1.5% repeating the exam in 10 normal volunteers. These results show that dual photon densitometry is a simple, sensitive and non-invasible method for early diagnosis and therapeutic follow-up of osteoporotical patients. PMID- 2623207 TI - [Electroencephalographic study of patients with panic disorders]. AB - Electroencephalographic changes were studied in 27 patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia with panic attacks due to some clinical similarities between panic disorder and temporal lobe epilepsy. The EEG records, obtained with sleep deprivation, photostimulation and hyperventilation showed no abnormalities. PMID- 2623208 TI - [Ethics in occupational health]. AB - The author considers the doctor-patient relationship according to modern ethic concepts. He underscores the total respect owed to his individuality, providing him with all the data available on his health, so he may use it at his discretion. Next, he presents the concept of occupational health, pointing out its multiprofessional and multidisciplinary character, and specifying its level of activity (factory, labor union, government departments, etc.). He then details the extraordinary divergence of interests between the employer and the factory employee which often places the factory doctor, at least as viewed by workers, as an employer's accomplice. He stresses the importance of existing legal instruments, such as the Federal Constitution, the Labor Act, and the Medical Ethics Code as being ideologically progressive. However, he also points out the difficulties faced for an effective performance. PMID- 2623209 TI - [Methodologic inconsistency in anamnesis education at medical schools]. AB - Some relevant points of the process of obtaining the medical anamnesis and physical examination, and the formulation of diagnostic hypotheses are analyzed. The main methodological features include: preponderance of qualitative data, absence of preselected hypotheses, direct involvement of the observer (physician) with the data source (patient), and selection of hypotheses and changes of the patient during the process. Thus, diagnostic investigation does not follow the paradigm of quantitative scientific method, rooted on the logic positivism, which dominates medical research and education. PMID- 2623210 TI - [A review of Lyme disease]. PMID- 2623211 TI - [Peyronie's disease: treatment with tenoxicam]. PMID- 2623212 TI - The eosinophil: its role in allergic respiratory disease. PMID- 2623213 TI - Bronchoalveolar lavage: its place in diagnosis and research. PMID- 2623214 TI - Lung function and postural changes during pregnancy. AB - The aim of this study was to determine the effects of postural changes on lung function in pregnant women during the first, second, third trimester and post partum. A significant decrease in FRC, PEF and FEV1 was observed as a result of the postural changes. Arterial oxygenation, MVV and DLCO remained largely the same. PMID- 2623215 TI - The effect of nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, on the sweat test in adult patients with cystic fibrosis. AB - Impaired cell membrane chloride ion movement in cystic fibrosis results in reduced resorption of sodium and chloride from sweat gland ductules producing the high concentrations measured in the sweat as a diagnostic test. Normal chloride ion movement can be restored in vitro by blocking transepithelial calcium flux with lanthanum, suggesting a potential role for calcium channel blocking drugs in the management of cystic fibrosis. We studied the effect of nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, on the sweat sodium in 17 adult patients with cystic fibrosis. Nicardipine was administered intravenously or topically using iontophoresis or occlusive dressing. No significant change in sweat sodium concentration was observed between pre- and post-drug administration. We conclude that nicardipine used in vivo does not exert the same effect as lanthanum demonstrates in vitro on transepithelial cell membrane chloride ion movement in cystic fibrosis. PMID- 2623216 TI - Measurement of diffusing capacity in pulmonary embolism. AB - Pulmonary function tests were carried out in 20 consecutive patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), diagnosed on the basis of a positive ventilation perfusion lung scan carried out within 72 h of admission. Changes in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and arterial blood gas tensions were too variable to be helpful diagnostically. In contrast, transfer factor (diffusing capacity) of the lung (TLCO) was significantly reduced in all cases and, in spite of a period of anticoagulation, tended to remain subnormal during a follow-up period of up to 3 years. Lung scans, however, tended to return to normal within 3 months of the incident. Thus, a reduction of TLCO to below 75% of the predicted normal was found in all cases with abnormal lung scans and such measurements provide a useful and simple screening test for PE; a normal TLCO would effectively exclude such a diagnosis. The failure of TLCO to return to normal in the majority of cases suggests persistence of the underlying physiological defect, in spite of normalization of symptoms and lung scans following anticoagulation. PMID- 2623217 TI - Pulmonary abnormalities in Crohn's disease. AB - Abnormalities of pulmonary function in Crohn's disease have been described, although the results are conflicting and anecdotal accounts of lung involvement are few. In this study we assessed the prevalence of lung function abnormalities in Crohn's disease, and the relative contributions of age, sex, smoking and past medical history, and Crohn's disease activity to the pulmonary abnormalities found. Twenty-nine patients with Crohn's disease and 29 age-, sex- and smoking matched volunteer controls underwent detailed respiratory assessment. Airways obstruction due to chronic bronchitis and asthma was present in 13 patients with Crohn's disease, but was not more prevalent than in the control group. FEV1 was similar in both Crohn's disease and control subjects (84.2 +/- 21.2% predicted, mean +/- SD; 93.7 +/- 16.3%, respectively: n.s.). The vital capacity was significantly lower in the Crohn's disease patients than in controls (86.7 +/- 16.6%; 95.9 +/- 12.7%; P less than 0.01), but this may have been influenced by the higher prevalence of past or intercurrent medical illnesses affecting the chest in Crohn's disease patients. No patient had evidence of fibrosing alveolitis or bronchiectasis. The haemoglobin corrected transfer factor was significantly lower in the Crohn's disease patients than in controls (100.4 +/- 17.4%; 113.2 +/- 25.1: P less than 0.05) but the diffusing coefficient was not significantly different. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.44, P less than 0.05) between the residual volume and the Crohn's disease activity index but otherwise no close relationship was observed between Crohn's disease activity, extent or duration and the indices of lung function. These findings suggest that the lungs are relatively unaffected by Crohn's disease. PMID- 2623218 TI - A prospective randomized comparison of fine needle aspiration biopsy and fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the investigation of peripheral pulmonary opacities. AB - Twenty-nine patients, aged 66(+/- 7) years with a peripheral pulmonary opacity (mean diameter 3.6 +/- 1.8 cm) believed to be a tumor, were randomly allocated to initial investigation by either fibreoptic bronchoscopy or percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy, the latter performed under fluoroscopic control. The patients proceeded to the alternative investigation in the event of the first failing to achieve a diagnosis. Malignancy was confirmed by the initial procedure in 14/15 patients randomized to fine needle aspiration biopsy but only in 1/14 patients randomized to fibreoptic bronchoscopy (P less than 0.01). Overall, these figures were 25/28 fine needle aspiration biopsy and 2/15 fibreoptic bronchoscopy (P less than 0.01). These results confirm the clinical suspicion that fine needle aspiration biopsy is far more likely than fibreoptic bronchoscopy to establish the presence of malignancy in peripheral pulmonary opacities. PMID- 2623219 TI - Fungal contamination of mini peak flow meters. AB - Sixteen peak expiratory flow meters from the Outpatient Department of Solihull Hospital were dismantled for inspection and washing. Fungal contamination was found in all 16 machines with visible contamination in four. PMID- 2623220 TI - AIDS-associated Cryptococcosis causing adult respiratory distress syndrome. PMID- 2623221 TI - Isoniazid-induced interstitial pneumonia. PMID- 2623222 TI - [A meeting of experts in Washington. Omeprazole: important progress in the treatment of gastric pathology. Activity and cicatrization rate in ulcer are highlighted]. PMID- 2623223 TI - [Evaluation of diabetes knowledge in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Influential factors and analysis of its relation with blood glucose control]. AB - The level of diabetes education has been evaluated by means of a test questionnaire with 62 items in a group of 57 insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (type I) patients who were cared for at a Hospital Diabetes Unit for a least six months prior the study. We observed that only 60% of our patients had an acceptable diabetes education. Our educational programme seems to be efficient for patients between 20 and 40 years old with a High School or University degree, although we think that the educational method should be changed for older or less educated patients. Moreover, we have analyzed the possible influence of diabetes education on the glycemic control, both globally, and in specific areas. We observed a significantly lower MBG in the patient group with a higher level of diabetes knowledge. The MBG and HbA1c values correlate with training in blood glucose autoanalysis. PMID- 2623224 TI - [Endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus in drug addicts and non-addicts: the same microbe in 2 diseases]. AB - 46 Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis episodes diagnosed with strict criteria in non drug addict patients, and 25 episodes in drug addict patients have been comparatively analyzed. Infection was found in the left side of the heart in 87% of the non addict patients and in 16% of the addicts. On the contrary, 84% of the addicts had endocarditis of the tricuspid and pulmonary valves while only 13% of the non addicts had right heart involvement. The right side endocarditis in the non addicts was always due to intracardiac catheters. 54% of the endocarditis episodes in the non addicts were fatal. Only two addicts, both when had left side endocarditis, died. Mortality was conditioned by infection of the left side of the heart as well as by the existence of heart failure. No significant differences were found between the evolution of patients treated with only one agent or of those treated with a beta-lactam antibiotic plus gentamicin. The emergency valve replacement significantly improved the prognosis of patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis. PMID- 2623225 TI - [Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. Familial variety]. AB - A patient who consulted because of diarrhea was diagnosed of thyroid medullar carcinoma (TMC) associated to pheochromocytoma. All members of his family were studied for a possible family variety of TMC with a genetic origin. In the 21 family members studied basal and calcium-pentagastrin stimulated calcitonin levels were determined and parathyroid and adrenal gland function were explored to rule out pheochromocytoma. Elevated levels of calcitonin agreed with pathological findings of TMC. Pheochromocytoma carriers had altered catecholamines and an abnormal abdominal CT scan. The clinical, analytical and radiologic findings in the four affected family members are described. The histopathological study revealed a pheochromocytoma in one case and bilateral TMC in two cases. The cytology of aspiration biopsy samples was positive for TMC in three cases. The importance of calcitonin determinations is emphasized as well as the obligatory determination of catecholamines and adrenal CT scan in order to rule out the coexistance of pheochromocytoma. The reasons for not utilizing gammagraphy with meta-iodine benzyl guanidine in these four cases are also explained. PMID- 2623226 TI - [Interstitial pulmonary disease in plaster workers]. AB - Two cases of diffuse interstitial lung disease in plaster workers with clinical, histological and immunological data suggestive of hypersensitivity pneumonitis are presented. Special remark is made on the immunological results, both cellular (increase in activated T cells and Natural Killer cells) and humoral (immunoglobulins) from the bronchoalveolar lavage. We tried to detect the antigen although we did not succeed in its characterization and we discuss the relationship between these two cases and other hypersensitivity pneumonitis. We discuss the importance of the immunological study of cells obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage for the diagnosis of alveolitis with a lymphocytic predominance. Finally, we suggest that 99 Tc-DTPA gammagraphy can be usefull to monitor the evolution of the alveolitis in these patients. PMID- 2623227 TI - [Subcutaneous nodules as the presenting form of sarcoidosis]. PMID- 2623228 TI - [Epidural spinal cord compression in brucellar spondylitis]. PMID- 2623229 TI - [Active pulmonary tuberculosis and cancer of the bronchi]. PMID- 2623230 TI - [Desensitization to sulfadiazine in patients with AIDS and opportunistic infection]. PMID- 2623231 TI - [Ungual blue striae, HIV and zidovudine, what is their etiology?]. PMID- 2623232 TI - [Multiple neoplasms: presentation of a new case]. PMID- 2623233 TI - [Fatal agranulocytosis induced by aprindine]. PMID- 2623234 TI - [Primary hydatid cyst of the psoas]. PMID- 2623235 TI - [Acute poisoning caused by chlorinated solvents]. PMID- 2623236 TI - [Food consumption, feeding habits and nutritional status of the population of Reus. Diet and nutritional balance in people older than 60 years of age]. AB - We have studied 323 individuals (122 male and 201 females) above 60 years old, randomly chosen in Reus. When compared to other adults aged 35-60 in the same town, the older group consumes milk more frequently, but eggs, milk derivatives, vegetables and fish less frequently. The fresh fruit intake increases in absolute values 20% and decreases 30% that of meat, fish, fat and sugar. We analyzed the relative contribution of the different groups of foods to the total diet and we observed that 25.9% of the total calories derived from food of animal origin in the older group While it is 29.8% in the group aged 35-60. The total caloric intake in this older group was below the recommended amount although the results were similar to other national of international studies. In respect to protein, the observed intake was very close to the recommended. The mean lipid and carbohydrate intake were similar to those of other studies. We conclude that food intake in subjects above 60 is less than in subjects 35-60 but diet composition also varies which results in a better balanced diet in subjects above 60 in our Community. PMID- 2623237 TI - [Bacteriuria in primary biliary cirrhosis]. AB - The high incidence of significant bacteriuria observed in 30 patients diagnosed of primary biliary cirrhosis in our department is studied. Although a significant increase in general infections has not been described in this type of liver disease, of probable autoimmune nature, the high incidence of bacteriuria in these patients has been previously reported. Possible predisposing factors are evaluated; we observed that there was a significant increase in the frequency of bacteriuria with age, but there was no relationship between the incidence of infection and the histologic stage of the disease. PMID- 2623238 TI - [Tobacco and cancer of the lung. A case-control study]. AB - The relationship between cigarette smoking and risk of lung cancer has been analyzed in a case control study of 98 cancer patients and 108 age matched healthy controls. This relationship has been studied based on age when smoking started, number of cigarettes per day and minimum number of cigarettes smoked, and smoke inhalation. The excess rate (ER) of lung cancer amongst those who started smoking before age 20 was 3.47 (C.I. 95% 1.33 + 9.05) above those who started smoking later. There is a progressive increase in ER as the mean daily number of cigarettes and the minimum number of cigarettes smoked increase. The ER in those who inhale smoke was 2.4 (C.I. 95% 1.6 - 5.05) when compared to those who did not inhale smoke. It is essential to quantify the magnitude of the smoking habit as well as its duration since these variables are going to determine the risk of acquiring the disease. Case control smoking-lung cancer study. PMID- 2623239 TI - [Pleuropulmonary tumors. Presentation of 2 cases with peculiar clinicopathologic traits]. AB - A pseudomesotheliomatous adenocarcinoma, which is a rare form of peripheral pulmonary tumor with diffuse thickening of the pleural cavity mimicking a mesothelioma, and a malignant mesothelioma with a carcinoma like disseminating pattern are presented. The biopsy obtained by thoracotomy in one case, and the necropsy studies enabled the diagnosis by the microscopic pattern, the presence of mucosubstances (PAS diastase) and the immune histochemical profiles with antibodies against several antigenic groups (CEA, EMA, CAM 5.2, and Vimentin. The value of these techniques to differentiate adenocarcinomas and mesotheliomas is discussed. The presence of CEA orients to an epithelial origin of a neoplasia. PMID- 2623240 TI - [The incidence of neoplasms of the epithelium associated with monoclonal gammopathy at a general hospital. A 6-year analysis]. AB - The epithelial neoplasias associated to monoclonal gammapathy (GM) seen in a general hospital over a period of six years are reviewed. 8 cases were detected, 2 of which behaved as a second neoplasia since they occurred in patients previously diagnosed of multiple myeloma. The incidence and characteristics of the monoclonal component of the neoplastic process are described as well as its possible etiopathogenic implication. PMID- 2623241 TI - [Deformity and retraction of the ascending colon]. PMID- 2623242 TI - [Pancreatitis and hepatitis in pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae]. PMID- 2623243 TI - [Ischemic necrosis of the femoral head in a patient with multiple reflex sympathetic dystrophy]. PMID- 2623244 TI - [Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema induced by hydrochlorothiazide]. PMID- 2623246 TI - [Early prevention of coronary cardiopathy]. PMID- 2623245 TI - [An increase in cardiovascular mortality caused by antihypertensive drugs. The need for a gradual and sustained effect]. PMID- 2623247 TI - [Clinical presentation and prognostic factors in primary hemolytic-uremic syndrome in adults]. AB - The clinical presentation and prognostic determinants in a group of 20 patients who presented a hemolytic-uremic syndrome for a period of 14 years are reviewed. Patients younger than 10 years old and those with and hemolytic-uremic syndrome due to a systemic disease, renal transplant or accelerated arterial hypertension were excluded from the study. The clinical picture consisted mainly of renal, hematological, hemorrhagic, neurologic cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations. It was note worthy the high incidence of malignant hypertension which frequently developed after admission. Thrombocytopenia and hemolysis were frequently not severe and of limited duration. Severe neurologic manifestations was the key determinant of immediate vital prognosis, while severe arterial hypertension was the most reliable marker of irreversible renal failure. In general, the clinical picture was very severe, with and elevated early mortality rate (5 patients) and a high rate of irreversible loss of renal function (five patients needed dialysis, and 4 remained with residual renal failure). PMID- 2623248 TI - [Study of bone involvement in hypothyroidism determining the blood levels of osteocalcin]. AB - Several bone abnormalities, characterized by a decreased bone turnover, may develop in patients with hypothyroidism. We have used the measurement of serum Osteocalcin (BGP), a protein synthesized by osteoblasts and proposed as a marker of bone formation, in order to elucidate the bone status in 62 hypothyroid patients, mean age 52 +/- 15 (SD) years. As a group, BGP results in hypothyroidism were not different from normal (3.6 +/- 3.2 vs 3.7 +/- 1.3 ng/ml). However, we were able to differentiate 3 groups: 1) patients with significantly lower BGP values (p less than 0.01) (primary hypothyroidism and total thyroidectomy with body scan); 2) patients with antithyroid drugs had significantly higher BGP levels (p less than 0.05); 3) in the other groups (post 1311, post-surgery, and insufficiently treated hypothyroidism) BGP values were within normal limits. In the total group BGP was significantly correlated with T3T, TSH, alkaline phosphatase and age. Lower serum BGP values in some etiologic groups of hypothyroidism may reflect a greater pathologic effect on the bone in these patients, with a decrease in bone formation. PMID- 2623249 TI - [Wilson's disease: difficulties in diagnosis and therapeutic management in our country]. AB - The clinical analytical and therapeutic results of a retrospective study of 11 cases of Wilson's disease carried out in "La Fe" Hospital in Valencia are presented. The disease had a neurological onset in 5 cases, an hepatic onset in 4 cases (3 acute hepatitis and 1 chronic hypertransaminemia), 2 cases started as an acute hemolytic anemia; one of the outbreaks occurred during a period of treatment interruption. Diagnosis showed some difficulty in one case since the disease was associated with positive hepatitis B markers, positive anti HIV antibodies and initially normal ceruloplasminemia values. The diagnostic difficulties derived from the interpretation of ceruloplasminemia, and blood and urine copper levels are pointed out as well as the difficulties encountered in our environment to determine intrahepatic copper levels and to perform a kinetic study with radioactive copper both of which are of vital importance to confirm doubtful cases. Two patients became pregnant in the course of the disease having normal pregnancies and deliveries, without any apparent abnormalities in the newborns. Treatment with D-Penicillamine was started in 9 cases, observing a low to moderate intolerance in 7 cases; there was one case of severe intolerance for which treatment had to be interrupted. The new therapeutical approaches based on the use of trientine (not available in our country) are discussed, together with the expectations of liver transplant in this disease. PMID- 2623250 TI - [2,070 simultaneous determinations of blood glucose, glucosylated hemoglobin and fructosamine as index of metabolic control in 519 diabetic patients]. AB - Two thousand and seventy simultaneous determinations of glucose, glucosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) and plasma fructosamine have been performed in 519 diabetic patients in order to obtain a follow up index and metabolic profile. This retrospective study points out the difficulty of achieving a good metabolic control in diabetic patients. Although the determination of plasma glucosylated proteins (HbA1 and fructosamine) has meant a great improvement in diabetic control, the study of the correlation of the above mentioned. PMID- 2623251 TI - [Arthritis and purulent pericarditis as presenting form of sepsis caused by serogroup C meningococcus]. AB - Meningococcal sepsis is usually a severe disease with very varied clinical manifestations. In our surrounding the most frequently appearing Neisseria meningitidis belongs to serogroup B, and only 10.2% belongs to group C. Both arthritis and exudative pericarditis are described as late, independent complications of N. Meningitidis C infections. The coexistence of both arthritis and suppurative pericarditis caused by this organism is extremely rare. A case of sepsis due to serogroup C N. Meningitidis in a patient who developed a right shoulder arthritis followed by septic shock and purulent pericarditis is presented. The characteristics of arthritis and pericarditis as complications of the acute meningococcal infection are analyzed, emphasizing the rareness of the coappearance of both as a form of clinical manifestation, as well as the purulent characteristic in order to keep them in mind and facilitate a prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment. PMID- 2623252 TI - [Pulmonary toxicity of amiodarone]. AB - A case of lung disease due to amiodarone is described based on epidemiological, clinical and evolution criteria, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis, X-ray and pathological study by optic and electron microscopy. Iodine on pulmonary tissue quantified spectrophotometrically was 2 p.p.m. This was not observed in normal lung tissue. The best diagnostic criteria for amiodarone pneumopathy are discussed highlighting lymphocytosis in the BAL and the presence of dense lamellar bodies in the ultrastructural study of the affected lung tissue. PMID- 2623253 TI - [Intestinal subocclusion in children]. PMID- 2623254 TI - [Presentation of adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas as splenic pseudocysts]. PMID- 2623255 TI - [Hepatomegaly, portal hypertension and Rendu-Olser-Weber disease]. PMID- 2623256 TI - [Flunitrazepam: a cause of coma with brainstem dysfunction simulating structural damage]. PMID- 2623257 TI - [Myasthenia associated with verapamil]. PMID- 2623258 TI - [Convulsions and multifocal auricular tachycardia induced by theophylline]. PMID- 2623259 TI - [Retroperitoneal liposarcoma. Unusual clinical presentation with prolonged fever syndrome]. PMID- 2623260 TI - [Serum levels of hyaluronic acid in patients with hepatopathy. Preliminary results]. PMID- 2623261 TI - [Endocarditis caused by penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae]. PMID- 2623262 TI - [Ictus]. PMID- 2623263 TI - [Serum aluminum and normal kidney function: effect of age and environmental exposure to aluminum]. AB - The first cases of aluminium (Al) toxicity were reported in metal workers with apparent normal renal function. Although safety in industry has had a great improvement over the last decades, it is reasonable to think that Al workers might have a higher daily Al exposure than normal population. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the serum Al levels in volunteers with normal renal function, having different jobs, including people working in the main Al factory in our area. There were no significant differences in serum Al values among people working in the Al factory or in other jobs, likewise there were no differences regarding: sex, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, etc. By contrast, as we expected, urinary Al excretion was higher (p less than 0.005) in Al workers. There was a significant serum Al increase proportional to the increase of age (p less than 0.01). The known decline of renal function observed with the increasing of age and therefore the likely decrease in Al clearance, could be responsible for the serum Al increase. PMID- 2623264 TI - [Smoking habits: a study of hospital staff]. AB - The results of a survey carried out in our hospital about the use of cigarettes in which 680 staff members participated (257 men and 423 women) are presented. The percentage of current smokers was 50% (51.8% amongst women and 45.1% amongst men). The highest percentages of smokers were found amongst nurses (61%), maintenance staff (50%) and administrative staff (45.1%); 41% of physicians smoked. Quitting the smoking habit was more frequent amongst physicians and higher grade staff, with a predominance of older males. The smallest number of quitters was found amongst nurses. 93.5% of the surveyed subjects agreed with the establishment of restrictive measures, finding no differences according to age, sex, or professional status, although there were differences according to the smoking habit. The results obtained point out the importance of the smoking problem amongst health professionals and could be used to promote programs against smoking in hospitals. PMID- 2623265 TI - [Predictive value of neopterin in boutonneuse fever]. AB - Neopterin is an intermediate purine metabolite which can be determined in serum and has been shown to be elevated in processes that stimulate cell mediated immunity. Neopterin serum levels have been measured in 37 patients diagnosed of boutonneuse mediterranean fever. Serum titers were higher during the acute phase than during the convalescence in 97.2% of patients. Neopterin levels normalized as the disease improved clinically. On the other hand, the highest levels were found in patients with a torpid evolution and appearance of complications. PMID- 2623266 TI - [Membranous glomerulonephritis associated with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]. AB - The clinical case of a patient presenting membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) associated to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is discussed. Both conditions started simultaneously and cure of ITP with corticosteroid treatment coincided with a clinical remission of MGN. This association had not been previously described. PMID- 2623267 TI - [Therapeutic consultation: information oriented to clinical problems]. AB - Therapeutical information is progressively becoming more abundant, difficult to cope with and in most cases it consists on the description of drugs rather than focusing on practical problems. In medical practice, however, we are presented with multiple complex therapeutical problems and he should be able to obtain reliable information oriented to the resolution of particular clinical situations. This is practically impossible to achieve with the currently available sources. In this paper we describe a service of therapeutic consultations created with the aim of covering this need of the health care system and as a complement of other therapeutical information. This service receives consultations from different hospitals and elaborates individualized solutions. The system is computerized so that the various solutions are kept in a data base from which the information can be easily retrieved using key words. During its first four years, 525 consults regarding the following matters have been answered: selection of therapeutic strategies (29.7%), diagnosis, attitude and prognosis of adverse reactions (28.4%), documentation (11.4%), use of drugs during pregnancy (11.2%), available preparations, bibliography, interactions, pharmacokinetic, breast feeding and others. The number of consultations has increased up to date. This new service, which can be coordinated by means of a computerized data base network, participating several centers, offers a quick, reliable, direct, and individualized information oriented to particular therapeutical problems at a relatively low cost. PMID- 2623268 TI - [An uncommon tumor of the stomach in a young woman]. PMID- 2623269 TI - [Sublingual ectopic thyroid gland with hypothyroidism]. PMID- 2623270 TI - [Endocarditis caused by Neisseria subflava]. PMID- 2623271 TI - [Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in toxoplasma encephalitis in AIDS patients]. PMID- 2623272 TI - [Migrainous cerebral infarcts in young adults]. PMID- 2623273 TI - [Pleural infiltration as an unique manifestation of idiopathic hyper-eosinophilic syndrome]. PMID- 2623274 TI - [Amebic keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba. A review of the literature because of a new case diagnosed in France]. PMID- 2623275 TI - [Skin tumor, the first distant manifestation of a carcinoid tumor of the bronchi]. PMID- 2623276 TI - [Vitamin D metabolism in the elderly. Evidence of appropriate synthesis of 1,25 (OH)2 D3]. AB - Serum levels of 25 OH D3, 1.25 (OH)2 D3, PTH and several other parameters of mineral metabolism were measured in 55 elderly (greater than or equal to 70 years old), at the beginning of fall in Puertollano (38 degrees of latitude), distributed in three groups: healthy elderly who either live at home (Group 1, 16 cases) or in a Social Security Residence (Group 2, 20 cases) and chronically sick or hospitalized elderly patients (Group 3, 19 cases). Every subject had a creatinine serum level less than 1.2 mg/dl. Serum levels of 25 OH D3, in Group 1 were similar to the young control group 24 +/- 10 micrograms/L, while its levels in Groups 2 and 3 were decreased (13 +/- 4 micrograms/L p less than 0.001 and 10 +/- 5 micrograms/L p less than 0.001--respectively). The opposite was founded for PTH. Serum levels of 1.25 (OH)2 D3 were normal when compared to control group in Groups 1 and 2 (49 +/- 8 micrograms/L and 49 +/- 6 micrograms/L) but they were significantly decreased in Group 3: 38 +/- 12 (p less than 0.001). Our results demonstrate that elderly people with enough sun exposure may have adequate 25 OHD3 levels while those who have a restricted exposure will have decreased levels. In the elderly, 1.25 (OH)2 D3 levels are normal if 250 HD3 levels are also normal or sufficient, only very low levels of 250 HD3 are not able to maintain normal serum levels despite their secondary hyperparathyroidism. PMID- 2623277 TI - [Intrafamilial, non-sexual, transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus]. AB - In order to evaluate the possibility of intrafamilial transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a serological follow up of 104 household family members of HIV seropositive subjects with whom they were not having sexual contacts (SC) was carried out. The coexistence of other risk factors in the studied subjects was excluded. Of the initial seropositive patients (SP), 87.5% showed clinical and immunological alterations that could be attributed to the HIV infection. 32.6% of the SC lived in poor sanitary conditions with their respective SP. 3.8% of the SC shared toothbrushes with the group 29.8% shared shaving blades and 81.7% shared combs o hair brushes. After a 12.35 +/- 5.42 month follow up, none of the SC seroconverted. The results obtained suggest that the possibility of HIV transmission to household family members of HIV infected subjects is extremely unlikely if not impossible. PMID- 2623278 TI - [Antibodies against HTLV-1 in patients undergoing multiple transfusions]. AB - HTLV-1 is a retrovirus which causes adult T cell leukemia and is transmitted through contaminated blood products. Patients who have received multiple transfusions are therefore at high risk of HTLV-1 infection. Since it has been postulated that 0.5% of Spanish blood donors present HTLV-1 antibodies, we decided to investigate the presence of these in 154 polytransfused patients in Barcelona. We could not demonstrate the presence of HTLV-1 infection in any of the patients although six of them gave positive ELISA results repeatedly. The validity of tests previously used for the detection of HTLV-1 antibodies is discussed and multicentric studies with a wider population sample are suggested in order to establish the real incidence of HTLV-1 infection in our community. PMID- 2623279 TI - [Nocardiosis: clinical observations apropos of 9 cases]. AB - We have retrospectively analyzed 9 cases of nocardiosis that were studied in our hospital over the past 10 years. 66% of the patients had an associated disease and half of them were on steroid treatment. The clinical manifestations of the infection were pulmonary and cutaneous and in 44% of cases, it disseminated to the central nervous system. The diagnosis was made in all cases isolating the microorganism from pulmonary secretions, puss, spinal fluid and blood. Nocardia asteroides was isolated in 8 cases, and nocardia caviae in one case. There was a 55% mortality rate. The different clinical presentation and evolution are reviewed, as well as prognostic factors and antimicrobial treatment of nocardiosis. PMID- 2623280 TI - [Socioeconomic effects of human brucellosis]. AB - The socio-economic cost of human brucellosis is analyzed. One hundred and seven patients are included in this study, 75 males (70.09%) and 32 females (29.91), diagnosed of brucellosis in the Internal Medicine Department of the Regional Hospital "Carlos Haya" in Malaga from the 1st of October 1984 to the 31st of December 1986. Thirty seven patients (34.57%) presented some kind of complication. Seventy eight cases (72.89%) were admitted to the hospital resulting in a total of 1.005 hospital admissions with a mean hospital stay of 12.88 days. The total economic cost was 30.724.962 pesetas with a mean patient cost of 287.149 pesetas. The total number of work absence days was 5.291 with a mean 101.7 days per patient and with an accumulated cost in this respect of 49.053.151 pesetas. The total money loss was 84.307.488 pesetas with a mean of 787.920 pesetas per patient. This high cost, together with the high incidence of the disease throughout most of our national territory, clearly justify the need for aggressive preventive measures. PMID- 2623281 TI - [A 42-year-old woman, admitted for the study of fever syndrome and anemia]. PMID- 2623282 TI - [Cerebral infarct of arterial origin in meningitis caused by enterobacter. Apropos of a case]. PMID- 2623283 TI - [Angiosarcoma of the liver associated with thorotrast]. PMID- 2623284 TI - [Asthma and hyperthyroidism]. PMID- 2623285 TI - [Acute demyelinating polyneuropathy in HIV infection treated with zidovudine]. PMID- 2623286 TI - [Is the holiday heart syndrome a frequent cause of paroxysmal auricular fibrillation?]. PMID- 2623287 TI - [Treatment of Paget's disease with AHPrBP]. PMID- 2623288 TI - [Variations in the internal pressure of the pneumatic cuffs of endotracheal tubes according to their contents and the anesthetic mixtures used. Experimental study]. AB - With the purpose of measuring pressure changes in the pneumatic cuffs of endotracheal tubes when the composition of the mixture of gases used for ventilation had to change for the same content, we designed a model of artificial respiration that consisted of a tube with a low pressure pneumatic cuff measuring 8.5 mm in inner diameter introduced in a replica of a human trachea, adjusted to two anesthetic bags. The cuff valve was connected to a pressure transducer by a three-ended stopcock and, after aspiration of its content, it was inflated with air, saline or nitrous oxide and oxygen at 60% up to a basal pressure of 20 mmHg. The tube was connected to a respirator adjusted to inflate 10 l/min at a rate of 15 insufflations/min of: oxygen 100% for 5 minutes, then nitrous oxide and oxygen at 60% for 30 minutes and oxygen 100% again for 15 minutes. When inflating the pneumatic cuff with air and ventilating with nitrous oxide and oxygen at 60%, its pressure reached a maximum mean value of 58 mmHg (190% with respect to base values). When insufflating with saline and ventilating in the same conditions, pressure reached a maximum mean value of 33 mmHg (65% with respect to base values). When the pneumatic cuff was inflated with nitrous oxide and oxygen at 60%, important changes in pressure were observed when the characteristics of the inspired gases were modified. We conclude that some method for monitoring pneumatic cuff pressure should be systematized. PMID- 2623289 TI - [Anesthesia in a patient with toxic epidermal necrolysis]. AB - We report the case of a 16-month-old boy weighing 11 kg who presented toxic epidermal necrolysis secondary to phenobarbital administration and underwent emergency laparotomy under general anesthesia because of gastrointestinal bleeding. The boy presented epidermal detachment on the slightest friction (Nikolsky's sign) so monitoring was difficult; in these cases it is advisable to use padded sphygmomanometers and weighted electrodes. Owing to the great extension of denuded skin, these patients must be considered as hypovolemic and ketamine is the drug of choice for anesthesia induction. The maintenance of airways and the proper replacement of fluids and electrolytes are essential for the correct anesthetic treatment of these patients. PMID- 2623290 TI - [Mediastinoscopy: apropos of 100 cases]. AB - We have retrospectively reviewed 100 mediastinoscopies that were carried out in our hospital from 1985 to 1988. 12% the of patients had relative contraindications for that examination technique. There was no intraoperative mortality and 5% of the patients presented complications including severe hemorrhage in three patients, bilateral pneumothorax in one patient and loss of radial pulse in another patient who presented left hemiparesis during the immediate postoperative period. We conclude that mediastinoscopy provides essential information for classification and treatment of lung cancer despite its high potential morbidity; a proper anesthetic technique, correct monitoring and the close cooperation with the surgical team render mediastinoscopy a safe procedure. PMID- 2623291 TI - [Sedation in pediatrics using scopolamine and Thalamonal to perform a CAT scan]. PMID- 2623292 TI - [A relentless equation]. PMID- 2623293 TI - [Tracheobronchomegaly (Mounier-Kuhn syndrome) associated with anomalous outlet of the right upper bronchus]. PMID- 2623294 TI - [Difficulty in tracheal intubation in a case of Goldenhar-Gorlin syndrome]. PMID- 2623295 TI - [Tetanic crisis during preinduction of a woman scheduled for heart surgery]. PMID- 2623296 TI - [Use of the digital photoplethysmograph in the monitoring of neuromuscular block]. PMID- 2623297 TI - [Postoperative stridor caused by residual relaxation]. PMID- 2623298 TI - [Aortic stenosis with left ventricular systolic dysfunction: a severe disease but with good surgical prognosis]. AB - From our series of 72 patients with severe valvular aortic stenosis, we identified 19 showing features of left ventricular systolic disfunction (ventriculographic ejection fraction less than 55% and/or fractional shortening less than 30% at M-mode echocardiography). In these patients, we found a significant inverse correlation between the fractional shortening and the systolic wall stress (r = 0.79, p less than 0.001). Clinically, 18 of the 19 patients were in NYHA class III (n = 11) or IV (n = 5), and two died before they could be operated upon. The remaining 17 had their aortic valve replaced (coronary artery bypass surgery was simultaneously performed in 2 patients). After a mean follow-up of 18 months, all patients are alive and show substantial symptomatic improvement (15 patients in class I and 2 patients in class II). Cardiothoracic index was reduced (61 +/- 5% preoperatively versus 52 +/- 5% postoperatively), and fractional shortening changed from 21 +/- 5% to 30 +/- 5%. The latter remains under normal limits in two thirds of the patients. Our results lend support to the idea that the systolic left ventricular dysfunction in aortic stenosis is due to the increased afterload, rather than to an intrinsic contractility defect. This explains the great functional improvement after the reduction of the systolic wall stress achieved by surgery. PMID- 2623299 TI - [Endocarditis with Ionescu-Shiley's bioprosthesis. Long-term results]. AB - With the aim to attesting the ability of treated pericardial tissue to resist infection we analyzed the incidence of prosthetic valve endocarditis in 541 operative survivors with the Ionescu-Shiley (I-S) valve since January 1977. A total of 580 valves were available for the study, 21 (3.8%) sustained I-S endocarditis or 0.65% patients/annum. The mean age was 53.2 years; male/female ratio was 16/5. Native endocarditis was present in 20 cases (3.6%). There were 13 aortic endocarditis (2 in cases of multiple replacement) and eight mitral. The interval between insertion and endocarditis ranged from 2 weeks to 108 months (means 31); 8 cases were early I-S endocarditis (38%) and 13 late endocarditis (62%). The organisms isolated were: Staphylococcus (epidermidis, aureus) in 10 cases. Streptococcus (viridans, fecalis) in 7 cases, gram negative in three and no organism was cultured in 3 cases. The outcome was as follows: specific medical treatment in 4 cases (one early), valve re-replacement in 11 (four early) from whom eight survived, and 6 patients died with unspecific medical treatment. The total mortality rate 9/21 (43%), in early endocarditis 5/8 (62.5%) and in late endocarditis 5/13 (38%). Operative and necropsy findings in 12/21 showed always periprosthetic abscess but no leaflet perforations. The rate of I-S valve endocarditis compares favourably with other valve substitutes. Early re replacement combined with adequate antibiotic treatment is mandatory according to our experience. PMID- 2623300 TI - [Coronary angioplasty performed at the same time as diagnostic coronarography]. AB - To evaluate the results of coronary angioplasty performed during the diagnostic coronary angiogram, we have compared 185 of these procedures with the characteristics of 446 consecutive angioplasties accomplished in a separate procedure from the diagnostic angiogram. There were no differences in the clinical characteristics in both groups, but more angioplasties during diagnosis were indicated after a myocardial infarction (23% vs 10%, p less than 0.001), whereas less angioplasties in this group had prior stable angina (12% vs 21%, p less than 0.025). In addition, a greater number of the angioplasties during diagnosis were used in the treatment of restenosis (24% vs 5%, p less than 0.001), and the procedure was performed as a clinical emergency in 28% vs 2%, p less than 0.001. The initial angiographic success, and the final angioplasty success in the absence of mayor complications was 93% vs 88%, p less than 0.1, and 81% vs 82%, in the angioplasties performed during diagnosis and as a separate procedure, respectively. Therefore, in our experience, the angioplasty performed during the diagnostic coronary angiogram is an effective means of treatment in patients with coronary artery disease, in particular those after myocardial infarction or those presenting with restenosis, yielding a similar rate of success both, per lesion and per procedure, than the conventional approach, the angioplasty in a separate independent procedure. These results suggest that angioplasty performed during diagnosis probably could be extended to a greater number of patients. PMID- 2623301 TI - [Surgery of congenital cardiopathies without previous catheterization. Preoperative evaluation and surgical indication using bidimensional echocardiography and Doppler]. AB - With the non-invasive devices available nowadays, many congenital heart diseases may be diagnosed with a definition comparable and even perhaps superior to catheterization and angiography. According to this issue, from January 1983 to December 1987, 239 children underwent operations for palliation or correction of different cardiopathies based on an echo-Doppler assessment without prior catheterization. Preoperative echo-Doppler diagnoses had an adequate correlation with the surgical findings in 234 cases (97.9 percent), so there was no correlation in 5 cases. In general, we consider that echo-Doppler provides a complete and definitive diagnosis in most cases, thus eliminating the need for further invasive procedures, although we still have to rely on catheterization to obtain the necessary information or reassurance in some cases. Progressive increase of reliance in echo-Doppler techniques by the surgeon and self confidence of the cardiologist in his accurate state of the art will considerably increase the performance of cardiac operations without prior catheterization in the future. At present, this is our current policy, as day after day, we are increasing the diagnoses in which we consider unnecessary the catheterization to indicate surgery. PMID- 2623302 TI - [Heart myxoma. Surgical treatment]. AB - We reviewed all the patients who underwent surgical excision of cardiac myxomas at La Pitie during the last fifteen years. Fifty-one cases were found (32 female and 19 male) aging from 16 to 75 years (mean 51). Congestive heart failure was the primary symptom present in 28 patients. Thirteen patients presented peripheral embolization, four with syncope and 11 with tachyarrhythmias. The diagnosis was made either by echocardiography or angiography. All of them had correct preoperative diagnoses, and no tumors were found incidentally at operation. Forty-six myxomas were localized in the left atrium, four in the right atrium and one in the right ventricle. All the patients underwent open-heart operation and myxomas were successfully removed with excision of a portion of normal atrial septum or wall. Path reconstruction of the atrial septum was required thirty-six times. Mortality after surgical excision is very low. Only one death (1.96%) occurred as a result of a postoperative low output syndrome. Late recurrences have been reported in other series, but no recurrences were diagnosed in our patients up to the present. Although the recurrence rate is low, long-term clinical and echocardiographic follow-up is recommended. PMID- 2623303 TI - [Rupture of the mitral posteromedial papillary muscle associated with myxomatous mitral valve]. AB - We report a 52 year old man, who without previous thoracic trauma, cardiac diseases or cardiovascular risk factors presented after mild epigastric discomfort acute pulmonary oedema. He did not present clinical, electrocardiographic and biochemical manifestation of acute myocardial infarction. He was hospitalized and 15 days later he was sent to our hospital intubated and with assisted respiration. Haemodynamic studies showed severe acute mitral regurgitation and absence of significant obstructing lesions in the coronaries arteries. He was operated few hours after admission. The surgeon found a dysplasic mitral valve and rupture of a head of the posteromedial papillary muscle. The anatomopathological studies discovered mitral myxoid degeneration and ischemic lesion of the papillary muscle. We review the literature of the exclusive infarction of the papillary muscles and their possible relationships with the mitral prolapse syndrome. PMID- 2623304 TI - [Spontaneous regression of a heart rhabdomyoma in tuberous sclerosis. Apropos of a case]. AB - A case of cardiac rhabdomyoma diagnosed during the neonatal period is presented. The condition remitted spontaneously, as was observed by monitoring its course both clinically and by echocardiography. Surgical treatment of this rare condition should be assessed with care, both because of the risk involved in surgery and because of the possibility of a spontaneous cure in rhabdomyomas, which are usually grouped together, as in our case, in a general picture of tuberous sclerosis. PMID- 2623305 TI - ["Intraoperative controlled" or "enlarged" proximal gastric vagotomy, an excellent ulcer surgery, does it not have elective indications any more?]. AB - Proximal gastric vagotomy controlled by intraoperative testing, preferred for locating the zone of denervation (or "enlarged" to section of the gastroepiploic nerve, as these tests show), not only is the technique that has the lowest morbimortality but also a small number of recurrences, about 1%. In this study we prospectively and objectively evaluated (endoscopy, basal study, stimulated acid secretion and pH measurement) 88% of 777 vagotomies performed between 1971 and 1980 (10-17 years earlier) to demonstrate that the results are maintained and that after the fourth year the probability of recurrence is 2 per thousand. Acid secretion rises in a nonsignificant way, without reaching safety levels, during the first 5-9 years, remaining stabilized for at least 17 years except for duodenal recurrences that are due to incomplete denervation of the acid secretion zone, which continue to produce increased acid production. Out of 318 endoscopies, we only saw 3 "new gastric ulcers" in asymptomatic operated patients. As for the decline in the number of elective indications, this is more of less due to the occurrence of graver complications that must be urgently operated, and are accompanied by mortality. H2 or proton transport blockers heal the ulcer, but it remains to be demonstrated that after 10 years more than 95% will remain healed without grave complications, as occurs with surgery. The elective indication of efficient and safe surgery can be prophylactic against serious complications in the ulcer patient, which are responsible for mortality, a mortality that is not decreasing in the world population. PMID- 2623306 TI - [Vagotomy of the oxyntic cells associated with simple closing as surgical treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer. A comparative study with simple closing alone]. AB - To evaluate the incidence of ulcer recurrence, mortality and morbidity derived from the surgical technique, we made a prospective and randomized study in patients with perforated duodenal peptic ulcer, within 10 hours after the acute episode and without intercurrent serious diseases. In a total of 180 patients, oxyntic cell vagotomy (VCO) with simple closure or simple closure alone were performed alternatively in the period from 1971 to 1977. Periodic controls were established that included clinical, radiographic and gastroduodenoscopic evaluation. Twelve years after operation, 115 of the patients could be evaluated. Recurrence was defined as endoscopic or surgical evidence of the ulcerous lesion. The endoscopic results after 12 years showed 1.56% of relapses in the group that underwent oxyntic cell vagotomy with simple closure, and 54.9% in the group that only had simple closure (p less than 0.0005). There were also significant differences in the clinical and radiographic controls, and in the degree of comfort achieved with the technique. Mortality was null in both groups and there were no differences between the two techniques as regards morbidity. The results obtained in this study show that oxyntic cell vagotomy with simple closure of the perforation may be the technique of choice in the treatment of perforated duodenal peptic ulcer, which is why we think is should be more extensively used in emergency services. PMID- 2623307 TI - [Adenocarcinoma of the cardia: results of distal esophagectomy and total enlarged gastrectomy using left thoracophrenolaparotomy]. AB - An analysis was made of the results obtained in terms of postoperative complications, mortality and the 5-year survival rate in a series of 23 patients diagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the cardias who underwent total gastrectomy with distal esophagectomy via left thoracophrenolaparotomy, with esophagojejunostomy on a Roux-en-Y loop. We consider the results as favorable and conclude that this procedure has an application in adequately selected patients. PMID- 2623308 TI - [Cancer of the surgically treated stomach: 46 cases. II: Therapeutic and survival aspects]. AB - We made a retrospective study of stomach cancer operated in 46 cases between 1971 and 1988, based on therapeutic aspects and survival, observing that due to the generally late diagnosis of this neoplasm, the treatment, which is mainly surgical, produces a low 5-year survival rate in the majority of patients. In our series, partial gastrectomy was more predominant than total gastrectomy, and the overall 5-year survival is 11% and 13%, depending on whether postoperative mortality is included or not. We recommend the follow-up of all patients operated for benign gastric pathology, basically by endoscopy five years after the operation and throughout life, for the early diagnosis and improved prognosis of this neoplasm. PMID- 2623309 TI - [Non-specific chronic gastritis and gastric dysplasia, what is their clinical values?]. AB - Although nonspecific chronic gastritis and gastric dysplasia are considered as risk factors in the development of gastric cancer, the magnitude of this risk has not been well established. We made an endoscopic and histologic follow-up of 24 patients with an initial diagnosis of atrophic chronic gastritis and some degree of dysplasia over a period of 8 years. The first study revealed slight dysplasia in 8 patients, moderate dysplasia in 13 and severe dysplasia in 3. In our observation, dysplasia considered overall shows a probability of almost 54% of evolution to regression. In our study, the association of atrophic chronic gastritis and severe dysplasia is a reliable marker of gastric cancer. We think it is opportune to carry out periodic follow-ups by endoscopy and biopsy of patients with chronic gastritis and dysplasia. PMID- 2623310 TI - [Morphology of chronic gastritis associated with Campylobacter pylori infection]. AB - Recently, a close relation has been found between infection of the gastric mucosa by Campylobacter pylori and chronic gastritis. To establish the possible existence of characteristic morphologic changes in this disease, which can be differentiated from other unrelated forms of gastritis, we analyzed the antral biopsies obtained from 75 patients, 35 with duodenal peptic ulcer and 40 with nonulcerous dyspepsia. The diagnosis of C. pylori infection is based on positive biopsy culture or, if not, when following three requirements are met: positive urease test before 24 hours, identification of the germ by Gram stain and visualization in the tissue of microorganisms with morphology similar to that of C. pylori. We found that 85.5% of the 55 patients with C. pylori infection present active chronic gastritis with lymphoid nodes (GCA + NL), while this morphology is only found in 5 of the 20 uninfected patients. The association of GCA + NL with C. pylori infection is highly significant (p less than 0.0001). We think that it could be a local immunologic response to the stimulus of the bacterial antigen, and that it has sufficient morphologic entity to differentiate it from other inflammatory processes of the gastric mucosa of still unknown etiology. PMID- 2623311 TI - [Atypical forms of duodenal ulcer]. AB - In view of the lack of studies on the percentage of atypical forms of duodenal ulcer, we made one based on our cases, analyzing separately the location, hours and time periods. We personally studied 3,120 duodenal ulcers, considering as atypical those that diverged form the norm in any of the 3 variables. The epigastrium was considered to be the characteristic location, extending from the infraxiphoid zone to the navel, although there can be simultaneous pain in other abdominal zones, the breast or back. The hour was found to be more than an hour after the feeding. Time intervals of more than 2 months without discomfort were established and the pain intervals lasted from 10 days to 2 months. Complicated ulcers were not considered. Atypical duodenal ulcers represent more than a fourth, 27.37%. Of the three variants, one the most common and three were less frequent. The absence of pain during determined time periods in more than two thirds is emphasized, while those without a pattern of hours and of atypical location are more or less equal. We note that the absence of determined time periods represents 80% of atypical duodenal ulcers and a fifth of all duodenal ulcers. PMID- 2623312 TI - [Leiomyoma of the subdiaphragmatic esophagus, with intra-abdominal course, in patients with duodenal ulcer with hemorrhagic episodes]. AB - As a result of the occurrence of a case of esophageal leiomyoma with intra abdominal growth, we made a detailed study of it and a summary of the topic of benign muscular tumors of the esophagus. PMID- 2623313 TI - [Dieulafoy's vascular disease]. AB - Four cases are reported of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by Dieulafoy's vascular disease treated in our service over the last 15 years. In all these patients bleeding was from an unusually long artery with a tortuous trajectory through the gastric submucosa that eroded the mucosa and caused blood loss. In 75% of the cases it was located 6 cm below the gastroesophageal junction, near the small curvature. The diagnosis is usually made by endoscopy or during emergency gastrostomy. The most effective therapeutic measure is surgical resection. PMID- 2623314 TI - [Eclectic surgery of gastroesophageal reflux-hiatal hernia]. AB - We have reviewed 1,725 cases of RGE-HH, corresponding to the period between February 1967 to July 1989; the total number of clinical histories in that period of time was 17,553. Of this series, 1,594 (92.OFF were sliding hernias; 214 (12.4%) were operated. In order to prevent recurrences, in 146 cases (68.2%) of sliding hernia, which we expose in the present paper, we have employed different surgical techniques, associated to the pexia of the round ligament. Presently, the surgical technique of our preference is the anterior SemiNissen or Dor's hemivalve, with closure of the His' angle, the hiatus and the pillars of the diaphragm, when indicated, and pexia of the round ligament. There has not been mortality and the results have been excellent in 81.6% of the cases; good in 10.3%; fair in 4.5%, and poor or recurrence in 3.4%. PMID- 2623315 TI - [Chronic intestinal inflammatory disease. Review of our case load]. AB - A review was made of the differences between 21 cases of Crohn's disease and 40 cases of ulcerative colitis, diagnosed in the same 10-year period. In terms of sex, age, symptoms, location, complications and evolution, the findings were similar to those obtained in England and northern Europe. PMID- 2623316 TI - [Experimental peritonitis: sequential bacteriologic study of the lymph and blood]. AB - In 7 dogs with fecal peritonitis, induced by incision of the cecum, and in the same number of control animals the thoracic duct was cannulized at the neck level together with a femoral vein for the purpose of sequential study of the routes of bacterial dissemination. The findings show: a) rapid appearance of germs in lymph and then in blood in animals with peritonitis, b) a progressive increase in the number of species isolated in each sample, and c) that the lymphatic flow and drainage of bacterias lasted throughout the 12 hours that the experiment lasted. The microbes isolated in lymph and blood were related to the flora of the intestinal segment where the infection originated, with development of a large number of anaerobic species. PMID- 2623317 TI - [Diagnostic imaging in digestive pathology]. PMID- 2623318 TI - [Computerization of a general surgery service]. PMID- 2623319 TI - [Energy expenditure at rest and body composition in obese subjects before and after weight loss]. AB - In 7 obese subjects (3 males and 4 females), before (T0) and after (T60) weight loss, and in 10 nonobese subjects (4 males and 6 females) as controls, resting energy expenditure (REE) and body composition were evaluated. In obese subjects fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) were significantly reduced after weight loss. REE, expressed in absolute value, was significantly higher in obese subjects at T0 with respect to controls (1683 +/- 77.3 vs. 1425 +/- 70.5 Kcal/day; p less than 0.05); in obese group REE was significantly lower at T60 (1563 +/- 63.5 Kcal/day) than at T0 (p less than 0.01). The decrease in REE observed in the obese group after weight loss was related only to the loss of FFM (r = 0.88; p less than 0.01). REE, expressed in relation to FFM, was not different between control and obese subjects at T0 (28.64 +/- 0.42 vs 26.40 +/- 1.08 Kcal/Kg-FFM/day; pns); however, this value was significantly lower in the obese group at T60 (25.99 +/- 1.07 Kcal/Kg-FFM/day) with respect to controls (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that a reduction in REE, due at least in part to the loss of FFM, may contribute to the difficulty in the maintenance of body weight often observed in obese subjects after a period on hypocaloric diet. PMID- 2623320 TI - [Zinc sulfate in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis]. AB - We evaluated oral zinc sulphate as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) in psoriatic arthritis in a preliminary open uncontrolled trial. Twenty patients with psoriatic arthritis were given oral zinc sulphate three times a day at total dose of 600 mg/die, i.e. 120 mg/die of elemental zinc, for 6 months. The 18 patients who completed the trial showed a significant decrease in the number of swollen (p less than 0.01) and tender (p less than 0.05) joints, Ritchie articular index (p less than 0.01), need for nosteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (p less than 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p less than 0.01), and plasma copper level (p less than 0.001). We suggest that zinc sulphate may be an effective and well-tolerated DMARD in psoriatic arthritis. To more strictly verify these preliminary data, a double-blind placebo controlled study is in progress. PMID- 2623321 TI - Hyperthyroidism associated with primary cirrhosis. Two case reports. AB - Only a single case of Graves' disease has been reported so far in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC), whereas hypothyroidism is a rather common association. We report two cases of hyperthyroidism associated with PBC. A common pathogenic mechanism involving HLA II class antigens is suggested. PMID- 2623322 TI - [Necrotizing lymphadenitis without granulocytic infiltration or Kikuchi disease. Description of 5 cases]. AB - The authors describe five cases of necrotizing lymphadenitis without granulocyte infiltration or Kikuchi's disease. Of the patients, all young, four were females and one of male sex. In one case serological positivity was found for the anti Toxoplasma antibodies. Histologically they are noted in the lymph node infiltration areas constituted by histiocytes, immunoblasts, lymphocytes and plasmacytoid cells with phenomena of variable degree necrosis. Granulocytes were absent in all. Cytochemistry and immunohistochemistry studies with specific antiserums for the k and lambda chains, the S100 protein and the MB1, MB2 and MT1 antigens, the Lisozyme and the alpha 1 antichymotrypsin, show a prevalent histiocyte population, associated with a modest polyclonal B component and with a T population of variable entity. The plasmacytoid component did not appear reactive to the same antibodies. PMID- 2623323 TI - [A case of wet beriberi]. AB - The AA. report a case of thymine acute deficiency in a 35 year old chronic alcoholic and malnourished male, who was admitted to the hospital because of high output heart failure, peripheral polyneuropathy, cortico-cerebellar atrophy (associated with RMN), ataxia and peripheral edema. The diagnosis of wet Beri beri combined with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome was made and appropriate therapy with pulse daily dose of parenteral thymine instituted. At the fifth day of therapy the cardio-circulatory hyperkinetic syndrome was markedly improved and after three weeks neurological damage was also alleviated. The AA. outline the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for this form of high-output heart failure, which has a poor prognosis and, if left untreated, can determine the death of the patient in a few days. PMID- 2623324 TI - Circadian rhythmicity of plasma amino acid variations in healthy subjects. AB - The circadian periodicity of plasma amino acids (AA) was explored using Cosinor analysis. Six healthy subjects eating a standard diet (30 Kcal and 1 g of protein/Kg of body weight) were studied. Plasma samples for AA determination were taken at 07:00, 11:00, 15:00, 17:00, 21:00 and 24:00. The majority of AA showed an increment in the evening samples. This 24-h variability led to a circadian rhythmicity for all AA, except for taurine, threonine, glutamate, alanine, cystine, and total tryptophan. On average, the fluctuation was approximately 15% of the mesor and the acrophase timing was between 17:00 and 22:00. PMID- 2623325 TI - [Salmon calcitonin nasal spray in the treatment of Paget's disease]. AB - Salmon calcitonin (sCT) is biologically effective when intranasally (i.n.) administered. CT is the treatment of choice for Paget's disease; however, the chronic nature of the disease makes parenteral administration uncomfortable due to the high incidence of adverse reactions occurring after CT injection. The aim of our study was to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a sCT i.n. spray in the long-term treatment of Paget's disease. Ten pts (4M,6F; age between 58-74 years) with radiological lesions characteristic of Paget's disease, serum alkaline phosphatase (sALP) levels at least 50% above the normal range and never treated for their disease before, were given 200 IU/day of sCT nasal spray for 6 months. sALP levels were measured at month 3 and 6 of therapy; clinical data were recorded every month. sALP levels significantly dropped after 3 months of treatment (72 +/- 6% of basal level, p less than 0.01). After 6 months of therapy sALP levels were similar to the 3 month levels. Pain and functional impairment self-evaluated by the patients decreased after 6 months of therapy: pain index from 5.5 +/- 2.2 to 2.1 +/- 1.1, p less than 0.01; functional impairment index from 2.2 +/- 0.5 to 0.7 +/- 0.5, p less than 0.01. Side-effects were not observed during the entire period of the study. In conclusion, the 200 IU daily regimen of the i.n. spray of sCT without absorption enhancer was, for our patients, effective, safe, and well tolerated in the long-term therapy of Paget's disease. PMID- 2623326 TI - [Use of activated charcoal plasmafiltration in the treatment of hyperthyroidism]. AB - We evaluated the use of activated charcoal plasmaperfusion in four patients already treated with synthetic antithyroid agents affected by severe hyperthyroid. Our patients showed no significant side-effect and a rapid improvement of their symptoms. Thyroid hormone levels were 30% lower after the procedure, but returned to previous levels after 7-10 days. Activated charcoal plasmaperfusion may represent a useful therapeutic adjunct to antithyroid drugs in patients affected by severe hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxic storm. PMID- 2623327 TI - Adjuvant therapy of primary breast cancer. PMID- 2623328 TI - Critical review of problems of rational follow-up and salvage therapy. PMID- 2623329 TI - Endocrine effects of adjuvant chemotherapy in premenopausal women: suggestions for the future. PMID- 2623330 TI - Critical review of adjuvant therapy in premenopausal patients. PMID- 2623331 TI - New trends in breast cancer surgery. PMID- 2623332 TI - Critical review: methodology of adjuvant trials and interpretation of results. PMID- 2623333 TI - Rehabilitation of patients with primary breast cancer: assessing the impact of adjuvant therapy. PMID- 2623334 TI - Coping and survival in patients with primary breast cancer: a critical analysis of current research strategies and proposal of a new approach integrating biomedical, psychological, and social variables. PMID- 2623335 TI - Behavioral side effects of adjuvant chemotherapy. PMID- 2623336 TI - Critical review of quality of life: psychosocial aspects of adjuvant therapy in breast cancer. PMID- 2623337 TI - Experimental basis and clinical reality of preoperative (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy in breast cancer. PMID- 2623338 TI - Time course and prognosis of mammary failure following breast-conserving therapy. PMID- 2623339 TI - Factors associated with local recurrence as a first site of failure following the conservative treatment of early breast cancer. PMID- 2623340 TI - Renal nuclear magnetic resonance. PMID- 2623341 TI - Renal nuclear magnetic resonance. An introduction. PMID- 2623342 TI - 23Na, 19F, 35Cl and 31P multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance studies of perfused rat kidney. AB - The concentration of intracellular sodium [Na+]i has been measured in the perfused rat kidney using 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in combination with the extracellular shift reagent Dy(PPPi)7-(2). The data show 100% visibility of Na+ in interstitial spaces. A measurement of the resonance intensities of intra- and extracellular 23Na ions along with a knowledge of the extracellular space as a fraction of the total kidney water space yielded an average [Na+]i of 27 +/- 2 mM for the kidney at 37 degrees C. After prolonged ischemia [Na+]i rose to approach that in the external medium. In the absence of 5% albumin in the perfusion medium, the linewidth of the 35Cl resonance of an adult kidney (45 Hz) was about twofold larger than that of the medium alone (25 Hz). In contrast, the linewidth of 35Cl resonance of an adult kidney perfused with an albumin containing medium (82 Hz) was only about 27% of that from the medium alone (300 Hz). We interpret this effect to be due to compartmentation of albumin in the extracellular space such that the interstitial space is not freely accessible to albumin. However, for a developing, immature kidney from a growing animal, perfused with an albumin-containing medium, the linewidth of the 35Cl resonance (233 Hz) was only slightly less than that of the medium alone (300 Hz), indicating a much greater albumin permeability of the capillary walls. 19F NMR of a perfused adult kidney, loaded with the membrane-impermeant intracellular calcium indicator 5FBAPTA, yielded a value of 256 nM for [Ca2+]i. Induction of ischemia for 10 min caused the [Ca2+]i to rapidly rise to 660 nM, which could not be fully reversed by reperfusion, suggesting irreversible injury. PMID- 2623343 TI - 31P nuclear magnetic resonance and saturation transfer studies of the isolated perfused rat kidney. AB - Previous studies using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) saturation transfer techniques to quantitate the energy metabolism of the kidney have often resulted in estimates of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) turnover which are much lower than those predicted from the renal oxygen consumption and reasonable values of the P/O ratio. We measured the ATP turnover in isolated perfused kidneys of rats, using 31P NMR saturation transfer and a new procedure for quantitation of the intracellular Pi concentration. The estimated turnover rates of ATP were higher than previously reported. The P/O ratios calculated on the basis of these rates of ATP turnover and rates of renal oxygen consumption reported in the literature were within the range of theoretically possible values. Thus, 31P NMR saturation transfer can be used to quantitate the ATP turnover in the isolated perfused rat kidney. PMID- 2623344 TI - Magnetic resonance study of renal transplantation. AB - In the last few years, we have focused our research effort on the magnetic resonance spectroscopic (NMR) studies of organ transplantation in the rat. P-31 NMR was employed to study changes in high-energy phosphates, intracellular pH in vivo of transplanted kidneys either during normal function, while undergoing the rejection process or subjected to other insults (e.g. ischemia, cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, urinary obstruction) which may also cause graft dysfunction. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) parameters, specifically relative peak areas and intracellular pH, accurately distinguished among the different causes of graft dysfunction. Ureteral obstruction was clearly identified by elevations in the phosphodiester/urine phosphate peak. Ischemia and rejection were both associated with increases in inorganic phosphates and phosphomonesters and decreases in the beta-phosphate peak of adenosine triphosphate but were distinguishable from each other by differences in intracellular pH which was normal in rejected allografts (7.33 +/- 0.07, n = 3) and low in ischemic allografts (7.00 +/- 0.05, n = 3, p less than 0.05). Grafts insulted with cyclosporine toxicity were not distinguishable from normal allografts by any of the parameters studied. To determine the temporal relationship of NMR changes in allograft rejection, similar studies were performed serially in a group of rejecting (R) kidneys (n = 7) and compared with a control group of nonrejecting (NR) kidneys (n = 7). Major decrease in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) with increases in Pi and a marked increase in the Pi/ATP ratio were noted in the R allografts over time. The R allografts could be completely segregated from the NR allografts on the basis of the Pi/ATP ratio by day 7. These data suggest that 31P NMR spectroscopy may have potential clinical application in differentiating among the causes of graft failure of human renal allografts. PMID- 2623345 TI - Methylamines and polyols in kidney, urinary bladder, urine, liver, brain, and plasma. An analysis using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. AB - Methylamines and polyols are known to behave as organic osmolytes in the adaptation of many cells to hyperosmolar conditions. Using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to analyze perchloric acid extracts we have examined several tissues in the rat for the presence of these compounds. Methylamines such as glycerophosphorylcholine, choline and betaine were observed in the renal inner medulla, urinary bladder, urine, liver, brain, and plasma. Myoinositol was relatively abundant in the renal inner medulla and brain whereas sorbitol was detected only in the inner medulla. A variety of unidentified compounds was also detected in each tissue. Although these methylamines and polyols are known to respond to osmotic changes in the renal inner medulla, their responses in other tissues remain to be investigated. PMID- 2623346 TI - Biochemical aspects of renal function. Selected papers from the 1st joint meeting of the American Society of Renal Biochemistry and Metabolism with the 9th International Symposium on Biochemical Aspects of Kidney Function. Salamanca, Spain, June, 1989. PMID- 2623347 TI - Immunohistochemical localization of 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in rat kidney with monoclonal antibody. AB - Monoclonal antibody (MAb) against 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-HSD) has been raised by immunization of female balb/c mice. 11-HSD from solubilized rat renal microsomal protein could be bound in a modified ELISA using antimouse IgG and MAb against 11-HSD. On Western blots of solubilized rat renal microsomes the MAb recognized a single protein band of an approximate molecular weight of 35 kD. Immunohistochemical staining of rat renal tissue with the above MAb and the APAAP staining technique displayed a heterogenous reginal and subcellular distribution: glomeruli and arterioles were practically devoid of specific staining, as were epithelial cells in inner and outer medulla. Intense immunostaining was observed in PCT and particularly in PST, appearing granular with highest density around the nuclei. Here the enzyme bound to intracellular membranes may exert an autocrine function such as signal inactivation. In contrast to cortex, staining of interstitial cells was observed in renal medulla. The latter localization is compatible with the concept of a paracrine function of 11-HSD which might prevent corticosterone from gaining access to collecting duct cells. PMID- 2623348 TI - Volume-regulatory potassium release from isolated perfused rat kidney. AB - The present study has been performed to test for cell volume regulatory potassium release from the isolated perfused rat kidney exposed to hypotonic perfusate and for its sensitivity to potassium channel blocker barium and calcium channel blocker verapamil. Replacement of 25 mmol/l NaCl with 50 mmol/l mannitol has little effect on effluent potassium activity, whereas subsequent omission of mannitol from the perfusate leads to a transient increase of effluent potassium activity, reflecting volume regulatory potassium release. Barium (1 mmol/l) leads to a marked transient decrease of effluent potassium activity, pointing to net cellular uptake of potassium. Verapamil (1 mumol/l) leads to a slight decrease of effluent potassium activity. Both barium and verapamil virtually abolish the rapid, transient increase of effluent potassium activity upon exposure to hypotonic perfusates. Thus, the substances either block or markedly retard volume regulatory potassium release. The apparent renal vascular resistance is transiently increased by exposure to hypotonic perfusates and by barium, but is reduced by verapamil. Cell volume regulation of isolated perfused mouse straight proximal tubules is retarded but not abolished by verapamil (0.1 mmol/l). In conclusion, cellular potassium release from rat kidney can be determined by continuous measurement of effluent potassium activity. The volume regulatory potassium release and cell volume regulation are impaired by both barium and verapamil. The persisting cell volume regulation could be due either to slow potassium release and/or some mechanism independent of potassium. PMID- 2623349 TI - Metabolic regulation of organic osmolytes in tubules from rat renal inner and outer medulla. AB - Glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC), sorbitol and inositol were quantitated in renal tubule suspensions from inner and outer medulla of untreated Sprague-Dawley rats to study the regulation of organic osmolyte concentrations under different metabolic conditions and varying extracellular osmolalities in vitro. Inner medullary tubules prepared in hypertonic saline (550 mosm/kg) contained osmolyte concentrations comparable to those found in the kidney in vivo. Incubation for up to 8 h at 5 mmol/l glucose increased sorbitol in the inner medullary tubules and medium in an osmolality-dependent fashion, whereas GPC and inositol remained constant. At a given glucose concentration the rate of sorbitol formation decreased linearly with increasing tubular sorbitol concentration, which was regulated by an osmolality-dependent export mechanism. Perturbation of tubular mechanisms by inhibition of glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation did not change the tubular osmolyte content. In contrast to papilla outer medullary tubules contained only inositol. Lactate added as a metabolic substrate to the outer medullary tubules did not change the cellular inositol levels. In outer medullary tubules osmolality changes (320-710 mosm/kg) had no effect on tubular inositol. Addition of furosemide was without effect, when added in vitro. The results indicate that tubular sorbitol formation is regulated by glucose concentration, the level of tubular sorbitol, and an osmolality-dependent export mechanism. In contrast, cellular inositol and GPC levels seem to be independent of acute changes in tubular metabolism. PMID- 2623350 TI - Endocytosis and phosphate transport in OK epithelial cells. AB - Endocytosis was studied in OK epithelial cells, an established cell line from opossum kidney. The presence of fluid-phase endocytosis in these cells was demonstrated by measuring cell uptake of lucifer yellow and horseradish peroxidase. The intracellular distribution of lucifer yellow fluorescence was consistent with uptake by endocytosis. Endocytosis was inhibited in medium made hyperosmolar by addition of sucrose. In hyperosmolar medium the action of parathyroid hormone on Na+/phosphate cotransport was significantly diminished. We suggest that an intact endocytic mechanism is required for the full inhibitory effect of parathyroid hormone on Na+/phosphate cotransport. PMID- 2623351 TI - Fluorescence measurement of intracellular pH on proximal tubule suspensions. The need for a BCECF sink. AB - BCECF is used for intracellular pH (pHi) measurement in microperfused tubules. In this case, the perfusate washes out all BCECF leaking from the cells away from the optical light path. We have explored the use of BCECF for pHi determination on suspensions of dog renal proximal tubules (Percoll). This raises specific problems due to the accumulation of BCECF in the extracellular compartment generated by desesterification of BCECF-AM during loading and to leaking of BCECF into the extracellular medium occurring during the waiting time and during the measurement procedure. Repeated washing of the suspension reduced in part this contamination but did not eliminate the continuous leakage of BCECF: the specific intracellular signal is progressively reduced. We have examined the use of anion exchange resin (Dowex 1X-8, 200-400 mesh, Cl- form) to bind the extracellular BCECF (negatively charged). Dowex beads glued to one wall of the cuvette out of the optical path constitute an optically neutral sink removing BCECF as it leaks out of the cells. Using this technique, we had estimated the pHi of dog proximal tubule to 7.374 +/- 0.032 at extracellular pH of 7.325 +/- 0.021. The cellular pH is acutely, but transiently, alkalinized by NH4Cl and acidified by Na acetate. The BCECF signal was calibrated using nigericin. This technique improves significantly the measurement of pHi by BCECF fluorescence in tissue suspensions. PMID- 2623352 TI - Role of cathepsin B and L in anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis in rats. AB - We have examined the potential role of the cysteine proteinases, cathepsin B and L, in renal tubular protein degradation and increased permeability of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) which occurs in a neutrophil- and complement independent model of anti-GBM antibody disease. The specific activity of cathepsin L, but not cathepsin B, was significantly increased (157%, p greater than 0.01) in cortical homogenates (85-90% tubules) prepared from anti-GBM treated rats compared to saline-treated controls. Using highly purified cathepsin B and L, we documented the ability of these proteinases to degrade albumin in vitro (Km 5.92 and 0.22 microM for B and L, respectively). In two separate studies, treatment of rats with trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-(4 guanidino)butane, (E-64), a specific and irreversible inhibitor of cysteine proteinases, significantly reduced proteinuria (-45 and -41%, p less than 0.01) in the 24-hour period following injection of the anti-GBM IgG. Taken together, these data suggest an important role for cysteine proteinases in the increased tubular protein degradation which occurs in response to increased filtered protein loads and in the increased GBM permeability (proteinuria) characteristic of glomerular disease. PMID- 2623353 TI - The kinetics of papillotoxic doses of 3H-N-phenylanthranilic acid in rats. AB - N-phenylanthranilic acid (N-PAA; 4 mmol/kg/day p.o.) causes a diffuse renal papillary necrosis and a polyuria in 7 days. A single dose of 3H-N-PAA was widely distributed with second-order elimination kinetics, t1/2 +/- 50 h for stomach, heart, kidney, and bladder and t1/2 greater than or equal to 90 h for liver, spleen, muscle and lung. The estimated plasma t1/2 = 10.2 h, and over 75% was excreted via urine in 36 h and 13% via faeces in 72 h. In chronically cannulated animals 29% of N-PAA-derived material was in bile and 24% in urine at 36 h, which suggests enterohepatic circulation. Bile and urine contained several metabolites but no parent compound. Multiple doses for 8 and 16 days increased urinary N-PAA excretion to 90% in 36 h, but faecal contents decreased to 6-8% in 72 h and plasma t1/2 to less than or equal to 7.5 h. PMID- 2623354 TI - Measurement of affective states in adults. Evaluation of an adjective rating scale instrument. AB - A cross-sectional sample of adults, ages 20-79, were administered an adjective rating scale instrument measuring multiple affective states, including items from the Profile of Mood States (POMS) instrument. Confirmatory item factor analysis supported, for the most part, a priori assignments of items to scales based upon prior research, but revealed a few small, additional item factors that were cross validated in a second sample. Items measuring different aspects of psychological distress, including anxiety and depressive affect, showed appreciable skew and kurtosis, with a substantial proportion of respondents indicating no perceived distress. Items measuring psychological well-being tended to show more normal response distributions. Tests of age-related invariance in item factor structure indicated that the unstandardized factor pattern weights (loadings) were not fully equivalent across two age groups, but showed that the same configuration of items loading on factors was supported. The scales perform well enough to justify continued use in older populations, but further research on the contributions of item distributions to age differences in factor loadings is needed. PMID- 2623355 TI - Social relations and the self-esteem of older persons. AB - This study employs survey data from a sample of persons 55 years of age and older to examine the antecedents of self-esteem. Hypotheses are derived from a theoretical orientation that hinges on the ability of the individual to terminate relations that might be productive of negative reflected appraisals. Consistent with hypotheses, friendship interaction is positively related to self-esteem, whereas kinship interaction is not. Marital satisfaction also affects self-esteem positively; among men, this effect is stronger for the retired than for the employed. Finally, never-married and nonemployed older women have lower self esteem than other women have. Implications are drawn regarding the importance and role of self-esteem in theories of psychological well-being among older persons. PMID- 2623356 TI - Historical trends in status attainment. AB - Inquiry into the question of historical trends in status attainment will, in this article, involve the comparison of different age groups and different age groups across time. Mindful of limitations in interpreting differences between age groups as historical trends, this study provides such an analysis. Data for this study are from the NORC General Social Survey (July 1988, University of Chicago) and cover the time period from 1973 to 1988. The data offers an opportunity to both examine certain features of historical change as well as to ascertain its stability. PMID- 2623357 TI - Coping resources and selective survival in mental health of the elderly. AB - Analysis of longitudinal data (1975-1984) from the Cleveland GAO study shows that physical health and social support emerge as major coping resources for forestalling decline in mental health among the elderly over a nine-year period. However, social resources and poorer self-assessed physical health, which are significant predictors of decline in emotional health, have no effect in loss of cognitive ability, suggesting a biological component in such loss. However mortality over the nine-year time span is related to poorer initial mental health and cognitive ability, thus revealing that selective survival masks the extent to which mental conditions decline over time, with impaired White males the least likely to survive. Although measures of mental health and cognitive skills play a major role in predicting mortality, taken together they are less significant in explanatory power than the availability of social resources. PMID- 2623358 TI - Age discrimination in earnings in a dual-economy market. AB - Age discrimination in earnings has been difficult to establish because of the confounding effects of human capital variables that deteriorate as workers grow older. To assess the extent to which declining earnings result from discrimination, this study examines the age-earnings relationship for a panel of older workers in 1966 and 1976, simultaneously controlling for human capital variables and other variables related to both age and earnings. In addition, following literature that suggests that the economic sector in which employed influences this relationship, interactions by core/periphery sector are examined. Age-based discrimination is found for core sector workers, and as expected, becomes more prevalent as the workers grow older. These findings are discussed in light of claims that older workers, especially in the core sector, have lost power in the work place. PMID- 2623359 TI - Well-being in the postparental stage in Mexican-American women. AB - There has been limited research documenting the effects of the postparental stage of the family cycle in Mexican-American women. This study compared the psychological and physical well-being of middle-aged Mexican-American women from San Antonio who had children present in the home with those who no longer had any children present in the home (postparental). The findings are consistent with the results from studies with other groups that indicate that the postparental stage does not appear to have negative consequences on the psychological and physical well-being of women. However, employment appears to be associated with higher well-being regardless of the stage in the life cycle. PMID- 2623360 TI - Rearrangement of the immunoglobulin kappa light chain genes in a b4 rabbit and a Basilea rabbit. AB - The immunoglobulin chi light chain gene family of the rabbit is characterized by the presence of two constant region exons, C chi 1 and C chi 2 encoded at the chi 1 and chi 2 loci, and linked to their own cluster of joining pieces (J chi). The gene segments at the two loci are very unequally expressed. Thus, in domestic rabbits, the immunoglobulin light chains are essentially of the chi 1 type, even though the gene segments at the chi 2 locus are structurally functional. We have investigated the origin of the weak expression of the genes at the chi 2 locus by analysing the pattern of rearrangement of the chi 1 and chi 2 J chi segments in rabbit B-cell populations. Southern blot analysis of B cells isolated from a rabbit expressing chi 1 light chains suggests that the genes at the chi 2 locus underwent very few, if any, rearrangements. However, using more sensitive approaches, it was possible to detect transcripts originating from the rearranged chi 2 locus. In contrast, in B cells isolated from a Basilea rabbit, which cannot express chi 1 chains, Southern blots revealed the rearrangement of the chi 2 genes, whereas the chi 1 rearranged fragments were barely detectable. These results could be explained either by preferential rearrangement of genes at the chi 1 locus or by clonal amplification of only cells producing chi 1. Furthermore, results of Southern blot analysis provide evidence that V-J recombination may be accompanied by an inversion of the intervening DNA region. PMID- 2623361 TI - Influence of the Ity gene on salmonella infections. PMID- 2623362 TI - Lsh: origins and growth of a cottage industry. PMID- 2623363 TI - Multipurpose role for RAP1, a yeast DNA looping protein. PMID- 2623364 TI - Enterobacter cancerogenus (Urosevic, 1966) Dickey and Zumoff 1988, a senior subjective synonym of Enterobacter taylorae Farmer et al. (1985). AB - Strains labelled Enterobacter cancerogenus (Erwinia cancerogena) and strains labelled Enterobacter taylorae were found to constitute a single DNA-relatedness group (S1 nuclease hybridization method). Furthermore, no phenotypic test among the conventional and nutritional tests performed could differentiate Enterobacter cancerogenus from Enterobacter taylorae. Therefore, Enterobacter cancerogenus (Urosevic, 1966) Dickey and Zumoff, 1968, is a senior subjective synonym for Enterobacter taylorae Farmer et al., 1985. PMID- 2623365 TI - Determination of G + C content of DNA using high-performance liquid chromatography for the identification of staphylococci and micrococci. AB - The guanine-plus-cytosine (G + C) content of different species of Staphylococcus and Micrococcus was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Purified bacterial DNA was hydrolysed by nuclease P1. The nucleotides were separated by chromatography and quantified by measurement of the optical density at 260 nm. The G + C content of staphylococci ranged from 31.5 to 37.9 moles %, and that of micrococci from 68.7 to 75.2. Most of our results were comparable to those obtained with the thermal method. PMID- 2623366 TI - Biotype and Lior serogroup distribution of enteric Campylobacter isolated from children in Bangui (Central African Republic), and comparison with Penner serotypes. AB - The new extended biotyping scheme of Lior as well as the slide agglutination technique were applied to 209 strains of enteric Campylobacter isolated from children in Bangui (Central African Republic). Three biotypes of C. jejuni and 2 biotypes of C. coli were identified among the strains; 31.1% were C. jejuni I, 11% C. jejuni II, 2.4% C. jejuni III, 44% C. coli I and 11.5% C. coli II. We were able to serotype 71.3% of the strains with 20 immune sera prepared against strains of Campylobacter isolated previously; 63% of the strains were distributed among the ten most common serogroups. No significant difference was observed in the distribution of biotypes or serogroups between strains from healthy and diarrhoeic children. Comparison of Lior serogroups with Penner serotypes showed that different Penner serotypes may correspond to a Lior serogroup and vice versa. PMID- 2623367 TI - Role of transmembrane electrical potential on cadmium fixation by a marine pseudomonad. AB - The role of cellular energy, and mainly that of electrical transmembrane potential, in cadmium fixation by a marine pseudomonad suspended in a mineral medium was investigated by studying the effects of ionophores. Although fixation of cadmium by cells was generally less when respiratory activity was inhibited, it was not affected by a reduction of the transmembrane electrical potential delta psi in mureinoplasts. These observations strongly suggest that cadmium fixation in this isolate was not the result of a delta psi-dependent active transport. PMID- 2623368 TI - Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus surface properties in relation to their adherence to human buccal epithelial cells. AB - Adherence to host cells by pathogenic bacteria is achieved through both specific and non-specific mechanisms. The former involve bacterial adhesin and corresponding cell receptors (Gibbons and Van Houte, 1980), while the second include electric charges and hydrophobicity of bacterial cell walls. In a previous study (Beck et al., 1988), we showed that these two cell surface characteristics vary during growth of Staphylococcus aureus in a manner which should promote adherence to host cells. The aims of the current study were to assess: (1) whether the same growth-related variations in surface properties were present in another bacterial species, Streptococcus pneumoniae; (2) whether the adherence of the two types of bacteria to epithelial cells was in fact different at different growth times; and (3) whether such differences were consistent with the observed surface properties. PMID- 2623369 TI - Supplement devoted to the 1st WASOG meeting. Estoril, Lisbon Coast, October 22th 24th, 1989. PMID- 2623370 TI - Is broncho-alveolar lavage a mirror of granulomas in the lung? PMID- 2623371 TI - The macrophage in sarcoid granuloma formation. AB - Sarcoid granulomata result from aberrant immunological reactions initiated by antigen--presenting macrophage--like cells, and maintained by other effector macrophages. These macrophages can be distinguished phenotypically by monoclonal antibodies RFD1 and RFD7 (which recognize dendritic cells and mature macrophages respectively). Active sarcoid BAL contains a high proportion of RFD1 + cells (mean 44.7% compared to 12% in normals). Much of this increase is accounted for by the emergence of macrophages with the double phenotype RFD1 + D7 + (27.2% compared to 7% in normals), the proportion of which increases with disease severity and returns to normal in remission. When isolated from BAL by using plastic plate adherence and metrizamide density gradient, this hitherto unknown RFD1 + D7 + subset displays distinctive phenotypic, physiological and functional features. Unlike RFD1 + D7-cells, RFD1 + D7 + macrophages adhere to plastic, are acid phosphatase positive with increased phagocytosis, have marked Fc and c3b receptor expression, and suppress T-lymphocyte reactivity. In active sarcoidosis, this suppressive action is accentuated, and a greater proportion of RFD1 + D7 + cells express Fc receptors as well as a separate antigen RFD9 (which identifies epithelioid cells). Furthermore we have observed that gamma-interferon, produced in high concentration by activated T-lymphocytes induces not only HLA-DR molecules on cells, but has also been shown in vitro to increase the proportion of RFD1 + cells developing while suppressing RFD7 expression. It therefore seems that the increased proportion of RFD1 + D7 + macrophages seen in active sarcoidosis could arise as a result of an increased induction of RFD1 expression on macrophages which express RFD7.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2623372 TI - Overall view of the pathogenic mechanisms of occupational granulomatous lung diseases. PMID- 2623373 TI - A new approach to the study of pneumoconiosis: the nuclear reactor. PMID- 2623374 TI - Role of endotoxin and glucan for the development of granulomatous disease in the lung. PMID- 2623375 TI - Surfactant modifications and lipidic mediators in occupational lung diseases. PMID- 2623376 TI - Beryllium workers--sarcoidosis or chronic beryllium disease. PMID- 2623377 TI - Thome Villar memorial lecture--the many faces of sarcoidosis. AB - The late and great Thome Villar established a basic understanding of sarcoidosis in Lisbon, and his successors have added scholarly contributions to this firm foundation. He recognised its worldwide distribution and prevalence, the several interwoven patterns of presentation, the importance of histological confirmation, and the value of corticosteroid therapy. His successors have clarified our understanding of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis), shown us how to differentiate the two disorders and expanded our knowledge of immunology and markers of activity of both disorders. Although we do not know the cause, we can recognise the terrain or soil in which it flourishes; factors which includes age, sex, race, HLA affinity and hormonal status. The road which will lead us to the cause(s) is in immunology, particularly macrophages and lymphocytes and the chemical mediators which influence the development of granuloma formation and ultimate fibrosis. Professor Thome George Villar was a Man of Lisbon in every sense of the word - by birth, education, and academic achievement. He would have rejoiced that Lisbon was chosen for an International Conference on Sarcoidosis and he would have approved of his successor's choice of four topics--granuloma formation, granuloma vasculitis, markers of activity and occupational granulomatous lung disease. These are all important growing points in our advances in knowledge. PMID- 2623378 TI - Inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of occupational respiratory diseases (O.R.D.). PMID- 2623379 TI - The ultrastructural features of developing Kveim test granulomas. AB - The Kveim test provides a useful model for the ultrastructural study of developing epithelioid cell granulomas in man. We present a controlled prospective study in which 140 patients with possible sarcoidosis had two simultaneous Kveim tests, one being biopsed at a varying interval and the other at the usual 28 days: 52 patients showed a positive test. Controls were provided by the 88 negative tests, Kveim biopsis from 12 healthy subjects, and biopsies of normal spleen injection sites in a further 12 sarcoid patients. In all three groups the initial response (3 to 5 days) was macrophage influx. From 8 to 10 days, in developing positive tests only, mononuclear cells with abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum appeared. Mature epithelioid cells were seen at 12 to 14 days, when lymphocyte numbers and lymphocyte-histiocyte interactions were at a maximum. Epithelioid cells showed marked secretory activity; the ultrastructural features of the developing epithelioid cell vacuoles are identical to those seen in exocrine cells. Mast cells are not involved in the development of granulomas. PMID- 2623380 TI - Binding of liposomes to human bladder tumor epithelial cell lines: implications for an intravesical drug delivery system for the treatment of bladder cancer. AB - Present therapy of human superficial bladder cancer includes the intravesical administration of antitumor drugs and immunomodulators. The purpose of these studies was to determine whether liposomes can bind to human bladder cancer cells and thereby provide a mechanism to improve the delivery of anticancer agents to diseased urothelium. Negatively charged large multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) bound to four different human bladder tumor cell lines (253J, J82, T24, TCCSUP) more avidly than did small sonicated vesicles or vesicles consisting of uncharged phosphatidylcholine (PC). Of the three types of negatively charged MLVs tested, phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine (7:3, mol ratio) (PC/PS) MLVs bound the most. MLV binding to tumor cells was saturable and appeared to be specific. In contrast, the binding of liposomes to normal fetal bladder cells was minimal. These data suggest that targeting of drugs to superficial bladder cancer can be achieved by the intravesical administration of PC/PS MLV. PMID- 2623381 TI - Endocytic and tumoricidal heterogeneity of rat liver macrophage populations. AB - The macrophage population of the liver has been reported to be heterogeneous with respect to endocytic and lysosomal enzyme activity. Yet we demonstrate that all liver macrophages in the rat can be activated to a tumoricidal state by the i.v. injection of liposomal muramyl dipeptide (MDP). After isolation, liver macrophages were fractionated according to size into five subfractions by means of elutriation centrifugation. Tumoricidal activity of liver macrophages, activated in vivo, was determined by an in vitro radioactivity release assay using B16 melanoma and C26 adenocarcinoma cells, labeled with [methyl 3H]thymidine, as target cells. Endocytic activity of the subpopulations both in vitro and in vivo was determined using [3H]-labeled liposome preparations. Finally, the extent to which the subpopulations become cytotoxic as a result of in vitro uptake of muramyl dipeptide-(MDP)-containing liposomes was studied employing the cytotoxicity assay described above. No significant differences in cytotoxicity between the macrophage subfractions were observed after i.v. injection of liposomal MDP, although endocytic uptake of liposomes per cell increased proportionally to cell size, both in vitro and in vivo. We found that in vitro uptake of MDP-containing liposomes by the subfractions produced the highest cytolytic activity in the small to intermediate-size macrophages. When taking into consideration the different extents of liposome uptake it can be concluded that the smaller liver macrophages are significantly more susceptible to activation than the larger cells. In vivo, low activation potential is balanced by high liposome uptake capacity thus allowing the whole macrophage population in the liver to become involved in the eradication of metastatic tumor growth. PMID- 2623382 TI - The role of drug sequence in therapeutic selectivity of the combination of 5 fluorouracil and cis-platin. AB - The therapeutic efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) and cis-dichlorodiamine platinum (cis-DDP) in mice bearing transplantable leukemia and solid tumors was evaluated using different sequences of combination of these agents. The optimal sequence was cis-DDP administered 24 h after FUra. The administration of FUra at its maximally tolerated dose (MTD) followed 24 h later by low doses of cis-DDP yielded less toxicity and higher response rate against L1210 and colon 26 than the administration of these two agents in the opposite sequence or concurrently at the MTD. The sequence of administration of these two agents was not therapeutically important when the antitumor activity was evaluated against mice bearing lymphoma P388. These results indicate that the importance of sequencing of FUra and cis-DDP varies among different tumors. The biochemical basis for the therapeutic importance of sequencing in treatments with cis-DDP and FUra was investigated in mice bearing leukemia L1210 cells. While cis-DDP has no significant effects on the activity of thymidylate synthase (dTMP-S), the target enzyme for FUra action, recovery of dTMP-S inhibition following pretreatment with FUra was significantly delayed when cis-DDP was administered 12-24 h after the initial dose of FUra. PMID- 2623383 TI - Cellular viability in human tumor micro-organ cultures: in situ quantitation by image processing. AB - At present, cytotoxicity measurements using the fluorescent cytoprint assay are based on achieving complete cell death in cultures of drug-sensitive tumors. Thus, the usefulness of the assay would be extended if partial effects of chemotherapeutic drugs could be quantified. In this study, we addressed the issue by developing and validating a thresholding algorithm for automatic image processing that can be used to quantify the areas occupied by viable (i.e., fluorescent) micro-organs in the culture. PMID- 2623384 TI - Steady-state arterial and hepatic venous plasma concentrations of 5-bromo-2' deoxyuridine and 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine in animals--drugs which are subject to both splanchnic and extra-splanchnic elimination. AB - We have previously shown that 5-fluorouracil (FUra) in humans obeys Michaelis Menten elimination kinetics. In this article we show that the related bromine and iodine-containing analogs in animals obey similar kinetics. Steady-state arterial (CssA) and hepatic venous plasma (CssV) concentrations of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd) are reported for 7 rabbits given 5 different infusion rates of BrdUrd and 5 dogs given 4 or 5 different infusion rates of BrdUrd. Steady-state arterial and hepatic venous plasma concentrations of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IdUrd) are reported for 5 rabbits and 2 dogs given 5 different infusion rates of IdUrd. Each set of data could be fitted by a nonlinear least squares method to the equation: (equation; see text) where Vm/Q is the maximum difference, (CssA) - (CssV), and Km is the Michaelis constant. The estimated parameter Vm/Q and Km are compared for the two drugs and different species and also with the same parameters derived in the same manner from previously published data on fluorouracil in 8 cancer patients. The infusion rate needed to saturate the splanchnic elimination system (Rs in mumol/kg/min) was also estimated. For BrdUrd the mean value of Rs in the rabbit, namely 1.23, and in the dog, namely 1.25 mumol/kg/min are essentially the same. PMID- 2623386 TI - [The portable emergency suction apparatus]. PMID- 2623385 TI - Rapid remission of a large pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma with radiation and a novel schedule of simultaneous high-dose cisplatin. PMID- 2623387 TI - [Cytapheresis]. PMID- 2623388 TI - [Blood groups and their use in blood transfusion]. PMID- 2623389 TI - [Prevention of hemolytic accidents in blood transfusion]. PMID- 2623390 TI - [The HLA system]. PMID- 2623391 TI - [Transfusion therapy]. PMID- 2623392 TI - [Blood transfusion]. PMID- 2623393 TI - [Presentation and therapeutic indication for blood derivatives]. PMID- 2623394 TI - [Blood transfusion in France]. PMID- 2623395 TI - [Infectious complications of blood transfusions]. PMID- 2623396 TI - [The reimplantation of fingers]. PMID- 2623397 TI - [Personnel and blood collection. Study of the work load]. PMID- 2623398 TI - [Physiology of the thyroid during pregnancy. Various exploratory tests]. AB - In spite of frequent hypertrophy of the gland, the thyroid function remains normal during pregnancy. Of course, the total thyroid hormones level bound to TBG (Thyroxine Binding Globulin) increases regularly as a result of hyperestrogenism, but the level of the free fractions of the thyroid hormones (FT3, FT4) which is normal during the 1st trimester tends to decrease regularly during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. There is a moderate decrease of the TSH level during pregnancy. The placenta plays a major role in the synthesis and metabolism of the thyroid function hormones. TSH, T3, T4 and thyroglobulin cannot cross the placental barrier while TRH, iodine, and thyrostimulating immunoglobins can. Among medications, thyroid hormones do not cross the placental barrier contrary to synthetic anti-thyroid preparations (SAT), lithium and beta-blockers. Therefore, this should be taken into consideration in the treatment of dysthyroidisms, knowing that the thyroid gland of the fetus becomes functional at 12 weeks: the secretion of fetal T4 and TSH is present as early as the 18-20th week. The thyroid gland of the fetus has no auto-regulation mechanism and the fetus adjust his hormone secretion according to the iodine environment. PMID- 2623399 TI - [Dysthyroidism and fertility]. AB - The role of the thyroid gland in sterility is not well known; hyperthyroidism may have an effect upon estrogen secretion by decreasing the level of the free forms of estradiol, resulting in a lowering or disappearance of the LH ovulatory peak. Clinically, severe hypothyroidism would cause a retarded sexual development but simple hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism do not seem to have a major effect upon sexual maturity. During the period of genital activity, hyperthyroidism may result in amenorrhea and dysovulation phenomena reminding of ovarian dystrophy; hypothyroidism results in the same phenomena, with decreased libido, but with a better screening process and a better adjusted substitute treatment, these disorders are rare. Finally, systematic evaluation of the thyroid function in unexplained sterilities, appears unnecessary most of the time. PMID- 2623400 TI - [Simple goiter and hypothyroidism during pregnancy. Diagnosis--monitoring- treatment]. AB - 37 cases of maternal hypothyroidism in 92,130 births (0.04%) were studied: post surgical (40%) or congenital (35%) hypothyroidism or after-effects of thyroiditis (11%) or of undetermined etiology (14%). The past history of these women, shows a sterility (11%) and spontaneous abortions (18%). Substitute hormonal therapy was usually well monitored, with almost always a stable thyroid function. These pregnancies progressed without any specific problems, the children's birth weight was normal and only one presented a hypothyroidism. 94 cases of goiters (0.10%) were reported including 1 out of 3 received an inhibiting hormonal therapy. Here also the pregnancies developed without problems and there was no difference with regards to the stability of the goiter and the development of the pregnancy between treated and non-treated women. The authors insist on strict monitoring of the treatment with assays of FT3, FT4, TSH and anti-thyroid antibodies, performed one or twice per trimester. The interest of thyroid hormones assays in the amniotic fluid or the blood cord may occur. PMID- 2623401 TI - [Obstructive renal lithiasis, hypercalcemia, parathyroid adenoma and term pregnancy. Report of a case]. AB - The authors report an observation of primitive hyperparathyroidism by adenoma diagnosed at the time of a bilateral urinary lithiase, obstructive on the left, with hypercalcemia in young pregnant woman near of the term. PMID- 2623402 TI - [Cardiac disorders in pancreatitis]. PMID- 2623403 TI - [Repercussions of blood transfusions on postoperative complications in patients with multiple trauma]. AB - Multiple factors connected with the trauma itself or with its therapy may cause post-operative complications in injured patients. In a previous study we have reported on a higher mortality rate in patients that received large quantities of blood. The present report concerns 223 cases of trauma by penetrating and non penetrating injuries in which the possible influence of blood transfusions on subsequent morbidity was assessed. It was verified that transfused patients exhibited more infections and general complications, as well as a higher mortality rate than controls. A progressive effect related to the number of units of blood administered could be demonstrated. The most unfavorable outcomes correspond to the transfusions of more than 1500 ml of blood. PMID- 2623404 TI - [Changes in blood coagulation time in patients bitten by young and adult Bothrops jararaca snakes]. AB - Three hundred and forty eight cases of bites by adult Bothrops jararaca (group A) were admitted to the Hospital Vital Brazil between 1975 and 1984. These cases were compared to 623 cases of bites by young snakes of the same species (group B) during the same period and at the same hospital. There was no difference between groups regarding age or time between bite and admittance to the hospital. However in group B blood incoagulability was more frequent when compared to group A. We conclude that bites caused by young Bothrops jararaca are more likely to cause blood incoagulability in humans than bites caused by adult Bothrops jararaca. PMID- 2623405 TI - [Prognostic accuracy and efficacy of treatment at intensive care units evaluated by the APACHE II system]. AB - The APACHE II system can stratify acutely ill patients on hand of simple physiological measurements. In a retrospective study, 121 patients were stratifyed in regard to the mortality rates in three groups: first one with the mortality rate of 10% second one with 47%, and the third one with 100%. Mortality rates predicted and observed were similar (40.5% and 39.7%, respectively, p greater than 0.8; 95% confidence interval 31.8% to 49.7%). The APACHE II system is useful for accurate stratification of patients and the evaluation of treatment efficacy. PMID- 2623406 TI - [Evaluation of the usefulness of the Coprotest for parasitologic examination of feces]. AB - "Coprotest" is a device used for parasitological examination of the stools that has been marketed in Brazil with no previous literature support. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the usefulness of the procedure using "Coprotest", comparing it with the routine methods by Hoffman et al., Faust et al., and Rugai et al. Taking into consideration only positive samples, we observed the following figures, according to each technique: Hofmann et al.--98 (47.34%); Faust et al.- 119 (57.48%); Rugai et al., only for larva detection--21 (10.14%); "Coprotest"- 115 (55.55%). We concluded that "Coprotest" in addition to its operational qualities, has the merits that allow its use together with other techniques for parasitosis diagnosis. Nevertheless it has not modified the previous situation, since more than one technique must still be used, as we have noted for detection of Strongyloides stercoralis larvae in this instance. PMID- 2623407 TI - [Percutaneous synovial biopsy in the diagnostic evaluation of the patient with rheumatic disease]. AB - Forty seven percutaneous synovial biopsies from 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, four of whom with the juvenile form, 13 with indetermined polyarthritis and 12 with monoarthritis, were evaluated. The histopathological examination confirmed the clinical diagnosis in 76% of cases with rheumatoide arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and it suggested the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in 80% of cases with indetermined polyarthritis. In two cases of monoarthritis it reveled acid-fast bacilli, and a granulomatous process in one. These resuls suggest that the synovial biopsies can be useful for the establishment of diagnosis in patients suffering from indetermined poly or monoarthritis. PMID- 2623408 TI - Nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus: report of three cases. AB - Central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus is rather frequent whereas peripheral nervous system involvement is much less common. The three patients studied by us had isolated manifestations uncommon in nature. The first one developed a sensory-motor polineuropathy with signs of axonal degeneration. It responded to the therapeutic association of corticosteroids with an immunosuppressive agent. Satisfactory recovery took place over a time span of a year. The second patient had encephalic and cerebral trunk involvement from which an irreversible dementia resulted. The third patient, who had recurrent aseptic meningitis, is asymptomatic for six months now. Patients one and two had no systemic manifestations at the time of nervous system involvement. Suspicion of systemic lupus erythematosus was made on the basis of past inspecific articular symptoms. The neurological and systemic manifestations may be sometimes simultaneous; they are usually followed by serologic changes. Isolated nervous system involvement may be seen with and without sorologic changes, and there may be found antibodies reactive with phospholipids (anticardiolipin, antigangliosides and anticerebrosides). The employment of nonsteroid immunosuppressive drugs associated with corticosteroids in small doses seems to be useful in cases of systemic lupus erythematosus with nervous system involvement. PMID- 2623409 TI - The medical response to drinking. PMID- 2623410 TI - Physicians can help the addicted. PMID- 2623411 TI - Addiction in doctors: hope and help. PMID- 2623412 TI - What practicing physicians need to know about self-help for chemical dependents. PMID- 2623413 TI - Detoxification of the chemically dependent patient. PMID- 2623414 TI - The community gatekeeper training model for reducing alcohol abuse and alcohol related injury. PMID- 2623415 TI - Adolescent substance abuse survey: statewide findings for 1988. PMID- 2623416 TI - Monthly vital statistics report. Provisional occurrence data from the Division of Vital Records. PMID- 2623417 TI - Anterior and posterior rhinomanometry. AB - Three rhinomanometric techniques for detection of transnasal pressures were compared by computer aided plethysmographic rhinomanometry. Mean unilateral resistances were measured in the decongested nose of an experienced subject by traditional anterior (sealed anterior catheter) and posterior (perorally by mouthpiece) rhinomanometry and also by a fine catheter inserted pernasally to the nasopharynx. No significant differences in magnitude (N = 25, p = 73, mean Rn = 0.345 Pa/cm3/sec) were found. Dimensions of an #8F catheter were adequate for conduction of transnasal pressures and the catheter placed along the floor of a decongested nasal cavity was found not to increase resistance to airflow significantly. Posterior pernasal catheter measurements were less variable than either traditional posterior (peroral) or anterior rhinomanometry. In 35 consecutive patients untreated by decongestant there were no significant differences in magnitude or variation between resistances of the combined nasal cavities immediately following insertion of the catheter and those obtained 5 minutes later (initial mean Rn = 1.66 + 0.49, 5 min mean Rn = 1.70 + 0.50) and in these naive subjects posterior rhinomanometric resistances averaged 9% greater than those in whom resistances were measured pernasally. PMID- 2623418 TI - Epidemic yellow fever caused by an incompetent mosquito vector. AB - Arbovirus epidemics in a geographic region are believed to depend on the presence of susceptible or "competent" arthropod vectors. We demonstrate that an urban, Aedes aegypti-borne, epidemic of yellow fever occurred in 1987 although the mosquito vector was relatively resistant to infection and transmitted the virus inefficiently. Twenty-six percent of the experimental mosquitoes from the epidemic area that ingested yellow fever virus became infected and only 7% of these transmitted the virus. In contrast, 80% of an exotic susceptible strain of Ae. aegypti became infected and 43% were able to transmit. We also show that no other potential vectors were active during the epidemic and that the local Ae. aegypti were present in extremely large numbers. These results document, for the first time, that, in the presence of high population density an incompetent mosquito vector can initiate and maintain virus transmission resulting in an epidemic. PMID- 2623419 TI - Who is the child at risk? AB - Prior to the establishment of a nutrition intervention programme in the Bagamoyo district of rural Tanzania, all children residing in eleven randomly selected villages were weighted and a number of social and community variables collected. The survey served the dual purpose of providing a baseline to subsequently measure programme impact and identifying the child at risk of becoming malnourished. Despite the survey being carried out during a season of relative scarcity of food, results suggest a relatively benign level of malnutrition in relation to other regions of Subsaharan Africa or other developing countries. Age, the total number of children per household, the proportion of child deaths in the family, paternal care, and residence in specific villages showed statistically significant negative correlations with preschool nutritional status. Apart from residence in specific villages, birth weight, breast-feeding status, supplementation with milk and care of the child in the absence of the mother by a sibling or "nanny" provided positive correlations. The fact that residence in certain villages was associated with highly significant positive or negative effects on preschool child nutrition, as revealed by multiple linear regression analyses, suggests that further research into identification of the precise nature of these variables is required before optimization of an intervention package may be achieved. PMID- 2623420 TI - Plasma retinol and tocopherols of breast-feeding Sudanese women. AB - The status of vitamin A and vitamin E has been evaluated in 69 well-nourished breast-feeding Sudanese women of two villages of the irrigated Gezira area. All were consuming local Sudanese food. Plasma retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and total tocopherol were estimated by HPLC. Tocopherol values have been related to total plasma lipids, cholesterol and phospholipids. The plasma retinol concentrations ranged between 29.19-141.37 micrograms/dl (mean 63.01 micrograms/dl). All values are well above 20 micrograms/dl, the lower cut-off point of normal, and reveal a good vitamin A status. The ratio of total tocopherol/total lipids (mg/g) was with 1.35-2.72 far above the lowest normal ratio of 0.60. This means an excellent vitamin E status. Neither the retinol nor the tocopherol values showed a correlation to parity or duration of breast-feeding. PMID- 2623421 TI - Infectivity studies on anopheles stephensi using Plasmodium cynomolgi B infection in rhesus monkeys. AB - The characteristics of primary and secondary asexual peak parasitaemia during sporozoite induced Plasmodium cynomolgi B infections in 40 rhesus monkeys have been studied. Colony bred Anopheles stephensi were fed on different days on the gametocyte carrying monkeys and the infectivity of mosquitoes as determined by oocyst count on day 8 post-feeding was recorded. Following the day of sporozoite inoculation, the mean prepatent period was 8.58 +/- 0.87 days. The primary asexual peak was attained on day 8.38 +/- 2.27 and the secondary peak on day 15.15 +/- 2.63 after patency. Infectivity rate was 100% in 144 batches of mosquitoes fed three days before to three days after the secondary asexual peak. Judging from the day of patency, the high oocyst count was obtained between day 12-18 after patency. Infective gametocyte peak coincided with the secondary asexual peak parasitaemia, with the result that maximum oocyst number was observed in batches fed on the day of secondary peak or one day prior to or one day after the secondary peak. Infectivity during the period of primary asexual peak was inconsistent. PMID- 2623422 TI - Two simple antigen-detection enzyme immunoassays for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma evansi infections in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius). AB - A monoclonal antibody against a plasma membrane antigen of Trypanosoma rhodesiense was used in a microplate- and a tube-ELISA for the detection of T. evansi circulating antigen in camel sera from endemic areas in Mali and Kenya. The colour reactions could be read visually and the results obtained for both assays were identical. The sera from the control herd of 30 camels from a farm in a non-endemic area in Kenya were all negative for antigen, while 18 out of 20 sera from infected camels in an endemic area in Kenya and 16 out of 17 parasitaemic camels from a different endemic area in Mali were antigen-positive. More importantly, the antigen-detection assay gave positive results with 9 out of 20 and 13 out of 20 field sera from the two endemic areas in Kenya and Mali, respectively, collected from camels which had negative parasitological findings. The ease with which the tube-ELISA can be carried out makes it a potentially suitable tool for the diagnosis of T. evansi infections in the field. PMID- 2623423 TI - Effects of trypanosomal infection on the pharmacokinetics of diminazene aceturate in dogs. AB - Pharmacokinetics of diminazene aceturate (3.5 mg/kg) was investigated in normal mongrel dogs and in those infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. After intravenous injection the decrease in concentration followed a biphasic process with mean elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) of 9.87 hr in healthy dogs and 12.51 hr in T. b. brucei infected dogs. The mean total body clearance (cl) of diminazene aceturate in healthy dogs (0.62 l/kg/hr) was significantly lower (p less than 0.05) when compared to that of the infected animals (0.47 l/kg/hr). The distribution half-life (t1/2 alpha) was significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased in dogs after infection (0.14 hr) compared to 0.2 hr observed in the same animals before infection. The mean diminazene recovered in the urine of normal dogs (28.18%) was not significantly different from that recovered from infected dogs (26.1%). These results indicate that infection with T. b. brucei markedly retards the total body clearance of diminazene and also hastens the distribution of the drug when administered intravenously. PMID- 2623424 TI - The fine structure of the body wall of adult Paragonimus uterobilateralis. AB - The body wall of adult Paragonimus uterobilateralis was investigated by electron microscopy. The syncytial tegument contains prominent spines, mitochondria and disc-shaped granules. The apical surface forms ridges and pits, the basal membrane forms a conspicuous labyrinth. A layer of interstitial material with muscle fibres separates the syncytium from the parenchyme. The muscle fibres are organized in a transverse and a longitudinal layer and single radial fibres. Thick and thin myofilaments do not show any regular pattern. Tegumental and muscle cell bodies lie in clusters below the interstitial material. Tegumental cells are characterized by abundant ribosomes and granules, muscle cells are stacked with mitochondria. Cytoplasmic connections link both cell types to their functional portions. PMID- 2623425 TI - Studies on the biosynthesis and fate of ecdysteroids in filarial nematodes. AB - Experiments were performed to investigate whether adult Dirofilaria immitis and Brugia pahangi were capable of synthesising ecdysteroids from cholesterol or various intermediates from the biosynthetic pathway functioning in insects. Metabolites of radioactively-labelled cholesterol and 5 beta-ketodiol (2,22,25 trideoxy-ecdysone) were detected in the filarial nematodes, but there was no radioactivity corresponding to ecdysteroid. Uptake of tritiated 2-deoxyecdysone was poor and metabolism was not observed. [3H]Ecdysone was absorbed sparingly by adult D. immitis, but was metabolised efficiently to several less polar products. There was no evidence of C-20 hydroxylation capability. PMID- 2623426 TI - Analysis of ecdysteroids in Onchocerca gibsoni, O. volvulus and nodule tissues. AB - Free ecdysteroids were detected in Onchocerca gibsoni, in tissues constituting O. volvulus and O. gibsoni nodules and in unrelated bovine tissues. Ecdysone and 20 hydroxyecdysone were identified by HPLC-RIA and GC/MS(SIM). The concentration of free ecdysteroids in the nodule tissue immediately surrounding the parasites was at least an order of magnitude higher than that detected in the worms themselves, or in adjacent nodular tissues or other bovine tissues. PMID- 2623427 TI - Cell-mediated and humoral immune responses to BCG and rubella vaccinations and to recall antigens in onchocerciasis patients. AB - In seven Liberian villages of different endemicity for onchocerciasis 629 persons were tested for tuberculin reactions using 5 i.u. purified protein derivative or old tuberculin. No correlation between infection with Onchocerca volvulus and reactivity to tuberculin was detected on a community level, but a direct comparison of results of infected and non-infected individuals in two neighboring villages revealed a lower responsiveness in persons with onchocerciasis. The conversion rate three months after BCG vaccination was significantly lower in children with onchocerciasis (48%) than in controls (85%). The possible impact of this finding on the efficacy of BCG vaccinations is discussed. Girls aged 2-16 years were screened for rubella antibodies using a latex agglutination test. Sera from 74 girls, who showed no antibodies, were examined before and four months after rubella vaccination by haemagglutination-inhibition-test and haemolysis-in gel-test. No difference in the humoral immune response of girls with or without onchocerciasis was found. Seroconversion rates were 98% and 100%. Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) to seven ubiquitous recall antigens was tested in 147 persons infected with O. volvulus and compared to the results of 142 non infected controls. A reduced responsiveness was seen in persons with onchocerciasis, the difference being greatest in young children 2-7 years of age. In connection with the results of tetanus vaccinations reported earlier, these findings verify the existence of a reduced in vivo responsiveness of cell mediated immunity to non-specific antigens in onchocerciasis in the rain forest of West Africa. Humoral immune responses however appeared to be unaffected. PMID- 2623428 TI - Comparative studies of clinical groups of patients in an onchocerciasis endemic area for evidence of immune-mediated protection. AB - Four clinical groups of persons from an area endemic for onchocerciasis were compared using certain immunological parameters. The groups were: generalised onchocerciasis, patients with restricted distribution of onchocercal skin lesions, microfilaredermia patients with no clinical manifestations, and a group which clinically, had successfully resisted the infection. Specific serum antibodies to O. volvulus antigens were found in all groups. The IgG specific antibodies were highest in patients with generalised onchocerciasis and lowest in the group who had apparently contained the infection. The sera of persons from the latter group mediated leukocyte adherence to and immobilised microfilariae of O. volvulus. Using the Western blot technique, there were no onchocercal protein antigens that reacted exclusively with sera from the "protected group". However, the staining of the reaction bands was most intense when sera from this patient group reacted with low molecular weight specific onchocercal antigens (M. W. 10 57 KD). PMID- 2623429 TI - Cytotaxonomy of Sirba form populations of the Simulium damnosum complex in west Africa: amendments to sex chromosomes and sibling status. AB - The banding pattern of larval salivary polytene chromosomes was analysed to re examine the distribution, by sex and geography, of the sex linked inversion (IS 3) in "Sirba" form which was previously described as consisting of Simulium sirbanum and S. sudanense (Vajime and Dunbar, 1975). West African larval samples from seven countries within the Onchocerciasis Control Programme area and some adjacent locations were used. It was concluded that "Sirba" consists of two indisputable cytoforms, one distinguished by X0Y0 males and X0X0 females, the other by X1Y0 males and X1X1 females; and that the cytoforms are cytologically variable populations of a single cytospecies, S. sirbanum. It is argued that the species is in the process of incipient speciation. PMID- 2623430 TI - Effect of irradiation on Plasmodium sporozoites depends on the species of hepatocyte infected. AB - The use of models such as rodents immunized with irradiated rodent malaria sporozoites can be helpful in defining the hepatic antigens which elicit a protective response. After "normal" penetration into the hepatocyte, and "normal" transformation, into trophozoites, irradiated sporozoites are known to begin development, but abort after a period of time that depends on the dose of radiation received. Experiments performed with cultured rat, mouse and Thamnomys gazellae hepatocytes infected with Plasmodium yoelii sporozoites demonstrated that the amount of radiation necessary to totally block the passage from the uninuclear to the multinuclear form differs for each species of hepatocyte. These results underline the problem posed by the models used in malaria research. PMID- 2623431 TI - Potential of a direct agglutination test (DAT) for detection of visceral leishmaniasis in a known endemic area in Sudan. AB - Hawata District (Kassala Province) is one of the known endemic areas for visceral leishmaniasis in Sudan. The co-endemicity with malaria, enteric fever, tuberculosis and brucellosis together with the limited medical laboratory facilities, rendered differential diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in this area, rather difficult. Two-hundred and three serum samples, including 49 collected from patients treated earlier as visceral leishmaniasis cases, were tested in a developed direct agglutination test (DAT). 100% concordance was found between the DAT results and the parasitological diagnosis in 40 confirmed cases. In nine unconfirmed, however highly suspected cases, the DAT results indicated visceral leishmaniasis. Significant improvements in the condition of those nine patients was observed during the therapeutic test and later on after a full course of treatment with sodium antimony gluconate (pentostam). DAT titres in the other serum samples (154), collected from patients with malaria, enteric fever, brucellosis and schistosomiasis and from endemic controls were below the cut-off titre (1:3200). Considering the low costs involved, easiness in performance and stability of the antigen, the DAT appears to possess high potential for routine application in Sudan. PMID- 2623432 TI - Comparative antifilarial efficacy of the N-oxides of diethylcarbamazine and two of its analogues. AB - The N-oxides of 1-diethyl carbamoyl-4-methyl piperazine (DEC), 3-ethyl-8-methyl, 1,3,8-triazabicyclo (4,4,0) decan-2-one (centperazine) and 1-methyl-4-(pyrrolidin 1-yl-carbonyl) piperazine (CDRI Comp. 72/70) have been evaluated against Limotosoides carinii infection in cotton rats to establish whether conversion of the three antifilarials into N-oxides would lead to exertion of better antifilarial activity. Of the three N-oxides, N-oxide of DEC showed significantly more suppressive effect on circulating microfilariae in comparison to its parent compound. However, adult worms were unaffected. It was observed that basicity of the N-CH3 group did not play major role in exertion of activity of DEC and related compounds. Nevertheless, two other N-oxides were inactive. PMID- 2623433 TI - Intestinal perforation due to Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus infection in Thailand. AB - The ninth record of a human infection with the acanthocephalan worm Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus in Thailand is reported. The parasite was removed during laparotomy after perforation through the intestine of a 30-year old woman. PMID- 2623434 TI - Effects of flumethrin pour-on against Glossina palpalis gambiensis (Diptera, Glossinidae) during releases in a fly proof stable. AB - 2000 males and females of Glossina palpalis gambiensis were released in the presence of a Zebu treated with flumethrin pour-on in a fly proof stable. From the first day after treatment until day 15, the flies were released at intervals of two days. The mortalities were highest during the first five days after treatment. With the exception of the first two releases the "knock down" effects were distinctly higher than the corresponding mortalities, ranging between 60% and 100% during the observation period. PMID- 2623435 TI - Labeling and persons with mental illness. AB - Labels that have been applied to various groups in our society have been found to have a tremendous impact on these people. It is the author's contention that the label "case management" has an adverse impact on the care of mentally ill people. A change in terminology is suggested. Attention is drawn to other issues in mental illness treatment that also require modification. PMID- 2623436 TI - U.S. and Soviet perspectives on the diagnosis of schizophrenia and associated dangerousness. AB - During a visit of U.S. senior mental health and forensic experts to the Soviet Union to assess recent changes in Soviet psychiatry, a symposium was held to discuss the U.S. and Soviet concepts of the diagnosis of schizophrenia and dangerousness associated with psychiatric illness. The basic conclusion from this exchange was that significant differences exist between the countries in both areas, as the U.S. conceptualization of schizophrenia and associated dangerousness is considerably narrower than that of Soviet practice. Clearly, future scientific exchange is warranted to examine these conceptual differences in an effort to establish a better empirical basis for assessing the most appropriate medical treatment and legal disposition for patients. PMID- 2623437 TI - On social dangerousness of mental patients. AB - The relationship of the definition of social dangerousness and its application to mental patients is explored from a criminology perspective wherein social dangerousness is described as a universal concept used to assess damage done to society; and a socially dangerous individual is defined as having the potential to commit an offense. The risk of social dangerousness of mental patients is high and typically occurs during the first 4 years of the illness. It is dependent upon complex interactions between psychopathologic phenomena, environmental stimuli, and personality characteristics of the patient; and detection requires a general definition of the dangerous psychotic state and an elaboration of the methods for diagnosis. PMID- 2623438 TI - The Structured Interview for Schizotypy (SIS): a preliminary report. AB - This article presents a new interview-based research instrument for assessing schizotypal symptoms and signs. The Structured Interview for Schizotypy (SIS), which was developed from experience gained in a large, controlled family study of schizophrenia in the west of Ireland and has been field-tested in three other locations, differs from previously available interviews in that it includes: (1) built-in contextual assessments of the pathological nature of certain symptoms (e.g., suspiciousness or ideas of reference); (2) multiple independently scored items, most with closed response options, per symptom scale; (3) extensive assessment of schizotypal signs; (4) symptom probes designed to make responding positively appear nondeviant; and (5) coverage of potentially relevant symptoms and signs not required in current criteria for schizotypal personality disorder. Schizotypal symptoms can be assessed with high reliability by the SIS. When sufficient variability is present, schizotypal signs are also reliably assessed by the SIS, although the reliability is generally lower than that found for symptoms. In three independent pilot studies, schizotypal symptoms and signs assessed by the SIS appear to discriminate significantly the relatives of schizophrenic patients from relatives of controls. PMID- 2623439 TI - Backward masking spatial frequency effects among hypothetically schizotypal individuals. AB - The present investigation relied upon a neurophysiological explanation of visual masking and compared the backward masking susceptibility of hypothetical schizotypal individuals to that of controls. In order to assess the relative contributions of the visual system's transient and sustained channels to the backward masking deficit characteristic of the schizophrenia spectrum, performance within low spatial frequency (LSF) and high spatial frequency (HSF) masking conditions was compared. Because this design was intended to test the hypothesis that a transient channel abnormality underlies the spectrum masking deficit, only the transient facilitating, LSF masking condition was expected to produce group differences. Although the two masking conditions were equivalent in their stimulus energies, as predicted, the at-risk subjects evidenced an LSF masking deficit, but did not differ from controls in the sustained facilitating, HSF masking condition. These results suggest that multichannel neurophysiological models of masking may help to direct research designed to gain an increased understanding of the specific nature of the spectrum masking deficit. PMID- 2623440 TI - Myelination of cortical-hippocampal relays during late adolescence. AB - The normal developmental series of brains in the Yakovlev Collection has been examined to explore the possibility that various brain regions implicated in schizophrenia may show changes in myelination during late adolescence, a period coinciding with the appearance of early symptoms of this disorder. The prefrontal, cingulate, and parahippocampal (entorhinal) cortex, as well as the perforant pathway, cingulum bundle, and hippocampus, were closely examined because these regions have recently been found to show various neuropathological differences in schizophrenia. Observation of these specimens has confirmed earlier reports by Yakovlev and Lecours (1967) that primary motor and sensory cortices show robust myelination early in the first decade of life. In contrast, associative cortical areas show increased amounts of myelin staining only by the second decade, although some cortical areas, like the cingulate and basofrontal cortex, remain poorly myelinated throughout life. The most striking finding, however, was the appearance of increased myelination of the subicular and presubicular regions during the late adolescent period. Increased myelination in the subiculum was localized to a discrete region at the surface where fibers of the perforant pathway are known to aggregate as they course toward the area dentata. The comparable region in the adjacent presubicular area that also showed increased myelin staining probably contains distal portions of the cingulum bundle. Support for this latter possibility was obtained from a single case in which a stereotaxically placed lesion causing interruption of the cingulum bundle showed less myelin in the presubicular area of the effectively lesioned side.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2623441 TI - Impaired perspective and thought pathology in schizophrenic and psychotic disorders. AB - Impaired perspective was studied in schizophrenic and thought-disordered patients to analyze hypotheses about its role in thought disorder. Eighty-three schizophrenic patients, other psychotic patients, and nonpsychotic patients judged the adequacy of their own and others' verbalizations under several different conditions. Thought-disordered patients had significantly more impaired perspective than nonthought-disordered patients (p less than 0.05). Patients had significantly poorer perspective about their own verbalizations than about those of other patients (p less than 0.01). Schizophrenic and other psychotic patients showed poor perspective about their own verbalizations. Thought-disordered patients did not view their bizarre verbalizations as stranger than their nonbizarre verbalizations. Impaired perspective and bizarre responses were more frequent under certain conditions. When focusing on the adequacy of their response, patients were significantly less idiosyncratic. The results support the hypothesis that impaired perspective plays a role in thought disorder. A more comprehensive model of thought disorder and disorganization, which includes impaired perspective, is discussed. PMID- 2623442 TI - Social networks and negative versus positive symptoms of schizophrenia. AB - The social networks of people with schizophrenia are less functional than those of nonpsychiatric populations. In this study, positive versus negative symptoms were examined in relation to social networks. Thirty-nine patients with chronic schizophrenia were assessed for positive and negative symptoms and for size and quality of social network. Patients with more negative symptoms had significantly smaller social networks. Their networks were similarly more dysfunctional on a variety of measures. Positive symptoms did not correlate significantly with any network variable. PMID- 2623443 TI - First person account: how I've managed chronic mental illness. PMID- 2623444 TI - Concept formation in non-verbal categorization tasks in brain-damaged patients with and without aphasia. AB - The study of thinking in patients with aphasic language impairments has long since been considered as means for learning about neuropsychological processes. In the present investigation, a non-verbal categorization task was used, requiring the subjects to sort several common objects according to different principles. The experimental group consisted of aphasic patients with motor and sensory aphasia. Two control groups were used, one consisting of normal subjects and the other of non-aphasic patients with injuries in the right hemisphere of the brain. The sorting behaviour was analysed according to several aspects. The final product of the categorization was assessed, as well as the behavioural processes observed during the sorting. The results were expressed in terms of different conceptual levels achieved. The results of the investigation showed that the aphasics were significantly inferior to normal controls both quantitatively and qualitatively in all sorting aspects. Possible mechanisms underlying the deficiencies in the sorting behaviour of the two aphasic groups were discussed. PMID- 2623445 TI - School adjustment, school performance and peer relations among first-graders in a Swedish suburban area. AB - A study of 95 first-graders in one school management area used teacher ratings of problems and sociometric ratings to assess school adjustment and peer relations; 14% of the children had difficulties in reading/writing, motor skill, concentration and psychosocial function. Behavioural problems did not generally coincide with poor scholastic performance, but a small group (6.3%) exhibited problems in both reading/writing, concentration, gross and fine motor skill and psychosocial functions. Sociometric results showed only moderate agreement with teacher ratings. Extremely popular boys had no teacher-rated problems, but children with teacher-rated problems did not to any high degree tend to be isolated. Poor gross motor skill did distinguish isolated boys from others, a relationship that was not evident among the girls. The need to study the validity of teacher ratings as well as the prognostic value of school adjustment in first grade was stressed. PMID- 2623446 TI - Lateralization of defence mechanisms in a visual half-field paradigm. AB - A percept-genetic test of defence mechanisms (the Meta-Contrast Technique) was given to 169 undergraduate students. Subjects were divided into three groups: two visual half-field groups and one group tested in the regular way. It was hypothesized that the visual field groups would differ from one another and from the control group. An ANOVA showed that the left and right visual half-field conditions differed significantly, as hypothesized. Clear regressive signs were more common in the left visual half-field group, whereas isolation and repression were more common in the right. Furthermore, the visual half-field conditions differed in certain respects from the control group. It was concluded that processes in both hemispheres are important for complex psychological functions. PMID- 2623447 TI - Shaping of rule-governed behaviour. AB - Over an experimental session of 80 trials, subjects counted brief auditory stimuli ("clicks") in stimulus presentation periods and indicated the number counted by pressing a key the corresponding number of times in subsequent response periods. "Correct" answers resulted in feedback. Unknown to the subjects, the feedback criterion was based on speed of pressing rather than on the correct number of presses. Speed of pressing was modified by response consequences when feedback was made dependent on pressing faster or slower than baseline speed. Modification of speed occurred independently of rules and without the subjects' ability to describe contingency or response requirements. The results suggest that non-verbal contingencies may have a shaping effect on non salient and non-described attributes of rule-governed behaviour, and it is argued that this may be an important control mechanism of low-level behavioural attributes that are unlikely to be guided by verbal discriminative stimuli. PMID- 2623448 TI - [Economic methods of management in public health]. PMID- 2623449 TI - [Criteria of quality evaluation of treatment process in hospital departments]. AB - One of the indicators for the evaluation of hospital departments activities envisage the distribution of discharged patients according to the results of treatment: cured, improved, no changes, worsening of the condition. Usually differences arise in defining the indicator "cured". This indicator could be used if besides the recovery and compensation of the affected functions a sick list is closed or would be closed soon after discharge. For non-working population and children account must be taken of restoring the ability to work and behaviour affected by the disease. Among those discharged from the hospital in the fourth quarter of 1988--cured accounted for 34.1 percent, improved--60.4, those with no changes--5.4 and worsening of the condition--0.1 percent. PMID- 2623450 TI - [Factors of random selection in epidemiological surveys]. AB - In epidemiological surveys the association of variable under study, for example, morbidity and conditions of work, may be distorted by phenomena of selection. The most frequent effect of selection is "the effect of healthy worker" which consists in lower morbidity and mortality of workers as compared to the population at large. This effect can mask the pathogenic action of environmental conditions. Under other circumstances multiple effects of selection, on the contrary, may additionally enhance the association between morbidity and the environmental conditions. The elimination of selection errors is possible, if the analysis of data takes into account the broad range of variables capable of affecting the dependence. The issue of causative nature of dependence should be solved proceeding from the analysis of the aggregate data on the problem. PMID- 2623451 TI - [Preventive trends in public health and health care]. PMID- 2623452 TI - [Hospital aid to patients with bronchial asthma in big cities]. AB - This paper provides the results of the analysis of 3013 hospital admissions for bronchial asthma. The hospitalized incidence of bronchial asthma under conditions of big industrial cities is 5.5 per 10,000 adult population. Among measures of primary and secondary prevention of bronchial asthma in adult population residents of big cities, priority should be given to the adequate treatment of pre-asthmatic conditions. The number of beds utilized for hospitalization of patients with bronchial asthma is 0.6 per 10,000 adult population per year. PMID- 2623453 TI - [Organization of day hospitals in outpatient care facilities]. PMID- 2623454 TI - [Methods of pedagogical assessment of qualifications in postgraduate medical education]. AB - The methods of pedagogical assessment of qualification in postgraduate medical education play a decisive role in assessing both the effectiveness of training and the level of professional competence of physicians. The methods of pedagogical assessment of qualification provide an opportunity to measure and evaluate each of the didactic categories--knowledge, professional competence, practical skills, professional credo. The described methods of assessing the knowledge, professional competence and practical skills can form an objective picture of the level of educational goals achieved (in the process of education) and determine whether the level of professional training of physicians meet professional requirements. PMID- 2623455 TI - [Dynamics of the flow of Soviet scientific documents in social hygiene and public health organization]. AB - In order to study the rates of accumulating new information on selected trends in social hygiene and public health organisation and in this branch of science as a whole, to explore the possibility of prognostic estimate of research efforts distribution, the dynamics of national documentation flows in this branch was analysed in 1975-1976 (959 publications), 1980-1981 (1740 publication) and 1985 1986 (2353 publications). A total of 5052 documents was studied. The study revealed that a quantitative analysis of research documentation flows reflects the intensity of accumulating the information. During last 10 years a rapid increase in the flow of publications on the problems of public health organisation was noted along with its slow progress regarding the problems of population health. The knowledge of the dynamics of documentation flow permitted to understand the nature of its further development only on the basis of large- scale major trends of the research and of the branch as a whole. It would be impossible to make similar estimations on the basis of selected specific cases of research without additional information. PMID- 2623456 TI - [The system of physician training in Great Britain]. PMID- 2623457 TI - The dental manager's role in a hospital. AB - Ten years ago, the administrative leadership of Booth Memorial Medical Center recognized the institution's potential for growth in a rapidly changing economic environment. A decision was made to develop strong middle management to encourage excellence, efficiency, and accountability. It was determined that the strength of the midsection of the hospital's administration could keep the hospital stable and lean, to withstand the pressures of inflation and regulatory restraints. PMID- 2623458 TI - Treating patients with nervous vomiting in the dental office by point-stimulating therapy. AB - Treating patients with nervous vomiting in the dental office is a difficult problem for dentists. An efficient method--point-stimulating therapy--is recommended for dealing with such cases. PMID- 2623459 TI - Training for the future: issues in geriatric dentistry. AB - The following report was presented during the October regional meeting of the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry in Washington, DC. The needs for dentists who specialize in geriatric dentistry and dental curriculum in geriatrics are discussed, together with issues that face dental educators in geriatric dentistry. PMID- 2623460 TI - Enhancement of a general practice residency program through cooperation by two hospitals. AB - Successful management of hospital dental programs and general practice residencies is challenging in this era of cost containment. The efforts of two hospitals to strengthen their dental departments through greater efficiency of operation, cost controls, and improvements in a general practice residency program are described. PMID- 2623462 TI - The integration of mobile dentistry into traditional private dental practice. PMID- 2623461 TI - Reactor panel discussion: commitment to integration. PMID- 2623463 TI - The portable alternative: selecting the right equipment for the nontraditional practice setting. PMID- 2623464 TI - Mobile dental practice: financial considerations. PMID- 2623465 TI - The occurrence of supernumerary teeth with isolated, nonfamilial leopard (multiple lentigines) syndrome: report of case. AB - A case of leopard syndrome with abnormal dental findings of supernumerary teeth is described. The risks involved with providing dental care to patients with this syndrome is also discussed. PMID- 2623466 TI - An ambulance rotation as part of the general practice residency program. AB - This article describes a unique educational experience by using the ambulance as an extension of emergency medicine training for a general practice resident. The rotation enables the resident to deliver independent and spontaneous medical care in an emergent setting. A specific set of educational objectives were developed and used for this rotation. PMID- 2623467 TI - [Natural progesterone]. PMID- 2623468 TI - [The sweat test]. PMID- 2623469 TI - [Transcutaneous partial oxygen pressure]. PMID- 2623470 TI - [Subcutaneous chamber implantable catheter]. PMID- 2623471 TI - [Physical therapy for patients with cystic fibrosis. Clearing of the airways]. PMID- 2623472 TI - [Corrective exercise and sports]. PMID- 2623473 TI - [The diet of children with cystic fibrosis]. PMID- 2623474 TI - [Consultation with the coordinating nurse]. PMID- 2623475 TI - [Carinne, a girl with cystic fibrosis]. PMID- 2623476 TI - [Facts about mucoviscidosis]. PMID- 2623477 TI - [The nurse facing death]. PMID- 2623478 TI - [The libidinal development of the individual]. PMID- 2623479 TI - [Disease in children and adolescents. Psychological reactions]. PMID- 2623480 TI - [Angiology '89. Current advances. 7th Dreilander meeting of the DGA, OGA, and SGA/SSA. 1st German-/French-speaking meeting. Montreux, 6-9 September 1989. Proceedings]. PMID- 2623481 TI - [Phlebography follow-up of successful fibrinolytic treatment of deep leg vein thromboses]. PMID- 2623482 TI - [Modifications induced by long-term treatment with high doses of 0-(beta hydroxyethyl)-rutoside in chronic venous insufficiency]. PMID- 2623483 TI - [Socioeconomic importance of varicose veins: prevalence and mode of varicose vein treatment from the viewpoint of the patient]. PMID- 2623484 TI - [Measuring skin circulation in patients with chronic venous insufficiency in various body positions and with compression therapy]. PMID- 2623485 TI - [The place of thrombectomy in the treatment of venous thrombosis]. PMID- 2623486 TI - [Surgery of venous thromboses, indications and results]. PMID- 2623487 TI - [Surgical treatment of deep venous thrombosis: differential indications, technic, follow-up and results]. PMID- 2623488 TI - [Patency of the inferior vena cava following caval filter implantation]. PMID- 2623489 TI - [Can a venous compression model be a reliable simulation of the actual hemodynamic situation of deep leg vein thrombosis?]. PMID- 2623490 TI - [Phlebo-radiologic study of the circulation of the lower legs]. PMID- 2623491 TI - [Use of quantitative photoplethysmography for estimating ambulatory venous pressure and venous filling time: initial results in healthy subjects and in patients with varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency]. PMID- 2623492 TI - [Epidemiology of Raynaud's phenomenon in the general population]. PMID- 2623493 TI - [Reflexion oximetry measurement of cutaneous hemoglobin saturation and concentration in patients with chronic venous insufficiency]. PMID- 2623494 TI - [What model for which thrombosis and why?]. PMID- 2623495 TI - [Histopathologic considerations of the pathogenesis of venous thrombosis]. PMID- 2623496 TI - [Clinical experience in orthopedics: routine surgery of the hip]. PMID- 2623497 TI - [Importance of early thermal therapy in the treatment of cases of phlebitis]. PMID- 2623498 TI - [The role of arterial factors in Raynaud's phenomenon: epidemiologic approach]. PMID- 2623499 TI - [Electron microscopy characterization of percutaneous biopsy of vascular plaque]. PMID- 2623500 TI - [The skin oxygen histogram in patients with arterial occlusive disorders]. PMID- 2623502 TI - [Current aspects of Raynaud's phenomenon: a minimal etiologic survey]. PMID- 2623501 TI - [Effect of an increase in hydrostatic pressure on the fluorescence temporal distribution pattern of manifestations in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease]. PMID- 2623503 TI - [Acute ischemia syndrome: analysis of 144 cases]. PMID- 2623504 TI - [The effect of diltiazem on plaque cells of primary and restenosed lesions]. PMID- 2623505 TI - [Walking distance in hyperbaric oxygenation in intermittent claudication]. PMID- 2623506 TI - [Effect of low dose omega-3-fatty acids on blood pressure, blood lipids and blood fluidity in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia]. PMID- 2623507 TI - [Incidence and distribution of arteriosclerosis in a normal population--results of the Augsburg WHO study 1988]. PMID- 2623508 TI - [Intermittent claudication, myocardial ischemia and walking distance on an even surface]. PMID- 2623509 TI - [Evolution of early manifested arteriopathy--mortality and cause of death]. PMID- 2623510 TI - [Evolution of early manifestation of peripheral arterial occlusive disease--the fate of survivors]. PMID- 2623511 TI - [Non-invasive diagnosis of profunda branch stenosis and its hemodynamic relevance]. PMID- 2623512 TI - Local cooling test for clinical capillaroscopy in Raynaud's phenomenon. PMID- 2623513 TI - [Is there a relative profunda stenosis?]. PMID- 2623514 TI - [Reconstruction of the femoral profunda artery: indications and results]. PMID- 2623515 TI - [Clinical use of the triaden operation]. PMID- 2623516 TI - [Thrombolysis of cardiovascular diseases]. PMID- 2623517 TI - [Treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon by thermal biofeedback]. PMID- 2623518 TI - [Hemodynamic indicators of the severity of arteriopathy of the leg in intermittent claudication (Fontaine stage II)]. PMID- 2623519 TI - [Clinical and hemodynamic classification of chronic arteriopathies of the leg]. PMID- 2623520 TI - [Thrombolysis of acute ischemia of the extremities]. PMID- 2623521 TI - Xenotracheal graft as biological material for replacement of the affected vessels. PMID- 2623522 TI - [Raynaud's phenomenon: evolution of the concepts]. PMID- 2623523 TI - [Importance and technics of reconstruction of the profunda femoral axis]. PMID- 2623524 TI - [The femoral profunda artery within the scope of aneurysm disease]. PMID- 2623525 TI - [What does profunda-plasty accomplish in acute femoro-popliteal occlusion?]. PMID- 2623526 TI - [Value of profunda revascularization in aorto-femoral 2-level occlusion]. PMID- 2623527 TI - [What does isolated profunda-plasty accomplish in arterial occlusive disease of the femoral type?]. PMID- 2623528 TI - [Relation of total cutaneous and nutritional microcirculation in patients with arterial insufficiency of the lower extremities]. PMID- 2623529 TI - [Changes in the muscle tissue oxygen pressure of the lower extremity following sympathetic lysis and vascular surgery]. PMID- 2623530 TI - [New imaging procedures for assessing angiodysplasia from the vascular surgery viewpoint]. PMID- 2623531 TI - [Magnetic resonance angiography of intracranial blood vessels]. PMID- 2623532 TI - [Magnetic resonance venography]. PMID- 2623533 TI - [Validation of an automatic quantification system in angiography. Research group studying ticlopidine in atherosclerosis of the lower leg]. PMID- 2623534 TI - [Contribution of subtraction angiography in examining arteries of the hand]. PMID- 2623535 TI - [Intra-operative digital subtraction angiography with a surgical image enhancer]. PMID- 2623536 TI - [Magnetic resonance angiography: the neck and head]. PMID- 2623537 TI - [Effects of prostaglandin E1 on O2 utilization and vascular resistance. Results of experimental and clinical studies]. PMID- 2623538 TI - [Magnetic resonance angiography--the body and extremities]. PMID- 2623539 TI - [Effect of prostaglandin E1 on function and deformability of neutrophilic granulocytes in patients with stage IV peripheral arterial occlusive disease]. PMID- 2623540 TI - [Primary and secondary microangiopathy in patients with essential hypertension]. PMID- 2623541 TI - [TcPO2 of the top of the foot in the sitting position]. PMID- 2623542 TI - [Long-term blood pressure measurements with i.v. prostaglandin E1 infusion]. PMID- 2623543 TI - [Intravital measurement of transcutaneous oxygen diffusion distance in healthy patients]. PMID- 2623544 TI - [Erythrocyte aggregation and stasis: effect of intravascular sedimentation on microvascular perfusion in hypotension and treatment with defibrinogenization (Arwin)]. PMID- 2623545 TI - [Rheology of giant capillary occlusion in secondary Raynaud's phenomenon within the scope of systemic sclerosis]. PMID- 2623546 TI - [Risk of developing peripheral arterial occlusive disorders/Raynaud syndrome by exposure to vibration]. PMID- 2623547 TI - [Association of Raynaud phenomenon with capillary morphologic changes in patients with lupus erythematosus]. PMID- 2623548 TI - [Quantitative nail fold capillary microscopy of integumental and systemic forms of lupus erythematosus and scleroderma]. PMID- 2623549 TI - [Capillary microscopy, electron microscopy and immunohistologic studies in the diagnosis of collagen diseases]. PMID- 2623550 TI - Use of endoscopic Congo red test in the evaluation of ulcer recurrence risks after proximal gastric vagotomy. A new interpretive method. AB - The endoscopic Congo red test (ECRT) was performed in 43 patients who underwent proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) for duodenal ulcer (DU). The aim of the study was to develop a standard and reliable way to interpret the results obtained in this test. Thus, the results of ECRT were related to post-operative clinical evaluation and to pre- and post-operative basal and pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acidity. Whenever ECRT was considered positive, we called it in "large extension" if a red-to-black colour change occurred in three or more of the areas studied. Positive ECRT was observed in 39 patients (90.7%). There was a statistically significant (P less than 0.01) correlation between poor clinical results and positive ECRT in "large extension". We concluded that: (1) a positive ECRT result has no clinical or prognostic significance in DU patients after PGV; (2) ECRT, analysed according to the extension of the areas turning black, is a practical and reliable method to establish clinical results and prognosis in these patients. PMID- 2623551 TI - The "steakhouse syndrome". Primary and definitive diagnosis and therapy. AB - Over a period of 5 years, 28 instances of acute food impaction of the esophagus were documented in 26 patients at our institution. In all patients the impacted bolus was successfully removed without complication using a flexible endoscope. Underlying diseases were identified during primary endoscopy in 31% of the cases. Further diagnostic workup was performed in all but 5 of the patients. After adequate evaluation pathologic findings were demonstrated in 90% of the cases (38% malignant and 52% benign diseases). Long-term therapy was deemed necessary in 17 of these 21 patients. Operative intervention was indicated in 4 cases, 2 of which were for malignant tumors. Acute food impaction should always be regarded as a symptom of esophageal disorders. In patients with esophageal cancer or other mediastinal tumors bolus impaction generally indicates an advanced tumor stage. PMID- 2623552 TI - Arthroscopy and arthrography. A combined procedure. AB - Arthrography and arthroscopy are invasive diagnostic procedures performed on all main joints of the human body. Both procedures are effective, with differing methods of visualizing intra-articular structures. Whereas the arthrogram reproduces a black-and-white, two-dimensional picture of a spatial structure (an indirect procedure), arthroscopy provides a colored picture facilitating a three dimensional assessment of the joint cavity, palpation, and the arthroscopic operation. However, both procedures have their weaknesses. False-positive and false-negative results may occur in arthrographic techniques, whereas in arthroscopy, the inability to visualize particular joint regions resulting from the anatomical features of the joints is known. Arthroscopy and arthrography are complementary procedures in joint diagnosis. The present paper is based on experience gathered in 5188 arthroscopies of the six large human joints. Prior to all hand and hip arthroscopies, arthrographic examinations were performed. They provided essential information in 30% of all ankle-joint arthroscopies and in 10% of all knee arthroscopies, but in only a few elbow and shoulder arthroscopies. PMID- 2623553 TI - Ultrathin flexible endoscopes for ureteroscopy. A preliminary experimental and clinical study. AB - Recent advances in fiberoptic technology have resulted in the development of endoscopes with an outer diameter of less than 6 F, including an irrigating or working channel. After preliminary testing of these ultrathin fiberscopes for ureteroscopy on 6 pigs, 17 patients were examined during routine retrograde pyelography. Prototypes of flexible endoscopes without an actively deflectable tip and an outer diameter of 5.5 F (= 1.8 mm) and a 1.5 F (= 0.5 mm) channel were used. Fine-needle aspiration cytology was obtained through the channel. The feasibility, performance and benefits of ureteroscopy with ultrathin, flexible endoscopes were evaluated. At present the lack of maneuverability and the fragility of the fiberscopes limit this method. Yet its routine clinical use, in addition to retrograde ureteropyelography under local anesthesia, shows great promise. PMID- 2623554 TI - Sphincter of Oddi response to caerulein after endoscopic sphincterotomy for papillary stenosis. AB - Using a percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) catheter, sphincter of Oddi motility was measured in a patient with papillary stenosis secondary to bile duct stones. Prior to sphincterotomy, intramuscular injection of 20 micrograms caerulein did not inhibit pathological contraction waves of the sphincter of Oddi or relieve abdominal pain. Endoscopic sphincterotomy of the lower segment of the sphincter of Oddi resulted in recovery of the normal response to caerulein, i.e. relaxation of the sphincter of Oddi. This observation indicates that the pathological contraction and lack of relaxation to cholecystokinin in a patient with papillary stenosis is due to high common bile duct pressure. The measurement of motility of sphincter of Oddi via the PTCS route is useful in diagnosing motor disorders in the sphincter of Oddi and is helpful in deciding to perform endoscopic sphincterotomy. PMID- 2623555 TI - [Skiing injuries: analysis in a German ski area]. AB - An analysis of frequencies, causes and injury patterns in skiing with emphasis to knee injuries was done. In our clinic next to the slopes of the ski resort Pfronten and the skiing region Ostallgau skiing injuries contribute with 58% of all stationary treated sports injuries to a big part of our in-patients. Out of all skiing injuries 52% are ligament lesions and 63% concern the knee joint. Thus the knee ligament lesions are leading in our sports related orthopaedic surgery. The results of this analysis were compared with data from Swiss skiing areas and Austrian and German university clinics. Possible ways of injury prophylaxis are presented. PMID- 2623556 TI - [Skin boot versus knee joint--a sports medicine, orthopedic and biomechanical problem]. AB - In contrast to the drop in the incidence of fractures of the lower leg, or tibia, that has been observed in recent years, the incidence of knee injuries has not decreased in skiing and there has been a relative increase in the frequency of severe knee lesions and of the isolated rupture of the cruciate ligament, prompting us to conduct a comprehensive study of the causes of these phenomena. It was found necessary to develop a innovative method of measurement to analyse the patterns of movement and stress to which the knee injuries were attributed. By combining and synchronizing movement analysis, measurement of pressure distribution and measurement of force it became possible to perform a detailed analysis of the forward/backward movement in the ski boot in the laboratory and also on the course by telemetry (part 1). The first two studies were devoted to the forward lean in the ski boot (part 2). Basing on movement analysis and simultaneous determination of pressure distribution along the lower leg, the influence of different ski boot models on the Vorlage, or forward lean, movement of beginners and very experienced skiers was studied. An important result of the laboratory experiment was that whereas a ski boot can be moved without difficulty into a strong forward lean position of the skier by an experienced sportsman, a beginner can only assume a forward lean with 20% less inclination (this being a significant difference). In other words: the range of the freedom of movement in such a boot is markedly limited. The assumption that in ski amateurs such a ski boot would promote skiing in backward lean position, was confirmed by studies on the course (part 3). The pupils became definitely less adept at learning if they were required to wear a stiff ski boot; analysis of movement showed that the forward lean angles were clearly smaller and that the skiers adopted a skiing style in backward lean position that exercised an undue strain on the knees. The other two studies, therefore, focussed mainly on the backward movement in the ski boot. Specifically, the fixed rear spoilers of the modern ski boots are accused of contributing to the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament if the skier lands on the tail ends of the skis after a jump or fall in backward lean position ('big bump, flat landing' syndrome).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2623557 TI - [The pattern of injuries of the ankle joint in ski boots--a retrospective analysis]. AB - This study is dealing with the analysis of isolated ankle fractures in ski boots which are nowadays very seldom. Modern equipment and excellent prepared skiing facilities reduced this kind of trauma. In the early sixties about 60% of lower extremity injuries were caused by ankle fractures. Now, 25 years later, only 10% of injuries concerning to lower extremity are injuries of medial and lateral ankle or of the talofibular ligaments. At the department of trauma surgery of the university hospital of Innsbruck we use a questionnaire for winter sports injuries. We made a retrospective follow up study of the last three years, in which we found 100 patients with ankle injuries. Pilon tibial- and tibia shaft fractures are not included. The classification was made by the Lauge-Hansen system. Supination-inversion and supination-eversion fractures were found more often than others. Fractures of both medial and lateral ankles were only seen in three cases. One reason for this result could be a lack of movement of the ankle in the ski-boot. Modern plastic boots seem to protect ankle and distal tibia and fibula. Another remarkable result was the fact that we could not find any difference in the types of fractures comparing patients with released and not released bindings. PMID- 2623558 TI - [Torsion --a new concept in construction of sports shoes. Motion excursion of the foot in athletic stress--anatomical and biomechanical observations and their effects on construction of sports shoes]. AB - In recent years several construction elements resulted in an increasing stiffening of the sport shoe so that the foot was partly forced to make its own movements inside the shoe. A new sport shoe concept is presented basing on the results of anatomic and biomechanical studies, its innovative feature being decoupling of the foot movement between the calcaneal part of the foot and the metatarsus (= torsion). The foot is given an opportunity to transmit its freedom of movement in the longitudinal axis of the foot to the shoe without the shoe acting as a lever, this goal being achieved by a limited liberation of the metatarsal pronation/supination and a controlled uncoupling of the metatarsus from the calcaneal part of the foot. PMID- 2623559 TI - [Intra-articular juvenile calcaneus fractures in skiing]. AB - Calcaneal fractures are extremely rare in children with intraarticular fractures occurring between 8 and 14 years. This report refers to two cases with displaced intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus sustained from skiing. Results of surgery were proven to be excellent. As essential prerogatives of successful treatment elaborate diagnostics including computerized tomography, experience in doing surgery on the calcaneus and knowledge about the special entities of the growing skeleton are mandatory. PMID- 2623560 TI - [Clean executions]. PMID- 2623561 TI - [The medical execution]. PMID- 2623562 TI - [Participation in a discussion about a nursing ethics council]. PMID- 2623563 TI - [Suitable for the death penalty]. PMID- 2623564 TI - [Nursing. Borrowed a ward and tested a theory]. PMID- 2623565 TI - [Care for the aged. Positive treatment of strange behavior in senile dementia]. PMID- 2623566 TI - [Sham execution destroys personality. Interview by Mette Ellegaard]. PMID- 2623568 TI - [A holy cow]. PMID- 2623567 TI - [580 nurses campaign against death penalty. Interview by Grethe Nielsen]. PMID- 2623569 TI - [Continuing education. We will not belong with the physicians but will be ourselves. Interview by Grethe Kjaergaard]. PMID- 2623571 TI - [Nurses insecure about experiments with drugs]. PMID- 2623570 TI - [Cross-professional team work. Seminars for HIV-positive hemophiliacs and their families]. PMID- 2623572 TI - [Amnesty. Executions flourish in China]. PMID- 2623573 TI - [We ourselves are at fault for our role as desk nurses]. PMID- 2623574 TI - [Nursing--dear colleagues]. PMID- 2623575 TI - [Development is characterized by the will to improve nursing level]. PMID- 2623576 TI - [The Minister's signature]. PMID- 2623577 TI - [Should patients always be supported in their decisions?]. PMID- 2623578 TI - [Gate to the future]. PMID- 2623579 TI - [Education. Announcement meets almost all our demands]. PMID- 2623580 TI - [Education. Care as a basis for work]. PMID- 2623581 TI - [More practical experience for leaders]. PMID- 2623582 TI - [International status]. PMID- 2623583 TI - [Continuous registration of postoperative wound infections]. PMID- 2623584 TI - [Health care services on a slack rope. Interview by Grethe Nielsen]. PMID- 2623585 TI - [Education. Students in role playing in the hospital ward]. PMID- 2623586 TI - [Parliament. Health policy's changed attitude to brain death criteria]. PMID- 2623588 TI - [Without research there is no future. Interview by Mette Ellegaard]. PMID- 2623587 TI - [Home nursing. Self-help groups for relatives]. PMID- 2623589 TI - [Methods of disinfection of water systems in dental units by water chlorination]. AB - The aim of the present study was to develop a simple disinfection method to reduce the content of bacteria in the water system of dental units to an acceptable level. The study was carried out at the Royal Dental College, Copenhagen on 250 dental units. Samples of the cooling water to the ultrasonic scalers and of the water to the water glasses were obtained from eight different units representing different parts of the school. Disinfection of the water system was carried out by addition of chlorine to the pipe water near the main water intake to the institution. The chlorination af the water was automatically regulated, and the installation was so flexible that the concentration of chlorine and the time and frequency of the chlorination could be varied. Different modes of dosage of chlorine were examined. Before chlorination the bacterial content in the water system of the units was about 10(4)-10(5) c.f.u./ml. It was found that an intermittent chlorination with 0.5-1 ppm chlorine for 10 min. every day could normally reduce the bacterial counts in the water system to about a few hundreds per ml. PMID- 2623590 TI - [100 years and "no cavities"]. PMID- 2623591 TI - [The evaluation of the marginal bone height on traditional and digitized panoramic radiographs]. AB - The aim of the present study was to compare original and digitized panoramic radiographs (with a 512 X 512 digitization matrix) for the assessment of alveolar bone loss using intraoral radiographs as a reference. Intraoral radiographs of 2+, +5, and 6- and an orthopantomogram were obtained from each of 55 patients. Alveolar bone level was measured on the intraoral, the original panoramic, and the digitized panoramic radiographs using a Schei ruler as percentage of bone left from the cemento-enamel junction to the apex. Mean values between the separate observations of the two authors were used. A statistically significant reduction in bone level was observed when assessed by the panoramic methods compared to the intraoral radiographs (P less than 0.01 for all tooth groups). Similarly a significant reduction was observed in the digitized panoramic radiographs compared to the originals (P less than 0.05) except for the molar region. The results indicate that the 512 X 512 spatial resolution is not sufficient for the digitization of extraoral radiographs when fine-detail diagnostics are needed. It is suggested that extraoral radiographs are digitized in segments when working with this matrix. PMID- 2623592 TI - [Salivary secretion is controlled by unbound Ca++ in the acinar cells]. PMID- 2623593 TI - Increasing utilization of dental services among young Danish adults by changing dental care delivery mode. PMID- 2623594 TI - [Knowledge, attitude and behavior of institutional staff with regard to oral health in nursing homes]. AB - The purpose of the study was to describe the attitude and behavior of the institutional staff in two nursing homes in relation to the oral health problems and to the oral health care of the residents. A questionnaire was distributed to all staff with nursing responsibilities working day-time (n = 90), and 93% returned the questionnaires. The majority of the staff were female nursing assistants below 40 years of age. Only 17% said they had had sufficient training about oral health care, and many had problems assisting the elderly, especially the most helpless residents. It was a common problem to remove and replace dentures and many of the dentate elderly resisted assistance with toothbrushing by closing the mouth. In general the staff was aware of the many oral health problems of the elderly. The majority was of the opinion that oral health care service should be the responsibility of one dentist and of the municipality. Finally half of the staff expressed that the dentists working in the municipal clinics were as qualified as the private practitioners to take responsibility for providing oral health care to the elderly. PMID- 2623595 TI - [A new standard from ISO for nonprecious dental alloys in removable prosthesis]. PMID- 2623596 TI - [Still another disease to combat. Zambia has a serious AIDS-problem, in addition to TB, malaria, diarrhea, etc]. PMID- 2623597 TI - [Compatibility between stone and alginate]. AB - The compatibility between three alginates and three die stones was measured with a surface analyser and observed in the scanning electron microscope. For all nine combinations of alginate and die stone, the relief of the roughness standard was only partly reproduced. The compatibility of certain combinations was so poor that these should be avoided. Thus, Blueprint should not be poured with white Vel Mix. Furthermore, it is recommendable to use combinations of alginate and die stone that result in the highest Ra-values possible. PMID- 2623598 TI - [The occurrence of denticles in the craniums of Norwegian Samis (Lapps)]. AB - The purpose of the present radiologic study was to establish prevalence and distribution of pulp stones in mandibular premolars and molars in skulls of Norwegian Samis. The results were compared to those of previous investigations of ancient Eskimos, medieval Norsemen from Greenland, Danish Stone Age People and ancient Nubians. Forty-eight dentitions were radiographed and pulp stones recorded according to number and location within the teeth. Twenty-six percent of the Samis exhibited pulp stones. Molars showed a significantly higher prevalence of pulp stones than did premolars. The giant pulp calcifications described previously were limited to first and second molars. Pulp stones were located in pulp chambers only. Symmetric occurrence of pulp stones was common in contralateral teeth. Further epidemiologic studies of pulp stones in ethnic groups are needed. PMID- 2623599 TI - [IV International Conference on AIDS and associated cancers in Africa]. PMID- 2623600 TI - [News from the literature regarding HIV and oral problems]. PMID- 2623601 TI - [Cooperative efforts in a preventive dental disease program among chocolate factory workers]. PMID- 2623602 TI - [A three-year specialist (dental) training at the dental college of the University in Abo (Finland)]. PMID- 2623603 TI - [Use of fibrin glue in connection with a free gingival transplant]. AB - The case in question is a 20-year-old woman who previously had an operation performed including extraction of the first premolars and back-moving of the front section of the maxilla. Half a year postoperatively a gingival retraction and sequestration of osseous tissue occurred. To shape a new zone of attached gingiva, a free mucosal transplant was removed with a Mucotome from the palate and placed on the prepared recipient area. Instead of using the traditional suturing technique the transplant was fixed with fibrinsealer (Tisseel). Within a few minutes the transplant was firmly attached to the underlying tissue. The healing procedure did not show the common desquamation of the epithelium, probably because of a quick establishment of a sufficient nutrition. After 1 month a firm zone of keratinized gingiva was established. There was no cosmetic indication to cover the denuded root surface. PMID- 2623604 TI - [AIDS, HIV and the dentist: the most recent dissemination of information has come to an end]. PMID- 2623605 TI - [Retrograde root obturations using resin and a dentin bonding agent: a preliminary histologic study of tissue reactions in monkeys]. AB - The histologic response to a new retrograde root filling procedure using composite and a dentin bonding agent (Gluma) was examined in two monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). Infected root canals in canines and incisors were retrograde sealed and a histologic examination performed after 1 year. Among three canines, two showed epithelial proliferation on the resected root surface, apparently originating from the incision which had been placed very close to the level of resection. In the third canine, filled with a composite containing tricalciumphosphate, there was not only reformation of new Sharpey's fibers, but also, seen for the first time, regeneration of new cementum directly upon the retrograde filling material (Fig. 1). Two incisors were extracted, the apices resected, a retrofilling applied, and the incisors replanted. In this way any interference by epithelium could be avoided. After 1 year, both teeth showed a narrow fibrous zone without inflammation opposite the filling material (Fig. 2). The surprising finding that a composite could allow complete PDL regeneration including cementum upon the retrograde material implies that a new biologic retrograde root filling principle is at hand. Experiments are now in progress to further characterize the necessary condition for cementum repair upon composite used as a retrograde root filling material. PMID- 2623606 TI - [Crowns and bridges made of titanium]. PMID- 2623607 TI - Caries and periodontal disease in the northern part of Brazil: report from a stay at Fundcao Esperanca, Santarem. PMID- 2623608 TI - [Class I and II cavities for amalgam restorations]. AB - In a Danish cross-sectional survey of replacements of fillings it was reported that a major reason for replacement of Class II amalgam restorations was bulk fractures (22). This initiated an examination of a sample of 168 Class II cavity preparations made by dentists from Denmark and other Scandinavian countries. The results showed that the Danish cavities were deepest occlusally and buccally, had the most converging proximal walls, and the broadest bucco-lingual outline occlusally. On the basis of the literature, it is not possible to evaluate the clinical significance of these differences and there is no distinct explanation why bulk fractures cause replacement of amalgam fillings more frequently in Denmark than in the rest of Scandinavia. Only a longitudinal clinical examination of the fillings may show whether the observed differences in the cavity preparations results in an increased frequency of isthmus fractures and are of importance for the longevity of the fillings. PMID- 2623610 TI - [Information regarding dental materials]. PMID- 2623609 TI - [The reactions of patients to mandibular osseointegrated dental prosthesis/implants]. AB - A removable denture as rehabilitation for complete edentulousness is not always sufficient treatment. Some patients cannot achieve acceptable function with this treatment and psychosocial problems sometimes arise. In recent years an alternative treatment has been available for these patients, viz. treatment with overdentures supported by oral implants. An interview has been made with the first 10 patients. The treatment was 3 to 5 ITI-implants in the mandible between the mental foramina. A barconstruction stabilized the implants and barclips were placed in the denture. There was a very positively reaction to the treatment. The patients have an improvement in oral function and retention of the denture. Also the psychosocial sequelae from which some of them previously suffered were reduced or removed. PMID- 2623611 TI - [An easy and inexpensive method for copying intraoral radiographs]. AB - The use of Kodak Duplicating Dental films for production of intraoral dental x ray film copies represents an alternative to a constant use of double film packages. The technique which is very simple is described, and economic considerations are discussed. PMID- 2623612 TI - [Temporary crowns used as diagnostic aid. 1]. PMID- 2623613 TI - [Dental health care system in the Nordic countries]. PMID- 2623614 TI - [The fear of HIV must be recognized and treated, not suppressed. Interview by Thomas Johansson]. PMID- 2623616 TI - [HIVDok--a database created by the Health Care System on HIV and AIDS]. PMID- 2623615 TI - [Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)--an explosion of knowledge in the field of virology]. PMID- 2623618 TI - [Spirochetes and periodontitis]. PMID- 2623617 TI - [Medical diagnosis and disease as related to amalgam restorations]. PMID- 2623619 TI - [The use of dental log-keeping in order to trace and identify lost persons]. PMID- 2623620 TI - [How does the immune system function and which functional deficiencies increase the risk of infection?]. PMID- 2623621 TI - [Biologic treatment of dentin]. PMID- 2623622 TI - [Toxic effects on embryos derived from amalgam restorations containing mercury. West German considerations]. PMID- 2623623 TI - [Specialty treatment of pedodontic patients in a university clinic during the years 1977-1986]. PMID- 2623624 TI - [A survey of recent graduates regarding their undergraduate curriculum (dental)]. PMID- 2623625 TI - [Calcifications associated with a nasopalatine cyst--case report]. PMID- 2623626 TI - [Dental health among adults in the county of Gavleborg--occlusal physiology]. PMID- 2623627 TI - [Sterilization of gutta-percha points]. PMID- 2623628 TI - [Cooperation between dentists and dental hygienists in 1986]. PMID- 2623629 TI - Interpretation of some median anomalies as illustrated by cyclopia and symmelia. AB - Anomalies that involve the median plane are heterogeneous, and their embryological basis varies widely. Cyclopia and symmelia present a number of similarities: 1) They would appear to arise by neither fusion nor merging but mainly through a failure in lateralization. 2) Mesenchymal deficiency is important in both: possibly disturbance of the prechordal plate in cyclopia and failure of the caudal eminence in symmelia. The caudal eminence is an important developmental feature that is only recently becoming clearer in the human embryo. 3) Disturbance of axial material seems to be essential in both. 4) The results of experimental teratogenesis and an analysis of normal human development confirm that these conditions arise early. The teratogenetic termination-periods in the human are probably 2 1/2 weeks for cyclopia sensu stricto (a median eye in a single orbit) and 3 weeks for cyclopia sensu lato, i.e., synophthalmia (paired ocular structures in a single orbit); 2 1/2 weeks for symmelia of the upper limbs (e.g., in cephalothoracopagus) and 3 1/2 weeks for symmelia of the lower limbs in a single individual. It is pointed out that in symmelia the limb buds, upper or lower, have failed to separate at their postaxial margins. This is in contrast to dimelia, in which the preaxial borders are missing and the postaxial margins are duplicated (postaxial dominance). PMID- 2623630 TI - Piperidine alkaloid composition and relation to crooked calf disease-inducing potential of Lupinus formosus. AB - A congenital deformity condition called crooked calf disease, of widespread occurrence in western North America, is known to be induced by maternal ingestion during gestation of certain members of the Lupinus genus containing the quinolizidine alkaloid teratogen anagyrine. Because some piperidine alkaloids from other sources induce a similar condition, we have investigated the alkaloid composition and teratogenicity of Lupinus formosus, reported by others to be low in quinolizidines but rich in the type of piperidine alkaloids that we have speculated would be teratogenic. GC/MS analysis of L. formosus showed seven major and nine minor components in the total alkaloid fraction. All seven major and five of the nine minor components, representing all but 3% of the fraction, were identified by mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns and GC retention times. They included several potentially teratogenic piperidine alkaloids (including a very large amount of ammodendrine), as well as several nonteratogenic quinolizidine alkaloids plus a trace (at nonteratogenic levels) of the known quinolizidine teratogen anagyrine. The plant induced severe crooked calf disease with limb, spinal, and palate involvement in experimental calves. The deformities are believed to have been induced by ammodendrine. PMID- 2623631 TI - Prenatal dexamethasone administration disrupts the pattern of cellular development in rat lung. AB - To examine whether prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids could adversely affect subsequent cellular development of the lung, we administered 0.2 mg/kg of dexamethasone to pregnant rats on gestational days 17, 18, and 19. Lungs of the offspring were then examined for patterns of cell acquisition (DNA) and growth (protein). DNA concentration (a marker of cell packing density) and DNA content (a measure of total cell numbers) were reduced during gestation, and the shortfalls in concentration persisted past weaning. Disruption of development was also apparent in the protein/DNA ratio, which was consistently elevated, a finding consistent with cellular hypertrophy. In addition, lung ODC became coupled to beta-adrenergic receptors prematurely in the dexamethasone group, suggesting that neural control of tissue differentiation is altered. These data indicate that prenatal glucocorticoids may compromise lung development through effects on cell replication and differentiation, which derive, in part, from alterations in the reception of trophic neural signals. PMID- 2623632 TI - Susceptible period of nitrous oxide teratogenicity in Sprague-Dawley rats. AB - The susceptible period of nitrous oxide (N2O) teratogenicity was studied in 170 Sprague-Dawley rats. Seven groups of 20 timed-pregnant rats were exposed to 60% N2O for 24 hours on each of days 6-12 of gestation; a control group of 30 timed pregnant rats was exposed to air on day 9. On day 20 of gestation, dams were killed and reproductive indices were determined; their fetuses were subsequently examined for external, skeletal, and visceral abnormalities. There were no differences among the groups in the number of implantations and live fetuses, mean fetal weight, and sex ratio. The incidence of fetal wastage was higher than control in N2O-treated groups exposed on days 8 and 11 of gestation. Skeletal malformations of the ribs and vertebrae were increased following exposure on day 9 of gestation. However, the specific minor anomaly, cervical rib, was increased only following exposure on day 8 of gestation. The incidences of right-sided aortic arch and left-sided umbilical artery, abnormalities indicative of altered laterality, were increased following exposure on day 8 of gestation. Nitrous oxide administration during organogenesis causes several reproductive defects by mechanisms which remain to be determined. PMID- 2623633 TI - Teratogenic activity of trichloroacetic acid in the rat. AB - Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is a by-product of the chlorine disinfection of water containing natural organic material. It is detectable in finished drinking water at levels comparable to the trihalomethanes (30-160 micrograms/L). TCA is also formed in vivo after ingestion of hypochlorite and has been identified as a major metabolite of chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene. The developmental effects of TCA were evaluated in the pregnant Long-Evans rat. Animals were dosed by oral intubation on gestation days 6-15 (plug = 0) with 0, 330, 800, 1,200, or 1,800 mg/kg/day. The vehicle control was distilled water. Maternal observations included clinical signs, weight change, and gross evaluation of organ weights and uterine contents at necropsy (day 20). Live fetuses were examined for external, skeletal, and soft tissue malformation. There were no maternal deaths associated with toxicity prior to sacrifice. Weight gain during treatment was reduced at 800, 1,200, and 1,800 mg/kg. Spleen and kidney weights were increased in a dose-related manner. The mean percent of resorbed implants per litter was 34, 62, and 90 at 800, 1,200, and 1,800 mg/kg, respectively. Live fetuses showed dose-dependent reductions in weight and length. The mean frequency of soft tissue malformations ranged from 9% at the low dose to 97% at the high dose. These were principally in the cardiovascular system (interventricular septal defect, levocardia). Skeletal malformations were found only at 1,200 and 1,800 mg/kg and were mainly in the orbit. Based on these observations TCA was considered to be developmentally toxic in the pregnant rat at doses of 330 mg/kg and above. PMID- 2623634 TI - Teratogenic effects of phenytoin on chick embryos. AB - The antiepileptic drug phenytoin was injected into the yolk sac of White Leghorn chick embryos. A dose-response study was followed by a detailed teratological study using a single dose of 3 mg. The surviving embryos were sacrificed on the 19th day of incubation. The embryos showed a generalized decrease in body weight together with a wide range of malformations. The malformations could be roughly divided into limb, craniofacial, abdominal, and ocular defects, as well as deficiencies in growth. Skeletal defects included hypoplasia of digital phalanges and nails and shortened wings. PMID- 2623635 TI - Amelioration of the teratogenicity of cadmium by the metallothionein induced by bismuth nitrate. AB - The participation of maternal hepatic metallothionein (MT) in the amelioration of cadmium teratogenicity in mice was examined. Pretreatment with bismuth nitrate (subcutaneously) ameliorated the teratogenicity, including exencephaly and abnormalities of the axial skeleton, caused by a single intraperitoneal injection of cadmium sulfate. Pretreatment with bismuth nitrate for 3 days induced MT drastically in maternal liver and kidney. Six and 24 hr after the injection of cadmium sulfate, the accumulation of maternal hepatic cadmium increased and that in the decidua, including embryos, decreased after pretreatment with bismuth nitrate. Mouse embryos on day 7 of gestation were cultured for 48 hr. Exposure to cadmium sulfate in vitro induced unfused brain fold, which corresponds to exencephaly in vivo. From the in vitro experiment, it was suggested that the teratogenicity of cadmium on day 7 of gestation is a direct action against the mouse embryo. In the present experiment it was suggested that pretreatment with bismuth nitrate induced maternal hepatic and renal MT; cadmium was therefore trapped and detoxicated, and consequently embryos were exposed to a lower concentration of cadmium. PMID- 2623636 TI - Paternal alcohol consumption: effects of age of testing and duration of paternal drinking in mice. AB - Male mice consumed liquid alcohol diets containing 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, or 0% ethanol-derived calories (EDC). Animals receiving the 20-0% EDC diets were pair fed to those consuming the 25% EDC diet. After 7 weeks of consumption males were bred to nontreated females. Offspring were tested for activity at 16-20 and 75 days of age. Offspring sired by alcohol-consuming males did not differ from controls in litter size, birth weight, or weight at weaning, but were less active than controls on several measures of activity. Many of these decreases were best defined in terms of linear trends. However, these differences were evident only for animals tested prior to 20 days of age for most activity measures. In a second experiment adult males continued to consume alcohol for another 7 weeks and were bred again. Offspring of this second breeding were tested for activity at 16 days of age and were compared with offspring sired by the same father from the previous breeding. Offspring sired after this longer duration of paternal alcohol consumption did not differ significantly from controls in any of the above-mentioned variables. PMID- 2623637 TI - Congenital heart disease among spontaneous abortuses and stillborn fetuses: prevalence and associations. AB - The prevalence, range, and associations of congenital heart disease (CHD) were studied among 400 spontaneous abortuses between 9 and 40 weeks' gestation. Fifty two (13.0%) cases of CHD were detected. To minimize selection bias the specimens were grouped by external appearance and the prevalence expressed accordingly. CHD was detected in 21 (7.3%) of 289 externally normal and 31 (27.9%) of 111 externally abnormal fetuses. Ventricular septal defect (VSD) was the most frequent CHD found in isolation as well as in combination with extracardiac malformations. Seventy-five percent of isolated CHD was VSD. Forty (69.2%) of the 52 cases of CHD were associated with extracardiac malformations. Chromosomal syndromes were responsible for a minimum of 19.2% of the cases and suspected in up to 36.5%. The most frequent associations involved the musculoskeletal system, central nervous system, abdominal wall, and kidneys. In contrast, studies of liveborn infants have reported 70% of CHD as isolated defects, including many CHD infrequently seen among spontaneous abortuses. This suggests that fetuses with isolated CHD often survive to term, and CHD does not significantly affect the survival of the fetus in utero. Ventricular septum formation may be particularly susceptible to hemodynamic changes and may be indicative of an underlying pathologic condition that also leads to a spontaneous abortion. PMID- 2623638 TI - Effect of smokeless tobacco on the development of the CD-1 mouse fetus. AB - The objective of this study was to examine the effect of an aqueous extract of smokeless tobacco (ST) on the development of the CD-1 mouse fetus. Three ST dosages were administered three times daily by gastric intubation during gestational days 1-17: 1 X ST equivalent to a dose of 4 mg nicotine/kg body weight, 3 X ST equivalent to 12 mg nicotine, and 5 X ST equivalent to 20 mg nicotine/kg body weight. Maternal plasma nicotine levels were determined 30 minutes after the second daily intubation at five different times during the gestational period. At these ST dosages, the weight gain of ST-treated dams was not significantly affected in comparison to treated controls, though the difference was significant (P less than .05) in comparison to untreated controls. The mean maternal plasma nicotine level for the low dosage (1 X) group was 99.0 ng/ml, which reasonably approximates human consumption levels. The 3 X ST and 5 X ST dosages produced higher nicotine plasma values, 398 ng/ml and 623 ng/ml, respectively, were considerably more toxic to the dams, and resulted in 18% and 31% maternal deaths. Fetal weights were reduced by 7.4% (P less than .001) in the highest ST dosage group (5 X), whereas at the 1 X and 3 X dosages fetal weight differences were not significantly different from treated controls. Resorptions increased in a dose-related manner (P less than .05), ranging from 4.7% in the 1 X, to 6.4% in the 3 X and 8.9% in the 5 X dosage compared to 3.2% in treated controls. External malformations were few and minor in extent. Internal malformations increased in a linear, dose-related manner (P less than .05). Placental weights were unaffected by ST. The results of skeletal examinations were inconclusive. Precocious ossification was seen in 60% and 70% of the parameters measured in the 1 X and 3 X dosage groups, respectively, in comparison to controls. In the 5 X ST group ossification levels were less than in controls for 30% of the parameters measured. Under these experimental conditions the lowest ST dosage (1 X) produced a negligible effect on the CD-1 mouse fetus and the dam. The highest ST dose (5 X) demonstrated embryotoxicity, growth retardation, few malformations, and maternal toxicity. The intermediate dose (3 X) showed a range of effects between the highest and lowest doses to both the fetus and the dam. PMID- 2623639 TI - Teratogenicity of 3,3-dimethyl-1-phenyltriazene in the rat: histopathologic and ultrastructural alterations. AB - 3,3-Dimethyl-1-phenyltriazene (DMPT) is a methylating agent which is teratogenic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic. A single intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg DMPT/kg given to pregnant rats on day 12 of gestation produces malformations with minimal maternal toxicity. Malformations include skeletal deformities such as micrognathism, cleft palate, and digital malformations, as well as central nervous system hypoplasia. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the light and electron microscopic alterations produced by DMPT. Electron microscopy (EM) revealed that at 4 hr postinjection of DMPT, rare cells of the neural tube contained few membrane-bound aggregations of organelles and condensed chromatin; this change was consistent with apoptosis, a type of cell death characterized by morphologic and biochemical alterations distinct from necrosis. At 8 hr postinjection, apoptosis was more prominent in the neural tube and also observed in the mandibular process. At 16 hr postinjection, numerous apoptotic cells were interspersed with unaffected cells that contained phagocytized apoptotic bodies. Light microscopic examination of DMPT-exposed conceptuses showed apoptosis in the neural tube at 24 hr postinjection. Forty-eight hours postinjection, apoptosis, in decreasing order of severity, was observed in the neural tube, craniofacial processes, limb buds, and somites and liver. Apoptosis was absent in all tissues by 72 hr postinjection. Nervous tissues failed to achieve proper histologic organization, but all other tissues appeared microscopically normal from 72 hr postinjection until the end of gestation. There appeared to be some degree of tissue specificity to the effects of DMPT. PMID- 2623640 TI - Altered placental morphology associated with murine trisomy 16 and murine trisomy 19. AB - The morphology of placentas from trisomy 16 and trisomy 19 mouse conceptuses aged 12 to 18 gestational days was studied at the light microscopic level. Comparisons were made with placentas from normal littermate animals. Trisomy 16 placentas showed marked changes from normal: 1) the junctional zone showed little indication of normal morphologic differentiation throughout gestation; 2) clusters of germinal trophoblast cells persisted in the labyrinth throughout gestation, whereas these cells disappeared by gestational day 16 in the normal littermate placentas; 3) the labyrinth was reduced in size in the trisomic placentas, and the differentiation of the interhemal membranes was delayed. The size of the labyrinths from trisomy 19 placentas appeared to be decreased, but otherwise the placentas appeared to have normal morphology. These observations and others from the literature show that placental development is affected by the presence of a trisomic genome, and that different trisomies influence the development of the placenta differently. For trisomy 16, we propose that the striking changes of the junctional zone may be associated with the trisomy 16 related gene dosage effect for alpha- and beta-interferon cell surface receptors. Because of the homology for this and other genes on mouse chromosome 16 with genes on human chromosome 21, findings related to the altered development of the trisomy 16 mouse may be relevant to understanding some of the phenotypic variations associated with human trisomy 21, the Down syndrome. PMID- 2623641 TI - Teratogen susceptibility of XO mothers and XO embryos in mice. AB - We examined whether the chromosomal imbalance inherent in an XO constitution in mice is more susceptible to teratogenic influence of biotin deficiency using a newly established mouse colony with pure X monosomy. We hypothesized that XO mothers or XO embryos might be more susceptible to certain teratogens. Contrary to our expectation, the incidence of external malformations induced by biotin deficiency did not differ either between XX dams and XO dams or between XX fetuses and XO fetuses. PMID- 2623642 TI - Etiology of retinoic acid-induced cleft palate varies with the embryonic stage. AB - Retinoic acid (RA) has been shown to be teratogenic in many species, and 13-cis RA is teratogenic in humans. Exposure to RA during embryonic morphogenesis produced a variety of malformations including limb defects and cleft palate. The type and severity of malformation depended on the stage of development exposed. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of RA exposure in vivo on different stages of palate development. These results were compared to effects observed after exposure in organ culture. The vehicle used in RA dosing was also shown to be a major factor in the incidence of RA-induced cleft palate. For the in vivo studies, RA (100 mg/kg) in 10 ml corn oil/kg was given p.o. on gestation day (GD) 10 or 12, and the embryos were examined on GD 14 and 16. Exposure to RA in an oil:DMSO vehicle resulted in much higher incidences of cleft palate than were observed after dosing with RA in oil only. After exposure on GD 10, to RA, small palatal shelves formed which did not make contact and fuse on GD 14. The medial cells did not undergo programmed cell death. Instead, the medial cells differentiated into a stratified, squamous, oral-like epithelium. The RA-exposed medial cells did not incorporate 3H-TdR on GD 14 or 16, but the cells expressed EGF receptors and bound 125I-EGF. In contrast, RA-induced clefting after exposure on GD 12 did not involve growth inhibition. Shelves of normal size formed and made contact, but because of altered medial cell differentiation did not fuse. Medial cells differentiated into a pseudostratified, ciliated, nasal-like epithelium. This response was produced in vivo at exposure levels which produced cleft palate, and after exposure of palatal shelves to RA in vitro from GD 12-15. The medial cells exposed on GD 12 incorporated 3H-TdR on GD 14, expressed EGF receptors, and bound 125I-EGF. The responses to RA which lead to cleft palate differed after exposure on GD 10 or 12, and the pathways of differentiation which the medial cells followed depended on the developmental stage exposed. PMID- 2623643 TI - Difference in teratogenic potency of ethylenethiourea in rats and mice: relative contribution of embryonic and maternal factors. AB - Ethylenethiourea (ETU) is a potent teratogen in the rat but not in the mouse or any other species tested. Embryotoxic and teratogenic effects are produced in mice only after exposure to 10-40 times the teratogenic dose of ETU in rats. This study was undertaken to determine whether the difference in sensitivity between rats and mice is due to differences within the embryo, to maternal metabolic differences, or both. Comparably staged rat and mouse embryos (gestation day 10.5 and 8.5, respectively) with intact extra-embryonic membranes were maintained under identical conditions in whole embryo culture and exposed to static concentrations of ETU for 48 hours. The teratogenic effects of ETU were qualitatively similar in both species, characterized by excessive fluid accumulations in embryonic structures. The most common abnormalities were distended neural tube, especially in the hindbrain, and clear blisters on the caudal region. At least two times as much ETU was required to produce a similar incidence of abnormalities in mice as in rats. Thus, there is some intrinsic difference in the quantitative response of rat and mouse embryos to ETU, but it is insufficient to account for the in vivo discrepancy. The role of maternal metabolism in modifying the teratogenicity of ETU was assessed by adding hepatic S-9 fractions from Aroclor 1254-induced rats and mice to whole embryo culture. Rat S-9 had no effect on ETU teratogenicity. Mouse S-9 virtually eliminated the formation of abnormalities typical of ETU in both rat and mouse embryos. Decreased exocoelomic fluid osmolality, a physiological effect produced by ETU, also was not observed in embryos exposed to ETU and mouse S-9. ETU-typical defects were observed in embryos exposed to ETU and mouse S-9 which had been treated with carbon monoxide to inactivate its monooxygenase system, indicating that the mouse S-9 was metabolizing ETU. A surprising result was that adding mouse S-9 to embryo cultures containing ETU resulted in the formation of abnormalities (principally open neural tube) that were not observed in in vitro rat or mouse embryos exposed to ETU alone, or in mouse embryos in vivo. We believe that the most likely cause of these abnormalities is a putative ETU metabolite, which is rapidly excreted by the dam in vivo, but accumulates to teratogenic concentrations in vitro. PMID- 2623644 TI - Changes in red nucleus neuronal development following maternal alcohol exposure. AB - The red nucleus of Swiss Webster mouse fetuses was examined for morphological changes following maternal ethanol exposure. Pregnant females were given a liquid diet containing 30% or 0% ethanol-derived calories. Changes in numerical density of neurons and in neuronal nuclear volume were found in the rostral red (RR) nucleus of ethanol-exposed pups but not in the caudal red (CR) nucleus. Because of the integrative nature of the RR, changes in neuronal morphology that might relate to synaptic connections could affect the behavioral response mechanisms of these offspring. PMID- 2623645 TI - Heat shock affects cell cycling in the neural plate of cultured rat embryos: a flow cytometric study. AB - The effects of heat shock on cell cycling in the mammalian neuroectoderm were determined by applying heat shocks to cultured rat embryos at the neural plate stage, as part of a study on the teratogenic effects of heat shock on neural development. The heat shocks had been characterized previously (Walsh et al.: Teratology 36:181-191, 1987) with respect to their effects on the gross morphological development of the rat embryos. The effects on cell cycling were observed in DNA histograms of neural plate cells recorded in a flow cytometer after staining with DAPI. The mild heat shock (42 degrees C for 10 min) arrested cells at entry to S phase. The teratogenic heat shock (43 degrees C for 7.5 min) arrested cells at entry to S phase also but for a longer time and inhibited cycling through S phase. After each arrest, a synchronized peak of cells later entered S phase and progressed through the cycle. The induced-thermotolerance heat shock, which was the mild heat shock followed after an interval by the teratogenic heat shock, showed that pre-treatment with the mild heat shock reduced the magnitude of the response to the teratogenic heat shock. The cell cycle inhibitor ICRF 159 showed the effects on cycling rates of the heat-shock treatments. The arrest of cells at entry to S phase by heat shock may function to prevent cells entering DNA synthesis under non-optimal conditions. We report estimates of proportions of non-proliferative cells in the neural plate of the rat embryos. PMID- 2623646 TI - Chloride transport in embryonic cells: effect of ethanol and GABA. AB - Ethanol and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and their interaction on 36Cl-influx were analyzed in cultured embryonic palate and limb mesenchymal cells in order to determine whether ethanol exerts its teratogenic action through a GABA receptor involved in embryogenesis. Cl- transport in secondary cultures of C57BL/6 palate mesenchymal cells was shown to consist of three systems including the electroneutral Cl-/HCO3- exchange (50%) and Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport (30%) pathways and the voltage-dependent Cl- channel (20%). Treatment with DIDS (4,4' diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid) or SITS (4-acetamido-4'-isocyano stilbene-2,2' disulfonic acid) in SWV palate cells inhibited the Cl-/HCO3- exchange pathway, while treatment with DIDS and bumetanide inhibited both the exchange and cation cotransport pathways, the residual Cl- influx inferred to be the electrogenic pathway. Inhibition of Cl- transport by anthracene-9-carboxylic acid confirmed the presence of the electrogenic Cl- pathway. It was observed that the rate of Cl- transport was significantly greater in palate cells of C57BL/6 mice than those of SWV mice. Also the rate of Cl- transport was significantly greater in secondary cultures of palate cells from C57BL/6 mice than from primary cultures of limb cells from the same strain. No evidence could be obtained that ethanol (10 to 100 mM) or GABA (3 X 10(-5) M) or their combination stimulated total Cl- influx in either C57BL/6 or SWV palate mesenchymal cells, putative voltage-dependent Cl- influx in C57BL/6 palate cells, or total Cl- influx in primary cultures of C57BL/6 limb mesenchymal cells. PMID- 2623647 TI - Toxic effects of cyclophosphamide in differentiating chicken limb bud cell culture using rat liver 9,000 g supernatant or rat liver cells as an activation system: an in vitro short-term test for proteratogens. AB - Cells from 4-day chicken embryo limb buds plated as micromass cultures differentiate and form cartilage nodules after a 5- to 6-day growth period. The innate ability of these cells to biotransform compounds, such as cyclophosphamide (CP), into reactive metabolites is apparently inadequate. Protocols used rat liver S9 from Aroclor 1254-pretreated (PCB) rats or hepatocytes from control rats or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)-pretreated rats and were added to micromass cultures with CP causing concentration-related toxicity in the cell cultures. Coculturing chicken limb bud cells with PCB-hepatocytes was the most efficient method, yielding an IC50 of 2 micrograms CP per ml. Toxic CP metabolites accumulated in the medium of PCB-hepatocyte cultures and were quite stable. The toxicity of bioactivated CP was nearly identical for both proliferation and cartilage proteoglycan accumulation. PMID- 2623648 TI - Early postimplantation embryolethality in mice following in utero inhibition of adenosine deaminase with 2'-deoxycoformycin. AB - Adenosine deaminase (ADA) catalyzes the hydrolytic deamination of adenosine (or 2'-deoxyadenosine) to inosine (or 2'-deoxyinosine). Previously, we have shown that ADA activity is subject to strong cell-specific developmental regulation in placental tissues of mice between days 6 and 11 of gestation (Knudsen et al.:Biology of Reproduction 39:937-951, 1988). In the present study, we examined the effects of intrauterine exposure to 2'-deoxycoformycin (dCF; pentostatin), a potent irreversible inhibitor of ADA, on early postimplantation development. Deoxycoformycin was administered to pregnant ICR mice as a single intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 5 mg/kg on one of days 6 through 11 of gestation (plug day 0). A marked increase in the incidence of implantation site resorptions was observed following treatment specifically on days 7 (61% resorbed) or 8 (78% resorbed). No effect was observed following treatment on days 6, 9, 10, or 11. ADA-immunoreactive protein was shown, by ABC-immunoperoxidase staining on days 7 or 8 of gestation, to be present at high levels in decidual cells of the antimesometrial region but at below-detectable levels in the embryo. Treatment of pregnant dams with dCF on day 7 produced a complete (greater than 99%) inhibition of ADA activity in the antimesometrial decidua by 30 min, induced excessive cell death in the prospective neural plate and primary mesenchyme of the trilaminar disc by 6 h, and arrested embryonic development at an early somite stage. These results suggest that the antimesometrial decidua plays a protective role in preventing an inappropriate accumulation of endogenous ADA substrates in the implantation site. PMID- 2623649 TI - Defects of skeletal morphology, density, and structure in mouse fetuses with trisomy 16. AB - Skeletal anomalies present in trisomy 16 in the mouse--an animal model of human trisomy 21--are described. Altogether 27 fetuses with trisomy 16 and 118 chromosomally balanced siblings were examined radiographically and by alizarin staining on day 20 of gestation; the radiographs were analyzed by computer-aided densitometry and structural differentiation. Extensive asymmetry or abnormal fusion of the vertebral centers and alterations of the vertebral arches were observed along with rib malformations (rib-vertebra syndrome). The skull primarily exhibited anomalies of the occipital bone. Ossification of the humerus, femur, and tibia was characterized by reduced mineralization. Typical, fracture like alterations affecting only the tibia were also observed. Measurement of the lengths of the humeri of fetuses of comparable weight revealed a growth retardation not correlatable with the degree of mineralization. The significance of these skeletal abnormalities with regard to the trisomy 21 syndrome is discussed. PMID- 2623650 TI - Mitosis in embryonic trisomy 1 mouse eye. AB - Trisomy 1 embryos consistently show eye defects (e.g., aphakia, microphakia, retention of lens stalk). To determine if the plane of division of mitotic figures is abnormal in the eyes of these animals, trisomic embryos (9.5 through 12 gestational days) were produced from mice doubly heterozygous for Robertsonian translocation chromosomes [Rb(1.3)/Rb(1.10)]. To accommodate for the known delay in trisomic embryo development, animals were grouped according to stages of eye development rather than to gestational age. Serial sections were evaluated without knowledge of karyotype for orientation of mitotic figures (parallel, perpendicular, oblique) in lens, optic cup, and diencephalon. Location of mitotic figures was scored as apical (nearest the lumen), middle, and basal. Numerous anomalies were noted in trisomic eye development. No difference was found between orientation of mitotic figures in the lens and optic cup of trisomy 1 and normal embryos. Location of mitotic figures in trisomy 1 lens was significantly different from that of normal littermates. The data confirm earlier studies that trisomy 1 affects the eye, and they tend to corroborate evidence that this trisomy affects the lens more than it affects the optic cup. PMID- 2623651 TI - [Cervix cancer: incidence, diagnosis, therapeutic principle]. AB - The incidence of cervical cancer is decreasing, wherever screening programs are offered and accepted. Pathogenetic factors for dysplasia and cervical cancer among others are coital activity in early adolescence, promiscuity and low economic status. More than 80 percent of severe cervical dysplasias as a precancerous stage show the oncogenic potential of a sexually transmitted disease. The prognosis of cervical cancer widely depends on the stage found at the time of first detection. The staging procedure which then follows needs gynecological experience and skill. Clinical staging with methods auxiliary to inspection, colposcopy and palpation is still the most common method and remains to be the basis of the international data treasure of the Annual Report of FIGO, although clinical methods and even CT and MRI are insufficient for the evaluation of pelvic and/or paraaortic lymphnode metastases. To overcome the imperfection of clinical staging, surgical procedures are recommended to complete before any therapeutic decision is made, at least in cases thought to be operable. Radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy in stages Ib and IIa is the method of choice in most modern centers of gynecologic oncology. However, radiotherapy is still prevalent in all stages of cervical cancer as the most common therapy around the world. Further development in 5-years survival figures is expected to profit from supporting screening programs in risk populations or from expansions of already existing programs rather than from further modifications of the therapeutic modalities, already highly specialized. PMID- 2623652 TI - [Physiopathologic bases of anti-HIV therapy]. AB - HIV human infections therapy requires at least two different approaches: antiretroviral therapy, and immune system modulation (stimulation or suppression depending on the clinical and biological stage, and upon the pathogenesis of the disease). Because no animal model is today available, little is known about the pathogenic mechanisms of HIV infections in humans. Therefore, only antiviral drugs might be involved in standardized middle or short term clinical trials, because virologic parameters are easily measurable, thought immunomodulators may require more than two or three years before getting informations on their efficiency. AZT is of benefit for treated patients within the first 6 or 8 months of therapy, and, after one year, survival of treated patients seems to be identical to survival of control groups. This might be related to the pharmacokinetic of the drug, which has to be phosphorylated before being active on HIV, and all the susceptible cells to HIV are not able to perform this phosphorylation (macrophages for example). Other therapeutic agents are today either in the early in vitro development (antisens, glycosylation inhibitors), or in phase II clinical trial, and when administered to patients, they do not exhibit any antiviral effect (soluble CD4), suggesting that new pharmacologic administration forms are required. PMID- 2623653 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of zidovudine (AZT) and its metabolite (G-AZT) in healthy subjects and in patients with kidney failure]. AB - Pharmacokinetics of zidovudine was investigated after oral administration (200 mg) in 25 HIV seronegative subjects: 14 patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance 6 to 31 ml/min), 5 hemodialyzed anuric patients, and 6 healthy subjects. In healthy subjects, G. AZT concentrations are higher than those of AZT; AUC were 23.7 +/- 1.9 and 5.2 +/- 0.6 mumol.h/l respectively. Formation of G. AZT rate-limits its elimination: G. AZT half-life parallels that of AZT which is around 1 hour. In uremic patients AZT concentrations are moderately increased (AUC = 11.7 +/- 1.1 mumol.h/l), whereas half-life and MRT remains unchanged, despite the decreased renal clearance (16 +/- 2 vs 220 +/- 58 ml/min). In contrast G. AZT concentrations are markedly increased (AUC = 403 +/- 89 mumol.h/l). As a consequence of the decreased renal clearance (27 +/- 3 vs 331 +/- 42 ml/min), elimination is the rate limiting step and half-life is increased (8 +/- 2 vs 0.9 +/- 0.1 h). Contribution of a 4-hour hemodialysis session to AZT elimination appears negligible whereas elimination of G. AZT is enhanced. PMID- 2623654 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of 3'-azido-3 deoxy-thymidine (AZT) in a patient undergoing hemodialysis]. AB - Zidovudine (AZT) is the only effective drug in the treatment of AIDS. No data are available on the pharmacokinetics of this drug in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We report on the pharmacokinetics of zidovudine between sessions of hemodialysis and during the procedure in one patient with ESRD. In 1987 a 40 year-old man with ESRD treated with hemodialysis had the AIDS-related complex. The T4/T8 ratio was 0.49. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western Blot studies revealed IgG antibodies specifically directed against HIV. The patient was then treated with zidovudine (100 mg three times daily). Studies of the pharmacokinetics of the drug, conducted between hemodialysis sessions, were performed on days 1 and 14 after the start of zidovudine treatment. Paired arterial and venous blood samples were obtained simultaneously one hour after the start of a hemodialysis session on day 20. The peak and the trough concentrations of zidovudine were 0.61 and 0.15 microgram per milliliter, respectively. We observed a marked accumulation of the main metabolite of zidovudine, G-AZT, with a concentration of about 65 micrograms per milliliter on day 14. The half-life was 2.9 hours. The hemodialysis clearance of zidovudine and its metabolite were 102 and 71 ml per minute, respectively. The half-life of zidovudine was three times longer in our patient than in a normal subject.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2623655 TI - [Problems posed by therapeutic combinations of zidovudine during the treatment of opportunistic infections in AIDS]. AB - Opportunistic infections in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) require hematotoxic drugs. Neutropenia and anemia are the major hematologic abnormalities attributed to zidovudine (AZT). Concomitant medications associated with an increased frequency of toxicity are trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (cotrimoxazole), sulfadiazine, pyrimethamine, ganciclovir. AZT is stopped during initial treatment then reintroduced at full dosage with cotrimoxazole, at reduced dosage with sulfadiazine + pyrimethamine or ganciclovir. PMID- 2623656 TI - [AZT in community practice]. AB - AZT is the only available antiviral treatment. While using it, several problems appear to a general practitioner. 1) The supervision of the toxic effects, which is simple but does imply an experience. 2) The interaction of several drugs, while considering, among other difficulties, the great number of similar drugs available in pharmacies. 3) The psychological investment of the patient, for whom AZT is all at a time, a threat, a coercitive weapon and a hope. A proper knowledge of these problems allows the G.P. to work in agreement with the hospital practitioner. PMID- 2623657 TI - [Therapeutic monitoring of azidothymidine (AZT)]. PMID- 2623658 TI - [Transdermal scopolamine and mydriasis]. AB - The authors report five cases of mydriasis induced by the use of transdermal scopolamine delivery systems. Anisocoria and narrow angle glaucoma were involved in four cases; in one case, the use of a strong dosage resulted in a bilateral mydriasis in a child. PMID- 2623659 TI - [Occurrence of methemoglobinemia induced by dapsone in the treatment of pneumocystosis associated with AIDS]. PMID- 2623660 TI - [The monitoring of teratogens. The methodology of a follow-up study]. AB - The assessment of risks following drug exposure during pregnancy is of major concern to Drug-Information Centers. A computer-based management is helpful. The authors describe a computerized system to follow pregnancy outcomes and discuss their first results, stressing the merits of automatized recalls. PMID- 2623661 TI - IL-2 enhancing factor(s) in B cell supernatants from patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus. AB - Culture supernatants of B cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the active stage enhanced interleukin 2 (IL 2) dependent proliferation of CTLL A/J cells. This activity, designated B cell derived growth-enhancing factor-2 (BGEF-2), was recovered by gel filtration of a molecular weight between 15,000 and 20,000. BGEF-2 itself did not show IL-2 activity nor IL-1 activity, and BGEF-2 activity was not detected in the following cytokines: Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 5 (IL-5) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Furthermore, BGEF-2 was distinguishable from B cell-derived growth enhancing factor described in a previous paper [Kang et al. (1987) J. Immunol., 139, 1154-1160]. BGEF-2 was produced by B cells from patients with RA or SLE only when the patients were in the active stage. BGEF-2 enhanced IL-2-dependent growth of peripheral blood T cells from patients with active RA, but did not enhance the growth of T cells from healthy volunteers. These results suggest that BGEF-2 is a B cell-derived lymphokine which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of RA and SLE. PMID- 2623662 TI - Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography and evoked potentials at early stage of adrenoleukodystrophy. AB - An 8 year-old-boy with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) was subject to an x-ray computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) using 18F-fluorodeoxy glucose and evoked potential studies, about 3 months after the onset of neurologic symptoms. A CT showed decreased radiodensity over the white matter of both occipital lobes, and high density areas on the periventricular space. No contrast enhancement was observed around the low dense white matter, while occipital grey matter seemed to be almost normal. MRI demonstrated a larger and more obvious lesion of prolonged T2 relaxation time which was 170-250 msec than that detected by CT scan. The PET demonstrated wide and severe hypometabolism for glucose over the grey and the white matter of bilateral occipital lobes. The visual evoked potential (VEP) was scarcely elicitable, while the auditory brainstem response (ABR) and short latency somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) was normal. These imaging studies suggest that extensive and profound demyelination exists in the occipital white matter. For detection of demyelinizing process, MRI may be more effective than CT in this disorder. The PET study revealed that there may have been an abnormality of the grey matter as well as the white matter in the occipital lobe. The VEP disappeared in the relatively early stage. The brainstem may not be involved at such early stage in light of normal ABR and SSEP. PMID- 2623663 TI - A study of preservation solution for 48- and 96-hour simple hypothermic storage of canine lung transplants. AB - Forty-eight-hr and 96-hr simple hypothermic preservations of the lung were studied on dogs using 4 kinds of solutions resembling extracellular electrolyte compositions (Ep1-Ep4). The pH of each solution was changed from 6.377 to 7.463 by HPO4(2-)/H2PO4- ratio. Twenty dogs were prepared as donors (12 for 48-hr preservation with Ep1, Ep2 and Ep3, and 8 for 96-hr preservation with Ep3 and Ep4, respectively). The heart-lung block was removed from the donor, and flushed with 500 ml of preservation solution via the pulmonary artery, then immersed in the same cold (4 degrees C) solution, after which it was stored in a cold (4 degrees C) room. After preservation, the left lung was separated from the heart lung block and was transplanted into the recipient orthotopically. The function of the transplanted lung was evaluated with serial x-ray findings, contralateral pulmonary artery ligation test, and histologic findings. In the case of 48-hr preservation, all of the four recipients with Ep3 (pH: 7.225) showed good aeration of the grafted lungs on the chest x-ray in the early postoperative period. As for the 96-hr preservation cases, one with Ep3 and three with Ep4 (pH: 7.463) presented good x-ray findings. Of these successful cases, seven dogs (5 of 48-hr preservation cases, six dogs tolerated this procedure. On histopathological examination of the successful cases, the 48-hr preservation cases showed almost normal pulmonary structure, while the 96-hr preservation cases showed slight degenerative changes in the alveolar walls. From the present study, it becomes apparent that clinical application of 48-hr preservation may be possible by using a phosphate buffered extracellular solution. PMID- 2623664 TI - Efficacy of absolute ethanol injection method for stress ulcer bleeding after major surgeries. AB - Emergency endoscopy, carried out in 342 cases of UGI overt bleeding at the Third Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University during the six year period from June 1979, demonstrated the necessity of endoscopic hemostasis in 171 cases (50%) with active bleeding, adhered fresh blood clot or exposed vessel with bloody gastric juice. The absolute ethanol injection method was applied to achieve hemostasis in all cases including 30 cases (18%) of postoperative stress ulcer bleeding after major surgeries. Temporary hemostasis was obtained successfully in all 30 cases and rebleeding did not develop. New bleedings in 2 cases (7%) were stopped by repeated injections of absolute ethanol. No patients died from bleeding nor underwent emergency or elective operation. Five patients (17%) died from complicated underlying diseases. Perforation developed in one case (3%). In this case new bleeding occurred on two occasions, and each time hemostasis was obtained. However, this patient showed early symptoms of perforation immediately before the third hemostasis, and was operated on after local injection of absolute ethanol. The complete hemostasis was achieved in 100% of postoperative stress ulcer cases by the ethanol method. PMID- 2623665 TI - Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients with acute leukemia. AB - We determined the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients in order to evaluate the relationship between TNF and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Eight patients with acute leukemia receiving an HLA-identical marrow graft were studied. Samples from healthy subjects and pretransplant recipients were all negative for TNF. Six of eight patients had detectable levels of TNF in serum after transplantation. All three patients with acute GVHD, and three of five patients without acute GVHD had elevated TNF levels in serum. Among the patients with increased TNF levels, documented infection was demonstrated in only one patient, with a clinical diagnosis of B19 parvovirus infection. Serum TNF levels were elevated when the WBC counts were more than 2,000/microliters. However, serum concentrations of TNF significantly correlated with body temperature. Although we could not conclude definitely that serum TNF levels correlated with severity of GVHD, it was suggested that TNF may be produced as a result of latent infections or immunological reaction against non-HLA allogeneic antigens. PMID- 2623666 TI - Cytofluorometric analysis of nuclear DNA and cell protein in pancreatic carcinoma. AB - Cytofluorometric analysis of pancreatic carcinoma was performed in six patients, using a method for simultaneous one-step staining of nuclear DNA and cell protein. All carcinoma cells demonstrated ploidy abnormalities in DNA histogram; polyploid with or without aneuploidization. The carcinoma cells of two patients who died within one year after resection showed significantly higher polyploidization of DNA and bigger amount of cell protein than those of four patients who survived longer than one year after surgical managements. PMID- 2623667 TI - Clinical demonstration of vibration-induced depression of left ventricular function. AB - In experimental studies, minute sinusoidal vibration has been reported to induce functional depression of the left ventricle and to be an index for evaluation of myocardial crossbridge kinetics. Therefore, to examine whether or not this vibration-induced functional depression could also be observed in the human ventricle, motion of the left ventricular (LV) wall or LV pressure was measured by echocardiography (n = 16) or by left heart catheterization (n = 4), in which 100 Hz, 2.07 mm-amplitude sinusoidal vibration was applied to the subject's precordium. In the echocardiographic study, left ventricular wall shortening did not change by vibration in nine healthy volunteers, but was depressed in two patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) and in one patient with ischemic heart disease (IHD). In measurement of LV pressure, the decrease in LV systolic pressure caused by vibration was obviously observed in two patients (AR and IHD) but was not observed in two patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. These results suggest that we might be able to extend previously proposed experimental idea on early detection of the abnormality in myocardial crossbridge kinetics to the clinical setting. PMID- 2623668 TI - The early diagnosis and prevention of oral precancer and cancer. PMID- 2623669 TI - Clinical manifestations of oral precancer and cancer. AB - Oral squamous cell carcinomas generally metastasize early and are associated with a poor survival rate. Their prevention depends largely on timeous identification of precancerous oral mucosal lesions, which may present clinically as a homogeneous or nodular white plaque (leucoplakia), a mixed white and red lesion (erythroleucoplakia) or a homogeneous or nodular red lesion (erythroplakia). Red premalignant lesions generally have a higher malignant potential than white lesions. PMID- 2623670 TI - The treatment and prognosis of oral precancer and cancer. AB - Oral cancer is an area of oncology that epitomises the need for a multidisciplinary approach. It involves many different sites, each with its own capacity to disseminate disease and to respond to medical therapy and rehabilitation. Within each site are various stages of spread that can be approached with different combinations and sequences of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. In many areas various therapeutic options exist; however, it has not yet been clearly established which modality or sequence of modalities is optimal. Only continual clinical research will resolve the existing conflicts and questions. PMID- 2623671 TI - Epidemiology of oral precancer and cancer. AB - Although a large number of lesions and conditions have been designated as premalignant, most of these diseases have a very low incidence. Furthermore, only a small percentage undergo malignant transformation. In this article, premalignant changes of the oral mucosa are described and contributory factors that enhance their malignant transformation are identified. The largest single risk factor is atrophy of the oral mucosa. Oral submucous fibrosis, tobacco use and iron deficiency anaemias enhance the risk of malignant transformation. The location of lesions is also considered, since certain sites display a greater predilection to malignant transformation. The epidemiology of oral squamous cell carcinoma among the South African populations is considered and compared with figures from other countries. The impact of urbanisation and changing habits have led to a gradual move towards equalization of the incidences for males and females. The tongue is the most commonly involved site in all South African racial groups. However, there are differences in site distribution. For instance, among whites there is a greater predilection for carcinoma of the floor of the mouth, while among blacks the palate is more frequently involved. The incidence is highest during the 7th decade. PMID- 2623672 TI - Diagnosis of oral precancer and cancer. AB - The early diagnosis of oral cancer and precancer is important because oral cancer is usually well advanced at the time of diagnosis, having spread to regional lymph nodes in a substantial percentage of cases. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the better the prognosis. Several diagnostic methods that are used, such as stomatoscopy, toluidine blue staining, oral exfoliative cytology, histopathological examination and other more advanced diagnostic procedures, are discussed. PMID- 2623673 TI - High resolution techniques for study of human centromeric heterochromatin. AB - A high resolution procedure for analyzing human centromeric heterochromatin is described. The combined use of decondensation agents of pericentromeric heterochromatin and electron microscopy of whole mounted chromosomes allows a more precise identification of centromere and pericentromeric regions. PMID- 2623674 TI - Optimal parameters for the histochemical demonstration of acetylcholinesterase in plastic sections of rat brain. AB - A modified method for improved preservation and optical resolution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-containing structures in adult rat brain is described. Optimal tissue preparation included fixation in paraformaldehyde 4%, glutaraldehyde 0.1%, and sucrose 7% in 0.1M Sorensen's phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, rinsing in buffer 50 mM with respect to NH4Cl and 2% with respect to sucrose, acetone dehydration, vacuum infiltration with LKB Historesin, and polymerization at 4 C, overnight incubation of 10 microns sections at 37 C in the AChE histochemical reaction mixture and silver intensification according to Hedreen et al. Demonstration of AChE enzyme activity in the cholinergic projection from the rat basal forebrain to the ipsilateral hippocampus exemplifies the usefulness of the technique. The method provides an excellent demonstration of AChE-positive axonal processes and enables the pharmacohistochemical visualization of cholinergic neurons. This procedure offers a convenient method for analysis of cholinergic neurons that avoids potential artifacts inherent in other AChE histochemical procedures. PMID- 2623675 TI - [The use of the preparation baliz-2 in inflammatory processes of the maxillofacial area]. AB - Examinations of 137 patients with inflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial area and neck, treated with baliz-2, have shown that this agent is characterized by a manifest antibacterial action on the wound microflora, helps thinning the purulent exudate, and accelerates detachment of the necrotic mass. No cases of local irritation were recorded. PMID- 2623676 TI - [The use of quercetin granules for treating suppurative soft-tissue wounds of the maxillofacial area and neck]. AB - Wound-healing effect of quercetin granules was examined in 20 experimental animals and in 90 patients with suppurative-inflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial and cervical soft tissue. The results evidence anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects of quercetin granules used as 20% gel. PMID- 2623677 TI - [The effect of low-intensity radiation from a helium-neon laser on the alkaline phosphatase activity in an uncomplicated mandibular fracture and in traumatic osteomyelitis]. AB - The osteal alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity was examined in 167 Wistar rats with uncomplicated regeneration and traumatic osteomyelitis of the mandible, exposed to low-intensity He-Ne laser. Laser exposure stimulated the bone AP activity in the animals with traumatic osteomyelitis and uncomplicated regeneration, confirming the efficacy of therapy with He-Ne laser. PMID- 2623678 TI - [Experience with the diagnosis and treatment of secondary odontogenic mediastinitis]. AB - Thirteen patients with acute odontogenic mediastinitis were diagnosed and treated. The authors stress that the disease is a rare (0.89%) complication of odontogenic infection with high rate of lethal outcome (23.1%) due to delayed diagnosis and insufficient surgical intervention despite the severe course of the ailment. With timely performed surgery and intensive care measures, 9 patients had a benign outcome of the disease. PMID- 2623679 TI - [The immunologic aspects of inflammatory complications in combined maxillofacial and craniocerebral trauma]. AB - In 56 patients with combined maxillofacial and craniocerebral trauma the indices of cellular and humoral immunity were investigated in the course of acute post trauma period and related to trauma severity. Investigated was also the influence of ACTH and corticosteroid hormones on the mechanisms of secondary transitory immune deficiency and related complications. It was established that in combined craniocerebral and maxillofacial trauma the late complications developed against the background of a considerable catabolic activation (increased levels of ACTH and cortisol), and suppression of cellular immunity. These were indications to goal-directed immune correction as a part in combined therapeutic intervention at the early stages of traumatic disease. PMID- 2623680 TI - [The dosimetry of indirect loading in mandibular fractures]. AB - An original method for the diagnosis of and monitoring the course of the mandibular fracture healing is suggested, making use of a graded indirect load of the chin. Clear-cut quantitative objective regularities in the time course of the pain sensitivity threshold values during the load have been detected, depending on the fragment localization, dislocation, and methods for fragment fixation. The knowledge of these regularities helps assess the efficacy of treatment, the quality of the fragments fixation, and the scope of rehabilitation measures for patients with mandibular fractures. PMID- 2623681 TI - [Osteosynthesis of the mandible using metal plates]. AB - A method for mandibular osteosynthesis with screwed metal plates in proposed. A hole for the screw and two teeth is made at every end of the plate. A kit of original instruments for this osteosynthesis operation is suggested. Good results were achieved with these plates used in the patients with fresh mandibular fractures and with those complicated with osteomyelitis or with false joints. The course of inpatient treatment takes 11-15 days, the total period of disability being 22.6 days. PMID- 2623682 TI - [The use of salvin in the combined treatment of jaw cysts]. AB - The authors analyze the results of surgical treatment of odontogenic cysts of the jaws in 2 groups of patients, 52 subjects in each. The incidence of complications has reduced to reach 10% in the group of patients administered salvinum, whereas in the control group the incidence of complications has made up 22.1%. PMID- 2623683 TI - [Basic cellular indices of immunity in patients with various pain syndromes of the face and head]. AB - Studies of the major cell-mediated immunity parameters in patients with painful syndromes involving the face and neck have shown a reduction of the peripheral lymphocyte count. PMID- 2623684 TI - [Tissue therapy of trigeminal neuralgia with the implantation of preserved nerve]. AB - Cadaveric trigeminal and sciatic nerves or Gasser's ganglion were transplanted subcutaneously below the scapular angle twice a week to 71 patients with trigeminal neuralgia. The procedure is simple. The operation has been fairly effective: 42.3% of patients have been cured (a follow-up of more than 5 years), in 32.4% a marked effect has been achieved persisting for 3-4 years, the condition of 22.5% of patients has improved for 16-18 months, and in only 2.8% of cases the alleviation lasted but 3 months. PMID- 2623685 TI - [The planning of reconstructive cheilorhinoplasty in deformities related to bilateral clefts of the upper lip]. AB - The techniques of correction of the nose tip and upper lip deformations after the bilateral clefts plastic analysed, their shortcomings were related to the insufficient restitution of the nasal passages lining. The author has put forward a cheilorhinoplastic technique providing the more complete usage of the tissue overgrowth from the upper lip in transposition of the "split" flap consisting of the nasal membranous septum and cicatrized tissues of the lip. The technical realization of the method provided a basis for planning the reconstructive cheilorhinoplasty in any degree of deformation. Reconstructive cheilorhinoplasty is performed with due consideration of the local upper lip tissue availability using the local plastic techniques including the Abbe flap transposition. PMID- 2623686 TI - [The surgical treatment of patients with extensive defects of the soft palate]. AB - A modified technique of velopharyngoplasty is described, involving preliminary epithelialization of the total wound surface of the musculomucous flap and the newly formed wound defect on the posterior wall of the pharynx by submerged skin transplantation. The results of treatment of 12 patients with various types of postoperative extensive defects of the soft palate demonstrate a high efficacy of the developed technique. PMID- 2623687 TI - [An evaluation of various methods for arthrography of the temporomandibular joint]. AB - In 130 patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunctions several arthrographic techniques were applied, and their advantages and drawbacks pointed to. Indications to different joint contrasting techniques were established. Contrast arthrotomography combined with computerized tomography showed major diagnostic value in detection of internal joint disorders. PMID- 2623688 TI - [The realization of a comprehensive program for the development of dental care in the USSR]. PMID- 2623689 TI - [The x-ray anatomy of the maxilla on orthopantomograms]. AB - The article presents the results of experimental study of the degrees of projective enlargement and deformation of images of different maxillary regions, and the mechanism of maxillary image formation on the orthopantomograms are discussed. The detailed schematic design of the upper jaw and surrounding anatomical formations is presented as seen on orthopantomograms. This is essential for a reliable assessment of possible distortions. PMID- 2623690 TI - [The effect of local exposure to Mg and heat on the biosynthesis of sulfur containing compounds in the oral tissues]. AB - Local Mg electrophoresis was shown to considerably increase the radiolabeled sulphate contents in an application area: gums, mandibular alveolar processes, lower incisors and molars roots. In areas far beyond the phoresis sites (femoral epiphyses and diaphyses) label incorporation was not affected. Mg-free galvanization had no effect on sulphate incorporation into the mineralized tissues. Heating up to 50 C substantially increased the S radioactivity in alveolar processes, molar and incisor roots. Simultaneous heating with Mg electrophoresis produced an additive effect. PMID- 2623691 TI - [Changes in the microhardness of the enamel and dentin in pulp inflammation]. AB - Clinical and experimental studies of the dental enamel and dentin microhardness were carried out. A comparative analysis has made it possible to detect parallels in the changes of dental tissue microhardness in humans and dogs. The studies have revealed a focal pattern of demineralization, with the foci located mainly in the neck of the tooth and the pericervical portion of the root, indicating a considerable reduction of the functional resistance of pulpless teeth. PMID- 2623692 TI - [An experimental study of the mechanisms of damage of the periodontal tissues in thyrotoxicosis]. AB - Morphologic studies of the periodontal tissue in rats have revealed that destruction of the maxillodental system in excess of thyroid hormones is explained by disordered mineral metabolism, resorbed osseous tissue of the alveolar process, energy shifts, and developed inflammatory process. Introduction of physiologically-based amounts of calcium, iodine, and fluorine in the animals' ration at the early stages of their development reduced the degree of the alveolar process osseous tissue resorption. PMID- 2623693 TI - [Lymphokine regulation of neutrophil phagocytic activity in patients with inflammatory diseases of the periodontium]. AB - The authors have demonstrated the possibility of a purposeful correction of the immune system disorders in patients with periodontitis, one of such disorders being a lowered phagocytic activity of neutrophils. Lymphokines, immune system mediators, were used for in vitro regulation of neutrophilic phagocytosis. The effects of lymphokines obtained from the peripheral blood lymphocyte culture supernatants of normal subjects and periodontitis patients, and of the purified lymphokine M- and L-fractions normalizing the reduced neutrophilic phagocytosis in periodontitis were under study. PMID- 2623694 TI - [Zinc and caries]. AB - Zinc levels in dentin, enamel, tooth deposit, and mixed saliva in caries were under study. The enamel and dentin Zn levels were measured by means of neutron activation analysis in 244 permanent intact teeth and in 92 permanent carious teeth from subjects died after acute injury. Tooth deposit and mixed saliva Zn levels were measured by the atomic absorption technique in 10 patients with caries and in 10 normal subjects; the groups were matched for dietary habits. The menu of these subjects over a month was examined and the content of daily dietary zinc was determined, and the level of salivary Zn excretion as against Zn content in the food was calculated. The dentin and enamel Zn levels were found increased in caries. A tendency to an increase of Zn level in the saliva was detected; a large proportion of this dietary element was excreted with the saliva in caries patients. The authors suggest that remineralization effect can be achieved in the initial stages of caries by oral and local application of Zn preparations. PMID- 2623695 TI - [The proteins of human mixed saliva in galvanism and yeast-induced stomatitis]. AB - Mixed salivary pools of normal subjects and patients with galvanism, yeast induced stomatitis, and diabetes mellitus were examined. The examinations have revealed elevated alpha-amylase levels in the patients with galvanism and still higher levels of this enzyme in yeast-induced stomatitis and diabetes mellitus. These diseases are also associated with a rise of lactoferrin content and with appearance of fibrinogen degradation products. PMID- 2623696 TI - [The treatment of arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint]. AB - The most typical symptoms of degenerative changes in the temporomandibular joints are described, which are characterized by destructive changes in the periarticular connective tissue, synovial membrane, and the ligamentous system. The authors emphasize the efficacy of a comprehensive treatment of such conditions. The methodology of using plastic cups is described, not involving the occlusion restructuring within the occlusion height characteristic of the patient. PMID- 2623697 TI - [The effect of helium-neon laser light on the degree of dental caries in children on a outpatient register]. AB - The effect of low intensities of monochromatic red He-Ne laser irradiation on caries intensity was studied in 588 children aged 2 through 7 registered at an out-patient dentistry unit. Highly pronounced tendency to caries reduction was noted in 1-2 years follow-up. Laser irradiation is recommended for the combined prevention of caries. PMID- 2623698 TI - [Orthodontic treatment results with dental arch anomalies in children and adolescents with and without removal of the teeth]. AB - Patients were aged 6 to 15 years. The first group (197 patients) was treated without teeth extraction, 2nd group had teeth extracted. The treatment of dentition anomalies was effective both in decidual and permanent occlusion. The duration of treatment, number of visits per one definitive course were virtually equal in both groups. The authors believe teeth extraction expedient only in grade II constriction of dental arches, grade I to II construction of apical basis and medial teeth shift with space unavailable for restricted teeth at least for 1/2 crown width, and in absolute or relative macrodontia. PMID- 2623699 TI - [The combined rehabilitation of patients with congenital clefts of the hard and soft palate]. AB - Effective speech rehabilitation of patients with complete clefts of the hard and soft palate can be achieved by multiple-modality treatment including logopedic training, surgical intervention, electrostimulation of the palatal and perioral muscles and nerves. Use of such treatment in 50 patients has cut down the periods of treatment from 6-7 to 2.5-4 months. PMID- 2623700 TI - [The prevalence and severity of dental caries among the population of Derbent]. PMID- 2623701 TI - [The effectiveness of intrapulpal anesthesia using needles with an obturator]. PMID- 2623702 TI - [A case manifesting Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in the jaw bones]. PMID- 2623703 TI - [A method for assessing the patient's clinical status and for predicting the clinical course of suppurative-inflammatory processes using chemiluminescence]. AB - A new method for the assessment of the severity of the patients' status and prediction of the clinical course of suppurative-inflammatory processes is described, making use of the peripheral blood luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. Early assessment of the patient's condition and prediction of the disease course helps correctly choose the treatment strategy. The technique is simple and rapid, recommending its wide clinical application. PMID- 2623704 TI - [The use of intracarotid fractionated, prolonged perfusion in the combined treatment of patients with complicated thrombophlebitis of the maxillofacial area]. PMID- 2623705 TI - [The use of Cyacrin medical glue as an insulating coating in the filling of hard tissue defects of the teeth]. PMID- 2623706 TI - [Changes in dental enamel solubility during orthodontic treatment and after prosthesis with fixed dentures made of steel]. PMID- 2623707 TI - [Improved professional training of foreign dental students]. PMID- 2623708 TI - [Therapy of gingivitis. Investigations of the effectiveness of preventive care program in dental practice]. AB - The result of a prospective longitudinal study to effective evaluations of different care programmes for the gingivitis treatment is the uniform importance of motivation and professional plaque control. At least three treatments are necessary to basis of three-months-recalls. PMID- 2623709 TI - [Clinically controlled, integrated study on plaque inhibition with zinc-fluoride hexetidin]. AB - This study investigated the effect of Zinc-Fluorid-Hexetidin comparing with positive control group (Chlorhexidin) and negative control group (experimental gingivitis). The result demonstrated that a mouthrinse containing Zinc-Fluorid Hexetidin prevented the development of plaque without complications. PMID- 2623711 TI - [Requirements of prospective development of geriatric dentistry significance]. PMID- 2623710 TI - [Contribution on disinfection of dental impressions]. AB - The effectiveness of various measures of disinfection with stomatological impressions had microbiologically been tested. The most efficient reduction of the number of germs could be stated after a five minutes influence of 0.5% commercial solution of peracetic acid on calcinate impressions. Gargling by Sol. chlorhexidini SR before taking the impression and a 60 minutes formaldehyde gasification of plaster casts also resulted in an essential reduction of the number of germs, too. PMID- 2623712 TI - [Clinical evaluation of amalgam restorations for Class I cavities and Class II. Part II: Cause analysis of unacceptable restorations]. AB - 627 not acceptable amalgam restorations using conventional alloy were investigated. Main failure was the secondary caries (60%) which was caused more by failures of preparations than by failures of material. New caries led to replacement of fillings in 16%. Fractures of restorations (13%) and unacceptable forms of fillings (9%) had a relative important position. The clinicians can influence 75 percent of the causes. With regard to material improvement, the results are discussed to avoid failures in therapy. PMID- 2623713 TI - [Importance of blackening of films and conditions of assessment of films for diagnostic decision of X-rays of teeth, the tooth supporting apparatus and adjacent structures of the jaw]. AB - The influence of blackening of films and conditions of assessment of films for diagnostic decisions had been examined. Various pictures of the Periodontitis apikalis chronica at x-ray pictures had been chosen the subject of examination. It should be ascertained by means of the ROS concept to what extent variations of the above-mentioned parameters will result in false diagnoses. The most favourable result is gained with film blackening of 1.2 SE and a lightness of the film equipment of 12,000 Lx. A reduced lightness of the equipment will reduce the quality of diagnostics in essential manner. Optimum conditions for evaluation of the film are given for pictures over- and under-exposed. PMID- 2623715 TI - [25 years of district dental clinic in Schwerin]. PMID- 2623714 TI - [Introduction of personal-computers in dentistry for children. 2. Computer-based analysis of data from dental examination in children]. AB - In continuation of the program of data recording presented earlier a computer program for analysis and calculation of a data base which consists of the results of dental examination of children is introduced. The presented possibilities of data processing are fitted to the general reports in dentistry of children. They are recommended in solving the problems of a simple and modern data processing in this special field of dentistry. PMID- 2623716 TI - [Comparability of epidemiologic sample surveys with CPITN]. AB - About 2500 patients each have been examined by an examiner of a definite medical care area or by 27 dentists in all districts of the Dresden county. The results of the age group between 20 and 25 years and 35 and 44 years indicate for both populations a similar course of increasing age-depending degree of severity and an increasing frequency of periodontitis. Differences are significant by grouping into the Code groups 0 and 1. These differences can be explained by a well-aimed prevention in the definite area and an individually lower exploratory capacity of the single examiner. PMID- 2623717 TI - [Epidemiology of generalized periodontal atrophy]. AB - 1378 individuals of 15-44 years of age were examined for atrophic processes of the periodontia. 11% of the individuals showed typical inflammation - free gingival recession. Great importance must be attributed the McCall's festooms and the wedge shaped defects in cervical enamel, dentin or cement. PMID- 2623718 TI - [Documentation of oral findings with symbols and the symbolic plan of treatment. Study of reliability and practical worth]. AB - The oral status and a plan of treatment were drawn with aid of special symbols on 141 patients of a policlinic. The treatment was managed of 1. dentists in postgradual education with strict order to follow the plan of treatment, 2. dentists which were given the recommendation to act on plan, 3. dentists without knowledge of treatment plan. A control inspection in every case was done one year afters start of treatment. The group 1 showed the best result followed of group 2. Group 3 had the worst result of treatment. This statement is right for treatment of caries, endodontic and prosthetic treatment but not for periodontal treatment. In this field the differences were small between the 3 groups. Even group 1 had insufficient results of periodontal treatment. PMID- 2623719 TI - [Computer aided recording and analysis of dental dates of children from the aggregate list (printed form 2008)]. AB - The authors represent a further program-system for computer aided data processing of the results from the systematic dental examinations in children. The data input starts with the summarized dates of each class fixed in the sumlist (printed form 2008). This program needs less computer capacity and considers the limited availability of personal computers in dentistry for children. PMID- 2623720 TI - [Application of electronic data processing to patient documentation with special regard to prosthodontics]. AB - At the improvement of the dispensaire care and clinical follow-up examinations of prosthodontic patients was elaborated a documentation system with application of electronic data processing. For this end was developed special card for findings. The menue was programmed in DBASE II and consist of a programme for collection and a programme for analysis. PMID- 2623721 TI - [Open bite and interdental sigmatism]. AB - The authors revealed very often open bite in preschool children with interdental sigmatism and vice versa. They investigated the effect of interdental sigmatism on the persistence of open bite. According to the authors findings open bite persists in 3-5 year-old children with open bite and interdental sigmatism after a 10-to-22 month follow-up significantly more often than in children of similar age with open bite but without interdental sigmatism. Interdental sigmatism is associated with already existing open bite. It is possible that at the time of their development open bite and interdental sigmatism have no causal relationship and the two defects associate accidentally. Only during subsequent development open bite persists more frequently in those children who suffer at the same time from interdental sigmatism, while in children without interdental sigmatism the open bite improves more often. PMID- 2623722 TI - [Examination of the pH of saliva in children and juveniles in relation to caries, gingivitis and oral hygiene]. AB - The pH rate of unstimulated fasting saliva in the morning in vivo and the following DMF/T, DMF/S, OH indexes and the PIe had been measured or ascertained in 70 subjects aged 10 to 17 years. The analyses stated that there does not exist a direct relationship between incidence of caries and the degree of inflammation of the gingiva and the concentration of saliva hydrogen ions as well. The pH rate of saliva is stated to be also a favourable factor for plaque formation. PMID- 2623723 TI - [Experimental examinations of heat expansion of Ni/Cr alloys]. AB - On the base of experimental dilatometric investigations the thermal expansion behaviour of the Ni-Cri-based alloys Gisadent NCA, Gisadent NCS 1, Mikrostom-1, Wiron 77 and Wiron 88 was tested and the expansion coeffizient and the solid shrinkage determinated. The results are discussed referable to the compatibility metal/ceramic and in connection with the accuracy of fit of cast dental appliances. PMID- 2623724 TI - [Radiographic findings in edentulous alveolar ridges]. AB - Radiographs of 5350 patients (4103 orthopantomograms, 1247 panoramics) were examined and the edentulous parts of the alveolarridges were estimated. In 1741 patients we stated 2070 pathological findings without clinical evidences. In 329 cases multiple findings were registered. Most of the cases were impacted teeth, followed by root fragments. Therapeutic measures must be decided individually. Because of the frequency of pathological x-ray-findings, diagnosis is incomplete without radiographs of the toothless jaw-parts. PMID- 2623725 TI - Sexual decision-making and AIDS: why condom promotion among vulnerable women is likely to fail. AB - This article examines the reasons for resistance to condom use among high-risk women (primarily intravenous drug users and/or the sexual partners of intravenous drug users) in two New York City AIDS prevention programs. The data collected indicate that a lack of economic, social, cultural, sexual, and technological options combine to lead vulnerable women to concentrate on addressing the more immediate risks in their lives: poverty, homelessness, and the frequent disruption of socioeconomic support systems. Resistance to condom use was also found to be related to its negative associations (promiscuity, for example). The process by which decisions are made about using condoms (and other contraceptives) is related to a complex mixture of social, economic, and cultural influences that promote the role of motherhood for a woman, even when she knows that she might already be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The implications of these findings have far-reaching effects, as the socioeconomic context of these women's lives, as well as imbalances in power in the relationships between the women and their male partners, are replicated in many communities where AIDS is already present. PMID- 2623726 TI - The impact of national policies on the acceptance of sterilization in Colombia and Costa Rica. AB - Using data that cover the period 1978 to 1986, this article assesses the effect of policies concerning the provision of female sterilization during the early 1980s. The annual rate of sterilization among ever-married women aged 20-39 in Costa Rica was approximately one-fifth lower in 1985 than in 1982, when sterilization became illegal. Medical committees continued to review each case individually, and sterilizations were still available, especially to less educated women, among whom prevalence increased slightly between 1981 and 1986. However, sterilization prevalence decreased modestly among women aged 35-39 and among the better educated. As of 1986, 16.7 percent of all women who were currently in union relied on sterilization, compared with 17.3 percent in 1981. In Colombia, annual rates of sterilization rose by less than 4 percent from 16.9 in 1977 to 17.5 in 1979, and prevalence increased among women at all educational levels, in rural and urban areas, and especially among women aged 30-44. As a result of the adoption of flexible eligibility criteria, minimal cost, and accessibility in both rural and urban areas in Colombia since 1984, sterilization is now the most preferred contraceptive method there, used by approximately 18.3 percent of all women currently in union as of 1986. PMID- 2623727 TI - Family planning in Burkina Faso: results of a survey. AB - A survey of women of reproductive age was undertaken during April and May 1986 as part of an operations research project in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. Data were collected on respondents' knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of contraception. Although the government family planning program had been operating only since February 1985, knowledge of modern methods was surprisingly high, with 64 percent of respondents having ever heard of at least one modern method. Only 4.9 percent, however, were currently using a modern method. Use of traditional methods was high in this traditional society, with 41 percent of women currently practicing abstinence. Both knowledge and current use varied significantly across several background characteristics, the most important of which was education. The respondents were very vocal about their fertility desires regarding both the spacing and limitation of births. Moreover, attitudes toward possible future contraceptive use were extremely positive. These factors may be contributing to the steadily increasing demand for family planning services, which the government program is striving to meet. PMID- 2623728 TI - The effects of breastfeeding and birth spacing on child survival in China. AB - Using data from the In-depth Fertility Survey, conducted in Shanghai Municipality and Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China, in April 1985, this study shows that breastfeeding and birth spacing have significant effects on child survival in Shaanxi, but not in Shanghai (controlling for potential confounding factors and reverse causality). The effect of breastfeeding decreases with age. Introducing proper supplemental food is very important for child survival in Shaanxi, where a high proportion of children are breastfed exclusively for much too long, sometimes up to nine months. An increase in the length of the previous birth interval improves child survival in Shaanxi significantly, especially for high-order children, and the first child has the highest survivorship in both Shanghai and Shaanxi. The effects of subsequent birth intervals are statistically significant in Shaanxi, but have a small actual impact on child survival in the first few years of life, since the arrival of a sibling does not affect the index child's risk of dying in the first few months of life, when the mortality rate is extremely high. PMID- 2623729 TI - Premarital sexuality in urban Nigeria. AB - This study examines changes and differentials in premarital sexual activity in Nigerian cities. The incidence of sexual activity before marriage provides an indication of the extent of erosion in traditional practices and in family control of young women's behavior in urban areas. Pregnancy and childbirth outside of marriage and traditional family support systems have also become a matter of increasing concern in many African cities, especially in the public health community. The results suggest that premarital sexual behavior has become more common over time, as Nigerian society has undergone marked social change, and that premarital sexual behavior appears to be more common among women who come from nontraditional backgrounds. Relatively few premaritally sexually active women attempted to avoid pregnancy by using a contraceptive method, although premarital contraceptive use is more common in younger cohorts, and among more educated women. Much of the contraceptive use that occurs, however, is use of efficient methods. PMID- 2623730 TI - IUDs are contraceptives, not abortifacients: a comment on research and belief. AB - No studies show that IUDs destroy developing embryos at rates higher than those found in women who are not using contraceptives. Studies of early pregnancy factors have not shown statistically significant differences in transient levels of hCG between IUD and control groups, a sign of early abortion. The small, careful study by Segal et al. (1985) found no transient rise of hCG in the IUD group. The highly sensitive assay in a larger sample of IUD users, by Wilcox et al. (1985), suggests that an upper limit of only 3 or 4 percent of ovulatory matings with an IUD in situ might show transient rises of hCG. The electron microscopy of Hurst et al. (1980) demonstrated the existence of leukocyte-ridden degenerating embryos in rhesus monkeys fitted with IUDs, but found the same percentage of degenerating embryos in the control group. In this respect, IUDs do no more than nature. The work of Hurst et al. also demonstrates the comparative rarity of fertilized ova in rhesus monkeys fitted with IUDs. Croxatto (1974) and Alvarez et al. (1988) showed that this was also true for humans. A variety of studies demonstrate that IUD use diminishes both the number of sperm reaching the oviduct and their capacity to fertilize ova. Depending on the type of IUD and the drug dose, sperm are hindered from penetrating cervical mucus, are phagocytized by leukocytes, are incapacitated, with head-tail separation in the presence of copper, and suffer other cytotoxic effects in the IUD-altered uterine fluid. In the oviducts of copper-IUD users, ova are found significantly less frequently than in controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2623731 TI - Mali 1987: results from the Demographic and Health Survey. PMID- 2623732 TI - The thymus--histophysiology and dynamics in the immune system. A workshop. April 2-6, 1989, Centrum Rolduc, Kerkrade, The Netherlands. Proceedings. PMID- 2623733 TI - The T-cell receptor repertoire is strikingly similar in older nude mice compared to normal adult mice. AB - Due to the absence of a normal thymus, nude mice are characterized by low numbers of mature T cells. It has been shown in older nude mice that appreciable numbers of Thy-1+, CD8+ and, to a much lesser extent, CD4+ T cells can be found. A second T-cell receptor (TCR), gamma delta-TCR, has been shown to be expressed by a large number of T cells in young and old nude mice. Recent data suggest that certain gamma and delta chain variable (V), diversity (D), joining (J) and constant (C) region genes are associated with both temporal and spatial organization of the gamma delta-T-cell repertoire in normal mice. In this study we observed the predominant use of V gamma 2J gamma 1C gamma 1 and V delta 5J delta 1C delta in the spleen of older nude mice. In the skin, a near exclusive expression of V gamma 3J gamma 1C gamma 1 and V delta 1J delta 2C delta gene segments was observed. In addition, a dendritic epidermal cell (DEC) clone was isolated from the skin of a nude mouse and expressed a gamma delta receptor consisting of V gamma 3J gamma 1C gamma 1 and V delta 1J delta 2C delta. Preliminary results show that this clone kills only YAC (and NK target) and not other tumor targets. The killing can be redirected by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody which suggests that the receptor is potentially functional. These results demonstrate that without normal thymus development nude mice not only produce gamma delta-T cells with a lytic potential, but also manage to express gamma delta-TCR's that are similar in spatial arrangement to normal mice. This suggests a possible difference in the requirements for gamma delta-TCR ontogeny. PMID- 2623734 TI - Implantation of cultured thymic fragments in athymic nude rats: studies on tolerance towards donor haplotype. AB - We previously observed that nude rats after implantation of cultured thymic fragments (CTF) of allogeneic origin manifest in vitro alloreactivity to the donor haplotype, but not to host haplotype. We here extend preliminary data that this in vitro alloreactivity is not accompanied by in vivo rejection of skin transplant from donor CTF origin. This discrepancy between in vivo and in vitro alloreactivity may suggest the presence of peripheral in vivo suppressive mechanisms, which are not active in in vitro assay systems. After implantation of CTF from two different allogeneic strains, however, skin transplants of either one of the donor strains are rejected. We conclude that education of both types of alloreactivity has occurred in the respective CTF's. This latter observation indicates that the suppressive mechanisms hypothesized above, if existent at all, obviously are not sufficiently potent to suppress the alloreactivity which has been generated in a CTF which expresses MHC antigens irrelevant to the alloreaction inducing determinants. If the tolerance to donor CTF is not due to a peripheral tolerance/suppression, it might bear relation to events occurring during precursor T-cell processing in the grafted CTF. The state of chimaerism in the graft reported earlier may explain this tolerance. PMID- 2623735 TI - Thymic epithelial cultures 30 years ago, and their interpretation. AB - In cultures of human fetal thymus giant cells comprising of epithelial cells and lymphocytes were observed. These epithelial-lymphocyte complexes are interpreted with regard to the growth and cell division of lymphocytes. These observations were the first on in vitro nurse cell formation. PMID- 2623736 TI - Defects in the thymic epithelial stroma of diabetes prone BB rats. AB - The thymus of diabetes prone BB rats (DP) was studied and compared with diabetes resistant (DR) BB rats and normal WAG rats. Thymuses were obtained from 4-5 week old animals, i.e. before the onset of disease. Analysis included specific immune histology using a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against markers both on thymocytes and stromal cells. No striking differences were observed between the three groups with regard to the expression and distribution of the various T cell markers. There was however a marked difference for thymic class II MHC antigen expression between the various groups. Whereas WAG rats displayed a regular class II MHC pattern both in the cortex and the medulla, both DR and DP rats showed large areas in the cortex where there was no class II MHC staining. The lack of expression of class II MHC antigens in these 'holes' was associated with a complete absence of epithelial cells in that area. Also in the medulla of DP and DR thymuses 'holes' in the keratin-stroma were observed. The stromal aberrations in these auto-immune prone rats are discussed in the context of the deficient T cell system in these animals. PMID- 2623737 TI - Cyclosporine A prevents the generation of single positive mature T cells in newborn mice. AB - The effect of Cyclosporin A (CsA) during T cell development was investigated in newborn mice. CsA treatment completely blocked the generation of peripheral single positive (SP) mature T cells: the lymphatic tissues were hypoplastic. However, double negative (DN) T3 expressing lymphocytes were still detectable. Thymuses from CsA-treated mice lacked the SP L3T4(CD4)+ subset, DN and double positive (DP) thymocytes were still present. We further defined a SP Lyt2(CD8)+ thymic subpopulation which lacked CD3 expression and displayed no functional activity in vitro. Thus, CsA critically interferes with the maturation of SP T lymphocytes; we found no evidence for 'leaky' autoreactive peripheral SP T cells in CsA-treated newborn mice. PMID- 2623738 TI - The gene of the alpha-subunit of the acetylcholine receptor: molecular organisation and transcription in myasthenia-associated thymomas. AB - DNA and RNA were isolated from 5 thymomas of Myasthenia Gravis (MG) patients, from normal tissues, and from the TE671 cell line (which expresses a muscle type acetylcholine receptor, AChR). The cDNA of the alpha-subunit of the AChR, a 159 bp BglII/BstEII fragment encoding the main immunogenic region (MIR) and a 88 bp EcoRV/TaqI fragment encoding the mAb155 binding site (a cytoplasmic epitope of AChR) served as probes. Hybridizations were performed under both high and low stringent conditions. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA, restricted with EcoRI, HindIII and BamHI/HindIII, showed a normal pattern of restriction fragments in all tissues investigated. In particular, in thymomas there was no deletion of exon 4 which encodes the MIR. Dot and Northern blot analysis of total RNA and mRNA revealed transcription of the alpha-subunit AChR gene in TE671 cells and skeletal muscle but not in other tissues including thymomas. These results confirm former reports that there are no intact AChR in thymomas of MG patients. In addition we show here that there is also no truncated, MIR-deficient AChR or a protein with extensive molecular homology with the AChR in thymomas. These investigations support our idea that an AChR-unrelated protein might play a role in the pathogenesis of thymoma-associated MG [Marx et al., this volume]. PMID- 2623739 TI - B- and T-cell activation in the thymus of patients with myasthenia gravis. AB - The activation state of thymic T and B lymphocytes was phenotypically and functionally explored in patients with Myasthenia Gravis (MG). We detected no phenotypic signs of activation in fresh total thymic lymphocyte suspensions (CD25 expression) while functional signs of activation were reflected by a significantly higher sensitivity to recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2) without any previous stimulation in MG patients as compared to controls. The response to rIL-2 was time-and dose-dependent, was inhibited by a blocking anti-IL-2 receptor antibody, and was associated to an increase of CD25+ T cells. Thymic B-cell populations purified after T cell and macrophage depletion, expressed at variable levels activation markers such as the transferrin receptor, the CD25, 4F2, CD23 and B8.7 Ag, indicating that a marked proportion of them are activated. Moreover, these B cell populations were spontaneously sensitive to BCGF-12-kD and to a lesser extent to rIL-2, demonstrating that they also exhibit functional signs of activation. The largest proportion of activated B cells and the most intense response to BCGF-12-kD was found in patients presenting the highest anti acetylcholine receptor (AChR) titers. Our data confirm the hyperactivity of the thymus gland in MG, reflected by the presence of T and B cells with functional signs of pre-activation. These cells could conceivably be located in lymphoid follicles and may represent autoreactive cells involved in the autoimmune process. Whether they are sensitized to AChR remains to be investigated. PMID- 2623740 TI - Evaluation of prognostic features in thymic epithelial tumors. AB - Based on the original proposals of Muller-Hermelink [3,8] and the study of 95 tumor specimens from the files of our institute we have established a new concept for the classification of thymic epithelial tumors. Thymomas are related to the structural components of normal thymus and divided in medullary, mixed, predominantly cortical and cortical types. In addition a well-differentiated thymic carcinoma with partial loss of organotypic differentiation is characterized and distinguished from other carcinoma types with total lack of specific thymic features. Prognostic evaluation showed, that medullary and mixed thymomas are always benign tumors, whereas predominantly cortical thymomas, cortical thymomas and well-differentiated thymic carcinomas are low-grade malignant tumors with increasing invasiveness and even metastatic capacity. Moreover the proliferation rate of neoplastic epithelial cells in vitro, which was studied in 12 cases, correlated to the different tumor types and their growth behaviour in vivo. PMID- 2623741 TI - Reversible thymic collapse following acute stress is beneficial: a hypothesis. PMID- 2623742 TI - Histological changes in the thymus during mouse pregnancy. AB - We studied the cells and microenvironments of the thymus in the pregnant mouse. A morphological and histological study at the light and electron microscope levels shows that the thymus continues to remain active despite massive loss of cortical cells. Many changes are seen in the cortex, but the medulla is relatively unaltered. In very early pregnancy a reduction in cell death and an increase in the numbers of blast cells and mitotic figures indicate a greater activity than in virgin animals. Later in pregnancy, when two-thirds of the cortical cells are lost, there is a continuing presence of mitotic figures and blast cells. Death of thymocytes by apoptosis occurs in associations (rosettes) with macrophages or cortical epithelial cells in the subcapsular and outer cortex. Death of thymocytes with adjacent epithelial cells also occurs in the deep cortex, as it does in virgin females. These results suggest that involution in pregnancy is structurally different from that induced by acute hydrocortisone treatment or other drugs. This supports the view that the term thymic involution describes not one distinct process, but several different processes. The relevance of these findings to the deletion of thymocytes reactive to paternal and fetal antigen is discussed. PMID- 2623743 TI - Organotin-induced thymus atrophy concerns the OX-44+ immature thymocytes. Relation to the interaction between early thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells? AB - After single oral application of the organotin compound di-n-butyltindichloride (DBTC) to rats, a reversible dose-dependent thymus weight reduction is observed. This is maximal at day 4 and recovers to the control value approximately at day 9 after administration. In this study the changes in thymocyte subpopulations after a single oral dose of 15 mg DBTC/kg body weight were analysed by immunohistology. Thymus glands of exposed rats were collected at day 1,2,3,4,5,7 and 9 after DBTC dosing and frozen sections were screened for various thymocyte differentiation antigens. Staining by mAb HIS-44 that labels a subset of cortical thymocytes showed that the thymus atrophy was restricted to the cortex. Here a time dependent decrease of labelling by CD2 (OX-34), CD8 (OX-8), CD4 (ER-2), and CD5 (OX-19) was observed. In contrast, the number of cortical OX-44+ cells increased from day 2 to day 5. This increase can reflect an increase of CD4-CD8- double negative thymocytes or of macrophages. However, most of these OX-44+ cells were negative for acid phosphatase, which is present in most macrophages. We concluded that these OX-44+ cells were mainly CD4-CD8- thymocytes and that the thymocyte subpopulation of this phenotype, i.e. CD4-CD8-OX-44+, may be the target cell for DBTC. It is discussed whether DBTC might disturb the interaction of early thymocytes and thymic epithelium, probably by an interaction with the CD2 antigen. PMID- 2623744 TI - Antigens shared by thymic stromal cells and T lymphocytes are abnormally expressed in AKR thymuses. AB - Accumulating evidence has shown that thymic stromal-lymphoid interactions play a major role in the development of AKR thymic leukemia. A normal thymic stromal cell (TSC) line B6TE-A, which has been shown to support the in vitro growth of AKR leukemic T cells by forming multicellular complexes with them, was used to raise monoclonal antibodies. Three of these mAb, MTS 31, 32 and 38, in addition to 2 other MTS mAb, are abnormally expressed in the preleukemic and/or leukemic stages in AKR mice. These 5 MTS mAb, which detect antigens on both subpopulations of TSC and T cells, show some reduced cortical reactivity from the pre-leukemic period (MTS 32 and 35) to markedly depressed reactivity in the leukemic period (MTS 31, 32, 33, 35 and 38). While it appears that the major reduction is due to the loss of antigens from the cortical thymocytes, there is some indication that the stromal elements may be affected also. In addition, MTS 29, which was also produced in this study, while only reacting with rare thymic medullary cells in situ was densely distributed on cultured stromal cells from both normal and leukemic thymuses. In this report, the value of these MTS mAb for documenting various stages of AKR leukemogenesis has been clearly demonstrated: their possible modulatory effects on in vitro T cell leukemia growth is currently being investigated. PMID- 2623745 TI - The effect of cyclosporine on murine thymic epithelial cells--an immunohistochemical study. AB - The authors recently demonstrated that cyclosporine (CsA) treatment of mice caused a remarkable reduction of L3T4+Lyt-2- subset in the thymocytes as well as the striking decrease in the size and cellularity of the thymic medulla. To elucidate the underlying mechanism of such thymic alterations, an immunohistochemical study on the thymic epithelial cells was made in mice receiving CsA. In the medulla, a marked reduction of Ia-positive, keratin positive and Ulex europeus agglutinin 1 (UEA 1) binding epithelial cells was observed. CsA also induced a reduction of anti-keratin stainability of cortical epithelial cells and of Ia antigen expression by them. The results of this study indicate that CsA is not only directly impair thymocyte function but also may act on epithelial cells in the thymus. It is suggestive that CsA may affect T cell differentiation and maturation via alteration of Ia-positive thymic epithelial cells. PMID- 2623746 TI - Pregnancy-related involution of the thymus in the viviparous lizard, Chalcides ocellatus. AB - The thymus gland of the adult viviparous lizard, Chalcides ocellatus (Reptilia, Sauria, Scincidae) undergoes conspicuous morphological changes in relation to gestational period. During pregnancy, the thymus is depleted of thymocytes and undergoes changes coming to consist primarily of numerous degenerative cysts. Thymic involution occurs early during pregnancy (starting at phase II) and reaching its highest level at parturition (phase V). These observations correlate with the circulating level of blood progesterone, measured by radioimmunoassay, and suggest a possible relationship between thymic involution and the activity of sex hormones. PMID- 2623747 TI - The preferential binding of immature thymocytes to a rat thymic epithelial cell line. PMID- 2623748 TI - Biopsy of the thymus in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. PMID- 2623749 TI - Lymphocyte content in the aging human thymus. PMID- 2623750 TI - A semi-revolution. Interview by Linda Bailey. PMID- 2623751 TI - Supervision: your experience. PMID- 2623752 TI - It all comes down to money. PMID- 2623753 TI - The changing role of the nursing student. PMID- 2623754 TI - Having fun: a new slant in nursing care. PMID- 2623755 TI - Malaria and babesiosis. 3rd International Congress on Maleria and Babesiosis. Annecy, France, September 7-11, 1987. Proceedings. PMID- 2623756 TI - Novel vaccination for control of the Babesia vector, Boophilus microplus. AB - An antigen was isolated from the tick gut wall. Antibody to this antigen bound to the tick gut cells when the ticks fed on immunized animals. Gut function in the ticks and tick development were inhibited. PMID- 2623757 TI - Vaccination against canine babesiosis: an overview of field observations. AB - Pirodog (ND) is a novel vaccine against canine babesiosis. It is commercially distributed and has been used in France since May 1988. More than 150,000 dogs have now been vaccinated and the results of the immunization have been contradictory. Many things remain to be understood concerning individual susceptibility, the immunosuppressive effect of the disease, and the incidence of concomitant infections. PMID- 2623758 TI - Malaria control by antivectorial measures in a zone of chloroquine-resistant malaria: a successful programme in a rice growing area of the Rusizi valley. AB - Within a large project for the socio-economic development of the rice growing area of the Rusizi valley in Burundi, a malarial control programme has been set up. This programme has several components: improvement of curative services, promotion of use of impregnated mosquito nets, and use of environmental engineering and indoor spraying with residual insecticides to control infection. PMID- 2623759 TI - Esterification and transesterification: effect of the reaction on enzyme activity. PMID- 2623760 TI - Potential misinterpretation of the competitive binding assays. PMID- 2623761 TI - The Complex Carbohydrate Structure Database. AB - The Complex Carbohydrate Structure Database (CCSD) and CarbBank, an IBM PC/AT (or compatible) database management system, were created to provide an information system to meet the needs of people interested in carbohydrate science. The CCSD, which presently contains more than 2000 citations, is expected to double in size in the next two years and to include, soon thereafter, all of the published structures of carbohydrates larger than disaccharides. PMID- 2623762 TI - An efficient salt-chloroform extraction of DNA from blood and tissues. PMID- 2623763 TI - [The cytogenetic action of x-ray irradiation on the myelokaryocytes of rats immunized with a tularemia vaccine]. AB - Immunization with tularemic live dry vaccine administered singularly to Wistar rats skin has been studied for its effect on mutagenicity induced after whole body X irradiation. The analysis has shown that cytogenetic disturbance induced after X irradiation with doses of 0.5 Gy and 1.0 Gy in immunized animals significantly decreases as compared to nonimmunized animals. PMID- 2623764 TI - [The structure of marriages and human resistance to the disease of alcoholism]. AB - Genealogies of men suffering from alcoholism (574) and healthy men (368) are investigated. It is revealed that persons from endogamous marriages are more frequently found among people suffering from alcoholism than among healthy persons (36.6% and 25.2%). 55% of men of exogamous origin have relatives suffering from alcoholism, 40% of men from endogamous marriages have such relatives. It is supposed that high heterozygosity decreases the risk of alcoholism. PMID- 2623765 TI - [An ultrastructural stereological analysis of the cardiomyocytes in a hibernating rodent (the red-cheeked suslik Citellus erythrogenys, Brandt)]. AB - The quantitative morphological study of cardiomyocytes in heterothermic animals (red-cheeked susliks Citellus erythrogenys Br.) was quantitatively morphologically studied. The features of spatial ultrastructural cardiomyocyte reorganization in hibernating susliks were shown to manifest in pronounced increase of volume and surface densities of sarcoplasmic reticulum and relative volume of lipid droplets. PMID- 2623766 TI - [Electron microscopic research on the mitochondria-rich bladder cells of the frog]. AB - The ultrastructural peculiarities of mitochondria-rich cells of the frog urinary bladder are analysed using three electron microscopic methods: ultrathin sections, scanning electron microscopy, freeze fracture. The mitochondria and tubular and vesicular structures are most abundant in the apical region of cytoplasm. The P-face (PF) of the apical plasma membrane is characterized by the presence of rod-shaped intramembrane particles (IMP), whereas the E-face (EF) possesses complementary pits. Depending on the distribution density of the rod shaped IMP, three types of cells are described. The apical plasma membrane has an invert distribution of the globular IMP: a great quantity of IMP on the EF and a few particles on the PF. This structure of the apical plasma membrane is supposed to correlate with its very low water permeability. Using filipin as a marker of cholesterol localization, it has been shown that the mitochondria-rich cell apical membrane contains more cholesterol than that of the granular cells. The nature of the rod-shaped IMP and their role in the transmembrane ion transport have been discussed. PMID- 2623767 TI - [Cytofluorimetric research on the glycogen content of the hepatocytes in patients with various forms of alcoholic liver lesions]. AB - By cytofluorometry employing the cytofluorometric PAS reaction, a study was made of the total glycogen and of its two fractions in liver parenchymal cells, both in the norm and in patients with chronic alcoholism (alcoholic steatosis, chronic alcoholic hepatitis, and mixed forms of alcoholic-viral hepatitis, viral hepatitis with steatosis and also viral hepatitis). The examination was performed on preparations-smears of isolated hepatocytes, obtained from the live puncture liver biopsies. The quantitative analysis has shown the increase in the total glycogen content in hepatocytes of patients with alcoholic hepatitis in comparison with the norm and with chronic viral hepatitis. The transition from a reverse stage--alcoholic steatosis--to alcoholic hepatitis was accompanied by a sharp increase in the total glycogen content and by an obvious change in the ratio of glycogen fractions, towards the hard soluble fraction in liver cells. The quantitative analysis of glycogen fractions in liver cells of patients with chronic alcoholic disease may be an appreciated marker of differential diagnostics of different stages and forms of alcoholic liver disease. PMID- 2623768 TI - [Macrophage activation by synthetic peptides. I. Kinetic changes in the transport of fluorescein anions across the plasma membrane of macrophages]. AB - As shown by cytofluorimetric technique, fluorescein anions formed in macrophages due to hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) release into the extracellular medium through the probenecid-inhibitable transport system of organic acids. Technical procedures have been elaborated to record separately the process of FDA hydrolysis characterising the activity of intracellular esterases, and the fluorescein anion transport representing secretion of organic acids by macrophages. It has been established that the tetrapeptide tuftsin stimulates the cell esterase activity without affecting the rate of fluorescein efflux. The peptide KPR (Lys-Pro-Arg) decreases both the esterase activity and the fluorescein anion efflux. PMID- 2623769 TI - [The distribution of chlorine e6 and its derivatives in HeLa cells studied using luminescence microscopy]. AB - The influence of the chemical structure of porphyrin pigments on their accumulation and localization in HeLa cells has been examined by the scanning fluorescence microphotometry. It has been found that the replacement of carboxyl groups of chlorine e6 for methyl and amino groups has no influence on the pigment distributions in cells. All the pigments are bound by cell membrane structures. The chemical modification of chlorine e6 structure is essential for the ability of pigment to be accumulated by cells that can be used to increase the efficiency of cancer phototherapy. The charge and hydrophobic properties of pigment molecules are of great importance for accumulating porphyrin sensitizers by cells. PMID- 2623770 TI - [The effect of T-lymphocytes on epithelial proliferation of the jejunal mucosa in thymectomized mice]. AB - Following 1.5 month period after thymectomy of adult mice the crypt 3H-thymidine labelling index is decreased and the proliferative zone is reduced. Analysis of labeled cell distributions in the crypt revealed that thymectomy resulted in the initiation of enterocyte entering a maturation phase in the site shifted to the crypt base. Syngeneic T-lymphocytes injected intravenously to thymectomized mice increased the labeling index, but exerted no effect on the size of proliferative zone. The proliferative changes described were not due to changes in the number of divisions of rapidly proliferating enterocytes. The role of T-lymphocytes in modulation of intestinal epithelium proliferation and steady state maintenance is discussed. PMID- 2623771 TI - [Abstracts of the All-Union Symposium "Current questions in cell biology" (leningrad, 17-19 November 1989)]. PMID- 2623772 TI - [Severity of reno-ureteral lithiasis in children: apropos of 100 cases]. PMID- 2623773 TI - [Clinical and etiologic factors in chronic respiratory insufficiency: apropos of 179 cases]. PMID- 2623774 TI - [Parasitoses and mycoses observed in AIDS: apropos of 20 cases]. PMID- 2623775 TI - [Air pollution in Gabes: its effects on schoolchildren's health]. PMID- 2623776 TI - [Long-term follow-up of the patient: intervention in family environment and cooperation with primary health centers]. PMID- 2623777 TI - [Drug interference with biochemical analysis]. PMID- 2623778 TI - [Liver transplantation in children: its place in the treatment of atresia of the extrahepatic bile ducts, its indications and results]. PMID- 2623779 TI - [Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome: apropos of 2 cases]. PMID- 2623780 TI - [A case of Solomon's syndrome with multiple vascular malformations]. PMID- 2623781 TI - [Undryable postoperative external biliary fistula: apropos of a case]. PMID- 2623782 TI - Neuropathological examination of the alterations of the intrinsic innervation in multiple sclerosis cystopathy. AB - Morphometric analysis of the innervation pattern of the stromal layer of the urinary bladder was done on biopsies from 88 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS). The biopsies were stained for acetylcholinesterase and for S100 protein, and a semiquantitative score was assigned. Nearly 30% of the samples showed increased immunoreactivity for S100, indicating Schwann cell hyperplasia. In 16% a decreased S100 immunoreactivity was found, the significance of which is unclear. More than 90% had normal acetylcholinesterase activity. No correlation could be demonstrated for age, sex, severity and duration of the disease, the presence of cystitis and type of detrusor dysfunction. The finding of altered S100 immunoreactivity in MS bladders could indicate that MS also affects the peripheral nervous system and is not limited to the central nervous system as classically described. This finding warrants further investigations. PMID- 2623783 TI - Pathology and pathophysiology of painful bladder diseases. AB - Painful bladder disease is an ill-defined disease presenting with chronic cystitis symptoms, despite sterile urine. This report includes only patients with painful bladder diseases of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. We have chosen to classify these patients pathoanatomically as follows: interstitial cystitis, detrusor myopathy, chronic unspecific cystitis and eosinophilic cystitis. The pathoanatomical appearance of the four groups of patients are described in details and certain clinical differences appear between the groups. The etiology and pathogenesis to the inflammatory reactions and muscle changes found in the detrusor biopsies are unknown, but many theories exist. It is suggested that something in the urine gains access to the bladder wall and initiates the pathoanatomical changes through a defective urothelium and glycosaminoglycans layer. In the interstitial cystitis patients, the inflammatory process and mast cell degranulation might be monitored by the urinary excretion of 1,4-methyl imidazole-acetic acid and eosinophil cationic protein. It is concluded that no specific therapy for the disease exists, since etiology and pathogenesis are still unknown and therefore future research in this field is very important. PMID- 2623784 TI - Fine-needle aspiration biopsy sampling in renal transplantation: interstitial cellular infiltrates and major histocompatibility complex class-II antigen expression in renal tubular cells. AB - The dynamics of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-II (DR) antigen products in renal tubular cells and cellular infiltrations in the interstitium of the kidney following renal transplantation without immunosuppressive therapy are presented. DR antigen in 27 normal kidneys and in 18 of 19 kidneys transplanted as autograft showed no DR-antigen expression on their tubular cells. These DR antigen-negative tubular cells could be induced to express the antigen during courses of untreated rejection both in primary (n = 6) and repeat (n = 4) allografts. Parallel to the increasing DR-antigen expression in the allograft, the autologous kidney expressed this antigen with the same time dependency and with the same intensity. Graft infiltrating cells were evaluated by daily fine needle aspiration biopsy and core biopsy. Induction of DR antigen was associated with a significant infiltration of blastogenic cells and monocytes/macrophages in the allograft. During rejection of the allograft no cellular infiltrate was noted in the autograft, but during an initial time period after allograft removal cellular infiltrates were seen. Following both courses of rejection DR antigen returns to negative by 6-8 days as did blastogenic cells and monocytes/macrophages in the autograft interstitium. Inducible antigen expression in normally DR-antigen-negative allograft parenchymal cells during rejection is shown to depend on inflammatory cells in the graft. The antigen expression is not restricted to the tissue transplanted, but also affects autologous tissue of the host organism. PMID- 2623785 TI - Age-dependency and regional distribution of enkephalinergic nerves in human prostate. AB - The regional distribution of peptidergic nerves in the juvenile and adult human prostate has been studied immunohistochemically using highly specific polyclonal antibodies. Nerves displaying immunoreactivity of Met-enkephalin, Leu-enkephalin, heptapeptide and octapeptide were detected in the dorsolateral stroma closely related to smooth muscle predominantly of juvenile glands. A less strong immunoreactivity was present around stromal vessels and periurethral. Subepithelial peri-acinar nerves showing Leu-enkephalin, Met-enkephalin, octa- and heptapeptide immunoreactivity were found in a few instances. The most prominent immunoreaction was achieved with octapeptide antiserum, followed in decreasing order by Met-enkephalin, Leu-enkephalin and heptapeptide. Their density decreased with age. Antisera against beta-endorphin, alpha-neoendorphin, beta-neoendorphin and dynorphin A gave to positive immunoreaction with prostatic nerves. The regional distribution pattern described is in favor of a postsynaptic peptidergic sympathetic innervation of prostatic stroma acting with classical neurotransmitters. PMID- 2623786 TI - Experimental investigations on dissolution of incrustations on the surface of catheters. AB - On the basis of a standardized in vitro irrigation model, the incrustation behavior of catheters was investigated using collected urine with controlled contamination (Proteus, mirabilis). Irrigation treatment with a NaCl solution did not effectively reduce incrustation compared to the control experiment. On the other hand, incrustations were definitively prevented or existing crystal deposits were largely dissolved with a citrate solution of pH 4.0 (Suby G). Analytical investigations (infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy) of the deposits on the catheter revealed the presence of struvite (MgNH4PO4 x 6H2O), brushite (CaHPO4 x 2H2O) and carbonate apatite (Ca10[PO4] [CO3OH]6[OH]2). PMID- 2623787 TI - Large-bowel perforation. A rare complication of intravesical Nd-YAG laser irradiation of bladder tumors. AB - A case report of large-bowel perforation after intravesical neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet laser irradiation is presented. Recommendations to prevent bowel injury are discussed. PMID- 2623788 TI - Structural studies on milk of calcium in calyceal diverticulum. AB - Structural studies were performed on a renal specimen removed from a patient with milk of calcium in a calyceal diverticulum. Infrared spectroscopy revealed that stones consisted of crystals of calcium oxalate. On scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis, the intact surface of the stones was composed of weddellite and the fractured face of the stones showed calcium phosphate. Subsequently, stagnation is considered to be an important factor in the formation of milk of calcium. PMID- 2623789 TI - Robertsonian translocation associated with azoospermia. AB - We report a case of Robertsonian translocation associated with azoospermia. The literature is reviewed, and testicular histology and hormone condition are discussed. PMID- 2623790 TI - Resistance of catheters coated with a modified hydrogel to encrustation during an in vitro test. AB - Mid-shaft specimens were cut from latex catheters coated with a modified hydrogel, latex catheters coated with silicone elastomer, and 100% silicone catheters. These specimens were subjected to controlled in vitro encrustation conditions. During a test period of 11 weeks, there was no significant difference in the quantities of encrusting deposits formed on the three materials. PMID- 2623791 TI - Assessment of silver-coated urinary catheter toxicity by cell culture. AB - The toxicity of silver-coated urinary catheters was assessed using a cell culture technique. The inhibitory effect of catheter extracts on the uptake of 3H labelled thymidine by mouse fibroblasts was measured. The results show that silver-coating had no toxic effect whereas silvernitrate and silversulphate coating did have a toxic effect. PMID- 2623792 TI - Urinary antibody response after immunisation with a vaccine against urinary tract infection. AB - Immunisation of mice with SolcoUrovac vaccine induced an approximately 10-fold increase of the total amount of IgG and a 2-fold increase of IgA immunoglobulins in urine. IgG antibodies to SolcoUrovac antigens appeared in urine after the first injection, and booster injections caused a further increase of the titer. IgA antibodies appeared in the urine after the second injection, and the third injection doubled the titer. IgM immunoglobulins and specific IgM class antibodies to SolcoUrovac were not found in any urine tested. The exact origin of the immunoglobulins in the urine as well as the specificity of immune response is discussed. PMID- 2623793 TI - Renal candidiasis in the rat: effects of ureteral obstruction and diabetes. AB - The effect of ureteral obstruction on the course of renal candidiasis in a rat model was studied, using both normal and diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats, and a clinical isolate of Candida albicans. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection 1 week prior to inoculation and transabdominal ligation of the left ureter. On day 9 post inoculation, mean titers of Candida were similar in right and left kidneys of obstructed rats. Mean left renal titers for obstructed and control rats were similar (log10 2.68 CFU/g +/- 0.73 (SE) vs. log10 2.21 +/- 0.09, P greater than 0.01). Diabetes produced higher renal titers of Candida, regardless of the presence of ureteral obstruction (log10 5.74 CFU/g +/- 0.57 (SE) vs. log10 2.21 +/- 0.09, P less than 0.01). Animals treated for one week with amphotericin B showed a marked difference in Candida titers between obstructed and control animals (log10 4.14 CFU/g +/- 0.45 (SE) vs. 1.57 +/- 0.38) for both kidneys, and between obstructed and nonobstructed kidneys in the same animals. PMID- 2623794 TI - Effect of extract of Hirudo Medicinalis L. against adherence of calcium oxalate crystals to acid-injured bladder mucosa. AB - The effect of extract of Hirudo Medicinalis L. on preventing the adhesion of calcium oxalate crystals to 0.1 M hydrochloric acid-injured bladder urothelium of the rat was studied. It was found that in this species the extract coated to the bladder mucosa after it was instilled into the chemically injured bladder; and the adhesion of calcium oxalate crystals was prevented. In regard to the anti adhesion property the Hirudo extract appears more effective than heparin, a documented glycosaminoglycan. PMID- 2623795 TI - A study of the renal sinus and its application in stone surgery. AB - The anatomical structure of the renal sinus was studied in 160 adult cadaver kidneys. Important anatomical features were described in the capsule of the sinus fatty tissue, including capsular septum of the hilus renalis, and the distribution of the posterior pelvic transverse artery. The implications of these findings in stone surgery are discussed. PMID- 2623796 TI - Experimental induction of arthritis in LEW rats and antibody response to four Mycoplasma arthritidis strains. AB - Four Mycoplasma arthritidis strains were examined for differences in virulence for LEW rats and elicitation of antibody responses in the immunoglobulin (Ig) M and G classes and in the four IgG subclasses. Two strains were highly arthritogenic and two were relatively avirulent. When the latter strains did induce arthritis, it was significantly less severe (P less than 0.05) and developed significantly later (P less than 0.001) than in rats injected with the two virulent strains, suggesting that the low-virulence organisms are able to persist asymptomatically in rats for several weeks. None of the M. arthritidis injected rats developed metabolism-inhibiting (MI) antibodies at any time during the 6-week observation period. Responses to other M. arthritidis antigens from all four strains were measured by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA); they were similar qualitatively but differed quantitatively. Rats injected with the two avirulent strains showed significantly lower titers of IgM antibodies (P less than 0.01) throughout the 6-week observation period and significantly lower early titers of IgG antibodies (P less than 0.05) than rats injected with the two virulent strains. In addition, peak IgM antibody titers, IgM titers measured 1 and 6 weeks after injection and IgG antibody titers measured 1 week after injection all correlated significantly with peak arthritis scores (P less than 0.05). The IgG antibody response against all four strains appeared mostly in the IgG2a and IgG2b fractions, with very little in the IgG1 and IgG2c fractions. Using immunoblotting, the immunodominant antigens of the two virulent strains appeared very similar, but the avirulent strains differed slightly from each other and from the other two. This study indicates that immune responses of rats to virulent and avirulent strains are similar but not identical and that immunogenicity for LEW rats may be a strain-specific characteristic for M. arthritidis. PMID- 2623797 TI - Purification and characterization of a 94-kDa Pasteurella haemolytica antigen. AB - A 94-kDa antigen of Pasteurella haemolytica Serotype 1, which was previously shown to elicit serum and nasal secretion antibody response to the bacterium, was purified and characterized. The antigen was purified by high performance liquid chromatography utilizing ion exchange, then size exclusion columns. It was a membrane protein that was copurified with 6-7% lipopolysaccharide. It had an isoelectric point of 4.6. Most other serotypes of P. haemolytica possessed a similar antigen. PMID- 2623798 TI - Inflammatory cell and immune function in Merino sheep with chronic dermatophilosis. AB - Components of inflammatory and immunological responses were compared in 17 Merino sheep with chronic dermatophilosis (Group 1) and 15 Merino sheep that had recovered from the disease (Group 2). The functions studied included: (i) total and differential white cell counts; (ii) phagocytic function and intracellular killing by neutrophils; (iii) humoral immune response to T-dependent and T independent antigens and to Dermatophilus congolensis. (iv) lymphocyte blastogenic responses to phytohaemagglutinin; (v) bovine serum albumen and D. congolensis antigens; (vi) quantification of T-lymphocyte subsets in skin lesions resulting after re-infection with D. congolensis zoospores. After all lesions were treated and the sheep were shorn, both groups of sheep were re-infected with D. congolensis. Both groups had similar infection rate, severity of lesions and rate of resolution after re-infection. The Group 2 sheep had significantly higher primary and secondary antibody responses to killed Brucella abortus cells than Group 1 sheep, but Group 1 sheep had higher levels of specific D. congolensis antibody throughout the trial. Neutrophils from Group 1 sheep showed a higher phagocytic rate for D. congolensis zoospores than Group 2 sheep when the zoospores were opsonised by sera from the Group 1 sheep, but there was no difference in their ability to kill ingested zoospores. Although there were some differences between the groups in the proportion of lymphocytes in lesions that reacted with monoclonal antibodies to T4, T8 and T19-19 lymphocyte markers at various times after re-infection, the sheep in Group 2 consistently had higher levels of lymphocytes reacting to a monoclonal antibody for the T6 lymphocyte antigen in skin biopsies collected 9, 15 and 21 days post-inoculation (p.i.) than did sheep in Group 1. Group 2 sheep also had higher levels of epidermal cells with immunohistochemical properties of Langerhans cells at lesion sites 15 and 21 days p.i. PMID- 2623799 TI - [X-ray diagnosis of neurogenic osteoarthropathies]. AB - The paper is concerned with roentgenoanatomical analysis of the osteoarticular system in 607 patients with syringomyelia (21), tabes dorsalis (42), diabetes mellitus (324), psoriasis (187) and traumatic injuries of the spine and spinal marrow (33). In 58 patients tabetic (18), syringomyelitic (12), diabetic (18), psoriatic (9) and traumatic (1) osteoarthropathy was diagnosed. A study of the x ray picture of osteoarthropathy revealed 2 types of disease: either with the prevalence of osteolytic or proliferative changes. The x-ray picture of osteoarthropathy was presented. The features of tabetic, syringomyelitic, diabetic and psoriatic arthropathies were described. PMID- 2623800 TI - [X-ray diagnosis of aseptic necrosis of the femur head in adults at the preclinical stage]. AB - The time course of an x-ray picture from the normal bone structure up to the appearance of positive x-ray signs of aseptic necrosis of the head of the femur (ANHF) was followed-up. The former, appearing long before the development of clinical signs of disease, were foci of the rarefaction of a round or oval shape in the upper, central parts of the head of the femur, and along its periphery in somewhat dense or normal structure of the head of the femur. PMID- 2623801 TI - [X-ray diagnosis of echinococcosis of the bones]. AB - The paper is devoted to the authors' experience in echinococcosis of the bones in 18 patients. The most important method for the recognition of this disease is x ray investigation. PMID- 2623802 TI - [Computed tomography in the diagnosis of degenerative diseases of the spine]. AB - CT and roentgenography were used for the investigation of 78 patients with the radicular syndrome. The state of the intervertebral disks, intervertebral joints and cerebrospinal canal in degenerative vertebral diseases was assessed. CT permits the detection of hernia, protrusion of the intervertebral disks, deformity of the intervertebral joints, and the narrowing of the cerebrospinal canal as a result of degenerative changes, as well as establishing the cause of the affection of neural structures in the cerebrospinal canal, radicular holes. CT possesses some advantages over roentgenography in the diagnosis of degenerative vertebral diseases and can be recommended as the principal method together with roentgenography for investigation of patients with lumbar pains. PMID- 2623803 TI - [Clinico-roentgenologic characteristics of postoperative osteitis of the pubic bones]. AB - The paper is concerned with clinicoroentgenological analysis of postoperative osteitis of the pubic bones (OPB) in 29 patients with urological diseases. The development of OPB follows operative complications, mainly of pyoinflammatory type. Clinically OPB develops as a pyoinfectious process. X-ray signs present a picture of inert osteomyelitis of the pelvic bones, caused by low virulent urinary infection. Its characteristic feature is superficial spreading of osseous destruction to a large extent with the affection of the adjacent of the pelvic joints. The probable routes of infection dissemination are venous (in injury of the pelvic plexus veins) and by continuity (as a result of urinary pelvic cellulitis). PMID- 2623804 TI - [Roentgeno-functional study of the talocrural joint in the long-term follow-up of a fracture of the crural bone]. AB - On the basis of the results of clinicoroentgenological and tensographic investigations of 119 patients after traumas of the crural bones and ankle joint (2-36 yrs. ago) the authors showed the importance of roentgenofunctional investigation of the ankle joint, a patient being in a standing position with maximum flexion and extension of the foot. A specially designed footing was proposed. Of 77 patients after intra-articular fractures of the ankle bones various disorders in articular proportions, undetectable on routine roentgenography, were diagnosed in 29 by functional roentgenography. Articular changes on roentgenofunctional investigation were revealed in one patient only out of 42 patients with extra-articular fractures of the crural bones. Tensography showed disorders of foot biomechanics in all patients with subluxations in the ankle. PMID- 2623805 TI - [X-ray semeiotics of changes in the soft tissues and bones of the lower extremities in disorders of the venous outflow]. AB - In order to improve radiodiagnosis of chronic and venous insufficiency of the lower limbs, the soft tissues and skeleton of the affected limbs were x-rayed in 120 patients with disturbed venous outflow (60 with varicosity and 60 with the post-thrombophlebitic syndrome - PTPS). The limb soft tissue changes in this disease were shown to be of one type and looked like the thickening of subcutaneous fat; obscure boundaries of the muscles with subcutaneous fat, the narrowing of intermuscular layers, the absence of differentiation of separate muscular groups, visible varices, calcifications of soft tissues and phleboliths. Bone changes appeared later than the clinical signs of disease and were as follows: regional and diffuse osteoporosis, various kinds of periostoses (scaled or partially assimilated linear, multilayer and pectiniform) and hyperostosis. Longitudinal platypodia and transverse foot flattening caused by dysfunction of the musculoligamentous apparatus and increasing venous congestion in the lower limbs were seen in most of the patients. PMID- 2623806 TI - [Pneumography of the membranous spaces in the spinal cord]. AB - The author describes one-stage investigation of the epidural and preneural spaces at the lumbar level using gas and a needle for lumbar puncture with a longitudinal side hole at the working end with subsequent roentgenography (pneumospondylography). Altogether 140 patients with lumbar vertebral osteochondrosis with neurological disorders were examined. Pneumospondylography gives 3 levels of contrast and ensures information on the sizes of the epidural and arachnoidal spaces, function of the invertebral holes and paravertebral tissues. The phenomenon of differentiation of the dural sac wall helps to diagnose in more detail the posterior protrusions of the intervertebral disks with concomitant epiduritis, pachymeningitis, arachnoiditis by the length and diameter of the vertebral canal. PMID- 2623807 TI - [Errors and difficulties in the x-ray diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma of the long tubular bones]. AB - In some cases radiodiagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma is associated with some difficulties resulting from a variety of its x-ray picture. The main factor that influences the x-ray manifestations of osteogenic sarcoma, is a neoplastic bone formation which reflects the morphological essence of this tumor. Other signs depend on a tumor site in one or another anatomical part of the tubular bone, on rates and type ot tumor growth. In some cases the combination of these signs ensures reliable diagnosis. However, along side with typical forms of osteogenic sarcoma there are also other ones which do not fit into the classical concept of this tumor type resulting in diagnostic difficulties and errors. PMID- 2623808 TI - [Clinico-roentgenologic semeiotics of chondroectodermal dysplasia (Ellis-van Creveld syndrome)]. AB - The paper is devoted to the description of a rare hereditary systemic skeletal disease--chondroectodermal dysplasia (CED). The clinical symptoms of CED are divided into 4 groups. On the basis of 2 cases, symptoms of the affection of the locomotor system in patients with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome are analyzed. An x ray picture of hand and foot lesions is characterized not only by change in the shape, size, number and synostosis of some bones but also by marked reorganization of osseous tissue in the epimetaphysial regions. X-ray examination was shown to be the chief method for investigation of the osseous system. PMID- 2623809 TI - [Computed tomography of children with dysplasia of the hip joint]. AB - The hip joints in 10 children were investigated with computerized tomography (CT). The method permitted the determination of the geometry of hip joints. It was used for a study of the pathogenesis of aseptic necrosis at early stages of its development in children with congenital dysplasia of the hip joint at early stages of disease. CT made it possible to establish anteversion of the cotyloid cavity, its degree, the shape and structure of the anterior and posterior wall of the cotyloid cavity, and a shift of the proximal hip end anteriorly in combination with the above changes in the whole hip joint. PMID- 2623810 TI - [X-ray diagnosis of complications of purulent processes in the wrist]. AB - To reveal the spreading of a purulent process to the antebrachial fatty spaces a study was made of an x-ray picture of soft tissues of the radiocarpal articulation and the forearm distal half in 126 patients with hand paronychia and phlegmon. In 24 of 95 patients with an unclear clinical picture of purulent discharge, typical x-ray symptoms of changes in soft tissues of the distal third of the forearm were found: typical deformity of fatty spaces with its distinct dynamics with relation to a stage of development of a pathological process. X-ray investigation permits the recognition of complications in hand purulent processes in order to take necessary therapeutic measures. PMID- 2623811 TI - [Standardization of the study of maxillofacial roentgenology. II. Standardization of the methodology of orthopantomography]. AB - The main factor of a good quality of orthopantomograms is a correct position of the occlusion plane and chin support, the straightening of the cervical vertebrae, head fixation and a choice of physicochemical conditions for exposure. All these conditions ensure the standardization of orthopantomography, reducing to the minimum errors in investigations. PMID- 2623812 TI - [Results of clinical trials of the ARC RUTA x-ray diagnostic picture-taking apparatus]. AB - The clinical trials of the first Soviet ARC RUTA apparatus for taking x-ray pictures were conducted in the Moscow city hospital N 71. Altogether 6500 patients, mainly with traumas, were examined. The apparatus was recommended for use in medical practice. Its advantages and shortcomings were defined, and recommendations for use were issued. PMID- 2623813 TI - [A case of a generalized form of hyperparathyroid osteodystrophy]. PMID- 2623814 TI - [X-ray changes in karyotype 49,XXXXY]. PMID- 2623815 TI - [Osteoid osteoma of the calcaneus]. PMID- 2623816 TI - [Roentgenometric characteristics of the hip joint in aseptic necrosis of the femur head and its role in the evaluation of the disease]. PMID- 2623817 TI - [A device for maxillodental roentgenography]. PMID- 2623818 TI - [A goniometric device for roentgenography of the skull]. PMID- 2623819 TI - Contrast adaptation in striate cortex of macaque. AB - We have characterized the contrast-response relationships for simple and complex cells in striate cortex of macaque monkey, before and during adaptation to high contrast sinusoidal gratings of the optimal spatial-frequency and orientation. Adaptation brings about systematic changes in the steepness of contrast-response curves and in the effective contrast of stimuli. Adaptation reduces the detectability of low-contrast gratings by almost a factor of three, but by extending the operating range of most cells it appears to improve the discriminability of high-contrast stimuli that previously gave rise to responses of saturating amplitude. PMID- 2623820 TI - Topographic organization of the ganglion cell layer and intraocular vascularization in the retinae of two reef teleosts. AB - The retinae of two species of teleosts, the rippled blenny Istiblennius edentulus and the blue tusk fish Choerodon albigena are examined in wholemount. The retinal topography of Nissl-stained cells within the ganglion cell layer in each species reveals a temporal (4.32 x 10(4) cells per mm2) and a nasal (3.83 x 10(4) cells per mm2) area centralis in the rippled blenny and two temporal areae centrales (8.30 x 10(4) and 8.00 x 10(4) cells per mm2) and a horizontal streak (5.00 x 10(4) cells per mm2) in the tusk fish. These areas are thought to subserve higher spatial resolution. Transcardial perfusions of indian ink reveal an extensive network of vitreal blood vessels which are supplied by the hyaloid artery and overlie the retina in each species. This rich network of vitreal vessels supplies areas of increased ganglion cell density although areas of maximum cell density are devoid of vessels to preserve the high spatial resolving power of the eye within this region. Unique blood vessel plexuses overlying the optic disc and falciform process in the tusk fish are also described. The diameter of the overlying vitreal vessels is compared to the soma sizes of cells within the ganglion cell layer. PMID- 2623821 TI - Spatial organization of subfields in receptive fields of cells in cat striate cortex. AB - Spatial organization of receptive fields (RF) of cells in cat striate cortex was investigated with moving and flashing light and dark bars and with grating patterns of a varying number of cycles. It was shown that the maximum number of subfields in a simple cell is equal to eight or the number of periods in weighting function is equal to four. Quantitative comparison of the data with the results of seven other studies allows us to suggest that the number of periods in linear component of some complex cells is close to this value. The discrepancies between the results of different authors in estimation of the number of subfields are explained by the experimental data. PMID- 2623822 TI - Peripheral positional acuity: retinal and cortical constraints on 2-dot separation discrimination under photopic and scotopic conditions. AB - The precision of discriminating the separation of two dots was measured as a function of separation for eccentricities of 0-10 deg under photopic and scotopic conditions. At each eccentricity, the 2-dot separation discrimination thresholds showed a V-shaped dependence on separation. For separations less than approximately twice the resolution threshold, performance deteriorated from photopic to scotopic conditions and appeared to be limited by ganglion cell receptive field size or spacing. For separations smaller than 10% of the effective eccentricity (eccentricity + 0.6 deg), the photopic 2-dot separation discrimination thresholds were significantly better than 3-dot bisection thresholds previously measured under similar experimental conditions, supporting the hypothesis that 3-dot bisection suffers from spatial interference for these separations. Interestingly, under scotopic conditions, 2-dot separation discrimination thresholds were better than resolution for a range of separations at each eccentricity, implying that cone input was not necessary for hyperacuity performance. 2-dot separation discrimination thresholds for large separations were little changed from photopic to scotopic luminance conditions. PMID- 2623823 TI - Uniform field flicker: masking and facilitation. AB - The influence of uniform field flicker (UFF) on the contrast threshold for stationary sinusoidal gratings was measured as a function of flicker depth. Changing from no flicker to a flicker depth of 10% produces reliable differences in threshold. Further increases in flicker depth to 60% had little additional influence. The presence of UFF produces masking with low spatial frequency stimuli as expected but at higher spatial frequencies facilitation is obtained. The results are discussed in the context of the distinction between primate Magnocellular and Parvocellular pathways. PMID- 2623824 TI - Visual field defects for unidirectional and oscillatory motion in depth. AB - Visual fields for oscillatory motion in depth were recorded for 21 subjects. Near fields were different from far fields in 8 and similar in 11 subjects. Visual fields for unidirectional motion in depth were recorded for 16 subjects for near and far disparities. Some subjects had fields that differed for approaching versus receding motion in depth and/or for near versus far disparities. In particular, for near disparities, approaching versus receding motion gave fields that were different in 5 and similar 7 subjects; for far disparities, approaching versus receding motion gave fields that were different in 1 and similar in 10 subjects. For approaching motion in depth, near fields differed from far fields in 3 and were similar in 8 subjects; for receding motion in depth, near fields were different from far fields in 5 and similar in 8 subjects. Because sensitivity to monocular frontal plane motion showed no irregularities corresponding to the stereomotion field defects, we conclude that (1) stereomotion field defects were chiefly due to defective cortical processing of motion. We also conclude that (2) stereomotion field defects--at least for unidirectional motion--are caused by loss of sensitivity to unidirectional motion in depth rather than to abnormal interactions between mechanisms for approaching and receding motion, and (3) the finding of directional-specific stereomotion blindness is better explained by the two-population than by the one-population hypothesis of stereomotion blindness. We suggest that the substantial incidence of stereomotion field defects in normally-sighted subjects has implications for clinical studies and for visual assessment of pilots. PMID- 2623825 TI - Binocular fusion limits are independent of contrast, luminance gradient and component phases. AB - Panum's binocular fusion limit has been shown to increase with the size of graded contrast targets (Schor, Wood & Ogawa, 1984). This suggests the hypothesis that the fusion limit may be controlled by the maximum luminance gradients present in the stimuli. The luminance gradient is reciprocally related to image contrast, so the hypothesis predicts that the fusion limits should also decrease with increasing contrast. To investigate this luminance gradient hypothesis we designed stimuli in which the contrast and phase of the spatial frequency components could be varied independently of the luminance gradients. Disparity limits for fusion were unaffected by variations of as much as a log unit in contrast, luminance gradient or phase of the frequency components, disconfirming the luminance gradient hypothesis. Instead, fusion limits for various compound frequency targets were well predicted by the smallest fusion range for any spatial frequency component in the image that was above its contrast detection threshold. PMID- 2623826 TI - Interocular differences in contrast and spatial frequency: effects on stereopsis and fusion. AB - Anisometropia produces interocular differences in contrast and spatial frequency. The influence of these two parameters on Panum's fusional limit (PFL) and stereoscopic depth thresholds was investigated with sinusoidal gratings and one dimensional band-pass-limited targets. Vertical fusion limits were unaffected by large interocular differences in contrast (40-10%) at two spatial frequencies (0.8 and 1.6 cpd). However, when tested with a low spatial frequency (0.8 cpd), stereothresholds increased 150% with an interocular difference in contrast as small as 50-25%. Stereoacuity was reduced less by differential contrast when tested with higher spatial frequencies (3.2 cpd). When tested with low spatial frequencies the stereothreshold was elevated more by reducing the contrast of one image than by equal contrast reductions of both ocular images. Stereothresholds appear to be elevated by binocular suppression evoked by interocular differences in contrast. Vertical as well as horizontal fusion limits decreased with increasing interocular size difference. Horizontal fusion limits fell off more gradually with increasing size difference than did vertical fusion limits, particularly at higher spatial frequencies (2.4 cpd). Similarly, stereothresholds increased with increasing interocular size differences. Changes in the fusion limit and stereothreshold that occur with interocular size differences are predicted from positional disparities between edge features rather than from differences in spatial frequency. PMID- 2623827 TI - Optimal displacement in apparent motion. AB - Measurements are made of the optimal displacement for an abruptly displaced sinewave grating to elicit a motion aftereffect. At a fixed nominal eccentricity of 4 deg, spatial frequencies ranging from 0.2 to 1.2 c/deg are effective in producing an aftereffect. At any given spatial frequency, the optimal displacement is slightly less than one quarter spatial cycle. The range of effective spatial frequencies does not correspond to the range of optimal spatial frequencies reported for neurons in primate Area V1, but does correspond to that for Area V2. PMID- 2623828 TI - The spectral transmission of the lens and cornea of the brown trout (Salmo trutta) and goldfish (Carassius auratus)--effect of age and implications for ultraviolet vision. AB - This study reports spectral transmission curves (250-700 nm) for the lenses and corneas of two teleost species known to be u.v. sensitive; brown trout (Salmo trutta) aged 0-3 yr, and goldfish (Carassius auratus) aged 0-4 yr. In both cases there is a decrease in lenticular short-wave transmission with increased age which cannot be explained by an increase in lens size alone. Corneas of goldfish go through a similar ageing process while those of the trout do not. An orange pigmentation located in the dorsal cornea of goldfish is also described. PMID- 2623829 TI - The spectral transmission of freshwater teleost ocular media--an interspecific comparison and a guide to potential ultraviolet sensitivity. AB - Based on their spectral transmission, the lenses of 50 teleost species can be classified into three categories: "type 1" colourless lenses with 50% transmission points between 315 and 354 nm, "type 2" lenses which also appear colourless but have 50% cut-off points around 362-405 nm, and "type 3" lenses which are visibly yellow (50% transmission 425-450 nm). Most corneas transmit all wavelengths down to around 300 nm, with only 3 species showing a distinct yellow colouration. This distribution of ocular media transmission is related both to the phylogenetic group of the fish and to their photic environment. PMID- 2623830 TI - Influence of achromatic surrounds on categorical perception of surface colors. AB - Color samples selected from the OSA Uniform Color Scales set were seen isolated in a dark field, illuminated by hidden projectors. These appeared as self luminous aperture colors when thus isolated. We employed a categorical color naming procedure to assess color appearance. Achromatic surrounds of 33 min width, if adjacent to samples subtending about 2.2 deg, were sufficient to render normal categorical surface-color perception. As the size of surrounds decreased, color naming shifted from that normally observed in the surface-color mode to that appropriate to the aperture-color mode. For isolated samples, brown was almost never seen, being most often replaced by orange; a white border less than one-sixtieth the width of the color samples was sufficient to restore its perception in an otherwise dark field. The reflectance of the surround and the gap between test and surround stimuli were also examined and found to be important factors in surface color perception, whereas the overall luminance level was not. PMID- 2623831 TI - On neural signals that mediate induced blackness. AB - A small patch of achromatic light viewed within a large achromatic surround appears gray or black when the radiance of the surround is well above that of the patch. No single light can match the appearance of the patch because no light in isolation appears blackish; blackness is induced by a second stimulus. The present experiments examine the locus of the mechanisms mediating induction of blackness. They test whether induced blackness can be completely explained by interactions among signals from only one eye (retinal lateral inhibition, for example, though no explicit process is assumed here). If so, a surround affects the appearance of a patch only by modifying a signal that represents the patch at a monocular neural level. This signal may depend on retinal mechanisms and on purely monocular central processes. The alternative hypothesis is that induced blackness depends, at least in part, on a central binocular process driven by more information from each eye than can be carried by a neural signal representing only the patch. Measurements with fused binocular stimuli support the alternative hypothesis, implying retinal mechanisms alone are an incomplete explanation of induced blackness. PMID- 2623832 TI - Width discrimination for band-pass stimuli. AB - There is a disagreement in the literature about whether the discrimination function for width is a continuous or a segmented function of target size (Hirsch & Hylton, 1982; Mayer & Kim, 1986). We determined the Weber fraction for width for difference of Gaussian (DOG) luminance distributions. Data for seven different standard widths were collected simultaneously. Although the value of the Weber fraction varied with target size, there was no evidence for any discontinuities in the discrimination function, either in the fovea or at 2.0 deg eccentricity. PMID- 2623833 TI - [Postoperative atrioventricular and intraventricular block in tetralogy of Fallot. Electrophysiology study]. AB - One of the causes of the late deaths after operations of the tetralogy of Fallot are dysrhythmias caused by impaired conduction and automatism. To assess the severity and site of the atrioventricular and intraventricular block the authors used in 19 patients after operation of the tetralogy of Fallot an invasive electrophysiological examination. The authors recommend, based on their own experience, to follow-up on a long-term basis all patients with temporary postoperative complete a-v block. The presence of bifascicular or temporary postoperative a-v block alone does not yet imply the need of a permanent pacemaker. If a serious a-v block persists after the third week or if a syncope or cardiac weakness develops, the authors indicate a permanent pacemaker. Also the development of trifascicular block, even in patients with a normal P-Q interval, detected during fever, physical work or during electrostimulation of the atria is an indication for the introduction of a permanent pacemaker. PMID- 2623834 TI - [The effect of procainamide on the inducibility of ventricular tachycardia using programmed stimulation]. AB - The effect of intravenously administered procainamide (0.5-1 g, mean 0.966 g) on the inducibility of sustained ventricular tachycardia by programmed ventricular stimulation was tested in 15 patients (12 men and 3 women, mean age 57.2 +/- 16.6 years) with confirmed sustained ventricular tachycardia. Eleven patients had a previous myocardial infarction and two had congestive heart failure. The programmed ventricular stimulation (1-3 premature stimuli following after ventricular stimulation at a rate of 100/120 and 140/min. and a number of quick stimuli with a rising frequency from the apex of the right ventricle at an intensity equal to twice the diastolic threshold) was administered before and after procainamide administration. Sustained ventricular tachycardia was induced during the controlled examination in all 15 patients (100% sensitivity). Induced ventricular tachycardia had a haemodynamically important course with a rapid onset of unconsciousness in three patients whose index of risk of ventricular tachycardia (ratio of its frequency and the ejection fraction at rest) was significantly higher than in the remaining 12 patients (9.0 +/- 2.2 as compared with 4.9 +/- 1.2). Procainamide prevented the induction of sustained ventricular tachycardia in six patients (group I), i. e. in 40%. In the remaining nine patients (group II) ventricular tachycardia induced after procainamide had a significantly lower frequency (192 +/- 34/min.), as compared with controls (214 +/- 42/min.), but its haemodynamic impact was not affected. Patients of group I had, as compared with group II, a significantly higher ejection fraction (47 +/- 14% as compared with 35 +/- 10%) and a significantly lower index of the risk of tachycardia (4.5 +/- 1.3 as compared with 6.5 +/- 2.4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2623835 TI - [2-dimensional echocardiography of mitral stenosis in patients 60 years of age and older]. AB - The authors examined 28 patients with mitral stenosis aged 60 years or older, incl. 20 (71%) with atrial fibrillation and 14 (50%) who had moreover signs of heart failure. None of them suffered from severe mitral stenosis with an area of the mitral orifice smaller than 1 sq. cm. Statistical comparison of groups of patients with sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation and groups with symptoms of heart failure or without it revealed a significant difference only between the areas of the mitral orifice (P less than 0.005). In the other echocardiographic indicators (dimensions of the left atrium and volume ratio of its evacuation, left ventricular ejection fraction) there was no significant difference. According to criteria published by Okamura et al. in 1986 for patients above 60 years with mitral stenosis and incipient cardiac failure cardiosurgery should be an opportunity to prolong life. PMID- 2623836 TI - [Left ventricular systolic function during exertion in persons with mild and medium levels of hypertension]. AB - In a group of 34 men aged 30-59 years with essential hypertension of a mild or moderate degree the authors evaluated the behavior of the left ventricular ejection fraction and the rate of shortening of the circumferential fibre, using radionuclide ventriculography during exercise. The results were compared with a control group of 19 subjects lacking signs of cardiovascular disease. Asymptomatic hypertonic patients without signs complicating IHD have on average a small statistically insignificant reduction of values of the ejection fraction at rest and of the shortening of the circumferential fibre. However, they respond to a load by a significantly lower rise of the resting values than the control group. In 12% of the patients the authors found an abnormal reaction of the ejection fraction, i.e. a decline as compared with original values. The above differences can be ascribed to a reduction of left ventricular systolic function during chronic overload as a result of arterial hypertension. This functional reduction is not related to the values of the systolic or diastolic pressure at rest nor to the duration of hypertension. PMID- 2623837 TI - [Locally produced monoclonal antibodies for the diagnosis of acute leukemias]. AB - In 35 cases of acute leukaemia in addition to the basic morphological and cytochemical examination immunophenotyping with locally produced monoclonal antibodies from the Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, was made. In 33 instances it proved possible to differentiate the leukaemic cells, two leukaemias were described as non-differentiated. Local antibodies MEM 78, MEM 75, MEM 57, MEM 32, MEM 31, MEM 18 and HL-40 can be considered basic monoclonal antibodies for the diagnosis of acute leukaemia. PMID- 2623838 TI - [Is absorption hemoperfusion effective in the treatment of baclofen poisoning?]. AB - By six-hour sorption haemoperfusion over active charcoal in a 33-year-old woman intoxicated with baclofen (Baclofen Polfa) the initial plasma concentration was reduced by 87%, while from the blood only 3% of the ingested dose were removed. Therefore the capacity of baclofen elimination was tested by perfusion and dialysis in vitro. Two-hour dialysis with the Czechoslovak haemodialyzer Chiraplat was equally effective for removal of baclofen from an aqueous solution (21.2 mg) as four-hour perfusion over active charcoal and resin--Czechoslovak haemoperfusion columns Hemasorb 800 C (19.4 mg) and Hemasorb 800 A-4 (18.9 mg). Because during the first 30 minutes of perfusion the resin sorbent has a double extraction, as compared with dialysis, it is better to use in serious intoxication haemodialysis and haemoperfusion concurrently. PMID- 2623839 TI - Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in high-risk patients. A review of five years' surgical experience of non-ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms in a rural tertiary referral center. AB - A review of 77 elective abdominal aortic aneurysms repaired over the past five years at West Virginia University Hospital in high-risk patients reveals an elevated incidence of concomitant occlusive vascular disease. We continue to perform routinely preoperative aortography with runoff films in these patients because of the valuable information it gives. This information permits us to perform vascular procedures to relieve the atherosclerotic stenotic lesions at the time of the abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. A review of risk factors, vascular anomalies, concomitant vascular procedures, complications, and mortality is given. PMID- 2623840 TI - Infant mortality in West Virginia. Identifying risk factors for public health intervention. AB - Because infant death rates vary within populations, it is important for program managers and planners to identify high-risk subgroups for whom effective interventions can be targeted. Matching infant death certificates with birth records permits us to describe infant mortality and calculate risks by a variety of maternal and infant characteristics recorded at birth. In this paper, we illustrate how several variables are associated with infant death, and show how analysis of a recent birth cohort in West Virginia can assist health officials in determining appropriate strategies for risk reduction. While efforts need to focus on reducing social and economic barriers to maternal and infant health, different strategies are required to address separately the neonatal and postneonatal components of infant mortality. Matched records can be used in a variety of ways to develop support for, and highlight the needs of, West Virginia's Maternal and Child Health programs, to monitor trends over time, to evaluate program achievements, and to modify program goals. PMID- 2623841 TI - Growth and development of West Indian children. Part I: Growth. AB - The growth of Caribbean infants is comparable to the NCHS standards until approximately 3 months of age despite somewhat lower birthweights. After this, growth rates decline. This pattern is similar to that seen in other developing countries (Condon-Paolini et al, 1977; Whitehead, 1979; Rowland et al, 1988). By 18 months of age, average weights and heights of Jamaican children approached the 10th centile of the NCHS standards and remained below the 40th centile throughout childhood. Ashcroft's studies of growth in childhood showed that the pattern of growth was similar in a number of countries in the Region but, in more recent nutritional surveys, differences between countries can be detected. For example, the prevalence of undernutrition is lower in Barbados but conversely obesity, especially in older girls, is becoming a significant problem. Most of the growth data on which this review is based was collected in the 1960s and early 1970s. Only a few studies provided longitudinal data. These were primarily those concerned with growth in the first year of life and the Lawrence Tavern study in which children were measured up to 4 years of age. There is clearly a need for more recent data, particularly longitudinal, since the available data suggest that secular changes are occurring. Surveys of nutritional status provide some information on the adequacy of growth but cannot be a substitute for measurements of normal growth patterns. PMID- 2623842 TI - Effect of alcohol on serum lipids in diabetics. AB - This report emanated from a three-year study conducted at the Diabetic Outpatient Clinics convened at the Port-of-Spain and Sangre-Grande Hospitals in Trinidad. The diabetic population which participated consisted of 132 men and 245 women of African descent; and 99 men and 163 women of East Indian origin. The mean age was 50 years (+/- 13). The effect of alcohol on lipid fractions varied in the two races. A lower incidence of ischaemic heart disease was observed among the alcohol consumers when compared to those who abstained. PMID- 2623843 TI - Febrile response in malnutrition. AB - The febrile response to a standard dose of triple (DPT) vaccine was assessed in sixteen malnourished children before and after recovery. The increase in temperature was significantly lower in the malnourished children (p less than 0.005). PMID- 2623844 TI - Colonoscopy in Jamaica--a 12-year experience. AB - Four hundred and nine colonoscopic examinations were performed in 335 patients over a 12-year period in Jamaica. The main indications were suspected polyps (34%) rectal bleeding (22%) and suspected carcinoma (11%). Total colonoscopy was performed in 33% of cases. The ascending colon and hepatic flexure were examined in a further 25%, and the transverse colon in another 21%. Endoscopic examination of the suspected abnormal area was possible in all cases. In 142 examinations, no abnormality was detected, reflecting a false positive Barium enema in some. Polyps were found in 135 examinations, diverticula in 69 and carcinoma in 13. There were no complications. Colonoscopy was more sensitive and specific than Barium enema. The Barium enema findings were incorrect in 91 of 224 examinations (41%). Colonoscopy is a safe and accurate procedure which enables improved patient management. PMID- 2623845 TI - Infective endocarditis at the University Hospital of the West Indies. A postmortem evaluation. AB - Thirty cases of infective endocarditis identified in the autopsy service of the University Hospital over a 10-year period are reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 30.6 years, and 70% were below the age of 40 years. Sixty per cent of the cases had previous heart disease of which rheumatic heart disease was the most common. Degenerative heart disease and floppy mitral valve contributed one case each. The mitral valve was most commonly affected, and there were only 2 cases of right-sided endocarditis. Evidence of systemic embolization was present in 83% of the patients. The results of this study are compared with others from both developed and under-developed countries. PMID- 2623846 TI - Ectopic pregnancies in Trinidad. A clinico-pathological study of 154 consecutive surgically treated cases. AB - A prospective study was conducted during the period August 1, 1985 to July 31, 1986 from ten hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago to determine the incidence and aetiology of ectopic gestations. One hundred and fifty-four cases of ectopic gestations were diagnosed in 153 patients, during the period of study, with eight patients having a previous ectopic gestation. The incidence of ectopic gestation was 9.02 per 1,000 births. Ectopic pregnancies were more common in women of African descent (64.29%) as compared to East Indian women (27.27%) and were most often seen in the 21 to 35-year-old age group where they accounted for 72.07% of the total. There were 16.23% ectopic gestations in the 36 to 42-year-old age group. Fifty-six per cent of the ectopic gestations occurred in the right fallopian tube. Ninety-one per cent were ruptured and 80.13% had histological evidence of chronic salpingitis. The maternal mortality from ectopic gestations was 1.3%. One primary ovarian ectopic gestation (0.65%) and one twin ectopic pregnancy were seen during the period of study. PMID- 2623847 TI - Knowledge and understanding of AIDS among health-care workers in Jamaica. AB - Six hundred and fifty questionnaires were sent to Health-care Workers (HCW) in four hospitals to assess the knowledge and understanding on HIV transmission and isolation precautions to be instituted for control and also to ascertain whether any differences in knowledge existed between HCW of teaching and nonteaching hospitals. Five hundred and nine questionnaires were returned, a response rate of 79%. Questions on HIV transmission via blood transfusion and sexual intercourse and proper disposal of sharp instruments received the highest scores (85-100), embracing all groups of teaching and non-teaching hospitals. The greatest area of misconception and misunderstanding was reflected in responses obtained on isolation precautions (less than 30) for both teaching and non-teaching hospitals. Our study emphasizes an urgent need for a comprehensive, continuous education of HCW on prevention and control of HIV infections in Jamaica. PMID- 2623848 TI - The prevalence of health insurance in a Jamaican suburb and its correlations with service utilisation. AB - The prevalence of health insurance in a low-income Jamaican community was determined from a systematic sample of 103 households. A household prevalence for health insurance of 32 per cent was found. Differentials in health service utilisation were more striking for private practitioner services where the highest correlation with coverage was found (r = 0.346, p less than 0.001). A negative correlation (r = -036, N.S. with local health centre utilisation was obtained. For every 100 people attending a private facility, 33 had health insurance coverage. The level of health insurance coverage in the community and its impact on service utilisation would suggest the possibility of harsh economies in the health sector, forcing consumers in low-income groups to seek a buffer for the expenses incurred from needs unmet by the public services. Part of this favourable prevalence of health insurance may also be due to job-related coverage. PMID- 2623849 TI - Using information about elderly subjects attending government medical clinics to tailor nutrition education services to their needs. AB - A study of the elderly was carried out in 2 Cornwall County parishes (Hanover and Westmoreland) from June to August, 1987. The health status and general situation of the elderly attending Government Medical Clinics was studied to obtain information to design nutrition education services that met their needs. Four Health Centres (two Type II and two Type III) were selected by stratified random sampling for the study. The results indicated that more elderly women (71%) than men (29%) used the Primary Health Care Services. Obesity was more common among women (29%) than men (0%). More men (30%) were underweight than women (9%). Food stamps appeared to be the most regular source of income for the elderly. Most of the elderly (92%) felt that they were not in good health. Although they generally had 2 to 3 meals per day, their food intake, particularly of fruits and peas, appeared to be inadequate. The results point clearly to a need to strengthen the nutrition education services offered to the elderly attending Government Medical Clinics in Cornwall County, Jamaica. PMID- 2623850 TI - Endodermal sinus(yolk sac) tumour of the mediastinum. AB - An endodermal sinus tumour of the anterior mediastinum is described in a 19-year old man. This very rare condition is reported for the first time in the Caribbean literature. PMID- 2623851 TI - Sudden cardiac death caused by coronary ostial compression by an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva. AB - A 22-year-old man was asymptomatic until he died suddenly after being startled. Post-mortem examination was normal except for aneurysmal dilatation of the left Sinus of Valsalva, the upper margin of which formed a flap-like ridge, partially occluding the ostium of the left main coronary artery which arose immediately above it. Further compression of this "slit-like" orifice by aneurysmal distention was the proposed cause of myocardial ischaemia and arrhythmic death. PMID- 2623852 TI - Measles in CAREC-member countries (1974-1988). PMID- 2623853 TI - Mortality in Cuba. PMID- 2623854 TI - [The fate of children with malabsorption syndrome and "flat mucosa"]. AB - The fates of 97 children hospitalized for malnutrition syndrome in the years 1983 1985 were assessed depending on the aetiology and treatment. In all cases the first biopsy of the small intestine demonstrated the so called flat mucosa. In recent years a continuous rise has been observed in the number of children with malabsorption syndromes, especially secondary syndromes caused, most frequently, by infectious factor and antibiotic treatment given for infections. The number of such cases was in 1985 four times greater than in 1983. A proper diagnostic therapeutic management led to complete regeneration of intestinal villi in all cases. The further development of these children was normal. PMID- 2623855 TI - [Management of Meckel's diverticulum]. AB - Thirty-three Meckel's diverticula were found intraoperatively and 31 were removed for various indications. One patient died. The management was justified in the light of own experiences and literature data on the pathological changes in the diverticulum and complications caused by them. Even large and broad-based diverticula should be removed in emergency situations, if no special or temporary contraindications are present. PMID- 2623856 TI - [Analysis of selected risk factors in invasive cervical cancer among autochthonous women (born in Upper Silesia) and migrants]. AB - The risk of invasive cervical carcinoma (No 180 by the International Classification of Diseases in 1975) was analysed in comparison to a control group of 599 healthy women. From these populations two subgroups were isolated: autochthonous women born in Upper Silesia (162 cases + 408 control women) and immigrants (107 cases + 191 controls). The risk of carcinoma was higher in the second subgroup. The analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between the risk of invasive cervical carcinoma among women doing heavy work with exposure to industrial dusts and gases in working environment. A significantly higher risk of invasive cervical carcinoma was observed also in the populations of women who had lithiasis (cholelithiasis, nephrolithiasis, bladder calculosis), diabetes, hypertension and venereal diseases or had had operations on the genital system, mainly for erosions and myomas. PMID- 2623857 TI - [Clinical problems of staphylococcal septicemia]. AB - Clinical Problems in staphylococcal septicaemia are reported in the observed 13 cases with severe multiorgan complications. In 69.2% of patients the course of the disease was very serious or severe, in the remaining cases it was moderately severe. Attention is called to the variety of clinical patterns and to frequent involvement of the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and respiratory system during septicaemia. The therapeutic management included, besides combined treatment with three antibiotics of synergistic action, antistaphylococcal serum, glucocorticoids, agents increasing the general resistance of the organism (transfusion of fresh blood, gamma-vein, gammaglobulin), cardiac drugs and symptomatic drugs, and in some cases cytochrome and heparin. Particular attention was given to adequate nursing care. Two patients died (15.4%). PMID- 2623858 TI - [Late sequelae of epidemic viral meningitis]. AB - In autumn 1982 during an epidemic of meningitis caused by Coxsackie A9 and ECHO4 viruses 36 patients, usually young, were hospitalized. After 3-4 years 22 of them were subjected to control examinations, carrying out medical examination. EEG, ACG, motor nerve conduction velocity measurements and psychological examinations by the tests od Eysenck, Bender-Koppitz and Wechsler. The studied group comprised 14 men and 8 women with mean age 29.8 years. PMID- 2623859 TI - [Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system in autopsy specimens]. AB - On the basis of an analysis of 2398 autopsies of infants aged up to 1 year in 194 cases congenital anomalies of the central nervous system were found (8.1%). Most cases of these anomalies were noted in the group of newborns (85%) and the most frequent anomalies were: myelomeningocele (35.6%), multiple anomalies (20.1%), congenital hydrocephalus (17%), anencephaly (14.4%) and corpus callosum malformations (3.6%). Myelomeningocele, congenital hydrocephalus, anencephaly and true microcephaly were more frequent in girls, while multiple anomalies and corpus callosum malformations were more frequent in boys. PMID- 2623860 TI - [Coexistence of Hodgkin's disease and myelodysplastic syndrome with late conversion to acute myeloblastic leukemia]. AB - A case of coexistence of Hodgkin's disease with myelodysplastic syndrome followed by conversion to acute myeloid leukaemia is reported. Possible pathogenetic determinants of this coexistence are discussed. PMID- 2623861 TI - [Choledochal cyst in a child]. AB - A rare case of common bile duct cyst was observed in a girl aged 22 months. The clinical course of the disease and laboratory investigations necessary for diagnosis are describe in detail. Successful operation confirmed the diagnosis. PMID- 2623862 TI - [A case of multiple cystic malformations of the lung in an infant]. AB - A case of multiple cysts is described in an infant aged 3 months in whom pneumothorax was diagnosed initially. The child was operated in form dramatic increase of respiratory failure. Surgical management and therapeutic results are described. PMID- 2623863 TI - [Atypical course of histiocytosis X]. AB - A 48-year-old female patient was admitted because of increasing in size xanthomas of the eyelids lasting since 9 years (despite surgical treatment) and narrowing considerably the palpebral fissures. Five years earlier the diagnosis of type II b hyperlipoproteinaemia was made. Presently, besides palpebral lesions, a painless plum-sized tumour was found in the right frontoparietal area and two hard tumours of similar size were situated bilaterally in the submandibular area. In the biopsy specimens of all these tumours histological examination demonstrated lymphoid cells with numerous germinative centres. The diagnosis of histiocytosis X was followed by treatment with prednisone which resulted in a decrease in the size of palpebral xanthomas and improvement of the general condition of the patient. PMID- 2623864 TI - [Fibrosis of the cavernous body caused by inveterate rupture of the penis]. AB - A case is reported of inveterate fracture of the penis. During surgical treatment complete destruction of the corpus cavernosum was noted which was compressed by two encapsulated haematomas. At the site of the corpus cavernosum a scar was present. The authors think that early surgical treatment could prevent this complication. PMID- 2623865 TI - [Clinical significance of disorders of zinc metabolism]. PMID- 2623866 TI - [Effect of psychological stress on the development of arrhythmia in patients with acute myocardial infarction]. AB - The effect of mental stress was demonstrated on the development of arrhythmias in patients after acute myocardial infarction. During 24-hour Holter's monitoring (3 weeks after infarction onset) a stressful psychological experiment (free association test) was carried out on the patients observing their reactions during the experiment, and heart action during and after it. During the experiment changes were observed in heart action such as increased heart rate, appearance or intensification of quantitative and qualitative ventricular arrhythmias. The authors discuss the relationship between mental stress and the development of arrhythmias. PMID- 2623867 TI - [Hypotensive and metabolic effects of small doses of hydrochlorothiazide in the long-term treatment of elderly patients with systolic arterial hypertension]. AB - In a group of elderly patients with systolic hypertension the hypotensive efficacy and adverse effects were studied of hydrochlorothiazide given in daily doses of 25 mg in a year. A fall of systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure was obtained in 86% of these patients. Adverse effects included reduced concentration of potassium and magnesium ions in the serum and lymphocytes, but this reduction was small and appeared mainly in the serum. The used doses of hydrochlorothiazide had no effect on plasma renin activity, and on the serum levels of aldosterone, glucose, uric acid, cholesterol and triglycerides. PMID- 2623868 TI - [Acute hemorrhagic gastritis as a cause of bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract]. AB - In a material of 4560 panendoscopic investigations carried out in an endoscopy laboratory haemorrhages from the upper gastrointestinal tract were found in 201 cases. In 49 cases the cause of blood loss was acute haemorrhagic gastritis. Among them males accounted for 41% (mean age 35.6 years) and females for 59% (mean age 41.8 years). Acute haemorrhagic gastritis was associated with active peptic ulcer (20% of cases), portal hypertension (18%), which were, however, not the cause of haemorrhage. In only 19 cases (39%) acute haemorrhagic gastritis was not associated with any detectable pathological lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract, adn massive haemorrhage appeared without any preceding symptoms. Considering the total number of bleedings haemorrhagic gastritis was the cause of massive bleeding in 10% of cases. PMID- 2623869 TI - [Effect of marked obesity on the emotional status of children]. AB - Fifty children with overweight exceeding 50% of the expected weight were studied for establishing the occurrence of emotional disturbances caused by lack of acceptance by peers. Obese children were found to suffer often from discrimination by their schoolmates which was, in some degree, connected with their low fitness. This may lead to various emotional disturbances requiring even psychotherapeutic measures. PMID- 2623870 TI - [Polymyositis in pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - A case in reported of the clinical syndrome of polymyositis in a young man. The syndrome masked pulmonary tuberculosis. Sudden appearance of pains and weakness of the muscles of the shoulder and abdominal muscles was accompanied by fever up to 40 degrees C, and macular rash on the trunk and extremities. During the disease right-sided pneumonia developed and regressed after treatment with antibiotics (tetracyclines, penicillin). Laboratory investigations showed high ESR, high leucocyte count, high levels of transaminases, CPK and LDH, and in cutaneo-muscular++ biopsy specimen scan subepidermal infiltrations were present. The patient was treated with corticosteroids with a striking improvement of the general condition. During this treatment left-sided pleural effusion developed. Bacteriological examination of the pleural fluid, including tests for acid-fast bacilli, was negative in direct examination, but these bacilli were cultured from fluid. No malignant cells were found. After antituberculous treatment the condition of the patient and the biochemical parameters became normal. PMID- 2623871 TI - [A case of metastasis of cancer of the kidney to the heart simulating myocardial infarction]. AB - A female patient was treated for acute myocardial infarction of atypical course. In the clinical picture attacks of ventricular tachycardia controlled with pharmacological agents prevailed. The patient died with signs of left-ventricular failure. Autopsy demonstrated metastases of renal carcinoma to the myocardium which simulated infarction in electrocardiographic tracings. PMID- 2623872 TI - [Traumatic avulsion of penile skin in a child]. AB - Avulsion of the penis due to trauma was observed in a boy aged 9 years. The penis was covered with a medium-thickness skin graft. After 5 weeks the boy was discharged home in a good general condition. Control examination after 6 months showed a very good cosmetic result. PMID- 2623873 TI - [Use of arterialized temporo-frontal flap in the treatment of advanced forms of facial skin cancer]. AB - Three patients were treated for far advanced facial carcinoma. In all cases one time reconstruction was done using arterialized temporofrontal flap, and full healing-in of the flap was achieved. The high usefulness of this operation is stressed in reconstructive procedures on the face. Far advances facial carcinoma should be treated surgically, and not disqualified for surgery, as this is frequently the case. PMID- 2623874 TI - [Radiological image of aneurysm of the internal carotid artery as a complication of angiography]. AB - A case of posttraumatic false aneurysm of the internal carotid artery development after intraparietal injection of contrast during angiography is reported. PMID- 2623875 TI - [Coexistence of 4 neoplasms: lymphoma, lip cancer, malignant melanoma and skin cancer in a patient]. AB - An extremely rare case is described with coexistence of four neoplasms in one patient diagnosed simultaneously or at short time intervals. PMID- 2623876 TI - [Pathologic oocytes within the scope of in vitro fertilization]. AB - Data of 67 patients, in whom 114 inseminated oocytes with morphological abnormalities were registered by means of light microscopy, were compared with those of a control group consisting of 69 patients where in vitro fertilization (IVF) proved successful. Significant correlations were found between certain parameters of the IVF attempt and the appearance of the described pathological changes in the oocytes. A significantly higher incidence of oocyte pathology was found with elevated progesterone and also LH values during the follicular phase. With a great number of follicles and in the case of small-sized follicles there were significantly more pathological ova--both degenerated and pathologically fertilized. A good oestrogen increase after ovulation induction with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) was associated with fewer morphological abnormalities of the inseminated oocytes. When spermatozoa with lower total motility (less than or equal to 40%) or an increased percentage of pathological forms (greater than 60%) were used for IVF, significantly more pathological oocytes appeared. A pathological spermiogram was noticeably correlated with an increased occurrence of a solitary decayed nuclear structure of the mature ovum. The significance of these connections and a hypothesis of the development of the described nuclear structure are discussed. PMID- 2623877 TI - Labile disulfide bonds and free thiol groups in human IgG. V. Association of postoperative mean 'sigma S' course and tumor recurrence in ovarian cancer. AB - Sigma S comprises both free thiol groups and labile S-S-bonds of the total IgG that react with dithionitrobenzoate. Previous investigations have shown that this parameter was significantly decreased in malignant diseases of various organ systems as compared with benign disorders of the respective organs. The present study on patients with ovarian cancer investigated whether a significant correlation exists between the post-operative course of sigma S and the clinical evidence. For this purpose, on the basis of former results, a value of sigma S of 1.25 was determined as a criterion between malignant and benign ovarian diseases. For each investigated case, the post-operative temporal average of sigma S was calculated (sigma S) and a value of 1.25 was used as discriminating threshold. A four-fold table was set up containing the frequencies of tumor recurrences and tumor free cases with sigma S less or greater than 1.25. In a total of 40 patients of ovarian cancer an association between sigma S less than 1.25 and increased frequency of recurrences was confirmed, with a probability of error of 1%. The total predictive value of the sigma S level was about 70% and is herewith comparable to the leading tumor marker CA 125 in ovarian cancer. PMID- 2623878 TI - [Treatment of hypophyseal dwarfism with biosynthetic growth hormone]. AB - 17 prepubertal children (12 male, 5 female) with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) were treated with a total of 12 IU/m2/week biosynthetic human growth hormone for at least three years. Growth hormone was administered daily by the subcutaneous route. Growth velocity (GV) increased from -2.75 SDS +/- 1.06 (3.58 cm +/- 0.87) to +2.91 SDS +/- 1.73 (8.6 +/- 1.3 cm) after one year of treatment. GV decreased subsequently, but remained above the pretherapeutic values. Height for chronological age increased from -2.68 SDS +/- 0.44 (pretreatment value) to -2.22 SDS +/- 0.49 SDS after one year and to -1.67 +/- 0.6 SDS after 3 years of GH therapy. Analysis of the height of each individual patient after each of the three years of treatment shows a positive correlation to the pretreatment height. Our data stress the need for early diagnosis and treatment of GHD patients because GV remains elevated for three years under therapy with 12 IU GH/m2/week in this group of GHD patients. This results in a height gain in the second and third year of treatment after catch up growth in the first year of therapy. Nevertheless, pretreatment height seems to be an important factor influencing the therapeutic results of GH administration in the individual GHD patient, stressing the need for improving the treatment schedule in patients with the most severe growth retardation. PMID- 2623879 TI - Comparison of two airway occlusion methods for determining the compliance of the respiratory system (Crs) in newborn infants. AB - We investigated 11 spontaneously newborn infants (birth weight 1400 to 3120 g) on their first day of life. Measuring inspired gas volume (VI) and the mouth pressure obtained at inspiratory airway occlusion (Pocc) we calculated the compliance of the respiratory system (Crs): a) by linear regression analysis of the VI/Pocc measurements obtained at various VI (Olinsky, et al., 1976) and b) as the mean of 3 endinspiratory VI/Pocc measurements (modified airway occlusion method (Simbruner et al., 1982). There was a close linear correlation between the Crs values obtained by both methods (r = 0.98, p less than 0.001; Crs(a) = 0.669 x Crs(b) + 0.428), indicating that the simpler modified airway occlusion method (b) may be used instead of the original method (a) for determining Crs on the first day of life in spontaneously breathing newborn infants. PMID- 2623880 TI - [High CA-125 values in miliary tuberculosis and ascites]. AB - High levels of CA-125, the specific tumour marker for epithelial ovarian cancers are also found in inflammatory diseases of the pelvis. This case report of a 28 year-old woman with pathological CA-125 levels demonstrates the association between this finding and ascites caused by miliary tuberculosis. Tuberculostatic chemotherapy led to normalisation of the CA-125 levels within 8 weeks. PMID- 2623881 TI - [Portal hypertension and chronic arsenic exposure. A differential diagnostic challenge]. AB - We are reporting on a 62 year old female patient with portal hypertension (splenomegaly, esophageal varicosis) without signs of liver cirrhosis, who was hospitalized for sclerotherapy of her esophageal varices. Physical examination showed up palmar- and plantar hyperkeratosis and Morbus Bowen or basalioma-like skin lesions++. Anamnestic evaluation revealed, that the patient's psoriasis had been treated with arsenic for many years. This kind of treatment may have induced intraluminal proliferation and obliteration of the portal vein's endothelium, thus being the etiologic factor responsible for noncirrhotic portal hypertension in this patient. PMID- 2623882 TI - Sclerosing adenosis. AB - The literature regarding sclerosing adenosis has been reviewed. The pathological and radiological aspects of this benign breast condition have been emphasized since they influence clinical practice. Features of 43 patients diagnosed as having sclerosing adenosis have been reported. Cancer was suspected on mammography in 17, and 25 experienced breast pain. Thus, the lesion is important both as a mimic of malignancy and as a cause of mastalgia. The clinical and radiological features allow the condition to be suspected before biopsy, in which circumstance paraffin histology is greatly preferable to frozen section. PMID- 2623883 TI - Benign breast disorders in nonwestern populations: Part I--Benign breast disorders in Chinese women. AB - Experience with benign breast disorders has been analyzed in 3 nonwestern populations: Hong Kong, India, and Northern Nigeria. Similarities to and differences from Western experience are found, but of great interest are notable differences between these populations which, as yet, lack explanation. All show "fibroadenosis" and fibroadenoma as common conditions, but the frequency with which phyllodes tumor is diagnosed varies between different centers in India as well as between different racial groups. Tuberculosis is another interesting example--wide differences in the frequency of breast infection are found although tuberculosis itself is common in all 3 countries. The value of prospective studies was shown when mastalgia was studied in this way in India. Often considered a "Western" affliction, these authors have been able to study 112 cases of mastalgia and found it to be twice as common as cancer as a presentation. These differing experiences between populations have been little explored and must hold promise for unravelling some of the enigmas of benign breast disorders in all countries. PMID- 2623884 TI - Benign breast disorders in nonwestern populations: Part II--Benign breast disorders in India. AB - Experience with benign breast disorders has been analyzed in 3 nonwestern populations: Hong Kong, India, and Northern Nigeria. Similarities to and differences from Western experience are found, but of great interest are notable differences between these populations which, as yet, lack explanation. All show "fibroadenosis" and fibroadenoma as common conditions, but the frequency with which phyllodes tumor is diagnosed varies between different centers in India as well as between different racial groups. Tuberculosis is another interesting example--wide differences in the frequency of breast infection are found although tuberculosis itself is common in all 3 countries. The value of prospective studies was shown when mastalgia was studied in this way in India. Often considered a "Western" affliction, these authors have been able to study 112 cases of mastalgia and found it to be twice as common as cancer as a presentation. These differing experiences between populations have been little explored and must hold promise for unravelling some of the enigmas of benign breast disorders in all countries. PMID- 2623885 TI - Benign breast disorders in nonwestern populations: Part III--Benign breast disorders in northern Nigeria. AB - Experience with benign breast disorders has been analyzed in 3 nonwestern populations: Hong Kong, India, and Northern Nigeria. Similarities to and differences from Western experience are found, but of great interest are notable differences between these populations which, as yet, lack explanation. All show "fibroadenosis" and fibroadenoma as common conditions, but the frequency with which phylloides tumor is diagnosed varies between different centers in India as well as between different racial groups. Tuberculosis is another interesting example--wide differences in the frequency of breast infection are found although tuberculosis itself is common in all 3 countries. The value of prospective studies was shown when mastalgia was studied in this way in India. Often considered a "Western" affliction, these authors have been able to study 112 cases of mastalgia and found it to be twice as common as cancer as a presentation. These differing experiences between populations have been little explored and must hold promise for unravelling some of the enigmas of benign breast disorders in all countries. PMID- 2623886 TI - Noncosmetic operations for benign breast disease. AB - The operation of excision of the major duct system of the breast has remained unchanged since it was first designed by Adair and described by Hadfield, Urban, and recently by Preece from Professor Hughes' unit in Cardiff. Operations for diseases for a single major duct or the whole major duct system, namely subareolar excision of the major ducts of the breast, are discussed. Technical problems are discussed and suggestions are made on ways to avoid these problems. An adequately performed operation should render the patient free from her disease with a good cosmetic result. Operations for excision of palpable and radiologically detected lesions are described. Since a histological examination is the final arbiter; methods ensuring that the whole lesion is demonstrated, excised, and fully examined are discussed. The medico-legal aspect of this is of obvious importance. PMID- 2623888 TI - Survival after vagotomy: results of the Aarhus County Vagotomy Trial. AB - In order to investigate whether the previously found excess mortality in surgically-treated patients with peptic ulcer might be due partly to the resections employed, a survival analysis was undertaken in 824 patients 8-13 years after different types of vagotomy. These patients had been submitted to selective gastric vagotomy with drainage, selective gastric vagotomy with antrectomy or parietal cell vagotomy with or without drainage for duodenal ulcer, pyloric ulcer, prepyloric ulcer, or combined ulceration during the period from 1972 to 1977. A statistically significant excessive mortality was found for both sexes in the total material compared to the background population. Analysis of the material, subdivided according to the operative methods employed, revealed a significant excess mortality in men treated with selective gastric vagotomy and antrectomy, whereas the mortality rates were slightly and insignificantly raised in the nonantrectomy groups. No significant difference in the mortality could be demonstrated in relation to the site of the ulcers. Analysis of the cause specific mortality revealed a significantly raised mortality from gastrointestinal diseases, including a significant excessive mortality in the subgroups of benign peptic ulcer and cirrhosis of the liver. Likewise, the death rate from accidents including the subgroup of suicide was significantly increased. The overall mortality from malignancies was insignificantly raised among patients, whereas cancer in the stomach was significantly increased. An increased mortality from cancer in the lungs and pancreas did not reach statistical significance. These findings are in reasonable accordance with other studies. A significantly increased mortality from gastric cancer has been usual, although not a constant finding after gastric resection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2623887 TI - Extracorporeal lithotripsy and combined surgical procedures in the treatment of renoureteral stone disease: our experience with 2,955 patients. AB - From May, 1985 to August, 1987, a total of 2,955 patients with renoureteral stone disease presented at our institution and were treated either by extracorporeal lithotripsy alone or combined with percutaneous nephrolithotomy, ureteroscopy, or open surgery. Seventy-three percent of patients were stone-free at the 3 month follow-up date while 22% presented with negative urine culture and small (less than 5 mm) asymptomatic fragments deemed susceptible to spontaneous discharge. The rate of major complications was extremely low (sepsis, 0.03% and major renal bleeding, 1.55%). The application of this multimodal therapeutic strategy allowed successful treatment in almost every case of renoureteral lithiasis with minor iatrogenic damage to the renal parenchyma. PMID- 2623889 TI - Highly selective vagotomy combined with cholecystectomy: is there an increased risk of diarrhea? AB - The addition of cholecystectomy to truncal vagotomy and a drainage procedure increases the incidence and severity of postvagotomy diarrhea. This study attempts to establish whether diarrhea is more common after highly selective vagotomy (HSV) and cholecystectomy than after HSV alone. The incidence of diarrhea in 729 patients who underwent HSV without cholecystectomy was found to be 8.8% whereas, in 66 patients in whom HSV was combined with cholecystectomy, the incidence of diarrhea was 9.3%. In most patients, the diarrhea was very mild and in none was it severe. We conclude that the addition of cholecystectomy to HSV does not result in an increased incidence of diarrhea. PMID- 2623890 TI - Reoperation following failed fundoplication. AB - Fifty patients reoperated for failed Nissen fundoplication are presented; 29 patients (group 2) were operated between 1983 and 1988 while 21 patients (group 1) were operated before 1983. In group 1, the "slipped Nissen" had been the most frequent cause of reoperation (48%). In group 2, the most frequent causes for the unsuccessful operation were: (1) partial or total disruption of the fundic wrap (62%), (2) slipping of the fundoplication, giving rise to the telescope phenomenon (21%), and (3) creation of a fundoplication which was too low (10%). Refundoplication was performed in cases where the dissection of the previously formed fundic wrap was possible (42/50 = 84%). In group 1, three patients were treated by resection of the cardia, one by an Angelchik prosthesis and one by a distal gastric resection with Roux-en-Y diversion. In group 2, fundectomy was performed in one patient; in another, an Angelchik device was inserted, and in a third patient, fundoplication and proximal gastric vagotomy were performed. The results were excellent or good in 66% of patients in group 1 and in 76% of group 2. Operative mortality was 2% and morbidity, 4%. In conclusion, repeat fundoplication is recommended when reestablishment of the fundic region anatomy is possible during dissection. The operation can usually be performed through an abdominal route. Meticulous preoperative evaluation of the patients including 24 hour pH measurement and manometry is necessary. Good results of refundoplication should be expected in 66%-76% of patients with recurrent disease. PMID- 2623891 TI - Tumoral calcinosis. AB - Tumoral calcinosis is an interesting clinical entity. It is not uncommon in certain countries. We report our experience with 22 patients with this condition seen over a 7-year period and review in detail the modalities of clinical presentation, theories of etiogenesis, histological appearances, and treatment modalities. PMID- 2623892 TI - Severe chronic cephalic pancreatitis: use of partial duodenopancreatectomy with occlusion of the pancreatic duct in 289 patients. AB - Partial duodenopancreatectomy and occlusion of the remaining ductal system by Ethibloc to induce rapid exocrine atrophy for treatment of severe chronic cephalic pancreatitis was introduced in our department in January of 1978. Since then, this surgical procedure has been performed in a total of 289 patients. Postoperative morbidity was 12.2%, 5 pancreatic and 3 biliary fistulas occurred. Postoperative mortality was 1% and relapses of pancreatitis occurred in only 2.2% due to incomplete filling of ducts with Ethibloc. A total of 88.2% of patients became pain-free and symptomless, 10.8% voiced minor complaints, and 85.9% gained an averaged of 7.8 kg weight postoperatively. We conclude that Ethibloc occlusion is highly effective in inducing complete exocrine atrophy, thus abolishing the inflammatory process and preventing relapses of chronic pancreatitis and preserving the endocrine function from further impairment. This was demonstrated by biochemical assays during a 36-month follow-up in a prospective study in 23 of 289 patients. Our results compare favorably with and are superior to results from any other operative procedure for chronic cephalic pancreatitis. We consider partial duodenopancreatectomy combined with Ethibloc occlusion of the pancreatic duct the procedure of choice in the surgical treatment of severe chronic cephalic pancreatitis. PMID- 2623894 TI - Smoking and cancer. PMID- 2623893 TI - Colonic fistulization with rectal bleeding: a rare complication in acute necrotizing pancreatitis. PMID- 2623895 TI - [Rehabilitation of leg amputees]. PMID- 2623896 TI - [Treatment and prevention of the most important complications in paralytic patients. Recommendations for the responsible physician]. PMID- 2623897 TI - [Medical and psychological rehabilitation of patients with chronic renal failure]. PMID- 2623898 TI - [Rehabilitation in relation to terminology from the neurologic viewpoint ("neuro rehabilitation")]. PMID- 2623899 TI - [Physical therapy in medical rehabilitation]. PMID- 2623900 TI - [Duration of occupational incapacity in disability procedures]. PMID- 2623901 TI - [Obesity as a risk factor for chronic diseases in the employed population]. PMID- 2623902 TI - [Dyspnea caused by a foreign body in the esophagus]. PMID- 2623903 TI - [Report of a spinalioma of the right hand]. PMID- 2623904 TI - [Legal questions in patient education by the physician--congress report with theories]. PMID- 2623905 TI - [Mental health behavior as a main point of healthy life style and health education]. PMID- 2623906 TI - [Comment on the contribution "Legal aspects and experiences in reimbursement of costs and charges for medical treatment of alcohol misuse" by K. Siermann and G. Heinig in Z. arztl. Fortbild. 82 (1988), 1033-1035]. PMID- 2623907 TI - [Tuberculosis in a thoracic surgery patient sample today]. AB - Between 1977-1988 89 patients had an operation on tuberculosis in our thoracic surgical department. It were 11 preoperatively diagnosed and 76 undiagnosed cases of tuberculosis and 2 infections with nontuberculosis mycobacteria. In cases, where tuberculosis was diagnosed, surgical therapy was only used because of uneffective antituberculotic therapy. Surgical operations are always applied as secondary late measures. We have manly employed limited resections saving parenchyma. The frequency of postoperative complications was 11.2%. An adequate postoperative chemotherapy is obligatory. PMID- 2623908 TI - [Smoking behavior of workers--occupational disability and economic sequelae. A prospective study]. AB - A prospective study concerning the influence of smoking on duration and frequency of certified sickness absence due to illness or accident and due to respiratory diseases in particular was carried out in a production plant from 1981 to 1984. The results show, that the mean duration of sickness absence due to illness and accident during a year is not in relation to smoking habit. The frequency of sickness absence due to illness and accident as well as to respiratory disease in smokers was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) than in non-smokers. The frequency of visits of male smokers at surgery hours was assessed to be significantly higher in relation to male non-smokers; in females we found an inverted relation. Higher frequency of smokers sickness absence could be expressed in economic terms. PMID- 2623909 TI - [Lipoma of the trachea]. AB - This paper deals with a case of tracheal lipoma occasional found at autopsy. Incidence of tracheal tumors, morphological aspects and diagnostic problems are discussed. PMID- 2623910 TI - [Perfusion machine for hypothermic pulsatile preservation of rat kidneys. Use in PUVA treatment of allogenic kidney transplants]. AB - A machine for continuous hypothermic pulsatile perfusion preservation of rat kidneys is described in detail. The use of longwave ultraviolet irradiation during hypothermic pulsatile kidney perfusion using Euro-Collins solution containing 8-MOP did not prolong graft survival compared with untreated controls. Systemic application of 8-MOP to the kidney donor may be necessary for effective action of the combined photochemical treatment as a method of immunoalteration. PMID- 2623911 TI - [The hemodynamics of the lung circulation of minipigs after experimentally-caused Sedlarik's pulmonary embolism. II. Modification of the hemodynamics of the heart and circulation by thoracotomy]. AB - The systolic, diastolic, and the mean arterial systemic blood pressure decreased after thoracotomy (by -12%). The systolic, diastolic, and the mean pulmonary arterial pressure showed an immediate decrease (by 25%). The central venous pressure was not changed. The cardiac output (HMV) and the stroke volume could not be measured before the thoracotomy. However, the HMV (+17%), the HMV-index (+30%), and the stroke volume (+60%) increased from the 10th to the 30th min after the thoracotomy. The heart rate decreased continuously (by -19%). The maximum rate of pressure rise (dp/dtmax) increased primarily insignificantly and decreased afterwards (by -10%). The quotient dp/dt/p decreased immediately (by 10%). All measures were carried out until the 30th min after thoracotomy. PMID- 2623912 TI - [The hemodynamics of the lung circulation of minipigs after experimentally-caused Sedlarik's pulmonary embolism. III. Sedlarik's embolization of the lung circulation by electrically-activated blood]. AB - Pulmonary embolisms of different clinical degree of severity can be produced by means of the pulmonary embolism model according to Sedlarik by application of electrically activated blood as a thrombogenic substance. An unambiguous influence of the size and the consistency of the thrombus exists concerning the severity of the hemodynamic changes. However, the hemodynamics seems to adapt to the changed conditions of the circulation, because a tendency to normalization was observed in short-term experiments. The morphologic changes after embolisation are more typical for the severity of the clinical picture in this acute phase than the hemodynamics. A testing of the animal model in long-term experiments seem to be ingenious for that reason. PMID- 2623913 TI - [Basic studies of ultrasound surgery. VIII. Experimental animal studies of power ultrasound surgery of the swine pancreas]. AB - The technique of the power ultrasound was tested in vitro and in vivo in 20 porcine pancreas. Simultaneous temperature measurements and laboratory tests do not produce any restriction. Enzymatic disorders were provable adequate to the clinical course. The ultrasonic effect guarantees a nearly riskless dissection in the layer. Joining processes, by adding Ligament-FIMOMED, produced a waterproof occlusion of parenchymal wounds. The cross-section of the pancreas with the pancreatic duct was sealed sufficiently. Also the jointed pancreato-jejunostomy remained sufficient. The reaction of the pancreatic parenchyma to the power ultrasound was small. A scarred metaplasia evolved immediately at the adhesive as a chronic atrophic interstitial pancreatitis. Only in case of occlusion of the pancreatic duct this alteration comprehended the whole pancreas. PMID- 2623914 TI - [The morphogenesis of the structural changes of the exocrine pancreas after ligation of the excretory duct]. AB - The changes in the exocrine pancreas were investigated after ligature of the excretory duct in 51 Wistar rats. A qualitative microdetermination of the epithelial cells was carried out in the originated ductulus-like structures. CONCLUSIONS: The acinic epithelial cells grow atrophically first of all and become necrotic in the end. A dedifferentiated acinic cellular atrophy with metamorphosis to a ductulus-like cell type could not be observed. Proliferative and preproliferative events occur in the duct epithelial cells. Cystic ductulus like structures originated from this. These fill out the former acinic areas by immature, few differentiated, pluripotent epithelial cells that look similar to embryonal pancreatic cells. PMID- 2623915 TI - [Experimental model of ischemic injury of the spinal cord after temporary occlusion of the thoracic artery in the dog]. AB - An experimental model for the ischemic damage of the spinal marrow is described by occlusion of the descending thoracic aorta at a level with the 5th or 6th thoracic vertebrae during 30 min. 17 dogs were operated in general anesthesia. The thoracic aorta was clamped by a Pean's clamp in the 1st group (11 animals). One dog was not paralysed, another dog died after thrombosis of the aorta in the locality of clamping. The occlusion was carried out by means of a tourniquet in a 2nd group (6 animals) and pH, blood gas values, and blood pressure in the axillary artery or the common carotid artery were measured. An increase of the blood pressure above the initial value was prevented by slow infusion of nitroprusside. The oxygen pressure in the spinal marrow tissue was measured continuously simultaneously. All these animals survived the operation and a complete damage of the spinal marrow occurred. PMID- 2623916 TI - [Myocardial catecholamine content in heart failure--I: Regional distribution in explanted hearts. Comparison between dilated cardiomyopathy and coronary heart disease]. AB - To quantify the myocardial catecholamine content in heart failure patients and to assess the regional distribution of catecholamines, we investigated norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations in explanted hearts from 34 patients in end-stage heart failure. 28 patients with cardiomyopathy were compared with six patients with coronary artery disease. In comparison with the right atria of a control group without heart failure, reduced myocardial norepinephrine contents (in pg/micrograms non-collagen protein (NCP] were found in all areas of the explanted hearts: controls: right atrium 17.6 +/- 6.6; cardiomyopathy: right atrium 7.1 +/- 7.9, right ventricle 4.4 +/- 2.7, septum 3.8 +/- 1.5, left ventricle 3.5 +/- 1.4. Coronary artery disease: right atrium 7.0 +/- 6.9, right ventricle 4.2 +/- 2.6, septum 3.6 +/- 1.4, left ventricle 3.4 +/- 1.4. Highest norepinephrine levels were measured in the right atrium. Right ventricle, septum, base and midventricular portion of the left ventricle had lower concentrations and were not different from each other. In contrast to reduced norepinephrine (NE) levels in all patients, dopamine (Dop) was inhomogenously elevated (only in a subgroup of 44%). Catecholamine contents in any two arbitrarily selected areas correlated significantly (NA: r = 0.53-0.77; Dop: r = 0.81-0.93, p less than 0.05 in all cases). The patients with heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy and to coronary artery disease did not differ in myocardial catecholamine levels or distribution. In end-stage heart failure a significant loss of myocardial norepinephrine independent from the underlying disease is found. It affects all areas of the hearts but does not equalize catecholamine content in ventricles and atria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2623917 TI - [Myocardial catecholamine content in heart failure--II: Measurement in endomyocardial biopsies, reference systems, normal values]. AB - To enable the assessment of a possible gradual loss of myocardial catecholamines in heart failure, we determined control values in endomyocardial biopsies from normal human right ventricular myocardium. The reproducibility of the determinations and its dependence on the reference system, wet weight (wwt) or non-collagen-protein (NCP), was investigated in explanted hearts. Parallel determinations of norepinephrine in several samples from 1-2 mg in the same heart yielded a variability of about 20%. To obtain reproducible values, catecholamine concentrations had to be related to non-collagen-protein. Non-collagen-protein content was higher in the ventricles (138 +/- 16 micrograms/mg wwt) than in the atria (102 +/- 15 micrograms/mg wwt). Norepinephrine levels in normal human myocardium, measured in right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies were 10.3 +/- 3 pg/micrograms NCP. If they were compared with norepinephrine levels in right atrial samples from 11 patients without heart failure, obtained at open heart surgery (17.6 +/- 6 pg/micrograms NCP), an atrioventricular gradient, with ventricular norepinephrine content being 58% of right atrial levels was calculated for healthy human hearts. This gradient was almost identical with that found in heart failure, patients, where right ventricular norepinephrine amounted to 60% of right atrial levels. This implicates a percentually homogeneous loss of norepinephrine in heart failure, which, however, does not equalize ventricular and atrial levels. Thus, to interpret myocardial catecholamine content in cardiac diseases, normal values in corresponding areas are mandatory. PMID- 2623918 TI - [Assessment of the severity of mitral valve insufficiency using color Doppler echocardiography]. AB - To evaluate different methods for quantification, 55 adult patients with mitral insufficiency were investigated by Doppler color flow mapping (CFM). The maximal area, length and width of the regurgitant jet were determined using apical windows and these were then related to the angiographic findings (Sellers I-IV). In 11/55 patients reliable tracing of the regurgitant flow was not possible because of drop-outs and impaired signal-to-noise ratio. With none of the three systems was a reliable differentiation of moderate to severe forms of mitral incompetence possible because of wide overlapping of the CFM-values in the four angiographic classes. Relating the CFM-values to the diameter or area of the left atrium did not improve the correlations with the angiographic data. At best, the measurement of the maximal area allowed an approximate estimation of the degree of insufficiency: values greater than 6.5 cm2 were not found in patients with Sellers class I or II. Results below this limit could be found in all four angiographic classes. The variability for the estimation of the maximum area (linear regression analysis) was r = 0.96, SEE = 0.07 (intraobserver) and r = 0.94, SEE = 0.08 (interobserver). CONCLUSION: CFM is not a reliable method for classification of mitral regurgitation. PMID- 2623919 TI - [Doppler echocardiography measurement of the regurgitation fraction in patients with aortic valve insufficiency]. AB - The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical utility of pulsed Doppler echocardiography in the determination of regurgitant fraction in patients with aortic regurgitation. Therefore, in 33 unselected consecutive patients with aortic regurgitation, and in 16 patients without heart disease Doppler echocardiography was performed to measure blood flow at the aortic and pulmonary valve. The regurgitant blood flow (RBV) was calculated as the difference of the stroke volumes measured at the aortic and pulmonary valve. The regurgitant fraction (RF) was computed as RBV/aortic flow. At cardiac catheterization RBV and RF were calculated from the left ventricular angiographic stroke volume and the stroke volume measured by thermodilution technique. Four patients were excluded because of technically poor left-ventricular angiograms. In eight patients with aortic regurgitation Doppler measurement of RBV and RF was impossible. The correlations between the invasive and the Doppler data were significant in 21 patients with aortic regurgitation (RBV: r = 0.87, SEE = 16.1 ml; RF: r = 0.90, SEE = 8.1%). However, the RF (41.6 +/- 17.6%) was overestimated by Doppler echocardiography (46.0 +/- 17.9%; p les than 0.021). In the control group RBV ranged between -8.1 ml and 10.5 ml and RF between -13.3% and 7.4%. Thus, pulsed Doppler echocardiography is clinically useful in determination of the regurgitant fraction in about 70% of patients with pure aortic regurgitation. The Doppler method, however, is limited in the diagnosis and quantification of mild aortic regurgitation. PMID- 2623920 TI - [Clinical and magnetic resonance tomography follow-up of surgically treated aortic isthmus stenoses in adults]. AB - Functional impairment and local pathological changes of the aorta especially at the site of correction are well known complications after surgery for coarctation of the aorta. To evaluate the longterm results after this operation, 23 patients were assessed by physical examination, EKG, ergometry, spirometry, and magnetic resonance imaging. The postsurgical interval ranged from 1 to 28 years. The most frequent postoperative symptoms were vertigo, headache, dyspnea on exertion, cardiac arrhythmia, and left thoracic pain. Elevation of the left shoulder was found in 19 patients to be due to left lateral thoracotomy; 14 patients suffered from arterial hypertension; five additional patients showed hypertension on exertion. Magnetic resonance imaging showed pathological changes of the aorta and aortic branches in all patients. The origin of the left subclavian artery was displaced distally in eight patients. The proximal part of the left subclavian artery was dilated in 11 patients. Fourteen patients had a hypoplastic aortic arch. An aneurysm of the ascending aorta was found in five patients. Aneurysmal dilatation of the descending aorta in the region of the anastomosis was present in three patients. Restenosis of the descending aorta occurred in two patients. In conclusion, after surgery of coarctation many patients continued to have symptoms which require regular follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging provides a complete and noninvasive examination of the heart and the great vessels and is therefore ideally suited for this purpose. PMID- 2623921 TI - [Subjective noise perception and objective measurement of loudness following heart valve replacement with the St. Jude Medical and Duromedics Edwards bileaflet prostheses]. AB - The performance of heart valve prostheses is generally judged by the rate of valve-related complications and the hemodynamic performance. Patients may be severely bothered by the metallic click generated by the closure of the valve. In 74 patients after valve replacement with Duromedics Edwards (DE) (n = 38) and St. Jude Medical (SJM) (n = 36) prostheses the sound energy was recorded and correlated to the complaints of the patients. At a distance of 10 cm the DE valves produced a significantly higher sound pressure with 47 +/- 7 db(A) compared to the SJM valves with 39.8 +/- 5 db(A) (p = 0.001). The noise level was also different for the valves in aortic or mitral position. After splitting into frequency bands the highest sound pressure was observed in the high frequency ranges (8 to 16 kHz) which represents the metallic click. 65% of patients were aware of the noise generated by the valve, 16% had sleep disturbances and 22% would prefer a more silent valve type. 12 of 38 patients with DE valves and 4 of 36 patients with SJM valves wished to have a less noisy valve type (Chi square p = 0.003). In annoyed patients the valves produced a higher sound amplitude of 49 +/- 8 db(A) as compared to undisturbed patients with 42 +/- 6 db(A) (p = 0.002). The noise level of mechanical heart valves should be considered before selection of a prosthesis, because the metallic click bothers patients and the complaints correlate with measured sound energy. PMID- 2623922 TI - [Continuous ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients without detectable organic heart disease: clinical and electrophysiologic findings]. AB - In 22 of 335 consecutive patients (6.6%) referred for evaluation and treatment of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias, hemodynamic and angiographic findings revealed no structural heart disease. Entry arrhythmia was ventricular fibrillation in 10 patients and sustained ventricular tachycardia in 12 patients. A subgroup of four young patients presented with slow recurrent (during 51 +/- 43 months) sustained ventricular tachycardias that were reproducibly terminated by intravenous application of verapamil. Programmed ventricular stimulation replicated the clinical arrhythmia in nine patients (75%) with ventricular tachycardia. In five patients (50%) with ventricular fibrillation no sustained ventricular arrhythmia could be induced, and only with three extrastimuli in four of the remaining five patients. On hospital discharge, 14 patients received type III antiarrhythmic agents, five patients received type I agents, and one patient received verapamil. Two patients were discharged without medical therapy. During the following 24 +/- 9 months, four patients had recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia. No patient died suddenly during follow-up. We conclude that about 6% of all patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias have apparently normal hearts. These idiopathic tachyarrhythmias seem to have a benign course, at least when treated. Slow, verapamil-sensitive tachycardias of young people may represent a unique entity. PMID- 2623923 TI - [Indication of myocardial "memory". Gradual, persisting modulation of myocardial decrease in excitation following change in the activation sequence]. AB - It is well established that regional differences in electrical repolarization are responsible for the electrocardiographic T-wave. Regional differences in ventricular repolarization traditionally have been attributed to variance of action potential duration (APD), believed to be an intrinsic property of individual cardiac cells (17, 21, 24). To evaluate whether the excitation sequence influences ventricular repolarization we studied the effect of an altered excitation sequence on the APD distribution in isolated rabbit hearts. We found that APD is not primarily a function of the cell's location in the ventricle but rather is modulated by the sequence with which the ventricles are electrically excited. This excitation sequence-dependent modulation of APD occurs with a very slow time-course, requiring hours to develop and hours to dissipate after resumption of the original excitation sequence. Our findings suggest a new, as of yet unrecognized form of intercellular communication by which the myocardial cells adjust their repolarization sequence to a change in excitation sequence. PMID- 2623924 TI - [Spatial and numerical representations in art and cardiology]. PMID- 2623925 TI - [55th annual meeting of the German Society for Cardiovascular Research. Mannheim, 31 March-2 April 1989. Proceedings. Congenital heart defects. Imaging procedures in cardiology. A comparison of methods and a critique of methods. Hypertension and the heart]. PMID- 2623926 TI - Late follow-up after resection of aortic coarctation. AB - Out of 121 patients who underwent resection of aortic coarctation followed by end to-end anastomoses at an age of less than 3 years at the time of surgery, 30 patients were studied. The mean duration of follow-up was 22 years, ranging from 15 to 34 years. Eight of the patients were younger than 26 weeks at the time of operation. All 30 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and bicycle exercise testing. MRI and DSA showed some degree of stenosis in 23 patients. Eighteen of these 23 patients showed a post-exercise blood pressure gradient between right arm and leg. Hypertension, if found, did not correlate with age at the time of operation. Eleven patients showed aortic or mitral valve abnormality not diagnosed at the time of repair of the coarctation. Exercise tolerance did not correlate with the presence of restenosis. PMID- 2623927 TI - Late follow-up after surgical correction of atrial septal defect of the secundum type. AB - From more than 500 survivors of surgery for atrial septal defect of the secundum type (ASD II) operated upon between 1953 and 1965, 50 consecutive patients with an age of less than 6 years at the time of operation and 50 consecutive patients with an age of over 20 years at time of operation were chosen. Minimum follow-up in all cases was 20 years. In the younger age group there was a greater return to normal ECG and normal chest x-ray and patients had a normal exercise tolerance at late follow-up. When surgery was performed at an adult age fewer patients had normal ECGs and chest x-ray postoperatively, and overall there was a lower functional class postoperatively. There was, however, still a good longterm survival. Atrial arrhythmias developed in a considerable number of patients postoperatively and can develop even late after surgery in all age groups. PMID- 2623928 TI - [Diagnosis in the aged]. PMID- 2623929 TI - [Diagnosis in the aged from the pathologic-anatomic viewpoint]. AB - The preciseness of clinical diagnostics for two different age groups was reviewed among 2033 unselected autopsies looking at eight single diagnoses. The younger age group was up to 59 years of age, the older one over 59 years. In the older age group myocardial infarction, hepatocirrhosis, bronchial and gastric carcinomas were less frequently diagnosed compared to the younger group. Pulmonary embolism, pulmonary tuberculosis, colon and breast carcinomas were almost evenly diagnosed before death in both groups. The multimorbidity in aged patients is discussed. Also in the geriatric diagnostic a high autopsy rate--86% in our collective--is important. PMID- 2623930 TI - [Angiography diagnosis in the elderly--current indications in reduced complication rates and expanded therapeutic modalities]. AB - A potential higher rate of complications, recent developments in the technical procedures, and expanding modalities of interventional or operative therapy must be considered in evaluating angiographies in the aged patient. Most frequently, imaging of the pelvic and femoral arteries as well as the cerebral vessels was performed in patients older than 70 years, in 40% as out-patient angiography. The risk of puncture-site, vascular and catheter complications, as well as of neurological deficits was not found increased. A higher rate of cardiovascular problems however requires exact internal investigations and evaluation of the biological age. Angiographic information about vascular morphology as a basis for interventional therapy can be achieved today with an acceptable risk in the aged patient. PMID- 2623931 TI - [Recall and reproduction of words: age-dependent activation of context information in recalling episodic memory contents]. AB - Older people tend to have more problems with the retrieval of episodic memory contents than younger people. One hypothesis to explain this phenomenon refers to age deficits in activating specific pieces of contextual information concerning the learning episode. This hypothesis was submitted to an experimental test for 60 old (about 70 years) and 60 young (about 25 years) adults using the recognition failure paradigm. In this paradigm memory performance is assessed by a cued recall test as well as by an unexpected recognition test. The amount of recognition failure served as the central dependent variable; the length of the retention interval and a strategy instruction (given vs not given) were manipulated as independent variables. Various predictions were derived from the central hypothesis and from typical findings in the literature. They are tested by means of statistical hypotheses on planned a priori contrasts. On the whole, the results confirm the hypothesis concerning age deficits in activating context information during retrieval. Implications for models of gerontological changes in episodic memory are discussed within the framework of Tulving's Synergistic Ecphory model. PMID- 2623932 TI - [What determines indications for surgery in over-90-year-old urologic patients?]. AB - Whereas up to a few decades ago operations were performed in aged patients only for vital indications, today elective operations that aim at improving the quality of life are predominant. Urology in particular must deal with diseases that appear preferentially in older age groups. In our department of urology we have operated on 52 patients over 90 years of age in the past 10 years. The vast majority of patients had accompanying disorders, and in half of the patients their general condition was reduced or even poor at admission. Postoperatively there was only one cardiac death. All other patients were discharged in a satisfactory condition. PMID- 2623933 TI - The frequency of unsuspected tuberculosis found post-mortem in a geriatric population. AB - Over a period of 14.5 years, 1911 complete autopsies were performed consecutively in two divisions of the same University Department of Geriatric Care, i.e., the Geriatric Hospital and the Center for Continuous Care. Sixty cases of active tuberculosis were observed, of which 37 cases (mean age of 84.51 years) had been clinically undiagnosed. Comparison with other published series indicate that the risk of unsuspected active (in fact, reactivated) tuberculosis mainly concerns "high age". The conditions which favor the disease are mainly in the context of immunodeficiency. Those which hinder the diagnosis are various, e.g., non indicative tuberculin test, frequent impossibility to perform eye fundus examination or more aggressive investigations, frequency of cancer, and frequency of dementia in elderly people. PMID- 2623934 TI - Visual acuity and refractive errors in the elderly in nursing homes. AB - A total of 268 elderly persons living in eight nursing homes in northern Finland (participation rate 100%) were examined by an ophthalmologist in 1980-1983 in order to describe visual acuity and the occurrence of refractive errors. Uncorrected distant visual acuity in the better eye was less than 0.4 in 76% of the men and 68% of the women, being worse in older subjects than in younger ones. Uncorrected near visual acuity in the better eye was less than 0.1 in 24% of the men and 25% of the women. Hyperopia was found in 78% of the men and 77-78% of the women and myopia in 14-15% of the men and 15-16% of the women. Hyperopia decreased and myopia increased with age. Astigmatism was uncommon and its prevalence figure was not related to sex or age. Only 3% of men and 5% of women were emmetropic. We may conclude that uncorrected distant visual acuity of the population was low, and three out of every four men and two out of every three women were unable to manage their daily activities without difficulties due to the low visual acuity. Also uncorrected near visual acuity was low, and one out of every four persons was practically blind. PMID- 2623935 TI - Diarrhea and fecal impaction in elderly long-stay patients. AB - A retrospective screening of one year's duration was carried out on 245 permanently hospitalized geriatric patients to study the frequency and cases of periods of at least three days' diarrhea. Such periods were suffered by 65/245 patients and 32% had recurrencies. Fecal impaction was the most common cause of diarrhea (in 55%). Diarrhea was induced by laxatives in 20%. Gastrointestinal infections caused 5% of the diarrhea cases. Immobility and fecal incontinence were strongly associated with fecal impaction in cases of diarrhea. Urinary tract infections treated with antibiotics in the patients with fecal impaction and diarrhea almost were twice as frequent as in patients with other causes of diarrhea or patients with no diarrhea. This retrospective investigation emphasizes the importance of the recognition and proper treatment of constipation, especially in bedridden or chairbound elderly persons with fecal incontinence and diarrhea. PMID- 2623936 TI - [Factors of antiviral resistance in the pathogenesis of influenza in mice]. AB - Findings of original research on the factors of nonspecific resistance (interferon formation, antibacterial activity of peritoneal exudate cells, and natural cytotoxicity of splenocytes) and immunity (changes in sub-populational composition of spleen lymphocytes) in different types of influenza in mice are analysed. There was no infection-mediated suppression of the studied reactions, that could have been considered as a cause of death or a basis for immunodeficiency status. The correlation of the level of cerebral lipid peroxidation in mice with severe infection formed the basis for testing the synthetic antioxidant ionol as an anti-influenza agent. A prophylactic effect of ionol toward the development of influenza infection has been obtained. Its possible actions and the feasibility of search for prophylactic and therapeutic preparations among the agents with pathogenetic action is discussed. PMID- 2623937 TI - [Status of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal neurosecretory system in mice with anaphylactic shock caused by administration of homogenates of lung tissue from influenza virus-infected and non-infected animals]. AB - A significant increase in the lethal action of the homogenates obtained from animals infected with APR/8/34 influenza virus, as compared to the non-infected mice, was established using an experimental anaphylactoid shock model in CBA and (CBA x C57Bl)F1 mice by administering the lung tissue homogenates obtained from syngeneic donors. This increase was directly related to the inoculation dose (3.5 and 5.5 lg ED50) and infection development terms (days 2-3 or 5 after inoculation) but was not directly virus-mediated. It was found that in generally non-specific action of the lung tissue homogenates from non-infected and influenza-infected mice on the cellular structures of the viscera (liver, lungs) causing their damage and animal death, the infected lung homogenates show certain selectivity toward the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-neurosecretory system (HHNS) by blocking its reaction in anaphylactoid shock development, impairing the transport of neurohormones and their release into the neurohemal complex. The fact that the tissue products from the focus of influenza infection may affect the central mechanisms responsible for hemostatic control is thus demonstrated. PMID- 2623938 TI - [Differentiated study of specific antibody populations as a possible way to increase the prognostic value of indicators of humoral immunity in influenza]. AB - The article overviews the literature and original research data on the ways to increase the informative value of assessed parameters of the humoral immune response to viral disease formation. The need to analyse the heterogeneity of specific IgG class antibodies by their affinity index and to determine the level of circulating specific immune complexes is discussed. It is demonstrated that the value of the humoral immunity studies in influenza-virus infection may be significantly increased by investigating not only the accumulation of circulating immunoglobulins of various classes but the antibody affinity within its class and by assessing the proportions of circulating and immune-complex-bound antibodies. This allows for considering the humoral immunity as a constituent of the interrelated and interdependent immunity mechanism complex. PMID- 2623939 TI - [Characteristic features of experimental influenza in mice--long-term presence of viral antigens in the spleen]. AB - The process of long-term preservation of virus antigens outside the main infection focus, which is currently one of the most topical problems, has been studied. The virus antigens were found to be present in the spleen of F1/CBA X C57Black/6 mice during 4-5 weeks following their infection with A/PR/8/34/HIN1 influenza virus. Immunoblotting assay findings showed hemagglutinin, a large hemagglutinin subunit, and a protein of the influenza virus nucleoprotein to be present in the splenocytes. The antigen-carrier splenocytes are target-cells in the reaction of antibody- and complement-dependent cytotoxic lysis and also for the effectors of natural and virus-specific cell-mediated cytotoxicity during no less than 14 days. This is an indirect evidence of the membranous localisation of the virus antigens. PMID- 2623940 TI - [Physical training and health promotion and the problem of manpower management]. AB - The possibilities of the "health structure" index application for estimation of the effectivity of physical culture and health improvement work are presented. It is shown that regular physical loadings provide the preservation of the high health level. In small activity mode of life and, especially, irregular physical training, the health level reduces and the disease probability increases. PMID- 2623941 TI - Frog virus 3-induced translational shut-off: activation of an eIF-2 kinase in virus-infected cells. AB - Infection of susceptible fathead minnow or Friend erythroleukemia cells with either infectious or heat-inactivated frog virus 3 led to the rapid inhibition of cellular protein synthesis. As seen in other cells, translational shut-off was accompanied by the dissociation of polysomes, but not the degradation of irreversible inactivation of cellular mRNAs. In addition, lysates from cells infected with heat-inactivated FV3 showed a reduced capacity to synthesize protein and to form 43S pre-initiation complexes in vitro. These results indicate that the in vitro systems accurately reflected in vivo events, and suggest that translational shut-off occurred prior to the union of the 40S ribosomal subunit and the [eIF-2.GTP.Met tRNAi] ternary complex. To determine the basis for the translational block, lysates from mock- and FV3-infected cells were assayed in vitro for their ability to phosphorylate the alpha subunit of eIF-2. In contrast to lysates from mock-infected cells, lysates from cells infected with heat inactivated or infectious FV3 readily phosphorylated the alpha subunit of eIF-2. Since phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eIF-2 inhibits its catalytic utilization during polypeptide chain initiation, these findings suggest that translational shut-off mediated by FV3 may be due to activation of a kinase that selectively phosphorylates this key initiation factor. PMID- 2623942 TI - Isolation and characterization of cytoplasmic and nuclear particles of hepatitis B virus. AB - The properties of hepatitis B virus (HBV) core particles from liver tissue of two patients with acute HBV infection were investigated. Cores were isolated from cytoplasm and nuclear fractions by centrifugation and two thirds of the cores were located in the cytoplasm. In all properties examined cores isolated from the cytoplasm or nucleus were the same. The cores had a density of 1.38 g/ml and had the same DNA and protein content when analyzed by Southern blotting and by Western blotting with C-specific antisera. Cores from both subcellular fractions had endogenous polymerase activity. We conclude that core particles with identical properties are found in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells during acute infection. PMID- 2623943 TI - Identification and nucleotide sequence of the early region 1 from canine adenovirus types 1 and 2. AB - The genome of canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1) has been cloned and restriction maps compiled. These maps are compared with those of canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2). The left ends of both genomes were further characterised by DNA sequence analysis. Several features of the DNA sequence and predicted polypeptide sequence are similar to those of the human adenoviruses. The level of homology observed across the E1 regions appears to be of the same order as the overall DNA similarity between CAV-1 and CAV-2 (75%). Transfection experiments using the presumptive E1a containing region of CAV-2 suggests that it encodes a transactivating function typical of the human adenovirus E1a genes. PMID- 2623944 TI - Persistent infection of mice by lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus: effects of immunosuppression on virus replication and antiviral immune responses. AB - Maximum plasma titers (10(9)-10(10) ID50/ml) of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV) in mice are observed one day after infection, but then decrease 4-5 log during the next 5 weeks to attain a persistent steady-state level for the remainder of the life of the animal. The decrease in plasma LDV level during the first 5 weeks after infection and long-term viremia were not affected by lethal X irradiation of the mice, daily injections of cyclosporin A or depletion of the mice of T cells by treatment with anti-CD4, anti-CD8, or anti-Thy1.2 monoclonal antibodies, although these treatments inhibited the formation of anti-LDV antibodies. LDV viremia was also the same in nu/nu and nu/+ Swiss mice, though the former did not mount an anti-LDV immune response, while the latter did. The appearance of anti-LDV neutralizing antibodies in infected mice 1-2 months after infection or the injection of infected mice with high doses of anti-LDV neutralizing monoclonal antibodies also did not affect the level of LDV viremia. Repeated treatments of infected mice with either cyclophosphamide or dexamethasone caused 1-2 log increases in plasma LDV titers. Although cyclophosphamide treatment prevented the formation of anti-LDV antibodies, dexamethasone caused an increase in plasma LDV levels without affecting anti-LDV antibody formation. We conclude that an anti-LDV immune response does not play a significant role in controlling LDV replication in mice. The data support the view that within 1 day after infection of a mouse, all LDV-permissive macrophages, which appear to be the only cells supporting LDV replication in the mouse, are destroyed as a result of a cytocidal infection by LDV. Subsequently, LDV replication is limited by the rate of generation of new permissive macrophages. The steady-state viremia attained about 5 weeks after infection reflects a balance between LDV replication in permissive macrophages as they arise and LDV inactivation and clearance. PMID- 2623945 TI - Persistent infection of mice by lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus: transient virus replication in macrophages of the spleen. AB - In order to assess whether the spleen is the major site of replication of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV) in mice during the acute phase of infection, LDV replication in the spleen was measured by electron microscopy and fluorescent antibody staining of tissue sections and northern hybridization of total spleen RNA with an LDV-specific cDNA probe, and the effect of splenectomy on LDV replication was determined. LDV RNA and antigens and infected cells, presumably macrophages, were present in the spleen in high concentrations 18-25 h post infection, but then rapidly disappeared to undetectable levels during the next 1 2 days. Thus, LDV clearly replicates in the spleen during the initial phase of infection, but LDV replication in the spleen is transient due to the cytocidal nature of LDV replication and destruction of all permissive macrophages in the spleen. Furthermore, spleen macrophages do not seem to represent the major source of LDV released into the circulation, since LDV viremia as well as anti-LDV antibody production were the same in splenectomized and control animals for at least 28 days postinfection. PMID- 2623946 TI - Extensive cytocidal replication of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus in cultured peritoneal macrophages from 1-2-week-old mice. AB - Indirect fluorescent antibody staining was used to examine the replication of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV) in primary cultures of peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice of different ages. Up to 80% of the total peritoneal macrophages from 1-2-week-old mice were susceptible to productive infection by LDV, though only 1-2% of the cells expressed detectable levels of IA antigen. The proportion of LDV-permissive peritoneal macrophages progressively decreased to 5 15% between 2 and 5 weeks of age of the mice. Macrophages from 9-day-old mice, when cultured in the presence of L cell conditioned medium, retained undiminished LDV permissiveness for at least 10 days in culture. The maximum proportion of LDV antigen-positive cells was detected between 8-10 h post infection of macrophages cultured from both 1-2-week-old and adult mice, concomitant with maximum LDV RNA synthesis. The LDV antigen positive macrophages disappeared between 12 and 48 h post infection. In cultures of macrophages from 9-10-day-old mice, the loss of infected cells was clearly due to cell killing, proving unequivocally that LDV replication is cytocidal. Disintegration of LDV-infected macrophages or phagocytosis of killed macrophages by surviving macrophages must be very sudden and complete since infected cells disappeared without the appearance of trypan blue-stainable cells in the culture. Ten cell lines established from macrophages of 2, 9, and 10-day-old mice all contained a small proportion of LDV-permissive cells (1-4%). Individual clones of one of the lines contained a similar small proportion of LDV-permissive cells. PMID- 2623947 TI - [Ultrasonic studies of craniocerebral injuries in infants]. AB - This is a report on the sonographic diagnostic possibilities in 46 closed-head injured infants. Cerebral examination via the anterior fontanelle is completed by additional sections of the surface of the brain. The traumatic oedema is limited in most cases and - besides the increase in echogenicity - an increase of the arterial pulsation at the border of the oedema is seen in real-time scanning. The sonographic signs of the epidural and subdural haematomas are described and also the differentiation between both. Surgical treatment was necessary in three cases of subdural haematoma because of increasing ICP. Treatment of extradural and chronical subdural haematomas or effusions is discussed in connection with the sonographic follow-up. Alterations in symmetry and compression of the ventricular system is often caused by intracerebral haemorrhages and-or traumatic local oedema. Parenchymal cysts may occur after liquefaction of cerebral necrosis or clots. The advantage of the cerebral sonographic examination is the uncomplicated follow-up. In connection with the clinical state and with continuous registration of ICP, sonographic findings facilitate the decision if, where and when trepanation must be performed. PMID- 2623948 TI - [Infection following surgery of the gastrointestinal tract in newborn infants]. AB - In a retrospective study we examined the postoperative course of 642 children who had been operated on during the newborn period. 247 of them had been operated on for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. 27.5% of these developed septicaemia: We showed that the frequency of sepsis could be reduced by perioperative antibiotic cover in all diseases with the exception of necrotising enterocolitis where antibiotic treatment was performed. Septicaemic courses were most frequent in premature infants and in those with necrotising enterocolitis. These results will be examined further in a subsequent prospective study. PMID- 2623949 TI - Treatment of the primary functional obstructive megaureter in childhood. AB - The results of management of primary functional obstructive megaureter are reported in 29 children with 35 obstructed renal units. Grade 1 dilatation was found in 5 renal units, grade 2 in 14 and grade 3 in 16. Grade 1 and uncomplicated grade 2 obstructions were treated expectantly. Surgery was necessary in one grade 1 obstruction deteriorating to grade 2 and in two cases grade 2 with persistent urinary tract infections and deteriorating renal scans. All grade 3 ureters were treated by surgery: in 14 cases reimplantation was combined with calibre reduction of the ureter. In a majority of the patients the results were good in all grades of obstruction and no failures were seen. PMID- 2623950 TI - Hirschsprung's disease: one year follow-up after modified Soave's operation. AB - At the Department of Paediatric surgery in Stockholm the choice of operative method for Hirschsprung's disease has since 1975 been endorectal pull-through. In 1985 some modifications were introduced, i.e. anal approach of the mucosal dissection, resection of the internal anal sphincter, total parenteral nutrition and fewer colostomies. Thirteen children treated accordingly have been compared to children treated before 1985. It was found that the children gained normal bowel habits earlier and had fewer postoperative problems than the children operated before introduction of the technical modifications. PMID- 2623951 TI - [Sports accidents in children and adolescents]. AB - A total of 2617 sports injuries in children were analysed from a 2-year-period. The age-dependent rate of sports injuries in this material was 30% to 40% of all injuries in childhood. Although male children predominated over females with 2:1 depending from the type of sport, the sexual preponderance was very different. Horse riding injuries showed a female preponderance of 4:1. Most common occurrences were low-grade injuries such as contusions, distorsions or wounds. One-third of the injuries were fractures. 5% of the children had a brain injury such as commotio or contusio cerebri. Sequelae of accidents differed largely between different forms of sport. To quantify the extent of the injuries, a score was calculated from the rate of head injuries, times the rate of brain damage, times the rate of fractures of the long bones. By means of this score it can be shown that the most severe injuries occur during horse riding, skating, tobogganing and bicycle riding. A detailed analysis of different injury patterns allows recommendations for preventive measures. PMID- 2623952 TI - Bochdalek's hernia combined with agenesis of the pericardium and intrathoracic solitary cyst of the liver. AB - A unique case of a neonate with agenesis of the fibrous pericardium combined with Bochdalek's foramen presenting herniation of a solitary cyst of the liver into the left hemithorax is presented. It is emphasised that the lack of the pericardium has not interfered with normal function of the heart, one year after the operation. The possible pathogenesis and embryology of this combination of malformations is discussed. PMID- 2623953 TI - Papillary cystic tumor of the pancreas. AB - A 10-year-old girl had fever, abdominal pain and a palpable mass at the left hypochondrium. She was found to have a pancreatic cystic tumour that was biopsied and removed by coeliotomy. The pathologic diagnosis was papillary cystic tumour of the pancreas with chronic pancreatitis. No pathological lesion was found elsewhere. 2 years later she is asymptomatic and without recurrence. PMID- 2623954 TI - Pregastroschisis. PMID- 2623955 TI - Parental opinions on treatment decisions for myelomeningocele infants: a descriptive study. AB - Parents of MMC patients have strong attitudes and beliefs on specific issues. They believed in the need to be involved in decisions regarding their children and felt strongly that their role was central and was important as that of the physician. They believed also in the importance of providing both medical and nutritional care to handicapped infants with a minimum of government intrusion. PMID- 2623956 TI - The drainage of cerebrospinal fluid in hydrocephalic rats. AB - Cerebrospinal fluid plateau pressures and transverse sinus plateau pressures were measured in response to a series of constant-rate infusions into the CSF in 10 day-old control and hydrocephalic H-Tx rats. In control rats the venous pressure increased with CSF pressure but to a lesser extent and around 60% of the total resistance to absorption was due to the concurrent rise in venous pressure with a hydrostatic gradient maintained between CSF and venous blood. In hydrocephalic rats the same infusion rates resulted in an increase in venous pressure which was the same magnitude as the rise in CSF pressure, resulting in zero hydrostatic gradient from CSF to blood. This suggests that CSF drainage does not take place by this route in hydrocephalic rats and that alternative drainage routes must be operating. PMID- 2623957 TI - Endocrinological disorders in shunted hydrocephalus. AB - Endocrinological findings were identified in 60% of 90 shunted patients with an isolated hydrocephalus, namely dwarfism in one third and abnormal proportions, obesity, sexual precocity and various combinations in 9-15%. Different causes of these findings were observed. But none of the cases had a malfunction of the shunt at the time of this study. PMID- 2623958 TI - The use of intraventricular resorption tests (IVT) in the management of hydrocephalic children. AB - Ventricular fluid outflow resistance was determined by steady state infusion of artificial CSF in the lateral ventricle in 35 children in whom the decision for a shunt procedure was judged to be uncertain. Such testing allows direct shunting when found indicated and unnecessary shunting can be avoided. The test was found helpful in 11 children to evaluate the need for continued shunting, assessment of indwelling shunts and establishment of a basis to remove the shunt. PMID- 2623959 TI - Ventricular shunting for hydrocephalus following intraventricular haemorrhage. AB - 31 patients underwent ventricular shunting (17 VA and 14 VP) for post haemorrhagic hydrocephalus over 11 years. The mean gestational age was 31.8 +/- 4.17 (1 SD) weeks and birth weight 1.83 +/- 0.77 (1 SD) kg, with no differences between the VA and VP groups. Shunts inserted less than 5 weeks of age failed more frequently than those inserted after 5 weeks. There were 5 early (less than 30 days) blocks all in VP shunts (p = 0.023) but no difference in distal catheter blockage rate (p = 0.14). There were no early infections. In later follow-up, 35% of patients had block episodes and 22% infective episodes with no significant difference between the type of shunt used. Overall mortality was 6.5% and not related to shunt complications. Revisions were more frequent in VP shunts (0.9 revisions/shunt year) than VA shunts (0.6 revs/shunt year). Using life table analysis 60% of VP and 30% of VA shunts failed within 2 years of insertion. PMID- 2623960 TI - Driver education: the needs of the learner driver with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. AB - Eighty one young people with myelomeningocele and hydrocephalus were assessed for driving ability during the period 1982-1984. All except 6 were eligible to hold a provisional license. At December 1988, over 50% were qualified drivers. Differences in the number of hours of tuition, tests and the difficulties encountered varied for both the driver group and those who had discontinued tuition. Difficulties related to (a) practical and financial considerations and (b) the organisation of tuition. A smaller group of 20 was monitored during tuition within a two year period. Prior to tuition, 10 attended a one week driving course designed to introduce car control skills and simple road procedures. A further 10 learner drivers, who had not attended a course, were similarly monitored through the tuition period. Learner drivers were reviewed by in-car testing and interview after each ten hours' tuition. At the end of the two year period, 40% of learner drivers had passed the driving test, 45% were still receiving tuition and 15% had discontinued lessons. Equal numbers from both groups were qualified drivers but 30% of those who had not attended a course had discontinued tuition. Significant factors for driving success included the availability of instructors and suitably adapted cars, frequency of tuition and level of parental and community support. Future planning for driver education should consider providing driving facilities in local centres. Facilities would need to include adapted cars, experienced instructors and key-workers to coordinate tuition and fulfill a supportive role. PMID- 2623961 TI - Quantitative evaluation of AFO use with myelomeningocele children. AB - Although the sample size is small, results are very positive for the use of AFO's with the myelomeningocele child. The increase in pertinent gait parameters in conjunction with a decrease in excess hip, knee, and ankle flexion demonstrate the benefits gained in using AFO's to assist the myelomeningocele child in ambulation. Further, the decrease in excess muscle activation time and co contraction facilitate a decrease in energy expenditure, thus allowing for more ambulation the limited results from this study provide a basis from which further research may be gleaned. The use of quantitative measures in evaluating the benefits of AFO's provides objective data from which future design and application recommendations may be made. PMID- 2623962 TI - A declining incidence of neural tube defects in the U.K. PMID- 2623963 TI - Neurobehavioral development of in utero treated hydrocephalic monkeys. PMID- 2623964 TI - The state of technical orthopaedics in spina bifida. AB - The Aschau experiences with different types of functional orthosis in children with MMC are described. The new type of orthosis allows maximal function and especially in lower level lesions, independent walking and free standing. The majority of the patients walk without help so that they have free hands. This helps them to accept the orthosis. The choice of the patients who are fitted with the functional orthosis must be very skillful. PMID- 2623965 TI - [Preparation step by step!]. PMID- 2623966 TI - [Breaking susceptibility of Ultralite-foil crowns for molars]. AB - Proceeding on the assumption that the use of massive cast gold constructions is an important factor in the question of economical dentistry a new technique of crownwork construction is presented. Ultralight construction is a method used in engineering for the production of load-bearing elements from embossed metal foils. Based on the new Ultralite-foil-crown the mechanical strength of the Ultralite-molar-crown is tested. Following the principles in construction with this new technique the results of breaking load tests of the ceramometallic Ultralite-molar-crown are discussed. PMID- 2623967 TI - [Rapid orthodontic treatment. Rapid methods for adults--problem cases requiring them]. AB - Orthodontic treatment of adults is becoming more and more important. In exceptional cases, and differently than suggested by the accepted doctrine, a sped-up method of therapy may be advisable in preparation of oral surgery, in order to improve the general mandible and maxilla situation. PMID- 2623968 TI - [Occlusal surfaces of glass-ceramic (Dicor) and VMK-crowns compared by electron scanning microscopy]. AB - The surface of painted and unpainted glass ceramic-crowns (DICOR) was compared with that of ceramometallic-crowns by the means of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). If handled correctly and accurately glass ceramic presents a superiorly surface-quality. A disadvantage is the great thickness of the paint, that forces to make a compromise in the occlusal region: here we should prefer the advantage of the possibility to make a correct occlusal relation to the antagonist tooth with wax-pattern to a homogenous smooth surface. Ceramometallic crowns should get a real glazing finish and we have to set value on a correct modelation of the frame and an optimal veneer at the crown margin. PMID- 2623969 TI - [Restoration of a caries damaged deciduous dentition using ready-made steel crowns and a child's tongue habit apparatus]. AB - This report is on the care of a temporary denture with gaps in the front area of the upper jaw with fixed and removable artificial dentures (children's prosthesis), covering aspects of gnathoorthopaedic necessity (support zone, tongue habit), aesthetic and speech functions. PMID- 2623970 TI - [Concept of dental restoration using general anesthesia for uncooperative children]. AB - The indication of treating uncooperative children with the help of general anaesthesia is discussed, the prior conditions and the clinical course are debated. Personal clinical experience in the period from 1981-1988 prove that the above mentioned indication has to be ventilated with greatest reluctance. As there are comparatively high dmf-s values (34.1 in the average) at the early age of 3-4 years, it seems to be most important to stress the value of a balanced lactovegetabile nutrition, a sufficient oral hygiene and the indispensable caries prophylaxis by fluorides. This is the only way to avoid extremely high efforts and the limited possibilities of a dental care with the help of general anaesthesia. PMID- 2623971 TI - [Root canal preparation with Canal-Finder system. Scanning electron microscopy and clinical studies]. AB - Root canal preparation was performed with the new Canal-Finder-System in extracted teeth and in simulated root canals in resin blocks. The results of SEM- and stereomicroscopic investigation showed severe alterations of root canal morphology in the apical part of the canal in many cases. Excellently cleaned and shaped canal walls were found as well as parts, which were not instrumented at all or covered with smear layer and debris. The Canal-Finder-System was found to be a good and suitable device for the initial instrumentation of narrow and severely curved canals, but cannot replace hand instrumentation as the standard method of root canal preparation. PMID- 2623972 TI - [Precision of semiadjustable articulators]. AB - The precision of 11 semiadjustable articulators was examined. The results indicate that for reproducible centric position it is necessary to practise centric lock. Neither guidance of the condylar element into centric relation by hand nor devices like feathers do secure against deviation. When putting usual pressure on the articulators all showed considerable differences. PMID- 2623973 TI - [Diagnosis and therapy of myofacial dysfunctions. Study using systematic treatment planning]. AB - A holistic treatment concept is a fundamental condition of the successful therapy of the myofacial-dysfunction-syndrome. Nevertheless the elimination of occlusal disturbances as well as the therapeutic alteration of the Condyle-Discus-Fossa Relationship following logical principles are placed in the center of the dentists efforts. PMID- 2623974 TI - [Selection criteria for EDP in office practice]. PMID- 2623975 TI - Personality pattern in rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgic syndrome. Psychological investigation. AB - This study reports the psychological symptomatology assessed in 50 rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) and 50 with primary fibromyalgic syndrome (PFS). Depression and illness behavior were investigated by two self-report scales in their validated Italian translations: the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) and Illness Behavior Questionnaire developed by Pilowsky and Spence (IBQ). Our results suggest that the average RA patients were not depressed to a clinically significant level at the time of the investigation. The mean scores of CES-D by RA patients do not differ from those found in Italian patients affected by other organic diseases. On the contrary, mean score in the CES-D depression scale obtained from PFS patients was significantly higher than the cut off point. In analyzing the pattern of illness behavior the significant difference between RA and PFS patients in scale of denial of problems is relevant. This means the RA patients have a tendency to deny life stresses and to attribute all problems to the effects of their illness. Such a result is in line with a classic psychosomatic point of view, that defines RA patients as alexitimic ones, that is, with poor capacity to recognize and express emotions. Our data support both the hypothesis that depressive symptoms are more common among PFS patients than RA patients, and that psychological factors may play a significant role in most patients with PFS. PMID- 2623976 TI - Uricosuric effect of irtemazole in hyperuricemic patients without and with renal insufficiency. AB - A single oral dose of 50 mg irtemazole exhibited a clear cut uricosuric effect in five patients with hyperuricemia and normal renal function. The average maximal decrease of plasma uric acid was 46.1% compared to the initial value; it was reached between 6 h and 12 h after drug administration. Extent and course of plasma uric acid showed no differences between normouricemic (5) and hyperuricemic subjects. In four patients suffering from hyperuricemia and renal insufficiency only a minor effect of irtemazole was seen. The average maximal decrease of plasma uric acid reached 12.8% compared to the initial value. It occurred between 8 h and 12 h after drug ingestion. In both normouricemic and hyperuricemic subjects irtemazole acts more quickly than benzbromarone and probenecid. The duration of its uricosuric effect is shorter. Like benzbromarone, irtemazole exhibits only a minor effect in patients with reduced creatinine clearance. PMID- 2623977 TI - [Preventive and therapeutic effect of estrogen administration in adjuvant arthritis]. AB - Using adjuvant arthritis as a model for human rheumatoid arthritis, we examined prophylactic and therapeutic effects for different doses of estrogen (0.5-5.0 mg estradiol 3x/week) in 40 male Long Evans rats compared to 16 control animals. More than 2.5 mg estradiol resulted in significantly reduced inflammatory activity, both in animals treated before or after induction of arthritis (Mann Whitney U-test, p less than 0.05). PMID- 2623979 TI - [Value of chlorhexidine in combined prophylactic and therapeutic measures]. PMID- 2623978 TI - [Bone changes in Gaucher disease]. AB - Among Ashkenazi-Jews, Gaucher' disease, an autosomal-recessive hereditary genetic defect of sphingolipid metabolism, occurs more frequently than in the general population. Because of lack of the specific b-glucosidase, glucocerebrosidase, there is increased deposition of glucocerebrosides in the reticulo-endothelial system, mostly in the spleen, liver, and bone-marrow. In the chronic adult form (type 1), in addition to the hematologic complications (which are mostly associated with a splenomegaly), a less known involvement of the skeletal system occurs, which can lead to significant rheumatologic and orthopedic problems. These are: nonspecific skeletal and joint pain, purulent osteomyelitis, pseudo osteomyelitis, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, pathologic fractures of the long bones, acutely occurring kyphosis secondary to pathologic vertebral fractures with or without spinal compression, bony deformities, growth disturbances, arthritis, and bursitis. One sees a wide variety of bone lesions which can be solitary or multiple. Various pathogenic mechanisms have been discussed: toxic reaction to the Gaucher cells, disturbance of the osteoblastic and osteoclastic function, compression of osseous blood vessels by pathological cells, pressure-induced atrophy of the surrounding osseous tissue, local hemorrhage, local thrombosis, invasion of the arterioles with subsequent occlusion, and bone infarcts. The therapy is purely symptomatic. For orthopedic problems there is a greater tendency towards conservative treatment. There is disagreement as to whether splenectomy, which is often performed for hematologic or mechanical reasons, accelerates involvement of the bone. The case of a patient with multiple fractures of the spine and a slight spinal compression is presented. PMID- 2623980 TI - [Christ-Siemans-Touraine syndrome--dentistry--child health--HNO--dysraphia]. PMID- 2623981 TI - [Various endosseous implant systems: results of implant register study to date]. PMID- 2623982 TI - [Divided positioner]. PMID- 2623983 TI - [Dental alloys for overlay dentures--scientific materials and technical aspects]. PMID- 2623984 TI - [Tooth root resection of 633 molars with apical titanium and silver points]. PMID- 2623985 TI - [Endocarditis risk from dental procedures]. PMID- 2623986 TI - [Dental care as a status symbol as in the USA]. PMID- 2623987 TI - [Restoration of caries damaged deciduous anterior teeth using synthetic resin blended steel crowns]. PMID- 2623989 TI - [One learns from failures--a case report]. PMID- 2623988 TI - [Normalization of gutta percha points]. PMID- 2623990 TI - [Treatment of neglected face/jaw fractures]. PMID- 2623991 TI - [Influence of brushing frequency on effectiveness of tooth cleaning]. PMID- 2623992 TI - [GRG: cost containment weighs in dentistry]. PMID- 2623993 TI - [Personal protection in dental office]. PMID- 2623994 TI - [Printed forms to graphically represent prosthetic therapeutic remedies]. PMID- 2623995 TI - [Manual matrix method]. PMID- 2623996 TI - [Facies dolorosa--an interesting symptomatology or a problem affected task for the dental technician?]. PMID- 2623997 TI - [Documentation and preservation terms in the stomatological technic]. PMID- 2623998 TI - [Theoretical and technological basis of metal-ceramics in application of non precious alloys of the GDR and development of standardized methods]. PMID- 2623999 TI - [Surgical treatment of hemorrhaging gastroduodenal ulcer. Individually adapted indications]. AB - Increase in application of emergency gastroscopy together with indications according to "Forrest" criteria, in the course of nine years, resulted in reduction of lethality by 15 per cent among patients who had been surgically treated for bleeding ulcers. Life-threatening postoperative risks were higher without gastroscopy. A critical appraisal is made in this paper of gastroscopic findings, with reference being made to surgical results. PMID- 2624000 TI - [Internal drainage surgery in pancreatic pseudocysts]. AB - 60 pancreatic pseudocysts are reported. 29 cystojejunostomies, 22 cystogastrostomies, 2 cystoduodenostomies and 7 external drainages were performed. Most favourable results could be recorded by cystojejunostomy. The total operative mortality was 8.3%, after cystojejunostomie 3.4%. Most dangerous complications were haemorrhage and peritonitis. In the follow up of internal operative drainage approximately 80% excellent or satisfactory results could be observed. Pancreatic pseudocysts lasting more than 6 weeks should be submit to surgical treatment. Cystojejunostomy is the most favourable procedure. External drainage is indicated in emergency or development of complications. PMID- 2624001 TI - [Invasive pulmonary monitoring in acute necrotizing pancreatitis. A decision aid for indications for surgery?]. AB - From January 1986 to September 1988 16 patients with necrotizing forms of acute pancreatitis underwent invasive pulmonary monitoring at the Departments of General Surgery and Anesthesiology of Munster University Hospitals. Six patients had Stage II and ten Stage III disease according to the Mainz Clinical Classification for acute pancreatitis. Mortality was 37.5% in the reported series. Acute pancreatitis is characterized in cardiopulmonary terms by elevated levels for Cardiac Output (CO), Cardiac Index (CI) and Intrapulmonary Shunting (vAdmix), whereas Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR) is significantly reduced. A decrease of SVR of more than 200 dyn s cm-5 may be an early indicator for a septic period, and, therefore, warrant operation. PMID- 2624002 TI - [Retinopathic visual loss in hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis]. AB - Pancreatic retinopathies have been described with reference to case histories since 1975. Descriptions differed greatly from each other with regard to onset, development, and residual vision along with impairment. Two of the author's own cases are reported in this paper. Agreement with pathological patterns published elsewhere (alcohol-related genesis, age) are compared to points of difference (juncture of manifestation, final condition). Aetiology has proved to be of multifactorial nature, with presence and involvement of fat embolism or granulocyte aggregation being possible. Reference is made to elements with relevance to prognosis. The demand is made for no-delay treatment and routine checks. PMID- 2624003 TI - [Complicated cholecysto-choledocholithiasis in a patient with atypical glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme defect]. PMID- 2624004 TI - [Reflections on the significance of detecting Campylobacter pylori in a biopsy of the stomach mucosa]. AB - The inevitable confrontation with Campylobacter pyloridis implicates the surgeon to take into consideration this germ. For that reason we have examinated Campylobacter-positive patients with regard to histological changes of the gastric mucosa and to clinical symptoms. Apart from the fact, that there was no Campylobacter colonisation in the healthy gastric mucosa, there were not found specific features for the germ. PMID- 2624005 TI - [The role of gastrectomy in the treatment of hemorrhaging stomach ulcers]. AB - It is reported about 6 patients whose bleeding gastric ulcers required gastrectomy as ultima ratio. The operative technique depends on the individual case. Gastrectomy is indicated in patients with diffuse bleeding from erosions or multiple ulcers especially combined to coagulation disorders or in patients with recurrence bleeding after previous gastric resection. We saw no letal complication in spite of unfavourable initial conditions and major operating trauma. There were no essential postoperative complications except of one patient. The definite hemostasis seems to be most important for the prognosis of such critically ill patients. PMID- 2624006 TI - [Effectiveness of perioperative preventive use of antibiotics with metronidazole or doxycycline in vaginal hysterectomy]. AB - To prove the effectiveness of perioperative antibiotics prophylaxis (PABP) in prevention of postoperative infections after vaginal hysterectomy the efficacy of rectale Metronidazole application (5 times 500 mg; n = 192) was compared with that of Doxycyclin (2 times 200 mg intravenously; n = 116). The infectious morbidity after both prophylactic antibiotic regimes was compared to that of an untreated group (n = 186). In spite of additionally colporrhapies the feverish standard morbidity without prophylaxis was 13.4%, after Metronidazole application 13.5% and after Doxycyclin 2.6% (p less than 0.05). Simultaneously the rate of necessary antibiotic treatment decreased significantly. Pelvic infections complicated 16.7% of vaginal hysterectomies having no prophylaxis, but only 4.3% after Doxycyclin medication (p less than 0.05). Postoperative urinary tract infections (UTI)--mostly asymptomatic bacteriuria--were not influenced by any PABP. Whereas UTI after bladder catheter duration shorter than two days occurred in 26.0% (without PABP), 29.9% (Metronidazole) respectively 18.2% (Doxycyclin; p greater than 0.05), the rates after a longer stay were 69.6%, 76.8% and 65.7%. It is concluded, that the febrile standard morbidity and pelvic infections were reduced as well as the rate of necessary antibiotics therapies by a prophylactic application of Doxycyclin, but not with Metronidazole. The incidence of postoperative UTI was not reduced by prophylaxis. PMID- 2624007 TI - [Incidence, causes and follow-up of doubtful smear findings (Papanicolaou group III)]. AB - Suspect smears of 622 patients from 1977-1986 were analysed for their causes and followed up until the definite cytologic or histologic result. In relation to the overall material of 97,963 cases the rate of suspect smears (group Pap. III) was between 1.18 and 0.27%, i.e. an average of 0.68%. The most frequent reasons for the classification "suspect" were inflammatory (42.4%), metaplastic or degenerative changes (16.1%) and doubtful pre-cancer (30.6%). 58% of all cases became negative under cytological control and antimicrobial therapy or hormonal substitution; of these 91.4% converted into negative within 6 months. The histological examination carried out on 230 patients revealed pre-cancer (CIN I III) in 201 cases; cancer was proved in 5 cases. Compared to the whole population that is a rate of 33.1%. 24 cases were to be found negative. 139 Multiparae (67.6%) were to be found in the group of the 206 histological positive cases. 151 women (74%) had taken hormonal contraceptives. The rate of suspect smears should not exceed one per cent. PMID- 2624008 TI - [Detection of steroid hormone receptors in patients with mastopathies and fibroadenomas]. AB - Estradiol and progesterone receptors have been determined in 74 women with mastopathy and 33 women with fibroadenomas in the period from 1986-1988. Mastopathy was classified according to Prechtel (stage I-III). A negative steroid hormon-receptorstatus (less than 10 fmol/mg protein) was predominant in the group with Prechtel I and II. In our study the progesterone receptor was detectable more frequently than the estradiol receptor in patients with mastopathy or fibroadenomas. PMID- 2624009 TI - [Adaptive behavior of mature newborn infants following obstetric pain control with peridural fentanyl]. AB - Obstetric pain relief using fentanyl epidurally is a safe and efficient method. In this study the effects of this obstetric analgesia on the adaptation pattern of 26 eutrophic newborns in the first hour of live have been estimated with cardiorespirograph in comparison with a normal groups. We did also determinations of acid-base-balance in arterial blood of umbilical artery and in hyperemic capillary blood of newborns. There were significant differences in basal frequency and the duration till the beginning of resting phase in the cardiorespirogramm. The differences to normal newborns may be correlated to the slight increase of partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the newborns following obstetrical analgesia. During the first hour of life newborns can good compensate. There is no sedation of newborns by fentanyl. PMID- 2624010 TI - [Results of ultrasound brain studies in clinically normal newborn infants]. AB - Ultrasound investigations demonstrating intracranial hemorrhages (periventricular intraventricular hemorrhage-PVH/IHV) were performed in 401 term newborns. Without consideration the mode of delivery incidence of intracranial hemorrhage was 4.7%. There were only subependymal hemorrhages grade 1 and 2. In case of vaginal operative delivered children frequency of hemorrhage in forceps delivered babies was really lower than in vacuum extracted newborns. PMID- 2624011 TI - [Treatment of fetal hemolytic disease using plasmapheresis]. AB - Report about the therapy of severe Morbus haemolyticus fetalis in 15 pregnant women by plasmapheresis alone. Fetal survival rate was 67%. One of three children with hydrops fetalis survived. Plasmapheresis may be used in combination with intrauterine transfusion and improves treatment of Morbus haemolyticus fetalis. PMID- 2624012 TI - [Diagnostic value of the hypo-osmotic swelling test in pathologic ejaculation findings]. AB - 304 ejaculates with oligozoospermia from 227 partners of women suffering from sterility have been investigated by hypoosmotic swelling test, the detection of the motility rate and sperm motile efficiency. In a comparison between selected parts of the group and 104 semen samples of 15 fertile donors from the AID program is was possible to show, that the swelling test has a better discrimination between fertile and infertile ejaculates than the other two methods. In spite of that the motility rate and the swelling test had a positive correlation (r = 0.73) in the whole group. Because of the high standard deviation of the sperm motile efficiency the diagnostic value of it is doubtful. In borderline cases of pathologic ejaculate factor the hypoosmotic swelling test is useful as a selection criterium for IVF and related techniques. PMID- 2624013 TI - [Comment on the contribution by Ursula Geissler: "The non-puerperal secreting breast"]. PMID- 2624014 TI - [The effect of glass wool filtration on human spermatozoa--a comparison with the swim-up technic]. AB - 20 fresh human ejaculates (6X normozoospermia, 7X oligozoospermia and 7X asthenozoospermia) were prepared either with the swim-up-method as with the glass wool filtration. After both techniques the motility of the spermatozoa improved markedly. In cases of asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia the motility increased significantly compared with the value of the ejaculate. From the motile spermatozoa of the ejaculate 45-60% were detectable in the filtrat after glass wool filtration or in the upper fluid after swim-up-procedure. PMID- 2624015 TI - [Recurrence of choriocarcinoma following methotrexate monotherapy]. AB - Clinical course, diagnosis and therapy of a recurrence of an intramural choriocarcinoma in a women of 26 years are explained. Primary treatment of the patient was only methotrexate. In addition to the clinical findings the results of the HCG determinations are important for the follow-up. PMID- 2624016 TI - [New aspects of AIDS research. HIV infections in pediatrics. An overview]. PMID- 2624017 TI - [The value of large pressure-relieving trepanation in treatment of refractory brain edema. Animal experiment studies, initial clinical results]. AB - Our animal-experimental results obtained in large-area pressure-relieving trepanation after severe craniocerebral traumas with intracranial pressure measuring and oxygen tissue pressure measuring in the brain were compared on the basis of 19 patients operated on in this way. In these operations we followed the achieved principles according to which, if possible at a relatively early time and on large areas, a fronto-temporo-parietal trepanation on both sides should be carried out, in order to make the shifting to the right in the pressure-volume curve sufficiently large, to avoid or remove the squeezing of the brain stem, and to keep the pressure ischaemisation of the cerebral tissue low. PMID- 2624018 TI - Intracerebral hematoma following removal of chronic subdural hematoma. Report of two cases. AB - Two cases of intracerebral hemorrhage consequent to surgery planned for homolateral chronic subdural hematoma are reported. Both patients were treated conservatively and made a satisfactory recovery. The pathological events leading to the formation of an intracerebral hematoma following the evacuation of a chronic subdural hematoma still remain undefined. PMID- 2624019 TI - [A completely thrombosed giant aneurysm in an infant]. AB - In a 16-month-old boy completely thrombosed aneurysm in the midline region (Regio pinealis) was successfully extirpated. The clinical symptoms were reduced by a pressure hydrocephalus, which was caused by an occlusion of the passage of the cerebrospinal fluid at the level of the aquaeductus. In the histological picture the inner third of the wall of the aneurysm was imposing as a necrosis with a membrane-like layer of elastin-like proteins on the outward side and adjacent loose connective tissue. PMID- 2624020 TI - Rupture of a giant aneurysm of the inferior wall of the internal carotid artery after saphenous vein interposition graft to the middle cerebral artery. AB - A patient with a giant aneurysm of the inferior wall of internal carotid artery presented with progressive vision failure with optic nerve atrophy on the left eye. She underwent exploration of the aneurysm, which was found impossible to clip. Clamping of the common carotid artery was not tolerated there being inadequate collateral circulation. A saphenous vein graft was interposed between the occipital artery and a branch of the middle cerebral artery. The previously unruptured aneurysm bled fatally 4 hours after surgery, just before intended clipping of the aneurysm or ligation of the internal carotid artery. PMID- 2624021 TI - [The importance of myelography with water soluble contrast medium in follow-up neuroradiologic diagnosis of spinal diseases]. AB - We analyzed the outcome of diagnostic processes in 102 cases of unclear spinal affections. Myelography, spinal CT with and without contrast media, and, in several cases, spinal MRI were performed. Facing a higher number of false positive or false negative diagnoses after the initial CT scans we propose the classical myelography with a water-soluble contrast medium to be initial neuroradiological method for detection of spinal processes, especially in the cervical region. PMID- 2624022 TI - The effects of brain edema on intracranial pressure in focal cerebral ischemia. An experimental study in a rat using magnetic resonance imaging. AB - Intracranial pressure (ICP) changes and the development of cerebral edema during the first 24 hours after middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in a rat were studied. ICP was measured via a catheter implanted into cisterna magna and the dynamics of cerebral edema was observed using serial T2 magnetic resonance (MR) measurements. Two T2 components were separated, fast (30-120 ms) and slow (120 240 ms). The first IPC increase was noted within first 2 hours after MCA occlusion and thereafter ICP started to rise 6 hours after stroke. These findings correlated with the development of edema, especially with the increase in extracellular water seen in T2 images. The highest ICP and the largest edema was noted in rats with largest infarcts. An experiment forms a basis for further studies on ICP and edema in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia. PMID- 2624023 TI - [Surgical treatment of brain stem tumors]. AB - Report about the results in the therapy of 150 patients with tumors of the brain stem (56 operative cases). PMID- 2624024 TI - [Neuro-ophthalmologic findings following cerebral tumor excision in relation to topography and morphology]. AB - The secured significance of position and extent of a cerebral tumour as well as its biological dignity with respect to the kind and frequency of the neuro ophthalmological findings was the starting point of these investigations. In this retrospective study the findings of visual acuity, visual field and papillae of 204 patients operated on the cerebrum were determined and the significance of the morphological factors (position and size of the defect of the cerebral parenchyma, extent of the cerebral ventricles, degree of the cortical atrophy, influence of dignity) for the persisting ophthalmological deficiency phenomena was pointed out. PMID- 2624025 TI - CT-scan or two-dimensional echoencephalography in neonatal intracranial pathology? AB - The authors compare advantages and disadvantages of CT-scan and two-dimensional echoencephalography in examination of intracranial space of small babies. CT is more precise and complex, but it requires anesthesia and transport (CT-scanners are only in regional centers), moreover the child is endangered by irradiation. Echoencephalography is not so descriptive, but is noninvasive, simple, mobile, cheaper, enables to follow the dynamics of the process, examination in three planes and can be very useful during the operation. PMID- 2624026 TI - [Indications and results of surgery of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma]. AB - A report is given on the indication for the operation, the surgical procedure, and the results of the operation in 36 spontaneous intracerebral haematomas. The method of choice for the treatment was the osteoplastic trepanation with a removal of the haematoma. In two thirds of the cases a complete or essential retrogression of the preoperative neurological symptoms was achieved. On this basis, some fundamental statements for the therapy of spontaneous intracerebral haematomas are made. PMID- 2624027 TI - [The clinical course of fatal aneurysm rupture of the base of the skull]. AB - At the Institut of Pathology and the Institut of Forensic Medicine at the Charite Clinics of the Humboldt-University Berlin from 1979 to 1984 took place 13,622 necropsies. Among them were 75 cases of fatal ruptures of intracranial aneurysms. This paper gives a description of the resulting subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH) and compares them with the pathologic-anatomical findings. 65 cases have been utilized, in 50% of them the patients died on the day of bleeding, in no case the aneurysm was verified before death. 31% of the patients survived longer than one week. A sufficient prognostic sign was the degree of unconsciousness during the 24 hours following SAH. The morphological findings (intracranial hematomas, brain edema) and the time of further survival did not correlate. Ventricular hematomas were found in 49% of the autopsy subjects. Patients with ventricular hematomas from the initial SAH evolved a bad clinical state (Botterell Grading 'IV or 'V). Every nontraumatic SAH is a case of emergency which requires a fast diagnostic procedure. Ruptured aneurysms have to be excluded. A good clinical state after SAH need not keep stable. Grading systems reflect intracranial processes only incompletely. PMID- 2624028 TI - Alternative management of carotid kinking. Surgical technique. AB - The simple surgical method to correct internal carotid artery kinking is presented. The artery is straightened and fixed to the surrounding tissues without arteriotomy and without interrupting the blood flow. The technique is simple and complication-free in kinks of lesser degree. PMID- 2624029 TI - Postoperative hematomas following 505 operations for intracranial meningiomas. AB - Five hundred and five operations for intracranial meningiomas were complicated by 18 postoperative hematomas (POH)--3.56%. The POH were more frequently encountered in older patients and/or patients with atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension and diabetes. Longer lasting operations especially cases with intraoperative fall of blood pressure were more often complicated by POH. The POH were more frequently observed following total excision than partial removal and after convexity meningioma operations than other locations. The outcome of the operations complicated by POH was related to the time of their clinical manifestation and removal. PMID- 2624030 TI - [Nephrotoxic action of platinum, chromium and cadmium compounds on marine bony fishes]. AB - Intra-abdominal injections of platinum, chromium and cadmium salts to Myoxocephalus scorpius produce nephrotoxic effect which includes the disturbances in magnesium secretion. Basic ultrastructural changes in the nephron cells of the fish after the injection of nephrotoxic substances are similar to those in mammals. Cis-platinum induces significant damage in the terminal part of the proximal tubules. One day after the injection of chromium compounds, total damage of the proximal tubule is observed, whereas cadmium salt affects cells within the whole nephron. After 5 days of administration of cadmium and chromium salts, partial recovery was found with respect to both functional and ultrastructural properties of nephron cells. Administration of nephrotoxic substances which selectively injure different parts of the nephron enabled to perform more exact differentiation of the nephron elements in marine teleosts. PMID- 2624031 TI - [The cholinergic reaction of the amnion in the chick embryo]. AB - Studies have been made of the spontaneous contractions of the amnion and acetylcholine sensitivity of amniotic membrane in 8--14-day chick embryos. In 12- 14-day embryos, the spontaneous rhythmic contractions were rather rare as compared to those in 8--9-day ones, their frequency being also lower. On the basis of kinetic analysis, it was concluded that both the dissociation constant (K) and the value of Pmax do not exhibit significant changes for tonotropic reaction from the 8th to the 14th day and for chronotropic reaction--from the 8th to the 10th day of incubation. After the 10th day of incubation, dose-effect chronotropic reaction not expressed. The spontaneous activity of the amnion and acetylcholine sensitivity of the amniotic membrane depend on the temperature being maximal at 38 degrees C. Possible regulatory mechanisms of contractile activity in chick amnion are discussed. PMID- 2624032 TI - [The positive inotropic action of transmural electrical stimulation of the heart ventricles in the ontogeny of the frog Rana temporaria]. AB - Studies have been made of the effect of transmural electrical stimulation on twitch tension produced by atropinized ventricular preparations from tadpoles and adult frogs. In preparations from tadpoles at stage 42 and all the following stages, as well as in adult frogs, transmural electrical stimulation evoked positive inotropic responses which consisted of a slow propranolol-sensitive component or of a slow and fast components. It is highly probable that the slow component is induced by adrenergic transmitter. The fast propranolol-resistant component appears at stage 43. It may be prevented by bretilium being probably induced by a comediator which is released together with the adrenergic transmitter from the sympathetic nerve endings. PMID- 2624033 TI - [The absence of changes in the progeny of fishes and frogs after an increase in heat resistance of the parental gametes in heavy water (D2O)]. PMID- 2624034 TI - [The hypometabolic action of a 1- to 10-kD fraction from the brain tissues of the Yakut horse]. PMID- 2624035 TI - [Changes in juvenile mental disorders in persons discharged from the army]. AB - Based on the clinical and catamnestic examination (with the time of the catamnesis being from 5 to 10 years) of 64 persons discharged from the army with a diagnosis of psychopathy, a study was made of certain characteristics of the formation of juvenile mental disorders and further time-course of changes in the illness. The clinical manifestations that contributed to the discharge from the army appeared to vary. In part of the examined, the status could be regarded as decompensation with steady pathocharacterological reactions and neurotic disorders (in accentuated personalities). The time-course of changes in psychopathy formation depended on its variant, namely on the main "nucleus" of the personality. In unstable and inhibited persons, the time-course of changes in the illness turned out to be the most favourable. The conditions and possible mechanisms of different variants of the time-course of changes in personality disorders have been delineated for the three main clinical groups under study: excitable, inhibited and unstable. PMID- 2624036 TI - [Characteristics of psychopathic disorders in young persons]. AB - Experience of many years gained during studies into the clinical picture, the time-course of changes and diagnosis of psychopathies in young men as well as the clinical and catamnestic examinations and investigation of the medical documentation on over 1,000 psychopathic personalities enabled one to discover certain clinical facts and regularities pertaining to the structure of psychopathic reactions, types of psychopathic responses and decompensations, transitory personality disorders, and dynamic (staged) diagnosis. The classification and nomenclature of psychopathies have been specified. The data obtained attest to the necessity of elaborating new approaches to the problem of psychopathies. PMID- 2624037 TI - [Classification of asthenic conditions (reactions, phases) in psychopathy]. AB - Analysis of asthenic reactions and phases that occur periodically in persons suffering from psychopathies of the sthemic pole (33 cases) has demonstrated that the structure of the syndrome is determined by the combination of the two signs: phenomena of irritative weakness and symptomatology of the somatopsychic circle. Two types of asthenic conditions were distinguished: conversion and psychovegetative asthenia. As to the first type, the asthenic manifestations proper were of the demonstrative-exaggerated character, whereas somatopsychic disorders occurred in accordance with the hysterical conversion mechanism. Consequently, the structure of the syndrome is marked by the predominance of characteristic abnormalities in the sphere of somatopsychics (bodily hysterical stigmas, with the intensity of ergic disorders being minimum). As to the second type, asthenia was marked by relatively uniform ergic and somatopsychic manifestations. The latter ones (algias, sleep disturbances, "pseudosomatic" crises) as if masked asthenia proper. The typological differentiation of asthenic disorders provided here is adequate to the nature of the constitutional proneness as a system of factors that determine the clinical differences. Conversion asthenia occurs preferably in persons of the histrionic and excitable mould whereas psychovegetative asthenia in persons showing the predominance of anancastic and expansive schizoid traits. PMID- 2624038 TI - [Diagnosis and conservative treatment of compression syndrome in lumbar osteochondrosis]. AB - The studies conducted provided evidence for a beneficial effect of long-term (1.5 -- 6 mos) combined conservative therapy for severe compression syndrome in lumbar osteochondrosis. There was no direct relationship between the degree of functional recovery and morphologic defect. Discal hernias located most frequently at the level LIV -- LV (26.3%) and LV -- SI (56.4%) of lumbar spine and were associated with vertebral canal 17 -- 55% stenosis and polyradicular lesions in the majority of cases. PMID- 2624039 TI - [Lateralized forms of parkinsonism (clinical, electroencephalographic and psychomotor aspects)]. AB - As many as 101 parkinsonism patients were examined. The mean patients' age was 50 years. Of these, 46 patients (12 with left-handed clinical manifestations of parkinsonism, 17 with right-handed, 17 with bilateral ones) were subjected to comprehensive examinations -- clinical, electrophysiological and psychomotor. Ten healthy persons of the respective age and sex made up the control group. The examination made it possible to reveal the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of the different patterns of parkinsonism. At the same time it allowed the conclusion about the involvement into the pathological process of both hemispheres whatever the primary lateralization of the clinical manifestations; about varying roles played by the right and left hemispheres in the pathogenesis of parkinsonism. PMID- 2624040 TI - [Paroxysmal conditions in neuroses]. AB - Sixty-eight patients with paroxysmal conditions of neurotic genesis were examined. The patients' condition was marked by demonstrative (hysterical) attacks and vegetovascular crises (panic attacks). The clinical and psychophysiological analyses were made. The clinical criteria were elaborated for differential diagnosis of vegetative crises in hysterical and obsessive-phobic neuroses. The psychophysiological patterns are provided, characteristic of the whole patients' group with neurotic paroxysms and specific patterns for different types of paroxysms are distinguished. PMID- 2624041 TI - [Familial polymorphism of spinal amyotrophy in childhood]. AB - The authors describe a familial form of childhood spinal amyotrophy. Among 7 patients in the M. family, 5 were diagnosed to suffer from type II spinal amyotrophy and 2 from type III. It is of interest to mention that type II was observed only in boys whereas type III in girls. The data of the clinical and electromyographic examination of two M. siblings of male and female sexes have been analyzed. Possible mechanisms of the clinical polymorphism of childhood spinal amyotrophy are under discussion. PMID- 2624042 TI - [Psycho-autonomic correlations in patients with neuroses and in persons with risk factors of cerebrovascular disorders]. AB - Psychovegetative correlations were made in 78 patients with neuroses and in 72 normal persons working under the conditions of emotional stress. The characteristics of emotional and vegetative responses have been delineated in patients with the well-defined syndrome of vegetodystonia and in persons working under the conditions at risk for the development of neurotic and vascular disturbances. PMID- 2624043 TI - [Internal picture of the disease and its value for psychological diagnosis of neuroses]. AB - The clinical and experimental psychological methods were employed to study the structure and mechanisms of the internal picture of the disease in 305 patients afflicted with neuroses. Four varieties of the internal picture of the disease were outlined depending on the characteristics of the emotional and cognitive aspects of the disease experiencing. Each of these varieties is marked by the originality of the personality mechanisms within the "I" system, neurotic conflict, and psychological defence. The described typology of the internal picture of the disease expands the possibilities of multidimensional diagnosis aimed at differentiated therapy of neurotic patients. PMID- 2624044 TI - [Clinico-physiological analysis of psychogenic (hysterical) sensorimotor disorders]. AB - Forty patients with psychogenic sensorimotor defects and 20 patients with sensorimotor defects of organic nature were examined. Special clinical tests were employed together with the tracing of somatosensory evoked potentials. The clinico-physiological patterns characteristic of the right-handed and left-handed psychogenic sensorimotor disturbances were identified. The studies contributed to the elaboration of differential-diagnostic criteria. PMID- 2624045 TI - [Functional and organic diseases (a neurologic aspect)]. AB - Interrelations between organic, psychogenic and functional disorders are under discussion. Two classes of nervous system diseases are distinguished: organic and psychogenic ones. Functional disorders manifest themselves in all pathology patterns. The basis of the organic patterns is formed by morphological and neurochemical derangements. Psychogenic diseases may be distributed into neurotic, psychosomatic and psychophysiological disorders. The neurological aspects are considered. PMID- 2624046 TI - [Variants of the clinical dynamics of neuroses and neurosis-like conditions of the residual-organic origin in children of pre- pubertal age]. AB - The paper treats of some variants of child's neuroses associated with residual organic cerebral failure and neurosis-like conditions of residual-organic genesis. The clinico-psychopathological correlations of the unfavourable course of neurosis-like disorders that aggravate the clinical picture of the illness have been outlined. PMID- 2624047 TI - [Neurotic aspects of neurogenic obesity]. AB - Difficulties in the treatment of cerebral obesity are associated with insufficient knowledge of the ways of correction of disturbed feeding behavior. The valid therapeutic policy depends on the study of pathological nutritional stereotype. Stress and neurotic diseases are factors of nutritional motivation and should be taken into consideration when instituting therapy. PMID- 2624048 TI - [Mechanisms of the development of autonomic regulation disorders in neurogenic syncope in childhood]. AB - Based on a clinico-anamnestic analysis and comparison of the data of comprehensive studies of vegetative nervous system functions it was discovered that in 85 children aged 4 to 14 years suffering from neurogenous syncopes, vegetovascular maintenance of the processes of activation and adaptation turned out insufficient. It is shown that in early childhood, the formation of vegetative dysregulation occurs under the influence of numerous factors, of which the most significant are hereditary predisposition to paroxysms, perinatal pathology, and psychogenic effects. It is established that there are two possible variants of the combination of pathophysiological alterations predetermining the clinical picture and phenomenology of neurogenous syncopes in children. PMID- 2624049 TI - [Clinico-psychophysiological characteristics of lateralized forms of migraine]. AB - The clinical and psychophysiologic characteristics of patients with the lateralized patterns of migraine are discussed. Differential treatment is suggested depending on the nature of the differences in hemicrania. PMID- 2624050 TI - [Thrombocytic diseases in generalized myasthenia gravis and their correction by using plasmapheresis and administration of anti- immunoglobulin antisera]. AB - Platelet adhesion and aggregation studies were performed in different test systems in 25 patients with plasmapheresis-treated myasthenia patients. In vivo studies with plasmapheresis and in vitro investigation with anti-immunoglobulin antisera revealed the normalization of the impaired platelet functions. PMID- 2624051 TI - [Problem of "organic neuroses" (data on functional disorders of cardiac activity)]. AB - Examination of 66 patients with FDCA admitted to the cardiological hospital enabled two types of bodily sensations to be distinguished: homonomous--similar in their manifestations to cardiac pathology (cardialgia+, hysterical cardialgia and heteronomous--foreign to painful sensations in pathology on the part of the heart (senestoalgias, senestopathies). It has been established that somatic mental disorders manifesting themselves by functional abnormalities in the visceral organs may form not only within the boundaries of psychogenic (neurotic reactions) but also by constitutional pathology (phases, developments). Two dimensional diagnosis (including both nosological and syndromal qualification) is respectively adequate to the qualification of the disorders examined, with their attribution to the "supranosological" group of somatoform disorders. PMID- 2624052 TI - [Dynamics and outcome of neuroses]. AB - Based on the data obtained during examination of 320 neurotic patients the grouping of the varieties of the time-course of changes in neurotic disorders has been suggested. Variants of the lingering neuroses have been distinguished with regard to the presence or lack of the tendency towards progression and exacerbation of the symptomatology. Single attacks of neurotic disorders, repeated and recurrent neuroses were delineated within the framework of attack like dynamics. Outcomes of neurotic disorders have been systematized. PMID- 2624053 TI - [Neurotic disorders in industrial workers]. AB - Mass clinico-epidemiological screening of the workers of a large industrial enterprise provided data on the genuine prevalence and the clinico-dynamic structure of neurotic disorders in the given population group, on social and industrial factors giving rise to their development, social and labor adaptation of patients afflicted with this pathology. The programs for the primary and secondary care of the neurotic disorders in the industrial workers have been tried on the basis of the Center for Mental Health Care set up at one of the large industrial enterprises in Tomsk. The rendering of extradispensary specialized assistance to neurotic patients at the enterprise itself, including early diagnosis of neuroses, observation over time, application of the differentiated preventive and rehabilitation programs made it possible to diminish the incidence of neurotic disorders, to minimize temporary disability because of the pathology in question, and to raise output per man-hour. PMID- 2624054 TI - [Classification and differential diagnosis of asthenic conditions]. AB - The author describes the results of studies for many years into the clinical and pathophysiological characteristics of psychogenic (neurotic) and organic+ asthenias. Provides differential-diagnostic differences. Offers an original working classification of organic asthenias. The data presented may serve as a prerequisite for early diagnosis and differential therapy of asthenic conditions of different etiology. PMID- 2624055 TI - [Psychosomatic correlations in the structure of borderline neurologic and mental disorders]. AB - A total of 544 staff members of the scientific industrial association were subjected to non-randomized examination. The presentation and structure of border line disorders were studied as correlated to the age, sex, familial status, educational level, occupation, and personality structure. Three groups have been distinguished: (1) conditional norm; (2) neurotic disorders; and (3) affective disorders. Correlations between psychopathological and somatic disorders have been traced in all the groups. PMID- 2624056 TI - [Work capacity of patients with neurasthenia]. AB - Clinical and experimental examination of 127 patients suffering from neurasthenia, performed during three stages of the disease development (hyperasthenic, irritative weakness, hypoasthenic++), enabled one to identify an appreciable decrease of a number of the parameters of tolerance to isometric exercise. Thus, force decreased 1.3--2-fold, endurance 2.4--3.4-fold, and work fitness 3.8--6.8-fold as compared to normal persons. Isometric exercise tolerance that increases progressively by the hyposthenic disease stage can be instrumental as an objective diagnostic criterion for evaluation of work fitness during carrying out the rehabilitation measures in neurasthenic patients. PMID- 2624057 TI - [Classification and psychological prevention of pre-nosological forms of borderline conditions occurring in the Northern Siberia]. AB - Based on the clinico-epidemiological and clinico-dynamic++ examination of the workers (n = 2,052) of one of the lumber industry plant a concept was advanced concerning the influence the extreme climatic,+-geographical, industrial and other factors produce on the formation of unusual psychodisadaptation conditions (PDAC). They appear as polymorphous, syndromologically incomplete neuropsychic deviations. Three PDAC varieties have been distinguished: asthenic (with two subtypes mirroring the predominance of physical or mental weakness), dysthymic and psychovegetative. Each of these varieties has been characterized in detail from the typology standpoint. Programs aimed at PDAC prevention have been elaborated. They include the use of psychoprophylactic, psychotherapeutic psychopharmacological measures combined with physiotherapy and reflexoprophylaxis. It is suggested that specialized psychoprophylactic services should be organized for persons with the pre-nosological++ and initial manifestations of border-line diseases that form under the given ecological conditions. PMID- 2624058 TI - [Analysis of the activities of psychoneurological dispensaries rendering the services to patients with borderline conditions]. AB - As many as 1,851 disease histories of patients belonging to the group of mental disorders of non-psychotic level (code MKB-9 300-317) were analyzed within the framework of the organizational experiment with a purpose of reorganizing the dispensary assistance. The data obtained indicate that the diagnosis and the treatment recommendations are not based enough in all the cases, with social restricting measures dominating over social and protective ones. For such a group of patients, the dispensary follow up is not justified. That is why the available dispensary services require changes in the principles and concrete patterns of their functioning. PMID- 2624059 TI - [Neuroses among the rural population (data of the epidemiological study) and the organization of therapeutic and rehabilitation measures]. AB - Studies into the neurosis incidence among the rural community of two agricultural regions of the Ukraine (Western and Eastern) were made with the aid of mass epidemiological screening of the community. A study was also made of factors promoting the occurrence of neuroses as well as of those favouring the recovery from neuroses. In accordance with the data obtained, the number of neurotic patients registered at the dispensary turned out 4 times less on the average as compared to that identified among the community. Analysis of the medical services rendered to the rural community suffering from neuroses has demonstrated that these services require material improvement. It is emphasized that the improvement of the medical aid rendered to the neurotic patients living in the country should be exercised at the expense of the already available services (rural ambulatory centers, doctor's assistant and midwifery stations) of the general somatic network rather that at the expense of the enlargement of the psychiatry services network. PMID- 2624060 TI - [Psychosomatic disorders of the colon]. AB - The clinical and experimental psychological examination of 90 patients with the syndrome of the excitable colon has demonstrated that this pathology is a typical psychosomatic disorder. The dynamics of the disorder may involve three stages: psychosomatic reactions, psychosomatic cycles and psychopathization. The treatment of the syndrome should be conducted in accordance with the disease stage. At the stage of psychosomatic reactions, the treatment is to be oriented mainly to the psychotherapeutic action. The combination of amitriptyline (antidepressant and antidiarrheal effects) with teralen or phrenolon (antialgic effect) turned out most effective at the stage of the psychosomatic cycles. Psychotherapy administered in different varieties also appeared more effective when coupled with biological treatment. It is necessary that behavioral correctors (neuleptide) be included into drug treatment at the stage of psychopathization. In this case the role of psychotherapy slightly decreases. All the stages require the use of therapeutic means effecting motor function of the intestine and enzymatic system of the body. PMID- 2624061 TI - Updates in dermatology. Proceedings of an international symposium. Reykjavik, 7th April 1989. PMID- 2624062 TI - Development of glucocorticosteroids with enhanced ratio between topical and systemic effects. AB - A high potency at the application site and a low incidence of glucocorticoid side effects form the desired profile of glucocorticosteroids for anti-inflammatory therapy. A new type of glucocorticosteroid 16,17-acetals with an improved topical/systemic activity ratio has been developed. Non-symmetric 16,17-acetal substitution increased the topical anti-inflammatory activity more than the systemic activity in rodents, whereas fluorine substitution in 9 alpha- or 6 alpha,9 alpha-positions increased the systemic more than the topical potency. The non-fluorinated, non-symmetric 16 alpha,17 alpha-acetal budesonide reached the highest ratio, which was five to ten times better than that of the earlier known 16,17-acetonides such as triamcinolone acetonide, or that of the 17 alpha-esters such as beclomethasone 17 alpha,21-dipropionate. Although budesonide and betamethasone 17 alpha,21-diproprionate have the same topical anti-inflammatory potency, the latter decreased plasma and urinary cortisol levels significantly more when ointment preparations were compared in volunteers. Budesonide is efficiently biotransformed in the liver to metabolites such as 6 beta hydroxybudesonide and 16 alpha-hydroxyprednisolone, which are 50-100 times less potent than the parent steroid. In homogenates of rat or human adult livers budesonide is biotransformed two to five times more rapidly than desonide and triamcinolone acetonide. PMID- 2624063 TI - Adverse effects of topical corticosteroids. AB - Topical corticosteroids may induce local and systemic adverse reactions. Some of the corticosteroids are at low risk to induce several manifestations, but gross overdosage or misuse of the most potent steroids are responsible for a number of adverse reactions. An overview of the effects of topical corticosteroids upon the different structures of human skin is presented here. PMID- 2624064 TI - The choice of topical steroids--a personal view. AB - Topical steroids are the most commonly prescribed drugs for use on the skin. Various factors affecting the choice of such a steroid in the UK are considered and explained. PMID- 2624065 TI - Prospects for future topical glucocorticoid development. AB - Current glucocorticoids are inactivated mainly in the liver. Results from studies of their catabolism; their concentration gradients in epidermis and upper and lower dermis after topical application to intact and injured skin; and the concentration needed to inhibit synthesis of human connective tissue by skin fibroblasts; suggest that their systemic and local adverse reactions would logically be reduced further by adding a rapid extrahepatic biotransformation. An ideal glucocorticoid should be locally inactivated during, or immediately after, absorption. The data available for three glucocorticoids with some extrahepatic metabolism suggest that such relatively labile steroids may have a more autoregulating absorption than that of the conventional, more stable, steroids. This means that in skin areas with a damaged stratum corneum, the balance between steroid influx and inactivation may favour anti-inflammatory activity, while that balance is insufficient in intact skin for a triggering of glucocorticosteroid activity. When the skin lesions heal, and the high influx rate tapers off, corticosteroid activity in the epidermis and dermis may be better cut off than with the conventional, metabolically stable, corticosteroids. The compounds subject to local metabolism available today appear to have only moderate topical corticosteroid activity. There are still no valid data to support a claim that their catabolic effects on the connective tissue of diseased skin are less than those of conventional topical steroids. However, novel glucocorticosteroids with a still better relation between high intrinsic glucocorticosteroid activity and rapid metabolic turnover in skin should be designed and tested. PMID- 2624066 TI - Reproductive performance in women with uterus didelphys. AB - The reproductive history of 19 women with the diagnosis of uterus didelphys is reported. With this goal the patients were divided into two groups: A) composed of 15 patients who did not undergo any surgical correction of uterine anomaly; B) composed of 4 patients where metroplasty was performed. Diagnosis was made in 17 cases (85.9%) for reasons not related to the uterine anomaly, only in 2 cases did patients present with infertility complaints. Vaginal malformation was associated in 16 (85%) cases; in 11 cases longitudinal septum was present; whereas in 5 hemivagina atretica was found. Eleven group A patients had a total of 23 pregnancies of which 3 (13%) ended in spontaneous abortions, 2 (8.7%) were voluntarily interrupted, 3 ended in premature birth and 15 in term births, with 17 live babies for a live birth rate of 74%. If we consider that two pregnancies were voluntarily interrupted, we had 17 live babies out of 21 naturally evolved pregnancies, for a live birth rate of 81%. In group B 3 patients before treatment had 3 pregnancies all ending in spontaneous abortion. After treatment all had a live baby. Reproductive and gestational performances of women with uterus didelphys are preserved. In patients with infertility complaints, all associated causes must be ruled out before surgical correction. If these are present its correction must be attempted as first therapeutic step, and term pregnancy with live baby is the rule. Only if repeated abortions are not related to any other cause, can metroplasty, according to Bret-Palmer technique, be performed. PMID- 2624067 TI - Polycystic ovary syndrome: long-term evolution. AB - A study was made of the long-term evolution of 64 women with PCO in order to identify the clinical and/or endocrine alterations that may modify the prognosis of each case. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A, where at the conclusion of the observation period disorders were present, and Group B, where they were not. A comparison between the clinical and endocrine data obtained from the two groups at the first observation showed only one significant difference, concerning the time of onset of menstrual irregularities; these coincided with the menarche in only 57.6% of the cases in Group A, but in 94.7% of those in Group B. PMID- 2624068 TI - Correlation between tests for the detection of antibodies bound to the sperm surface. AB - Direct tests for antisperm antibody detection are considered one of the first steps in the screening of a suspected male immunological infertility especially when one of the assisted fertilization protocols is being considered. With these techniques we can detect the presence of antisperm antibodies bound to the sperm surface. In this work we report the results of a laboratory correlation study carried out on the three direct techniques: IgG-MAR Test, the IgG-Latex Sperm MAR Test and the IgG-IgA-IgM-Immunobead Test. We analyzed data on 96 subjects, examined in our laboratory for a suspected antisperm antibody pathology. The three techniques were carried out in a blind experimental protocol by different technicians and the main results can be summarized as a strict correlation with regard to percentage and degree of positivity and a poor correlation with regard to the localization of the marker of the immune reaction (red blood cells, latex particles, polyacrylamide spherules). PMID- 2624069 TI - Autosperm antibodies in treated, pregnant and non-pregnant immunologically infertile patients. AB - Twenty-two immunologically infertile couples (male partners had proven autosperm antibodies-positive mixed antiglobulin reaction test [MAR] and direct immunobead test [d-IBT]) were treated with washed spermatozoa used either in the gamete intrafallopian tube transfer (GIFT) or artificial insemination (AIH) procedures. Sixteen of the 22 couples (72.2%) fell pregnant with an ongoing pregnancy rate of 54.5% (12/22). The pregnant and non-pregnant groups were compared with regards to the sperm antibodies detected on the spermatozoa (MAR, d-IBT and sperm cervical mucus contact [SCMC] test) and in the serum and seminal plasma of the male partners (tray agglutination test [TAT], indirect immunobead test [i-IBT], and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]). The semen parameters, motility, forward progression, count/ml and normal morphological forms were also compared. Statistical analysis showed no difference between the two groups (pregnant and non-pregnant) with regards to the antibody tests performed on semen, serum and seminal plasma. No difference was also seen between the semen parameters of the two groups. The washing of spermatozoa for the GIFT or AIH procedures may therefore be a successful method of treatment for immunologically infertile couples. The results also indicate no difference in the fertility prognosis for the two groups since antibody levels and semen quality were not different between the pregnant and nonpregnant group. PMID- 2624070 TI - Enzymes of human cervical mucus: a comparative study on fertile and infertile mucus and on the endocervical epithelium. AB - We report a comparative study on protein and enzyme content of human periovulatory cervical mucus and endocervical epithelium. The salient results of our investigation are summarized in the following three points: 1) The method of taking of cervical mucus samples may markedly affect the results of protein and enzyme assays. It is warmly advisable to collect mucus samples from the endocervical canal. 2) Cervical mucus from women diagnosed as having cervical factor infertility is oligoproteic and lacks some enzyme activities always present in normal cases. 3) Human cervical mucus and endocervical epithelium are very similar as for the enzyme distribution, but show quite different LDH isoenzyme patterns. In the latter tissue, the H subunits constitute about 77 per cent of the whole LDH, suggesting that this enzyme here is functioning to produce pyruvate rather than lactate. PMID- 2624071 TI - Belgian standards for patient safety in anesthesia. The Belgian Anesthesia Patient Safety Steering-Committee. PMID- 2624072 TI - Endocrine evaluation of sevoflurane, a new inhalation anesthetic agent. AB - We investigated the effects of sevoflurane anesthesia and of surgery, on the endocrine functions as reflected by plasma levels of cortisol, aldosterone, ACTH, beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity, prolactin, insulin, growth hormone, glucagon and glucose in surgical patients. PMID- 2624073 TI - In vitro studies on dermal leprosy granulomas: assessment of division and protein synthesis of cells. AB - Single cell suspension from dermal leprosy granulomas (10 tuberculoid and 10 lepromatous) was prepared and an assessment of the division and protein synthesis by the cells was made. The cells of tuberculoid granulomas showed a high incorporation of 3H-thymidine and 14C-leucine. On the contrary, the cells of the lepromatous granulomas exhibited poor division but their protein synthesis remained unimpaired. These observations suggest that the epithelioid cell granuloma of tuberculoid leprosy appears to be more active and secretory than the macrophage granuloma of lepromatous leprosy. PMID- 2624074 TI - [Leprosy in Algeria. Apropos of an autochthonous case in the Wilaya de Tlemcen, Algeria]. AB - Leprosy is not a problem for public health in Algeria. For one century (from 1888 to 1987), a maximum of 250 cases were reported, only 75 of them were Algerians and 61 caught the disease in Algeria. Hence leprosy was mainly an imported disease. Will multiple exchanges with other countries increase the magnitude of the problem? PMID- 2624075 TI - [Estimation sampling surveys of the prevalence of endemic leprosy in central Africa]. PMID- 2624076 TI - [Lepromatous leprosy: clinical and electrophysiological arguments in favor of axonal multi-neuritis]. AB - This work was undertaken because there were only few reports on neurological aspects on lepromatous leprosy. We studied 30 patients suffering from lepromatous leprosy who, at their first visit to the Institute had never been treated. The clinical examination included a quantitative evaluation of the neurological status following the method developed by Pearson. Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities were measured: values of conduction velocity and distal amplitude were analysed and compared to those of a group of 22 healthy subjects. IN CONCLUSION: (a) There is a high frequency of clinical and especially electrophysiological neurological impairment. This impairment can be extremely precocious and may happen shortly after the first cutaneous signs. (b) Nervous impairment is diffuse, bilateral but not homogeneous. These are characteristics of mononeuritis multiplex. Impairement is predominantly sensitive and tactile sensibility is more involved than thermo-algic sensation. (c) The radial superficial nerve is the most frequently involved clinically and electrophysiologically. (d) The electrophysiological results, showing a normal or slightly reduced conduction velocity and a low amplitude of evoked potentiel are in favour of a predominantly axonal damage. PMID- 2624077 TI - Hepatitis B virus infection in lepromatous and tuberculoid patients from Senegal. AB - Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) seric markers (HBs Ag, anti-HBs, and HBe Ag) were studied in 987 Senegalese leprosy patients (lepromatous: LL; tuberculoid: TT) in comparison with 6187 healthy adults (controls). Two populations of leprosy patients from ILAD (Institut de Leprologie Appliquee de Dakar) were studied: The First study (i.e.: study I) between 1973 and 1977 included 553 patients (329 LL; 224 TT). The Second study (i.e.: study II) between 1982 and 1986 included 434 patients (236 LL; 198 TT). HBV serological markers were tested by various techniques. By RIA, they were present in 98% and 96.5% in the studies I and II respectively. Each marker was studied and compared to the control population. HBs Ag detected by RIA was present in 25.5% (study I) and 23.0% (study II) when comparing to 15.2% in the control group. This marker was correlated with leprosy forms (LL and TT), age, sex, ethnic group. PMID- 2624078 TI - Experience in leprosy control in a developing country: Vietnam. PMID- 2624079 TI - [Logical treatment of tuberculoid and acute and subacute borderline lepromatous neuritis. Progressive desensitization using lepromin]. PMID- 2624080 TI - Stretching of the brachial plexus in rabbits. AB - The brachial plexus of rabbits was stretched until mechanical failure. The level and site of rupture varied according to the direction of the stretching force. Upward and lateral traction of the forelimbs caused spinal nerve-root avulsions combined with nerve-trunk ruptures distal to the dorsal root ganglions. In such tractions the C5 nerves consistently exhibited postganglionic nerve-trunk rupture. The C6, C7, and C8 nerves had root avulsions. The T1 nerve was avulsed from the spinal cord in 7 cases out of 10; the other 3 cases had postganglionic nerve-trunk rupture. Downward traction of the forelimbs caused nerve avulsions from the scapulohumeral muscles innervated by the terminal branches of the brachial plexus and peripheral nerve ruptures in the course of the arm. The force producing trunk rupture of the C6 nerve was twice as great as that for root avulsion. The required stain was similar for nerve trunk rupture and root avulsion. PMID- 2624081 TI - Muscle activity during shoulder dislocation. AB - EMG activity from eight shoulder muscles in parallel was recorded from 4 patients with generalized joint laxity. During external rotation of the humerus in 45 degrees abduction, humeroscapular dislocation occurred in 2 patients and subluxation in the 2 others. The activity level in the subscapularis was low, and the activation speed was slow. The low muscle activity and delay in activation of the subscapularis muscle may contribute to the instability. PMID- 2624082 TI - Arthrolysis of the elbow. 13 cases of posttraumatic stiffness. AB - On an average 5 years after arthrolysis for posttraumatic stiffness of 13 elbows, motion was good in eight, fair in three, and poor in two. The poor cases were reoperated on with unsatisfactory results. PMID- 2624083 TI - Prediction of instability of Colles' fractures. AB - The tendency of 267 consecutive Colles' fractures to dislocate during plaster cast treatment was correlated with several parameters measured from the initial radiographs. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that radial axial shortening had the greatest prognostic power. The age of the patient and Lidstrom's class provided additional prognostic information. Initial radial axial shortening of 5 mm or more generally indicated an unfavorable anatomic end result. PMID- 2624084 TI - Idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip. A distinct clinical entity? AB - We report 4 cases of idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip in children, a rare disease. In several aspects, there was a close resemblance to classical pauciarticular juvenile chronic arthritis. Hence, we question the clinical entity denoted as idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip. PMID- 2624085 TI - Small PMMA beads improve gentamicin release. AB - The in vivo release of gentamicin base from conventional polymethyl methacrylate 7-mm beads was compared with that from the recently introduced 3 x 5-mm minibeads. The release in 14 days from minibeads was 93 percent of their gentamicin content, while the large beads released an average of 24 percent. The volume of the minibeads is one fifth of that of the large beads. Owing to the improved release combined with the smaller size, total release from minibeads in a cavity may be some seven times that from large beads. When in smaller cavities a strong bactericidal effect is desired, minibeads are to be preferred to large beads. PMID- 2624087 TI - Failure of acetabular augmentation for recurrent dislocation after hip arthroplasty. Report of 3 cases. AB - Three patients who underwent acetabular augmentation according to the technique of Olerud and Karlstrom are presented. In all 3 the procedure was a failure. The factors involved in recurrent dislocation of the prosthetic hip and the reason for the failure of this technique are discussed. PMID- 2624086 TI - Outcome of the infected hip arthroplasty. A retrospective study of 36 patients. AB - We report the outcome after revision for deep infection in 34 total and two hemiarthroplasties of the hip. Excision arthroplasty was carried out in 26 cases a median of 1 (0-8) years after the infection was diagnosed. Thirteen of these cases later underwent rearthroplasty, and in 3 of them the infection recurred. In 3 cases, revision in one stage with exchange of both components was successfully performed. In 2 cases only one of the components was exchanged; both of these procedures failed to eradicate the infection. Five patients died, two deaths being related to the infection. Altogether, the infection was eradicated in 30/36 cases, 34 of whom first underwent nonradical treatment. This contributed to 1 (0 7) years' delay of removal of the prosthesis. Clearly, revision should be performed early if the infection fails to respond rapidly to antibiotic treatment. PMID- 2624088 TI - Internal fixation of femoral neck fractures in Parkinson's disease. 32 patients followed for 2 years. AB - 32 patients, suffering from Parkinson's disease, had internal fixation of femoral neck fractures. In 24 displaced fractures, 6 nonunions and 3 segmental collapses were seen; and in 8 undisplaced fractures, 1 case of segmental collapse was diagnosed. Healing complications were thus seen in one third. Total hip replacement for healing complication was performed in 3 of 32 patients. 9 patients died within 2 years. No difference in the rate of healing or mortality was detected compared with hip fracture patients without Parkinson's disease. Our study does not support primary arthroplasty for femoral neck fracture in patients with Parkinson's disease. PMID- 2624089 TI - Contralateral percutaneous adductor tenotomy. An aid to peroperative fluoroscopy in hip fracture fixation. AB - In 6 elderly patients with femoral neck fractures, contralateral hip disease made lateral fluoroscopy difficult. Percutaneous adductor tenotomy of the contralateral hip facilitated screening of guide-wire placement during the fixation of the fracture. PMID- 2624090 TI - Dog bone less osteogenetic than rat bone. Bone-matrix transplants in nude rats. AB - Demineralized bone matrix and bone-matrix gelatin prepared from cortical rat bone, and from cortical and cancellous canine bone were implanted into muscle pouches of nude rats for 6 weeks. Evaluation was done by histology, histomorphometry, and determination of alkaline phosphatase. Rat matrix consistently induced new bone and high phosphatase levels. Canine matrix induced but small amounts of bone and lower phosphatase levels, with cortical matrix somewhat more inductive than cancellous matrix; demineralized cancellous bone matrix from the dog was the only material tested not showing any inductivity. Irrespective of bone type or species, gelatin had clearly higher induction capacity than demineralized bone matrix. PMID- 2624091 TI - Knot strength of nylon-band cerclage. AB - Nylon bands of five sizes were tested to failure using a splint circular jaw mounted on a tensile testing machine. Four treatment groups of each of the five sizes were tested: as supplied by the manufacturer, ethylene oxide sterilized, autoclave sterilized, and saline-soaked. Comparisons were made between groups and to previously reported results of similar testing of stainless steel wire of three sizes. All the bands failed at the lock mechanism. Knot strength increased with increased size of nylon band. There was no difference between untreated and ethylene oxide sterilized bands, whereas bands subjected to autoclaving or saline soaking failed at less force. The knot strength of all the treatment groups in the three smaller sizes of bands was less than twist-knotted 0.8-mm wire cerclage; and when soaked in saline for 24 hours, the knot strength of the two largest size bands dropped to less than 1.2-mm twist-knotted wire. PMID- 2624092 TI - Knee mechanics after repair of the anterior cruciate ligament. A cadaver study of ligament augmentation. AB - An experimental knee-testing system was used to investigate the immediate postoperative mechanical state in knees with nonaugmented and augmented repairs of the anterior cruciate ligament. Ligament, repair tissue, and augmentation forces were measured using buckle transducers, and joint motion was measured using an instrumented spatial linkage during the application of 90 N anteriorly directed tibial loads to seven fresh knee specimens at 0-90 degrees of flexion. Force and motion data were collected from each knee with an intact and excised anterior cruciate ligament, and after performing (1) a nonaugmented repair and an augmented repair using the Ligament Augmentation Device (3M Company) placed either (2) anatomically through the lateral femoral condyle or (3) in the over the-top position. The forces in the nonaugmented repair and the repair with the augmentation in the two positions were greater than the forces in the intact anterior cruciate ligament with the knee under the same anterior loads; this difference from normal was not significant with the over-the-top augmentation. With the augmentation anatomically placed, the load sharing did not reduce the force in the repair tissue as compared with the nonaugmented case. The over-the top augmentation, on the other hand, lowered the repair tissue forces at extension while avoiding high repair tissue forces in flexion. The tibia was consistently in an externally rotated configuration compared with normal in both the unloaded and anterior load states with all three repair procedures. PMID- 2624093 TI - Incidence of meniscal lesions in children. Increase associated with diagnostic arthroscopy. AB - In the population of Malmo the average annual incidence of symptomatic meniscal lesions in children increased from 0.7 to 2.5 per 10,000 from 1960-1965 inclusive to 1980-1985 inclusive. Soccer was the predominant cause of the lesions, and the increased incidence of the diagnosis was associated with the introduction of arthroscopy. PMID- 2624094 TI - Patellar fractures. A 30-year follow-up. AB - Forty patients who had had a patellar fracture during the years 1950-58 were reevaluated 30 years later. A clinical and radiographic examination was performed. Fourteen patients had subjective complaints. Two thirds of the patients who had more than 2-mm diastasis or 1-mm incongruity had complaints and reduced quadriceps strength. Radiographically, all the patients had a reduction in the lateral patellofemoral distance in the axial view with the greatest reduction in the knees with diastasis or incongruity of the fracture. PMID- 2624095 TI - Failure of metal-backed uncemented patellar components. Report on 3 cases. AB - We report 3 cases of metal-backed patellar component failure of the Microloc total condylar knee, which was implanted in 51 cases. The main reason for failure was the design of the patellar and femoral components in combination with flexion of more than 100 degrees. PMID- 2624096 TI - Stress shielding by rigid fixation studied in osteotomized rabbit tibiae. AB - In 48 rabbits the bone-formation rates and strength in the tibial shaft, osteotomized and treated with rigid internal plate fixation, were compared with contralateral bones, which were treated with plate fixation without osteotomy. The plate fixation alone induced a 35 percent decrease in torsional strength after 12 weeks. The healing of the osteotomy counteracted the decrease in strength induced by stress protection of the rigid plate at 6 weeks, but this effect subsided within 12 weeks. The osteotomy also induced a 2-3-fold increase in the synthesis of bone matrix and mineral accretion of the bone underlying the plate at 6 and 9 weeks when compared with the contralateral side, which was plated but not osteotomized. The bone-formation levels returned to normal within 12 weeks; and the bone underlying the plate became subject to atrophy, resulting in decreased mechanical strength. PMID- 2624097 TI - Ankle instability caused by peroneal tendon rupture. A case report. PMID- 2624098 TI - A case of bilateral duplication of the patella. AB - A boy with bilateral duplication of his patellae was radiographically examined between 8 and 11 years of age. The duplication was probably caused by a disrupted fusion of two ossification centra. PMID- 2624099 TI - Winged scapula due to osteochondroma. Report of 3 children. AB - Three children with winged scapula due to subscapular osteochondromata are reported. One case with multiple osteochondromatosis had two subscapular lesions. After resection, our cases became normal immediately and had no recurrence. PMID- 2624100 TI - Vertebral ontogenesis. Resegmentation refuted. PMID- 2624101 TI - Centralization of bone and soft tissue tumors. European Musculoskeletal Oncology Society. PMID- 2624102 TI - Transferrin receptor expression in normal, iron-deficient and iron-overloaded rats. AB - The distribution of transferrin receptor (TfR)-positive cells and their staining intensity were examined in the liver, duodenum, pancreas, spleen, kidney and brain of iron-deficient, iron-overloaded and normal Wistar rats to elucidate the regulatory effects of iron on TfR expression in vivo. Iron deficiency was produced by an iron-deficient food and water regimen, and iron overload by repeated intraperitoneal injections of ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe3(+)- NTA) for 12 weeks. In iron-deficient rats, levels of hemoglobin (Hb = 5.9 +/- 0.7) and serum iron (SI = 29.9 +/- 4.4) were lower, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC = 624.4 +/- 72.7) was higher than in normal rats (Hb = 15.6 +/- 0.9, SI = 206.5 +/- 20.5, TIBC = 416.0 +/- 56.0), and vice versa for SI (217.7 +/- 15.5) and TIBC (307.1 +/- 45.4) in iron-overloaded rats. In normal rats, TfR-positive granules were observed in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells of the liver, absorptive epithelium of the duodenum, acinar and Langerhans islet cells of the pancreas, macrophages and red pulp erythroblast of the spleen, and distal convoluted tubular epithelium of the kidney. Although the tissue distribution pattern of TfR positive cells was similar in normal, iron-deficient and iron-overloaded rats, the staining intensity and number of TfR-positive cells were obviously higher in iron-deficient, and lower in iron-overloaded rats. We conclude that TfR expression is negatively regulated by the tissue concentration of iron. PMID- 2624103 TI - In situ localization of pepsinogens I and II mRNA in human gastric mucosa. AB - Localization of pepsinogens I and II mRNA in the human gastric mucosa was investigated by an in situ hybridization method using digoxigenin-labeled cDNA probes. Gastric fundic mucosa from healthy volunteers, which was stained with digoxigenin-labeled pepsinogens I and II cDNA probes, showed positive staining in the cytoplasm of both chief cells and mucous neck cells. In contrast, gastric antral mucosa stained with the pepsinogen I cDNA probe showed no positive reaction in the surface mucous cells or pyloric glands. On the other hand, the pyloric glands were stained positively with the pepsinogen II cDNA probe and the staining appeared to be identical to that obtained with the antipepsinogens I and II monoclonal antibodies using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique. These results are consistent with those of previous studies that have employed immunochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. PMID- 2624104 TI - Alterations in nonspecific cross-reacting antigen localization during cell culture. An immunoelectron microscopic study using a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line. AB - Nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA), a constituent of the carcinoembryonic antigen family, was localized ultrastructurally in a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line, PC-9. NCA was distributed predominantly on the plasma membrane in the early phases of cell culture. Deletion of fetal bovine serum (FBS) from the culture medium suppressed cell division without significantly altering cell viability, and induced a dramatic but reversible change in NCA localization. Under these conditions, NCA was localized to membrane degradation products within cytoplasmic vesicles and vacuoles. Acid phosphatase activity was also present in some of these intracellular structures. Similar changes in NCA localization were seen in cells cultured with FBS at day 6 when the cells reached a plateau stage of growth. These findings strongly suggest that plasma membrane degradation is accelerated by the cessation of cell growth. Cytoplasmic reactivity for NCA in cancer cells may therefore reflect degradation of plasma membrane-associated NCA and may not necessarily be correlated with increased systhesis of this glycoprotein. PMID- 2624105 TI - Quantitative analysis of fiber disarray developing in papillary muscles unloaded after mitral valve replacement. AB - Muscle fiber disarray which developed in the papillary muscle released from its chordal attachment after mitral valve replacement (MVR) was analysed histometrically in 23 hearts. The degree of disarray, or how far the fiber arrangement deviated from an ideal condition in which the fibers are considered to be aligned in parallel, was evaluated in terms of the "disarray index". This index corresponds to the ratio of the minor to major axes of a regression ellipse which can be obtained histometrically by plotting the reciprocal of the number of muscle fibers intersected by a test line of equal length in every direction on a polar coordinate system. The index can vary continuously in a range from 0.00 for a completely parallel fiber alignment to 1.00 for a completely random distribution. The estimated index showed a gradual increase from 0.05 to 0.68 according to the postoperative survival period after MVR with a significant positive correlation (r = 0.793, p less than 0.01). The index was inversely correlated with the mean muscle fiber diameter (r = -0.433, p less than 0.05). These results indicate that the disarray which develops in the papillary muscle after MVR is a deformation of the normally parallel arrangement of fibers toward an isotropic texture under focal disruption of the normally longitudinally oriented tensile force. PMID- 2624106 TI - Diffuse pleural rhabdomyosarcoma with persistent pleural effusion. AB - A unique case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma arising at the left pleura of a 7 year-old Japanese girl is reported. The present case was characterized by persistent pleural effusion, and the malignant cells incidentally found in it were the first diagnostic clue. The tumor showed a rare growth pattern involving diffuse thickening of the parietal pleura. Biopsy of the thickened parietal pleura upon thoracotomy revealed embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma largely composed of immature mesenchymal cells. Immunohistochemical demonstration of creatinine phosphokinase-MM was most helpful among several types of immunostain for the histopathological diagnosis. Ultrastructurally, thin filaments with primitive Z bands could be seen in some tumor cells. Intensive clinical examination revealed only diffuse thickening of the parietal pleura, which was reduced by chemotherapy. This is the first documented case of rhabdomyosarcoma arising at the pleura. Previous reports of rhabdomyosarcoma arising at unusual sites are reviewed and the histogenesis of this tumor is briefly discussed. PMID- 2624107 TI - Primary fibrosarcoma of the liver. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies. AB - An autopsy case of primary fibrosarcoma occurring in the liver of a 75-year-old female is presented. The tumor, arising from the lateral upper portion of the right lobe, measured 14 cm in greatest dimension. Light microscopy of the tumor revealed homogeneous, spindle-shaped cells with abundant collagen fibers showing a classic herring-bone pattern. Immunoreactive vimentin was found in the tumor cells. Electron microscopically, the tumor cells were rich in rough endoplasmic reticulum without a basement membrane, and were surrounded by large amounts of collagen fibers. The fibroblastic character of the tumor cells was suggested by light and electron microscopy. This may be the first reported case of primary hepatic fibrosarcoma examined by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. PMID- 2624108 TI - Acute aortic dissection due to giant cell arteritis. Report of two autopsy cases. AB - Two autopsy cases of giant cell arteritis with aortic dissection are reported. One patient was an 87-year-old man, and the other was an 80-year-old woman. In both cases the patient died suddenly, and fatal pericardial bleeding due to the aortic dissection was revealed at autopsy. Histologically, marked inflammation with giant cells was observed in the wall of the aorta and in other arteries including the cranial arteries. The authors therefore consider that giant cell arteritis was one of the preceding lesions that culminated in aortic dissection. PMID- 2624109 TI - Analgesic effect of tramadol in the rat. AB - The analgesic effect of tramadol was studied in the rat using tail flick and hot plate tests following intrathecal and subcutaneous administrations. Tramadol had only a short-lasting analgesic effect (20 min) on intrathecal administration which may be due to rapid removal from the subarachnoid space. Its analgesic effects were antagonized by pretreatment with naloxone. It seems that the opiate system may involve in the analgesic effect of tramadol, while the noradrenergic, serotonergic and cholinergic systems may play a modulating role. PMID- 2624110 TI - [Antagonism to morphine analgesia and involvement in morphine tolerance of angiotensin II in periaqueductal gray of the rabbits]. AB - The stainless steel cannulas were implanted to male rabbits of 2.0-2.6 kg, under Na-pentobarbital anaesthesia with the aid of a stereotaxic instrument. Co ordinates of the locations of the implantations were P 9.5, LR 1.0, H 10.0 mm (under outer surface of the skull) on both sides of periaqueductal gray (PAG). After 1 wk, nociception was assessed by measuring the latency of the escape response (ERL) elicited by strong radiant heat focused on the nose of rabbits. The analgesic effect of morphine (4 mg/kg, iv) was blocked by injecting angiotensin II (AII, 0.1 microgram) into PAG (P less than 0.01, ANOVA), but not by injecting the same dose of AII into the vicinity of PAG (P greater than 0.05, ANOVA). Morphine tolerance was induced by iv infusion of morphine for 2 d, the dose being 50 mg/(kg.8 h) on d 1 and 75 mg/(kg.8 h) on d 2. On d 3, the degree of tolerance was checked by the analgesia induced by iv morphine 4 mg/kg. Tolerance was partly reversed by injecting AII anti-serum 2 microliters into PAG(P less than 0.01, ANOVA). The results suggest that AII in PAG is antagonistic to morphine analgesia and is involved in the development of morphine tolerance. PMID- 2624111 TI - [Autoradiographic study on etorphine and phencyclidine specific binding sites in rabbit mesenteric artery]. AB - Autoradiography was used to study the localization of kappa and PCP/sigma receptors in the blood vessels. Slices of rabbit mesenteric arteries were incubated with 0.4 nmol/L [3H]etorphine or/and 10 mumol/L etorphine for 45 min at 25 degrees C, or incubated with 5.2 nmol/L [3H]PCP or/and 20 mumol/L PCP for 60 min at 4 degrees C. Then, slices were covered with emulsion coated coverslip and kept for 8-10 wk at 4 degrees C. The results were as follows: Microscopy Autoradiographic analysis indicated that etorphine and PCP specific binding sites were both located in the outer-layer and the smooth muscle of the artery. However, most of these binding sites were lost in the 6-OHDA pretreated arteries in which the adrenergic nerve endings were destroyed. Microspectrophotometry The absorbance (A) of [3H]etorphine autoradiographic density for total binding (TB) and nonspecific binding (NSB) in control group were 0.416 +/- 0.056 and 0.044 +/- 0.011, respectively (P less than 0.01), and for TB after incubation with 6-OHDA was 0.068 +/- 0.013 which was different from the A value of TB in the control (P less than 0.01). The A value of [3H]PCP autoradiographic density for TB and NSB in the control were 0.546 +/- 0.087 and 0.023 +/- 0.060, respectively (P less than 0.01), and for TB after incubation with 6-OHDA was 0.065 +/- 0.015 which was significantly less than that of TB in the control group (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624112 TI - [Rapid membrane effects of adrenocorticoids on celiac ganglion cells of guinea pig]. AB - Intracellular recording technique was used to determine the effects of corticosterone, dexamethasone, aldosterone and cholesterol on the resting membrane potentials and membrane resistance of cells in isolated celiac ganglion of guinea pigs. Hyperpolarization was elicited by corticosterone in 15 out of 83 cells, but was not caused by dexamethasone, which depolarized the membrane in 2 out of 18 cells. In addition, depolarization was also elicited by corticosterone in 2 out of 83 cells. Aldosterone and cholesterol caused no detectable changes of membrane potential and membrane resistance. It is suggested that the membrane effects of adrenocorticoids, which obviously could not be explained by traditional genomic mechanism for their short latency, may indicate the existence of membrane receptors for adrenocorticoids in celiac ganglion neurons of guinea pigs. PMID- 2624113 TI - Prophylactic effects of m-nisoldipine and nisoldipine on reperfusion arrhythmias exacerbated by free radical generating system in Langendorff heart of rat. AB - Xanthine-xanthine oxidase (X-XOD, 500 mumol/L + 100 nmol/L) free radical generating system was perfused 10 min prior to coronary artery ligation until the end of the experiment. It exacerbated the reperfusion ventricular fibrillation, reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and increased the contents of malondialdehyde in Langendorff heart of rats. m-Nisoldipine or nisoldipine (0.05 mumol/L) was perfused 10 min prior to coronary artery ligation until the end of the experiment. They prevented reperfusion arrhythmias exacerbated by X-XOD and decreased the free radicals generated by X-XOD. PMID- 2624114 TI - [Anti-arrhythmic mechanisms of sophoramine]. AB - Sophoramine (SA) exerted an inhibitory effect on arrhythmias in rats induced by aconitine and coronary artery ligation, and elevated the ventricular fibrillation threshold to electrical stimulation in rabbits. SA 98 mumol/L decreased the speed up effect of isoprenaline on spontaneous beating in rabbit isolated atria, with the dose-effect curve being shifted to the right and the maximal effect being inhibited. SA 250 mumol/L enhanced the contractile force of the isolated rabbit atria, but had no effect on the contractions of rabbit aorta strips induced by high K+ and norepinephrine. In isolated guinea pig ventricular papillary muscle, SA 25-100 mumol/L greatly prolonged the action potential duration (APD) and effective refractory period (ERP). SA 75 mumol/L prolonged the APD of rabbit sinoatrial node cells and reduced the spontaneous excitatory frequency (SEF). PMID- 2624115 TI - [Protective effects of berberine on spontaneous ventricular fibrillation in dogs after myocardial infarction]. AB - The effects of berberine (Ber 5 mg/kg iv) on ventricular tachyarrhythmias and electrophysiologic consequences in both normal and ischemic myocardium were studied in the open-chest dogs subjected to programmed electrical stimulation (PES) and intimal surface anodal direct current stimulation of the circumflex coronary artery on 5-8 d after acute myocardial infarction. Its effects were compared with procainamide (PA). Both drugs distinctly lengthened the QTc interval and the effective refractory period (ERP) of normal and infarct myocardium in both ventricles and decreased the dispersion of ERP in infarct myocardium (IDR) as well as the dispersion of ERP in left ventricle (VDR). The PES-induced ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) was prevented in 4 out of 6 Ber treated and 5 out of 6 PA treated dogs. Ber prevented spontaneous VF in 4 dogs (n = 5). PA prevented spontaneous VF in 3 dogs (n = 5). Normal saline (NS) did not prevent PES-induced VT/VF and spontaneous VF. The results suggest that Ber may be effective in preventing the onset of reentrant ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden coronary death after myocardial ischemic damage. PMID- 2624116 TI - [Effects of nicotine on automaticity of sinoatrial node in rabbit heart]. AB - The electro-physiological effects of nicotine on sinoatrial node cells in rabbit heart were studied using intracellular microelectrodes. When superfused with nicotine 604.0, 60.4, 6.0 or 0.6 mumol/L the spontaneous rate stopped or decreased for 20 s and then increased, eventually surpassing the control values 50 +/- 13, 45 +/- 12, 23 +/- 10 and 14 +/- 6%, respectively. The inhibitory phase was blocked by atropine and the excitatory phase was eliminated by tubocurarine chloride, hexamethonium bromide or pindolol. These results suggest that the effects observed may be related to cholinergic system and caused by nicotine induced catecholamine release. PMID- 2624117 TI - [Effects of neferine on transmembrane potential in rabbit sinoatrial nodes and clusters of cultured myocardial cells from neonatal rats]. AB - Neferine (Nef), a bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid first isolated from the seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera G in China, possesses an anti-arrhythmic action. The effects of Nef on the transmembrane potential were studied in rabbit sinoatrial nodes and the clusters of cultured cardiac myocytes from neonatal rats. Nef 30 mumol/L suppressed the amplitude of action potential (APA) from 57 +/- 5 to 42 +/ 4 mV, and the maximal upstroke velocity (Vmax) from 1.7 +/- 0.3 to 0.9 +/- 0.4 V/s (n = 5, P less than 0.0) in rabbit sinoatrial nodes. Nef (40 mumol/L) decreased the APA from 92 +/- 8 mV of control to 80 +/- 4 mV, and Vmax from 20 +/ 5 to 12 +/- 4 V/s (P less than 0.01) in the clusters of cultured cardiac myocytes from neonatal rats. The effects on APA and Vmax were concentration dependent. The results indicate that Nef has an inhibitory effect on the slow transmembrane Na+ and/or Ca2+ current of myocardium. PMID- 2624118 TI - [Dynamic changes in depolarization of action potentials by high frequency stimulation in guinea pig papillary muscles]. AB - The effect of high frequency stimulation on rate-dependent depression of depolarization of action potentials was studied with computer and standard microelectrode techniques in guinea pig papillary muscles. After increasing driving frequency from 0.5 to 6 Hz, decreases in Vmax, APA and OS were found. Changes of upstroke velocity during phase 0 between driving frequency 6 and 0.5 Hz could be described as a parabola. The rate-dependent depression of depolarization was exaggerated by tetrodotoxin (TTX), particularly during the accelerating period of phase 0. A progressive decline in Vmax, which could be fitted by a power function curve, was observed after changing driving frequency from 1 to 5 Hz. TTX significantly influenced the decline in Vmax and the regression coefficients in fitted equations. PMID- 2624119 TI - [Effects of bis(dimethyl amino)-diphenyl methane (BDDM) on action potentials in guinea pig papillary muscle]. AB - The effects of BDDM on action potentials and slow response action potentials in guinea pig papillary muscle were investigated by microelectrode technique. BDDM prolonged action potentials duration at 30, 50, 90, and 100% repolarization (APD30, APD50, APD90, APD100) and prolonged the effective refractory period (ERP), so ERP/APD value became greater. BDDM (51.6 mumol/L) decreased the APA, Vmax and prolonged APD50, APD90. In barium-induced ventricular autorhythmicity, BDDM suppressed the maximal diastolic potential (MDP), APA and reduced the rate of spontaneous rhythm. The results suggest that BDDM may unspecifically inhibit the currents of Ca2+, K+, and Na+. PMID- 2624120 TI - [Effect of dazoxiben on cerebrovascular resistance in rabbits]. AB - The effects of dazoxiben, a TXA2 synthetase inhibitor, and indomethacin were compared on cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) and levels of serum TXB2, 6-keto PGF1 alpha (the stable metabolites of TXA2 and PGI2, respectively) and on protection from acute brain ischaemia caused by ia arachidonic acid (AA) in rabbits. The flow represented the cerebral blood flow (CBF) in two internal jugular arteries were measured with electromagnetic flow meter after occlusion of bilateral vertebral arteries and external jugular arteries. CVR was represented as blood pressure/(CBF.100 g brain). Serum TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that CVR and BP, EEG, ECG were not affected by treatment with iv dazoxiben 2 or 10 mg/kg. The CVR was enhanced by 35.5 and 49.8% at 30 and 40 min, respectively after iv indomethacin 10 mg/kg. The serum TXB2 level (872 +/- 85) was inhibited to 511 +/- 169 pg/ml (n = 5, P less than 0.05) and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha increased from 668 +/- 309 to 890 +/- 357 pg/ml (n = 5, P less than 0.05) at 30 min after iv 2 mg/kg dazoxiben. However, both TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha decreased by 26.4 and 32.7%, respectively at 40 min after iv indomethacin 10 mg/kg. In a model of cerebral ischaemia caused by ia AA in rabbits, the EEG change and enhancement of CVR were antagonized by iv dazoxiben 10 mg/kg completely, but only partly antagonized by indomethacin 10 mg/kg. The results suggest that PGI2 and TXA2 may play a minor role in the regulation of CVR in the physiological condition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624121 TI - [Anti-ulcer activity of Na-gamma-hydroxybutyrate in rat stomach]. AB - The antigastric ulcer activity of Na-gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHBA) was studied on various experimental ulcers in rats. The results showed that the number of gastric ulcers induced by sc indomethacin 20 mg/kg, restraint stress or pyloric ligation were markedly diminished by GHBA. Pretreatment with GHBA 10 mg/kg im bid 5 times revealed significant anti-ulcer activity in all of these models. The inhibitory rates of ulcer were 42, 71 and 51% for indomethacin, restraint stress and pyloric ligation, respectively. Chronic gastric ulcer induced by 10% acetic acid was also inhibited by GHBA 10 mg/kg im bid for 8 days. The ulcer inhibitory rate was 73%. The amount of gastric mucus glycoprotein and [3H] TdR incorporation into gastric tissues was increased by GHBA, but the volume of gastric juice, and acid and pepsin output were not influenced. It is suggested that the prevention of GHBA on gastric mucosal damage may be related to its preservation of the gastric mucosal barrier. PMID- 2624122 TI - [Action of schizandrin B, an antioxidant, on lipid peroxidation in primary cultured hepatocytes]. AB - The action of schizandrin B (Sin B) was observed in freshly isolated hepatocytes damaged by FeSO4/cysteine and CCl4. Two types of free radicals, .OH and .CCl3, generated from FeSO4/cysteine and CCl4, respectively, induced lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes. It was found that the speed of lipid peroxidation (MDA production) and the degree of alteration in hepatocyte morphology were closely related to the type of free radicals. MDA production and membrane protrusion of hepatocytes injuries by FeSO4/cysteine were faster and more severe than those observed with CCl4. Sin B was shown to decrease the production of MDA and the release of GPT and LDH, and to increase hepatocyte viability as well as maintaining the integrity of the hepatocyte membrane surface. These actions of Sin B were stronger than vitamin E at the same concentration. It was observed that no inhibitory effect of phenobarbital, a typical inducer of cytochrome P 450, as Sin B induced liver cytochrome P-450, on MDA production in hepatocytes damaged by FeSO4/cysteine. The results suggest that Sin B possesses antioxidant activity. PMID- 2624123 TI - [Anti-inflammatory effect of cyproheptadine]. AB - Cyproheptadine, an anti-5-hydroxytryptamine drug, 20 mg/kg ip or 20-40 mg/kg ig markedly inhibited hind paw edema induced by injection of fresh egg white 0.1 ml or 2.5% formaldehyde 0.1 ml in rats. Cyproheptadine 20 mg/kg ip or 40-60 mg/kg ig inhibited hind paw edema produced by local injection of 0.15 ml 1% carrageenin in normal or adrenalectomized rats. It inhibited the proliferation of granuloma induced by cotton pellet after sc 20 mg/kg qd x 7d, the swelling of mouse ear induced by xylene, and the increased vascular permeability induced by 0.7% HAc in mice. Cyproheptadine did not prolong the survival time in adrenalectomized rats and there were no marked effects on adrenal weight or the plasma concentration of cortisol in rats. It decreased the weight of the thymus and the content of prostaglandin E in the inflammatory tissue of rats. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of cyproheptadine is presumably due to its anti-5 hydroxytryptamine effect and the inhibition of synthesis or release of prostaglandin E. PMID- 2624124 TI - [Antifertility effects of RU-486 in combination with anordrin in rats]. AB - RU-486 and anordrin suspended or dissolved in tea seed oil, alone or in combination, were given orally to rats on d 6-8 or d 11-13 of pregnancy, respectively. Complete interruption of early pregnancy was obtained after RU-486 at 8 mg/kg alone or 2.5 mg/kg combined with anordrin 2 mg/kg when given on d 6-8 of pregnancy. A complete mid-trimester abortion was obtained after RU-486 10 mg/kg alone or 4 mg/kg combined with anordrin 3 mg/kg when given on d 11-13 of pregnancy. Results obtained from the endometrial transformation test, the uteri cytoplasmic progesterone receptor estimation in immature rabbits, the deciduoma inhibited test in pseudopregnant rats and the serum progesterone level in pregnant rats showed that RU-486 in combination with anordrin did not possess progestational, but rather marked antiprogestational activities. Since anordrin is relatively easy to obtain in China, RU-486 combined with anordrin may be ready to be used clinically as an effective oral antifertility agent. PMID- 2624125 TI - [Podophyllic acid piperidyl hydrazone nitroxide radical and etoposide on nucleic acids and protein metabolism of leukemia L7712 cells in vitro]. AB - Podophyllic acid piperidyl hydrazone nitroxide radical (GP-1) and etoposide (VP 16), derivatives of podophyllotoxin, inhibited DNA, RNA, protein and ATP synthesis of leukemia L7712 cells at a concentration of 5 micrograms/ml. Inhibitory extents were dependent on the exposure time from 3 to 24 h. The inhibitory rates of both drugs were about 15-66%. ID50 of GP-1 and VP-16 on the synthesis of L7712 cells at 24 h were 0.16 and 0.38 micrograms/ml, respectively. The dose-response curve of GP-1 was a parabolic one, while that of VP-16 was a straight line. The inhibition of GP-1 or VP-16 on DNA synthesis existed also after cells washing. It is suggested that the antitumor effects of GP-1 and VP-16 seem to be related to the damage of DNA template. PMID- 2624126 TI - [Effects of oleanolic acid on immune system and type I allergic reaction]. AB - Oleanolic acid (OLA)50, 100 mg/kg sc antagonised the inhibitory effect of cortisone on the weights of spleen and thymus, decreased the clearance rate of charcoal particles in mice. The production of serum specific antibody hemolysin was not clearly affected by OLA. The administration of OLA 100 mg/kg enhanced the development of serum antibody immunoglobulin G in mice and showed marked inhibition on the hemolytic activity of the total complement by classical pathway in guinea pigs. In addition, the homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice or rats and the degranulation of mast cells of calvarial periosteum in rats were significantly prevented by OLA 50, 100 mg/kg. The increased capillary permeability in the rat skin caused by intradermic injection of histamine was also reduced by OLA 100 mg/kg. These results indicate that OLA inhibited the type I allergic reaction. PMID- 2624127 TI - Traumatic stress-empirical studies from Norway. PMID- 2624128 TI - The validity of the General Health Questionnaire in a sample of accidentally injured adults. AB - The 20-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was given to 110 accidentally injured adults during the hospital stay. The patients were asked to rate their mental state prior to the accident. They also filled in the GHQ twice during a follow-up period of 28 months. All patients were twice examined by a psychiatrist who was blind to the patients' GHQ response. The overall values for sensitivity and specificity were good during the follow-up period and only slightly better using Chronic scoring procedure (80%-80%). The optimal cutting point for case screening varied across the different time-periods (2/3 pre accident, 3/4 follow-up). Patients with permanently higher case-scores at follow up than at pre-accident were among those severely affected by the injuries from a psychosocial point of view. The nine subjects who scored as a case at each of the three points of time all qualified for a DSM-III diagnosis. Sixty-three percent of the patients with a case score on two occasions qualified for a DSM-III diagnosis. The study indicates that GHQ-20 would be a useful measure of the psychosocial state of trauma patients seen in the course of rehabilitation. PMID- 2624129 TI - The Late Effect of Accidental Injury Questionnaire (LEAIQ). AB - The Late Effect of Accidental Injury Questionnaire (LEAIQ) is a self-report questionnaire constructed to assess the biological, psychological and social effects of traumatic injuries. The LEAI covers current civil and employment status (4 questions); possible negative or positive consequences of the injury (20 questions) symptoms of post-traumatic distress (24 questions); aspects of the accident situation and the emotional impact of the trauma considered to be of relevance for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder and litigation behaviour (3 questions). The last part of the LEAIQ deals with the patient's opinion about the hospital treatment and follow-up control and self-perceived current medical or social needs (4 questions). Preliminary data on reliability and validity are reported from two studies investigating a total of 640 accidentally injured adults. The data indicate that the LEAIQ is easy to fill in for the patients and provides fairly good estimates of the frequency of the long term biological, psychological and social effects in a sample of accidentally injured adults. The data on sensitivity and negative predictive power further suggest that the LEAIQ should be suitable in clinical practice as a first-step instrument for screening late effects of trauma. PMID- 2624130 TI - A study of behavioural responses to an industrial disaster. AB - Based upon 7 response variables we categorized the impact behaviour of 123 industrial employees who had been exposed to a disastrous factory explosion and had survived without suffering severe injuries. The subjects were personally examined and the data controlled by cross-interviews shortly after the disaster. In the analysis the subjects were divided into a high stress (n = 64) and a medium stress exposure group (n = 59) based upon their closeness to the explosion centre. The 7 variables were cognitive function, inadequate behaviour, help received, leadership, cooperative activity, absolute and relative rescue efforts. While about 50% of the total number reported some disturbance in their cognitive control, and 34% of the high stress exposure group experienced a near total loss of cognitive control, severe inadequate behaviour did not occur. Modelling and corrective social interactions may have played an important role in this. Still, 20% of the high stress exposure group had some behavioural response that increased the risk to their life or that of others. The 7 scores were added to an index and cut-off points established to separate 3 different groups of behavioural responses: 29% of the high stress group displayed Maladaptive Disaster Behaviour; inhibited behaviour and uncontrolled flight behaviour dominated in this group. Adaptive Disaster Behaviour was rated in 34% and Optimal Disaster Behaviour in 37%. The following background variables correlated strongly to Optimal Disaster Behaviour: high level of disaster training/experience, male sex, age above 40, maritime occupational background, above average intellectual ability, a life history without mental health problems. A discriminant analysis with 8 variables predicted correctly whether the response would be Optimal or less than that in 84% of the 121 subjects tested in the analysis. A high level of disaster training/experience yielded an overall correct prediction rate of 63.6%, and a sensitivity of 81%, specificity of 85.9% and positive predictive power of 70.7% in predicting Optimal Disaster Behaviour. PMID- 2624131 TI - Importance of high response rates in traumatic stress research. AB - Non-response and psychological resistance, i.e. degree of unwillingness to undergo the primary examination (screening), and its implications for estimation of PTSD prevalences was measured in a longitudinal study of 246 employees exposed to an industrial disaster (explosion/fire). Resistance including refusal, was measured by counting the number of contacts needed in the calling-in procedure to secure cooperation. Resistance to the primary examination related to severity of exposure (24.2% in the high exposure versus 6.8% in the medium exposure and 4.2% in the low exposure group). If those who initially resisted had been lost to the 7 month follow-up the total response rate would have been 82.8%, with an estimated frequency of high PTSS scores of 15. By increasing the response rate to 100%, the true prevalence of high PTSS scores increase to 22.4%. The initial resistance related strongly (P less than 0.001) to the severity of outcome at 7 months. The potential loss to the follow-up would have included 42% of the PTSD cases, and 64% of the severe PTSD cases would have fallen out, resulting in distorted prevalence rates of PTSD. The high potential loss to follow-up in the high exposure category would reduce the predictor value of belonging to that exposure group. The initial resistance in many who later developed PTSD was found to relate to the psychological defences such as avoidance against the re experiences in the acute post-traumatic stress syndrome. For traumatic stress studies on the after-effects of shock traumas the implication of findings is that response rates need to be high. For primary and secondary prevention the implication may be that early outreach must be very active. PMID- 2624132 TI - The stressors and the post-traumatic stress syndrome after an industrial disaster. AB - Acute and subacute post-traumatic stress reactions are reported among 246 employees of an industrial factory which was severely damaged by an explosion and fire. Sixty-six A-subjects had narrow escape experiences (high stress exposure group), while 59 B-subjects were less severely exposed (medium stress exposure group). The 121 C-subjects were not present at work when the explosion occurred (low stress exposure group). A response rate of 97.6% was achieved at the primary examination, and a 100% response at the 7 months follow-up. The frequency and intensity of post-traumatic stress reactions were linked to the severity (A,B,C) of the stress exposure; specific post-traumatic anxiety reactions reported by more than 80% of A-subjects. The reactions appeared immediately or within hours, only 5% of A had delays of a few weeks. While 24.3% of A had State Anxiety Inventory scores 1 week post-disaster higher than 60, 8.5% of B and 2.5% of C had similar scores. Depressive reactions, social withdrawal, guilt, shame and irritability were less frequent, and appeared nearly always concomitant with anxiety symptoms. While the anxiety symptoms made up a tight knit syndrome, the less frequent non-anxiety symptoms were linked to the post-traumatic anxiety syndrome. The subjects' fears reflected the trauma, they feared inanimate objects, and there were hardly any paranoid ideations. The disaster exposure of the A and B but not of the C group members constituted a stressor which fulfilled the PTSD stressor criterion of the DSM III R. A minority of the C group developed a post-traumatic stress syndrome. After 7 months, all 30 post-traumatic stress reactions were more frequent and severe in the A than B group which again differed from the C group. Irritability was the only post-traumatic stress reaction that increased in frequency and intensity during the 7 months observation period. The findings represent evidence that supports the face validity, descriptive and construct validity of the PTSD diagnosis. PMID- 2624133 TI - The stress upon rescuers involved in an oil rig disaster. "Alexander L. Kielland" 1980. AB - Nine months post-disaster, 134 rescuers involved in an off-shore oil rig disaster were investigated by using a structured self report questionnaire to chart their experience of coping with disaster impact stressors and their mental and physical health 9 months after the disaster. Of the 134 rescuers, 24 were categorized as professional rescuers, 101 as non-professionals and 9 could not be classified. Of the 212 victims, all oil rig workers, 89 (42%) were rescued. Seventy-six percent of the rescuers reported they had been exposed to danger during the rescue operation, and 62% found the experience to be the worst ever. Eighty to ninety percent felt they had coped fairly well with the task, and severely disturbed coping was reported to be below 10% for decision-making, ability to judge risk, capacity to function as leader, and finally ability to cooperate and act efficiently. For the non-professionals, severe disturbance in ability to plan before acting was reported by 10% and moderate disturbance was reported by 38%. The frequency of emotional stress reactions during the rescue work can be assessed from the fact that 64% to 52% reported discouragement, restlessness, uncertainty, anxiety and irritation. The stressors inherent in this type of disaster seem to satisfy the DSM III stressor criterion for post-traumatic stress disorder. Nine months after the disaster 24% reported their mental health to be poor due to the disaster impact, and only the most experienced rescuers had a low health risk compared to the others. PMID- 2624134 TI - Fire fighters: a study of stress and coping. AB - Fifty-eight non-professional fire fighters, 91% of all firefighters from different industries who participated in a hotel fire rescue operation, were investigated by means of a structured self-report questionnaire about their stress experience during and after the rescue action. Together with 57 professional fire fighters, they participated in rescuing hotel guests confined for as much as three hours in a 12 storeyed hotel building on fire. Fourteen persons (11%) died, 114 guests survived. Forty-seven percent of the non professional fire fighters reported that the disaster experience was the worst they had ever experienced. Even so, 80% thought that they had coped with the job well to fairly well and for as many as 66% the rescue action represented something positive to them in retrospect. Ten percent claimed that stress reactions disturbed them in executing effective rescue work. Fifty-eight percent maintained that more preparation and training could have improved their effort. Fire fighters with previous practical experience seemed to "digest" the disaster experience more easily than inexperienced fire fighters as measured by the Impact of Event Scale. High level of competence and opportunity for debriefing as well as disaster characteristics are discussed as factors explaining the favourable coping with extreme stress. PMID- 2624135 TI - Acute response to rape--a PTSD variant. AB - The relationship between the acute response to rape and the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was studied in 55 victims of rape and attempted rape during the first two weeks after the assault. The results show that in the majority of victims the response to rape within the first two weeks displays the symptoms of PTSD, although the criterion of duration is not fulfilled. Specific features of the response to rape, like shame, guilt and suicidal ideation are discussed. The importance of early detection to enable the administration of adequate treatment is emphasized and suggestions for further research are offered. PMID- 2624136 TI - Torture of a Norwegian ship's crew. The torture, stress reactions and psychiatric after-effects. AB - During the summer of 1984, 14 seamen, the entire crew of a Norwegian ship, were seized upon arrival in Libya. They were kept under arrest for 67 days and subjected to psychological and physical torture because they were suspected of being enemies of the Libyan state. Within the first few days of imprisonment one seaman had been murdered, another had been abducted and was believed to be dead, and a third had been severely physically maltreated. The immediate reactions to the extreme stress were fear, depression and rage. Not a single seaman gave in to the torture. Shortly after their release, all the seamen underwent thorough medical examinations. Six of them suffered from clear-cut post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and one more seaman developed the disorder two months later. In spite of comprehensive treatment, the same seven sailors, or 54% of the crew, still suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder six months after their release. Used in conjunction with clinical interview, general mental status rating scales (GHQ 20, STAI, State Anxiety Inventory), and specific post traumatic rating scales (Amnesty Score, IES intrusion subscale, PTSS-10) had a high sensitivity and specificity in discriminating between cases and non-cases. PMID- 2624137 TI - Helicopter crash in water: effects of simulator escape training. AB - Findings are presented from an interview study of five crew members who survived a helicopter crash. Four of the five surviving men had received simulated helicopter accident training prior to the crash. One untrained crew member died. The four previously trained survivors claimed that the training was of decisive moment in their escape and survival. Contributions from training appeared to be provision of confidence and thought control. The author discusses these as the development of a positive response-outcome expectancy. PMID- 2624138 TI - The three-year biopsychosocial outcome of 551 hospitalized accidentally injured adults. AB - The negative biological, psychological and social outcomes following accidental injuries were assessed after three years in 551 adults by questionnaires, medical records and information from the National Insurance Offices. Fifty-four percent reported at least one negative outcome. Some reduction of physical function was reported by 31.8% and worsened bodily health by 26.0%. In about half of these cases reduced life quality was the main problem. Of the persons 18.9% claimed worsened psychological health and 18.2% decreased capacity for work as an effect of the injury. It is concluded that accidental injuries are an important source of morbidity and reduced life quality in society and that the long-term outcomes are best conceived within a biopsychosocial frame of reference. PMID- 2624139 TI - A long-term psychosocial follow-up study of burned adults. AB - A clinical psychiatric follow-up study of 70 burned adults was performed 3-13 years after the burn injury. The majority of patients had minor injuries. Twenty three percent suffered from definite psychosocial problems at follow up. Patients with severe injuries more often had problems (44%) than patients with minor injuries (16%). Outcome was not related to premorbid psychopathology except for patients with more severe injuries. A combination of variables describing length of hospital stay, the presence of scars, premorbid psychopathology, experiencing death threat when injured and deviant behaviour during the hospital stay was found to be the best predictor of negative psychosocial outcome (positive predicting power 83%; sensitivity 94%). PMID- 2624140 TI - Effect of cysteine on the inactivation of cystathionine gamma-lyase by D,L propargylglycine. AB - In vivo inactivation of cystathionine gamma-lyase by D,L-propargylglycine, a suicide inhibitor, was found to be less profound in rat kidney than in the liver. We investigated the cause of this difference using rat tissues. We fractionated kidney extract to characterize the substance which protected enzyme, and found that cysteine exhibits protecting action. Addition of 0.3 mM L-cysteine to the incubation mixture containing dialyzed kidney supernatant and 0.5 mM D,L propargylglycine resulted in the protection of cystathionine gamma-lyase from the inactivation by the inhibitor. The content of cysteine in the kidney was six-fold higher than that in the liver. Thus, we have concluded that one of the reasons why the in vivo inactivation of cystathionine gamma-lyase in rat kidney was less than that in the liver is the presence of a higher concentration of cysteine in the kidney. S-Carboxymethylcysteine, a cysteine derivative, exhibited a similar, but weaker, protective effect. PMID- 2624141 TI - Effect of serum fractions obtained from cancer patients by double filtration plasmapheresis combined with natural tumor necrosis factors and cyclophosphamide on murine pulmonary metastases. AB - We investigated the effects of fractionated sera obtained from cancer patients by double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) plus antitumor agents on murine pulmonary metastasis. Fractions of the sera, in combination with natural human tumor necrosis factors (nTNF) and cyclophosphamide (Cy), were systemically administered to Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing mice. When the second filtrate (a plasma fraction containing substances composed of smaller molecular weight compounds) combined with low-dose nTNF (1,000 U/kg) and Cy (250 micrograms/kg) was administered to the mice, the degree of metastasis was significantly suppressed compared with the control group (p less than 0.01). In contrast, the discarded fluid (a plasma fraction containing larger molecular weight compounds) combined with the same doses of nTNF and Cy caused little inhibition of metastasis. Also, the discarded fluid significantly suppressed natural killer activity compared with normal sera (p less than 0.01). The results suggested that DFPP combined with nTNF and Cy is an efficient procedure to remove immunosuppressive factors from the sera of cancer-bearing hosts, to enhance the host antitumor immunity, and to suppress tumor proliferation. PMID- 2624142 TI - Efficacy of traditional Chinese herbs on squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: histopathologic analysis of 240 cases. AB - Three types of traditional Chinese herb medicine were used to treat 98 patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma prior to surgical treatment. Forty-two patients with the same diagnosis were treated with these herbs plus cyclophosphamide (endoxan). One hundred similar patients received surgical treatment without herbs or endoxan treatment as controls. Histologic examinations of surgical specimens were made on all of these patients. Stromal lymphoid-cell infiltration and cancer tissue degeneration were more prominent in Menispernum dehuricum DC- or Chelidonium majus L-treated patients, and were less clear in patients treated with herbs plus endoxan and the controls. The antitumor action of herbs is thought to be brought about by the activation of an immunological rejection mechanism. Herbs plus endoxan may result in the masking of the immunological response of hosts without obviously damaging cancer tissues. PMID- 2624143 TI - Effect of various factors and substrates on the growth of a human hepatoblastoma cell line, HuH-6 in a serum-free medium. AB - The effect of various factors and substrates on the growth of a human hepatoblastoma cell line, HuH-6, which was inoculated at low density in a serum free medium was examined. Several supplements were required to enhance cell growth of HuH-6. These included cholera toxin (CT), glucagon (Glu) and selenium (Se). Type IV collagen (C-IV) provided the most conductive environment tested for cell growth. These results suggest that CT, Glu, Se, and C-IV are important stimulators for the continuous growth of HuH-6 in a serum-free medium at low density. PMID- 2624144 TI - Human liver ferritin as a new tracer for studying glomerular permeability. AB - Sprague-Dawley rats, 6 with aminonucleoside nephrosis and 6 controls, were intravenously injected with human liver ferritin isolated from post mortem liver, and their 24-h urine samples were examined for human ferritin by immunoradiometric assay. In rats with aminonucleoside nephrosis, the amount of excreted ferritin in urine was forty times greater than in control rats. Much more monomeric ferritin was excreted than that of polymeric ferritin. We are the first to have utilized human liver ferritin as a tracer to measure a minor amount of ferritin by a commercially available kit. Our present study seems to indicate a critical role for glomerular basement membrane as a size barrier. PMID- 2624145 TI - In vitro effects of human recombinant alpha-2b interferon on Ph1+ chronic myelogenous leukemia cells maintained in long term marrow cultures: a functional and morphological analysis. AB - In this study in vitro results obtained with hu rec IFN-alpha 2b on Ph1+ stem cells from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase (CML in CP) will be discussed: cells were incubated with different IFN concentrations (100, 1000, 10000 IU/ml) for different times (24, 96 hrs, 8, 15, days) and maintained in long term marrow cultures (LTMC); CFU-GM assay, cytochemistry and cytogenetic analyses were performed weekly. A high sensitivity of CML cells to the in vitro treatment with IFN was observed. Cell count in LTMC showed a progressive reduction inversely proportional to time of incubation and concentration of IFN; a marked decrease in colony growth was observed at the end of incubations and during the course of LTMC. Low concentrations of IFN permitted a morphological maturation and the expression of alkaline phosphatase. Cytogenetic analyses showed a marked reduction of mytoses in cultures treated with high concentrations of IFN as result of a combined cytostatic and cytolitic effect; the persistance of 100% Ph1+ cells in LTMC and in CFU-GM colonies might be related, as opposed to in vivo results, to different IFN exposure conditions or might be influenced by other factors. PMID- 2624146 TI - Differential induction of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase by IFN-beta ser and IFN alpha 2 in serum-supplemented and serum-free HL-60 leukemic cell cultures. AB - The influence of cell culture conditions on the induction of 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) synthetase by recombinant interferons IFN-beta ser and IFN-alpha 2 has been investigated in human HL-60 leukemic cells. Cells maintained either in the fetal bovine serum-supplemented medium (FBS-SM) or in a serum-free, chemically defined Nutridoma-supplemented medium (SFN-SM) are treated with different concentrations of the two types of IFN and the extent of 2-5A synthetase induction compared. While cells in FBS-SM show a substantially greater increase in 2-5A synthetase by IFN-beta ser than cells in SFN-SM, the latter culture condition is significantly more effective in elevating synthetase activity with the addition of IFN-alpha 2. These data suggest that there are growth modulators and other "factors" in the fetal bovine serum which may interact specifically with each type of IFN to coordinate the optimal expression of the 2-5A synthetase protein. PMID- 2624147 TI - [Evolution in rheumatic fever?]. PMID- 2624148 TI - [Rheumatic cardiopathy in children. A comparative study in 2 consecutive 9-year periods]. AB - The case rate of children observed with rheumatic carditis or rheumatic heart disease during two consecutive periods of nine years are compared. The first was from October 1969 to September 1978, with previously published data, and the present study from October 1978 to September 1987. During the second period there were 38 cases, 26 of which had the first attack in Portugal, with isolated carditis in 18 (69%), associated with polyarthritis in 5 (20%) and associated with chorea in 3 (11%). Isolated mitral insufficiency was the most frequent valve lesion (80%) and 84% of the children were in NYHA class I and II when first seen. Eighteen children were followed during an average of 2.7 years and there was good compliance of secondary prevention in 78% of them with improvement of the valve lesion. The 12 cases referred from the african countries of portuguese language were more severe, and studied separately. Comparing with the first 9 years period, the case rate of rheumatic carditis, per year decreased from 12.5 to 2.3, the mortality was reduced and the clinical presentation was different, with earlier detection, milder forms and better compliance to secondary prevention. PMID- 2624149 TI - [Rheumatic fever--exacerbation or decline? Analysis of patients admitted to a medical service within a period of 20 years]. AB - The authors revised 116 clinical files of patients admitted to a Medicine ward with Rheumatic Fever in the years 1959-63 and 1979-83, in order to detect a possible recrudescence of the disease. The following parameters were analysed: age, sex, length of hospital stay, clinical manifestations, ancillary exams, therapeutics and evolution. It was found an impressive decline in the incidence of the disease (90 cases vs 26) and also a very significant decrease of the period of hospitalization in the recent group of patients (p less than 0.0005); Carditis and relapses of Rheumatic Fever were more frequent in the old group of patients. PMID- 2624150 TI - [Accidental hanging during auto-erotic practices]. AB - An unusual case of accidental hanging during autoerotic practices in a 25-year old male student is described and the autoerotic asphyxia syndrome briefly discussed. The authors stressed the importance of a correct diagnostic of accidental death in these cases. PMID- 2624151 TI - [AIDS: the disease and hospital health care]. PMID- 2624152 TI - [Inter- and intra-observer variation in silicosis radiology]. AB - The radiologic criteria are important for the diagnosis of silicosis and must be objective. Initial radiologic changes are nonspecific and sometimes misinterpreted. We asked six Pulmonologists with distinct training in pulmonary disease to interpret 112 chest films according to a simple established protocol. No further information was given. One year later, all the observers analysed the same films over again. Then, we compared the results among the observers and between the two analysis made by the same individual. In 34 cases (30%) there was unanimity in asserting or denying the presence of micronodules and in 74 cases (66%) there was an agreement among the three more experienced observers. The intraobserver variability ranged from 8% to 40% and it was more important in the least trained observers. We concluded that when interpreting early radiologic changes in silicosis inter and intraobserver variability was elevated, more objectivity was achieved by the observers with more experience in epidemiologic studies and that we must be careful in interpreting results of epidemiologic studies concerning this matter. PMID- 2624153 TI - [Hydro-electrolyte changes induced by transurethral prostatic resection]. AB - Transurethral resection prostatectomy (TURP) has been associated with severe hyponatremia due to massive absorption of bladder irrigation fluid (IF). TURP was performed in 41 patients using Sorbitol-Mannitol IF (Group A) and in 6 patients using distilled water (Group B). Six other patients were operated upon using surgical procedures identical in time and type of anesthesia to TURP (Group C). The three groups were studied with the same protocol that included blood collected before (time I), immediately after (time II) the procedure and 1 hour later (time III). Serum sodium decreased significantly in the 3 groups from time I to time II, an average of 3.4 mEq/l with Mannitol-Sorbitol, 2.3 mEq/l with distilled water, and 4.4 mEq/l in group C. Osmolality did not change significantly between the 3 times of collection and Osmolar Gap only increased from time I to II in the Sorbitol-Mannitol group. In conclusion, mild decrements in serum sodium with no clinical relevance are a common post-TURP finding, but should not be greater than in other similar general surgery without bladder irrigation. Hyposmolality did not constitute a problem. PMID- 2624154 TI - [Psychotherapy in AIDS]. AB - Infection with human immunodeficiency virus creates the expectation of terrible disease marked by an inexorable physical decline. The majority of the affected patients are relatively young and pleasure plays an important role in their lives which will be marked by the possibility of an early death. This is a peculiar situation with an unpredictable evolution that mandates a reformulation of the psychotherapeutic approach mainly in the achievable goals and the practical way to manage them. We describe our two years psychiatric and psychotherapeutic experience with AIDS patients followed by the H.S.M. Infectious Diseases Department. PMID- 2624155 TI - [Three years of AIDS. Experience of the Curry Cabral Hospital with HIV infections (1985-1988)]. AB - The AA. present a retrospective study on their experience with HIV positive patients, followed on the Infectious Diseases Department of the Hospital Curry Cabral, in Lisbon. This study was done in 90 patients seen since 1985 till March 1988. From the 90 patients, 81 were HIV--1 positive, 6 HIV--2 and 3 HIV1 + HIV2 positives. It is presented their distribution by sex (Male = 97.8%), age (mean- 36.5 years), risk groups (homosexuals--64.4%, heterosexuals--21.1%, IVDA--7.7%, blood-related--5.6%), and their Walter Reed and CDC classifications. It is emphasised the increasing incidence of infected people along the years and an unexpected high rate of heterosexual males infected. It is also pointed the incidence of Kaposi (22%), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (55.6%), and Criptococosis (13.9%) in the WR6 group. The mortality rate was 31.3% for WR5 and 63.9% for WR6. We calculate some Relative Risks for clinical situations matched with risk groups and immunological status (meaning the T Helper lymphocitic count), and measured their statistical significance with the chi-square test. Besides the immunodeficiency, it was mentioned the associated lymphadenopathy and dermatological lesions, the HIV encephalopathy and the constitutional symptoms of the wasting syndrome. PMID- 2624156 TI - [Atresia of the common pulmonary vein]. AB - A case of common pulmonary vein atresia is presented, in which all pulmonary veins drain into a venous confluence without outlet. The criteria helpful in differentiating this condition from other forms of anomalous pulmonary disease in the neonatal period are discussed. PMID- 2624157 TI - [Kwashiorkor in an adult with alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis]. AB - Multifactorial malnutrition is common in alcoholic cirrhosis. We report a case dominated by Kwashiorkor due to malabsorption related to infestation with Giardia Lamblia. Malnutrition deserves a complete investigation in order to detect treatable causes. PMID- 2624158 TI - [Semiologic considerations and clinical significance of magnetic resonance in 11 intracranial aneurysms]. AB - The author's experience with high-field Magnetic Resonance (Signa, 1.5 T, G.E.) in 11 cases of intracranial aneurysms (6 presenting as space lesion and 5 with symptoms of rupture) is reported. Spin-echo, gradient-echo and GRASS (fast-scan or flip-angle) sequences have been used and results compared with those of CT scan and angiography. Magnetic Resonance findings, relating to blood flow and oxidation of haemoglobin (within the lumen, in the wall and at the periphery of the aneurysm) were interpreted from the point of diagnosis and surgical planning. The authors concluded that Magnetic Resonance should be considered as a routine investigation for intracranial aneurysms particularly when it is suspected that they might be voluminous and/or thrombosed. PMID- 2624159 TI - Protein A in the stable L-forms of Staphylococcus aureus. AB - The presence of protein A in the stable L-form of S. aureus BM 3041 was proved. Its amino acid composition and electrophoretic characteristics were compared with the parent strain. The location of protein A on the cytoplasmic membranes of the L-form cells, as well as on the extracellular membranes were established by immunoelectron microscopy. In the cells of the parent bacterium its location on the cell wall was observed. PMID- 2624160 TI - [Yersinia enterocolitica--its multiplication on nutrient media containing rhamnose, raffinose and sodium succinate]. AB - The kinetics of growth in vitro of strains Yersinia enterocolitica, serovars 0:3, 0:5, 0:8 and 0:9, on culture media containing rhamnose, raffinose and sodium succinate and at different temperatures of cultivation (4 degrees, 25 degrees and 37 degrees C) was characterized. It was established, that all the Yersinia enterocolitica serovars tested, cultivated at 25 degrees C, had the highest growth rate. A significant activation of growth at this temperature was observed when L-rhamnose and especially sodium succinate were used as substrates. The cultivation at 37 degrees C caused a sharp increase in the growth rate which, however, decreased at the end of the experiment (96th hour of cultivation), and certain stimulation of growth was observed on D-raffinose-containing medium. The growth of cells cultivated at 4 degrees C using L-rhamnose as substrate started after a lag-phase of 24 hours, which was better expressed for serovars 0:8 and 0:9. The results reported could be applied to experiments, using methods of isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica from different sources after cultivation at 4 degrees C on L-rhamnose-containing media. PMID- 2624161 TI - [The in vitro multiplication kinetics of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis--the effect of rhamnose, raffinose and sodium succinate]. AB - The reproductive potentials of strains Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serovars I, II, III, IV and V cultivated at different temperatures on media containing rhamnose, raffinose and sodium succinate were examined comparatively. It was established that the growth of serovars I, II and III was activated by sodium succinate at temperatures 4 degrees and 25 degrees C, while serovars IV and V showed lower growth rate regardless of the substrate used. At 37 degrees C D raffinose activated the growth of the cells of serovars IV and V. The studies on the effect of different substrates on the growth of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in a wide temperature range acquire great importance for the investigating of the process of infection, revealing some aspects of the microorganism-macroorganism relationship. PMID- 2624162 TI - Lipids and fatty acid composition of auxotrophic mutants of Streptomyces erythreus. AB - Three auxotrophic mutants and the parent prototroph Streptomyces erythreus BTCC-2 were studied comparatively. The qualitative composition of common lipids was found to be similar in all strains. Changes of phospholipid composition were demonstrated in the mutants. PMID- 2624163 TI - [Genetic analysis of Streptomyces erythreus heteroclones. II. Determination of the distances between genetic loci on the map]. AB - As a result of recombination experiments between auxotrophic mutants of S. erythreus BTCC2 haploid recombinants and heteroclones were isolated. A genetic map of S. erythreus, including 15 auxotrophic loci was constructed by genetic analysis of the segregants of the heteroclones obtained. The genetic distances between 7 key loci on the map were determined and the entire length of the map of about 105 standard recombination units was calculated. PMID- 2624164 TI - [Citric acid biosynthesis by Aspergillus niger strain IM-13 on a nutrient medium with methanol]. AB - The dynamics of citric acid biosynthesis and some morphological changes of Asp. niger IM-13 in culture media containing starch hydrolysate and 3% methanol were traced. The culture developed in filamentous form and little fine pellets. Deformed hyphae with characteristic extensions were observed. The changes in Asp. niger IM-13 metabolism were studied by comparing the biomass accumulation, the utilization of reducing substances, the citric acid biosynthesis, pH and the protein content of the control and the experimental variants. A suppression of growth in the period from the 48th hour of cultivation up to the end of the process, suppression of protein synthesis in the micelium and increased synthesis of citric acid were established. PMID- 2624165 TI - [Post-traumatic stress syndrome in children]. PMID- 2624166 TI - [Criteria of severity in attempted suicide]. AB - Severity, understood as the use of means objectively able to produce death or serious injure, is found in approximately a third of the cases of attempted suicide that have been studied. It has been discovered a statistically significant association between the severity and other variables observed in the self-aggression behaviour: length in the place of residence, insomnia, previous self-aggression, time of the day, way of realization, main trigger and psychiatric diagnosis. PMID- 2624167 TI - [Psychosocial aspects of AIDS. II: Sex habits of HIV patients]. AB - A sample of 21 AIDS patients were interviewed in the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in order to assess their sexual behaviour. 12 were DAPV and 9 homosexual. The first sexual intercourse was before 16 years of age in 80% of the patients. 52% were highly promiscuous, an important factor in HVI infection. 57.1% referred anal coitus as a common sexual practice, most of them receptive (42.8%). Only 28.5% of the sample used preservatives, although not as a common practice. 38.9% never applied hygienic measures after sexual intercourse. This lack of preventive measures is extremely severe in IVDU patients, since sexual infection may occur in non-IVDU partners. PMID- 2624168 TI - [Development of a probability index for suicide risk in depression]. AB - Authors have developed a Suicidal Risk Index for depressed. This index included: sex, duration of current phase, suicidal ideas presents in last months, attempts previous and a number of contacts with a psychiatrist. The predictive validity of index is good. Sensibility: 0.73; specificity: 0.91; probability pi: 0.93; false positives rate: 9%; Kw: 0.65. PMID- 2624169 TI - [Attempted suicide cases seen at the emergency service of a general hospital (II)]. AB - Attempts suicide have more stress with partner, familial and economic problems than control group. Psychiatric diagnostic are adjustment and affective disorder and drugs are the method more frequent. Attempts suicide are remit frequently to ambulatory treatment. PMID- 2624170 TI - Proceedings of the twenty-eighth symposium on regulation of enzyme activity and synthesis in normal and neoplastic tissues. Indianapolis, Indiana, October 2-3, 1988. PMID- 2624171 TI - Metabolic activation of 2,6-diaminopurine and 2,6-diaminopurine-2'-deoxyriboside to antitumor agents. AB - 2,6-Diaminopurine (DAP) and 2,6-diaminopurine 2'-deoxyriboside (DAPdR) are analogs of adenine and deoxyadenosine, respectively. It was the purpose of this study to compare these analogs under identical conditions in order to define their inhibitory properties and the underlying mechanism in L1210 mouse leukemia cells. In a 5-day cell growth experiment, DAP exerted a significantly stronger antiproliferative effect than DAPdR. Correspondingly, colony formation of L1210 cells in soft agarose was inhibited by DAP to a greater extent than by DAPdR. A differential distribution of L1210 cells in the cell cycle resulted from an exposure to DAP and DAPdR. While DAPdR arrested cells in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle, DAP appeared to lead to an accumulation of G2/M cells. The diaminopurines were combined with modulatory agents to test the antiproliferative action of the combinations. Deoxycytidine partially rescued the cells from the growth inhibitory action of DAPdR without affecting the growth of DAP-treated cells. When adenine was used, the antiproliferative effect of DAPdR was slightly enhanced while the effect of DAP was completely abolished. 8-Aminoguanosine, a specific inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase, synergistically potentiated the cytostatic effect of DAPdR. However, this inhibitor did not alter DAP effects. At the biochemical level, the target of DAPdR was ribonucleotide reductase which was in line with a drastic expansion of the dGTP pool in DAPdR treated cells. In cells exposed to DAP, high levels of DAP riboside triphosphate were measured; concomitantly, the ATP level dropped markedly. Enzymological studies revealed that DAPdR is an excellent substrate of adenosine deaminase giving rise to the formation of deoxyguanosine. DAP was found to be activated in the purine nucleoside phosphorylase reaction and in a phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate-dependent reaction. The data from this comparative study suggest that DAPdR and DAP possess different toxicity mechanisms. DAPdR and DAP possess different toxicity mechanisms. DAPdR acts as a precursor of deoxyguanosine, and DAP is metabolically activated to DAP-containing ribonucleotide analogs. These different metabolic routes seem to account for the different effects of DAP and DAPdR at the cellular level. PMID- 2624172 TI - The enhancement of the activity of 10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate and 5,10 dideazatetrahydrofolate by inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase. AB - Treatment of H35 hepatoma cells with the lipid soluble dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors metoprine and trimetrexate cause a nearly 10-fold increase in the toxicity of the antipyrimidine folate analogue PDDF and the antipurine folate analogue DDATHF. Evaluation of these interactions by the combination index developed by Chou (17-20) yields results conforming to synergistic interactions. The capacity of PDDF to inhibit thymidylate synthase in intact cells as measured by tritium release from [5-3H]deoxyuridine was increased by approximately the same amount by preincubation with the dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors. The primary effect of the reductase inhibitors in causing greater activity may be a reduction in cellular folates which can cause 5,10-CH2H4PteGlun to decrease and cellular PDDF (polyglutamates) to increase. These conditions would favor inhibition of thymidylate synthase by PDDF by promoting formation of the stable, inhibited PDDF (polyglutamates)-thymidylate synthase-dUMP complex (12). PMID- 2624173 TI - Patterns of divergence in homologous proteins as indicators of tertiary and quaternary structure. AB - A new approach for extracting conformational information from an alignment of homologous proteins is presented. This approach extracts information from the pattern of sequence divergence in proteins, and considers evolutionary issues, such as functional adaptation and neutral drift, in assigning roles in tertiary structure to residues at specific positions in the alignment. A reliable algorithm is developed for identifying surface residues in a protein. An algorithm is also developed for identifying active site residues; this algorithm can be applied in cases where functional divergence occurs in one subgroup of homologous proteins but not in others. Finally, these algorithms are used to make predictions regarding the quaternary structure of alcohol dehydrogenase from yeast. PMID- 2624174 TI - Regulation of succinate dehydrogenase and tautomerization of oxaloacetate. AB - Highly purified succinate-ubiquinone reductase catalyzes the oxidation of L- or D malate with a Km and initial Vmax equal to approximately 10(-3) M and approximately 100 nmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. The malate dehydrogenase activity of succinate dehydrogenase rapidly decreases regardless of the presence of glutamate plus glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase. The inhibitor trapping system, however, prevents the inactivation of succinate dehydrogenase under the conditions when the rate of tautomeric oxaloacetate enol in equilibrium oxaloacetate ketone interconversion is high. These results suggest that enol oxaloacetate is an immediate product of malate oxidation at the succinate dehydrogenase active site. Two proteins (Mr 37 and 80 kD) which catalyze the oxaloacetate tautomerase reaction were isolated from the mitochondrial matrix. Some physico-chemical and kinetic properties of these enzymes were characterized. The larger protein was identified as inactive aconitase. The system containing succinate dehydrogenase, L-malate, glutamate plus transaminase and oxaloacetate tautomerase was reconstituted. Such a system is capable of oxidizing malate to aspartate without rapid inactivation of succinate dehydrogenase. Taken together, the data obtained emphasize a significant role of enzymatic oxaloacetate tautomerization in the control of the succinate dehydrogenase activity in the mitochondrial matrix. PMID- 2624175 TI - Metabolic inactivation of leukotrienes. AB - The metabolic inactivation of the cysteinyl leukotrienes LTC4 and LTD4 and of the chemotactic LTB4 was studied in the rat in vivo and in hepatocyte suspensions, respectively. 1. Deactivation of LTC4 via LTD4 to LTE4 was a most active process in the blood circulation, catalyzed mainly by ectoenzymes located on the internal wall of blood vessels. Uptake of cysteinyl leukotrienes by hepatocytes and kidney cells contributed to the rapid elimination of these potent mediators whenever they were released into the blood circulation. The initial half-life of LTC4 in vivo was 12 seconds. 2. omega-Oxidation leads to the formation of omega hydroxylated and omega-carboxylated cysteinyl leukotrienes which were detected in bile and urine. Biliary metabolites included those formed by stepwise beta oxidative degradation of omega-carboxy-N-acetyl-LTE4, yielding the dinor, tetranor, and hexanor derivative. 3. The peroxisome proliferator clofibrate strongly increased the degradation of LTE4 by omega-oxidation and subsequent beta oxidation in vivo. The generation of new polar metabolites was detected by HPLC methods and by the use of 3H8-labeled cysteinyl leukotrienes in comparison with the 3H2-labeled precursor. 4. The metabolic degradation and inactivation of cysteinyl leukotrienes in vivo and of LTB4 in isolated hepatocytes was potently inhibited by ethanol. The site of inhibition was the oxidation of omega-hydroxy-N acetyl-LTE4 and of omega-hydroxy-LTB4 to the respective omega-carboxylated metabolite. This inhibition led to an accumulation of the biologically active LTB4 and of N-acetyl-LTE4. The interference of leukotriene inactivation in the liver may provide a novel explanation for the ethanol-induced inflammatory reaction in acute alcoholic liver disease. PMID- 2624176 TI - Phosphorylation and degradation of HMG CoA reductase. AB - 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase is the limiting enzyme step in cholesterol formation in mammalian liver and other tissues. It is a glycoprotein of 97,000 daltons embedded in the endoplasmic reticulum with a long cytoplasmic extension that is the site of catalytic conversion of HMG CoA to mevalonate. The enzyme is subject to both long-term (induction/repression; degradation) and short-term control (reversible phosphorylation) mediated by endocrine signaling (insulin, glucagon) and through negative feedback by metabolic products of mevalonate (e.g., cholesterol). The catalytic capacity of microsomal reductase falls rapidly in the presence of several protein kinases (reductase kinase, protein kinase-C, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase). Activity is restored with various protein phosphatases. Increased phosphorylation of reductase in intact cells after addition of glucagon or mevalonate is followed by enhanced degradation of the enzyme. In an in vitro model system, phosphorylated, native microsomal reductase is more rapidly cleaved by the calcium-dependent, neutral protease calpain than the dephosphorylated from of reductase. Our present research which centers on the mechanism of the in vitro model system is reviewed. Calpain in the presence of Ca2+ cleaves the cytosolic domain of phosphorylated 97 kDa reductase at two points giving rise to two fragments of nearly the same size that appear as a 52-56,000 dalton doublet by electrophoresis and immunoblotting. In the same system native reductase labeled with [gamma-32P]ATP generates a doublet with 32P solely in the upper (heavier) band. This indicates that serine phosphorylation sites lie between the two calpain cleavage loci. These are positioned in the "linker" region of the long carboxy-terminal cytosolic domain near the membrane. This segment possesses five invariant serine residues and two PEST sequences (constellations of proline, glutamate, serine and threonine) that are characteristic of proteins with short half-lives. If phosphorylation of HMG CoA reductase is confined to the linker region, we must look to this domain in order to interpret the resulting conformational changes that markedly influence reductase catalytic activity and prepare the enzyme for degradation. PMID- 2624177 TI - Purine and pyrimidine metabolism in man VI. Part A: clinical and molecular biology. Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on Human Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism. Hakone, Japan, July 17-21, 1988. PMID- 2624178 TI - Comparative study of thymine and uracil metabolism in healthy persons and in a patient with dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency. PMID- 2624179 TI - A screening method for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency with colorimetric detection of urinary uracil. AB - Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency has a neurological involvement as a common symptom among reported cases. No major symptom except that exists for DHPDH deficiency. On the other hand, relationship between neurological involvement and metabolic disorder is still obscure. For the purpose of looking for more patients with DHPDH deficiency, a screening method for DHPDH deficiency is introduced. Urinary uracil was determined colorimetrically. This method is not so complicated and less time consuming as previous method such as liquid chromatography. With this method, it is possible to detect about 1 mmol/l (12 mg/dl) of uracil, which is sensitive enough for the screening for DHPDH deficiency. Interfering substance in urine were negligible. Addition of albumin to normal urine dose not affect the result but proteinuria results in false positive. The urine from 83 epileptic children were screened with this method, but no patients were found. PMID- 2624180 TI - Simple screening methods for disorders of purine metabolism using dried blood and or urine spots on filter paper. PMID- 2624181 TI - The spectrum of HPRT deficiency: an update. PMID- 2624182 TI - Lesch-Nyhan syndrome due to a single nucleotide change in the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene (HPRTYale). AB - We have cloned and sequenced a full length cDNA for HPRT cDNA for HPRTYale isolated from Lesch-Nyhan subject and identified a single nucleotide substitution which results in amino acid substitution of glycine to arginine. Since most HPRT mutants have normal levels of specific HPRT messenger RNA, mutant cDNA analysis is the method of choice to define the mutation in HPRT deficient subjects. PMID- 2624183 TI - Structural consequences of point mutations in nine human HPRT variants. PMID- 2624184 TI - Lesch-Nyhan syndrome and HPRT variants: study of heterogeneity at the gene level. PMID- 2624185 TI - Lesch-Nyhan syndrome: reduced amino acid concentrations in CSF and brain. PMID- 2624186 TI - Hypoxanthine accumulation and dopamine depletion in Lesch-Nyhan disease. PMID- 2624187 TI - Hypoxanthine and xanthine transport through the blood-brain barrier in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) deficiency. PMID- 2624188 TI - Purine nucleotide restoration in HPRT- cells. PMID- 2624189 TI - Clinical aspects of gouty patients in Taiwan. AB - The mean age of the onset of gout in Taiwan is 49.6 years old. This is very similar to Japan. The female cases made up 5.78% of total cases. This is very similar to the world average of about 5%. As far as laboratory findings are concerned, uric acid had a significant correlation with BUN, creatinine, cholesterol and triglyceride. In our occupation study we found that gout occurs in almost every class of society and no particular group has any immunity. PMID- 2624190 TI - Can risk scores for vascular disease in gout patients be improved? PMID- 2624191 TI - A model of gout nephropathy. PMID- 2624192 TI - Hyperuricemia, gout and idiopathic aseptic necrosis of bone. PMID- 2624193 TI - The solubility of uric acid and monosodium urate in urine. PMID- 2624194 TI - A role of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in crystal-induced arthritis. PMID- 2624195 TI - Is gout related to an alteration of the uric acid protein binding? PMID- 2624196 TI - Studies of mutant human adenylosuccinate lyase. AB - We have studied the residual adenylosuccinate lyase activity in cultured lymphoblasts from a pair of siblings with infantile autism who have been previously shown to have a deficiency of the enzyme. The rates and distribution of de novo purine synthesis assessed by the utilization of radiolabeled formate by intact cells was nearly normal. We compared the steady-state kinetics and thermal stability of adenylosuccinate lyase in lysates from those cells and normal lymphoblasts. There is no evidence of inhibitory activity in the lysates of the mutant cells. The optimal pH was approximately 7.8 and was indistinguishable from that in control cells. The apparent Km in the two mutant cells lines (2.6 +/- 0.5 microM) is not significantly different from normal (3.3 +/- 0.8 microM), but the mutants displayed markedly decreased maximum steady state velocities (6.7 +/- 1.1 compared to 13.8 +/- 0.9 nmol.mg-1.min-1). Residual activities in mutant cells show decreased thermal stability (t1/2 = 0.21 minutes at 60 degrees C as compared to 2.2 minutes), suggesting that there is a structural mutation of the adenylosuccinate lyase in the mutant cells. PMID- 2624197 TI - Urate binding globulin, interactions with immunoglobulins. PMID- 2624198 TI - Behavior of oxypurines in normal subjects after an 8 day purine-free diet. PMID- 2624199 TI - Should dietary restrictions always be prescribed in the treatment of gout? PMID- 2624200 TI - Intermittent control of hyperuricaemia in the treatment of gout. PMID- 2624201 TI - The allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome: its relation to plasma oxypurinol levels. PMID- 2624202 TI - Impaired renal excretion of hypoxanthine and xanthine in primary gout. PMID- 2624203 TI - Renal excretions of oxypurinol and oxypurines--effects of pyrazinamide, probenecid and benzbromarone. PMID- 2624204 TI - Renal excretion of purine bases--effects of probenecid, benzbromarone and pyrazinamide. PMID- 2624205 TI - Hyperuricemia and gout in cyclosporin A-treated renal transplant recipients. PMID- 2624206 TI - Stop-flow studies on tubular transport of uric acid in rats. AB - A stop-flow technique using pyrazinoic acid(PZO)-treated and -untreated rats was devised to evaluate drug effects on bi-directional transport of uric acid in the tubules. Constant venous infusion of test drugs to PZO-untreated rats was used to estimate their inhibitory effects on urate secretion, while their inhibitory effects on urate reabsorption was studied by intravenous administration as a bolus to PZO-treated rats. Probenecid, tienilic acid and R-(+)-enantiomer of S 8666, which is the uricosuric component of a new uricosuric diuretic, decreased the (Tua/Pua)/(Tin/Pin) value in the distal and proximal tubules by inhibiting urate secretion in PZO-untreated rats. On the other hand, all of these drugs increased the (Tua/Pua)/(Tin/Pin) value in the tubules in PZO-treated rats, which suggested that they also inhibited the reabsorptive flux of urate. This stop-flow technique in rat kidneys showed the possibilities of bi-directional inhibition by these drugs of urate transport in the tubules. PMID- 2624207 TI - The activity of AA-193, a new uricosuric agent, in animals. AB - A new uricosuric agent, 5-chloro-7,8-dihydro-3-phenylfuro[2,3-g]-1,2 benzisoxazole-7-carbo xylic acid (AA-193), was compared with other uricosurics in the rat, mouse and cebus monkey. In rats, probenecid and tienilic acid increased the urate excretion, but benzbromarone did not have the uricosuric activity. Thus, the presecretory reabsorption of urate is probably dominant in rats. We found that in rats AA-193 was the most potent uricosuric tested. In mice, probenecid not only had so-called paradoxical actions but stimulated urinary urate wasting after administration of pyrazinamide. These data suggest that the renal transport system of urate in the mouse is similar to that in man. AA-193 as well as benzbromarone enhanced the urate excretion dose-dependently, but the effects were different in pyrazinamide suppression tests in mice. In cebus monkeys, the uricosuric and hypouricemic effects of AA-193 were more potent than those of probenecid and similar to those of tienilic acid, but less than those of benzbromarone. Benzbromarone had a considerable role in postsecretory reabsorption in the monkey. These results suggest that AA-193 is a new class of uricosuric agent that controls the renal reabsorption of filtered urate particularly. PMID- 2624208 TI - Renal handling of hypoxanthine and xanthine in normal subjects and in cases of idiopathic renal hypouricemia. PMID- 2624209 TI - Deficiency of AMP deaminase in human erythrocytes. PMID- 2624210 TI - Red blood cell morphology in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: effect of oxygen therapy versus allopurinol. PMID- 2624211 TI - Enhanced adenine nucleotide degradation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the effect of oxygen therapy. PMID- 2624212 TI - Purine metabolites as measures of birth asphyxia and predictors of brain damage. PMID- 2624213 TI - Erythrocyte ATP (iATP) as an indicator of neonatal hypoxia. PMID- 2624214 TI - Purine degradation in contracting fast and slow muscles of rats. PMID- 2624215 TI - Persistent production of hypoxanthine in rat skeletal muscle causes prolonged hyperuricemia after an exhaustive exercise. PMID- 2624216 TI - Exercise induced alteration of erythrocyte glycolysis associated with myogenic hyperuricemia. PMID- 2624217 TI - Myogenic hyperuricemia: a comparative study between type V and type VII glycogenosis. PMID- 2624218 TI - Uric acid and purine compounds in aortic and coronary sinus blood in man. PMID- 2624219 TI - Changes in trophoblastic purine metabolism with aging of the placenta. PMID- 2624220 TI - Evaluation of oxypurines by HPLC in lymphoproliferative diseases. PMID- 2624221 TI - Chemiluminescent assays in the study of purine metabolism. PMID- 2624222 TI - Purine nucleotide synthesis during terminal differentiation. PMID- 2624223 TI - Human adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) deficiency: single mutant allele common to the Japanese. PMID- 2624224 TI - In vitro and in vivo inhibition of thymidylate synthase of human colon cancer by 5-fluorouracil. PMID- 2624225 TI - Sensitivity to purine analogues in childhood leukemia assessed by the automated MTT-assay. PMID- 2624226 TI - Selective inhibition of cytotoxic T lymphocyte proliferation by mizoribine (bredinin), an adenosine analog. PMID- 2624227 TI - An analysis of 5' regulatory sequences of the hamster APRT gene. PMID- 2624228 TI - Sequencing of mammalian messenger RNA using oligonucleotide primers: application to hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase and a phosphoglycerate kinase variant. PMID- 2624229 TI - Autosomal dominant hemolytic anemia and adenosine deaminase overproduction. PMID- 2624230 TI - Cloning the full-length cDNA for the porcine urate oxidase by the MOPAC generated probe. PMID- 2624231 TI - Sequence analysis of rat liver uricase-cDNA and the possible presence of the homologous cDNA sequences in chicken embryo. PMID- 2624232 TI - Diagnosis of genotypes for adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) deficiency. PMID- 2624233 TI - Molecular cloning of human UMP synthase. PMID- 2624234 TI - Two types of mouse FM3A cell mutants deficient in 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase and their transformants isolated by human chromosome-mediated gene transfer. PMID- 2624235 TI - Immunological and metabolic reconstitution following successful bone marrow transplantation from a HLA-identical sibling in an infant with adenosine deaminase deficiency and severe combined immunodeficiency: partial restoration of purine metabolism. PMID- 2624236 TI - Hereditary xanthine oxidase deficiency consisting of at least two subgroups. PMID- 2624237 TI - Family study of hereditary xanthinuria--decreased duodenal xanthine oxidase activity and increased urinary excretion of xanthine and hypoxanthine in heterozygotes. PMID- 2624238 TI - Renal eicosanoids. Based on a symposium. June 9-11, 1987, Capri, Italy. Proceedings. PMID- 2624239 TI - New perspectives in hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, arteriovenous hemofiltration, and plasmapheresis. Proceedings of an international symposium. Freiburg i. Br. (FRG), October 6-8, 1988. PMID- 2624240 TI - The biology of the peritoneal membrane during chronic peritoneal dialysis. PMID- 2624241 TI - CAPD with bicarbonate solution. PMID- 2624242 TI - Effects of long-term treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin in patients on CAPD. PMID- 2624243 TI - Mechanisms and consequences of complement activation during hemodialysis. PMID- 2624244 TI - Treatment combining plasmapheresis and pulse cyclophosphamide in severe systemic lupus erythematosus. PMID- 2624245 TI - Comparison of Alabama Behavioral Risk Factor Surveys. PMID- 2624246 TI - New and future treatment of depression. PMID- 2624247 TI - Family medicine education in Alabama. PMID- 2624248 TI - Hopeful signs. PMID- 2624249 TI - [Immunosuppressive and cytostatic effectiveness of the poplar mushroom Tricholoma populinum LANGE]. AB - Dry powders or extracts of the fruit bodies of Tricholoma populinum given per as or injected intraperitoneally respectively caused a suppression of the number of plaque forming cells of mice as shown by the hemolysis-plaque-assay. Extracts of the fungi inhibited above that the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into mitogen stimulated human lymphocytes as observed in the lymphocyte transformation test and retarded the proliferation of cultivated bovine aortic endothelial cells. PMID- 2624250 TI - Occurrence of hybridomas producing multispecific IgM in human x (human-mouse) fusions with lymphocytes from different human immune compartments. AB - Human lymphocytes derived from peripheral blood, the spleen and lymph nodes were fused to the HAT-sensitive heteromyeloma cell line CB-F7. The Ig-producing initial cell lines were selected, and the supernatants were further analyzed for specific antigen binding (ELISA). IgM-antibodies were found which reacted with self- and non-self antigens of different molecular origin (nucleotides, proteins, carbohydrate structures). These antibodies were called multireactive (multispecific). The multispecific IgM-producing human hybridomas occurred with higher frequencies in the spleen (6.9% of IgM-producers) cell fusions than in experiments where peripheral blood-derived lymphocytes were fused (2.7%). There were no hybridomas producing multireactive antibodies detected in fusion material from lymph nodes. The greatest number of multireactive IgM was seen when PBL from SLE or anti-HIV-positive patients were hybridized to CB-F7 cells. Representative cell lines were cloned and recloned. The multireactivity of the IgM produced by really monoclonal cells, however, was preserved. PMID- 2624251 TI - Prevention of graft-vs-host reaction induced immunodeficiency by treatment with splenopentin (DAc-SP5). AB - Early experiments had shown that splenopentin, the active part of the splenic hormone splenin, stimulates the differentiation of virgin B- and T-lymphocytes and significantly enhanced the reconstitution of immune reactions after immune suppression. The present study investigates the influence of splenopentin on the course of the graft-vs-host reaction (GVHR). The experimental model used were adult hybrid mice which received intravenously parental spleen cells. During the GVHR which has an chronical course in the strain combinations used a short stimulatory phase is followed by a long-lasting immunosuppression detected by antibody formation against sheep erythrocytes. Furthermore, the splenomegaly in the first weeks after spleen cell injection changed to a drastic decrease of the spleen weight up to strongly beyond normal values. Continuous treatment with splenopentin significantly prevented both symptoms of the GVHR: The suppression of the antibody formation was diminished widely, and no loss of spleen weight occurred. Furthermore, during the stimulatory phase anti-DNA-autoantibodies were produced in the untreated animals, while the splenopentin therapy prevented this reaction. During the further course of the experiment no increase of autoantibody production was detected later on. PMID- 2624252 TI - Isolation of timothy (Phleum pratense) allergens using affinity chromatography with monoclonal antibodies. AB - The monoclonal antibody 1 D11, directed against the timothy pollen allergens I, II, III, and a further, anodically migrating component, is suitable for the isolation of these allergens by means of affinity chromatography. The purified allergens consist of glycoproteins with many different isoelectric points. Their molecular weights were estimated as approximately the same as those of the allergens in the whole timothy pollen extract. Their allergenic activity (IgE binding) was not lost during the purification steps. PMID- 2624253 TI - Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome: clinical manifestations and gene localization to Xq26-27. AB - We have studied 7 males in one family with mild/moderate intellectual handicap, long thick ears, deep-set eyes, small testes, and post pubertal gynecomastia. The affected males and some of the heterozygous females also had tapering fingers and short, widely spaced flexed toes. The pedigree demonstrates X-linked recessive inheritance. The clinical manifestations are similar to those described in the Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann (BFL) syndrome but differ in the degree of mental handicap and the absence of "dwarfism" and microcepaly. This milder manifestation may represent either phenotypic or genotypic variation. DNA marker studies demonstrated linkage to the DXS86, DXS51, and F9 cluster at Xq26-q27. The maximum lod score was 2.1 with DXS51, at theta = 0.0. Definite recombinants were observed between DXS10 (at Xq26 but proximal to DXS86), DXS105 (at Xq27 but distal to F9), and BFL. Thus, the regional localization for BFL is Xq26-q27 between DXS10 and DXS105. PMID- 2624254 TI - Linkage localization of Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome. AB - Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome (BFLS) is a form of X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) with characteristic minor physical anomalies. It has no biochemical or cytogenetic markers. Heterozygous females may be entirely normal or may have mild-to-moderate manifestations. We studied 41 individuals from one family with BFLS for linkage on the X chromosome. The highest lod scores were 2.32 with DXS10 and 2.24 with DXS51, both at a theta = 0.0. A single recombinant was found between HPRT and BFLS. These results suggest that the BFLS locus is on the distal portion of Xq. Previously reported linkage studies in families with XLMR have not shown linkage with DXS10. This study suggests that one of the several X chromosome loci whose dysfunction is associated with mental retardation is located on distal Xq. PMID- 2624255 TI - Interstitial deletion 2q14q21. AB - A girl with multiple congenital anomalies and a tendency to severe pyogenic infections was found to have an interstitial deletion of chromosome band 2q14--- q21. Unusual facial manifestations included enophthalmos, long philtrum, micrognathia, narrow forehead, prominent glabella, and depressed nasal bridge. Unilateral corneal clouding, with Peters-like anomaly; agenesis of the corpus callosum; brain atrophy; and heart, kidney, hand, and dermatoglyphic anomalies were additional findings. Eye anomalies were observed in five of 22 patients with deletions of chromosome 2q. In comparing these cases, it seems that deletions of bands 2q21 and 2q31 are variably associated with microphthalmia, corneal clouding, cataracts, and Peters anomaly. Measurement of protein C and interleukin 1 (IL-1) did not show a gene dose effect, but the pyogenic infections and low IgA found in this patient may reflect an abnormality of IL-1 not detectable by our methods. PMID- 2624256 TI - Inferring mode of inheritance by comparison of lod scores. AB - One usually must assume a mode of inheritance when using lod scores for linkage analysis. In this study, we asked the question, "If one assumed mode of inheritance in a linkage analysis gives a higher lod score than another, does that indicate that the mode of inheritance that led to the higher lod score is more 'correct' than the other?" We simulated data under a variety of penetrances, assuming either dominant or recessive inheritance. We then analyzed those simulated data under the correct mode of inheritance, assuming a range of penetrance values, and under the incorrect model, also assuming a range of penetrance values. We found that, if there was enough information for a maximum lod score of at least 3.0, assuming the correct penetrance value or mode of inheritance in the analysis led to a higher lod score than assuming the incorrect penetrance or the incorrect mode of inheritance. These results cannot yet be generalized outside of the specific modes of inheritance and penetrance combinations that we have modeled. Also, penetrance was modeled as "random." The effect of "reduced penetrance" caused by other genetic factors has not yet been tested. We also tested the effect of non-standard ascertainment on drawing conclusions about mode of inheritance from linkage data. Even when families were ascertained only if the family was multiplex (i.e., more than one affected sib), assuming the correct mode of inheritance gave a higher lod score than assuming the incorrect mode of inheritance. This method has the promise of both simplifying and expanding the application of linkage analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624257 TI - Man bites dog? The validity of maximizing lod scores to determine mode of inheritance. PMID- 2624258 TI - Adaptive behavior in the fra(X) syndrome: a longitudinal study in eight patients. AB - In this study we investigated the development of adaptive behavior of 8 fragile X [fra(X)] males with special attention to social competence and compared the results with a control group of 8 fra(X) negative males matched for age, level of adaptive functioning, and period of institutionalization. PMID- 2624259 TI - MCA/MR syndrome with oligodactyly and Mobius anomaly in first cousins: new syndrome or familial facial-limb disruption sequence? AB - We report on two sibs with a multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation (MCA/MR) syndrome who have a first cousin with Mobius anomaly. This may represent a new MCA/MR syndrome. PMID- 2624260 TI - Choroideremia and hypopituitarism: an association. AB - Choroideremia is a rare X-linked, progressive, degenerative disease of the retina and choroid. We describe 2 patients, one a female, with choroideremia documented to have hypopituitarism and neurological abnormalities. We hypothesize that this previously undescribed association results from a degenerative process involving tissues of neural origin, or from contiguous submicroscopic gene deletions in the X chromosome region that define choroideremia and possibly hypopituitarism. PMID- 2624261 TI - Inheritance and phenotypic expression of a t(7;9)(q36;q34)mat. AB - We describe a subtle familial chromosome rearrangement which involves 7q36 and 9q34. The clinical manifestations of 3 apparently balanced individuals with presumed identical translocation breakpoints are presented. In addition, the phenotypes of 2 cytogenetically unbalanced sibs in the same nuclear family are compared. PMID- 2624262 TI - Paracentric inversion of chromosome 19 in three generations. AB - We observed a paracentric inversion of 19p in a 15-month-old white boy with developmental delay and mild facial anomalies. The inversion of 19p was also present in his phenotypically normal mother and maternal grandfather. PMID- 2624263 TI - Partial deletion of 14q and partial duplication of 14q in sibs: testicular mosaicism for t(14q;14q) as a common mechanism. AB - The propositus and a subsequently born sister presented with multiple congenital anomalies. Chromosome analyses were performed initially on peripheral blood lymphocytes from the propositus and his parents: the propositus was found to have a deletion of chromosome 14 (q32.11- greater than qter); the parents' chromosomes were normal. When the sister of the propositus was born, she was determined to have a duplication of an equivalent segment of 14qter. Chromosome studies on the parents' fibroblasts demonstrated no structural abnormality or mosaicism. The parents have an older, phenotypically normal, healthy daughter, which supports mosaicism for intragonadal t(14;14)(q32.11;q32.33) in one parent. Chromosome polymorphism comparisons show that the normal number 14 chromosome in the propositus and his sister was inherited from the mother, thus indicating paternal testicular mosaicism. Clinical findings are compared to those of other reported cases of deletion 14q and duplication 14q. PMID- 2624264 TI - New type of autosomal recessive short-limb dwarfism with absent fibulae, exceptionally short digits, and normal intelligence. AB - Short-limb dwarfism is of heterogeneous origin and has various clinical manifestations. This communication describes a previously apparently unreported type of short-limb dwarfism in 3 affected sibs. Characteristics of this syndrome are bilateral absence of fibulae and severe abnormalities of all digits. PMID- 2624265 TI - Trisomy 22: no longer an enigma. AB - We describe a live-born male with 47,XY,+22. He had multiple congenital anomalies, severe growth retardation and psychomotor delay. Physical manifestations included broad nasal bridge, epicanthic folds, micrognathia, long philtrum, cleft palate, microcephaly with prominent occiput, apparently low-set malformed ears, heart murmur, genital anomaly, clinodactyly of the fifth fingers, and a low total finger ridge count. He died just before his 3rd birthday. Chromosome analysis by multiple banding techniques based on lymphocyte and fibroblast cultures confirm that the boy had complete trisomy 22. PMID- 2624266 TI - Prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia in Johannesburg Jews. AB - The prevalence of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia was determined in a representative sample of 403 young Jewish men resident in Johannesburg, South Africa. Preliminary screening by measurement of serum total cholesterol demonstrated that 25 of them had levels greater than or equal to 7.5 mmol/l (290 mg/dl). On the basis of subsequent clinical, biochemical, and family studies, 6 men, or about 1 in 67 of the total sample, were considered to be heterozygotes. This very high prevalence, about 7 times greater than that found in other Caucasian populations, is probably related to founder effect. It may help to explain the high frequency of coronary heart disease in Johannesburg Jews. PMID- 2624267 TI - Macrocephaly, multiple lipomas, and hemangiomata (Bannayan-Zonana syndrome): genetic heterogeneity or autosomal dominant locus with at least two different allelic forms? AB - We describe a boy with mild manifestations of the Bannayan-Zonana syndrome (BZS): large scaphocephalic head with marked frontal bossing, hypertrophy on the right side of the body, large and irregular cafe-au-lait spots, and cutaneous telangiectasia on large parts of the body and a cavernous hemangioma on the internal side of the left leg; soft cutaneous masses were present in the left axilla and inner part of the left arm; hypotonia and mild neurologic dysfunction were also present. BZS is reported as an autosomal dominant condition with variable expressivity; analysis of our data and those reported in the literature suggest that the interfamilial variability observed might represent different allelic mutations, or genetic heterogeneity. PMID- 2624268 TI - Decisions following the intrauterine diagnosis of sex chromosome aneuploidy. AB - This is a report of 327 phone calls to our center concerning the intrauterine diagnosis of sex chromosome abnormalities (SCA). The first author (A.R.) responded to each by counseling either the parents or the referring professional. Sixty-two percent continued the pregnancy. When the parents were counseled directly, the percentage continuing the pregnancy was significantly higher than when the information was transmitted through the professionals. Our results are different from most reports in these situations, and suggest that well-informed couples, counseled by geneticists, are more likely to continue these pregnancies. The possible occurrence of SCA should be considered in preamniocentesis counseling. PMID- 2624269 TI - Mortality rate of amyloidosis in Japan: secular trends and geographical variations. AB - The death rate in Japan from amyloidosis was analyzed using Japanese Vital Statistics for 1969-1985. The amyloidosis death rate has increased gradually year by year for both sexes. The changing patterns in mortality might be explained by a constantly improving ascertainment of amyloidosis. The overall amyloidosis death rate per 100,000 of the population was 0.06 during the period from 1969 to 1978. The geographical variations in the amyloidosis death rate were observed with the highest death rate in Kumamoto and Nagano prefectures (0.29 per 100,000 population) for both sexes during the period from 1979 to 1985. The amyloidosis death rates (per 100,000 population) in 2 large foci of familial amyloidosis polyneuropathy were 9.4 in Ogawa Village, Nagano Prefecture and 3.5 in Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture during the period from 1979 to 1985. The mean age at death from amyloidosis gradually increased year by year for both sexes, although the age was 11-23 years shorter for males and 20-25 years shorter for females than that of the general population. PMID- 2624270 TI - Familial hypoplastic glomerulocystic kidney disease: a definite entity with dominant inheritance. AB - Autosomal dominant (or possibly X-linked) inheritance of familial hypoplastic glomerulocystic kidneys is described in a mother and son who both had stable, chronic renal failure, cystic kidneys by ultrasound examination, glomerular cysts as demonstrated histologically, and malformed renal calyces. There was no evidence of other congenital abnormalities apart from prognathism, small stature and pyloric stenosis. Hepatic fibrosis was not evident in a liver biopsy specimen. These findings add further confirmation to the existence of the syndrome of familial hypoplastic glomerulocystic kidney disease with dominant inheritance. PMID- 2624271 TI - Microtia and associated anomalies: statistical analysis. AB - Terms such as oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia, Goldenhar syndrome, and hemifacial microsomia have been used to describe microtia with specific combinations of other craniofacial anomalies. Microtia is also observed with anomalies of postcranial structures. Statistical studies were performed on 297 patients with microtia and other anomalies to identify subgroups of patients representing previously described or new associations. Analysis identified 15 subgroups of patients with specific patterns of anomalies. Log-linear analyses of cranial and postcranial variables demonstrated a positive association between mandibular hypoplasia and cervical spine fusion, which was, in turn, positively associated with other spine anomalies (P less than .02) and other skeletal anomalies (P less than .001). Although unilateral microtia was commonly observed with mandibular hypoplasia, mandibular hypoplasia was negatively associated with bilateral microtia. Many of the associated anomalies were of structures not derived from the 1st and 2nd branchial arch neural crest. However, most associated anomalies were of structures derived from migratory cell populations or populations undergoing differentiation prior to migration between the 19th and 24th day post-fertilization (neural crest, ectodermal placode, mesoderm, surface ectoderm). These findings suggest that many different cell populations may be disturbed in the pathogenesis of microtia in association with other anomalies. The timing of the pathogenetic event may determine the specific pattern of associated anomalies. PMID- 2624272 TI - Type II collagen screening in the human chondrodysplasias. AB - Abnormalities of type II collagen have been considered strong candidates for causing human condrodysplasias. We have employed peptide mapping to screen for several types of type II colagen abnormalities in cartilage samples from 66 patients with 20 separate disorders. Except for achondrogenesis type II (Langer Saldino) and spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED) congenita in which abnormalities have been described and diastrophic dysplasia in which the changes were probably secondary, no abnormalities were detected. Within the limitations of the screening technique, the results combined with other data from the literature suggest that abnormalities of this molecule are not common causes of chondrodysplasias outside of the achondrogenesis type II-SED congenita family of disorders. PMID- 2624273 TI - Familial hyperinsulinism with nesidioblastosis of the pancreas: further evidence for autosomal recessive inheritance. AB - We report on a brother and sister with hyperinsulinism and nesidioblastosis of the pancreas. In addition, one brother and one sister who died in the neonatal period were probably affected. The parents of these children were healthy and consanguineous. We think that this is strongly suggestive of autosomal recessive inheritance. Seven other reports of presumed autosomal recessive hyperinsulinism are reviewed. To our knowledge, we report the first case in sibs whose parents were consanguineous. We think that early recognition of the condition is of obvious importance not only for therapy, but also for purposes of genetic counseling. PMID- 2624274 TI - Third case of Pfeiffer-type cardiocranial syndrome. AB - We report on a third child with a newly recognized craniosynostosis syndrome involving the sagittal suture. Additional findings not related to the abnormal head growth include micrognathia with limited mouth opening, tracheobronchial anomalies, congenital heart defects, microphallus, cryptorchidism, and growth and mental retardation. PMID- 2624275 TI - Campomelic syndrome: manifestations in a 20 week fetus and case history of a 5 year old child. AB - We report on 2 unusual cases of the campomelic syndrome, the first being a fetus in whom the diagnosis was suspected in the 18th week and confirmed sonographically at 20 weeks. The second case concerns a 5 year old 46, XY girl with an exceptional longevity and a relatively favorable evolution. PMID- 2624276 TI - Autosomal recessive intestinal lymphangiectasia and lymphedema, with facial anomalies and mental retardation. AB - We report on two male and two female relatives with intestinal lymphangiectasia; severe lymphedema of limbs, genitalia, and face; facial anomalies; seizures; mild growth retardation; and moderate mental retardation. Main facial anomalies are a flat face, flat nasal bridge, hypertelorism, small mouth, tooth anomalies, and ear defects. Their parents are consanguineous. This disorder probably is an hitherto undescribed autosomal recessive syndrome. PMID- 2624277 TI - Tay-Sachs disease carrier screening: follow-up of a case-finding approach. AB - In order to determine the status of Tay-Sachs disease carrier identification in Toronto, Canada, since a change was made in 1978 from testing in the context of large-scale community clinics (up to 1,200 individuals tested in 1 day) to a case finding approach to screening, a sample of area Jews was surveyed by questionnaire. The results indicated that a trend has developed for individuals at risk to delay testing until pregnancy when carrier detection is technically more difficult and the time available for retesting and organizing prenatal diagnosis is limited. If the trend continues, the full potential of chorionic villus sampling (CVS) for the prenatal diagnosis of the disease will be difficult to realize. PMID- 2624278 TI - Urofacial syndrome. PMID- 2624279 TI - Chromosome abnormalities in dyskeratosis congenita. PMID- 2624280 TI - Symptomatic similarities in three syndromes. PMID- 2624281 TI - Facial cleft and congenital megacolon: a specific disorder? PMID- 2624282 TI - Presidential address of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Sports medicine: past, present, and future. PMID- 2624283 TI - Genucom, KT-1000, and Stryker knee laxity measuring device comparisons. Device reproducibility and interdevice comparison in asymptomatic subjects. AB - Generally, three devices (the Genucom Knee Analysis System, the MEDmetric KT-1000 Arthrometer, and the Stryker Knee Laxity Tester), which have been presented in the literature, may be used to assess clinically the amount of knee laxity in an objective manner. This study compared the reproducibility of the anterior and posterior knee laxity values for each and made direct comparisons of the results obtained. Thirty asymptomatic subjects were given a test-retest protocol on both legs with all three devices. Devices were tested in a counterbalanced order. Repeatability of test values within devices was variable, but all were acceptable, the lowest being r = 0.74. Analysis of variance (AN-OVA), and correlational analysis revealed that device-specific anterior and posterior laxity values were produced. We concluded that each commercially available knee laxity testing device can provide reproducible quantitative measurements of knee laxity; however, due to differences in device sensitivities and functional design, numerical results from one device cannot be generalized to another device. PMID- 2624284 TI - Posteromedial pain in the lower leg. AB - Intramuscular pressure was recorded in 28 patients with exercise-induced posteromedial pain in the lower leg. Pressure was recorded simultaneously in the posterior tibial muscle and in the flexor digitorum muscle during an exercise test and at rest after exercise. This study shows that intramuscular pressures during exercise and the time period for normalization of the pressure at rest after exercise were within normal limits. The result of pressure recording depends on which muscle in the deep posterior compartment is investigated and on the type of work performed. This article describes some of the difficulties associated with pressure recording in the deep posterior compartment. Chronic compartment syndrome in the deep posterior compartment as a reason for pain in the posteromedial part of the lower leg could not be demonstrated. PMID- 2624285 TI - Upper extremity injuries in snow skiers. AB - All skiers with upper extremity injuries seen at the Henry Ford Hospital between 1983 and 1986 were evaluated in terms of age, sex, skill of the skier, type of snow conditions, pole type, grip type, direction of fall, and mechanism of injury. Our primary objective was to evaluate whether the type of pole used had an effect on the injury rate. We found that the strap handled pole without any platform had the lowest injury rate. The saber type pole handle had the highest injury rate. Other observations showed ulnar collateral ligament injury of the thumb to be the most common upper extremity injury to skiers. A proportionally high number of skiers with upper extremity injuries were advanced skiers. PMID- 2624286 TI - Surgical treatment of chronic Achilles tendinitis. AB - Between 1977 and 1985, 170 patients suffering from chronic Achilles tendinitis were treated surgically. Ninety-one patients with 143 tendons returned for followup. The duration of preoperative symptoms averaged 18 months. In all cases, conservative treatment was first attempted but failed to alleviate symptoms. Only those patients whose lesions and symptoms were confined to the Achilles tendon segment 2 to 6 cm proximal of the insertion were included in this study. All athletes who had an insertion tendinopathy or a lesion at the musculotendinous junction were excluded from this study. The surgical procedure depended on the lesion. For 93 tendons exhibiting pure peritendinitis, treatment consisted of a simple release of the fascia cruris and the peritenon. For the 50 tendons with tendinosis, a resection of diseased tendon tissue was performed. The defect could be sutured side to side in 26 cases but in the other 24 cases, reinforcement with a turned down tendon flap was necessary because of the extensive debridement. Of the 93 cases in which only dorsal release was performed, results were considered excellent in 54 cases, good in 28, fair in 8, and poor in 3 cases. Of the 26 cases in which side-to-side suture was performed, 15 cases were rated as having excellent results, 4 as good, 4 as fair, and 3 as poor. For the 24 cases in which a turned down tendon flap procedure was performed, the result was excellent in 12 cases, good in 9, fair in 2, and poor in 1 case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624287 TI - Patellofemoral problems after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. AB - Between 1982 and 1986, 126 patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction were followed in a prospective manner. One year follow-up statistics were reviewed for the presence of 13 different complications. The most prevalent complications were quadriceps weakness, flexion contracture, and patellofemoral pain. Quadriceps weakness (strength less than 80% of the normal side) was present in 65% of patients and correlated positively with flexion contracture, patellar irritabibilty, and ACL reconstructions using patellar tendon grafts. Flexion contracture of 5 degrees or more was present in 24% of patients and correlated positively with increased age and patellar irritability. Patellofemoral pain was present in 19% of patients and correlated positively with flexion contracture. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The three most common complications of knee ligament surgery are shown to be strongly interrelated. It is likely that a causal relationship is present in which flexion contracture causes patellofemoral irritability, and that both of these factors, alone or in combination, result in quadriceps weakness. If this theory is correct, then it is crucial that postoperative rehabilitation programs place a major emphasis on the avoidance of flexion contracture. PMID- 2624288 TI - The effect of volleyball playing on the knee extensor mechanism. AB - The knee extensor mechanism was examined in 32 male competitive volleyball players (Group V) and in a control group of 49 young adult males (Group C) to evaluate the effects of previous jumping activity on the knee extensor mechanism. Several variables were recorded by means of a structured questionnaire, and by clinical and radiographic examination. The amount of physical activity from the age of 7 years onward was significantly greater in Group V than in Group C. The incidence of anterior knee pain during the year preceding the examination was higher in Group V (31%) than in Group C (6%; P less than 0.01). The most common reason for anterior knee pain in Group V was so-called "jumper's knee." No significant difference between the groups was found in the incidence of clinical symptoms and signs of patellar chondromalacia. There were radiologically detectable soft tissue calcifications at the upper or lower pole of the patella or anterior to the patella in 38% of the subjects in Group V, but no such calcifications were seen in Group C (P less than 0.001). However, persistent symptoms did not correlate with the calcifications. Group V subjects had a slight but significant trend to patella alta when compared to Group C (P less than 0.05) according to the Blackburne and Peel index. PMID- 2624289 TI - The importance of the meniscus in unstable knees. A comparative study. AB - This study analyzes differences in knee function in ACL deficient knees with different meniscus status. Eighty patients, 12 women and 68 men, were matched in four groups according to sex, age, knee injuries, and follow-up time. Group I had two intact menisci; Group II, one meniscus successfully repaired; Group III, one meniscus removed; and Group IV, both menisci removed. The ACL was repaired acutely or reconstructed later in most cases and other significant ligament injuries were treated. All patients were reexamined clinically 6 to 8 years after injury. Knee function was recorded using the Lysholm knee function score. Activity level before injury and at followup was rated with the Tegner scale. Stability was tested and weightbearing roentgenograms were taken. There was a higher frequency of ACL reconstructions in Groups I and II, but instability was the same in all groups. No difference was found in Lysholm score (range, 86 to 92). The activity level was higher in Group IV at followup. A lower frequency of motion impairment was found in Group III, (20% versus 50%). Subjective evaluation was similar and positive in all groups. Group I had six meniscus ruptures during the follow-up period. In Group II three of the repaired menisci were removed, as were two of the contralateral menisci in Group III. Roentgenograms, available in 55 of 80 cases, showed osteoarthritis in 65%. There were no differences in the frequency of osteoarthritis among the first three groups, but Group IV had a higher incidence of osteoarthritic changes. Osteoarthritis did not result in lower knee function, poorer subjective evaluation, or increased impairment of motion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624290 TI - Snowboard injuries. AB - A retrospective survey of 267 snowboarders was undertaken to determine the population at risk and types and mechanisms of injuries sustained in this sport. Snowboarders are young (average age, 21 years), male (greater than 90%), view themselves in average or above average physical condition (96%), and have varied sports interests. One hundred ten injuries that resulted in a physician visit were reported. Ligament sprains, fractures, and contusions were the most frequent types of injury. Fifty percent of all injuries occurred in the lower extremities, with ankle injuries being the most common. Snowboard riders using equipment with increased ankle support seem to be more protected from lower extremity injuries. The lower extremity injuries were concentrated in the forward limb of the snowboarder, where the rider's weight is disproportionately distributed. Differences in the mechanism and spectrum of injury between snowboarding and skiing injuries were noted, including: impact rather than torsion as the major mechanism of injury, a significant lack of thumb injuries, comparative increase in ankle injuries, a decrease in knee injuries, and a higher percentage of upper extremity injuries. PMID- 2624291 TI - Electromyographic shoulder activity in men and women professional golfers. AB - Men and women both enjoy the game of golf. Special considerations are made for women, such as the courses on the professional tours. Thus, one can ask what differences might exist between men and women golfers. This study compares the electromyographic firing patterns of normal shoulder musculature in men and women professional golfers. Eight shoulder muscles (pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, anterior, middle and posterior deltoids) were studied using indwelling electromyography. A visual analysis revealed that women tended to have slightly more activity during the takeaway and forward swing phases, and the men tended to have more activity during acceleration and follow-through. However, an independent two-tailed t-test (P = 0.05) showed these differences not to be statistically significant. This finding is in keeping with injury incidence data from the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, and Senior PGA Tour, which showed that all three tours have a similar incidence of shoulder injuries. This study does not compare the relative strength of men and women, however. PMID- 2624292 TI - Kinematics of active knee extension after tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. AB - Three-dimensional movements of the knees in 13 patients with unilateral old tears of ACLs were studied during extension. Roentgen stereophotogrammetric methods were used to measure tibial movements in the injured and the intact knees. Reduced internal rotation and adduction were recorded at the end of extension on both sides. The injured knees displayed increased anterior and distal displacements of the tibial intercondylar eminence. Abnormal tibial displacements in our patients indicate that the absence of the ACL is not completely compensated for during active extension past 30 degrees; close to the extended position, the tibial movements tend to normalize. PMID- 2624293 TI - Quantification of the perfusion of the anterior cruciate ligament and the effects of stress and injury to supporting structures. AB - The perfusion of the normal ACL was quantitated using the hydrogen washout technique in a canine model. This was compared to the perfusion of the synovium in the suprapatellar pouch. Changes in the ACL perfusion were quantitated after the application of anterior stress, division of the infrapatellar fat pad, and dissection of the synovium enveloping the ACL. The ACL is relatively hypovascular, with one-half the blood flow of the synovium of the suprapatellar pouch. Application of an anterior stress diminishes the blood flow to the ACL to one-fifth of the baseline value, an effect which is reversible. Division of the infrapatellar fat pad causes a two-fold decrease in perfusion to the ACL, whereas dissection of the enveloping synovium results in a complete cessation of blood flow. PMID- 2624294 TI - Evaluation of claw toe deformity, weakness of the foot intrinsics, and posteromedial shin pain. AB - Posteromedial middle one-third tibial pain and tenderness associated with stressful activities has been previously recognized as occurring at the origin of the flexor digitorum longus muscle. Seventeen running athletes with this clinical syndrome were evaluated with regard to second toe range of motion and foot intrinsic muscle strength. The results were compared to results obtained from a comparable group of asymptomatic athletes. Statistical analysis of the results of the evaluation indicated a significant displacement of the arc of motion of the second toe in the symptomatic athletes toward extension of the metatarsophalangeal joint and a decrease in flexion. Weakness or dysfunction of the intrinsic muscles in the symptomatic athletes was also found to be significant. This analysis supports the hypothesis that posteromedial middle one third tibial stress symptoms may be related to overuse of the flexor digitorum longus muscle associated with mild claw toe deformity. PMID- 2624295 TI - An outbreak of furunculosis among high school athletes. AB - Furuncles (boils) are common among teenagers; however, few outbreaks have been documented. We investigated an outbreak of furuncles that occurred among male athletes of a Kentucky high school during the 1986 to 1987 school year. The overall attack rate was 25% (31/124). The risk of developing a furuncle increased two to three times in those who had skin injury. Athletes who sustained abrasions more than twice per week (P less than 0.01), who had a cut that required bandaging (P = 0.01), or had an unspecified injury causing a missed practice or game (P = 0.04) were at increased risk. The risk of developing furunculosis did not appear to be related to contact with formites, but rather, to contact with furuncles. Although athletes shared common areas (showers, locker rooms, practice areas, the attack rates for varsity football (36%) and varsity basketball (33%) were four times greater than for nonvarsity teams (P less than 0.01). Players who had a friend with a furuncle were more than twice as likely to also have had a furuncle (P less than 0.01). Exposure to furuncles appeared to increase the risk of furunculosis independently of reported skin injury. Control and prevention should, therefore, focus on both reducing skin injury and reducing exposure to furuncles, rather than attempting to sterilize inanimate objects. PMID- 2624296 TI - Rotator cuff tears. A shoulder arthroscopy complication. PMID- 2624297 TI - Fixation of large osteochondral fractures of the patella with fibrin adhesive system. A report of two operative cases. PMID- 2624298 TI - Surgical treatment of chronic lateral instability of the ankle joint--a new procedure. PMID- 2624299 TI - [Informatics in hospitals]. PMID- 2624300 TI - Effects of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane on some energy-converting functions of isolated rat liver mitochondria. AB - Enflurane and isoflurane appeared equally effective in decreasing the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation in isolated mitochondria, while halothane was twice as effective as these two anesthetics. On the other hand enflurane and isoflurane exhibited different dose-response relationships when the uptake of calcium was measured (with a calcium-selective electrode) or the transmembrane electrical potential was monitored (with tetraphenylphosphonium-selective electrode) during ATP synthesis or calcium uptake in anesthetic treated mitochondria. The results indicate that the effects of isoflurane and enflurane on the mitochondrial energy converting processes are qualitatively, but not quantitatively, analogous to those previously described for halothane. Moreover the damaging action of isoflurane gradually increases as the anesthetic concentration increases, while that of enflurane suddenly increases above a threshold concentration. It appears that the effects of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane on isolated mitochondria involve both the ATP synthetase and the inner membrane permeability barrier, although the membrane-anesthetic interactions responsible for such effects are probably different for each anesthetic. PMID- 2624301 TI - Changes in thyrotropin, triiodothyronine, thyroxine and prolactin levels during septic shock in rats. AB - Inhibition of thyroid gland function and a decrease of serum prolactin content are well documented during endotoxin and septic shocks. On the fifth hour of septic shock by cecal incision, triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels are significantly decreased while the decrease in thyrotropin and prolactin are insignificant. On the 10th hour, all the hormone under study are significantly decreased. PMID- 2624302 TI - Plasma levels of endotoxin and anaphylatoxin in patients with multiple organ failure. AB - Plasma concentrations of endotoxin and anaphylatoxins were studied inpatients with multiple organ failure (MOF). Thirty one blood samples from nine patients with MOF and twenty samples from preoperative patients as control were determined. The average plasma concentration of endotoxin was 188.7 +/- 37.0 pg ml-1 (Mean + S.E.) in MOF patients and 12.4 +/- 3.3 pg.ml-1 in control patients (p less than 0.05). Plasma anaphylatoxin (C3a, C5a) levels increased significantly and C4 level decreased in MOF patients as compared with those in control patients. However, no significant correlation was found between plasma endotoxin and anaphylatoxin levels. Endotoxin does not seem to be a major factor in activating of the complement system in patients with MOF. PMID- 2624303 TI - [Respiratory complications after repair of major abdominal hernia: value of the combination of propofol and epidural anesthesia]. AB - Twenty patients with major abdominal hernia were treated by prosthesis interposed in pre or intraperitoneal position by medial incision. This surgery can produce healthy respiratory morbidity. Indeed, these patients are commonly obeses and smokers. The reintegration of the viscera in the abdominal cavity increases the pressure in this cavity and pertubs the diaphragmatic motility. The association of peridural technique and propofol perfusion gives an excellent awakening combined to a good postoperative analgesia. So this association permits to obtain from patient a helpful collaboration which limits dramatically the postoperative complications. PMID- 2624304 TI - [Treatment of severe accidental hypothermia with a simple extracorporeal circuit]. AB - A simple method allows rewarming severe accidental hypothermia patients by an extra-corporal veno-venous circuit. Blood is removed from the femoral vein and brought to infusion pump accelerator which sends it through a blood-rewarmer before reinjecting it into the terminal jugular or sub-clavian vein. This allows the heart to be rewarmed preferentially. The blood is heparinized upon entering the circuit and later neutralized with protamine sulfate upon leaving it. Five severely hypothermic patients (average temperature: 26.5 degrees C) were treated using this technique. Rapid improvement was obtained with disappearance of cardiovascular shock within one hour. Rectal temperature increased by 1.84 degrees C.h-1 and became normal in 6 hours. No complications were encountered. Particularly, there were no incidents of shock due to rapid rewarming and no secondary biological disturbances observed imputable to the extra-corporal circuit. It should be emphasized that the equipment used is readily available in most Emergency and Intensive Care Units. PMID- 2624305 TI - [Preliminary study of transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure in adults after discontinuing normobaric hyperoxia during intubation]. AB - When tracheal intubation is conducted with traditional laryngoscope PtcO2 fall during the first minute after intubation; when continuous O2 supplied laryngoscope (Laryng O2) is used PtcO2 rise; the difference is statistically significant (p less than 0.001) either the subjects are in curarisation apnea or in spontaneous ventilation. With traditional laryngoscope, the fall is faster with spontaneous ventilation conditions than during curarisation apnea. Likewise in normal conscient subject the same fall is faster (p less than 0.001) during first minute of posthyperoxic spontaneous quiet ventilation than the first minute of voluntary hypocapnic apnea induced by hyperventilation during the same hyperoxia. Such results have to be taken into account for the indications of tracheal intubation technical means if hypoxic conditions are to be suspected, particularly for infants and subjects with cardio-respiratory failure. PMID- 2624306 TI - [The Laryng O2: a new equipment to make intratracheal intubation for anesthesia or resuscitation of patients with respiratory distress easier and less dangerous]. PMID- 2624307 TI - [Laryngeal amyloidosis]. AB - Reporting a case localized both on the left ventricular band and on Morgagni's ventricle, which histologic examination resulted luckily in this odd entity. Review of possible anatomopathologic techniques and methods for confirm or reject systemic amyloidosis. Surgery is the treatment of choice (microsurgery or laryngofissure). The lost motility of the larynx was recovered. PMID- 2624308 TI - [Basal cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal]. AB - The meagre figures of malignancies in the outer canal, especially basal cell carcinoma, offer the AA. the opportunity of this communication. Owing to the small size of the growth it was successfully treated with X-ray therapy. PMID- 2624309 TI - [Peristomal recurrence after total laryngectomy]. AB - The AA. evaluate the incidence of peristomal recurrences among 349 total laryngectomies operated between 1975 and 1985, at ENT Service, Hospital Dr. Peset, Valencia. As possible etiologies they emphasize: first of all the infraglottic spreading of the tumor, the emergency tracheostomy done prior to the surgery of the larynx, and the lacking of irradiation of the tracheostoma. PMID- 2624310 TI - [The styloid syndrome. Apropos 3 cases]. AB - The paper deals with the cases of 3 women, aged between 28 and 35 years, the three having had tonsillectomy and complaining of troubles compatible with the styloid syndrome. X-ray and tomographs corroborate the diagnosis. Under general anesthesia the abnormally developed processes were high resected and the complaints gone. PMID- 2624311 TI - [Pneumatic nasal tamponade in the treatment of epistaxis]. AB - This procedure, used since some years because of its easy application and effectiveness, is spreading nowadays in the management of posterior epistaxis either in primary assistance centers or specialized. The method is actually advantageous in polytrauma, chronic bronchitis patients or in some postoperative cases. Nevertheless the device should close controlled in order to prevent injuries of the nose structures. PMID- 2624312 TI - [Stapedectomy. Audiometric considerations and results]. AB - Perusal of the last 100 stapedectomies done in the ENT Service of the AA. (Social Security Hospital. Cuenca) displaying audiometric outcomes. Considerations related to the etiology, the surgery and other items of the disease are dealt with. PMID- 2624313 TI - Enzymatic cycling assay for phenylpyruvate. AB - Enzymatic cycling assays for the determination of L-phenylalanine and phenylpyruvate in deproteinized tissue extracts are described. Assay 1 couples glutamine transaminase K with L-phenylalanine dehydrogenase. Assay 2 combines phenylalanine dehydrogenase, L-amino acid oxidase, and catalase. In both assays, tyrosine and some other amino acids (or their alpha-keto acid analogs) can replace phenylalanine (or phenylpyruvate) to a small extent. Thus, if phenylalanine is to be measured a correction must be made for the nonspecificity of the reaction. By removing phenylalanine on a cation-exchange column it was possible to measure phenylpyruvate in tissue extracts. Concentrations of phenylpyruvate (mumol/kg) in normal rat liver, kidney, and brain were 2.1 +/- 1.1 (n = 8), 1.8 +/- 0.4 (n = 4), and 3.3 +/- 0.6 (n = 4), respectively. PMID- 2624314 TI - Solution-phase detection of polynucleotides using interacting fluorescent labels and competitive hybridization. AB - DNA was assayed in a homogeneous format using DNA probes containing hybridization sensitive labels. The DNA probes were prepared from complementary DNA strands in which one strand was covalently labeled on the 5'-terminus with fluorescein and the complementary strand was covalently labeled on the 3'-terminus with a quencher of fluorescein emission, either pyrenebutyrate or sulforhodamine 101. Probes prepared in this manner were able to detect unlabeled target DNA by competitive hybridization producing fluorescence signals which increased with increasing target DNA concentration. A single pair of complementary probes detected target DNA at a concentration of approximately 0.1 nM in 10 min or about 10 pM in 20-30 min. Detection of a 4 pM concentration of target DNA was demonstrated in 6 h using multiple probe pairs. The major limiting factors were background fluorescence and hybridization rates. Continuous monitoring of fluorescence during competitive hybridization allowed correction for variable sample backgrounds at probe concentrations down to 20 pM; however, the time required for complete hybridization increased to greater than 1 h at probe concentrations below 0.1 nM. A promising application for this technology is the rapid detection of amplified polynucleotides. Detection of 96,000 target DNA molecules in a 50-microliters sample was demonstrated following in vitro amplification using the polymerase chain reaction technique. PMID- 2624315 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of bilirubin conjugates. AB - A fast sensitive method for the isolation and quantitation of biliary bile pigments by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed. Nine conjugates of bilirubin as well as unconjugated bilirubin and an internal standard, unconjugated mesobilirubin IX alpha, were all separated to baseline by gradient elution. The following sequence of eluted compounds was chemically identified by separating their ethyl anthranilate derivatives by thin layer chromatography and by their enzymatic formation with UDP-bilirubin transferase and cosubstrate: bilirubin diglucuronide, bilirubin monoglucuronide monoglucoside, bilirubin monoglucuronide monoxyloside, bilirubin monoglucuronide (C-8, C-12), bilirubin diglucoside, bilirubin monoglucoside monoxyloside, bilirubin dixyloside, bilirubin monoglucoside (C-8, C-12), and bilirubin monoxyloside. The use of the commercially available mesobilirubin IX alpha as an internal standard was found to facilitate quantitation of the bilirubin conjugates. PMID- 2624316 TI - A procedure for eliminating interferences in the lowry method of protein determination. AB - A modification of the Lowry assay for the quantitative protein measurement in the presence of interfering materials has been developed. The method is based on a precipitation with a single-phase hexane:isopropanol solvent system and later resuspension of protein pellets with sodium dodecyl sulfate and deoxycholate. The new procedure eliminates the interference caused by Triton X-100, phospholipids, or dithiothreitol providing yields higher than 95% and seems to be especially suitable for protein determination on membrane preparations in samples with small volumes and/or very low protein concentrations. PMID- 2624317 TI - Examination of automated polypeptide sequencing using standard phenyl isothiocyanate reagent and subpicomole high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis. AB - The feasibility of accurate protein sequencing at the subpicomole level, using automated Edman chemistry and "on-line" HPLC analysis, was studied. Several modifications of the standard system were first introduced. A larger portion of the phenylthiohydantoin amino acids (70%) is analyzed. Dissolution in 10% acetonitrile is improved by short periodic bursts of argon. Losses on the column of subpicomole amounts of analytes, in the presence and absence of scavengers, were quantitated; they are related to destruction rather than to unspecific sticking to the stationary phase. Baseline drift, for a large part caused by the presence of ultraviolet absorbing N,N-dimethylphenylthiourea in solvent B, is completely eliminated by the addition of a twofold molar excess of tryptophan to solvent A. This allows real time recording of the 269-nm absorption detector signal at 0.0005 absorption unit full scale. The combined modifications result in an eightfold increase in sensitivity over standard methods. Sequence calling at the 2 to 10 pmol level, through visual inspection of chromatograms, becomes increasingly simple this way. Once the sequenceable signal drops below the 1 pmol level in the course of a run, meticulous comparison and matching of the preliminary calls with a spreadsheet of peak integration data are necessary for accurate assignments. Reliable sequencing, with signals at the subpicomole level, is now feasible for stretches of over 10 residues. Contaminating amino acids and polypeptides and incompletely removed reaction by-products constitute a major problem for analysis at this level. Future limits to sensitivity of Edman sequencing will primarily depend on improved micropreparations of proteins in cleaner environments, higher purity reagents and solvents, instrument miniaturization, and solid-phase techniques. PMID- 2624318 TI - Extraction, pre-high-performance liquid chromatographic purification, and high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of plant nucleotides. AB - Problems encountered in obtaining reliable analytical data by HPLC for the free nucleotide constituents of plant tissues are considered and methods of overcoming them experimentally assessed. Major problems include suppression of residual phosphatase activity during extraction, and removal of pigments, phenolics, alkaloids, and other uv-absorbing nonnucleotides, prior to HPLC. An optimal combination of extraction and pre-HPLC purification techniques is discussed which, in combination with HPLC by anion exchange, yields quantitatively reliable data. The optimized procedure involves extraction with a monophasic mixture of methanol: chloroform:formic acid:water and purification of the nucleotide extract by a batch treatment with poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone, followed by ligand-exchange chromatography. The main HPLC separation uses mu Bondapak NH2 in a linear phosphate gradient and gives good resolution of all the commonly occurring plant nucleotides in a single chromatographic run. PMID- 2624319 TI - Assay of purified aryl sulfotransferase suitable for reactions yielding unstable sulfuric acid esters. AB - An assay procedure for purified aryl sulfotransferase is described. The method utilizes isocratic paired-ion reverse-phase HPLC analysis of adenosine-3',5' diphosphate formed in the reaction. Evaluation of the assay procedure was carried out with 1-naphthalene-methanol as a model substrate for purified rat hepatic aryl sulfotransferase IV. Kinetic constants for sulfation of 1 naphthalenemethanol determined by this method compared favorably with those determined using thin-layer chromatographic assays of 35S incorporation. These results indicate that the method will be suitable for determination of kinetic constants in sulfotransferase-catalyzed reactions where the product sulfuric acid ester may be chemically unstable. PMID- 2624320 TI - Histology, ultrastructure and carbohydrate histochemistry of pig carpal glands. AB - The morphological differences between two types of secretory cells (clear and dark) from pig carpal glands were examined. The main difference is the presence in the dark cells of secretory granules of moderate electron density, made up of acidic and neutral glycoproteins. The possible functional purposes of the carpal glands and of glycogen present in both cell types are also discussed. PMID- 2624321 TI - [Involution of the tooth germ in sheep (Ovis aries)]. AB - In this study we examined some histologic and histochemical characteristics of the embryonic sheep dental epithelium in early odontogenesis. During the first trimester of development, a short-lived dental lamina was observed. Apparently in the sheep, the interactions between epithelial and ectomesenchymal cells required for tooth normal morphogenesis are altered. PMID- 2624322 TI - Cytological, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural study of the adenohypophyseal pars distalis of the kid (Capra hircus): the TSH cell. AB - The structure and ultrastructure of the adenohypophyseal pars distalis in kids of the Murciano-granadiana breed (18 males and 12 females), aged 2-3 months and with an average carcass weight of 8 kg has been studied. Techniques of staining (Tetrachrome Herlant's, and Cleveland-Wolfe) and histochemistry (PAS, PAS-OG and BA-PAS-OG) contrasted with immunolabelling (PAP) have been used. In addition an ultrastructural study has been made and nucleus and cytoplasm, secretory granules, mitochondria and lysosomes have been measured with a semiautomatic image analyzer (IBAS-1). TSH cells are found in sagittal section in the anterior area and in an antero-caudodorsal band, and transversally in the ventral and medial region; they are 6% and their average size is 14.15 microns. Ultrastructurally they are a single cellular type with spherical granules whose size is 195 nm in males and 149 in females; these granules are characterized by a clear halo and a variable electronic density. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is found as slightly enlarged vesicles with a homogeneous and moderately electro dense content or in concentric stratifications. PMID- 2624323 TI - Structure of the carotid sinus of the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius). AB - The morphology of the terminal segment of the common carotid artery of the camel was studied. It was found that this artery terminated by giving off a patent internal carotid artery and continuing as the external carotid artery. A presumptive carotid sinus was present at the region of origin of the internal carotid. Similar to that of other mammals, the carotid sinus of the camel was characterized by a comparatively thin vascular wall rich in elastic fibres. With the electron microscope, free (non-encapsulated) afferent endings, efferent endings, encapsulated axons and bundles of unmyelinated and myelinated nerve fibres were found in the wall of the presumptive carotid sinus. The free afferent endings closely resembled baroreceptor endings of the carotid sinus of other mammalian species in their mitochondrial content and the presence of abnormal organelles such as lamellar bodies, vesicular mitochondria and dense bodies. They were regarded as slowly adapting baroreceptors. The presumptive efferent endings were considered adrenergic whereas the encapsulated axons were thought to be the proximal parts of encapsulated sensory nerve endings. PMID- 2624324 TI - Morphological analysis of the cervicothoracic ganglion of the 10 week old pig fetus. AB - Morphological analysis of the cervicothoracic ganglion of the 10 week old pig fetus was carried out. A description of the topographic location, shape and neural connections of the ganglion are described. Associated with these observations, the location of the fetus within the uterus and the sex of the fetus were considered. PMID- 2624325 TI - [On the occurrence of blood vessels in the superficial layers of articular cartilage in bovine fetuses]. AB - The occurrence of vascular networks in the superficial layers of articular cartilage of 51 bovine fetuses (10-93 cm CRL) and 3 calves was studied grossly and histologically. The networks were found regularly on the incisura trochlearis of the ulna, on the trochlea of the radius and talus, on the plantar articular surface of the head of the talus, on the proximal articular surface of the fused central and 4th tarsal bones, and less regularly on the articular surfaces of the distal phalanx and distal sesamoid (navicular) bone and on the cochlea of the tibia. The vessels coursed in the superficial stratum of the articular cartilage and were encountered in those places where synovial fossae or villi are found later. The vessels were not present in the calves. PMID- 2624326 TI - [The rete mirabile of the maxillary artery of the lion (Panthera leo, L. 1758)]. AB - Seventeen lion heads were examined. Their arteries were injected with colored supervinyl-chloride (dissolved in acetone) after which the heads were macerated biologically. The rete mirabile of the maxillary artery was located extracranially and was formed by numerous arteries that arose from the dorsal and medial surfaces of the maxillary artery. The rete released branches (rami retis) which entered the cranial cavity through the orbital fissure where they anastomosed with the intracranial segment of the internal carotid artery. The extracranial portion of the internal carotid was found to be obliterated. Some other arteries leaving the rete anastomosed with the internal ophthalmic artery before it entered the optic canal. The following further arteries left the rete: A. ethmoidalis externa, A. ophthalmica externa, rami musculares and ramus pterygoideus. The rete mirabile of the maxillary artery in the lion provides the principal source of the blood for the brain; it also supplies the orbit. PMID- 2624327 TI - Descriptive and comparative myology of the forelimb of the babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa L. 1758). AB - A description is given of the anatomy of the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the forelimb of the babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa, L. 1758). Three adult animals, two males and a female were dissected and the results compared with the previously published information. Significant differences were found between the accounts, and these were analysed within the context of material availability and advances in anatomical nomenclature. Comparisons made with published descriptions of the pig (Sus scrofa) showed that the muscular anatomy of the two species is very similar. Four structures are present in the babirusa but not in the pig; the M. pronator teres is completely tendinous, a tendon branch from the Caput craniale m. extensor digitorum lateralis anastomoses with the tendon of the Caput intermedium m. extensor digitorum communis to the fourth digit, there is an additional small deep portion of the M. supraspinatus and a bundle of fibres from the M. pectoralis profundus inserts on the intersectio clavicularis. Four structures present in the pig but not the babirusa are an additional insertion from the M. cleido-occipitalis into the raphe of the neck, an extra medial insertion of the M. infraspinatus, the accessory tendinous origin of the M. flexor digitorum profundus and the ulnar head of the M. flexor carpi ulnaris. PMID- 2624328 TI - Motor fibers in the canine distal caudal cutaneous sural nerve--dual innervation of the hind limb plantar muscles. AB - The function of the communicating branch of the distal caudal cutaneous sural (DCCS) nerve to the tibial nerve was investigated in 7 adult dogs and was found to contain the motor component of this nerve. This function was studied by direct visualization of the contraction of the hind limb plantar muscles and by direct electrophysiologic recording of motor unit action potentials in these muscles, following stimulation of the DCCS nerve. Contraction of all of the mm. interossei, the mm. lumbricales, the m. adductor digiti quinti and the m. adductor digiti secundi was observed with the stimulation of either the tibial or the DCCS nerves, although there was a qualitative variability in the plantar muscles exhibiting the strongest contraction with stimulation of the latter nerve. This communicating branch was not found in one of the experimental dogs, suggesting some individual variability in the DCCS nerve anatomy and subsequent function. This study conclusively demonstrated that the canine DCCS nerve contains both motor and sensory nerve fibers, which is similar to this nerve in the rat, but anatomically and functionally different to that in the human and the cat. PMID- 2624329 TI - [The lymph nodes of the stomach of sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus)]. AB - The lymph nodes of the stomachs taken from 31 sheep and 35 goats were described and measured. Compared with lymph nodes of cattle (Baum, 1912) marked differences were found regarding the position, number and presence of the nodes, as well as in regard to the lymphatic vessels leaving them. The results are discussed in the light of the decisions that may have to be made during meat inspection. PMID- 2624330 TI - Monoclonal antibodies in the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. AB - Monoclonal antibodies are being used as drugs in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of human diseases. The discipline of antibody engineering has evolved with modern cellular and molecular biology methods to meet the challenge of producing human monoclonal antibodies for in vivo biotherapy. In this overview, applications of monoclonal antibodies are presented for patients with selected diseases. Second, antibody engineering methods are overviewed from a chronological perspective for the production of therapeutic murine, human-like chimeric and CDR-grafted, and human monoclonal antibodies. Finally, safety considerations are examined for the efficacious use of monoclonal antibodies as diagnosis and therapeutic drugs. PMID- 2624331 TI - [Determination of trace elements by an assay using flameless atomic absorption spectrometry]. AB - The authors review the keys parameters of flameless atomic absorption spectrometry trace element determination in biological medium. Contamination during sample collection and analysis are discussed. Treatments of sample are indicated. The different graphite furnaces are reviewed. Interferences and background correction are discussed. Reference samples are quoted. PMID- 2624332 TI - Blood chemistry by disposable ISE with the Chempro 500 system. AB - Potentiometric measurements are usually done with multiple determination electrodes. Disposable electrodes were first introduced on the Ektachem systems by Kodak with the concept of differential potentiometric measurement between the specimen and a reference fluid delivered on two parts of a single slide. In the Chempro 500 system a calibrating solution and the specimen are sequentially measured by the same potentiometric system with a classic reference electrode and selective electrodes present on a disposable device in various combinations. This device is connected to a compact analyzer with a microprocessor, a display and a printer. The authors evaluated the analytical performance of the Chempro 500 on whole blood, plasma and serum specimens over a two months period. Results and practicability are discussed and compared to those of reference instruments, according to requirements of decentralized analysis. PMID- 2624333 TI - Ferrocene modified polypyrrole with immobilised glucose oxidase and its application in amperometric glucose microbiosensors. AB - Gold microelectrodes were modified with electropolymerised polypyrrole in both organic and aqueous electrolytes. Cyclic voltammetry studies confirmed that electron conduction through the films in aqueous electrolytes is greatly reduced and is inefficient at mediating the oxidation/reduction of solution redox species. Films formed in aqueous electrolyte were also found to be more heterogenous in structure compared to those formed in acetonitrile. Aqueous polymerised films were used as an immobilisation matrix for glucose oxidase, and modified gold micro electrodes were used in the analysis of glucose using hydrogen peroxide detection. It was found that glucose oxidase was strongly absorbed into the films and that the sensors remained stable for several weeks. An improved linear range and oxygen insensitivity was achieved by incorporating the "water-insoluble" electron transfer mediator, dimethyl ferrocene, into the polypyrrole films by absorption. Good currents and response times to glucose addition were obtained from these electrodes, however, the electrodes possessed poor stability caused by the apparent loss of mediator from the films. Greater operational stability was achieved by covalently functionalising the films with the ferrocene derivative, ferrocenecarbonyl chloride. Covalently bound ferrocence was found to be an efficient oxidant of reduced glucose oxidase. Electrodes constructed in this manner possessed a good linear range, oxygen insensitivity and better stability. Electron transfer mechanisms are discussed. PMID- 2624334 TI - [Cholelithiasis in childhood]. AB - 11 patients with cholelithiasis treated at our department, since 1979, are presented. Although cholelithiasis is a typical disease in adults, its frequency in childhood is very low. The rate of cholelithiasis with hemolitic diseases were of 18% and idiopathic in 55%. The main clinical symptom was recurrent abdominal pain, refer to epigastric or right subcostal side. The diagnosis was done with echography and in all cases a cholecistectomy were performed. The results and complications of these cases are presented. PMID- 2624335 TI - [Proposal for a scale for the assessment and treatment of febrile convulsions]. AB - Prophylaxis of febrile convulsions has been very controversial. Often this prophylaxis is given based upon subjective criteria and even in the same Department of Paediatrics, criteria are not uniformly carried out. We consider of great interest to value some circumstances of the febrile convulsions, which could be worth for valorating recidives. We have quantified some parameters, that can be obtained easily. Those have systematically been used in our Department, leading us to establish and score to determine the risk factors that lead us to use or not a prophylactic treatment in children with febrile convulsions. PMID- 2624336 TI - [Demand for care in the emergency service department of a pediatric hospital]. AB - We have done a prospective study of the emergencies that arrived to a Children's Hospital from 8 to 15 hours in labour day 987 enquires were filled, which represents 53.53% of those who came. Males were predominant and also the younger ones with 24.58% less than 1 year of age, and progressively diminishing with age. Frequency was higher on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, with a significant reduction on Tuesdays. The hourly distribution demonstrated an accumulation in the intermediate hours in the morning, with a reduction before 10 and after 14 hours. 83.58% arrived due to personal initiative, and 22.28% of them had been with their pediatrician in the previous 48 hours. 3.64% of patients were admitted to hospital; considering a justified reason for hospital emergency care in 14.69% of the cases, and dubious reasons in 16.61%. The socioeconomic status was slightly higher than that of the Madrid Community in which the hospital is situated. Our data show that the majority of children that come to the emergency department present problems that could have been solved in another level of care. We also found indirect signs, may evidentiate that the family members are conscious in many cases that they are making an unjustified use of this level of care. PMID- 2624337 TI - [Changes in phosphorus-calcium metabolism in osteopoikilosis (Buschke-Ollendorf syndrome)]. AB - Osteopoikilosis has always been described as a radiological finding of no clinico biological significance with no deforming consequences for the skeleton. The authors present three cases with a past family history (mother suffered from osteopoikilosis and two sons with Buschke-Ollendorf syndrome) in whom we found alterations of phosphorus and calcium metabolism, this not having been previously reported in the literature. PMID- 2624338 TI - [Retroperitoneal lymphangioma in a neonate. Manifestation by a palpable mass in the flank]. PMID- 2624339 TI - [Marshall-Smith syndrome with clinodactyly, joint instability and retarded language development]. PMID- 2624340 TI - [Bronchopneumonia caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in the premature infant]. PMID- 2624341 TI - [Late stenosis as a complication of an intramural duodenal hematoma]. PMID- 2624342 TI - [Infantile appearance at age l6 in a girl with hypothyroidism and total situs inversus]. PMID- 2624343 TI - [Trisomy 47 XYY accompanied by major malformations]. PMID- 2624344 TI - [Fulminating hepatitis B of vertical transmission]. PMID- 2624345 TI - [Post-streptococcal acute polymyalgia: apropos of two cases]. PMID- 2624346 TI - [11th national meeting of the Section on Pediatric Intensive Care and the 9th national meeting on pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. Granada, 4-5 November 1988. Abstracts]. PMID- 2624347 TI - [Prevention of congenital malformations. A program for an epidemiologic study in Spain (1976-1988)]. PMID- 2624348 TI - Bioelements: health aspects. PMID- 2624349 TI - Criteria for reference value assessment of elements in human tissues. AB - The availability of updated and reliable reference values for elements in biological tissues and fluids plays a key role in the correct planning and performance of clinical, toxicological and environmental studies. The basic principles for a proper analytical approach in order to obtain such data are outlined. This in turn should significantly reduce the wide range of figures reported for most elements as "normal" intervals in the scientific literature. Some applications of these guidelines are illustrated in detail in the case of human lungs, liver and kidneys for which tentative reference values are assessed for a number of minor and trace elements, namely, Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Li, Mg, Mn, Pb, Sr, V and Zn. PMID- 2624350 TI - Reference values for elements of toxicological, clinical and environmental interest in hair of urban subjects. AB - A monitoring campaign has been undertaken to ascertain the reference concentration ranges for a number of minor and trace elements in hair of healthy urban subjects under age 15. An outline of criteria and methods lying at the root of a sound and reliable experimental approach are presented with special regard to such crucial steps as study planning, sampling, storing, pretreatment, analysis and evaluation of results. Determinations were carried out mainly by inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) given the wide investigative potential and inherently multielemental character of this technique. The results obtained so far regard 100 youngsters allowing reference intervals for Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Se, Ti, V and Zn to be established for the population group tested. Finally, further developments of this activity are highlighted, particularly emphasizing the diagnostic capabilities of hair analysis. PMID- 2624351 TI - Age and sex specific reference serum selenium levels estimated for the Italian population. AB - The association between the concentration of selenium in serum and the risk of degenerative processes of the cardiovascular apparatus or of neoplastic disease remains still uncertain. An inaccurate selection of the study populations, and above all the lack of age, sex and area of residence specific reference values could have contributed to create confusion on the biological relevance of selenium in human diseases. In our present work the serum selenium levels for the Italian population have been studied, adopting standardized methods. The study population (4201 adult subjects and 1217 children) was derived from samples of populations previously enrolled in epidemiological preventive programs. The mean observed values for the various adult populations examined varied between 87 and 93 micrograms/l and resulted approximately 5 micrograms/l higher than the mean observed values in ten European countries. The mean observed values for the paediatric population (less than 15 years of age) were slightly lower (78-83 micrograms/l). A decreasing trend of the values with age, above 60 years, especially in males, has been observed. No significant difference has been observed for sex and geographic area of residence. A preliminary study of the variations of the serum selenium levels during certain diseases has shown a sharp reduction in children with phenylketonuria and undergoing dietary restrictions, in subject with active systemic Lupus erythematosus, and in certain neoplasias. PMID- 2624352 TI - The interlaboratorial quality assurance program for blood lead determination. An evaluation of methods and results. AB - For over five years a national program, promoted by a working group of the Istituto Superiore di Sanita (Italian National Institute of Health), has been active in Italy for the quality control of the blood lead levels determination. The program is based on the adoption, by the laboratories, of the same known titre materials, for the internal quality control, and on the participation in periodical collaborative exercises for the external quality evaluation. The promoting laboratory prepared the control samples, verified their homogeneity and stability and distributed them to the laboratories following a randomized procedure; then, it provided a preliminary elaboration of the results (precision, difference from the median, distribution) after each exercise, and carried out the global evaluation of the performances of each laboratory after at least one year of activity in the program using parametric (regression analysis) and non parametric (evaluation of the results according to pre-determined acceptability criteria) statistical methods. After four years of activity, the results obtained show that the adopted scheme and the procedures used turned out to be adequate. The study of the regression parameters between the results of each laboratory and the medians of the results of all the laboratories has confirmed the validity of the graphic criterion adopted, also yielding specific information on the relative contribution of the different kinds of error (systematic, constant and/or proportional and casual) to the global error. Furthermore, the proportion of the laboratories with "good level" performances (i.e., acceptable results in at least 80% of the examined samples) has increased from approximately 30% in the first phase to approximately 50% in the fourth phase. PMID- 2624353 TI - Comparable laboratory performances in the analysis of lead in control samples and in fresh human blood. AB - The validity of quality control programs is based on the assumption that the control samples can be commuted with the real samples, so that, according to the results obtained by a given laboratory on control samples, it is possible to produce reasonable predictions about the reliability of results obtained on real samples. During the implementation of a program of biological monitoring of the general population against the risk of saturnism, a great number of data have been collected allowing the evaluation--as far as blood lead determination is concerned--of the real predictive power of the results obtained by a laboratory during a quality control program, according to its specific level of analytical reliability. The results obtained by eleven laboratories in the analysis of control samples have been compared, by regression analysis, with the results obtained on the same samples by the reference laboratory. The same procedure has been adopted for the results obtained by each laboratory and by the reference laboratory in the duplicate analysis of about 10% of the real samples collected by each center during the biological monitoring program. The comparison between the regression parameters obtained, in both cases, for each laboratory has not produced evidence of systematic differences. Furthermore, a non-parametric evaluation of the data (based on the magnitude of the differences between the results of the laboratories and the results of the reference center) shows, in most cases, similar laboratory performances in the analysis of control samples and of real samples. PMID- 2624354 TI - Lead exposure: assessment of the risk for the general Italian population. AB - According to the regulations contained in the presidential decree DPR 496/82 certain Italian regions have carried out investigations--based on the blood lead level measurement--for the biological surveillance of the general population against the risk of saturnism. A work-group from the Istituto Superiore di Sanita (Italian National Institute of Health) coordinated the activity of the various centers and organized an appropriate quality control program to guarantee the quality of the analytical data collected. A total of 8635 subjects (4864 females and 3771 males) have been examined, 1968 of which (1058 females and 910 males) were under 14 years of age. The median values of the observed blood lead levels were, for the adults, 153 micrograms/l in males and 100 micrograms/l in females; and, for the children, 94 micrograms/l in males and 86 micrograms/l in females. The reference limit decreed by law for the 98th percentile is exceeded by the adult-males group, while both limits, at the 90th and 98th percentiles are exceeded by the population residing in the Portoscuso (CA) municipality. Our investigation confirms the correlation between blood lead levels, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking; in both sexes and in all age groups (except for females 15-25 years of age) a positive correlation of blood lead levels with alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking is clearly evident. The association of blood lead levels with alcohol seems to be stronger than that with cigarette smoking. The comparison with the results of previous investigations shows a 25% reduction of blood lead levels in the general Italian population during the 1979 1985 period. PMID- 2624355 TI - Evaluation of the performance of Italian laboratories in the determination of cadmium levels in blood. AB - The measurement of the blood cadmium level is necessary for the biological monitoring of workers or of general populations that are thought to be professionally or environmentally exposed to cadmium. However, since the levels of interest are exceedingly low, the analytical determinations involve considerable problems. With the aim of comparing the performances of the Italian laboratories in the blood cadmium levels determination, a working group of the Istituto Superiore di Sanita (Italian National Institute of Health) promoted in 1983 a quality control program including the provision of materials for the internal quality control and the performance of bi-monthly or quarterly exercises for the external quality control. The promoting laboratory provided the preparation and distribution of the samples to the laboratories and the processing of the data at the end of each exercise. A global and more thorough evaluation of the performances of each laboratory was carried out at the end of each phase (lasting at least one year), including a graphical evaluation of the results of each laboratory according to a predetermined acceptability criterion and the linear regression analysis. Of the 20 participating laboratories, approximately 50% obtained acceptable results for at least 80% of the examined samples. The mean relative inaccuracy decreased from 36% in the first phase to 20% in the last one. To improve analytical performances, both technologically advanced instrumentations and experienced personnel seem to be necessary. PMID- 2624356 TI - Predictive value of serum aluminium levels for bone accumulation in haemodialyzed patients. AB - Uremic patients undergoing long-term dialysis risk accumulating tissue aluminium burdens and developing aluminium-related syndromes, such as dialysis encephalopathy and osteomalacia. A statistical retrospective study on 253 uremic subjects was carried out to verify the predictive value of serum aluminium levels on bone aluminium accumulation. Serum and bone samples collected at the same time were analyzed for aluminium content. Analyses were performed by graphite furnace atomic absorption technique. The results verified bone aluminium concentrations of less than or equal to 60 mg/kg d.w. (dry weight) in 144 patients and greater concentrations in 109 patients. The statistical discriminant analysis showed that serum levels can be predictive in aluminium bone accumulation (lower or greater than 60 mg/kg) with about a 7% margin of error. This value may be further reduced to about 2% if two threshold limits are used (53-81 micrograms/l). The specificity and sensitivity of the test were 89.6% and 83.5%, respectively. PMID- 2624357 TI - Analytical and regulatory considerations for ferritin-containing pharmaceutical products. AB - Ferritin, an iron-containing protein widely diffused in nature, has the important biochemical function of being the principal reserve and regulator for Fe3+ levels in blood and tissue. Due to its natural, effectively non-toxic iron content, ferritin has been the object of strong interest in the development of pharmaceutical products for use in iron deficiency treatment. Therefore, the need has arisen for the analytical characterization of this industrial product, be it in the hydroglyceric solution or dry powder form. The main considerations for the characterization of industrial ferritin are the following: a) iron content in both the unmodified product and the precipitated protein; b) protein content and protein/iron ratio; c) protein identification by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE); d) confirmation of protein identity and evaluation of molecular weight by means of size exclusion chromatography; e) identification and evaluation of other components of bulk ferritin preparations such as preservatives, excipients for lyophilization, water and concomitant proteins. Eight different samples were examined using the above considerations. Among the qualitative and quantitative results reported, of particular interest are those obtained by means of size-exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (SEC HPLC). With a UV "diode array" detector it is possible to discern the peaks for ferritin and its molecular aggregates from those of concomitant proteins and preservatives; furthermore, it is possible to evaluate their molecular dimensions. Using this method, the ferritin monomer and other protein fractions can be quantitatively analyzed either by calculating area percent distribution of the chromatographic peaks or by comparing the sample with a highly pure external standard of ferritin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624358 TI - Recent developments in the assay of ferritin containing drugs. AB - The advent of new stationary phases for gel permeation liquid chromatography (GPLC) capable of withstanding the high pressures of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has opened new avenues for the analysis of large molecules such as ferritin. The exploitation of inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) as a technique for detection in HPLC has evolved into a significant approach to element analysis and speciation. In general, while the on line coupling still requires careful optimization, it expediently allows the identification of proteins and the quantification of Fe in ferritin products to be achieved. PMID- 2624359 TI - Determination of selenium in foods by inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and hydride generation. AB - Within the framework of a survey launched by the Istituto Superiore di Sanita to assess the average daily intake of Se with food in the Italian population, a preliminary study was carried out to develop an analytical procedure for the quantification of the element in food products. The method implies the use of a hydride generation system in combination with inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and exploits the inherent advantages of this last also for the analysis of non-metals. The overall approach was tested in some Hungarian and Italian foods, adequately lending itself to routine and reliable Se assay. PMID- 2624360 TI - Mercury, cadmium and lead levels in marine organisms (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk.) collected along the Italian coasts. AB - The growing importance assumed in the last ten years by contamination of the marine environment caused by heavy metals has evidenced the necessity to constantly deepen the knowledge of pollutant concentration that can reach man through the food chain. Particularly interesting is the determination of potentially toxic elements in marine organisms which through accumulation and concentration processes can provide a direct correlation with the ecosystem's degree of contamination. The present study takes into account the determination of mercury, cadmium and lead in samples of Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk. collected in 41 sites along the Italian coast, between August 1986-April 1987. Analyses were performed using both the electrothermal (cadmium and lead) and the cold vapour (mercury) atomic absorption spectrometry techniques. Results showed that, in general, the degree of contamination is low, with a few exceptions where the concentration values were greater than the mean values. PMID- 2624361 TI - Solid waste management and bioelements in soil. AB - Two studies are reported in the field of solid waste management. The first concerns heavy metal migration below a landfill site. The results show that total and leachable heavy metal concentrations are more variable in refuse than in soil samples, as refuse is not homogeneous but can be influenced by local conditions and the seasons. In the soil below refuse, the concentration of total metals is low and similar to control soil samples, whereas leachable metals behaved differently in the two drillings, their mobility depending on soil characteristics. The bulk of heavy metals, however, remains immobile. The second study regards the utilization of compost as a filter bed for pig slurry to reduce its pollution load hence enriching the compost of the nutrients it lacks. A pilot plant was installed utilizing pressed straw bale containers filled with compost through which pig slurry was filtered. The filtering tests demonstrated a reduction of the pollution load of slurry and at the same time evidenced the possibility of utilizing the entire filtering system as a fertilizer to improve compost, with heavy metal concentration tolerance limits lower than the ones proposed at a national level to prevent environmental pollution. PMID- 2624362 TI - Heavy metals: sources and environmental presence. AB - The Istituto Superiore di Sanita has for many years been involved in the problem of environmental pollution caused by heavy metals. A brief review of the sources of this pollution is first presented which also includes the presence in nature of some heavy metals which are among the most dangerous. Data gathered by the authors is then presented from sampling of the emissions of urban solid waste (USW) incinerators and from environmental monitoring programs in different areas in Italy according to four categories: urban, industrial, rural and mixed. PMID- 2624363 TI - [Histologic and microscopic study of striated skeletal muscles in primary dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies]. AB - Striated skeletal muscle from 20 patients with primary cardiomyopathies were examined histologically by light microscopy. The average age of the patients was 51 years (range 34-71 yr). Seventeen of them (16 men, 1 woman) had dilated cardiomyopathy, 9 of which were associated with chronic alcoholism, and 3 men had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. All underwent routine peripheral muscle biopsies, without clinical or biological signs of neuromuscular involvement. Minor anomalies were observed in the dilated cardiomyopathy patients: 4 in chronic alcoholics and 1 in a diabetic patient. All 3 biopsies were normal in the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy group. Comparison of these results and those reported in the literature showed that our limited findings were not only due to the study protocol and that the histological lesions were not specific to cardiomyopathy. PMID- 2624364 TI - [Value of endomyocardial biopsy in congestive heart failure in diabetics without coronary disease]. AB - Two cases of congestive heart failure in diabetic females are reported. One patient had moderate hypertension. Echography and angiography revealed a low output dilated cardiopathy and ruled out the possibility of coronary artery stenosis and thin amyloid deposits were found in one patient. The evolution was favorable with a low-salt diet, associated with diuretic and vasodilator treatments. These case reports confirm the existence of a diabetic myocardiopathy, which may lead to congestive heart failure. They justify a complete hemodynamic analysis and a histopathological evaluation of the myocardium when this complication occurs. PMID- 2624365 TI - [Study of dilated cardiomyopathies using gallium 67 myocardial scintigraphy]. AB - Twenty-seven patients were diagnosed as having dilated cardiomyopathies, based on increases in the cardiothoracic index greater than 0.50, in the diastolic and systolic diameters of the left ventricle, and in the telediastolic volume of the left ventricle, which was indexed by body surface determined by contrast ventriculography. They underwent gallium 67 scintigraphic examination of the myocardium, in order to non-invasively detect the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate. Fifteen of them also had endomyocardial biopsies and all had virology check-up. The results were disappointing. Only in one case was the scintigraphic image undeniably positive; in 20 other patients the findings were dubious or negative. This technique did not demonstrate the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate and thus we could not establish an association between myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. PMID- 2624366 TI - [Pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum associated with dermatomyositis]. PMID- 2624367 TI - [Hypokinetic dilated myocardiopathy complicating thyrotoxicosis. Hemodynamic study, myocardial histopathologic data, rapidly favorable effect of plasma exchange]. PMID- 2624368 TI - [Late manifestation of homocystinuria by aphasia and spasm of 2 external iliac arteries]. PMID- 2624369 TI - [Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. Apropos of a case using magnetic resonance study of the brain and nerve biopsy]. PMID- 2624370 TI - [Rapid spontaneous regression of epidural hematoma resulting from acute tetraplegia. Value of magnetic resonance imaging]. PMID- 2624371 TI - [Porphyria cutanea tarda and Sharp's syndrome: a coincidence?]. PMID- 2624372 TI - [A lacuna of the skull disclosing polyvisceral sarcoidosis]. PMID- 2624373 TI - [Hypercalcemia disclosing primary hyperparathyroidism. Diagnostic pitfalls]. PMID- 2624374 TI - [Value of ketoconazole in the treatment of Cushing's syndrome. Apropos of a case of adrenal polyadematosis]. PMID- 2624375 TI - [Toxoplasma gondii: ultrastructural study of cystic formations observed in human fibroblast culture]. AB - A strain of Toxoplasma gondii, non pathogenic to mice (Prugniaud strain) produced cyst-like stages when inoculated in human fibroblast culture. An ultrastructural study was performed in order to compare these cyst-like forms to brain cysts of the same strain and to intracellular clusters of tachyzoites observed in mice TG 180 sarcoma cells. Electron microscopy confirmed the similarities between brain cysts and cysts obtained in vitro. PMID- 2624376 TI - [Nematodirinae (Nematoda:Trichostrongyloidea) of Antilocapra and Ovis in Alberta, Canada]. AB - In this first note, the Trichostrongyloidea belonging to the Nematodirinae parasites of Ruminants from Alberta are identified. New morphological data were given on Nematodirella antilocaprae (Price, 1927) parasite of Antilocapra americana. Nematodirus andersoni n. sp. is described from Ovis canadensis. Because of the deep indentation of the dorsal lobe, the species is similar to N. bioccai Rossi, 1983 parasite of Ovis aries in Iran. However, it is different in the reduced number of cuticular ridges of the males and by the small indentation between the dorsal lobe and the lateral lobes. In our opinion, the species of nematodirus identified as N. archari from Ovis canadensis in North America, are probably N. andersoni. PMID- 2624377 TI - [Development of the filaria Litomosoides galizai in the acarian vector]. AB - L. galizai develops in the gamasid B. bacoti in 11 days at 28 degrees C. Molts I and II take place respectively 5 and 7 days after feeding. The development is studied in the adult female mites; as for the laboratory filaria L. sigmodontis, the interstitial tissue is the main parasitized organ; microfilariae penetrate in the two cell types which constitute it: adipose cells and secretory cells (these secretory cells are described here for the first time). The filariae develop also in the salivary glands, the digestive wall, the genital envelopes and exceptionally in the coxal and vaginal glands. The filariae produce the formation of syncytia. Larvae which stay in the haemocele do not develop. PMID- 2624378 TI - [Fleas from the Neuguen Province (Argentina); description of 4 new taxa (Insecta, Siphonaptera)]. AB - The collect of 973 Fleas on various small terrestrial mammals, from December 1987 till May 1988, in the Neuquen Province (Argentina), has given 20 taxa. Hectopsylla pascuali n. sp., Plocopsylla consobrina n. sp., Agastopsylla boxi gibbosa n. ssp., Chiliopsylla allophyla tonnii n. ssp. are described. Plocopsylla diana Beaucournu, Gallardo and Launay, 1986, Ctenoparia inopinata Rothschild, 1909, Neotyphloceras crassispina chilensis Jordan, 1936, Tetrapsyllus satyrus Beaucournu and Torres-Mura, 1986, Ectinorus martini Lewis, 1976, are new from Argentina. PMID- 2624379 TI - [Leishmania infantum MON-24 cutaneous leishmaniasis observed in Grassa (Alpes Maritimes) in a Tunisian child]. PMID- 2624380 TI - [Presence of Leishmania major MON-26 in Mali]. AB - The arabo-african zymodem MON-26 was identified for the first time in an autochtonous patient from Mali. L. major has been previously identified in this country but it was in European patient and it was zymodem MON-25. PMID- 2624381 TI - [Presence in Barcelona of Holopleura pacifica (Anoplura, Hoplopleuridae) a parasite of Rattus norvegicus]. AB - The occurrence of the louse Hoplopleura pacifica on Rattus norvegicus from Barcelona is reported. The rats infested were caught in two different biotopes: the sewer system and the port. PMID- 2624382 TI - [Intestinal parasitic infections in children in Niamey (Niger)]. AB - Stools of 1,368 randomly selected children living in Niamey (Niger) were examined using two different parasitologic methods. One or more pathogenic parasites were recovered in 678 children (49.6%). Parasitic infections developed early and increased significantly after the age of two, which is the usual age for weaning. The most common parasitic infections were giardiasis (31.7%) and amebiasis (12.8%). The only commonly recovered helminth was Hymenolepis nana (10.8%). This predominance of intestinal protozoa is typical of Sahel pathology. PMID- 2624383 TI - [Neonatal pneumococcal septicemia]. AB - We report two cases of neonatal pneumococcal septicemia, including one fatal case in a 32-week-gestational-age premature infant. Neonatal pneumococcal septicemias account for less than 1% of all neonatal infections. Diagnosis is provided by simple and rapid methods for identifying pneumococci. Clinical features have little specificity (respiratory distress) and resemble those found in B streptococcus infections. The mother rarely exhibits symptoms at delivery. The severity of the prognosis is not related to resistance to the antimicrobial agents currently used in neonatal infections but to the infectivity of the organism itself and to the specific immunologic characteristics of premature neonates. The current use of amoxicillin and aminoglycosides in neonatal infections does not therefore need to be revised. PMID- 2624384 TI - [Acute isolated myelitis due to measles]. AB - We report a case of acute myelitis that developed in a seven-year-old girl with measles. Attention is drawn to the isolated occurrence of this complication in our patient who had no other neurologic abnormalities, and specifically no encephalitis, whereas spinal cord involvement in measles is usually overshadowed by prominent manifestations of encephalitis. Furthermore, we point out that intrathecal production of antibodies may occur but does not militate against the immunoallergic mechanism usually thought to be involved in this type of disease. PMID- 2624385 TI - [Femoral hypoplasia--unusual facies syndrome]. AB - We report a new case of femoral hypoplasia-unusual facies syndrome (FH-UFS). A review of the literature disclosed fifty-five previously published cases. Both boys and girls can be affected. The syndrome includes bilateral femoral hypoplasia; facial dysmorphism with a cleft palate, micrognathia, a long philtrum, a thin upper lip, and a short broad-tipped nose; dysplasia of the hips; and hypoplasia of the fibulae. Other malformations may be found, including skeletal defects and visceral (especially cardiovascular and genitourinary) abnormalities. Etiopathogenesis of this syndrome remains unknown. Some investigators have suggested a link between the FH-UFS and caudal dysplasia in infants born to diabetic mothers. PMID- 2624386 TI - [Value of a phosphorus supplemented formula for premature infants]. AB - The fortuitous discovery of bone mineralization abnormalities in premature babies fed a medium chain triglyceride supplemented formula and exhibiting satisfactory weight gains prompted us to perform calcium and phosphorus balance studies. The infants studied had no major neonatal disorders and were not vitamin D-deficient. Urine assays detected no phosphorus and demonstrated an increase in calcium excretion, suggesting an inadequate phosphorus intake. This hypothesis was confirmed by the appearance of urinary phosphates with a decrease in calcium losses following supplementation of the formula with phosphorus. PMID- 2624387 TI - [Varicocele in children and adolescents. Is surgery justified?]. AB - Varicocele, a disease essentially observed in adults, is under-estimated in children and adolescents, in whom, for the majority of authors, the therapeutic management is surgical although the benefits in terms of fertility are unknown. Forty-eight children and adolescents, seen between 1978 and 1983, were followed by clinical examination and subsequent sperm count with a mean follow-up of 5.20 years. The presence at the first examination of the subsequent development of testicular atrophy is a pejorative element in the disease: 12% of children managed expectantly developed left testicular atrophy at puberty associated with severe anomalies of the sperm count. Persistent testicular atrophy after surgery was synonymous with anomalies of the sperm count in all of these children. Regression of moderate atrophy was observed in three children after surgical cure, but the pre and post-treatment sperm counts were normal. PMID- 2624388 TI - [Overdose of anticholinergic agents and confusional syndrome]. AB - We report a case of behavior disorders due to ingestion of two closely spaced oral doses of chloride of oxybutynin in a six-year-old. This drug is not indicated in isolated enuresia. More rigid dosage schedules with longer time intervals between doses are needed. PMID- 2624389 TI - Reconstruction of a pendulous breast utilizing a shaped expander. AB - Can a breast-shaped skin envelope that is pendulous be formed through the use of a shaped expander? Once formed, can its shape be maintained following the exchange of the expander for a round implant? My colleagues and I set out to answer these questions by constructing a breast-shaped expander by altering a standard round expander. It was introduced through an inframammary incision while performing a Pennisi-Ryan type reconstruction. The expander was placed in a limited pocket beneath the pectoralis major muscle. The lower pole of the expander was left in the subcutaneous plane. The skin expanded into a mature, pendulous breast shape that exhibited a slight degree of ptosis. The shape was maintained following the exchange of the expander for a high-profile round implant. If contracture occurred, the distortion detracted from the initial pleasing shape. We present our experience with the first 15 reconstructions using this method. The best results were seen in delayed reconstruction cases. The method is of no value in cases of primary reconstruction. Lessons learned from this small series of cases are detailed, and complications are discussed. The follow-up for these patients is a minimum of one year from the beginning of expansion. PMID- 2624390 TI - Requirement of serum factors for wound closure of embryonic skin in vitro. AB - Forelimb buds of rat embryos at day 13 of gestation were cut and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium. In the absence of serum, the epidermis did not cover the wound surface. In the presence of fetal calf serum or ultroser G, a serum substitute, epidermal wound closure appeared in a concentration-dependent manner within 1 day of culture. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, reversibly inhibited wound healing, demonstrating that protein synthesis was required for epidermal wound closure. Dialysis and fractionation of ultroser G indicated that high molecular weight factors (greater than 25,000 d) were required for epidermal wound closure. PMID- 2624391 TI - Autologous fibrin glue in full-thickness skin grafting. AB - Full-thickness skin grafts can be anchored to the recipient site using fibrin glue made from the patient's own blood and commercially available thrombin and epsilon aminocaproic acid. The technique works well for small grafts on irregularly contoured sites where suture fixation of a graft would be technically difficult. Full-thickness skin grafts anchored with autologous fibrin glue have been uniformly successful in 50 patients followed for a minimum period of four months. PMID- 2624392 TI - The beneficial effect of chlorpromazine on dorsal skin flap survival. AB - A 3 x 10-cm dorsal rat skin flap contains a distal portion that is poorly perfused. The dorsal flap served as a useful model to test hemodynamic properties of the vasodilatory drug chlorpromazine. A control group of flaps were treated with saline and the test group with chlorpromazine (15 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Eight days postoperatively, the surface area of the flaps that necrosed was 27.3% for the treated group and 36.5% for the controls. Using Student's t-test this difference was significant (p less than 0.001). Nutrient blood flow determined by the penetration of fluorescein dye into the flap was consistently greater in the chlorpromazine-treated group compared with the control group in the first 24 hours postoperatively. The adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels measured at 0 and 24 hours postoperatively were consistently lower in the distal parts of the flap, treated or control, compared with proximal parts of the flap (p less than 0.001, analysis of variance). However, there were no significant differences in ATP levels between treated and control biopsies at any one site on the flap. In conclusion, chlorpromazine had a beneficial effect on rat skin survival, and increased blood flow appears to be one of the major reasons. PMID- 2624393 TI - Titanium miniplate fixation in free flap mandible reconstruction. AB - The use of miniplate fixation in free flap mandible reconstruction was reviewed in a series of 27 patients. Flap donor sites included the radius, scapula, and fibula. The bone defect ranged from 5 to 16 cm (mean, 11.5 cm). The number of fixation sites per graft ranged from 2 to 6 (mean, 3.96). Three to 10 (mean, 5.51) titanium miniplates (Wurzburg) were used for fixation. All free flaps survived. In no patient did the plate pressure on the periosteum or the multiple screws through the bone compromise flap circulation to a critical degree. Nonunion occurred in 2 of 107 osteotomy sites. Wound healing problems that required plate removal occurred in 4 patients. In each patient the plates were retained until bone healing was complete. Intermaxillary fixation was not necessary for purposes of additional stability. Miniplates have the advantages of ease of application, decreased fixation time, and the lack of need for additional forms of fixation. Their small size and malleable nature allow precise graft contouring. This contributes to a superior aesthetic result. PMID- 2624394 TI - Use of maxillary miniplates and screw system in the treatment of hand fractures: a preliminary report. AB - The vast majority of hand fractures can be adequately treated with techniques such as closed reduction and external splinting or with a variety of internal fixation devices. Choice of stabilization methods depends on individual surgical preference, fracture location, and the geometry of the bony injury. Fracture stabilization that allows early mobilization is advantageous in achieving rapid bone healing and restoration of function by minimizing joint and tendon complications. Rigid internal fixation with miniplates and screws permits stabilization and compression of fracture segments, thereby permitting early bone loading and motion. Although the role of rigid internal fixation with miniplates and screws in hand fractures is well documented in the literature, in this article we present our preliminary experience with Howmedica's (Rutherford, NJ) Luhr vitallium miniplate and screw system in treating hand injuries. PMID- 2624395 TI - Reconstruction of anorectal angle after abdominoperineal resection of rectum and anus--an animal model. AB - Voluntary control of the bowel movements is a social necessity. Lack of control relegates one to psychological debility and the possible need for a permanent colostomy. Anorectal angle plays an important role in fecal continence. In the normal individual, this angle lies in the range of 60 to 105 degrees. Perineal colostomy, once proposed for patients who had received abdominoperineal resection (APR), has been abandoned because of frank incontinence. This study used a canine model. The anorectal angle, external sphincter, internal sphincter, and the puborectalis were all destroyed after APR. The colon was pulled through the perineal defect. Enteropexy, gracilis muscle transfer, and perineal colostomy were performed to restore the anorectal angle. Barium enema was performed preoperatively and postoperatively. The anorectal angle was reconstructed within normal ranges after abdominoperineal resection of the rectum and anus. PMID- 2624396 TI - Outer table skull erosion causing rupture of scalp expander. AB - Many various complications have been reported with tissue expansion since it was popularized by Radovan. As expected with any foreign body implantation, the most frequent complication is infection. Rupture of the expander is relatively rare even in the face of overexpansion or blunt external trauma. Complications from tissue expansion of the scalp are similar to those encountered with the placement of expanders elsewhere in the body. We had a case recently involving rupture of an expander placed in the scalp of an 18-month-old child as a result of erosion of the outer table with bone spur formation. This was a local reaction to the pressure exerted by the expander. We present the following case report to document another potential complication with tissue expansion of the scalp. PMID- 2624397 TI - Use of temporoparietal fascia free flap in digital reconstruction. AB - Temporoparietal fascia free flap is an excellent source for resurfacing soft tissue defects of the hand and fingers. Because of the reliable anatomical bifurcation of the superficial temporal vessels, this flap can be very useful in simultaneous reconstruction of more than one digit without having to create a temporary syndactyly. PMID- 2624398 TI - Re: Clay et al: ameloblastoma metastatic to the lung. PMID- 2624399 TI - Management of perineal necrotizing fasciitis (Fournier's gangrene). AB - Eleven cases of perineal necrotizing fasciitis were treated in the Department of Surgery, University of Turku, Finland. In 10 cases the diagnosis was made on the basis of the fulminating progression of the infection to scrotal gangrene, identification of multiple underlying pathogenic organisms and toxaemia. In one female patient a corresponding infection developed in the labia majora. Each patient suffered nonspecific symptoms before the gangrene became evident. The management included surgical debridement of the necrotic tissue with incisions and drainage of the involved areas, antibiotic therapy and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment. The infection originated from the anorectal area in 5 patients, 1 patient had sustained scrotal trauma and in 5 cases the underlying condition was unknown. Colostomy was performed in 6 patients. One patient died 2 days after the admission. All the infections proved to be multimicrobial. Hyperbaric oxygenation was employed as a therapeutic adjunct in the present series, but it should neither replace nor delay surgical intervention. The key points in the management include early diagnosis with prompt surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy. After healthy granulation has appeared, the healing time can be shortened with reconstructive surgical procedures. PMID- 2624400 TI - Results of reoperations for coronary artery disease. AB - Seventy-one patients undergoing reoperation for coronary artery disease were examined on average 2.5 years postoperatively. Operative mortality was 9.9% and late mortality 6.3%. 88% of the patients improved subjectively, and although only 7.8% were angina-free, 79.9% were in NYHA Class I or II. All patients who had been working before reoperation returned to work, and either patients who were on sick-leave before resumed their activities. A follow-up examination was performed in 21 patients with a follow-up time of more than three years. The mean peak work capacity did not change after reoperation and also the ST changes during the bicycle ergometer exercise test were the same after reoperation. The mean ejection fraction diminished from 54 +/- 15.5% to 44.7 +/- 15.2%. In thallium perfusion studies areas of hypoperfusion were observed in 14 cases (67%). Coronary angiograms showed 3.0 +/- 1.0 patent anastomoses at the follow-up examination; 76% of the anastomoses performed in the reoperations were patent. It can be concluded that although the objective results of repeat myocardial revascularisation in this material are not optimal, the subjective improvement of the patients was satisfactory, and in the majority of cases reoperation ensures an acceptable quality of life for years. PMID- 2624401 TI - Endoscopic Nd:YAG laser therapy in upper gastrointestinal bleeding. AB - Between 1983 and 1986 thirty-seven patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding or stigmata of acute bleeding were treated at the Second Department of Surgery with endoscopic laser therapy. The non-contact method was used. The cause of bleeding was gastric ulcer in 13 cases and duodenal ulcer in 5. Two patients had anastomotic ulcer, 6 had a simple ulcer, 7 had telangiectases (Mb. Osler), 2 had Mallory Weiss tears and 2 bled after gastric biopsy. Twenty-one patients bled during endoscopy and 16 had signs of recent bleeding. During acute bleeding laser treatment was effective in 95% (1, 3). However, 41% of all patients (15/37) rebled within a week after laser therapy and in 30% (11/37) an emergency operation was necessary. The overall mortality rate was 10.8% (4/37). Endoscopic laser coagulation is successful in the initial treatment of acute upper GI bleeding. However, there is a considerable risk of rebleeding. Acute laser therapy may change an emergency operation into an elective one, provided that the group at risk of rebleeding can be anticipated at first endoscopy. PMID- 2624402 TI - Management of unextractable bile duct stones by endoscopic stenting. AB - Active treatment of common bile duct stones is preferred because life-threatening complications such as suppurative cholangitis or pancreatitis may occur. In patients unfit for surgery endoscopic extraction of the stones is an excellent alternative. In cases with overwhelming difficulties in stone removal, permanent endoscopic biliary stenting gives good results even in the long-term follow-up. In a material consisting 104 patients, collected from own experiences and from the literature, and followed for 3-59 months, no patients developed acute pancreatitis. Seventeen per cent of patients experienced jaundice and 3% (17% of jaundiced) acute cholangitis. These complications could be easily managed with antibiotics and with the exchange of the stent. In only 2% of patients biliary surgery became obligatory. PMID- 2624403 TI - Characteristics of patients with multiple injuries treated in an intensive care unit with favorable results. AB - A series of 1,169 consecutive patients with multiple injuries was analyzed. A strict criterion for multiple injury was used, the average Injury Sum (sum of the severities of regional injuries) was 7.6, the average time of treatment in the intensive care unit was 11 days and the mean duration of hospital treatment was 51 days. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of injury (75%) and the regions most commonly injured were the lower extremity (68%), brain (62%) and chest (58%). 46% required ventilation. Mortality was 11.3% during intensive care and the total hospital mortality was 13.1%. The factors most relevant to patients who were able to return home from the hospital were: no need for respirator treatment, no renal complications, no previous mental disturbance or alcoholism, young age, less severe brain or thoracolumbar spine injuries, few initial blood transfusions, few complications during treatment and prompt operative intervention if required. PMID- 2624404 TI - The significance of residual stenosis after decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis. AB - Thirty-one patients with degenerative or combined degenerative and developmental lumbar spinal stenosis diagnosed by myelography and at subsequent surgery were thoroughly examined by computed tomography (CT) to reveal the completeness of the decompression and its correlation with the outcome. Complete elimination of the stenosis was achieved in 10 cases (32%) of whom 9 (90%) showed improvement. Various combinations of residual stenosis (some type of stenosis of the lateral part of vertebral canal at the laminectomy sites and also central stenosis outside the laminectomy field) were observed in 21 cases (68%). Of these, 14 (67%) had nearly complete, subtotal decompression with minimal or some residual stenosis, 7 (33%) had only minor decompression of the most constricted part of the spinal canal with a considerable amount of residual stenosis. The latter groups showed improvement in 8 cases (57%) and 6 cases (86%), respectively. Three patients (10%) with increased postoperative symptoms had only minimal or some residual stenosis. The significance of these findings is discussed. PMID- 2624405 TI - Total hip replacement after failed hemiarthroplasty. AB - A retrospective follow-up study comprising 37 patients operated upon using total hip replacement (THR) following failed hemiarthroplasty (HA) is reported. The mean duration time after HA was 83 months. Twenty-four patients showed satisfactory results at a mean follow-up of 4.8 years, while 13 patients found the results unsatisfying from the very beginning. The mean (SD) observation time after THR was 50 (38) months. The mean (SD) age of 28 women and 9 men examined at the follow-up was 69 (10) years. The mean Mayo/Harris hip scores were 76/76 (range 41-98) points. The final results were excellent in nine, good in ten, fair in five and poor in thirteen cases. After complicated subcapital femoral fractures treated by HA, the final result after THR was excellent or good in four, fair in three and poor in seven cases. However, revision arthroplasty was performed in two cases, in the one because of loosening, in the other due to recurrent dislocation. Radiologically, at follow-up in 13 patients, 11 femoral and 6 acetabular components showed signs of loosening. In conclusion, THR can be recommended as primary operation for the treatment of acute subcapital femoral fractures in elderly and active patients. PMID- 2624406 TI - Early experience with percutaneous nephrolithotomy. AB - Fifty-four percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) procedures were performed in 41 patients between May 1986 and December 1987. Six patients required more than one procedure and there was one failure which was treated by open ureterolithotomy. Most of the stones were initially found in the pelvicalyceal system, one in the lower third and nine in the middle or upper third of the ureter. There were five significant complications: one "steinstrasse" (accumulation of stone fragments in the distal ureter after the procedure), one massive perirenal haematoma, one intramural perforation by a ureteric catheter and two extravasations of irrigation fluid one of which necessitated intensive care. Most of the renal and upper ureteric stones have now been successfully removed percutaneously with good patient tolerance. PMID- 2624407 TI - Lymphangiosarcoma in chronic hereditary oedema (Milroy's disease). AB - Lymphangiosarcoma arising in chronic lymphoedema is extremely rare. In a reference population of about four million people, during a thirty year period (1957-1987), only four patients were treated for such a tumour. The neoplasm is almost exclusively seen in elderly patients after mastectomy but in two of our patients, reported in this paper, it arose in chronic hereditary oedema (Milroy's disease). In both these patients there was a considerable treatment delay because of wrong diagnosis. The tumour extent was difficult to assess macroscopically and ablative surgery had to be a disarticulation of the involved extremity. Macular or papular purple lesions in a lymphoedematous extremity should be a manifestation of this aggressive neoplasm. PMID- 2624408 TI - Endometriosis of the recto-vaginal septum treated by anterior resection. AB - Two young nulliparous females with severe symptomatic recto-vaginal endometriosis that had not responded to medical treatment were considered for surgery. Pre operatively they were investigated by laparoscopy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (M.R.I.) which demonstrated that the lesions were confined to the recto-vaginal septum with no intraperitoneal involvement. Both patients underwent resection of the middle third of the rectum and part of the posterior wall of the vagina with preservation of the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes. In one patient a J colonic pouch with colo-anal anastomosis was fashioned and in the other patient a stapled colo-rectal anastomosis. Both patients are now asymptomatic with normal bowel function six months post-operatively. Radical surgery is indicated very rarely. We believe it should be considered in young nulliparous women who wish to conceive, in whom the diagnosis has been confirmed histologically and who have severe symptoms. M.R.I. is a useful pre-operative investigation to delineate the extent of the disease. PMID- 2624409 TI - Endometriosis of the round ligament. AB - A case of endometriosis of the extraperitoneal part of the round ligament is presented. The incidence, symptoms, diagnostic possibilities as well as treatment are discussed. PMID- 2624410 TI - Delayed diagnosis of rupture of the main bronchus. AB - A case of a bronchus rupture with delayed diagnosis is reported. The symptoms of tracheobronchial lesions are discussed. With this case report the authors wish to bring attention to a rare but increasingly common injury in patients with multiple trauma. PMID- 2624411 TI - Health and morbidity profiles of older adults in Singapore and their health care needs. AB - Before setting up the first Senior Citizens' Health Care Centre (SCHCC), a survey was done to establish the health and morbidity profiles of older adults in the community and their health care needs. Community volunteers personally interviewed 1,697 persons aged 55 years and above, living in three areas in Singapore. The response rate was 75%. The respondents' general characteristics, the prevalence rate of chronic diseases, their functional and mobility status, utilisation of the health services and how the chronic diseases affected their activities of daily living (ADL) were studied. Among the respondents, 2.1% required nursing care, 4.2% were unable to climb stairs, and 23.3% were on long term medications. As compared to the younger age groups, those 75 years and above reported more difficulties with mobility (semi-ambulant 6.5%, bedridden 1.8%), more needed assistance in ADL (bathing 4.8%, toiletting 4.7%, dressing 3.0%, and feeding 2.4%) and a higher percentage required nursing care (3.6%). Services that would benefit the frail elderly are reported in this paper. PMID- 2624412 TI - Mortality from cardiovascular diseases in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore, in comparison with England and Wales, USA and Japan. AB - Age-standardised death rates, for ages 35-64 years in both sexes, from ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and hypertensive disease for Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Singapore (1980-84) have been compared with those in England and Wales, USA and Japan (1982). For ischaemic heart disease Indians have the highest mortality, then Malays, with Chinese less than the Western countries but more than Japan. For cerebrovascular disease the Malays have highest mortality, then Indians, then Chinese, followed by Japan, England and Wales, and USA in that order. For hypertensive disease it is again Malays, then Indians, then Chinese, but followed by the different order of USA, England and Wales, and Japan. The differences are discussed in the light of declining trends in mortality from these disease in Singapore over the preceding 25 years. The special problems of ischaemic heart disease in Indians and hypertension and it's sequelae in Malays are highlighted. PMID- 2624413 TI - Hypnotic susceptibility in kavadi carriers in Singapore. AB - A group of fourteen Hindu devotees, who participated in a religious ceremony involving piercing of tongue and body by metal skewers, and the carrying of 'kavadis' were examined to ascertain their hypnotisability, and to compare their experiences during hypnosis and a trance. They were found to have a low mean score of 3.85 on the Revised Stanford Profile Scales of Hypnotic Susceptibility. Those who have higher scores had experiences during the religious ritual which appeared to be similar to those in the hypnotic state. PMID- 2624414 TI - Anaesthetic technique for circumcision in children. AB - A retrospective study of 143 children with circumcision done at the National University Hospital of Singapore between January 1987 and June 1988 revealed that 141/143 of them were done with an inhalational technique using a mask with halothane. Older children were significantly given more injections (premedication and induction) when compared with their younger counterparts. Caudal epidural was the most commonly used mode of postoperative pain relief. PMID- 2624415 TI - Non-fatal injuries among motorcyclists treated as in-patients in a general hospital. AB - In a study of the injury pattern among 198 motorcyclists who sustained road traffic accidents from 1986-1987, it was found that the following body regions, in decreasing order of frequency, were involved: external region (surface or integumentary lesion of any body region) with 285 injuries, extremities and bony pelvis with 118 injuries, head and face with 94 injuries, chest with 10 injuries, abdomen with 3 injuries, and spine with 2 injuries. Despite the extensive use of crash helmets, head injuries were still a common and severe form of injury resulting from traffic accidents, indicating the need for improvement of safety standards of crash helmets. Lower limb injuries, mostly fractures of bones and dislocation of joints, are also amenable to prevention through design of leg protection devices. Injuries to other body regions are difficult to prevent and other measures such as legal and administrative means, should be fully exploited in accident prevention. PMID- 2624416 TI - A profile of patients with temporomandibular disorders in Singapore--a descriptive study. AB - This is a descriptive study to establish the profile of 120 consecutive patients seeking relief from symptoms and dysfunction of the masticatory system at the Dental Clinic, Singapore General Hospital from February 1988-September 1988. The mean age of the patients was 29.4 years and females outnumber males by 2:1. The patients complained of TMJ clicking (66%), TMJ pain (55%), painful chewing (47%), headaches (42%), painful opening (37%), jaw locking (33%), and jaw muscle pain (23%). The possible etiological factors were recorded: macrotrauma (27%), stressful episodes (24%), unilateral mastication (53%), clenching (28%), grinding (26%) and excessive chewing habits (10%). Unilateral chewing was significantly associated with pain on opening (p less than 0.05) and joint pain (p less than 0.05). A statistical relationship was found between night grinding and laterotrusive wear of teeth (p less than 0.001). There was evidence that tension headache reported by TMD sufferers was related to temporalis muscle/tendon dysfunction (p less than 0.001). PMID- 2624417 TI - Upper genital tract fluid oestradiol-17 beta, progesterone and testosterone concentrations during the menstrual cycle. AB - This study was to obtain evidence whether a cyclical pattern in the concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta, progesterone and testosterone exists in the upper genital tract fluid of women with normal menstrual cycles. The steroid concentrations at proliferative and luteal phases were n = 20 vs 17, 54.5-190.0 vs 44.2-827.1 pg/ml; 0.27-3.3 vs 3.4-46.5 ng/ml and 41.9-734.8 vs 85.7-991.2 pg/ml, respectively. The results were analysed according to Mann-Whitney U test. Significantly higher concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta (p = 0.0036) and progesterone (p = 0.0001) were found. The results suggest the existence of a cyclical variation and point to the ovary as the main source of output of the steroids. PMID- 2624418 TI - Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid in asymptomatic late syphilis. AB - A prospective study of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 49 previously untreated patients with asymptomatic late syphilis of more than two year's duration was conducted. The sera of all patients had reactive fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-Abs) tests or Treponema pallidum haemagglutination tests (TPHA), and reactive or non-reactive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) tests. Five (10%) patients had abnormal CSF findings; these included elevated protein in four of 49 and pleocytosis in three of 49. Asymptomatic neurosyphilis, diagnosed on the basis of a reactive VDRL test of the CSF, was present in one (2%) of 49 patients. PMID- 2624419 TI - Fasting urinary hydroxyproline: creatinine ratios in silicosis. AB - Fasting urinary hydroxyproline: creatinine (HOP:C) ratios were measured in 74 patients with suspected (borderline) silicosis (10), simple silicosis (46) and complicated silicosis (9 silicotuberculosis, 4 massive fibrosis, and 5 combined silicotuberculosis and massive fibrosis) and in 18 healthy subjects (controls). There was no statistically significant difference in urinary HOP:C ratios between control subjects (mean 13.8, SD 3.6) and suspected silicotics (mean 18.0, SD 7.6); however, urinary HOP:C ratios were significantly higher in both simple silicosis (mean 25.0, SD 9.9, p less than 0.001) and complicated silicosis (silicotuberculosis and progressive massive fibrosis) (mean 28.6, SD 11.3; p less than 0.001). Urinary HOP:C ratios appeared to show a graduated increase to their highest levels in category 2 silicosis and thereafter remained constant or declined slightly in category 3 silicosis and massive fibrosis. The results support the suggestion that urinary hydroxyproline might be useful as an indicator of disease progression in established silicosis. However, further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm its predictive value. PMID- 2624420 TI - Intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography for suspected cerebrovascular disease--current status. AB - Sixty-four patients with suspected atherosclerotic cervical and intracranial vascular disease were examined by intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IA-DSA), following placement of a catheter in the aortic arch. The commonest abnormality demonstrated was the presence of an atherosclerotic plaque, most commonly on the posterior wall of the proximal internal carotid at its origin in the neck. The quality of the images obtained were assessed and in all patients, the carotid arteries in the neck could be adequately visualised if both oblique views of the neck were obtained. The intracranial arteries and the anterior and middle cerebral arteries were also adequately visualised in all patients although the basilar-posterior cerebral arteries were poorly seen in 8%. DSA examinations of the carotid and intracerebral vessels can also be performed by the intravenous route (IV-DSA). However IV-DSA is associated with significant limitations which include inadequate visualisation of intracranial circulation, larger volume of contrast medium required and higher risk of contrast reactions. IA-DSA gives adequate visualisation of the aortic arch, cervical vessels and intracranial circulation in most patients without selective catheterisation. Examination time is shorter, procedure is safe and film costs are reduced. Disadvantages include small field size and inferior spatial resolution compared to conventional angiography but in no patients was there a need to resort to conventional angiography. PMID- 2624421 TI - Danazol for treatment of refractory autoimmune hemolytic anaemia. AB - Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA) is uncommon in childhood. A female child presented with severe and chronic clinical course. She was refractory to steroid and the response to splenectomy was poor. She showed excellent remission of hematological condition with Danazol. Danazol may be the drug of choice for refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia. PMID- 2624422 TI - Acute omental infarction--a report of six cases. AB - Six cases of acute omental infarction, a rare entity, are reported. Four of them are secondary to torsion and two are cases of primary infarction. Appendicitis is the most common mode of presentation of this condition. Except for one patient who was obese, no predisposing factors were discernible in these patients. The aetiology and pathogenetic mechanisms of this disease were reviewed. PMID- 2624423 TI - Dyspnoea in young adults due to pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis from gastric carcinoma. AB - Three cases of progressive dyspnoea in young female adults due to pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis are reported. The underlying primary neoplasm was gastric carcinoma in all 3 cases. The diagnosis was not suspected in 2 patients because of their young age. PMID- 2624424 TI - Hybrid acute leukaemia--a report of 3 cases. AB - The simultaneous expression of both lymphoid and myeloid phenotypic features in acute leukaemia is rare. We report 3 cases of biphenotypic hybrid acute leukaemia seen in our institution. All 3 patients achieved remission with treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia but two subsequently relapsed while on treatment. The hybrid acute leukaemias are important areas for further research both for delineation of basic biology and choice of optimal treatment. PMID- 2624425 TI - Choriocarcinoma following term pregnancy--a case report. AB - A patient, with two previous term deliveries, presented with post-partum haemorrhage and spontaneous uterine perforation due to choriocarcinoma, requiring emergency laparotomy. Choriocarcinoma following term pregnancy is a rare form of gestational trophoblastic disease. Such tumour appears to follow a more aggressive course with a more extensive metastatic spread and is less responsive to chemotherapy resulting in a poorer prognosis. Choriocarcinoma presenting as postpartum haemorrhage, and spontaneous tumour perforation with intra-abdominal haemorrhage is even rarer. Early diagnosis is an important factor for the patient's survival. A high index of suspicion is required as the tumour may be overlooked. An aggressive chemotherapeutic regime has improved the overall survival. PMID- 2624426 TI - Diminished responsibility--a psychiatric viewpoint. AB - Diminished responsibility is based on the notion that mental disorder may make a person only partially accountable for his act in the killing of another person. For this plea to succeed it has to be shown that an accused has to be suffering from such an abnormality of mind that his responsibility for the action is substantially diminished. As these concepts of abnormality of mind and criminal responsibility do not fit easily into psychiatric classification of mental disorders, nine senior psychiatrists who regularly attend court as expert witnesses were surveyed and their viewpoints about mental abnormality and diminished responsibility were elected. PMID- 2624427 TI - Intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy. AB - In corrective surgery for mandibular prognathism, the vertical ramus osteotomy, also known as the vertical subsigmoid osteotomy (VSS) is one of the simplest osteotomy to perform and therefore widely popular with oral & maxillofacial surgeons. Traditionally, the surgical approach for VSS is by the extra-oral approach although the approach may be either extraoral or intraoral. In this paper, the main advantages and disadvantages of the following three techniques, i.e. VSS via extraoral approach, VSS via intraoral approach and the sagittal split ramus osteotomy will be discussed. The vertical ramus osteotomy via the intraoral approach is not usually performed in Singapore until recently. The authors would like to present the observations and a surgical technique employed by them to perform VSS osteotomy via an intraoral approach. PMID- 2624428 TI - A new genetic polymorphism in the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of human mitochondrial DNA. AB - Sequence analysis of the 3' end of the 16S rRNA gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) revealed a single base change G----A, at position 3010. This mutation was first identified in a patient who had recovered from chloramphenicol-induced aplastic anaemia (CAP-induced AA). A link between this mutation and CAP-induced AA was ruled out by investigating three other similar patients, none of whom had the mutation. This mutation lies within or near the chloramphenicol binding site in a part of the 16S rRNA gene which shows high evolutionary conservation and where polymorphisms have not been previously reported. Hybridization tests with appropriate oligonucleotide probes in 114 individuals reveal that this mutation has a polymorphic frequency of about 14% in Europeans. PMID- 2624429 TI - Inbreeding in the Utah Mormons: an evaluation of estimates based on pedigrees, isonymy, and migration matrices. AB - Using a computerized genealogical database, inbreeding coefficients were calculated for a sample of 435777 Utah Mormons. The population was divided into ten ten-year birth cohorts (1846-1945) and 22 geographic subdivisions in order to assess temporal and spatial variation in inbreeding. The average inbreeding coefficient for this population is 0.000 106. The average within-groups random kinship coefficient is 0.000 312, reflecting consanguinity avoidance. Random kinship matrices were formed by estimating the average kinship within each spatial subdivision and between all pairs of subdivisions. These matrices were compared statistically with kinship matrices previously estimated using migration matrices and isonymy data. The isonymy approach consistently overestimates random and total inbreeding as well as Wright's Fst. This can be attributed primarily to the assumption of monophyletic origin of surnames. The migration matrix method underestimates random inbreeding and Fst. This is due mainly to the assumption that outside immigrants are derived from a genetically homogeneous population. While the absolute values of the kinship coefficients estimated by each method differ substantially, the patterns of between-groups kinship coefficients given by each method are highly congruent. Logistic and linear regression analyses of 85,235 marriages demonstrate that consanguinity is significantly dependent upon year of marriage, geographic distance between husband's and wife's birthplaces, and the population size of husband's and wife's birthplaces. PMID- 2624430 TI - Recursive descent probabilities for rare recessive lethals. AB - Recursively computed descent probabilities provide an effective way to evaluate possible ancestries of rare alleles segregating in large and complex genealogies, but they ignore information other than the descent to a small set of current gene copies. We show how descent probability computations can be modified to incorporate the fact that no ancestor can be affected by a lethal recessive trait. This methodology is applied to two rare recessive traits segregating in a complex Hutterite (Lehrerleut) genealogy. PMID- 2624431 TI - Analysing rearrangement breakpoint distributions by means of binomial confidence intervals. AB - Non-randomness in the distribution of rearrangement breakpoints can be assessed by means of a binomial probability model. Using the binomial model, we compute confidence intervals for the observed number of breakpoints in chromosome bands and use these confidence intervals to test for non-randomness in a set of 452 constitutional rearrangement breakpoints. This method is useful because it describes the observed data and is not dependent on comparison with a pre existing hypothesis regarding the distribution. PMID- 2624432 TI - Testing for non-randomness of events in sparse data situations. AB - In experiments involving cytogenetic assays or mutation assays it is often of interest to determine if there are hot spots for certain events, that is, to determine if the events occur more often at certain sites than would be expected under the assumption of randomness. In examining chromosome aberrations using banded chromosome preparations, for example, it may be of interest to determine if a particular type of aberration occurs more often in a particular band than would be expected given the relative length of the band. In a mutation assay it may be of interest to determine if a mutation occurs more often at a particular nucleotide in a given sequence than would be expected given the length of the sequence in question. Such experiments typically result in data following a multinomial distribution with a large number of classes and relatively few observations. For such data, De Braekeleer & Smith (1988) have suggested analysis of the frequencies in individual classes using an exact binomial test. Two cautions are noted for application of the binomial analysis in the usual situation in which the locations of potential hot spots are not specified beforehand. PMID- 2624433 TI - Lack of effect of purified cellulose and hemicellulose on the digestion and the intestinal absorption of dietary lipids in the rat. AB - Fasted adult rats were intragastrically intubated an emulsified test meal containing both 14C-triolein and 3H-cholesterol, in the presence or absence of either purified hemicellulose (xylan) or cellulose (both 10% of meal solids). After a 1-hour digestion period, purified fibers did not significantly modify the rate of gastric emptying of lipids or the extent of triglyceride lipolysis in the stomach and the small intestine. The presence of cellulose or hemicellulose induced no change in the amounts of lipids and cholesterol found in the intestinal content, the mucosa, and the plasma, nor in the site of lipid mucosal uptake. As a whole, the present results show that cellulose or hemicellulose, which are the main fractions of dietary fiber in cereals, did not exert a determinant influence on the biochemical events involved in the digestion of dietary fats. PMID- 2624434 TI - Urinary oestrogen excretion after the menopause in relation to age and body mass. AB - We have measured urinary excretion of free immunoreactive oestrone and oestradiol and their respective glucuronides in relation to creatinine in early morning samples in 132 fit, active postmenopausal women. None of the oestrogen/creatinine ratios was significantly correlated either with age or with years since menopause. However, we did demonstrate significant positive correlations between the levels of all four oestrogens and the body mass index, weight and fat mass. These results are similar to those obtained by other workers for plasma or serum oestrogen levels. Since assessment of oestrogenic status from plasma or serum may call for several samples to allow for the rapid minute-to-minute variation in levels, urinary oestrogenic assays as described may provide a valuable non invasive measurement of oestrogenic status. Such measurements may have a place in the identification of women at greater risk of developing symptomatic osteoporosis in later life. PMID- 2624435 TI - Modulation of albumin secretion by ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate in adult rat hepatocyte cultures and a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2). AB - Cocultured adult rat hepatocytes and a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2) were maintained in an arginine-free medium with or without ornithine alpha ketoglutarate. This drug increased greatly hepatocyte albumin secretion in both culture models. L-Ornithine was the component accounting for these effects since similar data were obtained by using this sole amino acid. Moreover, we observed that L-ornithine stimulation of albumin production was via polyamine synthesis. Since a correlated increase in albumin mRNA was observed, it may be postulated that ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate acts at a pretranslational level. PMID- 2624436 TI - Effect of vitamin D administration during pregnancy on neonatal growth in the rat. AB - Groups of rats on commercial diet were injected 3,000 IU (group 2) and 7,500 IU (group 3) of vitamin D3 on the 10th day of pregnancy. Compared to control pups (group 1), the pups in group 2 and 3 weighed significantly more on the 10th, 20th and 28th day of age. At 28th day of age, study of the gastrocnemius muscle revealed significantly greater organ weight, protein, DNA and RNA contents, protein/DNA and RNA/DNA ratios in group 2 and 3 pups than in controls. In the liver, whereas all these indices were significantly increased in group 3 pups, only protein/DNA and RNA/DNA ratios were significantly increased in group 2 pups. Brain weight, its RNA content and RNA/DNA ratio were significantly greater in group 2 and 3 pups than in controls. The results suggest that vitamin D administration in pregnancy promotes soft tissue growth in the pups by enhancing cellular proliferation and hypertrophy. PMID- 2624437 TI - Effect of pre- and postnatal protein undernutrition on glycemia, ketonemia and liver glycogen concentration in suckling rats. AB - Pregnant Wistar rats were fed ad libitum diets containing either 25% (control) or 8% casein (undernourished) from conception through the gestation and lactation periods. Rats from undernourished dams had lower birth weights than control rats and this difference persisted up to day 21 of postnatal life. Livers obtained from undernourished animals aged 10, 15 and 20 days weighed 50% less than control livers. Liver glycogen concentration was much higher in 7- and 10-day-old undernourished rats than in normal rats, but no differences were observed between groups aged 15 or 20 days. Malnutrition caused a decrease in glycemia from 10 days of age and an increase in ketonemia at 10 and 15 days of age. The results show that pre- and postnatal protein malnutrition causes changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in rats during the period of brain growth spurt. PMID- 2624438 TI - Effects of diet and metoprolol on lipid levels in the blood plasma and morphology of the heart and intramural branches of coronary arteries of spontaneously hypertensive male rats. A 9-month study. AB - Semipurified diets containing 0.5% cholesterol were used in a 9-month study with spontaneously hypertensive male rats to characterize the effects of the protein source (casein vs. soybean protein), and the selective beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist metoprolol on both lipid levels in blood plasma and the aorta, and on the morphology of intramural branches of coronary arteries. Raised blood lipid levels were observed in these rats. A significant decline in HDL2 cholesterol took place, while plasma cholesterol belonging to lipoprotein fractions of lower density increased. Metoprolol treatment led to a substantial elevation of the plasma triacylglycerol level and, with time, a reduced cholesterolemic response. The use of soybean protein instead of casein had a persistent plasma lipid lowering effect. Arteriosclerotic changes in the form of musculo-elastic thickenings, intimal cushions and homogeneous hyalin deposits appeared in the intramural coronary arteries of rats in all groups after 9 months on the diet. However, intimal deposition of lipid was only present in rats belonging to the casein group not treated with metoprolol. Rats of this group also showed more severe myocardial lesions in the form of scar tissue with or without inflammatory cell reaction. PMID- 2624439 TI - [Treatment of vesico-renal reflux in children with endoscopic injection of polytetrafluoroethylene (teflon). Apropos of a series of 100 cases of reflux in 72 children]. AB - The endoscopic subureteral injection of teflon is a new alternative to correct vesicorenal reflux in children. We report the use of this procedure in 72 children presenting with 100 refluxing ureters. In 98 refluxing units the disappearance of reflux was noted on a cystogram performed immediately (success rate: 98%). Followup after 6 months, the reflux recurred in 6 ureters of 52 controlled units (success rate 88.5%). Obstruction was not observed in any cases by repeated ultrasonography. The procedure is simple and reliable. In a failure that required an open operation, surgical reimplantation was not difficult. An endoscopic technique to cure reflux, of various grades would be a valuable alternative. The procedure certainly has advantages for difficult surgical reimplantations (neurogenic bladder, failed reimplant ureters). However, many years follow up are needed to demonstrate lasting success and absence of complications. PMID- 2624440 TI - [Flexible ureteroscopy. Diagnostic and therapeutic significance. Apropos of 15 cases]. AB - The authors analyse the results of a preliminary report of 15 cases of ureteric stones treated by flexible ureterorenoscopy and one case of radiolucent renal stone in the left lower renal calyx. Stone fragmentation was complete in 11 cases with 1 small residual fragment in the lower ureter, 1 perforation was immediately operated without any further complication and in one case, it was impossible to advance into the ureter. Flexible ureterorenoscopy is valuable for diagnosis of filling defects in the lower calyx and for treatment of stones in the upper and middle ureter. PMID- 2624441 TI - ["Wallstent" endo-urethral prosthesis in recurrent stenoses of the urethra]. AB - Urethral strictures recur in about 30% of the cases whatever the treatment. We describe a new urethral stent, originally developed in our Institution for vascular use after transluminal angioplasty. Since January 1986, we have controlled the biocompatibility and tolerance in the normal urethra of dogs with a one year follow-up. The stent has a braided structure, made of fine stainless steel wires and is self-expanding when released from a special endoscopic instrument. From November 1987, we have implanted the stent into 11 males (mean age 54 years), after previous urethrotomy. In two patients a second stent was implanted for incomplete result. Now, with a mean follow-up of 12 months, all patients have recovered normal micturition and only two complain slight stress incontinence. PMID- 2624442 TI - [Central venous stenoses after using a Hickman catheter in hemodialysis in children. Apropos of 4 cases]. AB - Four cases of central vein stenosis occurred after the use of Hickman's catheter in 32 children at the beginning of chronic hemodialysis. The seriousness for future angioaccesses is emphasized. PMID- 2624443 TI - [Innervation density in the stroma and the muscular tunica in biopsies of the normal and pathologic bladder]. AB - Twenty-eight open urinary bladder biopsies were stained using a peroxidase antiperoxidase technique for S100 to demonstrate the innervation pattern in three different patient groups. The nerve profiles in the subepithelial stroma and in the musculosa were counted and compared. There was a definite correlation between nerve density in both layers. Examination of superficial bladder biopsies is reliable in the assessment of the innervation pattern of neurogenic and non neurogenic bladder disorders. PMID- 2624444 TI - [A case of stones in the periurethral glands in a woman]. PMID- 2624445 TI - [Is intravenous urography indispensable in evaluating a bladder emptying disorder?]. AB - Two patients with disorders of bladder emptying (dysuria, pollakiuria) were treated by endourethral resection after being investigated by ultrasonography without intravenous pyelography. Intravenous pyelography performed subsequently due to persistence and even deterioration of the bladder emptying disorders revealed the diagnosis and allowed treatment of renal tuberculosis. Intravenous pyelography is therefore an essential part of the assessment of patients with prostatic symptoms. PMID- 2624446 TI - [Functional and urodynamic study of cecocystoplasties with or without detubation]. AB - The authors analyse and compare the clinical and urodynamic results of 16 tubed caecocystoplasties and 5 detubed ileocaecocystoplasties. The urodynamic assessments were performed between 2 months and up to 4 years after the operation. After a period of about 6 months, there was a functional difference between these two types of reservoir. The loss of pressure peaks in detubed reservoirs is not sufficient to ensure complete nocturnal continence. Neovesico sphincteric synergy is responsible for real sphincteric self-re-education. Rationally, a detubing procedure in bladder replacement is only desirable in the case of a "deficient" sphincter. PMID- 2624447 TI - [Preoperative evaluation in urology. A reassessment]. AB - Routine preoperative screening tests are questioned more and more often. A prospective study of preoperative screening in a Urologic unit was performed and was correlated with the patient's outcome. With the agreement of the anesthesiologists team, we think we could abandon chest X ray, and CBC and could restrict ECG immuno-hematologic and clotting tests to patients with intraoperative hemorrhagic or cardiac risk. Finally any other tests, creatinine, SMA, urinalysis, urine culture should only be prescribed, according to the patient's specific clinical context. PMID- 2624448 TI - [Continent urinary diversion using a pre-peritoneal ileal graft and Benchekroun's hydraulic valve]. AB - The authors describe the creation of a continent pre-peritoneal ileal urinary reservoir with Benchekroun's valve. This system, performed on 10 occasions with no postoperative complications and currently perfect results, has the following advantages: decreased risk of distension of the reservoir because of its pre peritoneal position, protection of Benchekroun's valve due to its distance from the reservoir at the end of the antiperistaltic loop, the great ease of creation of the diversion and the superficial situation facilitating any subsequent surgical revisions. PMID- 2624449 TI - [Extra-corporeal lithotripsy (EDAP LT 01) in urinary lithiasis]. AB - Five hundred and twenty six extracorporeal lithotripsies have been performed for renal and ureteric stones. Using low frequencies (1.25 to 2.5 cycles per second), extracorporeal lithotripsy was performed without anaesthesia and without premedication in 85% of cases. 91.9% of patients treated were followed and reviewed after one and three months: 292 (55%) were successes, 124 (22.5%) obtained partial results, 122 (22.5%) were failures. The best results were obtained in stones less than 20 mm in diameter. The results could only be improved by a second session of extracorporeal lithotripsy. Scintigraphic scars observed after high frequency lithotripsy and not observed after low frequency lithotripsy were again seen after renewal of the firing head. PMID- 2624450 TI - [Epidemiology of tumors of the testis in Indre-et-Loire from 1978 to 1987]. AB - All the testicular tumors found among the inhabitants of the Indre-et-Loire department between 1978 and 1987 were reviewed. There was a total of 122 tumors, i.e. a direct standardised incidence rate of 4.55/100,000. The incidence increased over the years 1978-1982, with an abrupt decrease at 50% in 1983 and the increase since then has been minimal. There was an excessive morbidity rate of 22% for patients living in an urban environment. There was no preferential side for the tumor. The histological types of the tumors permit to distinguish three types of populations: non seminiferous germ cell tumors (51.3%) at the age of 30 years; seminoma (41.3%) at the age of 40 years and lymphoma (7.4%) at the age of 74 years. An indirect standardisation revealed an excessive rate of 22% for the socioprofessional category of employers and a rate of 28% for artisan, business men and company directors. The study confirms the known notions about the age and the histologic distribution of testicular tumors. The highest incidence rate of all the French departments, the drop in the rate of this growth curve in 1983 and the over representation of the employee category appear to be the most specific notions in the Indre-et-Loire department. PMID- 2624451 TI - [Antilithogenic action of dehydroxymaleic, ketomalonic (mesoxalic) and tartronic acids in relation to experimental lithiasis in rats]. AB - The authors study the effects of three acids, one with four carbon atoms, dihydroxymaleic acid, the two others with three carbon considered atoms, ketomalonic acid and tartronic acid. A first study considered the effects of these products on experimental lithiasis induced by oxalic acid, glyoxylic acid and ethylene-glycol. Dihydroxymaleic acid. Monohydrate calcium oxalate stones can be easily induced in the male rat, with in 24 hours, by an intraperitoneal injection of oxalic acid, at the rate of 8 mg per 100 g of body weight. If 25 mg of dihydroxymaleic acid are injected simultaneously via the intraperitoneal route, to a rat weighing 150 g, the lithiasis observed after 24 hours is just as severe. Experimental monohydrate calcium oxalate lithiasis is also induced by intraperitoneal injection of 8 to 9 mg of glyoxylic acid in a 100 mg rat. Dihydroxymaleic acid, injected at the same time as glyoxylic acid, also via the intraperitoneal route, at the rate of 50 mg for a rat weighing 150 g, results in total suppression of the lithiasis. Dihydroxymaleic acid also prevents lithiasis induced by the absorption by the rat, for several weeks, of a 1% ethylene-glycol solution if it is mixed to this solution at the rate of 5 mg per ml. A 12% ethylene-glycol solution given to the rat at the rate of 0.55 ml for 100 g of body weight induces the next day a comatose state and a diffuse parenchymatous monohydrate calcium oxalate lithiasis: coma and lithiasis are prevented by the simultaneous absorption of dihydroxymaleic acid at the rate of 65 to 70 mg. The ketomalonic acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624452 TI - [A case of a large pyelic calculus composed only of ammonium urate]. AB - The authors report a case of pure ammonium urate stone. It was a very large lightly radiopaque pelvic stone, which was extracted by pyelotomy and analysed by infra-red spectrography. The clinical history did not reveal a long history of chronic infections. The stone was diagnosed by urography performed after an acute urinary trad infection. Proteus mirabilis was found at one time, but only after the surgical operation. The blood and urinary laboratory check-up was normal. No case of such a large pure ammonium urate stone especially in adults, can be found in the literature. The pathogenesis is not obvious, and could not be explained without an abnormal urinary ammonia production during the development of the stone, but the lack of associated phosphate precipitation cannot be explained. PMID- 2624453 TI - [Endoscopic treatment of complicated ureteroceles in adults. Apropos of 2 cases]. AB - Usually diagnosed in childhood, ureterocele is a congenital malformation which is often revealed in adults because of a complication. Renal colic and dysuria were the clinical symptoms that led to discovery in the two patients reported here. These two women (aged 80 and 32 years) underwent transurethral meatotomy for complicated ureterocele. This procedure was sufficient for cure, with spontaneous evacuation of all stones in patient 2. There were no clinical or bacteriological (urine analyses) signs of reflux during the follow-up period (24 and 12 months). Endoscopic treatment of adult complicated ureterocele can thus be proposed as a first line procedure. Development of symptomatic secondary reflux is an indication for surgery. PMID- 2624454 TI - [Oncocytic tumors of the kidney. 11 cases (1978-1987)]. AB - Analysis of this series of cases reveals the following points: complementary investigations (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) sometimes suggest the diagnosis, the oncocytic nature is often a surprise pathological finding, it is difficult to determine whether the lesion is a pure oncocytoma and the exact grade cannot be determined on frozen section, the choice between radical surgery and conservative surgery is made even more difficult, the study of the course of the disease raises the question of whether the term of oncocytoma should not be reserved to low grade tumours. PMID- 2624455 TI - Synthesis and antiviral activity evaluation of 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxyribonucleosides: broad-spectrum antiviral activity of 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxyadenosine. AB - Five 3'-fluorinated ribonucleosides were prepared and evaluated for their inhibitory properties against different viruses. The synthesis of these compounds was achieved by treatment of 2',5'-di-O-tritylated nucleoside analogues possessing a xylo-configuration with diethylaminosulfur trifluoride, followed by deprotection. 3'-Fluoro-3'-deoxyadenosine was active against a broad range of viruses, encompassing both DNA viruses [pox (vaccinia)], single-stranded (+) RNA viruses [picorna (polio, Coxsackie B), toga (sindbis, Semliki Forest)] and double stranded RNA viruses (reo). In its antiviral activity spectrum 3'-fluoro-3' deoxyadenosine clearly differed from those adenosine analogues that are known as inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase. 3'-Fluoro-3'-deoxyadenosine also proved effective in vivo, in inhibiting tail lesion formation in mice inoculated intravenously with vaccinia virus. PMID- 2624456 TI - Production of fusarin C on cereal and soybean by Fusarium moniliforme. AB - Two isolates of Fusarium moniliforme were compared with respect to production of a mutagenic compound, fusarin C, on seven corn varieties as well as on soybean, wheat, rye, barley, and a liquid culture medium. The isolates were originally obtained from corn and barley. Both isolates produced fusarin C on seed of all five crops within a 21-day period, and one isolate produced the largest amount on oats. Soybean was the poorest substrate for both isolates. Although the quantity of fusarin C produced on grain was isolate dependent, specific substrate requirements for each strain were suggested. The isolates differed in their ability to grow and produce fusarin C on corn with different moisture contents (16, 20, 24, and 28%). One isolate was more xerotolerant and grew at 16% moisture but did not produce the mutagen. PMID- 2624457 TI - Quantitative comparison of the laboratory and field competitiveness of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli. AB - Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli KIM5s outcompeted strain CE3 in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) root nodulation when plants were grown at any of three field sites, each with a different soil type and indigenous population, or in the laboratory in a sterilized sand, a sterilized peat-vermiculite mixture, or a nonsterile field soil. A mathematical model describing nodulation competitiveness was empirically derived to evaluate the relative competitiveness of the two strains under these conditions. This model relates the proportional representation of the two strains in the inoculum to the proportional representation of nodules occupied by each strain or both strains and provides a measure of competitiveness, which is referred to as the competitiveness index. Statistical comparisons of competitiveness indices showed that the relative competitiveness of KIM5s and CE3 remained constant when the two strains were applied in a constant ratio over a range of inoculum concentrations, from 10(3) to 10(7) cells per seed, and when they were applied in various ratios to six P. vulgaris cultivars. Furthermore, the relative competitiveness of KIM5s and CE3 in the laboratory did not differ significantly from their relative competitiveness at the three field sites studied. Thus, a study of the basis for nodulation competitiveness of KIM5s and CE3 in the laboratory has the potential to provide an understanding of competitiveness both in the laboratory and in the field. PMID- 2624458 TI - Characterization of the acclimation period before anaerobic dehalogenation of halobenzoates. AB - The acclimation periods prior to detectable dehalogenation of halogenated benzoates in anaerobic lake sediments ranged from 3 weeks to 6 months. These acclimation periods were reproducible over time and among sampling sites and were characteristic of the chemical tested. The lengthy acclimation period appears to represent an induction phase in which little or no aryl dehalogenation is observed, followed by an exponential increase in activity typical of an enrichment response. Continuous growth from the time of the first exposure to the chemical is inconsistent with the extremely low per-cell activities estimated for the early days of the acclimation period and the fact that the dehalogenation yields no carbon to support microbial growth. The finding of a characteristic acclimation time for each chemical argues against nutritional deficiency, inhibition, or predation as an explanation for this phase of metabolism, while the reproducibility of the findings with time and space and among replicates argues against genetic changes as the explanation. The acclimation times did correlate with the eventual dehalogenation rates. This may reflect the general energy limitations in the anaerobic communities and suggests that those chemicals with faster dehalogenation rates provide more energy for the induction and growth phases of the active population. PMID- 2624459 TI - Binding and aggregation of the 25-kilodalton toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis to cell membranes and alteration by monoclonal antibodies and amino acid modifiers. AB - The 25-kilodalton toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis binds irreversibly to Aedes albopictus cells, Choristoneura fumiferana cells, and erythrocytes. The binding to cells increased with both toxin concentration and time and when the cells were first preincubated with unlabeled toxin. Binding data indicated a two- to threefold increase in the rate of binding after the amount of the membrane-bound toxin reached approximately 3.5 fmol/3 x 10(5) A. albopictus cells or 3.3. fmol/2 x 10(5) C. fumiferana cells. When this level of bound toxin was reached, the toxins also began forming aggregates at the cell membrane. The toxin aggregates were extracted with 10% Triton X-100 and separated from the monomers with a 5 to 20% sucrose density gradient. The toxin aggregates isolated from A. albopictus and C. fumiferana cell membranes were ca. 400 kilodaltons, while those isolated from human erythrocytes were significantly smaller. The proportion of the toxin found in aggregate form increased rapidly with the amount of toxin bound; however, the molecular size of the aggregates remained constant. Eleven monoclonal antibodies raised against the native form of the toxin blocked 80 to 97% of the toxin binding to cells. The epitope of one of these monoclonal antibodies was mapped to a domain which included the cysteine, suggesting the importance of the domain around this amino acid to binding. Toxin binding and cell lysis were also inhibited by treating the toxin with HgCl2, further indicating the importance of the C-terminal hydrophobic cysteine containing domain in cytolytic activity of the 25-kilodalton protein. PMID- 2624460 TI - Most-probable-number procedures for enumerating ruminal bacteria, including the simultaneous estimation of total and cellulolytic numbers in one medium. AB - Based on results from eight experiments, no overall difference was found between roll tube and three- and five-tube most-probable-number (MPN) methods for estimating total numbers of ruminal bacteria. However, standard errors for the replicate means within an experiment were higher with the MPN procedures. Visual growth and pH were the criteria used for scoring the MPN tubes. Total numbers were significantly higher in MPN medium containing 40% ruminal fluid, as compared with a complete medium without ruminal fluid. By using a broth medium containing ball-milled cellulose and soluble carbohydrates as energy sources, it was possible to estimate both total and cellulolytic ruminal bacterial numbers in the same MPN series. Disappearance of cellulose and decrease in pH were used to determine growth. Values did not differ from those obtained in separate MPN assays. By using this method, diurnal changes in total and cellulolytic bacterial numbers were estimated in sheep fed forage or a concentrate-type diet. PMID- 2624461 TI - Physicochemical surface properties of nonencapsulated and encapsulated coagulase negative staphylococci. AB - Cell surfaces of three nonencapsulated and three encapsulated coagulase-negative staphylococci were characterized by their surface free energies, zeta potentials, and elemental and molecular compositions. Surface free energies were calculated from contact angle measurements with various liquids. All six strains showed a high surface free energy (103 to 126 mJ.m-2), estimated from the concept of polar and dispersion components. However, the hydrogen-donating surface free energy parameter was zero for all nonencapsulated strains. The zeta potential profile measured as a function of pH in phosphate-buffered saline for the nonencapsulated strains was completely different from that of the encapsulated strains. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to determine the elements (O, C, N, P, and K) in the outer 2 to 5 nm of the freeze-dried cell surface and showed that the hydrophilic character of the staphylococci was related to oxygen (O/C ratio, approximately 0.52)- and phosphorus (P/C ratio, approximately 0.03)-containing groups. Both the elemental and molecular characterizations (done by infrared spectroscopy) pointed to the presence of polysaccharides and polypeptides on the cell surface of the nonencapsulated and encapsulated strains. PMID- 2624462 TI - Degradation of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons by Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b expressing soluble methane monooxygenase. AB - Degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) by the methanotrophic bacterium Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b was studied by using cells grown in continuous culture. TCE degradation was a strictly cometabolic process, requiring the presence of a cosubstrate, preferably formate, and oxygen. M. trichosporium OB3b cells degraded TCE only when grown under copper limitation and when the soluble methane monooxygenase was derepressed. During TCE degradation, nearly total dechlorination occurred, as indicated by the production of inorganic chloride, and only traces of 2,2,2-trichloroethanol and trichloroacetaldehyde were produced. TCE degradation proceeded according to first-order kinetics from 0.1 to 0.0002 mM TCE with a rate constant of 2.14 ml min-1 mg of cells-1. TCE concentrations above 0.2 mM inhibited degradation in cell suspensions of 0.42 mg of cells ml-1. Other chlorinated aliphatics were also degraded by M. trichosporium OB3b. Dichloromethane, chloroform, 1,1-dichloroethane, and 1,2 dichloroethane were completely degraded, with the release of stoichiometric amounts of chloride. trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, and 1,2-dichloropropane were completely converted, but not all the chloride was released because of the formation of chlorinated intermediates, e.g., trans-2,3 dichlorooxirane, cis-2,3-dichlorooxirane, and 2,3-dichloropropanol, respectively. 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethylene, and 1,3-dichloropropylene were incompletely converted, and the first compound yielded 2,2,2-trichloroethanol as a chlorinated intermediate. The two perchlorinated compounds tested, carbon tetrachloride and tetrachloroethylene, were not converted. PMID- 2624463 TI - Response of microbial adhesives and biofilm matrix polymers to chemical treatments as determined by interference reflection microscopy and light section microscopy. AB - The polymers involved in the adhesion of Pseudomonas fluorescens H2S to solid surfaces were investigated to determine whether differences between cell surface adhesives and biofilm matrix polymers could be detected. Two optical techniques, i.e., interference reflection microscopy (IRM) and light section microscopy (LSM), were used to compare the responses of the two types of polymer to treatment with electrolytes, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and Tween 20. To evaluate initial adhesive polymers, P. fluorescens H2S cells were allowed to attach to glass cover slip surfaces and were immediately examined with IRM, and their response to chemical solutions was tested. With IRM, changes in cell-substratum separation distance between 0 and ca. 100 nm are detectable as changes in relative light intensity of the image; a contraction of the polymer would be detected as a darkening of the image, whereas expansion would appear as image brightening. To evaluate the intercellular polymer matrix in biofilms, 3-day-old biofilms were exposed to similar solutions, and the resultant change in biofilm thickness was measured with LSM, which measures film thicknesses between 10 and 1,000 microns. The initial adhesive and biofilm polymers were similar in that both appeared to contract when treated with electrolytes and to expand when treated with Tween 20. However, with DMSO treatment, the initial adhesive polymer appeared to contract, whereas there was no change in thickness of the biofilm polymer. These results indicate that both polymers bear acidic groups and thus act electrostatically with cations and are able to enter into hydrophobic interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624464 TI - Dissimilatory nitrate reduction by Propionibacterium acnes. AB - Propionibacterium acnes P13 was isolated from human feces. The bacterium produced a particulate nitrate reductase and a soluble nitrite reductase when grown with nitrate or nitrite. Reduced viologen dyes were the preferred electron donors for both enzymes. Nitrous oxide reductase was never detected. Specific growth rates were increased by nitrate during growth in batch culture. Culture pH strongly influenced the products of dissimilatory nitrate reduction. Nitrate was principally converted to nitrite at alkaline pH, whereas nitrous oxide was the major product of nitrate reduction when the bacteria were grown at pH 6.0. Growth yields were increased by nitrate in electron acceptor-limited chemostats, where nitrate was reduced to nitrite, showing that dissimilatory nitrate reduction was an energetically favorable process in P. acnes. Nitrate had little effect on the amounts of fermentation products formed, but molar ratios of acetate to propionate were higher in the nitrate chemostats. Low concentrations of nitrite (ca. 0.2 mM) inhibited growth of P. acnes in batch culture. The nitrite was slowly reduced to nitrous oxide, enabling growth to occur, suggesting that denitrification functions as a detoxification mechanism. PMID- 2624465 TI - Immunological identification and distribution of dissimilatory heme cd1 and nonheme copper nitrite reductases in denitrifying bacteria. AB - Polyclonal antibodies were used to identify heme or copper nitrite reductases in the following groups: 23 taxonomically diverse denitrifiers from culture collections, 100 numerically dominant denitrifiers from geographically diverse environments, and 51 denitrifiers from a culture collection not selected for denitrification. Antisera were raised against heme nitrite reductases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas stutzeri and against copper nitrite reductase from Achromobacter cycloclastes. Nitrite reductases were identified by Western immunoblot. Diethyldithiocarbamate, which specifically inhibits copper nitrite reductases, was used to confirm the immunological characterization and determine which type was present in strains nonreactive with any antiserum. For groups in which the type of nitrite reductase has not been previously described, we found that Alcaligenes eutrophus, Bacillus azotoformans, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Corynebacterium nephridii, and Rhizobium spp. contained copper nitrite reductase, while Aquaspirillum itersonii, Flavobacterium spp., and Pseudomonas fluorescens contained heme nitrite reductase. Heme nitrite reductases dominated, regardless of soil type or geographic origin. They occurred in 64 and 92%, respectively, of denitrifiers in the numerically dominant and nonselected collections. The two nitrite reductase types were mutually exclusive in individual bacteria, but both appeared in different strains from the Alcaligenes and Pseudomonas genera. The heme type predominated in Pseudomonas strains. The heme-type nitrite reductase appeared more conserved if judged by similarities in molecular weights and immunological reactions. The Cu type was found in more taxonomically unrelated strains and varied in molecular weight and antiserum recognition. PMID- 2624466 TI - Formation of delta 2- and delta 3-cholenoic acids from bile acid 3-sulfates by a human intestinal Fusobacterium strain. AB - We isolated two strains of an unnamed Fusobacterium species from human intestinal microflora, which stereospecifically transformed bile acid 3-sulfates into C-3 unsubstituted, ring A-unsaturated bile acids. Both 3 alpha- and 3 beta-sulfates of 5 beta-bile acids were metabolized to delta 3-5 beta-cholenoic acids; 3 beta sulfates of 5 alpha-bile acids were converted into a mixture of delta 2-5 alpha bile acids and 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-bile acids, whereas 3 alpha-sulfates of 5 alpha-bile acids were left intact. Unsulfated bile acids were not transformed into unsaturated derivatives. These strains differ from previously isolated intestinal bacteria, which desulfated bile acid sulfates without further transformation. PMID- 2624467 TI - Survey of microbial oxygenases: trichloroethylene degradation by propane oxidizing bacteria. AB - Microorganisms that biosynthesize broad-specificity oxygenases to initiate metabolism of linear and branched-chain alkanes, nitroalkanes, cyclic ketones, alkenoic acids, and chromenes were surveyed for the ability to biodegrade trichloroethylene (TCE). The results indicated that TCE oxidation is not a common property of broad-specificity microbial oxygenases. Bacteria that contained nitropropane dioxygenase, cyclohexanone monooxygenase, cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases, 4-methoxybenzoate monooxygenase, and hexane monooxygenase did not degrade TCE. However, one new unique class of microorganisms removed TCE from incubation mixtures. Five Mycobacterium strains that were grown on propane as the sole source of carbon and energy degraded TCE. Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5 degraded TCE more rapidly and to a greater extent than the four other propane-oxidizing bacteria. At a starting concentration of 20 microM, it removed up to 99% of the TCE in 24 h. M. vaccae JOB5 also biodegraded 1,1-dichloroethylene, trans-1,2 dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. PMID- 2624468 TI - Detection in soil of a deletion in an engineered DNA sequence by using DNA probes. AB - Two Pseudomonas strains were engineered to contain the nptII gene and plasmid vector sequences in their chromosomes. After incubation of these strains in nonsterile soil, total bacterial DNA was isolated and analyzed by Southern blot hybridization with the nptII gene and the plasmid vector as probes. In addition to the expected bands of hybridization, a new band corresponding to the loss of vector sequences from the chromosome while retaining the nptII gene was observed for one of the strains. The more stressful conditions encountered in soil appeared to increase the frequency of loss of the vector sequences from this strain. PMID- 2624469 TI - O dealkylation and aliphatic and aromatic hydroxylation of 3-methoxy-17 beta estradiol by Aspergillus alliaceus. AB - Aspergillus alliaceus UI 315 was examined for its ability to metabolize 3-methoxy 17 beta-estradiol. Preparative-scale incubations with this substrate afforded good yields of 6 beta-hydroxy-17 beta-estradiol, 4-hydroxy-17 beta-estradiol, and 4,6 beta-dihydroxy-17 beta-estradiol, which were identified by high-pressure liquid chromatography, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. PMID- 2624470 TI - Semisolid media for isolation of Salmonella spp. from coastal waters. AB - The use of two semisolid media (semisolid Rappaport and semisolid Rappaport Vassiliadis) for the isolation of Salmonella spp. from coastal waters was compared with the use of conventional media. Two hundred and fifty six samples were studied; Salmonella spp. were detected in 83. The semisolid media were the most sensitive, detecting 73 samples instead of the 53 detected by the conventional media (P less than 0.001). The rate of isolation of Salmonella spp. showed an increase of 56.6% when the semisolid media were added to the conventional media, it being possible to detect 54.2% of the total organisms 1 day earlier. PMID- 2624471 TI - Interferon alfa, infectious virus, and virus antigen secretion in respiratory syncytial virus infections of graded severity. AB - Interferon alfa was measured by an immunoradiometric assay in the nasopharyngeal secretions of a group of infants admitted to hospital with respiratory syncytial virus infection. Virus replication in the upper respiratory tract was assessed by infectivity assay and by an enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay for the viral fusion protein on the same nasopharyngeal secretions. All infants were examined daily while in hospital and allocated a score based upon a subjective assessment of the severity of their illness. There was no significant correlation between interferon, virus, or fusion (F) protein secretion and severity of illness or age of infant. It is concluded that poor interferon alfa secretion does not underly the susceptibility of infants to severe infections with this virus. PMID- 2624472 TI - IgG and IgM antibodies to viral glycoproteins in respiratory syncytial virus infections of graded severity. AB - Serum antibodies to the fusion (F) and large glycoprotein (G) of respiratory syncytial virus in the serum of 57 infected infants were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Most serum samples taken at the time of admission to hospital contained antibodies to both glycoproteins, and overall there was no significant evidence of a selective deficiency of antibody to either viral antigen. Less than a quarter of the infants showed rising IgG antibody titres to either glycoprotein after infection, whereas over threequarters produced an IgM response. There was a significant correlation between IgG response to viral glycoproteins and the age of the infant. The correlation of age with the IgM response was less pronounced, and there was no correlation between serum IgG antibody derived transplancentally in the acute phase of infection and IgM response to either glycoprotein. Neither IgG or IgM responses correlated with a clinical assessment of the severity of infection in the infants. IgM responses, however, were weakly correlated with reduced secretion of infectious virus in the upper respiratory tract. PMID- 2624473 TI - Indolent glioma: a cause of epilepsy. AB - We studied eight patients with indolent gliomas. In all eight cases, despite characteristic radiological features, there was a delay in diagnosis because of misinterpretation of the initial computed tomogram. These tumours are an important cause of epilepsy of childhood, and surgery may well alleviate the epilepsy and possibly achieve a long term 'cure'. Therefore it is important that a diagnosis is made early and the lesion completely excised. PMID- 2624474 TI - Diet and faecal flora in the newborn: casein and whey proteins. AB - Despite the extensive modifications of cows' milk to make an infant formula resemble human breast milk, we showed in a previous study that the faecal flora of breast fed babies still differs substantially from that of formula fed babies. This paper describes the effects that differences in the distribution of whey proteins and caseins exert on the faecal flora. Faecal flora was examined in 33 babies receiving a whey formula, 29 babies receiving a casein formula, and 38 breast fed babies. Subsequently fewer babies in each group were studied at weeks 7, 11, and 15. More whey fed babies were colonised with bifidobacteria at 14 days compared with the casein fed group, more casein fed babies were colonised with bacteroides (at 14 days), and more had a dominant growth of enterococci (at week 7). It seems therefore that during the first two months that the whey predominant formula induced a faecal flora generally closer to that of breast fed babies than did a casein formula. PMID- 2624475 TI - Few food diets in the treatment of atopic eczema. AB - Sixty six children with severe atopic eczema were treated with highly restricted ('few food') diets followed, if they improved, by serial reintroduction of excluded foods. Twenty four patients (36%) improved considerably during the few food phase of the diet. Fifteen of these (23% of the study group) maintained this improvement on dietary treatment, of whom three abandoned the diet after periods ranging from six to 10 months, despite continued benefit, because they found the dietary restrictions too arduous. Thus 12 out of 66 children (18%) with severe eczema experienced prolonged and useful benefit from this dietary manoeuvre. Double blind food challenges performed in 10 patients failed to establish that parental identification of provoking foods is reliable. A search for historical and in vitro predictors of diet responsiveness was unsuccessful in this series. PMID- 2624476 TI - Type II hyperprolinaemia in a pedigree of Irish travellers (nomads). AB - We describe a study of 312 subjects in 71 families near related to a proband with type II hyperprolinaemia. The subjects were Irish travellers (nomads) among whom consanguineous marriage and high fertility are common. Thirteen additional cases of type II hyperprolinaemia were discovered; all were offspring of consanguineous unions. A further 50 subjects were found to have mild hyperprolinaemia. We found a strong association between type II hyperprolinaemia and seizures during childhood but no significant association with mental handicap. Most adults with type II hyperprolinaemia enjoyed normal health and there was no evidence that maternal hyperprolinaemia compromised fetal development. The documented association between type II hyperprolinaemia and seizures may be related to the neuromodulatory or reducing-oxidising effects of proline and pyrroline-5 carboxylate, respectively, that has been shown in vitro. Alternatively, another genetic defect closely linked to the type II hyperprolinaemia allele could be the explanation. PMID- 2624477 TI - Fractional measurements of sweat osmolality in patients with cystic fibrosis. AB - After pilocarpine iontophoresis the change of sweat concentration during collection was studied by vapour pressure osmometry in 24 patients with cystic fibrosis and 24 healthy controls. There was a continuous but proportionate fall in sweat concentrations during the collection period. Mean (SD) initial sweat concentration in the control group was 154.4 (32.6) mmol/kg falling, after 50 microliters of sweat produced, to 92.9 (15.8) mmol/kg. In the cystic fibrosis group it was 315.9 (35.8) mmol/kg falling to 247.4 (24.9) mmol/kg. Despite different rates of fall in concentrations, separation of the two groups was maintained throughout. We conclude that there are implications for the potential improvement of the predictive value of the sweat test. PMID- 2624478 TI - Adrenal response in very low birthweight babies after dexamethasone treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. AB - The tetracosactrin stimulation test was used to assess the adrenal responsiveness of 22 very low birthweight babies who had received a three week course of dexamethasone for the treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Five babies were studied in detail with blood samples taken for cortisol concentrations at 30 minute intervals for four hours. The tests were performed before, during, and after treatment with dexamethasone. A distinctive pattern of cortisol response to tetracosactrin was found among these babies, which was quite unlike that found in older children and adults. Using our pretreatment results as control data we conclude that there is undoubtedly evidence of modest suppression of the adrenal axis during dexamethasone treatment, although there is considerable recovery one month after stopping steroids. Basal cortisol concentrations, however, remained low in some cases, which may indicate the need for temporary corticosteroid replacement during severe illness. PMID- 2624479 TI - Psychiatric disorders in general paediatric referrals. AB - Detailed interviews with parents of 128 children aged 7 to 12 years consecutively referred to general paediatric clinics identified psychiatric disturbance in 36 (28%) of the children. Emotional disorders were the commonest psychiatric diagnoses (present in two thirds); less frequent diagnoses were conduct disorders (5/36, 14%), mixed conduct/emotional disorders (six, 17%), and hyperkinetic syndrome (three, 8%). Disturbance was related to level of energy, with disturbed children being described significantly more frequently as 'bounding with energy' or conversely 'tired and apathetic'. Psychosocial problems (broken homes, mentally distressed mothers, family stress including financial stress and marital difficulty) were also increased in the disturbed group, but most of all these mothers reported feeling stressed in relation to the children. Psychiatric disorders, particularly emotional disorders, are common associated problems in paediatric referrals. Family stress, specially that focused on parenting, is likely to be an important factor contributing to disturbed children's consultations in general paediatric clinics. PMID- 2624480 TI - Management of asthma: a consensus statement. PMID- 2624481 TI - Prognostic value of creatinine kinase BB-isoenzyme in high risk newborn infants. PMID- 2624482 TI - [Effects of met-enkephalin on the testis. I. Structural study]. AB - We performed a structural study on rat testis using the hematoxylin-eosin and azocarmine staining methods. For the study, we utilized 105 male Wistar rats weighing 280-300 gms. Thirty rats comprised the control group, and 75 comprised the study group. Rats in the study group received a single, acute intracardiac dose of met-enkephalin (100 microliters of 50% met-enkephalin solution) and were sacrificed at 15, 30 and 60 minutes following injection, or a chronic intramuscular dose (50 microliters of 40% met-enkephalin solution) for 10 or 20 days. We observed marked numeric and morphologic changes in Leydig cells, as well as a blockade of spermatogenesis that led to a fall in spermatozoids and secondary spermatocytes. These changes were observed in all rats that had been submitted either to acute or chronic treatment, and were more marked in those where the interval between commencement of treatment and sacrifice was longer. These findings demonstrate that enkephalins (endogenous opiates) can cause profound endocrine and seminal lesions in the rat testis. PMID- 2624483 TI - [Effects of met-enkephalin on the testis. II. Histochemical study]. AB - We performed a histochemical study using the Alcian blue-PAS staining method (for mucopolysaccharide), vitamin C, Sudan black (for lipids), and methyl green pyronine (for nucleic acid). For the study, we utilized 105 male Wistar rats weighing 280-300 gms. Thirty rats comprised the control group, and 75 comprised the study group. Rats in the study group received a single, acute intracardiac dose of met-enkephalin (100 microliters of 50% met-enkephalin solution) and were sacrificed at 15, 30 and 60 minutes following injection, or a chronic intramuscular dose (50 microliters of 40% met-enkephalin solution). We observed that met-enkephalin caused histochemical changes in the rat testis, as evidenced by the accumulation of mucopolysaccharide (early in the study), cytoplasm lipid degeneration, changes in protein synthesis, and a fall in vitamin C stores (in seminal epithelium cell lines, as well as Leydig cells). These changes were more marked in the chronically than in the acutely-treated rats. The foregoing findings demonstrate that enkephalins (endogenous opiates) can cause profound metabolic changes in the rat testis that affect all its metabolic elements [proteins, lipids, polysaccharides and active substances (vitamins...)]. PMID- 2624484 TI - [Effect of verapamil on hepatorenal toxicity induced by cyclosporin]. AB - The immunosuppressive and nephrotoxic effects of cyclosporine A (CsA) have been ascribed to a calcium-dependent mechanism of action. However, verapamil, a slow calcium-channel blocking agent, enhances the immunosuppressive action of CsA and reduces its nephrotoxicity. The present experimental study performed in Wistar rats demonstrates that 0.1 mg..24 h.-1 IM verapamil prevents reduction of liver weight caused by treatment with 20 mg..kg.-1..24 h.-1 IM, as well as a rise in SGOT, SGPT, serum LDH and creatinine. The nephro-protective effects of verapamil in rats treated with CsA could be ascribable to the increased plasma clearance of the immunosuppressive agent. PMID- 2624485 TI - [Cephalad blind-ending bifid ureter. Presentation of 3 new cases]. AB - Three additional cases of cephalad blind-ending ureters are reported herein. These cases had been diagnosed during IVP evaluation for other disorders. Its mode of presentation and diagnosis are briefly discussed and the literature reviewed. PMID- 2624486 TI - [Vesical leiomyosarcoma. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study]. AB - A case of poorly-differentiated leiomyosarcoma of the bladder is described. Diagnosis was established by immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analyses. The therapeutic possibilities in this aggressive tumor type are described. PMID- 2624487 TI - [Disseminated renal adenocarcinoma. Developmental study]. AB - A study was undertaken on 57 patients diagnosed as having disseminated renal adenocarcinoma. The interval between the onset of symptomatology and diagnosis ranged from 1 to 48 months. The tumor frequently metastasized to lungs and bone. To evaluate survival, this patient population was divided into two groups: those who underwent nephrectomy, 17 patients (9 patients also underwent lymphadenectomy), and those who were put on drug therapy alone. No significant difference was observed with respect to survival for both patient groups. PMID- 2624488 TI - [Non-functioning renal graft: indications for transplant excision]. AB - Of 107 renal transplants, 25 patients who were restarted on dialysis due to graft failure were studied. Of these, 20 underwent renal transplant nephrectomy. Graft failure was due to a progressive functional loss in 18 (16.8%) and 4 other grafts were non-functioning from the outset. Of these 22 cases, 17 (77.2%) underwent transplant removal. Three (15%) viable grafts were removed, 2 due to urologic complications and 1 due to hemorrhage following percutaneous renal biopsy. A non functioning renal graft was left in situ in 5 patients. Rejection was the most frequent cause of transplant nephrectomy (45%), followed by arterial thrombosis (25%) and infection (15%). Eighty-five percent of these procedures were performed before one year post-transplantation, usually 1-4 weeks after diagnosis. Only 3 (13.6%) of the 22 non-functioning grafts removed were viable for more than 12 months after transplantation. The surgical technique was subcapsular in 60% and classical in the remaining cases. This was the surgical approach in all emergency cases. Except for one postoperative death directly related with surgery, complications were observed in 10% of the cases. These did not present as being especially uncommonly severe. The estimated 10-year posttransplantation survival rates for patients and grafts were 87.4% and 62.9%, respectively. The clinical evidence for transplant nephrectomy correlated well with the histologic evidence from the surgical specimens relative to the diagnosis of acute rejection and vascular thrombosis, despite its clinical under-utilization, and were discordant for urinary fistula, chronic rejection and sepsis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624489 TI - [TUR of the prostate. Low irrigation pressure. Prevention of the absorption syndrome and of virus infection (AIDS)]. AB - Based on their experience with 2,000 procedures, the authors report on the advantages afforded by low pressure irrigation and the utilization of a trocar in TUR of the prostate. A new, efficient, automatically-controlled high-frequency surgical unit and a new trocar for suprapubic puncture are described. PMID- 2624490 TI - [Percutaneous nephrostomy as a technic for emergency drainage: review of cases]. AB - Percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) is currently one of the procedures of choice for emergency drainage of the upper urinary tract. Moreover, it permits morphologic and functional diagnostic possibilities as well as a wide variety of new and frequently definitive therapeutic procedures. We report on 58 PCN procedures performed in 55 patients from May 1983 to February 1989. PCN was indicated for complicated or uncomplicated uni- or bilateral supravesical obstruction, with infection and/or azotemia. All patients submitted to PCN for complicated obstruction with infection and/or azotemia showed a marked clinical and analytical improvement. Apart from resolving this emergency, it reduced the morbidity and mortality rate of subsequent surgical treatment of the underlying cause of obstruction because patient status was markedly improved. The major complications, retroperitoneal hematoma and sepsis, were rare. We frequently observed that the catheter had come out or become obstructed in our series. PCN affords the following advantages: it can be performed with local anesthesia; it is a simple technique; there are no absolute contraindications; its morbidity and mortality rates are low; and, it can be easily converted into a permanent procedure. In our view, all the foregoing advantages, as well as its therapeutic and morphologic and functional diagnostic possibilities, make PCN one of the procedures of choice in emergency treatment of upper urinary tract obstruction. PMID- 2624491 TI - [Action of vasoactive drugs in male sexual impotence]. AB - Intracavernous injection of papaverine and phentolamine (Regitine) was performed in 223 impotent men. These patients had been previously evaluated at another department. Patient failure to obtain spontaneous erection during sleep or on waking was a prerequisite for inclusion in the study. Following evaluation of the penile brachial pressure index (PBI), patients under 50 years received an intracavernous injection of 0.5 mg. Regitine and papaverine 30 mg; patients over 50 years received 1 mg. Regitine and 30 mg. papaverine. Patients were observed for a minimum of 30 minutes. Fifty-eight attained erection and the remaining patients achieved varying degrees of penile tumescence. Patients were advised to have sexual intercourse within two hours following injection. Fifty-eight patients attained erection immediately and 132 achieved erection following immediate sexual stimulation. Of these 132 patients, 72 (54.5%) had successful sexual intercourse, 60 (45.5%) failed to obtain erection sufficient for coitus. We are unaware of the result in the remaining 33 patients who had none or late sexual stimulation. Of the 58 patients who achieved erection, the PBI could be quantified in 53 (mean 0.84). Likewise, the PBI could be determined in the 141 patients who had failed to achieve erection immediately (mean 0.77). Priapism was the only serious complication observed. Seven (3.1%) patients who presented with this condition were treated with the intracavernous injection of dopamine. PMID- 2624492 TI - [Arterial risk factors in sexual impotence]. AB - The present study was undertaken in 223 male patients who had consulted for erectile dysfunction. Patient failure to obtain spontaneous erection on waking was a prerequisite for inclusion in the study. The mean patient age was 50.82 years. The penile brachial pressure index (PBI) was determined by Doppler stethoscopy in all patients; 194 patients had a mean PBI of 0.79%. We evaluated 197 patients for the following arterial risk factors: smoking habit, hyperlipidemia, arterial hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The results showed 148 were smokers; of these, 40 (28.6%) had no other arterial risk factor. Ninety five had hyperlipidemia; of these, 19 (20%) had no other arterial risk factor. Hypertension was the only arterial risk factor in 8 (10%) of 73 hypertensives. Diabetes was the only arterial risk factor in 2 (6.4%) of the 31 with this condition. The mean age of patients with no arterial risk factors was 42.64 years. The number of risk factors increased with mean patient age. Three or more risk factors were observed in the patient group with a mean age of 57 years. The PBI dropped as the number of arterial risk factors rose. Patients with no arterial risk factors had a PBI of 0.83 whereas patients with three or more arterial risk factors had a PBI of 0.75. No statistical significance was observed when the arterial risk factors were combined. PMID- 2624493 TI - [Crossed renal ectopy without fusion. Case report]. AB - We report a case of crossed renal ectopia without fusion in a 30-year-old patient who had consulted for unspecific abdominal pain and micturition syndrome from an unstable detrusor and urethra. We underscore the rarity of this malformation in comparison with crossed fused renal ectopia, a condition reported to account for almost 90% of crossed renal ectopias. The embryogenic hypotheses that have been put forward relative to this malformation are presented, and the urinary and other system malformations frequently associated with this condition are discussed. PMID- 2624494 TI - [Vesical actinomycosis: rare tumor of the urachus]. AB - A female patient of child-bearing age using an intrauterine device (IUD) consulted our department for a hypogastric mass which turned out to be actinomycosis of the bladder. Antibiotic treatment resolved the infection and removal of the inflammatory mass was unwarranted since infected fistulous tracts had been observed. There appears to be a causal relationship with IUDs, as in genital actinomycosis. Due to the increasing use of contraceptive devices, we are likely to find this type of infection, which might be difficult to distinguish from malignant disease, increasingly frequent in urologic practice. PMID- 2624495 TI - [Spontaneous rupture of multiple cysts into the excretory tract in a case of cysts of the hilar sinus]. AB - We report a case of spontaneous rupture of renal cysts into the excretory tract, an uncommon complication in cystic disease and a rare finding in cysts of the hilar sinus. We discuss the different hypotheses on its etiopathogenesis. The possible mechanism of multiple spontaneous rupture in this case is described and the diagnostic possibilities are discussed. PMID- 2624496 TI - [Transitional cell carcinoma in a retrocaval ureter]. AB - We report a case of duplicated inferior vena cava and right retrocaval ureter with a urothelial tumor. The embryonal, clinical and diagnostic aspects of this disease entity are discussed. CT permitted noninvasive visualization of the retrocaval ureter and the urothelial tumor. We underscore the usefulness of the foregoing imaging technique versus the more invasive techniques such as cavography and ascending pyelography. PMID- 2624497 TI - [Ectopic opening of the ureter into the ejaculatory duct. Use of ultrasound directed vesiculography in the diagnosis of this type of malformation]. AB - We report a right mesonephric duct malformation consisting of an ectopic ureter opening into the ejaculatory duct, ipsilateral renal agenesia, ipsilateral seminal vesicle cyst, and contralateral renal malrotation. The diagnostic methods considered useful in this condition are described, including direct ultrasound guided vesiculography, a technique which, in our experience, is easy to perform and has proved to be very useful. PMID- 2624498 TI - [Bladder adenocarcinoma. Report of 2 new cases]. AB - Another two cases of bladder adenocarcinoma (ADC), seen in 1988, are described herein. The most important aspects relative to tumor origin--urothelial and embryonal--are discussed. We review its clinical features and diagnosis, not unlike those of transitional cell tumors, although histologically different. We underscore the therapeutic aspects and poor prognosis in most of the cases. PMID- 2624499 TI - Combined therapy of staghorn calculi with ureteronephroscopy (URS) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). AB - We report our experience with 25 cases of staghorn calculi treated by combined ureteronephroscopy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The equipment used and the ultrasonic disintegration techniques are described. We believe that the procedure, followed by ESWL, may constitute, in selected cases, an alternative to conventional combination therapy. PMID- 2624500 TI - [Effects of the chest wall and air volume on the perivascular pressure of the arterial segment. Study of the isolated canine lobule]. AB - Ten isolated in situ canine left lower lobes (LLL) were studied in West zone II condition. In four dogs (group I) the chest wall surrounding the LLL was surgically removed, in the remaining dogs (group II) this procedure was not done. After basal parameters were obtained, minimal critical pressure (MCCP) was recorded and the influence of increasing alveolar pressure (PA) from o to 20 mmHg was noted. For group I lobes, PA value did not influence MCCP measurements, thus an independent relation between the pressures was found (delta MCCP/delta PA = 0). For group II lobes, when PA less than 6.8 +/- 2.1 mmHg also a delta MCCP/delta PA +/- was noted. Above this PA (PA1) a slope of 0.25 +/- 0.04 was documented for the delta MCCP/delta PA relationship. On the basis of our findings we conclude that MCCP is independent form PA. However if this relationship is studied in the isolated in situ LLL, at open chest with the condition of integrity of the chest wall when PA1 is applied the changes in MCCP are the result of the effect of lung inflation on the chest wall resulting in changes of the extravascular compliance (of the arterial segment) and is not due to a direct influence of PA on MCCP. PMID- 2624501 TI - [Usefulness of the thoracic circle in localizing the pre-excitation zone in Wolff Parkinson-White syndrome]. AB - In this study thoracic circle lead electrocardiogram were recorded during sinus rhythm in 50 patients with Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome. We analyzed: delta wave polarity, QRS axis in the frontal plane, ventricular preexcitation, the pattern of precordial R wave transition and QRS morphology in the unipolar leads, also concordance between electrocardiographic patterns and the site of the accessory pathway determined during electrophysiological study. Electrocardiograms from patients with left lateral sites showed negative delta waves in leads LI or a VL, V7 to V9, positive delta waves in V3R to V9R, a normal QRS axis and early precordial R wave transition (20 of 23 patients). Left posterior sites manifested negative Delta waves in L3, a VF, V7 to V9, V7R to V9R and a prominent R wave in V1 (4 of 5 patients). Left posteroparaseptal sites had the same pattern plus negative delta waves in L2, a superior QRS axis, and RS or Rs morphology in V1 (3 of 3 patients). Right posteroparaseptal sites had negative delta waves in L2, L3, a VF, V3R to V9R, positive delta waves in V7 to V9, a superior QRS axis and an R greater than S in V1 (10 of 11 patients). Right free wall locations manifested negative delta waves in L3, a VR, V3R to V9R, positive delta waves in V7 to V9, a normal QRS axis and R wave transition in V3 to V5 with QS morphology since V3R to V9R (6 of 7 patients).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624502 TI - [Silent myocardial ischemia: a problem in diagnosis and treatment]. AB - We tried to establish the incidence of silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) in the general population and also in patients with recognised ischemic heart disease. For this, purpose 2, 375 stress tests (ST) with Bruce protocol were reviewed, 364 were positive and those patients were divided in two groups: group I with SMI during the ST and group II with myocardial ischemia and angina during the ST. Coronary risk factors ergometric behaviour and angiographic factors were analysed. Group I had 263 patients with SMI (71%). Group II had 111 patients with ischemia and angina (29%) P less than 0.05; 90 patients had diabetes mellitus in group I and 19 in group II P less than 0.05. A previous myocardial infarction was registered in 157 patients from group I and 55 from group II P less than 0.05. The remaining coronary risks factors, ergometrics variables and significance and number of diseased coronary vessels were similar in both groups. We conclude that SMI is a frequent event in patients with ischemic heart disease. It represents probably the most frequent event in this disease. Previous myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SMI. The ST and Holter monitoring are dependable procedures for the identification of SMI and should be always performed specially in patients with high coronary risk factors. Once detecting SMI a therapeutic plan should be considered for medical, angioplastic or surgical procedures even in asymptomatic patients. PMID- 2624503 TI - [Usefulness of endomyocardial biopsy in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy]. AB - Through an endomyocardial biopsy (EB) we studied 30 patients, 15 of them with suspicious clinical diagnosis of myocarditis (M) and 15 with dilated cardiomyopathy (DC). In only 4 (26%) out of the 15 patients with M we found inflammatory changes in the biopsy. By serendipity a metastatic malignant tumor was found in one patient. In 9 (60%) out of the 15 cases with DC the histological report was compatible with interstitial fibrosis, hypertrophic myofibrils, myositic degeneration and atrophy and in 2 of these patients inflammatory cell infiltration. In all patients in whom we found these inflammatory process the illness was present for less than 6 months. We concluded that in only a limited percentage of patients with the clinical diagnosis of M inflammatory changes are present (26% in our study). In patients with DC the information given in few cases (13%) an inflammatory cell infiltration could be seen. The probability of finding inflammatory changes is higher if the duration of the disease is less than 6 months. It is important to have in mind that through this method an occult pathology could be discovered. PMID- 2624504 TI - [Clinico-pathologic manifestations of ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva]. AB - The clinical files from the National Institute of Cardiology "Ignacio Chavez" were reviewed, we found 26 corroborated cases of ruptured aneurysms Valsalva's sinus. There is predominance of the male sex in proportion 3:1 and the median age when the diagnosis was made was 22 years. 77% of these cases were in N.Y.H.A. clinical class I or II and the main symptom was dyspnoea on exertion. On the physical examination a continuous murmur or sistolo-diastolic murmur was heard over precordium in 92% of the cases and a hyperkinetic circulatory regimen. Only in 23% of these patients the diagnosis was suspected and the more common confusion was with the V.S.D. associated with aortic incompetence. On the E.K.G. we found data with volumetric overload of the right heart in 15 cases. The hemodynamic study confirmed the diagnosis only in 60%. The aortic valve was substituted for associated incompetence in 12 cases and the pathological study revealed fibromixoid degeneration in 9 cases and only fibrosis in the remaining 3. The sinus of Valsalva more affected was the right coronary and the chamber where the rupture was more frequent was the right ventricle in 73% of the cases. We conclude that the ruptured aneurysms of the Valsalva's sinus is rather frequent among the congenital heart diseases and has particular clinical data and special features in making a precise diagnosis. PMID- 2624505 TI - [Total anomalous connection of the pulmonary veins in the adult. Presentation of 4 cases]. AB - The authors described the clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic studies, as well as the surgical findings in four adult patients with total anomalous connexion of the pulmonary veins (TACPV); two of them with pulmonary arterial hypertension and T A C P V draining in the coronary sinus, and the other two cases with normal pulmonary artery pressure and T A C P V draining in the superior vena cava. None of the patients had symptoms nor signs of congestive heart failure. All cases had successful surgical interventions. Patients survival into adulthood is discussed. PMID- 2624506 TI - [Bacteremic brucellosis in heart patients]. AB - Human brucellosis is an endemic illness in certain areas of Mexico, it is a bacteremic disease, and therefore a potential cause of infective endocarditis. At the Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia "Ignacio Chavez" we saw 7 cases of brucellosis in the last 10 years. Bacteriological and serological diagnosis were established, all patients had structural heart abnormalities or carried valvular prosthesis. Only one developed infectious endocarditis with echocardiographic evidence and kidney disease due to immune complex deposition. Six patients including those with valvular prosthesis were cured. However, treatment required two drugs during long periods and frequently, addition of imidazoleinmunodulating agent to avoid relapses. PMID- 2624507 TI - [Importance of color-coded Doppler in a case of interventricular communication associated with fixed subaortic stenosis]. AB - We describe a 10 year old girl with ventricular septal defect in whom bidimensional echocardiogram disclosed a membrane in the outflow tract of the left ventricle. Color Doppler found the presence of fixed subaortic stenosis. PMID- 2624508 TI - [Infectious endocarditis in a healthy valve, arising from another valve]. AB - We report a case of isolated aortic regurgitation complicated by active infective endocarditis with streptococcus viridans as causative organism. The affected structure was a previous normal mitral valve. PMID- 2624509 TI - [Left atrial myxoma causing severe mitral valve occlusion]. AB - Myxoma is the most frequent cardiac tumor. We report a case of a young woman in whom a left atrial myxoma produced obstruction of the mitral valve and had to be removed during pregnancy. PMID- 2624510 TI - [Evaluation of ventricular function in patients treated with mitoxantrone and 4' epidoxorubicin]. AB - Serial assessment of ventricular function by means of radionuclide angiography was performed in previously untreated patients with lymphoproliferative diseases who received either 4'epidoxorubicin or mitoxantrone for longer than 6 months. No changes were observed in left ventricular function in patients received mitoxantrone at doses ranged 90 to 165 mg (mean 113 mg). Three patients (7%) in 4'epidoxorubicin group showed less than or equal to 10% drop in left ventricular ejection, but without clinical manifestations. The doses in this group were 420 to 810 mg (mean 610 mg). We felt that patients without high-risk factors (radiotherapy to mediastinum or previously anthracycline therapy) could be treated with high doses of both drugs and that radionuclide angiography is a useful method for monitoring cardiotoxicity of antineoplastic drugs. PMID- 2624511 TI - Comparison of depressant actions of orphenadrine and diazepam on hypertonic skeletal muscle activity. AB - The muscle relaxant activities of orphenadrine (Norflex) and diazepam (Valium) were compared in several animal models. In mice, tonic extensor seizures evoked by electroshock or pentylenetetrazol were inhibited by both agents. The protective index (ataxic dose divided by protective dose) was greater than 1 for orphenadrine, whereas for diazepam it was greater than 1 only in the case of the pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures. In strychnine-treated mice, diazepam protected against deaths following tonic extensor seizures, but orphenadrine did not. The protective index for diazepam, however, was less than 1. In cats, orphenadrine and diazepam both were capable of blocking decerebrate ridigity, but not in all animals. The protective index for orphenadrine in animals in which it was active, was greater than 1, while that for diazepam, when it was active, was less than 1. Orphenadrine and diazepam were tested in rabbits in the sciatic nerve-gastrocnemius muscle preparation. Neither drug directly affected nerve muscle stimulation. It would appear that both agents are acting via the central nervous system when they suppress hypertonic skeletal muscle activity, but only orphenadrine exhibits protective indices consistently greater than 1. PMID- 2624512 TI - Effects of AHR-12234 on cardiac transmembrane action potentials, in situ cardiac electrophysiology and experimental models for arrhythmias. AB - We studied the effects of AHR-12234, a new antiarrhythmic agent, on cardiac transmembrane action potentials, in situ cardiac electrophysiology and in several models for arrhythmias in the dog. AHR-12234 (5 x 10(-5)-2 x 10(-4) M) induced a dose-related and use-dependent decrease in dV/dtmax in canine Purkinje fibers and ventricular muscles. Action potential duration was shortened in Purkinje fibers but lengthened in ventricular muscle. In the anesthetized dog, AHR-12234 at a lower dose (2.64 mg/kg) increased AH intervals and effective refractory period of atrium, and AV node. At higher cumulative doses of 7.92 and 13.2 mg/kg, AHR-12234 increased the effective refractory period and conduction time in the atrium, AV node and ventricle. It also increased Purkinje system conduction time and sinus nodal recovery time. In the conscious dog model for reentrant atrial tachycardia, i.v. (effective doses: 12.3 +/- 4.2 mg/kg), or oral (20 to 60 mg/kg) administration of AHR-12234 prolonged the cycle length of the tachycardia and terminated the arrhythmia. The duration of action of oral AHR-12234 against this arrhythmia persisted for 24 hr. In the 1-day infarcted conscious dogs, AHR-12234 administered either i.v. (effective doses: 3.8 +/- 0.9 mg/kg) or orally (20 mg/kg), effectively converted the ventricular arrhythmia into sinus rhythm. AHR 12234 did not produce any adverse side effects in the above two conscious dog models. AHR-12234 was also effective in ablating ouabain-induced ventricular tachycardias in anesthetized dogs following an i.v. dose of 5 mg/kg. These results indicate that the structurally novel AHR-12234 is effective against arrhythmias due to abnormal automaticity, triggered activity and reentry. PMID- 2624513 TI - Relationship between the contractile responses and their coupling second messenger systems for muscarinic drugs in the guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscle. AB - The relationship between the contractile responses and their coupling second messenger systems such as IPs formation, release of intracellular Ca2+ and Ca2+ influx in the presence of muscarinic agonists and antagonists in guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscles was examined by using several pharmacological methods. The pD2 for carbachol-induced contraction in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ was greater than that obtained for carbachol in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, which was, in turn, greater than that for carbachol-induced stimulation of IP formation. The pD2-values of oxotremorine and pilocarpine were also higher for the contraction occurring in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and for the normal contractions than for those of the contraction occurring when Ca2+ was deleted from medium and the IPs formation. In normal contraction and in contraction occurring in the presence of extracellular Ca2+, pilocarpine and oxotremorine were full agonists or highly efficacious partial agonists, while in contraction occurring when Ca2+ was removed from the medium and in IPs formations, they behaved as partial agonists with lower efficacy. However, the dissociation constants for muscarinic agonists and selective or non-selective antagonists were similar under the experimental conditions used. These results suggest that the muscarinic receptors, coupled to each of the different second messenger systems in the ileum, are of the same type. PMID- 2624514 TI - Acute effects of milrinone on the electrocardiogram and the cardiac hemodynamics of rats with pressure overload-induced congestive heart failure. AB - The effects of i.v. bolus injections of milrinone on the electrocardiogram and cardiac hemodynamics were evaluated in old rats with chronic (82-93 weeks) pressure overload induced by aortic constriction. Based on the heart weight/body weight ratio and histopathological findings, the rats with aortic clips were divided into 2 groups: rats with (CHF group) or without (CLIP group) congestive heart failure (CHF). In CHF rats, the cardiac contractility, as measured by the peak of the first derivative of the left ventricular pressure (dP/dt max), was significantly lower than in CLIP rats, confirming the presence of heart failure in these rats. Three groups of anesthetized rats received boluses of milrinone of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg: sham-operated rats (SHAM, n = 9), CLIP (n = 22) and CHF (n = 10). A control group of 3 CHF and 5 CLIP rats received only the vehicle. The major effect of milrinone at the 2 highest doses was the induction of ventricular fibrillation and death in approximately 25% of the rats (SHAM 2/9, CHF 1/10 and CLIP 7/22). A significant widening of the QRS complex (which includes ST segment) was also noted 3 min after each dose of milrinone in the SHAM group and at 5 and 10 mg/kg doses in the CHF group. These results were thought to be related to the marked hypotensive effect of milrinone possibly inducing myocardial ischemia. No positive inotropic effect, as indicated by the maximum rise of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt max) could be observed. This might have been because of (1) the marked vasodilating effect of milrinone on venous and arterial beds, negating a possible small positive inotropic effect, or (2) the lack of positive inotropic action of milrinone in rats. Our results thus indicate that, in anesthetized rats, milrinone is a powerful vasodilator but not a positive inotropic agent (or a very weak one). PMID- 2624515 TI - The acute pressor response to cadmium in rats. AB - In rats, acute i.v. administration of CdCl2 (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) produced a depressor response followed by a pressor response, while the acute i.p. administration of CdCl2 (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) produced only a pressor response. Phentolamine (5 mg/kg, i.v.), hexamethonium (10 mg/kg, i.v.), propranolol (2 mg/kg, i.v.) and indomethacin (20 mg/kg, i.p.) as well as bilateral adrenalectomy, acute reserpinization and chemical sympathectomy by guanethidine did not modify the acute pressor response to CdCl2. Verapamil (1 mg and 2 mg/kg, i.v.) and nifedipine (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) prevented the acute pressor response to CdCl2 administered by either i.v. or i.p. route. Phentolamine (10 micrograms/ml) could not prevent the rise in perfusion pressure of the rat hindquarter due to intra-arterial CdCl2 administration. However, verapamil (50 and 100 micrograms/ml) prevented rise in perfusion pressure. It is concluded that cadmium ion might mimic calcium ion and produce a direct contractile effect on the vascular smooth muscle. PMID- 2624516 TI - Effects of 2,3-dibenzylbutane-1,4-diol on vascular smooth muscle of rabbit aorta. AB - We investigated the effects of 2,3-dibenzylbutane-1,4-diol (DBB), a mammalian lignan derived from human urine, on the contractile response and the 45Ca2+ uptake in the vascular smooth muscle of rabbit aorta. In resting state, DBB did not influence the tension and the 45Ca2+ uptake. DBB inhibited the high KCl- and the CaCl2-induced contraction in the partially depolarized muscle strip. DBB inhibited the noradrenaline- and the angiotensin II-induced contraction, but not the transient contraction evoked by noradrenaline in Ca2+-free solution. DBB completely inhibited the 45Ca2+ uptake induced by high KCl or noradrenaline. These results indicate that DBB inhibits the Ca2+ influx but not the Ca2+ release from the Ca2+ stores. PMID- 2624517 TI - Comparison of the central nervous system activity of the aqueous and lipid extract of kava (Piper methysticum). AB - The central nervous activity of the aqueous extract of kava was examined in mice, and compared to the effect of the lipid-soluble extract. The aqueous extract caused a loss of spontaneous activity without loss of muscle tone. No hypnotic effect was seen, but some analgesia was produced. The anticonvulsant effect against strychnine was very slight and there was no evidence of local anesthetic action. There was a slight anti-apomorphine effect and tetrabenazine-induced ptosis was decreased. The lipid-soluble extract (kava resin) also decreased spontaneous motility, together with a marked reduction of motor control. Hypnosis, determined by loss of righting reflex, was produced, analgesia was marked, and a local anesthetic action evident. Kava resin also decreased apomorphine-induced hyperreactivity and partially reversed tetrabenazine-induced ptosis. Kava resin produces a greater range of pharmacological actions than the aqueous extract, and the latter is orally inactive in mice and rats. The pharmacological effects of kava ingestion appear to be due to the activity of the compounds present in the lipid-soluble fraction. PMID- 2624518 TI - Contraction of the colon induced by intra-aortic injection of cholinomimetic agents: a procedure for estimating spasmolytic activity in the anaesthetized rat. AB - An in vivo model for evaluating spasmolytic activity in the anaesthetized rat has been developed. A peculiarity of this model is the injection of parasympathetic agonists directly into the abdominal aorta. Acetylcholine and carbachol produced constant contractions of the ascending colon, while the cardiovascular system was affected only to a small extent. The contractions could be selectively antagonized by antimuscarinic drugs administered by either intravenous or intraduodenal route. Antagonists at other receptor systems were ineffective. The present procedure provides a reliable test model which mimics, in the rat, the technique of close intra-arterial injection of spasmogen feasible only in bigger animals. PMID- 2624519 TI - Effect of aqueous and lipid-soluble extracts of kava on the conditioned avoidance response in rats. AB - The aqueous, pyrone-free extract from kava (Piper methysticum) and the lipid soluble extract (kava resin) were tested for their effect on amphetamine-induced hypermotility in mice and on conditioned avoidance response behavior in rats in a shelf-jump apparatus. Both kava extracts reduced amphetamine-induced hypermotility. Aqueous kava extract in i.p. doses of 30 mg/kg to 500 mg/kg had no effect on conditioned avoidance responses. At or below 100 mg/kg i.p. kava resin also failed to modify the number of conditioned avoidance responses obtained. However, 125 mg/kg of resin significantly reduced the number of conditioned avoidance responses by 18%. Increasing the dose of kava to 150 mg/kg caused ataxia and sedation which was so marked that a modified protocol was necessary. Only a marginally greater effect on conditioned avoidance response was obtained under these conditions. The effect of kava extract was slight compared to that of the standard antipsychotic drugs chlorpromazine and haloperidol in our procedure. PMID- 2624520 TI - Possible role for endogenous opiates in the regulation of food intake in the newborn rat. AB - The possible role of endogenous opiates in the regulation of food intake was investigated by studying their influence on body weight of rat pups. Subcutaneous injection of the opiate antagonist Mr 1452 to non-deprived 1 day old rats (1-4 mg/kg) and 1.5 hr deprived 5 day old rats (2-8 mg/kg) inhibited feeding. Its stereoisomer Mr 1453 increased intake when injected to nondeprived 1 day old rats (1-4 mg/kg), but was ineffective in altering feeding behavior in 1.5 hr deprived 5 day old rats (2-8 mg/kg). Subcutaneous injection of another opiate antagonist, levallorphan (6 and 9 mg/kg), to 3 hr deprived rats also decreased intake, while its stereoisomer dextrallorphan (3-9 mg/kg) was inactive in the same experimental conditions. Subcutaneous injection of the opiate agonist met5enkephalin (16 and 32 mg/kg) to 1.5 hr deprived 5 day old rats increased feeding but leu5enkephalin (8 and 16 mg/kg) did not alter feeding behavior in the same condition. Taken together, these findings suggest a role for endogenous opiates in the facilitation of feeding in the newborn rat. PMID- 2624521 TI - 1,2,4-triazoles, III: new 1,5-diaryl-3-(substituted amino)-1H-1,2,4-triazoles as anti-inflammatory agents. AB - A series of 1,5-diaryl-3-(substituted amino)-1 H-1,2,4-triazoles was synthesized and assayed in the rat adjuvant induced arthritis model. Several compounds showed significant anti-inflammatory activity. PMID- 2624522 TI - [The pharmacokinetics of hypolipemic agents. 6. Is 2-(4-(2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl) phenoxy)-propane a metabolite of the hypolipemic ciprofibrate?]. AB - According to earlier investigations 2-(4-(2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl)-phenoxy) propane (4) ought to be a metabolite of the hypolipidemic agent ciprofibrate (1). However, 4 could not be detected in plasma or in urine after administration of a dose of 2100 mg 1 during the course of a multiple-dose-study. Therefore, the compound described in literature must be an unknown one and the existence of 4 as a metabolite of 1 is excluded. PMID- 2624523 TI - [Annual scientific meeting of the German Pharmaceutical Society. Frankfurt, 30 September-4 October 1989. Abstracts of discussion and poster papers]. PMID- 2624524 TI - Effect of montmorillonite on drug release from polymeric matrices. AB - Drug release from matrices of polyvinyl alcohol was affected by molecular weight and solubility of the drugs (either sodium salicylate or papaverine hydrochloride), and by the matrix loading. - Montmorillonite addition to the matrix formulation modified only the release constant of papaverine hydrochloride owing to drug interaction with the clay by an ionic exchange process. The kinetics exponent was affected a little bit by interaction of the drug with montmorillonite, whereas the influence of the matrix loading was more remarkable. PMID- 2624525 TI - High performance liquid chromatographic determination of diclofenac sodium in plasma using column-switching technique for sample clean-up. AB - For routine analysis of diclofenac sodium in plasma, a new high performance liquid chromatographic method, which is combined with column-switching technique is developed. The precolumn packed with Corasil RP C-18 was connected to analytical column by switching system in order to enrich the sample drugs in plasma without extraction. This method showed excellent sensitivity, precision and reproducibility. The limit of detection, using a 100 microL injection of plasma, was 0.1 micrograms/mL and the mean coefficient of variation for intra- and inter-assay was better than 4.6%. Total analysis time was 20 min between injections. The present method offers distinct practical advantages over conventional liquid-liquid extraction methods of sample preparation with respect to time, effort, recovery, and sample volume required. The method has been applied to the samples from rats receiving oral administration of diclofenac sodium. PMID- 2624526 TI - [Synthesis and bronchodilator action of 4-(methoxycarbonylalkylsulfinyl)-4-pyrrol carboxylic esters]. AB - The dihydro-dimethoxyfuran carboxylic ester 3 reacts with different mercaptoalkyl carboxylates to give the carbomethoxyalkylthio-tetrahydrofuran carboxylic esters 4. Methanol elimination of 4 yields the dihydrofuran derivatives 5. 4 and 5 can be oxidized to afford the sulfoxides 6 and the sulfones 7, respectively. 4 reacts with primary amines to give the title compounds 8. Derivatives of 8 can be cyclized to afford the thienopyrroles 11 and 12 as well as the thienopyranopyrrole 14. The mercaptopyrrole carboxylic ester 10 is obtained from 8f by elimination of propenic acid. 8e shows bronchodilatoric activity in low concentration. PMID- 2624527 TI - [Antiaggregatory and anticoagulant effects of oligoamines. 10. Tertiary oligoamines and quaternary ammonium salts]. AB - Twelve tertiary oligoamines, two quaternary oligoammonium salts, two oligoamides, one oligosulfonamide, and one trinitrosamine were tested for antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects. Seven amines and one ammonium compound inhibited platelet aggregation at IC50 below 100 mumols/L. The results suggest that the formation of hydrogen bonds to phospholipids strengthens the antiplatelet activity. The sterical limits of the structural variability concerning the antiaggregatory effects are shown. PMID- 2624528 TI - [Peroxides as plant constituents. 6. Hydroperoxides from the blossoms of Roman camomile, Anthemis nobilis L]. AB - From the ethanol extract of the blossoms of Anthemis nobilis L. (syn. Chamaemelum nobile L.), six new hydroperoxides (1-6) were isolated, besides the known 1 beta hydroperoxyisonobilin (7). The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and in some cases ascertained by synthesis. Compounds 2 and 3 show a medium antibacterial activity. PMID- 2624529 TI - Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-(2-aminoethyl)pyrrole derivatives. PMID- 2624530 TI - Synthesis and antihypertensive properties of benzodioxane-pyridazinones and benzodioxane-dihydropyridazinones. PMID- 2624531 TI - Acquisition of strategies depending on the opponents' competence level. AB - The development of problem-solving skills from novices to advanced subjects in dependence of the competence level of the opponent is examined in a two-person zero-sum game (Othello). In a repeated-measurement design 18 Ss. (6 Ss in 3 groups) played 10 games against one of three opponent-strategies (implemented on a computer): one "expertlike" strategy, which uses domain specific knowledge and local heuristics (minimax-algorithm with alpha-beta pruning); one "novicelike" strategy, in which global, domain independent problem solving strategies (means ends analysis, goal-reduction) are implemented; and one strategy, which contradicts the supposed heuristics of the novices, but which results in a "weak" performance (minimization in move-selection). Contrary to our assumptions no significant effects of experience could be verified (win versus loss during single runs). An experience dependent differentiation of global problem solving strategies could not be shown for any of the groups. Neither could a general improving effect of the model for acquiring local, task specific heuristics be proved. PMID- 2624532 TI - [Objective and simulated stimulation: an empirical study of the effect of indirect suggestion on motor behavior]. AB - In an experimental investigation it is demonstrated that motor behavior-in contrast to the opinion forwarded in the literature-is not only elicitable by means of direct persuasion, but also to a great extend by mere indirect suggestion, (feigning of stimuli). A differential investigation of these effects provided evidence that reactions to feigned stimuli are highly person specific and relatively homogenous concerning the respective instruments whereas objective stimuli lead to reactions relatively specific for the respective instrument applied. The findings are interpreted as an analog on to placebo-effects in the area of motor behavior. Their extend may be seen as an argument for a stronger concern with subjective reaction tendencies in this field. PMID- 2624533 TI - The structure of resource preferences. AB - This paper outlines the development and testing of the PW questionnaire (Personliche Wunschvorstellungen-Resource Preferences)--a German version of the IWIR (Inventory of Wishes for Interpersonal Resources; Foa & Bosman, 1979). The PW is based on a taxonomy of resource classes (love, services, goods, money, information, status) proposed by resource theory (Foa & Foa, 1974). The questionnaire was administered to a stratified sample (447 subjects) for the testing of various structural propositions of resource theory. In general, the results support the predicted theoretical order of resource preferences, but the expected two-dimensional hyperstructure (concreteness, particularism) found in American studies must be eked out with an evaluative dimension. The hypothesized circumplex structure of resource classes is dominated by a general component, partly contradicting some theoretical propositions of resource theory. PMID- 2624534 TI - A quantitative evaluation of sex differences in implicit personality theories. AB - An investigation is conducted into whether male and female perceivers hold substantially different implicit theories of personality. 24 male and 24 female subjects were asked to sort a set of 36 trait names into groups of similar traits. On the basis of these data, proximities between trait names and proximities between groupings (or partitions) were computed and subjected to a differential statistical analysis. Neither a global test for sex-specific groupings of trait names nor tests at the level of perceived pairwise trait relationships yielded significant differences. It is concluded that aggregation of sorting data over both male and female perceivers is warranted without too big a loss of information. On the methodological side, this paper demonstrates the feasibility of a quantitative approach to handling the problem of data aggregation in the context of studies using the sorting method as a data gathering technique. PMID- 2624535 TI - [Accuracy in high tibial osteotomy in varus gonarthrosis]. AB - We have verified our technical accuracy in a series of 72 high tibial osteotomies for medical gonarthrosis, which were operated following Install's technique. An acceptable alignment (6 degrees-15 degrees valgus) was achieved in 83% of the cases; a loss of correction during the healing phase was detected in 10% of the knees. We have modified some details of the previously employed technique in order to improve accuracy. The leg alignment is determined on 30 x 90 cm standing radiographs, defining the mechanical axes; we aim at 4 degrees of valgus. A guide is employed to determine the width of the wedge of bone to be removed. The osteotomy is fixed by means of two screws and wire; the fixation obtained is stable enough to allow early weigh bearing and range of motion. With these modifications we have been able to improve technical accuracy and we have rendered the postoperative course more acceptable to the patients. PMID- 2624536 TI - [Transversal fracture of the patella: experimental evaluation of the Lotke and Ecker method of internal fixation]. AB - Four different methods of internal fixation of transverse fractures of the patella were experimentally evaluated in eight cadaver knees: circumferential wiring, tension band cerclage, cerclage over Kirschner wires and the Lotke's method. Linear and angular displacements were accurately measured by means of a micrometer while actively extending the knee from 90 degrees of flexion to full extension. Circumferential wiring gave the highest displacements, up to 25 mm at 30 degrees of flexion on average. Tension band cerclage showed much better results but the greatest stability was obtained with the cerclage over Kirschner wires and with the Lotke's technique which yielded displacements of less than 1 mm. These last two methods combine the tension band principle and transosseous fixation, which are both essential to obtain a stable fixation. PMID- 2624537 TI - [Our experience in arthroscopy of the knee under local anesthesia in a day hospital regimen]. AB - The author reports his experience with arthroscopy under local anesthesia for the diagnosis of affections of the knee. He emphasises the criteria that must be used to guide the surgeon in his choice, illustrates the method commonly used, and reports the positive results obtained in a group of patients. The author concludes by suggesting that arthroscopy under local anesthesia for joint pathology of the knee is a safe and indispensable method to be used by knee surgeons. PMID- 2624538 TI - [Antero-lateral laxity or a combination of anterior and postero-lateral laxity? Therapeutic considerations]. AB - The study involves a group of patients affected with inveterate lesion of the A.C.L. for at least 18 months. Homogeneous two-staged surgical treatment was carried out: 1) reconstruction of the A.C.L. according to Kenneth-Jones; 2) retention of the popliteus according to Bousquet. Results were: excellent: 18; good: 10; fair: 2. Follow-up was obtained after an average of 18 months. PMID- 2624539 TI - [Compression arthrodesis in tuberculous coxitis]. AB - Based on their experience, the authors emphasise the possible recurrence of inveterate centres of Tbc coxitis. It is their opinion that in cases healed with painful stiffness, where prosthetization does not guarantee good results, surgical revision of the joint, filling of the residual cavity with autoplastic or homoplastic intra-articular bone transplants, treatment with anti-Tbc drugs, and extra-articular stabilisation by compression, such as that provided by a Schneider cobra plate, are indicated. PMID- 2624540 TI - [Fibrinolytic activity and adhesive syndromes of the lumbar vertebral canal]. AB - The recent studies, related in medical literature, indicate a reduced activity of fibrinolysis in patients with low back-pain caused by multiple factors (lumbar disc disease, post-laminectomy, post myelography) and suggest a new pathogenetic hypothesis of this disease and new therapeutic implications. The authors conducted a research based on the study of fibrinolysis in patients affected by post-surgical lumbar adhesive syndrome, with the aim of finding, eventually, a relationship between reduced fibrinolytic activity and clinical symptoms. The results are referred and discussed. PMID- 2624541 TI - [Vertebral osteochondroma and trauma: a possible etiopathogenic correlation]. AB - Three cases of vertebral osteochondroma are shown. The tumor was localized in the dorsal tract in two cases and in the lumbo-sacral junction in the other one. We found in all the cases, as a common anamnestic point, a clinical history of trauma. The etiopathological hypotheses are discussed and the hypothesis of a possible correlation between trauma and metaplastic osteochondromatosis is presented. PMID- 2624542 TI - [Solitary metastasis of the appendicular bones: role of orthopedic surgery]. AB - The authors report their experience in the treatment of solitary metastasis of the appendicular skeletal system with reference to a group of 59 cases treated. The importance of orthopaedic surgery, involving medical oncology, radiotherapy and physiotherapy is emphasised. The surgical methods used to obtain stable synthesis and facilitate assistance to the patients are discussed. In circumscribed lesions the use of cryotherapy with azote fluid may be useful, and in some cases skeletal reconstruction with autoplastic bone transplant is indicated. PMID- 2624543 TI - [Morphologic and hist-enzymatic aspects of palmar aponeurosis in a patient with Marfan syndrome associated with Dupuytren's contracture]. AB - In this study we examined morphological and structural aspects of aponeurotic fragments from one patient with Dupuytren and Marfan diseases. Our purpose was to evaluate if characteristic features of Dupuytren aponeurosis are in some way influenced by alterations in collagenic and elastic bundles present in Marfan syndrome. So we compared histological, enzymatic and immunochemical features of tissue fragments from Marfan with similar fragments from simple Dupuytren patients. We observed a substantial difference in the predominant type of collagen which is adult type I in the normal Dupuytren disease and fetal type III in Marfan patient. Collagenic bundles are more dispersed in Marfan, and the whole aponeurosis seems less compact and resistant. No difference was observed in cellular populations of aponeurosis, and also myofibroblasts are present with abundant myosin ATPase activity both in Marfan with Dupuytren both in Dupuytren alone. PMID- 2624544 TI - [Radiographic course of inverted osteochondral graft using the Regnauld technic in the surgical treatment of hallux valgus]. AB - The osteocartilaginous bone graft, conceived by Regnauld for surgical treatment of hallux valgus, is to-day widely known and practised. We have preferably employed the so called "inverted graft", while Regnauld, in his recent monography, defines it less satisfactory than the "cork" or "hat" shaped grafts. Therefore, we have observed the radiological evolution of our inverted grafts, to evaluate the possible differences of their "rootage" in comparison to the cork grafts, studied by Valenti in 1976. Some possible causes of the infrequent failures of this grafting are also examined and discussed. We conclude that the osteocartilaginous graft evolution do not show radiological differences referable to the graft morphology and that unfavourable evolution, when is present, concern at first the articular (cartilaginous) side of the graft, being independent of failed rootage or aseptic necrosis of the bony side. PMID- 2624545 TI - [Congenital hallux valgus]. AB - Congenital hallux varus is a rare deformity. The authors discuss 3 clinical cases observed and define the specific features of the anomaly. The clinical and radiographic pictures are described, emphasising essential aspects and possible variations, including the rare occurrence of congenital varus of a single interphalangeal joint. Differential diagnosis is discussed and surgical indications determined. PMID- 2624546 TI - [Long-term results of conservatively treated fractures of the upper end of the humerus]. AB - The authors have considered 735 fractures of the proximal humerus in 748 patients, with 22% of fractures in 60-70 years old subjects. According to Neer's classification type 3 (surgical neck's fracture) and type 4 (surgical neck's fracture with greater and/or lesser tuberosity fracture) are the most frequent. The Desault bandage and the shoulder spica cast have been the preferred methods of treatment. The follow-up ranged between 12 and 1 year (on the average 5.8 Years). The authors have noted that the good results reduced in proportion to the increasing of the fragments' number and in the four part displacement fractures the bad results were of 55% in this research. PMID- 2624547 TI - [Supra- and intercondylar fractures of the distal meta-epiphysis of the humerus in adults: prognosis and therapy]. AB - Based on the results obtained in a group of 43 patients, the indications and results of the treatment of supra- and intercondylar fractures of the distal meta epiphysis of the humerus during adult age are discussed. The treatment methods used are described. The results of surgical and nonsurgical treatment are analysed. PMID- 2624548 TI - [Long-term results of the surgical treatment of diaphyseal double fractures of the forearm in adults with plate or intramedullary nailing]. AB - In this study the authors find that in the fractures of the forearm in the adults, osteosynthesis with tubular plates and compression, where is possible, is to prefer as the intramedullary nailing. Plates give a better reduction and immobilization of the fractures and allow a quickly healing, but they request a finest surgical technique than the intramedullary nailing. Our review is of 44 bifocal fractures of the forearm in adult over 127 cases that we have treated in the Orthopaedic Department of the University of Florence. Our follow-up ranged between 12 and 1 year. Eleven have been operated with Kirschner pins and 2 with Rush nailing with excellent results in 54%, and 31 with AO plates with good and excellent results in 80%. PMID- 2624549 TI - [Osteocartilaginous neoplasms of the small trochanter: observations on 4 cases]. AB - The necessity of a surgical approach to the lesser trochanter is fairly rare event that occurs more frequently in the treatment of tumours situated in this anatomical area. The authors described four cases of osteocartilaginous neoplasms situated in proximity of the lesser trochanter. In two cases the mass was removed through a medial surgical approach (Ludloff); in one case through a postcolateral approach (Gibson), in one case through an anterior approach (Smith-Petersen). Each of the used approaches gives a good light on the lesser trochanter, therefore the choice of surgical approach is essentially determined by the prevalent spatial situation of neoplasm. Among the instrumental examinations available the Authors remark the importance of T.A.C. in the spatial visualization of neoformation. PMID- 2624550 TI - [A case of solitary myeloma of the glenoid cavity. Notes on glenoidectomy]. AB - A case of solitary myeloma of the glenoid cavity is presented; the case was operated 6 years after the onset of symptoms; there was no recurrence of the disease or hematologic pathology. Total glenoidectomy is described. PMID- 2624551 TI - [Extensive partial agenesis of the left pericardium. An anatomo-clinical correlation. Report of 2 cases]. AB - The authors report on two patients with large partial congenital defect of the left pericardium, as observed at post-mortem examination. In both cases, diagnosis was made during life thanks to the clinical syndrome described by Abbott, Sothworth and Stenvenson. In the first case diagnosis was confirmed by pneumothorax proposed by Ellis et al and the second case was recognized by the clinical-radiological syndrome. The first patient was followed until his death. Because of an abnormal echogram, he was submitted to exploratory cardiotomy and small ASD, aneurysmatic dilation of Valsalva sinus and mitral regurgitation by ruptured chordae tendineae were found. The autopsy, besides the findings at the operation, showed residual adhesive pericarditis with a cavity at the postero superior region of the heart behind the left auricle and a redundant tricuspid cusp. The association of congenital pericardium defect to mitro-tricuspid redundant cusps and aneurysmatic dilatation of the sinus of Valsalva--suggesting myxomatous degeneration--plus atrial septal defect as in case 1, has not been found in the medical literature. In the second patient the defect was recognized in spite of congestive heart failure and severe tricuspid regurgitation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624552 TI - [Amiodarone neurotoxicity. Report of 3 cases]. AB - Three patients were investigated due to neurological symptoms induced by amiodarone used to treat refractory cardiac arrhythmia. Chronic polineuritis was found in two and dyskinesia in one. The light and electromicroscopical studies (cases 1 and 2) of a N. Suralis (neuropathic cases) display a loss of large myelinated fibers and marked reduced unmyelinated axons associated with osmiophilic inclusions in Schwann cells and endothelial venulae. The EEG was abnormal in the case of dyskinesia (n.3). The interruption of amiodarone improved the neurological symptoms. PMID- 2624553 TI - [Transient atrioventricular conduction disorder: a potential cause of sudden death in myocarditis due to varicella. A case report]. AB - The case of a patient with varicella skin lesions presenting with heart failure at 4 years of age is described. A transitory atrioventricular conduction disturbance due to myocardial impairment was documented during hospital stay. Despite the clinical improvement with conventional therapy, the patient died from respiratory failure due to a lung infection but with an almost normal electrocardiogram. Necropsy showed myocardial lesions compatible with acute myocarditis. A possible viral specific affinity for the conduction system of the heart is suggested and judged to be a potential cause of death in this disease. Since the actual incidence of varicella myocarditis associated to an atrioventricular conduction disturbance is unknown it seems prudent that every patient with varicella infection should have a cardiac examination during the acute phase of the disease. As the diagnosis of subclinical myocarditis depends essentially on an electrocardiogram, we believe this method should be employed routinely during the acute phase in order to assess myocardial involvement in this disease, which may be a cause of sudden death. PMID- 2624554 TI - [Use of thrombolytic agents in Brazil (1982-1988)]. PMID- 2624555 TI - [The mitral valve apparatus: an anatomo-echocardiographic approach]. AB - The shape of the mitral valve ring, the position of its chordae and of its leaflets were studied in 34 normal hearts fixed through intra-ventricular injection of tamponate formalin. As the authors have assumed that the post-rigor left ventricle has an architecture very similar to that seen at to the end of ventricular systole, comparisons were made between the anatomical and the echocardiographic features usually seen at the end of the phase of the cardiac cycle. The mitral ring has the shape of a hyperbolic paraboloid, and this peculiar geometry explains why the "apical-four chambers" view, which explores the most superficial ring segments, is the more appropriate view for detecting mitral valve prolapses. In that incidence the valvar diameter is longer (2.43 +/- 0.45 cm) that in the "parasternal view" (1.99 +/- 0.45 cm) and the angle made by the leaflets is comparatively less acute ("four chambers" = 127.41 +/- 16.45 degrees; "parasternal" = 102.05 +/- 0.17 degrees). In the "four chamber" view the point of coaptation (which represents the vertex of the referred angle) is 0.45 +/- 0.17 cm far from the echographic line usually taken as the valvar plane (EVPL echocardiographic valvar plane line) whereas in the other view, it is more distant from this line (0.59 +/- 0.16 cm). These two last factors make both leaflets closer to the left atrium and explains why mitral valve prolapse, when present, is more easily seen in that incidence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624556 TI - [Infusion of prostaglandin E1 in ductus-dependent congenital heart diseases. Analysis of 47 cases]. AB - Prostaglandin E1, used since 1975, has changed favorably the clinical and surgical prognosis of neonates with congenital heart defects, mainly those with a variety of ductus-dependent defects. Due to recent modifications that have been observed with this drug as far as dosage, side effects, duration of venous infusion and the response of the different cardiac anomalies, this study was undertaken on 47 neonates evaluated with drug infusion between December 1985 and April 1988. The ages of the patients varied from 12 hours to 70 days (median age of 10.3 days), body weight ranged from 1990 to 4430 g (median of 3005 g). The average dose corresponded to 0.021 mcg/kg/min, varying between 0.013 to 0.0089 mcg/kg/min. The therapy was considered effective in 36 (76.5%) patients, evaluated by clinical improvement, increase of arterial oxygen saturation greater than 15 vol. O2% and increased ductus diameter measured by echocardiographic study. In the correlation between the therapeutic result and the patient age, the greatest elevation of arterial oxygen saturation occurred until 21 days of age, especially up to 7 days of age where the elevation in this period was of 24.5 vol. O2%. The cardiac defects that best responded to PGE1 were pulmonary atresia with or without ventricular septal defect, Ebstein's anomaly, tricuspid atresia, pulmonic stenosis, double outlet right ventricle, and those that the arterial oxygen saturation increase was less than 10 vol. O2% such as the hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great arteries. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624557 TI - [Clinical and paraclinical differences between chronic Chagas' cardiomyopathy and primary dilated cardiomyopathies]. AB - With the purpose of establishing clinical and paraclinical differences among chronic chagasic (MCh) and primary dilated cardiomyopathies (MCDP), 96 MCh and 104 MCDP patients with abnormal ECG were submitted to a study protocol which included clinical history, routine laboratory serology for Chagas' diseases, resting ECG, Chest-X-rays, and cardiac catheterisation. Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) had common clinical and para-clinical findings. However, chagasic patients without CHF showed more prevalence of RBBB and LAH, complex ventricular arrhythmias and more left ventricular dilation while primary dilated cardiomyopathy patients with CHF had predominantly LBBB, simple ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation and less LV dilation than MCh patients. In order to establish the prognostic value of these findings and response to modern medical therapy, prospective studies on these two groups of patients are needed. PMID- 2624558 TI - Interleukin-1 and interleukin-1 inhibitor production by human adherent cells stimulated with periodontopathic bacteria. AB - This study examined the effect of the putative periodontopathic bacteria Bacteroides gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum on the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-1 inhibitors by human plastic-adherent mononuclear cells from normal donors. Fusobacterium mortiferum was used as a non-oral, non pathogenic control organism. Unstimulated adherent cells spontaneously secreted an IL-1 inhibitor, whereas stimulation with B. gingivalis induced the synthesis and secretion of IL-1. With both fusobacteria IL-1 was present in the intracellular environment, whereas the predominant secretory product was either IL-1 or an IL-1 inhibitor. These results suggest that bacteria are capable of modulating cytokine production by monocytes and may thereby alter the local immune response. PMID- 2624559 TI - Human jaw movement in mastication and speech. AB - The study of jaw movement in humans is a primary source of information about the relationship between voluntary movement and more primitive motor functions. This study focused on the geometric form of the velocity function, as measured by linear voltage displacement transducer. Movement amplitudes, maximum velocities and durations were greater in mastication than in speech. Nevertheless, there were detailed similarities in the shape of the normalized velocity functions. In jaw-closing movements, the normalized functions were similar in form over differences in rate, movement amplitude (speech movements) and the compliance of the bolus (mastication). In opening movements, the functions for mastication and speech were again similar over differences in amplitude and compliance. However, they differed in shape for fast and slow movements. Normalized acceleration and deceleration durations were approximately equal in rapid movements, whereas, for slower movements, deceleration took substantially longer than acceleration. PMID- 2624560 TI - Evidence against a direct role for protein kinase C in rat submandibular salivary mucin secretion. AB - Calcium and protein kinase C may be directly involved in exocytosis. However, in the rat submandibular gland, cAMP-mediated events appear to be required for mucin secretion. Calcium may be involved, but a direct signal-transduction role for calcium and protein kinase C in regulating such secretion has yet to be established. With dispersed rat submandibular acinar-intercalated duct complexes, endogenous protein phosphorylation and mucin secretion studies were performed to determine if 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (PMA), a specific activator of protein kinase C, could act as an effective secretagogue for mucin secretion and if specific protein phosphorylation could be assigned to protein kinase C activation. PMA did not elicit such phosphorylation and it only slightly increased mucin secretion at high concentrations; these slight increases appeared to be non-specific. Therefore, protein kinase C activation may not be directly involved in regulating rat submandibular mucin secretion. PMID- 2624561 TI - A comparison of monopolar and bipolar electrical stimuli and thermal stimuli in determining the vitality of human teeth. AB - The sensory threshold was determined for 50 teeth in 31 patients using constant current stimuli of 0.1, 1.0 and 10 ms duration at 10 Hz through both monopolar and bipolar electrodes. The teeth were also tested with a cold stimulus (ethyl chloride on cotton wool), then extracted, processed and examined by light microscopy. Histologically, 38 teeth were vital and 7 non-vital. The best prediction of vitality was from ethyl chloride (80% correct) or bipolar stimuli of 10 ms duration and up to 200 microA (73% correct). The remaining 5 teeth had vital radicular pulps and necrotic tissue coronally, but a comparison between the results of monopolar and bipolar stimulation did not permit the detection of this group. There was no correlation between the electrical threshold and presence of caries, restorations, pulp stones or diffuse pulpal mineralization. PMID- 2624562 TI - Quantitative assessment of microcirculation in the rat dental pulp in response to alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists. AB - Responses to intra-arterial injections of the alpha-agonist, norepinephrine, the beta-agonist, isoproterenol, and to selected blockers were investigated in vivo by intravital microscopy. Luminal diameters (D) of pulpal microvessels and red cell velocities (Vrbc) were measured simultaneously to facilitate calculation of volumetric blood flow (Q). Norepinephrine caused a decrease in D, mean red cell velocity (Vm) and Q within individual microvessels. These responses were blocked by the alpha-antagonist, phenoxybenzamine. In response to the arteriolar D increase and venular D and Q decrease with isoproterenol, a transient increase in arteriolar Q was followed by a decrease within the first 60 s. No such effects were observed when the beta-antagonist, propranolol, was administered before the isoproterenol injection. The biphasic response in Q in response to isoproterenol is most likely related to the low compliance of the pulp. In the low-compliance environment a passive compression of venules could result from an active dilation of arterioles with an attendant rise in extravascular tissue pressure. PMID- 2624563 TI - The relationship between masseter force and masseter electromyogram during mastication in the monkey Macaca fascicularis. AB - In five adult monkeys, electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded from bipolar surface electrodes positioned over the superficial masseter and from bipolar fine-wire electrodes within both the superficial and deep masseter. Relative masseter force was estimated by measuring surface bone strain from the lateral aspect of the zygomatic arch using rosette strain gauges. Multiple step-wise regression procedures demonstrated that peak values of the averaged masseter EMG could often explain a considerable amount of the variation of peak relative masseter force during mastication, i.e. r2 values ranged from 0.23 to 0.96 for the various single-electrode models and R2 values ranged from 0.78 to 0.96 for the various multiple-electrode models. The r2 values for relative masseter force and EMG data from the surface electrodes ranged from 0.69 to 0.96, and, on average, EMG data from surface electrodes provided somewhat more information about overall relative muscle force than data from fine-wire electrodes. The R2 values for a two electrode model, consisting of data from surface electrodes over the superficial masseter and fine-wire electrodes in the posterior portion of the deep masseter, ranged from 0.78 to 0.95. The latency between the averaged surface EMG and relative muscle force was determined and the data indicated that the surface EMG usually preceded muscle force. This latency tended to decrease gradually throughout the entire power stroke of mastication. At peak values, the surface EMG preceded muscle force by about 22 ms. Towards the end of the power stroke, i.e. the 25% of peak values during unloading, muscle force may actually precede the average EMG. PMID- 2624564 TI - Surface electromyography, force and single motor-unit data for inhibitory reflex responses in human masseter at two levels of excitatory drive. AB - The inhibitory reflex response evoked by mildly noxious lip stimulation was tested in up to 100 trials at two different levels of pre-stimulus excitation. To regulate that excitation, the subject voluntarily controlled the firing rate of one motor neurone at 10 Hz, and then at 15 Hz while the reflex was tested. When the frequency of the motor-unit action potential (MUAP) in the controlled unit increased or decreased, the frequency of other active units' MUAPs also changed in parallel: that is, the frequency of one MUAP was an index of whole muscle excitation. The inhibitory response in the surface electromyogram (EMG) was quantitated by rectifying and averaging the signal, and by measuring its depth and area. The best correlation between the responses evoked in single units and the response in the whole muscle EMG at the two levels of excitation was obtained when the area of inhibition in the surface record was normalized to the pre stimulus EMG level. The inhibitory response to lip stimulation in the masseter EMG decreased when the level of pre-stimulus excitation in the muscle was increased. This was confirmed using the reflex response in the averaged force data. The findings suggest that controlling one motor unit's firing rate is a useful method for controlling the whole-muscle excitation in quantitative reflex studies. PMID- 2624565 TI - A comparative lectin histochemical study of major and minor salivary glands with special reference to the labial glands. AB - There is debate about the nature of the secretory cells in labial salivary glands. To characterize their basophilic acini the binding patterns of different lectins were examined in these glands (n = 30) and compared with those of major salivary glands (n = 10) and palatal salivary glands (n = 20). Binding in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections was revealed using either anti-lectin antibodies and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method or biotinylated lectins and the avidin biotin method. Binding of peanut agglutinin was seen in all basophilic acini of labial glands, whereas serous acini of major glands were completely negative. Focal binding of soybean agglutinin was seen in all basophilic acini of labial glands in addition to diffuse binding in mucous acini of all salivary glands, whereas serous acini were mostly negative. Conversely, there was binding of Ulex europaeus agglutinin I in all mucous and serous acini of all glands except for the basophilic acini of labial glands. Bandeiraea simplicifolia agglutinin I and Helix pomatia agglutinin bound to all basophilic and most mucous acini of labial glands, and to most mucous acini of major salivary glands, whereas only a few serous acini of major glands were reactive with both lectins. Pretreatment with neuraminidase yielded binding sites for peanut agglutinin in most of the serous acini of major glands and mucous acini of labial glands, and increased B. simplicifolia agglutinin I and H. pomatia agglutinin binding in the serous acini of major glands. Thus the different lectin binding patterns, particularly the differences in the reaction patterns of peanut, soybean and U. europaeus agglutinin I, showed that the basophilic acini of labial glands reacted more like mucous acini. PMID- 2624566 TI - [1989 proceedings of the German Society for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. 2. Reports of sessions]. PMID- 2624567 TI - [Address of the president of the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Prof. Dr. Heinrich Rudert, on opening the 60th annual meeting of the Society, 7 May 1989, in the Kiele Castle]. PMID- 2624568 TI - Experimental studies on effects of long-term ethanol administration on meprobamate elimination from blood. AB - When rabbits were administered different amounts of ethanol during 25 and 50 days, the elimination of meprobamate from blood was not accelerated at daily ethanol dose of 0.4g/kg. The elimination was accelerated a little at daily ethanol dose of 0.8g/kg and markedly accelerated at the dose of 1.6g/kg. However, it was not accelerated furthermore at the dose of 2.4g/kg. Thus, accelerative effect of long-term ethanol administration on meprobamate metabolism may be greatly related to ethanol dosage and it is considered that the accelerative effects reach maximum at blood ethanol concentrations more than 1mg/ml. Also, elimination of meprobamate from brain in rats was fairly accelerated by long-term ethanol administration at the daily dose of 0.4g. PMID- 2624569 TI - Partition ratio of acetaldehyde between blood and breath after ethanol consumption. AB - Breath samples which were collected into Alcomille Breath Bags (Etzlinger Electronics, Geneve, Switzerland) were assessed for their acetaldehyde and ethanol levels by gas chromatography. Simultaneously, their levels in the venous blood were determined with the PCA method. A good correlation fit for acetaldehyde and ethanol levels was obtained in both blood and breath samples, respectively. The blood/breath partition ratio for acetaldehyde was 109 +/- 10 and that for ethanol was 2,300 +/- 100. The water/air, saline/air, and plasma/air partition ratios of acetaldehyde in vitro were 119, 120, and 155, respectively. Conversely, the water/air, saline/air, plasma/air, and blood/air partition ratios of ethanol were 2,160, 2,040, 1,920 and 1,720, respectively. The acetaldehyde in the bag was well preserved. In analyzing breath acetaldehyde, it is very important that only the end expiratory air is collected. Determination of acetaldehyde level with Alcomille Breath Bag is very useful to investigate alcohol metabolism, when some problems exist in the collection of blood samples and in the treatment for the analysis of blood acetaldehyde. PMID- 2624570 TI - [Behavioral study on an antitussive and expectorant, and of its constituents. I. Effects on ambulatory activity and discrete lever-press avoidance response in mice]. AB - Effects of oral administration of a commercial preparation of an antitussive and expectorant (BRON-W Solution, SS Pharmaceut., BRON), and of its constituents; dihydrocodeine (2HCOD), methylephedrine (MEPH), caffeine (CAF) and chloropheniramine (CPA), were behaviorally investigated by means of ambulatory activity and discrete lever-press avoidance response in mice. In 1ml of BRON, 2HCOD 1mg, MEPH 2mg, CAF 2.06mg and CPA 0.4mg are contained with 0.25ml of Senega sirup. BRON 5 and 10ml/kg increased the ambulatory activity in a dose-dependent manner, and suppressed the avoidance response at 10ml/kg. Similar behavioral effects were reproduced by the administration of a mixed solution, in which 2HCOD, MEPH, CAF and CPA were contained at the same doses with those in BRON 10ml/kg. However, such the effects could not be observed after the administration of the drug solutions in which CAF was not contained. The combined administration of 4 drugs at the doses corresponding to 40ml/kg of BRON elicited significant increase in the ambulatory activity and disruption of the avoidance response, eliciting a decrease in the avoidance rate. Though these behavioral effects markedly changed when CAF was eliminated from the solution, an elimination of either 2HCOD, MEPH or CPA was also effective to modify the behavioral effect. Furthermore, combined administration of 4 drugs and MEPH + CAF + CPA at the doses equivalent to those contained in 40ml/kg of BRON produced death of 1 or 2 mice out of 10-14. The present results suggest that the ambulation-increasing and avoidance-suppressing effects of BRON were mainly produced by CAF, and that 2HCOD, MEPH and CPA are also involved therein. In addition, there is a possibility of acute death during BRON-abuse. PMID- 2624571 TI - [Behavioral study on an antitussive and expectorant, and of its constituents. II. Effects on ambulatory activity after repeated administration, and a modification of the methamphetamine sensitivity in mice]. AB - Effects of repeated oral administration of a commercial preparation of antitussive and expectorant, BRON-W Solution (SS Pharmaceut., BRON; 10ml/kg), and of single and combination of dihydrocodeine (2HCOD; 10mg/kg), methylephedrine (MEPH; 20mg/kg), caffeine (CAF; 20.6mg/kg) and chloropheniramine (CPA; 4mg/kg) were investigated by means of ambulatory activity in mice. The drug doses tested were identical with those in BRON 10ml/kg. The drug administration was conducted 5 times at intervals of 3-4 days. Furthermore, 4 days after the final treatments, all mice were given methamphetamine 2 mg/kg s.c. In the single administration regimen of individual drugs, only CAF significantly increased the ambulatory activity. However, there was no significant change in the ambulation-increasing effect of CAF after the repeated administration. The other 3 drugs failed to elicit any marked change in the activity throughout the 5 times administration. Such the repeated administration of the individual drugs induced no significant change in the sensitivity to the ambulation-increasing effect of methamphetamine. BRON and BRON-corresponding combination of 4 drugs increased the ambulatory activity in the 1st administration, and the ambulation-increasing effect was progressively enhanced by the repeated administration of these preparations. On the other hand, although CAF-containing solutions significantly increased the ambulatory activity in the 1st administration, the proportions of the changes in the ambulatory activity during the repeated administration regimen were different from that observed after BRON. The combined administration of 2HCOD + MEPH + CPA failed to increase the ambulatory activity in the 1st administration, but significantly increased it in the 2nd and 3rd administration, then elicited again no significant increase in the activity in the 4th and 5th administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624572 TI - [Relationship between flushing response and drinking behavior]. AB - Shipyard employees and their spouses in Kawasaki were surveyed twice as subjects on the relationship between flushing response and drinking behavior. Data obtained from 1,463 respondents of the two surveys, are used for the analysis. Flushing responses were classified into five types according to the amount of absolute alcohol which induced flushing; fast flushing (FF), medium flushing (MF), slow flushing (SF), no flushing (NF) and unknown. A distribution of the flushing types in males did not show statistical differences among native places and age groups, but among jobs. The distribution in females was not statistically different among native places and jobs, but among age groups. A large number of drinkers who frequently drank belonged to NF and SF. Those who belonged to NF and SF drank every day during the surveyed period (for 1 week). Most of drinkers who drank two kinds and more alcoholic beverages at a chance of drinking belonged to SF and NF. The alcohol consumption during the surveyed period ranged in due to order among males as: FF less than MF less than unknown less than SF less than NF, and among females as: unknown less than FF less than MF less than SF and NF. The results analyzed by "Hayashi's quantification scaling type I" showed that the drinking frequency and the most favorite alcoholic beverage much contributed to the alcohol consumption, but the flushing type didn't so much. However, it made the fact clear that NF contributed to increase alcohol consumption, and unknown and FF did to decrease alcohol consumption. PMID- 2624573 TI - Coital urinary incontinence in an Australian population. AB - A total of 1,012 patients referred to 4 urodynamic centres were questioned, and subsequently investigated. Coital incontinence was present in 192 of the 839 (23%), who were sexually active. Ninety-five patients (49%) had the urodynamic diagnosis of genuine stress incontinence, alone or in association with cystocoele or interstitial cystitis. Fifty-one (26.6%) had urodynamically proven detrusor instability with or without interstitial cystitis. Forty-five (23.4%) had dual pathology as the final urodynamic diagnosis. PMID- 2624574 TI - The simultaneous use of autologous blood transfusion and hypotensive anesthesia to the radical hysterectomy for uterine carcinomas. AB - A homologous blood transfusion is often required to replace intraoperative blood loss in a radical hysterectomy. Recently, we have tried the simultaneous use of autotransfusion (predonation and transfusion of autologous blood) and hypotensive anesthesia to eliminate the homologous blood transfusion. Radical hysterectomy was done in 27 cases with uterine cancer from June 1986 to March 1987 at the Kure National Hospital. A homologous blood transfusion was required in 1 of 5 cases with only autotransfusion, none of 5 cases with a simultaneous use of autotransfusion and hypotensive anesthesia, and 6 of 17 cases with neither autotransfusion nor hypotensive anesthesia. The simultaneous use of autotransfusion and hypotensive anesthesia seemed to be effective in reducing the need for homologous blood transfusions. PMID- 2624575 TI - The prognostic value of a prior spermatozoa study for human in vitro fertilization. AB - Patients admitted for treatment of in vitro fertilization (IVF) were subjected to a semen investigation about 1-2 weeks prior to actual IVF and again during IVF. In addition to routine semen analyses, the recovery efficiency of motile spermatozoa by swim-up technique and Percoll gradient separation, the level of semen lactate dehydrogenase and the viability of the spermatozoa in the insemination medium were also studied. There is a significant correlation between the results of the pre-IVF analyses and that observed during IVF suggesting that a prior investigation of semen profile and sperm function is useful to screen potential IVF candidates. Among the various parameters, sperm motility in the semen and the swim-up preparation, percent normal spermatozoa and in vitro viability were significantly related to the outcome of IVF. PMID- 2624576 TI - Breast feeding practices and maternal employment. AB - Little information exists about the relationship between maternal employment and breast feeding practices and knowledge about lactation. The study was conducted on 318 employed and 299 non-employed women prospectively. Lactational practices were significantly influenced by employment status, with 81.9% non-employed vs. only 49.7% employed going in for exclusive breast feeds in the first 3 months (p less than .001). Correspondingly, 46.8% employed women started combined breast and bottle feeds from birth (p less than .001). Within the employed group, parity and social class did not significantly alter the infant feeding practices. Employed women were better informed about feeding and weaning as compared to their non-employed counterparts (36.8% vs. 18.4% p less than .001). Women from higher social class also tended to be more aware (59.8% vs. 7.2%: p less than .001). Multiparas had an edge over primiparas with respect to knowledge about lactation (36.1% vs. 20.1% p less than .01). PMID- 2624577 TI - Amniotic rupture sequence: report of five cases. AB - Amniotic rupture sequence or amniotic band syndrome is a rare, non-recurrent disease complex. We preferred the former term because its wide spectra of fetal malformation appear to depend on the timing and the consequent changes following a single event of amniotic rupture. However, the exact etiology and pathogenesis still remain obscure; and the disease is often mis- or under-diagnosed, thus leading to inappropriate genetic counselling. Prenatal diagnosis is sometimes possible with the aid of ultrasound. We reported our experience of 5 cases of amniotic rupture sequence with special emphasis on different clinical pictures, possible pathogenesis and pathologic findings. Hopefully this will aid in the recognition of this disorder, thus offer appropriate genetic counselling to the patients. PMID- 2624578 TI - Perinatal risk factors in birth asphyxia: relationship of obstetric and neonatal complications to neonatal mortality in 16,365 consecutive live births. AB - Over a period of one year, 16,365 consecutively live born neonates were prospectively studied for evidence of birth asphyxia using the requirement of greater than one minute of positive pressure ventilation for identifying infants suffering from birth asphyxia. Asphyxia occurred in 2.8% of all neonates. Multivariate analysis of high risk factors associated with increased risk of asphyxia showed that low birth weight was the most significant predictor of asphyxia: asphyxia occurred in 68% of infants of less than 1,000 g birth weight and decreased to 1.2% in infants of 3-4 kg birth weight. Perinatal risk factors associated with a higher incidence of asphyxia include: postmaturity, birth weight (less than or equal to 2.5 kg) and with the presence of maternal and/or obstetric complications. The impact of asphyxia on neonatal mortality was most pronounced in more mature infants and the mortality was increased 3 fold in infants of less than 34 week gestation and greater than 27 fold for infants greater than 38 week gestation. Of the asphyxiated neonates, intrauterine growth retardation, fetal macrosomia, hypothermia, hyaline membrane disease, seizures, hypoglycemia and hyponatremia were significantly associated with an increased risk of death. PMID- 2624579 TI - Non-steroidal low molecular substance from porcine follicular fluid inhibits aromatase activity. AB - To clarify the underlying mechanism of the inhibitory control of the non steroidal substance from porcine follicular fluid on estradiol secretion by granulosa cells, the suppression of aromatase activity was studied in vitro. Follicular fluid from porcine small follicles was filtered through an Amicon PM 10 membrane and a filtrate with a molecular weight of less than 10,000 was obtained. The filtrate was eluted on a Sephadex G-25 column (1.5 x 70 cm) using 0.01N CH3COOH, pH 4.0 as the elution buffer. The fraction containing the first peak of peptide (Fraction A) was used for subsequent experiments. Human placental microsomal fraction was used for the aromatase source. Aromatase activity was examined by counting the radio-activity of 3H2O converted from (1 beta, 2 beta 3H)-testosterone. The conversion of 3H2O from (1 beta, 2 beta 3H)-testosterone by rat's granulosa cells cultured in serum-free medium was also examined. Fraction A significantly suppressed aromatase activity of placental microsomal fraction by 57% at 120 min, and by 38% at 180 min, in dose and time-dependent manners. The aromatase activity of cultured rat granulosa cells was also inhibited by Fraction A in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate the presence of a low molecular non-steroidal substance in the follicular fluid which is capable of inhibiting aromatase activity. This substance could provide important insights into the regulatory mechanism of differentiated functions of granulosa cells. PMID- 2624580 TI - Estrogen producing activity in epithelial ovarian tumors and dermoid cysts. AB - In 28 cases of postmenopausal women with non-functioning ovarian tumors, the estradiol (E2) level was assayed in peripheral plasma and tumor tissue extract. E2 precursors were also assayed in the tissue extract, and localization of 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) in the tissue was investigated. The plasma E2 levels were 153.8 +/- 205.9 pg/ml in 15 benign tumor cases, 244.3 +/- 336.5 pg/ml in 13 malignant tumor cases, and both of which were significantly higher than 12.3 +/- 3.6 pg/ml in normal postmenopausal women (p less than 0.01). The postoperative plasma E2 level (33.3 +/- 32.7 pg/ml) was significantly lower than the preoperative one (228.3 +/- 319.0 pg/ml). Twelve of 19 cases (68.2%) showed a postoperative decline in the E2 level to less than a half of the preoperative level. E2 and its precursors were found in tumor tissue. These findings demonstrate that E2 is produced by the tumor tissue itself. In addition, 3beta-HSD activity was localized in the stroma of ovarian tumors, indicating that E2 synthesis is mainly carried out in stromal cells rather than in epithelial cells. PMID- 2624581 TI - Establishment and characterization of CA 125 producing cell line (OMC-2) originating from a human endometrial adenocarcinoma. AB - A new human endometrial carcinoma cell line, designated OMC-2, was established from the endometrial adenocarcinoma of a 59-year-old woman. This cell line has grown well for 51 months and has been subcultured more than 50 times. Monolayer cultured cells are polygonal in shape, showing a pavement-like arrangement and a piling up tendency without contact inhibition. The chromosomal number shows aneuploidy and the modal chromosomal number is in the diploid range. The cells were transplanted into the subcutis of nude mice and produced tumors resembling the original tumor. 1 X 10(5) OMC-2 cells produced CA 125 (184-682 U) during 19 days in culture media. CA 125 was demonstrated immunohistochemically in the original tumor, heterotransplanted tumor, and OMC-2 cells. The cells contain no estrogen or progesterone receptors. Twenty-nine other reports of endometrial carcinoma cell lines are reviewed. PMID- 2624582 TI - Appetite and infectious mononucleosis. PMID- 2624583 TI - The fees issue--vulgar or vital? PMID- 2624584 TI - An approach to the management of chronic pain. AB - Chronic pain can often be managed without the use of drugs. A psychotherapeutic approach using hypnosis is outlined. Understanding and relieving the suffering component allow a more effective control of pain by hypnosis, and make a return to normal possible. PMID- 2624585 TI - Patient education. Alcohol abuse. PMID- 2624586 TI - De Quervain's tenosynovitis and Finkelstein's test. PMID- 2624587 TI - Intravenous lignocaine for migraine headache. AB - One per cent lignocaine injected intravenously over 90 seconds at a dose not exceeding 1 mg per kg is a good alternative to existing treatment regimens for classic and common migraine. PMID- 2624588 TI - [Isolation and purification of biopolymers using an affinity chromatography method. IX. Preparation, properties and use of affinity adsorbents with immobilized polypeptide fragments of collagen]. AB - Synthesis and properties of new affinity adsorbents with immobilized polypeptide fragments of collagen molecule (alpha-chains, beta-components, cyanogen bromide peptides) were described. Adsorbents with alpha-chains and alpha 1CB7-peptide had fibronectin binding capacity 1.5-2.0 times higher than commercial gelatin Sepharose. Commercial production of highly purified fibronectin from human plasma using affinity chromatography on immobilized individual alpha-chains of collagen was developed. PMID- 2624589 TI - [Isolation and purification of biopolymers using an affinity chromatography method. X. A biospecific approach to preparing collagen-like peptides containing segments binding fibronectin]. AB - A biospecific method for one-stage isolation of collagen peptides containing the fibronectin binding site is proposed. alpha 1CB7-peptide of the type I collagen cyanogen bromide cleavage was isolated by means of affinity chromatography on adsorbents containing an immobilized gelatin-binding domain (45 kDa) of fibronectin. The method allows one to obtain, in a short time, highly purified preparation of alpha 1CB7-peptide necessary for biochemical studies. PMID- 2624590 TI - [A new method of preparing hemin conjugates with rabbit IgG]. AB - Stable derivatives of hemin activated by means of the Woodward reagent K were obtained, and the reaction conditions for their covalent attachment to the IgG molecule optimized. Advantages of the new method for conjugation are discussed. PMID- 2624591 TI - [Nucleotide sequence of the genome and complete amino acid sequence of a polyprotein of the tick-borne encephalitis virus]. AB - We have cloned and sequenced RNA encoding all virion and nonstructural proteins of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Its length is 10,477 bases with a single open reading frame (nucleotides 127-10,363) encoding 3412 amino acids. The 5'- and 3'-noncoding regions have stem- and- loop structure. The polyprotein precursor is proteolytically cleaved, apparently, by a mechanism resembling that proposed for the expression of polyproteins of other flaviviruses, such as yellow fever, West Nile and Kunjin viruses. The deduced TBEV gene order is 5'-C-preM (M) E-NS1-NS2A-NS2B-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5++ +-3'. The genome and the polyprotein of TBEV and other flaviviruses appears to be structurally similar, although these flaviviruses are transmitted to and from their vertebrate hosts by different carriers, such as ticks or mosquitoes. Analysis of sequence homologies of polyproteins of flaviviruses suggests that TBEV is more closely related to yellow fever virus than to other serological subgroups of flaviviruses (West Nile or Dengue viruses). The hydrophobic profiles of the flaviviruses are highly conservative. Nonstructural proteins NS2A, NS2B, NS4A and NS4B are extremely hydrophobic, suggesting that they are likely to be associated with cellular membranes. Proteins E, NS1, NS3 and NS5 are the most conservative and may be involved in general enzymatic activities related to viral replication and virion assembly. PMID- 2624592 TI - [Structure of carbohydrate chains of the riboflavin-binding glycoprotein of chicken egg protein. II. 1H-NMR (500 MHz) spectroscopy of the major neutral oligosaccharides]. AB - Reductive cleavage of riboflavin-binding glycoprotein from hen egg white (RF-GPw) with LiBH4/tert-BuOH followed by NaBH4/NaOH treatment gave rise to oligosaccharide alditols, fractionated by a successive HPLC on muBondapak C18 and Zorbax NH2 columns. Seven main individual oligosaccharide alditols were isolated and their structure was investigated by 1H NMR 500-MHz spectroscopy. The structure and relative content of the main oligosaccharide chains were proved to be identical in RF-GPw and ovomucoid. Structure of polypeptide chains and their molecular weight, number of glycosylation sites and their structure had little or no effect on the glycosylation pattern in both glycoproteins. HPLC of the oligosaccharide alditols from another egg white glycoprotein, ovotransferrin, also revealed its high microheterogeneity and close resemblance to those of ovomucoid and RF-GPw. PMID- 2624593 TI - [Total synthesis and properties of prostaglandins. XXI. Synthesis of a 4,4 dimethyl-4-sil analog of 11-deoxyprostaglandin E1]. AB - Total synthesis of a new prostaglandin analogue, 11-deoxy-4,4-dimethyl-4-sil prostaglandin E1, is carried out through synthesis of a silicon-containing alpha chain precursor and a 2-substituted cyclopentenone derivative followed by their cuprate-induced interaction. PMID- 2624594 TI - [Derivatives of daunorubicin containing an inosine fragment]. AB - Condensation of daunorubicin or its (13 R, S)-dihydro derivative with inosine dialdehyde in the presence of NaBH3CN yielded novel derivatives of anthracycline antibiotics with incorporated inosine residue: 3'-deamino-3'-[(2" R)-(hypoxanthyl 9)-(6" S)-hydroxymethylmorpholino-N4"]- daunorubicin and (13 R,S)-dihydro-3' deamino-3'-[(2" R)-(hypoxanthyl-9)-(6" S)- hydroxymethylmorpholino-N4"] daunorubicin. The compounds did not inhibit growth of Bacillus mycoides and were less cytotoxic in vitro and less toxic in vivo than the parent antibiotics. PMID- 2624595 TI - [Graphic identification of conservative and variable segments in the amino acid sequences of homologous proteins]. AB - An algorithm is presented for localizing variable and constant regions in homologous protein sequences. A set of aligned protein sequences is divided into two groups consisting of m and n sequences. Each group contains sequences of most related species. Value of the position dissimilarity of proteins from different groups of m and n sequences is defined as a number of failures to coincide in comparison with all possible mXn pairs of amino acid residues in the position (each from different group) divided by mXn. The position dissimilarity value of m protein sequences within a group is defined as the number of failures to coincide in comparison with all possible mX X(m-1)/2 pairs of amino acid residues divided by mX(m-1)/2. Ten position average of dissimilarity values is plotted vs. the first position number. Area of the figure included between the profile of dissimilarity values and its mean value line characterizes the overall irregularity of amino acid substitutions along the protein sequences. If the area value is greater than the average area for 1000 random profile by more than two standard deviation units, the profile extrema containing the "surplus" of area are cut off. The cut off stretches are likely to be variable and constant regions. In case of "between groups" comparisons it is found that the overall irregularity of amino acid substitutions is very high for all considered families of proteins; phospholipases A2, aspartate aminotransferases, alpha-subunits of Na+,K(+)-ATPase, L- and M-subunits of photosynthetic bacteria photoreaction centre, human rhodopsins. PMID- 2624596 TI - [Determination of the release of drugs from transdermal therapeutic systems. Presentation of a new release system]. AB - A relatively simple release model for transdermal therapeutic systems (TTS) is described. The TTS is separated from the elution solvent by a semipermeable membrane. The elution solvent passes an elution channel with a flow rate of 3-9 ml/h. For the quantitative determination of the drug HPLC or UV spectrometry are used. Depending on the active drug and the design of the TTS, different releasing kinetics are observed. While diclofenac follows approximately a zero order kinetic, the respective kinetic for mepindolol roughly follows a diffusion controlled square root of t-order. PMID- 2624597 TI - Synthesis and absolute configuration of the new thromboxane antagonist (3R)-3-(4 fluorophenylsulfonamido)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-carbazolepropan oic acid and comparison with its enantiomer. AB - The synthesis of (3R)-3-(4-Fluorophenylsulfonamido)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9- carbazolepropanoic acid (Bay u 3405), a new, enantiomerically pure antagonist of thromboxane A2, is described. The determination of the absolute configuration of Bay u 3405 was performed by an X-ray analysis of compound 7 ([3((2S)-acetylamido) 3-phenylpropionamido]-1,2,3,4- tetrahydro-carbazol). Bay u 3405 is in vitro 1 to 2 orders of magnitude more active than its (-)-enantiomer Bay u 3406. PMID- 2624598 TI - Action of the novel selective thromboxane antagonist (3R)-3-(4 fluorophenylsulfonamido)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-carbazolepropan oic acid on vascular smooth muscle preparations. AB - The action of the thromboxane A2-receptor-antagonist (3R)-3-(4 fluorophenylsulfonamido)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-carbazo lepropanoic acid (Bay u 3405) on vascular smooth muscle preparations was investigated in vitro. In rabbit aortic rings Bay u 3405 is a potent inhibitor of vasoconstriction produced by thromboxane A2 (TXA2)/PG endoperoxides generated by stimulated human platelets (EC50 1.3 x 10(-6) mol/l), (+/-)-cTA2 (Carbocyclic thromboxane A2 [2 beta(Z),3 alpha-(1E,3R*)-3- (3-hydroxy(1-octenyl)-bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-yl-5-heptenoic acid]) (EC50 3.3 x 10(-7) mol/l) and U 46619 (EC50 3.8 x 10(-7) mol/l). In pig circumflex coronary arteries Bay u 3405 was 150 times more potent (EC50 2.6 x 10( 9) mol/l) than in rabbit aorta. In rabbit and rat aorta the concentration response curves for U 46619 were shifted to the right in a parallel manner and the maximum responses were not suppressed. The Schild-plot yielded a straight line with a slope of 1.14 (rabbit) or 1.29 (rat) and pA2 values of 7.43 and 8.59, respectively. The vasoconstrictive action of other agonists such as KCl, serotonin, histamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine and angiotensin were not affected. In human platelets inhibition of the TXA2-synthase was seen only at concentrations of Bay u 3405 of 2.4 x 10(-5) mol/l and above. From these findings it is concluded that Bay u 3405 is a potent, competitive TXA2/endoperoxide receptor antagonist in vascular smooth muscle. PMID- 2624599 TI - Inhibition of platelet aggregation in vitro and ex vivo by the new thromboxane antagonist (3R)-3-(4-fluorophenylsulfonamido)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9- carbazolepropanoic acid. AB - (3R)-3-(4-Fluorophenylsulfonamido)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-carbazo lepropanoic acid (Bay u 3405) was tested for inhibition of platelet aggregation in vitro (human platelet rich plasma) and ex vivo (rat). Aggregation induced by collagen, arachidonic acid, thrombin, adenosine diphosphate (ADP, biphasic response), epinephrine and U 46619 was inhibited at minimum effective concentrations of 0.01 to 0.1 micrograms/ml in vitro. Following oral administration to rats the ED50 for the dose-dependent inhibition was 36 micrograms/kg. At a dose of 100 micrograms/kg p.o. significant inhibition was obtained up to 16 h. Bay u 3405 is considered a potential drug for treatment of some cardiovascular disorders. PMID- 2624600 TI - Reduction of in vivo coronary artery thrombosis by the novel thromboxane antagonist (3R)-3-(4-fluorophenylsulfonamido)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9- carbazolepropanoic acid. AB - The effects of thromboxane (Tx)A2 antagonism were examined in a canine model of platelet-dependent coronary occlusion. The novel TxA2 antagonist (3R)-3-(4 fluorophenylsulfonamido)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-carbazo lepropanoic acid (Bay u 3405) was studied to ensure that antithrombotic effects seen in vivo were platelet-mediated and did not reflect unspecific compound effects. Bay u 3405 (1, 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg i.v.) inhibited in vivo platelet aggregation and increased the time to thrombotic vascular occlusion by 2.8 h (p less than 0.05) after 30 mg/kg were given. A dose-dependent reduction of intravascular occlusive thrombus growth occurred: thrombus wet weight decreased from 66 +/- 6 mg in vehicle controls to 42 +/- 6 mg, 25 +/- 5 mg, 18 +/- 3 mg and 6 +/- 2 mg after administration of 1, 3, 10 and 30 mg Bay u 3405 i.v., respectively. Electrocardiographic signs for developing myocardial ischemia were largely prevented by the compound. Collagen induced platelet aggregation ex vivo was inhibited by over 60% in drug-treated animals. The observed delay of thrombotic coronary occlusion reflected an inhibition of platelet aggregation and protection from coronary vasoconstriction at the site of thrombus formation, most likely mediated through blockade of TxA2 receptors. PMID- 2624601 TI - Differentiation of various cardiovascular drugs by means of specific myocardial and vascular load tests. Experiments at the isolated perfused heart. AB - A new method is described for examining the contractile function of myocardium and coronary vasculature in the isolated perfused, electrically stimulated guinea pig and rat heart which is suitable for investigation of cardiovascular drugs. The criterion used for functional efficiency of myocardium and coronary vasculature is--in addition to the usual evaluation of cardiac force and coronary flow in steady-state--the reaction of the heart to perfusion pressure changes: abrupt increase of the perfusion pressure (PP) leads to an increase in cardiac force (= heterometric autoregulation, HA) and simultaneously to triggering of the myogenic autoregulation (MA). Using this PP loading two different functional tests can be performed: 1. By successive PP increases in 10-20 mmHg steps it is possible to determine a) an equivalent of Frank-Starling cardiac function curves, and b) pressure-flow (p-F) curves of the coronary vasculature, e.g. before and after drug application. 2. By a single PP step of e.g. 40 mmHg HA and MA are triggered before and after drug application, calculated as percentages of the initial value and plotted as concentration-response curves. Both methods produce a physiologically based description of cardiac and coronary mechanics. In particular, the behaviour of the coronary vasculature in this procedure represents a more sensitive criterion than total coronary flow in steady-state. Since HA and MA depend partly (HA) or completely (MA) on the slow transmembrane Ca++ inward current the method is particularly suitable for a basic differentiation of Ca++ and Na+ antagonistic drugs. PMID- 2624602 TI - Antihypertensive effect of a new dihydropyridine calcium entry blocker in conscious hypertensive and normotensive rats. AB - The antihypertensive effects of orally administered CD-349, (2-nitratopropyl-3 nitratopropyl-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophen yl)- 1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5 dicarboxylate), a new dihydropyridine calcium-entry blocker, were evaluated in comparison with nifedipine in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), renal hypertensive rats (RHR) and normotensive rats (NTR) all in a conscious state. CD 349 (0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg) and nifedipine (1.0 mg/kg) produced a long-lasting decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (BP) and an increase in heart rate (HR) in all the rat groups; the effects of CD-349 were dose-dependent and greater in hypertensive rats than in NTR. As compared with nifedipine at the same dose of 1 mg/kg, the hypotensive effect of CD-349 was relatively slower in onset and longer lasting, thereby suggesting that gastrointestinal absorption of CD-349 was slower than that of nifedipine. The increase in HR associated with the hypotension induced by CD-349 at 1 mg/kg was relatively transient in comparison with that induced by nifedipine at the same dose in both types of hypertensive rat. From these results, it is expected that CD-349 could be a useful antihypertensive drug. PMID- 2624603 TI - Inhibition of 3H-nitrendipine binding in rat aortic and cerebral cortex membranes by the new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist benidipine hydrochloride. AB - Effects of a new calcium antagonist, benidipine hydrochloride (+/-)-(R*)-3-[(R*) 1-benzyl-3-piperidyl]methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(m-nitrophenyl)-3,5 pyridinedi carboxylate hydrochloride, KW-3049), on the 3H-nitrendipine binding in the rat aortic microsomes and cerebral cortex membranes were examined. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) and the binding capacity (Bmax) were 0.32 nmol/l and 59.0 fmol/mg protein, respectively, in the rat aorta and 0.17 nmol/l and 450 fmol/mg protein, respectively, in the rat cortex. In both types of membranes, the specific binding was inhibited completely and concentration dependently by six calcium antagonists such as benidipine, nicardipine, nisoldipine, nitrendipine, nifedipine and flunarizine. Diltiazem enhanced concentration-dependently the 3H-nitrendipine binding in the aortic and cortex membranes. Benidipine had the highest affinity for specific 3H-nitrendipine binding sites in the aorta (Ki = 0.063 nmol/l) and in the cortex membranes (0.043 nmol/l). The decreasing order of binding affinity of the isomers of benidipine for 3H-nitrendipine binding sites was S-S, benidipine, S-R, R-R and R-S. Presumed metabolites had a weak affinity for 3H-nitrendipine binding sites. PMID- 2624604 TI - Effect of calcium dobesilate on the inhibition of collagen fibrillogenesis by glucose in vitro. AB - Glucose inhibits collagen fibril formation as shown in an in vitro system using thermal fibrillogenesis of collagen type I and type II solutions containing different concentrations of glucose. Studies of the time course and extent of fibril formation indicate that glucose values similar to subjects with normal glucose metabolism effect no significant difference to the control without glucose, whereas high glucose levels mimicking glucose concentrations of diabetics with poor glucose control, significantly delay collagen fibrillogenesis. By defined concentrations of calcium dobesilate (Doxium) the effect of a pathologically high glucose content of collagen fibril formation can be inversed to parameters similar as observed with glucose concentrations of a subject with normal glucose metabolism. PMID- 2624605 TI - Dual effect of a protein-free hemodialysate on the oxygen uptake of phagocytosing human polymorphonuclear leucocytes. AB - The effect of a protein-free hemodialysate (Solcoseryl) on the oxygen uptake of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) was studied. No effect was observed on resting PMN over a concentration range from 0.5 to 10% v/v. Instead, when PMN phagocytosing serum opsonized zymosan (SOZ) were used, low concentrations (0.5 2.5% v/v) of the hemodialysate increased their oxygen uptake, whereas higher concentrations (5-10% v/v) were inhibitory. At a concentration of 10% the hemodialysate was shown to inhibit also SOZ particles uptake. These findings suggest that inhibition of the oxygen uptake might be related to inhibition of phagocytosis. The mechanism of the stimulatory effect observed at low concentrations remains to be established but it does not seem to be related to a direct activation of the biochemical pathway/s linked to O2 consumption since the hemodialysate per se had no effect on the respiration of resting PMN. The results are discussed in the light of the known clinical effects of the hemodialysate. PMID- 2624606 TI - Effects of the synthesized prostaglandin E2-analogue arbaprostil on gastric mucosal lesions in rats. AB - The effects of arbaprostil (CU-83), a newly synthesized prostaglandin (PG) E2 analogue, on gastric lesions were investigated. Experiment 1: The animals were divided into 3 groups: 1. the control group: untreated, 2. 50% ethanol group: rats were given 1 ml of 50% ethanol intragastrically, and 3. arbaprostil + 50% ethanol group: arbaprostil (10 micrograms/kg) was administered p.o. 30 min before 50% ethanol administration. 1 h after ethanol administration, stomachs were isolated, and gastric mucosal lesions were observed. Experiment 2: Rats were divided into 4 groups; 1. the control group; untreated, 2. 6 h stress group; animals were placed in a stress cage and immersed into a water bath (23 degrees C) for 6 h, 3. arbaprostil (10 micrograms/kg) + 6 h stress group, and 4. arbaprostil (100 micrograms/kg) + 6 h stress group; arbaprostil 10 micrograms/kg or 100 micrograms/kg was administered 30 min before 6 h of water immersion stress, respectively. In each experiment, stomachs were isolated and gastric mucosal lesions were observed. Immediately after the observation of lesions, the fundic mucosal layer was separated from the muscle layer, and mucosal PGs levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Four kinds of PGs, i.e., 6-keto-PG F1 alpha, PGF2 alpha, PGE2, and PGD2 were detected in gastric mucosa. Administration of 50% ethanol and water immersion stress induced gastric lesions and decreased all 4 mucosal PGs levels. Arbaprostil, 10 micrograms/kg, reduced ethanol-induced gastric lesions and maintained mucosal PGs levels, concomitantly, however, the same doses of arbaprostil did not show a protective effect against water immersion stress-induced gastric lesions or decreases in PGs levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624607 TI - Metabolism of metapramine in vitro by chemical model systems and rat liver microsomes. AB - Metapramine (Timaxel) was oxidised by hepatic microsomes from rat and by biomimetic chemical systems; vanadyl acetylacetonate-iodylbenzene, phthalocyanin iron II-iodosylbenzene, meso tetraphenyl porphyrine-iron III chloride iodosylbenzene and Fenton's reagent. The major metabolite in all cases was the monodemethylated product formed by oxydative removal of the methyl group on the endocyclic nitrogen atom. PMID- 2624608 TI - Cytostatic activity of an estradiol-linked nitrosourea in MXT mammary carcinoma and L 5222 leukemia. AB - Investigation of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosocarbamoyl-L-alanine-estradiol-17 ester (CNC-ala-17-E2) and of the unlinked single agents 1-(2-chloroethyl)-1 nitrosocarbamoyl-L-alanine (CNC-ala) and estradiol in the MXT mammary carcinoma in vivo uncovered a significant antitumor activity only for CNC-ala-17-E2 at a non-toxic dose level (growth inhibition greater than 70%). In vitro investigations using the clonogenic assay had a comparable result: Here, too, CNC ala-17-E2 was superior to the unlinked single agents. No difference in therapeutic activity between CNC-ala-17-E2 and CNC-ala could be observed in a transplanted rat leukemia (L 5222). PMID- 2624609 TI - Activation of natural killer cell cytotoxicity of human blood monocytes by a low molecular weight component from viscum album extract. AB - Viscum album extracts (Helixor) were investigated for their potency to influence natural killer cell (NK) cytotoxicity of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro. The samples investigated were unable to enhance NK cytotoxicity in PBMC/tumor cell co-cultures by direct short-term mediation but NK cytotoxicity of human PBMC was strongly stimulated when PBMC were pre-incubated for 72 h with a partly purified fraction (HM-BP) derived from extracts of V. album mali. Stimulation of NK cytotoxicity was not dependent from age and sex of PBMC donors and was directed against highly as well as moderately NK-sensitive human tumor cells. The responding effector cells were identified as monocytes/macrophages and stimulation of the NK cytotoxicity of these cells was not based on increased proliferation. The active component in the HM-BP fraction has a molecular weight of about 1000 Da or smaller and correlates with the structural criteria of an oligosaccharide. The activity was completely abrogated when the active fraction was treated with endoglycosidase F or alpha-glucosidase. Partial inactivation was observed after treatment with endoglycosidase D or hemicellulase. Moreover, the active fraction induced a reduction in tumor take incidence and tumor development in mice when applied before and after tumor challenge. PMID- 2624610 TI - Tests for local toxicity of intramuscular drug preparations. Comparison of in vivo and in vitro findings. AB - The local tissue tolerance after intramuscular injection caused by two multivitamin preparations, two excipient preparations without vitamins and a reference preparation (glycine 2.5%) was determined in albino rats and volunteers by measuring the creatine phosphokinase activity in the blood. The creatine phosphokinase activity was determined 2 h after the injection in the rats and before, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after the injection in the volunteers. These measurements were compared to findings from an in vitro test using the haemolytic effect of the preparations in human erythrocytes. The haemolytic potential of the drug and excipient preparations was closely correlated to the creatine phosphokinase elevation in rats. The elevation of creatine phosphokinase in the volunteers was not indicative of any differences between the test preparations. Thus it could be shown that the elevation of the creatine phosphokinase activity is useful in demonstrating muscle damage and that the haemolytic potential of the drug and excipient preparations are closely related to the elevation of the creatine phosphokinase activity in rats. However, the results of the elevation of the creatine phosphokinase activity in humans are inconclusive for determining local muscle damage. PMID- 2624611 TI - Plasma catecholamine and cardiovascular responses to nifedipine in hypertensives WHO-stage II. AB - 77 patients with arterial hypertension were consecutively examined. An evaluable echocardiogram could be recorded for 75 patients. 54 (72%) had non-pathological cardiac findings, 15 (20%) showed concentric left ventricular hypertrophy of the heart (mean left ventricular muscle mass (LVM) 2.5 g/kg or 113 g/m2; mean LVM/EDV 1.6 g/ml). 6 patients had an excentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle (8%). The influence of 10 mg nifedipine (Adalat) sublingual on the heart, blood pressure and sympathetic activity was examined in 15 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy of the heart. 5-10 min after administration, a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic pressures (p less than 0.05) and an increase in plasma noradrenaline (p less than 0.05) and heart rate (p less than 0.01) could be registered. The thickness of the posterior wall and septum decreased in 8 to 10 of the 15 patients, EDV, shortening fraction and ejection fraction increased in 8 of the 15 patients. A reduction in peripheral resistance, sympathetic counterregulation accompanied by an increase in heart rate, shortening and ejection fractions with increased enddiastolic volume and decrease in wall thickness can be observed as the gross effect in the majority of the 15 patients with left ventricular concentric hypertrophy. The decrease in wall thickness as a relaxation effect should not be confused with a regression of hypertrophy, whereby the mass-volume ratio shifts toward the normal range under nifedipine. PMID- 2624612 TI - [The bioequivalence of two nifedipine fluid capsules]. AB - Bioequivalence of Two Nifedipine Liquid Capsules Plasma concentration-time profiles of nifedipine were determined in an open, randomised cross-over study on 12 healthy volunteers after application of 10 mg nifedipine as two different soft gelatin capsule preparations. In vitro dissolution tests showed a significant difference between the reference preparation (R) and the generic preparation (P). Maximal nifedipine plasma concentrations (Cmax) measured at tmax (0.6 h, median) for P averaged 87.5 +/- 32.7 micrograms/l, corresponding values for R were 95.4 +/- 41.1 micrograms/l and 0.46 h. Differences in Cmax and tmax values were not statistically significant. Mean areas under the curves AUC(0-10 h) were 128.7 +/- 59.9 micrograms.h/h after p and 123.3 +/- 49.3 micrograms.h/l after R (n.s.). 95% confidence intervals for indices of bioavailability based on AUC and Cmax overlapped, indicating that the two preparations are bioequivalent. PMID- 2624613 TI - Vinpocetine pharmacokinetics in elderly subjects. AB - The pharmacokinetics of vinpocetine (Eusenium) were investigated in 20 elderly, healthy volunteers. Plasma levels of the drug were determined during one dose interval of either repeated intravenous infusion or oral administration. AUC, Cmax and tmax values were derived for oral application, AUC values in case of intravenous application. Oral administration of 20 mg vinpocetine resulted in 4.60 x 10(-8) mol l-1 h, 1.71 x 10(-8) mol l-1 and 2.33 h for AUC, Cmax and tmax, respectively. The appropriate values for apovincaminic acid were 1.92 x 10(-6) mol l-1 h, 6.39 x 10(-7) mol l-1 and 2.41 h. When 10 mg vinpocetine were infused for 1 h, AUC values for vinpocetine and apovincaminic acid were 3.42 x 10(-7) mol l-1 h and 1.69 x 10(-6) mol l-1 h. Absolute bioavailability of vinpocetine was 6.7%. These data were in good agreement with the literature on young and elderly subjects. Marked deviations of apovincaminic acid kinetics in elderly subjects as described earlier could not be demonstrated in this study. PMID- 2624614 TI - Urinary tract infections and circumcision. A case-control study. AB - It has been shown that uncircumcised infants have a higher rate of urinary tract infections in the first few months of life. To investigate further the association between noncircumcision and urinary tract infections, a case-control study was performed of infant boys who had a catheterized or suprapubic urine culture done as part of an acute illness visit. Cases (n = 36) were those infants who had a positive culture (greater than 105 organisms per milliliter); controls (n = 76) had a negative culture (less than 103 organisms per milliliter). There were no significant differences found in the two groups in age, ethnic group, and type of medical insurance. All of the cases were uncircumcised, vs 32% of controls. The data were analyzed separately by age, ethnic group, type of insurance, and method of culture, and in all groups the cases were significantly more likely to be uncircumcised. Of the 31 cases who underwent roentgenographic investigations, 8 had abnormal findings. Noncircumcision seems to be a highly significant risk factor for urinary tract infection in infants up to 12 months of age, affects infants regardless of race and socioeconomic status, and is associated with anatomic abnormalities in 26% of cases. PMID- 2624615 TI - Potassium levels in irradiated blood. PMID- 2624616 TI - The posteroanterior chest radiograph in depressed sternum. AB - The posteroanterior and lateral chest radiographs of 72 consecutive patients with sternal depression, together with 72 age- and sex-matched controls, have been reviewed. We assessed size and position of the cardiac silhouette, mediastinal contour, radio-opacity in the right lower zone and rib configuration. The degree of depression was determined from the lateral radiograph. The most significant signs of sternal depression on the posteroanterior chest radiograph are a straight left heart border, displacement of the cardiac silhouette to the left and an indistinct right heart border. These three signs have a high specificity for sternal depression and are significantly more commonly seen with increasing severity of depression. The presence of any three, or of more than three, of the described signs was 95.5% specific. However, despite this high specificity, the sensitivity and positive predictive value even for a combination of signs are low. Sternal depression is a relatively common chest deformity and the radiologist should be aware of the changes on the posteroanterior chest radiograph to avoid pitfalls in diagnosis. PMID- 2624617 TI - Increased blood pressure during potassium depletion in normotensive men. AB - Epidemiologic studies suggest an inverse relation between potassium intake and the prevalence of hypertension. To investigate the effect of dietary potassium restriction on blood pressure, we used a randomized crossover design to study 10 healthy, normotensive men randomly assigned to isocaloric diets (each lasting nine days) providing either low (10 mmol per day) or normal (90 mmol per day) amounts of potassium, while sodium intake was maintained at the subjects' usual levels (120 to 200 mmol per day). With the low-potassium diet, plasma potassium levels declined from 3.8 to 3.2 mmol per liter (P less than 0.001), but plasma sodium and chloride levels were unchanged. The average daily excretion of urinary sodium (+/- SEM) on the low-potassium diet was significantly lower than that with the normal-potassium diet (10 +/- 10 vs. 144 +/- 10 mmol; P less than 0.001). The mean arterial pressure did not change significantly during normal potassium intake, but it increased over the nine days of the low-potassium diet from 90.9 +/- 2.2 to 95.0 +/- 2.2 mm Hg (P less than 0.05). Both mean arterial (P less than 0.01) and diastolic (P less than 0.005) pressures were significantly higher after the low-potassium diet than after the normal-potassium diet. Potassium depletion suppressed plasma aldosterone levels but had no effect on plasma renin activity or on arginine vasopressin or catecholamine levels. A saline infusion further increased the mean arterial pressure in the potassium-depleted subjects but had no effect in the control group (P less than 0.05). We conclude that short-term potassium depletion increases blood pressure in healthy, normotensive men and permits further increases in blood pressure after saline loading. We found no evidence that the hypertensive effect of potassium depletion resulted from changes in either renal hemodynamics or circulating levels of vasoactive hormones. PMID- 2624618 TI - Survival of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Australia. AB - The duration of survival of all persons with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Australia who were diagnosed to July 31, 1987 was analysed by means of standard Kaplan-Meier methods in order to construct survival curves, and by log-rank tests which were used to assess the significance of differences among the curves. The median duration of survival was 10.4 months. Significant (P less than 0.001) differences in the survival curves were found between men and women (median survival, 11.4 and 3.8 months, respectively) by the log-rank test. Patients who were aged 20-49 years at diagnosis had a longer (P less than 0.001) median survival (11.4 months) than did those who were older than 60 years of age (2.7 months) and those who were aged less than 20 years (0.5 months) at diagnosis. Those patients who were infected by way of blood transfusions had a shorter (P less than 0.001) median survival (1.6 months) than did those who were infected through homosexual activity (11.4 months). Median survival time, which was stratified by the disease stage at presentation, varied from 12.4 months in those patients with Kaposi's sarcoma alone to 7.0 months in those patients with lymphoma (P = 0.01). The median survival time for those patients who presented solely with Kaposi's sarcoma was shorter than was that which has been reported from other developed countries. Multivariate analysis of all male cases by means of the proportional-hazards model indicated that the presentation of cases at an age that was greater than 50 years (relative risk, 2.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63-3.42) was associated independently with a reduced survival time, while the presentation of cases solely with Kaposi's sarcoma (relative risk, 0.67; 95% Cl, 0.49-0.92) was associated independently with an increased survival time. When all cases were included in this analysis, these same predictors of survival were significant; in addition, cases of AIDS as a result of the receipt of a blood transfusion were associated independently with a reduced survival time. PMID- 2624619 TI - The grass is not greener. PMID- 2624620 TI - Foreign drug identification. AB - The references used by a major Canadian drug information center to identify foreign drug products are described. Guidelines are provided for handling foreign drug identification requests, including the collection of background information and the management of specific problems likely to be encountered during the identification process. Useful methods of building a foreign drug identification reference library are also suggested. PMID- 2624621 TI - Predialysis: who is in charge? PMID- 2624622 TI - Say no to expiration dates. PMID- 2624623 TI - Sexually transmitted disease in Britain: 1985-6. Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. PMID- 2624624 TI - Management of impacted anterior teeth utilizing basic orthodontic principles. AB - Treatment of the impacted anterior tooth can be achieved using the appropriate surgical and orthodontic methods. A thorough examination must be completed to determine the intervention required. PMID- 2624625 TI - The possible mode of escape of adult T-cell leukaemia cells from antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity. AB - Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) was measured using 51Cr-labelled ATL derived cell lines as the target, peripheral mononuclear cells (PMNCs) from disease-free persons as the effector cells and heat-inactivated serum from patients with ATL or the IgG purified from this. The release of 51Cr was not usually demonstrated in the HTLV-1 non-producing ATL derived cell line (MT-1), but was evident in the HTLV-1 producing ATL derived cell lines (KT 252 and IT 607). The 51Cr-labelled MT-1 cells after induction of HTLV-1 retrovirus by 5-iodo 2'-deoxyuridine (IdUr), showed a remarkable target sensitivity in the ADCC assay. On the other hand, the 51Cr-labelled MT-1 cells after culture with IdUr and ATL patient's serum, had no ADCC sensitivity. The fresh ATL cells immediately separated from ATL patient's blood did not express HTLV-1 virus in the cell and had no ADCC sensitivity as the target. Based on these findings, an antigenic modulation on the ATL cell surface by ATL patient's serum is considered to be the possible mode of escape of ATL cells from ADCC. PMID- 2624626 TI - The use of aggregate data in alcohol epidemiology. AB - Analyses of aggregate data have the potential of elucidating pivotal issues in alcohol epidemiology, in particular those singled out by the public health perspective, such as the impact of per capita alcohol consumption on various damage rates. This article discusses the possibilities and limitations of the two main approaches in the analysis of aggregate data, focusing upon ecological and time series data, respectively. In addition, a synthetic approach is outlined, which aims at an integration of macro and micro findings. In that context it is shown how effect measures which are normally based on micro data (relative risk and attributable fraction) can be derived from macro data. PMID- 2624627 TI - Interpleural or paravertebral block at thoracotomy? PMID- 2624628 TI - A further exploration of the use of physical restraints in hospitalized patients. AB - Four hundred twenty-one consecutive patients admitted to an acute general medical ward and two acute rehabilitation medical wards were studied to compare the characteristics and outcomes of physically restrained patients and unrestrained patients. Restraints were used in 35 (13%) of the general medical patients and in 49 (34%) of the rehabilitation patients. The restrained general medical patients had higher mortality and morbidity rates than their unrestrained counterparts. Restrained patients had a higher prevalence of a psychiatric diagnosis, and major tranquilizers were used more than in their unrestrained counterparts in both settings. The general medical patients tended to have more than one type of restraint at a time, whereas the rehabilitation patients were restrained for longer proportions of their hospital stay. Thirty-three percent of the restrained patients whom we were able to interview expressed negative perceptions about the presence of the physical restraints. Moreover, it was found that the presence of cognitive and physical impairments were highly predictive of restraint use in both populations. PMID- 2624629 TI - Potassium levels in irradiated blood. PMID- 2624630 TI - Respiratory obstruction after anaesthesia. PMID- 2624631 TI - Disease losses and research priorities. PMID- 2624632 TI - The distribution of CA125 in the reproductive tract of pregnant and non-pregnant women. PMID- 2624633 TI - On natural family planning. PMID- 2624634 TI - Patients with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were found to have no increase in titers of autoantibodies to retinal S-Antigen. PMID- 2624635 TI - Relapse rates after duodenal ulcer healing--apples or pears? PMID- 2624636 TI - Capitation plans. PMID- 2624637 TI - Advocacy in Wisconsin. PMID- 2624638 TI - Comments on "A Spiral Nerve Cuff Electrode for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation". PMID- 2624639 TI - Prediction and prevention of patient falls. PMID- 2624640 TI - Microvascular endothelial cell cultures from human omental adipose tissue. PMID- 2624641 TI - Lichen planus pigmentosus. PMID- 2624642 TI - Teeth marks on the tongue: the Oriental point of view. PMID- 2624643 TI - Treatment of Campylobacter gastritis in young children. PMID- 2624644 TI - Multiple sclerosis and human interferon alfa. PMID- 2624645 TI - Modifying cardiovascular risk factors in the workplace. PMID- 2624646 TI - Natural history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. PMID- 2624647 TI - Dementia diagnosis. PMID- 2624648 TI - Chest pain in mitral valve prolapse. PMID- 2624650 TI - Health care restrictions on the elderly. PMID- 2624649 TI - Nursing information sources. PMID- 2624651 TI - Disease losses and research priorities. PMID- 2624652 TI - Drugs for pigeons. PMID- 2624653 TI - Safety of equine rabies immune globulin. PMID- 2624654 TI - Breath hydrogen in preterm infants. PMID- 2624655 TI - Restaurant inspections may not predict outbreaks of foodborne illness. PMID- 2624656 TI - Did monitoring standards influence outcome? PMID- 2624657 TI - Zinc absorption in haemodialysis patients. PMID- 2624658 TI - Correction for haemodilutional changes to plasma albumin concentration. PMID- 2624659 TI - [Relationship of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) with adult T cell leukemia (ATL)]. AB - Eighteen patients with DPB and 15 with IIP were studied on the relationship between the diseases and ATL. Anti-ATL antigen (ATLA) antibody and its related reactions were examined using immunofluorescence and Western blotting techniques. Five of 18 DPB patients (28%) were anti-ATLA antibody positive, and were diagnosed as ATL because of the appearance of ATL cells after the chronic DPB clinical course. No IIP patient was diagnosed as having ATL, however, a patient's serum converted to anti-ATLA antibody positive from ATLA related reaction positive when tested with immunofluorescence. ATLA related reaction with diffuse reaction patterns in both MT-1 and MT-2 cells was detected in 7 of 18 sera in patients with DPB and in 5 of 15 IIP sera. A diffuse pattern only in MT-2 cells was found in 2 cases of DPB and 3 of IIP. Positive percentage of these anti-ATLA antibody and ATLA related reactions in DPB and IIP patients was significantly higher than that in controls. These results suggest the existence of a specific clinicopathological state namely "HTLV-1 associated bronchiolo-alveolar disorder (HABA)" in some of DPB and IIP. PMID- 2624660 TI - Comparison of bacteriologic culture of blood and necropsy specimens for determining the cause of foal septicemia: 47 cases (1978-1987) AB - Diagnosis of bacterial septicemia was confirmed by results of bacteriologic culture of antemortem blood samples and/or necropsy specimens obtained from 47 foals up to 8 days old. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from all 47 foals, and mixed infections with more than one organism were involved in 26 (55%). Escherichia coli, Actinobacillus spp, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most frequent isolates, infecting 55, 34, and 23% of foals, respectively. Gram positive bacteria and anaerobic bacteria were isolated only from foals with mixed infections with gram-negative organisms. Clostridium perfringens was the only anaerobe isolated. In 38 (81%) of 47 foals with confirmed septicemia, blood samples were culture-positive. Thirty-two septicemic foals subsequently died, allowing a comparison to be made between the species of bacteria isolated by culture of blood with those recovered by culture of internal organs at necropsy. Blood failed to yield any gram-negative organisms in 12 (37.5%) of 32 foals from which a gram-negative pathogen was isolated at necropsy. Forty-three percent of the gram-negative bacteria, including 59% of the E coli, and 10% of the gram positive bacteria found in septicemic foals at necropsy were not detected earlier by results of bacteriologic culture of blood. PMID- 2624661 TI - Development of a polymer-based reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic stability indicating assay for U-78 608, an iron complexing monocarbam antibiotic. PMID- 2624662 TI - A new platelet aggregation inhibitor from Salvia miltiorrhiza. PMID- 2624663 TI - Interferon alpha-2a to control thrombocytosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia and essential thrombocythemia. AB - Four patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and thrombocytosis and one patient with essential thrombocythemia were treated with purified recombinant human interferon alpha-2a (IFN-alpha 2a). Significant decline in platelet counts, from a mean ( +/- SE) of 1.396 +/- 0.265 x 10(6)/mm3 to a mean of 0.396 +/- 0.04 x 10(6)/mm3 (p less than 0.05), was observed in all patients. The platelet count remained normal for 15, 21 and 30 days after discontinuation of IFN-alpha 2a in 3 patients. In 2 patients the platelet count began to rise slowly two weeks after discontinuation of IFN-alpha 2a. Our preliminary observations suggest that purified recombinant human IFN-alpha 2a may effectively control progressive thrombocytosis in advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia and essential thrombocythemia. PMID- 2624664 TI - Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens in connective tissue disorders in India: prevalence and clinical correlations. AB - Antibodies to Extractable Nuclear Antigens (ENAs) namely Sm, nRNP, SS-A and SS-B were studied in 397 patients with various connective tissue diseases (CTD), 146 patients with inflammatory polyarthropathies, 16 cases of systemic vasculitides, and 39 normal subjects using counterimmunoelectrophoresis and double immunodiffusion methods. Anti-ENA antibodies were positive in 40.8 percent cases of Systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n = 191), 36.4 percent of overlap CTD (OCTD, n = 44), 27.8 percent of Sjogren's syndrome (n = 18), 10.6 percent of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS, n = 66) and 2.7 percent of rheumatoid arthritis (n = 111) patients. The correlation of these antibodies with disease features was done. The significant finding was negative association of anti-nRNP antibodies (when present alone) with renal involvement. Anti-Sm antibodies did not correlate with any disease feature. The other associations included correlation of anti-nRNP with pulmonary parenchymal lesions, anti-SS-A with serositis and pulmonary hypertension, and anti-SS-B with myocarditis and recurrent diarrhoea. We conclude that Anti-ENAs may correlate with certain subsets of these diseases but the subject is controversial. PMID- 2624665 TI - Atmospheric pollen and mold spores in Bangkok: a 15 year survey. AB - A 15-year survey of atmospheric pollen and mold spores was carried out in Bangkok, Thailand, from January 1973 to December 1987 by Durham's standard gravity slide sampler. The pollen and mold spore counts were presented. The peak of the pollen and mold spores occurred during the time of the year with lower average temperature, relative humidity and rain-fall. For pollen, this was from November to January and for mold spores from December to February. Mold spores of the Class Fungi Imperfecti were predominant and most likely the major fungi in mold allergy. Grass was the principal air-borne pollen. PMID- 2624666 TI - The effect of immunotherapy on the in vitro productions of histamine, prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene C4 in asthmatic children. AB - In order to elucidate the working mechanisms of immunotherapy (IT), the in vitro productions of histamine, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) were studied in 18 newly diagnosed and 20 hyposensitized (greater than 2 yr) asthmatic children. All were sensitive to house dust and dust mites. (D. pteronyssinus). Ten age-matched normal children were included as control. Polymorphonuclear (PMNs) and mononuclear (MNCs) leukocytes were separated by density gradient centrifugation and dextran sedimentation. PMNs (2 x 10(7) cells/ml) and MNCs (2 x 10(7) cells/ml) were stimulated with mite allergen (10 micrograms/ml) and calcium ionophore A23187 (1 microgram/ml) for 15 minutes. The plasma and culture supernatant (sup) histamine levels and sup PGE2 and LTC4 were measured by RIA. The results showed; 1) When compared to new patients, the treated patients had much lower plasma and sup histamine (p less than 0.001), no matter whether PMNs and MNCs were stimulated with allergen or A23187 and the normals had the lowest histamine level among 3 groups; 2) LTC4 in A23187-stimulated sup was lower in treated patients (p less than 0.05); 3) The PGE2 in allergen-stimulated sup was markedly increased in treated patients as compared to new patients (p less than 0.01) and the PGE2 in sup of normals was also much higher than that of new patients. Thus, immunotherapy is able to reverse the abnormal secretory pattern of inflammatory mediators of allergic patients, and this change may account, partly, for its clinical effectiveness. PMID- 2624667 TI - Effectiveness of different methods to eliminate interference by thyroglobulin antibodies in the ELISA for thyroid microsomal autoantibodies. AB - Thyroid microsomal autoantibodies (TMA) have been mostly detected by means of either immunofluorescence (IF), tanned red cell haemagglutination (TRCH), or radioimmunoassay (RIA) until the recent development of ELISA. False positives in the ELISA for the detection of TMA due to interference by thyroglobulin antibodies (TGA) present in some test sera reacting with thyroglobulin (Tg) present as a contaminant in the thyroid microsomal preparation (TMP) appears to be common. In this study we tried various ways of removing any Tg contaminant in the TMP by further gel filtration, affinity chromatography of the microsomal preparation or preincubation of the test sera with either Tg or Tg-sepharose 4B immunoadsorbent to absorb out TGA present in the sera. Further gel filtration and affinity purification of the TMP failed to totally remove all the contaminating Tg. Preincubation with Tg effectively removed any TGA present in the test sera but resulted in inhibition of the TMA-thyroid microsomal antigen reaction in the test sera including those without TGA. Preincubation with Tg-immunoadsorbent equally effectively absorbed out any TGA present in the test sera but without significant inhibition of the assay reaction in TGA-free sera. The preincubation of the TMP with Tg-immunoadsorbent is an effective way of removing TGA present in sera without inhibiting the test reaction and thus resulting in false negatives especially in low-titre sera as occurs with the presence of free Tg in the test system. PMID- 2624668 TI - Hepatitis B antigen and antibody in patients with leprosy: a study of three resettlement villages in Thailand. AB - It remains uncertain whether the cellular immune abnormalities of patients with lepromatous leprosy interfere with resolution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. To investigate this question in an area coendemic for the two diseases, we determined the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) in: 1) 204 leprosy patients living in three leprosy resettlement villages; 2) 198 contacts living in the same villages; and 3) 44 newly diagnosed leprosy patients in Thailand. Within the villages, the prevalence of HBsAg positivity was inversely related to age, tended to be more frequent in patients with tuberculoid than lepromatous leprosy, and was similar after age adjustment among persons with and without leprosy. The prevalence of HBV markers found in newly diagnosed patients was similar to that in the villagers. We conclude that extensive HBV transmission had occurred in the resettlement villages and that the natural history of HBV infection was similar in persons with, whether tuberculoid or lepromatous, and without leprosy. PMID- 2624669 TI - Pre-operative and post-operative evaluation of circulating immune complexes in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. AB - Circulating immune complexes (CICs) in the sera of patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of stomach were sequentially studied. Serial CICs levels, quantitated using a sensitive method F(ab')2 anti-C3 ELISA, were measured before surgery and in a post-operative follow up. CICs could be detected in 85% of the patients pre-operatively, while ten days after surgery positivity decreased to 71%. Thirty days after surgery, the mean CIC levels decreased significantly and positivity fell to 46%. The results indicate that removal of primary tumor mass results in a sharp decline of CIC levels. PMID- 2624670 TI - Pre-exposure vaccination with purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccines in children. AB - Children who have close contact with rabid dogs, with a history of neither being bitten nor scratched nor licked on broken skin or on mucous membranes were given purified chick embryo rabies vaccine as pre-exposure prophylaxis. Thirteen children received 0.5 ml of the vaccine, while 12 children received 1 ml of the vaccine intramuscularly on days 0, 7 and 28. The rabies antibody level was measured by a standard mouse neutralization test. Before vaccination, all vaccinees had no detectable level of antibody to rabies. On day 14, all children had antibody levels higher than 0.5 IU/ml; the titer peaked from day 28 to day 56 and then was lower on day 90. Children of the 1 ml group had antibody levels higher than the 0.5 ml group, but there was no statistically significant difference. No serious reaction occurred. At 2-3 years of follow up, all children were doing well. PMID- 2624671 TI - Structural characterization of tatiopterin, a novel pterin isolated from Methanogenium tationis. AB - Cofactor extracts of Methanogenium tationis were screened for the presence of pterin-derivatives. Methanopterin, sarcinapterin and 7-methylpterin were absent, while 2-amino-4-hydroxy-pteridine and another blue fluorescent compound with a pterin spectrum were detected. The latter pterin was purified by ion exchange and reversed-phase column chromatography. The structure of this compound was elucidated by combining spectrophotometry, amino acid analysis and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The pterin, which we named tatiopterin, was identified as an aspartyl derivative of sarcinapterin with a 7-proton instead of a 7-methyl group in the pterin moiety. The IUPAC name is: N-[-1'-(2''-amino-4''-hydroxy-7''-proton 6''-pteridinyl)ethyl]-4- [2',3',4',5'-tetrahydroxypent-1'-yl(5'----1'')O-alpha- ribofuranosyl-5''-phosphoric acid]aniline, in which the phosphate group is esterified with alpha-hydroxyglutarylglutamylaspartic acid. PMID- 2624672 TI - The distribution of glucosamine in mammalian glycogen from different species, organs and tissues. AB - The reasons for the occurrence of trace amounts of glucosamine in animal liver glycogens have been explored. Human liver glycogen is now shown to contain this amino sugar. Galactosamine, known to be the source of the incorporated glucosamine, is found to give rise to glucosamine in glycogen when administered orally, or as the N-acetyl derivative. The rabbit can also incorporate glucosamine into kidney glycogen but not into glycogen in heart or skeletal muscle. These experiments led to the discovery that glucosamine is incorporated into rabbit liver glycogen in such a way that there is intermolecular heterogeneity in the content of glucosamine, suggesting that there exists more than one pool of liver glycogen. PMID- 2624673 TI - Interaction of metals at the reaction center of lipoamidase. AB - Various metals have been shown to inhibit porcine brain lipoamidase activity at 0.1 mM, but not ferrous and ferric ions. However, in the presence of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) 0.1 mM iron ions did inhibit the activity. No other metals exhibited this type of increased inhibition with the addition of EDTA. The ferric- and ferrous-EDTA compounds were equally effective. Various Fe-containing compounds also inhibited the enzyme activity, the order of inhibition being: EDTA greater than o-phenanthroline greater than azide greater than citrate. Hemin also inhibited the enzyme activity strongly. However, Fe proteins, e.g. cytochrome c, transferrin and peroxidases, were not inhibitory. These results indicate the importance of Fe ion chelates with structural and molecular size differences for interaction with the reaction center of this enzyme. PMID- 2624674 TI - Autoantibodies in myotonic dystrophy. AB - We evaluated some immunological parameters in a group of 24 patients affected with myotonic dystrophy (MD). IgG, IgA, IgM immunoglobulin serum levels resulted decreased in most of the patients. Anti-smooth-muscle antibodies have been found in 10 out of 24 patients (45.5%). Moreover in some of them decreased C3 and C4 complement fraction serum levels have been found. Our data confirm the existence of some immunological abnormalities in a great number of subjects affected with the disease. Besides, these data evidence for most of the subjects the presence of autoantibodies non-organ-specific direct against myocellular antigens. These autoantibodies could be considered the expression of suffering of muscular fibres. PMID- 2624675 TI - [Anaphylaxis induced by exercise]. AB - Exercise-induced anaphylaxis EIA is a syndrome most often initiated by food allergy. Objective or diagnostic proof of the condition is shown by a provocation test from ingestion of a food before or after exercise, according to clinical history, with assay of plasma histamine and spirometry or rhinamometry. The original part of this work is evidence of EIA linked to food allergy to wheat, with cross reactivity to grass pollens. PMID- 2624676 TI - Epidemiology of asthma and allergic rhinitis in two coastal regions of Saudi Arabia. AB - In a study of 1953 school children living in two coastal urban areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we used a questionnaire to collect details of age, sex, areas of residence, occupation, education, social class, parental history of asthma and information relating to parental smoking habit. The relative importance of those factors on the likelihood of children having bronchial asthma was assessed using logistic regression and a linear modelling analysis. The extent to which these factors affected the severity of bronchial asthma was also examined. A number of statistically significant associations between bronchial asthma and "breathlessness" (P less than 0.001), "Fathers smoker" (P less than 0.001), "usually cough" (P less than 0.001), "pets" (P less than 0.001), "Family history of allergy" (P less than 0.01), were found. PMID- 2624677 TI - [Is it necessary to test children having summer respiratory problems with cereal pollens?]. AB - We tested 100 children with clinical signs that occurred in spring or summer. Prick tests were made with extracts of wild grass pollens (Dactylis, Phleum, Lolium) and with separate cereal pollens (Wheat, oats, Sweet-corn Barley and Rye). In 20 children whose test was negative for wild grass pollen, we saw no sensitization to cereals. In 80 children with grass pollenosis, Barley and Rye are the cereals that gave the most positive prick tests, whilst sweet corn is the cereal with most negative tests. PMID- 2624678 TI - [Respiratory sensitization to molds in children: myth or reality?]. AB - The authors have made a systematic study by PRICK-test and RAST, sometimes followed by a rhino-manometric provocation, of the frequency of sensitization to the two moulds Alternaria and Cladosporium in 200 "all comers" children in a paediatric consultation. The frequency was low, only 10% for those consulting in the groups of asthma, rhinitis, pollinosis, repeated respiratory infections and syndromes of obstructed expiration taken together, and 13% for allergic asthma only. This sensitivity is rarely isolated, but is most often accompanied, or complicated by, other pneumoallergens, such as dust, mites, pollens and sometimes cockroaches. It imposes certain particular clinical traits on asthma (summer asthma or recurring asthma) and in others appears to be strongly influenced by the habitat. The skin tests seem to be very weak and RAST insufficient to be sure of real sensitization. Diagnosis, always difficult, is probably best done by a provocation test (preferably rhino-manometry) and this jumps over the bundle of clinical and biological arguments, as well as being, at least in our country, the most useful mimic of atmospheric moulds. The authors insist on the importance of the interrogation which should be concerned with the chronological and environmental circumstances and all respiratory infections that are suspected of having an allergic factor. PMID- 2624679 TI - [Specific immunotherapy using the slow alpha fraction of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Efficacy; tolerance]. AB - This open study was made on 126 patients (72 men, 54 women). Specific immunotherapy (IT) commenced in 1988 with the Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus alpha fraction (alpha -F Dpt) a new standardised, purified allergen, of better quality, but more reactive. The patient were aged between 4 and 66 years (mean 23.1 years) the subjects were young and the majority were male. Most (93.6%) showed at least respiratory symptoms (asthma, rhinitis). In about a quarter of the patients there were also dermatological and ocular symptoms. The patients were usually desensitized according to the classical technique (76.6%) we recorded semi-accelerated IT in only one case. Overall, IT with alpha-F Dpt was efficacious (54.7% O and well tolerated (74.5%). Efficacy and tolerance were better with the "accelerated" technique than the classic (respectively 73.9% against 60.6% and 86.9%). In contrast, efficacy and tolerance were not influenced by age or sex. Finally, we believe that IT has more chance of being efficacious if the initial biological values are more significant. PMID- 2624680 TI - Effect of oral bacterial lysates on serum immunoglobulins. AB - The level of serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE has been studied before and after oral immunotherapy with a bacterial lysate in 88 patients with bronchial asthma, repeated respiratory infection and 12 cases of IgA deficiency. A significant increase in IgA has been observed in 9 patients presenting initially a decreased IgA serum level. In 3 patients without response to the standard treatment an increase in IgA was achieved increasing the dosage of oral bacterial lysate. Oral bacterial lysates could be an useful immunomodulating agent in repeated respiratory infections associated or not with IgA deficiency. PMID- 2624681 TI - [News and summaries from the seminar on evaluation of diagnostic tests for peranaesthetic anaphylactoid reactions. Nancy, 5 September 1989. Proceedings]. PMID- 2624682 TI - Structure and conformational analysis of lipid-associating peptides of apolipoprotein B-100 produced by trypsinolysis. AB - Apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B-100) contains putative lipid-associating regions that are, in part, responsible for its overall structure in human plasma low-density lipoproteins. Some of these regions have been identified by reassembly of the total tryptic peptides of apo B-100 with bovine brain sphingomyelin, 1-palmitoyl 2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DPMC). Although more than 500 tryptic peptides are predicted from the known number of arginines and lysines in apo B-100, significant amounts of only 13 peptides spontaneously associate with all three phospholipids. These peptides share some structural characteristics, as predicted by several algorithms, that distinguish them from the water-soluble apolipoproteins. Most apolipoproteins associate with lipids via amphipathic helices and are highly helical in native and reassembled lipoproteins. Analysis of all apo B-100 lipophilic peptides by circular dichroism and by use of a predictive algorithm reveals no evidence of amphipathic helices. Although the predictive algorithm suggested that the lipophilic peptides of apo B 100 contain the sequence determinants for beta-sheet, no spectroscopic evidence for this structure was found. We conclude that the lipophilic regions of apo B 100 liberated by trypsinolysis are highly hydrophobic, although their secondary structures do not fit any simple model. PMID- 2624683 TI - Dissociation and reconstitution of bovine seminal RNAase: construction of a hyperactive hybrid dimer. AB - The quaternary structure of bovine seminal ribonuclease, the only dimeric protein in the superfamily of ribonucleases, is maintained both by noncovalent forces and by two intersubunit disulfides. The available monomeric derivatives of the enzyme may not be reassembled into dimers. They are catalytically active, but do not retain certain properties of the dimeric enzyme, such as: (i) the ability to respond cooperatively to increasing substrate concentrations in the rate-limiting reaction step; and (ii) the antitumor and immunosuppressive actions. In this report we described the preparation of stable monomers of seminal ribonuclease which can be reassociated into covalent dimers indistinguishable from the native protein. With this procedure a hybrid dimer was constructed, made up of a native subunit associated to a subunit catalytically inactivated by selective alkylation of the active site His-119. This dimer was found to have enzymic properties typical of monomeric ribonucleases, such as a hyperbolic saturation curve in the hydrolytic rate-limiting step of the reaction. However, the hybrid dimer was one order-of-magnitude more active than the dimeric enzyme. PMID- 2624684 TI - Monte Carlo simulations of a protein molecule with and without hydration energy calculated by the hydration-shell model. AB - Monte Carlo simulations of a small protein, crambin, were carried out with and without hydration energy. The methodology presented here is characterized, as compared with the other similar simulations of proteins in solution, by two points: (1) protein conformations are treated in fixed geometry so that dihedral angles are independent variables rather than cartesian coordinates of atoms; and (2) instead of treating water molecules explicitly in the calculation, hydration energy is incorporated in the conformational energy function in the form of sigma giAi, where Ai is the accessible surface area of an atomic group i in a given conformation, and gi is the free energy of hydration per unit surface area of the atomic group (i.e., hydration-shell model). Reality of this model was tested by carrying out Monte Carlo simulations for the two kinds of starting conformations, native and unfolded ones, and in the two kinds of systems, in vacuo and solution. In the simulations starting from the native conformation, the differences between the mean properties in vacuo and solution simulations are not very large, but their fluctuations around the mean conformation during the simulation are relatively smaller in solution than in vacuo. On the other hand, in the simulations starting from the unfolded conformation, the molecule fluctuates much more largely in solution than in vacuo, and the effects of taking into account the hydration energy are pronounced very much. The results suggest that the method presented in this paper is useful for the simulations of proteins in solution. PMID- 2624685 TI - A radiotracer probe to study metal interaction with human lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes. AB - The electrophilic Ag+ ion was found to destroy completely the enzymatic activity of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme LDH-1 while other transition metal ions reduced its activity in varying degrees. A radiotracer probe involving 110mAg labeled silver ion was used to understand the mechanism of denaturation of LDH and also to determine the number of active sites, if any, for substrate binding with the enzyme. Purified LDH-l was reacted with 110mAg-labeled silver ion and the mixture was passed through the sephadex G-75-120 gel to separate the 110mAg LDH complex that might be formed during the reaction. The resulting elution curve revealed that a stable complex was formed. From the total radioactivity of 110mAg bound LDH, the specific activity of labeled Ag+ and the amount of LDH used the ratio of the number of moles of Ag+ reacted with 1 mol of LDH was computed. This was found to be approximately 4.0, indicating that there are four binding sites in LDD, probably one on each subunit. Kinetic studies of LDH catalysis of L-P reaction in the presence and absence of Ag+ ion suggest that silver ion is involved in competitive inhibition and that the interaction conforms to the "lock and-key" model. The inhibition of catalysis by other metals is presumably of a noncompetitive type. PMID- 2624686 TI - Generation of species-specific antihemoglobin antibodies by immunization with synthetic peptides of human hemoglobin. AB - Four peptides (7-16 residues) representing nonconserved regions of human hemoglobin (Hb) were selected for synthesis by comparison of the amino acid sequence of human Hb with those of the most common domesticated animals. Mouse antisera resulting from immunization with the synthetic peptides were investigated for binding to a panel of animal Hbs using solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). One of the peptides elicited antibodies which bound specifically to human Hb, but not to any Hb of the nonprimate animals tested. The results show that the peptide immunogen chosen on the basis of dissimilarity between regions of different species is useful for the generation of species specific antibodies. Such antibodies could serve as valuable tools for clinical screening of fecal occult blood trait and for forensic identification of bloodstains of human origin. PMID- 2624687 TI - The primary structure of papaya mosaic virus coat protein: a revision. AB - The presence of an acetyl blocking group at the N-terminus of the coat protein of papaya mosaic virus has been identified by FAB mass spectrometry. Furthermore, we have found that the N-terminal sequence of the protein is four amino-acid residues (AC-Ser-Lys-Ser-Ser-) longer than that previously reported, while Glu instead of Gln is the C-terminal residue. The present paper shows that PMV protein is made up of 215 amino acid residues, with a molecular mass of 22,960 Da. PMID- 2624688 TI - A proton nuclear magnetic resonance study on the solution structure of crotamine. AB - Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of crotamine, a myotoxic protein from a Brazilian rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus), have been analyzed. All the aromatic proton resonances have been assigned to amino acid types, and those from Tyr-1, Phe-12, and Phe-25 to the individual residues. The pH dependence of the chemical shifts of the aromatic proton resonances indicates that Tyr-1 and one of the two histidines (His-5 or His-10) are in close proximity. A conformational transition takes place at acidic pH, together with immobilization of Met-28 and His-5 or His-10. Two sets of proton resonances have been observed for Ile-17 and His-5 or His-10, which suggests the presence of two structural states for the crotamine molecule in solution. PMID- 2624689 TI - An evaluation of the accuracy of screening antisperm antibodies using the combined GAM immunobead. AB - A simplified method of screening for antisperm antibodies has been previously described using rabbit antihuman immunoglobulin immunobeads (GAM beads). These reports have indicated a high correlation between the GAM bead and maximal individual isotype binding. However, preliminary data in our laboratory (using a 14% cut-off criterion) indicated a high frequency of samples with positive GAM bead, but negative individual isotype results. This study was conducted to evaluate more critically the use of the GAM bead for initial antisperm antibody screening. Immunobead binding tests were performed on 98 undiluted sera. The maximal binding of the individual isotype beads (IgG, IgA, or IgM) and the GAM beads were significantly correlated (r = 0.94, P = 0.0001). However, when results were categorized as positive or negative, there was a significantly lower frequency (P less than 0.05) of positive samples using the individual isotype (46.9%) than using the GAM approach (58.2%). These data support the hypothesis that, based on continuous percent binding, the GAM bead method produces results similar to individual isotype testing. However, when data are interpreted categorically, the results may differ significantly. PMID- 2624690 TI - Flame burns involving kerosene pressure stoves in India. AB - The author has analysed 339 patients with extensive burns admitted to a teaching hospital and found them to be most common in poor socioeconomic groups with low incomes, poor housing and illiteracy. Thermal injuries afflicted 89 per cent of the patients and were generally accidental and occurred in homes with floor-level cooking: chemical and electrical burns (the remaining 11 per cent) were uncommon. Kerosene pressure stove accidents were a common cause of thermal burns and occurred in 65 per cent of the patients. These were reported in both sexes but were 3.5 times more common in females. Mishandling of kerosene pressure stoves was the commonest cause and occurred in 65.7 per cent of the patients and the next most common cause was wearing loose garments. Kerosene pressure stove accidents occurred commonly in the age group 16-35 years and were rare in other age groups. These burns were relatively more extensive, deep and carried a high mortality. PMID- 2624691 TI - Acute gastric mucosal lesions, haemodynamic and microcirculatory changes in the thermally injured rat. AB - Early postburn changes in central haemodynamics, organ blood flow distribution and morphology of the gastric mucosa were studied using a standarized thermal skin injury model. Organ blood flow and cardiac output were determined using radioactive microspheres. In the control animals no marked changes in cardiac output or organ blood flow were observed, and the gastric mucosa remained essentially undamaged. After burn injury and no fluid resuscitation, cardiac output decreased by 78 per cent, and blood flow to the stomach, pancreas, spleen, muscle, skin and kidneys also decreased markedly and to about the same degree as the cardiac output, however the adrenal flow remained roughly unchanged at the baseline level. Gross and microscopic lesions developed in the stomach, especially in the corpus. In animals given fluid resuscitation after burn injury cardiac output decreased by 38 per cent during the experiment, but blood flow in the stomach, brain, kidneys and spleen remained fairly constant, while pancreatic and muscle blood flow decreased and adrenal blood flow increased markedly. The gastric mucosa showed only minor microscopic, but no macroscopic lesions at the end of the experiment. The results indicate that acute thermal skin injury induces profound changes in central haemodynamics and organ blood flow which can, however, largely be overcome by adequate fluid resuscitation. The data also suggest that, as in other examples of 'stress ulceration', impaired mucosal blood flow may underlie the stress ulceration which complicates severe burns. PMID- 2624692 TI - Water vapour permeance: a meaningful measure for water vapour permeability of wound coverings. AB - For comparison of the evaporative water loss through wound coverings, it is necessary to have an accurate and reliable method of measurement. The water vapour permeance (WVP), obtained with the Evaporimeter, meets these requirements, under both in vitro and in vivo circumstances. PMID- 2624693 TI - Pulmonary embolism in burned children. AB - There are occasional reports in the literature concerning the incidence of pulmonary embolism in the postburn population, but reports of burned children are especially rare. The clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is particularly difficult in these populations due to the postburn pulmonary complications of pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, and changes incurred through inhalation injury. A retrospective review of all patient deaths occurring at this institution during the past 22 years was performed in order to document the incidence of pulmonary embolism in burned children. Of the 6589 patients admitted during this time, 178 patients died (2.7%) and three (1.7%) deaths were attributable to pulmonary embolism. Two other deaths (1.1%) were associated with deep vein thrombosis. The incidence of pulmonary embolism can then be calculated at 46 per 100,000 admissions in this population of burned children. Burned patients always pose an increased risk for the development of pulmonary embolism. These patients are traumatized, require multiple venous and/or arterial cannulations, undergo multiple surgical procedures, are immobile for prolonged periods, prone to infectious processes and fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Despite all these risk factors, the incidence of pulmonary embolism is less than 2 per cent of all deaths in this postburn paediatric population. PMID- 2624694 TI - Chemical burns. AB - This study reports the incidence and nature of chemical burns admitted to a large regional burns unit between 1 January 1981 and 31 December 1987. Of the 3251 patients admitted, 100 had sustained chemical burns; although they only comprised 3.1 per cent of the workload they accounted for 16.5 per cent of all industrial burning accidents. The victims were mainly male adults of working age. Alkaline materials caused 37 per cent of the accidents, 26 per cent attributable to caustic soda; acids caused a further 27 per cent, hydrofluoric acid accounting for half of these. The nature of the chemical was unknown in 13 per cent of the cases; this, together with the fact that workers were often unaware that they were using hazardous substances gives cause for concern. The methods for managing a diverse range of chemical burns are described. PMID- 2624695 TI - Sulphuric acid burns: report of a mass domestic accident. AB - An unusual domestic accident involving concentrated sulphuric acid and affecting seven children ranging between 3 and 7 years is reported. Three had major burns with one having a 60 per cent mostly full skin thickness burn. This last patient is reported in detail and problems of sulphuric acid burns and their management are discussed. PMID- 2624696 TI - Neck contracture as a rare complication of cervical soft tissue expansion. AB - An unusual complication using an inflatable silicon implant for removing postburn scarred tissue of the neck and face is described. The appearance of a fibrotic band along the inflating tube caused neck contracture. The purpose of this article is to present this uncommon complication and to emphasize the technical error when using the tissue expander in the neck region. PMID- 2624697 TI - Costal chondritis following very deep flame burns involving the chest wall. AB - Costal chondritis, an unusual and severe infection of the costal cartilages, has infrequently been reported as a complication of burns. As deep burns of the chest wall may result in infection of these cartilages, therapy must be directed at complete resection of the involved cartilages. We describe the clinical course of a 19-year-old woman who sustained this complication following early and aggressive debridement of very deep flame burns involving the chest wall. Excision and coverage with skin grafts, involving several operations, resulted in complete healing 3 months after injury. PMID- 2624698 TI - Legionnaire's pneumonia complicating a thermal burn. AB - The report describes a patient with 45 per cent BSA burns who developed Legionnaire's disease 3 days after the acute injury. The diagnosis of this life threatening complication was late because most of its signs and symptoms can be encountered in the burned patient. This delay could have been fatal to the patient and required the evacuation of the burn centre for disinfection. PMID- 2624699 TI - Reconstruction of postburn sequelae with expanded flaps. AB - The reconstruction of important skin shortages can only be done with local tissue after expansion has provided the skin demanded by the procedure. None the less, it is pointed out that the most important commitment is the planning of all the steps in the reconstruction, like a chess game, and the management of the expanded skin in the classical way as rotation, transposition, and advancement flaps. Nineteen patients with extensive alopecia and three patients with deformities of body contour and scars, were treated with a Radovan-type expander. The results exceeded all the predictable results with other techniques because all of them were 'impossible' cases for the classical reconstructive techniques. The complications are outlined, some of which are related to technical aspects. PMID- 2624700 TI - Modified fluid regimen for an extensively burned patient with a previous major amputation. PMID- 2624701 TI - The influence of product factors on the migration in soft polyvinyl chloride infusion fluid bags. AB - The concentration of epoxidized vegetable oils (EVO) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in infusion fluids in soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags has been determined by gas-liquid chromatography prior to and after agitation. Normal saline, isotonic glucose and Ringer acetate from four different manufacturers were investigated. Agitation resulted in an increased concentration of EVO and DEHP. Significant differences in contamination level were observed between solutions of different compositions and in synonymous preparations from different manufacturers. The results indicated that the total amount of migrating EVO and DEHP was affected by the pH of the solution and by the age of the plastic material. It is suggested that the migration of EVO and DEHP during agitation is influenced by the concentration of plastic degradation products. PMID- 2624702 TI - The influence of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and stearates on the migration in soft polyvinyl chloride infusion fluid bags. AB - The influence of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and stearates on the migration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and epoxidized vegetable oils (EVO) in soft polyvinyl chloride infusion fluid bags during agitation has been investigated by gas-liquid chromatography. Normal saline, isotonic glucose and Ringer acetate from 3 different manufacturers were investigated. A covariation was observed between the MEHP concentration in the solution and the pH. The MEHP concentration was not influenced by agitation. There was no correlation between the MEHP concentration in the solution and the migration of EVO and DEHP, or between the stearate concentration and the EVO and DEHP migration. PMID- 2624703 TI - Kinetics of hydrolysis of indomethacin and indomethacin ester prodrugs in aqueous solution. AB - The kinetics of hydrolysis of indomethacin and a glycolamide ester of the drug was studied to assess the possibility of designing a water-soluble and solution stable prodrug of indomethacin suitable for parenteral or ocular administration. The pH-rate profiles for these compounds were obtained at 60 degrees C and were accounted for by specific acid and base catalytic reactions as well as by a water catalyzed hydrolysis. From temperature-accelerated studies, pH-rate profiles at 25 degrees C were predicted. Indomethacin and its ester showed maximal stability at pH 4.9 and 4.7, respectively, the shelf lives at these pH values and 25 degrees C being 2.0 years for indomethacin but only 43 days for the ester. The ester degrades both at its ester group and at the indole amide group of the indomethacin moiety, and shows a very pronounced water-catalyzed hydrolysis which accounts for the limited stability. It is concluded that the design of an indomethacin ester prodrug with a stability allowing formulation of a ready-to use aqueous solution may be difficult. PMID- 2624704 TI - Kinetics of the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of cimetidine. AB - The kinetics of hydrolysis of cimetidine was studied in 0.01-1 M hydrochloric acid solutions (pH 0.15-2.15) at 37 degrees C. The hydrolytic cleavage of the cyanoguanidino group in cimetidine to give a guanylurea derivative was found to proceed quantitatively, as evidenced by HPLC analysis. The rate of hydrolysis was subject to specific acid catalysis, the specific hydrogen ion catalytic rate constant being 3.6 X 10(-3) M-1 min-1 at 37 degrees C and mu = 0.5. Increased ionic strength accelerated the rate of hydrolysis. The possible significance of the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis for the stability of cimetidine during its transit through the stomach after peroral administration was assessed. It was estimated that in the gastric pH range 1-2 and with a gastric emptying half-time of 50 min, only 0.3-2.5% of an ingested dose would be hydrolyzed in the stomach. PMID- 2624705 TI - Comparative dissolution studies of rectal formulations using the Basket, the Paddle and the Flow-Through methods. I. Paracetamol in suppositories and soft gelatin capsules of both hydrophilic and lipophilic types. AB - The applicabilities of the Paddle, the Basket and the Flow-Through methods have been investigated for seven different rectal compositions of hydrophilic and lipophilic type. The formulations were studied with respect to in vitro dissolution rate and behaviour in the different techniques. It was found that the composition has a considerable influence on the behaviour of the dosage form and this must be taken into account when judging the applicabilities of the three dissolution tests. The Paddle, the Basket and the Flow-Through methods are considered to be equivalent methods for the dissolving suppositories tested. The Flow-Through method is applicable for all the seven compositions tested; however, a low flow rate (8 ml/min) is necessary to use for soft gelatin capsules when both the coefficient of variation and the behaviour of the dosages within the techniques is taken into consideration. PMID- 2624706 TI - Genomic adaptability in somatic cell specialization. PMID- 2624707 TI - Chronic choline treatment improves the "in vivo" membrane permeability of old hepatocytes to Rb+. AB - Adult and old controls as well as old female rats, treated with choline (100 mg/day in the drinking water) from adulthood, were daily injected intraperitoneally with 30 mg RbCl/100 g body with Rb+. After cessation of the RbCl treatment, the animals were killed at intervals of 2, 4, 9 and 16 days, respectively. The intracellular Rb+ and K+ contents were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, whereas concentrations of these two ions were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the serum. Old animals accumulate more Rb+ than the adult ones at any given time. Choline treatment was able to reduce the amount of accumulated Rb+ in old rats. Rb(+)-discrimination ratio, calculated on the basis of Rb+ and K+ contents of both hepatocyte and serum, is higher in old rats as compared to both adult and old choline-treated rats. Present findings support that chronic choline treatment is effective in improving the passive membrane permeability of hepatocytes for Rb+ in the old animals. PMID- 2624708 TI - [Effects of modulation of the redox system on endogenous lipoperoxidation in the rat central nervous system]. AB - In this study we have measured malonaldehyde (MDA) as an index of endogenous lipoperoxidation, the latter being a relevant aspect of oxidative stress that occurs in different neuronal systems. Our results clearly demonstrate that in physiological conditions specific neuronal systems exhibit a different rate of MDA formation among which substantia nigra neurons show a particular vulnerability to oxidative stress. Chronic ethanol treatment significantly enhances MDA production, particularly at the level of cholinergic structures (septum) as well as in the dopaminergic system (substantia nigra) and cortex. On the other hand, treatment with glutathione is able to decrease MDA formation, pointing out the possibility of an exogenous modulation of redox balance in brain cells. PMID- 2624709 TI - [Hemorheological and coagulation aspects in plasmacytoma]. AB - We reported the main rheological and coagulative features in seven patients affected with monoclonal gammapathy: four of them presented IgA class paraprotein, two IgM class paraprotein and one IgG class paraprotein. All presented increased plasma and serum viscosity. The four patients affected with IgA monoclonal paraproteinaemia underwent one plasma volume plasmapheresis. This procedure has been demonstrated to be useful and effective in reducing both plasma and serum viscosity. PMID- 2624710 TI - [Quantitative and qualitative variations in the glycoproteins in the chick embryo brain]. AB - Sugar content was examined in soluble and insoluble glycoproteins extracted from the chick embryo brain at different developmental stages. The content of hexosamines and uronic acids in the soluble fraction is higher during the whole period examined. The difference between the two fractions reaches a maximum at the 15th day. The insoluble fraction shows the highest content of sialic acid and fucose in comparison with the soluble one, especially toward hatching. The sialic acid/fucose ratio shows a different pattern in the two fractions examined, particularly in the soluble glycoproteins. The patterns of sialic acid and fucose indicate that quantitative and qualitative developmental changes occur in the soluble and insoluble glycoproteins. All sugars examined show significant changes on the 15th day, suggesting that this stage may represent a critical period in the development of the chick embryo brain. PMID- 2624711 TI - Kinetics of amiloride in rat following oral and intravenous administration. AB - The disposition profile of amiloride, a potassium sparing agent, was studied in rats by using an HPLC method coupled to spectrofluorometric detection. Amiloride was administered orally and intravenously at the dose of 10 mg/Kg. The most relevant pharmacokinetic parameters are described for both administration routes. PMID- 2624712 TI - Effect of buspirone on glutathione hepatic levels in rat. AB - The effect of oral administration of buspirone (0.5-1.0 and 2.0 mg/Kg) on GSH levels was studied in rat liver. The modulating activity of buspirone on hepatic content of this tripeptide is clearly opposite to that of DAZ, put into evidence by us in previous works. Thus our observations let us hypothesize a different mechanism of action for buspirone than that for benzodiazepines. PMID- 2624713 TI - [Potentiation of the gastro-protective effect of sulglicotide in the presence of cimetidine in the rat]. AB - The effects of sulglicotide, alone or combined with cimetidine, have been investigated on mucosal lesions induced in rats by pylorus ligation. In the same animals, the measurement of acid and pepsin output and of soluble and barrier mucus has been performed. Dose-dependent sulglicotide prevented the development of mucosal lesions and its protective effect was achieved without significant modifications in gastric acid secretion. The secretion of pepsin and of mucus was markedly inhibited at every dosage of the compound. Neither the damage to gastric mucosa nor the secretion of acid, pepsin and mucus were affected by cimetidine. The combination of the highest doses of both compounds resulted in a synergistic gastro-protective effect, not dependent on a synergistic effect on the reduction in acid secretion. PMID- 2624714 TI - Ascorbic acid as a factor controlling "in vivo" its biosynthetic pathway. AB - The capacity of ascorbic acid biosynthesis in potato tuber tissue is closely correlated with the ascorbic acid content of the cells: the lower the endogenous content of ascorbic acid, the greater its biosynthesis. At the highest level of ascorbic acid found in the cells, the biosynthetic capacity is virtually zero. In these conditions, adding glucose (the first precursor of ascorbic acid) has no effect whatsoever, whereas adding galactono-gamma-lactone (the last precursor) induces a high rate of ascorbic acid synthesis. It is suggested that AA biosynthesis is subject to a regulatory mechanism "in vivo" which controls an initial step in the biosynthetic pathway. The last step in this pathway, catalyzed by galactone oxidase, is never blocked and, moreover, its activity is greater than that of the preceding steps. PMID- 2624715 TI - [New technic for purification of lymphocytes for HLA typing]. AB - Many of the difficulties encountered in HLA typing derive from the separation of relatively pure cell suspensions for the lymphocytotoxicity test. We have used Immunomagnetic Beads (I.B.) coated with anti-CD8 or CD2 MAb for Class I positive cell selection and I.B. coated with anti-DR for Class II. With this method, compared to traditional techniques, we obtained high purity and viability of cell populations (about 90%), directly from whole blood in 25 minutes. Shorter incubation with antisera and complement was needed and the global time of tissue typing results decreased (150 min. versus 6 hours). There was no single discrepancy in the tissue typing results between I.B. and traditional methods. PMID- 2624716 TI - May preclinical markers of brain infection by HIV be detected? A cognitive, CSF and neuroradiological investigation. AB - A group of patients with HIV infection in various stages of the disease was studied with regard to CSF, neuroradiological and neuropsychological aspects. A considerable number of them showed signs of CNS involvement, as revealed by abnormalities in all the three fields investigated, despite a frequently unremarkable neurological examination. The findings of CSF alterations, neuroradiological abnormalities and selective cognitive impairment in the absence of opportunistic infections of the CNS support the hypothesis of an early and direct action of HIV on the nervous system. PMID- 2624717 TI - Effects of low-fat diets on gastric stress-induced ulcers after barbiturate administration in rats. AB - The effect of low-fat diets on appearance of stress-induced gastric ulcers was tested in rats consuming phenobarbital (0.25 ml/100g/day) during 1 week. The results showed a significant increase of the ulcerated area in the stomachs of the rats fed by low-fat diets, versus controls. It seemed that a diet adequate in lipids may decrease the ulcerogenic effects induced by chronic use of phenobarbital. PMID- 2624718 TI - [The eruption of anterior teeth and the incidence of aplasi (tooth)]. PMID- 2624719 TI - [Do we perform unnecessary dentistry?]. PMID- 2624721 TI - Visual field defects. PMID- 2624720 TI - Tick, tick, tick ... there's a time bomb out there. PMID- 2624722 TI - Detection and recognition of visual field defects resulting from lesions involving the visual pathways. AB - A prospective study of visual field defects associated with lesions of the visual pathway was carried out using kinetic and suprathreshold static stimuli with a view to establishing the most effective screening method for these field defects. The 215 abnormal fields so obtained showed that all field defects due to lesions of the visual pathways are detectable within 30 degrees of fixation and that not only is central field testing mandatory in excluding such a field defect, but more peripheral field testing alone is ineffective. This study also revealed that when kinetic fields are charted, it is probably not worthwhile searching for scotomata other than within the most central part of the field. Furthermore, where outer and inner isopter depression is not coextensive, inner isopters are always depressed more than outer isopters when the field defect is due to a lesion of the visual pathway. PMID- 2624723 TI - Cavernous haemangiomas of the orbit. AB - Cavernous haemangiomas are well circumscribed vascular masses which commonly occur in middle-aged women. The majority occur within the muscle cone lateral to the optic nerve and produce a slowly progressive and painless proptosis. Predilection for sites lateral to the optic nerve may be related to origin from arterial rather than venous elements. Complete excision is usually possible and surgical morbidity is low. A series of 85 consecutive cases is reported. PMID- 2624724 TI - Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome--isolation of cloned T cells with specificity for melanocytes and melanoma cells. AB - The pathogenesis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome is poorly understood. A unifying mechanism for its diverse clinical manifestations affecting central nervous system, eye, integument and auditory system has not been found, although many authors have suggested that the features of the disease are the result of autoimmune responses. We performed immunological studies on two patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. In one case antibodies to melanoma cells in cytotoxic assay were detected, which it was thought may indicate the presence of antibodies to melanocytes. In the second patient three clones of interleukin-2 dependent T cells were isolated which appeared to have specificity in both cytotoxic and proliferative assays to cultured normal melanocytes and to three allogeneic melanoma cells. These findings further support a role for autoimmunity to pigmented cells in the pathogenesis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. However, the precise role of autoimmunity in this disease is yet to be established. PMID- 2624725 TI - The significance of reactions to betaxolol reported by patients. AB - Some patients may experience respiratory side effects on betaxolol in spite of the greater safety which is claimed for this ocular hypotensive drug compared with timolol. Six of 29 patients using betaxolol complained of wheeze or respiratory distress and five of these patients were rechallenged with betaxolol and a placebo in a double-masked clinical study, respiratory function being measured before and after each medication according to the American Thoracic Society guidelines. No patient showed any change in respiratory function either with betaxolol or the placebo. The findings further support the safety of betaxolol even in patients with respiratory disease, though some caution should be observed. PMID- 2624726 TI - Inter-observer comparisons of ophthalmoscopic assessment of diabetic retinopathy. AB - Five hundred patients attending a general diabetic clinic were examined ophthalmoscopically both by a non-ophthalmic practitioner (NOP) and by an ophthalmologist. The findings were recorded on separate data sheets and the staging of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and grading of diabetic maculopathy by the NOP is compared with that of the ophthalmologist. Comparisons are made for NOPs collectively and for subgroups of NOPs of different levels of experience in ophthalmoscopic assessment of DR. A profile is presented of DR occurring in this diabetic clinic population. The comparison studies show significant variations in ability of different observer groups and also between observers of the same status. It is concluded that an ophthalmologist is a necessary member of a diabetic care team. PMID- 2624727 TI - The scotopic threshold response in diabetic retinopathy--a preliminary report. AB - The scotopic threshold response (STR) and the scotopic b-wave of the electroretinogram were recorded in a group of 30 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Retinopathy was assessed using colour stereo fundus photography and an adaptation of the Airlie House classification scheme. Wide angle fundus fluorescein angiography was also performed and angiograms were graded for the presence of leakage and capillary non-perfusion. The STR was reduced in those eyes with retinopathy of grade 3 or above compared with eyes with retinopathy of grade 2 or below. There was a significant correlation between the amplitude of the STR and: (1) the grade of retinopathy; and (2) fluorescein leakage. There was no correlation between the b-wave amplitude and the severity of retinopathy. The STR may have a role as a screening test for diabetic retinopathy. PMID- 2624728 TI - Outpatient penetrating keratoplasty. AB - Elective penetrating keratoplasty has been performed on an outpatient basis on 37 patients since July 1987. The commonest indications have been herpetic keratitis, keratoconus, and pseudophakic or aphakic corneal oedema. Local anaesthesia, with little or no sedation, was used in most cases, and only three patients had a general anaesthetic. Accompanying procedures have included anterior vitrectomy, extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation and IOL exchange. The results demonstrate that outpatient keratoplasty is a safe, effective alternative to hospitalisation, and has a very high level of patient acceptance. PMID- 2624729 TI - Assessment of the corneal endothelium following keratoplasty. AB - The corneal endothelium was assessed following penetrating keratoplasty in a series of 50 patients and eight illustrative cases are described. Assessment disclosed a wide variation in the endothelial cell count and morphology following keratoplasty. In some patients the endothelial cell count was so low and the morphology so abnormal that long-term survival of the graft was doubtful. In cases with such a low count it is very doubtful whether the graft will survive a secondary procedure such as cataract extraction or intraocular lens implantation. Some donor material may carry corneal guttae and the use of such material should be avoided. If the material is good it will withstand inflammatory episodes including graft rejection if treatment is prompt and appropriate. Satisfactory material may be obtained from elderly donors while a young donor does not guarantee suitable material. It is desirable to assess the corneal endothelium of donor material carefully before use. PMID- 2624730 TI - The role of penetrating keratoplasty and epikeratoplasty in the surgical management of keratoconus. AB - A series of 86 penetrating keratoplasties for keratoconus was analysed. The surgery, using an 8.2 mm donor cornea into an 8.0 mm recipient opening, was performed between January 1983 and January 1986. The donor cornea was secured by two opposing continuous sutures, placed at full corneal thickness under surgical keratometry control. Both sutures were removed on average 30 weeks after surgery. The mean postoperative sutures out astigmatism was 5.4 dioptres (range 0 to 19.0), and following astigmatism surgery in 17 eyes, the mean astigmatism was 4.3 dioptres (range 0 to 10.5). Graft reaction occurred in 11.6% but was cleared medically in all cases and no corneas were lost. One month after suture removal, with spectacle correction, 45.5% of the primary group achieved vision of 6/6, 90.7% were 6/9 or better, and 97.7% were 6/12 or better. Comparing these results with recently published data on epikeratoplasty, for the treatment of keratoconus, it is evident that penetrating keratoplasty offers the best means whereby the eye can obtain its full visual potential. PMID- 2624731 TI - 'Hot' corneal grafts--a long-term study. AB - A six-year follow-up of nine of 13 eyes treated by therapeutic keratoplasty for suppurative keratitis is described. One of the thirteen cases died three years after surgery and three were lost to follow-up. Two of the nine refused reoperation after early graft failure. Of the remaining seven, three had retained good functional visual acuity. Three of the penetrating keratoplasties required regrafting two to four years later, when conditions were less critical. Long-term results indicate that therapeutic keratoplasty may be an alternative modality for the management of suppurative keratitis with satisfactory long-term optical results. PMID- 2624732 TI - Public hospital day-case surgery in a dedicated facility. AB - The first dedicated, public hospital day-case eye surgery unit opened in Melbourne in June 1987. This report details the mode of operation of this unit, and analyses the 218 procedures performed in the first 15 months of operation, and includes an assessment of the level of patient acceptance. PMID- 2624733 TI - Microbial investigations in keratitis at the Sydney Eye Hospital. AB - We investigated 107 cases of presumed microbial keratitis amongst patients presenting to the Sydney Eye Hospital between October 1986 and August 1988 to determine the frequency of infection, the common causative organisms and those factors that predispose to corneal infection. We found that 95% of culture-proven cases were caused by bacteria and that Staphylococcus epidermidis and Corynebacterium sp. accounted for 42.5% of these cases. All bacteria (except Staphylococcus epidermidis and Mycobacterium chelonae) were sensitive to gentamicin. In 62.6% of cases, cultures for bacteria and fungi were negative. Retrospective review of the clinical records of these patients showed that herpes simplex virus, contact lens wear, staphylococcal marginal keratitis and recurrent erosion were important causes of keratitis in this group. PMID- 2624734 TI - Eccentric photorefraction: improving the predictive value and yield in detection of refractive errors. AB - Eccentric photorefraction (EPR) is a simple photographic technique for detecting amblyopiogenic conditions. Previous EPR studies to detect refractive errors (RE) have demonstrated high sensitivity but poor predictive value. We have established new criteria for detecting RE involving quantifying retinoscopic reflex crescent widths, thereby achieving 67% predictive value with 100% sensitivity for detecting RE greater than or equal to +3.5 D in a clinical study of 69 children. Optical analysis of EPR shows that anticrescent width (light crescent-free portion of the pupil) is independent of pupil diameter. Quantifying anticrescent widths in the above clinical trial increased the predictive value to 85%. Schematic eye and human eye EPR studies verify the theoretical prediction that similar ability to detect refractive errors is maintained when the working distance and eccentricity (distance of light source from lens edge) are reduced. These improvements in EPR reduce its cost and improve its yield; both are essential for its introduction as an acceptable community screening tool. PMID- 2624735 TI - Spontaneous arteriovenous shunts of the cavernous sinus--ophthalmological considerations. PMID- 2624736 TI - Pseudomonas aeruginosa corneal infection associated with disposable contact lens use. PMID- 2624737 TI - Safety of combined simultaneous argon laser peripheral iridotomy and trabeculoplasty. PMID- 2624738 TI - Medical history on computer. PMID- 2624739 TI - A family of calcium-dependent potassium channels from rat brain. AB - By incorporating rat brain plasma membrane vesicles into planar lipid bilayers, we have found and characterized four types of Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels. The unitary conductances of these channels are 242 +/- 14 pS, 236 +/- 16 pS, 135 +/- 10 pS, and 76 +/- 6 pS in symmetrical 150 mM KCI buffers. These channels share a number of properties. They are all activated by depolarizing voltages, activated by micromolar concentrations of internal Ca2+ with a Hill coefficient for Ca2+ activation of between 2 and 3, noninactivating under our assay conditions, blocked by low millimolar concentrations of TEA from the outside, apamin insensitive, and very selective for K+ over Na+ and Cl-. Three of the four channels are also blocked by nanomolar concentrations of charybdotoxin. One of the high conductance Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels is novel in that it is not blocked by charybdotoxin and exhibits gating kinetics highlighted by long closed times and long open times. This family of closely related Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels may share structural domains underlying particular functions. PMID- 2624740 TI - Structure of the gene encoding peripherin, an NGF-regulated neuronal-specific type III intermediate filament protein. AB - We have cloned the rat gene encoding peripherin, a neuronal-specific intermediate filament protein that is NGF-regulated. Determination of the complete sequence, including 821 nucleotides of the 5'-flanking region, allows us to make conclusions about the evolutionary origin of the peripherin gene, its homology with other intermediate filament proteins, and possible mechanisms of regulation of peripherin expression in neurons. The positions of the eight peripherin gene introns correspond to the intron patterns of desmin, vimentin, and GFAP, with one example of intron sliding. Together with protein sequence homologies, this conclusively demonstrates that peripherin is a type III intermediate filament protein. The peripherin promoter contains sequences homologous to regions of other NGF-regulated promoters, which may function in peripherin induction by NGF. PMID- 2624741 TI - Developing axons continue to grow at their tip after synapsing with their appropriate target. AB - The contacts a growing neuron's axon makes with its synaptic targets are believed to inhibit further growth at the axon tip. Inhibition of axon growth has been difficult to examine in vivo, where studies have focused on populations of neurons with multiple targets, making the influence of a single target difficult to determine. Results of a direct test of the influence of synapse formation on axon growth are presented for the axon of the S interneuron in the leech, which has a single synaptic target that can decidedly inhibit growth at the axon's tip during regeneration in adults. Surprisingly, in embryos, after synapsing with its target, each S cell axon grew for several days, including growth at its tip, nearly doubling its length. Therefore, synaptic contact with the target does not stop further growth at the axon's tip. PMID- 2624742 TI - Expression of RAPsyn (43K protein) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor genes is not coordinately regulated in mouse muscle. AB - RAPsyn (also known as 43K protein), a mouse muscle protein localized to the synaptic membrane, is thought to be involved in the localization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction. We have characterized the transcriptional regulation of the RAPsyn gene and the synthesis of the RAPsyn protein during muscle cell differentiation. Nuclear run-on experiments and RNAase protection analyses showed that mRNA encoding RAPsyn, but not the acetylcholine receptor subunits, is present in undifferentiated muscle cells. The RAPsyn protein present in undifferentiated and differentiated muscle cells cannot be distinguished by peptide maps, turnover rates, cellular subfractionation, or ability to incorporate myristate. Whereas the amount of acetylcholine receptor subunit mRNA is increased approximately 100-fold after denervation, the amount of RAPsyn mRNA is increased just 2- to 3-fold. We conclude that the expression of RAPsyn and the acetylcholine receptor is not coordinately regulated in mouse muscle. PMID- 2624743 TI - The growth cones of identified motoneurons in embryonic zebrafish select appropriate pathways in the absence of specific cellular interactions. AB - Developing motoneurons in zebrafish embryos follow a stereotyped sequence of axonal outgrowth and accurately project their axons to cell-specific target muscles. During axonal pathfinding, an identified motoneuron pioneers the peripheral motor pathway. Growth cones of later motoneurons interact with the pioneer via contact, coupling, and axonal fasciculation. In spite of these interactions, ablation of the pioneer motoneuron does not affect the ability of other identified motoneurons to select the pathways that lead to appropriate target muscles. We conclude that interactions between these cells during pathfinding are not required for accurate pathway selection. PMID- 2624744 TI - Neuronal acetylcholine receptors in Drosophila: mature and immature transcripts of the ard gene in the developing central nervous system. AB - The ARD protein is a Drosophila homolog of vertebrate nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) polypeptides. Here, an analysis of transcripts of the corresponding ard gene is presented. In situ hybridization experiments revealed ard gene expression in nervous tissue only. During development, ard transcripts are prevalent in late embryos, pupae, and newly eclosed flies. Both the spatial and the temporal pattern of ard gene expression is consistent with the ARD protein being part of a neuronal AChR that is produced in large amounts during major periods of neuronal differentiation. In situ hybridization with an intron specific probe indicated codistribution of immature and mature ard RNAs in pupae and adult flies. In addition to the mature 3.2 kb RNA species, two large immature transcripts are found in newly eclosed flies but not in embryos, suggesting a developmentally regulated processing of ard RNA. PMID- 2624745 TI - Identification of a heparin binding domain of the neural cell adhesion molecule N CAM using synthetic peptides. AB - The neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) plays an integral role in cell interactions during neural development, with the binding of heparan sulfate proteoglycan to the amino-terminal region of N-CAM being required for N-CAM function. In the present study we have used synthetic peptides (HBD-1 and HBD-2), derived from the primary amino acid sequence of rat N-CAM, to identify the region of N-CAM that binds heparan sulfate. The 28 amino acid HBD-1 synthetic peptide was shown to bind both [3H]heparin and dissociated retinal cells. Retinal cells also attach to a substratum of HBD-2 peptide, but fail to bind to a control peptide containing a scrambled amino acid sequence of HBD-2. The HBD-2 peptide also inhibits retinal cell adhesion to N-CAM, demonstrating the physiological importance of the amino acid sequence encoded by the HBD peptide. These data therefore permit the localization of a heparin binding domain to a 17 amino acid region of immunoglobulin-like loop 2. PMID- 2624746 TI - Characterization of an activity-dependent, neuronal surface proteoglycan identified with monoclonal antibody Cat-301. AB - Monoclonal antibody Cat-301 was previously shown to recognize a surface associated antigen on subsets of mammalian CNS neurons whose expression is regulated by neuronal activity early in an animal's postnatal life. We now present the partial purification and characterization of the Cat-301 antigen and demonstrate that it is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan. Extracellular localization of the Cat-301 epitope is demonstrated by staining live, intact neurons in situ. Extraction of the antigen from membranes in the absence of detergent indicates that it is either a peripheral membrane protein or a component of an extracellular matrix. The Cat-301 antigen migrates on Western blots of SDS gels with a molecular weight of integral of 680,000 dalton and is purified by DEAE chromatography and Sepharose gel filtration in 8 M urea (pH 4.9) buffer. The antigen is sensitive to chondroitinase ABC, indicating that it is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan. Furthermore, we provide strong evidence that the biochemically characterized antigen is indeed the histologically detected species by using a second antibody, Cat-304, that produces immunohistological staining patterns identical to those of Cat-301 and reacts with the purified antigen, but at a distinct epitope. Our earlier developmental findings and the present localization and biochemical results suggest that the antigen may play a role in the maturation of functional connections between neurons, perhaps through stabilization of axosomatic and axodendritic synapses. PMID- 2624747 TI - In vitro analysis of position- and lineage-dependent selectivity in the formation of neuromuscular synapses. AB - The hypotheses that selective formation of nerve-muscle connections depends upon intrinsic cellular properties, endowed either by the cell's rostral-caudal position in the embryo or its lineage, were tested directly in Xenopus embryonic cell cultures. The position or the lineage of embryonic cells was traced in vitro by previous injection of fluorophore-conjugated dextran molecules into individual blastomeres. Synaptic efficacy was assayed by recording synaptic currents from neurite-contacted muscle cells in the culture, and the physical affinity of neurites for muscle cells of different positional or clonal origins was assayed by counting the frequency of association between the neurites' growth cones and the muscle cells. Both assays showed no apparent preference between nerve and muscle cells of similar rostral-caudal positions or clonal origins, suggesting that there is little position- or lineage-dependent selectivity in the initial nerve-muscle interactions. PMID- 2624748 TI - In situ localization of microtubule-associated protein mRNA in the developing and adult rat brain. AB - We have used cDNA probes specific for three of the major brain microtubule associated proteins (MAPs), MAP1, MAP2, and MAP5, to study the timing of appearance, relative abundance, and intracellular compartmentalization of MAP gene transcripts in developing rat brain. The MAP1 probe hybridizes throughout the brain, in both grey and white matter. MAP2 mRNA is detected only in grey matter and appears in cerebral neurons only after they have ceased dividing and have migrated to the cortical plate. The MAP5 cDNA hybridizes throughout the embryonic brain, but by P12, MAP5 mRNA distribution is restricted to relatively immature areas. MAP2 mRNA, found in dendrites in the developing brain, persists in some adult dendrites. MAP5 mRNA, like beta-tubulin mRNA, is found only in the cell bodies of developing neurons, indicating that the protein must be transported from the soma into processes. MAP1 mRNA is found only in the proximal regions of cortical pyramidal cell dendrites in both developing and adult brain. The diverse distributions of MAP gene transcripts emphasize the importance of these proteins in generating heterogeneity of microtubule function and indicate that MAP compartmentalization within neurons is regulated in part by differential mRNA transport. PMID- 2624749 TI - Regional versus general anesthesia in high-risk surgical patients: the need for a clinical trial. AB - Regional anesthesia is often preferred over general anesthesia for patients with cardiovascular disease because of presumed decreased risk of perioperative myocardial ischemia. However, few studies have addressed this issue directly. To determine whether the type of anesthesia is independently associated with myocardial ischemia, records of 134 patients undergoing peripheral vascular grafting under general or regional anesthesia were examined. There were no significant differences preoperatively between groups in ASA class, age, sex, or prevalence of angina, diabetes, or hypertension. Twelve patients developed myocardial ischemia or infarction within 7 days of operation; 11 of these 12 patients had received regional anesthesia (p less than 0.015). The association between anesthetic approach and perioperative myocardial ischemia or infarction remained after adjustment for preoperative factors associated with ischemia or with type of anesthesia. General anesthesia does not appear to be associated with increased risk of myocardial ischemia, and stringent recommendations to avoid it in this population may be unfounded. A clinical trial is needed to define more clearly the risks and benefits of different types of anesthesia in high-risk patients. PMID- 2624750 TI - Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions during cardiac surgery. AB - Over a 12-month period, 1,743 patients were retrospectively evaluated for anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions during cardiac surgery. Reactions to protamine, vancomycin, blood, and metocurine were observed in eight patients (0.46%). Baseline to reaction mean arterial pressures decreased from 81 +/- 9 mmHg to 50 +/- 7 mmHg (mean +/- SD; p less than 0.001), cardiac output increased from 4.6 +/- 0.6 L/min to 6.5 +/- 1.2 L/min (p less than 0.005), stroke volume increased from 49 +/- 11 to 83 +/- 22 ml/beat (p less than 0.02), and systemic vascular resistance decreased from 1.294 +/- 137 to 563 +/- 127 dyne/sec/cm-5 (p less than 0.001). Two patients developed pulmonary artery hypertension, while only one patient developed bronchospasm. Initial hypotension during anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions is due to decreased systemic vascular resistance, not myocardial depression. PMID- 2624751 TI - Steroid celiac plexus block for chronic pancreatitis: results in 16 cases. AB - Sixteen cases in which celiac plexus block with depot steroid was used to treat chronic pancreatitis pain were reviewed. Only 4 of 16 patients reported pain relief with the procedure. Of the 12 patients who did not obtain relief, narcotic dependence was present in 11 of 12. No patients in the "relief" group were narcotic dependent. Prior pancreatic surgery was present in 9 of the 12 patients without relief and in 1 of 4 patients with relief. It is postulated that refractory chronic pancreatitis pain may be an extreme form of what has been termed "abnormal illness behavior." Furthermore, these results underscore the poor results experienced using neural blockade for the relief of chronic pain when narcotic dependence is present. PMID- 2624752 TI - Potential for barotrauma or hypoventilation with the Drager AV-E ventilator. AB - The system pressure relief valve of the Drager AV-E anesthesia ventilator is powered by connecting tubing from the ventilator. In this case, the tubing became kinked when the anesthesia machine was moved. This resulted in an iatrogenically induced valve malfunction and increasing minimum and peak pressures in the patient circuit. A laboratory study was performed to evaluate the effects of kinking the connecting tubing. The potential for producing barotrauma or hypoventilation with this design of ventilator is discussed. Repositioning the anesthesia machine after a satisfactory check may precipitate a hazardous situation. An anesthesia machine should be checked out in the final position in which it is to be used. PMID- 2624753 TI - Anterior mediastinal mass in a pregnant patient: anesthetic management and considerations. AB - Patients with anterior mediastinal masses are recognized to be at risk for cardiorespiratory compromise when general anesthesia is induced. Likewise, pregnancy has a widely known constellation of potential complications that confront the anesthesiologist. The combination of both problems in a single patient presents an unusual anesthetic challenge. The following is a case report of a pregnant patient with a large, symptomatic anterior mediastinal mass who required general anesthesia for a diagnostic procedure before definitive therapy could be initiated. PMID- 2624754 TI - A new method for oxygen insufflation during fiber-optic intubation. PMID- 2624755 TI - Leak of soda lime seal after anesthesia machine check. PMID- 2624756 TI - Bronchial epithelial cells produce lung fibroblast chemotactic factor: fibronectin. AB - The interaction between the epithelial cells and the subjacent mesenchymal cells in the airway is thought to play a major role during tissue repair after airway injury and lung morphogenesis. To evaluate this interaction, we cultured human lung fibroblasts, and bovine and human bronchial epithelial cells, and determined that bronchial epithelial cell-conditioned medium has a chemotactic activity for lung fibroblasts. This activity had the characteristics of protein: it was nondialyzable, heat-labile, pepsin-labile, acid-stable, and lipid-inextractable. Molecular sieve chromatography on Sephadex G-150 and affinity chromatography on gelatin-Sepharose revealed that there was one peak of chemotactic activity in high molecular weight range, which bound to gelatin, thus suggesting that the chemotactic factor might be fibronectin. Production and secretion of fibronectin into the culture media were demonstrated by biosynthetic incorporation of radioactive amino acid into fibronectin followed by immunoprecipitation on SDS PAGE and autoradiography. Release into the culture medium was confirmed by ELISA. The identity of fibronectin as the chemotactic activity was confirmed by the addition of antifibronectin antibody to the conditioned medium, which inhibited chemotaxis in dose-dependent manner. Thus, bronchial epithelial cells produce fibronectin which can function as a chemotactic factor for lung fibroblasts. This production of fibronectin by bronchial epithelial cells may play an important role in regulating interaction between the bronchial epithelial cells that line the lumenal surface of the bronchial epithelial wall and the mesenchymal fibroblasts that underlie the bronchial epithelial basement membrane. PMID- 2624757 TI - Pulmonary response to foreign body microemboli in dogs: release of neutrophil chemoattractant activity by vascular endothelial cells. AB - Pulmonary hypertension and foreign body granulomas are complications of the chronic intravenous injection of crushed, suspended pentazocine (Talwin) tablets. To evaluate the early cellular mechanisms underlying the response of the lung to foreign body microemboli, we examined lung histopathology and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in dogs for accumulation of inflammatory cells shortly after the injection of crushed, suspended pentazocine tablets. We found that the injection of suspended pentazocine tablets is associated with the rapid accumulation of neutrophils around intravascular talc crystals but not within the alveolar airspaces. To determine the cause of the observed neutrophil accumulation, we assayed plasma and lavage fluid for neutrophil chemoattractant activity (NCA). NCA appeared in pulmonary arterial (PA) and left ventricular (LV) plasma within 60 s of injection of the suspended tablets. However, there was no evidence of NCA in BAL. To determine whether appearance of chemoattractant activity found in plasma was modified by inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism, we infused dogs with indomethacin, diethylcarbamazine (DEC), or FPL 55712 and assayed plasma for NCA after the injection of suspended pentazocine tablets. We found that the appearance of NCA is prevented by the infusion of either DEC or FPL 55712 but not by the infusion of indomethacin. We found that cultured pulmonary arterial or aortic endothelial cells also release NCA when incubated with either the suspended pentazocine tablets or talc. Extraction with acidified diethyl ether partitioned all the NCA into the organic phase. The release of NCA from cultured endothelial cells was likewise prevented by coincubation with DEC or FPL 55712 but not by coincubation with indomethacin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624758 TI - An ELISA method for the quantitation of tracheal mucins from human and nonhuman primates. AB - Monoclonal antibodies, 17B1 and 17Q2, which are specific for large molecular weight mucous glycoproteins of airway epithelium, have been used to develop an ELISA method to quantitate the tracheal mucins of humans and rhesus monkeys. The assay is a double-sandwich system that does not depend on either the binding of mucous antigens to the microtiter plate or the use of a second antibody. The assay protocol includes (1) coating the microtiter well with purified IgG of 17B1 or 17Q2, (2) incubating the wells with mucous samples, (3) binding of alkaline phosphatase-conjugated IgG to the wells, and (4) developing the color with phosphate substrate. This ELISA method is very sensitive for human and rhesus monkey tracheal mucins. Quantitation is not affected by the presence of various proteoglycans (keratan sulfate, hyaluronate, heparin, heparan sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate). However, the quantitation is affected by the treatment of antigen with periodic acid and endo-beta-galactosidase. Other enzymes (e.g., neuraminidase, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, heparitinase, heparinase, fucosidase, keratanase) have no effect on the antigenicity of substrate. The quantitation is linear, with a concentration from 0.2 to 4 ng protein/sample. The ELISA method developed in this study should be useful for quantitating the mucin content of various biologic fluids, such as sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, and media from cultures following various pharmacologic and physiologic manipulations. PMID- 2624759 TI - Pathologic changes and contractile properties of the diaphragm in corticosteroid myopathy in hamsters: comparison to peripheral muscle. AB - Corticosteroids have been shown to produce a myopathy of peripheral skeletal muscle, characterized predominantly by Type II fiber atrophy. To determine if similar histologic and histochemical changes occur in the diaphragm and whether the in vitro contractile properties of this muscle are adversely affected by steroids, we studied two groups of hamsters. The experimental group received triamcinolone while a control group received saline, both given daily for 3 wk as i.m. injections. Soleus (Sol) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles and costal diaphragm muscle sections were stained for histologic (hematoxylin and eosin, modified Gomori trichrome) and histochemical (myosin ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase [SDH]) analysis. Muscle fiber proportions and cross-sectional areas (CSA) were measured from myosin ATPase sections. In vitro studies of isometric contractions were carried out on small strips of costal diaphragm, measuring maximal isometric twitch (Pt) and tetanus (Po) tensions, time to peak tension (TTP), half relaxation time (1/2 RT), force-frequency relationship, and fatigue characteristics (60 Hz tetani; duty cycle, 0.5). Triamcinolone treatment resulted in no change in muscle fiber proportions. There was no effect on Type I fiber CSA; however, there was Type IIa (Sol, EDL) and Type IIb (diaphragm, EDL) fiber atrophy in triamcinolone-treated animals. Pt and Po (normalized for weight) of diaphragm strips were not different. There was a prolongation in TTP and 1/2 RT, a left shift in the force-frequency curve, and a reduced fatiguability of triamcinolone-treated diaphragm (P less than 0.05). We conclude that a steroid myopathy could be explained by a loss of muscle mass (Type IIb fiber atrophy) rather than an intrinsic impairment in contractile function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624760 TI - Effect of primary immunization on pulmonary clearance of nontypable Haemophilus influenzae. AB - Nontypable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is being increasingly recognized as a cause of both adult pneumonia and acute infectious exacerbations in chronic bronchitis. We used a mouse model to study the immune enhancement of pulmonary clearance of NTHI after a primary immunization. BALB/c mice were immunized with whole NTHI either by intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intratracheal (i.t.) routes. There was 10-fold more NTHI-directed antibody detected in the serum of the i.p. immunized mice than in the serum from the i.t.-immunized animals. Western blot analysis revealed that these antibodies were directed against both NTHI lipooligosaccharide and the various outer membrane proteins of NTHI. The development of NTHI-directed antibodies in serum was associated with significant enhancement of early pulmonary clearance of NTHI. Six hours after delivery of an endobronchial challenge with NTHI, the i.p.-immunized mice had cleared most of the organisms from their lungs, while the i.t.-immunized mice did not clear NTHI any more rapidly than did unimmunized mice. Serum from the i.p.-immunized mice caused more than 99% uptake of NTHI in an in vitro opsonophagocytic assay, while serum from i.t.-immunized mice stimulated little or no phagocytosis of this organism. Opsonophagocytosis of NTHI was obtained with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid collected from i.p.-immunized mice 6 h after, but not before, an endobronchial challenge with NTHI. Intravenous injection of an opsonic IgG monoclonal antibody directed against NTHI lipooligosaccharide resulted in both the appearance of this antibody in the alveolar spaces of the unperturbed lung and enhanced pulmonary clearance of NTHI. These data indicate that the i.p. (systemic) route of immunization is more effective than the i.t. route in establishing pulmonary immunity to NTHI in this model system. Furthermore, immune enhancement of clearance of NTHI from the lungs after a primary immunization apparently results from the exudation of opsonic and bactericidal antibodies from the serum into the alveolae in response to the inflammatory challenge. PMID- 2624761 TI - Resistance of rat pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells to neutrophil- and oxidant induced injury. AB - We have previously reported that rat pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells are resistant to neutrophil-generated oxidants in contrast to the situation described for endothelial cells. In the present study, we investigated the roles of intracellular catalase and glutathione-dependent reactions in providing protection against cytotoxic concentrations of H2O2 and stimulated neutrophils. Catalase was found to be instrumental in protecting epithelial cells because when inhibited by either azide or 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, there was an increase in the cytotoxic effect of exogenous H2O2 and stimulated neutrophils. Associated with this potentiation of injury was a reduction in epithelial cell clearance of H2O2. Partial inhibition of glutathione-dependent reactions by depleting intracellular glutathione with buthionine sulfoximine or by inhibiting the enzyme glutathione reductase with 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea also augmented the cytotoxic effect of both H2O2 and stimulated neutrophils. This increase in neutrophil induced cytotoxicity was caused by the addition of an oxidant-dependent mechanism of killing on top of the previously described oxidant-independent pathway. Importantly, the increased susceptibility to injury caused by inhibition of glutathione-dependent reactions was not associated with a reduction in epithelial cell consumption of exogenous H2O2, contrary to the case with catalase. This suggests that there are glutathione-dependent reactions that protect epithelial cells in ways separate from reducing the total burden of exogenous H2O2 on the cells. PMID- 2624762 TI - Chrysotile asbestos inhalation induces tritiated thymidine incorporation by epithelial cells of distal bronchioles. AB - Previous studies in a rat model of asbestosis have demonstrated increased incorporation of tritiated thymidine by bronchiolar and alveolar epithelial cells 19 to 72 h after a single, 5-h exposure to chrysotile asbestos. This increase in thymidine labeling occurred at the first alveolar duct bifurcations, where terminal bronchioles end and where asbestos deposition is most concentrated. To determine whether airways more proximal than the terminal bronchioles exhibit a similar type of proliferative response to asbestos, incorporation of tritiated thymidine by airway epithelial cells was determined by light microscopic autoradiography. Incorporation by the epithelium in regions of the trachea, mainstem bronchi, and bronchioles was measured in lung tissue from sham-exposed and chrysotile asbestos-exposed rats, zero and 33 h after exposure. Sham-exposed animals and those studied immediately after exposure exhibited no increases in tritiated thymidine incorporation at any airway level. Tritiated thymidine incorporation by epithelial cells of bronchioles in peripheral regions of the lungs was significantly increased, as much as 20-fold, 33 h after chrysotile exposure. In the same asbestos-exposed animals, epithelial cells of the trachea, the bronchi, and the larger bronchioles did not exhibit increased cell labeling. The fact that asbestos was deposited throughout all airway levels, yet increased thymidine incorporation is observed primarily in the peripheral bronchiolar regions, raises interesting questions regarding the mechanisms of asbestos induced cell proliferation. PMID- 2624763 TI - Protein traffic across lung epithelia. PMID- 2624764 TI - Platelet-activating factor (PAF)-dependent biochemical, morphologic, and physiologic responses of human platelets: demonstration of translocation of protein kinase C associated with protein phosphorylation. AB - Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent stimulus for platelet aggregation and secretion. PAF has been shown to stimulate the phosphatidylinositol (PI) pathway in platelets, which implies that PAF should activate protein kinase C. In this study, measurements of PI metabolites, the elevation of intracellular free calcium concentration, (Ca2+)i, the activation of protein kinase C, and the phosphorylation of platelet proteins (using a two-dimensional gel electrophoretic technique) were performed before and after the addition of 10(-8) M PAF to human platelets. These findings were correlated with morphologic changes in the platelets as determined by immunoelectron microscopic studies on the cytoskeleton and by X-ray analysis of dense bodies. The results show that PAF stimulates the production of PI metabolites and causes an increase in the membrane-associated activity of protein kinase C. These changes are accompanied by a rise in the (Ca2+)i and protein phosphorylation. The increase in protein kinase C activity reaches a maximum at approximately 60 s, a time frame that is consistent with the protein phosphorylation and the subsequent morphologic and secretory events. X ray analysis revealed two types of dense bodies containing various amounts of calcium which appeared to be released sequentially after PAF activation. These results suggest that the protein phosphorylation that controls the physiologic events resulting from PAF activation of human platelets is catalyzed by protein kinase C. PMID- 2624765 TI - Hypophysectomy and porcine fetal lung development. AB - The effect of hypophysectomy on the development of the lung parenchyma and maturation of pulmonary alveolar type II cells was examined in the fetal pig. In fetuses from four different gilts, hypophysectomy was performed on gestational day 69 or 70. Littermates from the same gilts served as controls. Fetuses were delivered by caesarean section at term (113 +/- 1 days of gestation), and the lungs were fixed by intratracheal instillation. Plasma cortisol and thyroxine concentrations in the umbilical artery were markedly lower for hypophysectomized fetuses compared with control fetuses. Body weight was similar for both groups of fetuses. Total lung volume was 53% smaller in hypophysectomized fetuses compared with control fetuses. However, alveolar septal tissue and capillary luminal volumes were similar in both groups. Total lung alveolar surface area was twice as great in control animals compared with hypophysectomized animals. The volumes of epithelium, interstitium, and endothelium of centriacinar alveolar septa per unit surface area of epithelial basal lamina were 3.7, 4.8, and 2.4 times greater in hypophysectomized fetuses compared with control fetuses. Alveolar type II cell composition also differed significantly between groups. The volume fraction of glycogen in type II cells was 51% for hypophysectomized fetuses and 12% for control fetuses, while lamellar body volume fraction was 8% in hypophysectomized fetuses and 23% in control fetuses. The frequency of alveolar type II cell contact with mesenchymal interstitial cells via foot processes was 5 times greater in the lungs of control animals compared with hypophysectomized animals. These findings demonstrate significant effects of hypophysectomy on the morphogenetic and cytodifferentiation activities of all major tissue compartments of the pulmonary gas exchange area during the final trimester of fetal development. PMID- 2624766 TI - Ribonuclease A cleavage combined with the polymerase chain reaction for detection of the Z mutation of the alpha-1-antitrypsin gene. AB - Homozygous inheritance of the Z mutation (exon V, Glu342GAG----Lys342AAG), the most common cause of alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) deficiency, is associated with a high risk for emphysema and liver disease. This study presents a rapid and accurate approach to definitive genotypic diagnosis of the Z homozygous state using a combination of polymerase chain reaction amplification of exon V of the alpha 1AT gene and ribonuclease cleavage of an exon V-specific antisense RNA probe. Taking advantage of the concept that ribonuclease A will cleave at points of mismatch of RNA-DNA hybrids, a 0.79 kb antisense RNA probe was designed with complementarity to the sense strand of exon V of the alpha 1AT gene (the site of the Z mutation) along with small regions of the 5' and 3' flanking sequences. After amplification of exon V of the alpha 1AT gene from genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction, the amplified DNA was analyzed by hybridization to a 32P-labeled exon V antisense RNA probe followed by digestion with RNase A. Any substitution mutations resulting in DNA-RNA mismatch were detected by evaluation with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions followed by autoradiography (expected fragment lengths: 0.33 kb when the exon V probe hybridized to the normal amplified genomic DNA, 0.25 and 0.08 kb fragments when the exon V probe hybridized to the amplified genomic DNA with the Z mutation). Double-blinded evaluation of genomic DNA of 36 individuals (phenotypes MM n = 14, MZ n = 5, ZZ n = 16, ZNull n = 1; included among the "M" alleles were representatives of all the major normal M alleles) demonstrated definitive diagnosis of the Z mutation with absolute specificity for all 36 specimens, i.e., ZZ homozygotes, MZ heterozygotes, and normals were all detected accurately. This approach should be useful not only for screening for the Z mutation of the alpha 1AT gene, but by this type of analysis, mutational alterations of the alpha 1AT gene can be screened for without prior knowledge of the sequence changes and without complex cloning and sequencing methods. PMID- 2624767 TI - Imaging techniques. PMID- 2624768 TI - Brain neoplasms. PMID- 2624769 TI - Supratentorial neoplasms, including the sella and parasellar region. PMID- 2624770 TI - Infratentorial neoplasms, including the internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle regions. PMID- 2624771 TI - Meningiomas and skull base neoplasms. PMID- 2624772 TI - Pathology of brain neoplasms. PMID- 2624773 TI - Metastatic brain neoplasms. PMID- 2624774 TI - Paramagnetic contrast agents in the evaluation of brain neoplasms. PMID- 2624775 TI - Human interleukin 3: effects on normal and leukemic cells. AB - The effects of recombinant human interleukin 3 (IL3) on normal bone marrow cells and human leukemic cells were studied. In clonal assays, IL3 supported the growth of all colony types including megakaryocytes. Erythroid colonies were formed in the presence of IL3 and erythropoietin, but not in the absence of erythropoietin. Replating experiments using blast cell colonies derived from a cell population enriched for progenitor cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting with the monoclonal antibody 3C5, showed that IL3 supported the continued replating of colonies. The clonal proliferation of human bone marrow cells in response to IL3 was inhibited by tumor necrosis factor and by lymphotoxin, but not by interferon gamma. In suspension cultures, IL3 supported the proliferation of mast cells. Human IL3 had no effect on the growth responses, morphology, cytochemistry, or clonogenicity of the human leukemic cell lines HL60, U-937, KG1a, and HEL. Transcripts for IL3 mRNA were not detectable in these cells, nor in the K562 cell line, implying that autocrine secretion of IL3 was not the mechanism by which these leukemias were maintained. Although cells derived from the bone marrow or peripheral blood of twenty patients with myeloproliferative disorders, myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myeloid leukemia frequently showed proliferative responses to IL3, mRNA transcripts for IL3 were not detected in these cells. PMID- 2624776 TI - Internalization and limited processing of basic fibroblast growth factor on Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts. AB - Using either acidic (pH 2.5) or trypsic treatments, we demonstrated that 125I labeled basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (125I-bFGF) was submitted to an internalization process on responsive Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (CCL39) at 37 degrees C. Various experiments based on the measurement of cell-associated radioactivity, as well as on research of degradated products of 125I-bFGF in cellular supernatants, showed that most of the internalized radioactivity remained intracellularly located after up to 5 hr of incubation. Analyses of this radioactivity by NaDodSO4-PAGE revealed the presence of labeled peptides issued from the limited processing of the native 125I-bFGF form (17 kD) and whose molecular weights were estimated to be 9 and 6 kD. Kinetic experiments indicated that proteolysis of the 125I-bFGF began early on incubation (less than 30 min) and led to a prolonged preservation of the 9- and 6-kD peptides which were still detectable after 13 hr of incubation. Preincubation of the cells with different lysosomotropic agents completely inhibited the proteolysis, indicating that this event occurred probably in an intracellular acidic compartment. Two enzyme inhibitors, leupeptin and N-alpha-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK), were also shown to interfere with the formation of both 9- and 6-kD peptides, thus suggesting a way to control the appearance of these fragments, and hence to determine their potential intracellular role. PMID- 2624777 TI - Induction of lens fibre differentiation by acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF). AB - Explants of epithelial cells from newborn rat lenses undergo changes characteristic of fibre differentiation when cultured with neural retina or retina-conditioned medium. Here we show that similar changes occur when acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) are used instead of retina-conditioned medium. When cultured without FGF, epithelial explants contained negligible amounts of beta-crystallin, a lens protein found only in fibre cells. However, at saturating concentrations of FGF, about 20 micrograms beta-crystallin was produced per explant in 5 days. The response was dose-dependent, half maximal response requiring 55 and 290 ng/ml of basic and acidic FGF, respectively. FGF also stimulated cell proliferation and cell migration. All three responses to basic FGF were blocked by an antibody specific for basic FGF. The concentration of FGF required to produce a maximal response was lower for cell proliferation and migration than for beta-crystallin accumulation. The results suggest a possible role for FGF in the control of events in lens development. PMID- 2624778 TI - Establishment of IL-5-dependent early B cell lines by long-term bone marrow cultures. AB - We established two different IL-5-dependent Ly1+ early B cell lines in long-term bone marrow culture system. One of them (J-87) is stromal cell (ST2) dependent and the other (T-88) is ST2 independent. Both J-87 and T-88 are B220+, Ly1+, sIgM , Ia-, Thy1-, and IL-2R+, and respond to IL-3 and IL-5 in the presence of ST2. The T-88 can proliferate only in response to IL-5 in the absence of ST2. Southern blot analysis using JH probe revealed that configuration of IgH gene of both cell lines shows rearranged pattern. Binding assay for radiolabeled IL-5 to T-88 demonstrated that T-88 has two classes of IL-5 binding sites (low and high affinity) on the membrane. These data strongly suggest that there are IL-5 sensitive stages at both stromal cell-dependent and stromal cell-independent phases in early B cell development. PMID- 2624779 TI - Similar hormonal changes in sera from scorbutic and fasted (vitamin C supplemented) guinea pigs, including decreased IGF-I and appearance of an IGF-I reversible mitogenic inhibitor. AB - We previously proposed that the decreased rates of synthesis of collagen and proteoglycans in vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs were unrelated to the role of ascorbate in proline hydroxylation but might result from modulation of hormones known to change during fasting. In the present studies, we found that sera from guinea pigs on an ascorbate-free diet for 24-28 days or from those fasted for 4 days, with vitamin C supplementation, showed similar changes in the concentrations of several hormones. EGF and IGF-II concentrations were unchanged, but cortisol was increased 3-5 times and growth hormone was increased to approximately twice normal levels. Thyroxine and IGF-I concentrations were decreased to 40% and 25-33% of normal levels, respectively. The decrease in serum IGF-I must occur by a growth hormone-independent pathway. The extent of changes in hormone concentrations in sera from ascorbate-deficient guinea pigs was correlated with the extent of weight loss. Sera from scorbutic and fasted guinea pigs failed to stimulate DNA synthesis in quiescent BALB 3T3 cells in the presence of saturating concentrations of EGF and PDGF. Addition of experimental sera to normal serum showed that lack of mitogenic activity was due to the presence of an inhibitor. Inhibition was not related to IGF-I concentrations in the sera, although it was reversed by the addition of IGF-I to sera from scorbutic or fasted animals. These results support our proposed model and suggest that IGF-I, as well as an inhibitor of its activity, plays a role in the regulation of growth by vitamin C and other nutrients. PMID- 2624780 TI - The fate of intravenously administered bFGF and the effect of heparin. AB - The fate and effects of intravascular bFGF are unknown. We have investigated the fate of bFGF administered intravenously to rats in the presence and absence of heparin, and evaluated the effect of a 3-day IV infusion of bFGF on proliferation of endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells in situ. [125I]bFGF, administered as an IV bolus, was rapidly cleared from the circulation (t1/2 = 1.5 min) by the liver. Nevertheless, it was maintained at a constant, predictable concentration in the blood (9.7 +/- 4% of the amount infused) by continuous IV infusion. Heparin consistently altered the pattern: slowing the rate of clearance (t1/2 = 4.5 min), increasing the plateau concentration in the blood during continuous infusion (32.5 +/- 14.3% of the amount infused), and allowing intact (as determined by gel analysis) bFGF to cross from the circulation into the urine. A 3-day infusion of bFGF alone (2.5 ng/kg/min) and with adenosine (11.6 microM/kg/hr) did not increase [3H]thymidine incorporation in either endothelial cells or vascular smooth muscle cells, suggesting that they are refractory to this factor when it is administered intravascularly. PMID- 2624781 TI - Heart- and heart-lung transplantation in children. AB - Since January 1987, 16 prepubertal children have undergone heart (13) or heart lung (3) transplantation. Immunosuppression included cyclosporine and azathioprine and excluded steroids except in case of rejection. The indications for heart transplantation were hypoplastic left heart syndrome (4 infants, mean age = 2 months), congenital heart disease (4 patients, mean age = 5.7 years) and cardiomyopathy (5 patients, mean age = 2.8 years). There were 4 early deaths (acute graft failure in 2, pulmonary hypertension in 1, infection in 1) and 1 late death (heart failure at 3 months). The 8 survivors had a mean follow-up of 12 months (range 1-19 months). Late complications were minimal. There were 4 episodes of rejection in 2 patients. There was no infection, normal somatic growth and no systemic hypertension. Renal function remained within normal limits although mild-to-moderate tubulointerstitial lesions were found in 4 renal biopsies. Three children (9-11 years old) underwent heart-lung transplantation. The early postoperative course was difficult with 6 episodes of rejection and 5 infections. One patient died at 3 months from infectious complications. One child has a complete rehabilitation 8 months posttransplantation. The last patient is clinically well at 7 months but has a residual tracheal stenosis. The long-term fate of these children, and particularly the long-term effects of cyclosporine therapy are unknown. Heart and heart-lung transplantation remain under investigation but may be reasonable approaches for infants and children with end stage cardiac and/or pulmonary disease. PMID- 2624782 TI - Monitoring the voltage of the myocardium during cardioplegia arrest. AB - Electrical activity was monitored with specially designed plunge electrodes in 19 animals undergoing 3 h of cardioplegic arrest. Electrical activity was recorded on electromagnetic tape and intramyocardial voltage was monitored with an inline voltmeter. Haemodynamic function was assessed before bypass and following 3 h of ischaemia and 45 min of reperfusion. Intramyocardial voltage during normothermic fibrillation measured 2.4 +/- 0.4 mv. Infusion of cardioplegia initiated a complete electrical arrest in all animals and reduced intramyocardial voltage to 33 +/- 7 mu v. Small amplitude electrical activity was present in 9 of 19 animals. Intramyocardial voltage increased to 108 +/- 12 mu v with the onset of small amplitude electrical activity and spectral analysis of the wave form indicated that the fundamental frequency was in the range of 3.08 Hz. Small amplitude electrical activity during cardioplegic arrest was associated with significant post-arrest depression of left ventricular function. Our data confirms that the presence of small amplitude electrical activity impairs myocardial functional recovery and suggests that continuous intramyocardial voltage monitoring may be used to guide the administration of cardioplegia during cardioplegic arrest. PMID- 2624783 TI - Is cerebral blood flow/metabolic mismatch during rewarming a risk factor after profound hypothermic procedures in small children? AB - The relation between cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption was studied in six children during cardiac operations with profound hypothermia. A combination of topical cooling and core cooling was used to reduce the nasopharyngeal temperature to 15 degrees C. The alpha-stat principle for pH management was used. Blood flow and oxygen consumption decreased significantly with temperature. At a nasopharyngeal temperature of 15 degrees C, blood flow was reduced to 25% of the awake level, corresponding to 34% of the asleep value obtained 15-30 min after intubation. Oxygen consumption decreased to 25% of the asleep value. During stable profound hypothermia, venous saturation in the jugular bulb was at the same level as 15 min after intubation (70%). Markedly lower values were observed during topical cooling, and particularly during rewarming (down to 21%), indicating a mismatch between cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption. The speed of rewarming correlated with the fall in venous oxygen saturation (rs = 0.82, P less than 0.05). It is suggested that periods of cerebral blood flow/metabolic mismatch during topical cooling and rewarming may explain postoperative cerebral dysfunction after deep hypothermic procedures. A moderate speed of rewarming is advocated. PMID- 2624784 TI - Impairment of cerebral function following cardiac and other major surgery. AB - Patients undergoing routine coronary artery surgery (N = 76) were compared with those undergoing other major operations (N = 29) in a prospective multidisciplinary study designed to define the incidence of neurological and psychological sequelae. The preoperative state of the carotid and vertebral arteries was defined by digital subtraction angiography. Changes in clinical neurological examination, detailed neuropsychological testing, psychiatric assessment and cerebral blood flow were measured. All preoperative studies were repeated 8 days and 8 weeks after surgery. Clinical neurological examination was repeated in addition on the 1st postoperative day. New focal neurological signs were found in 8% of the cardiac patients and none of the comparison group 24 h after operation (P = 0.9). Global transient neurological dysfunction occurred in 59% of the coronary group in the 1st postoperative day compared with 21% in other forms of surgery (P = 0.0007) but this correlated with postoperative narcotic and sedative drugs. A deterioration in neuropsychological performance was detectable in 73% of coronary cases at 8 days which was more likely to occur with increasing age, longer bypass time and lower perfusion pressure, but similar neuropsychological changes also occurred in 50% of the comparison group. By 8 weeks, there was a significant improvement in the cardiac patients (37%, P less than 0.001) but not in the other group. Cerebral blood flow was reduced at 8 days in the coronary bypass patients but not in the comparison group suggesting that the mechanism of cerebral change may be different in the two groups. PMID- 2624785 TI - Mechanical valve replacement in children and teenagers. AB - A previous study from this unit showed that only 19% of children with mitral bioprostheses were free from complications after 7 years and prompted us to review the performance of new-generation mechanical prostheses implanted in the same population group. In a 5-year period (1980-1985), 352 patients 20 years old and younger (mean age 15.3 +/- 4 years) with rheumatic valvular disease had 177 mitral, 62 aortic and 113 double (mitral + aortic) valve replacements with Medtronic-Hall or St. Jude prostheses. The overall early mortality was 6.3%. All survivors, followed up for a total of 1171 patient-years, received oral anticoagulation. The late mortality for mitral, aortic and double valve replacement was 4.1% per patient-year, 4.3% per patient-year and 8.0% per patient year, respectively (P less than 0.05), and was valve-related in 46% of the cases. Twenty-nine patients, all but 2 in the mitral and double valve replacement groups, were reoperated upon (2.5% per patient-year), mainly for infective endocarditis (34%), for prosthetic thrombosis (33%) and for bland periprosthetic leak (31%). The incidence of thrombotic obstruction was 1.1% per patient-year: mitral valve replacement, 1.0% per patient-year; aortic valve replacement 0.5% per patient-year; and double valve replacement, 1.7% per patient-year; P less than 0.05) and was fatal in 33% of the cases. Major systemic thromboembolism occurred at the rate of 1.4% per patient-year, similar in the three groups. The incidence of prosthetic endocarditis was 0.9% per patient-year.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624786 TI - Valve replacement in children under 14 years of age: a review of 22 years of experience. AB - From 1964 to 1986, a total of 18 valve replacement operations were performed in 15 children under 14 years of age, with 13% operative mortality. Eleven children had a mitral valve replacement, with 3 subsequently requiring reoperation. Twelve Starr-Edwards caged ball prostheses, 1 Bjork-Shiley and 1 Carpentier-Edwards prosthesis were implanted in the mitral position, with 18% operative mortality. Three children underwent aortic valve replacement, 1 with a Bjork-Shiley prosthesis and 2 with a Starr-Edwards. One patient had tricuspid valve replacement utilizing a Starr-Edwards valve. Thirteen patients had one or more cardiac operations prior to valve replacement. Two late deaths occurred 8 and 18 months, respectively, group, 1 from a cardiac arrhythmia and 1 from fulminating prosthetic valve endocarditis. There were no late deaths in other patients. There was one thromboembolic episode in the entire group. At follow-up, 10 patients were classified as New York Heart Association Functional Class I and 1 patient was Class III. Valve replacement in children can be carried out with low mortality and good long-term results using the Starr-Edwards caged ball prosthesis. PMID- 2624787 TI - Late results after resection of discrete and tunnel subaortic stenosis. AB - From May 1969 to June 1988, 84 consecutive patients ranging in age from 6 months to 61 years (mean 18 years) underwent surgery for fixed subaortic stenosis (SAS). A discrete fibrous or fibromuscular structure was present in 81 patients, while 3 presented with a tunnel type of obstruction. SAS was treated by sharp resection of the tissue and routine myotomy or myectomy of the hypertrophied left ventricular (LV) muscle (57 patients, group 1), while more recently, the lesion was treated by simple fibrous tissue enucleation (27 cases, group 2). There were 3 hospital deaths (3.6%) and 3 late deaths (overall mortality 7.1%). Eight patients required late reoperation because of recurrent SAS [3], aortic valve stenosis [2], aortic incompetence (AI) [2] and persistent mitral incompetence [1]. Seventy of 78 late survivors were reevaluated 3 months to 110 months after surgery (mean 75 +/- 48 months) by means of a complete cardiac catheterization or by 2-D echo and Doppler. The transaortic peak pressure gradient decreased from 97 +/- 43 (range 20-205 mmHg) to 11 +/- 16 mmHg (range 0-60 mmHg) in group 1 and from 72 +/- 38 mmHg (range 18-160 mmHg) to 3 +/- 7 mmHg (range 0-25 mmHg) in group 2 (P = NS). In 55 patients who have not undergone surgery on the aortic valve, AI remained unchanged in 31, decreased from mild to nil in 21 and from moderate to mild in 3. We conclude that simple blunt enucleation of SAS is an effective procedure in relieving LV outflow obstruction even if a myotomy or myectomy of the underlying hypertrophied muscle is not routinely used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624788 TI - Surgical experience with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in patients with complete transposition of the great arteries and essentially intact ventricular septum undergoing the Mustard operation. AB - During a 24-year period (1963-1987), 46 infants and children with complete transposition of the great arteries (CTGA) and an essentially intact ventricular septum (IVS) have undergone surgical relief of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) concurrently with the Mustard operation (MO). The obstruction was valvar in 2 patients, subvalvar in 43 and combined valvar and subvalvar in 1; the ventricular septum was intact in 42, and 4 patients had a small VSD at the time of repair. Neonatal and pre-Mustard cardiac catheterization (CC) data were analyzed to obtain LV to right ventricular peak systolic pressure ratio (LV/RVPSP) and LVOT peak systolic gradient (PSG). The mean neonatal LV/RVPSP (n = 31) was 0.79 +/- 0.04; pre-Mustard LV/RVPSP (n = 44) was 0.75 +/- 0.05; pre Mustard LVOT PSG (n = 34) was 46.5 +/- 3.5 mmHg. Neonatal (n = 29) and pre Mustard (n = 30) cardiac angiograms were retrospectively reviewed to analyse morphologic substrates of LVOTO. In the neonatal period, LVOTO was present in 7 patients (anatomic, n = 4; dynamic, n = 2; combined, n = 1). Immediately prior to the MO, LVOTO was present in 29 (anatomic, n = 20; dynamic n = 2; combined, n = 7). Techniques to correct LVOTO at the initial MO included pulmonary valvotomy (n = 3), ventriculomyectomy (n = 41), resection of an windsock aneurysm (n = 1), LV to pulmonary artery valved conduit (VC) (n = 1). Two patients underwent VC early postoperatively (PO) for severe residual LVOTO (both died).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624789 TI - Congenital vascular rings: surgical management of 111 cases. AB - Between October 1974 and May 1987, 111 congenital vascular rings were submitted to surgical correction. There were 83 infants (age: 5 days-12 months, median: 7 months; weight: 1.9-8.5 kg, median: 7.1 kg), and 28 children (age: 1-13 years, median: 3.5 years; weight: 7.5-48 kg, median: 26.5 kg). Patients were divided into five groups: (1) double patent aortic arch (44 cases), (2) double aortic arch with atresia in different parts of the left arch (36 cases), (3) right aortic arch with left ligamentum arteriosum (21 cases), (4) left aortic arch with aberrant right subclavian artery and truncus caroticus (8 cases), and (5) pulmonary artery sling (2 cases). We had no intraoperative mortality but in the postoperative period, 2 neonates died of severe bacterial infections of the respiratory tract. PMID- 2624790 TI - The pathophysiology of atypical tamponade in infants undergoing cardiac surgery. AB - A small solid state transducer was used to measure pericardial pressure (PP) in 13 pediatric patients (mean age 18 months) at hourly intervals for 24 h following cardiac surgery. The mean PP following closed cardiac surgery via a left thoracotomy (group 1: 5 patients) was 2.7 +/- 1.4 mmHg and did not change with time. Maximum PP occurred during isovolumic relaxation of the ventricle rising to a peak at the onset of the 'a' wave of the central venous pressure (CVP). PP was strongly correlated with CVP (r = 0.58, P less than 0.001) but not with airways pressure (r = 0.27, P less than 0.2). Mean PP in the 3 patients undergoing transatrial surgery (group 2) was 4.5 +/- 2.7 mmHg (group 1 vs group 2, P less than 0.001). PP was significantly raised in the 2 patients undergoing transventricular correction of Fallot's tetralogy (group 3, PP = 10.2 +/- 3.2 mmHg; group 3 vs group 2, P less than 0.001) and in the 3 patients undergoing homograft conduit reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract for truncus arteriosus (group 4, PP = 9.3 +/- 2.6 mmHg; group 4 vs group 2, P less than 0.001). The results confirm that PP is a mathematical function of the expansile forces of the heart and the restricting forces of the pericardium and mediastinum. Patients with pulmonary regurgitation or pulmonary hypertensive crisis leading to increased right ventricular end diastolic dimension or a space occupying conduit have a high PP and are therefore at risk of atypical tamponade. In this situation splinting open the chest may reduce PP and break the cycle of falling cardiac output. PMID- 2624791 TI - Follow-up after coronary revascularisation in patients with renal transplants. AB - Seven patients underwent coronary revascularisation 12-145 months (mean: 63.4 months) after receiving cadaver renal transplants. There was no operative mortality and in all patients satisfactory renal function was maintained perioperatively. Hospital stay ranged from 7 days to 10 days (mean: 8 days). During the period of follow-up (5-72 months, mean: 35 months): one patient remained angina-free at 7 months postoperatively; one patient developed meningitis with Listeria monocytogenes 9 weeks after surgery, and died of streptococcal septicaemia 11 weeks later. The other five patients (71.4%) developed recurrence of angina requiring antianginal therapy, and three of them sustained myocardial infarctions. Three patients developed intermittent claudication, two of whom sustained acute leg ischaemia. Two patients developed heart failure, one of whom died 38 months postoperatively. In four patients who were restudied with cardiac catheterisation and coronary angiography (2-17 months postoperatively) there was evidence of progression of the coronary arterial disease in three, although all coronary grafts were patent. Renal function remained satisfactory in 5 patients, and deteriorated in two patients; in one secondary to advanced heart failure; and in one as a terminal event secondary to septicaemia. Although patients with renal transplants can safely undergo open cardiac procedures, the long-term results of coronary surgery are adversely affected by the progressive disease from which they suffer. PMID- 2624792 TI - A concealed impalement injury of the chest--an unusual intrathoracic foreign body. AB - Penetrating injuries of the chest in civilian practice are rare. A case is presented of an unusual injury with a large wooden chair fragment which remained concealed for several days until the development of life threatening complications. Aspects of the evaluation of penetrating thoracic injuries are discussed. PMID- 2624793 TI - Aspergillus ball thrombus occluding a homograft conduit. AB - Almost total occlusion of an aortic homograft conduit by a ball of Aspergillus terreus was found postmortem in a 6-month-old infant following repair of a type I truncus arteriosus. Signs of pulmonary hypertensive crisis, fever, anaemia, and thrombocytopenia were present. However, blood cultures were persistently negative. A 2-D echocardiogram failed to demonstrate any vegetation. The clinical, pathological, and postmortem findings are described and difficulties in the diagnosis of Aspergillus infection are discussed. PMID- 2624794 TI - Low energy level internal defibrillation during cardiopulmonary bypass. AB - Low energy level internal direct current shocks were used to defibrillate the hearts of 168 patients during procedures performed on cardiopulmonary bypass. In all cases, the core temperature was greater than 32 degrees C and care was taken to correct hypokalaemia and acid-base balance prior to defibrillation. In 78 patients (46%), defibrillation required 2 joules or less, and in 139 (82.7%) cases, defibrillation was effected with 4 joules or less. Only 4 patients required more than 10 joules to defibrillate the heart. This study shows that it is possible to defibrillate hearts during cardiopulmonary bypass with energy levels well below the 20-30 joule shocks commonly used. PMID- 2624795 TI - A compact single post internal mammary artery dissection retractor. AB - Considering the ergonomics of an efficient exposure of the retrosternal area, the design of the internal mammary artery dissection retractor resulted in an alternative compact and easy adjustable construction. A single post fixation enables a quick setup and takedown over the sterile drapes in one piece. So, the usual numerous nuts and knobs and different assembly parts are superfluous. PMID- 2624796 TI - Right-sided intrathoracic bypass graft for complex or recurrent coarctation of the aorta. AB - A simple technique is described for the interposition of a tube graft between the ascending and descending aorta in the right chest. Directing the graft posteriorly preserves the integrity of the pericardium and avoids potential damage to the prosthesis at a subsequent sternotomy for open heart surgery. This procedure was used successfully and without complication in an 18-month-old boy who had undergone two previous operations for coarctation of the aorta, and in a 20-year-old girl with William's syndrome and diffuse hypoplasia of the distal aortic arch. PMID- 2624797 TI - The conduction bundle at the atrioventricular junction. An anatomical study. AB - The variability in the topographical anatomy of the conduction bundle at the site of the atrioventricular junction has been studied in four normal human hearts. The junctional area has been removed en bloc and serially sectioned. The conduction bundle and adjacent structures such as the posterior limb of the trabecula septomarginalis and the membranous septum have been reconstructed based on calculations from the histological sections. The study reveals marked variability particularly in the extent of the posterior limb of the trabecula septomarginalis. In one instance, the muscle was almost totally absent so that the branching bundle was located in a midline position and subendocardial both to the right and the left ventricular septal surface. In two hearts, the posterior limb of the trabecula septomarginalis had ramified so that only a small segment of the conduction bundle was covered by muscle. In the remaining case, a well developed posterior limb of the trabecula septomarginalis completely covered the conduction axis thus accounting for the left-sided position of the bundle. The variability encountered may render the conduction bundle vulnerable to the tensile strain of the tricuspid valve apparatus, enhancing the natural process of wear and tear which may lead to disruption of conduction fibres and heart block, particularly in the elderly. Since the detailed topographical anatomy of the conduction bundle in the atrioventricular junctional area appears to be highly variable from one individual to another, meticulous inspection is mandatory once the area is manipulated at surgery. PMID- 2624798 TI - Conservative and bronchoplastic resection for bronchial carcinoid tumours. AB - From January 1974 to December 1987, 45 cases of bronchial carcinoid were surgically managed at our Unit, 44 of which were evaluated. All patients but 2 were submitted to fiberoptic bronchoscopy prior to surgery. A standard resection was performed in 19 cases (13 lobectomies, 4 bilobectomies and 2 pneumonectomies). In 11 cases, pulmonary resection was complemented with a bronchoplastic technique (6 lobectomies, 2 bilobectomies, 2 pneumonectomies, 1 segmentectomy). Four cases were managed by minimal resections (2 segmental, 1 wedge, 1 enucleation) and 8 others by bronchotomy and local resection without the sacrifice of lung tissue. There were two major postoperative complications and no operative mortality. Mean follow-up has been 53 months and no local bronchial recurrence has been observed although 2 patients have developed distant metastases, with 1 death. The absence of local recurrence in a series in which more than 50% of patients were treated with some form of conservative surgery seems to indicate that resection of lung tissue should be avoided whenever possible. PMID- 2624799 TI - Long-term follow-up of operative treatment for pulmonary metastases. AB - From 1954 onwards, 132 patients underwent 165 resections for pulmonary metastases. No other forms of therapy were adopted. The operative mortality was 7.6% (10 patients). After a minimum follow-up of 5 years, the overall survival rate was 20%. The 10- and 15-year survival rates were 6% and 3%, respectively. The major cause of late death was recurrence or spread of the primary disease in 102 patients (83.6%) while 5 patients died of reasons not related to cancer. Fifteen patients (12.3%) are still alive, 13 of whom have no clinical cancer. The presence of symptoms, the disease-free interval of less than 1 year and the number of metastases showed a statistically significant detrimental influence on survival (P less than 0.001, P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.046, respectively). The best 5-year survivals of 42%, 24%, 23% and 23% were noted for metastases from malignancies in the body of the uterus, kidney, bone and colon, respectively. Longterm survival or clinical cure can be achieved with surgery alone by an aggressive approach in selected malignancies. PMID- 2624800 TI - Treatment of missile injuries of the chest: Belfast experience. AB - Four hundred and thirty patients with major missile-induced injuries of the chest have been treated in one surgical unit. Over 30% of cases had multiple injuries. The immediate first-aid treatment and hospital management are described. As a result of our experiences, an aggressive surgical approach has developed and our indications for thoracotomy are described. The overall mortality was 6%. PMID- 2624801 TI - Heart-lung transplantation at Papworth Hospital. AB - Combined heart-lung transplantation has been performed in 51 patients since 1984. A pulmonary preservation fluid preceded by prostacyclin infusion has allowed distant procurement. Early organ function has been good in all cases. Maintenance immunosuppression is cyclosporine and azathioprine. Steroids are given to treat rejection episodes. Transbronchial biopsy has allowed the accurate, early and safe diagnosis of rejection. Acute cardiac rejection has not occurred in these patients. Thirty-seven patients are alive between 1 and 54 months following transplantation. The actuarial survival at 1 year is 76% and 68% at 2 years. Four patients died in the early postoperative period as a result of primary Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Other causes of early death were bacterial infection (4), cerebrovascular event (1), tracheal dehiscence (1) and small bowel infarction following retransplantation for obliterative bronchiolitis. Three other patients have died as a result of obliterative bronchiolitis. Patients and donors have been carefully selected to ensure that this scarce resource is utilised most effectively. PMID- 2624802 TI - Eleven years' experience with Carpentier-Edwards biological valves in relation to survival and complications. AB - The Carpentier-Edwards porcine valve bioprosthesis was implanted in 299 patients (325 prostheses) from April 1976 to April 1982. The series consisted of aortic valve replacement in 150 patients, mitral valve replacement in 120, multiple valve replacement in 26, pulmonary valve replacement in 2 and tricuspid valve replacement in 1 patient. The postoperative follow-up was 100% complete. The total accumulated follow-up was 1956 patient-years. The early mortality was 6.4% (20 patients) and the late mortality was 22% (62 patients). Valve-related mortality was seen in 8 patients (2.7%): 1 paravalvular leak during the 1st 30 postoperative days and 7 late mortalities (1 endocarditis, 2 paravalvular leaks and 4 deaths during reoperation). Three operative deaths (1.5%) occurred. The overall patient survival including operative deaths was 78.5% +/- 5% at 5 years and 66% +/- 4% at 10 years. The incidence of the different complications were: thromboembolism in 5 patients (1.7%) with a risk of 0.3%, haemorrhage in 1 (0.3%) with a risk of 0.05%, endocarditis in 2 (0.7%) with a risk of 0.1%, and paravalvular leak in 11 patients (3.7%) with a risk of 0.6%. There was a high incidence of tissue failure during the last 6 years which occurred in 54 patients (18%) with a risk of 2.7%. Sixty-seven patients (22.5%) were reoperated upon during the 11 years with an annual risk of 3.4% and the main cause of reoperation was primary tissue failure. The Carpentier-Edwards biological valve was shown to be efficient during the first 5 years of implantation after which the incidence of tissue failure increased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624803 TI - Mitral valve replacement with the Hancock, Bjork-Shiley and Lillehei-Kaster prostheses. A comparison based on a 15-year follow-up. AB - The performance of the standard Hancock porcine bioprosthesis (HPB), the Bjork Shiley spherical disc prosthesis (BSP) and the Lillehei-Kaster tilting disc prosthesis (LKP) was compared over a 15-year follow-up in patients who underwent isolated mitral valve replacement (502 HPB, 183 LKP and 119 BSP). The cumulative duration of follow-up is 3,488 patient-years (mean, 8.0 +/- 3.7 years) for patients with a HPB, 1,302 patient-years (mean, 8.4 +/- 4.9 years) for patients with a LKP and 718 patient-years (mean, 7.1 +/- 5.6 years) for those with a BSP. At 15 years a significant difference was found among the 3 groups in freedom from (1) anticoagulant-related haemorrhages, between HPB (83% +/- 7%) and BSP (65% +/- 8%) recipients (P less than 0.05); (2) prosthetic dysfunction, BSP (96% +/- 3%) and LKP (83% +/- 6%) versus HPB (42% +/- 5%) recipients (P less than 0.001); (3) overall reoperations, BSP (94% +/- 3%) and LKP (89% +/- 3%) versus HPB (40% +/- 5%) recipients (P less than 0.001) and (4) prosthetic failure, BSP (88% +/- 4%) and LKP (71% +/- 6%) versus HPB (38% +/- 5%) recipients (P less than 0.001). No difference was found in actuarial survival, freedom from thromboembolic episodes, treatment failure and overall prosthesis-related complications. Our results confirm that the long-term performance of the HPB in the mitral position is adversely affected by the high incidence of tissue degeneration while haemorrhagic complications may limit the advantage of the longer durability of mechanical prostheses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624804 TI - Internal mammary artery bypass: effect on longevity and recurrent angina pectoris in 2900 patients. AB - Internal mammary artery bypass (IMA) to the anterior descending coronary artery was performed in 2900 patients from January 1978 to December 1987. The average age of the patients was 64 years. Males accounted for 68% (1972 patients) and 82% (2378 patients) were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III. Left ventricular function was impaired in 51%. The average number of additional saphenous vein grafts per patient was 1.8. The operative mortality was 1.6%. Mediastinitis occurred in 29 patients (1%). Reoperation for bleeding was necessary in 32 patients (1.1%). Perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) was seen in 58 patients (2%) and neurological complications occurred in 32 patients (1.1%). Repeat coronary angiography was performed in 703 patients (25%) and demonstrated a patency rate of 96% in IMA grafts and 81% in saphenous vein grafts (SVG). Survival at 9 years was 90% from all causes and 95% when noncardiac deaths were excluded. Recurrence of angina occurred in 522 patients (18%) and reoperation was performed in 15 patients (0.5%). During the same time period, 1783 patients underwent coronary artery bypass utilizing a SVG. Survival at 9 years was 78% from all causes and 83% when noncardiac deaths were excluded. Recurrent angina was present in 546 patients (39%). These data suggest that a patent-IMA to the anterior descending protects against recurrent angina and death from cardiac causes and should be the conduit of choice. PMID- 2624805 TI - Clinical validation of St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution No. 2 (Plegisol). AB - Recently, the St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution No. 2 (Plegisol) has become available commercially in the UK. In a series of patients (n = 28) undergoing open heart surgery for a variety of lesions, a clinical validation was performed. Preservation of myocardial contractility was assessed biophysically by quantitative birefringence measurements of myocardial biopsy samples (full thickness apical left ventricle and right ventricle) taken (1) prior to ischaemia, (2) at the end of ischaemia and (3) 10-15 min after reperfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass. In addition, serum CK-MB values were measured in samples taken throughout the operation and for 4 days postoperatively. Postoperative ECG traces (taken every 6 h for 48 h and then daily up to 7 days) were analysed to identify the occurrence of perioperative infarction. There were no hospital deaths. Chronotropic support was required in 5 of 28 patients (18%) for transient heart block. Low cardiac output did not occur postoperatively. Birefringence measurements in biopsy samples taken at the end of the ischaemic period (immediately prior to reperfusion) indicated an apparent left ventricular deterioration in myocardial contractility in 12 of 28 patients (43%) when compared to biopsies sampled prior to the ischaemic period. However, after 10-15 min of aerobic reperfusion, measurements indicated that myocardial contractility recovered to almost pre-ischaemic levels in the majority of patients. Thus, in 22 of 28 patients (79%), left ventricular deterioration did not occur in post ischaemic biopsy samples when compared to the pre-ischaemic biopsies. Similarly, 21 of 28 patients (75%) had no deterioration of birefringence values in right ventricular biopsies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624806 TI - Efficacy of a new blood substitute based on ultra-pure polymerized bovine hemoglobulin. A preliminary report. PMID- 2624807 TI - Prevention of pulmonary edema developing in autoperfusing heart-lung preparation by leukocyte depletion. AB - We investigated the preventive effect of leukocyte depletion on the development of pulmonary edema in a 12 h autoperfusing heart-lung preparation (AHLP). Sixteen mongrel dogs were divided into two groups: control group (group C, n = 9) and leukocyte depleted group (group L, n = 7). In group L, leukocytes were depleted with a leukocyte removal filter prior to the preservation. Extravascular thermal volume (EVTV) was measured by thermal-dye dilution technique as a parameter of pulmonary edema during preservation. The white blood cell (WBC) count was measured before and during preservation. After the procedure, extravascular lung water (EVLW) was measured by a gravimetric technique. In group C, the WBC count significantly decreased soon after the start of preservation, and subsequently remained without significant changes. In group L, the WBC count was maintained at a low level during the entire course of preservation. In group C, EVTV increased significantly with the preservation time. In group L, a significant increase in EVTV was only found at 12 h to a smaller extent than in group C. EVLW was significantly smaller in group L than in group C. In conclusion, the development of pulmonary edema was apparently prevented in the 12 h canine AHLP model by leukocyte depletion, and pulmonary leukocyte sequestration was considered as a cause of pulmonary edema in AHLP. PMID- 2624808 TI - Successful reoperation in a fractured convexo-concavo 70 degrees aortic Bjork Shiley valve. AB - A female patient was transferred to our unit with the suspicion of fracture of her 70 degrees Bjork-Shiley valve. A successful replacement of the broken device confirmed the diagnosis. In steep Trendelenburg position, using femoral arterial inflow, the disc could be returned into the operative field by temporarily declamping the aorta. PMID- 2624809 TI - Colo-pericardial and colo-caval fistula. Late complication of colon interposition. AB - We report the first recorded case of a colo-pericardial fistula and of a colo caval fistula following interposition of colon after resection of the oesophagus. PMID- 2624810 TI - From flintstone to diamond blade: a new multifunctional instrument for use in coronary surgery. AB - We report on the development and clinical application of a diamond surgical knife specially designed for the preparation, initial incision, and bidirectional enlargement of coronary arteries. The ergonomic design of the knife enables the performance of all the necessary steps in a coronary incision with a single instrument and obviates the need for different shaped knives and scissors during preparation. The lasting sharpness of the diamond blade results in a far cleaner, less traumatic, cutting edge as can be demonstrated by scanning electron micrographs of incised coronary walls after the use of various types of coronary knives and scissors. PMID- 2624811 TI - Intravascular air after fibrin sealing by spray gun in cardiovascular surgery. AB - During an operation for an ascending aortic aneurysm with implantation of a saphenous vein graft to the left coronary artery into a prosthesis, we occasionally observed air bubbles in the graft after application of fibrin glue to the anastomosis to control bleeding. In an experimental study in a pig, a vascular prosthesis was anastomosed to the descending aorta. The aorta and the prosthesis were transected and reanastomosed. Air bubbles were collected in a glass flask placed at the end of the prosthesis. Fibrin glue was applied with a spray catheter on all anastomoses at varying distances and with different air pressures. Small amounts of air were collected in the glass flask when an air pressure of 3 or 4 bar was used. This study demonstrates that the use of fibrin glue in cardiovascular surgery can introduce air into the vascular system with subsequent air emboli as a possible side-effect. PMID- 2624812 TI - The superior approach to the mitral valve. PMID- 2624813 TI - Cardiac output by electrical bioimpedance. AB - Continuous CO measurement by EB is a highly technical issue requiring expert opinion for evaluation. At present, the NIH, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the American College of Cardiology consider continuous CO monitoring by EB to be investigational. However, EB has numerous advantages when compared with other presently available techniques. Consequently, advances may require that the OHTA conduct another assessment in the near future. The NIH suggested that the use of EB on a noncontinuous basis in selected patients to measure changes in CO (but not the absolute value of CO) is reasonable. If the use of EB on a continuous basis is contemplated, then studies should be conducted to determine the safety of long-term electrical input into the thorax. Electrical bioimpedance should not be used in patients with pacemakers and may be inappropriate in patients with regurgitant valvular heart disease, intracardiac shunts, arrhythmias, ventricular asynchrony, tachycardia, hypertension, significant airway obstruction, or in patients undergoing therapy such as atropinization, all of which may change the shape of the dZ/dt waveform. PMID- 2624814 TI - Changes in phase analysis patterns of radionuclide ventriculograms obtained from baboons during atrial pacing, septic shock, and induced myocardial infarction. AB - Changes in intraventricular phase delays, phase angle histograms, amplitude images, and electrocardiograms (ECG) were investigated during oesophageal pacing with and without beta-blockade, after induced myocardial infarction, and during septic shock in the anaesthetized baboon model. Unavoidable triggering from the pacemaker spike and to a lesser extent increased heart rate were responsible for parameter changes during pacing. Myocardial infarction changed contraction patterns, which did not always correlate with conduction changes from the ECG's. Cardiac volume changes during septic shock could be responsible for the abnormal trends in phase angle spread and electrocardiographic data. PMID- 2624815 TI - Double tracer autoradiographic method for sequential evaluation of regional cerebral perfusion. AB - A new double tracer autoradiographic method for the sequential evaluation of altered regional cerebral perfusion in the same animal is presented. This method is based on the sequential injection of two tracers, 99mTc hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime and N-isopropyl-(125I)p-iodoamphetamine. This method is validated in the assessment of brovincamine effects on regional cerebral perfusion in an experimental model of chronic brain ischemia in the rat. The drug enhanced perfusion recovery in low-flow areas, selectively in surrounding areas of infarction. The results suggest that this technique is of potential use in the study of neuropharmacological effects applied during the experiment. PMID- 2624816 TI - Biodistribution and dosimetry of 3F8 neuroblastoma monoclonal antibody. AB - A method has been developed for quantitating radiolabeled antibody concentrations from images obtained with standard gamma cameras. The method is based on orthogonal projections and accounts both for the effective attenuation of gamma rays and the finite depth dependent resolution of a gamma camera. The method was verified in experimental phantoms and subsequently used in patient studies to quantitate radiolabeled antibody concentrations in neuroblastoma tumors. The in vivo measurements of tumor radioactivity levels were confirmed at biopsy in one patient. PMID- 2624817 TI - Contrast echocardiography: effects of microbubbles on coronary blood flow and left ventricular hemodynamics. AB - Contrast echocardiography is currently being used to define and quantitate myocardial perfusion at the time of cardiac catheterization. Limited and conflicting data exist regarding the physiologic effects of microbubble containing contrast agents. In the present study, coronary blood flow measured using an electromagnetic flow meter, blood pressure, and heart rate responses were studied in six dogs. An ECG-gated power injector was used to deliver 7 to 9 ml of sonicated and nonsonicated solutions (saline, Renografin-76, dextrose 50% and 70%, and sorbitol 70%) through an intra-aortic catheter placed above the aortic cusps. Paired injections of sonicated and nonsonicated agents were compared to determine whether the presence of microbubbles affected the physiologic response to these agents. Simultaneous recordings of two-dimensional cross-sectional images of the left ventricle were obtained. Data are expressed as percentage of change from preinjection control values. Within 10 seconds of an injection, decreases in coronary blood flow occurred in a range from -1 to -10% compared with preinjection control values. Coronary blood flow increased between 10 and 25 seconds postinjection within a range from +11 to +29%. Systemic blood pressures rose during injections and then declined below control values within 10 seconds. The magnitude of the decline in systolic blood pressure ranged from -5. to -18%. Diastolic blood pressure declined in a range from -13 to -33%. Within 20 30 seconds postinjection, systemic blood pressure rose above control values. The magnitude of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure rise ranged from +4 to +11%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624818 TI - A new technique for functional surgery of the nasal valve area. AB - Nasal valvular obstruction is a neglected and disregarded clinical entity in current practice. Rhinomanometry and nasal endoscopy allow a better evaluation of the degree and the site of the stenosis. The distinction between nasal valve and nasal valve area is fundamental in surgical practice. Valvular disturbances are often induced or aggravated by rhinoplastic procedures due to scar tissue formation in the region of the nasal valve area and/or to excessive resection of supporting cartilaginous structures. Routine septal surgery is often followed by sequelae in the valve area structures. The treatment of valvular disturbances is basically surgical. A systematic surgical approach should comprise the structures of the nasal valve area as well as the structures functionally related to it. After a brief review of the techniques described in the literature, the authors present an original corrective technique for the valve area deformities, performed through the hemitransfixion incision. This technique results from previous experience founded on Cottle's surgical philosophy. This technique assures the correction of the valve area deformities as well as the performance of surgical manoeuvres extended to the osteocartilaginous pyramid and the nasal cavities. It is therefore possible to properly correct the areas of resistance and to re-establish adequate functional relationships between the various parts. PMID- 2624819 TI - No short-term effects of 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol in healthy subjects. AB - Seven healthy volunteers were given 25 micrograms of 24,25-DHCC for one week to study the effects on calcium and bone metabolism. Mean plasma 24,25-DHCC concentration increased from 2.2 +/- 1.7 micrograms/l to 10.8 +/- 6.1 micrograms/l (p less than 0.001). No significant change was seen in the fasting plasma concentrations of Ca, Ca++, PTH and alkaline phosphatase activity and in urinary excretion of calcium and hydroxyproline and in tubular reabsorption of phosphate. The area under the curve for plasma ionized calcium concentration and urinary excretion of calcium during a standard calcium infusion of 10 mg/kg of Ca in 2 h did not change by 24,25-DHCC. We conclude that in healthy subjects no effect of 24,25-DHCC on the steady state parameters of calcium and bone metabolism, on renal calcium handling and on the handling of an intravenous calcium challenge by the homeostatic system could be demonstrated. PMID- 2624820 TI - Influence of food and antacid administration on fluoride bioavailability from enteric-coated sodium fluoride tablets. AB - The relative bioavailability of enteric-coated sodium fluoride (NaF) tablets (10 mg F-) has been assessed following administration with a standard calcium-rich breakfast or calcium-poor lunch, and 2 h before or simultaneously with antacid administration (2.4 g aluminum-magnesium hydroxide), versus intake on an empty stomach. Twelve volunteers were studied 3 times according to an open, three-way crossover design over a 24 h period at weekly intervals. Meals were found to decrease the peak serum concentration of NaF from 122 micrograms/L during fasting (after baseline subtraction) to 71 and 88 micrograms/L with breakfast and lunch respectively, and to slow its absorption rate with Tmax increasing from 3.3 to 7.3 and 11.2 hours, without altering its bioavailability. Antacid impaired the bioavailability of NaF by 80% when administered simultaneously, with AUC decreasing from 987 to 155 micrograms.h/L, but had no significant effect when taken 2 h before NaF. In conclusion, the enteric-coated NaF tablets used in this study can be administered with food or after a 2-hour delay following antacid administration, but should not be taken simultaneously with antacid. PMID- 2624821 TI - Influence of soft tissue body composition on bone mass and metabolism. AB - Total body bone mineral (TBBM), lean body mass (LBM), and fat mass (FM) were measured by dual photon 153Gd absorptiometry in four female groups: (a) 27 patients with hip fracture; (b) 40 patients with spinal crush fracture; (c) 17 patients with osteoarthrosis, and (d) 26 healthy postmenopausal women. TBBM was significantly decreased in the two osteoporotic groups. The FM tended to be smaller in the two osteoporotic groups and larger in the osteoarthrotic group compared to the control group, whereas, LBM was virtually equal in all four groups. A significant negative correlation (p less than 0.01) was found between fasting urinary calcium corrected for creatinine and FM, whereas no relation between plasma bone Gla protein and FM could be demonstrated. We conclude that an increased fat mass after the menopause decreases bone resorption without a corresponding decrease in bone formation. PMID- 2624822 TI - Effects of fluoride on cortical bone remodeling in the growing domestic pig. AB - The purpose of the experiment was to assess the effects of fluoride (F-) on the remodeling process of cortical bone. Sixteen pigs, eight experimental animals receiving a supplement of 2 mg F-/kg b.w. and eight controls, were studied in individual sites from age 8 to 14 months. At slaughter samples of cortical bone were obtained from the right femur and embedded undecalcified. A new stereologic model based on fluorochrome tissue time markers and isotropic uniform random histologic sections was implied in order to obtain information in three dimensional terms about dynamic aspects of remodeling. The rate of remodeling was increased in cortical bone from pigs receiving F- due to an increased activation of new remodeling. A doubling of the length density of resorptive and formative osteons was observed, although the change was statistically significant for the formative osteons only. An 11% decrease in depth of resorption and an 8% decrease in thickness of new bone formed led to a small decrease in the radius of Haversian canals in the fluorotic bone. The porosity of cortical bone was slightly but significantly increased. At formative sites the osteoid thickness and the mineralization rate were not significantly changed by F-. It was concluded that the observed changes cannot be explained by F- induced changes in a single cell. Fluoride appears to affect all cells involved in remodeling by direct or indirect mechanisms. PMID- 2624823 TI - Sex differences in age-related loss of vertebral trabecular bone mass and structure--biomechanical consequences. AB - Density, structure, and biomechanical competence of trabecular bone were analyzed on cylinders from the central part of the third lumbar vertebral body (L3) from 91 normal individuals aged 15-91 years (48 males and 43 females). A significant and identical age-related decrease (p less than 0.001) in bone density (apparent ash-density and trabecular bone volume) was found for both males and females. The structural analyses revealed a marked, age-related increase (p less than 0.001) in the distance between the horizontal trabeculae in both sexes. In individuals older than 75 years, this increase was significantly higher for females than for males (p less than 0.05). No other significant sex-related differences could be demonstrated in the age-related changes in the trabecular network. The biomechanical compression tests showed a significant and identical age-related decrease (p less than 0.001) in stress-values in the vertical direction for both males and females. When horizontal cylinders were compressed, a steady decrease of bone strength was seen in males, while in females there was a tendency to a pronounced loss of bone strength around the age of 40-50 years. The present study demonstrated clearly a sex-related difference in the changes in vertebral trabecular architecture with age, with a higher tendency to perforation of the horizontal supporting struts in females than in males. The biomechanical consequences of this in these normal individuals were minor--but might be very marked in osteoporotic patients. PMID- 2624824 TI - Stereologic estimators of cortical bone remodeling including a kinetic model. AB - The purpose of this study was to describe cortical bone remodeling by means of a new stereologic model, which is based on isotropic uniform (IUR) histological sections and two fluorochrome tissue time markers (tetracycline and calcein) given with a 15-day interval. From each of five pigs two samples of cortical bone were sawed out from the middle part of the diaphysis of the left femoral bone and fixed in absolute methanol. Specimens were embedded undecalcified in methylmethacrylate, and the plane of sectioning was sampled by a new procedure, which produce IUR-sections. The extent of remodeling was estimated by length densities, that is, length of Haversian system undergoing resorption or formation per unit volume of bone. These estimates made it possible to express the activation rate and the remodeling rate at tissue level in absolute three dimensional terms. Such estimates have not previously been published. The shortest diameter of osteon cross-sections was used for obtaining three dimensional measures of osteons dimensions. The estimated true variance between animals as percentage of the observed variance was above 68% for all morphometric parameters except the length density of resorptive osteons (35%). It was concluded that the proposed stereologic methods enable a detailed description in three-dimensional terms of the remodeling process in cortical bone, and further information may be obtained by combining measurements with observations of cell morphology. PMID- 2624825 TI - Metabolism of collagen in bone of adjuvant induced arthritic rat. AB - The metabolism of collagen was examined in bones of rats rendered adjuvant arthritis and matched controls using radioactive isotopic tracer techniques. The rate of the synthesis was studied after the incorporation of tritiated labeled proline into the total bone collagen and determining the content of total hydroxyproline and estimating the specific and total activities of radioactive labeled hydroxyproline. The rate of the catabolism was examined by measuring the activities of various collagen degrading proteolytic enzymes in the bone extract and by estimating the total content of hydroxyproline excreted in the urine. The degradation of collagen was also followed by measuring the specific and total radioactivities of (3H)-hydroxyproline in the urine. When (3H)-proline was injected into the adjuvant arthritic rat, the specific and total radioactivities of (3H)-hydroxyproline in bone collagen were reduced significantly in diseased bone. The activities of various enzymes involved in the catabolism of collagen and other extracellular matrix components were appreciably elevated (about 2-3 fold) in the bone extract of arthritic rat. Similarly, the specific and total activities of (3H)-hydroxyproline in urine samples were also greatly increased in arthritic rats. In addition, the decreased content of hydroxyproline in total bone collagen was accompanied by the increased excretion of urinary hydroxyproline in adjuvant arthritic rats. The results clearly suggest that the arthritic disease induces the qualitative and quantitative changes in bone composition and causes the alteration in the metabolism of collagen in diseased tissue. These observations could therefore, explain in part, the altered response of connective tissue of bone to inflammation and arthritis. PMID- 2624826 TI - Loss of the anabolic effect of parathyroid hormone on bone after discontinuation of hormone in rats. AB - We have previously reported that low doses of hPTH 1-34 given daily to rats exert an anabolic effect on bone. The objective of this study was to determine if the anabolic effect of PTH was dependent upon continued daily administration of the hormone. Young, male rats were given daily subcutaneous injections of either vehicle or 8 micrograms/100g bw hPTH 1-34 for 12, 16, 20, or 24 days. Additional groups were treated with 8 micrograms/100g bw hPTH for 12 days followed by vehicle for the next 4, 8, or 12 days; or 8 micrograms/100g bw hPTH 1-34 for 16 days followed by 4 days of vehicle. We measured calcium (Ca), dry weight (DW), and hydroxyproline (Hyp) of the distal femur; percent of osteoblast (Ob.S/BS) and osteoclast (Oc.S/BS) surface, mineral apposition rate (MAR), double label surface (DLS/BS), and bone formation rate (BFR) in the metaphysis of the proximal tibia, and serum calcium and phosphate. Trabecular and cortical bone Ca and DW and the histologic measures of bone formation increased in all PTH-treated rats. Serum calcium and phosphate were comparable in all rats. The PTH-stimulated bone mass was lost 12 days after discontinuation of PTH. Discontinuation of PTH administration for 4, 8, or 12 days, respectively, resulted in a 72%, 68%, or 50% decrease in Ob.S/BS from the 2- to 3-fold increase associated with PTH treatment (p less than .05). Oc.S/BS increased compared to controls after 4 days of PTH withdrawal (NS), but was comparable to controls 8 days after withdrawal of PTH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624827 TI - Inhibitory effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha on fracture healing in rats. AB - Fracture healing, which involves a cascade of biological tissue responses, may be affected by various biochemical substances. One of these substances is tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). Studies were made on the effects of TNF on healing of fractured ribs of rats. Fracture healing was inhibited by daily administration of recombinant human TNF (400 micrograms/kg body weight per day, intraperitoneally) after fracture. The rate of union on day 20 was significantly lower in the TNF-treated group (4/18, 22.2%) than in the control group (14/18, 77.8%) (p less than 0.001 by Chi-square test). Histological examination showed that TNF inhibited cartilagenous callus formation. On day 10, cartilage was seen in the gap zone and under the periosteum in the control group, but no cartilage formation was observed in the gap zone in 9 of 12 specimens from the TNF-treated group. On day 20, the fracture ends were united by newly formed bone in the control group, but mature fibrous tissue was seen in the gap zone, and bony or cartilagenous union was not achieved in the TNF-treated group. These results show that TNF inhibits cartilage formation in the early phase of bone induction in fracture healing and suggest that this effect of TNF is due to its inhibition of differentiation of mesenchymal cells into chondroblasts. PMID- 2624828 TI - Chemotactic response of osteoblast-like cells to transforming growth factor beta. AB - Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) was tested for its ability to stimulate a chemotactic response in two clonal rat osteosarcoma (ROS) cell lines, 17/2 and 25/1. TGF-beta stimulated dose-dependent chemotaxis in both cell lines. In serum-containing media, maximal response was seen at a concentration of 500 fg (10(-15)g)/mL for the ROS 17/2 cells and 25 fg/mL for the ROS 25/1 cells. In serum-free media, the maximal chemotactic response to TGF-beta occurred at 5 fg/mL for both the ROS 17/2 and 25/1 cells. TGF-beta was not mitogenic at these dosages. The results indicate that TGF-beta could act as a chemoattractant for osteogenic cells in both demineralized bone matrix induced osteogenesis and in normal bone remodeling. PMID- 2624829 TI - The predictive value of quantitative computed tomography for vertebral body compressive strength and ash density. AB - Whole lumbar vertebral sections (L2 and L3) were obtained from 30 elderly individuals aged 43-95 years, mean 81 years (13 females, 17 males). None of the subjects had had malignant diseases. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) was performed on an EMI 7070 scanner. One 8 mm slice parallel to the end-plates was obtained from the center of each vertebral body. The trabecular bone mass in each slice was outlined interactively by means of a tracer-ball. A CT-histogram was recorded inside this area, and average CT-values were expressed in Hounsfield Units (HU). The whole vertebral body (L2) was compressed in a materials testing machine. From the central part of L3, vertical cylindrical pure trabecular bone specimens were obtained. The biomechanical competence of these specimens was also assessed by means of a materials testing machine. Finally, all bone specimens were incinerated for determination of apparent ash-density. Highly significant positive correlations were found between average CT-values and (a) stress values of the trabecular bone (r = 0.81, p less than 0.001) and (b) ash-density of the pure trabecular bone (r = 0.81, p less than 0.001). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between CT-values and (a) total vertebral body load (r = 0.72, p less than 0.001), (b) total vertebral body stress (load/cross sectional area) (r = 0.55, p less than 0.001) and (c) ash-density of the whole vertebral body (r = 0.76, p less than 0.001). It is concluded that quantitative computed tomography gives valid predictions of both vertebral trabecular bone mass and mechanical competence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624830 TI - Study of the effectiveness of bupivicaine infiltration of the ilioinguinal nerve at the time of hernia repair for post-operative pain relief. AB - The effect on post-operative pain relief and analgesic requirements of direct ilioinguinal nerve block using 0.5% bupivicaine (Marcain) at the time of hernia repair was studied. Sixty patients were randomly allocated into two groups, A and B, both being well matched for age, numbers and sex. Those in whom nerve block was used (Group A) required significantly less intramuscular opiates and strong oral analgesics (co-dydramol) than those who did not receive bupivicaine (Group B) during the first 24 hours post-operatively. PMID- 2624831 TI - Ambulatory electrocardiography: an open-access service for general practitioners. AB - Access to ambulatory electrocardiography would enable general practitioners to investigate certain patients with cardiac symptoms without the need for hospital referral. An analysis has been made of the results in 200 consecutive patients referred to a pilot open-access service based at three health centres. Twenty-two GPs used the service, although there was a wide range (1-48) in the number of patients each referred. In 72 patients aged under 50 years, abnormalities other than extrasystoles were detected in only six; major significant arrhythmias were found in three patients, although treatment was required in only one case. Arrhythmias were frequent in patients aged over 50 years but were usually minor; 16/128 (13 per cent) showed major significant arrhythmias. Pacemakers were implanted in two patients. Palpitation and/or dizziness were reported during the period of monitoring by 39 per cent of patients (and were equally common in both age groups), but in neither age group did these symptoms correlate with the occurrence of a significant arrhythmia. In primary care, palpitation and dizziness are rarely due to significant arrhythmias. To increase the cost effectiveness of the service, ambulatory monitoring could be restricted to patients over 50 years of age, except when there is other evidence of heart disease. PMID- 2624832 TI - Value of visits by a geriatrician to elderly patients in a psychiatric hospital. AB - Most elderly patients have a combination of psychiatric and medical problems and are therefore best treated in wards managed by both a psychiatrist and a geriatrician in psycho-geriatric units. Since in most countries only a small number of such units exist the geriatrician can play a significant role in the management of medical problems of elderly patients by reviewing them regularly in psychiatric hospitals. The results of one such arrangement where a geriatrician was involved in the weekly review of the elderly mentally infirm patients are described. PMID- 2624833 TI - Hyponatremia in elderly hospital in-patients. AB - In a prospective study hyponatremia was observed in 30 per cent of 100 elderly hospital in-patients, the serum sodium ranging from 106 to 129 mmol/l. In 67 per cent of the subjects symptoms were absent or non-specific, and the remainder had symptoms of altered sensorium without any focal neurological deficit. Hyponatremia was iatrogenic in 30 per cent, while 17 per cent had an underlying bacterial chest infection. Removal of the cause rapidly reversed hyponatremia and the relevant symptoms. It is stressed that early detection and reversal of this abnormality would significantly limit morbidity in the elderly. PMID- 2624834 TI - Renal pelvic biopsies of renal calculi patients. AB - Histological alterations in the renal pelves of 32 patients operated on for renal stone(s) were investigated in this prospective study. It was demonstrated that there were five cases of squamous metaplasia, two cases each of pyelitis cystica, pyelitis follicularis and polypoid pyelitis, and one case each of papillary adenocarcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma and encrusted pyelitis. The results obtained suggest that renal pelvic biopsy should be a routine procedure during open or percutaneous renal surgery. PMID- 2624835 TI - Bone marrow suppression secondary to carbamazepine. PMID- 2624836 TI - Delayed diagnosis of thyrotoxic heart disease. PMID- 2624837 TI - Transonychial water loss: relation to sex, age and nail-plate thickness. AB - The transonychial water loss (TOWL) was measured in 21 healthy volunteers with an evaporimeter, to establish the usefulness of this technique and study the influence of sex, age and nail-plate thickness. The median TOWL was 19.4 g/m2 h-1 and it decreased with increasing age (R = 0.51, P less than 0.018). The median transepidermal water loss (TEWLHAND) from the back of the hand was 16.0 g/m2 h-1 and from the dorsal side of the underarm (TEWLARM) it was 5.6 g/m2 h-1. The TEWLARM was significantly less than from any of the two other points studied (P less than 0.01), while there was no significant difference between the values obtained on the hand and the nail. TEWLARM had a median value of 6.4 g/m2 h-1 in men and 4.3 g/m2 h-1 in women (P less than 0.05) in this study. No significant correlation between nail-plate thickness, as measured by ultrasound 20 MHz A scan, and TOWL was found. Measurements of TOWL are of interest and should be age related. Further studies are needed to determine TOWL in various forms of nail pathology. PMID- 2624838 TI - Changes in endothelial cell mass, luminal volume and capillary number in the gravitational syndrome. AB - The histopathological changes in the skin of 31 patients with the gravitational syndrome and 10 normal control subjects were studied. To quantify the clinical severity of the syndrome, a new index of severity was used. Histometric evaluation of the cutaneous vasculature was performed on biopsies taken from the edge of the ulcers in the 31 patients and from the medical aspect of the lower legs in control subjects. Endothelial cell mass did not correlate with the clinical index of disease severity, suggesting that angiogenesis did not necessarily signal healing. The mean luminal volume appeared to be of greater prognostic value as there was a significant negative correlation of this parameter with the index of clinical severity. The degree of epidermal hyperplasia was found to be related to both the amount of inflammatory cell infiltrate present and the endothelial cell mass per unit tissue volume. The results also showed that the clinical index of disease severity was positively correlated to the mean epidermal thickness. The quantitative evaluation of biopsy material can be used to provide prognostic information in the gravitational syndrome. PMID- 2624839 TI - Thyroid disease in pustulosis palmoplantaris. AB - An increased frequency of thyroid autoantibodies has been reported in patients with palmar and plantar pustulosis (PPP). This study was undertaken to determine the frequency and type of thyroid disease in 32 patients with this disease compared with a control group. Thyroid disease was demonstrated in 53% of the patients with PPP as compared to 16% in the matched control group. Fourteen patients with PPP had an enlarged thyroid and in six there were thyroid autoantibodies. There appears to be an increased incidence of goitre and thyroid autoantibodies in PPP with a decrease in the level of the thyroid hormones. PMID- 2624840 TI - Extensive skin ulceration due to EF-4 bacterial infection in a patient with AIDS. PMID- 2624841 TI - Cutaneous focal mucinosis. AB - A 39-year-old man had typical cutaneous focal mucinosis on the left forearm. The fibroblasts in the myxomatous lesion had many cytoplasmic vesicles, and on electron microscopy, these were compatible with condensing vacuoles or secretory granules. The fibroblasts in this case were considered to be mucoblasts involved in the over-production of the ground substance, that was mainly composed of hyaluronic acid. PMID- 2624843 TI - Proceedings of the 244th meeting of the Netherlands Society for Dermatology and Venereology. Maastricht, 1 October 1988. PMID- 2624842 TI - Scleredema of Buschke associated with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome. AB - A case of scleredema of Buschke associated with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome is described. The onset of the skin changes and rheumatoid arthritis was almost simultaneous and the sicca syndrome developed 4 years later. PMID- 2624844 TI - Venous stasis ulcers, stasis dermatitis and mothers' political ambitions for their offspring. PMID- 2624845 TI - Low-dose recombinant interferon-alpha in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. PMID- 2624846 TI - [The role of homeostatic function of the kidneys in the development of hyperuricemia]. AB - The content of uric acid in blood plasma has been determined and its relation with the homeostatic renal function has been studied in CHD and hypertensive patients. The attenuation of renal filtration processes has been revealed in a half of the 117 patients. The CHD patients have showed a significant relation between the levels of uric acid and protein in blood. There is an immediate correlation between the uric acid content and alpha 2-globulins in patients with CHD and hyperuricemia. It has been suggested that the development of hyperuricemia in CHD patients is dut to the mechanism of disturbances in binding of uric acid to transport blood proteins. PMID- 2624847 TI - [The possibility of peripheral cholinolytic action of psychostimulants]. AB - The cholinolytic effect of sydnophen discovered in earlier anesthetized cats was confirmed on unanesthetized fish and frogs: the vagal bradycardia induced by electric stimulation of peripheral vagal end was decreased or even abolished by intravenous injection of sydnophen (0.2-20 mg/kg). The amphetamine (0.2-30 mg/kg) also blocked the vagal bradycardia in anesthetized cats and unanesthetized frogs. The maximum vagolytic action of amphetamine appeared later (in 4-8 min after injection) in compared with sydnophen (1-3 min). The small dose of amphetamine (0.2-0.3 mg/kg) in contrast to sydnophen didn't decrease the vagal bradycardia but even increased it. It was suggested that the cholinolytic effect of sydnophen and amphetamine is due to different mechanisms. PMID- 2624848 TI - The physiology of sperm recovered from the human cervix: acrosomal status and response to inducers of the acrosome reaction. AB - Cervical mucus was collected from 35 women after artificial insemination. Mucus collections were performed at 1 h, 1 day, 2 days, or 3 days following insemination. Sperm viability was greater than 80% at all recovery times as assessed by exclusion of the supravital dye Hoechst 33258. Virtually 100% of the viable sperm were acrosome-intact at all times as assessed with a fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated pea lectin. Sperm were recovered from the mucus after migration into the Biggers, Whittin, and Whittingham medium in vitro. Sperm did not undergo the acrosome reaction in response to human follicular fluid immediately after migration from the mucus but did respond to this agonist after 6 h of incubation in vitro. Sperm recovered at all times after insemination had the same pattern of response to follicular fluid. Sperm that penetrated a column of cervical mucus in vitro also responded to follicular fluid with an increase in acrosome reactions after migration from the mucus and incubation for 6 h in vitro. Unlike the sperm that migrated from cervical mucus, sperm that were separated from semen by Percoll density centrifugation did not undergo the acrosome reaction when challenged with follicular fluid after 6 h but did respond after 24 h incubation. Sperm that migrated from cervical mucus had a similar increase in acrosome reactions after 6 h incubation, regardless of whether the acrosome reaction agonist was follicular fluid or disaggregated human zona pellucida.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624849 TI - Support for a physiological role of endogenous catecholamines in the stimulation of bovine luteal progesterone production. AB - To determine if catecholamines were present in bovine luteal tissue, corpora lutea (CL) were obtained during the mid-luteal phase (Days 10-12) and the concentration of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Both DA and NE were detected in luteal tissue at mean concentrations of 41.9 +/- 5.73 and 10.2 +/- 2.51 ng/g for DA and NE, respectively. These concentrations represented a luteal content of 306.6 +/- 66.88 ng/CL for DA and 70.5 +/- 16.88 ng/CL for NE. In vitro, DA at concentrations of 1.0 mM to 0.01 mM stimulated the production of progesterone (P4, p less than 0.05). The response to DA was inhibited by propranolol (a beta adrenergic receptor antagonist, p less than 0.05) but not by phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine (alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonists), or haloperidol (a DA receptor antagonist, p greater than 0.05). Neither L-tyrosine nor L-dopa altered P4 production (p greater than 0.05). Inhibition of DA beta-hydroxylase, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of DA to NE by FLA-63 blocked the DA-induced increases in luteal P4 production (p less than 0.05). These results demonstrate the existence of DA and NE in bovine luteal tissue and indicate that exogenous DA can be converted to NE in luteal tissue. The results support a physiological role for catecholamines in the stimulation of bovine luteal function. PMID- 2624850 TI - Arachidonic acid in uterine phospholipid during early pregnancy and following hormone treatment. AB - Evidence that prostaglandins are involved in intercellular communication during blastocyst implantation suggested that development and loss of uterine sensitivity to deciduogenic stimuli during early pregnancy might depend upon changes in uterine capacity to mobilize arachidonic acid from phospholipid. We measured levels of arachidonic acid in lipid fractions on Day 6 of pregnancy in uterine segments containing implantation sites, in uterine segments between implantation sites, and in luminal epithelial cells after a deciduogenic stimulus. Arachidonic acid in uterine phospholipid was depleted at implantation sites. With an intrauterine deciduogenic stimulus of hormonally primed ovariectomized rat uteri, the arachidonic acid content of the luminal epithelium decreased. When the fatty acid composition of the luminal epithelium was examined during pseudopregnancy and after progestin-estrogen treatment, however, no changes in arachidonic acid composition and content were observed. These data suggest that during blastocyst implantation, luminal epithelial cells at implantation sites mobilize arachidonic acid from phospholipid for prostaglandin synthesis, but that uterine sensitivity and the capacity to synthesize prostaglandins in response to the blastocyst does not depend upon changes in arachidonic acid levels in uterine phospholipid. PMID- 2624851 TI - Depressed pituitary prolactin mRNA, prolactin synthesis, and prolactin storage after light-deprivation in female hamsters is not due to loss of estrous cyclicity alone. AB - Pituitary prolactin (PRL) cell activity (i.e. PRL messenger ribonucleic acid [mRNA] levels, PRL synthesis, and radioimmunoassayable [RIA]-PRL), and serum RIA PRL were measured in female golden Syrian hamsters that were (1) light-deprived and then ovariectomized before loss of estrous cyclicity, (2) light-deprived but not yet acyclic, and (3) light-deprived and ovariectomized simultaneously. The results indicate that light-deprivation can decrease PRL cell activity in ovariectomized hamsters but not in animals that continue to cycle. Thus, estrous cyclicity can be said to largely protect PRL cell activity from depressions due to light deprivation. After acyclicity/ovariectomy, however, PRL cell activity is no longer protected and light-deprivation leads to large depressions in PRL mRNA levels, PRL synthesis, and RIA-PRL beyond that caused by acyclicity/ovariectomy alone. As seen in previous studies of total light-deprivation in nonovariectomized female hamsters, we found that removing the pineal gland in conjunction with light-deprivation in ovariectomized hamsters can completely, partially, or fail to restore various measures of PRL cell activity. PMID- 2624852 TI - Advancement of first ovulation by the opioid antagonist naltrexone. AB - The opioid antagonist naltrexone was administered to female rats during the late juvenile period, and its effects on sexual maturation were studied. Naltrexone treatment (2.5 or 20 mg/kg; four daily injections at 2-h intervals) at 28-32 days of age advanced first ovulation in about 55% of the rats. When naltrexone (20 mg/kg) was administered at 30-34 days of age, 75% of the rats responded. In these rats, first ovulation was advanced by 3.4 days and their body weight was 15.1 g lower than in control rats at first ovulation (p less than 0.01). Similar naltrexone treatment at younger (starting on Day 24 or 26) or older (starting on Day 32 or 34) ages did not advance first ovulation. The numbers of ova released in advanced, nonadvanced, and control rats were similar. A significant increase in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration was seen 15 min after naltrexone injection (20 mg/kg) at all ages studied; the increase was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) at 30 days of age than before or after that age. Relatively high response to naltrexone (2.5 mg/kg) was seen from 8 to 4 days before first ovulation. Taken together, these data suggest that during the late juvenile stage (8 - 4 days before first ovulation) endogenous peptides critically restrict LH secretion and may constitute a hypothalamic restraint on the onset of puberty. However, changes in pituitary responsiveness to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone may be part of the mechanism behind the high LH response to naltrexone in rats during the late juvenile stage. PMID- 2624853 TI - Fertility of fresh and frozen rabbit semen inseminated at different times is indicative of male differences in capacitation time. AB - Some reports indicate that sperm from different males differ in capacitation time, and other reports suggest that freezing sperm may affect their capacitation time. These two variables were specifically studied in rabbits in a fertility trial with 96 does inseminated with approximately 1.6 million motile fresh or frozen sperm from three different bucks at 15, 10, 5, and 0 h before expected ovulation. Fresh semen averaged 84% live (unstained) sperm and 88% had normal acrosomes; corresponding values for frozen sperm were 44% and 54%. On the basis of does that became pregnant, average litter size with fresh semen was 5.5 and with frozen semen was 4.8 (p greater than 0.05), but overall, does bred with frozen semen produced fewer young (p less than 0.05). On the basis of total does and total semen, average litter size from insemination at 15, 10, 5, and 0 h was 2.8, 4.2, 3.8, and 1.7, and average litter size for the three bucks was 4.0, 1.8, and 3.6. There was no interaction of type of semen (fresh or frozen) with the other variables in the model (p greater than 0.05). Bucks and time of insemination affected both the proportion of does that were pregnant and litter size (p less than 0.01). A major interaction between buck and time of insemination (p less than 0.01) was due apparently to both differential sperm survival and probable capacitation time among bucks. This major interaction should be considered in designing in vitro and in vivo fertility studies, and for selecting males for use in artificial insemination. PMID- 2624854 TI - Use of low-density and high-density lipoproteins in undifferentiated porcine granulosa cells. AB - Granulosa cells aspirated from medium-sized porcine ovarian follicles (3-5 mm) in short-term incubation responded to the addition of both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) with increased accumulation of progesterone. HDL was more potent than LDL in enhancing progesterone secretion. When granulosa cells were cultured under serum-free conditions for 72 h, HDL but not LDL exhibited a dose-dependent enhancement of progesterone secretion. Addition of insulin to the cells greatly potentiated the stimulatory effect of LDL on progesterone accumulation, while the response to HDL was only slightly increased. Granulosa cells in culture degraded LDL but not HDL. Addition of insulin enhanced LDL degradation. Exposure of cells in culture to chloroquine, an inhibitor of lysosomal function, completely blocked LDL degradation and LDL induced stimulation of steroidogenesis. The stimulatory effect of HDL was not affected by chloroquine. We interpret these findings to indicate that granulosa cells derive cholesterol from LDL by means of lysosomal degradation, which is not required for use of cholesterol from HDL. Monensin, a carboxylic ionophore that interrupts recycling of LDL receptors, prevented LDL-enhanced progesterone accumulation but not HDL-induced stimulation. This provides evidence that HDL induced stimulation of steroidogenesis does not involve LDL receptors. We conclude that HDL present in follicular fluid is capable of providing cholesterol to granulosa cells for steroidogenesis. The stimulatory effect of HDL is not due to the presence of apoprotein E, an HDL component that binds to the LDL receptor. A unique HDL pathway that does not involve LDL receptors and lysosomal degradation may operate in porcine granulosa cells. PMID- 2624855 TI - Intracellular pH regulates bovine sperm motility and protein phosphorylation. AB - Bovine sperm in neat caudal epididymal fluid become motile in response to either pH elevation or dilution of the fluid. Buffers containing permeant weak acids at physiologic concentrations are able to mimic these effects of caudal fluid. These observations lead to the hypothesis that a pH-dependent epididymal fluid quiescence factor regulates bovine sperm motility by modulating sperm intracellular pH (pHi). Here we report that sperm pHi, measured with the fluorescent pH probe carboxyfluorescein, increases by approximately 0.4 units in response to either of these motility-initiating manipulations. At least 26 discrete phosphoprotein bands are distinguishable by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after incubation of intact caudal sperm with 32PO4. A prominent phosphoprotein, with Mr approximately 255,000 (pp255) and a relatively high specific radioactivity, is reversibly dephosphorylated in response to elevations in pHi that initiate sperm motility. Unlike most of the sperm phosphoproteins, the extraction of pp255 requires reducing agents. This phosphoprotein cosediments with the sperm heads but not the tail, midpiece, soluble, or plasma membrane fractions. No other pHi-dependent phosphorylation changes are apparent in gels of whole sperm extracts. However, subcellular fractionation allows the detection of increased phosphorylation of two plasma membrane phosphoproteins (Mr approximately 105,000 and 97,000) and decreased phosphorylation of another plasma membrane phosphoprotein (Mr approximately 120,000) in response to increasing pHi. This is the first report describing changes in endogenous phosphoproteins from intact motile and nonmotile bovine sperm that are regulated by pHi. PMID- 2624856 TI - Epidermal growth factor receptor localization in the rat and monkey testes. AB - Epidermal growth factors receptor (EGFR) was localized immunocytochemically in the testes of mature and immature rats and immature monkeys. One polyclonal antibody, recognizing the intracellular domain (RK2) of the receptor, was used to carry out the EGFR immunodetection. The RK2 antibody revealed the presence of the EGFR predominantly in Sertoli cells of mature and immature rats and of immature monkeys, although limited interstitial localization of the EGFR was also discerned in the mature rat. In cultured Sertoli cells of immature rats, grown in the absence of epidermal growth factor (EGF), the EGFR was randomly distributed at the cell surface, whereas after the addition of EGF the receptor became aggregated into distinct focal regions. In addition, EGFR of cultured Sertoli cells exhibited autophosphorylation activity upon stimulation with EGF, but failed to transcytose iodinated EGF across a permeability barrier formed by the cultured cells. Instead, all of the added iodinated EGF was internalized and degraded. PMID- 2624857 TI - An abnormal pattern of embryonic development during early pregnancy in aging rats. AB - There is recent evidence that a decline in fertility and litter size precedes the cessation of regular estrous cyclicity in middle-aged female rats. This decline in litter size is related to a decrease in the number of normal blastocysts that are present on Day 5 of gestation, immediately prior to implantation. Thus, the pattern of embryonic development during the first 5 days of pregnancy may be altered in middle-aged rats, resulting in fewer implanting embryos and smaller litter sizes. The present study examined the ovulation rates, fertilization rates, and the patterns of embryonic development in regularly cyclic, young and middle-aged females during the first 5 days of pregnancy. Examination of the numbers of ovulated ova revealed that the ovulation rate was significantly reduced in 12- to 14-mo-old females (13 mo; 9.0 +/- 1.0/rat), but not in 9- to 11 mo-old females (10 mo; 12.2 +/- 0.8/rat), as compared to that in young animals (12.8 +/- 1.0/rat). However, there was no decrease in fertilization rate in either the 10-mo or 13-mo group. While the total numbers of embryos present on Days 2-5 were similar among all 3 groups, embryos from 10-mo females displayed a delayed pattern of development and an increased incidence of morphological abnormalities. These changes in embryo development were even more pronounced in the 13-mo group. By Day 5 of pregnancy there was a significant reduction in normal blastocysts in 10-mo (7.3 +/- 1.2/rat) and 13-mo (6.0 +/- 1.6/rat) rats, as compared to young females (10.6 +/- 0.9/rat).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624858 TI - Sulfated glycoprotein-1 (saposin precursor) in the reproductive tract of the male rat. AB - Sulfated glycoprotein-1 is one of the major protein secretion products of rat Sertoli cells in culture. This 70,000 Mr protein shares substantial sequence similarity with human prosaposin, the precursor of lysosomal saposins. Saposins are known to enhance the activity of lipid modifying enzymes presumably by solubilizing the lipids. We report here the immunolocalization of sulfated glycoprotein-1 in the cells and fluid of the male reproductive tract. The protein is present in secondary lysosomes of Sertoli cells and also in the luminal fluid of seminiferous tubules and epididymis. The highest concentrations of the protein are in seminiferous tubule fluid and rete testis fluid, while relatively low amounts are found in cauda epididymal fluid and serum. Sulfated glycoprotein-1 is believed to be involved in degradation of lipids in residual bodies and may also assist in modification of membrane lipids during sperm maturation. PMID- 2624860 TI - The microheterogeneity of rabbit testosterone-binding globulin is due to differential glycosylation of its single protomer. AB - Affinity-purified rabbit testosterone-binding globulin (rbTeBG) is a homodimer with a molecular weight (Mr) of about 92,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the chemically cross linked protein. When noncross-linked rbTeBG is subjected to SDS-PAGE, individual protomers (Mr approximately equal to 44,400 +/- 400 and Mr approximately equal to 42,000 +/- 1300) are resolved. The protomers are present in a ratio of approximately 2 (heavy):1 (light). Enzymatic deglycosylation of native rbTeBG or of rbTeBG that had been photoaffinity-labeled with [1,2-3H]17 beta-hydroxy-4,6 androstadien-3-one was conducted. The products were then identified on immunoblots using a monoclonal antibody that cross-reacts with rbTeBG, or by fluorography. These analyses indicated that rbTeBG contained sialic acid and asparagine (Asn)-linked oligosaccharides and provided evidence for the presence of serine/threonine (O)-linked glycans on the molecule. The presumptive removal of all oligosaccharides by enzymatic or chemical means resulted in the appearance of a single subunit (Mr approximately equal to 37,150 +/- 1200). On the basis of this monomeric molecular weight, carbohydrate would contribute 16% and 11% to the relative molecular mass of the nondeglycosylated heavy and light subunits, respectively. Therefore, the size heterogeneity of the nondeglycosylated rbTeBG subunits is a result of their differential glycosylation. In addition to size heterogeneity, the rbTeBG subunits are composed of multiple-charge variants. Although enzymatic and chemical methods of glycan removal altered the isoelectric points of the isoforms, none of the treatments yielded a single isoform. Thus, it is possible that moieties other than oligosaccharides are contributing charge to the isoelectric variants of rbTeBG. PMID- 2624859 TI - Effect of L-carnitine and L-aminocarnitine on calcium transport, motility, and enzyme release from ejaculated bovine spermatozoa. AB - Experiments were performed to further elucidate the role of gamma-amino-beta hydroxybutyric acid trimethylbetaine (carnitine) on the metabolism and functions of spermatozoa. Addition of 20 mM L-carnitine to suspensions of ejaculated bovine spermatozoa resulted in an increase of cellular calcium transport, whereas 20 mM L-aminocarnitine (an inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase) caused an inhibition of this process. Both L-carnitine and L-aminocarnitine inhibited the progressive motility of spermatozoa, and the oxygen consumption as well as the release of the enzymes hyaluronidase and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase from spermatozoa. Labeled carnitine was rapidly taken up by spermatozoa by a process strongly dependent on temperature and extracellular concentration of carnitine. It is concluded that the effects produced by high concentrations of carnitine or aminocarnitine are mainly due to interactions of these compounds with the cellular membranes of spermatozoa. PMID- 2624861 TI - Geographic differences for delay of sexual maturation in Peromyscus leucopus: effects of photoperiod, pinealectomy, and melatonin. AB - Effects of short-day photoperiod, pinealectomy, and melatonin on sexual maturation were tested in Peromyscus leucopus from either Connecticut (CT) or Georgia (GA). Laboratory reared-stocks from CT and GA were exposed to short daylength (photoperiod) from birth or 25 days of age. At 12 wk of age, delay in sexual maturation was indicated in most CT mice by decreased testis length, combined testes weight, and seminal vesicle weight. Conversely, GA animals did not delay sexual maturation when exposed to short-day photoperiod from either birth or 25 days of age. These results indicate that responses to short daylengths differ for juvenile CT and GA populations. In a second experiment, pinealectomized or sham-operated CT males were exposed to short-day (9L:15D) or long-day (16L:8D) photoperiod from birth. Pinealectomy blocked the effect of short daylength on reproduction. Therefore, the pineal must be involved in the delay of sexual maturation observed for short-day CT mice. The effects of melatonin, a pineal gland hormone, were tested with chronic s.c. implants or daily injections. In CT mice given either melatonin implants or afternoon injections, sexual maturation was delayed. GA mice were insensitive to all melatonin treatments. Further, no differences in circadian organization (phase angle, duration of activity, period under constant dark) between GA and CT animals were apparent. Collectively, these studies indicate that melatonin is involved in the mechanism responsible for delay of sexual maturation in CT mice. Short-day insensitivity of GA Peromyscus leucopus probably results from a deficiency in the melatonin effector pathway and is not due to a disruption of circadian organization. PMID- 2624862 TI - High molecular weight basic and acidic immunosuppressive protein components in uterine secretions of pregnant cows. AB - Immunosuppressive proteinaceous components were determined in bovine uterine milk (UTM) collected during late pregnancy. Crude UTM was separated by ion-exchange (carboxymethylcellulose-CMC) and gel filtration (Sephacryl S-200 and Sepharose CL 6B) chromatography. Basic (CMC+) and acidic (CMC-) protein molecular weight (Mr) components were tested for immunosuppressive activity in an in vitro mitogen (phytohemagglutinin-PHA)-treated lymphocyte blastogenesis assay. For most experiments, cultures containing 1 x 10(5) lymphocytes were incubated with 0.08 micrograms PHA and varying concentrations of test protein in RPMI-1640 with supplements. At 48 +/- 1 h, 0.1 microCi of [3H]thymidine was added to cultures and [3H]DNA was quantified at 60 +/- 1 h of culture. Results were expressed as percentage of control values. Crude UTM, CMC+, and CMC- components exhibited immunosuppressive activity. For immunosuppressive Sephacryl S-200 fractions, activity was greater (p less than 0.05-0.01) for CMC+, S-200 fraction I (greater than or equal to 250,000 Mr, void volume [Vo]) than for CMC-, S-200 fractions I (Vo) and III combined for protein concentrations of 20, 40, and 50 micrograms/ml. For the high Mr Sepharose CL-6B protein components, CMC+, CL-6B fraction I (greater than or equal to 4 x 10(6) Mr, Vo) exhibited greater (p less than 0.05 0.005) activity than CMC-, CL-6B fractions I (greater than or equal to 4 x 10(6) Mr, Vo) and II (2.8 x 10(6) Mr) combined at protein concentrations ranging from 20 to 80 micrograms/ml. In summary, bovine UTM contains basic and acidic immunosuppressive protein components, with the greatest activity being associated with a high Mr, basic component. PMID- 2624863 TI - Endogenous opiates regulate the nocturnal reduction in luteinizing hormone pulse frequency during the luteal phase of the macaque menstrual cycle. AB - Twenty-four-hour pulsatile patterns of bioactive luteinizing hormone (LH) and immunoactive estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) were measured during the mid follicular (FP, Days 5, 6, or 7) and mid-luteal (LP, Days 7, 8, 9, or 10) phases of the menstrual cycle in six intact and in four ovariectomized (OVX) rhesus monkeys. Blood samples were collected remotely at 7.5-min (FP) and 15-min (LP, OVX) intervals via catheters in freely moving, vested monkeys. Hormonal patterns were analyzed by the MUNRO computer program. A significant coupling of LH and E2 pulses was observed during the FP and between the LH and P4 pulses during the LP. No diurnal rhythm of LH pulse frequency was observed during the FP or in OVX monkeys. In contrast, day/night differences in frequency were seen during the luteal phases (0.35 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.24 +/- 0.05 pulses/h, day vs. night, p less than 0.05). Naloxone (NAL), an opiate antagonist, was continuously infused (2 mg/h.i.v.) for 12 h at night during the LP. NAL treatment increased nighttime LH pulse frequency to 0.33 +/- 0.07 pulses/h, which was not different from the daytime LH pulse frequency, thereby abolishing the normal diurnal pattern. Interestingly, NAL treatment did not achieve the approximately 1 pulse/h frequency seen in the FP or OVX condition. These results support the hypothesis that P4 modulates the activity of an opioid system that is responsible both for a slowing of LH pulse frequency during the LP and for an additional nightly reduction in hypothalamic LH pulse-generating activity. PMID- 2624864 TI - Circannual cycles of luteinizing hormone and prolactin secretion in ewes during prolonged exposure to a fixed photoperiod: evidence for an endogenous reproductive rhythm. AB - Circulating patterns of luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) were monitored for 5 yr in ewes maintained either outdoors in natural conditions or indoors in a fixed, short photoperiod (8L:16D). The ewes were ovariectomized and each was treated with a Silastic implant containing estradiol to provide a fixed negative feedback signal to the reproductive neuroendocrine axis. Serum concentrations of LH and PRL were subjected to a statistical algorithm developed for the purpose of detecting hormone cycles. In ewes maintained outdoors, serum concentrations of both hormones underwent high amplitude cycles with a period no different from 365 days. Among ewes maintained in the fixed photoperiod, unambiguous cycles of LH and PRL persisted through the 5 yr of exposure to short days. Period of these cycles differed from 365 days. Further, the LH cycles became desynchronized among ewes housed together and desynchronized with respect to the LH cycles in ewes kept outdoors. These findings document the existence of an endogenous circannual rhythm of reproductive neuroendocrine function in ewes. PMID- 2624865 TI - Radioiodination of chicken luteinizing hormone without affecting receptor binding potency. AB - By improving the currently used lactoperoxidase method, we were able to obtain radioiodinated chicken luteinizing hormone (LH) that shows high specific binding and low nonspecific binding to a crude plasma membrane fraction of testicular cells of the domestic fowl and the Japanese quail, and to the ovarian granulosa cells of the Japanese quail. The change we made from the original method consisted of 1) using chicken LH for radioiodination that was not only highly purified but also retained a high receptor binding potency; 2) controlling the level of incorporation of radioiodine into chicken LH molecules by employing a short reaction time and low temperature; and 3) fractionating radioiodinated chicken LH further by gel filtration using high-performance liquid chromatography. Specific radioactivity of the final 125I-labeled chicken LH preparation was 14 microCi/micrograms. When specific binding was 12-16%, nonspecific binding was as low as 2-4% in the gonadal receptors. 125I-Labeled chicken LH was displaced by chicken LH and ovine LH but not by chicken follicle stimulating hormone. The equilibrium association constant of quail testicular receptor was 3.6 x 10(9) M-1. We concluded that chicken LH radioiodinated by the present method is useful for studies of avian LH receptors. PMID- 2624866 TI - Effects of lead on luteal function in rhesus monkeys. AB - Exposure to lead in the workplace or home environment has been implicated as a cause of decreased fertility in women. In a previous study, as part of our effort to determine effects of lead in primates, female rhesus monkeys were exposed to lead acetate in drinking water (n = 10) or provided water with no added lead (n = 7) for 33 mo. Lead was administered at levels between 2 and 8 mg/kg/day, with doses adjusted to keep blood lead values near a target of 70 micrograms/dl (observed mean +/- SEM = 68.9 +/- 6.54 micrograms/dl). Blood lead concentrations in control animals were less than 10 micrograms/dl. No significant differences were detected between control and experimental animals in body weight, hematocrit, or general health. Female monkeys receiving lead exhibited longer and more variable menstrual cycles and shorter menstrual flow. In the present study, circulating amounts of progesterone (P4) were determined to evaluate luteal function during the final 7 mo of treatment with lead. Several characteristics were altered as a result of lead treatment: circulating amounts of P4 were reduced as indicated by relative units of area under the concentration-time curve, maximal amounts of P4 were reduced, and P4 levels were greater than 1 ng/ml on fewer days. There were no significant differences between groups in mean percent of anovulatory cycles. Therefore, although chronic treatment with the levels of lead used in this study did not prevent ovulation, luteal function was suppressed. These results extend previous observations of adverse effects of lead on ovarian activity and fertility in monkeys. PMID- 2624867 TI - Inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation by uterine fluid from the pregnant ewe. AB - Immunosuppressive molecules in uterine fluid from the nonpregnant uterine horn of unilaterally pregnant ewes at Days 60, 100, and 140 of gestation were examined. Uterine fluid from all days inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation into phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes. Inhibitory activity increased with advancing gestation. Uterine fluid also inhibited lymphocyte proliferation caused by other mitogens or by mixed lymphocyte reactions. Inhibitory activity was found in both salt volume (Mr less than 1000) and void volume (Mr greater than 5000) fractions of uterine fluid resolved by Sephadex G-25 desalting columns. Only activity in the void volume was sensitive to pronase. Several fractions containing inhibitory activity were resolved when dialyzed uterine fluid was fractionated into acidic and basic components by cation-exchange chromatography and further resolved by gel filtration using Sepharose CL-6B. The most active fractions (inhibition/micrograms protein) for both acidic and basic components eluted at the void volume of Sepharose CL-6B (Mr greater than 4 x 10(6). The inhibitory factor in the basic component that eluted at the void volume of Sepharose CL-6B was rich in carbohydrate, slightly cytotoxic, and partially sensitive to digestion with trypsin or oxidation with periodate. In conclusion, uterine fluid of unilaterally pregnant ewes is enriched in molecules that inhibit lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. Among these are low molecular weight, non proteinaceous factors and a very high molecular weight (Mr greater than 4 x 10(6) fraction that contains protein and carbohydrate. PMID- 2624868 TI - Development of porcine embryos from one- and two-cell stages to blastocysts in culture medium supplemented with porcine oviductal fluid. AB - Oviductal fluid (OVF) was harvested chronically from 5 sows beginning on Day 1 of the estrous cycle (Day 0 of estrous cycle = day of detected estrus) and used for embryo culture (Day 3 OVF only). Two experiments were conducted to investigate in vitro development of 1-cell and 2-cell porcine embryos in a modified Kreb's Ringer bicarbonate medium (culture medium, CM), early luteal phase OVF or CM supplemented with OVF (CM-OVF, 25% OVF v/v in CM) with or without transfer to fresh CM. In Experiment 1, 1-cell and 2-cell embryos were harvested from sows (n = 7) approximately 44 h after detected estrus. In Experiment 2, 1-cell embryos were collected from 5 sows treated with altrenogest and gonadotropins, approximately 50 h after injection of human chorionic gonadotropin. The volume of OVF (ml) declined progressively throughout the 4 days of collection (24 h, 8.44 +/- 0.28; 48 h, 6.88 +/- 1.78; 72 h, 4.96 +/- 0.35; 96 h, 4.64 +/- 0.25 after onset of estrus; p less than .01). In both experiments, development to blastocyst stage was lowest among embryos cultured in OVF and highest among those cultured in CM-OVF (Experiment 1: CM, 27.3; OVF, 10; CM-OVF, 63.6; Experiment 2: CM, 26.7; OVF, 0; CM-OVF, 82.4; % blastocyst formation).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624869 TI - Identification of peanut agglutinin receptors on mouse testicular germ cells. AB - Peanut agglutinin receptors expressed specifically in mouse testicular germ cells have been identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and lectin blotting techniques. Two major components were estimated to have molecular weights of 86,000 and isoelectric points of 6.1 +/- 0.3 and 6.2 +/- 0.3. Minor components with molecular weights of 71,000-74,000 and isoelectric points of 6.1 +/- 0.3 were also detected. Specific expression of these receptors on testicular germ cells was confirmed using the testes of mutant mice, Sld/Sld, devoid of germ cells. PMID- 2624870 TI - Peptide histidine methionine and vasoactive intestinal peptide: occurrence and relaxant effect in the human female reproductive tract. AB - The occurrence of the neuropeptides peptide histidine methionine (PHM) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the human female genital tract was studied by means of immunochemistry and radioimmunoassay in combination with gel chromatography. In addition, the effect of PHM and VIP on smooth muscle activity was investigated in vitro. The regional distribution of PHM as determined by radioimmunoassay correlated with that of VIP. This finding agreed with the immunohistochemical data, which, in addition, provided evidence for colocalization of the two peptides in nerve fibers. These fibers were most abundant in the vagina and the uterine cervix, where they seemed to innervate blood vessels, smooth muscle, and epithelial cells. The concentrations of immunoreactive PHM and VIP were found to be similar in all areas except in the vagina, where the PHM concentration was fourfold that of VIP. Gel chromatography of vaginal extract revealed a high concentration of a C-terminally extended form of PHM, suggesting differential processing pathways of the VIP precursor. Both PHM and VIP inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, the smooth muscle activity in strips from the Fallopian tube and the myometrium. Administered in combination, PHM and VIP had an additive effect and displayed the same efficacy as VIP alone, indicating that the peptides act via a common receptor. PMID- 2624871 TI - Characterization of baboon pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein. AB - Immunostaining of baboon placental tissues with anti-human pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SPI) antibodies demonstrated that an SP1-like molecule was present in the syncytiotrophoblasts. Staining was observed on the membrane and in the cytoplasm, but the nucleus was devoid of any staining. Western blot analysis further demonstrated the presence of five protein species in baboon placental extract, whereas four protein bands were detected in human placental extract. Culture medium of baboon placental villi also contained five SP1-like molecules with sizes slightly different from those present in the placental extract. Amniotic fluid and culture medium of decidua basalis and chorioamniotic tissue contained lesser quantities and fewer species of SP1-like molecules. However, an 87 kDa band was present in all samples examined. Northern blot analysis of baboon placenta with a human placental SP1 cDNA probe demonstrated the presence of a 1.65 Kb band, whereas two hybridizing bands (1.65 Kb and 2.25 Kb) were present in human placenta. Southern blot analysis of baboon genomic DNA further demonstrated the presence of multiple bands hybridizing with a human placental SP1 cDNA probe. These results showed the presence in baboons of multiple genes encoding mRNAs and proteins highly similar to human placental SP1. PMID- 2624873 TI - Stimulation of forward motility of goat cauda epididymal spermatozoa by a serum glycoprotein factor. AB - Blood sera of humans, rats, goats, and buffalo have been shown to possess a forward motility-stimulating factor (FMSF) that markedly stimulated goat cauda epididymal sperm forward motility, as assayed by a microscopic method in the presence of epididymal plasma (1.2 mg protein/ml) that had sufficient anti sticking activity to eliminate the possibility of cell-sticking artifacts in motility assays. The specific activity of FMSF was greatest in buffalo blood serum compared to the sera of the other species. Buffalo serum at a concentration as low as 8.5 mg protein/ml induced forward motility in nearly 45% of the cells. The buffalo serum FMSF was heat-stable, nondialyzable, and sensitive to the action of trypsin. Purified proteins--casein, serum albumin, ovalbumin, myoglobin, and beta-lactoglobulin--showed little or relatively low FMSF activity. FMSF is a glycoprotein, as it binds with high affinity to concanavalin A-agarose. A major portion of the serum protein (approx. 70%) did not bind to the affinity matrix, and this unretained serum protein fraction showed little FMSF activity. The FMSF activity of buffalo serum was confirmed by estimating sperm forward motility spectrophotometrically: an objective method of assessing sperm motility. PMID- 2624872 TI - Developmental and differential expression of the ornithine decarboxylase gene in rodent testis. AB - Ornithine decarboxylase (ODCase) is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the polyamine biosynthetic pathway and it is androgen regulated in the mouse. The expression of ODCase transcripts during testicular development was examined by Northern blot analysis with a mouse ODCase cDNA probe. Total RNA was isolated from the testes of prepubertal mice at 6, 8, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 30 days of age, from enriched populations of germinal cells obtained from the testis of immature (8 days old) and mature (45 days old) mice and from several mouse somatic tissues. The level of the two ODCase transcripts (2.2 and 2.7 kilobases) was low but detectable in the testes of 6- to 16-day-old mice and increased substantially as the first spermatogenic wave proceeded into spermiogenesis. The low ODCase mRNA levels observed in prepubertal mouse testes were confirmed with RNA samples obtained from enriched germ cell populations of type A and type B spermatogonia and interstitial cells obtained from Day 8 mouse testes. In agreement with the developmental studies, ODCase mRNA levels increased substantially in enriched populations of pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids, and residual bodies/cytoplasts isolated from mature testes. Similar results were obtained by in situ hybridization of sections of rat testes. Reduced levels of ODCase transcripts were detected in RNA obtained from cultured mouse Sertoli cells obtained from the testes of 21-day-old mice and in RNA from liver, brain, heart, spleen, seminal vesicle, and aorta. In contrast, ODCase transcript levels from kidneys of male mice were as high as those detected in testis RNA. Substantial levels of ODCase mRNAs were also found in the epididymis. Analysis of polysome gradients prepared from total testis extracts revealed a distribution of ODCase mRNA in both nonpolysomal and polysomal fractions of the gradient, suggesting that ODCase is translationally regulated in the mouse testis. PMID- 2624874 TI - Changes in ovarian blood flow and secretion of progesterone and 20 alpha hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one on day 16 and the morning and afternoon of day 22 of pregnancy in the rat. AB - During late pregnancy in rats, ovarian secretion of progesterone decreases and that of its reduced metabolite, 20 alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (20 alpha-OHP), increases. The present study was undertaken to determine whether changes in ovarian blood flow are consistent with changes in progestin secretion. Rats (n = 5 per group) were examined on Day 16, the time of maximal progesterone secretion, and in the morning (AM) and afternoon (PM) of Day 22, the day prior to parturition. Ovarian blood flow was monitored continuously for 60 to 80 min, and serial samples of arterial and ovarian venous blood were obtained at 20-min intervals for determination of ovarian secretion rates of progesterone and 20 alpha-OHP. Ovarian blood flow increased from 0.38 +/- 0.04 ml/min (mean +/- SEM) on Day 16, to 0.77 +/- 0.05 and 0.78 +/- 0.04 ml/min on Day 22 AM and PM, respectively, whereas the secretion of progesterone decreased from 26.9 +/- 4.0 to 4.5 +/- 1.0 and 3.2 +/- 0.3 micrograms/h per ovary. The secretion of 20 alpha OHP was similar on Day 16 and Day 22 AM (5.6 +/- 1.7 and 5.4 +/- 1.3 micrograms/h per ovary) but then increased to 18.9 +/- 1.2 micrograms/h per ovary by Day 22 PM. Thus the amount of total progestins secreted per unit rate of blood flow relative to that on Day 16 (100%) fell to 15% and 34% on the morning and afternoon of Day 22, respectively. Clearly, the relative changes in ovarian progestin secretion and blood flow in the rat near term to not conform to patterns observed at luteal regression in some other species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624875 TI - Luteinizing hormone secretion and corpus luteum function in cows receiving two levels of progesterone. AB - The objectives of this experiment were to determine if subnormal levels of progesterone (P4) indicative of luteal insufficiency influence (1) pulsatile release of luteinizing hormone (LH), (2) the interval to the preovulatory surge of LH after removal of P4, and (3) the secretion of P4 during the estrous cycle subsequent to administration of subnormal levels of P4. On Day 5 (Day = 0 day of estrus) of the estrous cycle, cows received P4-releasing intravaginal devices (PRID) to produce normal (2 PRIDs; n = 7) or subnormal (0.5 PRID; n = 6) concentrations of P4. Five cows served as controls. On Day 10, serial blood samples were collected from all cows. Collection of blood samples was again initiated on Day 17 in cows receiving PRIDs. The PRIDs were removed and blood collection continued for 78 h. Daily blood samples were collected from all animals for 42 days subsequent to estrus (estrous cycles 1 and 2, respectively). During estrous cycle 1, mean concentration of P4 was lower (p less than 0.05) and frequency of pulses of LH was higher (p less than 0.05) in cows receiving subnormal P4 than in cows receiving normal P4 and control cows. Plasma concentrations of estradiol (E2) were higher (p less than 0.05) on Days 9-16 of estrous cycle 1 in cows receiving subnormal P4 than in cows receiving normal P4 or in control cows. Concentrations of E2 were greater (p less than 0.05) at 6, 18, and 30 h following removal of PRIDs in cows receiving subnormal P4 than in cows receiving normal P4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624876 TI - Volumetric properties of proteins and their analogs in diluted water solutions. 1. Partial volumes of amino acids at 15-55 degrees C. AB - The apparent volumes of 14 amino acids in aqueous solutions at a concentration of 3 mg/ml were measured densitometrically within the temperature range 15-55 degrees C. The accuracy of measurements was +/- 0.3%. The decrease in volume of polar and charged atomic groups as well as the temperature dependences of the partial volumes was analysed. The differences in behaviour between charged, polar and nonpolar atomic groups were considered. PMID- 2624877 TI - A thermodynamic study on rA7U7. AB - Ultraviolet absorbance spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were employed to study the heat-induced helix-to-coil transition of the oligoribonucleotide rA7U7. The analysis of concentration-dependent ultraviolet 'melting' profiles was used to derive the van't Hoff transition enthalpy delta HUVvH (-458 kJ/mol cooperative unit). From the DSC data we calculated the calorimetric transition enthalpy delta Hcal (-412.6 kJ/mol duplex) as well as delta HcalvH (-447.9 kJ/mol cooperative unit). For the size of the cooperative unit we obtained lambda approximately 1. In contrast to this result, by means of statistical numerical deconvolution we show that intermediate states are significantly populated; at the maximum the fraction of these states reaches 25.4% of the total population. Therefore, this DSC-deconvolution technique offers a more appropriate way to register amounts of populated intermediate states which are not sufficient to obtain a value of lambda which is essentially lower than unity. PMID- 2624878 TI - Osmometric analysis of quasi-indefinite mixed associations of the first kind. AB - Mixed associations of the type A + B----AB, A + AB----A2B, ..., A + Ai-1 B--- AiB, ... are readily analyzed by osmometric methods. The equilibrium molar concentration of A, mA, is obtained very simply from mA = meq-m0B; here meq = c/Meqn is the equilibrium molar concentration of all associating species and m0B denotes the stoichiometric or original molar concentration of B. The quantity mB can then be obtained from methods developed by Steiner. The value of the binding polynomial lambda is given by lambda = m0B/mB; lambda is a function of mA only. In principle, one can evaluate the equilibrium constants (kA,B,etc.) by fitting lambda to the appropriate polynomial in mA of degree n (n = 2, 3, ...). The binding polynomial lambda is analogous to polynomials encountered in the analysis of self-associations. By making some simple assumptions one can develop four analogs of two sequential, equal equilibrium constant (SEK) or two attenuated equilibrium constant (AK) models. With the aid of r (the number average degree of binding), g (the osmotic coefficient), lambda, as well as mA and mB, one can evaluate the equilibrium constant or constants. The methods developed here can be extended to the nonideal case. PMID- 2624879 TI - Calorimetric and circular dichroic studies of the thermal denaturation of beta lactoglobulin. AB - The thermal denaturation of beta-lactoglobulin in aqueous solutions at pH 5.5 and 2.0 was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and circular dichroic (CD) measurements. By calorimetry, the denaturation temperatures (Td), denaturation enthalpies, and specific heat capacity changes for thermal denaturation in the temperature range scanned, i.e., 20-100 degrees C. The unfolding process was found to be only partially reversible. Analysis of the far ultraviolet CD spectra reveals that with increasing temperature the mean residue ellipticity [( theta]) becomes less negative, which reflects unfolding of the native protein. At the highest temperature of CD measurements, i.e., 80 degrees C, conformational changes are to a large extent reversible. PMID- 2624880 TI - Fluorescence characteristics of pyrene and phosphatidylethanolamine-bound pyrene incorporated into lipid vesicles solubilized in media of differing NaCl concentrations. AB - We used the excimer/monomer ratio of pyrene (PY) and N-(1 pyrenesulfonyl)dipalmitoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE-PY) fluorescence intensities (IE/IM), and the polarity ratio I/III to investigate the state of the polar head group region of small, unilamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles (SUV-PC) solubilized in media of differing NaCl concentrations. PY or DPPE-PY excimer formation resulting from vesicles' collisions is not affected by the presence of monovalent ions. In addition, the ionic strength does not alter the dielectric environment in the neighborhood of PY incorporated into SUV-PC. Since IE/IM of both PY and DPPE-PY is insensitive to variations in the ionic strength, we conclude that the probes' diffusion in SUV-PC, and consequently the membrane fluidity, are independent of NaCl concentration at least up to 0.5 M. The vesicles' concentration in the aqueous solution was the only factor which induced a rise of IE/IM. To explain the results in the context of the transient fusion model developed previously (G.P. L'Heureux and M. Fragata, Biophys. Chem. 30 (1988) 293) and the hypothesis of repulsive hydration forces, we postulate a heterogeneous distribution of dehydrated domains, or contact areas, on the outer surfaces of colliding vesicles. PMID- 2624881 TI - Cooperative coupling in allosteric systems. AB - Allosterism of the Monod type applies only to systems with more than one binding site and two (noncooperative) states with intrinsic binding constants. Allosterism is then defined by an interconversion constant Lo (greater than 1) and a ratio of intrinsic binding constants, c (less than 1). The value of c determines whether weak or strong cooperativity among binding sites prevails. Cooperativity is weak, if 1 greater than c greater than 0.1, and strong, when c less than or equal to 0.1. Cooperativity is the stronger, the smaller c. Cooperativity may exist only between a restricted number of binding sites. The binding of Ca2+ to calmodulin shows this behavior under certain conditions. An (internal) indicator for binding may signal binding to both states or to only one. The results would be quite different with the extent of the difference determined by the extent of cooperativity (c in relation to the particular Li near 1). The size of Lo cannot be ignored in reference to the size of c. Effectors external to the ligand could alter Lo to shift cooperative behavior. Effectors could also make Lo too small or too large for any allosteric behavior to appear. PMID- 2624882 TI - Irreversible thermodynamic model equations of the transport across a horizontally mounted membrane. AB - The Kedem-Katchalsky-Zelman model equations for transmembrane transport in multicomponent, non-ionic and heterogeneous solutions have been modified. The validity of this model for binary and ternary solutions was verified, using a cell with a horizontally mounted membrane. In the cell, volume and solute fluxes were measured as a function of gravitational configuration. In the experimental set-up, water was placed on one side of the membrane. The opposite side of the membrane was exposed to aqueous solutions of densities greater than that of water, aqueous ethanol (less dense than water) or glucose/ethanol/water solutions. The experimental results presented herein illustrate pseudo-phase transitions which occur from a non-convectional to convectional state or in the reverse direction. PMID- 2624883 TI - Transforming growth factors in human breast cancer. AB - Transforming growth factors alpha and beta (TGF alpha and TGF beta) are two growth factors which are frequently associated with a number of human breast cancer cell lines and with primary human breast carcinomas. Expression of TGF alpha protein and specific TGF alpha mRNA transcripts (4.8 and 1.6 kb) can be induced by estrogens in estrogen-responsive breast cancer cells, suggesting that the mitogenic effects of estrogen may in part be mediated through this potential autocrine growth factor. In contrast, anti-estrogens such as tamoxifen can increase the secreted levels of TGF beta, which is a potent growth-inhibitor for some human breast cancer cell lines. Anti-estrogens generally decrease TGF alpha production. TGF alpha mRNA expression has been detected in approximately 40-70% of primary human breast tumors, while expression of a 2.6 kb TGF beta mRNA transcript can be detected in 70-80% of breast tumors. Interference with (e.g. TGF alpha) or augmentation of (e.g. TGF beta) the effects of these two growth factors may have some potential clinical applications in the treatment of breast cancer. PMID- 2624884 TI - Mathematical models and individualized outcome estimates in multiple sclerosis. AB - There is an urgent need for individualized outcome estimates in multiple sclerosis (MS). This is a prerequisite for selecting appropriate therapies in a disease the outcome of which may vary between malignant and benign forms. This question was addressed by using probabilistic mathematical models. The disease course is described by movements of the patient's condition through well-defined disease states. The data used are based upon 278 reports of definite and probable MS cases collected over a 20-year period (1957-1976) at l'Hopital Neurologique de Lyon. A Markov model was first prepared. However, it only provided an overall presentation of the disease which was not very meaningful for the individual patient, and limited studies of potential prognostic variables to dichotomous variables and univariate analyses. A stochastic survival model was then elaborated. It was complex at the theoretical level but in practice, easy to use. Personalized prognosis of a patient could be ascertained by combining several single potential prognostic variables and using their actual value in the case of quantitative variables. Although these models still need to be refined and have to be validated from the present state of the patients and other patient cohorts, they provide for the first time a global description of disease course likelihood and prognosis. The survival model may be adapted to each patient. PMID- 2624885 TI - Gastric DNA synthesis rate in different experimental models of duodenal reflux. AB - The aim of our investigation was to study the gastric mucosa DNA synthesis pattern in different experimental models of duodenal reflux. The following operations were performed on male Wistar rats: (A) sham-operation; (B) Roux-Y gastrectomy; (C) Billroth I; (D) Polya-type partial gastrectomy; (E) Billroth II; and (F) simple gastroenterostomy. Fifteen weeks later rats were sacrificed and histological and in vitro 3H thymidine autoradiographic studies were carried out. Gastric mucosal DNA synthesis rate was also estimated. Besides group A, all other groups showed variable degrees of gastritis mainly located at the anastomosis or at the gastrostomy suture line. Severe gastritis was not present in group B rats and most commonly occurred in group F rats. Group C, D, E and F showed an intense epithelial proliferation with a labeling index significantly higher than in the controls. However, mucosal DNA synthesis rate appeared to decrease with the progression of gastritis and in group F, the group more exposed to duodenal reflux, was significantly lower than in the controls. It is postulated that progressive exposure to duodenal reflux and secondary atrophic gastric changes following gastric surgery is accompanied by a reduction in the mucosal layer of the DNA synthesis rate, due to the loss of epithelial elements and the increase in connective and inflammatory elements, together with an enhanced turnover of the residual epithelial cells. PMID- 2624886 TI - A new technique in computer modeling of molecules with transparency effect, due to partially stripped surfaces. AB - Conventional space filling molecular modeling in computers, using the scan method, takes considerable computer time and effort. In depicting the CPK-image on a computer screen, the hidden-point removal is the main task and on such an image, the front-line atoms hide the back-benchers and their whereabouts become completely unknown, in a given view of the picture. While in search of a simple and faster algorithm for producing surface graphics of molecules, we have developed a novel method, which is considerably faster than the conventional one and it has an interesting transparency-effect which would be useful in the various fields of molecular designs. PMID- 2624887 TI - Simulation of the activation of fat body glycogen phosphorylase and trehalose synthesis by peptide hormones in the American cockroach. AB - A model is described which simulates activation of glycogen phosphorylase and induction of trehalose synthesis in the fat body of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, by two hypertrehalosaemic peptides. Parameters for the model were estimated from literature data (Siegert et al., Insect Biochem. 16, 365), with the exception of the half-life of the physiologically active peptides, which was estimated from the model. The model describes satisfactorily the activation of glycogen phosphorylase and the increase of haemolymph carbohydrates, which is dependent on the activation of glycogen phosphorylase in the model. It further explains the observed differences in sensitivity for glycogen phosphorylase activation and increase in haemolymph carbohydrates by these peptides. Best fits were obtained with a physiological half-life of about 12-15 min for the peptides. This value is similar to what can be calculated from the in vivo effects of these peptides on heart beat (Gersch et al., Zool. Jb. Physiol. 86, 17), but it is considerably shorter than the published half-life of 1 h for radioactive peptide (Skinner et al., Insect Biochem. 17, 433). However, both values are compatible if part of the peptides in the haemolymph is not present in freely dissolved form, but bound to a haemolymph component. The model half-life would then represent the half-life of the free, physiologically active peptide, which was estimated from the disappearance of radioactive peptide to be about 12-15 min. This suggests, that the model half-life is realistic and physiologically more important than the half-life of radioactive peptide of 1 h. PMID- 2624888 TI - Fungi in neotropical epiphyte roots. AB - Roots of thirty-eight Ecuadoran vascular epiphytes, representing eleven angiosperm families, were examined for the presence of symbiotic microorganisms. Most orchid roots contained fungal endophytes like those that regularly infect terrestrial counterparts. Hyphae were also common in and on nonorchid roots, but assignments of these relationships to known mycorrhizal morphologies was not possible in all cases. Evidence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) existed in a number of subjects while in Ericaceae and Campanulaceae a fungal association similar to the demateaceous surface fungi (DSF) described for alpine and prarie plants was usually present. Some associations were characterized by multicellular propagules on root surfaces. The significance of these findings and the factors likely to influence occurrence and consequences of root-fungus mutualisms in tropical forest canopies are discussed. Facts and considerations that could aid future inquiry on these systems are provided. PMID- 2624889 TI - Interdependence between cooperativity and control coefficients. AB - Influence of the concentration of internal metabolites on the control coefficient (defined as fractional change in flux per fractional change in enzyme activity) and regulatory properties of a given enzyme have been studied theoretically using a cyclic model of three enzymes. This model is useful to investigate the properties of the flux control coefficient for an enzyme following different rate equations. Enzymes can have high or low values of control coefficient irrespective of the type of kinetic equation, but the results obtained show that the sensitivity of these values to substrate variations is strongly dependent on its rate equation. These results help identify which kinetic equation allows the best control of a given metabolic pathway. These results have been applied to the purine nucleotide cycle. It is demonstrated that the best control of the cycle is reached when the irreversible reaction catalyzed by AMP deaminase follows a rate law that corresponds to a rational function of 2:2 degree with respect to AMP concentration. PMID- 2624890 TI - A temporary flagellate (mastigote) stage in the vahlkampfiid amoeba Willaertia magna and its possible evolutionary significance. AB - A temporary flagellate (mastigote) stage has been observed in several isolates of the vahlkampfiid amoeba Willaertia magna. In an Australian isolate studied in detail, flagellates appeared synchronously, although later than in Naegleria fowleri or N. lovaniensis under similar conditions (half-maximal time, t50 = 168 min at 37 degrees C). The flagellates initially have four flagella and lack a cytostome, but undergo several successive divisions, the first of them synchronous, resulting in progressive reduction in cell volume. New flagella appear during and after division, and the number of flagella in daughter cells of later divisions is rather variable. Comparison of these observations with descriptions of other amoeboflagellates confirms that Willaertia is a valid genus. A likely sequence of morphological changes in the evolution of Willaertia and Naegleria from a hypothetical ancestral vahlkampfiid is proposed. PMID- 2624891 TI - Erythrocyte sedimentation realizable in terms of population dynamics. AB - A phenomenological theory is formulated in analogy to the theory of population dynamics to account for the observed erythrocyte sedimentation-time and velocity time curves. The least square fitting of experimental data to the derived equations is quite satisfactory. Several parameters in the proposed equations can be used to characterize these two curves of erythrocyte sedimentation: the biotic potential or intrinsic rate of decrease of the lacuna population, r; the total distance settled by the interface between plasma and red cell column, K.delta h; the maximal settling velocity of the interface, Vmax; the time when Vmax occurs, tmv; and the final position of the interface, Hf. PMID- 2624892 TI - Pulsatile non-Newtonian blood flow simulation through a bifurcation with an aneurysm. AB - Blood flow is analysed by means of computer simulation in an idealized arterial bifurcation model which is pathologically altered by a saccular aneurysm. The theoretical study of the flow pattern and the paths of fluid particles is carried out under pulsatile Newtonian and non-Newtonian flow conditions. The governing equations are solved numerically with the use of the finite element method. The results show the disturbed blood flow in the bifurcation and the relatively low intra-aneurysmal flow circulation. In addition to the study of basic flow patterns in the segment, a comparison of non-Newtonian and Newtonian results is carried out. This comparison proves that for the considered large artery model under physiological flow conditions where the yield number is relatively low there is no essential difference in the results. PMID- 2624893 TI - A freeze-capture method for the study of platelet-sized particle distributions. AB - A rapid freezing method was developed to study the distributions of fluorescent platelet-sized particles in flows of blood suspensions through thin-walled capillary tubes. Segments of frozen tubes were mounted in a refrigerated microtome on the stage of an epifluorescence microscope. Sections of tube were cut away, images of newly exposed cross-sections were recorded on video tape, and distances of the particles from the wall were measured from recorded images. The distance data were used to construct histograms that were proportional to the local concentration. Results indicated that this method is suitable for the study of the distribution of platelet-sized particles over a wide range of hematocrit, that the basic profile is reproducible to within 15%, and that the non-uniform profile is not a result of events at the tube entrance. PMID- 2624894 TI - Transparent elastic arterial models. I: A brief technical note. PMID- 2624895 TI - Abstracts. 12. annual meeting, Japanese Society of Biorheology. Tsukuba Science City, Japan, 5-7 July 1989. PMID- 2624896 TI - Mucus transport in a miniaturized simulated cough machine: effect of constriction and serous layer simulant. AB - The transport of mucus gel simulant (MGS) in a constricted simulated cough machine, using blood plasma as a serous layer simulant (SLS), was investigated. MGS was prepared from locust bean gum solutions crosslinked with varying amounts of added borate to produce gels of varying spinnability (filance). The model trachea was a plexiglass channel of rectangular cross-section with the plane bottom surface. The upper surface included a sinusoidal protrusion which provided a flow convergence with minimum gaps of 6, 4 and 2 mm. Experiments for mucus transport were conducted for these minimum gaps, as well as for the non convergent case (12 mm gap). Miniaturization of sample quantity was achieved by keeping the MGS layer depth constant (0.5 or 1 mm) but reducing the zone of loading from 13.4 cm to 1 cm, thus reducing the sample requirement to as little as 0.2 ml. MGS transport was determined as the minimum displacement of a line of marker dye placed in the MGS layer at the point of minimum constriction gap. It was shown that in all cases (dry as well as with SLS), MGS transport increased as the minimum constriction gap between the plane and the convergent top surface decreased. This increase was further enhanced if an SLS of lesser viscosity was used. It was also found that the transport of MGS increased as the depth of MGS layer increased or as the filance decreased in both non-constricted and constricted cases. The relationship between MGS transport and filance was maintained even in the presence of an SLS layer. PMID- 2624897 TI - Experimental study on filtrability of polymorphonuclear leukocyte suspensions. AB - Filtrability of a suspension of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was examined in a Nuclepore membrane filtration system utilizing a gradually reduced pressure difference with or without an additional negative pressure. The filtration process was continuously recorded using a TV-video system for data analysis. The PMN content in the filtrate was directly measured. The pressure-flow relation was analyzed in terms of the relative resistance of the PMN suspension to that of the suspending medium. The relative resistance of the PMN suspension increased with an increase in the filtered volume until it approached infinity at the level of low pressure difference (2.8 - 0 cmH2O). The remarkable increase in flow resistance was closely associated with the plugging of PMNs in the membrane pores. At high pressure differences (12.8 - 10 cmH2O, 7.8 - 5 cmH2O), the relative resistance increased up to finite values, as the filtered volume increased. The variation in the relative resistance was greatly dependent upon the pressure difference or the flow condition. The amount of filtered cell fraction increased with an increase of additional pressure, indicating that the relative resistance was changed according to the rate of PMN plugging and dislodging in the pores of the membrane. PMID- 2624899 TI - Fluoridation: Dublin and Strathclyde. PMID- 2624898 TI - Neurobiologic effects of bright artificial light. AB - Bright light is an effective treatment of winter depression. Study of the effects of this treatment on mechanisms thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders is reviewed. Measurement of a physiological parameter, namely the change in core temperature using an intraperitoneally implanted radio transmitter sensitive to temperature in freely moving rats, indicates that treatment with bright light under various experimental conditions tends to powerfully subsensitize muscarinic and nicotinic mechanisms. Pulses of bright light during the phase delay portions of the PRC blunt sensitivity to clonidine. Our studies with bright light are consistent with those indicating that heterocyclic antidepressants and a monoamine oxidase inhibitor produce subsensitivity to the thermic effects of nicotine. Reports of the influences of full-spectrum bright light and its impact on targeted neurotransmitter mechanisms call attention to the anatomical substratum mediating its effects. Possible receptor changes are measurable using receptor binding techniques and quantitative autoradiography. The physiological effects of this interesting treatment raises questions of its impact on coupling mechanisms and second messengers. PMID- 2624900 TI - The development of criteria for the assessment of complete dentures. AB - Criteria for the assessment of complete dentures have been published by several groups of workers but none have proved universally reliable. The present study was undertaken in an attempt to develop criteria of proven reliability for the assessment of the occlusion, articulation, retention, stability and appearance of complete dentures and the health of their supporting tissues. The criteria formulated were subjected to a series of evaluations of their reliability followed by attempts at refinement where this was unsatisfactory. Although levels of agreement between independent assessments made using the criteria improved as the study progressed, an acceptable level of reliability was not attained. The possible reasons for this are discussed. PMID- 2624901 TI - The provision of periodontal services in general dental practice in Australia. AB - Recent studies have documented the low percentage of professional services which are associated with periodontal care. The aims of the present study were to describe the provision of periodontal services by private general practice dentists in Australia and to investigate the variation of provision of periodontal services. Using a day log approach via a mailed questionnaire one in eight services provided were found to be related to periodontal care. Most were of a preventive nature. There was great variation between dentists in the number of services provided indicating the possibility of both under and overservicing. The findings are discussed with regard to the changing philosophies of provision of periodontal services and known methods of eliciting change among providers. PMID- 2624902 TI - Variations in the perceived need for orthodontic treatment in a sample of 14-year old children in North Derbyshire. AB - The investigation explored the possibility that failure to present for orthodontic treatment might result from failure by the child or parent to recognise the existence of an irregular dentition, or to perceive an irregular dentition as a cause for concern. Although a previous investigation by the present authors revealed that a substantial number of the 14-year-old children who had not received and were not scheduled for treatment were in need of orthodontic intervention, use of the SCAN index showed that the great majority did not perceive themselves as having a markedly unattractive dental appearance. Furthermore, almost 86 per cent of the children who had not received and were not scheduled for orthodontic treatment declared themselves happy with their dental aesthetics, as did a similar proportion of their parents. On the other hand, a large majority of children scheduled for orthodontic treatment, together with their parents, reported themselves unhappy with the dental aesthetics. PMID- 2624903 TI - A study of mothers' attitudes towards the prevention of caries with particular reference to fluoridation and vaccination. AB - Three hundred and fifteen mothers of pre-school children from socially deprived areas in Scotland were interviewed to assess their knowledge of, and attitudes towards, caries prevention. Thirty-five per cent of them believed that the dental profession had the most important part to play in the prevention of dental disease, while thirty-five per cent were complacent about their children's teeth and did not feel that preventive measures were necessary. Sixty-seven per cent thought that a caries vaccine would be acceptable if it posed no health risks and reduced caries experience by 50 per cent. This proportion increased to 78 per cent if all caries could be avoided by being immunized. Significantly more mothers held positive attitudes towards a hypothetical vaccine than to the more realistic prospect of fluoridation of public water supplies. This study has shown that mothers in deprived areas have little understanding of how to control dental disease and see little point in taking a personal initiative to alter their children's behaviour to reduce the risk of caries. They prefer to leave the control of disease to the dental profession. The idea that dental disease might be reduced by a vaccine was more acceptable than fluoridation. PMID- 2624904 TI - The status of fissure sealant teaching in British dental schools. AB - The purpose of this report is to document the current status of the teaching of pit and fissure sealants in British dental schools. Survey responses were received from 88.9 per cent of the surveyed programmes, 87.5 per cent of surveyed staff and 77.8 per cent of surveyed dental schools representing 52.4 per cent of all surveyed students. All schools were providing instruction on pit and fissure sealants with departments of Child Dental Health having primary responsibility for teaching at most of them. Students estimated that 61.3 per cent of their child patients were receiving sealants. Staff and students gave both classroom and clinical sealant training favourable ratings. Similarly, the majority of staff and student respondents perceived that other staff and students considered sealants to be of value. Staff knowledge of sealants was generally accurate, while students displayed a larger percentage of incorrect or unsure responses. Both staff and students expressed generally positive attitudes toward sealants. Both groups also gave favourable ratings to the overall preventive orientation of their schools. The student's projected sealant use in practice was explained best by the combination of student attitudes toward sealants and their evaluation of the overall preventive orientation of their dental school. PMID- 2624905 TI - Attitudes to oral health, preventive practices and dental services in a Thai population. AB - 1500 subjects aged 15-18 and 35-44 years, providers of oral health care and village headmen from 6 north Thailand districts with different dental services were interviewed about their knowledge of and attitudes to oral health, preventive practices and oral health services. Current oral symptoms mentioned by the 1500 subjects included pain (20.7 per cent), holes in teeth (10.5 per cent), ulcer, lump or swelling (5.9 per cent), loose teeth (5.2 per cent), calculus (2.9 per cent) and bleeding gums (1.3 per cent). Those complaining of holes in teeth had a significantly higher mean number of DMFT (2.05) than those who had no current problem (0.60). There was a general lack of appreciation of periodontal disease as a clinical problem. 57.5 per cent of those with a current problem did nothing about it because of lack of time or because they did not know where to go. 98 per cent said they used a toothbrush and 75.1 per cent used it two or more times a day. 58 per cent said that oral disease was preventable. Virtually all methods mentioned referred to dental caries which was a minor problem in this age group. A significant number had received advice on oral health from primary health care workers. In two districts primary oral health care workers trained at the Intercountry Centre for Oral Health for two weeks to do superficial tooth scaling provided care for 110 subjects, 85-88 per cent of whom were satisfied with the care received. Village headmen were sceptical about preventing oral disease and wanted more frequent visits from mobile dental units. The dentist and dental nurses were unable to cope with the range of work required and wanted additional training. Sub-district health workers and primary oral health workers were frustrated by the limitations of their work and wanted additional training to do fillings and extractions. PMID- 2624906 TI - The periodontal status of 13-year-old children in western Canada using the CPITN index. AB - A large study of the dental health of children in the Canadian province of Alberta was undertaken in 1985. A ten per cent sample of 13-year old children (3117) was selected. This study reports on the gingival status of the children using the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN). The findings show that the children have few periodontal problems and that the main treatment needs are oral prophylaxis and improvement in personal oral hygiene. The World Health Organisation guideline for the year 2000 in respect of the long-term goals for periodontal health is met in this Canadian population. PMID- 2624908 TI - Dental radiology in Northern Ireland: radiation protection. PMID- 2624907 TI - Fluoride levels in water supplies in health districts in England and Wales. A survey conducted by the British Fluoridation Society in 1988. PMID- 2624909 TI - International Collaboration for Oral Health Research. An account of 10 months spent at the National Institutes of Health, USA. PMID- 2624910 TI - Bimedial rectus recession measured from the limbus for congenital esotropia. AB - We reviewed the surgical results of bimedial rectus muscle recession measured from the limbus in 34 patients with congenital esotropia less than 1 year of age. The mean amount of recession was 10.8 mm. The procedure was successful (10 delta or less of horizontal deviation at 6 months) in 23 patients (68%). In all but one case failure was due to undercorrection. The success rate was 81% in the small angle deviation group, compared with 29% in the large-angle deviation group (p less than 0.01). The average amount of deviation before surgery was 54.4 delta in the surgical success group and 65.0 delta in the undercorrection group (p less than 0.02). More surgery should be done in patients with larger deviations. Prospective randomized studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of recession from the limbus versus recession from the insertion site. PMID- 2624911 TI - New-generation portable tonometers: comparison of the Keta and Goldmann tonometers. AB - The Keta Smart-001 is a recently introduced portable battery-operated tonometer with a digital readout. To determine the reliability of the Keta tonometer, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements were taken in a masked fashion with the Keta tonometer and the Goldmann tonometer in both eyes of 60 patients (20 with and 40 without glaucoma) recruited from general ophthalmology and glaucoma clinics. The results were analysed with an F-test analysis of variance. The Keta tonometer significantly underread the IOP and was totally unreliable in patients with glaucoma. Our results indicate that Keta tonometry should not be used for the screening and management of glaucoma. PMID- 2624912 TI - Corneal toxic changes after cataract extraction. AB - Over an 18-month period 10 patients (12 eyes) presented with severe corneal toxic changes after cataract extraction. Defined stages in the keratopathy included punctate epithelial keratopathy, pseudodendrite, central epithelial ulcer and central stromal ulcer. Periods of up to 13 months were required for resolution of the defects. Axial scarring and nonhealing epithelial defects resulted in a final visual acuity of counting fingers and hand movement in two patients. We believe that exposure during the postoperative period to benzalkonium chloride contained in ophthalmic medications represents the most likely cause of the toxic changes and that no single ophthalmic medication can be held responsible. The past ocular histories of the patients included chronic open-angle glaucoma, dry eye syndrome and anterior membrane dystrophy. Prior exposure to benzalkonium-containing antiglaucoma medications, tear film deficiencies or abnormalities of epithelial adhesion may have predisposed the corneas in these patients to the development of benzalkonium-related toxic changes. PMID- 2624913 TI - Ocular complications of a topical methylene blue-vasoconstrictor-anesthetic preparation. AB - We describe six patients who demonstrated a spectrum of adverse ocular reactions following the use of a nonprescription topical medication composed of methylene blue, naphazoline hydrochloride or nitrate, and amylocaine hydrochloride. This preparation has been commonly sold in Quebec and France for various complaints of ocular discomfort and redness. The ocular complications included asymptomatic blue discoloration of the conjunctiva, follicular and papillary conjunctivitis and varying degrees of cicatrization of the conjunctiva and cornea. The most severe reaction, progressive bilateral ocular pseudopemphigoid, occurred in a 73 year-old woman, presumably due to at least one of the ingredients of this medication. PMID- 2624914 TI - Infectious crystalline keratopathy. AB - Infectious crystalline keratopathy was first described in 1983. affected corneal grafts generally show progressive scarring and often require penetrating keratoplasty. We present a patient in whom infectious crystalline keratopathy developed 3 months after surgery. The infection was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy. PMID- 2624915 TI - Parasellar syndrome caused by plasma cell leukemia. AB - A 71-year-old man had incomplete third cranial nerve palsy caused by plasma cell leukemia and a parasellar plasmacytoma. This is the first reported case of plasma cell leukemia in which a central nervous system sign was the initial manifestation. Only one previous case of intracranial plasmacytoma associated with plasma cell leukemia has been reported. The characteristics of intracranial plasmacytomas and of plasma cell leukemia are discussed. PMID- 2624916 TI - Acute visual loss due to a calcified optic nerve glioma. AB - Optic nerve gliomas are slow-growing tumours most commonly seen in children under 10 years of age. Rapidly progressive proptosis and rapid visual deterioration are uncommon but may occur owing to accumulation of mucoid material, necrosis or hemorrhage. We describe a patient with an optic nerve glioma who manifested sudden proptosis and blindness caused by hemorrhage within the optic nerve sheath. The visual acuity returned to 20/25 after surgical decompression of the nerve and high-dose steroid therapy. Histopathological examination was required to establish the diagnosis of optic nerve glioma with extensive calcification. Optic nerve decompression or short-term high-dose steroid therapy, or both, may be helpful in recovering visual function in selected patients with optic nerve gliomas who have acute visual loss. PMID- 2624917 TI - Nitrate, nitrite and nitrosocompounds in human cancer. PMID- 2624918 TI - Altered biodistribution of indium-111-labeled monoclonal antibody 96.5 to tumors and normal tissues of nude mice bearing human melanoma xenografts in visceral organs. AB - Human melanoma xenografts were produced in the subcutis, kidney, cecum and liver of different nude mice. An 111In-labeled anti-(human melanoma) monoclonal antibody (96.5) or an 111In-labeled nonspecific control monoclonal antibody (ZCE 025) was injected intravenously in separate groups of mice. Radioactive antibody accumulation was measured in tumor, blood, viscera, and carcasses. mAb 96.5 targeted specifically to tumor tissue regardless of site of growth. Tumors in the liver exhibited significantly (P less than 0.05) higher tumor-to-blood ratios (45 +/- 6, mean +/- SEM) than xenografts at other visceral organs, the lowest value being found for subcutaneous melanoma (2.6 +/- 0.5). The differences in tumor-to blood ratio were due to significant alterations of antibody biodistribution, since the actual antibody concentration in the different tumor sites was similar. The percentage of recovered anti-melanoma antibody per milliliter of blood in mice with visceral lesions (4.6 +/- 1.1% ml) was significantly lower than that found in mice with subcutaneous tumors (9.5 +/- 1.4%/ml, P less than 0.05). Moreover, significantly higher levels (18.2 +/- 3.2%/g, 31.0 +/- 5.1%/g, respectively) of the melanoma mAb 96.5 were found in normal liver and spleen tissue recovered from mice with visceral tumors as compared to tissue from mice with subcutaneous tumors (9.2 +/- 0.9%/g, 13.5 +/- 1.9%/g, respectively; P less than 0.05). These results demonstrate that the presence of visceral tumor can significantly affect tumor-to-blood ratios, blood levels, and biodistribution of 111In-labeled mAb 96.5. PMID- 2624919 TI - In vitro differentiation and antigenic changes in human melanoma cell lines. AB - Malignant transformation of melanocytes may be associated with changes in the expression of HLA antigens and melanoma-associated antigens (MAA). To determine whether these changes reflect the differential expression of HLA antigens and MAA by melanocytes at different stages of differentiation, we have studied the effect of the reversible induction of differentiation by fibroblast interferon (interferon beta) and/or 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) on the expression of HLA antigens and MAA by the melanoma cell lines DU-2, FO-1 and HO 1. The three melanoma cell lines differed in their sensitivity to the differentiating and antiproliferative activity of these two compounds and displayed an increased growth suppression and induction of differentiation, when incubated with the combination of TPA and interferon beta. Incubation of the three melanoma cell lines with interferon beta, TPA or their combination resulted in a differential modulation of the expression of membrane-bound high-molecular mass melanoma-associated antigen, 115-kDa MAA, 100-kDa MAA, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, HLA class I antigens and gene products of the HLA-D region. Each melanoma cell line displayed a unique pattern of antigenic modulation when exposed to the two differentiating agents alone or in combination. No direct relationship was found between the effects of interferon beta and/or TPA on the growth and differentiation of the three melanoma cell lines and the expression of HLA antigens or the MAA evaluated in the present study. These findings argue against a direct role of any of the antigens tested in the reversible induction of human melanoma cell differentiation in the in vitro system. PMID- 2624920 TI - Homogeneous penetration but heterogeneous binding of antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen in human colon carcinoma HT-29 spheroids. AB - The monoclonal antibodies 38S1, directed against the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), were tested for penetration and binding in human colon carcinoma HT-29 spheroids. Penetration was studied with a method which has not previously been used in immunological investigations. The method, which allows unbound substances to be visualized, is based on freeze drying, vapour fixation, dry sectioning and dry autoradiography. The antibodies penetrated easily and all parts of the HT-29 spheroids seemed to be reached within 15 min. The penetration was even faster than in control glioma U-118MG spheroids that did not express CEA. Binding of the 38S1 antibodies was demonstrated after processing with conventional histology and autoradiography. The binding in the HT-29 spheroids was, after a 1-h incubation period, extremely heterogeneous and occurred mainly in the peripheral parts. More cells were binding the antibodies after 8-h and 32-h incubations and these cells were arranged in peripheral clusters. No binding at all was seen in the CEA negative glioma spheroids. The distribution of CEA antigens in monolayers and in frozen sections of spheroids of HT-29 cells was analysed with immunohistochemical staining using polyclonal CEA antibodies. The CEA antigens were heterogeneously distributed in both spheroids and monolayers and were as heterogenous as the binding of the monoclonal antibodies in the living spheroids. Thus, the heterogeneous binding in the living spheroids was not due to penetration barriers, but instead to the heterogeneity in the CEA antigen expression. PMID- 2624921 TI - Induction of cytotoxicity from fresh splenocytes after in vivo administration of cyclophosphamide. Importance of long-term culture with high-dose recombinant interleukin-2. AB - Cyclophosphamide, combined with lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), is known to mediate regression of tumors, but the effects of cyclophosphamide on the subsequent generation of LAK cells are unclear. It was the aim of the experiments in this paper to determine whether fresh splenocytes cultured with rIL-2 would maintain or regain their cytotoxicity in vitro after being exposed to the cytotoxic agent cyclophosphamide in vivo. Functional monitoring of splenocytes after in vitro incubation with rIL-2 was performed at various times through chromium-release assays, thymidine assays and cell-cycle analysis. Chromium-release assays determined that the cytotoxicity of cultured splenocytes returned to normal after 12 days of in vitro culture with rIL-2. The thymidine assays indicated a normal rate of uptake of thymidine after 7 days in culture, while the cell cycle was still abnormal by day 12 of culture. The growth and expansion of rIL-2-activated splenocytes after different times of in vitro culture indicated a return to normal compared to control animals after 7 days of continuous in vitro exposure to rIL-2. It is concluded that murine splenocytes can demonstrate cytotoxicity after exposure to cyclophosphamide, through prolonged continuous in vitro culture with rIL-2. Since cyclophosphamide did not jeopardize the production of splenocyte cytotoxic effectors generated with rIL-2, it appears to be a strong contender for use in chemoimmunotherapy protocols. PMID- 2624922 TI - Comparative effects of fagaronine, adriamycin and aclacinomycin on K562 cell sensitivity to natural-killer-mediated lysis. Lack of agreement between alteration of transferrin receptor and CD15 antigen expressions and induction of resistance to natural killer. AB - Little is known about membrane target antigens for natural killer (NK) cells. Transferrin receptor and CD15 antigen might be two of these target structures. A novel antileukemic alkaloid, fagaronine, is able to induce hemoglobin synthesis in the K562 cell line. Numerous reports suggest relations between the expression of natural killer target structures and the differentiation stage of malignant cells. Effects of fagaronine on the expression of glycophorin A, transferrin receptor and CD15 antigen and susceptibility to NK-mediated lysis have been investigated in K562 cells and compared to those of two anthracyclines (Adriamycin and aclacinomycin A) known to be erythroid-differentiation inducers. When comparing the balance of differentiating effect and toxicity, the dose and time-dependent effects of the drugs, fagaronine and aclacinomycin, are equivalent on K562 cells. In experimental conditions where fagaronine (3500 nM), Adriamycin (40 nM) and aclacinomycin (15 nM) recruit the same percentage of hemoglobin containing cells (40%-50%), glycophorin A expression increases and transferrin receptor expression decreases. Only Adriamycin treatment decreases CD15 antigen expression. In addition, Adriamycin and aclacinomycin, but not fagaronine, induce resistance to NK-mediated lysis. These data suggest that (a) it is unlikely that CD15 antigen and transferrin receptor, separately considered, can be unique target structures for NK cells; and (b) fagaronine is a potent erythroid inducer which, in our system, has similar effects to aclacinomycin without induced resistance to NK attack. PMID- 2624923 TI - Distribution of radiolabelled monoclonal antibody Po66 after intravenous injection into nude mice bearing human lung cancer grafts. AB - Monoclonal antibody Po66, produced by immunization against a patient's lung squamous cell carcinoma was found suitable for the scintigraphic detection of human tumours. Surprisingly, the cellular antigen recognized by Po66 was abundant in the cytoplasm of tumour cells but could not be detected on the surface membrane. In the present work the biodistribution of radiolabelled Po66 and of an unrelated immunoglobulin were studied comparatively after intravenous injection into nude mice bearing lung squamous cell carcinoma grafts. Radioactivity distribution among mouse organs and tumour was analysed by gamma counting and autohistoradiography. After injection, radiolabelled Po66 decreased rapidly from the blood in tumour-bearing animals whereas, in controls, it remained at a level comparable to that of the unrelated immunoglobulin. The antibody seemed slowly trapped by the tumour and, 12 days after its injection, distribution ratios between tumour and mouse organs reached values of 20-30 as against 1 in animals injected with the non-specific immunoglobulin. Autohistoradiographic investigations in the tumour confirmed the slow diffusion rate of the antibody, which remained in the vascular spaces up to the 24th hour after injection and diffused afterwards throughout the clusters of tumor cells. Furthermore, radioactivity was detected in cells which, unexpectedly, seemed morphologically unaltered. These cells, the viability of which remains to be determined, were predominant in the central area of the tumours. The results presented constitute new evidence of the ability of an in vivo injected monoclonal antibody to reach a cytoplasmic target inside non-necrotic cells and suggest that the cells permeable to the antibody might be in defective nutritional conditions. PMID- 2624924 TI - Depressed level of natural killer cells in cancer family syndrome. AB - Individuals from kindred with cancer family syndrome (CFS) have an increased genetic risk for the development of adenocarcinoma of the colon as well as of several other organs. Previous studies have suggested that this high occurrence of adenocarcinoma in this as in other hereditary neoplastic syndromes may be correlated to an underlying abnormality in immunological tumor surveillance. In attempt to define a marker that might identify individuals within CFS kindred at risk of developing cancer, we determined natural killer (NK) cell number and NK cell function in affected and healthy members of a CFS family. We studied 13 cancer-affected patients, 20 unaffected but "at-risk" subjects, 20 healthy subjects and 26 normal individuals matched to the patients with colon cancer on the basis of sex and age. We determined the number of NK cells and their function concurrently, using a monoclonal antibody and a 51Cr-release assay with K562 as target cells. We found that the number of NK cells was significantly (P = 0.00004) reduced in cancer patients as compared with healthy subjects and normal controls. Of the 20 at-risk individuals 9 had levels lower than the norm, while 11 showed normal-values. Consequently, the mean percentage of NK cells of this group does not differ either from that of normal subjects or from that of cancer patients. Mean NK cell function was lower in cancer patients than in healthy members of the CFS family but the differences were not statistically significant. Therefore, the mean NK cell function per single cell, expressed as a ratio between cytotoxicity (LU) and the number of NK1-positive cells, resulted paradoxically in an increase when compared with that of normal subjects. The possible mechanisms for this dichotomy were examined. PMID- 2624925 TI - Unimpaired ability to generate adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) cells in patients with primary or metastatic liver tumors. AB - Adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells (A-LAK cells) obtained from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells represent a population of potent antitumor effectors enriched in interleukin-2(IL-2)-activated natural killer cells. This study shows that A-LAK cells can be successfully generated from the blood of patients with liver cancer not treated with adjuvant chemotherapy or irradiation. Mononuclear cells were isolated from the blood of 33 patients with liver tumors (6 benign, 10 primary malignant, 17 metastatic) at the time of liver resection. A LAK cells were separated by adherence to plastic following activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 1000 U/ml recombinant IL-2. A-LAK cells (enriched up to 92% in CD3-CD56+ cells) showed better subsequent expansion and two to six times higher antitumor cytotoxicity per cell than unseparated LAK cells cultured under the same conditions. The ability to generate A-LAK cells with superior in vitro cytotoxicity from the blood of most patients with liver cancer indicates that adoptive cellular immunotherapy may be a feasible and new way of treatment for primary and secondary hepatic neoplasms in man. PMID- 2624926 TI - [Therapeutic methods of digestive tract endoscopy in older persons]. AB - By the end of 1988 of 170 patients indicated for endoscopic papillotomy (EPT) 85 subjects were above 65 years of age and of these 54% were 75 years old or above that age. EPT was successful in 90.6% of subjects above 65 years of age. The total morbidity was 4.7% and the mortality 1.2%. Endoscopic colorectal polypectomy (EPE) was performed during the same period in 591 subjects. Of these 143 (24.2%) were above 65 years and in these subjects 284 polyps were removed. Almost half the polyps in these patients had a diameter of more than 10 mm, and adenomas of the right colon were at least three times more frequent than in asymptomatic subjects aged 45-60 years revealed by screening of colorectal neoplasms in HaemocultR-positive subjects. Special attention was devoted to patients with malignant polyps and with very broadly attached adenomas of the left colon. Almost three quarters of patients with very broadly attached adenomas could be definitely treated by the endoscopic method. EPT is in many instances the only possible therapeutic approach in old and risk patients. Every colorectal polyp should be evaluated by endoscopy and EPE is in particular in subjects of advanced age the method of choice, when technically feasible. PMID- 2624927 TI - [The occurrence of early infections in surgical and orthopedic departments in Czechoslovakia]. AB - The authors made an epidemiological analysis of early infections (EI) based on a prevalence study conducted in October 1987 in 64 surgical and 29 orthopaedic departments in the CSR, selected at random. A total of 4479 patients were examined in surgical departments, the prevalence of EI in 2415 operated patients was 15.6. In orthopaedic departments 1603 patients were examined, the prevalence of EI in 846 operated patients was 7.2. Early infections were analyzed with regard to the type of surgical wound, geographical distribution, type of operation and its duration, degree of inflammatory affection and time during the postoperative period when it developed. The analysis confirmed a more favourable position as regards EI in orthopaedic departments and indicated the main trends of the fight for their reduction. PMID- 2624928 TI - [Immunologic examination of the blood in the differential diagnosis of acute gouty arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - In 16 patients with acute gouty arthritis, 30 IgM RF seropositive cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 20 IgM RF seronegative cases of RA the values of 14 indicators of antibody and natural immunity were assessed in serum. The assembled data were evaluated by step-wise discrimination analysis. This made it possible to select consecutively signs important for the differentiation of acute gouty arthritis from IgM RF seropositive RA (immunocomplexes, beta-2 microglobulin, C3) and for its differentiation from IgM RF seronegative RA (IgE, C3, transferrin, free SH groups). Thus obtained classification functions make it possible to classify correctly, random subjects with a probability of 76.7-93.7%. PMID- 2624929 TI - [A sero-epidemiological survey on toxoplasmosis in Yunan province]. AB - From 1983 to 1987, we carried on a seroepidemiological survey on Toxoplasmosis using Indirect Haemagglutination Test (IHA) in seven prefectures of Yunna province. A total of 14577 human serum samples and 1427 animal serum samples were tested, 1159 positive in 14577 human sera (7.95%), and 163 positive in 1427 animal sera (11.42%). It is clear that toxoplasmosis infection is rather widely prevalent in Yunnan province. PMID- 2624930 TI - [Epidemiologic significance of persistent observation of serum HBV-DNA in asymptomatic HBsAg carriers]. AB - Serum HBV-DNA was assayed in 65 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers (ASC) for one to two years. HBV replication marks, such as serum HBeAg, DNA polymerase, HBsAg-PHSA-R and liver function in the ASC with different types of the dynamic changes of HBV DNA were determined and compared. The transmissive state in the family members of the ASC were investigated. The results showed that among the 65 ASC 27 cases (41.54%) were HBV-DNA persistently positive with marked infectivity, 21 cases (32.31%) were HBV-DNA persistently negative with lower infectivity 10 cases (15.38%) with HBV-DNA conversion from positive to negative and 7 cases (10.77%) with HBV-DNA conversion from negative to positive. It is of instructive significance in epidemiology. PMID- 2624931 TI - [A report of an outbreak of diphtheria in Anshan area]. AB - This paper reports an outbreak of diphtheria and the result of appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures in Anshan area from Dec. 1984 to Dec. 1987. This epidemic of diphtheria occurred mainly in a camp of reform though labour organization and in a spring sanatorium among a population of young adult people with higher level of antibodies. It was proved that the special infection origin was a strain of nontoxic diphtheria bacilli. After a combined management including of injection of a refined diphtheria toxoid and an environment disinfection, the incidence of the disease dropped markedly. PMID- 2624932 TI - [Study on 438 strains of pathogenic vibrio and their resistance to drugs]. AB - This paper reported the monitoring result of pathogenic vibrio from 1461 diarrhoea outpatients in Haikou city from April to November 1986. 438 strains of pathogenic vibri (29.98%) had been identified. Among them the Vibrio Parahemolyticus (14.99%) was more common and the next was non-0:1 V. Cholerae strains (11.84%). The features of attack-time, age, sex and clinical symptoms etc. were discussed. PMID- 2624933 TI - [Epidemic tendency of Kaschin-Beck disease in Shan Xi province for five years]. AB - According to the continued observation on Kaschin-Beck disease situation in Shanxi province from 1982 to 1986, this paper clarifies that the epidemic tendency is tending to fall. Only in a few small areas the disease prevalence was steady. The cause of this tendency relates to the improvement of the living standard among the residents in the disease areas. PMID- 2624934 TI - [Observation on the intake of Brugia malayi microfilariae by Anopheles sinensis and host efficiency]. AB - The experiments were carried out under the controlled conditions with temperature at 26 +/- 1 degree C and relative humidity 75-85%. The Brugian microfilariae from the peritoneal cavity of Mongolian jirds, mixed with rabbit blood, were ingested by Anopheles mosquitoes through the artificial membrane. The experimental data show that the number of microfilariae ingested is fewer than would be expected from the microfilarial densities in the blood meal. The linear regression shows their quantitative relation, Y = 0.61X-1.37. At the same time the host efficiency of Anopheles sinensis decreases with the increase of microfilarial number ingested. In case of the relationship between Brugia malayi and Anopheles sinensis, the survival rate of vector host is the chief factor influencing the decrease of host efficiency. PMID- 2624935 TI - [Studies on the susceptibility among geographic strains of Aedes albopictus in China to infection with dengue viruses]. AB - The comparative susceptibility to dengue serotype 1, 2 and 4 viruses infection of 9 geographic strains of Azdes albopictus was studied by means of experimental feeding the mosquitoes on pledgets soaked with virus-erythrocyte suspension and intrathoracic inoculation with dengue viruses. Variation in susceptibility for both dengue serotypes 1 and 2 was found among the geographic strains by feeding, but no significant difference among those by intrathoracic inoculation. It was evident that a "gut barrier" was involved. Thresholds of oral infection were not the same for dengue serotypes 1, 2 and 4. In terms of infection rate, Haikou strain was more susceptible to all three serotypes of viruses; Beijing and Chengdu strains were more susceptible to serotypes 1 and 2, respectively. All the geographic strains were more susceptible to dengue serotype 2 comparing with other two serotypes. The mosquito head squash method for demonstrating dengue virus antigen by indirect fluorescent antibody technique was modified by mosquito brain tissue smear. This would be more accurate in detecting the dengue virus antigen in the brain tissue. PMID- 2624936 TI - [The applied of computer for analysis on contraceptive efficacy of IUD of rural women in Guangdong province]. AB - This paper discussed the usage and effect of IUD-type O use for rural married women in Guangdong province. The continuation rate of IUD-type O is 71.7 per cent 100 women in one year. The main problem for failure was expulsion. This paper have used a combination of univariate and multivariate analytic methods. On the whole, the important factors were number of gravid and parity, number of induced abortion and medical technical level etc. PMID- 2624937 TI - [An experimental epidemiologic study of 4 different IUDs]. AB - In dafeng county of Jiangsu province, 710 healthy women, aged 22-32 years, were randomly allocated to use one of the title IUDs 3-9 months postpartum in a single blind manner. UCD is an inert stainless steel device assuming the shape of the uterine cavity, i.e., isosceles triangular-shaped. The study was designed to be completed in 2 years, and presently, 2 year data were presented. Results show that there were significant differences in the crude and cumulative termination rates of the 4 groups as analyzed by the logrank test. Besides, the crude termination rater of SSR was significantly higher than those of the other 3 IUDs (P less than 0.01). The main reasons for discontinuation of SSR were pregnancy and expulsion. In regard to the removal due to bleeding and pain, MLCu250 seemed to be the best, followed by UCD, and TCu 220C was the worst. PMID- 2624938 TI - [Investigation on nitrosamine in drinking water in Huang Shi--a high-risk area of stomach cancer in Fujian province]. AB - Huang Shi town in Fujian province is one of the high-risk area of stomach cancer in China with a standard mortality rate of 61.19/100,000 in males. Epidemiologic survey showed that it was related to the severe contamination of Mu-Lan river system by which the drinking water for the residents was provided. Thirty-three water samples in the summer and winter times, filtrated and unfiltrated, from different spots along this river system were collected. The concentrations of nitrite and nitrosamine were determined. NDMA, NDEA, NDPA, NDBA, NPIP and NMOR by GC-TEA and three unknown peaks preliminarily identified as non-volatile nitrosamine by LC-TEA could be detected in these samples. The kinds and the content of nitrosamine in the samples collected in the winter time were all significantly higher than those collected in the summer, P values were all less than 0.01. Its possible significance in the causes of gastrointestinal tumors is discussed. PMID- 2624939 TI - [Significance of HBsAg in screening donors]. AB - One thousand and two hundred samples of donor blood, negative for HBsAg by RPHA, were retested by ELISA and 29 samples were found to be positive for HBsAg. Of 29 HBsAg positive donors, all were negative for IgM-anti HBc, 11 were positive for HBeAg (37.93%), 6 were positive for anti-HBe (20.69%), 10 were positive for HBVDNA (34.48%). Of 29 HBsAg positive samples, the high titers (greater than or equal to 1:500) samples accounted for 17.25 per cent of the total. It was suggested that RPHA should be replaced by ELISA or RIA in screening blood donors for HBsAg and quality control of laboratories for screening blood donors should be made by increasing technical competence of technicians. PMID- 2624940 TI - [Significance and application of an epidemiologic database]. PMID- 2624942 TI - Kinetics of granulocyte phagocytosis: rate limited by cytoplasmic viscosity and constrained by cell size. AB - Micromanipulation of yeast particles and blood granulocytes has been used to study the kinetics of single phagocytosis events. The ingestion process was quantitated by observation of sequential adhesion and encapsulation times. Both adherence and encapsulation times were found to increase greatly as the temperature was reduced below 37 degrees C; calcium in solution facilitated adhesion of the particle to the phagocyte but not encapsulation; both adhesion and encapsulation processes required a minimum level of plasma components (presumably complement). The general nature of these observations were confirmatory of previous studies, but this study is unique in that the specific time course of single particle ingestion was quantitated. It was immediately apparent that the phagocytosis process was 100% efficient above the threshold concentrations required for plasma and temperature, but variations in times from cell to cell indicated heterogeneity in the population. The total time for ingestion varied from as low as 2 sec/particle at 37 degrees C to above several min/particle below 15 degrees C. Encapsulation times for particles were normalized by estimates of particle surface areas to establish a specific time/unit area of particle surface: from 0.5 sec/10(-8) cm2 at 37 degrees C to greater than 8 sec/10(-8) cm2 at 15 degrees C. The temperature dependence of the encapsulation time correlated well with the temperature dependence of the "apparent" viscosity for granulocytes measured by micropipet aspiration. As such, the kinetic properties observed in these phagocytosis tests are consistent with a model that both assembly of the contractile system and the displacement of the surface by active contraction in phagocytosis are limited by viscous dissipation in the cell.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624941 TI - Cell migration into neural tube lumen provides evidence for the "fixed cortex" theory of cell motility. AB - We present a model of cell motility based on emigration of neural crest cells into the neural tube lumen under in vitro conditions (10% fetal calf serum or YIGSR) that inhibit their normal emigration from the base of the neuroepithelium into surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Ultrastructural observations reveal that cells lining the lumen are joined by zonulae adherentes (ZA), which are points of strong intercellular attachment, and thereby serve as markers for fixed regions of plasmalemma and cortical actin. Three major observations of the relationship of cells to the ZA support the "fixed cortex" model of mesenchymal cell migration. First, cells extend apical cell processes past the ZA into the lumen. To do this, they must make new apical plasmalemma and actin cortex that the endoplasm slides into. Second, elongated cells are observed in the lumen that are still attached via ZA to the neuroepithelium. This indicates that all of the endoplasm finally slides past the ZA. Third, numerous cytoplasmic pieces, often attached to each other and to the neuroepithelium via ZA, are found at the site where cells appear to have detached from the epithelium after entering the lumen. Since the ZA is fixed in location, the endoplasm must have slid past it into newly manufactured anterior cortex and plasmalemma, with the trailing end of the cell finally snapping off. The "fixed cortex" theory of cell migration agrees with existing data in that it predicts the polarized insertion of new plasmalemma and actin at the leading end of the cell, but it differs significantly from existing theories of mesenchymal cell migration in that it states that the cell surface remains firmly attached to the substratum while the myosin-rich endoplasm slides past it. PMID- 2624943 TI - The shoulder joint. Foreword. PMID- 2624944 TI - Historical background, anatomy and shoulder function. PMID- 2624945 TI - The shoulder joint. PMID- 2624946 TI - Clinical examination of the painful shoulder. PMID- 2624947 TI - Diagnostic imaging of the shoulder joint. PMID- 2624948 TI - Calcifying tendinitis. PMID- 2624949 TI - Arthroscopy of the shoulder: diagnostic and surgical. PMID- 2624950 TI - Clinical disorders of the acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular joints. PMID- 2624951 TI - Physiotherapy of the shoulder complex. AB - In this chapter I have attempted to give a broad overview of the types of shoulder problems commonly seen in a physiotherapy department, and the modalities used in their treatment. As previously stated, much of the symptomatology in these various conditions overlaps, so, as always, meticulous medical history and thorough initial physical examination are vital for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Physiotherapists play an important role in the treatment of many problems of the shoulder complex, but although clinically improvement is often apparent, further studies are clearly needed to confirm the relative merits of different treatments when applied to a variety of shoulder conditions. PMID- 2624952 TI - Surgery of the rheumatoid shoulder. PMID- 2624953 TI - [Circulating antitrophoblast antibodies in normal pregnancy and in EPH gestosis]. AB - Antitrophoblastic antibodies were assessed by the bond with the antigen of syncytiotrophoblastic membranes according to Davies (ELISA system) in 17 nulligravidae, in 33 men and 70 pregnant women. The pregnancy was normal in 27 women in the Ist and in 32 in the IIIrd trimester, 11 women had signs of EPH gestosis. The incidence of antitrophoblastic antibodies rises significantly with the period of gestation, in women with toxaemia the values are reduced as compared with the group in the third trimester. The authors did not find a relationship between the values of these antibodies and the concurrently assessed level of immunoglobulin IgG, IgA and IgM. Possibilities of the development of toxic immunocomplexes during EPH toxaemia are discussed. PMID- 2624954 TI - [Pharmacologic arrest of lactation. Comparison of Deprenon, lisuride, terguride and mestranol]. AB - The authors compared the arrest of lactation by terguride, lisuride and deprenone. Terguride was administered to 14 women 2 X 0.5 mg by the oral route or 4 X 0.2 mg by the oral route for 21 days, lisuride to 41 women 2 X 0.5 mg or 4 X 0.2 mg by the oral route for 21 days, deprenone to 8 women 4 X 0.5 mg per day by the oral route for 21 days. Thus treated women were compared with women where lactation was arrested by mestranol, 0.15 mg per day for 7 days (15 women) and with normally lactating puerperial women (12 women). As expected, all tested methods were effective. No serious side-effects were observed. In the overall evaluation of different procedures where we included the suppression of lactation, the drop of the prolactin level, the incidence of the rebound phenomenon and side-effects of treatment, terguride and lisuride proved more suitable than deprenone and mestranol. The results of terguride were slightly more favourable than those of lisuride. PMID- 2624955 TI - [Peritoneal macrophages and their activity in sterile patients with endometriosis]. AB - The authors analyzed the peritoneal fluid (PF) during laparoscopic examination in 50 sterile women, incl. 27 where endometriosis was found. The control group was formed by 23 sterile women without signs of endometriosis. In both groups the volume of PF, concentration and absolute number of peritoneal macrophages and their phagocytic activity were evaluated. In the group of sterile women with endometriosis there was significantly increased volume of PF, higher concentration and absolute number of macrophages than in the group of patients without endometriosis. The phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages did not differ significantly in the control group and in patients with endometriosis. PMID- 2624956 TI - [The cell cycle in normal human chorionic and placental villi. A study using flow cytometry]. AB - The amount of DNA in cells obtained from chorionic and placental villi by collagenase digestion was analyzed by flow cytometry. 15 cases ranging from 7th to 40th gestational weeks were analyzed. Approximately 1 X 10(4) cell nuclei were measured in each specimen. At 7th gestational week, 16-18.4% of cells were at S phase, and 16.5-20.6% of cells at G2 + M phase. During midpregnancy, about 6.2 13.2% of cells were at S-phase and 5.3-9.1% of cells at G2 + M phase. At full term, in placentas from 40th gestational week 6.0-8.6% of cells were at S-phase and 3.0-5.0% of cells at G2 + M phase. The results suggest, that at term still 11% of placental cells are able to enter mitosis. Using flow cytometry, the DNA content in cell nuclei can be measured in specimens obtained by CVS A. PMID- 2624957 TI - [Mondor's disease of the breast]. PMID- 2624958 TI - [Torsion of the uterus due to uterine inversion during cesarean section]. PMID- 2624959 TI - [Indications for cesarean section in fetal immaturity]. PMID- 2624960 TI - [Autotransfusion]. PMID- 2624961 TI - [Pharmacotherapy of extrauterine pregnancy--not just methotrexate]. PMID- 2624962 TI - [The opiate antagonist, naltrexone, in the treatment of anovulation and premenstrual syndrome]. PMID- 2624963 TI - [A paradoxic effect of androgen?]. PMID- 2624964 TI - [The psychosocial impact of the possibilities and limitations in the treatment of infertility]. PMID- 2624965 TI - [Thrombocyte binding sites for 3H-imipramine in patients with depression]. AB - The purpose of the work was to test the validity of parameters of binding sites for 3H-imipramine as a biological marker of endogenous depression. Using the standard WHO method, the author assessed parameters of the specific binding of 3H imipramine on platelet membranes in 23 controls and in 13 depressive patients. At the same time she assessed parameters of the high-affinity component of the specific bond which depends on the presence of sodium ions in the medium. On comparison of the binding characteristics of platelets in depressive patients, diagnosed according to several diagnostic and classification systems (ICD-9, RDC, DSM-III) and controls, the author did not reveal any statistically significant differences in parameters of the specific binding nor in parameters of the binding depending on Na+ ions. The author discusses possible causes of the revealed inter- and intraindividual variability of parameters of the imipramine binding on platelet membranes in humans. PMID- 2624966 TI - [Development of psychiatric invalidism in Bohemia 1984-1987]. AB - The author investigated, based on computer records, the number, development, costs and abolishment of full and partial invalid pensions provided because of psychiatric diagnoses (ICD 290-319) in 1984, 1986 and 1987. The number and expenditure on psychiatric pensions increased relatively more than expenditure on other invalidating diseases. The author describes differences between the two sexes, between age groups and diagnostic categories. He calculates average costs and the average period during which full and partial invalidity pensions were paid. He gives an account of the number of deaths and reactivation of invalid pensioners the mean age at death of persons with invalidity pensions on account of mental disorders. On the whole the data doesn't indicate a favourable development of the invalidity on account of mental diseases. PMID- 2624967 TI - [The occurrence and possible etiopathogenic interrelations regarding the belief in the return of the dead]. AB - In order to comprehend the wide determinateness of mental disorders psychiatry increasingly turns to findings assembled in other sciences. The importance of ethnography for contemporary psychiatric practice is demonstrated by the author using it for diagnosis when encountering the phenomenon of faith into reversion of the dead. The author investigated the widespread faith associated with animistic forms of thought, known already in the remote past, in a group of 50 probands from a traditional gypsy ethnic group. Of those 13 (26%) did not believe in the possible return of the dead to the living; 9 (18%) were not certain and 28 (56%) believed in the return of the dead. Twenty-five (50%) experienced an encounter with a gnost. The investigation which served only orientation is used by the author as one of the arguments drawing attention to the importance of becoming familiar with subcultural faith, as the psychiatrist can use it for further psychopathological reflections. PMID- 2624968 TI - [Forensic and sexual characteristics in patients undergoing institutional sex therapy]. AB - Based on the examination of 238 patients having institutional sexuological treatment, the author assessed the basic differences between homosexual sexual delinquents, sexual aggressors, polymorphic sexual delinquents, paedophiliacs and exhibitionists as regards the number of sentences on account of sexual delicts in the case-history, the presence of alcohol during the sexual delict, antialcoholic treatment in the past, the number of sexuological treatments received, age when the first sexual abnormal manifestations occurred, the age when first prosecuted on account of sexual delinquency and the diagnosis of the deviation. PMID- 2624969 TI - [An attempt to define the therapeutic goals in sex deviants]. AB - The comprehensive adaptational therapy of sexual deviations comprises a social, psychological and biological component. The centre of gravidity as regards work with these patients is individual psychotherapy supplemented by group therapy. The main aims of this treatment are: 1. The provision and supplementation of knowledge on normal and deviant sexuality. 2. Modification of the patient's attitude to sexuality. 3. Obtaining insight into the sexual deviation. 4. Adaptation of the patient to his deviation, elaboration of an individual sexual ideology. 5. Inhibition of sexual activity by short-term or long-term biological treatment. The components of treatment are selected on an individual basis. PMID- 2624970 TI - [Schizophrenia in childhood and adolescence]. AB - An analysis of 24 schizophrenic patients, treated at the psychiatric clinic in Plzen during the last 20 years with the onset of the disease in childhood or adolescence. Not a single case was observed with onset of the disease under the age of 10 years, at the age of 10-14 years six times, at the age of 15-18 years 18 times. In the group boys predominated insignificantly. In about one quarter of the patients the disease started as acute psychosis, most frequently with amentiform, less frequently with paranoid-hallucinatory or manioform symptomatology. With a slow onset of the disease in three quarters of the patients the symptomatology was paranoid or paranoid hallucinatory. After five years the majority of patients lived a civil life but only a small proportion was able to engage in unskilled working activity. After 10 years none of the patients were able to engage in any activity and 30% of the patients were hospitalized on a long-term basis in psychiatric institutes. PMID- 2624971 TI - [Further results of a 6-week period of treatment of neuroses in a therapeutic community]. AB - Comparison of results referring to 1971-74 in 630 patients with those from 1976 82 in 1,211 patients confirmed that according to the evaluation of therapists the immediate substantial symptomatic improvement still varies near 60%. In the evaluation of insight and changes in attitudes and behaviour a for obscure reason decline was recorder. The evaluation of the symptomatic effect by patients one year after terminated treatment increased from 42 to 49%. Comparison of the immediate evaluation by therapists with the immediate evaluation by patients revealed that therapists had a slight tendency to overestimate symptomatic improvement while patients constantly and considerably overestimate the therapeutic results in the sphere of insight and changes of attitudes and behaviour. Comparison of the immediate effect with a one-year follow-up, using rating scales filled in by the patients, confirmed a satisfactory stability of the effect. Approximately half the patients improved substantially one year after treatment. PMID- 2624972 TI - [Superillusions (a new category of visual illusions)]. AB - The author describes special type of visual illusion, specific to man, which he calls "super-illusion". It results from an erroneous decoding of a true visual perception, which in the observer's eye is in itself expected to be an illusory distortion of reality. The attached drawings (Fig. 1, 2, 3) illustrate the discussed forms of visual perception, and its possible distortion. Fig. 1: Undistorted, normal visual perception. Appropriate interpretation of a visual signal. A leaf is seen as a leaf. Fig. 2: "Appropriate" visual perception and interpretation of the defense mechanism called crypsis. Crypsis here serves its original purpose--visual illusion. Anaea butterfly, a leaf mimic, is perceived as a leaf. Fig. 3: "Inappropriate" interpretation of undistorted visual signal. Anticipation of crypsis, which is not present. A leaf is perceived as a leaf mimicking butterfly. This phenomenon, called "super-illusion" (anticipatory visual illusion) is common in entomologists--lepitopterists. PMID- 2624973 TI - [The psychotherapeutic relationship and use of psychological methods]. AB - On a quotation from the early dialogue of Plato, Charmides, the author demonstrates that since the beginnings principle to treat man as a whole, as his psychic and bodily processes are closely interlinked. At the same time the irreplaceable role of psychotherapy in the prevention and treatment of impaired health is explained. Psychotherapy is implemented mostly by the relationship between the therapist and patient; its course depends on the behaviour of the therapist and his personality characteristics. Based on an almost hundred-year tradition of systematic psychotherapy and due to empirical research of processes and therapeutic results during the past forty years, it may be taken for granted that for a desirable psychotherapeutic relationship the following characteristics on the part of the psychotherapist are typical: unconditional acceptance of the patient and he therapists emotional affection, empathic understanding of the patient and authenticity--genuineness of the therapist's personality. Due to advances of knowledge various psychotherapeutic trends converge in the sphere of psychotherapeutic theory and practice. Finally the author quotes views of professor K. Weis, director of the Psychiatric University in Leipzig who considers psychotherapy the axis of treatment, surrounded by somatotherapy, sociotherapy and rehabilitation measures. PMID- 2624974 TI - [The role of standards in staffing health facilities with personnel in planning and management of health services]. AB - Norms for the provision of health institutions with personnel which have replaced former patterns of provision of personnel are to serve as an aid for evaluating the standard of equipment of different health institutions with specialized health personnel and for assessing the need of further supplementation of health workers. Another function of these norms is to facilitate the estimation of the necessary number of workers for newly built health institutions. A balance of the needed increments of the main categories of health personnel derived from the norms facilitates the more accurate calculation of the number of students admitted to the first year at medical and pharmaceutical faculties and schools for paramedical workers. PMID- 2624975 TI - [Forecasting health personnel needs on the basis of long-term developmental trends in relation to the standardized results]. AB - The author compares the results of prognostic work conducted with the help of a demographic model of personnel based on the long-term development of the age structure of workers or on assumptions in the plan and add gradually revealed quantified factors which influence the numbers and the structure of workers, with results obtained by calculation of norms of workers for the network of health institutions. The author evaluates the possibilities and applicability of the two approaches. PMID- 2624976 TI - [An innovative program for teaching social medicine at the Medical School for Hygiene at Charles University]. AB - The author makes readers familiar with the programme of innovation of training in social medicine at the Medical Faculty of Hygiene, Charles University. In his opinion the demands on rationalization and intensification of health services call for enlargement of undergraduate training in social medicine by findings from the science on systems, management and computers, and last not least economics of the health services. PMID- 2624977 TI - [Subjective health problems in persons 60-64 years of age and over 65]. AB - The author investigated in a representative sample of 431 subjects aged 60-64 years and in 1171 subjects above 65 years by the method of standardized interviews the prevalence of subjectively perceived health complaints--pain and its localization, dyspnoea, insomnia and general weakness and restricted locomotion. Health complaints were recorded already at the age of 60-64 years in a relatively high percentage--71.7%; chronic cough and digestive complaints equally frequently as in subjects above 65 years. In 11.6% of subjects aged 60-64 years locomotion was restricted, at the age above 65 years in 31.2% of the respondents. Subjectively perceived health complaints influence the lifestyle in advanced age, they influence the need and consumption of health care. In medical practice it is necessary to search for these complaints in an aimed way, to disclose their causes and influence them by early treatment. This could contribute to the improvement of the quality of life in advanced age. PMID- 2624978 TI - [Psychosocial and socio-medical problems in the medical profession]. AB - Under conditions of contemporary highly developed medicine and allied disciplines of the new scientific concept of health care it is essential that doctors and other health workers should be harmoniously developed personalities. One of the main characteristics of such a personality is the overall health potential. Doctors should not only propagate a healthy lifestyle but should in this respect serve as an example. Unfortunately in many instances paradoxical behaviour in relation to their own health is found. The problem of health protection of doctors must be conceived comprehensively not only in conjunction with the general social environment but also in conjunction with his specific working environment. In the contemporary medical literature in the world we encounter in connection with investigations of health protection, and in particular the morbidity of doctors and other health workers, the term morbus medicus. This involves a complicated and specific complex of factors ensuing from the complexity of the medical profession and its risks which does not cause specific but nevertheless increased sequelae in certain areas of morbidity. At present the majority of occupations is associated with neuropsychic stress. In the medical profession neuropsychic stress is much greater than in other occupations. Therefore prevention of negative stress in the medical profession must ensue from an endeavour to neutralize these negative factors - i.e. to create optimal working conditions and optimal interpersonal relations, and from improving the standard of the personality profile of doctors. PMID- 2624979 TI - [We need a renaissance of the community physician]. AB - The author submits views of officials of the department of general medicine and the Society for General Medicine and of a selected representative group of other doctors of the department on the present situation in general medicine. Suggestions for creating prerequisite conditions for the development of the discipline under conditions of reconstruction of our society comprise the establishment of chairs of general medicine at medical faculties, adherence to principles of training of general practitioners after completion of medical studies till they obtain the qualification, of general practitioners, training in the branch to obtain the basic qualification, increasing the number of staff in the department, adherence to the principle of availability of health care, respecting of actual conditions, material equipment and provision of apparatuses in work places, problems of improving health care and assessment of work capacity, prevention and dispensarization, comprehensive therapy and free choice of doctors and renumeration of the work of doctors. PMID- 2624980 TI - [What the data on utilization of antiepileptic agents reveals]. AB - Using the method of expressing the consumption of anti-epileptic drugs by the number of defined daily doses per 1000 population per day (DDD/1000/d), data covering the three-year period from September 1984 to August 1987 in districts of the Czech Socialist Republic are presented in tables. The mean and liminal values are given for anti-epileptics as a whole and mean values of the phenytoin consumption in region, incl. liminal values of the percentage ratio of Sanepil (phenytoin 80 mg, phenobarbital 18.5 mg) in districts of different regions of the CSR. On the enclosed map for the first annual period districts where this ratio was 25%, 50%, 75% or more (only in the South Moravian region) are hatched. In the subsequent tables are districts with greater changes of this indicator than +5% and -10% in the course of the three years of the investigation. The greatest drop was recorded in the district where there was a new leading neurologist who came from the area of another medical school to the South Moravian region. The authors discuss the influence of the medical school and present results of an enquiry by means of questionnaires among neurologists regarding the place of medical studies of neurologists in the region and views on the advantage of Sanepil, as compared with pure phenytoin. PMID- 2624981 TI - [The stereologic-quantitative analysis of gastric antrum G cells in patients with splenic diseases]. AB - In this paper, 89 Spleen deficiency (SD) patients' gastric mucosa specimens obtained during fibrogastroscopy mucosal biopsy were observed with immunocytochemical-stereologic-quantitative analysis method. The number of G cells counted and the content of basic gastrin in serum measured. This study found that the difference of the number of G cells and the content of gastrin in serum possessed statistical significance between two types of SD. The results suggested the hyperplasia and hypersecretion of G cells in gastric antrum might be an important pathological mechanism for different types of SD. PMID- 2624982 TI - [Zhongxu-qizhi type of chronic gastritis and Campylobacter pyloridis infection]. AB - According to the syndrome differentiation of TCM, one hundred cases of chronic gastritis were recognized as Zhongxu-Qizhi type (Group I, 57 cases) and the other types (Group II, 43 cases), the latter further divided into 36 cases of disharmony of Liver and Stomach type and 7 cases of deficiency of Stomach Yin type. The pathohistological investigation and urease test showed that the campylobacter pyloridis (CP) infected rate in the Group I (92.9%) was very significantly higher than that in Group II (58.1%, P less than 0.01); severe degree and deep location of CP infection occurred more significantly in Zhongxu Qizhi type (52.8% and 73.6% respectively). Between the two groups, active chronic gastritis and severe invasion of polymorphonuclear cells were significantly different (P less than 0.05). All these findings suggest that there were some relationships between CP infection and syndrome differentiation of TCM. PMID- 2624983 TI - [Relation of the level of platelet membrane glycoproteins, platelet adhesion, platelet aggregation and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome patterns of coronary heart disease]. AB - This experiment made quantitative analysis of platelet GPlb of 56 patients with coronary heart disease and with McAb SZ-2 resisting to human being platelet GP by using the method of indirect immunity fluorescence saturation, observed the changes of coronary heart patients' platelet GPlb based on TCM differentiation of the pattern, and determined the level of PAdT, PAgT. The results showed that the level of platelet GPlb of coronary heart disease was higher than normal. Among them, the acute myocardiac infarction group was the most obvious, followed by the unstable angina pectoris group and the stable angina pectoris group. The level of PAdT, PAgT of coronary heart patients was higher than those of the normal group (P less than 0.005, 0.05); the level of platelet GPlb in blood stasis syndrome group was higher remarkably than the group of having no blood stasis syndrome and the normal (P less than 0.001). These results suggested that it played an important part in the occurrence and development of coronary heart disease as manifested by abnormal increase of platelet GPlb, and enhancement of platelet's adherence and aggregation. The abnormal increase of platelet GPlb is due to pathological mechanism of blood stasis syndrome of coronary heart disease. This experiment also provided a fresh evidence to TCM differentiation of the pattern and treatment of coronary heart disease. PMID- 2624984 TI - [Effect of tian-huang-ling granule in the treatment of allergic rhinitis]. AB - Based on the clinical experience of the authors, 60 cases of patients with allergic rhinitis had been treated with Tian-Huang-Ling Granule (larvae of a silkworm with batrytis, milk vetet, long-spur epimedium) made in Ren-Ji Hospital since 1982 in order to search for an effective drug in TCM. The symptoms were relieved in 96.6% of the patients without any side effect of drowse, fatigue etc. The results were much better than those treated with Xin-Qin Granule or ketotifeni as the control groups (P less than 0.01). The eosinophils and basophils of blood counted before and after the treatment in all patients showed very significant differences (P less than 0.01). The knowledge of the disease in TCM was reviewed. Then the disease and the Tian-Huang-Ling Granule were discussed with the theory of TCM and WM combined. PMID- 2624985 TI - [Effect of gastritis-granule on 52 cases of chronic gastritis infected with Campylobacter pyloridis]. AB - 52 patients with chronic gastritis infected by campylobacter pyloridis (CP) were selected for random observation. The course of treatment was 4 weeks. In the group treated with granule-gastritis, the effective rate for CP was 81.3% (26/32), and the improvement rates of the symptoms and histopathological lesion were 87.5% (28/32) and 40.6% (13/32) respectively. In the group treated with Wei Mei-Su as the control group, the figures were 25%, 40% and 10% respectively. These differences were statistically significant (P less than 0.01-0.000). The results showed that the effect of granule-gastritis on chronic gastritis infected with CP was better than that of Wei-Mei-Su. PMID- 2624986 TI - [Clinical significance of the measurement of trace elements in the gastric mucosa and their oxides in patients with spleen diseases and gastric cancer]. AB - The gastric mucosa trace elements and oxides were investigated with X-ray energy disperse analysis system in 41 cases of gastric disease due to Spleen deficiency. The differences in the change of the quantity of Zn, Cu, ZnO and CuO were very significant (P less than 0.05-0.001) in the gastric mucosa between normal area and focal area, between Spleen Qi deficiency and Spleen deficiency with Qi stagnation, and between benign gastric disease and gastric cancer. The experiments showed that: (1) The trace elements in the organism form its own system, the values being within the relatively constant scope. (2) The ratios of Zn/ZnO and Cu/CuO reflected "the rate of effectual utility" of Zn and Cu. (3) There was a very close internal relation between Spleen deficiency with Qi stagnation and gastric cancer. (4) The quantitative changes of Zn, Cu, ZnO, CuO, Zn/ZnO and Cu/CuO were related to pathologic change and the TCM syndrome pattern, and is worthy of further research. PMID- 2624987 TI - [Consciousness-restoring effect of angong-niuhuang pills in craniopathy]. AB - 104 patients of craniopathy with unconsciousness were treated with Angong Niuhuang Pills (ANP) for a prospective random study. In 104 patients of Group A, ANP seemed to be an efficient drug to 79 patients (76%). 13 of them were on the mend with degree I consciousness. 4, 23, 24, 10 and 5 of the patients with degree II, III, IV, V and VI consciousness respectively. 25 patients failed to respond to medical treatment (24%). In 104 patients of Group B without ANP treatment, only 43 patients responded to other medical treatment (41%). 8, 4, 18, 9, and 4 patients took a turn for the better and got degree I, II, III, IV and V consciousness respectively. Inefficiency was observed among 61 patients (59%). Thus, there was a significant difference between the two groups statistically (P less than 0.005). PMID- 2624988 TI - [Short-term curative effects of daoyin-tuna qigong therapy in 103 cases of chronic atrophic gastritis]. AB - Daoyin-Tuna Qigong therapy was applied to 103 cases with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). The average duration of disease was 7.8 years. Daoyin-Tuna Qigong exercises were done 4 times a day, 1 hour each time. 79 days made a course and no drug was given. 31 cases were checked with gastroscopy and biopsy, 30 cases with electrogastrogram and 34 cases with immunity detection before and after treatment course. RESULTS: In clinical symptoms, the therapy appeared markedly effective in 72 cases (69.9%). The effective cases were 28 (27.2%). The total effective rate was 97.1%. The body weight of 95 cases (92.2%) increased by 2.4 +/- 1.3 kg on the average at the end of the treatment course, and the capacity for eating was increased by 110 +/- 70 g a day in 99 cases (96.1%). In gastroscopy and pathology examination, the rates of marked effectiveness were 35.5% and 48.4%, the effective 29.0% and 38.7%, the total effective 64.5% and 87.1% respectively. Electrogastrogram check: the frequency and amplitude of the electrogastrogram increased markedly (P less than 0.05) in comparison with the pre-therapy. Immunology examination: E-rosette was 51.3 +/- 8.4% before treatment and 55.3 +/- 7.7% after treatment (P less than 0.05). It is suggested that Daoyin Tuna Qigong therapy would be a better and new treatment for CAG. PMID- 2624989 TI - [Effect of injections of huoxue huayu on hemodynamics of the canine small intestine]. AB - The effect of Huoxue Huayu injection(HHI) on hemodynamics of canine small intestine was investigated in 25 healthy mongrel dogs. SMA was used for intestinal blood flow measurement with an electronic magnetic flowmeter. After measuring the arterial and venous oxygen saturation the intestinal oxygen consumption and vascular resistance were calculated. In the control group (n = 8) the dog was infused with normal saline (NS) and in the experimental group (n = 9) HHI was used with the same dosage of 3.75 ml per kg body weight per hour. Small molecular weight dextran (SMD) was administered in the third group as a known vasodilator agent. The results showed no effect of NS on intestinal hemodynamics. At the periods of 20, 40 and 60 minutes following HHI the mean values of intestinal blood flow were 291.22 +/- 98.12, 307.56 +/- 106.64 and 283.33 +/- 96.84 ml.min-1 respectively. They were statistically different against the premedication values (181.56 +/- 62.38 ml.min-1). The values of intestinal oxygen consumption at the corresponding periods were 6.97 +/- 3.62, 6.97 +/- 3.80 and 7.11 +/- 3.04 ml.min-1. They were markedly greater than those before HHI (4.85 +/ 2.23 ml.min-1). Analysis proved that blood flow and vascular resistance had a dependent relationship. HHI was marked by stronger effect than SMD when used in smaller dosage. It was believed that both the increase of blood flow and oxygen consumption might be an important pharmacological basis of the application of Huoxue Huayu principle in the treatment of acute abdominal diseases. PMID- 2624990 TI - [Biological effect of qigong waiqi--a preliminary report of the anti-injurious effect of waiqi on ozone toxicity]. AB - This paper deals with the anti-injurious effect of Qigong Waiqi on ozone toxicity. NIH male mice were randomly divided into three groups, O3 group, mice kept in 0.9 ppm O3 in a special room 12 hours/day for 12 days; Qigong group received Waiqi from a Qigong master for 30 minutes every morning in addition to what O3 group was treated; and a normal group for control. After 12 successive days, all the animals were decapitated and autopsy performed. Tissues taken from lung, liver, spleen and thymus were prepared for biochemical assay and microscopic examination. It was found that MDA content of lung and liver of O3 group was much higher than those of the control group and Qigong group. On the contrary, GSH-Px activity was significantly (P less than 0.001) lower than those of the control and Qigong groups. Both the MDA content and GSH-Px activity between the latter two groups were not significantly different. Microscopic examination revealed severe interstitial pneumonia with marked edema of lung and prominent leucocytic infiltration in liver of O3 group mice, but only slight changes were seen in Qigong group, so the differences were significant. The two immune organs of mice in O3 group were reduced in size and weight. Microscopic examination of immune organs of O3 group revealed thinner T lymphocyte population in cortex of thymus and periarterial sheath of spleen than those of Qigong group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2624991 TI - [Effects of yang-restoring herb medicines on the levels of plasma corticosterone, testosterone and triiodothyronine]. AB - It had been found that Yang-restoring herb medicines Radix Aconiti Praeparata (AP), Cortex Cinamomi(CC), Herba Cistanchis(HC) and Epimedium brevicorum (EB) reduced the cold-resistant potential of normal mice and disturbed the balance of thyroid hormones in normal rats. The aim of this study was to further investigate the effects of these four herb medicines on the levels of plasma corticosterone (B), testosterone (T) and triiodothyronine (T3) in rats by administering herbs together (mixed group) or individually. It was shown that all four Yang-restoring herbs tended to raise plasma B level and it was significant in HC, EB and mixed groups, especially in HC administered rats (P less than 0.001). Rise of plasma T level was seen in CC and mixed groups. All four herbs could decrease plasma T3 level and it was significant in AP, CC and mixed groups, particularly evident in AP administered rats (P less than 0.001). This may be one of the adaptating protecting mechanisms of normal organism against the toxicity of AP. Combination of the four herb medicines did not result in the cumulation of effects of the given medicines, however, this did reflect the average effect of these four herbs, which showed a restraining and harmonious relationship in a Chinese medical prescription. PMID- 2624992 TI - [Approaches and methods of experimental research on recipes in traditional Chinese medicine]. PMID- 2624993 TI - Bound amino acids in uremic sera: search for peptidic middle molecules by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography. AB - The samples of normal and uremic sera were ultrafiltered, separated on SEP-PAK C18 cartridges and subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The serum material extracted from the slab gel was purified from SDS and further fractionated by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The obtained fractions were examined by amino acid analysis and mass spectrometry. An increased number of moderately polar fractions containing bound amino acids was found in sera of uremic patients on hemodialysis. Two most prominent uremic fractions corresponded to N benzoylglycine (hippuric acid) (fraction I, k' = 9,4) and phenylacetylglutamine (fraction II, k' = 9,7). Increased amounts of bound glutamine, glycine, serine, leucine, asparagine, alanine, valine, phenylalanine were found in other moderately polar uremic fractions. These fractions (k' range from 12.1 to 13.2) contained no free amino acids, nor any other known small uremic serum compounds; they were considered as peptide 'middle molecules' (MM) of a molecular mass smaller than 1700. PMID- 2624994 TI - The quantitation of oxalate in amniotic fluid by ion-chromatography. AB - Calcium oxalate is the predominant constituent of most kidney stones. The rare genetic disorder, primary hyperoxaluria, is characterized by the continuous excessive synthesis and urinary excretion of oxalic acid, leading to stone formation and renal insufficiency. The earliest measurement of oxalate in suspected cases of primary hyperoxaluria is advantageous and would lend support for continued analysis and eventual confirmation of the disease. Therefore, we quantitated oxalate levels in amniotic fluid (AF) using medium pressure ion exchange chromatography. The mean concentration of oxalate in amniotic fluid was 1.67 mg/l +/- 0.8 (SD); (range 0.64 to 5.11 mg/l). The mean oxalate/creatinine ratio (O/C) was 0.23 +/- 0.11 (SD); (range 0.07 to 0.53). This ratio is similar to that found in the urine of infants less than 1 year (0.19 +/- 0.10; n = 17). There was no significant difference between males and females in oxalate concentration or O/C ratio. Regression analysis showed no significant correlation of fetal age with oxalate, O/C or creatinine. Studies in 13 sets of di-amnionic twins showed no statistical difference in oxalate or O/C between twin A and B. This study demonstrates the ability to accurately quantitate oxalate in amniotic fluid by ion-chromatography, and suggests that this may have a potential application in the initial screening process for the prenatal detection of primary hyperoxaluria. PMID- 2624995 TI - Evaluation and performance characteristics of a novel ELISA using monoclonal antibody to glycated albumin. AB - To evaluate the clinical utility of a highly specific monoclonal antibody directed against the glycated epitopes residing in human albumin, we developed an ELISA using this antibody to measure glycated albumin in plasma samples from nondiabetic and diabetic individuals. The assay is predicated on the ability of immobilized monoclonal antibody to distinguish glycated albumin from all other plasma proteins, followed by detection and quantitation of the bound glycoalbumin with an enzyme-conjugated second antibody directed against human albumin. The relative percent concentration of glycated albumin in a sample is then determined by dividing the microgram glycated albumin in the sample by the total microgram albumin in the sample. The mean glycoalbumin level in samples from 12 non diabetic subjects was 2.4% +/- 0.22% (mean +/- SD). In samples from 30 diabetic subjects, glycated albumin levels ranged from 1.6% to 14.9%, and individual values correlated positively and significantly with glycohemoglobin levels measured in simultaneously collected red cells. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of the method were 6.8 and 7.4%, respectively. The findings indicate that this ELISA allows sensitive, specific and reproducible measurement of glycoalbumin, and provides a clinically relevant objective parameter of integrated glycemic control. PMID- 2624996 TI - Gas-liquid chromatographic method for routine detection of plasma sulfo-, gluco-, and free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol. AB - A revised method is described for detection of human plasma 3-methoxy-4 hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) using gas-liquid chromatography and electron capture detection. This method has comparable sensitivity and reproducibility as HPLC methods with amperometric detection but is less expensive. The extraction and detection of an internal standard of 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (EHPG) is identical to MHPG, making quantitation easier than with electrochemical detection. Techniques for measuring the sulfo-, gluco-, and free plasma MHPG fractions are described, and normal adult values are reported. PMID- 2624997 TI - Radioimmunoassay for erythropoietin using anti-recombinant erythropoietin antibody with high affinity. AB - A sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the detection of erythropoietin (EPO) was developed using anti-recombinant EPO antibody with high affinity. The sensitivity was 100 amol/tube (5 mIU/ml) and it was possible to detect a serum EPO level between 5 and 200 mIU/ml. This method enabled us to measure native EPO as well as recombinant EPO. With this method we determined serum EPO levels in healthy individuals and patients with chronic renal disease, rheumatoid arthritis and iron deficiency anemia. Values in patients with chronic renal disease were lower than those in healthy individuals, while values in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, or iron deficiency anemia were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals. PMID- 2624998 TI - Lectin binding characteristics of a cholesterol nucleation promoting protein. PMID- 2624999 TI - Automated analysis of urinary hydroxyproline. PMID- 2625000 TI - Microassay for amino acids in human liquid blood and dried blood. PMID- 2625001 TI - The effect of non-enzymatically glycosylated collagen on normal human platelets. PMID- 2625002 TI - A simplified procedure for the study of LDL kinetics. PMID- 2625003 TI - A combined lectin precipitation method for differentiating modified bone alkaline phosphatase in serum. PMID- 2625004 TI - Binding of nitroblue tetrazolium to human serum albumin in a fructosamine test. PMID- 2625005 TI - Unusual 1 beta-hydroxylated bile acids in children with a paucity in interlobular bile ducts. PMID- 2625006 TI - [Tumor irradiation after plate osteosynthesis. Dose determination on radiological phantom]. AB - An irradiation phantom was used to measure dose increases using the backscatter of different materials (titanium, steel, lead, aluminum). Telecobalt 60 and 8 MeV photons were used for the irradiation. The radiation dose was measured by means of a defined x-ray film blackening. The most important parameter was to find out whether under stimulated conditions the undesirable hot spots occur. We were able to demonstrate that a 12.5 to 16% increase of the radiation dose can be observed for titanium and steel at a distance of .45 mm from the metal specimen. A comparison between titanium and steel did not demonstrate a relevant advantage for titanium. Therefore adjuvant percutaneous radiation therapy should not have any influence on the life of the implant, if the soft tissue layer is of sufficient thickness. The available literature was reviewed and presented in tables. PMID- 2625007 TI - [Job-induced oro- and maxillofacial tumors]. AB - An overview is given of the legislation governing occupational diseases in relation to oro- and maxillofacial tumors. A specific job history must be established to analyse the underlying causes of the disease, to initiate preventive measures, and to meet the compensation claims of these cancer patients. PMID- 2625008 TI - [Solitary plasmacytomas in the head area. Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations]. AB - Based on two case reports the inherent problems of diagnosis and treatment of this rare tumor are discussed. The importance of a complex immunohistologic and immunochemical analysis of the monoclonal immunoglobulin produced by the tumor is emphasized. Determining the serum level of the immunoglobulin is decisive for establishing the necessary treatment strategy. Apart from the tumor-specific aftercare by a specialist, these patients always require additional treatment at an immunology clinic. PMID- 2625009 TI - [Simple mandibular bone cysts]. AB - 3 cases of simple bone cyst occurring in young adults are presented. Roentgenographic findings and criteria for diagnosis are explained. Rapid bony replacement of the cavity confirm the nonradical surgical intervention. PMID- 2625010 TI - [Late results of conservative condylar fracture treatment]. AB - 116 patients with healed condylar fractures were investigated between a half and six years after the occurrence. 20 of them had pain in the joint, 19 of them showed a deviation of the mandible when opening the mouth. The margin distance of the incisors were 40.8 mm, in 5 cases less than 30 mm. The X-ray showed in 31 cases a dislocation of the fragments, in 6 cases a resorption of the proc. articularis. There was no correlation between pain, deviation, dislocation and the margin distance of the incisors. It is concluded that the anatomic exactly reposition of the fragments is not necessary for the undisturbed function of the temporomandibular joint. PMID- 2625011 TI - [Multilayer myoperitoneal epigastric flap for the repair of oral and maxillofacial defects]. AB - The multilayer myoperitoneal epigastric flap is a modification of the myocutaneous rectus abdominis flap commonly used in reconstructive surgery. By means of the microsurgical transplantation of this graft, which is supplied via the caudal epigastric vessels, it is possible to simultaneously replace oral mucosa, subcutaneous soft tissue and skin in extensive and deep cheek defects. The present article describes both the basic results of experimental animal studies and the possible clinical applications. The author's experience is based on 8 grafts for large cheek defects. PMID- 2625012 TI - [Intraoral cheek transposition flap for primary reconstruction of the anterior floor of the mouth]. AB - A method for simple primary reconstruction of the anterior floor of the mouth is described. Intraoral malar transposition flaps are a suitable procedure to cover tumor defects (up to T2) satisfactorily. PMID- 2625013 TI - [Skeletal corrective surgery in the visceral cranium]. AB - Developments of recent decades have resulted in a system of high quality, low relapse osteotomies of the visceral skull and neighboring structures of the neurocranium, which offers almost unlimited, although partially complicated, surgical possibilities. However, as in other medical disciplines, there is the danger that enthusiasm for what is feasible might induce surgeons to go beyond what is necessary. A realistic assessment of the patient benefit therefore must be the basis for indication and implementation more than ever. PMID- 2625014 TI - [Physiotherapy and diagnosis of shoulder lesions after radical neck dissection]. AB - We examined 43 patients to study the influence of postoperative physiotherapy of shoulder disfunctions after radical neck dissection. We also wanted to elucidate the problem of the controversially documented multiple supply of this area by the cervical plexus. Shoulder function was examined clinically and by electrophysiology. Our results demonstrate that the degree of shoulder disfunction correlated well with clinical parameters like abduction in the frontal plane and lateral scapular movements. In all three muscular segments lesions were detected by electrophysiological tests. The majority of patients showed only minor impairment or normal results in the lower segment, which would point to a double or single enervation from the branches of the cervical plexus. These results confirm the value of postoperative physiotherapy for the treatment of shoulder disfunction. The study parameters are also important to assess the success of physiotherapy and to confirm its efficacy in cases of postoperative accessory nerve palsy. PMID- 2625015 TI - [Effect of local hemostyptics on human gingiva fibroblasts in culture]. AB - Local hemostyptics and materials for filling surgical defects are frequently used by dentists after extractions and in the treatment of cystic cavities. Three of these materials, Kollagen Vlies, Tabotamp Gaze, and Gelita Tampon were studied in cultures of human gingiva fibroblasts for their biological tolerance. PMID- 2625016 TI - [Use of fibrin adhesive in maxillary sinus surgery]. AB - For haemostasis and to guarantee the drainage following operative procedures on the maxillary sinuses, the sinus is usually plugged with a gauze strip or balloon tamponade through the drainage window in the inferior nasal meatus. This generally causes massive edema of the face and subjective complaints of the patient, the risk of an anaerobe infection is increased. By using fibrin glue that is applied by a spray catheter into the maxillary sinus, there is no need of a tamponade as a haemostypt. The sinus is drained by a small vinyl tube through the window in the inferior nasal meatus. PMID- 2625017 TI - [Basic documentation in the interdisciplinary cleft lip, alveolus, and palate consultation. Development of computer-corrected basic data]. AB - The presented anamnestic sheet with its detailed subcategories is the basis for a computer-aided documentation system for longterm follow-up of patients with lip, alveolar, and palatal clefts. The expected result is a reduction of later treatment requirements. PMID- 2625018 TI - [Loss of spinal anterior horn cells in X-linked recessive bulbospinal muscular atrophy--a morphometric study of lower motoneuron loss]. AB - A morphometric analysis was performed to study three-dimensional distribution of the anterior horn cells in the L1 segmens from four cases of X-linked bulbospinal muscular atrophy (X-BSMA) and three age-matched controls. At autopsy, the L4 spinal segment was removed and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS at pH 7.4, then embedded in paraffin. Serial sections of 10 microns in thickness from the rostral end of L4 segment were obtained. Every tenth section was stained with Kluver-Barrera method. The anterior spinal horn in this study was designated as the gray matter anterior to the line from the central spinal canal perpendicular to the ventral spinal fissure. The diameter of the remaining neurons with obvious nucleolus in the anterior horn was measured with TGZ-3 particle size analyzer (Zeiss) on the 205 time-magnified picture, and their location was schematically plotted on a montage of the ventral horn. Neuronal loss was more marked in X-BSMA than in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Shy-Drager syndrome (SDS). In X BSMA, the loss was most prominent in cells with large-size, and in those located in the lateral and medial vental nuclei (lamina IX after Rexed's classification). Small or intermediate cells located in the area of inner-medial portion of the ventral horn (lamina VII & VIII after Rexed's classification) were also significantly depleted. In some cases, the loss of small neuron was more marked than SDS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625019 TI - [Paroxysmal itching and magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord in multiple sclerosis]. AB - In three women with multiple sclerosis, paroxysmal itching occurred. We were able to detect the spinal segment lesions corresponding to the dermatome of paroxysmal itching by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in them. Case 1. A 38-year-old woman was admitted with chief complaints of tingling sensation in the left side of the body, left hemiparesis and paroxysmal itching in the neck and left upper extremity. Examination on admission revealed left hemiparesis, mildly exaggerated deep tendon reflexes in the left upper and lower extremities, positive Lhermitte's sign. Superficial sensation was decreased and dysesthetic below the left C3 segment. Vibration and joint sense were moderately decreased in the left upper limb. Painful tonic seizure-like attack occurred in the neck bilaterally. Paroxysmal itching occurred in the neck and left upper extremity corresponding to the cervical spinal segments bilateral C3, left C4 to C6. MRI revealed multiple high signal intensities in the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres, the medullo-cervical junction and the cervical segment C3 to C4 in T2-weighted spin echo images. The C3 to C4 lesion was found in the left dorsal area of spinal cord in axial image. High signal areas of cervical cords on T2-weighted spin-echo images were reduced in response to adrenocorticosteroid therapy, and paroxysmal itching disappeared. Case 2. A 24-year-old woman complained chiefly of mild tetraparesis and left hand clumsiness. On admission, she had right central facial palsy, mild weakness of all limbs, painful tonic seizure of left upper limb, positive Lhermitte's sign and bilateral Babinski sign. Superficial sense was mildly decreased and dysesthetic in left upper extremity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625020 TI - [Secondary degeneration of substantia nigra following massive basal ganglia infarction]. AB - Two autopsied cases of massive unilateral cerebral infarction due to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were reported with special reference to presence of the secondary degeneration of the substantia nigra. Case 1 was a 70-year-old male who suddenly suffered from left hemiplegia 3 years and 2 months prior to death. CT scan showed massive infarction involving basal ganglia and fronto parietal white matter on the right side. Some parkinsonian features such as oily face and rigidity of limbs were noted during the course. At autopsy, the proximal portion of rt MCA was found occluded and the right substantia nigra was found depigmented. Case 2 was a 71 year-old male who suddenly became hemiplegic 4 years prior to death. CT scan revealed a low density area in the corona radiata of the right cerebral hemisphere. On carotid antiography, complete obstruction of the horizontal portion of right MCA at its distal end was observed, which was confirmed at autopsy. Histologically, the right substant a nigra in case 1 showed marked neuronal loss with gliosis as well as presence of many extracellular melanin pigments. These changes were more prominent in its medial portion where chromatolytic neurons were occasionally seen. The adjacent fronto-pontine tract and pyramidal tract showed secondary degeneration. The left substantia nigra appeared normal. In case 2, the substantia nigra on both sides appeared normal. The whole right cerebral peduncle, on the other hand, showed diffuse myelin pallor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625021 TI - [Postganglionic sudomotor function in multiple system atrophy]. AB - Postganglionic sudomotor function were examined on 12 patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) consisting of 5 males and 7 females with the clinical duration of 1 to 10 years, and with the age ranged 51 and 70 years. Sixteen healthy volunteers, aged 38 to 75 years were also examined as the control. Local sweating induced by intradermal injection of pilocarpine and nicotine (a concentration of 10(-4) g/ml) was quantitatively measured on the volar surface of the forearm and lower lateral leg using a ventilated capsule method in a climatic chamber at 23 degrees C and 40% of relative humidity. Maximal sweat rate induced by nicotine and pilocarpine was significantly reduced in patients with MSA as compared with controls in both the forearm and lower lateral leg. MSA cases associated with more prominent autonomic dysfunction as well as hyposweating, showed a more remarkable impairment of local sweat responses. Particularly, in 6 cases with Shy-Drager syndrome, there was no sweat response by the injection of both pilocarpine and nicotine. The study of an autopsied case with Shy-Drager syndrome revealed neurons in the para-vertebral sympathetic ganglia were well populated, though neurons in the lateral horns of the lower thoracic spinal cord were almost completely depleted. This substantial discrepancy between the impaired sudomotor function and morphological findings may imply several hypothetical views on the mode of pathology of postganglionic sudomotor nerves. The present results, however, strongly suggested that postganglionic sudomotor functions are more extensively involved in patients with MSA than had ever been believed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625022 TI - [Primary orthostatic hypotension syndromes without somatic neurologic signs- idiopathic orthostatic hypotension and primary sympathicotonic orthostatic hypotension]. AB - Idiopathic orthostatic hypotension (IOH) and primary sympathicotonic orthostatic hypotension (PSOH) are conspicuous orthostatic hypotension syndromes without overt somatic neurologic signs. IOH, also referred as pure autonomic failure, is a syndrome of chronic pandysautonomia, and its clinical features include supine hypertension, anhidrosis, impotence, neurogenic urinary and bowel disturbances. PSOH is different from IOH in which it is not accompanied with autonomic features outside of cardiovascular symptoms, and has been most commonly described in German-Scandinavian literatures. The controversy in the nosology of IOH and PSOH has prevented the both concepts from world-wide acceptance, and little has been known about IOH in Japanese population. In the present study, statistical analyses were made to elicit the cases of orthostatic hypotension syndrome without somatic neurologic signs from the pooled results of hemodynamic autonomic functional tests in our laboratory. The subjects were 287 Japanese cases comprising 253 normotensive volunteers and 34 hypertensive patients. Apart from hypertension, none of the subjects exhibited abnormal findings on physical, neurological and routine laboratory examinations. The test of 70 degrees passive head-up tilt and other hemodynamic tests were performed upon the subjects, and the results were pooled by ages. By means of the method of maximum normed residual, statistically screened out were 7 cases with extremely great orthostatic fall in systolic blood pressure (OH-I). Another OH group (OH-II) consisted of 24 cases who showed orthostatic decrease in systolic blood pressure of 30 mmHg or more, but did no fall into the extreme observation. Assuming that the orthostatic regulation mechanism of blood pressure was well maintained in the remaining 256 cases, they were used as the control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625023 TI - [Differences in CT findings between embolic and thrombotic cerebral artery occlusion of the internal carotid arterial system]. AB - Two hundred and one patients with embolic (EM) and 107 with thrombotic (TH) cerebral arterial occlusion of the internal carotid arterial system were subjected to the study. Diagnoses of EM and TH were made with our own diagnostic criteria, based on clinical and angiographic informations but not on CT findings, as previously described. Well-marginated hypodense areas in multiple vascular territories were observed only in patients with EM (13.9%). The following CT findings were more frequently seen in EM than in TH; a) a hypodense area involving the cortex, b) a sharply-marginated lesion, c) a shift of the mid-line structures and d) hemorrhagic infarction. Patients with TH were more frequently accompanied with watershed infarction, or infarct in the basal ganglia and/or deep white matter than those with EM. Watershed zone between cortical and perforating arteries was involved only by TH. Deep-seated infarct, however, was more likely to be embolic rather than thrombotic in nature, if it was sharply marginated and accompanied with surrounding brain edema. Differences in CT findings of EM and TH appeared to reflect those of pathogenetic mechanisms such as rapidity of occlusive process, sites of occlusion, routes and availabilities of collateral circulation, presence of reopening of the previously occluded artery, etc. In the present study, it can be concluded that there is distinctive differences in CT findings between EM and TH, indicating the usefulness in differentiation of two diagnostic subtypes in the acute stage of cerebral infarction. PMID- 2625024 TI - [Orthostatically induced epileptoid attack]. AB - An epileptoid attack induced by orthostatic hypotension seen in a 72-year-old man was reported. The patient had been suffering from progressive autonomic failure with parkinsonism for six years and he had severe orthostatic hypotension, syncope and generalized convulsion when he stood up. The convulsion sometimes associated with urinary incontinence, ceased immediately when he lay down although he remained drowsy for a while. Occasionally the seizure ceased spontaneously and he regained consciousness even while he was kept standing. On lying position his blood pressure was 167/88 mmHg and no abnormality was seen in electroencephalogram. When he was tilted up to 50 degrees his blood pressure fell to 70/46 mmHg, and he became unconscious followed by jaw twitching and generalized clonic seizure. Electroencephalogram during seizure showed sharp wave and rhythmic spikes. Other laboratory examination revealed diffuse and severe autonomic dysfunction and slight cerebral atrophy on brain CT scanning. He was treated with diphenylhydantoin 300 mg/day and the seizure responded partially. The reasons why the patient's seizure was thought to be epileptic rather than the convulsive syncope were as follows: the type of the seizure was similar to an epileptic generalized convulsion, the seizure and unconsciousness ceased spontaneously even during standing position, the seizure and impaired consciousness partially responded to diphenylhydantoin administration. The underlying pathophysiology of the seizure was thought to be transient cerebral hypoperfusion induced by orthostatic hypotension. PMID- 2625025 TI - [A case of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy with sensorineural hearing loss and retinal angioma]. AB - We report a sporadic case of 12 years old boy with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD), sensorineural hearing loss and exudative angioma of bilateral retina. His hearing loss was noted at 9 years, followed by muscle weakness of his right upper extremity at 11 years. Complete neurological examination at 12 years revealed FSH type distribution of muscle weakness with high serum CK level (330 U/L), moderate sensorineural hearing loss and exudative angiomas of bilateral retina. The biopsy from biceps brachii muscle showed advanced dystrophic changes with a dense inflammatory cell infiltration predominating on perivascular distribution and type II fiber predominance. The features of infiltrating lymphocytic surface antigen seen in this case were compatible with those of FSHD rather than those of polymyositis. In the literature, the association of FSHD with hearing loss and retinal vessel abnormalities has been documented on 15 cases as an unusual form of FSHD. However, it has otherwise been noted that the associations of FSHD and hearing loss or retinal vessel abnormalities are unequivocally frequent, Whenever special attention has been made. Morphological examination with light and electron microscopies on the muscle specimen in this patient did not demonstrate any recognizable abnormality such as arterio-venous shunt or thickening of vessel wall basal lamina. However, it cannot be completely excluded that exudation around the abnormal vessel wall in the muscle may play an initial role in the pathogenesis of FSHD. Further morphological survey on vessel abnormalities may be necessary in the FSHD muscle. PMID- 2625026 TI - [Superior oblique myokymia--a case report and pathogenetic consideration]. AB - A 30-year-old male visited us with complaints of dizziness and diplopia of abrupt onset in September, 1988. Neurological studies demonstrated paroxysmal rotatory to-and-fro oscillations of the left eye. There has been the same clinical episode at 25 years of age, lasting approximately 6 months. The characteristics of his ocular involuntary movement with the mild IVth cranial nerve paresis were as follows: quick, nonrhythmic, initially counterclockwise-rolling, more prominent in moving the left eye to the lower medial side, persisting for 1-10 seconds and rapidly repeated oscillations. When oscillations were prominent, he complained of faintness in addition to double vision. Except for the ocular signs, other neurological and laboratory examinations including cerebrospinal fluid, brain MRI and brain stem auditory evoked response, failed to disclose the precise location and nature of the lesion. Abnormal ocular movement was fluctuating for 4 months and gradually disappeared without any medication. In conclusion, the faintness could be considered to result from a lesion of reticular activating system adjacent to the IVth cranial nerve nucleus and its rostral (excitatory or inhibitory) supranuclei, and it suggests that a responsible lesion of the abnormal ocular movement is located at a region of the dorsomedial midbrain. PMID- 2625027 TI - [Agenesis of left internal carotid artery associated with megadolichobasilar anomaly and olivopontocerebellar atrophy]. AB - A case of agenesis of the left internal carotid artery associated with megadolichobasilar anomaly (MDBA) and olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) was reported. A 73-year-old female had a three-year history of slowly progressing gait disturbance. On admission neurological examination revealed bilateral cerebellar ataxia and dysarthria with increased muscle stretch reflexes and extensor planter response in the left. CT and MRI showed marked atrophy of the brain stem and cerebellum with brain stem rotation and deviation to the right. Total absence of the left internal carotid artery was demonstrated angiographically. The left anterior and middle cerebral arteries were fed by the tortuous megadolichobasilar artery through the enlarged posterior communicating artery. The left ophthalmic artery was fed by the left middle meningeal artery. By the high resolution CT at the skull base, the lack of the carotid canal was demonstrated on the left side. The interesting clinical features of a case of agenesis of the left internal carotid artery were discussed. This case showed a clinical and radiological signs and symptoms of OPCA though any influences by MDBA could not be excluded. PMID- 2625028 TI - [An autopsy case of multiple system atrophy with many senile plaques]. AB - A 60 year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of gait disturbance and dizziness. At 57 years of age, he noticed his walking unstable. After then, he had dizziness due to orthostatic hypotension, urinary difficulty, loss of livid, and forgetfulness. Neurological examination revealed he had severe orthostatic hypotension, cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, hyperreflexia of four limbs, myoclonus of right leg, and atonic bladder. His brain CT showed cerebellar atrophy. Thereafter he had recurrent syncopic attacks. His gait disturbance progressed steadily, so he became bedridden. In his terminal stage, his limbs showed rigidity. About 3 years later he died of pneumonia and sepsis. At autopsy brain weighted 1,230 g. Glossly the putamens was bilaterally shrunken, the color of the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus became pale. Base of the pons and the cerebellum were atrophic. Microscopical examination confirmed the degeneration of striato-nigral and olivo-ponto-cerebellar systems without Lewy body. In the spinal cord there was depletion of neuronal cells in the intermediolateral nuclei and Onufrowitz nuclei. In addition to the conventional neuropathological staining methods, we performed the immunohistochemical studies using monoclonal antibody against synthetic peptide of beta protein which detected senile plaque of every stages with formic acid pretreatment, and compared to the modified Bielschowsky method and Congo red method. Our case showed many very primitive and primitive senile plaque in neocortices and hippocampal region. A few neurofibrally tangle were seen in hippocampus. We supposed our case might combine multiple system atrophy and Alzheimer' pathology. PMID- 2625029 TI - [Vertebro-basilar artery occlusion in an 8-year-old boy]. AB - An 8-year-old boy developed drowsy state, ataxia and right hemiparesis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated ischemic lesions on bilateral cerebellar hemispheres, right thalamus and left pontine base. Angiography revealed occlusion of the left vertebral artery at the level of the second cervical spine and segmental narrowing of right vertebral artery from the level of the second to fifth cervical spine. Present case and previously reported cases suggest that vertebral artery could be stretched at the level of the second cervical spine and the intima may be injured to produce atherosclerosis. PMID- 2625030 TI - [A case of cerebellar hemispheric venous malformation presenting crossed cerebello-cerebral diaschisis]. AB - A 49-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of clumsiness in his left arm and leg that had 2 months' history with subacute onset. On examination he showed left sided ataxia but no other neurological deficits. A linear lesion was demonstrated in the left cerebellar hemisphere by X-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging without apparent hemorrhage and mass effect. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a venous malformation in the left cerebellar hemisphere but carotid arteries were normal. Relative distribution of cerebral blood flow was measured using single-photon-emission-computed tomography with rotating gamma camera and 123I-IMP. Reduced uptake was observed in the right frontal lobe (-15- -30%). However, the asymmetry disappeared 8 months later. The decreased blood flow in the contralateral cerebral cortex may be due to destruction of cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathways. PMID- 2625031 TI - [Spinal myoclonus in association with brain death]. AB - A 56-year-old, hypertensive man was admitted to our hospital because of confusion. He had been well unit half an hour before admission, when he had suddenly developed left hemiplegia. Although he became deep coma soon after admission, his vital signs were preserved. CT scan revealed a large right putaminal hemorrhage and a ventricular perforation. The condition was too severe for surgical approaches and conservative therapy for brain edema was performed. On the 2nd hospital day, corneal and light reflexes were disappeared and an anisocolia appeared. On the 3rd hospital day, right papilledema appeared. Doll's head-eye movements and ciliospinal reflexes were absent. CT scan demonstrated marked brain edema and collapsed ambient cisterns. Tentorial herniation were suspected. On the 4th hospital day, respiratory arrest occurred and ventilatory assistance began. On the 11th hospital day, electroencephalograms (EEG's) showed electrocerebral silence. EEG's performed next day showed still electrocerebral silence. On the 13th hospital day, brainstem auditory evoked potentials were recorded without any responses. He was thought to be in condition of brain death. On the 17th hospital day, multifocal myoclonus involving lower limbs and abdominal muscles appeared. The myoclonus lasted for about 15 hours occurred on both sides, but was asymmetrical. The myoclonus consisted of intermittent, brief, arrhythmic, stereotype, jerking contractions of the muscles. Sometimes, the contractions were sufficient enough to jump his body over the bed. These symptoms provided the characteristics of spinal myoclonus. Etiologies of spinal myoclonus are varied, but the primary abnormality exists within the spinal cord.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625032 TI - Islet-cell antibodies: markers of a more severe insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus? AB - The aim of the present study was to analyze if an association exists between metabolic condition, C-peptide secretion and islet-cell antibody (ICA) presence in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) at the clinical onset of the disease. Two hundred and nine IDDM patients were studied at diagnosis. 89% of the subjects showed residual C-peptide secretion that correlated inversely with blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin at diagnosis and with insulin requirement at discharge. Islet-cell antibodies were detected in 68.6% of the patients, complement-fixing ICA in 30% and insulin autoantibodies in 17.3%. Islet-cell antibody positive patients had a lower glucagon stimulated C-peptide than ICA negative subjects (0.41 +/- 0.22 versus 0.54 +/- 0.25 nmol/l, p = 0.005). However patients with high titers of ICA expressed in JDF units (JDF greater than 20) showed similar C-peptide secretion than ICA positive patients with a low level of JDF (JDF less than 20). When acid-base condition was analyzed patients on ketoacidosis at diagnosis had significant higher insulin requirement, lower C peptide secretion and higher prevalence of ICA compared to patients that were not ketotic at diagnosis. Our findings suggest that residual beta-cell secretion plays a role on metabolic condition at diagnosis of IDDM and that ICA may be the markers of a more severe form of IDDM. PMID- 2625033 TI - Hemoglobin A1 in cirrhosis of the liver. AB - Patients with cirrhosis of the liver (LC group, n = 12) frequently have glucose intolerance secondary to hepatic dysfunction. We compared HbA1 levels and other measures of blood sugar control in the LC group with those in healthy controls (N group, n = 43), patients with diabetes mellitus (DM group, n = 36), or patients with chronic hepatitis without evidence of cirrhosis (CH group, n = 12). HbA1 levels and the mean values of fasting plasma glucose for the past month (FPG) were as follows: LC group 6.40 +/- 0.36 (mean +/- SEM)% and 130 +/- 20 mg/dl, DM group 10.29 +/- 0.45% and 172 +/- 11 mg/dl, CH group 10.70 +/- 0.86% and 176 +/- 21 mg/dl, N group 6.52 +/- 0.11% and 83 +/- 1 mg/dl, respectively. HbA1 in the LC group was similar to that in the N group, although FPG in the former was higher (p less than 0.05). All groups showed statistically significant positive correlations between HbA1 levels and (a) FPG, (b) the daily profile of plasma glucose values, (c) the total or peak plasma glucose values during a 50 g-OGTT. The regression line in the LC group, however, was statistically different from that in DM or CH group. Thus, HbA1 in the LC group is lower than that in DM or CH in spite of equivalent glucose intolerance. Therefore, we suggest caution in the interpretation of HbA1 levels in hepatic cirrhosis. PMID- 2625034 TI - Comparison of two commercial broth-culture systems for microbial detection in dialysates of patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. AB - The capability of two commercial systems was studied for microbial detection in dialysis effluents from patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Two methods of processing dialysate from patients on CAPD were compared: (a) direct inoculation of 10 ml of dialysate into a single bottle broth culture system (Signal; Oxoid, U.S.A., Columbia, Maryland) and 5 ml into each of two BACTEC blood culture bottles (Johnston Laboratories, Towson, Maryland); and (b) centrifugation of 50 ml of dialysate and culture of the sediment in an Oxoid bottle. Of the 196 specimens cultured, 99 (51%) yielded growth. Recovery rates of significant isolates were 95% for the BACTEC system, 89% for the Oxoid system, and 88% for the centrifugation-Oxoid system. Recovery of eight isolates from the Oxoid system was by subculture rather than a visual "signal." The Oxoid system is a practical, cost-effective, alternative culture method for effluents from CAPD patients in laboratories not having access to the BACTEC system. PMID- 2625035 TI - Increased efficiency of stool culture for the detection of Salmonella and Shigella. AB - The Wampole Bactigen Salmonella-Shigella Latex Agglutination Test (SSLA) (Wampole Laboratories, Cranbury, New Jersey) was evaluated as a possible substitute for blind subculture of selenite broths from stool cultures. Recovery rates of Salmonella and Shigella from eosin-methylene blue (EMB) agar were reviewed to determine if this medium could be eliminated from primary stool culture. Salmonella was detected in 17 of 822 stools by both SSLA and culture. There were 52 false-positive SSLA for Salmonella (sensitivity 100%, specificity 93%). Of three Shigella isolated on culture, one was SSLA positive, one was SSLA negative, and one was negative by both SSLA and subculture of selenite broth. There were eight false-positive SSLA for Shigella (specificity 99%). Of 50 Salmonella and 11 Shigella isolated from 6200 stools in 1.5 years, two Shigella were isolated on EMB only. The SSLA test is a useful screening test for Salmonella. By eliminating unnecessary subcultures of selenite broth, it reduces turnaround time by 24 hr for negative stool cultures. The combination of primary culture with SSLA screening of enrichment broth should be adequate for the detection of Salmonella and Shigella from stool specimens. Our data suggest that EMB or other differential medium should be retained for primary culture to enhance detection of Shigella. PMID- 2625036 TI - A new computer memory for biology and medicine using the laser card. AB - A new computer memory using a laser beam to impress dimples on a standard credit card has been devised which contains about 2 million bytes (700 typed pages) and which has been formatted with software to permit access to a complete medical record which can be carried by the patient and updated at each encounter with the health care system. The system has been tested in an outpatient clinic with considerable success. PMID- 2625037 TI - (PLOT79): a comprehensive portable Fortran scientific line graphics system, as applied to biomedical research. AB - Scientific results are often most succinctly presented in graphical form. We describe a system for computer-generated scientific line graphics known as (PLOT79), named to commemorate the SIGGRAPH CORE graphics standard proposal of 1979. (PLOT79) is a widely used and actively evolving graphics system, written primarily in SFTRAN3, a structured procedural computer language which can be translated readily into Fortran. The package embodies concepts of sound software engineering, having been designed from the outset to be portable, maintainable and hardware-independent; much of the effort required to implement the system was directed toward the development of software engineering tools to ensure these goals. A modular design strategy has allowed a wide variety of graphics output devices to be supported. (PLOT79) has been installed under numerous operating systems, and software tools provided by UNIX have allowed particularly efficient installation and use of the system. Access to (PLOT79) is available through three avenues: (1) linking (PLOT79) routines with a user-written high-level program; (2) use of pre-written high-level applications programs which perform certain frequently-required tasks such as the plotting of simple two or three-dimensional data; or (3) the use of an interactive graphics command parser known as slides. (PLOT79) has proven popular among workers in the physical sciences and engineering both for its easy availability, openness (all source code is provided), and powerful capability. The system presents an equally important (though lesser known) resource for biomedical research, as demonstrated by examples from ongoing biomedical research projects. It also provides a focus for discussion of the practical limitations inherent in existing graphics standards and programming languages. PMID- 2625038 TI - An Apple IIE microcomputer program for multiple non-independent comparisons by the Scheffe's test. AB - When more than two groups of observations from the same set of experimental data are compared and pairwise tested for equality of their means, appropriate statistical treatment of the data is required. The overall variation in the set of data must be considered, and also the statistical non-independence of each pairwise comparison must be taken into account. We describe a simple Apple IIE microcomputer program that applies the Scheffe's test for multiple comparisons. A numerical example and a sample output of this program are also included. The listing of the program is reported in the Appendix. PMID- 2625039 TI - Spectral analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram. AB - The spectral curves of the averaged fetal and maternal electrocardiograms as recorded from the abdomen were studied. The power spectrums were obtained using a technique which includes the subtraction of an averaged maternal ECG waveform using cross-correlation function and fast Fourier transform algorithm. The spectral curves of the averaged maternal and fetal ECG waveforms obtained from 21 pregnant women who had gestation periods of 32-41 weeks were studied. It was found that the poor signal to noise ratio, the high rate of coincidence between maternal and fetal ECGs and the similar frequency spectra of the signal and the noise components make an analysis of the abdominal ECG using conventional filtering technique rarely possible and an alternative method should be used. PMID- 2625040 TI - Applied muscle modelling: implementation of muscle-specific models. AB - Recent work in musculoskeletal modelling has seen the use of models which represent individual muscles in the human system. This paper presents a model of forearm supination in which models generate specific muscular forces to produce external supinator torque. The model output is compared to measured external torque for isometric and dynamic loading conditions. These data are used to construct isometric torque-angle and torque-angular velocity graphs for both model and experimental output. The discussion focuses on specific topics regarding implementation of muscle models in applied situations. These topics are demonstrated by observing the effect of parameter alteration on model output. PMID- 2625041 TI - A new computer method for the measurement of the thickness of basement membranes. AB - A new computer method for determining basement membrane thickness is described. The method, tested with repeat measurements on model and real basement membrane, compares favourably with previous methods of BM thickness measurement. PMID- 2625042 TI - Microcomputer collection and analysis of RR-interval data in the BB-rat. AB - An analog to digital converter and microcomputer system for the collection of real-time RR-interval data in the BB-rat is described. Calculation of the statistic R is discussed and a commented program listing in Microsoft basic, for performing this transformation, is included as an appendix. PMID- 2625043 TI - A mathematical simulation of the AIDS patient and extracorporeal detoxification. AB - A simple numerical simulation of AIDS patient detoxification by a hypothetical extracorporeal device for the removal of viruses, infected white cells, and syncytia has been designed. The mathematical model accounts for healthy blood white cells attacking and destroying the viruses, while at the same time the viruses attack and infect certain white cells. The infected white cells serve as a site for viral growth; eventually the cells lyse, releasing a large number of viruses into the blood stream. The healthy white cells and infected white cells combine to form syncytia, where the virus multiplies, and finally the syncytium ruptures releasing all the virus. This model can be used to predict concentrations over a specified period for the patient. This is a mathematical model to be used as a research and design tool only. PMID- 2625044 TI - [Effect of previous surgery on the results of total arthroplasty of the hip joint]. AB - Clinical and radiological results as well/as complications after 123 total hip arthroplasties performed as secondary procedure have been evaluated. These patients underwent primary operation because of femoral neck fracture or intertrochanteric osteotomy in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis. The scores of clinical results according to the Merle d'Aubigene and Postel scale were as follows: pain 4.48, walk 3.99, movements 4.02. Radiological features of loosening of the cup were observed in 14.4 per cent and of the stem in 17.3 per cent of those investigated. Early infections were 3 times higher and summed with late infections constituted 8.8 per cent of those operated on. Deep infections and aseptic loosening caused revision in 11.5 per cent of those investigated. PMID- 2625045 TI - [Spondylolisthesis of L5 and retrospondylolisthesis of L4]. AB - A group of 106 cases of I. isthmic spondylolisthesis of L5 was divided into two subgroups: "A", without retrospondylolisthesis(n = 51) and "B", with retrospondylolisthesis of L4 (n = 55). A spondylometric analysis took into account the line of static loading, lumbar lordosis, the Fergusson's angle, the angles of the L4L5 and L5S1 intervertebral disks, and their heights. The measurements showed that a statistically significant difference occurs in the medium values of incidence of the line of static loading. It would confirm the thesis about the compensatory character of the position in retrospondylolisthesis of the L4 vertebra in consequence of disturbances of statics caused by isthmic spondylolisthesis of L5. Furthermore, this interdependence occurring in 52 per cent of the cases manifests possibility of complications caused by instability in the segment above spondylolisthesis. PMID- 2625046 TI - [Pathomechanisms of spinal cord injuries caused by injuries of the cervical spine]. AB - The pathomechanism of injuries of the spinal cord due to injuries of the cervical spine in 158 patients treated during the last ten years has been presented. It has been determined that total and irreversible injuries of the spine occurred most often after fractures of the spine with displacement from hyperflexion (29.7 per cent) crushed fractures (24.7 per cent), and dislocation of the spine (24.7 per cent). In the majority of the patients, the spinal cord was irreversibly damaged already at injury, and in 29.2 per cent, the symptoms of deformity of the lumen of the vertebral canal and compression of the spinal cord remained. In about 24 per cent of the patients, the symptoms of congenital or habitual relative stenosis of the vertebral canal occurred. The performed examination has shown that knowledge of the pathomechanism of injury of the spine may facilitate determination of the degree of injury of the spinal cord as early as immediately after trauma. PMID- 2625047 TI - [Transiliac postero-lateral approach to the bodies of 2 lower lumbar vertebrae and the upper segment of the sacral vertebrae]. AB - The author has described in detail the surgical procedure of a modification of the postero-lateral approach to the lumbar spine, which enables a wide access to the lower lumbar vertebrae and the upper sacral segment. The modification consists in osteotomy of a fragment of the lateral part of the ilium covering this region together with the origins of the dorsal muscles, isolating it from the sacral-pelvic ligaments and removing it posteriorly. This gives a good view into lateral parts of the arches and bodies. This approach has been used by the author--starting from 1964--in 78 operations in such diseases as: spondylolisthesis, spondylitis, stenosis of the root canals, disorders of growth of the sacral-lumbar junction, and tumors. The operation was tolerated well by the patients and no complications connected with osteotomy of the ilium were recorded. PMID- 2625048 TI - [Endoprosthesis of the knee joint]. AB - Endoprosthetic replacement of the knee joint is an important, often the terminal stage of surgical treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and gonarthritis. Basing on the results of the over-11-year-experience of the ward, treatment methods were analyzed and various knee prostheses were evaluated. In evaluation, the modified Gschwend's scale was used. Nineteen results were good 18 fair, and 7 poor. An especially important role of proper qualification of a patient to surgery, conditions for insertion of endoprosthesis and the choice of a proper type of endoprosthesis has been stressed. PMID- 2625049 TI - [Treatment of epicondylar fractures of the humerus in children]. AB - On the basis of the follow-up of 120 children after epicondylar fracture of the humerus, the relation of the late result with the way of treatment, the number of attempts of reposition, the time from injury to reposition, and the position of fragments after reposition has been discussed. Better results were obtained after immediate reposition or treatment by traction than after surgical reposition varus deformity of the elbow is the most frequent complication of epicondylar fracture in children. PMID- 2625050 TI - [Long-term results of treating injuries to the peripheral nerves of the upper extremity]. AB - The treatment results obtained in 67 secondary "end-to-end" anastomoses of the nerves and the results of 39 free nerve grafts have been analyzed. The precise limit of nerve deficit, with which both methods of treatment give favorable and comparable results, has been tried to determine. It has been demonstrated that when the deficit is up to 2 cm long, immediate anastomosis of the nerve is recommended, and when over 3 cm, only free nerve grafts can give a possibility of a good treatment result. PMID- 2625051 TI - [Island flap from the soleus muscle based on retrograde circulation]. AB - Creation of tissue flaps on the basis of retrograde circulation enables mobilization of the tissues which have acquired the possibility of a wide range of peripheral rotation. The course and result of the treatment of extensive ulceration within the region of the tuber calcanei by such a soleus muscle flap have been presented. A good late result was obtained. PMID- 2625052 TI - [Calcinosis tumoralis. Pharmacological alternatives to surgical treatment and its etiological justification]. AB - A detailed case history of a 6 years old child, including biochemical and radiological examinations, has been presented. The disease started with a commonplace contusion of the patella and rapidly progressed after arthrotomy. Dihydroxy-aluminium-natrium carbonicum was applied as well as the low calcium and phosphorus diet. After 4 weeks of treatment, the joint recovered its correct contours; and after further 7 months, only vestigial calcification was observed. PMID- 2625053 TI - [A case of multiple cartilage exostosis of atypical localization]. AB - A case of multiple cartilage exostosis, originating from the transverse process of the second thoracic vertebra in a 16-year old female patient has been described. Because of the symptoms of compression of the brachial plexus and progressive growth, the tumor was surgically removed. The atypical, very rare localization of the tumor created some technical difficulties in planning of the operation. Computerized tomography was helpful in this case and determined the site of origin of the tumor. After surgical treatment, all symptoms subsided. PMID- 2625054 TI - [Chondrosarcoma of the vertebral column L5--S1]. AB - A case of chondrosarcoma of the spine in a 15-year-old female patient has been described. The tumor was localized within the body of S1 and it partially involved the left wing of the ilium. The radiological condition corresponded with the so-called "ivory vertebra". The symptoms of compression of the cauda equina took the lead. Surgical decompression of the cauda equina was performed and an attempt of resection of the tumor was undertaken but it failed because of extension of the process. The further course of the disease, in spite of radiotherapy, was exceptionally malignant and within several months, the process became generalized. PMID- 2625055 TI - [Radiological evaluation of the hip joint after osteotomy of the innominate by the Salter method]. AB - An evaluation of the treatment results of Salter osteotomy in 21 patients aged 3.7 years with unilateral congenital subluxation of the hip joint was made. After one-year-follow-up, the treatment result was excellent in all the cases. An analysis of the X-ray pictures revealed that the peripheral fragment of the osteotomized bone was displaced 4 mm laterally, acetabular roof inclination (acetabular index) decreased about 4 mm on the average. In consequence, the length of the acetabular roof increased about 11 mm. The authors think that Salter osteotomy in children aged over 3 years is recommended if the acetabular roof inclination angle/does not exceed 45 degrees; over this value and especially when the roof is short, Dega transiliac osteotomy should be performed. PMID- 2625056 TI - [Compensatory processes of the proximal end of the femur bone after treatment of epiphysiolysis by cross osteotomy]. AB - The aim of this paper was to investigate compensation processes of the proximal femoral end in 22 hip joints with II degrees and III degrees epiphyseolysis treated by cross osteotomy of the neck of the femur. After removal of retroversion and in most of the joints inferior displacement by osteotomy, progressive processes of modeling of the proximal femoral end, which recovered the correct outlines of the femoral neck and the axial relations of the head and the neck, were observed. Compensation processes contributed of growth found in some of the cases, due to premature closing of the sub-head epiphyses to improvement of treatment results of epiphyseolysis. On the other hand, disturbances physeal cartilage, made the late evaluation of the joint worse. It has been concluded on the basis of the author's own observations as well as data from literature that the result after surgical treatment of epiphysiolysis depends not only on obtained correction of displacement but also on compensation processes and growth disturbances of the proximal femoral end. PMID- 2625057 TI - [Interposition of the fascia and capsule in treatment of hip joint dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - A surgical method of recovery of functional activity and painlessness of the hip deprived of the cartilage in the loaded part has been presented. The operation consisted of interposition with the fascia or a joint capsule flap. The results obtained in 12 patients after 1-12 years of follow-up have been given. Recovery of functional activity was obtained in 8 patients and improvement in 4 patients. In comparison with a group of 32 similar cases of interposition on the background of another etiology; interposition in rheumatoid arthritis gives more good and fair results. PMID- 2625058 TI - [The analysis of the affecting of season factor on mortality in Shanghai County (1975-1986)]. AB - This paper analysed the affect of season on mortality in Shanghai County (a rural area) using the Moving Average Method. The advantage of the method is that it can balance the periodical change, long-term change and random change of mortality, so it can analyse the affecting of pure season factor on mortality. The results showed a relationship between mortality and season. The mortality of 0 years old was high in December, possibly due to the cold. The mortality of preschool children was high in summer, farm-busy-time, possible reasons were drowning and parents did not have much time to care for children. The mortality of middle-age, old people, and patients with cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease and disease of respiratory system, was high in winter and summer, possible reason was cold attacks. The mortality of accidental death was high in Summer, possible reason due to drowning. PMID- 2625059 TI - [The relation between pathologic factors of esophagus cancer and prognosis of its sufferers: application of Cox's model]. AB - Yanting and Langzhong counties in Sichuan Province are among the areas with highest esophagus cancer mortality in China. We collected 218 patients who received only surgery from 1972-1981 in Yanting Cancer Research Institute and had followed up till 1986. The data includes the survival time, age, cancer size and some other pathological factors, 11 in total. By using the self-compiled software SURVIVAL, we found 5 factors affected the prognosis of esophagus cancer sufferers significantly, i.e. age, cancer size, invasion depth, pattern of growth and fibrous encapsulation. The model is lambda(t,X) = lambda 0(t) exp (.0264 x2 + .165 1x4 + .639 7x8 + .353 2x9 - .753 9x11). We can estimate lambda 0(t) either parametrically or nonparametrically. For example, using the Weibull full parametric model, the estimation is: lambda 0(t) = .0008133 t0.2716 with the full -parametric model, the survival function for different Prognosis Index I(X) can be estimated conveniently. Here I(X) = .026 4x2 + .165 1x4 + .639 7x8 + .353 2x9 .753.9x11. Because of the use of the compiled BASIC program with Chinese explanation, the SURVIVAL is convenient to use and the speed is 4-5 times greater than explained BASIC. PMID- 2625060 TI - [Analysis of risk factors for female lung adenocarcinoma in haerbin: indoor air pollution]. AB - An investigation including a matched case-control study and measurement of indoor air pollution, of risk factors for female lung adenocarcinoma in Haerbin showed that high coal consumption index (HCCI OR = 10.59), indoor smog pollution in winter (OR = 15.19) and low ceiling height of the living room (OR = 12.49) were main risk factors for the cancer. It was further confirmed by the measurement that the mean daily measured concentrations of TSP and Bap in inhabitants' bedroom in winter were 4.4 and 26.7 times respectively as high as those of outdoor air concentrations. No significant association with cigarette smoking and indoor passive smoking was found. PMID- 2625061 TI - [Rank transformations--the connection between nonparametric and parametric statistics]. AB - The purpose of this paper is to present the relationship between nonparametric and parametric analysis by means of rank transformation. It is shown that in case of large sample, the resulting statistics getting from Wilcoxon rank test, Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman rank test are equivalent to the ratio of the sum of squares for treatment divided by mean square for the total variability calculated by ranks in the manner of the analysis of variance. It is also suggested that this method can be extended to factorial design experiments, and a detail procedure is given. PMID- 2625062 TI - [Dose-effect relationships between blood lead and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin or zinc protoporphyrin]. AB - Studies on dose-effect relationships between blood lead (PbB) and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) or zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) in 583 workers (male 326, female 257) was conducted. Good dose-effect relationships and S-shaped curves between PbB and logFEP, logZPP or log (ZPP/Hb) were established. Sectioned linear regression showed that linear correlation was obtained while PbB between 0.48 (10 micrograms/dl) and 3.36 mumol/L (70 micrograms/dl) (male) or 0.48 (10 micrograms/dl) and 2.88 mumol/L (60 micrograms/dl) (female). However, while PbB below 0.48 mumol/L (10 micrograms/dl), there was no linear correlation. The increasing of FEP, ZPP slowed down remarkably as PbB were beyond 3.36 mumol/L (70 micrograms/dl) (male) or 2.88 mumol/L (60 micrograms/dl) (female). Therefore, the degree of lead poisoning can't be classified by the values of FEP, ZPP among plumbism. PMID- 2625063 TI - [Radiological observation on the workers exposed to vanadium]. AB - The roentgenologic findings of 76 workers exposed to vanadium were presented. The chest X-ray showed increase in lung markings in 58 cases, diffuse streaks and reticular shadows in 15 cases, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. The clinical features of the 71 workers were as follows: 63 cases had coughs, 53 cases had coughs with expectorations, 27 cases showed difficulty in breathing, and 31 cases had wheezing or whistling sounds in the lungs. The workers were exposed to vanadium pentoxide fume at concentration ranging from 1.2 to 18 mg/m3 and dust from 1.27 to 27.7 mg/m3. PMID- 2625064 TI - [Investigation of protective effect of selenium on genetic materials among workers exposed to arsenic]. AB - An increased chromosomal aberration and micronuclei rate of cultured lymphocytes among smelter workers in Yunnan Tin Corporation has been associated with exposure to arsenic which might be involved in carcinogenesis of lung cancer in this area. Selenium, as an essential trace element for life, antagonizes the toxic effects of arsenic. The low intake of selenium among workers in this area might increase injurious effects of arsenic in the tissues. The preliminary results showed that the chromosomal aberration rate of cultured lymphocytes in smelter workers was lowered about 46.1% after treatment with selenium 150 micrograms/d for 21 days. It will provide clues for further study on the elimination of toxicity of arsenic among workers who are exposed to arsenic by supplementation of selenium. PMID- 2625065 TI - [Serum vitamin A levels of radar operators and effects of supplementary vitamin A]. AB - This paper reports serum vitamin A (VA) content of 28 radar operators, and the effects of supplementation VA were studied by means of observing change of serum VA level and objective dark adaptation time. The results indicated, with respect to serum VA content, 14.3% of radar operators had a deficient level (less than 10 micrograms%), whereas 57.2% of radar operators had a low level (less than 20 micrograms%). There were 39.3% of radar operators who had a low level on nineteenth day and 92.9% of radar operators who had a acceptable value on twenty eighth day after oral VA supplementation VA of 3,000 IU, suggesting that supplementation VA of 3,000 IU to radar operators with VA malnutrition for about one month is necessary. A certain correlation between serum VA level and objective dark adaptation time was also observed. PMID- 2625066 TI - [Gas chromatography with electron capture detector for determining DON and NIV in scabby wheat]. AB - DON and NIV were extracted with methanol-water (3:1) and purified by Florisol column. The mycotoxins in the column eluates were derived by TMS reagent and then analysed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. The average recoveries of DON and NIV, as counted into wheat, at 100, 500, 1,000 and 2000 ppb were 81.2% and 74.5% respectively. The limits of detection of toxins of wheat were 10 ppb for both DON and NIV. PMID- 2625067 TI - [Relationship between urinary hydroxyproline creatine ratio and growth rates in boys of age 13 to 16]. AB - A total number of 241 boys aged 13 to 16 were studied longitudinally for 8 months from April 1986 to December 1986. The linear correlation analysis showed that urinary HP/Cr was highly correlated with height growth rate (r = 0.83) and moderately with weight growth rate (r = 0.63). The multiple correlation coefficients between urinary HP/Cr and height growth rates were much bigger than those between urinary HP/Cr and weight growth rates, only the former were statistically significant. It is suggested that the urinary HP/Cr is mainly correlated with height growth rate. The multiple regression analysis was employed with urinary HP/Cr, age as independent variables and height growth rate as dependent variable. The equation is very significant, 95% confidence limit is y +/- 1.38%. It is suggested that the prediction of height growth rate is rather precise, so urinary HP/Cr is a valuable index in the evaluation of growth of children. PMID- 2625068 TI - [Study on psychosocial factors in the motivation of smoking]. AB - In a survey on the prevalence and motivation of smoking among 1,455 male officers and soldiers in the army, navy and air force in Shanghai area in June, 1986, it was found that 330 subjects in 638 current smokers and 57 ex-smokers (47.5%) started smoking on account of needs of social inter course. The proportion of smokers beginning to smoke before 19 years of age was much greater than that after 20 years for reasons of imitation (P less than 0.001), and the latter was greater than the former for reasons of stimulation (0.05 greater than P greater than 0.01). Smokers who started to smoke before 19 years of age became tobacco addicted more easily than those after 20 years (P less than 0.001), and the former were more easily entice to smoke for passing time, tranquil effect, and imitation. The median age of initiating smoking was 20.6 years of age for 638 smokers, and 84.2% of them started to smoke between 15 and 24 years of age. PMID- 2625069 TI - [An epidemiological survey of goiter caused by excessive iodine in potable water in Cangzhou region]. AB - This article describes a relationship between iodine and function and shape of thyroid gland. There was positive correlation between the prevalence rate of goiter and iodine content in drinking water [ln (10x)] and urine [ln (5x)]. Their curve fitting regression equations were y = 36.36 - 10.94 x + 0.83x2 and y = 22.39 - 6.36 x + 0.48x2 respectively. Use 3 per cent as criterion of disease area, threshold upper limit value of water and urinary iodine content should be 400 micrograms/L and 890 micrograms/gCr respectively. PMID- 2625070 TI - [Study on the effect of micronucleus with drinking water in the high risk area of stomach cancer]. AB - Mutagenicity/Carcinogenicity of samples of drinking water supplies in the high risk area of stomach cancer was studied with micronucleus test and the epidemiologic method in Zanhuang county, Hebei. The results showed that the micronucleus cell rates in NIH mice induced by concentrated drinking water samples from the high risk area of stomach cancer were higher than those from low risk area and there was close correlation between degree of water concentration and micronucleus cell rates. This corresponded with the results obtained by the epidemiological method showed that the drinking water was obviously mutagenic and that it was closely correlated with the production of stomach cancer. PMID- 2625071 TI - Influencing career choices: a corporate strategy. PMID- 2625072 TI - Preventing complications of ventricular assist devices. AB - Ventricular assist devices can provide temporary circulatory support to the failing heart. The critical care nurse prevents complications during both treatment and weaning of patients who are on ventricular assist devices. PMID- 2625073 TI - Incomplete spinal cord injuries--nursing diagnoses. AB - Patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries may face physiologic instability and functional uncertainty during the acute phase. Although the injury is incomplete, critical care nurses are challenged to accurately assess and rapidly develop interventions for these patients. Developing potential and actual nursing diagnoses assists the critical care nurse in preventing and reducing complications. PMID- 2625074 TI - Epidural catheters: pain management in the child. AB - Epidural catheters are now beginning to be used to manage pain in the critically ill child. Effective use of epidural catheters and epidural analgesics is a critical care nursing challenge. PMID- 2625075 TI - A model for research implementation. AB - How can critical care nurses develop a research-based practice? These authors describe an emerging research implementation model to conduct and utilize research in the critical care setting. PMID- 2625076 TI - Critical care voices: application of research in clinical practice. AB - The primary value of clinical research is implementation in clinical practice to improve the quality of nursing care: yet application of research in many clinical settings remains difficult. Here are six different opinions from critical care nurses on why it is difficult to implement the research in clinical practice and what can be done to assist in this research application. PMID- 2625077 TI - Strategies for sexual counseling of patients following a myocardial infarction. AB - Patients commonly experience sexual dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI), yet diminished quality and quantity of sexual activity have not been correlated with age or severity of damage. The literature reports that this dysfunction is attributable largely to psychologic factors compounded by inadequate information. The critical care nurse plays a pivotal role in providing sexual counseling post MI. PMID- 2625078 TI - Critical care voices: including sexual counseling in clinical practice. AB - We asked four practicing critical care nurses for tips on how they include sexual counseling in their practice with MI patients and families. Each one has developed a different, but effective, approach. PMID- 2625079 TI - Sudden death counseling protocol. AB - Sudden death exacts a high emotional cost from staff and survivors alike. This article describes a protocol to assist critical care nurses as they work with families who experienced the sudden death of a family member. PMID- 2625081 TI - 183rd meeting of the Dutch Ophthalmological Society. Alkmaar, The Netherlands, 15 17 March 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2625080 TI - Death notification: legal and ethical issues. PMID- 2625082 TI - A comparison between three brands of 10.0 nylon sutures. AB - 10.0 nylon sutures from three different manufacturers were compared on the basis of the scanning electron microscopic aspect, the maximum tensile strength of the thread and the maximum tensile strength of the knot (single throw). Scanning electron microscopy revealed identical surface characteristics and identical diameters (approximately 30 micrometers) for all threads. Threads which had been pulled on became wavy and showed markedly thinned and flattened segments. Maximum tensile strength was measured by a simple device, which is described. The maximum tensile strength of the thread varied considerably between the three brands (from 31.3 gr, S.D. 2.0 gr, to 46.2 gr, S.D. 3.7 gr.) The maximum tensile strength of the knot (single throw) was approximately the same for all three (ranging from 25.9 gr, S.D. 4.1 gr to 28.2 gr, S.D. 2.6 gr). PMID- 2625083 TI - Increased muscle tension and reduced elasticity of affected muscles in recent onset Graves' disease caused primarily by active muscle contraction. AB - In 3 patients with Graves' disease of recent onset, length-tension diagrams were made during surgery for squint under eyedrop anesthesia. The affected muscles were found to be very stiff when the other eye looked straight ahead. It was expected that these stiff muscles would be able to shorten to some extent but would be unable to lengthen, due to fibrosis of the muscle. We found that the affected muscles did not shorten very much when the other eye looked into the field of action of the muscle. Unexpectedly however, they lengthened considerably when the other eye looked out of the field of action of the muscle. This finding implies that the raised muscle tension and reduced elasticity of affected muscles in these cases of Graves' disease of recent onset were primarily caused by active muscle contraction, not by fibrosis. PMID- 2625084 TI - An unconventional view of dacryocystorhinostomy. AB - Twenty-one dacryocystorhinostomy operations were assessed by nasendoscopy. In fourteen of the 15 successful operations pre-operative radiography had demonstrated a low obstruction in the lacrimal passages. Postoperatively the nasal ostia in this group showed great morphological diversity. In five of the 6 operations which were not clinically successful a high obstruction in the lacrimal passages had been demonstrated pre-operatively. In all cases in this group the nasal ostia were closed. In these 5 cases with an obstruction in the canaliculus communis, minimal or absent flow of tears through the dacryocystorhinostomy may be assumed. The surgical technique was the same in all 21 cases. The high canalicular problem seems to be responsible for the failure of these 5 operations. A notable feature was that nasendoscopy revealed a closed nasal ostium. This suggests that sufficient tearflow through the dacryocystorhinostomy is necessary to keep this open. To what extent the individual variation in tearflow and patency of the canalicular system is responsible for the morphological variation in the nasal ostium, as observed in the clinically successful group, is not yet clear. PMID- 2625085 TI - HPLC analysis of tear proteins in giant papillary conjunctivitis. AB - Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) is a well defined entity seen in patients with deposits on their lenses. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) tear protein analysis was performed on 17 GPC patients and compared with healthy controls with and without contact lenses. The IgA levels are somewhat lower in GPC patients as compared with healthy controls not wearing lenses (P less than 0.05). A similar decrease was also seen in the control group wearing contact lenses. We were not able to identify a specific HPLC tear protein profile in GPC patients as compared with controls. The HPLC profile therefore gives no explanation for the lens deposits and is not suitable as a diagnostic or prognostic tool. PMID- 2625086 TI - Evulsion of the optic nerve. AB - Optic nerve evulsion is an uncommon traumatic event, which may result from various orbital or facial injuries. Two patients in whom clear media permitted prompt diagnosis are described. The possible mechanisms are not quite clear, but extreme rotation of the globe seems to play an important role. PMID- 2625087 TI - Autonomic pathways in the orbit of the human fetus and the rhesus monkey. AB - In order to study the three-dimensional topography of the intra-orbital autonomic nerve plexuses and the input for these systems, human fetuses and adult rhesus monkeys were investigated. Specimens of the orbits were processed according to the histochemical acetylcholinesterase methods for staining of peripheral nerves. The nerve fibers enter the orbit along the following pathways: 1. bundles of nerve fibers from the pterygopalatine ganglion (mainly parasympathetic) by penetrating the orbital muscle (Muller); 2. perivascularly along the ophthalmic artery (sympathetic). In the orbit the nerve fibers intermingle. The pathways of the nerve fibers from this interwoven nerve plexus towards the target organs are: 1. perivascularly along branches of the ophthalmic artery; 2. perineurally along and in the branches of the ophthalmic and maxillary nerves; 3. independently of blood vessels and cranial nerve branches in Tenon's capsule. Moreover, bundles of nerve fibers from the ciliary ganglion contribute to the innervation of extraocular structures, e.g. the eyelids. It can be concluded that, as far as the autonomic innervation of the orbit is concerned, the monkey is a good animal model for neuroanatomical studies. PMID- 2625088 TI - Visual results after corneal transplantation. AB - The results of corneal transplantation can be measured by the percentage of clear grafts and by the subsequent visual acuity. In this study we summarized the visual results in five corneal diseases with a low rate of graft failure. Keratoconus patients achieved an average visual acuity of 0.5 one year after transplantation, while patients with corneal decompensation after previous cataract operation only reached an average of 0.2. Sometimes visual results were hampered by clouding of the graft and the reason for clouding was analysed in such cases. Reversible and irreversible rejections occurred with the highest frequency immediately after transplantation, and while in primary grafts 60% of rejections was reversible, only two out of ten repeat transplants could be saved. This indicates that more measures are necessary to prevent failure of secondary transplants in order to obtain the goal of useful vision. PMID- 2625089 TI - Corticosteroid-induced exophthalmos. AB - We describe twenty-one patients on sustained corticosteroid therapy who presented with exophthalmos. Each patient received a complete ophthalmologic examination and further tests were conducted to rule out other causes of exophthalmos. Our data suggest that corticosteroid-induced exophthalmos is an entity more common than has been previously recognized. PMID- 2625090 TI - Usefulness of the Henson Central Field Screener for the detection of visual field defects, especially in glaucoma. AB - The Henson Central Field Screener is a recently marketed, relatively inexpensive campimeter with semi-automated registration of responses. The strategy used is suprathreshold, eccentricity-compensated, multiple stimulus static perimetry. The clinical usefulness of this apparatus was tested in a number of glaucoma patients, glaucoma suspects and normals, as well as in subjects with other ocular disorders, for whom stable visual fields as tested with other perimeters were available. The results obtained with the Henson Screener are generally in agreement with the known defects. The apparatus has some drawbacks, however. PMID- 2625091 TI - Risk factors for ocular sarcoidosis. AB - We reviewed 121 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis who visited the sarcoidosis clinic of the University Hospital in Amsterdam, to determine the risk factors for the development of ocular manifestations. Of 121 patients 52 (43%) were black. Ocular disease developed in 50 (41%) patients and was more common in female and in black patients. uveitis was the most frequent manifestation of ocular sarcoidosis (29 out of 50 or 58%). There were no differences in the extra-ocular manifestations of the sarcoidosis between patients with and without ocular disease or between uveitis and non-uveitis patients. This study covered a mixed racial population and shows that different types of uveitis are seen in white and black patients. Anterior uveitis was more frequent in black patients (P less than .001), whereas posterior uveitis was more common in white patients (P less than .01). Chronic posterior uveitis with complications occurred most frequently in white female patients with late onset of the systemic disease. Uveitis was an early feature of sarcoidosis (25 out of 29 or 86%); moreover in 9 out of 29 (31%) cases, uveitis preceded the non-ocular detectable signs of sarcoidosis by more than one year. This emphasizes the importance of periodic re-evaluation of uveitis patients for sarcoidosis. PMID- 2625092 TI - Masquerade of eyelid tumours. AB - Space-occupying processes in the eyelids can either be due to lesions which are specific for the eyelids, such as a chalazion or a meibomian carcinoma, or to non specific lesions of the skin or ocular adnexa. An incorrect interpretation on clinical or histological grounds is often made; in other words, some eyelid processes masquerade as others. The correct diagnosis should be made on the basis of case history, localisation, the appearance of the tumour and the histological findings, so that adequate treatment can be given. One must be aware of the danger of mistaking one space-occupying process for another. In the Leiden Ophthalmological Clinic a study was made of the incidence of eyelid tumours in the period 1981-1987, with special attention to the most important masquerade phenomena observed. In a group of 956 eyelid tumours histological examination was necessary in 126 cases. Basal-cell carcinoma was the most frequent diagnosis, but other less common tumours such as a trichilemmoma, an eosinophilic granuloma, a haemangio-endothelioma, a metastasis from a mammary carcinoma and a granuloma annulare were also diagnosed. PMID- 2625093 TI - Secretory IgA and lysozyme in tears of patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. AB - Using an enzyme linked immuno-assay (ELISA) and spectrophotometry, we determined levels of secretory IgA and lysozyme in tears of 69 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy and 28 controls. The quantitative determination of secretory IgA and lysozyme in tears provided an impression of the functioning of the lacrimal gland in the two groups. An IgA/lysozyme ratio was calculated in both patients and controls as a parameter for the activity of the secretory IgA-producing plasma cells in the lacrimal gland. An increase in the IgA/lysozyme ratio was observed in 23 patients (33%) and one control (3%). Half of the patients who had suffered from the disease for more than 5 years showed a raised IgA/lysozyme ratio. No correlation was found between the IgA/lysozyme ratio and the NOSPECS classification. Our findings suggest that the lacrimal gland is involved in the orbital condition produced by Graves' ophthalmopathy. In most cases the involvement occurs in patients with a long history of the disease. PMID- 2625094 TI - Intra-ocular light scatter in pseudophakia. AB - In 22 patients (23 eyes), who had undergone an uncomplicated cataract extraction with implantation of a posterior chamber lens in otherwise normal eyes 11 to 44 weeks previously, the intra-ocular light scatter was measured with an IOI stray light meter. All the eyes examined had little or no after-cataract. A regression curve for stray light values in normal eyes as function of age was used as reference. The measurements show that the intra-ocular light scatter in pseudophakic eyes with little or no after-cataract increases by a factor 2. This increase must be caused by the combination implant lens-posterior capsule. PMID- 2625095 TI - Air-injection of the corneal stroma: a SEM study. AB - The corneal stroma is supposed to be a homogeneous structure both from an optical and an anatomical point of view. Intrastromal injection of glutaraldehyde as a fixative causes local swelling and opacification of the corneal tissue. Local injections of small volumes of air superficially and more deeply into the corneal stroma produce similar swellings and formation of opaque areas. SEM investigation of these areas shows the existence of stromal canals, partly pre-existing, partly caused by the internal 'explosions' due to the air-injection. This suggests an anatomically non-homogeneous, although optically homogeneous, cornea. PMID- 2625096 TI - Lens-capsule material of human and animal origin, studied by SEM. AB - Lens-capsule material from healthy and cataractous human lenses and from rabbits was collected with specially designed forceps. Subsequently the capsule fragments were fastened, after short pre-fixation, onto a rubber substrate with small stainless steel tacks, to prevent rolling-up of the fragments during the fixation and drying procedure for the SEM. Finally the capsule fragments were studied by SEM. Marked morphological changes, e.g., irregular swelling (like blebs) of the nuclei, formation of deep grooves at the cell borders and complete loss of epithelial cells, were found in the lens capsules obtained from certain cataractous lenses. Differences in capsule thickness were found in pathological capsule material. The imprints (attachment-lines) of the lens-fibres on the epithelial cells were often difficult to visualize. PMID- 2625097 TI - Anticoagulant therapy and cataract surgery. AB - A questionnaire was sent round to the 200 members of the Netherlands Intraocular Implant Club (NIOIC), in which they were asked about the policy followed in 1988 with regard to anticoagulant therapy (ACT) and the use of aspirin before and after cataract surgery. Ninety-nine formulas were returned, of which ninety-two were suitable for analysis. It appeared that 62% of the eye surgeons stopped ACT, whereas only 33% stopped the use of aspirin. After stopping ACT nine, in some cases serious, systemic complications arose. The continuation of ACT led to 3 ocular complications. It would appear that continuation of ACT and the use of aspirin is to be recommended. PMID- 2625098 TI - The effect of prolonged monocular occlusion on latent nystagmus in the treatment of amblyopia. AB - We recorded eye movements in 5 patients with latent nystagmus (LN) before and after 2 days of occlusion of the better eye. The slow-phase speed of the nystagmus (SPS) was in general, before occlusion, lower when the better eye fixated but, after occlusion, lower when the worse eye fixated. However, the sum of SPS during right fixation and SPS during left fixation remained constant. Oscillopsia complaints gradually disappeared during the period of occlusion. These findings indicate that the difference between the SPS during fixation with the right eye and the SPS during fixation with the left eye in LN patients is caused by a compensatory drift that decreases LN during fixation with the better eye but increases LN during fixation with the worse eye. During occlusion, this compensatory drift changes its direction and magnitude slowly over days. Hence, occlusion of the better eye in children with amblyopia and LN should be prescribed only in days per week, not in hours per day. PMID- 2625099 TI - Chromatopsia. AB - More than half of the cases with complaints of chromatopsia had recent-onset retinal pathology. Erythropsia due to bright (sun-)light is a relatively common finding in aphakia and pseudophakia. UV-coated intraocular lenses do not provide complete protection. Cerebrovascular chromatopsia usually occurs in transient attacks. PMID- 2625100 TI - Physiological suppression and attention. AB - On the Aulhorn phase-difference haploscope retinal rivalry was stimulated by using different optotypes for each eye. Physiological suppression could not elicited at will by changing attention from one eye to the other. The majority persons tested showed a preference for one eye. PMID- 2625101 TI - Keratoconus morphology and cell dystrophy: a SEM study. AB - The SEM-pictures represent a keratoconus in a 59-year-old patient with a Descemet rupture, which had led to a so-called Kammerwassereinbruch, where the failure of the endothelial structure has become manifest in the epithelium. In the Descemet rupture the onset of stromal pathology is observable, while outside the rupture severe degradation of endothelial cells is seen. This is manifested as cell membrane perforation, loss of cell contents and oedema formation in general. On the epithelial side the pathology is expressed as cell-membrane degradation and the presence of very irregularly shaped, sometimes swollen and in other cases shrunken, epithelial cells, in particular in the areas of the surface depressions. The topographical correspondence of these pathological phenomena on the endothelial and the epithelial sides is stressed. PMID- 2625102 TI - [Radioimmunotherapy combined with chemotherapy and immunotherapy for nude mice bearing human hepatocellular carcinoma]. AB - A comparative study of multiple modalities, radioimmunotherapy combined with cisplatin and MBV was made. The tumor size and macrophage activity (acid phosphatase) were measured after treatment. The results showed that the tumor inhibition rates were 48, 55, 74, 76, 79% in radioimmunotherapy, cisplatin, radioimmunotherapy + MBV, radioimmunotherapy + cisplatin and radioimmunotherapy + MBV + cisplatin groups, respectively. Radioimmunotherapy was effective in controlling tumor growth, especially in sequential treatment by two injections. Both cisplatin and MBV could increase therapeutic effect of radioimmunotherapy. Therefore, combination of the three modalities is the best choice for tumor growth control. The effectiveness of MBV may be related to the increase of macrophage activity. Preliminary clinical results were satisfactory. Decline in serum AFP level and shrinkage of tumor were observed in 80% (12/15) and 65% (13/20) of the patients. It is suggested that combination of multiple treatment modalities may provide an important approach to treat moderately advanced liver cancer. PMID- 2625103 TI - [Plasma prostaglandins E, E2 and F2a in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)]. AB - The levels of prostaglandins E, E2 and F2a (PGE, PGE2, PGF2a) in plasma of NPC patients, patients with other tumors and normal individuals were monitored by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that PGE and PGE2 levels in the plasma of NPC and other cancer patients were significantly higher but the PGF2a/PGE2 ratio was obviously lower than that of the normal (P less than 0.05). But there were not much changes in the PGF2a levels (P greater than 0.05). However, no difference was found between the PG8 levels of the NPC and the other cancer patients (P greater than 0.05). Neither were there any significant changes in the PGE2 and PGF2a plasma levels and ratio of PGF2a/PGE2 in 26 NPC patients staged according to TNM classification. It is indicated that there is a relation between PGE, PGE2 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. PMID- 2625104 TI - [Synthesis of CSD and it's antitumor effect]. AB - Synthesis of a new polyamine inhibitor dicyclohexylamine sulfonyl chloride (CSD), the structural identification of the synthetic product, and the animal experimental results of it's antitumor effects are reported. Mice bearing leukemia P388 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma treated with CSD at doses of 50-100 mg/kg p.o. could prolong the survival time of tumor bearing animals. CSD could significantly inhibit spermidine synthesis in vivo. The inhibition was positively correlated to it's antitumor effect, indicating that the antitumor mechanism of CSD is by blocking spermidine synthesis. PMID- 2625105 TI - [Imaging and biodistribution of 111In-labeled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibodies in nude mice bearing human colon cancer xenografts]. AB - Anti-CEA monoclonal antibody was labeled with 111In using DTPA cyclic anhydride. The radiochemical purity of the product was more than 99% and specific binding was 38%. Imaging and biodistribution of this radiopharmaceutical in nude mice bearing human colon cancer xenografts were investigated. The results showed that a clear image of tumor was obtained by gamma camera between 24 to 120 hrs, best in 72 hrs, after injection. A high uptake of 111In-labeled monoclonal antibodies in tumor tissue was also observed, although the radioactivity in liver was considerable. PMID- 2625106 TI - [Monoclonal antibody in the detection of neuroblastoma cells in bone marrow aspirates]. AB - Reaction of monoclonal antibody F3 against neuroblastoma cells, normal blood cells and hematopoietic cells, as well as various leukemic cells were studied by indirect immunofluorescence stain. It was found that F3 antibody reacted with neuroblasts and relatively matured myeloid cells only. The detection of neuroblasts in marrow aspirates by this antibody conformed well with the clinical diagnosis of neuroblastoma. Therefore, this antibody may be useful in the diagnosis of neuroblastoma. Measures to improve the sensitivity of this immunodiagnostic method are also discussed. PMID- 2625107 TI - [Cytomorphological features of fine needle biopsy cytology of mediastinal lesions]. AB - Mediastinal lesions examined by fine needle biopsy cytology in 66 cases are presented. The properties of the lesions were confirmed by cytology in 50 cases. The diagnosis of 40 cases was compared with histopathology. Conformation rate of the diagnosis was 80% (32 out of 40 cases). The diagnosis was correct in 84.2%. Clinical data, such as roentgenologic, physical, hematologic examinations, symptoms and age of the patients may provide important clues for the use of fine needle biopsy cytology in the diagnosis of mediastinal lesions. The cytological characters of thymoma and benign teratoma and differential diagnosis for non Hodgkin's lymphoma and metastatic small cell carcinoma were discussed. Limitation of fine needle biopsy for the diagnosis of mediastinal lesions wis emphasized. PMID- 2625108 TI - [Determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum of cancer patients by microchemical luminescence]. AB - Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in blood of cancer patients were detected by microchemical luminescence. The results showed that SOD activity was closely related to the development of tumor. 151 cancer patients were divided into 5 groups: lung cancer, digestive tract cancer, breast cancer, gynecologic cancer and other cancers. The level of SOD in the blood in each group was higher than that in healthy adult controls. There was significant difference in the positive rate: 73.68% in breast cancer, 60.78% in digestive tract cancer, 60% in lung cancer, 51.52% in gynecologic cancer and 73.91% in other cancers. Thirty-one of these patients had low SOD due to radiotherapy or chemotherapy before determination. The important role of SOD in the development of cancer and its mechanism of preventing cancer are preliminarily analysed and discussed. PMID- 2625109 TI - [Minimal deviation endocervical adenocarcinoma--clinical, histologic and immunohistochemical study]. AB - Minimal deviation endocervical adenocarcinoma (MDA) is a rare form of adenocarcinoma which differentiates well, grows rapidly, spreads early and has poor prognosis. In this series, 9 cases of MDA and its clinical, histologic and immunohistochemical characteristics are reported. The main clinical pictures were enlarged cervix with marked increase in vaginal discharge (7 cases) and irregular vaginal bleeding (2 cases). Histologically, this neoplasm was composed of structures almost identical to normal endocervical glandular patterns characterized by a haphazard proliferation of both large claw-shaped glands and small, slit-shaped, pointed glands which penetrated into the wall of the cervix beyond 5 mm in depth. Focal mild cytologic atypia was demonstrated in each case. Immunohistochemical stains showed focal cytoplasmic carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in each neoplasm. Seven of the nine patients were followed: four died of their neoplasms, one survived for more than 2 years, one for 1 year, and one was a new case. The diagnostic features and characteristics of immunohistochemistry of this cancer are described and its nomenclature, clinical manifestations and prognosis and discussed. PMID- 2625110 TI - [Pathologic analysis of lobular carcinoma of the breast--report of 36 cases]. AB - Thirty-six cases of lobular carcinoma of the breast are reported. It comprised 11% of all the breast carcinomas. All patients were female. There were 6 cases of lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) with a mean age of 42 years and 30 cases of infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC) with a mean age of 51 years. LCIS was small, millet-size lesion which was usually accompanied with fibrocystic disease of the breast and often accidentally observed by pathologic examination. LCIS was prone to multicentricity, bilateral involvement and developing into ILC. Histologically, LCIS was characterized by intralobular proliferation of the cells lining the acini. The lumen became packed with these cells and progressively disappeared as the lobule became more and more distended. Pleomorphism of the cells was usually minimal. Necrosis was absent and mitosis was extremely rare. When the basement membrane of the acini was destroyed, two types of invasion were observed: first, the cells invaded into the stroma between the acini within the same lobule-so called LCIS with invasion, then the cells spread out of the boundary of the involved lobule and presented as threadlike strands or small nests infiltrated in a dense fibrous matrix. Sometimes the cells formed concentric rings around an apparently dilated duct. It should be pointed out that the mistakes made by pathologists in practics are overlooking LCIS and misinterpreting ILC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625111 TI - [Analysis of 7878 patients with tumors in the head and neck]. AB - 7878 patients with tumors in the head and neck confirmed by pathology from Jan. 1961 to Dec. 1981 are analysed. In this series, there were 5485 malignant tumors and 2393 benign. In malignant tumors, the ratio of male to female was 2.84:1 while the mean age incidence was 53.38 years. Nearly half of malignant tumors were in the nasopharynx (49.32%). Of the 2716 nasopharyngeal malignant tumors, 2698 were carcinoma and only 18 sarcoma. Male was 3.5 times higher than female. The mean age of NPC was 53.64 years in male and 52.33 years in female. Nine of them were under 10 years of age and the youngest was 3 years old. There was 87.06% of squamous cell carcinoma in NPC. Adenocarcinoma was predominant in the minor salivary gland carcinomas. The malignant tumors in the eyeball were glioma retinae of which 96.15% was under 10 years of age. The common metastatic tumor in the neck was squamous cell carcinoma. The incidence of head and neck tumors was 37.66% and that of the head and neck malignancies was 26.22% of tumors in the whole body. This study indicates that the incidence of malignant tumor in the head and neck is rather high. PMID- 2625112 TI - [Re-radiation of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma--analysis of 58 cases]. AB - Fifty-eight patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma in nasopharynx and/or regional areas were re-radiated from 1972 to 1979 after initial irradiation. 70.7% of the recurrence appeared within 3 years after initial treatment. 90.9% of the recurrent tumor disappeared after re-radiation. The 3-and 5-year survival rates were 29.3% (17/58) and 12.1% (7/58). The factors influencing the prognosis are: the interval between the treatment and the recurrence; dose of re-radiation; and initial stage of the primary lesions. The authors suggest that the dose of re-radiation should be 70 Gy/7 weeks. PMID- 2625113 TI - [CT scan and clinical diagnosis of parasellar lesions--analysis of 91 cases]. AB - Ninety-one patients with parasellar lesions proved by pathology and surgery from July 1982 to May 1987 and 22 patients misdiagnosed clinically or by CT are reported. The authors found that: 1. Besides the main group of parasellar lesions such as pituitary tumor, meningioma, and craniopharyngioma, some rare disease like glioma, pituitary carcinoma, chordoma, olfactory neuroblastoma, Rathke's pouch and tuberculoma of optic nerve were also found which comprised 12% (11/91) in this series. They should be considered in differential diagnosis; 2. Correct diagnosis was made when CT findings conformed well with the clinical features. Over-emphasis of clinical features or neglect of CT findings should be discouraged as they may lead to erroneous diagnosis; 3. In this series, the highest correct diagnosis rates were: pituitary tumor (95%), parasellar meningioma (78%) and craniopharyngioma (50%). It is difficult to make a correct diagnosis for these rare disease entities before operation; and 4. CT scan cannot completely replace angiography and ventriculography when they are needed for differential diagnosis. PMID- 2625114 TI - [Intrapleural transfer of LAK cells combined with rIL-2 in the treatment of advanced lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion]. AB - Ten patients with advanced lung cancer complicated by malignant pleural effusion were treated by intrapleural transfer of autologous LAK cells induced from lymphocytes of malignant effusions in the presence of rIL-2 and by administration of rIL-2 10 days before and after the transfer of LAK cells. The pleural effusions disappeared in 8 patients and significantly reduced in the other two. The number of tumor cells in the pleural effusion was obviously decreased while the number of lymphocytes was significantly increased. No changes were found in 4 responders during 4 months follow-up after treatment. No serious side effects were observed in all these 10 patients. The results indicated that transfer of LAK cells combined with rIL-2 in the treatment of patients with malignant pleural effusion due to advanced lung cancer is effective, safe and feasible. PMID- 2625115 TI - [Hemoccult test bead for screening of upper G-I tract cancer]. AB - Hemoccult test bead is able to tell whether there is occult blood in the stomach juice or not. Screening test was carried out in the high incidence area for detecting the upper G-I tract cancer. The bead, swallowed and retained in the stomach for 3 minutes, was able to sort out the suspected individuals by its coloration: yellow (-), light blue (+), blue (++) and dark green ( ). 26261 normal subjects were screened in the high incidence area. The ages ranged from 35 to 70. 6353 (24.2%) of them showed positive results. Subsequent fiber-gastroscopy was performed for definite diagnosis in 2888 persons with positive results. 98 cancers were confirmed by pathology (26 in esophagus, 34 in gastric cardia, and 38 in stomach) with a detection rate of 3.4%. 73.5% of the cancer so discovered were in early stage. Factors influencing the cancer detection rate are sex, age and degree of positivity. PMID- 2625116 TI - [Endodermal sinus tumor of ovary--analysis of 35 cases]. AB - Thirty-five patients with pure endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary treated in our hospital from 1962 to 1984 are reported. There were 8 Stage I, 13 Stage III lesions and 14 with recurrent tumor from other hospitals. All the patients were treated by surgery followed by chemotherapy including single drug or combined chemotherapy. Five of 7 patients on high-dose DDP (120 mg/M2) responded. Two of the Stage I patients survived for 33 and 39 months. One of 2 patients by AcFuCy regime was free of tumor for 82 months. Four of 6 patients with advanced tumor treated by VAC regime responded, but only one was alive without evidence of tumor for 30 months. In 21 patients treated with other combination or single drug chemotherapy before 1980, only one (Stage Ia) is alive. It is indicated that surgery combined with multi-drug chemotherapy is the best management and high dose DDP, VAC and AcFuCy are effective in treating pure endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary. Monitoring of serum AFP levels of the patients with endodermal sinus tumor can predict the course of the disease. PMID- 2625117 TI - [Primary malignant hemangioendothelioma (angiosarcoma) of the uterus--report of two cases and review of literature]. AB - Two patients with primary malignant hemangioendothelioma of the uterus are reported. Clinically, both patients had no specific symptoms. The tumor was diagnosed as leiomyoma of the uterus before operation but proved to be malignant hemangioendothelioma histopathologically. One patient, a 46-year-old woman with a well differentiated hemangioendothelioma who has been followed for 12 years after hysterectomy is still alive. The other patient, a 62-year-old woman, with poorly differentiated hemangioendothelioma, died of brain metastasis 4.5 years after simple resection of the tumor. Our observation showed that there was a relationship between the degree of differentiation of the tumor and its prognosis. Nine cases from the foreign literature were reviewed. PMID- 2625118 TI - [Mechanisms of embryonal formation of fissura calcarina in the human brain]. PMID- 2625119 TI - [35-kD polypeptides from the frog Rana temporaria: predominant localization in the lens and retina]. PMID- 2625120 TI - [Distribution of millimeter-band electromagnetic fields in model and biological tissues during irradiation in the reactive zone of an irradiator]. PMID- 2625121 TI - [Comparative analysis of interaction of ligands with muscarinic receptors in isolated heart muscle and myocardium homogenate]. PMID- 2625122 TI - DEHP [Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate]--risk assessment. The EPA workshop. April 19-20, 1988, Bethesda, Maryland. Proceedings. PMID- 2625123 TI - Dentistry in the Third World. A personal view. PMID- 2625124 TI - The sensory component of the trigeminal nerve. Maxillary and mandibular divisions. PMID- 2625125 TI - Test your diagnostic skills. Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor. PMID- 2625126 TI - Determination of left ventricular wall motility injury by factor analysis in patients with advanced ischemic heart disease. AB - Left ventricular phase and amplitude images (Fourier analysis, PAI) and factor analysis images (FAI) from gated radionuclide ventriculography were obtained in 235 patients after myocardial infarction (MI) and in 44 patients with well documented ischemic heart disease (IHD) in order to assess areas of regional left ventricular motility injury (LVMI). The sensitivity of FAI for LVMI detection was higher than with PAI (36.3% vs 22.7% in patients without MI; 76.6% vs 68% in those after anterior MI; and 53.2% vs 31.9% after posterior MI, respectively). In 2.9% of all patients PAI were unclear due to small time activity amplitudes and heart rate irregularity, whereas FAI could be easily assessed. Significantly decreased left ventricular ejection fraction was observed predominantly after anterior MI in connection with distinct signs of LVMI in a large area of anterior wall or in the anteroseptal and/or apical region. Areas of LVMI could be sharply delineated in FAI; however, in contrast to PAI, FAI is unable to distinguish between dyskinetic and akinetic regions. The use of both PAI and FAI is recommended for more detailed detection of regional LVMI in patients with IHD. PMID- 2625127 TI - Dosimetry of iodoantipyrine. AB - Dosimetry of iodoantipyrine labeled with radioactive iodine was determined by measuring the biodistribution of 131I-iodoantipyrine in 41 female rabbits. Following administration of the radiopharmaceutical, subjects were killed at 0.5, 6, 12, 17, 24, 36, and 48 h. Organs and samples of tissues and body fluids were assayed. Results were corrected for physical decay. Exponential functions were employed to describe the time-concentration curves; representative value would be the biological half life of 9.96 +/- 0.55 h for blood. Cumulated activity estimates for 123I, 125I and 131I were then computed. Extrapolation to absorbed dose in humans followed the formulation of the Medical International Radiation Dose (MIRD) Committee of the Society of Nuclear Medicine. The whole body absorbed doses are 7 mu Gray, 5 mu Gray and 29 mu Gray per MBq of 123I, 125I, and 131I administered respectively. PMID- 2625128 TI - The detection of extramedullary hematopoiesis in a patient with osteopetrosis. AB - 99mTc-HSA millimicrospheres were used to detect a site of extra medullary hematopoiesis in the chest of a patient with severe osteopetrosis, anemia, thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly causing renal complications. These problems led to the consideration of splenectomy which necessitated a search for other extra medullary hematopoietic sites. PMID- 2625129 TI - Comments to: Clinical Comparison Between Thallium 201 and Tc-99m-Methoxy Isobutyl Isonitrile (Hexamibi) Myocardial Perfusion Imaging for Detection of Coronary Artery Disease. PMID- 2625130 TI - Reply to the letter from C. Brihaye and M. Guillaume. PMID- 2625131 TI - Annual meeting of the Dutch Society for Cell Biology, Amsterdam, January 19, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2625132 TI - Binding sites for 125I-neuropeptide Y (NPY) on membranes from bovine adrenal medulla. AB - Bovine adrenal medulla membranes were examined for the presence of specific 125I neuropeptide Y (125I-NPY) binding sites using rapid centrifugation to measure the amount of bound ligand. Specific binding was determined from the difference between 125I-NPY bound in the presence and absence of 10(-7) M unlabeled NPY. The binding was saturable and reached equilibrium within 5 min at 0 degrees C. Analysis of specific 125I-NPY binding using the LIGAND computer program indicated a best fit for a two site model with a Kd of 0.26 nM and a Bmax of 12 fmol/mg protein for the high affinity site and a Kd of 170 nM and a Bmax of 6 pmol/mg protein for the low affinity site. The rate of dissociation (k-1) was 0.071/min with a t1/2 of 9 min. Displacement curves for avian or human pancreatic polypeptide revealed that these peptides displaced 125I-NPY from both sites with IC50 values greater than 10 nM. PMID- 2625133 TI - Effects of cholinergic drugs on extracellular levels of acetylcholine and choline in rat cortex, hippocampus and striatum studied by brain dialysis. AB - A brain dialysis technique was used to investigate the effects of cholinergic drugs on acetylcholine (ACh) release and on the extracellular choline levels. Scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg s.c.) markedly increased ACh release in frontal cortex, hippocampus and corpus striatum. Conversely, it significantly decreased choline levels in extracellular spaces of these three regions. Oxotremorine (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) induced no significant ACh release in these three regions, probably due to the presence of highly concentrated physostigmine in the perfusate, while it induced an increase of the choline levels in both frontal cortex and hippocampus but not in corpus striatum. Nicotine (0.5 mg/kg s.c.) significantly increased the ACh release in these three regions with no change in choline levels. Nicotine had a biphasic effect on ACh release in frontal cortex and hippocampus but not in corpus striatum. It should be noted that all such cholinergic drugs, in our time course determinations, yielded certain differences among these brain regions for both the magnitude and the response pattern of ACh and choline levels. The present investigation appears to indicate that the in vivo brain dialysis technique can be useful for probing cholinergic neurotransmission of cholinergic drugs via presynaptic terminals. PMID- 2625134 TI - Effects of lithium on alterations of pharmacokinetics of imipramine and on the related changes of monoamines in rat brain. AB - Rats were given chronically i.p. imipramine (20 mg/kg), LiCl (1 mg/kg) or both drugs to examine the effects of lithium (Li) on the alterations of imipramine pharmacokinetics in the whole brain and on the imipramine-related changes of norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) levels in the brain. When rats were given Li for 3 days, followed by a single injection of imipramine, the concentrations of desipramine in the brain and serum were higher than those in the vehicle-treated rat, although the imipramine concentrations in both tissues did not differ in Li- and in vehicle-treated rats. In rats receiving both drugs for 10 days, the steady state levels of imipramine and desipramine in the brain were the same as those in the vehicle-treated rats but the steady state level of desipramine was reached earlier with Li treatments presumably because of the enhanced demethylation of imipramine. Consequently, the desipramine-dependent alterations of NE and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol levels in the brain appeared to be induced earlier and more markedly when Li was given simultaneously. As the 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were elevated in the brains of Li-treated rats and reduced in brains of imipramine-treated rats as compared with the level in vehicle-treated rats, the 5-HIAA level in rats receiving both drugs was equivalent to that in vehicle-treated rats. PMID- 2625135 TI - [Arg8]vasopressin-induced contractions of rabbit urinary bladder smooth muscle. AB - The effects of a number of neurohypophyseal hormones and analogues on the contractility of rabbit urinary bladder smooth muscle in vitro were examined. The order of potency was [Arg8]vasopressin = [Lys8]vasotocin greater than [Lys8]vasopressin greater than [Arg8]vasotocin much greater than [deamino1,D Arg8]vasopressin greater than oxytocin much greater than pressinoic acid. The maximum tension induced by [Arg8]vasopressin was 4.4 N . cm-2 and the pD2 was 8.7. The effects of [Arg8]vasopressin were competitively antagonized by [(beta mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid)1,(O methyl)Tyr2,Arg8]vasopressin and by [deaminopenicillamine1,Val4,D Arg8]vasopressin with pA2s of 8.4 and 6.6, respectively. It was concluded that rabbit urinary bladder smooth muscle contains receptors for the neurohypophyseal hormones which have recognition properties similar to V1-vasopressin receptors. PMID- 2625136 TI - Suramin and the inhibitory junction potential in taenia caeci of the guinea-pig. AB - The effect of surinam on the inhibitory junction potential evoked in smooth muscle cells of guinea-pig taenia caeci by stimulation of intramural nerves at 22 degrees C was investigated. The amplitude of the inhibitory junction potential was reduced concentration dependently by suramin. The suppression of this response by suramin became less pronounced when the number of stimuli increased (pulse rate: 20/s). These results indicate that suramin reduces the inhibitory junction response by interacting with P2-purinoceptors. PMID- 2625137 TI - [3H]cocaine binding and inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake is similar in both the rat striatum and nucleus accumbens. AB - Cocaine binds with high affinity to the dopamine transporter in both the striatum and the nucleus accumbens. We examined Na(+)-dependent [3H]cocaine binding, mazindol inhibition of [3H]cocaine binding and cocaine inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake in both rat brain areas. The striatum and nucleus accumbens demonstrated Na(+)-dependent [3H]cocaine binding with similar densities. Mazindol inhibited [3H]cocaine binding with a similar IC50 in both the striatum and nucleus accumbens. Likewise, cocaine inhibited [3H]dopamine uptake in both brain regions with equivalent efficacy. From these data we conclude that the dopamine transporter is similar in both the striatum and nucleus accumbens. PMID- 2625138 TI - Cyproheptadine displays high affinity for muscarinic receptors but does not discriminate between receptor subtypes. AB - The affinity of cyproheptadine for different muscarinic receptor subtypes was investigated in vitro by functional experiments in field-stimulated vas deferens of the rabbit (ganglionic M1- and cardiac M2-receptors) and in guinea-pig ileum (smooth muscle M3-receptors). Cyproheptadine displayed high but similar affinity for all muscarinic receptor subtypes studied (pA2 = 7.99-8.02). In contrast, (+) telenzepine (M1 over M2 and M3), and for mefurtramine (M2 over M3 and M1) were found to be selective. PMID- 2625139 TI - Methylglucamine orotate, a memory-improving drug, prolongs hippocampal long-term potentiation. AB - We showed earlier that the memory-improving substance, methylglucamine orotate, a precursor of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis, improved memory retention and enhanced the postconditioning potentiation of field potentials in a special learning task. Since long-term potentiation (LTP) is frequently regarded as a mechanism of memory formation, we decided to test whether it can be influenced in a similar manner. The present study shows that the same dose of methylglucamine orotate (225 micrograms i.c.v.) prolongs LTP but has only a slight effect on the field potential recorded in the dentate gyrus. In controls, LTP of the population spike returned to 154% of the control value 24 h after tetanization and to 126% after 48 h. However, in drug treated animals LTP of the population spike remained at 246 and 216% of the control, respectively. The results support the assumption that LTP is at least a component of memory formation. PMID- 2625140 TI - Evidence that decreased feeding induced by systemic injection of cholecystokinin is mediated by CCK-A receptors. PMID- 2625141 TI - [Methodologic problems of pharmacokinetics]. AB - The subject of pharmacokinetics, method of research, aims and tasks of fundamental and applied aspects, place and importance for pharmacology are discussed. Discrepancy between a high scientific potential of pharmacokinetics and a low practical realization are analyzed, priority trends of future research are formulated. PMID- 2625142 TI - [The effect of pyrazidol and inkazan on the rotation behavior of rats]. AB - Effect of some MAO inhibitors on rotational behavior induced by d-amphetamine in unilaterally 6-OHDA-lesioned rats was studied. Among all MAO inhibitors tested only 1-deprenyl induced rotational behavior. Nialamide, chlorgiline, pyrazidol and inkazan dose-dependently enhanced rotational behavior induced by 2 mg/kg i. p. d-amphetamine and pargiline depressed it. Nialamide and inkazan greatly enhanced rotational behavior induced by 0.5 mg/kg i. p. d-amphetamine. It is suggested that nialamide and inkazan may have similar effects on DA-ergic neurotransmission. PMID- 2625143 TI - [Characteristics of the psychotropic action of melatonin in relation to the dosage and time of day]. AB - When administered in a low dose (0.1 mg/kg) the main pineal hormone melatonin decreased the locomotor activity and exploratory behavior of rats in the open field both during the light and dark phases of the day. High doses (1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) were effective only at night hours (01.00-03.00). After administration of 0.1 mg/kg of melatonin no changes in the main parameters and rhythmicity of forced swimming occurred irrespective of the time of use. However the effect of 1.0 mg/kg of the hormone in the daytime manifested itself in an increase of the immobility and a decrease of the depression index. PMID- 2625144 TI - [The effect of imizin on the circadian rhythm of rat motor activity taking into account its administration schedules]. AB - Chronic administration of imizine to rats irrespective of the administration schedule (once a day in the morning or in the evening in a dose of 10 mg/kg, twice a day in a dose of 5 mg/kg) changed the circadian rhythm of rest-activity with a shift of the acrophase at the late night hours. However at a single administration of the drug the effect occurred earlier than at its administration twice a day. PMID- 2625145 TI - [The effect of antimigraine preparations on serotonin transport in the brain synaptosomes of rats]. AB - Methisergide and nicergoline act as competitive inhibitors whereas tolfenamic acid as a non-competitive inhibitor of 3H-serotonin accumulation which occurs with the involvement of the high-affinity system of serotonin uptake by the rat brain synaptosomes. Methisergide, nicergoline and tolfenamic acid at concentrations ranging close to Ki value were found to enhance the basal and K(+) induced release of 3H-serotonin from the rat brain synaptosomes. The findings obtained indicate the ability of the drugs to disturb serotonin transport. In addition, the drugs are likely to exert the depleting effect on serotonin stores in serotoninergic neurons. Picamilon failed to affect either the uptake or the release of serotonin from the rat brain synaptosomes. PMID- 2625146 TI - [The effect of pyridoxine on the cerebral hemodynamics in vestibular disorders]. AB - By means of hydrogen clearance on conscious rabbits with implanted platinum electrodes it was established that pyridoxine (1 and 10 mg/kg) used against the background of sea sickness decreased the dilatational reaction of the cerebral vessels occurring during the stimulation of the vestibular apparatus, reduced the blood supply to the cerebral hemispheres with insignificant changes of oxygen tension in the cortical structures, relieved acidosis and hypoxemia developing during sickness in the orthostatic position, increased oxygenation of the arterial blood without influencing significantly pathomorphological shifts in the brain tissue. PMID- 2625147 TI - [The effect of Krebs cycle intermediates on the size of the necrotic zone and on the course of early postocclusion arrhythmia in experimental myocardial infarct in rats]. AB - The differential indicator method of determining the zone of myocardial ischemia and necrosis was used to show that sodium succinate and malate (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly decrease the size of the necrotic zone in the acute period of myocardial infarction and alleviate the course of early postocclusion arrhythmias. The dose-dependent cardioprotective effect of sodium malate was noted. PMID- 2625148 TI - [The use of dibunol for stimulating reparative processes in the cardiac muscle in myocardial infarct in rats]. AB - The effects of dibunol (30 mg/kg) and inosie-F (40 mg/kg) on the cardiac muscle reparation were studied on 162 coronary artery ligated rats. The long-term administration (30 days) both of dibunol and inosie-F increased the rate of collagen synthesis in the infarction area. Dibunol averted the development of the left ventricular pump failure, while inosie-F didn't prevent the postinfarction depression of cardiac contractility. PMID- 2625149 TI - [The effect of baclofen on the nociceptive reactions of the blood pressure in waking rats]. AB - The effect of baclophen (5-10 mg/kg) on the background arterial blood pressure (AP), amplitude of nociceptive AP reactions under electrostimulation of the tail's proximal part and the time of AP normalization after the nociceptive action was studied in the experiments of awaking rats with implanted arterial catheters. Baclophen in the range of analgesic doses causes persistent hypertension depending on the drug dose and the level of emotional reactivity of the rats. Simultaneously with the above mentioned effects the amplitude and the duration of the nociceptive AP reactions are decreased. The blockade of the alpha adrenoreceptors (phenoxybenzamine, 5 mg/kg) abolishes the hypertensive effect of baclophen but increases its inhibitory effect on the nociceptive AP changes. PMID- 2625150 TI - [The effect of testosterone propionate on energy metabolism indices and the catecholamine content of the vascular wall]. AB - The effect of testosterone propionate (1 mg/kg) on the specific activity of lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, contents of pyruvic and lactic acids, levels of catecholamines in target tissues and non-target tissues of rats was studied. Deficit of androgens and their single compensation by administering testosterone propionate lead to an inhibition of energy formation, a decrease of enzyme activity and contents of metabolites in tissues of the seminal vesicles. The course administration of testosterone propionate increases the activity of malate dehydrogenase in the aorta and myocardium. Acetylsalicylic acid (40 mg/kg) induces an increase of noradrenaline levels in the heart and aorta along with an increase of androgen level in the organism. PMID- 2625151 TI - [The effect of disulfiram on lipid metabolism in the rat liver]. AB - Administration of disulfiram (200 mg/kg intragastrically for 3 days) was followed by an increase in the rat liver contents of total phospholipid fraction, triacylglycerine, lisophosphatidylcholine and a decrease in the relative level of phosphatidylethanolamine. This was associated with a decrease in the involvement of the tracer from 14C-ethanol in triacylglycerines, total phospholipids, lisophosphatidylcholine and cardiolipin. Alcohol injection (a 20% solution intraperitoneally in a dose of 1 g/kg for 30 minutes) against the background of treatment with disulfiram leads, in addition to the above-mentioned changes, to an increase of phosphatidylcholine concentration, a decrease of specific radioactivities of cholesterol, diacylglycerine and sphyngomyelin. PMID- 2625152 TI - [Lipid free-radical oxidation in rats with alimentary hypercholesterolemia and its correction with ceruloplasmin]. AB - The antioxidant enzyme ceruloplasmin effect on the state of lipid and peroxide metabolism in rats with alimentary hypercholesterolemia was studied. Ceruloplasmin was found to inhibit the development of hyperlipoproteinemia, to decrease the level of free-radical oxidation of lipids and to increase the antioxidant demands of tissues. The observed effects could be explained by the antioxidant properties of ceruloplasmin. PMID- 2625153 TI - [Changes in glutathione-S-transferase activity under the influence of indirect action anticoagulants in various types of nutrition]. AB - The experiments on rats showed that the effects of phepromaron and phenylline on glutathione-s-transferase activity in microsomes and cytosol of the liver considerably change due to the character of the diet. The intragastric administration of phepromaron (10 mg/kg) and phenylline (15 mg/kg) on adequate and high fat nutrition 12 hours prior to sacrifice increased the activity of glutathione-s-transferase in microsomes and cytosol. On low protein diet the anticoagulants increased the activity of the enzyme only in cytosol. PMID- 2625154 TI - [The hepatotropic properties of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents]. AB - The hepatotropic effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as indomethacin, voltaren, piroxicam, phenylbutazon, mefenamic acid was studied. It was found that according to their level of the pharmacological protection of the liver against tetrachlormethan these agents may be arranged in the following sequence: mefenamic acid, phenylbutazon, voltaren, piroxicam. The hepatoprotective effect of NSAID correlates with the antioxidant properties and fails to correlate with the antioxidant ones. The hepatotoxic effect of NSAID was determined by their ability to suppress synthesis of prostaglandins. PMID- 2625155 TI - [A decrease in the toxic action of x-ray contrast media using normobaric hypoxic stimulation]. AB - A preliminary 30-min action of normobaric hypoxia was found to increase the duration of life of mice treated with lethal doses of billignost, triombrast and verographin. The severity of triombrast-induced pulmonary edema in rats was demonstrated. PMID- 2625156 TI - [The effect of almagel on euphylline absorption in children with bronchial asthma]. AB - The study of almagel effect on euphylline absorption in children with bronchial asthma showed a decrease of theophylline concentration by 10-15% ten days after the combined administration of the drugs. The absence of the change in the blood theophylline concentration three days after administration of almagel against the background of euphylline indicates that the reason for a decrease of euphylline absorption is not the absorbing and lubricating properties of almagel but probably almagel-induced reduction of the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract mucosa (hyperemia, increased vascular permeability) caused by euphylline. PMID- 2625157 TI - [A method for choosing preparations that alter hemoglobin binding to oxygen]. AB - A simple method for investigating drug effect on hemoglobin oxygen affinity by the estimation of HbO2 (%) in blood with and without drugs after gas mixture saturation (4% O2, 5% CO2, 91% N2) is proposed. PMID- 2625158 TI - The impact of computed tomography in the diagnosis and postoperative follow-up of ureteric obstruction in aorto-iliac aneurysmal disease. AB - Between 1979, the advent of computed tomography in our institution, and 1987 we have treated 520 aorto iliac aneurysms surgically, almost 2/3 on an elective basis, the others (183 = 35.2%) being ruptured. Among non-ruptured aneurysms 220 were symptomatic and 19 of 20 cases with ureteric entrapment occurred in these patients corresponding to 8.6% of this subgroup and verified at surgery. In all of these cases the association between ureteric obstruction and the underlying aneurysmal disease was clearly documented by computed tomography. In 8 patients ureteric entrapment was caused by an inflammatory aneurysm, in 12 cases by an arteriosclerotic aneurysm which in one case was a largely expanded internal iliac aneurysm left behind during previous surgery for a ruptured aorta aneurysm. Postoperative follow-up studies of the 8 patients with an inflammatory aneurysm revealed a time-dependent regression heading towards complete disappearance of perivascular fibrosis. Because of potential difficulties associated with the surgical treatment of inflammatory aneurysms it is important to identify perivascular fibrosis and its extent and localization pre-operatively, which can only be achieved by a CT scan. Simultaneously, CT offers information concerning the presence and degree of pyelectasis and calyceal dilatation, identifies the localisation of ureteric entrapment, defines the extent of aneurysmal disease of the iliac arteries, is best-suited for postoperative follow-up in all of the cases and has the most to offer if contrast medium investigations are contra indicated in the presence of renal insufficiency. Probably the main reason, if not the only one for preoperative angiography, is to demonstrate associated anomalies of the visceral arteries the state of which however, can be just as well assessed by duplex sonography. Thus, computed tomography is the single most important diagnostic tool in the assessment of aorto-iliac aneurysmal disease especially when associated with ureteric entrapment. PMID- 2625159 TI - Heparin kinetics in vascular surgery. AB - Currently there is little information available about the efficacy of heparin during vascular surgery or of the effects of surgical trauma on heparin kinetics. This study was undertaken to evaluate the kinetics of heparin therapy during vascular surgery. Nine patients undergoing major vascular surgery (one carotid, one common iliac and seven aortic operations) were studied both preoperatively and intra-operatively, each patient acting as his own control. Following determination of control activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and plasma heparin levels, heparin (100 u/kg body weight) was administered intravenously. Heparin dosage ranged form 4500 units to 8600 units with a mean dose of 6500 units. Plasma heparin and APTT levels were then measured at 10 minute intervals for 1 hour and 20 minute intervals for a second hour. The mean pre-operative and intra-operative APTT levels at ten minutes attained maximal values of 6.6 +/- 3.7 and 8.8 +/- 1.7 times the control respectively. At the end of 2 hours the mean APTT remained greater than 2.5 times the control in both groups. Mean plasma heparin level was 0.83 +/- 0.04 units at 10 minutes and was almost identical in both groups. Heparin level was not a reliable indicator of anticoagulant effect as most patients achieved the same levels but had markedly differing APTT results. The results of this study suggest that excessive doses of heparin may be used in vascular surgery and that surgical trauma does not significantly alter sensitivity to heparin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625160 TI - Lipids and apolipoprotein profiles in men with aneurysmal and stenosing aorto iliac atherosclerosis. AB - The plasma lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins have been compared in two groups of men with aorto-iliac atherosclerosis: Aneurysmal disease (n = 42) and stenosing disease (n = 86). The mean age of the men aneurysmal disease was 67.5 +/- 5.8 years and the mean age of the men with stenosing disease was 65.0 +/- 6.1 years: There was no significant different in body mass indices or smoking habits between the groups. The patients with aneurysmal disease had lower levels of plasma cholesterol than patients with stenosing disease (5.53 +/- 1.17 versus 6.11 +/- 1.20 mmol/L, P less than 0.05), but carried more cholesterol in VLDL compared to patients with stenosing disease (1.00 +/- 0.90 versus 0.60 +/- 65 mmol/L, P less than 0.05). Significantly lower concentration of apolipoprotein AI and HDL-cholesterol in patients with aneurysmal disease (ApoAI 1.01 +/- 0.31 versus 1.18 +/- 0.31 mmol/L, P less than 0.02, HDL 0.93 +/- 0.53 versus 1.13 +/- 0.34, P less than 0.05) was another characteristic difference between these two groups of patients with peripheral arterial disease. Otherwise, there were no obvious differences in the levels of plasma triglyceride, VLDL-triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and apolipoproteins B, C-III and E between the two groups. Although lipid and apolipoprotein profiles may not discriminate between aneurysmal and stenosing disease, different types of lipoprotein particles may contribute to the atherosclerotic process characterising both diseases. PMID- 2625161 TI - Long-term results of renal artery reconstruction with autogenous artery in patients with renovascular hypertension. AB - Renal artery reconstruction for the treatment of renovascular hypertension is preferably performed with an autologous graft when a graft is required. Although satisfactory results with vein grafts have been reported, stenosis and dilatation are not infrequent complications which have been observed only occasionally in arterial grafts. We have analysed our long-term results obtained with autogenous arterial grafts for renal artery reconstruction to determine the functional and anatomical results with regard to these complications. The data from 57 survivors operated on from 1959 through 1983 were analysed. All patients were hypertensive and the average systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 173/109 mmHg (mean number of 2.2 drugs). The renal artery stenosis was caused by arteriosclerosis and fibrodysplasia in 24 and 33 patients, respectively. In situ repair was performed in 30 patients (arterial bypass: 17 patients; splenorenal bypass: 13 patients). Extracorporeal repair of fibrodysplastic branch lesions was performed in 27 patients using branched hypogastric artery grafts (mean number of 2.4 branch anastomoses per kidney). Results were evaluated in the short (mean 8.3 months) and long term (mean 7.5 years) and the blood pressure response classified as either beneficial (cured/improved) or failed. Anatomical results were evaluated by angiography in the short-term in 87% of the patients and the long term in 70%. A beneficial blood pressure response was obtained in 77% and 86% of patients in the short and long-term, respectively. The average blood pressure level after an interval of several years (long term) was 144/87 mmHg (mean number of 0.9 antihypertensive drugs). After in situ reconstruction, 2 and 1 anatomical failures were observed in the short and long-term, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625162 TI - How accurate are high thigh narrow cuff pressure measurements in the assessment of aorto-iliac obstructive disease? AB - Thigh cuff pressure measurements are commonly used as a diagnostic method in the assessment of the aorto-iliac (AI) segment of patients with arterial obstructive disease. For a reliable assessment of the AI segment the use of a narrow cuff placed high on the thigh has been advocated. Although this method is commonly used, opinions on its diagnostic value are very divergent. To investigate its diagnostic value the pressure measured with a high thigh narrow cuff was compared with the intra-arterial pressure of the common femoral artery measured at rest and during reactive hyperaemia. Furthermore, the accuracy of these thigh pressures for detecting haemodynamically significant (HDS) AI stenoses was examined. The influence of an occlusion of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) on the pressure measurements was also studied. A correlation coefficient of 0.64 (P less than 0.05) was found between the femoro-brachial index (FBI) at rest and the thigh-brachial index (TBI). Using the TBI as a criterion for detecting a HDS AI stenosis, an accuracy of 73% could be obtained. Furthermore, it appeared that an occluded SFA could influence the pressure measurements dramatically. For clinical practice a TBI less than 0.90, in the presence of a patent SFA, ensures the presence of an HDS AI stenosis. A TBI greater than 1.35 suggests that the AI tract is normal, irrespective of the condition of the SFA. All other values of TBI should be interpreted with caution and only used as a decisive diagnostic method for the assessment of the haemodynamics of the AI segment in combination with other tests. PMID- 2625163 TI - The correlation of peroperative outflow resistance measurements with patency 109 infrainguinal arterial reconstructions. AB - The predictive value of outflow resistance measurements for the patency of femoro popliteal and femoro-crural bypass grafts was analysed. Peroperative outflow resistance measurements were performed in 109 infrainguinal arterial reconstructions. Outflow resistance was significantly higher in occluded bypasses compared with those which remained open (P less than 0.01), but there was a considerable overlap of values in both groups. Statistical analysis of the correlation between outflow resistance and patency rates at 3 months revealed a marginal correlation in the femoro-popliteal bypass group (R = -0.25), which was not significant (P = 0.064). In the femorocrural bypass group there was again only a marginal correlation (R = -0.27) but this was statistically significant (P = 0.05). These data demonstrate that intraoperative outflow resistance measurements are only of limited value for predicting bypass patency in individual cases. PMID- 2625164 TI - Angiographic long-term outcome of carotid endarterectomy. AB - Late postoperative digital subtraction angiographic (DSA) findings after a mean follow-up of 6 years were examined after 61 internal carotid artery (ICA) endarterectomies performed for symptomatic (mainly TIAs) ICA stenosis on 52 patients. All 34 surviving patients were re-examined. Six of them (17.6%) had become neurologically symptomatic during the follow-up period with an annual stroke rate of 1%. DSA revealed progression of ipsilateral ICA stenosis in seven cases (23%), two of whom had evidence of bilateral angiographic deterioration. Two out of seven patients had symptomatic ipsilateral restenosis (6%). Progression of contralateral ICA stenosis was detected in five cases (16%). PMID- 2625165 TI - Extracranial carotid artery aneurysms. AB - Aneurysms of the extracranial carotid arteries are uncommon vascular lesions. During the period 1976 to 1986 we encountered 18 extracranial carotid aneurysms in 14 patients. The aneurysms were atherosclerotic (12 in 9 patients), congenital (3 in 2 patients), mycotic (1) and secondary (false aneurysms) after previous carotid surgery (2 in 2 patients). The patients presented with neurological symptoms (11) or a pulsating mass in the neck (2). In one patient the aneurysm was detected accidentally during angiography. From this study it became clear that "carotid aneurysm" is not a well defined entity. The "normal" configuration of the carotid bulb with its usually larger diameter, is in part a cause of the problem of definition. A recently described technique for predicting normal vessel diameters in stenosing lesions of the carotid arteries was retrospectively applied to all our patients with aneurysms. With these measurements, made on standard preoperative angiograms, it was possible to quantify the degree of dilatation, and confirm the diagnosis of aneurysm. Eleven of the 14 patients were operated on without mortality, no neurological deficits were seen as a result of the operation and minimal morbidity occurred in six patients. From this study we conclude that surgical correction of accessible carotid artery aneurysms is a relatively safe procedure and these lesions should be operated on irrespective of symptoms. This is the first report that gives clear guidelines for measuring dilatation of the extracranial carotid arteries and based on these guidelines we suggest criteria for the discrimination between physiological dilatation and pathological aneurysm formation, the latter condition being an indication for operation. PMID- 2625166 TI - Vascular surgery in southern Sweden--the first year experience of a vascular registry. Vascular Registry in Southern Sweden (VRISS). AB - A vascular registry was set up in southern Sweden covering all peripheral vascular procedures performed in a population of almost 2 million. During the first year 1569 procedures were registered including 30-day follow-up, making a frequency of 84 per 100,000 inhabitants with a considerable variation between counties, from 42 to 146 procedures per 100,000 inhabitants. The operations were performed by 127 different surgeons, but only nine surgeons performed more than 50 operations each. These surgeons participated in 52.6% of all procedures. The frequency of re-operation differed from 4.0 to 17.9% between hospitals. One month postoperatively 70% of the patients had returned home while 13.2% were still in hospital. Median length of stay was 8 days. Overall mortality was 7.9%. The outcome at 30 days for various procedures was comparable with that of other recent reports from specialised centres. PMID- 2625167 TI - Combined arterial and venous intraluminal shunting in major trauma of the lower limb. AB - A road accident victim was admitted in shock with an injured lower limb virtually dismembered at mid-thigh level. The early use of intraluminal shunts bridging both femoral artery and vein permitted an unhurried but logical sequence of wound debridement, bone stabilisation and optimal vascular repair rendering fasciotomy unnecessary. This approach led to an uncomplicated survival of the limb with eventual return of function. PMID- 2625169 TI - Malignancy of unknown origin. PMID- 2625168 TI - Recurrent graft-enteric fistulae. AB - A patient with a previously inserted dacron bifurcation graft survived two graft enteric erosions and a third graft-enteric fistula. In the first case the symptoms looked like graft-enteric infection and in the last two cases the cardinal symptom was gastrointestinal bleeding. The treatment was in each case resection of the affected part of the graft with insertion of a new piece and subsequent antibiotic treatment. PMID- 2625170 TI - Aid for International Medicine, Inc. (AIM) our first 25 years. AB - At the city limits of Newark, Delaware, are signs which say in part, "Welcome to Newark, a city rich in history, past and present." That sounds strange to our ears, but it does serve to point out that history is being made all the time - every day. Part of the medical history in Delaware being "made every day" concerns AIM, Aid for International Medicine, Inc. a Delaware corporation started in 1964, largely through the efforts of our own John M. Levinson. In the following article he records the chronology and accomplishments of this unusual organization. This is so different from our usual articles that I had some misgivings about publishing it. I sent it out to all members of our editorial board. The response was overwhelmingly and enthusiastically in favor of publishing it, so here it is, AIM as seen through Jack Levinson's eyes. I hope you enjoy it as much as our editorial board did. PMID- 2625171 TI - Living wills. PMID- 2625172 TI - The nation's public health system is in disarray, major report finds. PMID- 2625173 TI - Near drowning--who's responsible for the aftermath? PMID- 2625174 TI - Legalization of drugs. PMID- 2625175 TI - [Visio-Form--light-hardening model synthetic resin of new generation]. PMID- 2625176 TI - [Light-hardening synthetic resin for plate-appliances and activators]. PMID- 2625177 TI - Time-based changes in fibroblast three-dimensional locomotory characteristics and phenotypes. AB - Three-dimensional locomotory trajectories have been determined for an embryonic fibroblast population and also for these cells after a 20-day period in tissue culture (C-20 cells). Differences in locomotory characteristics between these two cell populations are reported. Applying factor analysis to the distribution of angle changes between vectors in a cell's trajectory reveals the possibility that different locomotory phenotypes exist. Of the three phenotypes detected in the embryonic population only one continues in the C-20 population while a new phenotype appears in the latter. These results document changes in locomotory characteristics and phenotypes in an embryonic population with time. PMID- 2625178 TI - Nodular organization and differential intrametastatic distribution of the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342 in B16 melanoma liver metastasis. AB - The development of B16F10 liver metastases as related to its vascular organization was studied by morphological and functional methods, using the DNA binding fluorochrome, Hoechst 33342. Experimental metastases were produced by intrasplenic injection of B16F10 melanoma cells, and the animals were sacrificed 3-7 days after tumor cell injection. The results show that early metastases are made up of avascular nodules of tumor cells, which subsequently developed lacunae which are not lined by endothelial cells and usually contain blood cells. A more developed metastasis seems to be made up of several nodules with or without lacunae. Between the nodules, vessels connected to blood circulation were usually observed. A functional study with a fluorescent dye showed that early metastases stained negatively, while more developed metastases showed a reticular fluorescent pattern, coincident with the intrametastatic vascular network and displaying a nodular image. In this case, the fluorescence displayed a gradient of intensity decreasing from the vessels towards the lacunae, where the tumor cells showed no fluorescence. In summary, our results suggest that B16 liver metastases have a nodular growth pattern, which is characterized by the formation, during their development, of lacunae not connected to the general circulation and that tumor cells have poor access to small molecules delivered from the blood. PMID- 2625179 TI - Changes in collagen synthesis by human bone marrow fibroblasts with progressive subcultivation. AB - Bone marrow fibroblasts from normal and leukemic patients were used to investigate the relationship between serial subcultivation and changes in collagen synthesis. A regime was established to generate subcultures up to 35 cumulative population doublings (CPDs) in normal cells and to 9 CPDs in leukemic cells. In both types of cells, collagen synthesis decreased as subcultivation progressed. In normal cells, collagen synthesis was reduced to 10% of the original levels at 18 CPDs and in leukemic cells at 8 CPDs. In normal fibroblasts, collagen synthesis was more profoundly affected than overall protein synthesis by subcultivation. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia-derived fibroblasts, the decrease in collagen synthesis paralleled that of total protein. PMID- 2625180 TI - Studies on thymocyte subpopulations in guinea pigs. X. Rosette-forming ability of thymocyte subpopulations before and after incubation in vitro. AB - Thymocytes spontaneously proliferating in vitro were labelled with 3H-thymidine, and the distribution of label among rosette-forming cells (RFC+) and nonrosetting cells (RFC-), as well as in populations differing in buoyant density, was measured by liquid scintillation counting and autoradiography before and after incubation for 24 h. Initially most labelled cells (88%) belonged to the low density (1a) subpopulation, the majority being RFC+. After incubation for 24 h, low-density nonrosetting thymocytes (1a, RFC-) contained the highest amount of label. A decreased rosette formation occurred not only in labelled cells but also in the population as a whole, and in separately incubated high-density cells. The decreased rosette formation was mainly caused by a change in rosette-forming ability of viable high-density cells, however in part also by decreased viability. A shift from low to high density occurred among labelled cells during incubation and was shown to occur in both RFC+ and RFC-. The decreased rosette formation of labelled cells during in vitro culture contrasts with the increase earlier observed in vivo and may therefore represent affinity alterations or a down-regulation of the rosette receptor in vitro. We conclude that the observed changes in density, but not in rosette-forming ability, may reflect normal differentiation. PMID- 2625181 TI - Attempted modulation of disulfide antitumor activity in Balb/c mice through glutathione depletion. AB - We investigated the effects of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO)-mediated glutathione (GSH) depletion on the antitumor activity in Balb/c mice produced by four disulfide derivatives of 6-TG and 6-MP. Initial studies indicated that 14 h after BSO (5 mmol/kg) injections, tumor GSH levels were maximally depleted, while normal tissue GSH levels had returned to near control levels. Tumor growth delays and growth rates were compared for groups of animals receiving disulfides I-IV with and without BSO administration 14 h previous. Treatments with BSO alone produced no delay or growth rate differences from the control. Compounds II or III administered in the presence and absence of BSO also produced no delay or growth rate differences from control. Compound I (10 mg/kg) alone showed a delay of 5.2 days and a growth rate significantly slower than that of control (p = 0.05). In combination with BSO the effects were not enhanced. Compound IV (50 mg/kg) also produced delays in 2 separate trials (3.1 and 4.8 days) and significantly slower growth rates on each occasion compared to the control (p = 0.05). The growth rates were not significantly lowered in the presence of BSO. Administration of two doses of IV, 4 days apart, produced a delay (4.9 days) similar to that seen with a single dose. It produced 2 cures and was also more toxic, causing 3 deaths. Two doses of IV in combination with BSO pretreatment had a greater delay (16.0 days) and a significantly longer growth rate (p = 0.05) than two doses of IV alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625182 TI - Testing for course patterns in Crohn's disease using clustering analysis. AB - Using clustering analysis, we sought to identify groups of patients on the basis of the disease course among a population of 177 patients with Crohn's disease and followed for 3 years or more, starting from the first frank exacerbation of the disease. The first 36 values of a monthly clinical score represented the active variables of the clustering analysis. This method yielded 2 course groups, A and B, of 95 and 82 patients respectively. The unfavorable course in group A was characterized by the persistence of the clinically active disease at 3 years, whereas group B individuals achieved complete clinical remission within 2 years of onset on the average. Among the initially known clinical data which could explain the course, only the incidence of an occlusive syndrome was higher in group B, which showed a more favorable course. Although we applied clustering analysis to a patient sample over a period of only 3 years, our results do suggest the existence or 2 primary course groups within the population of patients with Crohn's disease. It would appear that the disease course cannot be predicted from the clinical parameters present at the time of onset, but rather becomes apparent during the course of the first 2 years. PMID- 2625183 TI - [Influence of bouts of acute pancreatitis on the course of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis in man]. AB - The purpose of this study was to ascertain the influence of acute pancreatitis upon the course of chronic pancreatitis, its complications, the need for surgical treatment, and mortality, in alcoholic men. The studied population was composed of 222 men; 110 had never had acute pancreatitis and 112 had presented at least once with acute pancreatitis. The cumulative probability to have a first bout of acute pancreatitis was 41.5 percent, 2 years after the onset of chronic pancreatitis. There was no difference in follow-up but clinical onset of chronic pancreatitis was earlier in the "acute pancreatitis" group. There was no difference in the prevalence of biliary strictures, non-alcoholic hepatic disease or need for surgery. On the contrary, diabetes mellitus, alcoholic hepatic disease were less frequent and pseudocysts were more frequent in the "acute pancreatitis" group. We observed 56 deaths. The comparison of mortality and cumulative survival rates showed a lower mortality in the "acute pancreatitis" group (p less than 0.02 and 0.05, respectively). The main causes of death were alcohol-related hepatic disease, postoperative mortality, and carcinoma Alcoholic cirrhosis was more frequent in patients who died in the "no acute pancreatitis" group. We conclude that: a) acute pancreatitis is an early complication of chronic pancreatitis in one case out of two; b) clinical onset of chronic pancreatitis occurs earlier in patients who presented with acute pancreatitis; c) need for surgery is not different; d) alcoholic hepatic disease is more frequent in the "no acute pancreatitis" group; e) mortality is lower in the "acute pancreatitis" group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625184 TI - [Colonic endoscopic screening and familial antecedent of sporadic rectocolonic cancer. Controlled prospective study]. AB - We searched for colorectal tumors in asymptomatic patients older than 40 years with family history of sporadic colorectal cancer (only first degree relatives). One hundred and four patients at risk had a left-sided (n = 60) or a total colonoscopy (n = 44) and were compared to 104 control patients, matched for age, sex and type of colonic investigation. Three cancers were detected in the group at risk, 1 in the control group (NS). One or more adenomas without carcinoma were found in 10 percent of the patients at risk and in 9 percent of the controls (NS). There was no difference between groups in the number, size, histologic type, degree of dysplasia, or location of adenoma in the colon. These results do not exclude a family predisposition to sporadic colorectal cancer or adenoma. Because of the low rate of adenoma detection, relatives of patients with sporadic colorectal carcinoma but without personal risk factors cannot be considered as a high risk group for colorectal endoscopic screening. PMID- 2625185 TI - [Sensitivity of the terminal esophagus. Recent fundamental and clinical data]. PMID- 2625186 TI - [Familial colonic cancer (Lynch's syndrome) and bile duct cancer. Study of 2 cases]. AB - The authors describe two cases of bile duct carcinoma affecting two patients with hereditary non polyposis colorectal carcinoma (Lynch's syndrome). These two cases were observed in 14 families composed of 283 persons, 58 of whom were affected by hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer and 15 by gynecological carcinomas. Bile duct carcinoma can therefore be associated with Lynch's syndrome but seems less frequent than observed in familial polyposis or Gardner's syndrome. PMID- 2625187 TI - [Fulminant hepatitis induced by disulfiram in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis. Survival after liver transplantation]. AB - Fulminant hepatitis was observed in a 44-year-old patient with cirrhosis, 38 days after the beginning of a treatment by disulfiram. Hepatitis was associated with fever and hypereosinophilia. Liver transplantation was performed with success. We reviewed 15 previously published cases of disulfiram-induced hepatitis. They occurred from 10 to 180 days after the beginning of the treatment by disulfiram, aminotransferases were increased whereas alkaline phosphatases were not markedly changed; there was either focal or widespread necrosis. Fulminant hepatitis was observed mainly in patients with alcoholic chronic liver disease or in patients who continued to ingest disulfiram while jaundice was already present. An immunoallergic mechanism is thought to be responsible for disulfiram-induced hepatitis. PMID- 2625188 TI - [Pregnancy and motherhood after liver transplantation in terminal autoimmune active hepatitis with primary amenorrhea]. AB - We report the case of a young patient with end-stage auto-immune chronic active hepatitis and primary amenorrhea who became pregnant 18 months after orthotopic liver transplantation. She continued an uncomplicated pregnancy on treatment with ciclosporin A and spontaneously gave birth to a full term and healthy child. PMID- 2625189 TI - [Celiac disease, autoimmune cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis: apropos of a triple association]. AB - We report the case of a 60 year old lady suffering from celiac disease and autoimmune cirrhosis who developed exocrine pancreatic insufficiency with canalicular lesions consistent with chronic pancreatitis. Celiac disease is known to be associated with either pancreatic insufficiency or liver disease, but association of all three diseases has not yet been described. We suggest that chronic pancreatitis be added to the list of idiopathic inflammatory pancreatitis of possible autoimmune origin, enabling to explain the pathophysiology of all three disorders with one hypothesis. PMID- 2625190 TI - [Hepatic lipogranulomatosis and lipoid pneumopathy]. PMID- 2625191 TI - [Acute colectasia revealing an abscess of the buttock]. PMID- 2625192 TI - [Effect of azidothymidine on cryptosporia diarrhea in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]. PMID- 2625193 TI - [Malignant anguilluliasis with digestive localization in an immunosuppressed patient]. PMID- 2625194 TI - [Thoracic pain of esophageal origin: the role of trapped air...]. PMID- 2625195 TI - [Bleeding of Meckel's diverticulum after ingestion of aspirin]. PMID- 2625196 TI - Antral Campylobacter pylori colonization, ABO blood group, and secretor status. PMID- 2625197 TI - [27th meeting of the French Association for the Study of the Liver. Paris, France, 12-13 October, 1989. Abstracts]. PMID- 2625198 TI - [Nucleotide sequences encoding glycinin B4 polypeptide of the cultivated soybean Glycine max and its presumed wild-type ancestor Glycine soja in connection with the origin of cultivated soybean]. AB - Nucleotide sequences of cDNAs encoding soybean glycinin B4 polypeptide were compared in three soybean cultivars and two plant introductions of wild soybean Glycine soja. Only two nucleotide substitutions were found in three cultivars G. max, as compared with G. max and G. soja having nucleotide sequences which contain four nucleotide substitutions. These data serve as additional evidence, at molecular level, indicating the origin of G. max from G. soja. On the other hand, the time period required for four nucleotide substitutions' accumulation, as calculated from parameters of molecular evolution of 11S globulins, is much longer than the term having passed after soybean domestication. PMID- 2625199 TI - [Analysis of sequences from human brain cDNA gene bank which are functionally active in nervous tissue and tumor cells]. AB - Construction of a human cortex cDNA bank is described as well as the isolation from this bank of pBH71 and pBH3 clones with preferential expression in nervous and in tumor cells. The clones can be included into the third class of cDNA according to Sutcliff's classification. The mRNA corresponding to this cDNA class is considered to play the key role in determination of specificity of nervous tissue. Expression of the pBH71 sequence was revealed in human cortex and in tissues of different genesis (from neuroblastoma to uterus myoma), a 2 kb mRNA which corresponds to one and the same cDNA chain having been found in all tissues under analysis. The nucleotide sequence of cDNA insertion into the pBH71 clone of 447 n.p. was determined, and particular features of cDNA nucleotide composition and possible schemes of its translation were analysed. Weak homology was found between the 3'-end of cDNA insertion of the pBH71 clone and the 3'-end region of human proopiomelanocortine. The cDNA of the pBH3 clone hybridizes with the 0.8 kb mRNA revealed in human cortex and neuroendocrine tumors of different nature. No homology was revealed between the cDNA sequence of the pBH3 clone and any genes deciphered. PMID- 2625200 TI - [Development of resistance to the insecticide effect of juvenile hormone analog in Drosophila virilis: genetic and biochemical aspects]. AB - The development of resistance to the insecticide effect of juvenile hormone analogue (AJH-I) in Drosophila was studied. It is found that under the AJH-I treatment metamorphosis in D. virilis was delayed and some insects died. Selection of resistant flies was performed using sublethal dose of AJH-I (viability was 8%). The selection at such dose of AJH-I resulted in an increase in the proportion of resistant flies up to 30% already by the F3, whereafter is fluctuated within the range of 24-46% for further 12 generations. The increase in resistance to the lethal effect of AJH-I was also accompanied by an increase in resistance to its teratogenic effects. An analysis of the kinetics of selection has shown that the AJH-I resistance is controlled by more than one gene. It is established that the increase in resistance is associated with selection of individuals having high activity of juvenile hormone esterase. PMID- 2625201 TI - [Effects of UV-irradiation of carp sperm and its modification by caffeine]. AB - In connection with the development of UV-induced mutagenesis in carp, the effects of UV-irradiation of sperms have been studied in the range of doses 0.3-40 J/m2. The irradiation did not cause reduced fertilization ability and cleavage delay. Small doses of irradiation (0.6 J/m2) produced stimulating effect on embryo survival, the larvae yield decreasing and the amount of aberrant anaphases increasing, as the doses are increased. LD50 is 6.0 J/m2 for embryonal period of carp development, photoreactivation increases it up to 23.5 J/m2. Correlation between embryo viability and their resistance to UV has been found (r = +0.68 +/- 0.20). Modification of the effect of sperms irradiation with caffeine has been also studied. Strengthening of lethal and cytogenetic effects was only observed in case when embryos were placed in the caffeine solution, prior to onset of the first DNA replication in the male pronucleus. This may indicate the existence of caffeine-dependent prereplicative repair in carp embryos. PMID- 2625202 TI - [Immunogenetic study of porcine IgG]. AB - Three allotypes of IgG were identified in pig. Based on data obtained on electrophoretic mobility as well as on results of the International Comparative Test ISABR for pig blood group, polymorphic proteins and enzymes (1987-1988), the allotypes are specified as markers of two different IgG subclasses and are referred to as IgG1a, IgG2b and IgG2c. The former of these is established as corresponding to the already known IGH3 C1, and the other two had not been earlier described. In herds of pigs being bred in the Georgian SSR, the IgG1a allotype frequencies in Kakhetinskaya, Large White, Landrase and Lithuanian white were 0.84, 0.93, 0.91 and 0.94, respectively, whereas for the IgG2b allotype it ran 0.89, 0.73, 0.79, and 0.69 in the order mentioned. The IgG2c allotype was not registered in samples under examination. PMID- 2625203 TI - [Mechanisms of impairment of DNA repair in human cells. Effects of native and recombinant interferons in UV-irradiated human fibroblasts]. AB - Effects of native and recombinant interferons in normal and xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) human fibroblasts were studied. The criteria to evaluate the effects of interferons were: inhibition of replicative DNA synthesis, modification of replicative and unscheduled DNA synthesis in UV-irradiated cells. It was demonstrated that the level of inhibition of replicative DNA synthesis with interferons was dependent on proliferative status of cell cultures. The level of 3H-thymidine incorporation after stimulation of cell proliferation was increased in UV-irradiated normal fibroblasts pretreated with interferons. Interferon effect was not observed in XP cells. In cell cultures with low level of proliferation treatment with interferon resulted in inhibition of DNA replication and pronounced increase in the unscheduled DNA synthesis. In quiescent cells the effect of interferon on unscheduled DNA synthesis in UV-irradiated cells was not pronounced. In XP cells UV-irradiation induced low unscheduled DNA synthesis which was not modified by interferon. PMID- 2625204 TI - [The role of HLA system in determination of the phenotypic variability of the levels of autoantibodies in healthy persons]. AB - Study of the role of HLA system in determination of variability of levels of autoantibodies in healthy persons revealed association between the latter and the HLA antigens A3,10 and B17,35. The possibility of differentiation of human population for the immunological trait described using individual HLA phenotype was postulated. PMID- 2625205 TI - Evaluation of the functional results after different techniques for treatment of retinal detachment due to macular holes. AB - A total of 50 eyes with retinal detachment due to macular holes were treated in the period from July 1986 to December 1987. In all, 10 eyes underwent pneumatic retinopexy using plain room air. A total of 30 eyes were treated by pars plana vitrectomy, followed by fluid/air exchange, with no treatment of the macular break; in 9 of these the detachment recurred, reflattening of the retina by air tamponade followed by laser photo-coagulation. The other 10 eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy followed by silicone oil tamponading because of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). This paper compares the functional results for each group. The parameters used included visual acuity, color vision and visual fields. PMID- 2625206 TI - The distribution of normal values in automated perimetry. AB - From 354 visual fields of 137 normal subjects, various components of variance were calculated separately for each test location of the Octopus automated perimetry program J0. The method of component analysis of variance was used. The following components were analyzed: interindividual variation (variation of visual-field measurements in different subjects), long-term fluctuation (variation of different visual-field measurements in the same subject), differences between the right and left eyes and fluctuation within one visual field test in one subject, i.e., short-term fluctuation. The results show increased variations at the center relative to the paracentral area and a slight increase with eccentricity. PMID- 2625207 TI - Quantitative assessment of aqueous flare intensity in diabetes. AB - Aqueous flare intensity was measured with the laser flare-cell meter in 231 eyes of diabetic patients and 31 eyes of normal age-matched controls. Diabetic patients were divided into four groups based on the degree of retinopathy: (1) non-retinopathy, 42 eyes; (2) background retinopathy, 72; (3) preproliferative retinopathy, 23; and (4) proliferative retinopathy, 94. There was no significant difference between the normal controls and the non-retinopathy group, whereas the rest of the diabetic groups showed significantly higher flare values than did normal controls (P less than 0.001). Flare intensity increased with the progression of retinopathy. Our results demonstrate that clinical use of the flare-cell meter enables the quantitative assessment of blood-aqueous barrier function in diabetics and suggest that diabetic iridopathy, as one of the manifestations of diabetes in the anterior part of the eye, exists even in the early stages of this disease and progresses in parallel with retinopathy. PMID- 2625209 TI - The influence of stimulus size on perimetric detection of small scotomata. AB - The influence of perimetric stimulus size on the detection of small scotomata was examined, and the blind spot was used as a paradigm of a small scotoma. A customized point pattern for perimetry was created on a Humphrey field analyzer. The point pattern had a density of 1.4 degrees and was arranged in a grid in the area of the blind spot. Four normal persons were tested with full-threshold strategy in the points of this grid using Goldmann stimulus sizes ranging from I to V. The delimitation of the blind spot was found to depend strongly on stimulus size. For small stimulus sizes, the blind spot could be delimited as an absolute scotoma with almost sharp borders. However, with larger spot sizes a relative scotoma zone gradually developed, extending centrally from the borders of the blind spot. The central absolute scotoma component of the blind spot totally disappeared for the largest stimulus sizes. We could establish that some of these larger stimuli would be projected totally within the optic nerve head, if perfect imaging through the refractive media of the eye, was assumed. We interpret our findings to be a result of light scattering in the refractive media of the eye, causing a blur to appear around the image of the light stimulus at the retinal plane. We conclude that perimetric resolution power is highly dependent on stimulus size. The smallest stimulus size possible should be used when dense stimulus patterns are used for perimetric detection of small scotomata. PMID- 2625208 TI - Vasoconstrictive effect of topical timolol on human retinal arteries. AB - Timolol is widely used in glaucoma treatment without sufficient knowledge of its vascular retinal effects. In this study, we measured the retinal vessel diameters before and after instillation of 0.5% timolol twice daily in one eye for 1 week, using photographic enlargements (x44). A total of 12 normal, caucasian subjects aged 25-39 years (average, 30.6 +/- 4.2 years) participated in this study. In all, 75% of the subjects had a diminution of retinal arterial size in the treated eye. The mean arterial diametric decrease was 4.1% in treated eyes compared with both untreated eyes and pretreatment values of treated eyes. These diminutions were statistically significant according to Student's paired t-test (P less than 0.05). No statistical difference was found in venous diameters (t = -0.065). Results showed that 0.5% timolol may have a vasoconstrictive effect on the retinal arteries of normal human subjects after 1 week of unilateral instillation twice daily. We suggest that this arterial vasoconstriction could be caused by the effect of timolol on the vascular beta-2 receptors. Further investigations are warranted to determine whether timolol also acts on ciliary arteries and whether arterial vasoconstriction participates in lowering intraocular pressure. PMID- 2625210 TI - Linkage analysis in granular corneal dystrophy (Groenouw I), Schnyder's crystalline corneal dystrophy, and Reis-Bucklers' corneal dystrophy. AB - Tight linkage was excluded for 8 markers in 37 blood relatives from 3 families, 29 of whom had granular corneal dystrophy (Groenouw I). Inconclusive results were obtained for linkage with four marker loci. The highest positive LOD score was 0.57 for linkage between glutamic pyruvic transaminase and granular corneal dystrophy. Tight linkage was excluded for glyoxalase-1 in eight individuals from one family with Schnyder's crystalline corneal dystrophy. Results were inconclusive for another six markers. Positive LOD scores were obtained for linkage with adenylate-kinase 1 and the ABO blood group, with values of 1.16 and 0.67, respectively. Among six blood relatives with Reis-Bucklers' corneal dystrophy, the highest positive LOD score was 1.17 for linkage with mitochondrial malic enzyme. For another six markers informative for linkage analysis, the results were inconsistent. PMID- 2625211 TI - HLA typing from human donor eyes. AB - A method for HLA-ABC and HLA-DR typing of human donor eyes using pigmented retinal epithelial and uveal cells cultured in the presence of human recombinant gamma-interferon is described. PMID- 2625212 TI - Correlation between neuroretinal rim area and age in normal subjects. AB - The Rodenstock Optic Nerve Head Analyzer was used to study the age distribution of the neuroretinal rim area in 194 eyes of 122 normal subjects aged 7-84 years. No significant linear correlation was found between neuroretinal rim area and age. Linear regression analysis of the neuroretinal rim area in the temporal disc quadrant as a function of age led to the following equation: y = 0.00029x + 0.245; r = 0.052. Linear regression analysis of the neuroretinal rim area in the total disc as a function of age led to the following equation: y = 0.001x + 1.314; r = 0.0053. The 99% confidence limits of the regression slope ranged from 0.0025 to + 0.0045 (temporal disc quadrant) and from -0.00077 to + 0.0013 (total disc), respectively. A nonlinear correlation between neuroretinal rim area and age is very unlikely. Using the Mann-Whitney U-test, no statistically significant difference between the smallest (group of subjects aged 7-19 years) and the largest mean neuroretinal rim area (group of subjects aged 30-39 years) was detectable. From our data we conclude that there are no age-related changes in the neuroretinal rim area as measured with the Optic Nerve Head Analyzer. Changes in the neuroretinal rim area during follow-up examinations of glaucoma suspects may therefore be interpreted as an important sign of early glaucomatous damage. This confirms our previous suggestion that follow-up examinations of the optic disc structure with the Rodenstock Optic Nerve Head Analyzer are useful to confirm the diagnosis of glaucoma, even at a stage where a visual field loss cannot yet be detected by routine perimetry. PMID- 2625213 TI - Reproducibility of pallor measurements with the optic nerve head analyzer. AB - One eye each of ten healthy volunteers was tested with the Rodenstock Optic Nerve Head Analyzer on ten separate occasions. A color-coded pallor map was developed for each examination. A color transparency of each pallor map was then obtained from the television monitor of the Optic Nerve Head Analyzer, using a camera mounted on a tripod at a fixed distance from the screen. A color-coded zone within the center of the disc was chosen for each set of ten studies, and the area of this zone was measured by boundary analysis with another computerized image analyzer, the Oasys Image Processor. There was wide intrasubject variation in all ten volunteers, suggesting that the pallor map generated by the Optic Nerve Head Analyzer, when used in the manner described in this paper, is not adequate for following subtle changes in optic nerve head pallor. PMID- 2625214 TI - Changes in intraocular pressure induced by differential forced unilateral nostril breathing, a technique that affects both brain hemisphericity and autonomic activity. A pilot study. AB - There is evidence of the central regulation of intraocular pressure, and it has been suggested that vagal tone might be elevated in glaucoma simplex. The nasal cycle, the simultaneous congestion-decongestion response in the nasal cavities, reflects the dynamic lateralization of the autonomic nervous system. Since this lateralization presents with sympathetic activity induced by left brain hemisphere stimulation and parasympathetic activity induced by right hemisphere stimulation, forced unilateral nostril breathing (FUNB) has recently been demonstrated to induce selective contralateral hemispheric stimulation as measured by relative increases in EEG amplitude in the contralateral hemisphere as well as alternating lateralization of plasma catecholamines. Using this functional vagotomy/sympathectomy, we report the novel finding that right hemispheric activation via left FUNB increases intraocular pressure (IOP) by an average of 4.5%, whereas left hemispheric stimulation via right FUNB leads to a significant (25%) decrease in IOP. PMID- 2625215 TI - Variation in retinal changes and muscle pathology in mitochondriopathies. AB - A variety of retinal changes that have so far not been classified under mitochondriopathies can now be included in this group, since muscle biopsy has identified ragged-red fibers with pathological mitochondriae. The ophthalmological findings in our relatively large group of 12 patients with mitochondrial myopathies are compared with the spectrum of myopathic findings. No obvious correlation exists between the severity of the pathological retinal changes and the characteristic of the myopathic alterations. In addition to fine pigmentation and depigmentation, severe dystrophic changes of the retina, pigment epithelium, and the choroid were observed. In two patients with severe chorioretinal dystrophy the correlation with generalized mitochondriopathy was not suspected prior to muscle biopsy. PMID- 2625217 TI - [Circadian rhythm of arterial blood pressure in adolescents during the study process in South-Western Siberia]. AB - During an academic year circadian rhythm of hemodynamics was studied in 14-17 aged local and newly arrived students of the physical and mathematical boarding school of Novosibirsk. It was demonstrated that to the end of the year total formation of daily arterial pressure rhythm adequate to the new place of residence was not completed. Elevation of average daily levels of diastolic pressure was noted in students to the end of the year, especially at night. This effect was most pronounced in newcomers. PMID- 2625216 TI - Early morphogenesis of the canine lens capsule, tunica vasculosa lentis posterior, and anterior vitreous body. A transmission electron microscopic study. AB - This study provides transmission electron microscopic observations on the early morphogenesis (from days 25-35 post coitum) of the canine posterior lens capsule, the tunica vasculosa lentis (TVL) posterior and the anterior part of the vitreous body. The presence of an anlage of the posterior lens capsule as early as day 25, recently described histologically, was confirmed by this study. In the period from day 25 to day 35, the polar part of the posterior lens capsule develops 2-29 continuous and parallel lamellae, matching 50 nm and 1.74 microns, respectively. At these early stages, the TVL consists of capillaries that are simple endothelial tubes. From day 28 onward, these can be classified as A-1-alpha capillaries according to the classification of Bennett et al. [3]. In direct proximity to the lens capsule, the vitreous body contains fibrillar material with a morphological appearance similar to that of the lens capsule. This material probably derives from both the capillary endothelial cells' basal lamina and the lens capsule. Only few cellular components were observed in the anterior vitreous body. The development of the described structures is grossly in accordance with that observed in other mammalian species. The observations presented serve as a reference for studies on the pathogenesis of persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis/persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHTVL/PHPV), which is an important cause of leucocoria in children and in some dog breeds. PMID- 2625218 TI - [Various hygienic aspects of teaching and upbringing the children in boarding schools in Moscow]. PMID- 2625219 TI - [Optimal air conditioning in the classrooms of secondary schools as a factor of improving health status of schoolchildren]. AB - Proceeding from the analysis and statistical processing of the data derived during the study of health dynamics of junior schoolchildren, who studied during an academic year under the conditions of different air exchange regimes (20 and 40 m3 of air per hr/child), it was established that indoor air medium formed by air supply of 40 m3 per hr/child (compared to 20 m3) even during a year had a favorable impact on the functional state of some body systems and prevalence of acute diseases among schoolchildren. PMID- 2625220 TI - [Methodological principles of reorganization of teaching hygiene in medical institutes]. PMID- 2625221 TI - [Use of the biochemoluminescence method in sanitary and toxicological studies]. PMID- 2625222 TI - [Biological effect of Botran-75B]. AB - Study results on acute and chronic toxicity allowed us to attribute bortran-75B fungicide to low-toxic compounds with moderately expressed cumulation. Under long term pesticide exposure changes in activity of a number of blood enzymes were noted. Its threshold and nonactive doses were determined. PMID- 2625223 TI - [Gas-chromatographic analysis of monochloracetic acid in the water]. PMID- 2625224 TI - [Legal aspects of regulation of atmospheric air quality in various foreign countries]. PMID- 2625225 TI - [Interpretation of the significance of total index of atmospheric air pollution]. PMID- 2625226 TI - [Activities of preschool children's institutions of the sanatorium type]. PMID- 2625227 TI - [Utilization of bathing facilities in rural areas]. PMID- 2625228 TI - [Characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in waste water from petroleum-refining plants]. PMID- 2625229 TI - [Changes in the occurrence of sister chromatid exchange and chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells of mice after administration of chromium with drinking water]. AB - Through taking into account frequency of sister chromatid metabolisms and chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells of animals it is demonstrated that under long-term body intake chromium in a wide range of doses can produce mutagenic effect. When assessing chromium mutagenic effect in vivo it is also shown that the test on sister chromatid metabolism is more sensitive than the test on chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells. PMID- 2625230 TI - [Toxicological and hygienic characteristics of sulfocarbathione]. PMID- 2625231 TI - [Dynamics of microbial contamination of air in animal breeding farm housing]. PMID- 2625232 TI - [Experimental study of the effect of fluoridation of drinking water with different degree of mineralization on the intensity of dental caries and the status of periodontal tissues]. PMID- 2625233 TI - [Evaluation of the effectiveness of vitamin and amino acid mixtures for increasing body resistance to pesticides in experimental studies]. PMID- 2625234 TI - [Effect of lighting conditions during visual work on the development of vision disorders in schoolchildren]. PMID- 2625235 TI - [Effect of increased doses of medium-wave ultraviolet radiation on mineral metabolism]. PMID- 2625236 TI - Modern trends in human leukemia VIII. New results in clinical and biologicaL research including pediatric oncology. Hamburg, June 18, 1988, and Wilsede, June 19-23, 1988. Wilsede Joint Meeting on Pediatric Oncology V. Hamburg, June 17, 1988. Proceedings. PMID- 2625237 TI - Phenotype switch in acute leukemia patients after intensive chemotherapy. AB - According to Stass et al. the percentage of a lineage switch occurs in 6.7%-8.6% of patients with acute leukemia. Mostly, a conversion from the lymphoid to the myeloid phenotype is seen. In our three cases we found two switches from the myeloid to the lymphoid phenotype and only one from lymphoid to myeloid. This lineage switch is seen in relapsing and resistant leukemia cases. Different hypotheses have been discussed concerning the phenotype switch. Cytostatic chemotherapy may eradicate one leukemic cell clone, allowing another one to proliferate. Otherwise, the leukemic transformed stem cell could be influenced by the chemotherapy, resulting in a change of the differentiation program of the cell and following with a switch of marker expression. Perhaps there is some clinical importance to monitoring the phenotype switch in order to administer the best treatment. PMID- 2625238 TI - Expression of cell differentiation antigens as a prognostic factor in acute leukemia. PMID- 2625239 TI - Diversity of molecular phenotypes in acute leukemias. PMID- 2625240 TI - Alpha interferon in myelodysplasia. PMID- 2625241 TI - Use of investigational drugs as initial therapy for childhood solid tumors. PMID- 2625242 TI - Xenografts of pediatric solid tumors: predictive intermediate models? PMID- 2625243 TI - Bone marrow stromal cells in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. PMID- 2625244 TI - Limited proliferative potential of primitive hematopoietic stem cells: hematopoiesis by clonal succession. PMID- 2625245 TI - The effect of human and rat fetal bone on hematopoiesis in vitro and in vivo. PMID- 2625246 TI - Aberrant expression of the multi-CSF gene in hematopoietic precursor and stem cell lines initiates leukemogenic progression. AB - Tumorigenesis of hemopoietic cells and acquisition of factor independence as a consequence of aberrant growth factor release are closely correlated. In previous work we were able to dissect two stages leading to growth factor autonomy of cells: the first step requires the secretion of the constitutively expressed CSF gene product and extracellular interaction with its cognate receptor. This requirement for external stimulation is abrogated by a second step. We were interested in characterizing the parameters that influence the conversion from nonautonomous to autonomous growth properties of hematopoietic precursor cells. The frequency with which this alteration occurs varies and correlates with the level of growth factor production. However, a significant increase of CSF production accompanying the progression to autonomy could not be detected. We thus conclude that there is no direct link between level of CSF production and acquisition of true autonomy but an indirect influence enhancing the frequency of genetic alteration(s) that lead to growth autonomy. Lang et al. have suggested that the acquisition of autonomous growth occurs due to internal receptor-ligand interaction. Indeed, Keating and Williams have claimed that PDGF may react with an intracellular PDGF receptor resulting in autocrine stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625247 TI - Isolation of revertants from a factor-independent myeloid cell line. PMID- 2625248 TI - Establishment of a hybrid cell system between malignant Burkitt's lymphoma cells and nonmalignant lymphoblastoid cells. PMID- 2625249 TI - Effect of natural and synthetic peptides on the biological function of leukemic cells. PMID- 2625250 TI - Characteristics of 27 human T-cell leukemia cell lines with/without T-cell receptors of T3-Ti alpha beta or T3-Ti gamma delta complex. PMID- 2625251 TI - Intervention in potential leukemic cell migration pathway affects leukemogenesis. PMID- 2625252 TI - Induction of nonspecific cell-mediated cytotoxicity: a multisignal event and its cellular regulation. PMID- 2625253 TI - Molecular analysis of the translocation breakpoint in a Philadelphia-positive, bcr-negative ALL patient. PMID- 2625254 TI - Cloning of the breakpoint junction of the translocation 14;19 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. PMID- 2625255 TI - Variant breakpoint positions on chromosome 22 in Ph'-positive chronic myelogenous leukemias. PMID- 2625256 TI - Expression of cellular oncogenes in primary cells from human leukemias. PMID- 2625257 TI - HIV-1, HTLV-I and the interleukin-2 receptor: insights into transcriptional control. AB - In this study, we present direct evidence for the binding of the inducible cellular protein, HIVEN86A, to a 12-bp element present in the IL-2R alpha promoter. This element shares significant sequence similarity with the NF-kappa B binding sites present in the HIV-1 and kappa immunoglobulin enhancers. Transient transfection studies indicate that this kappa B element is both necessary and sufficient to confer tax or mitogen inducibility to a heterologous promoter. As summarized schematically in Fig. 5, the findings suggest that the HIVEN86A protein may play a central role in the activation of cellular genes required for T-cell growth, specifically the IL-2R alpha gene. In addition, the induced HIVEN86A protein also binds to a similar sequence present in the HIV-1 LTR leading to enhanced viral gene expression and ultimately T-cell death. Thus, mitogen activation of the HIV-1 LTR appears to involve the same inducible transcription factor(s) that normally regulates IL-2R alpha gene expression and T cell growth. These findings further underscore the importance of the state of T cell activation in the regulation of HIV-1 replication. Our results also demonstrate that HIVEN86A is induced by the tax protein of HTLV-I. Thus, in HTLV I infected cells, normally the tight control of the transient expression of the IL-2R alpha gene is lost. The constitutive high-level display of IL-2 receptors may play a role in leukemic transformation mediated by HTLV-I (ATL). Apparently by the same mechanism, the tax protein also activates the HIV-1 LTR through the induction of HIVEN86A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625258 TI - Use of a HIV-1 retroviral vector system for gene transfer into human cells. PMID- 2625259 TI - Expression and chromosomal assignment of a novel protein-tyrosine kinase gene related to the insulin receptor family. PMID- 2625260 TI - Clay minerals--blueprints of early life. PMID- 2625261 TI - Modern coding sequences are in the periodic-to-chaotic transition. AB - Modern coding sequences are in the periodic-to-chaotic transition. In the case of alpha A-crystallin coding sequence of the chicken, the initial tetrameric periodicity of the primordial tetramer C C T G has been decaying by the golden mean: the 4, 7, 11 rule. Thus, the tetramer has become parts of recurring heptamers, and some heptamers have become parts of the 11-base-long repeating units. PMID- 2625262 TI - Translation to human temperaments of the tyrosine-kinase active site of the human insulin receptor beta-chain. PMID- 2625263 TI - Current approaches to therapy for childhood lymphoblastic leukemia: St. Jude studies XI (1984-1988) and XII (1988). PMID- 2625264 TI - Results of three polychemotherapy programs in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. PMID- 2625265 TI - Results of treatment in children with B-cell lymphoma: report on the Polish Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group. PMID- 2625266 TI - Correlations of clinical and laboratory data for prognosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. AB - Correlation of 24 different clinical and laboratory measures was performed for a calculation of the prognosis in 65 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The hematologic as well as genetic parameters were studied at the time of diagnosis. It was shown that the initial blast count in peripheral blood is the most important risk factor for the prognosis of ALL. Cytogenetic, DNA cytometric, and pedigree data correlate with blast count and also seem to be very important determinants for ALL prognosis. The statistically significant increase in the incidence of neoplasms in ALL families is reported. PMID- 2625267 TI - Central nervous system involvement in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. PMID- 2625268 TI - Simultaneous presentation of B- and T-cell malignant lymphoma. PMID- 2625269 TI - [The development of postoperative radiotherapy]. AB - After a short review of the development of radiotherapy a prospective study is presented which indicates the benefit of postoperative external irradiation in cases of endometrial cancer, stage I. 327 cases with good prognosis received only vaginal irradiation (group A). 217 cases with bad prognosis (deep infiltration, grading 2.3) had additional external irradiation (group B). 5-year-survival (Kaplan-Meier) was 90.6% in group A and 87.9% in group B, respectively. The benefit of external irradiation in patients with a poor prognosis is evident. PMID- 2625270 TI - [Axillary lymph node excision in breast cancer]. AB - We report on 264 patients with operable breast cancer, treated between 1980 and 1984 at the First Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Vienna. The operation was in all cases a modified radical mastectomy. The patients were randomized in two groups. In one group of 140 patients, the lymphatic tissue of the axilla was marked by technetium-99 antimonsulfide and these patients were operated on a gammacamera. The other group of 124 patients was not marked. This unspecific imaging of lymph nodes enabled us to increase the average number of removed lymph nodes by 25% in the marked group. In this group the amount of lymph-node-positive cases was 50.7% compared to 37.4% in the unmarked group. This difference may find its explanation in the higher number of lymph nodes removed. All other prognostic parameters in both groups showed no significant difference. After an observation period of 5 years or longer no difference in survival rate, disease-free interval, local and regional recurrence or distant metastases was found. This seems surprising because the number of lymp-node-positive cases was higher in the marked group, which according to oncological principles should result in a lower prognostic score. The explanation may be that a higher number of identified and removed lymph node metastases may bring those patients the advantage of modern adjuvant therapy and therefore a better prognosis. PMID- 2625271 TI - [The development of cycle monitoring in Vienna]. AB - Cycle monitoring is performed by daily determination of LH, estradiol and sonography of the ovaries, up to day 10 of the cycle. Endocrinological disturbances can be detected by this monitoring: a missing LH peak, in spite of a normal estradiol concentration, can be interpreted as a cause of infertility. Also an insufficient growth of the follicles can interfere with fertility. The dissociation between LH peak and estradiol plateau in the serum is still open to debate. PMID- 2625272 TI - [Success in medicine and criticism of medicine. Modern man as the princess on the pea]. PMID- 2625273 TI - [Physician responsibility for patient education in the field of tension between the courts and medical personnel]. PMID- 2625274 TI - [The physician's responsibility for patient education between utopia and reality]. PMID- 2625275 TI - [The development of cases of medical damage in West Germany]. PMID- 2625276 TI - Clinical analysis of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (1965-1985). AB - Clinical and histopathological data of 307 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was reviewed applying the Kiel histopathologic classification scheme and the Ann Arbor clinical and pathologic staging system. The first group included 74 patients who were diagnosed as having lympho- and reticulosarcomas during the 1965-1974 period. The case histories and histological diagnoses of these patients were retrospectively reevaluated. These patients were given orthovoltic irradiation and single agent chemotherapy. The second group included 233 patients who were entered into a prospective study from 1975 onwards. These patients were given combined polychemotherapeutical regimes. The comparative investigation has shown that the proportion of the low and high grade NHLs were the same in the groups. The administration of the new chemotherapeutical regimes did not influence significantly the survival of NHL patients. PMID- 2625277 TI - [Pseudo-exfoliation syndrome as a risk factor for vitreous loss in extra-capsular cataract extraction. The Erlangen Eye Information Group]. AB - A prospective study for evaluation of the pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) as a risk factor in extracapsular surgery was undertaken from February 1986 to June 1988. The study included 2042 planned extracapsular cataract extractions performed by 12 surgeons. Seventy-two eyes revealed PES (3.5%). Frequency of PES increased with age (p less than 0.005). The male-female ratio of PES was 1:1.6, and eyes of average axial length showed PES more frequently than myopic or hyperopic eyes, although these differences were not significant statistically. The incidence of vitreous loss was 11.1% in eyes with PES and 1.6% in eyes without PES, a sevenfold increase that was statistically significant (p less than 0.0001). Rupture of the posterior lens capsule was observed in 4.2% of PES eyes compared to 2.8% of eyes without PES (no significance). The pseudoexfoliation syndrome is not a harmless anomaly, but a potentially disastrous disease of the anterior segment of the eye. As precautionary measures we recommend thorough biomicroscopic examination preoperatively for signs of PES, iridotomy or sector iridectomy in cases with poorly dilating pupils, very gentle manipulation intraoperatively, and posterior chamber lens sulcus implantation in eyes with zonular defects or phacodonesis. PMID- 2625278 TI - [Change in the permeability of the blood-aqueous humor barrier in sulcus-fixed posterior capsule lenses]. AB - In eyes in which posterior chamber lens implantation with sulcus fixation had been performed more than 2 years previously, the pathohistological findings showed that trophic changes can be caused in the area of the back surface of the iris and ciliary body. By means of fluorophotometric measurements, we studied the extent to which persistent disturbances in the blood-intraocular fluid barrier could be demonstrated postoperatively - even in eyes with no clinical evidence of impairment. Of the 33 eyes examined, 26 showed no ophthalmological findings, 2 eyes showed pronounced atrophy of the iris in the region of the adjacent lens tactile, and in 5 eyes piercing of the iris occurred through the lens haptic postoperatively. In all cases, the procedure had been performed at least 2 years ago. None of the patients noticed any impairment of vision. In the 26 eyes without ophthalmoscopically visible damage of the iris and ciliary body, there was no increase of fluorescein in the medium in the anterior chamber (mean value: -11 +/- 39). On the other hand, in the 5 eyes with perforation of the iris, there was a slight increase in the staining (mean value: +9.8 +/- 45), but it was not statistically significant. PMID- 2625279 TI - [Light and electron microscopy of the human, anterior cataract capsule]. AB - Forty-three anterior lens capsules and epithelium from cataract patients extracted during extracapsular cataract surgery were examined by light microscopy and morphometry. An additional 15 lens capsules were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Morphometric examination revealed a positive correlation between age and the lens capsule thickness of 0.08 micron/year. The medium lens capsule thickness of a 65-year-old human being was 8.65 microns. Light microscopy of cataractous anterior lens capsule and epithelium demonstrated proliferative changes with a multilamellar arrangement of the lens epithelial cells and an increase in the pleomorphic appearance of the cell and nucleus. Examination of the lens capsule revealed intracapsular foamy and vacuolic deposits with a localized splitting of the lens capsule. Transmission electromicroscopy established certain aspects of the lens capsule and epithelium. We found intracytoplasmatic single cilia and fibrillar intracytoplasmatic structures, with a diameter of 12-20 nm arranged in a pseudocrystalline fashion. The anterior lens capsule demonstrated similarly localized deviations from the normal homogeneous structure of type IV collagen, resulting in intracapsular deposition of fibrillar material. These observations suggest that cataractogenesis is associated with ultrastructural metaplastic and degenerative alteration of the lens epithelium and capsule. PMID- 2625280 TI - [Endocapsular cataract surgery using the excimer laser at 308 nm]. AB - We present our experience with in vitro endocapsular cataract surgery ("phakoablation") using the excimer laser at a wavelength of 308 nm. The ablation threshold for human lens nuclei (0.5 J/cm2) was found to be significantly lower compared to that for the capsule (1.5 J/cm2). A total energy of 215 J (mean value) is required for endocapsular ablation of human lens nuclei. For cataract surgery the laser pulses are coupled to a quartz fiber that is integrated into an irrigation/aspiration handpiece. Using the prototype we developed, endocapsular cataract surgery on autopsy eyes with opaque lenses could be performed within about 30 min without major damage to the capsule. Initial measurements of retinal UV exposure indicate that retinal damage might be expected only if the posterior lens capsule is ruptured. Thus endocapsular cataract surgery with the excimer laser seems to be feasible. PMID- 2625281 TI - [Ocular outflow resistance and rate of secretion of aqueous humor following iridotomy and posterior capsulotomy with the Nd:YAG laser]. AB - When the Nd:YAG laser is used for iridotomy and posterior capsulotomy an elevation in the intraocular pressure (IOP) is often found within the first few postoperative hours and in some cases for even 1-3 days. In 39 eyes the changes in postoperative intraocular pressure were noted and the preoperative as well as the postoperative outflow facility and aqueous secretion flow measured by oculopressiontonometry. The results demonstrated that in both iridotomy and posterior capsulotomy a reduction in the outflow facility caused the postoperative rise in IOP. Aqueous secretion flow did not increase. Most iridotomy patients had glaucoma and consequently reduced preoperative outflow facility. This determined the postoperative IOP elevation. In capsulotomy patients, no such correlation was evident, but the role of the laser energy applied seems to be more important according to our results. PMID- 2625282 TI - [Keratopathy following vitrectomy with silicone oil injection]. AB - We present a retrospective study on keratopathy following vitrectomy and injection of SF96 silicone oil (viscosity 1000 centipoise, n = 232 eyes) and the purified OP 1000 silicone oil (viscosity 1000 centipoise, n = 129 eyes). In cases with aniridia, with closed inferior basal iridectomy (IBI) or without IBI, keratopathy was found in 74 of the 166 eyes (45%) injected with silicone SF96 and in 14 of the 30 eyes (47%) injected with silicone OP 1000. An intact IBI reduced the incidence of keratopathy to 0% (SF96, 0/45 eyes) or 6% (OP1000, 5/88 eyes) when the anterior chamber was free of silicone. When silicone oil was in contact with the corneal endothelium (due to periretinal reproliferation, hypotony, overfilling or droplet formation), there was corneal decompensation in 66% (SF96, 14/21 eyes) or 55% (OP1000, 6/11 eyes). The keratopathy presents as calcified band keratopathy or diffuse bullous corneal edema as in "endothelial decompensation." These variations in keratopathy are in agreement with the following basic diagnoses: 77% (43/56 eyes) of trauma patients (n = 130) develop calcified band keratopathy, and 47% (24/51 eyes) of patients with idiopathic proliferative vitreoretinopathy (n = 182) present with diffuse bullous corneal edema. PMID- 2625283 TI - [Systemic cyclosporin A therapy in high risk keratoplasty]. AB - The authors have treated seven patients (eight eyes) with systemic cyclosporin-A for up to 1.5 years after high-risk keratoplasty a chaud. The fellow eye was compromised in all except one of the patients treated. Two patients (three eyes) had had a corneal perforation as a result of alkali burns or herpetic keratouveitis without previous grafting; five patients (five eyes) had had multiple corneal grafts (up to three grafts in one eye). Each patient received the medication pre- and postoperatively in organ transplant concentrations. In each case reported, the graft survived; however, visual acuity was reduced due to epithelial problems in four of eight eyes. Cyclosporin A may help to provide a better prognosis for allogeneic keratoplasty in high-risk situations. Long-term results in larger populations and comparison with other modes of minimizing graft rejection will define the role of cyclosporin A in allogeneic high-risk keratoplasty. PMID- 2625284 TI - [Fibrin glue improves wound healing of non-perforating keratotomy]. AB - Wound healing in non-perforating keratotomy with and without application of fibrin glue was studied in 28 rabbits. The following advantages were observed after filling the wound space with fibrin glue (Tissucol): (1) fibrin glue prevented epithelial invasion of the wound space; (2) fibrin stimulated fibroblastic activity and served as a matrix for fibroblasts and keratocytes; (3) fibrin accelerated wound healing and strengthened the scar formed. PMID- 2625285 TI - [Bipolar temperature controlled diathermy of the sclera for controlled refractive change of the cornea]. AB - A bipolar scleral diathermy unit measuring tissue temperature beneath the electrodes was used in 27 autopsy eyes to induce corneal curvature changes in order to modify corneal refraction. The optimal coagulation temperature was found to be between 65 degrees and 70 degrees C. The refractive effect was influenced by the distance of the electrodes (1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm), their location ("limbal distance") and their position in reference to the limbus ("radial", "parallel"). The highest corneal curvature changes were observed with diathermy applied directly at the limbus or 1 mm distance from the limbus. The corneal meridian corresponding to the treated sclera regularly became significantly steeper and the untreated 90 degrees meridian flatter. Limbus parallel diathermy administered directly at the limbus showed a 0.91 mm increase in the corneal curvature with a 2 mm distance or a 0.34 mm increase with a 3 mm distance of both electrodes. Placing the electrodes radially or parallel of the limbus revealed greatest changes in corneal refraction using diathermy directly at the limbus or 1 mm distant from the limbus. The refractive effect decreased as the distance from the limbus increased. Corneal astigmatism could be decreased and increased in a quasi controlled manner. Over-lapping diathermy offered the potential of gradually changing the corneal power. Histological sections showed that scleral collagen had only a superficial coagulation effect. Scleral diathermy offers great advantages in comparison to corneal incisions for the therapy of corneal astigmatism. Further investigations are in progress. PMID- 2625286 TI - [Superficial ablation of the cornea using the excimer laser (193 nm)]. AB - The final result of corneal surgery such as resection of the pterygium or lamellar keratoplasty is a rough corneal surface. Scanning electron microscopy shows that it is possible to obtain a smoother surface by using the 193 nm excimer laser, as it shows significantly better results than with conventional methods. This procedure was tested on eight patients and documented photographically. PMID- 2625287 TI - [In vitro studies of refractive corneal surgery using the excimer laser with quartz fiber]. AB - With the application of different approved drugs, UV absorption of the cornea at 308 nm could be increased by more than three orders of magnitude, which provided effective shielding of intraocular structures against 308 nm excimer laser radiation. The width of the thermal damage zones at the edges of 308 nm excimer laser excisions was reduced to a few micrometers by our treatment. The ablation threshold was reduced by this treatment and the ablation rates were increased by a factor of three to five. In principle, these results offer the possibility of performing refractive corneal surgery with excimer lasers at 308 nm via quartz fibers. PMID- 2625288 TI - [Non-freeze epikeratoplasty in recurrent pterygium]. AB - We present five patients with recurrent pterygium. Prior to our surgical procedure the patients had had several surgical interventions as well as radiotherapy. Up to four-fifths of their corneal surface was covered by a multilayered pterygium including symblepharon scarring in the lower and upper lid, completely immobilizing the globe. The pterygium was removed, the conjunctival strains excised, and corneal abrasion was carried out with a rotating diamond tool. Finally, an optical non-freeze epikeratoplasty processed by the Non-freeze Barraquer-Krumreich-Swinger refractive set (BKS-1000) was sewn on the recipient cornea with a double running antitorque suture. In all patients, the epikeratoplasty donor cornea remained clear. In one patient there was a small pterygium recurrence, which was treated successfully with 5-fluorouracil. PMID- 2625289 TI - [Graphic assessment of retinal findings by computer]. AB - Despite the increasing amount of patient data in the area of words and numbers that is being stored by computer, the graphic storage of ophthalmological findings has found only limited success. However, a sketch is much more instructive than a description in words. This paper shows that by using a suitable computer with a graphic oriented disc-operating system and a purchasable graphic and data base program, it is easily possible to generate sketches of retinal detachment on a computer screen. In the graphic program, all of the necessary symbols are already available when the program is started. The user just makes a copy of the symbols he needs to "draw" the actual fundus findings. We use the system of Meyer-Schwickerath. Afterwards, the drawing on the monitor is transferred into the data base program and stored. PMID- 2625290 TI - [Long-term follow-up of deterioration of the visual field in visual acuity in retinitis pigmentosa]. AB - The first part of this presentation is devoted to the problem of determining the precise time of onset of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). For the purpose of this discussion we will stay with the definition of the beginning of RP as that date on which the decrease in dark adaptation is first noticed, rather than visual field loss, which is subject to even greater uncertainty. The cases selected demonstrate that the period between the first sign of night-blindness and a noticeable narrowing of the visual field can vary greatly. A latent period of slow progress is followed by marked decrease in visual function. In a third period the area loss proceeds linearly. The course of the disease was observed over periods of up to 16 years using the Goldmann perimeter. Several stages of visual field deterioration are presented over periods of up to 65 years. The mode of visual field loss depends on the diameter of the test objects employed. PMID- 2625291 TI - [Pseudophakic retinal detachment is frequently a sequela of surgical complications]. AB - In a retrospective study we analyzed the records of 18 patients with pseudophakic retinal detachment. Cataract operation had been performed by extracapsular (n = 14) and intracapsular procedures (n = 6). In 14 of 18 cases, intra- or postoperative complications preceded the retinal detachment: capsular rupture with vitreous loss and anterior vitrectomy during cataract operation (n = 5), vitreous wick (n = 5), and explantation of the intraocular lens because of chronic intraocular inflammation (n = 3). At the time of admittance for retinal surgery, 14 patients (78%) had a detached macula. In 8 cases (44%), proliferative vitreoretinopathy had developed. In 17 of 18 cases (94%), the retina could be reattached by buckling procedures alone or combined with vitrectomy and SF6 or silicone oil tamponade. The risk of retinal detachment in pseudophakic eyes should be reduced by careful anterior vitrectomy in cases of vitreous prolapse and vitreous wick or by avoiding lens implantation in complicated cataract operations. PMID- 2625292 TI - [Retinopathy of prematurity: long-term results following trans-conjunctival cryocoagulation]. AB - Between January 1977 and December 1984, 2173 premature infants with a birthweight of under 2500 g were examined. In accordance with the Patz and Payne classification, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was diagnosed in 6.2% of the cases. In 1.5% ROP was at stage III; 26 children (47 eyes) in stage III who were showing further deterioration were treated by means of transconjunctival cryocoagulation, mostly with local anesthesia. We were able to examine 18 patients (32 treated eyes) during a follow-up period from 1985 to 1986. In 56%, it was possible to prevent the development of cicatricial stages altogether by cryopexy treatment; 31% developed cicatricial stage I and II with little impairment of vision. Four of 32 eyes (13%) showed extensive amotio retinae with retrolental membranes (cicatricial stage IV-V). As apposed to light and laser coagulation, cryopexy is less time consuming because there are fewer focal points. If local anesthesia is used, there is a further advantage, as general anesthesia involves other numerous risks, particularly for premature infants. PMID- 2625293 TI - [Quantification of the wavelength dependence of laser-induced choroid coagulation]. AB - The penetration depth of laser light into the fundus is dependent on the wavelength. Thereby, the profile of damage depends on the absorption and on the temperature profile. It has been demonstrated earlier that wavelength-dependent differences in penetration depth are hard to detect ophthalmoscopically or histologically in severe lesions in Chinchilla gray rabbits. Therefore in this study, the wavelength-dependent exposure powers necessary for (1) similar retinal effects and (2) similar choroidal effects were compared. The resulting wavelength dependent differences were smaller than expected-due to at least three reasons: (1) predominance of the temperature profile over the absorption profile for clinically useful exposure times; (2) light scatter in the retina in relationship to the exposure time (and wavelength?): (3) changes in the choroidal geometry in relationship to the exposure time and wavelength. Nevertheless, it appears to be possible to spare the retina somewhat by using longer wavelengths. In order to evaluate the clinical situation experimentally despite the fact that the human choroid is about three times thicker than the rabbit choroid, a geometrical model has been developed. The results indicate that the retina is less damaged using Nd:YAG lasers than using argon lasers when similar choroidal effects are produced. PMID- 2625294 TI - [Dosimetry of ruthenium applicators with an eye phantom and small volume thermoluminescence detectors]. AB - Even though 106Ru/106Rh applicators have been in clinical use over more than two decades for the radiotherapy of malignant uveal melanomas, the dosimetry of emitted beta radiation is still a physical problem. The dose rate at the applicator surface and the depth dose in tissue equivalent material can be determined only within +/- 30% error. Using new cubic-shaped thermoluminescence detectors (TLD) with small volume the dose distribution is examined in water equivalent material (RW-1). The spatial resolution is 14 times better compared to the previous technique. From dose measurements in an eye phantom the homogeneity of nuclide deposition and the depth dose distribution of a 106Ru/106Rh applicator are determined. PMID- 2625295 TI - [Eye manifestations in borreliosis--bilateral panuveitis with exudative retinal detachment]. AB - Lyme disease, a tick-borne infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, can lead to various different organ manifestations. Severe ocular effects however, have until now been rare. The case of a 20-year-old woman is reported, who developed systemic illness (headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea) and severe bilateral panuveitis with exudative retinal detachment about 2-3 weeks after several insect bites. The case history, clinical course, and serological examinations suggest an infection with B. burgdorferi. Later on, the fluorescein angiography results and clinical picture were suggestive of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE). The etiology of this disease is unknown so far, but it may be possible that infections with B. burgdorferi are of etiological significance. PMID- 2625296 TI - [CO2 laser vaporization of papilloma of the conjunctiva and eyelids]. AB - In irradiated tissue, the farinfrared CO2 laser generates high temperatures of around 400 degrees C. Thermal damage can occur at the borders of the area being treated, but there are good hemostatic properties and thermal sterilization of the irradiated tissue. Photovaporization of papillomas has been occasionally proposed to achieve thermal inactivation of papilloma viruses and reduce the recurrence rates. Seventy-five cases of recurrent squamous papilloma were vaporized with a CO2 laser and followed-up for over 2 years. Only 2 recurrences were observed (20% have been reported after surgical excision). The procedure is quick, safe, easy to perform and well accepted by the patient. Good hemostatic properties, lack of cicatrication, and excellent cosmetic results are further advantages. Histological examination may be limited by thermal tissue damage. PMID- 2625297 TI - [Chiasma lesion following severe craniocerebral trauma. Clinical, functional and neuroradiologic characteristics exemplified by a rare case]. AB - The case of a patient who fell from a height of 30 feet is presented. After discharge from the intensive care unit, a decrease in central vision, bitemporal hemianopsia, characteristic changes in the pattern of visual evoked potentials, and bone fractures of the sella turcica were documented. No direct injury to the chiasma could be found by CT or MRI. The possible types of lesions and the mechanisms leading to them are discussed with regard to earlier pathological anatomical studies. PMID- 2625298 TI - [Digital subtraction phlebography of the orbit. Technic and diagnostic value]. AB - Orbital venography in the diagnostic assessment of vascular and extravascular expanding lesions of the orbit has been almost abandoned during the last decade due to the rapid development of computed tomography, ultrasound echography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is a new angiographic modality that has recently replaced conventional techniques. DSA saves time and contrast media while facilitating vascular imaging and processing; this decreases the invasiveness of angiographic procedures. We describe the technique used for orbital phlebography via puncture of a frontal vein and injection of a contrast medium during manual compression of the infraorbital veins. We present the history and diagnostic findings of a 21-year-old man suffering from an orbital varix and discuss the diagnostic value of digital subtraction phlebography. In summary, the application of digital subtraction techniques is recommended as an additional diagnostic modality, particularly when impaired venous perfusion of the orbit is suspected. PMID- 2625299 TI - [The Bebie curve (cumulative defect curve) for differentiating local and diffuse visual field defects]. AB - Damage to the visual field can be diffuse as well as local. In the absence of local defects, diffuse damage can easily be recognized with the help of the visual field indices. In the presence of scotomas, diffuse damage in the remaining part of the visual field which is better or "normal" is more difficult to recognize and quantify. Bebie et al. have published a new method of assessing the visual field in relation to normal values. They present the results with a cumulative defect curve, a method which we have called the "Bebie curve". This method allows an easy recognition of diffuse as well as local damage. In our study we evaluate the clinical application of the Bebie curve in different diseases and for the follow-up of the visual field. PMID- 2625300 TI - [Pupillographic perimetry using the "Octopus"]. AB - The Octopus 2000 computerized perimeter (Interzeag, Schlieren, Switzerland) is combined with an infrared videopupillograph (Demel, Haan, FRG) which at the same time records the direct pupil light response and controls fixation. Digital processing of the pupil video image is performed at a rate of 25 cps. A transient oscilloscope display of the pupil surface after each light stimulus covers the subsequent 1000 ms, so that either pupillary light reflexes or the lack of a response can immediately be identified. An additional continuous penwriter printout shows light stimuli, pupil responses and the subject's responses. Thus, potential discrepancies between the pupil response and the subject's response are clearly revealed. The examination conditions slightly deviate from the standard ones used with the Octopus. Stimulus size is analogous to the target Goldmann/V, the stimulus duration 100 ms and the adaptive illumination 1 cd/m2. Pupil fatigue considerably exceeds visual fatigue. Therefore standard Octopus perimetric programs are inconvenient for pupilloperimetric purposes. A Sargon-based pupilloperimetric program determines pupillomotor increment thresholds at 12 stimulus locations throughout the visual field (20 degrees nasal, 0 degrees, 20 degrees and 40 degrees temporal/15 degrees above the 0 degrees meridian, 0 degrees meridian and 15 degrees below the 0 degrees meridian) while applying the normal Octopus strategy of threshold calculation. Instead of the patient's subjective responses, the examiner's assessment of pupil responses provides the basis for threshold determination by the Octopus program. The subjects are unaware of the mode of examination. Their rating of "seen" or "not seen" ist displayed together with the pupil responses, thus providing a hard copy as proof of malingering or of appropriate cooperation. PMID- 2625301 TI - [Automated flicker perimetry]. AB - Flicker fusion frequency (FFF), the threshold criterion of flicker perimetry, is a functional parameter of the temporal transfer properties of the visual system. An automated flicker perimeter suitable for clinical routine purposes is presented that allows perimetric examination of the central visual field with high spatial resolution. The intent of the present study was to investigate the outcome of flicker perimetry in comparison to static light-sense perimetry. In the majority of cases of ocular hypertension and suspected glaucoma (n = 31), chronic open-angle glaucoma (n = 36) and acute neuritis/papillitis (n = 10) defects are indicated by flicker perimetry in areas of the visual field with normal light sensitivity according to static light-sense perimetry (Octopus 201, program G 1). In many cases of preproliferative diabetic retinopathy (n = 10), however, flicker perimetry indicates fewer defects than static perimetry (Octopus 201, program 32). The results collected up to now suggest that automated flicker perimetry might represent a specific functional test of the retinal Y-ganglion cells. PMID- 2625302 TI - [Visual evoked cortical potentials modified by a NMR magnetic field of 0.24 Tesla]. AB - The visual evoked cortical potentials (VECP) of ten persons with normal vision were investigated under the influence of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) field with a magnetic field strength of 0.24 T. An increase in latency of 2.09 ms for the mean value was found with weak significance and a significant increase of 2.55 ms for the median under magnetic field influence. There were no remaining changes in the VECP after ceasing the magnetic field. The method and results are demonstrated and discussed. PMID- 2625303 TI - [Postoperative recovery of visual function in sella tumors: prognostic assessment by electro-ophthalmologic studies]. AB - Preoperative examination of the visual system in patients with tumors of the sellar region is usually limited to checking the visual acuity, assessing the visual field, and ophthalmoscopy of the optic disc. In addition to these tests we investigated pre- and postoperatively 35 patients with meningiomas, pituitary adenomas and other sellar and parasellar tumors by recording the pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and the pattern-evoked cortical potential (PVECP) in order to evaluate functional and possible structural impairment of the visual pathway. Based on electro-ophthalmological tests, the retinal and cortical findings were classified as: regular ERG and VECP (0), regular ERG and irregular VECP (1), irregular ERG and VECP (2). Up to six months postoperatively, eyes with alteration of the VECP alone (category 1) showed recovery of visual function, while those with alteration of ERG as well (category 2) did not recover in visual function. Since loss of the PERG or long-lasting alteration of it is indicative of irreversible impairment of the inner retinal layers including the retinal ganglion cells, repeat examination of the pattern ERG is recommended in disturbances caused by alterations in the central nervous system. PMID- 2625304 TI - [3-dimensional biomorphometry of the papilla using a laser tomography scanning procedure--initial experiences with pathologic papillar findings]. AB - Three-dimensional topographical analysis of the optic nerve head and the parapapillary region was performed with a confocal laser tomographic scanner. Four patients with various disorders of the optic nerve head (glaucoma, optic disk pit, morning glory syndrome and a parapapillary neoplasm) were investigated as examples of application of the method in a clinical setting. PMID- 2625305 TI - [Combined oblique muscle surgery in bilateral trochlear paralysis]. AB - Fifteen patients with bilateral trochlear paresis underwent oblique muscle surgery. In 12 cases, a superior oblique tuck and inferior oblique recession were performed uni- or bilaterally. In 3 cases, a superior oblique muscle tuck was sufficient. Excyclotropia and vertical deviations in adduction, primary position and abduction were alleviated by surgery in most cases. The upper and lower limits of the field of single binocular vision were on average 15 degrees in the upward-gaze and 25 degrees in the downward-gaze. The presence of postoperative Brown syndrome was rarely disturbing to the patient. Postoperatively, the effects of surgery decreased only slightly over time. We found that in cases of bilateral superior oblique palsy, a tuck in one or both superior oblique muscles sufficed only when the excyclotropia in the primary position did not exceed 15 degrees, when the vertical deviation in adduction did not exceed 3 degrees and when the V pattern was minimal. We found that uni- or bilateral surgery on both superior and inferior oblique muscles could successfully alleviate excyclotropia of more than 20 degrees with a vertical deviation in the primary position of more than 5 degrees. PMID- 2625306 TI - [Familial nystagmus and hypoplasia of the macular in reciprocal, balanced translocation 5/16]. AB - We observed three patients with nystagmus and hypoplasia of the macula. The patients had a translocation of 5/16. PMID- 2625307 TI - [A new treatment concept in severe caustic injuries and burns of the eye]. AB - In severe burns of the eye the combination of surgical and drug therapy has proved to be useful. Initially, necrotic epibulbar tissues were excised. Large areas of denuded and in many cases ischemic sclera were covered with Tenon flaps, which were prepared and advanced from the parabulbar undamaged connective tissue. For several months an artificial epithelium was used to protect the denuded and to a large extent acellular corneal stroma. Subsequently, drug therapy including corticosteroids, Healon and prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors was applied to reduce the inflammatory reaction of the burned anterior eye segment. Regeneration of the conjunctival and the corneal epithelia can be improved by epidermal growth factor, autologous fibronectin and proteinase inhibitor (Trasylol). This therapy avoids some of the complications that could not be managed up to now and thus provides more favorable conditions for corneal grafts later. PMID- 2625308 TI - [Changes in the temporal neuroretinal border area of the papilla following pressure-reducing surgery]. AB - The Optic Nerve Head Analyzer (Rodenstock Munchen, FRG) was used to investigate the optic disc structure of 9 eyes before and after surgical reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP). Four out of 9 eyes showed a marked increase of their temporal neuroretinal rim area after surgery (between 140% and 400%). The observed increase of neuroretinal rim area was still present after more than one year, although it was less pronounced. Five eyes did not show changes of the neuroretinal rim area of their optic discs. A further evaluation regarding IOP and visual field of the 9 eyes examined lead to the following results: 1) There is no correlation between increase of neuroretinal rim area and extent of IOP reduction, i.e. some eyes showed an increase of neuroretinal rim area with only slight IOP reduction whereas others with more pronounced IOP reduction did not show an increase of neuroretinal rim area. 2) All eyes showing an increase of neuroretinal rim area after surgical IOP reduction had normal visual fields an a mean sensitivity of more than 24.5 dB within the central part of the G 1-program of the Octopus perimeter. 3) All eyes without increase of the neuroretinal rim area after surgical IOP reduction had visual field defects and a mean sensitivity of less than 19 dB within the central part of the G 1-program. According to these data we suppose that occurrance of increase of neuroretinal rim area after glaucoma surgery depends mainly on the stage of glaucoma (as determined by visual field testing) and that it is not clearly correlated to the amount of IOP reduction. PMID- 2625309 TI - [Video fluorescence angiography for studying the hemodynamics of the eye]. AB - The fluorescence angiogram can be recorded continuously with a video camera equipped with a low light amplifier and attached to a 3/4-inch videorecorder. The light intensities are low enough not to disturb the patient. Indocyanine and infrared light are used to examine the choroid. Conventional fundus cameras with 30 degrees or 50 degrees frames can be used. The inflow of the dye may be followed through the arterioles into the precapillary vessels. The capillaries themselves can only be seen as diffuse background fluorescence. Subsequently, the filling of the venules can be seen. The quality of the videofluorescence angiograms also allows nonperfusion areas and leakage of the fluorescein to be identified. Compared to conventional photography, angiography using the videotechnique allows to evaluate the blood flow with electronic procedures. The dilution curves obtained from the image analyzing system are not perfect because of reperfusion of the dye, but the exact time point when the fluorescein appears in the arterioles and venules can be defined and reproduced. From such measurements the arteriovenous passage time (AVP) and the speed of the dye bolus in the vessel (FBG) can be calculated. The clinical value of videofluorescence angiography evaluated with the image analyzing system has been proven in more than 1000 patients suffering from diseases of the retinal circulation. In cases with thromboses of the central retinal veins, occlusion of the central retinal arteries, stenoses of the internal carotid arteries, diabetic retinopathy and arterial hypertension, the extent of the retinal circulation disturbances could be defined by measuring the AVP and the FBG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625310 TI - [Animal experiment studies of the ocular toxicity of cardiac glycosides]. AB - The addition of different types of cardiac glycosides (strophanthin, digoxin, digitoxin) to the perfusion medium of isolated cat eyes, kept alive by extracorporeal perfusion, leads to changes in ERG. There is a dose-dependent reduction of the b-wave amplitude in scotopic and photopic electroretinogram (ERG). At the same time the implicit time of the potentials increases. In the scotopic-isolated P III component, both amplitude and implicit time increase. The concentrations inducing ERG changes that are fully reversible after cessation of drug application correlate well with the known toxic drug blood levels in humans. The disappearance rate of the drug induced effects was almost equal under these conditions (extracorporeal perfusion) for the different glycosides. In conclusion, our results indicate that at least part of the visual symptoms of glycoside intoxication are already evident at the retinal level. PMID- 2625311 TI - [Occlusion site and occlusion time of central artery occlusions: diagnostic references caused by changes in the collapse phenomenon of the central artery in ophthalmodynamometry]. AB - The collapse of the central retinal artery in ophthalmodynamometry is typically altered in cases of central retinal artery occlusion. The alterations of the collapse phenomenon can be used to obtain the following information: (1) location of the occlusion; (2) duration of the occlusion. This information is of great value in determining the pathogenesis and therapy of central retinal artery occlusion. PMID- 2625312 TI - [Changes in uveal and retinal hemodynamics caused by retrobulbar anesthesia using various injection volumes]. AB - In 20 patients, retrobulbar injections of 2 or 5 ml local anesthetic (bupivacaine lidocaine mixture with hyaluronidase) were given preoperatively. Directly after the 5-ml injection, the systolic retinal and ciliary perfusion pressures (measured by means of oculo-oscillo-dynamography according to Ulrich) were reduced by an average of 5.6 mmHg (p less than 0.001) in comparison with the untreated fellow eyes. The ocular pulsation volume (PVoc) was reduced by 39%. Fifteen minutes after the 5-ml injection, the perfusion pressures and PVoc were reduced even slightly more. The intraocular pressure (Pio) was increased by an average of 3.2 mmHg directly after the 5-ml injection, whereas after 15 min the Pio had reassumed its preinjection level. After the 2-ml injection, the PVoc was reduced by the same amount as found after the 5-ml injection. However, there was no significant change in perfusion pressures or Pio after the 2-ml injection. The findings observed during retrobulbar anesthesia may be interpreted as an inhibitory effect on ocular hemodynamics, which increases at higher injection volumes. This effect cannot be accounted for by adrenaline--which was not employed--and can at best only partially be accounted for by the changes in Pio. PMID- 2625313 TI - [Intraocular pressure and ocular hemodynamics following oculopression with and without added retrobulbar anesthesia]. AB - Two series of experiments were performed prior to cataract surgery. In series 1, in 30 patients oculopression was performed for 15 min (30, 40 or 50 mmHg). Directly after oculopression the intraocular pressure (Pio) was found to be reduced by an average of 10.7 mmHg. Systolic retinal and ciliary perfusion pressures (measured by means of oculo-oscillodynamography according to Ulrich) were found to be increased by an average of 5.4 mmHg, and the ocular pulsation volume (PVoc) was unchanged. In series 2, we injected 5 ml of anesthetic plus adrenaline behind the eye in 20 patients, followed by 15 min of oculopression (30 or 40 mmHg). Directly after the injection, Pio was found to have increased by 3.7 mmHg, and the perfusion pressures and PVoc were reduced by an average of 8 mmHg and 51%, respectively. Directly after oculopression (15 min after injection), Pio was lower by 10.1 mmHg, but the perfusion pressures and PVoc also remained lower. The changes observed in series 1 and 2 did not depend on the amount of oculopression. We conclude that a reduction in Pio after oculopression has a beneficial effect on the ocular circulation (increased perfusion pressures), whereas retrobulbar anesthesia has an inhibitory effect (reduction of perfusion pressures and PVoc). The hemodynamic effects of oculopression are largely suppressed by additional retrobulbar anesthesia. PMID- 2625314 TI - [A new method for semi-quantitative alpha 1-antitrypsin determination in human tear fluid]. AB - We developed a simple and rapid semiquantitative method for the determination of alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha-1-AT) in human tears. It is a modification of Endre's method (1974) which was originally developed for the determination of serum alpha 1-AT. A filter paper disc saturated with trypsin was placed on the light sensitive side of a color slide that had been developed unexposed. The trypsin digested the gelatine layers containing different stains and the film under the filter paper showed various colors depending on the trypsin content of the filter paper and the duration of digestion. If the filter paper discs saturated with trypsin had been treated with 5 microliters of tears before film digestion, the trypsin inhibitors in the tears partially or totally inhibited the digestion of the layers with different stains. Four grades of tear trypsin inhibitor capacity were differentiated on the basis of the inhibition of film digestion. These grades correspond to four alpha-1-AT concentration ranges: I greater than 150 micrograms/ml; II = 50-150 micrograms/ml; III = 15-50 micrograms/ml; IV less than 15 micrograms/ml. The concentration ranges were determined by radial immune diffusion. Alpha-1-AT was determined in the tears of 14 normal and 36 pathological eyes using the film digestion method. This method has been found to be suitable for rapid clinical and screening examinations and for the diagnosis of different types of keratitis. PMID- 2625315 TI - [A system for generating standardized abbreviations in ophthalmologic information systems]. AB - Every ophthalmological report includes documentation of the examination methods used and the results. This publication introduces a system to generate standardized abbreviations by using only 32 characters to describe all of the parameters of an examination. This amount of characters is quite appropriate in EDP. The examination method can be abbreviated with 8 characters, including the examination material, the description of the examination method, and the time of the examination. The results can be abbreviated by using only 24 (if necessary + n x 32) characters. A thesaurus can be used to define the units in relationship to the examination methods described. Defining standardized abbreviations makes it possible to use ophthalmological information systems to their best advantage to promote efficiency, easy communication, and optimal report presentation for the benefit of our patients. PMID- 2625316 TI - [Problems in care using dental metal materials from allergy point of view]. PMID- 2625317 TI - [Dental practice in the 90s]. PMID- 2625318 TI - [Treatment of shallow and deep cavities. 2]. PMID- 2625319 TI - Third joint meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrinology Society (LWPES). Jerusalem, October 29 November 3, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2625320 TI - Thyroid function tests in children with congenital hypothyroidism on L-thyroxine treatment. AB - The plasma levels of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), free T4 (FT4), free T3 (FT3), reverse T3 (rT3) and immunoradiometrically assayed thyrotropin (IRMA TSH) have been measured in 28 L-T4-treated children with congenital hypothyroidism as well as in a control group (group C). The patients were subdivided into 2 groups according to the nonsuppressed (group A) or suppressed (group B) TSH response to TSH-releasing hormone (TRH). Basal IRMA TSH correlated with the TSH increment after TRH and it was significantly lower in group B vs. groups A and C, while no difference was present between groups A and B in regard to T4, FT4 and rT3, all higher than in group C. FT3 levels were similar in the 3 groups. In children, as in adults, basal IRMA TSH seems to be a reliable index in monitoring overtreatment. PMID- 2625321 TI - Reduced pituitary volume in children with short stature: clinical and radiological correlates. AB - A retrospective evaluation of 80 cases of growth retardation evaluated at the Hopital Sainte-Justine of Montreal has revealed that 20 of them (25%; 15 boys and 5 girls) had a reduction of pituitary volume as revealed by high-resolution CT scanning of the pituitary gland. Of these patients, 8 had complete growth hormone (GH) deficiency, as evaluated by arginine infusion and L-Dopa-propranolol testing and nocturnal blood sampling, and 3 had GH neurosecretory dysfunction. Five patients had combined or multiple hormonal deficiencies. A statistically significant correlation was found between nocturnal plasma GH values and pituitary volumes. From this study it can be concluded that reduced pituitary volume is a frequent finding in growth-retarded children with hypopituitarism. PMID- 2625322 TI - Relationship between fetal adrenal morphology and anterior pituitary function. AB - A comparative study of adrenal morphology between normal fetuses and those with anencephaly or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) was performed in order to examine the hypothesis that fetal adrenal mass and structure are adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH)-dependent throughout gestation. Combined adrenal weight in 102 normal fetuses was used to establish a reference range for the gestational ages of 15-27 weeks. During this period, mean adrenal weight showed a 6-fold linear increase. In 38 anencephalic fetuses of similar gestation age, adrenal weight was below the normal range and did not show a rise. Three fetuses with CAH (18, 22 and 30 weeks gestation) had adrenal weights considerably above the normal range. Adrenal cortical thickness was significantly increased in CAH fetuses, largely as a consequence of cell hypertrophy, whereas decreased cortical thickness in the anencephalic group represented cellular hypoplasia. Conspicuous secretory granules in the cytoplasm was the electron-micrographic feature of the adrenal gland in the 22-week fetus with CAH. These observations are consistent with close dependency of fetal adrenal growth and development upon fetal pituitary function from an early age, mediated primarily through ACTH. PMID- 2625323 TI - 17OH-progesterone response to acute dexamethasone administration in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. AB - Glucocorticoid-related changes in 17OH-progesterone (17P) concentrations were studied in 13 patients receiving treatment for 21-hydroxylase deficiency congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Blood spot and saliva 17P levels were elevated, with or without loss of diurnal rhythm, within 24 h of stopping maintenance glucocorticoid therapy. A single dose of dexamethasone (0.01 mg/kg) given either intravenously or orally at 09.00 h resulted in rapid onset of complete pituitary-adrenal suppression characterised by a prompt and exponential fall in 17P levels (first-order elimination half-life, mean 2.87 h, range 1.98 3.98 h). Concentrations of 17P remained low throughout the day until the onset of an abrupt nocturnal rise, which occurred between 24.00 and 05.00 h. There were individual differences in both the rate of fall and the timing of the nocturnal rise in 17P levels which may partly explain the need to vary individual steroid requirements in the treatment of CAH. PMID- 2625324 TI - Familial salivary gland insensitivity to aldosterone: a variant of pseudohypoaldosteronism. AB - Two male siblings presented in infancy with hyponatraemia. Levels of plasma renin activity and aldosterone were elevated. Sodium supplementation was necessary to maintain normal sodium balance. Urinary sodium concentration and renal epithelial exchange between sodium and potassium were normal; however, salivary sodium concentrations were markedly elevated with sweat sodium levels being in the upper normal range. Excess salivary sodium loss accounted for sodium depletion in these cases who present a new variant of pseudohypoaldosteronism associated with normal renal sodium transport. PMID- 2625325 TI - [Studies on protective monoclonal antibodies to Leishmania donovani]. AB - Kala-azar is increasing in incidence in some endemic areas of China, such as provinces of Sichuan and Gansu. Monoclonal antibodies have been shown to interfere with the cutaneous leishmaniasis infection in the experimental animals. We have now raised McAb against membrane antigen of promastigotes of L. donovani canine isolate (the pathogen of visceral leishmaniasis). In this paper we report 3 McAb which inhibit the growth of promastigotes in vitro culture by incorporation of 3H-thymine deoxyriboside, such as McAb 2B12-A8, 2H6-E3, in the presence of complement, showing strong inhibiting effects with a decrease in incorporation of 3H-TdR, 94-99.3% rate of inhibition, whereas the inhibition rate induced by McAb 1B1-C2 fluctuated in a range of 68-95%, which is identical with the results of macrophage infection inhibition test by the same McAb, 61-87%. The results of ultrastructural localization of L. donovani antigen by protective McAb 2H6-E3 with immunogold technique showed the gold particles, in clumps, widely distributed on the outer side of promastigotes membrane. According to the high density of localized gold particles, it is suggested that this antigen is abundant on the plasma membrane. PMID- 2625326 TI - [Isolation, purification and characterization of porcine brain calmodulin]. AB - The calmodulin has purified by heating, phenyl-Sepharose affinity chromatography, DEAE-cellulose chromatography and Sephadex G50 chromatography from the porcine brain and characterized. The results showed that the purified calmodulin appears just one band on PAGE slab with M.W. of 14.1 +/- 1.0 kd (containing 1 mmol/L CaCl2) and 16.9 +/- 1.2 kd (containing 1 mmol/L EGTA). Electrophoresis migration was distinctly different between the sample containing CaCl2 and the sample containing EGTA; pI = 4.35; the quantity of calmodulin required for half maximum activation of 2800 unit of PDE was 15ng. The purified calmodulin increased the activity of PDE and this action was inhibited by trifluoperazine. The yield was 4.2 mg/100g of the porcine brain. PMID- 2625327 TI - [Comparative study on protein components of ouabain resistant mutant and wild cells of Chinese hamster V79 cell line by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis]. AB - In the sense of gene expression, the primary and direct change in mutant cells should be involved in the protein component. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been used to compare the protein components of ouabain resistant mutant cells (ouaR) and sensitive wild type cells (ouaS) of chinese hamster lung cell line V79. The procedure is based on O'Farrell's method and we have made some modifications. In order to make the study reliable, we took twenty polypeptide spots as a reference marker. These marker spots could always be reproduced in a series of parallel experiments with both mutant and wild cells. In addition, these markers covered different small areas, representing different isoelectric point (pI) and molecular weight (MW) on the electrophoretogram. With reference to these marker spots, some polypeptide spots showed variations in their position, size and density. It is notable that the changes appeared in the small area 4 (pI/MW:5.0/28-30kd) and the small area (pI/MW:6.3/39kd) is highly reproducible and significant, so that these changes might be specific to ouabain resistant mutant of V79 cells. Since the level of genetic polymorphism of mammalian cells on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is quite low, these specific changes might reflect the differences in gene structure and expression. This primary study should enhance the usefulness of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for mutagenesis research with cultured mammalian somatic cells. PMID- 2625328 TI - [Estrogen and progesterone receptors in human ovary and ovarian tumors]. AB - Ovarian specimens from 159 different patients were analyzed for estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PR) content with the Dextran-coated Charcoal method. The results indicated that the contents of ER and PR in malignant ovarian tumors were not correlated with the menstrual cycle of the patient, clinical stage and differentiation of the tumor. Among malignant ovarian tumors, the mean ER and PR concentrations in sex-cord stromal tumors and endometrioid carcinomas were higher than those in other malignant ovarian tumors (P less than 0.05, P less than 0.025). This suggests the possibility of endocrine therapy for these patients with the hope for a better prognosis. PMID- 2625329 TI - [Production, identification of four McAbs against leptospiral outer membrane antigens, and analyses of outer membrane antigens of leptospires with McAbs]. AB - Four McAbs (1A7E7, 2F9D4, 2G3H5, 1A7H12) against outer membrane antigens of L. interrogans serovar Lai strain 017 were produced by hybridoma technique. McAb 1A7E7 was identified to be IgG2a, the rest IgG1 by immunodiffusion. Outer membrane antigens of three pathogenic leptospiral strains (017, 601, 156) and two non-pathogenic leptospiral strains (Patoc I, 3055) were analysed by SDS- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting with McAbs. It was found that McAb 1A7E7 recognized specifically the 42kd antigenic band of strain 017; McAb 2F9D4 the 42kd antigenic bands of strain 017, 601, 156, and McAbs 2G3H5 and 1A7H12 the 31 kd antigenic bands of 017, 601, 156. Further study of antigenic properties possessed by pathogenic leptospira may provide some new clues to look for specific diagnostic and protective antigens. PMID- 2625330 TI - [The ultrastructure of leptospires after freeze-etching]. AB - The ultrastructure of three strains of leptospires, i.e. L. interrogans serovar Lai strain 017, L. biflexa serovar patoc strain Patoc I and L. illini strain 3055, were studied with the technique of freeze-etching replica. The results showed that (1) the ultrastructure of leptospires after freeze-etching are similar to that observed by means of negative staining and ultrasectioning. There are no dramatic differences among strains of leptospires studied. (2) Globular particles exposed on the resulting two inner membrane faces are asymmetrically distributed. Large areas on EF face studied with numerous globular particles, whereas the PF face had few of them. The density of globular particles varies in different parts of leptospires, from 776/microns2 to 2303/microns2. The globular particles, 14.25 +/- 2.25 nm in diameter, represent membrane proteins in outer envelope of leptospires. (3) Axial filament, 20 nm in diameter, were seen closely surrounded by a 7 nm sheath-like structure. (4) There are subcellular structures in cytoplasm of leptospires. They appear to be ribosomes, chromatins and inclusions. PMID- 2625331 TI - [Studies on anordrin injection for termination of early pregnancy in mice]. AB - In order to increase the effectiveness on the termination of early pregnancy, anordrin injection was prepared. A nonaqueous solvent was selected as the parenteral solvent which was not irritating and toxic. The security test showed the injection was also not irritating and toxic. After the injection was heated for 76 h in 95 +/- 2 degrees C water or stored for 3 mon at 37 degrees C, the content of anordrin showed no change. The activation energy of the injection was 68.1 kJ/mol determined by thermogravimeter analysis. This also showed that the injection was steady. Results of termination of early pregnancy in mice showed that a single dose of anordrin injection (3 mg/kg) intraperitoneally was more effective than a single dose of anordrin tablet (3 mg/kg) orally (P less than 0.01). Histological studies showed that embryo, decidual cells and nutrient cells were markedly degenerated or dead when treated with the injection (3 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. PMID- 2625332 TI - [Morphological observation of termination of early pregnancy with anordrin in mice]. AB - Twenty four mice were divided randomly into experimental and control groups. There were 10 animals in the control group. In experimental group, anordrin (3 mg/kg) was injected into the peritoneal cavity to terminate early pregnancy. The control group was treated with normal saline. Pathological changes in the decidual cells, blastocysts (including giant cells), corpora lutea and embryo were observed. It was found that the animals in the control group were developing normally. In all the experimental groups decidual cells and blastocysts showed degeneration and necrosis. The granulosa lutein cells also showed degeneration. The dead embryo was embedded in the necrotic decidual cells and blastocysts. The mechanism concerned may involve a combination of various factors. The degeneration of granulosa lutein cells may be the most important of the factors. PMID- 2625333 TI - [Preliminary study of mechanism of HFMC inhibiting sperm functions]. AB - In this study, the mechanism of HFMC (copolymer of hydroxyethyl methacrylate methacrylic acid-ethyl methacrylate) inhibiting sperm functions was investigated in vitro. We found that HFMC could decrease the pH value of sperm suspension with an increase in HFMC concentration to a certain extent but the maximum decrease is no more than a value of 2.5. The inhibitory effects of HFMC on the sperm functions could be partly inverted after the pH values of sperm suspension had been shifted to its original level of pH 7.4 by the addition of proper amounts of basic solution. It is suggested that the descent of pH value may be one of the causes of HFMC inhibiting sperm functions. PMID- 2625334 TI - [Anti-implantation effect and morphological changes of corpus luteum and endometrium in rat by estriol]. AB - The anti-implantation effect of estriol on rats was studied by enzyme histochemical methods. The activities of 3beta-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD), AcP in corpus luteum, A1P in endometrium of treatment groups were compared with those of control groups. In order to know the effect of estriol on endometrium during preparing for blastocyst implanting, we counted the number of mitosis cell in endometrium of 4th day pregnant rat under microscope. Serum progesterone level of early pregnant rats was measured by radioimmunoassay the results were as follows: 1. Estriol administrated postcoitally could prevent the early pregnancy of rats by the way of anti-implantation of blastocyst; 2. Activity of ovarian corpus luteal 3beta-HSD was depressed, whereas activity of AcP increased in the treatment group; 3. The number of mitotic cell in endometrial stroma was: in the treatment group 0.2 +/- 0.2, in the control group 45.7 +/- 16.2 (P less than 0.001); A1P reaction of endometrial stroma was negative in the treatment group, whereas it was positive in the control group; and 4. The serum progesterone level was: in the treatment group 17.4 +/- 12.6, in the control group 39.3 +/- 11.1 ng/ml (P less than 0.01). The results suggest that estriol can disturb the biosynthesis of progesterone of corpus luteum and reduce the serum progesterone level. Mitosis and decidulization of stroma cell can be disturbed owing to the low serum progesterone level, so the blastocyst cannot be implanted successfully. PMID- 2625335 TI - [Pathological study of bronchio-alveolitis induced by xinkang short-fiber chrysotile asbestos in rats]. AB - Eighty-four rats were exposed intratracheally to 25 mg of locally produced Xinkang short-fiber chrysotile asbestos (98% of the fibers are less than 5 microns in length). In 1 to 3 d after instillation, the pathological changes in rat lungs demonstrated that the affection was mainly acute bronchio-alveolitis characterized by acute inflammatory exudation and injuries of the small airways and alveolar structural units. The four main manifestations of alveolitis induced by the chrysotile asbestos were of the neutrophilic, serous, alveolar macrophages and granulomatous varieties. Three types of pulmonary fibrosis developed gradually from 7 to 90 d following the exposure to the asbestos, i.e. the intraluminal, murally incorporated, and interstitial fibrosis. Findings showed the complete process from the acute inflammatory exudation and the damage to lung tissue, with the following repair and proliferation of injuried lung tissue and organization of exudate, to the final fibrosis and destruction of the lung. The results suggested that the persistent and irreversible damage to the epithelial cells of respiratory bronchioles and pneumocytes, and denudation and destruction of the basement membrane played an important role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis by forming a channel for the inflammatory exudates and fibroblasts migrating into the bronchioalveolar spaces. Therefore, the experimental results have proved that Xinkang chrysotile asbestos fibers less than 5 microns in length certainly have a fibrogenic effect. PMID- 2625336 TI - [Lung tumors induction short-term test of chloroprene in mice]. AB - In a previous report by the authors, positive results in both case-control study mouse lung tumor induction short-term test of chloroprene for carcinogenicity was conducted to determine whether chloroprene monomer itself could induce tumor. Kuangming albino mice weaned 2 wk were subjected to inhale 0.0, 2.9 +/- 0.34, 19.18 +/- 1.89, 189.00 +/- 13.26 mg/m3, chloroprene (GC purity 99.69%) 4 h daily (except Sunday) for 7 month. All survivors were killed at the end of the 8th month or when moribund. No lung tumor was found before the 6th month. Thus survivors at the 6th month were counted as effective animals. Most lung tumors observed were papillo-adenoma (50/57), and a few were adenoma (7/57). Tumor incidence of the 2.9 mg/m3 group increased to 8.1% in comparison with that of the control group (1.3%) at a significant level of P less than 0.05; and the higher the concentration the higher the incidence. Examination of the multiplicity of tumors also demonstrated the dose-response relationship, and the number of tumors per mouse in the 189 mg/m3 group was significant at P less than 0.01. PMID- 2625337 TI - [A study of acute toxicity of mitoxantrone]. AB - Acute toxicity of mitoxantrone (DHAQ) synthetized by Department of Organic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, WCUMS was studied in mice and dogs. The toxic effects were compared with those of adriamycin (ADR). The LD50 were 6.6 +/- 1.3 and 7.1 +/- 1.6 mg/kg DHAQ, 7.9 +/- 2.1 and 10.7 +/- 2.2 mg/kg ADR (P = 0.95) respectively on observation with a single dose i.v. and i.p., for 21 days in Kunming mice. The toxicity appeared to be delayed with DHAQ and ADR. The earliest death occurred on 4th day after treatment in mice. In the third week still a few died. There were obvious decreases in WBC counts in the peripheral blood of mice receiving either 1-2.5 mg/kg DHAQ or 2.5-5 mg/kg ADR with a single dose i.p.. The WBC count could return to normality after 3 weeks with the withdrawal of the drugs. On electron microscopic examination of myocardial samples from mice 4 days after a single dose of 20 mg/kg DHAQ i.p., mitochondria swelling and vacuoles formation in some cells were shown. Besides the above-mentioned changes, some myocytes exhibited disorientation and loss of myofilaments in the mice which received equivalent dose of ADR. In dogs anaesthetized a temporary falling of blood pressure and slowing of heart rate were observed following 5-10 mg/kg DHAQ i.p.. When a dose of 50-100 mg/kg was given, the blood pressure dropped continuously until death. PMID- 2625338 TI - [Study on carcinogenic activity of several nickel compounds in mice]. AB - This paper reports the result of the tumor in site induced by several nickel compounds in mice. Three nickel compounds (Ni3S2, NiCl, pure nickel powder) were injected separately to the right arm pit subcutaneously (5 mg/mouse). At the end of the 62nd week, the tested mice were sacrificed. Only nickel sulfide induced tumors in the site of injection, the incidence of tumor was 36%. The majority of the tumors were fibrosarcomas, only 2 rhabdomyosarcomas. The tumors might infiltrate into the surrounding tissues, a few metastasized to the liver and/or the lungs. PMID- 2625339 TI - [The finite element analysis of the bicuspid and molar of mandible]. AB - Recently, the finite element method has been adopted in the study of tooth structure as well as the stress distribution of dental prosthesis. In order to understand the loading state of the supporting tissues and the stress distribution of the teeth in various shapes under the pressure of loading, the author of this essay has applied the two-dimensional finite element method to the study of the stress distribution of the periodontal supporting tissues at the time when the second bicuspid and the second molar are vertically and obliquely loaded. Finally, the results of the quantitative analysis are obtained and a curve of the stress distribution of the teeth is also drawn up. The conclusion is as follows: 1. When the vertical loading is applied to the occlusal surface of the bicuspid and molar, the stress distribution of periodontal supporting tissues is uniform. 2. The stress concentration is on the marginal ridge and thedistal apex of bicuspid under the oblique loading. 3. When the oblique loading is applied to the occlusal surface of the molar, the stress concentration is only on the marginal ridge, and it is small. PMID- 2625340 TI - [Study on application of Tf subtyping in forensic medicine]. AB - Tf is an important genetic marker for both parentage testing and personal identification in forensic medicine. It is valuable in anthropology, genetics and clinical medicine. We examined the Tf subtypes in the human serum and dried bloodstain using the ULPAGIF method. Tf subtyping was performed in four disputed parentage cases. One of the alleged fathers was excluded. Tf subtypes were successfully demonstrated from dried bloodstains kept at 4 degrees C for up to four weeks. In bloodstains kept at room temperature and 37 degrees C, the 100% of Tf subtyping was no longer possible after two weeks (or one day). It was suggested that the bloodstains should be examined no longer than seven weeks if the bloodstains were kept at room temperature; or otherwise they should be stored below 4 degrees C as soon as they are collected in forensic practice. PMID- 2625341 TI - [Subtyping of Pi in human bloodstains by isoelectric focusing]. AB - Subtyping of Pi (alpha 1-AT) in 90 human bloodstains stored under different conditions was carried out by using ULPAGIF. The detectable time of Pi subtypes of all bloodstains kept at room temperature (12-20 degrees C), 4 degrees C and-15 degrees C was 10 days, 4 weeks and 4 weeks respectively. Beyond this time limit, the detectable rate decreased gradually. The minimal detectable quantity, of fresh bloodstains was 4 microliters. The factors influencing the detection of Pi subtypes in bloodstains were discussed. PMID- 2625342 TI - [Determination of lead in urine by differential potentiometric stripping analysis]. AB - In the determination of lead in urine by differential potentiometric stripping analysis (DPSA) urine samples are acidified with hydrochloric acid to a total concentration equal to 0.2 mol/L without prior digestion with mineral acids. The sample is pre-electrolyzed at -1.2V (Vs SCE) for 80 seconds by glassy-carbon electrode coated with mercury. The lead concentrations are evaluated by means of standard addition. Detection limit of the method is 2ppb. The linear relationship occurs in the range of 0-150ppb. The relative standard deviations are 1.6% and the recovery of lead in urine samples is 89.5-110.0%. Compared with dithizone method, this method shows no significant difference in the results obtained. PMID- 2625343 TI - [Preparative separation of borneol and isoborneol in bingpian by dry-column chromatography]. AB - Borneol (I) and isoborneol (II) in synthetic Bingpian are separated by means of dry-column chromatography (DCC). The sample mixed with a small amount of adsorbent is transferred to the top of the column (50 x 4 cm i.d.) packed with silica gel (200 mesh) and developed with petroleum ether-ethyl acetate-chloroform (20:2: 6) until the solvent has spread from the top to the bottom of column. The zones of I and II can be located by the corresponding Rf of TLC. They are then eluted separately with absolute alcohol. After the concentration of the eluent by vacuum distillation, the crystals of I and II are isolated from the residual solution on standing. The purities of I and II are tested with known specimens by TLC. PMID- 2625344 TI - [Dammarane-type saponins in leaves of Panax collected in Sichuan]. AB - Three saponins have been isolated from the leaves of Panax japonicus ssp. elegantior var. major (Burkill) Wu et Feng collected in Sichuan, China. They were identified as ginsenoside-Rd (0.5%), ginsenoside-Rg2 (0.025%) and ginsenoside-Rg1 (0.016%), respectively, based on the chemical and spectral analytical data obtained. PMID- 2625345 TI - [A follow-up study on rapid cycling affective disorders]. AB - Of 27 cases, 18 manic-depressive patients who simultaneously fitted dunners' seminal definition about rapid cycling affective disorders (RCAD) completed clinical follow-up for 1.5-4.5 years after discharge between Jan, 1983 and Jun, 1986. The results showed that 8 cases relapsed into manic-depressive episodes, the other 10 cases had no relapsed. Only one case belonged to relapsing of RCAD during the follow-up duration. The cases with relapsing of depression responded to lithium or to stopping use of antidepressants, but the cases with relapsing of manic episodes responded to carbamazepine. The differences in therapeutic response in such cases suggested that RCAD probably presented biological heterogenecity. PMID- 2625346 TI - [Postoperative computed tomography: study of 10 cases on reactive ring enhancement in brain]. AB - This paper presents 10 cases with CT appearances of postoperative reactive ring enhancement in the brain, which were not reported in our country. The mechanisms and differential diagnosis of postoperative ring-enhancement are discussed with reports in the literature. The ring-enhancement at surgical margin is the reactive change of the brain traumatized by operation and related to postoperative pathological processes such as breakdown of blood-brain barrier, vascular granulation and luxury perfusion. This paper demonstrates that reactive ring-enhancement appears as early as 2-4 wk and may last as long as 7 wk after operation. It disappears gradually in 7 wk and cannot exist over 3 mon after operation. In the first 3 mon after operation, peripheral enhancement around the surgical site may be operative reaction, or residual tumor and cerebral abscess. The presence of ring-enhancement beyond 3 mon should be viewed as evidence of pathological process other than postoperative change. This paper emphasizes that ring-enhancement at margin of the surgical site with fine clinical manifestations in the early postoperative period is probably normal postoperative reaction. Close follow-up enhanced CT scan proves to be an effective measure to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary reexploration. PMID- 2625347 TI - A dynamic model of stress and sustained attention. AB - This paper examines the effects of stress on sustained attention. With recognition of the task itself as the major source of cognitive stress, a dynamic model is presented that addresses the effects of stress on vigilance and, potentially, a wide variety of attention-demanding performance tasks. PMID- 2625348 TI - Enhanced detection with bimodal sonar displays. AB - Signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) required to detect narrow-band signals in white noise were compared for bimodal and single-modality sonar displays at two levels of signal uncertainty and two degrees of spatial compatibility between the auditory and visual displays. In bimodal test conditions the auditory and visual signals were equated in detectability for each subject. An adaptive, two alternative, forced-choice procedure was used to maintain a constant percentage of correct responses. The decrement in performance with increased signal uncertainty was significantly greater for visual than for auditory displays, suggesting that auditory displays offer advantages for real-world sonar operations. Bimodal displays produced a reliable advantage in SNR required for detection over single-modality displays. Increased compatibility between the visual and auditory displays did not increase the advantage of bimodal presentation, nor did increased signal uncertainty. It was concluded that bimodal displays enhance operators' perceptual sensitivity. The magnitude of the enhancement was consistent with optimal integration of information in the two modalities. PMID- 2625349 TI - Effect of uncertainty and diagnosticity on classification of multidimensional data with integral and separable displays of system status. AB - Integrative, objectlike displays have been advocated for presenting multidimensional system data. In this research two experiments assess the effect of uncertainty on the processing of integral and separable displays. In each experiment 30 subjects were trained to classify instances of system state into one of four state categories using a configural display, a bar graph display, or a digital display. In Experiment 1 the range of instances from the state categories was uniform; in Experiment 2 the distribution was biased toward those instances of highly uncertain state category membership. After training, subjects received extended practice classifying system data. In both experiments uncertainty was found to have the greatest effect on classification performance. In Experiment 1 the bar graph display was consistently superior; the configural display was superior to the digital display only under conditions of low uncertainty. In Experiment 2 the superiority of the bar graph display diminished, producing results equivalent to those of the digital display, with the configural display producing the worst performance. The effect of uncertainty on classification performance is discussed, with specific attention paid to the apparent configural and separable properties of the bar graph display. PMID- 2625350 TI - Narcosis has additive rather than interactive effects on discrimination reaction time. AB - A central feature of the impairment in performance produced by inert gas narcosis, which poses a threat to divers breathing compressed air, is a slowing of reaction time (RT). To investigate the locus of this slowing, the effects of 35% nitrous oxide on Crossman's confusion function were determined using line length and weight discrimination tasks, with accuracy held constant. For both tasks narcosis slowed RT by increasing the intercept rather than the slope of Crossman's function. These results are interpreted in terms of additive factors method logic as being consistent with the predictions of the slowed processing model that has been proposed to account for the effects of narcosis on human performance. PMID- 2625351 TI - Effects of different data base formats on information retrieval. AB - This research examined the effects of three different data base formats on the information retrieval performance of users. Spatial, tabular, and verbal forms of two data base domains (airline and thesaurus) were constructed, along with questions that required users to search through the data base to determine the correct response. Three types of questions, compatible with the forms of the data bases, were designed--spatial, tabular, and verbal. The data indicate that users' responses to the questions are faster and more accurate when the format of the information in the data base matches the type of information needed to answer the question. Although the importance of matching data base format to query type may seem obvious, it would appear that the designers of most current data base systems have not taken this into account. PMID- 2625352 TI - Joint annual conference of CSI & ATCVSI. Madras, Dec. 27-29, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2625353 TI - Augmented natural killer cell activity during neonatal graft-versus-host disease is of predominantly donor origin. AB - Natural killer cells have been postulated to play a role in the immunopathogenesis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This is based on reports of augmented natural killer (NK) activity, both in animal models and in humans. It has not been elucitated from previous reports, however, whether the cells mediating this activity are of donor or recipient origin. We have investigated the origin of the effector cells using highly specific antisera. Our results indicate that the augmented lytic activity seen during the course of GVHD is mediated primarily by donor lymphocytes. Depletion with anti-Class I antisera followed by immuno-staining with anti-asialo GM-1 indicate that the effector cells are also asialo GM-1 positive. We report here that the augmented non specific lytic activity seen during GVHD is mediated by asialo GM-1 positive lymphocytes predominantly of donor origin. PMID- 2625354 TI - Family study of natural killer cell activity in C1q-deficient patients with systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome: association between impaired natural killer cell function and C1q deficiency. AB - Impaired natural killer (NK) cell activity has been found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like syndrome. The mechanism by which NK cell function is impaired in SLE patients is not quite clear. We report here a family study of NK cell activity in C1q-deficient patients with SLE-like syndrome. In both SLE-active and SLE-inactive stages of the disease, NK cell function was significantly impaired when compared with the healthy controls (10.6 +/- 2.3% and 16.9 +/- 4.8% to 34.7 +/- 9.6%, p less than 0.025). On the other hand, differences in NK cell cytotoxicity between SLE-active and SLE-inactive members of the family were not statistically relevant (p less than 0.1). Further, we found no correlation between NK cell activity and clinical or laboratory values, except for a positive correlation between function of NK cells and C1q and CH50 values, respectively (rs = 0.93, 0.01 less than p less than 0.02). To our knowledge, this is the first report on a notable association between impaired NK cell activity and C1q deficiency. The type of inheritance of C1q deficiency in this family is also discussed. PMID- 2625355 TI - Interaction of the lymphoid cell line BCL1 with lipopeptide analogues of bacterial lipoprotein: electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) as a novel method to detect the distribution of the activator within the cells. AB - The lipopeptide Pam3Cys-Ser, a synthetic analogue of the N-terminal part of bacterial lipoprotein, constitutes a potent activator for B lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages and several lymphoid cell lines. We applied the novel method of electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) to determine, after stimulation, the distribution of the activator within the cell compartments of the lipopeptide sensitive cell line BCL1. Our results show that the lipopeptide, 20 min after the addition to the cell culture, was found at different locations within the cell: A major amount of the mitogen was found in the plasma membrane. Remarkably, considerable amounts of the activator were also found on the cytoplasm, the nuclear membrane, and the nucleus. After 24 h, a substantial amount of the lipopeptide was still present within the cells. These findings should help to elucidate the molecular mechanism of lymphocyte stimulation by lipopeptides. The novel method of EELS, which was demonstrated here using lipopeptides as examples, constitutes a valuable tool of localizing any given compounds such as growth factors or drugs within cells. PMID- 2625356 TI - Role of intestinal immunization in urinary tract defence. AB - The lack of progress in development of vaccines to stimulate local protection in the urinary tract is attributable in part to the lack of information regarding mechanisms of local immunity and to the difficulty in antigen administration at this site. Experiments reported in this paper indicate that the urinary tract in rats forms part of an effector network linking mucosal organs (the common mucosal immune system). Concomitant immunization of the intestine and urinary tract with ovalbumin resulted in the appearance at both sites of antiovalbumin-containing cells (ACC) of IgA specificity. The gut origin of ACC in the urinary tract was confirmed by demonstrating in similarly immunized rats abrogation of the urinary tract response by chronic drainage of the thoracic lymphatic duct during the post challenge period and by demonstrating the appearance of radiolabelled ACC in the urinary tract after injection of labelled autologous thoracic duct lymphocytes collected during the post-challenge period. These experiments indicate a role for oral immunization in enhancing the local antibody response in the urinary tract against invading pathogens. PMID- 2625357 TI - Transfection of genes for human cell surface antigens identified by monoclonal antibodies. AB - Six murine L cell lines expressing five different human cell surface antigens have been prepared by DNA-mediated gene transfer. Ltk- cells were transfected with calcium phosphate co-precipitates of human genomic DNA and a plasmid containing the Herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene. After HAT selection, transfectants expressing specific cell surface antigens were identified by in situ immune rosetting using monoclonal antibodies. In this way, transfected cell lines expressing the CD9 antigen, the CD31 antigen (two lines), a unique platelet antigen, an X-linked antigen (R1), and a previously unreported monocyte antigen 11D1 were prepared. These cell lines have proved useful in the definitive assignment of monoclonal antibodies to specific CD groups. In addition, they provide a source of mRNA for use in expression cloning of the genes for these antigens. PMID- 2625358 TI - Augmentation of recombinant interleukin-2-dependent murine macrophage-mediated tumour cytotoxicity by recombinant tumour necrosis factor-alpha. AB - The activation of murine macrophages by recombinant human interleukin-2 (rH-IL-2) alone or in combination with recombinant human tumour necrosis factor-alpha (rH TNF) was studied. Mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages were activated in vitro to the tumouricidal state. Macrophage treatment with rH-IL-2 alone slightly enhanced cytotoxic activity against B16 melanoma cells. Synergism was observed when macrophages were treated with rH-IL-2 and rH-TNF, either when applied sequentially or when both agents were given at the same time. PMID- 2625359 TI - Analysis of dermatological referrals (a series of 662 cases from base and army hospital complex). AB - An analysis of 662 patients from non-dermatological wards and specialist out patients referred for dermatological opinion is reported. There was a high proportion of referrals of 330 (49 8%) cases from internal medicine and allied specialties, followed by 150 (22.7%) from surgical disciplines, 65 (9.8%) by Paediatricians 30 (4.5%) by Otolaryngologists, 24 (3.6%) each by Ophthalmologists and specialists in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 21 (3 2%) by dental surgeons and 18 (2.7%) from department of Psychiatry. The youngest patient was a new born and the oldest 87 years. 333 (50.3%) were in the age group of 21 to 40 years. 505 (76.3%) were males. Almost one fourth i.e. 152 (23%) presented with cutaneous manifestations of underlying diseases, another 82 (12.4%) were drug eruptions and other complications of treatment. The study emphasizes considerable interphase between cutaneous and systemic diseases and the need for close co-operation between dermatology and other specialist medical disciplines. PMID- 2625360 TI - Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (a case report). AB - A case of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis in an unusual site is being reported. The patient had presented with recurrence of a perianal growth which had been excised in the past. A histopathological study done during the recurrence confirmed tuberculosis. The patient's chest X-ray showed pulmonary tuberculosis, though he had no chest symptoms and sign. He responded favourably to anti-tubercular treatment. PMID- 2625361 TI - Involvement of the legs in idiopathic striae distensae--a case report. AB - A case of idiopathic striae distensae (ISD) is presented. The patient was a healthy young adult with no history of weight lifting, use of systemic or local corticosteroids, infections or trauma. Horizontally disposed striae were located on the abdomen, back and legs. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report case of ISD where idiopathic striae were present below the knees. PMID- 2625362 TI - Psoralene in repigmentation of tuberculoid leprosy. AB - Photoactivated psoralens were studied in sixty cases of tuberculoid leprosy for the repigmentation of hypopigmented macules. It was observed that in 42 (70%) cases there was significant repigmentation within 6 months of therapy; in 5 (8.33%) cases there was mild to moderate repigmentation and in 13 (22.64%) cases, there was no change. No significant untoward effects of drug were encountered, except in four patients (6.66%), who developed, marked erythema and eczematous reaction. PMID- 2625363 TI - Prevalence of Erythema migrans Borreliosis in blood donors. AB - European Erythema migrans Borreliosis and North American Lyme disease are closely related to syphilis. This implicates a potential risk of infection for blood recipients. Eighty-six of 3,157 blood donors tested showed IgG-antibodies against Borrelia Burgdorferi. From among 47 persons of this group who could be examined, clinical signs of diseased skin, joints or nervous system, not diagnosed before, were found or could be suspected in 13 cases. Since intrauterine transmission of Borrelia infection has been described, the inevitable question of whether this disease can also be transmitted as a result of blood transfusion becomes a major concern. As the pathogen can persist even in the presence of serum antibodies, it seems advisable to examine blood donors serologically, whenever Erythema migrans Borreliosis is suspected. Though further research is required to document a transfusion-transmitted Borrelia infection, infected persons should be treated to avoid serious or late manifestations. PMID- 2625364 TI - [Decreasing the immunogenicity of milk proteins by desialinization]. AB - The immunogenicity of a native whey protein-casein mixture (relation 60:40) was compared with an analogous mixture which had been subjected to Warren's hydrolysis procedure for splitting off sialic acid. The immunization was performed in 3 rabbits each, with a mean body weight of 4,200 g. After parenteral administration of an antigen dose corresponding to 2 mg protein for 6 times, 10 ml blood were withdrawn from each of the animals on day 80 of the immunization procedure. The serum of those rabbits which had been injected the native whey protein-casein mixture was shown to precipitate this antigen intensively as could be demonstrated by Mancini's test. The cross reaction with the sialic acid-free protein mixture was strongly diminished. Immunization with sialic acid-free whey protein-casein failed to produce worth-while antibody formation against this antigen. Only a moderate cross reaction with native whey protein-casein was detectable. These results may have potential consequences for the production of infant formulas and dietaries. PMID- 2625365 TI - Stages of anti-N-like immunization: a further contribution to problems arising from anti-N-like antibodies in hemodialysis patients. AB - In the past years, the discussion around problems arising from anti-N-like antibodies has waned in spite of their continuing existence. Even highly sophisticated rinsing procedures of dialysers after sterilisation with Formalin are not capable of preventing an anti-N-like immunization. Therefore, formalin sterilisation should no longer be employed. Three stages of the formalin dependent anti-N-like immunization are described. Hematological and immunohematological problems in this patient group are documented. PMID- 2625366 TI - Variation in, and inter-relationship between, prostaglandin levels and other semen parameters in normal men. AB - In each of 135 ejaculates from 46 healthy men, semen volume, various sperm parameters and the level of prostaglandins (PGs) were determined. Data were analysed to determine the within- and between-subject variability, the effect of abstinence period and the correlation between different parameters. Data which did not reveal a Gaussian distribution were transformed logarithmically. For all variables the between-subject variance exceeded the variation within subjects (P less than 0.001). Variation in time of abstinence between 1 and 3 days influenced semen volume and sperm content as well as the content of 19-hydroxylated PGs, but did not affect sperm motility or the concentration of PGE or PGF. A significant negative correlation was found between the seminal content of PGE and PGF and the total sperm count as well as the sperm concentration. Sperm motility was related to the balance between the content of 19-hydroxy PGE and 19-hydroxy PGF but not to their separate concentrations. The ratio between 19-hydroxy PGE and 19-hydroxy PGF did not change when the time of abstinence differed. Synthesis of the two 19 hydroxylated PGs seemed to be regulated by the same mechanism, but their hydroxylation capacity still varied considerably between individuals. PMID- 2625367 TI - Elastase as an indicator of silent genital tract infection in infertile men. AB - Due to the absence of clinical symptoms, silent genital tract inflammation can be diagnosed only by laboratory tests. In this study we have evaluated seminal plasma elastase levels, using an immunoabsorbent assay, in a group of 84 infertile men. Seminal plasma levels of elastase were correlated with the number of white blood cells in the ejaculate, the number of peroxidase-positive leucocytes and with sperm culture. A high number of leucocytes (greater than 10) and a significantly higher number of men with peroxidase-stained leucocytes exceeding 10(6)/ml was found in a group of men with elastase levels greater than 250 ng/ml. There was a significant correlation between sperm culture results and elastase levels, most men with negative sperm culture having a lower seminal plasma elastase level. Following the treatment with antibiotics of men with an elevated elastase level, sperm parameters improved in 67% of those in whom elastase levels were lowered after treatment. In those men with persisting elevated levels of elastase improvement of sperm parameters was found in only 10%. It is concluded that an elevated level of elastase is a sensitive indicator of asymptomatic genital tract infection and that a single determination gives a reliable criterion and relatively exact quantification of infection. PMID- 2625368 TI - Purification of an acrosomal antigen recognized by a monoclonal antibody and antifertility effects of isoimmune serum. AB - A highly conserved acrosomal antigen reactive to a monoclonal antibody (HS-63), generated against human sperm, was purified to homogeneity with a combination of conventional procedures and immunoaffinity chromatography using a soluble extract of mouse and rabbit testes. The molecular weight of the purified antigen was 42 50 kD when analysed by sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The high specificity of the purified antigen to monoclonal antibody HS-63 was shown by indirect immunofluorescent inhibition assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot analysis and radioimmunosorbent assay. The purified antigen was used for isoimmunization of mice and rabbits. Following successive immunizations, antisera of high titres were raised and reacted specifically with antigen on the sperm acrosome and in testes of several mammalian species, but not with somatic tissues. These isoimmune sera exhibited strong inhibition on mouse in-vitro fertilization and human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster eggs. The results of this study suggest that the sperm-specific acrosomal antigen reacting with HS-63 could be a good candidate for the development of immunocontraceptive vaccines in humans and in other animals. PMID- 2625369 TI - Studies with two investigational interventions: a simple model to assess their effects and interaction. AB - The paper presents a simple way to design and analyse studies on pharmacodynamic food-interaction and drug-interaction studies. The study design includes two distinct interventions--the drug or control against eating, or fasting, and allows an analysis of variance. It provides a model for a more analytical approach in the conduct and analysis of pharmacodynamic interaction studies and pharmacotherapeutic combination trials. PMID- 2625370 TI - Cortical and medullary kidney tissue levels of cefonicid in human beings. AB - Cefonicid concentration has been determined microbiologically in cortical and medullary tissue in 30 patient undergoing surgery because of neoplastic disease localized within the kidney. Each subject received 1 g of cefonicid intramuscularly in a single administration. The patients were divided into six groups, from which samples of blood and tissue were collected 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 h respectively after treatment with the drug. The mean peak serum levels appeared at the second hour (74.96 +/- 8.14 mcg/ml) and the decay shows a monoexponential behaviour, reaching a minimum value of 5.4 +/- 2.33 mcg/ml at the 24th hour. In the cortical tissue of the kidney the peak levels appeared at the fourth hour (26.22 +/- 8.87 mcg/g), while at the 24th hour levels were about 3.08 +/- 0.81 mcg/g. A very similar behaviour could also be observed in the medullary tissue of the kidney with peak levels at the fourth hour (25.82 +/- 10.06 mcg/g) and levels of 3.48 +/- 0.85 mcg/g at the 24th hour. A delay in the decay of tissue levels in comparison with the decay of blood levels could be observed from the eighth hour. PMID- 2625371 TI - Quinidine disposition in relation to antipyrine elimination and debrisoquine phenotype in alcoholic patients with and without cirrhosis. AB - Single dose disposition of oral quinidine (400 mg sulfate) was studied in a control group of subjects (No. = 6) and in hospitalized alcoholic patients involving one group with (No. = 6) and one group without (No. = 11) hepatic cirrhosis. All subjects also underwent an antipyrine and a debrisoquine test. Patients with cirrhosis had a prolonged elimination half-life (29.5 +/- 5.9 h) and low clearance (24 +/- 7 ml.kg-1.h-1) of antipyrine and also a considerably higher debrisoquine metabolic ratio (18.8 +/- 3.3) than the controls, whereas the alcoholics without cirrhosis had metabolic patterns for these two test compounds comparable to those seen in the controls (antipyrine half-life: 8.8 +/- 1.1 h and 9.8 +/- 2.0 h; debrisoquine metabolic ratio: 3.6 +/- 0.7 and 3.8 +/- 1.2 for alcoholics and controls respectively). In patients with cirrhosis the apparent elimination half-life of quinidine was longer (12.8 +/- 1.8 h) whereas after oral administration clearance of quinidine (15.6 +/- 3.5 l.h-1) and quinidine/3 hydroxyquinidine ratio (9.9 +/- 2.1) were not different from controls (quinidine clearance: 13.45 +/- 1.9 l.h-1; quinidine/3-hydroxyquinidine: 10.3 +/- 2.7). A possible change in distribution patterns of quinidine in cirrhotics may explain these findings. PMID- 2625372 TI - Influence of liver cirrhosis upon the pharmacokinetics of tenoxicam. AB - The effects of impaired hepatic function upon the pharmacokinetics of tenoxicam were studied in six patients with cirrhotic liver disease who ingested a single, oral 20 mg dose of the drug. Data from these patients were compared with those obtained from 14 healthy subjects who received the same regimen. Virtually all of the pharmacokinetic parameters computed for the two groups were similar. Cmax in the cirrhotic patients was 2.63 micrograms/ml (s.d. = 0.92) and tmax was 2.5 h (s.d. = 0.8). The corresponding values for the control subjects were 2.77 micrograms/ml (s.d. = 0.72) and 3.2 h (s.d. = 1.6), respectively. The elimination half-life (t1/2) was 53.0 h (s.d. = 19.0) in the cirrhotic patients and 69.2 h (s.d. = 19.3) in the controls. There were no significant (p greater than 0.05) differences between groups with respect to any of these values. Area under curve was significantly (p less than 0.05) smaller in the cirrhotic patients (159 micrograms.h/ml; s.d. = 65) than in the controls (254 micrograms.h/ml; s.d. = 92). The urinary excretion of the 5'-hydroxy metabolite of tenoxicam averaged 21.6% (s.d. = 3.8) of the administered dose in the cirrhotic patients and 22.1% (s.d. = 3.1) in the control subjects. The plasma protein binding of tenoxicam was also very similar in the two groups. The unbound drug fraction averaged 0.8% (s.d. = 0.3) in the cirrhotic patients and 0.8% (s.d. = 0.1) in the 12 control subjects who contributed data to this portion of the study. The single-dose data presented in this report demonstrated substantially unaltered kinetics with no evidence of impaired elimination and drug retention.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625373 TI - New indices in the evaluation of clonidine transdermal therapy of hypertension. AB - Since high blood pressure might be more harmful the higher it is and the more it remains above a determined critical value (140/90 mm Hg - 18.7/12.0 k Pa - in the present study), the hyperbaric impact, a measure of the total load exerted on the arterial walls and the total time during the day when blood pressure is elevated above the critical value, have been evaluated. Ten patients with essential hypertension underwent non-invasive automatic 24-h blood pressure monitoring three times (baseline and after three and seven days from the application on the upper chest of a transdermal self-adhesive patch delivering clonidine). The recorder was programmed to measure blood pressure every 30 min during the day and every 60 min during the night. Significantly lower values of blood pressure, hyperbaric impact and duration of elevated blood pressure have been demonstrated from the third day after the beginning of transdermal therapy. PMID- 2625374 TI - Development of a realistic method to assess wheelchair propulsion by disabled people. AB - Most wheelchair users cannot achieve the steady state of cardio-respiratory performance necessary for standard physiological testing of wheelchair propulsion on ergometers or treadmills. Furthermore "real life" wheelchair utilisation involves short bursts of energy expenditure around furniture and other obstacles. We have developed a method of measuring wheelchair mobility on a test circuit of varying tortuosity and report here our preliminary experience. The parameters of mobility measured included distance; time taken; resting, maximum and final pulses (using a portable monitor); time to recover to stable resting pulse; and perceived exertion using the Borg Scale. Average speed and physiological cost of wheelchair propulsion (PCWP) (the difference between maximum and resting pulse divided by average speed) were calculated. The reproducibility of the components of the method was demonstrated in studies on normal volunteers. The test was also shown to be suitable for use by a sample of disabled people and was used in comparative studies of conventional and a novel arm crank wheelchair in normal volunteers. The method described appears to be an accurate and objective method of assessing wheelchair propulsion suitable for use by disabled people. It can also form the basis of comparative studies of different methods of propulsion of wheelchairs. PMID- 2625375 TI - A South Australian study of pregnancy and birth risk factors associated with cerebral palsy. AB - Using the Perinatal Statistics Collection compiled by the Pregnancy Outcome Unit of the South Australian Health Commission, a profile of statistically significant risk factors for cerebral palsy has been established for a South Australian population. Logistic regression analysis revealed that these factors included threatened miscarriage, ante-partum haemorrhage, maternal age of under 20 years, shortened gestational age, low birthweight, low Apgar score at 5 minutes, foetal distress, delay in establishing spontaneous regular respiration, presence of a congenital abnormality and prolonged hospital stay. In addition, pregnancy hypertension, reduced number of antenatal visits, breech presentation, resuscitation of the neonate by intubation and intermittent positive pressure ventilation, and the need for specialised nursery care were found to be significant in univariate analyses. These data point to the risk factors which may help identify infants who require closer monitoring for early signs of cerebral palsy. PMID- 2625376 TI - Perspectives of people with learning difficulties on relocation and community care. AB - Steady progress is being made in the UK in the deinstitutionalisation of services for people with learning difficulties. Growing numbers are moving out of long stay hospitals and hostels into less restrictive settings. But so far little is know about how they respond to the way these policies are changing their lives. This paper presents the views of movers who were interviewed using an innovative 'visual game' technique as they went through the process of relocation. Based on findings from a longitudinal research evaluation of a local community care programme, the paper describes the methods used and discusses the choices and preferences of the movers. The implications for policymakers are clear. People with learning difficulties can make perfectly sensible, consistent and illuminating comments on their experiences, and favour options and environments that maximise their independence. The evidence from this study suggests that the policy of relocating people from hospitals and developing community alternatives to institutional living is entirely in keeping with the wishes of the users themselves. PMID- 2625377 TI - Diabetic maculopathy in a Jamaican population. AB - Maculopathy is the commonest cause of severe visual loss from diabetic retinopathy in Jamaica [5]. Ophthalmic assessment of 158 black Jamaican maturity onset diabetics referred randomly from the primary and secondary health centres, demonstrated maculopathy in 48% of patients. Duration of diabetes was a strong risk factor for maculopathy (p less than 0.001). Poor compliance with diabetic and hypertensive therapy may influence the prevalence of maculopathy. PMID- 2625378 TI - The electro-oculogram as an aid in the diagnosis of uveal melanoma. AB - The electro-oculogram (EOG) in the 64 patients with a melanoma of the choroid or ciliary body was compared to the EOG in 11 patients with choroidal metastasis, 11 patients with choroidal naevi and 27 patients with a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Using the Dt and the Lp/Dt-ratio, 87.5% of the melanomas could be diagnosed correctly whereas choroidal naevus and retinal detachment were diagnosed correctly in 72.7% and 70.4% of the cases respectively. Choroidal metastases never were classified correctly. Accompanying retinal detachment, tumour volume or a break through Bruch's membrane had no influence on the EOG in the melanoma patients. An important advantage of the method is that it can be used irrespective of the condition of the other eye. Combined with ophthalmoscopy, ultrasonography and fluorescein-angiography the EOG can be an additional aid in the differential diagnosis of malignant melanoma of the choroid and ciliary body. PMID- 2625379 TI - Significance of various systemic and ocular parameters in the long-term prognosis after diabetic vitrectomy. AB - The presence or absence of retinal detachment, especially detachment of the macula, was the most critical parameter predicting visual outcome, and long duration of detachment worsened the prognosis (P = 0.0084). In contrast, the time interval from vitreous haemorrhage to surgery did not associate with the long term visual outcome. Pre-operative visual acuity of counting fingers 1 m or better was associated with favourable visual outcome (P = 0.0032). Other pre- or per-operative parameters (e.g. aphakia, iris rubeosis, extent of photocoagulation, retinal breaks) did not associate with visual prognosis significantly. Significant association between general parameters and visual outcome was found only in the group of traction retinal detachment where loss of vision was related to shorter duration of diabetes (P = 0.0213), and shorter duration of background retinopathy (P = 0.0300), and proliferative retinopathy (P = 0.0072). PMID- 2625380 TI - Management of postequatorial magnetic intraretinal foreign bodies. AB - 17 patients with intraretinal magnetic foreign bodies and vitreous hemorrhage are reported. 15 patients underwent a primary surgical repair consisting of a watertight wound closure and removal of the already swelling cataractous lens in 5 cases. All patients had vitrectomy during the second postinjury week. The foreign body was left in place in 2 cases and removed with intravitreal forceps in 15 patients. Total or partial retinal attachment was achieved in 12 patients (71%). Details of the surgical procedure are described. PMID- 2625381 TI - Visual field defects detected in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome: preliminary report. AB - The presence of visual field anomalies was measured using Goldmann kinetic perimetry in twelve patients, age 7 to 39 with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Refraction to the cupola was carefully controlled. The visual acuity of the group was good to excellent. Visual field alterations were prechiasmal, generally non symmetric, and best described as arcuate defects, steps, baring of the blind spot and enlargement of the blind spot. Central fields were most commonly affected, i.e., I/2e to I/1B isopters. There was no evidence of glaucoma in any of the patients although two patients exhibited keratoconus and another one manifested moderate to high astigmatism. Visual involvement other than ocular and lid tics have not been reported in Tourette syndrome. This research represents clear evidence of additional physical components in this condition. Automated visual field measurements are not recommended in this population because of the presence of non-predictable tic and vocal behavior (both may result in head/eye movements). Suppression of tic behavior can be very fatiguing. (Eight of twelve of the patients reported exhibited signs of marked fatigue during testing.) PMID- 2625382 TI - Pseudophakic retinal detachments and post-operative visual acuity. AB - We reviewed 254 cases of extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lenses (ECCE & IOL) which were performed between the years 1983 and 1985 at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of pseudo-phakic retinal detachment in uncomplicated cases of ECCE & IOL. The incidence of retinal detachment (RD) was found to be 0.79% overall. The incidence of other post-operative complications such as posterior capsular thickening was 2.8% and of cystoid macular oedema 1.2%. PMID- 2625383 TI - Graphical analysis of topographical trends (GATT) in automated perimetry. AB - The assessment of change in analysis of visual fields is one of the most difficult tasks in automated perimetry. A new, computerized method shows the original fields and the topographic trends in one easy graphic display. This new way of analysis the 'GATT' superimposes the grayscale maps of two fields with a simple logic, producing the following patterns: all stable, unchanged areas are displayed normally; in changed areas, the grayscale of the first and the second field are mixed in the form of stripes. The contrast between the stripes indicates the amount of change. The orientation of the stripes depends on the direction of change: horizontal stripes mean deterioration, vertical stripes mean improvement. The GATT is also able to compare 4 fields, using the same patterns. In addition, a scatterboard without stripes indicates areas of high fluctuation, but without a significant change in the course of the 4 fields. The GATT enables a quick, quantitative judgement of the trends of visual fields. PMID- 2625384 TI - Methane plasma as a protective coating on intraocular lenses: an in vitro study. AB - A new methane plasma polymer was used to treat eight polymethylmetacrylate intraocular lenses (IOL). Another group of four lenses which had no treatment was used as control. The groups was compared in terms of the amount of endothelial cell damage caused after each of the twelve IOLs touched the central endothelium of 12 separate New Zealand rabbit corneas for 30 seconds in vitro. The amount of damage was estimated by means of vital staining with nitroblue tetrazolium and scanning electron microscopy. We found that the untreated (control) group of IOL produced significantly more endothelial cell damage in comparison with the treated groups. Further studies are needed to evaluate the clinical significance of our findings. PMID- 2625385 TI - Liposome-encapsulated 3H-5FU in rabbits. AB - We compared the pharmacokinetics of liposome-encapsulated tritiated 5 fluorouracil (3H-5FU-Lipo) to 3H-5FU in buffered saline (3H-5FU-PBS) after subconjunctival or intravitreal injection into rabbit eyes. Liposomes were prepared using phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid, and alpha-tocopherol. Following a unilateral subconjunctival injection of either 3H-5FU-Lipo or 3H-5FU PBS, rabbits were sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 4, and 8 hours. Significantly higher (p less than 0.05) drug levels were achieved with the encapsulated drug in the vitreous at all four time points and in the aqueous at three of four time points. Following bilateral intravitreal injections of 500 micrograms of 5FU in 0.1 ml, as either 3H-5FU-Lipo or 3H-5FU-PBS injected rabbits were sacrificed at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. Vitreal drug levels were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) with encapsulated drug at all time points from 6 hours on. At 48 hours, the vitreal level with the encapsulated drug was 578 +/- 0.23 micrograms/ml compared with 1.06 +/- 0.07 micrograms/ml for 3H-5FU-PBS. PMID- 2625386 TI - Abstracts from the 183rd Congress of the Dutch Ophthalmological Society, 15-17 March, 1989 and from the joint meeting of the Dutch and Belgian Ophthalmological Societies and the Interuniversity Institute of Ophthalmology, on 11 February, 1989. PMID- 2625387 TI - Acute bronchial obstruction: an experimental rabbit model study. AB - An animal model of bronchial obstruction was developed to radiologically follow up the development of postobstructive pulmonary changes. The study material consisted of 21 healthy rabbits (New Zealand White) of which 5 animals served as controls. A piece of Surgicel (Ethicon) shaped as a 3 x 3 x 10 mm cylinder was placed endobronchially through a 3-mm bronchoscope. The animals were followed up radiologically and endoscopically during the first 30 min after which the bronchoscope was extracted. Sixteen animals were followed up for at least 4 h and, in 4 animals, the foreign body (FB) was removed after 24 h. During follow up, total collapse of the lung was observed after 1-4 h in all but 2 animals with obstruction of the main brochus. After extraction of the FB, atelectasis of the respective lung had resolved within 24 h. The animal model developed in the present study seems to be rather physiological resembling the development of pulmonary atelectasis in pediatric patients. PMID- 2625388 TI - Diagnostic flexible bronchoscopy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive children. AB - Twelve children with laboratory evidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection underwent diagnostic flexible bronchoscopy with washings or bronchoalveolar lavage at Bellevue Hospital Center from October 1987 to April 1989. The patients included 7 boys and 5 girls ranging from age 3.5 months to 10 years 5 months. Indications for bronchoscopy included respiratory distress with or without focal changes on chest radiograph in 11 patients, and persistent but asymptomatic right middle lobe collapse in one child. The etiology of pneumonia was diagnosed in 7 children and included Pneumocystis carinii, (PCP) (17%), Streptococcus viridans (17%), mechanical obstruction (17%) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) (8%). Bronchoscopy was non-diagnostic in 5 cases. Techniques for maximal yield of information using flexible bronchoscopy in HIV-positive children are discussed. PMID- 2625389 TI - Lateral cricoid cuts as an adjunctive measure to enlarge the stenotic subglottic airway: an anatomic study. AB - The technique of laryngotracheoplasty, with an anterior approach, with or without a posterior cut, and with or without anterior or posterior cartilage grafts, has been described previously. On occasion, a severely stenotic subglottis or aberrant shape to the cricoid cartilage makes division of the lateral aspects of the cricoid cartilage desirable. In attempting to delineate the relationship of the recurrent laryngeal nerve to proposed lateral cricoid cuts, an anatomic study was conducted. Dissections of neonatal, infant, child and adult larynges and trachea were carried out, with the relative distance of a cut through the lateral cricoid cartilage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve measured and outlined. The distance was very close in the fetal larynx (measuring 1.5 mm in the 23rd week of gestational age), with an increase in dimension in the infant and child, increasing to a distance of over 1 cm in the mature adult. The clinical significance of this relationship to proposed cuts of the lateral cricoid in different age groups is discussed. PMID- 2625390 TI - Laryngeal diversion in the treatment of chronic aspiration in children. AB - Chronic aspiration in children can be life-threatening, especially in patients with underlying pulmonary disorders. Numerous surgical procedures have been described to treat chronic aspiration. In patients with severe chronic aspiration, laryngeal diversion is the most effective procedure for reducing soilage of the pulmonary tract. Over a 10-year period at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 14 patients with life-threatening aspiration were managed with a laryngeal diversion. Surgical correction of aspiration resulted in stabilization or improvement of pulmonary function in these patients. The surgical management of chronic aspiration in the pediatric patient is discussed. PMID- 2625391 TI - The use of alcohol-stored cartilage in experimental laryngotracheal reconstruction. AB - Alcohol-stored homograft ear cartilage was used to reconstruct the larynx in an animal model. When sacrificed after one month the cartilage was incorporated in a stable position with mucosa on the luminal surface. Some resorption of implanted cartilage occurred, particularly where surgical trauma or sutures allowed granulation tissue to penetrate into the matrix. This paper emphasises the role that cartilage damage plays in resorption and strives to improve results in laryngotracheal reconstruction by highlighting the situations in which graft damage can be significant. PMID- 2625392 TI - Granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma) of the temporal bone. AB - A case of granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma) of the temporal bone in a male child is presented. The diagnosis was confirmed by electron microscopic and histologic findings. The patient presented with otologic and neurological manifestations. CAT scan was at first normal but after some months a mass was apparent in the apex of the petrous bone and a manifestation of preleukemia appeared. PMID- 2625393 TI - Severe tracheobronchomalacia associated with laryngeal cleft. AB - We report 3 cases of severe tracheobronchomalacia associated with laryngeal cleft. Each of these children had a major cleft, type 3 in Evans' classification. Separately each of these conditions are difficult to treat, in combination these major airway anomalies caused management problems of great complexity. We describe the presentation of these cases, the diagnosis of the lesions and the management paths we followed. We discuss the pathology of the conditions and the diagnostic options which are available for defining the extent of responsibility of each component to the overall clinical picture. We discuss the therapeutic options available and describe our own management regime. PMID- 2625394 TI - Causes of deafness in schools for the deaf in Madras. AB - Information has been collected by questionnaire from parents and teachers of 928 deaf school children in South India. 374 of these children were examined during a 21-day visit to Madras. These findings are part of the outcome of the visit by a working party organised and financed by the Commonwealth Society for the Deaf. The Society has organised surveys of deafness in West Africa and Gambia. In this survey the causes of severe deafness in Madras have been identified. Streptomycin injections were responsible for 3.6% of cases and meningitis for 5.3%. Examination found 29% of children with ophthalmic signs of intrauterine rubella. These could be prevented. Only a third of Indian mothers of children with eye signs are aware of having had rubella infection during pregnancy. PMID- 2625395 TI - Results of surgical treatment for acute pancreatitis. AB - The results following the surgical treatment of acute pancreatitis in 67 patients are presented. The male:female ratio was 1.5:1; the average age for all patients was approximately 54.5 years. From an etiological viewpoint, biliary pancreatitis was found in 50.7% of the cases, followed by alcoholic (32.8%), idiopathic (7.5%), postoperative (6%) and traumatic (3%) pancreatitis. In most cases drainage operations were performed (92.5%) in conjunction with necrosectomy, whilst resectional techniques were used in five patients (7.5%). The perioperative mortality for all patients was 30%; it was higher among patients operated upon in the first week (44%) than in those whose operation was delayed (12.9%). The extent of organ necroses and the presence of extrapancreatic necroses were of decisive prognostic significance. The findings are compared with data given in the literature. PMID- 2625396 TI - Transabdominal operation for carcinoma of the gastric cardia: application of pulling-up retractor and EEA stapler. AB - In order to ascertain the advantages of the combined use of the pulling-up retractor and EEA stapler, we reviewed 88 patients who underwent surgery for upper stomach cancer between 1978 and 1986. The length of resected esophagus was significantly longer in patients operated on using an abdominal approach with this combination, as in those using a thoracoabdominal approach, than in those who were operated on using an abdominal approach with only the retractor or without the instruments (p less than 0.05). A relatively high incidence of leakage occurred at the anastomosis of the esophagus to the stomach or jejunum following operation using a transabdominal approach without the instruments. Pulmonary complication tended to be decreased in the non-thoracotomized patients compared to the thoracotomized patients. Postoperative radiogram following the combined use showed an esophagogastrostomy at a high level in the mediastinum. Our combination technique enables lymphadenectomy in the lower mediastinum and a sufficiently long enough resection of the esophagus without fatal complications. PMID- 2625397 TI - Serum pepsinogen before and after proximal gastric vagotomy in duodenal ulcer treatment. AB - Serum pepsinogen (SP) behavior was evaluated under basal conditions and under betazole stimulation in 59 patients: 14 controls, nine unoperated duodenal ulcers (DU) and 36 DU after proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV), 14 with and 22 without recurrent ulcer. The mean follow-up of the 36 patients who underwent PGV was 38.7 months. SP was higher in unoperated DU than in the control group (p less than 0.05). After PGV in DU, there is a significant decrease of SP for both the patients with and without recurrent ulcer (p less than 0.05), being statistically similar to the control group. No difference of SP was observed between DU with and without recurrent ulcer after PGV. We concluded that SP can differentiate normal subjects from DU patients, although it is not a sensitive indicator of recurrent ulcer after PGV. PMID- 2625398 TI - Prognostic factors in colorectal carcinoma: significance of peripheral T lymphocytes. AB - An analysis was made of a consecutive series of 150 patients with colorectal carcinoma treated in Shinkokura Hospital from 1973 to 1987. The prognostic factors included resection or nonresection, the year of resection, macroscopic type, histologic differentiation, venous and lymphatic invasion, Dukes' stage, serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level and peripheral T lymphocyte count. CEA, T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes were studied clinically and immunohistochemically. Clinical and immunohistochemical data on T lymphocytes were obtainable for 24 patients. Seventeen of the 24 were of more than 1000/mm3 of preoperative peripheral T lymphocytes and consisted of seven dense, six moderate and four slight immunohistochemical types, while the remaining seven were of less than 1000/mm3 of T lymphocytes and comprised one dense, two moderate and four slight ones. One-year survival rates of slight (8), moderate (8) and dense (8) types were 60%, 90% and 94%, respectively, and three-year survivals were 42%, 57%, and 76% (p less than 0.05). We suggest that the immunohistochemical demonstration of T lymphocytes relates to the peripheral T lymphocyte count and is one sign of an early, good prognosis for patient with colorectal carcinoma. PMID- 2625399 TI - Empyema thoracis in Nigerians: experience with a policy of conservative operative management. AB - A combined retrospective and prospective review of 150 children and 28 adult Nigerian empyema thoracis patients was conducted between 1978 and 1986. Comorbidity requiring additional treatment was present in 145 patients (82.5%) while 175 patients (98.3%) had no, low or medium family income. In addition to medical management 161 out of 178 patients (90.4%) had tube thoracostomy while eight (4.4%) and seven (3.9%) respectively required additional minor and major thoracic procedures for failure of tube thoracostomy and arrest of, or failure to achieve, progressive pulmonary re-expansion and resolution of concomitant illness. Mean period of in-patient care was 30.5 days +/- 30.3. In spite of limitation of resources and poor clinical condition of most patients reduction of onset-diagnosis and diagnosis-treatment intervals and our overall management significantly reduced the perioperative mortality from 15.1% during the retrospective study period to 4.8% during the prospective period for a 9% overall perioperative mortality rate. PMID- 2625400 TI - Microsurgical treatment of varicocele. AB - The authors report their experience of the surgical treatment of varicocele. After having performed modified Palomo's method for many years, recent pathogenetic data have induced them to adopt a microsurgical technique. This technique involves vascular anastomoses which allow drainage of the testicular blood into an area with lower venous pressure. They used Fox's technique (anastomosis between 2-3 veins of the pampiniform plexus and saphena vein) and Belgrano's technique (anastomosis between internal spermatic vein and inferior hepigastric vein). The authors report their series of 30 patients treated with these techniques between 1984 and 1987. The results obtained from 20 who were followed-up one year after surgery demonstrated an improvement in the physical examination in 70% of cases and a decreases in hyperthermia in 75% of patients. A spermiogram improvement has been obtained in 66.6% of 18 patients, as two of them were of pediatric age. PMID- 2625401 TI - Recurrent posterior instability of the shoulder. AB - Seven cases of recurrent posterior instability of the shoulder were reviewed, three with recurrent subluxation and four with recurrent posterior dislocations. All were treated surgically, one by inverted Putti-Platt, one by glenoplasty and five by posterior bone block procedures. The follow-up goes from three to 17.5 years (mean 8.5 years). Clinical history and physical examination were the most accurate diagnostic methods. There were three excellent, one fair, and one poor results with two failures. The poor result and failure cases are due to technical errors, particularly because of wrong positioning of the graft in posterior bone block procedures. We suggest a bone graft with a projection of at least 15 mm beyond the glenoid rim to obtain a good result with this technique. Osteoarthritis does not seem to develop at long-term in our patients even with a poor result except for those with iatrogenic origin. The functional results are stable over time except for patients with osteoarthritis. PMID- 2625402 TI - Hurthle cell lesions in thyroid neoplasms. AB - A study of nine cases of Hurthle cell lesions of the thyroid seen in a period of five years at Al-Adan Hospital, Kuwait, is presented. Chart review of physician's contact, patient follow-up and histopathological review showed two cases (22%) were due to Hurthle cell hyperplasia only, and seven (78%) were Hurthle cell tumours, of which Hurthle cell carcinoma was seen in three cases (33%) and Hurthle cell adenoma in four (44%). Of the four cases with adenoma, three (33%) had solitary lesions and one had an associated papillary carcinoma. The extent of primary surgical treatment did not affect the prognosis of adenoma. It is suggested that lobectomy with isthmectomy should be sufficient treatment for Hurthle cell adenoma, while more radical surgery should be reserved for cases with accepted malignant criteria. PMID- 2625403 TI - Anal fistulas with recess above the anal levators. AB - The Authors present their experience with anal fistulas with recess above the levators. They mainly analyze the diagnostic, clinical, instrumental and therapeutic problems which this type of anal fistula may present. PMID- 2625404 TI - Replication error, a new hypothesis to explain the origin of a supernumerary marker chromosome in a mentally retarded boy. AB - A marker chromosome present in all the lymphocytes of a mentally retarded boy (47,XY,+mar) was identified. The karyotype of all fibroblasts was normal, 46,XY. His parents had normal karyotypes. The supernumerary marker chromosome was interpreted as a dicentric palindromic chromosome iso(9) (pter----q12, q12--- pter). The marker chromosome may have originated through a ligation error in a replication fork during the S-phase followed by a new replication (endoreduplication). PMID- 2625405 TI - Gene conversion as a possible factor influencing genetic polymorphism. AB - The ostracode Cytherissa lacustris (Sars) has been obligatorily parthenogenetic at least since the Mesopleistocene. Old and large populations of it from the lakes of the Salzkammergut area in Austria exhibit quite high polymorphism and quasi-Mendelian proportions at the locus coding for glucose-6-phosphate isomerase. It is argued that this polymorphism has been attained through generations owing to gene conversion operating on the basis of the founder effect, mutations and migration; the effects of gene conversion were then amplified by selection and/or by random events. PMID- 2625406 TI - Interspecies relationship of a repetitive chromosome-specific DNA. AB - A repetitive DNA motif, consisting of 48 bp units (D22Z3) was shown to reside in the pericentric region of the human chromosome 22. In genomic blots it was displaying cross-homology only to great ape species, the restriction patterns being similar but specific for each species investigated. Non-radioactive in situ hybridization revealed a minor homology to human chromosomes 14/15 when less stringent conditions were applied. In gorilla, only chromosomes corresponding to human G-group autosomes showed a distinct cross-hybridization, whereas in chimpanzee, homology to this sequence was observed for all acrocentric chromosomes, even with reduced signal accumulation for the human 22 equivalent at higher stringencies. PMID- 2625408 TI - Specific patterns of differential condensation induced photochemically in human chromosomes. PMID- 2625407 TI - Biomonitoring of genotoxicity induced by smoking. PMID- 2625409 TI - American Society of Andrology. 14th annual meeting. Program and abstracts. April 13-16, 1989, New Orleans, Louisiana. PMID- 2625410 TI - Abstracts of the XII congress, International Society of Biomechanics. Los Angeles, California, 26-30 June 1989. PMID- 2625411 TI - Regulation of bone stress and strain in the immature and mature rat femur. AB - Bone in vivo stresses and moments were determined from rosette strain recordings obtained from the mid-diaphysis of growing exercising rats. Two activity groups were examined beginning at 3 weeks of age: 2 min day-1 and 45 min day-1 at 0.2 ms 1 in an exercise wheel. In vitro moment-strain curves were obtained during mechanical calibration tests on intact femora, and area inertial properties were determined from the mid-diaphysis cross-sections. The mechanical calibration and histomorphometry procedures were then used to compute functional stresses and moments based on the in vivo rosette strain recordings. During the period 6-30 weeks of age the rats increased in body weight over threefold, but no significant changes in principal strain and stress magnitude or orientation were found. Peak in vivo compressive and tensile moments increased during growth in proportion to the animal mass squared, but the ratio of these moments to animal body weight times bone length (BWBL) remained constant throughout growth and in the adult. The parameter BWBL appears, therefore, to be a useful predictor of long bone functional strength. Peak torsional moments remained a constant 8.1 +/- 3.0% of the ultimate torsional strength, providing a safety factor of approximately 12. Differences in the in vivo moments between the two activity groups were found, which were due primarily to adaptive, but not significant, changes in bone geometry. These findings support the hypothesis that long bones model and model during growth and altered activity in order to regulate the functional strains at a predefined level. PMID- 2625412 TI - Biomechanical properties of the human ankle in relation to passive stretch. AB - Viscous/plastic properties were investigated in the passive tissue opposing dorsiflexion of the human ankle. The foot was rotated (dorsiflexed) and fixed. Due to viscous/plastic properties, the passive torque declined with time. After 300 s, torque, relative to the initial torque at 0 s, had fallen by 22.7% +/- 2.6% (mean +/- 1S.D.), as an expression of the relative importance of the viscous/plastic tissue properties for the passive torque. By a peel-off technique the number of different tissue elements with viscous/plastic properties was found to be at least three. After 100 s, all but one of these elements had yielded completely. Viscous/plastic properties were unchanged by stretching when measured 90 min after a single stretching program and when measured 24 h after stretching procedures had been performed twice a day for three weeks. PMID- 2625413 TI - Regulation of wrist stiffness by the stretch reflex. AB - In restoring the angular position after a displacement, the role of the muscle stretch reflex was investigated by comparing the restored angular torques and angular positions in the wrist under ischaemic and non-ischaemic conditions in normal human subjects. The wrist compliance (COM), defined as the dynamic relation between the angular position and the angular torque of the joint, was calculated to quantify the changes in the restoration of a displacement after abolishing the stretch reflex by ischaemia. The elasticity from the COM-function was found to be single most important factor controlled by the stretch reflex. The elasticity that equals the static stiffness of the system increased by more than 100%, from 0.21 Nm degree-1 with abolished reflex to 0.45 Nm degree-1 with intact reflex. Our results have shown that the stretch reflex assists in the rapid return of the limb to its original position after a mechanical displacement. When the reflex was blocked by ischaemia, the perturbation displaced the limb further away from the initial position. PMID- 2625414 TI - Experimental determination of wall shear rate in canine carotid arteries perfused in vitro. AB - The mathematical model of Hung (Tsai and Hung, 1984) is employed to determine the wall shear rate acting on canine carotid arteries perfused in vitro. Model equations for pulsatile flow in a deformable vessel are coupled with experimental data of dynamic pressure drop, flow rate, vessel radius and radial wall motion. Derived quantities, e.g. velocity profiles and wall shear, are obtained for vessels exposed to 'normotensive' hemodynamics, 'hypertension' simulations and perfusions in which the compliance of the vessel wall is deliberately altered. Our results indicate that wall shear varies markedly as a function of the hemodynamic environment. The effects of vessel radius vs flow rate on the development of wall shear are also demonstrated. It is found that convective processes correlate with the magnitude of wall shear in the 'hypertension' simulations. The present findings and complementary published data may explain, at least in part, the variations in vessel wall transport and endothelial cell biology we observe as a function of the hemodynamic environment. For example we have documented that the exposure of canine carotids to 'hypertensive' (vs 'normotensive') hemodynamics is associated with an increased flux of lipoproteins (LDL) into the intima and luminal media. Alternations in wall compliance, on the other hand, profoundly influence endothelial shape, orientation and cytoskeletal array. PMID- 2625415 TI - Multivariable optimization of cycling biomechanics. AB - Relying on a biomechanical model of the lower limb which treats the leg-bicycle system as a five-bar linkage constrained to plane motion, a cost function derived from the joint moments developed during cycling is computed. At constant average power of 200 W, the effect of five variables on the cost function is studied. The five variables are pedalling rate, crank arm length, seat tube angle, seat height, and longitudinal foot position on the pedal. A sensitivity analysis of each of the five variables shows that pedalling rate is the most sensitive, followed by the crank arm length, seat tube angle, seat height, and longitudinal foot position on the pedal (the least sensitive). Based on Powell's method, a multivariable optimization search is made for the combination of variable values which minimize the cost function. For a rider of average anthropometry (height 1.78 m, weight 72.5 kg), a pedalling rate of 115 rev min-1, crank arm length of 0.140 m, seat tube angle of 76 degrees, seat height plus crank arm length equal to 97% of trochanteric leg length, and longitudinal foot position on the pedal equal to 54% of foot length correspond to the cost function global minimum. The effect of anthropometric parameter variations is also examined and these variations influence the results significantly. The optimal crank arm length, seat height, and longitudinal foot position on the pedal increase as the size of rider increases whereas the optimal cadence and seat tube angle decrease as the rider's size increases. The dependence of optimization results on anthropometric parameters emphasizes the importance of tailoring bicycle equipment to the anthropometry of the individual. PMID- 2625416 TI - The effects of femoral head size on the deformation of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene acetabular cups. AB - Late loosening of cemented acetabular cups is increasingly being recognized as a clinical problem. One of the factors which may contribute to loosening is high localized deformation and stress at the cement-bone interface, the magnitude of which depends on the size of the total hip replacement (THR) femoral head. The effects of varying the femoral head size, from 22 to 32 mm, on strain values measured on the surface of the cup were investigated using experimental stress analysis techniques. The largest absolute strains were recorded when loading with the 22 mm head size. Peak strain values decreased to a minimum with the 26 mm head size and increased steadily with head sizes beyond 26 mm. The selection of an acetabular cup size and corresponding femoral head size in a total hip arthroplasty should not be an arbitrary one, but should be based on scientific studies which indicate minimum states of stress within the cup and cement mantle, as well as clinical evidence that the combination of components shows a reduced incidence of failure. This study experimentally quantifies the states of stress on the surface of the acetabular cup and points to the possible existence of an optimum component size to minimize surface stress. PMID- 2625417 TI - Scaling of long bone fracture strength with animal mass. AB - Most long bone fractures are the result of bending and/or torsional loading. To allometrically relate bone torsional and bending strength to animal mass (M), we define the bone strength index SB = J/dl where J = midshaft cross section polar moment of inertia, d = diameter, and l = length. In geometrically similar scaling, one would expect SB alpha M2/3. In this study, long bone geometric parameters were measured for 12 species of Artiodactyls. The relationships determined for length and diameter are similar to those reported by previous investigators (l alpha d3/4, l alpha M1/4). For the Artiodactyls studied, we found that SB alpha M0.82. Data previously collected by Biewener on a wide range of mammals (non-Artiodactyls) showed different scaling characteristics (l alpha d0.89, l alpha M0.31). However, our analysis of his data suggests roughly similar scaling of the torsional and bending strength index, SB alpha M0.77. It therefore appears that, in spite of differences in scaling of length and external diameter, the bending and torsional strengths scale similarly across a broad range of animals. PMID- 2625418 TI - The effects of a glycerin-based blood analog on the testing of bioprosthetic heart valves. AB - Detailed comparisons of aortic valvular flow using saline, with that using a glycerin-based blood analog in a pulse duplicator are reported. The experiments were carried out to determine whether exposure to glycerin caused stiffening of bioprosthetic valve leaflets. For two pericardial bioprostheses and for a mechanical valve we observed a fluid-dependent systolic volume flow, a fluid dependent regurgitation volume, and fluid-dependent systolic pressure differences. Volume flow changes, both forward and reverse, are independent of valve type. The observed pressure differences, while proportional to fluid density for the mechanical valve, are fluid dependent in a more complicated way for the pericardial valves. However, no trend of changing valvular performance was observed over as much as 80 days of glycerin exposure, indicating that it is unlikely that the fluid-dependent performance was caused by glycerin absorption by the valve leaflets. We conclude that valid performance comparisons between mechanical and bioprosthetic valves may be made using a glycerin-based fluid. Furthermore, it appears that any detailed analysis of the physical mechanisms of valvular flow dissipation will require a properly matched blood analog. PMID- 2625419 TI - Mathematical models of the flow in the basilar artery. AB - The flow in the basilar artery arises from the merging of the flows from the two vertebral arteries. This study deals with the question whether a parabolic (Poiseuille) profile will have been established before the basilar artery divides into both posterior cerebral arteries. The inlet length (that is, the downstream distance needed for the flow to become approximately equal to the limiting Poiseuille flow) and velocity profiles have been computed from two- and three dimensional mathematical models in which flow pulsatility and vessel wall distensibility have been neglected and the complex geometry of the junction has been taken into account in a simplified form. The results show that the flow at the end of the basilar artery is far from being parabolic and that an asymmetry in the entrance flow will be carried along towards the end of the basilar artery, thus affecting flows in the circle of Willis. PMID- 2625420 TI - A thermodynamically consistent constitutive equation for the elastic force-length relation of soft biological materials. AB - Starting from the laws of thermodynamics of reversible processes, a temperature dependent constitutive equation is derived for the elastic force-length relation of soft biological tissues. These tissues are composed of a network of fibres (mainly collagen). The equation is based on a model which uses a simplified two dimensional representation of the alpha-helix of collagen. PMID- 2625421 TI - Properties of the tendinous structures and series elastic component of EDL muscle tendon complex of the rat. AB - Characteristics of the entire series elastic component and of tendinous structures separately (tendon and aponeurosis) were compared for rat EDL muscle tendon complex during isometric contractions, to study the contribution of tendinous structures to series elastic component characteristics. Compliance of series elastic component was measured using quick length decreases during the force plateau of isometric contractions. Lengths of tendinous structures were measured using macro-photographs during passive and active muscle conditions. Length data obtained from aponeurosis showed inconsistency with respect to elastic behaviour in two ways: the difference of aponeurosis length in active muscle at short length and at optimum length exceeded the extension of series elastic component for the same force range. Furthermore, aponeurosis in passive muscle at optimum length was considerably longer than in active muscle at short length, despite the fact that muscle force in the former condition is smaller than in the latter. It is concluded that aponeurosis length does not depend exclusively on force but is also muscle length-dependent. This muscle length dependence was not found for tendon of EDL. Additional experiments showed that series elastic component compliance does not depend on muscle length. It is concluded that muscle length-dependent changes of aponeurosis length-force characteristics involve shifts of its force length curve to other aponeurosis lengths. PMID- 2625422 TI - The spring-mass model for running and hopping. AB - A simple spring-mass model consisting of a massless spring attached to a point mass describes the interdependency of mechanical parameters characterizing running and hopping of humans as a function of speed. The bouncing mechanism itself results in a confinement of the free parameter space where solutions can be found. In particular, bouncing frequency and vertical displacement are closely related. Only a few parameters, such as the vector of the specific landing velocity and the specific leg length, are sufficient to determine the point of operation of the system. There are more physiological constraints than independent parameters. As constraints limit the parameter space where hopping is possible, they must be tuned to each other in order to allow for hopping at all. Within the range of physiologically possible hopping frequencies, a human hopper selects a frequency where the largest amount of energy can be delivered and still be stored elastically. During running and hopping animals use flat angles of the landing velocity resulting in maximum contact length. In this situation ground reaction force is proportional to specific contact time and total displacement is proportional to the square of the step duration. Contact time and hopping frequency are not simply determined by the natural frequency of the spring-mass system, but are influenced largely by the vector of the landing velocity. Differences in the aerial phase or in the angle of the landing velocity result in the different kinematic and dynamic patterns observed during running and hopping. Despite these differences, the model predicts the mass specific energy fluctuations of the center of mass per distance to be similar for runners and hoppers and similar to empirical data obtained for animals of various size. PMID- 2625423 TI - A mathematical model for the evaluation of the behaviour during flexion of condylar-type knee prostheses. AB - A 3D knee model was developed in order to evaluate the mechanical behaviour during flexion of condylar-type knee prosthesis. Based on the total energy minimization principle, it takes into account the articular surfaces (the tibial surface being deformable), the body weight, and the patello femoral joint. It generates the kinematics of the joint, the motion of the centre of contact, the quadriceps forces, the pressure distribution on the tibial plateau, and ligament lengths and forces between 0 and 120 degrees of flexion. The results for ten digitized knees and the commercially available prostheses are presented. They are in general agreement with experimental results published in the literature. It is concluded that this computer program may be, within its limitations, a useful tool in the preliminary evaluation of new condylar-type knee prosthesis designs. PMID- 2625424 TI - The area moment of inertia of the tibia: a risk factor for stress fractures. AB - In a prospective study of stress fractures among Israeli infantry recruits, the area moment of inertia of the tibia was found to have a statistically significant correlation with the incidence of tibial, femoral and total stress fractures. Recruits with "low" area moments of inertia of the tibia were found to have higher stress fracture morbidity than those with "high" area moments of inertia. The best correlation was obtained when the area moment of inertia was calculated about the AP axis of bending at a cross-sectional level corresponding to the narrowest tibial width on lateral X-rays, a point which is at the distal quarter of the tibia. This finding indicates that bending forces about the approximate AP axis are an important causal factor for tibial and many other stress fractures. The bone's bending strength, or ability to resist bending moments, as measured by the area moment of inertia, helps determine risk to stress fracture. PMID- 2625425 TI - Physiological considerations of muscle force through the elbow joint. AB - An analytical model for the determination of muscle forces across the elbow joint during isometric loading conditions has been developed. The model incorporates the muscle length-tension relationship, while considering the muscle architecture. Sensitivity analyses were performed to study the effects of the geometric and architectural factors of the muscles on the distribution of muscle forces. PMID- 2625426 TI - Velocity field of pulsatile flow in a porous tube. AB - This paper describes velocity fields for fully developed periodic laminar flow in a rigid tube with a porous wall. We obtained an analytical solution of the flow by the linear approximation of the Navier-Stokes equation. Unlike the previous works with a constant seepage rate along the axis, we used a wall velocity which contained hydraulic permeation constant Lp. The axial velocity profile shows a local maximum velocity near the wall at a large Womersley number alpha. This suggests that concentration polarization in porous tubular membrane may be reduced at high frequencies if a membrane device is operated under pulsatile flow conditions. The magnitude of wall permeation velocity decreases linearly along the tube axis because the damping of the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the tube is very small. PMID- 2625427 TI - A mathematical model of flow through a collapsible tube--I. Model and steady flow results. AB - A one-dimensional model is presented to describe the flow through a collapsible tube whose ends are tethered to rigid tubes and which is enclosed in a pressurized chamber. Results are presented for the special case of steady flow. Predicted pressure drop versus flow rate (delta P-Q) characteristics agree qualitatively with available experimental data. The significance of the model and of various physical parameters, in regard to the shape of these characteristics, is discussed. PMID- 2625428 TI - Mathematical analysis of single-cut osteotomy for complex long bone deformity. PMID- 2625429 TI - Shape optimal design of the stem of a cemented hip prosthesis to minimize stress concentration in the cement layer. AB - An optimal shape of the metal stem of a cemented total hip prosthesis minimizing stress concentration in the cement layer was searched for. A gradient projection method of numerical optimization and a finite element method of stress analysis were employed. A two-dimensional model of the femoral part of a total hip prosthesis was derived equivalent to a simplified three-dimensional axisymmetric model. The result of the stress analysis of the two-dimensional model compared favorably with that of the three-dimensional axisymmetric model. Using this two dimensional model, an optimal shape of the stem, minimizing stress concentration in the cement layer, was obtained by a gradient projection method and the shape was checked again by the three-dimensional finite element analysis. The resulting optimal shape of the stem profile was in good agreement with conventional ones, except in the proximal region where a significant amount of stress reduction in the cement layer was achieved by tapering the stem to the limit that the stem still could withstand the increased stem stress. PMID- 2625430 TI - A mechanical apparatus with microprocessor controlled stress profile for cyclic compression of cultured articular cartilage explants. AB - An apparatus was designed for mechanical compression of cultured articular cartilage explants with acylindrical plain-ended loading head (diameter 2-5 mm) driven by a stepping motor. A load cell under the culture dish was applied for feedback regulation utilizing a microprocessor-based control unit. The operating programs allowed either continuous or cyclic loading, the latter with adjustable loading/resting ratio. The improvements in the present design compared with previously described apparatuses for similar purposes include: (1) the accurately controlled compression by a load cell and a rapid feedback circuit; (2) the wide range of selectable stresses (25 kPa-12.5 MPa) with both continuous and cyclic loading modes; (3) the ability to handle cycles as short as 1 s with 15 ms peak loading phase. Using a 4 s cycle and 0.5 MPa load for 1.5 h resulted in a significantly enhanced incorporation of radiosulphate in cultured bovine articular cartilage explants, suggesting a stimulation of proteoglycan synthesis. Light and scanning electron microscopic examinations revealed a slight depression and superficial alterations in cartilage structure at the impact site following high pressures. We expect that this apparatus will help in revealing how articular cartilage tissue and chondrocytes respond to external mechanical stimuli. PMID- 2625431 TI - A method for measuring contact pressures instantaneously in articular joints. AB - A method whereby instrumented pipes are inserted part of the way into articular cartilage from the underlying subchondral bone has been developed for measuring instantaneous contact pressures acting within articular joints. Contact pressures developed between two specimens cut from fresh cadaveric knee joints were measured with this technique and then subsequently with pressure-sensitive paper. Average contact pressures (load/contact area) were also calculated. Comparisons of the three sets of data show that contact pressures measured with the pressure pipe system are linearly related (p less than 0.001) to both the contact pressures measured with the pressure-sensitive paper and the calculated average contact pressures. PMID- 2625432 TI - Comment on 'An Application of Beam Theory to Determine the Stress and Deformation of Long Bones'. PMID- 2625433 TI - Transforming growth factor-beta 1 binds to immobilized fibronectin. AB - We have characterized the interaction of homodimeric porcine transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) with affinity-purified human plasma fibronectin. Using a solid-phase binding assay, we have demonstrated that TGF-beta 1 binds to fibronectin immobilized on Immunlon ITM microtiter plates. TGF-beta 1 binding increased with time, reaching a plateau after 4-6 h, and was dependent upon the concentration of both labeled TGF-beta 1 and immobilized fibronectin present. The binding of radiolabeled TGF-beta 1 to fibronectin was saturable and was reduced 75% in the presence of a 100-fold excess of unlabeled TGF-beta 1. TGF-beta 1 bound to fibronectin with an association rate constant (Ka) of 2.96 x 10(3) M-1 s 1 and did not readily dissociate under various conditions. The binding of TGF beta 1 to fibronectin was insensitive to variations in ionic strength over a range of 0.1-1.0 M NaCl and was relatively insensitive to divalent cation concentration in the range of 0.1-10.0 mM as well. These data suggest that the binding of TGF-beta 1 to fibronectin may not be dependent upon the interaction of charged amino acids within these two molecules. However, the binding of TGF-beta 1 to fibronectin was strongly pH-dependent and binding decreased dramatically below pH 4.0 and above pH 10.0, suggesting that charged amino acids may influence TGF-beta 1/fibronectin interactions. The association of TGF-beta 1 with immobilized fibronectin or other extracellular matrix components and subsequent dissociation under acidic conditions or by an as-yet-unidentified mechanism may play a role in the distribution and/or activity of this potent growth regulator at sites of tissue injury and inflammation in vivo. PMID- 2625434 TI - Epidermal growth factor stimulates phosphatidylinositol turnover in human foreskin fibroblasts without activation of protein kinase C. AB - Epidermal growth factor stimulates phosphatidylinositol turnover in human foreskin fibroblasts. This is a primary cell culture with normal numbers of epidermal growth factor receptors that is stimulated to divide by epidermal growth factor. Increases are seen in the inositol phospholipids and inositol phosphates. Despite this activation of phosphatidylinositol turnover, there is no detectable activation of protein kinase C. PMID- 2625435 TI - Gradient high-performance liquid chromatography using alkylphenone retention indices of insecticidal extracts of Penicillium strains. AB - Purified extracts of four Penicillium strains which were active against the insect pest Spodoptera littoralis were analysed by gradient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for secondary metabolites using alkylphenone retention indices. HPLC of pure secondary metabolite standards detected previously in the extracts by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was undertaken in order to obtain bracketed retention indices. More metabolites were detected by HPLC than by TLC, although some compounds detected by TLC in some strains were not detected by this HPLC method. A minority of metabolites were exclusive to each strain, and most were produced by more than one strain. The profiles were more characteristic of each strain when only the larger peaks were considered. This emphasizes the importance of detection limits in secondary metabolite analysis. Some of the implications of these analyses to fungus toxicity and systematic mycology are discussed. PMID- 2625436 TI - Gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of mono- and dithiols as their tert. butyldimethylsilyl derivatives. AB - The use of gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry with derivatizing agents that give stable derivatives and consistent fragmentation patterns allows for accurate identification of a variety of compounds. In this study either N methyl-N-tert.-butyldimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide or N-tert. butyldimethylsilylimidazole were employed to derivatize a range of mono- and dithiols: from ethanethiol to 1-hexadecanethiol and 1,2-ethanedithiol to 1,9 nonanedithiol. When analyzed in this way, the resulting tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives of the 24 thiols tested were readily distinguishable. Complete baseline separation of each derivative by capillary gas-liquid chromatography was achieved, and each produced a prominent mass minus 57 [M+. - 57] fragment ion. The tert.-butyldimethylsilyl-thioethers were colorless and were stable at room temperature for over 3 months. This method may provide a convenient approach to the analysis of thiol compounds from a wide variety of sources. PMID- 2625437 TI - Interaction of lactate dehydrogenase with structurally related triazine dyes using affinity partitioning and affinity chromatography. AB - Affinity partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems consisting of dextran and dye liganded polyethylene glycol was employed to study the interaction of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from rabbit muscle (E.C. 1.1.1.27) with Procion Red HE-3B and four structurally related derivatives of this dye in order to follow the significance of the terminal rings of Procion Red HE-3B for the strength of interaction. The study revealed that the arrangement of the two 1-amino-8 naphthol-3,6-disulphonic acid rings seems to be a prerequisite for the interaction of azonaphthol dyes with LDH. The negatively charged sulfonic acid group at the terminal rings of Procion Red HE-3B enhances the affinity of the ligand for LDH significantly. The removal of this sulphonic acid group or splitting off the complete terminal rings decreases the affinity to LDH and improves the competitive effect of NAD+. The results of affinity partitioning are compared with those of affinity chromatography and kinetic data. The usefulness and the choice of parameters of affinity partitioning as an analytical tool to predict the chromatographic behaviour of dye ligands are discussed. PMID- 2625438 TI - Microheterogeneity of the growth-associated neuronal protein B-50 (GAP-43). Contribution of phosphorylation by protein kinase Ca. AB - The neuron-specific, growth-associated protein B-50, also known as GAP-43. F1 and neuromodulin, shows a striking heterogeneous behaviour in many chromatographic and electrophoretic systems. A modulatory function has been proposed for the protein in receptor-mediated processes in the presynaptic membrane. Fatty acid acylation, calmodulin binding and phosphorylation appear to be tools in this respect. At least three discrete isoforms were present in separations made by reversed-phase fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) of the phosphorylated protein. In anion-exchange FPLC chromatography a conglomerate of eight peaks was eluted, which migrated as eight parallel curves in electrophoretic mobility studies. After dephosphorylation of the protein this number was reduced to two. Under non-reducing conditions, the phosphoprotein was eluted from an FPLC gel filtration column at Mr = 270 kDa, i.e. 8-12 times the size of the monomer (m = 23.6 kDa.) In sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis all isoforms showed only B-50 at Mr of 48 kDa and its breakdown product (Mr = 40 kDa) in a constant ratio. It was concluded that phosphorylation by protein kinase C of a single serine residue is only one factor in the microheterogeneity of B-50. Multimeric forms may also add to the heterogeneous behaviour of phosphorylated B 50. PMID- 2625439 TI - Centrifugal counter-current partition chromatography with helical coil rotor. Simplified counter-current chromatography with a rotating face-seal. AB - A centrifugal counter-current partition chromatograph has been developed and tested in order to simplify earlier counter-current chromatographic (CCC) procedures. It includes a helical coil rotor and a rotating face-seal. The rotor is designed to be adapted in an ordinary laboratory centrifuge for toroidal coil CCC. Twisting between the inlet and outlet tubing is avoided by using the rotating seal in the rotor. The seal is placed between the rotor, on which helical coils are mounted, and a newly designed centrifuge lid. This chromatographic rotor, rotating simply around its own axis, has simplified a previous CCC device in which a coil planet mechanism is used to avoid tube twisting whilst retaining the capability for chromatographic separations. Results for separations of nystatin, dinitrophenylamino acids and Poly I:C were comparable to those obtained by liquid chromatography and the previous CCC procedure. PMID- 2625440 TI - Improved separation of lipid esters by thin-layer chromatography. AB - Methods for the separation of ethyl- and 2-chloroethyl esters of fatty acids using argentation thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and linear and circular reversed-phase TLC are described. An argentation TLC method for the separation of cholesterol esters is also described. The separation is based on the degree of unsaturation in the fatty acid moiety. In all instances good and reproducible resolution was achieved by unidirectional single developments at room temperature with reduced analysis times (9 min for argentation TLC, 7 min for circular reversed-phase TLC). PMID- 2625441 TI - High-performance hydrophobic interaction chromatography of proteins on a pellicular support based on hydrophilic resin. PMID- 2625443 TI - Computer-assisted method development in chromatography. PMID- 2625442 TI - Separation of 125I-labelled prostanoid derivatives by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. PMID- 2625444 TI - Reversed-phase chromatographic method development for peptide separations using the computer simulation program ProDigest-LC. AB - A computer program, ProDigest-LC, has been developed that assists scientists in devising methods of size-exclusion, cation-exchange and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography for the analytical separation and purification of biologically active peptides and peptide fragments from enzymatic and chemical digests of proteins. ProDigest-LC accurately predicts the retention behaviour of peptides of known composition, containing 2-50 amino acid residues, and simulates the elution profiles in all three modes of chromatography. In addition, ProDigest LC is a user-friendly program, designed as a teaching aid for both students and researchers in selecting the correct conditions for chromatography, that is, the mode of chromatography, column selection and mobile-phase selection, and has the ability to examine the effects of gradient-rate, flow-rate and sample size on the separation. The simulation capabilities of ProDigest-LC as they apply to the reversed-phase chromatography of peptides were examined. The development of the reversed-phase simulation features of the program is described, stressing the importance of peptide standards in the development, testing and practical use of ProDigest-LC. The ease of use of the program is clearly demonstrated by presenting a step-by-step procedure to produce several of the simulations illustrated in the paper. The predictive accuracy of the program was rigorously tested by its application to retention time prediction, at different gradient rates and flow-rates, for a sample mixture containing peptides exhibiting a wide range of size (11-50 residues), charge (+1 to +8 net charge), hydrophobicity and conformation (random coil to considerable alpha-helical structure). The excellent accuracy of these peptide retention time predictions complemented the successful simulation (in terms of peptide retention times, peptide resolution, peak heights and peak widths) of the effects of gradient-rate and flow-rate on the elution profile of a mixture of closely related peptide analogues. PMID- 2625445 TI - Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic retention and selectivity surfaces. II. Deoxyribonucleosides. AB - By plotting capacity factors and selectivity factors as functions of temperature and pH or methanol concentration of the mobile phase, retention and selectivity surfaces of four deoxyribonucleosides were generated. Although changes in the methanol content had little effect on selectivity, changes in pH and temperature could be used to improve selectivity. However, changes in pH or temperature can be coupled with changes in methanol concentration to optimize the analysis time. In addition, by using lines of constant analysis time (isochrons), it was found that several sets of conditions will result in nearly identical retention times. These isochrons can be used to optimize the resolution of the solutes. PMID- 2625446 TI - Analysis of the major urinary thromboxane metabolites, 2,3-dinorthromboxane B2 and 11-dehydrothromboxane B2, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. AB - 2,3-Dinorthromboxane B2 and 11-dehydrothromboxane B2, the two major metabolites of thromboxane B2, are considered to be indices of thromboxane A2 activity in humans. The determination of these metabolites in urine was comparatively performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry using the corresponding chemically synthesized tetradeuterated analogues as internal standards. The urine samples of five females and two males, all healthy, were prepurified by solid-phase extraction. The corresponding pentafluorobenzyl ester derivatives were repurified by high performance liquid chromatography. The concentrations of 2,3-dinorthromboxane B2 and 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 ranged from 21 to 266 pg/ml and 47 to 942 pg/ml, respectively. The ratio of urinary 2,3-dinorthromboxane B2 to 11 dehydrothromboxane B2 varied from 1:3 to 1:5, except for one sample with nearly equal concentrations of 2,3-dinorthromboxane B2 and 11-dehydrothromboxane B2. PMID- 2625447 TI - Determination of urinary orotate excretion by high-performance liquid chromatography. AB - A new reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of urinary orotate excretion is described. It is a selective, sensitive and rapid method, suitable for the differentiation of inherited metabolic diseases with abnormal orotate metabolism. PMID- 2625448 TI - Detection and separation of intracellular 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine-5 triphosphate by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography. AB - An ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic method, using a reversed phase C18 column, was developed to provide an isocratic, sensitive, fast and reproducible separation of intracellular 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine-5 triphosphate and its measurement at a low limit of 5 pmol by ultraviolet absorbance at 280 nm with a coefficient of variation lower than 10%. A rapid separation is achieved by using a backflush procedure at 16 min and the retention time is 14 min. PMID- 2625449 TI - Determination of 2-n-octadecylindole-5-carboxylic acid in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography. AB - A method is described for the determination of the novel hypocholesterolaemic drug, 2-n-octadecylindole-5-carboxylic acid (I) in plasma. A homologue of I is used as the internal standard. Methanol is added to the plasma sample in order to precipitate the plasma proteins, followed by centrifugation and removal of the supernatant. This is reduced to dryness by heating under oxygen-free nitrogen, prior to reconstitution in the chromatographic mobile phase. The solution is assayed by injection on to a 5 micron particle size ODS2 analytical column, protected by a disposable RP-18 packed guard column, using an isocratic mobile phase of acetonitrile-water-isopropyl alcohol-formic acid (75:275:150:2.5, v/v). Detection is by ultraviolet absorbance at 276 nm. At a flow-rate of 1.5 ml min-1 and ambient temperature, the retention time of the drug is 16 min, whilst that for the internal standard is 21 min. This method has been validated and successfully used to assay clinical trial plasma samples. Basic pharmacokinetic parameters are presented. PMID- 2625450 TI - Measurement of K vitamins in animal tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection. AB - A highly sensitive method for measuring endogenous phylloquinone and menaquinones in animal tissues was developed, based on high-performance liquid chromatography with coulometric reduction and fluorimetric detection, following extraction from tissue homogenate and purification on a Sep-Pak silica cartridge followed by thin layer chromatography. The detection limits of phylloquinone, menaquinone-4, -6, 10 and -13 were 40, 40, 50, 70 and 80 pg/g in rat liver, respectively. PMID- 2625451 TI - New and versatile method for the determination of faecal bile acids by thin-layer chromatography with direct scanning fluorimetry. AB - A sensitive, versatile and precise method for quantitative analysis of individual faecal bile acids in humans by thin-layer chromatography with direct scanning fluorimetry is described. The method enables convenient quantitative measurements of faecal bile acids in larger series of samples for routine applications in gastroenterology. The overall coefficient of variation (including stool preparation and extraction) for the five predominant bile acids of human stool specimens (cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid, lithocholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid) was 3.4-4.9%. Recoveries of free bile acids added to the faeces ranged from 91% to 106%. An excellent and linear correlation between this method and fused-silica column gas chromatography with temperature programming was established (r = 0.91-0.99). In clinical practice this thin-layer chromatographic method constitutes a reliable, simple and time-saving alternative to gas chromatography. PMID- 2625452 TI - Determination of rimantadine and its hydroxylated metabolites in human plasma and urine. AB - A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric procedure has been developed for the quantitation of the antiviral agent rimantadine and its meta- and para hydroxylated metabolites in human plasma and urine. The assay utilizes an extractive pentafluorobenzoylation at alkaline pH with cyclohexane saturated with triethanolamine-chloroform (2:1) containing pentafluorobenzoyl chloride, selective ion monitoring, methane negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry and stable isotope dilution. The method has been used to measure plasma concentrations of rimantadine, m-hydroxyrimantadine and the two epimers of p-hydroxyrimantadine between 5-250, 5-100 and 2.5-50 ng/ml, respectively. Similarly, the urine concentrations of these analytes measured were between 25 1250, 25-500 and 12.5-250 ng/ml, respectively. PMID- 2625453 TI - Gas chromatography of simple phenols in biological fluids. AB - Acid hydrolysis of phenol conjugates in urine by concentrated H3PO4 followed by extraction of phenols with n-hexane and their acetylation before gas chromatography on columns packed with OV-1 or OV-17 is described. The sensitivity of the method is sufficient to monitor normal levels of phenol and p-cresol or phenol and o-cresol after exposure to benzene or toluene vapours. The detection limit is 1 mg/l. The method can also be used to diagnose acute oral intoxication by phenol or cresols and to estimate its significance in clinical or forensic toxicology. Normal urine levels of phenols and those in different cases of human intoxication are evaluated. PMID- 2625454 TI - Studies on anabolic steroids. III. Detection and characterization of stanozolol urinary metabolites in humans by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. AB - The metabolism of stanozolol (17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 alpha androstano[3,2-c]pyrazole), an androgenic-anabolic steroid widely used in sport for the purpose of enhancing performance, was investigated in humans. The analysis method was based on the use of solid-phase extraction on the Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, enzymic hydrolysis of steroid conjugates and high-resolution gas chromatograph-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis of trimethylsilylated steroid extracts. After administration of a single 20-mg oral dose, twelve metabolites including unchanged stanozolol were recovered predominantly from the conjugated steroid fraction and characterized by GC-MS. In the unconjugated fraction, 16 alpha-hydroxystanozolol, 17-epistanozolol, stanozolol and 3'-hydroxy-17 epistanozolol were the most abundant metabolites. In the aglycone fraction, 16 alpha- and 16 beta-hydroxystanozolol, stanozolol and 3'-hydroxystanozolol were the most abundant metabolites. Other metabolites resulted from regioselective hydroxylation of stanozolol at C-4, whereas other were 17-epimers of 3'- and 16 alpha-hydroxystanozolol. Further hydroxylation leading to the formation of four isomeric dihydroxylated metabolites was also observed. They were tentatively assigned the structures of 3',16 alpha-, 4 beta,16 alpha-, 3',16 beta- and 4 beta,16 beta-dihydroxystanozolol. The mass spectral features of their bis-N,O trimethylsilyl derivatives obtained under electron-impact ionization are presented. The effect of pH on the relative recovery of some of these metabolites is also presented. The usefulness of this analytical methodology for the detection and identification of stanozolol urinary metabolites in doping-control situations is demonstrated. The metabolism of stanozolol is also discussed, and metabolic pathways accounting for the formation of its biotransformation products are proposed. PMID- 2625455 TI - Rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the measurement of the enantiomers of metoprolol in serum using a chiral stationary phase. AB - Metoprolol, a beta-adrenergic blocker, is only available as a racemic mixture for clinical use. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation of the optical isomers (enantiomers) in human serum is described utilizing a commercially available column with a cellulose tris (3,5-dimethylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase. Separation of the enantiomers is accomplished without precolumn derivatization using a mobile phase of hexane-2-propanol-diethylamine (91:8:1, v/v). The method can be successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies in man. PMID- 2625456 TI - Determination of the enantiomers of verapamil and norverapamil in serum using coupled achiral-chiral high-performance liquid chromatography. AB - An assay for the plasma concentration of the enantiomers of verapamil and its metabolite norverapamil has been developed using the improved version of the alpha 1-acid glycoprotein chiral stationary phase (CHIRAL AGP-CSP) coupled to a shielded hydrophobic phase (Hisep) column. The Hisep column was used to separate verapamil and norverapamil from the plasma components and from each other and to quantitate the total verapamil and norverapamil concentrations. The eluents containing verapamil and norverapamil are then selectively transferred to the CHIRAL AGP-CSP where the enantiomers were stereochemically resolved and the enantiomeric composition determined. The system is the first reported for the serum concentration of the enantiomers of verapamil after the clinical administration of the drug and the first to stereochemically resolve and quantitate the enantiomers of norverapamil. PMID- 2625457 TI - Analysis of albuterol in human plasma based on immunoaffinity chromatographic clean-up combined with high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection. AB - A method combining immunoaffinity chromatography with high-performance liquid chromatography was developed for the determination of albuterol in human plasma. The immunoaffinity chromatography, based on the specific interaction of albuterol with the immobilized antibody raised against it, was used as a clean-up step. Albuterol eluted from this immunochemical solid-phase clean-up step was analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection. The performance of the assay was validated on six normal volunteers after a 4-mg oral dose of albuterol, which gave a peak plasma concentration in the range 6.67-15.31 ng/ml at 3-4 h after the dose. Plasma levels (0.79-1.56 ng/ml) of albuterol could be detected up to 24 h after the dose. PMID- 2625458 TI - Determination of oxiracetam in plasma and urine by column-switching high performance liquid chromatography. AB - A column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of oxiracetam in plasma and urine. A sample of plasma (250 microliters) or urine (10 microliters) is mixed with the internal standard solution, 4.2 ml of acetonitrile-water (1000:4, v/v) and 0.8 ml of dichloromethane, and 1 ml of the clear solution is injected onto a first column filled with Li-Chrosorb NH2. The sample is eluted with acetonitrile-water (95:5, v/v). The portion of the eluate (heart-cutting) from this column containing the compounds of interest is selected and loaded on a Nucleosil NH2 column and eluted with acetonitrile-water (90:10, v/v). During this chromatography the first column (LiChrosorb NH2) is rinsed with acetonitrile-water (50:50, v/v). Ultraviolet detection at 200 nm is used for quantitation. The limit of quantitation of oxiracetam is ca. 1.5 microM (240 ng/ml) in plasma and 76 microM (12 micrograms/ml) in urine. Oxiracetam was stable in plasma and urine samples kept frozen at -20 degrees C for nine months and one year, respectively. PMID- 2625459 TI - [Erythrocruorins from earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) separated by gel chromatography]. PMID- 2625460 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of branched-chain alpha keto acids in serum using immobilized leucine dehydrogenase as post-column reactor. PMID- 2625461 TI - A new rapid method for phospholipid separation by high-performance liquid chromatography with light-scattering detection. PMID- 2625462 TI - Use of anion-exchange resin in F- form in sample processing for determination of carnitine. PMID- 2625463 TI - Purification of microbial uricase. PMID- 2625464 TI - Determination of ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. PMID- 2625465 TI - Picogram level determination of medetomidine in dog serum by capillary gas chromatography with negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry. PMID- 2625466 TI - Assay of a calcium antagonist (PU 122) in plasma by gas chromatography. PMID- 2625467 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for cytosine arabinoside and uracil arabinoside in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma. PMID- 2625468 TI - Measurement of low (sub-therapeutic) phenobarbitone levels in plasma by high performance liquid chromatography: application to patient compliance studies. PMID- 2625469 TI - Measurement of underivatised metoprolol enantiomers in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography with a chiral stationary phase. PMID- 2625470 TI - Determination of morphine in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. PMID- 2625471 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of ibuprofen in rat and human plasma. PMID- 2625472 TI - Determination of saterinone in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography. PMID- 2625473 TI - Rapid analysis of ceftetrame in human plasma using sorbent extraction and high performance liquid chromatography. PMID- 2625474 TI - Determination of flumequine in fish by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. PMID- 2625475 TI - Production of tyrosine isomers in mice by therapeutic doses of 60Co irradiation. PMID- 2625476 TI - Ultra-rapid assay of brain gamma-aminobutyric acid by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. PMID- 2625477 TI - Improved method for the determination of furosemide in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography. PMID- 2625478 TI - Quantitative analysis of polyols in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. AB - We used gas chromatography in conjunction with flame ionization detection to quantitate nine polyols and aldo and keto sugars (as silyl derivatives) in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Rhamnose, not found in CSF or plasma, was used as an internal standard with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.4 mg/l. CSF polyol and sugar concentrations (mean +/- S.D.) in fourteen healthy subjects (age range 27.1-85.9 years) were: anhydroglucitol, 19.9 +/- 5.3 mg/l; arabitol, 4.8 +/ 0.9 mg/l; erythritol, 2.4 +/- 0.5 mg/l; myoinositol, 28.6 +/- 8.3 mg/l; ribitol, 1.6 +/- 0.1 mg/l; fructose, 25.5 +/- 11.1 mg/l; glucose, 587 +/- 70 mg/l; glucitol, 7.7 +/- 1.5 mg/l; and mannose, 10.6 +/- 2.4 mg/l. The respective plasma concentrations were 30.6 +/- 11.5, less than 0.4, 0.4 +/- 0.2, 6.3 +/- 2.6, less than 0.4, 23.4 +/- 21.4, 897 +/- 214, less than 0.4 and 13.7 +/- 6.3 mg/l. Polyol CSF-to-plasma concentration ratios greater than 2 were observed for myoinositol, erythritol, arabitol, glucitol and ribitol, indicative of active accumulation or synthesis of these polyols within the central nervous system. PMID- 2625479 TI - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of metabolic products for fermentation control of mammalian cell culture: analysis of carbohydrates, organic acids and orthophosphate using refractive index and ultraviolet detectors. AB - A method for the determination of carbohydrate substrates and excreted metabolic end-products of cell culture supernatants using a strong cation-exchange column in the H+ form has been developed. Organic acids and carbohydrates can be determined in addition to orthophosphoric acid. Pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, resulting from chemical conversion of the amino acid glutamine during the incubation of fresh medium and during the fermentation process, can be determined. The chromatographic method allows the correction of glutamine uptake values for physiological studies. Measured values of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid in supernatants of human hybridoma cell line show that it cannot be consumed by the cells. This technique allows the separation of major metabolites used in process optimization. Peak homogeneity is proved by on-line monitoring of the effluent with an ultraviolet (214 nm) and a refractive index detector connected in series. PMID- 2625480 TI - Isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the concentration and specific radioactivity of phosphoenolpyruvate and uridine diphosphate glucose in tissue extracts. AB - A rapid and efficient isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method for studying the metabolism of phosphoenolpyruvate and uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) has been developed. For each compound this method can measure tissue concentrations in the range 0.1-1000 nmol/g of tissue and determine specific radioactivity. All measurements can be performed in 200 mg of tissue. The recoveries of uridine diphosphate [6-3H]glucose and phosphoenol[1 14C]pyruvate from liver tissue homogenates were 97 and 99%, respectively. Following intra-arterial infusion of [6-3H]glucose and [U-14C]lactate in conscious rat, the concentration and specific radioactivity of phosphoenolpyruvate and UDPG were determined in rat liver. The method may be applied to experimentation in small animals using radiolabelled precursors in order to quantitate in vivo the glycogenic and gluconeogenic fluxes. PMID- 2625481 TI - Study on the analogy of gel permeation chromatography and cuprophan dialysis for the isolation of uremic 'middle molecules' using model compounds. AB - Selectivities of substituted nitrobenzenes in gel permeation chromatography and cuprophan membrane dialysis were compared. Glucuronide-, glucoside-, acetic acid- and lactoside-substituted p-nitrobenzenes were chosen as model compounds for so called 'middle molecules' in uremia. It was found that there was not a single linear relationship between the substituent effects in both processes. This was because of the anomalous behaviour of the model compounds in gel permeation. A combination of adsorption and ionic rejection in the latter technique, for the various solutes, was not encountered in cuprophan membrane dialysis, which appeared to be governed only by the molecular mass or volume of the solute. Therefore, gel permeation seems to be inappropriate for the analysis or isolation for so-called middle molecules in sera of uremic patients. Dialysis or filtration on relatively inert membranes is less susceptible to anomalies. PMID- 2625482 TI - Potential of the sulfobetaine detergent Zwittergent 3-12 as a desorbing agent in biospecific and bioselective affinity chromatography. AB - The isolation in our laboratories of several antigens of interest from sporulated oocysts of Eimeria species by bioselective adsorption on matrices containing immobilized antigen-specific immunoglobulins IgG was initially unsuccessful. The preparations serving as source materials for these antigens contained low levels of the zwitterionic sulfobetaine detergent, Zwittergent 3-12. Since usually immunoaffinity processes are carried out in the presence of various detergents, we were surprised, subsequently, to find this detergent to be the cause of the problem in that it prevented antigen-antibody binding. These findings led us to study the potential role of Zwittergent 3-12 as an eluting agent from matrices holding bioselectively adsorbed materials. The results of seven case studies are presented in this paper and include experiments with beta-D-galactosidase adsorbed biospecifically and bioselectively on matrices via either specific antibody or inhibitor analogue. In all cases, Zwittergent 3-12 proved to be an effective desorbing agent. PMID- 2625483 TI - Bioavailability of iron-milk-protein complexes and fortified cheddar cheese. AB - Iron fortification is used to increase dietary iron intake. Dairy products are widely consumed but contain almost no iron. Cheddar cheese was fortified with ferric chloride or iron-casein, ferripolyphosphate-whey protein, and iron-whey protein complexes. Hemoglobin regeneration efficiency was determined to evaluate iron bioavailability. Maximal and basal iron bioavailabilities were measured in anemic weanling rats fed low iron diets (about 22 mg iron/kg) and normal adult rats fed high iron diets (about 145 mg iron/kg) of iron density (32 mg iron/1000 kcal) found in some high iron human diets. Maximal iron bioavailabilities for ferric chloride or iron-casein, ferripolyphosphate-whey protein, and iron-whey protein complexes were 85, 71, 73, and 72%, respectively, and for the respective iron-fortified cheeses they were 75, 66, 74, and 67%. Differences were not significant in maximal iron bioavailabilities among iron sources and between fortified cheeses and fortification iron sources. Basal iron bioavailabilities for 10-d feeding of the respective fortification iron sources were 5, 8, 6 and 7%, respectively, and 4, 4, 3, and 3% for 14 d feeding; the differences among the iron sources were not significant. Maximal and basal iron bioavailabilities of ferrous sulfate were 85 and 5%, respectively. Practical implications of these observations are discussed. PMID- 2625484 TI - Effect of chronobiological manipulation of lactation in the dairy cow. AB - The objective of this study was to determine if chronobiological manipulation of the environment through the use of skeletal photoperiods could enhance milk production of the dairy cow. Cows in their 8th mo of gestation were maintained in either a control light regimen (12 to 13 h continuous light) or three skeletal photoperiods exposed to a total of 8 h of light. Cows in the skeletal photoperiods received 6 h of light from 0500 to 1100 h and a 2 h light pulse between 1500 and 1700 h (pulse 1500 to 1700 h), 1800 and 2000 h (pulse 1800 to 2000 h), or 2100 and 2300 h (pulse 2100 to 2300 h). Cows were milked twice daily and milk weights recorded. Weekly milk samples were analyzed for fat, protein, lactose, and SCC. Milk progesterone was monitored for the first 60 d after calving to determine return to estrus. Total electrical consumption for lighting the different light regimens were monitored throughout the lactation. Cows in the light regimen of pulse 1800 to 2000 h exhibited a higher persistency of lactation and a higher feed efficiency than the cows in the other light regimens. There were no differences between treatments in milk fat, protein, lactose, or SCC. The total electricity used to light pulse 1800 to 2000 h was 50% less than that used to light the control light regimen. It is concluded that light is essential between 13 to 15 h after subjective dawn for increasing persistency of lactation. Further, milk production of the dairy cow can be profitably enhanced through the use of chronobiological principles. PMID- 2625485 TI - Effect of dietary fat in isocaloric rations on the nitrogen content of milk from Holstein cows. AB - Effects of dietary fat on milk composition, particularly milk N, were evaluated using 12 lactating Holstein cows in a replicated 4 X 4 Latin-square design. Four complete mixed diets were formulated to contain either 0 or 3.5% added fat (grease) and either 1.6 or 1.7 Mcal NE1 (0, 1.6; 0, 1.7; 3.5, 1.6; and 3.5, 1.7). Diets were fed for ad libitum intake, and periods were 21 d. Adding fat to the diet depressed total milk N, casein N, and whey protein N concentration compared with no added fat at both energy densities. The proportion of total N in the casein fraction was not affected by dietary fat, whereas the proportion of N associated with the NPN fraction was increased with diets containing added fat. The high concentration diet (0, 1.7) contained the highest content of milk N and casein N. Added dietary fat increased the proportion of long-chain fatty acids (C18 and C18:1) in milk fat and decreased the proportion of short-chain fatty acids (C8 to C16). Daily milk yield was higher for the high energy fat diet (3.5, 1.7) than for the other three diets, which were similar. Blood concentrations of triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids, and cholesterol were increased by diets containing added fat. PMID- 2625486 TI - Performance of cows in early lactation fed isonitrogenous diets containing soybean meal or animal by-product meals. AB - Eighty primiparous cows were assigned to either soybean meal, fish meal, or A and B treatments. Commercial supplement A was a blend of meat and bone, meat, poultry, blood, and feather meals. Commercial supplement B included the same ingredients as A but had a higher amount of blood meal and also a low concentration of fish meal. In vitro undegradabilities of protein were 32.0, 37.8, 38.8, and 42.4% for soybean meal, fish meal, A, and B rations, respectively. Milk yields and body weight changes were not significantly affected by treatments. Because of the lower milk fat content on fish meal diet, FCM yield was lower for cows fed fish meal than soybean meal or B supplements. Milk protein content was 3.19, 3.19, 3.03, and 3.09% on soybean meal, fish meal, A, and B diets, respectively. The calculated protein efficiency (100* output/input) on soybean meal, fish meal, A, and B diets were 47.8, 51.6, 45.9, and 48.7, respectively. The undegraded protein in the fish meal after an 18-h in vitro incubation with protease enzyme (Streptomyces griseus, type V) had a higher concentration of methionine and lysine than the undegraded protein of other supplements. Flavor of milk produced on the soybean and fish meal diets was evaluated. No flavor differences were detected. PMID- 2625487 TI - Comparison of methods to determine relative bioavailability of magnesium in magnesium oxides for ruminants. AB - Two Mg balance trials were conducted with wethers to compare relative bioavailability of Mg in several Mg oxides with that of reagent grade sulfate as determined by different methods. In Experiment 1,600 ppm Mg as sulfate or four feed grade oxides varying in origin and particle size were added to a semi purified basal diet (200 ppm Mg). Diets were fed at 800 g/d to 30 crossbred wethers during the 14-d trial and fecal and urinary collections were made during the last 7 d. In Experiment 2, the basal corn-soybean meal-cottonseed hull diet (1387 ppm Mg) was supplemented with 0, 700, 1400, or 2100 ppm added Mg as reagent grade sulfate or 1400 ppm Mg as three of the oxides from Experiment 1 and fed at 1000 g/d to 35 wethers. Urine was collected daily for 10 d and feces were collected on d 7 through 10. In Experiments 1 and 2, absorption of Mg from the oxide of brine origin and larger particle size distribution was lower than that from sulfate, but there was no difference in absorption for sheep fed oxides derived from sea water or calcined magnesite. In Experiment 2, urinary Mg excretion on d 4 and 5 of the collection was lower for sheep fed the brine oxide than for those fed sulfate or oxide from calcined magnesite. Urinary Mg excretion on d 4 and 5 following addition of 1400 ppm Mg to practical diets could be used to predict bioavailability of Mg. PMID- 2625488 TI - Effect of ammoniated barley silage on ruminal fermentation, nitrogen supply to the small intestine, ruminal and whole tract digestion, and milk production of Holstein cows. AB - The effect of ammonia on barley silage fermentation characteristics, and the digestion and utilization of ammoniated barley silage by lactating Holstein cows fed three isonitrogenous diets (14.5% CP, DM basis) were examined. Whole plant barley was chopped and treated with anhydrous ammonia (1%, DM basis) at ensiling. Untreated barley silage was supplemented with either canola meal or urea. Cows were fed complete mixed diets (50% silage and 50% concentrate mixture, DM basis). Addition of ammonia increased total N, water-insoluble N, lactic acid, and pH in silage. Based on the application rate, 77.7% of the added ammonia N was recovered, and increased water-insoluble N was equal to 49.8% of added ammonia N. Addition of ammonia to barley silage increased ruminal concentrations of ammonia and propionate, and supplies of nonammonia N, microbial N, and total N to the small intestine. Ruminal effective degradabilities of DM and CP of barley silage and complete mixed diets, and whole tract digestibility of DM and CP of complete mixed diets were not affected by supplemental N source. Milk yield and milk composition of cows fed the ammoniated barley silage were similar to those of cows fed the diets supplemented with canola meal or urea. PMID- 2625489 TI - Effects of fish meals on rumen bacterial fermentation in continuous culture. AB - Effects of various forms of fish meal on microbial metabolism were investigated in continuous cultures of rumen contents. Five diets were formulated to contain 12% ruminally degradable protein and 47 to 48% nonstructural carbohydrate. Soybean meal was the major protein source in the control diet, whereas in the other four diets, various fish meals were substituted for 6% of total diet DM. Fish meals were: fish meal containing 34.4% FFA, fish meal containing 34.4% FFA with CaCl2 added, fish meal containing 65.6% FFA, and fish meal defatted using 1:1 ethanol:ether extraction. The five treatments were fermented with pH either held constant at 6.2 or not controlled. When pH was maintained at 6.2, the inclusion of any fish meal except defatted fish meal reduced the acetate:propionate ratio, decreased protein digestion, and reduced microbial N produced/per kilogram DM digested when compared with the soybean control. When not controlled, pH decreased after feeding to 6.0 or lower. Under these conditions, the soybean control had a lower acetate:propionate ratio and lower NDF digestion than all diets containing fish meal. In this study, oil-containing fish meal affected microbial metabolism more negatively when the fermentation pH was held at 6.2 than when the pH was 6.0 or lower. PMID- 2625490 TI - Effects of photoperiod and pair-feeding on lactation of cows fed corn or barley grain in total mixed rations. AB - Effects of photoperiod and type of grain were assessed using 47 cows (wk 1; 59.5 d of lactation) exposed daily to 16 h of light (long day) and fed randomly one of two diets containing an equal amount of cracked corn or rolled barley. During wk 5, cows were assigned within each diet to long day and ad libitum feeding, short day (8 h of light: 2 h of dark: 2 h of light: 12 h of dark) and ad libitum feeding, or long day and ad libitum feeding (wk 5 to 8) followed by pair feeding with short day cows between wk 9 and 16. Milk composition was not affected by treatments. Between wk 9 and 16, long day cows fed for ad libitum consumption or pair fed produced 5 to 11% more milk than cows exposed to short day; feed intake of long day cows fed for ad libitum consumption was greater than short short day and long day cows pair fed cows. Milk yield and total feed intake were not affected by type of grain in the diet. In conclusion, long day photoperiod increased milk yield and feed intake. PMID- 2625491 TI - Estimation of additive maternal and cytoplasmic genetic variances in animal models. AB - Two pathways for maternal genetic effects to act on production traits are additive maternal and cytoplasmic. Estimation of these variances have generally assumed that the correct maternal pathway is known. A method is described that allows simultaneous estimation of additive maternal and cytoplasmic genetic variances as well as additive direct genetic variances and error variances using an animal model. Data were simulated assuming an additive maternal model, cytoplasmic model, or both. The method was tested by analyzing the data under the true or incorrect maternal model using REML with an animal model that accounted for additive genetic relationships. Additive direct, additive maternal, cytoplasmic, and error variances were correctly partitioned when estimated under the true model. However, when additive maternal or cytoplasmic genetic effects were ignored in the model used for analysis, estimates of additive direct variance were significantly inflated. Also, under an additive maternal genetic model, a small cytoplasmic variance was estimated although none was present in the data. PMID- 2625492 TI - Estimation of genetic parameters for milk and fat yields of dairy cattle in Spain and the United States. AB - Interaction of genotype with environment was studied with 10,780 Spanish production records (daughters of 210 Holstein-Friesian bulls) and two subsets of United States data (800,821 records with 1170 sires and 762,152 records with 1186 sires). Only 74 bulls had daughter records in both Spanish and United States data. Genetic and phenotypic (co)variances and correlations and heritability for milk and fat yields were estimated both within country and between countries with countries considered as separate traits (joint analysis). (Co)variance components were estimated with a REML procedure. Heritability estimates for milk and fat in the Spanish population (.16 and .14, within country; .12 and .09, joint) were smaller than for United States data (means of .33 and .31, within country; .26 and .24, joint). Genetic and phenotypic correlations between milk and fat within country were higher for Spain (.94 and .91) than for United States data (means of .66 and .81). Genetic correlation between countries averaged .81 for milk and .50 for fat. Rankings of bulls for milk yield are expected to be similar in Spain and the United States, although a scaling effect on predicted values is expected from different genetic variances in each country. Ranking of bulls for fat yield may be quite different. PMID- 2625493 TI - Embryonic mortality attributed to inherited deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase. AB - The deficiency of uridine-5'-monophosphate synthase is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait in Holstein-Friesian cattle. Heterozygotes are characterized by half normal activity of uridine monophosphate synthase, as measured in erythrocytes. Matings between heterozygotes for the deficiency have produced 31 pregnancies lasting at least one month, but only 23 full-term calves, including 9 homozygous normal and 14 heterozygotes. That the eight embryos were not carried to term is consistent with the probability of a homozygous-deficient genotype and are lost around 40 d of gestation. Although the homozygous deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase is lethal embryonically in cattle, homozygotes for the analogous human condition have been born alive. PMID- 2625494 TI - Body temperature of dry cows on pasture: environmental and behavioral effects. AB - To investigate interrelations among factors potentially affecting body temperature, we observed body temperature, activity, and relative aggregation of 3 to 5 dry cows from a herd of 12 to 15 every 20 min. Ambient conditions were noted every 1 h and fly counts every 3 h. Observations during daylight for 5 d with and without shade indicated effects of shade were minimal and were extended to 24 h without shade at six weekly intervals. Cows lie down during the evening, grazed near sunrise and sunset, and alternated standing and grazing during the day. The aggregation index was greatest during periods of standing and least during grazing; however, it remained constant across periods of similar activity. Cows shifted activity from grazing to standing during periods of increased fly activity. Ambient temperatures ranging from 13 to 35 degrees C had little influence on measured variables. Body temperatures showed one to three daily dips (greater than 1 degree C) and a hysteresis pattern. Almost all dips were associated with transitions from lying to grazing. Body temperature was constant in the morning, rose to a higher level in the afternoon, and remained high until the next morning. PMID- 2625495 TI - Corn gluten meal and blood meal mixture for dairy cows in midlactation. AB - Twelve midlactation Holstein cows were assigned to a switchback design with 4-wk periods to compare a corn gluten meal and blood meal mixture with soybean meal as supplemental protein sources. All experimental diets contained 60% ammoniated corn silage, on a dry basis, and a corn and oats (2:1) basal concentrate mixture. Diets were: urea control (12.5% CP); soybean meal (16.1% CP); low protein (14.3% CP) corn gluten and blood meal mixture; and high protein (16.8% CP) corn gluten and blood meal mixture. Cows fed the control diet consumed less DM, and produced less milk containing a lower percentage of protein than cows fed other diets. Protein efficiency and milk fat percentage were higher for cows fed the control diet than for cows fed the natural protein diets. Fat-corrected milk and fat yields did not differ among diets. The high protein diets (16.1 and 16.8% CP) decreased protein efficiency and increased SNF percentage. Milk yield per unit of DM intake was higher when cows fed the lower degradable protein source (corn gluten-blood meal) than when they were fed soybean meal. The low degradable protein mixture produced a similar lactation response to soybean meal at both the high and low concentrations of total dietary protein. This study indicates that the dietary protein and undegradable protein concentration needed by midlactation Holstein fed complete mixed diets may be lower than generally recommended. PMID- 2625496 TI - A simple continuous culture system for rumen microbial digestion study and effects of defaunation and dilution rates. AB - Ground substrates and a buffer solution were continuously supplied into 500 ml culture vessels in which the contents were mixed slowly by a stirrer (6 rpm) and the excess medium removed via a small outlet chamber (overflow) by a turning wing (30 rpm). This procedure resulted in the formation of three layers in the culture vessel with different local dilution rates. The top and bottom layers, with slower dilution rates, successfully served to harbor and thus maintain the slowly growing microbes that would otherwise wash out of the system. The effects of defaunation on the microbial digestion were studied with varying nominal dilution rates of .5, 1.5, 2.5, and 4.0/d. Dry matter and cellulose digestibilities and VFA production were depressed by defaunation, and the depressions were more pronounced at higher dilution rates, suggesting a favorable effect of protozoa on rumen microbial digestion in higher producing animals. PMID- 2625497 TI - Use of 2-ethoxyethanol and alpha-amylase in the neutral detergent fiber method of feed analysis. AB - Use of 2-ethoxyethanol in the NDF procedure for feed analysis was reevaluated, because justification for its use in the NDF procedure has diminished and 2 ethoxyethanol poses potential health hazards. Initial rationale for addition of 2 ethoxyethanol was to minimize inhibitory effects of decalin on filtration and to facilitate starch solubilization. Decalin is no longer recommended in the procedure; alpha-amylase is commonly used to facilitate starch solubilization. Objectives of this study were to evaluate effects on NDF values of: 1) eliminating 2-ethoxyethanol from the procedure and 2) addition of and timing of addition of alpha-amylase. Deletion of 2-ethoxyethanol resulted in lower NDF values than neutral detergent solution with 2-ethoxyethanol (61.95 and 62.06%, respectively). Neutral detergent fiber values were lower for samples treated with alpha-amylase just prior to filtration (61.86%) than for samples not treated with alpha-amylase (62.13%). Addition of alpha-amylase 30 min after onset of boiling resulted in lower values (62.07%) than with no alpha-amylase addition (62.29%) in solutions containing 2-ethoxyethanol but not in solutions without 2 ethoxyethanol. Observed treatment differences were small, however, and probably not of practical significance. No differences in NDF values were noted due to timing of alpha-amylase addition. Inclusion of samples requiring alpha-amylase to filter increased overall mean CV and resulted in no statistical differences between neutral detergent solutions or alpha-amylase treatments. Suggested modifications to the NDF procedure include elimination of 2-ethoxyethanol and addition of alpha-amylase just prior to filtering. PMID- 2625498 TI - Relationships of milk protein types to lifetime performance. AB - Data from 889 cows at five research stations of Agriculture Canada were used to study the effects of alpha s1-casein, beta-casein, kappa-casein, and beta lactoglobulin loci on herdlife and total yield over fixed parities (one, two, and three parity) and to a fixed age (36, 48, and 61 mo). Actual yields of all cows were utilized to compute total milk regardless of lactational length. The model consisted of station, breed, year of birth, season of birth, and milk protein types with age at first calving as a covariate. Of the four milk protein types studied, only the kappa-casein locus had significant effects on fixed parity and fixed age total milk and herdlife. Cows with BB kappa-casein type outproduced those with AB or AA kappa-casein types in three parity total milk by 963 and 1657 kg, respectively. Considering total milk accumulated up to 61 mo of age in life, cows with BB kappa-casein type outperformed their counterparts with AB or AA kappa-casein types by 1050 and 1923 kg, respectively. Complete replacement of A by B allele at kappa-casein locus would result in an increase of 1657 kg in three parity total milk and an increase of 1923 kg in 61-mo total milk. The moderate gene frequency of kappa-casein B allele in the current dairy population can be increased to improve lifetime total milk to the benefit of the dairy industry. PMID- 2625499 TI - Prevention of bovine mastitis by a postmilking teat disinfectant containing chlorous acid and chlorine dioxide in a soluble polymer gel. AB - A natural exposure study was conducted in a herd of 150 lactating dairy cows for 18 mo to determine the effectiveness of chlorous acid and chlorine dioxide in a soluble polymer gel as a postmilking teat disinfectant for the prevention of bovine mastitis. Right quarters of cows were dipped in the experimental teat dip after milking machine removal. Left quarters were not dipped and served as within cow negative controls. The experimental teat dip reduced Staphylococcus aureus infections 67.4%, Streptococcus dysgalactiae infections 63.8%, and Streptococcus uberis infections 27.8%. Overall efficacy of the chlorous acid and chlorine dioxide teat dip against major mastitis pathogens was 52.2%. The experimental teat dip reduced Corynebacterium bovis infections and coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections also by 45.8 and 38.7%, respectively. Overall efficacy against minor mastitis pathogens was 43.4%. Under conditions of this trial, the experimental teat dip containing chlorous acid and chlorine dioxide was effective in preventing new intramammary infections against a variety of mastitis pathogens. PMID- 2625500 TI - Stimulation in prefrontal cortex area inhibits cardiovascular and motor components of the defence reaction in rats. AB - In the present investigation it was shown that electrical or chemical (D,L homocysteic acid, DLH) stimulation in a defined area of the medial prefrontal cortex inhibits cardiovascular components of the defence reaction elicited by stimulation in the basal nucleus of the amygdala or in the hypothalamus in rats anaesthetized by Saffan. Electrical stimulation in the dorsal part of the nucleus accumbens or ventral part of the nucleus caudate had the same effect, while chemical stimulation (DLH) in these areas was not effective. In unanaesthetized rats stimulation in the prefrontal cortex or the nucleus accumbens inhibited cardiovascular and motor components of the defence reaction induced from the amygdala or hypothalamus. Stimulation in the described areas of the medial prefrontal cortex or nucleus accumbens does not induce general inhibition of motor activity since it did not affect operant, appetitive bar pressing. It is therefore concluded that the inhibition is selectively addressed to the motor activities associated with the defence reaction. It is suggested that inhibition of the cardiovascular components of the defence reaction must occur below hypothalamic level. The inhibition is most likely presynaptic since stimulation in the prefrontal cortex or nucleus accumbens alone did not produce any cardiovascular changes. It is unlikely that the efferent pathway originating in the prefrontal inhibitory area relays in the nucleus accumbens since microinjection of DLH into this nucleus was ineffective. Stimulation in "sympatho inhibitory' areas (anterior hypothalamus, anterior cingulum) or in the nucleus raphe obscurus had no inhibitory effect on the cardiovascular components of the defence reaction. PMID- 2625501 TI - Cardiovascular and motor components of the defence reaction elicited in rats by electrical and chemical stimulation in amygdala. AB - In rats anesthetized with Saffan, electrical and chemical (D,L-homocysteic acid, DLH) stimulation in amygdala complex induced vasodilation in the hindlimb muscle, renal vasoconstriction and tachycardia. Chemical stimulation of cell bodies was effective only in the basolateral nucleus, while electrical stimulation produced the response from a larger area: central, basolateral and basomedial nuclei of amygdala. In non-anaesthetized rats, electrical stimulation in these nuclei elicited arching of the back, piloerection, sitting up and boxing with the forepaws or running, jumping or squealing. It is concluded that the area within the amygdala complex controlling the defence reaction is probably restricted to the basolateral nucleus, responses obtained from neighbouring nuclei might be due to activation of the afferent or efferent pathways leading to or from the basolateral nucleus. PMID- 2625502 TI - Comparison of peptidergic mechanisms in different parts of the guinea pig superior mesenteric artery: immunocytochemistry at the light and ultrastructural levels and responses in vitro of large and small arteries. AB - The presence and distribution of peptide-containing nerve fibres and axon terminals have been studied in the proximal part of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) (i.e. conductance vessel) and in the finer ramifications of the SMA close to the intestine (outer diameter 200 microns, i.e. resistance vessel). Light microscopic immunocytochemistry revealed that the proximal part of the SMA possessed a rich supply of neuropeptide Y (NPY)- and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive nerve fibres, forming a loose perivascular network which increased in density distally. The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) immunoreactivity was moderate in the proximal artery and only a few VIP fibres could be identified in the distal portion of the SMA. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-, neurokinin (NK)- and substance P (SP)-immunoreactive fibres had an intermediate density in both arterial regions, but their distribution pattern varied. Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry showed that NPY-immunoreactive nerve terminals were close to the smooth muscle cells of the medial layer in both parts of the SMA, indicative of a vasomotor role. Although the VIP-immunoreactive terminals had a similar localization they were seen less frequently. CGRP-, NK- and SP immunoreactive axons had an identical distribution in the two vascular regions. Interestingly, they were usually seen more distant from the medial layer, localized in the adventitia. Examination of vasomotor responses to perivascular peptides revealed significant regional differences: NPY produced only weak contractions (13 +/- 3%) of proximal vessel segment of the conductance type, while strong concentration-dependent contractions were seen in distal parts of the SMA (resistance vessel). In neither region was any interaction with noradrenaline demonstrated. Proximal segments of the SMA revealed a stronger and more potent response to VIP and peptide histidine isoleucine than did distal segments, while on the other hand acetylcholine was more potent and elicited stronger effects in distal segments. CGRP, NKA and SP relaxed precontracted arteries by 50-75% and there was no significant difference in responsiveness to these peptides in the two regions of the SMA. PMID- 2625503 TI - 'Non-chronotropic' mechanisms on withdrawal of efferent vagal stimulation in anesthetized dogs. AB - Withdrawal of the efferent vagal tone to the heart is an important factor of the increase of cardiac output (CO) and arterial blood pressure (ABP) in several conditions, such as exercise, emotion, postural changes. Vagal withdrawal enhances cardiovascular performance both by increasing heart rate (HR) and by other mechanisms, which were globally named 'non-chronotropic mechanisms'. The nature of these non-chronotropic mechanisms was studied in open-chest dogs under morphine-chloralose anesthesia. After cutting the cervical vagi and all the branches of the stellate ganglia except for the ansae subclaviae, the animals were prepared for recording HR, ABP, CO and left ventricular pressure (LVP). The experiments started during control vagal stimulations and consisted either in turning the vagal stimulators off (STOP), or in raising HR by atrial placing without withdrawing vagal stimulation (PACE), or in turning the vagal stimulators off while keeping HR constant by atrial pacing since the control vagal stimulation (STPA). Thus, STOP, PACE and STPA produced withdrawal of all vagal effects, of the chronotropic effects and of the non-chronotropic effects, respectively. Non-chronotropic mechanisms were evaluated both as the effects of STPA and as the difference between the effects of STOP and PACE. Experiments were repeated during stellate ganglion stimulation and during simultaneous atrio ventricular pacing, to evaluate the role of vagosympathetic interactions and of atrial contractility. CO increased by 25% after STOP, by 20% after PACE and by 5% after STPA in the absence of sympathetic stimulation and by 30% after STOP, by 20% after PACE and by 10% after STPA during sympathetic stimulation. Stellate ganglion stimulation doubled non-chronotropic effects probably by potentiating vagal effects on myocardial contractility: after STPA the maximum LVdP/dt increased by 2% without sympathetic stimulation and by 7% with sympathetic stimulation. In all conditions, the increases in ABP after STOP, PACE and STPA were small and not statistically different between STOP and PACE. Simultaneous atrio-ventricular pacing in the absence of sympathetic stimulation nearly abolished non-chronotropic mechanisms, since CO increased to about the same extent both with STOP and with PACE. It is concluded that non-chronotropic mechanisms on vagal withdrawal consist mainly in the enhancement of atrial contractility and in the release of vagal restraint on the sympathetic effects upon the ventricles. PMID- 2625504 TI - Origin of slow waves in the isolated proximal colon of the cat. AB - Slow oscillations of the membrane potential difference of circular smooth muscle cells of the colon, slow waves, arise at the interface between the submucosa and muscularis externa of the colon. These studies test the hypothesis that the generation of slow waves in the circular muscle layer of the colon of the cat is dependent upon an intact interface between the submucosa and muscularis externa. Electrical recordings were made from 3 types of tissue preparations from the proximal colon: (a) submucosa and muscularis externa intact, (b) submucosa isolated from the circular muscle, and (c) muscularis externa isolated from the submucosa. The cellular make-up of each tissue was determined by the osmic acid zinc iodide method (Champy-Maillet), and the Masson's trichrome stain. Continuous slow waves were recorded from intact tissues. Removal of the submucosa abolished slow waves from the underlying muscularis externa. Either irregular electrical transients or waxing and waning slow wave-like activity were recorded from the isolated submucosa. Submucosal tissues removed from the muscularis externa contained no circular smooth muscle, but did contain elements of the plexus submucosus extremus. PMID- 2625505 TI - Role of sympathoadrenomedullary system in cardiovascular response to stress in rats. AB - Sympathetic nerve and/or adrenal medulla contributions to stress-induced cardiovascular responses were investigated by factoring out their influence using adrenal demedullation (DMED) and/or chemical sympathectomy with guanethidine (GUAN). Rats divided into 4 groups [sham-operated/saline (SHAM/SAL), SHAM/GUAN, DMED/SAL and DMED/GUAN] were injected i.p. over 4 weeks with either saline or GUAN (25 mg/kg/day). At the end of this treatment period, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were monitored via carotid catheter prior to and during restraint in conscious rats. Treatments did not alter basal BP or HR when compared to controls. Restraint increased HR (delta 72 bpm) and systolic, diastolic and mean BP (delta approximately 20 mm Hg) in control animals. Restraint-induced HR change was significantly greater in DMED/SAL animals (delta 88 bpm), but less in SHAM/GUAN animals (delta 40 bpm) than in controls. DMED/GUAN was not different from SHAM/GUAN alone in altering HR response to stress, supporting the greater influence of sympathetic nerves over adrenal medulla in controlling HR. Chronic GUAN abolished normal pressor responses to restraint stress. DMED increased diastolic blood pressure response to stress. However, in DMED/GUAN rats, not only did stress fail to increase blood pressure but rather stress produced hypotension (delta - 34 mm Hg MAP), demonstrating the role of adrenal medulla in maintaining BP during stress. Differential effects of the various treatments on diastolic and systolic pressure suggest that the treatments had effects on peripheral vasculature. These results demonstrate that sympathetic nerves and adrenal medulla have important influences on cardiovascular function during stress and that in the absence of either, the other system may partially compensate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625506 TI - Immunohistochemical localisation of a gastrin-releasing peptide-like material in area postrema, nucleus of the solitary tract and vagal motor nucleus in the brainstem of rat. AB - The presence of an endogenous gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-like peptide in the hindbrain of rat was demonstrated immunohistochemically using antisera directed against the N-terminus and C-terminus of GRP. N-terminal and C-terminal-like immunoreactive material were distributed throughout the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) and tractus solitarius (TS), as well as in areas postrema (AP) and substantia gelatinosa separating AP from NTS. Positive immunostaining was localised to a dense network of nerve fibres which project longitudinally along the neuraxis. Immunolabelled cell bodies were observed rostral to the obex, principally in the mediolateral subnucleus of NTS. These immunopositive neurones project their axons caudally and longitudinally towards the commissural subnucleus of the NTS. Immunolabelled cell bodies also were found in AP; they projected their axons caudally and ventrally towards NTS. Positive immunostaining was blocked by pre-adsorbing antisera with either GRP (1 nmol/ml) or bombesin (3 nmol/ml), but was unaffected by substance P (30 nmol/ml) and spared by capsaicin pretreatments which deplete sensory nerves of their peptide content. The results indicate that NTS neurons containing a GRP-like peptide connect the rostral and caudal regions of the dorsal vagal complex by way of longitudinal nerve tracts descending NTS and TS. Some neurons in AP also contain a GRP-like peptide and appear to connect with the dorsal vagal complex. PMID- 2625507 TI - Tricorrectional bunionectomy with AO screw fixation. AB - A 16-month preliminary study was performed on 58 patients for corrective surgery of hallux abducto valgus, with AO4 screw fixation. The procedure is a modification of the bi-plane Austin procedure, called a tricorrectional bunionectomy. The authors present the procedure with objective and subjective findings. The principles of bone healing and internal fixation using AO screw fixation are discussed. PMID- 2625508 TI - Modification of midtarsal osteotomy. AB - The author discusses midtarsal osteotomy and its use in cavus foot correction. The literature is reviewed, with a chronology of thought on the subject. A modification of the classic procedure is presented with a case presentation and long-term follow-up. Advantages of the modified procedure are presented. PMID- 2625509 TI - New radiographic angle to assess intra-articular calcaneal fractures. AB - The authors' describe a new radiographic angle, the calcaneal compression angle, to assess intra-articular calcaneus fractures. Pre- and postreduction values of eight subjects sustaining intra-articular calcaneus fractures using the new angle were compared to Boehler's angle values. A higher percentage of immediate postreduction value of the calcaneal compression angle was retained when compared to Boehler's angle. The new angle may be more beneficial for evaluating these type of calcaneal fractures and their subsequent reduction. PMID- 2625510 TI - Stenosing peroneal tenosynovitis. AB - The etiology, diagnosis and surgical treatment of stenosing tenosynovitis of the peroneal tendons is presented. The authors stress the need for thorough understanding of this clinical entity as its symptomatology can mimic several more frequently encountered podiatric pathologies. This could result in delayed or missed diagnosis and, thus, improper management. PMID- 2625511 TI - Levitsky ankle stabilization procedure. AB - The article discusses surgical reconstruction of torn or partially torn and refibrosed lateral ankle collateral ligaments. The anatomy and historical literature are reviewed. The authors present the Levitsky ankle stabilization procedure. PMID- 2625512 TI - Tailor's bunion: clinical evaluation and correction by distal metaphyseal osteotomy with cortical screw fixation. AB - Fifth metatarsal distal metaphyseal osteotomy represents a very common surgical procedure performed for tailor's bunion deformity. The authors advocate using a cortical bone screw for fixation device offers many advantages over conventional devices (i.e., Kirschner wire). The purpose of this paper is to offer a means to thoroughly evaluate tailor's bunion deformity clinically, biomechanically, and radiographically. This will allow the podiatric surgeon to choose a procedure of choice to correct the deformity. The technique of fifth metatarsal distal metaphyseal osteotomy with cortical bone screw fixation using AO4 principles is fully described. PMID- 2625513 TI - Secondary chondrosarcoma of the foot. PMID- 2625514 TI - Decrease in plasma prostaglandin E2 is not essential for the establishment of continuous breathing at birth in sheep. AB - Depression of prostanoid concentrations by indomethacin induces continuous breathing in fetal sheep, but it is not known whether this is associated with changes in fetal behaviour. Furthermore, the relationship between changes in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentration after delivery and the appearance of continuous breathing has not been examined. We hypothesized that the decrease in fetal PGE2 by infusion of indomethacin would induce continuous breathing and a change in behaviour such that the fetus should come to resemble a newborn lamb; and coinciding with the establishment of continuous breathing at birth, PGE2 concentrations would decrease to a critical level below that present in the fetus. We found that continuous breathing in fetal sheep induced by infusion of indomethacin was related to a decrease in PGE2 from 436 +/- 114 to 189 +/- 73 pg/ml (P less than 0.005) but that this was not associated with fetal wakefulness. In addition, measurements of carotid arterial PGE2 concentrations showed that the beginning of continuous breathing after birth occurred at a plasma concentration of PGE2 of 1245 +/- 260 pg/ml, a value about three times higher than the 422 +/- 53 pg/ml measured in the fetus during breathing activity. Together these findings suggest that PGE2 is not primarily involved in the establishment of continuous breathing at birth. PMID- 2625515 TI - An evolutionary link for developing mammalian lungs. AB - Lungs of the human infant and those of other mammals are filled with fluid immediately prior to birth. Studies of the ionic composition of this fluid indicate that active ionic transport processes occur in the epithelial cells of the potential airspaces. The purpose of this study was to see if these active ion pumps were present in developing species other than mammals thus providing a possible evolutionary link to mammals. A series of samples of lung liquid, amniotic fluid, and plasma were taken from embryonic marine turtles gathered from clutches incubating in the beach at Mon Repos, Queensland, Australia during the summer of 1986-87. The concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride ions and protein measured in these liquids indicated that active pumping processes similar to that seen in the mammalian lung were present in the developing lungs of these marine reptiles and further, circumstantial evidence was gathered to suggest that this liquid was partially reabsorbed prior to hatching. The results support the notion that processes responsible for the normal development of the human lung and lungs of other mammals are also present in the hollow lungs of marine turtles. Thus there is an evolutionary counterpart controlling lung development in more ancient species. It may be possible to generalize this observation to the development of hollow lungs of other species. PMID- 2625516 TI - Effect of asphyxia on respiratory activity in fetal sheep. AB - Hypoxia in fetal sheep depresses respiratory activity. To determine if this effect is counterbalanced by hypercarbia we studied the effects of two levels of asphyxia produced by occlusions of the maternal uterine artery. Moderate asphyxia (PaO2 16.8 +/- 1.6 (SEM) PaCO2 48.9 +/- 1.0 torr) produced no changes in the percent time fetal breathing movements occupied each hour which ranged from 25.6 +/- 7.0 to 32.4 +/- 6.2%. However, a more marked asphyxia (PaO2 12.0 +/- 0.3, PaO2 57.0 +/- 1.6) resulted in a decrease in fetal respiratory activity to 8.7 +/ 3.7% during the first hour. This depression was sustained over the next 2 h but by the 5th hour breathing had returned to 26.2 +/- 7.3%. We concluded that hypercarbia can offset the respiratory inhibition of acute moderate hypoxia, but not that of a more marked lowering of PaO2 in fetal sheep. Severe asphyxia causes an initial inhibition of respiration which is followed by a return to normal respiratory activity. PMID- 2625517 TI - Ontogeny of the smooth muscle response to histamine in rabbit and human small bowel. AB - Histamine is known to stimulate small bowel smooth muscle contraction in adults. We studied the response to histamine of small bowel from 27 day gestation fetal (term = 31 days), 4 days-old neonatal, and weanling rabbits using an isolated muscle strip technique in vitro. Sensitivity to histamine stimulation decreased with increasing age, with a six-fold difference in mean D50 between fetal and weanling bowel. A strong contractile response was also obtained in human fetal bowel between 16 and 24 weeks gestation. The response to histamine was inhibited at all ages in both rabbit and human bowel by specific histamine H1 receptor blockade with diphenhydramine, and not by H2 or cholinergic receptor blockers. We conclude that histamine stimulates rabbit and human fetal small bowel contraction; stimulation specifically occurs via the histamine H1 receptor, and is unrelated to release of acetylcholine; sensitivity to histamine decreases significantly with maturity in the rabbit. PMID- 2625518 TI - Emergency physician's needle holder. AB - A new needle holder is described that has jaws metallurgically bonded with tungsten carbide particles that enhance needle holding security without causing sutural damage during instrument ties. Scissors have also been incorporated into the needle holder to cut sutures. One ringlet on a handle has been offset to facilitate retrieval of the needle holder from a flat surface. PMID- 2625519 TI - Intraosseous infusions in adults. AB - Intraosseous (IO) access in adults via the distal tibia has never been a widely accepted technique. Yet there have been occasional reports of the successful use of this procedure. This study was done to demonstrate the utility of IO infusions in the adult patient, including those patients in cardiac arrest. Twenty-two patients, aged 36 through 84 (mean 65.1 years), who arrived in the emergency department (ED) in cardiac arrest from nonhypovolemic causes and in whom an intravenous line was not established prior to arrival or was found to be inadequate (nonfunctioning or poorly functioning) upon arrival in the ED, had an IO needle (13-gauge Kormed/Jamshidi, Pharmaseal Division, Baxter Healthcare Corp., Valencia, CA) placed above the medial malleolus. The IO needle was then connected to a standard IV tubing, with a pressure bag or pressure device delivering 300 mm Hg to the solution bag. The resultant flow rate through the IV line ranged from 5 to 12 mL/min. The IO needle was placed and flow established in under one minute in all patients. Temporally related pharmacologic effects were observed after the IO administration of sodium bicarbonate, lidocaine, atropine, and vasopressors. This study shows that I.O. access can be quickly and easily obtained in adults in the medial supramalleolar position during cardiac arrest. This method of drug administration appears to hold promise as another useful modality for adults and older children during nontraumatic resuscitations. PMID- 2625520 TI - Animal procedure laboratory surveys: use of the animal laboratory to improve physician confidence and ability. AB - Animal laboratories have been used for many years to teach procedures. Our department has a weekly swine laboratory devoted to training residents, interns and students in resuscitative procedures. Physicians who participated in our swine procedure laboratory over the past three years were queried as to their prelaboratory and postlaboratory comfort levels with six different resuscitative procedures, and 57 (76%) physicians responded. Statistical analysis of the data showed significant improvement in comfort levels for all six procedures. Every responder felt the swine laboratory helped or will help them perform the procedures on humans. We also surveyed all U.S. emergency medicine residency program directors from established programs regarding the status of their animal procedure laboratories, and 67 of the 68 (98%) directors responded. Of these responders, 62% offer an animal procedure laboratory. Overall, 97% of the residency directors rated the laboratory successful, and 97% of the residents rated the laboratory successful. Therefore, we conclude that an ongoing emergency medicine animal procedure laboratory is a valuable tool for improving physician in-training ability and confidence. PMID- 2625521 TI - Use of diphenhydramine for local anesthesia in "caine"-sensitive patients. AB - Emergency physicians regularly encounter patients who require local or topical anesthesia in the course of their emergency department (ED) treatment for lacerations, abrasions, or mucosal surface pain. Rarely, patients disclose a history of allergy to lidocaine and its chemical analogues, and the physician is faced with the problem of achieving adequate anesthesia without the use of these drugs. Research studies and anecdotal reports have suggested that diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl) may be useful as a substitute. We describe three cases of patients with histories of "caine" allergy who required local anesthesia for laceration repair. Infiltration with a 1% diphenhydramine solution provided adequate anesthesia without noticeable adverse effects. We feel that diphenhydramine has a place in emergency medicine practice as a second-line local anesthetic agent. PMID- 2625522 TI - A case of subdural hematoma and temporal bone fracture as complications of chiropractic manipulation. AB - We present a case of subdural hematoma and temporal bone fracture as a complication of chiropractic manipulation. Subdural hematoma in the elderly may follow insignificant, often forgotten, trauma and may develop slowly and progress. Our patient presented with a complaint of headache three days after forceful chiropractic manipulation, but denied any history of trauma. Computed tomography confirmed the presence of a subdural hematoma and a temporal bone fracture and the patient underwent successful surgical treatment. Our experience identifies a previously unreported mechanism of injury in patients with subdural hematoma presenting to the emergency department with a complaint of headache. PMID- 2625523 TI - Delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia simulating acute tension pneumothorax. AB - The diagnosis of acute diaphragmatic injury is difficult to establish in the immediate posttraumatic period. Patients with delayed diaphragmatic herniation frequently present months to years after the initial injury with manifestations of visceral incarceration, obstruction, ischemia from strangulation, or perforation. Patients with diaphragmatic herniation presenting with clinical tension pneumothorax are rare. We describe the case of a 23-year-old female who 16 weeks following a stab wound to the low chest presented with this clinical picture caused by herniation of abdominal viscera into the chest. A review of this entity and methods of discovery of delayed traumatic diaphragmatic herniation are described. PMID- 2625524 TI - The effect of haloperidol in cocaine and amphetamine intoxication. AB - The effectiveness of haloperidol pretreatment in preventing the toxic effects of high doses of amphetamine and cocaine was studied in rats. In this model, toxic effects were induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of amphetamine 75 mg/kg (100% death rate) or cocaine 70 mg/kg (82% death rate). Haloperidol failed to prevent amphetamine-induced seizures, but did lower the mortality rate at most doses tested. Haloperidol decreased the incidence of cocaine-induced seizures at the two highest doses, but the lowering of the mortality rate did not reach statistical significance at any dose. These data suggest a protective role for the central dopamine blocker haloperidol against death from high-dose amphetamine exposure without reducing the incidence of seizures. In contrast, haloperidol demonstrated an ability to reduce cocaine-induced seizures without significantly reducing mortality. PMID- 2625525 TI - A comparison of pulse oximeters during helicopter flight. AB - Pulse oximetry would be an invaluable parameter to monitor during patient transport. While original models of oximeters were not battery powered nor very portable, this has changed. Seven currently available commercial pulse oximeter models were evaluated in the noisy vibration-prone environment of a helicopter. Three (3) units were judged to be unacceptable on the basis of weight, duration of battery life, or lack of ease of use. In two (2) units, the sampling algorithms appeared to interface with their performance. Of the seven (7) units tested, two (2) units were found to be reliable, portable, and easy to use. The use of portable pulse oximetry monitors should rapidly become routine during the transport of critically ill patients. PMID- 2625526 TI - Microcomputer-assisted transmission of disaster data by cellular telephone. AB - Voice communication of information during disasters is often inadequate. In particular, simultaneous transmission by multiple callers on the same frequency can result in blocked transmissions and miscommunications. In contrast, nonvoice transmission of data requires less time than does voice communication of the same data, and may be more accurate. We conducted a pilot study to test the feasibility of a microcomputer assisted communication (MAC) network linking the disaster scene and the command hospital. The radio chosen to transmit data from the field disaster site to the command hospital was a cellular telephone connected to the microcomputer by modem. Typed communications between the microcomputer operators enabled dialogue between the disaster site and the hospitals. A computer program using commercially available software (Symphony by Lotus, Inc.) was written to allow for data entry, data transmission, and reports. Patient data, including age, sex, severity of injury, identification number, major injuries, and hospital destination were successfully transmitted from the disaster site command post to the command hospital. This pilot test demonstrated the potential applicability of MAC for facilitating transmission of patient data during a disaster. PMID- 2625527 TI - An intern's kiss. PMID- 2625528 TI - Physician versus paternalism. PMID- 2625529 TI - Liquid crystal thermometer strips. PMID- 2625530 TI - Homosexuality and religion. PMID- 2625531 TI - Aliens in the promised land? Keynote address for the 1986 National Gathering of the United Church of Christ's Coalition for Lesbian/Gay Concerns. AB - The following article is a condensed version of the keynote address given at the 1986 National Gathering of the Lesbian/Gay Coalition of the United Church of Christ (UCC). Problems encountered by lesbians and gay men in organized religion, especially within the liberal tradition, are identified by a method of inquiry developed by Christian educator John Westerhoff for assessing egalitarianism within institutions. The story of Queen Vashti from the Book of Esther in Hebrew scripture, and the emerging tradition of coming-out experiences by lesbians and gay men; provide the norm and model for declaring independence from denominations that neglect the concerns of lesbians and gay men and for constructing religious alternatives. PMID- 2625532 TI - A bonding of choice: values and identity among lesbian and gay religious leaders. AB - In this preliminary study of values and attitudes of a select number of lesbian and gay religious leaders, respondents reflected on the meaning of family, church, and community. Although the survey is modest in scope, several themes emerge that locate this study in the context of gender analysis. Female respondents had greater similarity in their emphasis upon relationality than did lesbian and gay respondents within the same denominational tradition. For male respondents, the "coming out" narrative was a central event and deepened the meaning of telling another about self. PMID- 2625533 TI - Psychodynamic theory and pastoral theology: an integrated model. AB - The article proposes that a pastoral concern for gay and lesbian individuals must be sensitive to the psychological and social dynamics involved in their attachments, separations, and losses. Drawing on object relations theory and insights from self-psychology, a model is proposed whereby counselor and counselee can examine the cycle of attachment, separation, loss and reattachment that characterizes all important relationships. The suggestion is made that this cycle is applicable to the development and reformulation of life-giving myths and ways of being in the world. Finally, an analysis of the role of early narcissistic wounds and the healing process in therapy is presented. PMID- 2625534 TI - Homosexuality: Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish issues; a fishbone tale. AB - Homosexuality is compared to a fishbone caught in the church's throat that the church can neither eject nor swallow entirely. Authors in all denominations are questioning traditional church stances influenced by the model of clinical pastoral education. Most major denominations have made policy statements on homosexuality. Four such stances discussed here highlight some of the common issues denominations face in their reexamination of the subject. Homosexuals struggling for full acceptance in the church must confront the classical understanding of the human being and human sexual differentiation as these concepts have traditionally influenced the churches. PMID- 2625535 TI - Ergology and the problem of leisure for Japanese workers. PMID- 2625536 TI - A practical method for estimating total oxygen uptake during exercise in elderly men. AB - In the present study, after a total of 51 observations of a 30-min cycle exercise performed by 17 men ranging in age from 60 to 65 years, the following formula was finally obtained for evaluating total O2 uptake (TVO2) during exercise: TVO2 (ml.kg-1) = SR125 X (49.5 X mean HR + 3760) X THB X 10(-4), where mean HR and THB are mean heart rate (beats.min-1) and total heart beats in exercise, respectively, and SR125 is the slope of the regression line of accumulative O2 uptake on accumulative heart beats during exercise at a mean HR of 125 beats.min 1. SR125 was significantly correlated not only to predicted VO2max but also score (X) in the step test for 2 min (25 steps.min-1 on 35-cm stool), yielding a formula, SR125 = -0.00131X + 0.3660. Consequently, both formulae indicate that total O2 uptake of any exercising elderly man can be estimated from total heart beats and mean HR during exercise, regardless of intensity of exercise when SR125 was determined by the step test. The discrepancy between total O2 uptake evaluated by the estimation method for elderly men and that determined by the Douglas bag method was 10.2 +/- 7.3%. PMID- 2625537 TI - Postural patterns of farmers in the Ryukyu Islands. AB - Postural patterns in everyday life were observed in the Ryukyu Islands. Postures seem to have two dimensions. In one dimension, they consciously changed their posture in the same action according to situations. In the other dimension, they took a particular posture, e.g., sitting with one knee raised, in different actions. The former may be related to the communicative aspect of posture, while the latter to the technical aspect of posture. Further, some postures, e.g., standing while deeply bending forward, could be regarded as techniques peculiar to their culture. The relation between culture and biology is also discussed with respect to postural patterns which may be related to the traditional lifestyle in Okinawa. PMID- 2625538 TI - Training in practical ergonomics improvements. AB - Recent ILO experiences show that concrete ergonomics improvements can result from learning-by-doing training in real settings. Particularly important is to build on local practice focusing on good examples already available. Checklist exercise, demonstrating low-cost solutions and group work are effective training tools. Opportunities can be widely created by such enabling training. PMID- 2625539 TI - The effects of times of day on cognitive and visuo-motor performance efficiency. AB - Twenty-four male graduate volunteers were administered a battery of psychological tests--critical flicker fusion (CFF; alternate and simultaneous), reaction time (simple and choice), memory (forward and backward), and associative recall--to ascertain their performance capability during the different times of day. Each subject performed the tests on two occasions, once in the morning (10:00 h) and on the second occasion in the evening (15:00 h), on two successive days, following a statistically balanced design. Analysis of variance reflected superior performance on reaction time (choice) and memory (backward) in the evening and on associative recall in the morning. While no such effects were noticeable on CFF, appreciable changes in performance with the decreasing brightness level of its light sources was observed. Further work in this direction on a variety of cognitive tests and sensory functions under various times (more than two times) throughout the day is suggested. PMID- 2625540 TI - Assigned and participative production standards and feedback affecting worker productivity in a repetitive production task. AB - The main objective of this research was to determine the effects of assigned and participative standards in conjunction with feedback on worker productivity in a repetitive production task. An assigned hard standard and feedback was significantly better than a participative standard and feedback in terms of quality output but no significant difference in quantity output was found between them. Thus from the overall worker productivity viewpoint, the former condition was superior to the latter condition. Both conditions provided a significant improvement in worker productivity. The percentage increases in quantity and quality output for the assigned hard standard and feedback condition were 12% and 7%, respectively, compared to the control group. The assigned normal standard and feedback had a significant positive impact on quantity output but no significant effect was found in terms of quality output. PMID- 2625541 TI - The moderating effects of production feedback and standards on the relationship between worker job attitudes and productivity. AB - An experimental study was performed to investigate the impact of production feedback and standards, singly as well as jointly, as moderators of the worker job attitudes-productivity relationship in a repetitive production task. There was no substantial or consistent correlation between worker job attitudes and productivity and the correlation coefficient values in general were not statistically significant. The provision of production feedback and standards affected worker job attitudes and productivity differently and this in turn had an effect on the job attitudes-productivity relationship. PMID- 2625542 TI - The combined effects of noise and illumination on the performance efficiency of visual search and neuromotor task components. AB - A battery of performance tests consisting of 'letter cancellation,' 'hand 'precision,' 'two-hand coordination,' and 'tweezer dexterity' were administered on 12 desk workers in an illumination chamber under six different combinations of noise and illumination made out of two levels of white noise (70 and 100 dB) and three levels of illuminations (50, 150, and 300 lx). The objective was to find out the combined effects of noise and illumination on the performance efficiency of the above tests. A 6 x 6 latin square design was followed. A three-way analysis of variance reflected significant combined effects of noise and illumination on the accuracy scores of the letter cancellation test and hand precision test and the efficiency score of the latter test. Significant separate effects of noise were, however, observable on the speed scores and efficiency scores of the letter cancellation test and that of illumination on the speed scores of this test as also the accuracy scores of the tweezer dexterity test. Studies ascertaining the effects of heat stress in combination with noise and illumination on human performance efficiency have been suggested. PMID- 2625543 TI - Sex differences in static muscular endurance. AB - The relationship between the force level of sustained isometric contraction and the time until two indices of muscular fatigue was compared for the right elbow flexors between 6 young women and 6 men. The strength of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) measured at the wrist with the elbow at right angle was significantly greater in men (267 +/- 35 N) than in women (163 +/- 23 N). Endurance tasks were performed at randomly assigned contraction levels of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50% MVC. The relative force (F% MVC) or the absolute force (F N) versus the endurance time or the time of pain ("itai") appearance (T min) curves were fitted to the following equation: log T = a + b.log (F--k). The most fitted equations were determined for each individual and each sex group by the value in the coefficient of determination. When comparing the curves in terms of the relative force, the endurance time and pain appearance time were longer in women than in men, particularly at lower contraction levels. In terms of the absolute force, however, they were longer in men than in women, particularly at stronger contractions. At lower contraction levels, less than 70 N, some women were similar to some men in fatigability. PMID- 2625544 TI - Proceedings of the South-East Asian Ergonomics Society, second conference. Bali, Indonesia, 27-29 July, 1988. Abstracts. PMID- 2625545 TI - Toxicokinetics of cobalt and the problems of biological monitoring. AB - Toxicokinetics of cobalt was studied on rats by the method of radioactive isotopes using single or repeated administrations. Co was used in the form of sulphate in doses of 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg administered by 4 different routes (intragastric, intraperitoneal, intratracheal, subcutaneous). Good absorption was established in the parenteral routes of administration, the regularities of absorption, retention in the internal organs and elimination of cobalt were determined and mathematically expressed. Clear dependence was established between the doses administered and the content in biomedia. The liver and the kidneys were found to be the organs of highest accumulation of cobalt. Elimination half lives and the time of establishment of a constant level during long-term exposure were determined. It is proposed to carry out diagnostic examination in the course of a few hours after the work shift. Urine and blood are the test objects in which direct correlation has been established. Delayed elimination of cobalt from the organism under protracted exposure may be the essential cause of increased hazard for man, which conditions the necessity of determining maximum acceptable concentration for this substance. PMID- 2625546 TI - Immunological screening of welders. AB - 74 healthy welders were subjected to immunological screening. Serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) were measured as well as total and active E-RFC and cellular immunity was evaluated using the intradermal testing of PPD, candidin D-7, trichophytin D-5 and tetanus anatoxin. The obtained results suggest suppression of the T and B lymphocyte immune systems as expressed by decreased levels of serum IgG and total E-RFC. Cell-mediated immune deficiency was found in 21.6% welders. Suppression of the immune system may be accounted for by a complex effect of occupational factors, such as manganese compounds, vibration and noise. PMID- 2625547 TI - Epidemiological analysis of acute respiratory diseases (ARD) of viral etiology in the Czech Socialist Republic (CSR)) and German Democratic Republic (GDR) over the period 1979 to 1984. AB - An analysis is made of the ARD reported in CSR and the GDR over the period July 1st, 1979 to June 30th, 1984. During that time, there were 27,810,000 cases reported in CSR in the framework of ARD epidemiological surveillance, representing 2.67 cases per one inhabitant, whereas in the GDR, the total number of reported ARD was 28,900,000 yielding 1.73 cases per person. However, the GDR reported higher morbidity per one child of preschool age. The authors believe that the differences in the reported incidence of ARD between the two countries are due to differences in the reporting systems and medical officers' activity during an epidemic and in the interim period. Approximately one third of ARD reported annually in the two countries falls to the period of influenza epidemics. The authors also analyze the etiology of the influenza epidemics which affected the two countries in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984. In most seasons, the causative agents and morbidity excesses were different in the two countries. The drift variant B/USSR/100/83, which caused a major epidemy in CSR in 1984, has not to date been implicated in the DGR in the etiology of ARD. The cyclic epidemic due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae occurred in the GDR already in 1979-80, while CSR experienced it a year later. There was a temporal and territorial correlation between the course of A(H1N1) influenza epidemic in the two countries in 1984. PMID- 2625548 TI - Yersiniosis in Czechoslovakia. Results of a long-term study involving microbiological laboratories of the hygienic service. AB - The paper reports on 17 years' experience of yersiniosis surveillance. Despite the fact that the microbiological identification of Y. enterocolitica 03 was successfully carried out by virtually all the microbiological laboratories of the Hygienic Service, reported cases of yersiniosis account for only one sixtieth part of alimentary infections. Enteric disease is the prevailing form of yersiniosis, extraintestinal ones being very rare. Most of the implicated patients were children, namely boys. An analysis of symptoms was performed based on the results of two epidemiological studies focussed around 215 and 37 cases of yersiniosis, indicating the involvement of the upper respiratory tract at the very beginning of the disease. The role of not sufficiently cooked pork as a vehicle of infection was proved only once (presswurst), however interhuman transmission of yersiniosis was confirmed in 4 cases with an incubation period of approximately 7 days. There appear to be many obscure areas in the epidemiology of yersiniosis, which may be illuminated using cultivation procedures to detect even small amounts of yersinia. PMID- 2625549 TI - Our experiences with the diagnosis of intestinal parasites in foreign apprentices from the tropics and subtropics. AB - The authors on an extensive coprologic material with high positivity of intestinal parasites compare the Hein's method of thick smear of stool with concentration methods. They find the Hein's method, despite its simplicity, a suitable method with broad diagnostic scope and high yield of positivity also for thin- capsulated ova of helminths and protozoan cysts (however, the specific diagnosis of the latter needs further methods with staining). They recommend Hein's method as one of the suitable screening methods under field conditions. At the same time, they report on the embedding of slide specimens in SOLAKRYL of Czechoslovak production. The findings are documented on microphotographs. PMID- 2625550 TI - Enzymes activity and worm burden in intestine and liver of mice infected with single doses of Ancylostoma caninum larvae. AB - Transaminases increased significantly in the intestine and liver of mice infected with 500, 1,000 and 2,000 doses of Ancylostoma caninum larvae. The level of increase remained higher than those of controls throughout the experimental period. The rise of enzymes was mainly due to the pathological changes caused by the migrating larvae within the organs. PMID- 2625551 TI - Macrophage-lymphocyte interaction in the formation of delayed-type hypersensitivity. AB - Macrophage-lymphocyte interaction was studied on 121 CBA mice during a 2-hour contact of lymph-node cells of non-immune mice with a monolayer of peritoneal macrophages of BCG-immunized mice and subsequent intravenous administration of 4.10(7) pre-incubated lymphocytes to syngenic recipients. Sensitivity to tuberculin was demonstrated in the recipients by means of blast-transformation reaction of spleen cells (stimulation index was evaluated according to incorporation of 3H-thymidine--SI = 1.32 +/- 0.40) using administration of tuberculin into the paws (Mantoux reaction--MR = 0.11 +/- 0.02 mm) and the cytotoxic effect (CTE) of the lymphocytes on tuberculin-loaded sheep-cell erythrocytes whose disintegration was assessed according to discharge of iron from the target cells (CTE = 13.98 +/- 2.73%). At transfer of intact lymphocytes after contact with non-immune macrophages, SI = 1.046 +/- 0.019; MR = 0.014 +/- 0.002 mm; CTE = 0.214 +/- 0.048%. The treatment of lymphocytes with indomethacin during the contact with macrophages induced idvere changes in the indices of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTHS). The conclusion has been drawn that the antigen-presenting ability of macrophages can materialize in vitro. PMID- 2625552 TI - Expert examination of the immunogenic activity and toxicity of the pertussis component of adsorbed and non-adsorbed diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccines. Results of interlaboratory investigations under the WHO project "Reactogenicity and Toxicity of DPT Vaccines". AB - Since the DPT vaccine is broadly used for the prevention of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis' its preparations should meet special quality requirements. The present study was aimed at evaluating the reproducibility of laboratory methods utilized to assess the protective activity and toxicity of the pertussis component as well as at examining the feasibility of expert estimations of product quality to enhance the validity of findings. The results of interlaboratory comparative examination of quality parameters of the tested preparations revealed that the routine laboratory quality control methods were not sufficiently standardized as their application in different laboratories did not always produce identical results. The WHO criteria to evaluate the toxicity of pertussis vaccines are far from perfect since vaccines with pronounced toxicity can only be distinguished from those with moderate to mild toxicity after the administration to tested mice of vaccines at a single infant dose of 0.5 ml. To enhance the reproducibility of methods employed in the laboratory, appropriate standard specimens of the preparation should be used serving as a measure of different quality parameters; all test conditions should be also standardized as far as possible. To enable objective quality evaluation of medical biological preparations, the degree of experiment reproducibility should be regularly verified in interlaboratory tests on an international scale as well as inside those countries which have several manufacturers of a given preparation. It appears expedient to set up an international system of expert evaluation of quality of biological preparations by appointing several regional and national centres which meet the requirements for expert laboratories. PMID- 2625553 TI - Pattern of changes in clinico-immunological indicators of patients with drug allergy during treatment with autologous blood. AB - An efficient method for the treatment of drug allergy was proposed and practically implemented. The method consists in autologous venous blood being lyzed with sterile bidistilled water at a ratio of 5:1 and injected subcutaneously and partially intradermally into the reflexogenic zones of the back 2-3 cm from the spinal column. During the first week of treatment, increasing doses were injected (3 to 10 ml), whereas during the second week the doses decreased from 10 to 3 ml. Following treatment the patients felt better and featured enhanced working ability as well as markedly declined susceptibility to common colds. The most informative immunological indicators were chosen to evaluate the efficiency of therapy. PMID- 2625554 TI - Socio-economic factors and rheumatic fever occurrence. Differences between patients with and without frequent sore throat. AB - One hundred and fourty-eight rheumatic fever patients and 444 controls matched by age, sex and place of residence, were interviewed about socio-economic and some other variables. Socio-economic factors recognized as risk factors for rheumatic fever (flat dampness, more than 2 persons per room, sleeping in bed with other person, low education of mother and undernourishment) were of lesser importance for persons with frequent sore throat in comparison to persons without frequent sore throat. According to the results obtained it seems that there is positive connection between host's propensity to clinical manifestation of throat infection and manifestation of rheumatic fever. The lesser susceptibility the more additional factors are needed for Rheumatic Fever to occur. The relative importance of socio-economic factors in rheumatic fever occurrence depends on host's susceptibility to infection. PMID- 2625555 TI - [Experimental study on surgical influences of the phasic difference of thoracotomy from laparotomy: with special emphasis on the kinetics of the pulmonary water content]. AB - Radical operation for patients with thoracic esophageal cancer is one of the surgical procedures with the most severe surgical stress in the digestive system because of frequent serious postoperative complications particularly with respiratory problems. For the purpose of reducing surgical influences and postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with esophageal cancer, we have been insisting on "one-stage operation" with preceding reconstruction of the esophagus on the basis of our clinical experiences and model experiments. In the model experiments minimizing radical operation for thoracic esophageal cancer, the increase of intra-operative and post-operative pulmonary water content in the laparotomy-preceding group (LPG) is lesser than in the thoracotomy-preceding group (TPG). This results were also supported by histological findings. In the TPG, a tendency of pulmonary water accumulation was accelerated with an increase of surgical influences and, in addition, pulmonary water accumulation was noted even in the lung of the opposite side. Furthermore, the host defense reaction to the surgery and the influences of respiratory and circulatory systems were observed predominantly in this group. It is concluded that one-stage operation with preceding reconstruction of the esophagus shows a rationality in reducing the surgical influences to the body, especially to the pulmonary systems. PMID- 2625556 TI - [Long-term evaluation of the superior vena cava-pulmonary artery anastomosis in cyanotic heart disease]. AB - We followed up thirty-three patients, to whom the superior vena cava-pulmonary artery anastomosis (Glenn procedure) was undergone between April 1966 and March 1988. There were eighteen patients with single ventricle and nine with tricuspid atresia, two with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and four with other complex anomalies. Seven patients (21%), including six with single ventricle, died 0.3 to 14.9 years after operation. Regurgitation of common atrioventricular valve was the cause of death in three patients. Serum hemoglobin level fell down from 19.3 +/- 2.2 g/dl preoperatively to 15.3 +/- 1.9 g/dl after operation but increased gradually to the preoperative level about ten years later. The actuarial survival rate at ten years is 80%. Reoperation was performed in 9 patients and reoperation free rate at 10 years is 78%. This analysis suggests that Glenn procedure is still good palliative operation for ten years, although some patients will be necessitated the second operation in future. PMID- 2625557 TI - [Operative results of tricuspid valve replacement with St. Jude Medical prosthesis]. AB - Since 1974, 14 patients underwent tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) with prosthetic heart valves. Hardy's operation was undergone in 2 patients with Ebstein's anomaly and mitral valve surgery or multiple valve surgery were undergone in 9 patients with rheumatic valvular disease, concomitantly. Four types of prosthetic heart valves were used in the tricuspid position, i.e. 2 Starr-Edwards prostheses, 1 Hancock xenograft, 1 Bjork-Shiley prosthesis and 12 st. Jude Medical prostheses. The operative mortality rate was 14.3% (2/14) and 2 hospital deaths were due to low cardiac output syndrome. Twelve survivors have been followed with a maximum follow-up of 13 years and the mean of 4.7 years. There were 3 late deaths due to congestive heart failure and prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) of the aortic Bjork-Shiley prosthesis. There was 1 PVE of the tricuspid Starr-Edwards prosthesis and 1 thrombosis of the tricuspid Bjork-Shiley prosthesis, but no thrombosis and no other valve-related complications of SJM prostheses in the tricuspid position. The post-operative NYHA function class improved satisfactorily in 9 survivors. Judging from our relatively satisfactory post-operative results in TVR cases using SJM prostheses, SJM prosthesis in the tricuspid position is one of advisable prosthesis to get satisfactory hemodynamic improvement post-operatively. PMID- 2625558 TI - [Quantitative assessment of myocardial viability following coronary artery bypass grafting using exercise thallium-201 myocardial single photon emission computed tomography and left ventricular regional wall motion]. AB - Using exercise thallium-201 myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and % radial shortening (%RS), 58 patients were evaluated before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to quantitatively assess myocardial viability and the effect of CABG. The patient was classified, according to redistribution pattern, as group I with only complete redistribution (20 cases) and group II with including incomplete redistribution (22 cases) and group III with no redistribution (16 cases). 1. Group I was expected complete improvement of ischemic myocardium after CABG but regional left ventricular wall motion was unchanged (sigma i%RS: 142.5 +/- 54.7----138.4 +/- 39.6, sigma a%RS: 201.2 +/- 51.1----238.2 +/- 68.2). 2. Group II was expected to diminish ischemic size after CABG and left ventricular regional wall motion was significantly improved (sigma i%RS: 68.8 +/- 25.9----154.9 +/- 42.6 p less than 0.01, sigma a%RS: 108.4 +/- 62.3----178.9 +/- 77.6, p less than 0.05). 3. Group III was no significant change of ischemic size and left ventricular wall motion after CABG (sigma i%RS: 67.8 +/ 24.1----83.9 +/- 19.2, sigma a%RS: 86.0 +/- 29.0----94.0 +/- 33.9). The present study suggests that quantitative assessment of myocardial viability using exercise thallium-201 myocardial SPECT and %radial shortening was useful method to determine the indication and to assess the effect of CABG. PMID- 2625559 TI - [Significance of coronary artery bypass grafting to totally occluded left anterior descending coronary artery]. AB - The comparative studies on operative and hemodynamic results following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were performed in 15 patients with totally occluded left anterior descending coronary artery (TOLAD) and 24 with partially occluded LAD (POLAD). There were two operative deaths and one whose graft was obstructed in POLAD. Four patients were revealed to have transmural myocardial infarction (TMI) in the region other than anterior segment on the preoperative electrocardiogram. Following results were obtained in 13 TOLAD (Group I) and 19 POLAD (Group II) with two subgroups, a: without TMI and b: with anterior TMI, whose all bypass grafts were patent. Left ventricular ejection fraction, Mean Vcf and left ventricular anterior, apical segmental wall motion significantly increased postoperatively in all groups, whereas postero-inferior segmental wall motion did not increase in all groups. Cardiac index and PLVSP/LVESV significantly increased postoperatively in all groups, but did not in Group Ib. Angina disappeared postoperatively in 12 patients (92.3%) in group I and 16 (84.2%) in Group II. In both groups, NYHA classification was improved from class III or IV preoperatively to class I or II postoperatively. Postoperative 10 years actuarial survival rate was 90.7% in Group I and 90.8% in Group II. In conclusion, it was proved that CABG to TOLAD offered significant increase in left ventricular contractility, better quality of life and satisfactory long term survival rate almost same as CABG to POLAD. PMID- 2625560 TI - [Surgical treatment of interrupted aortic arch in infants under three months of age]. AB - From March, 1982, through March, 1988, 8 infants less than 3 months of age underwent surgical treatment of interrupted aortic arch. Five patients had IAA type A and 3 patients had type B. Seven patients with associated VSD underwent staged operations and 1 infant with aortopulmonary window underwent primary repair off cardiopulmonary bypass. Aortic arch reconstruction was by subclavian aortic anastomosis (6) or large tube graft (8 mm) interposition (2) combined with pulmonary artery banding (5). All seven patients with associated VSD survived the first-stage operation. One patient subsequently underwent pulmonary artery banding, two underwent patch aortoplasty and four patients underwent intracardiac repair and removal of a pulmonary artery band, with six survivors (86%). The operative death occurred in an infant in whom modified Damus-Kaye-Stansel operation was carried out for severe subaortic stenosis, which rerouting all left ventricular blood through VSD and the main pulmonary artery into the ascending aorta and reconstructing right ventricular-distal pulmonary artery connection by a valved external conduit. All six surviving patients are doing well at present (mean follow up of 3 years) without any significant pressure gradient between the ascending and thoracic aorta. Based on these data we conclude: (1) Aortic arch reconstruction and pulmonary artery banding can be reliably performed even in critically ill infants with IAA and isolated VSD. (2) The primary repair will provide better chance of survival in infants with IAA associated with significant LVOTO, truncus arteriosus or aortopulmonary window that do not readily lend themselves to pulmonary artery banding. PMID- 2625561 TI - [Investigation of Limulus test during and after cardiopulmonary bypass--analysis of Limulus positive substance and particles in the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit]. AB - Patients undergoing heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) frequently have positive Limulus test without any remarkable signs of endotoxemia. CPB circuit could be one of the possible causes of this phenomenon, but the exact mechanism has not been studied. Accordingly, a prospective study was made in 41 patients undergoing heart surgery with CPB. Limulus test were performed on the samples of priming fluids of CPB including the plasma and urine of those patients during and after surgery. Besides the Limulus test, the CPB fluids were analysed by the false positive test. Microscopic examinations were carried out on the priming fluids before and after using a 40 microns filter during recirculation without washing the CPB circuit and the fluid from a 4 microns filter been washed by 2000 ml of Martose-10 in order to find out the presence of any foreign particles in the CPB circuit. The size and the number of particles were measured by coulter counter. The studies revealed the following facts, 1) Limulus test; most of the samples from priming fluids (31/35), plasma circulating the CPB (36/36), urine during CPB (22/25) and plasma (34/35) and urine (21/30) just after the surgery revealed positive. However, only 4 samples from plasma at 3POD and 2 samples from urine at 2POD revealed positive, 2) false positive test of the samples from priming fluids was negative meaning the Limulus positive substances are not endotoxin, 3) under microscopic analysis and coulter counter, there were about 40 particles over 50 microns per ml of priming fluids before washing the CPB circuit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625562 TI - [The value and limitation of two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosis of dissecting aortic aneurysm]. AB - The diagnostic value of two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was evaluated in 29 patients with dissecting aortic aneurysm (DeBakey type I; 4, type II; 1, type IIIa; 6, type IIIb; 18) who were studied consecutively from May 1987 to August 1988. An intimal flap was demonstrated in all 29 cases. DeBakey type classification could be recognized in 26 of 29 patients (89.7%). The entry of aortic dissection could be identified in 26 of 29 patients (89.7%). The differentiation between true and false lumen could be performed in all 29 cases. The introduction of color Doppler and pulsed Doppler echocardiography has opened up an additional possibility, in particular an analysis of flow pattern of the lumen was valuable in differentiation between true and false lumen. TEE was also valuable in evaluation of operative procedure by means of intraoperative-TEE. The capability to visualize the lesion of descending aorta was superior to any other conventional diagnostic method such as CT, MRI, AOG. However, there were difficulties in scanning the distal part of the ascending aorta and aortic arch, and in identifying the reentry of arotic dissection except for DeBakey type IIIa dissection. Since transthoracic echocardiography was valuable in diagnosis of cardiac tamponade, aortic regurgitation, and DeBakey type I dissection, the diagnostic method of a combination of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography seems to be more valuable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625563 TI - [Surgical treatment of mycotic lung diseases]. AB - Eighteen cases of mycotic lung disease, which included 17 pulmonary aspergillosis and one cryptococcosis, were treated surgically. Lobectomy was performed in 4, segmentectomy in 1, partial resection of lung in 4, cavernostomy in 2, open window thoracotomy in 4 and exploratory thoracotomy in 1. The authors would like to emphasize following points; 1) Of eighteen, cases, there were five patients over 70 years old and results of surgery in those were uneventful. 2) Two cases developed the postoperative empyema which was caused by the remnant lesion invaded with aspergillus fumigotus. From this experience it was considered that in the invasive aspergillosis the limited resection of the lesion was not recommended because of its local recurrence. 3) Omentopexy was effective for the treatment of mycotic empyema. PMID- 2625564 TI - [Cardiac surgery in chronic dialysis patients: usefulness of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)]. AB - Eleven chronic dialysis patients underwent cardiac surgery in the past six years. Six of these cases had coronary artery disease, three had valvular heart disease and the other two had congenital heart disease. Of those 11 patients, 5 cases were successfully maintained on CAPD in the pre- and post-operative period. The remaining 6 patients were treated with hemodialysis before the operation and received intermittent peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis following cardiac surgery. Intraoperative hemodialysis was carried out in 9 cases under cardiopulmonary bypass. There was one early death of low cardiac output syndrome, and two patients died of brain hemorrhage in the late post-operative period. Both of the latter two had hypertension and were maintained on hemodialysis under anticoagulant therapy. The other 8 are doing well and 5 of them are on CAPD. These results suggest that the procedure without anti-coagulation and/or CAPD should be chosen for the cardiac operation of chronic dialysis patients with hypertension. PMID- 2625565 TI - [Surgical treatment of the prosthetic valves in reoperation]. AB - Surgical treatment and problems in patients required reoperation for malfunctioning prosthetic valves are reviewed in our institute. The cinefluoroscopy and pulse doppler echocardiography were helpful for diagnosis of artificial valve dysfunction. In recent two decades valve replacement were performed in 382 cases and number of re-implanted valve were 469. Among them the cases of reoperation were 21 and reimplanted valves were 25 (5.6%); 4.7% in aortic, 5.0% in mitral, 6.7% in tricuspid position. Three cases of those patients had three operations. Main causes of reoperation were primary tissue failure in Carpentier-Edwards porcine xenograft (6 cases, 23%) and cloth wear in Starr Edwards ball valve (9 cases, 38%) and thrombosis in St. Jude Medical bi-leaflet valve (3 cases, 15%). In most cases St. Jude Medical valve were chosen for the alternative prosthetic valve in reoperation. We applied IABP support to seven patients for severe low cardiac output syndrome after the operation and overall mortality was 24% in reoperation. It concluded that St. Jude Medical valve may be most reliable because of low incidence of postoperative complication in our institute. PMID- 2625566 TI - [New classification and analysis of lung sounds]. AB - Recently, classification and nomenclature of lung sounds has been changed from assessment based on subjective interpretation to assessment based on objective, measureable criteria related to mechanisms of sound generation. The adventitious sounds was classified to four kinds of principal terms, continuous adventitious sounds (wheezes, rhonchi) and discontinuous adventitious sounds (coarse crackles, fine crackle) at the 1985 International Symposium on Lung Auscultation. Lung sounds in the surgical patients were digitized for the analysis of both the time domain and the frequency domain which had been recorded by tape recorder. Rhonchi, fine crackle and tracheal stenotic sounds were characterized by the analysis of the frequency domain. Lung sound analysis is promising because it is safe, non invasive and may be used for clinical studies in the surgical patients. PMID- 2625567 TI - [A case of spontaneous esophageal rupture treated with esophagectomy]. AB - Although the rupture of the esophagus is frequently a catastrophic event leading to lethal consequences, the mortality and morbidity rate can be significantly lessened by early diagnosis and nutritional management. Early recognition and intensive treatment of this condition are essential and life saving. Multiple techniques, often complex, are necessary to treat the disease, especially when the diagnosis is delayed. A 52-year-old women suffered from severe back pain after vomiting during breakfast, and was admitted to our hospital. Next morning bilateral massive pleural effusion was recognized, and chest drainage tubes were inserted into the bilateral pleural cavity. Three days after admission, drainage fluid changed to be mucous and dark green. Esophagography with Gastrografin demonstrated leakage from right wall of the lower esophagus. A right thoracotomy was performed 83 hours after the onset. In the lower esophagus, there was a longitudinal tear 3 cm in length and the mediastinum was significantly inflamed. So we decided to perform esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy through ante thoracic wall route. The right pleural cavity was debrided and thoroughly irrigated with saline. After chest drain removal, right hemothorax occurred in the postoperative period, but she had good recovery and was discharged from our hospital 2 months after the esophagectomy. PMID- 2625568 TI - [Successful resection of the right atrial myxoma with excessive tumor vascularity in a elderly patient]. AB - A 72-year-old female underwent successful resection of a giant right atrial myxoma. The patient had slight cough with abnormal cardiac silhouette and elevated ESR. The diagnosis of right atrial myxoma was established by echocardiography and angiography. Venacavography revealed huge mass which occupied in the entire right atrium. This tumor was perfused by well developed feeding arteries arising from both right and circumflex coronary arteries, and showed rich tumor vascularity. This tumor was resected with the interatrial septum and the free wall of the right atrium which were attached with tumor. Interatrial septal defect was closed with a Teflon fabric patch and the defect of right atrial free wall was approximated by direct closure with Z-plasty. Postoperative course was uneventful. Pathological examination showed myxoma without invasion into the resected septum and atrial wall. It is important to prevent tumor embolization to the pulmonary artery or strangulation into the right ventricle during surgery on this type of huge right atrial myxoma. PMID- 2625569 TI - [A case report of successful one-stage operation in TGA (group III) with WPW syndrome]. AB - A patient who had received balloon atrioseptotomy and B-T shunt operation previously experienced recurrent episodes of supraventricular tachycardia, and was refractory to medical treatment since the age to 3. At 9 years, the patient underwent intraoperative electrophysiological mapping which confirmed the earliest breakthrough at the crux of posterior septal region. Rastelli's operation and division of posterior septal Kent was simultaneously performed successfully. Post operative ECG was normalized with abolition of delta wave, and PSVT was gone. We concluded that the division of Kent bundle should be simultaneously performed with operative reconstruction in patients with congenital heart disease and WPW syndrome on postoperative care for SVT. PMID- 2625570 TI - [A thoracic aortic aneurysm with respiratory failure caused by the mechanisms of stenosis of the left bronchus and ipsilateral pulmonary artery--report of a case and review of the literature]. AB - Clinical symptoms of thoracic aortic aneurysm vary widely from symptoms resulting from its rupture to those due to compression of surrounding organs. Furthermore, the onset of symptoms is frequently followed by a fatal outcome unless emergency measures are taken. We have recently experienced a patient who developed respiratory insufficiency caused by an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta compressing the left primary bronchus and the right pulmonary artery, the former causing ventilatory failure in the left lung and the latter interfering with blood flow in the right lung. The patient underwent emergency prosthetic graft replacement and showed temporary symptom improvement. However, a postoperative complication of esophageal perforation due to ischemic necrosis occurred and eventually caused acute empyema followed by death. The patient was a 48-year-old male who presented with symptoms similar to bronchial asthma. Angiographic examination (iv-DSA) revealed compression of right pulmonary artery by an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. Bronchoscopic findings included extramural stenosis of the left bronchus accompanied by arterial pulsation. As an emergency measure, artificial blood vessel replacement of the descending thoracic aorta was performed. However, the patient developed postoperative acute empyema and died on the 19th postoperative day. Autopsy revealed ischemic necrosis on the esophageal wall where the aneurysmal lesion had touched before operation. This seems to have formed a perforation into the left thoracic cavity and ultimately to have caused acute empyema. Since we believe that the pathogenesis and clinical course observed in this patient is rather rare, the case is reported in accompanied by relevant data from the literature. PMID- 2625571 TI - [A case of re-operation of pulmonary venous obstruction following surgical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return]. AB - A case of six-month old female with pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) following surgical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is reported. A digital subtraction angiography (DSA) performed at 9 days after birth showed a supracardiac type of TAPVR (Darling Ia) with pulmonary venous stenosis and pulmonary hypertension. On the following day she underwent a corrective operation through posterior approach. The anastomosis between common pulmonary venous chamber and left atrium had released the pulmonary venous stenosis. Nevertheless, the pulmonary hypertension progressed after the operation. Five months later a cardiac catheterization data showed PVO. Six months after the first operation she underwent a corrective re-operation for release from the PVO using EPTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) patch. Postoperatively the symptoms caused by PVO and pulmonary hypertension were markedly improved. PMID- 2625572 TI - [Modified Fontan operation of single ventricle with D-TGA]. AB - An 8-year-old boy who had previously received two systemic pulmonary shunts, underwent successfully direct anastomosis between SVC and right pulmonary artery (bidirectional Glenn shunt), and proximal side of SVC and main pulmonary artery. Post operative course was uneventful with pleural effusion during a shot period. Post operative right atrial pressure was 9/5 mmHg without evidence of live swelling. PMID- 2625573 TI - [Successful repair of subacute left ventricular free wall rupture after acute myocardial infarction]. AB - A 67-year-old man sustained free wall rupture of the left ventricle following an acute myocardial infarction 8 hours after percutaneous transluminal coronary recannalization (PTCR). Echocardiography and pericardiocentesis which improved the hemodynamic state confirmed the diagnosis. Under extracorporeal circulation, direct closure was successfully accomplished following resection of ruptured and necrotic anterior left ventricular myocardium. The patient has remained well for 9 months after the operation. Clinical and therapeutic features of subacute cardiac rupture and affecting factors of PTCR were discussed. PMID- 2625574 TI - [A case of acute thoracic aortic occlusion due to blunt trauma]. AB - A rare case of complete thoracic aortic occlusion secondary to blunt trauma was reported. The patient was a 27-year-old policeman who was involved in an automobile accident while driving a patrol car. Hypertension of the upper extremities, edema of the upper body and anuria were found at emergency room examination. Emergent aortogram demonstrated traumatic occlusion of the aorta at the level of isthmus. Urgently an axillo-femoral bypass was performed, and two days later radical aortic repair was carried out. At the radical operation, disruption of the aortic intima was encountered in the area of ligamentum arteriosum. The distal torn edge was enfolded and completely occluded the aortic lumen. The lacerated intima was sutured, and the intimal defect of the aorta was restored with woven Dacron patch. Postoperative course was uneventful. On subsequent follow-up 3 years after injury, the patient was asymptomatic showing normal thoracic aortogram. PMID- 2625575 TI - [Radiographic study of bone resorption at the proximal end of the femur after total hip replacements]. AB - Radiography following cemented total hip replacement (THR) often revealed progressive bone resorption at the proximal end of the femur. The purpose of this study is to clarify the relation between this bone resorption and loosening of the acetabular component. The radiographic analysis was done using radiographs of two hundred and ninety-nine Muller type THR for osteoarthritis with minimum five years follow-up at regular intervals. The bone resorption at the proximal end of the femur appeared frequently in cases of loosened acetabular component. As acetabular loosening progressed, the bone resorption increased accordingly. Further study revealed that incidences of loosened acetabular component were statistically higher in cases of progressive bone resorption than in cases of non progressive, 5.2 years after operation. This study indicates that progressive bone resorption might be a histological reaction caused by debris of pulverized bone cement generated by loosening acetabular component. The degree to which bone resorption progresses, therefore, directly reflects the amount of loosening of the acetabular component and should be a indicator for surgery to reconstruct loosened acetabular component. PMID- 2625576 TI - [Anatomical and clinical studies on peroneal vascularized composite tissue transfer]. AB - An anatomical study of the peroneal artery and vein and their branches was carried out on 86 cadaver legs. The number of cutaneous branches was 4.8 +/- 1.4 per leg. The length of the cutaneous branches was 5.5 +/- 1.6 cm. The external diameters of cutaneous branches at the skin distribution site were 0.6 +/- 0.2 mm for the artery and 0.8 +/- 0.3mm for the vein. The peroneal vessels gave off communicating branches to anterior or posterior tibial vessels 6.1 +/- 2.4 cm proximal from the lateral malleolus. The range of rotation of island flap when transposed proximally was 14.3 +/- 3.3 cm proximal from the head of the fibula, and when transposed distally, the range of rotation was 16.9 +/- 5.3 cm distal from the lateral malleolus. Based on the results obtained from these experimental studies, we have been performing peroneal vascularized tissue transfer since 1982. A total of 72 cases have been performed, and the results have been encouraging. PMID- 2625577 TI - [Experimental study of the reaction of bone to change in blood flow]. AB - The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of blood flow on bone of the lower limb experimentally. The femoral vein and artery were ligated in five to 7 week-old rabbits. The proximal thigh was then tied using an elastic cord with a 7 Kg weight. Two weeks later, local blood flow was measured by means of the hydrogen washout technique. Blood flow to the femoral diaphyseal marrow and tibial periosteum was elevated, while that to the remaining parts of the limb was reduced. After sacrificing the animals, radiographic and histological examinations were conducted. The femur and tibiofibula on the operated side were shortened. Endosteal bone formation and periosteal bone resorption were found in the femur, while periosteal bone formation were observed in the tibiofibula. The changes in blood flow were suggested to cause different reactions of the periosteum and endosteum. PMID- 2625578 TI - Ultrastructural study of articular cartilage in experimental pyogenic arthritis. AB - Ultrastructural changes of the articular cartilage at the early stage of experimental pyogenic arthritis were studied by electron microscopy. The superficial zone of the cartilage at the site of the cartilage-synovium junction demonstrated far more changes than those at the site of the free surface of the articular cartilage. Changes were observed at the cartilage-synovium junction as early as four hours after the intraarticular injection of the infecting organism. The most interesting finding was migration of erythrocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes into the superficial zone of the cartilage at the early stage. The pericellular matrix in the middle zone became so loose in some areas that collagen fibrils were partially exposed after three days. The naked collagen fibrils were tapered, nicked and irregular in size after seven days. PMID- 2625579 TI - [Morphological studies on structure and function of the superficial zone of the articular cartilage]. AB - Mechanical response of the superficial zone of articular cartilage was examined with a cryoscanning electron microscope. The superficial zone to which no load was applied had a smooth surface, and the thickness of the zone was from 150 to 280 microns. The loaded zone was compressed to several micra in thickness within the first 2 seconds. The superficial zone was shown to respond sensitively to mechanical stresses. To elucidate the structure of the superficial zone each of three major constituent elements was separately removed, and the morphological changes were observed. From the results the superficial zone was considered to have a honeycomb structure which had fluid-containing hyaluronate within. In the lubrication experiment the friction coefficient increased remarkably when the zone was destroyed by scrubbing off or by collagenase digestion. The honeycomb structure of the superficial zone was thought to play an important role in animal joint lubrication. PMID- 2625580 TI - [The effect of exercise on the normal and reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament in rabbits]. AB - The effects of exercise on the biomechanical properties of the normal anterior cruciate ligament and bone specimen were investigated in two groups of rabbits: the one group with seven rabbits aged 7-8 months and the other with nine rabbits of 13-14 months. Four weeks of exercise produced significant increases in the maximum failure load, total absorbed energy to failure and stiffness in group of younger rabbits, but these changes were not seen in the older rabbits. Exercise effects on the remodelling of the reconstructed ACL were further studied in the two groups of rabbits, by observing macroscopic, histological, and biomechanical changes. While histologically normally structured ligament-bone junctions were seen partially in all the specimens, the specimen of the group with four weeks of exercise after 21 weeks after reconstructive surgery, showed a significant increase in stiffness of the reconstructed ACL. Macroscopically a glittering appearance was seen more frequently in the reconstructed ligament when compared to that of a cage-confined non-exercised group of rabbits. PMID- 2625581 TI - [Characteristics of high- and low-metastatic clones isolated from murine undifferentiated sarcoma (RCT sarcoma)]. AB - We have established low- and high-metastatic clones from the undifferentiated RCT (Radiological Science-Chiba Cancer Center-Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University) sarcoma spontaneously developed in a C3H/He male mouse. Metastatic lesions of RCT sarcoma at the lung were inoculated into the subcutaneous tissue which was then cultured and cloned. Clones potential of low- and high-metastatic were named RCT(-) and RCT(+), respectively. RCT(-) cells were cloned by the limiting dilution method in vitro and RCT(+) cells were cloned by the combination of lung passages and limiting dilution methods. After 20 serial passages in vitro, the metastatic potential of each clone remained unchanged. Significant differences were noted in their growing property and adhesiveness to plastic or collagen-coated surfaces; RCT(+) cells grew more slowly, adhered more rapidly and firmly to the surfaces than those of RCT(-) cells. RCT(+) cells were agglutinated by all types of lectins used in this study, while several types of lectins could not agglutinate RCT(-) cells. These results would indicate that there was the difference in oligosaccharide residues on the surface of each cell. No significant difference between these cell clones in their sensitivity to natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. We believe that RCT(-) and RCT(+) cells are very useful experimental model to study the mechanism of sarcoma metastasis. PMID- 2625582 TI - [Composite tissue allograft limb in rats immunosuppressed with cyclosporine A]. AB - The purpose of this study was to examine the mechanism of rejection after limb allografts and the effect of Cyclosporine A (CYA) on this process. Male F344 rats were used as recipients, Lew and WKAH as donors. After transplantation, CYA (15mg/kg/day s.c.) was administered for 21 days. It was possible to achieve a long-term survival of allograft limbs with CYA, but the skin was soon rejected after the termination of CYA administration. Without immunosuppression skin was rapidly rejected. It is conceivable that this rejection process takes place both by direct destruction of epithelial cells, by non-helper T lymphocytes and through injury to the microvascular endothelium of dermis. The mechanism of the microvascular injury remains unknown. The skin of some of the animals enhanced with CYA was transformed, but immunohistologically represented no sign of classic rejection. After termination of CYA treatment, a degenerative change of skin was observed. It is considered that this change proceeds through direct destruction of epithelial cells by non-helper T lymphocytes. PMID- 2625583 TI - [Clinical applications of somatosensory evoked potentials for cervical cord lesions]. AB - Measurement of interpeak latencies and evaluation of peak forms with added measurement of Nll besides N9, N13 and N20 and with utilization of normal standard values of interpeak latencies in 20 healthy persons proved to be useful for diagnosing the level responsible for neurological manifestations in cases with multiple cervical cord compressions, in such cases as multiple sclerosis without mechanical compression and also for differential diagnosis of incipient motor neuron disease from cervical spondylosis with muscle atrophy. It also proved that elongation of the interpeak latencies between N9-N11 evoked by stimulating the median and ulnar nerve at the wrist level occurred only when more than one cervical cord segment receiving median and ulnar nerve fibers was afflicted. PMID- 2625584 TI - [Protective effect of specific human immunoglobulins on haematogenous osteomyelitis by Staphylococcus aureus in mice]. AB - Effects of specific human immunoglobulins extracted from pooled human sera on the protection of the production of haematogenous osteomyelitis by a strain of Staphylococcus aureus in mice were studied. No multiplication of the organisms in mouse bone marrow was observed by intravenous injection of strain SMU01 of Staphylococcus aureus when 2.20mg protein of specific immunoglobulins was administered prior to the injection of the strain. Roentgenographic examinations in mice revealed no destructive findings around the proximal and distal metaphysis of the femur at one to two weeks after the injection, indicating absence of macroscopic abscess formation in these area. These results suggest a possible therapeutic effect of specific human immunoglobulins on human staphylococcal osteomyelitis. PMID- 2625585 TI - Measurement of sarcomere length in situ. AB - The laser diffraction method was applied to a whole, unisolated muscle of the mouse in order to study the changes in sarcomere length caused by passive movements of joints. The accuracy of measurement of sarcomere lengths in situ by this method was +/- 5.6%. The site-to-site variation in sarcomere length within resting muscle was not affected by stretching of the muscle and the sarcomere length varied in direct proportion to the muscle length (correlation coefficient = 0.805, p less than 0.01). These results agreed with previous observations on resting muscles in vitro. PMID- 2625586 TI - In situ observation of adjustment of sarcomere length in skeletal muscle under sustained stretch. AB - Adjustment of sarcomere length to sustained stretch was studied in situ by the light diffraction method applied to the extensor digitorum longus muscle of the mouse. The muscle was stretched maximally (with the ankle and toes in full plantar flexion) and immobilized by a plaster cast: the sarcomere length immediately after stretch was 2.98 microns. After 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days of immobilization, the sarcomere length was 2.94, 2.86, 2.83, 2.77 and 2.78 microns, respectively. This shows how a muscle under sustained stretch adapts itself to a new length and explains why the efficiency of muscle function is maintained after limb lengthening. PMID- 2625587 TI - [Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine and spinal cord]. PMID- 2625588 TI - [Pelvic osteotomies in the treatment of coxarthrosis--with special reference to Chiari pelvic osteotomy]. PMID- 2625589 TI - [Neuropeptides and neurological diseases: Alzheimer's disease]. PMID- 2625590 TI - [Rehabilitation for diseases of the nervous system]. PMID- 2625591 TI - [Hemopoietic stem cells]. PMID- 2625592 TI - [HAM (HTLV-I associated myelopathy)]. PMID- 2625593 TI - [Exercise tolerance and respiro-circulatory response to treadmill exercise in patients with an implanted nonphysiological pacemaker for complete heart block]. PMID- 2625594 TI - [Prediction of embolism in patient with mitral stenosis studied by two dimensional echocardiography and blood coagulation tests]. PMID- 2625595 TI - [Preleukemia presenting optic agnosia caused by several attacks of cerebral hemorrhage due to amyloid angiopathy]. PMID- 2625596 TI - [A family of adult polycystic kidney disease associated with pseudocholinesterase deficiency]. PMID- 2625597 TI - [Cobb syndrome (cutaneomeningospinal angiomatosis). The first case reported in Japan]. PMID- 2625598 TI - [B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with lactic acidosis, recurrent acute tumor lysis syndrome, and at the end stage, Guillain-Barre syndrome]. PMID- 2625599 TI - [Pulmonary involvement in primary chylopericardium]. PMID- 2625600 TI - [Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland possibly transformed from papillary adenocarcinoma after irradiation]. PMID- 2625601 TI - [A case of disseminated intravascular coagulation thought to be caused by tooth extraction in the hypercoagulable condition due to abdominal aortic aneurysm]. PMID- 2625602 TI - [A case presenting diffuse pulmonary bleeding and gross hematuria similarly to Goodpasture's syndrome]. PMID- 2625603 TI - [Long-term bromocriptine treatment of giant prolactinoma: report of a case]. PMID- 2625604 TI - [A case of primary pulmonary malignant lymphoma]. PMID- 2625605 TI - [A case of testicular tumor complicating intussusception from metastasis to the jejunum]. PMID- 2625606 TI - [A case of allergic granulomatous angitis complicated with myositis and eosinophilia]. PMID- 2625607 TI - [A case of Crohn's disease occurring in siblings and their father]. PMID- 2625608 TI - [A case of idiopathic plasmacytic lymph-adenopathy with polyclonal hyperimmunoglobulinemia (IPL) associated with pleural and peritoneal chylous effusion]. PMID- 2625609 TI - [A case of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism with ragged red fibers]. PMID- 2625610 TI - [A case of mixed connective tissue disease accompanied with idiopathic portal hypertension and pulmonary hypertension]. PMID- 2625611 TI - [A case of aplastic anemia with fungal thrombus of the aortic arch]. PMID- 2625612 TI - [A case of diffuse and wide-spread arteriovenous microfistula fed by left iliac artery with therapeutic problems]. PMID- 2625613 TI - [A case of clear cell sarcoma associated with giant metastatic tumor mass in the right atrium]. PMID- 2625614 TI - [A case of dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta (DeBakey type II) long years survived after the onset]. PMID- 2625615 TI - Adenylate cyclase stimulation and intraocular pressure reduction by forskolin analogs. AB - Forskolin and 18 chemical analogs of forskolin were assayed for stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in vitro and for their effects on intraocular pressure (IOP) in vivo. Adenylate cyclase activity was determined with a preparation of corpora striata from male Wistar rats and test drug concentrations of 0.3 to 300 microM. IOP effect was monitored after a single topical ocular application of a 1% suspension of the test drug to male New Zealand albino rabbits. Significant reductions in IOP occurred with compounds which had potent cyclase stimulatory properties. Most compounds with little cyclase stimulatory effect produced little or no decrease in IOP. A 1-substituted morpholino-acetoxy derivative, which may be a prodrug metabolized to active form by corneal esterases, showed little cyclase stimulation in vitro but produced significant reductions in IOP. PMID- 2625616 TI - A pupillographic evaluation of a phenylephrine HCl 5%-tropicamide 0.8% combination mydriatic. AB - A continuously recording high-resolution pupillometer was used to measure changes in pupil size and pupil reactivity to temporally modulated light, following topical application of a phenylephrine HCl 5%-tropicamide 0.8% combination mydriatic (Phenyltrope). A controlled light stimulus induced pupillary changes in the left eye while changes in the consensual pupillary responses were measured in the mydriatic-treated right eye. The effects on pupil light reactivity of a single drop of the combination mydriatic were also compared to those caused by one drop of tropicamide 1% alone. Phenyltrope was introduced onto the ophthalmic market ostensibly offering faster mydriasis because of its combined effect of both the parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation to the pupil. In the present study, we looked for any differences in the pupil reaction times and amplitudes as a function of time after drug administration, iris coloration and type of mydriatic instilled. Our results show that while the combination is a fast acting mydriatic providing a large and stable pupillary dilation in subjects with either blue or brown irides, it does not differ appreciably in efficacy from the mydriatic effect of tropicamide 1% alone in healthy subjects between 20 to 36 years of age. Applications of our findings to the clinical environment are presented. PMID- 2625617 TI - Conjunctival goblet cell response to vasoconstrictor use. AB - Vasoconstrictors such as phenylephrine and naphazoline are used in ophthalmology to decrease hyperemia associated with allergic conjunctivitis and contact lens wear. There is a suspicion, however, that chronic use of these agents can produce dry-eye symptoms in some patients. The purpose of this study was to determine whether vasoconstrictor use interferes with tear film adequacy by decreasing mucin-secreting goblet cells. Cellulose acetate filter strip impressions were taken from the bulbar conjunctiva of rabbit eyes treated with vasoconstrictors or artificial tears for varying periods of time, and the number of goblet cells per light microscopic field counted. There was no significant difference between the number of goblet cells in control and vasoconstrictor-treated animals within each time period. These results indicate that conjunctival goblet cell density is not significantly affected by topical vasoconstrictor use. PMID- 2625618 TI - Topical ocular anesthetics affect epithelial cytoskeletal proteins of wounded cornea. AB - The purpose of this study was to characterize by immunofluorescent microscopy, the cytoskeletal proteins actin and myosin and the protein calmodulin (CaM) in trephined, n-heptanol treated murine corneal epithelium during in vitro organ culture before and following topical ocular anesthetic application. The study has shown that corneal epithelial wounds exposed to anesthetic agents fail to close, even after 24 hr of culture. Failure of the wound to close was accompanied by a general decrease in immunofluorescence for actin myosin and CaM following application of the anesthetics. PMID- 2625619 TI - Intraocular penetration of cytosine arabinoside following subconjunctival administration in primates. AB - Cytosine arabinoside was administered subconjunctivally to three monkeys. Blood, aqueous, and vitreous specimens were collected after 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours. Intraocular drug concentrations appeared stable or increasing over this time period while intravenous levels were relatively low. The results of this study suggest that therapeutic intraocular concentrations of cytosine arabinoside are obtained following subconjunctival administration in primates with lower, nontoxic intravenous levels during this time. PMID- 2625620 TI - [Horton's disease. XXth Congress of the French College of Vascular Pathology. March 13, 1986. Proceedings]. PMID- 2625621 TI - [Proceedings of the 15th European Congress of Genetic Counseling. Ajaccio, 14-17 September 1989. Proceedings]. PMID- 2625622 TI - [Balanced X-autosomal translocation and mental retardation. Mapping mental retardation linked to X (excluding fragile X)]. AB - From personal observations and reported cases of translocation X-Autosome, a study of the breakpoint showed that Xp11 is more frequently associated to mental retardation. This finding is in agreement with linkage analysis in families with X-linked mental retardation non X-fra. PMID- 2625623 TI - [A new sublethal syndrome with multiple malformations associating diaphragmatic hernia, distal digital hypoplasia, and craniofacial anomalies. The "Fryns syndrome"]. AB - Prevalence, Clinical variability, Etiology, Survival and Prenatal Diagnosis--In this report, we summarize the actual data on the Fryns syndrome, a true MCA/MR syndrome with autosomal recessive inheritance and sublethal outcome. In addition to the diagnostic triad of diaphragmatic hernia--digital limb hypoplasia--coarse facies, multiple internal malformations are a constant feature. PMID- 2625624 TI - On the occurrence of macroorchidism and mental handicap in the Aarskog syndrome. AB - In this report we present follow-up on two moderately mentally retarded boys with Aarskog syndrome. As 22 other mentally normal Aarskog patients these two boys presented a catch-up after a delayed puberty with a final adult height of 160 cm. A remarkable finding was the development of macroorchidism in two mentally retarded Aarskog patients. The pathogenesis of macroorchidism in the fragile X syndrome and in other X-linked mental retardation syndromes is discussed. PMID- 2625625 TI - [Truncus arteriosus: an autosomal recessive disease?]. AB - Truncus arteriosus is an uncommon heart malformation; it is not reported that recurrence is high; nevertheless authors report three families with two or more cases; in the third there is a very high consanguinity (two uncle-niece marriages). The authors compare the situation with hypoplastic left heart and think that some cases of truncus arteriosus would have an autosomal recessive inheritance. That is an another argument for suggesting an echocardiographic survey of the pregnancies in these families. PMID- 2625626 TI - [Biochemical and ultrastructural study of two familial cases of Winchester syndrome]. AB - Two new familial cases of Winchester syndrome with the characteristic features allowed to be more explicit on a few data of this syndrome. As reported in a previous paper an abnormal oligosaccharide was detected in urine of patients but the pathological significance of this oligosaccharide must be discussed and its finding in patients with Winchester syndrome does not lead to further elucidation of the aetiology of this condition. Cultured fibroblasts were obtained from a skin biopsy performed in thickened area. These cells had a normal level of the hydrolases studied whereas they showed ultrastructural abnormalities with numerous secondary lysosomes and pseudomyelinic figures. PMID- 2625627 TI - A "new" epi-metaphyseal skeletal dysplasia in four members of a family. AB - In this report we present the clinical and radiological findings of an epimetaphyseal skeletal dysplasia affecting four members of the same family. Autosomal dominant inheritance with almost identical expression in all affected patients is documented. In addition to axial deviations of the lower limbs they all present coxarthrosis at young age, disproportionate short stature, identical facial stigmata and typical anomalies of hands and feet. PMID- 2625628 TI - [Detection of deletions by the amplification of exons (multiplex PCR) in Duchenne muscular dystrophy]. AB - The polymerase chain reaction is a new powerful method for in vitro cloning of specific regions of DNA. The use of the heat-stable DNA polymerase made the reaction amenable to automation. This method greatly facilitates the detection of mutations which are responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, via DNA amplification of multiple deletions prone exons from the DMD gene. PMID- 2625629 TI - [Tetrasomy 12p (Pallister-Killian syndrome): possible diagnosis before the age of a year]. AB - In this short report we present a 1 year old female child with tetrasomy 12p (Pallister-Killian syndrome) and emphasize the importance of the recognition of the dysmorphic stigmata of this MR/MCA syndrome. PMID- 2625630 TI - [Prenatal diagnosis of a translocation (X;Y) and genetic counseling]. AB - A cytogenetic prenatal diagnosis due to maternal age led us to find a male fetus with a (X;Y) translocation. This translocation is found in the mother, who presents no phenotypic abnormalities or mental retardation. The 22 cases described in the literature indicate that among male carriers of an (X;Y) translocation, half the cases present mental retardation and 2/3 phenotypic anomalies. These findings led us to give a genetic counselling of therapeutic abortion. Post mortem histological examination revealed no morphodysplasia. PMID- 2625631 TI - The development of structural complexity in the child's concept of family: the effect of cognitive stage, sex, and intactness of family. AB - Twenty-eight boys and 28 girls at each of the Piagetian preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational cognitive stages were given an interview focusing on their concepts of family. Half of each group were from intact families, and half were from divorced families. Interviews were scored for two structural aspects of the concept of family: conceptual level, and use of dimensions that structure the concept. The complexity of children's concepts was strongly related to cognitive stage and, to a lesser degree, to sex. Frequency of use of concept dimensions was strongly affected by general developmental level, though not specifically cognitive stage, and by intactness of family, but to a lesser degree by sex. Specific information is provided on the effect of these factors on perceptions of family composition, parental roles, and breadth of family activities. PMID- 2625632 TI - Are dolls real? Developmental changes in the child's definition of reality. AB - Preschoolers (n = 20), second graders (n = 20), fifth graders (n = 20), and graduate-level college students (n = 20) were asked to determine the reality status of specific items, such as dolls and dreams, and to generate examples of real and not-real things. The criteria used for determining whether or not specific items were real differed significantly across the age range sampled and were strongly influenced by the type of items being judged. Criteria clearly changed with age, with item-specific criteria being substituted for more general verification criteria. PMID- 2625633 TI - Information integration in an area judgment task: effect of aids on children's perceptual judgments. AB - This study was designed to examine the cognitive processes involved in perceptual judgments of area with the methodology and concepts of Anderson's (1981) information integration theory. The Area = Height + Width rule, which Anderson and Cuneo (1978) showed to be operant in children's judgments, can in fact cover two different processes. Children may make a height judgment and then a length judgment and apply an additive integration operation to both. Alternatively, children may base themselves on the figure outline and estimate total length directly as a function of the distance scanned. Similarly, the multiplicatory integration pattern can result either from applying a multiplicatory operation to separate estimates or from visual exploration of the area bounded by the figure. In the present experiment, the characteristics of the areas of the test figures were modified (perimeter marking, rows of Xs covering the area, etc.) to elicit additive or multiplicatory integration patterns as a function of condition. The findings demonstrate that the second interpretation of both rules is more likely. PMID- 2625634 TI - Perceptions of parental treatment styles and psychological well-being in Chinese adolescents. AB - Chinese secondary school students (N = 2,150) responded to instruments assessing their parent's treatment styles and their own psychological well-being. Results arising from bivariate and canonical correlation analyses showed that students' assessments of paternal (PT) and maternal (MT) treatment styles correlated significantly with measures of their general psychiatric morbidity, anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, purpose in life, and ego strength. PT and MT were most strongly correlated with total scores on the Purpose in Life Questionnaire. These findings generally suggest that Chinese adolescents' recollections of their parents' treatment styles are significantly associated with their own psychological well-being, whether defined by active or passive mental health criteria. PMID- 2625635 TI - The relation of distressful childhood experiences and empathy in college undergraduates. AB - We assessed the relation between the empathic responsiveness of young adults and the relative frequency and intensity of distressful events they experienced as children. Undergraduate subjects (N = 111; 56 men and 55 women) were led to believe that they were participating in two separate studies. In the first study, students completed the Distress Experiences in Childhood questionnaire, a filler task, and a slightly abbreviated version of the Mehrabian and Epstein (1972) empathy measure. In the second study, students watched an emotion-laden videotape of a patient (actually an actress) in a therapy session and subsequently completed an emotional-response questionnaire adapted from Batson, O'Quin, Fultz, Vanderplas, and Isen (1983). Students who rated their distressful childhood experiences as highly distressing scored higher on both measures of empathy than did students who rated their experiences as relatively less distressing. In contrast, the number of distressful childhood experiences reported was generally unrelated to empathy scores. PMID- 2625636 TI - Relations between young Mexican American children and play paradigms. PMID- 2625637 TI - Stability of habituation responses across multiple sessions in 4-month-old infants. PMID- 2625638 TI - Mental rotation, age, and conservation. PMID- 2625639 TI - Determinants of gender-typed play in toddlers. PMID- 2625640 TI - Children's self-perceptions of competence and help seeking. PMID- 2625641 TI - Evaluation of parents: do they vary as a function of parent loss, age at loss, or gender of the respondent? PMID- 2625642 TI - Parenting attitudes and the self-esteem of young children. PMID- 2625643 TI - Resolving communication errors in referrals to oral surgeons for tooth extractions. PMID- 2625644 TI - AIDS in Oklahoma. PMID- 2625645 TI - Disposing of infectious medical waste. PMID- 2625646 TI - Infection control practices among Oklahoma dentists. PMID- 2625648 TI - The effects of washing in glove asepsis. PMID- 2625647 TI - You're in the Army now! Fort Sill DENTAC on maneuvers. Interview by William J. Baker. PMID- 2625649 TI - A mutation that causes muscle defects also affects catecholamine metabolism in Drosophila. AB - Biochemical analyses, employing HPLC and electrochemical detection, have shown that the mutation adl-1, which causes muscle defects, also induces a temperature sensitive defect in catecholamine metabolism. The pool sizes of N-acetyldopamine (NADA) and N-beta-alanyldopamine (NBAD) in mutant adults incubated at 29 degrees attain only a fraction, dependent on the length of incubation, of those in mutants incubated at 22 degrees or in controls. The differences are more striking in relevant hemizygotes. Notably, dopamine is unaffected. Concomitant examination of behavior revealed a correlation between decreases in NADA and NBAD and decreases in locomotor function. That these observations suggest a requirement for catecholamine metabolism in muscle function is discussed. PMID- 2625650 TI - Oral glucose tolerance test is a poor predictor of hyperglycemia during pregnancy. AB - In an effort to assess the efficacy of the oral glucose tolerance test to detect patients with gestational diabetes mellitus who require therapeutic measures to maintain normoglycemia, we compared the results of an oral glucose tolerance test with those of a home glucose profile consisting of three postprandial glucose values in 250 pregnant women. The OGTT overestimated the occurrence of hyperglycemia by 28%, while the home glucose profile underestimated the occurrence of hyperglycemia by 5%. Pregnancy outcome was not significantly different between spontaneously normoglycemic women and those who required therapy. One cannot effectively identify the ten percent largest infants in the population by screening for gestational diabetes. PMID- 2625651 TI - Growth and development at the age of 1.5 years in children with maternal hypertension. AB - To determine the effect of maternal hypertension additional to intrauterine growth retardation and prematurity, the growth and development of 58 preterm and 143 full-term children of hypertensive mothers was evaluated at 1.5 years of corrected age. The results were compared with 128 preterm and 175 full-term children of normotensive mothers, respectively. Children with intrauterine growth retardation were examined separately from those without. Growth was similar between index and control pairs of groups but was delayed in preterm children born to pre-eclamptic mothers. Developmental differences were found between the index and control groups, but the only children clearly at developmental risk were those born prematurely to pre-eclamptic mothers, and those born prematurely with IUGR irrespective of aetiology. Generally the outcome of children of hypertensive mothers was good. PMID- 2625652 TI - Doppler sonographic evaluation of exercise-induced blood flow velocity and waveform changes in fetal, uteroplacental and large maternal vessels in pregnant women. AB - The aim of this study was the evaluation by Doppler sonography of blood flow velocity and waveforms in maternal (Femoral artery and vein, carotid artery, uteroplacental) and fetal (Umbilical artery) vessels before and after exercise. Thirteen healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies (and outcomes) participated in the study between the 36th and 40th gestational week. Each proband underwent 5 exercise tests in a sitting position on a bicycle ergometer with a work load of 100 Watts during 3 minutes. The Doppler measurements were performed with Acuson 128. In the femoral and carotid arteries, peak velocities (systolic and end diastolic, and for the femoral artery also post-systolic) as well as the mean blood flow velocities were measured. Mean blood flow velocity was also measured in the femoral vein. For the measurements of the arterial diameters, the M-Mode technique, for the femoral vein diameter, the B-Mode technique was used. The uteroplacental and umbilical blood flow waveforms were analysed by the Resistance and Pulsatility Indices. The maternal heart rate as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased after each of the exercise tests. The mean blood flow velocity increased in both the femoral artery and vein while the vessel diameter remained constant. In the carotid artery, however, the velocity remained constant. An analysis of the velocity waveforms for the femoral artery showed in increase in the systolic and end-diastolic velocities as well as a reversal of the post-systolic flow, where the velocity is negative in a state of rest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625653 TI - Alteration of FHR pattern and cerebral metabolic rate of glucose of the fetus measured by positron emission tomography during progress of acidemia. The significance of overshoot acceleration in FHR. AB - In order to investigate the significance of overshoot acceleration in FHR with acidosis induced by serial cord compression, cerebral glucose metabolic rate (CMRglc) was measured in four chronically instrumented fetuses before cord compression and immediately after appearance of the overshoot acceleration in FHR. The investigation of CMRglc was carried out using positron emission tomography to assess accumulation of cyclotron-produced F18-FDG in the fetal brain. CMRglc in the fetal brain in the nonacidemic condition was 1.73 mg/100 g/min. In acidemia, with fetal arterial pH near 7.15 in which FHR showed the characteristic pattern with overshoot acceleration, CMRglc was significantly decreased to 0.73 mg/100 g/min. We concluded that, to avoid neuronal damage, it is necessary to intervene when the fetal condition deteriorates to the extent that overshoot acceleration in FHR occurs. PMID- 2625654 TI - Metabolism of vitamin K dependent factors in mothers and their newborn infants. AB - Little is known about the absorption, excretion and transplacental transport of vitamin K in the perinatal period. From this point of view, the following studies were carried out. 1) Hepaplastin tests were performed on 65 women in the last stage of pregnancy and each coagulation factor was estimated as well. 2) Correlations were made between mothers' and babies' Hepaplastin test values. 3) Transplacental transport of vitamin K2 was studied. The general activity of vitamin K dependent factors in pregnant women was much higher than in non pregnant women. As far as the correlation between mothers' venous blood during delivery and cord venous blood is concerned, in the group of mothers with Hepaplastin test value of less than 120% of the normal adult value, the value of the Hepaplastin test was less than 30% of normal adult value in the cord venous blood. We also established that vitamin K passed through the placenta but only in small qualities. PMID- 2625655 TI - The acoustic stimulation test in the anencephalus: preliminary results. AB - It is not yet clear whether the acoustic stimulus influences the fetus by auditory or vibrational pathways. The anencephalic fetus is an interesting model for the study of the pathway for receipt of acoustic stimulation because of the near absence of cerebral hemispheres. After the traditional nonstress test (NST), the response to acoustic stimulation was assessed in eight fetal heart rate (FHR) recordings of six anencephalic fetuses of gestational age between 18 and 39 weeks. Although four preterm fetuses demonstrated nonreactive results in the NST, two term fetuses revealed reactive NSTs. However, none of these six anencephalic fetuses responded to acoustic stimulation. These data suggest that the cerebral cortex is the origin or transmission route of the FHR response to acoustic stimulation. We hypothesize that the normal fetus might receive externally applied sounds via auditory pathways rather than vibratory pathways, at least in term pregnancy. PMID- 2625656 TI - Determination of serum ferritin in the evaluation of iron depletion and iron over load in chronic twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. AB - In two pairs of twins with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome serum ferritin levels were determined in order to estimate body storage of iron. Serum ferritin levels in the donor twins were found to be markedly lower than in the recipients and were below the lower limit found in normal neonates. One of the recipients was hydropic. His ferritin level was elevated far above the upper limit of normal. These findings support the hypothesis that in chronic twin-to-twin transfusion, depletion of iron stores occurs in the donor while the recipient suffers from iron overload. Determination of ferritin levels may be useful in the investigation of the twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. PMID- 2625657 TI - Continuous fetal intrapartum monitoring in supraventricular tachycardia by atraumatic measurement of transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension. AB - A case of premature beats and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia without resulting congestive heart failure was diagnosed in a fetus of 38 weeks of gestation by echocardiography. Transplacental antiarrhythmic therapy was initiated, but a complete cardioversion was not achieved. Due to these arrhythmias adequate fetal heart rate monitoring during labor was not possible. By using continuous transcutaneous measurement of fetal carbon dioxide tension the fetus was delivered spontaneously, having been adequately monitored in spite of the effect on the fetal heart rate of the arrhythmias. PMID- 2625658 TI - Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome associated with Dandy-Walker cyst. Case report in a newborn. AB - Rubinstein-Taybi is a rare malformative syndrome characterized by dysmorphic features and mental retardation. Early diagnosis in neonatal age can be facilitated by the presence of characteristic broadening of the distal phalanges of thumbs and great toes. Most of the cases are sporadic. Associated malformations such as bone anomalies, heart malformations, cell immunity deficits and metabolic alterations have been observed. This paper reports the first case of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome associated with Dandy-Walker type cerebral malformation diagnosed in the neonatal period. PMID- 2625659 TI - [Studies on the metabolism of conjugated drugs. II. 3-Deoxyestradiol 17-sulfate. (2). Analytical procedure for determination by high-performance liquid chromatography of potential metabolites]. AB - To investigate the metabolic pattern of such a drug having two counter functional groups in the molecule: a hydrophylic sulfate group and a hydrophobic aromatic ring, as 17-sulfate of 17 beta-hydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-triene (3-deoxyestradiol) was incubated with rat hepatic microsomes under a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-generating system. The metabolites assigned were mono- and dihydroxylated products hydroxylated only at the aromatic ring. The phenolic products having hydroxyl group at the position 2, 3, or 4 were detected in the male and female rats. The two catechol products having hydroxyl groups at 2, 3 and 3, 4 were detected only in the male rats. No other metabolites were formed except a phenol product hydroxylated at the position 1 in the case of the male rats. These metabolisms were confirmed to proceed without removal of the sulfate group. A simple method for the determination of these metabolites was established by using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The devised technique involves an elution with a mixture of 0.5% NH4H2PO4 (pH 3.0) and methanol on a TSK-Gel ODS-120A column with electrochemical and/or ultraviolet detectors. PMID- 2625660 TI - [Radioimmunological characterization of anti lithocholic acid antisera elicited by [C-6] carboxylic acid N-succinimidyl esters as haptenic derivatives]. AB - In order to investigate the antigenic effects of the carboxyl group in the side chain and the bridge length on producing anti lithocholic acid antibody, the immunogens in which bile acid is coupled with bovine serum albumin through propionyloxy or butyryloxy amide linkage at the C-6 position were prepared. The antibodies elicited by these conjugates had low titers but showed a high affinity for lithocholic acid with association constants in the range of 0.42-1.04 X 10(8)M-1. The cross-reactivities of both antisera were essentially the same as that of methyl 6 alpha-hemisuccinyloxylithocholate. These results suggested that the side chain hydrolysis product of the methylated antigen worked as a real antigen in the body. PMID- 2625661 TI - [An arginine esterase in the human sperm]. AB - Human sperm was highly purified by the use of a discontinuous Percoll density gradient placed in an innercolumn of a centrifugation tube. Seminal plasma contamination was only 0.0008 percent in the purified sperm. A new basic arginine ester hydrolyzing enzyme with a weak affinity for lima bean trypsin inhibitor (LBTI) Cellulofine column was found in the purified human sperm, and the characteristics of this enzyme were found to be different from those of human acrosin. PMID- 2625662 TI - [Studies on the metabolism of conjugated drugs. III. 3-Deoxyestradiol 17-sulfate. (3). The metabolism by rat liver microsomes]. AB - When 17 beta-hydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-triene 17-sulfate was incubated with rat liver microsomes, the hydroxylations occurred predominantly at the position 2, followed by the 3. The hydroxylation at 4 was negligible. With proceeding the incubation time, two catechol metabolites hydroxylated at the positions 2,3 and 3,4 were produced. These catechols were confirmed as the second products derived from the above phenolic metabolites. Some kinetic parameters obtained by these hydroxylations showed that all the hydroxylases concerned are different enzymes. PMID- 2625663 TI - [Effects of aloe extracts, aloctin A, on gastric secretion and on experimental gastric lesions in rats]. AB - Effect of aloctin A, glycoprotein isolated from leaves of Aloe arborescens MILL, on gastric secretion and on acute gastric lesions in rats were examined. Aloctin A given intravenously dose-dependently inhibited the volume of gastric juice, acid and pepsin output in pylorus-ligated rats. Aloctin A given intravenously significantly inhibited the development of Shay ulcers and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions in rats. It also inhibited water-immersion stress lesions induced in pylorus-ligated rats. PMID- 2625664 TI - [Effects of grayanotoxin III on liver function and renal function in rats]. AB - The grayanotoxin III (GTX III) was given intraperitoneally to rats at a dose of 0.8 or 2.8 mg/kg. To study the effects of GTX III on rats, biological tests in serum for functions of liver and kidney and their pathological observation were performed 1 h after the administration. Using analysis of variance, multiple comparison and correlation on biological parameters, activities of glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), guanase and leucine aminopeptidase and concentrations of total protein, albumin, creatinine, uric acid and K increased significantly. These parameters showed dose-effect relations with GTX III. Though GPT and free fatty acid increased significantly, dose-effect relations were not shown. The activity of choline esterase and the concentrations of bilirubin, urea-N, lipoperoxide, cholesterol, triglycerides, Na and Cl were not significantly different. Pathological changes were not observed in the liver and kidney of rats. These results show that GTX III may affect the functions of liver and kidney in rats. PMID- 2625665 TI - Relationship between the fatty acid composition and the type of antibiotics produced by Streptomyces lasaliensis. AB - The GC-MS method was used to analyze fatty acids in a parent strain of Streptomyces lasaliensis and its two mutants producing only lasalocid or quinomycin. The biosynthesis of these substances bears relation to differences in the relative proportion of fatty acids. Biosynthetic relationships were revealed between the starter fatty acid units, their precursors, i.e. valine, leucine and isoleucine, and the type of the antibiotic produced. PMID- 2625666 TI - Sequence-directed DNA bending upstream of the streptokinase promoter. AB - A 450-base pair (bp) HinfI restriction fragment from the chromosome of Streptococcus equisimilis H46A contains the early coding region of the streptokinase gene (skc), the skc promoter, and a stretch of DNA 5' to the--35 region of the skc promoter. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide (PA) gel electrophoresis at two different temperatures showed that this fragment migrates anomalously slowly on PA gels, suggesting the existence of a bent DNA conformation. Inspection of the nucleotide sequence confirmed this suggestion by revealing numerous oligomeric dA.dT tracts, some of which are in phase with the helix screw. Computer analysis of the sequence predicted the existence of two bending loci, one of which is located upstream of the skc promoter. In addition to showing DNA bending, the 450-bp HinfI fragment contains multiple 13-bp sequences homologous to the Escherichia coli integration host factor DNA-binding consensus sequence. Insertion of IS1 into a site immediately upstream of the--35 region decreased the expression level of skc in E. coli, suggesting that DNA conformation upstream of the promoter has a role in skc expression. PMID- 2625667 TI - Some environmental and nutritional factors affecting growth of associated microorganisms of agadagidi. AB - A determination of the effect of temperature on growth of the test organisms revealed an optimum range of 30 degrees--37 degrees. From the pH--growth studies, tolerance to low pH levels was observed for all the microorganisms but the optimal range was 5.1-7.2. Various carbohydrates as sources of carbon were utilized. PMID- 2625668 TI - Lower extremity peripheral vascular disease. Part 2: Light and transmission electron microscopy. AB - In spite of the most vigorous efforts to intervene medically and surgically when peripheral vascular disease threatens a patient, amputation of the extremity may be the only option left to arrest the progression of the disease. In a previous study, the authors assessed amputations, examined gross pathology, and identified scanning electron microscopic features associated with atherosclerotic disease. In the present study, the authors discuss this disease in terms of conventional light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. PMID- 2625669 TI - Treatment of Morton's neuroma using percutaneous electrocoagulation. AB - A new modality for treating Morton's neuroma was introduced and performed by the authors, using a nerve lesion generator. Seventy-nine lesions were evaluated by obtaining the patients' responses to three questions. By rating their symptoms on a 0-5 scale both before and after the neurectomy, the patients showed a 56% reduction in symptoms. With a gone-improved-same-worse rating, the patients responded with 25%, 46%, 24%, and 5% in each respective category. The overall assessment of the procedure by the patients yielded 68% pleased and 32% not pleased. An average of 4 hr was missed from work following the neurectomy, and only 20% of the patients required mild analgesics. PMID- 2625670 TI - [66th annual meeting of the Physiological Society of Japan. 5-7 April 1989, Okayama. Abstracts]. PMID- 2625671 TI - [Adsorbants (hemoperfusion excluded): activated charcoals. 26th French Congress of Anti-Poison Centers. Marseilles, 4-5 October 1988. Proceedings]. PMID- 2625672 TI - [Selective in vitro study of activated charcoals for their use in acute poisonings]. PMID- 2625673 TI - [Effectiveness of activated charcoals in the treatment of drug poisonings]. PMID- 2625674 TI - [Galenic formulation of an activated charcoal preparation. In vitro test of activity--1st clinical use]. PMID- 2625675 TI - [Efficacy of treatment with charcoal diluted in 70% sorbitol during acute poisonings]. PMID- 2625676 TI - [Toxicokinetic study in acute poisonings treated with activated charcoal]. PMID- 2625677 TI - [Value of charcoal by oral route in patients admitted to emergency department for voluntary absorption of benzodiazepines]. PMID- 2625678 TI - [Toxicokinetic study of 10 cases of acute maprotiline poisonings treated with activated charcoal]. PMID- 2625679 TI - [Indications and contra-indications of activated charcoal in a poison control center. The viewpoint of the Poison Control Center of Finland]. PMID- 2625680 TI - Myositis or myopathy. PMID- 2625681 TI - Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in monozygotic twin sisters carrying HLA-DR4 or DR4 associated with B27. AB - We have followed 3 pairs of monozygotic twin sisters with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) since 1966, 1971 and 1975. RA developed in the probands at the age of 25, 39 and 21 years and in the cotwins 37, 8 and 19 years later, respectively. Two pairs, Nos 1 and 3, were discordant when first seen. Only Pair 1 had a family history of RA. Onset of RA was not related to marital status or pregnancy. It was improbable that contagious infections of childhood or seasonal infections could be important triggers of RA. Since the concordance rate for RA in monozygotic twins depends on the duration of the observation period, the previously stated concordance rate of 30% may be questioned. PMID- 2625682 TI - The scleroderma neck sign. AB - The scleroderma neck sign, as described by Barnett, is a visible and palpable tight band over platysma in the hyperextended neck. A recent survey of 76 patients with scleroderma revealed that more than 90% had the scleroderma neck sign. Our study was performed using 15 patients with scleroderma and 30 controls including 3 with primary Raynaud's disease to examine the specificity of the scleroderma neck sign, and to look for a correlation between the presence of the scleroderma neck sign and histological changes of scleroderma in the skin overlying platysma. The scleroderma neck sign was present in 12 of the 15 patients with scleroderma but in none of the 30 controls. It was found both in patients with diffuse (5 out of 5) and limited (7 out of 10) scleroderma. In 10 of the 12 cases where the scleroderma neck sign was positive, there were characteristic histological changes of scleroderma on biopsy of the skin overlying platysma, in 1 there were nondiagnostic abnormalities, and in 1 the biopsy was unsatisfactory. The 3 patients with scleroderma in whom the scleroderma neck sign was absent had either nondiagnostic changes (1) or normal biopsies (2). The 3 patients with Raynaud's disease had normal skin biopsies. The scleroderma neck sign appears to be produced by scleroderma changes in the skin of the neck. In limited or early scleroderma where these changes are otherwise clinically inapparent, the scleroderma neck sign may be diagnostically useful. PMID- 2625683 TI - Isolated pulmonary hypertension in the grandchild of a kindred with scleroderma (systemic sclerosis): "neonatal scleroderma"? AB - We report a small kindred in which the father and daughter with positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) (proband) had diffuse cutaneous and visceral scleroderma (systemic sclerosis, SSc), antitopoisomerase autoantibodies and shared the HLA-A23 C- B- DR5 DRw52 DQw3 haplotype. The ANA- granddaughter (daughter of the proband) was noted to have severe isolated pulmonary hypertension within the first 6 months of life, and had the other maternal HLA-A1 Cw8 B14 DR1 DQw1 haplotype, which included a B1, B2 duplication of the C4B allele. All 3 members shared DRw52. The possibility that neonatal pulmonary hypertension represents an isolated autoimmune disease or a hitherto undescribed neonatal syndrome is proposed and the immunogenetic autoantibody implications are discussed. PMID- 2625684 TI - Patients with polymyositis show changes in muscle protein charges. AB - Polymyositis (PM) appears with indolent proximal muscle weakness and is an inflammatory disease with breakdown of muscle cells. In our study the protein charge concentrations of the contractile proteins in the A and I bands were determined, applying a microelectrode technique. Patients with PM show a lower protein charge concentration than healthy control subjects which may be caused by the breakdown and removal of the proteins in the contractile filaments. A tool to judge the state of the disease as well as an aid in diagnosis may have been found in this method. PMID- 2625685 TI - The forgotten cause of sicca complex; sarcoidosis. AB - Sarcoidosis is a chronic systemic disease of unknown cause with prominent symptoms from the respiratory system. It can occasionally affect the exocrine glands presenting with xerophthalmia and xerostomia similar to Sjogren's syndrome. We present 5 such patients who visited our rheumatology clinic complaining of dry eyes and mouth. Investigation for xerophthalmia and xerostomia showed positive rose bengal tests in all patients, positive Schirmer's I tests in 4 and decreased parotid flow rate in 3. Minor salivary gland biopsy showed noncaseating granulomas compatible with sarcoidosis in 3. In the other 2 patients the diagnosis was obtained with transbronchial lung biopsy that revealed noncaseating granulomas. Transbronchial lung biopsy also showed granulomas in 2 patients with positive minor salivary gland biopsy. Our results suggest that sarcoidosis can present with initial symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth. When this happens, transbronchial and minor salivary gland biopsy are very valuable in differentiating sarcoidosis from Sjogren's syndrome. PMID- 2625686 TI - Variation in the effects of mononuclear cell products from different individuals on metalloproteinase secretion from human articular cartilage. AB - Human articular cartilage in organ culture shows a variable degree of endogenous metalloproteinase secretion depending on the individual from whom it was obtained. Cartilage with low endogenous levels are stimulated by interleukin 1 (IL-1) to levels comparable to the high endogenous group. Total blood mononuclear cell products obtained from different individuals either behave in a manner similar to that seen with IL-1, which results in sustained high levels of enzyme secretion, or show an initial stimulation followed by a subsequent dropoff in enzyme secretion even though incubation is continued in the presence of mononuclear cell products. The factor(s) causing this dropoff can be distinguished from IL-1. Production and regulation of such factors may reflect a mechanism whereby the action of IL-1 can be controlled during the inflammatory response. PMID- 2625687 TI - The predictive value of hemodynamic studies in preclinical ischemic necrosis of bone. AB - This study evaluated the predictive value of bone marrow pressures and intraosseous venography in joints at risk for developing ischemic necrosis of bone. Forty-two patients with ischemic necrosis of bone had hemodynamic studies performed on their contralateral, asymptomatic joint. A followup evaluation of symptoms and radiographs was obtained to establish the prevalence of clinical ischemic necrosis in the index joints. Thirty-six of 48 joints had increased bone marrow pressure and of these, 15 (42%) developed histologically or radiographically confirmed ischemic necrosis of bone. In none of the 12 bones with normal bone marrow pressure did ischemic necrosis of bone occur (p = 0.005). Venography was also significantly predictive for ischemic necrosis of bone, both alone and in conjunction with bone marrow pressure. Our study reaffirms the risk of developing bilateral ischemic necrosis of bone (31% at a mean followup of 47 months) once the diagnosis has been made on one side. Bone pressure measurements are of predictive value in establishing those joints which require close clinical followup so that detection of disease may be in the precollapse stage of ischemic necrosis of bone. PMID- 2625688 TI - Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in rheumatoid arthritis: duration of use as a measure of relative value. AB - To determine if any nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) was superior in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, duration of use of each drug was employed as a measure of combined efficacy and tolerability. Duration was treated as survival data and a proportional hazards model utilized to adjust for differences in disease severity and concomitant antirheumatic therapy. One hundred and sixteen patients took 188 courses of nonsalicylate NSAID during the 3-year study period. The NSAID prescribed included naproxen, ibuprofen, sulindac, indomethacin, piroxicam, and tolmetin. Naproxen was used significantly longer than any other NSAID (p less than 0.001). PMID- 2625689 TI - An endoscopic comparison of the gastroduodenal injury seen with salsalate and naproxen. AB - Forty endoscopically normal healthy subjects were randomized to receive either BID salsalate (3500 mg/day) or BID naproxen (750 mg/day) for 14 days followed by repeat endoscopic examination. Gastroduodenal lesions were found in 55% (11/20) of the subjects taking naproxen, and 10% (2/20) of those taking salsalate (p = 0.002). Twenty-five percent (5/20) of the subjects taking naproxen and none of the subjects taking salsalate were noted to have severe gastric injury (p = 0.003). There was no difference between the 2 groups in subjective gastrointestinal system adverse experiences. Overall, 95% (19/20) of subjects taking salsalate reported at least 1 adverse experience compared with 60% (12/20) of those taking naproxen (p = 0.02). This was due primarily to the higher number of subjects taking salsalate reporting reversible tinnitus or hearing loss. There was no significant treatment difference in adverse experiences reported for any other organ system. The results of our study support previous observations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis that salsalate produces less gastroduodenal mucosal toxicity than the widely used antiinflammatory agent, naproxen. PMID- 2625690 TI - Rectus femoris sheath: a new localization of hip synovial cyst. AB - Iliopsoas bursitis is the classical manifestation of synovial cysts of the hip. We report the first observation of a new localization of these cysts: the sheath of rectus femoris muscle. The patient presented with a hip osteoarthritis and an important mass of the front of the thigh. Computed tomography was useful in establishing the diagnosis and hip arthrography confirmed the communication between the joint and the rectus femoris sheath. PMID- 2625691 TI - McArdle's disease presenting as treatment resistant polymyositis. AB - The broad spectrum and often incomplete presentation of polymyositis frequently confound its distinction from other myopathies. In 18 months of screening for myophosphorylase in all muscle biopsy specimens at our institution, 2 cases of McArdle's disease were discovered in patients previously thought to have refractory PM. Given the important treatment implications of this distinction, all patients with "refractory PM" in whom the diagnosis has not been firmly established should be screened for myophosphorylase deficiency. PMID- 2625692 TI - Cyclophosphamide treatment of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in polymyositis/dermatomyositis. AB - Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis is a serious complication of inflammatory muscle disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We describe 3 consecutive cases complicating dermatomyositis (1 case, anti-Jo-1 antibody negative) and polymyositis (2 cases, anti-Jo-1 antibody positive) in which cyclophosphamide was added to prednisone therapy with favorable outcomes. PMID- 2625693 TI - Adult Still's disease in only one of identical twins. AB - This report describes the occurrence of adult Still's disease in only one of a pair of identical twins after 8 years of followup. This suggests that environmental factors may be important in the development of this rare syndrome in at least some patients. PMID- 2625694 TI - Sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis or pustulotic arthroosteitis. AB - We describe a 68-year-old woman who had suffered pain, swelling, heat, and redness in the region of both clavicles for the last 2 years. Her erythrocyte sedimentation rate was markedly elevated; tests for rheumatoid factor were negative. At surgical exploration, ankylosis of the sternoclavicular joints, especially on the left side, was found. Biopsy revealed chronic nonspecific inflammation with new bone formation, consistent with the diagnosis of sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis or pustulotic arthroosteitis. PMID- 2625695 TI - Reactive arthritis after infection with Salmonella Singapore. PMID- 2625696 TI - Salmonella septic arthritis: additional 2 cases with quinolone treatment. PMID- 2625697 TI - Joint hypermobility in patients with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. PMID- 2625698 TI - Behcet's disease and dental treatment. PMID- 2625699 TI - Klinefelter's syndrome and scleroderma. PMID- 2625700 TI - Needlestick injury in the OR: facts and prevention. AB - Recapping is the most common cause of preventable needlestick injury. Needlestick injury can be prevented by proper handling techniques. Needlestick injury can transmit the hepatitis virus to the victim. Double-gloving protects against fluid contamination but does not add any more protection against needlesticks than does a single glove. PMID- 2625701 TI - Corneal topography and photokeratoscopy. AB - A keratometer measures the radius of curvature of the two principal meridians that correspond to the steepest and flattest meridians, by projecting an illuminated circle onto the corneal surface from a fixed distance. A photokeratoscope allows a permanent record to be made and further evaluated. It takes a picture primarily of the intermediate zone of the cornea. By measuring the distance between reflected rings and comparing them to the actual distance between the rings on the instrument, the curvature of the cornea can be ascertained at any given point. PMID- 2625702 TI - Artifacts in fundus photographs. AB - Many artifacts can be found in fundus photography and may be caused by the technician, patient, or camera. Artifacts caused by mechanical problems in the camera or from the patient's media or pupil variations are invisible until the film is developed. Most artifacts, however, can be seen in the viewfinder during the photographic session and can be corrected. When artifactual problems occur, they should be documented in the patient's record, especially if they degrade the quality of the photograph. PMID- 2625703 TI - Operation Eyesight Universal assists Third World ophthalmic teams. AB - Operation Eyesight Universal develops, encourages, and funds sight restoration and blindness prevention programs in the developing world. Many of the projects, which are staffed by local teams, include an educational component whereby mothers and children are taught about hygiene, general health-care, and nutrition in addition to eye care. OEU is working with the World Health Organization and other nongovernmental organizations in efforts to control onchocerciasis by working toward the distribution of the drug ivermectin. PMID- 2625704 TI - Perspective on contact lenses. Problem solving with fluoropolymers. PMID- 2625705 TI - Effect of D-galactosamine on blood clearance of 99mTc-phytate in dogs. AB - The effect of D-galactosamine (GalN) on the blood clearance of 99mTc-phytate (99mTc-P) in dogs was examined, and the blood clearance test of 99mTc-P was compared with the cases of the serum transaminase and bilirubin test. Serum transaminase and bilirubin levels in dogs increased dose-dependently after GalN administration, and the degree of increase in these parameters was much higher than the cases in rats. The disappearance rate of 99mTc-P from blood in dogs decreased with the increase in dose of GalN and with the passage of time after the GalN administration. Changes of the blood clearance of 99mTc-P after GalN treatment in dogs may be influenced by the disorder in the hepatocytes. The blood clearance test of 99mTc-P in dogs showed a sensitive reaction for the acute hepatic dysfunction induced by GalN equally to the serum transaminase and bilirubin test. PMID- 2625706 TI - Subacute toxicity of (-)15-deoxyspergualin in BALB/c mice. I. Hematological study. AB - (-)15-Deoxyspergualin (DSP), a bacterial metabolite obtained from Bacillus laterosporus, was shown to effectively suppress autoantibody production in mice and alloimmune reaction in mice and rats. Its potential toxicity and safety margin in BALB/c mice were studied by administering the drug, 0.5-5.0 mg/kg body weight, s.c., 6 days/week for 3 months. The animals were weighted every two weeks, and their blood was drawn for hematological and liver function studies. Control animals showed a gradual increase in body weight from 17.8 +/- 1.1 g (SD) to 20.2 +/- 3.2 g during the 3 months of treatment. The body weight of 0.5 mg- and 2.5 mg-DSP group was not significantly different from that of the control group. In contrast, 5.0 mg-DSP group of animals showed significant decrease in their weight compared with the control after 5 weeks of treatment (P less than 0.01). They were then sacrificed. WBC in 0.5 mg-, 2.5 mg- and 5.0 mg-DSP groups were significantly lower compared with the control after 3 months of treatment. On the other hand, only 5.0 mg-DSP group showed significantly lower level in their RBC, Hb and Hct values (P less than 0.05). In contrast, platelet counts in 2.5 mg- and 5.0 mg-DSP group significantly increased. No manifest effect due to DSP on differential count of leukocytes was observed, although on day 92, a significant difference was shown in the stab cells of the 0.5 mg-DSP group and in the eosinophils in the 2.5 mg-DSP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625707 TI - Subacute toxicity of (-)15-deoxyspergualin in BALB/c mice. II. Histopathological study. AB - Following the preceding report on hematological aspects in subacute toxicity of ( )15-deoxyspergualin (DSP), the present report dealt with the histopathological changes produced by DSP, 0.5-5.0 mg/kg, given to BALB/c mice for three months. At sacrifice, various internal organs such as heart, lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys, were taken, and their wet weights immediately measured. HE- or PAS stained sections were histopathologically studied under light microscope. Additionally, frozen sections of the spleen were prepared to evaluate the effect of DSP on the lymphocyte surface markers like thy 1 and B220 by avidin-biotin complex (ABC) technique. Although the mean weights of lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys in the 0.5 mg- and 2.5 mg-DSP groups were not significantly different from those in the control animals, the weights of the heart, lungs, liver and spleen in the 5 mg-DSP group were significantly lower. Histopathological studies by light microscopy revealed no abnormalities in the heart, lungs, liver or kidneys taken from the mice given 0.5-5.0 mg/kg DSP. In contrast, significant changes were observed in the spleen and bone marrow of the 5.0 mg group of mice. Likewise, in the intestine of the 0.5-5.0 mg groups dose-dependent lesions, such as degeneration or disappearance of the mucosal epithelium, infiltration by inflammatory cells, and pseudo-membrane formation, was observed. By ABC technique, preferential decrease of B cells was seen in the splenic corpuscles of the DSP-treated mice. Histopathological changes due to DSP predominantly seen in the lymphoid and/or hematopoietic organs may be directly related to the immunosuppressive potency inherent to this drug.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625708 TI - Penicillin G-induced cutaneous anaphylaxis in the guinea pig. AB - Allergic cutaneous responses were induced by intradermal injection of penicillin G (PCG) and PCG-bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugates onto the back of guinea pig actively immunized with PCG potassium (25 mg/animal) incorporated in Freund's complete adjuvant. The PCG-induced response was characterized macroscopically by erythema and edema with a maximum level at 24 hrs after elicitation and microscopically by the infiltration with basophils, macrophages and lymphocytes following with neutrophils. In addition, intensity of macrophage-infiltration shared a similar time course change with those of erythema and edema. These suggest that this response is associated to a delayed type hypersensitivity of Jones-Mote type. On the other hand, in the PCG-BSA-induced response the edema with erythema at the early phase was a noticeable observation and this response disappeared within 12 hrs, although the erythema continued by 24 hrs. Microscopically, the degranulation of mast cells and severe infiltration with neutrophils in the early phase and the infiltration of eosinophils in the late phase accompanying the infiltration with monocytes, basophils and lymphocytes were characteristic findings, which suggest that PCG-BSA response is a similar hypersensitivity to an atopic dermatitis. As mentioned above, we confirmed two types of allergic cutaneous responses in the guinea pig immunized with PCG. PMID- 2625709 TI - Effects of postnatal low-levels of exposure to styrene on behavior and development in rats. AB - Three groups of rats were exposed by inhalation to either clean air (control group) or styrene monomer at 25 and 50 ppm (styrene-exposed groups) for 7 h/day, 6 day/week, from 1 to 48 days of age. Compared to control group, Styrene-exposed groups showed significant delay in the following developmental indices: body weight gain, appearance of pinna detachment and incisor eruption. With respect to open-field activity, the styrene groups indicated longer latency to enter the field, less number of squares crossed and fewer rearings than those of controls. In the avoidance behavior aspect, the styrene groups attained less achievement level in avoidance rates than that of the control group. Dose-related trends were found between the two exposed groups in body weight increment, exploratory and avoidance behavior. Sex differences were seen on these factors also. These results suggest that at postnatal exposure of low-levels to styrene affects behavior and development in rats. PMID- 2625710 TI - The 16th annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Toxicological Sciences. June 13-14, 1989, Yokohama. Proceedings. PMID- 2625711 TI - Enterotoxin effect on hepatocytes in experimental intestinal obstruction in the rat. AB - Thirty-two Wistar rats were studied for liver injury caused by enterotoxemia due to experimental intestinal obstruction. In the experimental group, enterotoxin titers were measured 1.83 +/- 0.38, 2.40 +/- 0.39, 10.80 +/- 2.97 (M +/- SE) in the group of the duration of intestional obstruction for 2-, 4-, and 7-day respectively. The distribution of E. coli endotoxin in the liver cell was started from Zone 3 and then extended into Zone 1 with prolonged obstruction. The experimental group which experienced the longest period of obstruction also exhibited elevated serum GPT and GOT levels. The severity of damage increased with time of obstruction. The disturbance of liver cells in enterotoxemia induced by intestional obstruction was clear and needed our attention in the management of intestional obstruction from this animal model. PMID- 2625712 TI - The superiority of blood over electrolyte cardioplegia in prevention of supraventricular arrhythmias and conduction disturbances following open heart surgery. AB - A total of 111 patients underwent open heart surgery during which myocardial preservation was provided by systemic hypothermia, topical cardiac cooling and cardioplegic solution (blood cardioplegia or electrolyte cardioplegia). The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of the different types of cardioplegia correlated with the occurrence of postoperative supraventricular arrhythmias and conduction disturbances. These patients were retrospectively divided into two groups according to the difference in the infused cardioplegic solutions. The group receiving blood cardioplegia (BCP) comprised 69 patients and the group receiving electrolyte cardioplegia (ECP) had 42 patients. There were a longer ischemic time and bypass time in the BCP group as compared with those of the ECP group (68.4 +/- 36.1 minutes v.s. 50.7 +/- 37.0 minutes, p less than 0.01; 93.7 +/- 48.9 minutes v.s. 65.5 +/- 39.1 minutes, p less than 0.005). However, the result shows a significantly lower incidence of supraventricular arrhythmias and conduction disturbances in the BCP group (5.8%) as compared with the ECP group (21.4%; p = 0.013). There was no significant difference in incidence of supraventricular arrhythmias and conduction disturbances between the two groups when the ischemic time was less than 60 minutes (6.7% v.s. 17.2%, p greater than 0.05). On the other hand, there was a significant difference between the two groups when the ischemic time was a significant difference between the two groups when the ischemic time was longer than 60 minutes (5.1% v.s. 30.8%, p = 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625713 TI - Diagnostic value of ferritin measurements in patients with pleural effusions. AB - The diagnostic value of ferritin measurements has been evaluated in 59 patients with pleural effusions (PE). The Mean(+/- standard error [SE]) PE-ferritin level was 1913 +/- 720 ng/ml in 10 patients with nonmalignant nontuberculous (nonTB) exudates (Group I), 594 +/- 110 ng/ml in 14 patients with TB effusions (Group II), 1286 +/- 194 ng/ml in 28 patients with malignant exudates (Group III), and 280 +/- 60 ng/ml in 7 patients with transudates (Group IV). Significant difference was found between Group II and Group III (p less than 0.05). The mean (+/- SE) ratio of PE/serum (PE/S) ferritin in Groups I, II, III, and IV was 3.5 +/- 1.1, 10.5 +/- 5.1, 4.9 +/- 1.0, and 2.0 +/- 0.7, respectively, and it showed no significant difference among Groups I, II, and III. There were good correlations between PE-ferritin and PE-LDH or S-ferritin, but no correlation between PE-ferritin and PE-protein. PE-ferritin revealed a considerable overlap among the exudative groups, and was of no value in the differentiation between malignant and nonmalignant (Group I + II) exudates. In the discrimination between exudates and transudates, the diagnostic accuracy (86%) of PE-ferritin was inferior to those (all 98%) of PE-protein, PE-LDH, PE/S protein ratio, and PE/S LDH ratio. Using PE-ferritin greater than or equal to 500 ng/ml in distinguishing malignant exudates from TB effusions, the sensitivity was 79%, specificity 57% and accuracy 71%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625714 TI - 13C-NMR assignments of some insect molting hormones. AB - 13C-NMR assignments of some insect molting hormones including ecdysone, 20 hydroxyecdysterone, ponasterone A and inokosterone, were made by using ecdysone as the model compound, whose carbon chemical shifts were assigned via NMR techniques including nOe and COSY, hetero-COSY and hetero-long range-COSY. PMID- 2625715 TI - [Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in head injury patients]. AB - This study was designed to evaluate the alterations in brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) in patients with head injuries. BAEPs were recorded of twenty five normal subjects to serve as control group. Fifty-four patients with head injuries were evaluate prospectively by neurological check-ups, the Glasgow coma rating scale, brain CT scans, as well as BAEPs. Among them, twenty-two patients accepted a follow-up evaluation one month after the first study. In the acute stage, though the significant prolongation of peak latency occurred only in the right peak III as compared with the control group, the rate of presence decreased significantly in most of the peak waves. There were three main types of abnormality: isoelectric BAEP (13.0%), alterations in peak I (29.6%) and in interpeak latencies (13.0%). The incidence of abnormal BAEPs was 48.2% of 54 patients. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether their coma scale was above/equal to or below 9. No significant difference was shown in the rate of appearance of wave peaks and the average latency of each peak wave. This suggests BAEPs displayed a function of the auditory pathway only rather than a reticular formation in the brainstem. Concerning the group with brain stem abnormality as shown in CT scan, there was significant prolongation in most peak and interpeak latencies, and the rate of presence of each peak was significantly lower compared with the non-brainstem-abnormality group. Therefore, the alteration in BAEPs in head injuries coincide with the presence of abnormal brainstem signs in the CT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625716 TI - [Pharmacocavernosography: a worth-while examination in the evaluation of venogenic impotence]. AB - From November 1988 till July 1989, a total of 78 patients consulted our OPD with a chief complaint of impotence. These patients underwent evaluation with pharmacocavernosography alone, or combined with color duplex sonography (Acuon 128). Sixty-three (80.8%) patients were found to have abnormal venous drainage which, in one case, was associated with peyronie's disease. Among these patients, the sites for the contrast medium in the venous drainage system from the penis were determined as follows: the preprostatic plexus for 53 (67.9%) patients, the proximal (cavernosal or crural) vein for 50 (64.1%) patients; the internal pudendal vein for 46 (58.9%) patients; the deep dorsal vein for 31 (39.7%) patients; the glans of the penis for 8 (10.3%) patients; the external pudendal vein for 8 (10.3%) patients and the corpus spongiosum for 3 (3.8%) patients. So the venous ligation for venogenic impotence had to include all these visible veins, especially the proximal vein. Among the 52 patients who once had received duplex scanning, 43 (82.7%) patients had abnormal venous drainage. So the duplex sonography did not seem to influence the population of venous leakage and 12 patients exhibited moderate to severe degree of arteriogenic insufficiency. Pharmacocavernosography in these patients was less valuable. No severe complications, such as priapism, were found. We found pharmacocavernosography to be a simple, practical and useful tool for evaluating patients suspected to have venogenic impotence. It can determine the sites of venous leakage (the key information for planning venous ligation) and provides good morphological information in the study of cavernous bodies. But it was not reliable in the evaluation of the severity of venous leakage. PMID- 2625717 TI - Surgical treatment of medial femoral torsion--a case report. AB - Medial femoral torsion is not rarely problem seen in orthopaedic clinics. Patients are always bilaterally involved. Most cases walk normally or with a slight toe-in gait. These need no further treatment. However, it has been suggested that severe cases may have sequelae in the hip or lower leg. For these cases, surgical treatment has been considered. The age of surgical treatment was commonly accepted as 8 years old. We will present a case of bilateral medial torsional deformity with severe toe-in gait of the right leg. Although the patient was only 6 years old, to resolve his walking problem and social withdrawal, derotational osteotomy was performed in the subtrochanteric area. This resulted in prompt functional recovery. This case and its controversies are discussed. PMID- 2625718 TI - [Effect of press stimulation applied to back skin on gastric emptying and serum gastrin response to solid food]. AB - We studied the effect of press stimulation applied to the back skin on gastric emptying and serum gastrin response to solid food in healthy subjects. Although gastric emptying and serum gastrin response were significantly suppressed by press stimulation of T6-9 dermatomes corresponding to the spinal levels which sympathetic outflow to the stomach arise, they were not affected by press stimulation of T10-L1 dermatomes. Plasma levels of ACTH, epinephrine and norepinephrine, which usually increase by stresses acting on the brain, did not change by press stimulation of T6-10 dermatomes. These results suggest that press stimulation applied to the back skin of T6-9 dermatomes suppress gastric emptying and gastrin response to solid food mainly through the spinal cord. PMID- 2625719 TI - [Immunochemical properties and immunohistological localization of human liver glutathione S-transferase isozymes]. AB - The products of three human glutathione S-transferase (GST) loci (GST1, GST2 and GST3) were purified and their immunochemical properties as well as immunohistological localization in liver were studied. Three group of isozymes were different in molecular weight, substrate specificities and antigenicity. Two homodimers (type 1 and type 2) of GST1 which shows genetic polymorphism, were similar in immunochemical properties other than isoelectric point. Inactivity of GST1 0 was due to impaired protein synthesis. Immunohistologically, GST1 isozyme was homogeneously stained in cytoplasm of hepatocytes throught the lobule of liver showing GST1 1, GST1 2 and GST1 2-1 phenotypes. On the other hand, GST2 isozyme was stained in the cytoplasm as well as the nucleus of hepatocytes throughout the hepatic lobule in all cases. GST3 isozyme was strongly stained in biliary epithelium. These results indicate that the human liver GSTs are composed of three immunochemically distinct isozymes, which exhibit significant difference in inter-individual, specific cellular and organellar distribution. PMID- 2625720 TI - [The influence of dose of transfusion and component of blood on the incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis]. AB - Two thousand five hundred ninety-six consecutive patients who received blood transfusion for the first time within one week and had no liver dysfunction before transfusion had been selected from 8637 patients who received blood transfusion at the hospital between 1982 and 1987. The influence of dose, components of transfused blood and sex, age of recipients on the incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis was investigated. The rate of development of hepatitis depended on the dose of transfusion, not on sex and age of recipients. The rate of development of hepatitis raised as number of transfused blood increased without limiting point to 100%. The carrier rate of healthy population of non-A, non-B hepatitis virus was estimated 1.39%. Stored blood, concentrated red blood cell and fresh blood are high risk components and fresh frozen plasma was low risk component. PMID- 2625721 TI - [Evaluation of the relationship between esophageal varices and azygos vein using percutaneous transhepatic cine-portography]. AB - To evaluate the relationship between esophageal varices and the azygos vein- which is generally considered to drain the major part of the esophageal variceal blood--we examined 36 patients with portal hypertension using percutaneous transhepatic cine-portography. The patients were classified into three groups (azygos, cervical and combined) according to the amount of blood to be considered drained by the azygos vein. Eighteen patients (50%) fell into the azygos type group, five (14%) into the cervical, and 13 (36%) into the combined. Highly developed esophageal varices were recognized endoscopically in all patients in the combined and cervical type groups while some of the patients in the azygos type group had less well developed varices. In the azygos type group, there was a tendency for the varices to be increasingly severe the higher the part of the azygos vein they drained into. Because it helps us to fully comprehend the significance of the azygos venous blood flow and the occasionally uncertain effect of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for esophageal varices, it is important to evaluate the drainage route of esophageal varices in vivo and in detail. Percutaneous transhepatic cine-portography is the useful method for this purpose as it enables us to visualize even the most minute blood stream. PMID- 2625722 TI - [Studies of microtubule associated proteins in the liver--isolation of a 210 kDa microtubule associated protein from rabbit liver]. AB - The biochemical characteristics and cellular localization of microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) were studied using rabbit liver. The MAPs fraction, isolated from rabbit liver crude extract by a modification of Vallee's method, consisted of several proteins, as identified by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The most prominent of these was a 210 kDa protein (rabbit 210 kDa MAP). The molecular weight of rabbit 210 kDa MAP was distinct from that of the major brain MAPs, MAP1, MAP2 and Tau, isolated from rabbit brain crude extract by same method. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to this rabbit 210 kDa MAP were raised. Using immunoblotting method, we confirmed that anti-rabbit 210 kDa MAP mAb reacted to 210 kDa protein from rabbit liver excrude, while this mAb also reacted to 210 kDa protein from rabbit brain excrude. Immunofluorescent staining using fixed rabbit liver was carried out using these mAb. In frozen sections of the rabbit liver, the antigen related to mAb 7B10 was localised in the hepatic cells and epithelial cells of the bile duct but not in the smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. PMID- 2625723 TI - [Studies on cholangiographic and endoscopic findings of primary intrahepatic cholesterol stones]. AB - Cholangiographic investigations in 16 patients with primary intrahepatic cholesterol stones yielded some characteristic findings as follows. 1. Several numbers of stones were filled within locally dilated portion of the subsegmental or more peripheral intrahepatic bile duct branches, with no or minimal dilatation of the more peripheral portion and no stenosis-like lesions of the more hilar portion. 2. The lesion was single or multiple scattered in the liver and intrahepatic cholangiogram excluding involved segments was almost normal. 3. Although extrahepatic bile duct and/or gallbladder stones were often associated, the normal gallbladder, cystic duct and papillary portion and slightly dilated common bile duct were demonstrated. These cholangiographic findings were compatible with the endoscopic findings that inflammatory changes of the bile duct were rarely observed. According to above mentioned findings, it is suggested that the etiology of this disease differs from intrahepatic stones of calcium bilirubinate and dissolution therapy with bile acid may be available. PMID- 2625724 TI - [Cholecystolithotripsy using extracorporeal shock waves]. AB - Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was first applied for calculi of the bile duct system in 1985. Recent improvement of the crushing apparatus has enabled us to crush the biliary calculus more accurately than before, and moreover, to conduct the procedure without anesthesia, and to treat easily. We performed ESWL in 30 cases of calculus in the cholecyst using MPL-9000 (Dornier Co., Ltd.) which is said to be a crushing device of a new generation. Here, the study is presented. The results of crushing effect demonstrate the efficacy in 26 of 30 cases (87%), and disappearance rate in 18 cases (60%) at present after an average follow-up period of 4.4 months. The disappearance cases were mainly those with a single calculus (75% disappearance rate) or pure cholesterol calculus (100%). Concerning the complications, right upper abdominal pain which was expected to accompany excretion of the crunched fragments was recognized in 10 cases (33%), it was not seen in cases in which laparotomy or endoscopic papillotomy was performed. PMID- 2625725 TI - [A case of adult jejuno-jejunal intussusception with leiomyosarcoma diagnosed by computed tomography]. PMID- 2625726 TI - [A case of acute pancreatitis due to thinner inhalation]. PMID- 2625727 TI - [Detection frequency of Campylobacter pylori at the white exudate of gastric ulcers]. PMID- 2625729 TI - [Proceedings of the 62d annual meeting of the Japan Association of Industrial Health. Aomori, 27-30 April 1989. Abstracts]. PMID- 2625728 TI - [Studies on rat infectious pancreatitis models by subcapsular injection of dog's bile and appendix contents]. PMID- 2625730 TI - [Some aspects of the ABH blood group from the standpoint of personal identification]. AB - 1. Preparation of red cell or saliva specific ABH antibodies To prepare agglutinins specific for red cell (anti-Hr, -Ar and -Br) or for saliva (anti-Hs, As and -Bs), many animals were immunized with red cell or saliva. Then antisera were alternately absorbed with saliva or red cell. By these procedures, specific anti-Hr, -Ar, -Hs, -As and -Hs were prepared. Specificity of antisera to saliva was confirmed by latex agglutination which was adsorbed with saliva. 2. Quantitation of red cell or saliva specific antigen Quantitative analyses of Hs, As and Bs in saliva were performed by agglutination inhibition test, indicating that considerable individual difference in quantity of these antigens was observed. However, the difference was proved not to be genetically controlled. On the other hand, quantity of Hr or Ar antigens were distributed similarly among H, A, B and AB groups, or between A and AB groups, respectively. 3. Localization of Hr and Hs antigen in the salivary glands Distribution of the antigen was examined by ABC technique. Hs antigen was mainly located in the serous gland and slightly in the mucous gland and ductus. However, Hr was observed mainly in red cell and slightly in the ductus. H antigen detected with U. europaeus anti-H was distributed in all the glands. 4. Heterogeneity of Ulex europaeus anti-H (UE) UE is known to consist of two isolectins (UE-1 and UE-2) with different sugar specificity. Rabbit antiserum to UE-1 or UE-2 was prepared.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625731 TI - [Problems regarding the examination in forensic medicine]. AB - Problems encountered regarding the examination in forensic pathology are variable, even if the field of interest in limited to trauma alone. The most important problem appears to be the establishment of a causal relationship between the trauma and the death of the victim. From the materials I have contributed concerning examinations in forensic medicine, the problems inherent in the examination of the victim of traumatic shock may be introduced. The results from animal studies, which have been attempted to provide an experimental background to support the observations, are also discussed. My personal opinions on several trial cases in which there was a disagreement of opinion regarding the examination results will also be expressed. 1. Distinguishing death due to traumatic shock from death due to disease In the "Yacht school" incident, children with emotional disturbances and youths with a history of misconduct were treated with training which included physical punishment. Autopsy findings were compared between a 13-year old boy who was concluded to have died of traumatic shock from numerous beatings and a 21-year old youth who died of hemorrhagic pneumonia. In my opinion, a causative role of injury in the death was found in both cases. 2. Shock due to tourniquet This autopsy case concerns a 23-year-old male who entered a yoga training center, was tightly bound with a rope and died on the 8th day. Histological examination revealed thrombus formation in the small blood vessels and leukocyte agglutination within the blood vessels of the alveolar wall, suggesting DIC. While these findings were thought to be almost indistinguishable from those found in traumatic shock, the background conditions, including hunger, dehydration and hypothermia cannot be neglected in the evaluation. 3. Child abuse In one incident, a mother and her lover beat a 25 month old girl every day until her death. The original examination concluded that the cause of death was traumatic shock due to multiple trauma over the entire body caused by both adults. A second examination concluded that the cause of death was delayed suffocation due to binding of the chest and compression against a mattress. Based on an overall evaluation of the circumstances at the time of detection (including photographic evidence) as well as the contents of the statement made by the lover, I inferred that the head-down hanging of the child in the bathtub by the lover was directly related to the cause of death. In my opinion, the liability of the two adults in the crime was not the same.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2625732 TI - [Forensic and medical insurance aspects of medically unexpected sudden death]. PMID- 2625733 TI - Estimation of pubic age among Chinese Han people by means of multiple stepwise progressive analysis. AB - This paper sets up an equation for estimating male and female ages separately by means of a computer with mathematical model of multiple stepwise progressive regression on data of 454 pairs of pubes of Chinese Han people in Northeast China. The equation upgrades a standardization of pubic age estimation to quantification. The correlation coefficient of the equation is 0.9906-0.9912; S.D. is 1.56-1.97; variance analysis F greater than 001 and p less than 0.01. By a blindfold test of 43 pairs of pubic bones with birthdate, the rate of concordance is 76-82% for +/- S.D. and 92-96% for +/- 2S.D. PMID- 2625734 TI - Analysis of DNA from tooth and application to forensic dental medicine. AB - The DNA extracted from teeth was examined to find out the usefulness in forensic dental medicine. Samples of tooth-derived DNA were digested with a restriction enzyme, electrophosed through agarose gel and subjected to Southern blot hybridization, using a 32P-labeled minisatellite DNA probe "Myo" and a Y chromosome-specific DNA probe. The results indicate that DNA extracted from dental pulp is useful for identification of individuals, paternity testing, and sex determination. PMID- 2625735 TI - Heterogeneity of anti-B monoclonal antibodies in reactivity to erythrocytes and saliva samples from various B secretor individuals. AB - In order to study the heterogeneity of anti-B monoclonal antibodies under the same conditions, twelve different types were produced from a mouse immunized with human blood group B erythrocytes, all of which were IgM antibodies that exhibited strong and specific agglutination activity for normal blood group B erythrocytes. However, analysis of the agglutination titer for blood group B2, B3, and rabbit erythrocytes revealed some qualitative differences among these antibodies. These differences were further clarified by comparing the inhibition pattern of the monoclonal antibody with saliva from B individuals, with that of ordinary human antiserum to show remarkable differences among individuals. PMID- 2625736 TI - [Studies on initiation and progression of focal glomerular sclerosis in rats]. AB - In order to clarify the mechanisms of the initiation and progression of focal glomerular sclerosis (FGS), we investigated changes in the mesangial function or qualitative changes in the extracellular matrix of mesangium in puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced FGS in rats. At first, we investigated that the relationship between the progression of FGS and mesangial function. In order to evaluate the mesangial function, rats received the i.v. injection of colloidal carbon (C. C.) (20 or 30 mg/100 g). Results obtained from this experiment suggest that the progression of glomerular sclerosis may be related to changes in mesangial function. Furthermore, results suggest that the abnormality of the extracellular matrix may lead to changes in mesangial function and the progression of glomerular sclerosis. Therefore, in the next experiment, the proteoglycans (PGs), one of the components of extracellular matrix, were analyzed by the column chromatography to clarify qualitative changes in the PGs such as the molecular size and charge density. Results obtained from this experiment indicate that the sclerotic glomeruli synthesize the PGs with different molecular size and charge density from normal glomeruli. It is concluded from these experiments that the abnormality of the mesangial function and the synthesis of PGs, the components of the extracellular matrix, may lead to the progression of FGS. Namely, the qualitatively altered PGs may cause abnormal interactions with other components of matrix, which lead to changes in mesangial function, death of mesangial cell and the progression of FGS. PMID- 2625737 TI - [Aberrant expression of major histocompatibility complex class II. (HLA-DR/DQ) antigens and proliferative nuclear antigen. (Ki-67) in renal tubular epithelial cells]. AB - In an attempt to clarify the participations of cellular immunity in the development of tubulo-interstitial lesions, aberrant expressions of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens and Ki-67 nuclear antigen on the renal tubular epithelial cells were studied. Ki-67 antigen was known to appear in all phases of cell cycle except for Go. Nine normal kidney specimens (4 males and 5 females) and 117 kidney specimens obtained from patients with kidney diseases (54 males and 63 females) were examined with the indirect immunofluorescence technique using murine monoclonal antibodies against HLA-DR (lal), HLA-DQ (Leu10) and Ki-67 nuclear antigen. Patients included 100 with glomerular diseases, and 16 with tubulo-interstitial diseases consisting of 4 acute tubular necrosis (ATN), 7 acute tubulo-interstitial nephritis (AIN), one renal allograft rejection and 4 sarcoidosis. In normal kidney, HLA-DR was solely noted in only two specimens (22.2%) at the basal portion of proximal tubular epithelial cells. In tubulo-interstitial diseases 11 (68.8%) out of 16 patients showed diffuse and intense expressions of HLA-DR concomitant with HLA-DQ in 6 of 13 (42.9%), and 11 of 13 (84.6%) were positive for Ki-67 nuclear antigen. Especially, in AIN and allograft rejection, intense expression of HLA-DR, DQ and Ki-67 nuclear antigen were observed in 100%, 86%, 100%, respectively. In ATN 3(75%) were positive for HLA-DR and Ki-67, but not for HLA-DQ. In contrast, only 12(15.6%). 2(2.6%) and 2(4.8%) of primary glomerular disease were weakly positive for HLA-DR, DQ and Ki-67 nuclear antigen, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625738 TI - [Immunoelectron microscopic observation of membranous nephropathy in children using protein A-gold complex method]. AB - The ultrastructural localization of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), complement component (C3c), or fibrinogen-related antigen (FRA) was investigated on 5 biopsy samples from 5 children with idiopathic MN or lupus nephritis using protein A gold (PAG) complex method. The immunoreactivity of IgG was essentially confined to the mesangial and subepithelial electron-dense deposit (EDD) in all of 5 children, and more intense staining of IgG was observed in 3 children with stage II of MN than those with stage I and stage III of MN. Double immunocytochemical staining showed the same distribution of both IgG and IgM or both IgG and FRA in subepithelial EDD in 2 of 5 children. These findings suggest that IgG deposits are associated with the formation of subepithelial EDD in MN, and raise the possibility that IgM and FRA deposits may result from entrapment and/or immunological reaction. PMID- 2625739 TI - [A study on hemolysis in hemodialysis patients]. AB - In order to investigate the pathogenesis of hemolysis in chronic renal failure, red cell life span and hemolysis starting point (HSP) by coil planet centrifuge method were studied in 32 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 16 healthy subjects. Mean red cell life span was 22.0 days before recombinant human erythropoietin (r HuEPO) therapy, and prolonged up to 28.1 days after r-HuEPO therapy. Mean HSP in HD patients was significantly elevated than healthy subjects. Mean HSP was 106.7 mOsm before r-HuEPO therapy, and improved to 101.0 mOsm after r-HuEPO therapy. HSP improved from 106.8 mOsm to 100.8 following the correction of bicarbonate level with HD. HSP was negatively correlated to bicarbonate level pre- and post-r HuEPO therapy, but HSP was not correlated to BUN, serum creatinine, hydrogen ion, anion gap and amount of body water removal during HD. When blood PH in 18 HD patients was adjusted by 7% NaHCO3 from 7.21 to 7.40, HSP improved to normal range in all. These data suggested that osmotic fragility was normal in younger erythrocyte in HD patients, and a decrease of plasma bicarbonate level resulted in an increase of hemolysis. PMID- 2625740 TI - [Study of serum level of antithrombin-III antigen, antithrombin activity, and its ratio of AT-III-heparin complex formation in maintenance hemodialysis patients]. AB - The plasma level of Antithrombin-III (AT-III) antigen, antithrombin activity and the ratio of AT-III-heparin complex formation have been studied in 20 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis on regular hemodialysis at two occasions with 2 year interval (in 1986 and 1988), and studied as to each variation in each plasma levels, and compared with the period of length of hemodialysis-history of individual cases. A significant decrease was found not only in plasma level of AT III antigen (25.7 +/- 4.1 mg/dl to 23.4 +/- 3.9 mg/dl), but also in antithrombin activity (90.8 +/- 11.8% to 85.2 +/- 16.8%). Moreover and ratio of AT-III-heparin complex formation was significantly reduced during two years, too (50.7 +/- 3.0% to 53.0 +/- 1.5%). Similarly, a significant negative correlation could be found on the comparison between the duration of hemodialysis and each plasma levels of AT-III antigen (r = -0.27), antithrombin activity (r = -0.33), and as well as ratio of AT-III-heparin complex formation (r = -0.34). Therefore, it was interestingly suggested the possibility that prolonged hemodialysis treatment induced a functional loss of AT-III, especially in a capacity to form a AT-III heparin complex due to partial loss of the affinity for heparin. PMID- 2625741 TI - [A renal biopsy study in pre-eclampsia: clinical-pathological correlations in 20 cases]. AB - Twenty cases of pre-eclamptic toxemia were examined clinicopathologically. Twelve primipara and 6 multipara underwent renal biopsy at 1-24 (3.5 +/- 5.4, mean +/- SD) weeks after delivery. Specimens were examined by light and electron microscopy and immunofluorescence. Their mean blood pressure at delivery was 177.0 +/- 19.4/116.3 +/- 10.2 mmHg, proteinuria was 9.5 +/- 8.4 g/day. Follow-up period was 23.0 +/- 19.3 months after delivery. The severity of double contour of the glomerular basement membrane and mesangial interposition were correlated with the amount of proteinuria at biopsy (r = 0.40, p less than 0.05, r = 0.51, p less than 0.05, respectively). Proteinuria disappeared in all cases after delivery. The length of the hypertensive period after delivery correlated with the severity of glomerular lesions (r = 0.63, p less than 0.05), but did not correlated with the severity of vascular lesions. All patients became normotensive within three months after delivery. No patients showed microhematuria during pregnancy or after delivery. PMID- 2625742 TI - [Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody-mediated glomerulonephritis remarkably improved by pulse therapy with methylprednisolone, plasmapheresis and continuous heparin infusion]. AB - The patient, a 28 year-old-man, was admitted to a hospital because of general fatigue and fever. He was pointed out renal dysfunction and was transferred to Nagasaki University Hospital. The laboratory data on admission showed moderate azotemia (BUN 43 mg/dl, Cr 5.4 mg/dl). A percutaneous renal biopsy on admission revealed a diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis. A direct immunofluorescence of renal biopsy showed a linear pattern for IgG along the glomerular basement membrane. Radioimmunoassay of his serum for circulating anti-GBM antibody was strongly positive. Aggressive treatment with pulse therapy (methylprednisolone), plasmapheresis, and continuous heparin infusion was performed. He had markedly recovered from renal failure and escaped hemodialysis. The patient is making satisfactory process after 3 years. PMID- 2625743 TI - [Cholesterol atheroembolic renal failure after arteriography. Report of a case diagnosed by renal biopsy]. AB - A case of atheroembolic renal failure diagnosed by renal biopsy was presented. A 69-year-old man was referred because of progressive renal failure two months after major angiography for occlusive arterial disease of lower limbs. The physical examination on admission revealed an uncontrollable hypertension. The laboratory findings showed elevated serum creatinine (7.5 mg/dl) and eosinophilia (1022/mm3) with normal urinalysis findings. Renal biopsy disclosed a occlusive lesion of the arcuate artery which contained cholesterol clefts and foam cells, and showed ischemic renal parenchymal changes. These findings were compatible with cholesterol atheroembolic renal disease. In spite of the aggressive medical treatment, renal function had deteriorated progressively and the patient has been on regular hemodialysis. Atheroembolic renal failure after arteriography have been reported recently, but the case diagnosed by renal biopsy has been rare. Since there is no therapeutic way to reverse this type of renal failure, strict selection of patients for the angiographic examination and use of flexible catheter might be mandatory. Subacute course of renal failure after angiography and eosinophilia seem to be the important diagnostic clues for this disorder. PMID- 2625744 TI - [A case of acute dissecting aneurysm of the aorta in systemic lupus erythematosus]. AB - A 28 year-old female patient who has been diagnosed as having systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) developed an acute dissecting aneurysm of the aorta (DeBakey type I). The long-term, large dose corticosteroid therapy (i.e., accumulative dose of about 60 g) administered for the treatment of lupus nephritis (WHO class III----IV) was considered to be responsible for a hypercholesterolemia (300-560 mg/dl) and a steroid-dependent hypertension (WHO class III) in this patient. The autopsy findings for the aorta were compatible with atherosclerotic changes but not with lupus arteritis. While atherosclerotic cardiovascular complications have been considered to be rare in patients with SLE, a growing body of evidence suggests that the incidence of such a complication may be increasing along with a dramatic improvement in the longevity of patients with SLE after an introduction of a large dose, long-term corticosteroid therapy. PMID- 2625745 TI - [Two brothers with reflux nephropathy]. AB - This paper reports two brothers with reflux nephropathy. Patients who were 10 year-old and 12-year-old were referred to our hospital due to proteinuria and deterioration of renal function. Diagnosis of reflux nephropathy was made on drip infusion pyelography (DIP), voiding cystogram (VCG), and renal biopsy findings. The following findings were observed in renal tissues; focal and segmental sclerosis by light microscopy, IgM deposition by immunofluorescent microscopy, and glomerular basement membrane alterations and detachment of podocytes by electron microscopy. The HLA typing and analysis showed that both brothers and their mother possessed HLA-A9, which is reported to be closely associated with progression of primary reflux nephropathy to end-stage renal disease. PMID- 2625747 TI - [19th regional meeting of East and West Japan, Japanese Society of Nephrology. Abstracts]. PMID- 2625746 TI - [A case of the benign adrenal adenoma with remarkably high concentrations of deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol]. AB - The case was a 33-year-old woman with hypertension and hypokalemia, who presented depression of renin activity and the abnormal elevation of plasma deoxycorticosterone (DOC) and 11-deoxycortisol on laboratory tests. After admission, abdominal CT scan, 131I-adosterol scintigram and adrenal venogram revealed a tumor in the left adrenal, which histologically seemed to be benign. When the tumor was resected, blood pressure and all the biochemical data returned to normal range. DOC and 11-deoxycortisol levels in the tumor were abnormally elevated as compared with those in the normal adrenal tissue. These findings suggested that the abnormal elevation of hormone levels resulted from depression of 11 beta-hydroxylase. Though numerous adrenal tumors have been documented, we rarely encounter an apparently benign adrenal tumor that produces 2 kinds of hormones. This seemed to be the first case of benign adrenal tumor in which both DOC and 11-deoxycortisol were elevated. PMID- 2625748 TI - [Clothing for the patient in traction]. PMID- 2625749 TI - [Exercise in bed while receiving traction therapy--an audio-tape exercise to prevent muscle weakness and joint contracture]. PMID- 2625750 TI - [Innovation in shampooing while using direct skull traction--with special reference to shampooing while fitted with a halo vest]. PMID- 2625751 TI - [Preparation of a care manual for patients using a halo brace]. PMID- 2625752 TI - [Pressure treatment of the affected leg to prevent the development of edema following the removal of traction]. PMID- 2625753 TI - [Nursing of an agitated patient with a femoral neck fracture treated with traction therapy]. PMID- 2625754 TI - [Nursing of a patient in traction who is anxious to return to work]. PMID- 2625755 TI - [Nursing of a patient who became agitated during traction therapy]. PMID- 2625756 TI - [Nursing a demented patient in steel wire traction therapy]. PMID- 2625757 TI - [Nursing of a patient with pelvic traction for the treatment of an injury suffered in a traffic accident]. PMID- 2625758 TI - [Nursing of a child who was in traction therapy for an extended period--an analysis using Burner's behavior pattern list in the hospital]. PMID- 2625759 TI - [Complications associated with traction therapy]. PMID- 2625760 TI - [Progress in traction therapy of digital intra-articular fractures]. PMID- 2625761 TI - [Questions and answers on respiratory care: prevention of infection during the use of a respirator by an aged patient with reduced resistance]. PMID- 2625762 TI - [Questions and answers on circulatory care. Methods of observation and pain reduction following PTCA (percutaneous coronary angioplasty)]. PMID- 2625763 TI - [Questions and answers on the care of the digestive system. Nursing of a patient undergoing endoscopic sclerosing therapy]. PMID- 2625764 TI - [Questions and answers on urologic care. Prevention of dermatitis around the stoma in a patient with an ileal conduit]. PMID- 2625765 TI - [Questions and answers on the care of the motor system. Apprehension of a patient with femoral fracture during wire traction therapy and innovation in preventing the loss of body heat]. PMID- 2625766 TI - [Questions and answers on pediatric care. Prevention of diaper rash in infants]. PMID- 2625767 TI - [Questions and answers on gyneco-obstetrical care. Nursing of a mother who gave birth to an infant with a deformity]. PMID- 2625768 TI - [Questions and answers on emergency care. Exchange of gowns for a patient with injuries due to a traffic accident and having multiple monitoring lines]. PMID- 2625769 TI - [Questions and answers on psychiatric care. Establishment of a medication schedule during hospitalization]. PMID- 2625770 TI - [Postoperative critical care. 6. Cognition disturbances]. PMID- 2625771 TI - [Guidance of self care following discharge. 6. Instructions for patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers at the time of discharge]. PMID- 2625772 TI - [Study on the prevention of burns caused at the time of surgical cast application]. PMID- 2625773 TI - [Nursing study on the self care of diabetic patients. 6. Practice of diet therapy of diabetic patients and the state of their ego]. PMID- 2625774 TI - Pigmentary retinal degeneration in patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy. AB - Ophthalmological evaluations were made of the records of a series of 38 patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy, a chronic progressive myelopathy caused by human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). Four patients with no contributory family history showed pigmentary degenerative changes of the retina and choroid. Two of the patients (73-year-old woman, 68-year-old woman) had a progressive visual loss and night blindness with morphologic and functional features of diffuse pigmentary retinal degeneration. The other two patients (59-year-old man, 72-year-old man) complained of recently developed visual loss with sectorial or regional retinochoroidal atrophy. These elderly patients claimed that they had been healthy until a few years before presentation, not only visually but also neurologically. It was concluded, together with an epidemiologic consideration, that the coexistence of pigmentary retinal degeneration and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy is not simply chance but indicates a close association between the two conditions. It is proposed that HTLV-I infection might be a primary causative factor of degenerative changes of the retina and choroid, although the pathogenesis remains to be defined. PMID- 2625775 TI - Hyperthermia and temperature-sensitive liposomes: selective delivery of drugs into the eye. AB - Experiments were performed to quantitate the delivery of two drugs into the eye following hyperthermia. The drugs, cytosine arabinoside and 5-fluorouridine, were encapsulated in temperature-sensitive liposomes. After systemic injection of the liposome-encapsulated drug, microwave hyperthermia was applied to the superior limbus of rabbit eyes in an attempt to locally release the drug. Samples of aqueous humor and vitreous showed significantly higher drug levels in the heated versus the unheated eyes. Histology of the heated eyes showed no significant damage to ocular structures at the power level used to release the entrapped drug. Heating at higher power levels did damage the eye, confirming earlier studies. The potential uses and limitations of this drug delivery modality are discussed. PMID- 2625776 TI - Histochemical observation of distribution of chloride ion around ciliary epithelium. AB - Chloride ions are shown to be actively transported by the ciliary epithelium. The distribution of these ions around the ciliary epithelium was studied by electron microscopy: chloride ions were deposited as silver chloride (AgCl) in the tissue. Albino rabbits, bullfrogs and chick embryos just before hatching were used. In all the animals examined, the concentration of chloride ions was lower in the nonpigmented and pigmented epithelial cells of the ciliary epithelium than in the extracellular space. The chloride ions appeared to accumulate between the nonpigmented epithelial cells. PMID- 2625777 TI - Lens crystallin reactive protein in the aqueous humor of cataract patients. AB - It is well known that soluble protein decreases in the senile cataractous lens. In this report, the possibility of soluble protein leakage through the capsule into the aqueous humor was studied. Aqueous humor from cataractous patients was obtained in the operating room and analyzed by molecular sieve high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrophoretic immune blotting assay. A whole lens was obtained from a patient with lens luxation. The lens was kept in Tyrode's incubation medium and the protein leakage into the medium was also analyzed by electrophoretic immune blotting assay. beta L-crystallin reactive protein was ascertained in the aqueous humor of senile cataractous patients. Leakage of the beta L-crystallin reactive protein increased in immature and mature cataracts. The present results also demonstrated leakage of lens crystallin from the senile cataractous lens without capsular rupture. PMID- 2625778 TI - Cyclosporine G and D in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis in the rat. AB - Two analogs of cyclosporine A (CsA), cyclosporine G (CsG) and cyclosporine D (CsD), were compared to CsA with regards to their effects on experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) as well as their adverse effects on renal functions. When administered daily on days 0-14 after immunization with S antigen, CsA was the most effective of all in inhibiting EAU followed by CsG: 20 30 mg/kg/day of CsG appeared to have the same effect as 5 mg/kg/day of CsA. The effect of CsD was the least. When administered from day 7 after immunization, CsA and CsG were also effective in inhibiting the development of EAU. As for the adverse side effects, CsA was the most nephrotoxic: the toxic changes were morphologically found with doses of CsA at 10 mg/kg/day or higher. CsG and CsD were not nephrotoxic even at 30 mg/kg/day. The effects of CsG on immune responses were very similar to those of CsA. Both agents exhibited selective inhibition on the cell-mediated immune responses to S-antigen, while having no effect on antibody production. PMID- 2625779 TI - Quantitative evaluation of electroretinogram before cataract surgery. AB - The ERGs (electroretinogram) of dense mature cataractous eyes were compared with those of the fellow eyes with good visual acuity in 22 senile patients who showed normal preoperative ERG. The mean amplitudes of the a- and b-waves were slightly reduced in the cataractous eyes as compared to those of the fellow eyes, but the difference was not significant. The light-absorbing effect of the cataract based on the a- and b-wave amplitudes was 0.5 log units. Another group of 13 eyes with senile mature cataract showed abnormal preoperative ERG. Chorioretinal atrophy was the most common cause of the subnormal ERG. Postoperative visual acuity was lower in cataractous eyes with subnormal ERGs than in eyes with normal ERGs. Despite the fact that it does not always reflect the macular function and the visual pathway, the ERG still remains a reliable guide in evaluating the visual prognosis before cataract surgery. PMID- 2625780 TI - Eye wall resection in the management of uveal neoplasms. AB - Management of intraocular tumors, specifically uveal melanoma, is a matter of controversy. The treatment of these ocular neoplasms varies from observation to enucleation, irradiation (cobalt plaque and proton-helium particle) and eye wall resection. Over the last 18 years, we have developed two techniques for surgical resection of intraocular tumors. An encircling laser photocoagulation and limited scatter photocoagulation with laser precede both procedures. The operation is performed under hypotensive anesthesia in both techniques. The external approach is used for anteriorly located tumors (ciliary body and anterior choroidal lesions) and makes use of an eye basket to stabilize the operation area. A partial dissection of the sclera is performed, then the tumor is removed en bloc with the sclera, choroid and retina. The remaining sclera is resutured to cover the resected area. A modification of this technique is used for a limited excision of choroidal and retinal tissue for the purpose of biopsy and tissue analysis. The internal approach (developed four years ago) has been successfully used for removal of malignant and benign lesions located posterior to the equator and around the optic nerve. This technique uses vitrectomy instrumentation in addition to endolaser. Detailed surgical technique and results achieved in both procedures are described. PMID- 2625781 TI - Establishment of anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies against anti interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein monoclonal antibody. AB - Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) were previously established. One of the antibodies designated as MAb-TRA4 reacted with the IRBP of multiple species. Using this MAb-TRA4, 6 clonal anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies (MAb-TRDy; y = 1-6) against MAb-TRA4 were established. All of the MAb-TRDy were characterized by ELISA, immunoblotting and immunohistochemical studies. It was shown by ELISA that MAb-TRDy inhibited the specific binding between IRBP and MAb-TRA4 and did not cause nonspecific binding to rat polyclonal immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM). Immunoblotting assay demonstrated that MAb-TRDy inhibited the binding between IRBP and MAb-TRA4. Immunohistochemical examination also confirmed the immunological characterization of MAb-TRDy. Thus the present results indicate that the MAb-TRDy which have been established are the anti-idiotypic MAbs against anti-IRBP MAb-TRA4. MAb-TRDy can be used as a tool to study the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune uveitis induced by IRBP. PMID- 2625782 TI - Properties of the pupillary dilation produced by the humoral factor in the pupillary reflex dilation: an experimental study in the cat. AB - Physiopharmacological properties of the pupillary dilation produced by the humoral factor in the reflex pupillary dilation were studied in cats anesthetized with ketamine-HC1. Pupillary dilation produced by the humoral factor was separated from that produced by the neural mechanism, ie, sympathetic activation and parasympathetic inhibition, by atropinization of acutely sympathectomized pupil. To evoke the pupillary reflex dilation, the sciatic nerve was stimulated by using a bipolar electrode. The stimulus consisted of trains of 0.5 milliseconds duration rectangular pulses and was given for 5 seconds. The stimulus frequency was usually 50 Hz; high frequency stimuli were more effective to evoke pupillary dilation produced by the humoral factor. The pupillary dilation was recorded with an infrared pupillo-analyzing system. A long latency (about 6 seconds) and long peak latency (about 10 seconds) pupillary dilation was produced by the humoral factor. The threshold of pupillary dilation produced by the humoral factor was always higher than that produced by parasympathetic inhibition. The pupillary dilation produced by the humoral factor was not affected by local application and intravitreal injection of 10(-2) M propranolol HC1 and 10(-2) M yohimbine-HC1. However, the dilation was markedly inhibited by intravitreal injection of 10(-2) M phenoxybenzamine-HC1 or local application of 10(-2) M bunazosin-HC1. PMID- 2625783 TI - Microangioarchitecture of optic papilla. PMID- 2625784 TI - Proceedings for the 22nd annual meeting of the Japan Epilepsy Society and the Japanese Branch of the International League against Epilepsy. October 7-8, 1988, Kanazawa. PMID- 2625785 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging in complex partial seizures. AB - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) were performed on 45 patients with intractable complex partial seizures. MRI was performed with a superconducting whole-body scanner operating at 0.5 tesla (T) and 1.5 T. In patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, 8 of 24 patients had abnormal CT, but 16 of 24 patients showed abnormal MRI. 1.5 T MRI detected more abnormality than 0.5 T MRI when CT was normal. In patients with frontal lobe epilepsy, 5 of 7 patients had normal CT and MRI. In 2 other patients, MRI demonstrated an arachnoid cyst and increased signal intensity area on the T2-weighted images which were not detected by CT. In patients with occipital lobe epilepsy, 5 of 6 patients show abnormal CT and MRI. In patients with tuberous sclerosis, MRI revealed some increased signal intensity areas on the T2-weighted images in the occipital and temporal lobe, which were not detected by CT. Most surface EEG foci corresponded with the side of MRI abnormality. These data indicate that MRI is more informative than CT in complex partial seizures. MRI is the imaging technique of choice in the diagnosis of complex partial seizures. PMID- 2625786 TI - Focal CT abnormality and epileptogenic focus. AB - In 31 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, the precise site of epileptogenic focus was determined by means of a depth EEG recording as one of the presurgical evaluations. In 13 patients, a CT scan revealed focal lesions; 7 in the left temporal lobe and 6 in the right temporal lobe. In 5 of the 7 patients and in 5 of the 6 patients the epileptogenic foci were determined in the temporal lobe on the side of a CT lesion. However, in 2 of the patients with a CT lesion in the left temporal lobe, independent epileptogenic foci were found in both the temporal lobes, and in the other patient with a CT lesion in the right temporal lobe, they were found in the right frontal and left temporal lobes. Thus, the CT lesions agreed in lateralization and focality with the epileptogenic foci in 10 of the 13 patients (77%), but they disagreed in 3 (23%). A CT lesion disclosed in the temporal lobe does not necessarily indicate the side and/or site where the epileptogenic focus may be localized. Although exceptions may be made, spatial disagreement was exemplified between the CT lesion and epileptogenic focus. Therefore, extreme caution has to be taken on the side and/or site of the epileptogenic focus when functional surgical indication is to be made. PMID- 2625787 TI - MRI lesion and epileptogenic focus in temporal lobe epilepsy. AB - The spatial relationship between a circumscribed lesion in the temporal lobe detected by MRI and an epileptogenic focus identified by ictal depth EEG along with a correlation of the MRI lesion with neuropathological findings were investigated in patients with medically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy but without any focal lesion on CT. Four parameters (an areal ratio of the temporal lobe against the hemisphere, area and calculated T1, T2 values of the hippocampus) were used to determine the abnormal MRI side. An agreement was reached in 67-72% of 18 patients between the abnormal values of the hippocampal area and of calculated T1, T2 and the side of the epileptogenic focus. In 14 of 17 patients, typical hippocampal sclerosis was demonstrated in resected tissue in accordance with the MRI lesions (atrophy and/or prolonged T2 of hippocampus). These results imply: 1) MRI abnormality thus defined may, if not all, indicate the side of the epileptogenic focus, and 2) also the presence of hippocampal sclerosis. It was emphasized that the MRI lesion would be a usable instrument to explore the causal relationship of hippocampal sclerosis to a generation of epileptogenic lesions as well as for presurgical evaluation. PMID- 2625788 TI - Neuropsychological understanding of psychiatric symptoms in epileptics: cognitive impairments due to epileptic lesions as revealed by tachistoscopic and dichotic listening measures. PMID- 2625789 TI - Emotional facial expressions at the onset of temporal lobe seizures: observations on scalp and intracranial EEG recordings. AB - The initial facial expressions of 195 complex partial seizures of 98 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy were reviewed in relation to the laterality and focality of electroencephalographic (EEG) seizure origin. A neutral expression was observed most often (71) followed in frequency by expressions of disgust (13), happiness (7) and sadness (7). There was no expression of anger, surprise and fear. No correlation was found between the type of facial expression and the side of seizure origin. However, among 27 patients examined by means of intracranial EEG recordings, it was evident that a disgust expression occurred with oro-alimentary automatisms at the beginning of mesial temporal lobe seizures, whereas a happy one occurred without oro-alimentary automatisms at the beginning of lateral temporal lobe seizures. Although the facial expressions were not always related to the concurrent ictal emotion, it appeared that the majority of the patients with the disgust expression had autonomic features, while those of the happy/sad expression had psychic/sensory ones. It was concluded that (1) a disgust expression occurs as an indirect consequence of "crude sensation," while a happy/sad expression occurs as a direct consequence of "elaborate mental state" (Jackson) and (2) facial expressions must be reviewed in relation to focality rather than laterality in temporal lobe seizures. PMID- 2625790 TI - Mental symptoms of epilepsy--in relation to epileptic seizures. PMID- 2625791 TI - Surgical treatment of experimental limbic status epilepticus. AB - Limbic status epilepticus was induced by means of a KA microinjection into unilateral amygdala, and the focus extirpation (amygdalotomy) was made in order to examine whether the status was suppressed or not. The amygdalotomy was effective when the status was mild and the focus was circumscribed to the amygdala. However, the surgery was no more effective when a severe limbic status was induced and a secondary epileptogenic focus was established. Within 8 hours after induction of the limbic status, neuronal cell damage was observed in the pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampus. PMID- 2625792 TI - TDM trial in the seizure clinic of mental hospital, particular investigation for refractory cases. PMID- 2625793 TI - Level dose ratio and the threshold of intoxication level by dosages of three different phenytoin preparations. PMID- 2625794 TI - Erythromycin-induced carbamazepine intoxication in two epileptic children. PMID- 2625795 TI - Complex partial seizures with unilateral discharge originating from temporal lobe. PMID- 2625796 TI - Brief, complicated motor seizure. PMID- 2625797 TI - A correlative study between hippocampal atrophy quantified by tomo pneumoencephalography and epileptogenic focus in temporal lobe epilepsy. AB - It appeared certain that we can quantify the rate of hippocampal atrophy by utilizing the sagittal cuts in tomo-pneumoencephalography. This is a reliable method to infer the side of the epileptogenic focus in temporal lobe epilepsy since a close correlation was disclosed between the side with more atrophic features of the hippocampus and that of the epileptogenic focus explored by depth EEG, in particular, in the mesial temporal focus group. On the other hand, it seems to be plausible that the hippocampal atrophy could be secondarily induced by epileptic discharges in the lateral temporal group. Namely, controversies dealing with the casual relationship of hippocampal atrophy should be discussed based on the epileptogenic focus localization in temporal lobe epilepsy. PMID- 2625798 TI - The GABAergic role of the epileptogenesis in the El mouse. PMID- 2625799 TI - Uncoupling between local cerebral glucose utilization and local cerebral blood flow in kainic acid-induced limbic seizure status. PMID- 2625800 TI - Wet-dog shakes in amygdaloid methionine-enkephalin kindling and electrical kindling. PMID- 2625801 TI - Developmental study of status epilepticus in rats. PMID- 2625802 TI - Supplementary motor area kindling in the photosensitive baboons. AB - Two Senegalese baboons (Papio papio) were subjected to daily electrical stimulation at the SMA. When compared with the results of kindling at different frontal cortical sites, ADT and GST at the SMA were lower than those at other sites. On the other hand, the number of stimulations required for Stage 4 asymmetrical generalization was much greater at the SMA (mean of 78.0) than that for the PMA (22.5). These findings suggest that partial seizure originating from the PMA rather than the SMA seems to have a better access to the mechanisms underlying secondarily generalized convulsive seizure despite exquisite susceptibility to AD generation at the latter. PMID- 2625803 TI - Genome analysis of El mouse brain using a technique of cDNA-RNA hybridization. PMID- 2625804 TI - [The lung as a metabolic organ]. AB - The fundamental importance of the lung in providing oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide is well known. However the lung has another critical role as the site of numerous and important metabolic events. Some of these metabolic activities are essential to the normal performance of pulmonary gas exchange. Impairment of pulmonary metabolic activities can, therefore, have far-reaching repercussions on many organ systems. Special features of pulmonary vascular beds which are helpful for the metabolism of various vasoactive substances through pulmonary circulation are described. The lung can uptake or metabolize various vasoactive substances including acetylcholine, serotonin, bradykinin, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), PGF2 alpha, leukotriene C4 (LTC4), LTD4 and LTE4. On the other hand the lung can synthetize and release various vasoactive substances including histamine, serotonin, LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, thromboxane A4 (TXA4), PGD2, PGE2, PGF2 alpha, PGI2, LTB4, and PAF (platelet activating factor). We also investigated the metabolism of LTC4 and LTD4 through isolated perfused guinea pig lung lobes. And it is clarified that the infused LTC4 was converted to LTD4 and LTE4, while the infused LTD4 was converted to LTE4. Seventeen years ago, we demonstrated the release of prostaglandins from the lung during mechanical ventilation at large tidal volumes in anesthetized mongrel dogs. We thought this PG is PGE2 which dilates pulmonary vasculatures. In the present study we investigated the release of PG from healthy volunteers by spontaneous hyperventilation. We demonstrated that serum levels of 6-keto PGF1 alpha and PGE2 showed a marked increase following the spontaneous hyperventilation. Various humoral factors related to the pulmonary vascular responses and various humoral factors which related to the tracheobronchial responses were also presented.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625805 TI - [Fibrosing interstitial pneumonia and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis]. AB - The most reasonable classification for diffuse interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis is described according to the clinical course, histopathological findings and responses to steroids. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) represents the most prevalent, most chronic form of the disease with the worst prognosis. The histopathological findings of IPF are usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) which microscopically is recognized as patchy lesions. In UIP diffuse alveolar inflammation does not change to diffuse alveolar fibrosis, rather the disease progresses via an increase in the number of localized fibrosis lesions. Steroids are ineffective in the treatment of IPF. Lung transplantation is the only effective treatment. The question of when such transplantation should be undertaken constitutes the subject of further study. PMID- 2625806 TI - [Clinical investigation of pulmonary dirofilariasis with unusual abnormalities on chest roentgenograms]. AB - The authors recently encountered three cases of pulmonary dirofilariasis with unusual abnormalities on chest roentgenograms. In case 1, with right upper and lower lobe masses and right pleural effusion, the right lower lobe mass and pleural effusion spontaneously disappeared one month after admission. In case 2, chest roentgenograms and chest CT scanning revealed a small mass with cavity formation. In case 3, with a right lower lobe mass and pleural effusion, steroid therapy resulted in disappearance of the mass and a remarkable reduction of pleural effusion. Human pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare disease. In Japan, only 32, including our cases, have been reported in the literature of pulmonary dirofilariasis with unusual abnormalities on chest roentgenograms. The literature was reviewed. PMID- 2625807 TI - [Diagnosis of peripheral-type lung cancer using a new type of endoscope]. AB - A new device, the BF-2.2T, has been designed to go through the 2.6 mm channel of the conventional fiberoptic bronchoscope (Olympus BF-1T20). It measures 2.2 mm in outer diameter; it has a visual angle of 75 degrees, a focal depth of 3 to 50 mm, a working length of 1150 mm, and a total length of 1400 mm. It bends 120 degrees in an upward direction and 120 degrees in a downward direction. The tip, 2.2 mm phi, of the BF-2.2 T angulates like a conventional bronchofiberscope, and this is the main characteristic of this instrument. The BF-2.2 T yields clinically satisfactory observation and photography, as a method for determining morphological changes in peripheral type lung cancer. PMID- 2625808 TI - [CT findings of cases of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis]. AB - The CT findings of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis were studied. The subjects consisted of five cases; 4 men and 1 woman with an average age of 47.4 years old. The total of 19 CT views were analyzed with a mean follow-up duration of 5.7 +/- 1.2 years. The interval from the estimated onset to the first CT examination day was considered to be 6.0 +/- 3.1 years. The purposes of this report were; 1) Whether one could obtain useful information for the diagnosis by initial CT? 2) What were the changes of imaging with the passage of time on CT? 3) How one could predict the prognosis of the patients by CT? From the results of initial CT, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis showed diffuse, non-segmental densities with a mixture of various degrees of consistency, with peripheral clear zone which could be detected under posterior and lateral chest wall and/or interlobar area, and occasional air bronchograms. Irregular shaped patchy densities attached to the anterior chest wall were detected in 4 cases. These densities made the anterior pleural line irregular. In two cases, densities which were thought to represent the deposition of protein-like material in alveolar spaces decreased in the clinical course. Interstitial changes of the lung field were thought to cause the loss of lung volume, dilatation of bronchi and bronchioles, resulting in cystic changes and respiratory difficulty increased. In another case, the densities spontaneously disappeared during a period of one year.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625809 TI - [Clinical study of inflammatory diseases, which are difficult to differentiate from tumorous lesions]. AB - Fourteen inflammatory disease cases in which differential diagnoses from tumorous lesions had been difficult and which were confirmed by thoracotomies, were studied. They included 4 plasma cell granulomas, 3 pulmonary abscesses, 2 fungal diseases, and one case of pseudolymphoma, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, Wegener's granulomatosis, round atelectasis, organized pneumonia, respectively. In some cases with plasma cell granuloma, lymphoproliferative disease, Wegener's granulomatosis and round atelectasis, it might be possible to correctly diagnose the cases preoperatively, on chest X-ray, clinical symptoms and blood examinations. However in cases with plasma cell granuloma in aged patients, fungal disease, pulmonary abscess and organized pneumonia, there were few characteristic findings for differentiation from benign or malignant tumors. Therefore open thoracotomy will be inevitable for correct diagnosis. PMID- 2625810 TI - [Production of fibronectin and PGE2 by cultured human alveolar macrophages]. AB - Production of fibronectin (Fn) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by human alveolar macrophages (AM) which were obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage was studied in vitro. AM obtained from patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) produced much more Fn than those from normal volunteers but produced less amounts of PGE2. We also tested the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate (PMA), zymosan and albumin-anti albumin complex (alb-anti alb) on production of Fn and PGE2 from AM. LPS, PMA and zymosan suppressed Fn production but stimulated PGE2 production by AM from patients with IIP but indomethacin reversed the suppressive effect of LPS, PMA and zymosan on Fn production. On the contrary, alb-anti alb stimulated Fn production by AM. Furthermore, exogenous PGE2 suppressed Fn production by AM from patients with IIP in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest that Fn production by AM may be changed by different stimuli or different states of disease, and there is close relationship between the production of Fn and PGE2 by AM. PMID- 2625811 TI - [Two cases of inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung]. AB - Two cases of inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung were reported. Case 1. A 68 year-old man was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray. He had a history of pneumonia in the right upper lobe five months before. The chest X-ray film revealed a coin lesion in the right upper lung field (S1), the same segment as the previous pneumonia. Although RPF and INH were administered for three months, the shadow did not change, and cough and sputum continued. In order to confirm the diagnosis, open thoracotomy was performed and microscopic findings of the resected tumor showed inflammatory pseudotumor; proliferation of fibrous tissue with infiltration by inflammatory cells (plasma cells, lymphocytes and a few neutrophils). Case 2. A 35 year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray, i.e. a coin lesion with vascular indentation in the left lower lung field (S8). A wedge resection including the mass was performed, and histopathologic examination revealed inflammatory pseudotumor, or plasma cell granuloma; proliferation of fibrous connective tissue with infiltration by predominantly mature plasma cells. Both patients have been doing well after the operation. We also reviewed 46 cases reported in the Japanese literature and discussed various aspects of this disease. Of 10 patients who had a history of previous respiratory tract infection, 8 had histopathologic features with various inflammatory cells, including many lymphocytes, as in our Case 1. Although the common etiology of inflammatory pseudotumor is obscure, we suppose that in some cases the lesion may be a result of post-inflammatory repair process. PMID- 2625812 TI - [A case of summer type hypersensitivity pneumonitis resulting in chronic respiratory failure and cor pulmonale]. AB - A female case of Japanese summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis who was a smoker developed in chronic respiratory failure several years later. Biopsy specimen on first admission showed findings of granulomatous bronchioloalveolitis distributed in the center of secondary lobules. Pulmonary function studies demonstrated restrictive disease with high RV% and low airway conductance. In spite of steroid therapy, dyspnea persisted and the same symptoms were found on next summer. Six years later symptoms of chronic respiratory failure and cor pulmonale developed. Chest X-Ray showed dilated pulmonary artery, cardiomegaly and overinflation without apparent fibrosis. Hypoxemia and hypercapnia were also seen on blood gas analysis. Pulmonary function was unchanged compared to the findings on first admission. Since then long term oxygen therapy was started. It was thought that irreversible small airway disease caused by hypersensitivity pneumonitis was attributable to cor pulmonale and chronic respiratory failure because of her smoking habit and long period of exposure to antigen. As a patient with summer type hypersensitivity pneumonitis always has a possibility of chronic disease developing after long term exposure to antigen, such as a farmer's lung, the cessation of exposure to antigen by complete cleaning up of the patient's environment or moving out were considered to be important. PMID- 2625813 TI - [A case of multiple small pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas with chronic hepatitis and abdominal vessel abnormalities]. AB - A 63-year-old female was admitted with dyspnea on exertion. She had previously suffered from a large amount of epistaxis. Chest X-ray showed the bilateral diffuse granular infiltrates. Arterial blood analysis revealed severe hypoxemia and pulmonary function test showed reduced function of diffusing capacity. Dynamic radionuclide perfusion scintigraphy performed with 99mTc-labeled MAA demonstrated passage of microspheres through the pulmonary vasculature into the systemic circulation, indicating a right-to-left shunt. Although selective pulmonary wedge angiography did not directly demonstrate pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae, the histopathological findings of TBLB specimens revealed multiple dilated alveolar vessels that microspheres could pass through. In addition, chronic hepatitis, dilatation of splenic vein and spleno-renal anastomosis had been present. This type of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula is said to be a rare dispersed telangiectasic type, associated with a part of Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome and a cause of hypoxemia in liver cirrhosis. We consider that in this case, the chronic hepatitis may have played an important role of developing multiple small pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas. PMID- 2625814 TI - [Mediastinitis and left pyopneumothorax complicating a laryngeal phlegmon]. AB - A case of mediastinitis and left pyopneumothorax complicating a laryngeal phlegmon caused by Candida albicans is described. A 64-year-old woman was admitted complaining of pharyngeal pain, hoarseness, dysphagia, and pain behind the left angle of the mandible. In that hospital, she was diagnosed as having a laryngeal phlegmon. She was known to be diabetic and hypertensive since 54 years of age. After admission, she became dyspneic, and chest X-rays revealed left atelectasis, left pleural effusion and left pneumothorax. After a drain was inserted into the left thoracic cavity, she was transferred to our hospital. Chest X-rays showed widening of the mediastinum, an enlarged cardiac shadow, mediastinal emphysema, left pneumothorax and bilateral pleural effusion. A thoracic CT also showed extensive mediastinal emphysema. On March 19, 1988 we incised the abscess behind the left angle of the mandible and inserted drains into both the mediastinum and left thoracic cavity under general anesthesia. Candidiasis was diagnosed based on culture of pus obtained from the abscess behind the left angle of the mandible. She was treated with antibiotics intravenously and through both drainage tubes for about 1 month. She was cured and discharged after 5 months of hospitalization. PMID- 2625815 TI - [Pulmonary sequestration associated with localized cystic bronchiectasis and funnel chest]. AB - A 37-year-old woman, who presented with low grade fever and productive cough, was admitted for evaluation of an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray film. On physical examination, she had bilateral hallux valgus and funnel chest, the center of which was at the fifth rib on the right edge of the sternum. Since chest CT scan, selective bronchography, pulmonary arteriography and aortography revealed that she had pulmonary sequestration in the right cardiophrenic region associated with localized cystic bronchiectasis in the right S7b, she received right lower lobectomy. Histological examination showed the cystic change of bronchioli and a small number of emphysematous alveoli in the right S7b adjacent to the sequestered lung. The bronchopulmonary structure of right S7a was almost intact. It might be speculated that the existence of the sequestered lung constituted to the deterioration of the development of the lung and the rib cage adjacent to it. PMID- 2625816 TI - [A case of HTLV-1 associated myelopathy with pulmonary involvement]. AB - A 70-year-old woman was admitted complaining of gait disturbance and difficulty in urination. Neurological examination showed myelopathy and both serum and CSF anti ATLA antibodies were positive. A diagnosis of HTLV-associated myelopathy (HAM) was made and steroid therapy was initiated. Chest X-ray film on admission showed no abnormality, but three months later, diffuse fine nodular and reticular shadows appeared in both lung fields. The patients had no respiratory symptom. The results of pulmonary function tests were normal, aside from a mild obstructive defect as indicated by reduced V25. Arterial blood gas was also normal. Bronchoalveolar lavage studies showed increased total cell counts and an increased proportion of T-cells. The histological findings of the transbronchial lung biopsy specimen were bronchiolitis and alveolitis. Subsequently, within the next eight months the abnormal shadows on chest X-ray cleared gradually on maintenance dosage of prednisolone, 10 mg/day. Possible relationships between HAM and the pulmonary lesions were discussed. PMID- 2625817 TI - [Liver disorder owing to estrogen therapy in prostatic cancer, examined histopathologically in six autopsy cases]. AB - The parenchymal damage of the liver after estrogen therapy for prostatic cancer, mainly treated with diethylstilbestrol diphosphate (DES-DP), was studied in the six autopsied cases, herein. The parenchymal disorder of the liver was "nonalcoholic steatohepatitis", reported by Ludwig et al., and its degree of disorder was dependent upon the administered dose of estrogen. The acceptable total dose of DES-DP was supposed to be about 150 g at maximum, according to the various degrees of damage examined histopathologically in the six cases who were administered at total doses of DES-DP from 12.6 g to 619 g. Comparison of the histopathologic damage to the liver function tests performed within 10 days before death revealed that only the serum levels of cholinesterase (ChE) were abnormally decreased, suggesting its importance to predict the degree of "nonalcoholic steatohepatitis" by monitoring of ChE. PMID- 2625818 TI - [Liver disorder owing to estrogen therapy in prostatic cancer. The correlation between serum level of cholinesterase and dose of diethylstilbestrol diphosphate]. AB - We have examined the value of cholinesterase (ChE) that indicates the preservation ability of liver function, to assess the liver disorder owing to diethylstilbestrol diphosphate (DES-DP) administration in 25 prostatic cancer patients without castration. The correlation between ChE and the other factors such as age, total dose of DES-DP, duration of administration or ratio (total dose/duration), were studied by means of multiple regression analysis (MRA). In sixteen patients treated for less than 6 months, ChE was correlated with all factors by MRA with the coefficient of 0.645, and the coefficients of simple correlation between ChE and total dose and between ChE and administered duration, were -0.521 (p less than 0.05) and -0.596 (p less than 0.05), respectively. In nine patients treated for more than 6 months, ChE was correlated with all factors by MRA with the coefficient of 0.803, and the coefficient of simple correlation between ChE and ratio was -0.707 (p less than 0.05). According to these results and the permissible range of ChE, the total dose of administration for less than 6 months was estimated to be under 50 gram and its duration was within 100 days. The ratio in patients administered for more than 6 months was under 300 mg/day. Therefore, as far as the long-term hormonal treatment for prostatic cancer and preservation of liver function, we concluded that total dose of DES-DP should be less than 50 gram in less than 100 days for induction therapy and the daily dose of DES-DP should be less than 300 mg/day for maintenance therapy. PMID- 2625819 TI - [The analysis of the difference in anti-cancer drug sensitivity of 3 clones separated from bladder cancer cell line]. AB - One of the major problems with cancer chemotherapy is the development of drug resistance during treatment. Two mechanisms are considered as the cause of drug resistance, natural and acquired. It is now considered that cancers can be composed of multiple clonal subpopulations of cancer cells. In this study, we separated three clones (C1, C3 and C8) from NBT-2 (human bladder cancer cell line) by limiting dilution. We examined the growth rate and the transplantability to nude mice and performed chromosomal analysis of three clones. The doubling time of C1 is 22 hours, and those of C3 and C8 were 25 and 36 hours, respectively. Each clone was transplantable to nude mice, but we could not find out any histological difference among them. The chromosome numbers of C1 was 66, and those of C3 and C8 were 68 and 63, respectively. We could also find out karyotypic difference among them. We could therefore consider that these three clones had different biological features and studied the difference in drug sensitivity among these three clones and the parent cell line. Cells (1 x 10(4)/well) were incubated in microplates with ten different chemotherapeutic agents for 72 hours. Then 3H-thymidine (1 microCi/ml) was added to each. After 24 hours, cells were harvested and the uptake of 3H thymidine was counted with a liquid scintillation counter. According to the reaction pattern, these chemotherapeutic agents were divided into three groups. 1. The radio isotope uptake of three clones and parent cell line was proportionally inhibited by increasing the drug concentration (carboplatin, (glycolato-o, o-) diammine platinum (II), ifosfamide).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625820 TI - [A study of the risk factors in calcium oxalate stone formation--simple method for measuring metastable limits by the microplate method]. AB - The stone forming urinary environment may be conducive to spontaneous nucleation of calcium oxalate, since it is generally characterized by a reduced metastable limit. This study indicates that the microplate method offers simple and reliable measures for estimating calcium oxalate's propensity for spontaneous nucleation. In measuring the metastable limit by the microplate method, 200 microliters aliquots of each urine sample were treated with sodium oxalate to give final concentrations of 0-1.5 mmol. The urine samples were then incubated at 37 degrees C for 20 min and the minimum amount of oxalate necessary to induce nucleation detectable by inverted microscopy was taken to be the measured metastable limit of each urine. The metastable limit by microplate method positively was correlated (p less than 0.001) with the metastable limit found by the Coulter counter method and inversely correlated (p less than 0.001) with the concentration product ratio. The metastable limits were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) in recurrent stone formers than in the control subjects. The metastable limit rose significantly (p less than 0.01) during treatment with thiazides. Moreover, the metastable limit was inversely correlated (p less than 0.01) with the stone episode rate. It is concluded that the metastable limits by the microplate method are useful in stone forming potential identification in urine as well as in the assessment of the response to the therapy. PMID- 2625821 TI - [Development of a serum-free medium and primary culture of human renal cell carcinomas by serum-free culture]. AB - Ovomacroglobulin and LDL fraction of egg yolk were effective to maintain the growth of established human cancer cell lines (Kato III, QG-90, Raji). A serum free medium (BEM-841) containing 10 mM HEPES, 50 micrograms/ml of ovomacroglobulin, 0.1% (V/V) of LDL fraction of egg yolk, 10(-8) M catalase, 5 micrograms/ml of insulin, 5 micrograms/ml of transferrin, 5 ng/ml of selenium, 1 mg/ml of BSA, and 0.5% (V/V) of trace elements was developed. Primary culture of renal cell carcinoma cells was successful in 3 cases out of 6 by using BEM-841 medium without overgrowth of the fibroblast. PMID- 2625822 TI - [Primary culture of human bladder carcinomas and establishment of human bladder carcinoma cell line by serum-free culture]. AB - It was possible to cultivate cells from bladder carcinoma tissues in 4 cases out of 6 without the overgrowth of fibroblast. A new human transitional cell carcinoma cell line (HAMT-1) was established in longterm tissue culture by using serum-free medium (BEM-841) which had been developed by us. The tissue for culture was taken from a 61-year-old Japanese male with grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The microscopic features of the cell in cultures and of the tumors developed in nude mice resembled closely that of the original tumor. Electron microscopy of the cultured cells and the tumors developed in nude mice revealed characteristics of the epithelial origin of these cells with microvilli, junctional complex and scarce filament formation. Blood TPA level of the nude mouse with the transplanted tumor was equally high as that of the patient from whom the original tumor had been taken. The cells were anchorage independent in the serum-free medium but anchorage dependent in the medium containing 5% FCS. Anchorage dependency could not be restored by the addition of collagen and fibronectin. The doubling time of the cells were 18-20 hours. The chromosome counts of the cell line ranged from 59-78 with a modal count of 74. PMID- 2625823 TI - [Chemosensitivity study using subrenal capsule assay in urinary transitional cell carcinomas]. AB - A subrenal capsule assay (SRCA) was performed on 34 fresh surgical specimens from 31 urinary transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) patients. On day 6, 97.7% of explants were detected macroscopically and tumor cells were present in 45.6% of all explants microscopically. In control groups, there was a negative correlation between the change in explant size (delta TS) and the percentage of the area of interstitial tissue. And in the several explants on day 6, the pseudocysts made up of cancer cells were seen. These support that urinary TCCs from fresh surgical specimens grow under the renal capsule. An evaluable assay rate of 97% was given. Susceptibility to cisplatin (CDDP), adriamycin (ADM), methotrexate and cyclophosphamide (CPM) was seen in 33%, 41%, 32% and 29%, respectively, of tumors using the delta TS method. In interstitial tissue rich tumors, a higher rate of susceptibility to anticancer drugs was given using the delta TS method than using the tumor growth inhibition rate (TGIR) method. There was a positive correlation between the rate of S-phase cells of the tumor and the susceptibility using the delta TS method. But, there was no correlation between this and the susceptibility using the TGIR method. These findings suggest that the delta TS method is more practical than the TGIR method. In addition, the growth of explants was better in immunosuppressed mice with 180 mg/kg of CPM than in normal mice. And the effectiveness of a combination of CDDP and ADM was seen as an anti tumor effect or a reduction of side effects. PMID- 2625824 TI - [Transurethral uretero-lithotripsy of ureteral stones in Osaka City University]. AB - During the 39 months since the introduction of transurethral lithotripsy (TUL) for the treatment of ureteral stones at our hospital in August 1985, TUL was performed a total of 200 times in 178 patients with ureteral stones. Among them, 111 patients had left ureteral stones and 65 had right ureteral stones, while 2 patients had ureteral stones in both sides. The stones were divided into upper ureteral stone (84 patients) and lower ureteral stone (94 patients) at above and below the iliac brim. 89% of the stones were less than 2 cm in diameter. Most of the patients were given lumbar anesthesia, and a guide wire was inserted into the ureter. The ureter was dilated with a ureteral bougie, and a 13F or 14F Storz ureteroscope was inserted. The stones were disintegrated by an ultrasound lithotripto and removed using forceps and a basket catheter. After the TUL procedure, a double J catheter was indwelled and removed within 5 days. The results were evaluated by DIP which was done 2 to 3 months after TUL. The success rate included residual stones less than 4 mm in diameter, as they could be spontaneously discharged. As a result, the success rate for upper ureteral stones was 53%, and it was higher for smaller stones. On the other hand, the success rate for lower ureteral stones was 85% and significantly higher. The main reasons for failure were the upper migration of the stones (60%) and inability to insert the ureteroscope up to the stone due to ureterostenosis and ureteral perforation (39%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625825 TI - [Monoclonal antibody to desmosome associated 34 kD protein and immunohistochemical study in relation to the malignancy of transitional cell carcinomas of urinary bladder]. AB - A mouse monoclonal IgG1 antibody (B-11) that recognized desmosomes in some human tissues was isolated and characterized. By Western blotting, B-11 recognized 34 kD protein only in squamous and transitional epithelium. By avidin-biotin complex (ABC) and immunofluorescence method, B-11 was reactive to squamous and transitional epithelium, but was not reactive to simple columnar epithelium from stomach and colon, simple cuboidal epithelium from urinary tubule and thyroid, and pseudostratified ciliated epithelium from trachea and ductus epididymidis. ABC method of B-11 was performed in 47 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of bladder. The higher positive staining was observed in well differentiated (83% in Grade (G) 1, 73% in G2 and 20% in G3), superficial (76% in non-invasive and 20% in invasive) and expansive growth (68% in Infiltration (INF) alpha, 24% in IFN beta and 18% in IFN gamma) carcinomas. 34 kD protein recognized by a new monoclonal antibody (B-11) is a new cell-type-specific desmosomal component which relates to the histological grade, stage and invasive manner of the transitional cell carcinoma of bladder. The transitional cell carcinoma of bladder obtained by operation or surgical biopsy from 47 patients was stained by ABC method using B 11. PMID- 2625826 TI - [Clinical research on congenital hydronephrosis--significance and indication of the preliminary nephrostomy]. AB - Clinical data of 31 patients (34 renal units) with severe congenital hydronephrosis who had received preliminary nephrostomy were reviewed to survey functional recovery of the kidneys and the significance of preliminary nephrostomy. The results were as follows: 1. In most cases, the renal function based on Ccr and 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy after nephrostomy could not improve beyond preoperative one. 2. A close linear correction was found between the thickness of renal parenchyma before preliminary nephrostomy and the renal function after the nephrostomy. 3. Preliminary nephrostomy is indicated for severe hydronephrosis in neonates and infants, obstruction of the lower ureter, and serious general condition, which need accurate split renal function, and for patients without accurate diagnosis. PMID- 2625827 TI - [Experience of the parenchyma saving procedure in the surgical management of renal cell carcinoma]. AB - The result of renal conserving procedures for the surgical management of renal cell carcinoma experienced in 10 patients was reported. All except two were afflicted with tumor involvement in both kidneys (four cases) or in the solitary functioning kidney (four cases). The tumor stage was I in 8 and IV in 2 patients. One of the stage IV patients died of metastatic disease 8 months postoperatively. Of the 9 patients, 8 remained free of cancer in the follow-up period, while one who received an enucleative surgery and whose pseudocapsule of the tumor was missing had a local recurrence. Four of the 5 tumors having no pseudocapsule or having an invasion in the pseudocapsule were grade 2 or 3. The renal conserving surgery is believed to yield an excellent control in low grade and low stage tumors. Partial nephrectomy, rather than simple enucleation, remains to be a preferred surgical treatment in parenchyma-sparing operation, although the enucleative surgery may have a good indication for multiple and central encapsulated tumors. PMID- 2625828 TI - [Conservative surgery of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas]. AB - In the last ten years 19 patients with urothelial cancer of the upper urinary tract underwent excision of the tumor with preservation of the ipsilateral kidney. Renal function was preserved well in all cases in 31 months of the mean follow up term. In the presence of a normal contralateral kidney, local tumor excision was done electively in 12 patients (5 lower portion of ureter, 5 low grade lesions, 2 high age), local recurrence developed 6-63 months after operation in 2 patients, and they underwent nephroureterectomy. 11 cases are alive with no evidence of disease and one is alive with contralateral renal pelvic cancer. Absolute indications for conservative surgery were solitary kidneys/non functioning contralateral kidney in 3 patients and bilateral tumor in 4 patients. Most tumors were high grade or high stage (6: grade 2,4: PT2). No one had local recurrence, but one had a metastasis to a lung, 4 were suffering from bladder cancer post-operatively. Three patients died from cancer 20-30 months after operation. Local excision of urothelial cancer should be considered not only for cases of contralateral damaged kidneys but also for low grade, low stage localized tumors. Precise preoperative evaluation of tumors using a ureteroenoscope should be made for the indication of the renal preservative operation. PMID- 2625829 TI - [Continent vesicocutaneostomy. Preliminary experiments on dogs]. AB - A new operative technique for continent urinary diversion was designed as a continent vesicocutaneostomy and preliminary experiments were performed on 7 dogs. A U-shaped flap of anterior bladder wall (30 X 20 X 30 mm) was created, which was then rolled and sutured to an efferent duct. One-half to two-thirds in length of the efferent duct was placed between the muscular layer and mucosa of the bladder, and the distal end of the efferent duct was anastomosed to the cutaneous stoma made at the suprapubic area. In this urinary diversion, excretion of urine from the bladder was done by intermittent catheterization from the stoma through the efferent duct. The operation was successful on all of the experimented dogs, continence of the stoma was preserved and catheterization through the stoma was achieved easily. Urodynamic assessment of the efferent duct was performed, being focused on the mechanism of continence, at 3 and 6 months after the operation. The length of continence zone and maximum closing pressure through the entire efferent duct were 23.2 +/- 4.5 mm and 41.2 +/- 14.7 cmH2O respectively with empty bladder (intravesical pressure = 0). When the bladder was full (intravesical pressure = 20-40 cmH2O), these parameters were 21.4 +/- 4.7 mm and 36.0 +/- 7.0 cmH2O respectively. The length of continence zone and maximum closing pressure of only the submucosal part of the efferent duct were 12.8 +/- 4.3 mm and 18.5 +/- 5.2 cmH2O with empty bladder, 13.3 +/- 2.9 mm and 22.0 +/- 9.9 cmH2O with full bladder.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625830 TI - [A clinical study of 92 cases of renal cell carcinoma--statistical analysis of prognosis according to the new TNM classification]. AB - A clinico-statistical study was made on 92 patients with renal cell carcinoma who visited us from January 1978 to November 1988. The results were as follows: 1. Seventy-eight patients were treated by radical nephrectomy, two patients by partial nephrectomy, and three patients were treated at other hospitals initially. Nine patients were underwent only conservative therapy. 3. Overall 1, 3, 5, and 10-year survival rates by Kaplan-Meier method were 81.8%, 58.0%, 55.3%, and 50.2%, respectively. 3. The 3-year survival rates according to clinical T stage were 71.3% for 56 patients in T2, 66.8% for 16 patients in T3a, and 24.1% for 16 patients in T3b. A significant difference existed between patients in T3a and patients in T3b. It appears that the new TNM classification system is more accurate for prognosis of patients in stage T3 than that currently in use. PMID- 2625831 TI - [Clinical experience of tapered distal ileum for construction of a continent colonic urinary reservoir]. AB - Construction of continent colonic urinary reservoir was performed in 44 patients after exenteration for invasive bladder carcinoma or various gynecologic tumors. The distal ileum was tapered over a 14 French red rubber catheter. The ileocecal valve was reinforced with three circumferential silk sutures in a purse-string fashion. Full continence was obtained in all patients (100%). A non-tunneled, non refluxing ureterocolonic anastomosis was performed in all 88 ureters. No obstruction or reflux was observed in 84 ureters (95%). There were 7 early postoperative complications and 3 of them required reoperation (pelvic abscess 1, urinary leak from ureterocolonic anastomosis 1, pouch-vaginal fistula 1). Moreover, there were 7 late complications and 3 of them required reoperation (stomal stenosis 1, parastomal hernia 2). These results suggest that this method is a safe, simple and useful one for permanent urinary diversion. PMID- 2625832 TI - [Cecoureterocele. A case report]. AB - A case of cecoureterocele in a 22-month-old girl is reported. She was admitted because of recurrent urinary tract infection associated with fever and dysuria. Excretory urogram showed a left duplex kidney with hydroureteronephrosis of the upper and lower moieties. Although the left upper moiety was hypofunctioned, some excretion of contrast medium was noted. Voiding cystourethrography demonstrated reflux into the left upper moiety, and a prominent dilation of the bladder neck and the urethra. Bladder sonography demonstrated an ectopic ureterocele at the bladder neck, and it was diagnosed as a cecoureterocele by endoscopic examination. Left pyelopyelostomy, total ureterectomy from the left upper half kidney and open resection of the ureterocele were performed together with reimplantation of the left lower ureter using Cohen technique in 1 stage. At the operation, the left lower ureter was confirmed as a typical obstructive megaureter. Convalescence was uneventful, and postoperative excretory urogram revealed an improvement of the left pyeloureterogram. But the postoperative voiding cystourethrography showed a remnant of cecoureterocele in the urethra causing bladder outlet obstruction. Endoscopic incision of the remnant cele wall in the urethra resulted in marked improvement in voiding and complete resolution of urinary tract infection. A brief review of cecoureterocele was given. PMID- 2625833 TI - [Perceptions of spiritual nursing care nurses and nursing students]. AB - This study was designed to clarify how nurses and nursing students perceive their clients' needs for spiritual nursing care, it's practices, and problems. The purpose was to suggest directions for the development of spiritual nursing practice. The major findings are as follows: Respondents primarily perceived spiritual nursing as nursing care designed to help terminally ill patients accept death. Many of the respondents showed a high level of awareness of spiritual nursing care and its necessity. Few of them, however, bad actual experience in spiritual care. Those with experience in spiritual nursing care tend of take either a religious approach or perceived it as the therapeutic use of the self. The greatest problem related to the practice of spiritual care was found to be lack of time. Most of nurses and nursing students were found to be well aware of the needs for spiritual nursing care but were hindered from practising it because of the lack of time. To resolve the problem it was recommended that the scope of nursing practice be readjusted and that pre- and in-service programs should be developed to further heighten nursing students' interest in spiritual nursing care. PMID- 2625834 TI - [Respiratory hospital infections of patients with a tracheostomy]. AB - The increase in size and numbers of general hospitals in the process of conspicuous development of modern medicine has been accompanied by a serious increase in hospital acquired infections. Hospital acquired infections cause pain and discomfort, may threaten life, adds an economic burden, and delays recovery and return to society. Even though respiratory hospital infection rates resulting for tracheostomy and respiratory inhalation therapy, may be low, they are serious because of their bad prognosis and high mortality rates. This study was designed to assess certain aspects of respiratory infections of patients with a tracheostomy and thus provide baseline data for further research related to preventive or therapeutic nursing interventions. The specific objectives were to determine the incidence of colonization in the trachea, clinical signs, type of colonized bacteria and sensitivity to antibiotics. Data were collected from July 1 to December 10, 1989 at two university Hospital in Seoul. Subjects were 20 patients with a tracheostomy admitted to the Intensive Care Unit or Cerebral Vascular Accident Center. Clinical signs related to respiratory infection were observed using a checklist based on previous study outcomes. Bacterial culture, sensitivity test to antibiotics, WBC counts and chest X-ray were also performed. Cultures were done on the day of tracheostomy, and on the third, fifth and seventh day. Cultures were then done on seventh days after the first colonization. The results were as follows: 1. The incidence of bacteria colonization in a week was 90% (18 patients); 50% (10/20 patients) on the day of tracheostomy, 70% (7/10 patients) on the third day, and 0% on the fifth day, and 33% (1/3 patient) on the seventh day. 3 of 18 patients (16.7%) were colonies of mixed growth isolated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2625835 TI - [The control of catheter-associated urinary tract infection: an experimental nursing study. This study examined the effect of daily meatal care on the urinary tract infection rate of an experimental group]. AB - The purpose of study was to confirm theory about the effectiveness of routine meatal care on the reduction of catheter-associated urinary tract infection. The study was carried out at a university hospital from September 1, 1987 to April 17, 1989: 32 patients with a foley-catheter were studied. The study compared the urinary tract infection rate of an experimental group with that of a control group and tested the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated bacteria. The experimental group (16 patients) was given daily meatal care with 10% Betadine for periods ranging from 4 to 21 days. The control group (16 patients) was not given that care. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The urinary tract infection rate of the experimental group was 50.0%, and that of the control group 43.8%. There was no significant difference between the groups. 2. Organisms isolated in the control group were bacteria 100%, and in the experimental group bacteria 50% and fungus 50%. The most common organisms of the 15 strains isolated in the total group were Staphylococcus coagulase negative (3 patients), and E coli (3 patients). 3. Most of bacteria isolated in this study were sensitive to Norfloxacin, but resistant to Ampicillin, Chloramphenicol, Kanamycin, Tetracycline, and Erythromycin. Hence the importance of controlling catheter associated urinary tract infections. Findings suggest the need to search for other sources of infection, further experimentation controlling various sources of urinary tract infection and larger groups of subjects. PMID- 2625836 TI - [Study on work stress perceived by clinical nurses]. AB - This study was designed to measure the degree of work stress perceived by clinical nurses working in psychiatric ward, and to identify the factors influencing the difference of work stress. The survey method was used and the subjects of this study consisted of 135 psychiatric nurses from 7 university hospitals and 4 provincial general hospitals. The data were collected from August 1 to 20, 1988. The instrument used for this study was PNOSS (Psychiatric Nurse Occupational Stress Scale) which was developed by Bai (1989). The confidence verification of this instrument was computed and the Cronbach alpha was 0.94050. Data were analysed by t-test and ANOVA on 5% significant level with SPSS program. The results of study were summarized as follow: 1) The degree of perceived stress among psychiatric nurses was considerably high (4.32 out of 6.00). 2) Among the stressors, inadequate staffing (5.04), hospital administration problems (4.7) and the conflict of nurse-patient relationship were identified as the stress factors with high rank of degree of stress. 3) There was significant relationship between the degree of stress and the demographic variables of nurses such as the marital status, educational level, and the motivation of working in psychiatric ward. 4) There was significant relationship between the job-related variables such as the working duration, the motivation of working and nurse's attitude toward the psychiatric patients. 5) The relationship between several stress factors and some of the demographic and the job-related variables were significantly identified. PMID- 2625837 TI - [Validation of an instrument to measure Exercise of Self Care Agency and its predictors]. AB - The aim of this investigation was to delineate concepts contributing to the Exercise of Self-Care Agency (E.S.C.A.) Scale developed by Kearney & Fleischer (1979) and to test its construct validity and its predictors. The results are summarized as follows: 1. By means of principal factor analysis and maximal likelihood factor analysis upon data generated from 280 undergraduate students, the factors of Concern about Health Knowledge, Self-Concept, Information-Seeking Behavior, Decision-making and Responsibility, Self-esteem, and Passivity emerged. The total percent of variance explained by the 6 factors was 75.1%. 2. To assess factor independence and instrument homogeneity, correlations among the 6 factors were computed. The correlations ranged from .24 to .46 indicating that the factors and the items were not too similar or redundant. 3. Test-retest reliability of the total scale is r = .70. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency of the total scale is .86 and that of the factors ranged from .750 to .661 (only factor 6 .497). 4. In additional analysis of the Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale in relationship to Multiple Health Locus of Control, Family Environmental Scale, and Cornell Medical Index using stepwise multiple regression, the Internal Health Locus of Control Score predicted 21.8%(F = 53.34, P = .0001), Family Environmental Score 8.3%(F = 22.59, P = .0001), Modified Cornell Medical Index Score 5.4%(F = 15.74, P = .0001) of the score of the E.S.C.A. PMID- 2625838 TI - [Effect of changing position from supine to standing upright on the circulation of young men and women]. AB - This study investigated the effect of changing position from supine to standing upright on the circulation of young men and women. Healthy men and women ranging from age of 18 to 24 were examined. Two minutes before standing, the baseline heart rate and blood pressure were measured. Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded immediately and at every minute for 10 minutes after standing upright. Differences in heart rate and blood pressure between supine and standing upright position were evaluated. The results were summarized as follows: 1. Heart rate increased significantly immediately and at every minute for 10 minutes after standing upright. 2. Systolic blood pressure increased significantly immediately and at every minute for 4 minutes after standing upright. 3. Diastolic and mean blood pressure increased significantly immediately and at every minute for 10 minutes after standing upright. 4. Pulse pressure immediately and at every minute for 10 minutes after standing upright was significantly narrower than that of supine position. 5. There was no significant difference of heart rate between men and women after standing upright. 6. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure of men after standing upright was significantly greater than those of women. From these results, it may be concluded that heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure and pulse pressure increase after standing upright, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in men is greater than those of women after standing upright. PMID- 2625839 TI - [Day care management]. AB - With the changing structure of pediatrics the emphasis of medical care (also of specialized care) has more and more shifted to the outpatient departments. For complicated diagnostic procedures of intermediate treatment in acute illness day care on a special ward is a useful compromise with increasing importance. Own experiences in this way of medical care are exemplarily discussed. PMID- 2625840 TI - [Incidence, differential diagnosis and follow-up of respiratory affective seizures (rage seizures) in children]. AB - The anamneses, course, general and specific findings in 99 cases of respiratory affective spasm in children between 1960 and 1983 were carefully studied. The clinical records, which sometimes lacked details, were augmented by a comprehensive questionnaire which also contained catamnestic questions. The author gives diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations and instructions for talks with the parents. Correctly diagnozed respiratory affective spasm is an absolutely harmless disease of limited duration with a good prognosis for the child's development. PMID- 2625841 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of acute otitis media in children. An analysis of the status in the Rostock district]. AB - Over a period of 3 months a complete record was kept in 8 large medical institutions (in the Rostock county) of all children with acute otitis media and an analysis was made of the customary medical procedures followed by doctors for the diagnostics and treatment of these cases. Of the 761 patients (407 boys and 354 girls) 90% were babies and infants; more then 50% of these cases were suffering from otitis media serosa; 25% of the total did not receive antibiotics. A systemic antibiotic therapy was usually prescribed "blindly" and preference (83.7%) was given to penicillins and Berlocombin (a trimethoprim sulfonamide compound). In more than 2/3 of the cases the treatment was given by a paediatrician alone, in less than 10% of the cases only by the ENT specialist and the rest were treated by both departments. It would be advisable to start now to rethink the medical procedures related to initial bacteriological diagnostics as well as the local treatment of the auditory channel. In addition, there is an urgent need for a general "Recommendation on the diagnostics and therapy of otitis media acuta in children". This is now being prepared and should be approved by both specialist associations. PMID- 2625842 TI - [Cockayne-Touraine epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica. A case report]. AB - We report about a new-born child with a nearly generalized bullous epidermolysis. The diagnosis Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica (Cockayne-Touraine) was determined by repeated investigations with electron microscopy. Differnetialdiagnosis and therapeutic possibilities are discussed. PMID- 2625843 TI - [Blood sedimentation rate. 1 or 2 hour values?]. AB - In 1,000 randomly selected children treated in our clinic, the blood sedimentation rate was determined among other things. One-hour values were compared to those of the second hour. Determination of the one-hour value alone proved sufficient for diagnostik purposes and clinical follow-up evaluations. PMID- 2625844 TI - [A staged plan for laboratory diagnosis of hereditary metabolic diseases]. AB - When clinical evidence provides grounds for suspecting inborn errors of metabolism it is urgent to perform the necessary, relevant, specific laboratory investigations in good time and with a view to quality. Normally, the realization depends on individual initiatives and the use of laboratories mainly designed for pediatrics and human genetics. Consequently the results are equally a matter of chance. Nothing in this situation can be changed in principle by using the catalogue of services of the Society for Human Genetics of the GDR. Central administrative provisions are necessary to improve the present unsatisfactory situation. Proposals for regulations, division of responsibility and a graduated programme of parameters are discussed here with a view to establishing uniform procedures. PMID- 2625845 TI - [New methods in the surgical treatment of patients with chronic pancreatitis]. AB - The analysis of the 10-year experience with surgical treatment of 719 patients with chronic pancreatitis is presented. Of them in 461, the direct interventions on the pancreas were performed. Drainage operations were performed in 270 patients, the lethality was 3.3%, different modifications of pancreatic resection were used in 191 patients, the lethality was 8.3%. Together with the recognized interventions, the new ones--recanalization of the pancreatic duct with plasty of its wall, recanalization of the pancreatic duct by the small intestinal segment, anatomical resection of the pancreatic head were performed. The main requirements for the performance of pancreatic resection in patients with chronic pancreatitis were defined: resection within the limits of the irreversibly changed area of a gland; choice of a method for stump management with regard to functional state of a gland; restoration of physiologic pathways for passage of the food, bile and pancreatic secret. The surgical principles permitting to improve carbohydrate metabolism in patients after pancreatoduodenal resection have been developed. PMID- 2625846 TI - [Effect of hemosorption on kidney function in patients with destructive pancreatitis]. AB - In patients with acute destructive pancreatitis, the kidney lesion is conditioned by pronounced volemic disorders, and damage of renal parenchyma resulting from the action of enzymes and toxic metabolites as well. Their effective elimination by means of hemosorption performed in supplementation of the circulating blood and plasma volumes leads to rapid normalization of functional state of the kidneys, thus facilitating reduction of lethality, shortening of the duration of treatment and rehabilitation of the patients. In destructive pancreatitis, the performance of repeated hemosorption after 24-48 h is indicated. PMID- 2625847 TI - [Diagnostic value of radioimmunological analysis of CA-19-9 in the blood serum in cancer of the pancreas]. AB - The CA 19-9 antigen content was studied in 163 patients with pancreatic diseases by radioimmunologic method with the use of commercial test-kits ("Sorin", France). Pancreatitis was diagnosed in 67 patients, pancreatic cancer--in 23, cancer of the major duodenal papilla (MDP)--in 14, malignant neoplasms of the stomach, colon and rectum, liver--in 58. All the results were verified by morphologic studies. The control group included 22 donors. In patients with pancreatic cancer, the considerable increase in the CA 19-9 level was noted when compared with antigen content in the norm and in the other patients examined. The indices of CA 19-9 in pancreatitis don't differ from the normal ones. In MDP cancer and malignant tumours of other location with tumour invasion into the pancreas, the serum CA 19-9 level was increased. PMID- 2625848 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of cicatricial strictures of the extrahepatic bile ducts]. AB - On the basis of the assessment of the results of treatment of 73 patients with cicatricial bile duct strictures, it was established that duration and degree of the pronouncement of cholestasis, presence of infection in the bile ducts influenced its early and long-term results. Adequate correction of cholestasis with carcass drainage of anastomoses permits to achieve a stable positive effect in 78.6% of the patients operated on. PMID- 2625849 TI - [Clinical classification of malignant extraorganic tumors of the small pelvis based on the staging and the TNM system]. AB - The case records of 210 patients with malignant extraorganic tumors of the small pelvis are analysed. One hundred and eighty three patients had a primary tumor, 27--tumor recurrence. A classification of the mentioned tumors according to the stages and TNM system is suggested. PMID- 2625850 TI - [Experimental substantiation of occlusion of the pancreatic ducts in acute destructive pancreatitis]. AB - All the 6 animals with the model of acute destructive pancreatitis died at day 2 3 from progressive pancreonecrosis, endogenous intoxication and dystrophic changes in the parenchymatous organs. After occlusion of the pancreatic ducts, acinous tissue atrophy began from the end of the second week, total atrophy occurred after 3 mos. Diabetes mellitus didn't develop for 2 years. Treatment of acute destructive pancreatitis by means of a full-value occlusion of the pancreatic ducts lead to recovery of the animals, and is perspective for the use in clinics. PMID- 2625851 TI - [Modeling of acute pancreatitis]. AB - The experience with modelling acute pancreatitis (AP) in dogs is summarized. In 15 of them, to reproduce AP, the intraductal administration of a bile with trypsin mixture was used, in 8--intraductal administration of automobile under the pressure, in 15--intraparenchymatous administration of automobile at several points. Depending on the method of modelling, the forms, rate and severity of the AP course were different. PMID- 2625852 TI - [Pancreatoduodenal resection with cholecystopancreatostomy. Morphofunctional substantiation and clinical results]. AB - In the experiment on 15 mongrel dogs, the pancreatoduodenal resection (PDR) with cholecystopancreatoanastomosis (CPA) formation was modelled. The advantages of CPA over pancreatojejunostomy were confirmed by morphological and histochemical investigations. In the institute of Clinical and Experimental Surgery, from 1983 to 1987, 73 PDRs were performed with CPA creation. Complications were noted in 34.2%, 9.6% of the patients died. The long-term results studied in 74.2% of the patients, in average, 26.6 mos after the intervention are good. PMID- 2625853 TI - [Treatment of pancreonecrosis]. AB - The results of treatment of 105 patients with pancreonecrosis are presented. In 73 patients, the early endogenous intoxication, and in 32--the late one was noted. The necessity for differential approach to the treatment of patients, depending on the stage and degree of the pronouncement of endotoxication is shown. PMID- 2625854 TI - [Intensive care in surgical services for patients with acute pancreatitis]. AB - Intensification of specialized aid to the patients with acute pancreatitis, improvement of the existing methods for diagnosis and treatment, and development of the new ones permitted to reduce the total, postoperative lethality and mean duration of hospital stay of the patients. It is of great social importance, as more than 70% of them are of a productive age. PMID- 2625855 TI - [Use of fluorouracil combined with laser irradiation of the pancreas in the treatment of acute pancreatitis]. AB - Direct irradiation by a helium-neon laser of the pancreas in acute pancreatitis potentiates the action of fluorouracil, permits to reduce its dosage, improve the results of treatment. PMID- 2625856 TI - [Plasmapheresis in the complex treatment of acute pancreatitis]. AB - After the performance of therapeutical plasmapheresis in the blood of the patients with acute pancreatitis, the concentrations of bilirubin, urea, creatinine++, the plasma toxicity decreased. The use of plasmapheresis in the complex of intensive therapy permits to reduce considerably endotoxemia, facilitates the effectiveness of treatment. PMID- 2625857 TI - [Surgery of the pancreas in district hospitals]. PMID- 2625858 TI - [Organization of the activities of surgical units in the hospitals]. PMID- 2625859 TI - [Criteria and effectiveness of early discharge of patients from hospitals after surgery]. PMID- 2625860 TI - [Ways of improving surgical training of students]. PMID- 2625861 TI - [Ways of stimulating independent training of students of surgical disciplines]. PMID- 2625862 TI - [Various characteristics of the organization and form of independent training of surgeons at the Chair of Surgery of the Institute for the Advanced Training of Physicians]. PMID- 2625863 TI - [Work capacity of patients after surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis]. AB - Examined were 164 patients 3-7 years after surgical intervention for chronic pancreatitis. The numerous diseases of the alimentary organs and complications leading to reduction and loss of working ability in a significant number of the patients operated on were revealed. Preservation of working ability in this population of patients largely depends on a degree of the use of a rehabilitative (medical, social and vocational) potential. PMID- 2625864 TI - [Errors in the conservative treatment of patients who died of acute pancreatitis]. PMID- 2625865 TI - [A case of giant complicated pancreatic cyst]. PMID- 2625866 TI - [Radical treatment of giant pancreatic cyst]. PMID- 2625867 TI - [Intussusception and lipoma of the small intestine associated with acute pancreatitis]. PMID- 2625868 TI - [Effectiveness of therapeutic plasmapheresis in patients with obstructive jaundice]. PMID- 2625869 TI - [Modification of pancreatoduodenal resection after earlier performed Duval operation]. PMID- 2625870 TI - [A method of procurement of cadaveric kidneys and pancreas for transplantation in a clinic]. PMID- 2625871 TI - [Transduodenal electrophoresis of protease inhibitors in the treatment of acute pancreatitis]. PMID- 2625872 TI - [Substantiation of optimal combination of external drainage of the thoracic duct, lymphosorption and hemosorption in the complex treatment of patients with destructive pancreatitis]. AB - The results of treating 147 patients with acute destructive pancreatitis are summarized. In the complex treatment of 48 patients, the external drainage of the thoracic duct (EDTD) was used, 36--EDTD in combination with lymphosorption (LS), 23--EDTD, LS, hemosorption (HS). It is established that the level of oligopeptides precisely reflects the severity degree of endogenous intoxication in patients with destructive pancreatitis, and can serve as one of the indications for the performance of the methods of acute detoxication. In patients with destructive pancreatitis, the combined use of LS and HS is the most effective. PMID- 2625873 TI - [Yersinia-induced reactive arthritis]. AB - Twenty-four patients were under observation. It is shown that reactive arthritides requiring surgical treatment are often of Yersinia etiology. A preceding episode of acute diarrhea can be revealed in the immediate anamnesis. Besides affection of the joints, the clinical picture is characterized by protracted high fever, general toxicosis syndrome, enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, and, occasionally, enlargement of the liver and spleen. The diagnosis is confirmed by identification of specific antibodies in blood serum. Yersinia arthritides are unresponsive to the routine therapy. Administration of chloramphenicol and/or gentamicin with indomethacin produces a rapid positive effect. PMID- 2625874 TI - [A needle for bone perforation and intraosseous infusions]. PMID- 2625875 TI - [Extravasal venous extractor]. PMID- 2625876 TI - [Megacolon in adult patients with anorectal anomalies]. PMID- 2625877 TI - [Gastrectomy after removal of the large intestine in diffuse polyposis]. PMID- 2625878 TI - [Giant carcinoid of the ileum as the source of profuse intestinal hemorrhage]. PMID- 2625879 TI - [Squamous cell cancer of the sigmoid]. PMID- 2625880 TI - [Duodenal cancer complicated by intestinal obstruction]. PMID- 2625882 TI - [Completely patent double urachus]. PMID- 2625881 TI - [Giant leiomyoma of the stomach]. PMID- 2625883 TI - [Surgical technic of straightening kinks of the internal carotid arteries]. AB - The article describes surgical techniques used in 11 cases for correcting loops and pathological tortuosity of the internal carotid arteries. Resection of the proximal segment of the artery with its reimplantation into the bifurcation of the carotid artery is the technically simplest method. In marked degeneration of the arterial wall in the region of the loop, the latter must be resected and arterial end-to-end anastomosis established. The authors describe a method which they developed for resecting a high loop of the internal carotid artery. PMID- 2625884 TI - [Polycystic disease of the liver]. PMID- 2625885 TI - [A rare cause of liver abscess]. PMID- 2625886 TI - [Choledochoscopy through the cystic duct]. PMID- 2625887 TI - [Acute calculous cholecystitis in complete situs inversus viscerum]. PMID- 2625888 TI - [Strangulated postoperative diaphragmatic hernia]. PMID- 2625889 TI - [Improvement of surgical care in varices]. AB - The article discusses the in- and out-patient modalities of maintenance of health of patients with uncomplicated varicosity of the lower limbs in rural areas. The authors point to the advantage of this modality of treatment and formulate the recommendations for carrying out measures which ensure successful treatment of this category of patients. The criteria of effective treatment are a shorter period of in-patient treatment due to preoperative out-patient examination and postoperative out-patient treatment, the absence of recurrences of the disease, and the patient's return to occupational activity. PMID- 2625890 TI - [Multiple renal arteries and renovascular hypertension]. AB - The presence of multiple renal arteries (MRA) as a congenital developmental anomaly encountered in 13% angiographic examinations is not the cause of vasorenal hypertension. Sustained hypertension develops in affection of one or several of the MRA. The authors analyse 55 patients with vasorenal hypertension in affection of one or more of the MRA. Interventions on the MRA restored their blood flow in 91.0% of patients. Positive results with reduction of hypertension were produced in 85.4% of patients. Complications--restenosis, thromboses- occurred in 12.7% of cases. One patient died from acute renal failure which had developed in thrombosis of the renal arteries. Patients with affection of one or several of MRA of various etiology may be cured successfully by organ-preserving reconstructive operations. Nephrectomy should be resorted to only in intraorganic affection of the renal vessels or in total loss of kidney function. PMID- 2625891 TI - [Surgical treatment of cancer of the colon and factors determining its effectiveness]. AB - The results of treatment of 1,031 patients with carcinoma of the colon by surgery from 1929 to 1985 are analysed. Postoperative mortality reduced almost three-fold in the last decades and was 4% in 1984-85. From study of the late results the authors conclude that abidance by the principles of oncological radicality is important. The recognition of patients with preneoplastic diseases and their regular active medical examination allow the results of treatment of patients with carcinoma of the colon to be improved. PMID- 2625892 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of nonspecific spontaneous pneumothorax]. AB - The article analyses 1,000 cases with unspecific spontaneous pneumothorax, 512 (51.2%) patients were treated by operation. Thoracoscopy is of principal importance in establishing the diagnosis; it makes it possible to identify the cause of spontaneous pneumothorax and determine the indications for operative treatment. The choice of economical resection of the bullous part of the pulmonary tissue is most important from the standpoint of principle, it allows radical treatment of the patient and prevention of the advancement of lung dystrophy with good occupational rehabilitation, especially among the young contingent of patients, which is important socially also. PMID- 2625893 TI - [Submucosal lipomas of the colon]. AB - Seven patients with submucosal lipomas of the colon of various localization were treated at the clinic over 25 years. Planned operations were carried out on 4 and emergency operations on 3 patients for complications (obstruction of the intestine by a tumor and intestinal hemorrhage due to ulceration of the tumor extended from the mucosa). The variety of the clinical course allows the precise diagnosis to be made in rare cases only by means of colonoscopy and target biopsy. In a precisely established diagnosis, saving organ-preserving operations can be undertaken. PMID- 2625894 TI - [Treatment of patients with retroperitoneal non-organ tumors]. AB - The authors had 170 patients with retroperitoneal nonorganic tumors under observation. Operations were conducted on 143 patients. Patients with malignant tumors received intensive radiotherapy in a dose of 5Gr every other day to a total dose of 20-30 Gr. A course of telegammatherapy was applied in 17 patients in the preoperative period; in 22 patients the seat of the removed tumor was treated by telegammatherapy after radical operation. In 25 patients telegammatherapy was conducted as an independent method of treatment in inoperable cases and after exploratory laparotomy. Operative treatment of patients with benign tumors produced the best late-term results. Among patients treated for malignant new growths the late-term results were best when the seat of the removed tumor was exposed to intensive radiotherapy. PMID- 2625895 TI - [Relaparotomy after emergency surgical interventions]. AB - Relaparotomy was conducted 251 times on 210 emergency surgical patients. Diffuse and localized circumscribed peritonitis were the main causes of relaparotomy (70.5%). The level of serum cortisol was tested by the radioisotope method in a group of patients before and after relaparotomy. Operations conducted for the second time 6-7 days after the first operation were undertaken in adrenal insufficiency. Radical relaparotomy produced the best results. PMID- 2625896 TI - [Closed automatic programmed aspiration-irrigation method in the treatment of abdominal abscesses]. AB - Treatment of 124 patients with abdominal abscesses is analysed. Sixty-four patients (a test group) were treated by air-tight drainage of the abscess cavity with double-tube silicone drains and automatic fraction irrigation of the purulent cavity in the postoperative period. Other methods of intraabdominal abscess drainage were used in 60 patients (a control group). The advantages of closed programmed aspiration-irrigation treatment are shown. PMID- 2625897 TI - [Immediate outcome of gastrectomy with different variants of esophago-intestinal anastomosis]. AB - Analysis of the results of 4 main types of esophago-intestinal anastomosis in 386 patients with gastric carcinoma showed G. V. Bondar's modification of end-loop anastomosis to be the simplest and most reliable method for introduction into wide surgical practice. In this type of anastomosis, insufficiency of the sutures occurred in 6% of 249 cases, the total fatality was 8.8%. The authors suggest 2 variants of gastroplasty operations which are marked by good functional outcomes but may be used in a limited number of patients because of relatively high death rates (12.1%). PMID- 2625898 TI - [Gastric function after organ-preserving surgery in stenosing pyloroduodenal ulcers]. AB - The article analyses the results of organ-preserving operations in 170 patients with duodenal ulcers complicated by stenosis of various stages. The motor and secretory activity of the stomach, the terms of ulcer healing after the operation, and the character of changes in the dimensions of the stomach following surgical interventions were studied. On the basis of the study the authors conclude that organ-preserving operations may be conducted in ulcerative pyloroduodenal stenosis, and in the decompensated form. PMID- 2625899 TI - [Differential radiographic-endoscopic diagnosis of gastric ulceration]. AB - The results of radiological and endoscopic examination of 173 patients with gastric ulcerations (71 of cancerous and 102 of ulcerative etiology) were studied. The authors consider complex radiological and endoscopic examination expedient. Radiological examination in this case should include both the real time imaging and double contrast study. Standardization of the examination method improves the quality of endoscopic diagnosis. An important element in solving the problem of precise diagnosis of gastric ulcerations may be the combined use of gastro-fluorography with video-control and endoscopy according to a definite programme in individuals at high risk for gastric carcinoma. PMID- 2625900 TI - [Effects of continuous laser irradiation with crater formation on the tissues of the digestive tract]. AB - Experiments on operative tissues of the small and large intestine showed that energy density of the order of 1,000 J/cm2 was necessary for heating the biological tissue to yield crater formation. A laser method was developed for forming a canal in the neoplastic tissue obstructing the digestive tract. PMID- 2625901 TI - [Surgery of chronic hepatitis]. AB - The article deals with the diagnosis and results of surgical treatment of 203 patients with chronic hepatitis. It is shown that complex pre- and intraoperative examination of the organs of the hepatobiliary area is necessary in order to detect the disease and choose the adequate surgical tactics. Intraoperative biopsy of the liver with emergency histologic study of the collected material is said to play the determinant role in the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis. To achieve the best hemodynamic effect of the operation, the authors believe it expedient to conduct arteriolysis and desympathization of the hepatic arteries at the whole length of the common and proper hepatic arteries. The immediate and late results of surgical treatment of chronic hepatitis were favourable. The immediate outcomes were good and satisfactory in 92.3% of cases, the late results, in 89% of cases. PMID- 2625902 TI - [Dissolution of residual biliary calculi in early postoperative periods]. AB - The agent Octaglin was used for dissolving residual stones found in 5 patients in the early periods after operations on the biliary tract. It was administered through a drain left in the choledochus or cystic duct during the surgical intervention. The composition of the concrements was determined from examination of the biliary crystal structures by the method of polarizing light microscopy. The stones were dissolved completely in all cases so that 4 of the 5 patients did not need to be operated on for a second time. PMID- 2625903 TI - [Treatment of nontumorous obstructive jaundice and cholangitis in middle-aged and elderly patients]. AB - On the basis of examination and treatment of 364 elderly and senile patients with obstructive jaundice and cholangitis, the authors conclude that the frequency of these complications is high and that cholangitis takes an atypical course in patients over 60 years of age. They determine the significance of the respiratory insufficiency syndrome in manifestation of the severity of the disease. In view of the high risk of surgery at the peak of jaundice and cholangitis, the authors suggest the wide use of endoscopic papillosphincterotomy according to indications for correcting biliary hypertension. It proved to be one of the most effective methods in the treatment of jaundice and cholangitis, contributed to reduction of the number of surgical operations on cavities and to a 4.4-fold decrease of postoperative death rates among this contingent of patients. PMID- 2625904 TI - [Patey's radical mastectomy in combined treatment of breast cancer]. AB - The late results of treatment of operable patients with breast carcinoma are analysed. The frequency of local recurrences and metastases in the subclavicular lymph nodes and distal organs are compared according to the method of operative intervention. It is emphasized that purposeful exposure to radiation makes it possible to achieve similar results in Patey's, Halsted's, and Urban-Holdin's operations. From the functional standpoint, however, conservative radical mastectomy surpasses radical and extended radical mastectomy considerably. All this allows Patey's operation in combination with irradiation to be recommended for wide introduction into therapeutic practice at oncological institutions of the Soviet Union. PMID- 2625905 TI - [Co2 laser treatment of epithelial passages and cysts of the coccyx]. AB - The article analyses treatment of 312 patients among which 156 were treated with the use of a CO2 laser and 156 by the traditional method. Study of the results showed that with the use of the CO2 laser the duration of in-patient treatment after radical operation was reduced by 5 days and out-patient rehabilitation by 13 days. the number of postoperative complications reduced considerably, single stage radical operation could be carried out in the acute period of the disease, an operation for excision of a suppurating cyst could be completed by applying primary sutures with complete closure of the wound in 71.7% of cases, and that a recurrence of the disease could be prevented. Wide introduction of CO2 laser in surgical treatment of epithelial passages and cysts of the coccyx is recommended. PMID- 2625906 TI - [Treatment of suppurative bursitis]. AB - In the last decade 323 patients were operated on in the clinic for purulent bursitis; the abscess was opened and the dressing was changed daily. With the traditional method of treatment, the duration of management was 22.9 +/- 3.5 days in each patient. A method is suggested for the treatment of acute purulent bursitis by fraction irrigation of the purulent cavity by means of a drainage irrigation system based on the puncture techniques. It was applied in 42 patients and shortened the duration of their treatment to 9.3 +/- 2.3 days, i. e. almost by 2.5 times. Moreover, a good functional and cosmetic effect was produced. PMID- 2625907 TI - [Correction of extensive defects in soft tissues]. AB - It was established on the basis of treatment of 7 patients that in approximately half of the patients with post-burn defects and deformities of tissues, for whom the method of tissue stretching is indicated, the use of two and more tissue stretching instruments is expedient. This makes it possible to prepare a large skin area, use its uninjured parts, and attain the best results of plastic operations. In transposition of dermal-fat and dermal-fascia grafts the use of certain described technical manipulations is needed, they make rational utilization of plastic material easier. PMID- 2625908 TI - [Surgical treatment of post-burn deformities of the neck]. AB - Surgical treatment of 205 patients is analysed. It is shown that the traditional methods of correcting post-burn deformities fail to produce good results, either functional or cosmetic. The authors correct post-burn deformities and contractures of the neck by plasty with a graft of uninjured skin taken from the anterior surface of the chest. This method provides the possibility for improving considerably both the functional (in 80.3%) and the cosmetic (in 74.2% of cases) results of restorative-reconstructive operations. It is concluded that this method for correction of post-burn contractures of the neck is the operation of choice. PMID- 2625909 TI - [Methods of suppression of adrenal hyperfunction]. AB - Evolution of the methods for suppression of adrenal hyperfunction has now made it possible to give up bilateral adrenalectomy in favour of portalization of the adrenal blood flow from the left adrenal by its autotransplantation with maintained blood supply into the transverse mesocolon and cryodestruction of the right adrenal. Analysis of the mortality showed two-stage suppression of adrenal hyperfunction to be advisable. PMID- 2625910 TI - [Burial of the deep dorsal vein into the duplication of the tunica albuginea--a new method for the surgical treatment of venous insufficiency of the penile corpora cavernosa]. PMID- 2625911 TI - [Treatment of ureteral stricture using balloon dilatation]. AB - Balloon dilatation is a new method in endourological treatment of diseases of the urogenital system. Personal experience is recorded with the treatment of ureter strictures by balloon dilatation. Thirteen patients were treated. In 10 the strictures were congenital and in 3 acquired. Fifteen dilatations on the pyeloureteral segment and the distal portion of the ureter were performed. The method is practicable, low traumatic and is well tolerated by the patients. The limited experience does not allow general inferences to be made for the early and late results of application of balloon dilatation. Its advantages however allow to recommend its wide acceptance for treatment of strictures of the ureter in all of its segments. PMID- 2625912 TI - [A computer program for the drug dosage of patients with chronic kidney failure]. AB - On the basis of the formula Mt = Mo.e-(Cl/Vd).t, a computer program was developed for estimating the maintenance drug dose in patients with chronic renal failure, depending on the creatinine clearance levels and the body mass. The hypothesis of the intact nephron and the presumption that in chronic renal failure the extrarenal clearance of the drugs does not change is considered a precondition. Any drug whose distribution volume and extrarenal clearance are known may be implicated in the program. The program may also help to determine the additional dose after hemodialysis, depending on the duration of the dialysis and the dialysis clearance of the drug. PMID- 2625913 TI - [Modern principles of the treatment of testicular tumors]. AB - The modern principles of treatment of patients with germinative tumors of the testis are discussed. Essential are precise morphologic diagnosis and exact determination of the stage of the disease. Preference is given to the so called surgical-pathological staging, because it furnishes major objective information. Of the noninvasive methods of examination major value have computer axial tomography, measurement of the serum alpha-fetoprotein, human choriongonadotropin and SB1 levels, lymphography and pulmonary tomography. The role of tumor markers as criteria for early diagnosis of relapses and objective assessment of the effect of treatment is emphasized. The place of chemotherapy depending on the histologic variant and the stage of the process is determined. The results of modern chemotherapeutic schemes, which have shown statistically greatest effectiveness are discussed. The place of supra- and infrahilar lymph dissection as method of diagnosis and treatment is arguable. Some records (randomized) for treatment of germinative tumors of the testis, which might serve as practical guidance are presented. PMID- 2625914 TI - [The clinical course and diagnosis of urogenital fistulae of obstetrico gynecologic origin]. AB - Ninety two women with urogenital fistulas of obstetric-gynecological origin comprise the study group. In 23 patients (25 per cent) urine outflow from the vagina started immediately after the operation and in 69 (75 per cent) from the 3. day to 2.3 years after childbirth, obstetric operations and manipulations, gynecological and urogynecological operations, irradiation and nonsurgical gynecological diseases. Colpitis had 62 (68.9 per cent) of 90 women subjected to vaginal examination. Eighty patients (87 per cent) had clinical evidence of urinary tract infection and 92.2 per cent laboratory data. Predominated gram negative bacterial causative agents. Impaired renal function including lack of function was demonstrated in 96.9 per cent of the patients with ureterovaginal fistulas, demonstrated by excretory urography, isotope nephrography and renal scintigraphy, whereas renal function in patients with vesicovaginal and urethrovaginal fistulas remained intact for a long time. In the authors' opinion, most important diagnostic methods are excretory urography, dye tests, cystoscopy with retrograde ureteral catheterization and ureteropyelography. Isotope methods of examination and renal echography are of major value for diagnosis of uretero vaginal fistulas. Early in 1988 vaginography was included in the group of methods for diagnosis of urogenital fistulas. PMID- 2625915 TI - [The surgical treatment of urogenital fistulae of obstetrico-gynecologic origin]. AB - Ninety-two patients with urogenital fistulas of obstetric-gynecological origin have been treated at the Department of Urology of the Medical Academy in Sofia for a period of 14 1/2 years. Eighty seven women (94.6 per cent) were operated, with a total of 97 operations being performed. Thirty two of 34 patients with ureterovaginal fistula were operated (94.1 per cent). The following operative interventions were performed: 1 definitive nephrostomy, 5 temporary relieving nephrostomies, 4 nephrectomies and 27 reconstructive ureteral operations. Of 51 patients with vesicovaginal fistulas, 48 were operated (94.1 per cent). The following operations were performed: 4 supravesicular derivations of the urine, 21 transvaginal fistulorrhaphies, 16 transvesical suturings of the fistula, 11 transperitoneal and 1 transperitoneal-transvesical fistulorrhaphies. Seven women with ureterovaginal fistulas were operated transvaginally. The time elapses from the appearance of the fistula to the reconstruction was 66.2 days in ureterovaginal fistulas and 5.8 months in vesicovaginal and ureterovaginal ones. Transurethral urinary drainage was the operative method of choice. Eighty-three per cent of the operated patients were cured after the first correcting operation in patients with vesicovaginal and urethrovaginal fistulas. Best were the postoperative results in patients with ureterovaginal fistulas after ureterocystoneostomy by Bomonghaus's method. PMID- 2625916 TI - [Causes of the occurrence of urogenital fistulae in obstetrics and gynecology]. AB - Ninety-two women with urogenital fistulas of obstetric-gynecological origin have been treated at the Department of Urology of the Medical Academy in Sofia for the period Jan. 1974-July 1988. The causes of the fistulas in 17 patients (18.5 per cent) were of obstetric origin and in 75 (81.5 per cent) of gynecological origin. Analysis of the causes revealed that the incidence of obstetric fistulas was higher than in other developed countries. Higher was also the incidence of radiogenic urogenital fistulas. Gynecological fistulas following operations of benign genital diseases were more common than those developing after total hysterectomies and Wertheim's operations for malignant tumors of the internal genitals. This is in contradiction to reports by other authors. It is suggested that urologist be included in the surgeons' staff in risk hysterectomies (in cervical myomatosis). PMID- 2625917 TI - [Computed tomographic staging of bladder tumors]. AB - Cystoscopy plays a leading role in the diagnosis of bladder tumors. However, in filtration of the bladder wall in depth and the perivesical spreading remains a moot point. Computer tomography (CT) furnishes the opportunity for complex assessment of the stage of bladder tumors. Personal experience is recorded with the study of 43 patients with previously diagnosed bladder tumors. Once the tumor has been verified on surgical intervention, the exactness of CT in determining the T-stage was 88 per cent and of the H-stage--67 per cent. T3-A was the earliest stage susceptible to be demonstrated by CT. The morphologic patterns of perivesical dissemination of the tumors evaluated by CT are described. A scheme is suggested for the place of computer-tomographic examination in assessing the state of patients with bladder tumors. PMID- 2625918 TI - [Plasma concentrations of 2% lidocaine during epidural analgesia in urology]. AB - The plasma levels of 2 per cent lidocain solution, administered in a mean dose 291.6 mg for epidural analgesia in 24 urologic patients, subjected to transurethral resection. Peak lidocain concentration occurred on the 20 minute and was 2.73 +/- 1.25 mg/l. Positive correlation was found between the administered analgetic dose and the plasma concentration and inverse correlation between age and injected dose. The plasma concentration fall during the studied intervals showed positive correlation with the injected dose and the plasma level being reached; there was inverse correlation between patients age and the fall in plasma lidocain levels. Plasma lidocain levels were for the first time estimated by use of highly effective fluid chromatography--HPLC. PMID- 2625919 TI - [An analysis of the survival and death rate of patients on periodic hemolysis treatment at the Hemodialysis Center of the Medical Academy in 1971-1987]. AB - For a period of 17 years a total of 377 patients have been on hemodialysis treatment--242 men (64.2 per cent) and 135 women (35.8 per cent). During the first nine years the difference between men and women was significant (71.6 and 28.4 per cent respectively), in the next 8 years however it fell--accordingly 58.6 and 41.4 per cent. The age of patients on intermittent dialysis program was significantly increased--from 37.43 years during the first period, to 46.56 years during the second. Although almost all contraindications for dialysis treatment gradually dropped off, patient death rate has been constantly decreasing and in the last five years is steadily below 10 per cent. Survival is increasing and for the last year averages 5 years. The primary cause of death of patients on intermittent hemodialysis are cardiac complications--47.2 per cent of the decreased 176 patients. PMID- 2625920 TI - [Diagnosis and surgical treatment of primary tumors of the renal pelvis and ureter]. AB - The incidence of primary tumors of the renal pelvis and ureter is progressively increasing; now they account for about 10 per cent of all urothelial tumors with predominance of papillary ones. They metastasize early, most frequently in the liver, the bones and the lung. For a period of 10 years, 46 patients with upper urinary tract tumors of epithelial origin have been examined and treated. In 30 of these patients (65.2 per cent) the cancer was localized in the renal pelvis and in 16 (34.8 per cent) in the ureter. In 40 patients (87 per cent) the initial symptom was hematuria with dull or colic-like pain in the lumbar area. Excretory urography and retrograde ureteropyelography are essential for the exact diagnosis. Treatment should be early and radical--nephrectomy with total ureterectomy and excision of part of the bladder wall near the ureter orifice. Organ-preserving operations are indicated only in cases of single kidney or accompanying disease of the other kidney, which after some time may require its removal. PMID- 2625921 TI - [Modern diagnosis and treatment of epithelial tumors of the upper urinary tract]. PMID- 2625922 TI - [The diagnostic value of testicular biopsy in andrologic practice]. AB - Results are reported of 41 testicular biopsies in patients with azoospermia. The results are classified in two basic groups: gr. I--17 patients (41.6 per cent) with azoospermia had preserved spermatogenesis, but the seminal ducts were obstructed as a result of chronic inflammatory process; gr. II--24 patients (58.5 per cent) with incretory azoospermia and absence of spermatogenesis, caused by the following testicular pathology: Sertoli cell syndrome following orchidopexy for cryptorchidism, Klinefelter's syndrome, postparotitis orchitis and a group of patients with primary hypogonadism. The technique of open testicular biopsy as a possible routine diagnostic method in andrology is described. PMID- 2625923 TI - [Problems in the introduction of endourology]. AB - The technical progress in medicine has produced a turn in the classical principles of the operative treatment of numerous diseases, including urological ones. Endourological methods are gaining increasing acceptance in such urologic diseases as renal calculosis, prostate adenoma, etc. They have considerable health and social effect. Their successful implication in every urologic unit requires planned and centralized supply with endourological equipment and training urologists for mastering endourological methods of diagnosis and treatment. Indicated are the factors, which may help for high-quality training of urologists and nurses and technicians. The role of health and other authorities in solving the problems of endourology are pointed out. PMID- 2625924 TI - [A new method for the surgical treatment of urinary incontinence following surgery of the prostate]. AB - A new method is reported for operative treatment of urine incontinence, following transversal adenomectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate gland. The operative technique is described in detail. Its basic point is placing of a small "Ampoxen" ball over the urethral bulbus. Disappearance of the incontinence after such an operation is due both to the compression on the bulbar part of the urethra and to the formation of connective tissue, which proliferates into the sheet being placed. Twelve patients from 62 to 75 years of age were treated in this way. In 10 of them the immediate and the late results are considered very good. Incontinence disappeared until the 3. day after removing the indwelling catheter. In the other two patients the result is considered satisfactory. The encouraging results make the authors prefer the method which they suggest for postoperative urine incontinence. PMID- 2625925 TI - [A case of perforation of the ureter occurring during ureteroscopy]. PMID- 2625926 TI - [A case of rupture of the kidney following extracorporeal lithotripsy]. PMID- 2625927 TI - [A severe complication following laser phototherapy of bladder carcinoma]. PMID- 2625928 TI - [Nephrectomy in kidney tumor following pyelolithotomy and extracorporeal lithotripsy for recurrence]. PMID- 2625929 TI - [Benign tumors of the spermatic cord]. PMID- 2625930 TI - [Chilaiditi's syndrome as a surgical problem]. PMID- 2625931 TI - [Arterialization of the penis--a new method for the treatment of ischemic priapism]. PMID- 2625932 TI - [Surgical treatment of glaucoma]. AB - The treatment of glaucoma in the actual state of science is as heretofore a surgical domain. The authoress presents--mainly on the basis of personal observations--the problems of treatment of this disease. Various classifications of glaucoma--from the surgeon's point of view--are discussed, the evaluation of actually performed most important antiglaucomatous operations and indications are presented. One of the best and most elegant antiglaucomatous operations is trabeculectomy. The hitherto existing surgical achievements must be however preserved because there are situations in which the older surgical methods are irreplaceable. PMID- 2625933 TI - [Simple glaucoma--when to operate?]. AB - An analysis of visual field changes in 105 patients treated conservatively and in 57 patients treated surgically is presented. Both groups have been observed for 5 years. It was established that the surgical procedure should be undertaken before the development of the changes in the visual field. PMID- 2625934 TI - [Late results of the surgical treatment of primary glaucoma]. AB - The paper presents the results of surgical treatment of 171 eyes with primary glaucoma. Evaluated was the visual acuity, the visual fields, the coefficient of the aqueous outflow and the mean values of the IOP, 5, 3 and below 3 years since operation. The pharmacological treatment was included in 18% of the operated patients. PMID- 2625935 TI - [Late results of intrascleral peripheral iridencleisis]. AB - Intrascleral peripheral iridencleisis was performed in 50 eyes with primary glaucoma in persons aged 41-71 years. The results of operation were evaluated after 5-10 years. The intraocular pressure did not exceed 21 mm Hg in 88% of eyes after the surgery alone and in 4% after an additional topical treatment. Regulation of the IOP down to 22 mm Hg was kept after surgery in 94% and after an additional treatment in 4% of the eyes. The mean coefficient of the aqueous outflow increased from 0.08 before surgery to 0.18 after it. Complications connected with the surgical procedure were scarce and negligible. PMID- 2625936 TI - [Late results of goniotrephining using the Elliot-Fronimopoulos method]. AB - One hundred and four eyes were operated in 86 patients: 65 eyes with an open angle glaucoma, 20 eyes with narrow or closed angle glaucoma and 19 eyes with secondary glaucoma. Normalization of the IOP was attained in 72.4 p.c. of patients from the 1st group, in 90 p.c. from the 2nd and in 57 p.c. from the 3rd group; after an additional pharmacological treatment respectively in 98.5 p.c., 100 p.c. and 89.5 p.c. Normal visual acuity or an improvement was observed in 75.4 p.c. of patients from the 1st group, in 60 p.c. from the 2nd and in 57.9 p.c. from the 3rd group. The visual field deteriorated in 23.2 p.c. of patients from the 1st group, in 25 p.c. from the second one and in 31.5 p.c. from the 3rd group. The good results obtained are encouraging for the employment of the Elliot Fronimopoulos operation in all types of glaucoma. PMID- 2625937 TI - [Trabeculectomy--complications and their prevention]. AB - Advantages and disadvantages of various surgical methods in glaucoma are discussed. Particular attention is called to the occurrence of early and late complications after trabeculectomy. A technique of trabeculectomy in which- according to the author--one may expect the smallest number of postoperative complications is described. PMID- 2625938 TI - [Results of trabeculectomy combined with intrascleral iridencleisis in the treatment of glaucoma]. AB - Surgical technique and clinical results of a new antiglaucomatous operation--so called trabeculectomy connected with an intraseleral iridencleisis are presented. The lowering of the intraocular pressure after the operation was obtained in 96% of the operated patients, in 88% of them without any additional pharmacological treatment. The complications rate was comparable with those which are occuring after trabeculectomy or iridencleisis. The obtained results indicate that trabeculectomy with iridencleisis should be an effective antiglaucomatous procedure. PMID- 2625939 TI - [Surgical treatment of secondary glaucoma]. AB - Results of surgical treatment of secondary glaucoma (caused by uveitis, aphakia, injury) in adults and children are presented. Topical and general corticosteroids were applied immediately after trabeculectomy (deep sclerectomy). A favourable percentage of normalization of the IOP was observed together with a small amount of early and late postoperative complications. PMID- 2625940 TI - [Effectiveness of intrascleral peripheral iridencleisis in extreme glaucomatous conditions]. AB - The intrascleral peripheral iridencleisis was performed in 42 cases of severe advanced primary, secondary and developmental glaucoma. Normalization of the intraocular pressure was attained in 71.4% of eyes. The operation did not cause any decrease of the visual acuity; no essential complications were noted. PMID- 2625941 TI - [Intrascleral sclerectomy with implantation of a polyethylene tube in hemorrhagic glaucoma. Preliminary report]. AB - Four patients with haemorrhagic glaucoma and 1 with secondary glaucoma were operated by the method of intrascleral sclerectomy with implantation of a polyethylene tube. After surgery all the patients showed a normalization of the intraocular pressure but in 2 persons it was transitory and after some months the IOP raised above 30 mm Hg. These patients however did not complain of pain and this was already a sort-of success in such severe cases. PMID- 2625942 TI - [Glaucoma in children]. AB - Epidemiology and etiopathogenesis of the infantile glaucoma are discussed. Presented is the particular symptomatology of: 1. glaucoma conditioned by isolated abnormalities of he Irido-corneal angle 2. glaucoma caused by an abnormal iride-corneal angle in the course of another developmental disturbances of the eye, 3. congenital glaucoma accompanying systemic diseases and 4. secondary glaucoma in children. Indications and methods of treatment of congenital glaucoma are also discussed with particular attention drawn to the results of surgical treatment. PMID- 2625943 TI - [Treatment of glaucoma in children in congenital pathologic syndromes]. AB - Presented are the results of surgical treatment glaucoma in congenital aniridia (10 eyes), in the syndrome of closed anterior chamber (7 eyes), in Sturge-Weber's syndrome (7 eyes) in marfan's disease (2 eyes), in Lowe's disease (2 eyes) and Recklinghausen's disease (1 eye). Trabeculectomy was performed in this majority of cases; in cleavage syndrome it was connected with cataract extraction. In Marfan's disease with lensectomy of a luxated lens. Cyclocryopexy and cyclodiathermy were applied as secondary surgical interventions. In general--44 operations were performed obtaining normalization of the intraocular pressure in 82% of eyes. PMID- 2625944 TI - [Dynamics of Mycoplasma infection in patients with glomerulo- nephritis during pathogenetic therapy]. AB - Among bacterial infections arising in glomerulonephritis and complicating its course Mycoplasma infection (M. hominis) is not a rare finding as shown by microbiological and serological examinations. Good therapeutic results achieved in patients treated with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide suggest inhibiting action of glucocorticoids on Mycoplasma infection. PMID- 2625945 TI - [A case of intravital detection of myocardial ponticuli in a patient with arterial hypertension]. PMID- 2625946 TI - [A case of primary amyloidosis of the heart]. PMID- 2625947 TI - [A case od cancer of the kidney with long-term erythrocytosis]. PMID- 2625948 TI - [Hereditary nephritis with deafness in one family]. PMID- 2625949 TI - [Papillary and follicular cancer of the thyroid gland associated with diffuse toxic goiter and endocrine ophthalmopathy]. PMID- 2625950 TI - [Classification of peptic ulcer]. PMID- 2625951 TI - [Dynamic and psychosomatic aspects of the classification of peptic ulcer]. PMID- 2625952 TI - [Methods of the evaluation of clinical thinking of a physician-therapist]. PMID- 2625953 TI - [Who will teach physicians' teacher?]. AB - The paper is concerned with the problems of high medical school. The grounding of the lecturers and instructors is believed unsatisfactory. The causes underlying low effectiveness of the staff training, clinical instructors in particular are analyzed. The author proposes establishment of All-Union Institutes for Advanced Training for high medical school specialists. The principles of the institutes organization and activity are discussed. As an alternative, it is suggested to train skilled staff in large medical institutes at specially created chairs of pedagogics. PMID- 2625954 TI - [Certification of physicians-therapists according to the qualifications category]. PMID- 2625955 TI - [Methodological approach to the teaching of clinical pharmacology]. PMID- 2625956 TI - [Evaluation of external respiratory function in patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis using radionuclide methods]. AB - A trial was designed to study shifts in various mechanisms of external respiration (ER) distress in chronic obstructive bronchitis by type of respiration insufficiency (RI). Combined clinicoroentgenological, spirographic, endoscopic and radionuclide (133Xe radiopneumography and 99Tc scintigraphy) examinations were conducted in 66 patients (41 males and 25 females aged 20-60 with 2-17-year history of chronic obstructive bronchitis) versus 30 healthy controls. ER parameters assessed in 4 groups of patients (with-out resting RI, with obstructive and mixed RI variants) by+radiopneugraphy and scintigraphy were found abnormal for either lung and both lungs as a whole. The abnormalities recorded correlated with RI variant. The following parameters appeared most informative in studying ER in the bronchitis patients with radionuclide techniques: the volume of ventilated alveoli, respiratory capacity, total and functional residual lung capacity, index ventilation/blood flow, capillary blood flow, time of half elimination of Xe from the alveoli and vascular bed. The above parameters change for the worse with progressive deterioration of external respiration. PMID- 2625957 TI - [Physician-patient cooperation]. PMID- 2625958 TI - [Myocardial status, hemodynamics and pressor humoral substances in patients with bronchial asthma and arterial hypertension]. AB - The analysis of data obtained for 101 bronchial asthma (BA) sufferers with hypertension and 30 normotensive patients demonstrated the dependence of arterial hypertension in BA patients on a significant increase in the systemic peripheral resistance, pulmonary circulation pressure, diastolic dysfunction, reduced cardiac output, pulse brain filling as well as on elevated serotonin level and monoamine oxidase hyperactivity. The findings provided additional information on the causes and triggering mechanisms of arterial hypertension in BA patients, are helpful in design of antihypertensive treatment and the disease prevention. PMID- 2625959 TI - [Value of cardiospecific immunologic tests in the diagnosis of myocardial lesions of autoimmune nature]. PMID- 2625960 TI - [Liver damage caused by HIV infection]. AB - Hepatic status was studied in 7 HIV-infected patients at the stage of generalized lymphadenopathy. Intravital needle biopsy obtained from the livers characterizes the latter as enlarged, showing signs of protein-synthesis dysfunction, morphological evidence of mild cytolysis, cholestasis, moderate mesenchymal inflammatory syndrome. The study of autopsy specimens obtained from hepatic tissue of the woman who had died of AIDS disclosed more advanced lesions: hepatocytes dystrophy, intralobular and periportal infiltration. The conclusion is made on the necessity of liver function examination entailing due therapeutic measures when following up patients with HIV infection and AIDS. PMID- 2625961 TI - [Correlations of the indicators of biochemical composition and physico-chemical properties of the bile in chronic cholecystitis]. AB - The study of the factors relevant to the bile colloid stability in aggravation of calculous or ++non-calculous cholecystitis demonstrated changes in aggregative kinetic stability of bile presenting with low boundary of the phase transition, electrokinetic potential, mass and growing size of macromolecular compounds. This is much coupled with high bile levels of protein, calcium and iron which exhibited mutually potentiating effect. At the same time, hydrolysis of protein containing bile components +determined by the increment of amine and sulfhydryl groups evidences for colloid destabilizing active role of calcium and iron. In view of this finding elevated concentration of iron and calcium in exacerbations of cholecystitis may have both diagnostic significance and be indicator of the role of inflammation in lithogenesis. PMID- 2625962 TI - [Various characteristics of collagen metabolism in patients with chronic diseases of the liver]. AB - The correlation of collagen metabolism to liver contents of cyclic AMP and GMP as well as blood level of hormones was investigated in 105 patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. In patients with active hepatitis and cirrhosis showing the highest intensity of collagen metabolism there appeared elevated levels of cyclic AMP, somatotropic hormone and insulin against low levels of hydrocortisone and thyroxin. The relations between characteristics of plasma protein-bound oxyproline (PBOP), circadian oxyprolinuria and regulatory mechanisms under study suggest a competitive control of hepatic connective tissue metabolism maintained by hormones via cyclase systems. In high levels of blood PBOP and low ones of hydrocortisone, glucocorticoids unlike D-penicillamine promoted inhibition of liver collagen synthesis. PMID- 2625963 TI - [Effectiveness of cytochrome P-450 inducer Benzonal in the treatment of acute hepatitis]. AB - Forty-six patients with acute viral hepatitis (AVH) varying in severity received standard therapy. Twenty of them were given an adjuvant 6-day course of benzonal. The activity of liver monooxygenase was evaluated before, after treatment (for 6 8 days) and at the height of the disease using antipyrine++ test. AVH was found to inhibit liver monooxygenase activity, this inhibition being on the increase with growing severity of the disease. Standard therapy failed to manage this condition, whereas the addition of benzonal lead to recovery of normal values of the antipyrine++ test. Benzonal-treated patients showed more rapid discontinuation of clinical and biochemical symptoms, their hospital stay was shorter. It is concluded that antipyrine++ test is an adequate criterion in the assessment of AVH gravity and in the prognosis of its course. An adjuvant treatment of AVH with benzonal promotes the recovery of monooxygenase system of hepatocytes resulting in disappearance of the clinical symptoms of the disease. PMID- 2625964 TI - [Antipyrine test in the diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis]. AB - Functional inhibition of the drug liver metabolism seems to start at early subclinical stages of cholecystitis. Antipyrine++ level in the initial saliva sample drops significantly and continues to change with growing structural impairment of the biliary system in progression of chronic noncalculous cholecystitis into calculous one. PMID- 2625965 TI - [A prognostic criterion for the course of chronic recurrent pancreatitis]. AB - Disorders in the blood kallikrein-kinin system presenting mainly with kallikrein elevation and accelerated rate of bradykinin release from kininogen, hyperhistaminemia and hyperserotoninemia may be considered natural for chronic recurrent pancreatitis at the height of its exacerbation. Despite attenuation of the aggravation some patients continue to exhibit the above changes. Upon the analysis of the prospective follow-up data, such patients develop more progressive deficiency of pancreatic enzymes as shown by repeated pancreozymin tests. This fact is under consideration in the discussion on the prognostic role of kallikrein-kinin system dysfunction, hyperhistaminemia and hyperserotoninemia persistent registration when advancing the remission of the disease. PMID- 2625966 TI - [Complications of endoscopic examinations of the upper segments of the gastrointestinal tract]. AB - A ten-year experience with 106610 diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopies provided evidence of a 0.03% rate of relevant complications and 2.38% mortality. Out of 39 patients with endoscopy-related complications 5 were operated on: 4 had esophageal perforations, 1 had hemorrhage following biopsy of the ulcer. Out of 7384 therapeutic and operative endoscopies none were associated with lethal outcome. Surgery was avoided either. Complications developed in 45 patients (0.036%): in 44 patients hemorrhages occurred after electroexcision of the polyps. PMID- 2625967 TI - [Prognostic evaluation of the protective potential of gastric mucosa in stomach ulcer]. AB - Potentialities of medical iconics in assessment of a protective mucosal barrier in gastric ulcer have been studied. Prognostic criteria have been derived for a common and a torpid course of the disease. Pathogenetic mechanisms of the above forms are specified. PMID- 2625968 TI - [Diagnosis of Campylobacter infection in patients with diseases of the stomach and duodenum]. AB - The method of C. pylori diagnosis proposed by the authors proved more informative that histological detection of the infection. The technique employs evaluation of urease activity in gastric contents. Upon comparison of the two diagnostic modalities in 30 patients with chronic gastroduodenitis and peptic ulcer there was no definite correlation in their results. It was noted that C. pylori invasion produced negligible characteristic symptoms in gastroduodenal affections. PMID- 2625969 TI - [Characteristics of the clinical course and difficulties in the diagnosis of cancer of the right half of the colon]. PMID- 2625970 TI - [Surgical tactics in non-toxic nodular goiter]. AB - Surgical policy in 246 cases of nodular euthyroid goiter was reviewed. Urgent histological examination of operative biopsy specimens of the removed thyroid tissue has disclosed subclinical thyroid cancer in 6.6% of the patients. The authors hold that surgical intervention is an effective measure in prophylaxis and early detection of thyroid cancer in clinical cases of nodular nontoxic goiter. PMID- 2625971 TI - [Possibilities of early detection of postoperative pulmonary complications by evaluating the functional state of the autonomic nervous system]. PMID- 2625972 TI - [Central and regional hemodynamics in long space flights]. AB - This paper presents the results of studying central and regional hemodynamics in short-term (7 days) and long-term (65-237 days) space mission onboard Salyut-6- Soyuz and Salyut-7--Soyuz using the method of tetrapolar rheography. During space flights circulation changes were observed: variations in pulse blood filling and tone of regional vessels (head, forearm, leg) and insignificant changes of stroke volume and cardiac output. In response to exercise tests the contribution of stroke volume to cardiac output decreased and that of the chronotropic function of the heart increased. These changes were induced by variations in the hemodynamic status of the human body and were, to a certain extent, dependent on flight duration and position of the vascular area relative to the heart. The changes suggested that the circulation system retained its adaptive capabilities in flights of 237 days in duration. PMID- 2625973 TI - [Morphological studies of rat adrenal glands after space flight on "Kosmos 1667"]. AB - Histological and histomorphometric examinations of rat adrenals after a 7-day flight revealed the following changes: blood congestion in the cortex and medulla, progressive delipoidization of the cortex, slight enlargement of the nuclear volume of glomerular and fascicular zones, vacuolization of the cytoplasm of medulla cells, reduction of the area of noradrenocyte islets and cell nuclei of the medulla; the adrenal weight remained however unchanged. It is concluded that an early period of adaptation to microgravity was accompanied by a weak stress-reaction. Upon return to Earth the rats developed an acute gravitational stress. From the morphological point of view the stress manifested as: increased volume of nuclei in fascicular cells, decreased content of lipids in them, and greater vacuolization of the cytoplasm of medulla cells. The lack of medulla hypertrophy, reduction of the area of noradrenocyte islets and nuclei of medulla cells suggest that 7-day exposure to microgravity did not exert of stimulating effect on the sympathetic system of rats. PMID- 2625974 TI - [Free course of circadian rhythms in Trigonoscelis gigas beetles after space flight]. AB - Before and after space flight on Cosmos-1887 motor activity of Trigonoscelis gigas beetles kept in darkness was recorded. After flight 6 out of 7 beetles showed reduction of periods of free running circadian rhythms. The fact that the change was not observed in controls suggests that it can be attributed to the effects of O G. It is assumed that in space flight the biological requirements for the day duration are modified. PMID- 2625975 TI - [Effect of active metabolites of vitamin D 3 on the status of rat bone tissue in various experimental models of hypokinesia]. AB - Rats were for 6 weeks either kept in small cages or suspended. The caged rats showed hypocalcemia and lowered active transport of calcium in the intestine and no changes of PTH in blood. Femoral bone measurements in these rats revealed reduced density and content of calcium and phosphorus in proximal epiphyses, slight increase of these parameters in diaphyses and lack of changes in distal epiphyses. The suspended rats exhibited normocalcemia, noticeable but insignificant increase of PTH and calcium absorption as well as decreased density and content of calcium and phosphorus in distal epiphyses and their slight increase in diaphyses. Administration of active vitamin D3 metabolites led to an increase of bone mineral density and content only in those femur compartments where hypokinesia-induced changes were seen. It is concluded that during hypokinesia bone disorders are predominantly produced by local factors that may increase bone sensitivity to systemic influences. PMID- 2625976 TI - [Changes in the reaction of rat bone tissue to hypokinesia after administration of hydroxymethyl aminopropylidene bisphosphonate]. AB - During 35-day hypokinesia rat spongy bone in the tibia and vertebrae varied in two phases. The first phase (up to 15 days) was induced by a stress-reaction and the second phase by adaptation to hypokinesia. Under the influence of subcutaneous injections of hydroxydimethyl aminopropylidene biphosphonate (AMOK) at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg/day bone changes disappeared: throughout the study spongy bone mass remained as in controls. AMOK administration at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day 10 days prior to hypokinetic exposure did not eliminate its inhibitory effect although the initial bone mass was 1.5-2 times higher than in the controls. However at the adaptation phase (beginning with day 15) bone mass increased, reaching the baseline. This indicates a decline in bone sensitivity to muscle unloading. It is concluded that AMOK modifies bone responses to various hypokinetic factors. PMID- 2625977 TI - [Contractile function of the heart of guinea pigs after long-term continuous stress]. AB - Guinea-pigs exposed to 60- and 100-day biosocial stress were used to examine the contractile function of the heart in the whole body and in an isolated state. A 60-day stress effect caused adaptation which included increases in the intensity of heart contractility and in its weight unit by 29% and 38%, respectively. Measurement of resistance of such an adapted heart to isometric load produced by a short-term aortic occlusion showed increases in maximal rates of its contraction and relaxation by 34-35%. After a 100-day stress-effect the strength and velocity of heart contraction and resistance to isometric load returned to normal; however, the intensity of the function of the weight unit increased by 27 32%. The effect of adaptation was also seen in an isolated heart: after a 100-day exposure the isolated hearts did not lose their ability to react to a greater preload according to Starling's law; moreover at the filling pressure 15 cm H2O their cardiac output increased by 50% as compared to the baseline. This observation suggests that the process of adaptation of guinea-pig hearts to chronic stress involves not only activation of central mechanisms of regulation but also enhancement of mechanisms of self-regulation but also enhancement of mechanisms of self-regulation. PMID- 2625978 TI - [Endogenous ethanol in the blood and tissues of rats with hypobaric hypoxia]. AB - Albino male rats weighing 160-180 g were used to study the effect of short-term hypobaric hypoxia (ascent in an altitude chamber to 2500 m and 5000 m for 1 hr) on endogenous ethanol measured in blood, brain and liver; simultaneously enzymes responsible for ethanol and acetaldehyde metabolism were determined. Endogenous ethanol in blood and tissues was found to be a very sensitive marker of hypoxia which was not correlated with lactate, pyruvate, lipid peroxidation or 11 hydroxycorticosteroids. The latter parameters varied in response to severe hypoxia. PMID- 2625979 TI - [The hypothalamo-hypophyseal neurosecretory system of rats with altitude hypoxia]. AB - Neurosecretory components of the hypothalamic-pituitary neurosecretory system of white rats react to high mountain hypoxia by a phase-by-phase mobilization of neurosecretory compounds (NSC). Their peak quantities in the sphere equal to their total content in the supraoptic nucleus occur on adaptation day 20. Assuming that on day 20 neurosecretory cells of type Ia amount to 14%, we obtain 64.3 X X 10(-4) quanta of NSC. This value is in agreement with the data on a lower increase of NSC in the pituitary during 14 days of adaptation to high mountain hypoxia. The level of migration of Homori-positive granules measured functionally was greater than the quantum content of NSC in the supraoptic nucleus. This points to axoplasm stagnation in the course of NSC transport induced by aggregation of neurosecretory granules at the phase of active adaptation. An important factor here seems to be the structural state of the presynaptic membrane itself which determines the quantum transport of NSC. On adaptation days 3 and 10 spontaneous discharge of NSC increases drastically (large percentage of NSC of type Ia); on adaptation days 20 and 40 synthesis of NSC in hypoxic terminals also grows. It is probable that high mountain hypoxia affects metabolism of the terminal--NSC discharge and vesicular apparatus--on adaptation day 60. PMID- 2625980 TI - [Immunologic status of patients with acute altitude sickness]. AB - T- and B-cells were examined in 56 patients with acute mountain sickness exposed to 3600 m above sea level. They showed T- and B-lymphopenia, decreased PHA- and Con A-induced blast formation from T-cells, reduced content of T mu cells and increased content of T gamma and 0 cells. These changes persisted for as long as 5 months. It was demonstrated that individuals susceptible to acute mountain sickness had a lower level of E-RFC and T mu cells and a higher level of 0 cells. These characteristics seen in the baseline produced a negative effect on the adaptation process. PMID- 2625981 TI - [Effect of single exposure of the seeds of Lactuca sativa to heavy ions of galactic cosmic radiation at orbital manned space stations "Saliut-6" and "Saliut 7"]. AB - This paper presents the results of measuring single heavy ions (HI) of galactic cosmic rays during 40- to 457-day flights of manned orbital stations Salyut-6 and Salyut-7. Cytogenetic analysis of Lactuca sativa seeds showed a significant increase of aberrant cells and cells with multiple chromosome aberrations in seeds hit with HI compared to non-hit++ seeds during flights of 123 to 457 days in duration. There was a good correlation between curves showing aberrant cells as a function of flight of the dose absorbed, viz. 16.0 to 63.4 mGy. These findings suggest a high biological effectiveness of heavy ions of galactic cosmic rays. PMID- 2625982 TI - [Ultrastructural changes in the rat cerebellar cortex in the remote periods after exposure to accelerated carbon ions]. AB - The cerebellar cortex of rats irradiated with carbon ion fluxes of 320 Mev/nuclon and 60Co gamma-radiation was examined by light and electron microscopy 1, 3 or 6 months after exposure. Carbon ions induced the greatest pathomorphological changes. A month after exposure the changes were diffuse and reversible while 3 and, especially, 6 months after irradiation they were focal disorders, a large portion of which being irreversible. 3 and 6 months after exposure some structures of the cerebellar cortex showed destructive while others exhibited reparative changes. Structural disorders in various nerve and glial cells were of different type. Disorders of the Purkinje cells were of the dark type and those of adjacent Bergmann glial cells of the light type. In the granular layer, neurons showed light type changes and adjacent oligodendrocytes, a densely packed karyo- and cytoplasm and a higher osmiophilia. It can be assumed that the above changes are to maintain disordered neuronal functions, including cell interactions. Study of time course variations in the neuronal and glial ultrastructure of the cerebellar cortex of irradiated animals shows an increase of destructive changes with time. This investigation has demonstrated that CNS cells may be damaged long after exposure even to small fluxes of heavy charged particles. PMID- 2625983 TI - [Use of the ferrocerone test for measuring iron reserves in different types of daily activities]. AB - A test using an iron containing agent, i.e. ferrocerone, was developed to measure iron reserves in the body. After breakfast the subject took a ferrocerone tablet (0.3 g) containing 0.04 g iron. Iron content was measured in 24 hour urine samples with the aid of bathophenanthroline++. Iron excretion was assessed in 24 ambulatory test subjects, aged 18-21 years. Two basic types differing in the excretion rate in different times of the day. After testing the renal excretion rate of the agent in healthy people was 20.8 +/- 0.7 mg. Iron reserves during head-down tilt tests of various duration were estimated in 20 test subjects, 6 of whom participated in a 50-day study (-6 degrees) and 14 in a 120-day study (-4.5 degrees). Iron utilization was highest on readaptation day 13 (in the 50-day study) and on bed rest days 65-75 (in the 120-day study). Increase in iron requirements coincided in time with the period of hemoglobin recovery. PMID- 2625984 TI - [Effect of smoking on body resistance in an enclosed environment]. AB - Cigarette smoking in an enclosed environment produces a distinct unfavorable effect on infection resistance, reduces exercise tolerance and increases the morbidity rate. Smoking-induced decline of infection resistance manifests as inhibition of the level of defence reactions and decline of intracellular digestion. Disorders in the cellular component of nonspecific protection are aggravated by changes in antimicrobial resistance of the skin and local macrophagal immunity of the lungs. All this increases the general and infectious morbidity rate of smokers in an enclosed environment. PMID- 2625985 TI - [Study of lipid ligands in serum albumin in sportsmen using thin layer chromatography]. AB - Lipid composition and the ability of serum albumin to bind lipid components and products of their peroxidation were investigated in cyclists of different rating during moderate workloads. Ratios of subfractions of phospholipids and other lipid metabolites in blood serum albumin were determined by the method of thin layer chromatography. Diene conjugates and diene ketones were found to be actively formed in plasma of highly trained cyclists in whom a high lipid capacity of albumin was associated with its low affinity for lipid hydroperoxides. PMID- 2625986 TI - [Activity of NADP-dependent cytoplasmic dehydrogenases in the liver and adipose tissue of rats in the restorative period after hypokinesia]. PMID- 2625988 TI - [Understanding death]. PMID- 2625989 TI - [Accompanying the dying. Interview by Martin Frischknecht]. PMID- 2625987 TI - [When dying patients don't eat or drink. Dehydration--to treat or not to treat?]. PMID- 2625990 TI - [1. World AIDS day: to care about each other]. PMID- 2625991 TI - [The children of this world]. PMID- 2625992 TI - [We will not relinquish perioperative nursing]. PMID- 2625994 TI - [AIDS: the lung in the line of sight]. PMID- 2625993 TI - [The nurse and the pain of the infant]. PMID- 2625995 TI - [The sufferings of a people]. PMID- 2625996 TI - [Revision of the directives. Still more questions]. PMID- 2625997 TI - [From the infernal circle to concrete work...]. PMID- 2625998 TI - [Hospital practice in France and in Switzerland (1). What is the difference?]. PMID- 2625999 TI - [A clinic without electricity]. PMID- 2626001 TI - [Medico-social coordination group of la Broye. Option for community health care]. PMID- 2626000 TI - [Home care--how does one manage to stay at home?]. PMID- 2626002 TI - [The Romand center for paraplegics--evolution and future perspectives]. PMID- 2626003 TI - [AIDS: test your knowledge]. PMID- 2626004 TI - [Hospital procedures in France and in Switzerland (2). Effect of the system on the patient's and the care-giver's autonomy]. PMID- 2626005 TI - [Promotion of nursing care in Haiti--concerted efforts]. PMID- 2626006 TI - [Recognition of the new nursing diplomas: a state of alarm?]. PMID- 2626007 TI - [Nursing--in spite of problems]. PMID- 2626008 TI - [AIDS documentation]. PMID- 2626009 TI - [Meeting on continuing education of the Basel Intensive Care Group. How can work satisfaction be maintained?]. PMID- 2626010 TI - [Emotion and fantasy processes in dialysis units--a presentation. Discovering transferences and dissolving them]. PMID- 2626011 TI - Recent advances in steroid biochemistry. Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium of the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry. Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain, 28-31 May 1989. PMID- 2626012 TI - Interaction of the chicken progesterone receptor with heat shock protein (HSP) 90. AB - The chicken progesterone receptor A (PRA) was expressed from cDNA by in vitro transcription and translation and also by transient transfection of receptor negative COS M6 cells. These receptors synthesized from cDNA exhibited functional properties similar to those of oviduct PRA. The ability of PRA to form an 8S complex and to bind to DNA was studied. PRA, synthesized by either expression system, formed an 8S complex which was dissociated by incubation in vitro with 0.4 M NaCl or 20 nM progesterone to generate a 4S species able to bind to DNA cellulose. The presence of HSP 90 in the PRA 8S complex was confirmed by use of an HSP 90-specific antibody, AC-7. Expression constructs coding for various receptor deletions were studied in order to identify the site of interaction of PRA with HSP 90. Deletions of 290 amino acids from the C-terminus resulted in the loss of ability to form an 8S complex. Truncated receptor proteins lacking 153 amino acids from the C-terminus or 369 amino acids from the N-terminus were able to interact with HSP 90. These data suggest that the site of interaction between PRA and HSP 90 responsible for 8S complex formation may be in this region (amino acid 369-506). However, small internal amino acid deletions in this region of PRA did not result in the loss of interaction of mutant receptor proteins with HSP 90. Thus, it appears that there may be more than one site of interaction between PRA and HSP 90 in this region. PMID- 2626013 TI - Fish oil enhancement of 131I-conjugated anti-human milk fat globule monoclonal antibody experimental radioimmunotherapy of breast cancer. AB - BALB/c nude mice (nu/nu) carrying established human transplantable breast tumors (MX-1) and fed fat from either fish oil (MaxEPA), corn oil, or lard, were treated with either an unconjugated mixture or an 131I-labeled cocktail of Mc1, Mc3, Mc5 and Mc8 four anti-human milk fat globule monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). MaxEPA diet by itself reduced mean volume of tumor MX-1 to 36% below that of both the corn oil and lard diets. Injection of unconjugated MoAbs reduced tumor volumes only in corn oil fed nude mice when each group was compared to their respective controls. Treatment with 131I-MoAbs produced large tumor volume reductions in all groups with the three different diets. The greatest reduction was obtained with the synergistic effect of MaxEPA and 131I-labeled MoAbs. PMID- 2626014 TI - Immune-deficient animals to study "hormone-dependent" breast and endometrial cancer. AB - Athymic (nu/nu) mice are T cell deficient and can accept xenografts of human tumor material. Hormone-dependent tumor growth can be demonstrated in ovariectomized athymic mice by estrogen administration. Estrogen receptor (ER) positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells implanted into the axillary mammary fat do not grow into palpable tumors unless sustained release preparations of estrogen are administered. The non-steroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen, though it exhibits estrogenic properties in the mouse, does not facilitate MCF-7 tumor growth (during short term, i.e. 8 weeks of therapy) and can prevent estradiol-stimulated growth. In contrast, ER negative MDA-MB-231 cells grow with or without estrogen administration and tamoxifen does not control tumor growth. These statements reflect current dogma concerning the value of athymic mice to confirm the hormone dependent growth of cancer cells in vivo. Our aim has been to define the limits of this dogma and to investigate the growth relationship of hormone-dependent and independent cells with their host environment. The potential endocrine or paracine effect of ER negative tumors on the growth of ER positive tumors was evaluated by transplantation on opposite sides of athymic mice or by the inoculation of different ratios of ER positive/negative cells (MCF-7:MDA-MB-231 9:1, 99:1, 999:1). MCF-7 cells could not be encouraged to grow by a rapidly growing MDA-MB-231 tumor on the opposite side of the animal. Similarly ER negative tumors grew out of the mixed tumor inoculates suggesting that ER positive tumors could not be encouraged to grow preferentially by the paracrine influences of ER negative cells. However, estrogen facilitates the growth of an ER positive tumor following inoculation of mixed cell populations. Antiestrogen treatment can blunt estrogen-stimulated growth but cannot control the growth of ER positive/negative containing tumors. ER positive endometrial tumors grow in response to estrogen treatment and some (EnCa101) have been shown to grow in response to tamoxifen or a combination of tamoxifen and estrogen. More unusual though is our recent observation that an ER negative primary endometrial tumor (BR) and its metastasis (BR-MET) grow more rapidly in estrogen-treated athymic mice. This finding seems to have far-ranging consequences for our view of hormone dependent growth. Either our view of estrogen-stimulated growth needs to be modified or the host is specifically altered during estrogen treatment. We have taken the position that since natural killer cells (present in athymic mice) can be lowered by estrogen this may result in an increased tumor cell survival in the heterotransplant model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2626015 TI - cis- and trans-acting elements of the estrogen-regulated vitellogenin gene B1 of Xenopus laevis. AB - Vitellogenin genes are expressed under strict estrogen control in the liver of female oviparous vertebrates. Gene transfer experiments using estrogen-responsive cells have shown that the 13 bp perfect palindromic element GGTCACTGTGACC found upstream of the Xenopus laevis vitellogenin gene A2 promoter mediates hormonal stimulation and thus, was called the estrogen-responsive element (ERE). In the Xenopus vitellogenin genes B1 and B2 there are two closely adjacent EREs with one or more base substitutions when compared to the consensus ERE GGTCANNNTGACC. On their own, these degenerated elements have only a low or no regulatory capacity at all but act together synergistically to form an estrogen-responsive unit (ERU) with the same strength as the perfect palindromic 13 bp element. Analysis of estrogen receptor binding to the gene B1 ERU revealed a cooperative interaction of receptor dimers to the two adjacent imperfect EREs which most likely explains the synergistic stimulation observed in vivo. Furthermore, a promoter activator element located between positions --113 and --42 of the gene B1 and functional in the human MCF-7 and the Xenopus B3.2 cells has been identified and shown to be involved in the high level of induced transcription activity when the ERE is placed at a distance from the promoter. Finally, a hormone-controlled in vitro transcription system derived from Xenopus liver nuclear extracts was exploited to characterize two additional novel cis-acting elements within the vitellogenin gene B1 promoter. One of them, a negative regulatory element (NRE), is responsible for repression of promoter activity in the absence of hormone. The second is related to the NF-I binding site and is required, together with the ERE, to mediate hormonal induction. Moreover, we detected three trans-acting activities in Xenopus liver nuclear extracts that interact with these regions and demonstrated that they participate in the regulation of the expression of the vitellogenin promoter in vitro. PMID- 2626016 TI - Overexpression and hormonal regulation of pro-cathepsin D in mammary and endometrial cancer. AB - Pro-cathepsin D is overexpressed in breast cancer cells compared to normal mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, its processing and maturation are altered resulting in increased secretion. In estrogen-responsive breast cancer cell lines such as MCF7 cells and ZR75-1 cells, the 2.2-kb cathepsin D mRNA is accumulated specifically by estrogens and growth factors. Estrogen regulation is mostly transcriptional, while growth factors stabilize the mRNA and act indirectly. In estrogen-receptor-negative cell lines, there is a constitutive high production of cathepsin D mRNA. Moreover in uterine cells, progesterone is the inducer rather than estrogen, indicating the complexity of regulation by steroids, depending on the tissue. The increased production of cathepsin D appears to be correlated with the aggressiveness of the tumour, as shown by retrospective clinical studies, suggesting a role in mammary carcinogenesis. PMID- 2626017 TI - IgA in uterine tissue: effect of estrous cycle, hormone treatment and intrauterine immunization. AB - In order to determine whether uteri synthesize and store IgA, rats were sacrificed and uterine tissues placed in organ culture for 24 h under the following conditions: (i) at various stages of the estrous cycle, (ii) following ovariectomy and treatment with estradiol, and (iii) after intrauterine immunization with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). When IgA was analyzed in tissues both prior to and following organ culture and in incubation media, no significant increases in total IgA were observed, nor was IgA release into media reduced when cycloheximide, a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis, was present. Analysis of uterine tissues indicated that IgA levels remained relatively constant throughout the estrous cycle and was not markedly increased when ovariectomized rats were treated with estradiol (2 micrograms/day) for 3 days. These results indicate that tissue IgA levels remain relatively constant even during estradiol treatment, when uterine luminal IgA levels are known to increase markedly. Analysis of ovariectomized rats that received intrauterine immunizations with SRBC indicated tenfold greater amounts of IgA in immunized tissues than did uteri from intact or ovariectomized animals. Despite this, no evidence of protein synthesis was obtained, based on measurements of total IgA content before and after organ culture or inhibition of IgA synthesis by cycloheximide. These results indicate that IgA synthesis under the conditions examined is not occurring, but that uterine tissue may serve as a significant storage depot for IgA synthesized either distal to or within uterine tissues at times other than those analyzed in the present study. PMID- 2626018 TI - Estrogens and the skeleton: cellular and molecular mechanisms. AB - Postmenopausal women lose bone mineral density and this loss can be prevented by estrogen administration. Although the skeletal effects of estrogens have been regarded previously as indirect, estrogen receptors have been discovered in cultured human osteoblasts and related cell lines. The UMR106 cell line derived from a rat osteogenic osteosarcoma is such an osteoblast model. We have shown direct effects of estradiol (E) on these cells in vitro, inhibiting growth and stimulating alkaline phosphatase activity (AP) corrected for cell number. This response was maximal at E conc. of 10(-10) M in serum and Phenol Red free medium, was metabolite specific and cell cycle-dependent. These cells contain high affinity binding sites with a Kd of 0.5 nM. Estrogen receptors were detected by the monoclonal antibody H-222 on Western blot after initial immunoprecipitation to concentrate the proteins. E treatment increased several enzymes including creatine kinase and LDH isoenzymes along with increments in intracellular transferrin. Transforming growth factor-beta is secreted by these cells. Secretion of this peptide was stimulated by E. TGF-beta mediated the transient growth inhibition associated with E treatment. Insulin like growth factors (IGF) are also secreted by these cells with IGF-II concentrations in the culture medium being eight times higher than IGF-I levels. E treatment increased the concentrations of both IGFs in the culture medium after a 3 day incubation. Exposure of E treated cells manifested a mitogenic response and reduced AP, indicating that E induced receptors for IGFs. These findings establish direct effects of E on osteoblastic cells in vitro and demonstrate responses to E at many levels. These osteoblast responses in vitro suggest an important role for sex steroids in the development and function of the osteoblast lineage. PMID- 2626019 TI - Estradiol induction of accelerated energy metabolism in prepuberal rat uteri in vitro: mRNA hybridization and [13C]NMR studies. AB - In vitro treatment with 30 nM 17 beta-estradiol stimulated the induction of mRNA for the brain type isozyme of creatine kinase BB (CKBB) and stimulated glucose metabolism in perifused uteri from 27-29-day-old rats. The perifusion conditions maintained the normal NMR spectrum of high energy phosphates for at least 24 h. This technique permitted the demonstration that perifused rat uteri stimulated by 17 beta-estradiol show increased mRNA for creatine kinase BB, 1 h after estrogen addition. The time-course of increase, measured by Northern blot hybridization, parallels that seen in mRNA extracted from uteri after in vivo induction by i.p. injection of 5 micrograms 17 beta-estradiol; the maximal increase is seen at 2-4 h. Experiments utilizing actinomycin D (4 micrograms/ml) for inhibition of RNA synthesis showed that CKB mRNA from both untreated and estradiol stimulated uteri had a similar half-life, of approximately 2 h, indicating that CKB mRNA is transcriptionally regulated. In the same system, the rate of glycolysis was measured by NMR spectroscopy using [1-13C]glucose. Following in vitro stimulation with 30 nM estradiol, glycolysis increased within 3 h, in parallel to increases previously found in uteri from in vivo stimulated rats. PMID- 2626020 TI - Ontogeny of the estrogen receptor in the chick oviduct. AB - The distribution of estrogen receptor (ER) in the chick oviduct was studied immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibody H222, known to recognize chick ER [1]. The ontogeny of ER appeared to be very dependent on cellular differentiation. In the undifferentiated oviduct ER was located in the epithelial, mesothelial, stromal and smooth muscle cells. During differentiation ER disappeared from the surface epithelium, mesothelium, stromal and smooth muscle cells. At the onset of differentiation the protodifferentiated gland cells invaginated into the underlying stroma; these cells expressed ER. In the fully differentiated chick oviduct ER was located only in the tubular gland cells, which correlates with the known transcriptional activity of estrogen-induced ovalbumin-gene. However, we have reported estrogen dependency of PR also in ER negative stromal cells, the mechanism being so far unknown. It is possible that there are mechanisms other than ER regulating the expression of PR. Estrogen induced differentiation did not differ from normal maturation in regard to the distribution of ER. Since stromal, epithelial, mesothelial and smooth muscle cells were ER-negative in the mature oviduct, the concentration of ER, i.e. ER binding sites/cell is underestimated when whole tissue homogenates are used. PMID- 2626021 TI - Organometallic derivatives of estradiol as bioligands: targetted binding of the estradiol receptor. AB - The complexation of estrogens by transitional metal units e.g. (alkyne)Co2(CO)6 and (alkyne)Mo2Cp2(CO)4, at the 17 alpha-position brings about a dramatic change in the chemical behavior of these compounds with respect to that of the free ligands. The 17 beta-OH function becomes particularly labile, even in weakly acidic medium, giving rise to carbenium ion-like species, from which, depending on the metal and the nucleophile, substitution, elimination and rearrangement take place. This situation provides the basis for a new type of active site directed-reagent for estradiol receptor. The hypothesis of vicinal space positioning of an acidic and a nucleophilic group in the estradiol receptor cavity is examined in the light of the amino-acid composition of the steroid binding domain. The requirement of the sulfhydryl group of a cysteine residue is suspected in the first step of the receptor inactivation process. PMID- 2626022 TI - The human androgen receptor: domain structure, genomic organization and regulation of expression. AB - The domain structure and the genomic organization of the human androgen receptor (hAR) has been studied after molecular cloning and characterization of cDNA and genomic DNA encoding the hAR. The cDNA sequence reveals an open reading frame of 2751 nucleotides encoding a protein of 917 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 98,845 D. The N-terminal region of the hAR is characterized by a high content of acidic amino acid residues and by several homopolymeric amino acid stretches. The DNA-binding domain showed a high homology with the DNA binding domain of the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) and the human progesterone receptor (hPR). The predominantly hydrophobic steroid binding domain of the hAR is 50-55% homologous with the ligand binding domains of the hGR and hPR. Transient expression of recombinant AR cDNA in COS-cells resulted in the production of a 110 kDa protein with the expected binding specificity of androgen receptors. Co-transfection with a reporter-gene construct [CAT(chloramphenicol acetyl transferase) under direction of the androgen regulated MMTV-promoter] showed that the protein is functionally active with respect to transcription regulation. In the LNCaP prostate carcinoma cell line two major (11 and 8 kb) and one minor (4.7 kb) mRNA species can be found which can be down-regulated by androgens. The hAR protein coding region was shown to be divided over eight exons with an organization similar to that of the progesterone and oestrogen receptor. The sequence encoding the N-terminal domain was found in one large exon. The two DNA-binding fingers were encoded by two small exons; the information for the androgen-binding domain was found to be distributed over five exons. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA revealed that the hAR is encoded by one single gene, which is situated on the X-chromosome. PMID- 2626023 TI - Prostate androgen receptor: immunohistological localization and mRNA characterization. AB - Four androgen receptor (AR) specific monoclonal antibodies were used for the immunohistochemical localization of AR in the human prostate tissue. The prostate tissue consisted of alveoli embedded in fibromuscular stroma and lined with a single layer of columnar secretory epithelial cells. The immunoreactive ARs were found predominantly in the nuclei of epithelial cell, suggesting ARs, like estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors, are mainly nuclear proteins. Northern blot hybridization showed that AR mRNA is about 9 kilobases (kb) and relative abundant in the androgen-sensitive organs, such as ventral prostate, dorsolateral prostate and seminal vesicle. PMID- 2626024 TI - Evidence that removal of an endogenous metal that stabilizes the untransformed glucocorticoid receptor in cytosol allows ligand-independent receptor transformation. AB - Cytosol preparations contain an endogenous heat-stable factor which stabilizes the glucocorticoid receptor in its untransformed, non DNA-binding form. Elution of a partially purified preparation of this stabilizing factor through a metal chelating resin (Chelex-100) leads to the loss of its ability to inhibit temperature-mediated transformation of the receptor. Sodium molybdate mimicks the ability of this endogenous metal to stabilize the untransformed receptor, and it too is adsorbed by Chelex resin. When an L-cell cytosol preparation containing the glucocorticoid receptor is passed through a column of Chelex-100 resin and then incubated at 15 degrees C, the receptor is rapidly transformed to the DNA binding state, regardless of whether it is steroid-bound or not. In contrast, whole cytosol containing endogenous metals is transformed to the DNA-binding state only when the receptor is both steroid-bound and exposed to elevated temperature. these data suggest that a metal (or metals) may be involved in conferring the property of ligand-dependency to the transformation process. PMID- 2626025 TI - Analysis of glucocorticoid receptor subspecies binding to DNA-cellulose and isolated nuclei. AB - Conversion of the glucocorticoid receptor into a DNA-binding protein results in the generation of several distinct receptor subspecies (peaks A-E) which can be resolved by anion exchange chromatography. In vitro, the fraction of the receptor population (approx. 40%) which gains a capacity to bind DNA-cellulose is preferentially transformed into the peak A species by a process that was enhanced by the presence of KCl. At 0.4 M KCl, virtually all of the DNA-binding receptor was in the peak A form. Isolated nuclei also exhibit a receptor binding profile similar to that observed with DNA-cellulose. PMID- 2626026 TI - Occurrence of glucocorticoid binding sites in solubilized microsomes from rat liver. AB - Recent studies suggested the presence of specific glucocorticoid binding sites on rat liver microsomal membranes. We report here a new solubilization procedure which allows the physicochemical characterization of the microsomal glucocorticoid binding sites. Solubilization was achieved with 2 mM CHAPS in the presence of 5 mM benzamidine. Binding of [3H]cortisol showed a high affinity (Kd = 5.1 x 10(-9) M) and a limited capacity (0.72 pmol/mg of protein). The binding activity was abolished by elevated temperature and pronase. Competition experiments revealed that natural glucocorticoids and progesterone were highly potent competitors whereas dexamethasone and triamcinolone acetonide did not compete. Chromatography on DEAE Trisacryl and heparin Ultrogel confirmed that the solubilized protein is different from corticosteroid binding globulin and the cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor. Treatment of microsomal fractions with phosphatidyl inositol phospholipase C promoted the release of specific binding activity suggesting a putative glycosylphosphatidyl anchor for this protein. This finding may have interesting implications concerning the mechanism of glucocorticoid hormone action. PMID- 2626027 TI - Identification of constitutive and steroid-dependent transactivation domains in the mouse oestrogen receptor. AB - We have identified two transactivation domains in the mouse oestrogen receptor whose activities depend on the target promoter. The major domain is contained within the C-terminal portion of the protein and depends upon oestrogen binding for its activity. The location and oestrogen dependence of this domain has been confirmed using chimaeric receptors containing the Lex A DNA binding domain. Although transactivation by the C-terminal domain is dependent upon ligand binding the analysis of receptor deletion mutants has demonstrated that these two functions are not entirely coincident. The second transactivation domain lies within the N-terminal region and is active in the absence of oestradiol. The differences in oestrogen requirement for the activity of the two transactivation domains may account for the partial agonist activity of certain antihormones. PMID- 2626028 TI - Glucocorticoid receptors and dissociation constant (Kd) are decreased in mononuclear leukocytes of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) as compared to normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). AB - We were able to show that spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats (SHR-SP) have a lower number of glucocorticoid receptors (P-value is of borderline significance, 0.01 greater than P less than 0.05) with a highly significant lower Kd (P less than 0.0005), i.e higher affinity in their mononuclear leukocytes, compared to normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The plasma levels of corticosterone, aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone of the two strains do not differ. PMID- 2626029 TI - Progesterone receptor is constitutively expressed in chicken intestinal mesothelium and smooth muscle. AB - We have previously shown that progesterone receptor (PR) is expressed in the mesothelium of the chick oviduct and ovary and in the smooth muscle cells of the oviduct and the bursa of Fabricius. Here, we investigated the presence of PR in different parts of the peritoneum and abdominal organs using an immunohistochemical staining based on monoclonal antibodies against chicken PR. In 4-week-old sexually immature chicks, PR expression was located in the mesothelial cells of different parts of the peritoneum, in a thin layer of muscle cells of the ileum and throughout the muscle tissue of the colon and cloaca. In chicks of the same age treated with estrogen, PR was demonstrated similarly in the peritoneum and in the smooth muscle cells of the ileum, colon and cloaca. Using 25-week-old mature chickens, PR was also detected in identical tissues. Immunoblotting of the cloacal cytosol revealed the B form, but no A form of PR, both of which were found in the oviduct samples. Muscle cells of the duodenum and jejunum were not found to contain PR. Estrogen treatment was not needed to stimulate the production of PR in any of the tissues examined. We therefore conclude that the B form of PR is constitutively expressed in the mesothelial cells in different parts of the peritoneum and also in the smooth muscle cells of the ileum, colon and cloaca. PMID- 2626030 TI - A highly charged sequence of chick hsp90: a good candidate for interaction with steroid receptors. AB - The sequence of the entire chick 90 kDa heat shock protein (hsp90), the non hormone binding component of the heterooligomeric form of steroid receptors, is reported. A comparison of the amino acid sequence of the chick hsp90 to that of the homologous hsp90 from yeast to man, reveals 64-96% identity respectively, and even with E. coli hsp90 an identity of 44% is observed. Analysis of the sequence and a secondary structure prediction of chick hsp90 suggest that two hydrophilic regions A and B, predicted in alpha-helix may play a role in the interaction of hsp90 with other proteins such as steroid hormone receptors. While there are regions of the sequences completely conserved in all hsps90, the most negatively charged hydrophilic region (A) is absent in the E. coli protein. PMID- 2626031 TI - Effects of dietary sodium restriction and potassium intake on cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 and adrenodoxin mRNA levels. AB - We studied the effect of dietary sodium restriction (3 weeks) and high potassium intake (7 days) on transcriptional regulation of cytochrome P-450 cholesterol side chain cleavage (P-450 scc) and adrenodoxin (Adx) in rat adrenal glands. Northern blotting analysis demonstrated that both treatments markedly increased P 450scc and Adx mRNA levels in the zona glomerulosa (Z-G) and the zona fasciculata reticularis (Z-F-R) compared with controls. The Z-G appears to be more sensitive to variations in electrolytes than does the Z-F-R. The low sodium diet provoked a 2.9-fold increase in P-450scc mRNA level in the Z-G compared to 2.1-fold in the Z F-R, whereas Adx mRNA levels were enhanced 2.2- and 1.7-fold respectively in these two zones. Restriction of sodium intake provoked significant increases in plasma ACTH, aldosterone and corticosteroids compared with controls. In the Z-G of KCl-loaded rats, we found a 1.6-fold increase in P-450scc and a 2.1-fold increase in Adx mRNA levels, and in the Z-F-R there was a 1.7- and 1.8-fold enhancement. There were no changes in beta-actin mRNA levels upon dietary treatments. These results thus indicate that both sodium depletion and high potassium intake in rats could act at the transcriptional level of P-450scc and Adx, two components of a rate-limiting step in steroidogenesis leading to aldosterone production. In addition, the elevation in plasma ACTH level in response to Na+ restriction suggests a possible involvement of ACTH in the response of the adrenal glands to sodium depletion. PMID- 2626032 TI - Isolation and characterization of human TR3 receptor: a member of steroid receptor superfamily. AB - Complementary DNAs (cDNAs) encoding a member of steroid receptor super-family, named TR3 receptor, were isolated from a human prostate lambda gt11 cDNA library on the basis of homology of oligonucleotide probes to the DNA-binding domain common to members of the steroid receptor super-family. Expression of TR3 receptor cDNA produced a 64 kDa DNA-binding protein in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that TR3 receptor cDNA contains two regions of sequences which correspond to the DNA- and hormone-binding domains of members of the steroid receptor super-family. The amino acid sequences in the hormone-binding domain of the TR3 receptor shares about 20% homology with estrogen receptor and less than 15% homology with other known steroid receptors. The DNA-binding domain of the TR3 receptor has about 55% homology with all other known steroid receptors. TR3 receptor had 86% nucleotide and 91% amino acid sequence homology with mouse NUR/77, suggesting that TR3 receptor may be a human homologue of mouse NUR/77 gene product. PMID- 2626033 TI - Antagonism between estrogens and androgens on GCDFP-15 gene expression in ZR-75-1 cells and correlation between GCDFP-15 and estrogen as well as progesterone receptor expression in human breast cancer. AB - The androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) caused a maximal 65% inhibition of proliferation of the human breast cancer cells ZR-75-1 after a 10-day incubation period. The same treatment, on the other hand, stimulated by 25-fold the secretion of the breast marker protein GCDFP-15 (gross cystic disease fluid protein-15). The stimulatory effect of DHT on GCDFP-15 mRNA accumulation was already significant (1.6-fold, P less than 0.01) after a 12 h exposure and reached a maximal 25-fold increase after a 12-day incubation period. On the other hand, a 2-day exposure to 1 nM 17 beta-estradiol (E2) alone decreased by 60% GCDFP-15 mRNA levels while it completely blocked the 2.5-fold stimulation of GCDFP-15 secretion induced by concomitant incubation with DHT. Furthermore, a 10 day incubation with E2 increased by 4-fold the proliferation of ZR-75-1 cells whereas such treatment decreased by about 85% both GCDFP-15 mRNA accumulation and the secretion of the glycoprotein. The presence of GCDFP-15 mRNA in human breast cancer samples was restricted to estrogen receptor positive tumors and was significantly correlated with progesterone receptor expression. PMID- 2626034 TI - Structural components necessary for the antiestrogenic activity of tamoxifen. AB - The biological activities of tamoxifen derivatives that contain various side chain alterations were studied using a T47D breast cancer cell growth assay in vitro. We studied the activity of various analogs to determine the important aspects of side chain composition and aryl ring positioning on antiestrogenic activity. Previous studies utilizing a rat pituitary cell prolactin synthesis assay have shown that substitution of the aminoethoxy side chain for an allyl side chain resulted in agonist activity, whereas the addition of a glyceryl side chain produced antiestrogenic activity. In the present study utilizing T47D cells, compounds with alkyl or allyl substitutions were partial agonists, as were compounds with bulky para-substituted benzyl group constituents. A tamoxifen derivative with a side chain containing an ethyl ester was antiestrogenic (IC50 = 2 x 10(-6) M) and effectively inhibited estradiol (10(-10) M) stimulation of growth. However, a compound with a short similar methyl ester-containing side chain did not possess any activity. Compounds with carbinol-containing side chains were antiestrogenic (IC50 = 2.8-3.5 x 10(-7) M). All of the compounds displaying antiestrogenic activity could be "rescued" by incubation with estradiol (10(-8) M) and therefore were not nonspecifically toxic to the cells. These results support the hypothesis that the presence of a lone pair of electrons within the side chain region of tamoxifen may be required for antiestrogenic activity. Also, nonplanar placement of the aryl ring of the triphenylethylene-type of compound is critical for potency. PMID- 2626035 TI - Androgen receptors: structures, mutations, antibodies and cellular dynamics. AB - An overview of recent studies from this and other laboratories on the structures and intracellular dynamics of androgen receptors is presented. Human and rat androgen receptors are unique in that, aside from their DNA and androgen binding domains, they have amino terminal regions rich in oligo- and poly(amino acids) motifs as in some regulatory and homeotic genes. Point mutations that cause sequence changes or deletion of regions of androgen receptors appear to be responsible for some cases of androgen-insensitivity. Monoclonal antibodies produced against specific regions of the androgen receptor bind to androgen receptors but not other major steroid receptors. Androgen receptors in the human and rat prostate, and monkey seminal vesicle were localized to the nucleus of target cells in these tissues with these antibodies; androgen receptors also were found in the cytoplasm of some target cells. Actinomycin D and 3'-deoxyadenosine, inhibitors of transcription, RNA processing and nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of RNA, interfere with the intracellular dynamics of androgen receptors, suggesting as we have proposed previously that androgen receptors may function not only at the site of transcription but also are involved in posttranscriptional regulation of mRNA stability and utilization. PMID- 2626036 TI - Effect of steroids and antisteroids on human meningioma cells in primary culture. AB - Human meningiomas are rich in progestin receptors but virtually devoid of oestrogen receptors. We have studied the hormonal sensitivity of meningioma cells in vitro during 8 days of primary culture in the presence of different steroids and antisteroids. On day 8 the thymidine labelling index (TLI) was determined as a measure of cell growth. To date 30 cultures have been established from 39 tissue specimens. 13 cultures had a TLI below 1.0 and their growth were not affected by hormones. The TLI of the other 17 cultures was 3.0 +/- 1.7 (mean +/- SD; range 1.2-7.7). Following culture in the presence of 1 and 10 nM progesterone TLI was 83 +/- 28% (n = 9) and 61 +/- 29% (n = 3) of that of the control cultures respectively. Although in individual cultures occasional differences were found, the overall values are not statistically different from 100. Similarly, 1 nM of oestradiol and testosterone had no effect on the TLI (n = 3). Tamoxifen at 1 nM increased the TLI to 138% in one culture and decreased it to 66% of the control in another. The antiprogestin mifepristone (RU 486) in concentrations of 0.1, 1.0, 10, 100 and 1000 nM decreased the TLI to 72 +/- 30; 54 +/- 20; 55 +/- 20; 59 +/- 18 and 65 +/- 10 respectively (n = 6-15; P less than 0.05 vs control). It is concluded that although a growth promoting effect of progestins on meningioma could not be shown, the therapeutic possibilities of antiprogestins warrant further investigation. PMID- 2626037 TI - The effect of calcitriol on natural killer cell activity in hemodialyzed patients. AB - We report the effect of calcitriol on natural killer (NK) cell activity in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing long-term hemodialysis. Natural killer cytotoxicity was significantly decreased in these patients when compared to healthy control subjects (13.1 +/- 1.3 vs 38.8 +/- 2.4%, P less than 0.001). These patients also have decreased levels of calcitriol (17 +/- 3 vs 36 +/- 3 pg/ml, P less than 0.001). After 14 days of oral treatment with calcitriol at a dose of 0.5 micrograms per day, a significant increase in NK activity was observed (20.2 +/- 1.6%, P less than 0.001). This increase was maintained after 28 days of treatment (21.1 +/- 2%, P less than 0.001). These results suggest that the decreased serum calcitriol might contribute to the diminished NK activity found in hemodialyzed patients, and suggests a new potential therapeutical utility of calcitriol as modulator of the immune function in these patients. PMID- 2626038 TI - The antitumor mechanism of progesterone antagonists is a receptor mediated antiproliferative effect by induction of terminal cell death. AB - The antiprogesterones Onapristone, ZK 112.993 (Schering AG), and Mifepristone (Roussel-Uclaf) proved to possess progesterone receptor-mediated antiproliferative effects in experimental mammary carcinomas. In this study, the potency and mechanism of the antitumor action of Onapristone and ZK 112.993 is characterized by ovariectomized, progestagen and/or estradiol substituted mice bearing hormone-dependent MXT(+) mammary tumours. Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 0.8 mg/mouse, 3 times weekly, s.c.) could only induce a poor stimulation of tumour growth (% T/C = 40; intact control % T/C = 100), which was only marginally inhibited (% T/C = 21) by Onapristone (0.2 mg/mouse, 6 times weekly, s.c.) during a 6-week therapy. Therefore, the antitumor mechanism of antiprogesterones cannot preferably depend on a classical progesterone antagonism. In contrary, the pronounced stimulation of tumor growth (% T/C = 152) by estradiol benzoate (EB, 0.33 microgram/mouse, 3 times weekly, s.c.) was completely inhibited (% T/C = 7) by the antiprogesterones. An even more stimulated tumour growth was achieved by a combination of EB and MPA (% T/C = 365 using 0.17 mg; % T/C = 225 using 0.8 mg MPA). Onapristone dramatically blocked tumor growth (% T/C = 7) at the lower dose of MPA; no inhibition (% T/C = 203), however, was detected at the higher dose of MPA. These data and a morphological analysis indicate that the potent antitumor activity of the progesterone antagonists depends on the binding to a number of available progesterone receptors high enough to trigger an antiproliferative effect via the induction of terminal differentiation associated with terminal cell death. PMID- 2626039 TI - Comparative dose-effect studies with four C-17-spirosteroidal mineralocorticoid synthesis inhibitors. AB - Interference of three spirolactones and a spiro-oxazolidine with mineralocorticoid biosynthesis in the concentration range of 10(-4)-10(-10) M has been studied in isolated dispersed z. glomerulosa cells. Inhibitory effects on several enzyme activities involved in the late steps of aldosterone synthesis have been determined. Different patterns of enzyme inhibition could be observed for each inhibitor. The points of interference were mostly related to cytochrome P450-C11-activities (i.e. 11 beta-/18-hydroxylation and 18-OH-oxidation). PMID- 2626040 TI - Binding studies of the antiglucocorticoid RU38486 in Daudi and Raji lymphoma cells. AB - The activity of RU38486 has been studied in Burkitt's lymphoma cells which are Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive. The early antigens (EA) of the virus are induced by dexamethasone (DXM) in Daudi but not in Raji cells, whereas a growth factor (transforming growth factor-beta, TGF-beta) induces the EA in both cell lines. RU38486 blocks the EA induction obtained by DXM or by TGF-beta in either cell line. In order to understand the interaction of RU38486, we considered its binding to specific receptors. We first investigated the binding of the antagonist in whole cells at 22 degrees C. A number of specific binding sites higher for RU38486 than for DXM was found, suggesting that RU38486 may bind to the glucocorticoid receptor and also to other cellular structures which we called the antiglucocorticoid binding sites ("AGBS"). To support this hypothesis, competition experiments have been conducted between RU38486 and other steroid hormones (progesterone and testosterone) since it is known that RU38486 is also able to interact with their cognate receptors. Binding studies of RU38486 in vitro at 4 degrees C in the presence of cytosolic extracts from Daudi and Raji cells led to conclusions similar to those drawn from the whole cell experiments: more complexes were formed with RU38486 than with DXM. Finally, the steroid receptor complexes were incubated with DNA-cellulose. Since the binding measured for RU38486 was higher than for DXM, we suspect that sites different from the classical glucocorticoid receptor sites are also able to interact with DNA. The blockage exerted by RU38486 on the EA induced by glucocorticoids or by non steroidal molecules and the lack of responsiveness to glucocorticoids in Raji cells are discussed in the light of the present findings. PMID- 2626041 TI - Interrelationship between RU38486 and the P450 activities in rat liver. AB - Microsomal P450 monooxygenases contribute actively to the biotransformation of the antiglucocorticoid RU38486, an 11 beta-substituted nor-steroid. Pretreatment of adult rats by inducers of specific forms, belonging to different P450 subfamilies, affects the ability of liver microsomes to metabolize RU38486. Phenobarbital and pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile increase the metabolic activity of liver microsomes whereas methylcholanthrene decreases their capacity to oxidize the steroid. Thus P450 forms IIIA, IIB1,2 and IIC7 are good candidates to be involved in the degradation of this peculiar molecule. Our study has been completed by investigating whether RU38486 would influence the P450 spectrum. Whereas the treatment of rats with either a glucocorticoid (cortisol, dexamethasone) or an antiglucocorticoid (pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile) has been shown to induce the P450 activity by increasing the hepatic concentration of form IIIA, we observed a slight decrease of the P450 activity by treating the animals with RU38486. Moreover RU38486 was able to antagonize the P450 induction by the other steroids as well as it inhibits the synthesis of various liver enzymes induced by glucocorticoids (for instance tyrosine aminotransferase). These findings may be important for the therapeutic use of RU38486 since its inhibitory effect on P450 activity may be at the origin of drug interactions by modifying the endogenous hormonal status. PMID- 2626042 TI - Effect of interleukin-6/interferon-beta 2 on glucocorticoid action in rat hepatoma cells. AB - Reuber hepatoma cells (RHC) were treated 4 h with dexamethasone (dex), with and without simultaneous fibroblast-conditioned medium (cIL-6). A cytosol fraction, prepared in the presence of molybdate and dithiothreitol, was analyzed for [3H]dex (20 nM) binding in the presence and absence of 1 microM dex at 4 degrees C. Receptor levels declined from 76.0 fmol/mg at zero dex to 28.8 fmol/mg at 10 nM dex, and to 11.8 fmol/mg at 1 microM dex (P less than or equal to 0.05). cIL-6 plus 10 nM dex lowered binding to 18.3 fmol/mg (P less than or equal to 0.05), and treatment with cIL-6 alone diminished binding to 9.8 fmol/mg (P less than or equal to 0.05). Thus, cIL-6 diminished the number of available glucocorticoid receptors. PMID- 2626043 TI - Stable transfection of the oestrogen receptor gene into a human osteosarcoma cell line. AB - The oestrogen receptor (ER) gene was introduced into an ER-negative osteoblast like osteosarcoma cell line HTB 96 by transfection. A number of clones were isolated which expressed ER at levels of up to 70 fmol/mg cytosol protein as determined by immunoassay. Scatchard analysis of the binding of [3H]17 beta oestradiol in cytosols demonstrated the presence of high affinity binding sites, with a dissociation constant of 0.08-0.13 nM at 4 degrees C. High levels of a 3 kb ER mRNA are produced by the clones, which have gene copy numbers ranging from 2 to greater than 10. Functional receptor activity has been demonstrated by co transfection of a plasmid containing the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene linked to an oestrogen response element. Induction of CAT activity is observed in the presence of added oestradiol and is concentration-dependent. The transfected ER is also able to affect endogenous cellular function as several ER positive clones, but not HTB 96 cells, are growth inhibited by oestradiol in the concentration range 10(-9)-10(-7) M. These effects on growth are not induced by other classes of steroids and are reversible by antioestrogens. No endogenous genes have yet been identified which are oestrogen-regulated in ER-transfected clones. PMID- 2626044 TI - Monoclonal antibody characterization of progesterone receptors, estrogen receptors and the stress-responsive protein of 27 kDa (SRP27) in human uterine leiomyoma. AB - Uterine leiomyoma occurs in one of every four or five women during their reproductive life. Its origin is unknown but it is accepted that estrogens play a significant role in its development. In order to learn more about the estrogen dependency of leiomyoma, the biochemical and immunological properties of two markers of estrogen response in target cells (the progesterone receptor (PR) and the stress-responsive protein of 27 kDa (SRP27)) were studied in leiomyoma. The ER (estrogen receptor) and PR content were determined by conventional DCC exchange assays. Specific anti-ER, anti-PR and anti-SRP27 monoclonal antibodies were used in immunoblots and immunohistochemical (IHC) studies. The binding properties of PR from cytosol of leiomyoma showed a Kd of 0.8-1.3 nM, which is in the range described for other human tissues. 80% of all studied leiomyoma contained PR, in a range of 805-2000 fmol/mg protein. The Kd for leiomyoma ER was 0.1-0.9 nM, and 84% of the samples were positive for ER. The PR of leiomyoma has the two A and B forms of 120 and 94 kDa, as shown in the immunoblot using the AB52 anti-PR monoclonal antibody. The IHC study revealed that the PR is concentrated in the cell nuclei, in the form of perinuclear bodies, with a homogeneous staining pattern from cell to cell. The leiomyoma fibres contain SRP27 in a higher concentration than the healthy myometrium. The leiomyoma SRP27 shows a typical doublet of 24 kDa and 27 kDa in immunoblot, the same as in MCF-7 cells. The IHC study revealed a high degree of organization of SRP27 in leiomyoma cells, suggesting that this protein may be part of the cytoskeleton. The results obtained show that human leiomyomas contain ER, PR and RSP27 with similar immunological and biochemical properties to those of other human tissues, including the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. PMID- 2626045 TI - Epidermal growth factor receptors in human breast and endometrial carcinomas. AB - The incidence and levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were studied in 67 breast tumors and 22 endometrial carcinomas. Estrogen receptors (ER) were also measured in all samples and progesterone receptors (PR) were analyzed in 57 breast samples and 21 endometrial tumors. A high level of EGFR expression is found in both breast and endometrial carcinomas, although the incidence of EGFR content is greater in breast carcinomas. 36% of breast tumors had EGFR at levels 3-49.5 fmol/mg membrane protein, whereas this percentage of positivity was 27% for endometrial tumors. In 51% of breast carcinoma and 73% of endometrial tumors, there was a positive ER content, whereas 53% of breast tumors and 62% of endometrial carcinomas were positive. A clear inverse relationship between EGFR content and ER and PR status has been observed in breast tumors. Our data confirm the previously described inverse correlation between expression of EGFR and estrogen receptors in human breast cancer. We also show here that there is a similar inverse relationship between EGFR content and ER levels in endometrial tumors. PMID- 2626046 TI - Diet and urinary estrogen profile in premenopausal omnivorous and vegetarian women and in premenopausal women with breast cancer. AB - The urinary estrogen profile was studied in the midfollicular phase twice, and diet four times during 1 yr in 10 premenopausal breast cancer (BC) patients consuming an omnivorous normal Finnish diet and in two control groups, one consuming an omnivorous (n = 12) and the other a lactovegetarian (n = 11) diet. Total fat intake in relation to caloric intake was almost identical in all three groups. Only with regard to grain fiber intake did the BC patients differ significantly from both other groups. No differences were found between the groups with regard to urinary excretion of 13 individual estrogens and total estrogens, with the exception of 4-hydroxyestrone (4-OH-E1), which was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in the BC group than in the vegetarians. A high carbohydrate to protein ratio in the diet had a negative correlation with the excretion of 2-hydroxyestrogens and 2-hydroxyesterone (2-OH-E1) to 4-OH-E1 ratio. The BC group had significantly higher urinary 2-OH-E1 to E1 ratio (P less than 0.05) compared to the vegetarians. The 2-OH-E1 to 4-OH-E1 ratio was highest in the BC group (= 7.1) and differed significantly from that of the omnivores (= 4.3; P less than 0.02) and vegetarians (= 3.6; P less than 0.005). This ratio showed a negative correlation with intake of carbohydrates, starch, total and grain fiber. Urinary excretion of 4-OH-E1 correlated positively with total and grain fiber intake and plasma SHBG. Protein intake correlated positively with urinary 2-methoxy-E1 excretion, and retinol intake positively with catechol estrogen, E1 and E2 excretion. It is concluded that estrogen production and urinary estrogen profile in premenopausal breast cancer patients is normal with the exception of a low 4-OH-E1 excretion and high urinary 2-OH-E1 to 4-OH-E1 ratio. This ratio, which seems to depend on diet, is the only urinary estrogen parameter separating premenopausal BC patients from the control omnivorous and lactovegetarian women. PMID- 2626047 TI - The non-activated glucocorticoid receptor: structure and activation. AB - Glucocorticoid hormone receptors are present in the soluble fraction of target cell homogenates as large entities (Mr approximately 300,000) that are unable to interact with DNA. These large complexes contain an Mr approximately 94,000 steroid- and DNA-binding polypeptide, in association with an Mr approximately 90,000 non-ligand-binding entity, which has been identified as a heat shock protein, hsp90. This protein has been purified to near homogeneity as a component of the non-activated receptor complex. Characterization of the purified protein revealed its presence as a dimer in the large receptor form. Dissociation of the receptor-hsp90 complex can be induced by heat treatment only when ligand is bound to the receptor, as demonstrated by specific DNA-binding assay and sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation, hsp90 represents ca 1% of total proteins in rat liver cytosol, and milligram amounts were purified using a combination of high performance ion exchange and gel permeation chromatography. Monospecific antibodies were raised in rabbits. They were found to precipitate the intact non activated glucocorticoid receptor, as well as the Mr approximately 27,000 steroid binding fragment of the receptor generated by trypsin treatment, indicating that hsp90 interacts with the steroid-binding domain of the glucocorticoid receptor. Finally, translation of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA in reticulocyte lysate yields a protein which also interacts with hsp90 and binds to DNA only after ligand-binding and heat treatment. Thus, the glucocorticoid receptor is synthesized in a non-activated form also in vitro. PMID- 2626048 TI - 17 beta-Hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase activity in the endometrium of normal women and patients with pelvic pain and polycystic ovaries. AB - 17 beta-Hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (17-OHSD) activity in the endometrium of women with pelvic pain syndrome (PPS) and/or polycystic ovaries (PCO) was compared with that of a control group. In both groups there was a 10-fold increase in 17-OHSD activity in secretory phase tissue compared with that of the proliferative phase, measured by both oxidative and reduction pathways, and a highly significant correlation between the two directions (P less than 0.001). In normal subjects, the ratio of activity measured under oxidative conditions: reducing conditions, at all stages of the cycle except late proliferative phase, was 2.1-2.9. In the late proliferative phase the ratio was 5.5 which was significantly different from other stages of the cycle. Similar ratios were found for the PPS/PCO group (proliferative phase 2.5, secretory phase 5.6); these were also significantly different (P less than 0.01). On the basis of this study oestrogen metabolism in the endometrium of women with PPS and/or PCO appears to be no different from that of normal subjects. Measurement of enzyme activity in high speed soluble and particulate fractions of endometrial homogenate indicated the presence of two activities with different cofactor requirements. Gel filtration chromatography of the soluble fraction revealed a single peak of activity coincident with a molecular weight of 30 kDa with a strong preference for NAD + as cofactor. These preliminary findings suggest the presence of both soluble and particulate forms of 17-OHSD activity in the endometrium. PMID- 2626049 TI - An age-dependent thymic secretion modulates testicular function. AB - The acetone extract obtained from the thymuses of 14-day-old rats contains a factor that interacts with hCG in the adult testis cells and inhibits testosterone production. Experiments were designed to investigate the possible secretion of this factor. The media from the incubation of thymuses from 14-day old rats were processed by molecular sieve chromatography and the fractions assayed using a bioassay with testicular cells in vitro. A fraction of approx. 30 kDa was found to inhibit the hCG-stimulated production of testosterone. In addition, the influence of age on the release of the active fraction was investigated. The inhibitory effect of this thymus product was greatest in the neonatal period (1-14 days) and declined thereafter towards the onset of puberty. The age-related decline of the inhibitory activity correlated with relative thymus weight and also with the amount of protein released to the incubation media. Thymic fraction activity is, however, present in the adult gland. These results suggest that the thymus secretes active agents that are able to modulate the response of testicular cells to hCG and that their release seems to be age related. PMID- 2626050 TI - Lack of diurnal variation in plasma levels of androstenedione, testosterone, estrone and estradiol in postmenopausal women. AB - Plasma 4-en-androstenedione, testosterone, estradiol and estrone were measured during the day in six healthy postmenopausal women and in six breast cancer patients, three of whom received treatment with glucocorticoids. Blood samples were obtained at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 noon, 4 p.m., 8 p.m. and 12 midnight. There was a considerable variation in plasma levels of all steroids during the day; for 4-en-androstenedione the mean within patient coefficient variation was 61.4%, for testosterone it was 28.9%, for estrone it was 17.8% and for estradiol it was 29.2%. While the plasma levels for all steroids tended to be higher in the morning than in the evening, the changes were not statistically significant (Friedman's test: P greater than 0.10). We conclude that although a moderate diurnal variation in the plasma level of these steroids may occur, it is of a moderate magnitude compared to variations due to other causes. PMID- 2626051 TI - Interaction between rat prostatic steroid 5 alpha-reductase and 3-carboxy-17 beta substituted steroids: novel mechanism of enzyme inhibition. AB - Efforts to identify novel compounds capable of blocking the steroid 5 alpha reductase (SR) catalyzed conversion of testosterone (T) to 5 alpha dihydrotestosterone have resulted in the development of 17 beta-substituted-3 androstene-3-carboxylic acids as potent inhibitors of the rat prostatic enzyme. The dead-end inhibition patterns of one of these steroidal acrylates, 17 beta-N (2-methyl-2-propyl)-carbamoyl-androst-3,5-diene-3-carboxylic acid were best evaluated with a linear uncompetitive kinetic model vs both T (Kii = 11 +/- 1 nM) and NADPH (Kii = 22 +/- 2 nM). To interpret these observations, the kinetic mechanism of the rat prostatic SR was shown to involve the binding of NADPH prior to that of T through a series of dead-end and product inhibition experiments. Within the context of this preferentially ordered kinetic mechanism, it is proposed that the uncompetitive inhibition patterns result from the association of the steroidal acrylate to an enzyme complex containing NADP+ in formation of a dead-end ternary complex of enzyme, NADP+, and inhibitor. PMID- 2626052 TI - Glucocorticoid repression of pro-opiomelanocortin gene transcription. AB - Transcription of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene is repressed by glucocorticoids in the anterior pituitary gland. We have defined an element within the POMC promoter which is responsible for this regulatory feedback. This element, the "negative glucocorticoid response element" (nGRE), was localized in the proximal region of the POMC promoter and it contains a binding site for the glucocorticoid receptor. Receptor binding to the nGRE was correlated to hormone dependent repression by using promoter mutagenesis. The nGRE was also shown to contain a binding site for a nuclear protein of the COUP family of transcription factors. Since the binding sites for COUP and the glucocorticoid receptor overlap, glucocorticoid-dependent repression of POMC transcription may result from mutually exclusive binding of these two nuclear transcription factors. PMID- 2626053 TI - Regulation of glucocorticoid receptor activity. AB - Four levels of regulation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activity have been investigated. (1) Phosphorylation of the GR was studied in NIH 3T3 cells metabolically labeled with [32P]orthophosphate. A highly specific antiserum against the GR was used to immunoprecipitate 32P-labeled GR, and protein blotting was used to determine the GR concentration. Comparison of the relative specific activities of non-activated and activated receptor revealed a 3-4-fold increase in GR phosphorylation within 60 min upon hormone activation. (2) The affinity of the GR for its hormone response element (GRE) was quantitated in in vitro binding and gel shift experiments. The comparison of monomers, dimers and trimers of the GRE showed that GR binding affinity to multimers is much higher than the affinity for a GRE monomer. (3) The concentration of the GR was determined in quantitative protein blot assays as a function of time after hormone treatment of NIH 3T3 cells. A down-regulation of GR was observed. Only 30% of the maximal GR concentration observed in the absence of hormone remained after 24 h of hormone treatment. (4) The effect of the presence of hormone on the subcellular location of the GR was studied. Hormone treatment and withdrawal experiments indicated that the presence of hormone is not only required to initiate the cascade of events resulting in transcriptional trans-activation. GR translocated to the nucleus upon hormone addition returns rapidly to the cytoplasm upon hormone withdrawal. This indicated an active role for the hormone in the tight nuclear binding of GR. PMID- 2626054 TI - Analysis of cis- and trans-acting elements in the hormone-sensitive human somatotropin gene promoter. AB - The expression of the human growth hormone (hGH) gene is regulated by several transcription factors. Basal level transcription factors include TATA box-binding proteins, Sp1, USF and CTF/NF-1. The hGH gene is expressed only in pituitary somatotrophs, and the pituitary-specific GHF-1/Pit-1 protein is a potent transcriptional stimulator. Glucocorticoid and thyroid hormones, insulin, and GHRH which acts via cAMP, also control hGH gene transcription via trans-acting factors some of which are the hormone receptors themselves. Three transcription initiation sites were detected when hGH gene promoter activity was studied in a cell-free system. This system enabled us to delineate the respective role of some transcription factors and to propose a model that accounts for the basal, pituitary-specific, and hormonal control of hGH gene expression. PMID- 2626055 TI - A dynamic model of glucocorticoid receptor phosphorylation and cycling in intact cells. AB - Glucocorticoid receptors have been proposed to undergo an ATP-dependent recycling process in intact cells, and a functional role for receptor phosphorylation has been suggested. To further investigate this possibility we have examined the phosphate content of the steroid-binding protein of all glucocorticoid receptor forms which have been isolated from WEHI-7 mouse thymoma cells. By labeling of intact cells with 32Pi for 18-20 h in the absence of hormone, covalent binding of [3H]dexamethasone 21-mesylate, immunopurification and SDS-PAGE analysis, the steroid binding protein was found to contain, on average, 2-3 phosphates as phosphoserine. One third of the phosphates were associated with proteolytic fragments encompassing the C-terminal steroid-binding domain. The central DNA binding domain was not phosphorylated, leaving the other two thirds of the phosphates localized in the N-terminal domain. The phosphate content of various receptor forms from cells incubated with 32Pi and [35S]methionine was compared using 35S to normalize for quantity of protein. In ATP-depleted cells a non steroid-binding form of the receptor (the "null" receptor) is found tightly bound to the nucleus, even without steroid. The phosphate content of null receptors was two thirds that of cytosolic receptors from normal cells, suggesting phosphorylation-dependent cycling in the absence of hormone. Addition of glucocorticoid agonists, but not antagonist, to 32P- and 35S-labeled cells increased the phosphate content of the cytosolic steroid-binding protein up to 170%, indicating an average increase in the phosphates from about 3 to 5. After 30 min of hormone treatment the phosphate content of the steroid-binding protein of cytosolic activated (DNA-binding) and nonactivated receptors, and that of nuclear receptors extractable with high salt concentrations and/or DNase I digestion, was the same. No change in the phosphate content of the 90-kDa heat shock protein associated with unliganded and nonactivated receptors was detected following association of the free protein with the receptor and following hormone binding of the receptor. Analysis of the unextractable nuclear receptors indicated that they contained less phosphate (60% of that of cytosolic receptors), similarly to null receptors, indicating that dephosphorylation is associated with the unextractable nuclear fraction. The rate of hormone-dependent phosphorylation appeared to be much faster than the rate of dephosphorylation in the presence of hormone, the latter determined by a chase of the 32P label with unlabeled phosphate. Our results show that phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are involved in the mechanism of action of glucocorticoid receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2626056 TI - Steroid induction of low-affinity glucocorticoid binding sites in rat liver microsomes. AB - Rat liver contains two glucocorticoid binding sites: the high-affinity or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the low-affinity glucocorticoid binding sites, or LAGS. The Kd of LAGS predicts that they can be half-saturated by plasma corticosteroids in some physiological circumstances and, therefore, that they can play relevant roles in the rat liver. [3H]dexamethasone was used as a ligand in exchange assays, to study the relative abundance of GR and LAGS in cell fractions of rat liver. GR were found in the cytosol, but not in the purified nuclei, the mitochondria, or the microsomes. LAGS were found in all the particulate fractions, being more abundant in the smooth-surfaced microsomes, but they were not found in the cytosol. The LAGS of microsomes and purified nuclei showed the same Kd and also the same broad range of steroid competition with [3H]dexamethasone (cortisol = progesterone greater than dexamethasone greater than or equal to corticosterone greater than R5020 greater than DHEA greater than testosterone = estradiol). LAGS were found in liver, placenta and kidney, but not in other GR-containing organs. This suggests that the LAGS could be involved in physiological functions related to the metabolism of steroid hormones. The liver microsome LAGS were undetectable at rat birth, and became present in the 25-day old rat. The level of LAGS then increased progressively, reaching its maximum level in the 2-3-month-old rats (10 pmol/mg protein), and declining afterwards to reach the adulthood level (5 pmol/mg protein) in 6-month-old rats. LAGS are mainly controlled by the corticoadrenal steroids, which is shown by their dramatic decrease after adrenalectomy, and especially after hypophysectomy. Many steroid hormones, like estradiol, testosterone, and corticosterone (but not progesterone) induce LAGS, estradiol being the most effective. A combination of T4 and corticosterone was more effective in inducing LAGS than when the two hormones were injected separately. It is possible to conclude that rat liver LAGS are mainly microsomal proteins, whose concentration is regulated by a multihormone system under pituitary control. PMID- 2626057 TI - Error thresholds of replication in finite populations mutation frequencies and the onset of Muller's ratchet. AB - The occurrence of thresholds for error propagation in asexually replicating populations is investigated by means of a simple birth and death model as well as by numerical simulation. Previous results derived for infinite population sizes are extended to finite populations. Here, replication has to be more accurate than in infinitely large populations because the master sequence can be lost not only by accumulation of errors--similar to the loss of wildtype through the operation of Muller's ratchet--but also by natural fluctuations. An analytical expression is given which allows straight computation of highly accurate values of error thresholds. The error threshold can be expanded in a power series of the reciprocal square root of the population size and thus increases with 1 square root of N in sufficiently large populations. PMID- 2626058 TI - Stability effects of a juvenile period in age-structured populations. AB - Prior theoretical studies have shown that the juvenile period's length is an important determinant of local stability in age-structured population dynamics. For example, both short and long periods produce stability, but intermediate lengths can cause instability. Short juvenile periods significantly increase stability (compared to no juvenile period) if fecundity is independent of adult age. Here I re-examine these and other patterns, using a model which includes a variable juvenile period, juvenile mortality, density-dependent fecundity and adult mortality, and age-dependence is adult fecundity. Among other things, the results confirm the stable-unstable-stable pattern with increasing juvenile period length, but show that the stabilizing effect of short periods disappears when fecundity varies with adult age. Broadly speaking, the results suggest that age-dependence in adult fecundity has important dynamical consequences, and that models assuming that fecundity is independent of adult age may be unreliable guides to the dynamics of populations for which this assumption is not reasonably accurate. PMID- 2626059 TI - Control analysis of time-dependent metabolic systems. AB - Metabolic Control Analysis is extended to time dependent systems. It is assumed that the time derivative of the metabolite concentrations can be written as a linear combination of rate laws, each one of first order with respect to the corresponding enzyme concentration. The definitions of the control and elasticity coefficients are extended, and a new type of coefficient ("time coefficient", "T") is defined. First, we prove that simultaneous changes in all enzyme concentrations by the same arbitrary factor, is equivalent to a change in the time scale. When infinitesimal changes are considered, these arguments lead to the derivation of general summation theorems that link control and time coefficients. The comparison of two systems with identical rates, that only differ in one metabolite concentration, leads to a method for the construction of general connectivity theorems, that relate control and elasticity coefficients. A mathematical proof in matrix form, of the summation and connectivity relationships, for time dependent systems is given. Those relationships allow one to express the control coefficients in terms of the elasticity and time coefficients for the case of unbranched pathway. PMID- 2626060 TI - Sex differentiation in mammals and tempo of growth: probabilities vs. switches. AB - In the conventional model of sex differentiation in placental mammals, a switch is envisaged to steer the indifferent gonad into the path of either testicular or ovarian development. The immediate cause of the switch is thought to be the presence or absence of Sertoli cells, which in turn is controlled by the presence or absence of the testis-determining factor on the Y chromosome (TDF in humans, Tdy in mice). Quantitative investigations indicate, however, that the rate of growth of XY gonads is faster than that of XX gonads before the formation of Sertoli cells, and furthermore, that XY embryos develop faster than XX embryos long before the formation of gonadal ridges. Since the genetic constitution of the sex chromosomes appears to manifest itself from the earliest embryonic stages onwards, the concept of indifferent gonads being switched into alternate pathways becomes inappropriate. A model is proposed in which gonadal differentiation depends on developmental thresholds: the formation of Sertoli cells needs to occur by a particular stage in time in a sufficiently developed gonad, failing which the gonad will enter the ovarian pathway. While TDF is the principal factor enhancing the rate of gonadal growth, other factors which influence development rates can modulate the probability of a gonad becoming either a testis or an ovary. PMID- 2626061 TI - Isobolic determination of "ratio-linear" parameters in pharmacological stimulus response models. AB - Two response models of fundamental importance in pharmacology are introduced, which are partly-specified functions of experimental variables, unknown parameters and random disturbances. An analysis is carried out of the extent of determination of the parameters from knowledge of isobol structure alone, with results that are more powerful than might have been expected. Moreover, such knowledge is exhaustive, unless untestable assumptions are admitted. The paper is not concerned with statistical methods for estimating the determined parameters. PMID- 2626062 TI - Local topical delivery of drugs: a model incorporating simultaneous diffusion and metabolic interconversion between drug and a single metabolite in the skin. AB - A comprehensive biophysical model for the topical delivery of a drug and its single, locally active metabolite is proposed. This elaboration of the simpler case, in which the drug converts irreversibly to a pharmacologically active metabolite in the tissue, allows for enzymatic interconversion between drug and metabolite. Exact mathematical expressions give concentration-distance relationships of drug and metabolite as well as fluxes of the two molecules in terms of concentration of drug applied to the stratum corneum, permeability coefficient of drug in the stratum corneum, diffusion coefficients of drug and metabolite in the viable tissues (epidermis and dermis), rate constants for the two enzyme systems, and the thickness of the viable tissue. Constants included in the mathematical expressions can be evaluated independently by appropriate in vitro experiments with freshly excised animal skin. The model can then predict what physiochemical drug constants will lead to maximal levels of active metabolite at the site of activity within the skin. PMID- 2626063 TI - Four-strand structure, kinks and cruciforms in DNA. PMID- 2626064 TI - A Markov transition model in the analysis of the immune response. AB - A method for the analysis of repeated measures of immune response is given. Typically the reactions of response to stimulus do not occur at the same time for all experimental units so that regression models are inappropriate for this type of data. Instead Markov transition models are suggested and procedures given for testing differences among response patterns. PMID- 2626065 TI - Model for population distributions of lymphocyte-target cell conjugates. AB - A quantitative model for the population distributions of the different types of conjugates formed between cytotoxic T lymphocytes and target cells has been developed. The comparison of the theoretical predictions with data of the literature reveals that the transit populations among the different types of conjugates depends on the lymphocyte-to-target ratio, R, and two constants, k and k1. These constants (where k greater than k1) govern, respectively, the transit populations among conjugates of the type LTi (LTn----LTn-1----...LT), and among LjT conjugates (LT----L2T----...----LmT). We have found that high ratios are necessary to obtain conjugates where multiple T lymphocytes are bound to one target cell, and that under these conditions the predominant conjugate, LjT, varies according to j = 1 + k1R. Conversely, for low values of R the predominant population is of the type LTi, where i also shows a linear dependence on R. Our model explains also why the conjugate LT is normally the predominant population under the experimental conditions reported in the literature. A discussion of the influence exerted by the population distributions of lymphocyte-target cell conjugates on the kinetic of the lytic process for these kinds of effector-target systems has also been made. PMID- 2626066 TI - Effect of conjugate size on the kinetics of cell-mediated cytotoxicity at the population level. AB - We developed a model for the kinetics of target cell lysis by cytotoxic T lymphocytes which accounts for most facts observed at the population level. In contrast to previous models, the following facts: conjugate frequency of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes bound to target cell, dependence of this frequency on the lymphocyte-to-target ratio (R), variation of R with time as target cells are destroyed, and population distributions of the different types of conjugates formed between lymphocytes and target cells, which are involved in the kinetics of these kinds of effector-target systems have been contemplated in the model. The relationship with effector-kinetic analogy models for the lytic process has been discussed. Predictions of the model have been explored and compared with experimental observations about target cell lysis reported in the literature. PMID- 2626067 TI - [Determination of B and T lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage and peripheral blood of patients with active sarcoidosis]. AB - The total number of cells, alveolar lymphocytes as well as T lymphocytes is increased in BAL in patients with active sarcoidosis (acute phase and relapse) with disturbed relation T4-T8 subpopulation. T lymphocytes are significantly decreased in peripheral blood of patients with active sarcoidosis, while B lymphocytes are also decreased but without evident significance in relation to normal values. PMID- 2626068 TI - [The significance of early complications of the duodenal stump after resection of two-thirds of the stomach]. AB - The method Billroth II modification GEA in resection of gaster that we have chosen, has given very successful results. On our twelve-year experience of using this method, we had only 0.63% duodenal dehiscention that have closed spontaneously. The advance of this modificate method of resection of gaster takes the patient very soon back to his everyday life. Resection of gaster with GEA modification that we have called GEA antecolica sine Braun, is the method of choice. According to our material it is the most successful method with the least complications in the sense of duodenal dehiscention. PMID- 2626069 TI - [Changes in the small joints, skin and lungs in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes]. AB - In patients with juvenile diabetes a limited mobility of the small joints, changes of skin and pulmonary disorders were presented. In 108 children suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes the changes of joints and skin were examined, while in 22 patients spiroplethysmography was used. Limited mobility of the small joints was found in 50.92% of the juvenile diabetics and in 5.07% of the patients from the control group. 37.96% of the diabetics had thick, strained and waxen skin. Duration of the illness significantly influenced the occurrence of the articular and cutaneous changes. They were not found in a group of patients who had suffered from diabetes less than two years. When the illness lasted from 2-5 years, the changes of the small joints and skin were noticed in 22.73% and 4.54% of the children, respectively. In a group of patients who had suffered from diabetes for more than 10 years a limited mobility of the small joint was found in 89.28% of the cases, while 71.42% of the patients showed the signs of the skin changes. Vital capacity was significantly decreased (p?0.05) in a group of diabetics with serious changes of the small joints. Statistically significant of the total lung capacity, residual and forced expiratory volume were not found. The changes of the small and skin, as well as the pulmonary disorders, were the results of structural exchange of the connective tissue, which occurred due to increased glycolization of collagen. PMID- 2626070 TI - [Relation between microbiological monitoring and the risk of hospital infection in obstetrical departments]. AB - 1. The increased microbiological control of the total work process at maternity wards enables the timely notice of the contamination location. 2. A direct result of such control is an improvement of hygienic-technological procedures, disinfection and sterilisation at maternity wards. 3. A favourable epidemiological situation was registered during a two-year period following the epidemic (1986-1987) caused by the Coxsackie B virus with respect to a two-year investigation period preceding the epidemic (1984-1985). 4. During the two-year investigation period preceding the epimic 1,942 microbiological controls were performed at the Ginealogical-Obstetrics Clinic in Sarajevo. During the same period following the epidemic 3.321 microbiological controls were performed which is an increase of 1.7 times. 5. Increased number of controls influenced the improvement of the hygienic regime, and the basic parameters were: decreased prevalence of dangerous bacteria species, increased number of sterile swabs and a decreased number of pathogenous isolates. 6. The evaluation of hygiene and epidemiological risk of the medical equipment based on isolated pathogenous carriers prior and after the epidemic shows a significant difference (P less than 0.01). 7. There is a significant statistical difference (P less than 0.01) concerning the hygienic conditions of working clothes with respect to isolated pathogenous carriers before and after the epidemic. 8. Increased microbiological supervision resulted in the elimination of risks associated with working and floor surfaces since findings during the 1986-1987. period in comparison with the 1984-1985. period show significant statistical results with respect to pathogenous isolates (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626071 TI - [The effect of vasodilators on isolated smooth muscle]. AB - Bencyclane (Fludilat), Metamizol (Novalgetol) and Xanthinol nicotinate (Complamin) and their combination were considered as relaxators of smooth muscle. The smooth muscles were isolated from stomach, urinary bladder, oesophagus, vas deferens and aorta of rats. The electrical stimulations induced contractions. The mixture of vasodilators decreased the tonus and induced contractions. The single vasodilators increased tonus and induced spasm sometimes. PMID- 2626072 TI - [Detection of malignant disease in the eye and adnexa]. AB - Among the patients with malign eye and adnexal diseases the most frequent are basocellular tumors (67%). Meanwhile, in senium, the most frequent malign eye and adnexal disease is carcinoma (55%). Among all the patients with malign eye and adnexal diseases the most have got "O" blood group (40%). PMID- 2626073 TI - [Axillo-femoral bypass--an emergency operation]. AB - Our patient with peritonitis, chronical ileus and ileostoma has had the atherosclerotic occlusive changes in aorto-iliac area on both sides. Hypotensive crises must have made hemodynamic conditions worse, permitting thrombosis in the collateral circulation to cause acute ischemia of the right leg. Because of the bad general condition and infection on the anterior abdomen wall, the axillo femoral bypass has been the only way for the arterial reconstruction and salvation of the leg. PMID- 2626074 TI - [The importance of beginning antiepileptic therapy and aspects for its prognosis]. AB - Before we start the medical treatment of epilepsy, we have to examine the diagnostic again as well the factors significant for prognosis (etiology, type of seizure, cerebral structural changes, neurology deficiency, psychic changes, social handicap, etc.) The possibility of accidental seizure must be eliminated, the care of possible precipitating factors taken too. On principle the first seizure shouldn't be treated but if we decide to cure it, we have to make careful selection. The medical treatment must be done with one anticonvulsant. PMID- 2626075 TI - [The effect of preoperative treatment of hypertension using beta receptor blockers during spinal anesthesia in elderly persons]. AB - In preparation for general anesthesia in older people (over 60) with hypertension we do not interrupt the treatment with Beta-receptor-blockers, on the day of operation and in postoperative treatment. We have had good results for years and we can recommend this method of treatment. PMID- 2626076 TI - [Echocardiographic approach and clinical significance of aberrant ventricular bands and prominent trabeculation]. AB - Two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiographic recognition, with differential diagnostic findings of the aberrant bands and prominent trabeculations in the left and right ventricle is described. In the prospective period of time for 14 months in two series of examination, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic analysed patterns, we discussed about the possible etiopathogenetic relation between extrasystolic arrhythmias and these abnormalities. PMID- 2626077 TI - [Metastatic carcinoma of the neck--clinical analysis of our cases]. AB - The authors made a retrospective analysis of 155 metastatic carcinoma of the neck cases, with localization of primary lesion in head and neck area. We made analysis of patients' sex and age, localization, extension and range of differentiation of primary lesion, and five year period of life after complete therapy has been done. The number of male patients with metastatic carcinoma was almost twice as big as the number of female (1.8:1). As to the age, maximal incidence of metastatic lesion on the neck was in the seventh decade (38.1%). In tumors with larger anatomic scopes (T3 and T4) and larger degree of malignity, metastasis on the neck has been more frequently registrated, although its appearance in a great extent depended on localization of primary tumor. Five years of period has been characterized by high percentage of death rate which was, according to the authors' opinion, not only due to a nature of disease, but also to a late discover of the disease and insufficiency of conventional treatment (surgical, irradiational, cytostatical). PMID- 2626078 TI - A statistical analysis on the relationship of organism and site of infection to antimicrobial susceptibilities. AB - Disc agar diffusion tests were performed on 1340 clinical isolates (six common pathogens) to determine if the site of infection influenced antimicrobial susceptibility results for a given organism. There were several mathematically significant differences among sites and organisms, however the most important included cefoperazone (wound), piperacillin (sputum and urine) and tobramycin (sputum) against P. aeruginosa. Of these, only piperacillin was significantly less susceptible against P. aeruginosa lower respiratory tract isolates at our hospital. The impact of this on treatment (empiric) efficacy is unknown. PMID- 2626079 TI - The adenosine analogue and cerebral protecting agent, AMG-1, has no effect on delayed neuronal death following ischemia. AB - The chemical structure of AMG-1 was isolated during our search for an effective compound to overcome the untoward effects of complete ischemia. The duration of gasping was prolonged significantly and dose-dependently in mice by the administration of AMG-1, the efficacy being 1000 times that seen with adenosine. However, AMG-1 had no effect on ischemia-induced passive avoidance impairment and histopathological degradation in CAl neurons in the hippocampus. The relationship between adenosine and its analogue and cerebral ischemia is discussed. PMID- 2626080 TI - Mechanisms of the angiotensin II effects on the exploratory behavior of rats in open field. II. Interaction of angiotensin II with yohimbine. AB - The effects of the octapeptide angiotensin II (AT II) and its interaction with yohimbine, an alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, on the exploratory behavior of male rats in open field were studied. AT II (0.1 and 0.5 microgram intracerebroventricularly, i.c.v) increased the open field behavior, mainly ambulation and rearing. Yohimbine (1 and 3 mg/kg) significantly reduced the stimulatory effects of AT II, mainly on ambulation. It is suggested that the augmented release of noradrenaline (NA) resulting from alpha 2-adrenoceptor blockade decreases the exploratory behavior effects of AT II. An interaction between AT II receptors and NA-ergic neurotransmission in the brain might be taken into consideration as an explanation of the influence of yohimbine on AT II effects in open field behavior. PMID- 2626081 TI - Differential effect of type I and type II diabetes mellitus on antipyrine elimination. AB - Antipyrine elimination was studied in 11 type I and 10 type II diabetic patients and 2 age-matched control groups. After oral administration of antipyrine (15 mg/kg), salivary concentration of the drug was measured at various time intervals by high performance liquid chromatography method. In type I diabetics the clearance rate (CL) and apparent volume of distribution (V) of the drug were significantly higher when compared to corresponding controls. The elimination half-life (t 1/2) remained unaltered. In type II diabetics, the t 1/2 of the drug was increased due to increase in V. There was no significant difference in CL. It is concluded that antipyrine elimination is enhanced in type I diabetics while in type II patients it is unaltered. PMID- 2626082 TI - Opiate-induced pupillary effects in humans. AB - The pupillary effects of several opiates were assessed in human volunteers (N = 6) by means of a newly developed hand-held pupilometer, Pupilscan. Static (diameter) and dynamic (light reflex) responses after morphine, heroin, codeine, oxycodone, oxymorphone and hydrocodone were recorded. The opiates caused dose related decreases in pupillary size and in the velocity of constriction to a light stimulus. The velocity of redilation after a light stimulus was also decreased. These data indicate that opiates cause systematic changes in dynamic pupillary responses in humans and that measures of these changes may be useful in the quantitative estimation of drug-induced impairment. PMID- 2626083 TI - A novel non-invasive method to measure skin potential response: some pharmacological evidence. AB - Skin sympathetic activity in rats under various behavioral conditions was recorded using a novel non-invasive method. The arrangement of electrodes was: (+) chest, (-) back, (ref) abdomen, all three on the midline. Samples consisted of 801 values of skin potential, each one taken during one minute under one of the following conditions: basal or olfactory, visual or painful stimulation. The 2-way ANOVA shows that the SPR rank was enhanced significantly by either stress and by amphetamine 3 mg/kg, i.p. The effect of the combined treatment was much more pronounced than those of either of the individual treatments. The effects of the different stimuli (olfactory and painful) when compared to the basal recordings were often significant regardless of the treatment. We propose that the method allows checking not only the effects of sympathetic-stimulant drug but also changes in the stereotypy on the sympathetic responses induced by them in an awake, freely moving animal that is experiencing an emotional stress. PMID- 2626084 TI - Endurance training and blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive adults. AB - Twenty-one male and female adults 43 +/- 4 yr of age completed in 8-wk control period, 16 wk of conditioning, and 12 wk of deconditioning to determine whether exercise alters blood pressure. Subjects were classified as borderline/mild hypertensive (H, diastolic pressure greater than or equal to 85 and less than 104 mm Hg, N = 8) or normotensive (N, diastolic pressure less than 85 mm Hg, N = 13) based on average blood pressure during the control period. Conditioning increased (P less than 0.05) VO2max to a similar extent in both groups (average, 14%) and decreased (P less than 0.05) resting heart rate (H, 78 +/- 5 to 65 +/- 3; N, 75 +/- 3 to 71 +/- 3 beats.min-1). The double product over 24 h of ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate decreased (P less than 0.05) in both groups. After deconditioning, VO2max returned to values not different (P greater than 0.05) from those of the control period. Ambulatory 24-h double product and heart rate increased (P less than 0.05). In spite of this strong evidence of a conditioning effect, neither group showed changes (P greater than 0.05) in average 24-h ambulatory or casual blood pressure. The average ambulatory blood pressure for 8-h segments of the day (8 a.m.-4 p.m., 4 p.m.-12 a.m., and 12 a.m. 8 a.m.) was also not altered. Cardiac output and total peripheral resistance at rest did not change (P greater than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626085 TI - Effects of blood transfusions on some hematological variables in endurance athletes. AB - Selected hematological variables (blood hemoglobin concentration [Hb], serum (s-) iron, s-bilirubin, s-ferritin, blood lactate, and s-erythropoietin [Epo]) were analyzed before and for 4 wk after autologous blood transfusions. A group of well trained (8 male and 4 female) former endurance athletes was phlebotomized and 3-4 months later reinfused with the freezer-stored autologous red blood cells (RBC) from 1350 ml of blood. The [Hb] increased significantly (P less than 0.001 for both sexes) from 146.7 +/- 5.31 and 131.7 +/- 11.20 g. l-1 immediately before reinfusion to maximum values of 163.5 +/- 7.47 and 155.9 +/- 11.43 g.l-1 (mean +/ SD) in males and females, respectively, 2 d after reinfusion. S-iron increased transiently 5 h after reinfusion. S-bilirubin remained unchanged throughout the study. S-ferritin increased gradually (P less than 0.02) from 48 +/- 32.91 mmol.l 1 before reinfusion to a maximum of 80.8 +/- 39.52 mmol.l-1 2 wk after reinfusion. S-[Epo] increased transiently (P less than 0.01) from 8.83 +/- 2.51 (mean +/- SD) to 12.36 +/- 5.64 U.l-1, (mean +/- SD) 5 h after reinfusion. Subsequently, there was a significant marked decrease in s-[Epo] to 5.85 +/- 1.32 U.l-1, (mean +/- SD) 1 d after reinfusion (P less than 000.1, as compared to before reinfusion). Thereafter, s-[Epo] remained low throughout the study. Blood lactate was significantly decreased only the first 2 d after reinfusion (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626086 TI - The frequency of anemia and iron deficiency in the runner. AB - The current consensus is that runners commonly experience a mild anemia influenced by iron deficiency. We compared hematologic parameters of 72 (35 males and 37 females) runners with 48 (27 males and 21 females) nonrunners and assessed the impact of iron supplementation. Male runners had lower hemoglobin (Hb) values than male nonrunners (14.8 vs 15.3 g.dl-1) (P less than 0.05) regardless of iron usage. Female runners had higher (P = 0.05) Hb values than female controls (13.5 vs 12.8 g.dl-1). Female runners off iron had Hbs similar to controls off iron (P = 0.30). Iron parameters (total serum iron, TSI; total iron-binding capacity, TIBC; percent saturation of the TIBC, %sat TIBC; and serum ferritin) of runners vs controls, runners vs runners (on or off iron), and nonrunners vs nonrunners (on or off iron) were comparable except 1) male runners off iron had lower (P less than 0.05) %sat TIBC values (26%) than male runners on iron (34%) and 2) female runners taking iron had ferritin values (32 ng.ml-1) similar to those of female nonrunners taking iron (39 ng.ml-1) but higher (P less than 0.05) than their counterparts off iron (15 and 15 ng.ml-1, respectively). This study concludes that running affects Hb in a variable manner and suggests that the runner's iron status is similar to that of the general population. PMID- 2626087 TI - Muscle fiber-specific glycogen utilization in strength-trained males and females. AB - This study evaluated the effect of strength training on glycogen utilization in slow twitch (ST) and fast twitch (FT) muscle fibers during repeated maximal unilateral isokinetic leg extensions at 180 degrees.s-1. Strength-trained (5 males, 4 females) and untrained (4 males, 6 females) subjects performed three sets of 50 maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) at this velocity with 10-min rest intervals between sets. Biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis muscle before and after each exercise session. Glycogen content of the fibers was quantified as optical density (OD) using microspectrophotometric densitometry on serial cross-sections of muscle tissue stained with a periodic acid Schiff reagent stain after individual fibers were identified as ST or FT according to a stain for myofibrillar ATPase activity. Analysis of variance with repeated measures yielded the following results: OD, i.e., glycogen, was reduced similarly in both fiber types after exercise, but only in the males (P = 0.02); there was no significant main effect of training status per se (i.e., strength-trained vs untrained). These results indicate that years of strength training do not change the pattern of muscle fiber-specific glycogen utilization during repeated dynamic MVCs. PMID- 2626088 TI - Effects of run-training and swim-training at similar absolute intensities on treadmill VO2max. AB - Thirty-seven sedentary males, aged 28-35 yr, were either run-trained, swim trained, or served as controls in an 11 1/2-wk training study. Runners and swimmers exercised once a d, 3 d.wk, at a heart rate (HR) intensity equivalent to 75% of their treadmill VO2max. Treadmill maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), submaximal cardiorespiratory response, and body composition parameters were measured before and following the training period. Runners, swimmers, and controls experienced a significant increase in treadmill VO2max over the 11 1/2 wk study period. The 28 and 25% increases observed for the runners and swimmers, respectively, were significantly greater than the 5% increase observed for the controls (P less than 0.0001). Runners and swimmers did not differ significantly from each other with respect to this increase in VO2max; nor did they demonstrate significant changes in respiratory exchange ratio (RER) at VO2max between tests. The run-trained and swim-trained groups both experienced a decrease in HR at a standard submaximal walking workload but did not differ significantly from each other. Controls showed no significant change in submaximal exercise response. A significant difference was observed among groups (P less than 0.01) for change in percent body fat. Changes in lean and fat weight over the training period were significant for both the runners (P less than 0.002) and swimmers (P less than 0.03) but not for the controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626089 TI - Effect of exercise intensity and duration on postexercise energy expenditure. AB - The purpose of this study was to examine 1) the effect of two exercise intensities of equal caloric output on the magnitude (kcal) and duration of excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and 2) the effect of exercise of equal intensity but varying duration on EPOC. Ten trained male triathletes performed three cycle ergometer exercises: high intensity-short duration (HS), low intensity-short duration (LS), and low intensity-long duration (LL). Baseline VO2 was measured for 1 h prior to each exercise condition. Postexercise VO2 was measured continuously until baseline VO2 was achieved. The duration of EPOC was similar for HS (33 +/- 10 min) and LL (28 +/- 14 min), and both were significantly longer (P less than 0.05) than the EPOC following LS (20 +/- 5 min). However, total net caloric expenditure was significantly more (P less than 0.05) for HS (29 +/- 8 kcal) than for either LS (14 +/- 6 kcal) or LL (12 +/- 7 kcal). The exercise conditions used in this study did not produce a prolonged EPOC. However, the exercise intensity was shown to affect both the magnitude and duration of EPOC, whereas the exercise duration affected only the duration of EPOC. Moreover, the duration of EPOC and the subsequent caloric expenditure were not necessarily related. Based on the resulting magnitude of the postexercise energy expenditure, it is possible that EPOC may be of some value for weight control over the long term. PMID- 2626090 TI - Introduction to the symposium: resistive weight training: a new approach to exercise for cardiac and coronary disease prone populations. AB - This symposium is concerned with the use of resistive exercise in cardiac and coronary prone populations. In the past, these populations have been refrained from resistive exercise. However, recent studies suggest that this form of exercise is safe and has favorable effects on physical fitness, cardiac risk factors such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and psychological status. PMID- 2626091 TI - Resistive weight training: a new approach to exercise for cardiac and coronary disease prone populations. A symposium. PMID- 2626092 TI - Resistive training safety and assessment guidelines for cardiac and coronary prone patients. AB - The past few years have seen increased use of resistive training programs for cardiac and coronary prone individuals. There is growing evidence that using moderate resistance with frequent repetitions is safe and beneficial. This review provides guidelines for selection and assessment of patients for resistive training programs. For the most part, the criteria for participation in resistive training are the same as those used for the more traditional cardiac and high risk exercise programs. PMID- 2626093 TI - Resistive training effects on strength and cardiovascular endurance in cardiac and coronary prone patients. AB - Resistive training using heavy loads with few repetitions increases strength but does little to improve cardiovascular endurance. Circuit weight training, a form of resistive training using moderate loads with frequent repetitions, is used to improve both cardiovascular and strength fitness. Studies of circuit weight training in healthy adults and athletes have shown increases of 20-45% and cardiovascular improvement from 0 to 15%. An increasing number of exercise programs for cardiac and coronary prone populations have introduced circuit weight training. The few reported studies have shown that high risk patients can attain increases in fitness similar to those seen in healthy populations. Furthermore, the hemodynamic responses to circuit weight training suggest that it is a clinically safe and acceptable form of exercise. PMID- 2626094 TI - Automated blood pressure measurements during exercise. AB - One of the critical parameters measured during exercise is blood pressure. However, the accurate measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure during exercise is difficult with auscultation and impractical with direct arterial techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare an automated system (Colin, Inc. STBP-680) with auscultation in humans during rest and exercise and to compare the automated system with direct arterial blood pressure measurement in a canine model during pharmacological challenges that resulted in a wide range of blood pressure values. Compared with direct arterial blood pressure taken in the canine model, the STBP-680 gave good estimates of diastolic blood pressure and adequately monitored relative changes in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure (mean arterial pressures in all instances were calculated as one-third systolic plus two-thirds diastolic blood pressures). Compared with auscultation methods in humans, the STBP-680 gave similar estimates of resting diastolic blood pressure and monitored relative changes in resting systolic blood pressures, diastolic blood pressures, and mean arterial pressures. During both treadmill and cycle ergometer exercise in humans, the STBP-680 monitored changes in systolic blood pressure, phase IV diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure. Further, the STBP-680 estimated exactly and noted relative changes in heart rate in every test. However, during exercise, quantitative estimations of systolic blood pressure by the STBP-680 were higher than those found using auscultation. Where exact, quantitative measures of blood pressure are needed, direct arterial measurement continues to be the most accurate method. However, where indirect methods can be used, the STBP-680 may provide a suitable alternative that reduces many of the technical concerns of auscultation in young, healthy individuals. PMID- 2626095 TI - [Brain abscess bacteriology and antibiotic sensitivity]. AB - In this study pus samples obtained during operation from 28 patients with brain abscess have been examined microbiologically. In three of the 28 patients the cultures were negative (10%) obligate anaerobic bacteria from 20 (80%) patients, microaerophilic bacteria from 2 (4%) patients, aerobic bacteria from 11 (44%) patients have been isolated. Among the 15 obligate bacteria and 2 microaerophilic bacteria, the highest resistance has been shown against tetracycline, among the 11 aerobic bacteria the highest resistance has been shown against Gentamicin and Tetracycline. PMID- 2626096 TI - [HBeAg and anti-HBe levels in HBsAg positive blood donors]. AB - Serum samples from 110 blood donors who were carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were examined for the presence of hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) and its antibody. HBeAg was detected in 21 (19.09%) and anti-HBe in 87 (79.09%) blood donors. No significant association were found with blood groups and HBeAg or anti-HBe. The analysis of serum samples for HBeAg and anti-HBe at the blood transfusion centres, will be useful for determining if HBsAg carriers are infectious. PMID- 2626097 TI - [Campylobacter bacteremia]. AB - In this article, Campylobacter bacteremia in a diabetic and last stage kidney patient has been reported. PMID- 2626098 TI - [In vitro susceptibility of dermatophyte strains to imidazole derivatives]. AB - Recently, imidazole derivatives are being successfully used for the dermatomycoses. These drugs have the strongest antimycotic activity. 44 dermatophyte strains were isolated from our out-patient with dermatomycosis. Imidazole derivatives such as isoconazole, oxiconazole, bifonazole and tioconazole were studied their efficacy on these fungal agents in vitro. 4 imidazole derivatives were effective on all of the dermatophyte strains in less than or equal to 5 micrograms/ml concentration. Whereas, there were differences in Minimal Inhibition Concentration (MIC) and MIC50 values. PMID- 2626099 TI - [In vitro activities of aztreonam and sulbactam/ampicillin for gram-negative bacteria]. AB - In this study antibiotic susceptibilities of gram negative bacilli to Aztreonam and Sulbactam/Ampicillin were evaluated by using microdilution technique. Aztreonam inhibited 42% of the strain and Sulbactam/Ampicillin compound to 29% of them. PMID- 2626100 TI - [Determination of the csf lactate concentration by LDH enzymes for the diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis]. AB - Rapid and accurate diagnosis of bacterial infections is one of the aims of clinical microbiology. This especially true in bacterial meningitis, when delay in proper treatment can be harmful or even fatal. Because the currently used techniques such as Gram stain, culture and immunoelectrophoresis have serious limitations. We previously evaluated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate levels by analytic way. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic utility of CSF lactate concentrations which are determined by the enzyme LDH. PMID- 2626101 TI - [Respiratory syncytial virus antibody levels in the 13-25 age group of healthy people using a microneutralization test]. AB - In this study antibody levels to Respiratory Syncytial virus were investigated in 181 serum samples obtained from healthy individuals by using microneutralization test. 25 out of 181 sera (13.8%) were found positive at 1/5 dilution. Serum neutralization50 (SN50) value of these sera were detected at different titers which varied from 1/7.08 to 1/79.5. PMID- 2626102 TI - [Bacteriological comparison of colostrum and mature human milk]. AB - 15 colostrum and 15 mature milk were examined in bacteriology laboratory in Ankara Numune Hospital. The number of colonies cultured at "0" hour, 6-24 after at room temperature 24 after refrigeration were evaluated. It was noticed that the cultures obtained at 0 and 6 hours and after refrigeration did not reveal much bacteria. But cultures obtained from Colostrum and mature milk after 24 hours at room temperature revealed colonies. The colonisation in mature milk was significantly higher than the colostrum. PMID- 2626103 TI - [The existence of sinusitis in rabbits and the use of bromhexine as a mucolytic nose drop in the treatment of sinusitis]. AB - To make an experimental sinusitis, 38 maxillary sinus ostia of 19 rabbits were closed by silicon plastic and 24 hours later 10(8)-10(10) germs/ml. of Streptococcus pneumoniae type C III were given to the antrums of sinuses. 5 days later all the rabbits showed sinusitis clinically, radiologically, bacteriologically and histopathologically. Viscous, purulent secretions collected in the antrums of sinuses. We thought that the medical treatment of sinuses which had drainage treatment necessitated to decrease the viscosity of secretions. Because of this bromhexine as a mucolytic nose drop was investigated for the first time for the treatment of sinusitis in two groups of rabbits. As a result of the study bromhexine as a nose drop in the eradication of sinus infections was seen a useful drug. PMID- 2626104 TI - [Detection of gram-positive bacteria isolated from wound infections and their susceptibility to various antibiotics]. AB - In this study gram positive pathogens isolated from wound infections and antibiotic susceptibilities of these bacteria were evaluated by using sceptor (BBL) microdilution system. According to our experimental results, it was observed that the staphylococci found to be major causative agent with the ratio of 72%. The sensitivity of gram positive bacteria have been found aminoglycosides 88%, trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole 67%. The sensitivity of these bacteria to the other antibiotics have been found 13-59%. PMID- 2626105 TI - [In vitro antibiotic susceptibility of staphylococci]. AB - In this study in vitro activities of different antimicrobial drugs against 1000 staphylococci were evaluated. Tested staphylococci were isolated from the clinical material of out patient and in patient sections. Susceptibility tests were done according to NCCLS Disk Diffusion Technic. The antimicrobial drugs evaluated in this study were; Vancomycin, ofloxacin, sulbactam-ampicillin, co trimoxazole, tetracycline, erythromycin, tobramycin, methicillin, first and third generation cephalosporins and penicillin. Vancomycin was the drug of choice against resistant staphylococci. Ofloxacin, sulbactam-ampicillin, first generation cephalosporins and some aminoglycosides were more effective than others. PMID- 2626106 TI - [Prevalence of anti-delta antibodies in HBsAg carriers]. AB - In order to bring out the prevalence of infections caused by Delta virus dependent upon HBV for its replication, we investigated the presence of anti-D antibodies in individuals who determined as positive for HBsAg, by using EIA method. Of the 81 HBsAg positive individuals; seventy-two were asymptomatic HBsAg carriers (88.9), six had acute symptomatic hepatitis (7.4%) and three suffered from chronic liver disease (3.7%). Only 4 individuals who were all asymptomatic carriers were positive for anti-D antibody (4.9%) and the percentage of anti-D antibody in asymptomatic carrier group was 5.5% (4/72). PMID- 2626107 TI - Ethics in assisted human reproduction. PMID- 2626108 TI - Myocardial infarction, circadian rhythm and delay in hospital admission. AB - Circadian variations have been observed in the onset of acute coronary syndromes including acute myocardial infarction. We studied 422 acute myocardial infarction patients who presented to the coronary care unit of General Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Of the 318 (75.4%) patients whose data was complete, a circadian rhythm with bimodal peak was demonstrated. The second quarter of the day i.e. 6.00 a.m. to 12 noon was shown to have a significantly increased frequency of onset of acute myocardial infarction (p less than 0.05). Time delay in presenting to the hospital was also determined. This showed that 56.8% of acute myocardial infarction patients presented early, within four hours of the onset of symptoms. By six hours, more than 71% had sought hospital care. This early presentation to the hospital may offer a realistic opportunity for optimal thrombolytic therapy should this treatment modality be offered as routine to infarct patients. PMID- 2626109 TI - Transfer factor in smokers and non-smokers after smoking two cigarettes. AB - Impairments of lung functionality as long-term effects of cigarette smoking have been well established. To our knowledge, no study on acute recovery patterns in any important lung function index after smoking a very limited number of cigarettes has ever been reported. The present study reports recovery patterns of lung transfer factor (TF) and related parameters in smokers and non-smokers who smoked two Camel cigarettes. Lung transfer factor and other indices were determined by the single breath-holding technique. From our results, the TF and related indices of healthy Malaysians are similar to previously published normals of comparable age. On smoking two cigarettes, male smokers began to recover from the 30th minute; male non-smokers had not begun recovery even by the 50th minute. Extrapolation of the recovery curves suggests that a "safer" interval between cigarettes for male smokers is about 114 minutes. PMID- 2626110 TI - The consultation of traditional healers by Malay patients. AB - Sixty four percent (104 patients) of Malay patients attending the Psychiatric Clinic for the first time were interviewed. A similar number from the general Out patients Department (O.P.D.) randomly chosen, served as the control group. Seventy six (73.1%) psychiatric patients had consulted a bomoh prior to their visit to the clinic as compared to 26 (25%) O.P.D. patients. The number of bomohs consulted was significantly higher among the psychiatric patients than the O.P.D. patients. The strength of social support, the availability of a bomoh and the belief of the patients, friends and/or relatives in the bomoh have been suggested as the main factors that influenced the Malay patients in seeking bomoh treatment. The belief that mental illness is due to supernatural causes is firmly held by bomohs who reinforce this notion in those who seek their advice. The importance of understanding the patient's cultural background in treating psychiatric patients is highlighted. PMID- 2626111 TI - Hyperbilirubinaemia and erythrocytic glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Malaysian children. AB - Cord blood from 8,975 babies delivered in Hospital Sultanah Aminah Johor Bahru over a period of eight months (1st August 1985 to 31st March 1986) were screened for G6PD deficiency. The overall incidence was 4.5% in Chinese, 3.5% in Malays and 1.5% in Indian babies. One hundred of these babies were observed in the nursery for seven days and their daily serum bilirubin recorded. The serum bilirubin peaked at 96 hours to a value of 12mg%. None of the babies in the nursery developed a serum bilirubin level of more than 15mg%. Six of the babies with G6PD deficiency that were sent home were readmitted with hyperbilirubinaemia that needed exchange transfusion. PMID- 2626112 TI - The risk of neonatal infection following prolonged rupture of the fetal membranes. AB - Over a seven month period in 1986, 164 (1.1%) of a total 15,131 neonates delivered in the Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur were born to mothers with prolonged rupture of the fetal membranes. Septic work-ups were performed on 163 of these babies shortly after birth, 77 of them had no bacteriological, radiological or other clinical evidence of infection. The remaining 86 had additional history of illness. Nine of these 86 babies had proven infection: four with septicemia, one with meningitis and four others with congenital pneumonia. This study showed that neonates had risk of infection only when maternal history of prolonged rupture of the fetal membranes was associated with other clinical evidence of infection. However, even in this group of neonates at risk, 89.5% of them were not infected. Therefore, there is still a need to develop a simple, rapid, reliable and cheap laboratory method to help early identification of the infected from the non-infected neonates in order to prevent unnecessary antibiotic treatment and hospital stay. PMID- 2626113 TI - Outflow obstruction and bladder stones in Kelantan. AB - Bladder stones in men are thought to be almost exclusively due to outflow obstruction. We studied the incidence of operations for urinary outflow obstruction and bladder stone to establish the relationship between these two conditions in Kelantan. In only 48 (31%) of 154 men undergoing removal of bladder stones was a procedure for outflow obstruction performed. Thus the remaining 69% had no clinical obstruction to account for their stones. Bladder stones were more common in prostatectomy patients than expected (42/193: 22%). We suggest that other causes may be important in the aetiology of bladder stones in Kelantan. PMID- 2626114 TI - Microscopically diagnosed head and neck cancers in the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. AB - A retrospective study of 1000 cases of microscopically diagnosed head and neck cancers in the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur was done. Head and neck neoplasms comprise 7.1% of all tumours diagnosed in this Hospital and the commonest sites of involvement are the nasopharynx (29.1%), cervical lymph nodes (22.6%), oral cavity (10.2%), thyroid (8.2%) and skin (6.5%). Histologically, 87% of tumours are epithelial in nature. The results of this study show that nasopharyngeal carcinoma is commonest in Chinese males, while oral and laryngeal malignancies occur more frequently in Indians. PMID- 2626115 TI - Experience with malignant tumours of the maxillary sinus in the Department of Otolaryngology Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. AB - Thirty one cases of malignant tumours of the maxillary sinus presenting to the Department of Otolaryngology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia over a four year period from 1982 to 1986 are reviewed. 18 cases (58.1%) were squamous cell carcinoma while seven cases (22.5%) were Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. There were four cases (12.0%) of adenoid cystic carcinoma while in two cases (6.5%) the tumours were undifferentiated. Presentation was generally late. Nasal obstruction, facial swelling and epistaxis were the main presenting symptoms. Nasal involvement was found in 61.3% of cases, while 51.6% had involvement of the palate as well. Metastasis to the cervical lymph node were uncommon (6.5%). Surgery and radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy were the main modes of treatment in the management of malignant tumours of the maxillary sinus. PMID- 2626116 TI - Review of the phase I and phase II teaching programmes in the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. AB - The Phase I and Phase II undergraduate teaching programmes of the School of Medical Sciences were reviewed at the end of the 1985/86 academic year. It was found that deviations from the School's philosophy had crept into the implementation process. Modifications were therefore made in Phase I and Phase II programmes with a view to:--(i) reducing content, (ii) promoting integration, (iii) improving clinical examination skills of students, and (iv) providing more opportunities to students for self learning, reinforcement and application of knowledge. The number of assessment items in Phase I and the frequency of assessment in Phase II were also found to be inappropriate and so modifications in assessment were made to rectify this situation. PMID- 2626117 TI - Dysphagia as a primary manifestation of thyrotoxicosis: a case report. AB - This report deals with a middle aged man in whom the presenting symptom of the disorder was dysphagia. The clinical approach to the final diagnosis of thyrotoxic myopathy causing dysphagia is outlined and the pathophysiology of dysphagia then discussed. The need to include thyrotoxicosis in the differential diagnosis of an otherwise unexplained case of dysphagia is stressed. PMID- 2626118 TI - Clinical patterns and treatment complications of 1000 cases of carcinoma of the uterine cervix. AB - One thousand consecutive cases of carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated in the General Hospital Kuala Lumpur between January 1977 to December 1979 were studied. Epidemiological breakdown by race, age, parity, occupation, stage and histology of the disease were obtained. Treatment complications in survivors available for follow-up were analysed. The Chinese had the highest incidence, followed by the Indians and the Malays. Ninety six percent were squamous cell cancers, the remaining were adenocarcinomas. Eighty percent of patients were seen at an advanced stage (Stage IIB-IV). Late radiation complications were mainly proctitis, cystitis and fistula; (5%, 7.2% and 1.4% respectively). These figures are comparable to many centres but the incidence of cystitis is relatively higher. This is believed to be related to irradiation techniques in these cases. PMID- 2626119 TI - Child abuse and neglect as seen in General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur--a two year study. AB - Eighty-six children diagnosed as child abuse and/or neglect were admitted to the Paediatric wards of the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur during 1985 and 1986. Of these cases, 62 were of physical abuse, six of sexual abuse, one case of both physical and sexual abuse and 17 of neglect. There were 25 boys and 61 girls. Thirty-four of these children were Malays, 16 Chinese, 26 Indians, three mixed and seven illegal immigrants. Twenty-one were below the age of one year, 24 from one to four years, 25 from five to nine years and 16 were ten years and above. The abusers were mainly close members of the family. Of these children, 24 were sent back to their parents and 11 to their relatives home. Twenty-seven were taken into care by the Ministry of Social Welfare and the remaining seven children who were illegal immigrants, were deported with their parents. Only one child was successfully fostered. Eleven children were taken away from the hospital by their parents or guardians without the knowledge of the health staff. There were five deaths in the series. PMID- 2626120 TI - Therapeutic intervention scoring system in medical intensive care. AB - A scoring system based on therapeutic intervention on critically ill patients called the therapeutic intervention scoring system (TISS) was used to assess the quantity of care provided in a medical intensive care unit. Besides observing the unit census, the severity of illness and the work load were studied. The survival rate was 77 percent. The non-survivors had admission TISS points higher than the survivors and their mean daily TISS was more than 20 points. The survivors at discharge had a mean TISS of five points. The work load showed that a nurse can effectively manage two patients who together may accumulate 24 TISS points per day. TISS points per patient rather than bed occupancy is a better indicator of the nurse's work load. Admission criteria and procedures before death certification are outlined. PMID- 2626121 TI - Intubating ability of house-officers in University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. AB - A survey showed only 27% of our house-officers know how to intubate. Ninety-two percent however recognise the alternative to intubation. On the whole, knowledge centering around intubation is generally lacking. PMID- 2626122 TI - Shortening the onset time of atracurium for rapid tracheal intubation. AB - The 'Priming principle' applied to non-depolarizing muscle relaxant atracurium was studied in 60 patients. This was a double blind study. The conditions observed for intubation were graded and the efficacy of priming dose of atracurium for shortening the onset time of intubation was studied. The patients were of ASA classification I and II and received standard premedication. The purpose of the study was to use the priming dose of atracurium to shorten the onset time of intubating dose of atracurium. This would be desirable in conditions requiring rapid intubation and in situations when the depolarizing muscle relaxant suxamethonium is contra-indicated. The results were statistically significant. PMID- 2626123 TI - Intrapleural central venous catheter malposition. AB - Percutaneous insertion of central venous catheter (CVC) is a valuable procedure in managing critically ill patients. However, placement of CVC is not without its complications. The author reports a case in which a CVC was inserted into the right pleural cavity which was not detected by the usual clinical methods of confirming catheter placement and an antero-posterior (A-P) chest x-ray. PMID- 2626124 TI - Antinuclear antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus. AB - Autoantibodies to the three extractable nuclear antigens (ENA), Anti-SSA (Ro), Anti-Sm, Anti-RNP and antinuclear antibodies were determined in 150 patients with SLE. Seventy patients (46.7%) had Anti-SSA (Ro), 40 (26.7%) Anti-Sm and 25 (16.7%) Anti-RNP antibodies. Ninety four percent patients had a positive Fluorescent anti-nuclear antibody (FANA) test. The commonest FANA pattern is the speckled pattern. Subclinical keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) was present in 60% patients. No correlation could be demonstrated between the presence of ENA autoantibodies and the clinical features of patients. PMID- 2626125 TI - Foley catheter removal of blunt oesophageal foreign bodies in children. AB - In a two year period between 1985 and 1986, eight children presented with impacted blunt foreign bodies in the oesophagus were successfully treated by removal using a Foley catheter without anaesthesia. There were no complications. All patients were discharged well after one or two days in hospital. The technique is safe, rapid and easy to perform. PMID- 2626126 TI - A case study of illicit preparation of antirheumatic analgesic with phenylbutazone as active ingredient. AB - The abuse of phenylbutazone among rheumatoid arthritis patients has recently become a subject of interest. Unscrupulous manufacturers take advantage of the miraculous analgesic property of phenylbutazone and deliberately add this toxic drug in their preparations without declaring its presence on the label. In a recent survey, many such illicit preparations were seized from Chinese medical halls in Johor and sent to the Department of Chemistry, Johor Bahru for analysis. Here a Gas Chromatograph Mass Selective Detector (GC-MSD) method was developed for the determination of phenylbutazone in illicit traditional preparations. PMID- 2626127 TI - Primary mesenteric venous thrombosis--a case report. AB - Mesenteric venous thrombosis has been described to occur in cases where there has been no apparent cause. The diagnosis is usually delayed because the signs and symptoms are non-specific. A case of primary mesenteric venous thrombosis is reported below. Its presentation and pathology are discussed. Treatment is surgery with resection of gangrenous bowel and primary anastomosis. Post operative anticoagulation is advocated. PMID- 2626128 TI - Carotid body tumour--a case report. AB - A case of carotid body tumour is presented. Pathology, diagnostic investigations, modalities of treatment and prognosis are discussed. With greater awareness of this condition and improvement in diagnostic investigations and surgical techniques, the outlook in managing this condition should be better. PMID- 2626129 TI - Intensive care units in Malaysia. PMID- 2626130 TI - An epidemiological assessment of drug dependence in Malaysia--a trend analysis. AB - Information from the national drug abuse monitoring system was analysed to determine the trends in extent and pattern of drug dependence in Malaysia over the period 1970 to 1986. The annual incidence and prevalence rates of reported drug dependents increased by many folds when compared to the early seventies. Generally, the profile of drug dependents identified has remained relatively stable throughout the years. A stable pattern of drug abuse was also noted over this period. Factors influencing the trend patterns are discussed, as well as the implications of these findings for policy purposes. PMID- 2626131 TI - Prevention and control of injuries arising from road traffic accidents in Malaysia. PMID- 2626132 TI - Management of heatstroke in Malaysian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. AB - Heat stroke is hardly seen in Malaysia. However, it occurs commonly in Saudi Arabia during the Haj season. Many Malaysian pilgrims are affected every year and some die. Having faced this environmental hazard for eight years, the Malaysian Medical Mission, sent each year to look after our pilgrims, modified its treatment strategy in 1988 and successfully decreased the overall morbidity and mortality of affected patients without the use of sophisticated equipment. A brief account of the management of 17 cases seen in 1988 is given. Only one died following treatment. The rest recovered fully without any residual neurological deficit or other complications. PMID- 2626133 TI - Pattern of neonatal septicemia in a Malaysian maternity hospital. AB - Over a 12 months period, out of 25,411 livebirths, 155 neonates (6.1 per 1000 livebirths) had proven septicemia by blood culture. The mortality rate was 26.5%. Septicemia was more common among the very low birthweight and preterm neonates of gestation of 30 weeks or less. 45.8% of the septicemia occurred during the first 48 hours of life. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common causative organism. However, mortality was highest among neonates who acquired multiresistant nosocomial infection during the later part of neonatal life. PMID- 2626134 TI - Long term lithium therapy in Malaysia. AB - Ten patients on long term lithium therapy (mean four years, range 1-10.5 years) were subjected to various renal, thyroid, haematological, cardiac and endocrine tests. There was impaired urinary concentrating ability in seven subjects, which was not responsive to vasopressin stimulation, suggesting a partial nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Nine subjects had metabolic acidosis with higher urinary pH than expected suggesting presence of acidification defect in the kidney. No significant change in renal function, thyroid function, ECG or haematological parameters were detected. Our findings concur with previous reports from the West regarding the safety of lithium administration. PMID- 2626135 TI - Bronchiolitis obliterans in children--a report of six cases. AB - Six children who survived severe acute bronchiolitis in infancy and early childhood continued to have persistent symptoms of breathlessness, cough and wheeze resistant to bronchodilator therapy. Hyperinflation of the chest, widespread crepitations and rhonchi were persistent clinical features. Failure to thrive was a problem in most. At presentation clinical measles was diagnosed in one child and adenovirus titres were raised in another; the aetiological agents in the others were not known. Lung biopsy from the child with measles showed features of severe bronchiolitis. The clinical and radiological features and course of the illness were consistent with those of bronchiolitis obliterans. Although illness was prolonged the long term prognosis was satisfactory with the majority of children showing improved chest signs, growth and general health after four to eight years of follow up. PMID- 2626136 TI - Cigarette smoking and the risk of myocardial infarction, and acute non-infarct coronary events among Malaysian women. AB - In a prospective case-control study over a two-year period involving 1006 women, 264 women with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 305 with non-infarct acute coronary syndromes (CAD) were compared with 437 women with no coronary heart disease (Controls), to determine the relationship between cigarette smoking and other risks factors with coronary heart disease. A history of current cigarette smoking was strongly associated with the risk of coronary events for both AMI And CAD (p less than 0.001). 23.9% of patients with acute coronary syndromes were current smokers, compared with only 12.8% among controls. Overall, women smokers had about a two-fold increase in risk for all coronary events. Younger women smokers (less than 40 years) and those between 61-70 years had particularly higher risks (10.3 and 2.7 times respectively (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.02). A dose-response pattern of increased AMI risks (from 2.0 to 2.9 times) among women smokers was also found, corresponding to the number of cigarettes smoked per day (p less than 0.05). Other significant coronary risk factors established were: postmenopausal status (OR 6.5), diabetes mellitus (OR 5.1), hypertension (OR 1.6), family history of premature coronary heart disease less than 50 years (OR 1.3) and use of oral contraceptive pills (OR 1.4). Our results thus emphasize that cigarette smoking is an important determinant of acute coronary events even among Malaysian women. PMID- 2626137 TI - Hyperthyroid graves disease--a 5 year retrospective study. AB - The clinical, biochemical and immunological features of 180 patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease managed at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Endocrine Clinic from 1983 to 1987 were examined. The prevalence of the disease is highest in Chinese and lowest in Indians. The female: male ratio is 2.8:1. Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis and hypercalcaemia were present in 5.0% and 1.7% of the cases respectively. Pretibial myxoedema was extremely rare. Thyrotropin - binding inhibitory immunoglobulins, anti-thyroglobulin and anti-microsome antibodies were positive in 61.5%, 25.8% and 42.3% of the patients respectively. A eumetabolic state could be achieved in the majority of patients with antithyroid drugs alone. Definitive therapy with subtotal thyroidectomy or radioiodine were needed in 31.3% of cases. PMID- 2626138 TI - Discriminant value of dyspeptic symptoms in peptic ulcer and non-ulcer dyspepsia. AB - The objective of the study was to determine whether discriminant analysis of characteristics of dyspepsia can differentiate peptic ulcer from non-ulcer dyspepsia in a Malaysian population. Two hundred and twenty six patients with dyspepsia were interviewed using a standard history questionnaire before undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Forty seven patients had peptic ulcer while 149 others were classified as having non-ulcer dyspepsia. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was done on 25 variables. The study showed that only five of these variables could differentiate peptic ulcer from non-ulcer dyspepsia, namely, nocturnal pain, pain before meals or when hungry, absence of nausea, age and sex. A scoring system was devised based on these discriminant symptoms. At a sensitivity of 51%, the specificity for peptic ulcer was 83%, but only prospective studies will determine if this scoring system is of actual clinical value. PMID- 2626139 TI - Phenylketonuria in a six year old Malay boy--a case report. AB - A six year old Malay boy with phenylketonuria is presented. The history, clinical examination, biochemical findings and treatment are described followed by a discussion on phenylketonuria. PMID- 2626140 TI - Recurrent cystitis due to retained Jacques catheter--a case report. AB - A case of persistent cystitis due to a Jacque's catheter as a foreign body in the bladder after an assisted vaginal delivery is described. PMID- 2626141 TI - Homozygous haemoglobin E in association with hereditary ovalocytosis. AB - Hereditary stomatocytic ovalocytosis and haemoglobin E are two genes present in 3 5% of Malays. This is a report of a 22 year old Malay college student with homozygous haemoglobin E and hereditary stomatocytic ovalocytosis where the clinical effects seen were the result of the summation of these genes: he was asymptomatic, presenting with moderate jaundice, moderate hepatosplenomegaly, and a mild haemolytic anaemia. PMID- 2626142 TI - First observation of haemoglobin Malay alpha 2B2 26 (B1) Asn----Ser--a case report. AB - A new haemoglobin, Haemoglobin Malay is described in a 22 year old Malay. Structural analysis showed a AAC----AGC mutation in codon 17, with the production of an abnormal beta chain (beta Malay) that has an Asn----Ser substitution at position beta 19. This haemoglobin variant could not be detected by conventional procedures. PMID- 2626143 TI - Haemangioma-thrombocytopenia syndrome--a case report. AB - A 29 year old Chinese female who presented with spontaneous purpura, was found to have gross hepatomegaly and thrombocytopenia. The thrombocytopenia responded to steroid therapy but relapsed when the dose of steroid was tapered down. Subsequent investigations revealed that the hepatomegaly was due to a large haemangioma of her liver. For symptomatic hepatic haemangioma, surgical excision is the treatment of choice; this was refused by the patient. PMID- 2626144 TI - Interdisciplinary aspects of neurotoxicology. International minisymposium. Dusseldorf, F.R.G., September 6-8, 1988. Proceedings. PMID- 2626145 TI - Microscopic examination of hippocampal slices after short-term lead exposure in vitro. AB - By using light microscopic, electron microscopic and morphometric methods 450 microns thick slices of guinea pig hippocampus were studied after 5-hr incubation as controls in normal media and after incubation in media containing 40 microM lead acetate. Pyramidal neurons of the CA1 region and the granule cells of the fascia dentata were well preserved in the center of the slice, whereas neuronal structures in outer parts of the slice were either vacuolated or hyperchromatic and shrunken. Most of the CA4 neurons were lytic except for a few in the center of the slice. Morphometric analysis of the pyramidal layer of CA1 yielded approximately 55% well-preserved pyramidal neurons both in lead-exposed slices and in slices incubated in normal media. Electron microscopic examination of the CA1 region demonstrated no ultrastructural changes of lead-exposed slices compared to control. In conclusion, the reduction of evoked neuronal activities in the CA1 region of hippocampal slices during short-term lead exposure in vitro appears not to be linked to a specific neuropathological lesion. PMID- 2626146 TI - The action of thallium on the excitability of CA1 pyramidal cells in hippocampal slices. AB - The effect of thallium ions on central neuronal activity was investigated in hippocampal slice preparations from guinea pigs and rats using extra- and intracellular recording techniques. Thallium induced a reversible and concentration-dependent reduction of the orthodromically evoked compound action potential of CA1 pyramidal cells with only weak effects on either afferent fiber activity, postsynaptic potentials or antidromically evoked responses. The membrane potential and input resistance of the pyramidal cells were not impaired by thallium. In contrast, variations in the maintained spike activity and spontaneously occurring inhibitory postsynaptic potentials were observed. It is concluded, that in contrast to its presynaptic action in the peripheral nervous system, thallium has a predominant postsynaptic target site in the hippocampal slice preparation. It is suggested that the neurotoxic action of thallium is not mediated by an interaction with specific ion channels of the cell membrane, but rather by an unspecific influence on the intracellular metabolism of the CA1 pyramidal cell. PMID- 2626147 TI - Occupational neurotoxicology of organic solvents and solvent mixtures. AB - The results of two field studies in painters and spray painters, the outcomes of examinations of workers with suspected work-related disease due to solvents, as well as data from an evaluation of an epidemiologic study in painters with confirmed occupational disease, are presented and discussed. The results of these studies and the experiences in occupational medicine in the Federal Republic of Germany do not support the assumption of high neurotoxic risks in solvent-exposed workers, which can be postulated from various epidemiologic studies from Scandinavian countries. Several factors may explain the different conclusions: 1) lower solvent exposures of German painters in the past decades; 2) false positive diagnosis of a toxic encephalopathy; 3) aetiological misclassification; 4) differences in legislation relevant for the acknowledgement of occupational diseases. In conclusion, there is a need for further well-designed epidemiologic studies in occupationally solvent-exposed workers. Suggestions regarding assessment of exposure and neurobehavioral tests are given. PMID- 2626148 TI - Neurobehavioral toxicity of long-term exposure to tetrachloroethylene. AB - One hundred and one employees of dry cleaning shops exposed to tetrachloroethylene (time weighted average 205 mg/m3) and 84 employees of departmental stores and hotels were compared from the results of a psychological examination. Age, gender, the daily consumption of alcohol and the intellectual level were taken into consideration analysing the effects of tetrachloroethylene. Perceptual speed, digit reproduction as a memory test, the digit symbol test as a substitution task and variables of a choice reaction test as well as a cancellation test differed significantly between the controls on one hand, and the groups of low and high exposure on the other. But, the differences between the exposure groups were not significant. There was no effect of alcohol on the exposure-related group differences. By means of discriminant analyses the diagnostic effectiveness of the biochemical, neurological and psychological methods were compared to classify the subjects into exposure groups. The highest rate of correct classifications was performed by the multidisciplinary combination of approaches. PMID- 2626149 TI - Influence of occupational styrene exposure on memory and attention. AB - Short-term memory, perceptual speed, attention and psychomotor function were studied in 55 workers professionally exposed to styrene. The subjects were grouped according to their urinary styrene metabolites. Those with higher styrene exposure showed a significant impairment of short-term memory only. PMID- 2626150 TI - Modulation of lead-induced performance deficit in children by varying signal rate in a serial choice reaction task. AB - Evidence is presented showing that serial choice reaction performance is disrupted at low blood lead levels (PbB), and that parametric variation of task characteristics modulates the degree of disruption. This evidence is based on two independent studies in 6- to 9-year-old children living in two lead smelter areas in the cities of Nordenham (N = 114) and Stolberg (N = 109) in West Germany. Average PbB was 8.2 micrograms/100 ml (4.4-23.8 micrograms/100 ml) in the Nordenham sample and 7.4 micrograms/100 ml (4.2-18.0 micrograms/100 ml) in the Stolberg sample. Serial choice reaction performance was assessed by means of the Vienna reaction device in which a random sequence of light and tone signals has to be answered by pressing appropriate response buttons. Correct (hits) and false responses (errors) were evaluated as performance measures, and signal rate was varied in order to achieve easy and difficult task conditions. Exposure-related performance deficit was more pronounced for errors than for hits, more clearcut for high than for low signal rates, and proved significant in both studies after correction for confounding using confounder models of different complexities. Some features of the observed deficit resemble clinical observations in children presenting with attention deficit disorder. PMID- 2626151 TI - [Flow cytometric DNA analysis in rectal carcinomas]. AB - The cellular DNA content was measured with flow cytometry from paraffin-embedded material in 329 patients and metastatic tumors of the liver from the rectum in 11 patients. The classification of the DNA ploidy pattern is as follows: A stem cell peak with a DNA index of 0.9-1.1 is defined as DNA diploid tumor and DNA aneuploid tumor is that with a DNA index greater than or equal to 1.1. There was a good correlation of DNA indices (r = 0.997) obtained from flesh and corresponding paraffin-embedded specimens. It is concluded that accurate determination of DNA index from paraffin-embedded materials is possible in the majority of cases. DNA ploidy of primary tumor cells correlated with clinicopathological findings such as lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis and hepatic metastasis (p less than 0.01), but did not correlate with extramural carcinoma invasion. The cumulative survival rate (Kaplan-Meier) of curatively resected rectal carcinomas was worse in DNA aneuploid than in DNA diploid tumors (p less than 0.01). These observation showed that the determination of DNA ploidy in rectal carcinomas may prove to be of prognostic value. PMID- 2626152 TI - [Experimental study on the effect of various types of peritonitis and elevation of intra-abdominal pressure on endotoxin absorption]. AB - The experimental studies were conducted in order to elucidate the effect of intra abdominal chemical and bacterial inflammation and elevation of intraabdominal pressure on endotoxin (Et) absorption from the peritoneum. Sixty three adult mongrel dogs were subjected to this study by producing models by intra abdominally administering only Et (0.5mg/kg) [Et only group], by intra abdominally administering a same dose of Et after inducing peritonitis by bile, stool and acid [Peritonitis group], and by intra-abdominally administering a same dose of Et after elevating intraabdominal pressure [Elevated intraabdominal pressure group]. In comparison with the group in which only Et was intra abdominally administered, Et absorption of the Peritonitis group was significantly inhibited and the response of the animals was minimal. It was suggested that peritonitis per se had a host defensive function with regard only to Et absorption. However, in the elevated intra-abdominal pressure group, Et absorption from the peritoneal cavity was significantly increased to bring rise to aggravation of the circulatory system such as decrease in not only blood pressure but also in its antecedent cardiac output and hepatic blood flow, which aggravated the severity of the disease. PMID- 2626153 TI - [Promoting effect of endogenous TSH on carcinogenesis of rat thyroid transplanted into the spleen]. AB - In an attempt to clarify a modifying effect of TSH on thyroid tumorigenesis, we carried out intrasplenic thyroid autotransplantation in rats treated with a thyroid carcinogen, diisopropanolnitrosamine (DIPN). Experiments comprised 3 groups of Wistar male rats: Group I (effective no., 15), total thyroidectomy plus hemithyroid transplantation 2 weeks after subcutaneous injection of DIPN at a dose of 2.4g/kg BW; group II (effective no., 22), DIPN alone; group III (effective no., 18), transplantation alone. The thyroid lesions of all rats at week 28 were examined by histopathology and enzyme histochemistry for gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Periodical radioimmunoassay for serum T3, T4 and TSH revealed low levels of T3 & T4 for at least 10 weeks and increased level of TSH until week 18 after the transplantation. Altered foci (AF) occurred in 36% and 6% of rats in group I and group II, respectively, whereas neoplastic nodules (NN) were found in 53% of rats only in group I. Both AF and NN displayed a positive reaction for GGT which was considered to be a useful marker for preneoplastic and neoplastic thyroid lesions. The present data are indicative that increased serum level of TSH for a significant period may exert a promoting effect on thyroid tumorigenesis. PMID- 2626154 TI - [Experimental multihormone therapy on human breast carcinomas grown in nude mice]. AB - Experimental multihormone therapy with tamoxifen (TAM), aminoglutethimide (AMG) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) was investigated using three hormone dependent human breast carcinomas serially transplanted into nude mice. TAM was the most effective of these agents, showing an efficacy rate of 100%, whereas MPA was the least effective, showing an efficacy rate of only 17%. The combination treatment of TAM and AMG was more effective than that of either TAM or AMG used alone. The antitumor effect of TAM was considered to be related to the changes of the hormone receptor levels. Since AMG significantly reduced the estrogen level and the uterine weight in normal female mice, the antitumor effect of combined TAM and AMG was assumed to be a result of the low estrogen level caused by AMG, enhancing the ability of TAM to compete with estrogen receptors. There was no additional antitumor effect of the combination of TAM and MPA, although serum MPA levels in mice were almost equivalent to those in humans who were treated with 1200mg of MPA po daily. These results indicated that combination hormone therapy, particularly with TAM and AMG, might be a promising method for the clinical treatment of human breast cancer. PMID- 2626155 TI - [Surgical treatments for coronary artery disease associated with cancer: a consideration of simultaneous procedure of coronary artery revascularization and surgery for cancer]. AB - There were 14 patients with a mean age of 65 years (ranged from 47 to 77) who had severe coronary artery disease associated with cancer of other organs. Stomach cancer was in 8 patients, breast cancer in 2, lung cancer in 2, rectum cancer in 1, and esophagus cancer in 1. They were treated with sequence of coronary artery revascularization and surgery for cancer; 9 patients in a two-staged fashion and 5 recent patients in a simultaneous one. In the series of simultaneous procedure, A-C bypass was combined with left ventricular aneurysmectomy in one patient and closure of ASD in another. There was no cardiac complication in both series, but one death from the complication of surgery for cancer in the staged series. Three patients in the staged series could not help being postponed the surgery for cancer by slow recovery from A-C bypass. In conclusion, coronary artery revascularization should anticipate surgery for cancer and simultaneous combined procedures should be chosen when possible. PMID- 2626156 TI - [Experimental and clinical studies on the exclusion and bypassing operation for abdominal aortic and iliac artery aneurysms]. AB - For the purpose of simplifying operative techniques and decreasing operative risks, we evaluated excusion and bypassing operation for infrarenal abdominal aortic and iliac artery aneurysm (AAA) both experimentally and clinically. This method includes dissection and closure of proximal stump of the aneurysm and anatomical bypass technique in principle. In the experiments, the ratio of internal pressure of the excluded aorta (e.Ao) to systemic blood pressure (E.P.I.) was 0.62 +/- 0.03 (n = 7, mean +/- S.D.). The thrombotic occlusion period of the e.Ao was estimated to be about 2 weeks. Clinically, we have carried out exclusion operation in 40 (43.8%) out of 91 cases of AAA since June 1977. In 49% of the cases hypogastric artery aneurysm was present. The excluded aneurysm revealed thrombotic occlusion within 1 month by CT scan and rupture or DIC were seen in none of the cases. There were no operation related mortality and postoperative cumulative survival rate was 94.7% at 1 year, 55.6% at 5 and 9 years. Since this operative technique is highly safe and simple, we consider this exclusion method is valuable not only in high-risk cases of elderly patient as well as in cases with extensive aneurysm of the hypogastric artery but also in many other patients. PMID- 2626157 TI - [A new intra-arterial chemotherapy for unresectable hepatic neoplasm--the effect of charcoal hemoperfusion for isolated hepatic venous outflow on the prevention of systemic side effects of adriamycin: preliminary report]. PMID- 2626158 TI - [The immunohistochemical evaluation of kinetic and functional activity on gastric cancer using anti-BrdU and anti-CEA antibody: preliminary report]. PMID- 2626159 TI - [Existence of glucan-like activity in the organs of rats. Causes of postoperative elevations of endotoxin using conventional limulus test (toxicolor). Preliminary report]. PMID- 2626160 TI - [A study of proliferative activities of gastric carcinomas using monoclonal antibody 780-3 (anti P-105): preliminary report]. PMID- 2626161 TI - [Relationship between muscular palpation and three dimensional incisal path at border movement of mandible]. AB - Temporomandibular arthrosis was diversified phases of its development as well as complicated mode of its crisis, due to which no concrete clinical diagnostic procedure has been established yet. However, a close relation of occlusal disturbance with the crisis factor is suggested, and assessments have been made in the prosthetic dentistry, setting a viewpoint at the phases of mandibular movement. Particularly, incisal path at border movement of mandible is made the object for basic assessment since it exhibits intensified condition. On the other hand, importance is attached to Krogh-Poulsen's muscular palpation for diagnosis of the pain and contraction of the masticatory muscle which occur in temporomandibular arthrosis. However, though there is a close relation between the pain or abnormal contraction of the masticatory muscle and the phases of mandibular movement, these diagnostic procedures have been the studies which have dealt with the subjects separately. And no report is seen on the study made of the relation between the phases of incisal path at border movement of the mandible and Krogh-Poulsen's muscular palpation. Accordingly, with the purpose of investigating these relationships, the author has made assessment of the relationship between the result by Krogh-Poulsen's muscular palpation and the form (analogue form) of three-dimensional incisal path at border movement of the mandible summarized and standardized by TMJ gnathological instrument which is evaluated as a recording method with high clinical efficiency as a method with excellent reproducibility of mandibular movement and favorable manipulability. The subjects enrolled were patients with temporomandibular arthrosis and the so called normal healthy subjects with normally functioning occlusion who are not conscious clinically of the abnormality of the stomatognathic system nor had similar anamnesis. And the following results have been obtained. 1. Results by Krogh-Poulsen's muscular palpation; 1) The 59 so-called normal healthy subjects were classified into 2 groups by Krogh-Poulsen's muscular palpation, and of these, the cases in whom no abnormality was observed were only 5, being 8.5%, and the cases in whom single or multiple test items showed abnormality were 54, being so high rate as 91.5%. The occurring frequency of 5 test symptoms in the 54 cases were; 22 cases with trismus-40.7%; 34 cases with temporomandibular sounds -63.0%; 20 cases with pain -37.0%; 36 cases with tenderness of the lateral pterygoid muscle -66.7%; and 25 cases with disturbance of lateral mandibular movement 46.3%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2626162 TI - [Effects of general anesthesia on deep body temperature: with special reference to operation hours]. AB - Deep body temperature in central part (thorax) and peripheries (dorsum of foot and hand) were determined, in order to observe the changes in body temperature occurring due to long or short duration of surgical operation in dental or oral surgery. The results obtained are as follows. Subjects selected were 49 cases including 32 males and 17 females, aged 17-43 years, of less surgical risk and without any disorders in respiratory and circulatory systems. They were classified into five groups on the basis of operation time: 10 cases for two hours or less group, 10 for two to three hours or less, 11 for three to four hours or less, 9 for four to five hours or less and 9 for five hours or more. The measured value in each measured site obtained when anesthesia started and at 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 min. after when anesthesia started. The difference between central (thorax) deep body temperature and peripheral (dorsums pedis and manus) one was determined as delta T. 1. Changes of deep body temperature in each measured site Central (thorax) deep body temperature decreased temporarily at 30 and 60 min. and increased after 180 min. Peripheral (dorsums of foot and hand) deep body temperature increased till 60 min. and decreased after 120 min. 2. Changes in difference between central (thorax) and peripheral (dorsums of pedis and manus) deep body temperature (delta T). Both differences in deep body temperature, i.e., thorax VS dorsum pedis (delta T1) and thorax VS dorsum of manus (delta T2) became smaller with time from when anesthesia started to 120 minute.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626163 TI - [Metrical study on teeth and mandible in Macaca fuscata fuscata. 2. Principal component analysis]. AB - Metrical investigation on teeth and mandible together was performed to understand the morphological relationship between these two components in Macaca fuscata fuscata. Measurements are 9 items from the mandible, 2 items from dental arch, and 8 mesiodistal diameters from teeth. Correlation matrix composed of 19 items, in total, was examined in males and females, respectively. Significant correlation coefficients were frequently seen among mandibular measurements and also among tooth measurements, but rarely seen between mandibular and tooth measurements. The only exception was a mesiodistal diameter of P3 which has a few significant correlations with mandibular measurements. Principal component analysis was also carried out based on the correlation matrix of 19 measurements. The first component was a size factor in which factor loadings were all positive. The second component was thought to be a factor of the mandibular size in which factor loadings were highly positive on the mandibular measurements and contrarily low on the dental measurements. It is concluded that there is no obvious correlation between general sizes of the mandible and the teeth in Macaca fuscata fuscata. PMID- 2626164 TI - [Dentin after dentinal exposure in dog teeth]. AB - The teeth of dogs in which the root dentin was incompletely formed were prepared so that dentin was exposed. Tetracycline was then injected and the teeth were studied for dentin formation after the periods of 18, 20, 48 and 76 weeks. After the dentin was exposed slightly, reparative secondary dentin was not formed in the pulp horn area; However, a considerable amount of dentin was formed at the walls of the pulp chambers and the root canals. No changes were noted in the pulp horn area in the prepared teeth in comparison with unprepared teeth. The results imply that dentinal changes in the pulp horn area caused by dentinal cutting are more closely related to the depth of dentinal preparation than to the age of the tooth and to the elapsed time after preparation. PMID- 2626165 TI - Diversity of surface protein antigen A gene in the chromosomal DNA of Streptococcus sobrinus. AB - A recombinant plasmid, pYA724, containing an 8.45-kb DNA fragment encoding surface protein antigen A (spaA) from Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 was used to examine the DNA homology of the spaA gene with chromosomal DNA of Streptococcus sobrinus B13N. Restriction endonuclease BamHI-digested pYA724 DNA was 32P radio labeled by nick-translation, and a Southern blot DNA-DNA hybridization experiment was carried out. pYA724 DNA hybridized with a BamHI fragment of B13N chromosomal DNA, and the size of this fragment was larger than 8.45 kb. The chromosomal DNA was digested with BamHI-Pst I, BamHI-Hind III, and BamHI-Sal I, and analyzed by Southern blot DNA hybridization. pYA724 DNA hybridized with different sizes and numbers of DNA fragments of B13N chromosomal DNA; however, the sizes were not identical to those of internal fragments expected from the pYA724 restriction map. SpaA gene clone derivative plasmids, pYA745 and pYA756, were digested with EcoRI and Hinc II, respectively, and electrophoresed together with the digested B13N chromosomal DNA on the same gel; then Southern blot analysis was carried out. Fragments with sizes corresponding to the EcoRI or HincII internal fragments of pYA745 and pYA756 were not observed among the B13N fragments. These data indicate that serotype d S. sobrinus B13N has DNA homologous with the spaA gene from serotype g strain 6715, although within the same biotype strain has a diversity of arrangement within the chromosome. PMID- 2626166 TI - [Toxicity of Bacteroides intermedius surface extracts against mouse splenic lymphocyte]. AB - The purpose of the present study is to clarify in vitro toxicity of surface sonic extracts from Bacteroides intermedius (B. intermedius) ATCC25611, B. intermedius ATCC 33563 and Bacteroides gingivalis (B. gingivalis) 381 against mouse splenic lymphocyte. Especially the surface extracts from B. intermedius ATCC 25611 were fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a column of DEAE. The following results were obtained: 1) The surface extracts from B. gingivalis 381 and B. intermedius ATCC 25611 presented remarkable lymphotoxicity, but B. intermedius ATCC33563 did not have it. 2) The surface extracts from B. intermedius ATCC 25611 was separated to 6 fractions by HPLC. 3) Two fractions isolated from B. intermedius ATCC 25611 surface extracts observed remarkable lymphotoxicity, and the one of their fractions, possibly including fimbriae showed a remarkably higher toxicity against mouse splenic lymphocyte. PMID- 2626167 TI - [TMJ clicking sounds and changes in masking level]. AB - It is known that the peak distribution of the power spectrum seen in the clicking sounds of the temporomandibular joints appears in the vicinity of 1 KHz in a high rate. Based on the findings that this marginal zone corresponds to speech range, the authors have performed masking experiment by narrow band noise on 20 ears in 10 normal persons and 27 ears in 19 patients with noise as subjects to assess the influence exerted by mechanical stimulation on the condition of hearing ability in speech range. The results in normal persons were 14.8dB (S.D. 13.7) at 500Hz. 27.0dB (S.D. 11.1) at 1,000Hz and 21.3dB (S.D. 10.4) at 2,000Hz. The results in abnormal persons were 12.2dB (S.D. 9.9) at 500Hz, 20.6dB (S.D. 6.6) at 1,000Hz and 15.9dB (S.D. 4.4) at 2,000Hz. A significant difference was observed in the masking level between the two groups at 1,000Hz band with a risk rate of 5%. From the above, it was suggested that the sound constituent of TMJ clicking sound exerts influence on the specific auditory level in the patients with noise. PMID- 2626168 TI - [Dental application of imaging information. Evaluation of optimum tube voltages]. AB - The subjective contrast including the density component of radiograph as well was aimed at. In relation to the intraoral radiographs (18 cases) of the left first molar of the mandible and its surrounding tissue taken using tube voltage of 60 90 kV, the radiographs were evaluated based on the mean of the extracted subjective contrast values, resulting in the following findings: 1. A tendency was observed in the enamel and dentine of the central portion of crown, for the mean of the extracted subjective contrast values using tube voltage of 70 kV to be lower than that with 60 kV. 2. A tendency was found in the dentine on the cement side of the mesial and distal cervical portion and the periodontal membrane space of the cervical portion, for the mean of the extracted subjective contrast values to generally become larger as the tube voltage was increased. 3. A tendency was recognized in the alveolar lamina dura of the mesial and distal marginal alveolar portion, for the mean of the extracted subjective contrast values to become larger as the tube voltage was increased. From intraoral radiographs of teeth, the findings mentioned above have proved that good radiographs will be created using a tube voltage of 70 kV for enamel and dentine, and using 60 kV for dentine and cement in the area of the cervical portion or in case of the periodontal tissue. PMID- 2626169 TI - [Effect of Actinomyces viscosus on the production of prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 in macrophages]. AB - Certain species of bacteria have been implicated in the etiology and pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. It has been reported that Actinomyces viscosus (A. viscosus) is associated with gingivitis. On the other hand, it is known that prostaglandin (PG) E2 is one of potent mediators of bone resorption and macrophage is PGE2 producing cell. It has been reported that a number of macrophage is increased in inflamed gingival tissues and that A. viscosus (T14V strain) cells significantly stimulated the arachidonic acid (AA) release and the secretion of PGE2 and thromboxane (TX) B2. Furthermore, the level of PGE2 in inflamed gingival tissues was 18 times higher than that of normal gingiva. In general, it is believed that the rate-limiting step in the production of PGs and TXs is dependent on the release of AA from phospholipids in the cell membrane. However, recent papers suggested that the produced levels of PGE2 and TXB2 were not completely dependent on the amounts of released AA, and the mechanism of rate limiting step and the PGE2 production are still remains to be elucidated. It is known that glucocorticoid, anti-inflammatory steroid, inhibits the AA release from phospholipids of cell membrane. In the present study, in order to clarify the mechanism of PGE2 and TXB2 production by the A. viscosus cells, the effect of addition of glucocorticoid on the levels of PGE2 and TXB2 production were studied. The effects of ionophore A 23187 and zymosan, which were known as agents of macrophage activation but having different action manner, on the relation between the AA release and productions of PGE2 and TXB2 were also comparatively studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626170 TI - [Pathomorphological study of maxillary invaginated incisor teeth]. AB - Maxillary invaginated incisor teeth have been pathomorphologically investigated and some results have been obtained as follows: 1) The classification used in this study is as follows. That is, class I: Invagination is limited within the enamel. class II: Invagination extends toward the pulp chamber in a manner of pipe. class III: Invagination seen in class II expends at its end in the fashion of drop. class IV: Invagination occludes the whole coronal pulp chamber or extends toward the root apex beyond the cervical line. Frequent enamel-lined cavities of invaginated teeth were found to contain the contents (72.7%). Solid contents were found with considerable frequency in the cavities of the class I invaginated teeth of the author's classification (80.1%). On the other hand, the solid contents were rare in cavities of class III or IV (27.3%). In most cases, contents were found in limited areas of the cavity of class III or IV (72.7%). Any invagination corresponding to class II is not seen in this research. 2) The tissue composing the contents in the cavity of invaginated tooth was not clarified by the light microscopic observations of ground sections and film replicas. In class IV, poor hypomineralization was partly found in the inner enamel, and the dentin around the cavity was sclerotic. 3) As for the measurements of microhardess, the Vickers hardness number of contents in the cavities of invaginated teeth was approximately 1/4 of that of inner enamel. 4) The contents gave a higher radiolucency than the inner enamel by means of contact microradiography. 5) Electron microscopy revealed that the cavity contents of invaginated teeth was composed of poor inorganic elements resulting in a smooth aspect, and that, in most cases, a rod-having enamel was found in the surface layer of the contents and the rest of contents was composed of rodless enamel. An organic continuation of the tissue was observed between inner enamel and the contents. The results of electron microscopy, microhardness measurement, and contact microradiography, may indicate that the contents is composed of a hypomineralized enamel. 6) Caries incidence were found at a rate of 40.9% at cavity walls of invaginated teeth. Thus, it was suggested that cavity walls were susceptible of caries. In the contents of invaginated cavity, there was found primary caries appeared there. PMID- 2626171 TI - Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Pharmakologie und Toxikologie. Abstracts of the first winter meeting. 23-24 November 1989, Hannover. PMID- 2626172 TI - The Navy's Central Medical Library. PMID- 2626173 TI - Graduate medical education: the cornerstone of Navy medicine. PMID- 2626174 TI - Military medicine in action. PMID- 2626175 TI - We teach caring. PMID- 2626176 TI - Influence of experimental acute hypoxia on myelin proteins. PMID- 2626177 TI - [Topography and structure of secondary brain damage in edema associated with supratentorial foci of encephalomalacia]. AB - The paper comprises 70 cases of extensive supratentorial infarctions. The topography and structure of secondary lesions occurring in the region of herniation and displacements caused by the coexisting brain edema were analysed. The extent of edema served as criterion in the division of the material into three groups in dependence on the occurrence of herniations and displacements. Most frequent was herniation of hippocampal uncus and most rare that of the cerebellar vermis. In group I showing no herniations selective necrosis was noted of neurons particularly sensitive to ischemia and anoxia, especially in Sommer's sector of the hippocampus. In group II secondary necrosis was visible in the regions of herniae, and in the group III also in the translocated deep brain structures in the hemisphere contralateral to the infarct and in the brain stem where, moreover, secondary hemorrhages were present. Supratentorial secondary hemorrhages were less frequent. They were noted in the thalamus both on the side of the infarct and in the contralateral hemisphere. Supratentorial necroses were more frequent. Their intensity varied from selective necrosis to Jacob's edematous necrosis. Severe displacement of deep structures and of the brain stem was associated with development of secondary internal hydrocephalus, especially in the hemisphere contralateral to the herniation. To the most important pathogenetic factors causing development of secondary morphological lesions belong disturbances of blood supply occurring as the result of pressure differences between the supra- and infratentorial space, resulting from pressure and displacement of arterial vessels, damage of their walls and distrubances of venous flow and also development of secondary internal hydrocephalus. Extensive necroses and hemorrhages increase the area of primary necrosis. Lesions resulting from herniation, displacement and compression of vessels were superposed on the picture of brain edema both present or passed. Secondary necroses damaging bilaterally structures belonging to the limbic system and reticular formation may be an additional factor in the development of edematous encephalopathy and the development of a psychoorganic syndrome after stroke. PMID- 2626178 TI - [Experimental studies of the pathomechanism of portal encephalopathy. I. Changes in monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of rats after portacaval shunt]. AB - Rats with portacaval shunt (PCS) were used as a model of hepatic encephalopathy and compared to sham operated controls. Neurochemical studies in rats have demonstrated increased activity of MAO in brain cortex and cerebellum at 20, 40, and 60 days after surgery. The greatest increase of MAO activity was seen 60 days after PCS. PMID- 2626179 TI - Morphological study on striatum and cerebellum cultures exposed to kainic acid and kainic acid and tiapride treatment. PMID- 2626180 TI - [Generalized form of cerebral actinomycosis]. AB - The here presented case was a woman 82 years old suffering for many years of arteriosclerotic Parkinson syndrome. During the last 8 months of her life she exhibited excessive talk flow and states of delirium. Twelve days before death she had a generalized attack of convulsions and the consciousness disorder increased. Moreover, meningeal symptoms were observed, a right side reflex syndrome with Babinski sign and temperature up to 38 degrees C were noted. Death occurred on the 9th day of hospitalization with symptoms of increasing circulatory-respiratory insufficiency. Pathomorphological examination revealed in the myocardium, lungs, liver, kidneys and thyroid multiple purulent foci containing actinomycotic granules. Neuropathological examination revealed both in the cortex and white matter the presence of numerous disseminate bodies staining intensively with HE, PAS- and Gram-Weigert positive and negative in the Ziehl Nielsen method. Their structure, compact or fine-powdered corresponded to actinomyces colonies. They either showed no reaction or were surrounded by a wall of inflammatory cells such as: neutrophilic leucocytes, lymphocytes, plasmatic cells and histiocytes. The microabscesses were not encapsulated. The case was classified to a diffuse form of brain actinomycosis. The etiopathogenesis of the changes and the clinical-morphological correlations of this very rare infectious disease of the central nervous system are discussed. PMID- 2626181 TI - [Aspergillosis of the brain in a patient with pancytopenia]. AB - The here presented case concerns a 74-year-old woman treated for many years with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs during pancytopenia. Seven days before her death she developed severe headaches and visual disorders, rapidly increasing disturbances of consciousness and a temperature of 40 degrees C. The course of the disease was violent with meningeal syndrome and cerebral coma. The cerebrospinal fluid was purulent, pleocytosis 1235/ml, with prevalence of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (88%) and an protein level increased to 210 mg%. In autopsy no mycotic changes were found in the internal organs whereas in microscopic examination of the brain the dominant finding was the presence of numerous filamentous bodies with septa characteristic of aspergillus which were visible both in microthrombi in the lumen of meningeal and interstitial vessels and in the areas of extensive necroses in both cerebral hemispheres and the brain stem as well as within granulomas occurring on the edges of necrotic foci and in the inflammatory infiltration of the brain base meninges. The presence of aspergillus hyphae was usually associated with a severe inflammatory reaction of polymorphonuclear leucocytes, acidophilic and plasmatic cells in microabscesses and in the inflammatory infiltration of meninges or in the form of granulomas composed mainly of multinucleated giant cells of Langhans or of foreign body type and mononuclear cells. The etiopathogenesis of these changes is discussed. The role of the facilitating factor could have been played by protracted therapy with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs and/or by pancytopenia itself which is probably associated with abnormal immunological response. Noteworthy is the fact that the seldom described mycotic changes caused by aspergillus concerned in the present case the central nervous system exclusively. PMID- 2626182 TI - [Degenerative changes in the cerebellum in adult non-lymphoblastic leukemia]. AB - Neuropathological investigations have been performed on 61 patients of both sexes, aged 17-60 years, deceased owing to nonlymphoblastic leukemias. The cerebellar degenerative changes appeared in 51 percent of cases mainly in the grey matter. Distinct rarefaction or atrophy of the cerebellar granular layer and the dentate nuclei were frequent phenomena. The following classification of the cerebellar granular layer damage was used: I degrees - focal rarefaction, II degrees - diffuse distinct rarefaction, III degrees - focal atrophy, IV degrees - diffuse atrophy. The investigations suggest that polychemotherapy is one of the causes of cerebellar degenerative changes, especially atrophy of the granular layer and dentate nuclei, as well as demyelination. In leukemias of short duration more frequently than in the remaining cases lymphocytic perivenous infiltrations appeared in the white matter. It seems to be a consequence of immunopathological reactions between the neoplasm and the nervous tissue in cases with more dynamic course of the disease. PMID- 2626183 TI - [Therapeutic strategy in Basedow's disease. Role of surgery]. AB - A personal experience about 80 patients with Graves' disease treated by subtotal or total thyroidectomy is reported. The surgical procedures are discussed. Subtotal thyroidectomy has proved to be the therapy of choice. All followed patients (60) are euthyroid excepting 3 cases of relapsing hyperthyroidism and 6 cases of post-surgical hypothyroidism. PMID- 2626184 TI - [Early treatment of acute necrotico-hemorrhagic pancreatitis: percutaneous peritoneal dialysis. Preliminary data]. AB - Early peritoneal dialysis is proposed for the early treatment of acute necrotic haemorrhagic pancreatitis on the basis of experimental and clinical studies. The results obtained in 53 cases so treated in the past 8 years are reported. PMID- 2626185 TI - [Esophago-jejunal anastomosis using an end-to-end anastomosis stapler. Clinico radiologic study of early complications in 75 cases]. AB - Personal experience with 75 consecutive cases of terminolaterale oesophagojejunal anastomosis by EEA Stapler is reported. A total of 6 intraoperative technical problems were encountered (8%) and consisted either of incomplete suturing of the anastomosis or stapling of the jejunal wall. Postoperative radiology revealed 5 dehiscences (6.6%) and 1 stenosis (1.33%). One patient with dehiscence died (1.33%) of septic complications. One dehiscence of the afferent jejunal stump and minor pleuropulmonary complications were observed in 3 cases. After a brief review of the literature, it is concluded that oesophagojejunal anastomosis by EEA Stapler produces a low incidence of postoperative complications such as the dehiscence, stenosis or bleeding. PMID- 2626186 TI - [Usefulness of 2-component human fibrin glue in stabilizing vascular sutures at risk in hemodialysis]. AB - The controversies arising in recent years over the possible transmission of viruses including the hepatitis and HTLV III type in blood derivatives that have been more or less purified or screened for specific antibodies are still to be fully resolved. Though some statistical epidemiological studies seem to exclude the possibility when it comes to the use of bicomponent human fibrin glue (Tissucol) (Eder et al., 1986) it seems unreasonable totally to exclude the possibility of contamination arising from the use of this product. Certainly such contamination is only a remote possibility in haemodialysis patients who, obliged by their condition to undergo repeated intravascular injections of blood or other blood derivates, are highly unlikely to contract disease precisely due to the use of fibrin glue. For this reason, over the past three years bicomponent human fibrin glue has been used whenever necessary and has proved extremely valuable in stabilising vascular sutures at risk. PMID- 2626187 TI - [Ano-rectal candidiasis]. AB - The presence of candida and other fungi was investigated in 300 patients referred with anal problems of diverse aetiology. Candida was present in 13% and played a pathogenic role in about 50% of all positive cultures. It is concluded that cultural tests for fungal pathogens should always be performed in cases of anal itching or burning combined with other anal skin problems. PMID- 2626188 TI - [Gallbladder empyema caused by common bile duct compression by primary cysts of the pancreas. A clinical case]. PMID- 2626189 TI - [Pancreatic pseudocyst as a complication of duodenocephalopancreatectomy. Description of a case]. AB - Pancreatitis with the formation of a large pseudocyst on the pancreatic stump is a relatively rare complication of duodenopancreatectomy. An observed case is reported with an examination of its clinical and diagnostic aspects. PMID- 2626190 TI - [Post-traumatic intrathoracic gastric volvulus. Presentation of a clinical case]. AB - The paper describes a case of traumatic hernia of the diaphragm, complicated by mixed gastric volvulus, with a rapid onset and severe clinical symptoms. The etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutic methods inherent in this rare affliction are discussed. PMID- 2626191 TI - [Post-traumatic arterio-venous popliteal aneurysm]. AB - A case of artero-venous pseudo-aneurysm caused by traumatic aetiology is reported. After a description of the case and a review of the literature, the pathogenesis, clinical aspects and therapy of acquired artero-venous fistulas are discussed. PMID- 2626192 TI - [A case of hydrosalpinx permagna]. AB - A case of hydrosalpinx permagna with liquid content of fully 22 litres is reported. Historical and objective data are illustrated together with the operation performed, the postoperative course, follow-up and discussion of the case. PMID- 2626193 TI - [Protection systems of erythrocytes during intraoperative autotransfusion. Experience with the use of S-adenosyl-L-methionine]. AB - An experiment lasting 2 years in more than 200 patients in single blind conditions (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine vs placebo) aimed to improve protection of red cells during intraoperative autotransfusion. The two groups are analysed and, on the basis of objective hematochemical data it is concluded that in patients treated with the pharmacological support erythrocyte membrane stability is good. PMID- 2626194 TI - [Use of intraoperative transcystic choledoscopy in calculosis of the main bile duct]. AB - Choledochoscopy is complementary to peroperative cholangiography in exploration of the main biliary way. Transcystic access is proposed in choledocholithiasis. The cystic duct, in fact, is frequently transitable owing to the dilatation produced by the migration of gallstones and because of the increasing miniaturisation of instruments. This examination of the MBW is less traumatic and risky than transcholedochotomic choledochoscopy. PMID- 2626195 TI - [Esophago-gastric pHmetry in the study of gastro-esophageal reflux]. AB - Personal experience in gastro-esophageal pH-monitoring in the study of gastro esophageal reflux syndrome. PMID- 2626196 TI - [Analysis of a series of cases of liver metastasis of colorectal carcinoma]. AB - The Authors present a six years case-report concerning 135 patients operated on colo-rectal carcinoma (82 of them are still followed up). The incidence of hepatic metastases (synchronous and metachronous) has been 30.37% in all. The preoperative ultrasonography has shown an 11% about margin mistake to visualize secondary lesions of liver. They have acknowledged the intraoperative ultrasonography very useful to visualize occult metastases and to guide an exeresis operation. The resectability of hepatic metastases from colo-rectal cancer has been of 12.19%. Synchronous forms have been rarely operable (5.88%) because they are constituted by multiple and disseminated lesions. They have found an higher incidence of operable forms among the metachronous metastases (42.85%), whose average time of appearance from the primary operation has been about 13 months. The operative mortality and the complications following hepatectomy have been null. The average survival time from operation has been over 22 months. Therefore they recognized the importance of a careful follow-up to find precociously operable lesions. PMID- 2626197 TI - [Direct post-mastectomy reconstruction with skin expansion. Technical notes]. AB - The demolition-reconstruction sequence in patients suffering from breast cancer may, in selected cases, be reduced to two surgical steps alone without compromising the radical nature of the surgery or the aesthetic result. The technical details of a protocol realisable in a short time that proposes on the one hand classical radical mastectomy (according to Patey or Madden) and on the other reconstruction by tissue expansion are described. PMID- 2626198 TI - [Primary therapy after radical removal of sinus pilonidal]. AB - The successful closure of the operative wound after removal of the Sinus pilonidalis, is linked, in our opinion, to the application of certain measures that should be taken during surgery. Specifically: 1) careful haemostasis, 2) correct positioning of effective deep drainage with exit into the left gluteal region, 3) diligent suture of the deep layers, 4) correction of tension at operative wound level. Two-year follow-up of 29 of 32 operated patients did not reveal relapses. PMID- 2626199 TI - [Short-term prophylaxis with erythromycin lactobionate in patients undergoing lung surgery]. AB - The efficacy of short term prophylaxis with erythromycin lactobionate in the peri operative treatment in patients undergoing pulmonary surgery is examined. PMID- 2626200 TI - [Complicated torsion of the gallbladder. Presentation of a clinical case]. AB - A case of gallbladder torsion complicated by sigmoid volvulus and sub-torsion of the ileus is reported because of the difficulty of diagnosis, conditioned by polymorphic symptomatology, the expression of a variety of causes and contributing causes that play an important role in the greater or less onset of dramatic symptomatology, and because of the rarity of the pathology. PMID- 2626201 TI - [A case of splanchnic rhabdomyosarcoma]. AB - Rhabdomyosarcoma is a typical tumor of the skeletal musculature. A case personally observed, with possible splenic origin is presented. PMID- 2626202 TI - [The clinical geriatric chart. A proposal for multidimensional functional assessment]. PMID- 2626203 TI - [Perinatal mortality in placental insufficiency]. AB - The review of 55 cases of placental failure and the results obtained reveal a 54% mortality rate. PMID- 2626204 TI - [Proposal of a detoxication program for drug dependency in pregnancy]. AB - One of the main problems the physician has to handle in managing pregnancy complicated by the maternal intake of opiates is represented by the programming of adequate detoxication treatment that allows in particular for possible pharmacological repercussions on the foetus. On the basis of many years' experience, a therapeutic proposal is put forward as a general guideline, from which an individual approach can be obtained for the treatment of drug dependency in pregnancy. PMID- 2626205 TI - [Post-menopausal metrorrhagia. Use of danazol in endometrial hyperplasia]. AB - The Authors, after a careful examination of the literature on endometrial hyperplasias, review the results of a preliminary study on 15 patients affected with postmenopausal metrorrhagia, cured by Danazol (200 mg/die) through 90 consecutive days. Also recognizing the best tolerance to the drug and the low incidence of the side effects, they think the results obtained by Danazol need further confirmation by more protracted controls. PMID- 2626206 TI - [Activity of topical flunoxaprofen in nonspecific vaginitis. Comparison with meclocycline sulfosalicylate]. AB - A trial was performed in 30 patients affected by non-specific vaginitis. The results show that the topical application (by vaginal washings) of flunoxaprofen produces a high therapeutic activity like that of meclocycline. Contrary to meclocycline, flunoxaprofen does not possess bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties. Therefore, the normalization of vaginal flora, with a remarkable increase of Doderlein bacillus, is exclusively due to local antiphlogistic activity of flunoxaprofen. Contrary to meclocycline, flunoxaprofen induces a precocious increase of Doderlein bacillus, necessary for a definitive normalization and to limit the possibility of relapses. PMID- 2626207 TI - [Endometrial hyperplasia in the province of Trieste]. AB - 1103 cases of endometrial hyperplasia were diagnosed between January 1, 1978 and December 31, 1987 at the Department of Anatomy and Pathological Histology of the University of Trieste. Of these, 58% were cases of cystic glandular hyperplasia, 38% of adenomatous hyperplasia and 4% of atypical hyperplasia. Subdividing the period examined into two five-year periods, it was found that the rate of incidence of endometrial hyperplasias was more than doubled, this increase having been caused above all by cases of cystic hyperplasia. Distribution by age classes of subjects suffering from different hyperplastic forms suggests that cystic glandular hyperplasia is not a precursor of the adenomatous form, whereas the latter and atypical hyperplasia might constitute a continuous spectrum of potentially precancerous lesions. PMID- 2626208 TI - [Remarks on the psychological and cultural problems encountered in self-palpation for the early diagnosis of breast neoplasms]. AB - It remains quite difficult, both psychologically and culturally, to perform and to correctly perform self-palpation of the breast. The present work attempts to investigate the causes of these difficulties and to identify the education needed to create a harmonious relationship with one's own body. This relationship is based essentially on representations of the structure and image of the body. The results of a survey conducted among the student midwives at the Isernia School of Obstetrics are also reported and reveal a widespread desire to delegate responsibility for the problem. PMID- 2626209 TI - [A case of diffuse hemangioma of the placenta]. AB - The paper reports a case of diffuse placental hemangioma leading to intrauterine fetal death. Contrary to other cases reported in the literature, polyhydramnios, oligohydramnios and fetal malformations were not observed. The sole finding was a dilatation of the cardiac auricle, in particular on the right-hand side. It is hypothesised that fetal death was due to two concomitant factors: the severe hypoxemic state and the difficulty of venous drainage from the fetus to the mother owing to increased materno-fetal placental shunts. PMID- 2626210 TI - Drug abuse and brain development. Proceedings of the Sixth International Neurotoxicology Conference. October 10-14, 1988, Little Rock, Arkansas. PMID- 2626211 TI - Genetic influences on brain growth restriction induced by development exposure to alcohol. AB - Genetic factors have been implicated as contributing to the considerable variation in the severity of alcohol-related birth defects in offspring of women who drink heavily during pregnancy. Two animal models of alcohol-related developmental effects incorporated different behavior genetic approaches to examine genetic influences on brain and body growth following alcohol exposure during development. The first, extensively developed in Sprague-Dawley rats, examined the effects of three doses of alcohol administered to two inbred rat strains (MR and M520) via artificial-rearing procedures during the early postnatal brain growth spurt. In both strains, alcohol produced a dose-dependent restriction of brain weight (but not body weight) on postnatal day 10, compared to artificially reared controls. The MR strain was more susceptible to cerebellar growth restriction than the M520 strain, an effect not attributable to strain differences in blood alcohol concentrations. In the second model, pregnant female Long-sleep and Short-sleep mice, selectively bred for differences in initial sensitivity to the hypnotic effects of acute alcohol administration, were intubated with ethanol from gestational days 7-18. Controls included either sucrose or maltose/dextrin intubation controls and non-intubated controls. The LS offspring showed growth deficits and brain weight reductions in adulthood, while the SS offspring were resistant to these detrimental effects of the prenatal alcohol exposure. Thus, differences in either maternal or fetal genotype may contribute to individual differences in the severity of the effects of alcohol exposure during development. PMID- 2626212 TI - Paternal behavioral mutagenesis. AB - Cocaine hydrochloride (0 to 30 mg/kg, s.c.) was administered daily for a minimum of 72 days to Long Evans rats. Animals receiving the lower doses were pair fed to animals receiving the higher dose. Males were bred to untreated females. Paternal cocaine administration did not affect litter size, birth weight, or weight at weaning, but did result in offspring hyperactivity. A similar study was conducted for paternal alcohol consumption in Long Evans rats. Males consumed alcohol (35%, 17.5% or 0% ethanol derived calories) for 8 to 9 weeks and were then bred to untreated females. Males consuming the lower concentrations were pair fed to 35% EDC animals. Paternal alcohol consumption did not affect birth weight or weight at weaning but resulted in offspring hypoactivity. Mice sired by alcohol consuming males were also hypoactive. PMID- 2626213 TI - Pharmacokinetics of cocaine: basic studies of route, dosage, pregnancy and lactation. AB - As a preface to the pharmacokinetic analysis of cocaine in pregnant and lactating rats (using oral administration of drug), young Long-Evans rats were used to compare the relative concentrations of cocaine in blood, brain, and liver after administering cocaine by iv or oral routes. Cocaine and its metabolites were determined using 3H-cocaine as a tracer, followed by homogenization and solvent extraction of tissues, and quantitative analysis by HPTLC and LSC. From 30 min postinjection to several hrs later, the concentration of cocaine was higher in brain (3-4 fold) and liver (3-5 fold) than in blood, using the iv route. Using the oral route, the concentration in brain was 2-3 fold higher than in blood, and in liver, 10-20 fold higher. The metabolites of cocaine were largely excluded from entry into brain tissue, whereas the accumulation of metabolites in liver was typically an order of magnitude higher, or more, than in blood (iv or oral route). The ratio of cocaine to metabolites increased in all three tissues, as the dosage increased, indicating that more and more of an administered dose actually reaches the tissues as cocaine as the dosage level increases. During the period from 30 to 90 min following the administration of cocaine to pregnant dams, cocaine appeared in fetal brain at a rate of 50-90% of the concentration in the dam's brain (presumably because of the lower lipid content in fetal brain compared to adult), but still at a rate of 109-151% of the concentration in the dam's blood. Cocaine is sufficiently stable in milk to assume that any cocaine entering breast milk from the blood stream will be available to the suckling infant, and after administering radioactive cocaine to lactating dams, the milk/blood ratio for cocaine averaged 7.8. These data indicate that both the fetus and suckling infant are at considerable risk from cocaine use by the mother. PMID- 2626214 TI - Assessment of chemically-induced alterations in brain development using assays of neuron- and glia-localized proteins. AB - Chemical-induced injury of the developing central nervous system (CNS) is often manifested by alterations in the cellular ontogeny of specific neuroanatomical regions. Within the affected area, critical developmental processes encompassing a variety of neuronal and glial cell types may be transiently or permanently altered. Because the cellular heterogeneity of the developing CNS is expressed by unique neuronal and glial proteins, we proposed that radioimmunoassays of these proteins can be used to define normal and chemically- altered patterns of CNS development. We are testing this hypothesis by administering prototype neurotoxicants to the developing rat and then assessing the effects of these agents on previously characterized neuronal and glial proteins. Using this approach, we have characterized several features associated with perinatal chemical exposure: (1) region-dependent patterns of altered brain development are revealed by changes in the amounts of specific neuronal and glial proteins; (2) chemical-induced changes in neuronal and glial proteins depend on the time of exposure and nature of the insult; and (3) significant changes in neuron- and glial-localized proteins can be observed in the absence of cytopathology or decreases in brain weight. Data obtained from studies of toxicant-induced injury of the CNS will be presented as models for the use of neuron- and glial-localized proteins as biochemical indicators of altered brain development. PMID- 2626215 TI - Maternal beer drinking: offspring growth and brain myelination. AB - The type of alcoholic beverage consumed by pregnant drinkers appears to influence fetal outcome. Beer drinkers are at greater risk than consumers of other alcoholic beverages for having children with fetal alcohol effects (Sixth Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health, 1987). The magnitude of the risk is increased, because beer is a very popular beverage in our society. Although animal models have been developed to mimic fetal alcohol effect in humans, it is possible that stressful procedures such as intubation, and the hunger of pair-fed animals matched to animals drinking ethanol in liquid diet have interfered with obtaining a pattern of alcohol intake which closely matches that of humans. A majority of the animal models used for alcohol studies have provided ethanol for intake, rather than alcoholic beverages such as beer, which is favored by humans. Thus, a new model for voluntary beer drinking by rats is presented here for use in the study of maternal beer drinking during gestation, and the subsequent developmental consequences in the offspring. Female Long Evans rats (N = 45) were tested by beer preference and assigned to beer drinking (BR) or control groups. All animals were given standard laboratory diet and water ad libitum. BR dams were provided ad libitum access to beer. A pair-fed group (PF) was given non-alcoholic beer with dextrin added to match the caloric intake of the BR animals. Control animals (CT) were given free access to food and water. Control groups included beer preferring animals as well as non-preferring animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626216 TI - Neonatal development altered by maternal sulfur dioxide exposure. AB - Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is one of the commonly encountered environmental contaminants. Experiments were carried out to test for neonatal behavioral alterations associated with maternal SO2 exposure. Pregnant CD-I mice were exposed to 0, 32, or 65 PPM SO2 in environmental chambers from gestation day 7 to 18 (plug = day 1). The SO2 air flow was set at 500 ml/min. Food and water were available at all times. The dams were allowed to deliver and neonatal behavioral development of the pups was studied. Maternal SO2 exposure did not affect the mean number of live pups born/litter; however, the exposure at the high level significantly decreased the mean pup weight on day 1 of birth. SO2 exposure at both levels significantly increased the time required for the righting reflex on day 1 of birth and negative geotaxis on day 10 of birth. The SO2 exposure did not affect the aerial righting score of the pups on day 12 of birth. The data suggest that maternal SO2 exposure can affect the neuromuscular coordination and may produce deficits in the functional capability of the developing offspring. The functional deficits appear to be associated with the birth weight of the offspring. PMID- 2626217 TI - Genetically-determined responses of central cholinergic markers: the effects of ethanol on inbred strains of mice. AB - The present study investigated differences in cholinergic function which might contribute to genetic differences in the effects of ethanol on inbred mice. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and [3H] quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) binding were assessed in several brain areas after administration of ethanol (4.6 g/Kg). ChAT in striatum and septum of C57BL/6 mouse strain exhibit greater sensitivity to ethanol as compared to BALB/c mouse strain. While BALB/c limbic system and related structures showed greater sensitivity to ethanol as compared to C57BL/6 strain. Our previous studies indicated that acute ethanol administration in C57BL/6 mice increased striatal ChAT activity (up to 22% with 60 min latency, Durkin et al., 1982). This augmentation in ChAT activity induced by ethanol was associated with non synchronous decreases in kinetic characteristics of QNB binding in striatum. In contrast, no such changes were seen in BALB/c striatum (except we noted an increase in Kd up to 90 min after acute ethanol treatment). Similar significant increases in ChAT activity were also observed in C57BL/6 septum 165 min after ethanol administration. However, the septum in BALB/c mice did not exhibit comparable changes. Ethanol did increase ChAT activity in several brain areas of both strains. The areas included the hippocampus, temporal limbic cortex and piriform cortex or paleocortex. Interestingly, the latencies to increased ChAT activity in these areas were much shorter in BALB/c than in C57 mice. The kinetic characteristics of QNB binding sites (Bmax and Kd) and AChE activity were unchanged in all brain areas and did not differ by strain except as otherwise indicated. These data indicate that genetic differences in ethanol preference and sensitivity in these strains are accompanied by differential sensitivity of ChAT to acute ethanol. Genotypic variations in dopaminergiccholinergic interactions in striatum and hippocampus (Durkin et al., 1983), and septum (Kempf et al., 1985), temporal limbic and piriform cortex, could contribute to genetic differences in cholinergic sensitivity to ethanol. In addition, different blood-brain barrier and membrane properties might also contribute to genetic differences in the sensitivity of cholinergic function to ethanol. The differential effects on ChAT activity might participate in genetic differences in memory disorders (limbic system and related structures) and motor incoordination (basal ganglia) following high dose alcohol administration. PMID- 2626218 TI - Synaptosomal uptake of choline and of gamma-aminobutyric acid: effects of ethanol and of dimethylsulfoxide. AB - We have characterized the interactive effects of ethanol and dimethylsulfoxide on synaptosomal uptakes of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and choline. Ethanol is a membrane-disordering agent which has been shown to inhibit synaptosomal high affinity choline uptake at pharmacologically relevant ethanol concentrations, and to inhibit synaptosomal GABA uptake at higher ethanol concentrations. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is an organic solvent which has been shown to have a stabilizing effect on artificial phospholipid bilayers, and to have effects on conformation of and cation binding to brain (Na+, K+)-ATPase which are opposite those of ethanol. DMSO alone (2-10% v/v) inhibited synaptosomal uptakes of GABA and of choline in a concentration-dependent fashion, with choline uptake inhibited to a greater degree than GABA uptake. This result is qualitatively similar to the effects of ethanol on these uptake processes. DMSO at low concentrations (0.3-1.5% v/v) had no effect on inhibition of GABA and choline uptake by 0.6 M ethanol, and higher DMSO concentrations resulted only in further inhibition. Similarly, ethanol (0.3 M) had no effect on inhibition of GABA and choline uptake by 5% (v/v) DMSO, and higher ethanol concentrations (0.6-1.2 M) resulted only in further inhibition. We conclude that the inhibiting effects of ethanol on synaptosomal GABA and choline uptake are not reversed by DMSO. PMID- 2626219 TI - Cigarettes and marijuana: are there measurable long-term neurobehavioral teratogenic effects? AB - Since 1978, a prospective investigation has been underway to study the consequences of prenatal exposure to a number of widely used drugs. Data are presented describing some of the associations between maternal use of cigarettes and marijuana and effects upon the offspring beyond the newborn stage. At one month of age, prenatal cigarette exposure was associated with hypertonicity and increased nervous system excitation while prenatal marijuana exposure was associated with symptoms similar to mild narcotic withdrawal. At 12 months of age, maternal cigarette smoking was significantly associated with lower mental scores and altered responses to auditory items. At 24 months, similar associations were noted although the unique predictive power of maternal smoking was overshadowed by the influence of the postnatal environment. In the one and two year old offspring of the marijuana users, no association was noted between drug use and motor, mental or language outcome variables. At three years of age a dose response relationship between lower language scores, lowered cognitive scores and prenatal cigarette exposure was noted. At this age, some cognitive and language deficits were also observed with prenatal marijuana exposure. Overall, it appears that at one, two and three years of age, there are persistent effects of prenatal exposure to cigarettes but the effects of prenatal marijuana exposure, if present, are not as readily ascertained. PMID- 2626220 TI - Device for monitoring locomotor activity of 120 animals: motility of offspring of dams exposed to haloperidol. AB - A device using four infra-red light photocells per cage which monitor simultaneously the motility of 120 individual rodents, was developed at our institute. The measuring interval can be chosen freely, the starting time may be set freely and the test may last several weeks. The motility of the offspring (day 35-39) of dams exposed to the neuroleptic haloperidol during lactation was investigated, because of the important stage of the brain development in the neonatal age and of the relatively high concentration of haloperidol in the milk. Mice dams were treated sc. with a single dose (1.5 mg/kg) of haloperidol postnatally on day 3 to 6. Compared to the controls the body weight gain of treated (via milk) pups was reduced (controls = 72%, haloperidol = 30%) and the mortality was higher (controls = 10%, haloperidol = 77%) during the treatment period. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the locomotor activity from day 35 to day 39 shows a distinct shift in the kind of motility: the locomotor activity of haloperidol offspring is significantly reduced while the number of activity phases is increased. It appears that there is a persistent alteration in the central nervous system that leads to a higher frequency but a lower efficacy of activity. PMID- 2626221 TI - Prenatal exposure to drugs: behavioral distortions reflecting CNS impairment? AB - In order to disentangle the effects on development of prenatal drug exposure from the effects of poor prenatal care, perinatal complications, and low socioeconomic status, toddlers prenatally exposed to drugs were compared to high risk preterm toddlers of similar ethnicity and social class. Intellectual functioning and quality of play were assessed. The drug exposed toddlers had significantly lower developmental scores and less representational play. Furthermore elements of their play were characterized by the investigators as a soft neurological sign. The question of possible CNS impairment is raised. PMID- 2626222 TI - The role of community hospitals in the detection of occult breast cancer. PMID- 2626223 TI - The rural health care challenge in New York State. PMID- 2626224 TI - Occult breast cancer in two community hospitals in New York State. AB - The histopathologic results of 360 consecutive preoperative needle localizations of nonpalpable breast lesions performed at two community hospitals in New York State were analyzed for comparison with national data. Seventy-eight (21.6%) samples were malignant lesions. Sixty of the 78 (76.4%) were infiltrative lesions, and 18 (23.6%) were in situ carcinomas. Overall, axillary lymph node metastases were noted in five (8.3%) samples. We conclude that needle localization permits detection of occult carcinoma at an early stage and that detection of occult carcinoma in patients seen in a community hospital corresponds well with published national data. PMID- 2626225 TI - Vascular insufficiency: a significant factor in impotence. PMID- 2626226 TI - Meningitis following bacteremia with Streptococcus sanguis. PMID- 2626227 TI - Determination of cerebral blood flow in an arteriovenous malformation using SPECT scanning. PMID- 2626228 TI - Omental infarction in pregnancy. PMID- 2626229 TI - Thallium stress tests and the White House security system. PMID- 2626230 TI - HIV partner/contact notification assistance programs. PMID- 2626231 TI - Pressure from AIDS patients and a growing market lead to AZT price reduction. PMID- 2626232 TI - Whistling dixie. PMID- 2626233 TI - Work stress and the dental auxiliary. PMID- 2626234 TI - Loosening up. PMID- 2626235 TI - Dental phobia. PMID- 2626236 TI - The value of lobbying. PMID- 2626237 TI - Longitudinal study of serum antibody response to bovine corneal protein (BCP 54) in Behcet's disease. AB - Serum samples from a patient diagnosed as having active Behcet's syndrome with iritis were evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies against a purified bovine corneal protein, molecular weight 54,000 daltons (BCP 54). Significantly elevated antibody levels to BCP 54 were found in all serum samples collected over a 2-year period. Anti-BCP 54 antibody levels remained within a very narrow range, at least twofold higher than those of controls. In contrast, no antibody to retinal S antigen was detected. These results indicate the presence of specific anti-BCP 54 autoantibodies in sera from a Behcet's patient and suggest that autoantibodies may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of uveitis. PMID- 2626238 TI - Oxidative stress and inherited cataracts in mice. AB - To determine whether an unbalanced redox state might accompany the development of particular inherited mouse cataracts, the lenticular content of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were chosen as markers. For wild-type lenses, an enhanced GSSG content could be observed in females as compared to males. Such a sex effect could not be detected for the SOD activity. In the mutants, GSSG content in cataractous lenses was found to be enhanced in 2 of 7 cases; the increases in other mutants were not significant. Changes of the SOD activity were even less consistent and only a random correlation of GSSG content and SOD activity with cataractogenesis could be deduced. PMID- 2626239 TI - Marked differential effects of prostanoid metabolites on rabbit intraocular pressure. AB - A comparison of the effects of the major metabolites of prostaglandins E2, F2 alpha, and D2 (PGE2, PGF2 alpha and PGD2) on rabbit intraocular pressure (IOP) revealed differences in potency relative to each other and the parent prostanoid. 15-Keto PGF2 alpha produced significant, dose-dependent decreases in IOP at 0.1 and 1% doses; responses of a similar magnitude were achieved with 0.01 and 0.1% PGF2 alpha indicating a 10-fold difference in potency between PGF2 alpha and its 15-keto metabolite. 13,14-Dihydro PGF2 alpha appeared slightly less active than 15-keto PGF2 alpha, whereas 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF2 alpha was almost 100-fold less potent than PGF2 alpha. PGE2 was approximately 100-fold more potent as an ocular hypotensive than its 15-keto and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto metabolites. 19(R) OH PGF2 alpha did not alter IOP, whereas 19(R)-OH PGE2 was essentially equipotent to PGE2 as an ocular hypertensive without producing the typical subsequent decrease in IOP. The decrease in IOP evoked by active PGE2 and PGF2 alpha metabolites was of shorter duration than responses produced by the respective parent prostanoid. Although PGD2 was equipotent with PGE2 and PGF2 alpha, the 11 ketoreductase-derived metabolite (9 alpha, 11 beta-PGF2) exhibited little effect on IOP, and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGD2 was inactive. The thromboxane A2 (TxA2) mimetic U-46619 and TxB2 did not significantly alter IOP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626240 TI - Assay of cellular immune responses in rabbits sensitized to retinal antigens. AB - Cellular immune responses in retinal autoimmunity have scarcely been studied in rabbits. An effective isolation of rabbit peripheral blood lymphocytes is difficult to achieve and requires specific conditions. This hampers especially the assay of antigen-induced lymphocyte transformation. We have improved the lymphocyte isolation technique, resulting in consistent recoveries of 65-75% and enabling longitudinal studies of immunopathological conditions in rabbits. The technique was incorporated in a routine version of the lymphocyte transformation test, which has been optimized with respect to culture conditions and retinal antigen concentrations. PMID- 2626241 TI - Effect of low oxygen tension on the growth of bovine corneal endothelial cells in vitro. AB - The proliferation of bovine corneal endothelial cells cultured in low (6%) and normal (20%) oxygen concentration in the gas phase was compared. Low oxygen tension significantly stimulated cell multiplication and DNA synthesis of the cultured cells. PMID- 2626242 TI - Proliferation of abnormal cells in fetal organ-cultured and human cataractous eye lenses. AB - Abnormal epithelioid, fibroblast-like, infiltrating, and bladder cell complexes of fetal swine organ-cultured lenses contained DNA-synthesizing cells, of which epithelioid and fibroblast-like cells proliferated. The same is supposed to be true for abnormal cells of human cataractous lenses. PMID- 2626243 TI - Fluorophotometric analysis of the blood retinal barrier: two techniques compared. AB - Methods of interpreting data obtained by vitreous fluorophotometry vary between institutions. One important difference in these methods is the use of total plasma fluorescein or only free fluorescein in the calculation of the plasma fluorescein curve used in the analysis of the blood retinal barrier. We examined 16 diabetic patients (32 eyes) with documented background retinopathy using vitreous fluorophotometry. We compared two methods of analysis: (1) using total plasma fluorescein, and (2) using plasma-'free' fluorescein. Both methods were equally efficient at detecting breakdown of the blood retinal barrier and were highly comparable (R = 0.84; p less than 0.001). 43.75% of eyes with documented background retinopathy had a normal blood retinal barrier as measured by these techniques. PMID- 2626244 TI - Evaluation of clinical techniques to measure tonic accommodation. AB - Previous studies have advocated the use of a degraded accommodative stimulus to assess the value of tonic accommodation (TA) under clinical conditions. This study has attempted to determine the efficacy of two such clinically applicable techniques, i.e., viewing a low spatial frequency (approximately 0.1 cpd) difference of Gaussian (DOG) grating or a retinoscope beam in an otherwise dark room. Additionally the accommodative response (AR) was measured in darkness. The data indicate that these clinical techniques did provide a degraded stimulus to accommodation. However, measures of AR recorded when fixating the clinical targets did not correlate with the values of AR obtained in darkness. This lack of correlation suggests that the responses obtained when viewing either the DOG target or retinoscope beam may not represent a veridical measure of TA. PMID- 2626245 TI - Binocular vision without visual stress. AB - The use of changes in fixation disparity, the associated phoria, and the dissociated phoria in assessing the degree of visual stress requires that we know the effect of vision under close working conditions (40 cm) on these parameters. The authors have previously reported that reading under the stress of abnormally low illumination, or at too close a working distance (20 cm), increases fixation disparity and associated phoria and is associated with symptoms and visual discomfort. The current study shows that reading at photopic levels of illumination and at a working distance of 40 cm does not change the magnitudes of fixation disparity and associated phoria. Reading under these conditions is not accompanied by an onset of symptoms or visual discomfort. This result indicates that changes in fixation disparity and associated phoria are a product of visual stress and are not produced by reading itself. PMID- 2626246 TI - Visual performance with aspheric rigid contact lenses. AB - Single vision aspheric contact lens designs may be able to enhance visual performance by controlling spherical aberration. In this study, we have compared the visual performance provided by two front surface aspheric rigid contact lenses with that of a spherical rigid contact lens and spectacle correction. These 4 corrections were worn by ten subjects while visual acuity was determined as a function of aperture size. The possibility that front surface aspheric lens designs may enhance visual performance was confirmed, although individual subjects varied significantly in this visual response. Contributions to the visual performance, other than contact lens surface shape, may include lens position and stability. PMID- 2626247 TI - Refractive index gradient of human lenses. AB - We report nondestructive measurements and the modeling of the refractive index profiles in human lenses. Results in the equatorial and sagittal planes are compared with destructive measurements of refractive index, modeled data as well as with microdensitometric measurements of protein concentration. These comparisons highlight the differences between current models and measured data on human lenses. PMID- 2626248 TI - Accommodation used to determine ultrasound velocity in the human lens. AB - Intraocular distances can be measured by echography. In this determination the velocity of sound in the various media is assumed to be constant and equal to the velocity found by in vitro measurements. However, interindividual variability causes an inaccurate determination of these distances. We present a method to determine the velocity of ultrasound in the lens "in vivo." For this purpose continuous registrations of the transit times for the anterior chamber, lens, and vitreous were made during accommodation. Regression analysis of the variation of transit times provides the velocity of ultrasound in the lens with an accuracy of about +/- 3 m/s. PMID- 2626249 TI - Symptomatology of HEMA contact lens wear. AB - Identification of the determinants of patient symptoms is a requisite for successful patient management in contact lens practice. Symptoms reported by 104 patients wearing hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) contact lenses, who presented consecutively to a large contact lens clinic, were analyzed. Dryness was reported more frequently than the symptoms scratchy and watery (p less than 0.001). Females using oral contraceptives were more likely to experience the symptoms of scratchiness (p less than 0.01) and dryness (p less than 0.05) than females who were not using oral contraceptives. The symptoms dryness was reported more frequently by patients whose lenses were older than 6 months (p less than 0.05), and those wearing toric lenses (p less than 0.01). These findings will assist practitioners to anticipate those patients who are likely to develop contact lens related symptoms and lay the foundations for a model of symptomatology during contact lens wear. PMID- 2626250 TI - The pH of over-the-counter hydrogen peroxide in soft lens disinfection systems. AB - We evaluated the pH of six hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) soft lens disinfection systems which had over-the-counter (OTC) H2O2 substituted for the manufacturer's recommended H2O2. Substitution of four brands of OTC H2O2 into the five two-step disinfection systems resulted in a pH after neutralization which ranged from 6.70 to 7.55 pH units. There was a small but statistically significant difference in the pH after neutralization when OTC H2O2 was substituted for the manufacturer's recommended H2O2. There was a significantly lower pH after neutralization when the same brands of OTC H2O2 were substituted for the manufacturer's recommended H2O2 in a one-step H2O2 disinfection system. The pH after neutralization for the manufacturer's recommended H2O2 was 6.50 pH units. The pH after neutralization for the OTC H2O2 ranged from 3.35 to 4.77 pH units. This range is below the ocular comfort range of 6.6 to 7.8 pH units. These findings, along with other possible differences between OTC H2O2 and the manufacturer's recommended H2O2, indicate that OTC H2O2 should never be substituted for the manufacturer's recommended H2O2 in any H2O2 soft lens disinfection system. PMID- 2626251 TI - Psychophysics of reading. VIII. The Minnesota Low-Vision Reading Test. AB - This is the eighth in a series of papers dealing with the role of vision in reading. In previous papers, we have evaluated the effects of stimulus and subject variables on reading rate using a drifting-text procedure. In this paper, we describe a new test of reading rate that uses static text, called the Minnesota Low-Vision Reading Test (MNread). It is microcomputer-based, and more easily set up and administered than the drifting-text procedure. It is of potential value as a standardized psychophysical test of reading and should be useful in research, clinical, and educational applications. Some types of low vision aids rely on drifting text and others on static text. Is reading performance different for these two modes of text presentation? We measured reading rate as a function of angular character size for normal and low-vision subjects with drifting and static text. Although reading rates were highly correlated for the two modes of text presentation, normal subjects usually read static text more rapidly. The reverse was true for low-vision subjects; their reading rates for drifting text were slightly higher (average 15%) than for static text. PMID- 2626252 TI - Bilateral experimental myopia in chicks. AB - Substantial amounts of myopia can be induced in chicks by depriving the eye of clear vision for a period of 2 weeks after hatching. Previous work has primarily involved unilateral visual deprivation. Experiments described here include bilateral visual deprivation involving an opaque goggle over one eye and a translucent goggle over the other. The results indicate that although myopia is induced bilaterally, the eye under the translucent goggle becomes more myopic than the contralateral eye or the unilateral deprivation condition. Lens focal characteristics are not affected by the level of myopia. The fact that deprivation of one eye can affect the refractive development of the contralateral eye has implications related to the question of central vs. peripheral neural control of refractive development. PMID- 2626253 TI - Optometry in the multidisciplinary health care setting. AB - A variety of health care delivery settings and models have been established in the 1980s. The multidisciplinary setting encourages comanagement and continuity of care, provides convenient consultation and communication, and is cost effective. It stimulates learning, helps to consolidate management strategies, and results in improved quality of care. Therefore, the patient and the provider both benefit from this environment. In 1978, the problem-oriented record keeping system (PORS) was implemented in the eye care service of a Boston neighborhood multidisciplinary health center. It facilitated learning, established guidelines for peer review, and improved patient care by assisting the eye care service to communicate patient problems to the other health center services effectively. We review the background of urban multidisciplinary health care settings and the PORS, as well as present several cases in which optometrists participated in patient comanagement with other health care specialists to develop a comprehensive management plan. The benefits of the multidisciplinary approach to both patients and providers are discussed. PMID- 2626254 TI - Contrast sensitivity norms for the Mentor B-VAT II-SG video acuity tester. AB - The Mentor B-VAT II-SG video acuity tester is a high-resolution video system designed to present many of the targets used in standard vision examinations (Snellen optotypes, clock charts, etc.). The SG model also presents sinusoidal gratings at various spatial frequencies and contrasts, making it possible to measure contrast sensitivity functions (CSF's). Using this system, we measured CSF's in a group of 69 young observers with well corrected vision. Contrast sensitivity scores were obtained at each of five spatial frequencies. A total of 5710 trials was presented. The mean contrast sensitivity scores of our group agree well with norms of other available CSF measurement systems, provided that the low spatial frequency truncation effects of each system are taken into account. A random subset of the group was retested 1 month later; no significant differences were found, demonstrating the reliability of the measurements. The data of this study should aid the clinician in identifying visual disorders. The data may be used to determine quantitative deviations from the norms or as a rapid screening test. PMID- 2626255 TI - Behavioral control of visual field screening using a microcomputer. AB - A computer algorithm is described which automatically controls the presentation of visual field targets and analyzes the subject's responses. Data relating to the procedure's reliability and validity are reported along with experience using it with normal subjects on an IBM PC compatible. Suggestions are made for the further development of the microcomputer approach to visual field investigations. PMID- 2626256 TI - Retinal macroaneurysms: the natural history in four patients. AB - Macroaneurysms of the retinal arterioles are a clinical entity distinct from the aneurysmal dilations associated with Coats' disease, Leber's disease, Eales' disease, and angiomatosis retinae. The pathogenesis is not completely understood, but they are closely associated with systemic hypertension, generalized atherosclerosis, and age. Macroaneurysms have been classified into three major groups: exudative, hemorrhagic, and quiescent. Four examples of macroaneurysms are presented with photographic documentation. The clinical appearance, natural history, complications, and management of this retinal entity are discussed. PMID- 2626257 TI - Visual fields, acuity, and intraocular pressure in a pseudophakic patient. AB - A 55-year-old white male underwent an uneventful cataract extraction with implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) in his left eye. Two years after the cataract surgery, his visual acuity decreased due to opacification of the posterior lens capsule. This report addresses the effect of laser capsulotomy on the patient's visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and visual field. Although the first two have improved nicely, the size of the last remains considerably below the norm for his phakic contemporaries. PMID- 2626258 TI - Sagitta and lens thickness. PMID- 2626259 TI - The structure of the shell and polar plugs of the egg of the whipworm, Trichuris trichiura (Nematoda: Trichuridae) from the Samango monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis). AB - The structure of the shell of the egg of Trichuris trichiura was examined using light microscopy as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results confirmed its three-layered structure and provided evidence that the cores of the polar plugs, which could be seen to be extensions of the shell's middle layer, could be lost en bloc, either mechanically or chemically, and in this way probably provided an exit for the first stage larva at hatching. PMID- 2626260 TI - Availability of infective larvae of parasitic nematodes of sheep grazing on Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pastures in the winter rainfall area. AB - Thirteen groups of 4 South African mutton Merinos grazed for 4 weeks with the flock on Kikuyu pastures and were slaughtered for total and differential worm counts at necropsy. Subsequently 12 groups of 8 week tracers grazed on the pastures and were killed for worm counts post mortem. The following were present in most sheep: Teladorsagia (syn. Ostertagia) circumcincta, Trichostrongylus axei, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Dictyocaulus filaria and Oesophagostomum venulosum. Haemonchus contortus, Nematodirus spathiger and Trichuris skrjabini were less frequently recovered. Optimal conditions for infestation of grazing sheep occurred from June (late autumn)--October (spring) when mean temperatures in any 4 week period were less than 20 degrees C and a total of greater than 40 mm of rain fell on 8 or more separate days. When the mean temperatures exceeded 20 degrees C pastures were safe, sheep acquiring less than 1,000 worms in 4 weeks. PMID- 2626261 TI - Hybridization model for Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and R. zambeziensis by glucose-P-isomerase isoenzymes. AB - Hybrids between Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and R. zambeziensis were reared and glucose-phosphate-isomerase isoenzymes were resolved by agarose electrophoresis. By phenotyping hybrids in F1 and F2 generations autosomal transmission of 2 GPI genes was demonstrated. Identification of a hybrid phenotype provides a method for identifying hybrids in field collections. PMID- 2626262 TI - Overberg research projects. VI. The biology and control of Oestrus ovis in sheep in the winter rainfall areas of the southern Cape. AB - Oestrus ovis was endemic on all the farms included in a survey conducted in the southern Cape, but each farm had its own unique seasonal pattern of infestation. Flock sheep were infested 10-12 months and tracers 5-9 months of the year. Sporadic infestations occurred in winter and spring, while peaks were reached in summer and autumn. Development of O. ovis larvae deposited in autumn was retarded for up to 5 1/2 months. Pupae of O. ovis formed from 27 April-9 August, with the exception of a single pupae formed on 29 June, failed to produce flies. Pupal periods ranged from 30 days in January to 80 days in June. Strategic anthelmintic treatments in May, August and November and a tactical treatment in March are recommended. PMID- 2626263 TI - Resistance of Nguni, Bonsmara and Hereford cattle to ticks in a Bushveld region of South Africa. AB - Counts of engorged female ticks on naturally infested cattle over a 2 year period, showed that indigenous Nguni cattle harboured significantly fewer Amblyomma hebraeum, Boophilus decoloratus and Hyalomma spp. during periods of peak abundance than either Bonsmara or Hereford cattle. Fewer abscesses, associated with tick bite, were also present in the Nguni cattle. Individual tick resistance indices, determined after artificial tick infestation in the field, could not be correlated with hair length, skin thickness or conglutinin titres. The consistently large percentage of Nguni cattle showing high tick resistance according to index determinations, indicates a superior level of natural immunity in this breed. The relative incidence of individuals in high, medium and low resistance classes reflected an increase in resistance with exposure to ticks and the potential for the selection for tick resistance within all 3 breeds. PMID- 2626264 TI - Geographical distribution and habitat preferences of the invader freshwater snail species Lymnaea columella (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in South Africa. AB - The present geographical distribution of Lymnaea columella, as recorded in the National Freshwater Snail Collection, is described and discussed. It appears that L. columella is the most successful colonist of all the freshwater snail species in South Africa, and, together with Bulinus tropicus and Lymnaea natalensis, it forms the most widely distributed freshwater snail species in the region. Data regarding the 2,341 discovery sites of L. columella recorded by collectors during surveys are analysed. L. columella cluster mainly in rivers or streams with perennial, slow flowing, or stagnant freshwater with many plants and a mud substrate. L. columella is regarded as a more effective intermediate host for the transmission of fascioliasis than the indigenous snail species. The economical implications of this are discussed briefly in the light of its success as an invader species. PMID- 2626265 TI - Serological evidence of bovine leptospirosis in Malawi. AB - Two hundred and seventy-five serum samples from cattle in Malawi were tested as a pilot survey for Leptospira antibody titres. Fifty-nine (21.4%) of the animals were positive for leptospirosis, while 35 (12.7%) animals reacted inconclusively. Titres to L. hardjo and L. pomona serovars were the most prevalent. Results are also discussed with reference to the areas where samples were collected. PMID- 2626266 TI - Afrotropical Culicoides: C. (Avaritia) spinifer Khamala & Kettle, 1971, a name based on an artefact (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). PMID- 2626267 TI - The host status of the striped mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio, in relation to the tick vectors of heartwater in South Africa. AB - Striped mice, Rhabdomys pumilio, were trapped over a 17 month period in the Thomas Baines Nature Reserve in the eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Captured mice were placed in cages, over water, and naturally detaching ticks were collected. Only 5 larvae and 1 nymph of Amblyomma hebraeum were recovered from the mice. These represented less than 0.1% of the total number of ticks recovered. No Amblyomma marmoreum were recovered. As the vegetation and large mammals and tortoises in the Thomas Baines Nature Reserve abound in larvae of both these vectors of heartwater the low infestation rates of R. pumilio indicate that it is either unsuitable or inaccessible for these ticks. R. pumilio is therefore unlikely to play a role in the epidemiology of heartwater. PMID- 2626268 TI - [Dental concerns of old age residents in lower Austria]. PMID- 2626269 TI - An assessment of the value of frozen sections in gynecological surgery. AB - In 203 consecutive gynecological operations where frozen sections were performed, 35.6% were from conditions of the ovary, 22.7% from the cervix, 18.2% from the endometrium, and 11.4% from the vulva. There were 0.5% false-positive, 1.0% false negative and 2.0% deferred diagnosis. Incorrect interpretation was the cause of the single false-positive diagnosis, while the false-negative diagnoses were due to errors in block selection. The deferred diagnoses mainly occurred in gynecological conditions where diagnosis was difficult, required extensive sampling or a formal mitotic count. As in other surgical fields, gynecological frozen sections were used principally to guide the extent of surgery. The most valuable frozen sections were in those instances where the operation was affected most. These were on lymph nodes in cases of carcinoma of the vulva and cervix, myometrial lesions in young women where myomectomy was being considered, and ovarian tumours to distinguish primary from secondary tumours. Occasionally, frozen sections were also found useful to establish margins of vulval and cervical tumours, in hysterectomy specimens of endometrial carcinomas to determine prognostic factors, and in suspected recurrences and metastases of tumours to determine the adequacy of the biopsy material. Frozen sections in obviously benign conditions, e.g., ovarian cysts without papillary or solid areas, were found to be unnecessary. Frozen sections are contraindicated when only a small amount of crucial material is available, as the paraffin diagnosis may be compromised. Pathologists should have a clear idea of the role of frozen sections in gynecological surgery and work closely with the surgeon in the management of gynecological oncology patients. PMID- 2626270 TI - Cutaneous relapse of nasal T-cell lymphoma clinically mimicking erythema multiforme. AB - Lymphomatous involvement of skin usually manifests as plaques, maculopapules, papulonodules, tumorous masses or ulcerated eruptions. We report an unusual case in which the cutaneous relapse of nasal T-cell lymphoma clinically mimicked erythema multiforme by the abrupt onset of lesions and the presence of targetoid and vesicular lesions. Histologically, the lymphomatous involvement was predominantly periadnexal, with destructive infiltration of blood vessels, nerves and sweat glands. Early biopsy of all unexplained cutaneous eruptions in patients with malignant lymphoma is therefore recommended. PMID- 2626271 TI - Antibiotic resistance in enterococci at a teaching hospital. AB - Antibiotic resistance in enterococci is becoming increasingly common throughout the world. Of particular therapeutic concern are strains which produce beta lactamase, display high-level aminoglycoside resistance or show plasmid-mediated resistance to vancomycin. A prospective survey of 112 enterococcal isolates has been carried out to determine the extent of these resistance mechanisms in a Sydney teaching hospital. No beta-lactamase production was found. Eleven (9.8%) strains displayed high-level streptomycin resistance (MIC greater than 2048 mg/l), and 2 (1.8%) strains high-level gentamicin resistance (MIC greater than 2048 mg/l). No vancomycin resistance was observed. Enterococcal resistance is not as common at this hospital as in many centres in other countries. High-level aminoglycoside resistance may be missed on routine sensitivity testing. All enterococcal isolates from patients with serious infections should be screened for high-level aminoglycoside resistance. PMID- 2626272 TI - ABO incompatible blood transfusion. AB - Four cases of ABO incompatible blood transfusion are presented which occurred over a 3-year period and resulted in marked clinical variation. In each instance the error leading to the transfusion resulted from the incorrect identification of either the patient, the crossmatch sample or the donations. These cases not only highlight the problems in the clinical recognition of ABO incompatibility but indicate a need to shift emphasis from refining crossmatch methodology to the strict following of standard established protocols for transfusion. It is of paramount importance to guarantee the failsafe identification of blood specimens, donations and recipient to minimize the possibility of accidents due to human error. PMID- 2626273 TI - Acute hepatotoxicity with resultant pulmonary and cerebral embolism in guinea pigs given tunicamycin. AB - The hepatotoxicity of tunicamycin was studied in 8 to 10-week-old guinea pigs. Acute hepatic damage was produced consistently in guinea pigs given a single dose of 400 micrograms/kg of tunicamycin and observed at intervals up to 72 h post injection. Significant elevations occurred in serum levels of liver enzymes and ammonia, while concentrations of serum proteins were lowered. A periportal pattern of hepatocellular damage, with death of many hepatocytes, was consistently observed by 72 h. Severe vacuolation of hepatocytes resulted from lipid accumulation and dilatation of cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and bile ductule hyperplasia was also observed. Swollen hepatocyte cytoplasm protruded into many hepatic blood vessels, and detached portions of hepatocytes produced emboli in pulmonary and cerebral capillaries, thus contributing to capillary occlusion in the brains of treated guinea pigs. PMID- 2626274 TI - Scanning electron microscopic study of hemodynamically induced tears in the internal elastic lamina of rabbit arteries. AB - A scanning electron microscopic investigation of tears in the internal elastic lamina of the afferent artery of experimental arteriovenous fistulae was undertaken to determine their site of initiation and to elucidate their nature. Carotid-jugular arteriovenous fistulae and contralateral common carotid arteriotomies were performed in rabbits sacrificed from two to 63 days post operatively. Following de-endothelialization, scanning electron microscopy of the internal elastic lamina revealed predominantly transverse straight tears with sharp margins. Even in chronic fistulae the tears retained their sharp margins despite their propagation. No evidence of repair was observed. The tears commenced by rupture of the elastic trabeculae traversing the fenestrae. Enzymatic digestion of the internal elastic lamina did not resemble the hemodynamically induced tears and no evidence of elastolytic enzyme activity was detected. The tears suggest that the abnormally stressed elastic tissue has undergone some structural alteration leading to a reduction in its tensile strength. PMID- 2626275 TI - Niemann-Pick disease in the Chinese. A report of four cases in three Chinese families. AB - We report the first four documented cases of childhood Niemann-Pick disease in Chinese. The clinical histories and biochemical, histopathological and ultrastructural findings are given. The four children born to consanguineous parents were from three families. Three of the four cases have features of Type A disease while the younger of the affected sisters, who had over 20% residual sphingomyelinase activity, was more typical of Type B disease. Post-mortem cultured fibroblasts, when compared to control fibroblasts, revealed early features of the disease at the ultrastructural level. PMID- 2626276 TI - [Primary and secondary neoplasms of the salivary glands in the province of Trieste (1977-1986). Histopathological review and epidemiological picture of 151 cases]. AB - The authors carried out a histopathological and epidemiological study on 151 cases of primary and secondary neoplasms of the salivary glands. The parotid gland was involved in 117 cases (78.5%). The tumours were malignant in 20% (30 cases) of the lesions. The most common neoplasms were pleomorphic adenoma (74 cases) and adenolymphoma (35 cases). The occurrence of the latter were, for both sexes, directly correlated to the age of the subjects. The malignant neoplasms were also in direct relation to age. In 7 patients pleomorphic adenoma recurred (11.3%) and in 3 of these the tumour showed a carcinomatous change. The world standardized incidence of malignant forms in the province of Trieste was slightly lower than that for other countries with a similar socio-economic and demographic situation. PMID- 2626277 TI - [Carcinoma of the breast at autopsy: could the age factor be a significant determinant in the process of metastasis?]. AB - A retrospective study was carried out based on 35,764 consecutive autopsies in order to calculate the frequency with which breast carcinoma metastasizes to other organs and the relative changes in the metastatic frequency according to the age of the patients. A total of 698 primary breast cancers were studied. Metastases to various organs were found in 612 cases. The patients who died under 50 years of age revealed the highest rate of metastasis. Although breast carcinoma drops significantly with the age of the woman if compared to other female malignant neoplasms (24.8% up to 54 years of age vs 4% over 90 years of age), the frequency of its metastasis in practice only declines as a result of a very significant drop (p less than 0.0001) in liver metastasis (72.3% under 49 years of age vs 32.2% over 80 years of age). It was only possible to obtain a significant drop (p less than 0.01) in lung, brain and heart metastasis by dividing the cases into larger age groups. In other organs studied no drops in frequency with age were noted. There is agreement with those authors who state that prognosis for breast carcinoma in elderly women is no better than that for young women. There is a possibility that the attachment by neoplastic cells in the liver is influenced by hormonal factors relating to age, and it should be stressed that the metastatic process is influenced by complex interactions between the primary neoplasm, the target organ and the host. PMID- 2626278 TI - [Enterobius gregorii Hugot, 1983: its presence in man in Italy and in the Central African Republic]. AB - The presence of E. gregorii, a species recently identified by Hugot in France in man, is signaled by the authors in Italy and in the Central African Republic. The diagnosis was based on the differential morphological characters reported by Hugot and Tourte-Schaefer in 1985. PMID- 2626279 TI - Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in human breast carcinoma and its correlation with morphological and biological features of tumour aggressiveness. AB - A series of 54 patients presenting with primary breast cancer were investigated for tumour expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by the indirect three-step immunoperoxidase technique which used the monoclonal antibody EGFR1. The percentage of malignant cells positive for EGFR was determined and scored on a four-point (0-3) scale in each case. EGFR was demonstrated in 35 (64.8%) tumours. EGFR expression did not correlate (p greater than 0.05) with growth fraction immunohistochemically visualized by means of the monoclonal antibody Ki 67, tumour size, axillary lymph node status and malignancy grade. In contrast, a significant inverse relationship (p less than 0.05) was found between EGFR and estrogen receptor (ER) patterns. Expression of EGFR per se does not appear to be relevant to the biological behaviour of breast cancer as revealed through an evaluation of proliferative activity, pathological stage and histological differentiation. Recognition that EGFR is negatively related to ER supports the present evidence that the control of malignant cell growth and differentiation depends on complex regulatory mechanisms in which several extracellular messenger molecules, including hormones and peptide growth factors together with their specific cellular receptors, are involved and inextricably interwoven. PMID- 2626280 TI - Morphometric studies on fine-needle aspirates from follicular proliferative lesions of the thyroid. AB - A morphometric analysis was carried out on smears of fine needle aspirates obtained from proliferative follicular lesions of the thyroid. Mean values, range as well as histograms of nuclear areas were calculated in histologically diagnosed cases of non-toxic goiters, follicular adenomas and well-differentiated follicular carcinomas. Mean nuclear areas were found to be significantly higher in carcinomas than in adenomas and in adenomas than in non-toxic goiters. In size frequency distribution histograms, differences among corresponding classes of the three groups were not statistically significant. Linear discriminant analysis was ineffective in differentiating not only benign from malignant follicular tumors, but also non-toxic goiters from adenomas. Morphometric studies on nuclear areas of thyreocytes in fine needle aspirates do not appear to be able to differentiate between proliferative follicular lesions of the thyroid. PMID- 2626281 TI - [A case of malignant carcinoid arising in chronic ulcerative colitis]. AB - An unusual case of atypical carcinoid tumor which arose in chronic ulcerative colitis is presented. The authors describe the argyrophilic cell hyperplasia in damaged colonic areas as a possible reaction to injury and the relationship of the carcinoid tumors to the argyrophilic cell hyperplasia. PMID- 2626282 TI - [Retroperitoneal lymphangiomyomatosis. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of a case]. AB - A case of retroperitoneal lymphangiomyomatosis occurring in a 34-year-old woman is reported. Alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin were localized in the proliferating cells. Electron microscopy showed the presence of many thin perinuclear myofilaments with dense bodies. The differential diagnosis with leiomyosarcoma has been taken into consideration. PMID- 2626283 TI - Aggressive angiomyxoma of the pelvis and perineum. Report of a case with immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study. AB - A case of aggressive angiomyxoma (AAM) of the pelvis and perineum is reported, whose clinical and pathological findings are consistent with the literature. This is a clinicopathological entity recently described by Rosai and colleagues (1983) who stressed its locally infiltrative nature and its tendency to recur. Its differential diagnosis includes a series of benign and malignant soft tissue tumours. PMID- 2626284 TI - Myxopapillary ependymoma of the sacrococcygeal region. Report of a case. AB - A case of subcutaneous myxopapillary ependymoma arising in the sacrococcygeal region of a 42-year-old woman is reported. Less than 60 cases of such tumors have so far been described in locations outside the central nervous system. Sacrococcygeal ependymomas are locally aggressive tumors that require a complete and wide surgical excision to prevent recurrences. They tend to metastasize in about 17% of cases. PMID- 2626285 TI - Dexamethasone treatment for bacterial meningitis in children and adults. AB - Four hundred twenty-nine patients with bacterial meningitis were assigned on a nonselective alternating basis into one of two therapeutic regimens. Patients in Group I received dexamethasone in addition to standard antibacterial chemotherapy of ampicillin and chloramphenicol whereas those in Group II received antibacterial chemotherapy alone. Dexamethasone was given intramuscularly (8 mg to children younger than 12 years and 12 mg to adults every 12 hours for 3 days). Both treatment groups were comparable with regard to age, sex, duration of symptoms and state of consciousness at the time of hospitalization. A significant reduction in the case fatality rate (P less than 0.01) was observed in patients with pneumococcal meningitis receiving dexamethasone; only 7 of 52 patients died compared with 22 of 54 patients not receiving dexamethasone. A reduction in the overall neurologic sequelae (hearing impairment and paresis) was observed in patients receiving dexamethasone. This reduction was significant only in patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis; none of the 45 surviving patients receiving steroids had hearing loss whereas 4 of 32 patients not receiving dexamethasone had severe hearing loss (P less than 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the two groups with regard to time for patients to become afebrile or to regain consciousness or in the mean admission and 24- to 36-hour cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte count, glucose or protein content. PMID- 2626286 TI - Increased erythrocyte adenosine deaminase activity in children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus infection. AB - Erythrocyte adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was assessed in 33 children born to human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV)-positive mothers. The enzyme values were significantly increased in infected, symptom-free children compared with a control group of HIV-negative subjects (mean +/- SD: 0.34 +/- 0.01 unit/ml red blood cells (RBC) vs. 0.25 +/- 0.04 unit/ml RBC, P less than 0.01) and a further significant increase was found in symptomatic children (0.45 +/- 0.02 unit/ml RBC, P less than 0.01 vs. infected, symptom-free children). ADA values were slightly enhanced also in the group of infants in whom the state of HIV infection was indeterminate (0.29 +/- 0.03 unit/ml RBC, P not significant vs. controls). These data indicate that increased erythrocyte ADA activity may be a useful though indirect marker of HIV infection in children at risk and be of possible prognostic relevance. Since increased values were present also in children without overt infections or hematologic disorders, and ADA activity of erythrocytes obtained from healthy donors did not increase after 1 hour incubation with patients' serum, HIV could induce large amounts of cellular enzyme infecting directly erythroid precursor cells. PMID- 2626287 TI - Hepatitis B virus transmission between children in day care. AB - We investigated two situations involving hepatitis B virus exposure among children in day care. In the first a 4-year-old boy who attended a day care center developed acute hepatitis B; another child at the center, who had a history of aggressive behavior (biting/scratching), was subsequently found to be a hepatitis B carrier. No other source of infection among family and other contacts was identified and no other persons at the center became infected. In the second situation a 4-year-old boy with frequently bleeding eczematous lesions was discovered to be a hepatitis B carrier after having attended a day care center for 17 months. Testing of contacts at the center revealed no transmission to other children or staff (representing 887 person months of exposure). Nationwide surveillance data showed that for the period 1983 to 1987, 161 children 1 to 4 years of age were reported with acute hepatitis B. After children with known hepatitis B risk factors were excluded, 25% (7 of 28) of children with known day care status were reported as day care attendees, a percentage comparable to national estimates of day care attendance by this age group. This is the first reported case of hepatitis B virus transmission between children in day care in the United States. Although it appears that day care transmission of hepatitis B is infrequent, further studies are needed to define the risk more accurately. PMID- 2626288 TI - Immunization of leukemic children with Haemophilus conjugate vaccine. PMID- 2626289 TI - Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in an Arab Gulf state. PMID- 2626290 TI - Antigenuria after receipt of Haemophilus b diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine. PMID- 2626291 TI - Failure of intravenous immunoglobulin to affect the recovery of immune function after measles. PMID- 2626292 TI - Congenital syphilitic hepatitis. PMID- 2626293 TI - A raw milk--Chlamydia connection? PMID- 2626294 TI - Imipenem-cilastatin therapy in a child with meningitis caused by a multiply resistant pneumococcus. PMID- 2626295 TI - Chest roentgenograms in children with clinically diagnosed pneumonia. PMID- 2626296 TI - Report of a second workshop: Pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis. PMID- 2626297 TI - The nature of cell wall-derived inflammatory components of pneumococci. PMID- 2626298 TI - Haemophilus influenzae virulence factors in experimental meningitis. PMID- 2626299 TI - Release of endotoxin after antibiotic treatment of Gram-negative bacterial meningitis. PMID- 2626300 TI - Role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (cachectin) in experimental and clinical bacterial meningitis. PMID- 2626301 TI - Role of interleukin 1-beta in meningeal inflammation. PMID- 2626302 TI - Potential role of host cytokines in Haemophilus influenzae lipopolysaccharide induced blood-brain barrier permeability. PMID- 2626303 TI - Alterations of the blood-brain barrier in bacterial meningitis: in vivo and in vitro models. PMID- 2626304 TI - Cerebral blood flow and metabolism in experimental meningitis. PMID- 2626305 TI - Modulation of meningeal inflammation by treatment with pentoxifylline. PMID- 2626306 TI - Pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis: summary of the workshop. PMID- 2626307 TI - Women's group therapy: a clinical experience. AB - Women compose three-fourths of the psychiatric patient population in one clinical facility. A women's therapy group was formed to help the women change their attitudes and behaviors of helplessness and dependency. The goals of the group were for participants to get in touch with and express their feelings, and to become more assertive and autonomous. Group themes centered around depression, denial, resistance, and autonomy. The therapy group provided an opportunity for the women to learn more about themselves, their culture, and the value of giving and receiving support to and from each other. PMID- 2626308 TI - Managing the group monopolist. AB - This article explores, both theoretically and clinically, the behavior of the habitual group monopolist, an individual who dominates a group in a nontherapeutic manner. It examines clinical data to illustrate various ways a client can monopolize a group and how other group members react to this behavior. The article concludes with some therapist and group interventions that have a significant effect in lessening a group member's monopolistic behavior. PMID- 2626309 TI - An innovative method of processing short-term inpatient groups. AB - Inexperienced group leaders can benefit from using a system to process groups. A system or model can help to reduce anxiety. It can help group leaders make connections between group behavior and theoretical concepts, and move the group toward its goal. The author presents such a system. This one provides a specific recording format and step-by-step guidelines for organizing and interpreting the collected data. PMID- 2626310 TI - Group psychotherapy for the overtly psychotic inpatient. AB - Overtly psychotic patients can be managed in a flexible psychotherapy group. Specific guidelines for admission to the group coupled with special consideration and techniques by the group therapists contributed to the success of one such group. The patients were part of an unusually accommodating and tolerant group experience, which became an opportunity for active therapeutic endeavors to help the patients overcome psychotic mechanisms. PMID- 2626311 TI - Resistance within the therapeutic community. AB - Resistance can take many forms. It may be subtle or more apparent. Resistance can be overcome more easily in a group compared with individual therapy. The author outlines some common forms of resistance, presents some basic principles for managing resistance, and provides clinical examples of resistance and its management in a therapeutic community. PMID- 2626312 TI - Group sociotherapy: a psychoeducative model for schizophrenic patients and their families. AB - The clinical and research community have identified critical issues in educating schizophrenic patients and their families about schizophrenia. A review of the literature, a comprehensive alternative model, and descriptive modules inherent in an effective group sociotherapy program are offered for schizophrenic patients in remission and for their families. The model provides advantages for monitoring patients on an outpatient basis and has applicability to mental health clinic, day hospital, and day treatment center programs. PMID- 2626313 TI - [Homeopathy--therapy with nothing?]. PMID- 2626314 TI - Standards of Excellence for Community Health Organizations. PMID- 2626315 TI - Standards of Excellence for Community Health Organizations. Public Health Nursing program standards. PMID- 2626316 TI - Standards of Excellence for Community Health Organizations. Community Nursing Center Standards. PMID- 2626317 TI - [The airplane accident in Torghatten on May 6, 1988]. AB - On May 6th, 1988, a Dash 7 airplane crashed into the mountain of Torghatten, near Bronnoy-sund in northern Norway. All 33 passengers and the three crew members were killed. The National Identification Commission, including a forensic dentist, was at the disaster site twelve hours later. A dentist and a forensic pathologist worked with the police at the site until all the victims had been found. Three other dentists were responsible for collecting antemortem material and for the postmortem examination of all victims. 32 of the victims, or 89%, could be identified by dental means alone; a higher percentage than ever before reported. The final meeting of the Identification Commission took place five days after the disaster. All the victims were identified on the basis of technical, medical, and dental evidence, and the report signed by each of the three specialist groups. The quality of the dental records was evaluated with respect to requirements set up by the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1983. Dental records had improved since the "Alexander Kielland" disaster in 1980. However, only five of the missing persons had full mouth intraoral radiography, only nine records met the requirements for general information about the patient (birth date and identification number, home and business address, etc), only three had information about earlier diseases, and none had recorded previous dental restorations. Diagnoses were given only for nine persons. The records showed that 21 of the victims had not received any prophylactic treatment. PMID- 2626318 TI - [Contact dermatitis due to professional activity among dental health care personnel]. AB - A questionnaire related to occupational health problems was mailed to 800 participants at the annual meeting of the Norwegian Dental Association in 1987. 259 persons completed the questionnaire. During the last year 82 respondents had experienced dermatoses on their hands or face for variable periods. Of this group, 51 were disturbed by the dermatoses and 15 had attended a doctor. The most prevalent reasons for the dermatoses were frequent hand washing and detergents, and the use of rubber gloves. Seventy-nine percent of all respondents routinely used gloves while treating patients. A weak relationship was observed between certain dental materials or working procedures, and the topography and characteristic of the dermatoses. PMID- 2626319 TI - [Dental health, oral hygiene and self-evaluation among a group of 25, 30 and 40 years old inhabitants in the county of Oppland]. AB - The purpose of the present study was to examine the dental health, the oral hygiene habits and the individuals own assessment of their dental health in samples of 25-, 30- and 40-year-olds living in Oppland county. 360 persons living in different parts of the county were examined. 25-year-olds had on average 27.2 teeth. 47% of the teeth had no caries experience. 30-year-olds had on an average 26.9 teeth. 37% of the teeth had no caries experience. The corresponding numbers for 40-year-olds were 23.5 teeth, 25% without caries experience. There was correlation between age and periodontal disease, 25-year-olds, had the best dental health. Daily toothbrushing was carried out by 97% of the participants. Almost all of the participants used dentifrice with fluorides. Interdental cleaning was carried out regularly by 13% of the 25-year-olds, 12% of the 30-year olds and 25% of the 40-year-olds. 64% of the 25-year-olds, 62% of the 30-year olds and 44% of the 40-year-olds expressed high degree of satisfaction with their dental health. PMID- 2626320 TI - [Conventional treatment of oral candidiasis--new aspects]. AB - Polyene antibiotics such as nystatin and amphotericin B are among the most widely recommended drugs for use in the treatment of oral candidiasis. It is also generally accepted that chlorhexidine gluconate is an appropriate adjunct or an alternative to specific antimycotic drugs. The aim of the present paper was to discuss the conventional treatment against Candida albicans infections. It has previously been shown in an vitro study that combination of chlorhexidine and nystatin reduced the effect against Candida albicans. The most likely reason is that a low solubility chlorhexidine-nystatin salt is formed, thus rendering the combined drug complex ineffective as an antibiotic agent. Other pharmacologic interactions are also discussed. In the treatment of denture related candidiasis one should keep in mind that some tissue conditioners will inhibit the antifungal activity of amphotericin B. A more restrictive use of combinations of drugs against oral candidiasis is suggested. PMID- 2626321 TI - [Selection of leaders to direct the Norwegian health care system]. PMID- 2626322 TI - [Few aspects with regard to diagnosis and treatment of oral candidiasis]. AB - The present article discusses the rationale for daily use of the combination of amphotericin B (4 lozenges) intraorally and chlorhexidine denture disinfection (15 min) extraorally vs separate use of polyene antimycotics or chlorhexidine in the treatment of infectious denture stomatitis, frequently considered as the most common form of oral candidiasis. The amphotericin B/chlorhexidine combination has been standard treatment of infectious denture stomatitis in Scandinavia for more than 15 years. It was found to be the best among several regimens tested in 100 patients after a series of subjective and objective parameters had been used to record treatment efficacy in controlled clinical and microbiological studies. The fact that there was a significant (5% level) higher reduction of yeasts cultured from the palatal mucosa with this drug regimen than with the other modalities tested, including chlorhexidine lozenges/chlorhexidine denture disinfection, suggested that no drug interaction of clinical importance took place in vivo with this combination. Therefore, care should be taken when extrapolating findings on drug interaction in vitro (12) to the in vivo situation, and guidelines for treatment of oral candidiasis should preferably be based on controlled clinical and microbiological trials with patients. In order to prevent relapse of oral candidiasis after treatment, local and general predisposing factors should be eliminated, in particular reestablishment of plaque on the fitting side of the denture should be prevented. PMID- 2626323 TI - [Needle puncture and HIV-infection]. PMID- 2626324 TI - [Marginal bone loss among adults: have the conditions changed since the 1950's?]. AB - It has been suggested that periodontal diseases have declined during the last 2-3 decades in many populations. However, the present observations on marginal bone loss among 326 Norwegian dental patients aged 20-70 years, examined 35 years ago, were similar to comparable data published more recently. Consequently, they did not indicate any tendency towards change over time. Traditionally, the Periodontal Index (PI) has been the method of choice for assessing the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in epidemiological studies. It was assumed that this may have lead to an overestimation of the periodontal destruction, and that the postulated improvement of the condition partly may be ascribed to methods of analysis rather than reality. The observations seemed to indicate that susceptibility to destructive periodontal disease may not be as universal as was previously thought; the majority of the patients could probably retain a considerable proportion of the supporting bone up in high age by routine prophylaxis and improved home care. On the other hand, bone destruction was a serious problem among a minority of "risk" individuals after the age of 40. This subgroup was estimated to make up about 10% of the population. Similar estimates also appeared in published studies on statistical samples from other populations. The individual resistance to periodontal destruction is probably very important for the marginal bone level. The constituent elements of the resistance concept do, however, need further elucidation. PMID- 2626325 TI - [Dummy- and finger-sucking habits among 5-year old children. An investigation of frequency and effect on the dentition and occlusion]. AB - Dummy- and finger-sucking habits were investigated among 60 5 year olds, born in 1982. The children were living in Raufoss, a small rural community in eastern part of Norway. Information about the sucking habits was obtained from their parents by means of questionnaires. The position of the teeth and the occlusion were registered by an orthodontist. Total prevalence of sucking habits was 63%. Thirty-seven percent, had used a dummy and 30% had been or were still finger suckers. Two children had both used a dummy and sucked their fingers. This is a significant lower total prevalence of sucking habits than recorded in recent Swedish and Danish studies (1-8), but comparable with a Swedish study from 1971 (9). Most dummy-suckers had broken their habits at 3-4 years of age, while the finger-suckers were still active at 5 years of age. Finger-sucking had the largest impact on the position of the front teeth. The finger-suckers had significantly larger overjet and smaller overbite, more proclined upper incisors and retroclined lower incisors than dummy-suckers and those without any sucking habit. The only measurable effect of previous dummy-sucking of 5 years of age was a more open position of the lips and a smaller overbite. Otherwise, no significant effect on the occlusion was observed in any of the dummy- or fingersuckers. PMID- 2626326 TI - [Aspiratory activity of the upper respiratory tract]. PMID- 2626327 TI - [Polysomnographic diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]. AB - All night polysomnographic studies performed in 149 patients with OSA syndrome revealed marked disturbances of the sleep structure and the disorders of breathing during sleep: obstructive apneas in all patients, hypopneas in 25% and central apneas in 12%. The mean apnea index was 68 +/- 29, the mean percent of sleep time spent in apnea 50 +/- 21%. The typical obstructive apnea duration was 25 +/- 7s in NON REM sleep and 40 +/- 34s in REM sleep. The longest obstructive apnea duration was 48 +/- 24s in NON REM sleep and 71 +/- 42s in REM sleep. During obstructive apneas the typical arterial oxygen saturation was 82 +/- 9% in NON REM sleep and 71 +/- 17% in REM sleep; the lowest arterial oxygen saturation was 73 +/- 14% in NON REM sleep and 62 +/- 21% in REM sleep. Forty six percent of patients had apnea-related cardiac arrhythmias or conduction disturbances. PMID- 2626328 TI - [Elderly patients at the Pulmonary Disease Department]. AB - Medical histories of 310 patients of a pulmonary department were analysed. All were older than 60 years. They made up 41.6% of treated patients during this time. More than two diseases were present in 79.3%. Most often the following disorders were found: chronic obstructive lung disease, pneumonias, pleuritis, circulatory insufficiency, atherosclerosis, disrhythmias, acute coronary diseases. In 68.2% good results of therapy were observed clinical improvement and complete resolution of changes were however seen in only 5.2%. Therapeutical side effects were seen in 29.7%. During hospitalization 10.9% of the patients died. The most common cause of death was atherosclerosis and malignancy. Mean hospital stay was 36.5 days and was 6 days longer in comparison with younger patients. PMID- 2626329 TI - [Diagnostic difficulties in patients with primary lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - An analysis of medical records of 774 patients treated at the Chest Hospital of the Ministry of Interior Affairs in Otwock during the years 1976-1985. 33 (4.3%) patients were selected for the study. All had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis. Only in 3 was the process active. In all development of lung cancer proved to be a grave diagnostical dilemma. In all cases a relapse of the pulmonary tuberculosis was suspected. The authors discuss six cases illustrating the diagnostical problems. PMID- 2626330 TI - [Study of the effect of salbutamol inhalation on the function of small airways in patients with chronic bronchitis without ventilatory disorders using simple spirographic tests]. AB - In 68 males with chronic bronchitis and normal standard spirometric parameters and in 30 healthy males the following were assessed: VC, FEV1, V50 and V75 before and after Salbutamol inhalations. In chronic bronchitis Salbutamol slightly decreased FEV1 values. Significant improvement of V50 and V75 was seen after Salbutamol inhalations in chronic bronchitis. This was observed more promeinently in comparison with the control group. Significant increase of V50 and V75 was seen in 14% of chronic bronchitics. The improvement in pattency of small airways following administration of bronchodilators can be an index for early identification of patients with chronic bronchitis, although this needs to be verified in prospective spirographic studies. PMID- 2626331 TI - [Usefulness of the exercise test with measurement of symptom-limited oxygen consumption (V02SL) in evaluating exertion tolerance in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases]. AB - An analysis on objectiveness of assessing symptom limited oxygen consumption (VO2SL) registered during exercise tests of increasing load of 30W every 3 minutes in 86 patients with chronic pulmonary diseases and 30 healthy control subjects. 36 did not have any ventilatory disorders, 50 had lowered ventilatory efficiency. VO2SL differed significantly in both study groups and the control. It was 1.80 L x min-1 in patients without ventilatory disturbances, 1.52 L x min-1 in patients with ventilatory disturbances and 2.12 L x min-1 in the control. The test was exceptable. In most of the subjects the results were repeatable, correlation indexes between the first and next assessment was 0.88, 0.95 and 0.83. Variance analysis did not differ between groups. The study demonstrated usefulness of VO2SL in determining exercise tolerance and in diagnosing patients with chronic pulmonary diseases. PMID- 2626332 TI - [Primary sarcoma of the lung]. AB - The authors present two cases of rare primary lung neoplasms smooth cell sarcoma and fibrosarcoma. Diagnostical dilemmas are discussed. PMID- 2626333 TI - The effect of sealing white spot lesions on lesion progression in vitro. AB - The resistance of white spot lesions to acid demineralization when etched with phosphoric acid and sealed with a resin material was studied. Artificially created white spot lesions were sealed and re-exposed to an artificial caries medium along with unprotected white spot lesions. Examination with polarized light microscopy revealed continued progression of the unprotected white spot lesions, whereas no lesion progression was evident under the resin sealant. New lesions formed on unprotected sound enamel adjacent to the margin of the resin sealant over sound enamel tangent to the white spot lesions. The sealed sound enamel adjacent to the white spot lesions did not undergo demineralization indicating protection by the resin tags. Sealing white spot lesions following etching with a 37% phosphoric acid may be beneficial in inhibiting lesion progression. PMID- 2626334 TI - Fluoride uptake into demineralized primary enamel from fluoride-impregnated dental floss in vitro. AB - Fluoridated mouthrinses are not advised for preschool children who may swallow much of the agent. An alternate method of delivering topical fluoride to the interproximal tooth surfaces in these young patients may be fluoridated dental floss. The purpose of this study was to determine the fluoride levels of demineralized primary enamel both before and after the use of a commercially available dental floss impregnated with commercially available fluoride containing products. The results showed that demineralized primary tooth surfaces treated with fluoride-impregnated dental floss exhibited significantly higher fluoride levels than those surfaces treated by immersion in a fluoridated mouthrinse or deionized water. PMID- 2626335 TI - Stannous fluoride and its effects on oral microbial adhesive properties in vitro. AB - The effect of sodium and stannous fluoride compounds on the coherence of Streptococcus mutans was examined. Both commercial and reagent grade preparations were tested on S. mutans, strain 6715. Test fluoride aliquots at various concentrations were added to sucrose suspensions of S. mutans at a starting microbial suspensions equivalent to 25% transmission as read in a spectrophotometer. Test samples were rotated at 35 degrees, 80 rpm in an incubated orbital shaker. Analysis at 560 nm at various time periods, was performed to determine increases in %T as a function of aggregate formation. SnF2 preparations routinely inhibited coherence at concentrations as low as .001%, whereas NaF showed no effects on microbial cell-to-cell coherence. PMID- 2626336 TI - Effects of chloral hydrate on nitrous oxide sedation of children. AB - This study was conducted to examine the effects of chloral hydrate on nitrous oxide sedation of young children for dental treatment. Nineteen children, ranging in age from 19 to 41 months (mean 30 months), participated in this double-blind study. The subjects were assigned randomly to receive either a placebo or chloral hydrate (50 mg/kg) for the first visit with the alternate regimen administered during the second appointment. In addition, all subjects received inhalation nitrous oxide/oxygen at a concentration of 50%, and were restrained in a Papoose board (Olympic Medical Group; Seattle, WA) with head restraint. Seventy-four per cent of sedations were classified as very good or excellent when chloral hydrate was administered with nitrous oxide compared with only 26% when the placebo was administered. PMID- 2626337 TI - Antimicrobial factors in whole saliva of human infants: a longitudinal study. AB - Because early childhood is an important period for the colonization of bacteria in the primary dentition, it is possible that antimicrobial factors in saliva may modify these early events. In this study we have followed longitudinally 33 children from predentate to dentate phase and analyzed whole saliva for such salivary factors as lysozyme, lactoferrin, salivary peroxidase, myeloperoxidase, thiocyanate, hypothiocyanite, total IgA, IgG, IgM, and total protein. Children's saliva samples were compared with those from an adult reference group whose samples were collected and analyzed in an identical way. It was observed that salivary thiocyanate and IgG increased and salivary peroxidase decreased significantly from predentate to dentate phase. The other parameters remained unchanged. Children in predentate phase already had reached adult levels of hypothiocyanite and IgM, whereas all the other components were found in significantly lower amounts in children's saliva than in adult saliva. Salivary myeloperoxidase assay is interfered by the thiocyanate ions, and the observed increase in salivary "myeloperoxidase" activity may be due to the simultaneous increase in salivary thiocyanate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626338 TI - Effectiveness of oral chlorhexidine for reducing stomatitis in a pediatric bone marrow transplant population. AB - Disruption of the oral mucosal lining and the lack of normal defense mechanisms predispose bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients to life-threatening infections, often caused by oral flora. Chlorhexidine, used as an oral antiseptic, appears promising in limiting oral bacteria and fungi, and therefore, may decrease oral complications associated with BMT. The purpose of this study was to determine in pediatric BMT recipients if a 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthrinse, used as an adjunct to normal in-hospital oral care regimens, would decrease the severity of oral mucositis as measured by oral ulcerations, bacteremia, and length of hospital stay. Forty-seven pediatric BMT subjects were included in this double-blind study. Subjects were instructed to use 15 ml of a mouthrinse 3 times daily to be swished and gargled for 30 sec. Each subject had 7 oral sites scored for the percentage of ulcerated mucosa twice weekly until day +35 or hospital discharge or death. Blood was cultured daily during neutropenia. Additionally, the number of days from onset of cytoreduction to hospital discharge or death was recorded for each subject. Alpha was set at .05. There was no significant difference in the severity of oral ulceration between the chlorhexidine and placebo groups (P = .18). Chlorhexidine did not reduce the development of bacteremia (P greater than .5), nor did it significantly decrease the length of hospital stay (P = .68).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626339 TI - Dental abnormalities associated with campomelic syndrome: case report. AB - Campomelic syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disease. It is characterized by short stature with angulation and bowing of the lower limbs, hypoplasia of the facial bones, and various other skeletal anomalies. The facies are unusually flat with micrognathia, frequent cleft palate, hypertelorism, and micro-ophthalmia. Most infants with this syndrome die from severe respiratory distress within the first hours or days of life. Those who survive infancy are mentally retarded. This case report concerns the dental treatment of a 13-year-old female with campomelic syndrome. PMID- 2626340 TI - Pediatric recurrent sialectasis: case report. AB - A 2 1/2-year-old female presented to the Department of Paediatrics with a fever (38.2 degrees C) and bilateral swelling of the parotid salivary glands. A month later, she presented with similar signs and symptoms. Three months later the patient had a third attack and was referred to the Paediatric Dental Department. A clinical examination and sialography showed a normal Stensen's duct. The parenchyma of the right parotid had a combination of punctate lesions (1-2 mm in diameter) and globular lesions (3 mm in diameter). In the left parotid there were punctate lesions approximately 1 mm in diameter. The patient was managed with antipyretics (acetaminophen) and penicillin. This condition should be referred to as sialadenitis pediatrica as it presents as a clinical entity with signs and symptoms of swelling and pyrexia in the absence of sialography and histological findings. It is referred to as sialectasis after histological and sialographic observations detect lesions affecting the parenchyma of the salivary glands. PMID- 2626341 TI - Giant cell lesion associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism: case report. AB - A child with a giant cell lesion (brown tumor) associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism due to chronic renal failure was reported. The patient presented at age 6 years, 5 months with swelling in the right mandible that was biopsied and diagnosed histologically as a giant cell lesion. The patient received a successful kidney transplant 8 months later and the giant cell lesion resolved during the 17 months following the operation. PMID- 2626342 TI - A labially positioned mesiodens: case report. AB - This case report describes a labially positioned maxillary midline mesiodens in an 8-year-old male. The clinical and radiographic appearance and therapeutic considerations are presented. The purpose of this article is to alert the clinician to the importance of radiographic localization prior to surgical intervention, because in some instances a labial surgical approach is preferred over the traditional palatal technique. In this case a labial surgical approach was utilized which allowed for greater conservation of alveolar bone and improved access during removal of the mesiodens. PMID- 2626343 TI - Management of a preadolescent chronic headache patient with occlusal splint therapy: case report. AB - Preadolescent children frequently report headache symptoms. Long-term, recurrent headache problems occur much less frequently and are often classified as migraine. This report describes an 8 1/2-year-old male who, after limited relief through traditional therapy over a 4-year period, was helped significantly with an occlusal splint. PMID- 2626344 TI - Intrusion of the mandibular condyle into the middle cranial fossa: report of a case in an 11-year-old girl. AB - Intrusion of the head of the condyle into the middle cranial fossa is a rare but highly significant result of trauma to the mandible. Various treatment modalities for this type of injury have been reported in the literature. This case report concerns the intrusion of the left mandibular condyle into the middle cranial fossa in an 11-year-old girl. Five days after the original injury, severe limitation of opening was noted, as was a significant overjet and posterior open bite. A CT scan revealed intrusion of the left condyle into the middle cranial fossa. Treatment consisted of closed reduction with intermaxillary fixation. At the 10-month follow-up, full range of motion was possible with only minimal deviation. PMID- 2626345 TI - Surgical exposure and orthodontic positioning of an unerupted maxillary canine: case report. AB - This report describes the surgical and orthodontic management of a patient with a palatally impacted permanent maxillary canine. Following surgical exposure, orthodontic traction was applied to reposition the canine with resultant proper functioning, excellent esthetics, and good periodontal health. PMID- 2626346 TI - Multiple idiopathic root resorption in monozygotic twins: case report. AB - Idiopathic root resorption of the permanent dentition is encountered occasionally during routine dental examinations. A case is presented of this relatively rare condition in monozygotic twins. Examination of siblings and the patients' mother did not show a resorptive process. A 6-month follow-up examination revealed the resorption to be arrested. PMID- 2626347 TI - [Short-term subcutaneous infusion of insulin using a portable insulin pump in the treatment of diabetes mellitus]. AB - The authors evaluated the effectiveness of treatment by means of constant subcutaneous insulin infusions (CPWI) in patients with diabetes staying in hospital. The infusions were made by means of portable insulin pumps (Microjet Bolus 1, Microjet Bolus 2 and Promedos E 1). The therapy was applied in a group of 15 patients with diabetes admitted to hospital because of symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes, among them 3 patients with diabetes freshly diagnosed. After 2-3 days of infusions 12 patients had glycaemia level approached to the physiological level. Only in one case of diabetes with significant resistance to insulin, the physicians were not able to control the diabetes. After 4-9 days of CPWI, patients who had been given conventional insulin injection had their insulin day demand reduced by 11-33%. In 4 cases the insulin demand had been established by means of Biostator GCIIS, after the introduction of the pumps the demand decreased by 40 +/- 5%, when the open loop system was applied. The above results suggest that the use of constant subcutaneous insulin infusion by means of a dosimeter may be recommended as a method of determining day demand for insulin, significantly shortening hospitalization period in patients with uncontrolled diabetes. PMID- 2626348 TI - [Treatment of diabetes mellitus type 1 by long-term infusion of insulin]. AB - In the article the authors evaluate the portable insulin pump, a prototype designed at the Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and also Promedos E1 pump produced by Siemens in the therapy of patients with diabetes type 1 brittle. Two patients underwent therapy by means of continuous intravenous insulin infusions (CDWI) for two months, two other patients--(CPWI) for about five years. The authors made an evaluation of the two methods by counting mean blood glucose, value M according to Schlichtkrull and determining the level of glycosylated haemoglobin. By continuous infusions of insulin, the authors achieved better diabetes control than with the previous conventional therapy. PMID- 2626349 TI - [Evaluation of the late ineffectiveness of sulfonylurea derivatives in patients with diabetes mellitus hospitalized at the Gastroenterology and Metabolic Disease Clinic, Medical Academy, in Warsaw 1976-1987]. AB - The authors made a retrospective analysis of late ineffectiveness of sulphonylurea derivatives and its correlation with the age of diabetes onset, duration of the disease, sex, body mass, smoking cigarettes, diabetes history in the family, coexistence with some diabetic complications as retinopathy, ischemic heart disease, arterial hypertension and vascular diseases in lower limbs. The study was carried out in a group of 220 patients with diabetes type 2 lasting from 1 up to 25 years, aged 30-77 undergoing therapy in the Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases in the years 1976-1987 in whom a late ineffectiveness appeared to sulphonylurea derivatives. The average time of effective therapy by means of sulphonylurea derivatives in the group examined was 8.7 +/- 4.9 years (9.2 +/- 5.2 in men and 8.3 +/- 4.6 in women). The time of effective therapy by means of the above drugs was inversely proportional to the age of patients when diabetes type 2 appeared. The time of effective therapy by means of sulphonylurea derivatives in obese men was significantly longer than in obese women. No correlation was found between the appearance of late ineffectiveness of sulphonylurea derivatives and diabetes history in the family, smoking ischemic heart disease, arterial hypertension, retinopathy and vascular diseases of lower limbs. PMID- 2626350 TI - [Immunologic phenomena in patients with proliferative retinopathy in diabetes mellitus type 1]. AB - As a rule, in long-lasting diabetes type 1 there appear vascular complications in a form of proliferative retinopathy. While looking for the causes of fast vascular changes, the authors considered the possibility of immunological disorders. They started prospective examinations of patients with diabetes type 1 and proliferative retinopathy changes in the fundus of the eye. The authors evaluated the activity of angiogenic factors released by mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood of the patients examined. The authors found a significantly higher activity of these factors in patients with proliferative retinopathy in comparison with a control group of healthy persons and a group of patients with diabetes type 1 and simple retinopathy. The results obtained may indicate to immunological changes in the pathogenesis of proliferative retinopathy. PMID- 2626351 TI - [Late phase of allergic reaction]. PMID- 2626352 TI - [Endoscopy of the upper segment of the digestive tract in patients over 70 years of age (preliminary retrospective analysis of indications and results)]. AB - Sixty three individuals aged over 70 years were included into the preliminary analysis of both indications to and the results of endoscopic examinations of the GI upper portion. Most frequently, the indications included abdominal pain and dyspeptic symptoms. The first endoscopic examination revealed normal macroscopic picture in only 14% of the examined patients. Peptic ulcers were most frequent pathology. Indications and the results of endoscopic examinations do not differ from those in the younger age groups. PMID- 2626353 TI - [Usefulness of determining hepatic clearance of Tc-HEPIDA in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of chronic diseases of the liver parenchyma]. PMID- 2626354 TI - [Changes in hepatic biotransformation in patients treated with beta-adrenergic drugs and prazosin]. AB - Biotransformation in the liver was tested with antipyrine elimination test in 41 patients treated with prazosin for 3 months (Minipress Pfizer, 1-4 mg a day) or prazosin combined with beta-adrenolytic agents (propranolol 40-80 mg; metoprolol 100-200 mg daily). It was found that T0.5 of antipyrine is shortened in patients treated with prazosin alone by 3 h/p greater than .05/while in the patients treated with prazosin whom previously--adrenalytics were given by 7.5 h/p greater than 0.01/. Antipyrine half-life during the treatment with beta-adrenolytics was prolonged by + 5.3 h/p greater than .05/while during the combined therapy with these agents and prazosin - 3.8 h. These results indicate that prazosin contrary to beta-adrenolytics, does not affect biotransformation in the liver. During combined therapy with prazosin and beta-adrenolytics, unfavourable effect of the latter in prevailing. Replacement of beta-adrenolytics with prazosin may prevent unfavourable effect of the former on liver functioning and may increase the safety of the hypotensive treatment. PMID- 2626355 TI - [A case of high intestinal obstruction caused by mycotic bezoar of the duodenum]. AB - A case of the mycotic bezoar in the female patient with gastric hypersecretion is reported. The symptoms of the high intestinal obstruction accompanied underlying disease. Bezoar formed of Geotrichum candidum was fragmentated with biopsical forceps of "alligator" type. Then, natamycin was administered for 5 weeks. The patients recovered completely. PMID- 2626356 TI - [Prolongation of T1 relaxation time in NMR examinations--attempt at its interpretation]. PMID- 2626357 TI - [Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and AIDS]. AB - An infection with Pneumocystis carinii with clinical symptoms of pneumonia is particularly frequent in patients with AIDS. The authors discuss current knowledge on Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, including clinical course, possibility of diagnosis, and chemotherapy in patients with AIDS. PMID- 2626358 TI - [Occurrence of HBs antigen and anti-HBs antibodies in analytical laboratory workers in Warsaw]. AB - The study aimed at answering the question whether markers of the viral hepatitis, namely HBs antigen and anti-HBs antibodies, are significantly more frequent in the personnel of the analytical laboratories than in blood donors of the City Blood Donation Centre. Together 1,284 persons employed at 88 analytical laboratories were examined. These persons were divided into the groups according to the occupation, age and duration of the employment. HBs antigen was detected with EIA technique in 13 subjects making 1,025% of all examined individuals whereas anti-HBs antibodies were detected with EIP technique in 20 subjects, i.e. 1,560%. Detectability of HBs antigen and anti-HBS antibodies in blood donors was 0.443% and 0.04% respectively. The obtained results indicate significantly more frequent occurrence of both markers in the employees of the analytical laboratories. PMID- 2626359 TI - [Effect of cefoperazone on the activity of selected parameters of cellular immunity in mice with experimental viral-bacterial infection]. AB - We applied mixed, viral-bacterial infections of mice (with influenza virus to the respiratory tract and Staphylococcus aureus) intereperitoneally. We used Sodium Cefoperazone subcutaneously in the dose of 30 mg/kg body weight 24, 48 and 72 hours after the infection. We evaluated phagocytic activity of the granulocytes isolated from animals and bactericidal activity of these cells expressed as their chemiluminescent activity. We studied it on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and the 14th day after the infection. Phagocytic activity of cells taken from infected mice and treated with the preparation expressed as phagocytic index was the following: 0.38, 0.19; 0.88; 0.99 respectively. In the comparative studies, concerning the effect of preincubation of cells with antibiotic (at the concentration produced in blood serum by therapeutic doses) we found the increase in chemiluminescent process by 57% on the average. Analyzing the preliminary data form the experimental studies on the influence of Cefoperazone on mixed, viral-bacterial infections in mice we found the positive effect of the antibiotic evaluated in some immunological test. Intracellular killing of bacteria is stimulated. Preincubation of granulocytes with the antibiotic gives higher chemiluminescent activity of cells. However, chemotactic and phagocytic activity of cells are not changed. PMID- 2626360 TI - [Systemic candidiasis with meningeal involvement in a newborn infant]. AB - The newborn with sepsis (E. coli) and salmonellosis was described. After treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics it was suffered from Candida albicans (Meningitis with Hydrocephalus internus, Chorioretinitis and Ostitis). The authors difficulties connected with diagnosis and anti-fungal therapy have showed. They have punctated the necessity of combined anti-mycotic therapy. PMID- 2626361 TI - [Primary antibody deficiency in children: evaluation of immunologic disorders and their treatment]. PMID- 2626362 TI - [Various factors of occupational risks and the causes of death among pathologists]. PMID- 2626363 TI - Diagnostic quantitative pathology. Fifth International Symposium on Morphometry in Morphological Diagnosis. September 14-17, 1988, Ancona, Italy. PMID- 2626364 TI - Volume corrected mitotic index (M/V-INDEX). The standard of mitotic activity in neoplasms. AB - Estimation of mitotic activity by counting the number of mitotic figures per high power fields is subject to many sources of error. The microscope fields vary in size in different microscopes, which makes comparisons arbitrary. Also the areas covered by neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissue in the microscope image vary in different tumors. We found that each microscope could easily be characterized in terms of the size of the microscope field at 40x objective magnification (usually at ocular magnification of 10x). We also found that the number of mitotic figures can be related to the area covered by neoplastic tissue in the microscope field. The resulting index, the volume corrected mitotic index (M/V-index) will express the mitotic activity as the number of mitotic figures per square millimeter of neoplastic tissue in the microscope fields. The M/V-index will not be subject to the variation in volume fractions of neoplastic tissue between different neoplasms. With the M/V-index the mitotic activity as measured in different microscopes can be compared reliably. The value of the method is demonstrated in a series of ovarian tumors. PMID- 2626365 TI - Nuclear chromatin texture to differentiate follicular and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. AB - This study presents the results of an automatic classification of six purely papillary, five purely follicular and five mixed papillary-follicular carcinomas of the thyroid. All cases were correctly classified with only two chromatin textural parameters obtained in the Olga's scan software package developed in our laboratory. Chromatin texture lines were generated by a unidirectional grey level gradient, obtained as a natural logarithmic function of the integrated optical density of each nucleus; this increased the difference between clear papillary and granular follicular nuclei. The accuracy of the method allowed a follicular carcinoma to be correctly classified as a mixed follicular-papillary. Finally a columnar-cell carcinoma of the thyroid was detected by means of its atypical DNA histogram. PMID- 2626366 TI - Automated morphometric study of human peripheral nerves by image analysis. AB - In this paper we describe a program using the image analyzer SAMBA, which allows an automatic analysis of silver stained semithin nerve sections. The operator can interactively delimit the contour of the fascicle to be analysed by means of a digitizing tablet connected to the system which generates a mask of the region. Segmentation of the fibre images is conducted as a function of brightness threshold defined by the operator. Fibre clusters are automatically separated using morphological procedures like dilatation. Morphometric parameters such as the external and axonal diameters, myelin sheath thickness and circularity are measured. We are now testing this method on normal and pathological human superficial peroneal nerves. Preliminary results are promising and the development of adequate statistical analysis of morphometric data will provide us with a new tool for the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathies. PMID- 2626367 TI - DNA-content, inflammatory tissue response and tumour size in human lung carcinoma. AB - Tumour imprints of 75 resection specimens with human lung carcinoma (lobe and lungs) were fixed with alcohol and Feulgen-stained. Resection specimens were cut into serial sections 6 mm thick and tumour mass, tumour involvement into intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary lymph nodes, detailed pTN-stage were determined. DNA-content, DNA-index, percentage of diploid/hyperploid tumour cells, and morphometric nuclear features were measured using an automated image analyzing system (VISIAC). Only 10% of the measured carcinomas were diploid. The DNA-index showed the broadest variance in large cell anaplastic carcinoma (1.2 3.3). Carcinomas growing predominantly within the alveolar space, i.e. without destroying the interstitial tissue showed a lower DNA-content above 3c and above 5c compared to carcinomas destroying the interstitial tissue. Carcinomas with severe stroma reaction were found to have 33%-48% of DNA above the 3c value whereas carcinomas without stromal reaction had a percentage above 3c ranging 46% 64% (confidence limits, p less than 0.05). DNA-index increases with increasing tumour volume and decreases for large tumours (greater than 100 ccm). Hyperploid and polyploid tumours were found more frequently in case of pT2 and pT3-stages compared to pT1-stages. No relation of DNA-content or ploidy was found to lymph node involvement and inflammatory response of host tissue. PMID- 2626368 TI - DNA flow cytometry of endoscopically examined colorectal adenocarcinomas. AB - The purpose of the study was to evaluate the correlation of DNA-ploidy of colorectal adenocarcinomas (adk) with histological and clinical parameters including the survival of the patients. Multiple biopsies from 95 adk were taken during colonoscopy prior to surgery. The samples were used to obtain nuclei suspensions for specific staining of DNA content and high resolution flow cytometry. DNA-aneuploidy, i.e. the presence of more than one G0/G1 peak, was detected in 67/95 cases (71%). The individual-specific control mucosa was DNA diploid in all cases. The mean fraction of S-phase cells was 7.2% in control mucosa and 13.6% in adk. DNA-ploidy did neither correlate with Dukes' stage nor with differentiation degree. Among the patients studied for the correlation of DNA ploidy with survival for a period extending to 30 months (n = 51), the DNA aneuploid group was estimated to be about 5 times as risky as the DNA diploid group with respect to the odds of dying. We conclude that DNA flow cytometry of colorectal adk may predict clinical outcome and be helpful in addition to histopathology. PMID- 2626369 TI - Problems of the third dimension. AB - The problems facing a pathologist or anatomist who wishes to embark on computer assisted reconstruction of structures seen in serial light microscope sections are reviewed. They are illustrated by comparing a reconstruction of a bronchial gland made by cutting out polystyrene sheets with models generated by four computer-assisted systems, i.e. the IBAS 2000 system, the SSRCON (MRC) system, the AT-Videoplan system and the CHD (Cookson, Holman, Dykes) system. It is obvious that computer-assistance cannot solve the preparation problems of three dimensional reconstruction (3DR) and that choosing a computer-assisted system is fraught with difficulties. It is recommended that intending purchasers of computer-assisted 3DR systems prepare material in advance to try out on the systems they are considering. PMID- 2626370 TI - Multiparametric quantitation of the progression of uterine cervix preneoplasia towards neoplasia. AB - The aim of the research was to quantify the malignancy progression of preneoplastic lesions towards carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The study has shown that the modifications to nuclear area, perimeter, DNA content, percentage of nuclei with nucleoli, nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio and percentage of SOYA BEAN AGGLUTININ stained cells are progressively greater moving from normal epithelium and mild dysplasia towards infiltrating carcinoma. In particular all the morphologic and histochemical parameters have shown an increasing derangement which appears to parallel the diploid reduction and the appearance of aneuploidy. In order to identify the changes in the stroma, the modifications to the capillaries were investigated: in mild dysplasia only the vessel density increases; the capillary area, perimeter and diameter increase in moderate and severe dysplasia, and in CIS; the values of these features are similar in the carcinoma groups. The capillary density increases mainly in the invasive carcinoma. The data obtained in the study have shown that: 1) the process of malignancy progression is characterised by a gradual and continuous derangement of cell characteristics and modifications to capillaries of the stroma; 2) the mild dysplastic changes have the characteristics of hyperplastic lesions; 3) CIS, qualitatively similar to severe dysplasia from which it differs quantitatively, has features of neoplastic proliferation; 4) the appearance of invasion is associated with DNA parameter changes which may indicate a ploidy reduction. PMID- 2626371 TI - Comparison of light microscopic grading and morphometric features in cytological breast cancer specimens. AB - A study was set up to investigate correlations between different light microscopic grades and morphometric features in cytological breast cancer specimens and to evaluate the discriminative power of morphometry for the three grades. 76 slides (smears and imprints) were graded independently in two different laboratories, and the 54 unequivocally graded slides were used as a training set for computing classification rules. In all slides, 100 nuclei and their nucleoli were measured on a graphic tablet at a final magnification of 2800x. A total of 43 morphometric features was evaluated. Univariate analysis showed significantly different values for most of the morphometric features for the three grades. Discriminant analysis revealed that a combination of the mean nuclear area and the number of mitoses per slide provided optimal discrimination between grades one and two (87.5% correct classification). One more feature (mean nuclear shape factor) was needed to obtain optimal discrimination between grades two and three (83.3% correct classifications). 16 of the 22 (72.7%) equivocally graded slides could be classified with high probability using these classification rules. We conclude that morphometry has discriminative power for the three grades in cytologic breast cancer specimens and may therefore be a useful instrument for classification of difficult cases. PMID- 2626372 TI - Potential of morphometry in grading transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. AB - The potential of morphometry in grading cases of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder was evaluated. Thirty cases of bladder cancer including all three WHO grades were studied. Three investigators measured the nuclear areas using the IBAS 1&2 image analyser system. The means, the standard deviations and the variances of the measurements were calculated. The nuclear areas covered values from 25.1 to 107.4 square micrometers, the mean +/- SD being 52.6 +/- 17.5. The total variance of measurements, including biological and methodological variation, was 304.6, and the methodological variance 10.4 (about 3.5% of the total variation). In a 3-grade grading system this would correspond to an efficiency of about 92%, and in a 2-grade system of about 96%, which are the percentages correctly graded by the grading system. PMID- 2626373 TI - The nuclei in cutaneous malignant melanoma, stage I, are smaller in survivors than in non-survivors. AB - Cutaneous melanoma, stage I, from 35 survivors at 5 year follow-up and 16 non survivors were studied. Mean nuclear area in the superficial layer was significantly larger than in the deep layer both in survivors and non-survivors, but the ratio between nuclear area in superficial and deep layers (so-called maturation index) did not differ between survivors and non-survivors. In comparison with the survivors, the mean nuclear area of non-survivors was significantly larger both in the superficial (51.1 microns2 vs 43.7 microns2, p less than 0.01) and deep (42.9 microns2 vs 36.4 microns2, p less than 0.05) layer. This points to a general increase in nuclear areas in metastasizing tumors. Furthermore, the coefficient of variation of nuclear area [(standard deviation/mean) x 100] was not different between survivors and non-survivors, either in the superficial or in the deep layer. Inspection of histograms of areas of 1000-2000 nuclei per case in 20 random cases (10 survivors and 10 non survivors) showed a homogeneous increase in nuclear area in non-survivors. None of the histograms revealed a cell clone with especially large nuclei. These data show that the increased mean nuclear area in non-survivors is due to a homogeneous increase of all nuclei throughout the tumor and not to a special cell clone with large nuclei within nuclei of otherwise normal size. The difference in mean nuclear area in superficial and deep layers indicates that careful selection of nuclei in either of these layers is essential to obtain reproducible and comparable results with interactive morphometry. PMID- 2626374 TI - Machine vision system for diagnostic histopathology. AB - In a machine vision system for the diagnostic assessment of histopathologic sections, human diagnostic knowledge and human ability to recognize components in a complex image need to be emulated. This is attempted by three integrated expert systems, supported by a multiprocessor computer with data-driven, dynamically reconfigurable architecture. PMID- 2626375 TI - The value of morphometry to predict chemotherapy response in advanced ovarian cancer. AB - We evaluated the correlation of morphometric parameters to chemosensitivity. 63 patients with palliatively operated advanced epithelial ovarian cancer were investigated concerning their response to chemotherapy. Using multiple linear stepwise discriminant analysis of five morphometrical parameters 13 out of 17 responders and 37 out of 46 non-responders were correctly classified (76.5% sensitivity, 80.4% specificity, 79.4% efficiency). The five parameters were: nuclear area at the 10th percentile, standard deviation of the nuclear area, median value of the nuclear ovality, number of cells per area and mitotic activity index. To assess the performance of the discrimination formula when applied to new cases, the "leave one out" method was used. For our data the following corrected classification rates were obtained: 58.8% responders (10/17), 76.1% non-responders (35/46) (efficiency 71.4%). Morphometry is a fast and reproducible method to objectively record a tumor's morphology. Our results indicate that there is a correlation between morphometrical features, response to chemotherapy and survival, which should be tested in further studies. PMID- 2626376 TI - Interactive morphometric procedures and statistical analysis in the diagnosis of ovarian dysplasia and carcinoma. AB - We report on our continued experience with an interactive morphometric method recently introduced by us for the definition and diagnosis of ovarian dysplasia vs. normal or malignant epithelium. The main quantitative differences between these three diagnostic categories are based on 1) cytology of the nuclei (nuclear area, circularity factor, maximum chord) and 2) on stratification (distances of nuclear centers to the basement membrane and number of cells per unit length of basement membrane). We implemented our approach on live video images viewed on a monitor overlaid with a touch sensitive screen by one of two interactive procedures: 1) by tracing nuclear profiles (procedure DRAW) or 2) by tracing the basement membrane and touching the center of all nuclei (procedure NU-MEAS). In all cases statistical analysis was performed on a string of multiple variables by stepwise discriminant analysis. Now we have straightened our data basis and are able to obtain diagnosis of unknown samples with very high posterior probabilities. Both procedures are effective but NU-MEAS requires the least effort and seems to give the best statistics. PMID- 2626377 TI - The flow-cytometric analysis of DNA content and S-phase fraction (SPF) of human breast cancer. AB - The DNA ploidy of breast cancer tissue from paraffin blocks was measured by flow cytometry in 122 patients. In this material there was a difference in lymph node involvement and in the presence of distant metastases between diploid and aneuploid tumors. Diploid tumors were smaller than aneuploid tumors. Aneuploid tumors were more common in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women. Near tetraploid tumors were found in older patients rather than tumors with other ploidy patterns. The ploidy pattern was not associated with survival during the mean follow-up of 4.1 years. We specially studied the S-phase fraction (SPF) which was distinctly higher in aneuploid tumors than in diploid tumors. Also near tetraploid, hypertetraploid and multiploid tumors showed higher SPF than diploid tumors. The median of SPF in our material was 8.5%. Positive axillary lymph nodes were found in 32% of the patients who had tumors with an SPF below the median and in 46% of those with tumors above the median (SPF greater than 8.5%). The difference, however, was not statistically significant. In our material the SPF of the tumor did not show a significant association with survival. However, longer follow up time is needed for firm conclusions on the predictive value of cell DNA on survival. PMID- 2626378 TI - A new method of grading malignancy of prostate carcinoma using quantitative microscopic nuclear features. AB - A morphometrical assessment of nuclear features and a DNA study were performed on prostate tissue specimens from 33 patients with prostate carcinoma using an image analysing computer. Six nuclear geometric variables were measured and their mean, standard deviation (SD) and standard error (SE) were calculated for each case. The data on nuclear DNA content obtained by static cytometry were processed using an algorithm which provided a DNA grade of malignancy (DNA MG). Using the stepwise multiple regression, we found a significant correlation (p less than 0.01) between the DNA MG, chosen as the dependent variable in the statistical model, and the following nuclear features in decreasing order of importance: area SD, convex perimeter SE, and the mean of maximum diameter. From the correlation coefficients of the variables an equation was built up which provided a geometric nuclear grade of malignancy (GNMG) on a morphometrical basis more closely related to the clinical stage of the tumour (r = 0.75) than the visually assessed histological grade (r = 0.68) based on the Gleason score. This new method of grading malignancy allows an objective and quantitative evaluation to be made of the biological behaviour of the tumour, as measured by the patient's clinical stage. PMID- 2626379 TI - Morphometry of in vitro systems. An image analysis of two human prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU-145). AB - Morphometric analysis on two human prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU-145) was carried out to better characterize these cells and to approach some problems concerning their polymorphism. In our hands, these cells appear to differ either in their ability to oxidize testosterone or in their androgen receptor content. Morphometric evaluation was performed by means of an Interactive Image Analysis System (IBAS 1), which computes several parameters related to the whole cell and to the nucleus. Our results clearly indicate that nuclear parameters alone may discriminate PC3 from DU-145 cells. Particularly, the Nuclear Roundness Factor appeared important, since it quantifies changes in nuclear shape. Nevertheless, the value of this parameter for "in vitro" morphometry may be overshadowed by the polymorphism common to the cultured cells. However, morphometric evaluation of PC3 and DU-145 cells is relevant to a better understanding and definition of the biologic nature of these cells, even if polymorphism, heterogeneity and genetic instability, specially of PC3, require further investigations. PMID- 2626380 TI - Comparison between image and flow DNA cytometry in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. AB - To assess the reliability of DNA estimation in cytological material, Feulgen lymph node imprints from 22 cases of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were examined by image cytometry (ICM) for both ploidy and cell kinetics, and the results obtained were compared with flow cytometry (FCM). The DNA distribution pattern was less accurate with ICM than with FCM; however, a high correlation was found between proliferative indices (r = 0.91) and between aneuploidy rates (agreement in about 86% of the cases) determined by FCM and ICM. Moreover, DNA tetraploid (or near-tetraploid) stem lines were more easily detected by ICM, due to the morphological selection of lymphomatous cells. The proliferation rate and the aneuploidy frequency according to morphological classification were in agreement with larger, previously reported studies with FCM. Therefore, ICM appears to supply additional complementary information to that obtained with FCM, particularly for the study of heterogeneous cell populations, which may be usefully applied to refine the large cell lymphoma subclassification. PMID- 2626381 TI - Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis aided by the S.A.M. system. AB - In the attempt to discriminate between centroblasts and immunoblasts, an analytical morphometrical procedure was adopted, considering the nuclei of a randomly selected centroblastic and immunoblastic population from non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and the nucleoli of a more restricted number of the same neoplastic population. All the size-independent shape-descriptor parameters extracted for each step of the mathematical analyses used were submitted to Hotelling's multivariate discriminant analysis that enabled us to achieve a good distinction (3% error) between centroblasts and immunoblasts when nuclear and nucleolar parameters were used together. PMID- 2626382 TI - Morphometric evaluation of fine needle biopsy of single thyroid nodules. AB - Area, perimeter, maximum diameter and form factors of nuclei of FNABs of thyroid nodules were measured with a MOP Videoplan. 23 cases were selected from patients with a scintigraphically cold single thyroid nodule. The mean values of area, perimeter and maximum diameter were significantly different (p less than 0.001) between the adenoma and carcinoma cases; no differences were found for the form factors. Although the analyses gave significant results, a certain amount of overlap of the benign and malignant populations was present; therefore the significance of the standard deviation, assumed to be an index of variability of the nuclear area, was evaluated and this parameter was found to discriminate the two populations. The standard deviation of the nuclear area measured in 14 cases diagnosed as suspicious gave 77% accuracy in discriminating benign from malignant cases. PMID- 2626383 TI - Differential diagnosis between thyroid follicular adenoma and carcinoma. Analytic morphometric approach. AB - In this study some nuclear dimensional and analytical parameters were evaluated in order to distinguish follicular atypical adenoma from follicular carcinoma of the thyroid. Eighty nuclei from carcinomas, 80 from adenomas and 80 from normal thyroid were studied. Analytical parameters obtained by the nuclear shape study (by S.A.M. system) as well as dimensional parameters were submitted to univariate statistical analysis. On the ground of our results atypical adenoma could be considered as an intermediate aspect of a progressive change from benign to malignant even if they are closer to normal thyroid than to carcinoma. PMID- 2626384 TI - Quantitative evaluation of recurrent meningiomas. AB - Clinical, histological and karyometric parameters, nuclear DNA content and the number of nucleolar organizer regions were investigated in 9 recurrent meningiomas and 10 meningiomas which had not recurred within a 10-year period. There were no significant differences between the two groups as to age, sex, site of the tumours and most of the histological parameters scored. Recurrent tumours showed a higher number of mitotic figures and the nucleolus was visible in most of the cells. Cell density, nuclear area, perimeter and nuclear DNA content had values with no statistically significant differences between the two groups. However, significant differences were found in the distribution of the nuclei in the different ploidy regions. Most of the nuclei in the non recurrent cases were in the diploid range, whereas in recurrent tumours there was a reduction in the number of diploid cells associated with an increase in 2c--4c and 4c components. Recurrent tumours also showed a higher number of nucleolar organizer regions positively stained using an argyrophil method. The mitotic count and the nucleolar organizer regions appeared to be the best predictors for recurrence. PMID- 2626385 TI - A morphometric approach to the grading of chondroid tumours on fine-needle smears. AB - A morphometric study was performed on 600 nuclei from 6 benign chondroid tumours (BCL) (3 enchondromas and 3 exostoses), 600 nuclei from 6 well-differentiated chondrosarcomas (WDC) and 200 nuclei from moderately-differentiated chondrosarcomas (MDC) obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy. The parameters considered were nuclear area, perimeter and maximum diameter. Moving across the three groups of lesions the nuclei appeared progressively larger. A statistical analysis was performed on the three groups. Significant differences between the means of all the parameters considered were observed. The authors suggest that morphometric analysis may be a possible step in the cytologic diagnosis and grading of chondroid tumours. PMID- 2626386 TI - Common statistical errors in morphometry. AB - Morphometry is the quantitative measurement of morphological features. Data is usually obtained by probabilistic sampling techniques and is often markedly variable due to intrinsic variations in sampled specimens. Statistical analyses are required both to allow for and to control such variability. Care is needed in the analysis of morphometric data if false conclusions are to be avoided. Examination of any reasonably sized sample of publications in morphometry usually results in the detection of at least several common errors of statistical practice. Commonest errors involve statistics being carried out on untransformed percentage data, statistics on ratios, repeated multiple applications of tests designed for single comparisons, misuse of correlation and violations of statistical assumptions. PMID- 2626387 TI - Morphometric study of chromatin pattern in freeze-fractured rat liver nuclei during malignancy evolution. AB - Computerized image analysis was performed on freeze-fractured nuclei isolated from normal rat liver and rat liver with diethylnitrosamine induced hepatocarcinomas. Chromatin particles belonging to heterochromatin and interchromatin nuclear regions were measured, distributed into histograms and statistically processed. The ratio between nucleosome filaments (5-10 nm range diameter) and solenoid fibres (25-35 nm range) and Tukey's fitting line were calculated. The N/S ratio shows an inverse trend in treated nuclear samples with respect to the controls indicating that the malignancy progression is accompanied by characteristic derangement of the chromatin arrangement which can be evaluated by morphometric analysis. PMID- 2626388 TI - Studies of intestinal lymphoid tissue. XIII. Immunopathology of the evolving celiac sprue lesion. AB - Observations, by computerised image-analysis on the evolution of flat mucosae in two celiac sprue patients, are described. Initial immunopathologic features comprised infiltration of epithelium of normal villi by small, non-mitotic lymphocytes, accompanied by crypt hypertrophy and increased crypt cell mitotic activity. The subsequent development, several years later, of flat mucosae was accompanied by mitotic, "immunoblastoid" EL thus fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for celiac sprue. These sequential phases in the evolving flat celiac mucosa parallel experimental graft-versus-host reactions, suggesting that they are fundamentally cell-mediated in type. In becoming flat, it appears obligatory for the mucosa to pass through the early "proliferative-infiltrative" stage in which crypt hypertrophy is a prominent feature. PMID- 2626389 TI - Clinical significance of the histomorphometric evaluation of diabetic microangiopathy in the oral mucosa. AB - Several structural parameters of the capillary vessels were measured in the oral mucosa of patients with diabetes mellitus of type 1 (D.1) and of type 2 (D.2), and of control cases (C), by means of an image analyser in histological sections of routinely processed biopsies. The studied parameters included: a) capillary wall thickness; b) capillary diameter; c) the ratio of capillary wall thickness and diameter; d) capillary wall area; e) capillary area; f) the ratio of capillary wall area and capillary area; g) density of capillary vessels in the lamina propria; h) density of endothelial cells; i) endothelial nuclear area. Clinical and laboratory parameters were also evaluated (duration of the disease, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, glycemia, glycosylated haemoglobin, glycosylated albumin, fructosamines, apolipoproteins A1 and B), in order to assess whether a relationship exists with the morphometric parameters studied. Statistically significant differences, at the level of p less than 0.05, were found in the following morphometric parameters between controls and each group of diabetic patients: mean and standard deviation of capillary wall thickness, mean capillary wall area, mean ratio of the capillary wall area and capillary area. A reduction in the capillary density, i.e. the number of capillary vessels per mm2 of lamina propria, was also observed in diabetic patients with respect to the control group, although it was not statistically significant (C vs. D.1: p less than 0.21; C vs. D.2: p less than 0.10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626390 TI - Morphometric study of muscle in congenital idiopathic club foot. AB - In congenital idiopathic club foot gross morphological changes cannot be assessed in muscle tissue by conventional histopathological techniques. Since, however, recent studies have indicated the presence of neuromuscular anomalies with preponderance of Type 1 fibres in this condition, we have performed histochemical, morphometric and electron microscopic examinations in muscle biopsies of 23 patients with congenital idiopathic club foot deformity. The age of the patients varied between 6 weeks and 12 years, respectively. Muscle biopsy was taken mainly from the flexor group of the affected leg(s) during the surgical correction of the anomaly. No gross pathological changes could be found by histochemical analysis. Morphometric study, however, disclosed abnormalities in the composition of the fibre types. The most prominent change was the percentual increase in Type 1 and decrease in Type 2 fibres in almost all the cases. Electron microscopically, only minor fine structural changes could be found. Since these changes could be assessed soon after birth just as in the later course, they cannot be regarded as the consequence of the abnormal position of the leg. More probably, Type 1 fibre predominance is related etiologically to the congenital club foot deformity. PMID- 2626391 TI - Collagen dysplasia in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. AB - Surgical biopsies of dissected transverse carpal ligaments of patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome were examined with an electron microscope revealing collagen fibrils with extremely varying diameters. Morphometric analysis was performed on electron micrographs exhibiting fibrils with a small diameter comparable to that in control tissue as well as fibrils with a far larger diameter than could be observed in control tissue. Morphometric parameters were evaluated in order to analyse the relation between the number of and the area covered by collagen fibrils in the electron micrographs. In control tissue the numerical density per image area was twice the numerical density in carpal tunnel syndrome. However, the area fraction of the electron micrographs occupied by collagen fibrils in carpal tunnel syndrome and controls were equal. PMID- 2626392 TI - Computer-assisted morphometry of synaptic plasticity during aging and dementia. AB - A computer assisted morphometric study has been carried out on synaptic membranes in the dentate gyrus supragranular layer and cerebellar glomerulus from adult, old and demented patients. Numerical (Nv) and surface (Sv) densities as well as average area (S) of the synaptic contact zones were calculated directly on electron microscopic negatives by means of an ASBA (Wild Leitz, AG) image analyzer properly programmed. The results showed a decrease of Nv in both the CNS areas investigated during aging and, to a higher extent, in senile dementia. S was found to be significantly increased in old and demented CNS as compared with adult values. In the old hippocampus Sv was decreased by 40% whereas no significant difference was present between old and adult cerebellum; in senile dementia this parameter underwent a significant decrease in both areas investigated. We interpret the present findings in terms of morphological remodelling capability of the synaptic junctional zones during aging and disease. PMID- 2626393 TI - Computer-assisted morphometry of the peripheral nervous system. A diagnostic tool. AB - A formal systematization of the set of procedures required in peripheral nerve morphometry has been implemented in a computer program, in an attempt to provide an easy-to-handle diagnostic tool in current neuropathological practice. The hardware is composed of an IBM-PC compatible computer and a graphic tablet. Programs are written in BASIC and run in computers compatible with the MS-DOS operating system. The flow of operative steps involved in the morphometric study is controlled by the software. Sequential measurements are also tested for congruence. Nerve fibre measurements are stored in pluri-dimensional matrices for subsequent statistical calculations, i.e. evaluation of size-frequency distribution of nerve fibres and correlation analysis between nerve fibre subcomponents. Stereological estimates of the parenchymal components are also derived. The increase in accuracy achieved using area instead of diameter measurements is stressed. Compared to "dedicated" machines such personal computer assisted systems exhibit substantial advantages in terms of low cost and flexibility. PMID- 2626394 TI - Dilated cardiomyopathy in infancy. Ultrastructural image analysis for diagnostic purpose. AB - 30 patients in paediatric age have been submitted to endocardial biopsy of the right ventricle, most of them affected by a dilated cardiomyopathy. Our aim was to improve knowledge on this disease using ultrastructural morphometric analysis. An enlargement of myocardial cells with granular aspects of the cytoplasm, known as cloudy swelling, was observed at histological level. Electronmicroscopy showed two main abnormalities: 1) a constant increase of the chondroma resulting in nuclear deformation and myofibrillary dislocation towards the sarcolemma. 2) disarrangement of thin (actin) and thick (myosin) myofilaments. Such myofibrillary dislocation, designated as fibrillar segregation, suggests how myocardial fibres may loose their ability to contract. The stereological study of these two ultrastructural abnormalities showed that mitochondria are increased in number and size and that the loss of contractile properties of myocardial cells can be related to myofibrillar segregation. PMID- 2626395 TI - Automatic image analysis as a valuable aid for the objective assessment of the enlargement of hepatocytes in toxicological studies. AB - Evaluation of histopathological slides is a subjective science; objectivity is needed, especially with minimal alterations. Quantitation using measurement procedures is of special value in toxicological studies. The present study tests a method in which the hepatocytic nuclei were measured per area of liver tissue, excluding the sinusoidal space. Different grades of hepatocellular enlargement were induced by different dose levels of a test compound (combination of two diuretics). The method demonstrates the well-established dose dependence of liver cell enlargement and permits differentiation between slight drug-induced enlargement and the normal variation in cell size. Special reference is made to avoid measurement artefacts. PMID- 2626396 TI - A user-oriented software for cytological image analysis. Application to automatic DNA content measurement of thyroid cells. AB - More and more physicians and researchers in biology and image processing and analysis are using and developing methods which involve image analysing systems: image analysis permits replacement of qualitative subjective evaluation of cytological and histological specimens by quantitative methods. The purpose of our work was to provide a software which would fulfil constraints set by different users. This software is based on the following features: an automated cytology oriented architecture, a standard user interface and a selectable user mode. The system has been used to build a protocol for DNA content measurement on thyroid cells. PMID- 2626397 TI - The hepatic lipid peroxidation, copper and fibrosis in cholestatic rats. AB - Hepatic lipid peroxidation was shown to be stimulated in the livers of cholestatic rats with increased hydroxyproline levels. In another group, cholestatic rats were fed with a copper-supplemented diet to increase hepatic copper levels. Although liver copper concentrations increased about 16-fold in copper supplemented cholestatic rats compared to normally fed cholestatic rats, no change was observed either in hepatic lipid peroxidation or in hydroxyproline levels. PMID- 2626398 TI - Changes of vascular smooth muscle reactivity in hypertensive rats. AB - Mechanical responses produced by high potassium solution (high-K), norepinephrine (noradrenaline; NA) and phenylephrine (Phe) were examined in the thoracic aorta isolated from control (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In the SHRs the tissues showed increased sensitivity to high potassium compared with those from the control rats. Mechanical removal of endothelium in tissues from the controls did not change the response. The effects produced by NA and Phe were also increased in tissues from SHRs. The amplitudes of contractions were enhanced after removal of the endothelium in tissues from the controls. The relaxation in response to endothelium-dependent vasodilators (acetylcholine and histamine) was significantly depressed in aortic rings from SHRs. Experiments using modified sandwich preparations suggest that the defect in the relaxant ability of vascular smooth muscle is coupled to a reduced functionality of the endothelium. PMID- 2626399 TI - Protective effect of taurine against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in perfused chick hearts. AB - The ability of taurine to protect the isolated heart against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity was examined. Chick hearts perfused for 20 min with medium containing 17 microM doxorubicin exhibited a decrease in contractility, an increase in resting tension and a dramatic depletion in tissue high energy phosphate content. Addition of 20 mM taurine to the perfusate attenuated the increase in resting tension and the decrease in myocardial adenosine triphosphate content induced by doxorubicin. The present study confirms our previous in vivo observations that taurine partially prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. PMID- 2626400 TI - [Perspectives in oral health in families in Mexico state]. AB - A program of bucco-dental prevention and treatment is being undertaken in Mexico State. Results can be observed, for instance, in a significant decrease of cavity diseases; its total eradication is, however, still far from completion, and it will depend on the degree of awareness, dental-consciousness and wider participation on the part of the people of that state in projects related to odontological care. PMID- 2626401 TI - [Cleft lip and palate: multidisciplinary focus]. AB - A brief review of etiology and treatment of lip and palate alterations is presented, encompassing their classification and frequency. The need of coordinating specialized help with that of the parents in the process of rehabilitating the patient, is emphasized. PMID- 2626402 TI - [Osteoarthritis]. PMID- 2626403 TI - [The search for equilibrium: aggression and other character traits in Mexican dentists]. AB - A battery of four tests was applied to determine what personality traits prevailed in a group of 48 Mexican odontologists. It was found that aggressiveness, anxiety, insecurity and obsessiveness occupy a prominent place in their psychological profile. The author recommends prophylactic psychotherapy as a means of searching for equilibrium in professional life. PMID- 2626404 TI - [Diabetes mellitus in ambulatory stomatosurgical practice]. AB - The authors evaluated in 58 patients aged 27-65 years the pre- and postextraction bacteremia after a simple extraction at intervals of 5 minutes, 1 hour, 24 and 72 hours. From the group of 58 examined patients 35 suffered from diabetes mellitus- 11 type 1, 24 type 2. Before extraction bacteremia was not found in any of the examined patients. Five minutes after extraction bacteremia was recorded in 50% of the diabetic patients, more frequently in type 1 than type 2. Bacteremia was found in 8% of patients with type 1 diabetes even after 24 hours. The authors recommend to assess in addition to the blood sugar level also so-called glycohaemoglobin which they began to assess regularly in diabetic patients. PMID- 2626405 TI - [Comprehensive care of patients with dysgnathic defects at the dental department of the regional hospital with polyclinic in Ceske Budejovice]. AB - The authors describe in the form of case- histories the comprehensive care of patients with dysgnatic defects at the dental department of the hospital with policlinic in Ceske Budejovice. The collaboration of orthodontists, surgeons and prosthetists is involved in different combinations. As an example the mention the collaboration during the therapeutic procedure used in a 25-year-old female patient with a protrusion defect, deep occlusion and crowding in the upper frontal section. PMID- 2626406 TI - [Problems concerning material for root inlays and their solution]. AB - The author discusses the reduced mechanical resistance of root inlays made from low-melting Koldan silver alloy combined with wire support. The problem is resolved by the use of a chromium-cobalt alloy without a wire nucleus. As modelling material Spofacryl 0 is used which is administered by injection. PMID- 2626407 TI - [Comparison of Czechoslovak and foreign toothpastes]. AB - The authors made a nation-wide investigation focused on the consumption of foreign toothpastes and their evaluation, as compared with locally produced ones. They also assessed the properties of selected foreign toothpastes according to the Czechoslovak norm by laboratory tests. The investigation related that foreign toothpastes are purchased by one quarter of the subjects where enquiries were made. The main reason for selection of a foreign toothpaste was better taste and a better sensation of fragrance. People appreciate also the attractivity packing and adequate information on the properties and composition of the toothpaste. As compared with local toothpastes, the better taste of foreign ones is emphasized. Laboratory tests of the properties of foreign tooth pastes, as compared with local revealed that from the physico-chemical and microbiological aspect local toothpastes compare favourably with foreign ones. However, the organoleptic properties, packing and information are not comparable. PMID- 2626408 TI - [Differential diagnosis of resistance on the neck. 1. Inflammatory swellings of the cervical nodes]. AB - The authors present an account of a group of 157 patients with inflammatory swellings of the lymph nodes who were treated at the surgical and dental department of the Regional Hospital with Policlinic in Banska Bystrica between March 1, 1982 and February 28, 1987. In the discussion they analyze the problem of the aetiology, incidence, diagnosis and therapy of different diseases which could help in their assessment in common dental practice. PMID- 2626409 TI - Measurement of HPRT activity in the human unfertilized oocyte and pre-embryo. AB - The hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) and adenine phosphoribosyl transferase (APRT) activities in individual non-fertilized human eggs and in human pre-embryos (4-cell to blastocyst stage) have been analysed. A wide spread of activities was observed, the mean values of which decline with time post ovulation for both eggs and advancing pre-embryonic stages. The variation in activities was less in groups of eggs or pre-embryos recovered from a single ovulatory cycle. The activity of HPRT, but not of APRT, was readily detectable in single 4-cell and 8-cell blastomeres. When pre-embryos at various preimplantation stages were exposed to alpha-amanitin, to block transcription of mRNA from the pre-embryonic genome, no clear effect on HPRT activity was observed. It is concluded that the HPRT and APRT activities measured in the pre-embryos studied here are likely to be maternally inherited, and that use of a direct assay for HPRT activity for the pre-implantation diagnosis of Lesch-Nyhan disease would be premature. PMID- 2626410 TI - Familial marker chromosome due to 3:1 disjunction of t(9;15) in a grandparent. AB - An extra small chromosome detected in amniotic fluid was identified as the product of a translocation [46,XX,t(9;15)(p24;q11.2)]. This case is unusual in that individuals with the unbalanced karyotype resulting from a 3:1 disjunction are phenotypically normal. PMID- 2626411 TI - A rare case of 68,XX triploidy diagnosed by amniocentesis. AB - 68,XX triploidy was found in the amniotic fluid cell culture of a 40-year-old patient. Elective termination of the pregnancy revealed a fetus with multiple congenital anomalies. While this case does show some common features with monosomy X, a greater similarity to the triploidy syndrome is observed. PMID- 2626412 TI - Tandemly repeated DNA sequences of the centromere resulting in 18p+. PMID- 2626413 TI - Public support for policy initiatives regulating high-fat food use in Minnesota: a multicommunity survey. AB - Public support of eight policies to regulate the sale and consumption of high-fat food was evaluated in a survey of 438 women and 383 men in seven Minnesota communities. The survey was part of the ongoing activities of the Minnesota Heart Health Program (MHHP). Respondents, when asked to indicate their level of support or opposition to each of eight policies, expressed general support for all but two. Women were consistently more supportive than men. Other sociodemographic characteristics and reported use of food and other substances were generally not predictive of support. Policies that would control conditions of sale or information about the product were the most strongly supported. Taxation as an incentive to food producers to provide alternatives to high-fat food or as a disincentive to consumers to purchase these foods was moderately supported. A proposal to limit sale of high-fat food to children was the most strongly opposed. The majority of respondents indicated that they felt the individual consumer, as opposed to the producer or retailer, is most responsible for problems associated with high-fat food use. The three communities which had received MHHP health promotion activities were significantly more supportive than the comparison communities on two of the eight proposals. There is a moderate level of support in the general public for additional policies to regulate the sale and consumption of high-fat foods. These policy level interventions, similar to policies common in the regulation of alcohol and tobacco use, may be a feasible strategy to help moderate use of potentially health-compromising food products. PMID- 2626414 TI - Survey of AIDS knowledge and behavior changes among Massachusetts adults. AB - In October 1987, 1,323 Massachusetts residents were randomly interviewed by telephone to explore their exposure to AIDS educational efforts, levels of knowledge about AIDS, and whether that knowledge modified their behavior. Gay/bisexual males, iv drug users and heterosexual respondents were compared as were blacks, Hispanics, and whites. While 81% of respondents had read or heard mass media stories about AIDS, in the previous week, only 5% had ever been counseled about AIDS by a physician. Over 97% of black (N = 152) and white respondents (N = 1,057), as well as gay/bisexual males (N = 21) and iv drug users (N = 33) were aware that HIV can be transmitted by homosexual or heterosexual intercourse and by sharing needles when injecting drugs. However, 9% of the 55 Hispanics interviewed were unaware of male homosexual transmission, and 7% did not know about heterosexual transmission or the risks of needle sharing. Twenty percent of Hispanics, compared with 9% of other respondents, did not know HIV can be transmitted sexually by someone who appears healthy. Fifty-two percent of gay/bisexual males, 27% of iv drug users, and 21% of those who had multiple heterosexual partners in recent years reported adopting abstinence, monogamous relations, or condom use to avoid HIV exposure. Those who continued risky behavior were just as knowledgeable about HIV transmission, but they were less likely to report that they worry a great deal about getting AIDS, 14% vs 32%. The results indicate that new strategies and resources are needed to educate Hispanics. Physicians need to counsel more persons about HIV transmission and further efforts are needed to translate knowledge about HIV transmission into behavior change to avoid the virus. PMID- 2626415 TI - Screening using National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines in a population of urban Hispanic mothers. AB - We measured serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides and calculated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in 217 urban Hispanic mothers. On the basis of total cholesterol values, as recommended by the Expert Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program, 6 subjects (2.8%) had high blood cholesterol (greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl), 27 (12.4%) had borderline-high blood cholesterol (200-239 mg/dl), and 184 (84.8%) had desirable blood cholesterol (less than 200 mg/dl). One of the 27 with borderline-high total cholesterol had two other coronary risk factors. Thus 7 of the 217 (3.2%, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 6.8%) met Expert Panel criteria for lipoprotein measurement. Six of the seven had high-risk low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (greater than or equal to 160 mg/dl). Four additional subjects with borderline high total cholesterol, not identified by this sequential screening strategy, also had high-risk low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Thus a total of 10 of 217 (4.6%, 95% confidence interval 2.4 to 8.6%) met Expert Panel criteria for high risk low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and initiation of cholesterol-lowering treatment. None of these 10 had been previously identified as having high-risk low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Two years later subjects with high or borderline-high total cholesterol were rescreened. Seven of 22 subjects completing the second screening were classified differently with regard to having high-risk low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, illustrating the potential for misclassification of individuals on the basis of a single measurement. The prevalence of women with high-risk low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was not significantly different at the two screenings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626416 TI - Factors in smoking cessation among participants in a televised intervention. AB - This paper analyzes factors associated with smoking cessation during a 1-year period following a televised, self-help intervention among a sample of smokers who registered and participated in the program. Factors examined include readiness to quit smoking, extent of use of self-help materials, degree of exposure to the televised intervention, and environmental support for quitting from within the smoker's household. Behavioral response immediately following the intervention appeared to persist over the year of observation. Of those who reported stopping smoking immediately following the intervention, fewer than half (about 10% of the total sample that was followed) were continuously abstinent at 12 months. The results indicate that environmental support when the individual is attempting to quit smoking is very important in differentiating between those who successfully quit and those who attempt but fail to sustain their abstinence. The results also suggest that an approach combining television and self-help may reach large populations of smokers and induce a substantial number to quit and remain abstinent. PMID- 2626417 TI - Influence of a preventive care educational intervention on physician knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practice. AB - We evaluated the effect of a three-part intervention on knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices relevant to preventive care. A group of 13 second-year internal medicine residents (Group I) were exposed to a lecture, chart-based reminder, and biweekly feedback during a 3-month ambulatory care rotation. The remaining two groups of residents (Group II, n = 12; Group III, n = 11) were not exposed to the intervention. We performed a chart review to assess preventive care practice at a clinical site separate from the intervention and surveyed residents to assess preventive care knowledge, self-reported practice, professional attitudes, and health beliefs. Chart reviews revealed the intervention to be associated with improved performance of preventive care (0.52 vs 0.35 and 0.42, P = 0.01). In addition, the intervention was associated with improved scores for preventive care knowledge (90 vs 74 and 77, P = 0.001) and self-reported practice (85 vs 65 and 72, P = 0.007). Although attitudes toward prevention and health locus of control were not measurably influenced by the intervention, stepwise multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated these factors to be independently related to preventive practice. Our data support the notion that physician preventive practice is subject to a variety of influences involving not only knowledge, and practice environment, but also training, professional attitudes, and health beliefs. PMID- 2626418 TI - Identifying correlates of walking for exercise: an epidemiologic prerequisite for physical activity promotion. AB - This study was designed to identify correlates of walking for exercise in adults. Over 2,050 (43.4% response rate) responses to a mailed questionnaire were analyzed. Possible correlates of walking were based on learning theory and previous empirical observations. Respondents averaged less than 1 hr of walking for exercise per week. Women and older adults (greater than or equal to 50 years) reported significantly (P less than 0.05) greater walking than men or younger respondents. Multiple regression analyses were conducted for selected subgroups of respondents. Analyses were conducted on subjects who reported no regular vigorous exercise. Multiple correlation coefficients ranged from 0.32 to 0.48, and most reached significance (P less than 0.05). For the most sedentary subgroups, self-efficacy, family and friend support, and consumption of a heart healthy diet were repeatedly associated with walking for exercise. It was concluded that an economically secure and well-educated Caucasian sample performs an inadequate amount of walking to ensure benefits such as prevention of cardiovascular disease. Longitudinal analyses are required to confirm the influence of social learning variables. Tentatively, interventions that increase family and friends' support for walking and that enhance perceived self-efficacy should be developed. PMID- 2626419 TI - Competition/cooperation in worksite smoking cessation using nicotine gum. AB - Worksite competitions have shown promise in facilitating smoking cessation among employees, but the effectiveness of the competition component itself has not been determined. A multicomponent behavioral treatment and maintenance program plus nicotine gum were provided to competition and no-competition conditions at two large worksites. At 1-year follow-up, 100% of subjects were contacted and measurement of expired carbon monoxide validated abstinence. Recruitment rates were significantly higher in the competition group (2% of smokers) than the no competition group (0.6% of smokers, P less than 0.001). One-year abstinence rates were 50% for the competition group and 25% for the no-competition group. This difference was not statistically significant (P less than 0.25). However, survival analysis revealed a significant difference in number of weeks abstinent during the year after treatment. Mean weeks abstinent was 35 for competition and 22 for no-competition (P less than 0.05). At the 3-month follow-up, the number of boxes of nicotine gum used predicted abstinence (P less than 0.002). At the 1 year follow-up, rated supportiveness of one's "buddy" (P less than 0.01) and number of sick days prior to starting the program predicted abstinence (P less than 0.003). It is suggested that competition, nicotine gum, and social support may enhance worksite smoking cessation program rates. PMID- 2626420 TI - Collaborative practice model: the future of dental hygiene. PMID- 2626421 TI - The perceived continuing education needs of Saskatchewan dental hygienists. PMID- 2626422 TI - Guidelines for dental professionals: early detection and prevention of child abuse. PMID- 2626423 TI - The changing role for dental hygiene. PMID- 2626424 TI - Complete amino acid sequence of canine miniplasminogen. AB - The complete amino acid sequence of canine miniplasminogen (Mr 36,678, 333 residues) was determined with the aid of fragments obtained by cleavage with BNPS skatole, cyanogen bromide or clostripain. The fragments were aligned with overlapping sequences. Sequence comparison with miniplasminogens of other species gave identities in the range of 80% (bovine) and 88% (human), indicating the presence of the same structural and functional domains as in the other species. Sequence comparison of different miniplasminogens showed that plasminogens of species activated by streptokinase have identical residues in positions 49, 83 and 161 of the plasmin light chain. The triad of these amino acids may represent at least one of eventually several prerequisites for the interaction and activation of plasminogen with streptokinase. PMID- 2626425 TI - Phospholipase A2 from cobra (Naja naja naja) venom. Primary structure and subspecies variation. AB - The primary structure of phospholipase A2 of the major race of Indian cobra has been determined. Together with previous data on other subforms, it establishes subspecies variations at no less than 20 of the 119 positions in the protein. These variations are large, not only in number but in several cases also regarding properties of the residues involved. Nevertheless, all structures are compatible with largely unaltered enzyme properties. PMID- 2626426 TI - The amino-acid sequence of the double-headed proteinase inhibitor from badger (Meles meles) submandibular glands. AB - Badger submandibular glands contain a double-headed secretory proteinase inhibitor. Its amino acid sequence was determined. Extensive homologies were found between this inhibitor and the corresponding inhibitors of fox, dog, lion and cat in both domains. As in fox and dog inhibitor, the trypsin-inhibiting domain of badger inhibitor contains an Arg residue in the reactive site in contrast to a Lys residue in the inhibitors of lion and cat. Domains I and II of badger inhibitor are structurally related both to the sequenced inhibitors of fox, dog, lion and cat and to the sequenced monovalent secretory pancreatic trypsin inhibitors. The sequence of the badger inhibitor is N-terminally extended by four amino acids in comparison to fox and dog inhibitors and extended by eight amino acids in comparison to lion and cat inhibitors. Furthermore, the badger inhibitor is C-terminally extended by two amino acids in comparison to the lion inhibitor and by three amino acids in comparison to all other sequenced inhibitors. PMID- 2626427 TI - Amino acid sequence of ferredoxin isolated from Cyanidium caldarium strain RK-1. AB - Ferredoxin was isolated from ther eukaryotic alga Cyanidium caldarium strain RK-1 and its amino acid sequence was determined. The ferredoxin is composed of 97 amino acid residues, and its molecular weight is 10,599 excluding the iron-sulfur cluster. The amino acid sequence differs from that of C. caldarium strain 1355/1, by 24 amino acid substitutions plus one deletion at the amino terminus. PMID- 2626428 TI - Procarboxypeptidase A activation segment compared to structures of other proteins. AB - The 94-residue activation segment of procarboxypeptidase A was compared with segments of other proteins. No significant homologies were observed towards other activation segments, but an inter-domain segment preceding the serine-protease part of complement factor B showed some structural relationships with the N terminal region of the procarboxypeptidase A activation segment. This may reflect common functional and organizational patterns. In contrast, the present comparisons do not give functional or further sequence support to previously proposed structural homologies with helix-loop-helix (EF-hand) calcium-binding proteins. PMID- 2626429 TI - The following protein sequences were reprinted from the protein sequence database of the Protein Identification Resource (PIR). PMID- 2626430 TI - Patterns of early centromere separation and aneuploidy in human carcinoma cells. PMID- 2626431 TI - Mitosis and the induction of aneuploidy. PMID- 2626432 TI - Chromosome displacement and aneuploidy. PMID- 2626433 TI - Preferential loss of chromosomes containing amplified DNA regions in cultured cells. PMID- 2626434 TI - Aneuploidy detection by analysis of interphase nuclei using fluorescence in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific probes. PMID- 2626435 TI - Development of techniques to study induction of aneuploidy in somatic cells in vitro and in vivo. PMID- 2626436 TI - Direct selection procedure for isolation of yeast mutants with impaired segregation of chromosomes. PMID- 2626437 TI - Microtubular proteins as cellular targets for carcinogenic estrogens and other carcinogens. PMID- 2626438 TI - The origins and consequences of numerical chromosome changes in Syrian hamster dermal cultures. PMID- 2626439 TI - Biochemical analysis of CENP-A, a centromeric protein with histone-like properties. PMID- 2626440 TI - DNA sequence analysis of newly formed telomeres in yeast. AB - A plasmid can be maintained in linear form in baker's yeast if it bears telomeric sequences at each end. Linear plasmids bearing cloned telomeric C4A4 repeats at one end (test end) and a natural DNA terminus with approximately 300 bps of C4A2 repeats at the other or control end were introduced by transformation into yeast. Test-end termini of 28 to 112 bps supported telomere formation. During telomere formation, C4A2 repeats were often transferred to test-end termini. To determine in greater detail the fate of test-end sequences on these plasmids after propagation in yeast, test-end telomeres were subcloned into E. coli and sequenced. DNA sequencing established a number of points about the molecular events involved in telomere formation in yeast. The results suggest that there are at least two mechanisms for telomere formation in yeast. One is mediated by a recombination event that requires neither a long stretch of homology nor the RAD52 gene product. The other mechanism is by addition of C1-3A repeats to the termini of linear DNA molecules. The telomeric sequence required to support C1-3A addition need not be at the very end of a molecule for telomere formation. PMID- 2626441 TI - Therapeutic and hypothermic properties of diazepam altered by a diazepam chlorpromazine association. AB - Rats were injected (IP) with diazepam (2.5 mg/kg) and chlorpromazine (10.0 mg/kg) with a 30-min interval between the two injections. After 10-12 repeated drug pairings of this type, the thermic, muscle relaxant, and anxiolytic responses of the animals to diazepam alone were tested. These tests revealed: 1) an enhanced hypothermia (rectal temperature), 2) an attenuated muscle relaxant effect (inclined plane test), and 3) a potentiated anxiolytic effect (plus-maze test). Although various interdrug associations have previously been demonstrated using other measures of conditioning, this is the first instance in which changes in the therapeutic effects of a drug (in this case, muscle relaxation and anxiety reduction) have been obtained with this procedure. PMID- 2626442 TI - Regional in vivo superfusion of the spinal cord and KC1-induced amino acid release. AB - In vivo push-pull superfusion was used to sample the regional release of amino acids into spinal superfusates of urethane-anesthetized rats. By collecting superfusates from the intrathecal space surrounding the sacral-lower thoracic spinal cord, it was possible to achieve a stable release of amino acids in one- and five-minute superfusate fractions. Introducing the depolarizing agent, potassium chloride (KC1) (40 mM), into the superfusion medium significantly increased GLU, GLY, and TAU concentrations in superfusates compared to pre-KCl values. The findings that these three amino acids were the only ones (out of 20) that showed a significant increase in response to KCl administration, suggest that they mediate neurotransmission in this region of the spinal cord. Amino acid concentrations were determined in spinal superfusates by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), utilizing an automated ortho-phthaldialdehyde precolumn derivatization system. The regional superfusion system described in this paper provides a technique for measuring KC1-produced release of neurochemicals that may mediate neurotransmission in delimited spinal regions. PMID- 2626443 TI - Roles of gender, gonadectomy and estrous phase in the analgesic effects of intracerebroventricular morphine in rats. AB - Gender and gonadal function have previously been shown to influence the magnitude of analgesia following systemic morphine and opioid and nonopioid forms of swim analgesia with male rats displaying greater analgesia than female rats and gonadectomy reducing analgesic magnitude in both genders. These effects have been presumed to be centrally mediated. The present study evaluated the roles of gender, gonadectomy and estrous phase upon dose-response and time-response functions of analgesia following intracerebroventricular administration of morphine as measured by the tail-flick and jump tests. Sham-operated male rats displayed significantly greater magnitudes of peak and total analgesia following central morphine than sham-operated female rats on both nociceptive measures. This striking effect was reflected both in terms of magnitude and ED50; while male rats displayed near-maximal analgesia at a 5 micrograms dose of morphine, female rats displayed moderate analgesia at doses as high as 40 micrograms of morphine. Castration produced small, but significant reductions in the magnitude of central morphine analgesia; the ED50 of morphine analgesia, however, was not changed. Although female rats in either proestrous or estrous displayed significantly greater magnitude of analgesia than ovariectomized rats or rats in a combined met-/di-estrous phase at some doses, the ED50 of morphine analgesia was not significantly altered as functions of estrous phase or ovariectomy. The interaction of opiate receptors and gonadal steroid receptors is considered as one possible determinant of gender differences observed in the magnitude and potency of central morphine analgesia. PMID- 2626444 TI - Galanthamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor: a time course of the effects on performance and neurochemical parameters in mice. AB - The time course of the effects of the long-acting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, galanthamine, on a spatial navigation task and on AChE and acetylcholine (ACh) levels were investigated in mice. Mice received either saline or ibotenic acid injections into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (nBM). The control and nBM group were than trained to perform a modified Morris swim task and the time to find the hidden platform was recorded. The nBM group took significantly longer to find the platform than the control group in the reversal phase of testing. Galanthamine attenuated the performance deficit in the nBM lesioned group in a time-dependent manner, with peak performance at four hours after injection of 5.0 mg/kg galanthamine IP. This dose impaired performance of the task in control mice, with the most severe deficits observed at two hours after injections when motor activity was severely reduced. Galanthamine (5.0 mg/kg IP) significantly decreased cortical AChE activity and significantly increased cortical ACh content in control mice in a time-dependent manner. The time courses of the neurochemical effects, however, did not correlate precisely with the behavioral time course. Galanthamine concentrations up to 1 x 10(-5) M did not affect choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, [3H]hemicholinium-3 (HCh-3) binding to the choline carrier, [3H]quinuclidinylbenzilate (QNB) binding to muscarinic receptors, or [3H]acetylcholine binding to nicotinic receptors in cortical homogenates. AChE activity was inhibited by galanthamine in cortical homogenates with an IC50 of 4.1 x 10(-7) M.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626445 TI - Fetal striatal tissue grafts into excitotoxin-lesioned striatum: pharmacological and behavioral aspects. AB - In an excitotoxin animal model of Huntington's disease (HD), fetal striatal tissue transplants survive and grow in the host brain and reverse the behavioral, and, hence, functional deficits produced by the lesion. In the present study we found recovery of apomorphine-induced rotation behavior in unilateral excitotoxin lesioned rats indicating that the transplant reverses this functional pharmacologic deficit induced by the lesion. It might, therefore, by expected that the transplanted fetal striatal tissue would possess similar pharmacological characteristics as the host striatum. However, autoradiographic localization of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors demonstrated that the transplanted tissue expressed relatively small numbers of these receptor subtypes. Furthermore, there was a relative deficit of [3H]forskolin binding to the stimulatory guanine nucleotide regulatory subunit/adenylate cyclase complex in the fetal striatal tissue transplants. Therefore, transplanted tissue which is neurochemically dissimilar to the host striatum is capable of reversing deficits in both drug-induced and spontaneous locomotor activity. PMID- 2626446 TI - CCK8 effects on motivational and emotional states of rats involve CCKA receptors of the postero-median part of the nucleus accumbens. AB - Administration of 3 fmol of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) into the postero median nucleus accumbens (NAS) induced an hypoexploration measured using the four hole box and an increase in the emotional states of rats observed in the elevated plus maze. These effects seem likely to involve CCKA receptors since they were reversed by the selective CCKA antagonist L364,718 (100 micrograms/kg, 200 micrograms/kg IP) and not observed after injection of 0.1 to 1000 fmol unsulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8NS) in the same region. On the other hand, CCK8 or CCK8NS injected into the anterior NAS did not significantly modify these behaviors. These results support the neuroanatomical heterogeneity in the distribution of CCK and its binding sites in the NAS, but raise the question of the presence of CCKA receptors not detected in binding studies and of the behavioral effects mediated by CCKB receptor stimulation in this structure. PMID- 2626447 TI - Differential inhibition of synaptosomal accumulation of [3H]-monoamines by cocaine, tropacocaine and amphetamine in four inbred strains of mice. AB - The relative ability of cocaine, tropacocaine and amphetamine to inhibit the uptake of [3H]norepinephrine (NE), [3H]dopamine (DA) and [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) was examined in whole brain synaptosomes from BALB, C3H, C57BL and DBA inbred mouse strains. With inhibition of [3H]NE uptake, synaptosomes from BALB and C57 mice were substantially more sensitive to cocaine inhibition than those from DBA or C3H. Moreover, with BALB and C57 tissue, amphetamine was as potent as cocaine, whereas with C3H and DBA, amphetamine and tropacocaine were much less potent inhibitors of [3H]NE uptake. With respect to [3H]DA accumulation, synaptosomes from BALB, C57 and DBA were equally sensitive to cocaine inhibition, while C3H synaptosomes were significantly less sensitive. In each of the four strains, amphetamine was more potent than cocaine, and tropacocaine far less potent. The relative potencies of the three drugs varied significantly among the four strains. With [3H]5HT accumulation, synaptosomes from DBA were exquisitely sensitive to cocaine inhibition, followed by BALB and lastly by C57 and C3H. In each of these strains, amphetamine and tropacocaine were equipotent at [3H]5HT inhibition, and less potent than cocaine. The results suggest that there are pronounced genetic differences in sensitivity to monoamine uptake inhibition by cocaine, which may arise from genetic differences in either carrier topology or other site of cocaine interaction. The results further suggest that genetic behavioral differences to cocaine and amphetamine may involve complex neurotransmitter interactions. PMID- 2626448 TI - Self-administration of phenylpropanolamine (PPA) by rats previously trained to self-administer amphetamine. AB - Central nervous system stimulation, similar to that observed for amphetamine, has been attributed to phenylpropanolamine (PPA). However, formal tests, using evaluation of locomotion or of self-administration, fail to reveal that PPA is a stimulant. Self-administration studies have trained rats to self-administer cocaine and then have attempted to switch rats to PPA with no success of transfer. The present study further examined the reinforcing properties of PPA (0.08, 0.16, and 0.32 mg/infusion, IV) in rats that were initially trained to self-administer d-amphetamine (0.005-0.08 mg/infusion) in a two-lever paradigm. Self-administration of amphetamine was a function of dose with 0.01 mg/infusion producing reliably high responding on the active lever. The proportion of active/inactive lever presses remained constant (0.60-0.80) across the amphetamine dose range. PPA was dose-dependently self-administered during the first hour of each session with rats responding at approximately 70% on the active lever. In contrast, responding on the active lever dropped off to approximately 48% when saline was substituted for amphetamine. These data document that rats with prior exposure to amphetamine will self-administer PPA during the initial portion of a three-hour test. PMID- 2626449 TI - Systemic angiotensin II acts at the subfornical organ to suppress voluntary alcohol consumption. AB - The subfornical organ plays a role in a number of the effects of blood-borne angiotensin II (ANG II) including the increase in water drinking and blood pressure and the release of vasopressin from the pituitary. Recently it has been shown that systemically administered ANG II also reduces voluntary alcohol intake. The present study assessed the role of the SFO in alcohol consumption by examining the effects of SFO lesions on voluntary alcohol intake and on the suppression of voluntary alcohol intake by ANG II. Whereas the lesion did not alter alcohol consumption per se, it did significantly attenuate the ability of ANG II to reduce alcohol intake. This effect was not due to a lesion-induced change in the pharmacokinetics of alcohol and was observed only in those animals whose lesions produced a functional deficit, i.e., abolishing the increase in water drinking produced by ANG II. These results indicate that the SFO mediates the effect of systemically administered ANG II on alcohol intake but does not otherwise affect the regulation of alcohol consumption. PMID- 2626450 TI - Chronic restraint stress does not sensitize a muscarinic mechanism. AB - Describing the neurobiological changes which may explain the link between chronic stressors and the epidemiological association of recurrent episodes of depression in patients with unipolar or bipolar illness is a goal of psychiatric research. Disorders of mood may involve hyperactivity of central muscarinic mechanisms. Chronic forced swim stress and footshock produce supersensitivity to a muscarinic agonist. Chronic prolonged restraint is a severe stressor for the rat and activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This report presents data suggesting that this stressor does not, unlike forced swim stress and footshock, enhance sensitivity to the hypothermic effects of a muscarinic agonist. PMID- 2626451 TI - Interactions of diazepam and pentobarbital with RO 15-4513 on intracranial self stimulation discrimination behavior in rats. AB - Rats implanted with electrodes in the lateral hypothalamus were trained in a discrete trial procedure to make a differential response (right or left lever press) in the presence or absence of brain stimulation. When a high level of accuracy (95% correct) was attained in the discrimination, testing with vehicle, RO 15-4513, diazepam (1.0-10 mg/kg), diazepam plus RO 15-4513 (1.0 mg/kg), pentobarbital (1.0-17.5 mg/kg) and pentobarbital plus RO 15-4513 began. Diazepam, at 10 mg/kg, disrupted the discrimination behavior, and it also decreased the total number of lever-presses and increased the time to complete the session. These effects were blocked by the coadministration of 1.0 mg/kg RO 15-4513. Pentobarbital produced effects similar to those of diazepam, but these effects were only reversed to a limited extent by RO 15-4513. By itself, however, RO 15 4513 also decreased the total number of lever presses and increased the time to complete the session. Results were consistent with our previous findings with alcohol and RO 15-4513, and supported the notion that diazepam and alcohol have some similar effects at the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex. PMID- 2626452 TI - Multiple behavioral effects of diazepam in rhesus monkeys. AB - The acute effects of diazepam (Valium) were assessed using a battery of complex food-reinforced operant tasks that included responding in delayed matching to sample (DMTS, n = 5), conditioned position response (CPR, n = 7) progressive ratio (PR, n = 8), temporal response differentiation (TRD, n = 4), and incremental repeated acquisition (IRA, n = 9) tests. Diazepam (0.25-4.0 mg/kg IV) produced significant dose-dependent decreases in the number of reinforcers obtained in the TRD and IRA tasks only. TRD accuracy was significantly decreased at doses of 0.25, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg/kg when compared to vehicle injections. Significant decreases in IRA accuracy generally did not occur at doses below 1.0 mg/kg. DMTS accuracy was decreased at 0.5 mg/kg for some time delays but showed no clear dose-delay interaction. Performance in the CPR and PR tests showed no significant effects of diazepam exposure over the dose range tested. These results indicate that diazepam selectively disrupts performance of operant tasks in monkeys designed to model human correlates of time perception, learning ability and visual attention/short-term memory while not affecting tasks designed to model motivation and position/color discrimination. PMID- 2626453 TI - Intensity of the withdrawal syndrome varies with duration of pentobarbital administration. AB - The effect of three dosage schedules on the expression of a withdrawal syndrome indicative of physical dependence on pentobarbital was determined in male Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were prepared with an intraperitoneal cannula and were continuously infused with either saline (control) or pentobarbital sodium, using an escalating drug dosage schedule, for either 5 (PB-5), 13 (PB-13) or 20 (PB-20) days. Final doses reached were 500 mg/kg/day (PB-5) and 1000 mg/kg/day (PB-13). PB-20 rats reached 1000 mg/kg/day on day 13 and were maintained at this dose for an additional 7 days. Body weight, water consumption and assessment of CNS depression were obtained daily. Following the last day of pentobarbital infusion all rats were infused with saline for a 72-hour drug-free period. Water consumption, body weight and assessment of overt behavioral signs indicative of a drug withdrawal syndrome were obtained at specific times during the drug-free period. PB-5 rats showed little evidence of withdrawal while PB-20 rats demonstrated the greatest degree of withdrawal. Peak withdrawal scores were observed to be 1, 3.8 and 5 for PB-5, PB-13, and PB-20, respectively. Withdrawal scores for group PB-13 and PB-20 were found to be significantly greater than either control or PB-5 but were not significantly different from each other. Body weight for PB-13 and PB-20 mice declined slightly (nonsignificant) during the drug-free period while a significant decrease (40% decline) in water consumption was demonstrated by 24 hours of this period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626454 TI - Sensitization to and conditioning with apomorphine in pigeons. AB - Pigeons that repeatedly experienced the effect of apomorphine in the same environment showed an augmented behavioural response to the same drug dose as compared with controls that experienced the effect of the drug dose in differing environments. Sensitization, an increase in the behavioural response that is observed in pigeons when the same dose of apomorphine is repeatedly administered, may thus be mainly due to a conditioning of the drug response to incidental environmental cues. Apomorphine injections also induced place preferences. Pigeons that had experienced a particular environment under the influence of apomorphine subsequently favoured that environment to one they had experienced while under saline. This suggests that apomorphine administration has reinforcing properties for birds, much as it has for mammals. PMID- 2626455 TI - Effects of d-amphetamine on human aggressive responding maintained by avoidance of provocation. AB - Male subjects were administered placebo and three doses of d-amphetamine (5, 10 and 20 mg per 70 kg of body weight) under double-blind conditions in a laboratory setting which provided both aggressive and nonaggressive response options. the nonaggressive response was button pressing maintained by the presentation of points which were exchanged for money. The aggressive response was pressing another button which ostensibly resulted in the subtraction of points from a fictitious person. Aggressive responding was initiated by subtracting points from the subject. Point subtractions were attributed to the other person. Aggressive responding was maintained by an avoidance contingency between aggressive responses and scheduled provoking point subtraction presentations. d-Amphetamine increased nonaggressive responding, while aggressive responding was increased at the 10 mg dose and 20 mg resulted in significant decreases in aggressive responding relative to the 10 mg dose. Comparisons with previous research indicate that the contingency relationship between aggressive responses and presentation of provoking point subtractions can alter the effects of d amphetamine on aggressive responding. PMID- 2626456 TI - Toxicological consequences of chloroquine and ethanol on the developing fetus. AB - In the present study, the effects of chloroquine and ethanol administration during gestation have been investigated on the developing rat fetus. Intragastric administration of chloroquine (700 mg/kg body weight) resulted in several structural abnormalities. The incidence of hepatomegaly was increased by 30%, the liquification of visceral organs was increased by 15% and a 9% higher incidence of cleft palate, wrist drop, clubbed foot and brain liquification was observed in the fetuses from the chloroquine-treated group compared to the corresponding controls. Fetuses from the chloroquine-treated group also showed a decrease of about 40% in the body weight and a 30% reduction in the ossification of the sternum. The teratogenic effects of oral ethanol administration in several respects were similar to those of the chloroquine. Ethanol, when administered as 30% of the total daily calories, resulted in growth retardation, resorption, still births, liquification of the brain, wrist drop and clubbed foot. Additionally, ethanol resulted in the inhibition of several metabolic pathways in the liver and brain of the developing fetuses. This included the inhibition of protein, RNA and DNA metabolism in the fetal livers and brains. The feto-toxic effects of these two xenobiotics and their possible molecular mechanisms have been discussed. PMID- 2626457 TI - Long-term effects of parity on opioid and nonopioid behavioral and endocrine responses. AB - Parity (number of parturitions) affects the endogenous opioid system. Multiparous lactating rats are less sensitive to the effects of morphine (MOR) on maternal behavior (MB) and analgesia than primiparous lactating rats. In order to determine whether these changes in opiate sensitivity persist beyond the lactational state, the present study compared the sensitivity of ovariectomized nulliparous and nonlactating primiparous rats to MOR's effects on MB (Experiment 1), analgesia (Experiment 2) and prolactin release (Experiment 3) in addition to stress-induced analgesia (Experiment 2). In Experiments 1 and 2 primiparous rats were allowed to give birth and remain with their litter (culled to 6 pups) until weaning. At that time the pups were removed and the dams and age-matched nulliparous rats were ovariectomized. Four weeks later animals were exposed to foster pups daily in order to induce MB (Experiment 1). On day 5 or 6 of full MB the primiparous and nulliparous rats received either saline or one of four doses of MOR (0.625, 1.25, 2.5, or 5.0 mg/kg, SC) and 60 min later MB was assessed. MOR, at the 2.5 mg/kg dose, disrupted MB in a significantly greater percentage of nulliparous as compared to primiparous animals (100% vs. 55%, respectively). In Experiment 2, nulliparous and nonlactating primiparous animals received 2.5 mg/kg of MOR four weeks after ovariectomy. Analgesia was assessed on a tail-flick apparatus 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min postinjection. One week later the same animals were exposed to cold-water swims (CWS, 2 degrees C, 3.5 min) and tail flick latencies were again recorded.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626458 TI - Neuroleptic modulation of oral dyskinesias induced in snakes by Xenopus skin mucus. AB - The skin mucus of the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis promotes escape from the American water snake Nerodia sipedon by inducing oral dyskinesias. As Xenopus mucus contains peptides and indoleamines with known neuroleptic properties, and because neuroleptics are the chief cause of drug-induced orofacial dyskinesias in humans, the hypothesis was tested that the neuroleptic haloperidol (HAL) would induce oral dyskinesias when given alone and would potentiate dyskinesias in Nerodia if injected prior to oral application of Xenopus mucus. Mucus alone induced yawning, gaping, fixed yawning, fixed gaping, writhing tongue movements, gular and chewing movements, and climbing behavior, but attenuated locomotor activity. HAL given IP alone at 0.05 and 0.5 microgram/g was ineffective. However, HAL greatly potentiated mucus-induced yawning but attenuated the fixed gaping seen when only mucus was applied. Data support the hypothesis that Xenopus skin mucus has neuroleptic properties and that Xenopus' antipredatory defense is in part related to chemical induction of orofacial and climbing behavior in snake predators. PMID- 2626459 TI - [Gynecology and phlebology. The French Society of Phlebology. Paris, 18 March 1989. Proceedings]. PMID- 2626460 TI - [Functional anatomy of the pelvic veins in women]. AB - Pelvic veins and lower extremities veins form a functional unit resulting in the interaction of their pathology. The intrapelvic venous system consists of two independent networks, under physiological conditions: the parietal and the visceral networks. The main collectors are the internal iliac veins, the ovarian superior rectal veins. The original venous plexi, located in the sub-peritoneal pelvic connective tissue, remain open because of the adhesion of their wall to the parietal pelvic fascia. The parietal venous network, abundant and supplied with valves, includes the retro-public and sacral plexi. The usual venous drainage is encouraged by abundant anastomoses, the decrease or even the absence of valves and the abdominal pressure. When this pressure increases, especially during walking, this encourages pelvic drainage. Occasional venous drainage is observed in case of obstruction of the usual collectors. Anatomical obstacles to the drainage, besides thrombosis and tumors, are essentially: compression of the left common iliac vein by the right common iliac artery, and direct compression of the inferior vena cava by the uterus during pregnancy which compresses it against the spine. It is responsible for gravidic postural shock, and an increased abdominal pressure, exceeding 20 mmHg. The main supply pathways are the ovarian veins and the vertebral plexi. This large, low-pressure avalvular plexus may function easily in both directions caudo-cranial and cranio-caudal. The relationship of this plexus with the roots of the sciatic nerve explain certain sciaticas during pregnancy. Dilatation of the ovarian veins during pregnancy cause a so called syndrome of the ovarian vein. Various venous compressions during pregnancy are responsible for some hematurias, increased collateral abdominal circulation, and turgescent haemorrhoids and vulvar varicose veins. PMID- 2626461 TI - [Intra- and extra-pelvic venous connections. Anatomical study]. AB - Regarding to clinical diseases, the authors emphasize the important part of pelvic veins as collateral flows when iliac channels are occluded. They point out the three mains streams of this collateral network: the obturator veins, the gluteal veins, and the pudendal veins. Longitudinal anastomoses are connected each other by transversal veins such as Santorini plexus, and sacral veins; they allow venous supply from one side to the other when two levels or more are involved. PMID- 2626462 TI - [Postpartum thrombophlebitis]. PMID- 2626463 TI - [Gynecological consequences of unrecognized pelvic phlebitis]. PMID- 2626464 TI - [Hormones and venous system]. AB - Sex hormones have an effect on venous "content" and "container" according to their chemical nature, their dosage and their mode of administration: 17 beta estradiol (endogenous): protective effect; synthetic estrogens, at normal or low doses: thrombogenic; oral natural estrogens: thrombogenic; extra-digestive natural estrogens: non thrombogenic; non steroid progestagens (androgenic): thrombogenic; non androgenic progestagens: non thrombogenic. Clinically, the venous disease si characterized by sudden episodes occurring at key-periods of the hormonal life: puberty, pregnancy, menopause, oral contraceptives intake, substitute treatments of menopause, premenstrual syndrome. Evaluation of these different situations shows that an early treatment is possible and needed, which, although not providing a new venous wall for these constitutionally fragile patients, may act effectively at two levels: 1) correction of the haemodynamic disorder (venous reflux in the saphenous arches and the perforators; 2) resorption of tissue infiltration. As primary prevention, in a patient with hormonal disorders or who must be treated with estrogens or progestagens, the objective of our treatment is to protect the venous wall and encourage the return circulation. One must: 1) reinforce the vaso-constrictive effect and the parietal tone, 2) limit collagen and elastin alteration, 3) reinforce capillary permeability and decrease the interstitial edema, 4) normalize the haemorheological constants, 5) restore the balance hemostasis-fibrinolysis. The opinion of a phlebologist seems essential before prescribing a hormonal treatment and monitoring the effects of the treatment. Cooperation between gynaecologists and phlebologists is particularly essential in the interpretation of the clinical disorders as well as discussing the venous risk, the dosage and the administration route of sex hormones. PMID- 2626465 TI - [Vulvar varices. The phlebologist's viewpoint]. PMID- 2626466 TI - [Vulvar varices. The gynecologist's viewpoint]. PMID- 2626467 TI - [Phlebology and gynecology]. AB - The authors give the pattern of several situations where are added phlebological and gynecological diseases. They summarize the several treatments and the practical uses for this. Medicolegal viewpoints are also taken in account. PMID- 2626468 TI - [Venous hemodynamic factors during pregnancy]. PMID- 2626469 TI - [Venous pathology with estrogens-progestagens]. PMID- 2626470 TI - [Primary lymphedema and pregnancy]. AB - From a retrospective analysis of 15 female patients, it appears that primary lymphedema, reversible at first, tends to become irreversible during successive pregnancies. A remission takes place following the first and second pregnancy, and during a third pregnancy, an irreversible stage is reached. PMID- 2626471 TI - [Unilateral swollen leg with ectopic pelvic kidney associated with pregnancy]. PMID- 2626472 TI - [Photoplethysmography (PPG) or photoreflexometry (PRM): principle and reproducibility (study of the validity of the method in healthy subjects)]. AB - Photoplethysmography, a non-invasive vascular exploratory test, has recently made great in the evaluation of venous haemodynamics. The principle of Photoplethysmography uses the cutaneous reflection of infrared light in the intradermal venous plexi. Then methods are presented for a reliable implementation of the tests. Validity of the method is verified by applying statistical tests to measurements carried out in two healthy subjects. In conclusion, Photoplethysmography may be produced, providing that the method used is strict, that three successive measurements are carried out, so that only the mean value is considered; because of the low value of the variability index of the total filling time, this parameter is used in the interpretation of the method. PMID- 2626473 TI - [Current aspects of the vascular hand]. AB - In this report, we recall that Raynaud's phenomenon is a "key" symptom at the center of vascular disorders of the hand, since in the positive, differential diagnosis, among its etiologies, good clinical knowledge of acrosyndromes, arteritis of the palm and digits, and the thoracic outlet syndrome is necessary. The importance of capillaroscopy and certain therapeutic techniques have been emphasized (value of Phlebotonic Agents in the treatment of microcirculatory alterations induced by stress or emotional disturbances. PMID- 2626474 TI - [Clinical correlation of the wave sign]. PMID- 2626475 TI - [Clinical and statistical considerations on more than 1,000 cases of lower limb ulcers]. PMID- 2626476 TI - [New therapeutic techniques in phlebology. The French Society of Phlebology. Paris, 19 May 1989. Proceedings]. PMID- 2626477 TI - [Clinical anatomy of collateral varicose veins (essential varicose veins of the legs)]. AB - Performance of ambulatory phlebectomies has greatly enhanced the anatomo-clinical description of collateral varicosities (CV), permitting a better understanding of their physio-pathological role, and acknowledging, in some instances, their true autonomy. Physio-pathological role:--Reflux transfer--The function of CV is not limited to a mere acknowledgment (vector function) of the refluxes from the long pathological axes on which they branch. This function also consists in ensuring the diversion (transfer function) from one territory to another.--Pathology transfer--This reflux transfer is sometimes accompanied with a pathology transfer in the new territory (pathology steals). Anatomo-clinical description:--Supra limb collaterals--These are CV with a parieto-abdominal course and pelvic CV, developed below the origin of the limb.--Proximity collaterals--These are "ladder shaped" collaterals with oblique bars!, uniting adjacent long axes.--Inter-axial collaterals--These are crural, tibial of cruro-tibial CV, uniting distant long axes and providing junctions between medial and lateral saphenous veins, lateral and medial saphenous veins, saphenous veins-peroneal axis... Situations of autonomy: Independence regarding long axes, is demonstrated by the autonomous nature of the original reflux and affects, more especially: the antero-lateral crural slings, the lateral pudental vessels, the popliteal veins. The treatment of collateral varicosities involves surgery, ambulatory phlebectomy, sclerosis with could be implemented separately or concomitantly. PMID- 2626478 TI - [The conservative and hemodynamic treatment of ambulatory venous insufficiency]. PMID- 2626479 TI - [My viewpoint on Psathakis' surgery]. AB - There may be various reasons for a poor functioning of the deep veins valves: one of them is thrombosis. Hypertension progresses then in the superficial vein system and is expressed by trophic disorders: dermatosclerosis and ulcer formation. An original surgical treatment was advocated by Dr. N. Psathakis. This treatment resulted in numerous critics, especially coming from those who never tried it. This method was considered as a non-scientific because the clinical and phlebographic result was not confirmed by non invasive methods. The great advantage of this method is that it is simple, atraumatic and does not alter the normal anatomy. It consists in placing a silicone strip between the femoral vein and the superficial femoral artery. The strip is secured to the biceps muscle and the medial rectus muscle. In the absence of another simple and causal treatment, we have tried this method in approximately 200 patients. We will present our personal clinical results as well as our surgical experience. PMID- 2626480 TI - [My experience with cryosurgery of varicose veins]. PMID- 2626481 TI - [My experience with cryosurgery]. AB - The author presents his experience with cryosurgery of varicose veins of the lower extremities. The technique consists in performing an Internal Saphenous crossectomy, followed with ascending cooling of the vein with a cryoprobe, which results in a step by step inflammatory reaction. The final result may be compared to the one obtained with crossectomy combined with sclerosis of the saphenous trunk from the ankle to the groin. The main drawback of this procedure is its high rate of early or rapid recurrences by lack of precision in the degree of cooling of the vein. PMID- 2626482 TI - [Varitest plethysmography]. AB - Varitest plethysmography is a non-invasive diagnostic method of venous insufficiency based on the study of the emptying of leg veins by flexion movements and their subsequent filling. The Varitest records the curves and measurements of these two stages. The physiological bases of the test and its technique are presented. Our experience, following the first few cases, enabled us to identify three main groups of patients:--Patients presenting chronic symptoms, in whom the clinical examination was negative or not obvious;--Patients presenting a problem of differential diagnosis with a deep/superficial or mixed chronic venous insufficiency. It also enabled us to specify the results of the treatments. According to our results, Varitest is a simple, easy to reproduce method, presenting a sensitivity and specificity with regard to the clinical symptoms and the Doppler, of approximately 80%. Its negative aspects are the poor collaboration of the patients or their inability to be available in order to study acute venous thromboses. PMID- 2626483 TI - [Stripping using invagination over a calibrated stent]. AB - After crossectomy which remains the most important stage, a short stripping is performed in an upward direction, substituting a packing for the olive shaped knob normally used. The width of this gauze packing depends on the diameter of the saphenous vein. Traction of the lower end of the stripper, at the ankle, pulls down the packing within the saphenous vein, causing its invagination. The saphenous vein is thus turned outside in over the packing as it comes out through the lower incision. Besides, this packing ensures haemostasis and is only removed at the end of the procedure. Advantages of this method: absence of haematomas and nerve lesions. Smaller lower incision. PMID- 2626484 TI - [New therapeutic technics in phlebology. Synthesis]. PMID- 2626485 TI - [Sclero-electro-compressive therapy. Medical treatment of varicose veins of the leg]. AB - The author presents his experience of 31 years in the medical treatment of varicose veins in the lower limbs in a series of 35.300 patients. By means of the association of sclerotic agents - anaesthetics, electrodesiccation and elastic bandages, when therapeutic indications allow, he achieves a considerable level of subjective and objective improvement, exceeding that obtained from the use of each method on its own. PMID- 2626486 TI - [The effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on the stabilization of lysosomes]. PMID- 2626487 TI - [A trial of silver sulfadiazine in the local treatment of venous ulcer]. AB - Silver sulfadiazine, in cream form, has been mostly used in the treatment of burns. Its trial in the treatment of leg ulcers has been satisfactory. This preparation is well tolerated, and effective on wound cleansing and granulation tissue formation. It is particularly indicated in cases of superinfected ulcers, effective on most Gram + and Gram - bacteria. PMID- 2626488 TI - Spectroscopy and fluorescence quenching of tyrosine in lima bean trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor and model peptides. AB - The effects of citrate ion concentration and pH on the optical spectra and fluorescence decay have been measured for several tyrosine model compounds and lima bean trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor, a protein containing one tyrosine at position 69 and seven disulfides but no tryptophan, in order to determine the location and environment of Tyr 69. Tyrosine in the protein is protected from citrate collisional quenching, as indicated by the dynamic quenching constant 9 to 15 times smaller than those for the model peptides. Static quenching remains, with a Stern-Volmer constant of about 1.0 M-1, somewhat smaller than those of L tyrosine, tyrosine-glutamate, and leucine-tyrosine-leucine. The elevated pKa of Tyr 69, greater than or equal to 11.6, also indicates protein protection from solvent ions. Though Coulomb repulsion of the Glu 70/citrate pair may play a role in the shielding of Tyr 69 from citrate, our measurements indicate that steric effects of the protein structure are more important. Tyrosinate emission in the protein at neutral pH is minimal. PMID- 2626489 TI - Acute effects of near ultraviolet and visible light on the cutaneous antioxidant defense system. AB - Reactive oxygen species are considered to play an important role in cutaneous pathology. Enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants can prevent oxidative damage but may be overcome by strong pro-oxidative stimuli. The acute effect of a single exposure to near ultraviolet (UVA)/visible radiation (greater than 320 nm) on various skin antioxidants was examined in hairless mice immediately after irradiation. Impairment of cutaneous catalase and glutathione reductase activity was observed. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were not significantly influenced. Inhibition of catalase may render skin more susceptible to the damaging effects of hydrogen peroxide and its reaction products such as the hydroxyl radical. Partially diminished glutathione reductase activity is not accompanied by a change in reduced/oxidized glutathione level immediately after irradiation. There was a tendential (not statistically significant) decrease in cutaneous tocopherol, ubiquinol + ubiquinone 9 and ascorbic acid levels, either indicating direct photodestruction or consumption by reaction products of photooxidative stress. This partial impairment of the cutaneous antioxidant defense system by near ultraviolet/visible light, showing that the most susceptible component in skin is catalase, suggests possible pharmacological interventions. PMID- 2626490 TI - Wavelength dependence of histological, physical, and visible changes in chronically UV-irradiated hairless mouse skin. AB - Albino hairless mice (Skh: HR-1) exposed chronically to sub-erythemal doses of UV radiation display physical, visible and histological alterations. Using narrow bandwidth radiation covering the UV radiation spectrum from 280-380 nm, the wavelength dependence of these alterations was determined. The wavelength dependence spectra indicate that for all but one parameter measured (skin sagging), UV-B radiation is considerably more efficient than UV-A radiation in producing changes in the skin. However, in natural sunlight there is considerably more UV-A than UV-B radiation, providing the potential for UV-A to have a larger contribution to skin damage than UV-B. This argues in favor of using broad spectrum photoprotective agents to shield the skin adequately from UV-induced aging. The spectra were also used to develop potential associations among events by determining which events occur at similar wavelengths. There seems to be a correspondence between mouse visible skin wrinking (UV-B event) and two histological events: increase in glycosaminoglycans and alteration in collagen. There was no obvious correspondence among UV-A-induced events. PMID- 2626491 TI - Miniature pig as an animal model to study photoaging. AB - Seven miniature pigs were irradiated thrice weekly over a 14 months period with suberythematogenic doses of UVB and UVA. Another seven were not exposed, to record innate aging changes. Chronic irradiation induced the following changes: 1. Increased scaling, with thickening of the stratum corneum and decreased reactivity to acetic acid. 2. Increased minimum erythema dose, corresponding to decreased transmission of UV-radiation through isolated epidermis. 3. Increased elastic fibers, accompanied by strong deposition of glycosaminoglycans in the upper dermis. 4. Increased laxity with greater extensibility to a deforming torque. 5. Increased density of vessels. 6. More disorderly arrangement of collagen bundles with minor alterations in collagen biochemistry. These changes mimic those in photoaged human skin but are milder in degree, attributable to the low total dosage of ultraviolet radiation. PMID- 2626492 TI - The visual pigment cyanide effect. AB - The visual pigment of the Tokay gecko (Gekko gekko) with its in situ absorption maximum at 521 nm has its spectral position at 500 to 505 nm when chloride deficient digitonin is used for the extraction. In this case the addition of chloride or bromide to the extract restores the maximum to 521 nm. This property, characteristic of gecko pigments in general, does not occur with any of the rhodopsins that have been tested. Simple salts of cyanide, a pseudohalogenoid with an ionic radius close to those of chloride and bromide and/or its hydrolysis product attacks both this gecko pigment and rhodopsins in the dark. This is seen as a slow thermal loss of photopigment if (sodium) cyanide is present at concentrations above 40 mM for the gecko pigment and 150 mM for the rhodopsins of the midshipman (Porichthys notatus) and of the frog (Rana pipiens). In all cases the loss of the photopigment is accompanied by the appearance of a spectral product with maximum absorption at about 340 nm. Cyanide addition has no effect on the photosensitivity of the native pigments and neither does it alter, as do chloride, bromide and other anions, the spectral absorbance curve. The spectral product at 340 nm also appears when the visual pigments are photolyzed in the presence of cyanide salts below the threshold concentrations given above. Incubation of digitonin-solubilized all-trans-retinal with (sodium) cyanide leads to a reaction product with absorption spectrum similar to that obtained with visual pigments under comparable conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626493 TI - Chemical modification and characterization of the alpha cysteine 106 at the Vibrio harveyi luciferase active center. AB - Vibrio harveyi luciferase, an alpha beta dimer, was effectively inactivated by treatment with the methylation agent methyl p-nitrobenzene sulfonate. However, inactivation of luciferase in the presence of excess amounts of this reagent did not follow pseudo-first-order kinetics. After taking the autodecay of this reagent into consideration in kinetic analysis, the pseudo-first-order constants and subsequently the second-order rate constant (83 min-1 M-1 at pH 7 and 23 degrees C) were determined. The inactivation rate can be retarded by the addition of the decanal or the reduced FMN substrate but not by the reaction product FMN. The binding of decanal specifically protected one target residue against modification with a concomitant protection of luciferase against inactivation. A pentapeptide containing this specific target residue was isolated and identified to be Phe-Gly-Ile-X-Arg with X corresponding to the S-methylated form of the cysteinyl residue at position 106 of the luciferase alpha subunit. It is concluded that this reactive alpha Cys-106 is at the aldehyde site and is also near the reduced flavin site of luciferase. The modified enzyme exhibited no gross conformational changes detectable by protein fluorescence measurements, which may be due to the small size change of the target cysteinyl residue after methylation. The methylated enzyme still retained the ability to bind one decanal and one reduced FMN without any substantial changes in binding affinities. The cause of luciferase inactivation by the methylation of alpha Cys-106 has been shown to be the impaired ability to form the 4a-hydroperoxy-flavin intermediate from the bound flavin substrate or to stabilize this intermediate. PMID- 2626494 TI - Hypocrellin-A sensitized photooxidation of bilirubin. AB - Hypocrellin A (HA) extracted from Hypocrellia bambusae (b.et Br.) sace, a derivative of 3,10-dihydroxy-4,9-perylenequinone, is a highly effective photosensitizer. Kinetic studies of the HA-sensitized photooxidation of bilirubin IX alpha (BR) in different solvents in the presence of various active oxygen quenchers indicate that in aprotic solvents the photooxidation goes via a Type II (1O2) mechanism, whereas in alkaline protic solvents Type I (electron transfer from an excited state of HA to the ground state of oxygen or the BR substrate). Type II and probably free radical reactions may occur simultaneously. PMID- 2626495 TI - 37th annual Congress on Medicinal Plant Research. Braunschweig, 5.-9. September 1989. Abstracts of short lectures and poster presentations. PMID- 2626496 TI - [Study on Alzheimer's disease and the animal disease model--special reference to acetylcholinergic system]. PMID- 2626497 TI - [Neuro-psychological study of Alzheimer's disease--special reference to the visual recognition process analyzed by the vision analyzer]. PMID- 2626498 TI - [Plural diagnosis of senile dementia--special reference to the relationship with depression]. PMID- 2626499 TI - [Therapy of moderate senile dementia using psychotropic drugs and cerebral function improving agents]. PMID- 2626500 TI - [Epidemiological study of senile dementia in Nagano Prefecture in Japan]. PMID- 2626501 TI - [Psychiatric hospitals and voluntary hospitalization]. PMID- 2626502 TI - [Present status of medical treatment in psychiatric hospitals and the mental health code in Japan]. PMID- 2626503 TI - [Psychiatric inquiry council and hospitalization]. PMID- 2626504 TI - [Impacts of certification system of psychiatrists]. PMID- 2626505 TI - [Suggestion for abolition of mental health code]. PMID- 2626506 TI - [Senile psychoses with auditory hallucination]. PMID- 2626507 TI - [Follow-up evaluation of the results of the treatment of 40 cases of anxiety neurosis]. AB - The follow-up study lasting 2 to 7 years of 40 patients with diagnosis of anxiety neurosis hospitalized in the Department of Psychiatry, Medical Academy Gdansk, was performed. Only in 9 cases "pure" neurosis was observed. In the majority of cases neurosis was accompanied by histrionic traits. The possibility of organic brain damage was raised in 7 cases. No symptoms of anxiety were found in 14 cases during the follow-up period, while in 15 cases substantial decrease of anxiety symptoms was found, and in 11 cases anxiety symptoms relapsed. The dependence between therapeutic results and time of duration of symptoms was noted. Direct results of treatment did not differ significantly from those found in follow-up studies. PMID- 2626508 TI - [Factor analysis of the features of delusions]. AB - The aim of the study was the analysis of the frequency of various traits of delusions and the search for smaller number of factors which create delusional beliefs by using the factor analysis. The cohort consisted of 100 patients with the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia according to DSM-III who presented delusions at the time of evaluation. Author's Scale of Delusional Dimension which consisted of 34 items describing several traits of delusions, was used. Statistical elaboration of data allowed to point out following conclusions: 1. Analysis of the frequency of particular traits of delusions shows their high subjective variability in several patients, with the exception of features which indicate the deep conviction in truthful beliefs, and features indicating their influence of patient's behaviour. 2. Factor analysis revealed that all evaluated traits create 5 independent factors: I. engagement-eccentricity, II. certainty, III. influence on behaviour-extent, IV. range of influence, V. delusional construction. 3. Results show the complexity of the phenomenon of delusions and suggest further investigations especially with dynamic aspects. PMID- 2626509 TI - [Interpersonal decentration in studies of schizophrenia]. AB - The aim of the work was to establish the difference in the ability to interpersonal decentration between subjects suffering from schizophrenia and mentally healthy controls. The studies performed were also the basis for creation the hypothetical pattern of the deficit in interpersonal decentration which characterizes the behaviour of schizophrenics. Mentally ill patients presented lower level of decentric abilities in comparison with healthy controls. Presented empiric results showed that the specificity of interpersonal decentration (which was understood as an ability to, and actually realized behaviour) was based on extremely subjective outlook of reality which causes the elongation of psychological distance between patient and his/her social environment. PMID- 2626510 TI - [Diagnostic value of the MMPI alcoholism scales in assessing the risk of alcohol dependence among students]. AB - The aim of the work was to establish the usefulness of alcoholism scales enclosed in MMPI for the evaluation of risk of alcohol dependence among college students. The results of 1255 college students from different schools and various years of studium were reviewed. The risk of alcohol dependence was established by analysing the frequency of drinking and the amount of alcohol consumed; this allowed to separate the group with "high" and "low" risk of alcohol dependence. Three patterns of alcohol use were established based on subject's personality: with predominance of extraversion, with neurotism, and with character disorders. The study revealed satisfactionary accuracy of following scales: Al-Hampton, Am Holmes, MAC-MacAndrews, SAL 1, SAL 2-Paluchowski. Results allowed the elaboration of norms for scales mentioned above. PMID- 2626511 TI - [Diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties in masked depression syndrome]. PMID- 2626512 TI - Demographic characteristics, treatment history, presenting psychopathology and early course in schizophrenia. Treatment Strategies in Schizophrenia Collaborative Study Group. AB - Subject heterogeneity increases generalizability of study findings so long as site differences do not interact with treatment effects. Of 51 baseline characteristics of 234 patients, 31 show significant site differences. Of 33 baseline demographic, treatment history, and presenting symptom items, site differences were seen on 16. This heterogeneity emphasizes the importance of examining site interactions with other effects. The first opportunity to examine such interactions is in the prediction of patient stabilization following the index acute episode. Among the 33 demographic, treatment history, and presenting symptom variables, 11 significantly predicted this short-term outcome. Only 2 of these 33 variables showed site-by-baseline interactions in predicting stabilization, most likely due to chance sampling fluctuations. Thus, site heterogeneity is adding generality without confounding the predictions. PMID- 2626513 TI - Prediction of short term outcome in schizophrenia: depressive symptoms, negative symptoms, and extrapyramidal signs. Treatment Strategies in Schizophrenia Collaborative Study Group. PMID- 2626514 TI - Pharmacotherapy for self-injurious behavior: preliminary tests of the D1 hypothesis. AB - The D1 dopamine hypersensitivity model of self-injurious behavior leads to a testable clinical hypothesis: the mixed D1/D2 dopamine antagonist fluphenazine may improve the symptoms of self-injurious patients. The hypothesis was tested in an open pilot trial in six patients and a partially controlled trial in nine patients. Some degree of clinical improvement was observed in 11 of the 15 patients. The trials represent a partial affirmation of the D1 hypothesis. However, it is also clear that conventional methodology for psychopharmacologic research is inappropriate for the proper clinical evaluation of self-injurious patients. The proper method should include the following elements: 1. An epidemiologically representative sample. 2. A naturalistic study environment. 3. A longitudinal design with long-term follow up. 4. Concurrent behavioral ratings using direct observations and a reliable, treatment-sensitive rating scale. Before subjects enter a clinical trial of an experimental medication, a neuropsychiatric differential diagnosis should be applied to limit the diversity of the sample. PMID- 2626515 TI - Lithium and propranolol in aggression and self-injurious behavior in the mentally retarded. AB - The effect of antiaggressive agents on self-injurious behavior (SIB) was retrospectively assessed by studying the charts of mentally retarded individuals with both aggression and SIB who had been treated with either lithium (n = 11) or propranolol (n = 6). The frequency of these two behaviors was examined during the 3 months prior to starting medication and the first 3-month period at either a therapeutic blood level of lithium or at the individual patient's maximum dose of propranolol. The results support an equal reduction in both behaviors with either drug. This suggests that antiaggressive agents may be useful in SIB and raises the possibility that similar biochemical mechanisms may underlie both behaviors. PMID- 2626516 TI - Monoamines, glucose metabolism, and impulse control. AB - We had studied cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolite concentrations and glucose metabolism in 58 violent offenders and impulsive fire setters in the early 1980s. We performed a follow-up study investigating recidivist crimes after release from prison and histories of suicide attempts using behavioral, diagnostic, and biochemical variables to discriminate subjects with recidivism and suicide attempts from subjects without recidivism and suicide attempts. Biochemical variables discriminated significantly between the groups. PMID- 2626517 TI - Endogenous opioids, stress induced analgesia, and posttraumatic stress disorder. AB - The hypothesis that the animal model of inescapable shock (IES) is an appropriate model for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) predicts that re-exposure to a traumatic stressor will precipitate opioid-mediated stress-induced analgesia in people with PTSD. Eight Vietnam veterans with PTSD and eight matched veterans without PTSD viewed a combat videotape under naloxone and placebo conditions in a randomized double-blind crossover design. In the placebo condition, but not after naloxone, the PTSD subjects reported a 30 percent decrease in pain intensity ratings of standardized heat stimuli after the combat videotape. Point biserial correlations revealed that change in pain perception was the most highly correlated with PTSD of all variables tested, including biochemical, physiological, and self-report. These results suggest that a centrally mediated opioid response to traumatic stimuli is an important feature of PTSD. Possible implications of this finding for the psychobiology of PTSD are discussed. PMID- 2626518 TI - Psychophysiological investigations of posttraumatic stress disorder imagery. AB - Physiological responses to self-generated imagery of past traumatic combat experiences were assessed in medication-free Vietnam combat veterans, classified on the basis of DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association 1987) criteria into posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD, n = 25), non-PTSD anxiety disorder (Anxious, n = 7), or no-mental-disorder (Healthy, n = 15) groups. "Scripts" describing each subject's combat experiences were read to him in the laboratory, and he was instructed to imagine the events the scripts portrayed, while heart rate, skin conductance, and frontalis electromyogram (EMG) were recorded. PTSD subjects' responses to their combat imagery were significantly higher than those of both control groups. A discriminant analysis identified 64 percent of PTSD subjects as physiological responders, and 100 percent of Anxious and 94 percent of Healthy subjects as nonresponders. A pilot study of imaginal flooding in three PTSD and two Healthy pilot subjects suggested that more prolonged, therapist-assisted imagery might increase the sensitivity of psychophysiological measures to PTSD, and that motor and endocrinological measures might also be of value in characterizing the disorder. PMID- 2626519 TI - Further observations on the effects of subhypnotic doses of midazolam in normal volunteers. AB - Our studies on the effects of subhypnotic doses of midazolam in healthy adult volunteers have been extended with special emphasis on clinical electrophysiological endpoints of sedation and attention coupled with various tests of memory. We measured the many components of the P300 event-related brain potential to infrequent (rare) tones. Midazolam HCl was given in a dose of .02 mg/kg i.v. three times at approximately 15-minute intervals after obtaining baseline electrophysiological recordings and memory test results. Marked individual variation was observed with these small doses of midazolam. Some subjects were markedly sedated, whereas others showed relatively little sedation. Electroencephalogram (EEG) beta activity increased while alpha activity decreased following midazolam. Even though the subjects given midazolam were awake, there was a striking attention deficit that correlated well with the accuracy of counting rare tones and the alterations in various components of the late auditory event-related brain potential. PMID- 2626520 TI - Plasma levels of parent drug and metabolites in patients receiving oral and depot fluphenazine. AB - We evaluated the metabolism of fluphenazine (FLU) in patients treated with either the oral form of FLU or with fluphenazine decanoate (FD). Samples for both patient populations were analyzed using four different radioimmunoassays developed in our laboratories for fluphenazine, fluphenazine sulfoxide (FS), 7 hydroxy fluphenazine (7OHFLU), and fluphenazine N-oxide (FLUNO). In patients receiving oral FLU the levels of FS and 7OHFLU were significantly higher than levels of FLU. In patients receiving FD, the levels of metabolites were significantly lower than FLU levels. This supports the view that drug metabolism is likely to be a more important factor for patients treated with an oral as opposed to a depot phenothiazine neuroleptic. PMID- 2626521 TI - Pharmacokinetics of desipramine in Asian and Caucasian volunteers. AB - The pharmacokinetic differences of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in Asians and Caucasians remain controversial. Thirty-seven age-matched healthy volunteers (18 Asians and 19 Caucasians) ingested a single desipramine (DMI) dose of 1.0 mg/kg of body weight. Blood was obtained at 1, 3, 5, 7, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after dosing. Serial 24-hour urine samples were collected for 5 days. There were no statistically significant differences in plasma levels between the two groups. DMI concentrations peaked a median of 5 hours after ingestion in Asians vs. 3 hours in Caucasians. Total clearances of DMI (CL DMI) and hydroxylated DMI (OH DMI) were greater in Caucasians. These differences were no longer significant when corrected for body weight. Clearances appeared to follow tri-modal distributions. The proportions of Asians and Caucasians falling into the slow, intermediate, and rapid clearance groups were not significantly different, but there was a tendency for more Caucasians to be in the rapid clearance group. PMID- 2626522 TI - Oculomotor abnormalities and their clinical correlates in schizophrenia. AB - Smooth pursuit eye movements (SPEMs) have been consistently found to be abnormal in the majority of schizophrenic patients. The traditional SPEM measurement technique, however, fails to inform us about the underlying oculomotor deficit in these patients, since it remains a non-specific and a global oculomotor measure. A number of diverse clinical features such as tardive dyskinesia (TD) or negative symptoms correlate with the SPEM abnormality. Other eye movement abnormalities such as fixation difficulties, increased "volitional" saccadic latency and saccadic distractibility in anti-saccade paradigm have also been noted in schizophrenic patients. Still, it remains unclear how these different eye movement measures relate with each other and with the traditional SPEM measure, the presence of which is so widely described in schizophrenia. The advantage of some newer oculomotor paradigms is their functional specificity and the degree to which their biology is known. To further address these issues and to search for clinical correlates of various eye movement abnormalities found in schizophrenia, we have developed a battery of oculomotor measures to be administered to a large number of clinically well described schizophrenic patients and normal controls. The results from a preliminary analysis of a relatively small number of subjects are presented here, thus limiting the scope of possible conclusions. But, these results do indicate that this technique of studying multiple paradigms for oculomotor control in schizophrenia may prove to be fruitful. PMID- 2626523 TI - Facilitation of calcium-dependent cholinergic function by ucb L059, a new "second generation" nootropic agent. AB - We have investigated the effect of piracetam (PIR) and of its structural analogs, ucb L059 and ucb L060, the optical isomer of ucb L059, on cholinergic function in the guinea pig ileum in vitro. Only ucb L059 (10 microM-10 mM) caused contraction of the ileal preparation in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was inhibited by atropine (greater than or equal to 3.2 nM), by tetrodotoxin (10 nM) and by a combined treatment of veratridine (50 nM) and hemicholinium-3 (HC-3;0.5 mM), and was potentiated by physostigmine (50 nM). Electrically evoked contractions (EEC) of guinea pig ileal preparations subjected to HC-3 (0.5 mM) followed by veratridine (50 microM) were suppressed due to depletion of acetylcholine. Choline (greater than or equal to 3.2 10(-7)M) and ucb L059 (0.1-10 mM), but not ucb L060, facilitated recovery of EEC in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was abolished by HC-3. In addition, twitch recovery was inversely related to the concentration of Ca+2 in the medium. These results indicate that ucb L059, a close structural analog of piracetam, appears to facilitate cholinergic function in vitro through a stereospecific mechanism. PMID- 2626524 TI - Multidimensional analysis of peak pain symptoms and experiences. AB - Peak pain symptoms and experiences were explored within a group of 243 intractable pain patients seen consecutively at a pain clinic. Using a 5-point scale, patients rated the frequency with which 99 symptom adjectives occurred when their pain was at its worst. Key cluster analysis identified 11 reliable, conceptually clear symptom clusters: Four affective symptom categories, Angry Depression, Diminished Drive, Intropunitive Depression and Anxiety, describing emotional states concomitant with peak pain; two somatic symptom categories, Ecto Pain and Endo-Pain, describing surface and deep bodily pain, respectively; and five additional symptom categories including Cognitive Dysfunction, Sleep Disturbance, Fatigue, Withdrawal and Disequilibrium. Among the affective symptom clusters, symptoms of Angry Depression were reported to occur frequently by 32% of the patients while only 11% reported the frequent occurrence of Intropunitive Depression. For the somatic symptom clusters, 25 and 52% reported the frequent occurrence of Ecto-Pain and Endo-Pain, respectively. Pain reports measured by Ecto-Pain and Endo-Pain were nearly independent of all other symptom categories. The results suggest that the experiential context of pain differs widely among intractable pain patients. The study derived a Pain Symptom Checklist to measure each symptom cluster as one way to identify coping styles among chronic pain patients. PMID- 2626525 TI - An interaction model of anorexia nervosa. AB - Noticeable similarities were found in the psychosocial field by a comparison of a group of anorexia nervosa patients with a representative sample of normal controls. In particular, no confirmation could be found of the mother dominance coupled with the weak and frequently absent father, as postulated under the interactional model of anorexia nervosa. Empirical discriminate analyses of the role of individual family members are necessary. PMID- 2626526 TI - Termination of inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa. AB - Following some general theoretical considerations, the paper empirically addresses the question of termination of inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa. It identifies those factors which have been the causes of unsuccessful treatment (including fatal outcome) and which must therefore be taken into account, especially when terminating therapy. It is not the improvement of weight and somatic symptoms which turns out to be an adequate criterion for discharge, but rather the capability for generating new social relationships. The wish to go back to live with one's parents (when they did not participate in the therapy) or to live alone must not be accepted, following inpatient treatment. PMID- 2626527 TI - Consensus in patient-therapist interactions. A measure of the therapeutic relationship related to outcome. AB - This paper discusses consensus between patient and therapist as a measure of the quality of the psychotherapeutic relationship. Consensus is defined by two interpersonal concepts, agreement and understanding, and two intrapersonal concepts, congruency and experienced consensus. 162 patients and their therapists in a Dutch Center for Comprehensive Mental Health Care were rated on the degree of consensus. Two patient self-report outcome measures and one reported by the therapist were related to consensus. The three consensus measures that predicted outcome after 6 months were understanding by the therapist as well as agreement and experienced consensus by the patient. This result suggests that a complementary patient-therapist relationship favors a good psychotherapy result. The instruments in this paper provide a means to measure consensus during the process of psychotherapy. This is a feasible way to both monitor progress and improve the chances of a successful outcome. PMID- 2626528 TI - Effects and limitations of cognitive behavior therapy in bulimia inpatients. AB - Cognitive behavior therapy was applied to 8 inpatients with bulimia (DSM-III). Improvement of bulimia was superior when compared to 6 bulimics treated with nonspecific psychotherapy. Social maladjustment was linked to the maintenance of bulimia. The effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy seemed to be impaired by co-morbidity and dysphoric mood. Therefore a more structured externally controlled behavioral hospital treatment program is recommended. PMID- 2626529 TI - Psychometrics of the Schalling-Sifneos and Toronto Alexithymia Scales. AB - Two measures of alexithymia, the Schalling-Sifneos (SSPS) and the Toronto Scales (TAS) were administered to 178 male and female undergraduate students. For both measures alexithymia appears to decrease with age. Five factors for the TAS were retained accounting for 35% of the variance and for the SSPS a three-factor solution was determined accounting for 53% of the variance. The robustness of the solution analyzed with the TAS reflected greater stability. The factor structure of the TAS seemed more consistent with the concept of alexithymia than that of the SSPS. PMID- 2626530 TI - Alexithymia and solace. AB - Thirteen alexithymic patients and 13 panic disorder patients were compared with matched controls regarding their use of self-solacing strategies. Whereas the panic disorder group used significantly more (p less than 0.001) solacing objects, activities and sounds than normals, the alexithymic subjects used significantly fewer self-solacing strategies (p less than 0.001). In view of the developmental, clinical and subjective importance of the ability to solace oneself, the hypothesis that alexithymia may, in some cases, represent a basic feeling deficit is supported. PMID- 2626531 TI - Psychosomatic assessment of hirsute women. AB - Psychiatric illness, psychological distress and illness behavior were investigated in 30 hirsute women and 30 nonhirsute healthy control subjects matched for sociodemographic variables. The majority of patients showed a good psychological adaptation to illness: they did not report significantly more anxiety, depression, and abnormal illness behavior than controls. One-sixth of the patients, however, suffered from a clinically meaningful affective disorder. Further, hirsute patients displayed significantly more hostility and irritable mood than controls (p less than 0.01). PMID- 2626532 TI - Co-culture of dissociated hippocampal and sympathetic cells from the neonatal rat. AB - When sympathetic neurones, obtained from superior cervical ganglia of postnatal rats, were grown in microcultures with cells of the postnatal hippocampal formation for 6-44 days, about 70% of the sympathetic neurones formed functional synapses on themselves or a neighbouring sympathetic neurone. In all forty-four cases in which hexamethonium (0.5-1 mM) was applied it strongly or completely blocked the synaptic interaction. This indicates that the synaptic interaction was cholinergic and raises the possibility that the denervated cells of the hippocampal formation induced the cholinergic function in the co-cultured sympathetic neurones. PMID- 2626533 TI - Quantitative investigation of different finishing methods in conventional cavity preparations. PMID- 2626534 TI - Burnishing, finishing, and polishing amalgam restorations: a quantitative scanning electron microscopic study. PMID- 2626535 TI - Fracture resistance of wide-isthmus mesio-occlusodistal preparations with and without amalgam cuspal coverage. PMID- 2626536 TI - A comparison of the plaque-removal efficacies of two electric toothbrushes. PMID- 2626537 TI - Dimensional changes during setting of a glass ionomer filling material. PMID- 2626538 TI - Effect of immediate versus delayed thermal stress on two adhesives. PMID- 2626539 TI - Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of endosonic and hand instrumentation in the debridement of root canal systems. PMID- 2626540 TI - [Child motivation days in dental practice]. PMID- 2626541 TI - [Use of psychodontics in 3-sided treatment: dentist--patient--dental assistant (2)]. PMID- 2626542 TI - [Preparation of telescopes and rotating burs with Interlok utilizing the Precis Therm-2-apparatus and a one-degree bur]. PMID- 2626543 TI - [Titanium working in the dental laboratory (1)]. PMID- 2626544 TI - [Newly developed opal ceramic and its clinical application considering relative breaking indexes. 2. New layer technic for use of vintage opal ceramic]. PMID- 2626545 TI - [Preparation of bite model in individual adjustable articulator--new technic]. PMID- 2626546 TI - [Position accurate precision stump model in restorative dentistry]. PMID- 2626547 TI - [Middle value position orientation of working models on articulators]. PMID- 2626548 TI - Case study. Case #7. Kaposi's sarcoma. PMID- 2626549 TI - Taking extra precautions to avoid cross-infection. PMID- 2626550 TI - The harvest of life. PMID- 2626551 TI - Making a difference. PMID- 2626552 TI - [Magnetic resonance in brain tumors: a classification based on signal behavior in multiple echo sequences]. AB - MR is generally known to be more sensitive but less specific than CT in the detection of brain lesions. In our opinion multiple echo sequences can markedly improve MR specificity in the diagnosis of tumors. We reviewed a series of 343 intracranial tumors studied with MR using multiple echo sequences and histologically verified. On the basis of the different signal patterns we divided brain tumors into 5 classes. Class 1: the signal intensity of the tumor increases progressively in T2 WI (100% of craniopharyngiomas, 21/21; 100% of epidermoid tumors, 12/12; 81% of astrocytomas (grades I to III), 64/79; 65% of neurinomas, 30/46). Class 2: the signal intensity of the lesion decreases progressively in T2 WI: A) the tumor has higher signal intensity than the parenchyma in all echoes (100% of medulloblastomas, 14/14; 53% of pituitary adenomas, 15/28); B) the tumor has the same signal intensity as the parenchyma in late echo acquisitions (100% of ependymal tumors, 12/12; 60% of meningiomas, 25/41). Class 3: the tumor has the same signal intensity as the parenchyma in all echoes (34% of meningiomas, 14/41). Class 4: glioblastoma model: one or more cysts of high signal intensity in T2 WI and slightly hyperintense nodules and/or rings and hyperintense peritumoral edema (73% of glioblastomas, 35/48; 72% of metastases, 18/25). Class 5: oligodendroglioma model: mixed hyper/hypointense pattern; cyst, calcifications and edema are very difficult to recognize within the lesion (95% of oligodendrogliomas, 18/19). The signal pattern was sometimes characteristic but never pathognomonic. Nevertheless, this classification proved to be an useful criterion to restrict the number of possible diagnoses. The study of T1 and T2 values seems to be less useful. PMID- 2626553 TI - [The optic pathways: a magnetic resonance study at 1.5 tesla. I. Anatomy]. AB - The authors retrospectively examined one hundred and twenty-nine patients who had undergone MR examination of the sellar, parasellar and orbital regions, to evaluate MR capabilities in demonstrating the optic pathways and their relationship to the most important anatomical structures nearby. T1-weighted images allowed a very good evaluation not only of the optic pathways as a whole, but also of the intracanalicular and intracranial segments of the optic nerve; the optic tracts and geniculate bodies were also clearly demonstrated. Optic radiations were clearly visible on both T1- and T2-weighted images. The orbital portion of the optic nerve could be evaluated with T1-weighted images, which showed its external profile. However, only multi-echo T2-weighted images allowed the nerve to be differentiated from perineural spaces, filled with cerebrospinal fluid, thus giving a true cisternographic effect. PMID- 2626554 TI - [High-resolution computed tomography in the diagnosis of branchial otodysplasias. A report on 10 cases (15 ears)]. AB - Computed Tomography (CT) is not yet widely employed in the evaluation of temporal bone diseases in pediatric patients. Our experience is reported in the study of branchial otodysplasias (10 cases, 15 ears) by means of a high-resolution program. Indications, advantages, limitations and risks of this technique are discussed. Some technical details are reported, such as number and type of scans, length of data acquisition, thickness and feed of slices, electronic image reconstruction, and radiation doses given to the lens. The method employed to immobilize younger patients is also described. CT findings in the single cases are summarized in the tables. The most significant images of 5 cases are also reproduced. A careful analysis of the cases in our series highlights the advantages provided by the use of high-resolution CT in the evaluation of the temporal bone in pediatric patients, especially as far as dysplasias are concerned. PMID- 2626555 TI - [Percutaneous biopsy of paracardiac masses]. AB - Computed tomography was used to guide 55 biopsies on paracardiac masses. The authors' experience, gained with over 800 thoracic biopsies, points to CT as the method of choice for paracardiac masses, especially in those cases where the masses are located close to mediastinal and cardiovascular structures, which are not easily evaluated with fluoroscopy and, therefore, imply a greater bioptic risk. Furthermore, CT allows a more accurate needle trajectory to be selected than fluoroscopic guidance does. A diagnosis was reached in 47 of 55 cases, with 85% diagnostic accuracy. No complications such as hemoptysis, hemothorax, pericarditis and hemopericardium were observed. Only one patient required drainage after pneumothorax. PMID- 2626556 TI - [Templates for curietherapy of the oral cavity and their dosimetric use]. AB - Flexible 192Ir wire implants are commonly used for the treatment of some types of cancer in the oral cavity. A modified technique of plastic tubes is here presented which aims at correctly positioning the active wires with thin plastic templates. Possible sources of error are examined and their consequences on the dose distribution around the implant are analyzed. In most cases control dosimetry matches the provisions satisfactorily. It may be thus concluded that the use of templates allows good and reproducible results to be obtained in the brachytherapy of the oral cavity. PMID- 2626557 TI - [The measurement of ultradistal radial bone minerals in women in the menopause]. AB - An anthropometric, radiomorphometric and absorptiometric study was carried out to check whether or not reliable information about the mineral content of trabecular bone could be acquired from the ultradistal epiphysis of the human radius. The results indicate that a radius scan 1.2 to 1.6 cm proximal to the ulnar styloid tip gives reproducible information as to the mineral content of a bone which is mainly trabecular in nature. In the ultradistal radial region the bone mineral analyzer (Norland 2780) was always able to automatically find bone edges. The measurement error was 4%, and BMC values were not significantly different in the various subjects; BMC values were positively correlated with body mass and muscular area in postmenopausal women. Conversely, in no subject a direct correlation was found between BMC and BW values at sequential scan sites; BMC/BW ratios were more than 10% variable, and the differences were statistically significant (p less than 0.01). Finally, the comparison of age-related changes in the BMC of ultradistal and mediodiaphyseal radii demonstrated that the former expresses the specific metabolic reactivity of the trabecular bone. PMID- 2626558 TI - [Integrated diagnostic imaging in tracheobronchomegaly. A case report]. PMID- 2626559 TI - [The "vacuum effect" in the knee: an unusual location. A case report]. PMID- 2626561 TI - [La Radiologia Medicale: the editorials]. PMID- 2626560 TI - [Bilateral persistence of the sciatic artery]. PMID- 2626562 TI - The management of children with amelogenesis imperfecta. PMID- 2626563 TI - Aesthetics and porcelain veneers. PMID- 2626564 TI - [25th meeting of the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine. 26 February-2 March 1989, Florianopolis/SC. Abstracts]. PMID- 2626565 TI - [Avulsed teeth. A case study]. AB - A clinical case of exarticulation and replantation served to discuss recent insights regarding the treatment of total avulsions of permanent teeth. A flow chart representing all treatment options is given. The tooth has been replanted in near ideal conditions; within one hour after the avulsion, the young patient attended the dental school with his avulsed tooth stored in milk. After replantation, a very simple splint was applied for only a fortnight and a provisory endodontic therapy with calcium hydroxide was performed. Adequate oral hygiene measures supported with chlorhexidine gel were instructed. These promote the healing process and ultimately also contribute to a long-term survival of the replanted tooth. After healing, a permanent root canal filling was applied and the crown was restored by means of composite material. The one-year- follow up check did not show any sign of resorption and/or ankylosis. PMID- 2626566 TI - [Maxillary central diastema. A case study]. AB - A case is presented with loss of two maxillary central incisors in a 12 year old girl due to the use of elastics around the teeth to close a median diastema. The patients complaint was an increased mobility of these teeth. She presented a Class I malocclusion and a supraposition of the upper central incisors. There was however an extreme periodontal destruction, as a consequence of which the central incisors had to be extracted. In connection with this case report considerations are made concerning the normal development of the dentition and the need for orthodontic treatment of a median diastema in the maxilla. A median diastema normally closes when the canines erupt. A hypertrophic superior labial frenum rather seems to be a consequence than a cause of a median diastema. Thus, it is no use to close a median diastema before eruption of the upper canines. If a median diastema is to be treated, use of elastics around the central incisors is contraindicated. PMID- 2626567 TI - [Evaluation of serological protection against cattle rinderpest of bovine livestock in Chad]. AB - 2,544 bovine sera, sampled during the year 1986 either in the course of five field missions or at Farcha's abattoir, have been studied by seroneutralization against rinderpest. This survey permits the determination of the overall rinderpest immunity rate in Chadian cattle. PMID- 2626568 TI - Changes in clinical values of cattle infected with Clostridium chauvoei CH3 strain and a local Kad1 strain. Haematological values. AB - Clostridium chauvoei CH3 and Kad1 strains were found to cause marked changes in the blood parameters during the course of blackleg disease. These changes displayed by CH3 were found to be more marked than the local Kad1 strain. Results of changes in the haematological values in calves infected with blackleg organisms, showed an increase in RBC, PCV, Hb and the total leukocyte count. MCHC and MCH remained within normal range values, however, a terminal significant increase of MCV was obtained. Thrombocytes showed a steady drop after infection to the time of death of the animals. PMID- 2626569 TI - Bovine farcy in the Accra Plains of Ghana. AB - Bovine farcy is described for the first time in Ghana in herds kept in the Aveyime area of the Accra Plains. Reasons why the disease seems confined to a small geographical area are not yet clear. Different breeds of cattle are equally affected. Mineral deficiencies were not observed in the samples taken for analysis (Ca, Mg, P, Na, K, Cl). Limited examination of tick population on cattle showed a predominance of A. variegatum. Factors enhancing the pathogenicity and persistence of the Mycobacterium are still not clear. A study is soon to start. PMID- 2626570 TI - [Resistance to drought of mollusks of the genus Bulinus, vectors of human and animal trematode infections in Senegal. II. Study under natural conditions in the North-Sudan area. Ecology and resistance to drought of Bulinus umbilicatus and B. senegalensis]. AB - The authors report on the results of a 2-year study on the ecology and resistance to drought of B. umbilicatus and B. senegalensis on 3 temporary ponds in the North-Sudan area (region of Tambacounda, Senegal). The variations in some abiotic factors like the temperature and the pH of water do not seem to have a strong influence on the ecology while rainfall has a great importance on the distribution and the density of molluscs. As a fact, the quantity of water and the drying out period of these ponds depend upon rain factors which rule the existence and the survival of the malacological fauna. In the second part of the rainy season, the population reaches its maximum, i.e., during the reproduction period. Monthly observations show that the relative abundance of B. umbilicatus is higher than that of B. senegalensis. These ponds are dry during 6 to 8 months per year. However the populations of molluscs regenerate regularly, a fact which presupposes a certain ability to resist drought. Some come through this period successfully, but the middle-sized ones (7 to 9.9 mm) resist better than others (70 to 80 per cent of the population). Immediately after the first rains they resume their activity and lay intensively in order to reconstitute the population. B. umbilicatus and B. senegalensis are potential intermediate hosts for human and animal trematode infections, but in the studied region only B. umbilicatus intervenes in the transmission of S. haematobium and S. curassoni which occurs between September and November. Under natural Sahel conditions the epidemiological cycle is short and everything happens within 4 to 6 months with the regeneration and the growth of the population of molluscs, its infestation and the transmission of trematode infections. The ecological behaviour of these molluscs in the North-Sudan region is very important in the epidemiology of human and animal trematode infections and requires a new controlling strategy. The destruction of molluscs is more effective and more economic at the end of the rain season, which is the beginning of the drying of ponds, a period in which they concentrate in the residual water pools. PMID- 2626571 TI - Susceptibility of two-week old Lymnaea natalensis to some plant extracts. AB - The molluscacidal potency of 17 Nigerian plants extracted by the unevaporated crude water (UECW) method was evaluated on two-week old Lymnaea natalensis Krauss. Five extracts were not active but extracts of Balanites aegytiaca, Blighia sapida, Boswellia dalzielii, Cissampelos mucronata, Detarium microcarpum, Kigelia africana, Opilia celtidifolia, Parkia clappertoniana, Polygonum limbatum, Pseudocedrela kotschyi, Nauclea latifolia and Securidaca longipedunculata were molluscacidal. There is potential for their future use in the integrated control of Lymnaea natalensis, as well as other snails. Mortality data for lethal concentration values for all extracts were analysed by use of probit transformation. The upper and lower fiducial limits of the LC50 (P = 0.05) were also determined. PMID- 2626572 TI - Screening of some Nigerian plants for molluscicidal activity. AB - Methanolic (MEOH), evaporated crude water (ECW) and unevaporated crude water (UECW) extracts of 25 Nigerian plants, used for different medicinal and domestic purposes were screened for molluscacidal activity on laboratory-reared Lymnaea natalensis Krauss. Seven of the plants were not active; extracts from 18 (72 per cent) of the plants, some of which are renowned fish poisons, had molluscicidal activity. These were Acacia nilotica, Aristolochia albida, Balanites aegyptiaca, Blighia sapida, Boswellia dalzielii, Detarium microcarpum, Gnidia kraussiana, Kigelia africana, Nauclea latifolia, Opilia celtidefolia, Parkia clappertoniana, Polygonum limbatum, Pseudocedrela kotschyi, Sclerocarya birrea, Securidaca longipedunculata, Ximenia americana, Vetiveria nigritana and Ziziphus abyssinica. The LC50 of these extracts were determined. It is strongly recommended that the toxic effects of these extracts against fish, cercariae, snail eggs and mammals be further investigated so as to determine the right concentration, especially for use in fish ponds. PMID- 2626573 TI - Babesia equi and Trypanosoma vivax infections in donkeys. AB - Six donkeys (Equus asinus) were purchased locally. To screen them before and during Trypanosoma vivax infection, thin and thick blood smears, temperature, haematocrit centrifuge technique (HCT), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell counts, and indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) were done for Babesia equi. For the IFAT, an anti-horse conjugate was used. In spite of patent B. equi or T. vivax parasitaemia, the donkeys' temperatures remained below 38.5 degrees C; PCV was depressed more in B. equi infection than in T. vivax infection. Four out of the 6 donkeys had B. equi antibodies while 2 of them had detectable parasitaemia. Treatment with either Berenil or Imizol cleared the detectable B. equi parasitaemia, and IFAT was negative at 35-45 days post treatment. However, relapses occurred within 60-70 days after the treatment. In 2 circumstances serological titres were below 1:40 (negative) while there was detectable parasitaemia. PMID- 2626574 TI - Prevalence of antibodies against Babesia canis in dogs in an endemic area. AB - A survey of 287 dogs for antibodies against Babesia canis in dogs in an endemic area, using ELISA, produced a prevalence of 43 per cent. Antibodies occurred in dogs of all age groups, the prevalence being significantly lower in dogs aged 1 to 6 months than in older dogs. There were no differences between indigenous Nigerian dogs and exotic (foreign) dogs; and between the sexes in the prevalence of antibodies. Antibodies were more prevalent in dogs with B. canis parasitaemia and in those with a higher risk of infection. Also antibodies were detected in some puppies born to seropositive bitches. The ELISA test failed to detect antibodies in 36.1 per cent of dogs with B. canis parasitaemia. PMID- 2626575 TI - Leucopenia in Trypanosoma vivax infection of sheep. AB - Experimental Trypanosoma vivax infection of sheep produced a moderate leucopenia associated with a lymphopenia and eosinopenia. The total white blood cell counts of adult mice were not significantly depressed when inoculated with plasma from T. vivax-infected sheep. These observations suggested that the plasma of the infected sheep did not have a factor which could depress leucopoiesis in vivo. PMID- 2626576 TI - Strongyloides papillosus infestations of lambs in Plateau State of Nigeria. AB - The frequent appearance of patent infestations of Strongyloides papillosus in lambs under one week is observed, and it is suggested that either the short generation interval or pre-natal infection is the cause. Pathogenic effects associated with heavy infestations in young lambs consisted of anorexia, loss of weight, diarrhoea and a moderate anaemia. The lambs were usually very weak, unable to stand and laying prostrate. Death usually followed at this stage and three such lambs examined showed severe enteritis. There was also severe dermatitis noticed around the flanks and abdomen. The epidemiology studies which were based on worm egg counts taken at monthly intervals for a twelve-month period showed high counts in October and November, intermediate counts in May to August and low counts from February to April. The egg counts per g of faeces ranged from 100 to 18,000. PMID- 2626577 TI - Ivermectin in the treatment of helminthiasis in caged raised adult guinea-fowl (Numida meleagris galeata Pallas). AB - The treatment of natural infections of helminthiasis in caged raised guinea-fowls indicates a high efficacy of ivermectin in the elimination of infection due to both juvenile and adult stages of Heterakis gallinarum, Ascaridia galli, Subulura suctoria, Raillietina spp. and Capillaria caudinflata at dose levels of 0.07 mg/kg and 0.14 mg/kg per adult bird, subcutaneously administered. Guinea-fowls treated responded with no observable side effect and remained clean of any helminth infection for over 6 weeks. Discussion on the broad-spectrum and cost effectiveness of the drug are briefly mentioned. PMID- 2626578 TI - Parasitic phase of Anocentor nitens (Acarina: Ixodidae) in cattle. AB - The parasitic phase of Anocentor nitens (Neumann) in cattle was studied. Larval stage was present up to 15 days post-infestation (p.i.), concomitant with nymphae from day 8 p.i. Nymphae were observed up to day 23 p.i., adults being seen from day 15 p.i. onwards. Male ticks disclosed active movements from day 17 p.i. and detachment of engorged females began 22 to 24 days p.i. Massive detachment occurred from day 28 p.i. Preferential sites of parasitic stages were ear and neck (lateral side). PMID- 2626579 TI - Notes on the biology of the tick Rhipicephalus bursa (Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877) in Israel. AB - The seasonal distribution of the tick Rhipicephalus bursa in sheep has been studied during one year in two neighbouring flocks of Awassi sheep in an enzootic focus of sheep babesiosis. Rates of tick infestation on the two flocks were very different. Pre-imaginal stages were found on the sheep during the winter months of November-March while adult ticks appeared in the middle of April and persisted until the end of July. First clinical cases of babesiosis in sheep were diagnosed 2 weeks after finding the first adult ticks. The pre-imaginal stages were found mainly in the pinnas while adult ticks preferred in decreasing order the tail, body and head. Few adult ticks were found on the legs. PMID- 2626580 TI - [Dietary preferences of domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) grazing on natural Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian ranges. III. Epidermal characteristics of the principal plant species consumed on the pastures: compilation of a reference atlas with a view toward study of dietary preferences]. AB - Microscopic analysis of vegetal fragments contained in the faeces and in the alimentary bolus is a method for studying the animals' diet on pastures. This work is conducted within the scope of a ruminant diet enquiry over Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian pastures in Senegal. The author describes the epidermal characteristics of the main grazed plants (28 species) so as to constitute a reference atlas. An example of the identification key is exposed for 19 dicotyledons from their epidermal characteristics. This key will have to be completed and will help to recognize the plant debris contained in the faeces and in the alimentary bolus. PMID- 2626581 TI - [Dietary preferences of domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) grazing on natural Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian ranges. IV. Attempted description of the diet by micro-histological analyses of samples collected by shepherds, esophageal boluses and feces from cattle and sheep]. AB - A research program to study tropical pastures used by domestic livestock was implemented in Senegal. During field studies, numerous information was collected together with many samples with three main aims: pasture composition, diet composition and relationship between each other. The so-called method of epiderms, more often used in temperate areas, was chosen for analyzing and comparing the botanical composition of 105 samples, e.g., shepherd's hand picking, alimentary bolus and faeces collected during a twelve-month period. In view of the results, some methodological problems are raised and discussed. PMID- 2626582 TI - [Sheep rearing in Shaba (Zaire): present-day situation]. AB - Four sheep rearing systems have been studied in Shaba (Zaire) to compare production and profit levels. Weight production per mother at nine months of age is 4.5 kg under traditional breeding conditions, versus 23 kg in the ranching system (with shepherd) and 30 kg under extensive rearing. Management of range by fire and rotation and feeding habits, principally explain variations in the production. Internal parasite control and housing conditions are next important. Extensive sheep breeding under the ranching system, succeeding to cattle on pasture, appears to be the most profitable rearing system in the region. PMID- 2626583 TI - [Management of reproduction in large dairy herds under Moroccan conditions. III. Resumption of heat and anestrus after natural insemination]. AB - This study aims at determining both the accuracy and the rate of heat detection together with the so-called post-insemination anoestrus incidence in four Moroccan dairy herds under natural or semi-hand mating insemination. 369 females (cows and heifers) were involved from 4 large dairy units in which a herd fertility survey took place on a weekly basis. Heat detection was performed several times a day by the herdsman. Blood was sampled for plasma progesterone (P) determination on the oestrus and the mating day, on day 12 later as well as on day 21 after mating. Accuracy (A) was defined as the ratio of correct oestrus on detected oestrus during the mating days. Heat detection rate (R) was defined as the ratio of oestrus detected on oestrus expected, according to the P values 21 days after mating when the females were confirmed to be cycling. Post insemination incidence was the complementary ratio to the latter. In the Moroccan dairy unit conditions, A = 91 p. 100, and R = 49 p. 100, the post-insemination anoestrus incidence was therefore just over 50 per cent. The distribution of the non-in-heat but mated females (9 per cent) allows two roughly equal sub populations to be distinguished: those mated in mid-luteal phase and those with a 1-2 day overlap between the follicular phase and the oestrus. Finally the high incidence of post-insemination anoestrus demonstrates the inadequacy of heat detection for pregnancy diagnosis even under natural or semi-hand mating conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626584 TI - [Influence of partial and total castration on the growth and feed conversion performances of Poulfouli rams of the Far North Cameroon]. AB - The authors compared the growth and feed conversion performances of groups of Burdizzo rams, castrated rams at an age of 6.5 months and partially castrated rams at 2 months by the short scrotum technique. After a 384-day experiment, the average weights are, respectively, 49.24 kg, 39.44 kg and 47.15 kg. The daily weight gains for the 244-day period following total castration are, respectively, 110 g, 75 g and 102 g (0.05 greater than p greater than 0.01). Full castration has consequently a depressive action on the weight gain. No significant difference is observed between totally and partially castrated rams. Heart girth and height at withers were not significantly influenced by these treatments. Consumption index and voluntary feed intake of the fully castrated rams are above those of the 2 other groups, which means a lower feed conversion and a higher cost of the weight gain. PMID- 2626585 TI - Longitudinal studies: objectives and ethical considerations. AB - Studies discussed in this issue have in common that subjects are followed-up, the majority of studies with data collection on at least two occasions. However the need for follow-up in terms of the study hypotheses should be assessed carefully, because such studies are costly and more difficult to carry-out and analyse than cross-sectional studies. Studies are classified according to the nature of the explanatory and outcome variables, whether fixed for each subject, a transitional age, or a changing measurement or characteristic. The information that can be obtained is discussed for each combination of explanatory and outcome variables. Time trends are also considered. The different requirements of reference ranges are included, and ethical considerations particular to follow-up studies are briefly described. PMID- 2626586 TI - Longitudinal studies: methodology, growth and recent developments. PMID- 2626587 TI - Longitudinal studies: design and analysis. AB - Objectives should determine study design, and from that the analysis should follow. Multiple objectives, some longitudinal, some cross-sectional, have implications for sampling, especially at second and subsequent occasions. The nature of the hypothesis or estimate required, and the data to be collected, will determine the frequency and timing of follow-up. Sample size must allow for follow-up failure. Difficulties with analysis result from ill-defined hypotheses, especially in relation to repeated measurements on the same outcome variable. Methods of analysis are described in relation to the hypothesis or the estimate required. PMID- 2626588 TI - Longitudinal studies based on vital registration records. AB - We describe here the increased use of routine vital event and census records to construct national follow-up and longitudinal studies. The strengths and weaknesses of these studies are discussed and examples given of their use in research into relationships between employment and mortality and socio-economic differences in mortality. PMID- 2626589 TI - Flexible models for the analysis of growth data with an application to height prediction. AB - We show how recent developments in the theory of multilevel statistical modelling can be applied to the analysis of growth data and in particular to the prediction of adult height. This approach is both statistically efficient and very flexible. PMID- 2626590 TI - Longitudinal studies: social and psychological factors. AB - In spite of the great variety of longitudinal studies, one may consider two main orientations: on one hand the "comprehensive" studies, based on the combined or parallel observation of numerous psychosocial characteristics collected at successive stages of the child's development; on the other hand, studies focussed on limited topics based on the observation and longitudinal analysis of a restricted number of specific characteristics. Some examples of these different approaches are presented. The chapter considers, finally, several methodological issues, including new developments as well as constraints and problems. Recent methodological developments concern, i.a., videoscopic recording techniques which may be applied to the behaviour of mother and child (etc...) whether in the laboratory or in normal life-situations. Moreover, in view of the statistical analysis of the datas appropriate instruments are developed which at the same time keep the nuances and details of the clinical observation. Finally, some examples of problems linked to the attrition-rate of the observed sample are presented, as well as specific ethical issues raised by longitudinal studies. PMID- 2626591 TI - Changing exposure: passive smoking. AB - Major effects on health postulated to result from passive smoking are increased risk of lung cancer in spouses of smokers and increased respiratory conditions in children of parents who smoke. Prospective studies have added little to knowledge of the first, but could potentially differentiate between the several causal hypotheses for the second. A number of studies have collected respiratory symptoms on lung function data on several occasions, but few have analysed them in relation to changing exposure. Only sufficient data on children whose parents change their smoking habits considerably can differentiate between effects that are immediate, reversible and non-cumulative, irreversible effects on infants only, and cumulative effects. PMID- 2626592 TI - Analysis of change over time. AB - A brief introduction is given to methods for analysis of epidemiological data where the exposure variable may change over time. The techniques discussed are related to both classical epidemiological methods for analysing the effect of a fixed, dichotomous exposure variable on a dichotomous response variable and to methods for analysis of life time data. Two examples are presented. PMID- 2626593 TI - Genetic and environmental influences on obesity assessed by the adoption method. AB - Obesity is usually defined on the basis of deviations in cross-sectional population distribution of body mass. However, it is a heterogenous condition in terms of the changes of the individual body mass over time--there is a, probably life-long, tracking tendency, but also a considerable super-imposed age-dependent as well as age-independent variation over time. The tracking level as well as the fluctuation may be influenced by genes, environment, and gene-environment interactions. The longitudinal studies of subjects adopted-away early in life and their biological and adoptive relatives may be a particularly powerful method for assessment of the effects of genes and environment on obesity considered as a continuous trait both in terms of body mass and time. PMID- 2626594 TI - The OmpC protein of Yersinia enterocolitica: purification and properties. AB - OmpC, one of the major outer membrane proteins of Yersinia enterocolitica, was isolated and purified to homogeneity. When solubilized at room temperature, this protein appeared on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as an oligomer. After heating to the temperature of boiling water, the apparent molecular weight of the monomer was 36,000. The incorporation of purified OmpC into black lipid membranes resulted in an increase in membrane conductance demonstrating pore-forming activity. The reconstituted pores exhibited the characteristics of general diffusion pores. They showed cation selectivity and had a single channel conductance of 1.3 nS in 1.0 M KCl. Assuming a constant diameter of the pore, a length of 6 nm (the width of the outer membrane) and the same ion conductivity inside and outside the pore, the diameter of the pore protein was estimated as 1.0 nm. Polyclonal antibodies were raised against the native, pore-forming protein preparation. These antibodies did not recognize the denatured form of the protein, but cross-reacted with native OmpC and OmpF of Escherichia coli. The regulation of OmpC expression in Y. enterocolitica was dependent on the osmolarity of the medium in the same way as in E. coli. PMID- 2626595 TI - Relationships between beta-lactamase production and beta-lactam susceptibility of environmental strains of Yersinia kristensenii. AB - Strains of Yersinia kristensenii display high susceptibility to carbenicillin (MIC90 less than 8 micrograms/ml) in comparison with the majority of environmental strains of Yersinia closely related to Y. enterocolitica which are resistant to this antibiotic (MIC90 greater than 256 micrograms/ml). beta lactamases of 39 strains of Y. kristensenii isolated from foods were analysed by isoelectric focusing and gel electrophoresis of ultrasonically disrupted uninduced cultures. beta-lactamase patterns showed the presence of only one out of three classes of enzymes of pI 6.7, 7.6 and 8.2, respectively, by strain. One beta-lactamase showed electrophoretic mobility different (EM + 2.0 cm/h) from that of all the other enzymes (EM + 1.6 cm/h) belonging to the class of pI 7.6. Induction by cefoxitin revealed the existence of inducible beta-lactamases in two out of eight selected strains. The substrate profile of these enzymes, which are probably chromosomally mediated, showed a predominant cephalosporinase activity. None of the type A and B beta-lactamases described by Cornelis and Abraham in Y. enterocolitica were found in any of the strains examined. The lack of beta lactamase A (a penicillinase) accounts for the carbenicillin susceptibility of Y. kristensenii strains. PMID- 2626596 TI - Azospirillum irakense sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing bacterium associated with rice roots and rhizosphere soil. AB - A new species of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Azospirillum irakense, was found associated with roots and the rhizosphere of rice in the region of Diwaniyah (Qadisya), Iraq. The seven isolates, on which the species description is based, have vibrioid to S-shaped cells with one polar flagellum in liquid medium. Additional lateral flagella are seen on cells grown on nutrient agar. Poly-beta hydroxybutyrate granules are present in cells. Nitrogen fixation occurs in microaerobic conditions. The phenotypic characters were found to be very close to those of A. amazonense with the following differences: growth occurred in the presence of 3% NaCl, and at pH 5.5 and 8.5, myo-inositol was not utilized as sole source of carbon and energy and pectin was slowly (6 to 9 days) hydrolysed. The seven studied strains formed a DNA-relatedness group distinct from other Azospirillum and Herbaspirillum species. The G + C content of the DNA was 64 to 67 mol %. The type strain is KBC1 (CIP 103311). PMID- 2626598 TI - Prevention of severe lower respiratory tract infections. PMID- 2626597 TI - Phenylmercuric acetate biodegradation by environmental strains of Pseudomonas species. AB - Organomercurial pollution occurring in the Rhine river in 1986 led us to study the possibility of depollution by mercury-resistant environmental aquatic strains. Four species of Pseudomonas were investigated for their ability to biotransform phenylmercuric acetate (PMA). Such biological depollution was demonstrated to be due to an enzymatic activity in whole cells and in cell-free extracts from Pseudomonas fluorescens and other Pseudomonas species. PMA biotransformation was followed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Some of those bacteria growing between 4 and 41 degrees C probably represent a natural means of organomercurial depollution, which acts slowly in interaction with other organisms and non-organic porous surfaces. PMID- 2626600 TI - Wound healing. PMID- 2626599 TI - Prevention of severe lower respiratory tract infections. PMID- 2626601 TI - Rehabilitative neurosurgery: posttraumatic syndromes. AB - Distinct chronic posttraumatic syndromes, ascribed to neurological deficits of patients suffering severe head injuries and being in prolonged coma, are much less frequently encountered in the literature than acute traumatic syndromes. The major components of the posttraumatic midbrain syndrome, resulting from compressive necrosis or vascular infarction at the midbrain level, are ipsilateral cerebellar signs (the predominant one being intention tremor), contralateral pyramidal signs (the predominant one being a spastic-dystonic hemiparesis), dysarthria, and mild to moderate intellectual impairment. Significant bilateral cerebellar dysfunction following head injury, without pyramidal, extrapyramidal, or pseudobulbar signs, constitutes a posttraumatic cerebellar syndrome. Its most disabling component, namely posttraumatic intention tremor, may be alleviated by thalamotomy. Following severe closed head injury, an infrequently encountered posttraumatic entity of dystonic hemiplegia or hemiparesis, which may be alleviated by thalamotomy, can occur, but does not have a specific neuroanatomical basis. Intention tremors following severe head injuries, rarely associated with hydrocephalus and without other significant cerebellar findings, can develop as a dysfunction of the cerebellofugal outflow system. While chronic posttraumatic syndromes can be complex and difficult to treat, cerebellar stimulation has been utilized ipsilaterally to modulate limb spasticity, and bilateral ventrolateral cryothalamectomies staged 4-6 months apart have been successful in alleviating severe (intractable) intention tremors. PMID- 2626602 TI - Sacral epidural electrodes for voiding in the chronic spinal dog. AB - Recent reports have shown that electrical stimulation of the bladder wall or sacral nerves is effective for bladder management in the spinal cord injured (SCI) patient. However, less invasive methods are needed for electrode implantation. A modified percutaneous procedure for implanting needle electrodes in the sacral canal was evaluated. Stimulation with these electrodes were effective for inducing voiding with little residual volume after the recovery of bladder reflexes, 3 weeks after experimental spinal cord injury in the dog. An optimum electrode arrangement involved a single midline monopolar electrode located between sacral foramina L7 and S1. However, at low stimulating current, lateral electrodes adjacent to sacral nerves were more effective than midline electrodes for inducing voiding. Stimulation parameters that were effective for daily voiding were 10 pps, 1.5-5 mA, 0.3 ms pulse duration, and 2- to 3-second stimulation periods. PMID- 2626603 TI - Low current electrostimulation produces naloxone-reversible analgesia in rats. AB - A new form of transcranial electrostimulation (TE) has been shown to induce analgesia in rats, as measured by the wet tail flick test. Charge-balanced rectangular current pulses of very low amplitude were delivered bilaterally into low impedance regions of the rat pinnae. The resultant analgesia was studied as a function of systematic variations in stimulus frequency, amplitude and duration. The optimal current for inducing analgesia was found to be 10 microA, well below the startle threshold, and several orders of magnitude below effective stimulus current levels required for other treatment modalities. The optimal stimulation duration was 30 min, during which time a slow onset of analgesia was noted. Significant analgesia persisted for at least 200 min after stimulation ended, and no evidence was found of tolerance developing in the course of 5 daily stimulation sessions. Consistent with findings for other forms of electrostimulation, the analgesic effect of TE was abolished by subcutaneous injection of 3 mg/kg naloxone, suggesting that the mechanism of TE analgesia has an endogenous opioid component. PMID- 2626604 TI - Age-related amplitude variations of the posterior tibial nerve spinal SEP P21 component. AB - The effects of aging on the amplitude of the surface-recorded tibial nerve spinal somatosensory-evoked potential P21 component (L5-T12 electrode derivation) were studied in 79 subjects. The results of this investigation indicate that a significant moderately negative correlation (r = -0.46) exists between subject age and the amplitude of component P21. These findings suggest that the absence of a P21 potential in an elderly patient does not necessarily represent evidence of neural pathology. PMID- 2626605 TI - Direct spinal effect of a benzodiazepine (midazolam) on spasticity in man. AB - The water-soluble benzodiazepine, midazolam, was administered epidurally over the lumbar enlargement 18 times to 9 patients with spasticity due to severe spinal cord injury. Doses of 1.25-3.75 mg produced a rapid decrease of spasticity which lasted 1 h. After the maximal reduction of spasticity, the patients became drowsy. While the results suggest a direct action of midazolam on the spinal cord to reduce spasticity, the effect does not contribute to its usefulness as a therapeutic tool. PMID- 2626606 TI - The rhythmic properties of the motor system. AB - The resonance properties of the motor control circuits are basic features of the motor system. From our results, it can be concluded that, when the normally existing suppression mechanism weakens, external stimuli or internal impulses may elicit oscillations in the circuits according to the resonant frequency, and tremor will appear. It seems that the resonant frequency is between 5 and 8 Hz, as demonstrated by rhythmic voluntary movement, rhythmic elicited reflex movement and rhythmic modulated voluntary movement modulated by the stimulation of the central motor system. PMID- 2626607 TI - The smoking fetus. PMID- 2626608 TI - Smoking during pregnancy in Blekinge 1984-88. AB - During the past 5-year period, midwives and doctors working in antenatal care in Blekinge county, Sweden, have increased their efforts to help pregnant smokers to stop or reduce smoking. To evaluate the effects of these efforts, all women giving birth during each September from 1984 to 1988 inclusive were asked to fill in an anonymous questionnaire on smoking habits before and during pregnancy. The answering frequency was 81-86%. The frequency of never-smokers was constant at 44 49%, while the proportion of women who had stopped smoking before pregnancy increased significantly, from six to 31%. Six to 13% of the responders had stopped smoking during pregnancy, and the persistent smokers smoked significantly less at the end of the period. Thus, during the study there was a gradual reduction in the proportion of pregnant women who smoked, and the smokers smoked less. PMID- 2626609 TI - Physicians' smoking and its exemplary effect. AB - Data presented are based on more than one hundred surveys on physicians' smoking, carried out in 31 countries since 1951. Prevalences by gender are shown in two figures. For 13 countries, it is possible to compare the trend in smoking prevalence among physicians with the trend among the general population. In ten countries, smoking prevalences decreased over time for male physicians and the general population. This suggests a positive influence of the physicians' example in those countries. PMID- 2626610 TI - Patients' fears, worries, and concerns when visiting an out-patient clinic. AB - In an out-patient clinic for specialised medical care, 30 patients were questioned about their worries prior to the visit. The purpose of the study was to obtain basic knowledge about emotional experiences of patients visiting a doctor. The theoretical viewpoint was that of social interaction and social construction of reality. The statements of the patients were categorized as follows: before the encounter, the social interaction, the outcome of the encounter, and unspecific worries. A tool for measuring the degree and profile of the worries will be developed. Some of the worries described will be studied in depth. An education programme for all staff members is planned. PMID- 2626611 TI - The duration of acute respiratory tract infections in children. AB - In a rural district in Western Norway with 400 children under 16 years, we recorded all children with acute respiratory infections who attended their general practitioner during a period of four months. 90 cases were recorded, giving an incidence of 5.6% per month. Half of the patients contacted the doctor within four days from the initial symptom, every sixth waited more than two weeks. Their symptoms were monitored by the parents. Low fever, nasal discharge and cough were the most long-standing symptoms. After three weeks less than 50% of the patients were completely recovered. The children under one year of age recovered more quickly than the rest. No serious complications or sequelae were recorded. PMID- 2626612 TI - General and dental health in relation to life-style and social network activity among 67-year-old Danes. AB - The present study was performed in order to plan and evaluate dental health care for a cohort of 67-year-olds in a Danish municipality. The purpose was to study general and dental health and the effect of life-style and social network relations. A total of 216 persons (71% of the persons selected) were interviewed in 1987; measurement of life-style was based on information about how often the respondents participated in social, cultural, and spare time activities. Family network activity was measured from information on the frequency of contact with family members, while data about relations with friends and neighbours were intended to measure the quality of contact. Moreover, the participants were asked about the presence of various symptoms of ill health, regular use of drugs, and dental symptoms. Additive indices on lifestyle and social networks were constructed. Symptoms were frequent among less active people; e.g. 36% of the participants with very low activity reported at least five complaints of ill health against 10% in the group with an active lifestyle. Among less active persons, 51% were edentulous, against 34% among active persons. Most symptoms of ill health occurred relatively often among persons with weak social networks. Ill health seems to be related to a passive lifestyle and non-supportive social network. PMID- 2626613 TI - Reliability of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in general practice. AB - Because of the need for an accurate determination of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and because of the fact that many general practitioners frequently determine ESR in their own surgery, we investigated the reliability of the blood test in this setting. For this purpose, blood samples, obtained from the local hospital laboratory, were distributed, and the participating general practice centres were requested to determine ESR in each sample. A clinically important intra- and interpractice variability was found in the ESR values measured. The experiment was then repeated one year later under more standardized conditions, which resulted in a significant decrease in the intra- and interpractice variability (p = 0.04 and 0.003, respectively). Vibrations within the hospital building could not account for the systematically higher ESR values measured in the hospital laboratory. We conclude that a considerable increase in the quality of ESR performance in general practice can be achieved by means of relatively simple interventions. PMID- 2626614 TI - Duration of episodes of sickness certification. AB - The duration of episodes of sickness certification are reported according to cause, sex, and age. The study is based on the 5,042 initial certificates issued to residents of Buskerud county in Norway during a period of four weeks in 1985. Forty per cent were still certified sick after two weeks, 14.2% after eight weeks, and 1.3% at the end of one year. The mean duration of the 5,042 episodes of sickness certification was 34 calendar days for both sexes, increasing significantly with age (range 16-57 days). Patients with a high probability of long-term sickness certification were those with circulatory system diseases, musculoskeletal/connective tissue diseases, neoplasms, endocrine/nutritional/metabolic diseases, and mental disorders. The same was true for patients certified sick due to "other complications of pregnancy", syndromes related to the cervical spine, and back pain with radiating symptoms. Information on cause-, sex-, and age-specific duration of episodes of sickness certification, such as provided by the present study, may help general practitioners to select those patients who should be given priority for early rehabilitation. A systematic follow-up of patients with a high probability of long-term sickness certification is an important task in primary health care, and should be carried out in co-operation with other health- and social-workers. PMID- 2626616 TI - [Dentists and smoking]. PMID- 2626615 TI - Days lost by sickness certification. AB - Number of calendar days lost by sickness certification, according to cause, sex, and age, are reported. The basis of the study was 5,042 episodes of sickness certification among residents of Buskerud county in Norway in 1985. The number of days lost was estimated to be 19.8 per employed person per year (females 20.4, and males 19.2). There was an increase with age, but the number of days lost was almost the same for persons between 20 and 50 years of age. Conditions classifiable to the diagnostic groups musculoskeletal/connective tissue diseases, respiratory system diseases, injuries, and mental disorders were responsible for 70.4% of the total number of days lost. Among "single diagnoses" the most dominating were "back pain without radiating symptoms", "other nonarticular rheumatism", "influenza", "other bursitis, tendinitis & synovitis", and "depressive neurosis", and these accounted for 33.7% of the total number of days lost. Cause-, sex-, and age-specific numbers of days lost reflect the socioeconomic importance of different health problems. Such information may be useful in setting priorities in preventive medicine. PMID- 2626618 TI - [The need for dental care by adults in Jyvaskyla]. PMID- 2626617 TI - [Improved dental health and decreased dental treatments among Finnish recruits 1976-1986]. PMID- 2626619 TI - [Hearing loss as a risk factor in dental practice]. PMID- 2626620 TI - [The use of laser in dental practice. Oral surgery]. PMID- 2626621 TI - [The need for a clinic, taking care of dental and oral diseases, at the regional hospitals in the HUCS-district]. PMID- 2626622 TI - [The views held by dentists upon referrals of patients to a specialist clinic at the Kuopio University Hospital]. PMID- 2626623 TI - [Vibration, a risk factor associated with the practice of dentistry]. PMID- 2626624 TI - [New guidelines for the use of antibiotics in cases of infectious endocarditis- cases of surgical intervention]. PMID- 2626625 TI - [The occurrence of dental decay in children taking oral medication]. PMID- 2626626 TI - [Symptoms of pain in the neck and shoulders among dentists and dental hygienists]. PMID- 2626627 TI - [Regional differences regarding the frequency and degree of dental decay and periodontal diseases among Finnish recruits from 1976-1986]. PMID- 2626628 TI - [Gold restorations]. PMID- 2626629 TI - [Primary pseudotumoral pulmonary amyloidosis with Pierre-Marie syndrome]. AB - We report a case of pseudotumoral, nodular, parenchymatous, primary pulmonary amyloidosis in a male patient under 50 years of age. The amyloidosis spread step by step, very progressively, over 12 years before Marie's disease developed. The pre-operative diagnosis was made by electron microscopy of an intrabronchial growth biopsy. Right pleuro-pneumonectomy was performed, resulting in regression of Marie's disease within 3 months. There was partial factor X deficiency. Four years after surgery, nodules have appeared in the left upper lobe, suggesting a recurrence. PMID- 2626630 TI - [Unusual thoracic localization of Castleman's tumor. Apropos of a case]. AB - We report a case of angiolymphoid hyperplasia, or Castleman's pseudotumour, located in the chest and most unusually opposite an intercostal space. Pain led to the discovery of the tumour, the nature of which was discovered at surgery, and disappeared after surgical excision. No antigenic stimulus or local haemodynamic disturbance was found, which could have accounted for the very unusual intercostal site of the lesion. PMID- 2626631 TI - [A new diagnostic approach in lymphangiomatosis. Apropos of a case]. AB - Lymphangiomyomatosis is a rare disease affecting exclusively women usually in child-bearing age. It is characterized by proliferation of an atypical smooth muscle involving the pulmonary, mediastinal and retroperitoneal lymph system. The case reported here concerns a 53-year old woman presenting with an interstitial pulmonary lesion giving a characteristic image at CT. The patient also had recurrent chylothorax and a renal angiomyolipoma explored by CT and magnetic resonance imaging. The diagnosis of lymphangiomyomatosis was made on a cluster of arguments, without having recourse to surgical lung biopsy. PMID- 2626632 TI - [Bronchial fistula caused by Pott's abscesses. Report of 3 cases]. AB - The authors report 3 cases of intrabronchial fistulisation of paravertebral abscesses due to tuberculous spondylitis of the thoracic spine. This complication is relatively rare (these 3 cases were in a series of 178 cases of Pott's disease) and is easy to diagnose due to its characteristic radio-clinical features. As mentioned in old publications, this type of fistulisation does not seem to have serious consequences. There are no particular aspects of treatment. PMID- 2626633 TI - [X-ray computed tomographic diagnosis of posterior opacity responsible for hemoptysis]. PMID- 2626634 TI - [Karyotype study of blood lymphocytes in sarcoidosis]. AB - Among 31 patients presenting with pulmonary sarcoidosis, two had abnormalities of their blood lymphocyte karyotypes. The karyotype of the first patient showed an initially high percentage of non-specifically broken chromosomes. The second patient, who had been treated with azathioprine (AZ) one year previously, had an apparently balanced translocation 46 XX, t (11; 11) (p 12, p 14) in blood T lymphocytes but not in skin fibroblast culture. Various hypotheses can be discussed to explain this translocation: a direct toxic effect of AZ or a genomic abnormality depending upon sarcoidosis and possibly revealed by AZ. It is important to note that this translocation concerned a region of the short arm of chromosome 11, where Harvey ras I and parathormone genes have been located. PMID- 2626635 TI - [Endobronchial lipomas. Apropos of 16 cases]. AB - Intrabronchial lipomas are rare and benign tumours. Sixteen cases treated between 1956 and 1988 at the Marie Lannelongue Surgical Centre, Paris, are reviewed. The patients presented with various symptoms such as cough, haemoptysis, infection or dyspnoea. Radiography was abnormal in 15 cases, and the lesion was regularly located at bronchoscopy. Treatment was chiefly surgical. Owing to the slow and silent growth of intrabronchial lipomas, there is a risk of progressive bronchial obstruction resulting in bronchopulmonary lesions. With an early detection, treatment should be as conservative as possible. PMID- 2626636 TI - [Effect of guided ventilation on gas exchange in kypho-scoliotic patients in post intensive care]. AB - Post-intensive care stabilized kyphoscoliotic patients are characterized by a limited circulation which reduces VCO in relation to VCO2 (specific VCO, Sp VCO) by diminution of the "contact time". This might help in explaining the hypoxaemia observed in these patients concurrently with alveolar hypoventilation and altered ventilation/perfusion ratio. Bradypnoea (Bp) may reduce the last two factors but not the vascular field amputation. In 10 kyphoscoliotic patients examined in spontaneous ventilation (SV), then in Bp, gas exchanges were evaluated under their 2 aspects: gas flow rates and ventilatory efficiency (ERCO2, VA/V). The results obtained in 16 examinations concerning 10 patients were analysed. There were great differences in the amplitude of ventilatory response, a significant increase of VA improving PaCO2 more constantly than PaO2, a slight increase of Sp VCO and a decrease of VCO/VA. In the discussion, ERCO2 and VA/V are compared, the high VA/V and VD/VT values are justified, the uncertain effect of Bp on PaO2 is confirmed, and the relationship of Sp VCO with DuCO and PaO2 is determined. The evaluation of exchanges in SV and Bp provides information on the degree of deterioration of blood perfusion, the physiopathology of each individual subject and the advisability of kinesitherapy with Bp. PMID- 2626637 TI - [Orientation of radiography of the thorax]. PMID- 2626638 TI - [Post-intubation right paratracheal abscess. Apropos of a case]. AB - We report the case of a young woman who had undergone a difficult emergency intubation and rapidly developed a mediastinal collection of pus. Mediastinoscopy, requested for diagnostic purposes, was also therapeutic as it drained the abscess. The patient received a course of antibiotics and was cured without sequelae. Accidents of tracheal intubation are severe, especially when unrecognized. They often include perforation of the oesophagus resulting in mediastinitis or abscess with an estimated 30 to 40% mortality rate, and they constitute a medico-surgical emergency. In the case reported here mediastinoscopy was crucial, but the theoretical value of computerized tomography must be stressed since this method not only detects the lesion but is also used to perform a guided drainage. PMID- 2626639 TI - [Sezary's syndrome appearing 2 years before bronchial epidermoid cancer]. PMID- 2626640 TI - [Psychomotor agitation after local anesthesia with lidocaine in bronchial endoscopy]. PMID- 2626641 TI - [Tracheal pseudotumor as a result of compression by cervico-thoracic osteophytes]. PMID- 2626642 TI - Fulminant hepatitis: a clinical review of 11 years. AB - 24 cases of fulminant hepatitis (FH) hospitalized in the Clinica de Doencas Infecciosas e Parasitarias do Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo during the period from January 1976 to December 1986 were reviewed from their clinical, epidemiological and laboratorial aspects. 88% of the patients died; 20 patients (83%) presented hemorrhages and, of these, 19 died. Bacterial infections occurred in 14 patients (58%) all of whom died. Ascitis was noted in 3 cases; cerebral edema was present in 16 cases. Maximal ALT levels for each patient during hospitalization ranged widely from 81 to 4,460 UI/l. Thirteen patients presented high creatinine levels (54%). Prothrombin time activity ranged from 2.1% to 67%. Fever was present in 20 cases (83%). Encephalopathy occurred within the first 2 weeks of illness in 72% of the cases. In 7 cases other illnesses were present. The etiology could not be determined in 13 cases. In 3 cases it was due to yellow fever and 6 cases were caused by viruses other than yellow fever. In one case the cause was drug usage and in another case, possibly alcohol. The authors believe that the clinical definition of FH requires further discussion before it is established. In this study FH is a young person's disease. The mortality found was similar to that by other authors. Factors that contributed to death were: hemorrhages and bacterial infection. Factors that worsened the prognosis of hepatitis were: associated illnesses and surgical procedure. The levels of ALT during hospitalization did not correlate well with the severity of the hepatitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626643 TI - Analysis of the specificity of human antibodies to antigens of Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis. AB - The antigenicity of promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis (L. b. braziliensis) treated with 1% sodium desoxycholate in 10 mM Tris-Hcl pH 8.2 was analysed by immunoblot using as probes sera from American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL), American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL), schistosomiasis, malaria and Chagas' disease. The ACL sera reacted constantly with a 60 kD band. No reactivity to this protein was observed with sera from the other diseases above mentioned indicating that the 60 kD protein may be used in serodiagnosis for ACL. PMID- 2626644 TI - [Glycoproteins from Leptospira interrogans serogroup icterohaemorrhagiae: distribution in the liver and kidney of experimentally infected guinea pigs]. AB - Tissue damage in leptospirosis has been ascribed to direct effect of the microorganisms and/or their virulence, including products synthetized by leptospires or released during their lysis. This study aimed at chemical extraction of the glycolipoprotein (GLP) from virulent leptospires, production of a rabbit anti-GLP and analysis of its distribution in liver and kidney of inoculated guinea-pigs, sacrificed sequentially from the 1st to 6th day of infection, covering the whole, spectrum of acute leptospirosis. The comparison of GLP expression to local injuries aimed at new pathogenetic data. GLP was detected in liver and kidney in 2 out of 6 guinea-pigs on the 5th day and in all 6 animals on the 6th day of infection. Granular forms were seen in the cytoplasm of macrophages, free in interstitium or adhered to endothelial and parenchymal cell membranes, especially in the most damaged sites. These findings lead us to the hypothesis of GLP as a toxic factor resulting from leptospiral lysis by macrophages. Although it was not proved as a promoter of initial lesions, it seems to be related to the enhancement of tissue damage late in the course of the disease. PMID- 2626645 TI - Giardia muris and Giardia duodenalis groups: ultrastructural differences between the trophozoites. AB - Trophozoites of the Giardia muris group from hamsters, domestic rats and mice and of the Giardia duodenalis group from hamsters and domestic rats were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The basic ultrastructure of the trophozoites was similar. Differences were shown in the morphology of the ventrolateral flange of the trophozoites of Giardia muris and Giardia duodenalis groups. Marginal plates are less developed in the species of the Giardia duodenalis group. In this group, the distal extremity of the lateral flange is short and thick and the marginal plate does not penetrate into the distal extremity of the flange. In the Giardia muris group, the ventro-lateral flange is well developed and narrow and the marginal plate penetrates the distal extremity of the flange. The osmiophilic lamella, which accompanies the dorsal surface of the marginal plate is seen only in the Giardia muris group. PMID- 2626646 TI - Histological observations on Montenegro's reaction in man. AB - The Montenegro skin test is widely used as a diagnostic method for American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) but little is known about the histological changes that occur in the skin after administration of the antigen. This report is based on histological studies of biopsied material obtained, from inoculation sites, 48 hours after individuals had been given intradermal injections with a standardized Montenegro antigen. The material examined was obtained from four distinctly different test groups: naturally infected patients with parasitologically proved ACL and with positive Montenegro's reaction; individuals without previous history of ACL and not previously tested with Montenegro antigen; participants in anti ACL vaccine trials who developed positive reactions to Montenegro antigen after vaccination; other participants in vaccine trials who had negative Montenegro responses after vaccination or had served as controls in the trials. The histological pictures of each group are described and discussed. Histologically, the reactions of vaccinated individuals were indistinguishable from those with naturally acquired infections. PMID- 2626647 TI - Toxoplasmosis serology: an efficient hemagglutination procedure to detect IgG and IgM antibodies. AB - In search of an efficient but simple, low cost procedure for the serodiagnosis of Toxoplasmosis, especially suited for routine laboratories facing technical and budget limitations as in less developed countries, the diagnostic capability of Hematoxo, an hemagglutination test for toxoplasmosis, was evaluated in relation to a battery of tests including IgG- and IgM-immunofluorescence tests, hemagglutination and an IgM-capture enzymatic assay. Detecting a little as 5 I.U. of IgG antitoxoplasma antibodies, Hematoxo showed a straight agreement as to reactivity and non-reactivity for the 443 non-reactive and the 387 reactive serum samples, included in this study. In 23 cases presenting a serological pattern of acute toxoplasmosis and showing IgM antibodies, Hematoxo could detect IgM antibodies in 18, indicated by negativation or a significant decrease in titers as a result of treating samples with 2-mercapto-ethanol. However, a neat increase in sensitivity for IgM specific antibodies could be achieved by previously removing IgG from the sample, as demonstrated in a series of acute toxoplasmosis sera. A simple procedure was developed for this purpose, by reconstituting a lyophilized suspension of Protein A--rich Staphylococcus with the lowest serum dilution to be tested. Of low cost and easy to perform, Hematoxo affords not only a practical qualitative procedure for screening reactors and non-reactors, as in prenatal services, but also quantitative assays that permit to titrate antibodies as well as to identify IgM antibodies. PMID- 2626648 TI - Use of praziquantel in populations at risk of neurocysticercosis. PMID- 2626649 TI - Where do we go from here? Planning for growth. PMID- 2626650 TI - Performance measurement. PMID- 2626651 TI - The importance of positive professional relations. PMID- 2626652 TI - Occupational safety and health. PMID- 2626653 TI - Reproduction of color in porcelain. Factors to consider. PMID- 2626654 TI - Jobs, tasks, work, people, production, quality. PMID- 2626655 TI - Promoting your laboratory. PMID- 2626656 TI - Intentional tortious conduct and dental caregivers: Part II. PMID- 2626657 TI - Successful prosthetic rehabilitation of edentulous jaws via osseointegrated Branemark implants. PMID- 2626658 TI - International Symposium on Fundamental Problems in Evolutionary Biology. Moscow (USSR), April 20-25, 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2626659 TI - The generic dynamics of reproduction and evolution. PMID- 2626660 TI - Behavioral neophenogenesis. A role for individual development in evolution. PMID- 2626661 TI - An exercise in rational taxonomy. PMID- 2626662 TI - Intrinsic evolution of proteins. The role of peptidic palindromes. PMID- 2626663 TI - Total reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint with the Vitek-Kent prostheses. PMID- 2626664 TI - Arthrography compared with MRI for TMJ intracapsular soft tissue diagnosis. PMID- 2626665 TI - Cytologic characteristics of neoplastic and of regenerating hepatocytes in fine needle aspirates of rat liver. AB - L-azaserine (l-aza)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCA) and hyperplastic liver lesions were studied in livers from 86 l-aza treated animals and 16 saline controls. Eight additional rats studied 24 or 48 hr after partial hepatectomy and 8 young rats studied after no experimental manipulation served as additional controls for determination of cytologic effects of increased cell turnover. Fine needle aspirates (FNA) were made of all gross liver lesions and of grossly normal liver; H&E stained sections of liver surrounding each needle track were made. The FNA were fixed in 95% ethanol, stained with a routine Papanicolaou stain, randomized, and evaluated using 18 cytologic features. They were diagnosed without knowledge of the histologic diagnosis or treatment group. Features were analyzed with discriminant function analysis to determine their relative importance in making the diagnosis. FNA proved to be an accurate method for diagnosis of hepatocellular lesions in laboratory animals. The cytologic features of greatest usefulness in establishing the diagnosis were cord pattern, chromatin pattern, nucleolar size and nuclear membrane irregularity. FNA could provide a useful experimental technique for following evolving lesions serially and for identifying subgroups within hyperplastic nodules. PMID- 2626666 TI - Hemangioendothelial sarcoma in brown adipose tissue of mouse induced by carcinogenic heterocyclic amine, Glu-P-1. AB - 2-Amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]limidazole, a potent bacterial mutagen from glutamic acid pyrolysate, when given to male CDF1 mice at a concentration of 0.05% in the diet induced blood vessel tumors characterized histopathologically. These hemangioendothelial sarcomas showed positive alkaline phosphatase activity histochemically and Weibel-Palade bodies ultrastructurally. Neoplasms were predilective for brown adipose tissue and foci of atypical cells, not peliosis like lesions, appear to be an early stage in tumor development. PMID- 2626667 TI - The ultrastructure and reversibility of testicular atrophy induced by ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) in the rat. AB - Inhalation exposure to 300 ppm ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) for 3 days produced degenerative changes in spermatocytes of pachytene and meiotic division at spermatogenic stage XIV in rats. However, a wide range of germ cell types including spermatogonia was affected and the stage-specific damage was not discernible after 2 weeks exposure to 300 ppm EGME. The stage-specific damage was related to exposure concentration-time course. In early stages, degenerating spermatocytes showed nuclear chromatin clumping around synaptonemal complexes, cytoplasmic vesiculation with electron-dense material deposition, and disruption of the plasma membrane. Chromosomal microtubules in the meiotic division of spermatocytes were discontinued with deposition of electron-dense chromatin material. Sertoli cells showed cytoplasmic vacuolization, contact loss to germ cells, and cytoplasmic processes fragmentation with disrupted microtubules. Degenerative pachytene or meiotic spermatocytes were associated with disrupted Sertoli-germ cell relationship, chromosomal microtubules, and synaptonemal complexes. Spermatid degeneration and giant cell formation were observed after spermatocyte degeneration. Spermatid degeneration appeared to be a secondary change resulting from disrupted Sertoli-to-germ cell association. After 14 days post-exposure (PE) following 2 weeks exposure, some tubules were lined with regenerating spermatocytes with or without round spermatids. By 42 days PE, many tubules regained normal germinal epithelium, but some tubules were still atrophic even after 84 days PE. Reversibility of testicular atrophy was inversely proportional to severity of damaged stem cells. PMID- 2626668 TI - Effects of nitrofurantoin on the primary and secondary reproductive organs of female B6C3F1 mice. AB - The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has reported female mice fed high doses of Nitrofurantoin (NFT) were found to have ovarian atrophy as diagnosed histologically and increased benign ovarian tumors after 24 months of exposure (30). This result contrasts with 4 other recent carcinogenicity assays in rodents with NFT, all with no evidence of an ovarian effect. An extensive database documents benign tubular adenomas develop secondary to ovarian atrophy in many mouse strains, including B6C3F1. The present study was initiated to confirm this mechanism could be responsible for the ovarian tumors in the NTP study and to investigate the time course of ovarian changes seen in female B6C3F1 mice. Mice were provided diet containing NFT at doses of 350 and 500 mg/kg body weight/day and examined after 4, 8, 13, 17, 43 and 64 weeks. A dose-related decrease in feed consumption, feed efficiency and body weight gain was seen and persisted throughout the study. Sexual maturity was delayed in a dose-related fashion, compatible with previously reported effects of reduced food consumption in rodents (12, 16). All groups of mice eventually did have normal estrous cycles, but cycle lengths were increased in a dose-related fashion. Both doses of NFT resulted in histological evidence of senile ovarian atrophy by week 43. Based on the reported association between sterility and ovarian tumors, we conclude the benign tubular adenomas seen at 2 yr in the NTP carcinogenicity study with NFT were secondary to the ovarian atrophy induced in this strain of mouse and not an indication NFT, itself, is a carcinogen. PMID- 2626669 TI - [Practical possibilities in the participation of libraries and information centers in undergraduate medical education]. AB - With the aim of helping to improve the results of pedagogical work, the author presents an analysis of preconditions (professional, psychological, personal, technical, operational, and financial) of practical acquisition of information techniques and procedures by teachers, students and information workers, based on his experience and research in 1967-1988. The significance of a substantial improvement in the information knowledge of gifted students who participate pregradually in research programmes is accentuated, as well as the need of a close cooperation of information workers with university teachers in the sphere of research. The delivery of new sources that are essential for pedagogical work direct onto the desks of the teachers is pointed out as an irreplaceable function of libraries and information centres, the same as technical assistance in their publication activities. It is suggested that the demands on the provision of the pregradual training with library services and information supply should correspond to those of the research. PMID- 2626670 TI - [The development and disappearance of electrical current in frog heart injuries induced by suction electrodes]. AB - Origin and extinction of current due to damage caused by suction electrode on frog heart was studied. By means of epicardial and intracellular leads it was found out that this demarcation current manifests itself only in a very limited space around the place of suction and does not differ from the current due to damage caused by restraint in the coronary bloodstream in hearts of warm-blooded or in myocardial infarction in man. Membrane depolarization degree is diminishing from the place of suction with all accompanying manifestations also in intracellular recordings. The main cause of these changes is the local raised concentration of extracellular potassium ions and the participation of sodium and calcium ions is also being considered. It was proved that this simple biological model of current due to damage is suitable for the study of some changes in electrical heart area and in this way depolarizing and repolarizing parts of the electrocardiogram also in the ischemic heart disease in man. PMID- 2626671 TI - [Apolipoprotein B, a risk factor in ischemic heart disease: possibilities of its determination using Czechoslovak-manufactured antisera]. AB - When studying disorders fat metabolism in respect to ischemic heart disease great attention has been recently paid first of all to the protein component of lipoprotein complexes, apolipoproteins. Apolipoproteins seem to be much more sensitive indicators of coronary atherosclerosis risk than so far commonly used "lipid" ones. In the presented study we introduce our experience concerning apolipoprotein B assessment by means of rocket technique using foreign made antisera in comparison with antiserum of the Czechoslovak production made by USOL Prague. Our results are comparable with those of foreign and Czechoslovak authors who assessed apolipoprotein B by technically more demanding methods. When using antisera USOL and Behring the established values of apolipoprotein B are comparable both in patients in whom fat metabolism disorder was not proved and in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia in whom the values of apolipoprotein B are the highest. Indications of apolipoprotein B investigation and its significance for clinical practice are discussed. PMID- 2626672 TI - [Silent myocardial ischemia in diabetics]. AB - The present communication deals with knowledge gained at detecting episodes of silent myocardial ischaemia in a group of diabetics with a positive load ECG test. With the recent advance of new examination methods it becomes evident that the asymptomatic transitional defects of perfusion or myocardial function in patients with ischaemic heart disease are apparently the most frequent ischaemic accidents which the patient experiences during his or her usual daily activity. They are not caused by increased demands on oxygen supply by the myocardium, rather it is the case of decreased oxygen supply due to dynamic changes in arterial blood supply of the myocardium during transient arterial vasoconstriction. These accidents are markedly more frequent in diabetic patients in whom an earlier and more severe development of ischaemic heart disease occurs. Associated are also specific changes in autonomous nerve fibres conducting pain, which shift a number of ischaemic episodes to the asymptomatic form. PMID- 2626673 TI - [The clinical picture of pulmonary tuberculosis over the past 40 years]. AB - Most patients with pulmonary tuberculosis present to their physician because of the symptoms of this disease. This study was aimed at finding out how the clinical picture of pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed for the first time changes in the patients hospitalized at our department in the years 1948-1986. Furthermore, the percentage of asymptomatic patients, the frequency of detectable cavern and mycobacteria tuberculosis were established. During the time period studied a change in clinical picture of the disease occurred as seen on the 13 symptoms followed. The previously common haemoptysis is a rarer symptom of tuberculosis at present (17.5% in the 1948-1950 population compared to 5.0% in the 1983-1986 population). There is an increasing number of patients in which tuberculosis manifests itself by breathlessness (2.3% of the 1948-1950 population compared to 10.9% in the years 1979-1981). In the whole period studied patients with symptoms prevail, the difference between the 1948-1950 period (71.1%) and that of 1979-1986 (67.0%) is not statistically significant. The number of patients with cavernous tuberculosis is decreasing (75% of patients in the years 1948-1950, 37% of patients in the years 1983-1986), there is an increase in bacteriologically proven diseases (33.9% of the 1948-1950 population, 73.0% of that of 1983-1986). The change in the clinical picture of tuberculosis is connected with the improvement of social conditions of the whole population, introduction of compulsory BCG vaccination and effective therapy, as well as bovine tuberculosis elimination. The change in the clinical picture of the disease is also influenced by the ever increasing mean age of the patients. PMID- 2626674 TI - [Motor and sensory laterality in the population of Prague]. AB - Laterality is a developmental (not pathological) deviation in shape functional symmetry of paired motor and sensory organs. As it is one of the most specific features of the human being, great attention is paid to it during recent decades. These problems are important also form the point of view of findings of laterality changes in schizophrenics. The authors present results of examination of a normal Prague population sample. The estimated data on stratification of laterality findings in this group may serve as standard control figures for comparison and evaluation of findings in various defects and illnesses. 754 Prague blood donors (367 males and 387 females) aged 18-60 years (mean age 31.1 years) were examined. Probands in whom it could be the case of either pathological or out of necessity laterality or who had a history of mental disease were not included in this population. The motor (hand, foot) and sensory (eye, ear) phenotype of the probands were ascertained using Matejcek and Zlab test (8) which was expanded by several important operations. Moreover, the examination was supplemented by aimed questions on some operations. The total numbers found in this population were following: 74% of right-handed, 13.9% of ambidextrous and 12% of left-handed individuals. As for the motor laterality of the lower limbs, an ambiguous laterality of the foot is present more frequently (34.9%), right laterality in 56.9% and left only in 8.2%. The sensory left-sided laterality is generally higher than the motor left-sided laterality--left-sided vision in 26.7% and left-sided hearing in 23.3%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626675 TI - [The incidence of gastroduodenal ulcer disease and consideration of the appropriate indications for surgery]. AB - The author of this communication gathered whole range of important information on 2,173 patients permanently resident in Prague 4 district, in whom the gastroduodenal ulcers were diagnosed in the years 1979-1988. It was proved that the current therapy does not yield the results which would by satisfactory both for the patient and physician. Medical therapy prevails, in some strictly indicated cases leading to planned surgical interventions. On the basis of generally clear and acknowledge indication criteria in acute conditions (haemorrhage, perforation, stenoses) the author tries to create a certain pattern of examinations and data gathering necessary for a responsible recommendation of planned surgery. The prerequisite is to pay more attention to the often neglected complexity with the awareness of the psychosomatic character of gastroduodenal ulcers. PMID- 2626676 TI - Renal and hepatic effects of NSAIDs in the elderly. AB - Adverse drug reactions are more common in patients over sixty-five years of age. There is no significant change of absorption with aging but oxidations reactions are, usually, decreased. The most important change is in the renal elimination of drugs. The renal insufficiency related to the use of NSAIDs is prostaglandin dependent. It is characterized by a fall in urine output, body weight gain, rising of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and, sometimes, potassium. This situation is usually rapidly reversible after discontinuation of the therapy but an acute renal failure may occur. Patients with atherosclerotic cardio-vascular disease and concurrent diuretic therapy have an increased risk of renal insufficiency. Liver damage induced by NSAIDs presents as an acute hepatitis with a greater or lesser degree of cholestasis. This picture is often indistinguishable from viral hepatitis and sometimes it may resemble chronic active hepatitis. Females with a concomitant impairment of renal function are specially at risk for liver damage and should be carefully followed on with a reduction of NSAIDs dosage. PMID- 2626677 TI - Long term study of ketoprofen SR in elderly patients. AB - Elderly patients are often chronically treated with different drugs. As rheumatic conditions are very common in this population, NSAIDs are widely used on a chronic basis. To determine the safety profile of ketoprofen, an international prospective study was set up to monitor the effects of the drug over a 12-month period. Four hundred and sixty five patients were enrolled mostly for osteoarthritis (86%) and rheumatoid arthritis (14%) and received a 200 mg SR tablet o.d. Sex ratio (women/men) was 3/1 and mean age was 70.8 +/- 5.8 years (range: 62-95). The pain as evaluated by the VAS decreased from 50 +/- 2.8 mm at baseline to 20 +/- 1.7 mm at the end of the study. 33.3% of patients complained of side-effects mostly related to GI tract (18%), CNS (4%) and skin (2%). After 12 months of treatment, the maintenance rate was 71.6%. No relationship was evidenced between side-effect incidence and age or cumulative dose, even for severe GI side-effects. 13.3% patients withdrew from the study for side-effects, nearly always related to GI tract (11.2%), 60% of which occurred during the first month. Skin side-effects were always benign. In conclusion, ketoprofen, a short half-life NSAID, administered on a long-term basis in elderly patients has a favorable safety profile and displays no increase in toxicity with age. PMID- 2626678 TI - Potential influences of ketoprofen on human healthy and osteoarthritic cartilage in vitro. AB - Ketoprofen (Orudis, Rhone-Poulenc) is an anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic properties that is used in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA). It is therefore of interest to know whether ketoprofen has a direct influence on cartilage metabolism. We studied the effects of ketoprofen in therapeutic concentrations, on proteoglycan (PG) turnover in explants of human cartilage. The cartilage specimens were divided into three groups: healthy young (less than or equal to 3 yrs) n = 8, healthy old (mean 56 yrs) n = 13 and OA cartilage (greater than or equal to 65 yrs) n = 15. The rate of PG synthesis at day 4 of the culture was measured by the uptake of 35S sulphate. Cartilage PG content and PG release into the medium were determined over 8 days of culture. Ketoprofen stimulated the rate of PG synthesis of young cartilage, but not of old cartilage. In OA cartilage both stimulation and suppression occurred. Ketoprofen had no influence on cartilage PG content and PG release of healthy or OA cartilage during the 8 days of culture. The cartilage was examined histologically, and graded for severity of OA. There was no relation between the severity of OA and the effect of ketoprofen. PMID- 2626679 TI - The elderly patient: a special case. AB - The elderly population represents an increasing part of the population, as life expectancy lengthens. As a consequence, rheumatic diseases, especially osteoarthritis, which is highly correlated with age, is increasingly prevalent. NSAIDs, the basic treatment of rheumatic diseases, are thus more and more widely prescribed to elderly patients. These patients must be regarded as a special population because of physiologic changes in absorption, distribution and excretion of drugs due to concomitant treatments of diseases (frequent in the elderly) which may alter metabolism. Specific studies have to be conducted in elderly patients in order to improve the evaluation of the benefit/risk ratio of drugs widely prescribed for this population. This explains why this symposium is devoted to NSAIDs and elderly. PMID- 2626680 TI - [Electric responses evoked by C-fiber input from saphenous nerve in cat cerebellar cortex]. AB - When the A-fibers of the saphenous nerve were stimulated at a lower intensity which elicited the A-fiber input only, an evoked potential (A-CEP) which consisted of an early component with latency of 11.8 +/- 3.5ms and a late component with latency of 312.1 +/- 17.5ms could be recorded on the surface of the cerebellar cortex in cat. When A- and C-fibers were activated by stimulation at the strength of C-fiber suprathreshold, the latency and configuration of the evoked potential had no significant difference from one of the A-CEP. After A fibers were blocked by the polarizing current, stimulation at the strength of C fiber suprathreshold could evoke a characteristic C-CEP with latency of 134.2 +/- 18.4ms. In general, C-CEP whose maximal amplitude was recorded on the vermain lobule VI was a positive-negative potential and its phases were reversed in the deep layer of the cerebellar cortex. C-CEP had a smaller amplitude, a longer latency and a lower following frequency than A-CEP had. In comparison with A-CEP, C-CEP had a high susceptibility to the morphine. The results showed that C-CEP which was evoked by the selective C-fiber input and generated in the cerebellar cortex seemed to be a response to the information of the slow pain input. It was suggested that C-fiber input could reach the cerebellar cortex and elicited an evoked potential. When A- and C-fiber were activated at the same time, C-CEP might be inhibited by the A-fiber input. PMID- 2626681 TI - [Effects of glycine and GABA on primary afferent terminal excitability in mouse spinal cord]. AB - The effects of GABA, glycine and their antagonists on primary afferent terminal excitability were observed on isolated spinal cord of 10-15 day-old mouse. The results indicated that electrical stimulation of an adjacent dorsal root and electrophoresis of GABA, Thip., thiomuscimol and glycine can evoke a fall in threshold, the excitability of single primary afferent terminal was increased. Bicuculline, an antagonist of GABA receptor, can block effects of GABA, Thip. and thiomuscimol, but it has no effect on glycine. However, strychnine, an antagonist of glycine, can block the effect of glycine but not to GABA. These results suggest that there are GABA and glycine receptors on primary afferent terminals of mouse spinal cord and the type of glycine receptor may be the same as neuron body. PMID- 2626682 TI - [Electrical membrane properties of neurones of mesencephalic nucleus of fifth nerve in rats]. AB - Intracellular recordings were made from 79 neurones in the mesencephalic nucleus of fifth nerve (MNV) contained within rat brain stem slice preparation in vitro. The electrical membrane characteristics of 20 neurones among them were measured. The resting membrane potential, input resistance and membrane time constant of MNV neurones were -60.3 +/- 5.6 mV, 10.5 +/- 5.4M omega and 1.3 +/- 0.5 ms respectively. No action potential occurred spontaneously at resting membrane potential. The action potential was elicited by application of a depolarizing rectangular pulse to the neuron. The data of 32 MNV neurones action potentials showed that the threshold potentials ranged from -50 mV to -55 mV, the duration of the spike was 0.8 +/- 0.2 ms and the amplitude of the spike was 69.5 +/- 6.1 mV with an overshoot of 11.9 +/- 3.6 mV. The action potential disappeared reversibly by perfusion of Na-free solution or TTX (0.3 mumol/L) added in Krebs solution. The repetitive discharge was elicited by a long lasting depolarizing rectangular pulse applied to the neuron, its frequency was 200-250 Hz at the beginning of the pulse and disappeared before the ending of the pulse. The repetitive discharge usually consists of 2-15 spikes. The halfway disappearance of the repetitive discharge was prevented by TEA or 4-AP. The subthreshold potential oscillation followed the action potential at membrane potential -60(-) 55 mV, and this potential oscillation was not affected by TTX, but it was abolished by perfusion of Ca-free solution. However, its amplitude was increased by TEA or 4-AP. When the resting membrane potential was depolarized, the outward rectification in 40 among 45 MNV neurones was seen, which was inhibited by TEA, 4 AP or Ca-free perfusion. On the other hand, the inward rectification was seen when the resting membrane potential was hyperpolarized, which was inhibited by Cs ion or Na-free perfusion. When the blockers of K channels were added into Krebs solution, the steady state I-V relationship of the neurones was changed correspondingly. It is suggested that the IDR, IA, IK(Ca), and IQ are related to the resting membrane conductances. PMID- 2626683 TI - [Activities of single cochlear nerve fibers in rats]. AB - Activities of 325 single cochlear nerve fibers in response to pure tones at various frequencies including ultrasonic sounds were observed in rats. The stimulus sounds were measured with a probe tube inserted into an ear canal and a microphone and expressed in dB SPL. The best frequency (BF, characteristic frequency) and the threshold at BF were determined in every fiber. The measured BF ranged from 0.58 kHz to 62.6 kHz. BF and the threshold at BF of a fiber with the lowest BF-threshold were 27.49kHz and 6dB SPL respectively. The highest sensitivity was found in fibers with BF from 20 to 50 kHz. The tuning curve rose from BF and its slope was steeper for the high side than the low one as observed in other animals. The sharpness of the tuning curve was expressed by QN values, where QN is the ratio of BF to the band width at N dB above the BF threshold. Mean and the variance of Q10dB, Q20dB, Q30dB, Q40dB, Q50dB, all increased as the BF did. Almost all fibers had spontaneous discharge. The discharge rate increased with the increase in sound intensity and saturated at about 30 dB above the threshold. The auditory threshold curve obtained from distribution of the lowest BF-threshold of 325 fibers was consistent with the audiograms determined behaviorally. PMID- 2626684 TI - [Effects of CCK-8 of hypothalamus on antral motility in rats]. AB - Cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) of 10 ng were injected into lateral hypothalamus (LH) and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) in conscious rats, both of which brought about inhibition of antral motility recorded by a strain gauge, the actions were partly antagonised by bilateral vagotomy, but blocked by intravenous infusion of atropine or regitine. It is suggested that both vagus and sympathetic nerves be involved in mediation of function of central CCK-8. In addition, the unit spontaneous discharges of neurons in vagal nuclei were attenuated while CCK 8 injected into LH. On the contrary, the antral motility was stimulated markedly by injection CCK-8-antiserum into LH, indicating that the endogenous CCK-8 in this area exercises a continuous restraint on antral motility in the basal state. CCK-8 cells both in LH and VMH were visualized by PAP method. It may be reasonable to refer this as the histological basis of the identical function on antral motility exercised by CCK-8 both in LH and VMH. PMID- 2626685 TI - [Studies on the mechanism of acute gastric ulceration induced by high spinal cord transection]. AB - Spinal cord of the rat was transected at C7 level to produce acute gastric ulcer. It was observed as follows: (1) The body temperature (B.T.) of the cord transected animals fell in a good agreement with ambient temperature. It appears that the fall in B.T. is one of the main causes inducing ulceration. (2) Administration of epinephrine decreased ulceration and prevented the fall in B.T. both in a dose-dependent manner. (3) Cord transection induced ulcer formation was markedly attenuated by adrenalectomy and exacerbated again by displacement with dexamethasone, but the fall in B.T. was unaffected at all in either case. (4) The variations in acid secretory and endocrine function of gastric mucosa after transection might be involved in ulcer formation. PMID- 2626686 TI - [The facilitatory effect of sympathetic efferents on sustained discharges of polymodal nociceptors]. AB - Injection of a compound algogenic substance into receptive field of the skin induced sustained discharges of polymodal nociceptors in rats. The sustained discharges were obviously increased by stimulation of the sympathetic nerve innervating the receptive field. Initial facilitation was followed by the inhibition of discharges in partial units. The sympathetic effect can be activated repeatedly and lasted for a prolonged time. Injection of norepinephrine (5 micrograms/0.2 ml) into the local artery could cause the similar effect. Results indicate that the sympathetic efferents facilitates the sustained discharges of polymodal nociceptors. The possibility of producing causalgia and contrary results of experiments were discussed. PMID- 2626687 TI - [Comparison of effect in the change of respiration by stimulating three trigeminal subnucleus]. AB - Experiments were performed on 31 rabbits. After recovery from surgical anesthesia the change of respiration were observed in various experimental conditions, under which original nucleus of trigemini (ONT), terminal nucleus of trigemini (TNT), spinal tractus nucleus of trigemini (SNT) were respectively stimulated by an electrical current (EC) or monosodium glutamate (MSG) or lidocaine (LID). Because SNT had a longitudinal long shape, three different sections of SNT were selected as stimulating points respectively, namely rostral point (A2.33 mm), middle point (AP0 mm) and caudal point P1.9 mm). Phrenic nerve discharge and its integrated curve, PCO2 and blood pressure were recorded by a RM-6000 polygraph. The results indicated that the stimulations of EC and MSG to SNT and TNT enhanced respiratory activity obviously. Stimulation of EC and MSG to ONT caused much less enhancement of respiration. Microinjection of LID to TNT and ONT decreased respiratory activity, but microinjection of LID to SNT increased. The present experiment concluded that stimulation of SNT and TNT could cause significant change in respiration. PMID- 2626688 TI - [Peripheral circulatory responses during dental treatment under local anesthesia. Comparison between plethysmogram and ultrasonic Doppler blood flow]. AB - In this study, peripheral circulatory responses during dental treatment under local anesthesia were observed. Changes in hemodynamics data, ECG, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), digital and ear-lobe plethysmogram (PT), and radials and external carotid artery ultrasonic doppler blood flow (FW) were recorded by means of a multipurpose monitoring system. An improved fixed probe was devised for the purpose of stabilizing the external carotid artery FW record, and the ear-piece facebow system (Hanau, No. 153) was remodeled. Radial FW index D/S1 and external carotid FW index d/S1 were analyzed to determine systolic velocity S1 and diastolic velocity D or d. Pressure tests and cold stimulation tests were performed as fundamental research. Comparative investigations were made of changes in PT and FW in the light of SBP, DBP and heart rate (HR). A total of 71 instances of dental treatment was performed on 25 non-hypertensive patients (N-HT) and 25 patients with essential hypertension (HT). The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the local anesthetic employed: the E group, to whom 1:80,000 epinephrine with an addition of 2% lidocaine was administered, and the NE group, to whom 1:25,000 norepinephrine was administered. Results and conclusions 1. When peripheral blood flow was interrupted during the pressure test, digital PT and radial FW were disappeared. 2. Digital PT, radial diastolic FW D, and index D/S1 decreased greatly as a result of the cold stimulation test. It was suggested that changes in digital PT accord with the diastolic velocity D of radial FW. 3. At the stage of local anesthesia, SBP rose most in the HT-NE group. There was a tendency for digital PT and radial FW D either to decrease or to increase. It was assumed that cardio stroke volume increased when PT and FW increased. Decreases in digital PT and radial FW apparently indicate increased capillary resistance. 4. Greatest increases in HR at the stage of local anesthesia occurred in the N-HT-E group. Digital PT and radial FW D tended to decrease. In cases of increased HR, PT and FW tended to decrease. In comparison with conditions immediately before treatment, digital PT and radial FW D decreased more in the N-HT group than in the HT group. PMID- 2626689 TI - [Dynamic study of miniplates by finite element method]. AB - Three-dimensional analysis by means of the finite element method was made of displacement and principal stress at various parts of plates and bone fragments. The plates were 4 Champy, AO, Luhr, Steinhauser 4-hole, short miniplates (Plates 1,2,3, and 4) and Plate 5, which was the same as the others except that it was made of titanium. To all of these plates loads were applied in the directions of the Y and Z axes on the free(right)ends. The plates were fixed in place by means of screw holes 1 and 2 in the left ends. In addition, various kind of osteosynthesis were performed on 2 bone fragments with Plate 1. The left ends of these fragments were fixed in place, and loads were applied to the free(right)ends in the Y and Z axes. 1) When load was applied in the direction of the Y axis, displacements along the Y and X axes were greatest in the case of Plate 5 and next greatest in Plate 1. Displacement along the Z axis was greatest in Plate 3 and next greatest in Plate 5. Displacement along the X axis was least in Plate 3 and displacement along Y and Z axes were least in Plate 4. 2) When load was applied in the direction of the Z axis, displacements along the all axes were greatest in Plate 5, next greatest in Plate 1, and least in Plate 4. 3) In all plates, when load was applied in the direction of the Y axis, maximum principal stresses occured above the region between screw holes 2 and 3. Minimum principal stress, however, concentrated below the area between screw holes 2 and 3 in all models. 4) In all plate models, when loads was applied in the direction of the Z axis, maximum principal stresses concentrated in the outer central part of each plate in the region between the vicinity of the right edge of screw hole 2 and the vicinity of the left edge of screw hole 3. Minimum principal stress, on the outer hand, concentrated in the inner middle region of the plate in a zone corresponding to that in which maximum principal stress concentrated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2626690 TI - [An experimental study on internal structures in the Japanese dentulous mandible]. AB - Measurement of the human substantia compacta and spongy bone. For the sake of a fuller understanding of the structure of the human mandible, a study was made to clarify objectively the thickness of the substantia compacta, the ratio of spongy bone to the total substantia spongiosa, and the width of the spongy bone. Subjects were 11 human mandibles from individuals ranging in age between 35 and 64. All teeth from the central incisor through the second molar remained in place. Measurement was performed with a personal-computer-based image-processing system. Results 1. Width of the substantia compacta Measurement of the width of the substantia compacta showed the thickest part (3.32-3.35 mm) to be roughly at the center of the lingual side of the incisors. The second thickest (2.85-2.90 mm) was located at the buccal-alveolar part of the molars. The thinnest (1.26 1.27 mm) part was located at the labial-alveolar part of the incisors. The next thinnest part (1.74-1.75 mm) was located at the central lingual portion of molars. In the mandible base, thicknesses at all locations fell in the range of 2.76-2.98 mm, with little location-related variation observed. In the labial(buccal)alveolar region, the substantia compacta grows thicker from the mental region toward the molars. In the central lingual region, it grows thinner from the mental region toward the molars. 2. Ratio of spongy bone to total substantia spongiosa Measurements showed the highest ratio (80.9-81.4%) of spongy bone to total substantia spongiosa to be in the lower lingual side of the incisors. This was followed by the central lingual portion of the mental region (80.36%) and the labial side and central regions of the incisors (69.71-78.36%). The ratio was lowest (29.79%) at the first and second premolars. In general, the ratio was high in the incisor region and low near the premolars. No difference was observed between the buccal and lingual sides of the incisor and premolar regions, although in the molar region, the ratio was relatively higher on the buccal than on the lingual side. 3. Width of the spongy bone within the substantia spongiosa. PMID- 2626691 TI - [Zonograms of temporomandibular joints in patients with anterior displacement of the disc without reduction]. AB - Zonogram investigations were made of 86 temporomandibular joints in 81 patients who were diagnosed by video-fluoroarthrogram as having anterior disc displacement without reduction. Comparisons between of condylar shape and movement, clinical phenomena, and disc perforation were made. Results 1. Condylar deformity on zonograms was classified into 3 types: flattening, osteophyte, and concavity. Condylar deformity was much higher in patients than in normal volunteer controls. 2. Condylar movement patterns were classified into 3 types: coordinated, uncoordinated, and limited. Coordinated movement was frequently observed in normal volunteers, and limited movement was common in the patients group. 3. In the patients group, condylar deformity was observed in both the displaced and the non-displaced sides, although it occurred with extremely high frequency in the displaced side. Condylar deformation was more common when the disc was perforated than when it was unperforated. A correlation between condyle deformity and pain on the non-displaced side was suggested; but no correlation existed between condylar deformity and such elements as age, joint sounds, mouth opening range, and locking term. 4. Limited condylar movement occurred more frequency in the displaced than in the non-displaced side. Consequently values for limited movement without joint sounds were high for the displaced side; and coordinated movement without joint sounds was frequent in the non-displaced side. There was no correlation between condylar movement and such elements as mouth opening range, locking term, and disc perforation. 5. Comparisons of condylar deformity and movement with clinical phenomena and disc perforation showed no instances of high (greater than or equal to 0.5) correlation. These results suggest that, in the temporomandibular joint, changes occur in both hard and soft tissues and that these changes take place on both the displaced and non-displaced sides. PMID- 2626692 TI - [The rabbit thermo-regulatory system. Effects of high dose of sodium fluoride]. AB - The mechanism of sodium fluoride (NaF) induced hypothermia was investigated on relations between the monoamine synthesis and metabolism in the rabbit brain. Five male rabbits per a group, weighing about 2.5kg and having rectal temperatures of 38.4 to 39.3 degrees C, were used in this experiment. The rectal temperature measurements were made by means of an electric thermometer for 5 hours at intervals of 15 or 30 minutes. Through this experiment, animals were housed in a room kept at 22 to 23 degrees C. The following drugs were used in this experiment: NaF (40 mg/kg i.v.), barbital sodium (0.1 g/kg s.c.), hexamethonium bromide (C6, 10 mg/kg i.v.), ergotamine tartrate (30 mg/kg s.c.), phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride (15 mg/kg i.v.), propranolol hydrochloride (5 mg/kg s.c.), pindolol (0.3 mg/kg s.c.), atropine sulfate (30 mg/kg s.c.), 2, 4 dinitrophenol (DNP, 20 mg/kg i.v.), l-DOPA (20 mg/kg i.v.), 5-HTP (20 mg/kg i.v.) Results 1. Intravenous injection of 30 mg/kg of NaF induced a drop of 0.66 degrees C in rectal temperature. 2. Pretreatment with 0.1 mg/kg of barbital sodium or 10 mg/kg of C6 prominently inhibited the NaF-induced hypothermia. 3. The alpha-blockade caused by ergotamine tartrate and phenoxybenzamine or the beta blockade by propranolol hydrochloride and pindolol resulted in an approximate 50% inhibition of maximum drop in body temperature induced by NaF administration. Both alpha- and beta-blockades caused by ergotamine tartrate and propranolol or by phenoxybenzamine and pindolol, however, made a remarkable inhibition of the NaF effect. Cholinergic blockade brought on by atropine sulfate, on the other hand, had no effect against NaF-induced hypothermia. 4. Bilateral splanchnicotomy completely inhibited drops in rectal temperature. 5. Intravenous injection of NaF 40 mg/kg failed to counteract the rise of rectal temperature caused by DNP 20 mg/kg. 6. Pretreatment with l-DOPA made a prominent inhibition of NaF-induced hypothermia. The inhibiting effects of 5-HTP, however, were slight. 7. Administration of NaF made a significant decrease in norepinephrine levels in the rabbit hypothalamus, but had no effect on 5-HT levels. PMID- 2626693 TI - [Experimental studies on the sealing properties of various kinds of root canal sealers in vitro (Part 3)]. AB - In previous studies (Shikwa Gakuho 80: 473-485, 1471-1486, 1980), the authors have reported on sealing properties in vitro. But the recent development of many new sealers makes necessary a detailed reexamination at this time. The experimental materials were as follows; Zinc oxide eugenol sealer......Canals Calcium hydroxide eugenol sealer......CRCS, Dentalis KEZ Calcium hydroxide guaiacol sealer......FR Hydroxyapatite sealer......Finapec APC, Apatite root sealer TYPE III The experimental procedure employing a glass tube and the dye penetration method was similar to the one used in previous studies. Results of the investigation; 1. Degrees of dye penetration were classified into 3 types i) Immediate penetration through the zone between the material and the glass tube within 2 days.--Apatite root sealer TYPE III, Dentalis KEZ ii) Little penetration within 12 hours but gradual penetration to the deep zone thereafter.--CRCS, Canals iii) Slight penetration within 7 days and then gradual penetration 1/5 of the way through the zone between the material and the glass tube.--Finapec APC 2. Dye penetrated through the material in the case of apatite root sealer TYPE III and FR. PMID- 2626694 TI - [A development of data analyzing system for the mandibular movement]. AB - Recent developments in medical engineering has made it easy to record biological phenomena. Furthermore, the widespread popularity of the personal computer has made data processing system remarkably efficient. In this study, an efficient personal computer system for mandibular movement analysis is investigated, and a data analyzing system for that movement developed. Applying this system to chewing movements in a small number of cases made possible efficient, easy and accurate analysis. The following is an outline of the system and its applicability. 1. Standard measuring coordinate system for mandibular position and designation of mandibular position measuring point An orthogonal coordinate system is used to the standard measuring coordinate system for mandibular position measurement coordinates. The X axis of this orthogonal coordinate system is determined as a straight line connecting two LEDs. The origin point is designated as the center between two LEDs. This connects with the upper dentition or the maxilla. The mandibular position measuring point is designated on the orthogonal coordinate system. The X axis of this orthogonal coordinate system is determined as a straight line connecting two LEDs. The origin point is designated as the center between two LEDs. This connects with the lower dentition or the mandible. The analysis of mandibular position of designated measuring point on the lower dentition or the mandible is performed corresponding to the orthogonal coordinate system on the upper dentition or the maxilla. 2. Calculation of coordinates value [mm] for mandibular position measuring point In the analysis, value [V] for the distance between two LEDs established on the upper jaw is substituted for the already input real distance [mm] between two LEDs. The coordinates value of the mandibular position measuring point is calculated from these substitution value. 3. Data recording Data concerning mandibular movement and myoelectric discharges are recorded by means of a data recorder. Digital data are converted to analogue data from the data recorder by means of a 12-bit A/D converter and they are accumulated in the memory of the personal computer system. Digital data in the memory of the personal computer system can be stored in about 97 seconds for the storage capacity of a floppy disk (2HD) memory area. PMID- 2626695 TI - [A case of myelodysplastic syndrome with basophilia]. PMID- 2626696 TI - [Immediate hypersensitivity reaction in acute viral hepatitis A and B treated with interferon inducers]. AB - The therapeutic effects of prodigiozan and ibuprofen, endogenous interferon production inductors, were studied in the patients with acute viral hepatitides A and B with consideration for the body allergic reactivity at the peak of the disease. The results evidence a favourable effect of these drugs on the clinical course of the disease and on liver function; immuno- and interferon-stimulating and desensitizing effects manifested mainly in hepatitis A cases with immediate types II and III hypersensitivity and in hepatitis B cases with immediate types I and II hypersensitivity. PMID- 2626697 TI - [Endoscopy in cicatricial esophageal stenosis]. PMID- 2626698 TI - [Clinico-pathogenetic characteristics of meningococcal and pneumococcal meningitis]. PMID- 2626699 TI - [Difficulties in the evaluation of the activity of chronic brucellosis and in the selection of the methods of treatment]. PMID- 2626700 TI - [Use of polyionic solutions in the treatment of acute intestinal infections]. PMID- 2626701 TI - [Enzymatic activity of leukocytes and immunologic reactivity of the body in chronic bronchitis]. PMID- 2626702 TI - [Morphological evaluation of post-irradiation changes in the proximal part of the stomach after concentrated preoperative irradiation]. PMID- 2626703 TI - [Sinusoidal-follicular hyperplasia of regional lymph nodes in cancer of the stomach and its prognostic significance]. PMID- 2626704 TI - [Intraoperative echocardiography]. AB - Combined echocardiography (uni- and two-dimensional, and Doppler) was used during surgery on an open heart. Technological aspects of such examinations are discussed. A method for tricuspid valve annuloplasty is suggested, monitored and regulated by echocardiography on an open heart. Such monitoring will help assess the efficacy of valve-preserving surgery. PMID- 2626705 TI - [Enterosorption in chronic enterocolitis]. AB - Polyfepan, a sorbent, included in the complex of therapeutic measures for the patients with exacerbations of chronic enterocolitis, has considerably reduced the terms necessary to arrest the major symptoms of the condition vs. the reference group. The effect was the most manifest when the sorbent was combined with polyenzyme drugs. Laboratory tests and rat experiments have helped validate polyfepan action as the agent binding microorganisms and their toxins on its surface and fixing the enzyme vector at the site of the pathologic process. PMID- 2626706 TI - [Algimaf treatment of burns]. AB - Application of algimaf, a new polymeric dressing, in local therapy of burn wounds is conducive to spontaneous epithelization of surface burns and favors effective autodermoplasty in thermal burns. Cytologic studies of the wound discharge and examination of the burn wound microflora qualitative and quantitative composition indicate a high therapeutic efficacy of the dressing. PMID- 2626707 TI - [Drug therapy of major gastroenterologic diseases]. PMID- 2626708 TI - [Non-invasive test for evaluating left-ventricular function at the early stages of myocardial infarction]. PMID- 2626709 TI - [Functional heart diseases in young persons]. PMID- 2626710 TI - [Functional tests in the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease in chronic nonspecific lung diseases]. PMID- 2626711 TI - [Computerized tomography in the evaluation of the outcome of of the treatment of lung abscess by long-term nasobronchial catheterization]. PMID- 2626712 TI - [Intensive treatment of status asthmaticus]. PMID- 2626713 TI - [Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in surgery]. PMID- 2626714 TI - [Use of MK-2 glue for the arrest of hemorrhage from the sacral veins]. PMID- 2626715 TI - [Status of the endocrine system in cranio-cerebral trauma]. PMID- 2626716 TI - [Clinico-immunological variants of extremely severe course of hepatitis B]. AB - Analysis of the results of comprehensive clinical and immunologic examinations of 29 patients with hepatitis B running a particularly severe course has helped single out 2 variants of the immunogenesis of this form of the disease. Contribution of hyperimmune and autoimmune mechanisms and a high degree of the determination of the immunopathologic process are the major features of the first variant. In the second variant the infectious process per se plays the major role due to the direct viral cytolysis of the hepatocytes and/or a higher infective dose. Dynamic monitoring of hepatitis B specific markers, of the T-lymphocyte reaction, of autoimmune process markers, together with immunologic screening help predict the possible development of various patterns of particularly severe course of the disease and thus give grounds for differentiated therapy. PMID- 2626717 TI - [Ambulatory treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis]. PMID- 2626718 TI - [Errors in the diagnosis of breast cancer]. PMID- 2626719 TI - [Current possibilities of conservative treatment of breast cancer]. PMID- 2626720 TI - [Effects of the health care model of the Mexican Social Security Institute COPLAMAR program on the health status of the underprivileged rural population of Mexico]. AB - In 1983 the IMSS-COPLAMAR Program (administrated by the Mexican Institute of Social Security since 1979) established an integral health care model aimed at preparing both the clinical workers and the people of the communities to their care, so they could: 1) Identify the most frequent diseases in their town, together with their conditional causes; 2) Plan, program and execute activities oriented to reduce the morbi-mortality of those ailments; 3) Evaluate the results and, based on them decide to continue or to modify the program. The application of this pattern has made possible to maintain or intensify the improvements obtained since the beginning by the IMSS-COPLAMAR Program (low frequency of preventable disease, a decrease in the consultation demand rate, an increase in the health promotion activities), but additionally it has promoted the adoption of measures to resolve the common health problems in the Mexican rural population. Since the beginning of this program (1983) a decrease in the frequency of digestive infections has been observed and we remark progresses in the control of pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium complications, and malnutrition. An important decrease in consultation demand rate has been registered and a big increase in the promotional activities, in accordance to the increase of the community participation through the health committees, voluntary promotors, traditional therapeutics, and rural assistants. The rural population covered by the IMSS-COPLAMAR Program increased from 11.5 millions in 1983 to 13.7 millions in 1985. PMID- 2626721 TI - [The autodehelminthizing capacity of the soil]. AB - A description of the methodology used for the study of soil deshelminthizing processes is presented, as well as some of the results already obtained. This method has already been tested on the soil of different countries, including Mexico, and it is still in an experimental stage; notwithstanding, the results obtained are encouraging. Further research is needed for its successful application as a tool on the control of human soilborne diseases. PMID- 2626722 TI - [Self-esteem in children with attention disorders]. AB - Clinical observation shows that children with attention deficit disorder are insecure and have low levels of self-esteem. This paper analyzes the relationship of the disorder with self-esteem, measured with the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory for children. Three groups were compared: 1) Children with attention deficit disorder without treatment (N = 20); 2) Children with attention deficit disorder who had received perceptual treatment for a period of six months to a year (N = 20), and 3) a control group of children without attention deficit disorder (N = 292). The results show significant differences among groups, and a tendency to find lower scores of self-esteem in children with attention deficit disorder without treatment. Therefore self-esteem is an important aspect to consider in the treatment programs for children with attention deficit disorder for better results in their rehabilitation. PMID- 2626723 TI - [Criteria to determine academic levels in public health]. AB - Within the academic modernization strategy that the National School of Public Health developed as a result of its merging into the National Institute of Public Health, a set of different normative standards were established in order to review its academic programs. This paper shows the specific criteria to differentiate the three graduate academic levels (specialty, masters degree and doctoral degree) that are offered by the School. This set of criteria was needed because there were misunderstanding about the goals and the contents of each of these academic programs. The present proposal was done by the Academic Program Associated Dean's team during 1987, after reviewing the academic standards at the national level for graduate programs. On the other hand, a set of criteria is proposed for the graduate continuing-education programs. These courses are seen as strategic for the training of physicians in executive levels of the health sector in Mexico. PMID- 2626724 TI - [Health without boundaries and boundaries in health]. AB - This paper presents a general picture of the relationship between health and borders, analyzing the particular case of Mexico. The concept of international health is discussed, and the role of the multinational organizations created to approach it -WHO, PHO, UNICEF, etcetera- is described. PMID- 2626726 TI - [Diseases of the soft tissues in the oral cavity. Reflections about dental treatments and research]. PMID- 2626725 TI - [Development of dental care for adults]. PMID- 2626727 TI - [The use of rubber dam provides a high quality and effectivity in operative dentistry for children]. PMID- 2626728 TI - [Therapeutic replantations]. PMID- 2626729 TI - [Investigation into the cause/prevention of decay and periodontal disease among workers employed by a major industrial site]. PMID- 2626730 TI - The Legislative Task Force on AIDS: addressing the epidemic in Texas. PMID- 2626731 TI - Typical/atypical tooth erosion--a case report. PMID- 2626732 TI - The 1988 C.T. Rowland award. Case reports. PMID- 2626733 TI - AIDS hotline arranged for health care professionals. PMID- 2626734 TI - Surface profile analysis of conventional and high-copper amalgams after burnishing and polishing. PMID- 2626735 TI - AIDS hot line for teens. PMID- 2626736 TI - AIDS awareness. PMID- 2626737 TI - Dental codes and nomenclature. PMID- 2626739 TI - Professionals or tradesmen? An open letter to the profession. PMID- 2626738 TI - What if OSHA pays a visit? PMID- 2626740 TI - Saliva used to detect HIV antibody. PMID- 2626741 TI - AIDS awareness. PMID- 2626742 TI - Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase does not increase calcium transport in platelet microsomes. AB - Cyclic AMP inhibits platelet activation, at least in part, by reducing intracellular levels of ionic calcium. Previous studies using platelet microsomal fractions have suggested that one mechanism for this effect is stimulation by cyclic AMP and its protein kinase of calcium uptake into microsomal storage sites. In the present study, the effect of cyclic AMP and its protein kinase on calcium uptake by microsomal membranes has been re-examined using the active catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The catalytic subunit increased calcium uptake two-fold, but this effect was not inhibited by boiling the catalytic subunit or by recombination with the regulatory subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, conditions that inhibited catalytic subunit activity. Conversely, dialysis of the catalytic subunit preparation against low phosphate buffer, which did not inhibit catalytic subunit activity, inhibited the stimulation of calcium uptake by the catalytic subunit preparation. Finally, the addition of high phosphate buffer, similar in phosphate concentration to that of the catalytic subunit preparation, stimulated calcium uptake. We conclude that the catalytic subunit does not directly stimulate calcium uptake by platelet microsomes. PMID- 2626743 TI - How high is the true fibrinogen content of fibrinogen standards? AB - A number of tests are available to measure plasma fibrinogen. Of these, the determination of the thrombin induced rate of plasma clotting is the most widely used in a clinical laboratory. Quantitative fibrinogen assays are calibrated with commercially available standards. There exists no internationally recognized standard against which the manufacturers could calibrate their fibrinogen preparations and lyophilized normal plasmas. In the present study, the amount of clottable material was determined in ten commercially available fibrinogen standards. Following clotting with thrombin, the fibrin clots were extensively washed with citrated saline and subjected to nitrogen analysis. The proportions of intact and partially degraded fibrinogens in each standard were determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the washed clots. Knowing the amino acid composition and the relative proportions of these fractions, the nitrogen contents of the clots were converted to fibrinogen. More than 30% deviation from the declared values was observed in three standards, in one of them even 80%. Our results indicate that fibrinogen standards of markedly differing quality are commercially available and that an accurate, international standard for fibrinogen assay should be established. PMID- 2626744 TI - In vitro bleeding test--a simple method for the detection of aspirin effects on platelet function. AB - We investigated platelet function of 21 healthy blood donors before, 4 hrs and 1 to 7 days after a single oral dose of 0.02 (n = 3), 0.05 (n = 3), 0.1 (n = 3), 0.5 (n = 2) and 1.0 g (n = 10) aspirin. Three additional donors received 0.02 g aspirin/day for 5 days. A new and simple in vitro bleeding test (Thrombostat) using whole blood was far more sensitive than all other tests for platelet function (subaquatic bleeding time, thrombelastrogram, resonance-thrombogram, platelet adherence, spreading and aggregation). With this method using 2mM CaCl2 as additional agent all donors showed significantly increased in vitro bleeding volumes, for at least 2 days after ingestion of 0.1 to 1 g aspirin. In the majority of cases the aspirin effect could be detected even after 5-6 days. In 2 of 3 donors even 0.05 g aspirin was detectable. There was already a definite effect seen after 2 days in all 3 cases when 0.02 g was ingested daily. The new in vitro bleeding test should be suitable for the control of low dose aspirin prophylaxis of arterial thromboembolic disorders. PMID- 2626745 TI - Mechanism by which recombinant factor VIIa shortens the aPTT: activation of factor X in the absence of tissue factor. AB - Clinical trials have recently begun using high concentrations of activated recombinant factor VII (rFVIIa) for the treatment of hemophilic patients with inhibitors. Unexpectedly, the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) was observed to be significantly shortened during infusion of the rFVIIa. To determine the mechanism for this shortening, the effect of rFVIIa on both the prothrombin time (PT) and the aPTT of normal and various factor-deficient plasmas was examined. rFVIIa shortened the PT of all plasmas tested except FX and FV deficient plasmas. rFVIIa also shortened the aPTT of all plasmas tested except FX and FV deficient plasmas. Since there is no added tissue factor (TF) in aPTT reagents, rFVIIa appeared to shorten the aPTT in the absence of TF. To investigate this possibility, the activity of rFVIIa in a purified system containing only FX, phospholipid vesicles (1:1 PS:PC), and calcium was examined. In this system, rFVIIa activated factor X in the absence of TF. If any component of the purified system was omitted, there was no detectable activation of FX. Thus it appears that calcium and phospholipids are required for the activation of FX by rFVIIa in the absence of TF. Increasing the concentration of rFVIIa increased the rate of FX activation, but the rate of activation was always much lower than that observed with even trace amounts of tissue factor. We conclude that high concentrations of rFVIIa, in the presence of calcium and phospholipid, can directly activate FX in the absence of TF and hence account for the shortening of the aPTT in inhibitor patients treated with rFVIIa. PMID- 2626746 TI - An alkaline phosphatase linked immunolocalisation procedure for the detection of vWF multimers. PMID- 2626747 TI - Vascular changes involved in pulmonary hemorrhage of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - The frequency of pulmonary hemorrhagic lesions in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) was higher in older than in younger rats. Hemoglobin and protein contents in pulmonary lavage fluid which may indicate alveolar hemorrhage showed an increase with the progress of age, but the difference of hemorrhagic levels was much more in older rats than that of younger ones. A strong relationship between hemoglobin and protein contents of pulmonary lavage fluid was observed. Morphologically, the most striking feature was fibrinoid degeneration of the vascular walls in the center of hemorrhagic lesions of the lung, not only in the capillaries but also in small arteries. In the early stage of hemorrhage, endothelial discontinuity exhibited intraluminal fibrin deposits in this area of the vessels. Erythrocytes and polygonal deposits of fibrin could also be seen within the same vascular walls. In the advanced stage, subendothelial spaces and medial layers of vascular walls contained an electron dense amorphous material which was consisted to be a degradation product of fibrinogen. The occurrence of this substance was thought to be induced by the hemodynamic effects of hypertension, the results of increased permeability and the accumulation of blood components. From these results, we suggest that fibrinoid degeneration due to abnormal cellular permeability associated with hypertension in SHRSP may be in some way linked to the development of pulmonary hemorrhage. PMID- 2626748 TI - Biliary stones and bacteriae in bile study in 211 consecutive cases. AB - A retrospective study have been performed to investigate the correlation between stone formation and bacteriae in the bile of 211 consecutive biliary stone patients (133 females and 78 males, age ranged 1.3 to 87.0 years old, 196 cholecystolithiasis, 54 choledocholithiasis and 9 hepatolithiasis). They had undergone surgery since January 1980 to December 1987. Bile was collected to perform bacterial culture from the gallbladder and common bile duct during operation and all stones had been classified according to morphology after surgery and confirmed with component analysis if necessary. Totally 5115 stones had been collected and 20.4% had been classified as pure cholesterol stone, 16.8% as combination stone, 17.2% as mixed stone, 23.6% as calcium bilirubinate stone, 17.6% as black stone, 0.8% as calcium fatty acid stone and 3.6% as unknown. In bile culture, 84 from the gallbladder and 31 from the common bile duct were positive. Streptococci were the most frequent and followed by Klebsiella, Escherichia coli and so on. A higher incidence of positive culture was shown in calcium bilirubinate and lower incidence was shown in cholesterol stones. These results suggest that bacteriae in the bile may play a role in the formation of pigment biliary stones. PMID- 2626749 TI - The examination of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle activity during respiration in human subjects. AB - Eight healthy human subjects were studied to examine the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle activity during respiration. A hypopharyngeal surface electrode was used for posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle recordings. Mean activation levels were derived from rectified signals (in muV) for quartiles of each respiratory cycle: the first and second halves of the inhalation, and the first and second halves of the exhalation. The mean activation was converted into the % of maximum activity for the same muscle during deep inhalation to normalize the measures of muscle activation across subjects. On a two way ANOVA, respiratory interval effect (P less than 0.0001), subject effect (p less than 0.0001), and interval by subject interaction (p less than 0.0014) were significant. The muscle activation increased in abductory (PCA) muscles during inhalation. However PCA kept active during exhalation in certain degree. Significant difference in PCA activity among subjects was found. Using the sliding window average over 100 msec time constant, PCA activation pattern during respiration was classified into 4 categories: phasic activity during exhalation, phasic activity during inhalation and exhalation, and non phasic activity unrelated to the respiratory cycle. The classification was carried out in 8 subjects. 5 out of 8 subjects revealed phasic inhalation pattern (62.5%) and 3 subjects showed non-specific phasic activity. Big difference among subjects in activation level and activation pattern of the PCA was suggested. PMID- 2626750 TI - Flexible bronchoscopy for foreign body in airway. AB - The flexible bronchoscopy has not yet been popular in the foreign body in the airway, especially in children. We performed the flexible bronchoscopy for 27 patients with foreign bodies in the airway including 22 patients who had not been removed foreign bodies by the rigid bronchoscopy. Nineteen of 27 patients were children. The success rate of flexible bronchoscopy was 81% (22/27 cases) in all patients, 77% (17/22 cases) in patients failed by the figid bronchoscopy, and 82% (9/11 cases) in young children of 2 years old or less. For the removal of foreign bodies under the flexible bronchoscope, a biopsy forceps and a Fogarty balloon catheter were effective. The flexible bronchoscope is useful for foreign bodies in the airway, even in young children. PMID- 2626751 TI - Effects of food preservatives and local anesthetics on synthesis of outer membrane proteins in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. AB - The effects of seven food preservatives including salicylate, benzoate, dehydroacetate, sorbate and propionate, and two local anesthetics, phenethyl alcohol and procaine, on the synthesis of major outer membrane proteins in Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain 3283-61 were investigated. The synthesis of the outer membrane proteins a, b, c and e was remarkably inhibited by all the food preservatives except propionate and two additional outer membrane proteins with respective molecular weights of about 35,000 (protein b') and 32,000 (protein c') were induced. Similar effects were encountered by the local anesthetics except that the synthesis of protein e was only weakly depressed. PMID- 2626752 TI - Production of prostaglandin E2 rather than E1 in experimental ocular inflammation of rabbit. AB - The chopped anterior uvea of rabbit was allowed to react with exogenous [1-14C] arachidonic acid or prostaglandin (PG)H2. Several cyclooxygenase products such as PGD2, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were produced. In the presence of glutathione PGE2 was a major product. When uveitis was induced by injection of bovine serum albumin into the vitreous body, there was a marked invasion of leukocytes. PGE2 in the aqueous humor increased about 3-fold as determined by radioimmunoassay using anti PGE2 antibody cross-reacting with PGE1. Extracts from the inflamed aqueous humor and the incubation medium of chopped anterior uvea or peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes were analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, which allowed separation of PGE2 and PGE1. In all these preparations PGE2 was an almost sole immunoreactive PG, and PGE1 was hardly detectable in sharp contrast to an earlier report (Eakins et al.: Nature 239: 248 (1972]. PMID- 2626753 TI - Comparative acute toxicity of shale and petroleum derived distillates. AB - In anticipation of the commercialization of its shale oil retorting and upgrading process, Unocal Corp. conducted a testing program aimed at better defining potential health impacts of a shale industry. Acute toxicity studies using rats and rabbits compared the effects of naphtha, Jet-A, JP-4, diesel and "residual" distillate fractions of both petroleum derived crude oils and hydrotreated shale oil. No differences in the acute oral (greater than 5 g/kg LD50) and dermal (greater than 2 g/kg LD50) toxicities were noted between the shale and petroleum derived distillates and none of the samples were more than mildly irritating to the eyes. Shale and petroleum products caused similar degrees of mild to moderate skin irritation. None of the materials produced sensitization reactions. The LC50 after acute inhalation exposure to Jet-A, shale naphtha, (greater than 5 mg/L) and JP-4 distillate fractions of petroleum and shale oils was greater than 5 mg/L. The LC50 of petroleum naphtha (greater than 4.8 mg/L) and raw shale oil (greater than 3.95 mg/L) also indicated low toxicity. Results demonstrate that shale oil products are of low acute toxicity, mild to moderately irritating and similar to their petroleum counterparts. The results further demonstrate that hydrotreatment reduces the irritancy of raw shale oil. PMID- 2626754 TI - Protein binding of benzene under ambient exposure conditions. AB - Based on examination of exposure monitoring studies, we speculate that under ambient conditions benzene binds appreciably to plasma proteins. The binding capacity, n*[beta], is estimated to be on the order of 10(-9) chi M (90.0 ng/L) and the association constant, Kas, on the order of 2 X 10(10) M-1 (.3 L/ng). These values indicate that protein binding of benzene is characterized by a very small capacity with a very large affinity. We predict that steady-state exposure to ambient benzene air concentrations in the range of 10 ppb to 1 ppb will result in 35 to 80 percent of benzene in blood being bound to plasma proteins. PMID- 2626755 TI - Experimental exposures of young asthmatic volunteers to 0.3 ppm nitrogen dioxide and to ambient air pollution. AB - Asthmatic volunteers aged 8 to 16 (N = 34) were exposed on separate occasions to clean air (control), to 0.30 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in otherwise clean air, and to polluted Los Angeles area ambient air on summer mornings when NO2 pollution was expected. Exposures lasted 3 hr, with alternating 10-min periods of exercise and rest. In ambient pollution exposures, 3-hr average NO2 concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 0.26 ppm, with a mean of 0.09 ppm. Ambient exposures did not significantly affect lung function, symptoms, or bronchial reactivity to cold air, relative to the control condition. Responses to 0.3 ppm NO2 exposures were equivocal. Asthma symptoms were more severe during 1-week periods before 0.3 ppm exposures, and lung function was decreased immediately before 0.3 ppm exposures, compared to other conditions. Lung function declined slightly during the first hour at 0.3 ppm, but improved over the remaining 2 hr. Compared to other conditions, symptoms were not increased during 0.3 ppm exposures, but were increased during 1-week periods afterward. These observations may reflect untoward effects of 0.3 ppm NO2, or may reflect chance increases in asthma severity prior to 0.3 ppm exposures. PMID- 2626756 TI - Fetal effects of inhalation exposure to cyclohexanone vapor in pregnant rats. AB - Cyclohexanone (CH), a solvent and thinner that has extensive use in industry, was investigated for developmental effects using pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to 100, 250 or 500 ppm concentrations in an inhalation chamber for seven hours per day from days 5 through 20 of pregnancy. Controls were exposed to room air. Maternal weight gain at 250 and 500 ppm CH was only slightly lower than in the control dams, and a grey mottling of the lungs was seen in a few of the CH exposed dams. There were no significant differences between the CH and control groups in fetal weight, resorption sites, fetal death or sex ratio. External and soft tissue examinations revealed no significant incidence of malformations or variations in CH-exposed animals. A slight increase in the mean percent of rudimentary ribs per litter was observed in the 250 and 500 ppm CH-exposed groups. However, no significant numbers of skeletal malformations were noticed in either the CH or room air control groups. It was concluded that respiratory exposure of rats to as much as 500 ppm CH during organogenesis was unlikely to be developmentally toxic. PMID- 2626757 TI - Production of free radicals arising from the surface activity of minerals and oxygen. Part I. Iron mine ores. AB - The excess incidence of lung cancers observed in many metal mines probably is not only correlated with radioactivity but also with the inhaled dusts. In an attempt to determine a possible mechanism of carcinogenicity related to the surface activity of dusts, using the spin-trapping agent and ESR spectroscopy, one can demonstrate that some mineral dusts from iron ore mines are very active in an oxidative process in aqueous medium, implying the formation of radical oxygen species on reducing surface sites of the solid. This reducing surface activity of the dusts depends on the presence of Fe2+ ion in the lattice and on the process of activation and passivation of the surface sites. The more simple process of activation is the dissolution of the oxidized coating on the particle surface. Among the oxides, oxyhydroxides, carbonates, and silicates, the magnesium-iron phyllosilicates (chlorite, biotite, berthierine) appear the most active. The siderite FeCO3 is also active, but the iron oxides and oxyhydroxides are generally nonactive. PMID- 2626758 TI - Production of free radicals arising from the surface activity of minerals and oxygen. Part II. Arsenides, sulfides, and sulfoarsenides of iron, nickel, and copper. AB - The excess incidence of lung cancers observed in metallic mines other than iron mines probably can be correlated not only to radioactivity, but also to dust pollution. The present work investigates the role of surface properties of sulfides and arsenides, which are present in metal mines, in oxidizing mechanisms capable of inducing oxidative stress and, possibly, of participating in carcinogenesis. Using added spin-trapping agent followed by ESR spectroscopy, it was observed that nickel and copper arsenides can be very active in the oxidation of formate or DMSO, by reducing the oxygen dissolved in a cell-free medium. Sulfides, on the other hand, are not active, except for the iron sulfides, which are very active as an air-aged powder. The process of activation and rendering the particle surface passive was investigated. Surface dissolution and moderate grinding were found to be activating factors, while air-aging generally rendered the particle surface passive. The critical factor in determining activity is the availability of reducing species of iron, copper, or nickel on the surface of the minerals. PMID- 2626759 TI - Testicular effects of bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether in the adult male rat. AB - The onset of testicular pathology in the rat and possible recovery over an 8-week period were evaluated after the administration of up to 20 daily oral doses of bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (diglyme) at 5.1 mmol/kg bw (684 mg/kg bw). Primary and secondary spermatocyte degeneration and spermatidic giant cells were observed after six to eight treatments. In addition, the testes-to-body weight ratio was significantly reduced by the tenth day of treatment and continued to be depressed eight weeks after discontinuation of the treatment. Testicular LDH-X activity, a pachytene spermatocyte marker enzyme, was significantly decreased in animals by the eighteenth day of treatment with diglyme. PMID- 2626760 TI - In vitro effect of copper on the stromal cells of bone marrow in rats. AB - The effect of copper in form of copper sulphate (CuSO4 x 5 H2O) was studied in the bone marrow cells of rats of Wistar strain in an in vitro culture. Evident differences between tissue cultures of the bone marrow cells were observed between the control and experimental groups. In the experimental group, the CFU-F colonies appeared as early as in 3rd day while in the control group in 5th day. Loosely arranged fibroblasts, macrophages and adipocytes also showed quantitative differences between groups. An increase in mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) was also found in peripheral blood of experimental animals. PMID- 2626761 TI - Hematologic effects of benzene: a thirty-five year longitudinal study of rubber workers. PMID- 2626762 TI - Similar carcinogenic actions of nitrosoalkylureas of varying structure given to rats by gavage. AB - To relate the tumorigenic effects of directly acting alkylating nitrosoalkylureas to their chemical structure, a series of these compounds was given to F344 rats by gavage at approximately equimolar doses. In some cases, more than one dose rate was used. Potency, as measured by time to death with tumors, was similar for nitrosomethylurea and nitrosoethylurea, although the tumor pattern was different between the two. Nitrosoallylurea was of similar potency, and induced a spectrum of tumors similar to nitroethylurea. Nitroso-n-butyl-, n-amyl- and n-hexyl-ureas were less potent than nitrosoethylurea, but induced a similar pattern of tumors. All of the nitrosoureas induced tumors of the forestomach, usually in high incidence, except nitroso-2-hydroxypropylurea, which caused death of the rats with thymic lymphoma within 6 months. Nitroso-3-hydroxypropylurea was much less potent than its 2-isomer, but induced no tumors of the thymus and was the only one of this group to induce tumors of the glandular stomach. Only nitrosomethylurea induced a high incidence of tumors of the nervous system, but no mammary carcinomas, which most of the other nitrosoureas induced in high incidence in females. Tumors of the lung, duodenum, colon and intestines were induced by several of the compounds, more commonly in males than in females, but a high incidence of liver tumors was found only in rats of both sexes given nitroso-2-phenylethylurea. PMID- 2626763 TI - Study of the teratogenic potential of FD&C Red No. 40 when given in drinking water. AB - FD&C Red No. 40 in the drinking water at a level of 0, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.7% was available ad libitum to female Osborne-Mendel rats throughout gestation. The treated females consumed 273.6, 545.7, and 939.3 mg FD&C Red No. 40 per kg body weight per day, respectively, for the three dose levels. The animals were sacrificed on gestation day 20. No fetal terata were seen. There were no dose related changes in maternal findings, number of fetuses, fetal viability, or external or visceral variations. Skeletal development appeared similar to that of the control animals with the exception of the incidence of fetuses with reduced ossification of the hyoid, which was increased significantly at the 0.7% dose level. A dose-related increase occurred in the number of litters containing fetuses with at least two skeletal variations, but the numbers of litters with fetuses with at least one and at least three variations were not different from control values. PMID- 2626764 TI - A study of mortality in workers engaged in the mining, smelting, and refining of nickel. I: Methodology and mortality by major cause groups. AB - Following the publication of the NIOSH nickel criteria document in 1977, the Joint Occupational Health Committee of the International Nickel Company (INCO) commissioned a mortality study of the company's Ontario workforce. This paper describes the detailed methodology and primary mortality results of the ensuing study; subsequent papers will describe more detailed findings of cause-specific mortality. An historical prospective mortality study of approximately 54,000 INCO workers has been conducted. Men with six months or more of service were followed for mortality during a 35-year period by computerized record linkage to the Canadian National Mortality Data Base. From a company-provided list of men known to have died and through independent follow-up of a random sample of 1,000 subjects of unknown status, we estimate a mortality ascertainment rate of 95%. Cause-specific standardized mortality ratios calculated with respect to Ontario provincial mortality rates indicate an excess of accidental deaths in men working in the Sudbury area and an excess of cancer deaths at the company's Port Colborne nickel refinery. A strong healthy worker effect was found for both all-disease mortality ad cancer mortality. The lower than expected mortality persisted for about 15 years beyond initial hiring. PMID- 2626765 TI - A study of mortality in workers engaged in the mining, smelting, and refining of nickel. II: Mortality from cancer of the respiratory tract and kidney. AB - This paper describes observed and expected mortality from cancers of the lung, larynx, nose, and kidney in a cohort of 54,509 nickel workers followed for 35 years. For analysis purposes the cohort was subdivided into men with and without service in one of the three high nickel dust areas of the operation: the Sinter Plants at Copper Cliff and Coniston, and the Leaching, Calcining and Sintering (LC&S) department at Port Colborne. At Copper Cliff Sinter Plant workers experienced three times the expected number of lung cancer deaths; the SMR rose steeply with increasing duration of service peaking at 943 with 10 to 15 years. A similar overall excess risk of lung cancer was seen in the smaller Coniston Sinter Plant again with an indication of an exposure risk gradient. Men in the LC&S department at Port Colborne also experienced a dose related excess risk of lung cancer death that rose to an SMR of 806 with 20 to 25 years of service. Nasal cancer deaths were increased at both the Copper Cliff Sinter Plant (6 deaths) and the LC&S department at Port Colborne (19 deaths), representing SMRs of 3,704 and 7,755, respectively, for this rare cancer. Laryngeal cancer and kidney cancer, both previously associated with nickel, were not in excess in these high risk groups. A further exploration of death from these causes in the lower exposure remainder of the cohort revealed an epidemiologically modest elevation in lung cancer death in miners (probably not nickel related) and parts of the Copper Refinery. No evidence of laryngeal cancer excess was found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626766 TI - The effect of ozone and simulated high altitude on murine lung elastin: quantitation by image analysis. AB - Four subgroups of a colony of 50 mice were housed in environmental chambers supplied by particle- and pollutant-filtered air. The animals were exposed to 0.35 ppm ozone and/or simulated high altitude (380 mm Hg) for four weeks, with exposure 4 1/2 hours/day and 5 days/week. Lung elastin area and alveolar wall area were quantitated by computer assisted image analysis of paraffin embedded sections stained with aldehyde fuchsin and metanil yellow. Compared to the controls, the combination of ozone and simulated high altitude resulted in a 54.5% increase in lung elastin area (p less than 0.005), and simulated high altitude by itself increased elastin area by 19.6% (p less than 0.05). Simulated high altitude with and without ozone exposure also increased alveolar wall area (24.8%, p less than 0.01; and 9.7%, NS, respectively). Ozone exposure alone had a reverse effect: a 16.1% decrease in elastin area (p less than 0.1), and a 6.5% decrease in alveolar wall area (NS). Since an intact lung scaffolding is required for full restoration of injured alveolar epithelium and since intact lung elastin is critical for proper lung compliance, the results suggest that ozone exposure at high altitude is most likely to have an adverse effect on lung structure and function. PMID- 2626767 TI - [A novel method of conservative therapy of infected dental root canal by means of chlorhexidine and corticoids]. AB - The treatment of the acute phase within the therapy of the infected root canal is possible using a combination the antiphlogisticum Triamcinolon and the disinfectant chlorhexidine. The medical agent TS 74 (Forapical) was used in 82 teeth of acute or acute exacerbated chronical periodontitis. Successful conservative treatment was observed in 90% of all cases. PMID- 2626768 TI - [Volume estimation of non-caries related enamel defects]. AB - The volume of wedge shaped defects can be estimated by means of massa suppositoriorum on a plaster cast. The substance are pressed in a graduated pipette. The average relative error is six percent. The absolute error of defects of 2.0, 10.0 respectively 20.0 mm3 ranges from 0.12, 0.6 to 1.2 mm3. PMID- 2626769 TI - [Haemotoxicity of dental luting cements]. AB - A glass ionomer luting cement (AquaCem) shows a relatively low haemolytic activity in comparison with two zinc phosphate cements. Especially the initial irritation by this cement is smaller. Although it is possible that AquaCem particularly, in unfavourable cases, may damage the pulpa dentin system; this is due to the slowly decrease of the haemolytic activity with increasing of the probes. We found that Adhesor showed in dependence of the batches a varying quality. PMID- 2626770 TI - [Bone regeneration after filling of extensive cysts by means of bone collagen type 1]. AB - It could be demonstrated by experimental studies on dogs that demineralized bone and bone products have a good osteogenetic potential which gives them a superior rating over artificial materials as replacement of autogenous bone transplants. The results of a prospective clinical study on 52 patients with 56 large mandibular or maxillary cysts are presented showing that bone collagen matrix type I is a good product for the filling of bone defects. Full reossification of a cyst was reaches as early as 8 months postoperatively in 20 cases. 32 defects had become substantially smaller. These results are discussed and compared to other methods mentioned in the literature. PMID- 2626771 TI - [Traumatic fracture of the lower jaw bone demonstrated by patients of the Clinic for Stomatology of the State Medical Institute of Minsk]. AB - 2,060 cases of fractures of the lower jaw bone treated by the Clinic for Maxillary and Facial Surgery of Minsk are analysed. The analyses comprise the specification of reasons, of the patients' social structure, the age, the time of the first consultation and the localisation of the fracture. Complications had been recorded in 11.5% of cases conservatively treated and in 7% of the surgically ones. PMID- 2626772 TI - [Clinical-experimental study on the temperature behaviour of the mucosa of mouth related to the season of the year]. AB - A long-term investigation of 20 juvenile patients indicated a great seasonal and interdiurnal variation of the gingival temperature, which had a trend to a high interindividual correlation. The absolute individual differences was upto 2 degrees C. The lower jaw had a higher temperature than the upper jaw. The temperature of the right and left sides of the jaw differed from each other. The calculation of a standard temperature is only useful, when it is related to the individual sublingual temperature. PMID- 2626773 TI - [Computer-supported assessment of stomatological mass examinations in children and juveniles, based on the new basic documentation in child's stomatology]. AB - A software packet for the evaluation of epidemiological data in Paedodontics is presented. Thereby, the works and the possibilities for the acquirement of preventive programmes are considerably facilitated. PMID- 2626774 TI - [Computer-supported recall in a stomatological practice in a rural district]. PMID- 2626775 TI - [Practice-relevant, functional analysis for the maxillary-orthopedic consultation]. AB - The author presents a mirror of maxillary-orthopedic, functional analyses for assessment of motions and positions of the lower jaw bone, for examinations of the jaw joint and for registration of the so-called attendant function. The pertinent paper of documentation enables an ergonomically favourable utilization for basic, progress and final examinations, also in an extensive number of patients. PMID- 2626776 TI - [Hearing protection against noise in the stomatologic clinic]. AB - On the basis of current analyses of the noise situation in the stomatologic practice proposals are made for noise control. An newly developed personal ear protector is especially taken into consideration. Furthermore, the possibility of using wide-band absorbers is presented to reduce the room sound level. PMID- 2626777 TI - Colorectal cancer in tropics. PMID- 2626778 TI - Management of chronic active hepatitis (CAH). PMID- 2626779 TI - Gastrointestinal manifestations of brucellosis in Saudi Arabian patients. AB - Gastrointestinal manifestations of brucellosis in 340 Saudi Arabian patients are reported. Sixty seven per cent of patients presented with gastrointestinal disturbances. The most frequent symptoms were anorexia (40%), abdominal pain (16%), vomiting (11%), and diarrhoea (6%). Hepatomegaly (32%), splenomegaly (29%) and abdominal tenderness (15%) were major abnormalities on physical examination. In endemic areas for brucellosis, gastrointestinal disturbances in the presence of fever of obscure etiology, should raise the possibility of brucellosis. PMID- 2626780 TI - Risk factors and survival from colorectal cancer in black patients in Soweto, South Africa. AB - In Africa, while colorectal cancer is very uncommon in the black population, it is rising in urban dwellers. A series of 42 patients treated at Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto, were compared with 92 controls. Average age of patients was relatively low 55 years. 73 per cent presented late with far advanced disease at Stages C and D. No familial component was apparent. Patient's years of schooling and social class were non-revealing compared with data on controls. Dietarily, the same applied to fat intake (relatively low) and fibre intake (considerably decreased). Median survival time was short, 7.5 months. PMID- 2626781 TI - [DNA synthesis in the nuclei of stimulated NIH 3T3 cells in heterodikaryons obtained by the fusion of these cells with resting cells treated with cycloheximide]. AB - Serum-deprived (0.2%) resting NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts preincubated with cycloheximide (7.5 micrograms/ml) were fused with stimulated cells taken 10 hours after changing the medium to the one containing 10% serum, and DNA synthesis was investigated in nuclei of heterodikaryons, homodikaryons, and monokaryons, using radioautography with double-labeling technique. Preincubation of resting cells with the inhibitor of protein synthesis cycloheximide for 4, 3, 2, but not for 1 or 0.5 hours abolishes their ability to suppress DNA synthesis in stimulated nuclei in heterodikaryons. Three hours after the removal of cycloheximide from the media, the resting cells acquire once again the inhibitory effect towards the entry of stimulated nuclei into the S-period. The data suggest that the resting cells may produce a labile endogenous inhibitor of cell proliferation, and support the idea on the active metabolic processes occurring in the resting cells. PMID- 2626782 TI - [The effect of dihydropyridines on the strontium and calcium content in frog muscle]. AB - 2,6-Dimethyl-3,5-dimethoxycarbonyl-4-(O-difluromethoxyphenyl)-1,4- dihydropyridine (ryodipine) (2 x 10(-4) M) significantly blocks the resting Sr++ uptake in sartorius and iliofibularis muscles of Rana temporaria without changes in Ca++ and Mg++ content. Dihydropyridine CGP (2.10(-4) M) increased both [Sp++] and [Ca++] (mumol/g dr. w.) by about 20 and 13%, respectively, as compared with paired control muscles, whereas [Mg++] remained unaffected. The [Sr++] changes are interpreted as specific dihydropyridine-effect on the Ca(++)-channels in the muscle membrane. PMID- 2626783 TI - [The toxicity of sanguinarine compared to a number of other DNA-tropic compounds for ethidium bromide-sensitive and -resistant transformed murine fibroblasts in culture]. AB - A natural DNA-intercalator plant benzo-c-phenanthridine alkaloid sanguinarine is more toxic for mouse transformed fibroblast L-cells in culture than synthetic DNA intercalator ethidium bromide (EtB) and alkaloid berberine. Dimidium bromide is also an inhibitor of the L-cell growth. In assay conditions, growth of L-cells is stopped by 1.5 x 10(-5) M of sanguinarine. Lebr-625 cells, resistant to 25 micrograms/ml of EtB, have sanguinarine sensitivity close to that of L-cells, but Lebr-625 cells are resistant to dimidium bromide. Sanguinarine is more toxic for L-cells in culture than the anticancer drug cis-PtNH3)2Cl2. Trans-Pt(NH3)2Cl2 is less toxic for these cells. The strong toxicity of sanguinarine for L- and Lebr 625 cells in culture, as compared to other DNA-complexing drugs, seems to be associated with the wide range of potential cell targets for sanguinarine influence. Besides the inhibition of nucleic acid metabolism reactions, characteristic of DNA-intercalators, and disruption the mitochondrial ATP synthesis, also characteristic of organic heterocyclic cationic molecules of DNA intercalators, sanguinarine can modify the thiol groups of enzymes including SH sensitive membrane-bound Na+, K(+)-ATPase of cerebral cortex and Ca2(+)-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum fragments. PMID- 2626784 TI - [The release of transforming growth factors by cells resistant to ethidium bromide and growing on a serum-free medium]. AB - 350sf and 625sf cells growing in serum free medium secrete transforming growth factors (TGFs) that induce NIH 3T3 indicator cells to form colonies in soft agar. The addition of 2 ng/ml of EGF increases twice the number of colonies of NIH 3T3 indicator cells. The TGFs secreted by 350sf and 625 sf cells do not compete with 125I EGF for binding to EGF receptors on human A-431 cells. The number of EGF receptors on 350 sf and 625 sf and 625 sf cells continuously grown in serum-free medium do not differ from that of EGF receptors on parental Lebr-350 and Lebr-625 cells continuously grown in the presence of 10% serum. These results suggest that TGFs produced by 350 sf and 625 sf cells are not alpha TGF. It is possible that cells secrete beta TGFs of yet unknown type. PMID- 2626785 TI - [The effect of macrophages on the natural killer activity of the splenocytes of C3HA mice in the early stages of 20-methylcholanthrene-induced carcinogenesis]. AB - The influence of macrophages on NK cell activity of C3HA mice on 1, 7 and 13 days after single i. m. injection of 20-methylcholanthren was investigated. It is shown that macrophages significantly stimulate this activity on the 13th day after carcinogen application. PMID- 2626786 TI - [The macroscopic and microscopic study of the human lateral pterygoid muscle]. AB - The purpose of this investigation was to study the morphology of the human lateral pterygoid muscle and its attachment to the temporomandibular joint. A total of twenty-five lateral pterygoid muscles, twenty for macroscopic and five for microscopic study, were obtained with their temporomandibular joints from eighteen adult cadavers. The results were as follows: 1) The lateral pterygoid muscles observed in this study were classified into three types based on the number of their heads; 65% of the macroscopic specimens had two heads (superior and inferior), 20% three heads (superior, inferior and medial), and 15% a single head. 2) The fascicular architecture of the single-headed specimens was quite simple and so the orientation of their fasciculi was parallel or radial to the line of pull. In their course the fasciculi of the two and three-headed specimens showed a relatively complicated architecture, having a large number of crossover fibers between each head. 3) In all specimens observed macroscopically, the uppermost fasciculi were inserted into the articular disc and capsule of the temporomandibular joint and the rest were inserted into the pterygoid fovea of the neck of the mandible, although no clear boundary could be found between them on their lateral surfaces. The bulk of the fasciculi which were inserted into the articular disc relative to the total amount of the lateral pterygoid muscles was estimated as being in the range of one fifth to one tenth. 4) From the microscopical examination of the specimens the cross-sectional area of the fasciculi which were inserted into the articular disc was about 3 mm2 at their attachment and this corresponded to 30% of the superior head and 3% of total amount of the lateral pterygoid muscle. 5) The fasciculi attached to the articular disc were derived from the superior and medial head of the lateral pterygoid muscle and from the temporalis muscle. In two cases of the twenty examined macroscopically, the fasciculi derived from the inferior head of the lateral pterygoid muscles were inserted into the articular disc. PMID- 2626787 TI - [Composite resin cores. Part 1. Comparison of various composite resin cores]. AB - This study evaluated compressive strength, sealing ability and tensile bond strength of various materials of composite resin cores. 1. Compressive strength of the various materials, after they were placed in air for 24 hours, underwent thermal cycling testing, or were soaked in water for 2 weeks, ranged from 2000 kgf/cm2 to 2900 kgf/cm2. 2. The sealing ability after thermal cycling testing and being soaked in water for 2 weeks varied among the materials. 3. The bond strength of all composite resin core materials to dentin was less than 50 kgf/cm2. 4. In this study, no relationship was found between sealing ability and tensile bond strength. PMID- 2626788 TI - [Basic studies on hard direct reline resins. Part 1. Adhesive strength]. AB - Direct relining methods has come to occupy an important position in removable denture prosthodontics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various experimental conditions on the adhesive strength of hard direct reline resins to denture base resin. The experimental conditions were as follows: 1) immersion time of denture base resin before relining, 2) amount of load at relining, 3) roughness of adhesive surface, 4) immersion time of relined resin. The following results were obtained: 1. The adhesive strength of Rebaron was the highest, followed by that of TRIAD and KOOLiner. 2. The immersion times of denture base resin did not appreciably affect the adhesive strength. 3. With the rougher adhesive surface, Rebaron and KOOLiner showed a tendency to increase adhesive strength. 4. The adhesive strength was not appreciably affected by load. 5. We did not find a definitive correlation between adhesive strength and immersion times of relined resin. PMID- 2626789 TI - [An experimental study of the measuring system of the mean film thickness of white silicone through image analysis]. AB - Clinically, the fitness test of a denture base employing white silicone has been widely used, and there are several methods for assessing the results. However, none of the conventional methods of assessment are completely objective or quantitative. For solving these problems, a new system has been developed for measuring the mean film thickness of white silicone based on image analyzing. There are several factors that affect the results of the fitness test of the denture base, such as the shape of the denture, the condition of the mucosa within denture bearing area, bite force and the state of occlusal contact. Then, using the new system, these factors were examined for clinical application of the mean film thickness of white silicone. The experiments are composed of three stages. In the first stage, the white silicone was pressurized between two of tablets involved in three types, with a pressurizer. These data resulted in a regression equation applying the rheological equation. In the second stage, pressurizing tests were performed on the models of jaw mucosa with uniform compressibility. The models were categorized into three types according to their compressibility. A result was the more compressible the models of jaw mucosa are, the thicker the white silicone film is. In the third stage, the compressibilities were mixed in the models of jaw mucosa. In the pressurizing test, the compressing dies were modeled on the denture base. Five loading points were established on the surface. Correlation between data obtained from the results of the pressurizing test at each loading point was investigated. The results from these experiments were as follows. 1. The regression equation was established from the compressing test of white silicone between tablets of rigid type. H = 0.236 (r1r2/square root of P) -0.0008 R = 0.977 H: mean film thickness of white silicone R: coefficient of correlation P: loading volume r1: 1/2 of the major side of the each tablet r2: 1/2 of the minor side of the each tablet Units are expressed in the C. G. S system. The film thickness was more highly correlated with the distance to the open system of each tablet than the area. PMID- 2626790 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of fibrous adhesion into upper joint compartment of the TMJ. Part 1. Double contrast arthrotomographic findings]. AB - A fibrous adhesion into upper joint compartment of the TMJ is indicated by a secondary pathological condition of disk displacement. The fibrous adhesion increases resistance to motion in the joint because the condyle translation has been disrupted. Fibrous adhesion cases resist splint therapy, manipulation technique and manipulation-while-pumping the upper joint compartment. Diagnosis of fibrous adhesion into upper joint compartment is important for internal derangement of the TMJ. The diagnosis depends on information from double contrast arthrotomography of the TMJ. But double contrast arthrotomography findings of fibrous adhesion into upper joint compartment of the TMJ have been recognized in few reports. We have described the varied conditions of the fibrous adhesion into the upper joint compartment of the TMJ by double contrast arthrotomographic findings. These cases confirmed the fibrous adhesion into the upper joint compartment of the TMJ by arthroscopy. Double contrast arthrotomographic findings were as follows: 1. Narrow fibrous band-like structure is observed into upper joint compartment of the TMJ. 2. A partial expansion of the upper joint compartment can be seen with a contrast medium injection. Also positional change of this stenosis decreases in both open and closed jaw positions. PMID- 2626791 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of fibrous adhesion into upper joint compartment of the TMJ. Part 2. Arthroscopic findings and arthroscopic sweeping and lysis]. AB - A fibrous adhesion into upper joint compartment of the TMJ is indicated by a secondary pathological condition of the disk displacement. A fibrous adhesion increases resistance to motion in the joint because condyle translation disrupted. The treatment for this condition is too difficult. On this paper, we presented to arthroscopic findings of 4 cases of the fibrous change and fibrous adhesion into upper joint compartment of the TMJ (1) and arthroscopic sweeping as the treatment procedure (2). On these cases, we compared double contrast arthrotomographic findings with arthroscopic findings (3). (1) On the arthroscopic findings, banddle like fibrous adhesion, wide areal fibrous adhesion, and wide areal fibrous change of the articular surfaces were observed. These findings varied to case by cases. (2) The arthroscopic sweeping and lysis performed on this four cases. The clinical symptoms prior to arthroscopic surgery, improved post surgically in all cases. (3) The fibrous lesions in the upper joint compartment was presumed by double contrast arthrotomography that demonstrated by arthroscopy. PMID- 2626792 TI - [The morphological study of experimental caries produced in rat molars]. AB - Since there is some disagreement over the validity of using the rat for various experiments of relevance to dental caries in the human. The process of carious formation in the lower first and second molars of the rat was observed histologically. 120 new born Wistar rats were divided into two groups, one on a carious diet and the other on a standard diet. Both control and experimental animals were killed at preselected intervals namely 1 week, 4 weeks and 7 weeks after weaning. The maxillary and mandibular tooth bearing segments were removed and fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmium. After clinical examination and assessment of the caries status made with the aid of a binocular microscope, the material was sectioned without decalcification and prepared for light, electron, or microradiogram. From the results it was concluded that, 1. The caries process in the rat is extremely rapid much faster than in the human for example complete breakdown of the crown occurs within 28 days of weaning. 2. Frequently destruction of the dentin occurs before mineral loss is detectable in the enamel. 3. Rarely are any of the characteristic features of the early human caries lesion, such as the surface zone, body of the lesion, the dark zone and the translucent zone, to be found. 4. When a surface zone is visible, the dentine is usually in an advanced state of destruction. 5. The histopathology of rat caries does not therefore follow the same pattern as in the human. It is deduced that the reasons for these differences with the human lesion are due to. a) Rat molar enamel is extremely thin being only 100 microns in the thickest part of the fissure enamel whereas it is 2.5mm in the human. b) Rat molar enamel has a lower mineral density than the outer two thirds of human enamel, and is even lower (2.74) than the average value for the inner layer deciduous human enamel. (2.85 2.92) (Weidmann, et al., 1967) c) Rat enamel is extremely porous allowing easy diffusion of fluid and dyes. d) This porosity may be related to incomplete maturation of the enamel when the teeth erupt. PMID- 2626793 TI - [The report of the 12th and 13th clinical practical training of the Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine]. AB - This report concerns the state of the patients and the progress of the 12th and 13th clinical practical training. A questionnaire was carried out with the trainees of the 13th clinical practical training and their leaders. Consequently it was learned that a trainee was in charge of ten patients on the average a year. He was able to complete the treatments of 3.5 patients, but was obligated to discontinue them for 1.4 patients, while handling over treatments for 5.2 patients to the next year's trainees or doctors. The progress of the clinical practical training was slow during the first 9 months but the pace increased rapidly during the last 3 months. The results of the questionnaire showed 37% of the trainees were satisfied with the present clinical practical training, but 17% of the trainees were not satisfied. On the other hand 15% of the leaders were satisfied with it, but 48% of the leaders were not satisfied. PMID- 2626794 TI - [An effect of the clenching speed on the method of calculating the biting force of patients by using electromyography]. AB - The recovery of the masticatory function in patients with dentures was assessed by several indices such as masticatory efficiency, maximal biting force and electromyographic analysis. We have attempted to develop a new method of calculating the biting force of edentulous patients by using electromyography. The method has almost been established, but, depending on the clenching speed, there is a certain difference between the estimates obtained from this method and the biting force obtained from a force transducer. The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of the clenching speed on the method of calculating the biting force by using electromyography. In 9 healthy subjects with normal dentitions, biting force and electromyograms were recorded simultaneously under 3 different clenching speed conditions. After the recording, the relation between the biting force and integrated electromyography was compared thoroughly. The effect of the clenching speed on the method of calculating the biting force by using electromyography was also investigated. The following results and conclusions were obtained: 1. At a slow clenching speed, a linear relation between the biting force and integrated electromyography was found. 2. At a medium clenching speed, the relation showed a slightly upward curvature as the biting force was increased and a slightly downward curvature as it was decreased. 3. At a fast clenching speed, the relation between the biting force and integrated electromyography showed an upward curvature as the biting force was increased, and a downward curvature as it was decreased. 4. At the slow and medium clenching speeds the estimates obtained from this method approximated the biting forces obtained from a force transducer. 5. At the fast clenching speed, the tendency was found that the estimates obtained from this method were higher than the biting force obtained from a force transducer. 6. When realizing this tendency, the method of calculating the biting force by using electromyography can be said to be clinically effective. PMID- 2626795 TI - [Changes of bacterial flora on inbred mouse strains using experimental dental caries model]. AB - In the experimental dental caries model using inbred mouse strains, the bacterial flora of lower molars were investigated during the process of caries induction to examine the differences of bacterial flora between the caries susceptive mouse strains (BALB/cA, C57BL/6N) and the caries resistant mouse strain (C3H/HeN), as well as the relation between the bacterial flora and Streptococcus faecalis that seemed to be the pathogen of caries on this caries model. The total cultivable bacterial number immediately after weaning (3 weeks old) was larger in the caries susceptive strains than in the caries resistant strain. The composition of Gram(+) cocci, Gram(+)rods and Gram(-)rods varied in each strain and Gram(-)cocci were not isolated from any of the strains. The proportion of Gram(+)cocci to the total cultivable bacterial number was larger in the caries susceptive strains than in the caries resistant strain, while S. faecalis was the most predominant species in Gram(+)cocci in all strains. It suggests that S. faecalis existed indigenously on the lower molars of mice at the time of weaning (3 weeks old). The total cultivable bacterial number increased in all strains as feeding with Diet-2000 which contains 30% sucrose started. The number reached its peak on the fifth week, and it either remained the same or slightly declined after that. The number of S. faecalis also reached the peak between third and fifth week. The order of 10(5) - to 10(6) S. faecalis was isolated from the caries susceptive strains, and the order of 10(4) from the caries resistant strain throughout the experimental period. It suggests that C3H/HeN (the caries resistant strain) mice have certain caries resistant factors in the genetic background. Toward the end of the experimental period, S. acidominimus in the caries susceptive mice and Staphylococcus sciuri in the caries resistant mice increased and replaced S. faecalis. Gram(+)rods also increased in the caries susceptive strains. It seems that Gram(+)rods have some relation with the progress of advanced dental caries. PMID- 2626796 TI - [Changes of dentin matrices during carious process]. AB - Studies were made on the effects of demineralization with lactic acid or acetic acid on the organic matrices of human sound dentin, and on the changes of the matrices during carious process. When sound dentin was demineralized with 0.5 M lactic acid or 0.5M acetic acid, non-collagenous proteins and a small amount of collagen were extracted. A larger amount of protein containing phosphophoryn was extracted with lactic acid than with acetic acid, whereas when acetic acid was used for demineralization and then followed by an EDTA solution most of the phosphophoryn was removed. Since EDTA will remove phosphophoryn from sound dentin, low level of phosphophoryn in the extract obtained by treating carious dentin with EDTA, suggests that during the carious process a loss of phosphophoryn occurs. The analyses of carious dentin fractionated by the difference of its density showed that the lower density fraction of carious dentin contained a larger proportion of non-collagenous components to collagen. By the dansylation of sound and carious dentin nine dansyl amino acids, such as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, glycine, alanine, proline, valine, leucine and tyrosine, were detected in the sound dentin, and in addition to these nine amino acids isoleucine was found in carious dentin. The amount of the respective dansyl amino acids in the fractionated carious dentin increased with the decrease of density. PMID- 2626797 TI - [Histogenesis of Sea Bream (Pagrus major) enameloid]. AB - The enameloid matrix consists of a collagenous matrix, and non collagenous proteins. Mature enameloid is highly mineralised similarly to mammalian enamel a large amount of the protein being removed. This is in contrast with bone, cementum, and dentin, where a large amount of collagen remains in the completed tissue. From the results of a biochemical study it has been suggested that the decrease of a major part of both the collagenous protein in developing enameloid is brought about by proteolytic enzymes (Kawasaki et al. 1987). However, histological and histochemical observations were not made at that time. In this study fourty-five live specimens of Sea Bream (Pagrus major) were used for histological and histochemical observations. Four undemineralised serial cryostat sections were obtained from each tooth garm and the developing enameloid matrix was observed ultrastructurally. The results of this study, show that the proteolytic enzyme activity which could not be detected in the enameloid formative stage, but was demonstrable after mineralisation had spread across the thickness of the matrix. Further more, the stage at which the proteolytic enzyme could be obtained was related to the stage of ALPase activity found in the dental epithelial cells. PMID- 2626798 TI - [Immunoglobulins in periapical lesion with special reference to qualitative and quantitative analysis of IgG]. AB - Immunoglobulins in periapical lesions (including 34 radicular cysts and 11 radicular granulomas) were investigated through extracts of the lesions and cystic fluids. The extracts of dental sacs and sera were used as a control. For a qualitative analysis, the immunoglobulins (especially IgG) of each sample were investigated by agarose gel electrophoresis and agarose gel isoelectric focusing. For quantitative analysis, single radial immunodiffusion was employed for determining the concentration of IgG, IgG subclasses, IgA and IgM in the extracts, cystic fluids and autologous sera, also IgE in cystic fluids. In agarose gel electrophoresis, homogeneous bands that were regarded as monoclonal or oligoclonal patterns in gamma region were identified with IgG by immunofixation. These bands were detected in 65% of the radicular cysts, 73% of the radicular cysts obtained cystic fluid, and 73% of the radicular granulomas, but were not detected in any of the autologous sera and dental sacs. In cases that these homogeneous bands were found in extract of cyst, the same bands were found in fluid of same radicular cyst. These results strongly suggested that a part of IgG in periapical lesions was locally produced. By agarose gel isoelectric focusing, immunoglobulins in the extract, cystic fluid and serum were investigated. Many clearly detectable bands were found in extracts of periapical lesions and cystic fluids in the range of pH 6-9 and identified with IgG by immunofixation. These findings revealed restricted heterogeneity of IgG. These IgG bands were found randomly in the range of pH 6-9 and no specific inclination of arrangement. These results suggested that IgG in periapical lesions seem to have different specificities in immunological reaction. Furthermore, in isoelectric focusing pattern of IgG, similar bands were identified in the extract of the cystic wall and fluid of same radicular cyst in 82% of the cases. These bands were detected in some of the dental sacs but not in the serum. Therefore it means that a quantities of IgG in periapical lesions and cystic fluids were locally produced. By quantitative analysis, no statistically significant differences were found in the concentration of IgG, IgG subclasses, IgA and IgM in sera between periapical lesion group and control group. PMID- 2626799 TI - [Changes in the circulation and blood catecholamines following electrical stimulation to the infraorbital nerve in rabbits which had received a long-term administration of imipramine]. AB - The purpose of the present study was to observe how circulation would be affected with imipramine. An experimental model of rabbits which had received a long-term administration of imipramine was prepared, and electrical stimuli were applied to the infraorbital nerve to determine: i) the circulatory responses (the mean femoral arterial blood pressure, the regional cortical blood flow in the marginal gyrus measured by a hydrogen clearance method and the carotid blood flow measured by using an electromagnetic blood flow meter): and ii) the catecholamine levels in the femoral arterial blood and in the brain tissues, and the imipramine level in the left-ventricular blood measured by high performance liquid chromatography. After norepinephrine (4 micrograms/kg) was infused into the femoral vein, the electrical stimuli were applied to the infraorbital nerve to determine circulatory responses. The rabbits were initially anesthetized with a mixture of nitrous oxide, oxygen and halothane during the operation for the placement of the measuring device. During measurement the animal were lightly anesthetized with the same gas under spontaneous respiration through a tracheal cannula. The data obtained from the group of rabbits to which imipramine had been administered were compared with those obtained from the control group. The results of the present study are as follow: 1) The cerebral blood flow in both groups increased significantly (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01) following the application of the electrical stimuli to the infraorbital nerve. When the same stimuli applied after norepinephrine had been infused into the femoral vein the cerebral blood flow was further increased (p less than 0.01). 2) The natural norepinephrine level in the femoral arterial blood increased significantly (p less than 0.001) in the imipramine group following the application of the electrical stimuli. 3) Although the natural norepinephrine level in the femoral arterial blood increased following the application of the electrical stimuli, the mean femoral arterial blood pressure and the carotid blood flow decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) in the imipramine group. It is considered that the decreases of the blood pressure and the cardiac blood flow were probably due to the reduction of the cardiac output. PMID- 2626800 TI - [Electron microscopic study of periodontal tissues in the pressure side by intermittent forces]. AB - The intermittent forces (10g and 30g) were applied to the upper right first molars of mature Wistar rats to move them lingually for 1, 5 and 9 days with wire springs. The periodontal tissues in the pressure side were investigated light/electron-microscopically and cytochemically (localization of acid phosphatase activity). The periodontal tissues in the pressure side divided into the following three areas were observed. The area I: The area of hyalinized tissues. The area II: The area situated within 100 microns from the end of hyalinized tissues. The area III: The area situated within 100 microns from the border of area II. The following results were obtained. I Tooth movement Experimental teeth applied with 30 g were moved much more than those applied with 10g. II Light microscopic findings 1) The narrowness of the periodontal space in the area I was not observed remarkably on 1 and 5 day experiment of 10g and 1 day experiment of 30g, though hyalinized tissues had appeared in them. 2) Semi hyalinized tissues observed in some parts of area II degenerated into hyalinized tissues during the experimental periods. 3) Direct resorption of alveolar bone by osteoclasts was seen initially in the area III on 5 day experiment of 10g and 1 day experiment of 30g. III Electron microscopic findings 1) The hyalinized tissues (area I) and semi-hyalinized tissues (some parts of area II) were characterized to contain only a few necrotic cells and cell debris. The localization of Acpase activity could not be seen in these cells and cell debris. 2) Fibroblasts in the area II and III showed various appearances; autophagy, heterophagy of collagen fibrils, fusion with other fibroblasts and cell degeneration. And the localization of Acpase-activity was observed remarkably in lysosomes, secondary lysosomes and Golgi apparatus. A few macrophages were observed in the area II and III, but the other inflammatory cells and foreign body giant cells could not be seen. 3) On the other hand, active and inactive osteoclasts were seen on the bone surface in both area II and area III. PMID- 2626801 TI - Long-term status of children treated for tuberculous meningitis in south India. AB - This report gives the findings of long-term follow-up (4 1/2-8 years) of 119 children who recovered from tuberculous meningitis. Of these, 17 patients died (10 due to severe tuberculous meningitis sequelae and 7 due to non-tuberculous causes) and 2 could not be traced. Of the remaining 100 patients for whom information was available, 47 (47%) made a complete recovery, while 53 (53%) had neurological sequelae--2 (2%) had severe, 39 (39%) moderate and 12 (12%) mild sequelae. There were no relapses during the 4 1/2-8 year period, indicating that regular treatment for 12 months may be adequate. PMID- 2626802 TI - A contact study to evaluate the BCG vaccination programme in Seoul. AB - A contact study was undertaken in Seoul to determine the protective effect of the BCG programme in children up to 5 years of age. There were 1993 contact children to 4484 smear-positive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. 1223 completed the examination, 806 had evidence of BCG vaccination, 417 had not. In total, 129 or 126 children were considered cases of tuberculosis according to radiological/clinical classification or scoring system, respectively. For the unvaccinated the respective numbers of cases were 84 and 80 and for the vaccinated 45 and 46. The data were stratified for factors that could have distorted comparability: age and sex, relationship of index case, feeding habits, room occupancy, treatment history of index case and health centre that diagnosed the index case. Only age was found to have a small effect. Correcting for this, the observed level of protection was 74% with 95% confidence limits of 62% and 82%. It appeared to be the same for all types of disease observed. PMID- 2626803 TI - The beige mouse model for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease: optimal conditions for the host and parasite. AB - We extended our earlier studies to establish the beige (C57B1/6/bgJ/bgJ) mouse model for experimental acute infections with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Optimal conditions of the host and the parasites have been determined. Mice bred at our center showed similar responses to those obtained from Jackson Laboratories, the original supplier. Both male and female mice showed similar responses, but older mice in both sexes showed less susceptibility than younger mice. Strain 101 of MAC showed remarkable consistency in its pathogenicity to beige mice, as evidenced by the distribution of colony forming unit (CFU) counts at various time points after intravenous challenge, in several experiments. CFU counts showed an association with the dose of challenge, and histopathological observations. PMID- 2626804 TI - Tuberculosis in China. PMID- 2626805 TI - Genitourinary infections caused by mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis. AB - Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections are usually found in the respiratory tract: infection confined to the genito-urinary system is rare. We report two patients with isolated genito-urinary infections, one due to Mycobacterium chelonae and the other to Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare. PMID- 2626806 TI - Pulmonary disease due to Mycobacterium terrae. AB - A patient with pulmonary disease due to Mycobacterium terrae, a soil saprophyte seldom encountered as a pathogen, is described. The strain was isolated repeatedly from the sputum and gastric washings of the patient in whom no evidence of impairment of cellular or humoral immunity was found. Bacteriological conversion followed initial therapy with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, streptomycin and pefloxacin for two months, followed by maintenance therapy of isoniazid, rifampicin and pefloxacin. PMID- 2626807 TI - Multiple tuberculous bone lesions simulating metastatic disease. AB - A case history is presented for a patient who developed multiple bone lesions, mainly in ribs and spine. The lesions were suspected to be due to disseminated carcinoma but the diagnosis of tuberculosis was proven by biopsy and culture. PMID- 2626808 TI - [Analysis of accidents in children in school, apprenticeship and agriculture]. AB - A significant increase of accidents in children was the cause to look into the reasons. 516 children have been registered. We could show that the share of the severe injured patients was more than on an average. Over 42% of the injuries concerned the head and face, about a third the lower extremities and a quart the upper extremities. Some cases were demonstrated and discussed with state and development after the accident. The major part of the children had an accident on the way to school and back home. So the explanation of the dangers of the road will be extremely effective in prevention of road accidents. PMID- 2626809 TI - [Acute post-traumatic subdural hematoma in advanced age]. AB - In this retrospective study about 101 patients, two groups of patients are compared in order to find out the most significant factors affecting survival after an acute, posttraumatic subdural hematoma (ASDH) of patients older than 60 years. Solitary ASDH in people older than 60 years showed an advantage in terms of survival. Additional traumas to the brain, chest or the blood circulatory system doubled the lethality rate of people older than 60 years. This was primarily caused by additional traumas to the brain rather than by traumas to the chest or hypovolemic shock syndrome. If the ASDH was caused by a bleeding due to a ruptured cortical artery or a venous sinus, people older than 60 years would have a poorer outcome than younger patients. A prognostic advantage on the contrary could be observed by patients older than 60 years whose ASDH was caused by a ruptured bridging vein. Most of the ASDH in older people occurred after falling down steps. Some patients fell according to an epileptic attack of an intracerebral bleeding after an anticoagulation therapy. PMID- 2626810 TI - [Treatment of malignant pathologic fractures. Results of a retrospective study]. AB - In malignant pathological fractures, surgery is an essential part of the whole oncologic conception. In most cases it is combined with adjuvant therapies. Various surgical procedures are available for the different sites depending on the fact whether the operation is performed in a curative or palliative intent. Even in case of palliative indication with only a limited life expectancy, the indication for surgery is adopted more and more generously. A very important point is the wish of the patient. With our low complication rates, we have been able to facilitate the hard fates of many patients even if they had only short survival times. PMID- 2626811 TI - [Dislocation of the scaphoid bone of the hand]. AB - After presentation of the kinematic of the scaphoid and the mechanism of the luxation of the scaphoid, the importance of the correct diagnosis of a wrist instability, after this injury, is demonstrated. After closed reduction a lateral, anteroposterior and a stress-radiography in ulnar-and radialstress has to be done. If the gap between the scaphoid and lunate is widened, a wrist instability exists. Another sign for a wrist instability is a scapholunate angle with more than 70 degrees and a wrong position between radius, scaphoid, lunate and capitate. The problems of conservative treatment are presented and primary repair of a wrist instability with suture of the ruptured ligaments and temporary Kirschner-wire fixation is recommended. PMID- 2626812 TI - [Stabilizing osteotomy of per- and subtrochanteric femoral fractures]. AB - Between the years 1975 to 1986 797 coxal fractures were treated in the Department of Traumatology of the Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt a. M. 130 bone lesions were classified as unstable trochanteric fractures and 62 were stabilized by means of the valgisation osteosynthesis. A good result can be achieved in case of a correct indication and proper technique. PMID- 2626813 TI - [Report of experiences with 31 surgically treated patients with deformity of the femur shaft]. AB - In 1986/1987 we made a follow-up of 31 patients having undergone a surgical treatment of a deformity of the femur shaft in 1971 through 1981. For a better interpretation of the results we divided these patients into three partly overlapping groups: Patients with deformities of the angel or rotation, patients being shortened in case of length-differences and those being elongated. Finally we investigated, that in nine out of ten cases we got a good result by correcting angle-and rotation-deformities and by the shortening osteotomy. The extension osteotomy caused more complications and not so good results than those of the first two groups. We recognized, that the follow-up treatment was very long, and the method of the operation was not standardized but was adapted to the circumstances of the single case. PMID- 2626814 TI - [Osteopoikilosis--fracture healing]. AB - Between 1956 and 1988 five cases of osteopoikilosis have been observed. All cases were found by chance. In two cases there were fractures: one of the femur shaft, which has been stabilized by intramedullary nailing, one of the fifth metacarpal bone which has been treated conservatively. In both cases no delay of bony union could be observed. Osteopoikilosis- as a mesenchymal lesion--seems to have no negative influence on fracture healing. PMID- 2626815 TI - [Hematogenous osteomyelitis of the right clavicle and right femur head following subclavian vein puncture and insertion of an indwelling catheter]. AB - A description of a haematogene osteomyelitis of the right clavicula and the right hip-joint after placing a central vein-approach. Incidence of a staphylococcus infection, which makes the replacement of the right hip-joint with a total prostheses necessary. PMID- 2626816 TI - [Possibilities for radiologic imaging of the retro-malleolar groove]. AB - The possibilities of X-rays of the retromalleolar groove of the peroneal tendons have been proved. The CT-technique is simple in handling and gives most information because of the possibility to judge as well the peroneal tendons, the haematoma as the retromalleolar groove. It is fit for diagnosis and for preoperative planning of the therapy. A standardized technique of the tangential projection of the retromalleolar groove is presented. This technique is more difficult than CT, but, if it is done correctly, the information is from the same value than the information of the CT. X-rays of the ankle in the posterior anterior and lateral projection are only of value in cases with an avulsion fracture of the peroneal retinaculum. The tomography of the lateral malleolus gives not more information. PMID- 2626817 TI - [Recurrent abscess in correlation with a dermoid cyst]. AB - Following an empyema of the shoulder joint the patient had to undergo twelve operations in 14 months to treat vast subcutaneous abscesses. An epidermoid cyst was extirpated in the end, whatafter no more abscess occurred. PMID- 2626818 TI - Development of a double drill guide for the mini-fixation unit according to Stuhler-Heise. AB - Fortunately the mini-fixation is a system allowing a high level of stability in case of closed reposition of, for example, the distal comminuted fracture of the radius. In order to avoid the need of changing the drill guides of different sizes on the bone, a plug drill guide has been developed by which a patient and time sparing proceeding is possible. PMID- 2626819 TI - Identification of two independent MHC class II antigens in a bovine lymphoblastoid cell line. AB - Bovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens were investigated using monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) with known MHC class II specificities in other species. Thirty-four MoAbs were tested for reactivity with bovine peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells and the bovine lymphoblastoid cell line, BL3, by flow cytometry. Twenty-seven of 31 MoAbs tested, reacted with BL3 cells, and 22 of 25 MoAbs tested with PBM cells were reactive. MoAbs that reacted with BL3 cells were used to immunoprecipitate class II molecules from BL3 lysate labeled with [35S]methionine. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and autoradiography, many MoAbs were found to immunoprecipitate a single band of approximately 31,000 relative mass (Mr). MoAbs yielding successful immunoprecipitations and with known antigen specificity in other species were then used in sequential immunoprecipitations and two dimensional (2-D) non-equilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis (NEPHGE). The HLA DR specific MoAb H4 and the predominantly HLA-DQ specific MoAb CC11.23 were used to identify the presence of two independent antigens in BL3 cell lysate. These class II molecules consist of alpha and beta chains. PMID- 2626820 TI - The effect of human recombinant interleukin-2 on the porcine immune response to a pseudorabies virus subunit vaccine. AB - The effect of human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) as an immune enhancing agent was evaluated in pigs vaccinated with a pseudorabies virus subunit vaccine (SV). Two groups of three pigs received two 25 micrograms doses of SV given 3 weeks apart. One group received 10(5) kg-1 day-1 of rIL-2 subcutaneously over two 5-day periods beginning on the day of the first and second vaccine inoculation. Six other pigs were immunized with two 5 micrograms doses of SV. Three of these pigs were treated as above with rIL-2. The effect of treatment was evaluated by comparing: the humoral response; the cell-mediated immune (CMI) response as measured by lymphocyte blastogenesis before and after virus challenge; and the weight response and virus excretion pattern after challenge with virulent pseudorabies virus (PRV). The humoral antibody response as detected by the serum virus neutralization (SN) assay and the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was consistently higher in rIL-2 treated pigs than in non-treated pigs. These differences were significant (P less than 0.05) among high vaccine dose pigs prior to virus challenge when measured by the SN assay and during the anamnestic response period between days 3 and 10 after challenge when measured by both the SN assay and the ELISA. No differences were detected between treatment groups in the weight response, virus excretion pattern or the CMI response. These results suggest that human rIL-2 may have enhanced the immune response of pigs to the subunit vaccine. PMID- 2626821 TI - Retinal-binding protein as a shuttle for retinal in the rhodopsin-retinochrome system of the squid visual cells. AB - The molluscan visual cell is characterized by having two photopigment systems, rhodopsin and retinochrome. In connection with these systems, located separately in the rhabdomal microvilli and in the nucleated cell bodies, the physiological role of retinal-binding protein (RALBP) was investigated in the squid (Todarodes pacificus) by using 3-dehydroretinal (retinal 2) as a tracer for retinal chromophore. In dark-adapted eyes, squid RALBP is combined abundantly with 11-cis retinal. However, upon incubation with an excess of all-trans-retinal or retinol, RALBP took up great amounts of each of them, releasing its native retinoid ligands. When an all-trans-retinal-rich RALBP thus produced was incubated in the dark with metaretinochrome 2-carrying membranes, the RALBP released all-trans retinal to the membranes to regenerate retinochrome, taking up 11-cis-retinal 2 from metaretinochrome 2. Upon further incubation of this 11-cis-retinal 2-rich RALBP with metarhodopsin-carrying membranes, the RALBP released the 11-cis retinal 2 to the membranes to form rhodopsin 2, receiving all-trans-retinal from metarhodopsin. These findings show that squid RALBP is capable of serving as a shuttle during the recycling of retinal in the rhodopsin-retinochrome conjugate system to maintain the photoreceptive function of the visual cells. PMID- 2626822 TI - Directional and orientational tuning of feline striate cortical neurones: correlation with neuronal class. AB - In a subset of 327 simple and complex cells from the striate cortex of cats anaesthetized with N2O/O2/halothane, a range of receptive field properties were compared. These included directional and orientational selectivity, tuning and symmetry; endstopping; receptive field dimensions; length summation; texture sensitivity; ocular dominance; and resting discharge levels. These properties were related to neuronal class (simple or complex) and to the special, intermediate and standard subdivisions of the complex cell category. Special complex cells showed a high incidence of direction selectivity, were less sharply tuned for orientation, more commonly endstopped, more strongly binocular, tended to have higher resting discharge levels and exhibited greater sensitivity to motion of randomly textured patterns than the other classes of neurones. The remaining classes of complex cells, together with simple cells, were more commonly direction-biased or bidirectional, and more selective for orientation than special complex cells. Standard complex cells were marginally more symmetrically tuned for orientation than the other groups. Simple cells represented the most sharply orientation tuned neurones in the cortex; unlike complex cells of all groups they were insensitive to texture motion, generally had lower levels of maintained discharge, and showed least integration of inputs between the two eyes. Assessed by appropriate measures (minimum response fields in special complex cells; length summation in standard complex cells), standard complex cells had significantly larger receptive fields than special complex cells. PMID- 2626823 TI - Human macular pigment assessed by imaging fundus reflectometry. AB - A computerized, television-based, imaging fundus reflectometer was used to obtain estimates of the spatial distribution of macular pigment (xanthophylls) from seven normal subjects. Digitized images of the bleached macula of each subject were acquired at illuminating wavelengths from 462 to 697 nm. An analysis of spectral reflectances indicated that differences in short-wavelength reflectance between the foveal center and parafovea were influenced by spatial variations in melanin and oxyhemoglobin absorption as well as by the distribution of macular pigment. To provide an estimate of the spatial distribution of macular pigment alone, we have corrected fundus images obtained at 462 nm for the effect of melanin and oxyhemoglobin absorption. The spatial variation in macular pigment double density across the horizontal and vertical meridians of the retina was well described by Gaussian functions. The peak double densities for the individual subjects ranged from 0.22 to 0.45 and the standard deviations of the Gaussian functions averaged approx. 1 degree. PMID- 2626824 TI - Contribution of linear spatiotemporal receptive field structure to velocity selectivity of simple cells in area 17 of cat. AB - We have examined the spatiotemporal structure of simple receptive fields in the cat's striate cortex by cross-correlating their spike trains with an ensemble of stimuli consisting of stationary bright and dark spots whose position was randomized on each 50 msec frame. Receptive fields were found to be either separable or inseparable in space-time and responses to moving stimuli were predicted from the spatiotemporal structure of the cell under study. Most simple cells with separable spatiotemporal receptive fields were not direction selective. All simple cells with inseparable spatiotemporal receptive fields were found to prefer movement in one direction. The optimal speed and direction were estimable from the slope of individual subregions observed in the space-time plane. The results are consistent with a linear model for direction selectivity. PMID- 2626825 TI - Role of the lens and vitreous humor in the refractive properties of the eyes of three strains of goldfish. AB - Certain strains of goldfish are characterized by large bulging eyes which have been shown to be extremely myopic. Such myopia has been hypothesized to have its origin in enlargement of the posterior chamber of the eye. The focal length of the lens was found to be similar for paraxial and marginal lens zones in common, Chinese Black Moor and Celestial goldfish, thus providing indirect support of that hypothesis. Freeze-sectioning study of intraocular dimensions shows that the axial length of the vitreous chamber of the common goldfish eye is about 37% of total axial length. In contrast, it becomes more than 70% of axial length in Chinese Black Moors and Celestials. An examination of vitreous protein concentration indicates that ocular enlargement in Chinese Black Moors and in Celestials is related to an increase in vitreous quantity, and is accompanied by vitreous dilution. The fact that similar findings are reported in the case of experimental myopia in chicks, suggests the existence of a fundamental mechanism of refractive development for the vertebrate eye. PMID- 2626826 TI - Psychophysical estimates of ocular media density of human infants. AB - The ocular media densities of eleven 10-week-old infants and of 10 adults were estimated from dark adapted thresholds measured using a two alternative forced choice preferential looking method. The estimated media density at 400 nm derived from these thresholds ranged from 0.55 to 1.00 (median 0.75) log units for infants, and from 1.35 to 1.69 (median 1.46) log units for young adults. This indicates media density increases significantly (0.71 log units) between infancy and adulthood. These data allow more complete specification of the retinal stimulus for quantitative analysis of infants' retinal function. PMID- 2626827 TI - Local and distal factors in visual grating induction. AB - When a uniform test field is surrounded by luminance or chromatic gratings, a grating is induced in the test field. The perceived spatial frequency and orientation of the induced grating can be different from the frequency and orientation of the inducing gratings. Local edge effects are the factors primarily responsible for visual grating induction. Distal parts of the inducing stimulus affect only the amplitude of the induced modulation. PMID- 2626828 TI - The conditions under which Mach bands are visible. AB - In this paper we challenge the classical explanation of Mach bands--that they result from lateral inhibitory mechanism operating in the visual system--and present an alternative explanation based on a recent local energy model of feature detection (Morrone & Burr, 1988). A series of experiments was conducted to establish the range of parameters under which Mach bands appear on periodic waveforms of the trapezoid family. The model predicts successfully the conditions under which Mach bands appear, and the contrast necessary to see them. Other models, including those based on lateral inhibition and band-pass filtering fail to do so. PMID- 2626829 TI - The gap effect revisited: slow changes in chromatic sensitivity as affected by luminance and chromatic borders. AB - Chromatic discrimination was studied with two half-fields that were either precisely juxtaposed or were separated by a narrow gap. When present, the gap was in some conditions filled with light isoluminant to the test fields. When the fields were juxtaposed, chromatic sensitivity declined with viewing duration. For a discrimination based solely on S cone activity, separating steadily-viewed fields by either a luminance or a purely chromatic gap caused similar enhancements of sensitivity. Neither type of gap had much effect when the fields were flashed. The results may be interpreted as showing that either a luminance or chromatic contour can spatially delimit the two half-fields, thus preventing a slow spatial integration from reducing the discriminability of the two sides of the field. PMID- 2626830 TI - Detecting the displacements of spatial beats: no role for distortion products. AB - When two sinusoidal gratings of the same orientation and similar spatial frequency are summed, the resulting pattern has a periodic spatial variation or beat in contrast. Although the pattern contains no luminance modulation component at the beat frequency, it behaves in some respects as if it did: human observers for example are very good at detecting spatial displacements of the beat. We wished to test the possibility that a non-linearity in the visual system generates a component (a "distortion product") at the beat frequency, and that it is displacement of the distortion product that observers detect. Attempting to "null" the distortion product by adding to the beat pattern a sinusoidal component of the same spatial frequency as the distortion product but 180 deg out of phase with it does not impair performance in detecting motion of the beat; there is no nulling at any amplitude of the added component. Reducing the phase shift of the hypothetical distortion product by adding a static sinusoid to the moving beat pattern fails to produce the predicted fall in performance. These results suggest that distortion products do not contribute to our sensitivity to the displacement of beat patterns. Reversing the contrast of a beat pattern when it is displaced, slightly increases sensitivity to displacement, the same manipulation impairs performance with luminance patterns. This is consistent with the notion that the beat is detected as an unsigned local contrast signal. PMID- 2626831 TI - Stiles-Crawford effect in garter snake. AB - The optical geometry of the eye of the American garter snake suggests a highly pronounced Stiles-Crawford effect occurs at the level of its cone photoreceptors. However, it is demonstrated here that inner segments of the cones in this species have a high density of microdroplets, up to 0.1 microns in diameter, which increases the refractive index of the ellipsoid. Theoretical considerations involving geometrical optics show that these droplets, like conventional oil droplets, may be a specific adaptation of the garter snake to increase the sensitivity of its cones to oblique rays, thus reducing the potentially large Stiles-Crawford effect predicted for this vertebrate. PMID- 2626832 TI - Chemical dependency: effects on practice and personal health. PMID- 2626833 TI - Drug therapy considerations in craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD). PMID- 2626834 TI - Temporomandibular joint arthroscopy. A preliminary report. PMID- 2626835 TI - General guidelines for referring medically compromised and infectious dental patients. American Dental Association Council on Dental Practice. PMID- 2626836 TI - The influence of tissue expanders on grafted vessels. AB - Interpositionally grafted arteries and veins were expanded with a 20cc tissue expanders in 50 Sprague-Dawley rats. The grafts were done on both hind legs, one side was expanded and the remaining side was used as control. The average gain in length of expanded grafted arteries and veins was over 4 and 6 times that of the controls respectively. The differences in the patency rates between expanded and control grafts were not statistically significant. Histologic examination revealed that there were no changes in the areas of the media and lengths of the inner elastic laminae of the expanded arterial grafts. In both expanded and control vein grafts, marked intimal thickening was noticed, although these changes were not statistically significant. Expansion of grafted vessels can be safely carried out without loss of vessel patency. PMID- 2626837 TI - Scanning electron microscopy of Malassezia furfur in tinea versicolor. AB - Morphologic features of Malassezia(M.) furfur in the horny layer from clinical lesions of tinea versicolor were examined by scanning electron microscopy and compared with the appearance of fungus in the horny layer from normal skin and in culture. In skin lesions of tinea versicolor, M. furfur showed a variety of growth and reproduction patterns. Although the main patterns were budding yeast forms, various patterns suggesting yeast-mycelial conversion were observed and mycelial hyphae were more prominent in the deeper horny layer than in the superficial layers. However, in the skin of normal persons and in culture, M. furfur existed only as yeast forms and no mycelial hyphae or yeast-mycelial conversion forms were seen. This suggests that the morphologic change of M. furfur, from a yeast form to a mycelial hypha one, may play a role in the induction of the clinical lesion of tinea versicolor. PMID- 2626838 TI - Oral provocation tests with aspirin and food additives in asthmatic patients. AB - Aspirin and food additives are known to induce bronchoconstriction, angioedema or urticaria in susceptible patients. To evaluate the incidence of hypersensitivity to aspirin and food additives, 36 subjects with bronchial asthma, 33 of whom were non-allergic asthmatics and 3 were allergic asthmatics who had a history of aspirin sensitivity, were challenged orally with six compounds: acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), sodium bisulfite, tartrazine, sodium benzoate, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid, and monosodium L-glutamate. Significant bronchoconstrictions were found in 15 (41.7%) of the 36 subjects tested. Eight of the 15 subjects showed positive asthmatic responses to the aspirin, two showed asthmatic responses to the food additives, and five responded to both aspirin and the food additives. It is suggested that ASA and food additives could be causes of clinically significant bronchoconstriction in moderately severe non-allergic asthmatic patients. PMID- 2626839 TI - Identification and partial purification of pollen allergens from Artemisia princeps. AB - The pollen of Artemisia has been considered as the main late summer-autumn allergen source in this country. To identify its allergenic components, Artemisia princeps pollen extracts were separated by 10% sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane, where IgE binding components were detected by the reaction with sera of twenty Artemisia-allergic patients and 125I-anti-human IgE, sixteen components in the molecular range of 10,000 and 85,000 daltons were detected. Twelve bands bound to IgE from 50% of the sera tested, and two bands (37,000, 23,000 daltons) showed the highest (85%) frequency of IgE-binding in twenty sera tested. When the gel of SDS-PAGE with Artemisia pollen extracts was sliced into 11 allergenic groups (AG) and the protein of each AG was obtained by the gel elution method, the wormwool-RAST inhibition test showed that the AG 10 demonstrated to be the most potent, and the AG 7 was the next. Six AGs showed significant responses (more than 100% of wheal size to histamine, 1 mg/ml) on the skin prick test in more than 50% of the patients tested. It is suggested that electrophoretic transfer analysis with SDS-PAGE may be a valuable method for Artemisia allergen identification, and the possibility of partial purification of allergens by employing gel elution is discussed. PMID- 2626840 TI - Diagnostic value of insulin-like growth factor-I in short stature. AB - For the present, to determine growth hormone(GH) deficiency in patients with short stature, many provocative tests using various pharmacological agents such as glucagon, insulin, clonidine, arginine, growth hormone releasing factor, etc. should be done. These are not only complicated but are also misleading in some patients. In search of a simple and accurate method of detecting GH deficiency that may replace the more complicated provocative tests, we measured basal plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) to see the correlation with the peak GH values in the GH stimulation test. But, in each group of patients with different types of short stature, IGF-I values were poorly correlated. In addition, IGF-I values of the patients with short stature compared to the age- and sex-matched normal ranges showed a significant overlap, and the difference between the proportion of patients with subnormal values in GH deficient patients and non-GH deficient patients was not prominent. Nevertheless, in response to human growth hormone (hGH) administration, both the yearly growth rate and IGF-I levels increased conspicuously. Therefore, even though it may not be feasible to use IGF I as a single diagnostic measure of patients with short stature, the change in IGF-I values in the follow up of hGH therapy may well represent the response to hGH. PMID- 2626841 TI - Infantile myofibromatosis. AB - We report a case of infantile myofibromatosis in a male infant with involvement of the lungs and subcutaneous tissue. We studied our case by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The results reveal that this entity is of a myofibroblastic nature. We reviewed 165 cases including our case. We believe this is the first report in Korea of infantile myofibromatosis with pulmonary involvement. PMID- 2626842 TI - Submucosal lymphatic cyst of the stomach--a case report. AB - A submucosal lymphatic cyst is a thin-walled cyst, lined by flattened lymphatic endothelium, containing thin serous fluid. It rarely causes clinical symptoms, and it is incidentally discovered during fiberoptic panendoscopy or radiologic study in most cases. It is an extremely rare benign tumor of the stomach; however, a submucosal lymphatic cyst should be considered if a pliable and benign submucosal lesion is detected during fiberoptic panendoscopy. We report a case of submucosal lymphatic cyst of the stomach which showed a typical clinical picture. This report is the first case of submucosal lymphatic cyst of the stomach in Korea to the best of our knowledge. PMID- 2626843 TI - A case of tracheoesophageal cyst in the posterior mediastinum. AB - We experienced a case of a tracheoesophageal cyst in the posterior mediastinum of a three-year-old girl, who complained of cough and fever. We confirmed this case by computerized tomography and pathologic examination after surgical resection. A brief review of the literature is presented. PMID- 2626844 TI - [Change in cardiopulmonary function following surgery]. AB - 45 patients were subjected to pre- and postoperative radio-cardiographic examinations and 52 patients to respiratory function tests. Vital capacity, one second capacity, maximum breathing capacity and peak flow decreased significantly, the oscillatory resistance increased significantly. During extra abdominal interventions, the difference to the initial value appeared to be essentially lower. These findings are to be related to bronchial irritation and concurrent anaesthesia-induced bronchospasm as well to pain-dependent restriction of lung function due to elevation and relieving posture of the diaphragm. Not significant was the change in cardiac function which was determined by age and predigitalization of the test persons rather than by the site of the surgical intervention. PMID- 2626845 TI - [The effect of the calcium antagonist nifedipine on stress-induced bronchial asthma]. AB - Studies of the efficiency of the calcium antagonist nifedepine on the exercise induced asthma bronchiale (EIA) were carried out in 15 cases of asthmatics (11 men, 5 women; average age 28.5 years; average time of illness 6.4 years). Duration of exercise was 6 minutes at 80-85% of the maximal age related heart frequency, either on the bicycle ergometer or free running. Rtot, TGV, MEF50, MEF25 and arterial pO2 were measured, Rtot and TGV with air breathing as well as with He/O2 (80% He, 20% O2). Nifedepine reduces significantly the exercise induced obstruction of the large and the peripheral airways. Possible mechanisms are discussed. Prophylactic treatment with nifedepine is possible. The development of a selective calcium antagonist is desirable. PMID- 2626846 TI - [Diagnostic assessment and documentation of psychosomatic diseases]. AB - Besides the notion of psychosomatic medicine as a way of viewing, there is need of a definition of so-called psychosomatic diseases from the aspect of demarcation against general bio-psycho-social interactions. To this end, evidence of a framework of conditions has to be provided which integrates organopathological, experience-related psychological and social parameters. The traditional medical history must be broadened to cover these connections and for this purpose an orientation system is presented. PMID- 2626847 TI - [Psoriatic osteopathy]. AB - In order to make evident an up to now only postulated generalized osteopathy in psoriatics in 24 patients with psoriasis and 24 patients with psoriatic arthritis the serum-calcium levels, the alkaline phosphatase in the serum and the excretion of hydroxyprolin in the urine were determined. Moreover, the bone bioptates of 25 patients with psoriatic arthritis and 10 patients with psoriasis were histologically examined and morphometrically measured, respectively. The examinations give evidence for the presence of a generalized "latent" osteopathy in the sense of an increased bone turnover rate without loss of bone volume (high turnover remodeling) in patients with psoriatic arthritis as well as in those with psoriasis without arthritis. As a common pathogenetically significant factor for dermatosis and osteopathy a latent vitamin D deficiency and a D-hormone resistance is discussed. PMID- 2626848 TI - [The effect of long-term dialysable leukocyte extract therapy on the recurrence behavior of idiopathic uveitis]. AB - 26 patients with idiopathic uveitis (anterior uveitis 11, intermediate uveitis 8, posterior uveitis 7) were treated with Dialysable Leukocyte Extract (DLE) for a long period. In comparison with the period before DLE in anterior and posterior uveitis the numbers of relapses decrease, the inflammation-free intervals become longer. These prolongations are significant. In cases with intermediate uveitis such a significance is not available. But in all types of uveitis DLE therapy shortens the duration of inflammatory episodes. These effects lead to a highly significant decrease of the portion of the period during and after DLE therapy in which inflammatory signs occur in comparison with the period before DLE therapy. The latter result becomes evident for all types of uveitis. PMID- 2626849 TI - [Clinical and immunologic aspects in patients with agammaglobulinemia]. AB - Agammaglobulinemia is a rare disease. The concentration of these patients provides efficacy of diagnosis and treatment. Within this group the "acquired" type in adulthood (CVID, n = 31) can be separated from the X-linked agammaglobulinemia of infants (n = 6). The former is characterized by variable clinical and immunological pictures. Common to both are sinubronchial infections and extremely low levels of all classes of immunoglobulins. IgG-levels below 4 g/l are usually accompanied by a more severe disease. For the first time an osteopathy in most cases of CVID has been described. Patients with agammaglobulinemia should remain under close control with regard to their clinical data as well as to the result of the substitution by adequate preparations of immunoglobulins. A certain association with HLA-B21 could be identified. In 4 families with several afflicted members this has, however, not the case. Immunological screening in first-degree relatives provides information for genetical counseling. PMID- 2626850 TI - [Experiences with desensitization of early spring pollen allergy using 2 tree pollen extracts]. AB - Forty patients with tree pollen-induced allergy (rhinitis, conjunctivitis or combination from both with asthma) were hyposensitized with an extract from isolated birch pollen or a pollen mixture (hazel-, alder-, oak- and hornbeam pollen). The distribution of the different extracts was random. After 3-year treatment, no statistical differences were found between the two groups, especially regarding clinical effectiveness, duration of symptoms or symptom score. In conclusion, we recommend a hyposensitization with birch pollen extract in tree pollen-induced allergy. If evidence is present of sensitization against other tree pollens, especially hazel or alder, or in cases without therapeutic effect after two years of hyposensitization with birch pollen, an attempt with a tree pollen mixture extract is indicated. PMID- 2626851 TI - [The department of general internal medicine--a model of synoptic internal medicine at a university with primary care responsibilities]. AB - It is reported on the department of general internal medicine of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and its position in the complex of the internal medical basic care. It is particularly dealt with the cooperation with the specialists for general medicine and the subspecialists. At this example the role of the "general" internal specialists and his tasks in care, research and education in a university clinic are discussed and the necessity of a profile determination is made clear. PMID- 2626852 TI - Correlations between zinc, amino acids and ammonia in liver cirrhosis. AB - In view of the universal metabolic importance of zinc in the organism, it was the purpose of the present work to determine the concentrations of zinc in serum, of amino acids and ammonia in plasma of patients with liver cirrhosis, and investigate that correlations might exist between these substances. The study involved 18 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis without coma and eleven with coma. The subjects with normal livers were used as controls. While confirming known data (reduced zinc levels, imbalance of plasma amino acids, hyperammonaemia in chronic liver diseases) the findings also revealed correlations between the above substances. A negative correlations existed between zinc and ammonia. Decreases in zinc serum levels were accompanied by increases in plasma ammonia concentrations in hepatic coma (p less than 0.05). Plasma levels of amino acids did not correlate with serum zinc concentrations. PMID- 2626853 TI - [Hemosuccus pancreaticus following rupture of a hepatic artery aneurysm]. AB - We describe the rare case of a hemosuccus pancreaticus as the cause of an upper gastrointestinal bleeding. A perforated common hepatic artery aneurysm caused a bleeding into the pancreas and the pancreatic duct. Besides the hepatic artery aneurysm aneurysms of the coeliac trunc and the splenic artery were found. After the bleeding had been localised by pancreoscopy and angiography, the coeliac trunc, the tail of the pancreas and the spleen were resected without any complication. PMID- 2626854 TI - [Recurrent gastroparesis following abdominal irradiation. Therapy with cisapride]. AB - Following abdominal radiation a 16-year-old male patient developed nausea and vomiting secondary to gastric stasis, dilatation and impairment of antral motility. Symptoms improved after 2 months of treatment with a cholinergic agonist. Now, 7 years later, symptoms recurred. Cisapride, a newly developed agent which stimulates gastrointestinal motility probably evoked a prompt increase of antral motility and gastric emptying. We conclude that abdominal irradiation may cause gastrointestinal motility disturbances which may respond to medical therapy. PMID- 2626855 TI - [The effect of Cerucal (metoclopramide) on the demonstrability of serotonin containing entero-endocrine EC cells of the small intestine]. AB - In the lamina epithelialis mucosae of human duodenal biopsies 5-hydroxytryptamine in enteroendocrine EC cells was demonstrated by means paraformaldehyde induced fluorescence and impregnation techniques. Contrary to the intramuscular application oral administered Cerucal (metoclopramide) prevented the demonstrability of this cells totally. PMID- 2626856 TI - Immunohistochemical study on the distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) containing nerve fibers in the chicken pancreas. AB - The distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) containing nervous elements in the chicken pancreas was immunohistochemically investigated by light microscopy. Strongly VIP immunoreactive ganglia existed in the interlobular connective tissue. Ganglion containing both VIP immunoreactive and non immunoreactive nerve cells was occasionally observed in the connective tissue. Almost all the ganglion cells also showed acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. No extrapancreatic nerve bundles containing VIP immunoreactive nerve fibres were detected. VIP immunoreactive nerve fibres formed plexuses in the subepithelial layer of secretory ducts and the muscle layer of small arteries. The distribution pattern of VIP immunoreactive nerve fibers was similar to that of AChE-positive nerve fibers on adjacent sections. The exocrine pancreas received a rich supply of varicose nerve fibers showing VIP immunoreactivity. B-islets also were richly innervated by VIP immunoreactive varicose nerve fibers, whereas A-islets, only poorly. These observations suggest that VIP containing nerves in the chicken pancreas have an intrinsic origin, are probably derived from VIP immunoreactive, intrapancreatic ganglion cells and innervate secretory ducts, arteries, acinar cells and B-islets, and that VIP must coexist with acetylcholine in the nervous elements. PMID- 2626857 TI - Fluoride resistant acid phosphatase activity in pacinian corpuscles of the cat mesentery. Light microscope. AB - Fluoride-resistant acid phosphatase (extralysosomal) activity has been investigated in Pacinian sensory corpuscles from cat's mesentery. The activity was found in the innermost and intermediate layers of the capsular system, but it is not possible to establish its exact localization. The central axon and the inner core were FRAP negative. The authors discuss the possible functional significance of FRAP activity in sensory corpuscles. PMID- 2626858 TI - [Light and electron microscopic studies of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of newborn guinea pigs]. AB - The present investigation demonstrates that the vomeronasal organ of newborn guinea pigs presents morphological elements for the detection of chemical signals. PMID- 2626859 TI - [The embryonic development of the intestinal mucosa with special reference to its epithelium]. AB - Electron microscopic examinations were made of different parts of the bovine intestine (n = 13) up to the 10th week of embryonic development. During the 'phase of undifferentiated epithelium' the embryonic intestinal epithelium can be classified as stratified and is perhaps a pool of cells. Microvilli of the apical plasmalemma appear at first in neighboring and opposing cells in the centre of the epithelium. They already show microfilaments as well as a glycocalix. The supranuclear cytoplasm shows many granules, vesicles and arciform structures which may be used in the process of microvilli formation. The importance of infranuclear basal granules in the peripheral epithelial cells is still unknown; perhaps they are merely phylogenetic remnants of a principle of development common to all vertebrate intestines. Single cilia which are formed in the periluminal cytoplasm presumably suppress mitotic activities of the epithelial cells and induce their ensuing differentiation. Epithelial proliferation is the initial event of villigenesis, giving rise to epithelial primary villi. Immediately following is the formation of secondary villi during proliferation of the mesenchyme. PMID- 2626860 TI - The bifunctional role of pro-opiomelanocortin derivatives in the mediobasal hypothalamus of the rat. AB - In the present study, a polyclonal antibody against pro-opiomelanocortin derivatives was characterized biochemically. Its immunoreactivity with structures of the arcuate nucleus and the median eminence was investigated by means of the immunogold method and compared with its reaction on adenohypophyseal cells with and without pre-adsorption with pro-opiomelanocortin derivatives. The antiserum detects ACTH and its fragments, in particular alpha-MSH, and beta-endorphin. In the adenohypophysis gold particles are exclusively located on small secretory granules situated in the periphery of branched cells. In the perikarya of the arcuate nucleus gold particles are observed on terminal vesicles abutting from the cis-face of the Golgi apparatus, on granules in its direct vicinity and on small dense core vesicles preferentially located in the cell periphery. Immunoreactive gold-labeled fiber profiles are found in a sub- or intra-ependymal position as well as in the nuclear neuropil proper. Here axodendritic and axosomatic synapses are observed. In both situations the gold particles are mostly restricted to the small dense core vesicles and do not decorate the synaptic vesicles. In the median eminence gold labeled fibers are detected in all layers. The labeled fibers can be closely apposed to tanycytic processes, without, however, forming special contact differentiations. In direction to the perivascular layer of the external zone the labeled profiles are more frequently arranged in groups intermingled with unlabeled fibers. The axons decorated with gold particles can be freely exposed to the perivascular space or are found as single processes in close vicinity to the capillary wall. Subsequent to preincubation of the native antiserum with ACTH1-39 and ACTH18-39 (= CLIP) neither adenohypophyseal cells nor perikarya and fibers in the arcuate nucleus nor axons in the median eminence are decorated with gold particles. Preincubation of the native antiserum with alpha-MSH or beta-endorphin does not change the immunoreaction with the small, peripherally situated granules in the branched adenohypophyseal cells. In neurons of the arcuate nucleus and in fibers of the median eminence, however, the immunoreaction is completely extinguished when the antibody is pre-incubated with alpha-MSH, whereas subsequent to preincubation with beta-endorphin only the amounts of labeled structures are reduced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2626861 TI - Contribution to histochemical distribution of non-specific cholinesterase activity in sensory ganglia of some mammals. AB - The activity of non-specific cholinesterase was demonstrated histochemically in satellite cells of the spinal ganglia from adult rat, cat, rabbit and baboon. The spinal ganglia of newborn rats displayed distinct intraneuronal reactivity for non-specific cholinesterase while a low reactivity was observed in satellite cells. The spinal and trigeminal ganglia of adult mice contained satellite cells with non-specific cholinesterase reactivity only sporadically. Most of reaction product for non-specific cholinesterase activity (from low to high intensity) was found in perikarya of the neurons. Spinal and trigeminal ganglia of the same mice embryo exhibited diffuse staining for non-specific cholinesterase activity remaining in the spinal ganglia of newborn mice. The trigeminal ganglia of newborn mice exhibited, however, more differentiated pattern of the positive reaction for non-specific cholinesterase like adult animals. The pattern of histochemical distribution of non-specific cholinesterase activity in trigeminal and spinal ganglia from mice of various ages corresponds with morphological differentiation and maturation undergoing in a rostrocaudal wave. Intraneuronal presence of non-specific cholinesterase activity in sensory ganglia during development and in adult animals gives a new possibilities for explanation of the functional involvement of this enzyme in the nervous system. PMID- 2626862 TI - A quantitative histochemical study of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase activities in the bovine corpus luteum of pregnancy. AB - In corpora lutea of pregnancy of dairy cows delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase were demonstrated histochemically and evaluated densitometrically. Serum progesterone was determined radioimmunologically. Activities per volume unit of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase in large and small luteal cells as well as progesterone concentrations, exhibited no typical and correlated pattern during pregnancy. Large luteal cells in regressive tissue regions showed weaker delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities than in maturing or well developed tissue regions. Succinate dehydrogenase activities of small luteal cells were highest in regressive luteal tissue. The results indicate that structural development of bovine luteal tissue during pregnancy is reflected by corresponding enzyme activities. PMID- 2626863 TI - Embryonic development of rat diaphragm. An electron-microscopic study. AB - Ultrastructural aspects of white Wistar rats diaphragm during part of its embryonic development (from the 13th embryonic day till birth) have been studied. The dominating structures observed in the period of the thirteenth embryonic day (ED 13) are undifferentiated cells, their cytoplasm being poor in organelles but rich in ribosomes. The close examination of these cells reveals that some of them possess a kind of thin filaments near their Golgi zones. At ED 14-15 clusters of myoblasts are readily detected (their cytoplasm containing a lot of glycogen granules and myofibrils, some of them even with Z-line material); contact sites between their cell membranes appear, somewhere forming specialized junctions; in this period the myoblasts start to fuse giving rise to the primary generation of myotubes. At ED 16-17 the quantity of myofilaments and glycogen granules increases alongside with the initiation of a basal-lamina formation; occasionally some oval, undifferentiated cells very similar to those viewed at ED 13 are found. At ED 18-19 the cytoplasm of the myotubes contains a lot of myofibrils and a well-developed endoplasmic reticulum; at some places the adjacent membranes still form deep interdigitations. At the end of the prenatal myogenesis (ED 20 21) most of the muscle cells are close to their mature morphological appearance- the sarcomers are well-organized and some nuclei present a peripheral localization; nevertheless, in this period new generations of myotubes can be also distinguished. PMID- 2626864 TI - Light and scanning electron microscopic studies of the effects of CO2 laser on the palatine mucosa of rats. AB - In order to verify the effects of CO2 laser on the palatine mucosa of rats, 15 animals were utilized. The animals were anaesthetized with thionembutal by intra peritoneal injection and the palatine mucosa of each animal was irradiated with a single pulse of 10 W. The results showed that immediately after the irradiation of CO2 laser, the formation of small cavities is observed. The wound healing post operationem is gradually in 1 week. The region is totally occupied by neoformed connective tissue and epithelial cells. Numerous polymorphonuclear cells and fibroblasts may be seen between the neoformed collagen fibres. PMID- 2626865 TI - [Quantitative morphology of the intramural coronary arteries of the trabecula septomarginalis of pigmy goats and swine]. AB - There are musculo-elastic intimal thickenings in the intramural coronary arteries of the Trabecula septomarginalis, which results in a stenosing grade of 69% in average in 6 month old pigs, of 43% in 1-6 months old pygmy goats and of 35% in average in 4-7 years old pygmy goats. The degree of intimal thickenings is related to the arterial diameter (r = -0.60); the strongest of which are found in small vessels of 100-200 microns. With increasing arterial diameter during ageing the stenoses decrease. The role of the intramural coronaries of the Trabecula septomarginalis is discussed. PMID- 2626866 TI - [Age changes of functional nuclear swelling and classes of nuclei in human hepatocytes]. AB - The aim of the study was to describe aging changes in the functional nuclear edema and the classification of human hepatocyte nuclei, by determining three parameters--the size of the nucleus, the relative DNA quantity and the number of chromocenters. For this purpose, karyometry and DNA cytophotometry were performed on 10 human liver preparations. The data obtained was subjected to correlation, cluster and discriminance analysis. The results indicated a reduction in the capacity of liver cells for functional nuclear edema as aging progressed. Whereas at a young age there is only a loose correlation between nuclear size and DNA content, it becomes much stricter later on, partly caused by polyploidization. Cluster analysis, followed by discriminance analysis, is well suited for dividing the nuclei of human hepatocytes into two or three statistical populations provided the nuclear area, DNA quantity and number of chromocenters are all used as characteristics simultaneously. When allowance is made for functional edema, the biological interpretation of clusters from young liver preparations permits meaningful conclusions, but it appears problematic for old preparations. Here it might be more practical to analyze the mixed distributions resulting from a determination of the DNA quantity or nuclear size alone. PMID- 2626867 TI - Development and characterization of the lens capsule of mouse embryos (day 12 to day 19 of gestation). AB - The development of the lens capsule (LC) of mouse embryos was investigated between days 12 and 19 of gestation using immunomorphological (collagen type I, II, III or IV, laminin, BL-heparan sulfate, fibronection) and electron microscopic techniques. The lens capsule contains the typical components (collagen type IV, laminin and BL-heparan sulfate) of the basal lamina (BL) and can therefore be considered as thickened BL. Tannic acid fixation is especially suited for an electron microscopic demonstration of the lens capsule. The development of the lens capsule starts on day 12 of gestation. Its thickening is due to BL accumulation from the outside. This mode of thickening can be explained by the tendency to two-dimensional self assembly of collagen type IV. Electron dense granules occur in the basal cytoplasm of lens epithelial cells. These granules can be considered as secretion granules. Their increased occurrence towards the end of gestation is attributed to a delayed secretion rather than to an increased synthesis. PMID- 2626868 TI - Fine structure of the camel neutrophilic granulocytes with special references to its function. AB - This study is directed at the population of neutrophilic granulocytes in the peripheral circulating blood of the one-humped camel. The detailed fine structure is described and a number of cellular parameters are determined. Particular attention was given to the characteristics of the cytoplasmic granules of this cell type. The functional roles of these intracellular granules are discussed. PMID- 2626869 TI - Histological and carbohydrate histochemical studies of the nasal mucosa of sheep in Saudi Arabia with special reference to its glandular tissue. AB - The histology and carbohydrate histochemistry of the nasal mucosa with attention to glandular tissue had been studied in 7 heads of sheep. Tissues were taken from vestibular region, septum at level of the alar fold, rostral portion of nasal conchae, caudal portion of nasal conchae, middle portion of septum and ethmoidal conchae region. Stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium was observed covering the vestibular region. The propria-submucosa of the nasal vestibule was richly permeated with glands having affinity for PAS and non-alcianophilic. The post-vestibular portion of the nasal cavity was lined by transitional epithelium and caudal to it, stratified columnar nonciliated epithelium was noticed. The respiratory epithelium covered the caudal half of the nasal conchae and the major portion of the septum as well as the recesses of the ethmoidal conchae. The glands associated with the respiratory mucosa were thick, coiled and tubular, containing both nonalcianophilic PAS positive and alcianophilic PAS positive cells. The olfactory mucosa covered the ethmoidal conchae and showed predominant serous glands. The results were discussed with that given for other mammals and in regard to the respiratory functions of the nasal mucosa. PMID- 2626870 TI - Valuation and sale of a dental practice. PMID- 2626871 TI - Dental pharmaceutics: an update on dental pharmacology. PMID- 2626872 TI - Volunteer dentistry in Jamaica. PMID- 2626873 TI - Genes and diseases in populations. PMID- 2626874 TI - HLA and nonspecific polyarthritis in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. AB - We have studied the HLA profile of a series of 49 patients (32 men, 17 women) presenting with asymmetric polyarthritis to the Goroka Base Hospital, Papua New Guinea. Antigens A11 and B27 were found to be significantly increased in patients when compared with a control sample of 100 healthy Papua New Guinean highlanders. Significant negative associations were also recorded with A24[A9] and Bw22. None of the patients studied presented with the complete triad of Reiter's disease although 6 patients, all men, had some extraarticular symptoms. On the basis of these additional symptoms, the 6 patients were diagnosed to have an incomplete form of Reiter's disease and were excluded from further comparisons. In the remaining 43 patients, who fit the nonspecific category that has been called tropical polyarthritis, B27 was present in 20.9% of the cases, which was not significantly different from the control frequency of 11.0%. But the positive association with A11 was still found in the nonspecific arthritis cases. Our data do not support the concept that the patients included in this study constitute a single diagnostic category which is related to Reiter's disease. It is suggested that these patients be regarded as suffering from nonspecific polyarthritis of unknown, probably multiple, aetiology, until further more specific diagnostic entities can be determined. PMID- 2626875 TI - Raised intracranial pressure. PMID- 2626876 TI - [Ceramic inlays in clinical practice--a standard determination]. PMID- 2626877 TI - [Static bone cavity in mandibular angle region--accidental finding in dental radiograph using orthopantograph]. AB - Four case reports are described to confirm typical diagnostic criteria for a static bone cavity. Theories of etiology are mentioned. A surgical procedure is not indicated if the main criteria are adhered to. PMID- 2626878 TI - [Experimental caries lesions under composite resins]. AB - 42 extracted teeth on two sites received a small (2 mm2) surface restoration with a Bowen composite onto the healthy etched enamel without any cavity preparation; afterwards we tried to induce artificial caries by storing the teeth in lactic acid in hydroxyethyl-cellulose-solution. A certain number of teeth was kept in an alkaline buffer solution once a week. All teeth exhibited demineralisation in dentin, though the resin remained perfect in place-even if great areas of dentin had disappeared. The alkaline buffer-solution did not prevent, but only led to a protracted demineralisation, also in the enamel. There seem to be hazardous regions (e.g. fissures, cervical regions), where caries under Bowen-material fillings easily can arise. PMID- 2626879 TI - [Chewing gum--a contribution to preventive dentistry?]. PMID- 2626880 TI - [The effect of cage type and population density on the body weight development of laboratory mice]. AB - The effect of different keeping conditions on body weight gain was studied in 200 male Fzt:DU mice between days 21 and 70 of life. The animals were divided in four different housing groups: DU-B (housing in stress cages), DU-B+HI (housing in stress cages and afterwards in standard cages type HI), DU-HI (housing in standard cages type HI) and DU-S+AP (housing in standard group cages). Housing in stress cages resulted in lower body weight gain at every age; subsequent housing in standard cages type HI for one week failed to compensate this effects. Likewise, keeping of four mice in standard cages type I (DU-HI) between days 42 and 70 of life also resulted in delayed body weight gain. It is possible that the chosen population density was not an optimum for normal weight gain during the adult life. Animals kept in standard stocking cages (DU-S+AP) had the highest body weight gain. PMID- 2626881 TI - Model-based analysis of survival experiments with zero and non-zero final survivors. AB - Modified logistic, Weibull and Gompertz survival models are described which are suitable for the model-based analysis of survival experiments with both zero and non-zero final survivors. They are applied to 3 examples: the influence of food restriction and body fat on the life span of mice and the effect of an immunosuppressant and of an antiviral agent on experimentally virus-infected mice. It is shown that besides the median survival time and the fraction of animals finally surviving the hazard rate at the median survival time, the ratio of maximum to minimum survival time and the area under the survival curve are useful parameters for a more detailed analysis of survival experiments. Hazard plots display differences between experiments more clearly than survival curves. The models described provide a powerful tool which is appropriate for a great variety of different survival experiments. The model-based analysis of survival data is also a prerequisite for the development of computerized data bases on the survival behaviour of laboratory animals. The approach presented can be easily generalized to cases for which spontaneous mortality and mortality due to an experimental challenge interfere. PMID- 2626882 TI - [Therapy proposals for the quarantine of African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops)]. AB - Attenuated live virus vaccines are usually tested in vivo for neurovirulent properties by using African green monkeys. This report describes the health condition of animals that have been imported from Ethiopia. The monkeys were strongly malnourished when they arrived at the institute. One animal died during the shipment. In spite of many diagnostic and therapeutic efforts only 14 of 29 monkeys survived the 120-day-quarantine. Most animals died of infections of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts within 4 weeks after arrival. PMID- 2626883 TI - [A new system for catheterization of the V. cava of rats for long-term infusions (Implantofix)]. AB - A new device for permanent venous catheterization (Implantofix) has been developed. It can subcutaneously be implanted in toto. The miniaturized catheter system which is involved in this device consists of a thin catheter tubing (silicone ID 0.6 mm), a coupling device, and a subcutaneous injection port. In all hitherto existing investigations comprising 200 rats and 25 rabbits the primary operation-related mortality was 2%, the infection rate was less than 1%, and the failure rate up to 3 weeks was found to be 8.9%. Additionally, the results of follow-up studies (up to 7 months post impl.) done with a few animals are reported. PMID- 2626884 TI - [A simple apparatus for controllable drinking without leaks for laboratory rats]. AB - A simple device for watering laboratory rats is described. It has been made by using commercially available glass tubing (DURAN 50) with outside diameters of 8 mm, 6 mm, and 3 mm, respectively. The tubes were fused at their tips. The drinking tube is fitted to a rubber stopper at the top of a 250 ml soft polyethylene bottle. By this way water-soluble drugs can be administered to rats with high precision. PMID- 2626885 TI - The physiology of the testes in the Gottingen mini pig. AB - Capillary blood flow (133xenon clearance), deep testicular and muscle temperature (needle thermistor) and androgenic hormone concentrations in peripheral blood samples (RIA) were measured and the histology (needle biopsies) evaluated in 16 anaesthetized, mature Gottingen mini pigs. The blood flow was 0.26 +/- 0.10 ml x g-1 x min-1. The testicular temperature was 33.6 +/- 1.4 degrees C, and the body temperature 37.2 +/- 0.9 degrees C. The plasma levels of testosterone were 15.2 +/- 10.1 nmol x l-1, of dihydrotestosterone 0.99 +/- 0.98 nmol x l-1, dehydro-epi androsterone sulphate 441 +/- 333, nmol x l-1, and the delta-4 androstenedione level was 9.2 +/- 7.0 nmol x l-1. Sexual-hormone-binding-globulin was immeasurable. The histological appearance was judged to 7.8 +/- 1.0 by a testicular biopsy score (scale 10-1). The results from the present investigation are in the same range of order as in other mammals and it is concluded that the mature, male Gottingen mini pig is a useful model for reproductive research. PMID- 2626886 TI - [Emergency series. 10. Life saving system]. PMID- 2626887 TI - [Enamel damage by acids]. PMID- 2626889 TI - [Experience planning courses for the dental technician]. PMID- 2626888 TI - [Emergency series. 12. Blood circulation disturbances]. PMID- 2626890 TI - [Conceptional demands for gerostomatologic care]. PMID- 2626891 TI - [Vocational development of the dental technicians at the Special Polyclinic and Clinic for Stomatology at the district hospital in Cottbus]. PMID- 2626892 TI - [Introduction of the shift system in dental laboratories]. PMID- 2626893 TI - [Automatic duplicating unit, "Dublimat S-87"]. PMID- 2626894 TI - [Ultracytochemical studies on glycosaminoglycans during early corneal development in Bufo raddei]. AB - Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and their changes in early corneal development of Bufo raddei Strauch (from stage 16, neural tube, to stage 25, operculum completely closed) were studied with electron microscopic cytochemical method. Results show that synthesis of GAGs changes from non-sulfated to sulfated, and its content increased gradually with the development of cornea. Hyaluronic acid (HA) in each part of cornea begins to increase gradually from stage 16 to 21 (mouth open stage), with its peak at stage 20 (gill circulation stage) to 21, then decreases. In the mean time, contents of dermatam sulfate (DS), chondroitin sulfate (CS), heparan sulfate (HS) and heparin (Hep) increase gradually. It is considered that HA, HS and collagen may be related to the migration of mesenchymal cells, and HA promotes the expansion and hydration of corneal stroma; sulfated GAGs are correlated with dehydration of cornea, cell density and corneal transparency; DS, CS, HS and Hep deposited among collagen fibrils could adjust their arrangement. All these changes would enhance transparency of cornea. PMID- 2626895 TI - [Studies on DNA methylation in transformed mouse liver cells]. AB - Activity of DNA methylase and DNA methylation level were measured from normal mouse liver, mouse liver charged with H22a ascitic hepatoma and H22a ascitic hepatoma cell by measuring incorporation of H3-methyl. S-Adenosyl-3H-methyl methionine (3H-SAM) was used as methyl donor. DNA methylation level of different cells were measured by HP-LC. DNA methylase activity and DNA methylation level of H22a ascitic hepatoma, mouse liver charged with H22a ascitic hepatoma are lower than normal mouse liver. Treatments of antitumor drugs lead to a rising of DNA methylase activity of tumor cell, however, the DNA methylation level of tumor cell has not rised after such treatments. PMID- 2626896 TI - A study of the chromatin structure of human beta-like hemoglobin genes in K562 cell line with a modified assay of nick-translation of nuclei. AB - A modified assay of nick-translation of nuclei has been developed to study the chromatin structure of human beta-like globin genes in nuclei of K 562 cell line. Nuclei were gently digested with DNase I and nick-translated with E. coli DNA polymerase I in the presence of 32P-triphosphate nucleotides. The total DNA from the labelled nuclei was used as probes to hybridize restricted fragments of beta like globin genes which have been immobilized on Diazobenzyloxymethyl (DBM) paper. Using this approach we have observed that in K 562 nuclei all beta-like globin genes, including epsilon, gamma, delta, and beta-globin genes and human 18 S ribosomal genes are preferentially labelled in comparison to alpha-lactalbumin and c-sis genes which do not express in K 562 cells, but the total DNA from nick translated nuclei of a nonerythroid cell line hybridized none of those genes except for 18 S ribosomal gene. This assay is a simple and fast method for surveying chromatin structure of any individual DNA sequence in nuclei once the corresponding clone is available. PMID- 2626897 TI - [Effect of expression of exogenous PDGF-A chain on growth and transformation of CHO cells]. AB - CHO cells were transfected with plasmid pSV2-PDGF-A (containing human PDGF-A cDNA) by calcium phosphate method. Twenty transfected cell lines were obtained after G418 selection. The selected 2 cell lines At1 and Aot7), with prominent changes in morphology and growth behaviour, showed transcription of PDGF-A chain mRNA much higher than CHO cells, strong fluorescent PDGF-specific reaction, appearing that PDGF-like proteins were synthesized in cytoplasm of these cells. At1 and Aot7 cells not only had increased growth rate, but also formed large colonies in soft agar and grew into fibrosarcomas in nude mice. These results suggested that the expression of exogenous PDGF-A gene might cause the uncontrolled growth and malignant transformation of CHO cells. PMID- 2626898 TI - [Studies on changes in nucleolar organizer region of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) treated with retinoic acid]. AB - Changes of nucleolar organizer region in HL-60 cells after treated with retinoic acid (RA) were studied with techniques of silver-staining nucleolar organizer region (Ag-NOR) in metaphase karyotypes, Brachet's reaction and with our improved TEM techniques for studying silver-stained active nucleolar organizer region (Ag aNOR) in interphase nucleoli. Number of Ag-NOR in HL-60 cells is 4.5/cell on average. The Ag-NOR number of cells treated with RA showed no remarkable difference from that of control group. Ag-aNOR number treated with RA was reduced obviously as compared with that of control group. Meanwhile, the changes of nucleolus number showed by Brachet's reaction were in accordance with those of Ag aNOR. Therefore, it may be concluded: (1). Though the number of active rRNA genes did not changed after the differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by RA, their expression was clearly inhibited: (2). The relationship between the changes of Brachet-No and Ag-aNOR is in positive correlation (r = 0.98, p less than 0.01). EM examination of Ag-aNOR of HL-60 cells reveals that Ag-protein (RNA polymerase I) only presented in fibrillar centers (FC) and the dense fibrillar components (DFC) of nucleolus. In addition, in control group, large amount of Ag-protein, FC, DFC and granular components (GC) were observed, and there were many large nucleoli in a nucleus, meanwhile, the cells of the treated group tended to be mature, with a decrease in the amount of Ag-protein, FC, DFC and GC accordingly, and the nucleoli reduced both in size and number significantly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2626899 TI - [Radiation effects on expression of FC-receptor of alveolar macrophages of rat and their specific phagocytosis]. AB - BCG-activated alveolar macrophages (AM) of Wistar rats were irradiated with different doses of gamma-ray in vitro. The effects of radiation on the expression of their Fc-receptor and specific phagocytic activity were observed. AM, after irradiation with doses of 0, 100, 300 and 500 Gy, showed decreasing phagocytic activity to chicken red blood cells (CRBC) opsonized with anti-CRBC antibody with no change in phagocytic indices. The expression of Fc-receptor of AM was, however, increased. PMID- 2626900 TI - Dietary fat and health: the epidemiological evidence. PMID- 2626901 TI - International Symposium on Nutrition and Health. Leuven (Belgium), September 7-8, 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2626902 TI - Is there a common denominator between fetal growth retardation and cardiovascular disease? PMID- 2626903 TI - The influence of dietary lipids on thrombosis. Lessons from animal studies from human nutrition. PMID- 2626904 TI - Dietary fat and cancer. PMID- 2626905 TI - Dietary fat and blood pressure. PMID- 2626906 TI - Dietary and genetic effects on plasma lipid concentrations. PMID- 2626907 TI - How far is the Belgian population from the recommended nutritional goals and ideal serum cholesterol levels: the B.I.R.N.H. Study. PMID- 2626908 TI - Nutrition and cardiovascular risk: the Mediterranean experience. PMID- 2626909 TI - Nutrition and coronary heart disease. PMID- 2626910 TI - Nutrition and cardiovascular risk: the Finnish experience. PMID- 2626911 TI - Nutrition and cardiovascular risk: the Hungarian experience. PMID- 2626912 TI - Changes in dietary habits, cardiovascular risk factors and mortality in Japan. PMID- 2626913 TI - Nutrition and cardiovascular risk: a Swedish experience. PMID- 2626914 TI - Dietary fatty acids and antioxidant vitamins and the risk of coronary heart disease: the Scottish experience. PMID- 2626915 TI - Nutrition and health: a focus on nutrition at the National Institutes of Health. PMID- 2626916 TI - Fat modified diet in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Recommendations and guidelines. PMID- 2626917 TI - Inverse correlation between plasma vitamin E and mortality from ischemic heart disease in cross-cultural epidemiology. PMID- 2626918 TI - Cellular vibration and motility in the organ of Corti. PMID- 2626919 TI - Morphometry of the apical turn of the guinea pig's cochlea. PMID- 2626920 TI - Interpretation of cochlear structures visualized with optical sectioning microscopy. PMID- 2626921 TI - Mechanical tuning characteristics of outer hair cells and Hensen's cells. PMID- 2626922 TI - Changes in the vibratory responses of Hensen's cells with time. PMID- 2626923 TI - Comparison of the tuning of outer hair cells and the basilar membrane in the isolated cochlea. PMID- 2626924 TI - Changes in cellular tuning along the length of the cochlea. PMID- 2626925 TI - Changes in cellular tuning along the radial axis of the cochlea. PMID- 2626926 TI - Changes in tuning of Reissner's membrane along the radial axis of the cochlea. PMID- 2626927 TI - Modes of cellular vibration in the organ of Corti. PMID- 2626928 TI - Waveforms and spectra of cellular vibrations in the organ of Corti. PMID- 2626929 TI - Need for a noninvasive technique to measure cochlear responses. PMID- 2626930 TI - Dependence of cellular responses on signal level. PMID- 2626931 TI - Tuning of harmonic components in cellular mechanical responses. PMID- 2626932 TI - Effects of caffeine on the micromechanics of the isolated cochlea. PMID- 2626933 TI - Tuned motile responses of isolated cochlear outer hair cells. PMID- 2626934 TI - Rectification models in cochlear transduction. PMID- 2626935 TI - Models of nonlinear vibration. I. Oscillator with bilinear resistance. PMID- 2626936 TI - Models of nonlinear vibration. II. Oscillator with bilinear stiffness. PMID- 2626937 TI - Models of nonlinear vibration. III. Oscillator with bilinear mass. PMID- 2626938 TI - Nonlinear dynamics of cellular vibrations in the organ of Corti. PMID- 2626939 TI - Incident light optical sectioning microscope for visualization of cellular structures in the inner ear. PMID- 2626940 TI - Heterodyne interferometer for cellular vibration measurement. PMID- 2626941 TI - Integration of the optical sectioning microscope and heterodyne interferometer for vibration measurements. PMID- 2626942 TI - Mechanical design of the measurement and micropositioning systems. PMID- 2626943 TI - Optical sectioning characteristics of the heterodyne interferometer. PMID- 2626944 TI - Measurement of optical reflectivity in cells of the inner ear. PMID- 2626945 TI - Cellular vibration and motility in the organ of Corti--International Team for Ear Research (ITER). PMID- 2626946 TI - A digital system for the generation of acoustic stimuli and the analysis of cellular vibration data. PMID- 2626947 TI - Cellular organization of the guinea pig's cochlea. PMID- 2626948 TI - [Hypothyroidism following combined treatment of pharyngolaryngeal carcinoma]. AB - The onset of hypothyroidism following surgery and/or radiotherapy for head and neck cancer varies from 25 to 67% and it is fostered by some clinical conditions. However, these percentages increase when one takes into consideration the latent hypofunctioning brought about by high levels of T.S.H. The present case study involves 15 laryngeal or pharyngolaryngeal cancer patients: 3 had undergone surgery alone although most of them had received a combination of radiotherapy and surgery. For these patients both the clinical conditions of any hypothyroidism and the laboratory parameters for thyroid function were studied. Of these the most significant proved to be T.S.H. The patients were monitored at 4 month intervals over the course of a year. In three of the 15 pharyngolaryngeal cancer subjects who had undergone a combined treatment including surgery and radiotherapy comparison of the parameters studied proved statistically highly significant (with an increase in T.S.H.). The damage sustained does not so much depend on the total dose of radiation but rather on the number of fractions employed. It may, therefore, be suggested that making changes in surgery to the detriment of oncological radicality is not worth while. It would appear that a different scheme for distribution of radiotherapy doses should, rather, be devised. PMID- 2626949 TI - [Experiences with cytodiagnosis of laryngeal pathology]. AB - The advantages and limitations of exfoliative cytology in laryngeal pathology is evaluated and a comparison is made between cytological and histological diagnosis in 110 patients. By adding the absolute agreement to that of relative discordance one obtains a 90% confirmation of the validity of cytology although this in no way diminishes the 10% absolute discordance. Cytology is not, therefore, an absolute tool in diagnosis although it does offer a support, rounding out the patient's overall clinical picture. Finally, the authors attest to the usefulness of cytology, particularly in cases of chronic inflammatory processes (where cytological and histological findings are in good agreement). Laryngeal cytology is a non invasive clinical instrument which gives more data than obtained with case history or laryngoscopy. Furthermore, it can direct diagnosis and, above all, limit the use of more invasive tests (such as biopsy). PMID- 2626950 TI - [Perilymphatic injection of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck]. AB - Twenty patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck received daily injections of interleukin-2 (IL-2) from the Jurkat T-cell line, purified by high pressure liquid chromatography for 10 days. Two hundred (ten patients), one thousand (five patients) and five thousand (five patients) units of IL-2 in 0.5 ml were injected 1.5 cm from the point where the sternocleidomastoid muscle inserts itself on the mastoid. Whenever possible, the treatment cycles were repeated at 45 day intervals. In 13 patients with contralateral or bilateral cervical lymph nodes, complete or partial disappearance of the tumor was observed. There were non systemic disturbances after injection and only moderate local swelling and pain. PMID- 2626951 TI - [Pre- and post-operative information for the laryngectomized patient: verification of the validity of a brochure]. AB - For those patients who are candidates for total laryngectomy, therapy is not terminated upon surgery and subsequent speech therapy. Treatment must, instead, take into consideration numerous, important psychological problems which arise upon learning the diagnosis and the need for radical surgery. Therefore, all those who come into contact with the patient during the different phases of disease (i.e. the surgeon, ward nurses, speech therapists) must all be made sensitive to such problems. At times the participation of a psychologist is required. Detailed information on both the temporary and permanent modifications due to surgery and on the possibility of obviating the changed physical status are essential to this "global" therapeutic strategy. The authors have, therefore, prepared an explanatory handbook which briefly analyzes the different problems linked to the total laryngectomy in clear, understandable language. Furthermore, they supply information regarding the new behaviour required after surgery. In order to check how valid this type of instrument is as a graphic support to the irreplaceable information given by the health care workers, a questionnaire was sent to 123 members of the Modena Section of the Laryngectomee Association. This questionnaire dealt with the handbook, the information and advice they gained from it both before and after surgery. Questions also involved what sort of speech therapy they had undergone, whether they had an electronic larynx and, if so, was it used. The judgement given on the brochure by most of those interviewed and on the timeliness of its uses from the preoperative stages on was favorable. This favorable judgment stems from the often insufficient information and psychological support provided patients who have undergone, or who will undergo, a total laryngectomy. Such conclusion is clearly drawn from the responses given to the questionnaire. Moreover, the statements given by some of the laryngectomees (even some who had undergone surgery quite some time ago) indicate that they did not know some of the information and practical advice given. Another fact that emerged from the responses is that the esophageal voice is the means of communication of choice and that the electronic larynx was only used in cases where speech therapy had failed. PMID- 2626952 TI - [The glosso-crico-arytenoid unit as a phonatory organ in sub-total reconstructive laryngectomy using the Labayle technic]. AB - The present study was carried out in order to assess characteristics of vicarious voice in patients undergoing Labayle's reconstructive sub-total laryngectomy. This type of surgery, which permits air passage for both respiration and phonation, makes it possible to preserve pneumophonic coordination. During phonation the expiratory air column is used and sound is generated as it passes through a vibrating structure having a sphincteric function. In the opinion of the authors this structure is not only made up of the cricoid orifice, against which the base of the tongue presses like an operculum, but also of the mobile residual arytenoid and, at times, of the lateral walls of the pharynx. Thus a single dynamic unit is formed involving several structures and their synergism guarantees the neoglottic occlusion required for a speaking voice. In the present study, glottography gave no significant results. In phonation a rapid vibration of the neoglottid mucosa is obtained thus producing a phonetically valid acoustic phenomenon. However, this does not result in an electroglottographic recording of adduction. On the other hand, interesting data were recorded when comparing the morpho-functional aspects of the neoglottis with characteristics of the vibrating voice, as recorded by spectrography. Spectrographic tracings are markedly better in cases of valid occlusion of the glosso-pharyngeal-arytenoid unit and this may be achieved regardless of the mobility of the remaining arytenoid. It is thus clear that several patients with a fixed arytenoid, but having valid sphincteric action of the other structures (i.e. base of the tongue or pharynx), had excellent speech quality and intelligibility. Therefore, Labayle's surgery, which reconstructs a pharyngo-tracheal continuity and consequently restores natural breathing, makes speech continuity possible. Such subjects have mixed vocal output (periodic components together with noise) although, on the whole, the voice produced has the fundamental requirements for intelligibility (i.e. intensity, pitch, harmonic structure, emission time) and may thus be considered valid for interpersonal verbal communication. PMID- 2626953 TI - [Anatomic and functional results in fronto-laterally laryngectomized patients]. AB - The present work reports the experience acquired on 33 males who had undergone fronto-lateral laryngectomy at least three years before. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to cord neoplastic extension: 1) in 9 subjects the neoplasm was localized to the anterior half or two-thirds of the vocal cord; 2) in 9 others the entire vocal cord was involved; 3) in 8 the tumor extended forward to the median line; that is to the anterior commissure; 4) in 7 either the ventricle (4 cases) or the subglottis zone (3) were involved. In 30 cases (90%) complete clinical healing was achieved; for 14 survival has exceeded the conventional 5-year limit. Two of the three recurrences were remedied by total laryngectomy for which follow-up has proved favorable for over 5 years. In regard to functional results both phonatory and respiratory results have proved satisfactory. In regard to the latter, due to insufficient endolaryngeal calibration of the scar tissue, it proved impossible to remove the tracheal cannula in three cases. Based on the results obtained the validity of the fronto lateral laryngectomy in terms of oncology and functional results is underlined. The authors fully agree with the caution generally taken in terms of indications. However, at the same time, they feel that careful clinical-radiological evaluation, supported by intraoperative findings as well as extemporaneous testing, makes it possible to rely on this form of surgery in cases of unilateral cord tumours of different extensions, although naturally within the limitations of oncological radicality. PMID- 2626954 TI - [Aspecific rhinoreactivity in the diagnosis of vasomotor rhinopathy: rhinomanometric study]. AB - The authors examined 70 patients divided into three groups: 15 normal, 20 affected by allergic rhinitis in a non critical period, 35 with vasomotor rhinitis. The aim was to evaluate the reactions induced through cold water stimulation (5 degrees C) and comparing them to the results obtained after lateral recumbent positional rhinomanometry. It was found that nasal provocation significantly modified nasal resistance in subjects with vasomotor rhinitis (81% for positional testing, 63% with cold water 5 degrees). This would justify nasal mucosa hyperreactivity due to the prevailing parasympathetic nervous system. Patients with allergic rhinitis showed fewer cases of pathological response (44% for positional testing, 32% for cold water provocation). According to the results obtained and the comparison made, the authors consider the aspecific nasal provocation test as unsuitable for use alone in the diagnosis of vasomotor rhinitis. However, based on their experience, the authors underline the fact that, since this method can demonstrate certain aspects of nasal mucous disreactivity, it is an important tool to be included in the full diagnostic approach to chronic rhinitis. PMID- 2626955 TI - [Effect of acetazolamide on Meniere's disease]. AB - The effect of acetazolamide was assessed in 25 patients with Meniere's disease. During the test session hearing threshold and plasmatic osmolality were monitored along with fluctuations in hearing loss, fullness, tinnitus and balance. A single, 250 mg dose of acetazolamide was administered to all patients via os early in the morning on an empty stomach. Hearing was tested prior to administration and every hour for five hours thereafter. Plasmatic osmolality was also assessed during the same session. In 52% of this group an improvement in the threshold was seen. The greatest shift was observed two hours after administration of acetazolamide at 250 Hz, whereas the smallest threshold shift corresponded to 2000 Hz. In all cases, plasmatic osmolality remained constant throughout. Of the patients 44% presented an improvement of all or one of the symptoms: hearing loss, tinnitus, fullness, balance. The data were compared with data obtained for a control group (9 patients) which received a placebo while following the same testing criteria. The results of this study suggest that acetazolamide can have a positive effect on endolymphatic hydrops. It should be stressed, therefore, that acetazolamide could be introduced in the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies applied in Meniere's disease. PMID- 2626956 TI - [Neurofibroma of the laterocervical space: 4 cases from our experience]. AB - Four cases of neurofibroma located in the lateral neck spaces are reported. All had come to light upon clinical examination during the course of a few months. The clinical aspects of each are described and the particular difficulties in diagnosis and pre-surgical treatment are stressed. In fact, solitary neurofibromas must be distinguished from von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis. Modern radiology has made it possible for the authors to make a presumptive diagnosis in two of the four cases. Particularly in one case CT-scan confirmed the contemporary involvement of the intrarachidian space. This demonstrates that in such cases a multidisciplinary approach is desirable. PMID- 2626957 TI - Somatic findings in children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa. AB - 94 patients (mean age 15,4 years) with anorexia nervosa were investigated. We found cardiovascular parameters in correlation with body weight. ECG-changes had no connection with weight and concentration of potassium. Pulse and systolic blood pressure decreased, concentration of urea and SGOT and SGPT increased with weight decreases. Compared with the results of the adults of Fichter (1985), pulse and blood pressure changed more often, whereas the concentration of potassium often rested unchanged. Therapy with neuroleptics calls for ECG controls. Interesting was the finding that we found less raised levels of cortisol in the group with extremely low weight on admission. PMID- 2626958 TI - A follow-up study of childhood psychosis. AB - A cohort of 227 children having attended the same day treatment facility during their childhood was followed-up in adult life. A questionnaire was designed to collect data on various aspects of social and personal adjustment. The length of the follow-up period is 17 years. Information was obtained on 99 subjects whose mean age was 27-years. Of these, 55 had been admitted to the facility for childhood psychosis, and the remaining 44 subjects served as a comparison group. The results show that, in adulthood, the psychotic children fare significantly worse than the controls for employment, autonomy, marriage and the need for continuing medical care. Although non significant, a trend is found in the same direction for educational attainment and medication consumption. We then looked at the clinical and therapeutic variables in the childhood of the psychotic group which were the strongest predictors of adjustment in adulthood. We found that those children who had been admitted at a younger age, whose length of stay in the day treatment hospital had been longer, who scored lower on IQ tests and who had been discharged towards other specialised institutions, were less well adjusted. The results of this study must be interpreted with caution in light of the important attrition during the follow-up period. The discussion then focuses on case definition issues. Emphasis is placed on the need for careful diagnostic assessment and for the use of precise diagnostic assessment and for the use of precise diagnostic criteria. Further, our result on the prognostic significance of IQ level suggests that the assessment of cognitive functioning in autistic and psychotic children is key information which should be more systematically taken into account both in clinical practice and in future research projects. PMID- 2626959 TI - Do small children react emotionally to affective mimic stimuli? PMID- 2626960 TI - Restriction and defense: the life style and world of psychic disturbed adolescents. PMID- 2626961 TI - Do we need in-patient units for child and adolescent psychiatry? Data on administrative incidence from 1980-1984 from Vorarlberg/Austria. AB - The question of the necessity of in-patient facilities of the area of (child and) adolescent neuropsychiatry is to be discussed further. The extremely optimistic views on this question of approximately 20 years ago cannot be maintained for the examined area and the examination time. In the LNKH Valduna/Vorarlberg, an establishment that was intended exclusively for adults until 1987, from 1980-1984 (evaluated in detail) and from 1984-1987 a further 60 minors were admitted. The exact evaluation shows that the conspicuousnesses of behaviour of a main group was so clear each time that it could not be treated elsewhere and certainly not in outpatient facilities. In the examined group the amount of patients with behaviour and socialization disorders outweighed by far the psychoses, also a high percentage of patients was multi morbid and/or had multiple handicaps. The resulting conclusion seems to us to be the necessity of setting-up a specific in patients treatment unit for this group of patients with sufficient infrastructure. PMID- 2626962 TI - Coping styles of enuretic children. PMID- 2626963 TI - The development of affective psychosis. Social aspects. AB - On the whole, the concept, that emotional psychosis has no negative effect on later social adaptation, is predominant. In order to investigate this concept, the writers have examined 53 juvenile and adolescent in-patients suffering from an emotional psychosis (manic-depressive psychosis) with the help of a catamnesis. They found that 35.84% of these patients were only able to reach the lowest standard of scholastic achievements. Only 9.43% of the examined cases are able to take a degree at university. 15 people (28.30%) have permanent employment. 13 people (24.53%) got married and three of them (5.66%) are divorced. Most of the patients live with their parents (75.47%). In one half of time observed people, permanent consequences, which led to disturbances in the social area, were observed. Amongst these negative effects, those found most frequently were hyperaesthesia, reduced activity, psychasthenia and aggressiveness. Considering that 83.13% of the examined persons are adults - and that the development of personality is thus completed - the writers can then confirm that the social adaptation of these persons is indeed widely disturbed. They therefore recommend intervention towards rehabilitation and resocialization in good time. PMID- 2626964 TI - [Diseases of the kidney in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus]. AB - In order to estimate kidney functions in 61 juvenile diabetes patients, the glomerular filtration rate, urinary extraction of albumin during night, and systolic and diastolic artery blood pressures were examined. The ratio of these variables in relation to the duration of the disease, the metabolic control of the disease, age, and the interrelation of these elements were analysed. The control group consisted of twenty healthy children. The glomerular filtration rate was increased in 59% of patients. It shows a positive correlation with the duration of the disease and the increased urinary extraction of albumin. Tolerable values were established in relation to the systolic artery blood pressure. Diabetic incipient nephropathy (microalbuminuria) marks the increased urinary extraction of albumin. The prevalence of microalbuminuria in the group of children with diabetes was 27.86%. It was significantly higher in patients with a longer duration of the disease, in older patients and in those with an increased glomerular filtration rate. Microalbuminuria shows a positive correlation with glycogenic hemoglobin and systolic and diastolic artery blood pressure values. Systolic and diastolic artery blood pressures correlate with the duration of the disease and the increased urinary extraction of albumin. The results suggest that glomerular hyperfiltration is the most precise indication of disturbed renal functions. The high percentage of its occurrence is found when the disease was diagnosed and these adverse manifestations are highly reversible. The increased urinary extraction of albumin indicates structural renal lesions. The results also indicate the tendency of an increase of artery blood pressure, especially the diastolic pressure, ten years after the occurrence of the disease. High blood pressure accelerates the progress of diabetic nephropathy. The authors are of the opinion that the examination of kidney functions both in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes is necessary for the early detection of renal lesions and for the application of an adequate therapy. PMID- 2626965 TI - [Kinetics of leukocytes in patients on hemodialysis]. AB - The total numbers of leukocytes and relevant fractions of granulocytes in 51 patients on chronic intermittent hemodialysis were determined. The leukocytes were counted before the beginning, during the third hour of and one to two hours after the hemodialysis. Along with the kinetics of leukocytes the levels of C3 and C4 components of the complement were tested. A decrease of total numbers of leukocytes was observed as well as that of all the fractions of granulocytes during the third hour of dialysis. The intensity of leukopenia depended on the structure of dializer membrane. Observing the components C3 and C4 along with the values of leukocytes there was no association between these two alterations. The authors concluded that leukopenia during the hemodialysis is not caused by complement activation in the contact of plasma with the membrane of the dializer but by the mechanical effect of adhesion or microaggregation of leukocytes on the membrane of the dializer. PMID- 2626966 TI - [Changes in the electrocardiogram in patients with coma due to poisoning]. AB - The paper deals with changes in the electrocardiogram in a group of 20 patients in a comatose state due to intoxication. They were treated in an Intensive Care Unit. Special attention is directed to the corrected Q-T interval. The etiology of comatose states differed from ethanol, pesticides, antidepressives to anxiolytics, antiepileptics, sedatives, hypnotics, trichloroethylene and chlorpropamide. According to the criteria of Reed, nine patients were in a comatose state of the 0 or I degree, seven in a state of the II or III degree, and four in a state of the IV degree. The length of comatose states was between one hour and six days. Four of these patients died. According to ECG changes, in eleven patients sinus tachycardia, in two atrial fibrillation, and in seven a regular heart rhythm were diagnosed. The corrected Q-T interval was prolonged in fifteen out of 20 patients on the admission and reached the values of 0.664 seconds: it as also prolonged in two of the patients showing a normal range on the admission. In one of the patients malignant ventricular arrhythmia was observed. PMID- 2626967 TI - Psychosomatic subdecompensation. AB - The ego of a psychosomatic patient enters the relations with the external world in a very archaic way. In new traumatic situations such a personality structure possesses a very poor repertoire of adaptation mechanisms. Owing to the lack of intrapsychic elaboration of the trauma, the conflict is solved in an "interpersonal" way. The authors emphasize the importance of interpersonal conflict as an actual necessity of maintaining the connection with reality. Such a response in the development corresponds to the fixation or regression to the conflict with the object from the subphase of practising. Unpleasure, because of the early forbidding of pleasurable activities by the object, is experienced as actual, thus the object becomes a hindrance in itself. The increased hostility is being discharged through the interpersonal conflict with the object. The quality of the actual object (the therapist) affects the development of the conflict, i.e. it either allows a more successful reparation of the patient's personality structure or brings about a deeper regression. PMID- 2626968 TI - [Subacute encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus]. AB - The authors present a case of herpes-simplex encephalitis in a 58-year-old woman. The disease had a biphasic course and lasted 87 days. The clinical picture, laboratory data and the pathologic-anatomical changes of the disease are discussed. The authors also emphasize the importance of the encephalitic process in the brain stem, which can make the clinical picture even more complicated because of the appearance of respiratory disturbances. PMID- 2626969 TI - [Dynamics of occurrence and mortality in colorectal carcinoma in the community around Osijek]. AB - The extent and dynamics of the occurrence of colorectal carcinoma were analysed in all the communes of the region of Osijek during the period from 1968 to 1982. The age and sex of patients, geographical distribution and other factors which might have influenced the colorectal carcinoma occurrence were taken into consideration. The dynamic of the occurrence of colorectal carcinoma was analysed by the method of regression. The incidence of the carcinoma of the large bowel in the region of Osijek in 1982 was between 10.3% and 33.7% per 100,000 inhabitants. In most communes the incidence was between 20.9% and 28.1%. During the period from 1968 to 1982 there was an increase in the occurrence of colorectal carcinoma in all communes, with the exception of the commune of Slavonska Orahovica which is one of the most undeveloped areas in the region. A significant increase of the new cases of colorectal carcinoma was recorded in the communes of Beli Manastir and highly significant increase in the communes of Djakovo, Podravska Slatina, Slavonska Pozega and Vukovar. During the same period there was an evident increase in the mortality rate from colorectal carcinoma in all the communes in the region of Osijek. The rate was 22.2% per 100,000 inhabitants which represents 1.9% of overall mortality or 11.6% of the mortality from all malignant diseases in the region. With regard to epidemiological data and the authors' own investigations it has become obvious that more care and attention should be paid to the prevention of colorectal carcinoma as an integral part of the chronic disease prevention programme. PMID- 2626970 TI - Cusp pliability of the mitral valve: Doppler-echocardiographic and computer tomographic study. AB - In order to study the mitral cusp pliability and calcification "in vivo" on the basis of the difference in the maximal and effective valve area, the Doppler echocardiographic and computer tomographic method was used. The cusp pliability on the basis of the difference between the maximal and effective mitral valve area in absolute measures of cm2 was significantly smaller in patients with mitral stenosis, but in the deviations from normal indexed values of cusp pliability excluding the influence of the anatomic or maximal orifice area, there were no significant differences (normal values 0.00 +/- 27%). The normal relationship of the difference between the maximal and effective mitral valve area in absolute measures (y = cm2) and the maximal mitral valve area (x = cm2) is formulated with the regression equation: y = 0.317x - 0.245. The linear correlation of the normal mitral valve area and the stroke volume at rest in patients with the normal mitral valve is very tight. The stroke volume is significantly lower in mitral stenosis, and the time-velocity integral in the diastole or the mitral stroke distance was significantly greater. The relationship of the percentual deviation from the normal indexed values of cusp pliability excluding the influence of the anatomic or maximal orifice area, on the one hand, and the computer-tomographic approximation of calcium incrustation in mitral leaflets on the other are defined with a tight linear correlation. One could conclude that the magnitude of cusp pliability or calcification can be approximated by the Doppler-echocardiographic method. PMID- 2626971 TI - The effect of parathyroid hormone and 1,25 (OH)2D3 on nerve conductance in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. AB - In 30 uremic patients on chronic maintenance hemodialysis the sensory and motor fiber conduction and the motor distal latency were measured in the left tibial nerve, in order to evaluate if a correlation between their values and the serum IPTH or 1.25(OH)2D3 can be found. The sensory and motor fiber conduction velocities were found to be significantly lower in hemodialysis patients than in a group of healthy controls. The motor distal latency time did not differ significantly from that found in healthy persons. A markedly increased serum C terminal and mid-region (44-68) iPTH, and a very low serum 1.25(OH)2D3 were found in uremic patients. Regression analyses demonstrated the significant negative correlations between the serum C-terminal iPTH and the sensory (r = -0.441, p less than 0.05) and motor nerve (r -0.471, p less than 0.01) conduction velocities. A significant positive correlation between serum 1.25(OH)2D3 levels and the motor distal latency time was also observed (r = 0.3639, p less than 0.05). The results obtained suggest a role of the increased concentration of IPTH fragments in the development of uremic polyneuropathy. A significant decrease of 1.25(OH)2D3 obviously has no negative effect upon the nerve conductance in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. PMID- 2626972 TI - [The vomer and its role in the transfer of pressure in the masticatory system]. AB - Dimensions of certain parts of the orofacial skeleton and vomer were obtained by a bioanthropologic measurement for which native preparations of whole and parasagitally sawed up skulls were used. The application of a harmonic frame of the skull and the main dimensions of the vomer allowed the construction of an ideal model of the vomer using Araldit B. The photoelasticimetric procedure and pressure load to the model were used for the determination of possible pressure tensions, if any, occurring during mastification, namely the share of the vomer in the transfer of these tensions to the base of the cranium. The study has shown that even the vomer (besides other bones of the orofacial skeleton) has its share in the transfer of pressure tensions to the base of the cranium on a level with its symmetry, and that concurrently, like a rigid support, tightens the hard palate, thus considerably adding to the stability of this part of the orofacial skeleton. The vomer has a relatively high inertia (up to 1.8 cm) and the bottom stability limit at which the vomer resists to bending figures out between the set values of 684 i 1045 N, which means that a millimetre thick vomer would not bend at chosen elasticity modules or axial force values lower than (0.75 to 1.5) x 10(6) N/cm2. PMID- 2626973 TI - [Nerve compression syndromes of the arm]. AB - Among neural lesions of the arms, the most common one is the medianus lesion in the carpal tunnel, followed by the ulnar nerve lesion in the elbow, while the ulnar nerve compression in the Guyon tunnel is found rarely. Besides the history and the clinical picture, the electromyoneurographic analyses make an early and accurate diagnosis possible. The characteristics of the evoked muscle potential and distal latencies in the diagnosis of the carpal tunnel syndrome are of utmost importance. In diagnosing the cubital syndrome, the multisegmental determination of the motor conduction velocity of the ulnar nerve and the features of the M potential obtained by means of stimulation above the compression are very important. Generally speaking, the slowing down of the motor conduction velocity remains localised to the entrapped segments. The neural potential over the compression in the elbow cannot be evoked, and it is hardly evoked in the wrist. Within the period of the last five years, the author examined 154 patients clinically and electrophysiologically. 132 had the carpal tunnel syndrome, 20 the ulnar groove syndrome, and 2 Guyon's canal syndrome. The patients were treated conservatively and operatively. The success in the conservative treatment of the carpal tunnel syndrome was evident in the first three months by the absence of sensory symptoms in more than 50% of cases. The constant effect was achieved after six months. In that period the EMG findings were not essentially changed, and motor symptoms were also stationary. With the operative treatment the unpleasant symptoms, pain and shudder, disappeared after a relatively short period. Definitive results were achieved after six months. Motor symptoms were less improved and the EMG findings were showing a tendency to improvement. The ulnar groove syndromes were not remarkably influenced by the conservative therapy. Half the operated patients lost their sensory symptoms. Within six months the other half remained with the same or even more trouble. PMID- 2626974 TI - [Resistance in the psychotherapy of depression]. AB - Analysing sources, forms, and dynamic significance of resistance in individual analytically orientated psychotherapy applied to a randomly composed sample of 22 patients with a major depressive episode (12 females and 10 males), the author has found that resistance comes from all dynamic systems and that it should be looked upon through the prism of a deep narcissistic regression as reaction to narcissistic traumas and the concept of depressive disturbances as the interaction between genetic-biochemical, psychological, and sociological factors. Forms of resistance and their functions are described in more detail. The dynamic significance of resistance lies in the defence of the narcissistic injuries of the vulnerable self and a further disorganization of mental functions. The nature and dynamic importance of resistance in depressive patients determine the kind of therapeutic interventions which essentially differ from procedures in the psychotherapy of neuroses. PMID- 2626975 TI - [Eye injuries in traffic accident traumatology]. AB - The authors discuss traffic eye injuries on the basis of their own clinical patients. A total of 334 patients were treated surgically or conservatively. Reviewing the results of the cure, they point out new possibilities and perspectives of treatment. PMID- 2626976 TI - Preventive effects of transdermal administration of 17 beta-estradiol on postmenopausal bone loss: a 2-year prospective study. AB - A 2-year prospective study was conducted on 44 early postmenopausal women to assess the effect of transdermal estradiol (TTS-E2) on vertebral bone mass. Twenty treated women and 24 untreated were studied. Treatment consisted of TTS-E2 (0.05 mg/day, 3 weeks a month) and an oral gestagen (10 days per month). At 24 months, bone mineral density, measured by Dual Photon Absorptiometry (DPA), decreased significantly in untreated women (-4.3%) (p less than 0.001), while treated women had a net gain of +5.4% (p less than 0.001). Bone turnover parameters (serum osteocalcin, urinary calcium/creatinine ratio) were significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced from the 2nd month of treatment onwards. Serum estradiol levels were sustained during the treatment and were in the range of an early follicular phase (approximately 45 pg/ml). These findings suggest that low doses of transdermal estradiol sufficient to relieve menopausal symptoms, and which, due to the association with progestogen, result in regular withdrawal bleeding, are effective in preventing postmenopausal bone loss. PMID- 2626977 TI - Human in vitro fertilization in couples with unexplained infertility and a poor postcoital test. AB - The results of in vitro fertilization (IVF) with the husband's semen were compared in 3 groups of fully investigated infertile couples. In those with tubal infertility (n = 43) 194 out of 273 (71.1%) oocytes were fertilized, at least 1 oocyte being fertilized in 42 of the 43 couples (97%). In couples with unexplained infertility and a 'good' postcoital test (PCT) (n = 9), 39 out of 64 (61.5%) oocytes were fertilized in 8 of the 9 (88%) couples. In couples with unexplained infertility and a 'poor positive' PCT despite normal semen analysis, 16 out of 44 (36.3%) oocytes were fertilized in 5 of the 6 (83%) couples. These results show a good correlation between in vivo sperm penetration of cervical mucus and human IVF in couples with unexplained infertility. PMID- 2626978 TI - Follicular growth and corpus luteum function in women with unexplained infertility, monitored by ultrasonography and measurement of daily salivary progesterone. AB - Ovarian function was evaluated over a minimum of 3 consecutive menstrual cycles from each of 41 women with unexplained infertility. Follicular development and ovulation were monitored using real time ultrasonography and luteal function was evaluated by daily salivary progesterone measurement. In 129 spontaneous cycles, normal single ovulations were detected in 121 (93.8%). Luteal phase insufficiency was identified in 21 (17.4%) of these 121 cycles and this was a recurrent phenomenon in the cycles of 5 of the 41 women (12.2%). A successful pregnancy was seen only in association with consistently normal salivary progesterone profiles or where the empirical use of clomiphene citrate therapy had corrected previously diagnosed luteal phase insufficiency. Basal body temperature records or mid luteal serum progesterone measurements were less satisfactory indices of luteal function than a salivary progesterone profile. PMID- 2626979 TI - Copper bioavailability and metabolism. Proceedings of the American Chemical Society Symposium on Copper Bioavailability and Metabolism. April 9-14, 1989, Dallas, Texas. PMID- 2626980 TI - The biodistribution of radiocopper-labeled compounds. AB - Porphyrins form extremely stable chelates with Cu2+. Two copper radionuclides, 67Cu and 64Cu, have attractive nuclear decay properties for use in nuclear medicine applications. We have investigated the use of radiocopper-labeled porphyrins for localization in inflamed tissue and for attachment to antibodies for tumor imaging and therapy. We have examined the biodistribution of a 67Cu labeled porphyrin, [5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) porphinato [67Cu] copper (II)], 67 CuTCPP. The 67CuTCPP was intravenously injected into the tail vein of Fischer F344 male rats. The kidneys, liver, and spleen localize the greatest amounts of 67CuTCPP. The elimination of 67CuTCPP from the body is described by a normal exponential decay curve with a biological half-life of 108 hours and an effective half-life of 32 hours. We have also examined the biodistribution of 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10, 15,20-tris(4-sulfophenyl) porphinato [67Cu] copper (II) anti-Thy 1.2 antibody conjugates in normal and tumor-bearing male AKR/J mice. The liver, kidney, and tumor have the highest uptake of the 67Cu labeled antibody conjugate. In all 67Cu labeled compounds studied, the blood clearance was rapid and the bone concentration of the radiolabeled species was low. PMID- 2626981 TI - Metalloforms of metallothionein induced by parenteral copper: the influence of route of administration. AB - Previous results regarding the two metalloforms of MT which accumulate in chick liver following the parenteral administration (ip) of copper were discussed. One metalloform, which is exclusively zinc, was suggested to reflect the marked accumulation of hepatic zinc following copper injection. The present report shows that there is a marked difference in hepatic zinc accumulation if copper is administered iv. Under these conditions there is virtually no change in hepatic zinc and thus MT produced under these conditions appears to contain only copper. We suggest the the changes in zinc metabolism as effected by copper when given intraperitoneally reflect a secondary response analogous to that observed when iron is similarly administered. PMID- 2626982 TI - Mechanism of copper transport and delivery in mammals: review and recent findings. PMID- 2626983 TI - Copper and zinc status in moderate alcohol intake. AB - To determine the effects of moderate alcohol (ETOH) consumption on dietary intakes, serum and urine zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) concentrations (conc), groups of nonsmoking, moderate drinkers, non-athletes, healthy young adult males aged 21 35 years and within 10% of ideal body weight, consumed 40g of ETOH/day as beer (fixed group) or maintained normal drinking habits (variable group) for 6 weeks, and then abstained for 3 weeks. A similarly described group of non-alcohol drinkers served as the control. There was no alcohol effect on dietary Zn or Cu intakes, however, the control group had significantly higher intakes of Zn than the drinking groups. Cu intakes were the same in all groups. Generally, the serum Zn and Cu conc of the drinking groups only, markedly rose during ETOH consumption and fell during abstention. Although this trend was not observed in the control group, they had higher serum Zn and Cu conc than the drinking groups. In general, urine Zn conc remained constant from baseline to consumption period and then decreased during the abstention period in all groups studied. Results indicate that moderate ETOH consumption raised serum Zn and Cu conc but had no effect on dietary intakes of these minerals or on urine Zn levels. PMID- 2626984 TI - Effect of estrogen on serum and tissue levels of copper and zinc. AB - Estrogen along with progestogen is the most widely used form of contraceptive by women. Its use in any dose, form or route has been shown to increase serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels in humans and rats. However, its effect on plasma zinc levels is not established unequivocally. We demonstrated in female Long-Evans Hooded rats that 4 weeks after implantation with 17 beta-estradiol their serum copper and ceruloplasmin and brain copper levels increased while hepatic copper levels decreased significantly. Kidney copper levels increased transitorily after 2 weeks but not after 4 weeks. Zinc levels were affected only in the liver of these animals. It may be concluded that estrogen therapy depletes hepatic stores of these elements with abnormal accumulation of copper in the brain. Health implications of these changes need further investigation. PMID- 2626985 TI - Effects of exercise training on human copper and zinc nutriture. AB - The findings of our three studies indicate no significant decreases in blood biochemical indices of copper and zinc nutritional status among female and male swimmers during physical training when dietary intakes of these trace elements are adequate (greater than or equal to 67% recommended safe and adequate intake). At these intakes, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity increased after physical training indicating a biochemical adaptation of human copper metabolism associated with exercise training. It is noteworthy that this increase in superoxide dismutase activity occurred without an apparent increase in daily copper intake. The calculated copper intakes were 1.3-1.4 and 1.6-1.9 mg/d in the female and male swimmers, respectively. These intakes are less than the suggested value of 2.0 mg/d (Committee on Dietary Allowances, 1980), but they are similar to the reported intakes of other groups in the United States (Klevay et al., 1979). In conclusion, these findings do not appear to support the belief that physical training per se produces adverse effects on copper and zinc nutriture. PMID- 2626986 TI - Serum total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels as associated with copper and zinc intake in physically active and sedentary elderly men and women. AB - The relationship of copper and zinc intake with serum total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol was studied in physically active and sedentary elderly men and women (N = 63). Three-day diet records over a period of twelve months and fasting blood samples were collected from each subject. Physical activity was associated with higher copper and zinc intakes, lower serum total cholesterol and higher serum copper levels. Higher copper intakes were associated with lower serum total cholesterol. Higher zinc intakes were associated with lower HDL-cholesterol levels. Higher copper serum levels were associated with lower serum total cholesterol. These results appeared inconsistent with the reports from animal studies. However, with it should be noted that the subjects in this study had copper and zinc intakes below the recommended dietary allowances and the calculated zinc to copper ratios were within the desired ranges. PMID- 2626987 TI - Copper complexes stimulate hemopoiesis and lymphopoiesis. AB - Copper(II)2(3,5-diisopropylsalicylate)4 [Cu(II)2(3,5-DIPS)4] is a synthetic copper complex with a variety of effects, including radiation recovery, anti inflammatory, and accelerated wound healing activities. When C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously with 80 mumol/kg Cu(II)2(3,5-DIPS)4 their spleens significantly enlarged. This splenomegally lasted for at least 3 weeks and was accompanied by increased myelopoiesis in the spleen. Bone marrow had no significant change in cellularity or myelopoiesis. The treatment with Cu(II)2(3,5 DIPS)4 had only minor effects on the ability of spleen cells to respond to mitogenic or antigenic stimulation. Cu(II)2(3,5-DIPS)4 did stimulate lymphopoiesis, since it accelerated the recovery of immune reactivity following exposure to 8 Gy whole body irradiation. Copper levels in the spleens and bone marrow of unirradiated mice treated with Cu(II)2(3,5-DIPS)4 were not significantly elevated 24 hr after treatment and copper levels were transiently reduced 7 days after treatment. PMID- 2626988 TI - Exocrine pancreatic function of rats consuming a high-fructose, low-copper diet. AB - This study was designed to examine changes in exocrine pancreatic function in male rats consuming a diet containing either 62% starch or fructose with either 6.0 ppm or copper for 39 days. Copper deficiency significantly lowered pancreatic weight, copper concentration, and amylase and lipase specific activities in the pancreas and in washings from the small intestine. Significantly lower values were observed in copper deficient rats consuming fructose when compared to those consuming starch. In addition, chymotrypsin and trypsin specific activities in the pancreas and trypsin specific activity in the small intestine were lower in copper deficient rats consuming fructose when compared to all other dietary groups. Low dietary copper in combination with the consumption of high dietary fructose lead to an interaction which severely affected exocrine pancreatic function in ways which cannot be explained either by copper deficiency or dietary fructose consumption alone. PMID- 2626989 TI - Bioavailable copper complexes offer a physiologic approach to treatment of chronic diseases. AB - Copper (II)2(3,5-Diisopropylsalicylate)4(H2O)2 has been found to have antiinflammatory, antiulcer, anticonvulsant, anticancer, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, and radiation recovery activities and it prevents reperfusion injury. To study pharmacokinetic parameters accounting for these pharmacological effects the double labeled 67Cu(II)2(carboxy-14C-3,5-diisopropylsalicylate)4 complex was synthesized and used to obtain these parameters. Treatment of mice with 1 mumol of this complex revealed that 67Cu was distributed to blood, liver, kidney, intestine, lung, thymus, femur, muscle, spleen, brain, urine, and feces within 0.5 hr and patterned changes in 67Cu content of these tissues and excreta were found throughout the 96 hr term of this study. PMID- 2626990 TI - Copper-67 labeled porphyrin localization in inflamed tissue. AB - A series of experiments compared the uptake of 5,10,15,20 tetrakis(4 carboxyphenyl) porphinato [67Cu] copper (II), 67CuTCPP, by the lymph nodes of inflamed and two sets or control rats. The results demonstrate that 67CuTCPP localizes in greater concentration in inflamed lymph nodes than in noninflamed control lymph nodes. This enhanced uptake of 67CuTCPP by inflamed lymph nodes was 3.6 times greater than was the uptake by control lymph nodes. A time course study demonstrated that the uptake of 67CuTCPP by inflamed lymph nodes reached the maximum level by 24 hours post-injection of 67CuTCPP and remained constant throughout the 96 hours examined. It was also found that the uptake of 67CuTCPP by inflamed lymph nodes was not exclusively dependent upon an increase in the weight of inflamed lymph nodes. These studies show that 67CuTCPP has potential as a lymphoscintigraphy agent. PMID- 2626991 TI - Serum copper concentration as an index of clinical lung injury. AB - The purpose of this ongoing study is to determine whether thoracic radiotherapy for lung cancer produces an early increase in serum copper (Cu) concentration, an increase which might predict clinical outcome. Copper and iron concentrations were measured in serum obtained from nonsmall cell lung cancer patients at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after the start of radiotherapy. Control groups included patients irradiated for breast cancer (low dose of radiation to the lung), for endometrial, cervical or prostatic cancer (no dose to lung), and patients with congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cutaneous burns with or without smoke inhalation (no irradiation). Serum Cu concentration increased at least 10 micrograms/dl from the pretreatment level in approximately 75% of the adenocarcinoma and squamous cell lung cancer patients, but in only 1 of 4 undifferentiated lung cancer cases. In virtually all of these responders, serum Cu increased to a maximum at 2 weeks after the start of therapy, then plateaued or decreased slightly despite continuing irradiation. Within the subset of squamous cell lung cancers, there was a direct correlation between the degree of histologic differentiation and both baseline serum Cu concentration and the probability of an early increase therein. In contrast, only 33% of breast cancer patients and 15% of endometrial, cervical and prostate cancer patients exhibited an increase in serum Cu concentration at 2 weeks after the start of radiotherapy. Serum Cu concentration was within normal limits in virtually all patients with congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and COPD. Burn patients exhibited a significant reduction in serum Cu, although concomitant smoke inhalation increased serum Cu back to low normal levels. Serum iron concentration did not change significantly in any category of patients. These data suggest that thoracic radiotherapy for well differentiated non-small cell lung cancer is accompanied by an early increase in serum Cu concentration. This increase is partly but not wholly related to lung dose in particular rather than tissue dose in general, and specifically reflects radiation-induced lung injury rather than pneumopathy in general. In lung cancer patients, the change in serum Cu concentration during the first 2 weeks of radiotherapy exhibits a sufficiently broad range (+60 to -13 micrograms/dl) to permit testing this parameter as a predictor of tumor response and pulmonary complications. PMID- 2626992 TI - The type of dietary carbohydrate consumed during pregnancy and lactation determines copper status of the fetus and the neonate rat. PMID- 2626993 TI - Copper transport: insights into a ceruloplasmin-based delivery system. AB - Ceruloplasmin binds to the membranes of K562 cells. The binding has been shown to result in a temperature-dependent transfer of ceruloplasmin-bound copper into the cytosol. Ascorbic acid (100 microM) stimulates the transmembrane transfer nearly 10-fold, depending on the initial concentration of 67Cu-ceruloplasmin. The protein moiety of ceruloplasmin does not enter the cells. Bathocuproine disulfonate, a chelator specific for cuprous copper, inhibits the uptake, suggesting copper atoms are reduced concomitant with their removal from ceruloplasmin. Cytosolic 67Cu from ceruloplasmin was found mainly bound to Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase, the major cytosolic copper protein in these cells. Evidence supporting the various phases in the ceruloplasmin-mediated transport mechanism are presented. PMID- 2626994 TI - In vitro evaluation of protein degradability in the rumen and digestibility of undegraded protein. AB - A three-phase laboratory procedure suitable for predicting protein degradability in the rumen and digestibility of undegraded protein is reported. In the first phase the feed was incubated with starch and buffered rumen fluid. In the incubation mixture the viability of protease-active bacteria was checked by anaerobic culturing, whereas changes in protease activity were monitored by azocasein degradation. In the second and third phase rumen undegradable protein (UDP) was digested with pepsin and pancreatin, respectively. The measurements showed that 63.2, 5.2 and 4.7% of the crude protein of green lucerne was decomposed by rumen fluid, pepsin and pancreatin, respectively. Degradability of the crude protein of extracted sunflower meal was 68.3, 17.7 and 5.5% in the three phases, respectively. Repeated determination yielded crude protein degradabilities of 66.7, 27.1 and 5.1% for the three phases, respectively. PMID- 2626995 TI - Activities of some serum enzymes in halothane reacted and non-reacted pigs. AB - Eight- and nine-week-old Hungarian Landrace pigs were tested with halothane as described by Laky et al. (1985). Immediately after the test blood samples were taken for determination of the activity of serum creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) isoenzyme, aldolase (ALD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH). Elevated creatine kinase, creatine kinase MB isoenzyme and aldolase activities indicating enhanced susceptibility to stressors were found in 92% of the halothane reacted and 16% of the halothane non-reacted animals. In these individuals the activities of lactate dehydrogenase and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase were also high. Data of the literature show a close relationship between enhanced susceptibility to stressors and halothane reaction in pigs. It was suggested, therefore, that determination of the activity of appropriate serum enzymes might be used for detecting this enhanced susceptibility. PMID- 2626996 TI - Direct radioimmunoassay of serum progesterone for monitoring the reproductive status of large pig herds. AB - The reproductive status of sows was monitored by serum progesterone radioimmunoassay (RIA) in a closed pig herd of 1100 sows, producing for the market. The method proved suitable for monitoring reproductive events (progesterone production during lactation, effect of weaning on the resumption of cycling, successful and unsuccessful inseminations, abortion, etc.) and for diagnosing ovarian disturbances (acyclia, irregular cycle, etc.). A total of 813 inseminations were followed up to determine the time of return to oestrus. The serum progesterone values of blood samples taken from the v. cava cranialis on day 22 after insemination indicated that pregnancy was diagnosed with a reliability of 75.5%, while non-pregnant sows failing to return to oestrus were identified with a reliability of 96.1%. The economic benefits to be derived from the use of this method in a pig herd are discussed. PMID- 2626997 TI - Simultaneous fluorometric determination of vitamins A and E in serum. AB - A simple fluorometric method suitable for serial determinations is reported for simultaneous determination of vitamins A and E in serum. The solvents are pretreated chemically and by distillation. After shaking with ascorbic acid in ethanol, the vitamins are extracted from the serum samples with petroleum ether. The extract is used for the determination. The sensitivity of the method is 20 micrograms/100 ml for vitamin A and 0.04 micrograms/ml for vitamin E. Recovery rates are between 87 and 106%. The method was tested on a total of 160 serum samples of healthy animals belonging to 8 different species. The results showed good agreement with the so-called reference values published in the literature. PMID- 2626998 TI - Possible applications of the "Manuflex" external fixing instrument in small animal surgery. AB - An external fixing instrument (minifixateur externe) recently developed for use in humans and marketed by the name of "MANUFLEX", its accessories, possible applications and fields of indication are described. The apparatus has been patented in Hungary and an international patent has been applied for. In the second part of the paper the application of the external fixateur for treating bone fractures of dogs is reported, together with the practical experience gained with it so far. As the clinical trials gave favourable results and since the instrument is available for veterinary practitioners at a reasonable price, MANUFLEX may become a gap-filling apparatus in the instrumentarium of small animal surgery. PMID- 2626999 TI - Colonic anastomosis in calves: an experimental study. AB - Colonic anastomosis was conducted in 12 calves divided equally into four groups. Four suture patterns, viz. single inversion (continuous Connell), double inversion (two rows of continuous Cushing), single eversion (continuous everted mattress), double eversion (single eversion reinforced with simple continuous) were used. In each animal, anastomosis of the same technique was performed at four places. Each technique was evaluated in terms of clinical and gross observations, lumen stenosis and bursting pressure. Observations were made on the 7th, 14th and 28th day after anastomosis. None of the anastomotic techniques showed any untoward incident during the 28 days of postoperative study. Stricture formation at the site of anastomosis was minimal with the single inversion technique whereas it was maximum with the single eversion technique. Pressure for disruption of intestinal segments was higher after inversion than eversion techniques. It was concluded that the one-layer inversion anastomosis technique proved to be the best among the four techniques because (i) of its reduced incidence of adhesions; (ii) it maintains adequate lumen diameter; (iii) it withstands maximum pressure. The double layer inversion technique was conceded to be the second best choice for colonic anastomosis followed by the double eversion and single eversion techniques. PMID- 2627000 TI - Changes in blood plasma biochemistry of chicken embryos exposed to various pesticide formulations. AB - Wofatox 50 EC (methylparathion 50%), Nevifosz 50 EC (phosmethylan 50%), Kolfugo 25 FW (carbendazim 25%) and Dikamin D (2,4-D 40%) pesticide formulations were used as test material. The incubated chicken eggs were directly exposed to the applied pesticides with injection into the air cell. Blood samples were obtained and some plasma parameters including packed cell volume (PCV), total protein, glucose, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and plasma pseudocholinesterase (PChE) activities were evaluated. Although the mortality rate obtained for the treated and control groups did not differ, there were significant changes in plasma biochemistry in relation to pesticide treatment. The present paper attempts to help those undertaking embryological and teratological studies on avian embryos exposed to pesticides including studies on changes occurring in certain plasma parameters. PMID- 2627001 TI - Prevalence of Salmonella serotypes in pigs and evaluation of a rapid, presumptive test for detection of Salmonella in pig faeces. AB - Two hundred faecal samples, collected from pigs at a Budapest abattoir, were examined for the presence of salmonellae. Ninety-six isolates, belonging to 7 different serotypes, were obtained. Salmonella derby (70.8%) was the most prevalent serotype. The other serotypes isolated were S. typhimurium (8.33%), S. bredeney (4.16%), S. agona (2.08%), S. infantis (9.22%), S. london (3.12%), and S. panama (2.08%). A modified rapid presumptive test to detect salmonellae in food and food ingredients was described by Hoben et al. (1973). This test medium was evaluated to determine its efficacy in detecting salmonellae in pig faecal samples. The test gave an efficiency of 88.67%. However, the incidence of false positive results was rather high (9.43%). The public health importance of the isolates obtained and the application of the rapid presumptive test at the farm level are discussed. PMID- 2627002 TI - Economic losses caused by paratuberculosis in a dairy herd: case report. AB - The impact of clinical paratuberculosis in a 500 cow Jersey x Holstein dairy herd of loose housing system was followed up for three years. There was an increasing fall in annual milk production, namely 49, 474, and 1030 litres per cow, a decrease in the average age from 63.9 to 57.0 months, and of feed conversion from 60 to 39%. The effect of certain management deficiencies, existing throughout the study, is discussed. PMID- 2627003 TI - Bone formation and body composition of European elk: an ontogenetic model. AB - Metapodial and femur measurements were gathered on 8 female and 12 male western European elk (Alces alces [L. 1758] alces) skeletons in four osteological collections in Scandinavia. Additional variables such as carcass and bone weight as well as metacarpal measurements recorded on 43 females and 47 males hunted in Central Sweden were completed by metatarsal measurements available for 28 female and 29 male individuals of the same sample. These bones were divided into two gross age groups on the basis of epiphyseal fusion. Sex-dependent development of the metapodial bones was studied in terms of longitudinal growth and in relation to carcass weight and a number of important carcass characteristics. While metacarpals in both sexes grow at a slower rate relative to carcass weight than do metatarsals, skeletal development is more intensive in young females resulting in mature forms at a smaller absolute size. Analysis of the two sets of data was completed with parameters of dissection statistics from the literature and integrated into an ontogenetic model. A 100 to 140 kg carcass weight interval was found critical both in terms of weaning and the onset of sexual maturation. PMID- 2627004 TI - Tubular reabsorption of protein by porcine kidneys during neonatal alimentary proteinuria. AB - The ability of renal proximal tubular cells to reabsorb protein early in postnatal life was investigated using goat haemoglobin as tracer. The haemoglobin was intracardially administered to newborn piglets. The kidneys were fixed for light and electron microscopy 4 h later. Piglets killed immediately after birth and those allowed to suck colostrum for 4 h were used as controls. The proximal tubular cells of newborn, unsuckled piglets already contained absorptive vacuoles. Haemoglobin was absorbed in some absorptive vacuoles of the proximal tubules. The tracer was also demonstrable in the urine, mainly in the form of methaemoglobin. Although proximal tubular cells of newborn piglets are able to absorb protein, this absorption is of limited extent and excess protein is voided with the urine. PMID- 2627005 TI - Acute toxicological experiment of T-2 toxin in rabbits. AB - Rabbits were treated with a single oral dose (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 15 mg/kg body mass) of T-2 fusariotoxin. Doses of 4 mg or higher killed the animals in 24 to 48 h. As opposed to the controls, in the treated rabbits gross pathological and histopathological examinations revealed acute catarrhal gastroenteritis, necrosis of lymphoid cells of the gastrointestinal mucosa, centrolobular dystrophy of the liver, necrosis of cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) in the liver, tubulonephrosis, focal dystrophy of the adrenal cortex, lymphocyte depletion involving both T- and B-cell-dependent zones of the lymphoid organs (spleen, lymph, ampulla ilei), and depletion and necrosis of the myelopoietic cell colonies of the bone marrow. Similar but milder changes were observed in surviving rabbits exsanguinated 48 h after treatment. In addition to the direct damage done to the digestive tract mucosa and liver, the toxin severely damaged the cells participating in humoral and cell-mediated immunity and in the local defence of the intestinal mucosa, and markedly impaired phagocytosis and granulocytopoiesis. In another experiment rabbits were given oral doses of 2 mg/kg body mass T-2 toxin daily for several days. One rabbit was killed by bleeding every day. In rabbits killed beyond day 7 there was subacute catarrhal gastritis, emaciation, and hypertrophy of the adrenal cortex. PMID- 2627006 TI - Ultrastructural observations on different developmental stages of Goussia sinensis (Chen, 1955), a parasite of the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Valenciennes, 1844). AB - The development of Goussia sinensis, a coccidium parasitizing the intestine of the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) was studied by electron microscopy. All stages developed in the epithelial cells, less frequently in the goblet cells, and were located within a parasitophorous vacuole. In some cases one cell was invaded by several merozoites. Eight to sixteen merozoites were formed within the meront by ectomerogony. The ultrastructural processes characteristic of gamogony were the same as those found for Goussia spp. parasitizing other species of fish. A hitherto unknown mechanism of oocyst wall formation was observed. The oocyst membrane developing within the zygote surrounded only part of the zygote material. Thus, a small part of the zygote material left the oocyst proper. It is suggested that this zygote residue and the necrotic host cell constitute the so called "yellow bodies" which include the excreted oocyst. The oocyst wall was 40 to 60 nm thick. Oocyst sporulation took place within the fish. The sporocysts consisted of two hemispheres connected by sutures and had a 100 to 120 nm thick double wall. They were surrounded by sporocyst veils fixed to the oocyst wall by membranes. PMID- 2627007 TI - The pathology of concurrent bovine viral diarrhoea and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus infection in newborn calves. AB - Concurrent bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and systemic infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) are reported from two neonatal (11 and 15 days old) calves. The diseases occurred sporadically in a large-scale herd which may have been due to the calves' heterogeneous immunobiological status. Gross pathological and histopathological examinations revealed focal interstitial pneumonia with acidophilic intranuclear inclusions in the alveolar epithelial cells and necrotic foci in the liver with a few intranuclear inclusions in the hepatocytes. There were subserous haemorrhages in the forestomachs and intestine, necrotic changes in the rumen, enteritis, lymphocytic necrosis in the Peyer's patches, and fibrinoid necrosis in the wall of some of the neighbouring blood vessels. BVD virus was demonstrated by immunofluorescence (IF), whereas IBR virus by electron microscopy, immunofluorescence and virus isolation. PMID- 2627008 TI - Testicular lesions in rams infected by maedi/visna virus. AB - Pathological lesions were observed in the testicles of 5 out of 7 rams found to be infected by maedi virus serologically and by histopathological examination of the lungs. The interstitium of the testicles was infiltrated with lymphocytes, histiocytes and plasma cells. The infiltration was mainly perivascular and of varying severity, and was accompanied by fibrosis. The seminiferous tubules neighbouring the severely affected parts were atrophied and, as a result, in circumscribed areas of the testicles disturbances of spermatogenesis were observed. The epididymides were devoid of pathological changes. Studies are in progress to determine whether the testicular lesions are actually caused by maedi/visna virus. Transmission of the virus with infected rams' semen is possible. PMID- 2627009 TI - Clinical and microbiological studies of Dermatophilus congolensis infection in cattle. PMID- 2627010 TI - Effect of selenium, vitamin E and riboflavin supplementation of the feed on the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses of growing pigs. AB - The feed of weaned piglets of Hungarian Large White X Duroc and Dutch Landrace X Duroc genotype was supplemented with 0.5 mg selenium, 50, 100 or 150 mg vitamin E, and 2.5 or 5 mg riboflavin per kg. Feed supplementation enhanced the cytotoxic reaction and elevated the antibody titres produced against purified horse gamma globulin antigen. However, as compared to the control the differences were not significant. Feed supplementation exerted a beneficial, though varying, influence on the indices of cell-mediated immunity. The proportion of rosette-forming cells and blastogenic transformation induced by specific (horse globulin) and nonspecific (phytohaemagglutinin, PHA) mitogens underwent the most expressed and most significant increase in pigs fed 5 mg selenium, 100 mg vitamin E and 5 mg riboflavin per kg of feed. On the other hand, feed supplementation failed to enhance the responsiveness to intradermal PHA (type IV allergic reaction). PMID- 2627011 TI - Adaptation of 5'-deiodination to hypothyroid conditions following surgical and/or radiothyroidectomy in chickens. AB - The effect of thyroidectomy on serum levels of thyroid hormones (thyroxine, T4; triiodothyronine, T3) and on tissue levels of T3 as well as on 5'-deiodination (5'-DI) in liver, kidney and brain of chickens was investigated. The most effective way of thyroidectomy was a combined surgical (Tx) plus radiothyroidectomy (RTx) with low amounts of 131-I (NaI). The latter destroyed extra-thyroidal hormone production. It was found that even if after Tx and RTx the serum levels of T4 and T3 were close to the detection limit, the tissue T3 level was only half of normal in liver and kidney and remained normal in the brain. It is suggested that lowered 5'-deiodination is an important but not exclusive factor contributing to this adaptation of cells to hypothyroid conditions. PMID- 2627012 TI - Restricted feed intake influences thyroid hormone production and peripheral deiodination in chickens. AB - Thyroid hormones are of major importance in determining metabolic state both in mammals and in birds. Whether or not feed intake itself has an autoregulatory role in adjusting the setpoint of thyroid hormone activity is yet not well understood. The present work investigates the effects of restricted feed intake on the serum levels and on the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones. Also, the sensitivity of the pituitary-thyroid axis was looked at by means of thyrotropin releasing hormone provocation test. Several groups of Hunniahybrid chickens aged 2-6 weeks were used. Restriction was made by providing the experimental animals 70 and 85 percent of the amount of food consumed in the ad libitum fed control group. It was found that feed restriction lowers circulating concentration of triiodothyronine probably by inhibiting the activity of liver deiodinase and also decreases the sensitivity of the pituitary-thyroid axis meaning that both central and peripheral regulatory mechanisms of thyroid economy are affected by feed restriction. PMID- 2627013 TI - Effect of heat treatment and subsequent urea supplementation of sunflower meal on the in vitro ruminal degradability of crude protein content and its postruminal digestibility. AB - A three-phase laboratory procedure was used for predicting the degradability of the protein of extracted sunflower meal before (SFM) and after heat treatment (HSFM). The rumen fluid degraded 69.1% and 67.1% of the SFM and HSFM protein, respectively. The digestibility values of rumen undegraded protein (UDP) were 57.3% (SFM) and 57.0% (HSFM) with pepsin and 17.6% (SFM) and 15.9% (HSFM) with pancreatin. Urea supplementation practically did not alter the rumen degradability of HSFM protein, while the pepsin digestibility of UDP decreased to 47.2%. Four fractions (NH3, dissolved amino acids, oligopeptides and proteins) of rumen degradable crude protein (RDP) were also determined in vitro: 81 to 92% of the degraded crude protein was found in the fractions tested. Heat treatment reduced free NH3 content but did not alter the other three fractions. Urea supplementation decreased the quantity of NH3, peptides and proteins as well. PMID- 2627014 TI - Development of porcine digestive enzymes with special reference to ribonuclease. AB - The activity of digestive enzymes was determined in the gastrointestinal tract of newborn, 1-, 3- and 5-week-old piglets and in adult pigs. The pancreas of newborn piglets contained considerable ribonuclease (RNase) activity, which continued to increase with age. After the initial values an opposite tendency was found in the intestinal contents, probably due to the increase of proteolytic degradation with advancing age. Serum RNase showed little age dependence. The time-course of development of pancreatic RNase resembled more that of proteolytic enzymes than tha of amylase. The data indicate that a high pancreatic secretion of RNase commences much before the appearance of RNA in the diet. PMID- 2627015 TI - Development of ovine digestive enzymes with special reference to ribonuclease. AB - Twenty Merino lambs of four age groups (1 day, 2, 4 and 7 weeks) and 8 adult Merino wethers were killed. The development of pancreatic and gastrointestinal enzymes was followed by determining RNase, amylase, lipase, trypsin, chymotrypsin and total proteolytic (azocaseinase) activity. Pancreatic protein content, rumen and abomasal pH and abomasal clotting time were also determined. Pancreatic RNase was already present in the newborn lambs and significantly rose in the first 2 weeks of life and before reaching adult values. The increase was more marked and went to higher adult values than in the pig (Baintner and Farkas, 1989). The time course resembled that of pancreatic amylase and chymotrypsin; pancreatic trypsin and azocaseinase also showed some similarities, but pancreatic lipase had a different time course. Small intestinal RNase also changed differently; it showed a maximum at 4 weeks and had trends opposite to total proteolytic activity, indicating partial digestion of the enzyme by intestinal proteases. Rumen and caecal RNase activities may be indicative of microbial growth and fermentation rate; they showed mostly opposite tendencies in the two localities. In contrast to the pig (Baintner and Farkas, 1989), pancreatic and small intestinal trypsin:chymotrypsin ratios did not show significant increase during development in sheep. PMID- 2627016 TI - Determination of glycohaemoglobin levels in ketonuric and non-ketonuric cows. AB - Glycohaemoglobin (GHb) was estimated in haemolysate from dairy cows by colorimetric (thiobarbituric acid reaction) and ion-exchange (batch chromatographic) methods. The percentage of the non-enzymatic glycosylation of red blood cell haemoglobin depends on the blood sugar level. In consequence of the low blood sugar level of bovines, bovine GHb exhibits a lower value than that of the other mammals. GHb level was 2.18% (+/- 0.73) and 2.39% (+/- 1.03) in ketonuric and non-ketonuric cows. respectively. The authors suggest that the lower GHb level of cows with subclinical ketosis (ketonuria) is an indicator of the animals' energy-deficient status in the previous weeks. PMID- 2627017 TI - Substantive theorizing. AB - This paper outlines, for purposes of discussion and debate, an ecologically oriented approach to theory and research in psychology and related social sciences. This approach, labeled "substantive theorizing", is intended as a constructive response to recent critiqies of the logical positivism paradigm. Substantive theorizing is presented as the intersection of a series of choices by researchers, including decisions to focus on limited but socially important domains; to use multiple methods; to develop intimate familiarity with chosen domains; and to examine processes in their natural social and temporal contexts. The approach emphasizes the process, rather than the product, of conceptual framing and development. Among the projected benefits of substantive theorizing are development of new concepts and procedures, blurring of disciplinary boundaries, greater understanding of socially important domains, and increased utility of research for policy and practice. Projected costs include long-term research commitments and lack of support from academic departments and research funding agencies. PMID- 2627018 TI - Can substantive theorizing really save us from ourselves? A skeptical commentary on Wicker's proposal. AB - This commentary concurs in Wicker's call for more attention to substantive theorizing, but attempts to place that strategic approach within a broader conceptual and methodological context. It presents a perspective that is somewhat more skeptical than Wicker's as to the ultimate potential of research in our field. Specifically, the commentary discusses five themes that Wicker raises in support of the importance and potential value of substantive theorizing, looking at the dark side of each of them as well as at the potential gains. The commentary thus tries to give an appropriate balance of attention to both the limitations and the advantages of substantive theorizing. PMID- 2627019 TI - A preferred route for substantive theorizing. AB - Wicker (1989) urges the ecologyically-oriented psychologist to be more cognizant of the decision points implicit in the scientific enterprise. He describes what he calls substantive theorizing and urges us to give greater precedence, conceptually and methodologically, to context-specific phenomena. In this rejoinder, I: (1) underscore the thrust of the choices Wicker has clarified and the p references he has recommended; (2) suggest an alternative route for the ecologically-oriented research process, one in which the conceptual and substantive "paths" have coequal and interdependent importance in determining the nature and direction of the research process; and (3) discuss in greater depth the search for universal laws. Though universal laws per se may be fictional goals, I argue that our principles will have greater generalizability to the degree to which we are successful in redirecting the research enterprise to focus upon structural, as opposed to content, principles. PMID- 2627020 TI - Substantive theorizing: another trip to the mountain. AB - This reaction to the Wicker paper on substantive theorizing provides a summary of salient features of the approach. It is suggested that more detail about the implementation of substantive theorizing is needed in the future. Further it is argued that there is a need to amalgamate the substantive, conceptual, and methodological facets of research. PMID- 2627021 TI - Crossing substantive domains. AB - This paper advocates a middle ground between detailed immersion in a single context and broad generalizations that ignore context. Contextual constraints are best understood when context is varied explicitly. For example, both the content and the effects of coping efforts and social support varied with context across several studies. Comparison across substantive domains is an important tool for understanding both theory and any specific domain. PMID- 2627022 TI - And then there was snow in Alaska: a sharing of experience with Allan Wicker. AB - A perennial problem with theorizing is the improper context which experiments and correlational studies assume without understanding first the environmental levels of correspondence at which variables operate in nature. Ecological studies show variables can operate within separate contexts in such a way as to cancel the influence if too large or too small a context is chosen. One must first determine the proper level of correspondence before investigating the causal relationship. An example of the variable of snow in Alaska is explored and different levels of correspondence cited in attitude studies and economics. Only when levels of correspondence are understood does the true causal relationship permit measurement and interpretation. PMID- 2627023 TI - How residents cope with living near a hazardous waste landfill: an example of substantive theorizing. AB - It is hard to be a community or environmental psychologist and not be interested in newspaper stories on global warming, oil spills, or toxic wastes in your own backyard. To the general public, these issues tend to be viewed as environmental, technological, toxicological, or governmental, but not psychological. As psychologists, we see many ways in which psychology does play a role in understanding these events. We have been engaged in a study of residents living near a hazardous waste landfill in which many subdisciplines of psychology have played an illuminating role. Wicker's (this issue) article on substantive theorizing outlines an approach to theory and research that helps communicate the structure and process of doing research on a complex area. We use his article to help us describe key aspects of our research that are not usually discussed in research articles. We believe that the type of research Wicker describes occurs more often than people realize. Unfortunately, however, journal conventions cause investigators to omit discussions of substantive theorizing aspects of their work. We hope that reading this article increases your understanding of substantive theorizing and our research as much as writing it increased our own. PMID- 2627024 TI - Coping strategies and psychological distress: prospective analyses of early and middle adolescents. AB - Administered measures of coping, life events, and anxiety and depression to junior high and senior high school samples on two occasions, separated by a 5 month interval. Factor analyses supported the creation of coping subscales for problem solving, cognitive coping, social entertainment, physical exercise, and peer support. A one-item index of parental support was also included in the analyses. The coping subscales showed moderate temporal stability. Mothers' reports of their children's coping provided only marginal support for the validity of the adolescents' self-reports. Prospective regression analyses of the early adolescent data revealed that problem-solving coping was negatively related to depression, and that social entertainment coping was negatively related to anxiety. The prospective effects for the middle adolescents' coping were nonsignificant. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the measurement of adolescent coping strategies and research on the relation between these strategies and psychological functioning. PMID- 2627025 TI - Alternative models of the stress buffering hypothesis. AB - The interactive effects of life events and social support on a DSM-III diagnosis of major depressive episode and on number of depressive symptoms were examined. Data are from a stratified random sample of 3,732 community-dwelling adults. The paper focuses on differences between linear probability models and logistic regression models with regard to the definition, detection, and interpretation of interaction effects. Results indicate that conclusions about the interaction of life events and social support are model dependent. Using a linear probability model, significant event by support interactions were observed for both depressive symptoms and major depression. Using logistic regression, which estimates interactions in terms of odds ratios, no significant event by support interactions were observed. Discussion addresses the interpretive implications of modeling interaction in terms of probability differences versus odds ratios. PMID- 2627026 TI - Factors affecting the birth and death of mutual-help groups: the role of national affiliation, professional involvement, and member focal problem. AB - Examined the predictive relationship of three variables to the birth and death of mutual-help groups for a statewide New Jersey sample of 3,152 groups over a 2 year period. The three variables studied were group affiliation with a national mutual-help organization, local professional involvement in group activities, and group members' type of focal problem. Log-linear logit analysis revealed that the best-fitting model included Affiliation Status x Professional Involvement, and Affiliation Status x Focal Problem interactions. Among unaffiliated groups, professional involvement was related to lower group mortality, while among affiliated groups it was related to higher group mortality. Unaffiliated behavior control groups had higher odds for mortality and for birth than either unaffiliated life stress groups or unaffiliated medical groups. Among main effect findings, unaffiliated groups had consistently higher odds for birth than affiliated groups. The implications for research and action are discussed. PMID- 2627027 TI - [Desquamation of the vascular endothelium after a normal birth and surgical delivery]. AB - The desquamation of vascular endothelium was investigated in parturients after normal and operative delivery by cesarean section in dynamics up to the tenth day. There was increased endothelemia in both clinical groups up to the fifth postpartal day, after which the number of endothelial cells in plasma began to diminish lytically and it reached just the norm on the tenth day. Very high endothelemia up to 24th hour after cesarean section made impression. The increased desquamation of the vascular endothelium, as an objective manifestation for the presence of vascular lesions, in the clinical groups of women, examined by us, supported the concept for increased thrombotic risk during postpartal period. This risk is 6 times greater after operative deliveries by cesarean section according to literary data, which has been confirmed by our results for massive endothelial desquamation respectively for considerable vascular lesions within the first 24 hours after the operation and up to the fifth day inclusive. The possibility is discussed to add also vasoactive drugs with endothelium stabilizing effect to the early antithrombotic prophylaxis with low doses of heparin in view of eventual reduction of vascular damages. PMID- 2627028 TI - [Central hemodynamics and kidney function in women with pre-eclampsia]. AB - A radionuclide method with quickly disintegrating 99MTC labelled human albumin and DTPA in a volume of 0.3-0.5 ml and activity of 37 mVk with two consecutive examinations of central and renal hemodynamics was used in 91 pregnant women with preeclampsia and pyelonephritis. Marked hypovolemia was found in all groups of investigated women with preeclampsia with the exception of the group of women with pyelonephritis. There was also difference in arterial pressure in women with preeclampsia I degree and pyelonephritis, which was statistically significant with advancement of gravity and duration of the disease. The investigation of the functional state of kidneys and blood flow showed a tendency to slowing both in the arterial and venous circulation in women with pre-eclampsia of pregnancy. In the pregnant women of this group and the women with pyelonephritis there was asymmetry in the curves of the blood flow as well as in the temporary indices of renal filtration, which were increases two-folds in comparison with the normal values. They were mostly manifested on the side of the involvement in women with pyelonephritis. Irradiation loading was 0.212 mZv of both examinations and was ten times less than that of x-ray pelvimetry. PMID- 2627029 TI - [Obstetrical surgical interventions in teenagers younger than 16 years of age]. AB - The age of adolescence is not biologically the proper one for performing obstetric interventions regarding both the individual psychosomatic growth of the girl and the requirements of the reproductive and dermatographic practice. The authors analyzed in the present study the incidence of major obstetric operative interventions according to the indications and age distribution on the basis of 10,182 deliveries, 271 of which belonged to teenagers. The incidence of cesarean section was 3%; forceps delivery--2.2%; vacuum extraction--0.4%; assisted breech delivery and breech extraction--2.2%; version--0.4%; inspection of the uterine cavity: manual 1.8%; instrumental--0.7%. The total incidence of major obstetric operative interventions in teenagers was 11% and compared with the operative practice in the clinic in general it was almost equal or even less. The incidence of the small obstetric repairs was significant: perineal lacerations--32.1%, cervical lacerations--2.2%, vaginal lacerations--11%. The low incidence of cesarean section (total incidence for the clinic 6-9%), contrary to expectations, was not due to fetal-pelvic disproportion in the teenagers. The aforementioned results are a part of a study, covering a three year period, designed to clarify problems on different aspects, regarding the medical and social grounds of the pregnancy and delivery in teenagers. PMID- 2627030 TI - [Labor induction and stimulation after a prior cesarean section]. AB - The author thinks that oxytocin induction and stimulation should be used more freely under proper conditions: high pelvic score, lack of pelvic-fetal disproportion. Oxytocin induction and stimulation was used in 72 parturients out of 241 parturients, who delivered vaginally after cesarean section (CS). The risk of the parturient with preceding cesarean section, undergoing oxytocin infusion, ia not greater than that, which exists in each parturient after preceding CS and good clinical choice and dynamic observation. This correlates with literary data, indicated by the author, as well. PMID- 2627031 TI - [Intravascular coagulation in amniotic fluid embolism]. AB - Amniotic embolism (AE) was established in 13 (8.13% out of 160 dead pregnant women and parturients. The morphological examination and clinico-anatomical analysis showed that the degree of obstruction of lung microcirculatory bed was of substantial significance for the course of the disease. Intravascular coagulation (IC) was found in 11 (84.6%) of women with AE. Lungs were damaged by microthrombi most frequently and most severely, which was connected with direct contact activation of blood clotting system by the amniotic fluid. Characteristic peculiarities of AE were their jerk-like course with subclinical period of various duration and early secondary activation of the fibrinolytic system. The morphological sign of the latter was the presence of hyaline globules even within the first hour since the clinical onset of AE. IC and the connected with it acute respiratory insufficiency and consumption coagulopathy were the main thanatogenic factors in AE. This imposed dynamic follow-up of coagulation status and fibrinolytic activity combined with timely anticoagulant and antifibrinolytic treatment. PMID- 2627032 TI - [The course of pregnancy and labor following artificial insemination]. AB - The course of pregnancy and its final outcome--delivery of alive and viable fetus, is of special significance for women becoming pregnant after artificial insemination because of their limited possibilities for new pregnancy. 131 pregnancies, occurring after artificial insemination with fresh and frozen seminal plasma, were investigated. Analysis of the results showed that in basic lines the course of pregnancy and delivery as well as the state of the newborns did not differ substantially from those of normally conceived women. There was no statistical difference (p greater than 0.05) in the frequency of still-births, preterm deliveries and congenital anomalies of the fetus. In the course of pregnancy of women with artificial insemination two risk periods are determined. a) first trimester because of the greater frequency of spontaneous abortions b) delivery because of the increased operative activity and greater frequency of multiple pregnancy. PMID- 2627033 TI - [The interferon reaction of the leukocytes in newborn infants and their mothers]. AB - The interferon reaction of leucocytes (IRL) in the newborns and their mothers were examined in vitro. The ability of leucocytes, obtained from the blood of the umbilical cord of newborns, to synthesize interferon was established in 48.78% of the investigated newborns while in their mothers the relative part was 70.73%. The mean geometrical titre of the leucocytic interferon was lower than that of the parturients (30.90-1.02 against 41.69-1.70). PMID- 2627034 TI - [The transportation of premature infants at high risk based on the experience of the Department of Premature Infants of the I Joint City Hospital, Sofia]. AB - The experience of the ward for preterm children of the First Municipal Hospital in the city of Sofia, which is a ward for intensive cares--II stage for rearing preterm children, undergone intensive therapy, is described. The material includes 900 children and is presented in respect to weight at birth and reference to season. The results are very good, which is due to good movements, preparation for transport, well organized transport system and timely continuation of intensive cares, which are of benefit to preterm children. PMID- 2627035 TI - [Enzyme activity in the blood serum and lymphocytes of patients with chronic salpingo-oophoritis combined with benign tumors of the genitalia]. AB - The activity of some enzymes was examined in blood serum and lymphocytes of women with chronic salpingo-oophoritis in combination with tumourous processes of the genital organs. The objects of the study were 96 women, divided into three groups: first group (control)-20 healthy women, second group-37 women with chronic salpingo-oophoritis and third group-39 women, who suffered from chronic salpingo-oophoritis together with tumours and tumourous processes of genital organs-uterine myoma, endometriosis, cysts and cystomas of the ovaries. The studies showed that in women with continuous course of inflammatory processes there were phenomena in the lymphocytes characteristic of tension of adaptation compensatory reactions, but inhibition and lowering of the activity of energy metabolism was observed in women with tumours and tumourous processes at the same time. Lymphocyte acid phosphatase, asparataminotransferase, hydroxy butiratdehydrogenase and lactatdehydrogenase appears to be a prognostic sign for early discovery of features of tumourous process in the female organism on the background of chronic inflammatory process of genital organs. PMID- 2627036 TI - [Changes in specific and nonspecific immune reactivity in women with a complicated obstetrico-gynecologic status]. AB - The immunologic status of some groups of women from the obstetric practice was, studied by using some routine immunologic tests. BT test and C-reactive protein were used in parturients with complicated puerperium. Pregnant women with preserved amniotic sac at tenth lunar month were investigated as well as pregnant women with declared labour activity and ruptured amniotic sac and women with normal pos-partial period and parturients with inflammatory process (complicated puerperium). It was established a statistically significant lowering of active and total T-rosette forming cells and increased level of immunoglobulin G in women with declared labour activity and ruptured amniotic sac. There were lowered values of active T-lymphocytes in parturients with inflammatory complications. The performed studies on these women showed that the usage of BT test and determination of C-reactive protein were indicative methods presenting clear picture of the instant state of the infected organism. PMID- 2627037 TI - [Vaginal hematoma in puerperae]. PMID- 2627038 TI - [Sodium chloride poisoning during abortion]. PMID- 2627039 TI - [Anesthesia-resuscitation in muscle pathology. Meeting of the French Society of Anesthesia and Resuscitation. Grenoble, 27-28 January 1989. Proceedings]. PMID- 2627040 TI - Introduction. Implications of the inheritance of MHS. PMID- 2627041 TI - [Molecular mechanisms of the contraction of skeletal muscle]. PMID- 2627042 TI - [New research on muscular function: NMR spectroscopy. Application to malignant hyperthermia]. AB - P31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMRS) is a new noninvasive method for the study of normal and diseased muscle. Significant differences between the spectra of normal and pathological human muscles were reported in some known myopathies and in patients with congestive heart failure. The possibility that metabolic disturbances are linked to contraction abnormalities led to the investigation of malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MHs) muscle with NMRS. At rest, no differences were found between patients and normal subjects. During exercise, and recovery, MHs exercise hyperthermic patients developed an abnormal P31 spectral configuration, indicating a defective energy metabolism. This technique is of great interest, and could be used in patients with muscle diseases of unknown origin. NMRS with P31 and, simultaneously, other nuclei (C13, H1) could refine the results already obtained. PMID- 2627043 TI - [Routine diagnostic tests in muscular diseases]. AB - The main investigations routinely used for the diagnosis of muscle disease include biological and electrophysiological analyses, as well as muscle biopsy. The results of all these tests are discussed in order to their diagnostic and prognostic value in suspected or known muscle disease. However, the diagnosis can only be confirmed when all the data has been obtained: clinical, biological, electrophysiological, biopsy as well as familial or genetic data. When the data are discordant, it should be possible to proceed to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and mitochondrial enzyme profiles. PMID- 2627044 TI - [Anesthesia in patients with coronary disease: a new strategy?]. PMID- 2627045 TI - [Use of halothane in a semi-closed circuit]. AB - Halothane was administered to 10 ASA or 11 patients undergoing elective peripheral surgery. The vaporizer was included in the delivery gas line of the semiclosed system. Lowe's square root of time model of uptake was used to calculate the required doses of halothane. In order to reach an alveolar concentration corresponding to 1.3 MAC, 0.5 vol % of halothane (1.3 MAC) combined with 60 vol % of nitrous oxide (0.6 MAC) were administered at a fresh of 20 ml.kg 1. The ventilation controlled in order to maintain end-tidal CO2 partial pressure at a 5 vol %. Inspiratory halothane concentration was measured during the inspiratory plateau. The alveolar fraction was defined as being the mean end expiratory concentration. The latter was well above the theoretical values during the first 9 min of anaesthesia (0.85% at the 4 th min). This concentration then decreased progressively, becoming less than the expected value after 15 min (0.4% at the 30 th min). Lowe's model would therefore seem to lead to a gross overestimation of the amount of anaesthetic vapour to be delivered to a patient at the beginning of anaesthesia, and an underestimation thereafter. PMID- 2627046 TI - [Liver transplantation in adults: postoperative management and development during the first months]. AB - Recent improvements in the results of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) have made this a well-accepted treatment for patients with severe hepatic failure. Current problems encountered following OLT are discussed. Immediate complications comprise surgical bleeding, primary graft non-function, and graft failure due to hepatic artery occlusion. Secondary complications are frequent. Surgical ones include biliary and vascular (hepatic artery thrombosis most often) problems, as well as intra-abdominal abscesses associated with gastrointestinal perforation, biliary leak, graft ischaemia or an infected haematoma. 40% of patients having undergone OLT will be reoperated on, 2/3 of them within 3 months. Non-surgical complications are mostly pulmonary. The risk of pneumonitis is increased by prolonged mechanical ventilation; it is always potentially disastrous in the immunosuppressed, transplanted patient. Hypertension is also often seen in the early postoperative period; it requires prompt treatment. Early renal impairment after OLT is common, and of better prognosis than late onset renal failure, which is generally associated with shock, graft failure, sepsis or use of nephrotoxic agents. Seizures, usually only one, occur in about 10% of patients; recovery is complete. Encephalopathy with intracranial oedema related to fulminant hepatitis has a worse prognosis, but survival figures are quite encouraging. Three type of rejection are described after OLT: 1) severe accelerated rejection (very rare), 2) acute rejection encountered in about 70% of patients over the first 3 months, and 3) late rejection, which can lead to the vanishing bile duct syndrome (VBDS). Diagnosis of rejection is made by liver biopsy. Prophylactic immunosuppression includes cyclosporin, methylprednisolone and azathioprine. Cyclosporin toxicity and drug interactions are reviewed. Treatment of acute rejection episodes comprises an initial bolus of high doses of corticoid drugs; if there is no response, antilymphocyte globulin or monoclonal antibodies may have to be used. Infection is the main cause of death following OLT. Early infections, mostly intra-abdominal and pulmonary, are bacterial or fungal. Vital (especially CMV) and other opportunistic infections occur generally after the second week. Retransplantation, carried out in 10 to 25% of patients, may be urgent in case of primary graft failure, or hepatic artery thrombosis associated with graft failure, or hepatic artery thrombosis associated with graft failure. Other indications are early graft rejection with severe hepatic dysfunction, chronic rejection with severe VBDS, and recurrence of the initial disease. PMID- 2627047 TI - [The "high concentration" oxygen mask: a dangerous defect]. AB - Three cases of unidirectional valve inversion in airtight oxygen masks are reported. These defects were discovered before use on a patient. One of the masks was tested on a healthy volunteer. It resulted in the rupture of the reservoir bag, with a oxygen leak and decrease in FiO2. Checking the valve before use is therefore mandatory, and fabrication procedures should be revised. PMID- 2627048 TI - [The undeflatable cuff of a bladder catheter]. PMID- 2627049 TI - [Buprenorphine (Temgesic) can be used in hepatic porphyria]. PMID- 2627050 TI - [Propofol (Diprivan) and hepatic porphyria]. PMID- 2627051 TI - [Hypertensive crisis during the intraoperative period. A symposium. Geneva, 9 December 1988. Proceedings]. PMID- 2627052 TI - An antihypertensive drug with polyfactor mechanism of action: urapidil. PMID- 2627053 TI - Measurement of blood pressure during the intraoperative period. AB - For the monitoring of arterial blood pressure in the peri-operative period, three different methods are available. The classical approach is the indirect measurement employing a cuff applied to the upper arm as described by RIVA-ROCCI, known as sphygmomanometry. Thanks to the development of automatic devices employing the oscillometric principle, measurement of the mean arterial pressure has now become possible, blood pressure monitoring simplified, and documentation made easy. The particular indications for direct arterial pressure measurement are very low, very high, and widely fluctuating pressure, as well as major and prolonged surgery. Furthermore, arterial catheterisation provides the additional advantage of permitting blood gas analysis, while, properly employed, the rate of associated complications is low. Recently, it has become possible to perform continuous recording of the blood pressure with a non-invasive method known as servo-plethysmomanometry. The device employed for this method (Finapres) measures the pressure in the arteries of a finger using a small cuff incorporating a photoplethysmograph. Experience to date with this method in clinical usage is good. It is thus to be expected that the technique will in future offer an alternative to invasive methods of blood pressure measurement in many cases. PMID- 2627054 TI - Anesthesia and hypertension. PMID- 2627055 TI - Anesthesia in hypertensive subjects. Peculiar clinical aspects. PMID- 2627056 TI - Treatment of hypertensive outbreaks in cardiovascular surgery. PMID- 2627057 TI - Treatment of hypertensive crises in neurosurgery. PMID- 2627058 TI - [Cardiovascular risk factors in children]. PMID- 2627059 TI - [Treatment of infantile acute lymphoblastic leukemia with protocol ALL-BFM 83]. AB - The outcome of 63 children with non-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with ALL-BFM 83 protocol is analyzed. 95% achieved complete remission with the initial treatment. For the entire group the event free survival (EFS) was 66% (+/- 9%) at 48 months. These results were close to those obtained by the BFM group. Haematological toxicity was the main adverse effect, but there where no therapy related deaths. Persistence of more than 1,000 blast cells per microl in peripheral blood after 7th days of prednisone monotherapy, and spleen size greater than or equal to 5 cm under the costal margin, were identified as independent risk factors of high significance. The EFS in patients with poor clinical response to steroids (greater than or equal to 1,000 blast/microl at day 8) was 22% (+/- 18%), instead of 69% (+/- 12%) in those with adequate response. PMID- 2627060 TI - [Neonatal effects of adolescent pregnancy]. AB - Several maternal and fetal parameters (maternal age and prepregnancy weight, pathology and pregnancy control, parity, DIPS II amniotic fluid, modality of delivery, weeks of gestation, fetal presentation, postpartum hemorrhage and laceration, placental weight and umbilical cord, weight, length, sex and cephalic circumference of the neonate. Apgar score, mobimortality and forlorness of the newborn) were compared between a group of 171 adolescents mothers (aged 13 to 19 years) and another group of 108 adults mothers (aged 20 to 37 years) with similar socieconomics status. The adolescents mothers had worse pregnancy control (2.9 +/ 2 medical examination vs 4.7 +/- 2.3); (p less than 0.05), and greater prematurity (11.8% vs 5.3%), and smaller newborn weight (3.114.9 +/- 543.1 g vs 3.315.3 +/- 490.7 g); (p less than 0.05), and cephalic circumference (34.1 +/- 1 cm vs 35 +/- 1.9 cm); (p less than 0.05), and greater morbility (11.7% vs 2.8%); (p less than 0.05), and forlonness (8.8% vs 1.9%); (p less than 0.05) of neonate. PMID- 2627061 TI - [Syncope caused by complete paroxysmal atrioventricular block]. PMID- 2627062 TI - [Penile agenesis and syndrome of multiple abnormalities associated with the ingestion of retinoic acid by the mother]. PMID- 2627063 TI - [13th annual meeting of the Section on Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics. Tenerife, 31 May-1 June 1988. Abstracts]. PMID- 2627064 TI - Occupational health in the 1990s. Developing a platform for disease prevention. PMID- 2627065 TI - Occupational health in the 1990s. Developing a platform for disease prevention. Address of welcome. PMID- 2627066 TI - Special address. PMID- 2627067 TI - The right to know in the workplace. The moral dimension. AB - The makers of public policy cannot avoid the deep and often strident public controversy over the nature and scope of basic moral rights. There are persuasive defenders on both sides of the issue. Forging public policy in the absence of a broad public consensus is nothing more than the arbitrary imposition by government of some preferred, but not necessarily privileged, moral view. It hardly seems the legitimate role of a democratic government, even in the name of moral leadership, to so impose views that are deeply controversial and not capable of broad-based support by the population at large. It is better by far, for reasons of stable public policy, that we seek the painful path of building a general public consensus among the well-informed and well-meaning citizenry. If no such consensus can be achieved, then the law will, as a matter of necessity, settle the issue in the interest of the efficient discharge of general social functions. . .and that is really not a particularly unfortunate outcome. PMID- 2627068 TI - High-risk worker notification. A necessary public health program. PMID- 2627069 TI - The politics of the worker-notification bill. PMID- 2627070 TI - The high-risk disease notification and prevention program. Role of personal physicians. PMID- 2627071 TI - The case for worker notification. AB - There is currently a heated debate about whether the U.S. Congress should enact the High Risk Occupational Disease Notification and Prevention Act. This Act would set up an orderly system for identifying, notifying, and assisting workers at high risk of occupational disease. Significant underpinning for this legislation comes from three pilot projects conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Workers' Institute for Safety and Health. These projects demonstrate that notification and intervention for occupational high-risk groups can be implemented feasibly within the existing structures of community health and labor management relations. These projects also suggest that, contrary to the views of opponents of current legislation, it is the absence of systematic programs that leads to massive litigation and high costs. At present, these costs are borne by workers and society. PMID- 2627072 TI - Worker-notification activities at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Past and present. PMID- 2627073 TI - The High-Risk Occupational Disease Notification and Prevention Act. From primary to secondary prevention--from paternalism to autonomy. PMID- 2627074 TI - The worker's place in enforcing OSHA. PMID- 2627075 TI - Notification of workers at high risk. Design and implementation of a program to address their needs. AB - I believe the high-risk bill is an opportunity to protect the health and well being of the millions of workers who have been exposed to a myriad of chemicals that we know have the potential for disease. The practical details of implementing such a bill call for a high degree of sensitivity during the implementation of the program to the issues I have outlined; otherwise, its potential for good will possibly be swamped by frustration, miscommunication, and misunderstanding, and this will result in the provision of less than high-quality care for a group of people who deserve the best care and consultation available. PMID- 2627076 TI - Predicting the consequences of the High-Risk Occupational Disease Notification and Prevention Act. PMID- 2627077 TI - Depoliticizing occupational health. Can it be done? Should it be done? PMID- 2627078 TI - The insurrection of vestigial failures against OSHA. PMID- 2627079 TI - The role of the worksite inspection under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Reflections on 17 years of OSHA experience. AB - The inspection process has its counterpart in other areas of safety, namely, automobile safety, airplane safety, truck safety, structural safety, and the like. That we are less than pleased with the results in measures of workplace safety performance during the last decade and a half is not a reason to forsake the inspection process. There are ways to greatly improve the inspection process. The current dialogue should focus on extensions and improvements of inspections rather than relieving regulates of the inspection experience. The inspection process has demonstrated its value as a safety management tool. PMID- 2627080 TI - Is regulation effective? A case study of underground coal mining. PMID- 2627081 TI - Occupational disease prevention in Canada. A change of direction? PMID- 2627082 TI - Lessons from the UK. PMID- 2627083 TI - Worker safety. A role for the court? PMID- 2627084 TI - The future is now. Developing effective workplace inspection in the United States. PMID- 2627085 TI - Unlocking OSHA's potential. An inspection strategy for the 1990s. PMID- 2627086 TI - Medical and legal causation. PMID- 2627087 TI - An invitation to act. PMID- 2627088 TI - Workplace regulation gone wrong. PMID- 2627089 TI - Public funding for worker education in occupational health and safety. PMID- 2627090 TI - Risk assessment and regulation. Opening statement. PMID- 2627091 TI - Outcome versus process in decision making. PMID- 2627092 TI - Generic standards: prospects and pitfalls. PMID- 2627093 TI - An industrial hygienist's perspective on generic standards. AB - OSHA and EPA regulations promulgated to date contain the necessary framework to consider generic standards in the 1990s. Missing in OSHA standards has been the requirement for a competent person to define and manage an occupational health program and the requirement for all employers who have toxic materials with significant exposures to have a basic occupational health program. Certainly we have evolved to a point where every worker significantly exposed to toxic materials has a right to know what that exposure is. Fundamental to generic standards is the need to define what is meant by toxic substance and significant exposure level. It is suggested that NIOSH maintain a list of recognized safe exposure levels that have been recommended by credible organizations including NIOSH. It is suggested that action levels be defined as one-half the lowest recognized safe exposure level. It is proposed that all employers be required to conduct an initial inspection of their workplace, using competent persons, to determine if exposures exceed action levels. This is only one step beyond the requirements of the OSHA Hazard Communication Rule which requires that employers identify and maintain a list of all hazardous materials known to be present in the workplace and to inform workers of the hazards. If exposure levels are found in excess of action levels, then the basic elements of current standards would be required, including regular employee-exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, sanitation, training and education, and a management plan. PMID- 2627094 TI - Visual disturbances associated with over-the-counter ibuprofen in three patients. AB - We report three cases of visual disturbances associated with use of over-the counter (OTC) ibuprofen. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such problems associated with OTC ibuprofen. None of these patients included ibuprofen as part of their initial drug histories. All patients particularly younger women with headaches and visual disturbances should be questioned specifically with regard to OTC drugs. PMID- 2627095 TI - Alopecia areata including the cilia and brows of two sisters. AB - A pair of sisters developed total loss of eyelashes and eyebrows as part of the condition known as alopecia areata. The genetic and emotional aspects of this disorder of partial and complete hair loss are discussed. PMID- 2627096 TI - Optic disc photogrammetry: magnification factors for eye position, centration, and ametropias, refractive and axial; and their application in the diagnosis of optic nerve hypoplasia. AB - To determine if image magnification from ametropia or other factors required correction in the photogrammetric diagnosis of optic nerve hypoplasia, the following variables were studied using two standard 30 degrees field fundus cameras (Zeiss FF-3 and Kowa RC-2): (1) distance between the camera and the subject--variations in this distance do not change the image size; (2) decentration of the camera (i.e., decentration of the optic disc image within the field)--no effect was found using the Kowa camera, but in the Zeiss, a 2% (0.07 mm) increase in disc image size was found for each mm of optic disc decentration in the field; (3) ametropia, refractive experimental (induced in one subject with soft contact lenses, from +8.00 diopters (D) to -8.00D)--no significant change in image size was found (In addition, in 50 healthy adult eyes with various refractive errors, including ten with uncorrected aphakia, there was no significant difference found for the size of the optic nerve in different refractive ametropias. No correction factor was necessary for aphakia or for other refractive ametropias); and (4) ametropia, axial--axial myopia showed minor but significant magnification: a linear increase in the horizontal diameter of the optic disc image of 2% (0.07 mm) was found for each diopter of axial ametropia exceeding 3D. There was insufficient data for axial hyperopia. These magnification factors should be applied when measuring the optic disc on 35-mm transparencies to make a diagnosis of optic nerve hypoplasia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627097 TI - Shiny multifocal chorioretinitis with papillitis. AB - We report a case of unilateral inflammation involving the retinal pigment epithelium-choriocapillaris complex and the optic disc, characterized by multiple, small, shiny, yellowish-white subretinal lesions involving the midperiphery of the retina and associated with optic disc edema. These lesions showed hypofluorescence in the early transit phase of the fluorescein angiogram and leakage in the late phase. Perivascular staining of the retinal vessels and diffuse optic disc leakage were also present. A benign course associated with marked visual improvement and resolution of the inflammatory lesions occurred. PMID- 2627098 TI - [Medical indications for abortions induced in the 2d trimester of prenatal life. Epidemiological considerations and prospects of prevention]. AB - A review of more then 20,000 induced abortions led to recognize a series of about 1,500 late abortions induced upon medical indication during the second trimester of pregnancy, in accordance with the 1978 italian Law. About 20% of these abortions were performed in teen-agers. Only 3.5% of these 1.500 abortions corresponded to the classic "therapeutical" motivation due to danger to the physical health of the mother. Eugenic abortions induced by ascertained fetal malformation, chromosomal abnormality or other suspected prenatal pathology, could be identified in 36.9% of cases, even if legal motivation went correlated to the mental health of the mother. In 59.6% of cases motivation was a peculiar psycho-emotional condition of mother suffering, inducing fear for her mental health. Data were analysed and correlated to a series of relevant variables. Considerations of general value regarding the prevalence of the phenomenon of rejected pregnancies, the rate of spontaneous abortions, and the lack of birth control, are based on the comparison of the results with those of the first trimester induced abortions, spontaneous abortions and natality rate recorded in the same Hospital, in the population of Milan and in the italian largest region, Lombardy. Consistently with the recognition, based on biological, medical and ethical ground, of the presence of a new human life during pregnancy, the Author stresses the need for a realistic approach to the problem also from the legal and medical point of view. In particular, the urgent need for comprehensive and efficient programs of prevention of abortion, which still remains all over the world a major challenge for society, human dignity and modern gynaecological science is emphasized. PMID- 2627099 TI - [Benzonitrile and derivatives. Synthesis and pharmacological study of alkyl para cyanophenoxy alkanoates on the central nervous system]. AB - The results obtained by the pharmacological study of alkyl para-cyanophenoxy alkanoates seem to indicate that these derivatives present a sedative effect on the central nervous system. This activity increases with the number of methyl groups substituted, on ethyl para-cyanophenoxy acetate (except the motricity composent), most probably because of an increase in lipophily and therefore in the fixation on the central nervous system. PMID- 2627100 TI - [The effect of dilutions of Apis mellifica and Apium virus on ultraviolet light induced erythema in the guinea pig]. AB - Dilutions of Apis mellifica (obtained from the whole bee) and Apium virus (obtained from bee venom) are used classically in homeopathy for inflammatory symptoms with edema, erythema and pruritus (Lewis triad). Using a method examining the evolution of UV induced erythema in the guinea pig, the authors show the following dilutions of Apis mellifica 7 CH(10(-14)), 9 CH(10(-18)) and of Apium virus 5 CH(10(-10)), 7 CH(10(-14)), 9 CH(10(-18)) exert an action on experimental erythema. The results are statistically significant for the dilutions at the 48th hour after irradiation. PMID- 2627101 TI - [Study of talc for pharmaceutical use. Trials of pharmacopoeias]. AB - A study has been carried out on the possible pharmaceutical use of spanish talcs following the normalized assays of the main european pharmacopoeia and other quantitative methods. Only the talc nr3, not processed, meets all the assays of pharmacopoeia. The samples 2 and 4 (crushed) exceed the highest tolerated content in chlorides. The talc 1 (also crushed) only meets the loss on drying. The measures of some of these assays by using quantitative methods lead to more correct results and even sometimes in opposition with those obtained by pharmacopoeia methods. The particle size estimated by shifting and sedimentation shows that the crushed talcs are silty, whereas the only talc not processed is sandy. Considering the medium sizes estimated by scanning microscopy, it can be said that the pulverization of the talcs 1, 2 and 4 is characteristic of a micronization. PMID- 2627103 TI - [The 4th International Paris Symposium on Coronary Risk Factors. 22 May 1989. Proceedings]. PMID- 2627102 TI - [Enzyme inhibitory activities of two Leguminosae: Phaseolus vulgaris L. pods and Vicia faba L. hulls. Trypsin inhibitory activity]. AB - Trypsin inhibitory activities of Phaseolus vulgaris L. pods and Vicia faba L. bean hulls have been studied according to the extraction conditions of the powder: solvent pattern, temperature and pH. The two vegetal powders have a trypsin inhibitory activity quite similar, weak but appreciable. The trypsin inhibitor of Phaseolus vulgaris L. pods is thermosensitive but stable at low pH. Inversely the Vicia faba L. bean hulls one is thermostable but it feels low pH. PMID- 2627104 TI - [How to prevent vascular risk related to smoking: an aid to discontinue smoking]. AB - In addition to hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, the third major risk factor in vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and acute thrombosis is nicotinism, particularly that involving the smoking of cigarettes. Each cigarette smoked, with inhalation, is followed by increases in blood pressure and heart rate due to release of catecholamines and vasopressin. In addition, nicotine intake modifies the metabolism of certain drugs, such as beta-blockers, diminishing their antihypertensive action and hence nullifying the therapeutic benefit. Hypertension in smokers therefore constitutes a real "model" for the pharmacologic study of certain antihypertensives. Clearly the essential aim with any hypertensive subject is discontinuance of smoking, which is difficult to achieve with heavy smokers since genuine drug dependence is involved. There is no "miracle" treatment. It is necessary in each case to study the characteristics of dependence, which is both psychologic and pharmacologic (nicotine being the principal drug). Appropriate, and hence more effective therapies can then be proposed in light of the results obtained. PMID- 2627105 TI - [Efficacy, tolerance and incidence of risk factors of Alpress in the treatment of arterial hypertension]. AB - The system release of prazosin confirms the good efficacy and tolerance of Alpress in the hypertension treatment. Prazosin has favorable effects on some risk factors, and it therefore seem interesting to conduct a study in a pannel of hypertensive patients, to emphasize the quality of Alpress response, based on these criteria. This experiment demonstrated the efficacy and tolerance levels of Alpress as well as its favorable effect on cholesterol. PMID- 2627106 TI - [Stress as a risk factor]. AB - A variety of evidence shows that stress contributes to the triggering and aggravation of cardiovascular pathology, notably ischemic cardiopathy. Experimentally induced changes that may be pathogenic due to their duration or repetition can be produced in hemodynamics, hemostasis or lipid metabolism. Prospective studies in healthy subjects have confirmed the predictive value of certain behavioral patterns (A, for instance), and it is known that individuals presenting such characteristics exhibit increased neuroendocrine responses to all types of stress. Changes in blood pressure in response to stress in hypertensives and normotensives also depend on personality and preferred adaptative strategies (coping). These considerations lead to therapeutic approaches intended to ensure long-term prevention of cardiovascular morbidity. PMID- 2627107 TI - [Alpress osmotic tablets: a major advance in the management of hypertensive patients]. AB - Improvement in patient compliance in hypertension requires perfect acceptability of the treatment. In this respect, the novel pharmaceutical Alpress (osmotic tablet) avoids massive release of prazosin and ensures that an effective plasma concentration is maintained throughout the 24-hour period. The Alpress osmotic tablet is a third-generation osmotic pump which allows the use of a relatively insoluble substance such as prazosin, with a drug release rate that is independent of gastrointestinal conditions. A study in 48 healthy volunteers has compared the pharmacokinetic characteristics of standard prazosin and of osmotic tablets of prazosin. After absorption of Alpress there is a 2- to 4-hour latency phase, after which there is a gradual increase to an equilibrium phase, which is virtually linear over 24 hours. These pharmacokinetic characteristics, which are also seen in elderly subjects, are of clinical importance: whereas efficacy is comparable to that of standard prazosin, the incidence of orthostatic hypotension and of other common adverse reactions to alpha-blockers is decreased by 50%. In conclusion, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the novel pharmaceutical Alpress represent and advance in the treatment of hypertension. PMID- 2627108 TI - Heterogeneity in cell loss and frequency of slow growing colonies of human glioma cell lines. Some effects of radiation. AB - Changes in cell loss and in the relative number of slowly growing colonies were analysed after irradiation of five human glioma cell lines using a micro-colony assay. The cells were seeded at low density on small palladium covered islands which were separated by agarose barriers. The cell density at seeding was chosen to give, on the average, one cell per island. The size of each island allowed growth to a maximum number of 10-15 cells before confluency was reached. Each palladium island was individually identified in a coordinate system and cell detachment was prevented by a thin overlay of agarose. The number of fast growing colonies was, after irradiation, similar for all the cell lines studied. Large variations were, however, seen in radiation-induced cell loss and in the relative number of slowly growing colonies. Cell lines with a high cell loss tended to produce few slowly growing colonies. The variations in cell loss and number of slowly growing colonies strongly influenced the overall growth of the cell populations and there was no correlation between the decrease in the number of fast growing colonies and the decrease in the overall growth rate directly after irradiation. Further studies of tumour cell heterogeneity, with the micro-colony assay, could perhaps reveal at least some reasons for the varying response often seen between tumours when exposed to therapeutical agents. PMID- 2627109 TI - Activity of the folate analog 10-ethyl, 10-deaza-aminopterin (10-EdAM) against human head and neck cancer xenografts. AB - In a previous study we established a markedly increased antitumour activity of 10 ethyl, 10-deaza-aminopterin (10-EdAM) as compared to methotrexate (MTX) when tested in vitro in squamous cell carcinoma cell lines from the head and neck (HNSCC). In this paper we describe the antitumour activity of these drugs in vivo in athymic nude mice bearing HNSCC xenografts. Using a schedule of 125 mg/kg i.p. for both drugs, injected on day 0 and 7, 10-EdAM caused a significant response in 2 out of 5 tumour lines, whereas MTX was completely inactive. These two lines moderately sensitive to 10-EdAM were not affected when the drug was given daily times 5 at an equitoxic dose of 0.75 mg/kg, indicating that the effect of the drug may be schedule dependent. PMID- 2627110 TI - A human adenolymphoma showing the chromosomal aberrations del (7)(p12p14-15) and t(11;19)(q21;p12-13). AB - A clearly benign parotid tumor, an adenolymphoma, was studied cytogenetically using short-term cultured material. The first preparation showed only a normal stemline. The two subsequent preparations were both characterized by a pseudodiploid stemline with the karyotype 46,XY,del(7) (p12p14-15), t(11;19) (q21;p12-13). The 11;19 translocation was identical to that characterizing the abnormal stemline of the only previously studied case. These suggestive observations give rise to several questions, in particular whether or not all adenolymphomas contain cells with this specific reciprocal translocation and, in cases with the translocation, its implications at the molecular level. PMID- 2627111 TI - Bone marrow transplantation for familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. AB - A one year old child diagnosed at two months as having familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis had a partial response to etoposide. He relapsed and underwent a bone marrow transplant after conditioning with etoposide 65 mg/kg, total body irradiation and cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg X 2 doses. Post transplant sepsis ensued and the patient expired. At autopsy residual disease was noted. Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis continues to be a fatal disorder and etoposide is the only agent known so far with any efficacy. Bone marrow transplantation probably should be attempted early in its course and may have a role in the treatment of this disease. PMID- 2627112 TI - Gangliosides in human urothelial cell lines of different transformed phenotypes: the effect of v-raf-oncogene transfection. AB - In a previous study we have shown that established human urothelial cell lines, representing grade of transformation II (TGr II, non-tumorigenic, non-invasive cells), are characterized by accumulation of the GM2 ganglioside as compared to cell lines of TGr III with tumorigenic and invasive properties. In the present study, the analysis of gangliosides from two tumorigenic sublines obtained after transfection of the TGr II cell line HCV 29 with the v-raf-oncogene, provided further evidence for the inverse relationship between tumorigenicity and the GM2 ganglioside expression. The two transfected sublines: T112C1 and T112D1, representing TGr III, were characterized by a decreased level of GM2 which was accompanied by an increased content of the GM3 ganglioside as compared to the parental HCV 29 cell line. PMID- 2627113 TI - Regulation of hepatocyte epidermal growth factor receptors by n-butyrate and dimethyl sulfoxide: sensitivity to modulation by the tumor promoter TPA. AB - n-Butyrate and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are known to promote differentiated characteristics in certain cells, including hepatocytes. We have previously reported that butyrate up-regulates the surface expression of hepatocyte epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors and preserves a high-affinity receptor subpopulation. In the present study, culturing of hepatocytes with DMSO dose dependently (0.5-2%) increased EGF binding and maintained a high-affinity binding component which was otherwise down-regulated during culturing. Although butyrate was more effective than DMSO in most experiments, the two agents caused qualitatively the same alteration in hepatocyte EGF receptor status. The high affinity component of the EGF binding present in cells treated with butyrate or DMSO was reduced by treatment (10 nM-1 microM, 1 h) with the phorbol ester tumor promoter TPA, an activator of protein kinase C. Butyrate- or DMSO-treated hepatocytes were more susceptible to this response to TPA than were untreated hepatocytes. The present data indicate that in hepatocytes both butyrate and DMSO preserve a high-affinity EGF receptor subpopulation which is otherwise down regulated during hepatocyte culture, and that this effect particularly comprises receptors that are sensitive to modulation by the tumor promoter TPA. PMID- 2627114 TI - Effectiveness of differentiation inducers in combination on human neuroblastoma cells in vitro. AB - The effects of epirubicin and retinoic acid (RA) as differentiation inducing agents on human neuroblastoma cell lines were investigated. We have compared the response of neuroblastoma cells to epirubicin alone, to RA alone and to combined treatment, with respect to neuritic processes outgrowth, acethylcholinesterase activity, growth inhibition and antigenic expression. The obtained data indicate that the combination of the two agents is able to produce a synergistic effect on differentiation and on growth inhibition. PMID- 2627115 TI - Growth kinetic studies of methionine dependence in co-culture of monolayer and anchorage independent mouse cell lines. AB - Non-transformed C3H/10T1/2 Cl 8 mouse embryo fibroblasts and malignant R.1.1 mouse T-lymphoma cells were examined for their ability to utilize homocysteine thiolactone (Hcy-tl) instead of methionine (Met) for growth. The non-transformed fibroblasts showed only a slightly slower growth rate in Hcy-tl supplemented medium, while the T-lymphoma cells showed an absolute requirement for Met, defined as methionine dependence. A co-culture system was established where both monolayer growing fibroblasts and lymphoma cells in suspension were grown in the same culture vessel. In Met supplemented medium both cell types proliferated, but when Hcy-tl replaced Met only the fibroblasts were able to grow. Two major conclusions were drawn: 1) The inability of the lymphoma cells to utilize Hcy-tl was not due to formation and release of toxic agent(s) to the growth medium. 2) It was possible to exploit the metabolic defect of methionine dependence to select for the growth of non-transformed cells from malignant cells. PMID- 2627116 TI - Cytotoxicity and DNA damaging effects of a new nitrosourea, fotemustine, diethyl- 1-(3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido) ethylphosphonate-S10036. AB - Fotemustine is a new chloroethylnitrosourea which has recently entered a Phase II clinical trial. Using standard cytotoxicity analyses, Fotemustine was shown to be preferentially active in two Mer- cell lines, human colon BE and human lung A427. Comparative cell kill in the Mer+ counterparts HT29 and A549 (respectively) was significantly lower. In a mouse cell line, P388, alkaline elution studies showed that Fotemustine caused fewer DNA strand breaks and total crosslinks (including DNA-protein) than either BCNU or MeCCNU at equivalent cytotoxic concentrations. In addition, the removal of DNA damage caused by Fotemustine was more rapid than of damage, three times as much Fotemustine was required. These data suggest that the cytotoxic mechanism of Fotemustine, although subject to the same repair mechanisms as other nitrosoureas, may not be entirely dependent upon DNA as the sole drug target. The previously reported reduced mutagenicity of this agent may also be a function of the less extensive nucleic acid damage. The encouraging early clinical trial results with this drug may reflect its improved pharmacokinetics and bioavailability, rather than any significant modification in its cellular pharmacology when compared to other nitrosoureas. PMID- 2627117 TI - Serum concentrations of amiodarone required for an in vivo modulation of anthracycline resistance. AB - We demonstrated previously that amiodarone is able to circumvent in vitro the inherent resistance to anthracyclines of the DHD/K12 rat colon cancer cell line. We have now determined in the rat the amiodarone seric concentrations required to enhance the in vitro cytotoxicity of 4'-deoxydoxorubicin (deoDX) against DHD/K12 cells. A maximal deoDX potentiation was obtained in vitro when anthracycline was diluted in the serum of rats receiving at least 75 mg/kg of intravenous amiodarone resulting in seric concentrations of more than 40 micrograms/ml. In patients treated with amiodarone, the mean serum concentrations were 0.9 +/- 0.1 microgram/ml after an one month's oral administration of 200 mg/day, 2.2 +/- 1.0 micrograms/ml after a 24 hr continuous infusion of 300 to 900 mg/day and 5.4 +/- 1.1 micrograms/ml after a brief 3 hrs infusion of 450 mg amiodarone. Such amiodarone concentrations in human serum are much lower than those necessary to produce a significant anthracycline potentiation. In rats receiving amiodarone at a maximal tolerated dose (100 mg/kg) minutes before the injection of 10 mg/kg doxorubicin (DX), we observed an increased accumulation of the anthracycline in the liver and kidney compared to rats receiving DX alone. The DX content was not modified by amiodarone in the other organs studied (heart, lung, spleen and pancreas). An amiodarone pretreatment accelerated the death of rats receiving 5 or 10 mg/kg DX did not provoke lethality for a lower dose of 2.5 mg/kg DX. The very high doses required and the risk of increased toxicity seem to preclude the use of amiodarone for the modulation of anthracycline resistance in cancer patients. PMID- 2627118 TI - Epidermal growth factor levels in human breast cyst fluid. AB - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) seems to modulate the in vitro and in vivo growth of normal and neoplastic breast cells. We determined, by a radio-receptor assay, EGF levels in cyst fluid and in plasma of patients with gross cystic disease of the breast. The mean levels of EGF were lower in plasma than in breast cyst fluid (BCF) (p less than 0.001). In BCF of apocrine cysts we found higher EGF levels than in flattened cysts (p less than 0.001). The EGF content of apocrine BCF seems to be under sex steroid hormone control, being higher in reproductive age than in post menopause (p less than 0.05). Since it has been reported that patients with apocrine cysts are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer, we hypothesize that the high EGF concentration in apocrine BCF may play a role in the autocrine breast cyst epithelium growth control and neoplastic transformation. PMID- 2627119 TI - Different invasion capacity of NBT II and MDCK in the chick embryo chorioallantois. AB - Questions have been raised as to the validity of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane for studying malignant invasion. Two cell lines, the invasive and non invasive character of which we have documented in another system, were used in the CAM model to test for similar behaviour. Results showed that NBT II cells, an invasive tumour in the rat and in the confrontation assay, penetrated the ectoderm and grew within the mesoderm. MDCK, of low tumourigenicity in nude mice and non-invasive in the confrontation assay, did not form morphologically defined tumours and no MDCK cells were seen in the mesoderm. PMID- 2627120 TI - Reversibility of retinoid effect on sialyltransferase activity, sialic acid content and invasive ability of human lung carcinoma cells. AB - The effect of retinoid induced suppression of in vitro invasive ability of A549 human lung carcinoma cells on sialyltransferase activity and sialic acid content was investigated. Inhibition by retinol acetate of cell invasive potential was accompanied by a significant decrease in the enzyme activity of intact cells as well as total and cell surface neuraminidase-releasable sialic acid contents. Moreover, reversibility of the invasion-suppressed A549 cell phenotype resulted in a return of invasion potential, sialyltransferase activity and surface sialic acid content to invasive cell levels. These findings suggest that membrane-bound sialic acid plays a role in invasiveness of A549 cells. PMID- 2627121 TI - Colorectal adenomas: clinical and morphological aspects. A review of 166 polyps from 124 Dutch patients. AB - In a series of 124 consecutive Dutch patients the clinical and morphological features of 166 endoscopically removed colorectal adenomatous polyps were reviewed. The most frequent clinical symptom was manifest blood loss with the stools (51%), but no specific adenoma symptom seemed to exist. Barium enema X-ray examination was done in 108 patients, whereas all patients were colonoscoped. The routinely performed barium examinations detected 71% of the polyps that were found during endoscopy, but not all X-ray examinations were air contrast barium enemas. A good correlation between the localization of the adenomas after both diagnostic modalities was found, indicating that more than 80% were located in the left part of the colon. Nineteen percent of the patients had had a metachronous (pre)neoplastic lesion removed from their large bowel previously, while 40% of the patients had a synchronous polypoid lesion at the moment of polypectomy. Sixty-two percent of the adenomas were tubular, whereas 38% were villous adenomas. There was a strong correlation between size and villous architecture (r = 0.38; p less than 0.001). The epithelial dysplasia was mild in 21%, moderate in 70% and severe in 9% of the adenomas. The degree of dysplasia correlated well with the villous type of mucosal growth (r = 0.24; p less than 0.005). These findings indicate that, 1) there are no colorectal adenoma specific symptoms, 2) to detect colorectal adenomas colonoscopy is the investigation of choice, 3) after the detection of a colorectal adenoma the whole colon should be investigated, 4) colorectal adenoma patients should be kept under surveillance, and 5) determination of the diameter and of the degree of epithelial cell dysplasia may be helpful in assessing the biological behavior of an adenomatous polyp. PMID- 2627122 TI - Growth inhibitory effect of diheptyl diselenide on various human cancer cell lines. AB - We tested the antiproliferative effects of Diheptyl Diselenide (DHDSe) on several different human cancer cell lines. Cells derived from human cancer (CG5), colon cancer (WIDR), laryngeal cancer (Hep-2), ovarian cancer (OV 166, OV 1225) and IM 9 lymphoblastoid cells were used. In all cell lines DHDSe inhibited cell growth in a dose dependent manner. At the highest concentration tested, an inhibition of cell proliferation ranging from 48% to 75% compared with control cells was observed. Our results show that DHDSe exerts a direct antiproliferative effect on human cancer cells in vitro and suggest that it may represent the parent compound of a new group of anticancer agents. PMID- 2627123 TI - Response of primary tumour, spontaneous metastases and recurrence of Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) to flavone acetic acid (FAA, LM975). AB - B6D2F1 mice bearing 3LL were more sensitive to FAA than control mice, the LD50 being 180 x 2 and 336 x 2 mg/kg respectively. At a dosage of 140 mg/kg, injected i.p. at day 4 and 11, FAA significantly decreased the primary tumour growth, the occurrence and the growth of spontaneous pulmonary metastases. The effect of two injections was dose-dependent on the primary tumour and metastases; the survival time was also dose-related. Combined with primary tumour ablation, FAA administered before any dissemination (at day 3) was more efficient against metastases than when it was injected after the end of the dissemination (i.e. after primary tumour ablation). When all treatment schedules were pooled, the number of mice without metastasis was significantly higher in treated than in control groups. The effect of FAA on recurrences was also notable. PMID- 2627124 TI - Repeated blast crisis (BC) of changing morphology, immunologic phenotype and cytogenetics in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). AB - The clinical course of a 66 year old male with CML who experienced several " relapse " BC of changing morphology, immunologic phenotype and cytogenetics is reported. The first BC was of lymphoblastic phenotype, the second of myeloid, the third again of lymphoblastic, and the fourth, terminal BC was not further characterized or treated. Whereas a phenotypic switch from lymphoblastic to myeloid has been documented twice, the sequence of myeloid followed by a lymphoblastic BC has, to our knowledge, not been reported so far. Lymphoblastic BC responded to a combination of vindesine/prednisone and 6-mercaptopurin. Myeloid BC was controlled by an AML-type induction regimen consisting of daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside. This unusual case demonstrates that relapse BC is not necessarily of the same morphologic and phenotypic lineage as the preceding BC. Moreover, treatment should be adjusted to the predominant cell type in order to prolong survival. PMID- 2627125 TI - Metronidazole enhances the cytotoxic synergism produced by the combination of 1 beta-arabinofuranosylcytosine and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum. AB - Metronidazole (MZ) was evaluated as a single agent or in combination with CDDP and araC for its cytotoxic effects on five established human colon carcinoma cell lines. MZ alone produced little cytotoxicity at 1 h drug incubation. The cytotoxicity was detectable only after 2 h incubation and increased as a function of duration of treatment, suggesting a time-dependent rather than a dose dependent cytotoxic effect. MZ had no effect on CDDP- or araC-induced cytotoxicity, whereas MZ enhanced the synergism resulting from the combination of two antitumor agents on the human colon tumor cell lines tested. Such enhancement was more pronounced on cells growing in stationary rather than in exponential phase. MZ not only produced a reversible S-phase arrest but also lessened the CDDP-produced inhibition on the incorporation of araC into DNA. However, it did not enhance CDDP-induced DNA cross-linkings, with or without araC. Our results indicated that MZ enhanced the synergism produced by two antitumor drugs in combination and that enhancement was accompanied by an increase in S-phase population and of the incorporation of araC into nucleic acids. PMID- 2627126 TI - Clinical importance of erythrocyte polyamine level determination during bone marrow transplantation in children. AB - Previous studies have shown that red blood cell (RBC) spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) concentrations appear to be a reliable index of cell proliferation. Our aim was to study the RBC polyamine level evolution (Spd and Spm) in bone marrow (BM) transplanted children. Because of our interest in the finding of an early blood criteria of BM regeneration, our study was based upon the chemotherapy - induced post-transplant aplasia period. After BM transplantation, two main periods were observed: the first (A-period) corresponded to abnormally low Spd levels. This period ended with an increasing amount of Spd reaching normal values and with an inversion in the Spd/Spm ratio which became greater than 1. The second (B) period was usually linked to abnormally high RBC Spd concentrations and a Spd/Spm ratio greater than 1. The end of the B-period was characterized by an increase in the granulocyte count (reaching 0.5 X 10(9) cells/l). Since the A- and B-periods are considered as a post-transplant aplasia period (only according to leukocyte count) and since normal RBC Spd levels occurred 14 days (SD = 4) after BM transplantation and 16 days (SD = 12) before granulocyte rise, these data led us to consider erythrocyte polyamine levels to be an earlier biological criteria of bone marrow engraftment than the number of circulating granulocytes. PMID- 2627127 TI - An in vitro model study of BSp73 rat tumour cell invasion into endothelial monolayer. AB - In order to study the process of invasion in more detail we developed an in vitro model of the vessel wall. Rat tumour cells derived from an adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, BSp73 AS--of high invasive but low metastatic capacity--and BSp73 ASML- not invasive but highly metastatic--were compared for their mode of invasion into confluent monolayers of endothelial cells. Corneal as well as vascular endothelial cells were plated alternatively onto the basal lamina-like bovine lens capsule that was mounted in a combi-ring dish or reconstituted extracellular matrix (Basement Membrane Matrigel) as substrata. The endothelial monolayers were confronted with AS- and ASML-tumour cells. The interaction of the various cell types was followed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The invasive cell type AS was able to force the endothelial cells to retract and subsequently undermined the endothelial cell layer. In the noninvasive cell population ASML most cells remained in the typical roundish morphology and did not interact with the endothelial cell layers. Only a very minor fraction of ASML populations was able to attach to and also invade into the endothelial cell monolayer. It could be shown that AS-cells individually and as small groups penetrated the endothelial cell layer. The results of transmission and scanning electron microscopy suggest that endothelial cell retraction and underlapping of adjacent endothelial cells by tumour cells play an important role in invasion and extravasation through blood vessels. Against all expectations, the nonmetastasizing tumour cell variant (AS-cells) exhibited a dramatic invasive behaviour whereas the highly metastatic ASML-variant mostly retained its spherical shape and showed invasive activity only in exceptional cases. PMID- 2627128 TI - A study of various strategies to enhance the cytotoxic activity of 5 fluorouracil/leucovorin in human colorectal cancer cell lines. AB - Several different strategies to improve the in vitro cytocidal effect of 5 fluorouracil/leucovorin (5FU/LV), including modulation of dosage and schedule and combination with other cytotoxic agents or biochemical modulators, were examined in the COLO 320DM and Ht-29 cell lines by means of the Bactec system. Modest enhancement of 5FU activity by coadministration of LV was observed in both human colon cancer cell lines. Neither increased concentrations of LV nor prolonged drug exposure or preincubation with LV were found to enhance significantly the growth inhibitory activity of combined 5FU/LV. The only parameter that was found to affect the killing potential of the combination was the concentration of 5-FU, suggesting that lower doses of the antimetabolite would be more effective (COLO 320DM: P less than 0.003; Ht-29 P less than 0.02). The addition of either cisplatin, hyaluronidase or dipyridamole to 5-FU/LV yielded synergistic growth inhibition in 3/6, 2/6 and 2/6 human colon cancer cell lines, respectively. Strictly additive effects were noted for the combination with BCNU as well as concurrent exposure of the cells to 42 degrees C hyperthermia. Whether or not certain combined 5FU/LV drug regimens will result in an improved therapeutic index, however, remains to be determined in properly designed clinical trials. PMID- 2627129 TI - Ultrastructural studies on interactions of choriocarcinoma cells with stromal cells in monolayers. AB - Choriocarcinoma is a common cancer in the tropical and subtropical areas including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan. An experimental model consisting of monolayer of decidual or smooth muscle cells growing on collagen gels was established to study the invasiveness of choriocarcinoma cells in vitro. It was found that tumour cells induced retraction of stromal cells in the process of invasion. PMID- 2627130 TI - Oesophageal carcinoma: cytopathology and nutritional aspects in aetiology. AB - This work includes results from studies on oesophageal cytopathology, dietary studies and the correlation of oesophageal cytological abnormalities and micronutrient blood levels in populations at risk for oesophageal carcinoma (OC) in remote rural areas of Southern Africa. The incidence of malignant lesions was 1.6 - 2.8%, and moderate to severe dysplastic lesions 0.5 - 1.8% in subjects aged over 35 years. Subjects 25-34 years of age showed malignant and dysplastic lesions in 0.8 and 1.3% respectively. Subjects younger than 24 years of age showed mild cytological lesions only. Early stages of OC were diagnosed in 8 patients. Three of them successfully underwent surgical intervention and are free from recurrence or metastases over a 3 year follow-up period. The incidence of mild oesophageal cytological lesions was inversely related to the frequency of the intake of green vegetables, fruit and animal proteins, and directly related to alcohol intake or tobacco smoking. A lower plasma concentration of vitamins A, E, B12 and folic acid was detected in individuals with cytological abnormalities. Of the mineral elements, only selenium, but not zinc, copper or magnesium was significantly related to the risk for OC on a regional or individual basis. An exceptionally low whole blood selenium level (58-72 ng/ml) and a relationship between its concentration and degree of cytological abnormalities were found. PMID- 2627131 TI - Oestradiol and epidermal growth factor in breast cyst fluid. AB - Gross cystic breast disease may be categorised into 2 groups according to the intracystic cation ratios (Na+/K+ less than 3 and Na+/K+ greater than 3). It has been suggested that women in the low electrolyte ratio group may be at higher risk of developing breast cancer. Epidermal growth factor concentrations in breast cyst fluid were significantly higher in the low than in the high electrolyte ratio group but there was no significant difference in oestradiol concentrations between the two groups of breast cysts. A negative correlation was obtained between intracystic concentrations of epidermal growth factor and Na+/K+ (rs = -0.617, p less than 0.001). No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that concentrations of epidermal growth factor may be modulated by oestradiol. The higher concentrations of epidermal growth factor in the low electrolyte ratio group may provide an explanation for the higher risk of breast cancer observed in this group. PMID- 2627132 TI - Schedule dependency of the combination methotrexate-vinblastine against human urothelial cancer grown in nude mice. AB - The combination of methotrexate (MTX) and vinblastine (VLB) was evaluated using different doses and treatment schedules in human transitional cell carcinoma line SW-1738, TCC-K1 and TR-49 grown in the nude mouse. Maximally tolerated weekly doses of MTX, 30 mg/kg, and VLB, 3 mg/kg, were given intraperitoneally for four consecutive weeks singly, concurrently, and separated by 24, 48 and 72 hour intervals. MTX-VLB drug sequence was not a factor in determining tumor regression or response rates when the second agent was administered 24 or 48 hours after the first agent. However, when VLB was administered 72 hours after MTX, a significant statistical difference (0.005 greater than p greater than 0.001) was observed for all tumor lines studied compared to either controls, simultaneous administration of both agents and/or VLB administered 24 or 48 hours after MTX. Additionally, dose reduction of either agent by 30% proved ineffective. Thus, tumor response to MTX-VLB combination was dependent both on schedule and dose. Application of this schedule dependency may be beneficial in management of urothelial tract tumors. PMID- 2627133 TI - The use of human monoclonal antibody to detect serum antigen in patients with breast cancer. AB - The human monoclonal antibody JDBI has been utilized in retrospective studies to identify serum antigens in breast cancer patients. Using both rapid latex slide agglutination and enzyme immunoassay techniques, studies of over 200 breast cancer patients and 400 controls have suggested that the presence of serum antigens identified by this antibody, may be related to disease activity. Eighty eight percent of patients with active metastatic breast cancer are found to be antigen positive. More importantly, these tests appear to identify tumorogenic activity in women in remission of their disease, and may detect metastatic disease before it is identifiable using currently available routine tests. Consequently, these assays may provide valuable and as yet unavailable information about the progress of patients with breast cancer. PMID- 2627134 TI - Evaluation of cortisone-heparin and cortisone-maltose tetrapalmitate therapies against rodent tumors. I. Biological studies. AB - The antitumor activity of either cortisone-heparin or cortisone-maltose tetrapalmitate combination or both was tested against two animal tumor models. The first model was orthotopically implanted bladder tumor established in syngeneic Fisher 344 rats. Shrinkage and growth arrest of the tumors were induced by cortisone and amplified by its combination with either heparin or maltose tetrapalmitate (MTP). The second model was trocar implanted C3HBA mammary tumor piece s.c. in syngeneic LPS and MTP responder C3H/HeN and non responder C3H/HeJ mice. The tumor was sensitive to growth inhibition by cortisone-MTP in the C3H/HeN but not by cortisone alone or cortisone-heparin. Tumor implanted in C3H/HeJ was much less sensitive to cortisone-MTP. Cortisone could be replaced by 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, but not by cortexolone. PMID- 2627135 TI - Evaluation of cortisone-heparin and cortisone-maltose tetrapalmitate therapies against rodent tumors. II. Pathological studies. AB - Pathological studies were undertaken in three tumor-host models which were subjected to cortisone based treatments. The first model was Fisher 344 rats with established orthotopically implanted syngeneic bladder tumor. Cortisone-herapin and cortisone-maltose tetrapalmitate (MTP) treatments induced focal areas of tumor necrosis and necrobiosis, whereas cortisone alone caused necrobiosis. The second model was C3HBA mammary tumor fragments implanted subcutaneously in syngeneic MTP responder C3H/HeN and MTP non-responder C3H/HeJ female mice. Only cortisone-MTP treatment led to an absence of capillary extension from surrounding blood vessels into the scant tumor stroma. The third model, ethyl carbamate induced primary lung cancer in AJ mice, was tested only with cortisone-herapin combination. The treatment caused central zones of necrosis. PMID- 2627136 TI - Homogeneous growth of tumor cell colonies in agar containing glass capillaries. AB - The capillary cloning system has been shown to have advantages over conventional cloning of human tumor cells in Petri dishes. In the present study a further optimization towards homogeneous colony distribution and high cloning efficiency is described. For reasons of reproducibility the study focused on cell lines, i.e. three human linew (MDA-231, HT-29, L363) and one rodent line (CHO-AB). Major variables investigated were the gel length, the capillary tube diameter, the tube sealing and buffer system, and the cell number. Criteria for optimal tumor colony growth included homogeneous colony distribution along the gel, mean colony size and cloning efficiency. It was found that colony distribution as well as overall colony growth depended largely on the gel length, i.e. on the volume of tumor cell containing agar applied per capillary tube. The results showed that optimal tumor cell colony growth was achieved in 100 ul capillary tubes of 1.2 mm internal diameter filled with 30ul, yielding a gel length of 27 mm. Colony formation did not significantly differ between sealed and unsealed tubes, provided that HEPES buffer was added. It was concluded that, for practical reasons, sealing of tube ends and therefore utilization of HEPES buffer is not necessary. In a head to head comparison, cloning efficiency was equal or higher in capillary tubes than in Petri dishes. The capillary cloning system is an alternative for drug development as well as for predictive drug testing. Its major advantage is the utilization of fewer tumor cells. PMID- 2627137 TI - Effects of a high-linoleate and a high-alpha-linolenate diet on spontaneous mammary tumourigenesis in mice. AB - SHN mice were fed a high-linoleate diet, a high-alpha-linolenate diet or a control diet. Spontaneous mammary tumourigenesis was significantly inhibited in the high alpha-linolenate group compared to the other two groups, while little difference was observed among groups in the rates of lung metastasis. The dietary alpha-linolenate/linoleate balance affected the fatty acid patterns of tissue lipids. The triacylglycerol/phospholipid ratios and the fatty acid patterns were significantly different between the mammary glands and the mammary tumours. The results indicate that the dietary alpha-linolenate/linoleate balance affects the fatty acid composition and, in turn, spontaneous mammary tumourigenesis in mice. PMID- 2627138 TI - Reproductive activity is a magic spell to connect the genesis of cancers of the uterine cervix and endometrium. AB - The present study investigated the relation between the reproductive activity and the risk for cervical and endometrial cancers using both domestic and international materials. An association of increased risk for cervical cancer (C) with fertility at the levels of both an individual and a population was contrasted to another association of increased risk for endometrial cancer (E) with infertility at the same two levels. Both C and E patients experienced a delay of menstrual cycle (over 30 days) at high incidences (35-49%), whereas healthy controls and breast cancer patients were essentially free from such menstrual delay. The possible impact of the above hormonal characteristics of C and E patients on uterine carcinogenesis is discussed in the light of comparative endocrinology. PMID- 2627139 TI - Activation of antitumor cytotoxicity of human blood mononuclear cells by a basic factor from dialysable human-leukocyte extract. AB - Dialysable human leukocyte extract (10 kDa molecular weight cutoff) contained a basic factor stimulating natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) against human K562 tumor cells when PBMC were pre incubated with the factor for 72h prior to cytotoxicity assays. This cytotoxicity stimulating factor (CySF-L2) could be enriched by adsorption to ion exchange resin Dowex 50WX2 (H-form) eluting at pH 9.0-9.6 when a pH gradient between pH 3 and pH 10 was used. Further purification was achieved by chromatography on DEAE Sepharose. The factor has a molecular weight of approximately 1000 Da and is insensitive to protease and exopeptidase treatment but sensitive against treatment with endoglycosidase F. Using immunomagnetic cell sorting, complement mediated cell depletion and depletion by planning, the cytotoxic effector cells activated during pre-incubation of PBMC with CySF-L2 could be identified as CD16+ CD14+ monocytes/macrophages and as Leu7+ Leu19+ CD16+ CD3- CD8- NK cells. PMID- 2627140 TI - Thiol and thioether suppression of cis-platinum-induced nephrotoxicity in rats bearing the Walker 256 carcinosarcoma. AB - An examination of eighteen thiols and thio ethers revealed that the simultaneous administration of several of these with cis-platinum (CDDP) at 7.5 mg/kg (25 mumols/kg) iv, as a single injection to rats bearing the Walker 256 carcinosarcoma led to significant reduction in the nephrotoxicity typically found with cis-platinum, and no apparent interference in its anti-neoplastic action towards this tumor. The thiols and thiol ethers were administered at a twenty fold molar excess to the CDDP and were combined with the CDDP immediately prior to administration. The most effective compounds in suppression nephrotoxicity were D-, and L-methionine, methyl and ethyl L-methioninate, and N-acetyl-D, L methionine. PMID- 2627141 TI - [Nosocomial infection at a neonatal care unit]. AB - The incidence of nosocomial infections in a neonatal intensive care unit was evaluated to be 11.5% over a 2 year-survey period (1984-1985) in 451 artificially ventilated newborns. Staphylococcus, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas were the most frequently identified germs. Low birth weight, gestational age, mode of delivery and type of the initial pathology were not found to be responsible for the superinfection. The duration of hospitalization was 3 times longer and the cost per infant largely increased in cases with infection. Antibiotic treatment at admittance seemed to delay the onset of nosocomial infection by 8 to 12 days in this population. PMID- 2627142 TI - [Growth and bone maturity during congenital hypothyroidism screened in the neonatal period. Apropos of 82 cases]. AB - Systematic neonatal screening of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) allowed to detect 82 children (62 girls and 20 boys) including 73% with ectopic thyroid, 18% with athyreosis and 9% with eutopic thyroid. They were followed for 1 to 7 years according to the same protocol. Skeletal maturity was studied according to 2 methods: TW2 and Sempe's numerical. Height growth was compared to the standards for French children. T4 values were normal at all ages, TSH values were slightly higher than standard. Concerning the skeletal maturity the delay observed in boys lessened from age 6 years (TW2 method: less than 25th percentile until 3 years, = 25th from 3 to 5 years, between P25 and P50 by 7 years of age). This delay was less important in children who, at the time of diagnosis (day 15) had an epiphyseal surface greater than or equal to 5 mm2. In girls, it was always above the 25th percentile. The expression of the delay was greater with Sempe's method than with the TW2 method. Thus, early substitutive treatment of CH allows a normal height growth. The skeletal maturity is somewhat abnormal in boys. This could be explained by the high percentage (66.6%) of boys with a small epiphyseal surface during the neonatal period and by a slight under-treatment. PMID- 2627143 TI - [Deletion of the long arm of chromosome 18, primary hypothyroidism, Biermer's anemia and IgM hypogammaglobulinemia]. AB - We report the case of an adolescent girl who presents with the 18q-syndrome, primary hypothyroidism, pernicious anemia and IgM hypogammaglobulinemia. Her karyotype was performed during infancy because of malformations and showed deletion of the long arm of chromosome 18. The patient had been treated with levothyroxine (Elthyrone) since age 13 when primary hypothyroidism was documented. A close hematological follow-up was then undertaken due to the presence of anti-parietal cell antibodies. A megaloblastic anemia of sudden offset led to the diagnosis of pernicious anemia by age 16, which was confirmed by a positive Shilling's test. Recently, the patient was found to have antimicrosome antibodies and moderate IgM hypogammaglobulinemia. PMID- 2627144 TI - [Nephrotic syndrome and B leukemia]. AB - A boy, aged 14 1/2 years, presented with Burkitt leukemia. His renal status was normal before treatment. Chemotherapy (SFOP LMB 86 protocol) was begun Oct. 9, 1986. After the first 2 courses of chemotherapy, the patient had Gram negative sepsis treated with cefotaxime, netilmycine, Vancomycin and ornidazole. During sepsis, nephrotic syndrome developed (albumin 25 g/l, non selective proteinuria 15 g/24 h), with moderately high blood pressure, functional renal failure (creatinine 141 mumols/l, U/P urea = 20), polyuria and tubular damage. Kidney ultrasonography was normal. Needle biopsy showed minimal glomerular lesions, acute tubular lesions, and no deposits in immunofluorescence. The nephrotic syndrome disappeared within 3 weeks, with treatment of leukemia. He is at present in complete remission with a follow-up of 25 months. PMID- 2627145 TI - [Epiglottitis and pulmonary edema in children]. AB - A case of acute epiglottitis complicated by pulmonary edema, after intubation in a 30 month-old child is reported. The pathophysiology of this complication and its treatment associating oxygen therapy and positive end expiratory pressure are discussed. PMID- 2627146 TI - [The physician and the disclosure of handicap in the newborn]. PMID- 2627147 TI - [Value of the peak flow in managing asthmatic children during a thermal and health resort stay]. PMID- 2627148 TI - [Transient hyperphosphatasemia in a child with positive human virus serology]. PMID- 2627149 TI - [Aluminium concentrations in formulas for premature infants]. PMID- 2627150 TI - [The prececal and total intestinal nutrient digestibility and amino acid absorption of food yeasts in swine]. AB - In a difference experiment the apparent precaecal (pc) and total intestinal (tot) nutrient digestibility and amino acid (AA) absorption of 5 yeasts (n-alkane yeasts Fermosin and Paprin, molasses/molasses distillers residue yeast, two sulfite waste liquor yeasts) were studied. The two n-alkane yeasts were very highly digested pc, the difference to tot digestibility is only small in most cases. In contrast to this, the pc and tot digestibility values of molasses/molasses distillers residue yeast differed considerably more. The probable reason for this is too hot drying due to which pc digestibility, particularly of the crude protein, and pc AA absorption are considerably reduced. In the two sulfite waste liquor yeasts, sulfite waste liquor residues containing lignin impair especially the crude carbohydrate digestibility and the energetic feed value; the better processing conditions of origin A, however, reduced considerably the negative effects. The results confirm that each yeast origin has its specific particularities, which have to be taken into consideration when they are used in feeding. PMID- 2627151 TI - [Biogenic amines in the digesta of swine]. AB - Concentrations of amines were analysed in the digesta of piglets and fattening pigs after refining using an aminoacid-analyser. Feed contained only small amounts of putrescine. In the stomach histamine, tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine were nearly equally distributed, whereas in the colon cadaverine presented the main part. Piglets with 24% CP had in stomach/small intestine/hindgut 4.2/10.2/9.6 mmol, with 18% CP-/5.5/4.9 mmol amines/kg DM digesta. Fattering pigs showed in jejunal digesta from 2.1 to 8.7 mmol, in the caecum 1 to 4.8 mmol and in the colon 0.2 to 2.2 mmol amines/kg DM. Increasing CF contents and bactericide supplements in the diet lowered amine concentration in all gut sections not significantly. PMID- 2627152 TI - Zootechnical performances of young fattening boars implanted with either estradiol or estradiol + testosterone. AB - In experiments with young fattening boars, implanted at 50 kg with either oestradiol 17 beta (34 mg) (O group) or oestradiol 17 beta + testosterone (20 + 200 mg) (TO group) and fed the same amount of a protein rich diet, there was not any favourable effect on growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, carcass composition and protein retention, as calculated by carcass analysis of slaughter weight pigs and 50 kg live weight pigs. There were no differences in serum steroid concentrations between control and implanted boars, but there were differences in macroscopic and histological aspects of the gonads, which were significant between control and TO groups. These results were confirmed by the suppression in both treated groups of the androstenone concentration in backfat samples, steroid which is responsible for the sexual odour of the meat of boars. PMID- 2627153 TI - [The effect of different high levels of soy extract pellets in the ration on the digestibility of crude nutrients, basic and sulfur-containing amino acids of wheat in colostomized laying hybrids]. AB - In two digestibility experiments with 4 colostomized laying hybrids each, the influence of 12.5% (ration 1) and 25% soybean meal (ration 2) on the digestibility of the crude nutrients, the basic and sulphur-containing amino acids in the wheat rations was tested. In ration 1 the digestibility of the crude protein was 84.9%, of the crude fat 56.6% and that of the N-free extractives 87.4%; for ration 2 the values were 83.6%, 47.4% and 82.5%. The digestibility values for wheat acquired with the difference method for ration 1 were 85.7% for crude protein, 57.0% for crude fat and 89.8% for N-free extractives; energy concentration was 766 EFUhens. For wheat supplemented with 25% soybean meal the same digestibility value of the crude protein could be ascertained, the digestibility of the crude fat and the N-free extractives, however, was lower than for ration 1 so that an energy concentration lower by 3.9% was calculated. The possible causes of the influence of the different levels of lysine and thioamino acids on the digestibility of these amino acids of wheat are described. PMID- 2627154 TI - [The vitamin A supply of laying hens including during rearing. 1. Testing of mixed feed with a varied vitamin A supplementation in chicks and young hens]. AB - In seven experiments with 46,310 young animals from hatching to the 21st week the vitamin A supplement varied between 0 and 10,000 IU per kg mixed feed. Feed intake was significantly diminished in three out of seven experiments when chicken feed was given without vitamin A supplement. In the young chicken period 1,500 IU vitamin A supplement were sufficient for optimal body weight development, in the young hen period native carotene was sufficient. The variation of the body weight of the individual animals on the 126th day did not show any connection with vitamin A supply. The carotene content of the rations was sufficient to prevent deficiency symptoms. The livers and yolk sacs of one day-old chickens on average contained 114 and 56 IU vitamin A/g substance when the parents had received mixed feed with 15,000 IU vitamin A/kg. There is a positive relation between the vitamin A supply of the young chickens and hens and the vitamin A content of the liver. PMID- 2627155 TI - [The use of mixed feed with reduced content of vitamin A, E and nicotinic acid in the fattening of cairinas]. AB - In three fattening experiments with 1344 male cairinas (Cairina moschata domestica L.) from hatching to the 77th day vitamin A supplement was reduced to 2500 IU/kg feed from hatching to the 21st day and to 1250 IU/kg feed from the 22nd to the 77th day. There was no supplementation of the feed with vitamin E or nicotinic acid. The reduction and elimination of the vitamin supplements on average did not have significant effects on fattening performance, feed intake, body weight, feed conversion and losses of animals in the starter and fattening periods. In the fattening period there was a tendency towards a higher intake and expenditure of feed in two experiments. Presumably the supplementation of 1250 IU/kg mixed feed is not always sufficient for an optimal fattening performance. In three production experiments with 33,850 cairinas no disadvantageous influence on fattening performance could be ascertained after a supplementation of 4,000 IU in the starter feed and 2,000 IU vitamin A in the fattening feed. PMID- 2627156 TI - [The energy utilization of root vegetables and their processed products by adult swine]. AB - The energetic utilization of raw and steamed sugar beets, raw carrots and fresh conserved or dried sugar beet pulp was measured at 8 adult pigs each with the application of the respiration experiment method. The experiment was laid out according to the difference method with 4 periods of basic rations per animal. The digestibility of the energy of the 5 feedstuffs (sequence as above) was measured as 85, 87, 83, 67 and 69% and energy retention as 10.1, 9.8, 9.1, 8.2 and 8.1 MJ/kg DM. In comparison to earlier measurings (Schiemann et al., 1966) digestibility was by 4%, relatively, lower. Under consideration of the difference in the digestibility of energy, there is very good agreement in energy retention. PMID- 2627157 TI - [Plasma prostaglandin levels in bronchial asthmatic patients measured by the 9 anthryldiazomethane-high performance liquid chromatography method]. AB - To evaluate some of the pathologic roles of prostaglandins (PGs) in bronchial asthma, plasma PGs levels in bronchial asthmatic patients were measured by the 9 anthryldiazomethane-HPLC method. Plasma TXB2 levels from stable bronchial asthmatic patients were higher than those from healthy subjects. Plasma PGF2 alpha levels were more elevated in atopic patients than in non-atopic ones. Plasma PGF2 alpha levels were more elevated in patients who suffered from attacks than in those who did not and plasma 6-keto PGF1 alpha levels were lower in patients who suffered from attacks than in those who did not. There was no significant difference in plasma TXB2 and PGs levels between mild and moderate asthmatic subjects. In the patients with mild attacks, aminophylline injection showed no significant effect on plasma TXB2 and PGs levels before and after the injection. These results suggest some of the roles of PGs in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. PMID- 2627158 TI - [Ozone-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in guinea pigs]. AB - We studied the time related changes of airway hyperresponsiveness induced by ozone inhalation (2.9 ppm, 30 min) in guinea pigs. In unanesthetized and spontaneously breathing guinea pigs, the respiratory resistance was measured by a forced oscillation technique. The respiratory resistance and respiratory frequency were unchanged until 24 hours after ozone inhalation. In mechanically ventilated guinea pigs, airway responsiveness to inhaled methacholine was determined using a modification of the Konzett-Rossler technique, and after methacholine challenge bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed for cell yield. At 1 hour and 3 hours after ozone inhalation, airway responsiveness was increased significantly, but returned to the control level at 6 hours. In the BAL fluid, there was a significant increase in neutrophils at 3 hours after ozone inhalation and thereafter. In the separated groups, before air or ozone inhalation, human serum albumin (HSA) was administered intravenously, and BAL was performed 1 hour after inhalation. In the ozone inhalation group, the concentration of HSA in BALF was increased significantly compared to the air inhalation group. These results suggest that airway hyperresponsiveness induced by ozone inhalation may occur before the influx of neutrophils into the airways and may depend on some structural changes such as submucosal and mucosal edema induced by the enhancement of capillary permeability. PMID- 2627159 TI - [Rush immunotherapy of perennial allergic rhinitis]. AB - In treating perennial allergic rhinitis sensitive to house-dust (HD)-mite (Dermatophagoides farinae), rush immunotherapy with HD antigen and classical immunotherapy were applied to 2 different patient groups, and the results obtained were compared. The results were as follows. 1. There was no significant difference in clinical efficacy between both groups. 2. The titer of the anti mite IgE antibody was not changed in both groups during the course of treatment. 3. The titer of the anti-mite IgG4 antibody was increased in both groups during the course of treatment. In rush immunotherapy, the increase began within 3 months after the initiation of treatment, whereas about 6 months after the initiation in classical immunotherapy. 4. In rush immunotherapy, a smaller dose amount of antigen could increase the titer of the anti-mite IgG4 antibody. 5. It was not clear whether the increased anti-mite IgG4 antibody titer exerted clinical effects on allergic symptoms. Patients with perennial allergic rhinitis may receive benefit from rush immunotherapy. The antigen-specific IgG4 antibody seems to be an index in evaluating immunotherapy objectively. PMID- 2627160 TI - [The investigation of asthmatic children by multiple factor analysis. II. The influence of 17 allergic factors on atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis in asthmatic children]. AB - We investigated possible influence of 17 allergy-associated factors on atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis using Multiple factor analysis in 150 asthmatic children. Atopic dermatitis was complicated in ninety-seven cases and allergic rhinitis in ninety-seven cases. 17 allergy-associated factors were as follows: 1) sex, 2) age, 3) onset age of asthma, 4) family history of allergy, 5) peripheral eosinophil counts, 6) IgE RIST, 7) IgE RAST score to egg white, 8) IgE RAST score to milk, 9) IgE RAST score to soybean, 10) IgG4 antibody titers to egg white, 11) IgG4 antibody titers to milk, 12) IgG4 antibody titers to soybean, 13) IgE RAST score to house dust, 14) IgE RAST score to Dermatophagoides farinae, 15) severity of asthma, 16) exercise-induced asthma, 17) atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis. We concluded as follows: 1) Factors which more strongly influenced both atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis were IgE RAST score to D.f., positive family history of allergy, IgE RIST and eosinophil counts. 2) Combination with high levels of IgG4 antibody to 3 food allergens such as egg-white, milk and soybean and IgE RAST to egg-white has a strong influence on atopic dermatitis, but high levels of IgG4 antibody to 3 food allergens except high level of IgG4 antibody to soybean have a weak influence on allergic rhinitis. PMID- 2627161 TI - [Thyroglobulin (Tg)-specific induction of IL2 responsiveness in lymphocytes from patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and its dependency on HLA-DQ antigen]. AB - The peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Hashimoto thyroiditis patients acquired IL2 responsiveness in response to thyroglobulin stimulation, when they were partially depleted of adherent cells. Non-adherent cells reconstituted with Tg-pulsed autologous adherent cells at the ratio of 9:1 also acquired IL2 responsiveness, but those cultured with OVA (ovalbumin)-pulse adherent cells did not. This indicates Tg-induced IL2 responsiveness was specific for the antigen. Although there was no clear correlation between the intensity of induced IL2 responsiveness and the serum titer of anti-Tg antibody, Tg-induced IL2 responsiveness was significant in the seropositive patients. Pretreatment of the mononuclear cells with the monoclonal antibody to the HLA-DQ framework (Leu 10), but not the HLA-DR framework (OKIal), blocked the induction of IL2 responsiveness. This indicated that DQ-bearing adherent cells play a key role in presenting Tg antigen to the responder cells. PMID- 2627162 TI - Bio-utilization of protein, calcium and zinc from diets based on rice and beans, in human beings. AB - Nine male healthy adults volunteers of average body weight 69.51 +/- 11.59 kg were submitted to 3 experimental diets: I complete diet, containing rice and beans (RB): II--low protein, low calcium: III--vegetable diet containing RB. The diets were consumed "ad libitum". The total energy intake in each dietary period were: 46.04 +/- 9.18; 37.57 +/- 9.04; 55.27 +/- 7.18 respectively. The average free choice for the proportion of rice/beans was 1.22 and 1.35 in the periods I and III. The protein balance was positive only for the diet I and the balance of calcium was positive in diets I and II. Zinc didn't attained positive balance neither in diet I. It is suggested that the presence of beans in diets I and III plays an important role in decreasing the bio-utilization of the studied nutrients. PMID- 2627163 TI - [Hepatocyte necrosis and intrahepatic cholestasis in the postoperative period of patients undergoing heart surgery with the use of extracorporeal circulation: significance of clinical, epidemiologic, surgical and laboratory parameters in evaluating prognosis]. AB - Sixteen patients with jaundice after heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation, were studied. They were divided in 2 groups, according to the postoperative outcome; either death (group I) or hospital discharge (group II). Clinical, epidemiological, surgical and laboratorial aspects were compared in order to ascertain their role in the outcome. The results were analysed by the Student-t test. The main cause of death was low output syndrome, which occurred in 10 cases (62.5%), 5 of them died (31%). A statistically significant difference was observed in the postoperative values of serum GOT (p less than 0.01), GPT (p less than 0.01) and total bilirubin (p less than 0.01), which were then considered prognostic indicators in these patients. PMID- 2627164 TI - [Spontaneous remission of cancer of the esophagus. A case report]. AB - The authors report a case of spontaneous regression of a cervical esophagus malignant tumor, confirmed by several biopsies. They emphasize the factors which could be involved, in a general way, with the phenomenon, as well as the importance of its study. PMID- 2627165 TI - [Wilson's disease: a report of 4 cases. Follow-up study of a patient for 33 years]. AB - Wilson's disease is a rare disorder with relatively few studies about long term evolutional aspects. The aim was to relate 4 cases emphasizing their polymorphic clinical and laboratorial aspects and the evolutional study of one of them for 33 years and whose treatment enabled the disappearance of the symptoms and the signals of the disease. PMID- 2627166 TI - [Semiology and physiopathology of the motor activity of the esophagus]. AB - This paper reviews the current concepts on the esophageal motility disorders, with emphasis on the diagnostic aspects. PMID- 2627167 TI - [Chronic abdominal pain: a pediatric approach]. AB - To treat chronic abdominal pain in a child is a difficult task either in a therapeutic or diagnostic point of view, by the variety of its several causes, displays and evolution. It is important not only to the clinician lent also to the child's family to try to identify the possible organic and psychic etiologies; in the organic causes there are frequently gastrointestinal and genitourinary reasons, but there are many dysfunctional mechanisms that shall not be forgotten. The author believes is useful, for a better understanding, to apply Levine and Rappaport's model, that indicates four primary intervening forces of the abdominal pain; 1. predisposition, dysfunction or somatic illness; 2. habits and life style; 3. personality and learned behavior's the necessity of a deep comprehension in the relationship between term case, sometimes frustrating. PMID- 2627168 TI - [Register of observations of clinical research at the Brazilian Institute for Studies and Research in Gastroenterology]. PMID- 2627169 TI - Electroencephalographical analysis of acute drug intoxication--SS Bron solution W. AB - Disturbances of the central nervous system due to abuse of SS Bron solution-W (B solution), an antitussive and expectorant containing dihydrocodeine and other constituents, were studied in rabbits. Animals were given 20 ml/kg of B-solution orally at 4 hour intervals for 8 hours or more, and changes in the electroencephalograms (EEGs) from the reticular formation(RF), hippocampus(Hpc) and sensorimotor cortex(Cm) were examined. The following results were obtained. About 3 hours after administration of B-solution, the EEG from the Hpc showed low voltage, slow wave, the heart rate decreased rapidly, and the respiratory rate increased. After about 7 to 7.5 hours, the EEG from the Cm showed slow wave hypersynchrony and stimulation of the RF with square pulses of 2.0 V induced slight arousal reactions in the Cm and Hpc. The blood pressure and respiratory rate decreased, and ECG changes indicated atrial flutter-fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Power-spectrum array analysis indicated increase of slow frequency discharges in the EEGs from all regions. The slow wave hypersynchrony of the EEG from the Cm and slow wave, low voltage of the EEG from the Hpc seemed to be associated with hallucination and delusion. PMID- 2627170 TI - [Relationships between ethanol-induced sleep and aspirin, indomethacin or PGE2 in inbred rats]. AB - It is known that prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors (PGSI) inhibit ethanol (EtOH)-induced sleep in mice, and that EtOH increases production of prostaglandins (PGs). EtOH hypnosis and effects of prostaglandins on EtOH-induced sleeping in inbred rats were examined. The EtOH (3 g/kg, i.p.)-induced sleep time was significantly longer in Fischer 344 (F344) than in Lewis (LEW); blood EtOH concentrations (BAC) on awaking were significantly lower in F344 than in LEW. When aspirin (ASP) and indomethacin (IND) were given 15 and 30 min prior to EtOH administration, respectively, both strains significantly slept shorter than those receiving no PGSI. The BACs on awaking in both strains receiving PGSI were higher than those receiving no PGSI. When LEW and F344 rats were pretreated with PGE2 (0.05-0.5mg/kg, s.c.) 30 min prior to EtOH administration, either strain slept significantly shorter as compared with those receiving EtOH alone. The BACs on awaking were significantly higher in the animals receiving the combination of PGE2 and EtOH than those receiving EtOH alone. These results suggest that there is the strain difference between F344 and LEW in ethanol-induced sleep, and that PGs may, in part, play a role in EtOH-induced sleep in LEW and F344. PMID- 2627171 TI - [Ethanol-induced discriminative stimulus properties in inbred rats with reference to aspirin, indomethacin and desipramine]. AB - It is known that ethanol (EtOH) possesses discriminative stimulus (DS) effects, but there has been no report on the effects of aspirin, indomethacin and desipramine on the DS properties of EtOH. Lewis (LEW) and Fischer 344 (F344) rats weighing approximately 80% of free-fed animals were used. In the training process, EtOH (600 and 1200 mg/kg) or saline was administered i.p. once a day 5 min prior to beginning of the session according to the following sequence: EtOH EtOH-saline-saline, under a fixed ratio ten (FR10) schedule. Discriminative test was performed in each animal after the discriminative response had achieved both the two criteria: (1) First Food Pellet (FFP) was below 12 responses and (2) the correct response rate was above 80%. There was no difference in session number to get to the criteria in the discrimination process between LEW and F344. Pentobarbital (PBA) well generalized to EtOH in both strains. The EtOH dose for 50% correct responses (FD50) was lower in F344 than in LEW. However, the ED50 for PBA was lower in LEW than in F344. There may be differences in sensitivity to EtOH and PBA. Dose response curve was not affected by pretreatment with aspirin, indomethacin and desipramine. These results suggest that aspirin, indomethacin and desipramine may not markedly affect in EtOH discriminative stimulus effects in LEW and F344 rats. PMID- 2627172 TI - [Clinical study of butane gas abuse: in comparison with toluene-based solvent and marihuana]. AB - We reported 2 cases of patients who abused butane gas, toluene-based solvent and marihuana. They showed different signs in the each substance, respectively. Butane gas was easier to make visual hallucinations and distorted perception of body form, and was less potent and addictive than toluene-based solvent. Spontaneous laughter and the most amotivational state were characterized by marihuana intoxication. Alteration of auditory perception that simple music sounded wonderful was also experienced. Furthermore, the above symptoms were thought to change by the order of taking the substance. Therefore, it is needed to examine the order of the use of drugs and clarify differences of symptoms in abuse among drugs, respectively. PMID- 2627173 TI - [Clinico-pathological studies of alcoholic liver disease, especially on the diagnostic significance of endogenous bile acid tolerance test]. AB - Endogenous bile acid tolerance test was performed in 88 patients with alcoholic liver disease and results obtained were compared with histological features in their liver biopsy specimens. An increase of serum fasting total bile acid (FTBA) and maximum total bile acid (MTBA) was closely reflected the degrees of hepatic fibrosis and they were seemed to be useful for differential diagnosis and clinical observation of the alcoholic liver disease. We have been reported the criteria of the grading for bile acid tolerance test at Inuyama Symposium in 1977. With the use of this criteria, we applied it to alcoholic liver disease. The results of bile acid tolerance test were normal in patients with ALF mild, fatty liver and no remarkable change, these were slightly abnormal in patients with ALF moderate and severe, these were severe abnormal in patients with ALC. Bile acid tolerance test is a sensitive liver function test. However, this method is too complex for clinical use. Therefore, we recommend to use the serum bile acid level at 60 minutes after the yolk loading (60min-TBA), because we found 60min-TBA was almost the same as MTBA and accurately reflect the liver morphology. So, we concluded measurement of FTBA and 60min-TBA were adequate, especially in outpatients, to evaluate the progress of alcoholic liver disease. PMID- 2627174 TI - Ethics versus expediency. PMID- 2627175 TI - The documentor. US study shows bike helmets effective. PMID- 2627176 TI - The new descriptors: resistance to change. PMID- 2627177 TI - Roferon A approved for Kaposi's sarcoma. PMID- 2627178 TI - Signs for all times. PMID- 2627179 TI - Stress, marital separation and divorce. AB - Marital separation and divorce are common and major causes of stress in our society. The general practitioner should keep marital disharmony and pending separation in mind when one or both partners present with recurring medical problems that are often minor in nature. It is important for the GP to become involved with caring, support and appropriate counselling of the partners, their children and other family members. Any homicidal or suicidal threats should be taken very seriously. PMID- 2627180 TI - Domestic violence. Treat it seriously. AB - Domestic violence is costly to the community, not only in terms of medical, police and social security budgets but also in terms of the disruption caused to families and the effect on children raised in violent households. Doctors have a major role in solving the problem of domestic violence. PMID- 2627181 TI - SIDS: the role of the family doctor. AB - In the United Kingdom two thirds of deaths resulting from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) are confirmed at home and one third in hospital. The practising physician is likely to be confronted with a case every two to three years. PMID- 2627182 TI - Stress problems in the medical profession. AB - Doctors are renowned for denial of illness in themselves and often do not respond in the most helpful way to signs of distress in colleagues. As a result, doctors and their families may get second class treatment, especially for stress related problems. Why is this so? How may stress affect doctors? How can we help? PMID- 2627183 TI - Crisis intervention. A practitioner's guide. AB - Crisis is defined and the practitioner's dilemma when confronted by a crisis is explored. It is suggested that resolution of the practitioner's own dilemma provides a guide to resolution of the crisis presented by his or her patients. A set of crisis resolution guidelines is presented and the importance of practitioners being prepared to accept assistance in crisis situations is emphasised. PMID- 2627184 TI - The assessment and treatment of facial paralysis. AB - A facial paralysis is a major cosmetic handicap and can be an emotional and occupational disaster. There are, in addition, problems with speech and the eye. These problems are more severe if the facial paralysis is combined with other cranial nerve palsies. This discussion will be limited to lower motor neurone paralysis. Every patient with a facial paralysis can be helped to some degree and, in some, facial function can be restored to near normality. It is important that the underlying condition be diagnosed early to ensure a good prognosis. PMID- 2627185 TI - Quality health care. A consensus model. AB - The author examines the issue of quality health care from the general practitioner's viewpoint. He suggests ways to arrive at a 'consensus' assessment of each section of medical care and explains how a network of health providers could reduce health care costs. PMID- 2627186 TI - Bicycle safety in Australia. AB - An overview of bicycle safety strategies developed in Australia over the past decade, including information from the first community based bicycle injury survey. Evaluation of these strategies has important implications for the next generation of cyclists. PMID- 2627187 TI - Warts. PMID- 2627188 TI - Ingrowing toenails. PMID- 2627189 TI - It's good to be back. PMID- 2627190 TI - Diagnosis of meniscal injuries of the knee. PMID- 2627191 TI - Fees in dispute. PMID- 2627192 TI - On screens and screening. PMID- 2627193 TI - Medical education in the UK. PMID- 2627194 TI - Mapping of the Es-4 locus and linear order of esterase genes (linkage group V; LGV) in the rat. AB - There are three different linear orders of esterase loci of linkage group V (LGV) in the rat (Rattus norvegicus). The first is Es-2-Es-3-Es-1, the second Es-3-(Es 2,Es-4)-Es-1, and the third Es-3-Es-2-Es-1-Es-4. We carried out mating experiments to define the order clearly. Linkage analyses of the four esterase loci, Es-1, Es-2, Es-3, and Es-4, were carried out using two inbred strains carrying different alleles at the four loci. Six locus combinations examined in this study were as follows: Es-1-Es-2, Es-1-Es-3, Es-1-Es-4, Es-2-Es-3, Es-2-Es 4, and Es-3-Es-4. The recombination frequencies of each combination were 6.3, 6.3, 6.3, 5.2, 1.8, and 3.4%, respectively. The first recombination between Es-2 and Es-4 was observed. We propose that the esterase loci of LGV be classified into three clusters according to distances between the loci. The linear order of the four loci is shown to be as follows: [Es-3] (cluster II)-3.4 +/- 2.4%-[Es-4 1.8 +/- 1.7%-Es-2] (cluster III)-6.3 +/- 6.1%-[Es-1] (cluster I). PMID- 2627195 TI - Agarose gel electrophoresis in isozyme separation and visualization. AB - Isozyme analysis of rodent-human somatic cell hybrids has been used frequently to detect specific human chromosomes. The majority of these isozyme systems employs starch gels, the use of which can be laborious when screening large numbers of cell lines. We describe the development of two procedures to detect the long arms of human chromosomes 1 and 2 in Chinese hamster-human cell hybrids by a rapid and reproducible method using 1-mm-thick agarose gels. Detection of human chromosome 1q was accomplished by screening for human fumarate hydratase activity, whose gene has been mapped to 1q42.1. Detection of chromosome 2q was performed by screening for the isozyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 1, which has been localized to 2q32-qter. These systems provide a basis for the further development of procedures for detecting chromosome-specific isozyme markers in agarose gels. PMID- 2627196 TI - Biochemical and genetic studies on rabbit hemoglobin. I. Electrophoretic polymorphism of the beta chain. AB - A genetic polymorphism of beta-chain rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) hemoglobin is demonstrated by means of acid starch gel electrophoresis. The biochemical evidence presented suggests that a previously reported substitution of a neutral amino acid for a histidine is responsible for the detected genetic variation. Segregation analysis was performed in a sample of 15 matings with 49 offspring and confirmed the genetic hypothesis: two common alleles at an autosomal locus. The calculated gene frequencies in a random sample of 125 individuals are HBB*1 = 0.48 and HBB*2 = 0.52. PMID- 2627197 TI - Gene regulation during anaerobiosis in soya roots. AB - The proteins of soybean roots undergoing anaerobiosis can be grouped into three classes. Class 1 proteins are induced severalfold and at least 28 of these were identified by in vivo labeling. These proteins include the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), fructose aldolase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphoglucomutase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Class 2 proteins include such enzymes as glucose phosphate isomerase, sucrase, and malate dehydrogenase; their specific activity remains constant in aerobiosis or anaerobiosis. The third class of proteins includes those enzymes such as peroxidase whose activity decreases more than 90% after just 1 day in anaerobiosis. Immunoblotting coupled with two dimensional chromatography of in vitro translated plant extracts demonstrated that ADH level during anaerobiosis is controlled by its mRNA concentration. Little or no mRNA for ADH was detected in aerobically grown roots. This suggests that the increased level of ADH activity is due to de novo synthesis of the mRNA rather than activation of a sequestered mRNA or superactivation of the protein. PMID- 2627198 TI - Biochemical and genetic studies on GP43, a 43-kD glycoprotein detected immunologically in human urine and serum. AB - A new and previously undescribed glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 43,000 has been isolated from human urine. This protein, designated GP43; copurified with ribonuclease, which has the same molecular weight, but ribonuclease activity was removed by passage through an affinity column of agarose-5'-(4-aminophenyl phosphoryl) uridine 2'(3') phosphate. GP43 contains about 5.9% neutral sugar, 2.3% hexosamine, and 1.6% sialic acid. A rabbit antibody to the purified GP43 reacted with human urine and serum as well as with the purified GP43. The genetic polymorphism of GP43 was then studied in desialylated human serum samples by urea polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing, followed by immunoblotting with the specific antibody for GP43. Three common phenotypes, designated GP43 1, 1-2, and 2, were easily recognized using this technique and represented homozygosity or heterozygosity for two autosomal codominant alleles, GP43*1 and GP43/2. The frequencies of the GP43*1 and GP43*2 alleles in a Japanese population were 0.7683 and 0.2317, respectively. PMID- 2627199 TI - Assignment of a gene encoding ornithine decarboxylase to the proximal region of chromosome 12 in the mouse. AB - Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the first enzyme in the polyamine biosynthetic pathway, is encoded by at least one member of a multi-gene family in the mouse. Analysis of a polymorphism in ODC structure in recombinant inbred strains has enabled assigning a functional ODC structural gene (Odc) to the proximal region of mouse chromosome 12 between Apob and Es25. Linkage of Odc to Apob and Ah is conserved in the mouse and human genomes. PMID- 2627200 TI - Acid phosphatase polymorphism in a laboratory marsupial, Monodelphis domestica. PMID- 2627201 TI - [Drugs in the doctor's bag]. PMID- 2627202 TI - Salivary prostaglandin concentrations: possible state indicators for major depression. AB - Salivary prostaglandin concentrations were determined in 42 patients with major depressive disorder, 16 patients with minor depressive disorder, and 39 healthy control subjects. The diagnoses were made according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria. The patients with major depressive disorder had higher salivary prostaglandin concentrations than the control subjects, but the patients with minor depressive disorder did not. Furthermore, the salivary prostaglandin concentrations of the patients with major depressive disorder showed a high correlation with the severity of the depression. These results suggest that high salivary prostaglandin concentrations may be state indicators for major depression. PMID- 2627203 TI - Apnoea after retrobulbar block. AB - Two cases of apnoea after retrobulbar block for cataract surgery are described. The possible causes and mechanisms of this complication, its detection and management are discussed. PMID- 2627204 TI - A comparison of the effect of several factors on the plasminogen activator activity of cloned lines from an ethylnitrosourea-induced glioma and from normal tissue. AB - Cells from gliomas induced by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea have a high basal level of plasminogen activator activity compared with cells from normal tissue. Plasminogen activator activity is known to be affected by many substances but whether inhibition or stimulation occurs depends on the cell and agent involved. It is not clear whether tumour and control cells from the same type of tissue respond similarly. A comparison has been made of the effect of several factors on both cell associated and secreted enzyme activity of cloned lines from a glioma and normal tissue. The effect of two cAMP elevating compounds was stimulatory while that of the steroid, dexamethasone, was generally inhibitory for both cells. However, the polypeptide hormone, epidermal growth factor, had a differential effect. It caused an increase in secreted enzyme activity in the tumour line but had no such effect on the control clone. The precise mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. Co-operative effects of the enzyme and growth hormone could result in more aggressive behaviour of the tumour cells. PMID- 2627205 TI - Immunohistological demonstration of Salmonella virchow in a case of infant death. PMID- 2627206 TI - Minitracheotomy: a simple alternative to tracheostomy in obstructive sleep apnoea. AB - A patient with obstructive sleep apnoea sufficiently severe to cause papilloedema was managed temporarily with a minitracheotomy. This allowed arterial oxygen saturation to return to normal while he lost weight, before surgery for his enlarged tonsills. PMID- 2627207 TI - Laser treatment of intestinal vascular abnormalities. AB - Mucosal vascular abnormalities, including haemangioma, angiodysplasia and telangiectasia, are thought to be responsible for one third of chronic lower gastrointestinal blood loss. One hundred and ninety-one patients were referred for endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of acute or chronic blood loss. In 24 (13%) of patients no bleeding source could be found, in 23 (12%) laser treatment was not indicated and in another 23 (12%) follow-up was insufficient. Of 121 evaluable patients, 107 had angiodysplasia with colonic localisation in 54, 9 had telangiectasia diffusely within the digestive tract, and 5 haemangioma with colonic location in 3. In angiodysplasia effective haemostasis was obtained in 78% with a recurrence rate of 34% at prolonged follow-up, which responded to treatment in 82%. In patients with Rendu-Osler-Weber disease the haemostasis rate was 56%, with recurrence occurring in 33% and a retreatment response in 21%. Colonic haemangioma responded in 67% of cases but there was a high recurrence rate of 67% and a low retreatment response (33%). There were five major complications and all occurred with colonic angiodysplasia (5/54, 9.3%). These included serosal irritation (2), CO2 distension (1) and posttreatment bleeding (2). Minor complications consisted of CO2 retention in one case treated for angiodysplasia, and fever (1) and posttreatment bleeding (2) in haemangioma. Effective and safe haemostasis can be obtained by Neodymium-YAG laser photocoagulation in often difficult circumstances without perforation or mortality. The method has proven to be indispensible for elderly and inoperable patients with intestinal vascular abnormalities. PMID- 2627208 TI - Psychotherapy of schizophrenia: an empirical investigation of the relationship of process to outcome. AB - The Boston Psychotherapy Study found no major differences in the effects of insight-oriented and supportive psychotherapies in the treatment of schizophrenia. The authors of the current study looked beyond the assignments to those treatment designations and used blindly rated transcripts of tape-recorded sessions to examine the relationship of therapist interventions and patient outcomes at 2 years. They found significant relationships between skillfully conducted psychodynamic exploration and greater improvements in negative symptom areas of schizophrenia. The authors note the limitations and implications of these findings for clinical practice and research. PMID- 2627209 TI - Megalencephaly in the neonatal period as the initial manifestation of glutaric aciduria type I. PMID- 2627210 TI - Comparison of postoperative intraocular pressures after use of Miochol and Miostat. AB - Over 100 cases of standard extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation were reviewed and the effects of two commercially available pharmacological agents were compared. The treatment groups received either acetylcholine chloride (Miochol) or carbachol (Miostat). Intraocular pressures were measured preoperatively and 20 to 24 hours postoperatively. The difference in mean pressures between the treatment groups was statistically significant. The results of the study showed Miostat to be the better pharmacological agent for controlling intraocular pressure 20 to 24 hours later. Since the majority of surgeons use Miochol rather than Miostat, the conclusions of this study appear to be significant. PMID- 2627211 TI - The use and abuse of history. PMID- 2627212 TI - Partial transposition of the penis and scrotum with anterior urethral diverticulum in a child born with the caudal regression syndrome. AB - Caudal regression is a rare anomaly often associated with urogenital abnormalities. We report a case of the caudal regression syndrome associated with partial transportion of the penis and scrotum, and a giant anterior urethral diverticulum. We also report our surgical technique for 1-stage reconstruction of the external genitalia, as well as a review of the embryological development of this anomaly. PMID- 2627213 TI - Embryo research and abortion. PMID- 2627214 TI - Calcitriol and osteoporosis. PMID- 2627215 TI - Double lumen and quadruple lumen pouches. PMID- 2627217 TI - Physicians need to hear deaf patients' needs. PMID- 2627216 TI - Re: Larry Norton, a Gompertzian model of human breast cancer growth. PMID- 2627218 TI - Passive smoking on commercial airlines. PMID- 2627219 TI - Science in schools and medical education. PMID- 2627220 TI - Omeprazole v ranitidine. PMID- 2627222 TI - Cystic glioma with positional oculogyric crisis. PMID- 2627221 TI - The course and prognosis of pemphigus. PMID- 2627223 TI - Annual summary of vital statistics--1988. PMID- 2627224 TI - Cardiovascular and hypokalaemic effects of inhaled salbutamol, fenoterol, and isoprenaline. PMID- 2627225 TI - Treating septic prepatellar bursitis. PMID- 2627226 TI - Left ventricular mural endocarditis. PMID- 2627227 TI - Viral myocarditis. PMID- 2627229 TI - Defining "primiparas". PMID- 2627228 TI - Torsade de pointes. PMID- 2627231 TI - Lack of reference to the work of Thomas Szasz. PMID- 2627230 TI - Screening for gestational diabetes. PMID- 2627232 TI - Apnoea after retrobulbar block. PMID- 2627233 TI - Oral manifestations of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. PMID- 2627234 TI - Clonal hematopoiesis after bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2627235 TI - Does voltage affect excitation-contraction coupling in the heart? PMID- 2627236 TI - The therapeutic use of zinc in macular degeneration. PMID- 2627237 TI - The child in the EMS system. AB - Preventable accidents and injuries are the major threat to the health care of children. The solution to this problem is a functioning emergency medical services system with the prevention aspect being unquestionably the most important. The first step to the enhanced function of the EMS system is to make the medical community and the lay public aware of its roles in this system and, secondly, to foster cooperation among all participants. The intent of the "Year of the Child in EMS" campaign is to contribute to this effort. PMID- 2627238 TI - Search for association between MCV and miscarriage, reflecting ethanol consumption or otherwise. AB - In 38 miscarrying women and 38 pair-matched controls, all studied retrospectively, the mean pair-difference in MCV is + 1.2 fl, P less than 0.05 (one-tailed). As ethanol elevates MCV, this might weakly support the suggested role of ethanol in some miscarriages, although folate/B12 deficiencies cannot be excluded. The paper demonstrates only the feasibility of a first step in defining the possible role of ethanol in some miscarriages. It identifies a difficulty encountered from earlier attendance in the miscarrying group so that a later study could circumvent it and perhaps lead to a case for funding of a prospective enquiry into the dose-response relations of any association that might exist. PMID- 2627239 TI - Superoxide dismutase in the erythrocytes of acute alcoholics during detoxification. AB - The activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase in acute alcoholic patients on admission does not form a single population but clusters in two groups either above or below the normal range. The values in both groups revert towards the normal after a week of treatment. The divergent activities of this free radical scavenging enzyme between the two groups could not be explained by differences in age, haematology or liver function tests but are likely to be acute responses, possibly to diverse drinking patterns in the period immediately preceding admission. PMID- 2627240 TI - The effect of chronic ethanol intake on leucine absorption from the rat small intestine. AB - Total (active + diffusion) absorption of leucine from the entire small intestine of rats or from segments of upper jejunum and lower ileum was unaffected by chronic ethanol feeding for 4 weeks. However, because of ethanol-induced mucosal atrophy, specific absorption (expressed per g dry weight of mucosa) was almost doubled in ethanol-fed rats. In the upper jejunum, the active component of leucine uptake was significantly greater in ethanol-fed rats (72% vs. 52%), whereas in the lower ileum the relative contributions of active uptake and diffusion were unaltered. We propose that the increase in active uptake in the upper jejunum is the result of a higher concentration of aged enterocytes having a greater transport capacity at the villus surface. PMID- 2627241 TI - Ethanol-induced skeletal muscle myopathy: biochemical and histochemical measurements on type I and type II fibre-rich muscles in the young rat. AB - Rats were pair-fed either a nutritionally complete liquid diet containing 36% of total calories as ethanol or isovolumetric amounts of the same diet in which ethanol was substituted by isocaloric glucose. Chronic ethanol feeding caused a preferential decline in the wet weight of the plantaris (predominantly Type II muscle fibres) which was accompanied by a reduction in the total DNA content. The soleus (a predominantly Type I fibre muscle) was relatively unaffected. Chronic ethanol exposure had no effect on the biochemical index of cell size (protein/DNA ratio) in either the plantaris or soleus. Quantitative histochemistry of Type II fibres in the plantaris demonstrated that ethanol caused an increase in the proportion of fibres with smaller diameters. Similar effects were observed for Type II fibres in the soleus. In contrast, ethanol exposure was associated with an increase in the relative proportion of Type I fibres with higher diameters, in both plantaris and soleus. Light microscopic examination of myopathic muscle sections demonstrated that lesions occurred without evidence of inflammation, fibrosis or other infiltration by non-muscle cells. It is concluded that chronic exposure of rats to ethanol is associated with skeletal muscle atrophy. The lesion appears to be specific for Type II fibres, irrespective of the predominant fibre type in the particular muscle. PMID- 2627242 TI - Contrasts in interleukin-1 and interleukin-2 activity in alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. AB - To investigate whether disordered immune function, as shown by abnormalities in lymphokine production, is present in alcoholic liver disease, interleukin-1 and interleukin-2 activity were assayed in a group of patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis in the absence of underlying cirrhosis, and a group of patients with inactive alcoholic cirrhosis. Activities of both IL-1 and IL-2 in alcoholic hepatitis were similar to those of normal individuals, although in abstinent patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, IL-1 activity was increased and IL-2 activity decreased. Lymphocyte transformation in response to PHA in patients with alcoholic hepatitis was significantly impaired when compared with normal controls, and addition of exogenous IL-2 did not correct this impaired response over a wide range of concentrations of both PHA and IL-2. These observations suggest the underlying defects in cell mediated immunity in acute alcoholic hepatitis, as assessed by blast transformation, could be fundamentally different from those of alcoholic cirrhosis and could be secondary to the metabolic effects of acetaldehyde or altered redox potentials on the behaviour of proliferating cells. PMID- 2627243 TI - Studies on aldehyde dehydrogenase type V-A isozymes in liver disease. AB - Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) V-A isozymes in saliva were detected in 96 patients with or without liver disease in order to clarify the relationships of the presence or absence of ALDH V-A isozymes to the metabolism of acetaldehyde (Ac CHO) and alcoholic liver disease. The incidence of ALDH V-A deficiency was not different between the patients with alcoholic liver disease and those with non alcoholic liver disease, nor between the patients with liver disease and without liver disease in no relation to alcohol misuse. Ac-CHO metabolism was not different between ALDH V-A deficient and non-deficient patients even in the ALDH I-deficient patients. These results indicated that ALDH V-A isozymes play virtually no role in the metabolism of Ac-CHO and its deficiency is not related to the development of alcoholic liver disease. PMID- 2627244 TI - Parameters Vm' and Km for elimination of alcohol in young male subjects following low doses of alcohol. AB - Seventy-four (44 under fasting conditions and 30 following oral liquid meals) sets of post-absorptive human capillary blood alcohol concentration-time data were computer-fitted to the integrated form of the Michaelis-Menten equation by numerical integration by nonlinear least squares to provide 74 pairs of the kinetic Vm' and Km parameter values. The parameters were highly correlated (r = 0.915) by orthogonal least squares. Eight of the fasting subjects received four different oral doses of alcohol and fourteen subjects each received three different alcohol treatments. Intra-subject variances of Vm', Km and the ratio Vm' Km were calculated from the multiple treatments. Inter-subject variances were calculated from the 22 mean values of each parameter. Each parameter and the intra-subject variances of the parameters were found to be log normally distributed. The liquid meals (carbohydrate, fat and protein separately) appeared not to affect the parameter values. The computer fittings were all excellent as evidenced by the relatively small standard deviations of the estimated parameters and other statistical measures of fit. PMID- 2627245 TI - The role of alcohol in mortality and morbidity from interpersonal violence. AB - Alcohol is regarded widely as a causal factor in interpersonal violence in Great Britain. However, much of the evidence used to support this association is anecdotal, or at best, based on descriptive studies. Data calculated from cross sectional, case-control and cohort studies, undertaken in Great Britain, show that individuals who consume alcohol are several times more likely to perpetrate violence, or to be the victims of violence, than individuals who do not consume alcohol. If criteria for causality are used to assess these findings, then it would appear that alcohol is likely to be a causal factor in both violence perpetration and violence victimization. However, the proportion of interpersonal violence caused by alcohol and the levels of alcohol consumption associated with significantly increased risks of involvement in interpersonal violence cannot be identified from the data available to date. PMID- 2627246 TI - Improving information on the role of alcohol in interpersonal violence in Great Britain. AB - In Great Britain, at present, no valid or reliable estimate can be made of the proportion of interpersonal violence caused by alcohol, nor can an assessment be made of the levels of alcohol consumption associated with an increased risk of involvement in interpersonal violence. A critical review of existing British studies and surveillance systems has been undertaken, which indicates that the role of alcohol in interpersonal violence could be defined more precisely, if new and better analytical studies were conducted, if ongoing logitudinal studies and existing surveillance systems were improved or better exploited, and if new surveillance systems were implemented. PMID- 2627247 TI - [Codes of ethics for nursing research]. AB - This article is a review of codes of ethics for research on human subjects with emphasis on the Code of Nuremberg and the Declaration of Helsinki which constitute the guidelines for health science researchers. The need for function of ethical committees is discussed and a framework of ethics in nursing research is pointing out since the subject of nursing research is mainly the human being healthy or sick. PMID- 2627248 TI - [Nursing care in chronic pain due to cancer]. AB - The need for effective pain relief for several million cancer patients who suffer from chronic pain, led to the foundation of pain centers all over the world. Aspects for the satisfactory management of pain and the contribution of the professional nurse as an active member of the team in these centers are discussed. PMID- 2627250 TI - [Nurses of Europe in the forefront]. PMID- 2627249 TI - [The role of nursing in primary health care]. AB - The contribution of Nursing for Primary Health Care is examined and valued. The important WHO Resolutions for Nursing/Midwifery Personnel are mentioned and analysed. The activities of the Nursing Unit of WHO/EURO are described and also those of International Council of Nurses for the promotion of Nursing Leadership in PHC. Finally the necessary changes in nursing education and nursing practice which will enable nurses to play their important role in the development of the new PHC programs in the country are stated. PMID- 2627251 TI - Breathing filters for use in inhalation anaesthesia and long-term respirator therapy. An analysis using pall breathing filters as an example. AB - The breathing filters tested in this investigation showed a high filtration effect. Therefore these filters can be assumed to protect the patient's airways very effectively from exogenous microbial loads, thus reducing the risk of extrinsic colonisation and infection. Of course intrinsic causes of infection, which prevail in long-term ventilation of patients, will respond neither to the use of breathing filters nor to disinfection of the ventilation equipment. Breathing filters protect both the patient's environment and the ventilation equipment from microbes exhaled by the patient. Hydrophobic filters with large inner surfaces such as those tested also act as heat and moisture exchangers; thus they reduce the need for air-humidification and eliminate a notorious source of respiratory-tract infection. Gain in dead space, blockage by condensed humidity and a tendency for thicker secretions are possible drawbacks which must be kept in mind when using breathing filters. The tested filters may be disposed of safely; neither dipping nor heat-sterilization or incineration will create hazard for the environment. The use of these filters may reduce significantly the frequency of respirator cleaning and disinfection as well as the costs incurred for staff, equipment repair and renewal. On the other hand, purchase, storage and disposal of the filters create running costs. PMID- 2627252 TI - A destabilization theory on health impairments by night- and shift work--some tests about its predictive value. AB - 270 blue collar workers (181 shift and 89 day workers) of an Austrian oil refinery were investigated in 1976/77. 125 of them (60% of those still employed) were reinvestigated in 1981/82 (91 shift and 34 day workers). Subjects were interviewed about family situation, working conditions, sleep quality, risk factors and health problems. These informations were used for a partial test of our destabilization hypothesis, which states that a dynamic equilibrium between the degree of adaptation to the working sphere, the social sphere and the recreation sphere is a necessary condition for the preservation of health and that shift work, by its direct impact on all these activity spheres, tends to disturb the equilibrium, thus leading either directly or by increasing risk factors to diminished wellbeing and health impairment. It could be demonstrated that the causal structures of the formation of health problems differ considerably between shift and day workers in the predicted way. Furthermore, it was shown that shift and day workers differ with respect to the amount of destabilization and that within shift workers the degree of destabilization is a useful predictor of health impairment. PMID- 2627253 TI - Magnitude of faecal contamination of rural community well waters in Nigeria and its relationship to well and water properties. AB - The possible relationship between high numbers of fecal coliforms (FCs), fecal streptococci (FS), standard plate count (SPCs) and well characteristics viz: well depth, water column, temperature, pH and non-filterable residue in 25 rural community wells in the Port Harcourt region, Nigeria, was studied. Zonal differences in residue level, well depth and fecal indicator bacteria were observed; these parameters were lowest in an area of high population density (slum) reclaimed from and adjacent to mangrove forests. Although some wells were covered and/or walled to protect them from surface runoff contamination, FCs and FS were recovered from all, except three, in numbers (log10 per 100 mL) ranging respectively from 0.40-3.79 and 0.70-3.44. The FC:FS ratio was less than 1.0 in 8 and greater than 1.0 in 14 samples. Well depth correlated with FCs (p = 0.01; r = 0.5684), FS (p = 0.001; r = 0.6423), pH (p = 0.0001; r = 0.5981); FCs and FS correlated significantly (p = 0.01; r = 0.4948). SPCs did not correlate significantly with FCs, FS and the well and water characteristics. Simultaneous analysis of samples by the Membrane-filtration (MF) and Most Probable Number (MPN) methods recovered mean FC counts in the decreasing sequence: Standard-MPN-- -Anaerobic----Aerobic MF----Direct-MPN. The underground water table is most probably contaminated via large numbers of soakaway pits and similar conveniences. Downward movement of contaminant from the shallow conveniences into deeper water tables may explain the well depth: indicator bacteria correlation. PMID- 2627254 TI - Interface pressure measurements. PMID- 2627255 TI - Healthcare practitioners help ostomy patients adjust nutritionally. PMID- 2627256 TI - Nursing alert: a new strategy in working with pressure sores. PMID- 2627257 TI - Effective and inexpensive management of a P.E.G. tube. PMID- 2627258 TI - Complete amino acid sequence of alpha-acetolactate decarboxylase from Bacillus brevis. AB - The complete amino acid sequence of acetolactate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.5) from Bacillus brevis has been determined by sequencing of the intact enzyme and of peptides obtained by cleavage with cyanogen bromide, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and trypsin, respectively. Determination of the C-terminal part was made by treatment with carboxypeptidases Y and M II. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 29,093 and consists of 260 amino acid residues arranged in a single peptide chain without disulphide bonds. PMID- 2627259 TI - An explanation of the noncorrespondence between assessment methods of cyclosporin. AB - Various methods of determining cyclosporin (CyA) levels in patients after kidney transplantation were compared. These included polyclonal antibody (pcAb-), specific and nonspecific monoclonal antibody (S- and NmcAb-) radioimmunoassays (RIA), and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results obtained by the various methods when compared showed some correlation but did not correspond. A probable explanation for part of this noncorrespondence is the presence of monoclonally crossreactive metabolites (CyA-M). Another reason was that the concentration of CyA in the standards supplied with the RIA kits was found to be higher than stated. PMID- 2627260 TI - A retrospective and prospective study of the number of kidney transplants in 31 countries. AB - The aim of the present study was to try to predict the number of cadaveric kidney transplantations (CKT) that will be performed in the year 1993. The raw data regarding the number of renal transplants that have been performed annually since 1975 in 31 countries, which were divided into six groups, were collected from published reports and confirmed by a questionnaire sent to all centers. The annual number of grafts was estimated using an exponential model, highly correlated with retrospective data (r2 greater than 0.99). Predictions for 1993 were extrapolated. The growth of transplantation activity is limited by a shortage of available donor organs. The maximum number of grafts was arbitrarily set at 40 per million population, which is the maximum rate currently observed. The total number of CKT carried out between 1975 and 1986 was 114,000; this will probably exceed 280,000 in 1993. The yearly activity in 1987 exceeded 16,500 and is expected to reach approximatively 26,000 grafts in 1993. PMID- 2627261 TI - Pancreatic autotransplantation in the pig: variations in epigastric arterial blood supply. AB - A major problem in pancreatic autotransplantation is the vascular supply of the left segment, which serves as the graft. We therefore examined the arterial blood supply of the epigastric organs in 36 German landrace pigs. In 19 pigs (anatomical variation 1) there was a pancreatic branch of the splenic artery supplying the left segment. After splenectomy the splenic artery could be used as the graft-supplying vessel. In 14 pigs (anatomical variation 2) the arterial branch for the left segment was the first branch out of the hepatic artery distal to the coeliac trunk. In these cases a splenohepatic bypass was performed to ensure delivery of the blood to the epigastric organs. Thereafter, the proximal part of the hepatic artery could be used as the vessel supplying the graft. The left segment could not be used for autotransplantation in 3 pigs (anatomical variation 3) because of the atypical vascular supply. During the 6-month observation period, no malfunction of the epigastric organs was evident. PMID- 2627262 TI - Donor-specific transfusion via the portal venous route induces prolongation of H 2-compatible but not H-2-incompatible cardiac graft survival. AB - In the H-2-compatible donor-recipient combination (BALB/c----DBA/2), pretransplant donor-specific blood transfusion (DST) via the portal venous (PV) route significantly prolonged cardiac graft survival. DST via the intravenous (IV) route (systemic circulation) also showed a marked prolongation of heart tissue transplant survival in this model. In the H-2-incompatible combination (BALB/c----CBA/H), DST via the IV - but not via the PV - route resulted in accelerated graft rejection. PMID- 2627263 TI - Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity to cultured rat kidney parenchymal components in vitro. AB - The susceptibility of cultured rat kidney parenchymal components to natural killer (NK) cell and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell-mediated lysis in a 4 h in vitro 51chromium assay was investigated. Large granular lymphocytes (LGL) in the spleen and in the kidney allograft were able to lyse YAC cells during rejection, but they did not damage target endothelial, glomerular mesangial, glomerular epithelial, or tubular cells in resting state. Stimulation of the target cells with gamma-interferon - known to induce MHC (class II) antigens on the target cell surface - did not make the target cells susceptible to NK mediated lysis. LAK cells generated by a 3-day incubation with interleukin-2 (IL 2) effectively lysed both YAC and P815 target cell lines. LAK cells were also slightly cytotoxic to all tested parenchymal target components in resting state. Gamma-interferon treatment of the cultured parenchymal cells prior to the chromium release assay, however, reduced LAK-mediated parenchymal cell cytotoxicity to nearly nondetectable levels. Obviously, many lymphokines, including IL-2 and gamma-interferon, are produced during rejection at the site of inflammation. This might induce the generation of LAK cells in situ as the lymphokines induce the production of MHC antigens in the graft. We interpret these findings as indicating that regardless of the generation of LAK, the protective effect of gamma-interferon neutralizes the LAK effect, and we suggest that neither LGL nor LAK cells play any essential role in rat kidney allograft rejection. PMID- 2627264 TI - Prevention of reperfusion injury in ischemic-reperfused hearts by oxypurinol and allopurinol. AB - We investigated the effects of the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol and its metabolite oxypurinol on isolated rabbit hearts. To assess the potential role of these drugs in preventing reperfusion injury, hearts were perfused using Langendorff techniques, held globally ischemic for 3 h at 15 degrees C, and then reperfused. During perfusion, hearts received Krebs-Henseleit solution maintained at 37 degrees C. Aortic perfusion pressure was held constant at 80 cm H2O. Prior to ischemia, hearts were arrested with a constant volume of KCl cardioplegia. Using a left ventricular (LV) balloon, developed pressures were measured prior to and following global ischemia. In addition, coronary circulation (CC) was measured before and after ischemia. All hearts were paced at 260 beats/min. We studied four groups: group 1 received 1 mM allopurinol, group 2 received 1 mM oxypurinol, group 3 received 90 IU/ml superoxide dismutase (SOD) plus 8085 IU/ml catalase (CAT), and group 4 received no treatment and served as a control. Each group consisted of 8 animals. Hearts receiving drug treatment did so during the first 5 min of reperfusion. Displaying all data as a function of LV volume, postischemic values were compared to preischemic values. Multivariate analysis and Tukey tests were used to detect significant differences between groups. When compared to the control group, all drug-treated groups significantly recovered end-diastolic function. Peak systolic pressure decreased significantly in the SOD/CAT group as compared to all other groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627265 TI - Fibromuscular dysplasia in donor kidneys--experience with three cases. AB - In 1987, three patients received kidney grafts bearing medial fibroplasia at our hospital. Two of the grafts were from a cadaveric donor and one was from a living related donor kidney. The vascular affection was known before transplantation. Only one of the recipients developed stenosis and hypertension. With balloon catheter dilatation, the progressive stenosis of the renal graft artery could, however, be successfully corrected. PMID- 2627266 TI - Aztreonam can safely be used in combination with cyclosporin without aggravating nephrotoxicity. AB - The administration of antibiotics to renal transplant patients using cyclosporin can be difficult because of the risk of severe nephrotoxicity. An investigation was therefore carried out to determine whether aztreonam, a synthetic monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic, can safely be combined with cyclosporin. In this retrospective study 68 renal transplant patients who received preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis consisting of aztreonam, ampicillin, and lincomycin were compared with 68 patients who received ceftazidime instead of aztreonam. Both groups were treated with cyclosporin and prednisolone and followed for 3 months. After transplantation 28.7% of the patients suffered from an acute renal failure and 1.5% had a wound infection. There were no significant differences between the two groups in acute renal failure, would infections, other infections, incidence of rejections, duration of admission, or graft survival. We therefore conclude that aztreonam can safely be administered together with cyclosporin. We also conclude that the combination of aztreonam, ampicillin, and lincomycin is a good preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in renal transplant patients. PMID- 2627267 TI - Factors of the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation in fetal placental macrophages. AB - Term human placentae were examined to identify and localize the factors contributing to extravascular fibrin formation. In addition to blood vessels, components of the extrinsic coagulation cascade were also demonstrated in intracellular localization. These cells in double and treble labeling systems expressed macrophage marker antigens, recognized by DAKO antimacrophage, RFD7, Amersham antimacrophage, and KiM7 monoclonal antibodies and showed positivity for alpha-naphthyl-acetate-esterase (ANAE). The fact that factors of the extrinsic coagulation system can be demonstrated in fetal macrophages of the chorionic stroma suggests that their role is not restricted to cellular defense and phagocytosis, but they may be involved in extravascular intraplacental fibrin formation as well. PMID- 2627268 TI - Alteration of lymphocyte reactivity in pregnant women treated with the progesterone receptor inhibitor ZK 98734. AB - Thirteen women during the 5th and 6th weeks of gestation were treated with a progesterone receptor blocker (ZK 98734) for pregnancy termination. Five patients received 100 mg/day of the compound, and eight patients received 50 mg/day for 4 days. Daily blood samples were obtained during the treatment period as well as on days 8 and 15 after the beginning of drug administration, and cytotoxic activity, progesterone sensitivity, and progesterone binding capacity of the lymphocytes were determined. Determination of SP-1 concentrations monitored the saturation state of trophoblastic progesterone receptors. High and low responders to the progesterone antagonist were identified. Lymphocytes of high responders treated with the 100 mg/day dose demonstrated a rapid increase of cytotoxicity, with a concomitant fall in progesterone sensitivity and progesterone binding capacity. Vaginal bleeding began as early as the 2nd day of treatment, and pregnancy was terminated by the 8th day of the treatment. Low responders receiving 100 mg/day demonstrated similar but attenuated changes. Low responders did not bleed during the first 4 days of treatment, and termination of pregnancy occurred later compared to high responders. Lymphocytes of high responders treated with 50 mg/day behaved similarly to those obtained from the low responders treated with 100 mg/day, and abortion was not completed before the 25th day after the beginning of the treatment. Lymphocytes function of low responders treated with 50 mg/day did not change significantly, the SP-1 concentration did not decline, and pregnancies continued. We conclude that a difference in sensitivity to the progesterone receptor blocker explains the selective block at trophoblastic binding sites only and the inability to block those in the lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627269 TI - Effects of mouse testicular extract on immunocompetent cells. AB - We investigated mouse testicular extract (TE) to clarify its biological functions in reproductive immunity. TE, at concentrations of 50-300 micrograms/ml, enhanced macrophage activities of spreading, glucose consumption, and cytostasis against a susceptible tumor cell line. On the other hand, TE inhibited concanavalin A (Con A)-induced T-cell blastogenesis in the dose range of 10-600 micrograms/ml. To elucidate the origin of TE, W/Wv mice, which genetically lack germ cells, were used. TE obtained from W/Wv mice enhanced the spreadability of macrophages and inhibited Con A-induced blastogenesis of T cells. The enhancement of macrophage spreading was only achieved by the interstitial fluid (IF), while the suppression of Con A-induced T-cell responses was detected in seminiferous tubule fluid (STF) as well as in IF. TE did not affect listerial antigen-specific responses of lymphocytes in vitro. These results suggest that TE has the capacity to regulate the biological responses associated with reproduction. PMID- 2627270 TI - [Empirical treatment of fever and neutropenia: rationalization of antimicrobial schemes in the patient with cancer]. PMID- 2627271 TI - [Evaluation of antimicrobial schemes in episodes of fever and granulocytopenia in children with cancer]. AB - The efficacy of two antibiotic regimens used as initial empiric therapy was evaluated in 299 episodes of fever and granulocytopenia in children with cancer. Of these, 148 were treated with the combination cefoxitin-amikacin-carbenicillin and the remaining 151 with ceftriaxone-amikacin. All of the patients were evaluated at the beginning and 72 hours after starting treatment with laboratory tests and based on their clinical condition. Each was classified according to the type of infection. A few modifications were made to the initial treatment plan and in accordance with the clinical condition of each patient. Over 52% of the episodes were due to fever of unknown origin and 47.2% due to infections, of which 33.8% proved to be positive blood cultures mainly for Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The modifications made to the basic treatment regimens were the addition of amphotericin B, clindamycin or vancomycin. An 89.2% therapeutic index percentage was obtained, independent from the use of either antibiotic scheme. The total therapeutic index for the study was 83.6%. PMID- 2627272 TI - [Impact of infections on mortality in children with cancer]. AB - A study of the role infections play in the death of 29 children with cancer was conducted from 1983 to 1988. An infection was the main cause of death in twelve patients and was associated with hemorrhage in nine. Five of the patients were free of infection at the time of their death. The most frequently found etiological agents found in hemocultures taken while still alive were: Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridans, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter sp and Candida spp. A retrospective study on the role of infections in the death of children with cancer was conducted. The clinical and autopsy records of 29 children who died between 1983 and 1988 were reviewed. Infection was the main cause of death in twelve patients and was associated with hemorrhage in nine. Five of the patients were free of infection at the time of death. The most frequent etiologic agents found in blood cultures taken while still alive were: Staphylococcus epidermidis. PMID- 2627273 TI - [Evaluation of the nutritional status of children seen at the ONI of Guadalajara]. AB - The nutritional status of 701 subjects from 6 to 36 months of age was evaluated. They were living in the poorest neighborhoods of the metropolitan area of Guadalajara City. We looked for the association between diet, social, economic and family variables with anthropometric nutritional indicators. Some variables were associated with the nutritional indicators weight for age and arm circumference. Age (P less than 0.05), literacy of the mother (P = 0.01), episodes of diarrhea in the last 12 months (P less than 0.001), number of children in the family (P less than 0.001) and income for feeding per capita as a percentage of the minimum salary (P = 0.02), were those factors with a strong relationship to the nutritional indicator weight for age. A score of nutritional risk for children under 36 months of age is proposed, which could be useful for detecting those with the need for a food supplement program in marginal areas of Guadalajara. PMID- 2627274 TI - [Relation between dose, plasma concentration and therapeutic effect of theophylline in children with sleep apnea]. AB - The plasma concentration of theophylline was determined in twelve children with infantile sleep apnea (average age 48.5 days). The purpose of the study was to correlate concentrations with the dosages given, the therapeutic response and any adverse effects which could arise. In addition, other pharmacokinetic values were found, half-life (t 1/2) and clearance concentrations (Clss). The oral maintenance dose used was 4 mg/kg/24 h. The serum concentration of theophylline was determined by a homogeneous immunoassay enzyme technique (EMIT). A bad correlation was found (r = 0.45) between the oral dosage given and the plasma concentrations found. This was probably due to variations in the clearance of the drug. Yet, plasma concentrations fell between 3.0 and 12.6 micrograms/mL, enough to satisfactorily control apneic episodes in all the children included in the study without undesirable side-effects. Only one patient had some trouble in falling asleep and showed signs of irritability. The half-life was 13.30 +/- 7.46 hours and Clss was 36.64 +/- 12.98 mL/h/kg. In general, our results correlate with those reported in the literature. The accuracy of the pharmacokinetic parameters with two samples is reliable, therefore avoiding the use of multiple sampling in this group of children. PMID- 2627275 TI - [Ultrasonic measurement of the normal portal vein in children]. AB - The portal vein was measured in 244 children from under a year old to 18 years of age in order to have normal measurement values for the vein according to age groups. No tables seem to be available containing this information. From the group, 164 patients were selected and were placed in six different groups according to their ages. The tables show the values obtained, a percentile curve, averages with standard deviations and ranges. PMID- 2627276 TI - [Effects of early multimodal stimulation on preterm newborn infants]. AB - During the last trimester of pregnancy, newborns are deprived of both maternal biorhythms, tactile, kinesthetic and auditory stimulation which characterize the intrauterine environment. The purpose of this study is to determine if supplemental multimodal stimulation improves neurobehavioral performance, increases weight gain and shortens hospital stay. Nine neonates with the following characteristics were included in an early multimodal stimulation program: 1) gestational age less than or equal to 34 weeks, 2) feeding through orogastric tubing, 3) hemodynamically stable, with no signs of hemorrhaging, infections, or any suggestion of neurological damage, convulsions or congenital malformations. A control group with the same characteristics was also included in the study. Risk factors for each patient were evaluated and their evolution was closely watched while still in the hospital. Both the postural reflexes and neurobehavioral performance were assessed at the time the child left the hospital and a month afterwards. Statistically significant differences were found in the neurobehavioral performance and postural reflexes of those included in the study group. PMID- 2627277 TI - [Surgical treatment of the patient with atresia of the bile ducts]. AB - Fifty-five cases with bile duct atresia subjected to 56 different bilioenteric diversions seen at the National Pediatric Institute during the last 16 years are studied. The best results were obtained with those patients operated on during the first two months of life and when external bilioenteric diversions were used. The most frequent complication seen in any type of diversion is cholangitis. The main cause of death was due to liver failure based on a parenchymal disease. Depending on how each patient evolved, a classification system was established. PMID- 2627278 TI - [Congenital hepatic fibrosis associated with choledochal cyst]. AB - The purpose of this work is to report the case of a one-year and eleven-month-old female child who presented with an asymptomatic hepatic mass; on x-ray examination a well limited round tumor was seen as well as renal cysts. A choledochal cyst was found upon laparotomy; the liver biopsy exhibited congenital hepatic fibrosis. This association is not clearly defined in the literature review made, making this perhaps the first well-documented case with this combination. We analyze the pathogenic mechanisms of both disorders and conclude that choledochal cyst is probably not related to hepatorenal fibropolycystic disease; this could be a casual association in our patient. PMID- 2627279 TI - [Renal transplants from anencephalic donors]. AB - Kidney transplants are carried out as any other surgical procedure at specialized third level hospitals. For over 20 years, in Mexico, transplants have been done with kidneys originating from cadavers. Even though this has been of tremendous help, there is still a shortage of donors. Two successful cases of kidney transplants are presented where the donor was an anencephalic neonate and where segments of the aorta and vena cava were used to keep alive the kidney tissue enough for the corporal surface of a child and also that of an adult. PMID- 2627281 TI - Transplantation to the brain: a 10 years' perspective. PMID- 2627280 TI - [Familial Yqs chromosome in 4 generations]. AB - A structural aberration of the Y chromosome (Yqs) was identified in a 4-year-old child who visited a physician for right unilateral cryptorchidism. The structure of this chromosome was determined through bands C, G and NOR. The family cytogenetic study allowed for the detection of the Yqs in up to four generations. A comparison is made of the different phenotypes associated with this marker in the medical literature, concluding that this is probably due to another polymorphism of the Y chromosome. PMID- 2627282 TI - The neurosurgeon in the pain clinic. PMID- 2627283 TI - Non-surgical treatment of tuberculomas of the brain. AB - A personal series of 14 patients with tuberculomas of the brain were treated with anti-tuberculous drugs. There were eight patients with solitary and six with multiple lesions, the size of the lesions varying from 3 x 2 cm to 7.5 x 6 cm. The symptoms and signs of tuberculomas of the brain are non-specific. The initial diagnosis is therefore presumptive and based on their characteristic CT patterns on contrast enhancement. These patterns are usually solid enhancing lesions, ring enhancing lesions or mixed solid and ring forms. The final diagnosis is established by the patient's clinical improvement and the CT scan evidence of decrease in the extent of the oedema and the size of the lesion after a therapeutic test by means of triple anti-tuberculous drug therapy lasting for 12 weeks. All patients but one were treated successfully with triple anti tuberculous drug therapy, for a continued total period of 18 months. A failure of medical treatment occurred in one patient due to non-compliance. In this patient, the residual cerebral lesion after the tuberculoma had healed required excision to control intractable epilepsy. Associated obstructive hydrocephalus in another patient needed a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. The patients were followed for six months to five years. There were no recurrences. It is concluded that medical treatment with anti-tuberculous drugs is the treatment of choice for tuberculomas of the brain. With the use of steroids to control the brain oedema and its resultant mass effect and increased intracranial pressure, and a ventriculo peritoneal shunt for hydrocephalus, almost all tuberculomas of the brain, irrespective of their size, can be cured by medical treatment. PMID- 2627284 TI - Clinical application of a new enzyme-linked assay for the estimation of brain specific creatine kinase in head injured patients. AB - The clinical value of serum brain specific creatine kinase (CK-BB) was assessed in head injured patients (group A) using a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were compared to healthy controls (group B) and patients post-myocardial infarction (group C). None of the head injured patients had undergone a surgical procedure or ventricular puncture. CK-BB was significantly higher in group A than in controls. The level of CK-BB in group A was inversely proportional to the Glasgow Coma Scale on admission. All patients with a CK-BB greater than 100 micrograms/l died. The ELISA technique is a simple and reliable assay with prognostic significance in patients with head injury and has wider clinical application than the previously described radioimmunoassay methods. PMID- 2627285 TI - Clinical studies of cranial and spinal compliance and the craniospinal flow of cerebrospinal fluid. AB - The cranial compartment contributed 37% and the spinal compartment 63% to the total compliance of the craniospinal space in the horizontal body position. In the erect position the values were almost reversed, the cranial compartment contributing 66% and the spinal compartment 34%. The total compliance was almost unaffected by body position. The pulsatile volume of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) moving between the cranial and spinal compartments was about 1 ml in the horizontal position. The corresponding pulsatile change in cerebral blood volume was calculated to be 1.6 ml. A craniospinal block increased the intracranial pressure amplitude by 110% in the horizontal position. The volume of CSF moving between the cranial and spinal compartments when sitting up and lying down, was about 3 ml. The pulsatile and postural flow rate of CSF may reach about 200 ml/min. High CSF flow velocity may impair the protective coating of CSF around the brain and thus contribute to herniation. PMID- 2627286 TI - Mechanisms and treatment in post-traumatic syringomyelia. AB - The aetiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of post-traumatic syringomyelia is discussed. The data collected from clinical observation, radiodiagnostic methods, and operative findings are illustrated. It is concluded that at least five different processes may contribute to this progressive disease. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms could help in patient management. PMID- 2627287 TI - Facial nerve recovery following acoustic neuroma surgery. AB - A series of 76 consecutive patients undergoing unilateral acoustic neuroma excision is reported. Preoperative facial weaknesses and a tumour larger than 2.5 cm were predictive factors of poor facial nerve recovery, re-emphasising the need to detect and remove these tumours at an early stage. Electroneuronography performed around one week after surgery appears to be a good indicator of the likelihood of recovery in facial nerves which are anatomically intact, but which show no function at that stage. Multiple rehabilitative procedures are often required when inadequate function or poor cosmetic results are obtained. Primary nerve repair or facial-hypoglossal anastomosis provide better rehabilitative results than dynamic and static procedures. PMID- 2627288 TI - Herniation of a calcified nucleus pulposus in a child: case report. AB - Herniation of the nucleus pulposus is a very rare complication of intervertebral disc calcification in children. We report a case in an 11-year-old girl. The majority of such cases should be treated conservatively as spontaneous resorption of the calcified lesion will occur. PMID- 2627289 TI - Primary tuberculous osteomyelitis of skull: report of two cases. AB - Two cases of primary tuberculous osteomyelitis of skull confirmed by appropriate laboratory investigations are described here. Primary tuberculous osteomyelitis of skull is rare. Only two cases of chronic granulomatous osteomyelitis have been described so far in the literature. PMID- 2627290 TI - Preservation of hearing in acoustic nerve tumours. PMID- 2627291 TI - Acoustic neuroma. PMID- 2627292 TI - Traumatic extradural spinal cyst. PMID- 2627293 TI - A comparison of the CHARMM, AMBER and ECEPP potentials for peptides. I. Conformational predictions for the tandemly repeated peptide (Asn-Ala-Asn-Pro)9. AB - A search for low-energy helical and near-helical conformations of the tandemly repeated peptide (Asn-Ala-Asn-Pro)9 was undertaken by minimization of the CHARMM potential energy function from eight starting conformations; the latter were obtained from the two low-energy conformations of this repeated peptide found by Gibson & Scheraga, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, 5649-5653 (1986), and the single conformation found by Brooks et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 4470 4474 (1987), and from modifications of these three conformations. The same eight starting conformations, as determined by dihedral angles, were used for minimizations of the AMBER and ECEPP potentials. Comparison of the final conformations by least-squares superposition of their C alpha atoms, and by inspection of the parameters of the ideal helix or coiled coil that most closely matched the coordinates of their C alpha atoms in a least-squares sense, showed that: (1) energy minimization, starting from the same conformation but using any two different potentials, could lead to final conformations whose resemblance to each other varied from acceptable to highly unsatisfactory; (2) the ordering of the final energy-minimized conformations, and the energy differences between them, were quite different for all three potentials; (3) the extent of agreement or disagreement between pairs of conformations generated using CHARMM and AMBER, CHARMM and ECEPP, or AMBER and ECEPP, respectively, was not significantly different. The lowest-energy conformation generated using each of the potentials was a left-handed helix, whose pitch and number of residues per turn were similar to those of the left-handed helix found by Gibson & Scheraga. Although the starting conformation which led to the lowest-energy conformation was different for all three potentials, pairwise superposition of the C alpha atoms in the final conformations showed root-mean-square deviations of only 1.0-1.3 A. It is concluded that energy minimizations starting from a large enough sample of initial conformations might on occasion lead to essentially the same conformational prediction whichever potential is used; however, if the sample of starting points is small, predictions based on the three potentials will usually diverge. PMID- 2627294 TI - A comparison of the CHARMM, AMBER and ECEPP potentials for peptides. II. Phi-psi maps for N-acetyl alanine N'-methyl amide: comparisons, contrasts and simple experimental tests. AB - phi-psi maps of N-acetyl alanine N'-methyl amide have been computed using the CHARMM potential, the all-atom AMBER potential, and the ECEPP/2 potential, before and after adiabatic relaxation. Maps using the CHARMM and AMBER potentials were determined with values of 1.0 and 4.0 for the dielectric constant epsilon, and with a distance dependent dielectric constant. Adiabatic relaxation was carried out using flexible geometry for the CHARMM and AMBER potentials, and using rigid geometry for the AMBER and ECEPP potentials. In all cases, the lowest energy was found in the C7eq region (phi approximately -70 degrees, psi approximately 70 degrees). The maps with CHARMM and AMBER with epsilon = 4.0 and with ECEPP, without adiabatic relaxation, were broadly similar but differed in the relative energies allotted to high-energy regions of the map. After adiabatic relaxation with rigid geometry, the map with ECEPP, and the map with AMBER using a distance dependent dielectric constant, agreed fairly well apart from differences in the relative energies of the alpha R, alpha L, and C7ax regions. After adiabatic relaxation with flexible geometry, the maps with CHARMM and AMBER became very similar; the lowest energies were observed in the C7eq region, the C5 region (phi approximately -150 degrees, psi approximately 150 degrees) and the C7ax region (phi approximately 70 degrees, psi approximately -70 degrees). Breakdown of the energies, after adiabatic relaxation, into electrostatic, nonbonded, and geometric (including torsional) contributions, showed that (1) with fixed geometry, the nonbonded and torsional contribution to the ECEPP and AMBER potentials were very similar, but the electrostatic contributions were markedly different; (2) with flexible geometry, the nonbonded contribution to the CHARMM and AMBER potentials did not vary greatly over the whole map. The phi-psi maps were subjected to three simple comparisons with experiment. (1) The maps were used to predict the characteristic ratio for poly-L-alanine, and the results were compared with experimental findings (D.A. Brant and P.J. Flory, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 87, 2788-2791, 1965). The agreement with experiment was acceptable for ECEPP, and for CHARMM after adiabatic relaxation, marginal for AMBER after adiabatic relaxation, and unsatisfactory for CHARMM or AMBER without adiabatic relaxation. (2) Deviations of bond angles from their equilibrium values, in energy-minimized conformations, were compared with values deduced from crystals of terminally-blocked amino acids. With both the CHARMM and AMBER potentials using flexible geometry, one or more excessive deviations was observed in the C7ax local minimum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2627295 TI - A 1H and 13C NMR study on the role of salt-bridges in the formation of a type I beta-turn in N-acetyl-L-Asp-L-Glu-L-Lys-L-Ser-NH2. AB - The conformation of the tetrapeptide N-Acetyl-Asp7-Glu8-Lys9-Ser10-NH2, a fragment of the type I collagen alpha-1 chain N-telopeptide, has been studied by 1H and 13C NMR and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The spectroscopic evidence, based on two-dimensional, phase-sensitive NMR techniques such as COSY, ROESY, proton-carbon shift correlation and selective COLOC, indicates a strong dependence of the conformation on the experimental conditions. In CD3OH/H2O (60/40) at ca. neutral pH the tetrapeptide forms a beta-turn, stabilized by a hydrogen bond between NH(S10) and CO(D7) and a strong salt-bridge between COO (E8) and NH3+(K9). The beta-turn is type I and appears to coexist with a non hydrogen-bonded structure. The coexistence of these two conformers is proven by proton NMR data such as NH-NH ROEs, reduced NH-H alpha (E8) coupling constant, NH(E8) low-field shift and the temperature coefficient of NH(S10), whereas the conclusion regarding the salt-bridge is based on 13C results. In the same solvent, at a pH below the pKa of the carboxyl groups, no evidence for a conformation other than extended can be found. In aqueous solution at approximately neutral pH, evidence for the E8-K9 charge interaction is observed, but not for a hydrogen bond anywhere in the molecule. PMID- 2627296 TI - The structure of DAPI bound to DNA. AB - The structure of the DNA fluorochrome 4'-6-diamidine-2-phenyl indole (DAPI) bound to the synthetic B-DNA oligonucleotide C-G-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-C-G has been solved by single crystal x-ray diffraction methods, at a resolution of 2.4 A. The structure is nearly isomorphous with that of the native DNA molecule alone. With one DAPI and 25 waters per DNA double helix, the residual error is 21.5% for the 2428 reflections above the 2-sigma level. DAPI inserts itself edgewise into the narrow minor groove, displacing the ordered spine of hydration. DAPI and a single water molecule together span the four AT base pairs at the center of the duplex. The indole nitrogen forms a bifurcated hydrogen bond with the thymine O2 atoms of the two central base pairs, as with netropsin and Hoechst 33258. The preference of all three of these drugs for AT regions of B-DNA is a consequence of three factors: (1) The intrinsically narrower minor groove in AT regions than in GC regions of B-DNA, leading to a snug fit of the flat aromatic drug rings between the walls of the groove. (2) The more negative electrostatic potential within the minor groove in AT regions, attributable in part to the absence of electropositive-NH2 groups along the floor of the groove, and (3) The steric advantage of the absence of those same guanine-NH2 groups, thus permitting the drug molecule to sink deeper into the groove. Groove width and electrostatic factors are regional, and define the relative receptiveness of a section of DNA since they operate over several contiguous base pairs. The steric factor is local, varying from one base pair to the next, and hence is the means of fine tuning sequence specificity. PMID- 2627297 TI - Minor-groove binding models for acetylaminofluorene modified DNA. AB - Minimized potential energy calculations have been employed to locate and evaluate energetically a number of different models for DNA modified at carbon-8 of guanine by acetylaminofluorene (AAF). Three different duplex nonamer sequences were investigated. In addition to syn guanine models which have some denaturation and a Z-DNA model, we have found two new types of structures in which guanine remains syn and the AAF is placed in the minor groove of a B-DNA helix. One type features Hoogsteen base pairing between the modified guanine and protonated cytosine, with a sharply bent helix. The other (here termed the "wedge" model because the aromatic amine is wedged into the minor groove) maintains a single hydrogen bond between O6 of the modified guanine and N3 of protonated cytosine, with much less deformation of the helix, and close Van der Waals contacts between the AAF and the walls of the minor groove. Both types of structures (as well as the related forms produced by deprotonation of cytosine) are energetically important in all three sequences examined. The wedge-type model, which is most favored except in alternating G-C sequences, has been previously observed in a combined NMR and computational characterization of an aminofluorene (AF) modified guanine opposite adenine in a DNA duplex undecamer (D. Norman, P. Abuaf, B.E. Hingerty, D. Live, D. Grunberger, S. Broyde and D.J. Patel, Biochemistry 28, 7462 (1989)). PMID- 2627298 TI - Two-dimensional 1H and 31P NMR spectra of a decamer oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplex and a quinoxaline ((MeCys3, MeCys7)(TANDEM) drug duplex complex. AB - Assignment of the 1H and 31P NMR spectra of a decamer oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplex, d(CCCGATCGGG), and its quinoxaline ((MeCys3, MeCys7]TANDEM) drug duplex complex has been made by two-dimensional 1H-1H and heteronuclear 31P-1H correlated spectroscopy. The 31P chemical shifts of this 10 base pair oligonucleotide follow the general observation that the more internal the phosphate is located within the oligonucleotide sequence, the more upfield the 31P resonance occurs. While the 31P chemical shifts show sequence-specific variations, they also do not generally follow the Calladine "rules" previously demonstrated. 31P NMR also provides a convenient monitor of the phosphate ester backbone conformational changes upon binding of the drug to the duplex. Although the quinoxaline drug, [MeCys3, MeCys7]TANDEM, is generally expected to bind to duplex DNA by bis-intercalation, only small 31P chemical shift changes are observed upon binding the drug to duplex d(CCCGATCGGG). Additionally, only small perturbations in the 1H NMR and UV spectra are observed upon binding the drug to the decamer, although association of the drug stabilizes the duplex form relative to the other states. These results are consistent with a non-intercalative mode of association of the drug. Modeling and molecular mechanics energy minimization demonstrate that a novel structure in which the two quinoxaline rings of the drug binds in the minor groove of the duplex is possible. PMID- 2627299 TI - Reassessment of structural characteristics of the d(CGCG)2:actinomycin D complex from complete 1H and 31P NMR. AB - Complexes formed between Actinomycin D (ActD) and the tetranucleotides d(AGCT)2 and d(CGCG)2 were studied in detail by one and two-dimensional 1H and 31P NMR. The 31P two dimensional chemical exchange experiment, at room temperature on saturated complexes (1:1), showed unambiguously that the asymmetrical phenoxazone ring binds to the unique GC site under the two possible orientations in the d(AGCT)2 tetranucleotide but adopts a single orientation in the d(CGCG)2 tetranucleotide. For the d(CGCG)2:Act D saturated complex, complete assignments of all protons and phosphorus signals of the two-nucleotide strands, as well as of the two cyclic pentapeptide chains has allowed us to study in details the conformational features of the complex from NOE and coupling constants analysis. The tetranucleotide remains in a right-handed duplex, but the sugar puckers are modified for residues at the intercalation site. A uniform C2' endo pucker is observed for residues on the strand facing the quinoid side of the phenoxazone ring while a C2' endo-C3-endo equilibrium about 60% of C2' endo is proposed for the two residues on the strand facing the benzenoid side of the phenoxazone ring. In contrast to previous studies on ActD-DNA interactions, we have been able to measure the 3J phosphorus-proton coupling constants at the intercalation site but also adjacent to it, showing that 31P chemical shifts are not simply related to the backbone conformation. Molecular mechanics calculations, using empirical distances deduced from NOE effects as restrained distances during minimizations, led to a model differing mainly from those previously published by orientation of the N methyl groups of both N-Methyl-Valines. PMID- 2627300 TI - 7-Azido-actinomycin D: a photoaffinity probe of the sequence specificity of DNA binding by actinomycin D. AB - Actinomycin D (ActD) is a DNA-binding antitumor antibiotic that appears to act in vivo by inhibiting RNA polymerase. The mechanism of DNA binding of ActD has attracted much attention because of its strong preference for 5'-dGpdC-3' sequences. Binding is thought to involve intercalation of the tricyclic aromatic phenoxazone ring into a GC step, with the two equivalent cyclic pentapeptide lactone substituents lying in the minor groove and making hydrogen bond contacts with the 2-amino groups of the nearest neighbor guanines. Recent studies have indicated, however, that binding is also influenced by next-nearest neighboring bases. We have examined this higher order specificity using 7-azido-actinomycin-D as a photoaffinity probe, and DNA sequencing techniques to quantitatively monitor sites of covalent photoaddition. We found that GC doublets were strongly preferred only if the 5'-flanking base was a pyrimidine and the 3'-flanking base was not cytosine. In addition we observed a previously unreported preference for binding at a GG doublet in the sequence 5'-TGGG-3'. PMID- 2627301 TI - Intercalative binding of ditercalinium to d(CpGpCpG)2: a theoretical study. AB - The structure of the complex formed between ditercalinium, 2,2'-[4,4' bipiperidine-1,1'-bis-(ethane-1,2-diyl)]bis(10-me thoxy-7H- pyrido[4,3 c]carbazolium) tetramethane sulfonate (NSC 366241), and the self-complementary tetranucleotide duplex d(CpGpCpG)2 has been investigated by means of a novel theoretical approach for modelling the conformational flexibility of nucleic acids. The methodology used is the JUMNA procedure, a molecular mechanics systematics capable of evaluating the internal energy and the interaction energy of a complex formed from a large number of fragments. In the best energy minimized structures, the piperidinium chains of ditercalinium are located in the major groove of the right-handed oligonucleotide. Calculations show a distortion of the base-paired d(CpGpCpG)2 minihelix consisting of lateral dislocation of one base pair with respect to another along an axis parallel to the long axis; strong propeller twist and tilt of the end base pairs; a collective motion of all base pairs with respect to the helical axis towards the drug; and an overwinding at the exclusion site. The proposed structure of the complex is in good agreement with reported proton NMR data, supporting the feasibility of such model. PMID- 2627302 TI - The Z-conformation of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) in solution as studied by ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy. AB - Poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) structures in aqueous solutions with high NaCl concentrations and in the presence of Ni2+ ions have been studied with resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS). In low water activity the effects of added 95 mM NiCl2 in solution stabilize the syn geometry of the purines and reorganize the water distribution via local interactions of Ni-water charged complexes with the adenine N7 position. It is shown that RRS provides good marker bands for a left handed helix: i) a purine ring breathing mode around 630 cm-1 coupled to the deoxyribose vibration in the syn geometry, ii) a 1300-1340 cm-1 region characterizing local chemical interactions of the Ni2+ ions with the adenine N7 position, iii) lines at about 1483- and 1582 cm-1 correlated to the anti/syn reorientation of the adenine residues on B-Z structure transition, iv) marker bands of the thymidine carbonyl group couplings at 1680- and 1733 cm-1 due to the disposition of the thymidine residues in the Z helix specific geometry. Hence poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) can adopt a Z form in solution. The Z form observed in alternate purine-pyrimidine sequences does not require G-C base pairs. PMID- 2627303 TI - Structural differences between active and inactive mammalian 60S ribosomal subunits. Circular dichroism and electric birefringence studies. AB - The structure and conformation of different active and inactive forms of the 60S rat liver ribosomal subunits have been analyzed by electric birefringence and circular dichroism. These studies show the following: 1) When a phosphate buffer is used instead of a triethanolamine buffer, there are major changes in RNA stacking, RNA-protein interactions, and particle orientation and conformation with no concomitant loss in ribosome activity. 2) The inactivated subunits by K(+)-depletion exhibit the same electro-optical and near-UV CD behaviour than the active subunits in phosphate buffer. 3) Inactivation by EDTA-treatment leads to drastic changes in RNA structure, RNA-protein interactions and subunit conformation; the 60S particles behave like free RNA, indicating the absence of any stabilization of rRNA by ribosomal proteins. 4) The inactivation of subunits by depletion of either monovalent or divalent cations is accompanied by a net decrease of the alpha-helicity of the ribosomal proteins. 5) The transition from active to inactive form of 60S subunits may involve protein modifications, likely dependent on a specific array of cations. 6) RNA has a certain degree of liberty within the subunits and one can suppose that this property is responsible for the flexible structure of ribosome. PMID- 2627304 TI - Molecular modeling and energy refinement of supercoiled DNA. AB - A method is presented for constructing the complete atomic structure of supercoiled DNA starting from a linear description of the double helical pathway. The folding pathway is defined by piecewise B-spline curves and the atoms are initially positioned with respect to the local Frenet trihedra determined by the equations of the curves. The resulting chemical structure is corrected and refined with an energy minimization procedure based on standard potential expressions. The refined molecular structure is then used to study the effects of supercoiling on the local secondary structure of DNA. The minimized structure is found to differ from an isotropic elastic rod model of the double helix, with the base pairs bending in an asymmetric fashion along the supercoiled trajectory. The starting trajectory is chosen so that the refined supercoiled structure is either underwound (10.37 base pairs per turn) or overwound (9.65 base pairs per turn) compared to the standard tenfold B-DNA fiber diffraction model. The underwound supercoil is also lower in energy than the overwound duplex. The variation of base pair sequence in poly(dA).poly(dT).poly(dAT).poly(dTA) and poly(dA5T5).poly(dT5A5) is additionally found to influence the secondary structural features along a given supercoiled pathway. Finally, the detailed features of the refined structures are found to be in agreement with known X-ray crystallographic structures of DNA oligomers. PMID- 2627305 TI - Specificity of the binding of fd gene 5 protein to polydeoxyribonucleotides. AB - The long-wavelength circular dichroism (CD) changes induced by binding of fd gene 5 protein to the alternating DNA sequences poly[d(A-C)] and poly[d(C-T)] were similar to those induced by the protein complexed with the homopolymers poly[d(A)], poly[d(C)], and poly[d(T)]. The fd gene 5 protein showed different binding affinities for the various polymers. The affinity for the alternating sequences was not compositionally weighted with respect to the affinities for the homopolymers, indicating that both base composition and base sequence of the template are important for the binding of fd gene 5 protein. PMID- 2627306 TI - Strong patterns in homooligomer tracts occurrences in non-coding and in potential regulatory sites in eukaryotic genomes. AB - Previous studies of the dinucleotides flanking both the 5' and 3' ends of homooligomer tracts have shown that some flanks are consistently preferred over others (1,2). In the first preferred group, the homooligomer tracts are flanked by the same nucleotide and/or the complementary nucleotides, e.g.,ATAn,TTAn,CCGn, where n = 2-5. Runs flanked by nucleotides with which they cannot base pair are distinctly disfavored. (In this group An/Tn are flanked by C and/or G; Gn/Cn are flanked by A/T, e.g.,CGAn,TnGG,GnAT). The frequencies of runs flanked by A or T, and G or C ("mixed"group) are as expected. Here we seek the origin of this effect and its relevance to protein-DNA interactions. Surprisingly, within the first group, runs flanked by their complements with a pyrimidine-purine junction (e.g.,TTAn,CnGG) are greatly preferred. The frequencies of their purine pyrimidine junction mirror-images is just as expected. This effect, as well as additional ones enumerated below, is seen universally in eukaryotes and in prokaryotes, although it is stronger in the former. Detailed analysis of regulatory regions shows these strong trends, particularly in GC sequences. The potential relationship to DNA conformation and DNA-protein interaction is discussed. PMID- 2627307 TI - Correlated variations of bond lengths in pseudorotating furanose rings. AB - Correlated variations of bond lengths in pseudorotating furanose rings are investigated by a theoretical method. At first, matrix equations are proposed to determine the spatial coordinates of the ring atoms from the bond lengths, the bond angles, and the pseudorotation parameters. Secondly, a necessary functional form of the variations of the bond lengths of five-membered rings is derived from a consideration of symmetry. Finally, demonstrations are performed on a furanose ring whose bond angle variations have been precisely determined by experimental analyses. The resulting bond length variations are: delta Ri = beta icos(8/5 pi.(i-2)+2P) where delta Ri is the variation of the bond length between atoms i and i+1, P is the pseudorotation phase, and beta i is a negative constant about 0.01 A. These bond length variations are balanced on the apparent strains of the bond lengths and the bond angles. PMID- 2627308 TI - Monte-Carlo-self consistent field method in the polyelectrolyte theory. AB - A new time saving numerical method for calculation of equilibrium potential and density distribution of mobile ions around the polyion in a polyelectrolyte system is proposed: the region around the polyion is being divided into two zones internal and external; in the internal zone all the ions are accounted explicity with the aid of Monte-Carlo procedure; in the external zone the combined Monte Carlo-self consistent field method proposed earlier is applied, an exchange of ions between regions is being implied. For 1:1 electrolyte the optimal choice of the boundary between the zones has been demonstrated. As an example of a more complicated system calculation for 2:2:1:1 electrolyte was carried out. PMID- 2627309 TI - Recurrent carotid artery stenosis: a case study. PMID- 2627310 TI - Introduction to blood trauma. AB - The response of blood to abnormal conditions is a very complicated mechanism which is not fully understood. There have been many improvements and discoveries in materials and procedures to minimize the adverse reactions. Also, the body has very efficient compensatory responses to aide in recovery from such challenges. However, it is important to be aware of these possible complications and give appropriate support during the blood's recovery period. PMID- 2627311 TI - Upper extremity claudication: a case study. PMID- 2627312 TI - Mental confusion. PMID- 2627313 TI - Welfare--stretched resources. PMID- 2627314 TI - Meeting the needs of dementia. PMID- 2627315 TI - The challenge of pain. PMID- 2627316 TI - Drugs and the elderly--on the house. PMID- 2627317 TI - No surrender. PMID- 2627318 TI - Hypothermia--insulating the elderly. PMID- 2627319 TI - Advances in pulmonary care. PMID- 2627320 TI - Blood gas assessment of intrapulmonary shunting and deadspace. AB - Interpretation of blood gases is one of the most common clinical responsibilities of critical care nurses. Correct interpretation of blood gases is dependent on understanding the reasons for the gases to change. The two changes in pulmonary function that are most likely to affect blood gases are intrapulmonary shunting and deadspace alterations. The application of the principles of intrapulmonary shunting and deadspace to blood gas interpretation expands the ability to identify changes in pulmonary dysfunction. With the identification of changes in lung function, treatment modalities can be better assessed for effectiveness. PMID- 2627321 TI - Extravascular lung water. Concepts in clinical application. AB - EVLW holds the potential to serve as a better clinical end point to clinical decision than current cardiopulmonary parameters. Evidence is present that the use of EVLW data may improve patient outcome, particularly in the population of high EVLW and low PCWP. The key area of clinical value with EVLW is the importance of understanding that EVLW may not be readily predicted by current methods. Nursing assessment needs to incorporate the limitations of current methods to estimate EVLW. Use of EVLW values in clinical settings is dependent on improved technological devices that would allow for easier measurement. The current methods consume substantial nursing time to perform, limiting practicality in clinical settings. The ideal device will not only be easy to use but will be noninvasive. This device has not yet been developed. PMID- 2627322 TI - Advances in weaning from mechanical ventilation. AB - In all three of the previous cases, any one of the weaning modes may be successful. Although specific weaning protocols are based on individual bias, a single rigid approach to weaning may not be appropriate for all patients. It is the occasional difficult to wean patient who presents a dilemma. If a weaning attempt is not successful for a particular patient, it makes sense to take another approach. With T-piece trials, CPAP trials, IMV weaning, PSV, or various combinations, a successful weaning plan can usually be tailored to the individual patient. PMID- 2627324 TI - The immunocompromised patient. PMID- 2627323 TI - Nursing perspectives on lung transplantation. AB - Lung transplantation has become a viable, although highly risky, option for select patients with end-stage lung disease. Lack of donor suitability is a major obstacle to its more widespread application. Many patients wait months and sometimes a year or more for an appropriate donor; some die waiting. Careful evaluation and selection of patients, rigorous pre- and post-transplant pulmonary rehabilitation, and intensive nursing and medical care significantly improve post transplant recovery. Improved preoperative exercise tolerance and muscle strength prepare patients for the surgery and ensuing postoperative course. Likewise, the long-term post-transplant rehabilitation is essential to ultimate recovery and return to a normal healthy life. The gradual but dramatic long-term improvements in exercise performance during post-transplant training have been well documented. PMID- 2627325 TI - [Comparative macroscopic and microscopic anatomical observations on pyloric ceca in some bony fish]. AB - The authors report the variable number of pyloric caeca of some species of fish and describe their macroanatomy. They also describe and compare the microanatomy of pyloric caeca in three species; in particular they point out the thickness of tunica muscularis, the shape and length of villi which protrude into the lumen and the variable number of goblet cells. The tunica muscularis is very strong in Uranoscopus and consists of three strata: external and inner longitudinal strata, middle circular stratum. The tunica muscularis is less thick in Diplodus and in Scorpaena. The lamina propria and epithelium form villi which protrude into the lumen. They are covered with columnar epithelium and goblet cells which are more numerous in Uranoscopus and Scorpaena and less numerous in Diplodus. At last the authors describe in pyloric caeca of Scorpaena the presence of a network which engages all the lumen; it consists of connective tissue septa which directly derive from the lamina propria and is covered with the same columnar epithelium and goblet cells. PMID- 2627326 TI - [Effect of phentolamine on the reflex increase in arterial pressure]. AB - Experiments were carried out in anaesthetized and curarized cats to study the effects of the alpha-blocker phentolamine on arterial pressor response to stimulation of group I afferent fibers from gastrocnemius-soleus muscles. It has been found that increasing doses of phentolamine given i.v. cause a decreasing pressor response until complete disappearance occurs at 2.5 mg/Kg. It is concluded that pressor response is present only when the adrenergic control system is effective and, therefore, it is due mainly to an increase in peripheral vascular resistances. PMID- 2627327 TI - [Utilization of CoCl2 for karyological studies in teleosts]. AB - This paper presents a simple method of increasing the number of mitoses in the kidney of fish. This method is based on the erythropoietic activity of CoCl2. The specimens of Ictalurus sp. were injected intraperitoneally with 2 mg CoCl2 per 100 g body weight. After 24 h the slides of kidney show a proliferation of erythroblasts. A large number of these cells are arrested in metaphase for karyotype preparations. PMID- 2627328 TI - [Increase in chemiluminescence induced by receptor-independent stimulation of polymorphonuclear cells from psoriatic patients]. AB - Using a lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence the authors have measured the "respiratory burst" in polymorphonuclear cells from psoriatic patients and controls. Measurements were performed under stimulation with zymosan, phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate and latex beads. It has been revealed that the response after stimulation with zymosan increased although there was no significant difference between patients and controls, while the response after stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and latex beads was significantly increased. Our results suggest an enhanced metabolic activity of polymorphonuclear cells induced by stimuli acting independently from cell-membrane receptors. Therefore an enhanced excitability of polymorphonuclear leukocytes of psoriatic patients is supposed. PMID- 2627329 TI - [Characterization of the biomass of the stems of sweet sorghum]. AB - In this study the amount of glucose, sucrose and fructose was determined in the water soluble fraction while cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin and lignin contents were determined in the alcohol insoluble fraction after hydrolysis. Stalks of sweet sorghum (Sorghum vulgare L., var. saccharatum) cv. Vespa, Soave, Roce and MN 1500 at the physiological ripeness stage were used. The results of the analysis of variance with the least significant difference method (LSD, = 0.05) show that cv. Vespa and Roce have a significantly higher total amount of glucose, fructose and sucrose and at the same time, a lower cellulose, pectin, hemicellulose and lignin content then cv. Soave and cv. MN 1500. PMID- 2627330 TI - [Morpho-functional study of the rabbit ovary after cauterization]. AB - The authors investigated the lower incidence of post-operative adhesion formation after cauterization in comparison with microsurgical wedge resection in rabbit ovaries. Microscopic examination of cauterized ovaries did not show extensive necrosis in the depth of ovarian tissue. Electrocautery seems to be an effective alternative to ovarian wedge resection. PMID- 2627331 TI - [Renal function in experimental potassium depletion. I. Effects of lysine-8 vasopressin in hypotonic polyuria]. AB - Renal function has been studied by the clearance (cl.) method during hypotonic polyuria--four 15-min cl. periods--and successive antidiuresis--two 60-min cl. periods (A1, A2)--induced by lysine-8-vasopressin (LVP), 5 mU in bolus followed by infusion at a rate of 0.04 mU/min. The endogenous creatinine cl. (Cc) and the osmotic cls. (Cosm, CH2O) were determined by the usual methods as well as the absolute and fractional urinary excretions of water, sodium, chloride and potassium. The urinary concentrations of PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxB2 were determined by the RIA method. This study protocol has been applied to 28 healthy women either in normal potassium balance (N, n = 14) or after potassium depletion (KD) induced by low potassium dietary intake (less than or equal to 10 meq/d) plus natriuretic treatment according to two different time patterns: two KD groups were obtained with potassium cumulative deficit of 160 +/- 43 (D2, n = 8) and 198 +/- 22 meq (D3, n = 6). The early % effects of LVP, i.e. (A1-P)% of P (mean polyuria), were significantly different only in D3 as compared to N. Precisely, the LVP-effect to reduce Cc was blunted; moreover a LVP-effect to reduce renal sodium and chloride fractional excretions and a tendentiously enhanced LVP-effect to reduce water fractional excretion were observed. These tubular effects are likely related to the inhibited renal synthesis of prostanoids in the D3 group. PMID- 2627332 TI - [Renal function in experimental potassium depletion. II. Indomethacin and effects of lysine-8-vasopressin in hypotonic polyuria]. AB - Renal function has been studied by the clearance (cl.) method during hypotonic polyuria--four 15-min cl. periods--and successive antidiuresis--two 60-min cl. periods (A1, A2)--induced by lysine-8-vasopressin (LVP), 5 mU in bolus followed by infusion at a rate of 0.04 mU/min. The endogenous creatinine cl. (Cc) and the osmotic cls. (Cosm, CH2O) were determined by the usual methods as well as the absolute and fractional urinary excretions of water, sodium, chloride and potassium. The urinary concentrations of PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxB2 were determined by the RIA method. This study protocol has been applied to 20 healthy women submitted to paired functional explorations in both the absence and presence of indomethacin (100 mg i.m.); the drug effects have been evaluated in both normal potassium balance (N2, n = 6) and in two groups of potassium depletion (KD) with potassium cumulative deficit of 160 +/- 43 (D2, n = 8) and 198 +/- 22 meq (D3, n = 6), respectively. As regards the early % effects of LVP, i.e. (A1-P)% of P (mean polyuria), the inhibition of prostanoid synthesis with indomethacin produced significant changes: 1) an enhanced reduction in renal chloride excretion in all experimental groups; 2) a reduction in renal sodium and chloride fractional excretions in both KD groups; 3) an enhanced antidiuretic effect in D3 only, i.e. in the experimental condition with inhibition of prostanoid renal synthesis present during the control study. PMID- 2627333 TI - [Distributed attention and focused attention: different modalities of use]. AB - In the present experiments two different attention modalities were investigated: focused and distributed attention. In Experiment 1 manual choice reaction times to lateralized visual stimuli were measured. Visual stimuli (rectangles or squares) were presented in one of six positions along the horizontal axis. In between each position a digit 1 to 5 was permanently displayed. The subjects were instructed to switch their attention to one of the five digits and to respond as fast as possible to the stimulus target flashed either on the right or on the left of the focus of attention. The only difference in Experiment 2 was that the digit stayed on 100 msec only. The results show the importance of a visual cue (Exp. 1) for focused attention. In the absence of a permanent visual cue (Exp. 2) only distributed attention can be employed. PMID- 2627334 TI - [Kinematic study of reaching-grasping movements]. AB - The experiment was conducted to investigate, by using kinematic parameters, the influence of the type of prehension on the transportation component in reaching grasping movements. The main question was whether the transportation component is influenced by the type of prehension besides the distance of the object. The experiment was carried out on eight subjects who performed reaching-grasping movements toward objects located at different distances. Two types of prehension were examined: whole hand prehension and precision grip. The following kinematic parameters of the transportation component (wrist movement) were studied: movement times, profiles of velocity and accelerations. Our results have shown that the transportation component is affected by the two factors. However the kinematic parameters were influenced differently by the distance and the type of prehension. Our conclusion is that, although distance and type of prehension affect the transportation component, they are computed separately in programming this component. PMID- 2627335 TI - [Functional properties of efferent zones of the motor cortex which project to ipsilateral and contralateral face muscles]. AB - In both intact (4 animals) and lesioned (2 preparations with contralateral motor cortex ablation and 1 animal with transection of the rostral two thirds of the corpus callosum) cats, three different types of efferent zones were identified in the face motor cortex by the technique of microstimulation: contralateral, ipsilateral and bilateral efferent zones. The three types of efferent zones had different organizational features such as location, thresholds of effective sites and latencies of motor responses. Mean thresholds of effective sites from ipsilateral and bilateral efferent zones in lesioned animals were not significantly higher than those in intact preparations. In both intact and lesioned animals, neurons endowed with contralateral, bilateral and ipsilateral receptive fields were isolated from the three types of efferent zones. PMID- 2627336 TI - [Analysis of uric acid and oxypurines in normal subjects and in gout patients]. AB - The behavior of plasma and urine oxypurines (hypoxanthine and xanthine) and of uric acid has been studied in normal subjects and in gout patients. Oxypurines and uric acid were increased in the plasma of gout patients but only the urinary excretion of hypoxanthine was higher in this group. The interpretation of the observed variations is discussed. PMID- 2627337 TI - [Presence of nerve terminations in the episclera of the horse and ass]. AB - The episclera of horse and ass is provided, just like in the bovine, with both vegetative and sensitive somatic innervation. The former is constituted by isolated or grouped ganglionic cells located along the course of the nerve bundles. The sensitive nervous component consist, above all, of encapsulated receptors such as Pacini, Pacini-like and Golgi-Mazzoni corpuscles. Most of these are Pacini-like receptors which also show some structural features. In fact they are very small and supplied with a thin capsule and an undivided expansional axon. PMID- 2627338 TI - [Local geographic variability of genic frequency of blood groups used in calculating paternity probability]. AB - The distribution of some genetic polymorphisms, usually utilized in cases of disputed paternity, has been reported for the Marche region of Italy. The genic frequencies found do not show significant variations when compared to mean national values, except for the MNSs system; nevertheless, some differences, such as those between rare alleles in the Rh system, can affect the biostatistical evaluation of paternity. Therefore, in our opinion, the probability of paternity should be calculated using both national and regional frequencies. PMID- 2627339 TI - [Hypertension and syncytiotrophoblast: morpho-structural aspects]. AB - Hypertension is a pathological condition that involves maternal fetal relationship. In hypertension placenta displays a syncytiotrophoblast plasmalemma with aspects of anomalous behaviour concerning Intramembranous Particles (IMP) and actin content of microvilli cytoskeleton. Decrease of syncytiotrophoblast microvilli IMP and microvilli actin further sustain the tendency of hypertensive placenta to show some features of immaturity that might deeply influence fetal maternal exchanges during pregnancy associated with pathological status. PMID- 2627340 TI - [Intrinsic potential of the gingival interdental epithelium and its "therapeutic" induction using brushing. Clinico-morphologic aspects]. AB - Toothbrushing technique may represent an important tool to improve gingival keratinization. Our experience evidenced a close relationship between this endoral therapy and interdental epithelial recovery of gingiva, after two months of treatment. Mechanical or microenvironmental stimuli and genetically determined potentialities are the main factors involved in this clinical-therapeutical recovery to modulate structural epithelial behaviour. PMID- 2627341 TI - [Hematologic and hematochemical characteristics of the herring gull (Larus argentatus) and the buzzard (Buteo buteo)]. AB - Some hematological and hematochemical parameters in eight herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and in six buzzards (Buteo buteo) were checked. The buzzards were fed with ovine meat exclusively, while the herring gulls were fed with fish and ovine meat. Considerable differences between the two species were noted, particularly as far as the hematological and lipidic parameters are concerned. These differences are probably related to the aquatic life of the herring gull. PMID- 2627342 TI - Effects of acetylcholinesterase specific inhibitors on the development of chick embryos. AB - The effects of specific inhibitors of cholinesterases on chick development were studied. Inhibitors were injected into the eggs, at final concentration ranging between 1 mM and 10 nM. Their effects were depending on inhibitor concentration, and detectable at stages as more advanced as more diluted were the inhibitors. The strongest teratogenic effects on gastrulation, neurulation and morphogenesis were caused by BW 284c51, specific inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Its effects were compared to those of ion channels blockers. The inhibitors action seems to be correlated to an altered cholinergic system and to consequently altered intercellular communications. PMID- 2627343 TI - Platelet function in hypo- and hyperthyroidism. AB - Alterations in cardiovascular hemodynamics are found in patients with hypofunction of the thyroid. Frank hypothyroidism favours the development of coronary heart disease. Platelets are thought to be important in atherosclerotic lesions initiation and progression. We studied platelet sensitivity to several agonists and to a physiological antagonist, prostacyclin, and thromboxane production in patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. No statistically significant differences were found between platelets activities in patients and control subjects. We conclude that increased platelet function is not a direct indicator of susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases in patients with hypothyroidism whereas the hyperdynamic state, cardinal manifestation of thyrotoxicosis, is not associated with platelet activation. PMID- 2627344 TI - Studies on heterocyclic compounds: 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one derivatives. IV. Biological activity of variously substituted 2,3-diaryl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones. AB - The following 2,3-diaryl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones of general formula (A) were synthesized and screened for antimicrobial activity. (formula; see text) where: X = H (I, III, V, VII, IX, XI, XIII, XV, XVII, XIX, XXI, XXIII), CH3 (II, IV, VI, VIII, X, XII, XIV, XVI, XVIII, XX, XXII, XXIV); R = H (I, II, V, VI, VII, VIII, XI, XIII), 4-CH3 (XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV), 4-Br (III, IV, IX, X), 2-NO2 (XIII, XIV), 3-NO2 (XV, XVI), 4-NO2 (XVII, XVIII), 4-OCH3 (XIX, XX); R' = H (I, II, III, IV, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII), 4-CH3 (XXIII, XXIV), 3 Br (V, VI), 4-Br (VII, VIII, IX, X), 4-J (XI, XII). These compounds were prepared by the general synthetic procedure previously reported for the 1,3-thiazolidin-4 one derivatives already prepared and screened in this SARs program. The synthetic approach involves the cyclocondensation of the appropriate Schiff bases with alpha-mercaptoalkanoic acids. The prepared compounds were screened against S. aureus, S. beta-haemolititicus, B. subtilis, M. paratuberculosis 607, S. typhi, Kl. pneumoniae, E. coli Bb, Ps, aeruginosa, C. albicans, A. niger, S. cerevisiae by a disk-diffusion assay (Kirby-Bauer modified). The results obtained in this investigation showed that the prepared compounds exhibited varying degrees of antimicrobial activity. They were especially inhibitory toward Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi. 4-Nitroderivatives (XVII), (XVIII), and 2-nitroderivatives (XIV) and (XIII) possessed marked antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, S. beta-haemoliticus, and B. subtilis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627345 TI - [Dormancy in Vicia loiseleurii seeds. Observations of the seminal tegument]. AB - Seed coat structure has been examined in Vicia loiseleurii (M. Bieb.) Litw. on sections and phytoglyphs. The structure is the typical one of the Papilionaceae, with malpighian (= palisade) layer, hour-glass cell layer and hypodermis. An apparently non-cellular thick strip separates the seed coat from the cotyledons of the embryo. The malpighian cell of V. loiseleurii, with its cone-shaped cap or dome, is very similar to the well studied one of the Melilotus alba seed. Histochemical tests reveal the hydrophobic nature of the cap, which is stained by Sudan Blck B, Nile Blue and rendered highly fluorescent in its basal part by Auramine O. Aniline blue evidentiates callose in the wall below the cap. It is suggested that the impermeability of the coat, cause of the dormancy of the V. loiseleurii seed, is dependent on both the hydrophobic caps and the callose containing radial walls of its malpighian cells. PMID- 2627346 TI - [In vitro effect of calcitonin on guinea pig gallbladder]. AB - Calcitonin (CT) is a 32 amino acidic polypeptide hormone which has been found in almost all species and whose effects are mainly concerned with calcium and phosphorous homeostasis. Three preparations are employed for therapeutic uses: salmon (sCT), porcine (pCT) and human CT (hCT). The sCT is the most powerful one and in human volunteers a strong relaxing effect has been shown on gallbladder (GB) basal volume and emptying in response to a meal, intraduodenal instillation of a liquid meal and i.v. cholecystokinin (CCK) infusion. Our study was aimed at investigating if a direct sCT effect could be demonstrated on smooth muscle strips from guinea pig GBs "in vitro" (organ bath). Isometric contractions were measured in response to maximal doses of acetylcholine (ACh: 10(-4) M), KCl (80 mM) and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP: 10(-6) M), in absence and in presence of four doses of sCT (1 x 10(-9), 1 x 10(-8), 1 x 10(-7) and 1 x 10(-6) M). sCT did not affect the initial strip basal tone. ACh, CCK-OP and KCl caused, as expected, a powerful contraction of the strips, but no effect was shown when each of the sCT doses was administered before ACh (1.28+ 0.69 SEM without sCT vs 1.28g+ 0.69 with sCT; n = 6) and CCK-OP (1.46g+ 0.19 without sCT vs 1.46g+ 0.19 with sCT; n = 8) or 5 min after the induced KCl contraction. On the basis of these preliminary results, we conclude that no evidence of a direct sCT effect was found on guinea pig GBs when considering either basal smooth muscle tone or isometric contraction in response to ACh, KCl and CCK-OP. Further studies are therefore required to clarify the influence of CT on GB dynamics in vivo and to elucidate its the physiological significance. PMID- 2627347 TI - [Tensiometric study of muscular strips of guinea pig gallbladder]. AB - The tensiometric properties of smooth muscle strips from 10 male guinea pig gallbladders were evaluated following acetylcholine (ACH), cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP), cerulein (CRL) and histamine (HIS) administration. All agonists induced dose-dependent tonic contractions with the maximum effect caused by the octapeptide. CRL showed a 9-folds higher relative potency when compared to CCK-OP. ED50s of agonists were: ACH 1.36 +/- 0.28 SEM microM (n = 14; range 0.20 3.60); HIST, 5.7 +/- 1.9 microM (n = 12; range 1-23); CRL 0.72 +/- 0.15 nM (n = 8; range 0.35-1.07); CCK-OP, 6.77 +/- 1.80 nM (n = 12; range 0.44-20.32); For the same strips, max tension (g), was: 1.97 (SEM 0.12) for ACH; 1.5 (0.18) for HIST; 1.81 (0.18) for CRL; 2.44 (0.14) for CCK-OP. Pretreatment of the strips with atropine (1 microM) completely abolished ACh-induced contractions, without affecting either CCK-OP or CRL responses. The model represents a valid "in vitro" study of different molecules whose action might stimulate, enhance or inhibit the physiological hormonal and non-hormonal effect of the agonists at the level of animal and human gallbladder smooth muscle. PMID- 2627348 TI - Thymosin fails to reconstitute normal estradiol levels into neonatally thymectomized rats. AB - Neonatal thymectomy into female rats reduced estradiol plasmatic levels during the first 60 days. This disturbance was not corrected by thymosin opotherapy. Comparison with male rats and testosterone disturbance was discussed. PMID- 2627349 TI - [Dopamine-glutamate interaction and cholinesterase activity in the corpus striatum of the adult rat]. AB - Electrophysiological, microiontophoretic and neuroanatomical techniques have been employed to investigate the relationships between intrastriatal sites of dopamine/glutamate (DA/GLU) interaction and inhomogeneities for acetylcholinesterase. The sites where iontophoretically applied DA antagonized the excitatory effects of iontophoretic GLU or cortical stimulation showed no topographic arrangement in the dorsolateral parts of the striatum. The data suggest that DA/GLU interaction in the striatum of the adult rat may occur independently from distribution of acetylcholinesterase. PMID- 2627350 TI - [In vitro culture of Pelodera punctata Cobb and Rhabditella axei Cobbold (Rhabditida, Nematoda]. AB - A new method for the "in vitro" culture and maintenance of free-living coprophilous nematodes Rhabditella axei and Pelodera punctata is described. With this method the culture and maintenance of these nematodes is seen to be remarkably simple and therefore facilitate their use as "spy-organisms" to reveal "active" residues of nematocide substances in food. PMID- 2627351 TI - Pediatric pointers. An overview of three techniques for the general practitioner. PMID- 2627352 TI - WDA's interpretation of the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct. PMID- 2627353 TI - WDA's interpretation of the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct. PMID- 2627354 TI - WDA's interpretation of the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct. PMID- 2627355 TI - Steroids: friend or fiend. PMID- 2627356 TI - HIV-related ulcerative gingivitis and periodontitis. PMID- 2627357 TI - Fear of AIDS persists. PMID- 2627358 TI - UC&R, coordination of benefits, hold harmless: what you and your patients should know. PMID- 2627359 TI - Coordination of benefits. PMID- 2627360 TI - Forms assist with claims processing. PMID- 2627361 TI - Comprehensive care in dental schools--but who's definition? PMID- 2627362 TI - A survey of oral lesions associated with denture wear. PMID- 2627363 TI - Restoration of a traumatized dentition using an experimental light cured glass ionomer liner. PMID- 2627364 TI - Properties of Sn and Cu free dental amalgam. PMID- 2627365 TI - A comparison of Astron L.C. and Triad VLC2: a preliminary report. PMID- 2627366 TI - Mouse zygotes injected with mitochondria develop normally but the exogenous mitochondria are not detectable in the progeny. AB - A microinjection procedure to introduce "paternal" mitochondria from a source other than spermatozoa into fertilized mouse eggs is described. When a mitochondrial suspension isolated from the testes or liver of Mus molossinus mice was microinjected into fertilized eggs of CD1 mice, the microinjected zygotes survived, developed normally, and offspring were produced. Mus molossinus mitochondrial DNA can be distinguished from CD1 mitochondrial DNA by Southern blot analyses using restriction enzymes such as Eco R1, Xba 1, or Spe 1. Although up to 120 viable mitochondria were injected, no exogenous mitochondrial DNA was detected in fetal samples or in the brain, liver, heart, testis, or ovary of the mature progeny. Under the experimental conditions used, similar results were obtained when mitochondria from the testes of New Zealand black mice or from testes of Syrian hamsters were microinjected into fertilized CD1 mouse eggs. Failure to detect the exogenous mitochondrial DNA under our assay conditions suggests that microinjected mitochondria from testis or liver did not selectively replicate during embryonic development. The "foreign" mitochondria appear to have the same fate during early embryogenesis as the mitochondria of the spermatozoon. PMID- 2627367 TI - DNA sequence and pattern of expression of the sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) alpha-tubulin genes. AB - To study the molecular aspects of the regulation of transcription of a multigene family, we have isolated and sequenced cDNA and genomic clones coding for the alpha-tubulin of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. Two cDNA clones, P alpha 10 and P alpha 4, contain respectively the coding information for 391 C-terminal and for 338 N-terminal amino acids of the 452 residues that constitute the complete protein. They show silent nucleotide substitutions only, suggesting that P alpha 10 and P alpha 4 represent the cloned copies of two allelic gene transcripts, which encode for two alpha-tubulin isoforms with identical amino acid sequence in the region of the overlap. The comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence of the composite P alpha 4-10 and of the mouse M alpha-6 (Villasante et al., Mol Cell Biol 1986; 6:2409-2419) reveals a conservation of 97% between the two polypeptides. By RNA blotting hybridization six major alpha tubulin transcripts were identified. Two, of 3.5 kb and 2.0 kb, are expressed in the unfertilized eggs and during early cleavage. The other two maternal mRNAs, of 2.4 kb and 1.8 kb, are expressed in both early and late cleavage embryos, but in the intestine the 1.8 kb RNA, which specifically reacted with the 3' specific probe of the P alpha 10 cDNA, is the only transcript detected. Finally, the 1.5 kb and 1.9 kb mRNAs represent the transcription of stage- and tissue-specific genes, respectively. In fact, the former becomes detectable at blastula stage and accumulates during late development, whereas the latter is found in the testis only. The sequence data of the 3' terminus of the alpha-3 genomic clone suggests that it encodes for a divergent alpha-tubulin, and it most probably corresponds to the testis-specific gene. PMID- 2627368 TI - Mouse transition protein 1 is translationally regulated during the postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis. AB - Transition protein 1 (TP1) is a small basic nuclear protein that functions in chromatin condensation during spermatogenesis in mammals. Here, recently identified cDNA clones encoding mouse transition protein 1(mTP1) were used to characterize the expression of the mTP1 mRNA during spermatogenesis. Southern blot analysis demonstrates that there is a single copy of the gene for transition protein 1 in the mouse genome. Northern blot analysis demonstrates that mTP1 mRNA is a polyadenylated mRNA approximately 600 bases long, which is first detected at the round spermatid stage of spermatogenesis. mTP1 mRNA is not detectable in poly(A)+ RNAs isolated from mouse brain, kidney, liver, or thigh muscle. mTP1 mRNA is translationally regulated in that it is first detected in round spermatids, but no protein product is detectable until approximately 3 days later in elongating spermatids. In total cellular RNA isolated from stages in which mTP1 is synthesized, the mTP1 mRNA is present as a heterogeneous class of mRNAs that vary in size from about 480 to 600 bases. The shortened, heterogeneous mTP1 mRNAs are found in the polysome region of sucrose gradients, while the longer, more homogeneous mTP1 mRNAs are present in the postmonosomal fractions. PMID- 2627369 TI - Detection of Y-bearing spermatozoa by DNA-DNA in situ hybridisation. AB - In situ hybridisation of a Y chromosome-specific DNA probe to preparations of decondensed spermatozoa revealed approximately 46.7% labelled spermatozoa among 3,900 scored. This is not significantly different from the 50% expected if only the Y chromosome-bearing spermatozoa are hybridised. Control hybridizations of Escherichia coli DNA and salmon testis DNA to decondensed sperm produced no significant labelling, whereas more than 99% of the spermatozoa were heavily labelled after hybridisation to total human DNA. These controls indicate that the methodology described in this paper renders the chromatin accessible for hybridisation and that the 50% hybridisation observed with the Y chromosome DNA probe was specific. In situ hybridisation with the Y probe therefore identifies the Y-bearing spermatozoa, and the protocol described should prove useful in evaluating methods of separating Y-bearing and X-bearing spermatozoa. PMID- 2627370 TI - Expression and structure of the CyIIIb actin gene of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. AB - The developmental pattern of expression of the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus CyIIIb actin gene was determined by RNA blot hybridizations carried out with a gene-specific probe and total embryonic RNA isolated from various stages of development. The results indicate that the CyIIIb mRNA is not detected in the maternal pool, and, although the gene is activated at the early stages (about 10 hr postfertilization), considerable amounts of mRNA do not accumulate until well into the pluteus stage 3 days later. These results suggest either a post transcriptional regulatory mechanism that governs early embryonic expression of the CyIIIb actin or a late embryonic transcriptional enhancement of this gene. We present here the complete nucleotide sequence of the CyIIIb gene, which lies within the 10,361 base pairs of the sequenced region. The entire transcription unit is 7,455 nt long and shares structural similarities with the other cytoskeletal-type actin genes from this sea urchin. Sequence comparisons of CyIIIb to the CyIIIa actin gene, to which it is linked, reveals extensive homology even in the introns. The deduced amino acid sequence of the CyIIIb actin shows five amino acid substitutions compared with the CyIIIa actin and nine when compared with the CyI, the endodermal embryonic cytoskeletal-type actin. Five out of these nine amino acid differences occur within a small peptide (position 257 to 267). The 5' flanking sequence of the CyIIIb gene shows a remarkable homology (approximately 75-80%) with the CyIIIa upstream region up to the position -200 and a lack of any obvious similarity further upstream. This observation suggests that the two genes possibly share some common regulatory factors. PMID- 2627371 TI - Histone gene expression during sea urchin spermatogenesis: an in situ hybridization study. AB - The expression of testis-specific and adult somatic histone genes in sea urchin testis was investigated by in situ hybridization. The testis-specific histone genes (Sp H2B-1 of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Sp H2B-2 of Lytechinus pictus) were expressed exclusively in a subset of male germ line cells. These cells are morphologically identical to replicating cells pulse-labelled with 3H thymidine. Genes coding for histones expressed in adult somatic and late embryo cells (H2A-beta for S. purpuratus and H3-1 for L. pictus) were expressed in the same germ line cells, as well as in the supportive cells (nutritive phagocytes) of the gonad. All histone mRNAs detected in the male germ lineage declined precipitously by the early spermatid stage, before cytoplasmic reduction. The data suggest that both testis-specific and adult somatic histone genes are expressed in proliferating male germ line cells. Testis-specific gene expression is restricted to spermatogonia and premeiotic spermatids, but somatic histone expression is not. The decline of histone mRNA in nondividing spermatids is not merely a consequence of cytoplasmic shedding, but probably reflects mRNA turnover. PMID- 2627372 TI - Neural regulation of gene expression by an acetylcholine receptor promoter in muscle of transgenic mice. AB - Motor neurons regulate the quantity and distribution of acetylcholine receptors (AChR) in the muscles they innervate. Here, we report that an AChR alpha subunit gene fragment contains cis-acting regulatory sequences that confer neural regulation as well as tissue-specific regulation of transcription. An 850 bp fragment from the 5' end of the chicken AChR alpha gene fused to the reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), has been introduced into the genomes of several lines of transgenic mice. Expression of CAT enzyme activity in these mice is tissue-specific; the onset of expression in embryonic muscle correlates well with that of many other muscle-specific proteins. Most importantly, CAT enzyme is down-regulated 100-fold soon after birth, an effect that can be completely reversed by denervation. PMID- 2627373 TI - Goldfish retinal axons respond to position-specific properties of tectal cell membranes in vitro. AB - Using a special in vitro assay, we tested whether retinal ganglion cell axons in an adult vertebrate, the goldfish (which can regenerate a retinotopic projection after optic nerve section), recognize position-specific differences in cell surface membranes of their target, the tectum opticum. On a surface consisting of alternating stripes of membranes from rostral and caudal tectum, temporal axons accumulate on membranes derived from their retinotopically related rostral tectal half. Nasal axons grow randomly over both types of membranes. Nasal and temporal axons can elongate on both rostral and caudal membranes. A quantitative growth test, however, revealed that caudal membranes are less permissive substrates for the outgrowth of temporal axons than rostral membranes, and than rostral or caudal membranes for nasal axons. PMID- 2627374 TI - Neural cell recognition molecule F11: homology with fibronectin type III and immunoglobulin type C domains. AB - We report here the complete cDNA sequence of F11 130 kd polypeptide, a chick neural cell surface-associated glycoprotein implicated in neurite fasciculation and elongation. The predicted protein sequence of 1010 amino acids includes an amino-terminal signal peptide and a carboxy-terminal hydrophobic stretch, which is compatible with the consensus motif for covalent attachment of glycosyl phosphatidylinositol. Accordingly, F11 lacks an intracellular domain, which is consistent with evidence obtained from protease protection experiments on isolated microsomes. In addition, the molecule comprises six domains related to the immunoglobulin domain type C and four resembling fibronectin repeat type III. Both types of repeats resemble those present in neural cell adhesion molecules L1 and N-CAM. The possible identity of F11 with the chick neural glycoprotein contactin is discussed. PMID- 2627375 TI - Dimer structure of a neuropeptide precursor established: consequences for processing. AB - A prohormone (P1) of locust adipokinetic hormone I (AKH I) is shown here to be a homodimer of a 41 residue subunit called the A-chain. The A-chain, from the N terminal, consists of AKH I (10 amino acids starting with pyroglutamate) followed by a Gly-Lys-Arg processing site and then a 28 residues called the alpha chain containing a single cysteine and a potential Arg-Lys processing site. When processed each molecule of the homodimer precursor yields two copies of AKH I and one alpha chain homodimer. We call the alpha-alpha homodimer product of P1 processing AKH precursor related peptide 1 or APRP 1. The Arg-Lys dibasic pair found within the alpha chain is not cleaved in vivo. Our results show that neuropeptide precursors can be dimers and that dimer products can be synthesized by processing of a preformed dimer precursor rather than by dimerization of independent subunits. PMID- 2627376 TI - The single-channel basis for the slow kinetics of synaptic currents in vertebrate slow muscle fibers. AB - The time course of synaptic currents is significantly longer in slow than in fast twitch muscle fibers. To examine the underlying basis for these slow synaptic currents, single-channel recordings were made from the synapses of slow muscle fibers. Our analysis indicates that low conductance acetylcholine receptor (AChR) channels predominate in innervated slow fibers. The high level of expression of low conductance channels is in contrast to fast twitch fibers, in which these channels are expressed in significant numbers only in embryonic or denervated muscle. Analysis of the distribution of open durations for the low conductance channel class suggests that the open time of this AChR class is the major determinant in shaping the slow time course of synaptic current decay. The predominant contribution of low conductance channel openings to synaptic currents of slow muscle fibers indicates a well-defined physiological role for this class of AChRs. PMID- 2627377 TI - AF1, a sequenced bioactive neuropeptide isolated from the nematode Ascaris suum. AB - An FMRFamide-like neuropeptide, named AF1, was isolated from head extracts of the nematode Ascaris suum using five steps of HPLC. AF1 is a heptapeptide with the amino acid sequence Lys-Asn-Glu-Phe-Ile-Arg-Phe-NH2. Synthetic AF1 (10(-9) to 10( 7) M) rapidly and reversibly abolished slow membrane potential oscillations of identified ventral and dorsal inhibitory motoneurons and selectively reduced their input resistances. Synaptic transmission was not blocked. In intact Ascaris, AF1 inhibited locomotory movements. This study indicates a potential physiological role for an endogenous neuropeptide in nematodes. PMID- 2627378 TI - Induction of a heat shock gene at the site of tissue injury in the rat brain. AB - Our objective was to investigate whether localized tissue injury induces expression of a gene encoding the major 70 kd heat shock protein (hsp70) in the mammalian nervous system. A small surgical cut was made in the rat cerebral cortex. By 2 hr postsurgery a dramatic and highly localized induction of hsp70 mRNA was detected at the lesion site using in situ hybridization with labeled riboprobe. By 12 hr the intensity of the signal had diminished, and by 24 hr only a few cells along the walls of the cut demonstrated a high level of hsp70 mRNA. Both neurons and glial cells at the site of the surgical cut responded to tissue injury by induction of hsp70 mRNA. Induction was not observed in other brain regions, nor was the pattern of constitutive expression affected by the surgical procedure. PMID- 2627379 TI - The weaver granuloprival phenotype is due to intrinsic action of the mutant locus in granule cells: evidence from homozygous weaver chimeras. AB - The weaver mutation (wv) causes a near total loss of midline granule cells in the mouse cerebellum. The cellular site of mutant locus action leading to the granuloprival phenotype was examined with experimental intraspecific and interspecific homozygous weaver chimeras. It was found that the granule cells which survived and successfully migrated to the internal granular layer of the chimeric cerebellum were all of the wild-type (non-wv) genotype. Using interspecies chimeras, it was determined that the genotype of Purkinje cells and Bergmann glia cells was apparently irrelevant to the survival of granule cells. It is concluded that granule cell death is most likely due to the wv locus acting intrinsically to the weaver granule cells, and not to another cellular site of gene action. PMID- 2627380 TI - 5-HT modulates protein synthesis and the expression of specific proteins during long-term facilitation in Aplysia sensory neurons. AB - Long-term, but not short-term, facilitation induced by 5-HT in Aplysia sensory neurons is blocked by application of inhibitors of protein synthesis or RNA synthesis during the 1.5 hr training period. These findings suggest that genes and proteins not needed for the short-term process are required for long-term facilitation. To identify these proteins, we examined changes in overall and specific protein synthesis in sensory neurons. During the 1.5 hr period of stimulation, 5-HT initiated three temporally distinct changes in total protein synthesis: a small decrease at 0.5 hr, a small increase at 1 hr, and a second and larger increase at 3 hr. 5-HT also produced three temporally distinct changes in the synthesis of individual proteins that could be resolved on 2-D gels. First, there was an increase at 30 min in the rate of synthesis of 10 proteins and a decrease in the synthesis of 5 proteins. These changes in protein expression are rapid and transient, subsiding within 1-3 hr, and are transcription-dependent. Second, at 3 hr, there is a transient increase in 4 different proteins that also is transcription-dependent and lasts approximately 5 hr. Finally, at 24 hr, during the retention phase of facilitation, there was a sustained increase in the expression of two proteins. PMID- 2627381 TI - L1-mediated axon outgrowth occurs via a homophilic binding mechanism. AB - The molecular mechanism by which the L1 cell adhesion molecule mediates neurite outgrowth has been examined. Purified L1 from mouse and L1 from chick brain were attached to nitrocellulose dishes. Both chick and mouse neurons were able to adhere to purified mouse L1 and chick L1. Both molecules promoted neurite extension from chick and mouse neurons. Addition of Fabs specific for chick L1 to the cultures inhibited chick neurite outgrowth on both mouse L1 and chick L1. These findings suggest that L1-like molecules support neurite outgrowth via a "homophilic" binding mechanism. PMID- 2627382 TI - Labetalol: time, experience, and adrenergic blockade. PMID- 2627383 TI - Studies on morphine disposition: plasma concentrations of morphine and its metabolites in anesthetized middle-aged and elderly surgical patients. AB - The effects of aging on the disposition of morphine and its metabolites have been investigated in 10 middle-aged patients (36 to 55 years of age) undergoing lower abdominal or body surface surgery, and compared with 10 elderly patients (65 to 83 years of age) undergoing similar surgery. All patients received 10 mg morphine sulphate pentahydrate IV over 30 seconds as part of a balanced anesthetic technique. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected to 180 min, and plasma concentrations of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), and morphine-6 glucuronide (M6G) were assayed by differential radioimmunoassay. There were no differences between the two groups for morphine elimination half-life (middle aged patients, 129 min; elderly patients, 162 min), mean residence time (154 and 207 min), and apparent volume of distribution at steady state (116 and 107 l). However, clearance was significantly greater in the younger patients (853 vs. 559 ml/min; p less than 0.02). The area under the curve (AUC0-180) for M3G and M6G were similar in the two patient groups, as were the peak metabolite concentrations and times to peak concentrations. M6G has been shown in both animals and humans to exert analgesic properties. Despite the reduced clearance of the parent drug, there was an unaltered AUC for M6G, presumed due to the greater decrease in glomerular filtration rate seen during anesthesia in the elderly patient. This phenomenon may result in enhanced analgesic efficacy from a given dose of morphine in the elderly patient. PMID- 2627384 TI - Intraoperative cortical somatosensory evoked potentials for detection of sciatic neuropathy during total hip arthroplasty. AB - Approximately 3% of patients undergoing hip arthroplasty develop postoperative sciatic neuropathy. The factors associated with changes in somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) and sciatic neuropathy were examined in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty, to evaluate whether the use of intraoperative SSEP could help reduce the incidence of postoperative sciatic neuropathy. Eighty-eight patients were assigned to either monitored or unmonitored groups. SSEP were recorded following peroneal nerve stimulation, using contralateral stimulation to detect systemic influences on SSEP. Amplitude reduction of less than 50% of control and/or latency increase of greater than 10% of control was considered significant, and surgical intervention was attempted to restore SSEP. Previous surgery and a lateral incision approach tended to be associated with sciatic neuropathy (p less than 0.053). The incidence of sciatic neuropathy in the monitored group (4.3%) was not different from the unmonitored group (2.4%). Isolated reduction in amplitude or prolongation in latency of the SSEP was not predictive of postoperative neurologic function of the sciatic nerve. Six patients, two of whom developed sciatic neuropathy, demonstrated complete flattening of the SSEP. Both of these patients had flattened SSEP for two or more surgical events (p less than 0.01) and flattened SSEP were present at the end of the surgical procedure. There were no false-negative SSEP changes. Simultaneous amplitude and latency changes appear to be predictive of sciatic nerve function following hip arthroplasty. PMID- 2627385 TI - Intraoperative urinary output and postoperative blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in patients undergoing aortic reconstructive surgery. AB - Urinary output has been used as a measure of adequate renal perfusion during anesthesia and surgery. In this study, 40 consecutive patients undergoing elective aortic reconstruction were studied to determine whether intraoperative urinary output was predictive of postoperative renal function as measured by blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine concentrations on postoperative days 1, 3 and 6, or 7. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressures or central venous pressures were kept at or above preoperative values. All patients received 22.5 g of mannitol IV prior to aortic crossclamping. No significant correlation was noted between either mean intraoperative urine output or lowest hourly urine output and postoperative BUN and creatinine concentrations. Complete interruption of renal blood flow in nine of the 40 patients had no significant effect on the correlations. Consequently, intraoperative urine output does not appear predictive of postoperative renal insufficiency in patients undergoing elective aortic reconstruction. PMID- 2627386 TI - The impact of liver transplant programs on anesthesia personnel and services. AB - Liver transplantation procedures are being performed at an increasing number of hospitals throughout the United States. These procedures are challenging because of hemodynamic, metabolic, renal, and coagulation dysfunctions and may require prolonged periods of time for completion. Anesthesia departments are developing or managing teams of personnel to perform liver transplants. A survey was sent to directors of liver transplant anesthesia teams to investigate how teams were structured, compensated, and the impact of participation upon personnel involved. Thirty-nine centers were surveyed and 31 responded. The results showed an arithmetic doubling of cases for each of the last six years, most being performed at large medical centers (more than 759 beds) with populations served of 2 million or more. Cases were reported to average 13 hours in length and required a mean of five anesthesia personnel to complete. Compensation methods for work on a liver transplant team were variable; however, CRNAs and technicians received monetary reimbursement more frequently than physicians. Emotional responses of personnel were equally divided between favorable and unfavorable responses. Discriminate analysis showed that positive personnel attitudes were most closely tied to the presence of a protocol for breaks, call schedules, compensation, and the frequency of performing these cases. However, most protocols for personnel management were instituted in response to dissatisfaction. As the number of transplants per year increases, departments will need effective plans for personnel management to maximize departmental resources, increase research interest, and maintain personnel enthusiasm. PMID- 2627387 TI - Attenuation of the hemodynamic responses to endotracheal intubation with preinduction intravenous labetalol. AB - Endotracheal intubation following anesthesia induction frequently produces hypertension and tachycardia. This study evaluated the efficacy of preinduction IV labetalol for attenuating the hemodynamic responses to intubation following thiopental and succinylcholine induction of anesthesia. Two hours after diazepam (10 mg by mouth), 60 patients were randomized in a double-blind manner and received IV saline or labetalol at doses of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, or 1 mg/kg in a parallel design study. Five minutes later, thiopental (4 mg/kg) and succinylcholine (1 mg/kg) were administered, and the trachea was intubated in 2 minutes. Nitrous oxide (70%) anesthesia was maintained for 10 minutes. Hemodynamic parameters were grouped and analyzed for significance (p less than 0.05) by two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and t-test with Bonferroni adjustments. Baseline group demographics and hemodynamics were comparable. All doses of labetalol significantly attenuated the rate-pressure product increase immediately postintubation versus placebo. There was a dose dependent attenuation of the increases in heart rate and the systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures versus placebo following intubation. IV labetalol at doses up to 0.75 mg/kg offers an effective pharmacologic means of attenuating preoperative hemodynamic responses to endotracheal intubation. PMID- 2627388 TI - Comparative hemodynamic effects of labetalol and hydralazine in the treatment of postoperative hypertension. AB - The antihypertensive efficacy and safety of IV labetalol were evaluated and compared with the efficacy and safety of IV hydralazine in the treatment of postoperative hypertension. Twenty patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery were entered into the study. Patients were randomized and treated for postoperative hypertension with either labetalol (n = 10) or hydralazine (n = 10). Labetalol and hydralazine both produced significant reductions in arterial blood pressure (p less than 0.001) within 10 minutes, which lasted at least 2 hours. In addition, labetalol produced a significant reduction in the heart rate and rate-pressure product without creating any adverse effects. In contrast, hydralazine produced significant sinus tachycardia requiring IV propranolol in three patients, two of whom developed transient ST segment depression. These results indicate that labetalol is safe and effective for the control of postoperative hypertension, especially in those patients who are least able to tolerate tachycardia. PMID- 2627389 TI - Endobronchial rupture from endotracheal reintubation with an endotracheal tube guide. AB - Endotracheal tube guides are often used to facilitate endotracheal tube exchange in patients whose airways are difficult to intubate. The absence of reported complications with this technique suggests it is a safe technique; however, we report a case of endobronchial rupture associated with such a guide. Diagnosis and management of tracheobronchial tears and alternative approaches to difficult reintubation are described. PMID- 2627390 TI - Triple knotting of a central venous catheter. AB - A case of unusual triple knotting of a central venous catheter inserted through the left basilic vein is reported. The catheter with intact triple knots could be withdrawn without an invasive maneuver. A possible cause of triple knotting was discussed in regard to the anatomic configuration of the central veins. This case emphasizes that a central venous catheter should not be advanced if resistance is encountered. PMID- 2627391 TI - A social responsibility to die? Freedom, aging, and AIDS. PMID- 2627392 TI - Do short breaks increase or decrease anesthetic risk? PMID- 2627393 TI - The physics of ideal gases. PMID- 2627394 TI - Selective spinal analgesia for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. PMID- 2627395 TI - A mobile system for pediatric anesthesia. PMID- 2627396 TI - Use of an i.v. "drip" system as an aid in identification of the epidural space. PMID- 2627397 TI - Electrosurgical interference causes movement of the operating table. PMID- 2627398 TI - Bedside analysis of arterial blood gases and electrolytes during and after cardiac surgery. AB - Intraoperative changes in arterial blood gas tensions and serum electrolyte concentrations may contribute to the development of arrhythmias and cardiovascular insufficiency. Rapid intraoperative assessment of these parameters may improve patient care by permitting earlier treatment of abnormalities. We evaluated a portable blood gas and electrolyte analyzer in six patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Evaluation by anesthesia personnel took place in the operating room. The analyzer produced rapid, accurate, and reliable data that were comparable to clinical laboratory data. Correlation coefficients between the analyzer and laboratory determinations for PaO2, PaCO2, pH, K+, Ca++, and hematocrit were all greater than 0.92. Large changes in circulating ionized calcium (18%) and potassium (38%) concentrations were noted during cardiac surgery. Bedside blood gas and electrolyte analyzers represent a new technology worthy of further evaluation. PMID- 2627399 TI - Delivery temperature of heated intravenous solutions during rapid infusion. AB - Warming of intravenous fluids may help to prevent shivering and hypothermia in the surgical patient. Increasing the fluid temperatures to as high as 60 degrees C has been suggested. An in vitro study was performed in which temperature changes following the rapid infusion of heated lactated Ringer's solution within a vein were measured. When 1 L of solution was warmed to 55 degrees C and then was infused over 4 min, local model vein temperatures rose from 37 degrees C to 44 degrees C. This effect of possible regional tissue heating may well occur in vivo. It is known that the rate of human blood cell hemolysis and membrane enzymatic function is affected by temperature. Further efforts need to be directed toward appreciating the effects of warmed intravenous fluids upon intact physiologic preparations and red blood cells. PMID- 2627400 TI - QRS-activated ventilation during general anesthesia for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. AB - High frequency ventilation has been claimed to improve the efficiency of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) by minimizing the movement of urinary stones during the procedure. A ventilatory mode, QRS-activated ventilation, was developed in which the stones remain motionless during the delivery of shock waves. As the shock wave is triggered to occur approximately 20 milliseconds after the R wave of the QRS complex, the mechanical breath was synchronized to occur approximately 150 ms later. QRS-activated ventilation is used in 16 patients undergoing ESWL under general anesthesia. Tidal volume was set at 3 ml/kg (234 +/- 36 ml; mean +/- SD) at a rate that equaled the heart rate (71 +/- 9 beats/min). The time between the R wave and the initiation of mechanical breath (T1) was 124 +/- 25 ms, time of mechanical breath itself (T2) was 431 +/- 67 ms, and time between end of T2 and next R wave (T3) was 264 +/- 84 ms. End-tidal CO2 measured by the large breath technique was 28.1 +/- 4.8 mmHg. During the clinical use of QRS-activated ventilation and during earlier studies using an EKG simulator and a test lung, the shock wave occurred invariably at end expiration even at high heart rates. PMID- 2627401 TI - Serum creatine phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase, and their isoenzymes in the perioperative period. AB - The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the normal perioperative variations in the serum concentration of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and its isoenzymes MM, MB, and BB, and of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and its isoenzymes LDH1 to LDH5 to distinguish operation-induced changes in these enzymes from those due to acute myocardial infarction or malignant hyperthermia. In 30 patients, 52 to 75 years of age undergoing elective orthopedic operations, 10 serial blood samples were obtained in the perioperative period: two samples before skin incision and eight samples after the incision over a time span of 70 hours. The preinduction mean serum CPK level of 141 U/L increased gradually and significantly and reached a maximum mean concentration of 809 U/L 34 hours after incision (p less than 0.01). The CPK-MM percent increased after incision, whereas that of CPK-MB and CPK-BB decreased, although their absolute values in terms of U/L rose. The preinduction mean serum LDH value of 173 U/L increased gradually after incision and achieved peak levels at 34 hours (203 U/L) and 58 hours (210 U/L) after incision (p less than 0.05). The LDH1:LDH2 ratio did not change. The LDH5 percent increased and peaked 10 hours after incision (p less than 0.05). There was a significant correlation between severity of operation-induced tissue damage and the serum CPK concentration (p less than 0.001). The large increase in total CPK (primarily MM fraction) occurring after surgery may minimize the percentile effects caused by an increase in MB level due to myocardial infarction. PMID- 2627402 TI - Propofol does not inhibit hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in humans. AB - The influence of increasing doses of propofol (from 6 to 12 mg/kg/h by continuous infusion) on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction was studied in 10 patients prior to thoracic surgery. All patients were intubated with a left-sided double-lumen endobronchial tube. Initial anesthesia and muscle relaxation were accomplished by administering fentanyl, droperidol, and pancuronium. After 100% oxygen ventilation of both lungs for 20 min in a lateral decubitus position, the nondependent lung was deflated and one-lung ventilation was started. The dependent lung was continuously ventilated with 100% oxygen. Twenty minutes after the start of one-lung ventilation, propofol at an IV infusion rate of 6 mg/kg/h was added to the anesthetic technique. Thirty minutes later it was increased to 10 mg/kg/h and another 15 min later to 12 mg/kg/h. Then the propofol infusion was stopped. Thirty minutes later, two-lung ventilation was restarted to compare initial values. No changes in venous admixture or PaO2 were observed during propofol infusion. There was no change in any respiratory or circulatory variables except systemic vascular resistance, which decreased significantly immediately after the propofol infusion commenced but returned to control values 15 min later for the rest of the observation period. After reestablishing two lung ventilation, all variables did not differ from control values. In all patients, the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction reflex was present after institution of one-lung ventilation and was not abolished after administration of propofol in doses from 6 to 12 mg/kg/h. PMID- 2627403 TI - Atrioventricular sequential pacing with transluminal atrial and ventricular pacing probes inserted via a pulmonary artery catheter: a preliminary comparison with epicardial wires. AB - A number of patients who undergo hemodynamic monitoring may have or develop some form of atrial or ventricular conduction disturbance or block. Potentially, many of these patients could benefit from temporary pacing of the right ventricle and/or atrium. Following institutional approval and with informed patient consent, a balloon flotation pulmonary artery type catheter with atrial and ventricular pacing capabilities utilizing either a transluminal atrial bipolar pacing probe, a Chandler transluminal ventricular pacing probe, or both together was tested in five patients. Currents required for stable pacing were compared with those obtained using atrial and ventricular epicardial wires placed at the time of cardiac surgery procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Results of these two pacing techniques were compared by regression analysis, and no significant differences were found between the two methods. The catheter was found to be clinically useful, and stable atrial, ventricular, and atrioventricular sequential pacing was instituted in all but one situation during which the patient developed intractable atrial fibrillation following bypass resistant to any pacing therapy. It is concluded that the test catheter is a reliable, clinically useful device that provides considerable advantages over currently available temporary pacing systems using pulmonary artery catheters. PMID- 2627404 TI - Anesthesiologists in North Carolina: a survey reflecting emerging subspecialization. AB - This North Carolina case study addresses the migration of anesthesiologists into subspecialty, clinical areas of anesthesiology over a 4-year period (1984 to 1987). Three hundred fourteen members of the North Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists (NCSA) were surveyed using a one-page questionnaire. The response rate was 93.6%. The questionnaire elicited data to characterize the magnitude of change in anesthesiologist manpower, to assess emerging subspecialization, to describe the flux of anesthesiologists entering and leaving practice, and to detail evolving modes of practice. Results indicated a net increase in manpower averaging 8.8% per year in academic programs, whereas clinical community practitioners increased physician positions at a rate three times the former (27% increase per year). Of 184 anesthesiologists recruited to North Carolina over 4 years, 75 different residency programs were represented; 48% of new anesthesiologists were from southern educational programs and 44% entered practice with fellowships (i.e., postgraduate year 4 to 5). The principal fellowship was cardiac (33%). Subspecialty areas were represented in all 53 reporting clinical practices. The principal practice mode emerging was hospital based, same day surgery (85%) followed by pediatric anesthesia (81%), perioperative pain management (68%), obstetric anesthesia (63%), and an anesthesia "clinic" (54%). Respondents expected additional practice options over the next 3 years with anesthesia for ambulatory diagnostic and therapeutic modalities projected to emerge at the fastest rate. In conclusion, anesthesiologists in North Carolina seem to be filling unmet needs in obstetric and cardiac anesthesia, critical care, ambulatory surgery, and pain therapy units. These observations may represent a vignette of the national scene. PMID- 2627405 TI - So you want to start a postoperative pain service? PMID- 2627406 TI - Anesthetic-related maternal mortality, 1954 to 1985. AB - This is a population-based study of the safety of obstetrical anesthesia in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts between 1954 and 1985. We used data collected by the state Committee on Maternal Mortality, which was founded in 1941. There were a total of 37 maternal deaths during the study period due to anesthetic-related complications. During the same time period, there were 886 maternal deaths. Thus, anesthetic-related mortality comprised 4.2% of all deaths, and the mortality rate was 1.5 per 100,000 live births between 1955 and 1964, 1.5 per 100,000 live births between 1965 and 1974, and 0.4 per 100,000 live births between 1975 and 1984. In the first decade of this study, aspiration during administration of a mask anesthetic was the primary cause of death. During the second decade, cardiovascular collapse associated with regional anesthesia was the primary cause of death. During the last decade of this study, all deaths were associated with general endotracheal anesthesia. As a result of this study and having identified the changes in the standard of care in Massachusetts that led to the reduction in maternal mortality, we offer recommendations to further improve the safety of anesthesia for childbirth in this country. PMID- 2627407 TI - A comparison of recovery in outpatients receiving fentanyl versus those receiving butorphanol. AB - The frequency of postanesthesia side effects and times to reach "benchmarks" in the recovery process for IV preinduction doses of 20 micrograms/kg butorphanol, 40 micrograms/kg butorphanol, or a 2 micrograms/kg dose of fentanyl were compared in a double-blinded study involving ambulatory surgical patients. The authors hypothesized that all drugs would perform equally well in all study areas. Sixty ASA physical status I and II women undergoing laparoscopic tubal sterilization were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Group I (n = 20) received 20 micrograms/kg butorphanol as a preinduction agent; Group II (n = 20) received 40 micrograms/kg butorphanol; Group III (n = 20) received 2 micrograms/kg fentanyl. Anesthesia management for all groups was the same. Statistically significant variance was found in time to discharge-ready status and duration of nausea (p less than 0.05) between 40 micrograms/kg butorphanol and 2 micrograms/kg fentanyl, but no significant difference was found between 20 micrograms/kg butorphanol and 2 micrograms/kg fentanyl in these areas. Statistically significant variance was found in duration of dizziness and time to obtain a 10 on the Aldrete Post Anesthesia Recovery Score (APARS) between 40 micrograms/kg butorphanol and 20 micrograms/kg butorphanol and 40 micrograms/kg butorphanol and 2 micrograms/kg fentanyl. From the study, 20 micrograms/kg butorphanol appears to be as suitable as 2 micrograms/kg fentanyl for use as a preinduction narcotic analgesic, whereas 40 micrograms/kg butorphanol appears to be unsuitable due to increased duration of nausea, dizziness, and time to score 10 on APARS and reach discharge-ready status. PMID- 2627408 TI - Clinical competence in the performance of fiberoptic laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation: a study of resident instruction. AB - Anesthesiologists must be competent in the technique of fiberoptic laryngoscopy and intubation in airway management. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that an acceptable level of technical expertise in fiberoptic laryngoscopy and intubation may be acquired within 10 intubations while maintaining patient safety. The learning objectives were an intubation time of 2 minutes or less and greater than 90% success on the first intubation attempt. Ninety-one ASA physical status I-II patients with normal laryngeal anatomy had general anesthesia and were intubated orally with an Olympus LF-1 fiberoptic scope; the mean (+/- SD) time for intubation was 1.92 +/- 1.45 minutes. Four residents with no prior experience with fiberoptic laryngoscopy intubated at least 15 patients each. A learning curve was generated using logarithmic analysis of the mean (+/- SD) time for intubation of patients 1 to 15 for all residents combined. The curve showed that the mean (+/- SD) intubation time decreased from 4.00 +/- 2.91 to 1.53 +/- 0.76 minutes within the first 10 intubations. After the tenth intubation, the mean time was 1.53 minutes and the percent success on the first attempt at intubation was greater than 95%. There were no clinically important changes in O2 saturation, mean arterial pressure (MAP), or heart rate (HR) as a consequence of fiberoptic intubation. The results suggest that an acceptable level of technical expertise in fiberoptic intubation can be obtained (as defined by the learning objectives) by the tenth intubation, and patient safety is maintained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627409 TI - Anesthesia during total electrical failure, or what would you do if the lights went out? AB - This case report describes anesthetic management and monitoring of a patient undergoing abdominal surgery during a 45-minute loss of electrical power. Physical examination, electrical devices with battery backup power, and mechanical devices provided essential monitoring of the patient. Other methods of ensuring the adequacy of ventilation, circulation, and monitoring during total electrical failure are discussed. To decrease the risk during power outages, the authors recommend the following: (1) preparation of an organized plan for such an event that includes ensuring that equipment has reliable backup sources of power; (2) proper maintenance of equipment and batteries; and (3) knowledge of the power requirements of anesthesia equipment and monitoring devices. PMID- 2627410 TI - Difficult airway in obstetric anesthesia: a reply. PMID- 2627411 TI - Influence of the size of the area of treatment on percutaneous absorption of estradiol in the rat. AB - The influence of the dose, as well as the application area of topically applied 3H-estradiol in a volatile solution on its systemic bioavailability was investigated in hairless rats in vivo. The bioavailability was determined by comparing the urinary and fecal excretion of radioactivity after intravenous injection and after topical application. Whatever the size of the surface of application (1, 4 or 16 cm2), the bioavailability was similar (47-65%) 4 days after the application of a single low dose (50 nmol). When the surface of application was washed 24 h after dosing, the absorption was the same for the areas of 3 and 9 cm2. In all cases average fluxes on the first day were higher for the larger area. When applied doses were increased (1,000 and 10,000 nmol), the percentage of percutaneous absorption decreased with the reduction in the areas of application. Thus, with a dose of 1,000 nmol applied on a surface of 1, 4 and 16 cm2, absorption was equal to 18.7, 21 and 37%, respectively, of the dose. There was a linear relationship between the log of the dose applied per unit of skin area and the percentage of absorption after 4 days (r = 0.99 with washing; r = 0.98 without washing).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627412 TI - Skin metabolism and transdermal absorption of viprostol, a synthetic PGE2 analog, in the rat: effect of vehicle. AB - The effects of three formulations on the transdermal absorption and antihypertensive activity of 14C-viprostol were investigated in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Single doses of 14C-viprostol were administered topically to rats in three formulations: silicone oil, petrolatum base, and triethyl citrate (TEC). Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and blood concentrations of radioactivity were measured over 24 h. Metabolic profiles in the skin were determined by HPLC; in vitro skin metabolism was also investigated. Following topical dosing with 14C-viprostol in petrolatum and silicone oil, substantial systemic concentrations of radioactivity and decreases in MABP were observed. In contrast, administration of 14C-viprostol in TEC led to negligible blood concentrations of radioactivity and the lowering of MABP was diminished. Metabolic profiles in skin at the application site from rats dosed with viprostol in petrolatum and silicone oil indicated rapid hydrolysis of the viprostol methyl ester to the active free acid, CL 115,129. When TEC was used as the dosing vehicle, the conversion of viprostol to the free acid appeared to be slower. TEC (an ester itself) was also found to reduce the rate of hydrolysis of viprostol in rat skin 10,000-g supernatants. PMID- 2627413 TI - Skin Pharmacology Society. 6th annual meeting. September 1-2, 1989, New York. Abstracts. PMID- 2627414 TI - Differential effect of testosterone on pigmented spot, sebaceous glands and hair follicles in the Syrian hamster flank organ. AB - The androgen-dependent flank organ of the Golden Syrian hamster has been used as a model for acne and hair growth. 1-cm silastic capsules of testosterone (T) were implanted subcutaneously into female hamsters. Serum levels of T remained relatively constant after 1 week. Maximum growth of the pigmented spot occurred at 4 weeks but regressed by 6 weeks. In contrast, the growth of the pilosebaceous unit continued for 6 weeks. Total sebaceous area and number of sebaceous lobules increased by 3 weeks with a further increase in total area by 6 weeks. The distribution of lobule size shifted to more large lobules. Diameters of hair follicles increased at 3 and 6 weeks with a concomitant recruitment to large follicles. The density of hairs remained constant. The diminution in size of the pigmented spot between 4 and 6 weeks of T stimulation was not related to a reduction in serum T. In fact, there was persistent growth of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles at this time. The measurement of the pigmented spot of the flank organ is not a reliable indicator of the androgen responsiveness of sebaceous glands and/or hair follicles. PMID- 2627415 TI - International Symposium on Present Developments and Future Challenges in Transdermal Drug Delivery. November 8-10, 1989, Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. Abstracts. PMID- 2627416 TI - Transcutaneous collection of theophylline: constancy and linearity of skin permeability. AB - Transcutaneous chemical collection is a novel method for noninvasive collection and measurement of body exposure to chemicals using a transcutaneous collection device (TCD) consisting of a circular adhesive-tape-encased saline-activated carbon-aquagel patch. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the time course of skin permeability change after the placement of a TCD on the skin, and (2) the relationship between the amount of theophylline collected in a TCD and the amount of theophylline in the body as expressed by the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC). Skin permeability changes were determined by emplacing TCDs (24/monkey) on the chests and abdomens of female rhesus monkeys (12 studies in 4 monkeys) at 48, 24, 6, 3 and 1 h prior to dosing with aminophylline (10 mg/kg of theophylline, i.v.) over 30 min. Several blood samples were collected, and TCDs were removed at 24 h post-dose; samples were assayed for theophylline by HPLC. The apparent permeability coefficients (Kp) increased following TCD placement reaching 90% of maximum by 17 h. The relationship between the amount of theophylline collected in the device (Q) and amount in the body over time was determined by emplacing TCDs on rhesus monkeys (8 studies in 4 monkeys) 24 h prior to administration of 10 mg/kg of theophylline. Qs from the TCDs removed at 0.17, 0.5, 1, 3, 6 and 24 h were linearly related to the plasma AUC according to the relationship: Q = (A x Kp) x AUC, where A is the area of gel in contact with the skin for each TCD. PMID- 2627417 TI - Use of a new argon laser technique to evaluate changes in sensory and pain thresholds in human skin following topical capsaicin treatment. AB - A new argon laser technique was introduced to evaluate the excitability of the free nerve endings in the skin following topical application of capsaicin. Short argon laser pulses can be perceived as distinct, painful pin pricks and the pain threshold can be determined. This gives the possibility to follow changes in sensory and pain thresholds after topical application of various substances. In the present study the long-term effect of topically applied capsaicin on the pain threshold was monitored. Capsaicin was applied to human skin once daily for 21 days, and the pain threshold was significantly increased after 10 days of application, and after 21 days the increase was found to be 260%. After termination of capsaicin treatment the thresholds were monitored for 21 days, and normalization occurred after 7 days. Argon laser stimulation is a reliable method to evaluate sensory and pain thresholds in human skin. PMID- 2627418 TI - Vasoactive pharmacologic responses of human skin xenografts in ciclosporin treated rats. AB - Human skin xenografts in ciclosporin-treated rats have been reported to preserve many of the characteristics of normal human skin. This model was used to study the cutaneous responses of human skin xenografts and host rat skin to intradermal injections of vasoactive agents. The xenograft responses to corticosteroids (blanching), nicotinic acid (erythema), histamine HCl (urticaria), and privine (blanching) all paralleled those of the host rat skin. However, when quantitatively compared to the responses reported for human skin in vivo, the xenografts were less sensitive to these compounds. The large variability seen in the xenograft responses may be due to variable graft revascularization and to structural irregularities in the dermis from the recent grafting procedure. It is concluded that the lower sensitivity and variable responsiveness of the xenografts limit the potential usefulness of this pharmacologic model for evaluating vasoactive agents. PMID- 2627419 TI - Nonimmunosuppressive ciclosporin H inhibits the growth and DNA synthesis of cultured normal human epidermal keratinocytes. AB - Ciclosporin H (CsH) is an epimer (11-D-N-methyl-L-valine) of ciclosporin A (CsA) devoid of immunosuppressive properties. The known antiproliferative effect of CsA on epidermal keratinocytes (EK) grown in vitro prompted us to study the effect of CsH (at the doses of 0.5, 1, 3.5 and 5 micrograms/ml) on the growth and DNA synthesis (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation). CsH was observed to reduce both the number and DNA synthesis of EK in a statistically significant manner at the dosage of 5 micrograms/ml after 24, 48 and 72 h in culture. These results show that the immunosuppressive properties of the ciclosporins (Cs) are dissociated from the antiproliferative ones on EK and highlight the interest of further in vivo studies that may lead to therapeutic applications of Cs in hyperproliferative epidermal diseases requiring no immunosuppression. PMID- 2627420 TI - Nonneoplastic disease of the brain. PMID- 2627421 TI - Two-dimensional color Doppler estimation of the severity of atrioventricular valve regurgitation: important effects of instrument gain setting, pulse repetition frequency, and carrier frequency. AB - Literature reports of good correlation between two-dimensional color Doppler and ventriculography for estimation of the severity of atrioventricular valve regurgitation have appeared. Local experience has been variable. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three factors for their effect on two-dimensional color Doppler display of the apparent area of regurgitant flow. The factors studied were instrument gain setting, pulse repetition frequency (PRF), and carrier frequency. Sixteen regurgitant valves were examined with high quality commercial instrumentation from two manufacturers. Electrocardiographic-triggered image gating was used for recording and planimetry of maximal imaged flow area (IFA). Examinations were performed at two gain settings with constant carrier frequency and PRF, at three carrier frequencies (2.5, 3.5, and 5 MHz) at constant gain, and at differing PRF (3.0 to 12 kHz). Reduction in gain setting made little difference in asthetic quality of regurgitant jets, but their areas decreased by 29%. Carrier frequency was found to greatly affect IFA, with each higher carrier frequency giving significantly smaller IFAs. PRF also affected IFA consistently, with progressively smaller IFAs at each higher PRF. There was no useful correlation between IFA of a single jet evaluated on the two instruments at generally similar settings. It is concluded that instrument gain setting, PRF, and carrier frequency each significantly affects the size of IFA within a single instrument and between different instruments. Given the variety of instruments and settings employed within the cardiology community, it is unlikely that even moderately accurate grading of severity of regurgitation based on IFA can be done unless instrument settings are specified and standardized. There is a clear need for annotation of instrument settings during color Doppler examinations and a need for concensus regarding "optimal" settings. Finally, the consistency of reduction in IFA with increasing carrier frequency and PRF within each of the instruments tested suggests investigation of "normalization" of IFA displays. PMID- 2627422 TI - Comparison of preoperative left ventricular function with postoperative left ventricular response to exercise in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis. AB - The relation between preoperative left ventricular (LV) systolic function at rest and postoperative LV response to exercise was assessed in 13 patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) and nine patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Preoperative end systolic volume index (ESVI) and ejection fraction (EF) determined by LV angiography were compared with postoperative exercise-induced changes of LV fractional shortening (delta %FS) and mean velocity of fiber shortening (delta mVcf) assessed by echocardiography. Preoperative EF and ESVI in 13 patients with AR correlated well with postoperative delta %FS and delta mVcf. Similarly, preoperative EF and ESVI in nine patients with AS correlated well with postoperative delta %FS and delta mVcf. Our study demonstrated that preoperative LV systolic function in AR and AS patients closely reflected postoperative LV response to exercise. Preoperative smaller ESVI will be warranted to expect a favorably good postoperative LV response to exercise. PMID- 2627423 TI - Quantifying changes in regional myocardial perfusion with aortic contrast echocardiography. AB - We developed a technique to assess regional myocardial perfusion by quantifying echocardiographic myocardial contrast appearance and intensity after aortic root injection of an agitated diatrizoate meglumine solution. The technique was validated by comparing digitized echocardiographic contrast parameters to regional perfusion in the circumflex bed determined by calibrated Doppler flow probe and antemortem monastral blue staining. Regional perfusion was altered by circumflex stenosis, occlusion, and reactive hyperemia. Contrast effects were measured in an initial subset of six dogs by peak intensity change, time to peak intensity, maximal rate of intensity rise, and mean intensity change integrated over 1, 2, or 3 seconds after contrast appearance (MI1, MI2, MI3). MI2 and MI3 best predicted regional perfusion (r = 0.93, standard error of the estimate [SEE] 0.38 ml/gm/min for each). These findings were confirmed in a second subset of six dogs (r = 0.84, SEE = 0.70 ml/gm/min). Although there was a relatively broad standard error for the prediction of absolute perfusion for the pooled data, for individual dogs data were internally consistent so that each had r greater than 0.88 for its varied flow states. The hyperemic ratio calculated by contrast echocardiography correlated well with the Doppler value (r = 0.85). Observer and study-to-study predictive variabilities were small (SEE 0.19 to 0.32 ml/gm/min). No alterations were seen in hemodynamics or reactive hyperemia after 25 consecutive injections over a 90-minute period. Contrast echocardiography with aortic root contrast injection tracks changes in regional blood flow. This approach can assess regional coronary reserve and detect changes in regional myocardial perfusion during acute ischemia and drug intervention. PMID- 2627424 TI - Albunex: a safe and effective commercially produced agent for myocardial contrast echocardiography. AB - Microbubble solutions of sonicated human serum albumin have been shown to be effective echocardiographic contrast agents free from adverse effects on coronary blood flow, left ventricular function, and systemic hemodynamics. Albunex is a commercially prepared solution of air-filled albumin microspheres prepared from sonicated 5% human serum albumin. The effects of Albunex on coronary blood flow, left ventricular function, and systemic hemodynamics, as well as contrast enhancement were evaluated in 10 open chest, anesthetized dogs. After an intracoronary injection, Albunex did not alter left atrial, left ventricular systolic or end-diastolic, or mean aortic pressures. It did not cause a coronary hyperemic response, alter left ventricular systolic thickening, or lower the peak positive left ventricular dp/dt. It did not alter these measurements even in the presence of a critical coronary stenosis. The contrast opacification produced by Albunex microbubbles was dose dependent (optimal dose range of 0.033 to 0.5 ml/kg), with attenuation occurring at higher doses. In conclusion, although Albunex provides adequate contrast enhancement, intracoronary injection of Albunex does not significantly alter coronary blood flow, left ventricular function, or systemic hemodynamics. Because of the standardized size and concentration of the microspheres, Albunex may be an ideal agent for myocardial contrast echocardiography. PMID- 2627425 TI - Aorta to right atrium fistula caused by endocarditis: diagnosis by color Doppler echocardiography. PMID- 2627426 TI - Hydrodynamic investigation of a hemodynamic problem: a review of the in vitro evaluation of mitral insufficiency by color Doppler flow mapping. PMID- 2627427 TI - Transesophageal echocardiography: the cardiac sonographer's role. PMID- 2627428 TI - Comparison of several noninvasive methods for estimation of pulmonary artery pressure. AB - Noninvasive estimation of pulmonary artery pressure is an important component of cardiac ultrasound studies. A number of methods are available for estimation of pulmonary pressure, each with varying degrees of reported accuracy. To assess feasibility and accuracy, noninvasive pulmonary artery pressure estimates were performed in infants and children at the time of catheterization. Patients were examined prospectively until there were 50 patients, in whom each of six methods for estimation of pulmonary pressure had been accomplished. All patients had tricuspid and pulmonary regurgitation of less than severe degree and no structural, flow, or electrocardiographic abnormality known to compromise the six methods. Systolic pressure was estimated by the Burstin method and also from peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity. Mean pressure was estimated by acceleration time divided by ejection time from waveforms obtained from the right ventricular outflow tract and main pulmonary artery. Diastolic pressure was estimated by systolic time intervals and from end-diastolic pulmonary regurgitation velocity. Noninvasive estimates were compared with simultaneous or nearly simultaneous catheterization measurements. For systolic pressure Burstin estimates were accomplished in 89% with high accuracy (r = 0.97). Tricuspid regurgitation velocities were recorded in 82%, also with high accuracy (r = 0.96). Waveforms for mean pressure estimation were recorded in 98% to 100% of patients. Those from the right ventricular outflow tract corresponded well with catheterization pressures (r = 0.94), whereas those recorded from the main pulmonary artery offered poor prediction of pulmonary pressure (r = 0.63). Systolic time interval measurements were accomplished in only 65% and did not correlate highly with catheterization (r = 0.84). Diastolic pressure estimates based on pulmonary regurgitation velocity were recorded in 98% of subjects with high accuracy (r = 0.96). Each method had advantages and disadvantages. The Burstin method was accurate but technically demanding and is reported to be limited by heart rate and significant right-sided regurgitation. Peak tricuspid velocities proved unexpectedly difficult to record in some patients but when successful, provided excellent prediction of pressure. Recording of waveforms for ratios of acceleration time to ejection time proved easy, but accuracy was high only for outflow tract waveforms. Peculiarities of main pulmonary artery flow may have led to poor accuracy for ratios measured from that site. For diastolic pressure estimation, systolic time interval records were the most difficult to obtain and did not provide useful accuracy. In contrast, pulmonary regurgitation velocities were easily obtained and provided high accuracy results. This is a selected pediatric series, evaluating methods in nearly ideal circumstances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2627429 TI - Use of continuous wave Doppler echocardiography to evaluate the hemodynamic importance of atrial systole in patients with mitral stenosis. AB - Continuous wave Doppler echocardiography was used to assess the hemodynamic role of left atrial systole and its effect on left ventricular performance in 31 patients with isolated mitral stenosis. Fourteen of the patients had mild stenosis, whereas the remaining 17 had severe stenosis. The contribution of atrial systole to the cardiac output was 24% in the patients with mild stenosis and 15% in those with severe stenosis (p less than 0.01). This study reveals the importance of continuous wave Doppler echocardiography in assessing the atrial influence on left ventricular performance in patients with mitral stenosis. PMID- 2627430 TI - Relationship between mitral regurgitation and left ventricular outflow obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. AB - To clarify the relationship between mitral regurgitation and left ventricular outflow obstruction, Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were performed in 62 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (22 with and 40 without obstruction caused by mitral systolic anterior motion with septal contact). Pulsed Doppler echocardiography with color Doppler flow imaging demostrated that in 20 of the 22 patients with obstruction, mitral regurgitation occurred mainly during midsystole from the onset to the end of mitral-septal contact. Such midsystolic mitral regurgitation was not observed in patients without obstruction, except in three of 25 patients with mild mitral systolic anterior motion without septal contact. Furthermore, that regurgitation developed or disappeared together with the obstruction during follow-up periods or pharmacologic interventions. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed that in 21 of the 22 patients with obstruction, a distal residual portion of the "anterior" mitral leaflet moved anteriorly in early systole and protruded into the outflow tract during midsystole to cause the obstruction. In the other patient with obstruction, who had only early systolic mitral regurgitation, a distal residual "posterior" leaflet moved similary. These results may indicate that the midsystolic mitral regurgitation is hydrodynamically induced by the midsystolic pressure gradient across the protruding distal residual anterior mitral leaflet. PMID- 2627431 TI - Pulsus alternans with alternation of mitral flow and motion patterns. AB - A 41-year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy had persistent pulsus alternans on physical examination and on cardiac catheterization. On M-mode echocardiography patterns of mitral valve diastolic motion showed alternation such that the E phase was longer and the A phase shorter after stronger ventricular contractions. At faster rates the A peak was apparently absent in alternate diastoles. Doppler recordings of mitral flow exhibited alternation such that the peak velocity and duration of early diastolic flow were larger after stronger ventricular contractions; diastolic mitral regurgitation was noted only in such (alternate) diastoles. PMID- 2627432 TI - Improved evaluation of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction by transesophageal echocardiography. PMID- 2627433 TI - Doppler color flow mapping detection of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. PMID- 2627434 TI - Paraesophageal hernia may prevent cardiac imaging by transesophageal echocardiography. PMID- 2627435 TI - Fourth International Congress on Cardiac Doppler. Anaheim, California, March 16 18, 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2627436 TI - Transthoracic ultrasonic visualization of coronary atherosclerosis. AB - Although transthoracic ultrasonic visualization of the coronary arteries is technically demanding, many groups of investigators have demonstrated the feasibility of recording the proximal coronary arteries. Technical advances such as the introduction of anular array transducers and digital recording techniques have improved the prospect of obtaining this examination in a reasonable number of patients. It is now possible to detect atherosclerotic disease in the left main and the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery in 70% to 80% of all patients. This echocardiographic technique appears to be a sensitive means of detecting coronary atherosclerosis. Preliminary data suggest that this examination may be helpful in making the differential diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. PMID- 2627437 TI - Echocardiography in Kawasaki disease. AB - Two-dimensional echocardiography is the pinion of diagnostic procedures utilized to characterize the coronary arteries in Kawasaki disease. This article demonstrates the usual plans of interrogation used to systematically image the segments of the coronary arterial tree. It illustrates aneurysm formation in patients of various ages, the development of thrombosis in an aneurysm, and recanalization of the thrombosed arteries. The functional assessment and limitations of the technique are also addressed. PMID- 2627438 TI - Imaging of the coronary arteries by transesophageal echocardiography. AB - Detection of the proximal left and right coronary arteries is possible by transesophageal echocardiography with rather high frequencies. The proximal left coronary artery can be detected in 86% of patients and the proximal right in 82%. Precise identification of obstructive disease is possible but is confounded by heart movement and as yet inadequate criteria for its presence to make this routinely clinically possible. It is also possible to detect flow within these vessels with conventional pulsed or Doppler color flow methods. Given recent improvements in system performance, it is likely that adequate descriptors of proximal coronary anatomy and obstruction will be likely with these approaches. PMID- 2627439 TI - Transesophageal echocardiography in unsedated outpatients: technique and patient tolerance. AB - Transesophageal echocardiography is an important new imaging technique for the evaluation of heart disease. To maximize the number of patients who can be scanned in one outpatient session and to minimize the facilities needed, we elected to perform the technique on unsedated patients. To assess the tolerance of patients to this policy, we designed a questionnaire to evaluate the patients' own assessment of the technique. Overall, the technique was well tolerated by 79% of 204 patients, although 37% found swallowing the transducer unpleasant. The procedure was not tolerated as well by younger patients. When asked whether they would prefer to be sedated or unsedated, 83% preferred to be unsedated for an outpatient scan, and 73% preferred to be sedated for an inpatient scan. We concluded that the technique is well tolerated by most unsedated patients. Because a few patients preferred sedation, some outpatient facilities for patient recovery were necessary. We now ask young patients, selected inpatients, and patients undergoing repeat studies whether they would prefer sedation, but we otherwise perform the technique on unsedated patients. PMID- 2627440 TI - Transesophageal echocardiography during percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty. AB - Transesophageal echocardiography was performed during mitral balloon valvuloplasty. It provided valuable information about the position of the transseptal needle, wires, and balloon catheter throughout the procedure, and it helped in the immediate evaluation of its results. Transesophageal echocardiography was well tolerated and there were no complications. PMID- 2627441 TI - Use of transesophageal echocardiography for improving detection of valvular vegetations in subacute bacterial endocarditis. AB - Subacute bacterial endocarditis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Valvular destruction, congestive heart failure, embolic phenomena, failure of medical therapy, and death are all more common in patients with echocardiographically discernible valvular lesions. Transthoracic echocardiography is often unsatisfactory for evaluation of vegetations in patients with chest wall deformities, lung disease, obesity, or prosthetic valves. The transesophageal approach affords uniformly high-quality images with excellent structural resolution. We present a case of suspected subacute bacterial endocarditis in a patient with equivocal diagnoses of vegetations on three separate transthoracic echocardiograms in whom transesophageal evaluation revealed obvious large vegetations that involved the aortic and mitral valves. Subsequent autopsy confirmed this diagnosis. The case illustrates the utility of a new imaging method for the detection of valvular vegetations. In view of the prognostic implications of detected vegetations, transesophageal echocardiography probably should be performed on all patients with suspected subacute bacterial endocarditis and equivocal results by transthoracic study. PMID- 2627442 TI - Reference ranges of left ventricular cross-sectional echocardiographic measurements in adult men. AB - Reference ranges for left ventricle cross-sectional echocardiographic measurements were determined in 67 healthy Dutch men. Age, weight, height, and heart rate were used as the determinants. The images were made with the apical long-axis view, and the calculations were done with the area-length method. The end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, stroke volume, and ejection fraction were measured for six consecutive cardiac cycles in every subject and were averaged. Data were analyzed by means of both simple linear regression and multiple linear regression after logarithmic transformation of all measurements. Weight proved to be the best predictor of the echocardiographic end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and stroke volume. The left ventricular ejection fraction could be regarded as independent of the determinants studied. Nomograms of the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile limits were made of the echocardiographic parameters versus weight. PMID- 2627443 TI - Echocardiographic contrast increases the yield for right ventricular pressure measurement by Doppler echocardiography. AB - Doppler ultrasound has become accepted as a measurement of right ventricular systolic pressure in patients who have a quantifiable signal from tricuspid regurgitation. This study evaluated the use of intravenous injection of saline solution for echo contrast to increase the percentage of quantifiable tricuspid regurgitant signals in patients who have any detectable tricuspid regurgitation at baseline. Patients underwent a standard Doppler evaluation, followed by a contrast study with the injection of 4 to 6 ml of agitated saline solution into a brachial vein. Baseline and contrast tricuspid regurgitant signals were assessed for quality, quantifiability, and reproducibility of the derived pressures by three observers on two occasions. The average absolute pairwise deviation among the three observers was low: 1.6 mm Hg (standard deviation, 1.4 mm Hg). The intraobserver mean discrepancy was low: 0.03 mm Hg (standard deviation, 2.33 mm Hg). Patients who did not have tricuspid regurgitation (n = 10) failed to develop such regurgitation during contrast injection. Only eight of 40 patients (20%) who had trace or mild tricuspid regurgitation had quantifiable baseline signals, but 34 patients (85%) had quantifiable signals with contrast injection. All patients who had mild to moderate, moderate, or severe tricuspid regurgitation (n = 10) had quantifiable signals before contrast injection. Of all patients who had any tricuspid regurgitation, 88% had quantifiable signals with contrast injection. Echo contrast was shown to improve the yield of quantifiable signals in patients who had trace and mild tricuspid. PMID- 2627444 TI - Presidential address. The European Association For Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. "Quo vadis". PMID- 2627445 TI - Senning operation for transposition of the great arteries in the first month of life. AB - Twelve patients with uncomplicated transposition of the great arteries were operated upon in the first month of life following an initial Rashkind procedure. They were all in a clinically unacceptable condition and were mostly acidotic or bad mixers without acidosis. Two patients died postoperatively from a cerebral haemorrhage not discovered prior to operation. One patient died 5 months postoperatively from bronchiolitis. At postoperative follow-up, all patients were asymptomatic. Cardiac catheterization showed that 1 patient had a significant upper caval vein stenosis, 2 patients had small atrial shunts, and 1 patient had an unimportant pulmonary stenosis. Innocent atrial rhythm disturbances were encountered in 1 case only, whereas 9 patients had normal sinus rhythm at the last examination. The Senning operation remains a good alternative for transposition repair in the neonate. PMID- 2627446 TI - Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Late follow-up after ventricular myotomy myectomy. AB - A series of 25 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, isolated or associated with minor anomalies, were operated upon using a modified Morrow's procedure. The indication for operation was based on either the presence of severe symptoms despite treatment with beta-blocking agents, or a significant peak gradient of over 50 mmHg even in asymptomatic patients. All patients survived and none was lost to follow-up. Long-term results were evaluated with 2 dimensional echocardiography. Surgical versus pharmacological treatment is discussed, with particular consideration given to paediatric patients. PMID- 2627447 TI - Operative treatment of infective endocarditis in children. AB - A retrospective review of 11 children, aged 2 months to 15 years, demonstrates the feasibility of surgical treatment for infective endocarditis in childhood. Except for one case of perinatal infection, in all instances the infective endocarditis was a complication of a congenital heart defect. As medical treatment was not successful, surgery was indicated. Debridement of infected tissue and repair of the congenital heart defect was performed. There were no septic complications postoperatively although 8 patients were operated upon during the active stage of infection. One 2-month-old child did not survive excision of an infected tricuspid valve. The follow-up period of 8 years to 5 months (median 39 months) showed a good haemodynamic result (NYHA class I) in the remaining 10 patients. This included 4 patients with prosthetic valves. PMID- 2627448 TI - The role of computed tomography in assessing the operability of oesophageal carcinoma. AB - The reliability of CT scanning in assessing resectability in carcinoma of the oesophagus was investigated prospectively by direct comparison with the operative findings. Over 11 months, 38 patients judged potentially operable following conventional investigation underwent CT scanning from the thoracic inlet to the level of the adrenal glands. These patients were then explored surgically with a view to resection. The CT findings were assessed by two radiologists without access to clinical information. Operative findings were recorded by the surgeon. Comparison was made between the tomographic and surgical findings specifically assessing: longitudinal tumour extent, direct mediastinal infiltration, invasion of other mediastinal structures, lymph node involvement and the presence of hepatic and pulmonary metastases. The sensitivity and specificity of the scan for each feature was then calculated. Scan sensitivity was poor, ranging from 0% 66.7%. Specificity was better with a range of 70.8%-100% according to the criterion studied. We conclude that the poor sensitivity means that CT scanning is of little value in the preoperative assessment of resectability in oesophageal carcinoma. PMID- 2627449 TI - Surgical correction of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms with shunt or bypass techniques versus simple aortic cross-clamping. AB - Between June, 1972, and January, 1986, 57 patients underwent resection of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm using a shunt or bypass for distal aortic perfusion (group I, n = 29) or simple aortic cross-clamping, routinely used since mid-1983 (group II, n = 28). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean age of the patients: in group II it was 14 years higher than in group I (group I: 52.8 years, group II: 66.5 years). Of these 57 patients, 8 died in hospital (group I: 6 patients, group II: 2 patients). Hospital mortality was strongly related to preoperative rupture and the incidence of intraoperative complications. Postoperative paraplegia occurred in 3 patients, all in group I, and could be related to ligation of four or more intercostal arteries between T8 and T12. Postoperative renal failure, necessitating dialysis in 5 patients, was strongly related to intraoperative hypotension, and also to emergency procedures and pre-existing renal dysfunction. Intraoperative haemorrhage occurred more often using shunting or bypass techniques. Mortality, paraplegia and renal failure showed a decreasing trend after abandoning the use of adjunctive perfusion. PMID- 2627450 TI - Experiences with closed chest, temporary atrio-arterial, ventricular bypass with a centrifugal pump after open heart surgery. AB - Twelve patients with refractory myocardial failure following open heart surgery were treated with a temporary left (10), right (1) or biventricular (1) assist circuits driven by extracorporeal pumps. Ten of 11 patients were weaned from the pump oxygenator. During left ventricular assist, maximal pump flow was 2.2 +/- 0.6 l/min per m2 at a cardiac index of 2.5 +/- 0.9 l/min per m2. Diuresis was above 1 ml/kg body weight per h in 7 of 9 patients perfused for 13-36 h. Seven patients were weaned from the assist pump after 13-33 h of ventricular bypass with 4 hospital survivors. Two patients died after circulatory assistance of multiple organ failure, 1 from cerebral damage. In the other patients, the main problems were cardiac. Three patients are currently long term survivors 12-17 months after surgery. PMID- 2627451 TI - Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients 70 years of age and older. Early and late results. AB - Ninety-four patients 70 years of age and older underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between 1979 and 1985. Thirty-two percent were females. An internal mammary artery was used in 49% and concomitant cardiac procedures were performed in 51% of the operations. Early mortality was 12%. Five of 11 early deaths were from non-cardiac causes: ascending aortic disease (2), cerebral damage (2) and septicaemia (1). Postoperative morbidity included neurological complications in 16%, reoperation for bleeding in 12%, mediastinitis or sternal dehiscence in 4% and perioperative acute myocardial infarction in 4%. At follow up, a median of 2.5 years after surgery, 83% were completely free from angina, 5% much improved, 9% improved and 3% had unchanged symptoms of angina. Actuarial survival, inclusive of early mortality, was 84% at 3 years. Female sex and concomitant cardiac surgery were common in elderly patients who had CABG. Early mortality from noncardiac causes and postoperative morbidity were increased but dramatic relief of symptoms was achieved in the majority of survivors. PMID- 2627452 TI - Evaluation for left ventricular aneurysm resection: a prospective study of clinical and haemodynamic characteristics. AB - A consecutive series of 97 patients with a left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) was evaluated for aneurysmectomy. A wide range in left ventricular (LV) function was found. Angina pectoris was the primary indication (51%) in 55 patients who were operated upon, whereas poor LV function was the main reason (67%) for rejecting surgery in 42 patients. Operative mortality was 9% and exclusively seen in patients with congestive heart failure and/or sustained ventricular arrhythmias. Functional status improved from (NYHA) 3.0 +/- 0.7 to 2.3 +/- 0.5 (P less than 0.0001) after surgery, while haemodynamics at rest remained unchanged. In the medically treated group, 10 patients underwent heart transplantation without mortality during follow-up. Of the remaining 32, 7 had died (22%), all with severely impaired LV function. The best prognosis with no deaths was observed in the 14 medically treated patients with moderate complaints and well preserved LV function. Those with poor LV function and/or ventricular arrhythmias had a poor prognosis whether they were treated medically or by conventional aneurysm surgery. In young selected patients with a short life expectancy, heart transplantation may represent an alternative. PMID- 2627453 TI - "Sore buttock syndrome": aseptic inflammation of the gluteal region following cardiopulmonary bypass. AB - Aseptic inflammation of the gluteal region is a not uncommon cause of early postoperative morbidity following open heart surgery in our patients. We believe that this condition may result from local ischaemia induced by pressure during the period of reduced perfusion on cardiopulmonary bypass. To date, this complication has not been described. PMID- 2627454 TI - Rupture of a calcified true left ventricular aneurysm: echocardiographic diagnosis and successful repair. AB - This report describes a rupture of a calcified left ventricular aneurysm 10 years after initial infarction. Operation 10 days after rupture was complicated by extensive ventricular calcification, in particular, the ventricular septum. Repair was achieved by endocardial resection of calcium, preservation of the myocardium and linear approximation. PMID- 2627455 TI - One-stage correction of congenital heart disease and complex rhythm disorders. AB - In an 8-month-old baby, one-stage correction of an atrial septal defect, multiple right and left atrial aneurysms and non-paroxysmal ectopic right atrial tachycardia was performed. An ectopic focus of atrial tachycardia was localized by a pre- and intraoperative electrophysiological study. Postoperatively, the patient's clinical status improved significantly. PMID- 2627456 TI - In vitro thrombolysis of thrombosed valve prostheses: therapeutic considerations of left-sided thrombotic lesions. AB - Six thrombosed Bjork-Shiley mitral valve prostheses which had been removed in emergency reoperations between November 1985 and December 1986 underwent in vitro thrombolysis with urokinase. After a mean period of 14 +/- 3 h of in vitro fibrinolysis, lysis of thrombus was observed, but large fragments of organized thrombus were released into the medium, suggesting that thrombolytic therapy should not be used for thrombotic occlusions on the left side of the heart, as the risk of systemic embolization is high. PMID- 2627457 TI - Thoughts on atrial myxoma. PMID- 2627458 TI - Hemolysis and the St. Jude Medical valve. PMID- 2627459 TI - Survival following pulmonary metastasectomy. AB - One hundred and fifty-six thoracic operations have been performed over an 8-year period, from 1980 to 1987, for 118 patients with pulmonary metastases. In 27 instances, the disease has been bilateral requiring a midline approach or sequential lateral thoracotomies. Resection was achieved by wedge excision in 74%, lobectomy in 16%, pneumonectomy in 4%, lobectomy plus wedge excision in 2%, bilobectomy in 1%, segmentectomy in 2% and segmentectomy plus wedge excision in 1%. The operative mortality for the group as a whole was 1.6% per patient (70% confidence limits CL. 0.6%-4.2%) and 1.2% per operation (70% CL. 0.5-3.2%). Actuarial survival for the histological subgroups at 2 and 5 years were: carcinoma 50% (+/- 11% standard error) and 35% (+/- 12%), sarcoma 59% (+/- 10%) and 51% (+/- 12%), teratoma 89% (+/- 5%) and 84% (+/- 7%) respectively. No patient following resection for metastatic melanoma was alive at 2 years. The survival in the teratoma group was significantly higher than in the other groups (P less than 0.001 carcinoma; P less than 0.01 sarcoma; P less than 0.001 melanoma). Survival in all groups was significantly greater than for the melanoma group. Metastasectomy is well tolerated by the patient. Worthwhile longterm survival is obtained in those patients in whom the primary disease has been controlled and all secondary disease is encompassed by the proposed surgery. PMID- 2627460 TI - Left ventricular function, tricuspid incompetence, and incidence of coronary artery disease late after orthotopic heart transplantation. AB - Functional results and data concerning the incidence and severity of graft atherosclerosis (GASC) and tricuspid incompetence (TI) in the intermediate term after orthotopic heart transplantation (HTX) are still striking. We examined 92 patients 1, 2, and 3 years after HTX by right and left heart catheterization in order to evaluate pump function, the status of the coronary arteries and the extend of TI, using a double indicator thermodilation technique. Mean left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were normal 1 and 2 years post transplant. The incidence of GASC was 8/87 (9.2%) at 1, and 11/92 (12%) at 2 years. It was more frequent (16%) in patients with preexisting coronary artery disease (IHD) than in patients with underlying dilative cardiomyopathy (DCM) (11%). At the end of the 1st postoperative year, 62% of patients were free of TI, whereas only 38% had normal valve function 2 years posttransplant. In 9/14 (64%) of patients, consecutively assessed at 1 and 2 years, TI had increased between both investigations. Preoperative haemodynamics, the number of endomyocardial biopsies and rejection episodes as well as preoperative cardiac size did not correlate with TI. Left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction are normal in the intermediate term after HTX. The incidence of GASC was less than 10% at 1 year and did not significantly increase thereafter. TI is a frequent and yet unexplained finding after HTX showing a considerable tendency to increase with time, but with little or not haemodynamic consequence. PMID- 2627461 TI - Late failure of systemic ventricle after atrial correction for transposition of great arteries. AB - The incidence of late systemic ventricular failure (SVF) was determined in 220 early survivors of atrial correction for transposition of great arteries (TGA), operated upon between 1964 and 1985. SVF was defined as either severe heart failure (NYHA class III or IV) or death due to the same cause, in the absence of other haemodynamic disturbances. The actuarial survival rate was 96% after 1, 94% after 5 and 87% after 10 years. SVF occurred in 16/220 patients (7.2%). SVF was more common in complex TGA (TGA + VSD or PS or both) with 11/99 patients (11%) than in simple TGA with 5/121 patients (4.1%), P less than 0.01. Actuarial freedom from SVF was 97% at 5, and 92.5% at 10 years. SVF caused 10/25 (40%) late deaths. SVF occurred from the 1st postoperative year up to 20 years after correction (average interval 6.3 years). In 1 of 2 patients a systemic atrioventricular (AV) valve annuloplasty did not improve SVF. Heart transplantation was performed in 2 patients and 1 is on the waiting list. SVF is a rare late complication of atrial correction for TGA with a constant incidence in the late course. SVF is more common in complex TGA. PMID- 2627462 TI - Iatrogenic, unexpected and other vascular rings in children. AB - Between May 1955 and July 1987, 33 children with a vascular ring compression syndrome were treated at this institution. There were 4 iatrogenic, 2 unexpectedly found and 27 symptomatic congenital vascular rings. Accurate diagnosis is based on a water soluble iodine contrast dye oesophagogram, bronchoscopy and angiography which are complementary examinations. All symptomatic congenital vascular rings were treated successfully without mortality, but the mortality was 50% if the lesion was iatrogenic in origin or unexpectedly found during palliative or corrective cardiac surgery. PMID- 2627463 TI - Cardioplegia: relation of myocardial protection to infusion volume and duration. AB - Clinically, initial infusion volumes of crystalloid cardioplegic solution are relatively low (500-1000 ml or 2-4 ml/g myocardium) compared to those used experimentally. In particular, rat hearts (in which many clinical solutions have been developed and evaluated) commonly use 20-30 ml/g myocardium (equivalent to 5.0-7.5 l in human heart). We used the isolated working rat heart to characterise the relationships between myocardial protection and (a) infusion duration, and (b) infusion volume of St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution (STH), Hearts were aerobically perfused (20 min) and subjected to varying durations of STH infusion (0-300 s) prior to normothermic global ischaemia (30 min). During reperfusion, maximal recovery of cardiac output occurred when infusion durations exceeded 30 s and infusion volumes exceeded 5.0 ml/g myocardium. To assess infusion volume rather than duration, hearts were infused with 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 ml of STH for 120 s. Optimal recovery of cardiac output required 2.0 ml/g myocardium for 120 s. To assess infusion duration with low infusion volumes, 2.0 ml STH/g myocardium was infused for 10, 30, 60 and 120 s; optimal recovery of cardiac output occurred with infusions of 30 s or longer. Thus, even in the rat heart, optimal protection with STH can be achieved by infusion at a volume of 2.0 ml/g myocardium for a duration of not less than 30 s, similar to that now in current clinical use. PMID- 2627464 TI - Retinal microembolism and neuropsychological deficit following clinical cardiopulmonary bypass: comparison of a membrane and a bubble oxygenator. A preliminary communication. AB - To observe and quantify cerebrovascular microembolic events in the central nervous system during cardiopulmonary bypass, 40 patients having elective uncomplicated coronary surgery had retinal fluorescein angiograms 5 min before bypass was discontinued. Each patient also had 10 neuropsychological tests before and after surgery. A Harvey H1700 bubble oxygenator was used for 23 patients and a Cobe CML sheet membrane oxygenator was used for 17 patients. All 23 (100%) of patients in the bubble oxygenator group had retinal microvascular occlusions consistent with microembolism compared to 8/17 (47%) in the membrane oxygenator group (P less than 0.001). In those retinas with occlusions, the mean resultant area of non-perfusion was less in the membrane oxygenator group (0.11 mm2; n = 8) than in the bubble oxygenator group (0.29 mm2; P less than 0.01). Arterial PO2 levels during bypass were similar in both groups at moderate hypothermia, but the mean PaO2 during rewarming was higher in the bubble oxygenator group (27 kPa) than in the membrane group (13 kPa; P less than 0.001). Neuropsychological deficits were more common and more severe after bubble oxygenation than after membrane oxygenation, but in this small patient group, the difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that flat sheet membrane oxygenation during cardiopulmonary bypass may confer significant protection against cerebrovascular microembolism. PMID- 2627465 TI - Inotropic effect of triiodothyronine (T3) in low cardiac output following cardioplegic arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass: an initial experience in patients undergoing open heart surgery. AB - A significant reduction in plasma free triiodothyronine (T3) (P less than 0.0001) has been observed in patients undergoing open heart surgery. The beneficial effect of T3 would appear to be associated with increased synthesis and utilization of myocardial high energy stores. We have therefore administered T3 (4-10 micrograms iv) to 10 patients either when difficulty was being experienced in weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) support (n = 5), or when myocardial function remained extremely poor (n = 5), despite inotropic and intraaortic balloon pump support. Mean preoperative NYHA functional class of the 10 patients was 3.2, left ventricular enddiastolic pressure (LVEDP) 20 mm Hg and ejection fraction (EF) 40%. The mean myocardial ischaemia time was 72 min (range 40-120 min). Within 1 h of T3 administration the mean plasma free T3 level had risen from 1.03 to 3.56 micrograms/ml and CPB was discontinued in all 5 cases. Balloon pump support (n = 2) was no longer essential within 3 h. At 1 h, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) had risen from 42 to 78 mm Hg, and heart rate (HR) from 90 to 104 beats/min; the left atrial pressure (LAP) had fallen from 30 to 14 mm Hg, and the central venous pressure (CVP) from 20 to 11 cm H2O. (All changes significant at P less than 0.0001.) Inotropic support had been significantly reduced or discontinued. To our knowledge, T3 has not been administered previously as an inotropic agent to patients who have undergone cardiac surgery. We believe that T3 may have an important role in the rescue of failing hearts following a period of myocardial ischaemia in patients who have undergone open heart surgery. PMID- 2627466 TI - Cardiac surgery in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) carriers. AB - Intravenous drug addicts have always been at risk for acquiring infective endocarditis. In the United States in recent years, as many as 50% of addicts have become infected also with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since testing became available in late 1984, we have knowingly performed open cardiac surgery for endocarditis 11 times in HIV-positive patients. In 7, signs of infection were still presented at the time of surgery. Four died within 2 months of continued or recurrent sepsis. The others are alive, although 1 has returned to IV drug abuse. Open heart surgery was performed 4 times in patients whose endocarditis had been cured by antibiotics but who were left with destroyed valves and severe congestive cardiac failure. All these patients left hospital alive and well. One has since died of AIDS. Ten addicts with endocarditis coming to surgery in the pre-AIDS era had similar valvular pathology but only 2 with uncontrolled infection. All were cured by the combination of antibiotics and surgery. CONCLUSIONS: in HIV-positive patients with endocarditis, continued sepsis despite appropriate antibiotic therapy signals a potentially very serious prognosis which may be due to an already seriously impaired immune state. By contrast, in the absence of uncontrolled infection, HIV-positive patients appear to have a normal response to open cardiac surgery. Data on the risk to the patient of progressing to AIDS and the risk to the surgical team of acquiring HIV infection are unknown. Testing is vital for answering these questions. PMID- 2627467 TI - Post-infarction ventricular septal defect: the importance of right ventricular coronary perfusion in determining surgical outcome. AB - Mortality from a post-infarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) can be reduced by surgery, selection for which would be helped by knowledge of factors affecting the postoperative prognosis. We reviewed our 9-year experience (1978-1987) of 40 surgically treated patients, comparing preoperative characteristics in those who died postoperatively (n = 15, 37%) and those who survived (n = 25, 63%), all still alive. Sex, age, infarct size as assessed by peak serum creatine kinase values, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and pulmonary/systemic flow ratio (2.9 +/- 0.2 vs 3.1 +/- 0.3) were similar. Survivors had a lower incidence of inferior infarct than those who died (6, 24% vs 9, 60%, P less than 0.05), a lower incidence of cardiogenic shock (7, 28% vs 10, 67%, P less than 0.05), less elevation of right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (10.1 +/- 0.9 vs 14.7 +/- 1.0 mm Hg, P less than 0.01) and less impairment of right ventricular coronary supply as determined by a coronary angiography-derived myocardial score (0.9 +/- 0.3 vs 4.7 +/- 0.7, P less than 0.001). The data suggest that right ventricular coronary perfusion influences prognosis. The proposed angiographic score may help to identify preoperatively those patients most likely to benefit from surgery. PMID- 2627468 TI - Influence of incremental preoperative risk factors on the perioperative outcome of patients undergoing emergency versus urgent coronary artery bypass grafting. AB - A retrospective analysis of 127 patients with impending myocardial infarction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting was performed to evaluate incremental risk factors associated with perioperative mortality and morbidity. Fifty-four patients (group 1) were operated upon as emergencies within 24 h and 73 patients underwent urgent coronary revascularization within a mean of 3.4 days (group II) after admission. The incidence of non-transmural myocardial infarctions (NTMI), haemodynamic parameters, the number of diseased vessels and the incidence of a preceding percutaneous coronary dilatation (PTCA) were not statistically different between the groups. The overall perioperative mortality was 8.7% (16.7% group I, 2.7% group II). Major non-fatal complications were frequent in the surviving collective including low cardiac output in 14 patients (12.1%) and transmural or subendocardial perioperative infarction in 12 patients (10.3%). Perioperative mortality was associated with reduced left ventricular myocardial function (P less than 0.001), operation within 24 hr after onset of anginal symptoms (P less than 0.001) or subendocardial infarction (P less than 0.025) in the 4 weeks before operation. Perioperative mortality was independent of the degree of coronary stenosis, number of distal anastomoses or performance of a coronary endarterectomy. Of the patients, 90.5% (87.5% of group I and 92.3% of group II) included in a mean follow-up of 16.8 months (range 5-27 months) were graded into Canadian Heart Functional Class I. Successful coronary surgery for acute myocardial ischaemia results in excellent late functional recovery. The major risk factors for fatal perioperative outcome are reduced left ventricular function and the necessity of every early surgical intervention. PMID- 2627469 TI - Combined heart and kidney transplantation using the same donor. AB - A 45-year-old man received a combined heart and kidney transplant provided by the same donor. The patient was in the terminal stage of renal failure and was submitted to 3 sessions of haemodialysis per week for 2 years before transplantation. A dilated cardiomyopathy with severe impairment of left ventricular (LV) function was discovered, precluding renal transplantation alone. In the postoperative course, a cardiac rejection episode was detected by echocardiography and documented by endomyocardial biopsy; no simultaneous rejection of the kidney could be detected. The patient was discharged after 2 months, and he resumed a normal and active life. The specific problems raised by the management of such multi-organ transplantation are briefly reviewed. PMID- 2627470 TI - Cardiac phaeochromocytoma of the interatrial septum. AB - A patient with a phaeochromocytoma arising from the interatrial septum is reported. A 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scan and magnetic resonance imaging were useful for tumour localization. Complete removal of the tumour in the right atrium was performed on cardiopulmonary bypass. The right atrial wall and the interatrial septum were reconstructed with two patches. This is the first successful operation for an intracardiac phaeochromocytoma arising from the interatrial septum. PMID- 2627471 TI - Pulmonary hamartoma presenting 40 years after lobectomy and thoracoplasty for tuberculosis. AB - We report a case of giant pulmonary hamartoma found in a patient who had undergone lobectomy and thoracoplasty 40 years previously. This particular case may be consistent with the theory of hamartomas as acquired lesions. PMID- 2627472 TI - Reporting the results of heart valve surgery. PMID- 2627473 TI - The superior approach to the mitral valve--is it worthwhile? PMID- 2627475 TI - Guidelines on eicosanoid nomenclature. PMID- 2627474 TI - Management of proximal oesophageal stricture. AB - Thirty-two patients with proximal oesophageal stricture who were treated under one surgeon (K.M.) during a 17-year period are reviewed. The cause of the stricture in these cases was widely varied and included: gastro-oesophageal reflux (Barrett-type oesophagus), radiotherapy and post-surgical anastomosis following oesophageal reconstruction. Seventeen patients were treated by repeated endoscopic dilatation. Of the remaining 15, 3 patients only (1 with suspected malignancy and 2 with occult cancer) needed resection and reconstruction of the oesophagus. Twelve patients underwent simple conservative operations. There was no hospital or treatment related mortality in this series. We concluded that the majority of such strictures respond to repeated endoscopic dilatation or conservative surgical operation. It is mandatory to exclude malignancy in obstructive lesions of the proximal oesophagus and it is important to establish the aetiology of the lesion in order to undertake the most appropriate treatment. PMID- 2627476 TI - [Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis as the primary manifestation of a carcinoma of probable renal origin]. AB - Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) is commonly observed in malignant lymphoproliferative diseases (leukemias and lymphomas), and it can rarely be the presenting feature of a solid tumour. The types of tumour most commonly associated with that condition are breast, lung and gastrointestinal carcinomas and malignant melanoma. We report a patient with a carcinoma of probable renal origin who presented with meningeal carcinomatosis, without any symptom attributable to the initial tumour. We review and discuss the diagnostic criteria, the pathophysiology and the therapeutic outlook of this relatively uncommon type of metastatic disease. PMID- 2627477 TI - [Long-term survival with radiologic regression in a case of left thalamic astrocytoma in a child treated with aspiration biopsy and radiotherapy]. PMID- 2627478 TI - [Influence of migration on the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in a high-risk area]. PMID- 2627479 TI - [Headache secondary to an extradural cyst after lumbar disk surgery]. PMID- 2627480 TI - [Mitral valve prolapse and cerebral ischemia. The point of view of the cardiologist]. PMID- 2627481 TI - [Mitral valve prolapse and cerebral ischemia]. AB - We report on 10 patients suffering from cerebral ischemic episodes in whom mitral valve prolapse was diagnosed. Neurologic assessment included computerized tomography and angiographic study. In one case, the angiographic study revealed the presence of intracranial vasculitis and one woman was taking the contraceptive pill. The diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse was established on the basis of clinical grounds and electrocardiographic, Doppler study, Holter monitoring and two-dimensional echocardiographic signs. Our findings confirm that mitral valve prolapse is an etiologic factor to be considered in young adults with cerebral ischemia, although mitral valve prolapse does not exclude the possibility of other etiopathogenic conditions occurring. PMID- 2627482 TI - [Infectious meningitis in the adult: 3-year clinical experience]. AB - In order to establish the epidemiologic features of infectious meningitis in the adult population in our environment, the experience of the Department of Neurology of the Hospital del Rey during the 3-year period, from 1984 to 1986, has been analyzed. Three-hundred-ninety episodes were handled, of which, 51% were acute bacterial meningitis, 45% were acute lymphocytic meningitis, 26% were tuberculous meningitis, 1% were brucellar meningitis and 0.5% were due to Candida albicans. Acute bacterial meningitis predominated in winter, whereas acute lymphocytic meningitis predominated in summer (p less than 0.001). Forty-seven percent of acute bacterial meningitis were due to Neisseria meningitidis and 14.5% of acute lymphocytic meningitis with virologic study, were due to Herpesviridae. The mortality rate of acute bacterial meningitis was 8.5% and that of tuberculous meningitis was 10%. In order to emphasize the importance of these processes, the main epidemiologic data are compared with that of other studies. PMID- 2627483 TI - [Neuroepidemiology as an area of research]. PMID- 2627484 TI - [Carotid artery disease induced by irradiation]. AB - We have evaluated 39 patients with ischemic strokes secondary to atherosclerotic disease of the extracranial carotid artery. Seven of them had been treated in the past with cervical radiotherapy for neoplastic diseases (radiotherapy group); the remaining 32 patients had not received radiation therapy (non-radiotherapy group). When the prevalence of risk factors was compared between the two groups, there was a significantly higher prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (p less than 0.05), hypertension (p less than 0.05) and atherogenicity index lower than 21.5% (p less than 0.05) in the non-radiotherapy group. Regarding angiographic data, the radiotherapy group showed a significantly higher occurrence of localized findings than the non-radiotherapy group (p less than 0.005). It is concluded that radiation-induced carotid disease is a clinical condition which may be individualized from the remaining patients with atherosclerotic carotid artery disease. PMID- 2627485 TI - [Hematologic alterations and reduction in serum folate in epileptics treated with anticonvulsants]. AB - A prospective study of the incidence of toxic hematologic effects of antiepileptic drugs was carried out in a series of 104 epileptic patients treated with phenytoin alone or combined with other drugs, and in 30 patients treated with other anticonvulsants. A slight decrease in hemoglobin values and a slight increase in mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin was observed in both groups. These changes are typical of the hyperchromatic megaloblastic anemias, although a statistically significant relationship between folates and hemoglobin could not be established. Moreover, we found leukopenia and lymphopenia in the group treated with hydantoins, and moderate eosinophilia in both groups. Changes in metabolism of vitamin B12 and folate were frequent, with decreased values in more than 30% of patients. A significant inverse correlation was observed between serum levels of folates and phenytoin, which suggests a direct toxic effect of the drug. No major dyscrasias were noticed. PMID- 2627486 TI - [Ambulatory neurological care outside of the hospital. Analysis of the demand registered during 18 months in a neurological outpatient clinic]. AB - The major data from the care demand in a neurological outpatient clinic in the south area of Madrid are reported. 8.9 patients per 1,000 inhabitants are seen. The frequency of visits to this clinic is higher in females and with advancing age. More than one-half of the patients are diagnosed as having conditions not necessarily representing organic neurological disease. It is concluded that a better selection of the patients referred to this clinic should be adequate, as the number of neurologists per 100,000 inhabitants available in this country is not sufficient to care for so high an outpatient care demand. PMID- 2627487 TI - [The state of muscle cramp disease]. AB - A 65-year-old man presented with daily, almost continuous muscle cramps and painless muscle contractions eight years after being diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis. Both cramps and contractions were present at rest, were accentuated by stress and disappeared during sleep. By night-fall the patient was plunged into an extremely disabling condition due to the continuous cramps present in the orofacial, trunk, neck and limb musculature. He even had difficulty speaking. EMG studies demonstrated that both cramps and painless contractions appeared synchronously in muscles innervated by different peripheral nerves. A state of central hyperexcitability is the probable cause of this clinical picture which has remained unchanged over the last six years. PMID- 2627488 TI - [Brucellosis and acute inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy]. AB - Three patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) during active brucellosis are reported: in one of them, who had an unfavorable outcome, the clinical features, the neurophysiological studies and the sural nerve biopsy were consistent with the axonal form of GBS. In the remaining two patients, who had a satisfactory course, the neurophysiological studies and the sural nerve biopsy disclosed the demyelinating character of the disease. We agree with other authors that the axonal and demyelinating forms of GBS should be separated, in view of their different clinical and possibly pathogenetic implications, both in GBS in general and in the form associated with brucellosis. PMID- 2627489 TI - [The alveolo-arterial oxygen gradient in the management of the neurologic patient]. PMID- 2627490 TI - [Methodology and case-control studies. Apropos of the OFRA study]. PMID- 2627491 TI - [The process of adaptation for relatives of cancer patients]. AB - The purpose of this study was to explain the adaptation process of a family member of a cancer patient. The theoretical frameworks were the stress- and adaptation theories. The study was implemented by interviewing one family member of each of the 15 cancer patients in question. The interviews were recorded and the material was analyzed. For all of them the family member's taking ill was a shock. Ten of the test persons reacted physiologically. All of them used problem focused coping methods and almost all of them emotion focused coping methods as well. Every test person had received social support from other family members, relatives, and friends. Family members had received little support from the care personnel. Six interviewees were informed by them. One of them considered it sufficient. More than a half of the interviewees told that they would have needed mental support from the care personnel. None of the test persons had been asked by the care personnel if they wanted to talk about their situation. Two of them had asked for this themselves. One fourth of them stated that they had adapted to the situation well/very well. PMID- 2627493 TI - [Nursing sciences--what is it? Inauguration]. PMID- 2627492 TI - [Young persons's personal experiences in student counseling and health care]. AB - The aim of the study was to clarify the present student counseling and school health care of young people who have experienced difficulties at school. The aim was to enlighten the multidimensionality of their personal experiences and to understand the fundamentals of student counseling and school health care from this perspective. The theoretical basis of the study was in Rogers' and Parse's theories of nursing. In these theories man is viewed as a unitary being in continuous mutual interrelationship with the environment. The research method was phenomenological and the research material consists of theme interviews. Nine young people, aged 15-16 years, who had experienced difficulties at school and the student counselors and the health care personnel at their school were interviewed. Many difficulties were entangled together in the young peoples lives. The professionals had different viewpoints on the personal experiences of the young people based on their different beliefs about man. It was not possible to differentiate exactly the tasks of the different professions. The study gives evidence of the importance of observating the personal experiences of the young people in their entirety in school nursing and in student counseling. From this basis health promotion could be possible. PMID- 2627494 TI - [The cognitive complexity of nursing knowledge in nursing students. Analysis of studies performed in the years 1984 and 1988]. AB - In the article the knowledge-structure of nursing students from 1984 and 1988 is compared, by using exam-answers in psychiatric and surgical nursing (N = 110). The purpose is to find out, if the first students with the new curriculum differ in their knowledge-structure. The structure is analyzed with the concept of cognitive complexity which includes working capacity and relating-operations. The result is that the students in both years have capacity, but they lack relating operations. In psychiatric nursing the somatic side is seldom mentioned; in surgical nursing the disease is the focus. The health-perspective cannot be seen in the answers. The result shows problems in reaching the objectives of nursing education. The frame of analysis could be used in qualitative student-assessment. Generalizations cannot be made, because of the size of the sample and the different structure of education in student groups. PMID- 2627495 TI - [The social skills of long-term psychiatric patients--a challenge for nursing practice]. AB - The social skills of long-term psychiatric patients were chosen as one of the subjects to be evaluated in a study of the results of a development programme carried out in the psychiatric hospitals of North Hame mental health care district in 1986-1988. Attention was paid to the patients' social skills, because earlier studies have shown that many long-term patients would be able to live outside institutions if they could manage their daily activities. Improving the patients' skills was regarded as a challenge for nursing practice. Their development was followed for a period of 18 months and the sample consisted of 121 patients and selected randomly from 12 wards. Every six months, the social skills of the patients were assessed separately by the nursing staff and the patients themselves. The patients' skills improved considerably in the course of the development programme, as intensive and systematic action was taken in the nursing unit to further their rehabilitation. However, the patients proved unable to maintain these newly acquired skills without constant support from the nursing staff or the community. The patients had a higher opinion of their skills than the nursing staff. In the development programme, this evaluation of social skills utilized to construct an individual rehabilitation plan for each patients. PMID- 2627496 TI - [Nursing education research]. AB - This article examines the need of the study in nursing education in Finland. The aim of study in nursing education is to produce body of knowledge for planning and teaching nursing care at nursing colleges. We need evaluative research of curriculum because nursing education is undergoing a great change. The study of nursing education have three levels; basic research level, applied research level and level of conclusions. The latest level belongs to all teachers at nursing colleges because it guides development of teaching in nursing care. PMID- 2627497 TI - Optimal conditions for the toxoiding of pertussis toxin with 1-ethyl-3(3 dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide.HCl. AB - The optimal conditions for toxoiding a pertussis toxin (PT) preparation with 1 ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide.HCl (EDAC) were determined. The prime factor affecting the toxoiding of PT was the EDAC to protein ratio. A ratio of 40 80: 1 EDAC to protein by weight was optimal for abolishing the acute toxicity, histamine-sensitising and leucocytosis-promoting activities associated with PT, whilst maintaining the antigenicity of the vaccine antigens. An EDAC-toxoid also manifested no late histamine-sensitising activity. Duration of exposure to EDAC, temperature and pH value of the reaction were found not to be critical for toxoiding. The data indicated that the use of EDAC for toxoiding PT in a B. pertussis extract is a simple and reproducible procedure and should be considered as a method for the production of acellular pertussis vaccines. PMID- 2627498 TI - Release of Vi antigens from Salmonella typhi: implications for virulence and diagnosis. AB - The release of Vi antigens from three clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi was measured by a Vi-specific monoclonal antibody. Large quantities of Vi antigens were detected in the culture supernates from all three strains using either passive latex agglutination or rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Vi antigens were also detected in broth cultures of S. typhi containing about 10(5) cells/ml using the sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The significance of this finding in relationship to the virulence and the diagnosis of S. typhi was discussed. PMID- 2627499 TI - Outer membrane proteins as major antigens of Fusobacterium nucleatum. AB - The immunochemical reactions of rabbit polyclonal antibodies directed to different preparations of Fusobacterium nucleatum i.e, whole cells, peptidoglycan associated proteins, a peptidoglycan-protein complex and a purified 40 kiloDalton (kDa) protein, were investigated on outer membrane preparations of Fusobacterium species and a restricted number of Leptotrichia buccalis after their separation on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gels and electrotransfer to nitrocellulose. All F. nucleatum strains had identical reaction patterns with the immune sera tested. Surface exposed parts of a restricted number of proteins with apparent molecular weights at 70 kDa (a doublet band), 60 kDa, 55 kDa and 40 kDa seemed to be major immunogens. Antigenic related proteins either of identical or slightly deviating electrophoretic mobilities to the 40-kDa protein were observed with the other members of Bacteroidaceae tested. The characteristic 70-kDa protein doublet seemed to be restricted to F. nucleatum although single protein bands of near identical molecular weights belonging to the other species tested also reacted. The data also indicate that the 60-kDa and 55-kDa polypeptides might be present in other species of Fusobacterium. PMID- 2627500 TI - Immunogenic endotoxin associated protein from a rough strain of Salmonella. AB - A multimolecular complex of polypeptides found associated with the lipopolysaccharide endotoxin in Salmonella, referred to as endotoxin-associated protein (EP), has been extracted from a rough strain of Salmonella typhimurium which does not synthesize 0 antigens. Since standard methods of extraction applicable to smooth strains of Salmonella were not successful for this rough strain, two modified procedures were developed. The resulting products were similar to smooth EP in terms of their biochemical, physical and mitogenic properties. When the immunogenicity of the rough EP was characterized by a protection assay in mice challenged with virulent Salmonella, it was found that the rough EP preparations were protective; however, they were not as active as the EP from a smooth strain of S. typhimurium. PMID- 2627501 TI - Immune response to BCG-Moreau (Rio de Janeiro) strain. Spectrum of delayed hypersensitivity in genetically defined mice. AB - Generation of delayed hypersensitivity (DTH) in genetically defined mice immunized with Mycobacterium bovis BCG of the Moreau (Rio de Janeiro) strain was studied. This vaccine strain has been reported as the most virulent and able to induce strong tuberculin sensitivity. Mice were selected by the expression of Bcg gene trait, by responsiveness to mycobacterial antigens and H2 haplotype. DTH was evaluated by the ear-swelling test of mice immunized subcutaneously with live BCG at doses ranging from 1 microgram to 1000 micrograms. A survey of inbred strains of mice showed H2b and H2q mice as high responders, H2d as an intermediate responder, H2k as a low responder and H2a as a non-responder. Study of H2 congenic pairs of high and non-responder strains showed significant DTH in all mice independently of the genetic background and H2 haplotype. A mouse strain expressing Bcg (r) trait displayed DTH superior to a Bcg (s) strain. Comparison of DTH response of strains expressing Bcg (r) or (s) trait showed no relationship between the Bcg locus and DTH to mycobacteria. These data suggest DTH is under polygenic control including the major histocompatibility complex but excluding the Bcg locus. PMID- 2627502 TI - First human isolate of Leptospira interrogans as serovar bratislava in Italy. AB - A strain of Leptospira interrogans was isolated from a patient suffering from leptospirosis and was typed by the Cross Agglutination Absorption test using monoclonal antibodies prepared against different serovars of the Australis serogroup. This newly isolated strain belonged to serovar bratislava. It is the first reported isolation from man, in Italy, of Leptospira bratislava, thus supporting the emerging role of this serovar in human leptospirosis. PMID- 2627503 TI - Guidelines for home air-fluidized bed therapy, 1989. AB - Air-fluidized bed therapy (AFBT) is a pressure-relief system that employs the principle of body "flotation" on fine ceramic beads which are set in motion by warm pressurized air. AFBT has been used in the management of pressure sores or severe burns in the institutional setting. The safety and effectiveness of AFBT in the treatment of pressure sores have been established by a randomized controlled clinical trial. Nonpublished information on home AFBT tends to support these findings. It is well accepted by the clinical community that home use of AFBT for the treatment of pressure sores in certain patients can be an alternative to hospitalization when ordered by a physician. Home use can be optimized by applying patient selection criteria and treatment protocol. Assistance by a trained caregiver or provider is essential in the home management of patients with pressure sores receiving AFBT. PMID- 2627504 TI - MRI in the abdomen and pelvis. PMID- 2627506 TI - Appendicitis. PMID- 2627505 TI - State of the art temporal bone imaging. PMID- 2627507 TI - State of the art oncological imaging. PMID- 2627508 TI - [The attic of the recessus epitympanicus. Its medicosurgical anatomy]. PMID- 2627509 TI - [The current status of vestibular examination in daily practice]. PMID- 2627510 TI - [Factors determining the choice of technic in surgical treatment of cholesteatoma]. AB - One hundred patients who underwent surgery using either an open or a closed technique for cholesteatoma removal were studied with the aim of establishing the criteria for deciding the choice of the surgical technique. It is clear that purely anatomical criteria, although valid, are insufficient. Results show that there are other elements such as the condition of mucosa, the presence of tubal dysfunction as well as the characteristics of the pathological condition like the clinical and surgical type of cholesteatoma, its location and extension which are as important as the anatomical considerations. Maximal risk groups for the occurrence of complications and failures (residual cholesteatoma, recurrence, reinfection, and probabilities of achieving success from a functional point of view) are established. Preoperative factors that can influence results are analyzed. It is concluded that the choice of a surgical technique--regarding both the surgical approach and type of reconstruction--has to be made intraoperatively, although once a decision is made the technique employed should be one perfectly standardized and included into one of the two possibilities: a closed technique (tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy, with or without subsequent tympanotomy and second surgical inspection after one year), and an open technique (removal and outpatient follow up). PMID- 2627511 TI - [The etiology of secretory otitis media]. AB - In this paper we pretend to study the incidence of the OMS according to age and sex, as the possible paper played by the hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil and the allergy of its production. We observe a mayor presentation between four and six years old, no difference occurs in relation to sex, and on important paper of the hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil in the etiology of the OMS superior to the roll played by the allergy. PMID- 2627512 TI - [Our current criteria in tympanoplasty surgery]. AB - The choice of surgical techniques has gone through a great evolution during the last few years in our service. Closed techniques were formally used in 80 per 100 of our operations (1974-1979) and now this has dropped to 12.5 per 100 (1979 1983) motivated by the failures we obtained with the closed techniques. This is similar to the observations of other services. We have determined the causes of failure to be related to: difficulties in dominating the surgical field, treatment of the cavity, or reconstruction of the walls. We present the antro exclusion attic elimination on demand (A.A.D) technique which is designed to resolve not only the elimination of the lesion, but also the cavity problem. We have also evaluated the possibility of reconstructing the mastoid and pneumatic cavities connected to the tympanic case. PMID- 2627513 TI - [Apropos of a case of recurrent meningitis]. AB - The recurrent meningitis associated with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea in a 4-year old boy was found to be due to simultaneous congenital defects. There was a dehiscence of the anterior fossa associated with congenital changes in the temporal bone, the petrous bone and the stapes. All these defects were visible including demineralization of the footplate stapes region. The high-resolution X ray CT served as a clear guide to the surgeon. PMID- 2627514 TI - [Cochleovestibular manifestations in hypothyroidism]. AB - An study of cochleo-vestibular disturbances in different kinds of hypothyroidism is carried out. The majority of the patients suffered from sensorineural deafness of the flat type, lacking Recruitment. The evoked potentials of the brainstem were normal, where as myogenic ones showed a decrease in their amplitude. Evident central disturbances appeared on vestibular examination and a saccadic pursuit was frequently observed in the tracking test. The topography of the lesions is discussed. PMID- 2627515 TI - [Prognostic study of Bell's facial paralysis]. AB - A prospective study was carried out to objectively quantify the most important predictor factors in idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy). Step-wise discriminant analysis was applied to data prospectively obtained from 570 patients with Bell's palsy treated in the ENT Department of La Paz Hospital between January 1983 and January 1986. In all, 37 variables were studied in each patient. With data obtained from these variables a linear discriminant function was obtained, with an overall accuracy of 95%. The rate of correct prediction is 95.8% for patients with an expected complete facial recovery, and 90.9% for the group of patients with an expected recovery of less than 100%. The discriminant function obtained is a well adaptable method for routine practice in order to objectively assess the prognosis of patients with Bell's palsy. Prognosis is one of the most challenging problems concerning idiopathic facial paralysis. The early determination of prognosis in Bell's palsy is the necessary basis for assessing the effect of different therapeutic approaches. A number of methods and parameters are used in the prognostic evaluation of Bell's palsy. To know the exact weight of each one of these factors in the determination of the course of the disease we have performed an statistical study by means of discriminant analysis (DA). PMID- 2627516 TI - [Innervation of the normal human nasal mucosa: a microscopic study]. PMID- 2627517 TI - [Nasal resistance studied in relation to sex and age by whole-body plethysmography]. PMID- 2627518 TI - [Malignant melanoma of the nasal and paranasal fossae: the experience of the Hospital Clinico y Provincial of Barcelona]. PMID- 2627519 TI - [Histologic study of the effect of the CO2 laser and the cicatrization of the tongue in the rat]. AB - In the present paper we analyze the effect of CO2 laser in the mouse tongue, in relation with the intensity and exposition time. We study the histology of the lesions and their healing. We show that with 15 w of intensity the effect is bigger tan supposed affecting nearly to the hole tongue. This experience make us to conclude that there is the possibility of harming the perichondrium and cartilage when using the laser in the laryngeal mucosa. PMID- 2627520 TI - [Bilateral laryngeal paralysis in adduction: therapeutic aspects]. AB - Fourteen patients with bilateral laryngeal paralysis in adduction were studied. Six of these patients were treated by arytenoidopexy and chordopexy, and the other 8 underwent endoscopic CO2 laser endoscopy. After comparison of the two groups we concluded that the latter technique yielded better respiratory and phonatory results than others previously used. PMID- 2627521 TI - [Pharyngolaryngeal reconstructive surgery]. AB - The RS has represented a very big advance in the present treatment of the malignant tumors, and has been applied mainly in the ones of the cervical region, in view of the incidence of this kind of tumors in this area of the organism, where the conjunction of the aerial tract and the digestive one, expounds a special kind problems. This work, includes a review of all the technics, and analyses the advantages and disadvantages, also includes concepts, indications and contraindications, and suitable materials for the reconstruction through microsurgical resources. PMID- 2627523 TI - Behold pattern. PMID- 2627522 TI - [Flow cytometry for the determination of DNA in head and neck carcinomas]. AB - The technique used for DNA determination in tumoral cells from carcinomas of head and neck is described. Results obtained are commented on as is too the future of this technique for the better understanding of the behavior of the tumor and consequently of its treatment. PMID- 2627524 TI - Some thoughts on AIDS. PMID- 2627525 TI - Vital signs in the Science of Unitary Human Beings. PMID- 2627526 TI - Two human fields are one during pregnancy. PMID- 2627527 TI - The theory of sentience evolution: a practice-level theory of sleeping, waking, and beyond waking patterns based on the Science of Unitary Human Beings. PMID- 2627528 TI - The Timeless Moment. PMID- 2627529 TI - Spirituality within the Science of Unitary Human beings. Members' forum. PMID- 2627530 TI - Hypophysectomy: the rhinologist's vanishing art. PMID- 2627531 TI - Visual loss following intranasal injection. PMID- 2627532 TI - Mishaps in rhinoplasty. PMID- 2627533 TI - Endonasal surgery. PMID- 2627534 TI - Relationship between nasal and middle ear pathology in children. PMID- 2627535 TI - Surgical aspects of the anatomy of the vomer in children and adults. PMID- 2627536 TI - [Influence of destruction of bilateral hippocampus upon amygdaloid kindling in rats]. AB - It is well known that hippocampus has an important role in the development of limbic seizures in the experimental model of epilepsy. Intrahippocampal microinjections of the ibotenic acid (IBO) resulted in various degree of hippocampal degenerations and influences of these lesion upon amygdaloid kindling rats. A stereotaxic operation was carried out and bipolar electrodes were placed unilaterally in amygdala and hippocampus. The IBO solutions were injected bilaterally into dorsal hippocampus (DH) in Group A, into ventral hippocampus (VH) in Group B and into DH and VH in Group C. Phosphate buffer solutions were injected in Group D as a control. All rats were subjected to amygdaloid kindling more than 8 days after the operation. Group A, Group B, Group C, and Group D (controls) required 10.3 +/- 2.6, 11.3 +/- 2.6, 17.4 +/- 4.4 and 8.7 +/- 2.3 stimulations for the Stage V seizures, respectively. The kindling rate in Group C increased compared with controls and this increase was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). A histopathological study revealed remarkable degenerative changes in DH of Group A, in VH of Group B and all over the hippocampus in Group C. The result suggested facilitatory interaction of the hippocampus upon amygdaloid kindling. PMID- 2627537 TI - [Effects of phenobarbital and phenytoin on hippocampus generating seizures]. AB - We have recently reported some pharmacological studies using a kindling model of epilepsy induced with 1-3 HZ electrical stimulations, referred to as the low frequency kindling. Since a previous study showed that the effects of psychotropic drugs on limbic seizures were dependent on the location of epileptic focus, we decided to study acute and chronic effects of anticonvulsants on the hippocampus generating seizures to compare with the results of a previous study of the amygdala generating seizures, which was done under the same conditions with this study. The number of stimulating pulses required for the triggering of epileptic afterdischarge (pulse-number threshold) was used as the indicator for the seizure threshold. Duration of after discharge (ADD), ictal and interictal behaviors of the subjected 7 cats, and serum drug levels were also recorded. A dose-dependent increase of serum drug levels was confirmed in each drug, and the values were well comparable with the optimal range in clinical use. In acute experiment PB 5 mg/kg p.o. produced no significant effect on PNT and ADD. PB 10 mg/kg increased PNT significantly (p less than 0.02) at 2 hrs after administration without affecting ADD, but 4 cats presented the seizure-stage regressions. PB 20 mg/kg increased PNT (p less than 0.02) and decreased ADD (p less than 0.02) with the seizure-stage regressions of all the tested cats at 2 hrs after administration, and increased PNT (p less than 0.05) without affecting ADD and seizure stage at 96 hrs after administration. PHT 5, 10, 20 mg/kg decreased PNT (p less than 0.05, 0.02, 0.02, respectively) without affecting ADD at 2 hrs after administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627538 TI - [Effect of perfluorochemicals on experimental cerebral ischemia]. AB - It has been noted that perfluorochemicals (PFC) which were developed as artificial blood substitutes, protect against ischemic brain injury by their ability to serve as oxygen carriers. It is also known that normovolemic hemodilution (HD) improves cerebral blood flow (CBF) and neurological symptoms in cerebral infarction. However, there are few reports concerning the effect of PFC on the collateral circulation via pial anastomoses in cases of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. The ability to record the pial arterial blood pressure (PAP) without interfering blood flow now makes it possible to measure the segmental resistance of cerebral vessels. By using this method, one can measure collateral vessel resistance through pial anastomoses following MCA occlusion. In this paper, we studied the protective effects of PFC combined with HD on ischemic brain injury with the focus on the collateral circulation via pial anastomoses following occlusion of the MCA. Twenty adult cats were studied: control, 8; HD, 5; Fluosol (Fluosol-DA), 7. The systemic arterial pressure (SAP) and PeCO2 were continuously monitored. Subsequently the MCA was occluded via the transorbital approach. CBF in the ectosylvian gyrus (central area of the ischemic lesion) was measured by the hydrogen clearance method. A small pial artery about 100 microns in diameter on the exposed ectosylvian gyrus was punctured nonocclusively with a micropipette filled with 2 M sodium chloride which was connected to a servo-null micropressure system (Model 900, W-P Instruments, Inc. U.S.A.). The electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded from the ectosylvian gyrus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627539 TI - [An autopsy case of anoxic encephalopathy caused by transient upper airway obstruction]. AB - We reported the pathological findings of an autopsy case of anoxic encephalopathy, with special reference to the topography of degenerative changes in the nervous system. A 47 year-old man, who had an episode of sudden upper air way obstruction although his radial artery pulsation was maintained, and then suffered from akinetic mutism and myoclonus for 2 years and 5 months, died of bronchopneumonia. Postmortem examination revealed that, in addition to wide distribution of mild neuronal loss and astrocytosis in the cerebral and cerebellar gray matter, focal pseudolaminer necrosis of the IIIrd and IVth cortical layers was predominantly noticed in the calcarine cortex, pre- and postcentral gyri and transverse temporal cortex. However, the cortical architecture of the Ammon's horn, arterial boundary zones and depths and sides of sulci was not involved. This topography of neuronal degeneration was considered to correspond with those of methyl-mercury intoxication. However, his history and neurological examination before the episode denied the intoxication. Conclusively, the characteristic distribution of the brain damage in this case are resulted from the episode of pure anoxic anoxia, suggesting that the anoxic encephalopathy would make up a different involvement pattern of the brain from those of ischemic encephalopathy. PMID- 2627540 TI - [Evolution of venous cerebral infarction and brain edema--an experimental study of sagittal sinus obstruction]. AB - Superior sagittal sinus with/without neighboring venous system of 36 mongrel cats were occluded by cyanoacrylate polymer after i.v. administration of Evans-blue (EB). Thereafter, the cats were sacrificed 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 72 or 120 hours after sinus-vein occlusion. According to the degree of occluded region, the cats were divided into two groups; group A (GA) and B (GB). GA showed only superior sagittal sinus occlusion, while many cortical veins were also occluded in GB. No EB nor histological changes were found in 13 cats of GA and 4 sham operated cats, while EB distribution was observed in all 20 cats of GB. The other 3 cats of GA showed a little EB in gyrus lateralis. EB distribution of GB were divided into two types. Type 1 showed EB mainly in the cortical gray matter, while type 2 showed massive EB extravasation in the white matter as well. Edematous changes with gliosis in its resolution phase, were observed in type 1. In addition, EB free zone was formed along with U-fiber zone (cortico-medullary junction) in the cats of later phase (72 hours after occlusion). The findings of EB extension in the type 1 means the existence of blockage against edema evolution from cortex toward subcortical white matter. The cats of type 2 showed fulminant hemorrhagic changes which appeared depend on time interval. Although occurrence of pathological changes were rather earlier than that of cases of clinical cerebral sinus thrombosis, this pathological findings demonstrated the typical character of venous hemorrhagic infarction. In this paper, the similarity and difference between this model and clinical case of sinus-vein thrombosis were discussed. And the possible function of the U-fiber zone in the corticomedullary junction against edema evolution was suggested. PMID- 2627541 TI - [The development of spinal endoscope using a flexible optic fiber]. AB - The development of spinal endoscope using a thin (0.75 mm in diameter) flexible fiber catheter AS-001, Fukuda-densi Co Ltd., Japan) is described in this study. This fiber catheter contains 3,000 optic fibers as imaging and illuminating fibers within its diameter. The effective length and the visual angle is 1.10 m and 53 degree, respectively. Video processor system was connected to this fiber catheter. With a patient in the lateral decubitus position under local anesthesia, this fiber catheter was introduced into the lumbar subarachnoid space in a similar manner as lumbar spinal drainage. Eight patients with myelopathy were evaluated by this spinal endoscopic study. With other radiological diagnostic modalities such as myelography, selective spinal angiography using intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it was difficult to make definitive diagnosis in these 8 patients. In 4 patients among them, vascular tangle, or tortuous course of the dilated vessels were visualized on the dorsal surface of the spinal cord by the spinal endoscopic study, which strongly suggested the spinal arteriovenous malformation. In 3 of them, operative findings verified these preoperative endoscopic diagnoses to be correct. In the remaining case, surgical intervention was not attempted because of the personal affair of the patient. In every case, several structures around the thoracolumbar cord such as spinal dura mater, arachnoid membrane, or conus medullaris were observed under the pulsation of the cerebrospinal fluid. No complication was associated with this spinal endoscopic study. About 10 minutes were required for the whole procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627542 TI - [Experimental limbic seizure status epilepticus and focus resection in cats]. AB - Status epilepticus is a neurological emergency and refractory one often resulted in neurological damage or death. Since the basic mechanisms of status epilepticus was not fully understood, a surgical treatment was not attempted until now. In the present study, a surgical resection of the epileptic focus was made in experimentally induced limbic status epilepticus and influences of the surgery upon status epilepticus was discussed. Limbic status epilepticus was induced by means of kainic acid (KA) microinjection into unilateral amygdala in cats and effects of focus resection upon limbic seizure status were studied. Ten adult cats were stereotaxically operated on under pentobarbital anesthesia. Bipolar electrodes were placed in bilateral amygdala and hippocampus. An injection cannula, designed for kainic acid injection, was placed in the left amygdala. The cats were then divided into two groups. Group A (5 cats) received 0.5 microgram of KA injection into the amygdala resulted in mild limbic status. Two of them were controls and 3 of them received amygdalotomy after induction of the limbic seizure status. Group B (5 cats) received 2.0 micrograms KA injection resulted in severe limbic status. Moreover, independent spontaneous seizure activities were observed in the ipsilateral hippocampus. Two of them were controls and 3 of them were operated on. After amygdalotomy, limbic seizure stopped in the operated cats of Group A. In the operated cats of Group B, repeated seizures in the epileptogenic focus (amygdala) was completely suppressed, however, spontaneous seizures of the ipsilateral hippocampus persisted even after the surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627543 TI - [A case report of multiple intracranial tuberculoma associated with miliary tuberculosis and review of the literature]. AB - We reported a case of multiple intracranial tuberculoma associated with miliary tuberculosis and reviewed the cases reported as intracranial tuberculoma in the past 11 years. A 41-year-old diabetic man was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of miliary tuberculosis and respiratory insufficiency. On admissIon, he had no neurological deficits except mild consciousness disturbance due to respiratory failure. He developed headache and mental confusion three weeks after the beginning of antituberculous therapy with isoniazid, streptomycin, rifampicin, and ethambutol. Neurological examination revealed that he had progressive right hemiparesis and was in a confusional state. Enhanced CT showed multiple intracranial nodular lesions. During 6 weeks, he had progressive neurological manifestations in spite of his initial antituberculous treatment. He responded well, however, to the chemotherapy with combination of isoniazid, kanamycin, pyrazinamide and ethionamide that were sensitive to tuberculous bacilli separated from his sputum. He became minimally right-hemiparetic by 6 weeks after the change of antituberculous medication. Serial enhanced CT scan proved to be of great value in the diagnosis and follow-up study of intracranial tuberculoma. From 1978 to 1988, there were 72 reported cases of intracranial tuberculoma in Japan; 37 were male, 32 were female and 3 were uncertain because of no detailed document. The age of onset was distributed from 6 month to 81 years in age and 2 peaks were seen in the second decade and fifth to seventh decade. Thirty-three (48%) out of 69 cases had multiple intracranial lesions. A few reports commented that neurological complications tended to appear even if they were under antituberculous therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627544 TI - Conversational characteristics of children with semantic-pragmatic disorder. I: Exchange structure, turntaking, repairs and cohesion. AB - Conversational samples were obtained from 57 children aged from 8 to 12 years with specific language impairment, and 67 control children aged from 4 to 12 years. Fourteen of the language-impaired children fitted the clinical description of semantic-pragmatic disorder. It was found that exchange structure, turntaking, conversational repair and use of cohesive devices could be assessed with adequate inter-rater and test-retest reliability. Children with semantic-pragmatic disorder produced more initiations than other children. Some of these children also violated turntaking rules by interrupting the conversational partner to an unusual degree. Use of cohesion was normal for children with semantic-pragmatic disorder, but limited in other language-impaired children. Analysis of conversations may be more useful than conventional language tests for identifying linguistic abnormalities in children with semantic-pragmatic disorder. PMID- 2627545 TI - Conversational characteristics of children with semantic-pragmatic disorder. II: What features lead to a judgement of inappropriacy? AB - Independent raters scanned transcribed conversations from 57 language-impaired children and 67 control children aged from 4 to 12 years and identified instances where the normal flow of conversation appeared to be disrupted because the child's utterance was in some way inappropriate. It was found that adequate inter rater reliability could be obtained using this procedure. Furthermore, test retest correlations for inappropriacy were significant, indicating that this is a stable conversational characteristic. The measure of inappropriacy decreased with age in control children, and it distinguished language-impaired from control children. Those identified as having 'semantic-pragmatic disorder' obtained particularly high scores. In a subsidiary analysis, inappropriate responses were subcategorised. A wide range of semantic, syntactic and pragmatic peculiarities was identified as leading to a sense of inappropriacy. Some instances of inappropriacy appeared to indicate cognitive rather than linguistic difficulties. Children with semantic-pragmatic disorder resembled younger normal children in that they frequently misunderstood the literal or implicit meaning of adult utterances and they violated normal rules of exchange structure. In other respects, however, the semantic-pragmatic group did not resemble normally developing children of any age. In particular, they tended to provide the listener with too much or too little information. PMID- 2627546 TI - What colour are the alligators? A critical look at methods used to assess communication skills in adults with learning difficulties. AB - This paper describes the assessment of communication skills in 120 adults with severe to moderate learning difficulties. Each subject was assessed on the Communication Assessment Profile (CASP), a new communication assessment procedure for use with this client group. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons were made between three different methods of assessment used in CASP. These included observational assessment, elicited conversation and a structured language task. The relative usefulness of each method was evaluated, and the implications for communication assessment outlined. PMID- 2627547 TI - Category-specific treatment of a lexical-semantic deficit: a single case study of global aphasia. AB - The aim of this study was to improve the comprehension of single items in a subject with global aphasia. Existing models of semantic organisation were used to inform and guide the treatment programme. Detailed pre-therapy testing suggested a severe comprehension deficit with an inability to obtain a precise semantic specification of the items, irrespective of modality of input. A category-specific hierarchical treatment programme including generic and specific details about items was implemented through various exercises and drills. Post therapy testing revealed a significant improvement on treated and untreated items of treated categories but limited generalisation to items in untreated categories. Improvement in the subject's general semantic abilities was also documented following treatment. The results, which are shown to be a direct consequence of the intervention programme, lend support to the categorical and hierarchical view of the organisation of semantics and provide a basis for future rehabilitation studies in this area. PMID- 2627548 TI - Phonological disorders in children: changes in phonological process use during treatment. AB - Unintelligible speech in childhood is often characterised by the use of unusual or deviant (i.e. non-developmental) phonological processes, e.g. initial consonant deletion. These processes are reported to appear at speech onset and to undergo little spontaneous change during the preschool years. The study reported here documents the changes that occurred in the phonological systems of seven phonologically disordered children during remediation that targeted unusual phonological processes. Qualitative changes in phonological process use were observed for all children. Six of the children made quantitative improvement in terms of the percentage consonants produced correctly in spontaneous speech. Individual differences in phonological learning strategy use are described. PMID- 2627549 TI - [Oxaloacetate keto-enol tautomerase from bovine heart mitochondrial matrix]. AB - Bovine heart mitochondrial matrix contains two proteins possessing the oxaloacetate keto-enol tautomerase (EC 5.3.2.2) activity. A procedure for the isolation and purification of the enzymes to an electrophoretically homogeneous state has been developed. The purified proteins have molecular masses of 37 kD and 80 kD and catalyze the keto-enol oxaloacetate tautomerization reaction with the turnover numbers of approximately 3000 and approximately 2000 min-1. The both enzymes were found to differ significantly in all their physicochemical and kinetic properties. Fractionation of rat liver mitochondria revealed that the oxaloacetate keto-enol tautomerase activity is predominantly localized in the mitochondrial matrix. The essential role of oxaloacetate keto-enol tautomerase in the operation of the Krebs cycle is discussed. PMID- 2627550 TI - [Reduced cell sensitivity to glucocorticoid hormones in hypercholesterolemia]. AB - The number of 3H-dexamethasone binding sites in lymphocytes of subjects with hypercholesterolemia (HCS) was found to be decreased as compared to the receptor level in normolipidemic patients (N). In HCS-lymphocytes, the dexamethasone induced inhibition of 3H-thymidine and 14C-acetate incorporation was less pronounced (by 20% and 22%, respectively) than in control cells, which is suggestive of the decreased sensitivity of HCS-lymphocytes to the hormone. An addition of 5-25% HCS blood sera to human skin fibroblast cultures caused a 10 50% decrease in the number of 3H-dexamethasone binding sites and diminished the Kd values 2-3 times. Lipid-depleted HCS-sera had no effect on the glucocorticoid reception in fibroblasts, whereas very low (VLDL) and low (LDL) density lipoproteins inhibited the 3H-dexamethasone binding to the cells. The most potent inhibiting effect was exerted by VLDL (both N-VLDL and HCS-VLDL). HCS-VLDL were more effective than N-LDL. HCS-HDL and N-HDL did not effect the 3H-dexamethasone binding to fibroblasts. In cells preincubated with VLDL dexamethasone inhibited the incorporation of 3H-thymidine and 14C-acetate less intensively (by 27% and 20%, respectively) than in control fibroblasts. The experimental results are suggestive of a decreased sensitivity of peripheral HCS-cells to glucocorticoids, which may shed some light on the mechanism of hypercholesterolemia realization into coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. PMID- 2627551 TI - [Heterogeneity of mammalian antithrombin III]. AB - Affinity chromatography on heparin-Sepharose was used to isolate two forms of antithrombin III(AT) from human, bovine, rabbit and rat blood plasma. The two isolated forms of AT are the major form. AT alpha, making up to 90% of the whole inhibitor molecule, and the minor form, AT beta (10% of AT). The molecular mass of AT beta in all mammalian species under study is by 3-5 kDa lower than that of AT alpha. The isoelectric point for bovine AT alpha lies within the range of 4.95 4.5, whereas that for AT beta--at 5.28-4.76. No significant differences in the progressive antithrombin activity of the major and minor forms of the bovine inhibitor were observed. In contrast, the heparin-cofactor activity of the AT beta-heparin complex exceeds that of the AT alpha-heparin complex--3-fold. The functional differences in the AT forms are due to the differences in their affinities for heparin. It was shown that AT beta exhibits a higher affinity for free and bound heparin. PMID- 2627552 TI - [Lipid composition of mechanosensitive cell cilia and mechanoreceptor organ of bivalve molluscs]. AB - The lipid composition of the mechanoreceptive organ of two marine molluscs in comparison with other molluscan tissues and of isolated cilia of sense organ hair cells in comparison with the gill cilia has been studied. It was shown that the lipid composition of the mechanoreceptive organ differs in a number of features from that of other organs and that the ratios of individual phospholipid classes vary in cilia and intact organs. Ciliary aminophospholipids make up to approximately 89%, whereas choline-containing phospholipids--only 6-8% of the total phospholipid pool. No qualitative phospholipid differences between sense cell cilia and gill cilia were found. However, hair cell cilia contain less phosphatidylethanolamine and choline phospholipids, but more phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol. This suggests that the observed peculiarities of hair cell cilia may play a role in the maintenance of the proper arrangement of hair bundles and the distance between the cilium and stereovilli and/or in the regulation of Ca2(+)-dependent processes. PMID- 2627553 TI - [Study of peripheral chromatin granules--anchorosomes]. AB - The granular particles of chromatin peripheral layer, were isolated together, with the nuclear envelope by treatment of nuclei with nuclease. These particles differ from total chromatin by a decreased content of histone H1, a specific set of minor acid-soluble proteins and a low DNA methylation level. Taking account of the fact that these particles facilitate chromatin interaction with the nuclear envelope, the latter were termed as "anchorosomes". Using UV-induced cross linking of DNA to the proteins, it was found that all anchorosome-specific acid soluble proteins can directly interact with anchorosomal DNA. Treatment of anchorosomes with staphylococcal nuclease and electron microscopic data showed that anchorosomes have a nucleosomal organization. Five to ten per cent of anchorosomal DNA appear to be firmly bound to nuclear lamina. This DNA cannot be separated from the lamina by treatment with 2 M NaCl, 1% SDS or heparin (1 mg/ml). The bulk of DNA in the laminal fraction after treatment with the above reagents is protected from hydrolysis with DNAase I by anchorosomal proteins and thus has a high molecular weight (10,000-30,000 base pairs). After treatment of anchorosomes with 0.6 M or 2 M NaCl, DNAase I splits this DNA, predominantly to minor fragments. PMID- 2627554 TI - [The pool of free purine and pyrimidine nucleosides and bases in the thymocytes, and splenic T- and B-lymphocytes of C3HA mice during the growth of solid hepatoma 22a]. AB - Using reverse phase ion pair high performance liquid chromatography, the levels of free adenosine, inosine, adenine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, guanine and deoxycytidine in thymocytes and splenic T- and B-lymphocytes of C3HA mice, were studied under normal conditions and at different times (5 hrs, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 20 days) after transplantation of solid hepatoma 22a. The adenosine and inosine levels in thymus and spleen lymphocytes were 5 to 10 times as low as that of purine bases. Inosine was totally absent in T-and B-lymphocytes. The absolute content of adenine and guanine in thymus and spleen lymphocytes was higher compared to purine bases. It was shown that in all cases studied the decrease in hypoxanthine, xanthine and guanine levels in T- and B-lymphocytes during maximal tumour growth, i.e., on the 5th and 8th post-inoculation days as well as at the terminal period (20th day), was correlated with the decrease in the adenosine deaminase and functional activities of these cells. The level of free adenine in thymocytes and spleen T-lymphocytes during tumour growth showed a 2-4-fold increase in comparison with normal values. A dramatic decrease of intracellular concentration of deoxycytidine was observed in thymocytes and spleen T- and B lymphocytes beginning with the 5th hour and over the whole subsequent period. The key role of the deoxycytidine decline during tumour growth as a possible cause of simultaneous impairment of DNA synthesis and purine deoxyribonucleoside phosphorylation in lymphocytes is discussed. PMID- 2627555 TI - [Isolation and properties of macrotetrolide synthase from the mycelium of Actinomycetes]. AB - The formation of cyclic polyester antibiotics (macrotetrolides) from nactinic acids in a cell-free system in the presence of a mycelium homogenate of Streptomyces chryzomallus var. macrotetrolidi, a producer of a complex of homologous macrotetrolide antibiotics, was demonstrated. An enzyme catalyzing the formation of an ester macrotetrolide ring and possessing a specific activity of 360 mumol/min/mg of protein has been isolated for the first time from the mycelium homogenate and purified 176-fold with a 18% yield. Macrotetrolide synthase represents a macromolecular complex with a molecular mass of 360 kDa formed by several heterogeneous polypeptides. The effects of physico-chemical environmental factors on the stability and activity of the enzyme were demonstrated. The optimal conditions for the manifestation of the synthase activity (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 10% ethanol, 2% glycerol, 200 micrograms/ml of nactinic acids) were selected. The kinetic parameters of the enzyme-catalyzed macrotetrolide synthesis reaction (Km = 2.9.10(-4) M, V = 22.3 microM/min) were determined. PMID- 2627556 TI - [Interaction of ethanolamine with alcohol dehydrogenase from the horse liver]. AB - The pattern of kinetic behaviour of ethanolamine (EA), an ethanol structural analog, in the alcohol dehydrogenase reaction has been studied. EA has been shown to manifest a mixed type inhibition versus ethanol and a noncompetitive behaviour towards the second substrate, NAD. A graphical analysis of the experimental results as well as the construction of secondary graphs provide evidence in favour of a mechanism, according to which the interaction between EA and the enzyme results in a dead-end complex formation (ESI). A direct conversion into reaction products can be achieved only after EA separation from the complex. The Ki value for the E-EA complex is 1.3 mM; that for EA release from the E-EA is 1.8 mM. An analysis of competitive interactions with NAD showed these constants to be equal in values (2 mM). Taking account of real concentrations of tissue EA and of experimental values of Ki, a conclusion is drawn on possible participation of EA in the alcohol dehydrogenase reaction control. PMID- 2627557 TI - [Isolation, purification and properties of restrictase and methylase BstN1 from Bacillus stearothermophilus]. AB - Restriction-methylation enzymes BstN1 from Bacillus stearothermophilus were isolated and purified. These enzymes are related to a new class of restriction methylation enzymes of the second type, whose modifying component is N4-cytosine DNA-methylase. Both enzymes recognize the DNA sequence CC(A/T)GG. Restrictase BstN1 is a protein made up of one subunit with a molecular mass of 25 kDa. The molecular mass of native DNA-methylase BstN1 is about 55 kDa. The temperature optima for restrictase and methylase BstN1 are around 60 degrees C. Possible uses of BstN1 restriction-methylation enzymes for the analysis of cytosine methylation in bacterial and higher plant DNA are discussed. PMID- 2627558 TI - [Major complement inhibiting factors from the venom of the Central Asian cobra Naja naja oxiana]. AB - The properties of two anticomplementic factors isolated by CM-Sepharose chromatography from the basic non-adsorbed on DEAE-Sepharose fraction of the Central Asian cobra Naja naja oxiana venom, were studied. Of these three factors (CFB-I, CFB-II and CFB-III) the latter had been characterized earlier. CFB-I was shown to be a protein with an N-terminal Asp and a molecular mass of about 39 kDa (data from gel chromatography); its content in the venom is 3.6 mg/g of dry venom. The protein inhibits mainly the classical pathway of the complement activation, being bound to component C4 (Ki = 9 nM). CFB-I seems to be analogous to the CI inhibitor from the venom of the Naja haje cobra. An analysis of the N terminal sequence of CFB-II showed it to be identical to the earlier characterized cytotoxin I. CFB-I inhibits the formation of C3 convertase with Ki = 2.2-2.8 microM by way of binding to C4b and thus interfering with the component C2 sorption. PMID- 2627559 TI - Channel probability and Nd: an event-related potential sign of attention strategies. AB - Event-related potentials were recorded in a two-channel selective attention paradigm designed to assess the effects of channel probability on processing negativity. For channel probabilities of 70% or greater, the subtraction Nd for standard tones was greatly reduced or absent. This change was due to apparent processing negativity in the waveform of the irrelevant standards at high channel probabilities. Deviant long tones showed similar early Nds to standard tones, and also developed late attention-related negativity commencing at about 500 ms from stimulus onset. It was concluded that there was no evidence that processing negativity to the relevant tones, defined as a negative component associated with selective attention, is affected by channel probability. Changes in Nd amplitude as the channel probabilities became more unequal were attributed to changes in strategies used by subjects, which primarily altered ERPs associated with the irrelevant tones. PMID- 2627560 TI - Stimulus probability and motor response in young and old adults: an ERP study. AB - The effects of responding hand and stimulus probability were investigated in young and old subjects in an RT task in which both rare and frequent stimuli required a response. It was found that the effect of stimulus probability was less pronounced in old subjects than in young, and that the latency of P3 was longer in the elderly, although their RTs were not different from young subjects. ERPs for right hand responses were larger than for left hand responses; this difference was discernible already in the P2 and N2 peaks of the ERP. A tentative explanation is offered for these large and unexpected hand differences. An interpretation in terms of an age-related decrease in resources is proposed for the increased P3 latency and the decreased probability effect on P3 amplitude in old subjects. PMID- 2627561 TI - The effect of context change on long-term habituation of the skin conductance response to signal and non-signal stimuli in humans. AB - The present experiment investigated the role of contextual cues in long-term habituation of the skin conductance response. Subjects (N = 65) first underwent a habituation training session in which they received 15 presentations each of a signal and a non-signal stimulus. Signal value was induced by a motor response requirement to stimulus offset. In a test session one week later, the effect of context change on long-term habituation was examined by presenting the habituation stimuli in either the same or in a changed context. Although both short-term (within-session) and long-term (between-session) habituation were demonstrated, the results provided no evidence for context-dependency of long term habituation. Moreover, there was no evidence of differential long-term habituation as a function of signal value in either the same- or changed-context conditions. The data are discussed in terms of Wagner's (1978) priming theory, and the methodological implications of the experimental manipulations of context change and signal value induction are explored. PMID- 2627562 TI - Modeling adaptive biological systems. AB - During the evolution of many systems found in nature, both the system composition and the interactions between components will vary. Equating the dimension with the number of different components, a system which adds or deletes components belongs to a class of dynamical systems with a finite dimensional phase space of variable dimension. We present two models of biochemical systems with a variable phase space, a model of autocatalytic reaction networks in the prebiotic soup and a model of the idiotypic network of the immune system. Each model contains characteristic meta-dynamical rules for constructing equations of motion from component properties. The simulation of each model occurs on two levels. On one level, the equations of motion are integrated to determine the state of each component. On a second level, algorithms which approximate physical processes in the real system are employed to change the equations of motion. Models with meta dynamical rules possess several advantages for the study of evolving systems. First, there are no explicit fitness functions to determine how the components of the model rank in terms of survivability. The success of any component is a function of its relationship to the rest of the system. A second advantage is that since the phase space representation of the system is always finite but continually changing, we can explore a potentially infinite phase space which would otherwise be inaccessible with finite computer resources. Third, the enlarged capacity of systems with meta-dynamics for variation allows us to conduct true evolution experiments. The modeling methods presented here can be applied to many real biological systems. In the two studies we present, we are investigating two apparent properties of adaptive networks. With the simulation of the prebiotic soup, we are most interested in how a chemical reaction network might emerge from an initial state of relative disorder. With the study of the immune system, we study the self-regulation of the network including its ability to distinguish between species which are part of the network and those which are not. PMID- 2627563 TI - Evolutionary learning and hierarchical Markov systems. AB - The observation is made that various forms of evolutionary learning systems and classical evolutionary processes can be formally described as hierarchical systems of Markov processes. This leads to a simplification of issues such as convergence criteria and limiting behavior of such systems. The hierarchical structures in question are derived from the notion of rules and meta-rules for moving on graphs studied previously. PMID- 2627564 TI - Sixty million connections per second. AB - The purpose of this note is to report processing in a feedforward neural network at a peak speed of 59.9 million connections per second. The network algorithm was coded in Fortran and executed on a CRAY XMP-1, a high speed general purpose vector machine. PMID- 2627565 TI - Towards an artificial brain. AB - Three components of a brain model operating on neuromolecular computing principles are described. The first component comprises neurons whose input output behavior is controlled by significant internal dynamics. Models of discrete enzymatic neurons, reaction-diffusion neurons operating on the basis of the cyclic nucleotide cascade, and neurons controlled by cytoskeletal dynamics are described. The second component of the model is an evolutionary learning algorithm which is used to mold the behavior of enzyme-driven neurons or small networks of these neurons for specific function, usually pattern recognition or target seeking tasks. The evolutionary learning algorithm may be interpreted either as representing the mechanism of variation and natural selection acting on a phylogenetic time scale, or as a conceivable ontogenetic adaptation mechanism. The third component of the model is a memory manipulation scheme, called the reference neuron scheme. In principle it is capable of orchestrating a repertoire of enzyme-driven neurons for coherent function. The existing implementations, however, utilize simple neurons without internal dynamics. Spatial navigation and simple game playing (using tic-tac-toe) provide the task environments that have been used to study the properties of the reference neuron model. A memory-based evolutionary learning algorithm has been developed that can assign credit to the individual neurons in a network. It has been run on standard benchmark tasks, and appears to be quite effective both for conventional neural nets and for networks of discrete enzymatic neurons. The models have the character of artificial worlds in that they map the hierarchy of processes in the brain (at the molecular, neuronal, and network levels), provide a task environment, and use this relatively self-contained setup to develop and evaluate learning and adaptation algorithms. PMID- 2627566 TI - Simulated evolution and artificial selection. AB - A highly simplified evolving system was investigated by computer simulation. The genetic complement of each simulated organism in the population was represented by a single chromosome that consisted of a string of symbols. Individual fitness was measured as the number of symbols that corresponded to a specified rule. Reproduction was simulated with a non-breeding algorithm and two variants of a breeding algorithm, and was subject to random point mutations. In each generation, selection was effected by replacing the less fit members of the population with offspring of the more fit. The size of the population and the fraction replaced, though under experimental control, were constant for each simulation run. It was found that even such a simplified system is able to mimic a variety of properties observed in natural systems. In addition, the effect of the simulation parameters on the course of fitness increase provides a basis for using a genetic algorithm as an optimization technique. PMID- 2627567 TI - Simplicity and complexity in MIRROR universes. AB - The scientific simplicity principle (OCCAM's razor) has always been strongly enforced by the available modelling tools. Moreover, the concept of simplicity itself is shaped by these (classical) tools. Computer models are less subject to simplicity constraints than other models are. It may be argued that complexity is the preeminent property for biological systems to study. In this paper we discuss our MIRROR modelling methodology in which (a concept of) simplicity is reconciled with biological complexity. Simplicity resides in the simple "TODO" ("do what there is to do") of the "individuals" (molecules, cells, organisms) which inhabit the model universe. The complexity appears in the multiple (levels of) individuals and the multiple levels of observable behavior of the universe. Examples are given of the development of complex, self-regulating social structures by simple interactions of individuals, and the adaptability of TODO based entities is compared to that of evolving entities. On the basis of these examples we sketch a slightly unconventional image of the evolution of complexity in biotic systems and discuss observations on the molecular record of biotic evolution which seem to fit this image. PMID- 2627568 TI - The artificial worlds approach to emergent evolution. AB - Artificial worlds models of evolutionary systems are computer models that map the essential logical structure of ecological systems, defined as self-sustaining biological organizations. The artificial world comprises an artificial environment, with mass components, energy input, and physical states. It also comprises artificial organisms, including a genome, a phenome, and a (developmental) map that connects the genome to the phenome. Mass components are cycled and space is limited. The evolution process results, as in nature, from genetic variation combined with natural selection imposed by the finiteness of the environment. The selection criteria (fitness values) are not imposed, but rather emerge from the interactions of the organisms with each other and with the environment. The dynamics at the population level also emerges from these basic interactions. In this paper we describe the comparative properties of the EVOLVE family of artificial worlds models. PMID- 2627569 TI - A hierarchical model of the evolution of cooperation in cultural systems. AB - In this paper the following problem is addressed: "Under what conditions can a collection of individual organisms learn to cooperate when cooperation appears to outwardly degrade individual performance at the outset. In order to attempt a theoretical solution to this problem, data from a real world problem in anthropology is used. A distributed simulation model of this system was developed to assess its long term behavior using using an approach suggested by Zeigler (Zeigler, B.P., 1984, Multifaceted Modelling and Discrete Event Simulation (Academic Press, London)). The results of the simulation are used to show that although cooperation degrades the performance potential of each individual, it enhances the persistence of the individual's partial solution to the problem in certain situations." PMID- 2627570 TI - The measurement problem in artificial world models. AB - The only epistemic relations between the world and organisms are established through evolution by natural selection, and learning by observation and measurement. In physics, measurements map an open domain of physical structure to a closed set of symbols. A basic problem in simulating evolution and measurement is that neither activity can be adequately formalized. Artificial world models based on programmable computers require a formalized domain of symbols in which the concepts of evolution and measurement are limited. The measurement problem also bears on the questions of the relation of computation to physics and to formal symbol systems and on what sense dissipationless computation is a useful concept. PMID- 2627571 TI - Artificial worlds modeling of biological systems. PMID- 2627572 TI - Artificial worlds modeling of biological systems: an introduction to the special issue. PMID- 2627573 TI - Mast cells in bone remodeling: using a genetically defined mouse model as a clue to human disease. PMID- 2627574 TI - Liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin as an artificial red blood cell: characterization and scale-up. AB - Encapsulation methods using high pressure extrusion and homogenization were developed which produce hemoglobin-containing liposomes, approximately one micron or less in diameter with an oxygen-carrying capacity of more than half that of red blood cells (RBCs). These methods were developed for scaling-up liposome encapsulated hemoglobin (LEH) production. Previously, the lack of adequate scale up methods has been a serious barrier to full scale efficacy and toxicity testing for all the researchers engaged in such investigations. The scale-up methods and characterization of the resulting LEH preparations are presented. PMID- 2627575 TI - Bilirubin removal by the pseudoperoxidase activity of free and immobilized hemoglobin and hemoglobin co-immobilized with glucose oxidase. AB - We report a process for oxidizing bilirubin. Hemoglobin in the presence of an oxidizing agent can effectively oxidize bilirubin. Hemoglobin can be used either in free form or immobilized. Immobilisation includes microencapsulation, covalent linkage to carriers, intermolecular crosslinking into polyhemoglobin and others. The oxidizing agent can be added in the form of a peroxide. However, no external peroxide is required when hemoglobin is co-immobilized with glucose oxidase. In this case, the oxidation reaction takes place in the presence of glucose which is normally available in the blood stream and the presence of other oxidizing agents becomes unnecessary. In cases where bilirubin is conjugated to large proteins such as albumin, oxidation can be accomplished by using hemoglobin either in free form, adsorbed or bound on a suitable surface. Polyhemoglobin or cross-linked hemoglobins can also be used as oxidation catalysts in this case. PMID- 2627576 TI - Oxidative interactions between hemoglobin and egg lecithin liposomes. AB - The oxidative interaction between hemoglobin and unsaturated egg lecithin liposomes, characterized by the consumption of oxygen and the production of methemoglobin over time, was measured and modelled. The oxygen and methemoglobin profiles were fit by a mathematical model, using numerical integration techniques. From the model, it was determined that the catalytic rate constants for the effect of hemoglobin on lipid peroxidation varied with hemoglobin type, as deoxyhemoglobin greater than oxyhemoglobin = methemoglobin. Under in vivo conditions of oxygen tension, reaction rates were oxyhemoglobin greater than deoxyhemoglobin greater than methemoglobin. Vitamin E had about 35 times the antioxidant activity of cholesterol, as determined by the model. Both additives, together, appeared to stabilize the liposomal membrane, as manifested by their ability to prevent oxidation of approximately 95% of the available lipid. PMID- 2627577 TI - Rat maze performance after infusion of cross-linked hemoglobin solution. AB - Neurotoxicity and behavioral performance degradation have previously been observed in rats after exchange transfusions with unmodified stroma-free hemoglobin solutions. We evaluated a diaspirin cross-linked stroma-free hemoglobin solution (HbXL) for evidence of neurotoxicity. Rats that were trained to complete a water alley maze received a clinically-relevant dose (20 ml/kg) of the 14% HbXL solution on top of their normal blood volume. After post-treatment memory testing in the water maze, the same rats were challenged to learn an elevated radial-arm maze. The HbXL and control groups showed no water maze performance degradation after treatment, and all groups demonstrated learning of the radial-arm maze as shown by decreased errors and times to completion. The brains, heart, and livers presented normal histology thirty days after infusion, but six of fifteen animals showed marked renal tubular regeneration. The normal memory and learning performance and brain histology after infusion with HbXL suggests that this hemoglobin solution is not neurotoxic to unhemorrhaged rats. PMID- 2627578 TI - A compartmentalized device for the culture of animal cells. AB - A simply-constructed device for the batch culture of animal cells is described that takes advantage of gas-permeable polymer films and continuous dialysis of nutrient fluids. The design separates a cell-growth chamber from a nutrient medium reservoir with a dialysis membrane, effectively compartmentalizing growth and feeding functions. Resulting culture environment is extraordinarily stable since frequent medium exchanges are not required and macromolecules biosynthesized by cells are retained within the cell-growth compartment. Culture experiments with a variety of mammalian cells (epithelioid, fibroblastic, hybridoma, primary murine) are described that demonstrate unattended culture for up to 30 days. Immunoglobulin (IgG) secreted by cultured hybridoma cells concentrated in the growth compartment more than 25-fold over levels attained at confluence in conventional flasks. Applications for the device in various areas using animal cell culture and potential advantages in scale are discussed. PMID- 2627579 TI - Preparation and characterisation of xanthine oxidase immobilised by microencapsulation in artificial cells for the removal of hypoxanthine. PMID- 2627580 TI - International Symposium on Red Cell Substitutes. 16-19 May 1989, San Francisco, California. Abstracts. PMID- 2627581 TI - Tobacco and smoking in Benin. PMID- 2627582 TI - Tobacco consumption among medical students in Dakar. PMID- 2627583 TI - The Lesotho National Tuberculosis Control Programme. PMID- 2627584 TI - Evaluation of the results of short-course chemotherapy in Mozambique, 1985-1987. PMID- 2627585 TI - Ten years of the National Tuberculosis/Leprosy Programme in Tanzania. PMID- 2627586 TI - The Malawi National Tuberculosis Programme. PMID- 2627587 TI - Evolution of case-finding and treatment of tuberculosis over the last 3 years following the introduction of short-course chemotherapy of 8 months duration in Benin. PMID- 2627588 TI - The Tuberculosis Manyatta Project for Kenyan nomads. PMID- 2627589 TI - Short-course chemotherapy of tuberculosis: the Nicaraguan experience 1984-1987. PMID- 2627590 TI - Eradication of tuberculosis in developed countries in the HIV era. PMID- 2627591 TI - Tobacco smoking in Africa. PMID- 2627592 TI - Proceedings of the seminar. New trends in the treatment of acute leukemia. 20-22 September 1989, Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia. PMID- 2627593 TI - Histology of bone marrow in acute leukaemia. PMID- 2627594 TI - Evaluation of low-dose cytarabine therapy in myelodysplastic syndromes. AB - Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of disorders characterised by progressive cytopenias and impaired maturation of haematopoietic cells. It carries a high mortality due to severe infections and/or bleeding, and transformation into acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Its treatment is largely unsatisfactory except a few favorable reports with low-dose cytarabine therapy, which has recently created a widespread enthusiasm for its use. PMID- 2627595 TI - Donor characteristics in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2627596 TI - Elimination of antibodies by plasma exchange in ABO incompatible bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2627597 TI - The significance of immunological monitoring after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2627598 TI - Evaluation of renal function in patients treated with bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2627599 TI - Clonal development and cytogenetics of acute leukaemias. PMID- 2627600 TI - Flow-cytometric immunophenotyping of acute leukaemia. AB - A wide panel of commercially available monoclonal antibodies (Mo.Abs.) has substantially improved immunological distinguishing of various types of acute leukaemias (AL), whereas the flow-cytometric approach allows a more objective and sensitive cell-marker analysis; combined with high numbers of cells analyzed, it yields data of high statistical significance. In addition, multiparameter analysis offers the possibility of studying heterogenous cell populations. Both technical advancements were used to study the expression of leukocyte differentiation antigens in 90 adult patients with AL. With the panel of Mo.Abs. used, the diagnosis was unequivocally established in 90% of cases; four of them (4.4% of the total) expressed unusual (mixed) phenotype. When combined with cytological/cytochemical data, the diagnosis was established in 95.6% of cases, whereas 4.4% of all cases remained unclassified. PMID- 2627601 TI - High frequency of cross-lineage antigenic expression in acute myeloid leukaemia cells of elderly patients. PMID- 2627602 TI - Plasma lactoferrin content and lactoferrin gene expression in acute leukaemia. PMID- 2627603 TI - Expression of natural killer (NK) antigens in malignant histiocytosis and a subset of acute myelomonocytic leukaemias. PMID- 2627604 TI - The prognostic value of determining proliferative response of lymphocytes to mitogens in children with acute lymphoid leukaemia. PMID- 2627605 TI - Comparative evaluation of response to intensive chemotherapy in acute leukaemic patients. PMID- 2627606 TI - Marrow transplantation for patients with severe myelodysplasia. PMID- 2627607 TI - Treatment of refractory acute leukaemia with aclacinomycin A. PMID- 2627608 TI - The heterogeneity of CMML. PMID- 2627609 TI - High dose methotrexate therapy in childhood ALL: clinical tolerability and pharmacokinetics. PMID- 2627610 TI - Preliminary results of an induction combination regimen including fractionated anthracycline. PMID- 2627611 TI - Minimal residual disease in acute leukemia: from experimental models to man. PMID- 2627612 TI - Cytomorphological classification and cytochemistry of acute leukaemias. PMID- 2627613 TI - Hyperferritinaemia in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2627614 TI - The type of chimerism after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation as detected by isoenzymatic polymorphism. PMID- 2627615 TI - Serum neopterin in patients receiving bone marrow transplant. PMID- 2627616 TI - Proceedings of the international symposium. Bone marrow transplantation in children and adults. Biology, strategies, perspectives. September 27-29, 1989, Pavia, Italy. PMID- 2627617 TI - Graft versus host disease in children: the AIEOP BMT group experience. PMID- 2627618 TI - New conditioning regimens for high risk marrow transplants. AB - Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) offers potentially curable treatment for patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies. However, relapse remains the major cause for failure of autologous BMT in these diseases and of allogeneic BMT in subsets of patients with these diseases. With our current preparative regimens, relapse rates following autologous BMT are over 30% for patients with intermediate or high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma and relapsed Hodgkin's disease in sensitive relapse and over 50% following autologous BMT for patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Relapse rates exceed 80% in patients treated with autologous BMT for non-Hodgkin lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease in drug-resistant relapse. We also see a relapse rate over 50% in patients given allogeneic BMT for ANLL in second or third remission or early relapse, for ALL in third or subsequent remission or early relapse, and for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in accelerated phase or blast crisis. We have explored two new approaches for improving the anti-tumor activity of our BMT preparative regimens. One involves combining etoposide, a chemotherapeutic agent that has excellent activity against leukemias and lymphomas, has shown synergistic activity with cyclophosphamide in vitro, and can be substantially dose-escalated, with busulfan and cyclophosphamide. The other approach attempts to induce graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which appears to provide a clinical anti-tumor effect following allogeneic BMT, in recipients of autologous BMT. A syndrome similar to mild GVHD has been reported to occur spontaneously in a small number of patients receiving autologous or syngeneic transplants. GVHD can also be induced in rats undergoing syngeneic BMT by treatment with cyclosporine (CSA).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627619 TI - Bone marrow transplantation monitoring by DNA analysis. AB - Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR) DNA polymorphisms analysis was used in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) follow up. Three Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) transplants were investigated with YNH 24/MspI and with EFD 64.2/Rsa or HinfI highly polymorphic VNTRs. Absence of mosaicism and complete engraftment of donor cells was observed in two cases, while mixed hematopoietic chimerism was present in a case in which T cell depleted marrow was transplanted. VNTR systems represent accurate and sensitive individual specific markers for monitoring the clinical course of patients undergoing BMT, and for detecting the biological origin of relapses. PMID- 2627620 TI - Immunological reconstitution after HLA-haploidentical bone marrow transplantation for SCID in an infant with ADA deficiency. PMID- 2627622 TI - Bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloid leukaemia using matched unrelated donors. AB - Because the majority of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) lack HLA identical siblings, attention has turned in recent years to the possibility of using suitably matched unrelated donors. Tissue typing methods must be refined to help identify the closest possible HLA phenotypic identity. For donor recipient matching the use of the mixed lymphocyte reaction is generally unhelpful and methods that predict for the incidence and severity of graft-versus-host disease, such as assay of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursors, may prove especially valuable. Preliminary results from several centres suggest that the probability of survival at two years for patients with CML allografted in chronic phase with matched unrelated donors is 35-40%. PMID- 2627623 TI - Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in haematological malignancies. Leukemia Working Party of the European Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). PMID- 2627624 TI - Bone marrow transplantation for haemopoietic neoplasia. Evaluation of a new approach to T cell depletion. PMID- 2627625 TI - BMT in children: AIEOP experience. AIEOP BMT Group. PMID- 2627626 TI - Supportive therapy after bone marrow transplantation. AIEOP BMT Group. PMID- 2627627 TI - Molecular biology to check patients treated for CML. PMID- 2627628 TI - Assessment of the nephron segments involved in post-obstructive diuresis in man, using lithium clearance. AB - The phenomena of post-obstructive diuresis and natriuresis have been studied using the lithium clearance technique in 10 patients with high pressure chronic retention. Following relief of obstruction there was a significant increase in both sodium and water excretion. There was a coincident reduction in the fractions of sodium and water reabsorbed in both proximal and distal nephron segments. This study demonstrates for the first time that following relief of chronic obstructive uropathy in man, changes in sodium and water excretion are due to altered handling in both proximal and distal nephron segments. PMID- 2627629 TI - Thermogravimetric analysis of urinary stones. AB - Routine thermogravimetric (TG) analysis of 501 upper urinary calculi from the State of Jammu and Kashmir is described. The technique is simple, rapid and quantitative, and the equipment is easily maintained. The technique was found to be helpful in 95.4% of urinary stones and it is suggested that TG analysis may be employed as a technique of first choice in the routine quantitative analysis of all urinary calculi. PMID- 2627630 TI - Does extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy cause hypertension? AB - Several series have suggested that the incidence of hypertension following extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) may be as high as 8%. In this study, changes in blood pressure and the incidence of hypertension have been observed in 733 patients 12 to 44 months after renal ESWL on the Dornier HM3. The incidence of hypertension following ESWL was 8.1%. In patients with a pre-ESWL diastolic pressure less than 90 mmHg, the incidence of those with a diastolic greater than or equal to 100 mm Hg post-operatively was significantly greater than that predicted by historical data. There was no overall change in the mean blood pressure of the group. The hypertensive risk of ESWL remains unclear. However, blood pressure surveillance should be performed following ESWL and a prospective study is required. PMID- 2627631 TI - Endoballoon rupture and stenting for pelviureteric junction obstruction: technique and early results. AB - Endoballoon rupture and stenting was performed on 31 patients with pelviureteric junction obstruction. A percutaneous antegrade approach was used in 20 patients, a retrograde technique in 11. Clinical and renographic improvement was seen in 21 patients. Four patients later underwent nephrectomy, all of whom had a GFR of less than 20% in the affected kidney. Endoballoon rupture is technically undemanding, easier and less invasive than endopyelotomy. In patients with adequate renal function it provides a suitable alternative to pyeloplasty. PMID- 2627632 TI - Features of computed tomography in hydatid cysts of the urinary tract. AB - The features of computed tomography (CT) in 5 patients with hydatid disease of the urinary tract are described. The diagnosis of hydatid disease was based on the demonstration of unilocular or multilocular cysts with well defined walls which enhanced with contrast, which were often calcified and which contained daughter cysts within the large parent cyst. It is difficult to differentiate between a unilocular hydatid cyst without mural calcification and an infected simple renal cyst. PMID- 2627633 TI - Factors determining the outcome following implantation of the AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter. AB - Erosion and infection are major complications following implantation of the AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter. In the present study, 17 patients with this prosthesis were investigated urodynamically. All were continent. Urethral pressure profilometry showed a significantly lower intra-urethral pressure than would have been expected from the pressure installed in the pressure regulating balloon during operation. The maximal urethral pressure was 69.9% of the expected pressure and did not vary significantly in relation to the various balloon pressures. The mean maximal urethral pressure (+/- SEM) between the cuff when inflated and when deflated was also significantly different, although the absolute difference was small (14.1 cm H2O +/- 10.0). There was good correlation between maximal urethral pressure and urethral leakage pressure as measured by retrograde perfusion sphincterometry. The mean functional urethral length became significantly longer after implantation of the cuff. A combination of low urethral pressure and increased functional length may help to prevent cuff erosion and maintain continence. PMID- 2627634 TI - The effects of simple hysterectomy on vesicourethral function. AB - Many women who present with symptoms of bladder dysfunction relate the onset to the operation of simple hysterectomy. A group of 42 women undergoing simple hysterectomy was studied prospectively. Urinary symptoms, urodynamic findings and sacral reflex latencies (SRLs) were assessed pre- and post-operatively. After hysterectomy the incidence of urinary symptoms increased from 58.3 to 75.0%. Vesicourethral dysfunction was altered in 30.6% of patients, 72.7% of whom had evidence of pelvic neuropathy as detected by SRLs. The results show that simple hysterectomy is associated with a significant incidence of post-operative vesicourethral dysfunction and that there is an identifiable neurological abnormality incurred at operation which is pertinent to the subsequent disordered voiding. PMID- 2627635 TI - The fate of G3pT1 bladder cancer. AB - Poorly differentiated (G3) cancers are known to have a worse prognosis than other superficial bladder tumours. In the period 1976 to 1987, 53 patients with G3pT1 disease were treated by radical radiotherapy with a 5-year survival rate of 64%. Thirteen patients (25%) developed an invasive tumour during the follow-up period. The presence of secondary carcinoma in situ was associated with a poor prognosis. These results are better than those reported for transurethral resection alone and suggest that radiotherapy is the treatment of choice in G3 superficial tumours. PMID- 2627636 TI - Transurethral resection of the prostate and bladder tumour without withdrawal of warfarin therapy. AB - Twelve resections of prostate and 1 extensive bladder tumour were performed in patients on long-term anticoagulation without withdrawal of warfarin therapy. The mean preoperative prothrombin index was 2.3. Four patients required blood transfusion. There were no major complications. The effects of surgery and infusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) on the level of anticoagulation were monitored. FFP reduced the prothrombin index by 0.25/unit. Transurethral resection can be carried out safely by an experienced urologist on patients anticoagulated with warfarin, reducing the risk of serious thromboembolic complications associated with withdrawal of anticoagulation. PMID- 2627637 TI - The treatment of sphincter strictures. AB - A group of 25 patients with strictures of the membranous urethra following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) were investigated and treated initially by careful urethral dilatation. This controlled the stricture in 14 patients, 6 of whom continued with occasional dilatation or self-catheterisation to maintain control; 8 required an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) and 2 required a "clam" ileocystoplasty for detrusor instability. Eleven had persistent or recurrent strictures requiring urethroplasty. Nine underwent bulbo-prostatic anastomotic urethroplasty, 4 with simultaneous bladder neck reconstruction and 5 with subsequent implantation of an AUS; 2 had a preputial patch urethroplasty with subsequent implantation of an AUS. Four of the 9 patients with a urethroplasty and an AUS are satisfactory, 1 developed a recurrent stricture and 2 developed erosions. Two of those with a bulbo-prostatic anastomosis and bladder neck reconstruction are satisfactory and 2 are incontinent. These results were compared with those of 18 other patients who underwent bladder neck reconstruction and 12 who had a urethroplasty in conjunction with an AUS for reasons other than a post-TURP sphincter stricture. The success rate of bladder neck reconstruction was 55% and the success rate of urethroplasty in conjunction with an AUS was 83%, but the main complication of AUS implantation, erosion, was a more serious problem than failure of bladder neck reconstruction. However, the much higher success rate makes AUS implantation a more satisfactory procedure. Surgery should be avoided if at all possible and reliance placed on urethral dilatation. PMID- 2627638 TI - Acquired ventral penile curvature: spongiofibrosis caused by urethral manipulation. AB - Fibrosis of the corpus spongiosum, caused by urethral manipulation, and the resulting ventral penile curvatures are known as the urethral manipulation syndrome. This acquired, largely iatrogenic deformity is noticed only be sexually active patients. Partial, gradual disappearance of glans engorgement and irregularities palpable along the penile urethra associated with ventral curvature are constant findings. The post-manipulative ventral curvature can be transient, disappearing when the inflammatory process subsides or the repeated urethral manipulation ceases. Since fibrosis of the corpus spongiosum begins with urethral inflammation, patients in whom irregularities of the penile urethra are observed during urethrography should be questioned about any erectile deformity. Surgical treatment is indicated when the deformity interferes with sexual intercourse or is accompanied by severe urethral strictures. PMID- 2627639 TI - Anterior pelvic osteotomy. A new operative technique facilitating primary bladder exstrophy closure. AB - Posterior iliac osteotomy is a recognised method employed to facilitate and support anterior abdominal wall closure in patients with bladder exstrophy, but it adds considerably to the already lengthy procedure of bladder exstrophy surgery. Anterior pelvic osteotomy of the superior ramus of the pubic bone was developed to overcome this problem and to achieve a stable anterior pelvic ring with tension-free soft tissue closure. It can easily be performed after completing the bladder closure, without the need to turn the patient. PMID- 2627640 TI - BCG pyelonephritis following intravesical BCG. PMID- 2627641 TI - Renal carcinoma with adjacent retroperitoneal fibrosis. PMID- 2627642 TI - Subcutaneous vasopressin in nocturnal enuresis. PMID- 2627643 TI - Nephro-broncho-cutaneous fistula. PMID- 2627644 TI - Diagnosis and successful treatment of post partum renal vein thrombosis. PMID- 2627645 TI - Continuous infusion of phenylephrine in the treatment of papaverine-induced priapism. PMID- 2627646 TI - Liposarcoma of the bladder. PMID- 2627647 TI - Staff safety and bladder irrigation. PMID- 2627648 TI - Temporary upper tract urinary diversion using a detachable occlusion balloon and percutaneous nephrostomy. PMID- 2627649 TI - Re: Renal parenchymal malakoplakia. PMID- 2627650 TI - [Immunologic parameters in patients with malignant melanoma]. AB - In an attempt to better define the immunological reactivity of patients with malignant melanoma, the electrophoretic mobility of lymphocytes and their reactivity were studied in poly-L-lysine agglutination and in nucleolar test. Blood samples were examined before treatment and repeatedly after surgical removal of the tumor. A microagglutination test induced by poly-L-lysine was used for the detection of sensitized lymphocytes in peripheral blood of melanoma patients. The number of positive results was increasing with the progression of the disease. After incubation with poly-L-lysine the electrophoretic mobility of lymphocytes was changed in melanoma patients. The nucleolar test was used for the study of quantitative and morphological changes of the nucleoli in lymphocytes. Elevated values of the nucleolar coefficient and an increased number of active nucleoli provided evidence on the higher immunological reactivity of melanoma patients. The decline in the number of lymphocytes with ring-shaped nucleoli, signaling immunologic exhaustion, are of prognostic value. Lymphocytes were assayed also for the presence of receptors for sheep erythrocytes (E active and total rosettes) and C3d component of complement (EAC rosettes). The reported findings may be used to advantage in evaluating the immunological reactivity of melanoma patients. PMID- 2627651 TI - [Diagnosis of supravalvular aortic stenosis using 2-dimensional echocardiography]. AB - In 13 children supravalvular aortic stenosis was diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography on the basis of a diminished inner diameter of the aorta in the supravalvular region "d2" compared with the inner diameter of the aortic annulus "d1". The differences in the values of "d2" and "d1" were only on the border of statistical significance. The difference in the d2/d1 ratio between the group of patients and healthy controls was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). Two-dimensional echocardiography is a very sensitive method for diagnosing supravalvular aortic stenosis. This sensitivity has been confirmed also by detecting the diminished inner diameter of the aorta in the supravalvular region in children with Williams-Beuren syndrome without clinical signs of a heart defect. PMID- 2627652 TI - [Differences in reference values in 2-dimensional echocardiography in men and women]. AB - A total of 126 voluntary blood donors (90 men, mean age 30 +/- 0.5 yrs, and 36 women, mean age 34 +/- 0.5 yrs) were examined to establish standards for two dimensional echocardiography. The maximal width of the left ventricle (LV), the thickness of the interventricular septum (IVS) and of the posterior wall (PW) during systole (s) and diastole (d), the systolic dimension of the left atrium (LA) and the diastolic dimension of the aorta (Ao) and right ventricle (RV) were determined. The measurements were performed from the short parasternal axis. Significantly larger dimensions for LV(s), LV(d), IVS(s), IVS(d)(p less than 0.001) and for LA(s) and PW(d) (p less than 0.01) were measured in men as compared to women. No significant intersexual differences were observed in the other parameters studied or in their calculated ratios (LA/Ao, IVS/PW, ejection fraction and fractional shortening LV, IVS, PW). It can be concluded that exact measurements in correlation studies with two-dimensional echocardiography require corresponding parameter values for body surface area. PMID- 2627653 TI - [The in vitro effects of josamycin on various strains of bacteria]. AB - The minimal inhibitory concentration of josamycin was studied by the dilution plate method on the strains Staphylococcus aureus, plasmacoagulase negative staphylococci, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, and enterococci. The effect of josamycin was compared with that of erythromycin, penicillin, ampicillin, oxacillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazol, and furantion. Of the series of 572 strains tested, josamycin was most effective in the strains Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus agalactiae. All the strains tested were susceptible to josamycin, including the Staphylococcus aureus strains resistant to erythromycin. Of the plasmacoagulase negative staphylococci 2.6% resistant strains and 86.3% strains with decreased susceptibility were found. Of the enterococci 41.2% of the strains were resistant to josamycin. In these strains the most effective antibiotics were ampicillin and furantoin. PMID- 2627654 TI - Inguinal hernia waiting lists: medical and financial implications. PMID- 2627655 TI - A case of self inflicted penile ulceration. PMID- 2627656 TI - 'Ball's sign' or Bell's sign'. PMID- 2627658 TI - South West Orthopaedic Club. A symposium. Newport, November 12th 1988. PMID- 2627657 TI - Leather. PMID- 2627659 TI - Effect of stunning current on downgrading in turkeys. AB - 1. Turkeys were electrically stunned with 75, 150 or 250 mA per bird to examine the effect of current on carcase quality defects. The defects that were examined included skin and muscle haemorrhaging, broken bones and engorgement of veins with blood. 2. The incidence of ventricular fibrillation at these currents was 26, 97 and 100%, respectively. Haemorrhaging in the breast muscle was the only variable affected by stunning current and was greatest when 250 mA was used. 3. It is recommended that turkeys should be stunned with 150 mA per bird. PMID- 2627660 TI - Musculo-skeletal lesions in adult male broiler breeder fowls and their relationships with body weight and fertility at 60 weeks of age. AB - 1. Males from three broiler breeder experiments were examined to determine the incidence of musculo-skeletal lesions (destructive cartilage loss, dyschondroplasia and its sequelae, ruptured tendons and ligaments) in birds culled for low fertility and in males surviving to the end of the breeding period. Relationships with body weight and fertility were studied. 2. The incidence of musculo-skeletal lesions in males culled for low fertility was high. 3. In two experiments, high body weights at termination of the breeding period were associated with a raised incidence of musculo-skeletal lesions and lowered fertility. 4. The results support the hypothesis that lack of control of male body weight gain per se is an important cause of declining fertility with age in broiler breeder flocks. There was no evidence that males were obese. PMID- 2627661 TI - Morphometry of pectoral development in turkey breeding stock. AB - 1. Musculo-skeletal development was measured in males and females of two genetic lines of turkey breeding stock: one line had been selected mainly for egg production (E-line) while the other had been selected for meat production as well as egg production (M-line). 2. The M-line had a more rapid growth of body weight and breast muscle weight than the E-line but breast muscle yield (breast muscle weight/body weight) did not differ between lines. 3. From an early age, breast length and keel length were longer in the M-line than in the E-line. 4. In older birds, keel depth was greater in the M-line than in the E-line. 5. No differences between lines were detected for depth of the pectoralis muscle, number of muscle fibres in the depth of the pectoralis, or muscle fibre cross sectional areas. PMID- 2627662 TI - Influence of oxidised dietary oil and antioxidant supplementation on membrane bound lipid stability in broiler meat. AB - 1. The effects of oxidised oil, dietary alpha-tocopherol and BHA/BHT supplementation on the fatty acid composition of mitochondrial, microsomal and soluble protein fractions of broiler muscles, and on their lability to metmyoglobin/hydrogen peroxide-catalysed peroxidation were investigated. 2. Oxidised oil in the broiler diets induced rapid oxidation of the membrane-bound lipids and decreased their stability towards metmyoglobin-hydrogen peroxide catalysed peroxidation. 3. Supplementation of the broiler diets with alpha tocopherol increased the alpha-tocopherol concentrations in the microsomal and soluble protein fractions of the dark meat as well as the soluble protein fraction of the white meat. This, in turn, stabilised the membrane-bound lipids against metmyoglobin/hydrogen peroxide-initiated peroxidative changes. PMID- 2627663 TI - Effect of ventricular fibrillation at stunning and ineffective bleeding on carcase quality defects in broiler chickens. AB - 1. This experiment was concerned with whether ineffective bleeding could exacerbate the incidence of haemorrhagic conditions in broiler carcases, when ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced at stunning. 2. Broiler chickens were electrically stunned with 81 mA per bird and then allocated to three treatments. About 67% experienced a VF at stunning and half of these birds were bled out before processing while the other half were processed without being bled out. The birds which did not experience a VF at stunning were bled out before being processed. The carcases were subjectively graded for haemorrhagic conditions. 3. Inducing a VF at stunning caused increases in the incidence of red wingtips and haemorrhaging at the humerus-radius joint in the birds which were bled out. There were no other obvious effects of inducing a VF on carcase downgrading. 4. Failure to bleed the chickens which had a VF at stunning resulted in high incidences of red wingtips, red necks, haemorrhaging at the humerus-radius joint and red sternal feather tracts. It was concluded that bleeding efficiency was important in influencing the expression of these characteristics when a VF occurred at stunning. PMID- 2627664 TI - Sodium bentonite as a component in layer diets. AB - 1. Two hundred and forty Amber-link pullets were individually caged in a naturally-ventilated laying house and fed one of four isoenergetic, isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 20, 40 or 80 sodium bentonite/kg for 44 weeks. 2. No significant dietary effects were observed between treatments with regard to body weight at 20 or 64 weeks, age at first egg, egg weight, Haugh score or egg shell thickness. 3. Significant positive linear responses were observed with live weight at first egg (P less than 0.01), food consumed/hen d (P less than 0.05) and faecal moisture percentage (P less than 0.01). Significant negative linear (P less than 0.01) responses were observed with bacterial counts in the proximal and distal ends of the intestine. 4. A significant negative quadratic (P less than 0.05) response was noticed with egg production per hen. 5. A significant negative cubic (P less than 0.01) response was found with food conversion ratio (g food/g eggs). PMID- 2627665 TI - Effects of oxidised dietary oil and antioxidant supplementation on broiler growth and meat stability. AB - 1. Broilers were fed on diets containing oxidised sunflower oil, sunflower oil and sunflower oil supplemented with alpha-tocopherol, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). 2. Oxidised oil caused a significant reduction in broiler body and carcase weights, whereas alpha-tocopherol and BHA/BHT supplementation improved growth. 3. Meat samples from these broilers were stored at 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C and their oxidative stability evaluated. Feeding oxidised oil to broilers resulted in meat that underwent rapid oxidative changes during refrigerated and frozen storage. 4. On the other hand, dietary alpha-tocopherol and BHA/BHT supplementation increased alpha-tocopherol and BHA/BHT concentrations in meat and significantly (P less than 0.05) improved the oxidative stability of meat during refrigerated and frozen storage. PMID- 2627666 TI - Beta-carotene supplementation of turkey diets varying in fat and retinol. AB - 1. The effects of supplementary beta-carotene (BC) at 0, 1.5, 15, 150, 1500 or 15,000 mg/kg diet on performance, incidence of leg problems, tibia ash, and plasma and liver concentration of BC and retinol of poults to 4 weeks of age were studied. 2. Body weight and food intake increased with dietary BC supplementation. Incidence of leg problems was not affected but tibia ash increased with BC supplementation. Plasma and liver BC and liver retinol increased with dietary BC but plasma retinol was not affected. 3. The effects of 0, 1.5, 15 or 150 mg BC/kg in diets containing either 30 or 60 g added fat/kg and either 1.2 or 12.0 mg retinol/kg on the above properties were studied in poults to 4 weeks of age. 4. Performance was not significantly affected by dietary fat. Efficiency of utilisation of food was depressed by the higher concentration of retinol. At 3 weeks of age birds given BC had fewer leg problems and higher tibia ash values than the control birds. Liver BC and retinol and plasma BC concentration increased with dietary BC. By 4 weeks, plasma and liver BC was higher and liver retinol was lower for birds given 1.2 compared with those given 12.0 mg/kg of retinol. PMID- 2627667 TI - Effect of ammonium chloride on the bicarbonate buffer system in heat-stressed broilers. AB - 1. The effects of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) on the bicarbonate buffer system and plasma lactate in heat-stressed broilers were investigated. 2. The infusion of a 10 g/l solution of NH4Cl into the crop during a 90 min thermoneutral period produced a metabolic acidosis resulting from a reduction in blood bicarbonate concentration. Blood bicarbonate continued to decrease in NH4Cl-treated birds and reached values which were 30% of controls by the end of a 90 min heat stress period. 3. By the end of heat stress, plasma lactate concentrations were lower in NH4Cl-infused birds than in controls. PMID- 2627668 TI - Growth, food intake and energy balance of layer and broiler chickens offered glucose in the drinking water and the effect of dietary protein content. AB - 1. Four experiments were carried out to study the effect of offering a 91.5 g/l solution of glucose, compared to tap water, on fluid intake, food intake and growth of individually-caged immature chickens of both layer and broiler strains. 2. Male chicks of an egg-laying strain were offered glucose solution or tap water from 27 to 62 d after hatching. There was no effect of glucose on fluid intake but it depressed food intake (P less than 0.01) to give equal total energy intakes for each treatment. Body weight gain was reduced (P less than 0.001) and carcase fat content increased (P less than 0.001) by the glucose to yield no difference to total carcase energy. 3. When birds were placed in a respiration chamber for two 23-h periods there was no effect of treatment on outputs of energy as faeces + urine or as heat. 4. Male broilers were offered glucose solution or tap water with diets containing either 150 or 195 g protein/kg from 20 to 55 d after hatching. With the low-protein diet glucose depressed food intake (P less than 0.01) but total energy intake and carcase energy were not significantly affected. With the high-protein diet glucose did not depress food intake but increased total energy intake and total body fat. 5. Layer and broiler chicks were offered either a choice of the low- and high-protein diets or a single diet intermediate in protein content, with glucose solution or tap water. With broilers total food intake was depressed by glucose, mainly by a reduced intake of the low-protein diet. Intake of neither diet by the layer chicks was significantly affected by glucose. 6. It is concluded that provision of extra energy in glucose solution depresses food intake when the resultant energy:protein ratio becomes limiting. With a higher protein diet, or with birds having lower protein requirements, glucose solution does not depress food intake and increased fat deposition occurs. PMID- 2627669 TI - Recovery of ova and their re-insertion into the hen's oviduct through a fistula. AB - 1. The first loop of the domestic hen's magnum was fistulated. A cannula mounted with a collecting tube served to trap the passing ova about 2.5 h following ovulation. 2. Nine out of 10 fistulated hens resumed ovulation about 2 to 5 weeks following surgery. A total of 63 magnal ova were collected. 3. Five of the magnal ova were successfully returned to the oviduct through the fistula and resulted in 5 normal soft-shelled eggs. The success of ova reimplantation was affected by prolapse of the posterior part of the oviduct and the timing of ova return. PMID- 2627670 TI - Moulding our children's future. PMID- 2627671 TI - Heart and blood vessel surgery. PMID- 2627672 TI - Emigration--catastrophe or career move. The choice is yours. PMID- 2627673 TI - The interpretation of equivocal or marginal animal carcinogenicity tests. AB - The interpretation of animal carcinogenicity tests traditionally rely almost exclusively upon a comparison of specific tumor rates in treated vs. matched and, perhaps, historical control animals. Yet, carcinogenicity tests yield much more biological and pathological data than simply final tumor rates. This additional data should also be considered as part of the total weight of evidence, particularly when analyzing a marginal or equivocal test result. If there are no positive findings among the data discussed here and listed in Table 1, it is unlikely that a marginal or equivocal increase in tumor incidence is actually treatment-related, irrespective of statistical analysis. PMID- 2627674 TI - Types and amounts of carcinogens as potential human cancer hazards. AB - Current knowledge on the mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis forms the basis for application of select short-term in vitro and in vivo tests to detect potential human carcinogens, for ultimate application to hazard assessment. Chemical carcinogenesis involves a series of distinct steps, proceeding from the initiation of a neoplastic cell, through its promotion, development, and progression to cancer. Some chemicals act in each of these stages as initiators, cocarcinogens, promoters, or inhibitors of carcinogenesis. Chemicals can be classified as operating by genotoxic or epigenetic mechanisms, and appropriate tests can be used to detect such properties. These abbreviated tests provide enhanced qualitative decision-making potential since they are based on mechanisms of action. Advances in molecular biology may provide additional tests to detect cancer risk. The quantitative data available from in vitro dose-response studies indicate that carcinogenic effects are dose dependent and, therefore, a threshold or no-effect level probably exists, which is low for potent carcinogens (especially genotoxins) and high for weaker ones (particularly epigenetic agents). PMID- 2627675 TI - Correlation of carcinogenic potency in animals and humans. PMID- 2627676 TI - Tissue dosimetry, physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling, and cancer risk assessment. AB - Chemical risk assessment is a complex process that requires integration of various biological data from test species, ultimately producing a prediction of the expected outcome of anticipated human exposure. There are two aspects of this process in which pharmacokinetic (PK) modeling can play an important role: in dosimetry, the process of estimating target tissue dose in the test species, and in extrapolation, the process of generalizing beyond the test species to predict human target tissue dose for various ambient exposure conditions. Mechanistic information on the cancer process is crucial in selecting the appropriate measure of target tissue dose: i.e., is it tissue exposure to parent chemical, tissue exposure to stable or reactive metabolite(s), occupancy of critical cellular receptors by parent or metabolite, or some measure of cytotoxicity with concomitant reparative hyperplasia? (This is not intended, by the way, to be an exhaustive list of the potential measures of tissue dose associated with cancer induction). With a presumed carcinogenic mechanism and its appropriate measure of tissue dose in mind, a pharmacokinetic model can then be developed to quantitate this measure of target tissue dose for various exposure conditions. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PB-PK) modeling is the preferred modeling strategy since it is more readily amenable to the interspecies extrapolation necessary to calculate human tissue dose. This essay focuses on the issues of what constitutes an appropriate measure of tissue dose and of how PB-PK models can be developed to estimate tissue dose for chemicals which cause cancer by differing mechanisms. It outlines preliminary attempts to include information on cytotoxicity into a quantitative risk assessment process. Quantitative, extrapolable cytotoxicity models are necessary to conduct biologically valid risk assessments for those chemicals whose primary effect is overt cellular toxicity instead of direct chemical interaction with cellular DNA. Rational, comprehensive risk assessments will only be possible with the advent of descriptions which combine information on both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics into a single integrated model. PMID- 2627677 TI - Incorporation of biological information in cancer risk assessment: example--vinyl chloride. AB - Vinyl chloride (VC) is used as an example to demonstrate how biological information can be incorporated into quantitative risk assessment. The information included is the pharmacokinetics of VC in animals and humans and the data-generated hypothesis that VC primarily affects the initiation stage of the multistage carcinogenesis. The emphasis in this paper is on the improvement of risk assessment methodology rather than the risk assessment of VC per se. Sufficient data are available to construct physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models for both animals and humans. These models are used to calculate the metabolized dose corresponding to exposure scenarios in animals and in humans. On the basis of the data on liver angiosarcomas and carcinomas in rats, the cancer risk per unit of metabolized dose is comparable, irrespective of routes (oral or inhalation) of exposure. The tumor response from an intermittent/partial lifetime exposure is shown to be consistent with that from a lifetime exposure when VC is assumed to affect the first (initiation) stage of the multistage carcinogenic process. Furthermore, the risk estimates calculated on the basis of animal data are shown to be consistent with the human experience. PMID- 2627678 TI - Carotid sinus pressure, blood volume, and vasopressin in the anaesthetized rabbit. AB - Experiments were carried out on anaesthetized rabbits to determine the influence of carotid sinus pressure (CSP) on the changes in the plasma concentration of arginine vasopressin (AVP) that occurred in response to changing blood volume. The aortic depressor nerves were sectioned in all experiments and the vagus nerves remained intact. Both carotid sinuses were perfused at constant controlled pressure. Blood volume was increased (n = 10) or decreased (n = 10) by 10 and 20% of the estimated blood volume. Plasma immunoreactive arginine vasopressin concentration (IR-AVP) was significantly higher at a CSP of 60 mmHg (1 mmHg = 133.322 Pa) than it was at a CSP of 120 mmHg in both groups of animals. Increasing blood volume did not cause any significant change in IR-AVP at either carotid sinus pressure. Haemorrhage of 10% of the blood volume did not change IR AVP. Haemorrhage of 20% of the blood volume significantly increased IR-AVP at both CSPs; the magnitude of the increase in IR-AVP was not altered by changing the CSP. No interaction was demonstrated between the effects of CSP and blood volume on plasma IR-AVP. PMID- 2627679 TI - Effects of cholecystokinin octapeptide on the pancreatic exocrine secretion in the pig. AB - In conscious pigs, intravenous infusion of serial doses of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8; 2.9-232.3 pmol.kg-1.min-1) upon a background of secretin resulted in a linear increase of plasma CCK-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI) concentration and evoked a dose-related increase of pancreatic volume and bicarbonate and protein outputs. The threshold plasma CCK-LI concentration for significant pancreatic response was 103.8 +/- 10.2 pM using a CCK8 dose of 8.8 pmol.kg-1.min-1. The maximum pancreatic response was observed for a plasma CCK-LI level of 498.0 +/- 15.3 pM using 77.2 pmol CCK8.kg-1.min-1. In anesthetized pigs, the threshold plasma CCK-LI concentration for pancreatic response was 1500 pM (actual CCK8 dose of 60.3 pmol.kg-1.min-1). The physiological relevance of this finding was assessed by comparing the food-induced increase of pancreatic secretion with that of plasma CCK-LI. Food ingestion was followed by a sharp pancreatic response and by a progressive increase of plasma CCK-LI to a peak increment of about 15 pM. Gel chromatography of portal and peripheral plasma from fed animals revealed three major peaks in the volumes of CCK33/39 and CCK8, and in a volume intermediate between CCK33/39 and CCK8. An additional minor component eluted ahead of CCK33/39. CCK8, which is one of the CCK components released after food intake, appears to be a fairly weak pancreatic stimulant in pigs. PMID- 2627680 TI - Differential biotransformation of the enantiomers of isoidide dinitrate in isolated rat aorta. AB - Previous studies have demonstrated that the D-enantiomer of isoidide dinitrate (IIDN) is 10-fold more potent than the L-enantiomer for relaxation and cyclic GMP accumulation in isolated rat aorta. To test whether preferential biotransformation of D-IIDN to a species that activates guanylate cyclase is the basis for this observed enantioselectivity, paired segments of rat aorta were exposed to D- and L-IIDN and the tissue accumulation of the parent compound and the formation of their respective metabolites (D- and L-isoidide mononitrate, IIMN) were determined. The extent of relaxation of rat aorta following exposure to 2 microM D-IIDN was greater than that by L-IIDN over a 5-minute time course, and this was associated with a higher rate of D-IIDN biotransformation to D-IIMN at all time points. In addition, the rate of D-IIDN biotransformation was greater than that of L-IIDN at most IIDN concentrations tested. By contrast, the amount of D- and L-IIDN in the tissue was the same at all time points and concentrations tested, indicating that selective uptake of D-IIDN into blood vessels did not occur. When tissues were made tolerant to organic nitrate-induced relaxation by treatment with a high concentration of glyceryl trinitrate, the biotransformation of both D- and L-IIDN was attenuated. This suggests that mechanism-based biotransformation may be affected during tolerance development. Furthermore, the association of preferential D-IIDN biotransformation with its greater potency for vasodilation and cyclic GMP accumulation suggests than an enantioselective site for biotransformation is an important component of organic nitrate-induced vasodilation. PMID- 2627681 TI - Net appearance of amino acids in portal blood during the digestion of casein or rapeseed proteins in the pig. AB - The kinetics of appearance of amino acids (AA) in portal blood following the ingestion of casein or rapeseed protein were compared. Six pigs, fitted with permanent catheters in the portal vein and in the carotid artery, as well as with an electromagnetic flow probe around the portal vein, received three 800 g test meals, one containing 12% rapeseed proteins (RA12) and the others containing 12% and 24% casein (CA12 and CA24), at 1-week intervals and according to a double Latin square design. Portal and arterial blood samples were collected and portal blood flow rate was recorded for 8 h after the test meals. At the end of measurement, an average of 76.1 +/- 5.6% (mean +/- SEM) of total AA from the CA24 diet had appeared in portal blood, compared with 94.3 +/- 10.4% for the CA12 diet and 103.5 +/- 12.6% for the RA12 diet. Similar results were obtained for essential AA. Differences were found in the kinetics of appearance of individual AA. Eight hours after the meal, 79% of lysine, 84% of methionine, and 73% of valine from the CA24 diet had appeared in portal blood compared, respectively, with 100, 89, and 83% from the CA12 diet and 99, 86, and 106% from the RA12 diet. Arginine from rapeseed had a net appearance level lower (82%) than the overall mixture of essential AA. With casein diets, the net appearance of arginine reached 97% (CA12) and 82% (CA24). Following the ingestion of rapeseed proteins, there seemed to be a significant appearance of endogenous AA in portal blood.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627682 TI - The effect of glucagon on vasoconstriction and vascular escape from nerve- and norepinephrine-induced constriction of the hepatic artery of the cat. AB - Glucagon, in the anesthetized cat, was capable of dilating the hepatic artery to the same extent and in a dose-dependent manner when administered directly into the hepatic artery or into the portal vein. Portal venous infusions of glucagon did not inhibit nerve- or norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction of the hepatic artery in contrast to previous reports in the dog. Rather, at certain doses, glucagon mildly potentiated the vasoconstriction induced by both constrictor stimuli. Vascular escape from nerve- and norepinephrine-induced constrictor responses was found to be inhibited by glucagon in a dose-dependent manner. Glucagon infusion is the first intervention reported to modulate vascular escape in the hepatic artery. Owing to its similar effects on nerve- and exogenous norepinephrine-induced responses, glucagon appears to be acting at a postsynaptic site. Therefore, we suggest that in the cat, glucagon is not an inhibitory modulator of nerve- and norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction, but rather may potentiate the constrictor response in a postsynaptic manner. PMID- 2627683 TI - The importance of glyoxylate and other glycine precursors in the hepatic and renal conjugation of benzoate in normal and hyperammonemic mice. AB - Benzoate conjugation, represented by hippurate synthesis, was measured in hepatocytes isolated from normal and sparse-fur (spf) mutant mice, with X-linked ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, to compare the effects of glyoxylate and piridoxylate (a hemiacetal of glyoxylate and pyridoxine), substituted for glycine. Various amino acid precursors of glycine described in the literature, including serine, threonine, glutamine, and glutamate, were studied in a similar manner. The role of glyoxylate and piridoxylate was also assessed in the renal cortex, in comparison with liver homogenates from normal and hyperammonemic mice. The results indicate the importance of glyoxylate and piridoxylate to completely substitute for glycine (96-115%) in isolated hepatocytes of spf/Y mice, as compared with 53-69% (p less than 0.05) in normal +/Y controls. The mean value of amino acid precursors to substitute for glycine in spf mice was serine 51%, threonine 29% (p less than 0.05), and glutamine 9%. In normal mice, only serine (21%) (p less than 0.01) partly substituted for glycine, whereas threonine, glutamine and glutamate gave negative values of net hippurate synthesis. The specific activity of renal cortex for hippurate synthesis from glycine, glyoxylate and piridoxylate was 3-4 times that of liver homogenates (p less than 0.01 - less than 0.001). A scheme for the transamination of glyoxylate by alanine is presented. Besides alanine, the excess of glycine, serine, and threonine is readily deaminated in the body to take part in gluconeogenic reactions, thus contributing to hyperammonemia. The cumulative effect of benzoate conjugation to drain these ammoniagenic precursors through glycine may be the basis of its therapeutic effect in hyperammonemia. PMID- 2627684 TI - The effect of food protein-induced intestinal anaphylaxis on rate of transit. AB - The aim of this study was to determine if the altered jejunal motility previously demonstrated in this animal model of food protein-induced intestinal anaphylaxis is (a) a localized (the jejunal site of challenge), or a generalized response of the small intestine, and (b) associated with more rapid aboral transit of intraluminal contents. Hooded-Lister rats, 100-150 g in weight, were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of 10 micrograms egg albumin. Control rats were sham sensitized. On day 7 rats were surgically prepared with six bipolar electrodes from duodenum to ileum and (or) a jejunostomy tube was positioned at the ligament of Treitz. On day 14, after an 18-h fast, recording of myoelectric activity were obtained from four sensitized animals with electrodes from duodenum to ileum during a control period for 45 min after saline challenge and for 45 min after antigen challenge. Control (n = 25) and sensitized (n = 31) animals with only a jejunostomy had Na2 51CrO4 instilled through the jejunostomy in 0.5 mL of saline, with or without egg albumin, either during a fast or after a standard meal. Propulsion of isotope through the small bowel was allowed to progress for 15 min, the animals were sacrificed, and their gut was removed for division into eight equal segments of small intestine, cecum, and remaining colon. The radioactivity of each segment was determined in a gamma counter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627685 TI - Ductus arteriosus: involvement of a sarcolemmal cytochrome P-450 in O2 constriction? AB - Our previous studies implicate a cytochrome P-450-based mechanism in the constrictor response of the ductus arteriosus to oxygen. The present experiments were conducted on saponin-skinned strips of ductal muscle from mature fetal lambs to determine the location, sarcolemmal versus intracellular, of this cytochrome and to obtain a better insight into the sequence of events underlying the action of oxygen. Skinned preparations contracted to free Ca2+ over the range between 0.1 and 5-10 microM (pCa 7 to 5). In contrast, oxygen (PO2, 608-690 Torr; 1 Torr = 133.3 Pa) had no significant effect, both in the absence and presence of 10 microM calcium. Carbon monoxide, tested as pure CO or a CO-O2 mixture (ratio 0.28), did not relax preparations maximally contracted with calcium. These findings indicate that oxygen exerts its effect on the plasma membrane of ductus muscle cells and that a membrane-bound cytochrome P-450 mechanism likely functions as the signal transducer for oxygen in the formation of a constrictor agent. PMID- 2627686 TI - The use of a cell-free perfusate in the perfused rat hindquarter: methodological concerns. AB - The viability of using a cell-free perfusate in a rat hindlimb preparation to assess skeletal muscle glycogenesis was investigated. A perfusate containing 10 mM glucose and 10 microCi (1 Ci = 37 GBq) of D-[5-3H]glucose was recycled for a 60-min period. In agreement with other studies using more complex media, oxygen uptake of the preparation indicated adequate tissue oxygenation (8 mumol.min-1.g 1). Skeletal muscle fiber type heterogeneity in basal glycogen synthesis from glucose was shown (slow oxidative greater than fast oxidative glycolytic greater than fast glycolytic fibres). Insulin (4.2 mU/mL) markedly stimulated glycogenesis from D-[5-3H]glucose in the soleus (slow oxidative fiber), red gastrocnemius (fast oxidative glycolytic fiber), and white gastrocnemius muscles (p less than 0.05). A recent report indicates that tissue edema in this preparation did not affect insulin responsiveness of the tissue. In contrast, our observations indicate that glucos uptake was enhanced by insulin when edema was absent (p less than 0.05), but not when edema was present (p less than 0.05). In addition, the presence of tissue edema negated insulin-mediated glycogenesis in slow oxidative and fast oxidative glycolytic muscle (p less than 0.05 compared with control) but not in fast glycolytic muscle (p less than 0.05). These data warrant caution when using a cell-free media in the perfused rat hindquarter; however, in the absence of edema, normal responses of glucose metabolism are observed. PMID- 2627687 TI - Evidence from immunoblotting studies on uncoupling protein that brown adipose tissue is not present in the domestic pig. AB - Adipose tissues and other tissues of the pig have been examined for the presence of the mitochondrial "uncoupling protein," characteristic of brown adipose tissue, in order to assess whether brown fat is present in this species. Mitochondria were prepared from various tissues and the proteins separated on the basis of molecular weight by sodium dodecyl sulphate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Immunoblotting procedures were then used to probe for uncoupling protein, employing a rabbit anti-(rat uncoupling protein) serum. Pigs were examined at 4 days, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks of age. No evidence for the presence of uncoupling protein was found at any of these ages. The protein was, however, readily detected in brown adipose tissue from rats, mice, golden hamsters, guinea pigs, Richardson's ground squirrel, and lambs. An additional group of pigs was acclimated to the cold (10 degrees C) for a period of 10 days prior to the examination of tissues, but again uncoupling protein was not detected in any tissue. These results indicate that uncoupling protein is either absent from adipose tissues of the pig or is present at such a low concentration that it is unlikely to support thermogenesis. It is concluded that the pig does not contain adipose tissue that is functionally "brown;" adipose tissues in this species appear to be exclusively "white." PMID- 2627688 TI - Action of histamine on the rapidly adapting airway receptors in the dog. AB - The effects of histamine on the activity of rapidly adapting receptors (RAR) of the airways were investigated in anesthetized dogs. With bolus injections given into the right atrium, the threshold dose of histamine required for the excitation of RAR (n = 7) was 0.82 microgram/kg (+1.33/-0.51, geometric mean). With increasing doses of histamine, a dose-response relationship was seen in the activity of RAR. Obstruction of the lymphatic drainage from the lungs reduced the threshold dose to histamine (i.e., shifted the dose-response curve to the left significantly). This change in the dose-response relationship was not accompanied by a corresponding change in the relationship of histamine dose to airway pressures recorded before and after lymphatic obstruction. Against a background of pulmonary venous congestion produced by partial obstruction of the mitral valve, subthreshold doses of histamine stimulated the RAR (n = 4). The excitatory effect of histamine on RAR was found to be abolished by the administration of the H1 receptor antagonist diphenhydramine but not by the H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine. Intravenous infusion of histamine (0.4 microgram.kg-1.min-1) for a period of 10 min increased the RAR activity (n = 6) significantly without producing detectable changes in airway mechanics. The results indicate that contraction of the smooth muscle of the airways may not be a prerequisite for the excitation of RAR, especially at low doses. It is suggested that some of the effects of histamine on RAR are mediated by a local expansion of the extravascular fluid caused by an increase in the permeability of the bronchial vasculature. PMID- 2627689 TI - The effect of sialoadenectomy on gastric mucosal integrity in the rat: roles of epidermal growth factor and prostaglandin E2. AB - Removal of the salivary glands (SALX) in rats has been shown to increase the susceptibility of gastric mucosa to ulcerogens. In the present study, we have investigated the role of specific salivary glands in this response. In addition, we have examined whether a functional link exists between the salivary glands, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by determining whether SALX decreases the responsiveness of the mucosa to the protective actions of either of both of these agents. Removal of the parotid salivary glands did not significantly increase ulceration in response to intragastric administration of 100% w/v ethanol. Animals were examined 60 min after ethanol administration. Removal of the submandibular-sublingual gland complexes was associated with a significant increase in the area of mucosal damage and a decrease in gastric pit depth in ethanol-treated animals when compared with sham-operated control rats. Furthermore, in both SALX and control animals, exogenous PGE2 and EGF resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in both groups of animals, although the protective effects of PGE2 and EGF were attenuated in SALX rats. PGE2 and EGF administered in combination resulted in the same degree of protection in both SALX and control rats. Sialoadenectomy resulted in a reduction in mucosal PGE2 synthesis. EGF administration did not consistently increase mucosal PGE2 synthesis. Conversely, sialoadenectomy did not reduce mucosal levels of EGF nor did exogenous PGE2 consistently increase salivary or mucosal content of EGF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627690 TI - Effects of neurotensin on motor patterns of canine duodenum and proximal jejunum. AB - The aim of this study was to clarify if small doses of neurotensin (2.5 and 5.0 pmol.kg-1.min-1, i.v.) in dogs alter the postprandial motor pattern of the duodenum in comparison with the adjacent jejunum. The intestinal motor patterns were quantified by means of closely spaced strain gauge transducers and a computerized method. An acaloric viscous meal of cellulose was used to induce postprandial motility. Gastric emptying was measured radiographically. During intravenous control infusion of saline, the characteristics of duodenal and jejunal motor pattern were significantly different. The duodenum contracted at a lower rate and showed a higher incidence of stationary contractions. The lower dose (2.5 pmol.kg-1.min-1) of neurotensin showed no significant effects, whereas the higher dose (5 pmol.kg-1.min-1) significantly slowed gastric emptying and altered the motor pattern of both intestinal segments in a similar manner. It reduced the number of contractions, shortened the contraction spread, increased the incidence of stationary contractions, and decreased the incidence of propagated contractions. The alterations of motility caused enhanced mixing of luminal contents. The differences in motor patterns seen in the control state between both intestinal segments were diminished during neurotensin. Data revealed no differences in sensitivity of the duodenum and jejunum to neurotensin. Results suggest that neurotensin is one of the gastrointestinal peptides involved in regulating intestinal contractile patterns. PMID- 2627691 TI - Selective utilization of L-isomer of lactate in the smooth muscle of the guinea pig taenia caeci. AB - Utilization of D- and L-lactate in the isolated intestinal smooth muscle of the guinea pig taenia caeci was examined by measuring contractile tension, oxygen consumption, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate (PCr) concentrations. In the absence of glucose in the medium, muscle contraction induced by a high concentration of K+ was inhibited and the rate of oxygen consumption and the concentrations of ATP and PCr were decreased. Addition of glucose, L-lactate, and D,L-lactate, but not D-lactate, led to recovery of muscle contraction, rate of oxygen consumption, and ATP and PCr concentrations when the tissue had been incubated in the high K+, glucose-free solution. These results suggest that the isolated guinea pig taenia caeci selectively utilizes the L isomer of lactate as a substrate for energy metabolism. PMID- 2627692 TI - The relative changes in isometric force and work during fatigue and recovery in isolated toad sartorius muscle. AB - Toad sartorius muscle was subjected to sinusoidal varying length changes at 2 Hz to measure work. Both isometric tetanic force and work per cycle were measured before, during, and after a 3-min fatigue. Both isometric tetanic force and positive work, the work done by the muscle during the shortening part of the cycle, rapidly decreased in parallel in the first 40 s of fatigue. Thereafter, force continued to decrease, but at a slower rate, to about 10% of prefatigue values, whereas positive work levelled off at about 30% of prefatigue values. Negative work, the work done on the muscle during the lengthening part of the cycle, increased during fatigue to the extent that net work became negative. This was due to a prolonged relaxation, which resulted in active force still being generated while the muscle was being stretched. Work and force recovered at about the same rate. Isometric force measurements alone do not give any clear indication that net work will be negative under a particular set of experimental conditions. PMID- 2627694 TI - Extracellular calcium and the inotropic effect of epinephrine on frog skeletal muscle. AB - The purpose of these experiments was to determine if extracellular calcium plays an important role in mediating the inotropic effect of epinephrine in isolated frog sartorius muscle. Initial experiments indicated that epinephrine potentiated the muscle twitch in a concentration-dependent manner with concentrations of 10 microM to 1 mM, increasing peak tension by approximately 33%. To inhibit the influx of extracellular calcium, muscles were incubated for 20 min in media containing epinephrine in which calcium had been removed and replaced by magnesium or EDTA, or in experimental media containing epinephrine and the calcium channel blockers D-600 or diltiazem (5 microM). Each experimental condition was found to antagonize the effects of epinephrine such that peak twitch tensions were not significantly different from the control. When muscles were returned to normal Ringer's solution containing epinephrine, twitches exhibited progressive potentiation. Muscles were also incubated for 20 min in epinephrine without stimulation. Once stimulation was resumed, twitches were not immediately potentiated but rather gradually increased over time. These results suggest that the inotropic effects of epinephrine are influenced by the influx of extracellular calcium, an event that is dependent on muscle activation. PMID- 2627693 TI - Time course of structure, function, and metabolic changes due to an exogenous source of oxygen metabolites in rat heart. AB - Effects of xanthine (2 mM) and xanthine oxidase (10 U/L) perfusion on myocardial function, lipid peroxide content, high-energy phosphates and their metabolites, and ultrastructure were examined in isolated perfused rat hearts to define the time course of myocardial injury due to exogenous supply of active oxygen species. Peak-developed force and dF/dt showed a decline within 5 min and complete contractile failure was seen at 20 min. Resting tension was higher at 10 min and reached a maximum value of 400% at 40 min. These changes in contractile parameters were reduced by superoxide dismutase (1.2 x 10(5) U/L), catalase (2 and 4 X 10(4) U/L), and mannitol (10 and 20 mM). Lipid peroxide content was significantly higher at 5 min and rose continuously with xanthine-xanthine oxidase (X-XO) perfusion. A close correlation was noted (r = 0.935) between increased lipid peroxide content and a decrease in peak-developed force. Creatine phosphate and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) showed a time-dependent decrease due to X-XO perfusion. Loss of ATP also correlated (r = 0.819) with the contractile failure. Adenosine diphosphate showed an increase at 5 min followed by a decrease at 20 and 40 min. Adenosine monophosphate, adenosine, and creatine content increased with X-XO perfusion. In a semiquantitative morphometric study, significant myocardial and vascular changes became apparent only after 10 min of X-XO perfusion. When a 5-min perfusion with X-XO was followed by a control perfusion, a recovery of developed force and normal structure was noted at 40 min. These data show that X-XO induced contractile failure involves partially reduced forms of oxygen such as superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, and hydrogen peroxide. The negative inotropic effect of a vascular supply of these active oxygen species may be related to increased lipid peroxidation as well as the loss of high-energy phosphates. Structural damage to myocytes and blood vessels and a rise in resting tension were delayed events requiring a continuous and longer exposure to radical species. PMID- 2627695 TI - Hypotensive properties of antibodies directed against an endogenous pressor peptide isolated from rat blood. AB - Hypertensive factor (HF), a compound isolated from the erythrocytes of rats and tentatively identified as a peptide, has been shown to influence tissue calcium metabolism and induce prolonged blood pressure elevation. In the present study, we investigated the biological properties of antibodies directed against this peptide. Partially purified antibody preparations significantly decreased HF stimulation of lanthanum-resistant calcium uptake in rat aortic tissue in vitro. Infusion of the antibody preparation into spontaneously hypertensive (SH) or normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in a rapid decline in mean blood pressure of 54 and 34 Torr (1 Torr = 133.332 Pa), respectively. In contrast, infusion of the serum immunoglobulin preparations from controls (unimmunized and ovalbumin-immunized rabbits) had no significant effect on the blood pressure of SH or normotensive rats. The systolic blood pressure of SH rats was reduced for at least 72 h following a single injection of the antibody preparations, whereas the blood pressure of normotensive rats had returned to normal levels within 24 h following antibody injection. The results indicate that the anti-HF antibody preparation antagonizes the stimulation of calcium uptake by the peptide and acutely lowers blood pressure in SH and normotensive rats. PMID- 2627696 TI - Dantrolene suppresses the hyperpolarization or outward current observed during anoxia in hippocampal neurons. AB - Hyperpolarizations, or outward currents, recorded in CA1 pyramidal cells during brief anoxia (2-3 min) (but not postanoxic hyperpolarizations) are markedly reduced (92 +/- 4.8%) by dantrolene sodium, applied by superfusion (10-20 microM). This effect, which is at least partly reversible by prolonged washing, is in keeping with the idea that anoxia activates a Ca2(+)-sensitive K conductance by releasing Ca2+ from internal stores. PMID- 2627697 TI - Diploma in sports medicine. PMID- 2627698 TI - A systematic approach to developing a diploma examination in sports medicine. PMID- 2627699 TI - Evidence that the meniscus is covered by synovial membrane. AB - The intra-articular menisci of 10 adult Chinese white rabbits (20 menisci total) were studied histologically. The staining methods applied included: hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Mallory, and specific Van Gieson techniques (VG). On the horizontal sections of the menisci, the synovial membrane was clearly shown to be separate and distinct. On the frontal sections of the menisci, the synovial membrane was shown to cover the superior and inferior surfaces of the menisci, particularly on the inferior surface. On the sections of the menisci, it was observed that synovial membrane of the capsule was closely associated and continuous with the synovial membrane of the menisci. On sections to which Mallory and VG staining methods were applied, the synovial membrane that covered the menisci was clearly demonstrated. PMID- 2627700 TI - Proceedings of the Canadian Association of Sport Sciences. 22nd annual meeting. Montreal, 2-5 November 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2627701 TI - Characterization of casein kinase II from a virally transformed macrophage-like cell line, RAW264. AB - Casein kinase II from a virally-transformed macrophage cell line (RAW264) was purified by a sequential DEAE, Procion Red, phosvitin-Sepharose and heparin Sepharose chromatography. With [tau-32P]GTP as a phosphate donor and casein as a substrate, the kinase was stimulated by polyamines and inhibited by heparin. The purified kinase had a specific activity of 1137 nmol/min/mg protein and exhibited three major protein bands of 40 K, 35 K, and 25 K. Under non-denaturing conditions in 50 mM Tris-50 mM NaCl the enzyme was eluted as a single peak with molecular weight of 110 K. Incubation of kinase in the presence of [tau-32P]GTP and Mg2+ resulted in phosphorylation of the 25 K protein band of the enzyme. In the presence of [tau-32P]GTP and Mg2+ the kinase was able to phosphorylate 55 K protein band in purified ornithine decarboxylase preparation from RAW264 cells and the rat-type II regulatory subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. PMID- 2627702 TI - Expression of cytoskeletal proteins in glial cells of dorsal root ganglia. AB - The localization of S-100 protein-, glial fibrillary acidic protein- and vimentin like immunoreactivity has been studied in dorsal root ganglia of the rat using monoclonal antibodies. A positive reaction for both S-100 protein-like and vimentin-like was found in satellite and Schwann cells. In addition, some large and intermediate sized neurons also result S-100 protein-like immunoreactivity. No positive reaction for glial fibrillary acidic protein-like was observed. The authors discuss these results. PMID- 2627703 TI - Changes of soluble and membrane proteins of rat brain during pre- and postnatal development. AB - Membrane and soluble protein fractions were obtained from forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain of embryos or neonatal rats. The amount of the protein of the corresponding brain parts was followed up as a function of DNA content. Age related changes of the concentration of over 50 protein bands were observed in all three brain parts. There are also bands which tend to disappear (or appear) at distinct stages of development. In each of the brain parts there are bands showing age-dependent changes characteristic for this part. A common feature of the changes of the membrane protein patterns of forebrain and midbrain observed during development is a decrease of the concentration of proteins with lower molecular mass (below 40 kD), while proteins of higher molecular mass become better pronounced. Compared to forebrain and midbrain the hindbrain has a relatively conservative protein composition throughout development. PMID- 2627704 TI - Functional diversity of polypeptides in primary culture supernatant of thymus epithelial cells. AB - Polypeptide fractions A-C (M.W., 7 kd, 4.7 kd, and 3 kd) were obtained from the primary culture supernatant of thymus epithelial cells from Wistar rats by high pressure liquid chromatography with a gel-filtration column. Changes in the mitogen responses of rat thymocytes and their subpopulations with addition of a fraction were studied. One subpopulation was rich in non-rosette-forming cells (non-RFCs), and the other was cortisone resistant thymocytes (CRTs). These subpopulations were incubated with a fraction for 24 hrs. before mitogen stimulation. Fractions A and C increased the response of the non-RFCs to concanavalin A (Con A) and that of total thymocytes and CRTs to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Fraction B inhibited Con A and PHA response of total thymocytes and CRTs. Fraction B was cytotoxic toward total thymocytes and CRTs when viability was evaluated by [3H]uridine prelabelling. This cytotoxicity was suppressed by treatment with trypsin. Subfractions B3 and B4 obtained by reversed phase column chromatography were cytotoxic toward CRTs. The effects of the fractions on thymocyte maturation were different, showing their functional diversity. PMID- 2627705 TI - Temperature-induced alterations in protein composition of newt papilloma cells. AB - Protein patterns of Japanese newt papilloma in vivo at low (4 degrees C), normal (10 degrees C, control) and elevated (30 degrees C) temperature were investigated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. There were nine protein spots in normal skin (skin specific spots: SSS) which did not exist in papillomas. At 10 degrees C, the papillomas possessed three specific protein spots (papilloma specific spots: PSS) which did not appear in normal skin. At the reduced environmental temperature, eight of the nine missing proteins in papillomas had reappeared by 12 weeks exposure. Differential responses in reappearance of SSS in papillomas varied with environmental temperature. The PSS generally were unchanged by environmental temperature modulation, although one specific protein disappeared at 12 weeks at 4 degrees C. Reappearance of normal SSS in papillomas occurred early in treatment and reflected only minor variations in high versus low temperature exposures. These data suggest that temperature-induced tumor regression may be associated with changes in protein composition. PMID- 2627706 TI - Effects of cholinergic agonists on the proliferation and protein synthesis in a cultured thymic epithelial cell line. AB - Thymic epithelial cells appear to release the humoral factors endowing precursors of T cells (thymus-dependent lymphocytes) with the capacity to differentiate and maturate into relatively mature T cells. We have separated the polypeptide fractions containing these factors from the culture supernatant of thymic epithelial cell line. Thymus is reported to be innervated by autonomic nervous system from the prenatal to the pubertal period. But the physiological significance of the nervous system in this lymphoid organ remains obscure. And the modulator of the epithelial cell functions, namely, production and release of the bioactive polypeptides have never been clarified. We show here that acetylcholine (Ach) or carbamylcholine (Cch) enhanced the proliferation of thymic epithelial cells from the TAD3 cell line at preconfluent state, and the protein synthetic activity at confluent state. This phenomenon was completely suppressed by the pretreatment of alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTx). These results suggest that nicotinic Ach-receptors exist on the epithelial cell surface membrane and that the differentiation and maturation of thymic lymphocytes are indirectly regulated by the activated functions of thymic epithelial cells stimulated with cholinergic agonists. PMID- 2627707 TI - Transport of mitochondrial precursor proteins: their conformational competence and related factors. PMID- 2627708 TI - Modulation of survival and proliferation of BSC-1 cells through changes in spreading behavior caused by the tumor-promoting phorbol ester TPA. AB - The effect of a tumor-promoting phorbol ester on spreading behavior was investigated to clarify the involvement of the interactions between cells and substratum in the maintenance of cell viability and the control of cell proliferation. BSC-1 cells did not spread and lost cell viability after a 24-h incubation in the absence of calf serum. Addition of calf serum initially induced radial spreading and then polarized spreading, with the formation on stress fibers and focal contact-like structure, and enhanced survival. Vitronectin also induced both radial spreading and polarized spreading, and enhanced cell survival. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induced radial spreading with actin ribbons in the absence of serum. It improved the survival of cells attached to the substratum, but not in suspension. TPA suppressed polarized spreading, formation of stress fibers and of focal contact-like structure, and cell proliferation, in the presence of serum. Phorbol did not have any effect. These results suggest that enhancement of radial spreading and inhibition of polarized spreading of BSC-1 cells by TPA are closely related to the enhancement of cell survival and inhibition of cell growth. PMID- 2627709 TI - Prediction of the virulencies of some enveloped viruses from the structure of the cleavage recognition site of viral glycoproteins essential for infectivity. I. Calculation of interaction energy. AB - Some evidences have been found that virulency in paramyxoviruses depends on the sensitivity of the cleavage recognition site of the F glycoprotein to serine type proteases. In this report, the interaction energies between the active site of trypsin and the cleavage recognition sites in paramyxoviruses are calculated. Results show that van der Waals energy and electrostatic energy contribute to the sensitivity. The virulencies of some myxo- and retro-viruses are then predicted on the basis of the two calculated interaction energy values. PMID- 2627710 TI - Prediction of the virulencies of some enveloped viruses from the structure of the cleavage recognition site of viral glycoprotein essential for infectivity. II. Deviation analysis. AB - Analysis of the amino acid sequence in protein (deviation analysis) suggests that the binding between trypsin and the enveloped virus is the first step of their interaction, which occurs in a specified configuration. It is possible that the distance between their active sites is important for the viral sensitivity to trypsin, which is related to the virulency of the enveloped virus. PMID- 2627711 TI - Possible alteration of genomic DNA in specific rat tissues. AB - By employing in gel competitive reassociation, which distinguishes two DNA preparations, to clone anonymous DNA fragments with altered primary structure, we isolated a clone (BL-1) from a rat DNA which gave an extra, apparently altered, DNA band in a specific tissue (brain) when we used it as a probe for Southern hybridization. The sequence of BL-1 was very similar to a portion of LINE, a highly repetitive sequence. Southern hybridization analysis with oligonucleotide probes representing a portion of the BL-1 sequence confirmed the presence of the brain-specific band. Another, different band specific to HindIII digests of heart DNA was also detected with the same oligonucleotide probes. Furthermore, we found that poly (A) +RNA hybridized with BL-1 was enriched in brain. These results suggest that there are tissue specific alteration of genomic DNA in rats which may be associated with transcriptional activation specific to the sequence. Alternative explanations of the results are also discussed. PMID- 2627712 TI - Papers presented at the forty-second annual meeting of the Japan Society for Cell Biology. Kyoto, 25-27 October 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2627713 TI - Expression of invertase activity in Yarrowia lipolytica and its use as a selective marker. AB - Few selective markers are available for the transformation of the industrial yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, and those that are require the use of specialized hosts (e.g., auxotrophs, antibiotic sensitive). To enable the transformation of any Y. lipolytica strain, we used the property that Y. lipolytica cannot use sucrose as a sole carbon source. We have constructed a gene fusion where the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SUC2 gene is placed under the control of the promoter and signal sequence of the Y. lipolytica XPR2 gene, which encodes an Alkaline Extracellular Protease (AEP). Strains bearing this fusion express invertase activity and grow on sucrose as a carbon source. The activity follows the same regulation as does the alkaline extracellular protease, is secreted into the periplasm and confers a Suc+ phenotype. It was shown that this chimeric gene could be used as a dominant marker for transformation in a one-step procedure. PMID- 2627714 TI - Pseudogenes and short repeated sequences in the rice chloroplast genome. AB - The rice chloroplast genome has been derived from a tobacco-like ancestral form by three major inversions. In the rice genome we have found six pseudogenes, psi trnG, psi trnI, psi 3'-rps 12a, psi trnT, psi trnE and psi trnfM/G, all located near inversion endpoints, as well as four short repeated sequences. A comparison of rice, wheat and tobacco sequences indicated that similar pseudogenes are present in wheat but not in tobacco, suggesting that the creation of these pseudogenes occurred before the divergence of rice and wheat. The region downstream of rbcL is a variable region and contains psi rpl23 in rice and wheat and another psi 3'-rps 12b further downstream in rice. This psi 3'-rps 12b shows a higher homology to the functional rps 12 than psi 3'-rps 12a, which suggests that it appeared more recently. The involvement of these pseudogenes in genome inversions and the creation of the pseudogenes and short repeated sequences are discussed. PMID- 2627715 TI - Adenine and pyrimidine genes of Aspergillus niger and evidence for a seventh linkage group. AB - Mutants of Aspergillus niger requiring adenine and one mutant requiring cytosine were isolated after low-dose mutagenesis and enrichment. In addition we had mutants of two genes involved in the pyrimidine biosynthesis isolated as 5-fluoro orotic acid-resistant mutants. The fifteen adenine-less mutants could be placed in seven complementation groups. From each group a representative mutant was analyzed in order to determine the linkage group by analysis of the mutants in a heterozygous diploid carrying markers in six linkage groups. AdeF could not be assigned to any one of these linkage groups and proved to be linked to nicB, oliC and cnxC, none of which could be placed in a linkage group. Thus, conclusive evidence was obtained for a seventh linkage group. As pyrA was used as selection marker for transformation, we constructed a pyrA strain with a linked marker which can be used in the genetic analysis of transformations. PMID- 2627716 TI - Variations in platelets 3H-imipramine binding during two different periods of the year. PMID- 2627717 TI - Advancing schedules and constant light produce faster resynchronization of circadian rhythms. AB - House sparrows, Passer domesticus, were subjected to rotated light-dark (LD) cycles that consisted of repeated 8-hr advances or delays of 5 days of LD 8:16, with intervening 40-80 hr of constant dark or light. Sparrows reset the fastest (by the second cycle) when they were advanced with intervening constant light (LL). They reset the slowest (taking six cycles) when they were delayed with intervening constant dark (DD). PMID- 2627718 TI - Circadian rhythms of food intake in gastroduodenally-ulcerated rats: effects of three anti-ulcer drugs. AB - The effects of three anti-ulcers drugs on the temporal distribution of food intake and of the two parameters, meal size and meal frequency, were studied in ulcerated and non-ulcerated rats exposed to light-dark (LD 12:12) cycles. Experimental ulceration with indomethacin reduces the amplitude of meal frequency and brings the acrophase forward, compared with non-ulcerated animals. These effects were reversed by the oral administration of either ranitidine, sucralfate or pirenzepine along with the food. However, the administration of either pirenzepine or sucralfate alone to non-ulcerated rats is accompanied by significant (P less than 0.05) changes in the circadian patterns of meal size and meal frequency without the total daily food intake being affected in any way (pirenzepine treatment caused large intake of food during the light period while sucralfate treatment resulted in marked food intake during the dark period). The results indicate that circadian modification of meal patterns in the ulcerated rats are attributable to indomethacin-induced gastrointestinal mucosal injury and anti-ulcer medications. PMID- 2627719 TI - Entrainment of melatonin rhythms in rams by symmetrical light-dark cycles of different period length. AB - The objective of this study was to investigate the entrainment of melatonin rhythms in rams using symmetrical light-dark cycles of different period length. Five groups of six Ile de France rams were kept in 12L:12D for 7 weeks and then (i) 12L:12D, (ii) 11L:11D, (iii) 10L:10D, (iv) 13L:13D and (v) 14L:14D for a further 3 weeks. Environmental factors other than the light dark cycle were not controlled. The onset and offset of the plasma melatonin rhythm in DD after 3 weeks of the respective light treatments was assessed for 48 hr, immediately after transferring to DD. The duration of secretion in DD was positively related to the length of the previous dark phase. The phase of the melatonin rhythm with respect to the anticipated dark phase suggested entrainment with no change in phase-relationship to the zeitgeber by 12L:12D and 13L:13D. Entrainment with a phase-delay or a phase-advance was apparent after 11L:11D and 14L:14D, but the individual rhythms were not all synchronized with respect to each other after 10L:10D. Activity recordings for 2-3-week periods during 12L:12D, 10L:10D and 14L:14D all showed a major 24-hr component at all times, with activity during the light phase in 12L:12D. It appears that melatonin may be readily desynchronized from overt activity-rest cycles in sheep. The upper and lower entrainment limits are probably greater than 28 hr and close to 20 hr cycles, respectively. PMID- 2627720 TI - Effects of endurance exercise on nocturnal hormone concentrations in males. AB - A preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the change in nocturnal concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, growth hormone, prolactin, thyroxine, and cortisol following a control day (no exercise) and on a day in which exercise was performed. Exercise consisted of 90 min of cycling at 70% of each subject's maximal oxygen uptake. The exercise occurred from 1630 to 1800 hr on the exercise day while a comparable period of rest took place on the control day. Hormonal concentrations were evaluated at 2-hr intervals for a 12-hr period each night (2000-0800 hr). The subjects slept from 2255 (+/- 20 min [X +/- S.E.M.]) until 0715 (+/- 15) during each night. All hormone responses were plotted and integrated for the 12-hr period. Analysis indicated that a significant augmentation of the prolactin and thyroxine responses occurred, while concurrently an attenuation of the growth hormone and cortisol responses were observed. Contrastingly, no significant effects were found for the testosterone and luteinizing hormones responses. The physiological significance of these findings remained to be determined, but the results do suggest that further research is warranted in the area. PMID- 2627721 TI - Entrainment of a free-running human with bright light? AB - The case of a 40-year-old sighted woman with free-running sleep-wake and melatonin rhythms is presented. The subject was studied for 102 days. During the pre-treatment period, both the sleep-wake and melatonin rhythms had a period of 25.1 hr, similar to the average period of humans living in temporal isolation. Treatment consisted of bright artificial light exposure (2500 lx Vita-Lite) for 2 hr each day upon awakening. Clock time of light exposure was held constant for 6 days and then slowly advanced until the subject was arising at her desired time of day. The subject continued the light treatment at home and was able to live on a 24-hr day for the 30-day follow-up study. While other factors may be operating in this situation, it is possible that the light treatment caused the stabilization of the free-running rhythms, advancement to a normal phase and entrainment to the 24-hr day. We suspect that the tendency to free-run was related to sleep onsets that were abnormally delayed relative to the circadian phase response curve for light. By scheduling a 2-hr pulse of bright light each morning, this tendency to delay would be counteracted by light-induced advances, resulting in normal entrainment. PMID- 2627722 TI - The diagnosis of breast pre-cancer by the chronobra--II. The breast pre-cancer test. PMID- 2627723 TI - Intrathecal morphine: its potential in Sri Lankan obstetric practice. PMID- 2627724 TI - Clinical diagnosis--is there a more rational approach? PMID- 2627725 TI - To teach is our responsibility. PMID- 2627726 TI - Viral hepatitis in Sri Lanka. PMID- 2627727 TI - Megakaryoblastic transformation of a myeloproliferative disorder. AB - A case of megakaryoblastic transformation of a myeloproliferative disorder presenting initially as chronic granulocytic leukaemia with an intermediate phase of essential thrombocythaemia in a Chinese woman of 65 years is reported. The diagnosis of megakaryoblastic crisis was based on morphological, cytochemical and immunocytochemical features present in blast cells in the blood, together with cytochemical and ultrastructural features of micromegakaryocytes and megakaryoblasts which were predominant in the marrow. A literature review showed newer refinements in diagnosis such as ultrastructural platelet peroxidase and additional immunologic techniques employing antisera against further platelet products. The response to treatment remains uniformly poor. PMID- 2627728 TI - Albendazole in the treatment of goehelminth infections in children. AB - Children with mixed helminthic infections between the ages of 2 and 14 years, from a slum area, were treated with two regimes of albendazole. A majority of children had moderate to heavy infections with Trichuris trichiura (greater than 70%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (greater than 84%). Children treated with a single 400 mg dose of albendazole showed a very good response in ascariasis with 100% cure rate irrespective of the severity of infection. In Trichuriasis (n = 40), a cure rate of 50% was observed in mild infections, but only a reduction in the egg counts of 60% and 57% respectively were observed in moderate and heavy infections. Only 10 patients with Necator americanus infections were treated with the single dose, and the cure rate in mild infections was satisfactory (86%), with an overall egg reduction rate of 95%. In 47 children included in the multiple dose regime (200 mg daily x 3 days), the cure rates in trichuriasis were, 82%, 66%, and 37% respectively in mild, moderate, and heavy infections. The egg reduction rate was 98% in all degrees of infection in trichuriasis. The cure rate in ascariasis, with the multiple dose regime was similar to that of the single dose, with 100% egg reduction, irrespective of the severity of infection. PMID- 2627729 TI - Pattern of formula feeding in the latter part of infancy: a preliminary survey. AB - The pattern of formula feeding in 111 infants between 5 and 12 months of age was studied by the use of a simple questionnaire filled in by the clinician during a consultation. Their growth pattern was noted by perusal of the weight-for-age chart, which forms part of the child health record sheet. Of the infants studied, 39 (35%) were on a starter formula, 39 (35%) were on an unmodified formula, 33 (30%) were on a special follow-on formula. The change over from starter formula to an unmodified or special follow-on formula was done at 6.9 months, which is later than recommended. Only 2 infants were on Lakspray, the cheapest unmodified formula. Growth faltering was seen in 70% of the infants studied and was apparently commoner in those on unmodified formula. Reconstitution of milk powder with water was done erroneously by 50% of the mothers, errors being most common in those using unmodified formula. Not providing a scoop inside the pack, and complex mixing instructions were the causes of error in reconstitution. PMID- 2627730 TI - [The power of nursing administrators]. PMID- 2627731 TI - [Monitoring cerebro-vascular diseases using the Glasgow coma scale]. PMID- 2627732 TI - [Nursing care and observation of paralytic limb post poliomyelitis treated with point injection of 654-2]. PMID- 2627733 TI - [Nursing care of postoperative pain]. PMID- 2627734 TI - [Nursing care of patients with central hyperpyrexia]. PMID- 2627735 TI - [Nursing care of pulmonary hemorrhage in the newborn. Report of 59 cases]. PMID- 2627736 TI - Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the vagina: case report. AB - The authors consider a rare case of non-Hodgkin primitive lymphoma of the vagina, 1st E stage for Ann Arbor classification. The treatment was primarily chemotherapy, because of the wide extension of the neoplasia and the older patient age, and it was followed by a complete clinical response, still lasting after two years. The results of treatments in the literature are at least examined and discussed. PMID- 2627737 TI - Advanced non-tubal ectopic pregnancy at the "Hospital Central" of Maputo (Mocambique). AB - The authors report clinical data and pathological findings from a series of 13 cases of non-tubal ectopic pregnancies which occurred at the Hospital Central of Maputo (Mocambique), during a 14-month period. The rather high frequency of abdominal pregnancy (6 cases diagnosed during the third trimester of gestation) is set in relation to restriction of human resources and diagnostic facilities within the peripheral prenatal clinics. PMID- 2627738 TI - Sex during prepregnancy period. A study of 106 pluriparous women in relation to parity. AB - The authors study the correlation between sexual activity and parity in 106 pluriparous Sicilian women divided into 3 groups with parity, respectively, of 1 (57 cases), 2 (29 cases), and greater than or equal to 3 (20 cases). Sexual desire, frequency of coitus and orgasm, type of extracoital activity, preferred position during coitus, the partner who took the first initiative in sexual activity, and the contraceptive methods used were studied. The results show that in women of parity greater than or equal to 3 there is a significantly lower frequency of very frequent coitus, higher frequency of extravaginal sexual activity, and that the male more frequently took the first initiative in sexual intercourse. PMID- 2627739 TI - A clinical and epidemiological study of 245 postmenopausal metrorrhagia patients. AB - The authors report the incidence of endometrial adenocarcinoma and atypical hyperplasia in 245 women who had undergone uterine curettage for post-menopausal bleeding. In 4 cases a stenosis of the cervix precluded the curettage. Of the remaining 241 patients, 71.3% had negative histology; in 24.4% histology was compatible with adenocarcinoma or atypical endometrial hyperplasia; in a third group of 10 patients a different type of gynecological neoplasia was diagnosed. Obese, nulliparous women were more significantly affected by endometrial adenocarcinoma. The highest incidence was noted among women over 60 years of age. The authors describe some epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the population under study. PMID- 2627740 TI - Prenatal diagnosis of cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung. AB - Two cases of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung (CCAML) are described. In the light of recent literature the prenatal diagnosis and management are discussed. PMID- 2627741 TI - Contraceptive methods in the McCune-Albright syndrome. AB - We describe the case of a woman with McCune-Albright syndrome who had a pathological bone fracture while being treated with an oral contraceptive. In this syndrome the bone lesions contain estrogen and progesterone receptors. The possibility of progression of the bone lesions during pregnancy is well-known. We judge the use of oral contraceptives to be dangerous in this syndrome; the affected women must be orientated towards alternative contraceptive methods. PMID- 2627742 TI - Ranitidine in the treatment of reflux oesophagitis in pregnancy. AB - A patient suffering from reflux oesophagitis under treatment with ranitidine continued the treatment throughout her pregnancy (450 mg/die). The ranitidine was delivered into the maternal blood serum and the amniotic fluid up to the 17th week of pregnancy, then into the blood serum of the maternal and umbilical cord immediately after delivery, and into the serum of the newborn 24 hours after birth. The authors report the values and comment on them. PMID- 2627743 TI - Steriological analysis of peritumoral lymph nodes in patients operated for cervical and endometrial cancer after being treated with thymostimulin. AB - We have evaluated, by means of stereological analysis, the dimensions of the lymph node functional areas (cortical, medullary, paracortical, histiocytosis of the sinuses, germinal centers) in regional lymph nodes of women with cervical cancer (15 women) and endometrial carcinoma (6 women) in Ist and IInd stage, treated 8 days before surgery with a dose of 1-1.5 mg/kg of body weight of thymostimulin directly into the uterine cervix. 4 women with cervical and endometrial cancer (stages I and II) and treated with the same doses of physiological saline solution were used as controls. The quantitative results show that in the lymph nodes of women treated with thymostimulin there is a statistically significant marked increase (P less than 0.001), of the paracortical areas. PMID- 2627744 TI - The action of oxytocin on sperm motility. In vitro experiments with bull spermatozoa. AB - The effect of oxytocin on sperm motility of bull spermatozoa was investigated over a period of 2.5 hours. Measurements were carried out with a Lazymot apparatus, depending on the Laser-Doppler principle. In a concentration of 10 IU/ml, oxytocin was found to significantly increase the percentage of motile spermatozoa and sperm velocity compared with saline controls. PMID- 2627745 TI - Infective-hemorrhagic complications of cesarean section. A case review of 2220 subjects. AB - The authors consider the hemorrhagic-infective complications associated with cesarean section. The review comprised 2200 subjects undergoing cesarean section from 1983 to 1987 in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit (Director: D. Dargent) of the University of Lyon (France). The incidence of cesarean sections was 14.9%, and endometritis was diagnosed in 17% of cases. The incidence of infective complications was 25% of cases and that of major hemorrhage 1%. The authors conclude that the potential complications must be carefully considered whenever contemplating delivery by cesarean section. PMID- 2627746 TI - A close correlation between the inhibitory effects of insulin-like growth factor I and SMS 201-995 on growth hormone release by acromegalic pituitary tumours in vitro and in vivo. AB - In the present study we compared the in-vitro effects of IGF-I and SMS 201-995 on GH release by cultured tumour cells obtained from seven acromegalic patients with the preoperative in-vivo GH dynamics, including the acute response to 50 micrograms SMS 201-995 subcutaneously. IGF-I and SMS 201-995 inhibited GH release during a 24 h incubation in four and five of the seven tumour cell preparations, respectively. The inhibitory effect of SMS 201-995 was greater than that exerted by IGF-I (P less than 0.01). There was a close correlation between the in-vitro inhibitory effects of IGF-I and SMS 201-995 (P less than 0.01). In addition, the acute inhibitory effect of 50 micrograms SMS 201-995 on circulating GH levels in vivo correlated with the inhibitory effects in vitro of both SMS 201-995 (P less than 0.01) and IGF-I (P less than 0.05). The inhibitory effects of IGF-I and SMS 201-995 on GH release in vitro were shown to be additive in two of four tumours. There was no relation between the in-vitro effects of IGF-I and/or SMS 201-995 and several in-vivo parameters, including fluctuations in GH levels, sleep induced GH release, a paradoxical increase of GH in response to TRH, and the circulating IGF-I and PRL levels. IN CONCLUSION: (1) there is a close correlation between the sensitivity of GH release by cultured human adenoma cells to IGF-I and SMS 201-995. (2) There is also a close correlation between the in-vivo inhibitory effect on GH release of SMS 201-995 and the in-vitro inhibitory effects of both SMS 201-995 and IGF-I. (3) A subgroup of acromegalic patients harbour pituitary tumours in which the qualitative regulation of hormone secretion is similar to that of normal GH secretion. PMID- 2627747 TI - Testicular enlargement and elevated serum inhibin concentrations occur in patients with pituitary macroadenomas secreting follicle stimulating hormone. AB - We studied four male patients with pituitary macroadenomas. Before treatment all had high serum FSH concentrations, but LH and testosterone were normal or subnormal; all patients were found to have large testes. All had had normal sexual function, and three patients had fathered children. After pituitary surgery there were decreases in serum gonadotrophins and testosterone, which were accompanied by decreases in testicular volumes. hCG stimulation tests in two patients showed normal responses of testosterone and oestradiol, confirming normal Leydig cell function. Inhibin levels were increased in two patients studied when FSH levels were high, suggesting a defect in gonadal-pituitary feedback control. Later, as FSH concentrations decreased to normal, so did inhibin levels. Histology showed that increased testicular size was due to increased lengths of seminiferous tubules. The association of pituitary macroadenomas, large testes and increased serum inhibin has not been reported previously. Assessment of testicular size in patients with raised serum FSH is important, since enlarged testes suggest the likely pathogenesis is that of a pituitary gonadotrophinoma, rather than primary gonadal failure. Increased inhibin levels may then confirm this, and be a biochemical marker for these tumours. PMID- 2627748 TI - Body composition in acromegaly: the effect of treatment. AB - Total body water (TBW) and total potassium (TBK) were measured in patients participating in a follow-up investigation of all acromegalic patients seen between 1956 and 1984. The results were compared with population-based estimates of TBK and TBW calculated from height (BH), weight (BW) age and sex, using data from a large number of healthy subjects (n = 476). The findings were compared with values obtained at diagnosis and were also related to growth hormone (GH) and IGF-I/SmC concentrations at follow-up. BW at follow-up was unchanged compared to BW at diagnosis and was 9.7 and 10.0 kg higher in males and females, respectively, than in healthy subjects of the same BH (BWnorm). Growth hormone concentration at follow-up correlated directly with excess extracellular fluid volume (ECW%) (P less than 0.001) and inversely with the ratio observed/predicted body fat (BF%) (P less than 0.001) as well as with BW/BWnorm (P less than 0.05). On the other hand, GH concentration did not correlate with excess body cell mass (BCM%) estimated from TBK. IGF-I/SmC concentration correlated with GH concentration at follow-up (P less than 0.001) and with ECW% (P less than 0.01) but not with BCM% or BF%. In 39 patients, data on body composition were also available at diagnosis. Of these, three males had developed gonadal insufficiency and their BCM had decreased markedly. One patient had suffered from hemiplegia. Five patients had not received any treatment. In the remaining 30 treated patients, those with a post-treatment GH concentration below 5 mU/l were normalized with respect to ECW and BF. BCM, however, was unchanged. In contrast, patients with GH concentration greater than or equal to mU/l displayed unchanged body composition. Furthermore, BH decreased significantly in successfully treated patients. PMID- 2627749 TI - Muscarinic cholinergic, but not serotoninergic mediation of arginine vasopressin response to metoclopramide in man. AB - The possibility that metoclopramide (MCP) stimulates arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion in man through a serotoninergic and/or a cholinergic muscarinic pathway was studied. Twenty normal male subjects were tested with MCP (10 mg in an i.v. bolus) alone or in the presence of the 5HT1 serotoninergic antagonist metergoline (10 mg/day p.o. in five divided doses for 4 days), the 5HT2 receptor blocker ketanserin (10 mg i.v. 5 min before MCP) (n = 10), the M1 and M2 muscarinic antagonist atropine (1.2 mg i.v. just before MCP administration) or the M1 muscarinic receptor blocker pirenzepine (40 mg i.v. 10 min before MCP) (n = 10). AVP doubled in response to MCP. the MCP-induced AVP rise did not change after metergoline, ketanserin or pirenzepine administration, whereas it was abolished by atropine. Additional experiments were performed in order to evaluate the effect of 1.2 mg atropine, given alone, on circulating AVP levels and whether the effect of atropine on the AVP response to MCP depends on the amount of the muscarinic antagonist (dose-response study). For these purposes, atropine was given alone to the same subjects previously tested with MCP plus atropine; furthermore, eight additional male subjects were tested with MCP plus atropine given in doses ranging from 0.8 to 1.4 mg. The results of these additional studies failed to show an effect of atropine alone on AVP secretion and demonstrated a dose-related inhibition of MCP-induced AVP rise by increasing atropine administration from 0.8 mg to 1.2 mg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627750 TI - Sex hormone binding globulin in postmenopausal women: a predictor of osteoporosis superior to endogenous oestrogens. AB - To quantify the role of endogenous oestrogen activity in osteoporosis we measured relative metacarpal cortical area (RCA), body mass, serum oestrone, oestradiol, androstenedione, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in 746 postmenopausal women aged 53 to 76 years, sampled from the general population. The occurrence of fractures and the rate of loss of RCA (delta-RCA) were determined over the previous 9 years. Both RCA and delta-RCA were significantly related to body mass, serum oestrone, oestradiol, and SHBG. The influence of the first three variables appeared to be bone preserving, whereas the latter appeared to be bone wasting. Serum oestradiol, SHBG and body mass proved to have an independent relationship with RCA in multivariate regression analysis. The relationship to delta-RCA was statistically independent for serum SHBG only. Serum androstenedione was unrelated to either RCA or delta-RCA. In the total study population, body mass, serum oestrone, oestradiol and SHBG were not related to the occurrence of fractures over the previous 9 years. In the subgroup of 249 elderly women, aged 65-76 years, SHBG levels were significantly higher for women with type I osteoporotic fractures (vertebral and forearm fractures) as compared to controls. The results suggest a bone wasting influence of SHBG in postmenopausal women, possibly resulting in an increased risk of type I osteoporotic fractures in elderly women. PMID- 2627751 TI - Diffuse sclerosing papillary carcinoma of thyroid: a wolf in sheep's clothing. AB - We describe three patients with a rare, and only recently reported, variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. In each case the clinical presentation and biochemical or serological findings were indicative of benign disease. PMID- 2627752 TI - The effect of calcitonin on growth hormone secretion in acromegaly. AB - To determine whether human calcitonin inhibits GH secretion in acromegaly, as previously described for healthy subjects, the effect of an i.v. bolus injection of calcitonin or saline on GH levels in patients with active acromegaly was studied and compared to that of an i.v. bolus injection of the synthetic somatostatin analogue, octreotide. After the injection of calcitonin, GH levels decreased by 46% of initial values, whereas octreotide reduced GH levels by 87% and saline had no significant effect. Administration of calcitonin to acromegalics did not cause the transient rise in plasma PRL and TSH levels seen in normal subjects. Octreotide induced a decrease in plasma PRL in three out of seven patients. It is concluded that human calcitonin suppresses GH secretion in acromegaly, but not to normal levels; moreover the effect is less than that found for octreotide. In addition, acromegalic patients did not exhibit the PRL and TSH releasing activity of calcitonin found in normal subjects, while octreotide inhibited PRL secretion in some acromegalic patients. PMID- 2627753 TI - Recovery from foetal hypothyroidism: evidence for the safety of breast-feeding while taking propylthiouracil. AB - We assessed the post-natal thyroid function in eight infants of mothers with Graves' disease whose thyroid function at birth was suppressed by maternal ingestion of propylthiouracil during pregnancy. These mothers continued taking propylthiouracil after delivery and breast-fed exclusively (two mothers supplemented their breast milk with a small amount of baby food). The cord free T4 level was slightly but uniformly below the normal range in all eight infants, and the cord TSH level was above the normal in seven infants. The dose of propylthiouracil after delivery ranged from 50 to 300 mg daily, which was equal to, or higher than, that before delivery. All these abnormal values normalized in the infant after birth. Serum samples, from seven of the eight mothers, taken at delivery were examined for TSH receptor antibodies; all were positive. The antibody titre, however, was too low, and/or free T4 and TSH levels were examined too long after delivery, for the antibodies to be the cause of the restoration of the infants' thyroid function. These results assure the safety of breast-feeding for the infants of mothers with Graves' disease taking propylthiouracil. PMID- 2627754 TI - Inheritance of mineralocorticoid effector abnormalities of human mononuclear leucocytes in families with pseudohypoaldosteronism. AB - In-vitro effects of aldosterone on intracellular sodium and potassium concentrations have been described for normal human mononuclear leucocytes (HML). After incubation for 1 h at 37 degrees C, intracellular sodium and potassium in HML are significantly higher in the presence of 1.4 nM aldosterone than after incubation without aldosterone. As published earlier, these effects were absent in patients with pseudohypoaldosteronism. In the present paper, the families of seven patients with pseudohypoaldosteronism (index cases) were studied. In the first family, two siblings were affected by the disease and had a reduced number of mineralocorticoid (MC) receptors on HML. Intracellular sodium and potassium in HML from these patients did not show a response to 1.4 nM aldosterone. The parents, who were first cousins, had no history of disease and normal receptor data, but in the mother, the response of HML electrolytes to aldosterone was abnormal. In the second family, the mother of a child with pseudohypoaldosteronism, the mother's sister, and her son, had low numbers of MC receptors. Only the aunt of the index case had an uncertain history of the disease. The MC effector mechanism was abnormal in both children and both mothers studied. In a third family, the effector defect was present only in HML of the father. In three further families the abnormality of the effector mechanism was detected in HML of the patient's mother. These data suggest an autosomal dominant inheritance of pseudohypoaldosteronism with variable expression of the gene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627755 TI - The effects of acute exercise on pulsatile LH release in high-mileage male runners. AB - Evidence suggests that acute exercise and endurance training has a suppressive effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in men and women. To determine if training and acute exercise influence the neuroendocrine regulation of the HPG axis in men we examined pulsatile LH release in six male endurance runners with a training volume of at least 80 km per week, and compared this with values in six age-matched sedentary controls. Blood samples were obtained through an indwelling i.v. cannula from the subjects at 15-min intervals for 6 h following 24 h without significant physical activity and again in the runners, following 60 min of running at a speed equivalent to 5% below the anaerobic threshold. Mean LH pulse frequency and amplitude, as well as areas under the LH pulses and total LH curve, were calculated but only the mean post-exercise area under the total LH curve area was significantly lower than basal values (P less than 0.05) following exercise compared with the resting values in runners. Other measures of LH release did not change with acute exercise. Basal and pre-exercise testosterone levels were also measured and found to be at the lower end of normal men. The mean pre-exercise serum testosterone levels were significantly higher than basal levels. Mean testosterone levels, mean pulse amplitude, and mean area under the LH curve were significantly lower in resting runners than in the controls. The data suggest that exercise induces a general lowering of LH levels but does not inhibit LH pulsatile release. An anticipatory increase in serum testosterone occurred before exercise. PMID- 2627756 TI - Cell population kinetics in dog and human adult thyroid. AB - Cell population kinetics was studied by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) histochemical and 3H thymidine radioautographic labelling in dog thyroids. In-vivo labelling with BrdU and in-vitro labelling of incubated slices with 3H thymidine gave similar results. This validates the use of in-vitro labelling of slices for the study of cell kinetics in the thyroid. In-vitro labelling of human thyroid slices demonstrated a labelling index of 13.4 x 10(-5) for follicular cells; assuming an S phase of 10 h, this corresponds to a turnover time of the order of 8.5 years for the follicular cells. Stromal cells appear to turn over faster. These results show for the first time that human thyroid cells divide about five times during adulthood and therefore that the steady state level of thyroid cell mass results from a balance between cell division and cell loss. A shorter turnover time was found as expected in the thyroid of an adolescent and in follicular colloid nodules. PMID- 2627757 TI - Elevated serum intact parathyroid hormone levels in elderly patients with hip fracture. AB - It has been postulated that secondary hyperparathyroidism contributes to bone loss and the high incidence of hip fractures in the elderly population, but there are no data on serum intact parathyroid hormone concentrations in these patients. In this study, serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels have been measured in 39 elderly patients with hip fracture; in addition, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations have been measured. Twenty patients (51.3%) had elevated serum intact PTH concentrations whilst five (12.8%) had abnormally low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was reduced in only two. These results provide the first direct evidence for secondary hyperparathyroidism in elderly patients with hip fracture. Vitamin D deficiency is unlikely to be the sole cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism in these subjects and calcium deficiency by itself may also contribute. PMID- 2627758 TI - Effects of dextrose, verapamil and magnesium during hypoxia in myocardial tissue. AB - We studied the effects of superfusion of canine heart muscle tissue with a solution that mimicks hypoxia, acidosis and hyperkalemia (altered Tyrode's solution). Contracture (rise in resting tension) develops much sooner (5.2 +/- 0.8 vs. 30-40 min in 5 mM dextrose) in the absence of dextrose. High dextrose (55 mM) stabilizes the rise in tonic tension and protects against the action potential shortening during such superfusion. Presence of verapamil (1-1.5 microM) during altered Tyrode's superfusion considerably lessens the magnitude of the increase in tonic tension (31.7 +/- 8.6 vs. 129.5 +/- 32.6 mg in the control). Presence of high magnesium (5 mM) during altered Tyrode's superfusion also offers some protection against tonic tension increase (12.6 +/- 3.6 mg rise in tonic tension vs. 129.5 +/- 3.2 mg in the control), action potential shortening, and amplitude decrease. These results suggest that (a) magnesium and verapamil both have significant effects on the cellular calcium uptake, and (b) anaerobic metabolism utilizing either glycogen or exogenous glucose is capable of preventing contracture during ischemia. PMID- 2627759 TI - Transferrin and albumin excretion as a measure of glomerular function. AB - Albumin and transferrin are relatively small protein molecules and highly negatively charged. Their levels in urine are a useful indicator of the integrity of membrane barriers of the kidney glomerular capillary wall. The present data shows that the excretion rates of albumin and transferrin and their kinetics of excretions are similar. Thus, their filtration mechanisms at the active site of the kidney membrane pores are similar. Total urinary protein/creatinine or albumin or transferrin/creatinine ratio were found to be linear and highly significant. Their measurement could indicate the degree of impaired glomerular permeability. Also, in the present study, a rapid biochemical method of measurement of the selectivity of proteinuria based on the transferrin/albumin ratios in random samples is reported. This method is particularly useful in the early stages of glomerular basement membrane damage. PMID- 2627760 TI - Distribution of ciliatine (2-aminoethylphosphonic acid) and phosphonoalanine (2 amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid) in human tissues. AB - Ciliatine (2-aminoethylphosphonic acid) was detected in the human brain, heart, kidney, liver, intestine, spleen, adrenal glands, and aorta. Phosphonoalanine (2 amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid) was found in the human liver, intestine and spleen. Tissue homogenates were extracted with trichloroacetic acid and a chloroform-methanol mixture. After hydrolysis, each fraction was subfractionated by ion-exchange chromatography and examined by paper chromatography and electrophoresis using a specific ninhydrin-molybdate staining procedure to detect the phosphonic acids. The acids were found bound either to lipid or to protein; no free phosphonic acid was detected. PMID- 2627761 TI - Method for rapid separation of 3,5,3'-triiodothyroacetic acid in human serum by fast protein liquid chromatography. AB - The 3,5,3'-triiodothyroacetic acid (TRIAC) has been approved as a valuable agent in the management of hyperthyroidism secondary to inappropriate secretion of thyrotropin. We have developed a fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) method for separation and quantification of TRIAC. Serum samples charged with TRIAC were extracted with methanol/ammonium acetate, the supernatants were evaporated to dryness, reconstituted in NaOH and injected on a reversed phase column for chromatography. For separation an isocratic elution method (methanol water; 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) was used. The area under the curve (ml%) was compared with those of the calibration curves. Recoveries were 70 +/- 10.8%. TRIAC was eluted in 2.33 ml. Conclusively, the present method shows that TRIAC can be measured by FPLC and may be applied to the measurement of TRIAC in pharmacological studies. PMID- 2627762 TI - Increased non-enzymatic glycosylation and reduced solubility of skin collagen in insulin-dependent diabetic patients. AB - The solubility of skin collagen into acetic acid and by pepsin digestion and the degree of non-enzymatic glycosylation of collagen (ketoamine linkage) in these fractions was determined in skin specimens from 27 insulin-dependent diabetic subjects and from 17 age-matched controls. Glycosylation in acid soluble collagen specimen was significantly increased in the diabetics, 1.9 +/- 1.8 (SD)ng of hexose/micrograms of hydroxyproline in comparison to the controls. 0.9 +/- 0.8 ng of hexose/micrograms of hydroxyproline. No significant difference in this respect was noted in pepsin soluble collagen specimens. The solubility of collagen into acetic acid and by pepsin digestion were significantly reduced in the diabetics. No clear relationships between non-enzymatic glycosylation or collagen solubility and diabetic late complications (nephropathy, retinopathy or limited joint mobility) were noted. We suggest (a) that equilibrium levels of early glycosylation products are different in acid and pepsin soluble collagen specimens. (b) ketoamine linkage glycosylation products by themselves are not directly involved in diabetic late complications and (c) the solubility in acid and digestibility of collagen by pepsin may be an indicator, even though nonspecific, of increased amounts of advanced glycosylation end products. PMID- 2627763 TI - Erythrocyte glyoxalase activity in genetically obese (ob/ob) and streptozotocin diabetic mice. AB - Hyperglycemia associated with the manifestation of the obese diabetic (ob/ob) syndrome in mice and the short and long term streptozotocin treatment of lean MF1 mice was accompanied by a significant decrease in erythrocyte glyoxalase 1 activity and a marked increase in the concentration of the alpha-oxoaldehyde methylglyoxal. Erythrocyte glyoxalase II activity was modestly but significantly elevated in both obese mice and short term streptozotocin treated MF1 mice but no significant changes in S-D-lactoylglutathione concentration could be detected. Modification of the cells glyoxalase system during hyperglycaemia, especially the enhanced production of methylglyoxal may be a significant biochemical factor in the development of diabetic complications. PMID- 2627764 TI - Measurement of the frequency response and common-mode gain of neonatal respiratory pressure and flow measurement systems. Part 1: Apparatus. AB - It is necessary, especially in neonatal work, for investigators to measure accurately the frequency response and common mode gain of respiratory pressure and flow transducers in air and other gas mixtures. Many of the systems designed for this task have been incompletely analysed and have unknown frequency responses themselves. We analyse aspects of systems employed previously and show that substantial amplitude and phase errors may have occurred. We describe a plethysmograph-based system which operates in any available gas mixture. A mathematical model of the acoustic microphone used as reference transducer, the microphone preamplifier, and the thermal behaviour of the plethysmograph, is developed to quantify the frequency response of the system. Maximum deviation from a perfect response is less than 1% in amplitude and 1 degree in phase for both pressure and flow measurements over the range 1-100 Hz. Measurements using a pressure transducer mounted on the tip of a catheter indicate that the error due to amplitude and phase variation in the plethysmograph is less than 0.1 dB and 0.4 degrees at 100 Hz. PMID- 2627765 TI - Measurement of the frequency response and common-mode gain of neonatal respiratory pressure and flow measurement systems. Part 2: Results. AB - We show that the technique of exciting a differential pressure transducer at one port to measure its differential gain yields incorrect results in the case of asymmetrical differential pressure transducers but is acceptable in the case of symmetrical transducers. We have measured the common-mode gain of a symmetrical and an asymmetrical differential pressure transducer from 1 Hz to 100 Hz, both directly and by computation from differential gain measurements. No compensation for common-mode error is necessary when a symmetrical transducer is used in mechanically ventilated neonates. We have also measured the frequency response of neonatal Fleisch and screen pneumotachographs connected to Validyne MP45 differential pressure transducers in air, 60% oxygen and 100% oxygen, and concluded that the effect of oxygen concentration is small below 40 Hz. However, the normalised frequency response of the flow transducer differs markedly from unity at frequencies inside the flow bandwidth generated by neonatal pressure cycled ventilators and dynamic correction is therefore necessary. PMID- 2627766 TI - Accuracy of the ambulatory ECG monitoring system Cardio-Data Mk4 in detecting exercise-induced myocardial ischaemia. AB - The accuracy of ST-segment analysis in a direct-recording ambulatory ECG monitoring (AEGG) system (CardioData Mk 4 with recorder CardioData PR3) was compared with that obtained in a standard ECG recorder. Twenty two patients with coronary heart disease and a positive exercise test were submitted to a second bicycle exercise test with concomitant AECG monitoring. Application of a junction box made it possible to record the two bipolar AECG leads simultaneously on both standard ECG (leads ECG 1 and 2) and AECG (leads 1 and 2). We determined the time of the beginning, end and maximum and the magnitude of the ST-segment depression in bipolar leads AECG 1 and 2, and ECG 1 and 2. AECG monitoring was just as accurate as standard ECG: time intervals between the different leads showed good alignment. The degree of maximum ST-segment depression in ECG 1 (mean +/- SD: 0.22 +/- 0.11 mV) was identical to that in AECG 1 (0.22 +/- 0.13 mV). Maximum extent of ST-segment depression was lower in ECG 2 and AECG 2 but also comparable (ECG 2: 0.13 +/- 0.14 mV, AECG 2: 0.15 +/- 0.17 mV). Thus, ST-segment depressions found with a standard ECG recorder can also be reliably detected with a direct recording AECG monitoring system. PMID- 2627767 TI - An automated analysis technique for thallium images. AB - The use of stress thallium-201 scans in the non-invasive assessment of myocardial perfusion is well established, despite several reports of considerable inter observer variability in the assessment of perfusion defects. By applying a simple statistical algorithm to a set of normal thallium images and using a well defined criterion of abnormality, the threshold of normality in these 'statistical images' was obtained for each of four projections. Subsequently a test set of images from both normal volunteers and patients with arteriographically documented coronary artery disease were reported using statistical images at four levels (70, 75, 80 and 85% of the mean of the hottest pixels) and standard thallium images viewed on the computer monitor in both colour and black and white. Significant reductions in the inter-observer disagreement and enhanced predictive accuracy in the detection of significant coronary artery disease were obtained using the statistical images. The technique described and assessed would permit the reporting of thallium scans at a preselected value of sensitivity and specificity depending on the requirements of the particular study. It could be readily implemented, after local validation, in any department performing thallium scans where the gamma camera is interfaced to a computer. PMID- 2627768 TI - Impedance changes during evoked nervous activity in human subjects: implications for the application of applied potential tomography (APT) to imaging neuronal discharge. AB - Impedance changes were measured with scalp electrodes in human subjects during physiologically evoked responses to assess whether such changes could form the basis for imaging of neuronal discharge by applied potential tomography (APT). Conventional methods were employed to measure cortical sensory and visual evoked responses, and the sensory action potential of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. In each case impedance was measured across the appropriate tissue of origin using a high sensitivity four-electrode method. No consistent changes larger than 0.002 or 0.02% (depending on electrode configuration and period of measurement) of the resting impedance were obtained. Changes within these limits appeared to be due to variations in pulse related impedance changes. This suggests that currently available APT devices could not be used to obtain images of neuronal discharge, and research into APT imaging in the adult head might more profitably be directed at imaging the relatively large impedance changes during stroke or spreading depression. PMID- 2627769 TI - A sensitivity coefficient method for the reconstruction of electrical impedance tomograms. AB - A number of proposed reconstruction algorithms for electrical impedance tomography have employed the concept of a sensitivity coefficient which can be used to relate the magnitude of a voltage change measured at the surface of an object to the change in impedance within the object which has given rise to it. Iterative algorithms are required where the approach to the full non-linear problem involves the formal inversion of the sensitivity coefficient matrix, but the task of matrix inversion is still not trivial even for a linearised version of the problem. An alternative approach is to use sensitivity coefficients calculated from Laplace fields for single-pass image reconstruction in a manner more closely related to back-projection methods. A reconstruction algorithm employing sensitivity coefficients in this manner is described and images of a phantom and a human chest section produced using the algorithm are displayed. PMID- 2627770 TI - A system for cardiac and respiratory gating of a magnetic resonance imager. AB - A cardiac and respiratory gating system is described which minimises MRI distortion by using a commercially available pneumatic capsule for respiration sensing, and by isolating the ECG and respiration detector circuitry with a fibre optic link. Operator use is facilitated by displaying, on the ECG trace, the time during the cardiac cycle when images are acquired, and by displaying the respiratory signal. The system is presently in use with a MD 800 MRI system (M&D Technology Ltd, Aberdeen) operating at 0.08 tesla. PMID- 2627771 TI - Low influence of fat on spine densitometry? PMID- 2627772 TI - CMHC emergency services in the 1980's: effects of funding changes. AB - Community mental health centers have been faced with the challenge of survival in the wake of funding changes. The authors investigated the impact of these changes on the delivery of emergency services. The results indicated some notable trends including abolishing catchment areas and centralizing emergency services. Additionally, changes in staffing patterns were found, including both an overall decrease in staff providing crisis services and an increase in staff from disciplines eligible for third party reimbursement. Factors that may have influenced these trends are discussed. PMID- 2627773 TI - Group demographics in the mental patient movement: group location, age, and size as structural factors. AB - This paper presents a descriptive overview of the mental patient selfhelp movement based on a sample of 104 groups. Groups are classified in terms of group structure, group affiliation, and evaluation of psychiatry and are then described in a demographic profile that includes the factors of location, age and size. After a review of the literature on functional models of selfhelp groups, the mental patient movement is shown to be composed of groups with widely varying political philosophies-from radical "separatist" groups promoting consciousness raising, empowerment, and social reform to conservative "partnership" groups that emphasize individual reform through "alternative therapy". The movement is shown to be increasingly dominated by moderate "supportive" groups and, as such, is characterized as a true client-controlled social or "community" alternative to the professionally-controlled medical programs that dominate the mental health system today. PMID- 2627774 TI - Children's mental health services: a parent perspective. AB - Parents of severely emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children rarely have the opportunity to participate in the policy-making processes that affect their children's welfare. In the present study, a structured parent interview was developed as part of Washington State's Child and Adolescent Services System Program (CASSP). Thirty-five parents of disturbed children provided information about their children's problems and services histories. Respondents identified unmet needs and barriers to timely, effective intervention. The nature and quality of services received were examined in the context of CASSP service standards. The study confirmed that parents of disturbed children can provide information rich in implications for system change. PMID- 2627775 TI - Geriatric services: community mental health center boon or bane? AB - The fragmented and uncoordinated development of federal and state mental health policy for the aged, the lifting of federal mandates for CMHC service emphases on the aged, and the underutilization of CMHC services by the aged all raise the issue of the implications of CMHCs emphasis on services to elderly clients. We hypothesized that CMHCs with increases in aged clientele would fare worse in terms of budgets, services, and staffing than those that did not report increases in elderly clientele. The findings are more complex in that, compared to centers with no change in aged clientele, CMHCs fared better when they either had decreases in aged clientele (as expected) or increases in such clientele (in contradiction to the hypothesis), although the former relationship was stronger. These findings are interpreted in terms of the need for CMHCs to specialize either on the aged or on other client populations. Such specialization, and the stronger effect for de-emphasis on the aged, suggest greater barriers to access of the aged to community mental health care. PMID- 2627776 TI - The relation of rural alcoholism to farm economy. AB - Several studies have suggested an association between the farm crisis of the 1980's and the increase in mental health problems in rural America. A stress hypothesis for alcoholism would indeed predict such an association. The study presented herein examines the rate of new referrals for treatment of alcohol abuse and/or dependence to state-funded agencies in Nebraska. Between mid-1978 and mid-1986, the rate of subjects seeking treatment grew steadily, paralleling an increase in both population and available treatment programs. Yet, the total number of farmers seeking treatment peaked around 1982 and declined steadily thereafter, outpacing any change in the total number of farmers in the state. Possible interpretations of these findings are discussed. PMID- 2627777 TI - The Nanny State strikes back: the South Australian Tobacco Products Control Act Amendment Act, 1988. PMID- 2627778 TI - The legal response to AIDS in Australia. AB - This article examines the laws in Australia which relate to AIDS, and considers whether they help or hinder the community health concern of containment of fatal diseases. The laws relating to notifications, blood and organ donations, discrimination and other provisions are canvassed. The author concludes that the legal response to AIDS in Australia is generally characterised by inconsistency, inaccuracy and confusion. The result is that the law is often counter-productive in the social and medical battle against AIDS. PMID- 2627779 TI - AIDS and women in the sex industry--legal approaches to public health. PMID- 2627780 TI - Regulating the construction of hospitals or vice versa: the courts and private hospital planning in Victoria. AB - This paper examines the legal framework for regulating the development of new private hospitals in Victoria. It first reviews the genesis of the statutory power for private hospital regulation and outlines the two court cases which clarified the interpretation of the statute. The legislation and its interpretation by the courts emphasise a particular approach to private hospital planning which does not necessarily address the problems faced by consumers of hospital services in Victoria. It is argued that the law has constructed a particular framework for private hospital regulation which does not address the critical problems facing the hospital system in the 1990s. The legal framework for regulation is based on property rights rather than the needs of hospital users, despite the language used in the legislation. PMID- 2627781 TI - Assessing environmental health: some problems and strategies. PMID- 2627782 TI - Health impact statements: challenges ahead? PMID- 2627783 TI - Preventing alcohol problems: local action and licensing law--a case study. PMID- 2627784 TI - Legislative and humanitarian impetus for development of alcohol and other drug policy at an Australian university. AB - The rationale for comprehensive alcohol and other drug policy at a tertiary institution is presented here as a health promotion strategy for educating University policy makers. Particular emphasis is placed on a discussion of humanitarian issues, that is, the right to a healthy environment, and the potential for legal liability in an environment where alcohol is readily available and other drugs are present. There is little attention paid to drug use related legal issues in the University, but at the same time drawing the attention of policy makers to the organisation's vulnerability to lawsuits has been reported to be a motivating force for adoption of drug use policy. Universities do experience problems related to alcohol and other drug use by staff and students. Problem reduction, and better management of problems, are the major goals of policy in this area. Local initiatives, for example at the organisational level, make important contributions to the overall drug prevention efforts of the nation. Well-developed policy and procedures and effective implementation constitute an important structural health promotion strategy. Such policy would comply with the immediate requirements of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare legislation and provide some protection against wrongful dismissal claims and negligence lawsuits, as well as providing long-term educative effects. Situations for which policies are needed, range widely due to the University's unique environment and complex roles. PMID- 2627785 TI - Alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and fetal outcome in Victoria, 1985. AB - The aims of this study were to document the extent of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption by Victorian women during pregnancy and relate the use of cigarettes and alcohol to various measures of pregnancy outcome. The study found that 24 per cent of women smoked during pregnancy and smoking was more common amongst younger women; 99.5 per cent of women drank, on average, less than two standard drinks per day and older women were more likely to be drinkers than younger women; 3.6 per cent of women reported at least one episode of binge drinking during pregnancy. There was an increasing trend in the proportion of low birthweight (less than 2500 g) infants with increasing use of tobacco and a dose dependent reduction in mean birthweight. Drinkers were less likely to have a pre term or low birthweight infant than abstainers and babies born to drinkers had a higher mean birthweight than babies born to abstainers. The results of our study did not suggest that drinkers were at increased risk of delivering an infant with a congenital malformation, however heavy drinking was very uncommon in the studied population. PMID- 2627786 TI - Adults' beliefs about the determinants of successful dietary change. AB - This study, using a random survey technique was designed to assess the number of changes people were making to their diet and what factors they considered would most influence them to make a dietary change. Seventy-seven per cent of respondents claimed to be making changes to their diet, and the most common changes such as reducing fat, salt and sugar and increasing fibre, were in line with the Australian Dietary Guidelines. In addition, 79.3 per cent of respondents indicated that suffering from a serious illness and thinking a dietary change might aid recovery would have a strong effect on their decision to change diets. Conversely, less than 10 per cent of all respondents indicated that speaking to a family member or friend, or information in the media would have a strong effect on them deciding to change their diet. With regard to the maintenance of dietary change, respondents indicated that experiencing the positive effects of dietary change on their health and well-being was the most important factor, while other important factors were liking the taste-texture of the new foods in the diet, having strong support from a spouse or partner and having a strong wish to change. Those in higher educational or occupational groups indicated the above factors to be more important than those in lower occupational and educational groups. The latter were more concerned with such factors as the cost and ease of preparing new foods in the diet, having few stresses at home and the support of friends and workmates. These results suggest that the design and implementation of dietary change programs should be targeted to specific groups in the community. PMID- 2627787 TI - The politics of evaluating Aboriginal Health Services. AB - Evaluation of Aboriginal Health Services (AHSs) has become a topic of importance to service providers and governments in recent years. This paper examines some of the difficulties AHSs have in conducting evaluation and presents an example of an inappropriate evaluation methodology as proposed by the Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA) in 1986. The paper examines the contradictory nature of the DAA proposal and the mistrust it has engendered in many AHSs. It then highlights some of the political difficulties in developing meaningful national and community health objectives as a basis for sound evaluation of health services. The paper concludes by identifying some of the processes whereby more appropriate evaluation methodologies might be developed and suggests that negotiation and consultation with the Aboriginal communities and their health services are imperative to successful evaluation. PMID- 2627788 TI - Indicators of social class--relationship between prestige of occupation and suburb of residence. AB - The difficulty of measuring social class is well known. Two indicators of social class, prestige of occupation and prestige of suburb of residence, are considered here. Australian prestige scales which measure these indicators are discussed. Comparisons between the original scales and the recently updated versions indicate that in the Australian community there is general community agreement on the prestige of occupations and of suburbs which has changed little over two decades. However, there is only a weak association between the prestige of the occupation in which a person is employed and the prestige of the suburb in which that person resides. This raises queries concerning the validity of using prestige of suburb as an indicator of social class, and highlights the fact that when conducting research one indicator of social class cannot simply be substituted for another. The implications for investigation of health-related issues are discussed. PMID- 2627789 TI - The progressive nature of renal disease: myths and facts. 2nd Verona Seminar on Nephrology, September 29-October 1, 1988. Proceedings. PMID- 2627790 TI - Weighted least square regression analysis of factors contributing to progression of chronic renal failure. PMID- 2627791 TI - Protection of residual renal function by different dietary regimens in subtotally nephrectomized rats. PMID- 2627792 TI - The natural history of reflux nephropathy. PMID- 2627793 TI - Outflow resistance of enucleated human eyes at two different perfusion pressures and different extents of trabeculotomy. AB - Aqueous outflow resistance of enucleated human eyes was measured at 7 and 25 mm Hg before and after partial and complete (12 clock hours) internal trabeculotomy. Following complete trabeculotomy, 71% of the resistance was eliminated at 25 mm Hg while only 49% was eliminated at 7 mm Hg. In contrast to published findings in eyes with intact trabecular meshwork where the resistance increased with increasing IOP (1), following complete trabeculotomy, the resistance decreased 2% per mm Hg with increasing IOP. Experiments with trabeculotomy limited to part of the circumference showed that a one hour trabeculotomy produced 41% (25 mm Hg) to 60% (7 mm Hg) of the effect of a twelve hour trabeculotomy. The results indicate that a surprisingly high fraction of aqueous outflow resistance resides in the distal aspects of the outflow system at normal IOP, and that this distal resistance drops as IOP is increased. PMID- 2627794 TI - Focal irradiation of perforating eye injuries. AB - Plaques constructed with 125I were used to irradiate the sites of perforating ocular injuries in rabbits. An approximate dose of 16Gy given over a period of 6 days was shown to significantly reduce intraocular cellular proliferation when irradiation was commenced within 24 hours after injury. If irradiation was delayed until day 5, this reduction in cellular proliferation and intraocular membrane formation did not occur. Smaller radiation doses of approximately 6Gy given within 24 hours post-injury and administered over 6 days also reduced the extent of cellular proliferation but was not as effective as the 16Gy dose. PMID- 2627795 TI - Comparative effects of pilocarpine in different vehicles on pupil diameter in albino rabbits and squirrel monkeys. AB - Several commercial pilocarpine preparations have been compared for their efficacy of drug delivery as evaluated by changes in pupil diameter, and return to base line pupil size, in rabbits and squirrel monkeys. Adsorbocarpine, Isoptocarpine, Pilocar, all at 2%, and Pilopine HS gel, 4%, were used. In albino rabbits the order of efficacy, as judged by area under the curve, or maximal pupil diameter change, was Pilopine greater than Isoptocarpine = Adsorbocarpine greater than Pilocar = saline (prepared in this laboratory). In general, greater areas under the curve were associated with greater changes in pupil diameter. Pupil diameter had returned to normal by a maximum of 5 hours after drop instillation. In squirrel monkeys, the maximum pupillary change was statistically (P greater than 0.05) the same for all preparations, as was the percentage change in pupil diameter at 6 hours since pupils were still somewhat constricted at this time after drop instillation. The differences in area under the curve were minor. The greater response in primates compared to rabbits may be due to differences in pigment, intraocular kinetics and a far more active ciliary muscle in primates. Also studied were newly developed, non-surfactant containing, preservative-free polymer- and microparticle-based vehicles. Some of the vehicles, based on cyanoacrylate, modified hyaluronate, anionic copolymers, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, cross-linked gelatin and microparticles showed greater pupillary changes and areas under the curve in rabbits compared to saline vehicle. When compared to commercial preparations in the monkey eye cyanoacrylate block copolymer and modified hyaluronate showed an increase in efficacy. Polyvinylpyrrolidone, anionic copolymer and cross-linked gelatin were equal to the commercial preparations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627796 TI - Biochemical analysis of serum proteins from Eales' patients. AB - In the present study attempt has been made to identify the possible factor(s) which are responsible for Eales' disease. The serum of Eales' patients and that of age and sex matched healthy controls did not differ in their total protein concentration. Sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) analysis did not reveal any difference between the two groups. However, analysis of the serum samples with isoelectric focusing showed the presence of two unique proteins with pI of 5.5 and 5.9 in Eales' patients. Further two dimensional SDS-PAGE analysis indicated the presence of a distinct protein spot with a pI of 5.9 and a molecular weight around 23 KD in the serum of Eales' patients. This 23 KD protein has been partially purified and found to be anionic in nature. Antisera to this partially purified protein have been raised and tested. The implication of this finding is discussed in relation to the aetiology of Eales' disease. PMID- 2627797 TI - Stimulation of DNA synthesis in human and bovine RPE by peptide growth factors: the response to TNF-alpha and EGF is dependent upon culture density. AB - A range of concentrations of several peptide mitogens was tested for growth activity on bovine and human RPE cells under serum free conditions by analysis of 3H-thymidine incorporation within the first 24 hrs of exposure to the agents. For cultures which were subconfluent or in early confluence, TNF-alpha, a product of activated macrophages, was the most effective mitogen; little or no growth stimulation was observed for PDGF, EGF, NGF, IGF-1, IL-1B, bFGF or TGF-beta 1. For TNF-alpha and EGF the growth response was analyzed in cultures of varying density. TNF-alpha was more active in sparse RPE cultures whereas EGF stimulation was greater in dense cultures. The response to growth factors was similar in RPE cells from the two species sources, but the apparent magnitude of the response was greater for bovine cells because the growth rate in serum free medium, which was used as the basal reference, was lower for bovine RPE. It is concluded that culture conditions, especially the timing of the assay and the level of confluence of the cells, affect the detection of a growth response to peptide mitogens. Although several of the agents which were tested did not stimulate DNA synthesis in RPE in this study, they may nonetheless promote growth when assayed in combination with other agents or they may affect other biological functions of RPE cells. PMID- 2627798 TI - Metabolism of drugs in the eye. Menadione-dependent reduction of tertiary amine N oxide by preparations from bovine ocular tissues. AB - As described previously, the microsomes and cytosol from bovine ciliary body exhibited a significant reductase activity toward tertiary amine N-oxide such as imipramine N-oxide when supplemented with menadione. In the present study, the menadione-dependent N-oxide reduction was further examined with preparations of bovine ocular tissues. The reduction of imipramine N-oxide occurred much more significantly when the microsomes and cytosols from bovine ciliary body were supplemented with both menadione and NAD(P)H, compared with menadione alone. The cytosolic menadione-dependent reduction, but not the microsomal one, was markedly inhibited by dicumarol, suggesting the involvement of DT-diaphorase in the reaction. Localization of the menadione-dependent N-oxide reductase activity in bovine ocular tissues indicated that the highest activity resided in the ciliary body, followed by retinal pigment epithelium-choroid, iris, retina and cornea. When the cytosol from bovine ciliary body was fractionated with ammonium sulfate, the distribution of the menadione-dependent N-oxide reductase activity in the resultant fractions was parallel, but roughly, to that of DT-diaphorase activity, supporting the assumption that the flavoenzyme was involved in the cytosolic menadione-dependent N-oxide reduction. We proposed a new mechanism for the metabolic reduction of tertiary amine N-oxide in the eye: Menadione is reduced to the corresponding diol by quinone-reducing enzymes and then tertiary amine N oxide is reduced by the diol to the corresponding amine nonenzymatically. PMID- 2627799 TI - Intramuscular injection of chlorpromazine decreases intraocular pressure by lowering systemic blood pressure. AB - Intramuscular injection of chlorpromazine in rabbits caused a significant decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP). The dose-response curve was generated. The threshold dose was 0.1 mg/kg (approximately 0.35 mg per rabbit) and 10 mg/kg chlorpromazine produced the maximal response which lasted for several hours. This decrease in IOP was not due to the release of pituitary prolactin by a central dopaminergic-2 antagonistic activity of chlorpromazine. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of chlorpromazine also caused a decrease in IOP. The threshold dose was 0.33 mg per rabbit. This high i.c.v. threshold dose indicates that no direct central mechanism is responsible for the decrease of IOP after an i.m. injection of chlorpromazine. Intravitreal injection of 0.35 mg chlorpromazine caused significant miosis without any change in IOP. It appears that direct mechanisms of chlorpromazine in ocular tissues do not decrease IOP. After an i.m. injection of 0.1 or 10 mg/kg chlorpromazine, systemic blood pressure (BP) was lowered in a similar pattern as the decrease in IOP. Neither IOP nor BP was affected by an i.m. injection of a subthreshold chlorpromazine dose of 0.01 mg/kg. These observations suggest that the decrease in IOP after an i.m. injection of chlorpromazine is mainly due to the decrease of BP. PMID- 2627800 TI - Direct repeats at nuclear matrix-associated DNA regions and their putative control function in the replicating eukaryotic genome. AB - Short DNA regions, known to contain replication origins, were isolated from 2 M NaCl resistant nuclear structures of Physarum polycephalum after predigestion with DNase. Regions of 100 bp average length were cloned and sequenced. About 25% of the clones contained direct repeats of 12 to 16 bp and variable base sequences, that have been shown to possess the potential of playing a crucial role in the control of DNA replication. In one of the two alternative three dimensional configurations such repeats expose single-stranded loops that can function as sites for the initiation of new DNA strands. As these regions are converted into full-length duplexes by their own replication, reinitiation at the same site is excluded. Restoration of the initiationable configuration is considered to be coupled to structural rearrangements involved in the transient condensation of chromosomes in mitosis. This mechanisms ensures that any part of the entire eukaryotic genome is reproduced just a single time during one cell cycle. PMID- 2627801 TI - Identification of the spI products of Balbiani ring genes in Chironomus thummi. AB - The spI fraction of high molecular weight secretory proteins was analysed in Chironomus thummi. These proteins are encoded by giant Balbiani ring (BR) genes which develop specifically in salivary gland cells. Each component of the spI fraction was studied electrophoretically from early and middle 4th instar larvae and prepupae, as well from galactose-treated larvae where changes in the relative puffing pattern of BR1 and BR2 are known to occur. The spI fraction consists of at least two bands with electrophoretic mobilities slower than those of the spI components of Camptochironomus. The slow migrating component remains throughout the 4th larval instar, while the amount of the faster component changes, being abundant in early 4th instar and prepupae, but not present (or very weak) in middle 4th instar. The correlated shifts in BR puffing pattern during these developmental stages suggest that the slow and fast components are encoded by BR2 and BR1. The spI fraction is modified by galactose treatment, the fast component being induced in parallel with a decrease in the slow component. These changes are correlated with changes in the steady-state levels of RNA: an increase in BR1 RNA and a decrease in BR2 RNA, and of proteins. These proteins could correspond to the spIb and spIa fractions allocated to BR2 and BR1, respectively, in Camptochironomus. After galactose treatment a new faster band sometimes appears, that could correspond to the spIc fraction of Camptochironomus. A possible spId equivalent was also identified. In conclusion the main features of the spI family in C. thummi are similar to those of spI in Camptochironomus. PMID- 2627802 TI - [Investigation on calcifications in the breast]. AB - This article reported the result of analysis of 96 cases with heaps of calcifications in the breast all verified by operation. The calcifications, according to the appearances on X-ray film were classified into 4 patterns: club shaped, fine sandy, fragmented stonelike and coalescent. A comprehensive analysis was made in regard to spatial distribution and amount of calcification and the presence of a mass. The results indicated that club-shaped calcification is highly suggestive of malignancy regardless of the amount of calcification and the presence or absence of a mass. Simple fine sandy calcification in the absence of a mass can not differentiate benign from malignancy because of wide range of overlapping, whereas simple fragmented stone and coalescent types, according to the authors opinion denote benign. PMID- 2627803 TI - [Correlation between videodensity and iodine concentration in DSA--a prospective research]. AB - This article is a prospective research on parametric imaging of DSA. With the help of phantoms, the authors finished the transformation of videodensity into iodine concentration. The value of iodine concentration will be used as the basis of parametric imaging instead of videodensity which is a non-dimensional value. In part "I" of this article, the authors obtained a group of attenuation curves of 24 iodine samples, which are energy dependent, and verified the possibility of transformation of videodensity into iodine concentration under the non-standard conditions. In part "II", the authors designed a group of phantoms and an exposure program in order to accomplish the density-concentration transformation under clinical conditions. The feasibility of the method was confirmed. PMID- 2627804 TI - [Significance of umbilical and paraumbilical veins as collaterals in portal hypertension]. AB - Twenty-one postmortem specimens of the liver (18 normal livers, 3 liver metastases) with attached ligamentum teres were investigated using silicone rubber injection technique. In all cases, the paraumbilical veins were demonstrated. They were usually divided into 2 groups, one on the right and the other on the left side of the ligamentum teres, and they terminated in a variable manner into small peripheral portal vein branches in the liver parenchyma. A patent proximal segment of the umbilical vein was found in 7 of the 21 cases. Connections between the umbilical vein and paraumbilical veins were supposed to represent one of the collateral channels in portal hypertension. PMID- 2627805 TI - [X-ray investigation of intercondylar eminence of tibia (report of 122 cases)]. AB - X-ray investigation was made on the knee joint in 122 individuals, both AP and lateral radiographs were taken. The result showed that the intercondylar eminence of tibia develops at a certain period after birth, the time to make its appearance is 6-10 years for female and 7-10 years for male. The initial appearance often takes the form of a localized prominence usually single. The various configurations of the intercondylar eminence, the angle, height and density were described. PMID- 2627806 TI - [Osteogenic sarcoma (report of 18 cases)]. AB - Eighteen cases of osteogenic sarcoma of the long bones in the extremities were analyzed in this paper. The pathological basis of the X-ray signs was explained. It was suggested that solitary calcific shadow appearing near the knee joint in young individuals should alert the radiologist to the possibility of osteogenic sarcoma. The X-ray findings of osteogenic sarcoma were characterized by dissociation of osteolysis from ossification. Simultaneous bony destruction both inside and outside the cortex was one of the patterns of erosive bone destruction in osteogenic sarcoma. The distinction between benign and malignant bony spicules, the differences in the relationship between soft tissue mass and subcutaneous fat layer and that between osteomyelitis and the subcutaneous fat layer were discussed. PMID- 2627807 TI - [Pituitary radiotherapy of Cushing's disease (an analysis of 22 cases and literatures review)]. AB - 22 patients with Cushing's disease were treated in our hospital from 1976 to 1983. 18 patients were treated by adrenal surgery combined with pituitary irradiation, while 4 patients by radiotherapy of pituitary alone. Overall effective rate was 94%, 82% of patients were able to return to work. Adrenal resection followed by radiation of the pituitary had a relapse rate of 9.1%. The relapse rate was increased to 85.7%, if post-operative radiation was not given. The authors proposed that for young patients with mild disease, radiotherapy alone for pituitary yields good results. As post-operative radiotherapy radiation should be started 2 weeks to 2 months after adrenal operation. Two opposing lateral preauricular portals together with one prefrontal midline portal are preferable and can effectively reduce the dose to the normal brain, the recommended dose is DT 40-50 Gy. PMID- 2627808 TI - [An experimental comparative study of several vasodilators for enhancing arterial portography]. AB - In order to improve visualization of the portal vein, an experimental comparative study of enhancing arterial portography with four vasodilators was conducted in 8 dogs and the hemodynamic changes observed after administration of these agents. This study confirms that prostaglandin E1. Vasoactive intestinal peptide and anisodamine can improve the image quality of portal vein in arterial portography, but priscoline is less effective. The mechanism, and technical factors involved and the clinical application of pharmaceutical-arterial portography were discussed. This study also provided the experimental data for a wide choice of vasodilators in enhancing visceral angiography. PMID- 2627809 TI - [CT manifestations of schizencephaly]. AB - Schizencephaly is a variety of neuron migration anomalies which are caused by insults to the migration of subependymal neuroblasts during the third to fifth gestational months. It has characteristic CT findings including a hemispheric cleft, either unilateral or bilateral, in the parasylvian region lined with heterotopic gray matter and extending from the pial to the ependymal surface. In type I the lips of the cleft are fused, whereas in type II, these are separated. Polymicrogyria and malformations of septum pellucidum and corpus callosum are common associated findings. Seventeen cases of schizencephaly with only two cases of bilateral clefts were presented in this paper. PMID- 2627810 TI - [Barrett's esophagus: a report of 4 cases]. AB - Barrett's esophagus is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux. Radiological findings included gastroesophageal reflux and oesophagitis. It is an important precancerous disorder in the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The authors reported 4 cases confirmed by endoscopy and pathology. PMID- 2627811 TI - [DSA parametric imaging--a research on organs blood flow perfusion]. AB - This was an animal experimental study about blood flow perfusion of the kidney, brain and lung with DSA parametric imaging. The authors set up a gradient stenotic vessel model for research of blood flow perfusion of the kidney and brain, and a model of balloon embolization for research of blood flow perfusion of the lung. The experiment indicated that these models can reflect exactly the quantitative changes of blood flow perfusion of organs. The parameter-"peak height" is a useful indicator reflecting the quantitative changes of regional blood flow, whereas both time parameters-Tmax and 1/2 Tmax are not sensitive ones. The authors suggested that the information obtained from this experiment could be used as the basis for DSA parametric imaging in human. PMID- 2627812 TI - [CT investigation of renal cystic masses]. AB - This report presented 61 cases of renal cystic masses including renal parenchymal cyst 57 cases; parapelvic cyst 2; cystic hypernephroma 1 and calyceal diverticulum 1 case. All were confirmed by CT guided puncture and aspiration. The CT features of various renal cysts. complications and some special manifestations as well as differential diagnosis were discussed. Pertinent analysis of the CT features are necessary for correct diagnosis and proper management. PMID- 2627813 TI - [The effect of drug-microsphere embolization of hepatic artery on normal liver and experimental hepatic tumor in rats]. AB - Experimental hepatic artery embolization with camptothecin (CPT) albumin microspheres was performed in normal livers of 18 rats and experimental hepatic tumors of 8 rats. The effects of drug microsphere embolization were evaluated by selective celiac angiography and pathologic examination. The results showed that hepatic artery and peripheral vessels totally disappeared on angiogram after intra-hepatic-arterial infusion of CPT microspheres. Plentiful collaterals were demonstrable on follow up selective celiac angiogram 20 days postoperative, while partial and complete reconstitution of hepatic artery occurred within 50 approximately 70 days after embolization. Pathologic examination revealed that the drug microspheres were entrapped in the arterioles of liver and scattered areas of infarction were observed in the peripheral parts of liver. Therefore, CPT albumin microsphere is a peripheral type of biodegradable embolizing agent. PMID- 2627814 TI - [Experimental canine hepatic artery embolization with polyvinyl alcohol microspheres]. AB - Polyvinyl alcohol microsphere impregnated with barium sulfate was found to be a good embolizing agent in regard to shape, suspension and distribution in the arteries. Different-phase hepatic artery embolization with microspheres (50 approximately 100 microns, 100 approximately 300 microns) was performed in 20 dogs to evaluate the angiographic and histopathologic changes and hepatic function alterations. Permanent occlusion of the peripheral arterioles was observed on follow-up angiograms one week to six months after embolization. Shrinkage of the embolized segment and focal infarct of the liver were noticed in nearly half of the specimens both grossly and microscopically. The shape and structure of the microspheres were seen unchanged on different-phase specimens, and microspheres as small as 50 microns could reach the corresponding small peripheral arterioles. The liver function alterations were comparable with gelfoam embolization. This study suggested that permanent embolization of small arterioles was possible with such microspheres. PMID- 2627815 TI - [4 years' experience in the treatment of upper gastrointestinal strictures with balloon dilatation (analysis of 164 cases)]. AB - One hundred and sixty-four cases of upper gastrointestinal strictures were treated with balloon dilatation in a period of 4 years. Totally 682 procedures were performed. Among them, sequential treatment and follow-up studies were done in 140 cases including anastomotic stricture 95, corrosive stricture of esophagus 33 and other kinds of stenosis of esophagus 12. The total effective rate was 90% (126/140) and long term effective rate 71.4% (100/140). Failure was observed in 14 cases (10%), of which 11 cases were due to tumor recurrence. In this paper the authors proposed the concept about short-term and long-term effect and criteria for evaluation; The factors influencing the effectiveness and the number of procedure undertaken are related to the cause and degree of stricture as well as the time selected for dilatation. The indications for such dilatation treatment are anastomotic stricture of upper gastrointestinal tract, esophageal web and corrosive stricture of esophagus. This method could be used as the treatment of choice, for cicatrical stricture of upper gastrointestinal tract of various causes. PMID- 2627816 TI - [CT guided puncture aspiration with sclerosing treatment of renal cyst]. AB - This report presented fifty-eight renal cysts in 50 patients treated with percutaneous aspiration and alcohol injection. The cysts varied in size from 2.3 cm to approximately 13.5 cm in diameter, the amount of aspirated fluid varied from 5 ml to 780 ml. Forty-three of 58 renal cysts were followed from 3 months to one year. The curative effective rate was 95.3% and in 65.1%, the cystic cavity disappeared. The method technique, indication and preliminary experience were discussed. PMID- 2627817 TI - [CT diagnosis of pulmonary solitary nodule--a correlative study of CT, X-ray and pathology]. AB - A correlative study of CT, X-ray and pathology was done on 41 cases with pulmonary solitary nodule, including peripheral lung cancer 30 cases, benign lesion 10 and metastatic tumor 1. Results showed that CT was more sensitive than conventional X-ray in depicting the characteristic signs such as spiculate protuberance, minute calcifications, small vacuole sign and retraction of pleura. 2 mm thin slice CT scanning is helpful in differential diagnosis of lesions less than 2 cm in diameter. Correlation of CT findings with pathology indicated that spiculate protuberance was caused by infiltrative growth of tumor, whereas the small vacuole sign represented remnant of air containing cavity or slit. The shaggy border of inflammatory nodule was the result of extension of inflammatory process. A correct diagnosis of pulmonary solitary nodule lies in comprehensive analysis of CT manifestations. There is greater possibility of malignancy with mass greater than 4 cm in diameter, lobulation and spiculation are frequently present. Lung cancer less than 3 cm in diameter often presents as lobulated mass with spicules, small vacuole sign and pleural retraction. PMID- 2627818 TI - [X-ray diagnosis of primary tumors of the small bowel (report of 24 cases)]. AB - Primary tumors of the small bowel are relatively rare. The 24 cases reported in this paper have been confirmed by operation and pathology. Based on clinical and radiologic findings and review of literature, the main X-ray manifestations of primary tumors of the small bowel were as follows: (1) Stenosis; (2) Filling defect; (3) Stiffness of involved intestinal wall with destruction of mucosa and loss of valvulae conniventes; (4) Intestinal obstruction or intussusception; (5) Dynamic dilatation and reversed peristalsis of the bowel segment proximal to the tumor. The causes of misdiagnosis and failure of detection and the site of predilection of the tumor were discussed. The differential points between benign and malignant tumors, sarcoma and carcinoma, metastatic tumor and primary tumor, Crohn's disease and carcinoma were mentioned. PMID- 2627819 TI - The chronopathology of breast pre-cancer. AB - Breast temperatures have been measured by the automated instrumentation called the 'Chronobra' for 16 progesterone cycles in women at normal risk for breast cancer and for 15 cycles in women at high risk for breast cancer. Circatrigintan and circaseptan rhythm parameters have been examined by the single and population mean cosinor technique. In the first analysis there was strong evidence for a loss of the 28-day rhythm and its replacement by a 7-day rhythm (? frequency multiplication). In the more rigorous population mean cosinor method the presence of a phase and frequency synchronized rhythm with a period at or close to 28 days was sustained in the normal-risk subjects and it was confirmed that this rhythm is absent in the high-risk subjects. At tau = 7 days there was no rhythm detected in the normal-risk subjects and only a weak effect (p = 0.07) in the high-risk subjects. In other words, the circaseptan expression was detected in the high risk breasts but then not in every case. The MESOR of the high-risk cases was highly significantly warmer than in the controls. PMID- 2627820 TI - Delay of behavioral estrus in hamsters and phenobarbital. AB - The onset of behavioral estrus was used as a phase marker of the hamster timing system in SLD 16:8 (dark 20:00-04:00). TZ was injected between 11:00 of cycle day 3 and noon of cycle day 4 when onset of estrus was determined. At no time did injection of TZ cause a phase advance in SLD 16:8. Small delays of estrus resulted from 11:00-16:00 injections but marked delays began with the 17:00 injection. Phenobarbital was injected between noon and 19:30 on cycle day 3. Injections between noon and 16:00 had no effect but all later injections beginning at 17:00 delayed estrus, the 17:30 injection causing the greatest delay. Diazepam also markedly delayed estrus when tested at 17:30. These results with three drugs support results with light pulses that 18:00 in SLD 16:8 marks the same phase of the 24-h hamster timing system as the onset of wheel running does in DD, LL, and WLD. These findings with three GABA potentiators extend to SLD previous evidence based on the onset of wheel running in DD, LL and WLD that GABA may be involved in hamster timekeeping and its responses to light and drugs. PMID- 2627821 TI - [Effect of antacids on the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of cimetidine]. AB - Five patients with duodenal ulcer received cimetidine and after an interval of four days cimetidine with antacid. Cimetidine in serum was analysed with high performance liquid chromatography. There was no significant difference in the values of the pharmacokinetic parameters of cimetidine (Cmax, tmax and AUC) when taking cimetidine alone and cimetidine plus antacid. 53 outpatients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer were evaluated in a randomized study, so as to compare the therapeutic effect of cimetidine and aluminum hydroxide gel plus cimetidine. 18 of 26 patient taking cimetidine alone (69.2%) and 19 of 27 patients taking cimetidine plus antacid (70.4%) had their ulcer completely healed after 4 weeks. The overall healing rates after 8 weeks for the groups taking cimetidine alone and cimetidine plus antacid were 80.0% and 92.6% respectively with no significant difference. This study indicates: (1) Simultaneous administration of aluminum hydroxide gel does not alter the bioavailability of cimetidine. (2) Combined administration of aluminum hydroxide gel and cimetidine does not alter the therapeutic effect of cimetidine in patients with duodenal ulcer. PMID- 2627822 TI - [Endoscopic bipolar circumactive electrocoagulation in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding]. AB - Bipolar circum-active probe (BICAP) is a new endoscopically deliverable bipolar electrocoagulator. 57 patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding have been treated by the endoscopic BICAP and the value of the technique in the control of acute bleeding has been assessed. 57 patients underwent 47 qg probe applications with a mean value of 8.3 for each case. Immediate hemostasis was achieved in out of 57 cases (93%). Rebleeding after hemostasis by BICAP was noted in 4 out of 53 cases (7.5%). There were no complications related to the procedure. It is an important technique for the control of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. PMID- 2627823 TI - [Analysis of the etiology and clinical characteristics of Tibetan cirrhosis in Tibet]. AB - The authors collected 41 cases of cirrhosis in native Tibetans with pathological verification. It is found that 60.98% of the cases were alcoholic cirrhosis, with an incidence significantly higher than that of 7.6% reported in the inland (P less than 0.01). 74.19% and 20% of the cirrhosis in male and female patients respectively were alcoholic, while 50% of the cirrhosis in the female were due to malnutrition. Among the Tibetan cirrhotics 12.2% was due to hepatitis and 4.88% each to hydatid disease and tuberculosis. The average age of these cirrhotics was 47.05. The frequent occurring age was between 41-50 (about 41.46%). The Tibetan cirrhosis in peasants and herdsmen were 51.28%. At the first admission, 84.49% got jaundice and 90.2% got ascites. These percentages were higher respectively than 43.2% and 50.5% from the Lanzou report (P less than 0.01). Ascites was serious, portal vein expanded, but splenomegaly were merely 17.07% (normal were 82.93%). These spleens expanded just a little, macrosplenopathy was not found. PMID- 2627824 TI - [Phentolamine in cases of liver cirrhosis with bleeding from esophageal variceal rupture]. AB - The aim of this study is at establishing cirrhotic portal hypertension with common bile duct ligation in 9 mongrel dogs to measure the plasma catecholamine level. On the basis of experimental study, phentolamine, the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, was used to treat 14 patients with liver cirrhosis complicating bleeding from esophageal variceal rupture. The results had been shown that the levels of noradrenaline (NE) in both portal and inferior caval vein were increased more significantly in the cirrhotic stage than in the precirrhotic stage. The mechanism of the NE elevation might be due to increased release from enhancement of sympathetic nervous activity. Our clinical data have also been demonstrated that the effect of phentolamine on the 12 cases of variceal hemorrhage is markedly efficacious with no longer bleeding. Only 2 patients had showed no good reaction neither to phentolamine nor to pituiterin, eventually died of liver failure. It is conceivable that phentolamine has the same efficacy in treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding as pituitrin. But less side effect than the latter. PMID- 2627825 TI - [Electrophysiologic studies on reentrant ventricular arrhythmia in the late myocardial infarction period]. AB - The mechanisms of reentrant ventricular tachycardia were studied in canine post infarction model. In 15 dogs that weighed 10-20 kg, the anterior descending coronary artery was ligated. 3 to 7 days after coronary artery occlusion, the dogs were reoperated to set up a composite electrode or a patch electrode with 32 bipolar electrodes. The composite electrode was utilized to record ventricular late potentials (VLPs) from the epicardial surface of the infarction zone (IZ) and adjacent normal zone (NZ). The bipolar electrodes were used to record the epicardial isochronal maps. 16 bipolar electrodes were placed over the area of infarction and its bordering zone and the other 16 bipolar electrodes were distributed over the remaining surface of the ventricle. Reentrant ventricular tachycardias were induced by programmed electrical stimulation. The VLPs and epicardial isochronal activation were recorded by SC-16 oscillograph and computerized mapping system during sinus rhythm and programmed stimulation. The experiments showed; 1) VLPs were demonstrated in 11 of the 15 dogs (73.3%) during programmed stimulation. 2) The reentrant circuit has a characteristic figure-8 configuration in the form of two circulating wave-fronts around arcs of functional conduction block that coalesce into a slow commun reentrant wave front. One of the two synchronous circuits traveled clockwise and the other counter-clockwise. 3) VLPs represent a delayed depolarization at the ischemic myocardium, where the impulse conducts slowly in the reentrant circuit. It is clear that the present study may increase the understanding of the mechanism of ventricular arrhythmias in the late myocardial infarction period. PMID- 2627826 TI - [Clinicopathologic correlation of lupus nephritis]. AB - 26 autopsies and 29 renal biopsies of lupus nephritis were done and examined with pathohistologic methods. They consisted of minor type 2 cases (3.6%), mesangioproliferative type 11 cases (20.0%), focal type 10 cases (18.2%), diffuse proliferative type 17 cases (30.9%), membranous type 13 cases (23.6%) and proliferosclerosing type 2 cases (3.6%). It was found that varied and atypical glomerular lesions, glomerular massive immune complex deposits and wire loop formation, fibrin necrosis, microthrombi formation, arteritis, interstitial inflammation and hematoxyphil bodies formation were common lesions for lupus nephritis. These lesions were indices of activity and progression of lupus nephritis. PMID- 2627827 TI - [Leprous peripheral neuropathy: clinical observation of 11 cases and ultrastructural study of nerves in 2 cases]. AB - Two cases of tubercular form of leprosy associated with peripheral neuropathy and having biopsy of sural nerve performed, were reported. Pathologically, there was diffuse and massive infiltration of lymphocytes in the endoneurium and perineurium. The pathogenic organisms were found in the Schwann cells and endoneurium. The clinical features of leprous neuropathy were studied in 11 cases and the clinical diagnosis, pathological features, pathogenesis and treatment of this disease were discussed. PMID- 2627828 TI - [Metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in Cushing syndrome with osteoporosis]. AB - 52 patients with Cushing syndrome were studied. According to the appearance of X ray film of bones, they were divided into three groups: (I) Without osteoporosis, 12 cases (23.1%), (II) Mild osteoporosis, 17 cases (32.7%), (III) Severe osteoporosis with fractured ribs and/or wedge-shaped vertebrae, 23 cases (44.2%). It was found that the mean level of serum calcium in the patients was significantly lower than that in 94 normal subjects (mean +/- S 2.3 +/- 0.2 versus 2.4 +/- 0.1 mmol/L P less than 0.001). The mean concentrations of blood alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone in the patients were much higher than those in normal subjects (65.0 +/- 27.6 versus 42.6 +/- 15.6 IU/L P less than 0.001, 44.6 +/- 22.4 versus 20.6 +/- 8.0 pg/ml P less than 0.001 respectively). The mean level of serum 25 (OH)-D in the patients was significantly lower than that in controls (10.9 +/- 5.6 versus 16.2 +/- 4.6 ng/ml P less than 0.001). Urinary calcium excretion increased in the patients as compared with that in controls (P less than 0.01). The urinary calcium excretion correlated well with the blood total cortisol and urinary free cortisol. It is suggested that hypercalciuria might cause decrease of serum calcium. Thus the parathyroid glands were stimulated and the parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion was increased. Excess of PTH stimulates bone resorption. All of these factors are involved in the pathogenesis of osteopenia in Cushing's syndrome. PMID- 2627830 TI - Photosensitizing compounds: their chemistry, biology and clinical use. PMID- 2627829 TI - [Albendazole in the treatment of hydatidosis]. AB - Ten cases of cystic echinococcosis and ten cases of alveococcosis were treated with albendazole in dosage of 20 mg/kg/d x 30 days for 10-32 courses. All cases were followed up 10 months to 5 years (average 26 months). 7 of 10 cases of cystic echinococcosis and 7 of 10 cases of alveococcosis showed reduction in size of lesions in the liver and lung shown by B ultrasonography and chest X-ray films. 3 cases of cystic echinococcosis of liver operated during the treatment course showed that all the daughter cysts were collapsed and mostly were necrotic and liquefied. Apparently albendazole is effective for the treatment of inoperable cases of hydatidosis. PMID- 2627831 TI - Comparison of haematoporphyrin derivative and new photosensitizers. PMID- 2627832 TI - [The effects of carrying and moving heavy loads on female reproductive system and maternal function]. AB - This study attempt, to evaluate the remote effects of carrying and moving heavy loads on the reproductive system and maternal function of female workers. 364 married women employed in various types of occupation involving carrying and moving different weights were subjects inducted in this study. The workers were divided into light load group (less than 20 kg) and heavy load group (greater than 20 kg) according to weight carried by workers at each time. 267 married sales women who worked in standing posture and 183 married art and craft factory workers who worked in sitting posture were selected as control. Histories of menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth among the workers were recorded. The results showed that no significant difference of prevalence of disturbances of menstruation between weight carrying and control groups was found. However, there was a tendency to increasing of prevalence of pelvic infection with the weight carrying group, by gynecological examination. The incidence of premature birth in the heavy load group (7.0%) was higher than that of the light load group (3.4%) as well as that of the art workers, but they are not statistically significant. The position of uterine cervix was lower in the heavy load group by measuring the distances of cervix to edge of vaginal membrane. PMID- 2627833 TI - [Studies on the effects of 1,2-dichloroethane on reproductive function]. AB - The results of the studies showed that the gonadotoxicity and embryotoxicity were found in rodents exposed to concentration of DCE at 24.8 mg/m3; DCE could reach the fetus through the placenta. The investigation of workers exposed to DCE indicated that prematurities among exposed female workers and wives of exposed male workers were higher than that of control groups. Therefore the MAC of DCE (25 mg/m3) is not safe enough. PMID- 2627834 TI - [Gel chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis studies on urinary protein of mercury workers]. AB - The results showed that in mankind, the urinary mercury consisted mainly of low molecular mercury complex (LM-Hg), low molecular protein-combining mercury (LMW Pr-Hg) and high or middle molecular protein-combining mercury (HMMW-Pr-Hg) just like that found in animal experiments. The study demonstrated that the LM-Hg seemed to be helpful in refleting the detoxifying potentiality of renal tubular cell to wards mercury. The HMMW-Pr-Hg, made up mainly by albumin-combining mercury, was also a chief component of urinary mercury and showed parallel changes with the level of total urinary mercury. It suggested that the filtration through glomerulus was also an important source of urinary mercury, thus offering a new and completely different mercury excretion mechanism of kidney from classical conception. The results showed as well that the constitution of urinary protein in mercury workers might be of great variety, but the typical figure was the low molecular pattern. Because the changes in constitution of urinary protein were earlier than the changes in quantity, it was considered that the component analysis of urinary protein would be a more significant subclinical index. PMID- 2627835 TI - [5-HT contents change in peripheral blood of workers exposed to microwave and high frequency radiation]. AB - The relationship between 5-HT contents in peripheral blood and power density among workers exposed to microwave or high frequency radiation in the workshops were studied. At the same time, systems and disorder of central nervous system and cardiovascular system were examined. The results of study showed that the average 5-HT content in whole blood for high frequency radiation exposure group was lower than that of the control, but without statistical significance. Value for the microwave exposure group was significantly lower than that of the control (P less than 0.01). The 5-HT content of mechanical maintainers exposed to microwave of high frequency radiation were all lower than the contents of their corresponding control groups (P less than 0.01). But for the mechanic operators as compared with their corresponding control, no significant difference was found (P greater than 0.05). The power density exposed by the maintainers of both tested groups were all higher than that of the operators. The 5-HT contents in the whole blood were inversely proportional to the power density of microwave and high frequency groups. The incidence of neurasthenic syndrome, unsymmetric skin temperature in both limbs and hypotension was higher in the microwave and high frequency radiation groups than that in the control group. The incidence of bradycardia and some abnormal items of electrocardiograph in the microwave group was obviously greater than that in high frequency group, which may be related to different frequency exposed for these two exposure groups. Whether it is related to the contents of 5-HT needs further investigation. PMID- 2627836 TI - [The immunotoxicological basis for the revision of suspended particulates health standard]. AB - The paper presented the effects of suspended particulates and coal combustion on body's immune function, including the effects of suspended particulates (SP) injected intratracheally, and of inhalation of coal combustion emissions on animal immune function, as well as the effects of indoor coal combustion products and atmospheric pollution on the immune function of children. On the basis of these studies, the maximum daily average allowable concentration of 0.15 mg/m3 of atmospheric SP is justifiable from the immunotoxicological point of view. PMID- 2627837 TI - [The effect of ozone on the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and Fe receptor in rats]. AB - The effects of ozone (O3) on the cellular and biochemical responses in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF, and the functional activity of Fc receptor of alveolar macrophage (AM) in rats were studied. The results showed that the functional activity of AM Fc receptor was decreased in the rats when exposed to 0.08 ppm O3 which concentration is approximately equal to the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard (the second grade). As the concentration of O3 was increased, the obvious changes in the cellular composition and biochemical indices occurred. PMID- 2627838 TI - [Birth defects surveillance in eight provinces, China]. AB - Two hundred sixty-four thousand total births, born in cities and countryside of 8 provinces/metropolis of China from October 1, 1986 to September 30, 1987 were monitored for birth defects. Five leading categories of birth defects in the South and in the North of China respectively and 30 categories of congenital defects with at-birth prevalence rate greater than or equal to 1 per ten thousand were defined. Some of the findings were compared with those from the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program, USA. Factors influencing the level of birth defects prevalence rates were discussed. PMID- 2627839 TI - [An analysis of effects of fetal order and parental age on retinoblastoma]. AB - 78 cases of retinoblastoma (Rb) diagnosed at the Eye ENT Hospital, Shanghai from 1953 to 1985 were studied. The results of multiple Logistic regression analysis and conditional probability model showed that high fetal order had a moderate risk (OR = 1.28, P less than 0.05) of developing unilateral Rb. Both unilateral and bilateral cases were independent of parental ages, and no interaction could be found between fetal order and paternal or maternal age; also, the effect of fetal order was not confounded by paternal ages. PMID- 2627840 TI - [Epidemiological survey of childhood leukemia]. AB - This paper reports epidemiological data of childhood leukemia in the 14 years 1973-1986 in Qidong county, Jiangsu province. Mortality of childhood leukemia was 1.74 per 10 million, taking first place among various malignant tumors of children. The annual mortality distribution of this disease and the age and season at death showed no significant difference, But finer age grouping of death rates revealed remarkable difference. Thus, in 0-4 age-group the mortality was 2.95 per 10 million higher than the remainder. Childhood leukemia mortality by space-Time Clusters analysis showed the significance of difference lobe P greater than 0.05, suggesting that childhood leukemia mortality in space and time clusters were random. PMID- 2627841 TI - [Study on the hygienic standard of furniture for preschool children]. AB - Fourteen anthropometric measurements of 1341 children (aged 1-7 yrs.) were cross sectionally studied between May and August 1985 in six typical kindergartens in Harbin. Based on the data gained in the study and observation of their posture when children were using chairs and desks, the hygienic standard of furniture for preschool children is suggested. The 14 anthropometric measurements could be used as references for the designs of furniture for preschool children. PMID- 2627842 TI - [Dust deposition and elimination in the lung of rats inhaling coal and coalstone dusts]. AB - The deposition and elimination of dust particles from the lung are very important in the occurrence of pneumoconiosis. Two samples of coal mine dusts were examined for their deposition and elimination from the rat lung. In the present study the phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages in the transport of inhaled dust particles was determined with the method of luminol enhanced chemiluminescence. Coalstone dust was cleared from the alveolar lumen via the tracheobronchial tree more quickly than coal dust. PMID- 2627843 TI - [Distribution of under-pit noise of coal mining]. AB - Noise distribution of a medium size coal mine was studied. There were 17 kinds of machine noise sources with an additional noise due firing of the gun. 449 sets of machine were distributed at the different canes and working places. Over 3000 workers were exposed to this noise. Noise intensity level of machines was 78.5 117 dB(A), of firing-a-gun 128 dB(A), the main working group Leq exceeded criterion (90 dB(A)) by 3-20 dB(A). Coal excavating machine had a high noise intensity level. These results may have reference value for investigation of noise pollution in the coal mines of China. PMID- 2627844 TI - [The power and sample size of F tests of variance proportions in multiple regression]. AB - We would consider not only the significance level alpha, but also the power 1 beta, when making a significance test. This paper presents the method of finding the power of the significance test of a multiple regression equation, and the method of finding the necessary sample size, and has listed the power table and the sample size table for ready reference. PMID- 2627845 TI - [The effects of smoking and alcohol drinking in cerebral vascular disease etiology. Cooperative Researching Group on Cerebrovascular Diseases, PLA of Lanzhou Region]. AB - An analysis of 1,286 patients with cerebral vascular disease (CVD) from thirteen areas in Northwestern China by random sampling in 1987 is reported. Analysis by stratification for smoking and CVD; OR = 1.71 for the male smoking subjects in the alcohol group (P less than 0.01), OR = 2.40 for the female subjects (P greater than 0.05). Analysis of dose-response for smoking showed that the risk increased with the increase of the daily dosage of cigarette smoked in the male group (P less than 0.001), but there was no significant difference in the female group. Analysis for liquor-drinking showed that risk factors exist for CVD, but they do not act equally in the male and female groups. The risk was higher for those who smoke as well as drink, suggesting synergic effect. PMID- 2627846 TI - [The effects of inhalation of styrene on the neurobehavior in the offsprings]. AB - Pregnant Wistar rats were exposed to 0.60 +/- 18.9, 297.7 +/- 72.4 ppm styrene for 6 hours/day during 7 to 21 days of gestation. No significant differences among groups were found in the length of gestation or in the number of offspring delivered. Several neurobehavioral tests detected differences in the offspring exposed to styrene during gestation from controls. Even exposure to relatively low concentrations of styrene delayed some physiological developments, in addition to causing disturbances of the neuromotor coordination function (Rota Rod performance) and learning acquisition (CRF). Furthermore, large dose led to subtle changes in emotional behavior and increases in spontaneous activities in addition to the delay of neurobehavioral developments. PMID- 2627847 TI - [Effects of stopping water fluoridation on prevalence of dental caries in children]. AB - Fluoridation of public water supply in Fangcun Guangzhou was carried out from 1965 to 1983. Data of dental caries of children aged 3-6 in Fangcun and other statistical data were in May 1986 and January 1988, which were 31 months and 52 months respectively after stopping water fluoridation in October 1983. Compared with that during the water fluoridation, the result of survey in 1986 showed that prevalence of dental caries and other statistical figures increased significantly (P less than 0.01) in the 3-year-old group, but non-significantly in the groups of children aged 4-6 because they were born during the water fluoridation period. The result of survey in 1988 demonstrated significant increase of dental caries in the groups of children aged 3-5, particularly the interdental caries of front teeth which went up most noticeably, but non-significantly in the 6-year-old groups for the same reason. The results confirmed that systemic effects of fluoridation were more important and the prevention of interdental caries was best in water fluoridation programs. PMID- 2627848 TI - [Assessment of present nutrition status with weight for height method in children of Guangxi]. AB - According to the method of weight for height recommended by WHO in 1979. The present nutritional status of 9459 7-10 year old children in 5 prefectures and 3 cities of Guangxi was assessed. The results showed that the deficient nutrition rate was 19.94% and rate of obese children was 1.85%. The latter was lower than that reported by other provinces and foreign countries. The deficient nutrition rate (26.43%) of city children was higher than that of rural children (15.90%), but no statistically significant difference was found between male and female (P greater than 0.05). PMID- 2627849 TI - [A study on the effect of fermented soybean in preventing iron deficiency anemia in children]. AB - Using the fermenting technique that hydrolysis the phytate in soybeans. The absorption rate of iron was improved and a series of fermented soya foods were produced. Feeding the fermented food to 437 children for 6 months, the incidence of IDA children significantly decreased from 21.7% to 1.25%. The iron absorption rate (21.8%) in the children given the diet containing fermented soy was significantly higher than that of (14.2%) in the children given the bland diet (control group) and about the same as that in the FeSO4 group (22.48%) 58Fe. PMID- 2627850 TI - [A study of relationship between allergenic pollens and pollinosis in Dongying area]. AB - By means of continuous slide exposure for one year, we studied the relationship between the seasonal distribution of pollen in Dongying area and the pollinosis allergy condition. The pollen extract has been made use of for specific diagnosis and treatment. The results appeared satisfactory. In 500 patients with pollinosis desensitized with specific pollen antigen, the total effective rate was 89.8%. PMID- 2627851 TI - [Carcinogenicity and organic fraction of indoor inhalable particles]. AB - The inhalable particles in high and low incidence area of lung cancer in Xuanwei country were extracted with dichloromethane. The extract was separated into aliphatics, PAH, N-PAH, H-PAH, polar compounds by neutral aluminum oxide column chromatography. Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of different fraction were studied in the Ames test and Two-stage skin carcinogenesis test. The results suggested that the indoor air pollutants in high incidence area showed higher carcinogenicity, higher percentage of PAH fraction and methylated PAH. Ames test showed PAH, N-PAH, H-PAH were active fractions, the N-PAH fraction has maximal mutagenicity. Two-stage skin carcinogenesis test showed the PAH fraction has the highest carcinogenicity, followed by the N-PAH fraction. The results indicated the main carcinogenic fraction and carcinogens of indoor air pollutions in high incidence area of lung cancer in Xuanwei country. PMID- 2627852 TI - [Comparison between the optic nerve heads in low tension glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma]. AB - The optic nerve heads of 52 eyes of 42 patients with low tension glaucoma (LTG) were compared with those of 67 eyes of 47 patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). The mean of the highest intraocular pressure was 2.43 +/- 0.03 kPa (18.3 +/- 0.2 mmHg) in the LTG group, and 3.90 +/- 0.09 kPa (29.3 +/- 0.7 mmHg) in the POAG group, the difference being significant (P less than 0.001). The visual field loss was similar in the two groups, only the temporal optic disc rim in LTG was narrower than in POAG, the rim to disc ratios in other meridians and the cup to disc ratios were not significantly different between the two groups. Deep cups, striate openings on the lamina cribrosa and blood vessel overpasses were significantly more seen in POAG than in LTG Hemorrhages on the disc were more frequent in LTG than in POAG. All these findings may serve as complementary indicators in differential diagnosis between these two types of glaucoma, and support the belief that different mechanisms exist for optic nerve damage in glaucoma. PMID- 2627853 TI - [Laser treatment for pre-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy]. AB - 105 cases of pre-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy were treated with argon laser panretinal photocoagulation mainly on the mid-periphery and posteriorly 1.5-2 DD from the optic disc. The posterior fundus, i.e. the area temporal to the optic disc between the superior and inferior temporal vascular arches and 1-2 DD temporal to the macula, was spared. The treatment was completed in 3-4 sessions of 300-800 shots each. Among 80 cases (138 eyes) followed up for over 1 year, 50.7% obtained good results, with visual acuity improved by 2 lines on Snellen's chart, resorption of retinal exudates and hemorrhages, and regression of microaneurysms and neovascularization; 39.7% showed middling effects, with visual acuity up or down by 1 line and the lesions of diabetic retinopathy still visible; and 10.1% deteriorated, with visual acuity drops of over 2 lines and fundus lesions worsened or obscured by vitreous bleeding. The causes of failure were discussed. PMID- 2627854 TI - [Early abnormalities of visual functions in aging macular degeneration]. AB - Visual functions in aging macular degeneration were observed by contrast sensitivity, color vision (FM 100-hue, Panel D-15), visual field (dynamic perimetry, suprathreshold static perimetry and static perimetry profile), with simultaneous recordings of pattern electroretinogram and pattern evoked potential. The results showed that even in AMD eyes with normal visual acuity, 34.0-79.1% had abnormal visual psychophysical function or electrophysiological measurements, suggesting that many abnormalities in visual function appeared in early AMD. The factors of abnormal early visual function changes in AMD were discussed. PMID- 2627855 TI - [The clinical application of visual electro-oculography]. AB - A detailed visual electro-oculographic study is performed in patients with hereditary juvenile retinoschisis, Stargardt's disease, senile macular degeneration, surgically reattached retinal detachment, and primary retinitis pigmentosa. The study defined the extent of functional damage of the RPE photoreceptor complex, elucidated the visual electro-oculographic characteristics, and explored the practical value of visual electro-oculogram in the diagnosis and research of the mentioned diseases. The study also confirmed that the criteria the authors proposed for the assessment of visual electro oculogram with Arden's ratio and the light peak potential was superior to the use of Arden's ratio alone, as it analyzed the visual electro-oculogram in an all round way and markedly raised the rate of clinical diagnosis. PMID- 2627856 TI - [Clinical observation of cryotherapy in 242 cases of ocular and facial neoplasms]. AB - 242 patients of ocular and facial hemangioma, nevi, papilloma, etc. were treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy which satisfactorily removed the neoplasms in 97.2% of the cases, leaving essentially no scars, and the rest (2.8%) were improved. Pathological examinations confirmed that the neoplasms had been necrotized. There were no relapses in 97.7% of the cases after a follow-up of over 5 years. The author's experience was summarized in 9 points for good results of the treatment. PMID- 2627857 TI - [Squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva]. AB - Squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva is the most frequent nonpigmented malignant conjunctival tumor and often misdiagnosed. Chronic unilateral keratoconjunctivitis should be biopsied to rule out malignancy. The authors report 11 cases treated by complete excision with biopsy. 7 cases were followed up 3 months to 7 years without relapse. Beta-irradiation is recommended for cases suspected of incomplete excision. The incidence, pathological classification, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and lymphatic metastasis of the disease have been discussed and the significance of periodical follow-up emphasized. PMID- 2627858 TI - [Pathological analysis of 100 cases of severe deep stromal herpetic keratitis]. AB - Based on the pathological observation of 100 cases of severe deep stromal herpetic keratitis, the author suggested the classification of the disease, according to the nature and progression of the chronic inflammation, into 2 categories of the acute active stage (40%) and chronic progressive stage (60%), which were in agreement with the clinical manifestations and also satisfactorily explained the pathogenetic basis of the clinical types. Inflammatory granuloma appeared in 21% of the cases, indicating that the corneal lesions were still in progress. PMID- 2627859 TI - [The inheritance of congenital nasolacrimal duct stenosis]. AB - The incidence of congenital nasolacrimal duct stenosis in 587 neonates surveyed was found to be 0.17%, while a familial investigation of 100 consecutive patients revealed the incidence of the first, second and third degree relatives were respectively 2.32%, 0.95%, and 0.45%; the obvious differences of incidence (P less than 0.05) indicated an apparent genetic involvement. 86 of the 100 patients were sporadic, and the pedigree study of 14 patients with positive family history did not produce sufficient evidence of autosomal dominant, recessive, or sex linked inheritance. In conclusion, the mode of inheritance of the disease was thought to be multigenic and the inheritability calculated to be 58%. PMID- 2627860 TI - [Experimental study on doxorubicin as an adjunct to glaucoma surgery]. AB - 11 drugs were screened in vitro for their inhibitory effect on rabbit subconjunctival fibroblasts. Doxorubicin was further observed in animal models of subconjunctival scars caused by imbedded silk thread for its inhibitory action in vivo. Doxorubicin was found to be effective, the ID50 being 0.007 mg/L. The average thickness of subconjunctival fibroblasts around the thread in the instillation group and the injection group was 11.1 +/- 1.14 microns and 3.59 +/- 0.65 microns respectively, both significantly thinner than that in the control group, 26.98 +/- 1.86 microns. When 0.08 mg of tritiated doxorubicin was injected subconjunctivally, the concentration in aqueous humor was over the ID50 in vitro, while the concentration in vitreous did not exceed the toxic level. PMID- 2627861 TI - [Experimental study on transplantation of tissue-cultured human corneal endothelium]. AB - The Descemet's membrane of rabbit corneas denuded of endothelium were seeded with tissue cultured human corneal endothelial cells, which were then transplanted onto rabbit corneas. Postoperative slit lamp examination and ultrasonic pachymetry were performed, and histopathology and immunofluorescein staining of the transplants were studied 4 of 7 transplants grew clear rapidly and the corneal thickness returned to normal within 2-3 weeks. The 3 others were primary donor failures. 2 of the 4 clear transplants later showed phenomenon of immune rejection. The 2 control transplants with no endothelial cell transplantation did not clear up at all. The study demonstrated that after transplantation, tissue cultured human corneal endothelial cells were able to adhere firmly onto Descemet's membrane with normal appearance and physiological function. Also, xenogenic corneal endothelial transplantation could elicit severe immune rejection. PMID- 2627862 TI - [An epidemiologic survey of cataract in Shunyi County, Beijing]. AB - The report presents the findings of an epidemiologic study of cataract in Shunyi County, Beijing, conducted in 1985, revealing that the general prevalence of senile cataract was 5.99%, and in people over 40 years of age, 18.58%; the rate obviously increased with age. Cataract accounted for 14.54% of the blind and 20.51% of the low-vision. The diagnostic criteria for senile cataract in surveys and the strategy for the prevention and treatment of senile cataract are recommended. PMID- 2627864 TI - Issues of reimbursement. PMID- 2627863 TI - [The methodology and focus in blindness prevention from an epidemiologic point of view]. AB - The present main causes of blindness in China are senile cataract, primary glaucoma' trachoma and corneal infections, and 80% of the blind are over 50 years of age, 75% become blind before 10 or after 50 years of age, and among 40% of the blind, the interval between visual loss in both eyes was over 1 year. The authors are of the opinion that the focus of efforts for blindness prevention should be directed to patients over 50 years of age, and particularly those of unilateral blindness, so as to prevent them from becoming bilaterally blind. PMID- 2627865 TI - How enthusiastically should the use of monounsaturated fats be encouraged? AB - The Garg study diet supplied 50% of the calories from fat (33% from monounsaturated fat), which eliminates much of the bulk from the diet. Substituting monounsaturates for carbohydrates in the diet translates into giving up 120 calories from a carbohydrate source (very large potato, 1 1/2 slices of bread, 1 cup of cereal, etc) for a tablespoon of olive oil. Somehow that doesn't seem like a good exchange. Abbott et al substituted complex carbohydrates for saturated fat in the diet and accomplished the same result as Coulston et al with a low-carbohydrate (40%), moderate-fat (40%) diet. The American Diabetes Association suggested that if diabetes was poorly controlled and hypertriglyceridemia a problem, monounsaturates might be useful to maintain caloric balance. However, in light of the high incidence of obesity in persons with NIDDM and recent studies on the ease of dietary fat storage in adipose tissue, should fat of any kind, including monounsaturated fats, be substituted for carbohydrates in the diet of persons with diabetes? PMID- 2627866 TI - Introduction to health insurance and reimbursement issues: a checklist of benefits. PMID- 2627867 TI - Evaluation of two approaches to educating elementary schoolteachers about insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. AB - Two approaches to better educate elementary schoolteachers about children with diabetes were tested. One group of teachers was given a program consisting of a video, pamphlets, and a question-and-answer session. The second group was informed that these materials were available to them in the media center. A 22 point questionnaire was used before intervention and 8 to 10 weeks later. Although both groups showed significant improvement compared with the control group, the improvement was slight and not felt to be clinically satisfactory. We conclude that mass education of elementary schoolteachers is ineffective and that other approaches need to be developed. PMID- 2627868 TI - A hospital-based day camp for children with diabetes. AB - This paper describes the planning and implementation of a one-day program of recreation and education for children with diabetes that offers the same sort of fun, peer interaction, and education that the children would get in a summer day camp. The program's curriculum is based on the intrinsic nature of 6- to 11-year old children--present-oriented thinking, increasing independence, and greater time spent with peers. Consideration is given to the sequence of activities, safety and liability issues, promotion of the camp, and cost. Such one-day camps offer children with diabetes a better understanding of their disease, along with valuable peer interaction and good fun. PMID- 2627869 TI - The effect of social learning intervention on metabolic control of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in adolescents. AB - This paper reports the results of an experimental study modeled after a study conducted by Kaplan et al. The hypothesis tested was: Adolescents who receive a social learning intervention (SLI) will show greater improvement in metabolic control of their diabetes than will adolescents who receive only traditional diabetes instruction. Thirty-four adolescents between the ages of 12 and 16 who attended a midwestern camp were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups attended a daily 1-hour teaching session about diabetes. Later each day, the experimental group received an SLI consisting of role modeling to help the subjects circumvent peer pressure. To determine metabolic control, HbA1 values were determined before and 3 1/2 months after the intervention. The control group showed no significant difference in HbA1 values, while the experimental group showed a decrease in metabolic control. PMID- 2627870 TI - Games: teaching strategy for professionals. PMID- 2627871 TI - [Endocarditis after extracorporeal circulation surgery]. AB - Between January, 1976 and April 1988, 1279 patients underwent open-heart operation in Ren Ji Hospital. Thirty three patients were complicated by infective endocarditis postoperatively, an incidence of 2.58%. Medical treatment was carried out in 29 cases and thirteen were cured. In another three patients of valve prosthetic endocarditis, replacement of prosthetic valve was necessary for their cure. In our series, Gram negative bacilli had been proved by blood culture, autopsy and arterial thrombi in thirteen patients and candida in four, mixed infection in five and staphylococcus aureus in only one case. One should not rely on positive blood culture for the diagnosis. Echocardiographic studies are helpful to early diagnosis and proper treatment. The presence of vegetation or signs of prosthetic valve failure are strong indication for reoperation. In prevention, in addition to strict aseptic technic in the operating room, special emphasis should be focused on the preventive administration of sensitive antibiotics against hospital borne pathogens. All indwelling catheters in arteries and veins, tracheal tubes and urethral catheters should be removed after 72 hours. Efforts to prevent infection after reoperation are important measures for the prevention of infective endocarditis after open-heart operation. PMID- 2627872 TI - [The accuracy of locating the accessory pathway before and during surgery in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome]. AB - The accuracy of locating the accessory pathways (APs) before and during operation in the operated 32 patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) was reported. There were 27 cases with the single AP, in which 17 had left-lateral free-wall pathways, 6 had left-posterior free-wall pathways, 2 had posterior septal pathways, 1 had right free-wall pathway and 1 had anterior septal pathway, and 5 cases with double APs. Taking the double APs as a single apparent AP, the accuracy was 87% (20/23) by electrocardiograms (exclusive of 9 concealed WPW), 94% (30/32) by electrophysiologic studies (EPS) and 97% (31/32) by epicardial mappings (ECM). It was difficult to discover and locate the double APs. For the 10 APs of 5 cases with double APs, the accuracy was 60% (6/10) by EPS and 70% (7/10) by ECM. PMID- 2627873 TI - [A quantitative evaluation of rheumatism activity in chronic rheumatic heart disease]. AB - The clinical data of 185 patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) proved by pathological biopsies were recorded before operations, and analysed using the stepwise regression analysis of multi-factors (SRAM). A mathematical formula to judge the activities of rheumatism in RHD was applied. The multi-factors were put in order according to their importance in effect: progressive reduction of cardiac function (age less than 30), sustained atrial fibrillation, recent changes in heart murmur or onset of a new murmur, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, speed-up of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and acute pulmonary edema (age less than 30). 310 cases of RHD were tested and verified by this formula, 85.5% of them were diagnosed correctly in comparison with Aschoff's bodies observed by pathological biopsies in left cardiac atrial appendages. All cases were operated and confirmed by pathological examination. The presence of Aschoff's bodies in atrial appendages was considered the index of active rheumatism pathologically. PMID- 2627874 TI - [Therapeutic effects of nifedipine in pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart disease]. AB - The hemodynamic effects of nifedipine in 15 patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) secondary to congenital heart disease (CHD) were evaluated. The basal hemodynamic parameters were obtained before medication. The parameters were also obtained 60 minutes and 2 months after taking nifedipine. After treatment, PAPs were decreased 18% and 15% (P less than 0.01), PAPd 21% and 24% (P less than 0.01), PAPm both 19% (P less than 0.01), respectively. TPR were reduced 33% and 30% (P less than 0.01). SAP decreased slightly after 60 minutes. HR, CO and CI remained unchanged. Of the 10 patients suffering from hyperkinetic PH, 8 patients underwent closure of defects after treatment of nifedipine. The above results suggest that nifedipine is effective for patients with PH secondary to CHD. It acted as an antihypertensive agent in patients with CDH associated with hyperkinetic PH before operation. PMID- 2627875 TI - [Pacemaker syndrome and retrograde ventriculoatrial conduction]. AB - 19 cases of pacemaker syndrome were observed in 121 patients implanted with VVI pacemakers. The main manifestations of pacemaker syndrome were dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, hypotension and congestive cardiac failure after permanent ventricular pacing. The incidence of pacemaker syndrome was 20% in patients with sick sinus syndrome and 13.2% with A-V block. Pacemaker ECG showed retrograde ventriculoatrial conduction in 25 of 121 cases. Among these patients, 14 (56%) had pacemaker syndrome, while only 5 of 96 cases without ventriculoatrial conduction had this syndrome, so the incidence of the two groups were quite different, P less than 0.0001. The frequency of ventriculoatrial conduction in patients with sick sinus syndrome was higher than in patients with A-V block (16/45 vs 9/76, P less than 0.05). The electrophysiologic study were performed in 17 cases before PM implantation. 3 cases had 170-190 ms ventriculoatrial 1:1 conduction. Retrograde ventriculoatrial conduction in pacemaker ECG were present during ventricular pacing in all of them. PMID- 2627876 TI - [Comparative study of transesophageal atrial pacing and intracardiac electrophysiology in patients with supraventricular tachycardia]. AB - The diagnostic value of transesophageal atrial pacing in supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) has been discussed according to the comparison of the results of intracardiac and transesophageal electrophysiological study. Some quantitative criteria for the differential diagnosis of atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia (RT-AVN) and atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (RT-AP) has been proposed. We found that RT-AVN and RT-AP could be separated by noninvasive transesophageal atrial pacing. We also suggested that induced SVT would be RT-AVN if (1) SR conductive curve was not continuous and SR jump greater than 70 ms, (2) AV interval less than 60 ms, and it would be RT-AP if (1) SR curve was continuous and there was no SR jump phenomenon, (2) VA interval greater than 100 ms. Thus, transesophageal atrial pacing was very helpful in distinguishing the mechanisms of SVT and could provide a simple clinical cardiac electrophysiological procedure in diagnosing SVTs. PMID- 2627877 TI - [The gap phenomena during ventriculoatrial conduction in man]. AB - Eleven patients with retrograde gaps by conventional electro-physiological studies were reported. Most of the patients were studied because of arrhythmia. Electrical activity of the His bundle, atrium and routine ECG were recorded simultaneously. The excitability and characteristics in retrograde conduction were observed, using the programmed ventricular stimulus. The results of this study showed that two types of retrograde gaps occurred, Type I: The site of proximal delay was within the His Purkinje system (HPS), and the site of distal block was in the A-V node. Three of the 11 cases were of this type. Type II: Both the site of proximal delay and distal block are within the HPS in eight of the 11 cases. Comparing the data with those from our lab about the gap phenomena during atrioventricular conduction in 10 cases, it was found that in the gap phenomena of A-V conduction, the site of proximal delay is usually within the A-V node, whereas the site of distal block was in the HPS. In the gap phenomena of V-A conduction the site of distal block might be either above or below the His bundle, but the site of proximal delay was only occurred in the HPS. So retrograde gaps were more common than antegrade gaps depending upon the ratio of the functional refractory periods of two horizontal region in the A-V (or V-A) conduction system. PMID- 2627878 TI - [Measuring the right heart output by pulsed Doppler echocardiography]. PMID- 2627879 TI - [Diagnosis of complete transposition of great arteries by 2-dimensional echocardiography]. PMID- 2627880 TI - [Observations on the effect of exercise, propranolol and atropine on Q-T interval and QTa under esophageal atrial pacing]. PMID- 2627881 TI - [An experimental study on delayed calcification of bovine pericardial valve using Triton X-100]. PMID- 2627882 TI - [Protection from anoxic myocardial injury in fetal mouse heart culture by selenium]. AB - Fetal hearts taken from the 17 day pregnant mice were cultured in minimum essential medium (MEM) + 0.5 ug ml of Na2SeO, and in MEM alone with oxygen for 24 h, and then the hearts in groups were exposed to 15, 20, 30, 40 min, 1 h, 3h and long term of anoxia respectively. The results showed that the survival and beating of the cultured fetal mouse hearts with anoxia were prolonged by selenium. Using lanthanum as a marker, we found that after 20 min of anoxia, this electroopaque marker remained extracellular in the selenium-treated hearts, however, intracellular lanthanum could be found in the control hearts, entering selectively into the swelling mitochondria. During the same period of anoxia, ACPase reaction products could be only found in the lysosomes and in the Golgi complex in the selenium-treated hearts, but a lot of reaction products deposited in cytoplasm in the control hearts. By electron microscopy, at 40 min of anoxia, there were swelling of mitochondria, with cristae partially lost and plasma membrane changed and so on. Generally normal ultrastructure was observed in the selenium-treated hearts at 40 min of anoxia. The cytoplasm was rich in ribosomes and the sarcoplasmic reticulum with a rough face. There events showed that cellular membrane and membrane-bound organelles appeared to be well protected target by the selenium. Therefore, selenium may play an important role in the synthesis of protein. PMID- 2627883 TI - Preparation and characterization of cell-free protein synthesis systems from oocytes and eggs of Xenopus laevis. AB - During the maturation of the oocytes of the frog Xenopus laevis, the rate of protein synthesis shows a twofold increase. Studies of the mechanisms involved in this stimulation have been seriously limited by the lack of an active cell-free translation system. We have now prepared such systems from oocytes, progesterone matured oocytes and eggs of Xenopus laevis by induction of lysis by centrifugation of whole cells. The extracts are highly active in incorporation of labelled amino acids and, in the progesterone-matured and egg extracts, a substantial proportion of this is due to reinitiation on endogenous mRNA, as shown by the use of inhibitors. The increased rate of protein synthesis previously observed in intact oocytes following progesterone-induced maturation is reflected in the relative activities of the extracts. The difference in activity is not due to the presence of a dominant inhibitor of translation in the extracts from unstimulated oocytes. Labelling studies with initiator tRNA ([35S]Met-tRNAf) indicate a higher concentration of 43S preinitiation complexes in the extracts from unstimulated oocytes, suggesting an impairment of initiation of translation at or after the mRNA-binding step. Extracts from both oocytes and progesterone-matured oocytes translated endogenous mRNAs to give products ranging over a wide spectrum of molecular weight. However, significant translation of exogenous (globin) mRNA required the presence of reticulocyte postribosomal supernatant, suggesting that one or more factors required for mRNA recruitment is limiting in these extracts. PMID- 2627884 TI - Identification of genes that interact with glp-1, a gene required for inductive cell interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans. AB - The glp-1 gene functions in two inductive cellular interactions and in development of the embryonic hypodermis of C. elegans. We have isolated six mutations as recessive suppressors of temperature-sensitive (ts) mutations of glp 1. By mapping and complementation tests, we found that these suppressors are mutations of known dumpy (dpy) genes; dpy genes are required for development of normal body shape. Based on this result, we asked whether mutations previously isolated in screens for mutants defective in body shape could also suppress glp 1(ts). From these tests, we learned that unselected mutations of eight genes required for normal C. elegans morphogenesis, including the four already identified, suppress glp-1(ts). All of these suppressors rescue all three mutant phenotypes of glp-1(ts) (defects in embryonic induction of pharyngeal tissue, in embryonic hypodermis development, and in induction of germline proliferation). However, they do not rescue putative glp-1 null mutants and therefore do not bypass the requirement for glp-1 in development. In the light of current ideas about the molecular nature of the glp-1 and suppressor gene products, we propose an interaction between the glp-1 protein and components of the extracellular matrix and speculate that this interaction may impose spatial constraints on the decision between mitosis and meiosis in the germline. PMID- 2627885 TI - Spatial and temporal variation in the structure of the basal lamina in embryonic grasshopper limbs during pioneer neurone outgrowth. AB - The pioneer neurones of the embryonic grasshopper limb use the basal lamina underlying the limb ectoderm as a substratum over which to grow from the periphery to the CNS (Anderson & Tucker, 1988). In this paper we use transmission electron microscopy to describe the structure of this substratum before, during, and after the time of axon navigation. The organization of the basal lamina varies considerably in different regions and at different times of development of the embryonic limbs, and is unlike that of the fully developed limb at the time of hatching. We suggest that this spatial and temporal variation could play a role in regulating the direction of outgrowth of pioneer neurones. PMID- 2627886 TI - Systematic elimination of parthenogenetic cells in mouse chimeras. AB - The developmental potential of primitive ectoderm cells lacking paternal chromosomes was investigated by examining the distribution of parthenogenetic cells in chimeras. Using GPI-1 allozymes as marker, parthenogenetic cells were detected in most organs and tissues in adult chimeras. However, these cells were under severe selective pressure compared with cells from normal fertilized embryos. In the majority of chimeras, parthenogenetic cells in individual animals were observed in a limited number of tissues and organs and, even in these instances, their contribution was substantially reduced. Nevertheless, parthenogenetic cells were detected more consistently in some organs, especially the brain, heart, kidney and spleen. In contrast, there was apparently a systematic selection against parthenogenetic cells in some tissues, most notably in skeletal muscle, liver and pancreas. These results suggest that paternally derived genes are probably required not only for the development of extraembryonic structures but also for subsequent development of embryonic tissues derived from the primitive ectoderm lineage. PMID- 2627887 TI - Muscle-specific (CArG) and serum-responsive (SRE) promoter elements are functionally interchangeable in Xenopus embryos and mouse fibroblasts. AB - The Xenopus cardiac actin gene contains four copies of a promoter element, the CArG box, which is conserved amongst striated muscle actin genes and is essential for tissue-specific expression in the developing Xenopus embryo. Our aim is to identify embryo and muscle proteins that interact with the CArG box as a step towards understanding the molecular basis of this developmentally regulated gene expression. The CArG box shares some sequence similarity with the Serum Response Element (SRE), which mediates the transcriptional activation by serum of genes such as c-fos and cytoskeletal actin. We show here that the most proximal cardiac actin CArG box is recognized by the same binding activity as the cytoskeletal actin SRE in nuclear extracts from both Xenopus embryos and mammalian muscle cells. This activity is indistinguishable from the previously characterized HeLa cell SRE-binding activity, Serum Response Factor (SRF). Importantly, we extend these in vitro studies to demonstrate that the CArG box and SRE are functionally interchangeable, both in Xenopus embryos and mouse fibroblasts. This implies that the CArG box and SRE can bind the same protein in vivo, as well as in vitro. Our results identify an SRF-like protein as a CArG box-binding factor and we discuss the implication that a common mechanism may be utilized in both muscle-specific gene expression and serum-responsive transcription. PMID- 2627888 TI - Consequences of somite manipulation on the pattern of dorsal root ganglion development. AB - We have investigated dorsal root ganglion formation, in the avian embryo, as a function of the composition of the paraxial somitic mesoderm. Three or four contiguous young somites were unilaterally removed from chick embryos and replaced by multiple cranial or caudal half-somites from quail embryos. Migration of neural crest cells and formation of DRG were subsequently visualized both by the HNK-1 antibody and the Feulgen nuclear stain. At advanced migratory stages (as defined by Teillet et al. Devl Biol. 120, 329-347 1987), neural crest cells apposed to the dorsolateral faces of the neural tube were distributed in a continuous, nonsegmented pattern that was indistinguishable on unoperated sides and on sides into which either half of the somites had been grafted. In contrast, ventrolaterally, neural crest cells were distributed segmentally close to the neural tube and within the cranial part of each normal sclerotome, whereas they displayed a nonsegmental distribution when the graft involved multiple cranial half-somites or were virtually absent when multiple caudal half-somites had been implanted. In spite of the identical dorsal distribution of neural crest cells in all embryos, profound differences in the size and segmentation of DRG were observed during gangliogenesis (E4-9) according to the type of graft that had been performed. Thus when the implant consisted of compound cranial half-somites, giant, coalesced ganglia developed, encompassing the entire length of the graft. On the other hand, very small, dorsally located ganglia with irregular segmentation were seen at the level corresponding to the graft of multiple caudal half-somites. We conclude that normal morphogenesis of dorsal root ganglia depends upon the craniocaudal integrity of the somites. PMID- 2627889 TI - Control of peripheral glial cell proliferation: enteric neurons exert an inhibitory influence on Schwann cell and enteric glial cell DNA synthesis in culture. AB - Neuronal membranes from rat dorsal root ganglia provide a mitogenic signal to cultured Schwann cells and it has been suggested this is an important factor in regulating Schwann cell numbers during development. In this study, the influence of enteric neurons on the DNA synthesis of both Schwann cells and enteric glia has been investigated as well as the effect of axonal membrane fractions (axolemma) on enteric glia. The proliferation rate of rat Schwann cells and enteric glia was assessed in culture using [3H]thymidine uptake and autoradiography in combination with immunolabelling to identify cell types. When purified rat Schwann cells were co-cultured with guinea pig enteric neurons, their DNA synthesis rate was reduced compared with control cultures of pure Schwann cells or Schwann cells not close to neurites or neuronal cell bodies. Nevertheless, in accordance with previous findings that sensory neurons stimulate Schwann cell division, these Schwann cells increased their DNA synthesis rate when in contact with neurites from purified guinea pig or adult rat dorsal root ganglion neurons and on exposure to bovine axolemmal fractions. The enteric neurons also suppressed the DNA synthesis of enteric glia in co-cultures of purified enteric neurons and enteric glia, while bovine axolemma stimulated their DNA synthesis. These results indicate that a mitotic inhibitory signal is associated with enteric neurons and can exert its effect on both Schwann cells and enteric glia, and that enteric glia, like Schwann cells, are stimulated to divide by axolemmal fractions. It thus seems possible that during development glial cell numbers in the peripheral nervous system may be controlled by both positive and negative regulators of cell growth. PMID- 2627890 TI - Expression of multiple heparin-binding growth factor species by murine embryonal carcinoma and embryonic stem cells. AB - Culture medium conditioned by P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells contains potent mitogenic activity which is markedly potentiated when the medium is conditioned in the presence of heparin. Fractionation of P19 medium conditioned in the presence of heparin reveals the existence of two biochemically distinct growth factor species both of which exhibit high affinity for immobilised heparin and significant activity as amphibian mesoderm-inducing agents. One of the species is recovered as a single polypeptide of apparent Mr = 15,000. This molecule is immunologically related to the protein product of the human K-FGF proto-oncogene. Transcripts derived from the murine K-FGF gene are also expressed by both differentiated and undifferentiated EC cells and embryonic stem cells. The second heparin-binding growth factor is recovered as a complex of four polypeptides, the largest of which has an apparent Mr = 17,000. This agent is immunologically and biochemically distinct from both acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor as well as K-FGF, and represents the predominant mitogenic activity in EC-cell conditioned medium. PMID- 2627891 TI - Pair-rule expression of a cell surface molecule during gastrulation of the moth embryo. AB - The TN1 monoclonal antibody recognizes a cell surface epitope that is present on subsets of growing axons in the developing nervous system of moth embryos. This antigen is also found in a variety of other developing tissues: in all cases its expression is cell-specific and transient. Here we show that the first expression of the TN1 epitope in moth embryos occurs specifically on the surfaces of mesodermal cells during gastrulation, and that it is limited to alternate segments. Creation of this pair-rule pattern of expression includes indications of an initial 4-segment periodicity, and transient immunoreactivity in 'off' segments. The alternating pattern is most dramatic at the end of gastrulation. It changes rapidly such that, during organogenesis, the TN1 antigen(s) is expressed in many developing tissues of all segments, with little segment-specific variation. Immunolabelling of living embryos under culture conditions demonstrated that the TN1 epitope(s) is associated with cell surfaces, both during neurogenesis and during the earlier period of gastrulation. These observations indicate that pair-rule gene functions operate in insects other than Diptera and suggest that cell surface molecules may be utilized early in insect embryogenesis in the initial establishment of large body regions. PMID- 2627892 TI - Epigenetic and genetic factors affect transgene methylation imprinting. AB - In some lines of transgenic mice, the methylation of MspI sites within or adjacent to the transgene locus is affected by the sex of the parent from which the transgene is inherited. These differences are consistent with a role for DNA methylation in genome imprinting. In a previous report, we noted that in one such line, all offspring of females exhibited hypermethylation of the transgene while only some offspring of males carried a hypomethylated transgene. In this report, we provide evidence that this phenomenon is controlled by at least two factors, one of which acts in cis and is dependent on the transgene locus, and one of which acts in trans and is supplied by the maternal genome. We also provide evidence that there are genetic differences between inbred mouse strains in the trans-acting factor. PMID- 2627893 TI - The appearance of neural and glial cell markers during early development of the nervous system in the amphibian embryo. AB - Cell-type-specific antibodies have been used to follow the appearance of neurones and glia in the developing nervous system of the amphibian embryo. Differentiated neurones were recognized with antibodies against neurofilament protein while glial cells were identified with antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The appearance of neurones containing the neurotransmitters 5 hydroxytryptamine and dopamine has been charted also. In Xenopus, neurofilament protein in developing neurones was observed occasionally at NF stage 21 and was present reliably in the neural tube and in caudal regions of the brain at stage 23. Antibodies to the low molecular weight fragment of the neurofilament triplet recognized early neurones most reliably. Radial glial cells, identified with GFAP antibody, were identified from stage 23 onwards in the neural tube and caudal regions of the brain. In the developing spinal cord, GFAP staining was apparent throughout the cytoplasm of each radial glial cell. In the brain, the peripheral region only of each glial cell contained GFAP. By stage 36, immunohistochemically recognizable neurones and glia were present throughout the nervous system. In the axolotl, by stage 36 the pattern of neural and glial staining was identical to that observed in Xenopus. GFAP staining of glial cells was obvious at stage 23, although neuronal staining was clearly absent. This implies that glial cells differentiate before neurones. 5-HT-containing cell bodies were first observed in caudal regions of the developing brain on either side of the midline at stage 26. An extensive network of 5-HT neurones appeared gradually, with a substantial subset crossing to the opposite side of the brain through the developing optic chiasma. 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine prevented the appearance of 5-HT. Depletion of 5 HT had little effect on development or swimming behaviour. Dopamine-containing neurones in the brain first differentiated at stage 35-36 and gradually increased in number up to stage 45-47, the latest stage examined. The functional role of 5 HT- or dopamine-containing neurones remains to be elucidated. We conclude that cell-type-specific antibodies can be used to identify neurones and glial cells at early times during neural development and may be useful tools in circumstances where functional identification is difficult. PMID- 2627894 TI - Regionalisation of the mouse embryonic ectoderm: allocation of prospective ectodermal tissues during gastrulation. AB - The regionalisation of cell fate in the embryonic ectoderm was studied by analyzing the distribution of graft-derived cells in the chimaeric embryo following grafting of wheat germ agglutinin--gold-labelled cells and culturing primitive-streak-stage mouse embryos. Embryonic ectoderm in the anterior region of the egg cylinder contributes to the neuroectoderm of the prosencephalon and mesencephalon. Cells in the distal lateral region give rise to the neuroectoderm of the rhombencephalon and the spinal cord. Embryonic ectoderm at the archenteron and adjacent to the middle region of the primitive streak contributes to the neuroepithelium of the spinal cord. The proximal-lateral ectoderm and the ectodermal cells adjacent to the posterior region of the primitive streak produce the surface ectoderm, the epidermal placodes and the cranial neural crest cells. Some labelled cells grafted to the anterior midline are found in the oral ectodermal lining, whereas cells from the archenteron are found in the notochord. With respect to mesodermal tissues, ectoderm at the archenteron and the distal lateral region of the egg cylinder gives rise to rhombencephalic somitomeres, and the embryonic ectoderm adjacent to the primitive streak contributes to the somitic mesoderm and the lateral mesoderm. Based upon results of this and other grafting studies, a map of prospective ectodermal tissues in the embryonic ectoderm of the full-streak-stage mouse embryo is constructed. PMID- 2627895 TI - [Study of the tissue localization of carcinoembryonic antigen in tumors of the colonic mucosa]. AB - The results from a immunohistochemical study on monoclonal CEA in 21 colorectal tumours and in 2 adenomas with various degree of dysplasia are described. CEA becomes positive slightly with predominance of its membranous localization in adenomas without dysplasia and with dysplasia of I degree. CEA is manifested by more intensive reaction and although rarely it is found diffusely in the cytoplasm in dysplasia of II degree. CEA is found in a large part of tumourous cells and is mainly of cytoplasmic type in dysplasia of III degree. In all examined carcinomas there is positive reaction of CEA, which is distinguished with intensity and larger distribution. In 50% of patients with carcinoma CEA is found also in stromal cells, which is interpreted as a manifestation of invasive properties of the tumours. The authors find positive correlation between the degree of dysplasia and the type of distribution of CEA. In conclusion the significance of tissue discovery of CEA in adenomas of the rectum as an additional method for determination of the exact degree of dysplasia is emphasized. PMID- 2627896 TI - [Alpha-amylase polymorphism. 1. A comparative study of alpha-amylase Hp and Gm]. AB - Individual phenotypes, phenotypical and genetic frequencies of the alpha-amylase enzyme have been established by means of populational genetic researches. The most common phenotype is AmylA Amyl2A (85.15%) followed by AmylA Amyl2A 2B (6.27%), AmylAIB Amyl2A (5.37%), Amyl IA Amyl2A 2B (2.15%), AmylA Amyl2B (0.53%), AmylC Amyl2B (0.35%), AmylC Amyl2A 2B (0.18%). The difference between the observed and theoretically expected phenotypes of Amy, Hp and M Gm(1) is insignificant. The examined contingent from the Bulgarian population is found to be in genetic balance. Statistical analysis of the reuo results does not prove a genetic link between Amy, Hp and Gm (1). PMID- 2627897 TI - [Experimental pharmacologic and morphologic study of new platinum complexes]. AB - Antineoplastic and toxic properties of two newly synthesized complexes of platinum (II)--with isovaleric acid and with cystine, were studied on mice with ascitic tumour of Ehrlich. The studies were compared with cis diaminodichloroplatinum (II) (cisplatinum). Data were obtained for high antineoplastic activity and inhibiting influence of the synthesis of DNA of cisplatinum. There was therapeutic effect on the animals with ascitic tumour of Ehrlich after usage of cisplatinum. There was therapeutic effect on the animals with ascitic tumour of Ehrlich after usage of the complex of platinum with isovaleric acid and no effect after application of the complex with cystine. Information was obtained by histological examination for reduction in organic toxicity of the newly synthesized compounds against renal tissue. The necessity from multiple parametric strategy of the experiment, creating a possibility for logic direction of the investigation according to the aim-search for metallic complexes with reduced toxicity, is confirmed by the conducted study. PMID- 2627898 TI - [Study of three barbiturate compounds using the Porsolt test]. AB - The effects of newly synthetized hydroxylominic barbiturate NV-7, phenobarbital and pentobarbital, administered intraperitoneally, were studied on mice by the test of Porsolt. The obtained results were compared with the results, obtained by the test of rota-rod. There was prolongation of the time for immobility of the animals e.g. the effect of "despair" of the three examined barbiturates. The question is discussed whether the observed effect is due to the axyolytic action, established in the preceding experiments, or to the sedative and anticonvulsive actions of barbiturates, investigated before. PMID- 2627899 TI - [Localization of receptors for phytospermoagglutinin from Arum maculatum on human spermatogenic cells and spermatozoa]. AB - Our precious studies showed that delipidized water-saline extract from roots of Arum maculatum (AM) contained lectin-phytospermoagglutinins (PSA), which caused agglutination, manifested by the type of a tail with a tail and a head with a tail. This extract we conjugated with fluorescein-isothiocyanate and by means of the conjugate we studied the localization of receptor molecules for PSA on the plasmalemma of human spermatogenic cells and human spermatozoa, obtained from the testis, epididymis and ejaculate. It was established that receptor molecules for PSA were distributed irregularly on the plasmalemma of spermatozoa, that the basic part of these molecules were synthesized on spermatogenic cells and that ejaculate spermatozoa adsorbed such molecules from the sperm plasma. PMID- 2627900 TI - [Study of the biological properties of isolectin from Arum maculatum]. AB - The delipidized water-saline extract of roots from Arum maculatum contains lectin phytospermoagglutinins (PSA), which consist of two forms, isolectins--PSA1 and PSA2. The capability of these isolectins to agglutinate spermatozoa and erythrocytes and to precipitate serum of a frog, a rabbit and man was studied. It was established that PSA1 interacted with a receptor specific for human spermatozoa, but PSA2--with a receptor probably common for human and rabbit spermatozoa. But this mean that these isolectins could be used for isolation of spermatozoa antigens, which have no blood group specificity and are not found in human biological fluids. PMID- 2627901 TI - [The effect of vitaton on a model of isoprenaline myocardiopathy in rats]. AB - The influence of the combined preparation vitaton (Pharmachim) was studied on some functional, biochemical and morphological changes, induced after four-fold subcutaneous administration of 100 mg/kg of isoprenaline. The experiments were carried out on three groups: control nontreated, control treated with isoprenaline and experimental, treated simultaneously with isoprenaline and 500 mg/kg of vitalon, administered orally. The preparation was used 3 days before and 2 days after the administration of isoprenaline. Evaluation of the preparation action was made by the following parameters: ECG in the II standard lead, effect on serum level of cholesterol, triglycerols, cholesterol and lipoproteins with high, low and very low density, enzymic activity of hydroxybutiroldehydrogenase (HBDH), creatinephosphokinase (CPK), aspartataminotransferase (ASAT) and alaninaminotransferase (ALAT). Pathomorphological and morphometric studies of the hearts were performed as well. The results from the conducted experiments showed that vitaton reduced pathological changes in the electrocardiographic recordings as well as the abnormal increase in cholesterol and fractions of lipoproteins with low density. Beside this it lowered considerably the enzymic activity, observed under the influence of isoprenaline. The preparation diminished the area of myocardial damage more than twice, estimated by the index of the myocardial damage. The effect of vitalon on the model of isoprenaline myocardiopathy could be explained by its metabolic action and more exactly by its influence on protein synthesis and on lipid metabolism. PMID- 2627902 TI - [Changes in the activity of glycogen phosphorylase in the rat myocardium after immobilization stress]. AB - Immobilization stress with duration of 6, 12 and 24 hours was induced in rats of Wistar strain. The rats of the control group were without food and water for the same periods of time. The active form a of glycogen phosphorylase, total enzymic activity a-b and the percentage of the active form of the total enzymic activity in the myocardium of the left ventricle, right ventricle and intraventricular septum were determined. There were no statistically significant differences in the activity of phosphorylase a and in the total enzymic activity between the control and experimental animals on the sixth hour since the onset of the study. The activity of both forms of the enzyme in the right ventricle and septum was higher in comparison with that of the control animals after 12 hours of immobilization. The enzymic activity was reduced in comparison with that of the control animals after 24 hours of immobilization. It could be assumed that metabolic adaptive mechanism of the cardiac muscle improve conditions for formation of energy from carbohydrate sources. PMID- 2627903 TI - [An in vitro micromethod for studying phagocytic and bacteriocidal activity of granulocytes from peripheral blood]. AB - A microcultivation method convenient for clinical objectives was prepared for simultaneous examination of phagocytic and bactericidal capability of human granulocytes, based on vital staining with acridine-orange. Slides, on which nonheparinized blood from the examined individuals was poured out drop by drop, were assembled on the microcultivation camera, constructed by us. After one hour incubation the clot was removed and a suspension from Staphylococcus aureus was poured out on the cellular film. After proper cultivation the adherent cells were stained with acridine-orange as the live bacteria and nuclei of intact granulocytes were stained green under the action of the dye, but the dead prokaryotes and degenerated nuclei-red. The phagocytic index, phagocytic number, bacteriocidal index were followed-up in dynamics and it was established that a 45 minute incubation appeared to be the most suitable for simultaneous examination of these parameters. PMID- 2627905 TI - Emphasis: nursing. Innovation. PMID- 2627904 TI - [Death from inflammatory central nervous system diseases during 1950-1984 at the Pavlov Medical Institute]. AB - The inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (cns) are characterized by dramatic clinical picture and the outcome depends on early diagnosis and early treatment as well. In the report the dynamics of the lethality after inflammatory diseases is studied retrospectively for 35 years (according to five-year-plans). Cases with inflammatory diseases of cns are within the ranges of 2.3% (1980 1984), 8.86 (1950-1954) or 3.58% on the average for the period out of 24,014 cases. The material is divided into two groups: 1. deceased with specific (tbc) meningitis and/or meningoencephalitis. 2. Deceased with nonspecific inflammatory diseases. Such grouping is justified by the difference, which is required in the therapy of these two groups of diseases. Deceased with specific inflammatory diseases--5.42% against 3.44% (with nonspecific) predominate during the first year-plan (1950-1954). The deceased from the first group reduce sharply reaching 0.12% during the third and the following five-year-plans. The percentage of deceased from the second group show greater stability--2.82--2.14%. In this group there is a tendency to a reduction of purulent inflammatory diseases and an increase of serous (nonspecific) diseases. The relative number of secondary nonspecific inflammatory diseases, among which dominate otogenic, increase--47.1% due to a reduction in the number of deceased with primary nonspecific inflammatory diseases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627906 TI - If you're not falling, you're not learning. PMID- 2627907 TI - Time is not on their side (fresh insights into why many poor children do badly in school). PMID- 2627908 TI - Triage: a subspecialty of emergency nursing. AB - Triage nursing is evolving as a subspeciality of emergency nursing. Of the five major types of triage systems in use, four utilize nursing personnel. The Advanced Triage System is the most comprehensive system and is utilized in the Emergency Department at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. This article defines the process of triage, reviews various types of triage systems and discusses the role of the triage nurse in the Advanced Triage System utilized at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. PMID- 2627909 TI - Sibling grief: helping children cope with the death of a sibling. PMID- 2627910 TI - Innovation: frameworks for leadership during change. AB - Planning for development of skills needed to accomplish the desired change requires reviewing the information obtained as the leader worked to develop shared meaning and to activate the change process. Assessment of the environment and the concerns of individuals asked to participate in the change provides a wealth of information about skills individuals possess and skills they will need to develop in order to carry out the proposed change. The frameworks described here may serve as useful guideposts for nurse leaders. This article provides only highlights of each approach. In order to apply these frameworks effectively, the prospective leader is urged to consult the original sources for full descriptions of each approach. PMID- 2627911 TI - "Do I have to cry?" Research based strategies for assessing children's pain. Children and pain--evolution of beliefs. PMID- 2627912 TI - Cognitive development and the pain experience. PMID- 2627913 TI - Perception and mindset in the innovative leader. PMID- 2627914 TI - Assessing pain in infants. PMID- 2627915 TI - Assessing pain in children. PMID- 2627916 TI - The tomorrow of nursing. PMID- 2627917 TI - An enhanced diuresis and natriuresis in response to clonidine in spontaneously hypertensive rats. PMID- 2627918 TI - [Hypercalciuria in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2--studies of its pathogenesis using the oral calcium tolerance test]. AB - The study was aimed at the evaluation of changes in the urinary excretion of calcium in patients with diabetes of type I and II. The investigations were carried out in 34 patients with type I diabetes, 28 patients with type II diabetes and 30 control subjects having the normal glucose tolerance. The oral calcium tolerance test according to Pak was performed in all the patients and the controls. Besides normocalciuria, also hypercalciuria of renal origin, as well as hipercalciuria resulting from an elevated intestinal absorption of calcium have been found in diabetic patients. These disturbances occurred much more frequently in patients with type I diabetes, especially in those of age below 40. PMID- 2627919 TI - [The role of bombesin in regulating thyrotropin secretion in rats. In vivo studies]. AB - The effect of bombesin administered intravenously or intracerebroventricularly was investigated in 66 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood for determinations was sampled by cannulation of right heart auricle before and four times after the administration of bombesin. It was found that bombesin administered intravenously at doses of 0.5 and 5 micrograms/kg caused an elevation of blood plasma TSH. When administered intracerebroventricularly at doses of 0.1 and 1 microgram per animal bombesin did not change blood plasma TSH concentration; administered by the same way at a dose of 1 um per rat it lowered, however, the response of TSH to TRH. PMID- 2627920 TI - [The role of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) in regulating thyrotropin secretion in rats. In vivo studies]. AB - The effect of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on basal and TRH-stimulated secretion of TSH was investigated in 67 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood for TSH determinations was sampled by cannulation of right heart auricle in urethane narcosis before and four times during 60 minutes following CCK-8 administration. It was found that CCK-8 administered to the lateral brain ventricle at a dose of 0.5 microgram per animal caused a decrease in blood serum TSH concentration but did not change the response of TSH to TRH. Intravenous administration of CCK-8 at doses of 2 and 20 micrograms/kg had no effect on blood serum concentration of TSH. PMID- 2627921 TI - An unusual case of Nelson's syndrome. PMID- 2627922 TI - Phentolamine-induced suppression of cell proliferation in some endocrine glands. PMID- 2627923 TI - Energy expenditure of young Swazi women as measured by the doubly-labelled water method. AB - The energy expenditure of a group of young (age 18-28 years) Swazi women resident at an agricultural college was measured using the doubly-labelled water (DLW) method. This was a baseline study to evaluate feasibility of the protocol under field conditions in Swaziland and to determine energy needs of sedentary women under well controlled conditions. Measurements were based on saliva samples collected over a 10-d period using the two-pair method. Two pairs of data points (days 2-9 and 3-10) were used to calculate expenditure. The two sets of data points were within 2.5 per cent of each other. Dietary intake was measured by self-report diaries for 5 study days and was not significantly different from the DLW measurements. Energy expenditure averaged 1735 kcal (7252 kJ)/d and 44 kcal (185 kJ)/kg fat-free mass, lower than other groups similarly measured. Intake averaged 1738 kcal (7265 kJ)/d. Low levels of expenditure observed probably reflect inactivity. PMID- 2627924 TI - Beta-carotene serum response in young and elderly females. AB - This study was designed to investigate the effects of aging and food intake on the serum beta-carotene (BC) response curve in humans. Ten elderly (71 +/- 4 years) and 17 young (28 +/- 7 years) healthy females were given 15 mg BC with a semi-solid test meal devoid of BC and vitamin A. All the elderly and 10 young subjects (control A) received a test meal of 500 kcal while the remaining 7 young subjects (control B) were given 700 kcal. Subsequently, blood was drawn hourly for 8 h and again at 24 and 48 h. Serum carotenoids and retinoids were measured by HPLC and triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol by enzymatic methods. Small intestinal transit time was determined in the elderly and in control group A by a breath hydrogen test following ingestion of lactulose (12 g) with the test meal. The area under the absorption curve (AUC) of serum BC over the first 8 h was higher in the elderly subjects than in either control group A or B (P less than 0.001). The slopes of the BC and TG curves were significantly higher as compared to control A, but similar to control B. There was a positive correlation between the ascending slopes of the BC and TG absorption curves of all groups (P less than 0.001). The AUC of the retinyl ester serum response of the elderly group was greater than that of control A (P less than 0.001). The slope of this curve was steeper (P less than 0.01) in the elderly group as compared to control A, but was similar to control B. Intestinal transit time was similar in all groups. In young subjects, the larger test meal of control group B appeared to increase the rate of absorption of BC. These data indicate that the rate of intact BC absorption and its conversion to retinyl esters may be enhanced in old age as compared to younger subjects receiving the same amount of food. Age-related alterations of enterocytes and the intestinal lumen could account for this phenomenon. PMID- 2627925 TI - Measuring change in nutritional status: a comparison of different anthropometric indices and the sample sizes required. AB - The usefulness of different anthropometric indices to detect nutritional changes at the community level, ie, in a number of children considered as a group, was compared by using data from a longitudinal study from rural Bangladesh which followed up quarterly an average of 413 children aged 6-35 months from December 1984 to December 1987. Weight change, mid-upper arm circumference and weight-for height responded most quickly to seasonal variations of the food situation. Height-for-age was more responsive to long-term variations. Although similar conclusions were reached when proportions of children below a cut-off point or mean indices were compared, the comparison of mean indices required a smaller sample size to detect changes. The difference in sample size needed ranged from 48 to 61 per cent. All indices varied significantly with age, which suggests that precise knowledge of age is essential for proper interpretation of nutritional surveillance data. PMID- 2627926 TI - Potential use of bioelectrical impedance of the 'whole body' and of body segments for the assessment of body composition: comparison with densitometry and anthropometry. AB - The value of 'whole body' and segmental impedance measurements, and of simple anthropometric methods for predicting body composition was assessed in 24 normal (14m, 10f) subjects (BMI, 18.3-28.6), using densitometry as the reference method. The contribution of segmental impedance was assessed in a separate group of 24 normal (12m, 12f) subjects (BMI, 19.8-28.8) at two frequencies (1 kHz and 50 kHz). Estimates of specific resistivities of certain individual segments (upper arm, forearm, upper leg, and lower leg) were also made in this group, and compared to those obtained from a group of 7 obese female subjects (BMI, 32.6 56.1). The bias and 95 per cent limits of agreement between densitometrically determined body composition (fat and fat-free mass, and total body water) and the alternative methods were found to vary considerably, depending on the technique and/or equations employed. Estimates of whole body composition based on impedance or resistance measurements were found to be associated with only slightly smaller limits of agreement than those made by anthropometry. The upper limb was found to have the greatest influence on whole body impedance measurements. Indeed, the forearm, which accounts for 1.3 per cent of body weight contributes 25.0 per cent to 'whole body' impedance. The estimated specific resistivities of segments were found to be considerably greater in the obese individuals than in normal female subjects (for example, 75 per cent higher for the upper arm, P less than 0.001). The results suggest that: (a) there may be a systematic, population-related, error in predicting densitometric estimates of body composition with the use of standard equations, which incorporate variables such as weight, height, skinfold thicknesses, and impedance/resistance measurements; (b) in this population, impedance or resistance measurements confer only a small advantage over simple anthropometry for predicting body composition; (c) the impedance of the arm or leg may provide a simple alternative method for assessing the composition of the whole body; and (d) the estimated specific resistivity of individual body segments may be useful for assessing the composition of those segments. PMID- 2627927 TI - Energy expenditure economy induced by decrease in lean body mass in anorexia nervosa. AB - In anorexia nervosa, the low energy input associated with the classic overactivity during the malnourished state needs a sparing of energy expended at rest and also during physical activity. Therefore, we measured energy expenditure, both at rest and during moderate bicycling exercise (30W, 6 min), in 11 adult anorectic patients (weight 35.15 +/- 4.30 kg, mean +/- s.d.) at the beginning of their treatment and again after a mean weight gain of about 8.4 kg. During the malnourished state, the resting energy expenditure (REE) was lower than that predicted according to Harris and Benedict (P less than 0.001). Although it was significantly increased after weight gain (P less than 0.05), the REE per kg of lean body mass remained unchanged after repletion. The total oxygen consumption related to exercise remained unchanged after refeeding (2114 +/- 487 ml/15 min, basal vs 2168 +/- 394 ml/15 min, repletion) (n.s.). Thus in anorexia nervosa, weight loss and malnutrition did not induce economy either in energy expended at rest per unit of lean body mass nor in the energy expended in moderate cycling activity. PMID- 2627928 TI - Food and nutrient intakes in Swedish diabetic children. AB - Food and energy intakes in diabetic children, 7-9 and 12-14 years of age, were studied by the 7-d record method. The mean duration of diabetes in the younger group was 3.0 years and in the older group 4.2. The children had 3 main meals and 3.4 light meals daily. The median daily number of sandwiches was 7, often offered as snacks. All children used a low-fat margarine, low-fat cheese and low-fat milk. Sweets and diabetic food were seldom used. Of the energy intake protein contributed 18 per cent, fat 32 per cent and carbohydrates 50 per cent, including sucrose 2 per cent. Mean daily intake of fibre was 20 g. Compared to healthy children of the same age and from the same areas of Sweden the diabetics had a more regular meal pattern, their energy intakes did not differ, but the diet of diabetics was lower in fat and sucrose and higher in protein. The mean height, weight and BMI did not differ from healthy children. PMID- 2627929 TI - Vitamin status, immunity and infections in an elderly population. AB - The relations between vitamin status and immunological parameters or number of infections have been investigated in self-sufficient healthy individuals aged 60 and over. A total of 411 subjects agreed to participate, but 202 were discarded from the main statistical analysis since they could have had their immune or nutritional status modified by a recent infection, vaccination or drug consumption. Plasma concentrations of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and vitamin B6 were determined. Three indices of cellular immunity were measured: percentages of T-cell subsets, lymphoproliferative response to phytohaemaglutinin and delayed-type hypersensitivity to 7 ubiquitous antigens. A questionnaire about past infections was presented. Two results, supported by previous experimental observations, should be underlined. Vitamin B6 status was positively related to percentages of T-cell subsets: the lowest percentages of CD5 and CD4 cells were observed in the low B6 status group (50.6 and 32.6 per cent) and the highest percentages in the high B6 status group (62.0 and 41.0 per cent), with intermediate values in the medium group (57.6 and 39.5 per cent). Vitamin E status was negatively related to the number of past infections: subjects with a high alpha-tocopherol plasma concentration had fewer infections during the last 3 years (1.0) than those with a medium (2.2) or a low (2.3) concentration. In spite of these two observations, cellular immunity did not seem to be strongly related to vitamin status in the supposedly healthy population studied. PMID- 2627930 TI - Lack of impact of a water and sanitation intervention on the nutritional status of children in rural Bangladesh. AB - The nutritional impact of a water and sanitation intervention in a rural community of Bangladesh, comprising the provision of handpumps, construction of latrines and hygiene education was assessed. During 3 years, the quarterly anthropometric measures of about 200 children aged 12-35 months from the intervention community were compared with those of a similar number of children from a control area. The interventions reduced the incidence of diarrhoea by 25 per cent among the children less than 5 years of age. There was no significant difference in nutritional status, however, between the two groups of children. Moreover, within the intervention area, indicators of water and latrine use were not significantly related to the children's nutritional status. This suggests that either the obtained reduction of diarrhoea was not large enough to have an impact on nutritional status or that diarrhoea is not an important cause of malnutrition in this community. PMID- 2627931 TI - Body impedance is largely dependent on the intra- and extra-cellular water distribution. AB - Electrical impedance measurements were performed in fasting blood samples and analysed in relation to packed cell volume and calculated intra- and extra cellular water distribution. The total blood impedance was shown to be strongly dependent on the ratio of intra-cellular water to total water (r = 0.97, P less than 0.0001). In a group of 515 subjects, with a large variation in age and body composition, the relation between the body impedence corrected for fat-free mass and body height (the specific body impedance) and the calculated ratio of intra cellular water to total body water, was found to be similar to that in blood. From these observations a regression model was developed and applied to body compositional data of several groups of subjects before and after weight loss caused by water losses. It was possible to calculate at a group level the losses of intra- and extra-cellular water, which confirms the applicability of the model. It is concluded that the validity of the predicted fat-free mass or total body water from body impedance is largely dependent on the water distribution in the measured subjects. This means that age- and sex-specific prediction formulas have to be used for the assessment of the body composition and that the bio electrical impedance method is only with caution applicable in subjects with a disturbed water distribution as in oedema, pregnancy and dehydration. PMID- 2627932 TI - Sources and intakes of sodium in the United Kingdom diet. AB - The amounts of sodium in the average UK diet and the proportions of naturally occurring and added sodium in foods were calculated for the years 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987. The results for total sodium intake from foods were in close agreement with other published sources and the breakdown of the figures revealed that 22 per cent of sodium in foods is naturally occurring and 78 per cent is added. When discretionary salt, used at the table and in cooking, is taken into account the proportions of sodium from various sources are estimated to be: 15 per cent discretionary, 84 per cent from food and approximately 1 per cent from water and medicines. Within the food category 18 per cent is natural, 59 per cent is from added salt and 7 per cent is from non-salt food additives. PMID- 2627933 TI - Energy cost of carrying loads. PMID- 2627934 TI - Differences in body impedance when measured with different instruments. PMID- 2627935 TI - Aluminium content in human milk and in infant formulas. PMID- 2627936 TI - Nutritional adaptation and variability. PMID- 2627937 TI - Selective isolation of individual cell surface proteins from tissue culture cells by a cleavable biotin label. AB - A method was developed to isolate cell surface proteins by a simple two-step procedure. Hepatocyte cell surface proteins were labeled by a cleavable biotin derivative in a covalent pulse reaction. Under the described conditions, NHS-SS biotin proved to be an impermeant, cell surface-specific label which does not affect the impermeant, cell surface-specific label which does not affect the viability of rat hepatocytes. Biotinylated cell surface proteins could be selectively separated under non-denaturing conditions from non-biotinylated proteins and biotin-containing carboxylases by avidin affinity chromatography and sulfhydryl-mediated elution. Subsequent to alkylation of the eluted protein, individual cell surface proteins could be isolated by immunoprecipitation as shown for a selected Mr 120,000 glycoprotein gp120 of the hepatocyte plasma membrane. Using this technique, a transit time of gp120 from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface of 2 h was determined. The results show that the combination of labeling with a cleavable biotin derivative, non-denaturing avidin affinity chromatography and immunoprecipitation is a useful method to isolate and study individual cell surface proteins. PMID- 2627938 TI - The interaction of a lung surfactant protein (SP-A) with macrophages is mannose dependent. AB - Lung surfactant protein A (SP-A) is the main protein component of pulmonary surfactant, which lines the alveolar space. We examined the interaction between recombinant human SP-A and human macrophages or monocytes. Binding and uptake of SP-A adsorbed onto colloidal gold particles was followed by electron microscopy and quantitated on micrographs. SP-A particles were internalized via coated pits/vesicles and transported to secondary lysosomes. Uptake was inhibited in the presence of alpha-D-mannosyl-bovine serum albumin (BSA) but not by beta-D galactosyl-BSA. Two mannose-dependent recognition mechanisms might mediate SP-A uptake by macrophages. First, as SP-A is a glycoprotein with N-glycosylated glycans it could act as a ligand for the mannose-specific receptor on macrophages. Second, as SP-A is a mannose-specific lectin itself it could bind to mannose residues on the macrophage's cell surface. Activity of the Man-receptor on macrophages was demonstrated with alpha-D-mannosyl-BSA coated onto gold particles. Exposed alpha-D-mannosyl residues on macrophages were identified by Concanavalin A adsorbed onto gold particles. Hence, both mechanisms may be involved in principle. As monocytes have no mannose-specific receptor activity on their cell surface but internalize SP-A gold particles in a mannose-dependent manner, we conclude that at least the second mechanism participates in the recognition of SP-A by macrophages. PMID- 2627939 TI - The p36 substrate of pp60src kinase is located at the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane of fibroblasts; an immunoelectron microscopic analysis. AB - p36, a member of the family of Ca2+/lipid-binding proteins, is a major cellular substrate for the tyrosine kinase encoded by the src oncogene. It occurs in two distinct physical states, as either a monomer or a heterotetramer (protein I), which comprises two copies each of p36 and a p11 polypeptide. Immunofluorescence microscopy and cell fractionation studies suggest that p36 and p11 are located underneath the plasma membrane. To investigate whether p36 is indeed associated with the plasma membrane, we have examined its cellular distribution at the electron microscopic level with gold-labeled antibodies. In human fibroblasts, p36 is clearly associated with the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane and shows a uniform and regular distribution. Decoration with monoclonal antibodies against p11 reveals the same distribution, suggesting that the p36(2)p11(2) complex (protein I) occurs in the cell in a strict association with the plasma membrane. Titration experiments show that this association is Ca2+ dependent and still occurs at physiological Ca2+ concentrations (10(-7) M). Fodrin, a non erythroid spectrin, known to bind p36 in vitro, shows a very similar distribution on the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane. The results suggest that in a resting and unstimulated cell p36 and p11 reside as a complex bound to the inner side of the plasma membrane. PMID- 2627940 TI - Electron microscopic analysis of the E polytene chromosome of Drosophila subobscura: divisions 57, 58 and 59. AB - The banding pattern of the divisions 57, 58 and 59 of the E polytene chromosome of Drosophila subobscura was analyzed by electron microscopy. Using squashed and thin-sectioned polytene chromosomes, our electron microscopic results have been compared with the reference map of Kunze-Muller (Chromosoma 9, 559-570 (1958]. These divisions are rich in heavy bands, and their number and location coincide with those of the reference map. The major differences observed between our electron micrographs and the reference map have been at the level of faint bands. PMID- 2627941 TI - Affinity isolation of albumin-binding proteins using nitrocellulose-bound albumin. AB - Albumin immobilized on a nitrocellulose membrane was used as an affinity matrix to purify albumin-binding proteins (ABP) from extracts of lung, heart, thymus, and isolated microvascular endothelial cells. Albumin was immobilized onto nitrocellulose either (i) directly (physically adsorbed), (ii) cross-linked by treatment with 0.25% glutaraldehyde, or (iii) covalently coupled to the matrix using NaIO4 and Na-borohydride. The affinity support was incubated with a membrane-enriched fraction (obtained from tissue homogenates) in the presence of protease inhibitors; specific binding of ABP occurred within 30 min of incubation. The adsorbed proteins were eluted with 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and ligand blotting. Analysis of electrophoretic mobility of eluted proteins showed that they consisted exclusively of the two sets of polypeptides of 31 000 Da and 18 000 Da previously identified as ABP (N. Ghinea et al., J. Cell Biol. 107, 231-239 (1988]. As demonstrated by ligand blotting, the ABP purified on nitrocellulose bound albumin maintain the ability to interact specifically with albumin. Preliminary experiments showed that the method employed may be of a broader use for the isolation of receptor proteins from tissue extracts by incubating the latter with the cognate ligand immobilized on nitrocellulose membranes. PMID- 2627942 TI - Ultrastructural analysis of cytoplasmic intermediate filaments and the nuclear lamina in the mouse plasmacytoma cell line MPC-11 after the induction of vimentin synthesis. AB - We examined cytoplasmic intermediate filaments (IFs) and the nuclear lamina in cells of the mouse plasmacytoma cell line MPC-11 (lacking both IF proteins and lamins A and C) after induction of vimentin synthesis with the phorbol ester 12-O tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) by means of whole-mount immunogold electron microscopy (IEM). The technique of IEM was modified to allow analysis of the cytoskeleton and nuclear lamina of cells grown in suspension culture employing antibodies against vimentin and lamin B. IEM showed that newly synthesized vimentin assembled into IFs which formed anastomosing networks throughout the cytoplasm, radiating primarily from the nucleus. The filaments decorated by gold conjugated antibodies appeared to make contact with the lipid-depleted nuclear envelope residue either by directly terminating on it or through an indirect link via short fibers of varying diameter. Some filaments terminated on the subunits of the nuclear pore complexes but they did not pass through the pores. In the absence of lamins A and C, lamin B formed a nuclear lamina consisting of a globular-filamentous network anchoring the nuclear pore complexes. PMID- 2627943 TI - Exercise testing and dipyridamole echocardiography test before and 48 h after successful coronary angioplasty: prognostic implications. AB - The purpose of the present study was to determine the value of exercise testing (ET) and dipyridamole echocardiography test (DET) in the early functional evaluation after a successful coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and in the prediction of angina recurrence. 52 patients underwent ET and DET before and 48 h after a successful PTCA. During a 6-12 month follow-up period they all underwent clinical evaluation. Before PTCA, ET was positive in 49 of 52 patients (94%) and new asynergies were detected by DET in 47 of 52 patients (90%). 48 h after PTCA 23 patients (44%) had positive ET results and 10 had a positive DET response. During the follow-up, 17 patients experienced recurrence of angina. Positive predictive value (PPV) for angina recurrence of ET and DET performed early after the PTCA were, respectively, 57 and 80%. The PPV of ET increased to 88% when electrocardiographic (ECG) positivity was accompanied by angina. Negative predictive values of ET and DET were, respectively, 86% and 79%. Early after PTCA, exercise ECG positivity was not predictive of symptom recurrence while ECG positivity associated with angina revealed a high PPV, similar to that of DET. PMID- 2627944 TI - Detection of restenosis after coronary angioplasty for single-vessel disease: how reliable are exercise electrocardiography and scintigraphy in asymptomatic patients? AB - The diagnostic value of exercise electrocardiography and thallium myocardial scintigraphy for the detection of restenosis was assessed in 111 patients undergoing control angiography 6 months after successful coronary angioplasty. All patients were free of symptoms at the time of the study. A diameter reduction of 70% or more at the site of angioplasty was considered restenosis. The sensitivity of exercise electrocardiography is low (64%). Exercise ECG and scintigraphy are highly specific (respectively 90% and 93%). The predictive value of a positive ECG or thallium scintigraphy is poor (respectively 53% and 63%). The value of a negative scintigraphic result is slightly better than the predictive value of a negative ECG (98% vs 95%; NS). A negative exercise scintigraphy almost excludes severe restenosis. These non-invasive tests seem suitable for the detection of asymptomatic restenosis. PMID- 2627945 TI - Recognition of restenosis: can patients be defined in whom the exercise-ECG result makes angiographic restudy unnecessary? AB - The value of exercise ECG in predicting the occurrence of restenosis after successful transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was investigated in 398 patients with exercise tests of comparable workload before, immediately after and within 6 months after PTCA. In patients with normalized exercise ECG (n = 166) restenosis was observed in 16.3% and indication for repeat PTCA was present in 6.6%. RePTCA was recommended in only 3.2% of patients if the exercise test was still normal at restudy and if the patients were free of anginal symptoms. In patients with a renewed ST-segment depression (n = 77) the rate of restenosis was 67.5% and the indication for rePTCA was present in 52%. In patients without changes in the exercise tests before and after PTCA and at restudy (n = 155) restenosis was seen in 25.8% and rePTCA was recommended in 14.2%. It is concluded that from the clinical point of view, in patients with improved exercise ECG at restudy, especially if they are free of angina, there is no need for a re angiogram because indications for rePTCA are very rare. PMID- 2627946 TI - Stress testing for management of post-PTCA patients: routine or elective. PMID- 2627947 TI - Long-term follow-up of coronary angioplasty: the 1977-1981 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute registry. AB - Between September 1977 and September 1981, 1587 consecutive patients underwent a first coronary angioplasty (PTCA) at 16 clinical centres. After excluding patients with prior coronary bypass surgery (CABG) and left main or minimal vessel disease, 1390 were available for in-hospital and long-term follow-up. Mean duration of follow-up was 5.9 years (range 0-9.0 years). PTCA was successful (all attempted lesions reduced greater than or equal to 20%) in 882 patients (63.4%) and, overall, 624 patients (44.9%) had complete (COREV) and 766 (55.1%) incomplete (INCOREV) revascularization or a failed PtCA. In-hospital events included death in 0.7%, myocardial infarction (MI) in 5.0% and CABG in 24.0% of patients. Patients with COREV had significantly lower rates of these events than the INCOREV group. At 6 years, mortality in all registry patients was 6.5% and MI rate 15.0%; CABG was performed after the initial hospitalization in 15.5% of patients and repeat PTCA in 19.1%. All events, except repeated PTCA, were less frequent in the COREV than the INCOREV group. Among patients with a successful first PTCA, cumulative 6-year mortality was 5.8% and incidence of MI 10.8%; 16.9% underwent CABG and 24.7% repeat PTCA during follow-up. CABG was slightly more frequent in INCOREV than COREV patients with successful PTCA, but all other events were similar in the two groups, suggesting that INCOREV 'by intent' has a good prognosis. In patients with INCOREV, mortality and incidence of MI were higher during follow-up for patients with multivessel rather than single vessel disease. However, the incidence of CABG and repeat PTCA was similar in the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627948 TI - Five years of angiographic and clinical follow-up after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. AB - The first 67 consecutive patients (77 lesions) who underwent successful coronary angioplasty (PTCA) at our hospital were clinically followed with serial exercise testing over a 5-year (4 to 7) observation period. Two sequential angiographic controls were performed 6.9 +/- 4.6 (64 patients) and 49.5 +/- 21.6 (42 patients) months after PTCA. The 5-year risk of cardiac death was 8%, of myocardial infarction 2%, or coronary artery bypass grafting 16% and of repeat PTCA 8%. At 5 years, 67% of the patients remain asymptomatic. Restenosis greater than or equal to 70% diameter was observed within the first year after PTCA in 30% of the patients. Progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) was observed in 13 patients (20%). In the first angiographic control, CAD progression was 4% (3/77) in dilated and 3% (3/115) in non-dilated arteries (ns). In the second angiographic control, it was 7% (3/45) and 10% (8/81), respectively (ns). Thus good clinical and angiographic results are still observed after 5 years. Restenosis is an early, self-limited, time-restricted phenomenon that occurs in 30% of patients. Angioplasty does not appear to accelerate CAD progression. PMID- 2627949 TI - Results of repeat angiography up to eight years following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. AB - Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has become a widely accepted procedure that provides acute and medium-term relief of anginal symptoms and myocardial ischaemia. The acute success rate has risen from about 50% in the early days to approximately 90% in recent years. Serial repeat angiograms obtained in different patient groups have shown a 20% incidence of angiographically defined restenosis in patients who had been successfully treated initially. Despite the restenosis, many of these patients were symptomatically improved since the lesions shown at follow-up angiography were often less severe than those that had existed prior to original PTCA. These figures suggest that a success rate of 80% at 1 year should now be a realistic expectation, especially when patients with repeat PTCA are included. None of the 87 patients re angiographed between 2 and 8 years after successful PTCA developed restenosis after the first year of treatment. However, new stenoses of 50% or more were found in other vessel segments, in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, at a rate of about 7% per year. PMID- 2627950 TI - Return to work after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: a continuing problem. AB - Earlier studies have shown that return to work following PTCA is frequent; however PTCA is now performed in patients with more extensive coronary artery disease. The present study was designed to compare the vocational outcome of patients who underwent PTCA in 1980-1982 with that of patients who underwent the procedure in 1985. From 1980 to 1982, 53 of 73 consecutive patients who were employed before PTCA returned to work (73%). Return to work was related to primary success of the procedure (85% vs 40%, P less than 0.01) age (46.1 +/- 7.9 vs 49.3 +/- 6.6 years, P less than 0.05) and clinical status at follow-up (72% feeling well or very well vs 30%, P less than 0.01). In 1985, although the primary success rate had increased to 89%, the overall rate of return to work in the 91 patients employed before PTCA was 64%. The decrease was particularly striking for patients with primary success of the procedure (64% vs 85%, P less than 0.01). The patients in the 1985 group had greater incidences of previous myocardial infarction (40% vs 11%, P less than 0.01) and multivessel coronary disease (43% vs 8%, P less than 0.01); however, these factors were not related to subsequent return to work. In contrast, the age of the patients, which was an important determinant of work resumption, was significantly higher in the 1985 patients (49.9 +/- 7.3 vs 46.4 +/- 9.1 years, P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627951 TI - Coronary stenosis vasomotion during dynamic exercise before and after PTCA. AB - Coronary vasomotion was evaluated in eight patients (age 50 +/- 8 years) with coronary disease before and 3.3 +/- 1.9 months after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Luminal area of a normal and a stenotic coronary artery was determined before and after PTCA using biplane quantitative coronary arteriography. Patients were studied at rest, during supine bicycle exercise and 5 min after 1.6 mg sublingual nitroglycerin. Workloads before and after PTCA were identical. Percentage diameter stenosis decreased from 78% to 24% (P less than 0.001) after PTCA. Mean pulmonary artery pressure increased during exercise from 21 to 40 mmHg (P less than 0.001) before and from 19 to 34 mmHg (P less than 0.001) after PTCA. Peak exercise pulmonary artery mean pressure was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower after PTCA. Normal coronary arteries showed a minimal increase in mean luminal area before (+2%; NS) as well as after (+6%; NS) PTCA. Nitroglycerin produced dilation of the normal vessel segment to a similar extent pre- (+27%; P less than 0.001) and post- (+31%; P less than 0.001) PTCA. In contrast, stenotic vessel segments showed coronary vasoconstriction during exercise before PTCA (-28%; P less than 0.01); after PTCA, exercise induced vasoconstriction of the diseased segment was minimal (-4%; NS). Nitroglycerin was associated with vasodilation of the stenotic vessel segment before (+17%; NS) as well as after (+26%; P less than 0.005) PTCA. Thus, exercise induced coronary vasoconstriction of stenotic coronary arteries is observed before as well as after PTCA, but vasoconstriction after PTCA is significantly less than before PTCA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627952 TI - Multiple lead monitoring during and after PTCA. AB - We investigated whether optimized ischaemia monitoring during and after PTCA using continuous recording of standardized 12-lead ECG provides additional information regarding the presence and localization of ischaemia. We studied 50 patients undergoing PTCA who received a total of 173 balloon inflations. Chest leads showed not only significantly more frequent ischaemic changes compared with routine limb lead monitoring (116/173 (67%) vs 88/173 (51%)), but in addition, a significantly earlier appearance of changes; 15.4 +/- 6.2 s after the start of balloon inflation compared with 17.5 +/- 6.8 s in the limb leads. Anginal pain, however, first occurred at 35 +/- 14 s after vessel occlusion in 74/173 (43%) of inflations. The changes in ECG monitoring correlated well with the coronary wedge pressure; at coronary wedge pressures below 20 mmHg, 97% of inflations caused ischaemic ECG changes; at pressures greater than 40 mmHg, changes were noted in only 42% of inflations. PostPTCA, 6/36 (16.7%) patients undergoing continuous 12 lead monitoring showed ischaemic ST-segment changes (asymptomatic in five cases), which helped in decision-making regarding interventional measures. In summary, we have found standardized 12-lead monitoring both during and after PTCA to be more precise and reliable in ischaemia detection and useful for clinical decision making. PMID- 2627953 TI - Invasive treatment of ischemic heart disease. 21-22 April 1989, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Proceedings. PMID- 2627954 TI - Predictors of perioperative mortality, morbidity and late quality of life in coronary bypass surgery. AB - Between January 1, 1977 and January 1, 1988, 220 patients over 70 years of age underwent coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Patients undergoing combined procedures, e.g. CABG and valve surgery, were not included. 39% of the patients were emergencies or urgent cases. Hospital mortality (less than 30 days after surgery or in hospital) was 7.7%. Mean hospital stay was 13.9 days. Postoperative morbidity consisted mainly of infections (n = 51), peri-operative infarction (n = 35), bleeding (n = 13), and renal failure (n = 13). 72% of the patients were in NYHA functional class I at the time of follow-up (mean 3.66 years postoperatively). Many factors were analysed as possible indicators for mortality, morbidity and postoperative functional class. Mortality was only related to the presence of pre-operative hypertension (P = 0.038), previous infarction (P = 0.056) and severity of coronary disease (P = 0.0458). Morbidity was weakly related to emergency procedures, previous infarction and severity of coronary artery disease (P less than 0.05). For postoperative functional class, no specific predictors were found. PMID- 2627955 TI - Management of acute occlusion after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. AB - Acute coronary occlusion is a not infrequent complication of angioplasty. When it persists, it commonly leads to myocardial infarction, and sometimes to death. Ideally, it should be prevented by careful attention to technical predisposing factors and the routine prophylactic administration of heparin and aspirin. There are a number of strategies for managing the problem when it does occur; these frequently include re-angioplasty with standard or perfusion balloon catheters and the use of stents or atherectomy. However, if prompt reopening is not possible, then immediate coronary artery bypass grafting may be the wisest choice. PMID- 2627956 TI - Acute myocardial ischaemia and cardiogenic shock after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; risk factors for and results of emergency coronary bypass. AB - Between 1 September, 1980 and 1 January, 1989, 4142 patients underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). We retrospectively studied the 155 [3.7%; 119 males, mean age 53.4 years, (range 33-78 years) and 36 females, mean age 59.6 years (range 40-74 years)] who required urgent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (Group I) and a select control group of 155 patients, in whom PTCA was performed without complications (Group II). Before PTCA, 14 Group I and 42 Group II patients had angina Class II, and 78 Group I and 49 Group II patients had angina class IV (chi 2-test, P less than 0.05). There were 445 complications in the 155 group I patients: 303 (68%) early (during PTCA) and 141 (32%) late (within 24 h). On arrival in the operating room 126 patients were stable; five were in cardiac arrest and 19 in cardiogenic shock (AS-group; 24 patients). In the AS-group and control group, respectively, angina Class II occurred in 2/24 (8.3%) and 42/155 (27.1%) patients, angina Class IV in 14/24 (58.3%) and 49/155 (31.6%) (P less than 0.05), single-vessel disease in 8/24 (33.3%) and 85/155 (54.8%), triple-vessel disease in 7/24 (29.2%) and 23/155 (14.9%) (P less than 0.05); elective PTCA in 11/24 (45.8%) and 92/155 (59.4%), urgent PTCA in 12/24 (50%) and 48/155 (30.9%) (P less than 0.05), PTCA of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) in 18/24 (75%) and 86/166 (51.8%), PTCA of the right coronary artery in 2/24 (8.3%) and 47/166 (28.3%) (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627957 TI - Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty more than twice for the same coronary lesion. AB - To determine outcome and predictors of restenosis after three or more PTCAs for the same coronary lesion we studied 23 patients (17 patients three PTCAs; five patients four PTCAs; one patient six PTCAs). The primary success rate was 100%. Myocardial infarction was seen in one patient; there was no emergency surgery or mortality. Duration of follow-up after the last PTCA was 11-58 months (mean 26 months). Restenosis occurred in 6 of 23 patients (26.1%) after the last PTCA. The symptom-free interval before the last PTCA was less than or equal to 3 months in five of these six patients, a larger balloon for the last PTCA was used in two patients. After the last PTCA 17 of the 23 patients (73.9%) were asymptomatic; repeat angiography in seven of them revealed no restenosis. The symptom-free interval before the last PTCA was less than 3 months in eight patients, and a larger balloon was used in six of these. In nine patients the interval was greater than 3 months, and a larger balloon was used in two. When the symptom free interval before the last PTCA was less than or equal to 3 months, restenosis occurred in two of eight patients (25%) in whom a larger balloon was used, but in three of five patients (60%) in whom a larger balloon was not used. When the interval before the last PTCA was less than or equal to 3 months five of 13 patients (38.5%) developed restenosis, but when it was greater than 3 months only one of 10 patients did so. PMID- 2627958 TI - Pulmonary shunting after cardiopulmonary bypass. AB - The effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on pulmonary function was investigated in 32 adult patients, including 23 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and nine patients undergoing heart-valve replacement. Clinical indicators for pulmonary insufficiency, such as chest X-ray, gas exchange and lung function tests were measured. Transthoracic electrical impedances were measured, and the mean specific thoracic impedance (RHO) was calculated. (RHO is an accurate indicator for the intrathoracic fluid content; low RHO values correspond with high intrathoracic fluid content.) Significant postoperative decreases in RHO were paralleled by a significant impairment of gas exchange. Chest X-rays demonstrated accumulation of intrathoracic fluid. Lung function tests showed significant postoperative decreases in lung volumes and vital capacity. These findings are consistent with the concept that CPB provokes an inflammatory reaction in the lung. The non-invasive RHO measurement proved to be simple and in good agreement with clinical indicators. This method may be a real asset in the prevention and treatment of pulmonary dysfunction after CPB. The possibility of calibrating RHO with respect to absolute values of intrathoracic fluid content should be investigated. PMID- 2627959 TI - Detection of perioperative myocardial ischaemia. The Study of Perioperative Ischemia (SPI) Research Group. PMID- 2627960 TI - Prophylaxis of respiratory tract infection in patients on artificial respiration. AB - In a pilot study, a prophylactic regimen including ciprofloxacin and amphotericin B was applied in 102 consecutive patients on artificial respiration for greater than or equal to 5 days to prevent respiratory tract infection with aerobic Gram negative bacilli. Ciprofloxacin was given twice a day, as 500 mg through a gastric tube or 200 mg intravenously, and both applications led to negative cultures for aerobic Gram-negative bacilli from faeces and throat, except for a few periods of carriage lasting only a few days. No patient acquired respiratory tract infection with one of the Enterobacteriaceae or Pseudomonadaceae after 4 days of artificial respiration. In contrast to other prophylactic regimens in intensive care patients, this regimen is relatively simple and effective. These preliminary data suggest that this regimen should be studied further with special emphasis on the induction of resistance in Intensive Care Units using prospective, double-blind study designs. PMID- 2627961 TI - Detection of perioperative myocardial ischaemia, with special emphasis on transoesophageal echocardiography. PMID- 2627962 TI - Acute renal failure after cardiovascular surgery. Current concepts in pathophysiology, prevention and treatment. AB - Acute renal failure (ARF) is a serious complication of cardiovascular surgery and has a high mortality rate, especially with oliguria. It is usually caused by ischaemic injury of the kidney, resulting from inadequate perfusion. Certain risk factors which might lead to the development of ARF following open heart operations have been identified: age greater than 70 years; elevated pre operative serum creatinine; low blood pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass; rate of haemolysis; a postoperative critical circulation. It is necessary to establish the diagnosis as soon as possible in order to institute corrective measures to prevent oliguric ARF. Once renal failure is established close control of hydration, solutes and potentially toxic metabolites is necessary. Early renal replacement therapy with proper nutritional support appears to improve survival. PMID- 2627963 TI - Recent advances in myocardial protection using antegrade/retrograde blood cardioplegia. PMID- 2627964 TI - Long-term follow-up of 100 patients with left anterior descending artery lesions treated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. AB - In order to analyse late outcome, we reviewed the data on the first 100 patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) in our institution. Their ages ranged between 40.0 and 82.3 years (mean 66.6, males 75%, females 25%). All patients were treated with the non-steerable system between September 1980 and February 1983, and followed up for 6.2-9.6 years (mean 8.5 years). The primary success rate was 73%. We were unable to cross the lesion in 19%, and 8% of the patients required emergency bypass surgery because of acute occlusion or dissection. Elective bypass surgery was required in 18% of the patients. The clinical restenosis rate was 22%. Risk factors in this patient group were: smoking 66%; hypertension 37%; elevated serum cholesterol 32% and diabetes mellitus in 7%. After an initially successful PTCA, 12 out of 73 patients required a second PTCA of the same vessel because of restenosis and three, PTCA of a new lesion in another vessel because of recurrence of angina. Fifty-four patients were asymptomatic during the follow up period of 8.5 years. Ninety-four of the 100 patients are still alive. Canadian Heart Association anginal classification of the study group was: class 0: 80 patients; class I: 11 patients; class II: three patients; class III and IV: no patient. Six patients died, there were four non-cardiac deaths because of cancer; one patient died 24 h after a myocardial infarction as a result of cardiogenic shock and ventricular septal rupture and one died suddenly 6 years after the initial PTCA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627965 TI - New interventional technology for the management of multivessel coronary artery disease. PMID- 2627966 TI - Bilateral internal thoracic artery surgery: 17-year experience. AB - Angiographic comparisons of late morphology of internal thoracic artery (ITA) and saphenous vein grafts (SVG) in the same patients established morphologic superiority of the ITA grafts (1983). 15-year clinical follow-up of 748 consecutive patients having ITA and SVGs (532) or SVGs alone (216) established the clinical advantages given to patients by ITA grafts (1986): (1) higher cumulative survival rate (P less than 0.01); (2) less early recurrence of angina (P less than 0.01); (3) fewer late myocardial infarctions (P less than 0.02); (4) lower reoperation rate (P less than 0.001). Benefits to patients having bilateral ITA grafts (38) exceeded even those of single ITA grafts: (1) operative mortality = 0%; (2) cumulative survival (10 years) = 89.0%; (3) annual recurrence of angina = 1.5%; (4) annual late myocardial infarction = 1.1%; (5) mortality rate = 0%; (6) annual reoperation rate = 0%. These data prompted routine use of bilateral ITA grafts for all patients requiring multiple bypasses, and use of each ITA for as many bypasses as seemed feasible. Since 1986, ITA anastomoses have accounted for two thirds of anastomoses in all patients requiring multiple bypasses (average 3.2 anastomoses/patient). Results have been gratifying. Potential technical pitfalls are emphasized, and means of avoiding them described. PMID- 2627967 TI - Sequential, free and Y internal thoracic artery grafts. AB - The internal thoracic artery (ITA) has excellent durability and its ability to survive for 10 years or more far exceeds the saphenous vein graft (SVG). In an attempt to improve long-term survival from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), three or more (up to six) ITA coronary anastomoses have been placed in 718 patients since 1982. Initial flow in the ITA immediately after grafting is critical to the success of the operation. Careful dissection and preparation of the ITA pedicle to prevent injury and spasm, constructing parallel and perpendicular anastomoses so the most proximal portion of the ITA is used for anastomosis and the use of the free right ITA to increase length of graft available are measures employed to increase critical flow. Actuarial survival at 6 years is 92.5% in this group of patients, which includes elderly patients, patients with left ventricular dysfunction and patients undergoing emergency operations. PMID- 2627968 TI - A 20-year experience in coronary artery reoperation. AB - We divided 2518 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery reoperation into four cohorts according to time. There were 436 patients reoperated on from 1967 1978, 439 in 1979-1981, 625 in 1982-1984, and 1018 in 1985-1987. The interval between operative procedures has lengthened from 50 months in the first cohort to 101 months in the most recent series. A review of angiographic indications reveals that vein graft atherosclerosis is the leading indication for coronary artery reoperation. Despite a changing population of reoperative surgical candidates in terms of diffuse coronary atherosclerosis and interim deterioration of left ventricular function, operative mortality has not increased. In the 1985 1987 cohort, hospital mortality was 2.7%. The perioperative myocardial infarction rate (new Q waves) of 4.0% in the most recent cohort shows a significant trend downward (P = 0.007), ascribed to better myocardial protection. The 5.4% return to the operating room for postoperative haemorrhage is significantly higher than the rate of bleeding after first surgery, but it has not changed in the past decade. Blood conservation has resulted in average blood usage of approximately two units per patient, but has risen to 2.7 units per patient in the most recent cohort. Other major morbidity is not appreciably different from that of the first operation. Internal thoracic artery patency in a largely symptomatic postreoperative population was 94% (241/256). Vein graft patency in the same time frame was 67% (726/1080). Approximately 50% of patients were angina-free 10 years postoperatively, which is below the percentage found after the first operation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627969 TI - Detrusor and compliance changes of the bladder after radical hysterectomy. AB - Disturbances of bladder function after radical hysterectomy are caused by the damage done to the pelvic nerves. Reduced radicality in cases of carcinoma cannot be discussed. In a prospective urodynamic study we checked bladder changes in patients with radical hysterectomy and compared them to those with incontinence operations. Shortly after operation compliance and detrusor function are severely reduced. After 6 months compliance is normalized, detrusor is still reduced, yet residual urine normal. The patient has learned to use abdominal pressure, thus providing a functional normality. PMID- 2627970 TI - Diagnostic value of lymphography in cervical cancer stage Ib. AB - The value of lymphography in the diagnosis of lymph node metastases was investigated in 89 patients with stage Ib cervical carcinoma. All patients underwent radical hysterectomy. The lymphography (radiological diagnosis) was compared with the histopathological examination of the corresponding lymph nodes. The positive predictive value of the lymphography was 13% and that of the negative predictive value 98%. It is concluded that lymphography is not reliable for the diagnosis of lymph node metastases in cervical cancer stage Ib. PMID- 2627971 TI - Evaluation of seven different tumour markers for the establishment of tumour marker panels in gynecologic malignancies. AB - Seven tumour markers, i.e. squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), neopterin, C-reactive protein (CRP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and deoxythymidine kinase (TK) were analysed in sera from 104 women with benign and 61 women with malignant gynecologic diseases, in order to create tumour marker panels for various gynecologic malignancies, for monitoring and prediction of disease development. The incidence of elevated tumour marker levels, in cervical carcinoma was 78% when SCC, CA 125 and CEA were used. In ovarian carcinoma one of the markers CA 125, TPA and CEA was elevated in 91% and for endometrial carcinoma the best combination of markers was SCC, CA 125 and CEA (57%). No individual marker was superior to the above combinations. However, in patients with a fatal outcome of their malignant gynecologic disease (mean survival time from serum sampling was 16 months), the incidence of death was highest among those who had TPA elevated (91%) followed by neopterin (86%) and CRP (76%). Although intercurrent diseases affected tumour marker levels the markers picked up a majority of patients with a poor prognosis. This demonstrates the importance of interpreting tumour marker results against a background of detailed clinical information. PMID- 2627972 TI - Uterine carcinosarcoma. Case report. AB - The authors describe the clinical and pathologic features of uterine carcinosarcoma. In the case of a 45 year old patient the rarity of this double tumor is pointed out. PMID- 2627973 TI - Abdominopelvic radiation for stage I-II ovarian cancer. The effect of grade on outcome. AB - The initial postoperative treatment of 31 patients with stage I-II ovarian cancer of epithelial origin, consisted of abdominopelvic radiotherapy. The 5-year survival was significantly better in stage I as compared to stage II (81.1% vs 36.3%). There was a consistent trend in both stages for better outcome in grades 1-2. This trend, however, reached statistical significance only for PFI. Most of the patients with recurrent disease had grade 3 tumors. While satisfactory treatment results may be achieved with postoperative radiotherapy for stage I-II tumors which are well or moderately differentiated, it is not recommended for undifferentiated tumors. PMID- 2627974 TI - Usefulness of a hysteroscopic follow-up on patients with breast cancer in pre- and post-menopausal age. AB - Over the last years, the high incidence of multiple primary neoplasms has been of great interest. The association between carcinoma of the breast and endometrium has been particularly emphasized; it is based on similar epidemiological factors and common hormondependence in the two tumours. Following these assumptions, the Authors present the preliminary results of hysteroscopic and histological studies including 45 patients, 24 in pre-menopausal and 21 in post-menopausal age, who have undergone a mastectomy or quadrantectomy for breast cancer in the past 5 years. They were compared with respective control groups. In pre-menopausal women, there was a higher incidence of activated and irregular endometrium, precancerous lesions (such as glandular-cystic hyperplasia) and one case of adenocarcinoma of the endometrium in a completely asymptomatic woman. On the contrary, endometrial atrophy turned out to be the most frequent hysteroscopic and histological report in post-menopausal women. This supports the hypothesis of two different types of breast cancer that occur in pre- and post-menopausal age and it suggests the utility of a hysteroscopic follow-up, only in pre-menopausal women. PMID- 2627975 TI - Treatment of advanced ovarian cancer with cisplatin, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (PAC). AB - Forty two ovarian cancer patients with residual disease after the first laparotomy were treated with the combination of cisplatin (80 mg/m2 day 1), adriamycin (50 mg/m2 i.v. day 2) and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2 i.v. day 2) (PAC). Forty women were considered evaluable for analysis, with an overall response rate (partial, plus complete responses) of 62.5%. Twelve patients (30%) obtained a complete response (histologically confirmed after second look surgery in 6 cases, surgical complete response, residual tumor completely resected in the second look-in 5 cases and maintained complete clinical remission without second look confirmation in 1 case). Main side effects were nausea and vomiting (90%), leukopenia (70%), mucositis (45%), and anemia (37%). Seventeen percent of the patients were free of disease at 60 months, after a median follow-up of 48 months. The prognostic factors that showed significant influence on survival were the Karnofski index (90-100 vs 80 or less), stage of the disease (II + III vs IV) and the volume of residual tumor after the first surgical procedure (less than or equal to 2 cms vs greater than 2 cms). Patients who achieved a complete remission have not reached the median 5 years survival, which was 10 months for the remaining patients. These results confirm the activity of PAC in ovarian cancer, mainly in those patients with residual tumor of less than 2 cms and good performance status. PMID- 2627976 TI - Correlation of proliferative activity with pathological features in breast carcinoma. AB - A presently undefined nuclear antigen recognized by the monoclonal antibody Ki 67, and the transferrin receptor (TR), both expressed by proliferating cells, were visualized in cryostat sections of 40 consecutive cases of primary breast cancer using a three-step immunoperoxidase technique. The percentages of Ki-67 and TR positive cells were determined. A strong positive correlation was observed between these two indices of proliferation (p less than 0.01). Moreover, each of them was positively related to the histological tumour grade (p less than 0.01), although the scatter in the number of proliferating cells within each grade was large. No significant relation (p greater than 0.05) was found between the percentages of Ki-67 and TR positive cells and tumor size and between these values and axillary node status. These correlations are similar to those recently reported in the relevant literature and suggest that immunohistochemical assessment of proliferative activity may prove to be an objective indicator of biological behaviour and therefore be of clinical and therapeutical importance. PMID- 2627977 TI - Immunological treatment with low dosage ciclosporin in rat liver allotransplantation. AB - Ciclosporin (CsA) was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 3 mg/kg body weight/day from the day of operation to 14 days of liver allotransplantation in ACI rat (RT1a) to LEW rat (RT1(l) strain combination. All LEW recipients of ACI liver transplants without immunosuppressive treatment had severe rejection and expired within 12 days. In contrast, 7 out of 9 recipients in the same strain combination with temporary CsA treatment survived indefinitely. Histologically, widespread cellular infiltration and massive hepatocyte necrosis were evident upon autopsy of the recipients without CsA treatment. In contrast, in the surviving rats of the CsA-treated group, mononuclear cell infiltration was restricted to the periportal field and hepatocytes appeared to be normal at 14 days posttransplant. CsA concentrations in whole blood were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The trough levels were 788 +/- 48, 621 +/- 76 and 546 +/- 52 ng/ml, at 5, 10 and 14 days posttransplant, respectively. We concluded that this relatively low-dose subcutaneous administration of CsA offered adequate immunosuppression in rat liver allotransplantation in this strain combination. PMID- 2627978 TI - Effect of hyperthermia on isolated perfused rat liver. AB - Four groups of isolated rat livers underwent perfusion at 37 degrees C for 1 h, at 37, 40, 43 or 45 degrees C, respectively, during the 2nd hour and then at 37 degrees C again for the 3rd hour. Vascular resistance slightly decreased during hyperthermia and then significantly increased after restarting normothermic perfusion. At 40 degrees C bile production, oxygen consumption, glucose and lactate release did not significantly differ from those found in the 37 degrees C group. At 43 and 45 degrees C all these parameters were significantly impaired when compared to the 37 and 40 degrees C groups and did not recover after normothermic perfusion was restored. GOT and GPT release increased in proportion to the temperature. Microscopic examination revealed normal histologic features in 37 and 40 degrees C specimens while alterations such as vacuolization and focal necrosis were found in the 43 and 45 degrees C groups. These data indicate that the highest temperature that is well tolerated by isolated rat livers for 1 h is located between 40 and 43 degrees C. PMID- 2627979 TI - Extent of hepatectomy in the rat. Evaluation of basal conditions and effect of therapy. AB - In the present study, subtotal hepatectomy was evaluated as a model of acute liver failure in the rat. Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, underwent hepatectomy under varying basal conditions of temperature and glucose administration. Rats operated and maintained postoperatively at ambient temperature (25 degrees C external environment) developed hypothermia with a rate of return to normal temperature which was related to the extent of hepatectomy and the availability of glucose postoperatively. However, no significant difference in survival was observed between groups maintained at ambient temperature and those whose core temperature was maintained at 37 degrees C by passive external warming. Severe hypoglycemia was observed in rats undergoing 90 and 95% hepatectomy without glucose postoperatively. With 20% glucose available in drinking water the mortality of 90% hepatectomy was reduced from 95 to 40% (p less than 0.0001). With increase of the hepatectomy to 95%, 90% mortality was observed despite glucose support. Transplantation of 4 x 10(7) isolated syngeneic hepatocytes intraperitoneally at the time of hepatectomy did not increase survival after 90 or 95% hepatectomy; addition of testosterone therapy did not improve survival either alone or with hepatocyte transplantation. In this study, hepatectomy exceeding 90% was lethal and did not respond to the supportive measures provided. Hepatocyte transplantation and testosterone pretreatment, both therapies which are thought to increase regeneration, were ineffective in improving survival in this resection model. PMID- 2627980 TI - Interleukin-2 and alpha interferon therapy of advanced pulmonary metastases. AB - Pulmonary metastases of a weakly immunogenic methylcholanthrene-induced murine fibrosarcoma MCA-106 were treated on day 10 for 10 days with saline, interleukin 2 (IL-2), hybrid recombinant interferon A/D (rIFN A/D) or the combination. IL 2/IFN effected greater than 99% reduction in tumor compared to saline, IL-2 or IFN alone. However, IL-2/IFN also resulted in early (less than 25 days) mortality of 33% in two consecutive experiments. Excluding these early deaths, a significant prolongation of survival resulted in 1 long-term survivor (greater than 150 days). Interruption of the 10-day treatment with a 2-day rest at 5 days abrogated early mortality, but despite significant prolongation of survival, no long-term survivors were seen. These data suggest possible clinical application of IL-2/IFN in the treatment of advanced tumor metastases but cautions of increased treatment toxicity associated with this regimen. PMID- 2627981 TI - Preventing recurrent postoperative adhesions: an experimental study in rats. AB - A peritoneal lavage model, cyclic intraperitoneal lavage (CIPL), and other adhesion preventing methods with and without fibrinolytic agents were compared to a control group without treatment in an animal study. The adhesion-preventing effect was evaluated at the site of a standardized peritoneal defect (free peritoneal grafting, P) and at the laparotomy wound (L) of 60 rats (12 escape) after surgical lysis of primary adhesions during relaparotomy In five test groups with different treatments and in a control group without treatment recurrent adhesions were investigated during relaparotomy according to an adhesion grading scale with increasing severity (O-III). In the control group only severe adhesions grade II and III were observed. The five test groups showed different distributions of grade 0-II adhesions: compared to the control group a significant difference of the preventing effect was seen after CIPL with 1.36% glucose solution (as used for peritoneal dialysis) and after CIPL with Ringer's solution at the sites P and L, after a one-time irrigation with Ringer's solution only at the peritoneal graft P. Fibrinolytic agents used in CIPL or as single dose application failed to show an improvement compared to the control group. PMID- 2627982 TI - Carbon tetrachloride-induced experimental cirrhosis in the rat: a reappraisal of the model. AB - The goal of this study was to evaluate the presence of extrahepatic damage and the uniformity and reversibility of the histological findings in CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis in the rat. To verify these findings rats were sacrificed 2 and 10 weeks after a treatment consisting of ten intragastric doses of CCl4, administered weekly. All treated rats developed an irreversible micronodular cirrhosis with no damage to the brain, kidney and pancreas. Moreover, rats sacrificed 2 weeks after the last CCl4 dose showed a number of functional alterations usually observed in man. In particular, low branched chain/aromatic amino acids (BCAA/AAA) plasma ratio, high ammonia, low zinc and high insulin with normal blood glucose were obtained. PMID- 2627983 TI - Inhibition of thrombin on subendothelium. Studies on rabbit aorta, ex vivo. AB - The endothelium plays an active role in inhibiting and promoting the activation of coagulation. Loss of the endothelial lining results in a thrombogenic state. The inactivation of thrombin on rabbit aorta after a superficial and deep injury to the vessel wall was studied. The thrombin enzymatic activity on the subendothelium could be modulated and decreased activity was found on both types of injured vessel segments when exposed to antithrombin III (AT). An increased activity by exposing the superficially injured vessels. Most probably, heparin elutes AT from the surface of the superficially injured vessels, but on the deeply injured surface no AT is present and, consequently, heparin has no effect in this respect. These results speak in favour of treatment with AT instead of heparin in cases of arterial injury. PMID- 2627984 TI - Proleukin (rIL-2): from research to reality. Proceedings of a satellite symposium at ECCO-5. London, 3rd September 1989. PMID- 2627985 TI - Clinical application of continuous infusion of recombinant interleukin-2. AB - While preclinical studies suggest a steep dose-response relationship for the anti cancer effect of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), translation of dose-intense rIL-2 to humans can be complicated by known toxicities, including hypotension, capillary leak phenomena and fluid retention. In an attempt to develop a manageable approach to dose-intense rIL-2, we have employed a continuous infusion schedule, 18 X 10(6) IU rIL-2/m2/day for five days. This treatment results in marked biological effect, and continuous infusion of rIL-2 alone or in conjunction with lymphokine-activated killer cells can result in complete remission of metastatic renal carcinoma. Treatment with continuous infusion tumour necrosis factor at 60 micrograms/m2/day for three days prior to rIL-2 may be of possible benefit in isolated cases of colon and lung carcinoma, but has not appeared to produce results superior to rIL-2 alone. Addition of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes has been of benefit in selected cases of melanoma. The most promising combination of biological agents may be rIL-2 in conjunction with alpha-interferon. Ongoing studies involving subcutaneous alpha-interferon during continuous infusion rIL-2 suggest clinical synergy with acceptable toxicity. PMID- 2627986 TI - Proceedings of the International Conference on Multiple Myeloma. Biology, pathophysiology, prognosis and treatment. June 19-22, 1989, Bologna, Italy. PMID- 2627987 TI - Ex vivo treatment of myeloma cells by 4-HC, VP-16, LAK cells and antibodies. AB - To assess the usefulness of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) and Etoposide (VP-16) as a purging agent for myeloma cells in bone marrow ex-vivo, myeloma cell lines (SK-RCS-1, RPMI-8226), lymphoma cell line (SK-DHL-2) and normal bone marrow (BM) cells were treated at different concentrations of 4-HC, VP-16. In separate experiments, LAK cells or antibodies were also used to treat the above cell lines. Clonogenic tumor cells from all three cell lines could be reduced by more than 4 logs, when treated alone or as a mixture with irradiated normal bone marrow cells at a 4-HC concentration of 60 mumol/l. Under similar conditions, approximately 1% of normal BM myeloid progenitor granulocyte-macrophage colony forming cells (CFU-GM) survived. The results with LAK cells and antibodies were also encouraging. These observations support the use of various purging methods for myeloma cells for autologous bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2627988 TI - Ex vivo bone marrow purging with immunotoxins. PMID- 2627989 TI - Autologous bone marrow transplantation with immunotoxin-purged marrow for advanced multiple myeloma. AB - A system to purge the bone marrow of myeloma cells has been developed in our laboratories with the aim of treating with myeloablative radiochemotherapy patients suffering from advanced multiple myeloma. This system is based on the ex vivo incubation of the marrow with an immunotoxin composed of the 8A monoclonal antibody--that recognizes plasma cells and B-cell precursors--and the ribosome inactivating protein momordin. 8 patients have so far been treated. 4 are surviving from 4 to 18 months after ABMT, whereas 4 died after 1 to 6 months, 2 from infections, 1 from relapsing disease and 1 from veno-occlusive disease. A marked tumour reduction was observed in all evaluable patients; however, none has achieved complete disappearance of the disease. The haemopoietic reconstitution was significantly delayed in 3 patients. These preliminary results show the feasibility of this approach in advanced MM patients with heavily infiltrated marrow. The place of ABMT in the treatment of MM remains to be determined; the selection of patients with still responding and less advanced disease would probably produce better results. PMID- 2627990 TI - Phenotypic and functional characterization of normal and malignant terminal B (plasma) cells. AB - A number of antigens (Ags) are expressed on normal and malignant terminal B (plasma) cells, including plasma-cell, earlier B-cell, and non-B cell-Ags. These Ags, coupled with indirect and dual fluorochrome labelling techniques, permit characterization of normal and malignant in vitro and in vivo terminal B-cell differentiation. The majority (90%) of B cells within spleen bear Bl and lack PCA 1 Ags. As B cells differentiate to pokeweed mitogen in vitro, immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion precedes the appearance of cell surface PCA-1 and plasmacytoid morphology. Dual fluorescence cell sorting permits characterization of in vivo B cell differentiation: Bl + PCA-1 + cells are more "differentiated" since they are more prevalent in lymph node than spleen, exhibit plasmacytoid morphology and maximal Ig secretion, and no longer respond to triggers of B-cell proliferation; in contrast, Bl + PCA-1-cells are lymphoid in morphology and may respond to triggers of B-cell proliferation as "resting" B cells. Similar studies of myeloma cells demonstrated that they may also include cells expressing plasma-cell, earlier B, and non-B cell Ags. Although they neither proliferated nor secreted Ig in vitro to G/M-CSF, G-CSF, M-CSF, IL-1, IL-1B, IL-2, or IL-4, proliferation without Ig secretion (Stimulation Index greater than or equal to 3.0) was induced to IL-6 in 6 of 10 patients (pts); to IL-3 (2 pts) and to IL-5 (2 pts).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2627991 TI - Circulating malignant precursors in monoclonal gammopathies. AB - Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 14 patients with multiple myeloma (MM), 3 patients with benign monoclonal gammopathy, 3 patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia (WM) and 2 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) were cultured in vitro in the presence of IL-3 and IL-6. After 3 days, actively proliferating immunoblast-like B cells were apparent in 12/14 cases of MM, 0/3 BMG, 3/3 WM and 0/2 B-CLL. After 6 d, B blasts had evolved into morphologically evident plasma cells expressing the specific monoclonal light and heavy chains. The data indicate that the concerted action of IL-3 and IL-6 synergistically promotes the proliferation and differentiation of circulating plasmacell precursors in malignant monoclonal gammopathies. PMID- 2627992 TI - Histology and immunohistology of bone marrow biopsy in multiple myeloma. AB - B5-fixed/paraffin-embedded Jamshidi needle biopsies from 125 multiple myeloma patients were reviewed according to both morphological and immunohistological criteria. At microscopic examination, the following parameters were evaluated: i) grade of malignancy (low = 56; intermediate = 50; high = 19); ii) growth pattern (interstitial +/- sheets/nodules = 90; nodular = 13; packed marrow = 18; sarcomatous = 4); III) histological stage (I = 64; II = 35; III = 26). Comparison of the findings in trephine biopsies and aspirates showed that in 30% of the cases the latter led to an underestimation of the tumor burden. Immunohistochemical determination of Ig easily allowed: i) differential diagnosis from exuberant reactive plasmacytosis; ii) recognition and counting of neoplastic plasma cells; iii) detection of minimal residual disease after treatment. Immunohistochemistry also confirmed phenotypic aberration of neoplastic plasma cells, showing positivity for CD45, EMA, and cytokeratins in 14%, 59%, and 25% of the cases, respectively. Furthermore, it displayed expression of the P glycoprotein in 4/8 resistant cases. These findings underline that routinely processed Jamshidi needle biopsies can be of great value in the study of patients with multiple myeloma. PMID- 2627993 TI - Prognostic factors in multiple myeloma: the M.D. Anderson experience. PMID- 2627994 TI - [The clinical picture and diagnosis of acute pneumonia]. PMID- 2627995 TI - [The prevention and ambulatory treatment of acute pneumonia]. PMID- 2627996 TI - [Hyperparathyroid crisis (the clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment)]. PMID- 2627997 TI - [Arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint]. PMID- 2627998 TI - [The emergency therapy of acute states in coal miners]. PMID- 2627999 TI - [The rapid identification of standard sizes of school furniture]. PMID- 2628000 TI - [The prevention of drug abuse and addiction by paramedical workers]. PMID- 2628001 TI - [The abstinence syndrome]. PMID- 2628002 TI - [The prevention of trauma and accidents in infants in the 1st year of life]. PMID- 2628003 TI - [Arterial hypotension and pregnancy]. PMID- 2628004 TI - [Climacteric cardioneurosis]. PMID- 2628005 TI - [The climacteric syndrome]. PMID- 2628006 TI - [The feeding of premature infants]. PMID- 2628007 TI - [The reactivity of the major vessels of the human brain based on the data of transcranial dopplerography]. AB - Clinico-physiological studies of 426 healthy subjects revealed normal parameters of the blood flow linear velocity along the extra- and intracranial portions of major cerebral vessels as determined by means of transcranial dopplerography. Normal parameters of the systolic-diastolic coefficient, the reactivity of major vessels and their pial draining network were studied in respect to their responses to functional loads of physical and chemical character which enabled one to determine functional possibilities of the cerebral circulation system. The ability of the dopplerographic technique was assessed in respect to studying of separate control mechanisms of the brain circulation system. PMID- 2628008 TI - [The antiaggregation activity of the normal cerebral vessels and in ischemia]. PMID- 2628009 TI - [The variously directed reactions of the pial and cortical arterial branches in postischemic hyperemia in the cerebral cortex]. AB - In adult rabbits, functional behaviour of pial and cortical (radial) arteries was rather different: the pial arteries showed regular dilatation while the lumen of the cortical arteries underwent regular reduction. Despite the different responses of the arterial segments, the vascular resistance diminished entailing an increase of local blood flow in the cerebral cortex. PMID- 2628010 TI - [The functional organization of autoregulation of local cerebral blood flow in spontaneously hypertensive rats in ontogeny]. AB - The autoregulation of local cerebral blood flow in the cortex of 5, 8-10-, 16-20- and 46-50-week old spontaneously hypertensive rats involved responses to raising or lowering systemic blood pressure, reflecting an interaction among myogenic, neurogenic and metabolic mechanisms. In formation and stabilization of spontaneous hypertension, a reorganization of the autoregulation of local cerebral blood flow depending upon the level of blood pressure, occurred. The myogenic component seems to play a major role in the mechanisms of maintenance of constant blood supply in micro-areas of the brain in acute shifts of the blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. PMID- 2628011 TI - [The blood circulation and oxygen tension in the brain of waking and narcotized rabbits during head-down tilt exposure]. AB - The hydrogen clearance technique was used in anesthetized and intact rabbits for studying the changes in the local blood flow in the parietal brain cortex. Phasic changes in the blood flow in the parietal, frontal, occipital, temporal lobes of the brain cortex and changes in the volume rate of the blood flow in the basin of the brain venous sinuses, as well as the oxygen saturation in these zones, were studied in anesthetized rabbits by polarographic method during antiorthostatism (45 degrees) for 30 min. The differences in the reaction of the brain vessels to antiorthostatism were particularly obvious within the first minutes. PMID- 2628012 TI - [The age-related characteristics of the effect of vasopressin on the vascular smooth muscles of the human brain]. AB - Vasopressin was shown to cause a concentration-dependent relaxation of human basilar [correction of bacillary] artery's smooth muscles. In old age, the reactivity of these muscles in decreased and tachyphylaxis to vasopressin disappeared. This seems to be connected with a decrease in the quantity of smooth muscle's V2-inhibitory receptors. Protein kinase C activation does not affect molecular mechanisms of vasopressin action on human basilar [correction of bacillary] artery's smooth muscles. The data obtained suggest vasopressin participation in regulation of human cerebral blood flow and a limitation of adaptive properties of brain vessels' smooth muscles in old age. These factors, apparently, play a role in development of the brain circulation pathology in old men. PMID- 2628013 TI - [Ways to optimize the cerebral circulation during extreme actions on the brain]. AB - The effect of mildronate (25 mg/kg, i.v.) administration during 14 days on the restoration of cerebral blood flow and vascular reactivity after local lesions and ischemia, was studied in rabbits. The effect involved an improvement of restorative processes due to a faster normalizing of reactivity of cerebral vessels. The latter seems to be more important for optimization of cerebral blood flow after extreme effects than the absolute level of the cerebral blood flow. PMID- 2628014 TI - [The protective action of different types and regimens of adaptation to hypoxia on the development of stress-induced lesions in KM strain (Krushinskii-Molodkina) rats]. AB - The effect of preliminary adaptation to hypoxia on the development of stress induced lesions was studied on the model of acoustic stress in the Krushinskii Molodkina line rats genetically predisposed to audiogenic seizures. At different regimens of adaptation to hypoxia (long- and short-term, continuous, intermittent), a decrease of the death rate, severity of motor disorders, incidence and degree of intracranial hemorrhages occurred. Only when using a hypoxic gas mixture, a reduction of excitability of the c.n.s. was revealed: the latency increased whereas the intensity of the seizure decreased. Two-hour normobaric hypoxic stimulation prevented an increase in the lipid peroxidation products and contributed to a rise of cyclic nucleotides concentration in the brain hemispheres of the KM line rats exposed to acoustic stress. PMID- 2628015 TI - [Effect of unilateral occlusion of the carotid artery on cerebral blood flow of rats under hypoxia]. AB - The occlusion of a carotid artery reduced local cerebral blood flow to 32 +/- 3.4% in ipsilateral hemisphere of rats. Local cerebral blood flow decreased on the average by 18-11.3% in the contralateral hemisphere. The total cerebral blood flow in occlusion increased on the average by 19 +/- 4.9% in all the experiments. In conditions of the barochamber hypoxia, the reduction of local cerebral blood flow grew up to 46 +/- 6% in ipsilateral hemisphere. The contralateral hemisphere blood flow decreased by 55 +/- 3.9% in the hypoxia. The total cerebral blood flow decreased insignificantly in the hypoxia. PMID- 2628016 TI - [Cerebral blood flow function during altered cholinergic mediation]. AB - The study of cerebral blood flow was performed with the aid of hydrogen clearance technique and the cinema-television method in alteration of cholinergic transmission by means of phosphorus-organic inhibitors of cholinesterase and a cholinolytic agent in unanesthetized rats. The enzyme inhibition by 60-70% sharply increased the velocity of blood flow in the microvessels of cerebral cortex and in the sagittal sinus. A considerable vasodilation of pial vessels occurred. Atropine administration reduced the velocity of both the cortical and the total blood flow, increasing the lumen of pial vessels in intact animals. Whereas atropine administration against the background of the inhibitors action normalized the blood low velocity with no elimination of the vasodilation of pial arteries. The findings suggest that atropine widely used in poisoning with various inhibitors of cholinesterase, does not normalize the tonus of cerebral vessels. PMID- 2628017 TI - [The role of dopamine in regulating the cerebral circulation in extreme conditions]. AB - In acute experiments on anesthetized cats, the perfusion of dopamine (100 micrograms/kg.min) during 35 minutes after cerebral ischemia inhibited the development of postischemic phenomena. Dopamine was found to exert a considerable effect on the oxidative metabolism in the brain. The responses of cerebral, peripheral vessels and systemic arterial pressure to dopamine (25 and 75 micrograms/kg) in conditions of blood autoperfusion with cooled blood did not differ significantly from those in normothermia. The problem of dopamine participation in the organism adaptive responses to extreme conditions, is discussed. PMID- 2628018 TI - [The effect of electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nuclei on local blood flow in the brain]. AB - In acute experiments on unanesthetized cats, continuous recording revealed an increase (30%) as well as a decrease (70%) in local blood flow in the sensomotor cortex of the left hemisphere in response to electrical stimulation (30 Hz, 30 V) of the contralateral fastigial nuclei of cerebellum. The stimulation seems to lead to a primary vasoconstriction as well as vasodilatation of the blood vessels regulating the local cerebral blood flow. PMID- 2628019 TI - [Comparative effect of the action of calcium antagonists on cerebral blood flow]. PMID- 2628020 TI - [New possibilities for the electrical impedance method of evaluating brain tissue status]. PMID- 2628021 TI - [The determination of the lower limit of autoregulation of cerebral blood flow by vascular compression in a local area of the brain]. PMID- 2628022 TI - [The hydrogen clearance method for evaluating the blood supply of nerve trunks]. PMID- 2628023 TI - [A method for the thermostatic control of biological objects in the in vivo television microscopy of microvessels]. PMID- 2628024 TI - [The brain catecholamine system in narcotic-dependent rats under the action of oxytocin]. AB - Intraventricular injection of oxytocin exerted a selective effect on catecholamine metabolism in microchondrial fractions of different brain formations of normal and narcotic drug-dependent animals. The drug-dependent group showed a higher level of the brain catecholamines as compared to the controls, oxytocin decreasing the catecholamine level in this group. The oxytocin modulatory role in the processes of narcotic drug-dependence, is discussed. PMID- 2628025 TI - [The participation of the amygdaloid complex in the conditioned reflex learning of dogs]. AB - Electric stimulation (50 Hz) of baso-lateral amygdala aided to differentiated inhibition during stimulation of the same structure with the 5-Hz current. The rate od development of positive and inhibitory conditioning, its quantitative characteristics, the degree of differentiated inhibition in response to the amygdala stimulation were higher than in case of acoustic stimuli. The comparison of velocity and dynamics of the process of activation of two structures related to different levels of neural integration: the limbic and the striatal (caudate nucleus) ones, shows that the activation of neural elements of the limbic structure much faster acquires a signal significance than in case of the caudate nucleus. PMID- 2628026 TI - [The effect of stressfully loud sound on motor asymmetry in rats]. AB - In 43 female Wistar rats, a loud sound did not alter the asymmetry in behavioral tests even if is was loud enough to induce seizure. Under apomorphine test, the sound tended to decelerate the rotation, the asymmetry being preserved both in sound-activated and in sound-resistant subgroups. A shortening of the rotation onset latency occurred in sound-activated subgroup which may be associated with an increased permeability of the hemato-encephalic barrier following the sound induced seizure. PMID- 2628027 TI - [The relationship between rigidity and strength in the skinned fiber of rabbit skeletal muscle]. AB - In single chemically skinned fibers of the rabbit skeletal muscle in the state of rigour and the calcium activation, the interrelationship between the strength and rigidity, in change of the sarcomeres length from 2.4 to 3.0 microns, of free calcium concentration (pCa = 6.75 +/- 5.5) and of interfilament distance, was studied. The strength-rigidity ratio under these conditions was found to be near to 1. The change in the sarcomeres length was also shown to affect the interrelationship pCa--strength, pCa--rigidity on account of the growth of the cooperation coefficient in the Hill equation. PMID- 2628028 TI - [Changes in arterial pressure in teenage boys and girls under emotional tension]. AB - In 179 healthy youths and 176 young girls, 4 types of the cardiovascular system responses to the "quanta" of behaviour accompanied by emotional tension, were singled out. Girls less frequently responded with an increase in arterial pressure owing to a peripheral link of the circulation providing a relatively safe adaptation to the stress effects. The greatest changes of the cardiac hemodynamics occurred during "decision making" and "the first success" in girls, and during "socially significant" activity in youths. The used approach permitted to single out subjects predisposed to arterial hypertension. PMID- 2628029 TI - [The characteristics of the effect of catecholamines on the relaxation of ventricular myocardium in warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals]. AB - The relaxation of the frog myocardium is decelerated by addition of adrenaline (10(-8)-10(-6) M) into the perfusion solution. The catecholamines in low concentrations up to 5.10(-8) M decelerate the relaxation, and in higher concentrations accelerate the drop of mechanical tension in capillary muscles of the cat ventricular myocardium. The catecholamines effects exerted upon the relaxation of myocardium seem to depend on a cooperative interaction among the calcium-troponine complexes at the actine filaments. PMID- 2628030 TI - [The characteristics of the F1 hybrids of spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats]. AB - The F1 hybrids between SHR and WKY rats develop borderline hypertension and may be used as a model for the study of interaction of hereditary and environmental factors in the development of hypertension. In order to characterize this model, arterial pressure level, body mass and some behavioral features were studied in the SHR, WKY rats and in two types of their reciprocal F1 hybrids. The arterial pressure level of the F1 hybrids was clove to limits of the borderline hypertension and to midparental level. F1 hybrids differ from normotensive controls in their behavioral activity and in salt appetite. These peculiarities may be related to an enhanced sensitivity of F1 rats to stresses and to salt loads. No essential reciprocal or sex differences were found in the character of inheritance of the features under study. Therefore both types of reciprocal F1 hybrids and both sexes of hybrid animals may be used as a model of the borderline hypertension. PMID- 2628031 TI - [Local cortical and medullary blood flows to the single kidney in chemical sympathectomy]. AB - Topological shifts of intracortical and intramedullary blood flow were studied with the hydrogen clearance technique in the single kidney of Wistar rats. A hyperperfusion of the cortex due to contralateral nephrectomy and vasodilating effect of sympatholytic agent, was found during first 24 hours. Cortical blood flow decreased and medullary one increased within 7 days, which was due to compensatory shifts in the kidney necessary for the adaptation of the kidney to the tissue deficit of adrenergic transmitter, and for the maintenance of the water-salt homeostasis in conditions of a systemic peripheral sympathectomy . PMID- 2628032 TI - [The pump function of the lymphangion and the effect on it of different hydrostatic conditions]. AB - In isolated bovine mesenteric lymphangions, the dependence of their productivity on the values of the end-diastolic pressure and the gradients of hydrostatic pressure, was revealed. The maximum of a lymphangion's productivity took place about 10 cm H2O of intravascular pressure. Negative hydrostatic gradient depressed the pump function whereas positive one activated it. Variable hydrodynamic pressure gradients seem to exist in lymphatic vessels. PMID- 2628033 TI - [The neurophysiological correlates of the immune reaction under the conditions of an altered immune response]. AB - The functional state of the rabbit hypothalamic structures was studied during induction of immune tolerance and memory and after antigen administration in tolerant and nontolerant animals. Reaction of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus was the most obvious. Tolerant and nontolerant animals differed in their shifts of the DC potential level after i.v. injection of immunogen, the amplitude of the DC potential shifts being minimal in tolerant animals. PMID- 2628034 TI - [The dynamic activity of the hepatic interstitial volume receptors under conditions of varying stimulation]. AB - The activity of single functional units with interstitial and vasal-interstitial patterns of discharge were studied in different kinds of stimulation: repeated infusions of saline with 10-min. intervals or continuous long-term infusions of hypertonic sodium chloride solutions into the portal vein, during and after acute block of hepatic venous outflow. The former infusions potentiated responses of these units. The long-term infusions of hypertonic NaCl solutions led to durable responses with a delayed onset and/or maximal manifestation. The data obtained suggests a major role of these receptors in the sodium balance control under normal and pathological conditions. PMID- 2628035 TI - [The characteristics of porphyrin metabolism and of the erythron indices under the joint action of heat and physical loading on the body in rats]. AB - Exercise was shown to activate the proliferation of red cells and their hemoglobin synthesis. Combination of heat exposure and physical exercise inhibited these processes. PMID- 2628036 TI - [The effect of ethanol on the duration of the inhibitory pause in the discharge of cerebellar Purkinje cells in young rats]. PMID- 2628037 TI - [Dynamic erythrocyte deformability in rats after blood loss]. PMID- 2628038 TI - [An analysis of the mechanisms of the acceleration of the heart beats occurring during vagus nerve stimulation]. PMID- 2628039 TI - [The effect of the delta-sleep peptide on the homocarnosine content of the brain in rats under the action of cold stress]. PMID- 2628040 TI - [A method for the polygraphic recording of data under microwave radiation conditions]. PMID- 2628041 TI - Home blood glucose monitoring, glycosylated hemoglobin and fructosamine: their relationships in diabetic patients with and without residual C-peptide secretion. AB - HbA1c and fructosamine (F) were determined at monthly intervals in insulin treated diabetic outpatients with (n = 25; C-peptide [+]) and without (n = 30; C peptide [-]) residual B-cell function (post-prandial C-peptide: 0.76 +/- 0.33 and less than or equal to 0.09 pmol/ml, respectively; mean +/- SD), performing home blood glucose monitoring (HBGM) (40 determinations/month; memory containing reflectometer) during 4 months. Mean monthly blood glucose did not change with time and was equivalent in both groups (9.3 +/- 3.3 and 9.4 +/- 2.0 mmol/l). The magnitude of glycemic excursions was lower in C-peptide [+] than C-peptide [-] patients (mean intra-individual coefficients of variation: 31% and 47%, respectively; P less than 0.001). Overall mean HbA1c was of 7.12 +/- 1.32 and 7.30 +/- 1.06% and F levels were of 44 +/- 6 and 48 +/- 7 mumol/g protein (P less than 0.001) in the C-peptide [+] and [-] groups, respectively. In C-peptide [+] patients, HbA1c strongly correlated with prior mean monthly blood glucose at all visits (range of r valeurs = 0.71-0.84; P less than 0.001); the relation between F and mean monthly blood glucose was always significant but weaker (r = 0.48 0.62; P less than 0.05-0.001). In C-peptide [-] patients, HbA1c correlated weakly with mean blood glucose, only when averaged over 8 weeks (r = 0.40-0.59; P less than 0.05-0.001) but F did not correlate with blood glucose, whether averaged over 1-8 week periods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628042 TI - Programme of education for obese patients. Preliminary results after one year. AB - We have evaluated the effects of a Programme of education for Obese Patients with a duration of 12 hours on weight loss and the modification of other indices for cardiovascular risk in 88 obese patients, during the first year of therapy. The BMI dropped from 33.1 +/- 0.2 Kg/m2 to 31.7 +/- 0.7 (p less than 0.01) and 30.9 +/- 0.7) (p less than 0.01) at 5 and 10 weeks respectively, stabilizing subsequently at 35 and at 55 weeks. This was accompanied by a decrease of the triglycerides levels (141 +/- 9 vs 111 +/- 6 mg/dl; p less than 0.01) and of the total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio (4.7 +/- 0.3 vs 4.2 +/- 0.12; p less than 0.05), as well as of the values for systolic blood pressure (143 +/- 3 vs 121 +/- 3 mm Hg; p less than 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure 81 +/- 2 vs 64 +/- 1 mm Hg; p less than 0.01) at the end of the study. In terms of OGTT, initially 23 patients were classified as diabetic (BMI 32 +/- 0.9 Kg/m2), 25 presented intolerance to carbohydrates (BMI 34.1 +/- 1.6 Kg/m2) and 40 were normal (BMI 33.2 +/- 1.2 Kg/m2). The weight loss in the first 5 weeks was less in patients with diabetes then in those with carbohydrate intolerance and in the normal patients (2.2 vs 3.7 vs 5.9 Kg; p less than 0.01). From the 10th week on no differences were recorded.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628043 TI - Selection of patients with symptomatic diabetic neuropathy for clinical trials. AB - Two hundred and fourteen patients with prima-facie evidence of symptomatic diabetic neuropathy were considered for inclusion in a clinical trial. Only 50 patients (24%) fulfilled all the clinical and electrophysiological criteria for entry. One hundred and nine patients (51%) were excluded on clinical grounds alone. Reasons for exclusion included the presence of alternative causes of neuropathy (15%), peripheral vascular disease (10%), proximal or asymmetrical neuropathies (11%), renal impairment (5%), nerve entrapment (4%), cerebrovascular disease (2%) and amputations (2%) with miscellaneous conditions accounting for the remaining 2%. Of the 105 patients who satisfied the clinical entry requirements another 55 patients (26%) were excluded by electrophysiological criteria. Peroneal motor nerve conduction velocity was unrecordable or unacceptably reduced (less than 30 m/s) in 42% of these patients, sensory nerve potentials were unrecordable in 8% and median nerve compression was evident in another 3%. The selection of cohorts for clinical trials in diabetic neuropathy involves careful consideration of clinical and electrophysiological features of the patients and exclusion of alternative causes of neuropathy. PMID- 2628044 TI - Trapping drug efficiency in liposomes produced by extrusion of freeze-thaw multilamellar vesicles. PMID- 2628045 TI - Influence of lipid characteristics on the encapsulation efficiency and stability of liposomes. PMID- 2628046 TI - Desferrioxamine and membrane oxidation: radical scavenger or iron chelator? PMID- 2628047 TI - Mechanisms of trans-chloride activation of a Cl-/H+ symport in brush-border membrane vesicles from guinea-pig ileum. PMID- 2628048 TI - Chlorpromazine is unable to block the protein kinase C translocation to human platelet plasma membranes stimulated by phorbol ester. PMID- 2628049 TI - Regulation of acetylcholinesterase associated with platelet plasma membranes by changes in the environment. PMID- 2628050 TI - Sexual dimorphism of cytochrome P-450 induction by hexachlorobenzene in rats. PMID- 2628051 TI - Studies of testosterone metabolism in equine placental tissue. PMID- 2628052 TI - Biotransformation of 5(10)-estrene-3 alpha,17 beta-diol by equine testicular preparations in vitro. PMID- 2628053 TI - Phenytoin stimulation of testosterone metabolism in inflamed human gingival fibroblasts. PMID- 2628054 TI - Species differences in specificity of hydrocarbon-inducible forms of cytochrome P 450. PMID- 2628055 TI - Identification of surface regions of cytochromes P-450 using anti-peptide antibodies. PMID- 2628056 TI - Ontogeny of expression, inducibility and distribution of cytochromes P-450 forms 4 and 6 in rabbit liver. PMID- 2628057 TI - Catalytic activity of human and bovine adrenal cytochromes P-450 17 alpha, lyase expressed in Cos 1 cells. PMID- 2628058 TI - Interindividual variation in the expression of human cytochrome P-450III forms. PMID- 2628059 TI - Stress predisposes rats to hepatic oxidative damage. PMID- 2628060 TI - Glycoproteins of cultured explants of fetal cerebellum. PMID- 2628061 TI - The N-linked oligosaccharides of bovine skin proteodermatan sulphate. PMID- 2628062 TI - High-mannose dolichol-linked oligosaccharides in infantile ceroid-lipofuscinosis. PMID- 2628063 TI - O-linked oligosaccharides from human serum immunoglobulin A1. PMID- 2628064 TI - Specificity of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase for natural substrates. PMID- 2628065 TI - Selection of radioactive precursors for metabolic labelling of mucus glycoproteins. PMID- 2628066 TI - Serine hydroxymethyltransferase activity during the growth of MOLT-4 cells in culture. PMID- 2628067 TI - Inhibition of epidermal growth factor-stimulated hepatocyte proliferation by the metallocarcinogen beryllium. PMID- 2628068 TI - Fatty acid inhibition of concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. PMID- 2628069 TI - Oxidation of branched-chain amino acids in tumor-bearing rats. PMID- 2628070 TI - Effects of tumour necrosis factor on hepatic amino acid uptake. PMID- 2628071 TI - Rat liver protein synthesis after partial hepatectomy. PMID- 2628072 TI - Characterization of a human tumour cell line panel for screening of anti-tumour agents in vitro. PMID- 2628073 TI - Methotrexate increases the activation and cytotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil: detected by 19F n.m.r. in vivo. PMID- 2628074 TI - A radioimmunoassay for deoxythymidine triphosphate. PMID- 2628075 TI - Phospholipids are visible in 31P n.m.r. spectra of human breast tumours. PMID- 2628076 TI - Molecular graphic displays of antibody-antigen interactions. PMID- 2628077 TI - Establishment and preliminary characterization of a new myeloma cell line, C23/11. PMID- 2628078 TI - A monoclonal antibody-based immunoassay for the polyamines spermine and spermidine. PMID- 2628079 TI - Production of C- and N-terminus-specific anti-(GAP-43) antibodies. PMID- 2628080 TI - Quantification of total IgG levels against alpha-casein in human serum samples. PMID- 2628081 TI - IgG subclasses to specific food proteins in human adults. PMID- 2628082 TI - Blood clearance in the mouse of an aglycosyl recombinant monoclonal antibody. PMID- 2628083 TI - Development of a 3,3',5-tri-iodothyronine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. PMID- 2628084 TI - Peroxisomal and mitochondrial proliferation and increased alanine: glyoxylate aminotransferase activity in human liver after chlorpromazine-induced cholestasis. PMID- 2628085 TI - Species differences in the hepatic response to a potent peroxisome proliferator. PMID- 2628086 TI - Effects of intermittent feeding of rats with di-2-ethylhexylphthalate. PMID- 2628087 TI - Enzymes of plasmalogen biosynthesis in microperoxisomes of guinea-pig intestinal mucosa. PMID- 2628088 TI - Separate peroxisomal oxidases for long-chain acyl-CoA and trihydroxycoprostanoyl CoA. PMID- 2628089 TI - Effect of epidermal growth factor on acid and pepsinogen secretion by rat isolated stomach cells stimulated with forskolin. PMID- 2628090 TI - Enzyme storage--to freeze or not to freeze? PMID- 2628091 TI - Labelling of cysteine proteinases in purified lysosomes. PMID- 2628092 TI - Co-ordinate diurnal variations in the activities of cholesterol-metabolizing enzymes in the rat mammary gland. PMID- 2628093 TI - Membrane sorting during vesicle shedding from neutrophils during sublytic complement attack. PMID- 2628094 TI - Control of acetoacetate production from exogenous palmitoyl-CoA in isolated rat liver mitochondria. PMID- 2628095 TI - Possible importance of glycogen in human adipose tissue. PMID- 2628096 TI - How could a cell regulate its internal Pi concentration? PMID- 2628097 TI - Lipid-peptide interactions: 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance and differential scanning calorimetric study of staphylococcal delta-lysin on liposomes. PMID- 2628098 TI - Improved radioimmunoassay of prostaglandins with commercial antisera. PMID- 2628099 TI - Observations of the fusion and haemolytic activity of influenza virus by digital fluorescence imaging. PMID- 2628100 TI - Quantification of submicroscopic particles using digital imaging fluorescence microscopy: application to low-density lipoprotein receptors. PMID- 2628101 TI - Influence of developmental stage on glycogenolysis and glycolysis in hepatocytes isolated from chick embryos and neonates. PMID- 2628102 TI - Fatty liver and plasma corticosterone levels in chronically alcohol- and pair-fed rats. PMID- 2628103 TI - Morphometric and biochemical evidence for inhibited very-low-density-lipoprotein secretion in chronic low-fat alcohol-fed rats. PMID- 2628104 TI - Invasion strategies and intracellular growth of bacterial pathogens. PMID- 2628105 TI - Interaction of Legionella pneumophila with tissue culture cells. PMID- 2628106 TI - Differential growth characteristics of adipocyte percursor cells derived from the white adipose tissue of the chicken (Gallus domesticus). PMID- 2628107 TI - Site-related variations in the behaviour of ovine adipocyte precursor cells grown in culture. PMID- 2628108 TI - Regulation of inhibition of a protease on the surface of human colonic tumour cells. PMID- 2628109 TI - Immunological properties of the multicatalytic proteinase. PMID- 2628110 TI - Measurement of fibroblast collagen synthesis and degradation by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. PMID- 2628111 TI - A human liver cDNA showing sequence similarity with the human glutathione peroxidase gene. PMID- 2628112 TI - Detection of a single-Mr species of lipoprotein lipase in rat adipocyte plasma membranes. PMID- 2628113 TI - Conversion of choline to betaine in young rats: a 1H n.m.r. spectroscopic study. PMID- 2628114 TI - Solid model representations of a multimeric protein. PMID- 2628115 TI - Screening of 'kargasok tea.' I: Anorexia and obesity. PMID- 2628116 TI - Effects of blood storage on carrier mobility of the system L amino acid transporter in human erythrocytes. PMID- 2628117 TI - Zinc concentration is increased in denser erythrocytes. PMID- 2628118 TI - Biotechnology aspects of lipids. 19-21 December 1988, London. Proceedings. PMID- 2628119 TI - Biotechnology--an overview of the opportunities for the chemical industry. PMID- 2628120 TI - Lipase-catalysed reactions in low-water organic media: effects of water activity and chemical modification. PMID- 2628121 TI - Enzymes in organic solvents. PMID- 2628122 TI - Tailored triacylglycerols and esters. PMID- 2628123 TI - Membrane structure and dynamics. Bilbao, Spain, 6-9 July 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2628124 TI - Predictive analysis of axial amphipathy: its application to structural studies of membrane-spanning proteins. PMID- 2628125 TI - Interaction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents on monolayers: an approach for understanding the entrapment of drugs in liposomes. PMID- 2628126 TI - Importance of the purification grade of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein on the stability and permeability properties of N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine liposomes. PMID- 2628127 TI - Molecular aspects of alpha-sarcin penetration in phospholipid bilayers. PMID- 2628128 TI - Clinofibrate therapy raises high-density lipoprotein levels and lowers atherogenic index in diabetes mellitus patients. AB - The effects of clinofibrate on serum lipoprotein concentrations, lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity and atherogenic index were studied in 10 diabetes mellitus patients. The patients comprised five with well-controlled non insulin-dependent diabetes, and five with poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes; six non-insulin-dependent diabetics acted as placebo controls. No adverse side-effects were reported and there were no significant changes in total cholesterol, triglyceride or high-density lipoprotein 3-cholesterol concentrations following 600 mg/kg clinofibrate treatment for 4 weeks in either insulin-dependent or non-insulin-dependent diabetics. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity were significantly (P less than 0.05) increased by clinofibrate treatment in insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetics and high-density lipoprotein 2-cholesterol concentrations were significantly (P less than 0.05) increased by clinofibrate in insulin-dependent diabetics. The atherogenic index was significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced in non-insulin-dependent diabetics. It is suggested that the enhanced plasma lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity following clinofibrate therapy is the result of increased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein 2-cholesterol concentrations and may play a central role in the efficacy of clinofibrate. PMID- 2628129 TI - Urinary oxalate recovery after oral oxalic load: an alternative method to the quantitative determination of stool fat for the diagnosis of lipid malabsorption. AB - Urinary oxalate concentrations were measured in 45 patients with quiescent Crohn's disease, four patients with chronic pancreatitis and five healthy subjects after a normal oxalate (150 g/day) diet, after a high-fat (150 g/day), normal oxalate diet and after and after a high-oxalate (500 mg/day) diet. Urinary oxalate concentrations were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in patients with Crohn's disease and steatorrhoea, but not in those with chronic pancreatitis, after administrating a high-oxalate diet compared with healthy subjects. Mean oxalate values were 19.1 mg/24 h in controls compared with 65.8 mg/24 h in Crohn's disease patients. A direct correlation (r = 0.37, P less than 0.01) was established between faecal rats and urinary oxalate after oval oxalate load: this correlation (r = 0.43, P less than 0.01) is closer when only patients with Crohn's disease are considered. The study, therefore, confirmed a correlation between steatorrhoea and hyperoxaluria in patients with Crohn's disease; however, the high percentage of false positive results limits the use of urinary oxalate concentrations as a reliable indicator of lipid malabsorption. It is concluded that, at present, measurement of urinary oxalate cannot be recommended as a valid alternative to the Van de Kamer method for diagnosing lipid malabsorption. PMID- 2628130 TI - Oral bioavailability of ampicillin and amoxycillin alone and bound in fixed proportions to sulbactam and clavulanic acid. AB - Oral bioavailability of ampicillin when bound to sulbactam (sultamicillin) compared with ampicillin alone and that of amoxycillin with a ligand of clavulanic acid versus amoxycillin alone were assessed in 16 healthy subjects using an open label, multiple crossover study. After a single administration of the drugs, the bioavailability of ampicillin released from sultamicillin was more than twice (2.17) that of ampicillin administered alone, whereas that of amoxycillin was increased by a factor of 1.64 by the presence of clavulanic acid. Higher peak concentrations and areas under the curves, along with shorter lag times, were observed in both cases. The increased oral bioavailability of these aminopenicillins when associated with a beta-lactamase inhibitor was well demonstrated in this study, the bioavailability of ampicillin being more enhanced by sulbactam than that of amoxycillin by clavulanic acid. PMID- 2628131 TI - Comparative study of cefuroxime axetil and amoxycillin in the treatment of acute sinusitis in general practice. AB - Cefuroxime axetil was compared with amoxycillin in the treatment of acute and acute on chronic sinusitis in a multicentre general practice study. A total of 160 patients were randomized to receive 250 mg cefuroxime axetil orally twice daily, or 250 mg amoxycillin orally three times daily for 10 days. Of the 45 assessable patients with acute sinusitis 43 (96%) were cured or improved using cefuroxime axetil compared with 49 (94%) of the assessable patients in the amoxycillin-treated group. In patients with acute on chronic sinusitis, cefuroxime axetil resulted in an 80% (16/20) cure or improvement, with a 68% (13/19) response in the case of amoxycillin. Adverse events were mainly gastro intestinal and none was considered serious in either treatment group, although three patients receiving cefuroxime axetil were withdrawn from treatment. It is concluded that cefuroxime axetil is at least as clinically efficacious as amoxycillin in the treatment of acute sinusitis in adults. PMID- 2628132 TI - Long-term treatment with slow-release frusemide compared with thiazide treatment in arterial hypertension. AB - The effect of 30 mg/day slow-release frusemide given orally for 12 months was studied in 64 patients previously treated with thiazides for mild to moderate essential hypertension. Frusemide had a significant antihypertensive effect (P less than 0.001), and compared to thiazides significantly reduced fasting serum glucose (P less than 0.015), haemoglobin A1c (P less than 0.025), albumin (P less than 0.025) and serum calcium (P less than 0.025), and significantly increased serum sodium and chloride concentrations (P less than 0.0001). There was also a non-significant trend for frusemide to reduce serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and urate, and to increase serum potassium. Frusemide was well tolerated in all but three patients. It is concluded that slow-release frusemide has a comparable antihypertensive effect to that of thiazide diuretics, but has fewer metabolic side-effects, and should be used in-preference to thiazides for the treatment of arterial hypertension when a diuretic is indicated. PMID- 2628133 TI - Effect of peroral administration of isosorbide dinitrate on portal pressure and blood flow in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. AB - The effect of slow-release isosorbide dinitrate, given orally four times daily for 14 days, on the portal circulation was studied in 10 patients with liver cirrhosis and oesophageal varices. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were not influenced significantly by isosorbide dinitrate. Statistically significant dilation of the portal vein by 11.9% and an increase in blood flow velocity by 35.4% and in portal blood flow rate by 54.3% were observed at the end of therapy. The average wedged hepatic vein pressure was 32.9 mmHg before therapy and after therapy it was decreased to 60.5%. The slight decrease observed in free hepatic vein pressure was not statistically significant. Before treatment the portohepatic gradient was four times above normal and after therapy it fell to 9.5 mmHg. The results indicate that, in patients with portal hypertension, an improvement in haemodynamics can be achieved by the use of isosorbide dinitrate. This improvement may lead to the prevention of bleeding from oesophageal varices. PMID- 2628134 TI - Comparative study of the effects of cimetropium bromide and atropine on human esophageal motor functions. AB - The effects of atropine and cimetropium bromide, a new antimuscarinic compound with strong spasmolytic properties, were studied on human esophageal motility. Twenty healthy subjects underwent esophageal manometry with continuous monitoring of lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), and of amplitude, duration and velocity of contractions of the esophageal body. After a 30-min basal period, atropine (12 micrograms/kg) or cimetropium (5 mg) were administered as an intravenous bolus in a cross-over random manner and the recording was continued for another 60 min. Twenty minutes after injection, atropine and cimetropium decreased maximally, in a similar extent, both the amplitude of contractions of the esophageal body (-65% of the basal values) and the LESP (-30% of the basal values). The duration and propagation velocity of the esophageal contractions did not change significantly after both drugs. Sixty minutes after injection of cimetropium, the amplitude of contractions of the esophageal body and LESP returned to basal values while atropine still reduced both variables. These findings indicate that cimetropium bromide has an inhibitory effect on LESP and on the amplitude of contractions of the esophageal body similar to atropine, but its action lasts less time. PMID- 2628135 TI - Prospective study of the effect of gastrectomy with and without bile reflux on serum pepsinogens. AB - In order to prospectively determine the effect of gastrectomy with or without enterogastric reflux on serum pepsinogen concentrations, serum pepsinogen A, serum pepsinogen C and the pepsinogen A:C ratio were measured before, and 10 days and 6, 15 and 24 months after 2/3-3/4 distal gastrectomy in peptic ulcer patients with primary Roux-en-Y diversion (n = 11) or Billroth II reconstruction (n = 11). Gastrectomy induced early decreases in serum pepsinogen A from 100 +/- 12 to 66 +/- 7 micrograms/l (p less than 0.05) and from 111 +/- 11 to 82 +/- 20 micrograms/l (p = 0.05), serum pepsinogen C from 49 +/- 6 to 29 +/- 5 micrograms/l (p less than 0.05) and from 54 +/- 9 to 40 +/- 11 micrograms/l (p = 0.10) in patients with Roux-en-Y and Billroth II gastrectomy, respectively, but did not influence the pepsinogen A:C ratios. Serum pepsinogen A and the pepsinogen A:C ratio continued to decrease 6 months after surgery but no further significant reductions were observed 15 and 24 months postoperatively. Serum pepsinogen C concentrations did not significantly change during postoperative follow-up. Analyses of variances of serum pepsinogen A and the pepsinogen A:C ratio showed that the type of operation had no significant effect on the postoperative course. It is concluded that gastrectomy leads to early decreases in serum pepsinogen A and pepsinogen C levels followed by progressive further reductions of serum pepsinogen A and the pepsinogen A:C ratio for a period of 6 months postoperatively. These postoperative changes of serum pepsinogens are not due to increased enterogastric biliary reflux. PMID- 2628136 TI - Value of serology (ELISA and immunoblotting) for the diagnosis of Campylobacter pylori infection. AB - Fifty-two unselected patients referred to for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were evaluated in several ways to determine the presence of Campylobacter pylori. Antibodies against this microorganism were measured to assess the value of serology for the diagnosis of C. pylori infection. Five antral biopsy specimens were taken in each patient for culture and bacteriological determinations, histology [morphology and Warthin-Starry (WS) staining] and the urease test (2, 3 and 24 h). Serum antibodies against a sonicate of 6 strains of microorganisms were assayed by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and an immunoblotting technique. In 14 of the 52 patients the histology of the antrum was normal, 18 patients had chronic active gastritis and 20 had chronic gastritis without polymorphonuclear infiltration. In the group with normal histology, only 1 patient was positive for C. pylori with all methods, and 1 other subject was positive for IgG and 2 for IgA only with ELISA. In the group with chronic active gastritis, 14 were positive with all methods, 1 was negative by WS only and another was negative for IgA according to ELISA, WS and antibodies. Among the patients with chronic gastritis, 7 were positive and 7 negative with all tests; in the other 6 patients the results obtained with the various tests were divergent. Four serological tests were studied and validated against culture, WS and urease test which were considered to be the reference methods. The serological tests showed high sensitivity and specificity for the detection C. pylori-associated active chronic gastritis of the antrum, and can therefore serve as noninvasive methods to identify individuals with this condition. PMID- 2628137 TI - Oxygen-derived free radical generating capacity of polymorphonuclear cells in patients with ulcerative colitis. AB - Oxygen-derived free radical generating capacity of polymorphonuclear cells in 27 patients with ulcerative colitis, 10 with acute bacterial diarrhea and 20 healthy volunteers, was measured by the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence method by stimulation of formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. Oxidative free radical generating capacity of polymorphonuclear cells in patients with active ulcerative colitis was markedly enhanced as compared with control (p less than 0.01), while this enhanced free radical production by the cells was not detected at remission stage. Serial analyses revealed that oxidative free radical production by the cells in patients with ulcerative colitis was markedly enhanced with clinical deterioration of the disease, but it returned to normal level with an improvement of clinical features. These results suggest that the increased oxidative free radical production by polymorphonuclear cells could be related to the pathogenesis or aggravation of ulcerative colitis. PMID- 2628138 TI - Inflammatory bowel disease in rural sub-Saharan Africa: rarity of diagnosis in patients attending mission hospitals. AB - One hundred and eighteen missionaries working on 75 mission stations or hospitals in 24 sub-Saharan African countries provided information about their medical practice in the preceding year of 1981. Details were collected of the total number of patients seen and admitted during the year, and the number of cases of bloody diarrhoea, typhoid and inflammatory bowel disease. Over 1 million outpatients and about 190,000 inpatients were treated. These included 12,859 cases of bloody diarrhoea, of whom 1,914 had typhoid. Twenty-two cases of inflammatory bowel disease were also reported. Histological support was least available in West Africa and only 25% of hospitals had access to this facility. Nevertheless, the frequency with which inflammatory bowel disease in sub-Saharan Africa is difficult and limited by access to diagnostic facilities. It is likely to be some time before reliable estimates of the incidence and prevalence of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in the rural African population can be made. PMID- 2628139 TI - [The ontogenesis of the tympanic region of the Procaviidae (Mammalia: Hyracoidea)]. AB - Lindahl (1948) has described the early ontogenesis of 14 fetal stages of Procavia capensis. The oldest fetus of his series has had a headlength of 20 mm. It is the series with which the present account on the development of the tympanic region in hyracoids starts. Further middle to late fetuses have been studied by means of serial sections or macroscopic preparations. First 5 different ontogenetic stages are described, and then we follow the development of different organs in their ontogenesis. RESULTS: 1. The development of the tympanic region is almost completed at birth, except for the external meatus. The bulla tympani is fully ossified. 2. The entotympanic forms the medial and rostral part of the Bulla tympani. Its anlage is first met at a headlength of 31 mm. From the very beginning, it is fused with the tubal cartilage. Hyracoids do not have a caudal entotympanic. The cartilaginous mass-taken for a caudal entotympanic by Van der Klaauw (1926)-is actually a tympanic process of the petrosal. Extensive discussion reveals that the structures named entotympanics in some eutherians are most likely not homologous. 3. It is almost impossible to separate the entotympanic from the tympanic in neonates already. This is due to the surprising fact that the tympanic produces secondary cartilage at the suture between the 2 elements. 4. A gonial is lacking in hyracoids; instead the malleus is fixed in a peculiar way at the tympanic. 5. According to Lindahl (1948), the stapedial artery exists till a fetal headlength of 14 mm. Then the artery obliterates but the crura stapedis with the stapedial foramen persist. 6. Hyracoids possess a tympanohyal which changes its relation to the facial nerve during ontogenesis. 7. The development of the Eustachian sac (Diverticulum tubae auditivae) is described and compared with its development in the horse, based on the few data available in literature. 8. The internal carotid artery changes its course during its ontogenesis. Up to late stages it passes over the caudal part of the Eustachian sac and along the medial side of the Bulla tympani. A sulcus caroticus might still be seen in neonates. It is only in postnatal development that it looses the course along the bulla and passes along the mediocaudal side of the Eustachian sac. 9. The formation of the Recessus meatus acustici externi in exactly takes place the way described only once by Hammar (1902). The cavitation of the recessus occurs independently of the cavity of the external meatus. PMID- 2628140 TI - [Experiences with improved preservation solutions for historic and modern anatomic preparations]. AB - Basing on experiences made at the Anatomical Museum Basel often arising difficulties of conservation of ancient anatomical preparations are described. Criteria are named which allow the recognition of specific problems of various preparations, and the adequate solutions for fixation and conservation are given. These solutions, the compositions of which are described in detail, are suited for historical as well as for modern wet preparations. Thus, it is possible to save and stabilize also delicate preparations of former times, even those with faint hues can be renovated which afterwards show an increase of contrast and an improved preservation of colours. Furthermore, techniques are indicated for mounting and preservation of preparations in special containers made of acrylic glass. By means of these methods, the preservation of preparations as well as the cleaning and change of solutions are markedly improved. PMID- 2628141 TI - Measurement of the villus surface area and its regional variation in the human full-term placenta. AB - The surface/volume ratio and the surface density of the chorionic villi in different cotyledonary regions of the human mature placenta were studied by stereologic methods. The villus surface/volume ratio showed a mean value of 812.3 cm2/cm3 (standard deviation = 89.2 cm2/cm3). There were no significant differences according to the site from which the sample was obtained. The villus surface density in normal mature placentae was (496.3 +/- 49.0) cm2/cm3. The last parameter showed no differences among regions. Despite the absence of significant differences of exchange surface areas among the cotyledonary regions considered, other important parameters, such as trophoblast thickness, frequency of vasculo syncytial membranes, as well as the maximal gradient of concentration, facilitates the maternal-fetal transfer by simple diffusion mechanism in the central-parabasal region. PMID- 2628142 TI - Cationic distribution in vessels, heart, skeletal muscle, and blood of normotensive (NWR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). AB - Electrolytic analysis carried out with the atomic absorption spectrophotometer permitted to compare the cationic (Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, K+ and Na+) tissue content of spontaneously hypertensive male rats (SHR) and normotensive male Wistar rats (NWR). In all SHR-tissues, Zn2+ is augmented, but mainly in the atria (left atrium), inferior vena cava, left ventricle, and skeletal muscle. The inferior cava vein and the right atrium have a similar, accentuated high bivalent (Ca2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+) cation content; Ca2+ and Mg2+ is present in a minor content in the right ventricle and type II "pale" skeletal muscle while only Mg2+ was also reduced in the left atrium, aorta, and the whole blood. A higher K+ concentration is seen in the right atrium, aorta, and type I "red" skeletal muscle. In the aortic wall and the whole blood a higher Na+- tissue content is found, confirming earlier observations. There is a discret water retention in the tissues from the left ventricle and skeletal muscle, simultaneously with a small depletion in the whole blood. We have concluded, that there is a specific cationic profile in SHR structural and functional different cardiovascular tissues, including skeletal muscle. The cationic tissue distribution is related to underlying genetic and adaptative factors and may be involved into specific drug effects. PMID- 2628143 TI - Osteometry by computer-aided image analysis: application to the human atlas. AB - Computer-assisted image-analysis having almost not been applied to macroscopical anatomy, particularly to osteometry, we used it for the automatic measurement of 8 osteological parameters on a series of 150 human atlases. From these measured parameters, 5 parameters have been directly calculated. The values obtained by image analysis and by measurement with vernier calliper are identical and similar to the data of the literature. The accuracy, the sources of error, and the great advantages of the image analysis method are then discussed. PMID- 2628144 TI - [Late embryonic development of the vomeronasal complex of the cat (Felis silvestris)]. AB - An examination of 2 feline embryos in different stages of development (overall length 60 and 115 mm respectively) reveals a well developed vomeronasal complex in each case. Jacobson's Organs embedded within the paraseptal cartilage form long blind tubes at the base of the septum nasi. The cartilage is caudally tub shaped and embraces rostrally completely the organ over a considerable length. In this manner a long, nearly tunnel-like tube is formed which represents a modified form of the original outer bar and which has not been described so far in cats. It stretches rostro-ventrally across the branching region of the paraseptal cartilage as far as the mouth of Jacobson's Organ. The dorsal branch of the cartilago paraseptalis on the other hand forms a vertically oriented strip which connects to the lamina transversalis anterior. The ductus nasopalatinus passing through the palate is laterally supported by a cartilago ductus nasopalatini which rostrally to the mouth of Jacobson's Organ forms a unified element with the ventral branch of the cartilago paraseptalis. In the case of the younger cat embryo, this cartilago ductus nasopalatini is yet weakly developed. The ductus nasopalatini of the embryos studied are in an amazingly retarded state of development. The ductus, which are blocked in the early stages of the embryonic development during secondary palate formation, form predominantly solid strands of epithelium. By dissolving the cemented epithelium, the ductus are open. But even in the case of the older embryo of the cat, this process is not completed yet. The short duct connecting Jacobson's Organ with the ductus nasopalatinus is also still closed in both embryos. Such cemented sections of epithelium of the younger embryo reveals an interesting relation between the ductus nasopalatinus and the ductus nasolacrimalis which so far has not been pointed out for mammals. From the point of view of phylogenetics, the locally specialized vomeronasal complex of cats exhibits all the criteria of a progressive development of characteristics. PMID- 2628145 TI - [The biostatics of the human sacrum: is there a relationship between the sacral inclination and the spatial orientation of the upper articular process of the sacral plate?]. AB - The orientation of the superior articular processes with regard to the upper end plate of the sacrum does not depend on the inclination of the sacrum. This assertion can be made by interpreting certain angles already described in literature and may be confirmed by a research following strict biomechanic principles: The orientation of the articular processes is put in relation to the direction of the forward shear brought upon by the Vth lumbar vertebra and caused by the inclination of the sacrum. This is achieved by measuring the angle between the articular facet and a plane normal to the mentioned forward shear. The result is that the size of this angle does not at all depend on the degree of the inclination of the sacrum. PMID- 2628146 TI - Fat intestinal absorption in the catfish--a histochemical study in glycol methacrylate embedded tissue. AB - The intestinal absorption of lipids was investigated in plastic sections from glycol methacrylate embedded intestine after fat administration. In the catfish, the lipids are absorbed by the enterocytes of the proximal intestinal segment, thus forming fat cytoplasmic inclusions that were demonstrated by Sudan black B staining. The histochemical characterization of lipids by the Nile blue sulphate test revealed the neutral or triglyceride nature of the cytoplasmic droplets, both after the corn oil and oleic acid feeding. There is lipid accumulation in the lamina propria and lymphatic vessels. PMID- 2628147 TI - Atrioventricular valves development in human heart: the Paris embryological collection revisited. AB - 29 human embryos staging from stage 15 to stage 23 (post-somitic period, collection of the UER Biomedicale des Saints-Peres, Universite Rene Descartes Paris V) have been studied. The most important morphological events of the atrioventricular valves development have been reinvestigated and photographed. This is a complementary information about cardiac development analysing this french collection of human embryos (Mandarim-de-Lacerda, in press). At stage 15, we can observe the gelatinous reticulum well organized when cardiac valves will become established; progressively the fused endocardial cushions and right and left lateral cushions encircle the atrioventricular channels indicating the site of the tricuspid valves. These cushions, however, have a temporary influence being replaced gradually by atrial and ventricular myocardium. At stage 23, the heart presents a complete atrioventricular valvular structure. PMID- 2628148 TI - [The protein-blood volume indices during moderate plasmapheresis]. AB - Quantitative characteristics of changes in the volume of circulating plasma and the amount of circulating protein were studied in rheumatoid arthritis patients before and after plasmapheresis of moderate intensity. Basing on the comparison of the precalculated and estimated parameters the authors have suggested 4 mathematical models equally describing the protein-volemic relationships in the body. Satisfactory correlation has been recorded between the estimated and precalculated values of protein concentration in the plasma after plasmapheresis that enables data collection in a short cut program. PMID- 2628149 TI - [A comparative study of the cryoprotective properties of dimethylacetamide and dimethyl sulfoxide in preserving thrombocytes at moderately low temperatures]. AB - Comparative characteristics of cryoprotective properties of dimethylacetamide and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMAC and DMSO, respectively), used for freezing and storage of platelets at -80 degrees C, have been presented. It is shown that with the studied final concentrations of the cryoprotectors (5% of DMSO, 2.5% of DMAC), solutions containing DMSO display higher cryoprotective properties. Positive effect of autoplasma in the mixture with the platelet-protecting solution has been manifest in the maintaining of the functional properties of platelets after defrosting. PMID- 2628150 TI - [Changes in the pH of leukocyte granules during the storage of preserved donor blood]. AB - Data are presented on pH values in lymphocyte and neutrophil granules, as well as parameters of fluctuating pH changes in individual granules at early terms of storage (up to 72 h), evaluated by cytophotometry with the use of the vital stain neutral red in microspectrophotometer (Univar Reichert, Austria). An average value of pH in donor neutrophil granules was 6.57-0.12 (range 6.21-7.02). At day 3 of storage it decreased at average by 0.18 pH units. Rhythmical changes of pH in individual granules with pH 0.2-0.44 were found on all days of storage. The period of the rhythm lengthened from 3 min on day 1 to 4 min on day 3. This shift as well as acidification of granules during storage reflects their functional deterioration. The storage did not affect pH values in lymphocyte lysosomes which at average were 6.4, 6.5 and 6.35 on days 1, 2 and 3, respectively. PMID- 2628151 TI - [The therapeutic efficacy of transfusions of erythrocyte mass in anemia in patients with internal diseases]. AB - The results of the overtime combined clinico-laboratory investigations have evidenced a high medical effectiveness of red blood cell pack transfusions in the treatment of anemia in patients with varying diseases of internal organs. PMID- 2628152 TI - [The oxygen supply of the isolated rat heart during perfusion with a suspension of human erythrocytes prepared on the blood preservative citroglucophosphate]. AB - The isolated rat heart with the functioning left ventricle was used to measure the main parameters of hemodynamics and oxygen supply (60 experiments). Perfusion of the coronary vessels of the heart was performed with washed human red blood cells preserved for varying times (for 1, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days), stabilized on citroglucophosphate. The authors succeeded for the first time in demonstrating under artificially made conditions where the sole variable responsible for oxygen supply of the isolated organ was hemoglobin affinity for oxygen that there was no difference in the function of the isolated heart perfused with human red blood cells preserved for 7, 10 and 14 days as compared with freshly obtained ones. During perfusion of the heart with red blood cells preserved for an insignificant period of time (for 7 and 10 days), no physiological signs evidencing the impairment of oxygen supply to myocardial tissues were revealed. PMID- 2628153 TI - [The morphofunctional status of the blood during the experimental intravenous administration of ultradispersed ferromagnetic particles]. AB - In experiments on rats it has been shown that a single infusion of ultradispersed ferromagnetic particles (size from 0.2 to 1 micron) in a dose of 50 mg/kg leads to an increase in hemoglobin level, red blood cell and leucocyte content, to a growth of blood coagulation time and plasma fibrinolytic activity in the animals' blood, as well as to a rise in the level of neutrophil phagocytic reactions. A single infusion of magnetite particles of similar size, in a dose of 50 mg/kg, was not attended by the above changes, except for an increase in the neutrophil functional activity. PMID- 2628154 TI - [The isolation of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor from the byproducts of the manufacture of blood products]. PMID- 2628155 TI - [The rheologic aspects of washed donor erythrocytes]. AB - Washing off donors' red blood cell pack with NaCl isotonic solution results in improvement of red blood cell rheologic properties: their aggregation reduces, deformability increases, osmotic resistance rises. Heparin addition to the washing off solution in a dose of 5 IU/ml prevents development of antiheparin activity in red blood cells after washing off. Application of washed-off red blood cells of donors has advantages as compared to transfusion of the whole blood. PMID- 2628156 TI - [A comparative evaluation of the effect of a number of crystalloid and colloid solutions on the rheological properties of blood]. AB - Dynamic viscosity of the blood (DVB) and red blood cell deformability were studied in 10 donors after in vitro addition to the blood of crystalloid and colloid solutions which are used in the clinical practice for transfusion therapy. Investigations were conducted with the use of Geppler's viscosimeter and filtration of red blood cell suspension. A conclusion has been made that crystalloid solutions are more preferable than colloid solutions for DVB reduction and improvement of red blood cell deformability. PMID- 2628157 TI - Phylogenetic relationships of Triticum tauschii, the D-genome donor to hexaploid wheat. 4. Variation and chromosomal location of 5S DNA. AB - The 5S DNA sequences in Triticum tauschii are organised in large clusters containing units that are primarily either 420 ("short") or 490 base pairs (bp) in length ("long"). The main cluster of short units was shown to be located on chromosome 1D in hexaploid wheat and is designated 5SDna-D1, while the cluster of long units was shown to be on chromosome 5D and is designated 5SDna-D2. The chromosomal locations in hexaploid wheat most likely correspond to those in T. tauschii and this could be shown directly for the 5SDna-D2 locus by using a T. tauschii 5D substitution in 'Chinese Spring' wheat. The sequence alignment of units derived from 5SDna-D1 and 5SDna-D2 revealed three apparent deletions in the noncoding spacer region, which were fixed in units from 5SDna-D1, and one deletion, which was fixed in units from 5SDna-D2. A minor size class, 400 bp long and closely related to the units from 5SDna-D1, was found in 2 of 415 accessions surveyed. A continuous range of quantitative changes in the number of 5S DNA units at the two loci was evident with up to a 10-fold relative abundance level of units being found in some accessions. Triticum tauschii var. typica was particularly noteworthy in that many accessions showed more units at 5SDna-D2 relative to 5SDna-D1. Partial thermal dissociation experiments with radioactive probes, synthesized from either the short or long 5S DNA units, hybridized to genomic DNA showed that the population of units at the respective loci were relatively homogeneous and clearly distinct from each other.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628158 TI - Chromosomal rearrangements in rock wallabies, Petrogale (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). II. G-banding analysis of Petrogale godmani. AB - Chromosomal rearrangements in the two currently recognised races of Petrogale godmani were examined using C- and G-banding. The nominate race P. godmani godmani (2n = 20) was found to possess an inverted chromosome 5 and an acrocentric 6-10 fusion, which can be derived from a 6-10 centric fusion by a centromeric transposition. The Cape York race (2n = 22) was found to retain the ancestral submetacentric chromosome 4 and the ancestral chromosome 5. Thus despite their genic similarity, the two races clearly have major chromosomal differences and should be regarded as separate species. Petrogale g. godmani shares two derived chromosomes with another Queensland taxon, the assimilis race of P. assimilis, indicating recent common ancestry. The Cape York race retains characteristics of an ancestral stock of Petrogale and its genic similarity with P. g. godmani could therefore be the result of extensive introgression. PMID- 2628159 TI - Identification of crossbred buffalo genotypes and their chromosome segregation patterns. AB - Chromosome analysis on different breed types of water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) was undertaken to identify their karyotypes and to determine the pattern of chromosome segregation in crossbred water buffaloes. Altogether, 75 purebred and 198 crossbred buffaloes including 118 from Malaysia and 80 from the Philippines, were analyzed in this study. The diploid chromosome number of the swamp buffalo from both countries was 48 and that of the river buffalo was 50, while all F1 hybrids exhibited 49 chromosomes. The F2 hybrids consisted of three different karyotype categories (2n = 48, 2n = 49, and 2n = 50), whereas the backcrosses included two different karyotype categories each, with 2n = 48 and 2n = 49 in the three quarters swamp types and 2n = 49 and 2n = 50 in the three quarters river types. Chi-square tests on pooled data from Malaysia and the Philippines indicated that the distribution of different karyotype categories of F2 animals did not deviate significantly from the 1:2:1 ratio expected if only balanced gametes with 24 and 25 chromosomes were produced by the F1 hybrids. In the three quarters swamp and three quarters river types, the respective karyotypic categories were in ratios approximating 1:1. The distribution of chromosome categories among the F2 hybrids and backcrosses suggests that only genetically balanced gametes of the F1 hybrids are capable of producing viable F2 and backcross generations. PMID- 2628160 TI - Autoimmune diseases of the skin. AB - The skin is the target of several autoimmune diseases which are directed to antigens which are normal components of the skin. These diseases can be differentiated according to the antigen which is the target of the autoimmune process. A great deal has been learned about the pathogenesis of these diseases. However, nothing is known about the causes which triggers the development of the autoimmune process. PMID- 2628161 TI - Prednisonephobia. AB - The use of chronic systemic corticosteroids in allergic diseases should be restricted to cases where these agents are essential. Potentially fatal asthma and idiopathic anaphylaxis are examples of essential need for prednisone. The usual dose requirements on an alternate day regimen are often modest in these diseases, and complications of steroid therapy are minimal and are of no major concern particularly when the alternative may be a fatality. In spite of these facts, certain patients have a phobic response to the requirement for prednisone therapy. We report seven cases of prednisonephobia and classify this phobia as interpersonal, iatrogenic, bibliophilic, or parental. Some of these phobic reactions may seriously interfere with medical management or patient survival. An information sheet is included which may help certain of these patients. PMID- 2628162 TI - Heterochronic genes control the stage-specific initiation and expression of the dauer larva developmental program in Caenorhabditis elegans. AB - We report that a stage-specific developmental program, dauer larva formation, is temporally regulated by four heterochronic genes, lin-4, lin-14, lin-28, and lin 29. The effects of mutations in these four genes on dauer larva formation have revealed that they regulate two different processes of dauer larva formation: (1) a decision specifying the larval stage at which dauer larva development initiates, and (2) the specialized differentiation of hypodermal cells during dauer larva morphogenesis. Epistasis analysis has suggested a model in which lin 4 negatively regulates lin-14, and the resulting temporal decrease in lin-14 activity specifies the stage of dauer larva initiation. Our results further suggest that dauer larva morphogenesis by hypodermal cells requires that lin-28 acts to inhibit lin-29 during early larval stages. PMID- 2628163 TI - Retrovirus activation in embryonal carcinoma cells by cellular promoters. AB - Retrovirus expression in embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells is blocked at a postintegration stage of the viral life cycle, because of the inadequate function of the viral long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter in this cell type. However, rare sites in the EC cell genome permit provirus expression by undefined mechanisms. Our analysis of three expressed proviruses indicates that they have inserted into actively transcribed regions. Two of the three, examined in detail, integrated into the first introns of cellular transcription units in close proximity to active cellular promoters. One of these cellular genes is the probable murine homolog of the yeast ribosomal protein L3, responsible for trichodermin resistance. In all cases, virus activation appears to involve production of viral transcripts that are initiated in the 5'-flanking region, transcribed through the viral LTR, and subsequently spliced from a cellular donor to a viral acceptor. Our results suggest a general procedure for the isolation of active genes and promoters in different tissues. PMID- 2628164 TI - The organization of 3' splice-site sequences in mammalian introns. AB - A model pre-mRNA substrate was used to carry out a detailed investigation of the functional organization of sequences at the 3' end of mammalian introns. This analysis revealed a difference in the sequence requirements for the first and second steps of the splicing reaction (lariat formation and exon ligation, respectively). Maximal efficiencies of lariat formation require a pyrimidine stretch directly adjacent to the branch site. In addition, efficient lariat formation can be specified in at least two distinct ways, one that requires the AG dinucleotide at the 3' splice junction, and the other that does not: If the pyrimidine stretch is short (14 nucleotides), an adjacent AG is essential; in contrast, the AG is not required in the presence of a long pyrimidine stretch (26 nucleotides). In a pre-mRNA containing a long pyrimidine stretch, efficient lariat formation is observed when the branch site is located greater than 100 nucleotides upstream from the AG or when the AG is preceded by a purine stretch. Although splicing usually takes place at the first AG downstream from the branch site, both distance and sequence play roles in the efficiency of this reaction. PMID- 2628165 TI - Poly(A) addition during maturation of frog oocytes: distinct nuclear and cytoplasmic activities and regulation by the sequence UUUUUAU. AB - In frog oocytes, certain maternal mRNAs receive poly(A) in the cytoplasm during progesterone-induced maturation. To analyze this reaction and to compare it to poly(A) addition in the nucleus, we injected short, synthetic RNA substrates into Xenopus oocytes. These RNAs contain only portions of the 3'-untranslated regions of appropriate mRNAs and end at the natural poly(A) site. We demonstrate that the nuclear and maturation-specific polyadenylation activities are distinct in substrate specificity and subcellular location. The sequence AAUAAA, contained in virtually all pre-mRNAs, is necessary for both activities. A second sequence element, UUUUUAU, activates poly(A) addition during maturation. UUUUUAU and AAUAAA are both necessary and virtually sufficient for maturation-specific polyadenylation: Poly(A) tails of between 50 and 300 nucleotides are added during maturation to RNAs containing both sequences but not to RNAs that lack either sequence. Before maturation, RNAs that contain AAUAAA are extended by just 10 nucleotides, presumably adenosines. The maturation-specific activity first appears within 1 hr of the time the nucleus breaks down but apparently does not require a nuclear component, as it is unaffected by enucleation. These observations, combined with those of others, lead us to speculate that polyadenylation may be responsible for the translational activation of a family of mRNAs essential for maturation. PMID- 2628166 TI - An ordered pathway of assembly of components required for polyadenylation site recognition and processing. AB - Four HeLa cell nuclear factors that are required for specific pre-mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation have been extensively purified, thereby permitting an investigation of the role of each in the 3' processing reaction. Two factors, termed PF1 and PF2, are required for specific polyadenylation of the cleaved RNA. PF1 is a poly(A) polymerase, and PF2 is a factor that confers AAUAAA specificity to the reaction. Both of these factors, along with two additional factors termed CF1 and CF2, are required for the endonucleolytic cleavage of the pre-mRNA. The ability of each of these factors to form specific complexes with the pre-mRNA was assayed using native gel electrophoresis. Two distinct complexes were detected. PF2 forms an initial complex with the pre-RNA, dependent on the AAUAAA sequence element but independent of specific downstream sequences. Formation of the PF2 RNA complex permits the subsequent interaction of CF1 and the formation of a second, larger complex. CF1 binding requires the downstream sequence element in addition to PF2 binding. Whereas the PF2-RNA complex is unstable and dissociates rapidly, the ternary complex formed by CF1, PF2, and RNA is stable. Thus, the interaction of CF1, dependent on the downstream sequence element, can be viewed as a commitment of the poly(A) site for processing. On the addition of the poly(A) polymerase (PF1) and factor CF2, the pre-mRNA is specifically cleaved at the poly(A) site. PMID- 2628167 TI - Flexible recognition of rapidly evolving promoter sequences by mitochondrial transcription factor 1. AB - Transcriptional promoters of mitochondrial DNA have diverged extensively in the course of mammalian evolution. Nevertheless, the transcriptional machinery and the overall mechanisms of transcriptional control and regulation seem to be conserved. We have compared the human and murine homologs of the major DNA binding transcriptional activator, mitochondrial transcription factor 1 (mtTF1), with unexpected results. Both proteins have similar chromatographic and transcriptional properties and are the same size. Both recognize and bind sequences between -12 and -39 within their respective homologous promoters. However, the sequences that they recognize are markedly divergent; although the base pairs they contact are situated similarly or identically with respect to the transcriptional start site, sequence identity between the two species' contact points is less than 50%. Interestingly, the two proteins are functionally interchangeable; each can bind to the heterologous light-strand promoter and can activate transcription by the heterologous mitochondrial RNA polymerase. Thus, the RNA polymerase or some as yet undetected transcription factor, rather than mTF1, may determine the strict species specificity of mitochondrial transcription. Flexible DNA sequence recognition by mtTF1, on the other hand, may be a principal facilitating mechanism for rapid control sequence evolution. PMID- 2628168 TI - RNA 3'-end formation. PMID- 2628169 TI - Transcriptional analysis of the repressor gene of the temperate Streptomyces phage phi C31. AB - A 397-bp fragment that contained the 5' end of the coding region of the repressor gene of the temperature Streptomyces phage phi C31 was shown by in vivo promoter probing to possess bidirectional promoter activity. In vitro runoff transcription experiments, and high resolution transcript mapping of mRNA species produced in vivo using both nuclease S1 and mung bean nuclease, indicated the probable presence of two promoters for the repressor gene with two further promoters oriented in the opposite direction. An inverted repeat sequence is situated 20 bp downstream from the translational stop codon of the repressor gene; high resolution transcript mapping revealed an mRNA endpoint close to this sequence, indicating its likely role as a transcriptional terminator. PMID- 2628170 TI - Production of a hybrid macrolide antibiotic in Streptomyces ambofaciens and Streptomyces lividans by introduction of a cloned carbomycin biosynthetic gene from Streptomyces thermotolerans. AB - The structurally related macrolide antibiotics carbomycin (Cb) and spiramycin (Sp) are produced by Streptomyces thermotolerans and Streptomyces ambofaciens, respectively. Both antibiotics contain 16-membered lactone rings to which deoxysugars are attached. There are three sugars in Sp (forosamine, mycaminose and mycarose) and two sugars in Cb (mycaminose and a derivative of mycarose containing an isovaleryl group at position 4). We have identified the gene from S. thermotolerans (designated carE), which appears to encode an enzyme that acylates this mycarose sugar, and have shown that recombinant strains containing carE can use Sp as a substrate and convert it to the hybrid antibiotic, isovaleryl Sp (ivSp). Expression of carE was demonstrated in two heterologous hosts: in S. ambofaciens, where endogenously synthesized Sp was converted to ivSp, and in Streptomyces lividans where exogenously added Sp was converted to ivSp. The carE gene was isolated on a cosmid that also encodes genes required for Cb-lactone formation. These genes reside on a DNA segment of about 70 kb and are part of a Cb biosynthetic gene cluster that is flanked by two Cb-resistance genes, carA and carB. Mapping studies and nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that carE is located at one end of this gene cluster, immediately adjacent to the carB gene. Genes carB and carE are transcribed convergently and may share a common transcriptional terminator sequence. PMID- 2628171 TI - Isolation of the REC1 gene controlling recombination in Ustilago maydis. AB - Previous studies on the rec1 mutant of Ustilago maydis revealed a complex phenotype. The mutant was found to be defective in DNA repair, recombination, growth, mutagenesis, and meiosis. We cloned the REC1 gene by complementing the phenotype of the mutant using a genomic DNA library made in a replicating vector and provided proof of identity by one-step gene disruption of the wild-type (wt) REC1 locus with a mutant allele constructed in vitro. The transcript of the REC1 gene was identified as a damage-inducible 1.7-kb RNA. After UV irradiation, the level of the transcript was observed to rise ten- to 15-fold. In the rec1 mutant, the basal level of the 1.7-kb transcript was tenfold lower than in wt. In addition, a second transcript of 1.1 kb was noted in rec1-1 cells in response to DNA damage. PMID- 2628172 TI - A lignin peroxidase-encoding cDNA from the white-rot fungus Phlebia radiata: characterization and expression in Trichoderma reesei. AB - The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA coding for a lignin peroxidase (Lgp) of the white-rot fungus, Phlebia radiata, has been determined. By amino acid (aa) sequencing, it has been shown that the protein product of this gene is the LIII Lgp of Pb. radiata. The isolated gene and the putative aa sequence are about 60% homologous to published Lgp sequences from the fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The aa thought to be involved in the catalysis of LIII are revealed by comparison with the yeast cytochrome c peroxidase. The P. radiata Lgp encoding gene (lgp3) was expressed in the fungus, Trichoderma reesei, under the cellobiohydrolase-encoding cbh1 gene promoter. Lgp3 mRNA was produced by the T. reesei transformants. No Lgp protein, however, could be detected. PMID- 2628173 TI - Nucleotide sequence of cloned nad4 (urf4) gene from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mitochondrial DNA. AB - Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mitochondrial (mt)DNA was digested with ClaI + HpaI and shotgun cloned into the M13mp19 vector cleaved with AccI + SmaI. One of the recombinant clones, with a 1.8-kb DNA insert, was completely sequenced using the dideoxy chain-termination method. Besides containing part of the cytochrome b (COB)-encoding gene (cob), this DNA fragment encodes subunit 4 of NADH dehydrogenase (NAD4). The deduced amino acid sequence and hydrophilicity plot indicate that NAD4 is highly hydrophobic. The nad4 gene shows a unique preference for certain codons which are also found in other C. reinhardtii mt proteins. Both the genes encoding NAD4 and COB are shown to be transcriptionally active by Northern hybridization. These closely linked genes suggest that RNA-processing events found in vertebrate mt are present in Chlamydomonas mt as well. PMID- 2628174 TI - Cloning and analysis of the tomato nitrate reductase-encoding gene: protein domain structure and amino acid homologies in higher plants. AB - We have cloned and sequenced the nitrate reductase (NR)-encoding gene (nia) from tomato. When compared to the two Nicotiana tabacum nia structural genes, this 5 kb tomato gene shows a highly conserved structure, the coding sequence being interspersed with three introns at the same positions. Nucleotide sequences of the 5' promoter regions are not homologous, except for a 250-bp fragment. This small region might be involved in the similar regulation of the nia expression in tomato and tobacco plant species. The tomato gene codes for a 911 amino acid (aa) polypeptide chain. This sequence was aligned with and compared to other higher plant NR sequences. This alignment clearly identifies the three catalytic domains of NR, namely, a molybdopterin cofactor-binding domain, a heme domain and a FAD/NADH domain. On the other hand, it suggests that the less conserved 80-aa N terminal region, containing a striking acidic aa cluster, is an additional domain bearing regulatory or structural function. PMID- 2628175 TI - Structure and expression of a maize phytochrome-encoding gene. AB - We have isolated genomic clones for three loci encoding the phytochrome polypeptide of Zea mays, and have determined the entire sequence of one of them (phyA1) together with approximately 1 kb of 5' flanking DNA. The structure of this gene is highly conserved in comparison with other phytochrome-encoding genes (phy). The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence indicates that the maize phytochrome protein is 1130 aa long (125 kDa). Overall aa sequence identity is 88% with Avena and rice type A phytochromes and 65% with the type A phytochromes of the dicots, pea, zucchini and Arabidopsis. Northern analysis indicates that maize phy transcripts are down-regulated only two- to threefold in etiolated seedlings 3 h after a red light pulse, in contrast to Avena where a ten- to 20-fold decrease is observed. On the other hand, a more than tenfold reduction in maize phy mRNA abundance occurs in seedlings transferred to white light for 24 h. Several conserved sequence elements have been identified by comparison of the maize phyA1 and other monocot phy promoters, suggesting that these common regions may be regulatory elements involved in phy expression. PMID- 2628176 TI - Enhancement of transcription from the Ad2 major late promoter by upstream elements of the fibroin- and sericin-1-encoding genes in silk gland extracts. AB - The activity of the upstream promoter element (UPE) of the Bombyx mori fibroin encoding gene was analyzed by using the major late promoter (MLP) of adenovirus 2 (Ad2) as the basal promoter. The UPE reveals remarkable stimulatory activity on the transcription of Ad2 MLP in tissue extracts prepared from the posterior silk gland where the fibroin-encoding gene is specifically expressed. This stimulation of transcription is due to an increase of initiation complex formation as shown by a one-round transcription assay. The UPE of the sericin-1-encoding gene, which is specifically expressed in the middle silk gland, also stimulates Ad2 MLP transcription in a similar manner. The results of the competition experiments indicate that the stimulatory effect is mediated by trans-acting factors which bind to these UPE. These two UPE are also active in tissue extracts of the middle silk gland, but are nearly inactive in extracts from the ovarian tissue and an embryonic cell line, Bm-e21. These observations further support the hypothesis that a silk-gland-specific factor(s) is responsible for this tissue-specific transcription in vitro. The possible molecular basis of this silk-gland specificity is discussed in light of the various trans-acting factors known to bind these UPE. PMID- 2628177 TI - Simplified cosmid vectors for gene transfer to cultured mammalian cells: isolation of the gene for elongation factor 2 from the mouse. AB - We constructed a series of cosmid vectors that carry two tandemly arranged lambda cos and mammalian selective markers. We achieved cloning efficiencies of 1-3 x 10(7) and greater than 10(6) colony-forming units per microgram of insert, using a cloned 42-kb BamHI fragment and Sau3AI fragments of 40-50 kb from mouse genomic DNA, respectively. The modified Ca.phosphate coprecipitation method [Ishiura et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 2 (1982) 607-616] considerably improved the efficiency of gene transfer of cosmids into cultured mammalian cells: when genes encoding thymidine kinase from herpes simplex virus type 1 and aminoglycoside 3' phosphoribosyltransferase from Tn5 were selected, the efficiencies of gene transfer into mouse L cells were about 10(-6). The mouse genome contains one copy of the functional gene for elongation factor 2 (EF2) per haploid genome and multiple copies of the EF2-related gene. We isolated a cosmid that carried functional full-length mouse EF2 from a cosmid library of L-cell genomic DNA, by colony hybridization and subsequent gene transfer of candidate cosmids into human 143B cells. PMID- 2628178 TI - Structure of the 5' flanking region of the gene encoding human glycophorin A and analysis of its multiple transcripts. AB - Glycophorin A (GPA), the major sialoglycoprotein of human erythrocytes, is the carrier for blood group MN antigens and a receptor for viruses, bacteria and parasites. (1) Three distinct GPA mRNAs (1.0, 1.7 and 2.2 kb) have been previously identified in erythroid tissues by Northern-blot analysis. It is shown here by sequence analysis of several human fetal liver cDNAs, and by transcription start point (tsp) determination using primer extension analysis, that the production of the multiple GPA mRNAs is governed by poly(A) site choice generating 3'-untranslated regions of different length, and not by the tsp heterogeneity, since all messages exhibit the same cap site (tsp). (2) The structural gene encoding GPA has been recently cloned [Vignal et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 184 (1989) 337-344; Kudo and Fukuda, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86 (1989) 4619-4623] and we have now determined the sequence of a DNA genomic fragment upstream from the tsp. This fragment does not contain the typical TATA and CAAT boxes found in a number of tissue-specific genes, but contains typical motifs like the CACC, nuclear factor erythroid 1 and 2 elements, which have been identified recently in several erythroid-specific promoters, therefore suggesting that transcription of these genes might be regulated by the same or analogous factors. PMID- 2628179 TI - Transient production and secretion of human transforming growth factor TGF-beta 2. AB - Transient transfection of simian COS cells with a recombinant plasmid encoding the human transforming growth factor TGF-beta 2 precursor protein results in the production of a latent, biologically inactive protein. Upon acidification, recombinant TGF-beta 2 exhibits full biological activity, including inhibition of mink lung epithelial cell growth, stimulation of anchorage-independent growth of murine embryonic fibroblasts, and competition for TGF-beta receptor binding. Further analysis of conditioned media with antiserum to either a pro- [amino acid (aa) residues 1-220] or mature [aa 297-414] peptide of the TGF-beta 2 precursor suggests that TGF-beta 2, similar to TGF-beta 1 production in Chinese hamster ovary cells [Gentry et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 7 (1987) 3418-3427], is initially synthesized as a larger precursor protein which is proteolytically cleaved to yield the mature 112-aa transforming growth factor. PMID- 2628180 TI - Multiple polyadenylation sites downstream from the human aFGF gene encoding acidic fibroblast growth factor. AB - We previously reported the isolation of two partial cDNA clones encoding human acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF). The nucleotide (nt) sequence throughout the coding region and the deduced amino acid sequence were presented [Jaye et al., Science 233 (1986) 541-545]. In this report, the isolation of additional aFGF cDNA clones and their nt sequence are presented. The human aFGF gene is shown to encode at least four functional polyadenylation sites and multiple regulatory sequences within the 3'-untranslated region. The aFGF open reading frame resides approx. 3100 bp upstream from the most frequently utilized 3' processing and polyadenylation site. Several less abundant cDNA clones provide evidence of polyadenylation at three less distal sites, which are colinear with genomic DNA. Northern-blot analysis reveals three detectable mRNA species, whose sizes and intensities correlate with the length and relative abundance of cDNA clones representing them. PMID- 2628181 TI - The 5' flanking region and chromosomal localization of the gene encoding human platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib alpha. AB - The human blood platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) functions as a receptor for von Willebrand factor and thrombin. The gene (gpIb alpha) encoding the GPIb alpha-chain was cloned from a genomic cosmid library. The promoter region of this gene was characterized by sequencing two BamHI fragments including 2.8 kb of the 5' flanking region where several Alu repeated elements and purine-rich sequences were found. Possible cis-regulatory elements were identified by comparing the gpIb alpha gene with established consensus sequences known to function as binding sites for transcription factors. To obtain further information on possible megakaryocyte-specific promoter or enhancer sequences, the gpIb alpha promoter region was compared with other genes expressed in platelets that are known so far. The gpIb alpha gene was found to be located on chromosome 17 in region 17p12 ter, by in situ hybridization. PMID- 2628182 TI - Multiple splice forms of ribonuclease-inhibitor mRNA differ in the 5' untranslated region. AB - We report the sequence of the cDNAs representing five independent splice forms of human placental RNase inhibitor (RI) mRNA. RI mRNAs differ principally in the 5' untranslated region, which may include or lack a 68-nucleotide (nt) exon inserted at a splice site located only 20 nt upstream from the initiator AUG. At least three other exons may also abut the same splice site. This unusual and variable feature of the mRNA would suggest that secondary structure in the region of the start codon may differ among RI messages. A single copy of the RI gene exists in the human genome. PMID- 2628183 TI - Cloning and sequencing of RNA-1 cDNA from cucumber mosaic virus strain O. AB - The complete nucleotide (nt) sequence (3369 nt) of RNA 1 of cucumber mosaic virus strain O (CMV-O) was determined. One open reading frame (ORF; 993 aa) could be deduced from the nt sequence. The homologies of the ORF between CMV-O and CMV-Q or CMV-Fny were calculated to be 85% or 97%, respectively. For CMV-O and CMV-Q, the first one-third of the ORF showed a higher degree of homology (89%), as compared with the other portions (82-85%); the first 224 aa showed more than 93% homology. A comparative study of the three viruses revealed that CMV-O is more homologous to CMV-Fny (subgroup I) [corrected]) than to CMV-Q (subgroup II) [corrected]. PMID- 2628184 TI - A multipurpose vector for the study of transcriptional control. AB - To facilitate the insertion of transcriptional control regions next to a reporter gene, plasmid vectors containing multiple cloning sites next to the cat have been constructed. These vectors also contain features which make their use convenient for the construction of deletions in the inserted transcriptional control regions, as well as for the direct sequencing of the deletion series produced. The vectors have been constructed such that the control region cassette (and the deletions produced) may be easily removed with or without the reporter gene for placement into transgenic mice. The system's utility has been demonstrated by deletion analysis of a chicken myosin heavy chain-encoding gene promoter. PMID- 2628185 TI - Molecular evolution of centromere-associated nucleotide sequences in two species of canids. AB - The major centromeric satellite nt sequences present in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) and in the grey fox (Urocyon cineroargenteus) have been examined. The dog satellite monomer is 737 bp long and contains 51% G + C; the grey fox satellite monomer is 880 b long and contains 54% G + C. The two satellites share three regions of 78, 92 and 314 bp with 70-80% sequence similarity. Sequence data from 16 monomers of dog satellite and 19 monomers of grey fox satellite demonstrate that the substitution spectra are different in the two canid species. For example, substitutions involving G or C residues are much more common in the grey fox satellite than in the domestic dog satellite despite their similar G + C contents. PMID- 2628186 TI - Radiation tolerance of normal tissues. 23rd Annual San Francisco Cancer Symposium, March 4-5, 1988. PMID- 2628187 TI - Normal-tissue effects of irradiation for Kaposi's sarcoma/AIDS. PMID- 2628188 TI - Normal-tissue tolerance of skin, cartilage, and bone. PMID- 2628189 TI - Complications from radiation therapy to the eye. PMID- 2628190 TI - Radiation effects on renal function. PMID- 2628191 TI - Normal-tissue tolerance in the irradiation of female breast. PMID- 2628192 TI - [Identification of the groups of miners requiring ambulatory care using personal computers]. AB - When carrying on miners' follow-up, the results of the assessment of their health state on the basis of the data on the anamnesis, objective examination, morbidity and sanitary and hygienic labor conditions should be taken into account. The analysis of these data is associated with significant time losses of a physician or a group of physicians and does not guarantee against errors in the determination of medical supervision groups of miners. There is suggested an improved logical scheme of data analysis, providing exact determination of medical supervision groups with minimal time losses. PMID- 2628193 TI - [Complex study of various pathogenetic and physiologic parameters of the health status of watchmen in the oil industry]. AB - Complex examination of oil industry workers and those engaged in nonproductive area (control group) was undertaken. It was established that in both groups there were persons with a high level of cells with cytogenetic disturbances (micronuclear test). However, as opposed to control group, oil industry workers had higher levels of systolic and pulse pressure. Besides it was shown that after 12 hours of work at an oil field under winter conditions in the north area of the Tomsk Region they had higher body temperature. It appeared that these persons primarily had the longest term of professional service. Further examination of persons with especially high level of micronuclei cells showed that they had elevated lymphocyte amount with chromosome impairments and some parameters of T- and B-immunoreactivity, phagocytosis and activity of normal killer cells were changed. PMID- 2628194 TI - [Activity of serum enzymes in workers in the enzyme production industry]. AB - Unfavorable industrial factors in the production of enzyme preparations (enzyme dusts, microorganisms-producers) cause changes in the activity of a number of enzymes in workers' blood serum. Degree frequency and direction of enzyme shifts depend on the purity of enzyme preparations, degree of contact with them, workers' length of service and health status. The analysis of the obtained results enables us to recommend a determination of cholinesterase activity, acid phosphatase and lactate-dehydrogenase as indicators for a hygienic assessment of the effect of enzyme preparations and diagnosis of body pathogenic changes. PMID- 2628195 TI - [Problems of determining sanitary standards and principles of the planning and development of residential areas]. PMID- 2628196 TI - [Problem of prevention in the present-day training of physicians]. PMID- 2628197 TI - [Experience with the teaching of the course on "The status and dynamics of children's health"]. PMID- 2628198 TI - [Hygienic evaluation of atmospheric air pollution in animal breeding complexes]. PMID- 2628199 TI - [Hygienic evaluation of the effect of tobacco smoke on the body]. PMID- 2628200 TI - [Methodologic approach to predicting the health status of the population in relation to environmental factors]. PMID- 2628201 TI - [Methodologic and methodical problems of hygiene in cardiologic studies]. PMID- 2628202 TI - [Possibilities of retrospective methods of registration of spontaneous abortion in the genetic monitoring system]. PMID- 2628203 TI - [Characteristics of the carcinogenic effect of benzo(a)pyrene after its combined intake and the problems of its standardization in the environment]. AB - During the experiments on 952 white random-bred mice a scale of benz(a)pyrene (BP) doses from 10 to 0.0001 mg was studied under isolated peroral, intratracheal and complex effect. Dose-time relationship of carcinogenic effect was described. It was demonstrated that for large doses complex intake of carcinogens was determined by the effect of taking antilogarithms and for threshold doses by independent action. It was concluded that MAC for BP under complex effect should not exceed the sum of its earlier established admissible concentrations for atmospheric air and water reservoirs. PMID- 2628204 TI - [Limitation of the population's exposure to natural sources of ionizing radiation]. PMID- 2628205 TI - [Concepts of the study of the effect of pesticides on human health]. PMID- 2628206 TI - [Problem of determining and calculating unified statistical criteria of toxic effects]. PMID- 2628207 TI - [Experience with the organizational activities of the regional sanitary epidemiologic station regarding the prevention of enterobiasis among the population]. PMID- 2628208 TI - [Determining the levels of fluorine in various biological substrates for evaluating fluoride load]. PMID- 2628209 TI - [Hygienic evaluation of atactic polypropylene]. PMID- 2628210 TI - [Phyto-amelioration of the natural environment as a means for lowering anthropogenic load]. PMID- 2628211 TI - [Medicinal plants as objects of hygienic monitoring]. PMID- 2628212 TI - [Compensatory-adaptive reactions of epithelial barriers and cellular systems of local immunity]. AB - Experimental data show that environmental chemical factors cause the development of standard compensatory and adaptative processes in the system of epithelium barriers and cells of mesenchymal genesis. Compensatory and adaptative shifts are carried out parallel to an increase in the quantitative composition of cells due to the intensification of DNA-synthesizing activity and cytokinetic reactions, along with raising their structural and functional activity. Correlation between a number of systems of cell protection has been established. PMID- 2628213 TI - [Biological characteristics of bacterial strains of the genus Pseudomonas recommended for purification of petroleum-contaminated reservoir water]. PMID- 2628214 TI - [Effect of noise of moderate intensity on the functional status of the sympathetic-adrenal system]. PMID- 2628215 TI - [The combined action of carbon monoxide and a heating microclimate on the human body under extreme conditions]. AB - Through the research performed it was established that man's sensitivity to the toxic properties of carbon oxide (CO) is not influenced by microclimates with permissible temperature characteristics, and the sensitivity increases under the influence of heating microclimates leading to the limit temperature conditions. With carbon oxide (CO) in concentration 300 mg/m3, the endurance of heating microclimate under a complex influence of these factors decreases what manifests itself in earlier limit temperature conditions of the examined persons. PMID- 2628216 TI - [Legionellosis in meat-packing combines of the Lithuanian SSR]. AB - The article presents the results of a study of Legionella pneumophila morbidity in Lithuanian meat-processing factory workers, as well as the specific position of legionellosis in the fever diseases structure among the workers of the industry. The technique showed that Legionella pneumophila 1st serogroup seropositive reaction was traced among the healthy workers in 0.2% (antibody titer 1:64). Rather high percentage (7.1%) of persons with specific antibodies was found among those who had suffered the fever disease 6 month before the examination. Among 191 fever patients examined, in 35 (18.3%) cases antibodies against L. pneumophila were detected in diagnostic titers. In 26 workers legionellosis was diagnosed as a result of serologic testing, and Pontiac fever cases were predominant. 1 case was subsequently followed by pneumonia. A chronic nature of epidemic manifestations of legionellosis was established. The pathogenic antigen was detected in 4 of 32 water samples taken from the factory water pipes. PMID- 2628217 TI - [Morphological changes in the nasal mucosa of workers in occupations exposed to dust]. AB - Cotton and flux industrial dust causes chronic catarrhal inflammation in the nose mucous membrane which manifests itself clinically as vasomotor rhinitis. Quartz containing dust entails chronic sclerosing inflammation of the same locality as sub- and atrophic rhinitis. The results of pathohistologic investigations are objectively demonstrated through a chart of morphological traits, thus facilitating the identification of the diagnostical morphological traits caused by different industrial dusts. The research results contribute to further objective data on the occupational genesis of the upper respiratory tract diseases. PMID- 2628218 TI - [An evaluation of the vibration hazard of the hand-operated machines used in automobile manufacture]. AB - After the examination and hygienic assessment of 53 types of hand-held Soviet and foreign machines, 30 types of them were selected because according to their vibration and ergonomic characteristics they could be recommended for wide application in automotive industry. Some causes for deterioration of vibration characteristics of hand-held machines while they were in use were analyzed. Among the basic causes there were untimely running, preventive repair and vibration parameters control of the machines and also their mishandling. Introduction of the proposed pattern of machine movement and maintenance during their use could further the improvement of the technical state of hand-held machines and decrease of local vibration levels affecting workers. PMID- 2628219 TI - [The effect of whole-body vibration on the electrical activity and oxidative metabolism in different brain structures]. AB - Chronic experiments on rabbits were performed to study the bioelectric activity, oxygen consumption and succinate dehydrogenase (DG) activity in different parts of the cortex and subcortex (mesencephalic reticular formation, lateral vestibular nucleus, thalamus posteroventrolateral nucleus), as well as the compound electric activity of the neck muscles, and rythm adoption. The phase character and different vibration sensitivity of the brain structures depending on the duration of vibration were revealed. At the initial phase, the following vibration effects were examined: reaction of activation on encephalogram, growing EMG and DG activity, increased oxygen consumption, and rythm adoption high frequency shifting. Prolonged vibration caused a vivid violation of the intracentral correlation between the cortex and subcortex. Correlation was also identified between electric activity and the brain structures' oxidation metabolism against the vibration dynamics levels. PMID- 2628220 TI - [The activity of the liver monooxygenase system in workers in contact with inorganic substances (metals, fluorine)]. AB - The liver monooxygenase system activity was studied in 100 workers by measuring the half-life period of antipyrine and its clearance from saliva. The examined contacted with lead (22 cases), vanadium (11 cases), manganese (14 cases), fluorine (53 cases). In average, in a half of those examined the antipyrine half life period shortened to less than 10 hours. The contributors hold that the new technique of functional examination of the liver can hardly be applied to for diagnosing toxic affections of the liver. Anyhow the technique demonstrates that metals contribute to liver monooxygenase, which, in case of a combined effect, can increase metabolism of other compounds. PMID- 2628221 TI - [The solubility of welding dusts and their cytotoxicity]. AB - It was established as a result of cytotoxicity studies of 15 welding dusts of different compositions in experiments on embryonal fibroblast cell cultures that the biologic activity of these substances depends on the solubility in growth media of their major components: alkaline and alkaline earth metals, iron, cremnium and, to a vast degree, that of the manganese. Conclusion has been made that a comparative assessment of welding dusts' biological activity on cell cultures should involve the kinetic parameters of their solubility in growth and supportive media, and the duration of the substances' affecting the cell cultures should be long enough to reveal the combined action of its major ingredients. PMID- 2628222 TI - [The ergonomic and physiological hygiene characteristics of the working conditions on the new Volgar' crawler tractor]. AB - A cab and operator's workplace on a caterpillar tractor of the traction class 3 DT-175C called Volgar' has a number of constructive disadvantages, i.e., lack of correspondence of some ergonomic parameters with permissible values. Constructive disadvantages of the workplace cause forced bent, asymmetric work posture of a tractor driver which, combined with uneven distribution of the work load on the locomotor system, specify the appearance of hand ache and pain in the small of driver's back along with deterioration of the functional state of the nervous muscular system (hand and back muscular force). PMID- 2628223 TI - [The role of construction materials as secondary sources of the air pollution of manufacturing premises with dicyclopentadiene]. AB - The experimental data proposed deals with the adsorption properties of the construction materials used in the dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) production sites. Evaluation of secondary sources of DCPD air contamination is made. Construction materials with the lowest DCPD adsorption are proposed which seem to be of specific practical value in DCPD production sites planning. PMID- 2628224 TI - [New documents on the problem of the hygienic standardization and control of harmful substances in the air of a work area]. PMID- 2628225 TI - [The immunohematologic status of female knitters in the manufacture of synthetic fur]. PMID- 2628226 TI - [The role of prostaglandins in the development of the vascular disorders in vibration disease]. PMID- 2628227 TI - [Hygienic and ergonomic analysis of the technology for sinking main and subsidiary mine shafts]. AB - The labour conditions in mine shafts do not correspond to the existing ergonomic and hygienic norms. Drilling and blasting techniques are most hazardous as to the gravity and duration of the factors involved. Working conditions normalization should be based on the elaboration of specifically innovative technologies which should envisage the workers' periodic staying in the mine shaft area during the work shift. PMID- 2628228 TI - [Breast stimulation for labor induction in a stress test]. AB - We performed 100 nipple stimulations for a contraction stress test at the Women's Hospital of the University of Basel. The stimulation was done unilaterally with a breast pump; each nipple was stimulated for 15 min. 33 of 100 patients had three or more contractions in 10 min (successful test), 60 of 100 patients had two or more contractions; 12 women had no contractions. Prestimulation contractions have an influence on the success rate. 50% of patients in the group with prestimulation contractions and only 26% in the group without prestimulation contractions had a successful test. The acceptance was good. PMID- 2628229 TI - [The dysuria syndrome. Significance of urethral diameter for recurrent bacterial cystitis in the female]. AB - Internal urethrotomy is still used in female patients for the prophylactic treatment of recurrent bacterial cystitis as well as for sterile dysuric voiding disorders. 72% of the bacterial cystitis group (n = 18) remained uninfected during the 1st year after the treatment. 60% of the women with sterile dysuria complaints reported a significant improvement after the surgical procedure. The success is most possibly due to improved urodynamic conditions. The necessity of urethrotomy in patients with recurrent bacterial cystitis is discussed. The etiology of sterile dysuric voiding disorders however remains unclear. PMID- 2628230 TI - [Osteoporosis and estrogens]. PMID- 2628231 TI - [Contraception and the climacteric]. PMID- 2628232 TI - [Serum osteocalcin (BGP) as a "marker" of bone mineral content in postmenopausal women]. PMID- 2628233 TI - Analysis of the carbonyl compounds produced in beta thalassaemic erythrocytes by oxidative stress. AB - Several carbonyls more toxic than malonaldehyde (MDA) are also generated during the propagation of lipid peroxidation stimulated "in vitro" in human erythrocytes. As regards thalassaemia, after "in vitro" treatment with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), the total amount of aldehydes formed (MDA plus the other carbonyls) is significantly increased in the red cells from homozygous as compared to heterozygous and normal subjects. These findings lead to the conclusion that the extent of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes is actually wider than that measurable in terms of malonaldehyde only, and that aldehydes of the hydroxyalkenal class in particular may play a role in the pathogenesis of reduced red cell survival in haemolytic anaemias. PMID- 2628234 TI - Immunological studies in sickle cell-beta zero thalassemia. Comparison with sickle cell anemia. AB - Despite genetic differences, patients with S-beta zero thalassemia or sickle cell anemia present several clinical and hematological similarities. In this study we present evidence that they can also show similar immunological profiles. Both hemoglobinopathies exhibited increased total lymphocyte counts as well as B, CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subset counts. The CD4/CD8 ratio and the determination of the activity of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity were within the normal range for patients with both diseases. The levels of IgG and IgA were also increased for both conditions, but the amount of factor B of the complement system was elevated only in sickle cell anemia patients. PMID- 2628235 TI - Human tumor cells cultured "in vitro" activate platelet function by producing ADP or thrombin. AB - We studied the effects on platelet function of different human tumour cells cultured "in vitro": Mo T lymphocyte cell line, NCI-N592 small cell lung carcinoma cell line, and 5637 bladder carcinoma cell line. Mo and NCI-N592 cells possessed a slight, dose-dependent platelet aggregating activity, which was completely abolished by apyrase and unaffected by hirudin. The cell-free supernatant also induced an aggregation response, which was very similar to that obtained with tumour cell suspensions. The presence of ADP in the cell-free supernatants of cell suspensions was confirmed by HPLC analysis. On the contrary, aggregation induced by 5637 cells was preceded by a significant lag phase; it was not affected by apyrase but it was abolished by hirudin, and the cell-free supernatant had no effect. These data suggest that Mo and NCI-N592 cells activate platelets by producing ADP, while 5637 cells stimulate platelet function by generating thrombin. The amount of ADP produced by the first two tumour cell lines was measured by bioassay: the extent of such production was similar for both cell lines and the maximum was reached after 60 minutes and maintained for up to 3 hours. These results suggest that neoplastic cells can activate platelets by different mechanisms: such investigations should be performed in homologous systems and in well-defined experimental conditions. PMID- 2628236 TI - Flow cytometric measurement (H-1 Technicon) of microcytic and hyperchromic red cell populations in pediatric patients affected by hereditary spherocytosis (HS). AB - In 7 splenectomized and 21 non splenectomized pediatric patients with hereditary spherocytosis (HS), red cell size and hemoglobin concentration distribution (erythrograms) demonstrated the size and chromia degree of red cell populations. The H-1 Technicon graphic reports obtained in the analysis of HS blood showed a remarkable shift of the Hb concentration histograms to the right end of the x axis, revealing the presence of a high percentage of hyperchromic red cells. The opposite shift was noted for volume histograms. Graphic findings were quantitated by a computerized program of the H-1 Technicon system. These data have enabled us to determine the percentage of microcytic and normocytic hyperchromic RBC. In particular, non splenectomized HS patients showed an increase in microcytic and hyperchromic RBC twice as high as that of splenectomized patients (data computed by erythrograms). Moreover, there is a significant difference (5.6%, p less than 0.01) between splenectomized and non splenectomized patients in the microcytic hyperchromic RBC percentage (data computed by special volume/hemoglobin concentration mapping). PMID- 2628237 TI - Phase II study of bisantrene in relapsed/refractory acute non lymphoid leukemias (ANLL). AB - The antileukemic activity of Bisantrene, a new anthracene derivative, has been evaluated in a phase II clinical study in 10 patients affected by refractory or primary relapsed ANLL. The patients received an induction course consisting of 250 mg/m2/day for 7 days followed, in case of CR, by 250 mg/m2/day for 3 days (consolidation treatment). In case of partial response a reinduction course (250 mg/m2/day for 3 days) was administered. Four out of the 10 patients obtained CR (3 of them after a single induction course). No significant toxic effect was noticed, apart from fever (due to myelosuppression) and hypotension in one patient who soon recovered without residual effects. These preliminary results could suggest further evaluation of Bisantrene in association with other drugs in both relapsed patients and those at onset of the disease. PMID- 2628238 TI - 1 alpha(OH)D3 treatment and procollagen III (PC III) studies in idiopathic myelofibrosis. AB - Eight patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) were treated with escalating doses (0.5 microgram/day to 4.0 micrograms/day) of 1 alpha(OH)D3 for periods up to 6 months. The treatment did not improve the disease parameters in any of the patients under study. No patient demonstrated a decrease in bone marrow fibrosis as determined by serial procollagen (PC III) serum level analysis. Although 1 alpha(OH)D3 was well tolerated at the administered doses, the therapeutic value of this treatment for IMF requires further evaluation. PMID- 2628239 TI - Recombinant alpha interferon in the treatment of low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: results of a cooperative phase II trial in 31 patients. AB - Thirty-one patients with advanced stage of favorable histology non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were entered into a multicenter phase II trial with recombinant alpha A interferon as single agent. Interferon was administered intramuscular in doses of 6 x 10(6)/IU/m2 three times per week for 12 weeks. Dose escalation was applied, in the absence of toxicities greater than WHO grade II, in patients not responding after 4 weeks. In responding patients treatment was continued at the same dose with a weekly maintenance schedule for 12 additional weeks. Objective responses (4 complete, 10 partial) were obtained in 14 of the 27 evaluable patients (52%). Median time to progression was 15 months for partial responders, while none of the complete responders has relapsed up to the present time. Toxicity was generally moderate and manageable. Treatment was discontinued in three patients because of side effects, and one patient refused therapy after 3 weeks. Our study shows that recombinant alpha A interferon has antitumor activity in patients with favorable histology non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. PMID- 2628240 TI - Alpha interferon in the treatment of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. AB - This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of alpha interferon (IFN) in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, a disease for which therapeutic options are still unsatisfactory. Fourteen sequential unselected patients received recombinant alpha-2b IFN (Intron-A, Schering-Essex) 3 megaU/day, progressively elevated to 10 megaU/day in non responders. Rate and type of response were evaluated in the 10 patients who completed a minimum treatment period of three months. Monocytosis, present in all patients by definition, was reduced in 8 of these 10; neutrophils decreased in 5 of 7 patients with high initial values. Signs of ineffective hemopoiesis were generally not influenced by the treatment, nor were organomegaly and hypergammaglobulinemia, when present; however, in 4 patients the Hb level improved with treatment. IFN treatment failed to improve in vitro growth of GM colonies, but there was improvement of the cluster/colony ratio, due to decrease number of clusters. Lysozyme production by pathologic monocytes was inhibited in the presence of IFN in vitro. Tolerance was variable: three patients interrupted the treatment for unmanageable side effects. These results show that alpha IFN can be effective in CMML patients with prominent proliferative aspects. PMID- 2628241 TI - Pefloxacin in the treatment of gram-negative infections in patients with hematologic diseases. AB - Quinolones are active against gram-negative strains. They are commonly used for selective intestinal decontamination in patients with hematologic malignancies and prolonged neutropenia due to chemotherapy. In our open study we used pefloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone, for the treatment of fifteen documented gram negative infections in hematologic patients. Thirteen patients were mildly neutropenic, and in nine cases they received oral treatment as non-hospitalized patients. Cure was achieved in fourteen cases, with microbiological eradication of the offending pathogen. PMID- 2628242 TI - New clinical aspects of Pearson's syndrome. Report of three cases. AB - We describe 3 patients affected by Pearson's syndrome, presenting anemia, exocrine pancreas failure, and skeletal abnormalities; insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus arose in two cases during the course of the disease. Bone marrow dysplasia and exocrine pancreas failure are also reported in Shwachman's syndrome; the two forms differ in bone marrow morphology. The clinical pattern of Pearson's syndrome can be so polymorphic as to increase the difficulties of differential diagnosis with Shwachman's syndrome. PMID- 2628243 TI - 5q- and t(2;11) in a patient with M2 acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. Case report. AB - A patient with M2-ANLL and a 46,XX,del(5)(q22q33), t(2;11)(p21;q24) karyotype is described. The diagnosis was made after a short period of myelodysplastic syndrome. After chemotherapy consisting of Daunorubicin and Arabinosylcytosine in continuous infusion, the patient reached a complete remission. The chromosome pattern described here has been observed in two other patients with refractory anemia and refractory anemia with excess of blasts, respectively. The breakpoints on the chromosomes 2, 5 and 11 allow us to hypothesize the involvement of N-myc, c-fms, GM-CSF and IL-3 genes. PMID- 2628244 TI - Acute myelogenous leukemia in pregnancy. AB - We report on a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia diagnosed at the 22nd week of pregnancy. She received chemotherapeutic treatment and reached a complete remission. At the 28th week of gestation the patient delivered, by cesarean section, a normal male infant. At present the mother is still disease-free 27 months after diagnosis. The child, too, is in good health. We point out the possibility of producing live babies with current chemotherapy regimens without exposing either the mother or the fetus to excessive risks. PMID- 2628245 TI - Quality of sleep in subjects with low serum iron levels. PMID- 2628246 TI - Aplastic anemia, malignant lymphoma and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. PMID- 2628247 TI - Pulmonary thromboembolism in multiple myeloma. PMID- 2628248 TI - Zinc protoporphyrin in pediatric age. PMID- 2628249 TI - A study of hospice administrative competencies and delegation of functions by program stage of development in Michigan. AB - There are definable stages in hospice program development which require significantly different administrative competencies. In many instances, as programs move from one stage to another, there may need to be significant changes in administrative functions, delegation, and perhaps even changes in personnel. This article reports a study of hospice administrators in Michigan in which they determined not only which stage of development they believed their hospice program to be in, but also what essential competencies they needed in managing the day-to-day operations of their hospice programs. PMID- 2628250 TI - Spiritual well-being and anxiety in adults diagnosed with cancer. AB - Exploring the theory that anxiety is lower in highly spiritual persons confronting life-threatening illness, this correlational study was conducted with 114 adults who had been diagnosed with cancer. Relationships were measured between spiritual well-being and state-trait anxiety, using the Spiritual Well Being Scale, which distinguishes between the religious and existential dimensions of spirituality, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, which differentiates between transitory and characteristic anxiety. Efforts were made to identify demographic features of the sample which could influence spirituality and anxiety and their interactions. A consistent inverse relationship (p less than .001) was found between spiritual well-being and state-trait anxiety, regardless of influences of gender, age, marital status, diagnosis, group participation, and length of time since diagnosis. This supports the theory that persons with high levels of spiritual well-being have lower levels of anxiety. Controlled studies now are indicated, with attention to diversity and specificity of ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds, as well as cancer type, stage, symptoms, and prognosis. The hospice community is challenged to undertake studies of the spiritual dimension and its healing potential. PMID- 2628251 TI - Pain in home hospice patients: an exploratory descriptive study. AB - A descriptive, exploratory study was conducted to determine the prevalence, severity, and relationship of pain to the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of hospice patients. From retrospective analysis of initial treatment plans, one hundred subjects were divided into a pain (N = 58) and a non pain (N = 42) group. Group differences were determined through percentage and chi square analysis of observed frequencies. Findings on the prevalence, severity, and presence of pain in far-advanced cancer were consistent with those previously reported. The pain group demonstrated significant differences in number of metastatic lesions, physical limitations, alterations in elimination, and alterations in nutrition. The number of subjects completing legal and funeral arrangements was significantly higher for the pain group. PMID- 2628252 TI - Psychosocial issues of AIDS patients in hospice: case studies. AB - Hospice programs which, through experience, have become aware of the psychosocial issues of patients with AIDS, need to share their observations. Patients react to the physical realities of the disease while experiencing the stigma and fear which society imposes on AIDS. Hospice support of parents of patients with AIDS focuses on issues of guilt and shame while encouraging validation of the lives of their children. Hospice workers find rewards include personal growth in self awareness and perspective. PMID- 2628253 TI - Hospice programs and the hospice movement: an investigation based on general systems theory. AB - This study used General Systems Theory as the framework for examining hospice programs and the hospice movement. Data drawn from program administrators and archival sources were used to test the thesis that two broad types of hospice programs exist in the United States. Results indicate that independent programs tend to be characterized by processes that amplify change in the extant medical delivery system--that is, deviation amplification. Hospices associated with preexisting institutions tend to be characterized by processes that counteract change, thus maintaining the status quo--that is, deviation counteracting processes. PMID- 2628254 TI - An algorithm for the treatment of pain in advanced cancer. AB - An algorithm is presented that has been developed over the past three years to provide pain relief in advanced cancer. The hospital records of 92 patients were reviewed to evaluate the validity of the algorithm. The algorithm is as follows: the 24 hour oral consumption of opioids was converted to sustained release morphine. If ineffective usually over 360 mg daily the total 24 hour oral dose was divided by 6 to convert to I.V. If this was ineffective, usually over 10 mg/hr of morphine, the intravenous dose was divided by 10 and infused epidurally. Local anesthetic was added for plexus involvement. After four days, the patient was weaned from local anesthetic solution. If sharp pain or pain to movement persisted, 6% phenol in 1 to 2 ml aliquots was injected every 8-12 hours to a total of 5-8 ml. While the conversion from intravenous to epidural morphine was 10:1 that from epidural to intravenous was only 1:3. Intravenous dose converts directly to the subcutaneous. The conversion from intravenous to oral is 1:3. There view showed that the dosages at which the conversions were made varied considerably. The reasons for the wide variation are presented. In summary the algorithm is a good practical guide for treatment of cancer pain. PMID- 2628255 TI - T-cell activation. PMID- 2628256 TI - Interaction of berberine chloride with deoxyribonucleic acids: evidence for base and sequence specificity. AB - The interaction of berberine chloride with natural and synthetic DNAs of differing base composition and sequences was followed by various spectroscopic and viscometric studies. The binding of berberine chloride was characterized by hypochromism and bathochromism in the absorption bands, enhancement of fluorescence intensity, stabilization against thermal denaturation, perturbations in the circular dichroic spectrum, increase in the contour length of sonicated rod-like DNA and induction of unwinding-rewinding process of covalently closed superhelical DNA, depending on the base composition and sequences of base pairs. Binding parameters determined from absorbance and fluorescence titration by Scatchard analysis, according to an excluded-site model, indicated a very high specificity of berberine to AT-rich DNAs and alternate AT polymer. Fluorescence quantum yield was maximum for the complexes with AT-rich DNAs and alternate AT polymer. Taken together, these results suggest that berberine chloride exhibits considerable specificity towards alternating AT polymer and binds to AT-rich DNAs by a mechanism of classical intercalation. PMID- 2628257 TI - Increase in alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and other oxidoreductase activities of hepatic mitochondria on administration of vanadate to the rat. AB - Liver mitochondria isolated from vanadate-administered rats showed increased (20 25%) rates of oxidation of both NAD(+)-linked substrates and succinate. Respiratory control index and ADP/O were unaffected by the treatment. Dormant and uncoupler-stimulated ATPase activity also was not affected by vanadate administration. Membrane-bound, electron-transport-linked dehydrogenase activities (both NAD(+)- and succinate-dependent) increased by 15-20% on vanadate treatment. Mitochondrial alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity increased by 50% on vanadate administration. The above effects of vanadate on oxidoreductase activities could be prevented by the prior administration of antagonists to alpha-adrenergic receptors. Substrate-dependent H2O2 generation by mitochondria also showed an increase on vanadate administration. PMID- 2628258 TI - Purification and properties of a carboxymethylcellulase from phytopathogenic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. AB - From the culture filtrate of Macrophomina phaseolina, two forms of carboxymethylcellulase were separated by ion-exchange chromatography and designated as CMCase-I and CMCase-II. CMCase-I was purified following a four-step procedure involving gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, Con-A Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography, fast protein liquid chromatography on mono Q anion-exchanger and on Superose 12 gel filtration. The final preparation was homogeneous by SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focussing in thin layers of polyacrylamide gels and immunoelectrophoresis. The enzyme showed optimum activity at pH 5.5 and 65 degrees C, was stable to heating at 65 degrees C for 10 min, and retained 31% of original activity after heating at 80 degrees C for 10 min. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 3.5 x 10(4) Da. A Km of 0.25 mg/ml was determined using carboxymethyl-cellulose as the substrate. PMID- 2628259 TI - Mechanism of complement-independent and antibody-mediated killing of Leishmania donovani promastigotes. AB - Immune serum raised against flagellar fraction of Leishmania donovani isolate UR6 has profound lethal effect on the in vitro growth of the parasite. Lethal effect of immune serum was also examined using two other isolates of L. donovani, namely DD8 and AG83. It was observed that immune serum is equally effective against UR6 and DD8 but has no effect on AG83 promastigotes. Parasite killing is mediated by Leishmania-specific antibodies in the absence of complement or any other factors present in rabbit serum. Results indicate that the lethal effect of immune serum is due to impairment in membrane function leading to inhibition in uptake of essential nutrients needed for growth and survival of parasites. PMID- 2628260 TI - Influence of spices and spice principles on hepatic mixed function oxygenase system in rats. AB - The status of hepatic mixed function oxygenase system (MFOS) was investigated in rats fed spice principles: capsaicin, piperine and curcumin, as well as spices: cumin, ginger, fenugreek, cinnamon, asafoetida, mustard and tamarind at two dietary levels each. Liver microsomal cytochrome P450-dependent aryl hydroxylase was generally stimulated by these spice principles and spices. Cumin, ginger and fenugreek also stimulated the levels of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5 and cumin and tamarind stimulated N-demethylase activity. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and glucuronyl transferase activities, however, remained unaffected by the spices tested. PMID- 2628261 TI - Lipid composition of brain regions during chronic maternal alcohol treatment and withdrawal in the rat. AB - The lipid composition of whole brain, cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem was studied in rat pups exposed to alcohol during prenatal and postnatal period and subsequent withdrawal or continuation during postweaning period. The concentrations of cholesterol and galactolipids were increased in the whole brain and brain regions of the pups exposed to alcohol. Even after 6 weeks of withdrawal from alcohol during postweaning period, the lipid levels were significantly higher compared to the controls. These observations suggest possible alterations in the functions of CNS related to membrane integrity. PMID- 2628262 TI - Differential effects of chronic endosulfan exposure to male rats in relation to hepatic drug metabolism and androgen biotransformation. AB - Chronic endosulfan exposure in rats led to considerable increase in the activities of drug metabolizing enzymes, whereas it had inhibitory effect on the activities of enzymes involved in the androgen biotransformation. Endosulfan also produced a dose- and duration-dependent increase in microsomal lipid peroxidation. The alterations produced after shorter duration showed much variation with respect to the dose levels and exposure period of endosulfan studied. The above biochemical changes were reversed after endosulfan withdrawal. PMID- 2628263 TI - Therapeutic action of acetylcholine in malathion toxicity. AB - Administration of malathion to the developing Philosamia ricini larvae induces accumulation of acetylcholine, marked inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity, depletion of all nutrients, heavy weight loss and high mortality. Pre treatment of the larvae with acetylcholine via feed, reduces malathion toxicity and conversely, feeding of acetylcholine to malathion-treated larvae reverses the toxic effects. Resumption of normal control feed to malathion-treated insects results in higher mortality than in insects fed acetylcholine after exposure to malathion. This emphasizes the therapeutic action of acetylcholine. Feeding of a mixture of equal quantities of malathion and acetylcholine recorded significantly lower mortality among insects in comparison to those fed malathion alone. This further supports the protective action of acetylcholine. Reversal of malathion toxicity and the protective action of acetylcholine have been attributed to the mediation of choline, an essential insect vitamin that gets released as a catabolic product of acetylcholine. PMID- 2628264 TI - Interaction of central Asian cobra (Naja naja oxiana Eichwald) venom cytotoxins with phospholipase D. AB - Effect of cytotoxins from the venom of Naja naja oxiana Eichwald on the hydrolytic function of phospholipase D has been further analysed. Cytotoxins in the absence of Ca2+ activated the enzyme, whereas in its presence they inhibited it. Inhibition is shown to be related to the interaction of cytotoxins with the enzyme which blocks the absorption of the enzyme at the surface of the substrate phase. Synergism in the action of cytotoxin and phospholipase D was not noticed. PMID- 2628265 TI - A minor 9.8 kb rDNA unit of rice variety IR-20. AB - A clone bearing a 9.8 kb EcoRI fragment of rice DNA containing the genes for the rRNAs and the intergenic spacer was identified by screening a rice genomic library in lambda Charon 4 phage with rRNAs. The 9.8 kb EcoRIDNA fragment was found to be a minor rDNA unit of rice variety IR-20. The rRNA genes and the intergenic spacer were mapped by hybridization and nucleotide sequence analyses. The DNAs in the intergenic spacer of the minor rDNA unit of 9.8 kb and the major rDNA unit of 8.9 kb cross-hybridized showing that those regions are homologous. PMID- 2628266 TI - Effect of anthracycline antibiotics on in vitro transcription of chromatin in a Sarcoma-180 whole cell extract. AB - A soluble extract capable of transcribing Sarcoma-180 chromatin and DNA in a cell free transcription system was prepared from Sarcoma-180 mouse ascites tumour cells. Incorporation of [3H]UTP into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable fraction is (i) reduced by 50% on removing DNase I hypersensitive sites of chromatin and (ii) inhibited by DNA binding antitumour anthracyclines, suggesting that this cell-free assay represents true transcription of active genes of Sarcoma-180 chromatin. Preparation of this soluble extract from mouse ascites tumour cells thus presents a very convenient way of studying cell-free transcription of active genes of chromatin and effect of antitumour agents on chromatin transcription. PMID- 2628267 TI - A sensitive assay for Staphylococcus aureus nucleases. AB - A sensitive assay for staphylococcal nuclease involving incubation of the enzyme sample with heat-denatured [3H]thymidine labelled DNA from E. coli, precipitation with trichloroacetic acid and measurement of the radioactivity of acid-soluble nucleotides released has been developed. The assay is sensitive enough to be used for comparing the levels of nucleases elaborated by different strains of S. aureus as well as for determining the extent of contamination of S. aureus in food and water samples even at levels at which the conventional spectrophotometric and toluidine blue-DNA methods are totally inadequate. PMID- 2628268 TI - Spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric titrations of teichoic acid. AB - Spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric titrations of two strongly aggregating dyes, 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) and acridine orange (AO), by three anionic biopolymers, chondroitin sulphate A, DNA and teichoic acid (TA), have been described. Though the three polymers differ in their dye binding efficiencies and TA is a weak chromotrope, the equivalent weights of the polymers can be estimated accurately by these methods using the two dyes. Results show DMMB to be the preferred dye for spectrophotometric titration. The titrations can be used to estimate the equivalent weights of anionic polymers, and also for the quantitative estimation of such polymers of known equivalent weights. PMID- 2628269 TI - Physico-chemical aspects of solubility of myosin in aqueous media. AB - Solubility of fish (Labio rohita) myosin has been studied at varying temperatures in presence of various inorganic salts like NaCl, KCl, NaBr, Na2SO4, KI, and organic solutes like sucrose and urea. The effect of pH on the solubility has also been studied both in absence and presence of NaCl. Thermal denaturation temperatures of myosin in presence of NaCl, KCl, NaBr and Na2SO4 were found to be 40 degrees, 40 degrees, 45 degrees and 50 degrees C respectively. Thermodynamic parameters like changes in standard free energy (delta G degrees), enthalpy (delta H degrees) and entropy (delta S degrees) for precipitation of myosin from solution phase to gel phase have been evaluated and the physico-chemical aspects have been critically discussed. The average delta G degrees for gel formation varied only between -30 and -40 kJ/mole of myosin, although the nature of solutes, temperature and folding state of protein have been grossly altered. A compensation effect has also been exhibited from the linear plot of average values of delta H degrees against T delta S degrees for various solutes. PMID- 2628270 TI - Effect of extracellular pH and DNFB treatment on the mechanical performance of frog skeletal muscle. AB - isometric tension and maximum velocity of shortening of frog sartorious and biceps muscles were measured at varying pH and compared with the values obtained for muscles treated with DNFB. Both To and Vmax exhibited increase with increase in pH above neutral pH upto pH 9, and decreased as the pH was decreased up to 5. Muscle treated with DNFB at pH 7 showed about 30% decrement but these too improved at pH 9 to almost 105% and 130% respectively compared to untreated muscle at pH 7. Using the number of short duration tetanic contractions, which reduce To and Vmax by half, as an index for the onset of fatigue, high pH was found to have a positive effect in both normal and DNFB-treated muscle. Thus, the crucial factor for onset of fatigue is not a fall in ATP level but acidification and treatment with high pH Ringer's solution partially annuls the effect of acidosis, arising either naturally or from DNFB treatment. One additional role of creatine kinase activity to that of ATP regeneration is suggested to be the maintenance of neutral pH in the sarcoplasm. PMID- 2628271 TI - Purification of rat intestinal cinnabarinate synthase and its possible role in hyperplasia of the small intestine in diabetic rats. AB - Streptozotocin diabetic rats fed ad libitum exhibited hyperplasia of the small intestine. As compared to the control animals, the intestine of experimental animals grew in weight, length and total RNA and DNA contents. Intestinal cinnabarinate synthase activity in diabetic rats was however significantly lower. Developmental studies in albino rats indicated that, attainment of the terminal and highest activity of the enzyme tends to correspond with cessation of further increase in RNA and DNA contents of the intestine, thereby suggesting a possible relationship between cinnabarinate synthase and the hyperplastic changes observed. It was also observed that some properties of this enzyme, such as Km and Vmax are modified in diabetic condition. The enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity and some of its kinetic and other properties were studied. PMID- 2628272 TI - Thermodynamics of water-induced precipitation of cholesterol and its acetate, benzoate and stearate derivatives dissolved in 1,4-dioxane and 2-propanol. AB - The energetics of the precipitation process depended on the solute-solvent combination and the enthalpy and entropy of precipitation compensated each other. The partial molal volumes of the lipids in both the solvents were greater than the anhydrous molar volumes, except for cholesterol in 1,4-dioxane and cholesteryl acetate in 2-propanol where the order was reverse. While the partial molal compressibilities of all the solutes studied were negative in 1,4-dioxane, those of cholesterol and cholesteryl acetate in 2-propanol were, respectively, negative and positive. The negative values were supported by considerable solvation of the solutes, particularly in 1,4-dioxane. PMID- 2628273 TI - Activation of lysosomal enzymes in chemotactically elicited rat peritoneal macrophages. AB - Activation profile of lysosomal enzymes in rat peritoneal macrophages elicited in response to three stimulants, thioglycollate (TG), protease peptone (PP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was studied from 0 to 6 days. Macrophages elicited in response to LPS were larger in number and heterogeneous in nature while TG and PP induced cells were comparatively more homogeneous. Maximum elicitation of macrophages in response to the three stimulants, though at different degrees, was observed around 3 days. This could be correlated to increased blood monocytes. The progressive activation of macrophages reflected in corresponding decrease in total cellular protein content and increase in the activities of their lysosomal enzymes. The catalytic activities of aryl sulphatase, beta-glucuronidase and cathepsin D increased several fold (2-8 fold) over the resident values. TG elicited cells possessed the highest enzyme activities, followed by PP and LPS elicited ones. Beta-Glucuronidase was the most stimulated (4-8 fold) of the enzymes studied. The cellular catalytic activities of these enzymes were also enhanced 2- to 4-fold compared to the resident levels in the TG and PP elicited macrophages. Though the enzyme catalytic activities were increased in the LPS treated cells, their cellular levels remained below the resident activities in all the three enzymes studied. The results indicate that the events related to the elaboration of these macrophage lysosomal enzymes in vivo are subject to selective modulation and are stimulus specific. PMID- 2628274 TI - Selective cleavage of N-terminal amino acid in a peptide by polymeric cobalt (III) triene complex. AB - Cellulose was functionalized to incorporate triethylenetetramine group. This was in turn converted into the polymeric analogue of cobalt(III)triene complex. The polymeric complex reacts with peptides resulting in the cleavage of amino end amino acid, thus suggesting the applicability of the polymeric reagent as a solid phase reagent for N-terminal determination. PMID- 2628275 TI - Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Comparison of media for isolation and prevalence among patients with nongonococcal nonchlamydial genital infections. AB - One hundred and twelve genital specimens were cultured for Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum using a conventional system and the Mycotrim GU biphasic culture system. Both systems gave the same percentage of recovery (60%) of Mycoplasma hominis, while the recovery rates of Ureaplasma urealyticum were 95% with the conventional system and 83% with the Mycotrim GU. The media contamination was similar for both systems. The average time for Mycoplasma isolation and identification was shorter with the Mycotrim GU in comparison with the conventional system. The prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis in 91 patients with nongonococcal nonchlamydial urethritis and/or cervicitis was 8%, that of Ureaplasma urealyticum was 31%. PMID- 2628276 TI - [Exfoliative cytology of psoriasis: effects of cyclosporin A]. AB - The cytological modifications of the horny layer cell population in psoriatic subjects during treatment with Cyclosporin A are described. They are studied by means of the cytoexfoliative method. The value of this technique is discussed, using it either for diagnosis, or for evaluating therapeutic efficacy of various treatments. The cytological findings are respectively compared with those of other psoriasis therapies, such as Methotrexate and RO 10-9359 (etretinate). PMID- 2628277 TI - [Comparison of blood gas analysis and skin oximetry in phlebopathic dermatitis of the lower limbs]. AB - A cutaneous oximetry and blood gas analysis study was performed on the return system from the dorsal aspect of the foot and the vein at the third median of the leg in 65 phlebopathic patients, using the cubital vein as a control site. The series (25 men and 40 women) comprised 32 cases of non-ulcerative lesions. The statistical analysis of results from the dorsal aspect of the foot in patients with ulcers showed an inverse correlation between transcutaneous O2 diffusion and the blood levels of O2, which was probably associated to AVA hyperstomy. In the vein at the third median of the leg, in both groups, the same inverse correlation was linked to chronic venous hypertension. Lastly, no correlation was observed between the two parameters of the dorsal aspect of the foot in non-ulcerative patients, probably because of the diverse influence of pathogenetic co-factors. PMID- 2628278 TI - [HLA and keloids: antigenic frequency and therapeutic response]. AB - Twenty keloid subjects were typed for class 1 (HLA-A, B and C) and class 2 (HLA DR and DQ) histocompatibility antigens. Their frequencies were compared to those found in control populations. Of all the antigens belonging to class 1, B 21 was more prevalent in patients. The findings regarding class 2 antigens were noteworthy: in keloid patients there was a significant prevalence of DR 5 (RR = 3.54 and 7.93 respectively for the two control groups) and DQw 3 (RR = 16.8). The patients typed for HLA-antigens were treated with corticosteroid infiltrations. The responses to the treatments were no related to the histocompatibility antigens. PMID- 2628279 TI - [Erythema pernio of the face: clinical and histopathological aspects]. AB - A case of chilblains on the face of a man is described. An acute episode of chilblains occurred after a long period of exposure to cold. The unusual site and unusual clinical aspect raised problems of differential clinical diagnosis. Moreover histological diagnosis is easy to perform only after a correct clinical diagnosis has been carried out. For these reasons the literature on chilblains needs to be updated, even though, thanks to impaired living and working conditions, this disease is becoming uncommon. PMID- 2628280 TI - [Nickel-induced allergic contact dermatitis: reactivation by oral administration of hapten]. AB - Recent reports suggest the high frequency of nickel induced allergic contact dermatitis and the absence in some patients of a clinical improvement following topical avoidance of sensitising allergen. In this study we evaluated the role of food ingested nickel in the maintenance and exacerbations of the disease. A high frequency of cutaneous exacerbations was obtained after oral challenge with a low nickel containing diet. These results suggest a pathogenetic role of nickel present in foods and indicate that an appropriate diet may be useful in the prophylaxis and in the therapy of nickel dermatitis in sensitized patients. PMID- 2628281 TI - [Skin pathology caused by the use of limb prostheses]. AB - Skin problems affecting the limb stump of amputee are common but often they are observed a little. The Authors describe our experience in order of these skin pathologies caused by use of prostheses during stage at INAIL Prosthese Center in Vigorso di Budrio (Bologna). The aims of this report are to renew interest in these problems and to facilitate earlier recognition and treatment of troublesome skin disorders in the amputee. PMID- 2628282 TI - [Results of photochemotherapy in a series of 47 patients with mycosis fungoides]. AB - Oral photochemotherapy has been employed in the treatment of mycosis fungoides for more than 13 years. The Authors report their 9 year experience in a series of 47 patients affected by mycosis fungoides and treated by means of PUVA-therapy. All the patients were staged according to TNM system. 81.5% of 38 cases in the I stage of the disease obtained a complete remission, as did 50% of 6 cases in the II stage and one patient out of 3 in the III stage. Photochemotherapy seems to give satisfactory results mainly in the first stages of the disease. In fact, 45% of the patients who had obtained complete remission ot the end of the treatment were still free from disease after 5 years. Photochemotherapy, which in this series has not shown any important side effect, is a safe non-aggressive therapeutic choice in the management of the first stages of mycosis fungoides. PMID- 2628283 TI - Importance of physical association between antigen and liposomes in liposomes adjuvanticity. AB - The importance of a physical association between antigen and liposomes in liposomes adjuvanticity has been evaluated by comparing the anti-BSA secondary humoral response induced by different BSA formulations including free antigen, free antigen + liposomes, or encapsulated antigen. Our results demonstrate that a physical association of antigen with liposomes is required for a potentiation of the humoral response to be observed and that empty liposomes, when used for priming together with free antigen, restrain the induced response, as shown by a slower triggering, a reduced intensity and a more rapid decay rate. Free BSA has an intermediate behavior and, in contrast to what is observed with BSA/liposomes preparations, its effect appears to be dose-dependent. Each of the three BSA formulations also differs in the relative production of IgG and IgM they induced during the response. PMID- 2628284 TI - Heat-labile serum inhibitor of anti-phospholipid antibody binding in ELISA. AB - Normal human sera (NHS), heat-inactivated at 56 degrees C for 30 min, demonstrated positive ELISA reactions for anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibodies. The heat-induced reactivity in ELISA was inhibitable by the cardiolipin antigen and was abolished by prior IgG depletion of the heated NHS with a protein A preparation. The heat-potentiated aCL also cross-reacted selectively with phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine, but not with phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine. PMID- 2628285 TI - A rapid procedure for the purification of IgA1 and IgA2 subclasses from normal human serum using protein G and jackfruit lectin (jacalin) affinity chromatography. AB - Immunoglobulin A (IgA) from pooled normal human sera was purified using antibody and protein G affinity chromatography and gel filtration high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). This high purity product was separated into IgA1 and IgA2 subclasses utilizing the agarose-bound lectin 'jacalin'. Evaluation of product homogeneity by immunological testing confirmed greater than 95% purity. The total IgA1 and IgA2 recovered from sera was approximately 26% of the initial antibody present. PMID- 2628286 TI - Effect of zinc administration on cadmium-induced suppression of natural killer cell activity in mice. AB - Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in immune surveillance against viral infections and neoplasms. The effect of cadmium with or without zinc on mouse spleen NK cell activity was studied. Six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were given drinking water containing either 50 ppm cadmium, 50 ppm cadmium together with 500 ppm zinc, or 500 ppm zinc. A fourth group receiving no additional cadmium or zinc served as control. After 3 weeks of treatment, the mice were killed, splenic lymphocytes isolated and cultured with 51Cr-labelled YAC-1 target cells for 4 and 12 h in a ratio of 50:1. The percentage of target cell lysis was measured to assess NK cell activity. In the 12-h assay, cadmium-treated animals had significantly lower NK cell activity than controls. Concurrent zinc administration prevented the suppression. In the 4-h assay, a similar trend was observed. Between 4 and 12 h, NK cell activity increased significantly in control and zinc-treated groups, but not in those receiving cadmium. The results suggest that a relatively low dose of cadmium suppresses NK cell activity, which can be prevented by a moderately large dose of zinc. PMID- 2628287 TI - A novel trait of naturally occurring anti-DNA antibodies: dissociation from immune complexes in neutral 0.3-0.5 M NaCl. AB - Monoclonal and polyclonal anti-DNA antibodies from autoimmune mice, and experimentally induced rabbit anti-nucleic acid polyclonal antibodies were tested for stability of binding to nucleic acids in the presence of various concentrations of NaCl by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Murine monoclonal antibodies 2C10 (IgG2b) and 1A2 (IgG2a), which are known to react specifically with double-stranded (ds) DNA, dissociated completely from their complexes with DNA when washed with a neutral 0.5 M NaCl solution. Another monoclonal antibody (MoAb) (IgM,kappa), polyreactive with single-stranded (ss) DNA, cardiolipin, and trinitrophenylhapten (TNP), was also dissociated from its complexes with ss DNA, but not from its complexes with TNP, by 0.3-0.5 M NaCl. Similar differences were observed in the binding stability of serum antibodies from autoimmune mice to DNA and TNP. In contrast, anti-nucleic acid polyclonal antibodies induced in rabbits by immunization with poly(I), poly(dT) or poly(ADP ribose) were not significantly dissociated from their immune complexes with relevant antigens or DNA by 0.5 M NaCl. The finding that nucleic acid antigens were not detached from a solid phase by washing with 0.5 M NaCl solution indicated that the reduction of binding of anti-DNA antibodies in both MoAbs and naturally occurring antibodies was really due to dissociation of the antibodies from immune complexes. This is the first demonstration that DNA epitopes recognized by naturally occurring antibodies in both SLE and its mouse models are sensitive to neutral NaCl concentrations. This novel trait of naturally occurring antibodies will be very useful in studies on the nature of immune complexes in sera and kidneys of cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). PMID- 2628288 TI - Altered neutrophils in mice immune to experimental Naegleria amoebic meningoencephalitis. AB - Naegleria fowleri is the cause of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in man. The mouse is considered to be a suitable experimental model for this disease. The data presented shows that blood neutrophils from N. fowleri immune mice (immunised) that had received a 'recall' amoeba antigen had altered responses compared with those from similarly treated normal mice. The neutrophils from immune animals showed increased basal levels of oxygen-dependent respiratory activity, measured by the chemiluminescence response. These neutrophils also showed increased responses to formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and opsonized N. fowleri. The results are consistent with previous data suggesting that the neutrophil (and its activation) is important in defence against N. fowleri. PMID- 2628289 TI - Coagglutination test in the diagnosis of typhoid fever. AB - Staphylococcal coagglutination (CoA) test for the detection of Salmonella typhi O (factor 9) antigen was evaluated as a diagnostic test in typhoid fever. Supernatants from 106 blood cultures with Gram negative bacilli were subjected to CoA test. The sensitivity of the CoA test for the detection of S. typhi O antigen was 88 per cent and the specificity 97 per cent. PMID- 2628290 TI - Evaluation of coagglutination test for serotyping of enteropathogenic bacteria. AB - Results of conventional agglutination and coagglutination (COA) tests for serotyping of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Shigella, Salmonella and Vibrio cholerae were compared. Eighty isolates of different serotypes of EPEC falling in the Wellcome polyvalent (OK) 2, 3 and 4 antisera, showed good (4+) agglutination with COA reagent up to 1:960 dilution. Out of 50 strains of Shigella species tested, 25 of Sh. dysenteriae and 5 of Sh. sonnei gave good reaction up to 1:1920 dilution and 15 of Sh. flexneri up to 1:960 dilution in COA test. Similar reaction (4+) by 5 strains of Sh. boydii was seen up to 1:480 dilution only. All 100 isolates of different Salmonella species viz., S. paratyphi A (5), S. typhimurium (50), S. typhi (15), S. weltevreden (5) and S. senftenberg (25), when serotyped by COA, gave good reaction in 1:480 dilution except S. typhi factor 9 and dH antisera, which gave very weak reaction at 1:480 dilution and good reaction at 1:280 dilution. All seven isolates of V. cholerae gave good reaction in COA test even up to 1:1920 dilution. No cross reaction with any COA reagent was obtained in the 1206 heterologus isolates tested. Thus due to its higher efficiency, lower cost and good specificity, COA may prove to be a better method for serotyping of enteropathogens. PMID- 2628291 TI - Species identification & methicillin resistance of coagulase negative staphylococci from clinical specimens. AB - A total of 75 strains of coagulase negative staphylococci were isolated in pure culture from different specimens from patients suffering from various deep seated staphylococcal infections undergoing treatment between November, 1985 and December, 1986. Using the Baird Parker classification system, Staphylococcus epidermidis was the commonest isolate found (60%) of which biotype 1 was the most frequent (51.1%). Twenty seven (36%) untypable strains could be typed using Kloos and Schleifer's classification system. These strains were identified as Staph. cohnii (10), Staph. hominis (8), Staph. capitis (4), Staph. haemolyticus (3), Staph. simulans (1), and Staph. warneri (1). Three Staph. saprophyticus strains were isolated from patients of urinary tract infection. Methicillin resistant strains (14.6%) were isolated mainly from patients of meningitis, urinary tract infections and endocarditis. All these strains were sensitive to vancomycin. Coagulase negative staphylococci thus can cause a number of human infections and should no longer be regarded as harmless commensals. PMID- 2628292 TI - Hepatic function in relation to acetylator phenotype in children treated with antitubercular drugs. AB - Sixty-six children suffering from pulmonary primary complex were investigated for evidence of hepatotoxicity (clinical and biochemical), in relation to the type of acetylator. Acetylator phenotype was determined by the sulphadimidine acetylation test in urine. A large proportion (83.0%) of the children were either normally nourished or had only grade-I malnutrition. Estimation of the levels of SGOT and SGPT determined before therapy and at monthly intervals for the first three months, and then three monthly for one year, did not indicate any biochemical evidence of hepatic derangement in relation to the type of acetylator. Hepatotoxicity of antitubercular drugs is greatly reduced when isoniazid and rifampin are used in lower dosages regardless of acetylator phenotype. Mild degree of malnutrition does not predispose the child to more hepatotoxicity. PMID- 2628293 TI - Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in Kashmiri blood donors. AB - Eighty eight of 7900 healthy blood donors screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) carrier state by reversed passive haemagglutination assay were found to be positive. The positivity was significantly more in rural donors (P less than 0.001) as compared to urban donors. False positive results are seen only with 1.13 per cent of the sera tested. PMID- 2628294 TI - Growth & toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis. AB - Chemically defined media containing glutamic acid, glutamine and aspartic acid at a 20 mM concentration individually supported abundant growth and sporulation of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis. The parasporal crystals produced in these media were toxic to fourth instar larvae of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say. The medium containing 20 mM of glutamine induced early sporulation of B. thuringiensis var israelensis. An LC50 value of 3.92 micrograms/l was obtained. Calcium alginate and agar agar immobilized formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis exhibited toxicity of 90 per cent and above to C. pipiens quinquefasciatus Say larvae, over a period of 90 days. PMID- 2628295 TI - Haemagglutination antibody titres & immunoglobulin levels in cases of Plasmodium infection. AB - Malarial antibody estimation was done in patients with malaria (50), and fever (malaria negative, 50) and in 50 healthy controls who gave no history of malaria for the last one year, using the indirect haemagglutination test (IHA). Seropositivity was 78, 32 and 4 per cent respectively. Levels of IgG and IgM were found to be significantly higher in patients as compared to controls and a significant fall was observed in IgA levels in patients of malaria. Although the malarial antibody titre showed good correlation with IgG (P less than 0.01) and IgM (P less than 0.05) not all patients with a negative haemagglutination antibody titre had normal immunoglobulin levels. PMID- 2628296 TI - Effect of a new 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial compound on hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase system of mice. AB - A new 8-aminoquinoline derivative (compound 80/53) synthesized at the Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow (India), has been found to be an active anti relapse (tissue schizontocidal) compound. Compound 80/53 at 8.75 mg/kg x 4 days and primaquine at 7.00 mg/kg (base) x 4 days given orally to Swiss mice led to inhibition of the different components of the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase system to varying degrees. Compound 80/53 inhibited cytochrome P-450, aminopyrine-N-demethylase, aniline and benzo (a) pyrene hydroxylase, cytochrome b5 and heme content of the normal mice by 12, 14, 0, 57, 20 and 6 per cent respectively, whereas the inhibition caused by primaquine in these components was 25, 21, 17, 48, 26 and 6 per cent respectively. Thus, there was less inhibition of hepatic microsomal MFO system of mice by compound 80/53 as compared to that by primaquine. PMID- 2628297 TI - Malaria & other common ailments among upper Bonda tribals in Koraput district, Orissa. AB - A malariometric survey carried out among the upper Bonda tribals of Koraput district showed that malaria is the major cause of morbidity followed by worm infestation and malnutrition. A total of individuals 1,409 (32.2% of the population) were sampled and 771 were found positive for malaria parasites. Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant parasite (73.7%) followed by P. vivax (10.6%) and P. malariae (5.2%) among the positive cases. Mixed infection was observed in 10.5 per cent of positive individuals. The infant parasite rate was 60.0 per cent and the average enlarged spleen among the children between 2-9 yr was 2.11. The age specific parasite rate indicated high degree transmission and high level of acquired resistance among the tribals. PMID- 2628298 TI - Anopheline fauna of Koraput district, Orissa state, with particular reference to transmission of malaria. AB - The anopheline fauna was surveyed in Koraput district of Orissa, which is highly malarious. A total of 62,086 anophelines belonging to 22 species and two varieties were collected, including eight species of anophelines which are recognized malarial vectors in India. Anopheles sergenti, A. pulcherrimus, A. jeyporiensis var candidiensis and A. annularis var adiei was recorded for the first time in this area. A total of 24154 mosquitoes were dissected and 18 mosquitoes belonging to four species, A. fluviatilis. A. annularis, A. culicifacies and A. aconitus were found with the gut/gland infection. PMID- 2628299 TI - Serum phospholipid fractions measured by two dimensional thin layer chromatography in normal pregnancy. AB - Serum phospholipid fractions were quantitated by two dimensional thin layer chromatography in 85 apparently normal pregnant women at different gestational period. Fifteen healthy non-pregnant women matched for age served as controls. Normal chromatogram showed eight spots of serum phospholipid viz., phosphatidic acid (PA, 3.9 +/- 0.5%), cardiolipin (C, 7.2 +/- 0.4%), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE, 10.6 +/- 1.1%), phosphatidylglycerol (PG, 3.2 +/- 0.6%), lecithin (L, 34.5 +/- 1.8%), sphingomyelin (S, 31.0 +/- 1.4%), lysolecithin (LL, 8.6 +/- 1.2%) and phosphalidylionositol (PI, 1.0 +/- 0.2%). Serum total phospholipid which increased with gestational age, being lowest at 6 wk (220.2 +/- 4.8 mg/dl) and highest at 38 wk (290.3 +/- 4.5 mg/dl), started declining at term (275.8 +/- 5.8 mg/dl) and returned to levels in normal nonpregnant women (214.1 +/- 4.7 mg/dl) at 4 wk after delivery (217.2 +/- 3.3 mg/dl). PG was absent in both the first and second trimester and first appeared between 31-32 wk, i.e., in the third trimester of pregnancy when the mean per cent of PG was 0.7 +/- 0.4 per cent. During the first trimester when the L/S ratio was less than 1.2 the PI level was low (0.8 +/- 0.2%). Parallel to the increase in the L/S ratio to 2.0, the content of PI increased to 2.6 +/- 0.4 per cent. PG first appeared (0.7 +/- 0.4%) and PI concomitantly decreased (2.1 +/- 0.3%) when the L/S ratio exceeded 2.0 at 31-32 wk. Sequential analysis of maternal serum phospholipid fractions may be used as an additional tool in predicting gestational age of normal growing pregnancy. PMID- 2628300 TI - Influence of malnutrition on social maturity, visual motor coordination & memory in rural school children. AB - The social competence, visual motor coordination and memory functions of 1336 rural primary school children in the age group 6-8 yr were studied in relation to their nutritional status and socio-environmental factors. Children with grades, I, II and III malnutrition scored 4.4, 8.5 and 11.8 points lower respectively as compared to those in normal nutrition for the total social quotient. The effect was more marked in stunted wasted children. These rural children performed poorly on areas; communication, socialization and occupation, in grades II and III malnutrition their scores being below average (less than 90). Environmental factors like family size and type, economic sufficiency, and father's education also played a significant role in determining the social competence in girls. The scores for visual motor coordination (Bender Gestalt test) increased with severity of malnutrition (scores normal, 9.9 and grade III, 11.3) being statistically significant (P less than 0.01). Observations on memory test indicated that malnutrition had a significant but very weak relationship with immediate and delayed memory. The boys in grade II malnutrition had significantly lower immediate memory scores, as compared to normal boys for all the 3 modes of presentation (P less than 0.05, P less than 0.05; and P less than 0.001 respectively). In the girls, this was true only with respect to pictures. Further, for delayed memory, boys in grade II malnutrition scored poorly for pictures and words (P less than 0.05 for both). PMID- 2628301 TI - Coagulation abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus. AB - Coagulation profile was studied in 55 patients of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Abnormal kaolin clotting time (KCT) was observed in fewer patients (12.9%) as compared to abnormal Russel's viper venom time (RVVT, 20.4%) or activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT, 32.7%). Prolonged prothrombin time (PT), observed in 7.3 per cent patients was not found to be a sensitive test for lupus anticoagulant (LAC). The correction of RVVT and KCT on addition of inosithin suggested a deficiency of platelet lipid factor in these patients. The initial value of uncorrected KCT in patient's plasma did not correlate with the amount of inosithin required for neutralisation. Occurrence of thromboembolic events was significantly associated with prolonged KCT. No other clinical feature showed significant association with any coagulation abnormality. PMID- 2628302 TI - Effect of post-hypoxic acclimatization on extremity temperature during exposure to acute cold stress in man. AB - Twelve male volunteers aged 20-28 yr, who were physically fit for high altitude duties were studied. Recordings of oral temperature, mean skin temperature, extremity temperature, O2 consumption and heart rate were taken in a thermoneutral room (26 degrees +/- 2 degrees C) and cold room (6 degrees-8 degrees C) initially; after 4 wk stay at 3353 m (502 mm Hg); again after 4 wk at 4115 m (455 mm Hg); and finally after return to Delhi (740 mm Hg). The oral temperature, mean skin temperature, oxygen consumption and heart rate did not show any significant difference from their initial sea level values recorded in the thermoneutral room or the cold room. It may be concluded that our subjects did not exhibit any degree cold acclimatization when retested at sea level. A significant elevation (P less than 0.001) of extremity temperature observed during retest in cold might be due to some degree of vasodilatation through relaxation of constrictor tone that might have taken place during exposure to hypoxia at high altitude. PMID- 2628303 TI - Immunological status of patients of Eales' disease. AB - To test the hypothesis that altered immune reactivity to an extraneous agent might lead to primary retinal perivasculitis, a study was undertaken to determine the serum immunoglobulin levels, T lymphocyte subsets, antibody responses to BCG and 'S' antigen, and lymphoproliferative response to mitogens. No difference was observed in these parameters between patients and controls. Both Mantoux positive and negative conditions existed in patients with Eales' disease. Mantoux positive patients showed a higher level of lymphoproliferative response in vitro to PPD than Mantoux positive controls, indicating the presence of two populations among Eales' patients. PMID- 2628304 TI - Clinical pharmacological studies on centpropazine--a new antidepressant compound. AB - Single oral doses of 10 to 160 mg centpropazine, a new antidepressant (synthesized by CDRI, Lucknow, India) were administered to groups of 4-5 male volunteers, each dose being interspersed with placebo in a double blind, non crossover study by random distribution. The drug was well tolerated. Drowsiness, heaviness, weakness and/or headache were reported only at doses of 120 mg and above. No adverse effect was noted in various laboratory tests, ECG or vital parameters. In a multiple dose study, volunteers received 40 or 80 mg centpropazine daily for 4 wk. Mild restlessness and insomnia were observed in some subjects receiving 80 mg dose. In this study also no effect was observed in various laboratory tests, ECG or vital parameters. PMID- 2628305 TI - Effect of trisodium pentetat on the distribution of cadmium in some body organs & on hepatic metallothionein in rats. AB - The pre- and post-treatment with calcium trisodium diethylene-triaminepentaacetic acid (CaNa3DTPA) was investigated for their efficacy to mobilize cadmium (Cd) from various tissues and hepatic metallothionein (MT) in Cd-exposed rats. Pretreatment with CaNa3 DTPA significantly reduced the hepatic and renal Cd absorption while, post Cd treatment with CaNa3 DTPA was effective in reducing renal and brain Cd. Pretreatment with CaNa3DTPA significantly increased the Cd induced hepatic metallothionein (MT) level, MT-bound Cd, Zn and Cu contents while, post treatment with CaNa3DTPA reduced the hepatic MT, MT-bound Cd compared to Cd alone treated rats. PMID- 2628306 TI - Synergistic effect of allyl isopropyl acetamide with cadmium on hepatic heme synthesis in chick embryo. AB - The effect of cadmium along with a porphyrogenic drug, allyl isopropyl acetamide, on the induction of 5-amino levulinic acid (ALA) synthetase, ALA dehydratase and heme level was studied. The interaction of cadmium with allyl isopropyl acetamide indicated that the decrease in hepatic heme level by cadmium or allyl isopropyl acetamide may occur in a synergistic manner, whereas the induction of ALA synthetase by cadmium or allyl isopropyl acetamide may not take place in the same manner. Further, neither allyl isopropyl acetamide treatment alone nor allyl isopropyl acetamide-cadmium treatment had any effect on ALA dehydratase activity. PMID- 2628307 TI - Effect of centrally administered glucagon on liver glycogen & enzymes in anaesthetised dogs. AB - Glucagon (0.01 microgram) administered through the intracerebroventricular route in anaesthetised mongrel dogs, caused a significant rise in blood glucose and a fall in liver glycogen (P less than 0.01). Concurrently, it increased the liver phosphorylase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transminase and lipase activities by 30 min. Identical changes were observed in vagotomised animals. In pancreatectomised animals as well as in spinal cord transectomised animals, glucagon did not cause these changes. The study indicated that the hyperglycaemia produced by the centrally administered glucagon, is possibly a result of liver glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis induced by endogenous glucagon secreted from the pancreas, the stimulus for which is the hypothalamo-pancreatic fibres responding to glucagon sensitive neurones in the hypothalamus. PMID- 2628308 TI - Effect of dorsal hippocampal lesion compared to dorsal hippocampal blockade by atropine on reference memory in vision deprived rats. AB - In order to study the primacy of the hippocampus in place learning function 24 male adult albino rats were hippocampally-lesioned in dorsal hippocampus involving fornical damage (group I); sham operated for comparison with group I (group II); cannulated for instillation of atropine sulphate in the same loci as group I (group III); and cannulated for instillation of saline which served as control for group III (group IV). All the animals were enucleated and their reference memory (long-term memory) was tested, using open 4-arm radial maze. There was loss of reference memory in groups I and III. However, hippocampally lesioned animals, showed recovery of reference memory deficit within a short period of 10 days or so. Whereas atropinized animals showed persistent reference memory deficit as long as the instillation effect continued. The mechanism involved in the recovery of reference memory in hippocampally-lesioned animals and persistent deficit of reference memory in atropinized animals has been postulated to explain the primacy of hippocampus in the place learning function under normal conditions. PMID- 2628309 TI - Bronchoalveolar lavage study in victims of toxic gas leak at Bhopal. AB - Bronchoalveolar lavage using flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope was carried out in 50 patients 1-2 1/2 yr after exposure to the 'toxic gas' at Bhopal. Thirty six patients in the analysis were categorised into 3 groups (viz., mild, moderate and severe), depending upon the severity of exposure. There was an increase in cellularity in the lower respiratory tract (alveolitis) of the severely exposed patients (in both smokers and non-smokers), compared to normals (P less than 0.05). The increase in cellularity in severely exposed non-smokers was due to abnormal accumulation of macrophages (P less than 0.01), and in severely exposed smokers, to macrophages (P less than 0.01) and neutrophils (P less than 0.05). Mild and moderately exposed patients did not show significant change in cellularity in lower respiratory tract, compared to normal individuals (P greater than 0.2). There was a trend towards increasing cellularity, as the severity increased (P less than 0.0001) and higher numbers of total cells were seen in severely exposed smokers, suggesting that smoking is a risk factor. It appears, therefore, that subjects severely exposed to the toxic gas at Bhopal may have a subclinical alveolitis characterised by accumulation and possibly activation of macrophages in the lower respiratory tract. Smokers, who were exposed to the gas had in addition, accumulation of neutrophils. PMID- 2628310 TI - Impact of acute diarrhoea & oral rehydration solution on nutritional status of preschool children. AB - A total of 838 children under 5 yr of age were followed up in 2 villages of Punjab for a period of one year for diarrhoea morbidity, oral rehydration solution (ORS) usage and nutritional status. Overall frequency of diarrhoea was 0.78 episode/child/year. Children weighing less than or equal to 70 per cent of reference weight for age had about 25 per cent higher incidence of diarrhoea (102 episodes/100 child/yr) as compared to those who weighed greater than or equal to 71 per cent (75 episodes/100 children/yr; P less than 0.05). At the end of one year there was no significant difference in the weight and arm circumference growth of children who had diarrhoea and received ORS and those who did not. Prevalence of malnutrition (weight for age criteria) in children with and without diarrhoea at the beginning and end of the study also remained unchanged, irrespective of ORS usage. These observations indicate that in rural areas with low diarrhoea morbidity (i) pre-existing malnutrition (weight for age less than 70%) is associated with 25 per cent higher diarrhoea incidence; (ii) acute diarrhoea does not significantly affect weight and arm circumference growth and prevalence of malnutrition; and (iii) the long-term nutritional benefit of ORS if any, is doubtful. PMID- 2628311 TI - Influence of malnutrition on intellectual development. AB - The relationship between malnutrition and intellectual performance was studied in 1336 rural primary school children (6-8 yr). Observations showed that the relative risk of having an IQ less than or equal to 89 in severe, moderate and mild malnutrition was 3.5, 2.7 and 1.4 times for boys and in girls it was 2.4, 1.7 and 1.4 times respectively. Mean full scale, verbal and performance IQ as well as the scores for various subtests decreased with the severity of malnutrition. However, though the decrease in IQ scores was significant, below average performance of malnourished children was observed only for performance IQ (87.6 +/- 9.13), and subtests information (87.9 +/- 10.5), digit span (79.6 +/- 11.9), picture completion (88.6 +/- 13.9), object assembly (81.1 +/- 18.1), and coding (80.5 +/- 14.4). Further, the stunted children had lower IQ scores as compared to those who were wasted. Multiple regression analysis showed that besides nutrition, socio-economic status had significant influence on verbal IQ; economic sufficiency on picture completion and block design, psychosocial and family environment on vocabulary and digit span subtests. However, the values of correlations obtained were too low to be used for prediction of scores. The overall observations demonstrate that even moderate degree of malnutrition influences the IQ scores and its effect is of a higher magnitude on immediate memory, visual perception, and visual motor integration as compared to verbal reasoning and comprehension. PMID- 2628312 TI - Ponderal index as a marker of intrauterine growth. AB - Anthropometric data obtained from 2925 consecutive live births were used to compute Rohrer's ponderal index (PI). Norms and curves for intrauterine growth in terms of PI were worked out for the first time in our country and were found to be comparable with figures from Western studies. PI was unaffected by sex and showed a linear correlation with gestational age up to 40 wk. PI was also found to be an efficient marker of disproportionate intrauterine growth. PMID- 2628313 TI - Comparative evaluation of oral prostaglandin E2 & intravenous oxytocin for induction of labour. AB - Oral prostaglandin E2 tablets (group I) and iv Oxytocin (group II) were evaluated in 120 randomly selected women subjected to induction of labour. In group I, 60 women received oral prostaglandin E2 tablets in incremental doses from 0.5-1.5 mg hourly, depending upon the parity and Bishop score of the patient. Group II women received oxytocin iv in 5 per cent dextrose, starting at a rate of 2 mU/min and gradually increasing to a maximum of 64 mU/min. Overall success rate in group I (prostaglandin E2) and group II (intravenous oxytocin) was 85 and 93.3 per cent respectively (P greater than 0.05). In the favourable group (Bishop score 6-13) the induction delivery interval (IDI) for group I and group II was 8.86 h and 7.95 h respectively (P greater than 0.05), while in the unfavourable group (Bishop score less than or equal to 5), the IDI for the respective groups were 13.42 h and 10.11 h (P less than 0.05). Side effects with prostaglandin E2 were mostly mild gastrointestinal ones. A significantly higher incidence of foetal distress was observed with intravenous oxytocin (15%) as compared to prostaglandin E2 (3.33%). Oral prostaglandin E2 was thus found to be a better alternative to intravenous oxytocin in multiparous women with favourable Bishop score (greater than 6) and in those in whom fluid retention is to be avoided (e.g., conditions like toxemias, renal disease). PMID- 2628314 TI - Detection of alpha thalassaemia in sickle cell trait patients by Hb-Bart's screening & quantitation of Hb-A & Hb-S. AB - Haemoglobin fractionation in 27 subjects with sickle cell trait revealed 12 (44%) with sickle cell haemoglobin less than 35 per cent (23.4-34.2%, mean 30.4 +/- 3.3%) suggesting an association of alpha thalassaemia. Electrophoresis of 91 samples of cord blood revealed demonstrable amounts of haemoglobin Bart's in 7 (7.7%); six between 5 and 10 per cent and one with less than 2 per cent. It appeared that the six infants with higher amounts of haemoglobin Bart's were homozygous for alpha-thalassaemia + (-a/-a) genotypes and one was heterozygous for alpha-thalassaemia + (-a/aa) Results of haemoglobin electrophoresis done on 2754 blood samples analysed from hospital records, retrospectively did not reveal haemoglobin-H and haemoglobin Constant Spring in any of the samples. PMID- 2628315 TI - Strain dependent & selective modulation of murine humoral immune response by carrageenan. AB - Carrageenan (CGN), a polygalactan extracted from red algae, induced 90 per cent suppression of antibody response to sheep red blood cells in Balb/C strain as compared to the untreated controls. Whereas the treatment failed to induce suppression in C57BL/6 strain. The observed suppression of antibody response was significant on all days tested (up to 40 days) and the suppression induced by CGN was real and not due to any direct effect on antigen or on the assay system followed. On the other hand, as evident from foot-pad thickness, the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) was unaltered in Balb/C strain after CGN treatment. PMID- 2628316 TI - Effect of vitamin E on the severity of myocardial infarction induced by isoproterenol. AB - The effect of vitamin E administration on the severity of myocardial infarction induced by isoproterenol on rats was studied. Judging from serum enzyme activity (CPK 714 micromoles; GOT 291.7 micromoles; and GPT 155.5 micromoles), mortality rate (60 to 65% survived) and histopathological observation, vitamin E has been observed to offer very little protection to the myocardium during experimental myocardial infarction when compared to control animals given isoproterenol alone (CPK 775.8 micromoles; GOT 336.2 micromoles; and GPT 168 micromoles), mortality rate (60 to 65% survived) and histopathological observation (more or less similar). The level of lipid peroxides namely hydroperoxides (control 3.15; vitamin E + iso. 14.8); conjugated diene (4.45 and 6.85) and malondialdehyde (1.22 and 2.55) in the heart were higher in the vitamin E treated animals given isoproterenol when compared to control animals given vitamin E alone. The level of cholesterol and phospholipid was more or less similar in the control animals given vitamin E alone (183.6 and 3.12) and vitamin E treated animals given isoproterenol (170.25 and 2.49), but the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid was higher in the vitamin E treated animals given isoproterenol when compared to control animals given vitamin E alone. PMID- 2628317 TI - Atypical cilia in the choroid plexus of guineapig. AB - Ultrastructural study of choroid plexus of normal and kaolin induced hydrocephalic guineapigs showed clusters of cilia arising from the apical part of some of the epithelial cells. Some of these cells had typical 9 + 2 cilia, while most of the control and the hydrocephalic groups showed 9 + 0 type of cilia. These atypical (9 + 0 type) cilia of choroidal epithelium differ from the primary cilia of other mammalian tissues in that, clusters of long cilia arise from a single cell and have no associated centrioles within the cytoplasm. They may be motile and sensory (osmoregulator or pressure sensor or both) in nature. PMID- 2628318 TI - Sinusoidal endothelial hyperplasia in pathogenesis of perilobular fibrosis in rabbit after experimental ligation of common bile duct. AB - Development of perilobular hepatic fibrosis in rabbits after experimental ligation of the common bile duct was studied by microscopy. Twelve hours after the ligation, the lobular boundaries assumed prominence by appearance of row(s) of congested sinusoids around the distended perilobular canals of Hering. Seven days later, the lobular laminae limitans around such canals of Hering revealed myxomatous ballooning degeneration forming well defined inter-lobular bands (ILBs). On day 15 post-ligation, the residual sinusoidal endothelial-lining cells in the ILBs manifested hyper chromasia and occasional mitotic activity. It was followed, on days 25 and 35, by proliferation (hyperplasia) of the sinusoidal endothelium cells forming the portal tract like fibrotic tissue in the perilobular bands. These findings, showed the course of interlobular bridging necrosis along the bile preductules at the lobular circumferences and subsequently indigenous origin of the fibrotic tissue in the ILBs from the residual cells in the affected parenchyma independent of the portal tracts. PMID- 2628319 TI - Blood pressure in relation to smoking. AB - The present study of blood pressure among 1275 smokers and non-smokers from Andhra Pradesh reveals slightly higher mean blood pressures among smokers in most of the age groups. This is in contrast to most of the studies. The variation of blood pressure among smokers and non-smokers is significant. PMID- 2628320 TI - Abdominal tubectomy--as a safe OPD procedure in rural area. PMID- 2628321 TI - Immunological studies on pulmonary tuberculosis: a preliminary report. AB - An investigation of 71 patients (61 mantoux positive and 10 mantoux negative) with bacteriologically and radiologically proven primary pulmonary tuberculosis was undertaken for immunological analysis to evaluate cell mediated (E-rosette) and humoral (EAC-rosette and serum immunoglobulins; IgG, IgA & IgM) immune status. 41 age and sex matched normal subjects served as controls. An inverse relationship between cell mediated and humoral immune response was observed in tuberculous patients in general. Defects in cell mediated immune response was pronounced in mantoux negative cases. Fractionation of serum protein revealed a significant diminution in albumin level with a concomitant elevation in globulins particularly gammaglobulin levels. It appeared that there is a definite need to boost up T-cell mediated responses and to control the over activity of B-cell in these cases. Proper handling of the immune system by appropriate therapy might change the course of the disease. PMID- 2628322 TI - Infusion thrombophlebitis--histological and bacteriological study. AB - In a study conducted over a four year period, 99 developed thrombophlebitis of the total of 560 intravenous infusions under similar infusion conditions. In all the patients who developed phlebitis, fluid from the bottle, first 5 ml. of fluid from the infusion set after removing the drip and the needle itself were subjected to bacteriological study. Only in two cases the culture was positive, indicating it was a non-bacterial inflammation. The vein was subjected for histopathology after obtaining a small segment. Histopathology showed thrombus in the lumen of the vein in the majority of the cases, destruction of endothelial lining with pyknosis of nuclei and leucocyte infiltration in the media. PMID- 2628323 TI - Clinical study of tetanus neonatorum. AB - Seventy six cases of neonatal tetanus were studied. There was preponderance of males. Short incubation period, short period of onset, low birth weight, presence of fever and tachycardia were associated with a poor prognosis. The cases were divided into 2 groups of 46 and 30. First group was given TIG while second group was given ATS. All other therapies were kept identical. Mortality rate in two groups was 97.5% and 96.5%. Corrected mortality due to tetanus per se was 22.5% and 28.5% (p-0.5). Fifteen cases (32.7%) and 12 cases (40%) in group A & B respectively were born to mothers who had already received one to three doses of tetanus toxoid. The potency of the vaccine should be ensured before it is administered to mothers, through proper maintenance of cold chain. It is concluded that TIG is not superior to ATS in managing moderate and severe grade cases. PMID- 2628324 TI - Osteomyelitis: a rare complications of Salmonella senftenberg infection--a case report. AB - A case of chronic osteomyelitis is rare complication of salmonella senftenberg infection and is reported. PMID- 2628325 TI - Recent developments in transfusion medicine. PMID- 2628326 TI - Reducing the hazards: brief report. AB - Injury to the patient and surgeon by an operative instrument is fortunately uncommon, but carries an additional risk of transmission of infectious disease. A simple method using a gallipot to protect the emerging point of the skeletal traction pin during insertion is described. PMID- 2628327 TI - Skeletal injury in thermal trauma: a review of management. AB - This paper reports the results of treating 12 patients, from a total of 1011 admissions to the burns unit, who had a combination of extensive burns, fractures and exposed bone or joint. Our results suggest that the benefits of early skeletal stabilization outweigh the increased risks of infection in the burned patient, and that areas of exposed bone or joint less than 3 cm across the smallest axis may be successfully treated by repeated split-skin grafting, but larger areas require early excision and flap coverage for optimum rehabilitation. PMID- 2628328 TI - Scutting: a dangerous pastime? AB - Scutting is a pastime which has taken place in Dublin for many years. To scutt is to gain a ride on the back of a moving vehicle holding onto it by any means possible. Injuries sustained while scutting have never previously been reported. A total of 38 children presented at the Accident and Emergency Department of The Children's Hospital, Temple Street during the period January 1985 to July 1987 with injuries sustained while scutting. The injuries were analysed with regard to type, pattern, severity and outcome; nine children died from their injuries and 34.2 per cent of the children were admitted to hospital with an average stay of 5 days. All of those admitted alive made a full recovery. Comparison is made with other more everyday sensible pastimes and with road traffic accidents involving children. Scutting is shown to be the most dangerous pastime and is responsible for more deaths than any other type of road traffic accident involving children. Suggestions are made to stop this pastime taking place. PMID- 2628329 TI - A simple shoulder restraint. AB - A simple method of restraining the injured or postoperative shoulder is described. PMID- 2628330 TI - Airgun injuries of the brain. AB - Brain injuries caused by airguns are serious. The optimal management is wound exploration, excision of contaminated tissues and removal of loose bone fragments. In addition, careful monitoring, prophylactic antibiotics and anticonvulsants are required. The outcome is dictated by the importance of the intracranial structures which the pellet transects and the development of complications. Removal of the pellet is desirable only if easily accessible. We report five cases, of which four survived without deficits and one remained severely handicapped. PMID- 2628331 TI - Skin stapling of wounds in the accident department. AB - In a randomized prospective study of 100 consecutive patients presenting to the accident and emergency department with superficial lacerations, staples and sutures were compared for skin closure. Acceptability of the methods by staff and patients, and end results were similar. Staples were more expensive than sutures, but were significantly quicker, simpler to use and safer. They are, therefore, particularly suitable for use in a busy accident and emergency department. PMID- 2628332 TI - Soft tissue cervical spinal injuries in motor vehicle accidents. AB - Soft tissue cervical spinal injuries occurred in 179 out of 1197 consecutive victims of road traffic accidents who needed to attend hospital; an incidence of 15 per cent. It was most common in female (P less than 0.01), restrained car occupants (P less than 0.05) in the 40-49 years age group (P less than 0.025). It was less common in rear seat passengers (P less than 0.001). Most were victims of collisions from the rear but significant numbers also occurred in other types of accidents. The incidence of associated injuries was low. PMID- 2628333 TI - Value of lymphocyte counts as a prognostic index of survival following femoral neck fractures. AB - In a retrospective study of patients with hip fractures, the preoperative lymphocyte counts of 62 patients who had died before discharge were compared with those of 64 patients who had survived for at least 6 months. It was found that the lymphocyte count was below the normal range (1.5-4.0 x 10(9)/l) in 82 per cent of those patients who died but only 36 per cent of those who survived. This difference is highly significant (P less than 0.001). It is suggested that the total lymphocyte count is valuable as an easily estimated prognostic index to identify the subgroup of patients who are at increased risk of dying from this injury. PMID- 2628334 TI - Penetrating abdominal stab wounds: a plea for a more conservative policy. AB - This is a retrospective study of 107 penetrating abdominal stab wounds which have been reviewed on the basis of the clinical indications for surgery. Eighty-four patients underwent laparotomy. The unnecessary laparotomy rate was 35 per cent and the mortality 2.4 per cent. Important complications developed in 44 per cent of those undergoing surgery. Evaluation of clinical variables is presented and it is suggested that in the absence of shock, generalized peritonitis or evisceration, careful initial assessment, monitoring and regular re-examination would be a satisfactory method of treatment for many cases. This would result in a decrease in unnecessary laparotomies and associated excess morbidity. PMID- 2628335 TI - Fractures of the base of the first metacarpal bone: results of surgical treatment. AB - The treatment and results of a retrospective study are presented on 23 patients who underwent surgical treatment for a fracture of the base of the thumb metacarpal. The 12 patients with a Bennett fracture were not found to be suffering from limitations in their daily activities, work, sport or hobbies. In the majority of cases an anatomical or almost anatomical position was achieved and maintained using closed reduction and extra-articular Kirschner wire fixation. Two of the seven patients with a Rolando fracture were found to have complaints which gave rise to limitations in the above-mentioned activities. The results of the four patients with an extra-articular fracture were good. Owing to the favourable results obtained with closed reduction and Kirschner wire fixation, this technique should be given preference over the more difficult open reduction and internal fixation. PMID- 2628336 TI - Bilateral intra-articular loose bodies of the elbow in an adolescent BMX rider. AB - The case of an adolescent BMX rider suffering from bilateral intraarticular loose bodies of the elbow is reported. He underwent surgery to remove these. He is now asymptomatic and has resumed BMX riding. This is the first overuse injury to be ascribed to this sport. It is probably due to repetitive valgus compression stresses at the radiocapitellar joint during the acrobatic manoeuvres of a typical BMX riding session. PMID- 2628337 TI - Disruption of the radiocapitellar line in the normal elbow. AB - Disruption of the radiocapitellar line (RCL) can be a useful sign in injured elbows in children. Although originally described only in the true lateral projection, it has become generally accepted to apply the sign to any radiographic projection. However, it is not clear how to draw the line in the anteroposterior projection when there is prominent bowing of the radial shaft. Five cases are presented where the RCL, when drawn on radiographs of uninjured elbows, either did not pass through the capitellum (one case) or only passed tangential to it (four cases). In these cases, the elbow was not in the standard anteroposterior or lateral position. Radiologists and clinicians involved in trauma should be aware that radiographic positioning and normal bowing of the radial shaft can affect the validity of this sign and that it is best applied only to the true lateral projection as originally described. PMID- 2628338 TI - Hook-pin fixation of subcapital fractures of the femur: an atraumatic procedure? AB - Eighty-seven patients with subcapital fractures of the femur treated by hook-pin fixation were reviewed clinically and radiologically with an average follow-up time of 29 months. There were 58 undisplaced and 29 displaced fractures. Seven per cent of the undisplaced and 31 per cent of the displaced fractures developed avascular necrosis (AVN) and failure of fixation was seen in 3.5 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. Overall, 23 per cent of patients developed healing complications of which just over one-half had revision arthroplasty. The AVN rate in the undisplaced group was relatively low, though there was no clear advantage over simple screw fixation. In contrast, the incidence of AVN in displaced fractures was higher than with other methods. Fixation failure was related to surgical error in most instances. PMID- 2628339 TI - Monocondylar fractures of the femur: a review of 13 patients. AB - We reviewed 13 patients with monocondylar fractures of the femur. Undisplaced fractures may require extensive radiological investigation to visualize the fracture. Anatomically reduced fractures may displace when treated non operatively. Joint line incongruity and resultant callus formation produces an abnormal condylar profile leading to early secondary osteoarthritis. We recommend internal fixation in all patients with monocondylar fractures. PMID- 2628340 TI - Rupture of extensor pollicis longus following fixation of a distal radius fracture. PMID- 2628341 TI - Haemoperitoneum following gunshot wound of the thigh. PMID- 2628342 TI - Distal tibiofibular synostosis due to direct trauma. PMID- 2628343 TI - Closed rupture of the musculotendinous junction of extensor hallucis longus. PMID- 2628344 TI - Blunt injury to the spinal accessory nerve. PMID- 2628345 TI - Radiation doses to surgeons. PMID- 2628346 TI - Age and creative productivity: nonlinear estimation of an information-processing model. AB - A two-step cognitive model is outlined that explicates the key empirical findings on the relation between age and creative productivity. Two primary information processing parameters, the ideation and elaboration rates, define a mathematical function that both describes the age curves and specifies how those curves vary across disciplines. To validate the model further, a nonlinear estimation program was applied to previously published tabulations on the longitudinal fluctuations in creative output. The resulting parameter estimates also yield the expected peak age and the creative half-life for each domain of achievement. Despite the prediction of a post-peak decline, the model's implications for creativity over the life span are optimistic. PMID- 2628347 TI - Adult age differences in knowledge of retrieval processes. AB - We assessed knowledge of retrieval processes in young (25-35 years) and old adults (70-85 years). Both feeling-of-knowing judgments and retrieval monitoring were examined with a set of questions about recent news events. For answers that participants initially failed to recall, they rated their feeling-of-knowing as well as made predictions regarding the likelihood of recalling the answer with the aid of a specified type of retrieval cue (retrieval monitoring). Accuracy was evaluated in the context of later recall or recognition performance. We found age group differences in the accuracy of retrieval monitoring, free recall, and recall aided by phonological cues. Using a separate inventory, we found no evidence for age group differences in participants' knowledge of general retrieval principles. PMID- 2628348 TI - The effects of presentation modality, task demand, and content structure on age related memory differences for prose. AB - Young and old adults were tested for recall of ideas presented in a 641 word prose passage. Recall protocols were scored for the total number of idea units recalled and the proportions of idea units recalled from three levels of the content structure. Encoding conditions were varied by using auditory and written presentation. Retrieval conditions were varied by using free and cued recall. Recall for total number of idea units was significantly lower for the older participants and for auditory presentation across both age groups. Analysis of the Age x Presentation Modality x Task Demand effects at each level of the content structure yielded differential age-related sensitivity to presentation modalities and task demands at different levels of the text structure. The results were discussed within the context of divided attention and depth of processing effects on age differences in memory for prose. PMID- 2628349 TI - Aging: the lived experience. AB - This exploratory study examined the lived experience of aging in a group of 32 community dwelling adults aged fifty to eighty years (M = 68.4). Respondents completed in-depth interviews in which they described the meaning of aging, the "types of things" associated with aging in themselves and in others, and methods of coping with aging-related changes. Respondents' overall impressions of the meaning of aging were generally positive; however, the changes they associated with aging, both in themselves and in others, were almost uniformly negative. Five categories of coping activities were reported: compensation, stress management, maintenance, involvement with others, and alteration in meaning. In general, respondents reported high levels of satisfaction and effectiveness with respect to their coping activities. These findings suggest that individuals who believe they are coping successfully see aging as a positive period in their lives, despite the presence of a significant number of negative changes in themselves and in people close to them. PMID- 2628350 TI - Igbo students' attitudes toward supporting aged parents. AB - This study was designed to explore attitudes of Nigerian, i.e., Igbo, students toward caring for aged parents. A questionnaire consisting of descriptive information and eighteen statements of attitudes about supporting aged parents was administered to 134 students in a Nigerian teacher training college. Students expressed strong support for caring for aged parents; however, male students were not as keen about supporting aged parents as were females. Students' age correlated negatively with the desire to support aged parents in that older students were less willing to care for their aged parents than were younger students. Factors such as birth order, place of residence in the past five years, religion, and educational levels of the mother and father had no significant relationship with attitudes toward supporting aged parents. PMID- 2628351 TI - Gender and perceptions of grandparenthood. AB - Grandparents (N = 301) were interviewed concerning their relationship with one grandchild; topics included the meaning of the relationship, responsibility toward the grandchild, and satisfaction with the relationship. Grandparent gender by grandchild gender by maternal/paternal grandparent MANOVA's revealed no differences in the relationships associated with grandchild gender or with maternal/paternal grandparent status; nor were there significant interaction effects. Grandmothers expressed greater satisfaction than did grandfathers; grandfathers stressed family extension through grandchildren and the pleasures of indulging grandchildren to a greater extent than did grandmothers. These gender differences may reflect personality development in adulthood and the cultural context of the research. PMID- 2628352 TI - Prior college experience and attitude change during the middle years: a panel study. AB - The relationships of previous college attendance to changes in attitudes later in life were assessed by focusing on the responses of middle-aged men and women to two surveys--one when they were approximately forty years of age, and a second thirteen years later. For both men and women, prior college attendance was associated with acceptance of less traditional conceptions of gender-roles and beliefs about God and lower feelings of anomia at midlife. Moreover, for the men, previous college training was also associated with the amount of change in their attitudes which occurred during the middle years. For women, there was little long range linkage between earlier education and attitude change at midlife. PMID- 2628353 TI - Full-timing: a housing alternative for older people. AB - Full-timing, living year-round in a recreational vehicle, is discussed as a viable housing alternative for older people. Data were obtained from surveys distributed to 100 members of a nationally-based camping organization. Fifty-five percent of the respondents had lived in their motorhomes, fifth-wheels, or travel trailers for at least two years. Most had sold their conventional homes, planning to full-time indefinitely. Low-cost and adventurous, full-timing is discussed as a lifestyle especially suited for older people in the context of today's mobile society. PMID- 2628354 TI - A coupon program--drug treatment and AIDS education. AB - The New Jersey State Department of Health developed a program to test the following hypotheses: (1) numerous heroin addicts will respond to free detoxification treatment offered through a coupon program, (2) a substantial number of these patients will continue in treatment beyond the free detoxification attempt, and (3) participation in an AIDS education session can increase the knowledge level of intravenous drug abusers regarding this disease. Eighty-four percent of the 970 distributed coupons were redeemed for detoxification treatment. Twenty-eight percent of the program participants continued in treatment after the free detoxification period, and the AIDS information session significantly increased the knowledge of participating addicts. PMID- 2628355 TI - Prediction of risk for drug use in high school students. AB - On the basis of questionnaires administered to almost 2,000 high school students in Cali, Colombia, a subset of items was selected that deal primarily with parent child relationships. This 53 item set, referred to as the Drug Risk Scale (DRS), was administered to two new cross-validation samples, one consisting of high school students and the other consisting of drug addicts attending drug rehabilitation centers. Significant differences in parent-child relations were found between these new groups. The DRS was also found to have reasonably high sensitivity and specificity. Its potential value as a risk-prediction instrument is discussed. PMID- 2628356 TI - Influence of family and peer group on the use of drugs by adolescents. AB - This study of the effect of family and peer group variables on drug use among male adolescents shows that both the drug consumption behavior of parents and peers, and their relationships with the adolescent have an important influence on the latter's own use patterns. With respect to adolescents who do not consume drugs, users of both legal and illegal drugs reported less affectionate family relationships, greater drug consumption by both parents, greater contact with drug-consuming peers, and greater identification with and participation in unconventional groups and activities. These findings coincide to a large extent with the assumptions of some of the main theories of deviant behavior (social control theory, differential association theory, and social learning theory), which suggests the desirability of integrating these theoretical models in an attempt to provide an exhaustive explanation of the genesis and maintenance of drug use by adolescents. PMID- 2628357 TI - Drug abuse treatment "models": Meehl's lament revisited. AB - Recalling the extensive discussions by Paul E. Meehl concerning the etiology of schizophrenia, the argument is made that the current practice by mental health professionals of invoking the postulated genetic component of chemical dependency as having implications for treatment is uninformed and ultimately--assuming that one of the goals of the chemical dependency treatment field is to improve treatment methods--counterproductive. PMID- 2628358 TI - From theory to practice: the planned treatment of drug users. Interview by Stanley Einstein. PMID- 2628359 TI - Lactate, oxygen uptake, and cycling performance in triathletes. AB - To assess the relationship of exercise test variables to each other and to bike race times in an ultra-distance triathlon, we studied 24 participants (14 men, 10 women) in the 1985 Hawaii Ironman Triathlon, using a graded, maximal cycle ergometer test with gas exchange and blood lactate (LA) measurements at each work load. Exercise test variables were oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR) at the lactate and ventilatory thresholds. Lactate threshold (LT-1) was defined as the exercise intensity that elicited a 1 mM increase in blood lactate concentration above the value measured during the first work load for each subject. Variables were also examined at the lactate thresholds of 2 mM and 4 mM. Ventilatory thresholds (VT) were identified as the points at which the ventilatory equivalent of oxygen (VE/VO2) increased without a corresponding increase in the ventilatory equivalent of carbon dioxide (VE/VCO2). Mean peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) for this sample of Ironman triathletes was 57.4 ml.kg-1.min-1. Cycle peak VO2 was inversely correlated, r = 0.68 (P less than 0.0002) with bike finish time. VO2 and HR as well as the respective percentages of maximum were higher at all lactate thresholds than at VT (P less than 0.0001). Therefore VT should not be used to identify a lactate threshold in ultra-endurance triathletes. VO2 values at the lactate and ventilatory thresholds were not highly related to bike finish time (r = -0.26 to -0.58). Fractional utilization of peak VO2 (% peak VO2), HR, and % peak HR at thresholds were not related to bike finish time (r = -0.01 to 0.06).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628360 TI - Maximal aerobic exercise following prolonged sleep deprivation. AB - The effect of 60 h without sleep upon maximal oxygen intake was examined in 12 young women, using a cycle ergometer protocol. The arousal of the subjects was maintained by requiring the performance of a sequence of cognitive tasks throughout the experimental period. Well-defined oxygen intake plateaus were obtained both before and after sleep deprivation, and no change of maximal oxygen intake was observed immediately following sleep deprivation. The endurance time for exhausting exercise also remained unchanged, as did such markers of aerobic performance as peak exercise ventilation, peak heart rate, peak respiratory gas exchange ratio, and peak blood lactate. However, as in an earlier study of sleep deprivation with male subjects (in which a decrease of treadmill maximal oxygen intake was observed), the formula of Dill and Costill (4) indicated the development of a substantial (11.6%) increase of estimated plasma volume percentage with corresponding decreases in hematocrit and red cell count. Possible factors sustaining maximal oxygen intake under the conditions of the present experiment include (1) maintained arousal of the subjects with no decrease in peak exercise ventilation or the related respiratory work and (2) use of a cycle ergometer rather than a treadmill test with possible concurrent differences in the impact of hematocrit levels and plasma volume expansion upon peak cardiac output and thus oxygen delivery to the working muscles. PMID- 2628361 TI - Effects of exercise training on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in women: a meta-analysis. AB - It has been suggested that regular exercise produces favorable changes in serum lipid and lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations. However, most of the subjects in this area of research have been men. Given the differences in lipid profiles between men and women, we wanted to determine if these same favorable changes took place in women. Of the 145 longitudinal studies available in this area, 27 met the criteria for inclusion in this analysis (i.e., an exercise training study that used women subjects and measured changes in lipid concentrations). Results show that exercise does favorably alter serum lipid profiles in women by reducing total cholesterol (194 to 190 mg.dl-1; P = 0.02), triglyceride (91 to 82 mg.dl-1; P = 0.01), and the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.28 to 3.16; mg.dl-1; P = 0.03). However, a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol or decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was not observed. Results also show that changes in body weight during exercise are associated with changes in total cholesterol (r = 0.56; P = 0.01) and triglyceride (r = 0.42; P = 0.06) concentrations, indicating that greater body weight losses resulted in larger decreases in cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. Further analysis indicates that those women most at risk for heart disease (elevated pre-exercise cholesterol concentrations) responded most favorably to exercise training. These results suggest that exercise training, especially for those at risk for heart diseases is beneficial to the lipid profile of women. PMID- 2628362 TI - Iron status of women distance runners, sprinters, and control women. AB - Fasting blood samples from 11 women distance runners, 12 sprinters, and 11 moderately active women were examined to determine iron status. Dietary iron intake and bioavailability were analyzed from 3-day food diaries. Both distance runners and sprinters had lower hematocrits and haptoglobins than moderately active women. Distance runners had significantly lower ferritin (15.8 micrograms/l) than sprinters (32.8 micrograms/l), but moderately active women's ferritin (26.1 micrograms/l) was not significantly different than in the other groups. Five distance runners, two sprinters, and one moderately active woman had ferritins below 12 micrograms/l, which suggests iron depletion. Differences in hemoglobin, plasma iron, transferrin, and food iron intake were not significant among the three groups. Absorbable iron and heme iron intake were significantly lower for the distance runners and control women than the sprinters. The results suggest that low ferritin is more common among women who train for distance events than for sprints. This difference may by due to differences in bioavailability of food iron intake. PMID- 2628363 TI - Plasma elastase-alpha 1-antitrypsin, neopterin, tumor necrosis factor, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor after prolonged exercise. AB - The effects of a 2.5-h running test on the plasma concentrations of elastase alpha 1-antitrypsin, neopterin, tumor necrosis factor, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor were evaluated in eight healthy young male subjects. Neopterin was measured by radioimmunoassay, elastase-alpha 1-antitrypsin, tumor necrosis factor, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor by enzyme immunoassay. The post exercise values were corrected for plasma volume changes which were calculated from hematocrit and hemoglobin values. Compared with the concentrations before exercise, elastase-alpha 1-antitrypsin values were significantly increased during the run (1 h after the start) (P less than 0.01) as well as during the first few hours after the end of the running test (P less than 0.01). A significant increase of tumor necrosis factor and neopterin was observed 1 h after the end and 1,3, and 24 h after the end of the running test, respectively, (P less than 0.01), and soluble interleukin-2 receptor concentrations were significantly elevated 1 and 2 days after exercise (P less than 0.01). The increase of elastase alpha 1-antitrypsin, neopterin, tumor necrosis factor, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor supports the concept of a functional involvement of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and an activation of macrophages and T-lymphocytes after prolonged exercise. PMID- 2628364 TI - Force-velocity relationship and maximal anaerobic power during cranking exercise in young swimmers. AB - To study the effect of growth upon maximal anaerobic power of the upper and lower limbs, the maximal power developed during a cranking force-velocity test was correlated with the height of a vertical jump in different age groups of young swimmers. The youngest swimmers were significantly less powerful than the oldest. Differences in body size partly accounted for the differences in maximal power during cranking exercise (Wmax = 0.31 + 0.048 age; r = 0.526; P less than 0.01; where Wmax was expressed in W.kg BM-1 and age in months; n = 103). The effect of growth upon vertical jump is similar to the effect upon maximal cranking power: the lowest values were similar to those which concerned Wmax.kg-1. There was a very significant correlation between Wmax in cranking (in W.kg-1) and the height of the vertical jump (VJ in cm) (Wmax = 1.15 + 0.145 VJ; r = 0.728; n = 103, P less than 0.01). PMID- 2628365 TI - Correcting the Wingate test for changes in kinetic energy of the ergometer flywheel. AB - The rotating flywheel of a cycle ergometer possesses kinetic energy (KE) by virtue of its rotation about the center of mass. The energy released as the flywheel velocity (FV) decreases during the course of a Wingate test is used to accomplish mechanical work. The subject should not be "credited" with this work since the energy storage occurred prior to the start of the 30-s test. The total KE (KE-total) in the flywheel of a Monark ergometer was determined using the formula KEtotal = 1/2 I omega 2. The KE available to do work (KEwork) was measured by loading the ergometer with 1 Kp (9.8 N), spinning it at predetermined rates, and observing the number of revolutions completed as it coasted to a stop. The difference between KEtotal and KE-work was attributable to friction. The mechanical power supplied by the flywheel in any 5-s period of the Wingate test was found to be: Flywheel power (W) = .00185 (FVstart2-FVend2)/5s where FV is expressed in rpm. This indicates that Wingate test scores should be corrected by subtracting the flywheel power output from the total power output. The correction lowers peak power (PP), mean power (MP), and fatigue index (% fatigue) by 6.2%, 3.0%, and 6.6% in active male subjects (P less than 0.05). PMID- 2628366 TI - Comparison of 2 vs 3 days/week of variable resistance training during 10- and 18 week programs. AB - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of resistance training performed either 2 days/week or 3 days/week. One hundred and seventeen sedentary volunteers were randomly assigned to one of the two training groups or a control group. Twenty-two men (27 +/- 5 years) and 22 women (26 +/- 5 years) trained for 10 weeks. Twenty-five men (26 +/- 5 years) and 22 women (24 +/- 5 years) trained for 18 weeks. Twenty-six subjects served as controls and did not train. Training consisted of a single set of variable resistance bilateral knee extensions performed to volitional fatigue with a weight load that allowed seven to ten repetitions. Prior to and immediately following training, isometric strength was evaluated at 70, 85, 100, 115, 130, 145, 160, and 171 degrees of knee extension with a Nautilus knee extension tensiometer. All groups who trained showed a significant increase in peak isometric strength when compared with controls (P less than 0.01). Groups that trained 3 days/week increased peak isometric strength (10 weeks = 21.2%; 18 weeks = 28.4%) to a greater extent (P less than 0.05) than groups that trained 2 days/week (10 weeks = 13.5%; 18 weeks = 20.9%). We conclude that resistance training 2 days/week significantly improves knee extension isometric strength; however, the magnitude of strength gain is greater when training is performed 3 days/week. These data indicate that the adult exerciser (18 to 38 years) training 2 days/week may derive approximately 80% of the isometric strength benefits achieved by those training 3 days/week. PMID- 2628367 TI - Reliability and validity of the Omnitron hydraulic resistance exercise and testing device. AB - This study assessed the measurement reliability and validity of the Hydra-Fitness Omnitron, a microprocessor-controlled isokinetic ergometer that provides concentric resistance for dynamic extension and flexion movements as well as resistance for isometric contractions. Maximal peak torque output measured by the Omnitron and strain gauge devices connected to the apparatus were compared in 26 physically active males who were tested over 3 days for isometric knee extension and isokinetic knee flexion/extension at two resistance levels. Maximal torque outputs remained stable on days 2 and 3 (p less than 0.05), and intraclass reliability yielded r = 0.94 to 0.98. There was no difference between the slopes of the regression lines for the different experimental conditions (p less than 0.05). There was significant improvement between day 1 and days 2 and 3 that corresponded to a combination of a training and learning effect. Thus, one practice session was necessary to obtain reliable individual differences. The validity correlations between peak torque output measured from the Omnitron and strain gauges were greater than r = 0.94. There was a small discrepancy (0.44 to 0.88 Nm) between the two measuring devices that can be explained by the difference in shank pad positioning that accommodates for different segment lengths. We conclude that reliability and validity were excellent over a wide range of torque outputs measured during maximal isometric and maximal dynamic double concentric flexion and extension movements. PMID- 2628368 TI - Physical exercise--an important factor for health. A position statement from the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS). PMID- 2628369 TI - Special issue on toxoplasmosis. PMID- 2628370 TI - Toxoplasmosis: recent developments in diagnosis, therapy and prevention. PMID- 2628371 TI - Prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis; experience in The Netherlands. AB - Prevention is the pre-eminent strategy to control congenital toxoplasmosis. In a trial study in the province South-Holland a program of both primary and secondary prevention during pregnancy was applied. 28000 women were enrolled. 55% of them were seronegative, and only 55 primary infections were traced amongst them. Although a conclusive evaluation of the results of the study has not yet been accomplished, this low figure will be discussed within the scope of certain logistic and organizational obstacles incurred in the so-called TIP (Toxoplasma Infection Prevention)-study in the Netherlands. PMID- 2628372 TI - The role of the general practitioner in the care of mentally disturbed subjects in the general population--results of the Upper Bavarian Study. AB - The role of the general practitioner in the care of mentally disturbed non institutionalised persons aged 20 years and older was examined. Data were based on the representative community sample of the Upper Bavarian Field Study with a sample size of 1495 interviewees--aged 20 years and older. The 5-year prevalence of mental illness according to the definition used was 32.8%. 38.5% of all persons, identified as cases, consulted their general practitioner because of psychiatric or emotional problems. Females and the elderly were most likely to have received treatment by their general practitioner. The majority of treated persons were neurotic and psychosomatic patients. The general practitioner provided care for more psychiatric patients than the psychiatrist and for 25% of all "cases", without additional psychiatric consultation. PMID- 2628373 TI - Age, unemployment and parasuicide in Leeds. AB - The relationship between unemployment and parasuicide was examined amongst males and females in the City of Leeds between 1978 and 1982. The association between unemployment and parasuicide was found to be positive and significant in middle aged men. However, there was a negative and significant relationship between unemployment and parasuicide in older men aged between 55 and 59 years. For females between the ages of 20 and 25 years there was a significant negative relationship between unemployment and parasuicide. The findings which are discussed are considered to provide evidence for the hypothesis that unemployment may exert a differing vulnerability effect on proneness to parasuicide in different age groups and between the two sexes. PMID- 2628374 TI - The efficacy of an information group intervention on relatives of schizophrenics. AB - Socio-therapy of schizophrenia cannot fail to consider such an important element as assistance to relatives. This report will review the main treatment methods used today and presents an intervention model which acts on the family of the schizophrenic at different levels. While the schizophrenic patient receives an individual treatment (pharmacological and psychotherapeutic), his/her relatives undergo a two-step group intervention. The first phase concerns an information group. This paper gives an early assessment as to the efficacy of the information groups for relatives. Particularly, it focuses on the actual ability of the group in conveying information to relatives. Such transfer of information is measured by means of a structured interview (Knowledge Interview). Results demonstrate that after an information group family members had a significant statistical increase of their information level (p less than 0.001). Some areas recorded a considerable increase in the knowledge levels, as far as the legitimacy of the illness and the management of symptoms are concerned. PMID- 2628375 TI - Rural population's opinions about the causes of mental illness, modern psychiatric help-sources and traditional healers in Turkey. AB - Ninety six males and ninety six females from a Turkish village have been questioned regarding their opinions about the causes of mental illness, psychiatric help-sources and traditional healers. Psychological, social and medical responses prevailed among the sample studied. Males gave more social whereas females tended to give more psychological responses. Psychiatrists were ranked as most helpful, mental hospitals as second most helpful and traditional healers were ranked as least helpful in treating mental illness. PMID- 2628376 TI - Biomedical potential for symptom choice in Koro. AB - The distribution of different biomedical sexual factors in relation to Koro in 162 cases in a North Bengal Koro epidemic, has been analysed. Anatomo-sexual factors such as venereal disease and scrotal filaria were found to be significantly commoner in Koro patients. The commonest cited precipitating factor was extramarital intercourse (23.5%). PMID- 2628377 TI - Family history study of major psychiatric disorders and syndromes. AB - The family history of major psychiatric disorders was examined among relatives of 193 in-patients fulfilling the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for Schizophrenia, Unspecified Functional Psychoses, Schizoaffective Disorder, Manic Disorder or Major Depressive Disorder. The morbid risk (MR) for schizophrenia was greater among the relatives of probands with non-affective psychoses whereas the MR for mania was greater among the relatives of probands with affective bipolar disorder. When major psychiatric syndromes were examined, only manic syndrome showed familial aggregation. PMID- 2628378 TI - Cultural variations of premenstrual experience. AB - Forty-eight female nursing students who were in the reproductive age group were evaluated for cognitive, affective and somatic changes in the premenstrual phase. A retrospective rating method was used with measurements on numerical and visual analogue scales. The visual analogue scale was used for bidirectionality of measurement. Ratings on 17 items were compared during the premenstrual phase and the rest of the cycle. Significant changes were seen in three of the distressing items. A Premenstrual Syndrome, the late luteal phase disorder of DSM-IIIR criteria, was identified in 6% of the women. The varying patterns of premenstrual changes and their prevalence are discussed in a sociocultural context. PMID- 2628379 TI - Somatic symptoms among older Soviet immigrants: an exploratory study. AB - This exploratory study investigates the overlap of somatization and depressive symptoms among older Jewish-Soviet immigrants to the United States. It has been suggested that this group has depression often masked by somatic complaints. In order to test this hypothesis fifty-five respondents completed the Symptom Checklist 90, PERI Demoralization Scale and the Social Support Network Inventory. The somatization subscale was found to be significantly higher among older Soviet immigrants than in a depressed group, yet the depression subscale was significantly lower. Compared to a group of normal controls both the depression and somatization subscales were significantly elevated. Somatization, depression, and demoralization were elevated in Soviet immigrants. The results of this study are discussed in the context of the available literature on cross-cultural psychiatry and somatization. The clinical relevance of these findings is highlighted. PMID- 2628380 TI - Locus of control in health: the effects of psychological well-being and contact with the doctor. AB - Previous studies have demonstrated an association between a high score on measures of "external" locus of control of health and high levels of psychosocial distress. In the present study, a measure of illness behaviour (visits to the doctor) has been added to elucidate the association between locus of control and self-reported psychological distress. In a sample of female high and low attenders at two general practices, neither physical health nor psycho-social problems were found to be associated with high scores on the measure of external locus of control. However, high attenders were more likely to score high on this measure. When a logistic model was fitted to the data an interactive variable (attendance rate x psychological symptoms) was found to have a significant effect, suggesting that psychological distress has a different effect upon the beliefs expressed by high and low attenders. PMID- 2628382 TI - Assessment of inhaler technique in general practice. AB - 71 Patients who were using inhalers in an inner city Dublin teaching practice were assessed by the author over a four month period to see if they were using their inhalers properly. 18 (25%) had perfect technique, 26 (37%) had adequate technique and 27 (38%) had poor technique. The patients most likely to have poor technique were those using a Metered Dose Inhaler (M.D.I.), patients using inhalers for less than one year and patients with a diagnosis of C.O.A.D. as opposed to Asthma. Of the 53 patients who had less than perfect technique 37 showed an initial improvement with training. This Author suggests that all patients should be fully evaluated before starting on inhalers and the most appropriate delivery system selected for them. They should be carefully instructed on its correct use and arrangements made for regular follow up to ensure good inhaler technique. This should lead to a greater clinical response and improved patient compliance. PMID- 2628381 TI - Educating the patient with asthma. PMID- 2628383 TI - Spontaneous primary dissection of the coronary artery. AB - A 41 year old woman died suddenly and unexpectedly as a result of a spontaneous primary dissection of a coronary artery. This rare condition occurs typically in pre-menopausal women often in the peripartum period and hormonal changes have been among several suggested aetiological factors. In this case an association with auto-immune thyroiditis is described for the first time and the importance of extensive examination of the coronary arteries at autopsy is emphasised as the lesion was confined to a small focus near the apex of the heart. PMID- 2628384 TI - Primary pneumococcal peritonitis--a brief report. PMID- 2628385 TI - Omental autoimplantation of splenic tissue and intravenous pneumococcal challenge. A comparative study in rats. AB - Splenectomized subjects show a higher incidence of myocardial ischemia and of Overwhelming Post-Splenectomy Infection (OPSI). It is doubtful that implanted splenic tissue guarantees an adequate protection from OPSI. The histological characteristics and the capacity of protection from OPSI of two models of omental autoimplantation of splenic tissue in rats were examined. The implanted splenic tissue offers a significant protection from pneumococcal sepsis, even though there is no relation between implant architecture and survival rate. PMID- 2628386 TI - Esophageal achalasia. Diagnostic and therapeutic implications. AB - Over an 11-year period, 15 patients underwent surgery for achalasia (Heller's operation with added antireflux procedure). Thereafter due to the use of manometry 25 other achalasic patients were diagnosed and 17 of them underwent the same surgical procedure. Manometry was done by means of a triple-lumen catheter as described by Arndorfer. Surgical results in the first group were good in 80% and moderate in 20% with no recurrence or organic complications due to acid reflux, while in the second group good results were 95%. In 16 cases of the second group, diagnosis was based on manometric recordings, since the radiological findings were lacking. Early diagnosis enabled to operate on selected patients according to the motor findings of the esophageal body. Follow up by manometry revealed in some cases an increase in post-deglutitory motor activity and in two cases a return of a coordinated peristalsis. Clinical and functional results are discussed and the role of manometric studies is stressed in order to improve the knowledge of the pathophysiology of functional diseases of the esophagus. PMID- 2628387 TI - Traumatic hernias of diaphragm following thoracoabdominal trauma. AB - A series of 14 cases of traumatic hernias of the diaphragm following major thoraco-abdominal traumas is reported. The problems concerned with the diagnosis treatment and anaesthesia and resuscitation are discussed. PMID- 2628388 TI - Cholecystectomy and colorectal cancer: an improbable correlation. AB - Several scientists have mentioned the cause and effect relationship between cholecystectomy and onset of large bowel cancer but have reached no real conclusions since the valid theoretical premises have often been denied by clinical series. In this report also, no statistically significant correlations between cholecystectomy and colorectal cancer have been found. It is suggested that this operation is only an epiphenomenon of a different etiologic phase, for instance, type of diet. PMID- 2628389 TI - Colorectal cancer in patients 40 years of age and younger. AB - Of 359 patients with colorectal cancer admitted over a period of about 11 years, 17 (4.7%) were 40 years of age or younger (group 1) and 342 (group 2) were older. In group 1 at the time of diagnosis, there were 9 men and 8 women; the average age was 34.2 years. Abdominal pain and diarrhea were the most common presenting symptoms. The average delay between onset of symptoms and treatment was 8.2 months (7.2 in group 2). Tumor stage at the time of diagnosis or at laparotomy was not more advanced than in group 2, the incidence of Dukes C lesions being 17.6% and 24.8%, and distant metastasis 17.6% and 18.7%, respectively. Analysis of tumor according to the stage (Astler and Coller classification), pelvic fat involvement, lymph node metastases and grading revealed no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups. The age factor had no impact on survival. It is concluded that in the present series, colorectal cancer in young patients differs in no respect from the disease in older patients. PMID- 2628390 TI - Motility effects of anterior resection of the rectum performed for diverticular disease. AB - Colonic motility study was performed in fiftyfive patients with symptomatic complicated diverticular disease, who underwent semielective surgery, and in twenty healthy volunteers. The pressure sensors were positioned in the descending and the true sigmoid colon. The colonic motility index was significantly higher in patients with symptomatic complicated diverticular disease than in controls in the basal (p less than 0.001) and post-prandial periods (p less than 0.001). Three months after anterior resection of the rectum with wide resection of descending colon the motility index was significantly reduced (p less than 0.001) in comparison to that before treatment; all patients were asymptomatic. Three years and five years later, the manometric findings continued to be stable and the patients continued to be asymptomatic. These data suggest that anterior resection of the rectum (with wide resection of the descending colon) lowers intraluminal pressure significantly and this effect appears long lasting. PMID- 2628391 TI - Influence of contralateral carotid artery on neurologic outcome after carotid endarterectomy. AB - The discrepancy in the literature about the immediate results after carotid endarterectomy in the presence of occluded or seriously stenotic contralateral carotid artery, has encouraged a retrospective study on 230 patients subjected to 255 carotid endarterectomies. 63 operations (group 1) were carried out in the presence of occluded contralateral carotid artery (40 operations) or of seriously stenotic contralateral carotid artery (23 operations). In the remaining 192 operations (group 2) the contralateral carotid artery was normal or not significantly stenotic (less than 60% of diameter reduction). The indication for surgery and age and sex distribution were similar in the two groups. No operations were performed during acute stroke. Patients with previous stroke underwent surgery only after at least 1 month from the onset of symptoms, in stable neurological conditions. All the patients were operated on under general anesthesia and with systemic heparinization; the indication for intraluminal shunt was made on the basis of clinical evaluation, of back pressure value and, in 106 operated cases of somatosensory cortical evoked potentials. At the end of every operation, ultrasonographic and/or angiographic instrumental controls were carried out. No statistically significant difference was evidenced in the incidence in groups 1 and 2 of postoperative transitory neurological insufficiency (both 3.2%, P greater than 0.8), of permanent neurological insufficiency (0% and 1%, P greater than 0.9), of mortality because of neurological (3.2% and 1%, P greater than 0.5) and non neurological causes (1.6% and 0%, P greater than 0.1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628392 TI - Endoscopic suspension of the bladder neck by the Stamey method for urinary incontinence. AB - Eighteen women with stress incontinence underwent endoscopic suspension of the bladder neck by the method of Stamey. The procedure was carried out in a department of general surgery. Pre- and postoperatively the patients were evaluated by pelvic examination with stress test, colpo-cysto-urethrography, urinary flow rate measurement, cystometry, and culture of the urine. Fifteen became fully continent at once, another two after having been treated further by posterior colpoperineorraphy, while one remained incontinent. The median postoperative follow-up was 27 months. Complications were rare and mild. It is concluded that the method is applicable in departments of general surgery and that the result can be improved in selected patients by posterior colpoperineorraphy. PMID- 2628393 TI - Intestinal perforation caused by non specific idiopathic ulcer of the small intestine. A case report. AB - A case of non specific idiopathic ulcer of the small intestine in a 79-year-old patient is reported. On admission he presented with acute abdomen and was submitted to wide intestinal resection. The features of this rare disease (only 370 cases described until 1987), which has an undefined etiopathogenesis, severe symptoms, and poses diagnostic problems, are discussed. PMID- 2628394 TI - Small bowel angiodysplasia in association with Crohn's ileitis. A case report. AB - A case of a female patient affected by Crohn's ileitis associated with small bowel angiodysplasia is reported. Despite a good clinical and laboratory response to steroid therapy the patient showed an unexplained hypochromic microcytic anemia. At laparotomy Crohn's ileitis as well as an angiodysplastic lesion were found. Both lesions were resected in continuity. During a 2-year follow-up the patient did not show anemia despite pregnancy. It is suggested that the angiodysplastic lesion was the possible cause of hypochromic anemia and that the patient should have been operated on before, based on her recurrent anemia. PMID- 2628395 TI - Anal melanoma. A case report. PMID- 2628396 TI - Infection control, decontamination, and the clinical engineer. PMID- 2628397 TI - Anesthesia units and breathing systems. PMID- 2628399 TI - Power requirements for Coherent Excelase 55 CO2 laser. PMID- 2628398 TI - Incompatibility of Nellcor ADAP-PS gas sampling tee and Dryden CPRAM breathing circuit. PMID- 2628400 TI - Using portable hyperbaric O2 chambers in patient rooms. PMID- 2628401 TI - Inaccurate O2 concentrations from oxygen-air proportioners. PMID- 2628402 TI - Grounding nonelectrical OR tables. PMID- 2628404 TI - NFPA alert: power in the OR. A call for action. PMID- 2628403 TI - Use of telephones in CCUs. PMID- 2628405 TI - Cataract extraction procedures. PMID- 2628406 TI - Air embolism associated with hemodialysis. PMID- 2628407 TI - Assessing respiratory status with blood gas/pH analyzers and in vitro multiwavelength oximeters. AB - In this issue, we evaluate two instruments that assess the quality of respiration by analyzing blood samples: blood gas/pH analyzers (BGAs) and in vitro multiwavelength oximeters. These complementary technologies, which are being widely used together, give clinicians a more complete, accurate analysis of the patient's overall respiratory condition than is possible with a single device. Below we present a clinical overview of the purpose of both devices and their importance in assessing a patient's well-being. Following the general discussion are the individual evaluations of each device. Many technical terms used in the text and tables are defined in the Glossary and are italicized in text. PMID- 2628408 TI - Damage to plastic components from Loctite. PMID- 2628409 TI - Nonstandard user modification of gas cylinder pin indexing. PMID- 2628410 TI - Minimizing EtO exposure when changing gas cylinders. PMID- 2628411 TI - Ambulatory ECG monitors. AB - We evaluated five AECG (Holter) monitors from five manufacturers, basing our ratings primarily on the systems' ability to provide accurate ECG analyses and comprehensive reports. We also assessed additional features and capabilities, such as enhanced data analysis and reporting flexibility. The three retrospective analysis systems are rated Acceptable, and the two real-time systems are rated Conditionally Acceptable on the condition that they are purchased with full disclosure (FD) report options. See the Discussion section for a detailed comparison of real-time and retrospective systems and a discussion of other use and purchasing considerations. PMID- 2628412 TI - Erroneous use of Welch Allyn 48200 fiberoptic light pipe. PMID- 2628413 TI - Cracking of Scale-Tronix 2001 bed scale hammock rings. PMID- 2628414 TI - [Peripheral nerve lesions of experimental leprosy in monkeys. VI. Tuberculoid leprous granuloma in an African green monkey]. AB - Histopathological finding of left n. peroneus superficialis, left rami calcanei medialis (n. tibialis), left n. medianus, left ramus superficialis, n. radialis and left rami muscularis, m. palmaris brevis of african green monkey 8182 (Delta Regional Primate Research Center, USA) were studied by semithin section method. African green monkey 8182 was inoculated with leprosy bacilli isolated from lepromata of mangabey monkey A 015-natural infection. The length of period between date of inoculum and date of death of the monkey was about 5 years. 1. A typical tuberculoid leprous granuloma was observed in a fascicle of n. peroneus superficialis. 2. In the other fascicles of n. peroneus superficialis, proliferation of collagen fibers was remarkable not only at surrounding of myelinated nerve fibers but also at perineurium. Some of myelinated nerve fibers inside these fascicles were kept in good condition. 3. Infiltration of small amount of lymphocytes, proliferation of collagen fibers, and a few leprosy bacilli were observed inside some of fascicles of rami calcanei medialis. 4. In the fascicles of n. medianus, ramus superficialis of n. radialis and rami muscularis of n. ulnaris at m. palmaris brevis, proliferation of collagen fibres was observed not only at surrounding of myelinated nerve fibers but also at perineurium. PMID- 2628415 TI - Adult patients presenting with pancytopenia: a reappraisal of underlying pathology and diagnostic procedures in 213 cases. AB - We reviewed 213 consecutive adult pancytopenic patients to determine the frequency of underlying pathology, to analyze our diagnostic procedure, and to determine the value of peripheral blood data for diagnosis. Pancytopenia was defined as the association of hemoglobin level below 12 g/dl in males and 11.5 g/dl in females, leukopenia below 4 x 10(9)/L, and thrombocytopenia below 150 x 10(9)/L. The bone marrow aspirates were normo- or hypercellular in 140 cases (66%). Bone marrow biopsies, performed in 93 cases, documented the presence of myelofibrosis in 67 cases. Aplastic anemia was diagnosed in 10% of the cases. Malignant myeloid disorders (acute myeloid leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, acute myeloid disorders with myelofibrosis) represented 42% of the cases and various malignant lymphoid disorders 18%. Vitamin deficiencies accounted for 7.5% and nonhematological pathology 10% of the cases. The bone marrow aspirate was sufficient for the diagnosis in 55% of the cases, and the trephine biopsy was necessary in 30%. In the remaining cases, other complementary tests were necessary to achieve final diagnosis. A discriminant analysis, focused on the hemogram data, showed that parameters obtained by analysis of blood smears were helpful for the diagnosis, especially the presence or absence of blast cells and/or of abnormal lymphoid cells. PMID- 2628416 TI - The use of in situ hybridization for detection of loss of the Y chromosome in males with pancytopenia. AB - In situ hybridization for Y heterochromatin was used to detect loss of the Y chromosome in interphase cells of three elderly male patients who presented with pancytopenia, hypocellular marrow with mild to moderate dysplasia, and variable numbers of 45,X, -Y or -G marrow metaphases. The percentages of Y-negative peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patients (1.5-12.5%) exceeded that of elderly males (0.4 +/- 0.3%) and young males (0.03 +/- 0.1%) without hematologic disorders, but the percentages of Y-negative phytohemagglutinin-stimulated cells from the patients were within the range of normals. All three patients had Y negative granulocytes (2.1-16.7%), while none of 34 males without hematologic disease had any Y-negative granulocytes. These results suggested the presence of a myeloid clone with loss of Y. One patient developed acute nonlymphocytic leukemia with 38.4% Y-negative marrow cells. Morphologically, the Y-negative cells were blasts. The other two patients remained stable or improved over the period of treatment and observation despite persistence of the cytogenetic finding and dysplastic changes. Loss of the Y chromosome in excess of normal as determined by in situ hybridization may be an indicator of a clonal disorder in males with pancytopenia, but it is not necessarily a marker of poor prognosis. PMID- 2628417 TI - The complete amino acid sequence of a subtilisin inhibitor from adzuki beans (Vigna angularis). AB - The complete amino acid sequence of a major molecular form of subtilisin inhibitor from adzuki beans (Vigna angularis) was established by manual analysis using 4-N,N-dimethylaminoazobenzene-4'-isothiocyanate (DABITC). Sequencing was performed on the peptides which were derived by digesting the inhibitor with lysyl-endopeptidase and Staphylococcus aureus V8-protease. The inhibitor consisted of 92 amino acid residues and the molecular weight was calculated to be 10,800. A minor form of subtilisin inhibitor was found, which lacked the amino terminal 19 residues of the major one. Comparison of amino acid sequences revealed that the adzuki bean subtilisin inhibitors were 29-68% homologous in sequence to the inhibitors of so-called "potato inhibitor I family." PMID- 2628418 TI - A variant derived from rabbit aortic smooth muscle: phenotype modulation and restoration of smooth muscle characteristics in cells in culture. AB - We examined the relationship between growth arrest of smooth muscle cells and structural changes in microfilament bundles, and also that between the structural changes and the actions of contractile agonist using a multipassagable variant cell line (SM-3) derived from rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells. The content of smooth muscle type alpha-actin increased with density-dependent growth arrest of the SM-3 cells, but was attenuated in the logarithmically growing cultures. As assessed cytochemically, the growth-arrested cells contained longitudinally oriented bundles of actin-containing microfilament and myosin-based filaments visualized with rhodamine-phalloidin and antibody against myosin light chain 20, respectively, whereas both actin- and myosin-containing structures in logarithmically growing cells showed slight, shortened, or diffused patterns. Electron microscopic examination of the growth-arrested cells revealed that the cells contained numerous and conspicuous microfilament bundles associated with many compact electron-dense bodies. In addition, pinocytotic vesicles were often found near the plasma membrane in the growth-arrested cells. SM-3 cells in the growth-arrested phase responded to prostaglandin F2 alpha (3-30 microM) and rat endothelin (0.1-1.0 microM) with a reversible contractile response, in association with monophosphorylation and/or diphosphorylation of the myosin light chain 20. However, the influence of the contractile agonists was greatly reduced during logarithmic growth. These results suggest that in the SM-3 cells in the growth-arrested phase, there is a restoration of the contractile architecture and the myosin light chain phosphorylation system. Thus, this SM-3 cell line is expected to serve as a useful model for examining biochemical and physiological phenomena of smooth muscle. PMID- 2628419 TI - Role of growth hormone in modulating the constitutive and phenobarbital-induced levels of two P-450(6)beta (testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase) mRNAs in rat livers. AB - The role of growth hormone in the expression of two forms of hepatic cytochrome P 450(P-450), P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3), and P-450(6)beta-4, was investigated using RNA blots. The level of P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) mRNA was twenty times higher than that of P-450(6) beta-4 mRNAs in untreated male rat livers. The levels of P 450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs were increased two fold and three fold, respectively, by hypophysectomy of adult male rats. By intermittent injection of human growth hormone (hGH) into hypophysectomized male rats, both mRNAs were decreased to the level of normal rats, and almost disappeared after continuous infusion of hGH. In female rats, these two mRNAs were not detected, but were increased remarkably by hypophysectomy. The increases in these mRNAs were almost abolished after continuous infusion of hGH in hypophysectomized female rats. The effect of hGH on PB-mediated induction of P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta 3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs was also examined. The PB-mediated increases in P 450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs were higher in hypophysectomized male rats (2.5-fold and 10.9-fold, respectively) than in normal male rats (1.5 fold and 5.2-fold, respectively). Thus, the levels of P-450(6)beta-1(6-beta-3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs were 4.1-fold and 7.3-fold, respectively, higher in PB induced hypophysectomized rats than in normal male rats. Concerning the postnatal developmental profiles, P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) mRNA was detectable at neonate and reached a maximal level at around 17 days of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628420 TI - Further studies on the ionic strength-dependent proteolytic activation of protein kinase C in rat liver plasma membrane by endogenous trypsin-like protease. AB - cAMP and Ca2(+)-independent histone kinase was generated from rat liver plasma membrane in an ionic strength-dependent manner by the action of an endogenous trypsin-like protease (Hashimoto, E. et al. (1986) FEBS Lett. 200, 63-66). In addition to the effect of ionic strength, this proteolytic activation of protein kinase proceeded faster at alkaline pH. In an attempt to identify the activated kinase as the protease-activated form of protein kinase C (protein kinase M), the active enzyme released from plasma membrane was highly purified and characterized. Various properties including Mg2+ requirement in histone phosphorylation, substrate specificity, effects of protein kinase activators, and inhibitors and comparison of catalytic properties by peptide map analysis were compatible with those of protein kinase M reported earlier. Immunoblot analyses also supported the idea that the protein kinase subjected to proteolytic activation was protein kinase C. The subtype of protein kinase C detected in this study was identified as type III enzyme encoding alpha-type sequence from the elution profile from hydroxyapatite column. These results suggest that type III protein kinase C bound to rat liver plasma membrane has an ability to be activated by endogenous trypsin-like protease dependently on the alteration of ionic strength and pH around the plasma membrane. PMID- 2628421 TI - Purification and characterization of a new hydrolase for conjugated bile acids, chenodeoxycholyltaurine hydrolase, from Bacteroides vulgatus. AB - A new hydrolase for conjugated bile acids, tentatively named chenodeoxycholyltaurine hydrolase, was purified to homogeneity from Bacteroides vulgatus. This enzyme hydrolyzed taurine-conjugated bile acids but showed no activity toward glycine conjugates. Among the taurine conjugates, taurochenodeoxycholic acid was most effectively hydrolyzed, tauro-beta-muricholic and ursodeoxycholic acids were moderately well hydrolyzed, and cholic and 7 beta cholic acids were hardly hydrolyzed, suggesting that this enzyme has a specificity for not only the amino acid moiety but also the steroidal moiety. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be approximately 140,000 by Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration and the subunit molecular weight of the enzyme was 36,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The optimum pH was in the range of 5.6 to 6.4. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme was Met-Glu-Arg Thr-Ile-Thr-Ile-Gln-Gln-Ile-Lys-Asp-Ala-Ala-Gln. The enzyme was activated by dithiothreitol, but inhibited by sulfhydryl inhibitors, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, N-ethylmaleimide, and dithiodipyridine. PMID- 2628422 TI - Investigation of an active site histidine-aspartate couple in Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2. AB - When Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2 was reacted with methyl p nitrobenzenesulfonate, its activity decreased following first-order kinetics. The pH dependence of the rate constants of inactivation showed that His-48 with an apparent pKa of 6.5 controls the reaction. In the pH region below 6.5, N1 methylhistidine was predominantly formed. On the other hand, N1,N3 dimethylhistidine was almost exclusively produced in the pH region above 6.5. No N3-methylhistidine was detected at any pH tested. Such observations suggested that the first methylation occurred at the N1-position of the imidazole ring followed by a second methylation at the N3-position, and that His-48 couples the carboxylate of Asp-99 at the N3-position of the imidazole ring, in accord with the interaction observed in the crystal structure of homologous Crotalus atrox phospholipase A2. As it has been reported that, in the reaction of chymotrypsin with methyl p-nitrobenzenesulfonate at pH 7.8, only monomethylation occurred at the N1-position of the His-57 imidazole group (Nakagawa, Y. & Bender, M.L. (1970) Biochemistry 9, 259-267), the nature of the active site histidine-aspartate couple of T. flavoviridis phospholipase A2 seems not to be identical with that of chymotrypsin. PMID- 2628423 TI - Site-directed mutagenesis of human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor. AB - Arg-42 or Lys-43 or Arg-44 of human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) was replaced by Thr or Ser by site-directed mutagenesis, and the inactivation rates of the mutants after mixing with human trypsin were compared with that of the natural form. The inactivation rate decreased for one mutant (Arg-44----Ser), whereas no change was observed for another (Arg-42----Thr) and an increase was observed for a third (Lys-43----Thr). Kinetic studies on the interactions between human trypsin and synthetic peptides, comprising the regions of Phe39-Ser47 of the respective PSTI species, showed that human trypsin cleaved the Arg42-Lys43 bond preferentially to the Arg44-Gln45 bond. However, it is cleavage of the latter bond that is thought to cause inactivation of human PSTI. These results suggest that the Arg44-Gln45 bond of human PSTI is responsible for its inhibitory activity, and inactivation of human PSTI is probably caused by deletion of the dipeptide Lys43-Arg44. PMID- 2628424 TI - Modulation of plasma membrane Ca2+ pump by membrane potential in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. AB - We examined the effect of membrane potential (Em) on the activity of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Inside negative K+ diffusion potential higher or lower than the resting Em (-46 mV) was artificially imposed on VSMCs with various concentrations of extracellular K+ (K+o) and 1 microM valinomycin. We found that the recovery phase of the intracellular Ca2+ transient elicited with 1 microM ionomycin was accelerated by depolarizing Em, whereas it was retarded by hyperpolarizing Em. The rate of extracellular Na+ (Na+o)-independent 45Ca2+ efflux from VSMCs stimulated with 1 microM ionomycin increased almost linearly with a change in Em from -98 to -3 mV. This effect of Em was abolished by extracellularly added LaCl3 or a combination of high pH (pH 8.8) and high Mg2+ (20 mM), conditions that presumably inhibit the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump (Furukawa, K.-I., Tawada, Y., & Shigekawa, M. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 8058-8065). Intracellular contents of Na+ and K+ and intracellular pH, on the other hand, were not influenced by the change in Em under the conditions used. These results indicate that alteration in Em can modulate the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in intact VSMCs by changing the rate of Ca2+ extrusion by the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump. The data strongly suggest that the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump in VSMCs is electrogenic. PMID- 2628425 TI - Purification and properties of neuraminidase isozymes in Arthrobacter ureafaciens mutant. AB - An Arthrobacter ureafaciens mutant (M1057) capable of producing neuraminidase constitutively was isolated by NTG mutagenesis from A. ureafaciens KMS 3663. Four molecular species (L, M1, M2, and S) of neuraminidase isozymes were homogeneously purified from the mutant and parent strains by means of DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatography, ammonium sulfate precipitation, chromatofocusing, and Ultrogel AcA44 gel filtration. The molecular weights of L, M1, M2, and S isozymes were shown to be approximately 88,000, 66,000, 66,000, and 52,000, respectively. The optimal pHs and Km values of these isozymes for N-acetylneuraminosyl-alpha,(2-6) lactose were 4.5-5.5 and 0.6-0.8 mM. Neuraminidase L, M1, M2, and S were able to hydrolyze oligosaccharides, glycoproteins and gangliosides containing alpha,(2-3) , alpha,(2-6)-, and alpha,(2-8)-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid. Among these isozymes isolated, isozyme S was most active on colominic acid. PMID- 2628426 TI - Interaction of fatty acids with beta-lactoglobulin and albumin from ruminant milk. AB - beta-Lactoglobulin isolated from milk of cow, sheep, and goat had about 0.5 mol of fatty acids bound per mol of monomer protein. Fatty acids, mainly palmitic and oleic acids, were the major components (about 75% of total lipids). Albumin isolated from the same samples had about 4.5 mol of fatty acids bound per mol of protein. These two proteins were the only whey proteins able to bind labeled fatty acids in vitro. Interaction of beta-lactoglobulin and albumin with insolubilized fatty acids showed some differences, suggesting different structures of the respective fatty acid binding sites. PMID- 2628427 TI - A comparative study of bark lectins from three elderberry (Sambucus) species. AB - Three elderberry lectins isolated from the bark of three different species of the genus Sambucus which are native to Europe (S. nigra), North America (S. canadensis), and Japan (S. sieboldiana) were studied comparatively with regard to their carbohydrate binding properties and some structural features. All three lectins contained two identical carbohydrate binding sites per molecule and showed a very high specificity for the Neu5Ac(alpha 2-6)-Gal/GalNAc sequence. However, relative affinities for various oligosaccharides were significantly different among them, suggesting differences in the detailed structure of the carbohydrate binding sites of these lectins. The three lectins were immunologically related, but not identical, and all were composed of hydrophobic and hydrophilic subunit regions, although the molecular sizes of these subunits were slightly different among the three lectins. N-terminal sequence analysis of the subunits of these lectins suggested that they have a very similar structure in this region but also indicated the occurrence of N-terminal processing such as the deletion of several amino acid residues at the N-termini for both hydrophobic and hydrophilic subunits of all three lectins. Tryptic peptide mapping of the three lectins showed a similar pattern for all of them but also showed the presence of some unique peptides for each lectin. PMID- 2628428 TI - Chemical modification of neutral protease from Bacillus subtilis var. amylosacchariticus with tetranitromethane: assignment of tyrosyl residues nitrated. AB - A neutral protease from Bacillus subtilis var. amylosacchariticus was modified with tetranitromethane (TNM) at pH 8.0 for 1 h at 25 degrees C, by which treatment the proteolytic activity toward casein was markedly reduced, whereas activity changes toward N-blocked peptide substrates were variable depending upon the substrate used. The modified enzyme was digested with a Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease at pH 7.9 and the resultant peptides were separated by HPLC. Two peptides which contain nitrotyrosyl residue(s) were purified. One of the peptides was found to have an amino acid sequence of Thr-Ala-Asn-Leu-Ile-Tyr-Glu, which corresponds to residue Nos. 153-159 of the neutral protease, and Tyr-158 was identified as PTH-nitrotyrosine. The other one was the amino-terminal peptide of residue Nos. 1-22, and Tyr-21 was shown to be nitrated. From a comparison with the active site structure of thermolysin, which is a zinc metalloprotease with a high sequence homology to B. subtilis neutral proteases, nitration of Tyr-158 was inferred to be closely related to the activity changes of the neutral protease from B. subtilis var. amylosacchariticus. PMID- 2628429 TI - Biosynthesis of nonspecific lipid transfer protein (sterol carrier protein 2) on free polyribosomes as a larger precursor in rat liver. AB - The biosynthesis of nonspecific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP) was investigated. Total RNA of rat liver was translated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate cell-free protein-synthesizing system with [35S]methionine as label. The immunoprecipitation of translation products with affinity-purified anti-nsLTP antibody yielded 14.5- and 60-kDa [35S]polypeptides. The molecular mass of the former polypeptide was approximately 1.5 kDa larger than that of the purified mature nsLTP (13 kDa). The site of synthesis of nsLTP was studied by in vitro translation of free and membrane-bound polyribosomal RNAs followed by immunoprecipitation. mRNA for both the 14.5- and 60-kDa polypeptides were found predominantly in the free polyribosomal fraction in both normal and clofibrate treated rats. Clofibrate, a hypolipidemic drug that proliferates peroxisomes, did not increase the relative amount of nsLTP mRNA in rat liver. Pulse-chase experiments in rat hepatoma H-35 cells suggested that nsLTP was synthesized as a larger precursor of 14.5 kDa and converted to a mature form of 13 kDa. We have recently shown that nsLTP is highly concentrated in peroxisomes in rat hepatocytes [Tsuneoka et al. (1988) J. Biochem. 104, 560-564]. Taken together, these results suggest that nsLTP is synthesized as a larger precursor of 14.5 kDa on cytoplasmic free polyribosomes, then post-translationally transported to peroxisomes, where the precursor is presumably proteolytically processed to its mature form of 13 kDa. The relationship between the 13-kDa nsLTP and the 60-kDa polypeptide is also discussed. PMID- 2628430 TI - Direct identification of disulfide bond linkages in human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) by chemical synthesis. AB - The primary structure of human IGF-I, except for the disulfide bond system, has been reported by Rinderknecht and Humbel. IGF-I afforded the corresponding characteristic peptide fragment on V8 protease digestion, which contained Cys6, Cys47, Cys48, and Cys52. Two possible fragments, Type I with Cys6-Cys47 and Cys48 Cys52, and Type II with Cys6-Cys48 and Cys47-Cys52, were synthesized. The disulfide bond system of IGF-I was unequivocally determined to be the Type II form along with Cys18-Cys61. Interestingly, the Type I system was included in the disulfide bond isomer produced as the main by-product in the refolding step on IGF-I synthesis by the recombinant DNA method. PMID- 2628431 TI - Isolation of alpha-connectin, an elastic protein, from rabbit skeletal muscle. AB - alpha-Connectin (also called titin 1) has been isolated from rabbit back muscle. Myofibrils were well washed with 5 mM NaHCO3 and then extracted with 0.2 M sodium phosphate, pH 7.0. The extract was dialyzed against 0.1 M potassium phosphate, pH 7.0, to sediment myosin. The supernatant, adjusted to 0.18 M potassium phosphate, pH 7.0, and 4 M urea, was subjected to DEAE Toyopearl column chromatography. beta Connectin was eluted in the flow-through fraction and alpha-connectin was eluted at around 0.1 M NaCl, when a 0 to 0.25 M NaCl gradient was applied. The separated alpha-connectin was dialyzed against 0.2 M potassium phosphate, pH 7.0. The resultant alpha-connectin showed the same mobility as that in an SDS extract of rabbit back muscle on SDS gel electrophoresis using 1.8% polyacrylamide gels. A monoclonal antibody against chicken breast muscle beta-connectin reacted with the alpha-connectin isolated from rabbit back muscle. PMID- 2628432 TI - Isolation and fundamental properties of a phospholipase A2 inhibitor from the blood plasma of Trimeresurus flavoviridis. AB - Phospholipase A2 inhibitor was purified from the blood plasma of Habu, Trimeresurus flavoviridis, by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and Blue-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography. The purified inhibitor was shown to be a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of about 100K. It was found to consist of four subunits whose molecular weights were around 20 24K. In order to examine the inhibition mechanism of the inhibitor, the interaction of the inhibitor with a phospholipase A2 from T. flavoviridis venom was examined by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. One inhibitor molecule was found to bind directly to one phospholipase A2 molecule in both the presence and absence of Ca2+. The inhibitor inhibited the phospholipase A2 from T. flavoviridis venom with an apparent dissociation constant, Ki, of 1.7 X 10(-10) M, but not the porcine pancreas enzyme or the Agkistrodon halys blomhoffii enzyme belonging to the same family, Crotalidae, as T. flavoviridis, or the phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus. PMID- 2628433 TI - Characterization of phosphonoglycosphingolipids containing pyruvate: localization in Aplysia nerve bundles. AB - A phosphonoglycosphingolipid, designated as FGL-IIb, was first identified in nerve fibers of Aplysia kurodai by two-dimensional TLC (Abe, S. et al. (1986) Biomed. Res. 7, 47-51), and its chemical structure has been determined to be 3,4 O-(1-carboxyethylidene)]Gal beta 1----3GalNac alpha 1----3(Fuc alpha 1----2)(2 aminoethylphosphonyl----6)Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1ceramide (Araki, S. et al., submitted). Cryostat and paraffin sections of the nervous tissue and skin of Aplysia were examined immunohistochemically with antiserum against FGL-IIb. With this antiserum, only nerve bundles were stained distinctly: nerve cells in ganglia and in subcutaneous and muscular tissues and other cell elements were not stained. From histochemical findings in cryostat sections pretreated with chloroform-methanol (2 : 1, v/v) and from the results of Western blot analysis of the nervous tissue, the staining was concluded to be due to glycolipid antigens. The antiserum reacted with FGL-IIb and other phosphonoglycosphingolipids named FGL-I, FGL-IIa, FGL-V, and F-9 on TLC plates. This reactivity of FGL-IIb was abolished by mild acid-methanol treatment, and the lost reactivity was recovered by alkaline hydrolysis. These findings suggest that the free carboxyl group of the pyruvic acid of FGL-IIb is essential for the immunological reaction and that all the glycolipids listed above have the same epitope as that of FGL-IIb. Immunohistochemical findings indicated that these glycolipids including FGL-IIb are localized specifically in nerve bundles of Aplysia. PMID- 2628434 TI - Maize phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase involved in C4 photosynthesis: nucleotide sequence analysis of the 5' flanking region of the gene. AB - To clone the genomic DNA fragment containing the putative promoter region of the gene for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase [EC 4.1.1.31] involved in C4 photosynthesis (C4-type PEPC), maize genomic libraries were screened. On probing with a 384-bp fragment from the N-terminal coding region of the maize cDNA for C4 type PEPC, four EcoRI-fragments differing in the restriction map were cloned, reflecting the presence of a small gene family. Southern blot analyses were carried out on the genomic DNA and the cloned DNA fragments using several segments of the cDNA for C4-type PEPC as probes. The results indicated that the C4-type PEPC is encoded by a single gene and the cloned 7.0-kb fragment was derived from this gene. The transcription start site, as determined in a primer extension experiment, was located at about 4 kb downstream of the 5' end of the cloned fragment. The nucleotide sequence was determined for the region which extended about 1 kb upstream from the transcription start site and possible signal sequences related to gene expression were found, including four classes of direct repeats. The sequences of the corresponding regions of the other two cloned fragments (8.9 and 12.9 kb) which strongly hybridized with the 384-bp probe were very similar to each other, but they were quite different in the 5' upstream region from the sequence of the gene for C4-type PEPC. PMID- 2628435 TI - Assignment of the positions of chymotryptic fragments and cysteinyl groups in the primary structure of caldesmon in relation to a conformational change. AB - Caldesmon is universally associated with smooth muscle thin filaments, and reportedly interacts with actin, calmodulin, tropomyosin, and myosin. I attempted to determine the positions of the chymotryptic fragments which have been used to study the sites of such interactions in its primary structure. Such assignment, combined with the accumulated data of fragment studies, made it possible to clarify the functional domain organization of the caldesmon molecule. Using a specific cleavage method involving nitrothiocyanobenzoate, I also determined the number and locations of cysteinyl residues in the amino-acid sequence. Two cysteinyl groups thus determined were located close to the ends and almost at the same distance apart from the N- and C-termini of the whole molecule, respectively. Taking these locations and the extraordinary sensitivity to oxidation into consideration, I could reasonably elucidate the origin of the controversial data and the interpretation so far reported from various laboratories, concerning the length and conformation of the native molecule. Caldesmon might be folded in solution and its contour length could be almost double the accepted value, which was hydrodynamically estimated. PMID- 2628436 TI - The difference spectra of bovine kidney RNase K2 induced upon binding with nucleotides markedly differ from those of bovine pancreatic RNase. AB - The difference spectra obtained upon the addition of nucleotides to bovine kidney RNase, which shows 40% sequence homology with bovine pancreatic RNase, are markedly different from those of bovine pancreatic RNase. As one of the factors which possibly contribute to this difference, we examined the effect of the substitution of Phe120 in bovine pancreatic RNase by Leu in RNase K2 on the difference spectra. PMID- 2628437 TI - Accumulation of tropomyosin in developing chicken gizzard smooth muscle. AB - Smooth muscle of chicken embryonic gizzards has been shown to contain 9 tropomyosin isoforms (E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8, and E9) in addition to alpha and beta isoforms (Hosoya et al. (1989) J. Biochem. 105, 712-717). At the early stages of development, the amount of these isoforms was larger than those of alpha and beta isoforms. However, they gradually decreased at later stages and finally disappeared completely after hatching. By using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and an image analyzing system, we examined the process of tropomyosin accumulation in gizzard smooth muscle development. The accumulation patterns of tropomyosin isoforms and their relative molar ratios to actin in embryonic development were different from those in the stages after hatching. The relative molar ratio of tropomyosin to actin in the thin filament preparation of embryonic gizzards was lower than that of adult, and it gradually increased in the course of embryonic development. PMID- 2628438 TI - Fate of Staphylococcus aureus in whey, whey cream, and whey cream butter. AB - Fresh Cheddar cheese whey was inoculated with ca. 10(6) Staphylococcus aureus/ml and held at 4, 25, and 37 degrees C for 48 h. Numbers of staphylococci decreased in whey at 25 and 37 degrees C and decreased or remained constant in whey at 4 degrees C. When Cheddar cheese whey was neutralized with sodium hydroxide before inoculation with ca. 10(2) or 10(6) S. aureus/ml, numbers of the bacterium increased at all incubation temperatures. Viability of S. aureus strains in whey butter made from inoculated whey cream (from Cheddar cheese whey) was determined. Whey cream was either neutralized to a titratable acidity of .15% or untreated before inoculation with ca. 10(4) S. aureus/ml. Butter churned from the whey cream was held at 4, 25, and 30 degrees C for up to 4 wk. Viability of S. aureus was enhanced in lightly salted (1%) whey cream butter and in butter made from neutralized whey cream. Strains of S. aureus did not survive in unsalted or in salted (1.5%) butter made from untreated whey cream. PMID- 2628439 TI - Phylogenetic variations in the calcium-dependent electrophoretic shift of alpha lactalbumin. AB - alpha-Lactalbumin undergoes a calcium-dependent electrophoretic shift at pH 8.3. When Ca2+ is removed by a chelator, the mobility of the protein increases, reflecting the exposure of negative electrical charges. The shift, however, is not observed by electrophoresis in the presence of SDS, which demonstrates that alpha-lactalbumin does not undergo a measurable conformational change upon debinding of Ca2+. Relative electrophoretic mobilities vary from 1.0 (no shift) to 1.4 among alpha-lactalbumins of different orders of mammals. The differences suggest a variable number of gram atoms of Ca2+ bound to alpha-lactalbumin or substitution of amino acid Ca2+ ligands in the calcium-binding loop. PMID- 2628440 TI - Lactoferrin and lysozyme in milk during acute mastitis and their inhibitory effect in Delvotest P. AB - Microbiological methods for detection of antibiotic residues in milk give no explanations regarding the identity of the inhibitory substance(s). Natural antibacterial substances, present at higher concentrations in mastitic milk and in colostrum, occasionally cause false positive results in antibiotic assays. In an earlier investigation, lysozyme and lactoferrin were shown to inhibit the growth of Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis spores, used as test organism in Delvotest P. To study the effect of high lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations in milk on the Delvotest P, cows were subjected to acute experimental mastitis by infusion of Salmonella typhimurium SH 4809 endotoxin. Milk samples were collected up to 11 h postinfusion. Concentrations of lactoferrin and lysozyme, somatic cell count, and effect on Delvotest P were determined. A positive reaction in the Delvotest correlated well with an increase in lactoferrin and lysozyme concentrations. The nature of the inhibitory effect is briefly discussed. PMID- 2628441 TI - Milk protein typing of bovine mammary gland tissue used to generate a complementary deoxyribonucleic acid library. AB - The milk protein genotype of a mammary gland tissue that was used to generate a cDNA library at the University of California, Davis was typed by PAGE. Casein and whey proteins were extracted from the mammary tissue and typed utilizing fast mini-gel procedures that provide excellent resolution of the milk proteins. The genotype of the mammary tissue was classified as kappa-casein AB, beta-casein A2A1, alpha s1-casein BB, beta-lactoglobulin AA, and alpha-lactalbumin BB. The genes kappa-casein A, beta-casein A2, beta-lactoglobulin A, and alpha-lactalbumin B that have been cloned from this cDNA library coincide with those in the above tissue genotype with the exception of the recently reported cloning of the alpha s1-casein A gene. The gene frequencies for the casein genetic variants for three breeds of dairy cattle is presented and discussed in relation to the low frequency (.3%) of the alpha s1-casein A in the population. PMID- 2628442 TI - Changes in N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activities in relation to other milk components throughout normal lactation in the guinea pig. AB - Changes in milk production, NAGase activities, Na, Cl, K, lactose, total N, and fat were followed throughout normal lactation in 26 healthy guinea pigs. Appropriate microassays were used and all determinations were performed on the same small skim milk sample (microhematocrit tube). A very sensitive and rapid spectrofluorimetric determination of NAGase in 10-microliters skim milk samples was evaluated. Four days after parturition, daily milk production reached a maximum of about 20 ml. Thereafter milk yield decreased progressively to about 7 ml on d 15. During the entire course of lactation, a progressive increase in NAGase, total N, fat, Na, and Cl was observed. However, K and lactose decreased. Highly significant positive correlations between NAGase and Na, Cl, fat, and total N were evident, whereas correlations were negative between NAGase and K, lactose, and milk production. These changes can be explained on basis of alterations that occur at the level of the blood-milk barrier. The short lactation period of the guinea pig, the easy handling and milking practices, together with the available sensitive micromethods can lead to the establishment of a convenient guinea pig mastitis model. PMID- 2628443 TI - Metabolic responses of lactating goats to feed restriction and dietary 1,3 butanediol. AB - Feed restriction and dietary 1,3-butanediol were used with lactating goats in an attempt to induce metabolic changes characteristic of bovine lactation ketosis and fatty liver. In Experiment 1, midlactation goats were fed 80, 102, or 114% of metabolizable energy requirements and 0, 50, or 100 g/d of 1,3-butanediol. Concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate in blood plasma decreased with increasing metabolizable energy but was increased greatly at 2 h after goats were fed 50 or 100 g butanediol and remained elevated at 6 h postfeeding with 100 g of butanediol. Concentration of glucose in plasma was decreased at 2 and 6 h postfeeding in goats fed 100 g of butanediol. In Experiment 2, goats in early lactation were fed for ad libitum intake or were restricted to 70% of ad libitum intake with 1,3-butanediol included at 10% of diet DM. The treatment decreased milk production, increased concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate and nonesterified fatty acids, and decreased the concentration of insulin and the insulin to glucagon ratio in plasma. Concentrations of glucose, acetate, and glucagon in plasma were not affected. After 28 d of treatment, concentration of total lipid in liver was increased, but concentrations of glycogen and triglyceride were unaffected. Changes caused in goats by feed restriction plus dietary 1,3-butanediol were characteristic of subclinical lactation ketosis in cows, but the response was more moderate than seen previously in cows. PMID- 2628444 TI - Silicone rumen cannula with a soft cylindrical part and a hard flange. AB - A soft rumen cannula for sheep was made with two kinds of silicone rubber and a polyethylene plug. The design of molds is simple and the materials can easily be obtained. The elasticity of the cylindrical part of the cannula controlled leakage of rumen contents to a minimum, and the moderate hardness of the flange prevented loss of contents from the rumen. The cannula could be used repeatedly and functioned well for over 4 yr. The cannula was easily pushed into the rumen, and the collection of whole digesta was accomplished easily by hand. A small amount of sampling with pipette could be achieved through the punched opening without removing the inner polyethylene plug. PMID- 2628445 TI - Serum folates in gestating and lactating dairy cows. AB - In Experiment 1, 70 cows were distributed in five groups of 14 animals each. Each group represented one physiological stage: parturition, 2 mo postpartum, 3 mo of gestation, 6 mo of gestation, and drying off at approximately 2 mo before parturition. Plasma volume, concentration of serum folates, and total serum folates were measured at each stage. In Experiment 2, four doses of folic acid (40, 80, 160, and 320 mg) were administered by intramuscular injection to four groups of 5 cows in late gestation and four groups of 5 cows in early lactation. Serum folates in all cows and milk folates in lactating cows were determined before injection of folic acid and on d 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 after injection. In Experiment 1, plasma volume did not differ between physiological stages, but total serum folates increased from parturition to reach a peak value 2 mo later; thereafter, serum folates decreased from 3 mo of gestation to parturition. In Experiment 2, during late gestation, serum folates increased after injection of folic acid and reached the highest concentration with the dose of 160 mg. However, during early lactation, injection of folic acid had no effect on concentrations of serum or milk folates. Therefore, total serum folates decreased by 40% from 2 mo postpartum (around mating) to parturition. Moreover, at the end of gestation, serum folates can be increased by an intramuscular injection of folic acid. This may be an indication of an increased need for folic acid during gestation of dairy cows. PMID- 2628446 TI - Threshold model analysis of dystocia in dairy cattle when progeny information is limited. AB - Progeny of 374 sires were sampled from the National Association of Animal Breeders data base to study the effect of analysis procedures and of limited progeny information on predictors of sire merit for calving ease. Situations of limited progeny information were achieved by evaluating sires by using their first 50 progeny, a random sample of 50 progeny, and a random sample of 500 progeny. Sires were evaluated by threshold model and BLUP procedures. The designed situations of limited progeny information did not result in a clear difference between procedures. Both procedures had a rank correlation of .57 between sire solutions from the first 50 and 500 progeny; the rank correlation between evaluations based on random 50 and 500 progeny was .70 and .69 for the threshold model and BLUP, respectively. Major changes in rank from random 50 to 500 progeny tended to occur among those sires with few or no calving records from matings to heifers in the random sample of 50 progeny. The BLUP sire solutions were partitioned, and a positive correlation between 500 progeny sire solutions and the partition for parity of dam indicated that easy calving progeny had sires that tended to be mated to heifers and that difficult calving progeny had sires that were mated to cows in later parities. PMID- 2628447 TI - Lysis of oocytes by bovine sperm and seminal plasma. AB - This study examined the lytic activity of bovine seminal plasma on zona-free oocytes commonly used to assess bovine capacitation. Exposure of hamster oocytes (intact or zona-free) to undiluted seminal plasma resulted in lysis within 5 min. With intact oocytes, 1:5 to 1:20 seminal plasma resulted in swelling of the oocytes. With zona-free oocytes, seminal plasma (1:0 to 1:1000) resulted in lysis within 1 min to 3 h depending on dilution. Heating seminal plasma to inactivate complement did not reduce lytic activity, but boiling destroyed it. Lytic activity was present in seminal plasma from vasectomized bulls and in seminal vesicle fluid. After elution of seminal plasma through Sephadex G-200, lytic activity was only associated with the fraction containing proteins of 200,000 to 45,000 dal. Lytic activity remained with washed capacitated bull sperm only when 10(7) sperm/ml or more were coincubated with zona-free oocytes at 37 degrees C for 3 h. In conclusion, both bovine seminal plasma and capacitated sperm were lytic in the zona-free hamster oocyte assay. The results may explain why so few sperm are normally found at the site of fertilization. PMID- 2628448 TI - Evaluation of calcium-free Tyrode's sperm capacitation medium for use in bovine in vitro fertilization. AB - Our objective was to determine if a bovine sperm capacitation technique, developed with zona-free hamster oocytes, could be used for the in vitro fertilization of in vitro matured bovine zona-intact oocytes. Bovine cumulus enclosed primary oocytes from 2- to 5-mm follicles were matured in tissue culture Medium 199 containing Earle's salts and bicarbonate and supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, FSH (10 micrograms/ml), and estradiol-17 beta (1.5 microgram/ml) for 24 h at 37 degrees C under paraffin oil. Ejaculated bovine sperm, washed thrice in bovine serum albumin-saline (pH 7.6) and capacitated for 4 h in Ca(++)-free Tyrode's medium (pH 7.6), were diluted to 2 x 10(6) sperm/ml in Medium 199 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. Oocytes were added (10/500 microliters droplet) to this medium containing the capacitated sperm, freeze thawed killed sperm, or no sperm and incubated for 8 h before transfer to fresh medium and then incubated for 40 h. At the end of each incubation, a portion of the oocytes were stained and evaluated for development or fertilization. After 24 h of culture, 49% of the oocytes had matured (metaphase II). Fertilization rates were 55.6% after exposure of all oocytes to Ca(++)-free Tyrode's capacitated sperm and 82.5% if only metaphase II oocytes were selected. The parthenogenetic controls were negative (1.4% and 0%). Therefore, the Ca(++)-free Tyrode's sperm capacitation technique can be used for bovine in vitro fertilization studies. PMID- 2628449 TI - Model to describe and alleviate milk protein depression in early lactation dairy cows fed a high fat diet. AB - The depression of milk protein percentages for cows fed high fat diets in early lactation is a major problem facing the dairy industry. In order to describe more fully the mechanism involved, data involved 97 cows observations were summarized. Cows were fed diets containing corn-soybean meal or additional fat in the form of whole oilseeds as the main ingredients in the concentrate mix. Blood samples from the tail artery and subcutaneous abdominal vein were taken approximately 6- to 8 wk postpartum for amino acid analyses. Production of milk during the week of blood sampling was increased (36.9 and 39.6 kg/d) approximately 7.3% but milk protein percentages (2.91 and 2.79) were reduced for cows fed added fat. Intake of DM (21.1 and 21.4 kg/d) and BW (605 and 608 kg) were similar. Uptake of amino acids by the mammary gland, as measured by arteriovenous differences, was numerically lower for all essential amino acids and significantly reduced for histidine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine, and total essential amino acids for cows fed added fat. It is proposed that added fat inhibits somatotropin release from the anterior pituitary, thereby reducing mammary gland uptake of amino acids because of the role of somatotropin in aiding amino acid uptake. Administration of exogenous somatotropin with added fat diets may alleviate milk protein depression associated with such diets. PMID- 2628450 TI - Phenotypic heterogeneity of lymphoma of the skin. AB - We studied surface markers present in 56 cases of lymphoma of the skin by immunohistochemical staining, using the ABC (avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex) and PAP (peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex) methods. Of these cases, 49 were T cell lymphoma and 7 were B-cell lymphoma. Ten of the 49 cases of T-cell lymphoma were adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). Twenty-five of 31 cases of T-cell lymphoma except ATL analyzed by the ABC method showed a helper/inducer phenotype (Leu2a-,Leu3a+), two cases showed a suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype (Leu2a+, Leu3a ), one case showed Leu2a+Leu3a+, one case showed an inducer phenotype (Leu2a-, Leu3a+, Leu9+), and one case showed OKT11+, Leu2a-, Leu3a-, Leu1-, Leu9+, CD25+, Leu10+, CD30+. One CD8+ lymphoma was Pagetoid reticulosis, and a CD4+, CD8+ lymphoma was lymphomatoid papulosis with erythematous plaque. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), previously described by Edelson et al., is defined as a helper T cell lymphoma with marked affinity for the skin. In our study, 5 cases of T-cell lymphoma of the skin were not CTCL as described by Edelson et al. These results show that T-cell lymphoma of the skin is heterogeneous in nature. In other words, CTCL is one type but represents a major proportion of T-cell lymphomas of the skin. PMID- 2628451 TI - Amino acid compositions of human hair fibrous protein components purified with two-dimensional electrophoresis. AB - Normal human S-carboxymethylated (SCM) hair fibrous protein (HFP) components were purified with two-dimensional electrophoresis, and their amino acid compositions were examined. As previously reported, the SCM cysteine and glycine contents of the crude HFPs were characteristically high and low, respectively, as compared with those reported for the stratum corneum fibrous proteins (SCFPs). However, the SCM cysteine and glycine contents of the purified SCM HFP components were not as high or as low, respectively, but were rather very similar to those of the SCFPs. This suggests that, with respect to cysteine and glycine content, fibrous protein components similar to those of the stratum corneum exist in normal human hair. PMID- 2628452 TI - Detection of calcium binding sites in Merkel cell granules of fetal rat skin. AB - We utilized a cytochemical calcium-staining technique to detect a potential calcium binding site within Merkel cell granules. Calcium has been shown to be essential for exocytotic release in various neuroendocrine cells and recent investigations strongly support the hypothesis that Merkel cells should be considered to be neuroendocrine cells which release their specific granules as a part of their physiological functions. After the addition of 50 mM CaCl2 to glutaraldehyde as the primary fixative, buffer, and OsO4 as a postfixative, electron-dense particles with a characteristic staining pattern were found within many MCGs. Successful removal of these particles after incubation of sections in a solution containing EDTA indicated that these particles were formed by calcium deposits. The occurrence of calcium binding structures within MCGs may imply that they play a role in the process of granule release and/or granule maturation. PMID- 2628453 TI - A study of mosquito salivary gland components and their effects on man. AB - To evaluate the mechanism of mosquito bite reaction in man, salivary gland extracts from female Aedes albopictus were prepared. When the extract of the gland was analysed by ion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography the amount of histamine in a pair of salivary glands of one mosquito was found to be below the limit of detection, an amount which is insufficient to produce an immediate reaction. Salivary gland extracts were fractionated to higher and lower molecular weight components. Intradermal injection tests with salivary gland extracts, which contained less than 100 ng of protein showed that the higher molecular weight fraction (molecular weight greater than 10,000) elicited an immediate and a delayed reaction similar to a bite reaction. PMID- 2628454 TI - Differences in the biochemical activity in hairless mouse skin and other organs after systemic and topical methotrexate treatment. AB - DNA synthesis in epidermis, spleen, small intestine, and muscle of the hairless mouse was measured after systemic and topical methotrexate dosing. Mice intraperitoneally injected with methotrexate (5 mg/Kg) incorporated 3H-UdR in epidermis at 90% of baseline at 3 hrs, and the incorporation was not suppressed at 24 hrs. Muscle DNA synthesis was not suppressed. In the spleen and small intestine, incorporation was greatly suppressed to 10% at 3 hrs. On the other hand, after topically applied methotrexate (25 mg/Kg) treatment, epidermis and muscle were 60-90% of baseline at 3-24 hrs and spleen and small intestine were 5 10% at 3-6 hrs. In a prolonged time schedule study (4 days), epidermal incorporation after intraperitoneally applied methotrexate (5 mg/Kg) showed no suppression, but was instead stimulated to 180% at 2 days. 5-Fluorouracil, a thymidine kinase inhibitor in antitumor agents, was topically applied (25 mg/Kg) and compared for DNA synthesis. The incorporation of 3H-UdR was drastically suppressed at 3 hrs. The results suggest that methotrexate is percutaneously absorbed, but does not extensively suppress epidermal DNA synthesis in hairless mice, although it does suppress spleen and intestinal DNA synthesis. PMID- 2628455 TI - Strong anti-tumor effect of monosialoganglioside specific monoclonal antibody 202: a clinical trial in a cancer patient with melanoma. AB - Mab 202, a mouse monoclonal IgM antibody which recognizes sialic acid alpha 2--- 3 galactosyl residue in monosialogangliosides and reacts with human melanoma cells but not with normal cells, was administered to a melanoma patient by either intralesional injection or intravenous infusion. Mab 202 induced regressions of the metastatic tumors without side effects. Histopathologic examination showed remarkable degenerative and necrotic changes in the tumor, around which lymphocytes, eosinophils, plasma cells and macrophages infiltrated. Immunoperoxidase staining revealed Mab 202 binding to melanoma cells. Clinical and pathologic evidence suggested that Mab 202 has cytotoxic effects against melanoma cells. Mab 202 may therefore be useful in the treatment of human malignant melanoma. PMID- 2628456 TI - A case of temporal arteritis successfully treated with recombinant interleukin-2. AB - An 80-year-old Japanese woman with temporal arteritis was treated with systemic recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) (1 x 10(6) unit/day for six weeks). The presenting symptoms of headache and skin necrosis and abnormal laboratory findings, such as an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP, promptly improved without any serious side effects. Although the pathogenesis of temporal arteritis and the mechanism(s) of the beneficial effect of IL-2 on it still remain unknown, this preliminary study highly encourages further investigations. PMID- 2628457 TI - An unusual hybrid cyst in Gardner's syndrome with partial differentiation toward the inner root sheath. AB - A 26-year-old man with Gardner's syndrome had numerous subcutaneous nodules over almost his entire body. Histologically, one of them revealed an unusual so-called hybrid cyst composed of epidermal type keratinization and inner root sheath type keratinization. The histologic findings and the possibility of cutaneous cysts based on hair matrix differentiation, more specifically partial differentiation toward the inner root sheath, are discussed. PMID- 2628458 TI - Cutaneous protothecosis--a case report. AB - The present report describes a case of cutaneous protothecosis, as confirmed by skin biopsy and culture, in a 62-year-old man with an erythematous plaque lesion on his back. The disease was initially detected after return from a trip to Taiwan. The characteristic sporangia and biochemical sugar assimilation tests indicated the organism to be Prototheca wickerhamii. Oral administration of (5 FC) failed to have any effect and so finally, the lesion had to be removed by surgical excision. PMID- 2628459 TI - Multiple seborrheic verrucae following eczema--a case report. AB - Only a limited number of cases of multiple seborrheic verrucae following eczema, or Williams' sign as first described by Williams in 1956, have been reported. The present report describes a 59-year-old man with multiple seborrheic verrucae following eczema. PMID- 2628460 TI - Discoid lupus erythematosus of the soles. PMID- 2628461 TI - Organization of the sympathetic postganglionic innervation of the rat heart. AB - The origins and organization of cardiac sympathetic postganglionic nerves in the rat were identified in the present investigation. The retrograde tracer, Diamidino Yellow, was injected into the right or left ventricles to label somata in the sympathetic chain. Analysis of all sympathetic ganglia from superior cervical ganglion through the 10th thoracic ganglion indicated that the postganglionic innervation of the rat cardiac ventricles originates bilaterally. The majority of these somata were located in the middle and inferior cervical ganglia (middle cervical-stellate ganglion complex) (approximately 92% of all labelled cells), with lesser contributions from the superior cervical and 4th through 6th thoracic ganglia. To confirm and further quantitate these findings, the middle cervical-stellate ganglion complex was removed (MC-S ganglionectomy) bilaterally or ipsilaterally from the left or right sides, and regional cardiac norepinephrine concentration (left and right atrial appendages and left and right ventricles) was analysed 7 or 28 days later. At both times after bilateral MC-S ganglionectomy, regional cardiac norepinephrine was reduced by 89% to 100%, indicating the removal of almost all cardiac noradrenergic cells of origin and possibly fibers of passage. The results of unilateral MC-S ganglionectomy experiments indicated that the atrial appendages and the left ventricle receive bilateral innervation from the middle cervical-stellate ganglion complex. However, the left middle cervical-stellate ganglion complex appears to contribute a majority of the norepinephrine to the right ventricle. Furthermore, between 7 and 28 days after contralateral MC-S ganglionectomy, atrial appendages, but not ventricles, display significant recovery of norepinephrine content. The present data demonstrate: (1) a bilateral locus of origin of cardiac sympathetic postganglionic neurons, limited longitudinally to cervical through mid-thoracic ganglia, and (2) the ability of the cardiac postganglionic innervation to regenerate after partial denervation. These results demonstrate anatomical evidence for significant bilateral integration of cardiac sympathetic activity at the level of the sympathetic ganglion in the rat. PMID- 2628462 TI - Adrenergic fibers in the spinal cord of the monkey: light and electron microscopic study. AB - The adrenergic innervation of the monkey (Macaca fascicularis) thoracic spinal cord was examined by means of peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemical method using antisera directed phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase (PNMT). At light microscopic level the PNMT-positive profiles are seen as brown granules, presumably axon terminals, or varicose fibers. They are localized in the intermediolateral nucleus, central gray and the intermediate gray which connects the two. Occasional fibers are seen in ventral and dorsal horns. The descending adrenergic fiber tract is found in the lateral margin of the lateral funiculus. At electron microscopic level, the PNMT-positive presynaptic profiles exhibit densely packed small clear vesicles, a few large dense core vesicles and numerous mitochondria. They make synaptic contact with dendritic profiles (97%) and somatic profiles (3%) and demonstrate either symmetric or asymmetric synaptic specialization. The descending adrenergic fiber tract consists mainly of unmyelinated fibers and is located in the ventral half of the lateral funiculus. PMID- 2628463 TI - Lumbar sympathetic ganglia in man: an electrophysiological study in vitro. AB - A method has been developed for the removal, preservation and electrophysiological study 'in vitro' of sympathetic lumbar chains (L1-L3) from subjects undergoing lumbar ganglionectomy in the treatment of peripheral vascular diseases. Extracellular recordings from interganglionic trunks, and intracellular recordings from single sympathetic neurons, were performed. The extracellular experiments substantiated the concept, hitherto deduced from animal experiments, that the preganglionic fibres in the sympathetic lumbar chain are mainly of a descending nature. In fact, stimulation of the interganglionic trunk cranial to ganglia is always much more effective in driving ganglion neurons to fire than stimulation of the interganglionic trunk caudal to ganglia. The intracellular experiments produced a good definition of the main electrical characteristics of human sympathetic neurons. The results can be summarized as follows: the resting membrane potential ranged from 50 to 75 mV (63.4 +/- 9.2 mV; 21 neurons); action potential amplitude from 62 to 93 mV (74.3 +/- 8.1 mV; 27 neurons); membrane input resistance was 42.3 +/- 12.6 m omega (8 neurons) and total membrane capacitance 83.7 +/- 15.3 pF (8 neurons). PMID- 2628464 TI - Carotid and aortic bodies in chronically anemic normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - Overactivity of the carotid body chemoreceptors along with the enlargement of chemoreceptor tissue were found in spontaneously hypertensive rats of Okamoto Aoki strain (SHR). The purpose of the present study was to answer the question whether the aortic bodies were also enlarged in SHR. However, because aortic bodies, unlike carotid ones, are sensitive to oxygen content another question arose: do aortic bodies undergo hypertrophy in chronic anemia? Twenty-three spontaneously hypertensive rats of Okamoto-Aoki strain (SHR) and 24 normotensive Wistar rats (NCR) were maintained on low-iron food from the age of 3 weeks. In seven 10-week-old anemic SHR regular diet was substituted (transiently anemic SHR). Blood pressure measurements and hemoglobin were measured every second week. The animals were killed at the age of 18 weeks. Light microscopic studies of the carotid and aortic bodies were performed and volumes of chemoreceptor tissues were determined from serial sections. The eight SHR on low-iron diet exhibited lower hemoglobin concentration than their normotensive counterparts. In the anemic SHR blood pressure was lower than in control SHR, whereas blood pressure did not differ between the anemic and control NCR. Restoration of normal values of hemoglobin in the anemic SHR was followed by only a slight increase in blood pressure. The carotid bodies volumes were 2.5-3 times larger in the SHR than in NCR. The volumes of carotid bodies both of the SHR and NCR were influenced neither by blood pressure nor by hemoglobin concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628465 TI - Sympatho-inhibitory baroreflex in conscious rabbits: simultaneous recordings of sympathetic and aortic nerve activity. AB - The purpose of this study was to evaluate simultaneously the activity of afferent and efferent neuronal pathways of the sympatho-inhibitory baroreceptor reflex in conscious rabbits. Bipolar electrodes were implanted around the intact aortic nerve and cervical sympathetic trunk. Baroreceptor activity and sympathetic discharges were continuously recorded along with mean blood pressure. The baroreceptor reflex response was evoked by changes in mean arterial pressure induced by i.v. administration of phenylephrine 10 micrograms/kg and sodium nitroprusside 10 micrograms/kg. The baroreflex was analysed as parallel changes of afferent and efferent activities per mmHg of mean blood pressure rise or fall. This method of investigation of baroreflex responsiveness permits analysis of afferent and efferent neural activities under different behavioural conditions in conscious animals. PMID- 2628466 TI - Presence of cholinergic neurons in the vagal afferent system: biochemical and immunohistochemical approaches. AB - The presence of cholinergic fibers in the afferent vagal system of various species was shown using biochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Biochemical activity of choline acetyl transferase, the synthesizing enzyme for acetylcholine, was detected in the nodose ganglion of cat, rabbit, dog and sheep. Immunohistochemistry, using a monoclonal antibody raised against choline acetyl transferase, revealed labelled cell bodies in the nodose ganglion of the rabbit. Acetylcholine endogenous content, measured in nodose ganglia devoid of efferent fibers, was twice as high in the right ganglion as compared to the left. Enzyme transport and choline acetyl transferase activity analysis were each determined on separate peripheral vagus nerves. These results are discussed in terms of functional properties of the vagal afferent neurons, including the modulation of vagal afferent messages at the level of the nodose ganglion and the eventual control of peripheral intrinsic neurons by sensory vagal terminals. PMID- 2628467 TI - Presence of cholinergic neurons in the vagal afferent system: involvement in a heterogenous reinnervation. AB - As is now well established, the anastomosis of the central cut end of the vagus with the peripheral stump of the accessory spinal nerve results in a functional reinnervation of the muscular fibers of the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle in various species. In chronically anastomosed animals this heterogenous crossed nerve anastomosis allows the electrophysiological characterization of peripheral enteroceptors mainly located in the larynx, oesophagus and stomach. Pharmacological treatments indicate that the reinnervation is supplied by cholinergic afferent fibers of the vagus nerve. 4 months after the anastomosis, when functional responses are recorded in the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle, choline acetyl transferase activity is still present in sutured ganglia of rabbit and cat, but is decreased by 88% and 60%, respectively. A decrease of 39% of choline acetyl transferase activity was also observed in the lower brain stem of the rabbit, but no significant change was detected in the nucleus of the solitary tract after 3 months in sutured cats. A kinetic study of the nodose endogenous acetylcholine content of rabbits with vagus-spinal accessory anastomosis shows a decrease of up to 4 months, followed by an increase during the 5th month. On the contrary, a significant decrease of acetylcholine content is observed in the contralateral nodose ganglion after 4 months, suggesting the involvement of central and/or peripheral compensatory mechanisms. PMID- 2628468 TI - Penile erection in the rat: stimulation of the hypogastric nerve elicits increases in penile pressure after chronic interruption of the sacral parasympathetic outflow. AB - Penile erection, a vascular event mediated by the autonomic nervous system, is often adversely affected by injury to the spinal cord. To further characterize the laboratory rat as an animal model of penile erection and to investigate erectile responses following neural injury, the present study has examined pressor penile responses in intact rats and in animals deprived of sacral parasympathetic outflow. Increases in penile pressure result from graded stimulation of postganglionic parasympathetic fibers. The vasodilator response is insensitive to blockade with atropine, a cholinergic antagonist. Penile tumescence also results from stimulation of the pelvic nerve, but not the hypogastric nerve. However, beginning 3 days after unilateral interruption of the pelvic nerve, stimulation of the ipsilateral hypogastric nerve results in an increase in penile pressure. This novel response, which is blocked by a ganglionic antagonist, is maximally developed at 1 week post-lesion, is stable for at least 3 months and remains confined to the side of the lesion. These results suggest that the rat, although relatively small, can be used to obtain quantitative data on penile erection. Moreover, the model may lend itself to an analysis of the mechanisms of altered control of visceral tissues following injury to the nervous system. PMID- 2628469 TI - [Experimental herpes simplex keratitis in rabbits. Evaluation of pro-infectious effects of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents]. AB - We tested 3 non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in experimental herpes keratitis in order to determine possible pro-infectious consequences. The drugs were Indomethacine, Flurbiprofen and a new non steroidal anti-inflammatory, CBS 113 A, mixed inhibitor of cycloxygenase and lipoxygenase. We studied simultaneously the evolution of the keratitis and viral excretion. We considered that an anti-inflammatory agent had a pro-infectious effect if the keratitis was more serious and/or viral excretion longer in comparison with placebo. We have shown, for the 3 drugs, in comparison with dexamethasone activity, absence of a pro-infectious effect. We compared our results on Flurpiprofen with an other study which gave this anti-inflammatory drug pro-infectious capacities; the concentration used was higher. CBS 113 A, inhibiting the metabolism of arachidonic acid via lipoxygenase and cycloxygenase and thus preventing the formation of metabolitis involved in inflammation (prostaglandins, leukotrienes,...), should have a spectrum of activity wider than that of NSAID. Subject to further studies, these 3 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory could be used in herpetic kerato-uveitis. PMID- 2628470 TI - [Retinopathy in pancreatitis]. AB - Three patients with retinopathy associated with acute pancreatitis were observed. Each of them had a long history of alcohol abuse. The first patient was asymptomatic. Second one developed moderate visual loss in one eye (visual acuity 20/40), with a fascicular defect on Goldmann visual field registration. Third patient complained with bilateral and severe visual loss, with a large central scotoma. Cotton-wool patches and hemorrhages were present in the mild types of retinopathy. These cases had a good prognosis. An ischemic edema of posterior pole was associated in severe type of retinopathy. In this case, fluorescein angiography showed occluded macular retinal arterioles. Visual prognosis was poor. Pathogenesis of the lesions is still discussed. The main hypothesis are fat emboli or activated complement-induced granulocyte embolus formation. Efficacity of corticosteroids is not known. PMID- 2628471 TI - [Culture of retinal capillary endothelial cells]. AB - The culture of retinal capillary endothelial cells involves certain problems concerning contamination by pericytes, the maintenance of differentiation and the duration of culture viability. A procedure for the isolation and culture of capillary endothelial cells from bovine retina which overcomes these difficulties, is described. Microvessel fragments isolated by mechanical dispersion and filtration techniques adhere strongly to dishes coated with extracellular matrix produced by bovine corneal endothelial cells. The first migrating cells emerge from the original microvessel fragments two days after plating. This technique and subsequent cloning provides migrating and proliferating cells derived only from the retinal capillaries and uncontaminated by other cell types such as pericytes. Endothelial cells were grown on gelatin coated dishes in a serum supplemented medium (10% calf serum). Cell proliferation was significantly enhanced by the addition of basic fibroblast growth factor (1 ng/ml) to the culture medium. In these culture conditions, retinal capillary endothelial cells can be repeatedly passing without the loss of their principal morphological characteristics and some of the differentiated properties of endothelial cells. Primary cultures and subcultures, at least up to the 8th passage, formed a monolayer of small, elongated, tightly-packed, contact inhibited cells which expressed Factor VIII-related antigen. Ultrastructural examination by transmission electron microscopy of confluent bovine retinal capillary endothelial cells showed many tight junctions and Webel Palade granules. These studies provide new means for the isolation and culture of retinal capillary endothelial cells and presents evidence for growth factor requirements for the ability of cells to be repeatedly passing. PMID- 2628472 TI - [Xerophthalmia caused by self-induced deficiency disease]. AB - Xerophthalmia is no longer seen in Europe since the 19th century. We report the case of a female patient, aged 33, of french nationality, who presented a clinical picture of major vitamin A deficiency, self-induced and with ocular complications. An untreated long standing depressive condition appeared to be the major etiologic factor. Perforation of a desmetocele necessitated penetrating keratoplasty. Histologic corneal and conjunctival aspects are reported. Oral prescription of vitamin A resulted in considerable clinical improvement. Only 3 similar cases have been previously reported. Clinical manifestations of xerophthalmia are described along with preventive and curative therapy. PMID- 2628473 TI - [Secondary cataract after mechanized extracapsular technic or phacoemulsification]. AB - Study of 141 eyes, 30 months after ECCE (35.5%) and after phacoemulsification (64.5%), by a two-handed posterior chamber technic. After 24 months and with IOL, the incidence was 10% with phacoemulsification and 22% with ECCE. This difference was not significative (Pearson's chi 2). PMID- 2628474 TI - [Causes of blindness in Togo]. AB - From 1981 to 1986, various epidemiologic surveys were conducted in 4 regions of Togo, a West african country with an area of 56,000 km2, and 3,000,000 inhabitants. 11,081 people were examined of whom 52.67% were females. Ninth diseases classification established in 1977 was used as a basis for the analysis. Bilateral blindness had a mean prevalence of 0.82% for the country as a whole. Non infectious causes were predominant, equaling 69.78%. The most common non infectious aetiology was found to be cataract occurring in 44.21% and representing 22,000 cases of blindness of whom 5,700 to 7,300 could be operated now. Glaucoma represents 6% in the blindness prevalence. These surveys enable the establishment of public eye care in this country. PMID- 2628475 TI - [Anisocoria]. PMID- 2628476 TI - [Interstitial tubulo-nephritis and uveitis (Nitu syndrome). Apropos of a case]. AB - Acute renal failure due to tubulo-interstitial nephritis developed in a 12 year old boy. It was accompanied by an inflammatory syndrome consisting of a markedly increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and high levels of C. reactive protein and fibrin. The association of these anomalies with an uveitis are typical of the Tinu syndrome (tubulo-interstitial nephritis uveitis) first described by Dobrin and al. in 1975. The interest of this case lies in the observation of focal chorioretinitis, as yet never described. The possibility of toxoplasmosis is discussed; it could be a direct etiologic factor or could represent a concurrent phenomenon. However no evidence of toxoplasmic infection could be demonstrated in this case, nor in any case previously reported. Light microscopic examination of a renal biopsy reveals diffuse monocellular interstitial infiltration and epithelioid granulomas. In some cases, non-specific bone marrow and lymph node granulomas have been found. In the Tinu syndrome, the nephropathy is completely reversible, either spontaneously or following steroid treatment; this contrasts with the tendency towards relapse of the uveitis. The possible pathogenesis and the relationship with other idiopathic acute nephritis and uveitis are discussed. As in some previous publications, the presence of circulating immune complexes in our patient would suggest the involvement of the immune system. Temporary depression of cellular immunity was also observed in some cases. But the etiology and the pathogenesis of this syndrome are still unknown. PMID- 2628477 TI - [Luxation of an anterior chamber lens caused by secondary serous epithelial cyst]. AB - We report the case of a patient in whom luxation of an anterior chamber lens (implanted after extraction of a traumatic cataract) occurred due to the development of an epithelial cyst which caused decentralization of the lens and reduced visual acuity. The physiopathology of this complication of cataract surgery and the various surgical methods of treatment are discussed. PMID- 2628478 TI - Immunosuppressive effects of dietary wortmannin on rats and mice. AB - In order to assess the effects of the fungal toxin wortmannin on the immune system, rats and mice were fed wortmannin-containing cultures of Fusarium oxysporum for 1 or 2 weeks. Wortmannin caused significant decreases in thymic weight, thymic lymphocyte numbers, serum IgG and IgM levels, the primary humoral response to T-dependent and T-independent antigens and the proliferative response of spleen cells to pokeweed mitogen. In vitro administration of wortmannin did not produce evidence of cytotoxicity to spleen or thymus cells. The data indicate that wortmannin inhibits immune function in rats and mice and suggest that metabolic modification of the toxin is necessary for toxicity. PMID- 2628479 TI - Stimulation of lymphoproliferation by sucrose esters. AB - Lauryl sucrose has recently been shown to decrease the toxicity of amphotericin B (AmB), a widely used antifungal agent, probably through a modulation of its physical state. In this paper, we demonstrate using a lymphoproliferative assay, that lauryl sucrose and monosubstituted analogs in addition to their effects on AmB also possess significant immune enhancer properties. An anti-bell shape relationship was observed between stimulation of lymphoproliferation and chain length of ester's fatty acid, lauryl sucrose being the less active of the tested derivatives. These properties of sucrose esters are discussed in the specific context of antifungal therapy. PMID- 2628480 TI - Inhibitory effect of deoxypyridoxine on the action of certain mitogenic factors. AB - We studied the effect of pyridoxine deficiency state on the responses of human lymphocytes to certain mitogenic factors. Deoxypyridoxine (DB6), a potent pyridoxine antagonist, considerably inhibited Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into the newly synthesized DNA of lymphocytes cultured with Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and Concanavalin A (Con A) in separate sets of experiments. The addition of deoxypyridoxine simultaneously with or few hours prior to initiation of cell cultures did not significantly alter the inhibitory action of deoxypyridoxine. Titration studies of deoxypyridoxine showed the direct relation between the concentration of deoxypyridoxine and the degree of DNA synthesis' inhibition with subsequent lymphocyte proliferation. The results obtained with monoclonal antibody (anti-BrdU) studies were further confirmed with tritiated thymidine incorporation (3H Thymidine) studies. Addition of pyridoxine concurrently with the addition of DB- or 8 hours later than initiation of lymphocyte incubation period was capable of effectively reversing the inhibition caused by its antagonist, the level of DNA synthesis reaching that of the control cultures where only PHA or Con A were present. Our results confirm part of previously reported findings concerning the involvement of vitamin B- in immune processes. PMID- 2628481 TI - Induction of suppressor macrophages by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in phorbol ester-sensitive (SENCAR) and resistant (B6C3F1) mice. AB - Following topical application of 8 micrograms 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate (TPA) twice in one week, the ability of splenic macrophages (M phi s) isolated from phorbol ester-sensitive (SENCAR) and resistant (B6C3F1) mice to suppress the phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis and NK activity mediated by spleen cells from naive animals was determined. In B6C3F1 mice, suppression of lectin-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis was mediated by M phi s from TPA-dosed animals. Alternatively, in TPA-dosed SENCAR mice, induction of M phi s suppressive to lectin responses was not apparent. In addition, suppressor M phi s did not mediate the decreased splenic natural killer (NK) activity that is characteristically observed in TPA-dosed SENCAR mice. Therefore, it is proposed that the decreased PHA responsiveness and NK activity observed in vivo in TPA-dosed SENCAR mice may be the result of a decreased proportion of lectin-responding T cells and NK cells in the spleen as a result of proliferation of inflammatory cell precursors. PMID- 2628482 TI - Diazepam inhibits phagocytosis and killing exerted by polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes from healthy donors. In vitro studies. AB - The effect of a benzodiazepine (BDZ), diazepam on human polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) and monocyte phagocytosis and killing from healthy volunteers has been evaluated. Diazepam is able to inhibit in vitro both functions exerted by PMN and monocytes at 10(-5) and 10(-6) M concentrations/ 4 x 10(6) phagocytes. 10(-7) M concentration was not effective in all the instances. These results are discussed for their possible clinical implications, since previous studies have shown that in patients with phobic disorder there is evidence for reduced phagocytosis and killing capacities. PMID- 2628483 TI - Immunosuppression of pulmonary natural killer activity by exposure to ozone. AB - Ozone is an oxidant gas and an ubiquitous oxidant air pollutant with the potential to adversely affect pulmonary immune function with a consequent increase in disease susceptibility. Pulmonary natural killer (NK) activity was measured in order to assess the pulmonary immunotoxicity of continuous ozone exposure. Continuous ozone exposures at 1.0 ppm were performed for 23.5 hours per day for either 1, 5, 7, or 10 consecutive days. Pulmonary immune function was assessed by measuring natural killer (NK) activity from whole-lung homogenates of male Fischer-344 rats. Results of this study indicated that continuous ozone exposure for 1, 5, or 7 days resulted in a significant decrease in pulmonary NK activity. This suppressed pulmonary NK activity returned to control levels after continuous exposure to ozone for 10 days. The suppressed pulmonary NK response was thus attenuated and returned to normal values in the continued presence of ozone gas. This attenuation process is dynamic, complex, and doubtless involves several cell types and/or products of these cells. Pulmonary NK activity was also suppressed at 0.5 ppm ozone, but not at 0.1 ppm ozone, following 23.5 hours of exposure. NK activity is important for defense against viral, bacterial, and neoplastic disease. The depressed NK activity resulting from continuous ozone exposure could therefore result in a compromised ability to defend against pulmonary diseases. PMID- 2628484 TI - [Numerical variation in synaptic ribbons of rat pinealocytes under magnetic storm conditions and on calm days]. AB - Based on the hypothesis of the magnetoreceptor function of the pineal gland, a comparative study has been made, with electronic microscopy, of the numerical variations of the synaptic ribbons of the pinealocytes (indicating the cellular metabolic activity) of the groups of rats, under magnetic storm conditions and in calm days. In this quantitative study it was established that the incidence of synaptic ribbons per each 20,000 microns 2 of pineal tissue was smaller in the group of animals sacrificed during geomagnetic storms, as compared with the other group of animals sacrificed in calm periods (P less than 0.001). It was suggested that the synaptic ribbons may be morphological indicators of the pineal activity, with respect to the variations of the geomagnetic field. PMID- 2628485 TI - Encephalization in tropical teleost fishes and comparison with their mode of life. AB - The brains were dissected from a total of 1225 fishes representing 737 species, 310 genera and 113 families of tropical and subtropical teleosts. Each fish was weighed before brain dissection, and each brain weighed after its removal. The encephalization coefficient k was determined for each fish from a quadratic formula; to conveniently compare brain size of one species with that of another, we used an encephalization index so that an encephalization index of 100 is the average for all the species investigated. The encephalization indices for the families of fishes studied varied from 7 for the Moringuidae to 233 for the Coryphaenidae. There is no strong correlation in relative brain size with phylogenetic position. Although there is a general trend for the more highly evolved fishes to have larger brains, this is partially obscured by some high values in certain primitive groups and low ones in the more advanced. Elongate fishes have lower encephalization indices in general. This may in part be related to low phylogenetic position of most elongate species (anguilliform fishes, for example), in part to the greater relative body weight due to the longer vertebral column (and usually more numerous fin rays as as well), and to their usual mode of swimming by lateral undulations of the body (the most primitive type of aquatic locomotion--one in which the spinal cord plays a major role). No difference could be noted in the encephalization indices of herbivorous families of fishes compared to carnivorous ones. Within a genus, among medium to large size fishes, those species of larger size tend to have lower encephalization indices. This may be related to larger fishes having less to fear of predators. Fishes which in some passive way avoid predation have low indices in general. This is particularly true of benthic species which conceal themselves by flattened form, fleshy protuberances or protective coloration, or which bury in the sediment or take refuge in burrows. Also correlated with low indices is some form of predator deterence such as production of skin toxins, presence of venomous spines or ability to enlarge the body by inflation. Fishes which have more than a single sense highly developed exhibit a larger relative brain size than those with only one well developed sense. Fishes which live in a complex community of high species diversity, such as a coral reef, have higher indices, in general, than those which dwell on mud and sand flat. Pelagic fishes, such as scombrids and carangids, are among those with the highest indices.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2628486 TI - Some observations on the fine structure of the Rohde cells of the spinal cord of the amphioxus, Branchiostoma lanceolatum. (Cephalochordata). AB - The fine structure of ROHDE neurons of the amphioxus spinal cord has been studied using transmission electron microscopy. ROHDE cells are segmentary giant multipolar neurons with a large nucleus and nucleolus. The cytoplasm has a large amount of neurofilaments and numerous mitochondria, dictyosomes, and other organula. The ROHDE cells cross the central canal and send to it cilia and numerous microvilli. The cell surface is mostly covered by glial laminar processes which can also accompain to deep invaginations of the neuron plasma membrane. Chemical synapses were not found over the cell perikaryon or their dendrites, but contacts resembling "gap junctions" were common. Giant axons of ROHDE cells have large amounts of neurofilaments and are ensheathed by glial processes. ROHDE axons make small "en passant" synapses with other neuronal processes. The functional and evolutionary significance of these findings is discussed. PMID- 2628487 TI - Shape and size of synaptic vesicles in different types of presynaptic profiles in the medial septal nucleus of the rat. AB - Long and short axis diameters of synaptic vesicles were obtained from 6 classes of presynaptic boutons found in the medial septal nucleus (MS) of the rat. The variability of vesicle size and shape was documented in diagrams and discussed with regard to their suitability as criteria of classification and their functional significance. The variability in shape, but not in size, of vesicles in synapses of Gray's type I is lower than of those in Gray's type II synapses. PMID- 2628488 TI - [Projection of the mesencephalic raphe nuclei to the magnocellular nuclei of the basal forebrain of the rat: a horseradish peroxidase study]. AB - In 15 rats the projection of the mesencephalic raphe nuclei to the magnocellular nuclei of the basal forebrain (b.f.) were investigated by using the HRP-method. In 5 other rats the distribution of serotoninergic fibers in the b.f. was analyzed immunocytochemically. The most important results are: The projection courses ipsilaterally only. The number of labelled cells comprehends only 5-30% of the number of cells estimated in the raphe nuclei that were studied. In the Ncl. r. linearis oralis only a few cells were labelled after injection of HRP into the subnuclei of the diagonal band. More cells were labelled after injection of HRP into the more caudal lying nuclei of the b.f. In the Ncl. r. centralis superior, more labelled cells could be observed after HRP-injection into the rostral nuclei of the b.f. (Ncl. tr. diagonalis with pars septalis, pars verticalis and pars horizontalis; Ncl. praeopticus magnocellularis) than after injection into the caudal nuclei. The labelled cells were of all the types described in the literature. In the Ncl. r. dorsalis, most of the labelled cells were observed in the medial part of this nucleus. In the lateral part there were only a few labelled cells. After injection of HRP into the caudal nuclei of the b.f. (Subst. innominata, medial and ventral boundary of the Gl. pallidus) more cells were labelled than after injection into the more rostral nuclei of the b.f. Of the cell types of the Ncl. r. dorsalis, the medium-sized and large multipolar types and the medium-sized fusiform cells were most frequent labelled. The Ncl. r. centralis superior tended to project more to the rostral nuclei, and the Ncl. r. dorsalis more to the caudal nuclei of the magnocellular b.f. The serotinergic fibers appeared more or less loosely distributed in the nuclei of the b.f. We could not differentiate between subtypes of the serotoninergic axons. PMID- 2628489 TI - Methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM ac) effects on the ontogenesis of the mouse neocortex. AB - Methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM ac) injected prenatally affects development of neocortex in mice. Treatment at 13 days of gestation results in cortical hypoplasia that affects all the cortical layers except the first. Treatment at 15 days of gestation causes a statistically significant reduction in cell density in the superficial layers, while the deepest layers show no significant differences compared to the controls. Treatment at 17 days of gestation causes an alterated arrangement of the cortical layers, not easily separable since MAM ac in limiting perhaps glial cell proliferation, modifies the subsequent migration mechanisms. Fetal MAM exposure prevents proliferation of the various cortical laminae and there aren't subsequent compensatory phenomena. PMID- 2628490 TI - The vegetative network in the thoracolumbar spinal cord of the guinea pig: a comparison of the distribution of AChE-enzyme activity and choline acetyltransferase-like immunoreactivity. AB - Histochemically the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activity and immunocytochemically the choline acetyltransferase-like immunoreactivity (ChAT LI) were located in the components of the vegetative network of the thoracolumbar spinal cord of the guinea pig. Both reaction products showed an identical distribution among the preganglionic sympathetic cells and the processes of the vegetative network, namely: cells of the nucleus intermediolateralis pars principalis (ILp), the nucleus intermediolateralis pars funicularis (ILf), the nucleus intercalatus spinalis (IC) and the nucleus intercalatus paraependymalis (ICpe; terminology according to Petras and Cummings 1972). In longitudinal horizontal sections through the intermediate zone of the thoracolumbar spinal cord both AChE-positive- and ChAT-like immunoreactive nerve fibers were organized into two longitudinal lateral fascicles (FLL), two longitudinal medial fascicles (FLM) as well as oblique and transverse bundles that interconnect repeatedly the autonomic cell groups of this zone along the spinal cord and contribute to the ladder-like shape of the vegetative network. The ChAT-like immunostaining of the vegetative network showed that the dendrites of the ILp cells are oriented mainly in a rostrocaudal, but also in a mediolateral direction. Similar orientation of the dendrites was observed for the ICpe cell groups of the thoracolumbar intermediate zone. Thus it is evident that ILp cell bodies and dendrites are involved in the formation of the FLL, whereas the ICpe cells and their dendrites- of the FLM. The IC cells send their dendrites towards both the ILp and ICpe cells and build up together with dendrites of the ILp and ICpe cells the transverse and oblique interconnecting bundles. The vegetative network is strongly developed within the intermediate zone of T1-T4 (mostly T3) and T7-T8 segments of the spinal cord. In these segments a greater variety of interconnections between the preganglionic sympathetic cell groups which are constituents of the network are also revealed. In the remaining segments the vegetative network is more poor developed. In the first two lumbar segments the distance between the interconnecting bundles in the rostrocaudal direction diminishes to 100 microns in contrast to 300-500 microns within the upper segments. The results obtained reveal that the cholinergic preganglionic sympathetic nuclei of the intermediate zone of the thoracolumbar spinal cord together with their dendrites represent the basis (frame) of the ladder-like vegetative network to which join in addition different peptidergic fibers of supraspinal, peripheral and propriospinal origin. PMID- 2628491 TI - The fine structures of the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the golden hamster. AB - The fine structure of the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the golden hamster was studied with special reference to the synaptic endings. The somata of SCN neurons contained well developed cytoplasmic organelles including the Golgi complex, mitochondria and polysomes. The nuclei had deeply invaginated nuclear membrane. Some neurons were characterized by the presence of a large number of granulated vesicles and an abundance of cytoplasmic organelles. Several kinds of synapses and gap junctions were also observed. Axo-somatic synapses were identified and could be differentiated based upon possessing two types of presynaptic elements. The first contained clear round synaptic vesicles (40-60 nm in diameter), the second contained clear round vesicles (40-60 nm in diameter) and dense cored vesicles (70-120 nm in diameter). Asymmetrical synaptic membrane thickening were observed on both the pre- and postsynaptic sides of most of the axosomatic synapses. Axo-dendritic synapses could also be divided into two sub-types according to their membrane specializations. In Type 1, the axon terminals contained both clear round vesicles and dense cored vesicles and formed asymmetrical synapses. Terminals in the second group (type 2) were characterized by symmetrical synapses that contained clear, round vesicles as well as dense cored vesicles. The type 1 terminals were evenly distributed throughout the SCN, but the type 2 terminals were encountered more frequently in the ventral SCN. These observations indicate that the ventral and dorsal components of the SCN may possess different functional roles. PMID- 2628492 TI - [Comparison of relay neurons in the lateral geniculate body of normal, bilaterally enucleated and congenitally blind strain 944 mice during ontogenesis]. AB - Mice with normal visus, bilaterally enucleated and congenitally blind mice of the strain 944 were used to determine following parameters in the CGLd on day 5, 10, 15 and 20 post natum (Golgi impregnation): size of neurons (perikarya, size of dendritic domains DF), structure of dendrites (number of dendrites FDE, branching points VZP, distribution of dendritic density in relation to the perikaryon Is, number of primary dendrites). After Nissl staining the following parameters were investigated: volume of the CGLd, packing density and total number of cells in the CGLd. The differences between the three investigated groups of animals increase in changing amounts during the ontogenesis. The caudal part of the CGLd is altered mostly by the lacking optic events. Suppression of visual events during the normal ontogenesis caused by genetic defect or enucleation attacks the same structures of the neuron. PMID- 2628493 TI - Embryonic nervous tissue transplantation accelerates restoration of hypoxia damaged blood-brain barrier in rats. AB - The aim of this work was to study the effect of hypoxia on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability to blood globulins in adult Wistar rats; the influence of hypoxia combined with embryonic nervous tissue (ENT) transplantation; as well as that of hypoxia and brain injury without transplantation. Impairments in BBB were detected by a change in the brain vessels permeability to blood globulins on the basis of Coons's reaction. BBB permeability was checked at different time intervals: from one to thirty five days after the hypoxia seance, hypoxia and brain injury, and hypoxia with ENT transplantation. BBB permeability to blood globulins was found to be significantly increased after the exposure to hypoxia, reaching its maximum by the 7th day and returning to normal only by the 30th day after the hypoxia seance. Similar results were obtained in the case of brain injury following an exposure to hypoxia. Although there was an insignificant decrease in BBB permeability seen one day after the rats were subjected to brain injury, the duration of BBB restoration was the same as in hypoxia-exposed rats (30 days). In the case of ENT transplantation into the brain of adult hypoxia exposed rats the restoration of the damaged BBB proceeded considerably faster than in hypoxia-exposed rats with brain injury. By the end of the first week after the transplantation the functions of BBB were completely normalized and in some cases the barrier was already restored. PMID- 2628494 TI - Cytochemical calcium localization in hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system of rats after ischemia. Preliminary observations. AB - Using the oxalate-pyroantimonate technique ultrastructural localization of Ca2+ was determined in the nucleus supraopticus, the nucleus paraventricularis and in the neurohypophysis after complete cerebral ischemia. We observed an increased calcium accumulation in mitochondria of some neurons. Calcium precipitate was also found in vesicles, in cytoplasm of neurons and their swollen dendritic processes. Abundant Ca2+ precipitate occurred in synaptic vesicles and within synaptic cleft. It was present between disjuncted lamellae of the myelin sheath in profiles of myelinated axons present in neuropil. Diffuse precipitate was visible in the cytoplasm of pituicytes, as well as in microvesicles in the neurohypophysis. The possible role of calcium in ischemia is briefly discussed. PMID- 2628495 TI - Age related changes in Purkinje cell number in the cerebellar nodulus of the mouse. AB - The cortex of the cerebellar nodulus of mice aged 6, 15, 22, 25, 28 and 31 months was examined in parasagittal sections using quantitative histological techniques. The number of Purkinje cells per mm declined from 11.2 +/- 0.8 or 6 months to 7.0 +/- 0.6 at 31 months. Granule cell density remained constant (2.58 x 10(6) per mm3) between 6 and 31 months of age. The granule cell to Purkinje cell ratio increased from 119 +/- 7 at 6 months of age to 173 +/- 7 at 31 months of age. The change in Purkinje cell number began between 15 and 22 months of age. These results do not differ significantly from those of a similar study of quantitative histological changes in the anterior lobes of the same cerebella. This suggests that loss of Purkinje cells occurs in a similar fashion throughout the cerebellum despite differences in afferent and efferent connections in different regions. PMID- 2628496 TI - Unclipping of two-kidney, one clip hypertensive rats produces endothelium dependent inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstriction. AB - Removal of the renal artery-constricting clip in two-kidney, one clip (2-K,1C) Goldblatt-hypertensive rats produces a rapid fall in blood pressure which has been attributed to the release of vasodepressor lipids from the renal medulla. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of unclipping 2-K,1C hypertensive rats, and of any hormone thereby released, on vasoconstrictor responses to sympathetic stimulation in the ex vivo blood-perfused tail artery, as well as the role of the vascular endothelium in mediating this effect. Blood was withdrawn at a rate of 2 ml/min from the carotid artery of an anaesthetized 2 K,1C rat and used to perfuse, via an extracorporeal circuit, a cannulated segment of tail artery which had been taken from a killed, normal rat and mounted in an organ bath. The blood was returned to the 2-K,1C rat via the jugular vein. Vasoconstriction and increases in perfusion pressure were produced by periarterial electrical stimulation of the tail artery. The tail artery was either intact or had had its endothelium removed. Sham operations which did not remove the renal artery clip did not change blood pressure or vasoconstrictor responses. Unclipping lowered blood pressure and reduced vasoconstrictor responses in ex vivo blood-perfused tail arteries in which the endothelium was intact, but did not decrease responses in tail arteries from which the endothelium had been removed. It is concluded that unclipping releases a hormone which lowers blood pressure and inhibits sympathetic vasoconstrictor responses via an endothelium-dependent mechanism. PMID- 2628497 TI - Clinical evaluation of the Accutracker II ambulatory blood pressure monitor: assessment of performance in two countries and comparison with sphygmomanometry and intra-arterial blood pressure at rest and during exercise. AB - In order to assess the Accutracker II (Suntech Medical Instruments, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA), a relatively new ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitor, versus standard forms of BP measurement, we compared same- and contralateral-arm measurements made, via a t-tube connected to a mercury column sphygmomanometer, by two clinicians using a teaching stethoscope and by intra-arterial recordings. Average systolic BP values obtained using the Accutracker II were similar to both the mercury column and intra-arterial determinations, but average diastolic BP values were lower than both the average mercury column (2.8 +/- 4.2 mmHg, P less than 0.001) and intra-arterial measurements (2.0 +/- 4.7 mmHg, P less than 0.02). During isometric exercise and 100-watt bicycle exercise, there were greater limits of agreement for the differences in BP between the Accutracker II and the intra-arterial transducer than were observed for the resting measurements, but these differences were no greater than those observed between intra-arterial and clinician-determined BP measurements. The clinical performance of the Accutracker II was assessed using 119 hypertensive subjects (84 in Norway and 35 in the USA) who wore the monitor for 24 h. While there was good-to-excellent data return in both countries, there were significantly less error codes secondary to excessive arm motion observed in Norway. Our data demonstrate that the Accutracker II is quite accurate compared with both the mercury column and intra-arterial methods of measuring BP, and performs well during 24 h outpatient activities. Our findings also indicate certain geographical differences which may be important in the performance of ambulatory BP-monitoring studies. PMID- 2628498 TI - Serum sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium and blood pressure in a Dutch population. AB - The relationships between the serum cations sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium and blood pressure were investigated in a population-based sample of 182 Dutch persons aged 20-59 years. Age, Quetelet index (weight/height2), albumin and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) were taken into account as confounders in the analyses. In univariate and multivariate analyses, serum calcium was strongly positively related to both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in women. These relationships were weaker in men. In the combined analysis, including both men and women and adjusting for the confounders (also including sex), a strong independent positive association was observed between serum calcium and blood pressure. In the combined analysis, a weak inverse relationship was found between serum potassium and diastolic blood pressure; this relationship was also found in women. No relationship was found between either serum sodium or serum magnesium and blood pressure. These results suggest that serum calcium concentrations particularly could play an important role in the regulation of blood pressure. PMID- 2628499 TI - Clinical evaluation of semiautomatic and automatic devices for home blood pressure measurement: comparison between cuff-oscillometric and microphone methods. AB - The accuracy and reliability of blood pressure (BP) values were evaluated by comparing values obtained with eight automatic or semiautomatic devices designed for home BP measurement (four microphone devices based on the Korotkoff-sound technique and four cuff-oscillometric devices) with those obtained by the auscultatory method, using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) values obtained using the microphone devices coincided well with those obtained by the auscultatory method. However, these devices produced a certain proportion of errors in the measurement of diastolic blood pressure (DBP), sometimes resulting in recordings at least 25 mmHg higher than those obtained by the standard method. The most frequent causes of this phenomenon were an auscultatory (silent) gap and a weak Korotkoff sound after phase IV. A microphone device using a condenser microphone built into the manometer displayed comparatively good acoustic characteristics for determining DBP. All cuff oscillometric devices demonstrated minimal mean differences and a constant s.d. of mean difference for DBP, with no great differences from the auscultatory method. However, mean differences and s.d.s in SBP measurements using cuff oscillometric devices were relatively greater than those obtained using some of the microphone devices. Furthermore, the direction of the mean differences in measurements from those obtained with the auscultatory method differed. The error in relation to the auscultatory method tended to be reproducible in the same subjects with both the microphone and the cuff-oscillometric devices.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628500 TI - Serum levels of interleukin-2 in cancer patients: preliminary considerations. AB - In order to investigate the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in human neoplasms, we determined IL-2 and soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2R) in serum from 18 patients with lymphoma and 28 patients with solid tumors, with (15 cases) or without (13 cases) metastases. As controls, 58 healthy subjects were evaluated. Low levels of IL-2 were not observed in patients with lymphoma or limited solid tumor but abnormally low concentrations of IL-2 were seen in 4/15 metastatic solid tumors, associated with abnormally high values of sIL-2R. This preliminary study confirms in vivo the reduced IL-2 production in metastatic solid neoplasms, previously documented in vitro. PMID- 2628501 TI - Comparison of CA 15-3 and CEA in diagnosis and monitoring of breast cancer. AB - In order to assess the utility of the tumor-associated antigen CA15-3 in the diagnosis of breast cancer, this new tumor marker was measured pre-operatively in 1342 patients. This group comprised 509 patients with malignant disease (134 with breast cancer and 375 with other malignancies not involving the breast) and 833 patients with benign surgical diseases (95 patients with fibroadenoma of the breast, 738 with other benign diseases). The results were compared with those for carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) in the diagnosis of breast cancer. CA15-3 was above the normal limits of 25 U/ml in 31% of the patients with breast cancer, in 22% of patients with other malignancies, and in 9% of patients with benign diseases. CEA was elevated in 26% of patients with breast cancer (greater than 3 ng/ml). CA15-3 levels were above 50 U/ml in 13% of the breast cancer patients, in 6% of patients with other malignancies, and in 0.2% of the patients with benign diseases. There was a good correlation between CA15-3 level and tumor stage in breast cancer. CA15-3 serum levels were over 50 U/ml in respectively 0%, 2%, 13%, and 73% of the patients with stages I, II, III, and IV. CA15-3 and CEA were also determined in 671 patients who had received initial curative surgery of breast cancer, and who regularly attended our follow-up clinic. CA15-3 was found to be more sensitive than CEA in detecting recurrences of breast cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628502 TI - Squamous cell carcinoma antigen in genitourinary tumors. AB - We have evaluated the serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen in patients with adenocarcinoma of the kidney, adenocarcinoma of the prostate, germ cell tumors of the testis, transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, and SCC of the penis, urethra, and bladder. Serum SCC antigen levels were elevated in 5 of 11 patients (45%) with metastatic SCC of the penis, and in the 3 patients for whom serial determinations were made, the serum levels correlated correctly with the progression of disease or response to treatment. The antigen was elevated in 1 of 3 patients with SCC of the urethra, and 1 apparent false-positive value was observed in a patient with adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Otherwise, no SCC antigen elevations were noted among 10 patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate, 8 with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the kidney, 11 with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, 8 with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis, and 2 patients with metastatic SCC of the bladder. PMID- 2628503 TI - Experimental pancreatic adenocarcinoma: an immunohistochemical study for CA 19-9 and its correlation with serum levels. AB - Experimental pancreatic carcinoma induced in Golden Syrian Hamsters by subcutaneous injections of N-nitrosobis-(2-oxopropyl) amine (BOP) was studied during the different phases of its development by determination of serum CA 19-9 levels and tissue labeling with CA 19-9 TM. Significant differences were observed in the CA 19-9 values between the controls and animals with carcinoma (p less than 0.01) and between the latter and animals with cystic or cystic papillary lesions (p less than 0.01). Distribution of the deposits of CA 19-9 TM was different in the initial tumoral lesions and in the longer-developed tumors. An important correlation was observed between tissue deposits and serum levels of this tumor marker. PMID- 2628504 TI - Measurement of aqueous humor flow following scleral injection of sulfacetamide as marker: effect of methazolamide, timolol, and pilocarpine. AB - A simple technique for rapid determination of the flow of aqueous humor (AH) in rabbits is described. Data from control eyes and eyes treated with known inhibitors of aqueous humor production are presented as evidence of the suitability of the technique for comparing the influence of other drugs on aqueous flow. The flow measurement depends on marker dilution by fluid turnover during the first 30 min after 5 microliters marker solution is delivered to the anterior chamber. This is done by passing a needle through the sclera and behind the iris. The advantage of this route is that it permits withdrawal of the needle after delivery without leakage of marker or aqueous humor. Sulfacetamide (SAC), a sulfonamide with low lipid solubility and pKa 5.4, is the marker of flow used here. Control flow data from SAC, fluorescein (FL), reactive blue-2, and 14C inulin as markers were compared. The control flow measured with SAC in two independent groups is 3.91 and 3.40 microliters/min or 3.69 +/- 0.37 S.E. overall. The data show that inhibition of carbonic anhydrase (CA) in ciliary processes by systemic methazolamide reduces flow 38%. Topical timolol reduces flow 35%. Pilocarpine, which is known to decrease IOP largely by increasing outflow facility, did not significantly reduce flow. This system for measuring AH flow allows rapid accumulation of data for topical, intracameral or systemic treatments. PMID- 2628505 TI - Ultrastructural effects of topical betoptic, betagan, and timoptic on the rabbit corneal endothelium. AB - Scanning and transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of three commercially available beta adrenergic blockers (Betoptic 0.5%, Betagan 0.5% and Timoptic 0.5%), and preservative (benzalkonium chloride 0.01%) on rabbit corneal endothelium. Evaluation was performed on groups including intact corneas, de-epithelialized corneas, full-thickness corneal grafts with intact epithelium, and de-epithelialized corneal grafts. Both Betoptic and Betagan produced minor damage to endothelial microvilli in the intact epithelial group. The de-epithelialized and the grafted-cornea groups had less damage induced by Betoptic than Betagan. Timoptic produced more endothelial damage than Betoptic and Betagan in all groups. Benzalkonium chloride produced minimal endothelial damage. Results indicate that Betoptic produces less endothelial toxicity than the two non-specific beta blockers when corneal epithelium is damaged and after penetrating keratoplasty. PMID- 2628506 TI - Glycine inhibition of pupillary responses to pulses of light in conscious sheep. AB - The use of a 1.5% glycine solution as a bladder irrigant during surgical removal of the prostate has been associated with transient visual impairment. Glycine is thought to be an inhibitory retinal transmitter. Adult female sheep were infused with a 1.5% glycine solution to provide a dose of 0, 7.5, 15, 30, or 60 g of glycine. The volume control was a solution of dextrose and saline. The degree of constriction of the pupil in response to 30 seconds of bright light following dilation in the dark was used as an index of visual response. Observations were made before and 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, and 192 hours after a single infusion. Significant inhibition of pupil response to light but not to the dark was apparent following systemically administered glycine resulting in plasma levels over 5000 mumol/L. Inhibition of pupil response was paralleled by behavioral indices of visual impairment but not by changes in plasma sodium, potassium, chloride or osmolality. The duration of the effect was dose dependent with visual impairment following a single high dose of glycine being detectable five days later and long after glycine levels had returned to normal. However, the relationship between dose, time, and effect appears to be complex. It is important to note that the present observations occurred at plasma glycine levels frequently experienced in routine surgical practice. The finding that significant long term detrimental effects of glycine could be detected should evoke a re evaluation of the use of glycine as an irrigating solution for surgical procedures and stimulate further investigation of the effects of glycine on retinal function and the ability to perceive light. PMID- 2628507 TI - Standardized acquisition of bedside data: the IEEE P1073 medical information bus. AB - The absence of standards for medical device communications has stymied the acceptance and success of automated clinical data management systems. Even devices with simple RS-232 data output ports require special interfacing hardware and software. Due to the number and variety of medical devices available, each with their own peculiar data output configuration, it has been impractical to interface with most of them. Limited by manual data entry, most computerized patient data management systems have failed to deliver the productivity gains their users expected. The forthcoming IEEE P1073 Medical Information Bus (MIB) Standard promises to correct this situation with a single powerful bedside device interface method. The MIB will provide specifications for all hardware and software necessary for medical data communications. The MIB handles the need for automatic recognition of new devices placed at a bedside, automatic reconfiguration of the network, binding of a device to a particular patient's bedside and many other issues unique to the medical data communications environment. The MIB is expected to undergo formal IEEE balloting in 1990 and promises to open a new era in data management for clinical patient care. PMID- 2628508 TI - Medical information bus: the key to future integrated monitoring. PMID- 2628509 TI - Computer-assisted evaluation of respiratory data in ventilated critically ill patients. AB - In intensive care unit, a lot of data are currently available but remain unused by nurses and residents because of complexity of analysis. We have developed a system for interpretation of respiratory data (RESPAID) in order to improve monitoring of patients under respiratory support and also to provide a high level of information. RESPAID is a real-time system which interprets quantitative and qualitative aspects of the usual respiratory data at different levels of information. Initial knowledge base was built from data given by four specialists in intensive care. Major attention was paid to different aspects of the system: monitor interface, user interface and time representation. Data are issued from standard respirators and/or monitors used in the intensive care unit. Informations provided by RESPAID are alarm identification, ventilator settings modification and proposal for physiological evolution of the patient or suspected complication. RESPAID runs on IBM PCAT3 with 1st class shell. It is currently in clinical validation procedure. PMID- 2628510 TI - Of mice and men--data capture in the clinical environment. AB - We have considered the problem of data capture in the critical care area. Review of previous work on the use of alternative input devices for speed and accuracy of data entry yields conflicting information but suggests that requirements depend on input task, data type and skill of the user. We have performed comparative studies of the QWERTY keybord, cursor control keys, mouse and graphics tablet for data entry in two intensive therapy unit (ITU) environments. The graphics tablet proved overall the best of the devices studied. We report the potential applications of this type of input device. PMID- 2628511 TI - Experimental and clinical tests of the oxyconsumeter: a new oxygen uptake monitor. AB - The prototype of a microprocessor controlled oxygen uptake monitor oxyconsumeter developed by Draegerwerk AG, Luebeck, FRG, has been tested. The measuring accuracy of this device was assessed with laboratory bench experiments utilizing both the nitrogen dilution technique and the hydrogen combustion technique to simulate oxygen uptake (VO2). The correlation coefficient between the simulated and the measured VO2 values was 0.9989 (p less than 0.05, n = 115). The average relative error of the VO2 values was -3.32% +/- 3.88% when breathing 21 vol% oxygen and -5.58% +/- 4.53% for 70 vol% oxygen (percent of reading). This was within the range given by the manufacturer (+/- 5% for 21 vol% to less than 40 vol%, +/- 10% for 40 vol% to less than 70 vol%) with few exceptions. Furthermore the oxyconsumeter was used in clinical experiments to determine oxygen uptake during general anaesthesia. Oxygen uptake was monitored using a non-rebreathing system with an externally triggered expiratory valve. The difference between preanaesthetic reference values and values determined during anaesthesia averaged -24.8 +/- 20.1 ml/min/m2 oxygen. This average relative change of -16.0 +/- 11.5% was statistically significant in 11 of 15 cases (p less than 0.05). PMID- 2628512 TI - Is on-line monitoring of renal function possible? AB - Twenty patients who had undergone open heart surgery were studied in order to determine whether measurement of the combined urinary sodium and potassium concentration can be used to monitor renal function. The clearances of creatinine and the free water demonstrated a significant statistical correlation with the combined urinary sodium and potassium concentration. We conclude that measurement of the combined sodium and potassium concentration in the urine can be used as an indicator of renal function. Thus, measurement of the electrical conductivity in the urine might be suitable as an on-line monitor of renal function during surgery or in the intensive care unit. PMID- 2628513 TI - Comparison of two methods for heparin monitoring: a semi-automated heparin monitoring device and activated clotting time during extracorporeal circulation. AB - Two methods of heparin monitoring, semi-automated in-vivo heparin protamine titration (HPT) and activated clotting time (ACT), were compared in each of sixteen adult patients undergoing extracorporeal circulation (ECC) for coronary artery bypass surgery. The HPT method determined the initial and maintenance level of heparin for ECC, as well as, the amount of protamine needed for neutralization of heparin. ACT determinations were made in parallel to calculate heparin levels, heparin sensitivity, and protamine requirements. ACT determinations increased from 502 +/- 31 seconds after heparinization to 739 +/- 49 seconds (p less than 0.05) five minutes after the start of ECC. The HPT method determined heparin sensitivity to be 153 +/- 17 secs/mg/kg and this did not change after the institution of ECC. The increase in ACT observed after the start of ECC resulted in an increase in heparin sensitivity from 151 +/- 13 secs/mg/kg initially, to 247 +/- 17 secs/mg/kg after the institution of ECC (p less than 0.01). During ECC, the HPT method reported heparin levels which remained near the initial value of 2.40 +/- 0.12 mg/kg. The ACT method's initial heparin level of 2.66 +/- 0.12 mg/kg rose after the start of ECC to 4.39 +/- 0.55 mg/kg (p less than 0.05). The HPT method adequately predicted protamine requirements, 2.66 +/- 0.15 mg/kg protamine vs. 3.47 +/- 0.14 mg/kg actual dose while the ACT method predicted excess: 5.02 +/- 0.34 mg/kg (p less than 0.01). In-vivo heparin protamine titration method provided more consistent information during ECC and directed a significantly smaller dose of protamine for heparin neutralization. PMID- 2628514 TI - Application of automated human voice delivery to warning devices in an intensive care unit: a laboratory study. AB - Environmental concerns about the delivery of warning messages in intensive care units exist in the belief that conventional non-verbal alarm signals are perceived to be threatening by some patients. There is also a significant opportunity for error in interpretation by fatigued or anxious personnel. A laboratory study was undertaken to determine whether human subjects made fewer errors when messages regarding ICU related tasks were delivered by tape recorded human voice than by the non-verbal signals derived from devices in the ICU. Results demonstrated a statistically significant superiority of human voice messages over non-verbal signals. It is concluded that taped human voice messages merit field trials in intensive care units. PMID- 2628515 TI - Hemostatic alterations associated with phenylhydrazine-induced anemia in the rat. AB - Phenylhydrazine (PHZ) is a hemolytic agent which has been used in the treatment of polycythemia vera. Recent studies performed in our laboratory have indicated that the PHZ-induced anemia is immuno-hemolytic in etiology, and a prolonged bleeding time was present in some of the rats chronically treated with PHZ. The nature of this bleeding tendency was explored in the present experiment. PHZ was administered to rats once a week for a six week period. During this time, the animals were monitored for prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen concentration, and individual coagulation factor levels as well as routine plasma chemistries and blood cell counts. In addition, radioimmunoassays (RIA) for prostacyclin, a platelet aggregation inhibitor, and prostaglandin (PG) E2 were performed. PHZ-treated animals displayed a significant elevation in both PT and APTT when compared with saline injected controls, although plasma fibrinogen levels were not appreciably altered. Further tests revealed a PHZ-induced decrease in prothrombin and factor V levels. In addition, a significant increase in plasma serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase levels was observed as well as a diminution in cholesterol and triglycerides following PHZ administration. PHZ treatment also induced an elevation in prostacyclin levels and transient thrombocytopenia. These findings indicate that several factors may contribute to the prolonged bleeding time in PHZ-treated rats including a drug induced thrombocytopenia possibly associated with enhanced synthesis of autologous immunoglobulin G (IgG) against the senescent red cell antigen, and diminished synthesis of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors which may be mediated by reduced vitamin K uptake by the hypo cholesterolemic subjects. PMID- 2628516 TI - Lasting nutritional imbalance following abstinence in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. AB - The dietary intake of eight alcoholic patients with liver cirrhosis following complete abstinence was compared with that of non-alcoholic cirrhotics. Protein and lipid amounts actually ingested were much lower, even following abstinence, in alcoholic cirrhotics than in non-alcoholic cirrhotics, suggesting that dietary customs of alcoholics with liver disease do not change easily. Therefore, dietary education is necessary for abstaining alcoholics and should be aggressively applied in the out-patient clinic. PMID- 2628517 TI - Correlation between high density lipoprotein cholesterol and C-peptide in sulfonylurea-treated diabetic patients. AB - The aim of this study was to assess the possible relationship between high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations and endogenous insulin secretion, as measured by basal serum C-peptide secretion. Eighty-nine non insulin-dependent diabetic patients (NIDDs) being treated with sulfonylureas were studied. There were 47 men and 42 women matched for age, body mass index (BMI), duration of diabetes and glycemic control. Blood samples were taken after an overnight fast. HDL-C concentrations were significantly lower in males (45.9 +/- 11.2 mg/dl) than in females (52.9 +/- 13.1 mg/dl) (p less than 0.01). There was a negative correlation between C-peptide and HDL-C (males r = -0.40, p less than 0.01; females r = -0.42, p less than 0.01), and a positive correlation between C peptide and serum triglyceride (Tg) (males r = +0.36, p less than 0.05; females r = +0.31, p less than 0.05). PMID- 2628518 TI - Liver fibrosis in obese patients with fatty livers. AB - Liver fibrosis was observed in non-alcoholic, non-diabetic obese patients with fatty liver. The extent of fibrosis was more severe in patients who were obese for a long time and had severe fatty deposition in the liver. Laboratory data were not useful for differentiating between fatty livers with and without liver fibrosis. The results suggested that fatty liver in obese patients should be treated by weight reduction in order to prevent the progression of liver fibrosis. PMID- 2628519 TI - Differences in urate metabolism between normouricemia and hyperuricemia in coronary heart disease in man. AB - We examined hyperuricemia in patients with coronary heart disease. In 85 patients with coronary sclerosis confirmed by coronary angiography, the serum urate level (6.08 +/- 1.60 mg/dL) was not different from that in subjects with normal coronary arteries (6.47 +/- 1.69 mg/dL). The incidence of hyperuricemia in patients with coronary sclerosis was 26%, and was significantly correlated with diuretics, obesity and hypertriglyceridemia, but not with hypertension or hypercholesterolemia. To elucidate the mechanism of urate metabolism in coronary sclerosis, we separated coronary sclerosis patients without complicating factors into hyperuricemics and normouricemics, and studied urate metabolism in comparison with subjects with normal coronary arteries. We found that normouricemics with coronary sclerosis had decreases in the filtered urate load and urate clearance with a normal urate-creatinine clearance ratio. Hyperuricemics with coronary sclerosis had decreases in urate clearance and urate creatinine clearance ratios, but the filtered urate load was similar to that in normouricemics. It is suggested that in coronary sclerosis patients, normouricemics had a low glomerular filtration of urate with normal tubular urate transport, whereas hyperuricemics had enhanced tubular reabsorption of urate without any difference of urate filtration from normouricemics. PMID- 2628520 TI - Hypoparathyroidism during alpha-INF therapy in a patient with multiple myeloma. AB - A 66 year-old woman with multiple myeloma developed hypoparathyroidism during combination chemotherapy with melphalan, prednisolone, and alpha-interferon (INF). Seven weeks after commencement of the therapy, the serum calcium (Ca) level decreased to 7.4 mg/dL, and the phosphorus (P) level increased to 7.2 mg/dL; parathyroid hormone (PTH) was at a critically low level. By 13 weeks after discontinuation of alpha-INF, the levels of Ca, P, and PTH had returned to normal values: 8.6 mg/dL, 4.5 mg/dL, and 310 pg/ml, respectively. These changes suggest a strong correlation between hypoparathyroidism and the administration of alpha INF. Autoantibodies against the parathyroid gland cell were not present in the serum of this patient by indirect immunofluorescent techniques. The mechanism of hypoparathyroidism by alpha-INF could not be identified, but this is the first case of this condition during alpha-INF therapy. PMID- 2628521 TI - Interexaminer concordance in detecting joint-play asymmetries in the cervical spines of otherwise asymptomatic subjects. AB - Interexaminer concordance for motion-based palpation of the middle and lower cervical spine was investigated. The palpatory task consisted of determining whether end-range joint resistance on lateral flexion was greater on one side of a given cervical segment when compared to that of the contralateral joint. Palpators also were asked to indicate the relative magnitude of the asymmetry, when detected. All experiments were carried out using reasonably healthy, pain free, chiropractic college students. Three series of experiments involving two pairs of practitioners and a total of 270 subjects were carried out. Interexaminer agreement rates with respect to the side of greatest fixation were not found to be significantly different from those expected by chance alone. Furthermore, this was the case regardless of whether palpators had rated the magnitude of the asymmetry as being slight, moderate or severe. These poor agreement rates did not appear to be due to significant interexaminer differences with respect to the distributions of right vs. left calls, to a preponderance of agreements occurring more on one side over the other, or to differences with respect to the distribution of severity ratings. More importantly, there appeared to be no consistent relationships between the degree of severity indicated by the first examiner and that indicated by the second, nor were there any significant correlations between right vs. left agreement rates obtained for various combinations of severity ratings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628522 TI - Women chiropractors: issues of career and family. AB - The present study is an examination of the characteristics of female chiropractors in Canada. Of particular interest were their practice patterns, their productivity, their political involvement in the profession and the methods they used for coping with the multiple responsibilities of career and family life. The study was conducted by mailing a questionnaire to all Canadian female chiropractors. The results indicate that the vast majority of respondents are relatively new practitioners, having graduated since 1976. A very high percentage have remained in active practice either full or part-time since graduation and are very satisfied with their choice of career. The majority live in Ontario or Quebec and are politically active as members of their national, provincial and local associations. Childbirth does not appear to have interfered significantly with their career. The majority of mothers returned to work within 3 months of childbirth. The respondents appear to cope with the responsibilities of career and family life, but, a disturbing proportion report feeling chronically drained. PMID- 2628523 TI - Intra- and interobserver reliability of passive motion palpation of the lumbar spine. AB - Sixty student volunteers were assessed for fixation in the lumbar spine using a passive motion palpation protocol. Subjects were examined in random order by two experienced chiropractors. Every subject was evaluated twice by each examiner. Fixations were judged present or absent for each of five lumbar motion segments. Moderate test-retest agreement beyond chance was noted at L1/2, minimal reliability at L4/5, and no significant agreement within examiners was detected for mid-lumbar segments. Interexaminer agreement beyond chance was poor for all segments assessed. When segments were grouped regionally and re-evaluated, some increase in intrarater agreement was evident, especially at L4/5/S, but interrater agreement was still absent. PMID- 2628524 TI - Traumatic spinal myoclonus. AB - A 24-yr-old woman suffering from traumatic spinal myoclonus which occurred after a diving injury, and which had not responded to pharmacotherapy, apparently resolved after treatment by manipulation of the spine. Mechanisms of the etiology of myoclonus are discussed, and theoretical mechanisms for the use of manipulative procedures in the management of traumatic spinal myoclonus are advanced. PMID- 2628525 TI - The need for innovation in clinical training: faculty practice plans in chiropractic education. PMID- 2628526 TI - Commentary: beyond the theosophy of chiropractic. PMID- 2628527 TI - A surgical model of a chronic subluxation in rabbits. PMID- 2628528 TI - Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics: a bibliographic analysis. PMID- 2628529 TI - A parallel implementation of the ALOPEX process. AB - Optimization techniques have found many applications in science, engineering, and industry. In all applications, the best value of a "cost function" is sought in a well-defined domain; this cost function in general depends on many parameters. An iterative optimization technique has been developed (ALOPEX) that uses feedback in order to optimize the response of a system. The cost function for this process is problem dependent and therefore quite flexible. The method has been applied successfully to different optimization problems such as pattern recognition, receptive field studies in the visual system of animals, curve fitting, etc. We present two special purpose hardware implementations for ALOPEX. The first method takes time O(logN + logm) and uses O(mN2) processing elements. The second method takes O(logN + m) time and uses O(N2) processing elements. Our basic architecture is a binary tree with N2 leaves (equal to the length of the vectors) and therefore had depth O(logN). Different implications of the two approaches will be discussed including similarities with the biological visual process. PMID- 2628530 TI - A generalized laboratory software package--a prototype approach. AB - A prototyped model of a generalized table-driven software package for laboratory testing and results registration is presented. The need to computerize dozens of laboratories performing hundreds of tests, called for a radical approach which would enable the quick addition of new laboratories to the system, as well as ease of maintenance. The generalized laboratory software package (GLAB) relies on a set of data tables, maintained by users, and a menu controlled environment interfacing GLAB with the rest of the hospital's systems. PMID- 2628531 TI - A coded summation method to measure evoked responses of human beings. AB - Human Beings have several kinds of responses evoked by different kinds of stimuli. Examples include auditory evoked responses, visual evoked responses, and etc. Evoked responses appear in electroencephalograms (EEGs) and are measured by an EEG. These evoked responses have a smaller amplitude wave and an averaged summation method (ASM) is widely used to measure this phenomenon. The ASM, however, is not entirely suitable to measure a signal hidden behind nonstationary data with a high ratio. Because the number of average summation cycles has to increase in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, increased time is required to measure a signal. The nonstationarity of data also increases the danger that a measured signal has several distortions caused by nonstationarity. These facts indicate the necessity for a short period measurement to obtain an evoked response. At the same time, the short period measurement realizes a reduction of load for measured person. In this paper, a process called a coded summation method (CSM) is proposed. This method has the ability to measure an evoked response within 1/4, approximately 1/12 of the time that is required by the usual ASM. The CSM transforms the original data into codes and then follows with a summation and an averaging for the coded data. The CSM is applied to two kinds of actual cases; the measurement of auditory slow vertex responses and visual evoked responses. Through the trials and discussions about the results in these two cases, an algorithm is derived to determine several CSM parameters the effectiveness of CSM is evaluated by being compared with the traditional ASM technique. PMID- 2628532 TI - Changes in T-staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by CT-scan. AB - To evaluate the value of computerized axial tomogram (CT-scan) of the nasopharynx in the management of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), comparisons between clinical T-staging by means of indirect or direct nasopharyngeal examination, and CT-scan were performed in 101 cases. CT-scan has upstaged clinical T-staging in 83.9 per cent of Tx-T3 cases, or 80 per cent in Tx, 98 per cent in T1, 65.4 per cent in T2, and 50 per cent in T3 cases. CT-scan was also able to show the destruction of the base of the skull in 85.7 per cent of T4 cases. With regard to tumor extensions into the surrounding regions, the CT-scan proved to out-perform clinical T-staging by 82.2, 57.4, and 25.7 per cent respectively in superior, anterior, and lateral and inferior extensions. We, therefore, recommend that a CT-scan be done in every new case of NPC, because it provides more accurate T-staging, and more details of tumor extension, which is essential in the management of NPC, especially in the proper planning of radical radiotherapy. PMID- 2628533 TI - Drug-induced agranulocytosis. AB - Forty cases of drug-induced agranulocytosis from the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University during the 12 year period 1975-1987 were analysed. In 32 cases, the related etiologic drugs were identified. These were thiacetazone and isoniazid in 10 cases (25%), propylthiouracil in 6 cases (15%) sulfa drugs in 5 cases (12.5%) combination of analgesic and antibiotics in 3 cases (7.5%), anti-psychotic in 2 cases (5%), antibiotics in 5 cases including, ampicillin (2 cases) and others (3 cases), and ether in 1 case (2.5%). The other 8 cases (20%) received unknown drugs from private clinics. Twenty-four cases had complete recovery in 13-14 days after withdrawal of the incriminating drugs, and sixteen cases (40%) died with septicemia. PMID- 2628534 TI - CT diagnosis of cerebral cysticercosis. AB - CT findings of 132 patients with cerebral cysticercosis were analysed. The most common finding was multiple parenchymal punctate calcifications, accounting for 53 per cent; calcifications mostly scattered in both cerebral hemispheres. The second most common finding was enhancing ring(s) or nodule(s) of about 1 cm in diameter with perifocal edema, about 43 per cent. Other findings included thin walled parenchymal cysts of various sizes from less than 1 cm to 7 cm in diameter, non-enhancing low-density area, intraventricular and cisternal cysts, and hydrocephalus due to obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid pathway by the cyst, arachnoiditis, or ependymitis. About 30 per cent of patients had a combination of these forms of cysticercosis. Seizure disorder was the most common presenting symptom. Praziquantel was used effectively in parenchymal cystic forms but without response in intraventricular and cisternal cysts. In conclusion, CT is considered to be the procedure of choice for the detection of cerebral cysticercosis and the follow-up of patients after medical or surgical treatment. When multiple forms of cysticercosis are present, the diagnosis can usually be made with accuracy. A single finding of non-specific pattern such as enhancing ring or nodule, low-density area, or parenchymal cyst(s) without typical mural nodules, has to be differentiated from other conditions such as tumors and inflammatory process. Clinical correlation and follow-up scan are required in these cases in which the definitive diagnosis cannot be ascertained, and in certain cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. PMID- 2628535 TI - Pulmonary infections in immunocompromised hosts. AB - Between February 1985 and January 1987, sixty cases of pulmonary infection in immunocompromised host were seen at the Department of Medicine, Ramathibodi hospital. The underlying causes were: thirty-four cases with hematologic malignancies, nine with autoimmune diseases, seven with aplastic anemia, three with non-hematologic malignancies, and seven following corticosteroid therapy. Infectious agents were identified in thirty-two cases; nineteen bacterial, three fungal, four nocardial, three strongyloidiasis and three tuberculosis. In nineteen cases, the infectious agents were classified as "probable", and in nine cases, "unknown" etiology. Eleven of the twenty hospital infected patients and ten of the forty community infected patients died. Mortality appeared to be related to the underlying diseases, infection acquired in hospital and the infectious agent. PMID- 2628536 TI - .5 per cent plain bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia effects of posture. AB - 0.5 per cent plain bupivacaine following intrathecal injection in the lateral position seems to be lower than that in the sitting position. The dosages of the drug according to the patients' height and the time for injection were shown to yield a desirable spread of analgesia. Provided that strict attention is paid to volume replacement, the technique is safe quick and reliable and provides excellent analgesia. It is satisfactory for use in orthopaedic surgery and abdominal surgery that does not take more than 2 hours. PMID- 2628537 TI - Comparison of subcutaneous injections of terbutaline, salbutamol and adrenaline in acute asthmatic attacks in children. AB - Bronchodilating and cardiovascular effects of subcutaneously administered terbutaline, adrenaline 0.01 mg/kg and salbutamol 0.007 mg/kg were compared in a randomized single-blind manner. All drugs produced bronchodilation within 2 minutes and maintained it for 4 hours with terbutaline and adrenaline and for 3 hours with salbutamol. Bronchodilatation elicited by terbutaline was the highest. Increases in heart rate were observed in all especially during the first 30 minutes. All drugs elicited small increases in systolic blood pressure and it was highest with terbutaline from 5 to 240 minutes. Decreases in diastolic blood pressure were observed with all three. Increases in respiratory rate were small and observed within the first 5 to 30 minutes. PMID- 2628538 TI - Type IV glycogen storage disease: first reported case in Thailand. AB - Glycogen storage disease type IV is rare. The disease is characterized by widespread storage of a polysaccharide similar to amylopectin. An autopsy case of a 6-year-old Thai boy with cirrhosis and deposits in the liver, heart, muscle and central nervous system was described along with histochemical and electron microscopic findings. PMID- 2628539 TI - Monoclonal antibody (OKT3) rescue in refractory acute renal allograft rejection: report of 3 cases. AB - We report the first experience in Thailand with the use of OKT3 (monoclonal anti T lymphocyte antibody) in rescuing an acute rejection unresponsive to methylprednisolone pulses in 3 cadaveric renal transplant patients. The treatment regimen was 10 daily 5 mg intravenous injections of OKT3. In the first and second patients OKT3 was started on days 26 and 18 of the rejection episode. In the third one OKT3 was given when he became anuric secondary to severe acute rejection. Within 24 hours of the therapy, urine flow increased. A brisk diuresis and a decline in serum creatinine started within 4 days. The kidney function returned to normal within the 10-day course of therapy. Side effects were fever, conjunctivitis, stuffiness of nose and herpes infection. PMID- 2628540 TI - An electron microscopic study of the steroid hormone receptor in uterine cells by the colloidal gold-labeled steroid hormone. AB - To study the localization of the progesterone and estradiol receptors by electron microscopy, the colloidal gold-labeled steroid hormones, intercalated with bovine serum albumin, were developed in the postembedding method. Among the tissues investigated in this study, receptors specifically distributed in the nuclei of the cells in the uterus and liver but not in the colon. Among the uterine smooth muscle cells in the estrus cycle, the frequency of the progesterone receptors in the nuclei indicated the highest level at a proestrus stage when the serum estradiol is maximum and the lowest level at a metestrus stage when the serum estradiol is minimum. On the other hand, the frequency of the estradiol receptor did not show significant changes among the stages of the estrus cycle. In the nuclei, the receptors specifically distributed on the euchromatin and on the peripheral regions of the heterochromatin, thought to be active regions of the transcription, and among the interchromatin granules. No receptors were observed within the nucleolus, the heterochromatin, the perinuclear chromatin, the nuclear sap, and the perichromatin granules. The colloidal gold-labeled steroids proved to be useful to study the microlocalization of the steroid hormone receptors in various target organs by electron microscopy. PMID- 2628541 TI - High resolution electron microscopy of enamel crystals in cases of human dental fluorosis. AB - Surface enamel from human subjects with dental fluorosis was studied by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Immediately below the relatively highly mineralized outermost surface enamel layer was an extensive hypomineralized area. The highly mineralized layer was composed of many large elongated hexagonal crystals and extremely small hexagonal crystals. Frequently the small crystals were attached to the periphery of the large crystals. In the hypomineralized area, large crystals were sparsely arranged; and a few small crystals were seen. Some large crystals showed either perforated centers or defects on their peripheries. These findings suggest that the hypomineralized area undergoes caries-like changes in terms of crystal dissolution and that the highly mineralized surface layer is either formed or modified by remineralization. PMID- 2628542 TI - Glucose transport in crabtree-positive and crabtree-negative yeasts. AB - The kinetic parameters of glucose transport in four Crabtree-positive and four Crabtree-negative yeasts were determined. The organisms were grown in aerobic glucose-limited chemostats at a dilution rate of 0.1 h-1. The results show a clear correlation between the presence of high-affinity glucose transport systems and the absence of aerobic fermentation upon addition of excess glucose to steady state cultures. The presence of these H+-symport systems could be established by determination of intracellular accumulation of 6-deoxy-[3H]glucose and alkalinization of buffered cell suspensions upon addition of glucose. In contrast, the yeasts that did show aerobic alcoholic fermentation during these glucose pulse experiments had low-affinity facilitated-diffusion carriers only. In the yeasts examined the capacity of the glucose transport carriers was higher than the actual glucose consumption rates during the glucose pulse experiments. The relationship between the rate of sugar consumption and the rate of alcoholic fermentation was studied in detail with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When S. cerevisiae was pulsed with low amounts of glucose or mannose, in order to obtain submaximal sugar consumption rates, fermentation was already occurring at sugar consumption rates just above those which were maintained in the glucose-limited steady-state culture. The results are interpreted in relation with the Crabtree effect. In Crabtree-positive yeasts, an increase in the external glucose concentration may lead to unrestricted glucose uptake by facilitated diffusion and hence, to aerobic fermentation. In contrast, Crabtree-negative yeasts may restrict the entry of glucose by their regulated H+-symport systems and thus prevent the occurrence of overflow metabolism. PMID- 2628543 TI - Purification, properties and immunological detection of a bromoperoxidase catalase from Streptomyces venezuelae and from a chloramphenicol-nonproducing mutant. AB - A new bromoperoxidase-catalase was purified from the chloramphenicol-producing actinomycete Streptomyces venezuelae ISP 5230. The homogeneous enzyme showed brominating activity, catalase activity and a very low peroxidase activity. The spectral properties and pH dependence of the catalase activity showed similarities to conventional catalases. In contrast to other haem bromoperoxidases, the bromoperoxidase-catalase was stable when treated with an ethanol/chloroform mixture. Gel filtration gave an estimated Mr of 127,000 136,000. SDS-PAGE showed a single band corresponding in mobility to a species with an Mr of 61,000. The pI was estimated to be 4.5. The bromoperoxidase catalase was not present in active form in a mutant of S. venezuelae ISP 5230, blocked in the chlorination step of chloramphenicol biosynthesis. However, an inactive species of the enzyme was detected in crude extracts of the mutant by using antibodies. From these results it is concluded that this bromoperoxidase participates in the chlorination step during chloramphenicol biosynthesis. PMID- 2628544 TI - Chemotropism and branching as alternative responses of Achlya bisexualis to amino acids. AB - Hyphae of Achlya bisexualis growing on lean media orient their extension towards a source of amino acids, and also put forth branches. Micropipettes were used to generate gradients of amino acids in the vicinity of individual hyphae. Phenylalanine and methionine were the most powerful attractants: 0.04 mM amino acid in the pipette produced reorientation, and higher concentrations made the hyphae curl around the pipette and grow into its tip. Hyphae detected gradients as low as 5% across their width. Methionine and phenylalanine appeared to bind to different receptors. Local application of these amino acids also elicited the emergence of single branches, next to the pipette and on the high side of the gradient; comparison of diverse amino acids and their analogues suggested that branching and chemotropism share common receptors. By contrast, cytochalasin A and various ionophores induced branches at random sites, without receptor involvement. We propose that binding of amino acids to their receptors determines the site of precursor vesicle exocytosis, and consider possible mechanisms. PMID- 2628545 TI - Isolation of an endoglucanase gene from Bacteroides ruminicola subsp. brevis. AB - A gene coding for endo-1, 4-beta-glucanase activity has been isolated from Bacteroides ruminicola subsp. brevis by cloning in Escherichia coli. After restriction mapping of a 6.4 kb insert, a 2.2 kb DNA fragment was sub-cloned in pUC19 to produce the enzymically active clone pJW3. Recloning of the gene fragment in the reverse orientation in pUC18 (clone pJW4) indicated that a gene promoter was present in the cloned fragment and was able to function in E. coli. The clone pJW4 displayed increased activity which was attributed to expression from the lac promoter of pUC18. The enzyme encoded by pJW4 was optimally active at pH 5.5-6.0, and in the temperature range 37-42 degrees C. The preferred substrate was carboxymethylcellulose, but the enzyme displayed 50-60% of maximal activity on both acid-swollen cellulose and soluble xylan. No significant activity was detected on ball-milled filter paper or particulate xylan. Deletion experiments confirmed that both cellulase and xylanase activities were altered to a similar extent by deletion of DNA from the 3' end of the gene, suggesting that both are a function of the same polypeptide product. PMID- 2628546 TI - The interaction of [Ru(NH3)5Cl]2+ and [Ru(NH3)6]3+ ions with DNA. AB - The interaction of [Ru(NH3)5Cl]2+ and [Ru(NH3)6]3+ complex ions with calf thymus DNA has been studied at various r values (r = [Mn+]/[DNA-P]). Electronic spectra of metal-DNA solutions have been recorded and compared to the spectra of metal, as well as of DNA, solutions. Melting curves have been taken for the determination of DNA melting temperature (Tm) in the presence of the above complex ions. The results showed a biphasic melting of the DNA strands for relatively high r values. The Tm for the first phase increased with increasing r values, indicating metal ion interaction with the phosphate moieties of the DNA. The appearance of a second-phase melting, in connection with electronic spectra, pH values, and conductivity measurements of metal ion solutions, is indicative of the initial complexes' transformation to [Ru(NH3)5OH]2+, which binds preferentially to double-stranded rather than single-stranded DNA, thus leading to a second melting curve at a higher temperature than the first one. PMID- 2628547 TI - Selenium-containing proteins of rat kidney and liver microsomes. AB - Selenium (Se)-containing proteins in microsomal fractions of rat kidney and liver were investigated after isotopic labeling of rats with [75Se]selenite. More than 85% of the 75Se in the solubilized microsomal extracts precipitated with protein after trichloroacetic acid treatment. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), used to separate the labeled protein subunits in the solubilized microsomal extracts, revealed several 75Se-containing proteins in addition to glutathione peroxidase. 75Se-labeled subunits with molecular weights of 55, 30, 26, 22, 19, and 17 kDa were present in microsomal fractions of kidney and liver. The 75Se-labeled tryptic peptide of the 55 kDa subunit had the same Rf value on a 17% SDS-PAGE gel as the peptide from plasma selenoprotein P. A time course study of the labeling of individual protein subunits in kidney and liver microsomes from Se-supplemented and Se-deficient rats showed that most of the 75Se was associated with the 55 kDa subunit 3 hr after injection. The amount of 75Se associated with this protein subunit decreased by 12 hr, with a concurrent increase in the labeling of lower molecular-weight subunits. The results support the hypothesis that there is a mechanism for transfer of Se from the 55 kDa subunit to other Se-containing proteins. PMID- 2628548 TI - Quantitative investigation of copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes with S carboxymethyl-L-cysteine and computer-simulated appraisal of their potential significance in vivo. AB - S-carboxymethyl-L-cysteine (SCC) is a mucolytic agent extensively used in the treatment of respiratory tract disorders. Some of the undesirable side effects observed during SCC therapy being reminiscent of symptoms characteristic of copper and zinc imbalances, the objective of this paper was to test the possible interference of SCC with the metabolism of these two metals. Copper(II)- and zinc(II)-SCC complex equilibria have thus been investigated under physiological conditions by means of classical potentiometry combined with computer-assisted calculation techniques. Formation constants derived from these studies have then been used to simulate 1) the potential influence of SCC on the distribution of the above metals in blood plasma and 2) the extent to which gastrointestinal interactions between the drug and each metal ion in turn are likely to affect the bioavailability of each other. The results of these simulations show that 1) plasma therapeutic levels of SCC are not likely to induce dramatic changes in the distributions of copper(II) and zinc(II) low molecular weight fractions, 2) the gastrointestinal distribution of the drug is not affected by standard dietary doses of these metals, and 3) in contrast, therapeutic concentrations of SCC are capable of mobilizing significant fractions of both metals into tissue-diffusible electrically neutral complexes. In conclusion significant depletions of neither copper nor zinc are to be expected from oral administration of SCC. While the drug may to some extent facilitate the excretion of Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions from blood plasma, its gastrointestinal influence is, on the contrary, favorable to a better absorption of these two metals. PMID- 2628549 TI - The effect of histidine on the structure and antitumor activity of metal-5 halouracil complexes. AB - The ternary complexes of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) ions with 5-halouracils, viz., 5-fluorouracil (5FU), 5-chlorouracil (5ClU), and 5 bromouracil (5BrU), and the biologically important ligand L-histidine (HISD) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance measurements, infrared spectra, electronic spectra, and magnetic moment (room temperature) measurements. On the basis of these studies, the structures of the complexes have been proposed. All these ternary complexes were screened for their antitumor activity against Dalton's lymphoma in C3H/He mice. It was found that only Mn(II)-5BrU-HISD, Co(II)-5BrU-HISD, Cu(II)-5ClU-HISD, Cu(II)-5BrU-HISD, Zn(II)-5FU-HISD, and Zn(II)-5BrU-HISD complexes have significant antitumor activity with T/C greater than 125% (where T and C represent mean lifespan of treated mice and control mice respectively). The Mn(II)-5FU-HISD, Co(II)-5FU HISD, Co(II)-5ClU-HISD, Ni(II)-5ClU-HISD, Ni(II)-5BrU-HISD, and Zn(II)-5ClU-HISD complexes are also effective antitumor agents, with T/C greater than 115%. The complexes that showed effective antitumor action in vivo were also found to inhibit 3H-thymidine incorporation (DNA replication) in Dalton's lymphoma cells in vitro. PMID- 2628550 TI - Compliance, diet and cultural factors among black Americans with end-stage renal disease. AB - This article examines dietary compliance among a sample consisting predominantly of Black End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients. Previous research on ESRD patients has concentrated on dietary compliance as engendered by a White middle class medical value system. The current research suggests that this approach may deter compliance rather than encourage it in an ESRD patient population which tends to be composed disproportionately of Blacks. Findings from a structured interview schedule administered to 23 ESRD patients, and their blood analyses, indicate that while patients claim to be compliant, their subjective laboratory results suggest the contrary. As a possible explanation of this result, this article argues that renal dietary restrictions are both too rigid and alien in the context of a Black cultural world view and the eating patterns related to this cultural ethos. PMID- 2628551 TI - Black adolescent's source, quantity, and quality of sex related information. AB - This investigation explored the impact of the sexual socialization of Black adolescents on teenage sexual behavior. Using a phenomenological approach, familial triads composed of adolescent daughter, mother, and grandmother were surveyed. The construct of sexual socialization was defined in terms of familial communication about three sexually related topics: the menstrual cycle, sex, and contraception. Findings suggest the role of mothers as formal agents of sexual socialization to be of great importance. However, the quality of information needs to be improved. PMID- 2628552 TI - Issues on health care. PMID- 2628553 TI - The chronically ill grandparent in minority multigenerational family households: problems and solutions from three points of view. AB - The Interactional Model of Family Systems was used as a basis for exploring the problems of the chronically ill grandparent from three points of view: the elder family member, the adult child, and the grandchild. A descriptive correlational study was utilized to collect data on a purposive sample of 10 minority families recruited from the Montgomery County Council of the National Council of Negro Women, personal contacts of the investigators, and referrals from a family physician who treats the chronically ill elder members. Data was obtained on the family environment, perceived support, physical health, and a variety of open ended items dealing with specific difficulties and coping strategies. Findings identified ambivalent feelings, contradictory statements, and some dissatisfaction about their relations with other family members, not feeling needed, not having enough to do and feeling lonely. This information can be useful in designing and implementing a counseling intervention model for groups of multigenerational families who have similar situations and needs. PMID- 2628554 TI - Cancer prevention and early detection in black Americans: colon and rectum. AB - Often referred to as "the cancer nobody talks about," the incidence of cancer of the colon and the rectum combine to form the second most common cancer in the United States today. In the past thirty years, the overall incidence rate for cancer in Blacks has increased by 27 percent; there are proportionately more Blacks than Whites dying from cancer. Blacks tend to have cancer diagnosed at a later stage, when chances for cures have diminished. This study examines some of the causes of colon and rectal cancer and discusses prevention strategies. PMID- 2628555 TI - Black America year 2000: challenges of tomorrow. AB - Recent reports on key health indicators for Americans disclose that the health status of Black Americans continues to be unacceptably poor; for example, the infant mortality rate for Blacks remains twice that of Whites. This paper presents four critical issues that should be addressed in the form of a Black Health Agenda for 1989-2000. Actions that could be taken by Black organizations are recommended. PMID- 2628556 TI - Nursing practice and the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines for detecting, evaluating, and treating high blood cholesterol in adults. AB - Recently published guidelines, The Report of the Adult Treatment Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults, have tremendous implications for the practice of nursing. This paper presents key elements from that report and discusses how these guidelines can be used to enhance clinical practice among nurses treating and counseling patients with elevated blood cholesterol levels. In addition to discussing the major treatment modalities of diet and drugs, this paper considers implications for nurses working with Black patients. PMID- 2628557 TI - Hypersensitivity to trichophytin in small animals experimentally infected with Trichophyton equinum. AB - Typical lesions resulting from experimental Trichophyton equinum infection in laboratory animals persisted for 3-4 weeks. Lesions in rabbits were slightly less severe than those in guinea pigs. In experimentally infected dogs lesions persisted for longer and developed in the form of a deep, crusty dermatophytosis. In skin tests with three trichophytins it was shown that specific hypersensitivity resulting from infection of laboratory animals persists for at least 6 months. Stronger local reactions were produced with homologous trichophytins, especially in the final tests after 6 months. PMID- 2628558 TI - Gastrointestinal and systemic candidosis in immunocompromised mice. AB - Oral-intragastric inoculation of 6-day-old outbred Crl:CFW(SW) BR mice with Candida albicans can lead to colonization of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We have shown that in the absence of an immunocompromising treatment, Candida is primarily localized in the stomach and intestines of mice at 20 days post inoculation. Cultures of homogenates of the esophagus of most animals tested, and homogenates of the liver, lungs, spleen and kidneys of all animals tested, proved negative for C. albicans. Previous histological examinations of the GI tract of these colonized, non-immunocompromised mice showed hyphal elements associated with the stratified, squamous epithelium of the stomach in the region of the cardial-atrium fold. In this study, mice were immunocompromised by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide and cortisone acetate 11-14 days after oral-intragastric challenge with C. albicans and then sacrificed 20 days post-challenge. A high density of invasive hyphae was observed in the same, cardial-atrium region of the stomach of these animals. Cultures of the homogenized stomach showed a 100-fold increase in colony forming units (c.f.u.) of C. albicans compared with stomach homogenates of infected but non immunocompromised controls. In addition, homogenates of the esophagus and selected body organs of most immunocompromised mice examined were positive for C. albicans by plate culture. When the immunocompromising drug treatment was delayed 3-5 weeks after oral-intragastric challenge, proliferation of C. albicans in the stomach and intestines was still evident, although fewer mice showed systemic spread and lower numbers of c.f.u. were recovered from body organ homogenates. Abscesses which contained both C. albicans hyphae and yeast cells were frequently observed in the liver and occasionally in the lungs and kidneys of immunocompromised mice sacrificed 20 days post-inoculation. The frequent occurrence of abscesses in the liver simulates a clinical variant of this mycosis, referred to as focal hepatic candidosis, which has been recognized with increasing frequency in immunocompromised patients. We suggest that the animal model described here may be particularly useful both for exploring methods which may prevent dissemination of C. albicans from localized foci of colonization in the GI tract after exposure of the host to immunocompromising drugs, and for testing the efficacy of anti-Candida drugs in clearance of the pathogen from body organs with established fungal abscesses. PMID- 2628559 TI - Isolation of dysgonic strains of Microsporum canis in Bilbao (Spain). AB - In this report, we describe five cases of dermatophytosis caused by dysgonic strains of Microsporum canis which occurred in the area of Bilbao (Spain). The clinical presentations and responses to treatment of these infections were apparently similar to those caused by typical strains of this species but the increasing prevalence of dysgonic and other atypical strains of M. canis and the relative stability of the dysgonic morphology are the important features shown in our study. Contact with animals was confirmed by all of the patients, but in only one case was this possible infectious origin demonstrated mycologically. One of the patients, a heroin abuser with AIDS, showed a simultaneous infection with Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes. PMID- 2628560 TI - Identification of antigenic polypeptides of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis by immunoblotting. AB - Exoantigens from cultures of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were separated by SDS PAGE and subsequently blotted onto nitrocellulose paper. Immunologically reactive components were detected by reaction with sera from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). Peroxidase-conjugated anti-human IgG was used as a detector antibody to reveal immunocomplexes. Anti-P. brasiliensis IgG reacted with four major components of 70, 52, 43 and 20-21 kDa and with eight minor components. The 43 kDa glycoprotein (gp) was the predominant IgG reactive antigen, recognized by 100% of the patient's sera. The antibody titre to the 70 kDa glycoprotein, recognized by 96% of the sera tested, decreased significantly in patients undergoing antimycotic therapy. Cross-reactions with the immunoblotting technique could be minimized by serum dilution. Both gp 43 and gp 70 can be considered to be markers for human PCM under the test conditions used in our immunological assay. PMID- 2628561 TI - Taxonomic clarification of Cladosporium trichoides Emmons and its subsequent synonyms. AB - Cladosporium trichoides Emmons has been treated by some mycologists as a synonym of Cladosporium bantianum (Sacc.) Borelli and has been transferred to the genus Xylohypha (Fr.) Mason. In the present study, a herbarium specimen of C. bantianum (Torula bantiana Sacc.) Borelli, prepared by Saccardo, was compared with a herbarium specimen and a living type culture of C. triochoides by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and was found to be dissimilar. Herbarium specimens and living cultures of Xylohypha nigrescens, the type species of the genus Xylohypha, were also compared with those of C. trichoides and other pathogenic Cladosporium species. Fundamental differences were found between X. nigrescens and Cladosporium species, in colony morphology, manner of sporulation and conidial morphology. All Cladosporium isolates produced olive-black colonies regardless of environmental conditions, bore brown pigment on the walls of the vegetative hyphae as well as on the walls of the fruiting structures and produced branched chains of conidia either from well differentiated or poorly differentiated conidiophores, or directly from the hyphae. By SEM, conidia showed strong to moderately protruded hila, and the basal contour of the conidia was always truncated. On germination, hyphal tubes were produced randomly from the surface of the conidia. In contrast, X. nigrescens produced white colonies with or without brown centres, depending on the culture medium, bore pigment on the conidial walls and on conidiogenous cells but not on the vegetative hyphae and produced infrequently branched conidial chains, usually from intercalary conidiogenous cells which were globose to hat-shaped. Conidial hila were nonprotruding but, instead, were deeply concave and pore-like. The basal contour of the conidia was round and germ tubes were produced only from the pore-like hila. These results indicate that C. triochoides Emmons is different from C. bantianum (Sacc.) Borelli and that the reclassification of C. trichoides into the genus Xylohypha was not warranted. PMID- 2628562 TI - Saksenaea vasiformis infection in a burn wound. AB - Saksenaea vasiformis was isolated, after 18 days, from a burn wound caused by a petrol bomb. The fungus was locally invasive and was treated successfully by excision and systemic administration of amphotericin B. Identification of the isolate was accomplished by inducing sporulation on 1% agar containing grass clippings and on hay infusion agar. PMID- 2628563 TI - Overseas doctors' training scheme. PMID- 2628564 TI - Emergency room arteriography: a useful technique in the assessment of peripheral vascular injuries. AB - Emergency room arteriography is a useful aid in the assessment of limbs for possible vascular injury. It can be performed quickly by junior staff in the emergency room, using simple equipment, thereby avoiding the delays commonly associated with formal radiology suite arteriography. It can also be performed in units which lack formal arteriographic facilities, and resuscitation procedures need not be interrupted while this procedure is being performed. The resulting pictures are adequate for immediate diagnosis of vascular lesions and are of great value to the trauma surgeon. This pilot study of 50 cases confirms that emergency room arteriography is a safe and effective means of diagnosis in the resuscitation area and that the films are as useful as formal angiography for immediate diagnosis of vascular lesions of a traumatic nature. PMID- 2628565 TI - Intraperitoneal placement of gentamicin beads in the management of prosthetic graft sepsis. AB - A simple and non-hazardous technique for intraperitoneal placement of gentamicin beads after excision of an infected prosthetic aortic graft is presented. It has been used successfully in six cases of aortic graft sepsis. PMID- 2628566 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging of abdominal aortic grafts. AB - The widespread use of abdominal aortic grafting procedures and increasing awareness of related complications suggests the need for a reliable and non invasive diagnostic technique which will allow early detection of both occlusive and non-occlusive complications. Ultrasound is generally used with satisfactory results, but has several limitations, whereas MRI has shown great promise in the study of cardiovascular disease, being non-invasive, multiplanar and multiparametric. The present research aims to evaluate MRI in the follow-up of abdominal aortic grafts, attempting to define its significance as a screening procedure in non-selected patients. MRI is reliable in ascertaining the normality of the graft as well as the complications, these being partial or total thrombosis, pseudoaneurysms and perigraft collections. The data obtained are highly satisfactory and are almost always superior to those achieved with ultrasound and CT. PMID- 2628567 TI - Acute gastric stress ulceration: prophylaxis with allopurinol. AB - Acute gastric stress ulceration was induced in rats by cold restraint and was not associated with alteration of gastric pH or serum gastrin level. Cimetidine and oral and intravenous allopurinol were prophylactic but allopurinol was more effective in reducing the depth of the lesion and acted without alteration in gastric pH. The efficacy of allopurinol in preventing stress ulceration offers further indirect evidence of the role of ischaemia and oxygen free radical generation in the aetiology of stress ulceration. PMID- 2628568 TI - A study of major burn unit mortality from 1978 to 1988. AB - A retrospective analysis of the deaths in the Bangour Burn Unit over a 10-year period is given. Factors involved include the age of the patient and the percentage area of the burn, but concomitant medical conditions are of importance. Smoke inhalation represents a significant additional risk. PMID- 2628569 TI - Congenital cleft deformities in Rivers state of Nigeria: is there any association with environmental pollution? AB - Thirty-nine children with congenital cleft deformities seen at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital over a four-year period (1984-87) were studied. The majority (69%) of the children came from PHALGA, OTELGA and ALGA, the areas of the state with a high concentration of oil wells, gas flares and a petroleum refinery. There is yet no proof that there is a cause and effect relationship between the deformities and the industrial pollution but attention has been drawn to the association, which may be real or apparent. Further prospective studies are indicated. Apart from the possible role of environmental pollution, other epidemiological factors discussed include parental age, socioeconomic class of the families and the significance of the absence of positive family history of cleft deformities in all the cases studied. PMID- 2628570 TI - Surgical resection of pulmonary cryptococcomas in the presence of cryptococcal meningitis. PMID- 2628571 TI - Arteriovenous fistula of the superior thyroid artery and vein following thyroidectomy: a technical viewpoint. PMID- 2628572 TI - Ocular injuries caused by a suction toy. PMID- 2628573 TI - Obstructing carcinoma of the left colon managed by subtotal colectomy. PMID- 2628574 TI - Meniscal and articular cartilage injury in sport. AB - The mechanisms of injury, methods of diagnosis, and management of meniscal and articular cartilage injuries of the knee are outlined. Emphasis is placed on early and accurate arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment. Partial meniscectomy or meniscal repair is the preferred treatment in the early stage. Lavage and debridement can be useful in degenerative arthritis at a later stage. PMID- 2628575 TI - The Israeli elite infantry recruit: a model for understanding the biomechanics of stress fractures. AB - In a series of prospective studies among infantry recruits the biomechanics of stress fractures have been studied. In this recruit model bone geometry and the natural shock absorbers of the body have been found to be related to stress fracture morbidity. Using the technique of accelerometry in this model, it has been shown that in the fatigue state shock absorption decreases, resulting in an increase in the amplitude of vertical accelerations that propagate up the skeleton at heel strike. Experiments to study the possibility of lowering stress fracture morbidity in this model by means of viscoelastic orthotics have been successful only in the case of femoral and metatarsal stress fractures among certain subpopulations. Stress fracture management in this model has been improved by early detection and by treatment regimens according to a protocol that emphasizes limited rest periods to allow healing to take place rather than judging recovery by pain levels. PMID- 2628576 TI - Anterior knee pain: diagnosis and management. AB - Anterior knee pain is caused by a number of distinct conditions which can only be diagnosed accurately by arthroscopy. Chondromalacia patellae is an important cause of disability in young people which rarely progresses to osteoarthritis. Treatment is by non-operative quadriceps strengthening exercises or by conservative surgery combined with careful supervised rehabilitation. PMID- 2628577 TI - The torn anterior cruciate ligament. AB - The anterior cruciate ligament may be ruptured when the knee is hyperextended, hyperflexed and rotated inwards, or forced into excessive valgus. The functional anatomy of the ligament is described, and reasons for the decompensation of the knee are considered. A brief historical review of ligament repair and reconstruction is presented before outlining the clinical assessment of this common sports injury. Both autogenous and prosthetic surgical reconstruction are considered briefly although the emphasis is still upon conservative management in the majority of these cases. Lastly, a plea is made for the prevention of incidents which may lead to rupture of the ligament. PMID- 2628578 TI - In vitro evidence for B cell dysfunction in patients with chronic liver disease. AB - Patients with chronic liver disease have been reported to have multiple immunologic abnormalities. We evaluated immune function in 40 such patients. The patient group had a decreased proportion of CD3 positive cells compared to controls (54.2 +/- 13.2 vs 67.9 +/- 5.7, p less than 0.01), CD4 positive cells (38.4 +/- 10.0 vs 44.3 +/- 4.9, p less than 0.01) and CD8 positive cells (17.7 +/ 8.2 vs 26.3 +/- 3.9, p less than 0.05). B cells were increased over controls (8.3 +/- 4.0 vs 6.0 +/- 1.9, p less than 0.01). In vitro immunoglobulin synthesis studies demonstrated decreased production in both IgM (632 +/- 482 ng/ml vs 2,050 +/- 1,720 ng/ml, p less than 0.01) and IgG synthesis (726 +/- 640 ng/ml vs 1,117 +/- 1,012 ng/ml, p less than 0.05) by patients as compared to controls. Coculture of fractionated populations of lymphocytes indicated that the patients had adequate T helper cell activity and no evidence for enhanced T suppressor cell activity. B cells of patients with chronic liver disease appear to have an impaired capacity to produce immunoglobulin in vitro. PMID- 2628579 TI - Impaired in vitro lymphocyte response to toxoplasma antigen in HIV1 infected patients. AB - The containment of Toxoplasma gondii infection is largely dependent of T cell mediated immunity. In this study, in vitro lymphocyte responsiveness to T. gondii antigen was examined in 59 HIV1 infected individuals and in 58 HIV non-infected controls. Of the 45 patients with serological evidence of past Toxoplasma infection, a significant proliferative response was found in only 18, whereas responses were present in 48 out of 51 controls with anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. In the 27 non-responder patients, the lack of proliferative response to T. gondii antigen was correlated with the loss of CD4+ cells, and the impairment of proliferative responses to other microbial antigens, whereas responsiveness to phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A were not significantly diminished. Results are consistent with impairment of cell mediated immunity to T. gondii in patients at risk for reactivation of chronic Toxoplasma infection. Of note, in the one year clinical following, 2 of the 27 non-responder patients developed toxoplasmic encephalitis compared to 0 of 18 with a Toxoplasma specific proliferative response. PMID- 2628580 TI - Circulating immune complexes in sickle cell anaemia. AB - A polyethylene-glycol insoluble serum fraction was studied in patients with sickle cell anaemia during the steady state of the disease. The levels of C1q precipitins were normal but increased amounts of proteins, IgM C3 and factor B were detected in this immune complex enriched serum fraction. These findings are a sign that circulating immune complexes can be detected even in the asymptomatic period of the disease. PMID- 2628581 TI - Early changes of rat experimental autoimmune glomerulonephritis induced with the nephritogenic antigen from bovine renal basement membranes. AB - Early changes of experimental autoimmune glomerulonephritis induced with the bovine nephritogenic antigen from renal basement membranes were studied in inbred WKY/NCrj rats. Rats were injected with the antigen and examined every two days for urinary protein, hematuria, serum titer to the antigen, deposition of rat IgG on the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), renal histological changes, and pulmonary hemorrhage. Increase of the anti-nephritogenic antigen-titer in the serum was first detected at day 6, deposition of rat IgG on the GBM at day 8, glomerular capillary occlusions with mononuclear cells at day 10, pulmonary hemorrhage and glomerular-capsular adhesions at day 10-12, and glomerular crescent formation, proteinuria and hematuria at day 12-14. All changes became severe by day 16. No infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was found in glomeruli. These results clearly indicate that mononuclear cells but not polymorphonuclear leukocytes are important in the early development of the glomerulonephritis. Occlusions of mononuclear cells after deposition of IgG suggests that the autologous anti-GBM antibodies serve as an initiator of the disease. PMID- 2628582 TI - Characterization of lymphocytes in a patient with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: studies by fluorescence polarization. AB - Lymphocytes from a patient with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) were employed for a study of the intracellular viscosity and fluorescein permeability through the cell membrane by a fluorescence polarization spectrofluorometer, which was designed to calculate polarization value and permeable fluorescein intensity automatically. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) was used as the indicator probe. The fluorogenic substrate is taken up by viable cells and converted to a fluorescent molecule, fluorescein, by intracellular esterase, where upon the fluorescein easily effluxes through the cell membrane. The response to stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) for 45 min led to a decreased polarization value (p value) as compared to lymphocytes of healthy donors, and the fluorescein efflux through the cell membrane was greater than that of healthy donors. Fluorescein efflux from lymphocytes in the patient during 48 and 72 h incubation with or without PHA was markedly increased. In healthy donors, the degree of fluorescein permeability was not increased during the culture. These results indicate that intracellular viscosity of lymphocytes is altered in initial mitogenic stimulation, but that there was some abnormality in the fluorescein permeability properties through the cell membrane of lymphocytes in a patient with WAS. PMID- 2628583 TI - Natural killer cell activity in rats infused with Intralipid. AB - The effect of Intralipid on the natural killer (NK) cell activity of healthy male Fisher 344 adult rats was investigated. They were cannulated via the right jugular vein and continuously infused for five days with: normal saline plus heparin, 5% Intralipid plus heparin, or 10% Intralipid plus heparin. Control groups comprised of cannulated rats receiving no infusion and rats undergoing no operative procedures. Following the five-day infusion, rats were exsanguinated under ether anesthesia and mononuclear cells (MNC) harvested from the peripheral blood. NK activity was measured in a standard four hour 51Cr release assay against YAC-1 target cells. NK cell activity in rats infused with 5% Intralipid did not differ significantly from rats in both control groups or rats infused with saline. Infusion of rats with 10% Intralipid resulted in a significant increase in NK activity compared with all other groups. PMID- 2628584 TI - Role of cytostasis in antitumor immunity against syngeneic X5563 plasmocytoma: comparative study of cytostasis and cytolysis using variant tumors and neonatally thymectomized mice. AB - The mechanism of antitumor immunity against syngeneic X5563 plasmocytoma was investigated with cytostasis and cytolysis assays by changing the host-tumor interrelationship using neonatally thymectomized (NTx) mice and spontaneous variant tumors. Immunization with mitomycin C-treated X5563 cells (MCC-X5563) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced an effective anti-X5563 immunoprophylaxis in vivo. Such immunized mice and X5563 tumor-bearing mice showed cytostatic, but not cytolytic, activity in their peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) in vitro. Both cytostatic and cytolytic activities were induced in PEC of regressor (R1 and R2) variant tumor-bearing mice. But NTx mice, which could exert cytostatic activity and no cytolytic activity, could reject about one-half of R1 variant tumors. Immunizations using a progressor P1 variant tumor, obtained from R1 tumor after nearly complete rejection, did not give a prophylactic effect in vivo, nor did they induce in vitro cytolytic activity although a low degree of cytostatic activity was detected. These results suggest that cytostasis is the common and basic effector mechanism of antitumor resistance against syngeneic original or variant X5563 tumors, and that the collaboration of cytolysis and cytostasis exerts strong resistance against regressor variants. PMID- 2628585 TI - Defect of NK activity in children with untreated acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). I. Dependence on the blast count and phenotype, and response to exogenous and endogenous alpha-interferon. AB - Endogenous NK-activity (eNK) against K-562 cells was determined in peripheral blood of 68 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) before treatment. In 53% of them it was depressed, and in 47% it was within the range of control children (27) and adults (104). There was a significant negative correlation between blast contamination of peripheral blood and the level of eNK-activity. In spite of this general trend, 8 patients with high blast count have had normal eNK activity, and 10 patients with relatively low blast count (below 50%) have had depressed eNK-activity. Examples of T ALL showed significantly lower eNK-activity than CALLA ALL. The ability of exogenous alpha-interferon (IFN) to stimulate eNK activity was impaired in 18 of 40 examples of ALL and preserved in 22. The IFN induced NK-response was also negatively correlated to the blast burden, but again with exceptions: Six nonresponders in spite of low blast count, and six responders in spite of high blast count in peripheral blood. IFN-inducer, poly IC, stimulated eNK-activity only in 6 of 26 ALL samples. Surprisingly, positive correlation was found between poly-IC-induced NK-stimulation and blast count in peripheral blood. Poly-IC induced significant IFN production only in one of six cultures of ALL. Impaired eNK-activity has been attributed, in part, to "dilution" of NK cells by the blasts. Defects in production of IFN, and in response to it, may be additional reasons for depressed NK-activity in about 50% of children with untreated ALL. PMID- 2628586 TI - Severe alcohol intoxication: a study of 204 consecutive patients. AB - We report a five month retrospective analysis of 204 consecutive patients seen in an adult medical emergency department with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) in excess of 400 mg/dl. The average BAC was 467 mg/dl with a range of 400-719 mg/dl. In 153 patients (75%) the BAC was 400-500 mg/dl, in 47 patients (23%) the BAC was 500-600 mg/dl and in 4 patients (2%) the BAC was greater than 600 mg/dl. Eighty eight percent of the patients were oriented to person, place, and time upon questioning, 12% were disoriented or unresponsive to noxious stimuli. None of the four patients whose BAC was greater than 600 mg/dl were initially alert and oriented and only eight of the unresponsive patients had a BAC below 500 mg/dl (p less than .001). Sixteen patients (8%) were admitted. Three of the admissions were for continued unresponsiveness presumed due to ethanol, the other thirteen were for coexistent medical conditions. There were no significant associations between BAC and vital sign abnormalities. PMID- 2628587 TI - Toxicological findings after fatal dextromoramide injection. AB - A death involving dextromoramide injection is presented. The drug was analyzed in whole blood, bile, stomach contents, kidney, brain and liver. The whole blood concentration was 1526 ng/ml. The results are compared with the existing literature. PMID- 2628588 TI - Flu-like symptoms associated with fluoxetine overdose: a case report. AB - The serotonin reuptake inhibitor zimelidine may cause flu-like symptoms and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Guillain-Barre syndrome has not been reported with the use of the structurally related serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine. Flu-like symptoms are described in the manufacturer's literature on fluoxetine but are absent from published studies. We describe a patient who developed flu-like symptoms, urticaria and angioedema 2 days after fluoxetine overdose. There were no neurologic sequelae. This case confirms that fluoxetine may be associated with flu-like symptoms and suggests that, because these symptoms occurred after overdose, they may be dose related. The additional findings in this patient suggestive of allergy, an unusual feature of drug overdose, are discussed. PMID- 2628589 TI - 7-nitrobenz[a]anthracene. PMID- 2628590 TI - [The task of researches on family in nursing. Commentary; a view of family nursing: examination of the movement of family nursing in USA]. PMID- 2628591 TI - [The task of researches on family in nursing. Overview; family role and family support of people with mental disorders: the trend of researches and the task of nurses in England and USA]. PMID- 2628592 TI - [The task of researches on family in nursing. Commentary: the examination of framework for family assessment and family support in nursing: a trial of the deductive and inductive approach]. PMID- 2628593 TI - [The task of researches on family in nursing. Commentary; a viewpoint of nursing in family support: focusing on the process of adaptation and family relations]. PMID- 2628594 TI - [The task of researches on family in nursing. Discussion; the problems of research on family nursing: for development of family nursing theory]. PMID- 2628595 TI - [Bereavement outcome for widows]. PMID- 2628597 TI - The approach to the English monograph. To challenge your translation. To discover your mistakes (4). PMID- 2628596 TI - [The task of researches on family in nursing. The application of EE for family assessment to Japan and recent trends in EE research in England]. PMID- 2628598 TI - [5th anniversary of the first Finnish Mothers' Cafe]. PMID- 2628599 TI - [But does it concern me?]. PMID- 2628600 TI - [Changes in titles and required competencies]. PMID- 2628601 TI - [A sound labor community supports the employee]. PMID- 2628602 TI - [Modern midwives visit Pusta country]. PMID- 2628603 TI - [What is the value of a woman's life?]. PMID- 2628604 TI - [Mother-Child Project in Tanzania]. PMID- 2628605 TI - [A different kind of holiday in Tanzania]. PMID- 2628606 TI - [About alternative delivery]. PMID- 2628607 TI - [Back to work--but how dare I?. Interview by Arja Laiho]. PMID- 2628608 TI - [Who will improve maternity care?]. PMID- 2628609 TI - [Midwifery and health care with total responsibility for the people]. PMID- 2628610 TI - [Alveolitis in long-term intake of small doses of amiodarone]. PMID- 2628611 TI - [A case of pulmonary thromboembolism after cholecystectomy]. PMID- 2628612 TI - [Pseudotumor course of Yersinia infection]. PMID- 2628613 TI - [Masks of acute pneumonia at an emergency care unit]. AB - Clinical studies in an acute medical unit were aimed at the analysis of the onset and clinical appearance of masked acute pneumonia. Such acute pneumonia masks as pulmonary edema, paroxysmal tachycardia, infective toxic shock, acute surgical conditions, hepatitis, pneumothorax considerably complicate the diagnosis of the underlying disease. However, some manifestations typical for acute pneumonia are recognizable. These, in combination with the above misleading symptoms, can be managed properly only provided close comprehensive examination of the patients is carried out. PMID- 2628614 TI - [Long-term presence of foreign bodies in the tracheobronchial tree]. PMID- 2628615 TI - [Hemosorption in the treatment of aspirin-induced bronchial asthma]. AB - Oral aspirin test was performed in 50 asthma patients. Of them 18 patients exhibited idiosyncrasy to the drug. All the patients were subjected to hemosorption. Subsequently, 16 patients achieved remission. The hemosorption resulted in reduction of tracheobronchial hypersensitivity, especially to PGE2 alpha. Phagocytosis and T-cell immunity returned to normal. Sixteen patients underwent aspirin desensitization which had a more potent action on the function of beta-adrenergic receptors of the smooth muscles of the bronchi. Complete desensitization in 3 patients was recorded only after 1-3 hemosorption sessions. PMID- 2628616 TI - [The role of microelements in the pathogenesis and clinical course of bronchial asthma]. PMID- 2628617 TI - [Activity of the kallikrein-kinin system of the blood in patients with steroid dependent bronchial asthma]. PMID- 2628618 TI - [The role of residual changes of the lungs after cured tuberculosis in severe somatic diseases]. AB - Clinical, x-ray, morphological and microbiological findings have been analyzed for 106 patients who died at hospitals of severe somatic diseases. The data have been obtained on the incidence of residual effects of healed tuberculosis, that of recurrences of the specific process and isolation of L-transformed agents from the residual foci. This evidence supports the assumption that severe somatic diseases mask subclinical activity of residual tuberculosis. PMID- 2628619 TI - [Problems of diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary thesaurismosis]. AB - The paper concerns rare forms of pulmonary thesaurismosis which are a frequent cause of misdiagnosis: 5 cases of alveolar proteinosis and 1 with alveolar microlithiasis are reported. Lung biopsy (open or transbronchial) is indicated for verification of the diagnosis. Further investigations to try radical therapy of the disease are needed in view of short-term effects of commonly used bronchoalveolar lavage, endolymphatic chymotrypsin in combination with heparin. PMID- 2628620 TI - [The lung in Osler-Rendu disease]. AB - Clinical aspects of pulmonary status of 226 patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia are considered. Vascular affection of the lungs was a rare finding. Symptoms of arteriovenous shunting in the lungs were noticed in 10 patients. Indices of external respiration underwent no significant changes in relation to restriction being somewhat reduced in relation to obstruction. PMID- 2628621 TI - [Present-day course of vitamin B 12 deficiency anemia]. AB - By recent data, B12-deficiency anemia occurs in 14% of overall anemia cases. It arises mostly from gastrointestinal lesions, atrophic gastritis being the main etiological factor. Common clinical signs of the disease (glossitis, nervous disturbances, hemolysis) manifest in only 10-23% of the patients, hematological evidence of pancytopenia is registered in about half of the cases. The early diagnosis may be established with spinal puncture. That of the iliac bone tubera is a method of choice in elderly subjects. PMID- 2628622 TI - [Therapeutic effectiveness of preserved thrombocytic concentrates]. PMID- 2628623 TI - [Hemorrhagic diathesis]. PMID- 2628624 TI - [Clinico-morphologic characteristics of pneumococcal meningoencephalitis]. AB - A relationship between PM severity and early onset of dramatic microcirculatory disorders of the brain and viscera leading to DIC syndrome and infective toxic shock has been reported in a clinicomorphological study of 12 PM cases. Being the main PM target, the brain is afflicted more seriously. The related shock has specific features: toxicosis and brain swelling. They should be taken into consideration when performing reanimation. PMID- 2628625 TI - [Variants of the Ramsay Hunt syndrome]. AB - Out of 776 patients having polymorphic syndromes caused by herpes simplex or zoster infection 25 patients exhibited Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Altogether 5 clinical variants of the syndrome were recognized. Neurological symptoms and liquor investigations show that the process goes far beyond the ganglion of the facial nerve and therefore can be characterized as multiradiculoganglioneuritis. There are also frequent associated meningeal and encephalitic symptoms. Etiologically, some clinical variants of Ramsay Hunt syndrome arise from herpes simplex infection. PMID- 2628626 TI - [Lesions of the central nervous system in systemic lupus erythematosus in the computerized-tomographic image]. AB - Computed tomography (CT) of the brain was employed in 40 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Clinical cerebral pathology was obvious in 30 and absent in 10 patients. By CT cerebral symptoms were divided of 4 groups. Clinical symptom complexes of CNS defects and SLE were reflected on definite CT images, e. g. digital capillaritis, marked livedo. Raynaud's syndrome, disseminated erythematous skin lesions correlated with CT-shown focal damage to the brain. CT picture of enlarged subarachnoid space, ventricles and basal cisterns can be observed in SLE patients without neurological symptoms. This indicated likely subclinical cerebral affection. PMID- 2628627 TI - [Hemodynamics in crush syndrome complicated by acute hepatorenal insufficiency]. PMID- 2628628 TI - Biochemical changes in blood during the long and short triathlon competition. AB - The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of long (3.8 km swimming, 180 km biking, 42.2 km running, n = 7) and short (1.5 km swimming, 42 km biking, 14 km running, n = 14) triathlons on blood hormones, metabolites and substrates. Both variants of triathlon caused a significant rise in cortisol, somatotropin and aldosterone levels, the insulin and C-peptide levels decreased. The progesterone level increased considerably only after long triathlon. The testosterone level did not change essentially. The level of plasma glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL did not change substantially during the both competitions. FFA concentration increased significantly and triglycerides concentration decreased only during the prolonged variant. PMID- 2628629 TI - Factors affecting health club attendance: a comparison of simple and elaborate settings. AB - Changes in physical fitness associated with two types of health clubs over a three month period were investigated. Factors associated with attendance at a "complex" club and a "simple" club were examined. Ten apparently healthy women were selected randomly from women joining each of these health clubs. Physical fitness was assessed and subjects completed a questionnaire assessing motivation before the initiation of activities and at the end of three months. Subjects attending the simple club improved in more areas of physical fitness. Attendance at the complex club was solely motivated by the membership fee, while attendance at the simple club was related to group support. PMID- 2628630 TI - The effect of a competitive season on the body composition of university female athletes. AB - Fifty-six NCAA Division I female athletes (age +/- SD = 19.82 +/- 0.59 years) from the swimming (SW), track (TR), volleyball (VB), gymnastics (GYM) and basketball (BB) teams were measured preseason and postseason to determine the effects of a season's training on their body composition. Body density (BD), relative fat (RF), fat-weight (FW), and fat-free weight (FFW) were obtained via hydrostatic weighing. The TR and GYM athletes showed significant increases and the VB players significant decreases in BD and FFW across season, respectively. No significant changes were found for the SW and BB teams. Preseason comparisons showed greater BD for TR than for BB, VB or SW. The GYM and VB had lower BD values than SW. Fat-free weight was higher in BB and VB teams, while TR and SW teams had greater FFW than GM. The BB, VB and SW teams had greater preseason FW than the TR and GYM groups. Postseason comparisons showed greater BD in TR and GYM than in the other three groups. Although FW differences were consistent with preseason data, all groups differed significantly in FFW with BB players having the greatest amount followed by VB, SW, TR and GYM. PMID- 2628631 TI - Effects of thought content instructions on swimming performance. AB - The effects of instructions to use three different types of thought patterns on the practice performance of superior age-group swimmers were assessed. Two different swimming tasks, two 40 degrees m effort swims and a set of eight 100 m repeats, were used. A balanced design allowed the comparison of the totals of treatment and control (normal thinking) conditions. All Ss improved in at least two of the three conditions. All manipulations were significant at the 0.05 level. Group averages indicated that task-relevant content was the most effective condition, followed by mood works, and positive thinking. The importance of using thought content instructions for improving performance was supported by this investigation. PMID- 2628632 TI - Terrestrial and sub aquatic apneic bradycardial responses under resting and working conditions. AB - Morphology normalised (BSA; stature) vital capacity was used to divide a sample of 13 young adult female volunteers into two groups based on lung volume. The apneic (breath-hold) heart rate response under resting and working conditions, on land and underwater, was measured. Four conditions were imposed, during which continuous monitoring of heart-rate was undertaken: resting on land, resting underwater, swimming unconstrained underwater, carrying bricks underwater. In all conditions a significant bradycardial response was exhibited (p less than 0.05), with heart rates also significantly lower for the group with larger lung volumes. No differences were found between the groups in ratings of perceived exertion during breath-hold. We contend that the lower heart rates in the group with larger lung volumes may be caused by higher negative intrathoracic pressure which, by stimulation of baroreceptors leads to a more pronounced reflex slowing of the heart rate. PMID- 2628633 TI - Cardiorespiratory and hemodynamic responses to inversion and inversion with sit ups. AB - Eighteen men were studied during 15 minutes of inversion to determine the effects of 4 sit-ups per minute for 5 minutes on the cardiorespiratory system. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, ventilation, oxygen uptake, and METS increased significantly from preinversion/standing (A) to inversion (B). Arterial blood pressure increased from 122/81 mmHg to 142/99 mmHg during the first 5 minutes of inversion. Oxygen uptake increased from 341 ml.min-1 to 456 ml.min-1. Heart rate decreased significantly from (A) to (B). Double product, frequency of breaths, and tidal volume were not significantly changed from (A) to (B). Blood pressure, double product, ventilation, frequency of breaths, oxygen uptake, and METS increased significantly from the first 5 minutes of inversion (B) to the second 5 minutes of inversion with sit-ups (C). Arterial blood pressure increased from 142/99 mmHg (B) to 163/104 mmHg (C). The diastolic value remained significantly increased following the muscle strengthening exercise. Double product increased from 104 (B) to 126 (C), and oxygen uptake increased from 456 ml.min-1 (B) to 565 ml.min-1 (C). Following inversion/sit-ups (C), oxygen uptake decreased significantly during the third 5 minutes of inversion (D). Systolic blood pressure was also significantly decreased at (D) following the sit-ups. Upon returning to the standing position (E) versus the third 5 minutes of inversion (D), arterial blood pressure decreased significantly from 151/108 mmHg (D) to 123/84 mmHg (E). The postinversion/standing (E) blood pressure was nonsignificantly different from the preinversion/standing (A) blood pressure as was also the case with heart rate, double product, and tidal volume. Ventilation, frequency of breaths, oxygen uptake, and METS were still significantly increased during (E) versus (A). These data illustrate the influence of muscular exercise on the cardiorespiratory system during full -90 degree inversion. The increase in blood pressure is no cause for concern, and the assumed dangerous effects of full inversion have been overestimated. PMID- 2628634 TI - Comparison of ventilatory and heart rate responses to hypoxia at rest and during light exercise in high school judo athletes. AB - Ventilatory and heart rate responses to hypoxia at rest and during light exercise (30W) were compared in 21 high school judo athletes. The results of ventilatory and heart rate responses to hypoxia were analyzed by the hyperbolic equations, VE = VO + AVE/(PETO2-CVE) and HR = HRO + AHR/(PETO2-CHR), respectively, where VE and HR are the observed ventilation and heart rate, VO and HRO the horizontal asymptote in ventilation and heart rate for infinite endtidal PO2 (PETO2), AVE and AHR the slope constants indicating the magnitude of hypoxic sensitivity, and CVE and CHR the vertical asymptote in PETO2 for infinite ventilation and heart rate. AVE was further recalculated after VE was normalized for a 70 kg body mass, using an allometric coefficient, and was defined as AVEN. The absolute magnitudes of hypoxic response in ventilation and heart rate at PETO2 40 mmHg were also determined as delta V40 = AVE/(40-CVE) and delta HR40 = AHR/(40-CHR), respectively. (1) The enhanced hypoxic ventilatory chemosensitivity previously found in heavy-weight judo athletes at rest was confirmed. However this characteristic disappeared with exercise. (2) It was also confirmed that there was no significant correlation between hypoxic heart rate sensitivity and body weight at rest. With exercise, this was found also to be the case. (3) On the other hand, when the hypoxic responses at rest were compared to those of the exercise studies, significant positive correlations were illustrated in both ventilatory and heart rate responsiveness. These results demonstrated that although ventilatory and heart rate responses did not quantitatively exhibit parallel change, the two activities did demonstrate a certain synergism between rest and exercise. PMID- 2628635 TI - Relationship of the anthropometric and physical characteristics of male junior gymnasts to performance. AB - To evaluate the structural characteristics concomitant to excellence in gymnastics performance, body composition, anthropometric measurements, power, strength, and flexibility were determined in Junior Olympic gymnastics competitors. Physical parameter measurements were performed on 65 male Class I and II all-around gymnasts. National team qualifiers, top 10 Class I and II, were compared to those who placed 11th to 34th in the all-around scoring at the 1987 U.S. Gymnastics Federation Junior Olympic National Championships. The mean percent body fat, 7.1 +/- 1.6%, compared favorably with European gymnasts (7.07 +/- 1.7%). Top Class II gymnasts were significantly leaner (6.1 +/- 0.8% fat) than Class I (6.9 +/- 1.5% fat) and Class II (8.8 +/- 3.2% fat). The mean strength to body ratio was 138.8 +/- 16.8% while the Top Class I exhibited the highest ratio of 148.2 +/- 21.1%. Class II recorded a significantly higher absolute jump and reach (66.8 +/- 19.3 cm) and polyometric (66.2 +/- 6.4 cm) than the other classes. Class I and Top Class II gymnasts exhibited the greatest shoulder rotation while Top Class I exhibited the greatest hip flexion. Grip strength was low for all groups. To Class I and Top Class II when compared to other classes were characterized as shorter in stature, stronger in both relative and absolute strength, possessed greater flexibility through the hip region, shoulder girdle, back, were leaner, and possessed more muscle mass. PMID- 2628636 TI - The general endurance of children aged 8-12 years in the 12 min run test. AB - The purpose of this study was to define the level of general endurance and to suggest appropriate norms in this respect. The investigation was based on a sample of over 5000 children aged 8-12 years. Their endurance was examined by means of the 12 min run test which was preceded by two months of preparatory training. The results recorded turned out to improve with age. The results achieved by the boys were on average by 272 m better than these achieved by girls. The least sex determined differences in the 12 min run performance and in somatic characteristics were observed in children aged 12 years. PMID- 2628637 TI - Physiological effects of walking and running with hand-held weights. AB - To study the effect of walking and running with hand-held weights on oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), ten males (means age = 26.1 +/- 5.5 yrs) completed 4 submaximal treadmill tests during each of four test sessions, one week apart. Protocols consisted of carrying one of four randomly assigned hand-held weight configurations (0, 0.45, 1.36, 2.27 kg per hand) while walking or running for 5 min at each of four speeds (4.8, 6.4, 8.0, 9.6 km/hr) at 4% grade. Open circuit spirometry methods were utilized for the determination of steady rate VO2 and RER. Heart rate was recorded electrocardiographically throughout the test. Subjects maintained normal arm swing patterns. Carrying hand-held weights did not significantly increase VO2 (ml.kg-1.min-1) at either walking speed (4.8, 6.4 km/hr). At the two running speeds (8.0, 9.6 km/hr) VO2 was significantly greater when the heaviest load (2.27 kg) was compared to the three lighter loads (0, 0.45, 1.36 kg). The results of this study suggest that walking with hand-held weights of 2.27 kg or less while maintaining a normal arm swing is an insufficient stimulus for significantly increasing VO2 or HR. Running with hand held weights can increase VO2, with 2.27 kg appearing to be the load threshold. PMID- 2628638 TI - Oxygen uptake and efficiency related to external work rate during loaded walking. AB - The work load for the treadmill test is generally controlled by changing the slope of the treadmill (vertical method). Recently a new loading method was devised in which the subject pulls a weight horizontal from behind on the treadmill (horizontal method). The present study was conducted to compare the oxygen uptake (VO2 between the vertical and horizontal methods. The VO2 was 8 to 15% higher with the horizontal than with the vertical method on the same load levels. The difference was significant for 700 kpm/min (p less than 0.05). When unloaded, the frequency of steps was 109 +/- 9.3 steps/min. The frequency of steps was substantially unchanged with increasing external work rate in both methods. There was no difference in the frequency of steps between the two methods. The present paper discusses the significance of the VO2 difference resulting from the difference ways of loading, but the effect of frequency of steps was regarded as insignificant. The present study discussed the assumptions in calculating delta efficiency, delta efficiency per one step and net efficiency, and proposed the necessary conditions for the calculations. Although the efficiency from the three calculation ways was scattered, after selecting the efficiency under the necessary conditions, its value was almost the same and showed about 23%. PMID- 2628639 TI - A new method of determining patellar position. AB - A new ratio has been devised which allows direct measurement of the position of the patella in relationship to the femur. The range of normal values is from 0.56 to 0.76. PMID- 2628640 TI - Characteristics of leg extensor muscle in a world champion masters jumper. A case study. AB - To examine the characteristics of a world champion masters jumper (aged 71 yr), a study was undertaken which included a muscle biopsy and measurement of mechanical force production. Comparisons were made to biopsy data obtained from the literature and to force data on 7 active males (63-81 yrs). Cross-sectional areas of vastus lateralis muscle of the jumper's dominant thigh were 3.43 (type I), 3.32 (type IIA) and 2.34 (type IIB) microns 2 X 10(3). This is smaller than what is reported from sedentary young and old. The torque-time curve of maximal isometric knee extension indicates that the jumper had the highest value per body weight from the onset to the peak (3.48 Nm/kg; 58.2% higher than age-matched controls). These results suggest that the daily training of the jumper has a specific effect on the rate of force production despite his relatively small muscle fiber areas. PMID- 2628641 TI - Injury producing factors in sport parachuting. AB - On the basis of a study of the literature and a description of the parachute jump, the injury producing factors of civil parachuting is described. The majority of injury happens during landing; the assuming of a correct "prepare to land attitude" and the execution of a good parachute landing fall may prevent a great part of the injuries to the spine and the lower extremities. The factors mentioned are often correlated to ignorance, inexperience or to willful neglect of current regulations. A revision of the education of student parachuters and instructors in order to meet the same quality demands in all parachuting centres is proposed. Safer parachutes and a simplification of the parachute landing fall may also reduce the incidence of casualties. PMID- 2628642 TI - Family privacy and persistent vegetative state: a symposium on the Linares case. PMID- 2628643 TI - Editor's introduction: family privacy and persistent vegetative state. PMID- 2628644 TI - What actually happened: an informed review of the Linares incident. PMID- 2628645 TI - The Linares affair. PMID- 2628646 TI - Role of in-house counsel in decisions about withdrawal of life sustaining treatment. PMID- 2628647 TI - Do the right thing: Samuel Linares and defensive law. PMID- 2628648 TI - Clinical ethics and public policy: reflections on the Linares case. PMID- 2628649 TI - On heroes and villains in the Linares drama. PMID- 2628650 TI - The malpractice standard under health care cost containment. PMID- 2628651 TI - Stratified scarcity: redefining the standard of care. PMID- 2628652 TI - Abortion and legal process in the United States: an overview of the post-Webster legal landscape. PMID- 2628653 TI - The road to moderation: the significance of Webster for legislation restricting abortion. PMID- 2628654 TI - International dimensions of the Department of Justice arguments in the Webster case. PMID- 2628656 TI - Community support treatment and rehabilitation (COSTAR). PMID- 2628655 TI - Abortion and distortion of justice in the law. PMID- 2628657 TI - Stress tops list of workplace hazards affecting women. PMID- 2628658 TI - Why I signed a card. PMID- 2628659 TI - Back to basics: collective bargaining is the way to go! PMID- 2628660 TI - A day in the life of. PMID- 2628661 TI - [The frequency of isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from the nose and throat of patients with staphyloderma. A short review of pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria on the skin]. AB - In the first part of this work, we have given our own experiences of the frequency of isolation of staphylococcus aureus from nase and neck of patients with staphylodermia. Staphylococcus aureus is more often isolated from nose and neck, p less than 0.05 of patients with staphylodermia in comparison with control group. In the other part of this work we have given a review of the most frequent pathogenic and apathogenic bacteria on skin. Particularly we paid attention to the place and role of staphylococcus aureus on the human skin. PMID- 2628662 TI - [The evaluation of nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity in diseases with an asthmatic reaction]. AB - The quantitative acetylcholine testing has been done at 62 patients, 45 suffering of bronchial asthma, 8 with intrinsic one, and 9 with bronchitis asthmatiformis. According to the groups of diseases, the effective changes of acetylcholine threshold doses of single concentrations which produced the bronchial hyperreactivity, were registered and compared with cumulative doses of all previous concentrations with no effect. Statistical analysis showed that threshold dose which can produce bronchial hyperreactivity, is individual and it is not caused by the kind of disease with bronchospastic reaction. Also, it was proved that the eventual effect of cumulative doses, during the provocation with more acetylcholine concentrations, and with 10 or 15 minutes pause, has no significance for acetylcholine testing quality. PMID- 2628663 TI - [Hormetic effects of exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation]. AB - In view of the possible hormetic effects of low-level radiation in humans, the author discusses the controversial interpretations which could be made about the results of her investigation of the longterm effects of occupational exposures of 531 healty workers in Bosnia and Hercegovina during a life-span of up to 20 years. Assuming that the frequency of the subjects with binuclears in their lymphocyte count at different cumulative doses would be distributed along a line of linear energy transfer (LET), she correlated the corresponding values for her subjects, but did not obtain the expected positive correlation (Tab. 1). Contrary to the expectation, the frequencies of the distribution of the rates of subjects having binuclears in lymphocyte count demonstrated a supralinear dose-response (Graph. 1) with 94.8% of subjects having frequencies above the LET, 3.7% on that line and only 1.5% below. That finding could be interpreted as an argument that there is no safe threshold limit below which the ionising radiation is not dangerous, but also that the dose response might be increased as the LET approaches the minimum dose rate. However, the data about the rates of binuclears per 10(4) lymphocytes in subjects having them, compared between the groups with different cumulative doses, could be interpreted in an opposite way. The values of binuclears per 10(4) lymphocytes were distributed more or less homogenously around a median of 3.1. The value of 3 binuclears per 10(4) lymphocytes is in Yugoslavia permitted for the new entrants in the occupations involving the exposure to ionising radiation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628664 TI - [Hematomas located in the basal ganglia and thalamus (diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic aspects)]. AB - A series of 129 cases of spontaneous intracerebral hematomas of ganglio-basal and thalamic localization was studied. Out of the number, twenty were thalamic hematomas. Only hematomas of hypertensive and unknown etiology were analysed. In all patients included in the study, the diagnosis was established using clinical methods and confirmed using radiological methods. Thalamic hemorrhages were treated conservatively, while those of ganglio-basal localization were treated both conservatively and surgically, depending on localization and initial clinical picture. The results of the treatment and quality of life in survivors were directly dependent upon the clinical and radiological parameters. PMID- 2628665 TI - [Surgical treatment of extracranial lesions of the carotid arteries in the prevention of cerebral ischemia]. AB - Medical and social importance of vascular diseases of central nervous system comes out from the massiveness of this pathology, of the severe consequences which are left on the population of different age, sex and occupation and the possibility to prevent the appearance of invalidity and fatal end preventive surgical intervention. Clinical pathology of CVI intrudes necessity of surgical treatment, which consists of prophylactic thromboendarterectomy. PMID- 2628666 TI - [The effect of steroid therapy on cellular reactions in vivo in patients with cutaneous and systemic forms of erythematosus]. AB - We examined 104 patients divided in two groups: patients suffering from lupus erythematosus systemic (SLE) and from lupus erythematosus cutaneous (CLE). Cellular immunity tests in vivo were performed in all patients: DNCB, PPD, Trichophytin, Candidin. Cellular immunity response were compared according to undergoing steroid therapy. Patients suffering from CLE had decreased reaction to cellular immunity test with increased dose of steroid therapy. In patient with SLE this decrease was not recognised. PMID- 2628667 TI - [Exudative chronic otitis media. Clinical analysis of therapeutic results over the past 10 years]. AB - The authors present their results obtained during the therapy with 434 patients suffering from chronic otitis media with effusion in a period from March 1976 to March 1986. The best therapy results were attained in curing the pathological changes in upper respiratory apparatus in addition to myringotomy with aspiration of middle ear secretion. They assume that the application of ventilation tubes is justified in the advanced phase of disease (presence of mucous secretion, pathological pneumatisation of mastoid, deep pectractive cavities of tympanic membrane, conductive hardness-of-hearing bigger than 40 dB), as well as in disease recidives. The consequences of conservative attitude towards the therapy may lead to the organizing of secretion and creating the adhesions in middle ear. PMID- 2628668 TI - [Direct arterial administration of cytostatics]. AB - Since 1984, intraarterial infusion chemotherapy (IAC) has been practised at our Institute. Patients with irresectable, previously untreated abdominal neoplasms were treated with intraarterial regional chemotherapy and radiation therapy after that. The objective remission rate was 40%, and a subjective response was observed in 90% of all cases. PMID- 2628669 TI - [The response of the thyroid gland in rats to irradiation after epiphysectomy and melatonin treatment]. PMID- 2628670 TI - [Beck's Depression Inventory (Kielholz modification) as a method for the early detection of depressive disease]. PMID- 2628671 TI - [Dyspepsia due to gastric cascade]. PMID- 2628672 TI - [The occurrence and characteristics of rheumatic fever in children treated at the Pediatric Department in Foca 1970-1987]. AB - During the period of 18 years (1970-1987) the number of treated patients suffering on Rheumatic Fever (R.F) in the Pediatric department is in the permanent decrease, which points to a very good primary and secondary prevention. Very often finding of BH Streptococcus (BHS) group A in the throat of sick children suggests that the struggle against R.F must be permanent and that it is hopeless to expect a complete eradication. The alteration in clinical picture aggravates the diagnosis, so the possibilities to overlook the diagnosis are more often possible than before. Because of that the critical analysis of all clinical and laboratory findings is very important. The increase of morbidity is possible again due to the fall, of standard of living in our country in the last few years. PMID- 2628673 TI - [Morphologic report and clinical evaluation of findings in a case of complete transposition of the great vessels of the heart and tubular hypoplasia of part of the aortic arch]. AB - We present a case of the coexistence transposition of the great vessels, atrial and ventricular septal defects, and extreme tubular hypoplasia of the aortic arch between the left common carotid and left subclavian arteries. Beside the thorough morphological description of that uncommon combined heart malformation, evaluation of clinical analysis is performed and compared with theoretically reconstructed chemodynamismus during patient's life. PMID- 2628674 TI - [Bolus death--successful resuscitation in the patient's home]. AB - The author presented a case of successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation that was performed in the house of the patient, 58-year-old, who had experienced clinical death caused by suffocation with a mouthful of food (bolus death). In the paper is pointed out the importance of rapid intervention of Urgency Aid Service commencing from the moment of call acceptance as well as the importance of equipped and skilled staff for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, especially for endotracheal intubation either in ambulance or in outer conditions. PMID- 2628675 TI - [Prevalence of gonarthrosis and the duration of rehabilitation]. AB - This paper includes retrospective analyze of 2089 patients, that were treated on Institute for physical medicine and rehabilitation Ilidza in 1987. There were 125 (5.9%) patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joint, and average duration of therapy was 17 days. The women were frequently represented (78 women and 47 man). 78.7% man and 55.1% women with osteoarthritis of the knee were employed. The causes of the osteoarthritis were not considered, but our study pointed out standing position as favourite datum. Prevention and early treatment of the illness has medical, social and economical importance, so this paper is our modest contribution to this problem. PMID- 2628676 TI - [A specific retropharyngeal abscess in an older patient]. AB - In regard to more frequent incidence of tuberculosis in our population, when difficulties in pharyngeal area exist, it is necessary to think about eventual tuberculosis etiology in the differentiative diagnosis of retropharyngeal abscess. PMID- 2628677 TI - [The echocardiographic syndrome in the aged heart]. AB - Echocardiographic syndrome (so called old man's heart) was found most often in persons with high blood pressure (with hypertonic heart) in coronaropaths, and those with acquired, post-rheumatic heart failures. Many of morpho-functional changes, which are characterised with the abundant calcifications, we have observed from the aspect of one-dimensional and two-dimensional echocardiographic visualisation, with the special review to localisation, size and expanse, as well as the possible complications caused by that. PMID- 2628678 TI - [The beneficial and harmful interactions of antihypertensive drugs]. AB - Drug interaction has been a very important and serious aspect of the modern management of hypertension. The constantly rising number of antihypertensive drugs has been contributing to the number of pharmacological interactions during antihypertensive treatment. Some of the interactions are very helpful and favourable leading to the synergistic effects of the drugs, while others are undesirable and useless, diminishing the antihypertensive effects of individual drugs, or transforming the effects and causing serious and harmful side effects. If a patient, suffering from hypertension, is treated for another associated disease, the number of interactions is increasing. If the nature of the interactions is not know and if they are ignored, the treatment can be more harmful then beneficial. PMID- 2628679 TI - Parent training and developmental disabilities. PMID- 2628680 TI - Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy in humans by spectroscopic imaging: localized spectroscopy and metabolite imaging. AB - In in vivo phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), spectroscopic imaging (SI) can be used as a flexible localization technique, producing spectra from multiple volumes in a single examination. Presented here are phosphorus SI studies of human organs in which a selective-volume SI reconstruction was used rather than the usual array-format SI reconstruction. A linear predictor technique was used to estimate the initial points of the free induction decay missing because of the delay needed for phase-encoding gradients, significantly reducing the baseline artifacts which commonly complicate interpretation of SI spectra. In studies of heart, brain, liver, and kidney, the performance of SI was found to compare favorably with that of ISIS. SI phosphorus metabolite intensity images from a brain tumor patient were obtained at 2 X 2-cm in-plane resolution (with "slice" thickness of roughly 16 cm, determined by coil sensitivity) in 34 min, demonstrating the feasibility of obtaining clinically useful metabolite images in clinically reasonable examination times. PMID- 2628681 TI - A fast spectroscopic imaging method using a blipped phase encode gradient. AB - Many methods of chemical shift imaging have been described recently. In most cases, these methods couple resolution and imaging time. The most flexible methods use time-varying gradients to cover a large region of k space on each excitation. We present here a new time-varying gradient method that offers a decrease in scan time (when SNR is sufficient), simplifies the reconstruction problem by retaining an essentially rectilinear sampling grid, and makes efficient use of scan time by minimizing gradient reversals. Implementation on a standard high-field imaging system (GE Signa) is discussed, and experimental results are shown. An application of the method to the generation of water reference data sets is described. PMID- 2628682 TI - Echo-planar high-resolution flow velocity mapping. AB - A technique for the very rapid measurement of blood flow with high spatial resolution is described. The method combines the previously validated technique of phase velocity mapping and echo-planar principles. The relatively small diameter of blood vessels enables a high-resolution echo-planar flow measurement to be made with as few as 16 echoes such that the method can be incorporated into a near standard NMR scanner. Two sequence variations are tested and validated in vitro and one is used to demonstrate in vivo blood flow measurement. The results are shown to compare well with a previously validated less rapid method. The technique should enhance the potential of NMR flow imaging by enabling sudden changes in flow to be studied. It should also simplify the measurement of blood flow in small mobile vessels such as the coronary arteries. PMID- 2628683 TI - An incubation system for the NMR study of kidney tubules. AB - Isolated kidney cortical tubules require a very rapid oxygen supply and mechanical agitation to be optimally functional. A sample chamber in which a tubule suspension is oxygenated by recirculating oxygen gas inside a coil of dialysis fibers to avoid cell loss through bubbling and in which the tubules are agitated by a gas-driven turbine has been designed. In such a system, dog cortical tubules (35-45 mg/ml) were found to be metabolically stable for more than 3 h as indicated by linear lactate consumption and glucose production. Small pH variations resulting from carbon dioxide and bicarbonate productions were measured. Good-quality 23Na NMR spectra of dog kidney cortical tubules were recorded with such a system, allowing a 1-min time resolution. PMID- 2628684 TI - Cortical spectroscopy: localized spectroscopy of the cerebral cortex in rats. AB - A method for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic signals confined to the cerebral cortex in rat using a cortical coil constructed based on the principles of the zig-zag coil is described. We obtained 31P NMR spectra of normal cerebral cortex and cold-induced injured cortex using this cortical coil. The cortical coil clearly demonstrated an increase in inorganic phosphate (Pi) confirmed to cerebral cortex which, by contrast, the conventional planar surface coil failed to detect. There are significant metabolic differences between cortex and subcortical tissues. The technique described here, capable of assessing cortical metabolism in vivo without contamination by the underlying tissue, has substantial application to studies of cerebral metabolism. PMID- 2628685 TI - Monitoring therapeutic response of human superficial tumors using phase-encoded spectroscopy. AB - A one-dimensional phase-encoded spectroscopy sequence was implemented on a GE 1.5 T Signa imager and the feasibility of its application to monitor the 31P metabolites of superficial tumors was demonstrated. Serial 31P spectra of 1-cm slices with adequate signal-to-noise ratio and insignificant T2 weighting can be obtained in 28 min. The degree of "bleeding" effect was reduced with increased phase-encoding steps. PMID- 2628686 TI - A comparison of three radiofrequency coils for NMR studies of conductive samples. AB - Three rf coil designs of equal volume (approximately 15 ml) were compared using conductive samples. Magnetic loss into the sample was the dominant noise source. At physiological conductivity the sensitivity of the horizontally aligned solenoid and loop-gap resonator was only 1.3 +/- 0.2 times that of the vertically aligned slotted tube resonator. PMID- 2628687 TI - T1 rho dispersion imaging and volume-selective T1 rho dispersion weighted NMR spectroscopy. AB - Pulse sequences which permit imaging and volume-selective determination of parameters characterizing the frequency dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame, T1 rho, are presented. The contrasts are due to slowly moving macromolecules or paramagnetic contrast agents. In vivo test experiments were carried out with tumorous mice treated with a contrast agent. It is shown that the contrast effect is dramatically enhanced in T1 rho dispersion images compared with images weighted by any of the relaxation times. PMID- 2628688 TI - 13C spectroscopic imaging. A simple approach to in vivo 13C investigations. AB - 13C spectroscopic imaging (SI) is implemented and tested on a Siemens whole-body MR instrument for in vivo localized 13C spectroscopy. The method provides spectroscopic maps of extended regions of interest. It is found that 13C SI is an ideal field of application for the spectroscopic imaging technique since most other localization methods suffer from chemical-shift or offset artifacts for this nucleus. Applications of 13C SI with a single 13C rf channel as well as in combination with polarization transfer experiments and heteronuclear broadband decoupling are shown. PMID- 2628689 TI - Real-time MR fluoroscopic data acquisition and image reconstruction. AB - We describe an experimental system for performing high-speed reconstruction of MR image data acquired with a GRASS sequence. System characteristics are an image acquisition time of 627 ms, continuous image reconstruction at a rate of 6 images/s, and an image reconstruction time of 120 ms. The results is a system for performing MR imaging in real time. PMID- 2628690 TI - [Necessity of changes and trends in the health care system for the workers in Poland]. AB - Authors define current organizing conditions and work effects of the industrial health service in Poland. They indicate these elements of diagnosis which effect the poor effectiveness of this health care unit. They also discuss the tasks assigned for health service in plants which were imposed by the ILO compact No 161 in 1985, and declare prompt implementation of the tasks in Poland. Suggestions concerning health insurance operative for all economic subjects are presented. The implementation of this kind of insurance would be one of indispensable modifications in the health care system of the working population. The range of free medical services available within this insurance would include a complex of preventive measures and medical assistance in case of disasters and life-threatening circumstances. PMID- 2628691 TI - [Enzyme deficiencies in leukocytes of workers exposed to mercury vapors. I. Neutrophils]. AB - The influence of occupational environment intoxicated by mercury on the enzymatic reactivity of neutrophils has been determined by investigating the activity of 10 enzymes in the peripheral blood neutrophils. The study comprised 89 men who have worked from 2 to 26 years producing chlorine by mercury electrolise method. The concentration of mercury in blood and urine of 15 +/- 13 micrograms l-1 and 44 +/ 43 micrograms x g creatinine-1, respectively was found. The deficiency of 1 enzyme was stated in 33%, of 2 enzymes in 27%, of 3 enzymes in 13% and of 4 enzymes in 3% of the workers exposed. The normal enzymatic reactivity of neutrophils was found in 25% of them. PMID- 2628692 TI - [Effect of essential phospholipids (EPL) on the course of chronic poisoning with organic solvents in rats]. AB - Male Wistar rats were exposed in toxicological camera to the mixture of organic solvents. Composition and concentrations of the mixture were similar to the conditions in the production hall. The influence of essential phospholipids (EPL) on changes in the liver caused by the organic solvents were studied. Animals were exposed for 6 months. Histochemical and histological evaluation was performed after 2 and 6 months. In the liver of intoxicated animals marked vacuolar degeneration and diminution of glycogen contents were observed. Simultaneously, the protective effect of EPL was noted. It was expressed by distinctly decreased vacuolar degeneration, probably corresponding to neutral fat in hepatocytes as well as by normalization of glycogen contents. PMID- 2628693 TI - [Organic changes in rabbits and rats in phosphorothioaliphatic compound poisoning. III. The histomorphologic picture of selected internal organs, especially the myocardium, in rats and rabbits in phosphorothioaliphatic pound poisoning treated with oximes]. AB - Pathomorphological changes of the cardiac muscle of experimental rabbits and rats intoxicated with Intration were traced. Diffuse ischaemic lesions such as the presence of large quantities of mitochondria, contraction nodes and droplet necrosis were observed. These lesions result: from the toxic effect of pesticides on myocytes and inhibition of cholinesterases as well as from nonphysiologically great activity of lysosome enzymex which are also responsible for necrotic lesions in the cardiac muscle. Excessively high PAM doses administered to animals intoxicated with pesticide result in lesions in the cardiac muscle of rabbits and rats which are greater than after administering an insectide alone. Toxobidin, a multi-function compound, doses not possess such negative properties as PAM. PMID- 2628694 TI - [Principles of air sampling and interpretation of its results in evaluating occupational exposure to toxic substances in the work area. I. Individual dosimetry]. AB - The authors discuss methods for applying individual dosimetry in the assessment of occupational exposure to toxic substances. Methods for air sampling using individual pumps and individual passive dosimeters in order to estimate weighted average concentration and momentary concentration for the whole working shifts are presented. Also, the principles of interpreting measuring results are indicated. PMID- 2628695 TI - [Perception of work load among female workers as an indicator of work stress and chronic fatigue]. AB - The aim of the present paper was to determine the trends and extent of the effect of primary parameters of female workers' workload on the feeling of fatigue caused by a day's work and on chronic fatigue. The study comprised female workers 138 of whom performed fynamic-static work and 117 were busy with static work only. Methods used for measuring both the workload and fatigue were subjective. The experiments demonstrated that the extent of different types of workload was, according to workers, not always related to an increased fatigue caused by day's work and chronic fatigue. The effect of workload parameters is modified by the type of work performed and characteristics of workers groups. Time pressure turned out to be a negative factor affecting an increased fatigue caused by a work's day. Physical workload is an important indicator of an intensified fatigue resulting from a day's work as well as of chronic fatigue of female workers performing dynamic work. Physical workload has not the same effect on the other group of workers. Negative influence of workload parameters revealed itself mainly in relation to day's work fatigue, and to a lesser degree, in relation to chronic fatigue. PMID- 2628696 TI - [Late effects of toxic methemoglobinemia]. AB - A psychological testing rendered it possible to reveal some disorders of the central nervous system in a chemical industry worker who suffered from a serious intoxication with chloronitrobenzene a year ago. Such symptoms as loss of consciousness, convulsions and serious methemoglobinemia were observed. This case indicated a possibility of the development of late effects of poisoning which demand a long-term medical control. The authors explain the necessity to include psychological testing in preventive examination of persons who are at risk of acute poisonings. PMID- 2628697 TI - [Absenteeism among workers with long and frequent illnesses]. AB - The aim of the study comprising 5197 textile industry workers chosen at random was an analysis of sickness absenteeism of employees ailing for a long time (i.e. giving more than 30 days of absence annually) and those who are frequently ill (i.e. giving more than 3 spells of absence) against the background of the absenteeism of the whole examined population. The analysis was performed using such absence parameters as percentage of persons absent from work, lost time rate mean duration of a particular absence, average number of days and cases of absenteeism per one ailing person. The analysis demonstrated differences in the length of spells of absence and frequency and seriousness of diseases between the two selected groups of workers. The group of long ailing patients constituted 22.3% of all workers and caused 75.6% of sickness, absenteeism in general, while the group of frequently ailing subjects--17.5% and 43.5%, respectively. Lost time rate of long ailing persons was three times higher than that in the whole group, while lost time rate among frequently ailing persons was 2.5 times higher that than for the whole group. An average length spells of absence caused by diseases was, among long ailing workers, 50% higher than in the whole examined group, while among frequently ailing employees it was 14% lower than in the general population. PMID- 2628698 TI - [Principles of air sampling and interpretation of its results in evaluating occupational exposure to toxic substances in the work area. II. Stationary measurements]. AB - The paper presents the principles of performing stationary measurements for the assessment of occupational exposure to toxic substances. A classification of work stands was introduced according to the length of time spent at them. The strategy of measurements was adapted to the type of a given work-stand. The interpretation of measurement results was based on the exposure factors, relevant for a specific work-stand. Also, the principles of air sampling and of the interpretation of the results of the evaluation of instantaneous and threshold concentrations are discussed. PMID- 2628699 TI - [Effect of work in hot shops at the coke-processing plant on the liver and gastrointestinal tract]. AB - 253 cooking plant workers employed for 5 years were examined. 207 of them were exposed to very high concentrations of BaP and tar substances, as well as to benzene, its homologues and CO at concentrations not exceeding MAC values. In 20% of the examined workers of the baking ovens department exposed to very high BaP concentrations an abnormal activity of marker enzymes was demonstrated, while in 63% of workers C-14 aminopyrine test was pathologic. These facts indicate that hepatocyte microsomal injury may be affected by toxic effects of BaP. The stool occult blood test was positive in 4% of subjects, which resulted from some non malignant diseases of the digestive system. PMID- 2628700 TI - [Studies of lysozyme activity in the saliva of workers in the drug industry]. AB - The aim of this study was to examine the lysozyme activity in saliva of pharmaceutic industry workers in whom pathologic changes in the oral cavity were previously diagnosed. The study was carried out in the Pharmaceutic Plant "Polfa" in Stargard Gdanski at the departments of sulphonamides, acetylsalicylic acid and various syntheses. The study comprised 94 workers from whom resting saliva samples were collected 2-3 hours after breakfast. The lysozyme activity was determined using the modified Litwack method, while proteins were examined using the Lawry method. Our examinations have demonstrated a higher enzyme activity in pharmaceutic industry workers as compared to the control group. The highest lysozyme activity was recorded at the sulphonamides department. PMID- 2628701 TI - Colobomas of the optic area. AB - A 24-year old woman displayed a coloboma of the right optic nerve with multiple small parapapillary retinochoroidal colobomas. This rare association makes one suspect that the pathogenesis of colobomatous defects of the optic disc area are caused by a faulty closure of the embryonic fissure and an abnormal maturation of the cells of the anlage of the optic nerve head. PMID- 2628702 TI - "Cold" corneal abscess in psoriasis: a case report. AB - A single case of "cold: corneal abscess in a psoriatic patient was considered worth reporting as there are no other cases described in the literature. The importance of the correct diagnosis and the management are discussed. PMID- 2628703 TI - Ophthalmology consultations at a large teaching hospital. AB - We reviewed 100 consecutive ophthalmology consultations performed on inpatients at a large teaching hospital to help identify areas that may require greater emphasis in the medical school and housestaff curriculum. Nonophthalmologists rarely record visual acuities or perform dilated fundus examinations. If visual acuity determination were more consistently made a part of routine physical examinations, it is possible that more pathology would be detected and non productive consultations could be minimized. We plan to emphasize these observations in our school's curriculum more than in the past. PMID- 2628704 TI - Serum secretory IgA levels in patients with Behcet disease. AB - Serum IgA, IgC, IgM and secretory IgA levels in patients with Behcet disease were examined. Among them, serum IgA and secretory IgA levels, which increase in mucosal inflammation, were significantly higher than controls (p less than 0.001, p greater than 0.01). These results indicate that mucosal inflammation, oral and gastrointestinal inflammation, may lead to gram-negative bacterial infection and endotoxin-induced uveitis in patients with Behcet disease. PMID- 2628705 TI - Zellweger syndrome, retinal involvement. AB - Progresses in biochemistry permit one to distinguish three biochemical forms of Zellweger Syndrome: 1) hyperpipecolic acidemia, 2) neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy, and 3) infantile Refsum's disease, which have similar clinical manifestations. A seven-month-old male patient with Zellweger Syndrome is presented. He had absence of peroxismes in the liver and elevated pipecolic acids and abnormal levels of bile acids in the blood. The child had a typical neurologic clinical manifestation with hepatomegaly. The ophthalmoscopy revealed grey disks and retinitis pigmentosa with extinguished ERG and law and delayed VEP. The importance of the constant retinal involvement in Zellweger Syndrome is discussed. PMID- 2628706 TI - [Simplified oral hygiene with subgingival pulsating jet irrigation with and without a dilute metronidazole solution as an adjunct for control of chronic periodontal disease]. AB - This study compared the clinical effects of 0.05% metronidazole solution (MD) applied subgingivally using pulsated monojet irrigation following a single episode of scaling and root planing and simplified oral hygiene instruction, with the same system using a placebo solution (MDP). Twelve patients with 129 approximal units (pocket depth greater than or equal to 4 mm) in the MD group and 170 in the MDP group took part in the study. Within procedure comparisons revealed statistically highly significant reductions in Plaque Index, gingival oedema, Sulcus Bleeding Index, and probeable pocket depth in both groups. However between procedure comparisons indicated that the MD group showed more reduction in PI1, SBI and gingival oedema. Improvements in PPD were not significant except at day 56. The differences between groups were small clinically. PMID- 2628707 TI - [Quantitative assessment of the level of the causative agent of tick-borne rickettsiosis in a population of the main vector]. AB - It was first demonstrated that the method of individual titration of ticks from natural population, using animals sensitive to tick rickettsiosis agent, helps accurately estimate their infection level and define the level of infection of individual samples. It is shown that in natural focus of tick rickettsiosis infected hungry adult ixodes specimens differ in the quantity of rickettsia contained in them in different years. Possibility to estimate the size of the agent population connected with the imago of the major carrier is demonstrated. PMID- 2628708 TI - [A count of the vector portion of a population of the causative agent of tick borne encephalitis connected with the imago of the taiga tick (Ixodes persulcatus)]. AB - The paper presents results of individual virological investigation of about 2 thousand of hungry imagoes of Ixodes persulcatus Sch., collected for the estimation of the absolute number of ticks at test sites. This approach is shown to be suitable for estimating the ratio between the vectors with various virus doses, the number of vectors, and of the vector share in a virus population in natural tick-born encephalitis foci. PMID- 2628709 TI - [The ability of fleas of synanthropic rodents and small gerbils to feed on human blood]. AB - Experimental study of the ability of Ceratophyllus (Nosopsyllis) mokrzeckyi, C. (G.) laeviceps, X. conformis fleas, Norway rats' parasites from the northern and northwestern Caspian Sea coasts, and the specific Norway rats' flea C. (N.) fasciatus, to feed on human blood, demonstrated that all these species may be of epidemiological significance due to their active attacks on man and human blood sucking. The murine rodent fleas C. (N.) mokrzeckyi are, though, less active human blood suckers (29.9%) than the other species under study. PMID- 2628710 TI - [Antibody formation dynamics in a patient with Central Asian tick-borne borreliosis]. AB - Antibody titres were examined in patients suffering from Central Asian tick-borne borreliosis by means of indirect immunofluorescence. In acute period of the disease and in early convalescence period a rapid increase of antibody titres was observed; they were still increasing even after clinical recovery. The maximum titres (1:320) were marked in 1.5 months after the onset of the disease. Decrease of antibody titres began in 2-3 months after the peak of the disease. Antibodies in relatively low titres are detectable at least up to the 11th month of convalescence. PMID- 2628711 TI - [Echinococcosis in the Ukrainian SSR]. AB - Various types of echinococcosis foci were detected in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic: steppe zone foci with sheep pattern circulation dominating, where invasion is transmitted according to scheme: sheep--dogs attached to flocks; forest lowland and forest-steppe zones with pig pattern of echinococcosis circulating, where invasion is transmitted according to scheme: pigs--dogs. In steppe zone foci cases of echinococcosis in humans are regularly recorded and a large stratum of seropositive subjects was revealed by the indirect hemagglutination and latex agglutination tests. In second type foci only single cases of human echinococcosis were observed and low seropositive stratum was detected. Complex of antiechinococcosis measures conforming to different foci types was developed. PMID- 2628712 TI - [Trichinelliasis in western Podolia]. AB - Situation with trichinosis in the Ternopol Province (Ukraine) in the period from 1962 to 1987 was studied. Muscle samples taken from 6695 animals of 20 species were investigated by the compressor method and by the method of digestion in artificial gastric juice. Trichinosis was detected in wolves, foxes, martens, ferrets, domestic dogs, cats and gray rats. In 1954--1979 39 trichinosis cases were registered in humans with 4 lethal cases. Domestic pigs proved to be the source of invasion. Since 1980 up to the end of investigation trichinosis cases have not been registered in people or in domestic pigs. Trichinosis invasion of wild, domestic and synanthropic mammals has decreased. Large work is being carried out to realize antitrichinosis measures. PMID- 2628713 TI - [The spread and evaluation of the potential for the formation of new foci of opisthorchiasis and diphyllobothriasis in the Yenisei basin]. AB - Current epidemiological situation on opisthorchiasis and bothriocephaliasis and possibility of its alteration due to hydro construction is characterized. Construction of the Bratsk and Krasnoyarsk reservoirs led to development of new large foci of bothriocephaliasis. There is a possibility of developing new foci near other operating reservoirs or near those under construction and design. Foci of bothriocephaliasis on the Yenisei reservoirs are supposed to be more intensive than foci on the Angara reservoirs. Some opisthorchiasis foci are found in the Biryusa basin, local cases of human invasion are registered in regions on the Taseyeva river, down the Angara, and in one of the Yenisei regions where invasion foci of low intensity are supposed to exist. Reservoir construction on the Yenisei and Angara will not promote the development of new opisthorchiasis foci. PMID- 2628714 TI - [The role of the owsianka Leucaspius delineatus in maintaining opisthorchiasis foci in Novosibirsk Province]. AB - Materials reflecting opisthorchiasis infection in fish in the Novosibirsk region were analyzed. On the basis of fish population estimation and studies on its invasion with Opisthorchis felineus (Rivolta, 1884) it was shown that a considerable part in maintaining opisthorchiasis foci is played by Leucaspius delineatus. It is numerous, can easily acclimatize itself in natural water bodies, inaccessible for predatory animals, easily infected with Opisthorchis larvae, and therefore can play an important role in formation of new opisthorchiasis foci during amelioration of Kulunda and Baraba forest-steppe. PMID- 2628715 TI - [A method for checking the integrity and quality of membrane filters for sterilizing nutrient culture media]. AB - A new method for checking up the quality of membrane filters for culture medium sterilization is proposed. A 50 ml syringe is used instead of "Millipore" system. The proposed method helps do without the expensive "Millipore" system to check the hermeticity, integrity of membrane filters, and to save operation time used for their preparation. PMID- 2628716 TI - [The effect of the conditions for the development of Aedes aegypti L. mosquitoes on their infectivity with Plasmodium gallinaceum Brumpt]. AB - Relationship between the conditions of larvae development and mosquito infection with malaria agent was studied. Using the Plasmodium gallinaceum--Aedes aegypti L. model, it was stated that alteration in temperature, number of specimens, and quantity of forage do not change the index of specimen morbidity. Worsening conditions in respect of every one of the enumerated factors lead to a decrease in quantity of agents in carrier. PMID- 2628717 TI - [A modified method of preserving feces for the detection of intestinal protozoa]. AB - Methylene blue is excluded from the original preservative in the modified conservation method elaborated by Safaraliev. The conserved material is examined in humid smear or, still better, after enrichment by falling out in the formol ether solution or staining the smears by Lugol's solution or 0.25% solution of methylene blue. Intestinal Protozoa may be kept conserved for no less than a year. In case of enrichment the technique becomes 2--3-fold more effective than the original one, enabling to save the reagents, laboratory vessels, time (for microscopy), as well as to evade the odour of acetic acid and phenol from the preparations under study. PMID- 2628718 TI - [The distribution of the HLA antigen system among patients with echinococcosis]. AB - Fifty six patients suffering from echinococcosis and 155 healthy persons were examined. The examination revealed the predominance of HLA-B5 and HLA-B18 antigen carriers among the patients suffering from echinococcosis unilocularis, and HLA A1 and HLA-B35 in a group of patients suffering from echinococcosis multilocularis. In the first group no HLA-B14 antigen carriers were found and there was only 1 patients with HLA-B27 antigen. The data obtained prompt that HLA B5, B18, A1 and B35 antigen carriers present the high-risk group for developing echinococcosis while HLA-B14 and B27 antigens evidently determine certain resistance to these invasions. Some differences were also marked in distribution of HLA antigens depending on the site of involvement: high frequency of HLA-B5 carriers among patients suffering from hepatic echinococcosis and HLA-B18 carriers among patients suffering from pulmonary echinococcosis. PMID- 2628719 TI - [Variations in the taste function of smokers]. AB - Cigarette smoke is linked to many pathologies and also affects a very important aspect of human physiology that is taste. In fact already in the past years, researchers have worked on this phenomenon and have come to the conclusion that smoke influences the perception of bitter taste. In our study we researched the detection and identification threshold in thirty smokers, for the citric acid, quinine, sodium chloride and saccharose, and it turned out that smokers suffer a raise in quinine identification and sodium chloride detection and identification threshold. On the basis of the results obtained with sodium chloride, a theory on hypertension etiopathogenesis is suggested. PMID- 2628720 TI - [Burkitt's lymphoma. A case report]. AB - This paper presents a case of a 21 year-old female with mandibular and abdominal involved sites. Prognosis is related to an early diagnosis and chemotherapy can be started while lymphoma is still not widespread. PMID- 2628721 TI - [Primary oral peripheral chondrosarcoma. Anatomo-clinical aspects and presentation of 2 cases with periodontal onset]. AB - After a brief analysis of the anatomoclinical aspects of chondrosarcoma in general and of the characteristic and particular aspects of the forms with maxillofacial onset (lower age of onset, elective sites of onset anterior in the maxillary and posterior in the mandible, often insignificant standard X-ray pictures, high percentage of error in clinical and histological diagnosis) two cases of peripheral periodontal onset, with low degree of malignity (grade 1), with aspecific clinical and radiological aspects, both locally recurrent several times after nonradical surgery are reported. PMID- 2628722 TI - [Hemorrhagic cyst of the mandible. A case presentation]. AB - Haemorrhagic mandibular cysts are quite rare and generally considered sequelae of an earlier trauma causing an overflow of blood into the bone, though a number of pathogenic theories have been put forward. Since few of these cysts involve subjective symptoms, most are discovered accidentally during radiography, while a sure diagnosis is only likely to be obtained during surgery on the discovery of a nonepithelialized cavity. The paper presents a typical case of haemorrhagic mandibular cyst which was treated by opening the cavity and scraping its walls in order to cause bleeding that would promote the growth of new bone tissue. PMID- 2628723 TI - [A case of odontoma. Importance of an objective examination]. AB - A case of odontoma which escaped attention at first objective examination and panoramic radiography makes it possible to stress the primary importance of inspection in dental practice. PMID- 2628724 TI - [Dimensional stability of impression materials studied with Talysurf 10]. AB - The dimensional stability of certain modeling elastomers was investigated. In order to obtain a complete picture, 2 samples of each elastomer class on the market (polysulphuric, polyether, silicone additives, condensation silicone), a total of 8 products, were tested according to the criteria outlined in ADA 19. In contrast with ADA 19 recommendations, measurements were taken using a Talysurf 10, a roughness meter that can also check for straightness, which was chosen as being equally efficient as other methods while offering highly reliable objectively verifiable data. PMID- 2628725 TI - [The obligation of means and results: a problem area of interest to dental and oral medicine]. AB - The author discusses if dentists are obliged to achieve the results they promise to patients and analyses the aspects of "informed consent". PMID- 2628726 TI - [Epulis. A clinical study of 80 cases]. AB - Epulis cases observed over an eight-year period are examined. Results are assessed and compared with reported statistics. PMID- 2628727 TI - [Clinico-statistical, morphologic and microstructural analysis of 400 cases of sialolithiasis]. AB - After reviewing the successive phases of lithogenesis, from dyschylia to outright calculosis, the clinico-epidemiological data on 400 cases of salivary calculosis with incidence according to location (94% submandibular, with 72% intraductal calculi), sex (70% male), age (86% between the second and fifth decades), concomitant pathologies (diabetes mellitus in 25% of cases, arterial hypertension in 20% of cases, chronic hepatopathies in 10% of cases) are presented. The morphological and microstructural aspects of the calculi, observed in polarised light under the optical microscope are reported. The scanty quantity of inorganic tissue contained and the presence of multiple and multidirectional growth nuclei in every calculus examined are pointed out. PMID- 2628728 TI - Structure and expression of a chicken insulin-like growth factor I precursor. AB - Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a 70 amino acid growth-promoting polypeptide whose sequence and functions have been highly conserved among mammals. As an initial step in defining the role of IGF-I in other vertebrate species, we have isolated and characterized an IGF-I cDNA from the chicken. This cDNA encodes a 153 amino acid primary translation product which resembles in structure and sequence the IGF-IA protein of mammals. There is strong amino acid conservation between chicken and mammalian IGF-I throughout the entire protein. Sixty of 70 amino acids are identical in mature IGF-I among the chicken, rat, and human peptides, with five differences being localized to the C domain, and two to the D region. A comparable degree of amino acid identity is found in the COOH terminal extension peptide (28/35 residues). At the NH2-terminus, where there is more amino acid divergence (32/48 identities), the most 5'-AUG codon is the only methionine residue conserved among all three species, suggesting that it functions as the authentic translation initiation site, an observation supported by cell-free studies of biosynthesis and cotranslational proteolytic processing. The pattern of IGF-I gene expression appears to be simpler in chickens than in mammals, since a single predominant mRNA of 2.6 kilobases can be detected in liver polyadenylated RNA on Northern blots. In the chicken, as in rats and humans, IGF-I mRNA is synthesized in multiple tissues, including liver, brain, skeletal muscle, and heart.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628729 TI - Analysis of the 5'-flanking regions of rat inhibin alpha- and beta-B-subunit genes suggests two different regulatory mechanisms. AB - The genes encoding rat inhibin alpha- and beta-B-subunits were isolated and characterized. Both genes contain one intron that interrupts the region coding for the precursor portion of the alpha- and beta-B-subunits. The transcription start sites of alpha- and beta-B-subunit genes were determined by primer extension and nuclease mapping assay using mRNA from rat ovary and testis. Transcription of the alpha-subunit gene initiates predominantly at three adjacent sites with similar intensity. Several potential transcription start sites of beta B-subunit gene are spread over 150 nucleotides upstream from translation initiation site. Neither of these two genes contains obvious TATA or CCAAT boxes. The alpha-subunit gene contains many GA clusters in the promoter region, while beta-B-subunit gene is highly GC rich. Several GGGCGG repeats and their inverted sequences, which are the potential binding sites for transcription factor Spl, were observed at the 5'-end as well as at the coding region of the beta-B-subunit gene. The potential cAMP-responsive element CTGCGTCAG was identified in alpha-but not beta-B-subunit gene. This sequence is identical to the cAMP- and phorbol ester-inducible DNA fragment found in human preproenkephalin gene. The different structure of the promoter region of rat alpha- and beta-B-subunit genes and the presence of a potential cAMP-inducible DNA sequence in alpha- but not beta-B subunit gene is consistent with the hypothesis that transcription of alpha- and beta-B-subunit genes in rat is regulated by different mechanisms. PMID- 2628730 TI - Complementary DNA cloning of the murine transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF beta 3) precursor and the comparative expression of TGF beta 3 and TGF beta 1 messenger RNA in murine embryos and adult tissues. AB - Murine transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF beta 3) cDNAs were isolated from a TGF beta 2-induced AKR-2B cDNA library. The composite cDNA sequence is 2894 nucleotides long, including 610-nucleotide and 1054-nucleotide 5' and 3' untranslated sequences, respectively. The murine TGF beta 3-coding region is 1230 nucleotides in length and encodes a precursor protein of 410 amino acids, with a 96% peptide sequence identity with the human TGF beta 3 precursor. Examination of TGF beta 1 and TGF beta 3 mRNA levels in adult murine tissues showed that TGF beta 1 mRNA expression is predominant in spleen, lung, and placenta. In contrast, TGF beta 3 RNA was present in substantial amounts in brain, heart, adipose tissue, and testis. TGF beta 3 mRNA is also observed in adult mouse lung and placenta. Both TGF beta 1 and TGF beta 3 RNAs were present in all stages of mouse fetal development studied from 10.5-17.5 days postcoitum, with higher levels observed in the latter stages. The differential expression of these TGF beta genes suggests that the various TGF beta species may have distinct physiological roles in vivo. PMID- 2628731 TI - The rat 78,000 dalton glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) as a precursor for the rat steroidogenesis-activator polypeptide (SAP): the SAP coding sequence is homologous with the terminal end of GRP78. AB - Based on the striking sequence identity between the amino acid sequence of rat steroidogenesis-activator polypeptide (SAP) and the carboxyl terminus of the 78,000 dalton glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), the precursor-product relationship between GRP78 and SAP was investigated in Leydig cells. Immunoblot analysis with peptide antibodies specific for GRP78 and SAP showed that the putative SAP precursor is also immunoreactive with the anti-GRP78 antibody. Genomic blot hybridizations further revealed that GRP78 is neither rearranged nor amplified in the H-540 Leydig cell tumor, the original source for SAP. Further, there appears to be a single copy of the SAP coding sequence within the rat genome. This sequence resides within the last exon of GRP78. Our observations support the hypothesis that, in steroidogenic cells, SAP is likely to be derived from posttranslational processing of a very minor fraction of GRP78. PMID- 2628732 TI - Hormone-dependent beta-casein mRNA stabilization requires ongoing protein synthesis. AB - The role of ongoing protein synthesis in mediating the posttranscriptional effects of hormones on casein gene expression in the COMMA D mouse mammary epithelial cell line was investigated using the protein synthesis inhibitors, cycloheximide and anisomycin. When COMMA D cells were pretreated with insulin and PRL for 24 h, the addition of glucocorticoids induced a greater than 20-fold increase in beta-casein mRNA accumulation with an apparent lag of greater than 8 h. Addition of cycloheximide and anisomycin not only prevented this increase, but unexpectedly, resulted in the rapid disappearance of preexisting beta-casein mRNA with a half-life of approximately 2 h. Under the same conditions, the levels of beta-actin and histone H4 mRNAs were increased markedly. In contrast, when cells were pretreated with all three lactogenic hormones for 48 h before the addition of either protein synthesis inhibitors or actinomycin D, the effects of these inhibitors on the levels of beta-casein mRNA were greatly diminished. This differential sensitivity of beta-casein mRNA to protein synthesis inhibitors was observed only in cells pretreated for greater than 24 h with all three hormones. Experiments performed in the absence of inhibitors indicated that beta-casein mRNA has a long half-life even after hormone withdrawal. These results suggest that hormone-dependent stabilization of cytoplasmic beta-casein mRNA requires ongoing protein synthesis. Cells cultured in the presence of all three lactogenic hormones slowly accumulate a labile protein(s), which exerts a selective effect on casein mRNA stability. PMID- 2628733 TI - Human transforming growth factor-beta 3: recombinant expression, purification, and biological activities in comparison with transforming growth factors-beta 1 and -beta 2. AB - Recent cDNA characterization has predicted the existence of a new member of the transforming growth factor family, transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF beta 3). However, nothing is known about the biological activities of the TGF beta 3 protein, since it has not been purified from any natural sources. We report here the recombinant expression in mammalian cells and the purification to apparent homogeneity of human TGF beta 3. The TGF beta 3 was evaluated in comparison with purified TGF beta 1 and TGF beta 2 in several assays for its effects on stimulation or inhibition of proliferation of mammalian cells. These analyses revealed that TGF beta 3 exerts activities similar to the two other TGF beta species, but that there are distinct differences in potencies between the different TGF beta forms depending on the cell type and assay used. PMID- 2628734 TI - Mutations of the rat growth hormone promoter which increase and decrease response to thyroid hormone define a consensus thyroid hormone response element. AB - We have previously identified sequences required for thyroid hormone (T3) induction of the rat GH (rGH) promoter, which lie in a region from -188 to -164 upstream of the mRNA start site. Within this region, Domains A, -189 to -184 and B, -179 to -174, are imperfect direct repeats, and domain C, -172 to -167, is a divergent inverted copy that matches the A domain at 4/6 positions. A series of synthetic mutant versions of this sequence were inserted upstream of a truncated rGH promoter, or as a replacement for wild-type sequences in a synthetic 237 base pair rGH promoter or upstream of the heterologous thymidine kinase promoter. Mutations changing the B domain to a perfect copy of the A domain significantly increased T3 induction (21.3-fold) relative to the wild type (3.6-fold). A single point mutation making the C domain a better match to the A domain also increased T3 induction to 16.2-fold. Combining this up-mutation with any of three down mutations in the A, B, or C domains strongly decreased response, showing that all three domains contribute to the amplified T3 response. Binding affinity of the various mutant oligonucleotides was assessed using in vitro translated receptor and affinity paralleled the functional responses for most binding site mutations. Requirements for in vitro binding were, however, less rigorous than those for functional T3 induction. Based on these results, we propose a consensus T3 receptor binding half-site, AGGT(C/A)A, at least two copies of which are required for a T3 response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628735 TI - Nucleotide sequence and growth hormone-regulated expression of salmon insulin like growth factor I mRNA. AB - Protein and cDNA sequence analysis have revealed that the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) has been highly conserved among several mammalian species. Using the combined techniques of polymerase chain reaction and molecular cloning, we have now obtained the cDNA sequence encoding preproIGF-I from a teleost species, Oncorhynchus kisutch (coho salmon). The 2020 nucleotide (nt) cloned cDNA sequence contains a 528 nt open reading frame encoding 176 amino acids in preproIGF-I and 175 nt and 1317 nt of flanking 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of salmon IGF-I is highly conserved relative to its mammalian homologues and there are only 14 amino acid differences out of 70 between salmon and human IGF-I. Interestingly, the C-terminal E domain of salmon proIGF-I, which is presumed to be proteolytically cleaved during biosynthesis, also shows striking amino acid sequence homology with its mammalian counterpart, except for an internal 27 residue segment that is unique to salmon proIGF-I. Northern analysis revealed that salmon preproIGF-I mRNA consists predominantly of a single 3900 nt sized band although minor bands were also observed after prolonged autoradiographic exposure. The RNA analysis also revealed that the level of preproIGF-I mRNA is increased 6-fold in liver RNA isolated from salmon injected with bovine GH, as compared to untreated controls. These results demonstrate that the primary structure and regulated expression of IGF-I by GH have been conserved in teleosts. PMID- 2628736 TI - Overproduction of the beta 1 form of protein kinase C enhances phorbol ester induction of glucose transporter mRNA. AB - Phorbol esters bind to and activate a family of Protein Kinase C (PKC) proteins, although the degree to which the various PKC forms mediate specific biological functions is unknown. We and others have previously shown that, after exposure to phorbol esters, cultured fibroblasts exhibit increased expression of the mRNA encoding the HepG2/brain glucose transporter (GT mRNA). We therefore studied phorbol ester regulation of GT mRNA in rat fibroblasts which do (R6-PKC3) or do not (R6-C1) stably overproduce a full-length cDNA encoding the PKC beta 1 isotype. When PKC beta 1 is overproduced in a cell that normally has undetectable levels, it is capable of increasing HepG2/brain GT mRNA in response to alpha-D glucose phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA). The level of GT mRNA is maximally induced 6 to 8-fold over basal levels 6 h after exposure to TPA (10 ng/ml) in R6 PKC3 cells that overproduce PKC beta 1, but only 2-fold over basal levels in the control R6-C1 cells. This TPA induced increase in the level of GT mRNA was observed as early as 1 h, peaked by 6-8 h and decreased markedly by 24 h in both cell types. The effect of PKC beta 1 on GT mRNA expression is probably mediated through enhancement of transcription, since the stability of GT mRNA was only minimally affected by TPA. Unlike the enhancement of TPA induced GT mRNA expression caused by overexpression of PKC beta 1, the responses of GT mRNA to calf serum, platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin or insulin-like growth factor-1 were the same in both cell types. After pretreatment with 1000 ng/ml TPA in 0.5% calf serum for 24 h, PKC activity was down-regulated and both R6-C1 and R6-PKC3 cells showed complete down-regulation of the GT mRNA responses to an additional treatment with 1000 ng/ml TPA. In contrast to the marked loss of responsiveness to TPA and PKC down-regulation, the responses of GT mRNA to serum, PDGF, EGF, insulin and IGF-1 were unaffected by down-regulation. Thus, our results provide direct evidence for both PKC-dependent and independent pathways regulating GT gene expression. Furthermore, it appears that the level of PKC beta 1 production, rather than down-stream signal transduction events, is the rate-limiting step in the pathway by which TPA induces an increase in GT mRNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2628737 TI - Glucocorticoid regulation of parathyroid hormone-related peptide gene transcription in a human neuroendocrine cell line. AB - A PTH-related peptide (PTHRP) has been identified and its cDNA cloned from tumors associated with the syndrome of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. The PTHRP and PTH genes appear to represent members of a gene family. Whereas the PTH gene is expressed exclusively in the parathyroids, the PTHRP gene appears to be widely expressed, but little is known concerning the regulation of its expression in any site. We studied the regulation of PTHRP gene expression in a human carcinoid cell line (NCI-H727) which has neuroendocrine features and also produces calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and chromogranin-A. We found that the synthetic glucocorticoid triamcinolone produced time- and dose-dependent decreases in steady state PTHRP and calcitonin mRNA levels in NCI-H727 cells. This effect was blocked by the competitive glucocorticoid inhibitor RU-486. Messenger RNA stability and transcription run-off experiments revealed that triamcinolone decreased PTHRP and calcitonin expression by repressing the transcription rates of both genes. PMID- 2628738 TI - Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in the rat ovary: detection of mRNA using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplification. AB - Development of the ovarian follicle and corpus luteum involves proliferation and differentiation of several cell types: granulosa cells, thecal cells, and various stromal cells, particularly the endothelial cells that compose the rich thecal and luteal vascular networks. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent mitogen for cells of mesodermal and neuroectodermal origin, including endothelial cells. With the use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we have examined the expression of bFGF in the rat ovary. RNA was extracted from fetal bovine aortic endothelial cells, hypothalami of adult rats, and either whole ovaries or isolated granulosa cells from PMSG-primed immature rats. The RNA was reverse transcribed and then amplified by PCR using two oligonucleotide primers specific for both bovine and rat bFGF. A sample of the PCR solution was size fractionated by electrophoresis in an 8% polyacrylamide gel, which was then stained with ethidium bromide and examined under ultraviolet light. When reverse transcription-PCR was performed on RNA from bovine endothelial cells, rat hypothalamus, or whole rat ovary, a single major DNA band corresponding in length to the distance between the 5'-ends of the two bFGF-specific primers (354 base pairs) was obtained. The identity of this material with the bovine and rat bFGF sequences was confirmed by restriction enzyme analysis. When RNA from isolated granulosa cells was examined, however, no bFGF mRNA was detected. These results confirm that the bFGF gene is expressed in the ovary during follicular development. Furthermore, they demonstrate that ovarian bFGF expression is cell specific, since granulosa cells do not contain detectable bFGF mRNA. PMID- 2628739 TI - Expression of phenolic and tyrosyl ring iodothyronine deiodinases in Xenopus laevis oocytes is dependent on the tissue source of injected poly(A)+ RNA. AB - The phenolic (5' position) and tyrosyl (5 position) ring deiodinases which catalyze the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones have proven difficult to purify and characterize biochemically. The present studies used Xenopus laevis oocytes as an in vivo translational assay system for detecting and quantitating mRNA for these enzymes. The injection of poly(A)+ RNA prepared from a human term placenta induced 5-deiodinase activity in oocytes. The expressed activity increased for up to 96 h after injection, was proportional to the amount of RNA injected, and manifested a Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) for T3 of 1.6 nM. In oocytes injected with poly(A)+ RNA prepared from rat liver, anterior pituitary gland, or brown adipose tissue, 5-deiodinase activity could not be demonstrated. The injection of poly(A)+ RNA from 15-day-old chick embryonic liver induced both 5'- and 5-deiodinase activity, with the 5'-deiodinase activity being sensitive to inhibition by 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil. X. laevis oocytes can thus be induced to express either phenolic or tyrosyl ring deiodinase activity, or both, by the microinjection of poly(A)+ RNA prepared from selected tissues. These findings demonstrate that the types of deiodinase activity present in different organs represent tissue specific patterns of mRNA expression and strongly suggest that the enzymes responsible for types I and III deiodinase activity are encoded by different mRNAs. PMID- 2628740 TI - Periovulatory changes in the expression of inhibin alpha-, beta A-, and beta B subunits in hormonally induced immature female rats. AB - Immature female rats were treated with PMSG and human CG to induce ovulation. Sequential treatment with these hormones allowed us to investigate variations in the production of inhibin subunits shortly before ovulation and during the induced luteal phase. Using this model, we found that expression patterns for the alpha-, beta A-, and beta B-subunits were similar to those observed in mature cycling animals: administration of PMSG (to mimic the gonadotropin surge) led to a sharp increase in the expression of all three subunits in large preovulatory follicles whereas injection with human CG (to induce ovulation) caused a decrease in the levels of the respective mRNAs. In contrast to mature females, shortly before ovulation, levels of inhibin alpha-subunit mRNA were low in small antral follicles (approximately 350 microns). In addition, at that time, inhibin beta A- and beta B-subunits mRNAs were present in several large follicles (greater than 500 microns). More than 2 days after ovulation, inhibin beta A- and beta B subunit mRNAs could not be detected in small antral size follicles (approximately 350 microns) of hormonally induced females. On the other hand, hybridization signals for the inhibin alpha-subunit were observed in some small antral and preantral size follicles, while signals were very low or undetectable in a large number of atretic follicles. Using this synchronized ovulation model, hybridization patterns for inhibin beta A-subunit mRNA was observed in interstitial cells, 8-10 h after ovulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628741 TI - Characterization of the rat prodynorphin gene. AB - The structure of full-length rat prodynorphin cDNA and the corresponding gene has been determined. The 2400 base rat prodynorphin mRNA is encoded by four exons. Exons 1 and 2 encode the majority of the 5'-untranslated sequence, while exons 3 and 4 contain the translated region; the entire 3' -untranslated region is contained on exon 4 as well. RNase protection studies, in which a genomic DNA fragment was used to generate a cRNA hybridization probe, have determined the major transcriptional initiation site for both brain and testicular prodynorphin mRNA. Transient expression of transfected fusion genes containing the 5'-flanking DNA of the rat prodynorphin gene linked to the structural sequence of a reporter gene has been used to identify specific genomic DNA fragments from the prodynorphin gene locus which are capable of acting as transcriptional promoters. Multiple regions of genomic DNA appear to have transcriptional promoter activity when introduced into various eukaryotic cell lines. PMID- 2628742 TI - Opposing influences of glucocorticoid and retinoic acid on transcriptional control in preosteoblasts. AB - UMR 201 is a nontransformed rat clonal cell line derived from neonatal calvaria with phenotypic characteristics of preosteoblasts. Retinoic acid strongly induces expression of alkaline phosphatase and its mRNA in these cells. Dexamethasone substantially reduced the retinoic acid-induced expression of alkaline phosphatase. This apparent interaction between dexamethasone and retinoic acid effects raised the possibility that interactions may extend to other osteoblast related phenotypic characteristics in UMR 201 cells. Treatment with dexamethasone resulted in a decrease in the expression of mRNA for pro-alpha 1(I) collagen, but upon coincubation with 1 microM retinoic acid for 24 h, the decrease in mRNA for pro-alpha 1(I) collagen was abrogated. Dexamethasone (Dex) treatment caused a dose-dependent increase in osteonectin mRNA, half maximally effective between 1 nM and 10 nM Dex. One micromolar of retinoic acid alone led to a small increase in expression of osteonectin mRNA but prevented any further increase when Dex was added to retinoic acid-treated cells. To study transcriptional control, osteonectin genomic fragments were linked to the bacterial reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, and introduced by transfection into UMR 201 cells. Dexamethasone increased the transcriptional activity of an osteonectin chloramphenicol acetyltransferase construct; 100 nM Dex resulted in a 3-fold increase over control cells which was attenuated when 1 microM retinoic acid was added to the incubation, while retinoic acid alone resulted in a 2-fold increase in transcriptional activity. Finally, it was noted that coincubation with retinoic acid and Dex stimulated the proliferation of UMR 201 cells when compared with either treatment alone. This study shows the potential importance of hormonal interactions in the expression of osteoblast function. PMID- 2628743 TI - Regulation of carboxypeptidase H gene expression in magnocellular neurons: response to osmotic stimulation. AB - Carboxypeptidase H (CPH) is a peptide-processing enzyme thought to be involved in the synthesis of many neuropeptides, including vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT). In this study, employing in situ hybridization histochemistry, we have shown that CPH mRNA is abundantly expressed in the magnocellular paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus, the primary sites of OT and VP synthesis. Since this enzyme is copackaged in secretory vesicles and hence coreleased with the neurohypophysial hormones, enzyme stores are depleted in parallel with the peptide hormones during states of hypersecretion. Chronic osmotic stimulation, such as occurs in long-term salt-loading or in diabetes insipidus in the Brattleboro rat, causes depletion of neurohypophysial hormone stores and is accompanied by increased rates of neurohypophysial hormone transcription and translation. This study has shown that the expression of CPH mRNA is also significantly increased in oxytocin and vasopressin producing magnocellular neurons during chronic osmotic stimulation of the hypothalamic neurohypophysial system. CPH mRNA levels in other peptidergic areas of the brain are not significantly changed by osmotic stimulation. These findings illustrate a coordinate regulation of the transcription of peptide hormones and an enzyme required for the hormones' posttranslational processing. PMID- 2628744 TI - Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase modulation of the glucocorticoid-induced cytolytic response in murine T-lymphoma cells. AB - The antiproliferative effect of glucocorticoid hormones on lymphoid tissue serves as the basis for their use in chemotherapy of lymphomas and leukemias. The effectiveness of the steroid-mediated response is potentially contingent upon a variety of factors, including the cellular level of glucocorticoid receptors. This report demonstrates that differences in the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor gene can modulate steroid sensitivity of individuals within a population of lymphoma cells. We have also found that loss of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity caused a measurable decrease of steroid sensitivity in the murine T lymphoma WEHI-7 without producing a significant change in steroid binding capacity. However, the extent of this change in sensitivity was dependent upon the level of glucocorticoid receptor expression. Lymphoma cells containing few spare steroid receptors became significantly resistant to glucocorticoids through loss of cAMP-dependent kinase function. On the other hand, elevated levels of cAMP were found to cause an increase in glucocorticoid receptor mRNA concentrations. Thus, cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity has the potential to modulate a lymphoma cell's steroid sensitivity by affecting the level of glucocorticoid receptor expression as well as the receptor's efficiency in producing a cytolytic response. PMID- 2628745 TI - [Mild forms of alcoholic embryopathy following excessive use of alcohol]. AB - Within 15 years 171 children with fetal alcohol syndrome were diagnosed. Eight children showed an unusual low susceptibility to the harmful effects of alcohol in utero with mild expression of fetal alcohol syndrome or so-called alcohol effects, inspite of excessive maternal drinking (more than 180 gs alcohol per day). Increased tolerance of alcohol might be explained by two mechanisms: 1. By metabolic adaptation, mainly by swift increase of alcohol metabolizing; 2. by biochemical and structural adaptation at cellular membranes after chronic alcohol ingestion. The grade of severity in fetal alcohol syndrome does not depend on the amounts of alcohol but mainly on the development of metabolic and morphological tolerance and adaptation. PMID- 2628746 TI - [Preventing iron deficiency in breast-fed infants by suitable supplementary food. A prospective, controlled study]. AB - Iron deficiency may develop in prolonged breast feeding. Introduction of beikost (supplementary nutrition) is recommended in Germany for infants after 4 months of age. In a prospective study 73 exclusively breastfed infants at the age of 16 weeks were assigned to one of two feeding groups: 35 infants received a meat vegetable dinner fortified with iron-2-sulfate (3 mg iron per 100 kcal) as their first supplementary food. At 20 weeks of age a milk based rice cereal (MBRC) without iron fortification was added as a second beikost meal. The other group comprised 38 infants who first received a MBRC fortified with iron-3 pyrophosphate (3 mg iron per 100 kcal). At 20 weeks of age a non iron fortified vegetable potato dinner was introduced. After 6 months of age the iron fortified meat vegetable dinner was offered to all infants once a day. 26 infants who did not receive this dinner but otherwise were consulted and treated identically served as controls at 12 months of age. At 6 months of age values of hemoglobin, MCV, serum iron, ferritin, and transferrin saturation were higher in the meat dinner group compared to the cereal first group. At 12 months of age this was also true for the meat dinner group compared to the controls. However, the differences were minor and statistically not significant. Whereas most of the indicators of iron nutritional status were within the lower normal range, and total iron intake was below the levels recommended by German and American authorities, recommending two iron fortified beikost meals between age 7 and 12 months appears to be justified. PMID- 2628747 TI - [Disorders of immune function in children with selective IgA deficiency]. AB - Numerous additional alterations of immune function in patients with selective IgA deficiency (serum IgA less than 0.05 g/l) have been described. In this group of patients we have investigated the connection with allergic diseases and alterations of the other immunoglobulin isotypes. Sera of 44 children from 1 3/12 to 18 years were analysed. In all patients serum IgA was below the nephelometric detection limit of 0.05 g/l). Using a more sensitive ELISA, IgA could be detected in all sera in concentrations ranging from 10 micrograms/l to 0.04 g/l. 25 children (57%) revealed a profound elevation of IgG serum levels, in 27 (61%) IgM was elevated above the upper age related normal value. In 7 patients (16%) with normal IgG serum levels a combined IgG2-IgG4 deficiency was found. In most cases these patients had unusually frequent and severe infections. Total IgE serum levels were determined by a RIA technique. In addition, an IgE-mediated sensitization to the most common food and inhalation antigens was detected by a standardized procedure (Phadiatop, Pharmacia). In 9/44 children (20%) IgE was less than 2 U/ml (lowest detection limit), 27 patients (62%) revealed levels of 6 86 U/ml within the age-related normal range. In 8 patients (18%) total IgE was above 381 U/ml. Four patients demonstrated a sensitization to inhalants, specific IgE antibodies to nutritive antigens were detected in three children.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628748 TI - [Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria in a 2-year-old boy]. AB - We report the case of a two-year-old boy, who presented with two episodes of severe abdominal pain and consecutive macrohematuria after he had been outside the house at very low temperatures. The cause of this was found to be acute hemolytic anemia with hemoglobinuria, induced by a cold reacting Donath Landsteiner autoantibody. After a few days parameters of hemolysis had normalized, hemoglobin levels were within the normal range after 4 weeks. Eight months later the Donath-Landsteiner autoantibody could not be detected any more, the boy is healthy since then. PMID- 2628749 TI - [Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis with fatal outcome in a 2-month-old infant]. AB - A 2-month-old infant died of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. Preoperatively pyonephrosis was suspected, because the child presented with a number of inflammatory, septic symptoms. Nephrectomy was performed and histopathology showed the kidney to be affected by xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. Postoperatively the child developed persistent attacks of fever and bronchopneumonia that led to his death with signs of pulmonary insufficiency. PMID- 2628750 TI - [Colonoscopy: indications, procedure, results]. AB - Colonoscopy in childhood is indicated as a valuable procedure mainly in rectal bleeding and suspected inflammatory bowel disease. Because of high efficiency and low complication rates this procedure should be used more often. PMID- 2628751 TI - [Immunochemical analysis of the products of translation of mRNA hybridized with the left HindIII-A-Sa1-fragment of vaccinia virus DNA]. AB - The left HindIII-A-Sal fragment of the vaccinia virus DNA has been analyzed by the technique of mRNA hybridizational selection with the subsequent translation in cell-free protein-synthesizing system from the rabbit reticulocytes. The viral mRNA hybridizable with the fragment was shown to direct the synthesis of 12, 17, 27, 42, 70 kD polypeptides in the cell-free protein-synthesizing system. Each of 12 and 42 kD polypeptides was demonstrated to react specifically with antisera to structural p12 and p42 coat proteins. The structural coat proteins p12, p20, p42 of the vaccinia virus are concluded to be the products of the same viral gene. PMID- 2628752 TI - [Type II SsrI restriction endonuclease from Staphylococcus saprophyticus]. AB - The recognition sequence and cleavage site for restriction endonuclease SsrI have been determined, the latter being 5'-GTT decreases AAC-3'. The enzyme was isolated from Staphylococcus saprophyticus strain and may be used in DNA investigation instead of its isoshizomer HpaI. PMID- 2628753 TI - [Plasmids for biphenyl, chlorobiphenyl and metatoluylate degradation from Pseudomonas putida]. AB - Pseudomonas putida strain SU83, harbors the pBS311 plasmid coding for the degradation of biphenyl, 2- and 4-chlorbiphenyl, meta- and paratoluylate. The insertional mutants of the plasmid obtained by the transposon Tn5 insertion were isolated. One of the mutants was used for cloning of the biphenyl degradation genes. The plasmid pBS311:: Tn5 DNA was inserted into the BamHI site of the plasmid pBR322 and cloned. 11 recombinants of 354 tested were treated with 0.1% solution of 2,3-dioxybiphenyl. One of them has acquired the yellow colour testifying to conversion of 2,3-dioxyphenyl to "2-hydroxy-6-keto-6-phenylhexa-2,4 diene acid. The recombinant plasmid pBS312 from this clone is 10.5 kb in size, the size of the insert being 6.2 kb. Escherichia coli SU185 cells harbouring pBS312 are able to support metacleavage of 2,3-dioxybiphenyl, 3-methylcatechol and catechol, but not of 4-methylcatechol. The results suggest the cloned fragment to contain a gene for 2,3-dioxybiphenyl-1,2-dioxygenase, the third enzyme for biphenyl catabolism. PMID- 2628754 TI - Influence of early postnatal overnutrition of rats on fatty acid composition of membrane lipids. AB - The influence of early postnatal overnutrition on fatty acid composition of erythrocyte, thrombocyte and liver mitochondria membrane lipids was studied in male rats (3, 6 and 11 months old) reared in small nests (2 pups per dam) in comparison to normally bred rats (12 pups per dam). Independent of age elevated proportions of palmitic and stearic acid at the expense of linoleic and arachidonic acid were found in all membrane lipids investigated in the postnatally overfed animals. These changes are discussed in relation to the enhanced lipogenesis with increased body fat accumulation in this animal model of a dietary induced obesity. PMID- 2628755 TI - Relationship between protein nutritive quality and technological property parameters of wheat flour. AB - The biological value of proteins as well as their importance for the technological quality of wheat flours have been extensively researched. Apart from the other factors, gluten content, structure and functional characteristics are responsible for the flour's technological properties. Functional properties of gluten complex and thus also rheological properties of flour are influenced by the specificity and intensity of interactions among individual protein fractions and likewise of protein interactions with other flour components. Rheological properties of flour and quality parameters of bread are changed to a greater or lesser extent, among other, by addition of free amino acids. The purpose of this work was to explore the relationship between certain essential amino acids of wheat flour and the parameters of flour rheology and bread baking quality. PMID- 2628756 TI - Effect of varying levels of oyster shell on serum constituents and erythrocyte indices in growing chicken fed gossypol-containing Nigerian cottonseed cake. AB - The addition of calcium ions to iron-gossypol complex in phosphate solution has been reported to effect the removal of the soluble ferrous-gossypol complex from solution. These workers then postulated that the formation of insoluble ferrous gossypol by calcium may explain the biological synergistic effect of calcium with iron in the inactivation of gossypol. Earlier studies by Skutches et al. indicated reduced haemoglobin, haematocrit and total serum protein in pigs fed 0.06% free gossypol diet. While other attempts at gossypol detoxification using divalent ions have been, mainly, in the form of calcium hydroxide and/or ferrous sulphate, this paper describes the dose-response relationships between dietary oyster shell (a much cheaper source of calcium than Ca(OH)2) and some serum constituents and erythrocyte indices in the chicken fed gossypol-containing cottonseed cake (CSC) diets. PMID- 2628757 TI - Staffing and quality in the 1990s. PMID- 2628758 TI - The implementation of pre-operative visiting. PMID- 2628759 TI - Medical lasers. AB - In this short article it has only been possible to outline the use of lasers in medical applications. As you will have gathered there is still a considerable amount of research and development taking place and new types of lasers are appearing all the time, many of which may prove to be clinically useful. PMID- 2628760 TI - Teaching and learning. PMID- 2628761 TI - The new face of post-basic education for theatre nurses in West Glamorgan. PMID- 2628762 TI - Getting to know you. A prescription for recovery. PMID- 2628763 TI - Dampdusting--a religious rite? PMID- 2628764 TI - Don't turn your back on spinal injuries. PMID- 2628765 TI - Management of burns in major disasters. PMID- 2628766 TI - A challenge to our organizations. PMID- 2628767 TI - Uncertain science and speculative medical practice. PMID- 2628769 TI - The catastrophic debacle. PMID- 2628768 TI - Attacking the nursing shortage from within: the Columbia model. AB - This paper discusses a three-pronged approach to easing the crises of the nursing shortage from within the profession. Its premise is that it is necessary to develop, test, and evaluate models that have the potential to change the education of students, the reward systems for the nursing profession, and the delivery of nursing services. The initiatives developed to address these concerns are faculty practice, the clinical preceptorship, and the accelerated master's program. PMID- 2628770 TI - Incidence of hypoglycemia and nutritional intake in patients on a general medical unit. AB - Hypoglycemia can be a frequent occurrence in hospitalized diabetic patients on a general medical unit. Identified risk factors for such episodes have been linked to nutritional status, nutrient intake, and treatment regimes. This preliminary study identified the occurrence of hypoglycemia in 28% of the study population. Risk factors of low kilocalorie and carbohydrate intake were not associated with a higher incidence of hypoglycemia; however, the combination of a reduced carbohydrate intake and a low serum albumin level was found to be a more accurate clinical indicator of patients at risk for hypoglycemia. Areas to enhance care were also identified. A need to increase documentation related to nutritional intake, treatment, and patient response to treatment was identified. The lack of standardized treatment for hypoglycemia was also noted. Educational programming and the development of documentation tools and practice guidelines has had a dramatic effect on decreasing the incidence of hypoglycemia on one general medical unit. PMID- 2628771 TI - Innovations in entrepreneurship: a profile. Interview by David A. Norris. PMID- 2628772 TI - Creating a center of excellence: education and service collaborate. AB - This case study describes how a nursing educator worked with nursing service administrators and staff to open a new neurological/neurosurgical special care unit. Included are the administrative process needed to set up such an arrangement, the establishment of roles and relationships, methods of maintaining internal consistency, unit and staff development, research involvement, outcomes, and drawbacks and benefits to this type of arrangement. PMID- 2628773 TI - Easing transitions in care delivery with a core training group. AB - A collaborative approach was used by the nursing staff of a state psychiatric hospital to make a transition from traditional nursing services to a self-care model on one ward. The core training group, including representatives from all levels of nursing staff, developed and evaluated a personal hygiene protocol for 30 patients with chronic mental illness. Underwood's adaptation of Orem's self care model of nursing was modified to provide the framework for this protocol. Evaluation of the project demonstrated both improved personal hygiene for the patients and greater job satisfaction for the nursing staff. The collaborative core training group approach was effective in facilitating the transition to the self-care nursing model. PMID- 2628774 TI - The nature of a malpractice suit--a thumbnail overview. PMID- 2628775 TI - Teaching leadership with role theory. AB - A model based on Mintzberg's use of role theory to describe managerial functions was applied to nursing education. The model builds on interpersonal, informational, and decisional activities of managers (Mintzberg, 1978), and identifies nine subroles that are frequently carried out by managers in nursing. Organization of material using this structure has been well-accepted both by baccalaureate nursing students and by practicing nurses whose educational background in management concepts is limited. PMID- 2628776 TI - Age-correlated loss of dopamine uptake sites labeled with [3H]GBR-12935 in human putamen. AB - The effects of age (19-100 years) upon dopamine uptake sites labeled with [3H]GBR 12935 in human postmortem putamen from 20 individuals were studied. There was a 70% decrease in binding density (Bmax) over the adult age range. No significant changes in binding affinity (Kd) were detected, the mean Kd being 1.0 +/- 0.2 nM (mean +/- S.E.M.). Nor were there any changes in binding related to the postmortem delay. Based on the findings that [3H]GBR-12935 labels the uptake site for dopamine, it is suggested that the age-related loss of [3H]GBR-12935 binding in human putamen reflects a degeneration of dopamine neurites. PMID- 2628777 TI - Endogenous glutamate release from frontal cortex of adult and aged rats. AB - Glutamate (GLU) is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the frontal cortex. Alterations in GLU neurotransmission are present in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, however, little is known about the normal aging process of GLU utilizing neurons. GLU release, uptake and content were examined in the frontal cortex of adult (6 months old) and aged (24 months old) male, Fisher 344 rats. These markers were used to assess the functional integrity of intrinsic and extrinsic GLU utilizing pathways innervating the frontal cortex. Basal- and potassium- (56 mM) evoked GLU release from brain slices of aged rats were not significantly different from that of adults. Kainic acid (1.0 mM) failed to significantly augment basal or potassium-stimulated GLU release in the frontal cortex of either aged or adult rats. Uptake of [3H] GLU into brain slices was also unaltered as a function of age. In contrast, GLU content was decreased 17% in the frontal cortex of aged rats when compared to the adults. These results suggest that the functional integrity of GLU utilizing nerve terminals in the frontal cortex is maintained in 24-month-old Fisher 344 rats. The decrease in GLU content may reflect a generalized neuronal loss or a defect in neuronal and/or glial GLU metabolism in the metabolic compartment. PMID- 2628778 TI - The effects of life-long food restriction on spatial memory in young and aged Fischer 344 rats measured in the eight-arm radial and the Morris water mazes. AB - The effect of life-long 60% ad lib food restriction on performance in two tasks involving spatial memory, the eight-arm radial maze and the Morris water maze, was studied in young and aged Fischer 344 rats. Restricted (R) and ad lib (AL) feeding groups were compared at 8, 16, and 24 months of age on both tasks. A 30 month-old R group was also tested in the Morris water maze. In the eight-arm maze, although 24-month-old animals performed more poorly than 8- and 16-month old animals during the first week of testing, overall accuracy of performance did not vary significantly as a function of age. Twenty-four-month-old animals took longer to make 10 choices than did younger animals, and there was a significant interaction between feeding regimen and age, reflecting the fact that at the two younger ages, R groups performed more quickly than the AL groups. In the Morris water maze, both distance swum and time to find the platform increased with age. Life-long food restriction led to small but significant improvements in performance in the water maze in aged rats. R groups showed evidence for better retention over 24-hour intervals than did AL groups. By 30 months of age, however, R animals showed impaired performance relative to younger R groups. These differential findings on the two tasks, as they were used here, suggest that there was greater impairment with age on the spatial memory task requiring retention of information over long intervals than there was on the task primarily involving working memory within a trial.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628779 TI - All night spectral analysis of EEG sleep in young adult and middle-aged male subjects. AB - The sleep EEGs of 9 young adult males (age 20-28 years) and 8 middle-aged males (42-56 years) were analyzed by visual scoring and spectral analysis. In the middle-aged subjects power density in the delta, theta and sigma frequencies were attenuated as compared to the young subjects. In both age groups power density in the delta and theta frequencies declined from NREM period 1 to 3. In the sigma frequencies, however, no systematic changes in power density were observed over the sleep episode. In both age groups the decay of EEG power (0.75-7.0 Hz) over successive NREM-REM cycles and the time course of EEG power during NREM sleep was analyzed. The decay rate of both EEG power density over successive NREM-REM cycles and EEG power density during NREM sleep was smaller in the middle-aged subjects than in the young subjects. It is concluded that the age-related differences in human sleep EEG power spectra are not identical to the changes in EEG power spectra observed in the course of the sleep episode. Therefore age related differences in EEG power spectra cannot be completely explained by assuming a reduced need for sleep in older subjects. The smaller decay rate of EEG power during NREM sleep in the middle-aged subjects is interpreted as a reduced sleep efficiency. The results are discussed in the frame work of the two process model of sleep regulation. PMID- 2628780 TI - Aging and long-term ovariectomy alter the cytoarchitecture of the hypothalamic preoptic area of the C57BL/6J mouse. AB - Long-term ovariectomy attenuates several neuroendocrine-dependent changes in reproductive function of aging female rodents, but the sites affected and underlying mechanisms are not known. This study was designed to identify effects of aging on hypothalamic-preoptic neurocytoarchitecture and to determine whether long-term ovariectomy attenuated any of those changes. Coronal sections from midportions of the preoptic area (POA), suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and arcuate nucleus (ARC) were examined by quantitative light microscopy in young (5 month) and old (18-20 months) intact mice and in old mice which had been ovariectomized at 6 months of age. Neuronal density in old intact mice decreased in both ARC and POA (30%; p less than 0.05), but no significant decrease occurred in SCN. Total perikaryal area decreased only in ARC (10%; p less than 0.05), while area of perikaryal nuclei did not change in any region. Area of nucleoli increased (13%; p less than 0.005) in all three regions of old intact and old ovariectomized mice. Neither density nor size of glia changed with age. Density of blood vessels increased strikingly in ARC (150%; p less than 0.05), and in POA (30%; p less than 0.05), but not significantly in SCN of old mice. Long-term ovariectomy did not prevent any of these changes; indeed, it promoted the decline of neuronal density in SCN (40%; p less than 0.05) and neuronal area (15%; p less than 0.05) in POA. Reductions in neuronal density were not explained by expansion of the SCN or peri-ARC or peri-POA regions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628781 TI - Relationship of age-related decline across several behavioral domains. AB - These studies were designed to assess whether aged rats have a similar degree of impairment across a number of behavioral tasks. In Experiment 1, no relationship between the severity of a spatial learning impairment and reaction time performance was found among aged rats. This result is in contrast with a relationship that was found in aged rats between spatial learning and the rate of recovery from gustatory neophobia (results of Experiments 2 and 3). Experiment 3 further showed that the relative spatial learning abilities of two subgroups of aged rats, i.e., "impaired" and "unimpaired," were related to transfer training in the water maze conducted six weeks after the completion of original training. The subgroups of aged animals were also distinguished by their latencies (but not errors) on a circular holeboard maze, and the pattern of water consumption during the light/dark cycle determined at the end of the entire protocol (13th week of testing). Other measures, however, did not distinguish the aged subgroups that were formed on the basis of spatial learning ability. PMID- 2628782 TI - Neurofibrillary degeneration and neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease. AB - Neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease, especially in cerebral cortex and hippocampus, appears closely associated with the process of neurofibrillary degeneration. In certain noncortical nuclei neuronal loss appears not to depend upon the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Neurofibrillary tangles and neurons were counted in the same populations of neurons in five brain regions. In the locus ceruleus and nucleus basalis, where tangles have a loose or globose structure, correlations with neuronal counts were not significant. In cerebral cortex and hippocampus, tangles have a more dense and often a flame-like appearance and their correlations with neuronal counts were significant. The relationships between tangles and noncortical neurons reported here suggest that the appearance of tangles does not necessarily herald the demise of a neuron in Alzheimer's disease. It can be reasonably anticipated that these relationships depend upon the clinical heterogeneity of Alzheimer's disease, regional differences in the brain and/or the macromolecular composition of neurofibrillary tangles. PMID- 2628783 TI - Aging of human segmental oligosynaptic reflexes for control of leg movement. AB - A heteronymous group I oligosynaptic reflex from the common peroneal nerve to vastus medialis muscle was compared with a group I homonymous monosynaptic reflex to soleus, using electrical stimulation of peripheral nerve trunks in two groups of healthy men, mean ages 22 and 65 years. The oligosynaptic reflex was still elicitable with age, its magnitude decreasing similarly to the monosynaptic reflex. A further group of older subjects, mean age 75 years, showed similar results. Clearly, the oligosynaptic reflex is not lost with healthy aging. The motor interneuronal pool may at least partially avoid the age-related cell loss of motoneuronal pools, with consequent maintenance of segmental participation for movements such as gait. The slowing of conduction velocities, for these proprioceptive reflex arcs, may reduce the effectiveness of autoregulation of the gait. PMID- 2628784 TI - Intraventricular nerve growth factor administration prevents lesion-induced loss of septal cholinergic neurons in aging rats. AB - In young adult rats transection of the fimbria results in loss of cholinergic cell bodies in the septum and this lesion-induced loss is prevented by intraventricular administration of NGF. The present study examined whether NGF administration is equally effective in aging animals. Eighteen-month-old rats received fimbrial transections and were given intraventricular injections of NGF during four weeks. Septal cholinergic neurons were then visualized using NGF receptor immunohistochemistry, which represents a reliable marker for cholinergic neurons in the septal area. The fimbrial transections reduced the number of septal NGF receptor-positive cells to a similar extent as in young animals. NGF treatment of aging rats protected these cells as effectively as in young adult rats. PMID- 2628785 TI - Ascorbic acid transport in mouse and rat astrocytes is reversibly inhibited by furosemide, SITS, and DIDS. AB - The uptake of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) by astrocytes was studied using primary cultures prepared from the neopallium of newborn Swiss CD-1 mice or Sprague Dawley rats. Initial uptake rates were significantly greater in mouse than in rat astrocytes. Exposure of cultures to 0.25 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP for 2 weeks changed cell morphology from polygonal to stellate and stimulated ascorbate uptake, with the greatest stimulation occurring in mouse astrocytes. Uptake was specific for the vitamin since it was not diminished by the presence of other organic anions including acetate, formate, lactate, malonate, oxalate, p aminohippurate, pyruvate and succinate. Ascorbate uptake was Na(+)-dependent but did not have a specific requirement for external Cl- (Cl-0). Substitution of Cl-0 by Br- or NO3- decreased ascorbate uptake rates by 20-31%; whereas substitution by gluconate or isethionate increased uptake by 20-31%. Ascorbate transport by astroglial cultures from both animal species was rapidly (less than or equal to 1 min) and reversibly inhibited by the anion transport inhibitors furosemide, 4 acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS) and 4,4' diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). The rapid and reversible effects of the impermeant inhibitors (SITS and DIDS) are consistent with direct inhibition of ascorbate transporters located in the astroglial plasma membrane. PMID- 2628786 TI - Supra-additive stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by prostaglandin E2 and D-Ala2-met-enkephalinamide in the guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion: role of Mg2+ions. AB - Agonists modulation of Mg2(+)-dependent adenylate cyclase activity has been studied in guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion crude membrane preparations. In the absence of receptors ligands, Mg2+ stimulates the enzyme in a concentration dependent manner. The dose-activation curve shows heterogeneity and two components with "higher" and "lower" apparent affinity states, are extrapolated. In the presence of D-Ala2-met-enkephalinamide only one component is present and the apparent affinity of the ganglionic adenylate cyclase system for the divalent cation as well as Vmax are inhibited. On the contrary, prostaglandin E2 increases affinity and Vmax values of the lower and, to a lesser extent, of the higher Km component. When the two drugs are tested in combination, not only the inhibitory effect of the opiate is overcome, but a large increase of the apparent affinities and Vmax values for both components is obtained, suggesting the involvement of the Mg2(+)-regulated subunits of the adenylate cyclase system in the supra additive stimulation mechanism of the enzyme. PMID- 2628787 TI - The effect of partial noradrenergic denervation on corticosterone secretion in the rat. AB - DSP4(N-(-2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine) treatment significantly decreased the noradrenaline content in the hippocampus, frontal cortex and hypothalamus of the rat brain. DSP4 treatment did not affect plasma corticosterone levels. Clonidine, an alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist, had no effect on corticosterone secretion in either DSP4- or saline-treated rats. Isoproterenol, a beta-adrenoceptor agonist, significantly stimulated corticosterone secretion. This effect was inhibited by the prior administration of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranalol. DSP4 treatment did not alter the isoproterenol-induced stimulation of corticosterone secretion. The administration of a high dose of dexamethasone (100 micrograms/kg, i.p.) significantly decreased the plasma corticosterone concentration of saline-treated controls, while an intermediate dose (25 micrograms/kg, i.p.) did not suppress corticosterone release significantly. DSP4-treatment did not influence dexamethasone-induced suppression of corticosterone secretion. These results show that significant decreases in noradrenaline content in the hippocampus, frontal cortex and hypothalamus appear to have no effect on the regulation of corticosterone secretion and that corticosterone secretion may be stimulated by catecholamines via beta-adrenoceptors. PMID- 2628788 TI - Metabolism of exogenous galactosylceramide in the twitcher mouse brain. AB - The in vivo metabolism of galactosylceramide (gal-cer) in normal mice and in twitcher mice, a model of human GLD, was examined following intracerebral administration of gal-cer containing [1-14C] stearic acid. In normal mice, gal cer was hydrolyzed to ceramide within 6 hours and ceramide was hydrolyzed to sphingosine and fatty acid. Most of the released fatty acid was immediately incorporated into other lipids. About 75% of injected gal-cer was hydrolyzed 80 hours after the injection, while in the twitcher mouse, only 17% of gal-cer was hydrolyzed. These results show that degradation of gal-cer is impaired in the twitcher mouse brain, but contradict to the fact that there was no evidence of any accumulation of gal-cer in the brain. This discrepancy may be due to the different sorting routes of biosynthesized and exogenously-administered gal-cer in the mouse brain. Most of the biosynthesized gal-cer is incorporated into myelin, while the injected gal-cer is incorporated into lysosomes. PMID- 2628789 TI - Intramyelinic conversion of cerebrosides into acylgalactosylceramides. AB - Acylgalactosylceramide (AGC) synthesis was measured in vivo, and in a cell free system. 24 hours post-injection of [3H] palmitic acid into rat brain, more than 60% of the AGC radioactivity was associated with an ester linkage. Isolated rat myelin was incubated in the presence of [14C] palmitic acid, 2mM ATP, 50 microM CoA and 10 mM MgCl2 and acylation of myelin cerebrosides occurred at a linear rate for at least 60 min. Incubation of isolated myelin under standard conditions with [3H] cerebrosides and [14C] palmitic acid produced double labeled AGC. Labeling of AGC was maximum at pH 7.5 and 37 degrees C and appeared to be enzyme mediated inasmuch as it was reduced by myelin incubation with trypsin and drastically reduced by preheating the myelin for 5 min at 80 degrees C. Omission of ATP, CoA, MgCl2 or all three did not reduce fatty acid incorporation into AGC when compared to the values in the complete system. Addition of Triton X100 or Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate had little or no effect on the acylation of cerebrosides. Pulse chase experiments indicated that the reaction involved the net addition of fatty acid to the cerebrosides, rather than a rapid fatty acid exchange. PMID- 2628790 TI - Selective regional distribution of tubulin induced in cerebrum by hyperammonemia. AB - Ingestion of ammonium induces hyperammonemia which increases tubulin content in cerebrum but not in cerebellum. We have dissected 11 discrete areas of cerebrum and quantified the tubulin content in control and hyperammonemic rats. An heterogeneity in the induction of tubulin is shown. The areas more affected are ventral hippocampus, dorsal hippocampus, hypothalamus, septum, reticular formation and frontal cortex, in which tubulin content increased by 63%, 27%, 32%, 48%, 45%, and 25%, respectively, after two months of feeding the ammonium diet. PMID- 2628791 TI - [Segmental splenectomy. Usefulness of linear surgical staplers]. AB - As the high risk of sepsis after splenectomy is well recognized, reliable conservative surgical techniques in splenic surgery are widely advocated. Among these, segmental splenectomy carries specific and increasing indications. The use of linear staplers makes this operation quicker and safer. On the basis of a personal observation, Authors examine the anatomical features on which this operation is based, the surgical technique and the technical details to be followed using these devices. The advantages offered by staplers in this surgery allow to widen the indications to partial splenectomy, so as to yield a true primary prophylaxis of the post-splenectomy sepsis. PMID- 2628792 TI - [Sphincter function after low anterior resection of the rectum]. AB - Until a few years ago, surgical technique and the age-old convictions of oncological radicality rejected very low rectal resections for cancer, particularly as the problem of postoperative incontinence did not exist. Currently, on the other hand, with the advent of mechanical staplers, the surgeon attempts increasingly to reconcile the possibility of using new sphincter-saving techniques with adequate oncological radicality, backed by accurate pre- and intraoperative staging. It is underlined that postoperative assessment of sphincter function in all its aspects, both clinical and instrumental, may be useful for the purpose of clarifying what anatomical structures should really be saved, delegated to retaining sphincter sensitivity and reflexes, so improving the functional results of operations. In addition, the almost rare identification of manifest or latent postoperative incontinence would make it possible to intervene in operated patients, for example by functional reeducation techniques as happens in the relatively recent biofeedback techniques. PMID- 2628793 TI - [Computerized dynamic endothermography of the gastrointestinal mucosa as an indirect index of the state of vascularization of the abdominal organs. A preliminary note]. AB - Computerized Dynamic Endothermy (CDE) has been applied to the evaluation of the gastroenteric microcirculation. This new method enables mucosal temperature changes to be detected in a dynamic and functional way. With preventive induction of a temperature change (cold stimulus), the instrument measures the time required for the establishment of previous mucosal temperature. Computerized data are displayed in the form of a time/temperature curve. Results obtained on rabbits showed, during ischaemic conditions, a greater reduction of gastric layer temperature during cold stimulus than in basal conditions, followed by a slower return to basal temperature during the recovery time. PMID- 2628794 TI - [Primary mediastinal masses of benign nature. Clinical classification and criteria of therapy]. AB - A consecutive series of 34 primary mediastinal masses of benign origin was operated on since 1970 through 1988. Many diagnostic techniques were performed, including traditional x-ray of the chest, scintigraphy, angiography; in the more recent years CT and NMR took the place of traditional tomography. In selected cases hormonal dosages were of value in clarifying the endocrine activity of the masses. The various diagnostic techniques performed are discussed as well as their effectiveness in the preoperative diagnosis of nature, benign or malignant, of the masses. This cannot be reached with precision without opening the thorax. The detail of the 34 cases is reported. In the light of the recent literature, the absolute need for surgical treatment of any mediastinal masses, even if asymptomatic, is debated. This aggressive surgical approach is the only effective way to establish the histological nature of the mass and, at the same time, to obtain the radical cure of the lesion. PMID- 2628795 TI - [Autotransfusion in elective surgery. Preliminary report on 215 cases]. AB - Two-hundred and fifteen number of patients are presented, who underwent surgical procedures with the support of autologous blood transfusions. The latter have many advantages over traditional allogenic transfusions, such as diminished risk of infections, absence of blood compatibility problems and deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, through a preoperative controlled state of hemodilution. We have opted for a pre-operative technique, with harvest of blood, obtained before surgery, at quantity of 350 ml each 4 to 5 days. No early, nor late complications occurred, nor any postoperative hemoglobin or hematocrit decrease. The above data, together with a relevant reduction of cost per blood unit, to encourage a wide use of autologous blood transfusion, whenever feasible. PMID- 2628796 TI - [Adenocarcinoma of Meckel's diverticulum]. AB - A case of adenocarcinoma of Meckel's diverticulum is reported. Small bowel neoplasias are the least frequent in the gastrointestinal tract and localization to the diverticulum is extremely rare. Among histological types, adenocarcinoma accounts for the minority of cases. Early diagnosis is difficult because of lack of specificity of signs and symptoms, except in advanced stages. Small bowel resection with lymphadenectomy is the recommended therapeutic approach. Although, in reported case it could not be performed, because of the diffuse intraabdominal metastasis at diagnosis. This and similar cases would open the discussion about a possible indication for prophylactic resection of Meckel's diverticulum. No definitive conclusion can be drawn at present since no follow-up study is available on the natural history of diverticula which have been observed during abdominal surgery and have not been resected. PMID- 2628797 TI - [Pseudotumor of the supraclavicular fossa]. AB - The authors focus on a physiopathologic manifestation, most often misdiagnosed, which present as a "lipomatous-like mass in the supraclavicular fossa". This is generally at the origin of sophisticated radiologic tests and, not infrequently of useless biopsies. The paper analyzes the different reasons leading, alone or in combination, to the phenomenon by which the mediastinal fat is pushed toward regions where no limits anatomic structures exist, such as the supraclavicular fossa. Knowledge of the above causes, together with a careful physical examination plus a standard postero-anterior-X-ray can easily lead to a correct diagnosis of "pseudotumor of the supraclavicular fossa", avoiding costly and needless diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. PMID- 2628798 TI - [Leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord]. AB - The case of leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord in a 54 year old man is reported. The patient was treated by surgical orchiepididymectomy and funnilectomy. After a review of the literature, the clinical and anatomopathological feature of this rare tumour and the surgical approach to it are discussed. The patient has had no recurrences and is still alive 16 months after surgery. PMID- 2628799 TI - Making the best of the agency nurse. PMID- 2628800 TI - Weight watching at work. PMID- 2628801 TI - Conflicting OH factions. Occupational health. PMID- 2628803 TI - 'Please don't give my name'--the reluctant witness. PMID- 2628802 TI - When should you disclose confidential medical information? PMID- 2628804 TI - RCN defends OH diploma. Royal College of Nursing, occupational health. PMID- 2628805 TI - The fragmentation of occupational health nursing. PMID- 2628806 TI - Urogynecology. PMID- 2628807 TI - Indian health service: can it meet the needs of Native American clients? PMID- 2628808 TI - The scope of practice for the registered professional nurse--the proposed Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act. PMID- 2628809 TI - Stress and social support during recovery from a cardiac illness event. PMID- 2628810 TI - Governor's Task Force on Nursing Shortage. PMID- 2628811 TI - A case of practice building. PMID- 2628812 TI - Treatment planning: a periodontist's perspective. PMID- 2628813 TI - Recent advances in the management of avulsed permanent teeth. PMID- 2628815 TI - Risk transferal by any other name.... PMID- 2628814 TI - Primary and permanent dental trauma: two case reports. PMID- 2628816 TI - The corneal dystrophy of Waardenburg and Jonkers. AB - The dystrophy in 1961 described by Waardenburg and Jonkers in considered in the literature as a separate dystrophy by some authors and as an atypical form of granular dystrophy by others. That it is in fact the first description of, and synonymous with, the honeycomb dystrophy (Thiel and Behnke), in the English language literature usually called Reis-Bucklers' dystrophy, was proven by reinvestigation of the family concerned. PMID- 2628817 TI - Rieger's eye anomaly and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous. AB - The authors present a Turkish family (two generations, five affected persons) with symptoms of Rieger's eye anomaly as well as Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous (PHPV). Although Rieger's anomaly has been described in combination with other conditions, according to their knowledge a familial combination of Rieger's anomaly and PHPV has never been described before. Only once an isolated case with the combination of an anterior chamber cleavage malformation and bilateral PHPV has been described. The authors suggest two possible explanations for the coexistence of PHPV and Rieger's eye anomaly. It is feasible that we are dealing with symptoms until yet not diagnosed within the anomaly of Rieger. Another possibility is that there is a linkage between the genes for PHPV and Rieger's anomaly and as a consequence they are inherited together in this family. PMID- 2628818 TI - Ocular pathology in trisomy 18. A histopathological report of three cases. AB - Ophthalmic histopathology is presented in three cases of trisomy 18. The children, who showed typical systemic anomalies, died in the first few days of life. In two cases the cornea was normal, while in one case hypercellularity of the stroma was found and Bowman's and Descemet's layers were absent. A minimal cataract was also present in two cases. Retinal folds were a common finding in the posterior region in all three cases. In one case, a partial coloboma of the optic disc was present in both eyes. In case 2, a pouch between the optic nerve and the dural sheath was considered to be a minimal developmental disturbance of the primitive epithelial papilla possibly representing an optic pit. The absence of pigment epithelium on the nasal disc border in case 3, also points to a deformity of the primitive papilla. The importance of the disc region in clinical and histopathological investigation is stressed. PMID- 2628819 TI - Association of ectodermal dysplasia, ectrodactyly and macular dystrophy: EEM syndrome (case report). AB - The authors reported a 41-year-old female patient with EEM (ectodermal dysplasia, ectrodactyly and macular dystrophy) syndrome with hypotrichosis, teeth anomaly, split hand complex and retinal changes with prominent pigmentations located in the posterior pole of the retina. Retinal degeneration had shown minimal progression during 11 years. A longer follow-up period was necessary to make a definite diagnosis of these fundus changes. This is an isolated case born from a consanguineous marriage. PMID- 2628820 TI - [The effect of papain on the formation of a bone-cartilage block in vertebral fractures]. PMID- 2628821 TI - [Rare cases of isolated injuries to the sacrum]. PMID- 2628822 TI - [The surgical treatment of spinal trauma accompanied by a spinal cord defect]. PMID- 2628823 TI - [The diagnostic potentials of modern research methods in the late period of complicated trauma to the thoracic spine]. AB - The authors present the results of the examination of 70 patients with complicated injuries of the thoracic spine making use of clinical and electrophysiologic methods of investigations, axial computer tomography of the spinal column and of the spinal cord, thermography and ultrasound scanning of the spinal cord. The substantiation for using one or the other method is given in order to determine the indications for a repeated surgery. To make a reliable evaluation of the degree and the extent of the spinal cord lesion the authors prefer to make a complex examination of the patients using functional and organic structural methods of investigation. PMID- 2628824 TI - [Objective assessment of the treatment results in patients with disseminated spinal osteochondrosis]. AB - The authors have investigated the possibility of objectivization of the treatment of the patients with osteochondrosis of the spine. 86 patients with spinal osteochondrosis and 149 patients with cervical osteochondrosis have been studied, all of whom were treated with variable vibromagnetic field and kinesitherapy. It has been established that the patients' tissues in the area of the biologically active points acquire diode properties (which normally are the electric current conductors). The conduction above the biologically active points after the treatment is restored. PMID- 2628825 TI - [IR thermography in the evaluation of the effectiveness of treating patients with cervical osteochondrosis by manual therapy]. PMID- 2628826 TI - [Quantitative and qualitative cellular changes in the vertebral disks in ontogeny]. AB - The author has obtained data concerning an average number of the cellular elements in the vertebral discs and the peculiarities of ultraorganization of their tissue cells using the methods of morphometric and electron microscope analysis of the LIV-V vertebral discs taken from 66 human cadavers (accidental deaths) as well as from 80 rabbits, 12 dogs from the last stages of embryogenesis to extreme old age and from some other Mammalia of various age groups. It has been demonstrated that in the persons aged 45-65 there was a reliable reduction in the quantity of the cells in the vertebral discs. Part of the preserved cellular elements considerably reduced their secretory activity. These processes together with other factors may serve as the basis for the development of osteochondrosis of the spinal column in the people during the second part of their life. In the animals whose specific longevity and body mass are not so high such changes in the vertebral discs are less significant. PMID- 2628827 TI - [The clinical x-ray picture and treatment of the hemimelic form of epiphyseal dysplasia]. AB - The authors have studied the course and the efficacy of the surgical treatment of the hemimelic form of epiphyseal dysplasia in 15 children. Three roentgenologic types of epiphysis lesions have been distinguished. It has been determined that the pathologic changes are mainly localized in the posterior medial departments. In multiple severe lesions hyperfunction of the growth areas followed by their early asymmetric synostosis with the development of secondary deformations and focal disturbances in the ossification of the metaphyses have been observed. The necessity of early surgical treatment allowing to prevent the development of the pathologic changes in the growth areas and deforming arthrosis has been substantiated. PMID- 2628828 TI - [The combined treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta in children]. AB - The authors present the results of complex drug and orthopaedic treatment of children with imperfect osteogenesis. 40 patients were treated with a somatotropic hormone, calcitrin and vitamin D metabolites (oxydevit and dihydrocholecalciferol). In 20 of these patients corrective osteotomies of the long bones of the lower extremities combined with metal osteosynthesis with rods and massive plates were performed. In a number of patients osteoplasty with long cortical allografts was made. After the treatment all the children were able to move independently either with the aid of unloading orthopaedic apparatuses (17 patients), or without them (3 patients). PMID- 2628829 TI - [The effect of stable fixation of the fragments on the course of experimental traumatic osteomyelitis]. AB - The authors have carried out two series of experiments on 15 dogs making a comparative x-ray morphologic study of the course of traumatic osteomyelitis in the conditions of immobilization of the fragments with a plaster bandage and a perosseous osteosynthesis apparatus. It has been demonstrated that the mobility at the junction of the fragments area causing secondary local disturbances in microcirculation is a factor determining steady progress of the suppurative inflammatory process and its transition into the chronic stage of the disease. Meanwhile early creation of high stability of the fragment fixation with a perosseous osteosynthesis apparatus ("neutral osteosynthesis") preventing secondary traumatization of the fragment ends creates optimal conditions for self healing, i. e. for the inflammatory process fading and for the completion of the fragment consolidation. PMID- 2628830 TI - [The effect of the group and individual characteristics of the vertebrae on their strength in experimental compression fractures]. AB - The authors give an account of their investigation into the strength characteristics of the vertebrae preparations depending on a number of geometric characteristics of the vertebral bodies, the biological state of the bone tissue (osteoporosis, degenerative and dystrophic changes) and their group belonging. A number of factors has been revealed in some parameters of which it is possible to determine the dynamics of the state of the support function of the injured segment in the modelling of compressive fractures of the vertebral bodies. The results obtained by the authors allow to specify the literature data concerning the strength properties of the compressed vertebral body. PMID- 2628831 TI - [The surgical treatment of stenosis of the tenoperoneal canal caused by hyperplasia of the trochlea fibularis calcanei]. PMID- 2628832 TI - [The x-ray study of the posterior portions of the lumbosacral vertebrae]. PMID- 2628833 TI - [A case of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in an orthopedic patient]. PMID- 2628834 TI - [A method for setting and stabilizing the spine in spondylolisthesis]. PMID- 2628835 TI - [The formation of the ligamentum capitis femoris in endoprosthesis]. PMID- 2628837 TI - [An orthopedic traumatology gurney]. PMID- 2628836 TI - [A method of corrective osteotomy in gonarthrosis]. PMID- 2628838 TI - [Combined injuries to the atlas and axis]. PMID- 2628839 TI - Measurement of erythrocyte arginase activity and the effect of lead on the activity in vitro. AB - Measurement of arginase activity made by varying the arginine concentration and the reaction time clarified that the amount of urea formed by arginase peaked at the substrate concentration of 150 mmol/l, and increased linearly by 20 minutes. By using discs punched out from a dried blood filter paper prepared from identical human blood sample, the amount of formed urea showed linear increase up to 160 U/g.Hb. The coefficients of variation in ten measurements were 6.1% for the mean activity of 46.2 U/g.Hb and 2.1% for 152.1 U/g.Hb. No decreases in arginase activity were observed when two different dried blood filter papers were left for one week at room temperature. Intact erythrocytes were treated with various concentrations of lead from 0 to 5 mumols/l and their arginase activities were measured. The activity did not elevate linearly with the rise of lead concentration, but an almost diphasic elevation was observed. The arginase activity of erythrocytes treated with 5 mumols/l of lead was higher than that for untreated ones by 32%. PMID- 2628840 TI - Pulmonary embolization-induced thymus hyperplasia in rabbits. AB - The effects of pulmonary embolization on the thymus glands of rabbits were studied morphologically, morphometrically and immunohistochemically. Pulmonary embolization was induced by an intravenous injection of 0.4 ml of Sephadex bead suspension (particle size; 150 to 300 microns, about 2,000 per ml). Both mean weight and volume of the thymus of rabbits killed at 2 weeks after embolization, were about 1.5 times more than those in control animals treated with physiologic saline. Histological examinations showed enlargement of the cortex and medulla of the thymus, and the embolized Sephadex beads in the branches of pulmonary arteries of the lung. The area ratios of medulla/cortex, in the embolization group and in control, were not significantly different. The cells with immunohistochemically positive staining of anti-nuclear antigen of monoclonal antibody of Ki-67, were found in both portions of the medulla and cortex. These data suggest that pulmonary embolization in the rabbit induces true thymic hyperplasia. An intravenous injection of India ink into the right highest intercostal artery revealed the distribution of bronchial arteries, which send the branches to the right lobe of the thymus. In 2 out of 4 animals killed 2 weeks after pulmonary embolization, the left lobe of the thymus as well as the right were stained with the injected ink. As it is known that pulmonary vascular obstruction caused a marked increase in the bronchial blood flow, these data suggest that the thymus blood supply from the bronchial arteries increases in the conditions of pulmonary embolization, which might contribute to thymus hyperplasia. PMID- 2628841 TI - Nuclear binding sites for reverse triiodothyronine in human placenta. AB - It has been generally believed that reverse triiodothyronine (reverse T3, rT3) is biologically inactive. Nevertheless the serum rT3 level is very high in fetal life, when the serum calcium level is higher than in the maternal. For this hypercalcemia in fetal life, there is no convincing evidence that any major calcium regulating hormone is responsible. And the assumption that rT3 may be concerned in active transport of calcium at placenta could be suggested. In this study nuclear protein was isolated from human placenta by extraction with 0.4M KCl buffer and binding studies utilizing radioactive rT3 were carried out. Scatchard analysis presented a curvilinear pattern, suggesting two classes of receptors: One with a association constant (Ka) of 1.14 X 10(8) M-1 and a limited capacity (Bmax) of 32.0 X 10(-15) mol/100 micrograms DNA and the other with Ka = 4.34 X 10(6) and Bmax = 454 X 10(-15). Its relative affinities for several thyroid hormone analogues were calculated. If the affinity for rT3 was assigned l, that for triiodothyronine would be 1/40, thyroxine: 1/63, Triiodothyroacetic acid: 1/18. Sulfhydryl agents affecting these binding characteristics were also studied. The Ka was not substantially changed but the Bmax was notably decreased by dithiothreitol (43%) and 2-mercaptoethanol (26%). In liver nuclei, the binding characteristics of rT3 receptor were analyzed for comparison. In this case only a single class of low affinity-high capacity rT3 binding site with a Ka of 6.69 X 10(6) was detected, a finding which was apparently different from those in placenta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628842 TI - Relationship of risk factors to subsequent development of stroke and ischemic heart disease in a rural community. AB - A baseline examination of all residents aged 40 years and over, in the A-I district, Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, was conducted in July 1977. The response rate for this examination was 84.5% for males and 92.6% for females. Nine hundred sixty males and 1,339 females, who were initially free from stroke, constituted the stroke cohort. Similarly 984 males and 1,342 females, who were free from myocardial infarction and angina pectoris on effort, made up the ischemic heart disease cohort. Both cohorts were followed for 10 years through June 1987. It is concluded that, in the agricultural community, the strongest risk factor for not only stroke but ischemic heart disease was hypertension, and that the attribution of hypercholesterolemia and obesity was small. The population that was studied experienced a period of relative economic deprivation before 1950, and there seems to be residual effects from this period to this day. The definition of cerebral infarction used in this study includes several pathologically different types (cerebral infarction of the cortical branches, cerebral infarction of the perforating branches, cerebral embolism and so on), and this may affect the results. On the other hand, the strongest risk factor for ischemic heart disease found in the A-I district is hypertension. This differs from the European/American type of ischemic heart disease, to which hypercholesterolemia and obesity are basic. These results also suggest the possibility that there is a difference not only etiologically but pathologically between the two types. PMID- 2628843 TI - Extraction of dislocated lenses using vitrectomy techniques. AB - In fourteen eyes in thirteen patients, dislocated lenses into the vitreous were extracted using the techniques of vitreous surgery. Our surgical techniques of the extraction, as well as the indication and the prognosis, were described in this paper. Techniques of the lens extraction were basically Barraquer's method, but in modified form. Vitrectomy was carried out by open sky approach (in 2 cases) or pars plana approach (in 12 cases). In cases complicated by acute phacolytic uveitis, excellent results were obtained by these surgical techniques after the complete control of inflammation with steroid. Before surgical extraction, intraocular pressure had been elevated over 21 mm Hg in eight cases. But in all these cases intraocular pressure was controlled without medication after surgery. Visual acuity was improved unless chorioretinal atrophy or glaucoma were not accompanied. From these surgical results, it seems to be reasonable to extract surgically the dislocated lens before the eye is severely damaged. PMID- 2628844 TI - Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on intrahepatic cholestasis. AB - Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was administered to 16 intrahepatic cholestasis patients with severe jaundice, and its clinical effects were studied. As a result, it was remarkably effective in 6 patients, significantly effective in 5 patients, slightly effective in 2 patients and unchanged in 3 patients. As for the dose, when 600 mg/day was administered, it was effective in all patients, but even when only 150 mg/day was administered, it was effective in one patient (50%). Duration of treatment was 15 to 177 days with a mean of 55.3 days. These results suggested that while there is no adequate treatment for intrahepatic cholestasis with severe jaundice, UDCA should be considered as a possible method of treatment. PMID- 2628845 TI - Choleretic effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on experimentally-induced intrahepatic cholestasis. AB - When a lymphokine, the cholestatic factor, is intravenously injected into rats through a mesenteric vein, remarkable reductions in bile flow and bile acid excretion are observed. Using this experimentally-induced intrahepatic cholestasis model, the choleretic effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) were studied. When UDCA was injected with the cholestatic factor, the reductions in bile flow and bile acid excretion were significantly suppressed. Remarkable choleretic effects were also noted, when UDCA was administered to normal rats. These results suggested that UDCA may be effective in the treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis. PMID- 2628846 TI - Estradiol receptors in the cytosol of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in hepatitis virus carriers. AB - Sex hormones are known to affect the immune system. Asymptomatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers are thought to be immunologically tolerant to HBV, but in some HBV carriers, the immune response to HBV is induced, especially in females during their sexually-mature periods. This may be caused by the effects of estrogen on the immune system. In this study, we found that the level of estradiol receptors in the cytosol of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was significantly lower in asymptomatic HBV carriers and patients with chronic hepatitis (B type and non A non B type) compared to healthy controls. This suggests that one cause of the deficiency in virus elimination in hepatitis virus carriers may be the unresponsiveness of the immune system to sex hormones, as a result of the low level of cytosol estradiol receptors. PMID- 2628847 TI - [Melanoma of the palatal tonsil. SEM examination]. AB - In scanning microscopy the right tonsil melanoma was examined. The authors stressed the usefulness of this examinations in precise diagnose of above mentioned tumor along with the routine histopathologic examination. PMID- 2628848 TI - [Cobalt teletherapy of patients with pharyngeal cancer]. AB - 127 patients with pharyngeal cancer were irradiated in the years 1970-1979 with telecobalt-60 in total doses of 60-65 Gy. In the group with not advanced pharyngeal cancer 34% of patients survived during 5 years without any symptoms of neoplasm. In the group with advanced pharyngeal cancer and lymph nodes metastases the 5 years survival was within 15%. The 5-years survival depended mainly upon the extensiveness of the neoplasm. The therapeutic results were influenced also by the age of the patient; 35% were above 60 years of age and 17.3% died before the 5 years period without any symptoms of cancer. PMID- 2628849 TI - [Exploratory neck dissection in diseases of the cervical lymph nodes]. AB - Explorative neck dissection documentations of 153 patients with chronic enlarged lymph nodes were analyzed. All patients were cured in the Provincial Hospital of Mecnes (Morocco) during 5 years period. In most cases (71%) TBC was diagnosed, in 18% malignant granuloma. The diagnostic procedure difficulties were discussed. The differences between the adenectomy and the explorative neck dissection were pointed out. PMID- 2628850 TI - [Urinary magnesium levels in precancerous conditions and various stages of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx]. AB - In 100 cases with different stages of planoepithelial laryngeal cancer and in 13 precancerous changes the urine magnesium levels were examined two times by means of absorptive spectrometry before surgery and half a year after. In precancerous period group (I stage according to WHO) no differences were found in comparison to the control group. As the disease progressed the urine magnesium level deteriorated according to the cancer stages. In IV stage the level was the lowest (P less than 0.01). The normalization of the urine magnesium level was found in some cases 6 months after surgery and radiotherapy. PMID- 2628851 TI - [Value of the Torok caloric test in the diagnosis of lesions of the cerebellar hemispheres]. AB - The investigations were carried out in 53 patients with the hemispheric cerebellar lesions by means of the Torok monotermic caloric test. Vestibular decruitment type I and II according to Torok were found in 69.8% of cases. There was no hyperreaction. The lateralization of vestibular decruitment depended from the direction of spontaneous and positional nystagmus. PMID- 2628852 TI - [Structure of the middle ear in infants]. AB - In section specimens of 20 infants aged 2 months to one year the morphology of the middle ear was studied in comparison with 20 adult cases aged 20-50 years. The differences were in size and shape of the tympanic cavity, eustachian tube, mastoid and middle ear ossicles. The comparison of dimensions of auditory ossicles in the infants and in adults shows that the length of malleus increases 11.9%, the length of manubrium mallei--11.5%, crus longum incudis--10.2%, the incus length--7.6%, incus width--8.2%, stapes length--4.5%, length of stapes basis--5.3%, width of stapes basis--7.5%. These data may be useful in pediatric otolaryngology. PMID- 2628853 TI - [Organization of the bony nasal septum and its homologues I. Os alare et systema integratum fronto-alare in birds]. AB - The aim of the investigation was the systematization of the bony elements in the orbito-nasal septum and the verification of the notion "mesoethmoideum" in birds. The macerated skulls of adult ostrichs, chickens and pheasants were examined by use of the optic- and radiophotography. In ostrichs were the characteristic interorbital septum as the alar bone integrated with the elements of the prefrontal bones. In chickens were two biochemical systems: a) the anterior alar lamina and b) posterior part without bony trabecular diploe elements. In all birds the author did not found any "mesosthmoideum". These presented facts led to further study in birds, fishes, mammals and man. PMID- 2628854 TI - [Evaluation of hearing in patients with otospongiosis based on direct measurement of bone conduction]. AB - The conventional bone conduction audiometry does not allow an objective assessment of hearing in patients with otospongiosis. We evaluated a new method of direct bone conduction audiometry with the stimulator applied to the promontory intraoperatively. A comparison of conventional and direct bone conduction audiometry thresholds was made in 100 patients in various stages of otospongiosis before stapedectomy. A significant correlation between hearing thresholds obtained by both methods was observed for all frequencies tested (500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz). The direct bone conduction method was at least 30 dB more sensitive for all frequencies. Interestingly, the average direct bone conduction threshold curve did not exhibit a Carhart notch at 2000 Hz compared to the conventional method. We concluded that our bone conduction technique enabled a better assessment of cochlear reserve in patients with otospongiosis. PMID- 2628855 TI - [Rehabilitation in esophageal speech and its perceptive-acoustic features after total laryngectomy without pharyngo-esophageal plastic surgery]. AB - The experiences with the plastic surgery of pharyngo-oesophageal sphincter during the laryngectomy were presented. The sphincteric forces were studied accordingly to the rehabilitation successes and also the acoustic and perceptive data of the oesophageal speech. The results were compared with these after the classical laryngestomy. It was pointed out that the sphincteroplasty lowered its tension and made the rehabilitation more easier. The oesophageal voice produced in this occasion is better than after the classical laryngectomy. The fundamental frequency is two times higher, the prosody and speech tempo more normal. These positive results were encountered in 76% of cases. However, in some cases the psychological and social difficulties were so great that we preferred the surgical rehabilitation with shunt formation. PMID- 2628856 TI - [Clinical and experimental studies of the hypopharyngeal lymphatic system in normal and neoplastic conditions]. PMID- 2628857 TI - [Tonsillectomy performed in the Gdansk region 1961-1985]. PMID- 2628858 TI - The effects of systematic BCG vaccination of newborn on the incidence of post primary tuberculous meningitis in childhood. PMID- 2628859 TI - [Differences in the development of Hungarian children, raised at home or in a child day care center]. AB - 1. There are differences with regard to development of children educated at home only or at creches additionally. 2. These differences concern as well the somatic, psychic as social development. 3. The importance of these findings are discussed. PMID- 2628860 TI - [Mumps and testicular development]. AB - In 200 children and teenagers, 8 to 18 years of age, who had badly fallen ill with mumps respectively mumps orchiditis 4 to 12 years ago an indirect testicular volumetry was carried through. Most of the testicles showed volumes below average. A possible causal connection between a postinfectious testicular dystrophy respectively -atrophy and an increased cancer risk is pronounced. PMID- 2628861 TI - The predominant cultivable microbiota of crevicular epithelial cells. AB - The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the composition of the predominant cultivable microbiota associated with gingival crevicular epithelial cells with that of the unattached microbiota recovered from the same site. Samples were taken from 2 diseased sites from 8 periodontal patients, by scraping the epithelial lining of the pocket with a curette. The epithelial cells were separated from the unattached subgingival bacteria by centrifugation in a reduced 50% Percoll density gradient. Epithelial cells formed a band at the top of the gradient and were removed separately from the unattached bacteria located at the base. Each layer was dispersed, diluted and plated on Trypticase soy agar with 5% sheep blood and 50 isolates were characterized from each sample. The microorganisms associated with the epithelial layer harbored 5- to 20-fold higher mean percentages of Bacteroides gingivalis, Bacteroides intermedius and Peptostreptococcus micros. The layer of unattached organisms exhibited 4- to 10 fold higher mean percentages of Streptococcus uberis, Capnocytophaga ochracea, Eikenella corrodens and Veillonella parvula. PMID- 2628862 TI - Further studies on the degradation of immunoglobulins by black-pigmented Bacteroides. AB - The ability of several species of black-pigmented Bacteroides to degrade immunoglobulins A and G was confirmed in this study. The cleavage products from IgG strongly stimulated the growth of bacteria degrading IgG. Growth of Bacteroides gingivalis on limiting media supplemented with IgG paralleled growth on complete medium. The degradation of IgG and IgA by black-pigmented Bacteroides appeared to occur in 2 stages. The molecules were broken into large fragments which were subsequently degraded into small peptides not visible on SDS-PAGE. B. gingivalis degraded IgG to peptides with Mrs of 33,000 and 11,000 whereas Bacteroides asaccharolyticus, Bacteroides intermedius and Bacteroides loescheii formed only the 33,000 Mr peptide. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels containing covalently linked IgG, IgA and bovine serum albumin revealed that B. gingivalis elaborated 8 electrophoretically distinct proteolytic activities. The proteases protected the cell from reaction with anti-B. gingivalis antibody and were capable of hydrolyzing antibody bound to the bacterial cell surface. PMID- 2628863 TI - Studies on the virulence properties and metabolism of pleiotropic mutants of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Bacteroides gingivalis) W50. AB - Porphyromonas gingivalis (Bacteroides gingivalis) strain W50 and variants isolated from continuous culture designated W50/BP1 (black pigmented), W50/BR1 (brown pigmented) and W50/BE1 (beige or non-pigmented) were previously shown to lose virulence with the loss of pigmentation. Major properties which may affect the virulence and metabolism of P. gingivalis were compared amongst the 4 strains. The non-pigmented strain lost the ability to hemagglutinate sheep erythrocyte, had a reduced hydrophobicity and possessed lower levels of proteolytic activity. Defects in the electron transport system occurred at the level of cytochrome b but not menaquinone synthesis and resulted in an altered metabolic end product profile of the non-pigmented strain. PMID- 2628864 TI - Immunomodulatory effects of Bacteroides products on in vitro human lymphocyte functions. AB - Bacteroides spp. have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including periodontal diseases. In this study sonic extracts of 6 Bacteroides spp. were examined for their abilities to alter human lymphocyte function. We found that soluble extracts from Bacteroides intermedius, Bacteroides endodontalis, Bacteroides asaccharolyticus, Bacteroides melaninogenicus, and to a lesser degree Bacteroides loescheii, caused dose-dependent inhibition of human lymphocyte responsiveness to both mitogens and antigens. Suppression involved altered DNA, RNA and protein synthesis as well as immunoglobulin production. In contrast, Bacteroides gingivalis did not suppress these responses; instead, it stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and enhanced immunoglobulin production. It has been proposed that impaired host defense may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of many infections. The data presented in this paper suggest that microbial mediated immunosuppression may conceivably alter the nature and consequences of host-parasite interactions in periodontal disease. PMID- 2628865 TI - In vivo chemotaxis evoked by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Haemophilus aphrophilus. AB - The chemotaxis-evoking capacity of 5 Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and 5 Haemophilus aphrophilus strains were studied in a tissue cage model in rabbits. A significant increase of the total number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was induced in the tissue cage fluid by both viable and killed bacteria, reaching a maximum after 12-24 h. In parallel, the proportion of viable/non viable leukocytes increased. The leukocyte counts declined during the following 24-48 h in all chambers except in those inoculated with viable cells of H. aphrophilus. The H. aphrophilus strains survived the 72 h experiment while A. actinomycetemcomitans decreased to undetectable levels within 24-72 h. Lactate dehydrogenase and lysozyme activities in cage fluid increased in all but the uninoculated chambers. Viable bacteria induced higher activities of the enzymes than killed ones. It is concluded that both species of bacteria exhibit similar chemotaxis evoking properties. A strain dependent ability to induce release of leukocyte-associated enzymes exists. PMID- 2628866 TI - Intra-oral colonization of macaque monkeys by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. AB - Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was acquired by captive Macaca fascicularis 3 to 6 months after birth, and all monkeys aged over 6 months harbored detectable levels. This microorganism was most frequently isolated from the gingival plaque of the incisor (and other) teeth compared with other oral sites. Strains were leukotoxic by bioassay and Western blot analysis. Antibodies in macaque serum contained neutralized the leukotoxin of a human A. actinomycetemcomitans strain. High titres of maternal neutralizing anti-leukotoxin antibodies were detected in neonates; the titre then fell rapidly so that by 6 months the antibody titer was zero. Antileukotoxin antibody production was detected after 6 months of age, rapidly reaching a high level within 2 years after birth. The presence of leukotoxic strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans in the gingival region did not appear to be correlated with an increase in susceptibility to periodontal disease. PMID- 2628867 TI - Non-isotopic DNA probes for the identification of subgingival microorganisms. AB - The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the potential of non isotopic DNA probes to identify pure cultures in predominant cultivable microbiota studies. Non-isotopic DNA probes to 7 subgingival species were prepared by 2 methods. In the first, biotin-labelled probes were prepared by nick translation. In the second, single-stranded DNA was covalently linked to horseradish peroxidase via polyethyleneimine. The relative sensitivities and specificities of these probes were tested against pure cultures of a range of subgingival species. Aliquots of broth cultures were standardized by optical densities, placed on nitrocellulose or Whatman 541 filters and then treated to lyse the cells, denature and fix DNA to the filter. Using a streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase detection system, 10(4)-10(5) cells were detected by homologous biotin-labelled probes. Horseradish peroxidase-labelled probes were approximately one order of magnitude less sensitive. Non-specific reactions with unrelated species, displayed by both biotin- and horseradish peroxidase-labelled probes, were eliminated by treatment of filters with proteinase K and organic solvents. Cross-reactions between closely related species could be discriminated by comparing reaction intensities of the test strains with probes to the each of the cross-reacting species involved. Thus, nonisotopic DNA probes could be used for the rapid identification of subgingival isolates. The technique could also be used for the recognition and grouping of strains of unknown species. A probe made to the strain of an unknown species may be used to rapidly screen hundred of unknown isolates for related strains. PMID- 2628868 TI - Rapid method for the purification of DNA from subgingival microorganisms. AB - A method is described which facilitates the rapid purification of high molecular weight chromosomal DNA from gram positive and gram negative bacteria grown on solid media. A total of 32 reference strains and fresh isolates were examined in this study. The purification procedure involved lysis of cells with SDS in the presence of proteinase K, followed by removal of cellular polysaccharides and proteins with hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol. Preparations were incubated with RNase and, after removal of the enzyme, DNA was precipitated with ethanol. Several hundred micrograms of DNA could be prepared within 5 h from cells grown on 1-2 agar plates. None of the final preparations contained RNA; protein was detected in 12/32 preparations. The resultant DNA proved suitable for restriction enzyme digestion and biotin-labelling by a random primer technique. DNA probes constructed from these preparations were capable of detecting 100 pg of homologous target DNA fixed to nitrocellulose. Cross reactions between closely related species displayed weaker signal intensities than, and, thus, were easily distinguished from, true positive reactions between homologous species. DNA obtained by this procedure may also be suitable for DNA-DNA homology studies, recombinant DNA experiments and molecular fingerprinting. PMID- 2628869 TI - Characterization of selected gram-negative oral microorganisms by SDS-PAGE. AB - SDS-PAGE analysis of bacterial cell proteins was used to examine a diverse group of oral microorganisms. Most of the species examined, including physiologically similar microorganisms, produced distinct protein patterns which are characterized by the distribution of their major protein bands. The SDS-PAGE system described provides a rapid, simple and standardized identification technique to be used in consort with routine taxonomic procedures. PMID- 2628870 TI - Experimental infections by Bacteroides gingivalis in non-immunized and immunized rabbits. AB - The interactions between Bacteroides gingivalis and systemic antibodies were studied in tissue cages implanted in the backs of New Zealand white rabbits. Infectivity was evaluated according to clinical signs and to leukocyte and bacterial counts in material aspirated from the tissue cages. Pre- and post inoculation antibody levels to sonicated whole bacterial cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent and agar immunodiffusion assays. Rabbits immunized against B. gingivalis and then challenged with pure cultures of B. gingivalis revealed complete elimination or markedly lower postinoculation bacterial counts and considerably weaker tissue reactions than non-immunized animals. B. gingivalis co-inoculated with Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans caused significantly more severe infections than observed in monoinfected animals. The present results suggest that the immune system acting through systemic antibodies and/or cellular mechanisms may modulate the pathogenic potential of infecting periodontal pathogens. PMID- 2628871 TI - Class I four bicuspid extraction-transposition of lower right canine and lateral incisor. PMID- 2628872 TI - The team approach to diagnosis and treatment of the chronic masticatory dysfunction patient. PMID- 2628873 TI - Treatment objectives met in Class II dental with overjet. PMID- 2628874 TI - [An analysis of the cell composition of the reserve population in the colony forming unit system of bone marrow fibroblasts under the action of ionizing radiation]. AB - The system of stromal cell precursors--colony-forming units of fibroblasts (CFUf) of the bone marrow possesses a significant reserve population which is mobilized in exposure to extreme effects, after irradiation in the given case. This compensatory-adaptational reaction is evidently one of the factors of optimization of postradiation hematopoiesis restoration. Analysis of the cell composition of the CFUf reserve population showed that it does not differ basically from the population tested under normal conditions. Differences are also noted, however: two CFUf pools are distinguished in the reserve population distinctly which possess the largest cell reserve--in the region of the small and large clones. PMID- 2628875 TI - [Disorders of external respiration and oxygen transport and utilization in stress]. AB - A specific hypoxic condition characterized by a combination of signs of hypoxic, circulatory, and primary tissue hypoxia develops in rats after 6-hour immobilization stress. Post-stress hypoxia is accompanied with accumulation of lactate, decompensated metabolic acidosis, and activation of lipid peroxidation processes in the blood and tissues. Besides, a complex of changes of external respiration, its regulation and biomechanics, inhibition of pulmonary gas exchange is encountered after the stress, which is linked with the development of specific stress damage to the lungs which can be characterized as the stress lung syndrome. PMID- 2628876 TI - [The effect of various types of oxygenators on the pulmonary microvessels and surfactant activity]. AB - Experiments were conducted on 28 dogs to study the changes of microvessels and their effect on the functional condition of pulmonary surfactants after 120 minute venoarterial perfusion and extrapulmonary gas exchange with the use of a foamy-film oxygenator and a "Sever" membrane oxygenator. A direct relationship between the condition of the microvessels and changes of pulmonary surfactant activity was revealed: factors (contact type oxygenators) causing an unfavourable effect on the terminal link of pulmonary circulation induced rapid (in 2-3 hours) development of disturbances in the surfactant system. These changes are less marked in membrane oxygenation. PMID- 2628877 TI - [Prediction of the nature of the course and outcome of shock in multiple trauma based on a mathematical analysis of heart rhythm]. AB - As the result of research an expanded scale for evaluating the shock-producing property of traumas in marks was created. The cardiac interval measurement values were found to be of high prognostic value. Regressive models of traumatic shock outcome were obtained on the basis of statistic characteristics of heart rhythm. It is shown that the prognosis models may be more effective with the use of alternating switches. PMID- 2628878 TI - [The effect of splenic factors on the course of the autoimmune process in New Zealand mice]. AB - To exert an effect on the autoimmune process in 54 New Zealand mice aged 6 and 10 months, 0.2 ml of a solution obtained in perfusion of isolated pig's spleen (perfusate) was injected intravenously at intervals of 2--3 days (a total of 8 injections). The control group (43 mice) received injections of an isotonic buffer solution in the same regimen. After the end of perfusate administration the number of antibodies to DNA and the level of circulating immune complexes (IC) reduced markedly in the blood of the experimental mice as compared to these values in the control group. Kidney immunofluorescence demonstrated reduced number of IC deposits in the glomeruli of 6- and 10-month old mice of the experimental group. The perfusate contributes, probably, to intensified excretion of IC from the blood flow and kidneys of the experimental mice. PMID- 2628879 TI - [The transformation of liquid crystal complexes in biological body fluids during local laser stimulation of the healing process in an experimental suppurative wound]. AB - It was established that localized exposure of an inflammatory focus to laser radiation causes, besides the well-known effect on biochemical activity, structural photophysical reorganization of the liquid crystalline complexes not only in the irradiated tissues but also in parts of the organism situated at a distance from the exposed area. PMID- 2628880 TI - [Acceleration of the healing of burn wounds in mice under the influence of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein]. AB - The effect of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AGP) was tested in experiments on rats with thermal burns. For comparison control mice with burns were given injections of albumin, physiological solution or did not receive injections. alpha 1-AGP was administered in the first 2 days after the burn to a total dose of 6 mg. Injection of physiological solution, alpha 1-AGP and albumin reduced animal lethality in the stage of shock. The burn disease took a more favourable course in patients given alpha 1-AGP than in those who received physiological solution and albumin. This was manifested by more rapid healing of the burn wounds and lower incidence of complications of burn disease. The possible mechanisms of the therapeutic action of alpha 1-AGP are discussed. PMID- 2628881 TI - [Pathophysiologic characteristics of the reactive toxic stage of acute suppurative peritonitis and ways to enhance the effectiveness of intensive therapy]. AB - The oxygen regimen, circulation, and metabolism were studied in 95 patients in the reactive-toxic stage of diffuse purulent peritonitis. The results of cluster analysis made it possible to determine the clinical and pathophysiological features of the phases of the disease. The phase of compensation was characterized by disorders of mass exchange of plasma water which led to increased index of transcapillary exchange and increased excess of lactate. These parameters of tissue metabolism were grouped into one cluster together with the oxygen regimen value and mean arterial pressure. The other cluster was formed of the values of oxygen consumption and the values of oxygen systemic and vascular tissue transport and the hemodynamic parameters. In the phase of decompensation the homeostasis parameters were grouped into another 2 clusters. The first contained the indices of transcapillary exchange of oxygen and water, the other- those of the intensity of blood oxygen transport function and metabolism. Surgical treatment and inclusion of the sympatholytic agent ornid and the beta adrenergic agonist alupent in the complex of intensive therapy from the stages of preoperative and anesthesiological management brought homeostasis to a level characteristic of the phase of compensation, as a result of which fatal outcomes were absolutely excluded. PMID- 2628882 TI - [The effect of superoxide dismutase on the blood lipoprotein level of rabbits in the dynamics of traumatic shock]. AB - Changes of the lipoprotein (LP) level in blood in the abdominal aorta and the portal and hepatic veins were studied in experiments on rabbits with Cannon's traumatic shock. The LP level was determined by spectrophotometry. The blood LP level changed depending on the stage of the shock. Administration of superoxide dismutase (an enzyme whose biosubstrates are only products of a free-radical process) in the initial period of shock has a normalizing effect on the level of the main LP classes. PMID- 2628883 TI - [The effect of exogenous bradykinin on gastric motor function in an experimental model of ulcerative lesions of the antrum]. AB - Experiments on 29 cats demonstrated a direct dependence of changes in stomach motor activity on the amount of injected bradykinin. The motor response to the agent was stronger in cats with ulcer of the stomach than in intact animals. A stimulating effect of exogenous bradykinin on motor function and increased sensitivity of kininergic structures of the stomach in experimental ulcer were revealed. PMID- 2628884 TI - [A method for biomicroscopy of the pial microvessels through the dura mater]. PMID- 2628885 TI - [A device to provide metered fasting in small laboratory animals]. PMID- 2628886 TI - [A modification of the bromsulphalein test for studying the excretory-absorptive function of the liver in rats]. PMID- 2628887 TI - [The teaching of the clinical pathophysiology of respiration in the system of physician postgraduate training]. PMID- 2628888 TI - [Principles of the pathogenetic treatment of acute leukemias (an aid for teachers)]. PMID- 2628889 TI - [Terminology and essence (apropos of D. M. Sherman's article "Terminology and essence of the protective reactions of the body to external influences")]. PMID- 2628890 TI - [Evaluation of the clinical status of newborn infants born to elderly primiparae and multiparae]. AB - The clinical condition of 184 newborns born by primipara older than 35 years and 500 randomisly selected newborns born by multipara older than 35 years in 27,821 newborns born at 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Bytom between 1975 and 1985 has been analysed. The results were compared with the results of the control group of 500 randomisly selected newborns born by primipara younger than 35 years. It was observed that newborns of mothers older than 35 years and specially primipara are biologically weaker than newborns of mothers of the optimal reproduction age. There are often born with signs of prematurity and intrauterine dystrophy, have lower body weight, higher incidence of developmental anomaly, labour complications and adaptation difficulties during early neonatal period. The importance was stressed of the monitoring of pregnancy and delivery in this patients as well as the intensive perinatal pharmacotherapy in the newborns, to decrease perinatal mortality. PMID- 2628891 TI - [Disorders of the system of hemostasis in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic fever]. AB - The investigation of haemostasis has been performed in 55 children aged 2 to 18 years suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (31 girls and 13 boys) and children suffering from rheumatic fever (7 girls and 4 boys). The results were compared with the control group of 25 healthy children. The minimal abnormalities has been found in the group of children with rheumatic fever in the investigated indices of haemostasis in the beginning of the disease as well as during treatment. In the group of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis the following abnormalities has been found: increased platelet count, fibrinogen, fibrinogen degradation products, fibrin, elongation of lysis time of the euglobulines, decrease of the plasminogen concentration. PMID- 2628892 TI - [Trisomy of the short arm of chromosome 9]. PMID- 2628893 TI - [The role of zinc in the immunologic processes]. PMID- 2628894 TI - [Fiber-optic endoscopy of the lower gastrointestinal tract in children]. AB - Between 1978 and 1985 565 lower gastrointestinal endoscopies were performed in children. In 221 cases the cause of rectal bleeding was explored, in 227 the suspicion of colitis and in 25 of polyposis was verified. To evaluate the results of treatment (polypectomy, surgical procedures and medical therapy in inflammatory bowel disease) 121 examinations were done. With increasing experience the complete colonoscopy was performed more often. In 1985 coecum and ileum terminale was reached in almost all children in whom it was needed (75% of all examinations). The inflammatory changes were revealed on 230 occasions. In 78 cases colon polyps and in 27 vascular changes were found. The most common cause rectal bleeding were colon polyps (66 cases) and inflammatory changes (554 cases). Less common were vascular changes (10 cases). 32% false negative and 16% false positive results of colonoscopy in diagnosis colitis were obtained when the results of visual findings were compared with histopathological findings. Colonoscopy performed by an experienced colonoscopist rather avoiding general anesthesia is a safe and useful procedure in diagnosing lower gastrointestinal tract diseases in children. The evaluation of colitis should be based on visual findings with biopsy confirmation. PMID- 2628895 TI - [Effect of allergy on airway reactivity in children with obstructive bronchitis]. AB - Prevalence of allergy and it's influence on bronchial reactivity was evaluated in 50 children less than 3 years old. Control group consisted of 17 children of the same age with recurrent respiratory infections but without obstruction. The results of typical allergic tests were compared with nonspecific inhalation bronchial tests. The significant contribution of the allergens in the pathogenesis of obstructive bronchitis has been found. Causal relation between severe allergy to different allergens and bronchial hyperreactivity has been shown. PMID- 2628896 TI - [Transesophageal stimulation of the left atrium in children with arrhythmia (preliminary report)]. AB - The conduction system of the heart was studied in 41 patients with cardiac arrhythmias by oesophageal stimulation of the left atrium. 31 children had a history of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, 5 supraventricular or/and ventricular premature beats and 5 were studied because of suspected bradycardia tachycardia syndrome. In all patients stimulation of the left atrium was well tolerated. There were no side effects or complications. The results showed that oesophageal stimulation of the left atrium was a faithful noninvasive method in diagnostic studies of the conduction system of the heart. This method was effective in studying the mechanism of supraventricular arrhythmias. PMID- 2628897 TI - [Role of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the etiology of septicemia in newborn infants]. AB - 124 newborns admitted to the Department within the period of 3 years with suspected sepsis were analysed. In 55.6% of children, boys prevailing (62.3%), generalized infection was confirmed with positive bacterial cultures. Late-onset disease predominance was found (72.8%). The mortality rate in this group was 5.8% (11.3% boys and 1.9% girls). Analysis of the causative organisms revealed more frequently the Gram positive bacteria (81% of all positive cultures) with a predominant role of Staphylococcus epidermidis (43.5%). The pathogenic role of Staphylococcus epidermidis (regarded by some other authors as a contamination) was stressed. Its increasing clinical significance has been correlated with a deterioration of sanitary and hygienic conditions at the obstetric and neonatal wards, wider application of invasive procedures and antibiotics. PMID- 2628898 TI - [Usefulness of the phototherapy lamp in treating hyperbilirubinemia in newborn infants]. AB - An efficiency of the treatment of jaundice with the lamp for phototherapy in own modification has been discussed. The lamp was used for the treatment of 82 neonates divided into three groups depending on the type of therapy: group I included 43 neonates treated with phototherapy alone; group II--32 neonates treated with phototherapy combined with blood transfusions, and group III--7 neonates treated with exchange blood transfusions alone. A mean time of irradiation in neonates of group I did not differ significantly from that used in group II (combined therapy) and did not depend on the cause of the jaundice. The number of blood transfusions decreased markedly with the use of phototherapy carried out with the lamp in own modification. This lamp proved highly effective in the treatment of the jaundice of various etiology and is the method of choice in case of life-threaten neonates. PMID- 2628899 TI - [Determining normal values of the peripheral blood in children 1-84 months of age from urban and rural regions of the Rzeszow district]. AB - The analysis was performed of influence of urban and rural population on peripheral blood cell counts in 961 children aged 0 to 7 years. No relevant differences were found in peripheral blood cell counts in urban and rural children. This could be explained by a marked penetration of the urban population by the country people. The predominance of the lymphocyte count over the granulocyte count occurred first as soon as on the 5th day of life, lasted until the 66th month of life when it got reversed. The physiologic erythrocytopenia has been found as soon as in the 2nd month of life. PMID- 2628900 TI - [Incontinentia pigmenti]. PMID- 2628901 TI - [A working classification and nomenclature of rheumatic diseases (pediatric aspects)]. AB - The authors provide the working classification of rheumatic diseases prepared by a large group of scientists under the aegis of the All-Union Society of Rheumatologists and under the guidance of V. A. Nasonova, Academician of the USSR AMS. In preparing the final variant of the classification use was made of the experience gained by therapists in cooperation with pediatricians. PMID- 2628902 TI - [State of microcirculation homeostasis in children with rheumatism]. AB - Microcirculatory homeostasis was studied in 107 children suffering from rheumatic fever. Conjunctival microcirculation and platelet aggregation were examined. The content of circulating immune complexes and medium-size molecules was measured in the blood. Microcirculation was investigated in 137 healthy children aged 3 to 15 years, making up a control group. Comprehensive investigation of microcirculation in children suffering from rheumatic fever enables one to define the activity of the rheumatic process at the early times of the illness and to ensure timely administration of adequate antirheumatic therapy. PMID- 2628903 TI - [Clinico-morphological changes in congenital carditis in children]. AB - The clinico-morphological alterations were analyzed in 6 deceased children with congenital carditis. Morbid anatomy examination demonstrated that all the patients had marked alterations on the part of the heart while 4 cases manifested associated injuries to the heart and to the brain. In half of the children, the disease had run its course in combination with immunodeficiency. In 2 cases, there was an etiological relationship between congenital carditis and intrauterine enterovirus Coxsackie infection which had been uneventful in pregnant mothers. In congenital carditis, the prognosis may be often unfavourable. PMID- 2628904 TI - [Morphofunctional state of the heart in dilated cardiomyopathy in children]. AB - To study the morphofunctional state of the heart, 49 children aged 1 to 15 years with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) were examined. The diagnosis was established on the basis of comprehensive clinical and instrumental examinations. It was discovered as a result of echocardiography that children with dilated cardiomyopathy show considerable dilatation of the cardiac chambers, accompanied by moderate hypertrophy of the myocardium (mainly of the left ventricle) and by appreciable impairment of the function of myocardial contraction and relaxation together with derangement of heart pump function. The overwhelming majority of patients with DCMP manifested relative failure of the mitral valve which plays an important role in the impairment of intracardiac and central hemodynamics. It should be noted that echographic alterations seen in DCMP are not specific. However, they provide an idea of the gravity of heart damage, that is of importance in outlining the policy of treatment and prophylactic measures. PMID- 2628905 TI - [Current methods of research in early diagnosis of cor pulmonale in children with diffuse connective tissue diseases]. AB - Twenty children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 13 children with systemic scleroderma were examined by electrocardiography, tetrapolar chest rheography, rheopulmonography and echocardiography. Half of the cases manifested pulmonary hypertension, which was more appreciable in SLE patients. The results of rheopulmonographic and echocardiographic research methods turned out highly comparable. PMID- 2628906 TI - [Characteristics of phenotype in children with arrhythmia]. AB - Examination of 200 children suffering from arrhythmias made it possible to define specific features of the phenotype, attesting to the pathogenetic relation to the condition of the body connective tissue. The authors describe combinations of the signs for the selection of persons at risk for arrhythmias and mitral valve prolapse. PMID- 2628907 TI - [Role of genetic and environmental factors in determination of arterial blood pressure level]. AB - Three groups of families with different initial levels of arterial pressure in proband children were examined. The relationship was established between the levels of arterial pressure in children and those in their relatives of the first degree of kinship. Based on intrafamilial correlations, the phenotypic dispersion of systolic and diastolic arterial pressure was analyzed. It has been shown that as compared to the genetic factors, the environmental factors play a greater role in arterial pressure variability. PMID- 2628908 TI - [Calcium-regulating hormones in primary arterial hypotension in children]. AB - Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the content of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin in blood serum of 65 children aged 7 to 14 years suffering from arterial hypotension. The content of total calcium and phosphorus in serum was studied by spectrophotometry. In the majority of children with arterial hypotension, the content of calcium was significantly reduced, provided the disease ran a labile course. Disorders in the regulation of blood serum calcium may appear one of the factors giving rise to arterial hypotension in children. PMID- 2628909 TI - [Chemiluminescence of blood and urine in children with pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis]. AB - It was established during the study of blood serum and urine chemiluminescence in 57 children with pyelonephritis and in 38 children with glomerulonephritis that in the active disease stage, the intensity of overfaint luminescence rises as a result of lipid peroxidation (LPO) activation, accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides and oxygen-containing radicals. Four types of the kinetic curves of urine chemiluminescence were identified. They characterize the correlation between LPO activation and the level of antiradical defence in patients suffering from pyelo- and glomerulonephritis. The measurement of urine chemiluminescence in patients afflicted with pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis may be one of the criteria for administering drugs possessing antiradical and antioxidant activity and can also be used in the control over the treatment efficacy. PMID- 2628910 TI - [Interdepartmental approach to the prevention of chronic noninfectious diseases in children]. PMID- 2628911 TI - [Clinical aspects of combined rotavirus-dysentery infection in children]. PMID- 2628912 TI - [Pubertal juvenile pituitary dysfunction (hypothalamic pubertal syndrome)]. PMID- 2628913 TI - [Enterosorption as a method of total detoxication and nonspecific immune correction in acute surgical infection (a clinical-experimental study)]. PMID- 2628914 TI - [Characteristics of pediatric toxicology]. PMID- 2628915 TI - [Substitution therapy in immunologic deficiency syndromes]. PMID- 2628916 TI - [Rational body hardening: determination of a cold biodose using distant thermochronography]. PMID- 2628917 TI - [Nonspecific bronchial reactivity in children with bronchial asthma and chronic and recurrent bronchopulmonary pathology]. PMID- 2628918 TI - [Albuminuria syndrome in juvenile athletes]. PMID- 2628919 TI - [Characteristics of endogenous and exogenous functions of the pancreas and blood lipid spectrum in children with mucoviscidosis]. PMID- 2628920 TI - [Importance of extragenital diseases in the etiology of vulvovaginitis]. PMID- 2628921 TI - [Associated tuberculous infection and opisthorchiasis in children]. PMID- 2628922 TI - An orientation anisotropy in induced brightness. AB - It is shown that an orientation anisotropy exists for the magnitude of induced brightness in a cruciform stimulus consisting of a grey test patch positioned at the intersection of two inducing bars, one black and one white, oriented at right angles to each other. When the cruciform was oriented such that the white bar was horizontal, the grey patch appeared darker than when the same cruciform was oriented such that the white bar was vertical. The contribution of the black and white inducing bars towards the brightness of the test patch was investigated. A simple mathematical function, which took into account both the contribution of the two component inducing bars and the orientation anisotropy, was fitted to the data. No consistent orientation anisotropy was found with inducing stimuli at oblique orientations. PMID- 2628923 TI - Orientation illusions induced by briefly flashed plaids. AB - Orientation illusions which occur when a vertical grating is surrounded by a plaid can be induced either by one of the plaid's orthogonal component gratings or by a virtual axis of symmetry of the plaid, whichever is nearest vertical. In six experiments in which such illusion displays were flashed for durations between 15 and 405 ms, it was found that when these two-dimensional illusions are induced by a component grating (direct effects) the illusions increase monotonically as duration decreases, from 1 degree-2 degrees to about 6 degrees-7 degrees, over this range. Effects induced by axes of symmetry (indirect effects), in contrast, begin to occur only at longer durations: for short exposures, illusions are directionally opposite and large, similar to direct effects. These results suggest that only plaid-component-selective mechanisms operate at the shortest exposure durations and that additional time is required to extract more global higher-order pattern structure. The data are discussed in relation to sustained and transient mechanisms and also with respect to recent reports of more global processing mechanisms in extrastriate cortex and related data on one dimensional tilt illusions. PMID- 2628924 TI - Pattern orientation, not motion, determines the two-dimensional tilt illusion. AB - In the usual tilt illusion (TI) configuration, an inducing stimulus which has a single orientation is used psychophysically to explore orientation analysis in the human visual system. Recently, this approach has been extended to the use of inducing stimuli which have two orientations. Such a two-dimensional (2-D) stimulus permits investigation of the low-level analysis of visual patterns. Prior experimentation has left it unclear whether it is the spatial or the motion properties of a moving crossed-grating plaid which determine two-dimensional tilt illusions (2-D TIs) because these two parameters previously were perfectly correlated. In the present experiments pattern orientation and motion were decoupled. It is shown that 2-D TIs are determined by the spatial properties of an inducing annulus and not by its motion properties. The results also support the existence of a mechanism which extracts axes of symmetry, and which is difficult to account for in terms of local cross-orientation domain inhibition. PMID- 2628925 TI - Selection of reference frames and the 'vicariance' of perceptual systems. AB - Interindividual differences in field dependence-independence (FDI) which emerge in situations of vision-posture conflict when subjects are required to orient their bodies vertically were investigated. The first aim was to see whether the same interindividual differences are found in judgements of the orientation of forms in focal vision in which subjects have to deal with conflicting spatial references processed by different sensory modalities. The second aim was to test the idea that the FDI dimension is due to functional habits linked to balancing. Subjects performed Kopfermann's (1930) shape-orientation task in either a stable (experiment 1) or an unstable (experiment 2) postural condition. Results showed that the FDI dimension comes into play in the solution of the Kopfermann shape orientation task, and that there is an interactive link between FDI and postural balance, consistent with theoretical expectations. More generally, it appears that the 'choice' of a spatial reference system is the product of both individual and situational characteristics, and that the 'vicariance' (or interchangeability) of the sensory systems dealing with gravitational upright is at the basis of this interaction. PMID- 2628926 TI - Some additional predictions and further tests of the Marr-Ullman model of motion perception. AB - The Marr-Ullman model for motion detection in the human visual system functions by means of the dual input of polarity-specific edge detectors and luminance change detectors. Moulden and Begg (1986) found a polarity-specific motion aftereffect which they claimed provided support for this dual input model. The logic of their experiment is examined, and it is shown that several additional predictions arise from the Marr-Ullman model, which were not supported by Moulden and Begg's study. A more powerful experiment was carried out and these additional predictions were disconfirmed, although the polarity-specific effect did emerge. A consideration of alternative explanations of this effect led to a second experiment in which an attempt was made to discover the actual determinants of the effect. This revealed that polarity-specific units are unlikely to play any part in the phenomenon. It was concluded, in the light of this and other evidence, that one of a class of alternative models is more likely to be the actual mechanism for motion perception. However, careful consideration of the Marr-Ullman model indicated that it may be untestable in principle if various differentially weighted levels of neural integration are envisaged. PMID- 2628927 TI - Structure from stereo by associative learning of the constraints. AB - A computational model of structure from stereo that develops smoothness constraints naturally by associative learning of a large number of example mappings from disparity data to surface depth data is proposed. Banks of disparity-selective graded response units at all spatial locations in the visual field were the input data. These cells responded to matches of luminance change at convergent, divergent, or zero offsets in the left and right 'retina' samples. Surfaces were created by means of a pseudo-Markov process. From these surfaces, shaded marked and ummarked surfaces were created, along with random-dot versions of the same surfaces. Learning of these example shaded and shaded marked surfaces allowed the system to solve stereo mappings both for the surfaces it had learned and for surfaces it had not learned but which had been created by the same pseudo Markov process. Further, the model was able to solve some random-dot versions of the surfaces when the surfaces had been learned as shaded marked surfaces. PMID- 2628928 TI - Illusory-figure lightness: evidence for a two-component theory. AB - Physical darkness gradients were introduced into an illusory-figure pattern which were sufficient to eliminate the illusory lightness effect otherwise seen there. Next, such a gradient was left in place along one edge of that figure while the other edges were returned to physical homogeneity with the surround. Rather surprisingly, the physical gradient still present along the unaltered edge was now overwhelmed by illusory lightness. It is argued that this anomaly suggests that illusory-figure lightness may be composed of two additive components, one of which is figure-ground contrast enhancement and the other of which is contingent upon that first component. PMID- 2628929 TI - Inspection time and high-speed ball games. AB - It has been suggested that successful batsmen in cricket are not distinguished by their fast speed of visual information intake. A study is presented in which a season's batting averages for twenty regular cricketers, all members of the same local team, were correlated with the cricketers' visual inspection times. The correlation was -0.63 (p less than 0.005), suggesting that the successful batsmen were faster at picking up information from briefly presented visual displays. When the age factor was eliminated, the partial correlation between inspection time and batting average remained significant at -0.52 (p less than 0.01). This finding is discussed with respect to the sources of information available from a ball in flight. PMID- 2628930 TI - An investigation of trained neural networks from a neurophysiological perspective. AB - The application of theoretical neural networks to preprocessed images was investigated with the aim of developing a computational recognition system. The neural networks were trained by means of a back-propagation algorithm, to respond selectively to computer-generated bars and edges. The receptive fields of the trained networks were then mapped, in terms of both their synaptic weights and their responses to spot stimuli. There was a direct relationship between the pattern of weights on the inputs to the hidden units (the units in the intermediate layer between the input and the output units), and their receptive field as mapped by spot stimuli. This relationship was not sustained at the level of the output units in that their spot-mapped responses failed to correspond either with the weights of the connections from the hidden units to the output units, or with a qualitative analysis of the networks. Part of this discrepancy may be ascribed to the output function used in the back-propagation algorithm. PMID- 2628931 TI - The importance of alignment in blind subjects' use of tactual maps. AB - An experiment was conducted to test for the presence of alignment effects (previously found in sighted map users) in blind and visually impaired subjects using tactual maps. The term 'alignment effects' refers to the fact that when points represented as further up on a map do not correspond to points forward from the user in the environment, errors in the directional judgments made by subjects are greatly increased. The results show that alignment effects do exist in blind and visually impaired map users. Blind subjects encoded maps using the 'up equals forward' rule, and demonstrated some similarity to sighted subjects in the types of errors made. There was also some indication of improved performance over repeated trials. Differences between blind and sighted subjects were also found and were tentatively attributed to visual experience with object transformations and/or representational variables. Subject background variables were also investigated and some relationships between background of the subject and performance were drawn. PMID- 2628933 TI - Organ transplantation in children. PMID- 2628932 TI - Parts of visual objects: an experimental test of the minima rule. AB - Three experiments were conducted to test Hoffman and Richards's (1984) hypothesis that, for purposes of visual recognition, the human visual system divides three dimensional shapes into parts at negative minima of curvature. In the first two experiments, subjects observed a simulated object (surface of revolution) rotating about a vertical axis, followed by a display of four alternative parts. They were asked to select a part that was from the object. Two of the four parts were divided at negative minima of curvature and two at positive maxima. When both a minima part and a maxima part from the object were presented on each trial (experiment 1), most of the correct responses were minima parts (101 versus 55). When only one part from the object--either a minima part or a maxima part--was shown on each trial (experiment 2), accuracy on trials with correct minima parts and correct maxima parts did not differ significantly. However, some subjects indicated that they reversed figure and ground, thereby changing maxima parts into minima parts. In experiment 3, subjects marked apparent part boundaries. 81% of these marks indicated minima parts, 10% of the marks indicated maxima parts, and 9% of the marks were at other positions. These results provide converging evidence, from two different methods, which supports Hoffman and Richard's minima rule. PMID- 2628934 TI - Role and competencies of graduates of diploma programs in nursing. PMID- 2628935 TI - Symbolic expressions of dying patients: communications, not hallucinations. AB - The author presents an historical and psychological framework for considering the human process of dying. An in-depth presentation is made on providing supportive emotional care to dying patients who are communicating symbolically. Many clinical examples are included. PMID- 2628936 TI - A delicate dose of humor. AB - This article explores the uses and effects of humor in the practice and teaching of nursing. Various situations are discussed to highlight the positive and negative effects of humor on the nurse-client relationship. Observations are made regarding the use of humor in the learning environment. Humor is also discussed in relation to professional role socialization. Overall, a case is made to legitimize humor as a valuable therapeutic and teaching tool. PMID- 2628937 TI - Integrating computers into the nursing environment. AB - A computerized nursing system has many benefits for both the nursing staff and the hospital. Adequate planning and orientation are essential in order for nurses at the bedside to use the system and to reap its full benefits. The author gives an overview of some of the effects of nursing along with some applications to clinical practice that bear directly on staff nurses. PMID- 2628938 TI - Evaluation of hand instruments used in operative dentistry: hardness and sharpness. AB - Four brands of dental instruments were evaluated for Knoop hardness in this study. Enamel hatchets and hoes made from two brands of carbon steel and two brands of stainless steel were tested as received and after 10, 30, and 50 cycles of dry heat or steam autoclave sterilization. Results indicated an initial reduction in hardness in the carbon steels after 10 cycles, then no further hardness deterioration. Both of the stainless steels tested were significantly softer than the two carbon steels before and after sterilization. SEM evaluation of two brands of carbon-steel enamel hatchets and two brands of stainless-steel enamel hatchets before and after planing enamel revealed more rapid dulling of blade edges on the stainless-steel instruments than on the carbon-steel instruments. PMID- 2628939 TI - Disinfection of visible-light-curing devices. AB - Assays were developed for evaluating disinfection of visible-light-curing devices which were deliberately contaminated with an indicator organism, Streptococcus mutans, and devices which were contaminated during routine clinical use. Results indicated that wiping the surface with a substituted phenolic agent followed by wrapping in gauze saturated with the same solution was most effective for disinfecting the device handle and tip surfaces. Longer contact with the disinfectant is recommended to ensure virucidal/sporicidal action. PMID- 2628940 TI - Coronal fractures in posterior teeth. AB - Coronal fractures of posterior teeth are not rare in clinical practice. Most of the time they constitute a restorational problem for the clinician, since they usually end below the free gingival crest. Two hundred coronal fractures of posterior teeth were examined in this study, with respect to several factors. Some of the factors were the sex and age of the patient, type and location of the tooth, and vitality of the pulp. The results showed that frequency of fractures is not influenced by the sex or age of the patient, the type or location of the tooth, or the vitality of the pulp. Factors that significantly affect the appearance of a fracture include caries, restored surfaces, and tooth morphology. Lingual cusps fracture more often than buccal cusps, fractures ended more frequently above or at the gingival crest in teeth with vital pulps, and in nonvital teeth fractures ended more frequently below the crest. Conservative cavity designs for tooth restorations and conservative access to the root canals for endodontic treatment will decrease the frequency of tooth or restoration fracture. PMID- 2628941 TI - Linings and caries in retrieved permanent teeth with amalgam restorations. AB - Possible correlations between the presence or position of cavity linings and the incidence of caries were studied in a sample of 57 extracted permanent teeth with amalgam fillings. Linings could be detected if their thickness was greater than approximately 20 microns, and if they were observed on 74% of the teeth. On 53% of the teeth caries were found adjacent to the restorations, and on 11% not adjacent to the restorations. The incidence of adjacent caries on the teeth with lined cavities was not lower than on the unlined ones. In 36% of the teeth with linings, evidence was found for washout of linings which had been present at the cavosurface margin. These teeth showed a significantly higher incidence of adjacent caries than the unlined ones. Carious sites associated with washout of linings were found in 31% of the lined specimens. PMID- 2628942 TI - The status of a chemomechanical caries removal system in dental education. AB - A survey on the status of a chemomechanical caries removal system was mailed to the operative dentistry departments of each dental school in the United States and Canada. Eighty-eight percent of the respondents reported they were not presently teaching this technique. The most frequent reasons given for noninclusion in their curriculum were a lack of available clinical data and a variety of specific objections primarily related to limited applicability. Very few schools presently anticipate teaching this technique in the near future, and those that do are basing their final decision upon outcomes of further research. Consensus opinion indicated that additional studies and more definitive information would be required before final judgement could be made regarding the clinical value of this modality. PMID- 2628943 TI - A clinical, radiographic, and SEM evaluation of Class 2 composite restorations in primary teeth. AB - Sixty class 2 composite resin restorations were placed in 22 children and evaluated at baseline, six months, and one year. Radiographs were used for evaluation, in addition to clinical examinations, photographs, and scanning electron micrographs of epoxy resin casts of retrieved teeth. It was concluded that radiographs are necessary to detect a large percentage of failures at the gingival margins of class 2 composites. PMID- 2628944 TI - Thermal expansion of visible-light-cured composite resins. AB - Linear coefficients of thermal expansion were measured on seven visible-light cured composite resins from 0 to 60 degrees C. The values ranged from 29.0 to 83.5 x 10(-6)/degrees C at 37 degrees C. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences among temperature ranges and products and between runs. Significant correlation was not found between the coefficient of thermal expansion and volume fraction of filler particles. PMID- 2628945 TI - Microleakage channels: scanning electron microscopic observation. AB - Resin casts were made of microleakage channels surrounding amalgam restorations in vitro. After demineralizing the tooth and digesting the remaining organic matrix, the amalgam restorations covered with the resin casts were examined using a scanning electron microscope. An extensive reticular network of channels was observed on restorations which were placed in cavities lined by smear layers. Amalgam restorations placed in cavities devoid of smear layers exhibited fewer microleakage channels. PMID- 2628946 TI - Variations in the design of #330 dental burs. AB - This evaluation consisted of a photographic evaluation of eight brands of commercially available #330 burs; comparisons were made to the standard as set by Dr Miles Markley. They were also evaluated as to their meeting ADA Specification No 23 for dental burs. In a second portion of the study, the burs were used to prepare channels in extracted teeth, and the pattern produced was evaluated. The results indicate that there is a great difference in the shape of the burs produced by the various manufacturers, as there was in the pattern they produced in preparing tooth structure. PMID- 2628947 TI - Antimicrobial properties of glass-ionomer cements and other restorative materials. AB - The antimicrobial properties of 14 different restorative materials, nine of which were glass-ionomer cements, were compared and observed in this study. The materials were mixed according to manufacturers' specifications and exposed to four types of bacteria commonly found in caries and plaque. Zones of bacterial inhibition were measured for all materials in millimeters. Glass-ionomer cement materials, materials containing zinc oxide, and amalgam produced measureable zones of inhibition. PMID- 2628948 TI - Adhesive resin splint. AB - A technique to splint mobile anterior teeth with a chemically adhesive composite is presented. PMID- 2628949 TI - [Effects of atmospheric air pollution by dust and sulfur dioxide]. PMID- 2628950 TI - [Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the blood serum of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and selected diseases of the respiratory tract]. AB - The serum-CEA (S-CEA) levels were assessed in different lung diseases. The highest levels were seen in lung cancer. Elevated levels of S-CEA were also seen in pneumonia which decreased after withdrawal of inflammatory changes. S-CEA in sarcoidosis pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis did not exceed the upper normal limits. Serum CEA can be used to monitor therapy of lung cancer. PMID- 2628951 TI - [Diagnostic problems in patients with superior vena cava syndrome]. AB - Diagnostical difficulties were shown in 275 patients with the superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) evaluated in the years 1970-1982. Men consisted 84 percent of the group. In 68 percent the symptoms preceded hospitalization by less than one month. 31 percent of the patients were treated without histopathological verification. In 83 percent the cause of the SVCS was lung cancer. Only in 10 patients (5.3%) non-malignant causes were present. Basing on analysis of their material the authors conclude that it it possible to make a diagnosis of SVCS etiology in the majority of the patients. This is mandatory because the etiology of this syndrome is variable, and the therapy may produce unwarranted and unjustified side effects in many cases. PMID- 2628952 TI - [Reactivity of the skin to the most common allergens in children aged 0-3 years with obstructive bronchitis]. AB - Prick tests were carried out in 84 children aged 4-34 months with obstructive chronic bronchitis. Three children reacted to negative control. All tested children reacted with a blister to positive control (0.1% histamine solution, 5% solution of codeine). Positive prick tests were found in 33 children (40.7%). Most often the children reacted to egg (16%), feathers and house mite- Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (13.6%), dust and cereals allergens (11.1%). In all positive reactive children elevated serum IgE levels were seen. In this group of children there were more breast fed children for longer than 1 month and children with more than 11 respiratory tract infections. In the positive prick test group the first spastic reaction++ was observed in older children than in the negative test group. The authors demonstrated the usefulness of prick tests in diagnosis of allergic diseases in the youngest children. PMID- 2628953 TI - [Mortality among patients with diabetes mellitus in Warsaw--a 10-year prospective study]. AB - In the period 1973/74-1983 a prospective observation was carried out on 4591 out patients (2095 males and 2496 females) aged 18-68, with predominantly non-insulin treated diabetes of 1-10 years' duration. During the ten years period over a third of initial cohort died. Age-standardized mortality rate was twice that for the general population of Warsaw for the median year 1978. The risk of death rose with decreasing age, especially in females. The most frequent causes of death were cardiovascular diseases, particularly coronary heart disease, standardized mortality ratios amounting to 2.7 and 2.4 respectively. Among diabetic cohort the risk of death was also higher for nephritis, nephrosis, cirrhosis of the liver and pneumonia. No excess death rate could be found for tuberculosis, malignant neoplasms, and diabetes itself. Diabetic patients were less frequently exposed to accidental deaths than the general population of Warsaw. The mortality diabetic patients in Warsaw was similar to that seen in most of the developed countries with the exception of the higher mortality due to cirrhosis of the liver and smaller due to accident, trauma and poisoning. PMID- 2628954 TI - [Mortality risk factors in cardiovascular diseases in patients with diabetes mellitus in Warsaw--a 10-year prospective study]. AB - A prospective study was made in the years 1973 through 1983 on mortality among 4591 patients (2095 men and 2469 women) with usually noninsulin dependent diabetes, of 1-10 years duration. The anamnestic data and examination parameters obtained during a cross-sectional investigation served as the prognostic changeables (risk factors) to assess the mortality due the most frequent circulatory diseases. The applied model of the logistic regression allowed an attempt of the assessment of their independent effect. Analysis regarding the sex and the methods of diabetes treatment was done in four groups of mortality causes classified according to the VIII Revision of the International Classification of Disease. Injuries and Causes of Death: 1. Cardiovascular system diseases. 2. Ischaemic heart diseases. 3. Other diseases of the cardiovascular system. 4. Vascular diseases of the brain. The quantitative and qualitative effect of the arbitrarily chosen factor of death risk was of varying importance and was related to the sex and the methods of the hypoglycemising treatments. The effect of ageing was an independent factor of death risk among all analysed causes of mortality in both sexes independent from the methods of the hypoglycemising treatment with the one exception of women treated with insulin who died of stroke. Generally however, the ageing factor showed a greater prognostic value in patients treated with insulin. Hypertension, especially if marked, showed to have the most prognostic value among the all analysed factors of death-risk especially in patients on oral antidiabetics. The risk in this group was due mainly to the cerebral stroke, to a lesser degree to the "other" diseases of the circulatory system, and to the all diseases of the circulatory system but to the least degree it was related to the ischaemic heart disease, in both sexes. Among insulin treated diabetics the hypertension was a death-risk of most importance in men usually due to the vascular brain disease and other diseases of the cardiovascular system but to a lesser degree to the circulatory diseases, as a whole. In women however the marked hypertension increased the death-risk in patients with coexisting circulatory disease, not a particular one, but as a whole. Albuminuria had a pronounced prognostic value, especially if massive, in both types of diabetes, mainly, however, among women who died of any cardiovascular causes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2628955 TI - [Clinical aspects of arterial inflammatory diseases]. PMID- 2628956 TI - [Late results of the treatment of mitral valve defects by implantation of an artificial heart valve]. AB - The authors analyzed a group of 50 patients with an implanted artificial mitral valve. Group I consisted of 20 patients with an isolated left venous ostial stenosis. Group II consisted of 23 patients with a complex mitral disease, and group III--of 7 patients with mitral incompetence. Depending on the degree of improvement, the first two groups were divided into two subgroups: group Ia (13 patients) and group IIa (15 patients) with full clinical improvement, and group Ib (7 patients) and group IIb (8 patients) still requiring cardiological drugs and from time to time--dehydrating drugs. The observation time was from 1.5 to 4 years (on the average 39 months). In all the patients the artificial valve functioned properly. Before and after surgery the clinical state was evaluated according to NYHA, heart volume index (WOS), cardiopulmonary index (WSP) by a radiological examination, left-ventricular diastolic dimension (WRLK), left ventricular systolic dimension (WSLK), left-ventricular end-diastolic volume index (WOKRLK), left-ventricular end-systolic volume index (WOKSLK), right ventricular diastolic dimension (WRPK) and left atrium were evaluated by means of echocardiographic examination. Before surgery all the patients underwent the measurements of pressures in the pulmonary circulation, pulmonary resistance and heart index. The authors found a correlation between a degree of improvement after surgery and a functional group before surgery. Eleven patients from functional group III according to NYHA had been (before surgery) in a state of advanced circulatory failure (IV functional group). Clinical improvement was confirmed by statistically significant decrease in heart dimension evaluated by radiological and echocardiographic examinations. In group I left atrium dimension (LP) was significantly statistically larger in patients with incomplete clinical improvement. The authors also found a dependence of a distant result on a degree of hypertension in pulmonary artery, increased pulmonary resistance and decrease in stroke volume. PMID- 2628957 TI - [Liver damage in alcoholics]. AB - The authors made a liver biopsy in a group of 42 persons chronically abusing alcohol. In the majority of patients the authors found various forms of hepatopathology: fatty degeneration--8 cases (19%), alcoholic hepatitis--10 cases (24%), chronic active hepatitis--11 cases (26%), and hepatocirrhosis--2 cases (5%). The authors found no correlation between the kind and degree of liver damage and the amount of alcohol drunk, which suggests the role of individual hypersensitivity in the development of hepatopathology in alcoholics. In some of the alcoholics liver damage was connected with infection by HBV--5 cases (12%) and the participation of alcohol in the pathogenesis of chronic active hepatitis seems likely but it still remains not verified. The results of the investigation carried out point to the need of histological examination of the liver in alcoholics. PMID- 2628958 TI - [Nocturnal hypoxemia and arrhythmia in patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases (COLD)]. AB - A decrease in the arterial blood saturation by oxygen in patients with POChP is a frequent phenomenon. It is more serious in patients type blue boaters and less frequent among patients type pink puffers. The aim of the paper was to compare the arterial blood saturation by oxygen in the groups examined during two nights: during the first night the patients breathed atmospheric air whereas during the second night they were given oxygen. The author also studied the influence of oxygenation of an organism on the frequency of cardiac rhythm disorders (ZRS). The author examined a group of 20 patients with the predominance of chronic bronchitis--blue boaters (average VC was 1.95 l, FEV1--0.81 l, PaO2 while breathing atmospheric air 52 mm Hg and 68 mm Hg after giving oxygen, PaCO2 47 and 51 mm Hg respectively) and 20 patients with the predominance of emphysema--pink puffers (average VC--2.30 l, FEV1--0.86 l, PaO2 while breathing atmospheric air 60 mm Hg and 70 mm Hg after giving oxygen, PaCO2 39 and 40 mm respectively). It was found that the patients with heavy hypoxaemia and hypercapnia had worse arterial blood saturation by oxygen during the two nights of investigation in comparison with the other group. The author also found more frequent cardiac rhythm disorders in this group of patients. Giving oxygen improved blood oxygenation in the two groups and lowered the frequency of cardiac rhythm disorders. The results obtained indicate to the need of oxygen therapy in patients with advanced POChP, especially during the night so as to avoid nocturnal hypoxaemia of an organism. PMID- 2628959 TI - [Arrhythmia during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and colonoscopy]. AB - A group of 51 patients undergoing ERCP and 33 patients undergoing colonoscopy underwent additionally electrocardiography (ekg) by Holter method so as to define the frequency and character of rhythm disorders during the above examinations and the correlation between those disorders and coexisting circulatory system diseases. Besides, the author compared the percentage of ckg changes observed during ERCP and colonoscopy with the changes found during panendoscopy (described in the previous paper). Ekg monitoring by means of Oxford Medilog System apparatus started half an hour before fibroscopy and continued up to half an hour after the examination. In the ERCP premedication, just before endoscopy, the author made 2-3 spraying of 10% of lignocaine solution on the pharynx mucosa and half an hour earlier s.c. 10 mg of morphine with 1 mg of atropin sulphate. Patients undergoing colonoscopy were given (half an hour before the examination) 10 mg of diazepam with 20 mg noramidopyrin. The percentage of patients with circulatory system diseases was in the two groups similar and amounted to 31.4% (ERCP) and 33.3% (colonoscopy). In the statistical analysis the author used chi square test, difference test, analysis of variances and standardization of the results by means of the direct method. The examinations made showed a significant increase in cardiac rhythm disorders during ERCP (in 70% of patients) and colonoscopy (in 70.9% of patients). During the examinations, the most frequent disorders were sinus tachycardia above 120/min., ventricular and supraventricular extrasystoles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628960 TI - [Attempts to treat AIDS]. AB - This paper is a shortly review of antiviral drugs and drugs which help to restore the immune system in patients with AIDS. A significant number of these drugs are being researched for use in AIDS at the different medical centres in Europe and USA. PMID- 2628961 TI - [A contribution to anomalous number of teeth in children in the Zilina District]. AB - The authors investigated the frequency of unfounded teeth in a selected cohort of jaw-orthopedic patients from the iZlina district at the age of seven to 12 years. From the total of 4,405 patients, a decreased number of teeth was found in 179 children (4%), 130 of them being girls and 69 boys. In all the 179 children, 410 teeth missing. Three teeth were missing per one child on the average. Patients with cleft disorders and evident displasiae were excluded from the investigation. The third molars were not considered in the evaluation. Most of the affected children live in localities where they are exposed to air pollution. These patients displayed various aplasiae of tooth groups, where event constant tooth groups (ocular teeth) were not exceptional. Recent data from the world literature present various patterns of partial anodontia as a result of numerous genetic mutational interreactions of living environment. PMID- 2628963 TI - [Defects of pronunciation before and after surgical correction of occlusion]. PMID- 2628962 TI - [Pharmacotherapy in a stomatological ward followed by a computer]. AB - Based on regular information from a computer an annual evaluation of prescribed drugs in a stomatological ward was done. The most frequently prescribed drugs were antibiotics in 38.85%, stomatological drugs in 19.52% and vitamins in 12.39%. Further extended use of computer in a stomatological practice and a possibility of mutual connection of several stomatological workplaces, in the systems of data, their collection and transfer to the central computer of the ward, would significantly contribute to a more precise evaluation of pharmacotherapy even in connection with other indices of stomatological records. PMID- 2628964 TI - [The preparation of dentition before making removable denture]. AB - The authors deals briefly with some important moments in preparing the dentition before making removable denture: parodontological therapy, adjustment of the plane of occlusion and articulation, occlusion cavities and supragingival steps. PMID- 2628965 TI - [Basic information system of a stomatological department]. AB - The authors presents an account on a computer system by means of which it is possible to follow up therapeutic and preventive activities of a stomatological department. They describe the "Basic Information System" which has the following aim: to create a qualitatively new background for the evaluation and management of dental therapeutic and preventive care, to support dispensary care and to reduce administrative work to a minimum. An integral part of the information system is also an innovated "Daily working records of doctors". PMID- 2628966 TI - [Application of interdisciplinary collaboration, new diagnostic methods and therapeutic procedures in dental surgery]. AB - The authors, based on their own experience, draw attention to the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration in the diagnosis and treatment of patients who need a surgical operation in the orofacial and craniofacial region. They draw attention to new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and possibilities, and to the advantages of computer technique and the part played by microelectronics in stomato-surgical practice. PMID- 2628967 TI - [Czechoslovak toothpaste--present choice, consumption, quality]. AB - The authors made a nation-wide survey focused on the choice, appreciation of different properties of toothpastes and the popularity of different brands. They also evaluated the quality of some toothpastes according to Czechoslovak standards. The results revealed that the attitude of the public as regards toothpastes is correct. The great majority of subjects consider fluorine and therapeutic substances an important part of toothpastes. The majority of subjects are satisfied with the supply, one third of the people complain that some types are in short supply. More than half the subjects ask for toothpastes with texts providing information. The majority of toothpastes met the demand defined by the Czechoslovak standards. Some shortcomings were revealed during organoleptic evaluation and in the technology of production. The authors discuss the small consumption of toothpastes which must be increased by the health educational activities of dental surgeons but also by increased attention of manufactures and the network of shops to the technology, distribution and propagation of toothpastes. PMID- 2628968 TI - [The epidemiological situation with tuberculosis among an urban population of children and adolescents]. AB - An epidemiological situation with respect to tuberculosis in 141,200 children and adolescents was studied. 284 children and 52 adolescents were observed in the foci of tuberculous infection. There was an improvement in the epidemiological situation with respect to urban children and adolescents from healthy environment. The epidemiological situation in the foci of tuberculosis remained unfavourable, which was confirmed by the infection risk rate exceeding 7 times that in the healthy areas. Antituberculous prophylaxis in the tuberculosis foci prevented the contact infection within the last 3 years. PMID- 2628969 TI - [Progressive and acute forms of tuberculosis in young children]. AB - Factors involved in the development of acute tuberculosis in the form of miliary tuberculosis in 6 infants and meningeal tuberculosis in 24 infants as well as factors involved in progression of primary tuberculous infection in 8 infants without affection of the meninx but with fatal outcomes were studied. The most severe processes were shown to be more frequent in 1- and 2-year-olds being in family contacts with persons isolating tubercle bacilli (81.6 per cent), not vaccinated or defectively vaccinated with the BCG vaccine (78.9 per cent), not subjected to chemoprophylaxis (93.5 per cent) and chemotherapy (96.2 per cent) because of late tuberculosis diagnosis before hospitalization. It is recommended to improve tuberculosis control in the foci where infants are registered, to improve vaccinal prophylaxis and chemoprophylaxis to markedly increase the level of the knowledge of the general pediatrician with respect to early diagnosis of tuberculosis, to increase sanitary education of the population, including knowledge of the nature of tuberculosis. PMID- 2628970 TI - [The clinical aspects of tuberculosis of the respiratory organs in adolescents]. AB - Investigation of the tuberculous process of the respiratory organs in 120 adolescents showed that the disease was more frequent in female persons (61.7 per cent). Schoolchildren amounted to 52.6 per cent. Prophylactic examinations revealed 50 per cent of the patients. 38.3 per cent of the patients were detected on their taking medical advice. With the Mantoux test with 2 TU of PPD-L only 5 per cent of the patients were detected. Infiltrative tuberculosis in 53.3 per cent of the patients was recorded. In the majority of the patients, the signs of tuberculosis were insignificant. However, in 44.2 per cent of the adolescents, the process was accompanied by destructions. In 86.7 per cent of the patients the process was primary by its genesis. Pronounced clinical signs of tuberculosis in 36.7 per cent of the adolescents were due to extended processes in 68 per cent of the cases. The phase of destruction in them reached 86.6 per cent. 39.7 per cent of the patients were from tuberculosis foci with insufficient prophylactic and antiepidemic measures. To lower the incidence of tuberculosis in adolescents it is necessary to increase the measures for tuberculosis detection in them and to improve the quality of prophylaxis in tuberculosis foci. PMID- 2628971 TI - [The use of bronchological methods as the means for the intensive treatment of patients with severe manifestations of lung and pleural diseases]. AB - The results of using methods of intensive therapy, i.e. administration of antibacterial mixtures into the retrotracheal fat as well as temporary bronchial occlusion are presented. 49 patients with severe or torpid diseases of specific and nonspecific etiology whose treatment was difficult because of complications or concomitant diseases were included into the study. The methods of intensive therapy proved efficient in some patients with severe affections of the lungs and pleura. They should be widely used in clinical practice. PMID- 2628972 TI - [The dynamics of the bronchial system lesions in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - The state of the bronchial system was examined in 1066 patients within the period of 1964 to 1984. Infiltrative tuberculosis of the lungs predominated in the patients. There was a high incidence (30.1 per cent) of specific affections of the bronchial system complicating infiltrative tuberculosis. Within the last decade the incidence of tuberculosis of the bronchi complicating disseminated tuberculosis has markedly lowered. The incidence of newly detected inactive posttuberculous lesions on the bronchial mucosa and nonspecific endobronchitis increased. PMID- 2628973 TI - [The x-ray diagnosis of the functional disorder of bronchial patency in chronic bronchitis]. AB - The aim of the study was to investigate functional impairments of bronchial patency in chronic bronchitis. Various up-to-date roentgenological procedures were used. Data on complex clinicoroentgenological examination of 94 patients with chronic bronchitis are presented. Bronchograms and bronchial zonograms reflecting various respiration phases, video recording on magnetic tape with using broncholytics and a new procedure of bronchogram digital processing developed by the authors were used to solve the problems. Classification, frequency, localization and nature of functional impairments of bronchial patency in chronic bronchitis are described. The role of x-ray examination in diagnosis of functional impairment of bronchial patency was shown. PMID- 2628974 TI - [The course and outcome of tuberculous meningitis in adults]. AB - The course and outcomes of tuberculosis of the central nervous system (CNS) in adults were studied comparatively within two 10-year periods i.e. from 1968 to 1977 and from 1978 to 1987. It was shown that within the last 10-year period the number of the adults with tuberculous meningitis had lowered while the proportion of the adults with tuberculosis of the CNS among all the patients with that form of tuberculosis had remained unchanged. There was no increase in the number of the patients of the elderly and senile ages. Acute onset of the disease as well as asymptomatic and atypical onsets and courses were recorded. It was stated that association of tuberculosis of the CNS with active pulmonary tuberculosis became more frequent. Higher levels of neutrophilic-lymphocytic pleocytosis as compared to the previous ones, marked hypoglycorrhachia and more frequent isolation of mycobacteria from the liquor were noted. No increase in the efficacy of the treatment was stated. The death rate did not change. The situation should be explained by the incidence of common forms of pulmonary tuberculosis including fibrocavernous and disseminated tuberculosis, insufficient prophylaxis, the incidence of concomitant diseases, sometimes acute onset of the disease, asymptomatic process of the disease, inattention of physicians as to possible incidence of tuberculous meningitis. PMID- 2628975 TI - [Toxic-allergic and viral hepatitis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - Forty four patients with various forms of pulmonary tuberculosis in association with virus hepatitis B (21) and toxic-allergic hepatitis (23) were followed up in the time course of the diseases. There was a marked clinical similarity between toxic-allergic hepatitis and virus hepatitis B which differed in their qualitative indices and duration. Differential diagnosis of virus hepatitis B and toxic-allergic hepatitis was possible on the basis of the clinical signs and routine tests: determination of bilirubin and its fractions in blood, estimation of activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and case follow-up with an account of the epidemiological situation. PMID- 2628976 TI - [Blood coagulation function in pulmonary tuberculosis patients at the stages of surgical treatment]. AB - The results of studying the coagulative properties of blood in 25 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis before surgical operations and at the stages of the postoperative period are presented. It was shown that, unlike the patients mainly with processes of productive nature and insignificant extent of the specific process, the patients with extended fibrocavernous tuberculosis of the lungs even before the operations were characterized by markedly increased thrombin formation. During surgical operations the hemocoagulation impairments in such patients could be aggravated up to development of coagulopathy. PMID- 2628977 TI - [The determination of the specific sensitization of the peripheral blood leukocytes in pulmonary tuberculosis patients]. AB - The results of testing blood specimens from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with the method of diagnosing specific sensitization of leukocytes according to V. A. Fradkin and the method modified by the author are compared. Inhibition of the phagocytic activity of blood neutrophils in response to tuberculin was estimated with the routine procedure. BCG vaccine was used as the test culture. The proposed method revealed the neutrophil sensitization in 88.4 per cent of the patients with infiltrative tuberculosis of the lungs of 6-month duration. With the Fradkin method, the neutrophil sensitization was detected in 77 per cent of the same patients. PMID- 2628978 TI - [The reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis in persons in registry groups III and VII and those removed from dispensary observation]. AB - Clinicoroentgenological findings on 3262 patients registered in groups III and VII of the dispensary observation were studied for a period of 12 years and 425 cases of tuberculosis relapses were analyzed. On the basis of the data it was suggested to divide tuberculosis relapses into real reactivation (65.6 per cent) and pseudoreactivation (26.4 per cent). Pseudoreactivation of tuberculosis in 46.4 and 42.0 per cent of the patients was diagnosed because of mistakes of roentgenologists and phthisiologists, respectively. Diagnosis of tuberculosis pseudoreactivation in 11.6 per cent of the patients was associated with diagnostic difficulties. 8 per cent of the pseudoreactivations interpreted as relapses referred to overdiagnosis of tuberculosis activity. Therefore, real reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis was only in 2/3 of the patients. PMID- 2628979 TI - [Experience in treating alcoholism in pulmonary tuberculosis patients]. PMID- 2628980 TI - [The morbidity risk for breast cancer in persons treated by collapse therapy for tuberculosis]. PMID- 2628981 TI - [Miliary tuberculosis in nursing infants]. PMID- 2628982 TI - [A case of pulmonary toxoplasmosis]. PMID- 2628983 TI - [The cytological characteristics of bronchoalveolar washings in chronic bronchitis]. AB - Bronchoalveolar washings (BAWs) from 30 patients with nonobstructive chronic bronchitis (CB) were examined cytologically. On the basis of the taxonomic analysis of the data on the cytological examination of the BAWs, all the observations were classified as belonging to degrees I, II and III of the cytological activity of the inflammatory process in the lungs. It was revealed that the minimal degree of the activity of the inflammatory process was characterized by a marked increase in the relative numbers of the cells of the desquamated cylindrical epithelium and destroyed cells along with a significant decrease in the proportion of macrophages and an increase in the relative count of neutrophils. The increased activity of the inflammatory process in the lungs was accompanied by a progressing increase in the proportion of neutrophils and a decrease in the relative count of macrophages and the cells of the cylindrical epithelium. Clinico-cytological analysis of the observations was also performed. The most complete and objective estimation of the degree of the inflammatory process activity in the lungs in the patients with CB was provided by the cytological indices of the BAWs. PMID- 2628984 TI - Let us nurse our society back to health. PMID- 2628985 TI - Nursing perspective for nursing practice and administration. PMID- 2628986 TI - Nursing perspective for community health nursing. PMID- 2628987 TI - New dimensions in the care of high risk pregnancy. PMID- 2628988 TI - Interpersonal relations between the nurses and the doctors and their professional performance and quality of patient care. PMID- 2628989 TI - Effects of blindness on play fighting in golden hamster infants. AB - The effects of bilateral optic enucleation on play fighting in golden hamster infants were studied. The behaviors of blind-blind (BB), blind-intact (BI) and intact-intact (II) dyads were recorded from the 30th to the 36th day of age. It has been noted that the differences in physical contact, play fighting and grooming time, as well as in the percentage of time spent in play fighting, the amount of locomotion and other activities of BB, BI and II were small and statistically insignificant. The mean number of active and passive pinning in all groups was equivalent and the alternation of active and passive pinning, or vice versa, was around 50%, showing that posture during play fighting is not an indicator of dominance. It has been concluded that vision is not important for either the initiation or the modulation of play fighting in golden hamsters. PMID- 2628990 TI - Sleep patterns in the parakeet Melopsittacus undulatus. AB - Electrophysiological and behavioral studies of vigilance states were performed on adult specimens of the parakeet Melopsittacus undulatus. Four states of vigilance were identified: Wakefulness, drownsiness, slow wave sleep and paradoxical sleep. During wakefulness, a low voltage fast EEG pattern was observed. This pattern was progressively increasing in amplitude and decreasing in frequency when passing from drowsiness to slow wave sleep. Sleep spindles were not present. Slow wave sleep was frequently interrupted by paradoxical sleep episodes of short duration (6.4 +/- 3.2 sec), characterized by an EEG pattern similar to that of waking state. During wakefulness there were body and eye movements. This motor activity decreased when animals went into drowsiness and slow wave sleep. Paradoxical sleep was characterized by slight motor automatisms, including sometimes ocular movements. PMID- 2628991 TI - Hypothalamic monoamines measured by microdialysis in rats treated with 2-deoxy glucose or d-fenfluramine. AB - The effects on brain monoamines (norepinephrine, serotonin and the metabolite of dopamine) following administration of d-fenfluramine (10 mg/kg IP) and 2-deoxy-d glucose (500 mg/kg IP) have been measured by microdialysis from the ventromedial hypothalamus, lateral hypothalamic area and dorsomedial hypothalamus of conscious, unrestrained rats. Following administration of d-fenfluramine there was a significant increase in the concentration of serotonin in the ventromedial hypothalamus and lateral hypothalamic area, but no significant increase in the DMH. 5-HIAA (5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid), the metabolite of serotonin, was increased in the DMH, but not in the other two regions. DOPAC (3,4 dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) was increased following fenfluramine treatment in all three regions examined. An increase in norepinephrine was observed in the VMH, but not in the other two regions, while the concentration of the 3-methoxy-4 hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) was increased in both areas. Treatment with 2-deoxy-D glucose (2DG) was associated with fewer changes. In the lateral hypothalamic area there was a decrease in 5-HIAA and an increase in DOPAC. In the VMH there was an increase in norepinephrine and a decrease in MHPG in the DMH, but otherwise no significant alterations were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2628992 TI - The capacity of humans to identify odors in mixtures. AB - One hundred and twenty-three subjects were given the task of identifying the constituents of stimuli consisting of 1-5 odorants. The highest level of identification occurred with single odors and few subjects correctly identified the constituents of mixtures. Since the stimuli were common, dissimilar odors, the results suggest that the capacity of humans to process information about odors perceived simultaneously may be limited, or that odors in mixtures blend to form a new odor with few of the characteristics of the constituent odors. PMID- 2628993 TI - Effects of maternal diet, body weight and body composition on infanticide in Syrian hamsters. AB - We examined the idea that female hamsters kill and eat their own offspring as part of an organized mechanism that balances litter size with metabolic energy supply. In Experiment 1, females fed diets that made them lighter and leaner cannibalized more offspring and maintained smaller litters than females fed diets that made them heavier and fatter. A greater supply of metabolic energy from the diet and/or from body fat stores may have attenuated cannibalism in heavier mothers. In Experiment 2, food restriction during lactation increased the level of cannibalism to a greater degree in lighter, leaner mothers. Heavier, fatter mothers may have eaten fewer offspring because they were better able to mobilize fatty acids from adipose tissue as an alternative fuel source during food restriction. These results suggest that an important factor influencing cannibalism of pups is the general availability of metabolic fuels from both external (food supply) and internal (adipose tissue) sources. PMID- 2628994 TI - Milk intakes of genetically obese (ob/ob) and lean mouse pups differ with enhanced milk supply. AB - Although obese (C57Bl/6J, ob/ob) pups have greater avidity for nonnutritive suckling than leans as early as 15 days postpartum, previous research has not found differences in milk intake between ob/ob and lean mice during the preweaning period. Because ob/ob pups suckle longer than leans, their perseveration should enhance their opportunity to ingest milk if (a) maternal milk supply is not limited and (b) longer sucking durations reflect increased pup willingness to ingest milk. Accordingly, the present study was designed to evaluate the milk intake of ob/ob and lean pups when they had access to an enhanced supply of maternal milk. Intact litters of pups, from heterozygous lean (ob/+) parents, were randomly assigned to be tested at either 6, 12, or 18 days. Pups were neither dam- nor milk-deprived before being cross-fostered successively to milk-replete surrogate dams for 60 min each. Obese pups showed a greater percentage body weight gain (the index of milk intake) than leans did, with younger pups showing larger increments than 18-day-olds. Although early adiposity in ob/ob pups may not rely on increased intake in the single-dam, nest situation, these data emphasize an early predisposition to overeating in this mutant. PMID- 2628995 TI - Stress-induced anorexia in rats mediated by serotonergic mechanisms in the hypothalamus. AB - The effects of stress on food intake and on neural activity in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) were investigated. Significant reduction of daily food intake was observed after 2 hr immobilization. The reduction of body weight was also significant during experimental days. Duplicate injections of methysergide (5 mg/kg, IP) antagonized the immobilization-induced anorexia for 3 hr and injection of naloxone had no effect. Single neuron activity was recorded from a chronically implanted electrode. Activity of 80% of LHA neurons was significantly decreased by immobilization stress. Methysergide significantly attenuated the suppressive effect of immobilization. Further, direct effects of 5-HT on LHA neurons were examined in anesthetized rats. Of 43 LHA neurons tested, the activity of 35 was inhibited by electrophoretic application of 5-HT. These results suggest that immobilization-induced anorexia is mediated at least in part through serotonergic mechanisms in the LHA. PMID- 2628996 TI - Physiological changes during tonic immobility in Gallus gallus var domesticus. AB - Physiological parameters were examined in the hen in response to the induction of tonic immobility (TI). The induction of TI was associated with EEG arousal, low shank temperature and elevated heart rate. However, shortly after the adoption of TI, the EEG showed a predominantly slow-wave deactivated pattern, muscle tone fell and sympathetic nervous activity was reduced, as indicated by declining heart rate and peripheral vasodilation. Core temperature remained constant at 42 degrees C throughout the immobility response. Several instances of EEG behavioural dissociation were observed. The results are discussed in terms of "cut-off" and waning of the induced fear state. PMID- 2628997 TI - The plasma catecholamine stress response is characteristic for a given animal over a one-year period. AB - The same male and female rats with indwelling jugular catheters were stressed (immobilization) on two occasions at the ages of 3 to 4 and 15 to 16 months. Plasma levels of the catecholamines (CA) norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) were determined before and during stress at each session. During stress, plasma NE and E levels increased markedly. At the younger age, female animals showed markedly higher CA levels than male animals. After one year, stress CA levels were higher for both sexes, but had increased markedly in male and little in female animals. A positive correlation was found between the plasma CA stress response of individual animals at both sessions; this correlation was stronger for males and NE. This indicates that "high" responders usually remain high responders, "low" responders remain low and intermediate responders intermediate. In conclusion, the plasma CA stress response increases markedly in male, but little in female rats over the period of 1 year and the relative magnitude of the individual stress response remains a characteristic of each given animal. PMID- 2628998 TI - Effects of time of feeding on recovery of food-entrained rhythms during subsequent fasting in SCN-lesioned rats. AB - Rats subjected to Eat-Fast (EF) cycles show food-anticipatory rhythms independent from the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). These rhythms do not persist during subsequent ad lib feeding (EE). There are indications for a recovery of rhythmicity during fasting (FF) using a 'memory' paradigm in which FF sessions are alternated with EE. In this study we tested the memory paradigm in SCN lesioned rats that were fed for 3 hr either during the local day (food access at 14.30 hr) or during the night (food access at 04.30 hr or at 23.00 hr). Food approaches, drinking, wheel-running and body temperature were recorded under constant light. Food-anticipatory rhythms emerged under each EF schedule while the shape of the rhythms differed per schedule. The rhythms disappeared in EE. During subsequent FF the rhythms clearly reappeared in previously day-fed rats, but this was only occasionally observed in previously night-fed rats. Moreover, the phase of the rhythms which did recover in the previously night-fed rats was shifted towards daytime. These data are not fully compatible with the hypothesis of a self-sustained food-entrainable oscillator. It was assumed that hunger induced responses to environmental daytime stimuli contributed to the overt rhythms. PMID- 2628999 TI - Environmental influences on masculine sexual behavior in mice. AB - Retention of masculine copulatory behaviors following castration varies among B6D2F1 male mice. In the present study, we examined the effect of test environment and the amount of behavioral testing after castration, on retention of copulatory responses in castrated B6D2F1 male mice. Results showed that weekly behavioral testing after castration was not necessary for the retention of ejaculatory reflexes. However, the test environment had a major effect. Following castration, 26% of the males completely stopped showing ejaculatory responses when tested in the test arenas. When these males were tested in their home cages, 75% achieved at least one ejaculatory response in four home cage tests. Castrated males that continued to copulate in the test arena situation also achieved ejaculatory reflexes in their home cages. These results indicate that for some B6D2F1 males, the retention of sexual behaviors after castration is influenced by environmental factors. PMID- 2629000 TI - Postpartum aggression and plasma prolactin levels in mice exposed to lead. AB - Young-adult, female Binghamton Heterogeneous Stock (HET) mice either were exposed to lead via drinking water from birth, or not. Eight days after giving birth to their first litter of pups (at about 70-75 days of age), postpartum aggression tests were conducted. Unfamiliar Het male intruders were introduced to the primiparous dams' nesting cages, and dyadic behavioral interactions were observed for 10 min. We also obtained plasma prolactin levels of these females, or others who had similar histories, but were not tested for maternal aggression. Behaviorally, the intensity of fighting was greater in lead-exposed pairs than in water-control pairs that fought. However, the percentage of pairs displaying aggressive behavior and average latency to initial contact were similar, regardless of dietary history. Plasma prolactin levels implied that lead exposure alone decreased circulating prolactin in primiparous Het dams eight days postpartum, but confrontation with a male intruder also was sufficient to reduce prolactin levels in water-control dams. It would be reasonable to assume that such changes in prolactin are dopaminergically mediated. The data suggest that lead ingestion may, in a species and strain specific manner, modify: 1) neurotransmitter and hormonal systems and 2) social behavior. The major effect of "subclinical" lead toxicity may be to change the limits of an organism's ability to cope with its environment. PMID- 2629001 TI - Development of sex differences in the response of spiny mouse pups to adult male odors. AB - Using a three-choice preference test, olfactory-mediated investigatory activity in response to adult male urine odor was examined in a precocially active rodent, the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) aged between 3-26 days. Temporally related sex differences were seen in the time spent in the presence of the odors of father's or unfamiliar adult male's urine, or distilled (control) water. Neither male nor female pups discriminated between odors from the father and strange adult males. After the first olfactory test, when the pups were aged between four and six days, male pups strongly preferred to stay in the vicinity of urine odors of adult males, whereas female pups avoided odors of adult males and remained in the enclosure with the control odor source. To our knowledge this is the first time that such a behavioral sex difference related to olfaction has been shown to occur in young rodent pups. We suggest that the sexually dimorphic response of the pups is associated with the development of later sex differences in behavior. PMID- 2629002 TI - Sexual differences in the neonatal serotonin effect on hormone secretion in rats. AB - A number of authors in the literature have reported facilitatory or inhibitory effects of serotonin (5-HT) on gonadotropin secretion, sexual hormones content or sexual behavior, but little information has been reported about the possible role of serotonin administered during the critical period of sexual differentiation. To test this possibility, we have injected a 5-HT intraventricularly to neonate male and female rats in order to examine the influence during the critical period of this single treatment on the adult sexual hormone content and sexual behavior. Neonatal administration of 5-HT in the brain decreases significantly estradiol content of adult females, without affecting testosterone level in males. Neither male nor female sexual behavior was affected by 5-HT injection on day 1 of life. These data evidence a sexual difference of serotonin administration during the critical period on gonadal hormones secretion in adulthood. PMID- 2629003 TI - Sex differences in small-magnitude heart-rate responses to sexual and infant related stimuli: a psychophysiological approach. AB - Small-magnitude (2-3 beats per minute) heart-rate responses can show sex differences if assessed with a psychophysiological approach in which temporally fine-grained methods are used to determine topographical differences. Such differences emerged when 15 males and 37 females were shown videosegments depicting emotional scenes. Specifically, males accelerated to erotic segments (couples making love), while females accelerated to segments showing babies crying. In addition, the peak development of baby-cry-elicited accelerations occurred about 1 second before that of erotic segment-elicited accelerations. The results are consistent with a preparatory-response interpretation, but more research is needed both to investigate the generality of these sex differences in heart-rate responses, and to determine the role of experiential and psychosocial factors. PMID- 2629004 TI - Environment-specific conditioning produced by electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus. AB - Rats received noncontingent electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus on one side of a place preference apparatus and no stimulation on the other side. Subsequently, when allowed access to both sides, the rats spent more time on the side associated with stimulation. This change in preference was only found in rats receiving stimulation in the side least preferred prior to conditioning trials. It was further shown that the place preference conditioning procedure produces increased locomotor activity. Thus, the place preference obtained was not an artifact produced by a conditioned freezing response. These data suggest that both the reinforcing and activating effects of lateral hypothalamic stimulation may be conditioned to a specific environment. Some methodological problems of the place preference paradigm are discussed. PMID- 2629005 TI - [Neuropsychiatric and neuropathologic findings in an adult case of cri-du-chat syndrome (Lejeune syndrome, crying cat syndrome)]. AB - It is reported on a mental retarded female, observed from 3-33 years of age, which demonstrated even in adulthood with long lasting shrill crying the clinical leading symptom of Lejeune syndrome and further typical symptoms with inhibition of physical maturation, important delayed motoric and mental development, microcephaly resp. characteristic craniofacial dysmorphia, anomalies of extremities, muscular hypotonia and susceptibility to infection. Psychically there were a striking affective instability and irritability, neuropathologically pachygyria and multiple cortical heterotopias. PMID- 2629006 TI - [Increasing cerebrospinal fluid cell count with the sedimentation chamber using polycationic coated slides]. AB - The use of glass slides coated with the cationic polymer polydimethyldiallylammonium-chlorid for cell enrichment procedures results in an increasing number of cells on the slicks and changed quantitative results of cell differentiation. These investigations are important for quantitative analysis of cell populations. PMID- 2629007 TI - Clinical and microbiologic changes following the irrigation of periodontal pockets with metronidazole or stannous fluoride. AB - The purpose of this investigation was to determine the efficacy of subgingival irrigation with 1.64% stannous fluoride or 0.5% metronidazole solutions on the clinical and microbiologic parameters of adult periodontitis as compared with scaling and root planing. Twelve patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis were selected, and one pocket of a minimum 5-mm probe depth in each quadrant received one of the following treatments: (a) one session of scaling and root planing at the beginning of the experiment, (b) stannous fluoride irrigation, (c) metronidazole irrigation, and (d) saline irrigation. Results showed that scaling and root planing provided significantly better improvement in most of the clinical parameters than did the two tested irrigants. Saline also provided a statistically significant improvement, but only during the first 4 weeks. The four methods of treatment provided a sustained decrease in spirochetes, with a concomitant increase in coccoid cells. It was concluded that although subgingival irrigation with 1.64% stannous fluoride or 0.5% metronidazole solutions improved periodontal health, they never achieved the same efficacy as scaling and root planing and, therefore, should not be substituted for fastidious mechanical subgingival plaque and calculus removal. PMID- 2629008 TI - Crohn's disease: early detection by gingival biopsy. AB - A definitive diagnosis of Crohn's disease was made in a 31-year-old female patient who presented with a chief complaint of red, burning gingiva and an itchy palate. The microscopic identification of multinucleated giant cells in the gingival biopsy was suggestive of Crohn's disease. This led to a complete medical work-up including an upper and lower bowel series, which confirmed the diagnosis of Crohn's disease. PMID- 2629009 TI - Survey of current therapy: bruxism splints. PMID- 2629010 TI - The topical use of tetracycline for periodontal regeneration. PMID- 2629011 TI - The autonomic differentiation of emotions revisited: convergent and discriminant validation. AB - The convergent and discriminant validity of three models of physiological emotion specificity were compared. Forty-two female students served as subjects in a 2 (Context of emotional inductions: real-life, imagery) X 3 (Emotion: fear, anger, control) +1 (Happiness induced in real-life context) repeated measures design. The dependent measures included self-reports of emotion, Gottschalk-Gleser affect scores, back and forearm extensor EMG activity, body movements, heart period, respiration period, skin conductance, skin temperatures, pulse transit time, pulse volume amplitude, and blood volumes. Self-report data confirmed the generation of affective states in both contexts, as intended. Planned multivariate comparisons between physiological profiles established discriminant validity for fear and anger in the real-life context, whereas under imagery, emotion profiles were essentially equal. Convergent validity could not be substantiated. Implications for models of physiological specificity of emotion were discussed. PMID- 2629012 TI - Auditory and visual P300s in temporal lobectomy patients: evidence for modality dependent generators. AB - The P300 component of the event-related brain potential (ERP) was studied in epileptic patients with unilateral resections of medial temporal lobe areas of the brain. The patients and controls were tested in an oddball paradigm in two conditions: counting and reaction time. Both auditory and visual stimuli were used to elicit ERP activity in different blocks. Despite the reported presence of locally-generated auditory and visual P300-like potentials in these areas, no evidence was found of any surgically-related hemispheric asymmetries in the scalp distribution of the P300 or Slow Wave for stimuli in either modality. Moreover, compared to normal controls, there were no significant reductions in overall P300 amplitude in the patients. The patients did show a double dissociation in their frontal ERP activity: the left temporal lobectomy patients showed apparent decreased frontal auditory P300 amplitudes but normal visual P300 amplitudes, whereas the right temporal lobectomy patients showed the opposite pattern. These results appeared to be due to the presence of a long-duration slow wave rather than to alterations in P300 amplitude. These data do not support the presence of a significant contribution by a hippocampal/amygdala generator to the activity of the scalp-recorded P300 in the oddball paradigm. Topographic comparisons on normalized amplitudes revealed significantly different scalp distributions as a function of stimulus modality, event probability, and task for both the P300 and Slow Wave components. These data indicate that the amplitude variations associated with each experimental variable are due to the activity of a separate underlying neural source. The sources of task and probability effects on P300 and Slow Wave amplitude each appeared to be modality-independent generators. The nature of the third, modality-related generator is less clear. These results uphold the tenets of the model of P300 amplitude proposed by Johnson (1986) and argue against the idea that the P300 is a unitary phenomenon. PMID- 2629013 TI - Developmental evidence for modality-dependent P300 generators: a normative study. AB - The behavior of the early and late components of the event-related brain potential (ERP) elicited by auditory and visual stimuli was studied in 40 normal females between the ages of 7 and 20. The ERPs were collected using two different tasks (i.e.,count and reaction time) in an oddball paradigm. Analysis of the early component (i.e., N1, P2, N2) latencies revealed small but significant decreases with age in the visual modality but no change in the auditory modality. Except for the visual N1, early component amplitudes did not change significantly over this age range. The results showed that auditory and visual P300 latencies, but not amplitudes, changed at significantly different rates over this age range. P300 latencies in the auditory modality showed a relatively abrupt change around age 12, after which P300 latencies changed little and were essentially at their adult levels. The latencies of visual P300s showed a much smaller and more steady decrease with age. Thus visual P300 latencies were shorter than auditory P300s in young children but longer than auditory P300s in older children. Significantly different scalp distributions were found for auditory and visual P300s. Although all P300 activity was maximal over parietal scalp, visual P300s were significantly larger than auditory P300s over central and frontal scalp. The developmental differences, combined with the presence of significantly different scalp topographies for auditory and visual P300s, provide convergent evidence that P300 activity is not independent of the modality of the eliciting stimulus. PMID- 2629014 TI - Physiological response patterns to cognitive testing in adults with closed head injuries. AB - Physiological measures were taken from 7 closed-head-injured patients and 7 control subjects while they took a series of cognitive tests: the finger tapping test from the Halstead Reitan battery, the Digit Symbol test from the WAIS-R, a test of logical memory, and a paced arithmetic test. Physiological reactivity was assessed relative to rest periods, which occurred at the beginning and end of each session. The tests and physiological assessment were administered twice, approximately one month apart. The patient group performed more poorly on the cognitive tests, and showed less physiological reactivity during them than did the control group. This pattern was statistically significant for heart rate, frequency of electrodermal responses, and, during the initial session, respiration rate. The control group also showed greater finger pulse amplitude during the first posttest rest period in the first session, and greater constriction during a logical memory task in the second session. No significant between-groups differences emerged for state or trait anxiety. The patients showed higher frontalis EMG and respiration rate during rest. These results suggest a pattern of poor physiological modulation for task performance in the patients with closed head injuries. The therapeutic implications are discussed. PMID- 2629015 TI - The contingent negative variation in psychopaths. AB - There have been persistent claims that the contingent negative variation (CNV) is absent or greatly attenuated in psychopaths. However, these claims are based on a few studies with serious methodological and diagnostic problems. The present study attempted to avoid these problems. The subjects were male prison inmates divided into psychopaths and nonpsychopaths on the basis of scores on the Psychopathy Checklist. CNV was recorded while the subject performed a forewarned reaction time task with a relatively long interval (6 s) between the warning stimulus and the imperative stimulus. Motivation to perform well was ensured by having reaction times to the imperative stimulus determine how much money would be won or lost on a given trial. The early CNV of psychopaths was significantly larger than was that of the nonpsychopaths. There were no group differences in the late CNV or in reaction time. To the extent that the early CNV reflects processing of the warning stimulus and attention to task demands, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that psychopaths are proficient at focusing attention on events that interest them. PMID- 2629016 TI - Late components of auditory event-related potentials to eight equiprobable stimuli in a target detection task. AB - Fourteen normal subjects undertook a target detection task in which eight different but equiprobable stimuli were presented in an unpredictable sequence (four tone frequencies to either the left or the right ear). One tone/ear combination was designated as a target, to be responded to with a rapid button press. Event-related potentials were recorded from an array of six scalp electrodes. In Condition 1 no responses were required; in Condition 2 a response was required to the highest tone in one designated ear; in Condition 3 a response was required to the second highest tone in the ear opposite to the Condition 2 target. Event-related potentials to the no-task condition (1) included a P3-type late positive component. P3 increased in amplitude to target tones in Conditions 2 and 3, but showed equally large amplitude increases and some decrease in latency to nontarget tones in those conditions. However, a frontal Slow Wave component was elicited more specifically by target stimuli. An attended ear effect was evident in a processing negativity that extended for some hundreds of milliseconds prefrontally, but tended to be comprised of two separate negativities over fronto-central locations. PMID- 2629017 TI - Comparison of spot and band impedance cardiogram electrodes across different tasks. AB - Impedance cardiography has become of widespread interest as a noninvasive cardiovascular monitoring technique. This study compared the use of spot electrodes and two different types of band electrodes in the determination of systolic time intervals and stroke volume. EKG, impedance cardiogram, and phonocardiogram were recorded on 12 volunteers during rest, during a reaction time task, and after a short exercise task. Systolic time intervals (pre-ejection period and left ventricular ejection time) were computed on a beat-to-beat basis and on the ensemble-averaged signals. The only differences between spot and band electrodes were for impedance base level and electrode conductance. For stroke volume and the systolic time interval measures there were no differences between electrode arrays, nor were there any interactions with tasks. Correlations for stroke volume and systolic time interval measures as determined under different electrode conditions were around .8. PMID- 2629018 TI - Estimation of trial-to-trial variation in evoked potential signals by smoothing across trials. AB - Averaging single trial evoked potential data to produce an estimate of the underlying signal obscures trial-to-trial variation in the response. We describe a method for estimating slow changes in the evoked potential signal by smoothing the data over trials. We discuss the crucial issue of deciding how much to smooth and suggest that an appropriate smoothing parameter is one that minimizes the estimated mean average square error of the smoothed data. Equations to estimate the mean average square error for a one-dimensional local linear regression smoother are presented. Performance of the method is assessed using simulated evoked potential data with several different models of a changing signal and different values of the signal-to-noise ratio. We find that the method rarely imputes trial-to-trial variation to data sets that have an unchanging signal, while it almost always produces less error than averaging when estimating a varying signal. The ability of the method to reveal signal heterogeneity is hampered by very low signal-to-noise ratios. When applied to real auditory evoked potential data from a sample of elderly subjects, the method indicated a changing signal in 35% of all subjects and in 56% of subjects with signal-to-noise ratios above 0.6. Consistent patterns of variation in the auditory evoked potential were present in this sample. PMID- 2629019 TI - Dialysis in the management of the renal failure of myeloma. PMID- 2629020 TI - Acute liver decompensation on withdrawal of cytotoxic chemotherapy and immunosuppressive therapy in hepatitis B carriers: implications for the treatment of chronic HBV carriers. PMID- 2629021 TI - Acute liver decompensation on withdrawal of cytotoxic chemotherapy and immunosuppressive therapy in hepatitis B carriers. AB - Five chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus developed a fulminant hepatitis-like picture when immunosuppression or cytotoxic treatment, given for unrelated disorders, was withdrawn. Viral replication at the time of the final illness was confirmed in three of the five cases by measurement of serum HBV DNA or the presence of HBc antigen on liver biopsy. A cytoplasmic and nuclear pattern of HBc was seen in histological material during life, but at post-mortem was limited to a nuclear distribution, suggesting greater destruction of hepatocytes containing cytoplasmic HBc. In two of the cases, chronic liver disease was found at post mortem, there being no previous clinical or laboratory abnormality, but it is unlikely that this was a factor in the development of the superimposed fulminating hepatitis-like illness. Immunosuppressive and cytotoxic agents must be used with extreme caution in any hepatitis B carrier, as withdrawal can precipitate acute decompensation regardless of whether or not there is underlying chronic liver disease. PMID- 2629022 TI - Chronic dialysis in patients with multiple myeloma and renal failure: a worthwhile treatment. AB - Severe renal failure is a life-threatening complication of multiple myeloma. Aggressive treatment can reverse acute renal failure in many cases but the prognosis for those who require chronic renal replacement therapy is not clear. We have reviewed the treatment of these patients in the Brighton, Dulwich and Guy's Hospitals renal units. Twenty-three patients were treated for a total of 385 months. Over half presented with end-stage renal failure and required dialysis immediately. Fifteen patients died during the study period and actuarial survival was 45 per cent at one year; six have survived for longer than two years. No prognostic features at presentation were identified but those who responded to chemotherapy survived significantly longer than those who did not. Haemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) appeared to be equally effective treatments. Complications from dialysis were more common than in patients with renal failure from other causes. Infection in those treated by CAPD was a serious problem and may be exacerbated by aggressive chemotherapy. Maintenance dialysis offers some patients with multiple myeloma long-term survival and should be offered to all patients who are considered to warrant continuing treatment for their underlying disease. PMID- 2629023 TI - Fatal reactivation of chronic hepatitis B virus infection following withdrawal of chemotherapy in lymphoma patients. AB - Four Chinese patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and asymptomatic chronic hepatitis B infection developed fulminant hepatitis three to four weeks after two to five courses of chemotherapy. One was initially positive for hepatitis B e antigen and three were positive for antibody to HBeAg. They had normal initial serum aminotransferase levels. In all four patients, the hepatic illness appeared to be caused by reactivation of hepatitis B virus replication as evidenced by the appearance of HBV DNA in serum at the onset of hepatitis, seroreversion from anti HBe to HBeAg positivity, and the absence of other incriminating drugs or viral markers. All died within three weeks after the onset of jaundice. Serum HBV DNA level dropped to undetectable level as the hepatitis progressed. We postulate that potent cytotoxic therapy reactivated HBV replication and permitted widespread infection of hepatocytes. Upon withdrawal of chemotherapy, the immunologic rebound resulted in rapid destruction of infected hepatocytes and massive liver necrosis. Several methods for the prevention of such hepatic reactivation are discussed. PMID- 2629024 TI - Recurrent pyogenic meningitis--a retrospective study. AB - Records of 17 patients who had two or more attacks of pyogenic meningitis were collected from eight centres in the United Kingdom for retrospective analysis. Thirteen patients had intracranial abnormality; of seven with head injury five produced cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. The first of the 28 attacks seen in these occurred between a few weeks and 12 years of the head injury. Pneumococci were identified in 25 episodes in cerebrospinal fluid. Of six patients without a history of head injury, one had 'spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea' and five had pathological changes of the ear. Various organisms were found in the cerebrospinal fluid during the 12 attacks in these five. Four of the 17 patients had primary complement deficiency (C7, C5, C4 and C3b inhibitor); 10 (possibly 11) of 16 attacks in these cases were due to Neisseria meningitidis. Routine radiological investigations including computerized tomography did not always identify the abnormality; radioactive cisternography can help to establish cerebrospinal fluid leak. All 58 episodes of pyogenic meningitis in these 17 patients with different underlying disease responded to conventional treatment with antibiotics without mortality and without undue morbidity. Surgical procedures in intracranial disease had variable success. Correction of complement deficiency is not practical at present. In some patients prophylaxis with antimicrobial drugs is the only method of preventing future attacks. PMID- 2629025 TI - Eighty-third annual general meeting of the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. University of Oxford, April 14 and 15 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2629026 TI - [25 years of study of the pathogenic role and clinical significance of pemphigus antibodies]. PMID- 2629027 TI - [Pagetoid reticulosis (Woringer-Kolopp disease)]. AB - The first Polish report of a case of the limited variety of the Woringer-Kolopp disease (pagetoid reticulosis) is presented. The diagnosis was based on histological examination. Numerous pagetoid cells were found in the epidermis and only few in the dermis. In ultramicroscopy two types of mononuclear cells were disclosed, one with large nucleus and scattered chromatin, and other with smaller nucleus and nuclear chromatin condensed at the periphery. The immunopathological examination of isolated pagetoid cells with monoclonal antibodies showed on their surface a slight prevalence of suppressor T-cell receptors. Radiotherapy was applied with a very good result. PMID- 2629028 TI - [Atopic dermatitis in patients with normal and raised IgE levels]. AB - In a group of 535 children and 103 adult patients with atopic dermatitis no differences were observed between persons with normal and raised IgE level with respect to incidence of lesions in the first or the first three months of life, the total number of the positive RAST results and the most intense reactions, that is 4 degrees, the percent of helper and suppressor T-cells, duration of remission, darkening of lower eyelids, cheilitis, involvement of the hands, the feet, the elbow flexures or knee flexures. On the other hand, in individuals with raised IgE level, especially in patients with IgE level tenfold higher or more than normal, the co-existence of alergic diseases of the respiratory system, the appearance of itching after sweating, itching after emotion, pityriasis alba, and eczema of breasts were PMID- 2629029 TI - [Syndrome of giant deratoma of the feet (syndroma cornuum giganteum dedum)]. AB - The syndrome of giant keratoma of the feet with disseminated keratotic papules on the thighs and legs, lack of fusion of the posterior arch of the L5, S1 vertebrae, varus deformity of feet and (congenital?) deformity of metatarsal bones and skeletal atrophy of feet, supernumerary 6th fingers and toes, extreme gothic palate, scanned speech, and low oscillometric values on the legs was described in a 28-year-old man. Good results were achieved after electrocoagulative removal of the keratomas and systemic treatment with Tigason and high doses of vitamin E. PMID- 2629030 TI - [The course of early syphilis in morphine base-dependent rabbits]. AB - Eleven rabbits made dependent on morphine base were observed which were infected with syphilis studying the clinical and serological course of the infection. The control group comprised five non-dependent rabbits infected with syphilis. After 30 days from the infection all animals were given procaine penicillin in daily doses of 75,000 mu/kg. The treatment was carried on for 20 days. In all animals the following serological tests: VDRL, IgG, FTA, TPHA, and TPI were done before the treatment and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after it. Ulcerations at the site of injection of Nichols strain of spirochetae in all morphinedependent rabbits developed earlier (5-6 days after infection) than in controls (9-10 days), were much larger and persisted longer, while the antibody titres were lower, as a rule, in the morphine-dependent animals. The results presented justify the conclusion that the clinical and serological course of the early stages of syphilis is different in the morphine-dependent animals when compared with controls. PMID- 2629031 TI - [Results of the treatment of neurosyphilis and seroresistant latent syphilis by intravenous administration of potassium salt of penicillin G]. AB - Potassium penicillin G was administered intravenously 4 times daily in doses of 6 million u for 10 days to 49 patients, 36 with central nervous system syphilis and 13 with latent seroresistant syphilis. Forty six patients were followed up after treatment. In 16 patients with central nervous system syphilis treated by this method another cerebrospinal fluid examination was done. Cerebrospinal fluid changes regressed completely in 13 patients, in three cases the improvement was incomplete. The titres of VDRL and FTA tests decreased in 23 patients with central nervous system syphilis and in 11 with latent seroresistant syphilis. In eight patients treated by this method seroresistance persisted and in four cases the titre fluctuated. The results of the study demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of the treatment of central nervous system syphilis and latent seroresistant syphilis with crystalline penicillin administered intravenously. PMID- 2629032 TI - Serial bone scintigrams demonstrating obstructive uropathy and nephropathy due to transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. AB - Serial 99mTc diphosphonate bone scintigraphic studies of two patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder demonstrated gradually progressive renal dysfunction. The abnormalities in the last bone scan of each patient were compatible with the findings of the concurrent 131I hippuran and 99mTc-DTPA studies, and were presumably secondary to obstruction of the ureteral orifices by tumor in the urinary bladder. Progressive renal dysfunction may be reliably demonstrated by serial 99mTc diphosphonate bone scintigraphy. PMID- 2629033 TI - Hemophiliac pseudotumor of the sacrum. AB - Although the pelvis is a common site for hemophiliac pseudotumors, involvement of the axial skeleton, such as the spine and sacrum, is rare. A rare case of hemophiliac pseudotumor arising from a healed fracture of the sacrum is reported. Findings of plain radiographs, CT, and radionuclide bone scan may simulate tumors of neural origin, but the heterogeneity of MRI is suggestive of hemophiliac pseudotumor. PMID- 2629034 TI - Primary choriocarcinoma of the stomach presenting as gastrointestinal hemorrhage: report of a case. AB - A case of primary choriocarcinoma of the stomach presenting as gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a 58-year-old postmenopausal woman is presented. Arteriographic features included a large hypervascular gastric mass and multiple liver masses with vascular poolings, mimicking those of cavernous hemangioma. Postcontrast CT including delayed scan showed a large central nonenhanced area with marginal peripheral contrast enhancement. Close observation of the angiographic findings revealed peripheral vascular poolings and central avascularity, which are characteristic of uterine choriocarcinoma. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) titer was significantly elevated, and extragenital choriocarcinoma of the stomach was confirmed by autopsy. PMID- 2629035 TI - Computed tomography for the assessment of blunt abdominal trauma. AB - Computed tomography (CT) was carried out on 70 patients with blunt abdominal trauma. Damage to the abdominal organs was clearly demonstrated by CT. The positive rates of CT in traumatic lesions were higher than those of ultrasound (US). Intraperitoneal hemorrhage was well demonstrated by US. Serum GPT levels were significantly elevated in patients with liver damage (p less than 0.001). CT proved to be useful for detecting damage to organs in patients with abdominal trauma. PMID- 2629036 TI - Gd-DTPA administered MR imaging of intracranial mass lesions: a comparison with CT and precontrast MR. AB - Magnetic resonance (MR) images of 13 intracranial mass lesions taken with the intravenous administration of gadolinium-DTPA were evaluated in comparison with precontrast computed tomography (CT), postcontrast CT, and precontrast MR. In the MR images taken with Gd-DTPA, tumor delineation improved in eight of 13 cases (62%) in comparison with precontrast MR images, and in seven of 13 cases (54%) in comparison with the overall evaluation of precontrast CT, postcontrast CT, and precontrast MR images. Tumor demarcation was unchanged in the remaining cases; no deterioration was observed with Gd-DTPA administration. MR imaging with Gd-DTPA should be performed to better evaluate the extent of intracranial mass lesions and to provide additional information. PMID- 2629037 TI - Effect of cervical spinal cord stimulation (cSCS) on cerebral glucose metabolism and blood flow in a vegetative patient assessed by positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). AB - This paper presents, for the first time, assessments of cerebral glucose metabolism and cerebral blood flow before and after cervical spinal cord stimulation (cSCS) in a vegetative patient. Regional cerebral metabolic rates for glucose (rCMRglc) were measured with positron emission tomography and 18F-fluoro 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was determined with single photon emission computed tomography and N-isopropyl p-123I-iodoamphetamine. Global CMRglc in the patient was less than one-third of that in normal control subjects. An increase in rCMRglc after one week of cSCS was observed in the cerebral cortex, predominantly on the right side, where the baseline level of rCMRglc before cSCS was more severely depressed. The pattern of increase in rCBF was almost the same as that in rCMRglc. The results suggest that cSCS activates glucose metabolism and that this is followed by an increase in cerebral blood flow. PMID- 2629038 TI - [Possibilities for recovery in epilepsy]. AB - Using information from a database of 5,000 cases of epilepsy, the author studies the clinical evolution of 3,601 patients who had been followed over a period between 1 and 40 years (mean follow-up period, 10 years). According to the results obtained with anticonvulsant drugs, controllable forms of epilepsy were those in which at least 1 years had transpired without seizures occurring. This accounted for 74.7% of the cases. Of the remaining 25.3%, 4.3% presented occasional seizures and 21% presented seizures that did not respond to medication, in particular 515 cases that could be considered severe or untreatable forms of epilepsy. Anticonvulsant medication was discontinued in 760 epileptics. Only 20% of these patients had relapses after a mean follow-up period of approximately 5 years. Risk factor determining the control of seizures or the possibility of successful drug withdrawal were as follows: time lapse before diagnosis, concurrence of different types of seizures in the same patient, presence of status, permanent neurological deficits as well as mental disorders. Permanent neurologic deficits would seem to be of greater importance than mental disorders in determining drug withdrawal. PMID- 2629039 TI - Peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus: characterization and functional aspects of T lymphocytes. AB - Characterization and functional aspects of squirrel monkey peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and mainly T cells, are described in the present paper; this should enable the study of cellular immune responses in an experimental model for malaria. PBMC were obtained from Ficoll-Hypaque gradient separation and fractionated into T cells and non-T cells by means of E-rosetting techniques and adherence to plastic dishes. PBMC subset phenotypes were characterized by means of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) directed against human leukocyte differentiation antigens (Ag), fluoresceinated lectins, anti-surface Ig (squirrel-monkey specific) antibodies (Ab) and latex bead ingestion assays. PBMC functions were assayed through lymphoblastic transformation tests (LTT) in the presence of either numerous mitogenic, comitogenic and anti-mitogenic lectins or anti-human leukocyte differentiation Ag mAb. We sought to standardize reference values for lymphocyte phenotypes and functions in normal squirrel monkeys (prior to experimental infection). We also present evidence that splenectomy (generally rendered necessary for experimental human malaria infection) performed six months prior to the present investigation did not modify PBMC numbers and functions in the tested animals. PMID- 2629040 TI - 28th Forum in Immunology. Lymphoid dendritic cells: their life history and roles in immune responses. PMID- 2629041 TI - Management of anterior vitreous traction in proliferative vitreoretinopathy. AB - The major cause of failure in retinal detachment surgery is proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The surgical treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy has improved dramatically over the past ten years. Still failure is too common and the need for reoperation remains high. We believe this is often due to anterior vitreous traction. We report our present "conservative" surgical approach to treating such patients using newly developed fiberoptic instrumentation. Using this approach, we have achieved total retinal reattachment in 42 of 48 patients with C3 or greater proliferative vitreoretinopathy with six months or greater follow up. PMID- 2629042 TI - Tumor-associated retinal pigment epithelial proliferation simulating retinal pigment epithelial tear. AB - A lesion with both the clinical and fluorescein angiographic appearance of the classical retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear was discovered over the dome of an actively growing metastatic choroidal tumor in a patient with a previous history of breast carcinoma. However, our patient exhibited no evidence of pigment epithelial detachment or age-related macular degeneration, the underlying cause of the RPE tear. Although we cannot be sure that a true RPE tear did not exist over our patient's tumor, more likely, we are observing a tumor induced zone of RPE dehiscence accompanied by RPE proliferation at its border, giving a very similar fundus appearance. Possible pathogenic mechanisms for the finding in our patient, and a comparison to those mechanisms responsible for the classical RPE tear, are discussed. PMID- 2629043 TI - Acute macular neuroretinopathy following intravenous sympathomimetics. AB - Three young women developed acute macular neuroretinopathy with persistent paracentral scotomas following acute hypertension caused by intravenous sympathomimetics. The temporal relationship of the acute onset of symptoms suggests either acute hypertension or a direct retinal effect of sympathomimetics as the cause of the retinal changes. PMID- 2629044 TI - Letter contrast sensitivity in retinitis pigmentosa patients assessed by Regan charts. AB - Regan Contrast Sensitivity Letter Charts were used to assess the effects of reduced contrast and luminance on visual acuity in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients. Letter acuity was measured monocularly in 17 RP patients and in 14 age similar normals using charts of three different contrast levels presented at each of four levels of illumination. Despite visual acuities of 20/40 or better under standard clinical test conditions, an appreciable number of RP patients were unable to identify any letters on the intermediate- and/or low-contrast Regan charts. For example, even at the recommended test luminance, 5 patients could not read any letters on the intermediate (11%) contrast chart, and 9 could not be scored on the low (4%) contrast chart. Consequently, the Regan charts were found to have limited usefulness in quantifying the exact extent of visual impairment in this group of RP patients. Nevertheless, our results document the degree of visual acuity loss that can be experienced by RP patients under conditions of low contrast and luminance. PMID- 2629045 TI - Free running Neodymium-YAG laser coagulation of the human fovea. A light and electron microscopic study. AB - Free Running Neodymium-Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (FR Nd-YAG) laser coagulation of the macula was performed in seven human eyes. Follow-up varied from 1 to 15 days. Damage to the outer retinal layers was apparent immediately after exposure whilst that in the inner retinal layers developed subsequently. The choriocapillaris and major choroidal vessels were occluded. Visual acuity changed in an unpredictable way. PMID- 2629046 TI - Morphologic observations of retinal pigment epithelial proliferation and neovascularization in the rabbit. AB - Neovascularization and proliferation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) was induced in the rabbit by subretinal injection of vitreous without rupture of Bruch's membrane. New vessels developed between the layer of RPE and photoreceptor outer segments, but were enveloped in proliferating RPE. For this reason they were occult; no fluorescein leakage was visible by angiography. The vessels were identified only by histologic examinations. Endothelial cell budding was the initial stage of vessel development, first seen two weeks after injection. The new vessels grew from the choriocapillaris, penetrated Bruch's membrane, and spread into the subretinal space, despite the absence of subretinal fluid. Fenestrations with diaphragms were found in the endothelial walls during the earliest stages of vessel formation, and were also present in the fully matured vessels. Intermediate junctional complexes were frequently observed among the endothelial cells. During maturation of these plexi, junctions changed from open to putative tight junctions. The mature vessels were ultimately completely enveloped by collagen and RPE cells. Our results show that all new vessels in this animal model have the morphologic characteristics of choriocapillaris. We assume that they leak fluorescein, as does the choriocapillaris, but that the dye has no opportunity to pool in the subretinal space and thus cannot be seen during angiography. PMID- 2629047 TI - A screening method using tissue culture for evaluation of potential retinal adhesives. AB - Several adhesives have been tested for their potentially toxic effects on embryonic retinal tissue. The authors have characterized the effects of the adhesives on neurofilament extension and also on surgical-wound "re-knitting." While none of the adhesives in the sample (including those in current surgical use) seem to be ideal, the model advanced has application for the continuing development of better 'bio-adhesives'. The most immediate application is within the field of vitreoretinal surgery in situations where conventional procedures currently seem inadequate. PMID- 2629048 TI - Management of complex retinal detachments. PMID- 2629049 TI - Resolution of apparent choroidal melanoma. PMID- 2629050 TI - The controlled drainage of SRF. PMID- 2629051 TI - Gastrointestinal diseases. PMID- 2629052 TI - Plasmacytic lymphocytic colitis in the dog. PMID- 2629053 TI - [Metopism in Brazilians]. AB - The authors studied 400 dry skulls of adult Brazilian individual (135 females and 265 males) beloging to the collections of the laboratories of Descriptive and Topographic Anatomy of the Sao Paulo School of Medicine and the Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo. Metopism was observed in 11 skulls (2.75%, 4 females and 7 males). Incomplete metopic suture was present in 115 skulls (28.75%, 27 females and 88 males). The form of metopic suture was mainly linear (64.35%). The presence of metopism must be remembered, for instance, in skull fractures. PMID- 2629054 TI - [Apocrine gland cell carcinoma of the vulva. Report of a case]. AB - The authors have described a rare case of apocrine glands carcinoma of the vulva in a 58-year old black patient. She underwent radical vulvectomy and radiotherapy. After 8 months, she did not show any local or systematic recurrences. PMID- 2629055 TI - [Prophylaxis of urinary lithiasis]. PMID- 2629056 TI - [Basedow-Graves' disease: analysis of various parameters in the prognosis of remission after clinical treatment]. AB - Fifty patients with Graves' disease were evaluated in relation to their outcome following medical treatment: goiter size, T3/T4 ratio, TSH and TSAb plasma levels were studied. Patients were followed for 8-20 months of medical treatment with PTU and 24-36 months thereafter. Thirty patients were eliminated for abandoning treatment (50%) or due to PTU side-effects (10%). The 20 patients remaining presented similar remission/relapse rates regardless of their T3/T4 ratio, greater than 20 (21% vs. 79%) or less than 20 (16% vs. 84%). Patients with TSH levels greater than 0.10 uU/ml immediately after PTU withdrawal presented a slight increase of remission rate (30% vs. 10%). Patients with goiter size greater than 60 cm3 at the beginning of medical treatment presented a remission rate of 8%, while those with goiters less than or equal to 60 cm3 showed a remission rate of 50%. Finally, normalization of TSAb levels (less than 15%) occurred at a remission rate of 100%, while all patients who did not achieve this goal relapsed shortly after PTU withdrawal. Based on these results, the authors conclude that the determination of TSAb levels is a reliable parameter of predict remission of Graves' disease following medical treatment. PMID- 2629057 TI - [Axillary dissection in cancer of the breast: a conservative approach]. AB - It is common in oncology to have more than one alternative treatment for the same clinical situation. This is particularly true in breast cancer. Traditional treatments such as Halsted Radical Mastectomies are difficult to change. It is not uncommon to see this approach in Brazil, even in initial tumors, although it is considered unnecessary unless the pectoralis muscle is involved. Radical dissection of the axilla is another controversial issue in breast cancer today. Recent publications have given support to question the routine recommendation of axillary dissection in breast cancer. It is reasonable, under certain circumstances, not to perform axillary dissection or treat the axilla with other methods. Limited axillary dissection, for instance, may present good results with less risk of arm lymphedema. This paper illustrates this point showing preliminary results of 147 breast cancer patients with local tumor treated with conservative management. Half of the patients (74) had axillary surgery while the other 73 did not. Multivariate analysis using Cox's regression was performed and showed that axillary dissection did not change survival. This information confirms similar data published in the literature. PMID- 2629058 TI - [Use of the gracilis muscle in reconstructing the perineum]. AB - Ten patients had their vulvar and perineal areas reconstructed using musculocutaneous flaps of the gracilis muscle. Seven patients had extensive resections done for skin carcinomas, two due to traumas and one due to a sequel of Fournier's Syndrome. Reconstruction in tumor cases were performed primarily and the other secondarily. The skin island measured 12 x 8 centimeters and the muscle was taken entirely. The results were satisfactory in all cases. The muscle survived completely, but there was partial skin island loss in 8 instances. In 3 of those cases, there was need for a revision of the flap and skin grafting. The authors concluded that there is always a risk to take the skin island together with the gracilis muscle and the use of the isolated muscle with skin grafting should be considered im most cases. PMID- 2629059 TI - [Congenital adrenal hyperplasia and pregnancy]. AB - About 90% of CAH cases are due to 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) deficiency. There are decreased cortisol and increased ACTH secretions; and elevated cortisol precursors and androgens. CAH is an important factor of menstrual disorders and infertility. Pregnancy is very much uncommon in the classic form, and 90% of reported cases belong to the postnatal form. The authors present two patients with classic form of CAH (21-OH deficiency) who became pregnant. They had been treated in early childhood (2-4 years old) with glucocorticoids and had surgical correction of the ambiguous external genitalia. During pregnancy, daily prednisone dose was raised to 5 mg twice, serum levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androgens were monthly measured. The 17-OHP levels remained high (about 1.6 ng/dl), and androgens (testosterone, androstenedione, SDHEA) levels remained normal. Cesarean section was performed in both cases; newborns were normal and 17-OHP was within normal limits. Adequate early replacement therapy has improved fertility and pregnancy. PMID- 2629060 TI - Plasmid composition and virulence-associated factors of Yersinia pestis isolates from a plague outbreak at the Paraiba State, Brazil. AB - Pathogenic Yersinia pestis isolates were collected during a plague outbreak at the Paraiba State in 1986. The Y. pestis isolates were investigated for the presence of virulence-associated factors and plasmid content. All strains analysed were proficient in the expression of the VW and fraction 1 antigens, pigment adsorption and pesticin-fibrinolysin-coagulase production. A similar plasmid profile composed by four plasmid with molecular weight of 60, 44, 14.9, and 6.4 Megadaltons (MD) was found in all strains. DNA cleavage with EcoRI restriction enzyme further demonstrated the uniform plasmid content of the Y. pestis isolates. Seven additional Y. pestis strains, previously isolated in the same region but in an endemic state, showed the same plasmid fingerprint. The lack of any detectable difference between epidemic and endemic isolates as well as the value of plasmid fingerprints in epidemiology of Y. pestis is discussed. PMID- 2629061 TI - Measles vaccination: influence of age on its efficacy. AB - The authors compare the serologic efficacy and the clinical protection afforded by three different measles vaccination schemes in adequately nourished children in Sao Paulo city, Brazil. Two hundred forty two children were divided into three groups. Group A, comprising 117 children who had received the vaccine before 12 months of age and a second dose at 12 months of age or more. Group B, comprising 46 children who had received only one dose, before 12 months of age. Group C, comprising 79 children who had received only one dose, at 12 months of age or more. The geometric mean titer of antibodies in Group A was 790.1; in Group B, 251.1; and in Group C, 550.3. There was no statistically significant difference between Groups A and C. The exposure to the measles virus was probably similar in all groups, and the children in Group A and C had similar chances of acquiring the disease after vaccination whereas in Group B the chances were higher when compared to the other two groups. The results obtained in this study favor the use, in developing countries, of a vaccination program against measles that includes an early first dose at eight months of age and revaccination after 12 months of age. PMID- 2629062 TI - Comparison of serum hepatitis B virus replication markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B: studies on HBeAg/anti-HBe system, viral DNA polymerase and HBV-DNA. AB - The detection of HBV-DNA in serum by molecular hybridization is the most sensitive and specific marker or replication and infectivity of hepatitis B virus and currently is proposed as a routine diagnostic technique in the follow-up of HBV-related diseases. Comparing different techniques already described, we found that direct spotting of serum samples on nitrocellulose membranes under vacuum filtration, followed by denaturing and neutralizing washes is more practical, simple, sensible and reproducible. DNA polymerase assay using phosphonoformic acid as specific viral inhibitor has shown 86.8% of concordance with HBV-DNA detection, and so, it is an useful alternative in the follow-up of hepatitis B chronic patients. We found 19.2% HBeAg positive samples with no other markers of viral replication and no anti-HBe positive sample had detectable HBV-DNA. Discordance between the 2 systems have been extensively described, and we confirm this for the first time in our country. Molecular biological techniques are essential to determine the replication status of chronic hepatitis B patients. PMID- 2629063 TI - Simplification of immune adherence hemagglutination test for detection of rabies antibodies in human serum. AB - In the present work the immune adherence hemagglutination test (IAHA) was standardized in a simplified procedure. This test showed good reproducibility, better than the classical mice serum neutralization test (SN). The tests showed high correlation degree: high titers in one test corresponded to high titers in the other one, and the same occurred with low titers. The IAHA test is extremely simple, fast to perform, and of low cost when compared to tests such as SN or indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). It also proved to be useful in less sophisticated laboratories or even as a screening test for the titration of rabies antibodies. PMID- 2629065 TI - [Hemorheology and thrombosis. Proceedings of the 3d national meeting of the Italian Society of Hemorheology. Firenze, 4-6 February 1988]. PMID- 2629064 TI - [Feline sporotrichosis: clinical and zoonotic aspects]. AB - The sporotrichosis is a deep mycosis, its course is subacute or chronic, and is caused by the Sporothrix schenckii. It's a very common dermatopathy, generally arising from thorn wounds, insects stings as well as from splinters. The S. schenckii has been described in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in canines, felines, asinines, bovines, equines and murines. However, its antropozoonotic feature has seldom been mentioned in the international literature, and, in Brazil, there is only one report about a possible transmission cat-human being. The current approach describes a clinical case of feline sporotrichosis transmitted by cat scratch to the owner, the career and the veterinarian. A very offensive three-year-old male mongrel cat showed severe cutaneous lesions in cephalic, thoracic regions and forelimbs. These lesions were ulcerations, exudation, crusts, alopecia worsened by the symptoms of the feline respiratory complex. This cat wounded, in a short time, 5 persons. Three of them had shown symptoms of distinct severity and development. The presumptive clinical diagnosis was corroborated by histopathology (HE, PAS) of skin, lymphnodes, and tonsils fragments obtained "intra-vitam" and "post-mortem". This was true by the isolation of the agent. Finally, this was confirmed as a result of serological (FC, precipitation antibodies) and immunocutaneous (sporotrichina, histoplasmina) tests made in affected patients. PMID- 2629066 TI - [Correlation between hemorheological and blood coagulation parameters in patients with arteriosclerosis of supraaortic vessels and/or recent cerebral ischemic attacks]. PMID- 2629067 TI - [Hemorheological alterations in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia]. PMID- 2629068 TI - [Isovolemic hemodilution in cerebral ischemic attack: clinical and hemorheological evaluation]. PMID- 2629069 TI - [Effects of buflomedil hydrochloride on the rheological properties of the blood in chronic cerebrovascular diseases]. PMID- 2629070 TI - [Erythrocyte filtration and membrane microviscosity during treatment with ticlopidine]. PMID- 2629071 TI - [Behavior of fibrinogen, hematocrit and platelets in relation to variations in body mass index in a group of female subjects]. PMID- 2629072 TI - [Pentoxifylline in the treatment of vertiginous syndromes: clinical contribution]. PMID- 2629073 TI - [Erythrocyte aggregation, erythrocyte filterability and membrane fluidity in single-area atherosclerotic vascular disease]. PMID- 2629074 TI - [Erythrocyte phospholipids and membrane fluidity in a group of atherosclerotic vascular disease patients. Preliminary results]. PMID- 2629075 TI - [Regional hemorheological-hemodynamic correlations in paraproteinemia syndromes]. PMID- 2629076 TI - [Local analgesia in the mother: effects on the erythrocytes of the newborn infant]. PMID- 2629077 TI - [Chronic renal insufficiency undergoing conservative therapy: hemorheological pattern and erythrocytic metabolic parameters]. PMID- 2629078 TI - [Normovolemic hemodilution in clinical practice]. PMID- 2629079 TI - [Hypercholesterolemia and hemorheological parameters]. PMID- 2629080 TI - [Blood cholesterol and dynamic erythrocytic deformation]. PMID- 2629081 TI - [Erythrocyte aggregation in subjects with alterations in glucose metabolism during the preclinical phase]. PMID- 2629082 TI - [Hemorheologic and morphologic alterations in diabetic retinopathy]. PMID- 2629083 TI - [Determination of serum angiotensin II in proliferative diabetic retinopathy]. PMID- 2629084 TI - [Correlation between erythrocyte aggregation and some hemorheological variables in a case of hyperosmolar nonketotic coma]. PMID- 2629085 TI - [Effects of pentoxifylline on the ocular rheographic pulse in diabetic patients]. PMID- 2629086 TI - [Rheographic effects of timolol maleate in a collyrium on the ocular microcirculation in diabetic patients]. PMID- 2629087 TI - [Localization factors for arteriosclerosis and thrombosis]. PMID- 2629088 TI - [Hemorheological factors and platelet activation]. PMID- 2629089 TI - [Hemorheological factors and diabetic arterial and arteriolar diseases]. PMID- 2629090 TI - [Hemorheological aspects in relation to age and to the presence of arteriosclerotic disease]. PMID- 2629091 TI - [Plasma levels of prostaglandins and leukotrienes in vascular diseases]. PMID- 2629092 TI - [Erythrocyte deformability in patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency undergoing erythrocytapheresis]. PMID- 2629093 TI - [Study of hemorheological parameters in relation to coagulation/fibrinolytic and plethysmographic parameters in patients with deep venous thrombosis]. PMID- 2629094 TI - [Study of some hemorheological parameters in acute and chronic venous pathology]. PMID- 2629095 TI - [Cellular rheology in obliterative arterial diseases of the lower limbs]. PMID- 2629096 TI - [Leukocyte rheology and controlled ischemia in peripheral obliterative vascular diseases]. PMID- 2629097 TI - Significance of foci of cellular alteration in the rat liver. A symposium. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, May 22-23, 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2629098 TI - Magnetic resonance microscopy of chemically-induced liver foci. AB - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a new imaging technique used in clinical diagnosis. This paper describes extension of the technique to basic research applications--specifically detecting and characterizing chemically-induced liver neoplasms and foci of cellular alteration. Two systems have been built that allow spatial microscopic resolution--more than 100,000 x greater than that of earlier efforts. Use of spin-lattice (T1) and spin-spin (T2) relaxation times permits detailed characterization of the tissue. PMID- 2629100 TI - Use of rat liver altered focus models for testing chemicals that have completed two-year carcinogenicity studies. AB - Partial hepatectomy (PH) and neonatal rat short-term liver focus models were used to examine the effects of selected chemicals that had been previously tested in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) 2-yr carcinogenicity studies. C.I. Solvent Yellow 14, monuron, chlorendic acid, and 4-hydroxyacetanilide were tested for initiating and promoting activity in the PH model. Chlorendic acid, 4,4' oxydianiline, 1-amino-2,4-dibromoanthraquinone (ADBAQ), and 4-hydroxyacetanilide were similarly tested in a neonatal rat liver focus model. With the exception of 4-hydroxyacetanilide which was not carcinogenic in the NTP studies, all chemicals tested showed clear evidence of hepatocarcinogenicity. While none of the chemicals showed initiating activity in either the PH or neonatal models, promoting activity, as indicated by increased number, size, or volume fraction of histochemically detected hepatic foci of cellular alteration, was evident for all chemicals with previously demonstrated hepatocarcinogenicity. Liver tumor incidence was documented at 14 months in the PH model and at 300 days in the neonatal model. On the basis of the results obtained from these few chemicals, it is suggested that the use of short-term rat liver focus models may represent a reliable means for identifying chemicals with hepatocarcinogenic potential. PMID- 2629099 TI - Medium-term bioassay system for detection of carcinogens and modifiers of hepatocarcinogenesis utilizing the GST-P positive liver cell focus as an endpoint marker. AB - We have developed a medium-term bioassay system of 8 weeks duration utilizing male Fischer 344 (F344) rats for detection of liver carcinogens and modifiers of hepatocarcinogenesis. The system consists of a single intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 200 mg/kg), 6-weeks-administration of test chemical beginning 2 weeks after the DEN injection, and 2/3 partial hepatectomy (PH) performed at week 3. Carcinogenic potency of test chemicals is predicted based on the results of quantitative analyses of immunohistochemically-demonstrated glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive liver cell foci. At present, a total of 140 chemicals have been tested using this system, and the findings show a good correlation with reported carcinogenic activities in long term tests. Furthermore, the reliability of the system has been extensively examined: the results from the medium-term bioassay were compared with those from long-term experiments using the same doses of selected chemicals; the data from presently-used 2-dimensional analysis were compared with calculated values utilizing mathematical formulae for three-dimensional analysis: conformity of phenotypic expression of enzymes in preneoplastic lesions was examined in relation to their growth activity. In conclusion, although the results with non hepatocarcinogens were less than satisfactory, the present experimental protocol, which requires far fewer animals and shorter duration than a long-term carcinogenicity test, appears of advantage for rapid screening of the large number of environmental chemicals which may possess hazard potential for induction of liver cancer in man. PMID- 2629101 TI - Observations on altered hepatocellular foci in National Toxicology Program two year carcinogenicity studies in rats. AB - Retrospective characterization of morphological and stereological features of altered hepatocellular foci (AHF) in hematoxylin & eosin (H&E)-stained sections was performed on 6 conventional 2-yr carcinogenicity studies conducted in Fischer 344 (F344) rats by the National Toxicology Program (NTP). In 3 of these studies where there was clear evidence of hepatocarcinogenicity [1-amino-2,4 dibromoanthraquinone (ADBAQ), C.I. Acid Red 114, methyl carbamate], there was greater morphological variability in AHF than in the studies of chemicals that were not hepatocarcinogenic [4-hydroxyacetanilide, epinephrine, dimethoxane]. In addition to having the expected types of AHF, rats treated with ADBAQ, C.I. Acid Red 114, and methyl carbamate had atypical basophilic AHF. In addition, atypical eosinophilic AHF were present in rats treated with ADBAQ. Both types of atypical AHF showed a morphological spectrum and sequential changes suggesting they could develop into hepatocellular neoplasms. For the 3 liver tumor positive studies, there were dose and time-dependent increases in stereological parameters for the atypical as well as commonly occurring clear, vacuolated, and mixed cell AHF. Consistent stereological changes were not found for commonly occurring basophilic and eosinophilic AHF. Aside from some decreases in stereological measurements in some rats treated with 4-hydroxyacetanilide and epinephrine, there were no significant quantitative changes in AHF in the three liver tumor negative studies. These results show that hepatocarcinogens may induce unique types of AHF in conventional 2-yr carcinogenicity/toxicity studies in rats and may cause quantitative increases in commonly occurring clear, vacuolated, and mixed cell AHF. Such qualitative and quantitative changes are potentially useful predictors of hepatic neoplasia. PMID- 2629102 TI - Altered hepatic foci in rat liver as weight of evidence of carcinogenicity: the Canadian perspective. AB - The use of AHF in the rat as a predictive lesion for carcinogenesis has been frequently suggested. Regulatory agencies require that the data used to determine carcinogenic potential and for estimating risk cannot be open to different interpretations. The degree of uncertainty in establishing relationships between the different foci phenotypes, their fate, and the difference in results with different protocols precludes the use of these data is establishing carcinogenic hazard or in quantitative risk estimation. PMID- 2629103 TI - Pathological implications of rat liver foci and relevance to regulatory decision making: current status and future perspective. AB - The purpose of this presentation is to outline regulatory decision-making for carcinogenic chemicals in Japan with special attention to the chemicals found during toxicity testing to cause liver foci in rats. PMID- 2629104 TI - View of the regulatory use of rat liver foci data in the Federal Republic of Germany. AB - Altered hepatocellular foci (AHF) are suspected of being phenotypic markers of a stage in the sequential process of tumor development in the liver. A number of short-term and mid-term tests, including some that use AHF as an endpoint, have been reviewed by the Federal Health Office to determine if they are suitable to replace long-term animal experiments for predicting the carcinogenic potential of chemicals. Although regulatory authorities recognize the advantages of short-term tests, including a possible reduction in the number of animals used, it is still premature to make a general recommendation regarding the suitability of these tests for regulatory decision-making. At this time, the Commission of European Communities (CEC) follows a decision-tree approach for regulating chemicals coming to the market. Since it is unrealistic to expect a reasonable number of AHF to evaluate in 28-day or 90-day studies, AHF can only be practically evaluated in the conventional long-term bioassay. There is still insufficient knowledge regarding the biological significance of the various phenotypic forms of AHF to use them as a relevant endpoint for regulatory purposes. However, data on AHF derived from routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) work can be used to aid in the interpretation of the study and in recommending additional investigations. PMID- 2629105 TI - Hepatocellular foci--a regulator's Gordian. AB - Recently, the Food and Drug Administration has received several petitions which raise the question of the significance of an increased number of treated rats with foci of hepatocellular alteration. Study pathologists are responsible for defining the diagnostic criteria used in any study to diagnose proliferative changes in the liver. Similarly, study pathologists, based on their observations of the overall liver findings, are responsible for assessing the biological significance of any lesion observed and including their appraisal in the written pathology narrative which should accompany any petition sent to a regulatory agency. Current scientific knowledge regarding the incidence of animals with foci of cellular alteration suggests that the historical control incidence of animals with this change is somewhat less than is currently being observed. While some foci of cellular alteration may progress to neoplastic lesions, it is not possible to unequivocally predict whether carcinogenic activity may be demonstrated, based only on the incidence of animals with foci of cellular alteration. The Food and Drug Administration, for the foreseeable future, will continue to examine the incidence of animals with selected proliferative liver lesions, including foci of cellular alteration, on a case by case basis. PMID- 2629106 TI - An "epidemic" model of sexual intercourse prevalences for black and white adolescents. AB - In adolescence (12-16 years), the prevalence of sexual intercourse increases each year. To explain the increasing yearly prevalences, we propose a recursive equation model of onset of adolescent sexual intercourse. The model allows for an "epidemic" process (the transmission of sexuality from a nonvirgin to a virgin) and a nonepidemic process (two virgins progressing to sexual intercourse). The model also requires that virgin females be pubertally mature before they will progress to sexual intercourse. Adequate fits were obtained to the intercourse prevalences for both black and white respondents. Comparisons of alternative models established that the full model was superior to models that omitted either the nonepidemic process or the requirement of females' pubertal maturation. The model was able to fit both white and blacks simultaneously, assuming equal transition probabilities in both races. Hence, we propose the hypothesis that race differences in sexual intercourse prevalence may be strongly influenced by the age of initiation of the "epidemic" process and by race difference in females' rates of pubertal maturation. The results suggested that most new cases of sexual intercourse arose from the epidemic process and that males were more prone to progress to intercourse, given an opportunity. PMID- 2629107 TI - Propensity of white women in the United States to adopt children. AB - Demographically, adoption is a relatively rare event. In 1982, only 2.3 per cent (or about 650,000) of ever-married white women aged 15 to 44 had adopted one or more children. Adoption is an important and very relevant means of family formation for many women, particularly those for whom biological childbearing is difficult or impossible. Although there is a modest literature on adoption behavior, we have very little information about women who have shown a propensity to adopt children. How should the phenomenon of adoption propensity be conceptualized? How many women are there in the United States with such a propensity? How different is this number from the number of women who eventually adopt children? What are the characteristics of women with a propensity to adopt? The objectives of this paper are (1) to estimate the numbers of U.S. women at three different points in time (1973, 1976, and 1982) who have a propensity to adopt, according to various socioeconomic and demographic characteristics; and (2) to compare via log-linear analysis the major characteristics of these women with women who have not shown such a propensity. PMID- 2629108 TI - Maternal age, gravidity, and pregnancy spacing effects on spontaneous fetal mortality. AB - Differentials in the probability of pregnancy loss are examined using pregnancy history data from eight WFS surveys in developing countries. Multiple logistic regression equations are estimated. The probability of loss varies substantially over the reproductive career. Both higher-order pregnancies and those conceived at older ages are more likely to terminate in loss. maternal age differentials are more pronounced for lower-order pregnancies. First and second pregnancies conceived over age thirty suffer especially high levels of loss. Pregnancies conceived relatively soon after the termination of the previous pregnancy are more likely to be lost, as are pregnancies conceived after long intervals. Risk of loss is higher for women previously experiencing loss, and the effect persists beyond the pregnancy following the loss. PMID- 2629109 TI - An examination of factors influencing black fertility decline in the Mississippi Delta, 1880-1930. AB - Although the fertility decline in the black population in the Mississippi Delta between the late 1870's and early 1930's closely paralleled that of the national black population, it rose much more dramatically in the 1940's and 1950's to almost 1880 levels. Given the especially rural and oppressed conditions of blacks there, the initial decline seems puzzling. Low fertility rates in the 1930's reflected a large proportion of childless females. Investigations of changing contraceptive usage and mate exposure suggest both were minor components at most. Several physiological impairments were investigated including dietary deficiences, malaria, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Evidence suggests STD played the major role, facilitated by nutritional and other health problems. Models relying heavily on those developed by McFalls and McFalls (1984) suggest 50-80 percent of the decline could have been due to the spread of STD. Age-specific birth rates for different periods and post-World-War-II fertility increases seem consistent with this finding. PMID- 2629110 TI - Factors influencing genetic counseling attendance rate: a geographically based study. AB - A study of factors influencing genetic counseling attendance rate has been conducted in the Bouches-du-Rhone area, in the south of France. In this area, a birth defects monitoring system (Eurocat n. 22) annually covers 23,000 births. All the genetic services are delivered by only one genetic center located in Marseilles, and the data collected are computerized. The comparison of these two data bases gives an opportunity to estimate the rate of genetic counseling attendance after the occurrence of an affected stillbirth or live birth. Among the parents of 358 infants born in 1983-84 in this area with a pathology requiring genetic counseling, 226 (63 per cent) attended the Genetic Center within the first year after birth. The rate of attendance is statistically higher (p less than 0.01) for the parents who had a stillbirth (78 per cent) than for those who had a live birth (57 per cent). It is also higher (p less than 0.01) for the Marseilles maternities group (68 per cent) than for the group outside Marseilles (50 per cent). The referral delays are also analyzed according to malformation etiology and to viability of the child by the eighth day of life. Besides evaluating a particular genetic center's effectiveness in diffusing information to the public concerned, this work shows that couples' request is strongly dependent on a psychological need. PMID- 2629111 TI - Parallel cousin marriages in Madras, Tamil Nadu: new trends in Dravidian kinship. AB - The frequency distribution of various consanguineous marriages was studied in the city of Madras, Tamil Nadu, South India. Parallel first cousin marriages (PFC) were found to occur in appreciable frequencies in all caste groups of Hindus. While it has been generally believed that PFC marriages among Hindus are mere exceptions and are usually not tolerated, our data show that they can no longer be treated as exceptions. The high frequency (27 per cent) of PFC marriages in some Hindu communities necessitates in-depth studies to elucidate the forces at work which go against the very fundamentals of Dravidian kinship. PMID- 2629112 TI - The span of reproduction in Egypt. AB - This study shows long reproductive spans to be associated with low levels of women's education, rural residence, remarriage, early marriage age, and high parity. Effects are statistically significant. PMID- 2629113 TI - A regression approach to the projection of U.S. fertility based on past fertility data. AB - The method of fertility projection used by the U.S. Bureau of the Census involves assumptions about the ultimate cohort total fertility rate and the ultimate cohort mean age at childbearing based on recent levels of fertility and women's birth expectations. This paper provides an outline of a general regression approach to fertility projection based on past data which would generate these two ultimate cohort characteristics. The technique is illustrated by using the U.S. single-year age-specific fertility rates up to 1986 for total women and projecting them indefinitely into the future until they become stable for both calendar years and cohorts. PMID- 2629114 TI - The norm for perceived husband superiority: a cause of human assortative marriage. AB - I have suggested that human assortative marriage for a number of variables is partially caused by behavior in accordance with two norms. Epstein and Guttman (1987) have suggested that there is no empirical evidence for these norms. In this note evidence is reviewed for the norm of perceived husband-superiority. Others have shown that the evidence for this norm is strong in regard to height, and it is shown here that the evidence is strong also in regard to age. Evidence for the norm seems suggestive in regard to IQ, education, and social class, and nonexistent in regard to physical attractiveness. With respect to height, it seems that the magnitude of the correlation between spouses is associated with the size of the breeding population to which they belong. Thus, it seems likely that the hypothesized norms are learned rather than genetically coded. PMID- 2629115 TI - Analysis of motivation to contraceptive use applying the weighting procedure. AB - This paper presents a technique for scaling contraceptive use motivation for the sample population of the Family Planning Health Services Project in Matlab. The project, which began in 1977, is conducted by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. The hypothesis of the research is that through the use of a scaling algorithm the power of demographic characteristics, attitudes, and intentions for predicting contraceptive use can be enhanced. The analysis shows that two factors explain use motivation. Scale 1 is weighted for demographic variables and desire for additional children, while Scale 2 is comprised of education and intentions of contraceptive use. Both scales have a pronounced independent predictive power. We conclude that scaling has improved upon the predictive power of indicators of reproductive motivations. PMID- 2629116 TI - Further possible causes of assortative mating: the norm for perceived husband superiority. PMID- 2629117 TI - Child health and child care in Okelele: an indigenous area of the city of Ilorin, Nigeria. AB - This paper provides a detailed analysis of the survival rates and health problems of a cohort of children born during a 5-yr period in part of the city of Ilorin, Nigera. The findings are linked to a demographic and environmental study which indicates that the study area was relatively stable in terms of family structure and population turnover. Most people work in the informal sector, in trading, small scale crafts and service industries. At the time the survey began, in 1979, the provision of piped water supplies to the area was unreliable and sanitation provisions rudimentary. Most of the people had little or no formal education and were very poor. The study indicated that health status had improved over the 5-yr period, compared to a baseline study conducted in 1979. Common causes of child mortality and morbidity included diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, measles, and malaria. The infant mortality rate was 41.5/1000. The availability of clinic care at nominal cost, and the attendance of mothers at the clinic for checkups and immunization, resulted in a higher level of health for their children than otherwise would have been possible. Some problems of primary health care in the area are mentioned, in the light of Nigeria's current budgetary problems, and the utilization of existing strong social support networks to improve health care and environmental sanitation and water supply is suggested. PMID- 2629118 TI - Occupational position and type A behavior: results from the first MONICA Survey, Augsburg, F.R.G. AB - The relationships between employment status and Type A behavior pattern have been investigated with data from the first MONICA Survey Augsburg, F.R.G., 1984/85 (MONICA = Monitoring of trends and determinants of cardiovascular disease). Study population was a two-stage cluster sample of 5312 men and women, aged 25-64 (response 79.4%). Measurement instruments were interviews and a self-administered questionnaire. Type A was measured by the Framingham Type A behavior scale. In multiple logistic regression analyses. Type A behavior among men was studied as a function of various occupational positions [blue-collar, white-collar, civil (public) servants, self-employed], controlling for age, educational level, marital status, and interaction effects. In those analyses it was found that the occupational position 'self-employed' was the best predictor of Type A behavior (odds ratio 3.0 compared to blue-collar employees). Since most of the employed women were white-collar employees (a very homogeneous group) Type A behavior among women was studied as a function of full-time and part-time employment, with the same control variables as were included in the analyses for men. Taking into account the statistical significant interaction effect age by employment, it could be shown that the odds of being Type A for a 50 yr old woman was 3.5 compared to a housewife at the same age. In summary the findings show strong relationships between work situation and Type A behavior for both men and women. Especially the self-employed men have more Type A behavior patterns, so may have higher CHD risk. PMID- 2629119 TI - Lead based remedies for empacho: patterns and consequences. AB - This paper discusses research designed to investigate the patterns and consequences of the use of lead based folk remedies in the treatment of some gastrointestinal problems in Mexico. Use of lead is seen in 35% of the population sampled in Guadalajara who treated the folk illness empacho, and 5% of a similar population in Oaxaca. Lead use seems to be associated with mestizo ethnic background, and with lower levels of parental education and income. PMID- 2629120 TI - Privacy between physicians and patients: more than a matter of confidentiality. AB - This study examined patients' perceptions (N = 427) of the meaning of privacy within the physician-patient dyad. The recognition of the importance of privacy, the norms that govern privacy, and the specific behaviors that may be considered to violate privacy in relationships has most often received only general attention by researchers. Recent evidence from the field of communication supports the multidimensional and situational nature of privacy. Thus, in contrast to the usual conception of patient confidentiality as an issue focused on information, confidentiality is cast as a topic within both the informational and psychological realms of privacy. Implications for current medical interviewing practices, especially with regard to questions that concern patients' sexual behavior, are discussed. PMID- 2629121 TI - Development of a social support instrument for use in population surveys. AB - A wide variety of measures have been used to assess the effects of social support on physical and psychological well-being. Many instruments have incomplete information about reliability and validity. Other instruments appear to be reasonably valid, but involve a large number of questions and are therefore not suitable in population surveys. The main purpose of the study was to examine whether a psychometrically well documented, but time consuming instrument. The Interview Schedule for Social Interaction, could be abbreviated and simplified for the use in population surveys. By means of both item and content analyses the original instrument was shortened and both versions were tested in a study group of 83 middle-aged Swedish men. The distribution of scale scores were similar in the complete and in the abbreviated version and so was reliability, measured as internal consistency and split-half reliability. Validity was examined by comparing the two versions in relation to other measures of social integration, as well as personality and behaviour characteristics. Men with low social support were less socially and physically active, were more depressed and were less trustful than men with high support. Men who scored low on social support were also more often smokers, of lower social class, lower occupational level and lower education and had more complaints of ill health, mainly of cardiovascular nature. The discriminative capacity was as good for the complete as for the abbreviated version. Thus no obvious disadvantages in terms of reliability and validity could be demonstrated for the abbreviated version. PMID- 2629122 TI - [Study of leukemic colony-forming units (CFU-L) in non-lymphoblastic malignant hemopathies]. AB - CFU-L is considered as the clonogenic cell of acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemias (ANLL). Twenty-five malignant myelogenous hemopathies (5 blast crisis and 20 "de novo" ANLL) were studied in order to assess the proliferative capability of these cells and its relationship to FAB types and the achievement or not of complete remission (CR). The proliferative capability was assessed by culture on methylcellulose using conditioned leucocyte medium stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin as stimulating agent. Cell proliferation was observed in 21 cases, reaching 100% of the blast crisis and 80% (i.e., 16 cases) of the "de novo" ANLL. As regards the FAB types, it was found that the leukaemias with monocytic cells showed higher cell-growth than those of granulocytic lineage (90%, vs 60%). Of the patients not achieving CR (12 cases) colonies were formed in 66.6% (8 cases), while of the 8 patients who attained CR only in 3 (37.5%) were colonies observed. It was concluded that the FAB types of ANLL show different proliferative capability, which might influence the prognosis of the disease. PMID- 2629123 TI - [Alteration of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton by oxidative damage]. AB - In order to assess the alterations mediated by oxidative agents in physiological and pathological conditions, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed with dodecyl sodium sulphate of red cell membranes previously subjected to oxidative stress with malonyl dialdehyde generation. The alterations of the normal proteic profile observed were related to the concentration and time of exposure to hydrogen peroxide. The red cell membranes were also treated with the following: (1) increasing doses of hydrogen peroxide with and without peroxidase, and (2) supernatant of neutrophils stimulated with digitonin or activated zymosan. No alterations of the membrane skeleton were appreciated under H2O2 treatment; on the contrary, severe alterations appeared after incubation with H2O2 + peroxidase, giving rise to several peptides with different molecular weight. Striking derangement of the proteic structure was induced by activated neutrophils, which was ascribed to release of proteolytic enzymes and activated oxygen compounds. PMID- 2629124 TI - [Bloom syndrome, constitutional and induced genetic instability in 2 cases from Argentina]. AB - Bloom's syndrome (BS) is a rare autosomal recessive hereditary disorder associated with pre- and postnatal growth deficiency, a characteristic facial configuration, an increased risk of chromosome instability, and an increased risk of neoplasia. BS is often lumped together with Fanconi's anaemia, ataxia telangiectasia and xeroderma pigmentosum, known as "chromosome instability syndromes". Since 1954, when Bloom's syndrome was defined, more then 100 cases have been diagnosed. The "Bloom's Syndrome International Registry" does not include any case detected in Argentina. Here, we report the cytogenetic study of a family affected by BS. Two siblings were studied. A 10-year-old boy named DaYu and a 17-year-old sister named CeYu. Both showed growth retardation from one month of age onwards, facial configuration characteristic, erythematous and sun sensitive lesions of the skin of the face. To confirm the BS diagnosis of both, obtained from their clinical aspects, they were referred to our cytogenetic laboratory. Standard cultures of peripheral blood from DaYu and CeYu (homozygotes bl/bl) and their parents (heterozygotes bl/+) were performed for sister chromatid exchange (SCE) study. A group of 3 healthy donors (homozygotes +/+) was added for spontaneous and induced chromosomal aberration (CA) analysis. For the SCE study, bromodeoxyuridine was present in the cultures and slides were stained using the fluorescence plus Giemsa technique. For the analysis of induced CA, diepoxybutane (DEB) 0.1 microgram/mL was added 48 hours before harvesting. Both patients had a spontaneously increased rate of sister-chromatid exchanges (71.3 +/- 28.2 for DaYu and 76.9 +/- 37.9 for CeYu) similar to that found in Bloom's syndrome homozygotes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2629125 TI - [Molecular analysis in 13 cases of chronic Philadelphia-positive myeloid leukemia]. AB - Thirteen cases of Ph-positive CML have been studied from a cytogenetic and molecular point of view. All cases had Ph chromosome identified as t(9;22). Three of these cases were in blast crisis, and additional alterations to the Ph chromosome were found. The molecular study was made using the 3'bcr probe to analyze the ability to detect the translocation at the molecular level in bone marrow, peripheral blood, other tissues and in cases with mosaicism. Likewise we have evaluated the possibility to obtain molecular results from Carnoy-fixed samples which have been previously used in cytogenetic studies. In all cases we have detected rearrangement in the bcr region; this shows the interest and usefulness of this new methodology in the study of CML in different situations. PMID- 2629126 TI - [Effect of treatment with recombinant interferon alfa on natural killer activity in patients with chronic type B lymphatic leukemia]. AB - The role played by alpha interferon (alpha-IFN) in the treatment of B-type chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) has been studied by different authors. Despite the inconclusiveness of the results, alpha-IFN seems to be more effective in those patients with low tumour burden (early stages) who have been previously untreated. Although the mechanism of action of alpha-IFN is not wholly understood, it is known that this agent is a strong stimulant of the natural killer lymphocytes (NK). NK activity has been found decreased in B-CLL. In the present work the effect of alpha-IFN on NK activity was studied in 9 previously untreated B-CLL patients in stage A, who received chlorambucil (CLB) followed by alpha-IFN for at least 4 months. The disease stage did not change in most of the patients during alkylating or IFN therapy. CLB failed to increase NK activity, although it diminished the lymphocyte count. Although the lymphocyte count of the patients treated with alpha-IFN was not reduced beyond the values attained by CLB, NK activity reached normal values in 5 of the 7 patients in whom this was low, and kept within normal ranges in the two patients with normal NK activity. The number of CD57+ lymphocytes (this being the antigen present in NK cells) increased after alpha-IFN treatment, without any changes in the remaining T lymphocyte (CD2, CD4 and CD8) and NK (CD16 and CD11b) subpopulations. These results show that alpha-IFN enhances NK activity in vivo. PMID- 2629127 TI - [The modified "pink test" in the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis]. AB - Hereditary spherocytosis is still difficult to diagnose in some situations due to the existence of subclinical expressions and the lack of an accurate test with high sensitivity and specificity. Recently, Vettore et al. described the so called 'Pink test' as an easy method with the highest reproducibility and sensitivity. Herein, we present our experience with the 'Pink test' in the diagnosis of 16 previously diagnosed hereditary spherocytosis patients comparing the results with those obtained in 96 healthy controls, 41 beta-thalassaemias, 9 autoimmune haemolytic anaemias, 8 chronic hemoproliferative syndromes and 2 patients with pyruvate kinase deficiency. We also present a modification of the original 'Pink test' in which a small sample of blood (200 microL) obtained by finger-prick (or heel puncture in newborns and infants) is mixed with the hemolyzing solution of the 'Pink test' within the first three hours after blood drawing. Elevated correlation coefficients (r = 0.75-0.96) between both methods have been obtained comparing the percentage of final haemolysis in 25 healthy controls, 21 beta-thalassaemia minor and 9 hereditary spherocytosis patients. PMID- 2629128 TI - [ELISA method for the determination of factor VII antigen]. AB - The low plasma concentration of clotting factor VII makes it difficult to assay its antigenic fraction by the conventional methods of precipitation with specific antigens. Simple and peroxidase-conjugated antisera are currently available from commercial sources, thus allowing one to determine F VII:Ag by enzyme immunoassay. An ELISA method has been developed in this laboratory which provides sensitivity limits about 0.1% of the plasma concentration of F VII and correlates significantly with its functional activity (r = 0.603, n = 44, p less than 0.001). This technique can be highly helpful in characterising molecular variants of F VII, as well as in detecting acquired deficiencies of this factor. PMID- 2629129 TI - [Bone marrow necrosis with a septic picture preliminary to subtype L3 acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. PMID- 2629130 TI - [Myelomatous pleural effusion as the first manifestation of multiple myeloma]. PMID- 2629131 TI - [31st meeting of the Spanish Association of Hematology and Hemotherapy. Cordoba, 2-4 November 1989. Abstracts]. PMID- 2629132 TI - [More time for ward management]. PMID- 2629133 TI - [ICN--nurses should belief in their own value]. PMID- 2629134 TI - [Fraud and facts about alternative medicine]. PMID- 2629135 TI - [WHO--nursing and Health-for-All strategy]. PMID- 2629136 TI - [New legislation on coercion in psychiatry]. PMID- 2629137 TI - [The life style and indices of the blood lipid composition of elderly subjects]. AB - A study was made of the content of total cholesterol (TCh), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) in 109 persons aged 75-89 years of both sexes depending on tobacco smoking (14 persons), prolonged alcohol abuse (15 persons), and on hypodynamia (30 persons). A positive correlation was obtained between the content of TCh in blood serum and hypodynamia, between the content of TG, alcohol abuse, tobacco smoking and hypodynamia. Meanwhile a negative correlation was established between the content of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and hypodynamia and tobacco smoking. PMID- 2629138 TI - [Long-term observation of the trends in morbidity, lethality and mortality from myocardial infarct in the population aged 25 to 64]. AB - The data are provided on long-term observation (for 10 years) of the myocardial infarction (MI) death rate, and incidence among the community using the standard WHO program. The Register of Acute Myocardial Infarction. It is shown that over the first two years of observation, the death rate and mortality tended towards decrease and then got stabilized. The diseases incidence tended towards growth and then got stabilized as well. It is noted that the prehospital death rate and lethality because of MI considerably exceeded the hospital ones and underwent almost no changes over 10 years. It is emphasized that perfection of the assistance rendering to MI patients does not solve the problem of the high death rate because of MI. It is probable that only primary care may solve the problem of reducing the cardiovascular disease incidence and death rate. PMID- 2629139 TI - [The development and testing of diagnostic criteria in psoriatic arthritis]. AB - The paper is concerned with diagnostic criteria of psoriatic arthritis developed by the expert method. The criteria include 14 signs with the aid of which one can diagnose classical, definite and probable psoriatic arthritis. The sensitivity of the developed diagnostic criteria tried in 108 patients afflicted with psoriatic arthritis constitutes 99.2%, whereas the specificity tested in patients suffering from related diseases (reactive arthritides, ankylosing spondyloarthritis, seronegative rheumatoid arthritis) amounts up to 77.8%. PMID- 2629140 TI - [The possibilities of an individual approach to intra-articular drug administration in rheumatoid arthritis patients]. AB - A study was made of the possibilities of an individual approach to intraarticular administration of protease inhibitors, cytostatics and orgoteine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The activity of hyaluronidase, superoxide dismutase, the level of rheumatoid factor and the phagocyte count in synovial fluid were examined. With regard to the results of synovial fluid analysis in 67 RA patients, contrykal, orgoteine or cyclophosphamide were administered intra articularly (based on an individual approach) in addition to corticosteroid hormones. It has been shown that with the individual approach to intraarticular drug administration the number of repeated punctures of the joints decreased by 18.8% while the amount of glucocorticosteroid hormones administered was twice as reduced. PMID- 2629141 TI - [The use of local therapy in patients with rheumatoid oligoarthritis]. PMID- 2629142 TI - [The information value of membrane tests in the diagnosis of hypertension]. AB - The information content of the Na-Li transport test and of immunochemical test as a method of the diagnosis of essential hypertension was subjected to statistical analysis. The specificity, sensitivity and effectiveness of both these tests were determined. Comparative analysis of the information content of the Na-Li transport test and immunochemical test demonstrated that they are fit for differential diagnosis between essential hypertension and renal hypertensions. PMID- 2629143 TI - [The efficacy of calcium antagonists in circulatory failure in elderly patients with hypertension]. AB - As many as 52 patients with essential hypertension aggravated by circulatory failure were examined for the clinical, hemodynamic and neurohumoral parameters during furosemide stimulation. In elderly patients, the optimal vasodilatory dose of nifedipine amounted to 10 mg, that of verapamil to 40 mg per os or to 5 mg i.v. In patients with the stimulated activity of plasma renin, the concentration of plasma aldosterone remained unchanged. The plasma concentrations of ACTH and cortisol tended towards increase while vasopressin concentration dropped. Side effects could be frequently observed. Hemodynamic shifts appeared to be negative. During the first hour, forced diuresis was recorded. In patients with unstimulated plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone concentration declined, whereas the concentrations of ACTH, cortisol and vasopressin rose. Side effects were less in number, the hemodynamic shifts were positive, and diuresis turned out 2-3 times less during the first hour than within the next 4 hours. It is suggested that the efficacy of the treatment with calcium antagonists can be predicted according to the magnitude of the hourly diuresis with regard to the type of hemodynamics. PMID- 2629144 TI - [Myocardial infarct in a patient with a coronary artery thrombosis at the site of the myocardial bridge in unaffected heart vessels]. PMID- 2629145 TI - [The clinical significance of the audible and mechanographic manifestations of mitral valve prolapse]. AB - Graphic techniques were employed to examine 82 patients with mitral valve prolapse verified on echocardiography. In addition to the known acoustic symptoms, enhancement of tones III, IV and V was identified, especially in transmitral regurgitation, together with inverted alternating of the components of tones I and II. Mitral click (OS) was discovered in one third of the examined. Uninterrupted protodiastolic and presystolic murmurs were found more seldom. They were more well-defined on the phonocardiogram recorded from the esophagus, at the level of the mitral valve. The right and left ventricular apex cardiography made it possible to diagnose hyperdynamia of the left atrium, the shortening of isometric relaxation of the left ventricle on elongation of this phase of the right ventricle. Both the curves had the M-like deformation in the systole. On the apex cardiogram of the left ventricle, the O point was always low, and the OF amplitude (rapid ventricular filling) was increased. During regurgitation, the OF transformed to an anomalous positive wave (a "surge"). Simultaneous alterations in the jugular phlebogram and in both apex cardiograms reflect changes in all four heart chambers. In part of the examined, pulmonary hypertension was established with the aid of indirect techniques. Esophagoatriography turned out diagnostically instrumental, since in some of the patients it enabled identification of systolic expansion of the entire posterior wall of the left atrium (regurgitation). PMID- 2629146 TI - [Standardization of the pathologicoanatomic diagnosis of the causes of death from the most prevalent diseases of the cardiovascular system]. PMID- 2629147 TI - [The organization of a pulmonology office in a polyclinic]. AB - The authors review the principles of the organization of the management of pulmonologic patients at the ambulatory stage. Describe the structure of the pulmonologic room, its functions and personnel. Based on the experience gained in the work of the pulmonologic rooms within the system of the All-Union Institute of Pulmonology, USSR Ministry of Health, give an account of the efficient organization of the work of the physician, the scope of diagnostic and treatment measures performed at the room. Describe the principles of the follow-up of patients afflicted with respiratory diseases. Give a critical review of the current standardized documents on pulmonology. Provide a schedule for the patients' diagnosis and treatment. PMID- 2629148 TI - [A clinical evaluation of different schedules for specific immunotherapy and a comparative analysis of the changes in immunity in pollinosis]. AB - Based on an analysis of the results of specific immunotherapy (SI) (132 patients were treated according to the accelerated schedule and 420 to the conventional one) it is concluded that accelerated SI is more effective and is tolerated well by the patients. Comparative studies of immunity have shown that it underwent similar changes in both treatment schedules: the intensity of specific skin tests diminished; spontaneous and antigen-induced lymphocyte transformation in vitro decreased primarily at the expense of plasmacytes; antigen-induced cell suppression was enhanced more clearly as compared to nonspecific one; the percentage of the theophylline-sensitive E-RFC relatively increased; there were no alterations in the level of active and total E-RFC, in the lymphocyte response to PHA and in the content of total IgE in blood serum. Accelerated SI influences immunity to a greater degree. As compared to nonspecific tests, antigen-induced responses of lymphocytes are more informative as a criterion of the treatment efficacy. There is no distinct relation between the levels of antigen-induced and nonspecific suppression and IgE. There is a definite relation between the enhancement of antigen-induced suppression and the effect of SI. It is suggested that SI influences specific suppressor T-lymphocytes and directly influences B lymphocytes, changing their spontaneous and specific activity. PMID- 2629149 TI - [The detection of mast cells in the bronchoalveolar contents in lung diseases]. AB - Detection of mast cells in the liquid of bronchoalveolar lavage is made with the aid of staining with alcyane blue after fixation of the cytologic preparations in vapors of 40% formalin. In healthy persons, the content of mast cells in bronchial lavage constitutes 0.4-0.1%, in the majority of patients with bronchial asthma, 0.06-3.3%, and in some patients with sarcoidosis, 0.04-1.07%. PMID- 2629150 TI - [Psychological correction in a system of rehabilitative-prophylactic measures for bronchial asthma patients]. PMID- 2629151 TI - [Urinary enzymes as a marker of the preclinical stage of diabetic nephropathy]. AB - To identify early markers of the preclinical stage of diabetic nephropathy, a study was made of the activity of the specific canalicular enzymes in urine: N acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), beta-glucuronidase (beta-G1), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (AP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in patients with diabetes mellitus without (26) and with (15) proteinuria. Patients without the clinical signs of diabetic nephropathy manifested a significant rise of excretion of lysosomal enzymes of the proximal canaliculi (NAG and beta-G1). Concomitant elevation of the excretion of several enzymes (NAG, beta-Gl, GGT and AP) was observed in 50% of cases. Patients with diabetic nephropathy demonstrated an increase of the excretion of all enzymes under study. Puncture biopsy of the kidneys was made in 4 patients without proteinuria with insignificant duration of diabetes mellitus and concomitant elevation of the excretion of a number of enzymes. Light microscopy revealed minimal changes in the glomeruli, whereas electron microscopy changes both in the glomeruli and in the canaliculi. The morphological changes in renal tissue confirm the diagnostic importance of high concomitant excretion of canalicular enzymes (NAG, beta-Gl, AP) as a marker of the preclinical stage of diabetic nephropathy. PMID- 2629152 TI - [The diagnosis of tumors of the chromaffin tissue by magnetic resonance tomography]. AB - To study the potentialities of MR tomography in the diagnosis of chromaffin tissue tumors and to elaborate a number of quantitative diagnostic criteria, 26 patients with pheochromocytoma were examined. All the patients were subjected to x-ray computer-aided tomography of the adrenals. In 24 of them, the diagnosis was completely confirmed on histological examination of the excised tumor. The control group consisted of 19 healthy persons. All the investigations were performed on a MR tomograph BMT-1100 manufactured by Brucker Company (FRG) (0.235 T) according to the SE technique, with TR being 2 s and TE 34 ms. The visual picture together with a number of quantitative parameters (the time of spin-spin relaxation--T2, the index of relative signal intensity) were appraised. The method is shown to be highly informative in the diagnosis of pheochromocytomas, particularly of extra-adrenal site. In addition to a more prolonged T2, the high values of the index of relative signal intensity appeared very suggestive, especially on the 3d and 4th echo images. PMID- 2629153 TI - [The characteristics of hematuria in chronic glomerulonephritis]. PMID- 2629154 TI - [The microvascular bed of the nail matrix in patients with chronic uremia]. AB - The microvascular bed of the nail matrix was studied in 118 patients with chronic uremia and 25 healthy persons. It was revealed that in chronic renal failure due to chronic nephritis, the changes in microcirculation were more pronounced. Prolonged arterial hypertension led to a graver derangement of the vascular sector of the microcirculatory bed. Red blood cell aggregation depended on the stage of uremia, anemia and impairment of water-electrolyte metabolism. The data obtained on biomicroscopy of the eyeball conjunctiva correlated with the data on capillaroscopy of the nail matrix. The latter technique makes it possible to control the disease and efficacy of the treatment. PMID- 2629155 TI - [The use of thrombolytic preparations for the functional restoration of the arteriovenous fistula in patients on programmed hemodialysis]. AB - Administration of a thrombolytic drug of the type of streptokinase (celiase) in a dose of 250,000-1500,000 units for 40-90 minutes to the site of a thrombus with the use in necessary cases of plasminogen donors makes it possible to attain the recovery of the function of arteriovenous fistula if the treatment is carried out within the first 6-8 hours since the moment of its thrombosis. Fistula rethrombosis is the main problem that confronts one in the immediate period after successful conduction of thrombolytic therapy. PMID- 2629156 TI - [The characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus developing in the postclimacteric period]. PMID- 2629157 TI - [The clinical manifestations and pathogenetic characteristics of skeletal muscle involvement in rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - The state of skeletal muscles was subjected to a comprehensive study in 106 patients with verified rheumatoid arthritis. Kinesthetic, thermography, electromyography, tensometry and morphohistochemical methods were employed together with determination of serum activity of creatine phosphokinase. The muscular syndrome of the disease was characterized by the presence of foci of myofibrosis manifesting as local painful indurations of different size and consistency. It has been shown that one of the mechanisms of muscular injury in rheumatoid arthritis is the neural reflex one: under the influence of pathological impulses from the damaged joint there occur tonic and dystrophic alterations in the muscle, vasomotor dysfunctions and derangement of the neurotrophic control. PMID- 2629158 TI - Project transitions: an AIDS hospice. Interview by Lucy Proctor. PMID- 2629159 TI - Not all gifts come with bows. PMID- 2629160 TI - HLA-DR and -DQ antigens in malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus in Ethiopians: a clue to its etiology? AB - Thirty Ethiopian malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus (MRDM) patients were HLA typed and their HLA antigen frequencies were compared to those of 31 previously typed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients and to 84 controls from the same ethnic background. In comparison to controls, a striking association between MRDM and HLA-DR3 (X2 = 15.15, p = 0.0001) was observed, whereas the frequency of HLA-DR4 was non-significantly increased (RR = 1.72). The frequency of DR2, DQw1, and DQw6 was decreased among MRDM. In comparison to IDDM that is associated with both DR3 and DR4 in this population, MRDM showed no significant differences in HLA class II antigens frequencies. Therefore, the genetic basis of susceptibility to MRDM and IDMM in Ethiopia is at least partially identical. PMID- 2629161 TI - Multiple sclerosis is associated with HLA-DR2 antigen in Spain. AB - One hundred and twenty-one Spanish multiple sclerosis patients were typed for HLA antigens. We found a significant increase of HLA-DR2 (p less than 0.004) compared with local normal controls. We confirm similar findings in other Caucasian populations. PMID- 2629162 TI - Dye and electrical coupling of endothelial cells in situ. AB - Electron microscopic studies show that endothelial cells of pig coronary arteries are linked by gap junctions. We investigated the dye and electrical coupling of these junctions in a strip of pig coronary artery in vitro. The membrane potential of two neighbouring (about 0.2 mm) endothelial cells were simultaneously recorded with two microelectrodes. The fluorescent dye lucifer yellow was microiontophoretically injected through one of the microelectrodes. The endothelial cells in situ were dye and electrically coupled. The dye coupling extended parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arteries. We conclude that an electrical message like the bradykinin and substance P hyperpolarizations of the endothelial cells can be conveyed electrotonically by the endothelium along the longitudinal axis of arteries. PMID- 2629163 TI - Structural alterations in vascular endothelial tight junctions in the course of their gradual degradation in vitro. AB - Rabbit aorta explants in organ culture maintained their endothelium as a confluent cell layer for 1-6 days. Depending on culture time, interendothelial tight junctions underwent gradual morphological changes in their substructure, as seen in freeze-fracture replicas. The formation of a P-face associated groove and concurrent confluence of tight junction particles on E-faces after 24 hr in vitro was followed by a rarefaction of particles and shortening of tight junctional strands. By day 6 in vitro, almost all tight junctions have disappeared. We interpret these findings as signs of a degradation of tight junctions in vitro, involving three different substructural components: a component facing the protoplasm, tight junction particles and a component facing the extracellular space. The degradation was inhibited by culturing under increased ambient pressure (910 mmHg). PMID- 2629164 TI - Effects of phorbol esters on endothelial cell microfilaments: laser scanning confocal microscopy and quantitative morphometry of dose dependent changes. AB - Phorbol esters are known to alter microfilaments but it is not clear if the changes correspond to modulation of the phosphoinositide turnover/protein kinase C system. The novel technique of laser scanning confocal epifluorescence was used to study fiber orientation in phorbol ester treated cells. We treated endothelial cells with control agents and agents known to stimulate protein kinase C: 4 alpha phorbol, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), phorbol dibutyrate (PDB), or lipopolysaccharide. After incubation with the test agents, the endothelial cell microfilaments were stained with rhodamine pholloidin and viewed by conventional epifluorescence and by laser scanning confocal epifluorescence microscopy. The images obtained by the confocal microscopy corresponded to a thin optical section through the cells, 300 nm or more in thickness. The microfilaments extended predominantly in the plane of focus. After exposure of the cells to phorbol esters, the stress fibers became more nearly parallel in arrangement or were shortened, but remained in the plane of focus. The modification of microfilaments in response to phorbol esters was quantitated by a single blind analysis. In order to compare the morphological changes with a biochemical action of the phorbol esters, we measured phosphoinositide turnover. The dose-dependence of morphological changes was compared and contrasted to the dose-dependent effect of phorbol esters on bradykinin-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover. PMA had about the same EC50 (1-5 nM) for both biochemical and morphological processes. PDB was less potent in inducing the disruption of microfilament structure than in inhibiting phosphoinositide turnover. Lipopolysaccharide was ineffective in inducing a morphological change under these conditions. A simple activation of protein kinase C is insufficient to explain the dose-dependent effects of phorbol esters. Thus a morphometric analysis can help distinguish the potency of cytoskeleton modulators. PMID- 2629165 TI - Influence of differentiation on muscarinic receptors in N1E 115 neuroblastoma cells. AB - The effect of inducing morphological differentiation in N1E 115 mouse neuroblastoma cells on the number of muscarinic receptors and the ligand binding affinity was investigated using the lipophylic quinuclidinyl benzylate and the hydrophylic N-methylscopolamine as tritiated ligands. Induction of morphological differentiation was accompanied by a two- to three-fold increase of the number of receptors when assayed in a broken cell preparation; the ligand binding affinity was unaffected by differentiation. Using intact cells, this increase was not paralleled by a similar increase in binding sites accessible for N methylscopolamine, which binds preferentially to extracellular sites. PMID- 2629166 TI - Ultrastructure of pituitary folliculo-stellate cells of lactating rat during treatment with 2-bromo-alpha-ergocriptine. AB - Folliculo-stellate cells of adenohypophysis were studied by transmission electron microscopy in lactating rats during treatment with the dopaminergic agonist 2 bromo-alpha-ergocriptine. Folliculo-stellate cells showed marked activation in control lactating rats, were unaffected by a single injection of the drug (3 mg/kg), regressed to the morphology of those found in non-lactating animals upon 6 days of drug treatment (1 mg/kg/die) both in presence and in absence of the suckling stimulus. However, morphometric analysis showed a proportion of folliculo-stellate cells in the gland which was similar in the four experimental groups (range: 11.3-13.5%), despite the increasing reduction of prolactin cells (55, 44, 32, 30%). In chronically treated animals to which suckling had been denied, extruding and degenerating prolactin cells were found, as well as extracellular material in non follicular spaces; the latter were lined by both folliculo-stellate and endocrine cells. These data suggest a dual reactivity of folliculo-stellate cells in the adenohypophysis according to the functional status of the gland. PMID- 2629167 TI - Granulated 'marginal cell layer' in the rat anterior pituitary gland. AB - A granulated 'marginal layer cell' was observed in the lining of Rathke's residual pouch of 5 and 10 day-old rat anterior pituitary glands. Immunohistochemistry was not employed to identify the precise function of these cells. However, the cytological characteristics of nearly all of the cells indicated that they resembled GH-secreting cells, with a few displaying morphological features of corticotrophs. In pituitary glands of 5-20 day-old rats, both ends of Rathke's residual pouch extended into the pars distalis at the site of transitional zone of this lobe and of the pars intermedia. The cells within the 'invading' residual pouch contained numerous microvilli. In the middle portion of the residual pouch, cavities lined by 'marginal layer cells' had numerous microvilli and were adjoined by junctional complexes. In the adult rat pituitary gland, there were no granulated cells in the 'marginal cell layer' and no invasion of the residual pouch into the anterior lobe. From these data the possible source of the follicle and of the folliculo-stellate cells in the anterior pituitary of the rat is proposed. PMID- 2629168 TI - Effects of anoxia on cellular damage in the incubated mouse diaphragm. AB - Satisfactory ultrastructural integrity of the mouse diaphragm was maintained in vitro in modified Krebs-henseleit saline for 3h when the rate of oxygenation was 2.8 ml sec-1 (95% O2 + 5% CO2). Hypoxic (O2 = 1.6-2.0 ml sec-1) or anoxic (95% N2 + 5% CO2) conditions triggered typical Ca-triggered myofilament damage, believed to be induced by a rise in [Ca]i. It was unaffected by omission of Ca from the saline, but the muscle was protected at 7.8 degrees C. 'High-O2' gassing (10 ml sec-1) also caused a characteristic, but different, damage with swollen sarcoplasmic reticulum and spacing of the myofibrils. PMID- 2629169 TI - The lethal principle of Poa huecu (coiron blanco): a plant indigenous to Argentina. AB - The lethality of Poa huecu, a plant toxic to cattle and sheep, was followed by injection of chromatographic fractions in mice. The lethal aqueous extract was administered i.p. to Rockland mice of either sex and produced motor incoordination, transient ataxia, rough hair coat, tremors and muscle contractions and, occasionally, blindness. Doses greater than 1.5 g/kg mouse were always lethal. Fractionation of this lethal extract included dialysis, column chromatography on Sephadex G-25 and fractional precipitation with ethanol. Precipitates obtained with 70% and 85% ethanol were further purified on a DEAE cellulose column. Eight fractions were obtained, each was injected into mice. Only fractions 3-6 were toxic. Fraction 3 produced slight hepatosis and hyperemia in the liver and gliosis in the brain. None of the other tissues exhibited histological lesions. Fractions 4 and 5 caused death of all animals within 30 min to 4 hr after injection. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and acid hydrolysis showed that fractions 4 and 5 contained a glycoprotein of nearly the same mol. wt (67,000-94,000). Microscopic pathology in the mice treated with the lethal glycoprotein of fraction 4 included hyperemia in the kidneys, megakaryocytes in the spleen, slight hepatosis and focal coagulative necrosis with nuclear pyknosis and karyonexis in the liver, gliosis, intracellular brain edema with axon degeneration and swollen astrocytes in the brain. These brain injuries may relate to the motor incoordination of cattle that causes a delayed righting reflex. The major monosaccharides of the lethal glycoprotein are glucose and mannose, while rhamnose, arabinose, xylose and galactose are present in low percentages. Proline and the acidic amino acids (glutamic and aspartic acids) are the most abundant in the peptidic residue. PMID- 2629170 TI - In vitro neutralization by monoclonal antibodies of alpha-bungarotoxin binding to acetylcholine receptor. AB - In order to develop monoclonal antibodies that would neutralize binding of alpha bungarotoxin to acetylcholine receptor in vitro, mice were hyperimmunized with native toxin. Frequent small doses of toxin were used. Hybridoma supernatants were screened by ELISA and six monoclonal antibodies isolated and tested. The anti-alpha-bungarotoxin monoclonal antibodies consisted of IgM, IgG1 or IgG2a antibodies. In an in vitro neutralization assay measuring the effect of the antibodies on the binding of iodinated alpha-bungarotoxin to BC3H1 and TE671 (mouse and human cell lines bearing acetylcholine receptor), three of the six monoclonal antibodies were able to neutralize toxin binding. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of using native toxin for the generation of hybridomas, and the potential of using in vitro neutralization assays to screen hybridomas for in vivo neutralization. PMID- 2629171 TI - Effects of divalent cations on snake venom cardiotoxin-induced hemolysis and 3H deoxyglucose-6-phosphate release from human red blood cells. AB - At a low concentration of Naja naja kaouthia cardiotoxin (3 microM) Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ (2 mM), had little to no effect on 3H-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate (3H-dGlu 6-p) or hemoglobin release. At higher concentrations of N. n. kaouthia cardiotoxin (greater than or equal to 10 microM), Ca2+ (2 mM), but not Sr2+ or Ba2+, significantly enhanced 3H-dGlu-6-p and hemoglobin release. Mn2+ (2 mM) almost completely inhibited 3H-dGlu-6-p release and hemolysis at both the 3 microM and 10 microM concentrations of cardiotoxin. At a fixed concentration of N. n. kaouthia cardiotoxin (3 microM). Ca2+ at low concentrations (0.5 mM) enhanced 3H-dGlu-6-p and hemoglobin release, but at higher concentrations caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cardiotoxin action. The cardiotoxin from N. n. kaouthia venom (3 microM) induced 3H-dGlu-6-p release and hemolysis release with similar time courses and to similar extents. 3H-dGlu-6-p release induced by cardiotoxin was greatly enhanced as the pH of the medium was increased from 7.0 to 8.5. Similarities between 3H-dGlu-6-p and hemoglobin release do not support opening of pores in the plasmalemma of all red blood cells as the mode of action of cardiotoxins, but suggests that complete lysis of a subpopulation of cells occurs. Cardiotoxins have two components of lysis, only one of which is Ca2+ dependent. The Ca2+-dependent lysis is only evident at higher cardiotoxin concentrations and is likely due to trace phospholipase A2 contamination in the toxin fraction. Mn2+ is an effective antagonist of cardiotoxin action. PMID- 2629172 TI - Hepatic subcellular distribution of [3H]T-2 toxin. AB - The subcellular distribution of T-2 mycotoxin and its metabolites was studied in isolated rat livers perfused with [3H]T-2 toxin. After a 120-min perfusion, the distribution of radiolabel was to bile 53%, perfusate 38% and liver 7%. Livers were fractionated into mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (smooth and rough), plasma membrane and nuclei. Plasma membrane fractions contained 38% of the radiolabel within 5 min, decreasing to less than 1% at the end of the 120-min perfusion. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum contained 27% of the radiolabel by 5 min and increased to 43% over the 120-min perfusion. The mitochondrial fraction contained 3% of the radiolabel by 30 min and increased to 10% after 120-min perfusion. Label in the nuclear fraction remained constant at 7% from 30 to 120 min. By 15 min, only the parent toxin was detected in the mitochondrial fraction. In the other fractions, radiolabel was associated with HT-2, 4 deacetylneosolaniol, T-2 tetraol, and glucuronide conjugates. Glucuronide conjugates accounted for radiolabel eliminated via the bile. The time course for distribution of radiolabel in liver suggested an immediate association of [3H]T-2 with plasma membranes and a subsequent association of toxin and metabolites with endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and nuclei, the known sites of action of this toxin. PMID- 2629173 TI - Patterns of experimental contamination by Protogonyaulax tamarensis in some French commercial shellfish. AB - As a result of the proliferation of toxic marine dinoflagellates along European coasts and the recent discovery of paralytic poisons in French shellfish, experimental studies were conducted on four species of shellfish from the Brittany coasts. Contamination rates of a culture of toxic Protogonyaulax tamarensis, were determined for Mytilus edulis, Crassostrea gigas, Pecten maximus and Ruditapes philippinarum. Mussels and scallops were very rapidly contaminated showing high toxin accumulation rates, whereas rates for oysters and clams were low. During the decontamination phase, two stages were observed in mussels and scallops: a fast decrease in toxin, of the same order of magnitude as the accumulation, followed by a slow decrease, with the toxic rate remaining above the quarantine level of 80 micrograms/100 g. Toxin analysis, both in the culture and in the shellfish, was performed using high performance liquid chromatography. GTX3 and GTX8/epiGTX8 were the dominant toxins in the early stage of the decontamination phases, whereas GTX2 was the predominant compound during the slow phase of decontamination. PMID- 2629174 TI - Preparation of monoclonal antibodies against okadaic acid prepared from the sponge Halichondria okadai. AB - Three murine monoclonal antibodies, OA-1, OA-2 and OA-3, against okadaic acid were prepared from hybridoma clones obtained by fusion of mouse 653 myeloma cells with mouse immune spleen cells sensitized to okadaic acid-ovalbumin conjugate. Each antibody reacted with dinophysistoxin-1 ( = 35-methylokadaic acid) as well as okadaic acid, but did not react with the other diarrhetic shellfish poisons or related compounds, such as 7-O-palmitoyl-okadaic acid (analogue of dinophysistoxin-3), pectenotoxin-1 and yessotoxin. A competitive inhibition enzymelinked immunosorbent assay which employed OA-3 antibody was performed and showed a sensitivity of about 10 ppb (10 ng/ml) for okadaic acid. This simple and time-saving ELISA assay system may be useful for the specific detection of diarrhetic shellfish poisons. PMID- 2629175 TI - Pathology in hamsters administered Solanum plant species that contain steroidal alkaloids. AB - Syrian hamsters were orally administered ground plant material from either Solanum sarrachoides, S. melongena, S. eleagnifolium, or S. dulcamara. Six of eight hamsters administered S. eleagnifolium and eight of 10 hamsters administered S. dulcamara died following administration of plant material and had gastric glandular mucosal necrosis and small intestinal mucosal necrosis with little inflammation. Hamsters administered S. sarrachoides or S. melongena did not die and had only lesions compatible with gastric distension. Both S. eleagnifolium and S. dulcamara contained solasodine glycoalkaloids(s), and S. dulcamara also contained an equal amount of other glycoalkaloids which were probably derived from soladulcidine (dihydrosolasodine). The lesions produced by these two plants were similar to those reported earlier to be caused by sprout material of S. tuberosum (in which solanidane alkaloids predominate) and by an alkaloid extract of S. tuberosum sprouts. Because of similarities in saponin-like activity and structure of solasodine glycoalkaloids to the solanidine glycoalkaloids of potato sprouts, the glycoalkaloids of S. dulcamara and S. eleagnifolium were probably the agents responsible for the lesions observed. PMID- 2629176 TI - Effect of a phospholipase A2 with cardiotoxin-like properties, from Bungarus fasciatus snake venom, on calcium-modulated potassium currents. AB - The action of a 16,300 mol. wt phospholipase A2 with cardiotoxin-like properties from Bungarus fasciatus venom on membrane electrical properties of two human cell types was examined in vitro by using tight-seal whole-cell recording methods. Epithelial cells exhibited a voltage- and Ca2(+)-activated K+ current; the sensitivity for voltage activation of the K+ current was enhanced by increasing free Ca2+ in the recording pipette from 10(-8) M to 2 x 10(-6) M. In contrast, peripheral blood lymphocytes possessed voltage-activated K+ currents that were inhibited by increasing intracellular Ca2+. Exposure of either preparation to B. fasciatus toxin (0.2-5 x 10(-6) M) for up to 30 min in the bath did not alter membrane leakage current, as judged by the maintenance of low pre-treatment values over the range of -140 mV to -40 mV. However, the sensitivity for voltage activation of the K+ current was enhanced in the epithelial cells even at the lowest concentrations tested. In contrast to the results with epithelial cells, toxin exposure inhibited the activation of voltage-activated K- currents in human lymphocytes, suggesting a specific increase in intracellular Ca2- levels in both cell types. The fluorescent probe indo-1/AM was used to monitor cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels. Exposure of either lymphocytes or epithelial cells to toxin (10(-6) M) resulted in a transient increase in Ca2+. However, while the Ca2+ response to toxin was transient, K-channel modulation by the toxin appeared to be irreversible over the experimental time course. The longer-lasting modulation of Ca2(+)-regulated K+ channels may reflect an irreversible action of the B. fasciatus phospholipase A2 on a Ca2+-dependent regulatory process. PMID- 2629177 TI - Diamphidia toxin, the bushmen's arrow poison: possible mechanism of prey-killing. AB - The effects of a 60,000 mol. wt protein from the pupae of the beetle, Diamphidia nigro-ornata have been studied. In concentrations as high as 50 micrograms/ml, the toxin has little effect on the propagated compound action potential of isolated nerve trunks, or on the voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels of voltage-clamped single skeletal muscle fibers. In the anesthetized cat, the toxin has no specific effect on the neuro-muscular or the cardiovascular systems. It has a markedly hemolytic effect, and could reduce hemoglobin levels by as much as 75%. Plasma hemoglobin is increased, with resultant extensive hemoglobinuria and associated histopathological changes in the kidneys. Blood pressure, heart rate, PO2, PCO2, and oxygen-saturation remain essentially normal until the terminal stages of intoxication. Contrary to previous conclusions, we find no support for any particular neurotoxicity of the poison. The complex systemic effects, and possibly the prey-killing, can probably be attributed to the extensive hemolysis, reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, and generalized tissue hypoxia. PMID- 2629178 TI - Cellular regulation of diphtheria toxin cell surface receptors. AB - The cellular regulation of diphtheria toxin cell surface receptors was studied. Treatment of Vero cells with cycloheximide reduced their diphtheria toxin binding capacity, while cells treated with actinomycin D did not lose their ability to bind diphtheria toxin. A non-toxic analogue of diphtheria toxin, CRM 197, produced a dose-related depletion of cell surface diphtheria toxin binding capacity that was reversible upon washing the cells. Vero cells depleted of toxin receptors by CRM 197 did not restore their ability to bind diphtheria toxin in the presence of cycloheximide. Phospholipase C treatment of Vero cells reduced their diphtheria toxin binding capacity in a dose-dependent manner. The loss of diphtheria toxin binding capacity was recovered within 2 hr after removal of the enzyme. Protein synthesis inhibition blocked this recovery while actinomycin D partially inhibited it. Receptors prebound with toxin were resistant to phospholipase C treatment, suggesting that the action of the enzyme was directly on the receptor. Inhibition of glycosylation with tunicamycin did not prevent reappearance of toxin receptors after CRM 197 or phospholipase C treatment. These data establish the requirement of a continuous protein synthesis for the maintenance of diphtheria toxin cell surface receptors and also suggest that these receptors do not recycle after binding ligand. A hypothesis is put forward that the diphtheria toxin receptor might be a lipid-linked cell surface protein. PMID- 2629179 TI - Prophylactic and therapeutic use of an anti-brevetoxin (PbTx-2) antibody in conscious rats. AB - A polyclonal antiserum was investigated for prophylactic and therapeutic use in the treatment of brevetoxin intoxication. Conscious, tethered male rats were pre treated with 1 ml of anti-brevetoxin IgG (PbAb) or control IgG by a 10 min infusion, then given brevetoxin (25 micrograms/kg) by a 1 hr infusion. Rats pre treated with control IgG demonstrated signs of brevetoxin intoxication; these signs were absent in rats pre-treated with PbAb. In therapy studies, rats were infused for 1 hr with 100 micrograms/kg brevetoxin, followed immediately by 2 ml of either PbAb or control IgG. During toxin infusion, both groups showed signs of brevetoxin intoxication. Rats treated with control antibody died within 6 hr. In rats treated with PbAb, respiratory rates began to return toward baseline almost immediately, and fewer neurological signs developed. After 24 hr, nearly all neurological signs had disappeared and both core and peripheral temperatures had returned to normal. There was a time differential between two groups of signs, suggesting high and low accessibility compartments for the antibody. These compartments probably represent central and peripheral nervous system. All animals treated with PbAb survived at least 8 days. These results suggest that PbAb has both therapeutic and prophylactic potential in the treatment of brevetoxin intoxication. Further, because of the differential in efficacy in reversing central and peripheral nervous system signs of brevetoxin intoxication, it provides useful new information on the mechanism of action of this toxin. PMID- 2629180 TI - Cross-neutralization of thrombin-like enzymes in snake venoms by polyvalent antivenoms. AB - Five polyvalent antivenoms (Crotalidae; Orient, North, Central and South Africa) were tested for their ability to neutralize the thrombin-like activity of snake venoms (Bitis gabonica, Agkistrodon acutus, Bothrops asper, B. atrox, Crotalus adamanteus). Considerable cross-neutralization was observed. Anti-coagulase antibodies were isolated from an antivenom by affinity chromatography using a purified enzyme from Bitis gabonica venom. These antibodies neutralized the activity of most snake venom coagulant enzymes. PMID- 2629181 TI - [Study of the distant consequences of immunizing people with a live vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis]. PMID- 2629182 TI - [Study of the immunogenicity and antigenic composition of fractions of a cultured vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis obtained by ultrafiltration, gel chromatography and ultracentrifugation methods]. PMID- 2629183 TI - [Assessment of the immunologic effectiveness of a concentrated purified vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis in experiments on animals]. PMID- 2629184 TI - [Cleaved vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis]. PMID- 2629185 TI - [Preparations for immunodiagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis]. PMID- 2629186 TI - [The use of a method of molecular hybridization of nucleic acids for diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis]. PMID- 2629187 TI - [Preparation of immunoglobulin for prevention of tick-borne encephalitis in endemic areas]. PMID- 2629188 TI - [Ticks--carriers of the pathogen of tick-borne encephalitis]. PMID- 2629189 TI - [Clinico-immunologic and virologic study of a case of the primary-progredient form of tick-borne encephalitis]. PMID- 2629190 TI - [The mechanism of forming immunity in tick-borne encephalitis]. PMID- 2629191 TI - [9th All-Union Congress of Otorhinolaryngologists. Kishinev, USSR, November 15 17, 1988]. PMID- 2629192 TI - Production and purification of bovine monocyte-derived interleukin 1. AB - Few studies have addressed the biological and molecular nature of bovine interleukin 1 (IL-1). In an effort to increase our understanding of the role of bovine IL-1 in bovine immunology, we investigated various parameters of its production by LPS-stimulated monocytes in vitro. Bovine monocytes isolated by our methods constitutively released IL-1 activity, as measured by the murine thymocyte IL-1 assay. Monocyte release of IL-1 activity was further augmented when the cells were incubated with 0.005-10 micrograms per ml of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The presence of 1, 5, or 10 percent heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) enhanced LPS-stimulated bovine monocyte release of IL-1 activity as compared with monocytes cultured under serum-free conditions. We used a combination of size-exclusion and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to purify bovine IL-1 from serum-free monocyte culture supernatants. Size-exclusion HPLC resulted in a single peak of biological activity with an approximate molecular weight of 18,000 daltons. Further purification by reverse-phase HPLC demonstrated at least three major molecular species with IL-1 activity. Besides providing information about production of IL 1 by bovine monocytes in vitro, this study also describes a protocol to purify bovine IL-1 for future studies addressing its biological functions. PMID- 2629193 TI - Species preference of bovine thymocytes and fibroblasts for bovine interleukin 1. AB - The purpose of this study was to determine whether bovine thymocytes and fibroblasts preferentially respond to bovine IL-1 as compared with human and murine interleukin 1 (IL-1). We compared equivalents units of recombinant murine and human IL-1 alpha, and purified monocyte-derived bovine IL-1, as measured in the murine thymocyte IL-1 assay, for their ability to stimulate the proliferation of bovine thymocytes and fibroblasts. Fetal and adult bovine thymocytes responded to bovine IL-1, but in contrast, did not respond to recombinant human or murine IL-1 alpha at the concentrations tested. Both adult and neonatal murine thymocytes responded similarly to the three IL-1 preparations. Thus, we concluded that the preferential response of bovine thymocytes for bovine IL-1 was not dependent upon the age of the thymus donor. Bovine fibroblasts also preferentially responded to bovine IL-1; fibroblast proliferation was stimulated by bovine but not human or murine IL-1. Our findings, therefore, imply that although IL-1 is highly conserved among mammalian species, its ability to stimulate the proliferation of thymocytes and fibroblasts may vary from species to species. PMID- 2629194 TI - Enhancement of ovine lymphocyte responses: a comparison of selenium and vitamin E supplementation. AB - Lymphocytes of lambs on a low selenium/vitamin E diet were isolated from peripheral blood, and mitogenic responses to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) tested in the presence of different doses of sodium selenite and emulsified vitamin E added in vitro. An enhancing effect of selenium was observed at doses of 1 ng/ml or less, and reached a plateau at about 10 ng/ml. Toxic effects were evident beyond 1 micrograms/ml. The stimulatory potential of selenium among lambs was inversely related to their ability to respond to PHA in control cultures but was not related to the blood glutathione peroxidase activity of the animals concerned. Optimal doses of vitamin E added to culture (0.15-1.5 micrograms/ml) elevated responses beyond those seen with selenium, but synergistic effects were not apparent. Similar results were obtained when lymphocytes from deficient, myopathic lambs were cultured with serum from lambs supplemented in vivo, and when PHA responses of untreated and treated lambs were compared. Tests with other phytolectins (concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen) suggested that the two micronutrients exert a differential influence on lymphocyte sub-populations. It was also concluded that the poor lymphocyte responses seen in myopathic lambs can be readily and rapidly reversed by injection of these nutrients, and that prophylaxis is most effective during the first 6 weeks of life. PMID- 2629195 TI - Production of an equine monoclonal antibody specific for the H7 hemagglutinin of equine influenza virus. AB - Peripheral blood leucocytes from a pony previously exposed to equine influenza virus (H3, N8) and vaccinated with killed virus (H3, N8 and H7, N7 subtypes) were cultured in vitro with live A/equine/Prague/56 (H7, N7). On the sixth day of culture, cells were harvested and fused with mouse myeloma cells (X63-Ag8.653). From this fusion, one hemagglutinin specific, equine IgG monoclonal antibody secreting hybridoma was identified and cloned twice by limiting dilution. The antibody inhibited hemagglutination by nine H7 equine influenza virus isolates obtained over a 21-year period, but did not inhibit A/equine/Miami/63 (H3, N8), or A/PR/8/34 (H1, N1). The neutralizing titer of hybridoma induced, nude mouse ascitic fluid was 10(-4.5) when tested in eggs against 100 egg infective doses (EID50) A/equine/Prague/1/56. The hybridoma continued to synthesize antibody during more than 4 months in continuous culture. PMID- 2629196 TI - Host environment as a modulating factor of swine natural killer cell activity. AB - The large granular lymphocyte (LGL) population includes such heterologous effector cells as the natural killer (NK), lymphokine activated killer (LAK), antibody dependent cellular cytotoxic (ADCC) and non-MHC restricted T cells. These LGL subpopulations have all been associated with NK activity. In some species, enhanced NK activity is correlated with exposure to viral, bacterial and parasitic agents. Consequently, the host environment could serve as a modulatory factor of NK activity in laboratory animals. During our investigation of tumor regression in melanoma swine, we observed marked differences in the NK activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes collected from two separate groups of Sinclair melanoma miniature swine maintained under different conditions. Group A pigs were vaccinated and extensively treated for endo- and ectoparasites while group B swine were not. In addition, chronic exposure to infectious and parasitic diseases have been documented in the group B swine. Peripheral blood NK activity was assessed by standard in vitro 4-h chromium release assays. The NK activity of group B swine was markedly exaggerated when compared to group A swine. Thus, the significance of NK activity may be distorted as a result of the modulating effect of pathogen exposure. PMID- 2629197 TI - Elevated PC responsive B cells and anti-PC antibody production in transgenic mice harboring anti-PC immunoglobulin genes. AB - The rearrangement of heavy and light chain immunoglobulin genes is necessary for the production of functional antibody molecules. The myeloma MOPC 167 produces specific antibodies to the antigen phosphorylcholine (PC), which is present on bacterial surfaces, fungi and other environmental contaminants. Rearranged heavy and light chain immunoglobulin genes cloned from MOPC 167 were microinjected into mouse eggs. Within the resulting transgenic mice, expression of the transgenes were limited to lymphoid tissues. Transgenic mice produced elevated levels of anti-PC antibodies constitutively, at 16 days of age, when normal non-transgenic mice were not fully immunocompetent. A triggering antigenic stimulus was not necessary to evoke anti-PC immunoglobulin production. Additionally, the frequency of PC-responsive B cells in these transgenic mice was further increased upon specific immunization. PMID- 2629198 TI - Appearance of interferon-alpha in serum and signs of reduced immune function in pigs after transport and installation in a fattening farm. AB - Pigs were transported from several breeding facilities at the age of 10-12 weeks and regrouped in a fattening farm, specialized in breeding pigs for subsequent slaughter. Blood samples were obtained from the animals just before transport and daily for 17 days after installation in the fattening farm. On each occasion a group of ten animals (170 animals in total) was sampled. The levels of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) in serum were measured as antiviral activity in a cytopathic effect inhibition assay. Beginning at day 4 after installation, a significant proportion of sera contained IFN-alpha, with the highest incidence of IFN-alpha positive animals (25%) and IFN-alpha titers on days 5-10. This indicates a high frequency of viral infections in the animals. The in vitro ability of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMCs) to produce IFN-alpha after stimulation by glutaraldehyde-fixed pseudorabies virus-infected PK15 cells and their proliferative response to the T-cell mitogen leukoagglutinin (LA) was also monitored. There was a significant, but moderate decrease in the ability of PBMCs to produce IFN-alpha during the observation period. In contrast, the response to the mitogen LA decreased markedly during the first 5 days, and thereafter remained at the same low level. The proliferative response to LA was significantly lower for PBMCs from serum of IFN-alpha-positive than from IFN alpha-negative animals. These impaired PBMC responses could indicate a stress induced immune depression, possibly contributing to the high incidence of viral infections. PMID- 2629199 TI - Western blot analyses and LD50 determinations of Toxoplasma gondii isolates. AB - Western blot analysis of tachyzoite detergent extracts revealed striking similarities and only minor differences in the antigenic profiles of four isolates, including one new isolate of Toxoplasma gondii. At least nine common protein bands with molecular weights ranging from 14,000-108,000 were recognized by all antitoxoplasma antisera. Differences existed primarily between molecular weights 28,000 and 33,000. The LD50 determinations showed that strains of laboratory mice were affected differently by the various Toxoplasma isolates used in this study. Results indicate a need for further investigations into whether there are true strain differences of Toxoplasma gondii or simply different isolates of the same strain of this single species in the genus Toxoplasma. PMID- 2629200 TI - Bovine interleukin 2: biochemical and biological characterization. AB - Interleukin 2 (IL-2), secreted by bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBL) on stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A), was purified and characterized by different chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques. The ability of IL-2 to support proliferation of Con A-stimulated bovine lymphoblasts was used to assay and quantitate IL-2 activity. Bovine IL-2 having an apparent MW of 27,000 eluted from a gel-filtration column; from an anion exchange column peak activity was detected at 190 mM NaCl. Binding of bovine IL-2 to phenyl-Sepharose gel and elution with 35-60% ethanediol indicated its hydrophobic nature. Studies on cross species reactivity revealed that both buffalo and goat lymphocytes respond to cattle IL-2 and detected 35% of activity from a standard cattle IL-2 preparation. Sheep lymphocyte response to cattle IL-2 was negligible. PMID- 2629201 TI - Serum complement activity and serum enzymes in rats after a subcutaneous injection of toxin prepared from Pasteurella multocida type D. AB - Toxin produced by Pasteurella multocida type D was investigated for its effect on serum complement and serum biochemistry in rats. Rats were given a sublethal single subcutaneous injection of D toxin equivalent to 0.2 microgram/kg of body weight. Serum obtained 1, 3, 5 and 7 days post-treatment was tested for complement activity, total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Serum complement titers were significantly elevated (P less than 0.05) at all times after injection of toxin compared to rats injected with diluent and tested at the same intervals. Bilirubin was decreased but both control and D toxin-treated rats had low concentrations of bilirubin in their sera. The other biochemical constituents measured had no consistent pattern that would indicate liver damage in the rats. PMID- 2629202 TI - Perceived diagonals in grids and lattices. AB - Diagonal lines are seen running between the intersections in repetitive grid patterns, but not in lattices of dots. We show that these lines, which are of reverse contrast to the grid, cannot be explained by global Fourier components in the pattern, or by low-pass orientation-specific filtering. The lines depend upon local diagonal components at the intersection, and we suggest that the output of local detectors are combined by collector units receiving their input from different visual field positions. Relevant neurophysiological evidence is discussed, and the model is extended to subjective contours and the Fraser twisted cord. PMID- 2629203 TI - Acuity for fine-grain motion and for two-dot spacing as a function of retinal eccentricity: differences in specialization of the central and peripheral retina. AB - The brief presentation in the peripheral field of two closely spaced luminous point stimuli, in rapid sequence, induces the illusion of a single dot moving over an extended path. This fine-grain movement illusion (FGMI) is particularly compelling under conditions of dark adaptation. The strength of the motion percept, assessed by a rating-scale procedure, was found to correlate well, over different flash-flash onset delays, with an objective measure of the illusion requiring discrimination of the direction of the flash-flash sequence. A direction-discrimination measure was used to determine the minimum dot separation that would reliably elicit an FGMI at retinal eccentricities of 5-25 deg. For comparison, measures of static spatial acuity was made based on the minimum angle of resolution of two simultaneous dot flashes, and on the threshold for discriminating the separation of two simultaneous dot flashes with variable initial spacing. The spatial threshold for FGMI was lower than that for each of the static measures at all peripheral eccentricities, and it increased more slowly with eccentricity than the other spatial thresholds, suggesting the involvement of separate visual pathways for generating percepts of motion and percepts of shape or location. The finding that in the periphery the grain for motion detection was finer than that for spatial discrimination constrains a class of motion-perception models that form an initial spatial description of the stimulus and then compute a temporal derivative. PMID- 2629204 TI - Experimental myopia in cats reared in stroboscopic illumination. AB - Spectacle refraction of eyes of strobe-reared animals was compared to that of normal cats. Strobe reared cats were found to be significantly more myopic than normal cats. PMID- 2629205 TI - Corneal nipple in the subimago and imago of a species of Cloeon (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae), as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. PMID- 2629206 TI - Production of bovine rhodopsin by mammalian cell lines expressing cloned cDNA: spectrophotometry and subcellular localization. AB - Cloned cDNA encoding bovine rhodopsin has been recombined into an expression vector and cotransfected with an antibiotic resistance plasmid into cultured human embryonic kidney cells. The resulting cell lines produce 100-200 micrograms of bovine opsin per liter of saturated tissue culture medium (10(9) cells). Incubation in vitro with 11-cis retinal produces a photolabile pigment the absorbance spectrum of which is indistinguishable from that of bona fide bovine rhodopsin. Expressed rhodopsin accumulates in the plasma membrane as determined by immunoelectron microscopy. PMID- 2629207 TI - Saccadic suppression of low-level motion. AB - We measured the detection of motion before, during and after a saccade to explore the effects of a saccade on motion perception. To isolate the low-level motion mechanism, the stimulus was a random-dot field displaced by small distance (0.3 deg) within a stationary frame. The displacement signaled motion clearly if eyes were fixated, but for the displacement during a saccade, motion was not detected whether the displacement was defined in spatial coordinates (expt 1) or in retinal coordinates (expt 2). Since motion could be seen with ISIs longer than the duration of a saccade (expt 3), the suppression cannot be attributed to visual loss during the saccade. Experiment 3 also showed that motion was never seen for a displacement that occurred during a saccade, even though the random dots were replaced by a uniform field during the eye movement thereby eliminating any masking effect of the sweep of the image across the retina. The purpose of the saccadic suppression of motion may be to block out unreliable motion signals that would be produced by a saccade. Since saccade distances are very often greater than the maximum distance over which the low-level motion mechanism can produce accurate direction discrimination for fine textures, motion signals would generally indicate false directions if they were not suppressed. PMID- 2629208 TI - Effects of chronic optical defocus on the kitten's refractive status. AB - Lid closure initiated early in life produces axial myopia in a variety of species. However, it is currently not known what aspects of the anomalous visual experience associated with lid closure disrupt the emmetropization process and cause abnormal ocular axial elongation. This study was designed to determine if a degradation in the quality of the spatial characteristics of the retinal image was sufficient to produce an experimental myopia. Optical rearing procedures were employed to defocus one eye of developing kittens, and retinoscopic and ultrasonic procedures were used to evaluate the effects of chronic optical defocus on the kitten's refractive status. Different defocusing lens designs and rearing protocols were included to evaluate variables that may have confounded previous investigations. The major finding is that early chronic optical defocus results in axial myopia. The prevalence and magnitude of the induced refractive errors were dependent on the magnitude of optical defocus, but they were not affected by the sign or form of the defocusing lens. The results demonstrated that the potential for a clear retinal image is important for regulating normal ocular growth and maintaining a near emmetropic refractive status. PMID- 2629209 TI - Fast activity and oscillatory potential of carp retina in the frequency domain. AB - There are two kinds of fast activity in the ERG: fast retinal potentials (FRP), an irregular series of spiky wavelets and oscillatory potentials (OP), a rhythmic sequence of events. Corneal ERG from nine intact young carps, evoked by extended pulses of diffuse white light under mesopic adaptation, displayed two different groups of wavelets related to ON and OFF, respectively. Stimulation and recording conditions were established to permit separate Fourier analysis of both groups of wavelets. Power distributions of normalized ON spectra showed both a wide dispersion and a high inter-subject variability. All normalized OFF spectra showed, instead, components within a narrow band from 52 to 56 Hz, most of them maximum relative power peaks. It is concluded that FRP originating in highly labile sources dominate ON fast activity, while the predominant OFF fast activity are OP originating in a stable discrete source. PMID- 2629210 TI - Optic nerve blockade influences the retinal responses to flash in rabbits. AB - The presence of retinopetal fibers in mammals has been debated many times in the past two decades. Do rabbits have a retinopetal system? This question is addressed with the present investigations. In anesthetized and paralysed rabbits the b-wave and the oscillatory potentials (OP) are recorded at the cornea. The optic nerve is isolated retrobulbarly and is gently hooked to a curved injecting capillary. Through the latter lidocaine hydrochloride is pressure injected. This drug interrupts the neuronal flow travelling along the nerve. A steel electrode is positioned in the optic chiasm allowing us to monitor the evoked field potentials from the tested and untested eyes. The optic nerve blockade produces the following observations: (1) the amplitude of the b-wave is not significantly altered; and (2) the amplitudes of the long latency OP are significantly increased. The retinal capacity to respond to a second flash after the application of an initial light pulse was evaluated by varying the interval between the two flashes. After optic nerve blockade the recovery of the retinal responsiveness is considerably slower. Fourier analysis indicated that the highest power increases occurred around 200 Hz. It is difficult to escape the suggestion that rabbits possess retinopetal fibers. PMID- 2629211 TI - Spatial organization of sensitivity regulation in rod vision. AB - To investigate whether scotopic sensitivity is set locally or in neural "pools", we have tested the spatial variation in sensitivity after bleaching with gratings using 3 different methods. One experiment circumvented the influence of involuntary eye movements by deliberately randomizing the horizontal position of a fine test line on the area bleached by the vertical gratings. The spatial variation of threshold across the bleached area is reflected in the width of the frequency-of-seeing curve. A clear difference between the probability-of-seeing curves following a grating bleach and a uniform bleach was seen only up to between 4.2 and 6.3 c/deg, suggesting that adaptation signals are pooled so as to almost obliterate the contrast in finer gratings than this. In a second experiment the lowest bleaching-grating contrast (for a space-averaged initial rhodopsin bleach of 10%) that produced a patterned afterimage stayed close to the scotopic threshold contrast for frequencies from 1 to 6.4 c/deg, but it rose above the contrast threshold at high spatial frequencies. This slight loss of sensitivity at the high frequencies is more evidence for pooling in adaptation. A third experiment assessed the sensitivity profile at the adapting site without any influence of later stages of neural integration. Bleaching and test gratings of slightly different spatial frequency were flashed successively. If the effect of bleaching is restricted to the bleached rods, the observer will effectively be looking at the test grating through a grid of sensitive and insensitive stripes in his own retina. The two gratings come in and out of register at the difference frequency, and a corresponding low-frequency grating should be visible even when the test and bleaching gratings are not themselves resolved by the later stages. We could not see the difference frequency unless the test and bleach gratings were themselves coarse enough to be resolvable in rod vision. This is very strong evidence against any model in which each rod has its own sensitivity-regulating mechanism, and instead supports (for these conditions) Rushton's view that adaptation is entirely the work of a neural pool. The estimated pool size is about 10 min arc of visual angle. PMID- 2629212 TI - Computing high order wave aberration coefficients from variations of best focus for small artificial pupils. AB - Van den Brink (1962) measured the variation of best focus of vertical bar targets through a 1.4 mm aperture across the pupil of the eye. He expressed his results in contour maps of isodioptric lines across the pupil. The relative focus of a portion of the pupil is a function of the curvature of the wave front within the aperture. The curvature, in turn, is proportional to the second derivative of the wave aberration polynomial. Thus it is possible to make estimates of some of the coefficients of the wave aberration polynomial from Van den Brink's focusing data. This has been done for two states of accommodation. The results indicate that the wave aberration polynomial of the measured eye contains some significant terms of a power higher than hitherto measured. PMID- 2629213 TI - Receptive field densities of the ganglion cells of the human retina. PMID- 2629214 TI - Stereopsis and contrast. AB - We have measured threshold disparity as a function of the spatial frequency (0.25 20 c/deg) and contrast (0.02-0.75) of sine-wave gratings. In forced-choice trials, subjects indicated whether a target grating had crossed or uncrossed disparity relative to a reference grating. Thresholds were lowest near 3 c/deg and rose in proportion to spatial period at lower frequencies. Above 3 c/deg, there were marked individual differences. Across the range of spatial frequencies, disparity sensitivity and contrast sensitivity were correlated (r = 0.84). Threshold disparity was inversely proportional to the square root of contrast. When the contrast seen by one eye was reduced producing unequal monocular contrasts, threshold disparity rose more than when the contrast seen by the two eyes was reduced by the same amount. Our results have implications for stereo models that use zero crossings, peaks and troughs, or centroids as matching primitives. These models can account for the decline in disparity sensitivity at low sapatial frequencies but only the peak model satisfactorily accounts for the effect of contrast. If the limiting sources of noise in the two eyes are highly correlated, the effect of unequal monocular contrast can be accounted for using a differential-amplifier principle. PMID- 2629215 TI - [Problems in the further development of physical therapy]. PMID- 2629216 TI - [Dynamic ultrastructural shifts in the cardiomyocytes during the irradiation of the cardiac area with decimeter electromagnetic waves]. AB - Electron microscopy studies using automatic ultrastructural morphometry have determined changes in cardiomyocyte ultrastructure on exposure of the heart area to decimeter waves. Activation of relevant biosynthesis and bioenergy processes acquired a diphasic pattern: phase I occurred in the middle of the course, phase II emerged as an aftereffect of irradiation. PMID- 2629217 TI - [The treatment of hypertension patients by using graded physical training under hospital conditions]. AB - The effect of controlled muscular training was investigated for stage I, II and III essential hypertension inpatients. This mode of treatment produced good therapeutic results obtained without administration of hypotensive drugs. PMID- 2629218 TI - [The effect of helium-neon laser on the function of the hypophyseal-adrenal system in bronchial asthma patients]. PMID- 2629219 TI - [The correction of disorders in transcapillary metabolism in children with rheumatoid arthritis by using health resort therapy]. AB - Children with rheumatoid arthritis in remission or minimal activity of the disease were examined after sanatorium treatment. It was established that health resort factors had produced a positive capillarotropic effect in rheumatoid arthritis, i.e. capillarotropic insufficiency, tissue hypoxia, inflammation and proteolysis reduced; microcirculation returned to normal. PMID- 2629220 TI - [Neuromotor stimulation in the stages of the medical rehabilitation of patients with locomotor trauma]. AB - A stepwise system of functional management basing on stage-by-stage development of the traumatic disease is suggested. Therapeutic measures under the principle of preventive rehabilitation are to be taken as early as possible. Functional therapy follows the pattern of 4 pathogenetically validated stages. Neuromotor stimulation involving ideomotor exercise, isometric muscular load, orthostatic factor and transcutaneous neuroelectrostimulation present an additional reserve in improving the response to functional therapy of patients with locomotor trauma. PMID- 2629221 TI - [The effect of electromagnetic fluctuations in the decimeter range on the processes of the body adaptation of athletes to physical loads]. PMID- 2629222 TI - [The efficacy of using laser therapy in acute segmental bronchopneumonia in young children]. PMID- 2629223 TI - [Thrombocyte size as one of the indices of their function in rheumatoid arthritis in children and the criteria of the efficacy of sanatorium-health resort treatment]. PMID- 2629224 TI - [The use of mineral waters and peat applications in the combined rehabilitative treatment of children with opisthorchiasis]. PMID- 2629225 TI - [The effect of halogen ions on the tissue respiration parameters of the liver mitochondria in rats]. PMID- 2629226 TI - [The influence of health resort and recreational activities on the sanitary status of bodies of water]. PMID- 2629227 TI - [Current problems of drug electrophoresis]. PMID- 2629228 TI - [Patterns in the peloid adsorption of pesticides in relation to the method of their determination]. PMID- 2629229 TI - [A new deposit of radon waters in the Don Basin]. PMID- 2629230 TI - [The restoration of reproductive health after the artificial interruption of a first pregnancy (experience with the use of copper electrophoresis)]. PMID- 2629231 TI - [Experience in treating patients with Sudeck's syndrome in an outpatient department of rehabilitative treatment]. PMID- 2629232 TI - [The effect of electroacupuncture and acupuncture on ischemic and reperfusion cardiac arrhythmias]. AB - It was established that a course of transauricular electroacupuncture decreased fivefold the total duration of severe ventricular arrhythmias in acute ischemia and twofold in subsequent reperfusion of the rat heart. A course of auricular acupuncture without electrostimulation did not prevent the development of the arrhythmias in acute ischemia but reduced in 2.5 times the severity of reperfusion arrhythmias. The revealed differences may be associated with preferential involvement in auricular stimulation of different mechanisms of activating stress-limiting systems. PMID- 2629233 TI - [The use of sinusoidal modulated currents as a method of electrosleep]. AB - The study in 100 patients with stage II essential hypertension showed the validity of introduction of sinusoidal modulated currents into the technique of electric sleep. The results obtained served the basis for creation of the optimal therapeutic regime associated with a 94% response marked in hypertensive patients subjected to correction of systemic and cerebral hemodynamics. PMID- 2629234 TI - [Comparative microanalysis of lipids in various components of the hemostasis system]. AB - Lipid composition was studied in blood plasma, blood serum and blood clot of healthy persons and of patients with chronic unspecific lung impairments. Similar lipid composition was detected in blood clot (free of cells) and in blood plasma or blood serum where phospholipids and free fatty acids prevailed and constituted about a half of the total lipids content. During formation of blood clot a part of blood plasma lipids was transferred to the clot. Phospholipids and free fatty acids were mainly detected in the blood clot of healthy persons, while in patients with chronic unspecific lungs impairments triglycerides were also detected in the clot. Alterations in lipid composition of blood clot were most informative in patients with chronic unspecific lungs impairments as compared with blood serum and plasma, which might be used for diagnosis of the impairments studied. PMID- 2629235 TI - [The use of immunoaffinity chromatography for isolation of carcinoembryonal antigen]. AB - A procedure for cancer-embryonal antigen isolation involved extraction of the antigen by chloric acid, affinity chromatography on CNBr-Sepharose 4B containing immobilized antibodies and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. Contaminating proteins, adsorbed on the immunosorbent were eluted with 0.05 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 containing 0.3% sodium cholate and 1 M NaCl, while cancer-embryonal antigen--with 0.1 M glycyl-HCl buffer, pH 2.2. After purification of the preparation on Sephadex G-200 homogenous fraction of the antigen, as shown by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in presence of SDS and by immunoblotting, was obtained. Yield of the antigen was about 40%. PMID- 2629236 TI - [Isolation and purification of collagen proteins using biospecific chromatography on a sorbent with collagen-binding fragment of fibronectin]. AB - A new procedure is described for isolation of collagens from various preparations containing small amounts of these proteins. The procedure is based on specific affinity of collagens of various types to one of peptide fragments of fibronectin -collagen-binding peptide (CBP). Collagens were isolated after single-step chromatography of tissue homogenate on the sorbent containing immobilized CBP. High specificity and reproducibility of the procedure was shown when various preparations were used: chicken embryo proteins with total radioactive label. Proteins synthesized in fibroblast culture; polypeptides synthesized in cell-free system of protein synthesis. PMID- 2629237 TI - [Various defense factors of gastroduodenal mucosa in different time periods after suturing ulcer perforation]. AB - Perforation of ulcer occurred after distinct impairments in protective mechanisms of gastric mucosal membrane; this suggestion was corroborated by studies of glycoprotein content in blood serum of patients with perforating gastroduodenal ulcer within the early postoperation period. Studies of the glycoprotein in blood serum and urine within the later periods after the operation showed that the mucosal protective barrier was completely restored in some patients, thus protecting against the ulcer exacerbation, while recurrence of the disease was observed in the patients with deteriorated protective mechanisms in gastric mucosal membrane. PMID- 2629238 TI - [Inhibitors of protein biosynthesis and development of dyslipoproteinemia in rabbits]. AB - Acute alimentary hypercholesterolemia, developing after a single load with cholesterol, and experimental atherosclerosis, caused by long-term loading with cholesterol, were studied in young rabbits. Olivomycin, administered simultaneously with long-term cholesterol loading, and streptomycin, injected within 3 days before cholesterol loading, were used as inhibitors. These antibiotics prevented hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia and atherosclerosis development. The data obtained suggest that the drugs used inhibited development of atherosclerosis via selective blockade of apoB proteins synthesis in liver and intestinal tissues of the experimental animals. PMID- 2629239 TI - [The effect of hypothermia on the structural-functional properties of erythrocyte membranes in albino rats]. AB - Under conditions of hypothermia intensification of lipid peroxidation, activation of phospholipase A2 and distinct alteration in lipid metabolism were found in rat erythrocyte membranes. Alterations in membrane composition correlated with a decrease in erythrocyte resistance and their stability to deformation. Erythrocytes with altered structure-functional properties might be responsible for hemodynamic impairments of tissues. PMID- 2629240 TI - [The state of the blood prekallikrein-kallikrein system in patients with acute arterial obstruction of legs]. AB - Distinct activation of the blood prekallikrein-kallikrein system was detected in patients with acute thromboses and embolism of aorta bifurcation and of leg magistral arteries. The rate of activation depended on the form of main disease responsible for acute arterial obstruction as well as on severity of legs ischemic impairments. Measurement of the blood prekallikrein-kallikrein system parameters enabled to evaluate more efficiently the severity of initial steps of legs ischemic impairments in patients with acute arterial occlusions as well as to predict the restorative operations success. PMID- 2629241 TI - [Isolation and various physico-chemical properties of diabetogenic factor from the blood of patients with diabetes]. AB - A preparation of diabetogenic factor was purified 660-fold using affinity chromatography on heparin-Sepharose. Homogeneity of the preparation and its molecular mass (about 60 kDa) were evaluated in, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The fraction with high affinity to heparin exhibited the highest biological activity and was eluted by a solution with high ionic strength (1.5 M NaCl). Biological activity of the diabetogenic factor preparation correlated with its concentration in blood plasma in vitro. PMID- 2629242 TI - [The role of divalent cations in DNA endonucleolysis catalyzed by restrictases]. AB - Electrophoretic analysis of products obtained after hydrolysis of phage lambda DNA by means of restrictase Pae I was carried out after preincubation of DNA or the enzyme with Mg2+ as well as after preincubation of DNA simultaneously with the enzyme and the subsequent addition of the required components into the experimental samples. The analysis showed that Mg2+ were apparently not required for the enzyme-substrate complex formation and caused destabilization of the complex. Restrictase Pae I was in active form when Mg2+ was substituted by Mn2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Co2+ but not by Cd2+, Cu2+ or Ni2+. Experiments with o-phenanthroline showed that Zn2+ cations are of importance in catalytic activity of restrictase Pae I. Possible functions of Zn2+ in protein-nucleic acids recognition are discussed. PMID- 2629243 TI - [Binding of 3H-alanine and 125I-diiodotyrosine with serum proteins in vitro and in vivo]. AB - Considerable amount of complexes, formed after binding of 3H-alanine and 125I diiodotyrosine with blood serum proteins in vivo and in vitro was found to dissociate as a result of gel filtration on microcolumns of Sephadex G-25 in presence of 8 M urea. The phenomenon observed may be considered among possible reasons responsible for overestimation of the adsorption rate of food proteins antigens in gastrointestinal tract of experimental animals. PMID- 2629244 TI - [The role of endogenous heparin in the protection against risk factors causing experimental diabetes]. AB - Activity of risk factors responsible for experimental diabetes (alloxan and natural diabetogenic factor which is an albumin-like protein) was neutralized in healthy rats simultaneously with an increase of heparin concentration in circulation, which was observed 10 min after the anticoagulation system activation caused by thromboplastin. PMID- 2629245 TI - [Changes in the structure of type I collagen and cross-links between type I and type III collagen chains in a patient with funnel chest]. AB - Skin and rib cartilage collagens were studied in patient 1.I.K. with isolated form of pigeon chest as well as in a group of children without any impairments of connective tissue. Distinct decrease in stability of collagen I, an increase in the ration of alpha 1 (I)/alpha 2(I) chains and impairment in formation of beta 12 dimers were detected in the patient with pigeon chest. In the patient skin total ratio between collagens I and III, calculated from a content of BrCN peptides, was similar to normal level, whereas the proportion was markedly increased between intact molecules of collagens III and I free of cross-links, which was calculated from the ratio of alpha 1(III)/alpha 2(I) chains. Presence of cross-links between alpha 1 (III) and alpha 2 (I) chains as well as between alpha 1 (III) and alpha 2 (I) chains was detected after peptide mapping of polypeptides arranged in the region of beta 11 and beta 12 dimers. All the collagen I preparation, extracted from skin of the patient 1.I.K., contained molecules with unstabilized N-terminal sites. These results suggest that mutation occurred in the N-terminal region of alpha 1(I) chain. Analysis of collagen from the patient 1.I.K. rib cartilage demonstrated a slight decrease in total stability of collagen II as well as elevated concentration of collagen II molecules containing unstabilized N-terminals. Mechanisms responsible for formation of cross-links between polypeptide chains of collagens I and III detected in human skin are discussed. PMID- 2629246 TI - [Changes in the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes in patients with chronic alcoholism under the effect of a diet enriched with linoleic acid]. AB - The authors have studied the influence of additional introduction into the ration of sunflower oil on fatty-acid composition of erythrocytic membranes in chronic alcoholics. The computerized discriminant analysis has evidenced that additional introduction of sunflower oil into the ration of the patients normalizes the fatty-acid spectrum of erythrocytic membranes. Besides that, enrichment of the ration with linoleic acid improves the parameters characterizing the liver function (bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase of blood serum). PMID- 2629247 TI - [The effect of a hypocaloric diet enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids on various indicators of cellular immunity in obese children]. AB - A total of 157 children aged from 3 to 14 years with varying clinico-pathogenetic types of obesity have been investigated. The main method used for pathogenetic correction was a hypocaloric diet. Twenty-five children in addition to the hypocaloric diet received polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUSFA), nonpurified oil, 0.5-1 g/kg, as an additive to vegetable and meat salads, two times a week, in relief days. Immunological parameters, cholesterol, total lipids, lipoprotein spectrum of the blood were studied. Statistically significant increase of the relative content of T-lymphocytes and theophylline-resistant lymphocytes, with simultaneous diminution of null cell number in children, who received additional PUSFA, was, possibly, associated with the stimulating effect of PUSFA on the differentiation of young precursor-lymphocytes, or with the release of T lymphocyte receptors due to normalization of lipid metabolism. The investigations conducted have shown a positive effect of the hypocaloric diet enriched with oil on the general condition, regression of body mass in the children under study. The favourable effect of oil on the immunologic processes has evidenced the merit of its use as an immunostimulant, and the necessity of the further study of immunocorrective properties of PUSFA. PMID- 2629248 TI - [The effect of qualitatively different nutrition on various indicators of the functional status of the parasympathetic nervous system and blood proteins in students during an examination period]. AB - The investigations were conducted on two groups of students of the Baku Naval School (15 subjects in each group). It was shown that in the presence of traditional nutrition containing mainly meat and grain products and characterized by insufficient content of animal protein and milk products, the psychoemotional and mental stress by the end of the examination session, as compared to the period of the current studies, resulted in a significant growth of acetylcholine like substances, alpha- and gamma-globulins, a tendency to an increased acetylcholinesterase concentration in their blood, most manifest on the day of passing the 3d examination, and a tendency to elevated cholinesterase activity on the day of passing the 4th examination; a significant decrease of protein content and albumin levels. Due to nutrition correction (mainly by the protein component) shifts in the content of protein and albumin levels, alpha- and gamma-globulins, acetylcholine-like substances in the blood were recorded by the end of the examination session, and were appreciably close to the values in the period of the current studies. PMID- 2629249 TI - [Provision of workers and employees of Kuzbass industrial enterprises with vitamins C, E, A and beta-carotene]. AB - The content of vitamins C, E, A and beta-carotene was studied in the blood serum of 404 workers and employees of the Kuzbass industrial enterprises. Insufficient providing of the body with ascorbic acid, tocopherol and beta-carotene has been revealed. The number of workers and employees with vitamin C deficiency comprises at an average 95%, with vitamin E deficiency--9%, and with beta-carotene deficiency--34%. Industrial enterprises characterized by hard physical labor and occupational health hazard have been found to be most unfavourable with respect to providing with vitamins. The results of the investigations conducted have evidenced the necessity of correcting the vitamin nutrition of the subjects studied. PMID- 2629250 TI - [Complex experimental assessment of potential allergenicity of various isolates of soy proteins]. AB - The complex evaluation was carried out of potential allergenicity of three soya protein specimens - IPS, IPS-1 and IPS-2 manufactured by Ardex R, USA, which were attended for employment as protein component of specialized infant formulae. The content of total protein, amino-nitrogen, peptide fractions of molecular weight below 9000 D, precipitating protein antigens, trypsin inhibitor, was studied in the specimens. The apparent digestibility was measured by a multienzymatic system in vitro. The allergenicity of isolates was compared by means of histamine LD50 resistance test in guinea pigs and also by the reaction of active anaphylactic shock (AAS). The evidences have been obtained that IPS specimen containing the lowest levels of trypsin inhibitor and small peptide levels is characterized by the lowest sensitizing activity in AAS and simultaneously decreases the animals' resistance to histamine in the highest degree. Apparent digestibility of all the three specimens did not differ significantly. A conclusion has been made that the evaluation is necessary of infant hypoallergenic formulae components by a complex of independent experimental data. PMID- 2629251 TI - [Food sensitization of guinea pigs with enzymatic hydrolysates of milk whey proteins]. AB - Adult guinea pigs received intragastrically solutions of milk whey protein concentrate (CWPM), its enzymatic hydrolysate (HWPM) and peptide fraction (PF) obtained by means of HWPM ultrafiltration. Milk protein antigen content of CWPM, HWPM and PF was preliminary characterized with two-dimensional and rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Undigested beta-lactoglobulin (beta LG) absorbed from the gut, was measured three hours after the administration by means of competitive radioimmunoassay. Administration of proteins was repeated twice with daily intervals. Twenty one days later the levels of circulating anti-beta LG antibodies were measured by Farr's method and then the reaction of active anaphylactic shock was triggered by intravenous infusion of whole skimmed milk. It was established that while antigens including beta LG content decreased in the rank of CWPM-HWPM-PF the absorption of beta LG into the blood serum and the violence of acute anaphylaxis decreased also. The largest level of specific antibodies to beta LG was detected in animals that received the hydrolized protein the fact being connected with the presence of aggregated beta LG in this preparation. The employment of ultrafiltration of enzymatic hydrolyzate leads to elimination of the majority of noninactivated antigens from the filtrate, consequence of this being the low level of animal sensitization by this preparation. It has been concluded that ultrafiltration technology has good advances in manufacturing hypoallergenic milk formulae. PMID- 2629252 TI - [A comparative study of the biological value of proteins in products of hydrogen oxidizing bacteria biomass processing]. AB - Chemical and biological methods have shown solubility decrease of protein biomass of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria in water and neutral salt solutions, in the process of its autoclave drying and sterilizing. The potential and real biological values of the protein of the sterilized biomass are highly different. Denucleation of biomass decreases the real biological value leading its difference to the null. PMID- 2629253 TI - [Change in food proteins during technological processing]. AB - Changes in protein fractions of casein during production of milk-protein concentrates (casecite and casein hydrolysate) were studied by double disk electrophoresis in poly-acrylamide gel. Significant changes were observed during casein treatment with pancreatin at pH-6.6-7.0. beta-casein was subjected to the highest proteolytic decomposition, it was separated into two fractions attended by isolation of a great number of positively charged fractions of gamma-casein. The amount of beta-casein, as compared to freshly-precipitated casein, diminished by 3.5 and 11.7%, depending on the decomposition degree. Increment of the portion of positively charged fractions correlated with increased bitter flavor. The method of double disk-electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel can be recommended for the regulation of the hydrolysis process during food production. PMID- 2629254 TI - [Features of the digestive function of the intestines during intake of nontraditional protein]. AB - Hydrolysis of modified walleye pollock protein under the action of pepsin pancreatic and intestinal enzymes was studied under conditions in vitro and in vivo. It was found that the degree of dissolution of bonds is decreased in the experiments in vitro by 18.05-24.87%, in vivo by 34.2%, as compared to the experiments where casein was used. At the same time hydrolysis of oligo- and dipeptides realized in the intestine by amino- and dipeptidases is stimulated under the influence of the pollock protein by 16.07-53.7%. Therefore it is suggested that utilization of the protein studied depends on the capacity of peptidases to release dipeptides in separate acetylated or free dipeptides. Thus, for the sake of regulatory and adaptive changes of secretion of some digestive glands and especially enzymes, fixed on enterocyte brush edge, the necessary enzyme-substrate correspondence is provided, as a result of which hydrolysis of the pollock protein is achieved. PMID- 2629255 TI - [A physiologic approach to determining and classifying the energy requirements of the population of the USSR]. AB - To develop more accurate recommendations on physiological requirements of the population of the USSR in food substances and energy the author has suggested a new classification of energy expenditure based on the account of the human physical activity with respect to the basal metabolism values. The data are presented on the basal metabolism for different populations depending on the sex, age and body mass. Energy expenditures are classified in the values relative to the basal metabolism. Daily energy expenditures of men have been divided into 5 groups depending on the hardness of their labour: very easy, easy, not very hard, hard and very hard labor. Four groups of physical activity or labor have been suggested for women, these groups correspond to the first four groups developed for men. PMID- 2629256 TI - [Features of nutrition and biosynthesis of protein in animals of various ages]. AB - Age-dependent features of protein synthesis intensity were studied in tissues (liver, muscles, plasma) by the method of continuous constant L-(1-14C)-leucin infusion. The investigation was conducted in male rats aged 4 and 24 months that were bred in large and small holes, and received rations with varying protein content (2.5, 15 and 60% of casein). It has been shown that protein synthesis intensity in the tissues studied is not lowered with age, in the liver it is higher than in the muscles. Differences in the early postnatal nutrition (breeding of the animals in large and small holes) has not influenced protein synthesis in the tissues. A tendency has been observed to activation of protein synthesis in the liver with lowering protein level in the diet. PMID- 2629257 TI - [The effect of diet with an increased amount of tyrosine on reparative processes in the duodenum]. AB - It has been shown that the development of destructive lesions of the duodenal wall induced by stress action on the body of the experimental animal is attended by a decrease of the content of creatine phosphate and noradrenaline in homogenate of the duodenal tissue. The use of tyrosine, a precursor of catecholamine biosynthesis, both as a pharmacologic agent and as a component of rich in this amino-acid product-dried milk, resulted in normalization of the biochemical parameters studied and in significant diminution of destructive lesions of the duodenal wall. PMID- 2629258 TI - [Correlation of the calculated content of vitamins C, B1, B2 in the diet of school children and students of trade schools and the actual content of them at various times of the year]. AB - The calculated and factual content of vitamins C, B1, B2 in dietary of schoolchildren and students of trade schools were studied in spring, summer, autumn and winter. The schoolchildren aged 11-13 years, and the students of trade schools aged 14-17 years were included into the study. To calculate the content of vitamins in raw materials and dishes, the normative technical documents and tables of chemical composition of food products were used. Factual content of vitamins in ready products was determined by the methods recommended by the Institute of Nutrition, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. It has been found that in all seasons of the year it provides an average supply with vitamins C 67-8%, B1 65-36%, B2 64-29% of a day's requirement. PMID- 2629259 TI - [The effect of regular treatment with ozone on the chemical composition of potatoes and vegetables]. AB - The food value of potatoes, cabbage and carrot was studied after their treatment with ozone to prolong their period of storage. The regimen of ozone-treatment of the vegetables under laboratory conditions was: 20-40 mg/m3/4 h/day/25 times. The ozonization regimen under production conditions was close to that under laboratory conditions. Ozone concentration for potatoes treatment was 20-25 mg/m3, cabbage 7-13 mg/m3, carrot 5-15 mg/m3. The investigation of the chemical composition of potatoes, carrot and cabbage after ozone action under production and laboratory conditions has shown that under the influence of ozone treatment the content of ascorbic acid decreased by 16 to 25%. Such parameters of food value as protein and starch in potatoes, and sugar and carotene in cabbage and carrot did not significantly change. The study of organoleptic properties of potatoes and vegetables did not reveal any changes as compared to nontreated products. PMID- 2629260 TI - [Experience in controlling temporary hot food mobile units for oil and gas production enterprises in the Surgut region of the Khanty-Mansiisk Autonomous District]. PMID- 2629261 TI - [A methodology of developing and refining recommended nutritional standards]. PMID- 2629262 TI - [Epidural analgesia with obzidan in the acute period of myocardial infarct]. AB - The authors analyze the efficacy of their method of prolonged analgesia in acute myocardial infarction. A comparison of the clinical efficacy of epidural analgesia with obsidan and local anesthetics hemodynamic effects of epidural and intravenous administration of obsidan indicates that use of the new method of analgesia ensures adequate anesthesia, provides an improvement of the clinical course of the disease and has no adverse effects on the circulation. PMID- 2629263 TI - [The main results of and the outlook for research into the problem of virology and infectious diseases in the Ukrainian SSR]. PMID- 2629264 TI - [Work experience in epidemiologic monitoring of influenza and ARD in Rovno Province]. PMID- 2629265 TI - [A case of myocardial infarct developing 1 year after aortocoronary shunting]. PMID- 2629266 TI - [Myocardial infarct in a 17-year-old youth]. PMID- 2629267 TI - [Pathomorphologic data in the differential diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy]. AB - A study of 50 hearts from patients who died of dilated cardiomyopathy and 16 control cases is presented. It included evaluation of the character of hypertrophy and dilatation, state of the volume and ventricular cavities as well as the interventricular septum, changes of the coronary system and blood microcirculatory bed of the heart. Methods used were: postmortal contrast cardioventriculography and coronarography, intravascular impregnation and impregnation of frozen sections of the myocardium with silver nitrate. The authors singled out a triad of signs possessing a high degree of pathognomonicity and including pronounced dilatational manifestation on the part of the cardiac ventricles, coronary arteries and blood circulatory bed. PMID- 2629268 TI - [Cardiovascular disorders in patients with chronic tonsillitis]. AB - A study of patients with cardiovascular disorders of tonsillar genesis the most frequently occurring symptoms is presented. By means of mathematical methods, namely, factors analysis the main components of these symptoms were grouped in four syndromes: cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, immunological and metabolic. It is shown that chronic tonsillitis plays in this process the role of a trigger mechanism. PMID- 2629269 TI - [Treatment of patients with sarcoidosis of the heart]. AB - The presented study reflects materials of the treatment of patients with sarcoidosis of the heart showing contraindications to hormonal therapy. The author describes absolute and relative contraindications to steroid therapy of cardiac sarcoidosis as well as methods treatment of these patients. Treatment efficacy is based on immediate and long-term results of a clinico electrocardiographic examination of 44 patients suffering of sarcoidosis of the heart. PMID- 2629270 TI - [The role of the carbohydrate composition of the diet in the development of morphofunctional changes in the wall of blood vessels]. AB - The author presents data of morphological and histochemical changes in the vessel wall and aorta in rats under the effect of rations with a different carbohydrate composition. It was found that glucose produces an unfavourable effect, namely, glucose resulted by the end of the experiment in the development of dystrophic changes of the elastic matrix of the aorta as well as elastic fibers and smooth muscle cells of the vessels of the myocardium and kidneys. It is suggested that prolonged use of glucose is one of the factors of development of diseases of the cardiovascular system. PMID- 2629271 TI - [Characteristics of phosphorus metabolism in patients with acute disorders of cerebral circulation]. AB - The first 5 days of treatment of 98 patients with acute disorders of the cerebral blood circulation revealed hypophosphatemia and related reduction of the level of 2, 3 DPG, ATP in the erythrocytes. The causes of hypophosphatemia in these patients were absence of entrance of phosphorus to the body, its loss with the urine and gastrointestinal contents and hypocapnia. The possible ways of correction of these disorders are discussed. PMID- 2629272 TI - [A decrease in the activity of granulocyte cationic protein in patients with chronic lympholeukemia]. AB - A study of 60 patients suffering chronic lympholeukemia indicates disorders of the functional adequacy of neutrophils that shows further deterioration with association of infection (pneumonia, angina, abscesses and other infections). By the content of cationic protein of the neutrophils it becomes possible to evaluate the state of unspecific defense of the body and severity of the pathological process. The cationic lysosomal test may be recommended for the diagnosis of infectious complications in hemoblastoses. PMID- 2629273 TI - [Morphogenetic characteristics of pneumonia in ischemic heart disease]. AB - It was established by histochemical and immunomorphological investigations that acute myocardial infarction results in an activation of the immune system of the body, immunomorphological changes in the lungs that plays a certain role in the pathogenesis of pneumonias in ischemic heart disease. PMID- 2629274 TI - [Echocardiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in obstructive lung diseases]. AB - The authors carried out serial ultrasonic examinations of the pulmonary artery and its valves, deformation index of the left ventricle and rate of early diastolic closing of the mitral valve in 72 patients with obstructive diseases of the lungs. It is concluded that ultrasonography is of high diagnostic value in this category of patients. PMID- 2629275 TI - [The importance of microbiological and immunologic studies for selecting the method of treating patients with acute pneumonia]. AB - Quantitative microbiological examinations of the sputum allowed to establish the role of pneumococci and different bacterial associations in the development of acute pneumonia. The most typical were associations of Str. pneumoniae, staphylococci and neisseriae. The sensitivity of isolated pathogens is shown and recommendations on the use of most effective antibiotics are given. The indications to immunocorrective agents are outlined. PMID- 2629276 TI - [The efficacy of postural therapy in patients with fresh and recurrent destructive pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - Postural correction of regional pulmonary function increases markedly the treatment efficacy of patients with fresh destructive pulmonary tuberculosis. Practically all patients with an unburdened anamnesis showed abacillation and healing of the cavities under the effect of this treatment. Patients cured by this method showed no exacerbations and recurrences in the future as well as the development of cor pulmonale. PMID- 2629277 TI - [The use of antioxidants in the combined treatment of patients with peptic ulcer]. PMID- 2629278 TI - [Campylobacter pylori and early relapse of peptic ulcer]. AB - A study is presented of Campylobacter infestation of the gastric mucosa and frequency of recurrence of duodenal ulcer in these patients. It was established that maintained infestation of the gastric mucosa is despite healing of the ulcer an unfavourable prognostic factor concerning immediate recurrences of duodenal ulcers. Early recurrences of the ulcer develop more frequently in patients with maintained infestation of the gastric mucosa with Campylobacter pylori. PMID- 2629279 TI - [Correction of hepatic morphofunctional disorders in mechanical jaundice of a nontumorous nature]. AB - The authors examined 68 patients with cholelithiasis complicated by mechanical jaundice. The clinical course of the disease, functional and morphological changes of the liver were elucidated. Different hepatic functions were involved: the protein-forming, pigmentary, enzymatic, etc. Morphological changes of the liver revealed severe dystrophic changes in the liver parenchyma including necrosis of some parts the liver. The employed complex of therapeutic measures allowed to carry out operative interventions in more favourable conditions that reduced the number of postoperative complications. PMID- 2629280 TI - [Late results of the conservative treatment of patients with cholecystitis]. AB - It is shown that conservative treatment of cholelithiasis in young patients is not effective. In the long-term period these patients show as a rule recurrences, the frequency and degree of functional disorders of the liver and pancreas rises, the number of complications increases. The authors recommend early surgical treatment of this contingent of patients. PMID- 2629281 TI - [Drug-induced hepatitis]. AB - Results are reported of 27 patients with different groups of drug-induced hepatitis: cholestatic, parenchymatous, mixed, caused by different drugs. For the screening method of diagnosis of drug-induced hepatitis the following biochemical indices may be used: the level of total blood serum bilirubin, activity of aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase as well as virological and instrumental methods of diagnosis. PMID- 2629282 TI - [Changes in the phospholipid and prostaglandin levels in chronic diseases of the biliary tract]. AB - A study of 179 patients with functional and organic diseases of the bile tract revealed that changes of the blood phospholipids and their spectra in the blood is observed at more early stages of the disease, functional pathology and that an increased PGE2/PGF2 indicates a deficit of polyunsaturated fatty acids and prevalence of the processes of break-up of prostaglandins over their synthesis. PMID- 2629283 TI - [Functional gastroduodenal dyskinesia and dystonia]. AB - A study is presented of 352 hospitalized patients with gastroenterological pathology. A multipurpose polygraph and probe of original construction was used in the diagnosis of gastroduodenal dyskinesias and dystonias. On the basis of the study the author proposes a classification of gastroduodenal dyskinesias and dystonias in which the motor is characterized by the amplitude and frequency of contractions while the intracavitary pressure is characterized as phasic. PMID- 2629284 TI - [Drug optimization of the healing of complicated forms of large-focus myocardial infarct]. AB - The authors give a description of methods of diagnosis and drug optimization of complicated forms of healing of myocardial infarction. It is emphasized that measures of optimization facilitate the clinical course of the disease, reduce the frequency of development of postinfarction aneurysms and further the decrease of lethality. PMID- 2629285 TI - [Congenital developmental defects in children in the southern Ukraine]. AB - The authors analyze clinical material and autopsy findings of fetuses and children dying at the age from 0 to 15 years during the last 15 years. For etiological evaluation of developmental congenital malformations the authors analyzed anamnesis, genealogy, dermatoglyphics, table materials, biochemical examination, karyotyping. The most frequent organs involved were the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract and to a lesser degree--the genitourinary, osseous and respiratory systems. Congenital developmental malformations were registered in 10.2% of cases: in the prenatal period from 13.1 to 16.2% at different age. Among the children who died with developmental congenital malformations most were in the first year of their life. PMID- 2629286 TI - [The seasonality of disease exacerbation studied for the planning of chronoprophylaxis]. AB - The author summarizes results of a biorhythmological analysis of the frequency of exacerbations of main diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. A seasonal character was established for some of these diseases--gastric and duodenal ulcer, chronic gastritis, ischemic heart disease, arterial hypertension, neurocirculatory dystonia of the hypertensive type. It is recommended to use these results for chronoprophylaxis of the mentioned pathological conditions. PMID- 2629287 TI - [The electrocardiogram of patients with mild craniocerebral trauma]. AB - The authors analyze 236 electrocardiograms in 1343 patients of young and middle age with mild head injuries. The Minnesota code was used in the analysis of the electrocardiograms. It was found that mild craniocerebral trauma causes diffuse changes in the cardiac muscle. The character and degree of these changes are not homogeneous. The dynamics of the number of coded signs and their ratios were used to evaluate the functional state of the vegetative nervous system. PMID- 2629288 TI - [A case of a multiyear favorable course of primary skin melanoma after combined treatment]. PMID- 2629289 TI - [The effect of age and length of work on indices of mental activities in operators of a thermoelectric power station]. AB - With increase of age and length of work of operators of power-generating units there occurs a decrease of the rate and stability of processing test information, but with increase of length of work the quality of its processing improves. With increase of age and length of work the operators show a tendency to reduction of the third and fourth moments of distribution of time for the solution of test tasks during 24 hours. PMID- 2629290 TI - [Characteristics of the health status of mine rescue workers]. AB - A detailed clinico-functional examination allowed to reveal changes in some systems of the body of mine rescuers, namely disorders of external respiratory function of obstructive, restrictive and mixed types, increased tone of the cerebral and peripheral vessels, reduction of their blood filling evidencing unfavourable effects on the rescuer's mechanism connected with psychoemotional overstrain and specific professional factors. PMID- 2629291 TI - [Respiratory organ morbidity in workers at a poultry plant]. AB - A tendency was revealed towards increase of temporary loss of working capacity due to diseases of the respiratory organs related mainly to acute processes. Workers smoking and contacting with poultry complain more frequently of changes in respiratory function. The main bulk of patients with chronic bronchitis was found only by the questionnaire. In heavy smokers the combined form of ventilatory failure was most pronounced in chronic unspecific pulmonary diseases which indicates the importance of prophylactic treatment. PMID- 2629292 TI - [Meningoencephalitis caused by pneumococcal and meningococcal infections]. PMID- 2629293 TI - [The bile cholate-cholesterol coefficient for assessing the causes of a protracted convalescence in patients with viral hepatitis]. AB - Changes of the content of bile acids, cholate-cholesterol coefficient, bile acid fraction ratios in the bile were assessed in patients with viral hepatitis and chronic cholecystitis. A scheme is proposed for evaluation of bile bladder function considering four states: functional hypocholia, cholecystitis, threat of cholelithiasis. It is shown that in 23-28% protracted convalescence in viral hepatitis and manifested in prolonged blood serum ALAT activity is caused by the presence of subclinical form of cholecystitis. PMID- 2629294 TI - [Characteristics of the course of salmonellosis]. AB - A study is presented of the etiological structure and proportion of salmonellosis among a wide group of intestinal diseases in an industrial city. The highest incidence was in June-August. The leading factors of infection transmission was food. Salmonella typhimurium was the main etiological pathogen. Different clinical forms were noted, the gastroenterological variant being observed in 50% of patients. Severe course was reported of the diseases when complicated by acute appendicitis, drug-induced allergy. PMID- 2629295 TI - [The decolorization and biodegrading metabolism of azo dyes by Pseudomonas S-42]. AB - Pseudomonas S-42 was capable of decolorizing azo dyes such as Diamira Brilliant Orange RR(DBO-RR), Direct Brown M (DBM), Eriochrome Brown R(EBR) and so on. The cell suspension, cell-free extract and purified enzyme of Pseud. S-42 could decolorize azo dyes under similar conditions: the optimum pH and temperature laid 7.0 and 37 degrees C respectively. The efficiencies of decolorizing of DBO-RR, DBM, EBR by intact cells stood more than 90%. When the cell concentration was 15 mg(wet)/ml and the reaction time was 5 hours, the decolorizing activity for above three azo dyes by intact cells were 1.75, 2.4, 0.95 micrograms dye/mg cell, respectively. Cell-free extract and purified enzyme could well express the decolorizing activity only under the anaerobic condition and added NADH. Purified enzyme belongs to azoreductase, its molecular weight is about 34,000-2000 daltons, and its Vmax and Km for DBO-RR are 13 mumol.mg protein-1.min-1 and 54 mumol/L. The results of the detection of the biodegrading products of DBO-RR by spectrophotometric and NaNO2 reactional methods showed that the biodegradation of azo dyes was initiated by the reduction cleavage of azo bonds. It was hypothesized that biodegrading metabolism pathway of DBO-RR by Pseudomonas S-42. PMID- 2629296 TI - [The antibiotic effect of Pseudomonas jinanensis sp. nov]. AB - The Pseudomonas jinanensis has been isolated from soil and screened by antibioticgram assay and spermatogonial assay. It has certain antibiotic properties. The metabolite which has been produced is certainly effective against Staphylococcus aureus and some other positive germs. The preparation of Pseudomonas jinanensis vaccine, namely PJV. It's biological activity on the growth of tumor-bearing mice and the murine spermatogenesis cell. It is considered that enhancement of nonspecific immunologic function of the host might increase the efficacy of praziquantel on schistosomiasis in mice. PJV has certainly produced effectiveness against malignant pleural effusion (effective rate was 76.5%), cancer of lung (effective rate was 58.3%), many solid kinds of cancer (effective rate was 52.1%), and the total effective rate was 64.2%. It could increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation. PJV could stimulate the animal (rabbit) to develop specific antibody. PJV might belong to the class of immunomodulating agents. PMID- 2629297 TI - [Experimental infection of mammals with Pieris rapae granulosis virus]. AB - The experimental infection of mammals (such as mouse, golden hamster and nude mouse) was conducted with Pieris rapae Granulosis Virus (PrGV) of baculoviridae of insect virus by way of peritonal and intravenous injection, per os and inhalation. 7-50 days after injection, target insects were reinoculated with the visceral extracts of infected mammals and killed by 5-100%, displaying typical symptom infected by granulosis virus. GV and its latticed structure of inclusion body were found in the ultrathin section of spleen which took out from infected nude mouse via peritoneal injection under electronmicroscope. PMID- 2629298 TI - [Tuberculosis in patients on long-term hemodialysis]. AB - On the basis of an analysis of the pertinent literature and own material the problems are presented connected with the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in patients with terminal renal failure treated with chronic dialysis programmes. Much place has been given to diagnostic difficulties and dosage of antituberculous drugs in this disease. The analysis of own material indicated that early started and continued consequently treatment gives a high likelihood of cure. PMID- 2629299 TI - [A modified operation of partial exclusion of the small intestine in the treatment of morbid obesity]. AB - In the treatment of extreme obesity bilateral truncal vagotomy and jejunoileal bypass 45 + 15 cm were done in 33 patients. No dangerous complications were observed and satisfactory weight loss was achieved. PMID- 2629300 TI - [Serum apolipoprotein and lipoprotein levels in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2]. AB - Lipid disturbances were evaluated in type II diabetes comparing the results of determinations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol with apolipoprotein A and B levels. The study was carried out in 32 diabetics with type II disease with mean duration 7 +/- 9 years, 15 males and 17 females, and in 30 controls. In all cases postprandial glycaemia, haemoglobin A1C, total cholesterol concentration (by the Liebermann-Burchardt method), HDL-cholesterol (by the Blaszczyszyn method), triglycerides (by the enzymatic method), an apolipoprotein A and B (by Mancini radial immunodiffusion method using a Bio-Merieux kit) were determined. A significant correlation was demonstrated between the concentrations of cholesterol and apolipoprotein A, on the one hand, and blood glucose level, on the other, and apolipoprotein A was found to be a better indicator of lipid disturbances in the aspect of diabetes control then apolipoprotein B. The latter was a better indicator of lipid disturbances in diabetes connected with obesity, than total cholesterol. PMID- 2629301 TI - [Aldolase activity and the lactate level in the cord blood as objective indicators of the status of newborn infants by the Apgar score]. AB - In 63 newborns with general clinical status evaluated by means of the Apgar score the lactate level and aldolase activity were determined in cord blood. A greatly raised mean level of both these biochemical indicators of tissue hypoxia was demonstrated in newborns with low Apgar score. A considerable scatter of the determined biochemical parameters was noted in newborns born in serious condition and having identical low Apgar score. PMID- 2629302 TI - [Bacterial endocarditis caused by Enterobacter agglomerans in a patient with mitral valve prolapse]. AB - A case of bacterial endocarditis caused by Enterobacter agglomerans was observed in a 50-year-old patient with mitral valve leaflet prolapse. The diagnosis was based on clinical findings, positive blood cultures and echocardiographic investigations. PMID- 2629303 TI - [Ectopic pancreas treated surgically as a suspected gastric polyp]. AB - A very rare case is described in which the preoperative diagnosis was: gastric polyp, and the histological examination done intraoperatively demonstrated accessory pancreas. PMID- 2629304 TI - [Malignant lymphoma of the stomach]. AB - In the reported case the radiological diagnosis before the operation was- malignant tumour of the stomach. Nearly complete gastrectomy by the Roux-en-Y method was done. In the histological examination malignant lymphoma was diagnosed. PMID- 2629305 TI - [3 cases of intestinal tuberculosis]. AB - Three cases of intestinal tuberculosis are reported. One was diagnosed accidentally during caesarean section, and was treated successfully with antituberculous drugs. Two other cases were treated surgically for complications of intestinal tuberculosis--acute ileus and perforation. All cases were confirmed histologically and none was diagnosed as intestinal tuberculosis before the operation. Diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties are discussed. PMID- 2629306 TI - [Rare complication of decompression laminectomy in a patient with cervical intramedullary tumor]. AB - The authors describe a 28-year-old patient with cervical intraspinal tumour in whom permanent apnoea developed after decompression laminectomy and plastic operation of the dura. The patient was artificially ventilated and received intensive therapy but died 2 months after the operation for septic complications. PMID- 2629307 TI - [Intraoperative intracranial hypotension syndrome]. AB - A case is described of intracranial hypotension after surgical removal of chronic subdural haematoma and hygroma resulting in apnoea lasting several hours. Fully effective anaesthesiological management of this complication is reported. PMID- 2629308 TI - [Retinitis in multiple sclerosis]. AB - A 37-year-old man treated since 6 years for multiple sclerosis is described because retinitis developed in an exacerbation of the disease. Retinitis was treated successfully with penicillin and hydrocortisone. PMID- 2629309 TI - [Coexistence of intrauterine pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy]. AB - A rare case is reported of coexistence of intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy with delivery of a healthy newborn. Diagnostic difficulties are discussed and the management of such multiple pregnancy is described. PMID- 2629310 TI - [Relation between ischemic heart disease and tobacco smoking]. AB - The incidence of ischaemic heart disease related to tobacco smoking was studied in a population of males aged 35-64 years in the Brodno District of Warsaw. The population comprised 2123 subjects (attendance rate 62%). A relationship was demonstrated between cigarette smoking in the past and the ischaemic heart disease, its incidence was twice as high in former smokers than in non-smokers. No significant difference was found in this incidence between non-smokers and present smokers. A more deep analysis shows that former smokers who quitted smoking due to intensification of clinical symptoms are frequently included into the group of non-smokers, and they are the group at highest risk for ischaemic heart disease development. PMID- 2629311 TI - [Multiple primary neoplasms]. AB - In the years 1980-1987 in the Department of Internal Diseases, Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice 32 patients were observed with multiple malignant neoplasms of various organs. The time from the diagnosis of the first neoplasm to the appearance of the second one was from 0 to 168 months (mean 61.8 months). The second neoplasm developed in over half the cases (53.1%) after more than 5 years from the first one. The most frequent first neoplasms were: Hodgkin's disease and breast carcinoma, and the most frequent second neoplasm was colonic carcinoma, gastric carcinoma and endometrial carcinoma. The necessity of prolonged observation of patients with malignant neoplasms during many years is stressed. PMID- 2629312 TI - [Foreign bodies in the tracheobronchial tree of adults]. AB - In the years 1965-1987 in adult patients 4172 bronchoscopies were done and 26 of them (0.62%) were done in 13 patients with foreign bodies in the tracheobronchial tree. The age of the patients was from 16 to 66 years. The diagnoses and treatment of these cases of foreign body aspiration are discussed. In 10 patients they were present in the right and in 2 in the left bronchus, and in 1 case in the trachea. In 11 cases the foreign body was removed during the bronchoscopy, the endotracheal body was removed surgically and in one case the foreign body was coughed up. No complications were noted after removal of foreign bodies. PMID- 2629313 TI - [Effect of the paragenetic factors on selected body measurements of newborn infants in Wroclaw]. AB - The human environment in the individual development of man is formed by the endogenous (genetic and paragenetic), and exogenous factors. Among an immense host of environmental elements and human organism certain groups may be isolated that influence actively the process of ontogenesis. These elements are called developmental factors. They influence the organism in a way which is not always simple and direct. Sometimes certain coexistent factors affect of complex of conditions which in a proper way influence the human organism. PMID- 2629314 TI - [Magnesium in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with chronic uremia]. AB - The levels of magnesium were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid if healthy subjects and patients with uraemia. The effect of plasma alkalization with sodium bicarbonate on possible changes of magnesium concentration in the CSF was studied. It was found that in healthy subjects magnesium concentration of the CSF was higher than in plasma, and was increased further in chronic uraemia. Plasma alkalization in uraemia with sodium bicarbonate reduced the concentration of magnesium in the CSF. PMID- 2629315 TI - [Results of intraoperative bacteriological studies of bile from patients operated on for cholelithiasis]. AB - Complete bacteriological examination of bile was carried out in 123 patients operated on for cholecystolithiasis. The most frequently found Gram-negative bacteria were E. coli and Klebsiella species. The Gram-positive organisms were most frequently Staphylococcus epidermidis, Str. viridans and Str. faecalis. Anaerobes were rarely found. The effectiveness of the antibiotics used was studied. PMID- 2629316 TI - [Bilateral amputations after multiple vascular operations in patients with advanced ischemia of the lower extremities]. AB - In 62 patients 72 repeated multiple operations on the arteries of lower extremities were carried out. In 7 cases both lower extremities had to be amputated at mid-femoral level. The time from the first vascular operations to the amputation of the other extremity ranged from 6 months and 16 days to 8 years and 30 days (mean 5 years). PMID- 2629317 TI - [Serum levels of acid alpha 1-glycoprotein, haptoglobin, C 3c component of the complement and immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM in liver damage in patients with chronic renal failure treated by repeated hemodialysis]. AB - Thirty-five patients with chronic renal failure treated with repeated haemodialyses were divided into 3 groups: without evidence of hepatocellular damage (n = 11), with HBs-negative hepatocellular damage (n = 13), with HBS positive, HBe-positive hepatocellular damage (n = 10). The concentrations of acid alpha 1-glycoprotein, haptoglobin, C3c complement component, IgG, IgA, IgM were determined in the serum before haemodialysis. The serum concentration of acid alpha 1-glycoprotein was statistically significantly higher in the patients in comparison with the healthy subjects. The concentrations of haptoglobin and C3c complement component in the serum were not statistically significantly different form those in healthy controls. The serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM in patients with hepatocellular damage HBs-positive and HBe-positive were statistically significantly higher in relation to healthy subjects, the serum IgG level in this group was statistically significantly higher than in the group without hepatocellular damage and the group with HBs-negative hepatocellular damage. PMID- 2629318 TI - [Clinical picture of pathological conditions with electrocardiographic features of the LGL syndrome]. AB - Three cases of the LGL syndrome are reported. In the first case the syndrome was associated with hyperthyroidism, in the second case ECG abnormalities suggested focal myocardial ischaemia, in the third case pre-excitation coexisted with combined valvular heart disease. Attention is called to frequent occurrence of the pre-exitation syndrome with certain disease entities. PMID- 2629319 TI - [Rare complications during the treatment of retropharyngeal abscess]. AB - In the Province Integrated Hospital in Czestochowa a 2-year-old child was treated for a retropharyngeal abscess on the left side. During the treatment complication developed in the form of haemorrhage caused by damage to a large retropharyngeal artery, and cardiac arrest due to plugging of the glottis and trachea with mucus. PMID- 2629320 TI - [So-called cervicogenic headache]. AB - After a description of the clinical pattern of the newly isolated by Sjaastad et al. from of headaches, that is cervicogenic headache the authors report two own cases in women aged 37 and 57 years. The cases agreed completely with the description of Sjaastad et al. and other authors, and they enrich the number of case reports on this disease. PMID- 2629321 TI - [Conservative treatment of post-traumatic intracerebellar hematoma]. AB - In previous years many authors stressed the very rare occurrence and difficulties in establishing of early diagnosis in cases of posttraumatic haematomas in the posterior cranial caeity, among them also the intracerebellar ones. The detection rate of this condition has increased greatly after introduction of computed tomography in the diagnosis of complications following craniocerebral trauma, changing also the view on the method of its treatment. Although before the introduction of CT the prevailin view was that all intracerebellar haematomas should be treated sugically the present opinion is that some of them meeting certain criteria (small size, peripheral situation in the cerebellar hemispheres laterally to the midline, absence of symptoms of intracranial hypertension, and the possibility of frequent CT control) may be treated successively without surgical intervention with adwantage to the patient. Two cases are presented in which intracerebellar haematomas were treated conserwatively. The authors review the pertinent literature stressing the criteria which should be considered in the qualification of patients for this management. PMID- 2629322 TI - [Prune belly syndrome of Obrinsky in a newborn infant]. AB - A rare case of the prune syndrome of Obrinsky was observed in a male newborn born in pelvic presentation in poor condition. The newborn died during operation for cord hernia and suturing of the perforated persisting urachus with signs of cardiorespiratory failure. PMID- 2629323 TI - [Value of Doppler echocardiography in evaluating pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with mitral valve defect]. AB - In 40 patients aged 25-52 years (mean 36 years) with mitral valve disease but without overt circulatory failure haemodynamic studies and echocardiographic examinations were carried out recording the blood flow in the pulmonary artery and the blood flow through the tricuspid valve by pulsating and continuous-wave methods. From the obtained curves the time was calculated from the beginning of the flow to its maximum (TPV), the pre-ejection time (RPEP) and the right ventricular ejection time (RVET), and the indices TPV/RVET and RPEP/RVET. Moreover, in 14 patients with coexistent insufficiency of the tricuspid valve the systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery was calculated by determining the systolic gradient across the tricuspid valve. On the basis of the results of haemodynamic examination the patients were divided into two groups: with normal (24 patients) and with raised (16 patients) pressure in the pulmonary artery. In the group of mitral valve disease and pulmonary hypertension a significantly shorter TPV, lower values of the TPV/RVET index and greater values of the RPEP/RVET index were found as compared with the patients with mitral disease and normal value of the systolic arterial pressure in the pulmonary artery. The systolic arterial pressure in the pulmonary artery determined on the basis of Doppler echocardiography with measurement of the regurgitation wave in tricuspid valve insufficiency showed a high agreement (r = 0.94) with the pressure recorded during cardiac catheterization. PMID- 2629324 TI - [Epidemiologic problems of gastrointestinal infections in children 0 to 2 years of age]. AB - The analysis is presented of certain epidemiological problems based on a material including 774 cases of gastrointestinal infections hospitalized in two paediatric centres of the Province Paediatric Hospital in Warsaw in the years 1979/1981/1983. Faeces were examined obtained from children aged 0 to 24 months treated in hospital for diarrhoea. The material was presented in tables and was subjected to statistical analysis. The absolute number of the treated infants with diarrhoea increased successively in successive years of the study. No significant correlation was found in the frequency of hospitalizations of children from Warsaw and from the Province of Warsaw. The greatest group of children with diarrhoea were children in the first trimester of life, especially newborns. The greatest number of cases were treated in the first and second trimester of the calendar year. Most cases of diarrhoea were due to E. coli agglutinating with group A serum, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. PMID- 2629325 TI - [Biliary atresia in children]. AB - Congenital biliary tract atresia was found in 0.58% of children dying in the first year of life. Most frequently atresia included the extrahepatic bile ducts, among them the common bile duct. Five cases (35.7%) had atresia associated with other developmental anomalies, which may suggest a genetic determination of the atresia. The most frequent cause of death of the newborns and infants with congenital biliary tract atresia was bronchopneumonia with associated biliary cirrhosis of the liver. PMID- 2629326 TI - [Multiple sclerosis and psoriasis]. AB - Among 51 patients with clinically probable multiple sclerosis three had typical chronic psoriasis. The incidence of psoriasis in the studies group of multiple sclerosis patients was higher (one case per 17 patients) than in the general population (one per 33 subjects). In all three cases psoriasis developed before the beginning of remitting multiple sclerosis and showed no correlation with the exacerbations of the neurological disease or with the degree of neurological function loss. The presence of histocompatibility antigens (HLA), immunopathological and biochemical changes in both diseases is discussed. PMID- 2629327 TI - [Patterns of resistance of Staph aureus and gram-negative bacteria to aminoglycosides and cephalosporins]. AB - The sensitivity to 4 aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin, tobramycin, netilmycin and amicacin) and 5 cephalosporins (cefradine, cefamandol, cefotaxime, cefoperazone and ceftriaxone) was determined in 700 bacterial strains isolated from clinical materials in the years 1986-1987. The most frequent coexistent resistance was observed to gentamicin and tobramycin in S. aureus (30%), Klebsiella (30%), Proteus mirabilis (28%) and Enterobacter (23%). Resistance to 5 cephalosporins was found in Enterobacter (28%), Proteus spp (18%), Klebsiella (10%). Resistance to cefradine only was found in 13% of E. coli and 27% of Proteus mirabilis strains, and resistance to cefradine and cefamandol in 30% of Proteus ssp strains S. aureus strains were resistant to cefradine, cefotaxime, cefoperazone and ceftriaxone in 28% of cases. Multiple resistance was found in the strains of Enterobacter, Proteus, Pseudomonas and S. aureus which were isolated mainly in intense therapy, surgery and haematology departments. Among aminoglycosides netilmycin and amicacin were most active, among cefalosporins ceftriaxone was most effective against Gram-negative bacteria, and cefamandol against S. aureus. PMID- 2629328 TI - [Comparative studies of 2 systems of early cyto-oncologic diagnosis of cervix erosion]. AB - In the years 1979-1980 screening examinations (by the open method) were given to 51232 women, that is 85.3% of the female population of Bytom at risk for cervical cancer. Grade I and II cytological smears were found in 46320 (98.52%) of women. Papanicolau grade III was found in 201 (1.12%), and grade IV-V in 64 (0.12%). At the same time, in the years 1978-1984 in the closed health service institutions 19968 women were examined, and suspected smears (grade III-IV) were noted in 368 cases (1.8%). Histological verification showed cervical dysplasia in 184 (0.36%) and 106 (0.53%) respectively, and cervical carcinoma grade 0-IV 52 (10%) and 156 (0.94%). The author compared the results with similar ones obtained in various regions of Poland and in foreign countries. The author failed to find greater detectability of cervical dysplasia and carcinoma in Silesia in comparison with certain, less industrialized, regions of Poland. The author thinks that the stationary system of cervical cancer prevention has a greater chance of being introduced on condition of reorganization of this system, introduction of training of cytological technicians and organization of centres of cytooncological examinations. PMID- 2629329 TI - [Pneumatosis cystoides of the intestines, mesentery and greater omentum]. AB - A 36-year-old man is described with idiopathic emphysema of the mediastium, neck, subcutaneous tissue of the chest and abdomen followed by pneumatosis cystoides of the intestine, mesentery, greater omentum and peritoneum with good outcome. PMID- 2629330 TI - [A rare case of coexistence of pancreatic cystadenoma and adenocarcinoma of the rectum]. AB - A rare coexistence is reported of a benign pancreatic tumour--cystadenoma--with anal adenocarcinoma. A particular attention is called to the histological structure of the tumour and differential diagnosis. Photographic documentation is enclosed. PMID- 2629331 TI - [Guillain-Barre syndrome]. AB - A case of the Gullain-Barre syndrome was observed in a woman aged 18 years. The course was acute and fatal. Sedimentation plasmaferesis was applied in the treatment. A peculiarity of the case was the ascending course of paralysis and coexistence of encephalomyelitis. PMID- 2629332 TI - [Education, graduate and continuing education]. PMID- 2629333 TI - [The dialysis patient--noli me tangere?]. PMID- 2629334 TI - [Drug prescriptions in general practice]. PMID- 2629335 TI - [Use of digitalis 1981 to 1988 in the Frankfurt (Oder) district]. PMID- 2629336 TI - [Managing pregnant patients as the combined responsibility of occupational physicians and gynecologists]. PMID- 2629337 TI - [Side effects of chloroquine therapy]. PMID- 2629338 TI - [Some philosophical aspects of chronic diseases]. PMID- 2629339 TI - [Medical ethology]. PMID- 2629340 TI - [The reliability of the blood glucose test strip "Glucosignal" in self monitoring of blood glucose by diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy and acquired color vision disorders]. PMID- 2629341 TI - [Fatal and survived acute carbon monoxide poisoning caused by wood burning stoves as a source of warmth]. PMID- 2629342 TI - [Pregnancy and labor in paraplegia]. PMID- 2629343 TI - [Autogenic training and thermal feedback in health resorts]. PMID- 2629344 TI - [Progress in health resort management]. PMID- 2629345 TI - [A case report of Noonan syndrome-like symptom complex]. PMID- 2629346 TI - [The medical forensic witness as an expert in criminal procedures]. PMID- 2629347 TI - [The medically educated class in socialism]. PMID- 2629348 TI - [What should be done in hypertension?]. PMID- 2629349 TI - [Epidemiology, diagnosis and clinical aspects of multiple myeloma]. PMID- 2629350 TI - [The spinal emergency. Urgent indications for surgical intervention in spondylogenic lumbar processes]. PMID- 2629351 TI - [Possibilities and problems of artificial joint replacement in rheumatoid arthritis]. PMID- 2629352 TI - [Microsurgical replantation of the hand. Initial treatment, prerequisites and results]. PMID- 2629353 TI - [New regulation of mass chest x-ray with formation of at-risk groups]. PMID- 2629354 TI - [Treatment of anal fissure by self-dilatation with an anal dilator. Report of experiences with dilatation treatment]. PMID- 2629355 TI - [A rare cause of stomach hemorrhage]. PMID- 2629356 TI - [Nasal septum perforation caused by calcium carbide dust]. PMID- 2629357 TI - [A rare disease course in plasmacytoma]. PMID- 2629358 TI - [Health politics and problem presentation in medical philosophical attitudes in the graduate education of general practitioners]. PMID- 2629359 TI - [Stimulus and response characteristics as determinants of the electrodermal orienting reaction in the Rorschach trial]. AB - The Rorschach test was used as an experiment of perception to analyze (external and internal) stimulus-response and individual response specificity of electrodermal orienting response OR (skin conductance response SCR) to presentations of unstructured material. On a sample of 84 subjects (medical students and colleagues of the medical department) the partial effects of "card" (external stimulus), "affective content of the signification" (internal stimulus), and "subject" on the (range-corrected) electrodermal OR were analyzed. The variance-analytic model was highly significant. The highly significant card effect with a physiological variance component of about 9% was interpreted as a "novelty" component of the electrodermal OR. The examined response characteristic also had a significant effect on the electrodermal OR with a physiological variance component of about 1%. Yet the determining variable was not the affective content of the signification, but rather the complexity of the (affective) signification. This result was discussed in terms of information processing and conflict theory. The important interindividual OR variance of nearly 40% supported the concept of the individual specificity of physiological response. PMID- 2629360 TI - [Infant characteristics and anger reduction]. AB - Konrad Lorenz first suggested in 1943 that certain physical and behavioral characteristics common to infants (babyishness) serve as cues to attract adult attention and care as well as to decrease the likelihood of aggression. The present study was designed to determine whether the visual stimuli of a baby's face alone are sufficient to reduce anger. The subjects were 60 female students between 18 and 30 years of age. Anger was evoked by setting unsolvable tasks and by noise and maintained by adequate instructions and by continuing noise. Three procedures of measurement (heart rate, retrospective self-report, and interpretation of facial affect by two observers) were designed to show the reactions of the subjects viewing photos of babies and adults. We found a slight increase in heart rate to be an expression of happiness and a massive acceleration to be an expression of anger. The self-report measures and interpretation of facial affect supported the hypothesis that there is a more positive response to infants than to adults, and to cute babies also a more positive one than to less attractive infants. We found weak evidence that babyishness reduces anger. As a consequence of the length of the experiment, subjects who should not be aroused became angry. Thus, it was possible to register a reduction of anger as reaction to cute infants. PMID- 2629361 TI - [Psychological versus physical stress conditions as determinants of psychophysical regulatory processes]. AB - In a psychophysiological experimental study, two methods of standardization to induce failure-type stress situations were tested. "Psychological standardization" uses a computerized adaptive procedure to obtain a similar and stable amount of failure (about 60% incorrect solutions) both for each individual and over time; the number of tasks, however could change. The conventional "physical standardization" uses a constant number of identical tasks, both for each person and over time. The results show a better standardization of failure type situations by using the psychological standardization method. It was further shown that heart rate and skin conductance reactions depend mainly on coping motivation and coping success rather than on the stressor intensity (objective number of tasks). Results also revealed that dispositional action control (Kuhl, 1983) was a better predictor of physiological regulation under psychological standardization than under physical standardization of failure-type stress situations. PMID- 2629362 TI - [Effect of performance and state orientation on achievement and attention indicators in a simple stimulus-response task with and without performance feedback]. AB - In formulating his theory of action control, Kuhl (1983) proposed two motivational states: action orientation and state orientation. People who are action oriented are able to ignore all informations in concrete situations which are irrelevant with regard to the preferred goals. Persons who are state oriented tend to focus sooner on the outlast aspects of a special state. Kuhl introduced a questionnaire HAKEMP to record these tendencies. Further on, there occurs the general assumption that in a particular state of state orientation, people have only a limited processing capacity for given tasks. This hypothesis was tested in an experiment (n = 88) with a stimulus-reaction task. The conditions were varied by the type of the task (fixed or variable stimulus interval) and feedback for the subjects' ability to react. It was expected that for the fixed stimulus interval condition, state-oriented people would be less efficient than action oriented subjects; with feedback there should be increasing results. The experiment however, shows no significant difference between the performance of state- and action-oriented subjects. These results are discussed in relation to modifications of the HAKEMP questionnaire. PMID- 2629363 TI - [Changed chemosensory identity following experimental bone marrow transplantation: recognition by another species]. AB - A new paradigm was constructed using rats as trained animals in order to examine changes appearing in the scent of mice after a fully allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Two rats (CAP), deprived of water 20 hours before each training session, were trained in an olfactometer to discriminate two fully allogeneic mice strains (C3H, C57) via their urine odors. Reinforcement for identification of the St was provided by a drop of water. After discrimination was built-up, the reinforcement schedule was reduced stepwise in defined blocks of trials, in order to allow transfer-of-training tests, to which urine samples of allogeneic reconstituted BMT-chimeras (C57----C3H and C3H----C57) were submitted. It was confirmed that the strain-specific urine odors of the recipients were changed by a fully allogeneic BMT. The results also showed that the urine odors of allogeneic reconstituted chimeras differed from the specific urine odor of the donor strain. PMID- 2629364 TI - [The internist--responsibilities, professional practice and self concept. An introduction]. AB - An analysis of claim and reality causes doubt about the fact whether the internal medicine as a basic clinical subject may at present fully meet its commission. The working group "ethics" of the GDR Society of Internal Medicine has worked out a material concerning the questions of the tasks, the activity and the self appreciation of the internal specialists and puts it under discussion. PMID- 2629365 TI - [The internist and general practitioner in ambulatory care--similarities and limits]. AB - As a contribution to a self-appreciation of internal medicine which must newly be thought through under the modern conditions of medicine and society is tried to determine limits and communities of this specialty in the ambulatory basic medical care with regard to the general medicine orientating to the activities as a family doctor. PMID- 2629366 TI - [The anti-arrhythmia effect and hemodynamic effects of Bonnecor in intravenous administration]. AB - For testing the efficiency of Bonnecor in intravenous administration (0.3 mg/kg) 36 patients were examined electrophysiologically (31 with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias, 5 with ventricular tachycardias). In other 6 patients haemodynamic investigations were performed by means of right-heart catheterization and thermodilution. The supraventricular tachycardias induced by programmed electrostimulation could be interrupted by administration of Bonnecor in 45% of the cases. After the administration of Bonnecor the inducibility of supraventricular tachycardias was suppressed in 11 of the 31 patients. In 2 of the 5 patients with ventricular tachycardia an evocation of ventricular tachycardias was no more possible after an intravenous application of Bonnecor; a medicamentous termination of the ventricular tachycardias had been tried only in one case. Clinically relevant negatively inotropic effects could not be proved. Apart from insignificant malaises in few cases, no side-effects occurred. PMID- 2629367 TI - [Stress hemodynamics in hypertensive patients treated with nifedipine]. AB - In 10 male juvenile hypertensives WHO stage I who are active in sports echocardiographic investigations were performed at rest and on exertion (up to 2 Watt/kg body-weight) without therapy as well as 1 hour after sublingual administration of 20 mg nifedipine and after a six-week treatment with 3 times 20 mg nifedipine a day. 51 normotensives of the same age served as reference test persons. The antihypertensive effect was distinct, but not so expressive as under the beta-blockade. From the behaviour of the heart rate (reduction under permanent therapy) of the stroke volume (increase to the highest step of exertion) and of the reduction of blood-pressure can be concluded to an economizing effect of the central haemodynamics by nifedipine on exertion. Negative inotropic effects could be excluded particularly from the behaviour of the medium circumferential speed of the velocity of the shortening of fibres on exertion. Nifedipine can be recommended for the treatment of bodily active hypertensives, when the administration of beta-blockers is not to be represented. PMID- 2629368 TI - [Cimetidine and ethanol]. AB - Cimetidine inhibits hepatic drug metabolism, but its effect on ethanol elimination is less well established. The influence of cimetidine on the kinetics of ethanol is studied with three standardized drinking experiments. Cimetidine had no influence on the absorption or elimination of ethanol. There were significant differences in distribution of ethanol in consequence of inhibition of vascular histamine receptors after cimetidine application. PMID- 2629369 TI - [The importance of two-dimensional echocardiography in conjunction with trans esophageal stimulation of the left atrium for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia]. AB - In 27 patients with coronary heart disease (group 1) and in 15 persons of ontrol group (group 2) transoesophageal left atrial pacing was performed. 12-lead ECG and two-dimensional echocardiography were done before and on the peak of the pacing. Changes of ST-segment (ST) and R-wave amplitude of V5 in the ECG (RV5) were analyzed. Left ventricular wall motion in the 11 segments and left ventricular enddiastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventrivular endsystolic volume index (LVESVI), stroke volume index (SVI), cardiac index (CI) and ejection fraction were studied by echocardiography. Sensitivity, specifity and predictive value confirming and excluding of coronary heart disease of the analyzed parameters were determined. During the analysis of ST-segment these values were 0.81, 0.67, 0.81 and 0.67 respectively. Diagnostic values of the analysis of the left ventricular wall motion and the ejection fraction were not statistically different (p greater than 0.05) from the analysis of ST-segment. During the analysis of LVEDVI, LVESVI, CI sensitivity of the transoesophageal atrial pacing was decreased and specifity was increased (p less than 0.05). The greatest value in the diagnosis of myocardial ischaemia during the two-dimensional echocardiography combined with transoesophageal left atrial pacing has the finding of the segmental asynergy of systole, diminution of EF and augmentation of LVESVI. PMID- 2629370 TI - [Regulation of pancreatic function through the gastrointestinal tract. Symposium. Heidelberg, 21 September 1988. Proceedings]. PMID- 2629371 TI - [Functional relation of bile and the pancreas]. PMID- 2629372 TI - [Relation of the stomach and pancreas in the human]. PMID- 2629373 TI - [Surgical treatment of combined extra- and intracranial lesions of the carotid arteries]. AB - The results of surgery for extra- and intracranial lesions of the carotid arteries in 108 patients are analysed. Application of non-invasive methods of examination parallelled with angiography provided a positive estimate of collateral circulation in unilateral occlusion of the internal carotid artery. Long-term postoperative studies showed best results in patients with transitory ischaemic attacks, minor stroke, dyscirculatory encephalopathy, and minor sequelae of ischaemic stroke. Surgery is contraindicated in moderate to severe poststroke neurological defect and does not have an advantage over conservative treatment. PMID- 2629374 TI - [Indications for aortocoronary bypass in patients with combined lesions of the coronary arteries, abdominal aorta and blood vessels of the legs]. AB - The literature and original research data on the incidence of combined lesions of coronary arteries, abdominal aorta, and lower-limb vessels are presented. Operative intervention was undertaken in 112 of 170 examined patients with combined coronary and vascular abnormalities. Fifteen patients underwent one stage reconstruction of the coronary artery and aortofemoral segment; in 57 patients aortocoronary bypass was performed as the first stage; in 40 patients only vascular reconstruction was performed. Operative risks in these patients are discussed, as well as the diagnostic problems, surgical tactics, and the sequence of operation stages in combined coronary and vascular abnormalities. PMID- 2629375 TI - [Coronary circulation in patients with ischemic heart disease with various degrees of arteriosclerosis obliterans of the leg during selection surgical treatment]. AB - First in the literature, the relationship between the coronary and lower limb circulation is detailed on the basis of objective findings. Comparison of the two patient groups (the patients categorized according to the degree of lower limb ischemia revealed by Doppler ultrasound echocardiography) in respect to the clinicomorphofunctional characteristics of the coronary flow in IHD patients suggested the absence of a significant correlation between them. Varying severity of lower limb ischemia does not influence the gravity of IHD manifestation in the same patients. PMID- 2629376 TI - [Effect of hypothermia on the metabolism and post-ischemia restoration of myocardial function]. AB - Our studies have revealed a prognostically poor course in postinfarction angina pectoris patients on conservative medicamentous treatment. The mortality rate within the first year of this syndrome onset was 19.8 per cent among conservatively treated patients. Surgical management of these patients had a significantly better prognosis. Despite the fact that there was a great difference in survival rates between the studied groups at the hospital stage, the survival rate was significantly higher at subsequent stages in surgical patients compared to that in the conservatively treated group, and correlated with that in a larger population of matched age. In addition, surgical treatment was found to substantially improve the quality of life in patients with postinfarction angina pectoris which implies lowered frequency of attacks, increased exercise tolerance, and improved working capacity. PMID- 2629377 TI - [Prognostic significance of arterial blood pressure levels and the effectiveness of the treatment of arterial hypertension in a non-organized male population 40 59 years of age in Moscow]. AB - Isolated working rat hearts were subjected to a 3-hour ischemia followed by reperfusion. The defense effects of the heart cooling to 6-7 and 12-15 degrees C were assessed according to the degree of postischemic recovery of hemodynamic (arterial pressure, heart rate, coronary flow, cardiac output) and biochemical (ATP, phosphocreatine, Pi, and lactate content) characteristics and electron microscopic evidence. The energy resources of the myocardium and its cellular structures were effectively preserved during one-hour ischemia at 12-15 degrees C. At 6-7 degrees C, the energy resources of the hearts were better preserved in long-term ischemia, where the functional characteristics were recovered to the same extent as in the 12-15 degrees C hypothermia, but some cell damage was observed. The obtained findings suggested that the temperature of 12-15 degrees C should be the temperature of choice for heart cooling in cardiosurgery. PMID- 2629378 TI - [Improving the contractility and metabolism of the isolated rat heart during post ischemia reperfusion with phosphocreatine, tocopheryl phosphate and their combination]. AB - Within the framework of the multifactor programme of ischemic heart disease (IHD) prevention, among the male population aged 40 to 59 years, the total mortality rate is shown to increase with elevation of blood pressure caused not only by cardiovascular disease but by other disease as well. The incidence of myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke is also shown to increase. Active complex therapeutic and preventive measures among the persons with arterial hypertension (AH) detected during a mass examination, have led to reduction of the prognostic value of AH for the total mortality rate and that in cardiovascular disease, in IHD in particular. Persons under 50 years with concurrent AH and IHD were found to have more pronounced changes. PMID- 2629379 TI - [The main pathogenetic mechanisms of disorders of the detoxication function of the liver in endogenous toxemia of various etiologies]. AB - The mechanisms of cell proliferative activity regulation under the effect of growth factors, mitogens, virus transformation, etc. were analyzed. Changes in the location of cAMP-dependent protein kinase caused by these factors, the effect of the nerve growth factor on the activities of protein kinase and high-affinity ATPase, and the mechanism of antiproliferative action of staphylococcal enterotoxin A were specified. Data on receptor-independent intracellular penetration of protein factors hydrophobized by fatty acid residues are overviewed. PMID- 2629380 TI - [Development of immunologic deficiency conditions and sensitization in industrial workers and methodologic approach to their detection and evaluation]. AB - The principal mechanisms forming the basis of detoxication abnormalities have been analysed using the data of research into the status of the hepatic monooxygenase enzyme system, which is responsible for the liver detoxication potential, and the literature reports. Irrespective of the pathology, a similar depression of the monooxygenase enzyme system of hepatocytes was revealed in acute stercoraceous peritonitis, acute ileus, burn disease, acute renal failure, and pyo-inflammatory conditions in the maxillofacial region. A pathogenetic model is proposed, which explains the mechanism of hepatic detoxication dysfunction in endogenous intoxications of different etiology. New approaches to the therapy of detoxication abnormalities in the conditions attended with endotoxemic syndrome are discussed proceeding from the pathogenetic mechanisms. PMID- 2629381 TI - [Comparative analysis of various indicators of venous blood and peripheral lymph in healthy subjects]. AB - Over four hundred industrial workers underwent immunological examination for quantitative and functional evaluation of the main blood lymphocyte and neutrophil subpopulations and reactions of sensitization to industrial allergens at the cellular and subcellular levels. Concurrent quantitative and functional T- and B-lymphocyte deficiency was revealed in 17.5 per cent workers; the majority of subjects were found to have changes in specific indices (30 per cent) or heterogeneous changes (11.5 per cent). The incidence and magnitude of the secondary immunodeficiency signs are shown to be dependent on the main unfavourable factors of the industrial environment which are also related to the sensitization to the industrial allergens, developing primarily in T- and B lymphocyte deficient subjects (40 per cent of the 69 per cent sensitized). A principle of group formation is proposed for the dynamic follow-up of the outcome of the revealed signs of secondary immunodeficiency and their effect on the workers' health. A methodology is established for revealing secondary immunodeficiency state and sensitization during mass immunological examinations of industrial workers. PMID- 2629382 TI - [Mechanical jaundice in cholangitis]. AB - The peripheral lymph of the leg and venous blood from donor volunteers were compared. The lymph was found to issue at a higher rate in the active period of the day (from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m.) than at night (from 9 p. m. to 9 a. m.) and is equal to 0.45 and 0.22 X 10(-3) litre/hour, respectively. Its cell composition was lower than that of the peripheral blood (lymph, 2.04 X 10(7) cell/litre; blood, 509 X 10(7) cell/litre) with erythrocytes and platelets not taken into account. Lymphocytes (over 90 per cent) and monocytes (9 per cent) prevailed; the cell number varied with the time of the day; at daytime it was 5-6 times greater than at night. The immunological parameters of the lymph were characterized by a lower content of B cells, greater proportion of 0 cells, and a close T-cell proportion, the active lymphocytes being prevalent. This T-cell proportion correlated with higher spontaneous and lower PHA-induced proliferative activities. The lymph immunoglobulin level was 10-27 per cent of the serum immunoglobulin level; a relationship was observed between the plasma and lymph levels in different age groups. PMID- 2629383 TI - [Elevation of the blood kynurenine level in caffeine-induced anxiety]. AB - Concentration of neuroactive tryptophane--kynurenine metabolite was studied in healthy men volunteers in conditions of anxiety artificially elicited by caffeine. At peak of the alarm the level of the kynurenine significantly increased and came to norm after anxiety cessation. Possible causes of this increase are discussed. High correlation has been obtained between the kynurenine concentration and initial values of personal and reactive anxiety. The conclusion is made about the participation of the kynurenine in formation of personal and reactive anxiety in man. PMID- 2629384 TI - [The relation of psychological characteristics of alcoholics and indices of discrete omega measurement]. AB - As a result of factor analysis of discrete omega measurement data and psychological studies of 62 chronic alcoholic patients the interconnection was found between one of super-slow physiological process in the brain--omega potential and individual-typological characteristics of personality according to the tests of Spilberger-Khanin, Rosenzweig and MMPI. The obtained results allow to consider the methods of discrete omega measurement with psychoemotional load in the form of imitation of alcohol usage as an objective means of express-test of alcoholic patients psychological state. PMID- 2629385 TI - [Dependence of the electrical activity of the amygdaloid complex on motivation level and emotional status in the dog]. AB - On the basis of spectral analysis of prolonged realizations (hundreds of seconds) of electrosubcorticograms of the amygdalar complexes of three dogs, the effect of increase in power of amygdalar rhythmic activity was found, at the change of motivation level in conditions of dominance of alimentary or defensive motivation independently of its kind. Resonance characteristics of the system responsible for the generation of the given rhythm remain unchanged; this allows to explain the increase of the spectral peak by the rise of the inflow of afferent impulse activity to the amygdala. At presence of competitive motivations no summation of their influences is observed; a more complex effect on the rhythm arises in the amygdala. PMID- 2629386 TI - [The effect of single maximal physical loading on the emotional behavior of rats]. AB - In experiments on 250 Wistar female rats the influence was studied of a single maximum and submaximum physical loads on the emotional behaviour and the state of conditioned activity. It has been established, that as a result of maximum possible run of the animals depression takes place of orienting investigatory activity in conditions of the "open field" and disturbance of elaboration and reproduction of the conditioned reflex of two-way avoidance. Normalization of these parameters took place in 48 hours after the maximum load action. Analogous effect was observed in the period of aftereffect of the submaximum physical load, characterized by lowering of the level of behavioural activity in the "open field", disturbance of the elaboration of two-way avoidance as a result of presumable increase of functional tonus of the brain inhibitory systems. PMID- 2629387 TI - [The formation of predatory aggressiveness in the ontogeny of rats]. AB - In tests on outbred male rats the problem was studied of the existence of "sensitive periods" in the formation of rats predatory aggression. Breeding of small rats together with mice from the first till 60-th postnatal day considerably inhibits their muricidity in the adult age, what is manifest in tests of predatory aggressiveness till the 270-th day of rats life. Breeding of mice together with rats in the age of 1-20, 20-40, 40-60 and 20-60 postnatal days does not influence significantly their muricidity. Antiaggressive effect of breeding of mice with adult rats from the 150-th to the 210-th day is a short term one, and breeding of mice with old rats in the age of 540-600 postnatal days does not significantly effect the muricidity. PMID- 2629388 TI - [Spontaneous and orienting-exploratory motor activity in rats with hereditary arterial hypertension]. AB - In rats of spontaneously hypertensive line (SHR) in comparison with normotensive animals of WKY line an increased activity was revealed in new surroundings in conditions of open illuminated space, and reduced activity in limited darkened space with weakened extinction of activity. Male SHR rats had a higher daily motor activity and SHR females--a lower level of defecation. The revealed behavioural changes testify to an enhancement of investigatory motivation and weakening of "fear" in SHR rats as well as to increased excitatory and decreased inhibitory processes in these animals. Behavioural characteristics of SHR rats reflect an increased reactivity of their nervous system which may be connected with the mechanisms of the increase of arterial pressure. PMID- 2629389 TI - [Evaluation of the ability to solve the Revecz-Krushinskii test in corvine birds]. AB - Reasoning ability in crows was investigated by means of the Revecz-Krushinskii test, in which the bird has to apprehend the rule of stimulus (food bait) displacement: "In each next trial the food bait is hidden in a new place--one step further along the row". By means of computer modelling the criteria of statistical evaluation of this problem solving were established. The test was considered solved when the number of trials which preceded the detection of food was less than those which were calculated for chance performance. High level of reasoning ability in crows is discussed. PMID- 2629390 TI - [Sleep and wakefulness in Greenland seal pups]. AB - ECoG of both hemispheres, EOG, neck EMG and EKG were recorded in 2 white (age 10 days) and 2 gray pups (age 1 month) of harp seal. The active wakefulness occupied 23.4 +/- 3.8% of total recording time, the relaxed wakefulness--32.6 +/- 3.6%, drowsiness--4.8 +/- 1.1%, slow wave sleep--31.5 +/- 3.0%, paradoxical sleep--7.7 +/- 0.8%. The sleep cycle averaged 18.2 +/- 1.4 min. Interhemispheric asymmetry of the ECoG was not seen in all 4 pups. The respiration was fast and regular in the relaxed wakefulness, then long respiration pauses were alternated with episodes of hyperventilation during slow wave sleep and there was rare and irregular respiration in the paradoxical sleep. The heart rate was lowest during the paradoxical sleep. It is suggested that this pattern of sleep, allowing seals to delay their breathing during sleep for a long time may be considered as an adaptation to existence in freezing seas. PMID- 2629391 TI - [Cross-correlation as a method for discriminating impulses on multineuronal recordings]. AB - Impulses series, singled out from multineuronal activity by means of amplitude discriminator, were analyzed by creating crosscorrelation histograms. The authors consider that in studying of net brain activity with crosscorrelation method of analysis "window" discrimination of impulses series in multineuronal record is a quite correct method and may be used along with discrimination of spikes by form. It is shown that the size of the "window", used for singling out of separate impulses series, is not a determining parameter in search of temporal dependence in the activity of the investigated cells, as final discrimination of the impulses of dependently acting neuronal pairs occurs at the level of the crosscorrelation method itself. The step of the analysis under the use of crosscorrelation method is of decisive significance for revealing of direct interconnections between neurones in the cases when these connections are masked on histograms with wide peaks reflecting the influences of common sources, on the recorded cells. PMID- 2629392 TI - [Pentagastrin modulation of the neuronal sensitivity of the lateral hypothalamus to noradrenaline and dopamine]. AB - Experimental study is dedicated to mechanisms of interaction of pentagastrin and monoamines (noradrenaline and dopamine) at the level of single neurones of the rabbits lateral hypothalamus under alimentary motivation and under saturation. It is shown that pentagastrin can modulate the effects of noradrenaline and dopamine on neuronal impulse activity in hungry and fed up animals, and the character of its action depends on the rabbits initial state. It is suggested that pentagastrin is a factor initiating alimentary motivational excitation, while noradrenaline maintains the latter at the definite level up to obtaining useful result by the animal, when dopaminergic mechanisms participating in the process of reinforcement join the noradrenergic ones. PMID- 2629393 TI - [A comparison of the spike train activity of the cortical neurons and of the spatial synchronization of the EEG]. AB - In chronic experiments EEG coherence and conjugation of impulse activity were compared of neurones of the visual and sensorimotor areas of rabbits neocortex simultaneously recorded with the same electrodes. Connection was revealed between the presence and properties of conjugated neurones activity and EEG coherence at various frequencies. At correlated neurones activity a greater EEG coherence was observed on frequencies of 3-4,5 Hz than at the independent activity. At the highest level of the EEG coherence the neurones discharged with less delay of one after the other in pairs, and in their synchronization a common source participated more often than at the lowest level of the EEG coherence. PMID- 2629394 TI - [Functional characteristics of the mature and developing brain following neuroimmunization: an analysis of the short-term plasticity of the rat hypothalamus]. AB - In experiments on mature and developing (3-4 weeks old) rats the influence was shown of neuroimmunization with summate antigens of hippocampal or neocortical tissue cytosolic fraction on short-term plasticity of hippocampal CA3 field potentials under dentate gyrus zone stimulation. An increase of paired facilitation and frequency potentiation was revealed in pyramidal layer responses of hippocampal tissue immunized animals. In case of immunization with neocortical antigens the changes were less expressed, had mainly the opposite direction and took place in the apical dendrites zone. In young animals besides antigen spectrum depending effects of neuroimmunization an earlier manifestation (in comparison with age norm) of some focal activity definitive properties was described. The suggestions are made about different localization of hippocampal or neocortical tissue immunization "targets" with possible preferential damage of intrahippocampal systems when using this structure antigens, and also about dependence of physiological consequences on the extent of target structure ontogenetic maturity. PMID- 2629395 TI - [The neuronal activity of the medial wall of the frontal cortex in rats at various stages of learning]. AB - Unit activity of the medial wall of the rat prefrontal cortex was studied during delayed response of spatial choice. Recording was performed in two groups of animals at different levels of learning. Several types of spatio-selective neurones were revealed. Probable relationships of unit activity changes and level of learning are discussed. PMID- 2629396 TI - [The effect of adaptation to the periodic action of high-altitude hypoxia on the emotional behavior of rats]. PMID- 2629397 TI - [The retroactive action of paradoxical sleep deprivation and immobilization stress on the mechanisms of memory and passive avoidance in rats]. AB - Influence was studied of 48-hours deprivation of paradoxical sleep (DPS) and immobilization stress on conditioned reaction of fear and security--components of passive avoidance conditioned reflex (CRPA), with simultaneous studying of vertical, horizontal activity, grooming reactions and defecations in an illuminated chamber. The obtained results allow to conclude that DPS inhibits reproduction of memory traces of fear reaction but intensifies the process of learning and activity of memory traces of security reaction. Depending on condition of CRPA elaboration, DPS may disturb or, on the contrary, prolong preservation of passive avoidance. It has been found that the immobilization stress does not influence CRPA preservation and does not weaken the reaction of fear but increases the horizontal activity. It is suggested that the observed changes in behaviour and trace processes are connected with disturbance of sensory informational homeostasis of the nervous system at DPS. PMID- 2629398 TI - [Behavioral "despair" in female rats and gonadal function]. AB - In female rats various parameters and rhythmical structure of forced swimming underwent unsignificant fluctuations during estrus cycle. Ovariectomy changed the swimming time course and increased the rhythmical index of depression without other serious disturbances of the behavioural "despair" test. After chronic estradiol these shifts were partially eliminated. It is suggested that considerable disturbances of gonadal function may be cause of desynchronousness which facilitated the development of depression. PMID- 2629399 TI - [The development of pathological forms of behavior in submissive male C57BL/6J mice during agonistic zoosocial interactions. A possible model of depression?]. AB - It is shown that a long experience of defeats in daily zoosocial collisions (ZC) elicits changes in the structure of submissive behaviour. Male mice of C57BL/6J line after 20 defeats demonstrated poses of passive subordination instead of active defence and run away which they manifested in the first ZC. Moreover, new immobile poses appeared which were rare in the first ZC. Submissive animals (CA) demonstrated a decrease of travels in the open field test and an increase of immobility time in the Porsolt test. Chronic administration of imipramine (10 mg/kg, i.p., twice a day during two weeks against the background of repeated ZC) prevented an increase of depressivity, estimated in Porsolt test. Changes were noted in the content of serotonin and 5-HIAA in some brain structures of subordinated mice in comparison to control animals (five days of isolation). The data are discussed from a position of the development of depression in SA of C57BL/6J line as a result of a long nonavoided zoosocial stress. PMID- 2629400 TI - [Complex forms of higher nervous activity in patients with chronic alcoholism]. PMID- 2629401 TI - [The neuronal impulse activity of the preoptic area in the rabbit during electrocorticographic correlates of wakefulness and slow-wave sleep]. PMID- 2629402 TI - [Factors determining the effect of acute ethanol administration on behavior realization]. PMID- 2629403 TI - [Self-regulation of the dopaminergic neurons during extinction inhibition]. PMID- 2629404 TI - [The lateralized effect of arginine vasopressin on hypothalamic self-stimulation in rats]. PMID- 2629405 TI - [Simulation of latent inhibition in rats by activation of the central serotoninergic system]. PMID- 2629406 TI - [Thermal asymmetry of the rat brain in catalepsy]. PMID- 2629407 TI - [The effect of neural transplantation on the search for food in rats after electrolytic damage of the amygdala]. PMID- 2629408 TI - [Effect of epiphysectomy on the relearning of rats in a U-shaped maze and their sensitivity to haloperidol]. PMID- 2629409 TI - [Characteristics of the formation of conditioned responses in the isolated LPa3 neuron of the edible snail]. PMID- 2629410 TI - [A method for mapping the characteristics of the connection of electrical processes in the human and animal cerebral cortex]. PMID- 2629411 TI - [Clay bevelling of unfilled microelectrodes]. PMID- 2629412 TI - [Memory disorders in lesions of the corpus callosum in man]. AB - It is shown in seven patients with partial commissurotomy in connection with arterial aneurysms of the anterior conjunctival and pericallosal arteriae, that the section of the corpus callosum leads to memory disturbances, qualitatively differing by their structure from mnemic disorders described in literature. Important role of the knee of the Corpus callosum in genesis of these disturbances is revealed, their types are described and neuropsychological are criteria formulated of evaluation of disturbance of interhemispheric interaction in the mnemic sphere, opening new perspectives in diagnosis and correction of mental processes disturbances at local brain lesions. PMID- 2629413 TI - [Characteristics of orofacial system in case of Slovene schoolchildren within four countries]. AB - 1339 Slovene school children have been examined for disgnaties and caries in the neighbouring areas of three countries bordering Slovene homeland: parts of Italy, Austria and Hungary, which means in different socioeconomic conditions. The statistic analysis of the obtained material allows the following conclusions: The general growth of caries is advancing; The general average frequency of caries; in Slovenia 97%, in Italy 87%, in Austria 82% and in Hungary 97%. CEF (caries, extraction, filling) as found in the first permanent molar: In Slovenia 94%, in Italy 85%, in Austria 75% and in Hungary 87%. Level of dental care: Hungary 15%, Slovenia 60%, Italy 78%, Austria 87%. Disgnations show the following state: In Hungary 87%, in Slovenia 60%, in Italy 67%, in Austria 46%. Our research has additionally shown the following facts: the dental state is influenced by ecological conditions, economical development, cultural level and sociological structure (the majority of inhabitants being farmers). PMID- 2629414 TI - [After the beginning of summer vacation...]. PMID- 2629415 TI - [The Mannheim Rating Scale for the Assessment of Mother-Child Interaction in Infancy]. AB - Within a prospective longitudinal study of the first eight years of life, which aimed determination of pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders a qualitative rating system of mother-infant face-to-face-interaction was evaluated. The rating system consists of 8 scales for mother and 5 scales for infant behavior. The rating intervals had a length of 60 sec, whereas the whole video-taped interaction took 10 minutes. Analysing 48 dyads sufficient coefficients of interraterreliability and validity could be demonstrated for the rating system. It proved to be an appropriate measurement for mother-child interaction in early infancy. Behavior of the mother described by the rating system predicts behavior disturbances of the child better than the total of organic and psychosocial risk factors. PMID- 2629416 TI - [Markers of depressive mood in puberty using the Kovacs Children's Depression Inventory]. AB - This study is based on the German version "KDI" of the "CDI" according to Maria Kovacs used in investigations on random selection of normal school population between the 7-th and 9-th grades (n = 130). The pupils ages ranged between 13 and 15 years. A second group was also used, made up of children of approximately the same age (n = 145) from a clinic. Among this second group, 58 suffered from clinical depression. The comparison provided a clear separation between the depressive patients and the normal random participants - and the CDI/KDI total value = 20 was decided to be the optimal separation value. Comparisons with a Canadian group of school pupils (n = 850) agreed well with the above. Follow-up examinations on the random selection of normal school population resulted in the detection of a lasting condition of depressive moodiness for 7 per cent of the participants. The international title "GCDI" is suggested for the modified German version of the KDI (1986) which corresponds to the CDI of Kovacs (1981). PMID- 2629417 TI - [Follow-up of adolescent homicide perpetrators committed in accordance with section 63 of the federal penal code: 4 case reports]. AB - The longterm follow-up of four juvenile murderers is described, who had been examined at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the University of Heidelberg and were sent to psychiatric hospitals according to 63 StGB by the courts. These follow-ups are discussed in relation to the literature and some problems of this special group of mentally ill delinquents are pointed out. PMID- 2629418 TI - Characteristics of circadian rhythm of wheel-running activity and drinking behavior in Mongolian gerbils. AB - Circadian patterns of wheel-running activity and drinking behavior of Mongolian gerbils were investigated under a 24-h light-dark cycle (LD, 12: 12). Although the circadian pattern of drinking behavior was less clear than that of the wheel running activity, the two behaviors tended to alter in parallel with each other in 5 out of 10 gerbils. However, the other 5 gerbils exhibited less synchronization between these circadian patterns. Furthermore, there were marked individual differences in the gerbils' circadian patterns, demonstrating not only nocturnal, boundary (showing a peak around the time-of-day of the changing from light period to dark period), and/or diurnal patterns, but also a free-running pattern during the observation period of 79 days. The present result may be due to behavioral characteristics that indicate the gerbils may still be wild type. It is therefore important to know behavioral characteristics of Mongolian gerbils in preclinical evaluation of psychotropic drugs. PMID- 2629419 TI - [Experiences with intensive radiotherapy of prostatic cancer in conjunction with surgery (transurethral resection, pelvic lymph node excision)]. AB - Since 1981 a curative radiation treatment was performed in 84 patients with prostatic carcinoma. Previously, in 37 cases a transurethral resection of bladder outlet obstruction was done and in 18 patients a pelvic lymph node dissection was performed, whereas 29 patients were without operative therapy. Mild side effects of radiation could observed in all 3 groups in nearly the same portion (59/56/65%). However, in the group with transurethral resection after follow-up of 4,4 years severe late complications were found (cystitis, incontinence, urethral fistula). Therefore, radiation treatment of prostatic carcinoma after transurethral resection was abandoned. The cumulative 5-year-survival rate was 63% and in the TUR group only 41%. 9 out of 10 patients with histological verified lymph node metastases and radiation treatment are alive after mean follow-up time of 3.1 years without evidence of recurrent disease. PMID- 2629420 TI - [The prognosis of patients with struvite calculi with remaining/recurrent calculi and treatment refractory urinary tract infections]. AB - 29 patients suffering from recurrent struvite stones and/or persistent urinary tract infection were analyzed retrospectively with a follow-up time of 10 +/- 6 years. A sanitation of the urease-positive urinary tract infection was possible in 12 patients (41%). After 10 out of 53 operations (19%) rest stones were found. An unilateral nephrectomy was done in 3 cases. Despite rest calculi and persistent urinary tract infection no further calculus growth or deterioration of renal function was found in most patients. PMID- 2629421 TI - [Nail-patella syndrome]. AB - In a case report the rare nail-patella-syndrome is presented. Typical and pathognomonic signs are: nail aplasia or dystrophy, iliac horns, hypoplasia or aplasia of the patellae, elbow dysplasia and a nephropathy with electron microscopic demonstrable collagen-like deposition in the glomerular basal membrane. The clinical relevance is determined by the course of the renal disease. PMID- 2629422 TI - [Histologic studies of paraproteinemic nephropathy in BALB/c mice with mineral oil-induced plasmacytoma]. AB - In histological examinations of kidneys from BALB/c mice with induced plasmocytoma (n = 75) the well known morphological correlates of paraproteinemic nephropathy were found, but further changes like reactive tubular giant cells and interstitial sclerosing processes have been missing. Furthermore, in the severity of nephropathy no correlation were found between the level of paraprotein in serum and/or ascites and the duration of the disease. This may be an indirect sign of an individual nephrotoxicity of the Bence-Jones proteins. PMID- 2629423 TI - [HLA antigen frequencies in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney degeneration]. AB - 20 non-related patients suffering from autosomal dominantly polycystic renal disease were HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR typified and the HLA frequencies were compared with the normal population. Tissue typing was performed using the lymphocytotoxicity test using 180 well-characterized test sera. In contrast to the literature no significant differences were found. However, the value of erythrocytic phosphoglycolate-phosphatase-phenotyping should be checked in the genetic control and consultation. PMID- 2629424 TI - [Emergency series. 13. Cardiac emergencies]. PMID- 2629425 TI - [Implantation document forms for all phases of implantation revised by DGZMK]. PMID- 2629426 TI - [Morbidity from zoonotic and natural-focus infections and the problems of their prevention in the USSR]. PMID- 2629427 TI - [The characteristics of amino acid catabolism in bacteria of the genus Citrobacter]. AB - The comparison of the occurrence of enzymes effecting the deamination of dicarbon, aromatic and oxyamino acids, as well as transamination enzymes, in Citrobacter bacteria and the activity levels of these enzymes was made. The constant sign of such bacteria was the presence of serine and threonine dehydratase activity. 92% of the strains showed the presence of phenylalanine deaminase. No tryptophan activity was established. 96-98% of Citrobacter strains possessed phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan aminotransferases with alpha ketoglutaric acid functioning as the acceptor of the amino group. PMID- 2629428 TI - [The manifestations of an epidemic process of typhoid infection in Moscow]. AB - The work deals with the results of typhoid morbidity in Moscow for the period of 1980-1988. The morbidity rate varied from 0.98 to 0.17 cases per 100,000 of population with a tendency towards decrease. In the structure of morbidity local cases accounted for 46.8% and cases of infection contacted outside Moscow accounted for 53.2%. The morbidity level was low throughout the whole territory, only in two districts morbidity rate was significantly higher (P = 95%) than the average morbidity rate in the whole of the city. In the group of local cases morbidity had no pronounced seasonal character, in contrast to cases due to infection contacted outside the city which were mostly registered in summer and autumn. Persons aged 21-30 years were found to be the most affected age group. The general factors, and not the contact route, are supposed to play the main role in the realization of the mechanism of infection transfer. Under modern conditions, some manifestations of the epidemic process of typhoid infection can be detected only at the level of the whole city, or even the whole country. PMID- 2629430 TI - [Symposium "Trauma of the peripheral nervous system" of the Fourth All-Union Congress of Neurosurgeons. Proceedings]. PMID- 2629429 TI - [A comparative analysis of the Salmonella typhi strains isolated from patients and bacterial carriers]. AB - The comparative analysis of 133 S. typhi clinical strains isolated from patients and carriers in Dnepropetrovsk Province in 1978-1987 was carried out. As shown by this analysis, 10 Vi phage types were represented in the set of strains under study, phage types A and F1 being the most numerous ones. Phage type F1 occurred less frequently among the strains isolated from carriers. 31.1% of the strains were found to contain plasmids with different molecular weight ranging from 96 to 0.5 MD. The occurrence of plasmid-containing strains remained at the same level during the whole period under study. Low-molecular plasmids occurred more frequently in the strains isolated from carriers. The minimal suppressive concentrations of a number of antibiotics, such as penicillin, ampicillin, monomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, rifampicin and streptomycin, were determined. 7% of the strains were resistant to penicillin, 9% to monomycin, 15%- to tetracycline and 2.6% to chloramphenicol. The correlation between penicillin and monomycin resistance of the strains and the presence of the plasmid with a molecular weight of 60 MD in these strains was established. All strains were shown to be highly variable in the degree of their virulence: from 10(2) to 10(8). The strains isolated from patients possessed greater virulence. PMID- 2629431 TI - [Microsurgical reconstructive-rehabilitative operations in traumatic lesions of the peripheral nerves]. AB - Microsurgical reconstructive-restorative operations were conducted on the peripheral nerves of the limbs in 381 patients at the Kazakh centre of microsurgery from 1983. The patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1-60 patients who underwent emergency neurography during replantation of limbs and their segments; group 2-186 patients in whom neurovascular bundles of the limbs were restored (320 nerves were restored) in the late period after the trauma; group 3-135 patients who were subjected to operative interventions on the brachial plexus and the adjacent vessels. In sequelae of injury to the neurovascular bundles of the limbs and the trunks of the brachial plexus one stage operations must be carried out on the peripheral nerves and the accompanying vessels. The result of the operation is determined by the lapse of time from the moment of the injury, the type of reconstruction, and the length of the graft used. PMID- 2629432 TI - [An analysis of physician errors in the diagnosis and treatment of nerve damages to the extremities]. PMID- 2629433 TI - [The microsurgical treatment of traumatic lesions of the brachial plexus]. AB - The article deals with the results of examination and surgical treatment of 213 patients with various forms and levels of traumatic damage of the branchial plexus. Five levels of damages are suggested: I--preganglionic; II- postganglionic damage of the spinal nerves and primary trunks of the brachial plexus; III--damage of the secondary trunks in the clavicular region; IV--damage of the distal parts of the brachial plexus; V--isolated damages of the initial parts of the peripheral nerves. The authors describe surgical management by the method of differentiated neurotization with nerves arising from different segments of the spinal cords, by-passing the brachial plexus. Pathological changes in the region of the trauma, the character and level of the damage, the condition of the circulatory system, the presence or absence of pain, the applied rehabilitation therapy, the duration of the disease, the patient's age, and other factors have a marked influence on the outcome of the operation. Charts of distribution of the nerve fibres of the brachial plexus in the nerve trunks were compiled more exactly on the basis of data obtained during the operative intervention and autopsy. PMID- 2629434 TI - [The axillary surgical approach to the inferior primary trunk of the brachial plexus and to the subclavian artery in traumatic lesions]. AB - A total of 83 patients with lesions of primary trunk of brachial plexus have been operated using transcapillary access (72 men and 11 women at the age from 14 to 67 years). In 51 cases this operation was combined with other operations. Axillary access makes it possible to make decompression of the trunks of brachial plexus and subclavian artery at the level of interscalene and clavicular-costal intervals and tendons of musculus pectoralis minor. PMID- 2629435 TI - [Current problems of traumatic lesions of the peripheral nerves and the brachial and cervical plexuses]. PMID- 2629436 TI - [The procedure in the surgical treatment of compression neuropathies of the upper extremity]. AB - The article deals with the treatment of 435 patients with compression of the nerve trunks of the upper extremities of 531 localizations. Operations were conducted on 351 patients for compression mononeuropathies, in 84 patients nerve trunks of the hand were compressed at several sites. A total of 160 operations were undertaken on these patients for decompression of the nerve trunks of different localizations and their combinations. The authors' experience allows them to recommend increasing the number of indications for this type of intervention, including multiple and irritative forms of compression neuropathies. PMID- 2629437 TI - [The rehabilitation of patients with an injury to the brachial plexus]. AB - On the basis of experience in the treatment of 175 patients, the problems of rendering aid in injury to the brachial plexus in Western Siberia are shown. The outcomes can be improved with the application of complex restorative neurosurgical treatment in the early periods after the trauma, regular dispensary follow-up, individually conducted orthopedic correction of the lost function of the limb by means of muscle plastics on a vascular pedicle. Good and satisfactory long-term results were recorded in 85% of cases. PMID- 2629438 TI - [The surgical treatment of tunnel neuropathies]. AB - Operations were performed on 138 patients with tunnel neuropathies. Multiple microtraumas were found to be the most frequent causes of affection of the peripheral nerves. The indications for operative intervention are determined. It is most effective in sensory and mixed forms of neuropathies. The formation of a new seat from flaps of fatty tissue is important in prevention of recurrencies. PMID- 2629439 TI - [Current problems of neurosurgery]. PMID- 2629440 TI - [The prognosis of subarachnoid hemorrhages of unknown etiology]. PMID- 2629441 TI - [The diagnosis of the nature of the lesion of the trigeminal nerve root in trigeminal neuralgia]. AB - The authors examined 64 patients with unilateral trigeminal neuralgia by computed tomography and registration of trigeminal somatosensory evoked potentials. The values of the evoked potentials on the involved side differed essentially from those on the healthy side. This allows vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve root in the posterior cranial fossa to be identified authentically and the indications for surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia by microvascular decompression thus determined. The diagnosis of vascular compression of the root of the trigeminal nerve was established in 33 patients, who were then operated on. The diagnosis was confirmed during the operation: pain was relieved completely in all patients after surgical treatment. PMID- 2629442 TI - [Validation of the use of the CO2 laser in operations on the brain]. AB - It is reported that the CO2-laser can be used in operations on the brain. Information is given on the response of the brain structures to irradiation with a wave length of 10.6 microns. The optimal regimens of the device operation were elaborated depending on the concrete object of the various stages of the surgical intervention. The medical laser device Skal'pel'-1 was used in the clinic in 109 operations. The low traumatization of such operations and the favourable course of the postoperative period are pointed out. PMID- 2629443 TI - [Surgery in severe closed craniocerebral injury and the immediate treatment results]. PMID- 2629444 TI - [Transsphenoidal contrasting of hypophyseal adenomas and intrasellar cysts]. PMID- 2629445 TI - [The diagnostic possibilities of functional thermography in peripheral nerve damages at different stages of the treatment]. PMID- 2629446 TI - Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenic purpura induced by anti-Bak(a): a case report and review of the literature. AB - We report a case of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenic purpura after an uneventful pregnancy. The baby had systemic purpura at birth and his platelet count was 6 X 10(9)/1. He was treated with maternal platelets and one week later his platelets were normalized. It was the second pregnancy of the mother; she received a blood transfusion after the delivery of her first child. The mother was HLA DR3 positive, an antigen frequently implicated in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. The antibody reacted with both P1A1 positive and negative platelets which excluded anti-P1A1 type, the antibody most involved in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. This antibody reacted with platelets of 46 out of 53 random donors (87%); this approached the 90.8% frequency of Bak(a) reported in the Netherlands. Later this antibody was typed as anti-Bak(a). A discussion and a review of the literature is given. PMID- 2629447 TI - Muscular fibrosis due to chronic intramuscular administration of narcotic analgesics. AB - Chronic intramuscular injections, particularly of narcotic analgesics, are an uncommon cause of myopathy. We report two patients with pentazocine- and meperidine-related myopathy. Narcotic-induced muscular fibrosis and contractures must be considered in patients with a pattern of muscle involvement that does not conform to any recognized myopathy, but allows for self-administration of injections. Trauma due to needle puncture, repetitive infections and a local myotoxic effect of the drugs probably contribute to these lesions. PMID- 2629448 TI - Gastric carcinoid tumour and hypergastrinaemia. AB - We report a case of gastric enterochromaffin-like carcinoid tumour associated with fundic chronic atrophic gastritis and hypergastrinaemia of antral origin. The clinical and pathological features of this association are reviewed. The probable causal relationship between these argyrophil carcinoids and hypergastrinaemia is also discussed. PMID- 2629449 TI - Coronary blood flow in chronic insulin-dependent diabetic dogs. AB - Diabetic patients appear to be at an increased risk for perioperative morbidity and mortality following coronary artery bypass grafting. Many have suggested that microangiopathy is a primary cause. Using radionuclide labelled microspheres, we measured the perfusion of the subendocardium, midmyocardium, subepicardium, and the subendocardium/subepicardium ratio in alloxan-induced diabetic and normal dogs. We found no statistical difference in the myocardial perfusion of dogs made diabetic for five months when compared to normal dogs. By using repeated measures two-factor analysis of variance-regression model, changing blood glucose levels had no effect on coronary blood flow in either the diabetic or normal dogs. PMID- 2629450 TI - Effect of diet and weight loss on whole blood filterability and plasma fibrinogen values in hypertensive obese postmenopausal women. AB - The authors evaluated whole blood filterability (VB) in 29 post-menopausal obese women with (n = 14) or without (n = 15) hypertension, and in 22 age matched women with normal body weight. After 3 months of a low-calorie (18 kcal/kg IBW) and moderately low-salt (max 6 g NaCl/day) diet, the obese subjects were restudied. In all women plasma fibrinogen values and various indices of metabolic status were evaluated before and after the diet and correlated to VB values. VB values and plasma fibrinogen concentrations were similar in normal controls and in women with simple obesity, whereas they were, respectively, significantly lower and higher in obese subjects with hypertension. Three months of diet significantly improved whole blood filterability and decreased fibrinogen levels in these patients. Before the diet a significant negative correlation was found between VB and plasma fibrinogen values in hypertensive obese patients. Metabolic parameters did not change in the different groups before and after the diet and did not correlate with VB values. The present study indicates that low-calorie, low-salt diet decreases plasma fibrinogen levels and improves whole blood filterability in elderly obese women with hypertension. PMID- 2629451 TI - Does ethanol intake interfere with the evaluation of glycated hemoglobins? AB - Ethanol and/or its metabolites interfere with the chromatographic assay of glycated hemoglobins. Fasting plasma glucose, blood ethanol, HbA(1), HbA(1c), HbA(1a+b), MCV and GGT were determined in 22 control subjects; 22 alcoholics, 22 diabetic patients and 22 alcoholic diabetic patients. Fasting plasma glucose and all hemoglobin fractions were lower in alcoholic subjects and, except for HbA(1a+b), higher in diabetic patients and in alcoholic diabetic patients. HbA(1), and HbA(1c) correlated well with plasma glucose but not with blood ethanol, MCV and GGT. Glycated hemoglobin was not found to be a useful marker for alcohol abuse. With the chromatographic method we used, the evaluation of glycated hemoglobin fractions, chiefly HbA(1c), confirms its usefulness in monitoring the metabolic control of diabetic subjects, even in case of ethanol abuse. PMID- 2629452 TI - Two case reports of macrovascular complications in fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes. AB - Fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) is a form of diabetes secondary to chronic, non-alcoholic pancreatitis in tropical countries. Being a secondary form of diabetes, vascular complications are believed to be rare. In this paper we present two case reports of macrovascular complications (myocardial infarction and gangrene). This shows that large vessel disease does occur in FCPD. PMID- 2629453 TI - Proceedings of the XXXXXI General Meeting of the Japan Hematological Society II. Maebashi, (April 6, 7 and 8, 1989). PMID- 2629454 TI - Leukemia in patients more than seventy years old. AB - The characteristics of leukemia in elderly patients, especially acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, and therapy are reviewed. The features differ little from those in young ANLL patients, except for the frequencies of the preleukemic state and poor performance status. Preleukemic states are observed in about 30% of elderly patients and about 40% of the elderly patients have a poor performance status on admission. Anthracycline and Ara-C are generally used for the treatment of ANLL in elderly patients. Many reports suggest identifying a group of patients with favourable prognostic factors and treating them intensively. However, the prognostic factors reported were variable. A good performance status and normal- or hypocellular bone marrow were the most important prognostic factors in our study. Low dose Ara-C may be effective in ANLL in elderly patients with hypoplastic bone marrows. Supportive care is also very important in elderly patients. PMID- 2629455 TI - Thrombocytosis and thrombocythemia: qualitative platelet abnormalities. AB - Thrombocytosis occurs as a primary disease of the bone marrow (primary thrombocytosis or thrombocythemia) or as a reactive phenomenon in pathologic and physiologic conditions (secondary thrombocytosis or thrombocytosis in a narrow sense). As a rule, secondary thrombocytosis is symptomless and shows normal platelet functions, while thrombocythemia is frequently associated with bleeding and/or thrombosis as well as various platelet abnormalities. These platelet abnormalities were reviewed, and our recent studies on functional and biochemical alterations in platelets of thrombocythemia were focused on: 1) abnormal platelet aggregation. 2) deficient epinephrine-induced elevation of the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration in platelets with defective aggregation response to epinephrine, 3) altered (subnormal and increased) platelet responses to thromboxane A2 (abnormal thromboxane A2 receptor), and 4) abnormal platelet 12-lipoxygenase enzyme. Although the clinical significance of the in vitro qualitative platelet defects is not always clear, these altered platelets could be useful models to elucidate platelet pathophysiology. PMID- 2629456 TI - Clinicopathology of non-neoplastic and neoplastic lymph node swelling. AB - Lymph node swelling, which can be problematic when attempting differential diagnosis between non-neoplastic or neoplastic types, can be grouped into three categories. The first is lymph node swelling due to heterotopia, hamartoma or hyperplasia, the second is due to non-neoplastic lymphoid cell and/or histiocyte proliferation with the appearance of neoplastic proliferation and the third is due to true neoplastic proliferation, but apparently simulating a non-neoplastic condition. The present paper describes some of the clinicopathological features of representative diseases or cases in each category, e.g. Castleman's disease, necrotizing lymphadenitis, "IBL"-like T-cell lymphoma, and lymphoma showing an unusual course initially simulating a non-neoplastic process and then gradually disclosing its neoplastic nature in the late stage. These cases emphasize the importance of close collaboration between the clinician and pathologist together with immunohistochemical studies of lymph node pathology. PMID- 2629457 TI - Role of membrane glycoproteins in the interaction of blood platelets with the vessel wall--the study on platelet adhesion to in vitro cultured subendothelial matrix. AB - Adhesion of platelets to the subendothelium is an essential step in hemostasis and thrombosis. Several receptors for adhesive macromolecules have been identified on platelets and are included in the integrin family. To clarify the role of platelet membrane glycoproteins in the interaction of platelets with the subendothelium, 51Cr-labeled platelet adhesion assay and antibody-blocking experiments were performed by using in vitro cultured subendothelium under the static condition. The platelet adhesion in this assay was inhibited by anti-GPIa (VLA-2), GPIc (VLA-5) and -GPIc'-(VLA-6) antibodies, while anti-GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa antibodies had no effect. Platelets from the patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia could also attach to the subendothelium, whereas those from a patient whose platelets lacked GPIa failed to attach to the extracellular matrix (ECM). The monoclonal antibodies against fibronectin and laminin which recognized the cell binding domain of these molecules inhibited the platelet adhesion when they were pre-treated with ECM. Furthermore, antibody-blocking experiments revealed that the percent inhibition by the combination of anti-GPIa, -GPIc and GPIc' antibodies used herein was approximately 75%. They did not completely inhibit the attachment. These results suggest that the interactions of collagen, fibronectin and laminin with their receptors on platelets are involved in the mechanism of platelet adhesion to subendothelium. PMID- 2629458 TI - Interaction of plasma clotting factors with vascular endothelial cells in hemostasis and thrombosis with special reference to endothelial cell tissue factor. AB - The interaction of plasma clotting factors with vascular endothelial cells was investigated. Human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells generated tissue factor activity after treatment with various stimulators including IL-1. Cycloheximide inhibited production of the tissue factor in the cells, but did not affect the expression of the tissue factor activity on the surface of endothelial cells. Endotoxin-treated vascular endothelial cells activated Factor X in the presence of Factor VII and calcium ion. Activation of Factor X by endothelial cells with Factor VII was enhanced by the presence of both Factors VIII and IX. Binding study revealed that endotoxin-treated endothelial cells bound Factor IX. These data suggest that perturbed vascular endothelium expresses tissue factor activity on the cell surface, binds factor IX and in the presence of Factor VII, activates not only factor X but also Factor IX. PMID- 2629459 TI - The modulation of heparin-like activity of endothelial cells in experimental systems. AB - Anticoagulantly active heparin-like glycosaminoglycans are apparently present on the vascular surface. We have tried to modulate heparin-like substances on endothelial cells using an experimental cell culture system. Perturbation of the endothelial proteoglycan metabolism by beta-D-xyloside resulted in a reduced biosynthesis of cell surface heparan sulfate, and impaired antithrombin III binding to endothelial cells in parallel with an inhibition of endothelial cell heparin-like activity. In a separate series of experiments, treatments of endothelial cells with interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha, physiological mediators of immunologic and inflammatory responses, were shown to cause an inhibition of the synthesis of endothelial cell surface heparan sulfate. The endothelial heparin-like activity was partially diminished by these cytokines, suggesting that cytokine-mediated suppression of heparin-like substance on endothelial cells is another cytokine-inducible endothelial effect affecting coagulation. The modulation of endothelial heparin-like activity by these pharmacological and physiological agents may have pathophysiological implications in thrombosis. PMID- 2629460 TI - Long-term prognosis and residual abnormalities of idiopathic acquired aplastic anemia in children. AB - We evaluated the long-term prognosis and quality of cure of idiopathic acquired aplastic anemia in children. Of the 244 patients registered from 1965 to 1985, those registered in 1965-1975 and 1976-1985 had a survival rate of 50.1% and 62.0%. The percentage of cure, undertreatment and death was 30, 30 and 40%, respectively. About 40% of the patients with moderate cases, died dead or required frequent blood transfusions. In the case of pediatric patients, as the success rate of bone marrow transplantation was high. This modality should be considered for patients with moderate severity who require blood transfusion 3 months after the diagnosis and an HLA identical donor is available. Physical development was almost normal but 35% of the patients showed residual abnormalities such as bleeding tendency, and hepatic disorders due to treatment. Thrombocytopenia and ineffective hematopoiesis were observed in one-third of the patients and all of the patients showed abnormal committed stem cell assay. The CD 4/8 ratio was reduced in 50% of the patients and 15% exhibited psychological problems. These residual abnormalities last for years, and sometimes a lifetime. PMID- 2629461 TI - Prognostic features of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in Japan. AB - A survey on the survival of a total of 160 patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) was conducted by questionnaires to hematologists at the 86 major hospitals in Japan. Ten, 20 and 30 year-survival rates from the day of diagnosis was 71%, 57.5% and 57.5%, respectively. The survival curves by sex showed no statistical difference between males and females. The cause of death in 56 patients with PNH was investigated. Twenty cases, representing 38.5% of 52 patients excluding 4 cases of unknown cause, died of hemorrhage. Death from thrombosis occurred only in 3 cases. The incidence of hemorrhage and thrombosis as a cause of death in Japanese patients was clearly different from that in the United States and England. Various causes other than hemorrhage and thrombosis were disclosed. Patients died 4.5 years (median) from diagnosis and at a mean age of 50.4 years. Hypoplastic bone marrow was found histologically in 40.4% of 52 patients by biopsy. The findings of peripheral blood and aspirated bone marrow were nearly consistent with those of hypoplasia. A higher incidence of hemorrhagic death in Japanese patients might be related to thrombocytopenia by hypoplastic bone marrow. On initial diagnosis, 41.2% had aplastic anemia-PNH syndrome. Prevention against complications in PNH with special reference to blood transfusions are discussed. PMID- 2629462 TI - Prognosis of refractory anemias. AB - Several aspects of prognosis of myelodysplastic syndromes were reviewed with special attention to refractory anemia (RA). The median survivals were 14 months in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, 16 months in RAEB, 42 months in RA, and 58 months in RA with ring sideroblasts (RARS). Cumulative leukemia-free rates at 5 years were 31% in RAEB, 80% in RA, and 92% in RARS. The proportion of cases having very low hazards for leukemic transformation or for nonleukemic death was 92% (RARS), 73% (RA), and 26% (RAEB) for leukemic transformation and 23% (RA) and 29% (RAEB) for nonleukemic death. All RARS cases had hazard for nonleukemic death. In RA, the annual mortality rate was about 5 to 11 times higher than that of age-and sex- matched general population up to 6 years. After which no failure was found in RA cases with survival rate of 33% up to 14 years. The relative importance of hazard from leukemic transformation to nonleukemic death in RA was about one half at presentation, but this declined to less than 10% after 10 years. PMID- 2629463 TI - Bone marrow transplantation for patients with severe aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. AB - A survey of the results of marrow transplantation for severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in Japan is reported. Of the 152 patients with SAA, 109 were alive between 2 and 132 months following transplantation and the probability of survival at 5 years was 70% (for the patients with grafts from HLA-matched siblings) and 100% (for the patients with grafts from monozygous twins). Survival rate at 3 years for the patients with grafts from family members other than HLA-matched siblings was 46%. The chance of survival was influenced by conditioning regimen and recipient's age. Recipients with sustained engraftment had a significantly higher survival rate than those with graft failure (83% vs 11%, p less than 0.001). Since 1985, the results of transplantation from HLA-matched siblings have improved and the 3-year survival is more than 90% for patients under 20 years old. For MDS, the actuarial survival at 3 years was 42%. The chance of survival was not influenced by the FAB classification, patient's age, patient's sex, interval from diagnosis to transplant, karyotype anomaly or graft versus host disease. PMID- 2629464 TI - Application of polymerase chain reaction to detect activated oncogenes in hematological malignancies. AB - Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to detect the structural change accompanying the activation of oncogenes in hematological malignancies and preleukemic states. Point mutation of N-ras oncogene was examined by oligonucleotide differential hybridization coupled with PCR. Five out of 17 AML patients were shown to have mutated N-ras gene. These mutations could be used as a genetic marker to diagnose the residual malignant cells. Philadelphia chromosome in CML was examined by cDNA synthesis and PCR with successful results. PCR was shown to be a highly versatile and sensitive method which would be invaluable in clinical diagnosis. PMID- 2629465 TI - The molecular analyses of hematological malignancies--lineage specific classification and its clinical implications. AB - Cells from 203 children with leukemia/lymphoma were analyzed by the FAB (French American-British) system using a broad panel of markers such as immunological marker studies, Southern blot and Northern blot analyses to establish a lineage specific classification of childhood leukemia. Phenotypically, they were divided into B-lineage (62.6%), T-lineage (9.8%), non-lymphoid (14.3%) and uncertain lineage (13.3%). Two B-lineage ALL cells and two T-lineage ALL cells studied did not show immunoglobulin (Ig) or T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements, respectively. Therefore, those four cases were excluded from the final classification. The uncertain lineage leukemia, which includes undifferentiated leukemia and mixed lineage leukemia, were further subclassified at the DNA and RNA levels. The definitions of B-lineage and T-lineage cells, incidence of dual genotypes or spillover, heterogeneity of undifferentiated leukemia, and a new classification for mixed lineage leukemia were discussed. PMID- 2629466 TI - Analysis of gene amplification in human tumor cells by in-gel DNA renaturation assay. AB - The incidence of gene amplification in leukemia/lymphoma is significantly lower than that in solid tumors. For understanding the biological characteristics of leukemia/lymphoma, it is necessary to clarify whether the incidence of gene amplification is actually lower or gene amplification specific to hemopoietic malignancies has not yet been found. We describe a new version of in-gel DNA renaturation technique for general screening of gene amplification that allows detection and cloning of amplified genes of unknown nature as few as 7- to 8-fold amplification. PMID- 2629467 TI - Ca2+ influx and platelet membrane glycoproteins. AB - When aequorin-loaded platelets were stimulated with thrombin, the luminescence of aequorin showed two peaks. From experiments with 1 mM external Ca2+ or 1 mM EGTA, both one-half of the first peak and the entire second peak reflected the influx of Ca2+ from the external medium, and the remaining half of the first peak reflected the mobilization of Ca2+ from its storage site. A monoclonal antibody (TM83), that recognizes the GPIIb/IIIa complex which has binding sites for fibrinogen, and synthetic peptide GRGDSP are known to inhibit fibrinogen binding and platelet aggregation. Both of them eliminated the second peak of intracellular free calcium. Similar effects were observed during activation by collagen, but not by TPA. Also dihydrocytochalasin B inhibited the second peak of Ca2+ influx by thrombin, suggesting that the signal, which was caused by fibrinogen-binding to GPIIb/IIIa (aggregation) in thrombin-activated platelets, is transferred to the inner sites of GPIIb/IIIa complex and induces the cytoskeletal reorganization such as actin polymerization. This in turn, induces the secondary increase in [Ca2+] i of platelets. It is interesting that ticlopidine inhibited the Ca2+ influx through the GPIIb/IIIa complex. This result suggests the importance of such kinds of antiplatelet drugs to prevent thrombus formation. PMID- 2629468 TI - Gray platelet syndrome: relationship between morphological abnormality of the dense tubular system (DTS) and intracellular Ca++ mobilization in the platelet. AB - In the first familial case of gray platelet syndrome (GPS) reported in Japan in which the subjects showed platelet release abnormalities, we investigated the relationship between intracellular Ca++ mobilization in platelets and marked morphological abnormalities of the DTS. The subjects for the Aequorin assay were 12 controls and 11 GPS cases, whereas the subjects for the Fura-2 assay were 10 controls and 6 GPS cases. In order to discriminate between Ca++ influx from outside of the cells and Ca++ mobilization from DTS within the cells, the experiments were conducted under two conditions; one in the presence of 1 mM Ca++ in the external fluid, and the other with the addition of 2 mM EDTA as a Ca++ chelator. Stimulation by A-23187 in the presence of 1 mM Ca++ in the external fluid caused 2 peaks or shoulder formation; that is, normal cases showed 1 peak at all concentrations of A-23187 tested, whereas GPS showed 2 peaks or shoulder formation in 7 of the 11 cases and conspicuously good reproducibility in each case. These facts indicated that it took time for the stimulus to reach the inside of the DTS, which showed marked morphological abnormalities. During stimulation by 1.0 U/ml thrombin under the same conditions, the GPS exhibited 1 peak with a wide skirt pattern, compared with the control. In one case of GPS, which revealed one peak by thrombin and 2 peaks by A-23187 in the presence of 1 mM Ca++, 2 peaks were also noted by thrombin and the luminescence peak become lower, when Ca++ was chelated by EGTA, using the Aequorin method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2629469 TI - Abnormalities of calcium ion movement in platelets of patients with myeloproliferative disorders. AB - We investigated abnormalities in calcium ion influx in platelets of patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). 45Ca2+ influx into the cytosol of MPD platelets was lower than that of normal controls. To determine whether the low Ca2+ influx is caused by a functional abnormality of membrane glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex for Ca2+ channel or not, we investigated the Ca2+ influx through GP IIb-IIIa complex, which was reconstituted into liposomes. The purified GP IIb IIIa complex from platelets of 5 patients was reconstituted into phospholipid liposomes. Ca2+ influx into the liposomes measured by fluorescence of intravesicular Fura-2 was lower in 2 of these patients. These findings corresponded with the results of intracellular calcium concentration after stimulation in these platelets. We concluded that functional abnormalities of GP IIb-IIIa is involved in the mechanism of impaired Ca2+ influx in MPD platelets. PMID- 2629470 TI - Determination of intracellular calcium ions during shear-induced platelet aggregation. PMID- 2629471 TI - [A brief statistical survey on medico-legal activities during the period of two decades four years]. AB - Records maintained indicate that Department of Legal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine has handled 1,275 cases in total including 1,157 judicial autopsies and 118 cases other than those during the period of 24 years and 3 months (Jan 1963-Mar 1987). (1) Judicial autopsy cases Infanticide: 86 cases (7.4%, 40 male, 44 female and 2 sex unidentified cases), and a total number of autopsies carried out on other than infanticide were 1,071 cases (92.6%, 743 male and 328 female cases). The 1,071 cases were further brokendown into 496 homicidal, 278 traffic accidental, 169 except-traffic accidental and casualties, 74 natural death, 44 suicidal, 9 accidental poisoning death groups, and 1 unidentified case. The cases and means of homicidal cases were classified by cutlery and pointed weapons: 243 cases, strangulation and throttling: 104 cases, blunt or similar ones: 96 cases, fire arms (pistol or hunting gun): 35 cases, poisoning: 8 cases, murder by fire: 4 cases, and 6 other cases. (2) Investigations with exception of judicial autopsy cases. Determination by 46 substance (blood-stains, murderous weapons and others): 38 cases by parentage, 21 cases by documents (clinical anamnesis, clinical diary and testimony records), and other 13 cases. (3) Some remarks to be taken account in performance of investigations for adequate determination. PMID- 2629472 TI - [Transmission electron microscopy of the consumed hairs in an Australian lobster's stomach]. AB - The present report is concerned with the transmission electron microscopic observations of the consumed hairs in an Australian lobster's stomach. The lamellar cuticles of these hairs were observed and their minimum diameters of melanin granules of cortices were measured by an imaging analyzer. The lamellar cuticles of these hairs consisted of two or three layers and there was no significant difference between them and Aberdeen Angus's hairs in mean the minimum diameters of melanin granules of cortices. Consequently, these hairs in an Australian lobster's stomach were identical to Aberdeen Angus's hairs. PMID- 2629473 TI - [Statistical survey of medico-legal activities for the murderous and accidental death (40 cases) by use of fire arms]. AB - A total number of judicial autopsies conducted in the Department of Legal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine during the period of Jan 1963 and Mar 1987 was recorded 1,157 cases including 40 cases caused by the fire arms. This indicates 3.4% of total numbers of death resulting from subject accidents, and the outline thereof is following. 1) Murder case-35, accidental case-5, suicide case-none. 2) Lethal weapons used for the murder: Pistol-26 cases, hunting gun-8 cases, joint use of illicitly hand-made fowling piece and pistol-1 case. All 5 accidental cases of the above were caused by wrong use of hunting guns. 3) The age of victims: Thirties-17 cases, Forties-10 cases, Fifties-4 cases, Teens-4 cases. Twenties-3 cases, one year and downward and from sixty years up-1 case respectively. 4) The entry wound and exit wound caused by the use of fire arms and other several matters in regard to medico-legal investigations and views thereof were taken up in consideration from various angles. PMID- 2629474 TI - [A statistical survey of medico-legal activities for the traffic accidental death]. AB - Out of a total number of judicial autopsies handled in the Department of Legal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine during the period from Jan. 1963 to Mar. 1987, the traffic accidental death was recorded 278 cases including 216 cases for male and 62 cases for female respectively being specified as followings: 1) Victims-pedestrians: 168 cases, violent falling from two-wheelers (bicycle or motor-cycle, caused by the rider's faults: 21 cases, collision between two-wheelers in motion and motorcar: 50 cases, motorcar in motion: 30 cases (18 drivers and 12 fellow passengers), airplane accident: 1 case, railroad accident: 1 case, and 2 cases other than those. 2) Judicial autopsies specified by the month. Jan-31 cases, Feb, Mar, Jul and Dec-26 cases each, Oct-25 cases, May and Sep-24 cases each, Apr-20 cases, Jun and Nov-17 cases each, and Aug-16 cases. 3) Frequency of accidents specified by the time. 0 hr-0600 hrs: 78 cases, 0600 hrs-1200 hrs: 40 cases, 1200 hrs-1800 hrs: 34 cases, 1800 hrs-2400 hrs: 119 cases and unidentified hrs: 7 cases. 4) Under the influence of liquor 110 cases in total or 39.6% including 108 cases by male and 2 cases by female. 5) In addition to the primary impact injuries some remarks to be taken account in performance of judicial autopsies were discussed. PMID- 2629475 TI - [Sero-epidemiological study of the variability of rheumatoid factors]. AB - Serum rheumatoid factors (RF) are occasionally observed in normal individuals. The clinical significance of the appearance of RF in the general population was examined in relation to the pattern of their appearance and the age of the onset of RA. A screening for RA in the residents of Yoshimatsu-Cho, Kagoshima Prefecture (population, 4,798), showed a prevalence of 0.29%, but the sera of 128 (4.0%; 3.4% for males and 4.5% for females) of 3,200 residents obtained at the screening were positive for RF, and the percent positivity tended to increase with age. The age of the onset of RA in 466 patients exhibited a nearly normal distribution with a peak in the 40's. From these findings, RF-positive individuals in the general population may be divided into a small group predisposed to RA and a great majority in whom the positivity is simply an age associated physiologic change. PMID- 2629476 TI - [Mechanisms of the pulmonary congestion in ligature strangulation (V)]. AB - The authors measured the iron contents and 3H-water contents of the lung et al.'s tissues of the guinea-pigs sacrificed by ligature strangulation. Congestion of the heart, lung, liver and kidney and anemia of the spleen were clearly recognized. And, the increase of hematocrit value of the heart blood was observed. PMID- 2629477 TI - [Mechanisms of the pulmonary congestion in ligature strangulation (VI)]. AB - The authors measured the minimum diameters of the hepatic, splenic and renal blood vessels of the guinea-pigs sacrificed by ligature strangulation. Constrictions of the splenic central arteries and the splenic trabecular veins, and dilatations of the renal interlobular veins and the renal cortical and medullary capillaries were clearly recognized. PMID- 2629478 TI - [Mechanisms of the pulmonary congestion in ligature strangulation (VII)]. AB - The authors observed the endothelial cells of the pulmonary veins and the immunoreactions of histamine in the pulmonary blood vessels and measured the 3H histamine contents of the pulmonary tissues of the guinea-pigs sacrificed by ligature strangulation. Endothelial cells of the pulmonary veins possessed abundant pores and intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Heavy reactions of histamine exclusively demonstrated on the endothelial surface of the pulmonary veins and in the Weibel-Palade body of the pulmonary artery. PMID- 2629479 TI - ["The weight ratio of organs for 750 judicial autopsy cases"]. AB - Based on the autoptical investigations conducted various informations were provided for the weight of organs, while the same of those organs were observed to be varied by conditions or causes such as: ages, sex distinction, physique build, time elapsed after death, cause of death and so forth. In consideration of above conditions and/or causes, our approach to judicial autopsies on the weight ratio (weight of organ/weight of body X 100) of the brains, lungs, hearts, livers, spleens, pancreases, kidneys and suprarenal glands for a total of 750 corpse resulted in the followings: 1) In regard to the cases of weight ratio of organs to the bodies within the range of ages (29-40) almost no difference has been observed by the age factor with exception of a certain increasing tendency limited to the heart weight ratio as their ages advance. 2) The weight ratio of lungs to the death group such as: by fire, drowning or asphyxia revealed rather higher level as compared with the same group such as: bleeding caused by external wound, gunshot wound or traffic accidents. 3) The weight ratio of spleens caused by the death of bleeding due to external wound and drowning has shown a lower level than that by the death of asphyxia or death of disease. 4) The weight ratio of kidneys for the group of death by fire, asphyxia and diseases has indicated a higher level than same of death group by bleeding resulting from external wound and gunshot wound. 5) The weight ratio of brains by the death of bleeding due to external wound and gunshot wound has shown a lower level than the same of death by asphyxia. PMID- 2629480 TI - [CT-discography for lumbar disc herniation]. AB - 1. CTD was carried out on 76 intervertebrae of 66 patients with intervertebral disk hernia and its diagnostic merits were discussed. 2. Views in accordance with CTD and myelography are 85% which shows great importance in the diagnosis of intervertebral disk hernias. 3. CTD depicts the relationship between the intervertebral disk and spinal canal as three-dimensional, and furthermore, across-section image of the intervertebral disk can be obtained which makes it possible to know exactly where the prolapsed region of the hernia is located. This is thought to become extremely useful in the diagnosis of exterior hernias and L5-S hernias which are difficult to detect by myelography. Consequently, it is of great value in supplemental diagnosis, aids in the selection of surgical methods, and can provide other useful information. PMID- 2629481 TI - [Statistical and medico-legal investigations on traumatic intracranial injuries (except traffic accidents) on which judicial autopsies conducted]. AB - Judicial autopsies conducted during the period of 24 years and 3 months (Jan 1963 Mar 1987) at Department of Legal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine have been recorded a total of 1,157 cases including 256 cases caused by the traumatic intracranial injury death. In this report statistical investigations conducted on 112 cases caused by traumatic intracranial injury death with exception of 144 cases caused by traffic accidental death, and the outline of several cases on those are stated. 1) Out of 112 death cases including 80 male and 32 female cases, 13 cases--younger than 15 years of age, 4 cases--16 thru 19, 12 cases--20 thru 29, 23 cases--30 thru 39, 22 cases--40 thru 49, 19 cases--50 thru 59, 8 cases--60 thru 69, and 13 cases--older than 70 years of age were specified respectively. 2) The above 112 death cases included 79 murder cases, 29 accidental cases including 1 case occurred in line of duty and 4 suicide cases. Murder cases were further broken down by the arms and/or locations into 39 cases caused by knocking and/or kicking, 12 cases making use of metal tools, 10 cases on the ground or floors, 6 cases making use of glass tools, 5 cases making use of wooden tools, 4 cases making use of sharp blade tools and other 3 unidentified cases. 3) Out of all death cases epidural hemorrhage and subdural hemorrhage indicated such majority in numbers and percentages as 54 cases or 48.2% and followed in the order of 26 cases of contusion with bone fracture or 23.2%, 11 cases of brain edema or 9.8%, 8 cases of subarachnoidal hemorrhage or 7.1%. 4) In case of the death caused by the bruise sustained on the occipital region, casualties on gyrus frontale were recognized by 97%, while the bruise located on other than the occipital region, injuries were recognized by 51% on the opposite region, and the remaining 49% of it showed injuries on the same region of the sustained. 5) In regard to traumatic subarachnoidal hemorrhage, contributing possibilities of the condition of its easy occurrence, especially the region of effect by the pressure elements of external force, the direction of primary dominant function, drinking effects and so forth were discussed. 6) The outlines of some interesting and/or instructive cases encountered during processing investigations were discussed. PMID- 2629482 TI - [Lung thallium uptake for non-invasive assessment of increased pulmonary pressure in mitral valve stenosis]. AB - 30 patients (24 females, 5 males) with angiographically proven mitral stenosis as well as 10 healthy controls were investigated by wedge catheterism and thallium 201-scintigraphy to calculate the heart-lung quotient (HLQ) of the isotope. All patients with mitral stenosis could be discriminated from controls by a pathological increase of isotope concentration in the lungs. 4 groups could be subdivided: the 1st group consisted of 21% of the patients with normal pulmonary artery pressure of x = 13.06 mm Hg and a normal HLQ less than 1.1. The 2nd group of 39% of the patients showed passive pulmonary hypertension with a PAm of x = 27.57 mm Hg and HLQ between 1.1 and 1.4 A 3rd group showed PAm of 36.76 mm Hg with reactive pulmonary hypertension and a HLQ between 1.4 and 1.6. The last group showed pulmonary hypertension of x = 45 mm Hg PAm and a HLQ of greater than 1.6. Scintigraphy alone allowed classification of the patients, so the value of this method is proven for pre- and postoperative strategy. PMID- 2629483 TI - Geriatric day hospitals: consultant and community units compared. AB - A consultant-led day hospital in a district general hospital (DGH) was compared with general practitioner-controlled day hospitals in community hospitals (CHs). CHs were more generously provided for their populations, 3.87 compared with 1.38 places per 1000, but less well staffed at 70% of the DGH levels. Patients were similar demographically and in dependence, but differed in some diagnoses; 33% of CH patients were referred for social reasons alone, compared with 2% in the DGH. CH patients received fewer treatment sessions each day, 2.11 compared with 2.55 in the DGH and the difference was mainly in medical input. Median duration of attendance was 332 days in the CH and 92 days in the DGH; the 6-month discharge rate was 67% in the CH and 35% in the DGH, with 48% of patients attending for more than a year in the CH compared with 24% in the DGH. This study suggests that while the DGH unit provides an active service the CH units offer supportive care which largely duplicates that which could be provided more cheaply in day centres. PMID- 2629484 TI - Methods of identifying mood disorders in stroke patients: experience in the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project. AB - Four simple methods for assessing mood disorders were examined in a cohort of stroke patients: the Beck Depression Inventory; a visual analogue mood scale; a nurses' depression rating; and a carers' depression rating. None of the measures was entirely satisfactory, either because of inaccuracy when compared to a standardized psychiatric interview, or because of low response rates. A review of their case records showed that the patients' general practitioners were aware of nearly all those with severe persistent mood disorders. The implications of these findings for clinical practice are discussed. PMID- 2629485 TI - Opinions of people aged over 75 years on private and local authority residential care. AB - Two hundred and fifty-one randomly sampled elderly people aged 75 years and over living in their own homes were questioned about their experiences, knowledge and opinions of private rest homes and local authority residential homes. Very few respondents had stayed in either type of institution, and more had visited local authority homes than had visited private rest homes. For both types of institution, one-fifth of respondents or less stated that they would be pleased to enter them, and this did not vary significantly between the two institutions. For both types of institution, 'being well cared for' was the main perceived advantage, but while loss of independence was the main perceived disadvantage of local authority homes, cost was the most frequently cited disadvantage of private care. PMID- 2629486 TI - Inequalities in health in later life. AB - Older age groups are usually omitted from studies of inequalities in health on account of the widespread assumption that later life is a time of universal ill health which will obscure the differences apparent at earlier ages. Data from the 1980 General Household Survey reveal significant social class and sex differences among elderly people in the prevalence of chronic illness and in perceived health status. These findings show that the experience of health in later life is related to social circumstances. PMID- 2629487 TI - Vitamin D status of elderly people in Spain. AB - Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD3), 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1, 25 (OH)2D3], PTH and osteocalcin were measured in 114 subjects living in the South of Spain (Cordoba, latitude 37.6 degrees) during early spring. Results in young healthy adults (group G1) were compared with values found in three groups of elderly subjects (mean age 77 years): healthy elderly people living at home (G2), or in a residence (G3) and chronically sick and hospitalized elderly patients (G4). Mean serum 25OHD3 was lower in the elderly groups G2 and G3 than in young adults but the lowest values were found in G4. The opposite trend was found for serum PTH. Mean serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels were similar in G2 and G3 to G1 but were significantly lower in G4. In a sunny country only chronically sick and hospitalized elderly patients have very low 25OHD3 levels and fail to maintain normal 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentrations despite secondary hyperparathyroidism. PMID- 2629488 TI - Thyroid function tests in elderly patients with and without an acute illness. AB - Thyroid function was assessed by measurement of free thyroid hormones and thyrotrophin (TSH) in 78 acutely ill elderly patients and in a control group without acute illness. Abnormal results with any test were more frequently found in the acutely ill group than in controls. In particular, abnormal TSH values were found in 40% of the acutely ill group and in only 8% of controls (p less than 0.001). Seven acutely ill subjects had very low TSH levels (less than 0.04 mU/l) and a blunted response to thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH). With few exceptions these abnormalities could not be attributed to thyroid disease. This suggests that pituitary TSH secretion can be impaired in euthyroid sick old people. High sensitivity TSH assays may therefore be inappropriate as first-line tests of thyroid function, at least in this select group. PMID- 2629489 TI - Unrecognized viscus perforation in the elderly. AB - Thirty-four consecutive patients with unrecognized intra-abdominal perforation were identified from post-mortem records and retrospective analysis was undertaken. The common factors that appeared to contribute to the missed diagnoses included obesity (50%), communication difficulty (33%) and previous abdominal surgery (38%). In addition, symptoms and signs may have been obscured in those patients receiving analgesics (26%), steroids (21%) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy (44%). Cardiopulmonary presentation (79%) and the absence of free intraperitoneal gas on conventional radiology also may have diverted clinical attention. Elderly obese women appeared to be at particular risk and the diagnosis should be considered especially in the presence of associated, unexplained tachycardia (38%), hypotension (59%) or pyrexia (29%) as gastro-intestinal perforation remains a potentially curable condition. PMID- 2629490 TI - The prevalence of positive serological tests for syphilis among elderly hospital patients. AB - Serological tests for syphilis were performed on 659 elderly patients admitted to hospital medical and psychiatric departments. Positive tests were found in 23 patients (3.5% of the sample), 17 women and 6 men. Six were subsequently discovered to have been treated previously for syphilis, and one other had radiological evidence to suggest that she had been treated with bismuth in the pre-penicillin era. Difficulties were encountered in classifying the stage of infection in some patients, particularly those with significant intellectual impairment. Eleven were diagnosed as late latent syphilis, seven as probable late latent syphilis, one as tabes dorsalis, one as possible cardiovascular syphilis, one as possible meningovascular syphilis, and one as late congenital syphilis. PMID- 2629491 TI - A community survey of mental and physical infirmity in nonagenarians. AB - One hundred and thirty-two people aged 90 years and over were identified in a study of the prevalence of dementia. One third lived in institutions, a third were demented and half were unable to prepare a simple meal or do light housework. None was entirely free of mental or physical disability but many functioned satisfactorily at a simple level with the help of family members and the domiciliary services. PMID- 2629492 TI - The effect of age and frailty upon acetanilide clearance in man. AB - Six healthy young subjects (aged 23-32 years), six healthy elderly subjects (over 60 years) and six hospitalized long-stay geriatric subjects over 60 years received single oral doses of acetanilide. Acetanilide clearance was similar in the fit and frail elderly subjects at 26.4 +/- 2.5 and 26.3 +/- 3.6 l/h and significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than in the young subjects at 39.0 +/- 1.9 l/h. Liver volumes, measured by ultrasound, were significantly less in the elderly than in the young subjects, whether expressed in absolute terms or per unit body weight (p less than 0.05). When acetanilide clearance was expressed per unit volume of liver, no change occurred with age or frailty. These results suggest that a reduced liver size may be an important contributor to the reduced elimination of capacity limited drugs in elderly man. PMID- 2629493 TI - Recovery of visual fields in acute stroke: homonymous hemianopia associated with adverse prognosis. AB - In a prospective study of 157 patients (median age 73 years) admitted to hospital within 72 hours of acute cerebral hemisphere stroke, there was clinical evidence of homonymous hemianopia (HH) as assessed by confrontation in 99 (63%). Patients were followed with serial neurological examinations for 28 days. Complete recovery of visual fields occurred in 14 (17%) of the 81 patients with a complete HH on admission and in 13 (72%) of the 18 patients with a partial HH on admission. Cumulative fatality at 28 days was greater in patients with a complete HH (49%), compared with patients with a partial HH (11%). These two patterns of recovery and outcome probably reflect the differing extent of cerebral damage in the two groups. PMID- 2629494 TI - Research review: studies in the nutrition of elderly people with particular reference to essential trace elements. AB - Duplicate diet analysis, metabolic balance studies and the measurement of biochemical and haematological indices were used to assess the trace element and overall nutritional status of 24 apparently healthy and 20 housebound elderly subjects. The housebound subjects had suboptimal status (as compared with the healthy subjects) for nitrogen, zinc, copper, iron, selenium, calcium and phosphorus. PMID- 2629495 TI - [Objective assessment of senile changes in visual function by visually evoked cortical potentials]. AB - The P100 peak latency of pattern visually evoked cortical potentials (P-VECP) was found to increase and amplitude decrease in the elderly depending on stimulus conditions. Using either of these as a criterion, changes of visual function with aging were quantitatively assessed both in humans and animals. Contrast threshold was found to increase at higher spatial frequency ranges and the luminance threshold increased more than 0.8 log unit. Also, the contrast threshold increased due to a smaller pupillary area and there was progressive decrease of the temporal frequency curves with age for lower frequency ranges of less than 10 rev/sec. In addition, a sensitivity decrease for the upper visual field was detected plus blue-yellow defects and a decrease in the amplitude of accommodation. In order to exclude the effect of senile changes of the crystalline lens, the luminance threshold, the accommodation power and color sense were investigated in pseudo-phakic eyes with a posterior chamber lens. No significant differences were found between phakic and pseudo-phakic eyes. Accordingly, it was suggested that reduced transparency and yellowish changes of the crystalline lens do not essentially contribute to the loss of function in the elderly found in the present study, but the neuronal pathway was responsible. As a clinical model of senescence, cases of juvenile parkinsonism were investigated, during L-dopa treatment and after ceasing it. The deficiency of the neural transmitter of the higher visual pathway was indicated in the elderly, also. Animal experiments on neuronal dysfunction in rats and mice suggested no aging effects in ERGs, whereas VECP peak latency for higher temporal frequencies increased with age. The assumption that the elderly changes occur at the neuronal level was supported by a loss of optic nerve fibers in mice with age. The numbers of optic nerve fibers measured were 48,115, 50,875 in the 3-month-old and 6-month old groups, respectively, and decreased to 43,175 in the 30-month-old group. Though our results indicated the senescence of visual function at the neuronal level, it was not as much as shown by other sensory organs. It was therefore presumed that there might be a certain feed-back system from the brain to the retina. PMID- 2629496 TI - [Fourier analysis of binocular VEP with stimulation of fusional areas]. AB - Dioptic stimulation, by which each eye was stimulated by the same checkerboard pattern but at different pattern reversal rates, was performed and the visually evoked potentials (VEP) were analyzed with a Fourier processor. When both images from each eye were superimposed using fusional targets and prisms, the intermediate frequency component (IFC) was recognized besides two components corresponding to each stimulating frequency reversal rate. The relationship between IFC and the superimposed area (SA) was studied. IFC appeared clearly when the visual angle of SA was above 60 min. (18% of SA). The amplitude of IFC was saturated at a visual angle of 140 min. (53% of SA). Furthermore, when the SA was 200 min. of the visual angle (100% of SA), the IFC showed 0.6 times the activity of the monocular component. When dioptic stimulation was used, only one component corresponding to the stimulating pattern rates was observed and the amplitude became higher with increase of SA. The amplitude of the SA (areas of each eye were fully superimposed) was 1.4 times greater than that of 0% SA. PMID- 2629497 TI - [Evaluation of typical and atypical retinal pigmentary dystrophy by three dimensional analysis (XY plane and time) of averaged electroretinograms]. AB - Retinal functional imaging of patients with typical and atypical retinal pigmentary dystrophies was investigated by three dimensional (XY plane and time) analysis of ERG topography by comparing visual field and fluorescein angiographic findings. The three dimensional analysis revealed that the area of maximal amplitude deviated to the skin area closest to the dominant location of the retinal pigmentary dystrophy (the so-called paradoxical localization). In patients with temporoinferior sectorial retinal pigmentary dystrophy, for example, the maximal amplitude of the a-, b-waves and retinal oscillatory potentials deviated toward the temporoinferior side on the surface topography. These characteristic phenomena of a- and b-waves were found in 60.8% of all patients. Flicker topography with a stimulus frequency of 30 Hz was especially successful in showing the existence and location of paramacular involvement of retinal dystrophy within the area surrounding temporal vascular arcades. The detectability of macular asymmetric involvement was 65.2%. No significant topographic changes were detected in cases in the early stage with no remarkable visual field defects, or in the end stage with remarkable concentric field defects and complicated glaucomatous visual field defects. A comparative study of topographic changes, visual field changes and fluorescein angiographic findings showed that topographic changes in the a-, b-waves, retinal oscillatory potentials and 30Hz flicker components coincided more closely with visual field changes than fluorescein angiographic findings. We proposed that retinal pigmentary dystrophy is not a homogeneous lesion in its progression and believe that the ERG topography method can, by the imaging of dominant locations, detect this disease as well as visual field testing. PMID- 2629498 TI - [Theoretical patterns of the panel D-15 test in congenital dichromatic color vision defects]. AB - In order to study the theoretical patterns of the panel D-15 test for congenital dichromatic color vision defects, the spectral reflectance for the 16 color caps of the panel D-15 test was measured with a spectro-photometer. Then, the chromaticity-coordinates of each color cap were calculated using the spectral distribution of standard illuminant C. The theoretical patterns of the panel D-15 test for dichromats were obtained based on the confusion lines. For this procedure, the slope of the line between the color cap and the convergence point on the CIE chromaticity diagram was obtained first. Then, the order of the arrangement was decided starting with the slope having the smallest cap number and continuing progressively. For the chromaticity coordinates of the convergence points the following values were used; x = 0.7465, y = 0.2535 for protanopia, x = 1.08, y = -0.08, x = 1.40, y = -0.40, and x = 1.70, y = -0.70 for deuteranopia, and x = 0.171, y = 0.000 for tritanopia. The results show a very clear similarity between the orientation axis obtained by simulation and the actual data. Therefore, it was confirmed that dichromats arrange the color caps in the order of the slope of the line between the color cap and the convergence point, when performing the panel D-15 test. Furthermore, it was suggested that the patterns of the panel D-15 test differ by the convergence points among dichromats even of the same type. PMID- 2629499 TI - [Theoretical patterns of the panel D-15 test in congenital red-green dichromats as a function of the chromaticity coordinate of the convergence points]. AB - In order to determine whether or not the patterns of the panel D-15 test for congenital red-green dichromats change when the convergence point is changed, a simulation experiment was attempted assuming that dichromats arrange the color caps in the order of the slope of the line between the chromaticity coordinates of the color cap and the convergence point. For this procedure, chromaticity coordinates of the color cap were calculated using both the spectral distribution of standard illuminant C and the daylight fluorescent lamp (Toshiba-EDL). For this prediction, the chromaticity coordinates of the convergence points were changed according to y = 1-x. The results show several different patterns for both protanopia and deuteranopia under both illuminants. The range of the x chromaticity coordinates common to both illuminants was 0.6868 to 0.8552 when the protanopic patterns were obtained, while the range of the x chromaticity coordinates common to both illuminants for deuteranopic patterns was 1.0878 to infinity and minus infinity to -1.8153. As a result, it was suggested that the patterns of the panel D-15 test for red-green dichromats change according to the convergence points. Therefore, it was considered that this test cannot be used as a dependable measurement for color discrimination ability in cases showing dichromatic patterns. PMID- 2629500 TI - Teat canal diameter and other cow factors with possible influence on somatic cell counts in cow milk. AB - A case-control study on matched pairs of cows in 2 counties of Norway indicated a strong positive association between teat canal diameter (TCD) and somatic cell count (SCC) in milk. The study indicated further a highly significant association between leakage of milk and high SCC and a significant association between teat injury and high SCC. Finally, an association between the shape of the teat end and SCC that was nearly significant (p = .067) when considered in isolation, was shown to exist through it's dependency on TCD. A flat or inverted teat end is associated with a large TCD while a pointed or round teat end tends to have a smaller TCD. PMID- 2629501 TI - The effect of periparturient treatment with fenbendazole on the milk production of cows. AB - Cows and heifers from 22 herds were used in a trial to determine the effect on milk yield of anthelmintic treatment given at calving. Alternate animals were treated with either fenbendazole suspension or a placebo. Cows given fenbendazole showed a mean reduction in milk yield of 221 kg in the subsequent lactation compared with the placebo-treated cows, a difference which was statistically significant. In heifers no significant effect of the treatment was found on milk yield. When looking at the pooled data from both cows and heifers, the reduction in milk yield of the fenbendazole-treated animals was 151 kg, which also was statistically significant. The results indicate that anthelmintic treatment of dairy cows cannot be generally recommended in Norway. PMID- 2629502 TI - Antibacterial spectrum and some other characteristics of an antimicrobial factor produced by Yersinia ruckeri. AB - Yersinia ruckeri produces an antibacterial factor which inhibits the growth of a wide spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, though not other strains of Y. ruckeri. The antibacterial factor was produced at low temperatures (4-20 degrees C), but not at 37 degrees C. The activity was lost after treatment of the supernatant with chloroform, UV-light and after boiling of the supernatant. One did not succeed in obtaining the antibacterial factor in a sterile solution. PMID- 2629503 TI - Fixation of cancellous bone and physeal fractures in dogs and cats. A comparison of the use of self-reinforced biodegradable devices to the use of metallic devices and external fixations. AB - The use of self-reinforced biodegradable devices made of polyglycolide in the cancellous bone and physeal fractures of dogs and cats was compared to the use of metallic devices and external fixations on similar fractures. The series consisted of 64 dogs and 22 cats divided into 6 comparable groups. The patients in the 2 groups fixed with biodegradable devices started to use their operated limbs earlier than in the other groups. The same 2 groups also healed clinically (showed no lameness) earlier than the other groups. Radiographically there was no statistical difference between the 6 groups. On the basis of this study it may be concluded that the fixation with self-reinforced biodegradable devices is as suitable for the fixation of cancellous bone and physeal fractures of dogs and cats as the fixation with metallic devices or external fixation. This biodegradable technique has additional benefits allowing the patients to feel less pain in their operated limbs and making secondary operations to remove the devices unnecessary. PMID- 2629504 TI - Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in goats. VIII. The effect of vaccination against experimental infection. AB - The effect of an inactivated vaccine against C. pseudotuberculosis infection was tested on castrated male kids from a herd free from caseous lymphadenitis. The animals were divided into 3 groups with 8 animals in each. Group 1 was immunized with crude filtrated C. pseudotuberculosis toxoid and whole killed organisms, while Group 2 in addition was given levamisole. The kids were vaccinated twice at an interval of 4 weeks. Group 3 consisted of unvaccinated animals. All groups were challenged subcutaneously with live bacteria 4 weeks after the last vaccination. Unvaccinated animals showed the most severe course of illness after challenge. Development of abscesses in the regional lymph nodes (Inn. subiliaci) was significantly more common in unvaccinated than in vaccinated kids at necropsy 2 months after challenge. There was, however, no such difference between the vaccinated groups, and there was no difference between any of the groups as regards abscess formation at the inoculation site. In each of the 2 vaccinated groups, there was a titre rise following vaccination in the hemolysis inhibition test, whereas no such rise was seen in the bacterial agglutination test. The titre values in both tests increased significantly after challenge in all the groups, the increase being most rapid in the vaccinated animals. The present investigation indicates that development of caseous lesions in lymph nodes in goats, following subcutaneous inoculation with C. pseudotuberculosis, can be reduced by an inactivated vaccine containing whole organisms and crude toxin. PMID- 2629505 TI - Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in goats. IX. The effect of vaccination against natural infection. AB - A vaccination trial was carried out in 10 infected herds. The trial included 247 female kids, the number of animals in each herd varying from 15 to 38. About half of the animals in each herd were vaccinated twice at 3 to 4 week intervals, the first vaccination being carried out before the age of 4 months. A combination of a crude filtrate of C. pseudotuberculosis toxoid with whole organisms, was used. Overall, the prevalence of animals with superficial swellings was higher in the unvaccinated than in the vaccinated group during the first 1-2 years following immunization. However, in some herds superficial swellings were as common in vaccinated as in unvaccinated animals. An antibody response following vaccination was demonstrated in the hemolysis inhibition test, but not in the bacterial agglutination test. Superficial swellings were more common in vaccinated animals which were negative than in animals which were positive in the hemolysis inhibition test at 1 1/2 months after vaccination. The vaccine used in the present study, was not sufficiently efficacious to be recommended as the only protective measure against caseous lymphadenitis in Norwegian goat herds. PMID- 2629506 TI - The effect of detomidine hydrochloride on the electrical activity of uterus in pregnant mares. AB - The effect of detomidine on the electrical activity of the uterus was studied during the last trimester of pregnancy in 6 mares. The effect was observed in 3-5 min after the i.m. injection and it lasted for 50-70 min. 20 and 40 micrograms/kg b.w. doses of detomidine decreased the myometrial electrical activity, whereas 60 micrograms/kg dose did not have any effect on the activity. The results suggested that 20, 40 and 60 micrograms/kg b.w. doses of detomidine can be administered to mares during the last trimester of pregnancy without the risk of abortion induced by increased uterine electrical activity. PMID- 2629507 TI - An outbreak of mucosal disease in a dairy herd. AB - An outbreak of mucosal disease (MD) was studied in a dairy herd, comprising 12 cows, 9 heifers and 18 calves. During a period of 1 month, six 5 to 8 month-old calves showed typical signs of MD. They all died or were killed in extremis after 2-8 days with progressively worsening clinical signs. Post mortem lesions were examined in one calf. Non-cytopathogenic MD virus was isolated from serum or tissues from 3 clinically affected calves and from 1 healthy heifer. All cows and heifers except for the viremic one possessed neutralizing antibodies against bovine pestivirus. According to the current MD-pathogenesis concept, the affected calves were probably infected transplacentally during the first half of foetal life with pestivirus from the persistently infected heifer in the herd. PMID- 2629508 TI - Embryo transfer in subfertile mares. AB - Four subfertile mares (at least 2 barren years) were used as donors in an embryo transfer program. The embryo recovery rate was 50%, varying between 0-100. The transfer of 9 embryos resulted in the pregnancy rate of 44%. The efficiency of embryo transfer using subfertile mares is low. In this material 20% of flushings resulted in a pregnancy. PMID- 2629509 TI - Surface properties of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from caprine mastitis. AB - A total of 53 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from caprine mastitis were tested for surface hydrophobicity, surface Protein A (SpA), and binding capacity of fibronectin, fibrinogen and type II collagen. Strong positive correlation was found between surface hydrophobicity and SpA, and between surface hydrophobicity and 125I-fibronectin-binding. Regardless of hydrophobicity, the binding of fibrinogen was moderate and type II collagen binding was low. The results indicate that SpA and fibronectin-binding protein contribute to the high relative surface hydrophobicity of S. aureus associated with caprine mastitis. PMID- 2629510 TI - Myofibre changes and capsule formation in mice infected with different strains of Trichinella. AB - Mice were infected with 4 strains of Trichinella with the purpose of describing muscle changes (M. Gastrocnemius, diaphragma) by light and electron microscopy, paying particular attention to capsule formation in a polar bear isolate (T. no. 13). No differences in myofibre changes or capsule formation were observed between the different strains by light microscopy at 21 and 60 days post infection. Ultrastructural studies of meat samples 60 day post infection with T. no. 13 revealed active capsule formation in muscle fibres, characterized by protrusions and invaginations of the sarcolemma. Basal lamina-like material was located close to the sarcolemma and in a lattice-like pattern in the capsule matrix. T. no. 13 seems to have a migratory pattern similar to the other strains examined and induces muscle fibre changes undiscernible from those of the 3 other strains. Infected muscle cells are considered to be involved in capsule formation. PMID- 2629511 TI - Body weight, tick burden (Boophilus microplus), physiological parameters and reproductive efficiency of crossbred zebu cattle. AB - Body weight at calving, degree of tick load (Boophilus microplus), rectal temperature, respiratory frequency and heart rate were evaluated and correlated to reproductive efficiency in 63 F1 Brown Swiss x Nellore milked animals reared in the tropical region of Peru. Cows were bred by free natural service, and first ovulation was estimated by progesterone measurements. The physiological parameters were registered at morning milking (04.00 to 06.00) at an average air temperature of 22.4 +/- 0.9 degrees C. The intervals from parturition to first ovulation and conception were significantly affected when the body weight at calving was lower than 400 kg (p less than 0.01). The degree of tick burden, rectal temperature (38.4 +/- 0.2 degrees C, mean +/- s.e.), respiratory rate (25.2 +/- 0.3 breaths/min) and heart rate (66.7 +/- 0.4 beats/min) were not related to post-partum reproductive efficiency. The average intervals from parturition to first ovulation and to conception were 56.3 +/- 55.5 and 77.7 +/- 46.0 days mean +/- s.d.), respectively. The fertility rate was 85.7%. The results indicate the F1 cross to be well adapted to the given environment. It remains to be determined whether higher levels of temperate blood can be used without an accompanying decrease in reproductive performance. PMID- 2629512 TI - Three cases of aberrant right subclavian artery in the dog. PMID- 2629513 TI - Traumatic pancreatic injury in a cat--a case history. PMID- 2629514 TI - [A comparative evaluation of the blood indices in the dynamics of an uncomplicated pregnancy and in gestosis]. AB - Single-erythrocyte hemoglobin values have been obtained in 55 women with normal and gestosis-complicated pregnancies, and total hemoglobin and hematocrit have been followed up in the third trimester in 49 of them. It was found out that gestosis reduced hemoglobin levels and caused erythrocyte redistribution toward a higher proportion of "light" cells as early as in the first trimester. These findings suggest that total hemoglobin level has a low diagnostic value in gestosis. PMID- 2629515 TI - [The characteristics of the endocrine function of the fetoplacental system in pregnant women with chronic pyelonephritis and nephropathy]. AB - A follow-up study of 100 pregnant women with chronic pyelonephritis and superimposed nephropathy has shown that the major determinant of placental insufficiency is late toxemia of pregnancy, not the underlying disease. Estriol levels correlated with severity and duration of gestosis and thus provided the best predictor of fetoplacental insufficiency. Findings on placental lactogen production were less helpful since the production of this hormone was decreased only in severe nephropathy. The onset and progression of placental insufficiency were associated with rising progesterone concentrations in blood, which appeared to be a compensatory placental event. PMID- 2629516 TI - [The hormonal function of the fetoplacental system in pregnant women with chronic alcoholic intoxication]. AB - Radioimmunoassay was used for the assessment of serum hormone levels. Dysfunctions in the fetoplacental system (decreased levels of progesterone and estrogens) were revealed as were elevated levels of somatotropic hormone, which were in inverse proportion to the fetal weight, in 20 pregnant females who abused alcohol during the entire pregnancy. It was suggested that higher production of somatotropic hormone could occur in the presence of hypophyseal tension which had been evidently developed before the pregnancy. PMID- 2629517 TI - [The mechanism of the disorder in the cytoarchitectonics and structural organization of the erythrocyte membranes in gestoses]. AB - Mechanisms underlying gestosis-associated changes in architectonics of the erythrocytes and structural pattern of their membranes have been identified. The changes were related to the rates of lipid peroxidation in the erythrocyte membranes. Phospholipase A2 activation and tissue hypoxia were identified as important determinants of cell membrane abnormalities in progressive and moderate to-severe nephropathy. PMID- 2629518 TI - [The prognosis for the development of gestoses taking into account the psychophysiological individuality of pregnant women]. AB - Psychophysiological predictors of gestosis have been determined in pregnant women followed up at an antenatal clinic. They typically exhibited anxiety states with increased neuroticism, an introverted personality, impairment of brainstem subcortical relations due to dysfunctions of nonspecific units of the visceral brain and their activating effects on the normal cortex, exaggerated cutaneous galvanic reflexes. A clinical follow-up of women at an increased risk showed the onset of edematous nephrotic gestosis in 62.8% and hypertensive gestosis in 37.2% of pregnancies, indicating a predictive value of the identified risk factors. PMID- 2629519 TI - [A scale for the diagnosis of the degree of severity of late pregnancy toxicosis]. AB - This paper presents a scale for the evaluation of severity of late toxemia using 15 clinical and laboratory indices as well as central and regional hemodynamic parameters obtained by whole-body rheography and poly-rheography. Interpretation of the severity of late toxemia involved findings of functional postural and pharmacological tests. The scale is recommended for its use in the obstetric practice. PMID- 2629520 TI - [The therapeutic characteristics of massive blood loss in puerperae with gestosis]. AB - A regimen of fluid and transfusion therapy has been developed on the basis of clinical and laboratory evaluation of postresuscitation course and outcomes of parturients with massive blood loss and a history of gestosis. An early introduction and systematic use of proteolytic inhibitors were beneficial. Surgical hemostasis warrants a radical approach and requires ligation of internal abdominal arteries and uterus extirpation. PMID- 2629521 TI - [The treatment of pregnant women with pyelonephritis]. AB - Results of combined therapy comprising laser treatment of acupuncture sites, venous blood and the renal pelvic mucosa approached through a nephrostomy drain and ureteral catheter have been analyzed in 80 pregnant women with pyelonephritis. Laser treatment supported by antibacterial, fluid, spasmolytic, antihypertensive and immunostimulator therapy proved to be an effective regimen. PMID- 2629522 TI - [The obstetrical aspects of amniocentesis and chorionic biopsy]. AB - Threatened abortion, a history of operation or tumor-like masses of the uterus and adnexa were seen in 70 women who underwent amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling for prenatal diagnosis. A control group comprised 40 women with similar obstetric risks who refused to have the invasive studies done. Evidence has been obtained to indicate that, with certain provisions, amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling may be employed in situations which are regarded as contraindications. PMID- 2629523 TI - [The surgical treatment of miscarriage in isthmus-cervix incompetence]. AB - Long-term outcomes of stratifying cervicoplasty for organic isthmic-cervical incompetence have been evaluated in 38 women. Pregnancy was achieved in 32 women and continued to term in 22 women; there were 16 cesarean deliveries, and 6 women were delivered vaginally despite recommended operative delivery. Spontaneous abortions occurred in 5 surgically treated women and abortion was induced in 5. Reversal of secondary cervical disease represents an advantage of this mode of treatment. PMID- 2629524 TI - [The effect of specific trophoblastic beta 1-glycoprotein on changes in the cellular link of immunity in infected abortion]. AB - Effects of specific trophoblastic beta-1-glycoprotein (TBG) on T- and B-cell immunity have been explored in 107 patients with purulent septic complications of abortion. TBG showed a marked suppressor effect on T lymphocytes. Persistence of TBG in blood of patients with infection complicated abortion maintains immunodeficient states. The presence of TBG in serum may increase the risk of severe septic complications of illegal abortion. PMID- 2629525 TI - [Thromboses of the cerebral sinuses and veins in the gestational period]. AB - Occlusions in the system of cerebral veins were observed in 39 pregnant females (1 per 5640 labor cases). The disease was diagnosed in the first trimester in 8, in the second trimester in 7 and in the third trimester in 9 females. 15 patients were involved in the postpartum period. Sinusal thromboses of the brain were diagnosed in 13 and venous thromboses, in 26 patients. The clinical picture of the lesions in the structure of intracranial veins was featured by headache, vomiting, disturbances of consciousness, epileptic attacks, transient pareses and paralyses, meningeal symptoms, congestion in the eye fundus. 9 patients expired. Lesions in the system of cerebral veins should be differentiated from cerebral neoplasms, strokes and eclampsia. PMID- 2629526 TI - [Sensorium function on the eve of physiological labor and labor complicated by uncoordinated uterine contractile activity]. AB - Characteristic features of the CNS performance before the labor and their prognostic value are presented in the paper. It has been stated that uncoordinated uterine contractility commonly develops in the presence of a lower performance of visual and auditory analysers and alterations in the sensorium balance. PMID- 2629527 TI - [The estrogen receptors of the endometrial plasma membranes in proliferative processes in the postmenopause]. AB - Estradiol receptors of plasma membranes (PM), PM lipids, the activity of membrane bound enzymes and plasma levels of hormones have been tested in patients of postmenopausal ages with various endometrial diseases (glandular fibrous and glandular cystic polyps, highly, moderately and poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas). Test findings were similar in patients with the glandular cystic polyps and poorly and moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas. Therefore, the patients with the glandular cystic endometrial polyps are at high risk of endometrial cancer. Since the risk increases with higher estrogen plasma levels, the patients with proliferative endometrial conditions may benefit from intake of antiestrogens. PMID- 2629528 TI - [Central electroanalgesia as a component in the combined treatment of vomiting in pregnant women]. PMID- 2629529 TI - [The characteristics of the hormonal interrelationships in a pregnancy stimulated with parlodel]. AB - The study of hormonal balance in the presence of pregnancy and labor in females with a history of infertility treated with parlodel failed to reveal any negative effect of elevated prolactin levels on the fetoplacental system. No differences in the course of pregnancy and labor were revealed as compared to the untreated age-matched. Weight and height figures of neonates born to parlodel-treated mothers were similar to those from the control group. There was no evidence of malformations or developmental defects in the studied group of neonates. PMID- 2629530 TI - [Disorders of O2 transport and their correction in heart surgery patients]. AB - Basic factors of O2 transport disturbances and mechanisms of their compensation have been studied in 1200 patients after cardiac surgery. It has been shown that O2 transport decrease is induced by damages in oxygenating blood function, decreased cardiac performance and hemoglobin blood level, oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve deviation and changes in Hb affinity to O2 with regard to 2,3 DPG content. The causes of arterial O2 transport damage affect the treatment procedures, including oxygen therapy, controlled lung ventilation, erythrocyte mass transfusion, inotropic drug administration, hypothermia. PMID- 2629531 TI - [Klofelin as a component of general anesthesia and a means of postoperative analgesia in cancer surgery]. AB - Clophelinum (0.0014 +/- 0.00007 mg/kg, intravenously) as a component of multicomponent general anesthesia eliminated hemodynamic and endocrine reactions during major abdominal and thoracic surgery in cancer patients, reducing the dosage of calypsol and fentanyl. In the postoperative period clophelinum in combination with Baralgin ensures effective analgesia without the use of any narcotic analgesics. PMID- 2629532 TI - [Different methods of determining the position on the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve]. AB - P50 values, as measured on DCA-1 analyzer and calculated according to Lichtman formula based on Hill equation, or calculated according to standard Severinghaus curve have been compared. No significant differences in P50 values have been observed. The method of direct oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve registration seems preferable, as it gives the idea not only of the position, but also of the form of curve changes. However, it cannot be widely recommended for clinical practice for lack of home-made equipment. Calculation methods are simpler, however, they depend on the accuracy of SO2 measurements and the necessity to use for calculations the results of blood pO2 measurements with SO2 in the range of 25-75%. PMID- 2629533 TI - [Visual evaluation of the dynamics of the action of a myorelaxant based on the threshold contractile reaction of the orbicular muscles of the eye during indirect electric stimulation]. AB - A method has been elaborated for the determination of the early signs of myorelaxation and the type of neuromuscular block by the visual assessment of the eye round muscles contraction under indirect electrical stimulation. The studies performed in 38 patients on myorelaxants have shown that the onset of the eye round muscles contraction under indirect electrical stimulation corresponds mainly to the early clinical symptoms of myorelaxation. The method is recommended as an additional clinical diagnostic technique for the assessment of neuromuscular block. PMID- 2629534 TI - [The effect of cholinergic agents on the analgesic effect of nonnarcotic analgesics]. AB - The effect of cholinergic agents on the analgetic effect of analgin (pyrazoline derivative) and chemical compounds (quinazoline and triazole derivatives) has been studied in experiments on white mice using a "hot plate" technique. It has been found that an M-cholinomimetic pilocarpine decreases pain sensitivity and enhances considerably the analgetic effect of non-narcotic analgesics, especially that of quinazoline and triazole derivatives. At high doses (10 mg/kg) pilocarpine increases drastically the toxicity of analgin. Contrastingly, an M cholinoblocker atropine does not affect considerably the pain sensitivity, however blocks completely the analgetic effect of all the drugs studied. The role of cholinergic mechanisms in the maintenance of pain sensitivity level and the onset of the analgetic effect of non-narcotic analgesics as well as the clinical value of the data obtained are discussed. PMID- 2629535 TI - [Changes in the concentration of endogenous opiates in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid during acute painful stimuli and protective electroacupuncture analgesia]. AB - The concentrations of endogenous opiates (beta-endorphin, methionine-enkephalin, leucine-enkephalin) in the spinal fluid and arterial blood plasma has been studied in 16 dogs, using the model of acute pain stimulation under electroacupuncture analgesia (EAA). It has been shown that pain stimulation under EAA is accompanied by a significant increase in methionine-enkephalin++ and leucine-enkephalin concentrations (by 244 and 69.4%, respectively) in the spinal fluid. beta-endorphin level tends to increase. There is also a trend towards the reduction in beta-endorphin and methionine-enkephalin concentrations in the arterial blood plasma, which is indicative of effective antinociceptive stimulation of the endogenous opiate system. However, by the end of the first hour a decrease of methionine-enkephalin and leucine-enkephalin levels in the spinal fluid was paralleled by a trend towards beta-endorphin and methionine enkephalin increase and a significant leucine-enkephalin increase in arterial blood plasma, which can account for the exhaustion of the opiate system. PMID- 2629536 TI - [Dynamics of the level of plasma vasopressin and its role in the regulation of water-electrolyte metabolism in patients following aortocoronary bypass]. AB - Changes in plasma vasopressin, K+, Na levels, osmolality in blood and urine samples, as well as hemodynamic parameters, cardiac output and circulating blood volume including, have been assessed in 38 patients 3, 6, 18 and 48 hours after aortocoronary bypass surgery. It has been found that vasopressin blood level in the postoperative period is considerably (5-7 times) higher than physiological hormone level. The main reasons for vasopressin blood level increase are surgical stress, increase in blood plasma osmolality, hypokalemia, a drop of the arterial blood pressure and central venous pressure elevation. Despite a high vasopressin level and its pronounced impact on the renal excretory function, the first postoperative hours are marked by polyuria, mediated mainly by osmotic diuresis due to infusions of high amounts of osmotically active substances. PMID- 2629537 TI - [Calculation of hemodynamic and myocardial contractility parameters as determined by noninvasive methods using the Elektronika MK 61 microcomputer]. AB - A specific programme elaborated for microcalculator "Electronika MK 61" can be applied by intensive care specialists to mathematical processing of the results of impedance plethysmography and phase analysis of the cardiac cycle. PMID- 2629538 TI - [The pathogenesis of respiration disorders in acute ischemia of the lower extremities and their correction using hemosorption]. AB - The level of hormones, metabolites, toxins and biologically active substances that reflects the degree of endogenous intoxication increases drastically in acute ischemia and revascularization of the extremity and decreases upon hemosorption (HS). This can be accounted for by their adsorption on the sorbent. According to the data of electron microscopy this pathology is accompanied by morphological signs of the "shock lung". Upon HS dystrophic and destructive changes in lung capillaries and alveolar epithelium are minimum. It is believed that surfactant release from second type pneumocytes promotes to the extension of alveoli and decrease of atelectasis. The early application of HS is pathogenetically grounded. PMID- 2629539 TI - [Shifts in the parameters of cardio- and hemodynamics and their correction using liposomes in the process of the development of septic shock]. AB - The interdependence between changes in central cardiac hemodynamics and regional blood flow has been studied in dogs with experimental septic shock. Possible correction of the above damages by direct delivery of liposomes to tissues of the septic focus has been investigated. It has been found that vascular insufficiency is primary in the genesis of decompensated circulatory disturbances, with its progress leading to the inhibition of pump and contractility cardiac functions. Regional subcutaneous administration of liposomes in developing septic shock prevents the onset of cardiovascular disturbances. PMID- 2629540 TI - [Extracorporeal detoxification of the body and the B system of immunity in acute peritonitis]. AB - 65 patients with acute peritonitis of various etiology have been examined. It has been established that marked toxemia in the early postoperative period, normal relative B-lymphocyte content, low level of EAC-RFC with moderate to high content of receptors to sheep red blood cells are prognostically unfavourable. The level of intermediate molecular mass polypeptides (IMMP) above 0.4 units and absolute absence of B lymphocytes with high receptor density during one postoperative week seem threatening and are an indication for hemosorption (HS). HS in patients with high toxin content was accompanied by a positive clinical effect related to its non-specific stimulation of qualitative and functional B-lymphocyte properties including their receptor apparatus due to IMMP removal from blood. PMID- 2629541 TI - [The effect of hemosorption on the intensity of spontaneous chemiluminescence of the blood]. AB - 1 day after intensive irradiation of cancer patients chemiluminescent (CL) signal of blood sera is considerably enhanced. Hemoperfusion (HP) decreases it by 62%, with the following slight increase in CL intensity. 42-47% increase in electrokinetic erythrocyte potential registered in patients after HP, as well as a certain decrease in blood viscosity may be considered as an indirect explanation of the mechanism of triboluminescence of human blood during HP. PMID- 2629542 TI - [Experience with the use of hemosorption in the intensive therapy of Stevens Johnson syndrome in a child]. PMID- 2629543 TI - [A computer system for analysis and presentation of the results of studies of the immune status of patients with a profile of resuscitation]. AB - Logical principles for the use of computer technology in the assessment of medical information in intensive care units are outlined. A computer system for the assessment of the results of immune status studies has been presented. The potentials are demonstrated to form the data bank with realization of precedent search function, presentation of information with the help of computer graphics and calculation of highly informative secondary indexes on the basis of primary ones. PMID- 2629544 TI - [Epidural analgesia in the treatment of the pain syndrome in degenerative dystrophic disorders of the lumbar spine]. AB - Epidural analgesia (EA) with dicaine and morphine has been compared in 34 patients with pain syndrome caused by degenerative dystrophy of lumbar vertebrae. The advantages of EA with dicaine have been observed. 35.3% of patients have been subject to surgery. In the rest of patients pain syndrome was relieved. Radionuclide epidurography has shown that the volume of the anesthetic solution injected should not exceed 10 ml. PMID- 2629545 TI - [Evaluation of the factors affecting the efficacy and safety of postoperative epidural analgesia using morphine]. AB - Subjective and objective methods were used to assess pain in 390 surgical patients. The quality and duration of postoperative epidural analgesia (EA) with morphine was studied with regard to the analgesic concentration and volume of the solution, segment of its administration into the epidural space and its storage period. It has been shown that the degree of an antinociceptive effect does not depend on the segment of opiate administration into the epidural space, whereas the duration of analgesia increases when EA is performed into spinal segments innervating the source of pain. The effect of the first morphine dose was more durable with the increase in the analgesic concentration and decrease in the volume of the solution. Parallel enhancement of respiratory depression effect was observed. The incidence of side effects became greater towards the end of the storage period. Possible mechanisms of changes observed in EA pharmacodynamics are reviewed in terms of increased efficacy and safety of the procedure. PMID- 2629546 TI - [Anesthesiologic tactics in the case of children with rheumatoid arthritis receiving hormonal therapy]. AB - The efficacy of two types of perioperative corticosteroid therapy has been compared in 191 children with rheumatoid arthritis aged 4 to 15 years, who were preoperatively treated with steroid hormones. The data have been obtained that small doses of steroid hormones used for the prevention of acute adrenocortical insufficiency and differential approach to their application eliminate side effects of glucocorticoids and ensure more favourable conditions for surgery. PMID- 2629547 TI - [Changes in hemodynamic indices during perfusion with pulsatile and steady currents in aortocoronary bypass surgery]. AB - Hemodynamic parameters were compared in 28 patients with ischemic heart disease subject to cardiopulmonary bypass surgery with non-pulsatile (group 1) and pulsatile flow (group 2). Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure (MBP) was assessed, total peripheral vascular resistance (TPVR) was calculated, esophageal, rectal and skin temperature was measured. Volumetric perfusion rate was the same in both groups. Pulse pressure was maintained at the level of 35 mmHg. MBP at the stage of hypothermia plateau and during warming decreased in both groups. It was significantly lower in group 1 at the beginning of warming and during clamp relief from the aorta. At the end of cooling period TPVR was lower with the use of pulsatile than non-pulsatile flow. It increased drastically towards the end of hypothermia plateau in group 1. During clamp relief from the aorta TPVR values did not significantly differ from baseline in group 2 and remained high in group 1. The warming rate happened to be greater in pulsatile than in non-pulsatile flow. PMID- 2629548 TI - [The use of active methods of treatment in the case of a child with a complicated form of generalized eczema]. AB - A case of management of a 10-month-old baby suffering from generalized eczema is described. The following methods used for active therapy-- tissue detoxication, hemosorption, thoracic duct drainage with lymphorrhea, lymphapheresis and lymphosorption and lymph cells removal from the body have led to a stable positive effect, i.e. skin lesion healing, disappearance of pneumonia, disseminated vascular coagulation syndrome and hepatic-renal failure. The baby has been followed up for 4 years, no relapses of the disease have been observed. PMID- 2629549 TI - Bowman-Birk type protease inhibitors: two-dimensional vector representation for their sequences. AB - The degree of structural similarity in the legume Bowman-Birk type protease inhibitors has been examined on the basis of two-dimensional vector representation of the respective amino acid sequences. Amino acid residue size and hydrophobicity are the two dimensions used (Swanson, R. (1984) Bull. Math. Biol., 46: 623-639). For the set of such homologous proteins a consensus sequence is generated. A non-negative real-valued function on the set of compared sequences is proposed as a measure of dissimilarity between compared sequences. In the group of those double-headed protease inhibitors sub-groups are distinguished presenting high structural similarity among their respective members and lower similarity among them. PMID- 2629550 TI - Membrane protein patterns of three Azospirillum species and Herbaspirillum seropedicae. AB - Membrane protein patterns in SDS-PAGE clearly characterized Azospirillum amazonense, A. brasilense, A. lipoferum, and Herbaspirillum seropedicae. Each species showed also a typical major band with approximate molecular weights (AMWs) of 44, 39.5, 35.5, and 37.5 Kdaltons for the four species respectively. Characteristic lighter bands with AMWs of 63.5 and 19 Kdaltons were shown by A. amazonense. Similar bands of 54, 24 and 24.5 Kdaltons were typical of A. brazilense, A. lipoferum and H. seropedicae, respectively. The three Azospirillum species showed four identical proteins in common, out of the six main proteins presented in SDS-PAGE; H. seropedicae had only two major proteins with one of them common to all three Azospirillum species. The data strongly favors the maintenance of Azospirillum and Herbaspirillum as valid generic taxa as well as supports the validity of the three Azospirillum species. PMID- 2629551 TI - [Perinatal factors predicting hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in asphyxic newborn infants]. AB - Between 1 May 1984 and 30 April 1985, 1,354 term or posterm neonates being white and having asphyxia in controlled delivery were studied to predict development of neurological signs and its seriousness. In each case correlations were estimated between the existence of neurological signs and its grade and 100 gestational, obstetric and neonatal factors of potential predictor. The discriminatory analysis indicated that the more significants predictors were: Apgar at five minutes, prolonged labor, twins, resuscitation, DIP I, cephalhematoma, caput succedaneum, umbilical artery pH, urgent cesarean section, hemorrhagic amniotic fluid, gestational edema, variable DIP, high forceps. A discriminatory value less than or equal to 2 predicts no neurological sign in 93.8%, while a value greater than or equal to 3 predicts moderate or serious signs is 98.4%. PMID- 2629552 TI - [Mineral metabolism of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in the normal newborn infant]. AB - The mineral metabolism of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in 20 newborns and infants was studied. All children were born from term deliveries and none presented clinic, biochemistry signs or radiological evidences of bone mineral metabolism disturbances. In this way, metabolic blance technics were applied. Net absorption of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were: 54,9 +/- 18,8; 8,7 +/- 4,8 and 64,6 +/- 14,2 mg/kg/day respectively. The retentions of the three elements were: 54,4 +/- 20,6; 7,4 +/- 4,5 and 43,2 +/- 13,6 mg/kg/day. A significative lineal correlation between plasmatic levels of 250Hd and 24,25 (OH)2D with calcium retention was found. The correlation of intestinal calcium apsorption was positive and significative only with 250HD levels. It wasn't found signification between the vitamin D metabolites with the magnesium and phosphorus balance. In other way, it was found a relation between the dietary intake of this two elements with absorption and retention of both of them. PMID- 2629553 TI - [Diagnostic value of cranial computerized tomography in pediatric practice]. AB - A total of 100 clinical records have been studied to as certain the diagnostic use of brain CT. Most frequent diagnoses are: hypoxic-ischemic encephalopaty, seizure disorders, psychomotor delay, head enlargement and trauma. The first years of life was the period with a higher frequency of applications and the greater percentage of pathologic results (75-80 por 100) was found among intracranial hypertension, fetal distress, macrocephaly or infections of Central Nervous System and their sequelae. Minus than 50 por 100 of CT scans requested for seizures, psychomotor delay and trauma demonstrated true abnormal findings. Nearly half (53 por 100) of exams were pathological and 87 por 100 of them were useful to confirm or complete the diagnosis. It is possible to predict an increase in the number of examinations to perform in the future, although it many be replaced by alternative techniques. PMID- 2629554 TI - [Total colectomy in necrotizing enterocolitis]. AB - Total colectomy in the neonatal period, after a necrotizing enterocolitis is not infrequent and implies a series of complex attitudes towards a good adaptation of the remaining small bowel. We present 9 cases of total colectomy in children with necrotizing enterocolitis of 11 cases surgically treated out of 57 cases. We describe the different types of surgical procedures used as well as the evolution of each patient. PMID- 2629555 TI - [Pathology of the very low birthweight neonate]. AB - 86 very low birthweight infants who has been hospitalized between February 1980 and February 1987 and discharged were analysed. 15 of these newborns weighed less than 1,000 g (group 1) and 71 weighed between 1,000 and 1,499 g (group 2). We compared the maternal records, both groups. In group 1, early neonatal depression was more frequent, as well as seizures, infectious complications, patency of the ductus, and chronic respiratory complications. PMID- 2629556 TI - [Mirror movement. Review of 11 cases]. AB - The disturbance of mirror movements is a little known disfunction of the movement in which one extremity reproduces simultaneously the movements carried out by the other extremity. It can have very different etiologies. We have observed the clinical histories of eleven children who suffered from this disturbance, with the aim of contributing to a further knowledge of this subject. The conclusions of our observation are: 1) Clear preference for male sex. 2) Great etiological variety. 3) High incidence of neuropsychological disturbances associated, as well a large variety of them. 4) The most useful complementary exam from the underlying process to the disturbance of mirror movements is the craneal CAT; although the alterations found are not especific and probably not pathogenetically related with the disturbance. PMID- 2629557 TI - [PGE and PGF2-alpha levels in the umbilical cord vessels. Relationship to acid base equilibrium in the umbilical artery]. AB - To asses the possible role of prostaglandins in the fetoplacental circulation during delivery PGE and PGF2-alfa plasma levels were measured in the umbilical vessels of term newborns. The levels of PGF2-alfa in blood from the umbilical vein are significantly higher and more variable than in the umbilical artery; 83.38 +/- 78.05 pg/ml versus 43.28 +/- 5.32 pg/ml. PGE levels are also higher in the vein 114.73 +/- 25.16 pg/ml than in the artery 83.63 +/- 9.22 pg/ml. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the arterial pH and PGE in the umbilical vein these results support the idea that the plasmatic umbilical prostaglandins are synthetized by the placenta the variability in the values obtained in venous umbilical blood may reflect the different times of ligation of the umbilical cord. A decrease in fetal pH may be the stimulus for the prostaglandin synthesis by the placenta. PMID- 2629558 TI - [Seasonal incidence of congenital hip dislocation. A risk factor]. AB - The congenital dislocation of the hip stational variation frequency is a known anecdotical data in various screening, but its etiology is unknown. Several authors had reported an increase of CDH during fall or winter time. The theory that they support for this finding is the wear use in some countries for the newborn, inducing extension and approximation of the limbs, which could justify the hip dislocation. Another etiological factors proposed by some authors is the climatical influence in mothers hormonal secretion. We have studied 33,000 alive newborns with a CDH frequency about 9.78 per thousand. The new fact that we report is an increase of CDH cases during springtime, without parallel increase in births. The hypothesis we support is: stational variations of CDH is not caused by mechanical factors instead there are another unknown agents. Nevertheless we advocate the springtime as a "risk factor" in our region. PMID- 2629559 TI - [Growth standards and their use in pediatrics]. PMID- 2629560 TI - [Clinico-anatomical study of juvenile polyps in Asturias]. AB - We have made a multifactorial study relating to the cases of juvenile polyps diagnosed in Asturias from 1977 to 1985. We have valued its histological nature and its evolutive behaviour especially as to what refers to the colonic carcinoma. We have analysed its localization and clinical features and noticed an improvement in diagnostic efficiency according to the broader and better use of endoscopy. We also show the need of a more interventionist attitude as regards to this pathology. PMID- 2629561 TI - [Tuberculosis: a current problem of primary concern]. PMID- 2629562 TI - [Massive myocardial necrosis and fibrosis in pancreatic cystic fibrosis]. PMID- 2629563 TI - [Bronchial obstruction secondary to necrotizing tracheobronchitis in the neonatal period. Apropos of a case]. PMID- 2629564 TI - [Esophageal atresia and transesophageal fistula associated with right pulmonary agenesis]. PMID- 2629565 TI - [At the junction of economy and epidemiology: national survey of families about health and medical care]. PMID- 2629566 TI - [Prognostic factors in dilated cardiomyopathy]. AB - Thirty-eight patients, 27 men and 11 women, mean age 49 +/- 12 yr, suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy were included in this prospective study of prognostic factors. Twenty-two subjects admitted heavy alcohol consumption (greater than 80 g/d, for at least 10 yr). The survival rates for 2, 5 and 7 yr were 87, 35 and less than 20%, respectively. Prognostic factors were evaluated in 34 (22 alcoholic and 12 non-alcoholic) patients: 10 improved or were cured, as determined clinically, radiologically and echocardiographically (group 1); 24 deteriorated, 13 of whom died (group 2). Statistically significant values for group 1 versus group 2 were: echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) end diastolic diameter (3.50 +/- 0.80 vs 4.02 +/- 0.5 cm/m2, p less than 0.026) and LV end systolic diameter (2.97 +/- 0.65 vs 3.43 +/- 0.53 cm/m2, p less than 0.02); hemodynamic LV systolic pressure (113.9 +/- 15 vs 101.82 +/- 17.36 mm Hg, p = 0.045); angiographic LV end diastolic volume (137.8 +/- 57.44 vs 177.85 +/- 55.45 ml/m2, p = 0.057), LV end systolic volume 93 +/- 53.5 s 139.28 +/- 48.99 ml/m2, p less than or equal to 0.036), ejection fraction 0.36 +/- 0.16 vs 0.22 +/ 0.7%, p less than or equal to 0.006) and velocity of fiber shortening (0.79 +/- 0.53 vs 0.36 +/- 0.3 circ/s, p = 0.036). Other electrical, radiological and hemodynamic parameters were not significant and alcohol consumption did not influence the prognosis. The severity of LV functional impairment appears to be the major determinant of a poor prognosis and reduced survival in idiopathic and alcoholic cardiomyopathies. PMID- 2629567 TI - [Socioeconomic aspects of depression]. PMID- 2629568 TI - [Immediate allergy to latex. 12 cases]. AB - Immediate hypersensitivity to latex is now well known. Contact urticaria is the most common manifestation, sometimes associated with rhinitis, asthma or a generalized rash. Atopy and frequent contact with latex favor sensitization. Anaphylactic shock is to be feared in sensitized patients during contact with latex, especially in peroperative situations (latex surgical gloves), as in the 12 cases reported. The shock is unusual in its delayed appearance and its progressive course. Positive skin tests to latex, the presence of specific IgE antibodies and negative skin tests to anesthetics confirm the diagnosis. However, the latex allergen has not yet been identified. Due to the increasing use of protective rubber (gloves, condoms, etc), the frequency of latex sensitization should increase. Systematic screening during history taking will be important before treatment. PMID- 2629569 TI - [Superficial bladder tumors. Results of preventive treatment of recurrence by intravesical instillation of BCG]. AB - Two-thirds of newly diagnosed bladder tumors are superficial transitional cell carcinomas. Local relapses occur in more than 2/3 of the patients after transurethral resection of the initial tumor, with a risk of muscle invasion in 1/3 of them. A retrospective study of 100 consecutive patients was performed to assess the role of intravesical BCG-therapy as a prophylaxis against the recurrence of superficial bladder cancer; the treatment protocol is described. Eighty-two patients had previously had recurrent tumors and 18 were given BCG directly because they had multiple, large, high grade or widespread tumors. Seventy patients (70 p. 100) tolerated the treatment well, but 6 experienced serious complications (3 systemic BCG infections and 3 bladder contractures). Of the 18 patients given BCG after their first tumor, 12 (66 p. 100) are tumor-free with a mean follow-up of 13 months. Of the 82 patients with previous recurrent tumors, 52 (63 p. 100) were improved by the treatment. Of the 100 patients, twelve tumors became muscle invasive and required more aggressive intervention. Intravesical BCG is effective in preventing recurrences of superficial bladder cancer. However, the side effects and the risk of muscle invasion require close monitoring. PMID- 2629570 TI - [Multiple intracranial tuberculomas. Aspects in magnetic resonance imaging and the therapeutic contribution of ofloxacin]. AB - A 38 year old alcoholic patient presented meningitis, loss of consciousness, pneumopathy and multiple cerebral lesions on a CT scan. He improved with ofloxacin and corticosteroid therapy, before the administration of anti tuberculin treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to follow the course of the lesions once the CT scan had become normal. This case demonstrates the efficacy of ofloxacin against central nervous system tuberculosis. PMID- 2629571 TI - [Hospital organization in the strategy of the fight against AIDS]. PMID- 2629572 TI - [Hospital epidemiology of HIV infection in the Parisian public hospitals]. AB - The evolution of hospitalization for patients with HIV infections in Parisian public hospitals (Assistance Publique de Paris) can be analyzed from the data base containing discharge diagnoses and from the results of a cross-sectional survey "on a given day". At present, the activity associated with HIV infection represents more than 2% of the total activity of this institution. From 1982 to 1987, HIV-associated activity increased extremely rapidly, treating patients in acute care hospitals and clinical departments and concomitantly developing home care and day hospitalizations. The latter were responsible for the substantial decrease in the average length of hospitalization. Home care and day care hospitalizations for HIV infection continued to increase during 1988, while longer-term hospitalizations decreased. PMID- 2629573 TI - [Efficacy of danazol in the treatment of thrombopenia in a chronic HIV seropositive hemodialyzed patient. Unexpected appearance of major hyperglycemia]. PMID- 2629574 TI - [Spondylodiscitis caused by Candida albicans in a former drug addict in the course of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)]. PMID- 2629575 TI - [Palmo-mental reflex and anti-HIV seropositivity]. PMID- 2629576 TI - [Septicemia caused by Listeria monocytogenes in the course of AIDS. Predisposing role of associated cirrhosis?]. PMID- 2629577 TI - [Asymptomatic Campylobacter infection in the course of HIV infection]. PMID- 2629578 TI - Calcium, membranes, aging, and Alzheimer's disease. A symposium. Irvine, California, October 24-26, 1988. Proceedings. PMID- 2629579 TI - Calcium, membranes, aging, and Alzheimer's disease. Introduction and overview. PMID- 2629580 TI - Macromolecular organization of the neuromuscular postsynaptic membrane. PMID- 2629581 TI - Intracellular ionic calcium and the cytoskeleton in living cells. PMID- 2629582 TI - Calcium-regulated contractile and cytoskeletal proteins in dendritic spines may control synaptic plasticity. PMID- 2629583 TI - The protein kinase C family in the brain: heterogeneity and its implications. PMID- 2629584 TI - On the mechanism whereby phosphorylation modulates protein folding. Relevance to protein tangles and plaques of Alzheimer's disease. PMID- 2629585 TI - Changes in calcium homeostasis during aging and Alzheimer's disease. AB - Several observations indirectly suggest that intracellular calcium regulation may be altered by aging and Alzheimer's disease. Thus, calcium homeostasis was examined directly in skin fibroblasts from Alzheimer's patients and compared to cells from normal young and elderly controls. Alterations in both bound and free calcium were noted; cells from Alzheimer's donors have higher levels of bound calcium but lower concentrations of free intracellular calcium when compared to cells from young and normal aged donors. These changes in calcium homeostasis may be physiologically significant, since processes that require transient elevations of intracellular free calcium, such as cell spreading, decline in the Alzheimer's cells. In summary, cultured skin fibroblasts from normal aged and Alzheimer's patients demonstrate deficits in calcium homeostasis and other metabolic processes when compared to cells from young donors. PMID- 2629586 TI - Structure and dynamics of the glycolipid components of membrane receptors: 2H NMR provides a route to in vivo observation. PMID- 2629587 TI - Ca2+ handling systems and neuronal aging. PMID- 2629588 TI - Putting biomedical knowledge to use in the Third World. PMID- 2629590 TI - Biomedical science and the Third World: under the volcano. PMID- 2629589 TI - Biomedical science and the Third World. Under the volcano. Introduction. PMID- 2629591 TI - The roles of the World Health Organization in tropical disease research. PMID- 2629592 TI - World Health Organization Expanded Programme on Immunization: progress and evaluation report. PMID- 2629593 TI - The World Health Organization's plan of action for global eradication of poliomyelitis by the year 2000. PMID- 2629594 TI - Vitamin E: biochemistry and health implications. PMID- 2629595 TI - Vitamin E deficiency neuropathy in children with fat malabsorption. Studies in cystic fibrosis and chronic cholestasis. PMID- 2629596 TI - The protective effect of administered alpha-tocopherol against hepatic damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion or endotoxemia. PMID- 2629597 TI - Plasma vitamins E and A inversely correlated to mortality from ischemic heart disease in cross-cultural epidemiology. AB - In eight study populations in which the medians of total plasma cholesterol did not differ significantly (mean 5.8 mM, p greater than 0.05) and therefore did not correlate with the IHD mortality (r2 = 0.05), the median of absolute plasma level of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) was inversely related to the IHD mortality (r2 = 0.55; p = 0.003). Vitamin A behaved similarly (r2 = 0.51; p = 0.046). The absolute levels of vitamins E and A together with cholesterol predicted (by multiple regression analysis) the IHD mortality of these eight populations fairly well (r2 = 0.81; p = 0.06). Considering all 12 study populations analyzed thus far, total plasma cholesterol correlated with the IHD mortality directly as expected (r2 = 0.51; p less than 0.01), but the median of the plasma alpha tocopherol individually standardized for cholesterol and triglycerides (220 mg/dL + 110 mg/dL, respectively) maintained a strong inverse association with the IHD mortality (r2 = 0.49; p = 0.01). In the partial regression analysis, lipid standardized vitamin E exhibited an even stronger inverse correlation with IHD mortality (r2 = 0.69; p less than 0.001). Again, vitamin A behaved similarly to vitamin E, that is, after lipid-standardization of individuals (r2 = 0.33; p = 0.07), as well as in the cholesterol-independent partial regression analysis (r2 = 0.74; p less than 0.001). Both vitamins may act singularly, for after lipid standardization they vary de facto independently (rs = 0.012) in individuals. The combination of vitamins E and A as obtained by multiple partial regression predicted the actual IHD mortality to a large extent (r2 = 0.89; p less than 0.001), whereas the three-variable prediction model, with the median of total cholesterol and of individually lipid-standardized vitamins E and A, fit the actual IHD mortality of these 12 populations almost completely (r2 = 0.94; p less than 0.001). In conclusion, the plasma status of vitamins E and A are important, hitherto underrated risk factors of IHD, which may act independently, but can, if combined, predict at least 53% of the cross-cultural differences of IHD mortality. After inclusion of total cholesterol into a multivariate model, up to 94% of the IHD mortality can be predicted. The present epidemiological data are in agreement with the hypothesis that these vitamins have physiological functions in the protection of lipoproteins against peroxidation and atherogenic apo-B modifications, respectively, but that does not exclude additional beneficial effects of vitamin E and A in the arterial wall. PMID- 2629598 TI - Low plasma vitamins E and C. Increased risk of angina in Scottish men. AB - Cross-cultural studies suggest that low plasma antioxidant levels contribute to the high incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Scotland. One hundred twenty-five cases of angina without reported history were identified by a postal WHO chest pain questionnaire from a systemic population sample of 6000 Edinburgh men (35-54 years). Classical CHD risk factors (lipids, blood pressure, smoking, and relative weight), plasma vitamins, and a new independent CHD risk factor, adipose tissue linoleate, were measured in angina (n = 125) and healthy controls (n = 430). Cigarette smoking was common in angina (46% vs. 29%, p less than 0.01), and adipose tissue linoleate was lower (8.77 +/- 0.18% vs. 9.81 +/- 0.14% (p less than 0.01). Classical CHD risk factors were not different. Vitamin E/cholesterol molar ratio (micron/mM) was lower in angina than in controls: 1.58 +/- 0.03 vs. 1.66 +/- 0.02 (p less than 0.01). Plasma vitamin C was also lower in angina than in controls: 23.6 +/- 1.7 vs. 30.5 +/- 1.1 microM (p less than 0.001). The relative risk of angina for those in the lowest versus those in the highest quintile of the vitamin E/cholesterol ratio distribution was 2.2:1, irrespective of other risk factors (p less than 0.009). Adipose tissue linoleate removed the association between vitamin E and angina. The relative risk of angina for those in the lowest versus those in the highest quintile of plasma vitamin C was 2.6:1 (p less than 0.01), and the increased risk was also independent of classical risk factors, but closely related to a smoking habit. Low plasma vitamin E or adipose linoleate predisposes to angina, and smoking may increase the risk of angina by lowering plasma vitamin C levels in Scottish men. PMID- 2629599 TI - Nutritional assessment of vitamin E in oxidative stress. PMID- 2629600 TI - Modulation of tissue vitamin E levels by physical exercise. PMID- 2629601 TI - Evidence that alpha-tocopherol functions cyclically to quench free radicals in hepatic microsomes. Requirement for glutathione and a heat-labile factor. PMID- 2629602 TI - The antioxidant abnormality in the stress-susceptible pig. Effect of vitamin E supplementation. PMID- 2629603 TI - Pharmacokinetics of intravenous vitamin E in preterm infants. PMID- 2629604 TI - Continuous parenteral infusion of vitamin E pharmacokinetics and bilirubin production in premature neonates. AB - We conclude that 5 mg/kg of vitamin E, administered intra-arterially as an 8-hour continuous infusion, significantly and predictably raises serum vitamin E levels into the supraphysiologic range with no apparent side effects. In a group of premature infants whose initial serum vitamin E levels were generally greater than or equal to 0.5 mg/dL, no decrease in bilirubin production was observed. Thus, vitamin E deficiency probably does not play a prominent role in jaundice of prematurity. PMID- 2629605 TI - Modeling cortical cataractogenesis: IX. Activity of vitamin E and esters in preventing cataracts and gamma-crystallin leakage from lenses in diabetic rats. AB - Normal and streptozotocin diabetic female Wistar rats were given vitamin E in the diet as the tocopherol, acetate, or succinate form (2,850 IU/kg food). At the end of 6 weeks, the rats were examined for weight gain or loss, general body condition, and cataracts. At sacrifice, blood was collected for measurement of serum glucose, and gamma-crystallin levels were measured in aqueous and vitreous humors using a radioimmunoassay. One lens was homogenized in 8 M guanidinium chloride for ATP analysis. In normal rats, gamma-crystallin was detected in both aqueous and vitreous humors, with the higher concentration in the vitreous humor. Diabetes caused a sixfold increase in gamma-crystallin in both the aqueous and vitreous humors. Diabetes also led to a significant worsening in general body condition, loss of body weight, formation of cataracts, and decrease in lens ATP levels. Addition of vitamin E and vitamin E succinate, but not vitamin E acetate, to the diet resulted in reduction of gamma-crystallin leakage into the vitreous humors and an increase in body weight. There was no improvement noted for the lens ATP levels, the general body condition, or visual cataract score. Neither streptozotocin-induced diabetes nor vitamin E in the diet appeared to affect the weight of the lenses. PMID- 2629606 TI - Vitamin E intake and risk of cataracts in humans. AB - Experimental evidence suggests that oxidative stress due to the accumulation of free radicals plays a role in the pathogenesis of cataracts and that the process can be prevented or ameliorated by antioxidants. In addition, a recent study found that cataract patients tended to have lower serum levels of vitamins C, E, or carotenoids than did control subjects. This investigation, which compared the self-reported consumption of supplementary vitamins by 175 cataract patients with that of 175 individually matched, cataract-free subjects, revealed that the latter group used significantly more supplementary vitamins C and E (p = 0.01 and 0.004, respectively). Inasmuch as the observed reduction in risk of cataracts was at least 50%, a randomized, controlled trial of vitamin supplementation in cataract prevention seems justified. PMID- 2629607 TI - Vitamin E and cancer prevention in an animal model. PMID- 2629608 TI - Cancer mortality and vitamin E status. PMID- 2629609 TI - Vitamin E: the status of current research and suggestions for future studies. PMID- 2629610 TI - The role of the low density lipoprotein receptor for alpha-tocopherol delivery to tissues. AB - To study the role of the LDL receptor pathway for the maintenance of alpha tocopherol concentrations in tissues of intact animals, we have compared vitamin E levels in plasma and tissues of normal rabbits and WHHL rabbits. WHHL rabbits are deficient in LDL receptor activity. For WHHL rabbits, alpha-tocopherol plasma concentrations were elevated to 10 times normal levels. When plasma lipoprotein profiles were analyzed by density gradient centrifugation, concentrations of VLDL, IDL, and LDL were increased in WHHL rabbits, and plasma alpha-tocopherol was only recovered in these fractions. In normal rabbits, plasma alpha-tocopherol was confined mainly to the HDL fraction; levels associated with LDL were markedly lower. Despite LDL receptor deficiency, alpha-tocopherol concentrations in various tissues of WHHL rabbits were not found to be reduced, with the exception of the adrenal. Vitamin E levels in muscle and kidney of WHHL rabbits exceeded those of normal animals. Our results demonstrate the importance of the LDL receptor pathway for vitamin E clearance in the normal rabbit, although at high LDL concentrations, alternative mechanisms may become more efficient for the delivery of vitamin E to tissues. PMID- 2629611 TI - Relationship of tocopherol structure to biological activity, tissue uptake, and prostaglandin biosynthesis. PMID- 2629612 TI - Alpha-tocopherol as compared with gamma-tocopherol is preferentially secreted in human lipoproteins. PMID- 2629613 TI - [Vasodilator agents and the vascular endothelium]. AB - The recent discovery of endothelium-derived relaxation factor (EDRF) has altered the traditional classification of vasodilators used in angina pectoris and heart failure. If a vasodilator induces release of EDRF from the epithelium it is classified as endothelium-dependent, if not it is independent. Sodium nitroprusside and SIN-1 (active metabolite of molsidomine) are the main independent vasodilators since the endothelium relaxation factor appears to be principally a nitric oxide radical in these synthetic vasodilators. In contrast, calcium-channel blockers and a good number of endogenous chemical mediators (acetylcholine, bradykinin, serotonin, etc.) are endothelium-dependent. Furthermore, simple increase in blood flow through the large vessels can result in endothelium-dependent vasodilation (flow rate-dependence) the extent of which depends on the drug examined. The fact that the pharmacologic response of a vasodilator can be altered under certain pathologic conditions (atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, etc.) further increases the importance of the role of the vascular endothelium in the action of vasodilators since endothelial modulation may then be completely diverted to secretion of endothelium-derived contracting factors (EDCFS). PMID- 2629614 TI - [Prospects in the treatment of stenosis of the coronary arteries]. AB - Treatment of stenosis of coronary arteries has progressed considerably since the introduction of angioplasty by Gruntzig. There are three problems associated with angioplasty: reocclusion, restenosis and extension of indications. To solve these problems, a good many techniques designed to flatten or destroy the plaque have been developed. Hemoperfusion balloons can be used to treat reocclusion by prolonged inflation and may reduce the rate of restenosis. Methods for assisting blood circulation (CPS or hemopump) extend the indications for angioplasty to inoperable patients. Stents hold the vessel open and hence prevent reocclusion. They can be useful for stenosis of shunts but in general are thrombogenic and have not proved efficacious in preventing restenosis. Laser-heated metal probes (hot tips) generate spasm and thrombosis. Lasers are now used to heat balloons which allow reattachment of grafts and reduction of restenosis. The excimer appears more promising. Atheroma is currently the subject of some interest and atherectomy has proved feasible, but the indications are as yet undefined. Although new techniques have introduced the possibility of treating certain reocclusions, none has proved effective in prevention of restenosis. The multiplicity of instruments currently available allows gradual extension of the indications for angioplasty. PMID- 2629615 TI - [Which sports after 50 years of age?]. AB - Between the ages of 30 and 80, the physiological abilities decrease: muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, etc. The consequences on sports activities are obvious: limitation of the performance per se, quantitatively as well as qualitatively as well as the ability to recover. This is combined with a danger: coronary atherosclerosis responsible for 90 p. cent of the sudden deaths episodes seen in sports, in men over the age of 40/50. Even in France, a country that is not traditionally sports oriented (Pierre de Coubertin and a few occasional champions are really exceptions masking the non-existent sports activities in school)-sports have become a society phenomenon, on a par with the development of leisure, a younger retirement age, increased unemployment and the ageing of the population. Twelve millions of french people hold a sport license and more that twenty millions practice a sport more or less regularly. As epidemiologic studies are in a great majority as well as secondary prevention, it is possible to assert that there is no topic more frequently discussed today than that of physical activities in cardiology consultations. Often, french physicians are not well equipped to answer questions of provide judicious advice: because, very often, these physicians do not practice any sport and/or they are not convinced of the advantages of physical exercise and unfamiliar with the specific restrictions of each sport. In addition, they cannot perform a stress-test in their office--as in this domaine our country is also far behind. PMID- 2629616 TI - [Anatomic lesions in bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valves. Practical implications]. AB - Bacterial infection of aortic valves remains frequent and worrying. The virulence of the pathogen in question, the history of the infection and the topography of valvular involvement account for certain lesional features, notably cardiac abscess and contiguous lesions, which are seen in 50% of cases with autopsy material. Clinically suspected cardiac abscesses can be detected by echocardiography when their size reaches or exceeds 4 mm. Their active nature is such that emergency surgery is an additional indication to be added to conventional ones such as uncontrolled infection, heart failure refractory to treatment, and repeated systemic embolism. PMID- 2629617 TI - [Clinical electrophysiologic properties of magnesium and correlations with its anti-arrhythmia efficacy in acquired torsade de pointes]. AB - Recently, intravenous administration of low doses of magnesium has proved remarkably effective in the treatment of acquired torsade de pointe, but its electrophysiologic effects remain poorly understood. Three clinical cases are reported in three distinct situations (quinidine treatment, hypokalemia, bradycardia with complete atrioventricular block). These cases confirm the efficacy of magnesium, which acts without notable modification of ventricular cycles or the duration of repolarization. In ten patients undergoing intracavitary exploration, the electrophysiologic parameters were analyzed before and after injection of magnesium sulfate (35 mg/kg). Only three parameters were significantly altered; the corrected sinusal recovery time (increase from 245 +/- 92 ms to 296 +/- 96 ms), the effective nodal refractory period (increase from 333 +/- 98 ms to 346 +/- 93 ms), and the Wenckebache period (decrease from 157 +/- 28/min to 144 +/- 21/min). No changes were noted in other parameters, notably ventricular (QT interval, QRS duration, HV interval, and effective ventricular refractory period). The arrhythmic action on the ventricle is therefore remarkable and is not accompanied by patent electrophysiologic effects. The efficacy of magnesium in torsade de pointe may suggest action on calcium currents. PMID- 2629618 TI - [Morphologic and genetic studies of the nose]. AB - The aim of this paper is to find metrical and morphological shape variants of the nose, which are highly determined by heredity. For this, 67 monozygotic and 59 dizygotic twins were measured and the morphological details of the nasal region were recorded and documented by taking photographs in the three standard views of the nose. The study of shape variants in our population was based on 160 control persons, who were not related. Out of this group 61 control pairs were put together by random selection with regard to sex and age. From every examined person data of 9 metrical and 43 well distinguishable morphological variants of the nose were gathered. They had been worked out of numerous observable forms. It could be shown that two measures (breadth of the nose, breadth of the tip of the nose) and eight other morphological features of the nose are of good heredity. PMID- 2629619 TI - Genetic polymorphism of C3 in the Veneto population, Italy. AB - The distribution of C3 phenotypes in the population of Veneto was investigated by electrophoresis on agarose gel. In our sample (n = 810) the three common phenotypes C3 SS, C3 FF and C3 FS and a further phenotype, C3 S-VF, were observed. The following gene frequencies could be calculated: C3S = 0.8068, C3F = 0.1926 and C3V = 0.0006. These frequencies have been compared with those found in other populations. The analysis of 21 mother-child pairs was in agreement with an autosomal codominant inheritance. PMID- 2629620 TI - Tongue-rolling phenotypes and geographical variation in the United Kingdom. AB - The distribution of tongue-rolling phenotypes in a sample (n = 477) of undergraduate students of the University College of Swansea (U.K.) was studied. The birthplaces of these students were also recorded. England was divided into six areas, and Wales was left as an area on its own. The data suggest that those students who come from north-east are more non-rollers, which may be due to mixture with Scandinavians. PMID- 2629621 TI - Management and outcome of chemotherapy for childhood tuberculosis. Medical Research Council Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Unit. AB - The management and outcome of chemotherapy is reported for 393 children with tuberculosis notified in 1983 (191 (49%) of white, 155 (39%) of Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi, and 47 (12%) of other ethnic origins). Most (313) had respiratory disease, 65 had extrathoracic lymph node disease, and 15 had both. Only 15 (4%) of the 390 children for whom information was available did not complete chemotherapy, 10 because of default. All except 23 (6%) of the children known to have completed chemotherapy received isoniazid and rifampicin, 194 (52%) without additional drugs, 126 (34%) with ethambutol, eight (2%) with pyrazinamide, and seven (2%) with both drugs in the initial phase. The median duration of treatment was nine months. At the time they were last seen, all except six of the 375 children who completed chemotherapy were classified by the clinician as cured either on the primary course of chemotherapy (348, 93%) or after modification for failure or relapse (11.3%), or toxicity (10.3%). The remaining children were still on treatment for relapse (n = 2) or had defaulted from follow up (n = 4). PMID- 2629622 TI - Acquired cerebral palsy. PMID- 2629623 TI - Screening for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. AB - A programme was introduced in Wales to screen all 18 month old boys who were not yet walking for raised creatine kinase activity within the existing community developmental screening programme. During an 18 month period 25 229 such boys were identified of whom 19 930 (79%) had a Denver developmental screening test and 338 (1.7%) of these were not walking. Two hundred and five of those who did not walk (61%) had creatine kinase activity assayed and two cases of Duchenne muscular dystrophy were detected. We conclude that screening boys of 18 months who do not walk is worthwhile if the opportunity arises, but that a population based screening programme of this type is not justified as detection rates will be unacceptably low. PMID- 2629624 TI - Cereal based oral rehydration solutions. AB - A total of 257 boys (age range 4-55 months), who had acute diarrhoea with moderate to severe dehydration, were randomly assigned to treatment with either the World Health Organisation/United Nations Childrens Fund (WHO/Unicef) recommended oral rehydration solution or cereal based oral rehydration solution made either of maize, millet, sorghum, or rice. After the initial rehydration was achieved patients were offered traditional weaning foods. Treatment with oral rehydration solution continued until diarrhoea stopped. Accurate intake and output was maintained throughout the study period. Efficacy of the treatment was compared between the different treatment groups in terms of intake of the solution, stool output, duration of diarrhoea after admission, and weight gain after 24, 48, and 72 hours, and after resolution of diarrhoea. Results suggest that all the cereal based solutions were as effective as glucose based standard oral rehydration solution in the treatment of diarrhoea. PMID- 2629625 TI - Perinatal mortality in different ethnic groups. AB - We have analysed the cause of perinatal deaths in four hospitals in the North West Thames region over a six year period commencing January 1980. The Pakistani population had a significantly greater perinatal mortality rate (15.7/1000 births) than the Europeans (11.3/1000 births). This was due to an increased incidence of macerated stillbirths and lethal malformations, the latter resulting from a significantly higher incidence of autosomal recessive disorders, neural tube defects, and renal malformations. PMID- 2629626 TI - Growth and development in premature twins. AB - A total of 476 infants (386 singletons and 90 twins) born before 32 weeks' gestation were studied to compare long term growth and development in twins and singletons. At 18 months, after adjusting for confounding social, obstetric, and neonatal factors, twins were not disadvantaged in their neurodevelopmental status, but were 1.6 cm shorter than singletons and had thicker triceps and subscapular skinfolds. No significant differences were found between first and second born twins in later growth or development at 18 months post-term. While preterm twins may have an inherent disadvantage in linear growth it is suggested that in other respects twinning is not a risk factor in preterm infants. PMID- 2629627 TI - Left ventricular function in beta thalassaemia major. AB - The left ventricular dimension and posterior wall dynamics were studied by computer assisted analysis of M mode echocardiography in 25 normal children (group 1) and 32 transfusion dependent children with beta thalassaemia major who had no evidence of heart failure (group 2). Twenty seven of those in group 2 remained well but five died of cardiac decompensation within 12 months. Compared with group 1, the left ventricular fractional shortening and ejection fraction were normal in those in group 2 who survived but diminished in those who died. Evaluation of left ventricular dimension and posterior wall dynamics during systole (peak shortening rate, peak velocity of circumferential fibre shortening, and peak posterior wall thickening rate) showed similar findings in that only the group who died had abnormal values. The left ventricular dimension and posterior wall diastolic dynamics (peak relaxation rate, normalised peak relaxation, peak wall thinning, and normalised peak wall thinning rate), however, showed progressively slower rates in all the children in group 2. The findings suggest that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction occurs early in myocardial impairment in patients with beta thalassaemia major. When there are abnormalities in both diastole and systole, the myocardial impairment is advanced and the prognosis is poor. PMID- 2629628 TI - Incidence of contraindications to immunisation. AB - A cohort of 522 children entering primary school were reviewed for contraindications to immunisation. Every child in the group would have been eligible to receive diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and measles immunisation if the current (1988) Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) guidelines had been followed. Only 2.5% of the cohort met the DHSS contraindications to pertussis immunisation. PMID- 2629629 TI - Cystic fibrosis and renal tubular acidosis. AB - A case is reported of a child who was born to consanguineous parents and who had the clinical features of two autosomal recessive conditions--cystic fibrosis and distal renal tubular acidosis. PMID- 2629630 TI - Generalised lymphangiomatosis with chylothorax. AB - A 9 month old boy presented with acute respiratory distress and was found to have a left pleural effusion. The chylous nature of the effusion, multiple bony lytic lesions, and splenic cysts lead to the diagnosis of congenital lymphangiomatosis with chylothorax. Surgical intervention including pleurectomy was required after unsuccessful conservative management. PMID- 2629631 TI - Multiple nerve palsies in beta thalassaemia major. AB - A patient with beta thalassaemia major is described who developed a lower motor neurone facial nerve palsy on the left side, together with a phrenic nerve palsy on the same side, during the course of the illness. This complication has not been reported before in haemoglobinopathies. PMID- 2629632 TI - Betaine for treatment of homocystinuria caused by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency. AB - A 24 day old girl with homocystinuria and hypomethioninaemia caused by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency presented with rapidly progressing encephalopathy and myopathy. An almost complete recovery was achieved by treatment with betaine. PMID- 2629633 TI - The electroretinogram. AB - The electroretinogram, findings, in response to a flash stimulus, was recorded from a skin electrode placed on the bridge of the nose in 4465 infants and children seen over a 10 year period. The electroretinogram was combined with a flash visual evoked potential. From this total, the electroretinographic findings in 240 patients, aged 1 day to 17 years, without suspected retinal pathology and with a normal visual evoked potential, were used as controls and normal electroretinographic parameters of different age groups defined. There were 332 patients who showed an absent or very reduced amplitude electroretinogram. They were divided into primarily ocular disorders (n = 195), neurodegenerative disorders (n = 94), and various syndromes (n = 43). Fundus examination did not always show any obvious abnormalities. The use of this simple and reliable technique for recording the electroretinogram made it possible to include this investigation as a routine procedure without the need for sedation in infants and uncooperative children. Electroretinographic studies, especially when combined with visual evoked potentials, and in some cases electroencephalography, may aid diagnosis in a wide variety of paediatric conditions, many of which have genetic implications. PMID- 2629634 TI - The school health service through parents' eyes. PMID- 2629635 TI - Intervention after birth asphyxia. PMID- 2629636 TI - Intraspinal tumours. PMID- 2629637 TI - The teenage coeliac. PMID- 2629638 TI - Coarctation of the aorta corrected during the first month of life. PMID- 2629639 TI - Research in community child health. PMID- 2629640 TI - Early markers of the renal complications of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. AB - We investigated the associations between albuminuria, metabolic control, glomerular filtration, blood pressure, and platelet function in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The geometric mean (95% tolerance levels) albumin excretion (expressed as the geometric mean albumin to creatinine ratio on two overnight urine collections (UA/UC], in 60 diabetic children was 0.72 (0.80 6.9) mg/mmol, significantly greater than in 45 normal children (geometric mean 0.41 (0.14-1.17]. Mean (SD) glomerular filtration rate, measured by 51Cr edetic acid clearance during constant infusion, was significantly greater in diabetic children (129 (20) ml/min/1.73 m2) compared with normal controls (109 (13]. Mean (SD) renal length for height standard deviation score was +0.25 (1.1); systolic blood pressure standard deviation score was 0.15 (0.65), and diastolic blood pressure was 0.51 (0.82). Spontaneous platelet aggregation, expressed as percentage fall in platelet count in stirred whole blood after 2 minutes was 17.8 (9.2)% in the diabetic compared with 12.3 (7.9)% in normal children. UA/UC correlated with renal length and of the children with UA/UC above the normal range, 70% also had a glomerular filtration rate above the normal range. There was a weak correlation between UA/UC and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). All children with spontaneous platelet aggregation above normal had had diabetes for more than seven years. These cross sectional data define some of the early markers and inter-relationships that may be important in the development of nephropathy. PMID- 2629641 TI - Association between diabetes, severe hypoglycaemia, and electroencephalographic abnormalities. AB - Serial electroencephalographic recordings were made in 70 diabetic children and findings were related to age at electroencephalography and at diagnosis, duration of diabetes, daily insulin dose, long term metabolic control assessed by glycated haemoglobin A1 (HbA1) concentrations, and severe hypoglycaemic episodes. Abnormalities were found in 18 (26%) of diabetic children, and in only five (7%) of control subjects. There were no associations between electroencephalographic abnormalities and duration of diabetes, daily insulin dose, or HbA1 concentration. Diabetic children with electroencephalographic abnormalities were younger, had an earlier onset of diabetes and 21/34 (62%) of them had previously severe attacks of hypoglycaemia, whereas abnormalities were found in only 13/43 (30%) of diabetic children who had not had severe hypoglycaemia. All diabetic children with hypoglycaemic convulsions had permanent electroencephalographic abnormalities. The degree of metabolic control had no effect on the electroencephalographic findings during the early years of diabetes, but previous severe hypoglycaemia, young age, and early onset seem to be important risk factors for electroencephalographic abnormalities. PMID- 2629642 TI - Do education groups help diabetics and their parents? AB - The importance of education in the management of diabetes is recognised but has rarely been assessed in children. In a longitudinal controlled study we have examined the effect of a programme of education on the knowledge, diet, and concentration of glycated haemoglobin A1c in a group of diabetics. The programme took the form of two packages of education each consisting of four weekly meetings, in which small groups of parents and older children were led in a discussion of different aspects of diabetes. Only one of the 119 families who began the study failed to complete it. Family knowledge about diabetes improved as a result of the programme, although this was poorly retained in the fathers. A trend to improvement in several aspects of diet was noted but did not reach significance. A significant fall in glycated haemoglobin A1c was apparent seven months after the education in children aged 11 years and over. Those whose initial control was poor improved most. We conclude that such meetings should be considered as a useful adjunct to regular diabetic clinics. PMID- 2629643 TI - [Epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Bolivia. 1. Description of study zone and prevalence of the disease]. AB - An epidemiological survey of tegumentary leishmaniasis (Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis) was carried out in three regions of Bolivia in the Andean foothill and Amazonian forest. It was based on the record of lesions and scars on all the inhabitants of selected representative villages. In the Yungas, an area cultivated from the XVIIth century, males and females are equally infested, mostly before they were 10 years old (65%); 48% of scars were on the head. In Alto Beni and Pando, areas covered with primary rain forest, males are significantly more affected than females. The majority of scars were on the legs. The males of the three areas were equally affected. These results suggest that: - in the Yungas, contamination takes place among children in villages during the night; --in the Alto Beni and in the Pando, the infection rate is linked to the professional activities of adults, and men are more at risk than women. Only 7% of the lesions are evolving in grave forms of mucocutaneous ulcers. These forms represent the main load of the disease from the public health point of view. It has been found heavier in the Yungas (1.32%) and in the Alto Beni (1.14%) than in the Pando (0.21%). It should be noted that the first infection can give raise to several lesions. But reinfections are rare, which supports the view that the first infection is protective against the following ones. PMID- 2629644 TI - [Epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Bolivia. 2. Transmission patterns]. AB - In Bolivia the transmission of tegumentary leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (V.) braziliensis depends both on environmental factors and human activities. In the Yungas, transmission takes place in the houses during the night. The vector is Lutzomyia nuneztovari anglesi Le Pont & Desjeux, which enters the houses after 10 p.m. and leaves them before 6 a.m. This transmission pattern explains why men and women are equally infected, generally before 10 years old. Some more adults are infected very likely in coffee plantations or in the relict forest where the same vector species abounds and bites in daytime. In the Alto Beni, pioneers, mainly males, are infected when clearing the forest. Three Psychodopygus species have been shown to be the vectors. The risk is drastically decreasing when people establish in plantations or nearby villages because sandfly vectors do not get easily out of the forest cover. In the Pando, forest people are infected when harvesting Brazil-nuts or bleeding the rubber-trees, the two main activities in the area. It is very likely that Ps. c. carrerai is one of the vectors. Pando and Alto Beni primary rain-forests are natural primary foci of Le. braziliensis. So far the mammalian reservoirs are unknown but the circulation of the parasite has been proven by the fast contamination of receptive people entering the forest. The Yungas primary forest may be also considered as a relict focus. The cultivated area of the Yungas is an anthropic secondary focus. The vector Lu. n. anglesi became adapted to coffee plantations from which it enters the houses and transmits the parasite to man. PMID- 2629645 TI - [Sero-epidemiology of congenital syphilis in Kinshasa, Zaire]. AB - Between March 1 and May 31, 1988, 314 mother-baby couples have been tested for syphilis at confinement in two large hospitals of Kinshasa (Hopital Mama Yemo and Clinique de Ngaliema). The study used in first instance the Veneral Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test. When positive, the results were verified quantitatively with the Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutination (TPHA) reaction. The prevalence levels obtained were low: 0.9% in the newborns and 1.6% in the mothers. In spite of the relative rarity of the disease, clinical examination of all newborns should remain a permanent concern for the clinician, especially for the pediatrician, in order to make sure that the diagnosis be made as soon as possible and treatment started without undue delay. The authors insist on the necessity to adopt, in Kinshasa, measures for veneral disease control aiming at reducing the prevalence of congenital syphilis. PMID- 2629646 TI - [Serological and clinical studies of endemic treponematosis in the Republic of Mali]. AB - In Mali, in the sahelian zone, the prevalence of non venereal endemic syphilis is currently equivalent to the prevalence that existed before the eradication campaigns of the years 1950-60. Because new control programmes of the disease had to be initiated, studies have been performed to measure the current impact of the mass campaigns with long acting penicillin, and to look for a simple method that could rapidly assess the impact of the control programmes. These studies underline that the control of endemic syphilis in these areas cannot rely solely upon the health care facilities, but that mobile strategies and mass campaigns will perhaps always be needed in the areas not covered by the health care facilities. The studies demonstrate also the interest of a technique such as the quantitative VDRL for the epidemiologic surveillance of endemic syphilis. PMID- 2629647 TI - Neurocysticercosis in a dog. PMID- 2629648 TI - [Antibiotics formed by Actinomadura fulvescens]. AB - Novel antibiotics with in vitro activity against gram-positive bacteria were isolated from Actinomadura fulvescens INA 3321 and INA 3852. Conditions for biosynthesis and isolation of antibiotics 3321 and 3852, as well as their physicochemical and biological properties were studied. Chromatographic analysis of the antibiotics revealed that each of them contained two biologically active components. The components were separated with preparative chromatography. Physicochemical properties of the components showed that antibiotics 3321 and 3852 were similar. UV and IR spectroscopy suggested that antibiotics 3321 and 3852 were original compounds not described earlier. PMID- 2629649 TI - [The dependence of the distribution of ionophoric macrotetrolide antibiotics on the composition of their immiscible phases]. AB - Influence of various solvents on the content of macrotetrolides during their prolonged storage in solution was shown. Under the conditions of room temperature 90 per cent acetone induced hydrolysis of polyether antibiotics. 90 per cent ethanol and dry chloroform induced respectively slight and intensive cyclization of linear precursors (oxyacids). The study on distribution of macrotetrolides between immiscible phases of various composition revealed that addition of ethanol or acetone to the water-chloroform system of organic solvents induced the antibiotic liberation into the water phase which increased with increasing concentration of the substances being added. Inorganic cations intensified the process during either the oxyacid cyclization or the antibiotic hydrolysis and liberated the reaction products from the equilibrium mixture. Under such conditions the value of the ion radius or selectivity of the macrotetrolides to definite cations was in principle of no importance. PMID- 2629650 TI - [The use of enzymes for searching for biologically active compounds]. AB - Possible use of extracellular staphylococcal DNAase in screening substances with potential antibacterial activity was studied on quinoxalin as an example. For screening substances with antiviral activity the possible use of the influenza virus neuraminidase was studied on fluoren as an example. Close correlation between the biological activity of quinoxalin derivatives and the ability to inhibit DNAase was revealed. The most active inhibitors of the enzyme were dioxidin and other biologically active analogs of quinoxalin 1,4-di-N-oxide. The use of the extracellular nuclease as a biochemical model permitted to establish the structure/function dependence with respect to the quinoxalin derivatives. The effect of the fluoren derivatives on activity of the influenza virus neuramididase was studied. It was shown that florenal, an antiviral drug inhibited the virus specific enzyme by 80 to 90 per cent and had no effect on catalytic activity of bacterial neuraminidase. Biologically inactive and slightly active derivatives of the compounds did not inhibit the influenza virus enzyme. At the same time some of them lowered the activity of the bacterial enzyme. PMID- 2629651 TI - [The effect of benzylpenicillin on the activity of antioxidative enzymes in the erythrocytes and on methemoglobin formation in children]. AB - Activity of erythrocyte antioxidative enzymes and the content of methemoglobin were studied in 36 healthy children under preventive treatment with benzylpenicillin and in 65 healthy children of the control group. It was shown that there was relationship between the changes in the activity of superoxidodismutase and catalase and the antibiotic dose and duration of the use. After benzylpenicillin intramuscular administration for 3-4 days (the total dose of 80,000-3000000 units) the catalase activity decreased to 65.6 per cent while the activity of superoxidodismutase did not change. When the antibiotic was used for 1-2.5 weeks (the total dose of 3000000-6000,000 units) the activity of catalase and superoxidodismutase decreased to 53.6 and 82 per cent respectively. Beginning from the 3rd week of the antibiotic use the catalase activity increased to 71.6 per cent while the superoxidodismutase activity did not change and remained at the level of 84.9 per cent. The content of methemoglobin in the children treated with benzylpenicillin was about 3 times higher than that in the controls. The correlation between the activity of the antioxidative enzymes and the content of erythrocyte methemoglobin was inverse: the lower was the enzyme activity, the higher was the content of methemoglobin and vice versa. It was concluded that benzylpenicillin impaired definite balance between single electron reduction of oxygen and antioxidative protection resulting in the antibiotic adverse action i. e. increased methemoglobin formation. The effects of benzylpenicillin should be considered when it is used in combination with oxidants in treatment of children. PMID- 2629652 TI - [Pharmacokinetic monitoring during aminoglycoside treatment: the optimal method for individualizing the dosage of tobramycin]. AB - The results of tobramycin concentration monitoring in 33 patients with nonspecific pulmonary infections showed a marked individual variability of the antibiotic blood levels and model-independent pharmacokinetic parameters: total clearance, steady-state volume of distribution and mean residence time whose values were distributed log-normally. Adjusting of the tobramycin dosage by the individual values of the clearance (three-point method, by concentrations 1 h (C1), 3 h (C3) and 6 h (C6), after intramuscular single administration of the antibiotic and one-point method, by C3, after repeated administrations of the antibiotic) provided by the end of a 7-day course a 1.7-fold decrease in the individual ranges of the antibiotic concentration as compared to those without the dosage adjusting. Retrospective analysis revealed that reliable individual dosing of tobramycin was provided with the simplest one-point method when the only blood specimen was collected 3 hours after the injection, i.e. the time interval inversed to the elimination rate constant. According to this method individual doses Dind were calculated by the equation Dind = DpopCpop/Cind, where pop was the population value of D and C. The values of Dind estimated in such a way did not practically differ from those estimated with the more complicated two point (by C1 and C6) and three-point methods. Application of the equation to the tobramycin "maximum" concentration C1 or the "minimum" one (toward the end of the dosing interval, C6) resulted in less accurate and unbiased estimation of Dind. PMID- 2629653 TI - [Railroad suicides and suicide attempts in West Germany]. PMID- 2629654 TI - [Plastic face reconstruction as a possibility for identifying unknown skulls (II). An evaluation of the reliability of the reconstruction technic by a double blind trial]. AB - In a double blind-trial two examiners reconstructed the soft tissue on lifelike casts of 12 skulls. They worked independently after having been given information about age, sex and constitution of the person in question and following a reconstruction plan based on the morphology of the skull. The comparison of the completed reconstruction with each other chiefly showed approximate to far reaching degrees of resemblance and conformity. The comparison of reconstructions and photographs of the individuals also showed predominantly approximate to far reaching likeness of the general impression, and, with one exception, at least little likeness was achieved. The reconstruction of soft tissue on the skull proved to be a relatively useful method of identifying unknown skulls, provided information on the colour and length of the hair, and possibly on the hairstyle as well, is at the examiner's disposal. PMID- 2629655 TI - [Carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a hot plate]. AB - The autopsy of a woman aged 85 years who was found dead sitting in her kitchen bent over the kitchen-table revealed a fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. Subsequent inquiries excluded the chimney flue and above all the gas-fired water heater from being the CO-generator. Operating experiments upon the gas stove including the ultimately used pot and the Hot Plate likewise found showed a CO content of 100 ppm in the room-air after half an hour, there upon an over proportional ascent of the CO-concentration. This CO-production was brought about by the considerable deformation of the Hot Plate, which has obviously been used for years. The lack of an adequate warning in the directions for use of such products is remarked critically. PMID- 2629656 TI - [Unusual suicides with chain saws]. AB - Two cases of suicide with bandsaws, undertaken by workers in carpenters' workshops are reported and discussed. Their choice of this method was based on the fact that they knew how dangerous such machines were. Both cases were watched by witnesses, who could not intervene due to the speed of the events. It was possible to exclude accident or homicide. PMID- 2629657 TI - [Sex determination of human blood micro-stains and single hairs using specific DNA amplification with polymerase chain reaction]. AB - Amplification of Y chromosome specific DNA in vitro enables a rapid and reliable sex determination of human minute traces such as blood stains and hairs. In presence of male DNA a band of 154 bp is visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis after amplification, this band is lacking in case of female DNA alone. Amplification of a sex independent DNA locus (such as a fragment from the alcohol dehydrogenase gene) generates identical reaction products for both sexes. This shows that the absence of a band is not due to the lack of trace DNA. It is possible to perform this technique with as little as 0.5 microliters of blood or with a single hair. PMID- 2629658 TI - [Morphology of the gastric mucosa in burns and the pathogenetic aspects of its injuries]. AB - The biopsies of the stomach fundus taken during the endoscopical examination of 80 patients with the thermal skin burns were studied histologically and electron microscopically. Acute erosions or ulcers localizing in the stomach fundus were observed. Various types of endocrine cells (ECL-, D-, P- and AL-cells) are identified in the main glands epithelium. The differences in the functional specialization of substances produced by these cells determine their pathogenetic role in the development of stomach acute erosions and ulcers in patients with the burn disease. The glandular cell desquamation in the stomach lumen is due to the weakening of the cell contacts and the basal membrane damage. Some cell organelles including the pepsinogen granules penetrate into the lamina propria of the mucous membrane. The conditions that develop in the mucous membrane may enhance its alteration without participation of mucous barrier. PMID- 2629659 TI - [The morphological changes in liver hemangiomas and in organ tissue after endovascular occlusion of branches of the hepatic artery based on the results of a study of surgical material]. AB - 30 haemangiomas and surrounding liver tissues removed surgically are studied histologically. 11 patients underwent endovascular occlusion of the hepatic artery peripheral branches at various intervals before the operations. The lack of reaction of the vascular wall to the X-ray noncontrast emboli and minimal reaction to the X-ray contrast emboli were found. The persistence of the vascular lumen occlusion is proved. The degree of the haemangioma blood filling is reducing, the cavernae recede and the tumour sclerosis occurs after the endovascular occlusion. Aseptic necrosis in the haemangioma and small necrosis of liver tissue are possible. PMID- 2629660 TI - [A morphological evaluation of the preventive and therapeutic action of low intensity laser radiation on the course of acute toxic hepatitis]. AB - The optimal schedule of the preventive and therapeutical effect of helium-neon laser on the acute toxic hepatitis induced in rats by CCl4 is established. The laser dose of 5-10 mVt/cm2 for 5-10 min prevents the toxic hepatitis while therapeutical use of 7 to 10 such schedules reduces the intensity of the protein and fat degeneration, parenchymal necrosis and inflammatory infiltration. PMID- 2629661 TI - [The age-related dynamics of the distribution of prelipid changes and lipoidosis in the human aortic intima]. AB - The aortas of 22 practically healthy persons who died accidentally at the age of 20 to 60 years and 112 patients with atherosclerosis dying from the complications of the ischaemic heart disease (IHD) at the age of 30 to 80 years were studied by macroluminescent analysis. The incidence and distribution of prelipid changes (PC) in the intima were compared to those of lipidosis. PC of the type of a simple oedema, gelatinous plaque or muscular-elastic hyperplasia extinguish the primary fluorescence and macroscopically look as areas having the shades of a blue colour. The spread of PC in the aorta depends on the age and the degree of atherosclerosis. A significant increase of the PC surface in the aorta of persons dying from IHD as compared to the healthy persons indicate the exacerbation of the atherosclerotic process. The type and the gravity of the atherosclerosis in the human aorta are determined by the qualitative and quantitative correlations of PC and lipidosis. PMID- 2629662 TI - [The cytomorphological characteristics of hemopoiesis and of the organs of immunogenesis in exposure to thymus and bone marrow peptides during hematopoietic depression]. AB - The effects of thymic peptide (thymalin), bone marrow peptide (haemalin) and a complex compound (thymohaemin) on the haematopoiesis and immunity were studied in the experimental model of the induced haematopoiesis depression. Lymphopoiesis stimulation in the bone marrow was provoked by thymalin and granulopoiesis stimulation by haemalin. Simultaneously the restoration of a number of both T- and B-lymphocytes in the thymus was observed. Thymohaemin resulted in the restoration of practically all peripheral blood and bone marrow indexes as well as content of T- and B-lymphocytes in both central and peripheral immunogenetic organs. Likewise the use of the thymus and bone marrow peptide preparations facilitated the restoration of non-specific resistance which was evaluated by means of an integral index--lysosomal cation test. The results allow us to recommend the above preparations for a clinical trial in the haematopoiesis depletion. PMID- 2629663 TI - [Biometric research in the diagnosis of precancerous states and endocervical cancer]. AB - Smears of the endocervical channel taken from 58 patients with various endocervical conditions (reserve cell hyperplasia and dysplasia, reserve cell carcinoma in situ. Adenocarcinoma in situ, invasive glandular and poorly differentiated carcinoma) were stained by Feulgen method. Morphometrical (surface, perimeter, maximum and minimum diameter) and light microscopic (mean optical density of staining, its dispersion, DNA content) parameters of the epithelial cell nuclei were measured by means of telemetric image analyzer. The most informative biometrical indexes are found, the role of the DNA cytophotometry in the differential diagnosis is determined, the algorithm of the automated cytomorphological diagnosis of the dysplasia and endocervical carcinoma is developed. PMID- 2629664 TI - [Lectures in general pathology]. PMID- 2629665 TI - [Chronic berylliosis of the lungs]. AB - An autopsy case of the chronic lung berylliosis in a patient having an occupational contact with a beryllium bronze is described. Clinically the disease had no specific features and was diagnosed as chronic obstructive bronchitis and pneumosclerosis. Sclerotic granulomas with giant cells, conchoidal bodies, iron deposition in the pulmonary stroma--all these lung alterations allowed one to establish a diagnosis of lung berylliosis. PMID- 2629666 TI - [A case of Wegener's granulomatosis with involvement of the aortic valve]. AB - A clinico-morphological observation of Wegener granulomatosis in a 29-year-old man is described. The disease started with the gastrointestinal disorders followed by lung and renal disturbances which dominated. Heart enlargement and systolic-diastolic noise in the Botkin point were found. Infectious endocarditis with a complex aortal defect were diagnosed. The patient died 6 months later. The autopsy revealed a necrotizing lung granulomatosis, disseminated vasculitis, renal and spleen infarcts. Vasculitis with granulomatosis, destructive changes in the intima were found in the supravalvular part of the aorta and at the base of the aortic valve as well as severe fibrinous valvulitis. PMID- 2629667 TI - [Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava with Budd-Chiari syndrome]. AB - Leiomyosarcoma (14 x 6 x 5 cm in size) developing in the median segment wall of the inferior vena cava with an occlusion of the hepatic veins mouths and subsequent Budd-Chiari syndrome is described in a 39-year-old female. PMID- 2629668 TI - [Problems in the morphological assessment of the degree of tumor malignancy]. AB - A scheme is proposed to make a morphological assessment of the tumor malignancy by separately analyzing the degree of their differentiation (as defined by tissue or organ-specific type formation and structural manifestations of cellular specific functional activity) and that of cataplasia (as evidenced by a set of non specific signs that are largely relative to the proliferative activity of cells). The sense of the terms that denote morphological criteria for the degree of malignancy is discussed. Also, the examples that the degree of differentiation and cataplasia developed at the ultrastructural level is at variance are presented as an explanation for the fact that the clinical course and morphological signs of a tumor cannot coincide. PMID- 2629669 TI - [The quality of life of patients with cardiac arrhythmia undergoing surgical treatment]. AB - The handling of patients with malign ventricular arrhythmia, since 1979, can count on intracardiac electrophysiological studies, cardiac mapping and unconventional cardiac surgery. Such service, which requires the use of sophisticated equipment and specialized professionals, is being provided to patients from all over the country and from all social strata. The Hospital, which maintains the costly, infrastructure required to provide such service, is interested in knowing the reach of the therapeutic action, going beyond the mere knowledge of the success in the immediate treatment. In order to situate the patient as well as his family and social relations, a Social Service professional has been appointed, and same, from a group of 37 patients under treatment (there were 15 deaths), has selected for the survey 17 residents in the metroplitan region of Sao Paulo, because of contact with them was easier. Evaluation of the changes in the quality of life of the patients that have undergone surgery has been structured in such a way to detail the research procedure, treatment of the data and discussion of the results. Thus, an attempt has been made to characterize the extent of the benefits obtained in the surgeries, at the individual, familiar and social level. Basicaly, in the group of patients surveyed, 70% have been identified as males, 70% as married, 65% older than 50 years, 76% associated to the social security system, 70% with primary level schooling and thus a low family income (1.6 minimum wages per capita).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2629670 TI - [Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of heart transplantation]. AB - In order to evaluate major Doppler-Echocardiographic parameters for the diagnosis of acute cardiac allograft rejection episodes a serial of 54 Doppler Echocardiograms were performed simultaneously with endomyocardial biopsy in five patients (mean age = 40.2 y/o). Measurements included: right and left chambers diameters, left ventricular (LV) myocardial diastolic thickness, LV systolic function parameters, LV mass, LV volume/mass ratio, LV isovolumic relaxation time, mitral flow peak velocities and pressure half-time. Episodes with acute rejection histopathologic findings, Billingham class III or IV, were associated to increase in LV free wall thickness and LV mass (p less than 0,005) as well as decreased isovolumic relaxation time and pressure half-time (p less than 0,001). Left ventricular systolic function parameters and heart rate were no different comparing rejection and no rejection episodes. However, in each patient, progressive lower values of LV ejection fraction were associated to higher incidence of acute rejection episodes. Isovolumic relaxation time increased promptly following immunosuppressive therapy. Thus, Doppler Echocardiography is a reliable method for early detection of acute cardiac allograft rejection and monitoring of the cardiac transplant recipient. PMID- 2629671 TI - [The biopsy in the diagnosis of pericardial involvement by malignant tumor]. AB - We performed pericardial biopsy by subxiphoid approach in twelve patients (eight men, four women) with cardiac tamponade or pericardial effusion without low cardiac output, in order to search for the underlying disease. Five patients (41%) had pericardial biopsy with malignant neoplastic invasion. In seven patients (59%) the biopsy was nonspecific; in these patients, the diagnosis was made by another methods. We concluded that the pericardial biopsy is a safe method, with high especificity but low sensibility in the diagnosis of malignant pericardial invasion. PMID- 2629672 TI - [Influence of age on the morbidity and mortality in coronary artery surgery]. AB - To study the effects of age on the results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 250 patients operated on from 1986 to 1989 were divided into two groups: 1) less than 65 years of age and 2) older than 65. Pre, intra and postoperative data collected in all patients included: sex, type and class of angina, associated diseases, previous myocardial infarction, previous CABG, left ventricular aneurysm, bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, number of grafts per patient, need for prolonged inotropic support, postoperative complications, and mortality. A large number of elderly patients had unstable angina (20.3% vs 6.2%), post-infarction angina (10.1% vs 7.8%), angina at rest (10.1% vs 3.6%), peripheral vascular disease (8.4% vs 2.6%), required prolonged inotropic support (18.6% vs 3.1%), had major neurological complications (8.4% vs 0.1%) and perioperative myocardial infarction (5.0% vs 0.5%). Overall mortality was 3.6% but mortality rates were significantly higher in elderly patients (11.8% vs 1.0%). These data suggest that elderly patients have an increased risk of cardiac and neurologic morbidity and mortality. It appear that the increased morbidity and mortality is related to an increased susceptibility of the elderly to serious postoperative complications. PMID- 2629673 TI - [Fracture and intracoronary retention of a guidewire catheter in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. A case report]. AB - We present a rare coronary complication of angioplasty in which the steerable catheter was broken within the circumflex artery. Surgical removal of the fragment was possible and the patient had an uneventful recovery. Considerations on this serious problem, its possible causes, prevention and management are made. PMID- 2629674 TI - [Myocardial revascularization surgery in an 87-year-old patient. A case report]. AB - A 87 years old patient, with independent life style, presented unstable angina in spite of medication. Cineangiocoronariography demonstrated severe triarterial lesions, with good distal segments and preserved left ventricular contractility. Three saphenous vein grafts were performed. Some clinical measures were employed: a) manitol, furosemide and Ringer solution were infused two hours before and during surgery; the infusion was maintaned during the two postoperative days; b) limited use of nephrotoxic agents; c) adequate doses of medication; d) red cells infusion in spite of higher hematocrit levels than those present in younger patients; e) early start of respiratory physiotherapy and deambulation. Mean arterial pressure was maintained over 80 mm/Hg during surgery. During the period of extracorporeal circulation a hollow capillary membrane oxygenador was employed. Immediate postoperative course, up till six months, was free of coronary insufficiency symptoms. This case demonstrates the benefits of myocardial revascularization in elderly patients, respecting some peculiarities of the geriatric therapeutics. PMID- 2629675 TI - [An archetype of publications]. PMID- 2629676 TI - [Effect of anesthesia and/or decapitation on the mechanical behavior of papillary muscles isolated from the left ventricle of the rat]. AB - The mechanical performance of isometrically contracting papillary muscle was studied in rats sacrificed by decapitation or anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital or chloralose before decapitation. The purpose was to evaluate which maneuver would be the more adequate to ve used, when performance of papillary muscle mechanics must be evaluated later. The data suggest that either anesthetic agents used in this experiment and/or decapitation have the same effects on isolated muscle performance in the three groups. The results may be a consequence of the time elapsed between animal decapitation and the recording of cardiac parameters: this fact would attenuate the many factors that could promote mechanical performance dysfunction or isolated papillary muscles. PMID- 2629677 TI - [Evaluation of the use of amiodarone in outpatients]. AB - From the group of patients follow-up at the arrhytmias out-patients clinic of the Institute of Cardiology from Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, one hundred (100) patients were selected in order to evaluate the efficacy, benefits and side effects of short term use (minimum of 3 months) of amiodarone. During the period of study, the authors had found that average doses of amiodarone (200 mg/day) were highly effective for ventricular and supraventricular in addition, they also noticed a very low incidence of side-effects independent of the cardiopathy. PMID- 2629678 TI - [Surgical treatment of high-risk valvar endocarditis]. AB - The authors have studied the immediate and long term outcome of surgical treatment of acute phase infective endocarditis in a group of 33 high risk patients with valvular heart disease. The age varied from 2 to 68 years, 18 patients were male and 22 were of the white race. The aortic valve was the most frequently involved (18/54.5%), followed by mitral valve (13/39.3%), and tricuspid valve (2/6.0%). Twenty-four patients (72.7%) were in functional class III and seven (21.0%) in functional class IV. The noninvasive studies in those patients revealed 13 cases (39.4%) with normal cardiac size. The EKG was abnormal in 27 cases (81.8%) mostly with left atrial and ventricular hypertrophy. The echocardiogram revealed the presence of vegetations in 27 patients (81.8%) and the blood cultures were positive in 24 cases (72.7%). All patients were treated with antibiotics. The pathologic analysis revealed the presence of vegetations in 94% and structural alterations in 16.5%. Twenty-one patients had heart valve replacement with mechanical prosthesis (63.6%), 11 (33.3%) had bioprosthesis and one had tricuspid excision without replacement (3.0%). The hospital mortality was 12% and the late mortality 3%. Three deaths occurred in patients who had prolonged clinical treatment (more than 35 days) and one patient died of severe fungal endocarditis. The follow-up of the remaining 26 patients varied from 1 to 596 weeks (mean 183) demonstrating important clinical improvement and a normally functioning valve prosthesis. All patients remained in functional class I or II. The analysis of our data indicates that surgical treatment is the best option for high risk endocarditis and should be undertaken earlier in all patients in this group. PMID- 2629679 TI - [Right ventricular dysplasia associated with Ebstein type malformation of the tricuspid valve. A case report]. AB - Right ventricular dysplasia, also named right ventricular cardiomyopathy, cardiac lipidosis and partial absence of the right ventricular myocardium, is an uncommon disease in which the myocardium is partially replaced by fat and fibrous tissue. The clinical picture is usually characterized by complex arrhythmias, causing sudden death in adolescents and young adults, and cardiac failure. In this report, an association between this disease and "Ebstein-type" tricuspid valve malformation has been diagnosed in a 22 year old female patient with cianosis and dyspnea on exertion. PMID- 2629680 TI - [Jaccoud's syndrome. A case report]. AB - The study concerns a 44 year-old male patient with a history of intermittent episodes of rheumatic activity; the physical examination showed mitral valve stenosis and metacarpophalangeal joint deformities. The joint deformities were bilateral and symmetrical, similar to that of rheumatoid arthritis. Nevertheless, the ulnar deviation of the hands was reversible and there were no typical signs of rheumatoid arthritis in the X-ray. In view of the facts, the diagnosis of Jaccoud's Artrhopathy (JA) was made. The pathogenesis, the clinical features and the association between mitral valve stenosis and joints deformities of JA are discussed. This disease has a good prognosis and it is sparsely mentioned in the cardiologic literature. Many patients with JA are diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis, which is a chronic and disabling disease. PMID- 2629681 TI - [Total A-V block due to tuberous sclerosis. A case report]. AB - Tuberous sclerosis is a neurologic disease affecting various organs with a triade: sebaceum adenoma, mental retardation and seizures. This report presents a case of a patient with tuberous sclerosis and third degree A-V block with complete invasive and non-invasive evaluation. The patient had sincope and complete A-V block with QRS complexes showing right bundle branch block morphology. The echocardiogram showed dilated cardiomyopathy with diffuse left ventricular dysfunction and had normal coronary arteriography. The eletrophysiologic evaluation showed complete infra-hisian A-V block and QRS with left bundle branch block pattern with normal sinus nodal and A-V nodal function. It was not possible to induce ventricular tachtyarrhythmias up to two extrastimuli. Histologic study showed normal myocardium under light and electronic microscopy. After permanent VVI pacemaker implant, the patient in follow-up for 16 years. This case seems to be the first in the international medical literature of tuberous sclerosis with complete heart block. PMID- 2629682 TI - [Arterial hypertension in the elderly]. PMID- 2629683 TI - [Clinical and electrocardiographic aspects of mitral valve prolapse]. AB - Group sex and age, symptoms, ST segment, T wave, QT interval and PR interval abnormalities on the EKG, as whereas cardiac arrhythmias were analysed in two groups of patients from the cardiology outpatient clinics: patients from group I (n = 63) had and echocardiographic diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse (MVP), whereas patients from group II (n = 63) had a normal echocardiogram. Women exceeded men in number in both groups, and the female/male ratio was 2.5:1 and 1.5:1 in groups I and II, respectively. The age range in group I was 54 years (15 69) with a mean of 29.3 +/- 10.8 years, whereas group II had an age range of 49 years (9-58) and a mean of 26.5 +/- 10.1 years. Palpitations, atypical precordial pain and dyspnea were the most frequent presenting symptoms in both groups, all been present in 52 (88.2%) of the patients from group I and in 45 (71.5%) from group II. ST and T abnormalities occurred in 2 (4%) patients from group I and in 8 (13%) from group II. The PR interval was equal to or shorter than 0.20s in all cases. The corrected QT interval (Q-Tc) was prolonged in 2 (4%) patients from group I and in 1 (1.5%) from group II. The tachyarrhythmias as a whole, when analysed through the conventional 12-lead EKG, were found in 17 (31.5%) of the group I patients and in 10 (16.5%) of the patients from group II. Ventricular premature depolarizations were detected in 12 (22%) patients from group I and in 8 (13.5%) from group II (p greater than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2629684 TI - [Prevalence of tricuspid and aortic valve prolapse in patients with mitral valve prolapse]. AB - Two-dimensional echocardiograms were performed in 30 patients with mitral valve prolapse (15 females and 15 males, with an average of 33.3). The main objective was to observe the prevalence of involvement of tricuspid and aortic valves. Tricuspid valve prolapse was observed in 43.3% with anterior and septal involvement in 92.3% and posterior involvement in 15.3%. The incidence of aortic prolapse was 10% with involvement of both right coronary and non-coronary leaflets. All patients with aortic valve prolapse showed involvement of both mitral leaflets and at least two tricuspid leaflets. It is concluded that involvement of other valves such as tricuspid (43.3) and aortic (10%) is a common finding in patients with mitral valve prolapse. PMID- 2629685 TI - [Treatment using balloon catheterization of pulmonary valve stenosis]. AB - From October 84 to September 88 we performed pulmonary valvuloplasty with balloon catheter (PVBC) in 90 patients (pt) with pulmonary valve stenosis (PVS). The patients were divided in 3 groups (Gr) by their ages: group I (Gr. I) 7 pt (8%) aged 4 days to 11 months, Gr. II 66 pt (73%) aged 1 year to 12 years and Gr. III 17 pt aged 13 to 34 years. This study consists of clinical and echocardiographic evaluation adopting the following parameters of indication: a) transvalvar pulmonary gradient (G); b) absence of dysplasia or hypoplasia of the pulmonary annulus. There were associated lesions which were found in each group: Gr. I atrial septal defect (ASD) in 2 pt and tricuspid insufficiency (TI) in 1 pt, in Gr. II supra valvar stenosis (SVS) in 1 pt and patent arterial ductus (PAD) in 1 pt and in the Gr. III (ASD) in 1 pt. The results after pulmonary valvuloplasty with balloon catheter (PVBC) were: (Gr.I) in 5 pt the G were reduced below 50 mmHg and the average of right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) changed from 92 to 62 mmHg and the average of G from 76 to 44 mmHg. One of these pt was submitted to surgery 1 month after the procedure and 2 developed restenosis in 2 and 3 years respectively, being submitted to another dilatation with good results. The 2 pt in which the procedure was not effective were submitted to surgery. In the second group the PVBC was effective in 61 pt (92%) showing the RVSP changed from 118 to 64 mmHg and G changed from 86 to 23 mmHg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2629686 TI - [Fascicular block of the His bundle: critical approach for its identification]. AB - The correct identification of the left and right fascicles blocks of the His bundle will permit to explain different patterns of the ECG and VCG. The differentiation between the right peripheral bundle branch and the left bundle branch division is not only important in anatomic and physiologic grounds, but also in a clinic viewpoint. So, trying to refine the diagnostic criteria and improve the recognition of these intraventricular conduction disturbances, we developed this study. Eighty five patients were evaluated and divided into two groups. Group I included 65 patients with cardiac disease; group II consisted of 20 normal subjects taken as a control. Some classic ECG and VCG criteria were tested as well as new ones. We confirmed the significance of the S2/S3 relation to distinguish the right superior divisional block (RSDB) from the left anterior hemiblock (LAH), and added some new criteria: 1) C morphology in horizontal plane (HP) to the right divisional block (RDB); 2) assessment of aVL lead to separate RSDB from LAH--qR pattern in the last, and different one to RSDB; 3) the qR' pattern in L2, L3 and aVF leads associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) pattern screened the left posterior hemiblock (LPH). We found no significance in R3/R2 relation to the right inferior divisional block (RIDB). Similarly to what happened to the left bundle branch block in the 70's decade, we expect that an adequate assessment of the RDB can permit a better understanding of its real clinical value. PMID- 2629687 TI - [Hemodynamic study at the bedside of patients with acute myocardial infarction over 60 years of age]. AB - Aiming to study the hemodynamic behavior of the aged during the first 36 hours after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 41 patients of at least 60 years at age (63.3 +/- 3) were submitted to a bedside hemodynamic study, through a Swan-Ganz catheter. The results obtained for the different variables (right atrial pressure, right ventricular pressure, pulmonary-arterial pressure, pulmonary capillary, cardiac index, systolic index, left and right ventricular performance, and systemic pulmonary-arterial resistance) were compared to those of 39 individuals with age less than 60 years (49.6 +/- 1.5). It was also considered the electrocardiographic localization of the infarcted area. Eventual differences in the distribution of frequency of the individuals were also investigated, considering the four clinical-hemodynamic groups proposed by Forrester. Upon separate analysis of the hemodynamic variables, the results did not reveal significant differences between the younger and the older. However, by Forrester's classification, it was observed a significantly higher number of aged patients in group III (hypovolemic). Therefore, there was a tendency in the aged to present hypovolemia during the first 36 hours after myocardial infarction. The difficulties to recognize this status clinically and its prognostic importance justify the performance of hemodynamic bedside study in elderly with acute myocardial infarction with hemodynamic instability. PMID- 2629688 TI - [Cardiac performance and hemodynamic response under the effect of isoproterenol and D-isosorbitol in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy]. AB - The authors studied cardiac performance of 36 patients with dilated cardiomiopathy through cardiac catheterization and left ventriculography in comparison with a control group. It has been verified that the end systolic volume (ESV) is more sensitive than ejection fraction (EF) as an indicator of the presence and degree of systolic dysfunction. Isoproterenol (IP) (18 patients) and D-isosorbitol (IS) (18 patients) have been used in the evaluation of hemodynamic response of DM. It has been verified equivalent responses such as: 1--decrease of ESV and end diastolic pressure (EDP); 2--increase of stroke volume and EF. The contractility indexes of left ventricle, however, showed different responses to the 2 substances: 1--with IP there was an increase of peak dp/dt and common peak isovolumetric pressure (CPIP 45 mmHg); 2--with IS there was no variation. The authors conclude that: 1--IP or similar drugs may be used during cardiac catheterization to evaluate the contractile reserve of the myocardium; 2--IS may be used in ambulatorial treatment of DM to improve ventricular function through a tendency to normalize intracardiac pressure-volume relation. PMID- 2629689 TI - [Mitral valve prolapse in the 8th and 9th decades of life. Anatomo-pathologic study of 3 cases]. AB - Different anatomo-clinic aspects from three mitral valve prolapse cases are compared to those commonly presented in the literature and are also utilized as a basis for a new classification of this disease. The patients are more than 77 years old, what is in contrast with the current concept of MVP as a disease of young-middle aged women. The first case shows marked ostial dilation and many ruptured chordae: as a consequence, this patient showed severe cardiac dysfunction. The anterior, rather than the posterior leaflet, presented intense myxoid degeneration. In the second case, no ruptured chordae were detected and, consequently, the degree of heart failure was lesser than the first one, in spite of the same degree of ostial dilation. Both leaflets showed the same degree of myxoid degeneration. The third patient, who does not have heart failure, showed myxomatous degeneration of both cusps, but no ostial dilation or chordal rupture were present. These aspects reinforce the impression that isolated mixomatous degeneration of the cusps is not so deleterious when compared to those cases where the mitral valvar ring is dilated or its chordae are also involved by that degenerative process. Therefore ostial dimension (normal or enlarged) and the state of the chordae (with or without rupture) appears to be important points to be considered in MVP. PMID- 2629690 TI - [Removal of a non-radiopaque catheter fragment under echocardiographic imaging. A case report]. AB - Central vein cannulation is used as routine for long-time treatment in paediatric intensive care units. The Sylastic catheter is now a days the most common used because of its non-thrombogenic effect. However, in the case here reported, fragmentation during its removal occurred in a eleven month baby. Non surgical removal was done by percutaneous technique using the grasping forceps from Cook Co. into a Lehman 7F catheter. The problem of being no radiopaque, was solved by using the echocardiography study as the guideline for the successful removal of the catheter. PMID- 2629691 TI - [Ebstein's anomaly of the mitral valve. A very unusual congenital malformation of the heart. A case report]. AB - Ebstein anomaly of the tricuspid valve is a well known malformation of the heart, but this occurrence in the mitral valve is a very rare congenital heart disease. In this case report a two years and nine months old girl with symptoms of heart failure during the first year of life due to severe mitral regurgitation was studied. The echocardiographic and angiographic features were typical of the Ebstein malformation of the mitral valve. The surgical treatment was made with implantation of pericardial bovine bioprothesis in the mitral position, without ressection of the natural valve tissue. The surgical features confirmed the diagnosis and the postoperative evolvement is excellent. PMID- 2629692 TI - [Goldenhar syndrome. Report of 5 cases in association with cardiac malformations]. AB - The paper presents five cases of the Syndrome described by Goldenhar, which consists in oculo-auriculo-vertebral alterations. Classic descriptions relate the presence of epibulbar dermoid, pre-auricular appendixes, mandible hypoplasia and vertebral anomalies. Excepting by some vertebral alterations, all the other anomalies were common to the five cases. This syndrome may be accompanied by congenital cardiopathy in a percentage varying from 15 to 50%, depending on the publications. The reason of hospitalization was the real presence of congenital cardiopathy of important clinical repercussion. Three patients had Tetrad of Fallot, one transposition of the great arteries, and the last one total annomalous pulmonary venous connection, which died due to clinical complications. The four patients were submitted to surgical correction of their cardiac defects, being the face defects programmed to the corrected later on. PMID- 2629693 TI - Water and salt homeostasis in health and disease. PMID- 2629694 TI - Perinatal endocrinology. PMID- 2629695 TI - Viral hepatitis in Bangladesh. PMID- 2629696 TI - Role of plasma ascorbate in diabetic microangiopathy. AB - Plasma total ascorbate status measured by 2.4 dinitrophenyl hydrazine method showed that diabetics (N = 100) had significantly lower plasma total ascorbate compared with 45 age and sex matched non-diabetic controls; 0.34 +/- 0.16 mg/dl vs 0.68 +/- .06 mg/dl, P less than 0.001) regardless of presence or absence of retinopathy and irrespective of mode of treatment. The finding unique to this study was that plasma total ascorbate status in diabetics with retinopathy (0.19 +/- 0.07 mg/dl) was significantly lower than that of uncomplicated diabetics (0.49 +/- 0.06 mg/dl; P less than 0.001). Plasma Glucose had no correlation with plasma ascorbate levels and effect of duration of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) on ascorbate status in diabetics was ambiguous. Diabetics had abnormally fragile cutaneous capillaries detected by Hess test. The incidence of capillary fragility was more in patients with retinopathy. Hess test can be used as an easy and non invasive test to assess plasma ascorbate status to detect microvascular involvement in DM. The experience of this study reflects that the two distinct microvascular lesions in diabetes, i.e. abnormal dermal capillary fragility and retinopathy may have a common link to ascorbic acid deficiency. An early switching on of the supplementation of ascorbic acid may retard the development of microvascular complications in diabetes. PMID- 2629697 TI - Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among prostitutes at Dhaka. AB - One hundred prostitutes were studied with an aim to acquire more insight on the role of sexual transmission of HBsAg and to detect carrier state among them. All subjects were interviewed and their serum samples were tested for HBsAg by reverse passive haemagglutination method (RPHA). Eleven (11%) of the prostitutes were found to be positive for HBsAg. Their mean age was 19.3 +/- 4.9 years. The mean duration in the profession was 2.5 +/- 1.6 years. Mean number of clients for each woman per 24 hours was 10.7 +/- 1.2. Most of the prostitutes (84%) were lacking knowledge about spread and contact of the disease. PMID- 2629698 TI - Effect of retraining on nutrition among tribal women volunteers in Bangladesh. AB - Training programme on Nutrition was carried out on 42 tribal women nutrition volunteers from Rangamati, Khagrachari and Banderban districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts during July 1987 to June 1988. There were a basic training for 10 days and five retrainings of 6 days on the same group. Assessments on the level of their knowledge before and after each training were conducted by a standard questionnaire. Mean score obtained by the trainees initially was 46.28% which increased to 97.23% in the last round. Although the knowledge gain was found statistically significant in each retraining but the retention of knowledge in pre-test of each retraining was found statistically significant (P less than 0.001) upto second round (i.e. 1st retraining) and thereafter the retention was found insignificant (P greater than 0.05). PMID- 2629699 TI - Health situation of slum dwellers of metropolitan area of Dhaka. AB - The study interviewed three hundred women, mostly the wives of the head of the household of urban slums. The study women were selected on random sampling basis. The knowledge of study women on preventive MCH care was good (39.7%) and about 21.7%, contacted some trained persons for advice on matters related to pregnancy and treatment of sickness. Almost all the deliveries were conducted at home by relations or neighbours (80.1%). Disease prevalence rate at the time of interview was 253/1000 population. Common diseases reported were fever 31.6%, intestinal problems 26.3%, measles 11.8%, skin diseases 7. 9%, chronic respiratory infection 9.2% and the rests were "others". About one third of the sick persons did not have any treatment. On the average 3.9 persons lived in one room of 2.4 x 4 metres. Source of water supply for drinking and other purposes was mostly municipal taps in a public place. Environmental sanitation for the area was poor. PMID- 2629700 TI - Localization of carbohydrates in thick and ultrathin LR white-embedded tissue sections oxidized by acetic anhydride in dimethyl sulfoxide. AB - The applicability of acetic anhydride (AA) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for the oxidation of polysaccharide and their subsequent visualization with thiocarbohydrazide (TCH) and silver proteinate (SP) was evaluated on LR White embedded thick and ultrathin liver sections. The results of these studies indicated that AA-DMSO-TCH-SP reaction is chemically specific on LR White embedded tissues and that it offers distinct advantages for the localization of minute glycogen aggregates. PMID- 2629701 TI - Fine structure and serotonin immunohistochemistry of the neuroendocrine cells in the lungs of the bichirs Polypterus delhezi and P. ornatipinnis. AB - Neuroendocrine cells (NE) occurring in the pulmonary epithelium of the fishes Polypterus delhezi and P. ornatipinnis are studied by electron microscopy and by immunostaining for serotonin which is often present in such cells in the mammalian lung. With the electron microscopy NE are found to occur single, resting upon the basement membrane and forming a narrow cytoplasmic extension towards the air lumen. They contain dense-cored vesicles of 80-165 nm which form exocytotic profiles at the level of the basal membrane. An immunoreactivity for serotonin is demonstrated for the first time in the NE of these species. The role of this mediator may involve a paracrine or endocrine function as postulated for the respiratory neuroendocrine mammalian cells. NE of the species studied are considered similar to those found within the wall of lung airways in mammals and submammalian vertebrates. Although much immunocytochemical investigations remain to be executed, they may also be included in the APUD (or DNES) cell system. PMID- 2629702 TI - Basal cells of the frog's taste organ: fluorescence histochemistry with the serotonin analogue 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine in supravital conditions. AB - We utilized the fluorescent serotonin analogue 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7DHT) to visualize basal cells in the frog's taste organ in supravital conditions. In whole mounts of lingual mucosa, specifical and detailed morphological visualization of fluorescent basal cells was obtained in the peripheral and central region of the intact taste organ; similar results were obtained after mechanical dissociation. Preincubation with serotonin prevented any fluorescence in basal cells. Electron microscopy showed good preservation of the ultrastructural morphology of the taste disk after exposure to 5,7DHT. The advantages of the current method as compared with conventional ones are discussed. This simple, reliable procedure will be useful to further define the biology of neuroendocrine cells in taste as well as in other organs. PMID- 2629703 TI - A sexual dimorphism of the harderian gland of the toad, Bufo viridis. AB - The Harderian gland of the toad, Bufo viridis, is an acinar gland located at the medial corner of the orbit. The columnar glandular cells show considerable variation in height depending upon their functional state. During July they are taller than in November and May, and filled with secretory seromucous granules. The glandular cells of the female toad, only, contain at their base numerous lipid droplets dispersed in a smooth endoplasmic reticulum. This is the first observation of sexual dimorphism in the Harderian gland of a nonmammalian vertebrate. The secretion of the gland is mainly merocrine. Although the secretion of the Harderian gland is mainly concerned with lubrication of the eyeball, the presence of lipid secretion only in the female glandular cells suggests a pheromonale function, which may influence the sexual behaviour of the male. PMID- 2629704 TI - Densitometric evaluation of DNA contents in expanded human skin. AB - We studied 18 patients who underwent skin expansion. In 3 patients the prostheses had been inserted in anatomical areas previously expanded: in 3 other patients scarring tissue had been involved in the expansion. The DNA content of sections of epidermis, before and after the implantation of expanders, were analysed using an image analyzer (IBAS 2000). The preliminary data demonstrate that, at the end of the expansion, epidermis enters a phase of quiescency and is not affected by dysplastic processes. PMID- 2629705 TI - A multifactorial study (cell kinetics, cytogenetics, DNA content) of lung tumours: basic information for prognostic evaluation. AB - Different prognostic parameters (labeling index, chromosomal pattern, DNA content) were studied in 32 cases of lung tumour. A great variability was observed in the proliferative activity and karyotype, and there was a lack of correlation between these parameters and the histologic type. It was possible to demonstrate that a diploid DNA content does not necessarily correspond to a normal karyotype. A more precise evaluation of the prognostic significance of data obtained will be possible in correlation with an extensive follow-up of the patients studied. PMID- 2629706 TI - Multi-organ damage (MOD) induced by cancer cachexia and its pathogenesis. AB - The intraperitoneal implantation of the ascitic hepatoma cells, AH-130 to rats induced marked atrophy of the systemic organs within 2 weeks, resulting in the animal death. By the method of Feulgen hydrolysis curve analysis, the amount of single-stranded DNA and the degree of DNA instability were shown to be increased in these atrophic organs. In keeping pace with the progression of the cachectic multi-organ damage (MOD), the amount of lipidperoxide and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) as measured by electron spin resonance (ESR) were increased in the ascites toward the end stage of chachexia. The increased lipidperoxide and SOD induction reflect the increased production of active oxygens, especially superoxide. The marked systemic organ damage induced in cancer cachexia seems to be due to DNA damage by active oxygens. PMID- 2629707 TI - Digestion of chromatin DNA with DNAse I in situ: effect of ethanol fixation. PMID- 2629708 TI - Oriental blepharoplasty: single-stitch, nonincision technique. AB - The facial features of Orientals and Caucasians are different in many respects. In Orientals, the concept of beauty differs in each country depending on the cultural background. At present time, blepharoplasty in the Oriental eye is the most common aesthetic procedure performed in Korea and Japan. The objective should not be the caucasianization of the Oriental eye, where desired modifications are usually quite subtle. Generally, patients prefer more defined and invaginated folds, but not necessarily a very high fold, since the latter will often look unnatural or overdone in the Oriental face. We have found several different types of eyelids in the Oriental population. The purpose of this presentation is to present our nonincision technique to create aesthetically pleasing supratarsal folds. Seven-hundred and sixty-two patients were reviewed. We have found that our single-suture method is very reliable and allows the construction of a more even, smooth, and symmetrical fold. PMID- 2629709 TI - Minimal change glomerulopathy associated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. AB - Of 55 patients with adult onset minimal change glomerulopathy (MCG) studied at our center between 1971 and 1986, five (9%) had an association with the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). All of the patients were female, and their mean age at the time of diagnosis was 57.4 +/- 11 (SD) (range 47 to 71) years. They had received NSAIDs for an average of 6.9 +/- 6.4 (range, 3 to 18) months before developing proteinuria. The presenting 24-hour urine protein was 11.3 +/- 10.2 (range, 2.1 to 24) g and all patients were hypoalbuminemic (serum albumin less than 3.5 g/dL) with edema. Two patients presented with acute renal insufficiency (serum creatinine greater than or equal to 1.3 mg/dL). Histologically, three patients had MCG associated with interstitial nephritis, and two had no evidence of interstitial disease. All five patients achieved a complete remission after discontinuing the NSAIDs. The remission occurred within 15 days for 80% of patients. A mean follow-up of 6.4 +/- 3.9 (range, 1.3 to 10.5) years was obtained on the patients. At the time of last follow-up, all patients had remained in complete remission, and all patients had normal renal function. Our experience confirms that MCG may present with or without interstitial nephritis. Once the NSAID is discontinued, a complete remission can be expected. PMID- 2629710 TI - Treating chancroid: summary of studies in southern Africa. AB - Recent studies undertaken in southern Africa and elsewhere indicate that many short or single dose treatments are available to treat chancroid. Erythromycin 500 mg three times a day for five days, ciprofloxacin 500 mg, sulphamethopyrazine 800 mg and trimethoprim 1000 mg or sulphametrole 3200 mg and trimethoprim 640 mg as single oral doses, or ceftriaxone 250 mg as a single intramuscular injection are all effective in treating the disease. The widespread use of these regimens largely depends on the accuracy of diagnosis, susceptibilities of local Haemophilus ducreyi isolates to antimicrobials, and financial considerations. PMID- 2629711 TI - Positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia and the Dexamethasone Suppression Test. PMID- 2629712 TI - Adults with Prader-Willi syndrome: abnormalities of sleep and behaviour. AB - A survey of 32 adult females and 31 adult males with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) shows that sleep disorders (including excessive day and night time sleep) and behavioural abnormalities, (temper tantrums and deliberate picking of sores) are common. These abnormalities are not related to the degree of obesity or to each other. Speech disorders also occur. Intelligence quotients are often within the normal range. PMID- 2629713 TI - Cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation in patients with uveitis. AB - The authors reviewed the outcome of extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) in 44 eyes of 38 patients with uveitis. Thirty-two of the 44 eyes received a posterior chamber lens implant; 87% of these achieved a stable visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Sixty-seven percent (8 of the 12 eyes) not receiving an implant achieved this level. The authors' results and current literature suggest that absolute control, preoperatively and postoperatively, of all uveitis inflammation and careful selection of patients as lens implant candidates are crucial for successful cataract surgery in uveitis patients. Complete removal of lens cortex and placement of an all-PMMA posterior chamber lens within the capsular bag are also believed to be important. PMID- 2629714 TI - Experience with colonic volvulus. AB - Fifty-eight cases of colonic volvulus were reviewed including 30 cases of sigmoid volvulus, 27 cases of cecal volvulus, and 1 of transverse colon volvulus. Decompression procedures were attempted in 31 instances of sigmoid volvulus in 27 patients and were successful 25 times (81 percent). Seven patients with sigmoid volvulus did not undergo surgery and of those, two died of unrelated causes, one was lost to follow-up, one was well, and three had recurrent volvulus. Twenty four operations were performed on 23 patients and there were three deaths (13 percent mortality). There was one recurrence in two patients who underwent simple detorsion. Chronic large-bowel motility disturbances were a persistent problem in 9 of 20 (45 percent) surgical survivors. Among 27 instances of cecal volvulus, one was reduced by contrast enema and ten endoscopic attempts at decompression were unsuccessful. Twenty-six operations were done and there were four operative deaths (15 percent mortality). There were no recurrences. Large-bowel motility disorders were noted in follow-up in 3 of 22 patients (14 percent). Overall there were 10 deaths in 58 patients for a 17 percent mortality rate. These data support the importance of endoscopic decompression for sigmoid volvulus but not for cecal volvulus. Definitive treatment of both forms of volvulus should include assessment of colonic motility. PMID- 2629715 TI - A reappraisal of the binding of cytosolic enzymes to erythrocyte membranes. AB - Several cytosolic proteins have been shown to be associated with hypotonic erythrocyte ghosts via electrostatic interactions with the anion transport band 3 protein. This article considers the problems of demonstrating binding under physiological conditions and reviews the evidence for the relevance of enzyme binding to the membrane for the regulation of glycolysis. The hypotheses for the existence of topological and sequential multienzyme complexes of the glycolytic enzymes in erythrocytes are also discussed. PMID- 2629716 TI - SIDS: Technology of the future. PMID- 2629717 TI - Clonidine in nicotine withdrawal. PMID- 2629718 TI - Seasonal variation of haemoglobin A1 in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. AB - The results of three controlled trials performed on children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus were examined for evidence of seasonal variation in concentrations of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1). All three studies showed lower levels during the summer months. Multiple regression analysis showed that the month of sampling accounted for a significant proportion of the total variance in HbA1 levels (P less than 0.001 in all three studies). We suggest that exercise, dietary changes and the frequency of minor illnesses may all contribute to this fluctuation which has important implications for the design of clinical trials in childhood diabetes. PMID- 2629719 TI - Hypoxaemia during outpatient dental anaesthesia. AB - Eighty children, ASA grade 1, who had outpatient general anaesthesia for tooth extraction were studied. An inhalational induction was performed, with patients receiving halothane, nitrous oxide and either 33% or 50% oxygen. Oxygen saturation was measured throughout the procedure using the Ohmeda Biox 3700 pulse oximeter. No significant difference in the incidence of hypoxaemia was found between the two groups. There was no association between the grade of surgeon or anaesthetist and the incidence of hypoxaemia. PMID- 2629720 TI - Marriage is associated with a lower risk of ischaemic heart disease in men. AB - Comparison between subjects who were identified from a register of cases of myocardial infarction and a random sample of the same community showed that in the Lower Hunter region of New South Wales men who currently are not married are at higher risk of acute myocardial infarction or of sudden coronary death than are married men of the same age. While there are indications that unmarried men have a life-style that is different from that of currently married men, their increased risk of ischaemic heart disease is greater than can be accounted for by differences in factors such as age, the previous history of heart disease, their alcohol and tobacco consumption and various socioeconomic factors. PMID- 2629721 TI - A case of acute encephalopathy caused by the human immunodeficiency virus apparently responsive to zidovudine. AB - A case of acute encephalopathy, which apparently was caused by the human immunodeficiency virus and occurred late in the course of this infection yet before any opportunistic infections occurred, is presented. The encephalopathy was considered to be responsive to zidovudine and dexamethasone; this therapy resulted in an excellent, sustained clinical remission. Magnetic resonance images and the histopathological findings also are described. PMID- 2629722 TI - Standards of beauty: Degas v. Kirov. PMID- 2629723 TI - Welfare and well-being. PMID- 2629724 TI - Inhibition of platelet aggregation by moxalactam and free N-methylthiotetrazole. AB - The effects of moxalactam and free N-methylthiotetrazole (N-MTT) in vitro on platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), arachidonic acid, collagen, epinephrine, or ristocetin were determined. Moxalactam at concentrations of 1.9 mM and 5.7 mM inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP, arachidonic acid, epinephrine, and ristocetin. Although the aggregatory activity of collagen was not inhibited with 1.9 mM moxalactam, an increase in the concentration of moxalactam to 5.7 mM significantly inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Inhibition of platelet aggregation by free N-MTT was also concentration dependent. The lowest concentration of N-MTT used in this study, 5.7 mM, inhibited platelet aggregation induced by both arachidonic acid and ristocetin. At a concentration of 28 mM, N-MTT inhibited aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, epinephrine, and ristocetin, but not by arachidonic acid. At 57 mM N-MTT, almost complete inhibition of platelet aggregation occurred for all five agonists tested. PMID- 2629725 TI - Holoprosencephaly: a developmental field defect. AB - Holoprosencephaly refers to a spectrum of craniofacial malformations including cyclopia, ethmocephaly, cebocephaly, and premaxillary agenesis. Etiologic heterogeneity is well documented. Chromosomal, genetic, and teratogenic factors have been implicated. Recognition of holoprosencephaly as a developmental field defect stresses the importance of close scrutiny of relatives for mild forms such as single median incisor, hypotelorism, bifid uvula, or pituitary deficiency. PMID- 2629726 TI - Response to 'Modeling the Effects of Exhaust ventilation on 222Rn Entry Rates and Indoor 222Rn concentrations'. PMID- 2629728 TI - The problem of the availability of forensic science facilities to the defence. PMID- 2629727 TI - Hyperthyroidism after head and neck irradiation. PMID- 2629729 TI - Using NBME test scores to predict resident OKAP performance. PMID- 2629730 TI - Who is properly certified? PMID- 2629731 TI - Surgilube for easy insertion of polyurethane-covered prostheses. PMID- 2629732 TI - Cantilever nasal bone grafting with miniscrew fixation. PMID- 2629733 TI - Erroneous inference of frame failure in a Lillehei-Kaster heart-valve prosthesis. PMID- 2629734 TI - Meat inspection. PMID- 2629735 TI - Therapy and clinical progress of cattle with dilatation and torsion of the caecum. AB - One hundred and eleven heifers and cows with caecal dilatation and torsion were examined and their subsequent progress monitored. Using various criteria it was decided whether the animal was to be slaughtered or treated conservatively or surgically. Conservative treatment consisted of a continuous drip infusion containing neostigmine and of purgatives such as liquid paraffin, sometimes in combination with sodium sulphate. Surgical treatment consisted of laparotomy on the right flank with emptying and sometimes partial resection of the caecum. Five animals had to be slaughtered before or during surgery and another five which developed severe peritonitis were slaughtered after surgery. Fifty-nine animals underwent surgery once without resection of the caecum and 20 with. Another 14 animals needed surgery twice. PMID- 2629736 TI - Normal hemoglobin values in men and women. PMID- 2629737 TI - Hepatotoxicity due to comfrey herb tea. PMID- 2629738 TI - Agenesis of the corpus callosum and limbic malformations revisited. PMID- 2629739 TI - Gemeprost vaginal pessaries for inducing third-trimester intrauterine deaths. PMID- 2629740 TI - Naltrexone and clonidine in heroin withdrawal treatment. PMID- 2629741 TI - Inborn errors of lipid metabolism. PMID- 2629742 TI - Adverse effects of sublingual nifedipine in acute myocardial infarction. PMID- 2629743 TI - Imaging of human brain creatine kinase activity in vivo. AB - Creatine kinase activity and high-energy phosphate concentration have been investigated using localized 31P spectroscopy in the human brain in vivo. The phase-modulated rotating frame imaging technique, incorporating magnetization transfer and inversion recovery, has been used to produce a 1-dimensional rate profile map of steady-state enzyme activity. Large differences in the flux from phosphocreatine (PCr) to ATP have been discovered between volumes of human brain consisting of predominantly gray (2.0 cm) and white (4.5 cm) matter. The concentration of PCr changes slightly (2.0 cm = 5.20 +/- 0.45 mmol.l-1, 4.5 cm = 4.63 +/- 0.31 mmol.l-1), while the ATP concentration remains within limits (3.30 +/- 0.4 mmol.l-1). No change in pHi was detected between the two regions in normal volunteers (n = 6). The forward rate constant of the PCr----ATP reaction in regions of predominantly gray matter (0.30 +/- 0.04 s-1) was twice that of white matter (0.16 +/- 0.02 s-1) in vivo. PMID- 2629744 TI - Future primary care: a merger or not? PMID- 2629745 TI - Early complications of knee-joint arthroscopy. PMID- 2629746 TI - The future of medicine. PMID- 2629747 TI - Alternative medicine. PMID- 2629748 TI - 'Anaesthetic training in Brazil: clarification'. PMID- 2629749 TI - The College's Ethics Manual. PMID- 2629750 TI - Coping with patients' problem drinking. AB - Confronting patients appropriately is a difficult skill to master. The practitioner must first overcome his own inherent biases and feelings of discomfort before tackling the patient on threatening issues. This problem is compounded by delay when a patient has seen his GP for a number of years before a review of the notes reveals the hitherto unsuspected diagnosis. PMID- 2629751 TI - Growth in children with partially treated coeliac disease. PMID- 2629752 TI - [Dens in dente. Histological characteristics of an unusual case of dens in dente]. AB - We describe a rare case of "dens in dente" in an accessory germ in central location of an anencephalic phoetus. Its characteristics of having enamel surrounding normal dentin and normal pulpar cavity, all of them surrounded by the unaffected accessory germ leads us to describe the term "dente in dente". Such alteration is not previously described. PMID- 2629753 TI - [Lingual neurons: localization, morphology and possible functional significance]. AB - Neurons either isolated or clustered in small ganglio are found in the thickness of the connective tissue of the lamina typical of the lingual mucous membrane and the perimysium; they lack processes, are scare in number and of a primitive aspect. Its possible nature and functional significance are discussed. PMID- 2629754 TI - [Needs and type of periodontal treatment required by preschoolers and students in Gran Santiago, Chile, 1981]. PMID- 2629755 TI - [Bleaching of a vital upper central incisor]. AB - One trauma can elicit tooth vitality loss, even partial. The pulpal tissue necrosis, that is produced, causes darkening of the tooth. We can return this teeth to its original color using the bleaching technique. PMID- 2629756 TI - [Informational structure of the national registry of bone marrow donor volunteers]. AB - Successful Bone Marrow Transplantations with unrelated donors can be performed providing that donor and recipient are totally HLA-A, B, DR identical. To find such a suitable donor it is necessary to type a large pool of volunteers for HLA in histocompatibility laboratories. We have built a network of 36 micro-computers AT 286 for updating local files and for translating data to the national file of donors maintained on a main computer (VAX 8250). The main computer communicates regularly using modems with local computers in order to update data and exchange information. After one year of functioning, users are well satisfied with the computers system which locates regularly potential donors for recipients waiting for a graft. PMID- 2629757 TI - [Epidemiologic study of HIV serology in blood donors from 5 departments in northeastern France (1985-1989)]. AB - Between July 1985 and June 1989, the prevalence of HIV antibody was studied in 503,019 blood donations tested in 5 administrative areas ("departments") of north east France: 91 seropositive donations (donors) were detected (prevalence: 0.18%). The prevalence was 0.41% in 1985, 0.22% in 1986, 0.14% in 1987, 0.10% in 1988 and 0.11% in 1989: in each year, it was found lower than the national prevalence. 14 (15.4%) of the 91 seropositive donors were females, and the prevalences of HIV antibody in blood donations from female and male donors were 0.07% and 0.26% respectively. All seropositive donors were younger than 50 and 83 (91.2%) younger than 40. The prevalence of HIV antibody was higher in blood units at first donation (occasional donors) as compared with blood units collected from regular donors (0.60% versus 0.09%). The prevalence of HIV antibody was higher in blood donations from military donors as compared with donations from civilian donors (0.49% versus 0.07% in 1987, 1988 and 1989). Most seropositive military donors were young male recruits of the national armed forces conscription system. We believe that these recruits are subjects with risk factors which must be taken into account for the determination of national blood supply policies. PMID- 2629758 TI - [Preparation and preservation of labile products obtained from whole blood using the leuko-platelet layer]. PMID- 2629759 TI - Are there really shortcuts? Estimating seat belt use with self-report measures. AB - We examined the utility of estimating rates of automobile seat belt use with self report measures. Self-report measures overestimate belt use rates compared to observational surveys of the same population. Laws mandating seat belt use did not substantially affect the degree to which self-reports are upwardly biased. We found self-report measures overestimate observed belt use by 8.9 to 19.4 percentage points or by a factor of 1.2 to 2. Our best estimate is that self reported seat belt use rates be discounted by 12 percentage points to estimate actual belt use rates. PMID- 2629760 TI - The effectiveness of automatic belts in reducing fatality rates in Toyota Cressidas. AB - Toyota Cressidas have had motor driven automatic belts since 1981. Their observed use rates have been consistently close to 100%. This paper compares fatality rates in Toyota Cressidas with those in the similar Nissan Maximas (which are equipped with three-point manual belts) using the latest data from the Fatal Accident Reporting System. After making adjustments for differences in the average ages of front seat occupants of the two fleets, the Toyotas have a fatality rate that is about three-quarters that of the Nissans. From this, the fatality-reducing effectiveness for the Toyota automatic belts is estimated to be 40% with an uncertainty of +/- 8%. This effectiveness estimate is consistent with earlier estimates of automatic belt effectiveness. PMID- 2629761 TI - Prevention of timber felling and chainsaw-related accidents in the Republic of Ireland. AB - A one-year prospective survey in four rural Irish counties was performed between January 1 and December 31, 1986, to analyse chainsaw accidents in a representative sample of domestic chainsaw users. Of the 62 accident cases recorded, the largest group were farmers, followed by a medley of self-employed "loggers" and domestic users. Every age group was represented, the commonest age group being 16-30 years. One of three female cases was an old-aged pensioner, and three other cases were aged under 12 years. Two of the latter cases had been using the saw when the accident occurred. Most injuries were sustained to the lower extremities, mostly due to a slip or misdirection of the saw. Of the 27 cases admitted to a hospital, 25 (93%) required surgical procedures with an average inpatient stay of eight days. Only 2 (3%) of the 62 cases wore an item of protective gear; in both cases, this was steel capped boots that were unsuitable for protection against chainsaw injuries. First aid at the accident site was very inadequate. The research indicates few of the cases were competent to use a power saw, and there was a general lack of appreciation of the risks associated with these implements and a disregard for safety procedures. While new forthcoming legislation on safety at work may improve safety standards in the future, a substantial proportion of chainsaw users in Ireland are currently at risk from further accidents. PMID- 2629762 TI - Biomechanics of injury in lateral impacts. AB - Fourteen anesthetized swine were subjected to blunt lateral impact at velocities of 4.3, 6.7, or 8.2 m/s with a 15 cm flat pendulum weighing 23.4 kg accelerated to impact speed by a power-assisted pneumatic impactor. Injuries consisted of laceration of the liver and spleen resulting in severe hemoperitoneum and death by ventricular fibrillation and respiratory arrest in the highest severity impacts. Logist analysis of the biomechanical responses and serious or fatal injury indicated that the maximum Viscous response (VC) had the best correlation with injury risk. A tolerance level of VC = 0.89 m/s was determined for a 25% probability of serious injury. In contrast, maximum chest compression did not correlate with injury. The experiments indicate that internal organ and soft tissue injury may occur by a Viscous mechanism during the rapid phase of compression of the body. The Viscous response is an effective measure of injury risk in side impacts. PMID- 2629763 TI - Biomechanics of the human chest, abdomen, and pelvis in lateral impact. AB - Fourteen unembalmed cadavers were subjected to 44 blunt lateral impacts at velocities of approximately 4.5, 6.7, or 9.4 m/s with a 15 cm flat circular interface on a 23.4 kg pendulum accelerated to impact speed by a pneumatic impactor. Chest and abdominal injuries consisted primarily of rib fractures, with a few cases of lung or liver laceration in the highest severity impacts. There were two cases of pubic ramus fracture in the pelvic impacts. Logist analysis of the biomechanical responses and injury indicated that the maximum Viscous response had a slightly better correlation with injury than maximum compression for chest and abdominal impacts. A tolerance level of VC = 1.47 m/s for the chest and VC = 1.98 m/s for the abdomen were determined for a 25% probability of critical injury. Maximum compression was similarly set at C = 38% for the chest and at C = 44% for the abdomen. The experiments indicate that chest and abdominal injury may occur by a viscous mechanism during the rapid phase of body compression, and that the Viscous and compression responses are effective, complementary measures of injury risk in side impact. Although serious pelvic injury was infrequent, lateral public ramus fracture correlated with compression of the pelvis, not impact force or pelvic acceleration. Pelvic tolerance was set at 27% compression. PMID- 2629764 TI - Estimating the effects over time of alcohol on injury severity. AB - Estimates of the effect of blood alcohol on injury severity obtained through studies of patients at clinical facilities have been found to be quite different from those estimated through the analysis of highway accident data. Several factors have been suggested to account for these differences, including consideration of the relative frequencies of alcohol-involved and alcohol-free drivers who were killed at the scene or who died before reaching a treatment facility. More generally, the nature of the way that the effect of alcohol varies as a function of time from injury may play a important role. In this paper information from highway accident data was combined with time of death information from state medical examiner files to yield estimates of the function P(T), the probability that an injured driver dies at the time T or later from an injury occurring at T = 0, for classes of crash-involved drivers with differing blood alcohol concentrations. Other factors also considered in the analyses included measures of crash severity, driver age, and restraint use. Elevated blood alcohol was consistently found to be associated with shorter survival times. PMID- 2629765 TI - Relative fatality risk in different seating positions versus car model year. AB - Fatality risk of drivers compared to right-front passengers is examined vs. car model year (MY) using Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) data for 1975 through 1986. Confounding effects are removed by comparing unrestrained occupants matched in sex and age (to within three years). MY greater than or equal to 1968 cars, which complied with Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 203 (impact protection for the driver) and FMVSS 204 (rearward column displacement), are compared to MY less than or equal to 1966 cars, which did not comply with these standards. It is found that, compared to right-front passengers in the same cars, drivers had higher relative fatality risks in MY greater than or equal to 1968 cars and lower relative fatality risks in MY less than or equal to 1966 cars. Because there are so few fatal frontal crash data for MY 1966 and MY 1968 cars, definitive conclusions regarding the effectiveness of FMVSS 203 and 204 in reducing driver fatalities are not possible. However, our analysis, together with the assumption that right-front-passenger fatality risk was the same in 1966 and 1968 MY cars, does suggest that a previous 12% effectiveness estimate is more likely to be high than low. PMID- 2629766 TI - The effect of the 1979 French seat-belt law on the nature and severity of injuries to front-seat occupants. AB - In a regional study of the effect of the 1979 French seat-belt law, the nature and severity of car occupants' injuries were recorded for all car crashes during the same 3-month period in 1976, 1977, 1978 (before the law), and in 1979 (after the law). A trend analysis of data from all 4 years showed a slight decrease in the total injury rate, and significant decreases in the frequency of hospital admissions, and of head, face, arm, and leg injuries. Moderate pelvic and leg injuries, and serious head injuries were also less than expected in 1979. There was also a significant increase in the frequency of thoraco-lumbar spine injuries and of serious cervical spine injuries, but the absolute increase in these injuries was less than the absolute decrease in other injuries. These changes are compatible with the biomechanical effects of increased seat belt use, and thus suggest a beneficial effect of the law. PMID- 2629767 TI - [Malaria: medical and surgical complications]. AB - The resurgence of malaria in Venezuela as an epidemic has caused an increase in the number of cases of this disease. 898 cases were registered in 1962 in contrast to 46,279 cases in 1988. This reality implies that all hospitals will have to face the increase of patients with this disease. Ten cases of malaria have been described and analyzed. These have been chosen for their medical and surgical complications, for which they were admitted to the "Hospital Universitario de Caracas" and "Hospital de Clinicas Caracas". Of these ten cases, eight were acquired in a natural way and two in an induced form. In six cases, the agent was P. falciparum; in three, P. vivax; in one, P. ovale and P.vivax combined. Five of the cases by P.falciparum were resistant to chloroquine, being necessary to treat them with a combination of quinine and other antimalaric drugs. Among the 10 described patients, there were: one case of splenic rupture in malaria by P. vivax, a severe case of anemia in a child with malaria by this same species and a case of relapse produced by P.vivax in another child with an insufficient radical treatment. The usual mistakes are observed in the management of malaria, such as a delay in the diagnosis and inappropriate radical treatment. As conclusion, publication of epidemiological, clinical and parasitological problems which are causing the actual epidemic, is recommended. This will be a guide in the fight against malaria, that must be considered again a national emergency. PMID- 2629768 TI - Description of a new species of Thynnascaris Dollfus, 1933 (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from the stomach of the marine teleost fish Rachycentron canadus (Linnaeus). AB - A new species of the nematode genus Thynnascaris obtained from the teleost Rachycentron canadus (Linnaeus) is reported. A detailed examination of this specimen has allowed us to erect a new species Thynnascaris to accommodate the worm. It shows remarkable differences from other known species of Thynnascaris in respect of body size, length of the oesophageal appendix and intestinal caecum, location of nerve ring and excretory pore, on the papillae on the lips arrangement, type of the striations on the cuticle, vulva position, arrangement of caudal papillae and size of the spicules. The new species is designated as Thynnascaris shyamasundarii. PMID- 2629769 TI - [Analysis of some variables in patients with hydatidosis surgically treated at the Regional Hospital of Valdivia, Chile, 1976-1986]. AB - A survey of surgically treated cases of hydatidosis in the province of Valdivia, Chile, was done. Data were provided by the Regional Hospital of Valdivia, and a period of eleven years was covered (1976-1986). Disease, treatment and related data from each patient were consigned. For the analysis, the information was grouped according to: sex, age, cyst location, condition of the cyst, concomitance with another pathology, condition at time of discharge, hospitalization period and number of repeat hospitalizations. In the period studied, 197 cases of hydatidosis were surgically treated. The sex distribution was 53.3% for males and 46.7 for females; the age group 10-19 years was the most affected by the disease (19.3%). The most frequent locations of hydatid cysts were the liver (58.9%) and lungs (36.5%); the 38.6% of the patients showed complicated cysts, mainly with bacterial infections (11.7%); also, 20% of the cases presented a concomitant liver-related pathology. After the operation, 153 (77.7%) clinically recovered and 27 (13.7%) non-recovered patients left the hospital and 7 (3.5%) cases died while hospitalized. The average hospitalization period was 29 days. During 1976-1986, 24 patients were rehospitalized. PMID- 2629770 TI - [Epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Chile. V. Prevalence of the infection in humans and domestic and wild animals, studied by indirect hemagglutination reaction, in the Juan Fernandez Archipelago. V Region]. AB - A serological study utilizing an indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) for toxoplasmosis was carried out in 222 humans and in 58 domestic animals (31 dogs, Canis familiaris; 27 cats, Felis catus), and in 62 wild mammals distributed into 50 rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus and 12 goats, Capra hircus. This survey was performed in the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, formed by three islands: Robinson Crusoe, Santa Clara and Alejandro Selkirk (80 degrees 47'-78 degrees 47' west long., and 33 degrees 36'-33 degrees 47' south lat.). Blood samples were collected in filter paper and IHAT with titres greater than or equal to 1:16 were considered positive. This survey showed a prevalence of 42.3% in humans with no difference between men (43.0%) and women (41.5%). A high prevalence was found within groups of young individuals (0 to 19 years old), men and women. Regarding the domestic animal population, 44.8% resulted positive, distributed as follows: dogs 9.7% and cats 85.2%. Twenty one percent of wild animals were positive, distributed as follows: rabbits 8.0% and goats 75.0%. The global prevalence of toxoplasmosis in animals (domestic and wild) was 32.5%. All titres in humans and animals were less than or equal to 1:512. Toxoplasmosis is well extended among the human and animal population of the Juan Fernandez Archipelago. PMID- 2629771 TI - [New hosts for Helicometrina nimia Linton, 1910 (Digenea: Opecoelidae) in the south-center coast of Chile]. AB - Two new hosts (Calliclinus geniguttatus and Calliclinus nudiventris) for Helicometrina nimia are reported from Chile. Comments concerning geographical distribution of H. nimia and diet of marine fish hosts are given. PMID- 2629772 TI - [Pirupalkia queulensis n. gen., n.sp. (Digenea: Callodistomidae) in the fish Cilus montti (Pomadasyidae)]. AB - A new genus and species of the subfamily Callodistomidae is described. The new genus is named Pirupalkia queulensis n. gen., and was found in the small intestine of the fish Cilus montti. This new genus, compared with other genus of the subfamily differs principally in the distribution of the vitellaria and location of the uterus. PMID- 2629773 TI - [Knowledge of the endoparasitic fauna of Lama guanicoe Muller, 1776, from the Mitre Peninsula, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina]. AB - Parasitological fauna of Lama guanicoe in the Peninsula Mitre, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, is analyzed in this paper. Coproparasitological tests of 58 samples were performed, and on this basis, the presence of the following genera was determined: Haemonchus, Marshallagia, Cooperia, Nematodirus, Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomun and Chavertia. Marshallagia and Chabertia are reported for the first time for this host. The dung piles are not considered as parasitic barriers. Infections occur in two seasons: at the beginning of the spring and at the beginning of summer, as a survival strategy of parasitic nematodes. Parasites of L. guanicoe would be secondarily acquired form cattle. PMID- 2629774 TI - [The role of calcium, diglyceride ester bindings and a synthetic polypeptide in protein kinase C activation]. AB - Protein kinase C, which plays a significant role in the polyphosphoinositide pathway of transmembrane signaling, is activated by a large class of extracellular ligands including neurotransmitters, hormones and growth factors. Diacylglycerols are the intracellular mediators of protein kinase C activation. Tumor promoting phorbol esters mimic the diacylglycerol action in binding to the same site. Active diacylglycerols have the 1.2 sn configuration and saturated short chain or unsaturated long chain fatty acids. Alkyl analogs of diacylglycerols were devoid of activity when an ether bond was present in position 1, whereas activity of the alkyl analog in position 2 was retained. Protein kinase C activation and 3H-TPA binding to the enzyme occurred in the presence of 0.5 mM EGTA. Moreover it has been shown in vivo that full activation of the enzyme was obtained in the intact platelets loaded with an excess of Quin 2, prior to stimulation by phorbol esters. A peptide (residues 499-513) was synthesized which enhanced the affinity of protein kinase C for histone. It is suggested that it may be the receptor site for another peptide of the enzyme (residues 19 to 36) which behaves as a pseudosubstrate. PMID- 2629775 TI - [A model for studying the transmission of information produced by certain growth factors: activation mechanisms of S6 kinase in cultured astrocytes]. AB - Treatment of cultured astrocytes from 2-day-old rat cerebral hemispheres with insulin, somatomedin C (IGF1), thrombin and acidic or basic fibroblast growth factors promoted a rapid activation of a cytosolic protein kinase (S6 kinase) which phosphorylates ribosomal protein S6. The phorbol ester (TPA) also triggered a rapid increase in S6 kinase activity. Two agonists of adenylate cyclase activity (forskolin and isoproterenol) and the cyclic AMP analog (dibutyryl cAMP) also stimulated the same S6 kinase. These observations support the idea that several pathways might promote the activation of the same entity that is regarded as one of the primary targets of signals elicited by growth factors. PMID- 2629776 TI - Insulin receptor binding and tyrosine kinase activity in liver and skeletal muscle from fasted rats. AB - Insulin binding and tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor have been measured in the liver and muscles of rats fed or submitted to a 72-h-fasting. In both tissues, insulin binding increased in fasting rats. In liver, the ability of insulin to simulate receptor tyrosine kinase activity greatly unpaired during fasting, but remained unchanged in muscle. The change during fasting of the insulin-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor is specific to certain tissue. PMID- 2629777 TI - Permeability of milk protein antigens across the intestinal epithelium in vitro. AB - Degradations by proteolytic enzymes and intestinal epithelial permeability represent two major drawbacks to the transfer of food protein antigens to blood. These steps were studied in vitro for the milk protein antigens beta lactoglobulin (beta-Lg), alpha-Lactalbumin (alpha-La) and beta-casein (beta-cas). Pepsin-trypsin hydrolysis and permeability in isolated rabbit ileum in Ussing chamber were suited by ELISA and radiolabelled-protein measurement. Pepsin trypsin hydrolysis showed an increasing resistance in the order beta-cas less than alpha-La less than beta-Lg. The rate of absorption of the antigenic proteins by isolated rabbit ileum was in the same order, and the rate of absorption of the whole proteins (degraded and antigenic forms) was significantly higher for beta Lg than for alpha-La and beta-cas. These results suggest a selective intestinal permeability for milk protein antigens. This selectivity is probably important in the mechanism of food protein sensitization via the oral route. PMID- 2629778 TI - Absorption of intact beta-casomorphins (beta-CM) in rabbit ileum in vitro. AB - The functional significance of the presence of opioid peptides in enzymatic digestion of bovine milk beta-casein remains unclear. Opiates modify intestinal electrolyte transport by acting on receptors located on the serosal side of the intestine. The aim of the present study is to determine under which conditions beta-casomorphins could act from the luminal side of the intestine. The effect of natural morphiceptin (beta-CM4-NH2) and the non metabolized analogue beta [DAla2,4, Try5]-CM5-NH2 were studied on isolated rabbit ileum mounted in Ussing chambers. Both peptides caused a naloxone-reversible reduction in short-circuit current (lsc) and stimulated Na and Cl absorption after addition to the serosal side of the tissue. After mucosal addition, only the analogue (10(-3) M) crossed the epithelium intact (Jm-s = 3.5 +/- 1.2 nmol.h-1.cm-2) and reduced lsc. Morphiceptin, under the same conditions, was degraded by the intestinal mucosa without opiate action on electrolyte transport. Pretreatment of the ileum by 10( 3)M diisopropylfluorophosphate that inhibited brush-border dipeptidylpeptidase IV, prevented mucosal degradation of morphiceptin. Under these conditions, the peptide (10(-3)M) crossed the epithelium intact (Jm-s = 1.8 +/- 0.16 nmol.h-1.cm 2) and stimulated electrolyte absorption by means of an opioid mechanism. These results show that both natural morphiceptin and the protected analogue have an opiate activity on intestinal electrolyte transport. Their action from the lumen depends on their transfer intact to the serosal side of the intestine where opiate receptors are located. The limiting step in this transfer is at the brush border membrane where dipeptidylpeptidase IV in particular seems to play a major role. PMID- 2629779 TI - [Resorption and biotransformation of model substances in primary idiopathic hemochromatosis (siderophilia)]. AB - In 12 patients with primary idiopathic haemochromatosis absorption and biotransformation were measured by model substances. Aim of the investigation was the correlation of the biotransformation of the liver with the degree of liver injury and the clinical picture. We determined in patients and compared with control group: elimination of metamizol in urine, absorption and elimination of caffeine in serum, serum concentrations and elimination of sulfamethazin in urine, absorption of xylose, - In patients with haemochromatosis accompanied with slight liver damage only demethylation of metamizol was slackened. In patients with higher degree of liver damage the elimination of metamizol as well as of caffeine was decreased. Because of the high percentage of slow acetylators in the patient group metabolism of sulfamethazine is decreased. - There was no correlation between iron loading of the organism, absorption of xylose and biotransformation of the model substances. PMID- 2629780 TI - [The diagnostic value of CT in siderophilia (primary idiopathic hemochromatosis)]. AB - CT, due to its high resolution of density, is suitable, within certain limits, to quantify iron contents in the liver. - Diagnostic value and limits of dual-energy computed tomography after 38 examinations, 31 of them in patients with verified haemochromatosis, are described: In a progressive state of iron overload a high correlation exists between results of computed tomography and usual reference methods of iron metabolism (iron determination by absorption spectrometry and histologic examination, serum-iron-level, serum-ferritin-level, relative transferrin saturation, desferal test). - With a specificity of nearly 100% CT shows a minor or medium iron overload only with low sensitivity. - Because of its noninvasive nature CT is an alternative method of biopsy in progressive liver disease with suspected hepatic siderosis. PMID- 2629781 TI - Studies on the in-vitro biotransformation in patients with liver diseases. AB - The activity of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) was determined in the human liver bioptate of 53 patients with chronic liver diseases. Remarkable are the lower values of ECOD in the hepatoses, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis as compared to patients with normal histology or residual hepatitis. The decline in the activity of ECOD in the patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis has to be seen in connection with parenchymatous necrosis, nodular liver transformation and intracinar fibrosis. For the time being it is not possible to give a satisfactory explanation of the decrease in the ECOD activity of the hepatoses. PMID- 2629782 TI - [Differential diagnosis of drug-induced liver damage. Problems and conclusions from the viewpoint of the clinician]. AB - Our analysis showed that in of more than 80% of the patients admitted to the infection hospital because of suspicion of viral hepatitis there is also an anamnesis of one or several drugs. Among 2944 patients, admitted with being suspect of having viral hepatitis, there were 128 patients (adequate to 4.4%) with a drug-induced liver injury diagnosed in the result of all clinical, serological, histological and immunological findings. Inducing noxes were - in accordance to the frequency of ordination - ovulation inhibitors followed by Berlocombin, Ketazon, Depressan and Obsidan. In view of a clinic for infectious diseases it has to be pointed to the necessity of a high degree of security in the differential diagnosis of the drug-induced liver injury in relation to the viral hepatitis and one has to consider the great responsibility of the clinician. Often a decision may only be taken in close interdisciplinary collaboration of gastroenterologists, pathologists, epidemiologists and immunologists. PMID- 2629783 TI - Selected characteristics of several strains of Lactobacillus plantarum. AB - Several relevant characteristics have been studied in nine Lactobacillus plantarum strains isolated from Cabrales cheese. They fermented lactose efficiently and possessed both beta-galactosidase and beta-phosphogalactosidase activities, but no significant proteolytic activity was detected. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed no high level resistance to any of the fourteen compounds tested. All the strains had a high content of extrachromosomal DNA of unknown function. A recombinant plasmid comprising pUC19 from Escherichia coli and a small cryptic plasmid from L. plantarum has been constructed and may be used to develop a shuttle vector for these species. PMID- 2629784 TI - The effect of Trichoderma viride C-1 UV mutagenization on cellulases activity. AB - Trichoderma viride C-1 strain was irradiated with UV until the survival level of 0.03% was obtained. Sixteen mutants were isolated on the basis of the visible clearance zone around the colonies on the media with cellulose and glycerol. Then they were cultivated on a rotary shaker in the liquid Saunders medium supplemented with microcrystalline cellulose and comminuted sugar beet pulp. Exo 1,4-beta-glucanase, endo-1,4-beta-glucanase and beta-glucosidase were assayed in the supernatants of postcultural liquids at different time intervals of culture. The same mutants were characterized by higher biosynthesis level of exoglucanase (1.2-5.0 times) endoglucanase (1.2-2.5 times) and beta-glucosidase (1.5-1.7 times) when compared with the wild type strain. PMID- 2629785 TI - Saprophytic fungi on hair and feathers from apparently healthy animals. AB - The occurrence of saprophytic fungi on hair and feathers samples taken from apparently healthy domestic animals (cows, pigs, rabbits, and chickens) has been studied. A total of 221 strains classified in 24 genera were isolated. The most frequent genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor, Absidia and Alternaria, and some statistically significant differences of contamination were detected among the animal species. PMID- 2629786 TI - A rational proposal for plasmid nomenclature. AB - We propose a more rational system for nomenclature of wild plasmids of bacteria. With this proposal for nomenclature of bacterial plasmids, it is established in an unambiguous way: 1) if a plasmid is wild or derivative, and 2) in which species and bacterial strain it was found (in the case of wild plasmids). PMID- 2629787 TI - [Ultrastructure of the intracellular development of bacteriophage phi C 31]. AB - The intracellular development of the bacteriophage phi C31 in thermally induced cultures of the lysogen Streptomyces coelicolor 01 changes remarkably its cell structure. At 10 min post-induction, a big number of mesosomes are shown by the cells. At 30 min post-induction, the cytoplasm contains capsids which are still empty. At the end of the latent period mature virions are shown and immediately after, cell lysis occurs through the tip of germinative tubes. In old cultures (10 h or more) no viral progeny is detected. However, when the amino acid glycine is added to the culture medium, new virions are seen, but in smaller number than in germinating cultures. These results seem to indicate that the lysis happens at the tip of the germinative tubes probably because this is an area weakened by the preferential growth that takes place on it. PMID- 2629788 TI - Prevalence of Salmonella serotypes isolated in Spain from human and non human sources (1983-1987). AB - Salmonella serotypes over a five year period were studied in order to know their prevalence in Spain. The Salmonella Reference Centre received a total of 17,612 strains from 1983-1987. The majority (16,133) were of human origin and only 1,479 strains were isolated from non-human sources. The serotyping yielded 100 different serotypes, Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (8) being the commonest in both groups, 61.18% of human origin and 31.91% of non-human origin. Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium the commonest serotype in many countries, occupies second place in our results with the following percentages 11.87% and 9.67% respectively. Among the strains of human origin Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi occupies fourth place (3.24%). This is very low compared with the high number of clinically diagnosed typhoid fever cases declared in the country: over 5,000 cases per year. PMID- 2629789 TI - Differential diagnosis of anterior mandibular lesions: a case report. PMID- 2629790 TI - Informed consent laws in Texas. PMID- 2629792 TI - The eight keys to success. Key #2: Attracting and retaining quality patients. PMID- 2629791 TI - Eight keys to success. Key 1: Attracting, hiring and retaining a quality staff. PMID- 2629793 TI - Signs and symbols: comments on the dental emblem. PMID- 2629794 TI - Important patient contacts as part of legal records. PMID- 2629796 TI - Determine your individual needs before buying a computer package. PMID- 2629795 TI - Uncovering signs of oral cancer. PMID- 2629797 TI - Staff meetings are more productive if they are planned and controlled. PMID- 2629798 TI - Goal setting helps the staff become efficient, productive and cohesive. PMID- 2629800 TI - Motivating patients to self-care takes the staff's personal involvement. PMID- 2629799 TI - Today's composite resins can be either light-curing or self-curing. PMID- 2629801 TI - Juggling it all in a shortage. PMID- 2629802 TI - Written task descriptions help clear new staff member's confusion. PMID- 2629803 TI - Computer conversions are easiest when the staff becomes involved. PMID- 2629804 TI - Risks of mercury poisoning are few for patients and dental personnel. PMID- 2629805 TI - Knowledge foils legal risk-taking. PMID- 2629806 TI - Fairleigh Dickinson shuts school after 30 years. PMID- 2629807 TI - Shun the maws of transfer traps. PMID- 2629808 TI - Dentists evaluate self-administered whitener. PMID- 2629809 TI - Plastic surgery without a scalpel. PMID- 2629810 TI - Laser technology used in hard tissue surgery. PMID- 2629811 TI - From a prosthodontist's viewpoint, a periodontal FPD classification. PMID- 2629812 TI - Predicting tissue response with porcelain laminates. PMID- 2629813 TI - Perio disease diagnosis outlined with key criteria. PMID- 2629814 TI - FDA seeks category for tooth whiteners. PMID- 2629815 TI - Actress-model competitive with wider, softer smile. PMID- 2629816 TI - Instamatic camera photography: strike while the interest is hot. PMID- 2629817 TI - Make infection control work with office design. PMID- 2629818 TI - Break down profitless walls between staff and patients. PMID- 2629820 TI - Tainted compressed air headache for dentists. PMID- 2629819 TI - Control dental instrument chaos with 'trivial' pursuit of asepsis. PMID- 2629821 TI - [Metabolism of ornithine in human gingival tissue]. AB - The behavior of two enzymes of the ornithine pathway, leading to the formation of proline and, eventually, of collagen, arginase and ornithine oxo-acid aminotransferase has been investigated in normal and inflamed gingival tissue. Both enzymatic activities show a statistically significant decrease in pathological samples as compared to normal ones. The data on arginase activity may be in agreement with the already documented low level of urea in pathological gingival fluid, while a decrease of the ornithine aminotransferase activity could be linked to the phenomenon of gingival retraction, i.e. the lack of complete regeneration of gingival tissue usually observed in chronically inflamed subjects, that would be reasonably parallel to a decreased proline/collagen synthesis. PMID- 2629822 TI - Immunolocalization of beta 3 subunit of integrins in osteoclast membrane. AB - Utilizing isolated and cultured osteoclasts it has been possible to establish that they adhere to the substrate through specialized close contact areas, the podosomes, that in fully spread osteoclasts in vitro or in vivo are located within the clear zone. The cytochemical organization of podosomes has further been investigated in order to elucidate their possible involvement in the control of substrate recognition, that precedes bone resorption. An immunofluorescence investigation, performed utilizing human osteoclasts, shows that the beta 2 integrin subunit that in human monocytes is expressed and located in podosomes is absent in human osteoclasts, while the beta 3 subunit of the vitronectin receptor is expressed by osteoclasts, but not by other monocyte-derived cells and colocalizes with vinculin around the actin core of the podosome. The beta 1 subunit of the fibronectin receptors is also found, but with a diffuse pattern, in the osteoclast membrane. These results indicate that podosomes, while present in different cell types, may have in the osteoclast an unique cytochemical organization related to the peculiar function of this cell. PMID- 2629823 TI - Podosome expression in osteoclasts: influence of high extracellular calcium concentration. AB - In this study the effect of high extracellular calcium concentration has been evaluated, by immunofluorescence, on podosome expression in chicken osteoclasts. Cells were cultured in presence of 0.2 and 4 mM calcium for 90 minutes and microfilaments were detected, after fixation and permeabilization, by decoration with rodhamine conjugated phalloidin. Results showed that increased extracellular calcium concentration induces the inhibition of podosome expression indicating that these close-contact areas are capable of calcium-mediated regulation. PMID- 2629824 TI - [Variations in the serum levels of thyroid hormones and TSH after intake of a dose of L-thyroxine in euthyroid subjects and in adequately-treated hypothyroid patients]. AB - The aim of the present study was to determine whether the temporary variations in blood thyroid hormone levels secondary to a therapeutic dose administration of L thyroxine observed in adequately treated hypothyroid patients also occur in spontaneously euthyroid subjects under analogous conditions. Serum levels of T3, T4, FT3, FT4 and TSH were measured over 6 hours following a single oral administration of L-thyroxine (dosage 85 mcg/mq body surface area) in a group of 18 euthyroid volunteers and 8 hypothyroid patients adequately compensated with replacement therapy. In the euthyroid subjects there was a significant increase in T4 and a significant fall in TSH values at 60', while a significant decrease in FT3 and FT4 as compared to initial values was observed at 120'. In the treated hypothyroid patients serum T3 and T4 increased at 120', while FT4 concentrations, already significantly higher at 120', still remained higher than initial levels at 360'. The different behaviour of the hypothyroid patients, in spite of being compensated with therapeutic doses of L-thyroxine, reflects the persistence of a thyroid-metabolic condition substantially different to the physiological feature, which appears to be realized by means of a reduced iodothyronine clearance and a lower sensitivity in TSH feedback. PMID- 2629825 TI - [Use of prostheses made of ePTFE in anastomoses of the rat uterine horn]. AB - ePTFE prostheses were used in the microsurgical anastomosis of the rat uterine horn. Handling characteristics of this synthetic material during the performance of anastomosis were tested. Patency rates, infections and local tissue reaction were evaluated after thirty and sixty days. Connective tissue infiltration and incomplete endothelialization by normal endometrial elements were observed on the luminal surface of the prosthesis. PMID- 2629826 TI - [Effects of age on orientation of attention]. AB - The present experiment investigated the influence of age on the magnitude of attentional effects. Subjects were cued to attend to one of two possible stimulus locations horizontally arranged. The instructions were to respond as fast as possible to the occurrence of a visual stimulus, regardless of whether it occurred in a cued or in a non-cued location. When the stimulus occurred in a non cued location, the subject had to reorient attention to the non-attended, but stimulated, location. Reorienting of attention was directed toward either the left or the right side. The results showed that for the elders, time for reorienting was longer than for younger subjects. PMID- 2629827 TI - [Influence of reduced glutathione on changes in the activity of phospholipase C induced by 4-hydroxynonenal]. AB - 4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE) is a major end-product of lipid peroxidation. 1 mM HNE inhibits the activity of liver phospholipase C (PL-C) and this effect is prevented by 1 mM GSH; on the contrary GSH is unable to counteract the stimulation of PL-C induced by a low concentration of HNE (100 nM). Other hydroxyalkenals are able to stimulate PL-C at low doses (micromolar or less), the most effective being 4-hydroxyoctenal which acts at picomolar doses. The lack of a correlation between the chain length of the aldehydes used and the degree of PL C stimulation seems to exclude the possibility that their effect could be due to an aspecific solvent action toward the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-diphosphate used as substrate for the enzymatic assay. PMID- 2629828 TI - [Clearance of oxypurines in normal subjects and in gout patients subjected to a purine-free diet. Effects of allopurinol]. AB - The clearance of uric acid, hypoxanthine and xanthine has been examined in gout patients and in normal subjects compared to creatinine, after a purine-free diet. The treatment decreased the clearance in normal subjects, but showed an opposite effect in gout patients. The clearances both of uric acid, hypoxanthine and xanthine were enhanced by allopurinol. The interpretation of the observed variations is discussed. PMID- 2629829 TI - A method for horizontal polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis. AB - We present a simplified method of preparation of polyacrylamide gels which is totally analogous to the procedure now widely used to pour and run horizontal agarose gels. The acrylamide is poured into an open air gel mold consisting of a glass plate with a masking tape border and a comb. It is subsequently run in a submarine horizontal electrophoresis apparatus. The electrophoretic mobility and resolution of DNA fragments obtained in such gels are identical to results obtained with gels poured and run in the vertical configuration. Numerous advantages of horizontal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis are discussed. PMID- 2629830 TI - A CAT expression vector with virtually no background: pUMSVOCAT. PMID- 2629831 TI - An inexpensive storage box for 0.5 and 1.5 ml microcentrifuge/test tubes. PMID- 2629832 TI - Single copy gene detection requiring minimal cell numbers. AB - There has been an increasing application of molecular DNA probes to evaluate a variety of clinical conditions. Frequently, the amount of tissue or number of cells available limits analysis by conventional DNA extraction and Southern blot hybridization. Moreover, DNA amplification techniques cannot be used in all cases. We have applied a modification of the DNA extraction-Southern blot hybridization technique to clinical samples which provides essentially quantitative recovery and analysis of DNA from minimal numbers of cells. DNA was obtained from cells which were immobilized in agarose blocks for lysis, deproteinization and restriction enzyme digestion. The DNA was then run directly into agarose gels to size fractionate for Southern blot analysis. Cells can be suspended in agarose blocks for over one year and frozen cells can be thawed and suspended in agarose. A variety of restriction enzymes can be used. Single copy sequences can be detected from as few as 5 x 10(4) cells. We have employed this method to examine immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in PBL from leukemia patients as well as bone marrow from myeloma patients. In addition, we have used the technique to accurately assess bone marrow engraftment after transplant. These results demonstrate a diagnostic application of this technique in a variety of clinical samples where there may be limited availability of cells. PMID- 2629833 TI - DNA sequencing with direct blotting electrophoresis and colorimetric detection. AB - We describe optimized procedures for colorimetrically-detected DNA sequencing with direct blotting electrophoresis. One-step protocols for Sequenase and Klenow enzyme are given. The clapping technique has been adapted to allow convenient casting of very thin gels with an optimal lower gel (transfer) surface. This gives very sharp band patterns, enabling more than 350 bases from a single loading to be read with confidence. The crucial points for direct blotting electrophoresis are discussed. Background problems resulting from unspecific binding of streptavidin to the nylon membranes have been eliminated by the use of high concentrations of SDS in the incubation buffer; and using a single large glass tube for all incubation and washing steps is a very convenient and effective development protocol. Automation of the colorimetric development process is described. PMID- 2629834 TI - Enhanced specificity in immunoscreening of expression cDNA clones using radiolabeled antigen overlay. AB - A highly sensitive and specific method has been developed for immunoscreening clones from an expression cDNA library. The procedures utilize a radiolabeled antigen detection method described originally for the immunoblotting of plasma proteins (5). Screening of rat alpha 1-antitrypsin clones was used. Comparison between Western blots of alpha 1-antitrypsin using both labeled antigen and protein A detection methods showed that the former yielded lower background and greater sensitivity than the latter. Further, this technique was shown to have a lower detection limit of less than 20 ng through Western blot analysis of varying concentrations of alpha 1-antitrypsin. The procedures are based on the expression of the protein by cDNA clones containing the DNA inserts in the correct reading frame. Following the transfer of phage proteins to nitrocellulose membranes, the bivalent antibodies bind monovalently to both nitrocellulose-bound-antigen in the phage lysates and radiolabeled antigen. The radiolabeled antigen overlay method is superior to the protein A detection method in sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. This improved method can be applied in general for screening expression cDNA libraries, provided that the specific antiserum and radiolabeled antigen are available. PMID- 2629835 TI - Microanalysis of SDS-PAGE electroblotted proteins. PMID- 2629836 TI - A simple method for western blotting very thin SDS-polyacrylamide gels. PMID- 2629837 TI - Identification of transgenic mice carrying the CAT gene with PCR amplification. PMID- 2629838 TI - Efficient transfer of DNA to nylon membranes using vacuum blotting in presence of alkali. PMID- 2629839 TI - "Midi-prep" isolation of plasmid DNA in less than two hours for sequencing, subcloning and hybridizations. PMID- 2629840 TI - A simple sequencing gel-saving tip. PMID- 2629841 TI - A simple technique for repair of nylon blotting membranes. PMID- 2629842 TI - In situ detection of progesterone receptor mRNA in the chicken oviduct using probe-on slides. AB - A relatively simple, rapid and versatile method for in situ hybridization of mRNA involving the use of probe-on slides is outlined. Chicken progesterone receptor transcripts have been localized in situ in the chick oviduct by using specific hybridization probes. The accumulation of relatively large quantities of progesterone receptor transcripts occurs in diethylstilbestrol (DES)-treated chickens. A uniformly 35S-labeled oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe was incubated with paraffin-embedded sections. Hybridization to the mRNA was found as discrete deposits of silver granules in the glandular and epithelial cells. The ability to tag low amounts of mRNA in the cell by this relatively easy but sensitive protocol allows efficient molecular analysis of developmental expression of a given gene. Probe-on slides should prove useful in any kind of in situ hybridization protocol using frozen sections, paraffin sections or tissue culture cells. PMID- 2629843 TI - Use of photobiotinylated deoxyoligonucleotides to detect cloned DNA. PMID- 2629844 TI - Simple construction of rubber-based agarose block molds for pulsed-field electrophoresis. PMID- 2629845 TI - A simple method to increase the resilience of DNA sequencing gels. PMID- 2629846 TI - Use of modified T7 DNA polymerase in low melting point agarose for DNA gap filling and molecular cloning. PMID- 2629847 TI - Monoclonal antibody production in hollow fiber bioreactors using serum-free medium. AB - Murine hybridoma cells that produce monoclonal antibody directed against human fibronectin have been cultured in VITAFIBER II and VITAFIBER V hollow fiber bioreactors using defined, serum-free WRC 935 medium. During a two-week growth period, following inoculation of the bioreactors, the cells proliferated to an extent where the bioreactor was filled with cultured cells. Using a 5 sq. ft. VITAFIBER V bioreactor, over 15 grams of antibody were produced during the 40 days of the experiment. This antibody was greater than 95% IgG. During the production period, this packed mass of cells produced 579 +/- 15 mg IgG per day. Because the medium is formulated for air equilibration and high cell densities, WRC 935 medium is especially useful for production of gram quantities of monoclonal antibodies using continuous feed hollow fiber bioreactor cell culture systems. PMID- 2629848 TI - Direct cDNA cloning of the rearranged immunoglobulin variable region. AB - A major problem in the study of multigene families is the effort required to clone and sequence these genes. We describe a method to rapidly clone and sequence immunoglobulin variable region gene sequences without constructing cDNA libraries. Because immunoglobulin variable-region genes are flanked by conserved sequences, we have been able to apply the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to clone and sequence both the light- and heavy-chain rearranged immunoglobulin genes from small numbers of hybridoma cells. This method will greatly facilitate the construction of chimeric mouse/human monoclonal antibodies for immunoglobulin structural studies as well as for therapeutic use. PMID- 2629849 TI - Effect of agitation rate and impeller design on oxygen transfer coefficients in small bioreactors using surface aeration. AB - The effects of agitation rate and impeller type on the combined oxygen mass transfer coefficient (kL a) in four different benchtop bioreactors have been examined. Surface oxygenation of a cell culture medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum and distilled deionized water has been studied by passing air through the bioreactor headspace at approximately one headspace volume per minute. A new ribbon-type impeller design using strips of Teflon has been shown to be superior to conventional impeller designs for oxygen transfer. PMID- 2629850 TI - Profile matching and profile subtraction: application of computer-based image analysis system for two-dimensional electrophoresis gels. AB - The microcomputer-based image analysis system IB-1000 (developed by Indiana Biotech, Highland, IN) for two-dimensional electrophoresis gels has been described previously (9). It allows the user to compare protein spots between two profiles and identify those spots that are commonly shared in both profiles. This report describes two applications of the system's global comparison routine profile matching and profile subtraction. This application is able to subtract commonly shared spots from one profile, creating a new profile made up by the unmatched spots in the other profile. These applications can be employed in a large variety of research projects. PMID- 2629851 TI - Sexing the human fetus and identification of polyploid nuclei by DNA-DNA in situ hybridisation in interphase nuclei. AB - Samples of human adult lymphocytes, fetal lymphocytes, amniotic fluid cells, and chorionic villus cells were sexed independently by cytogenetics and DNA-DNA in situ hybridisation to a tritiated Y probe. For the in situ hybridisation analysis, the presence of Y bodies (hybridisation bodies) in 100 interphase nuclei were scored after autoradiography. In all, 82/83 samples were sexed in this way (one technical failure) and 78/82 were sexed by both in situ hybridisation and cytogenetics. There was complete agreement between the two methods. There was a considerable variation (40-100%) in the percentage of interphase nuclei with a hybridisation body among the male samples, but very few nuclei from female samples showed significant hybridisation. In situ hybridisation could be used to sex the conceptus when males but not females are at risk for various X-linked genetic disorders and may also be useful for detecting 45,X/46,XY mosaicism or polyploid/diploid mosaicism. This would be particularly useful for direct preparations of chorionic villus samples, which often prove difficult to analyse cytogenetically but offer the best means of avoiding maternal contamination. Some interphase nuclei had more than one hybridisation body, and this was most commonly found among amniotic fluid cells. Comparison of sizes of nuclei with one or two hybridisation bodies strongly suggested that most of the amniotic fluid cell nuclei with two hybridisation bodies were tetraploid. PMID- 2629852 TI - Nucleologenesis and the onset of transcription in the eight-cell bovine embryo: fine-structural autoradiographic study. AB - Eight-cell cow embryos were isolated and cultured in vitro in a medium enriched with 200 microCi of [5-3H]uridine for 20 min. Epon ultrathin sections of the embryos were investigated for the nucleolar morphology and for the appearance and localization of the sites of [5-3H]uridine incorporation by means of electron microscopic autoradiography. In addition to this, a general pattern of replicated embryonal DNA distribution was revealed by [methyl-3H]thymidine incorporation and light microscopic autoradiography. The essential phases of the transformation of the small nucleolus precursor body (NPB) into a vast, functionally fully active nucleolus, characterized by typical nucleolar substructural components, are taking place within the eight-cell stage. This process differed in its morphology from the nucleologenetic process in early embryogenesis of other mammals, especially of that in the mouse. The first sign of NPB transformation was the appearance of a large central vacuole followed later on by perinucleolar chromatin penetration into NPB, documented by both morphology and [3H]thymidine autoradiography. In some cases, concentration of dense fibrillar material forming clumps or stalks was seen in the central vacuole. The following rapid nucleolar development was characterized by the formation of secondary vacuoles concomitant with the onset of [5-3H]uridine incorporation into the dense fibrillar component and with the appearance of the first granules in the otherwise fibrillar structure of the nucleolus. During the late eight-cell stage, the still-rounded nucleolus developed features of a reticulated nucleolus known from somatic cells intensively synthesizing rRNA: a dense fibrillar component with associated labeling encircling fibrillar centers and a well-developed granular component. The labeled dense fibrillar component was observed mostly in the central area of the nucleolus; early embryonic NPB dense fibrous material not involved in transcription was disappearing rapidly. At the transition to the 16-cell stage the nucleoli lost their rounded shape because of the accumulation of a large amount of granular component, and they occupied a considerable part of the nucleus. In conclusion, the appearance of the nucleolar vacuole in eight-cell cow embryo is the starting point for following morphogenetic events linked with the onset of transcription. PMID- 2629853 TI - Chromatin arrangement in mouse sperm nuclei: an ultrastructural cytochemical study. AB - The arrangement of mouse sperm nuclei chromatin and, in particular, of DNA has been studied by electron microscopic cytochemistry. It had been previously shown that, after a Feulgen-type reaction using an osmium ammine complex (OAC), the OAC stained DNA was distributed in a spotted pattern in the nucleus (Biggiogera: Basic Appl Histochem 30:501-504, 1986). The present chapter shows that this pattern is characteristic of mouse spermatozoa from testis to vas deferens, with the exception of some testicular spermatozoa, in which DNA was homogeneously stained. DNase digestion of thin-sectioned nuclei resulted in a distribution of residual material complementary to the pattern of the unstained zones after the OAC reaction. These findings are discussed considering the role of -S-S- crosslinks, characteristics of this extremely condensed chromatin, in limiting the availability of DNA to acid hydrolysis. PMID- 2629854 TI - Episomal replication of cloned DNA injected into the fertilised ovum of the hen, Gallus domesticus. AB - We describe preliminary experiments to analyse the fate of cloned DNA microinjected into the cytoplasm of the chick fertilised ovum. The reporter gene construct pRSVcat was injected into the germinal disc before the first cleavage division, and the chick embryos were cultured for up to 7 days using the method of Perry (Nature 331:70-72, 1988). Linear plasmid molecules ligated rapidly after injection to form high-molecular-weight DNA molecules consisting mainly of random concatemers of the injected plasmid. Recombination involving circular molecules resulted in head-to-tail multimers of the plasmid. Some of the DNA was lost after injection, but the remainder was replicated approximately 20-fold during the first 24 h of development. Between days 1 and 7 in culture, the DNA was gradually lost and diluted out as the embryos developed. By day 7 in culture plasmid DNA was detectable in only 30% of the cultures analysed. No evidence for chromosomal integration of the exogenous DNA was obtained, suggesting that the plasmid DNA persisted episomally. Expression of the reporter gene construct pRSVcat was detected in day 2 and day 7 embryos. PMID- 2629855 TI - Selection of mouse preimplantation embryos carrying exogenous DNA by polymerase chain reaction. AB - A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system to detect transgenes in mouse preimplantation embryos was employed so that transgenic embryos could be selected before they were transferred to recipient mice. The selection system involves bisection of morulae, selection of the half-morulae containing target sequences within 7 hr, and culture and transfer of the sister half-morulae. PCR analysis of morulae derived from transgenic mice confirmed that the PCR system was reliable. However, five of 41 implanted embryos derived from PCR-positive morulae did not contain the transgenes. Also, one of 28 implanted embryos from PCR-negative morulae were transgenic. The selection system was applied to fertilized mouse eggs into which pSV2-gpt-gE1A DNA was injected. The injected DNA was detected in 30 of 84 morulae derived from the microinjected eggs. All seven implanted embryos developed from PCR-negative morulae had no detectable amount of transgenes, and one of two successfully implanted embryos from PCR-positive morulae was transgenic. PMID- 2629856 TI - Qualitative changes in protein synthesis associated with polyspermic fertilization of human eggs. AB - To investigate the early molecular events in human oocytes that are triggered by fertilization, the authors examined the pattern of polypeptides synthesized by unfertilized and dispermic embryos obtained through an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program. Compared with unfertilized oocytes of the same postovulatory age, the de novo protein synthesis in tripronuclear dispermic zygotes (21 hours postinsemination) was characterized by the appearance of three novel protein bands with molecular weights of 41.2, 35.3, and 26.0 kD. Concomitant with these changes, these zygotes showed the disappearance of bands at 54.0, 36.5, and 28.0 kD, along with the decreased synthesis of a protein band at 42.5 kD. Although 24% of the aged unfertilized oocytes exhibited bands corresponding to 41.2 and 35.3 kD, the 26.0 kD protein is restricted to the tripronuclear embryos. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to the use of polyspermic human oocytes as a model for the study of the early molecular events triggered by fertilization. PMID- 2629857 TI - Differential regulation of protein biosynthesis at translational level in the fat body cells of adult Locusta migratoria. AB - Vitellogenin (Vg) and lipophorin (Lp) are synthesized by the fat body of adult locust (Locusta migratoria) females. We have shown by an immunohistochemical technique that both proteins are produced in the same cells of the fat body. The rate of Vg synthesis was measured with the use of double immunoprecipitation of labeled proteins at oviposition and 24 h later. It was found that the rate of Vg synthesis declined significantly by the time of oviposition; however, 24 h later, it was raised to the highest possible level. The rate of Lp synthesis remained constant at both indicated points. The similar postlaying increase in the Vg synthesis rate was observed in the fat bodies of females treated by alpha amanitin immediately after oviposition. The data provide evidence that Vg biosynthesis in L. migratoria is regulated by selective periodical repression and derepression of Vg mRNAs in the fat body cells but not by total inhibition and stimulation of protein-synthesizing machinery. PMID- 2629858 TI - Autoregulated control of tubulin synthesis in animal cells. PMID- 2629859 TI - Predictive value of pulsed Doppler echocardiography in acute myocardial infarction. AB - In 60 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction early Doppler echocardiographic measurements of ventricular systolic and diastolic function were obtained and correlated with the degree of heart failure during the subsequent clinical course. Transmitral flow (early to atrial peak flow velocity ratio [E/A], systolic function measurements (maximal velocity at aortic anulus level [Vmax]), and time velocity integral (TVI) were obtained, as well as an "outflow tract ratio" (OTR), that is, measurement of the functional length of the left ventricular outflow tract. Spatial apical flow pattern was assessed with the sample volume positioned near the lateral wall and interventricular septum and by the simultaneous recording of apical and transmitral flow with a high pulse repetition frequency. Mean values of both E/A and systolic measurements of the entire group were used as cutoff values to identify patients with absent or mild heart failure defined as Killip I and II. E/A greater than 0.96 had a low specificity (45%) and positive predictive value (70%). Systolic function: Vmax greater than 0.66 m/sec, TVI greater than 12.6 cm, and OTR less than 0.48 had a specificity of 86%, 93%, and 93%, respectively, and a positive predictive value of 91%, 96%, and 96%. Normal spatial apical flow patterns demonstrated a specificity of 84% and positive predictive value of 91% to identify patients with infarctions who have a subsequent mild clinical course. Thus in contrast to E/A, both systolic function measurements and spatial apical flow patterns may identify on admission patients with a subsequent mild clinical course. PMID- 2629860 TI - Determination of right ventricular volume by two-dimensional echocardiography with a crescentic model. AB - Right ventricular volume in 14 fixed hearts from dogs was determined by echocardiography with an algorithm that takes into consideration the crescentic shape of the right ventricular (RV) cross-sectional area. To validate this model the volumes obtained by echocardiography were compared with volumes obtained by water displacement of silicone casts of the same 14 hearts. A strong linear correlation was demonstrated between the echocardiographic volumes and the volumes obtained by water displacement of RV casts (r = 0.96). The results also showed that the echocardiographic volume determination underestimated the RV volume obtained from cast with an almost constant ratio averaging 0.755 as a result of the exclusion of the RV outflow tract volume from the echocardiographic model. We conclude that a crescentic model allows accurate echocardiographic determination of RV volume. PMID- 2629861 TI - Sonicated echocardiographic contrast agents: reproducibility studies. AB - This article describes the production, analysis, and reproducibility of forming microbubbles for contrast ultrasound imaging. The sonication method used to generate microbubbles was tested by four independent observers, and a subsequent laser particle counter analysis of microbubble size and concentration determined the reproducibility of the method. The results indicated that the mean bubble size was 3.3 +/- 1.2 microns for the entire group, based on three trials of each of the four participants. The characteristics of the bubble size of the microbubbles between observers were assessed with a Poisson distribution with the reproducibility based on the sample mean for each observer's trials. Standardization and calibration of the laser particle counter was accomplished with commercially available latex spheres, sonicated albumin microspheres, and a Coulter counter analysis. Our results indicate that the sonication technique generates small microbubbles with a reproducible uniform size distribution. The method of microbubble production is reproducible and can be widely applied for use in contrast echocardiographic perfusion imaging of tissue in a variety of research and clinical studies. PMID- 2629862 TI - Accuracy of two-dimensional echocardiography in diagnosing left superior vena cava. AB - Seventy-three consecutive patients with a left superior vena cava evaluated at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, between 1983 and 1987 underwent cardiac catheterization and two-dimensional echocardiography. Bilateral superior venae cavae were present in 89%. Entry of the left superior venae cavae was into the coronary sinus in 62% (4% were unroofed), a pulmonary venous atrium in 21%, and a common atrium in 17%. Catheterization successfully identified the left superior vena cava in all patients; two-dimensional echocardiography was successful in 68% (group 1) and unsuccessful in 32% (group 2). There was no significant difference between groups with regard to age, sex, diagnosis, or site of drainage. In group 1, 43% had a dilated coronary sinus; in group 2, the coronary sinus was present in 61% but was of normal size. Cineangiograms revealed smaller caliber left superior venae cavae in group 2 than in group 1 (means 7.4 and 11.3 mm, respectively). Thus two-dimensional echocardiography is not totally reliable for the detection of small but possibly significant left superior venae cavae. PMID- 2629863 TI - Diagnosis of unsuspected atrial septal defect in the adult by color Doppler echocardiography. PMID- 2629864 TI - Mitral flow velocity curves as a function of different loading conditions: evaluation by intraoperative transesophageal Doppler echocardiography. AB - Transesophageal pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography was performed intraoperatively on 10 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass operation. Mitral flow velocity curves and hemodynamic values were recorded during control conditions and intravenous infusion of (1) nitroglycerin, (2) phenylephrine, and (3) fluids. During nitroglycerin infusion blood pressure and wedge pressure decreased, peak filling velocity decreased, and deceleration time increased compared with control values. During infusion of phenylephrine blood pressure increased, there was a trend toward a decrease in peak filling velocity, and deceleration time increased. During infusion of fluids wedge pressure increased, deceleration time decreased, and peak filling velocity increased. Mitral flow velocity curves are therefore altered by changes in hemodynamic loading conditions. PMID- 2629865 TI - Internal consistency of echocardiographic estimates of the severity of left ventricular outflow obstruction. AB - To determine their internal consistency, M-mode and Doppler echocardiography were used to estimate the gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract during 74 evaluations of 50 infants, children, and young adults with congenital valvular (n = 43), subvalvular (n = 6), and supravalvular (n = 1) aortic stenosis. By M-mode the gradient was estimated from the wall-stress formula (left ventricular pressure = 225 x wall thickness/end-systolic diameter) minus systolic blood pressure determined by sphygmomanometry. Doppler (pulsed or continuous wave) methods utilized the Bernoulli formula (gradient = 4 x V2). There was good agreement between the M-mode and Doppler estimates of outflow gradient in most patients (r = 0.69, standard error of the estimate = 26.9). In 46 of 74 comparisons (62%) the two estimates differed by less than 20 mm Hg, and the estimates placed the patient in the same clinical class (mild, moderate, or severe). In 22 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization, there was only a fair correlation between the M-mode (r = 0.50) and Doppler (r = 0.58) gradients and those obtained at catheterization. Each noninvasive technique yielded major overestimates or underestimates of the gradient in several instances. The M-mode and Doppler techniques for estimating the severity of congenital aortic stenosis are complementary. Their combined use minimizes but does not totally eliminate errors of overestimation or underestimation of outflow gradient. PMID- 2629866 TI - Mitral valve prolapse and stroke: echocardiographic evidence for a missing causative link. AB - There is general acceptance of a causal connection between mitral valve prolapse and systemic embolic events. The precise mechanism, however, remains controversial, with current hypotheses favoring the embolization of thrombotic deposits from the abnormal mitral valve. It might be surmised that echocardiography could easily document the presence of such thrombi, but actually, this has never been reported previously. Described herein is a patient with a severe cerebrovascular accident in whom echocardiography clearly demonstrated a mass of high embolic potential attached directly to the prolapsing mitral valve leaflet. PMID- 2629867 TI - Doppler echocardiography: application to the assessment of successful thrombolysis of prosthetic valve thrombosis. AB - Prosthetic valve thrombosis remains a significant problem despite anticoagulation therapy and advances in valve design. Thrombolytic therapy offers an alternative approach to valve replacement in patients with high surgical risk. In this article we discuss three cases in which Doppler echocardiography was used to confirm the diagnosis of prosthetic mitral valve obstruction and serially monitor the response of valvular hemodynamic measurements to thrombolysis with intravenous streptokinase. These cases illustrate how the Doppler technique, in addition to allowing the noninvasive diagnosis of prosthetic valve obstruction, is presently the ideal tool to follow serially the effect of thrombolytic therapy on prosthetic valve function. PMID- 2629868 TI - Assessing the left ventricle with two-dimensional echocardiography. PMID- 2629869 TI - Cyclic variation of ultrasound backscatter in normal myocardium is view dependent: clinical studies with a real-time backscatter imaging system. AB - Real-time ultrasound backscatter imaging is a new method of evaluating relative integrated backscatter in a clinically applicable manner. The potential clinical utility of real-time backscatter imaging of diseased tissue depends on recognition of normal variations in cyclic backscatter when measured from different echocardiographic image orientations. The view dependence of cyclic backscatter variation was studied in normal human volunteers. In twenty normal male subjects (mean age 28 +/- 5 years) cyclic variation in integrated backscatter (diastolic minus systolic backscatter) was assessed in multiple left ventricular regions with four standard two-dimensional echocardiographic views (parasternal long-axis and short-axis views, and apical two-chamber and four chamber views). M-mode backscatter imaging was performed from the standard parasternal long-axis view. Cyclic variation in backscatter was present in the septum only when imaged from the parasternal long-axis view (2.7 +/- 3.1 [standard deviation] decibels [dB], p less than 0.01 for diastole versus systole). The posterior wall of the left ventricle demonstrated cyclic variation of integrated backscatter when imaged from both the parasternal long-axis (4.6 +/ 1.6 dB, p less than 0.01) and short-axis views (2.8 +/- 2.2 dB, p less than 0.01). Cyclic variation in integrated backscatter was not demonstrated in inferoseptal, septal, or lateral wall regions when imaged from the parasternal short-axis view. The apical views did not demonstrate cyclic variation in integrated backscatter in any of the segments studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2629870 TI - Comparison of regional and global left ventricular function by serial echocardiograms after reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction. AB - Fifty patients undergoing successful reperfusion therapy (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty 20, thrombolysis 10, combined 20) for acute myocardial infarction were evaluated with serial two-dimensional echocardiograms performed early (less than 24 hours, mean 8 hours) and late (greater than 3 days, mean 6 days) after presentation. Treatment occurred within 12 hours of the onset of symptoms with most patients achieving reperfusion in less than 6 hours (mean 4.7 hours) from the onset of pain. Reperfusion was demonstrated short-term by angiography in 42 of 50 patients (84%). Four patients had clinical signs of reperfusion and subsequent angiographic confirmation. An additional four patients with "stuttering" infarct courses were treated late by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Echocardiograms were analyzed for global performance by calculation of fractional area change at the papillary muscle level and ejection fraction (biplane Simpson's rule) in 18 patients in whom this analysis could be performed. Measurements of regional function included fractional shortening at the base (n = 37), regional wall motion index (n = 50) and percent of normal functioning myocardium (n = 50). Overall there was a significant improvement in regional wall scores and percent of functioning myocardium (regional wall motion index 1.73 to 1.43, p less than 0.001 and percent of functioning myocardium 0.61 to 0.70, p less than 0.001) but only a trend toward improvement when global function was assessed by ejection fraction (0.42 to 0.48, p less than 0.14).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2629871 TI - Dipyridamole echocardiography in the detection of vulnerable myocardium in the early postinfarction period. AB - To evaluate the effect of dipyridamole on regional wall motion after myocardial infarction two-dimensional echocardiograms were obtained on 21 postinfarction patients immediately before and 7 to 10 minutes after the intravenous infusion of ddipyridamole (0.60 mg/kg). All patients underwent coronary angiography, and 20 patients underwent scintigraphy with dipyridamole thallium immediately subsequent to dipyridamole echocardiography. Dipyridamole augmented noninfarct zone regional wall motion in 20 of 31 regions supplied by nonstenotic coronary arteries. In contrast, only one of eight regions of noninfarct zone myocardium supplied by coronary arteries with greater than a 70% luminal diameter narrowing (vulnerable myocardium) was able to augment the regional wall motion subsequent to dipyridamole administration (p = 0.05). Dipyridamole echocardiography appears to be a safe and sensitive technique that may be useful in the detection of vulnerable myocardium in the early postinfarction period. PMID- 2629872 TI - Left atrial systolic antegrade flow in patients with mitral regurgitation: a pulsed Doppler sign displayed by color flow imaging. AB - Twenty-two patients with severe mitral regurgitation were observed to have turbulent systolic antegrade flow on pulsed Doppler mapping of the left atrium. All were studied by color flow imaging to delineate the mechanism of this peculiar flow. Pulsed Doppler findings of an eccentric regurgitant flow in one side, an antegrade systolic flow with slightly delayed onset in the other side, and a low velocity flow near the posterior wall, were consistant with the theory of a large eccentric regurgitant jet swirling in the left atrium. Color flow imaging confirmed this mechanism in all patients. Nineteen patients had flail mitral valve with a positive predictive value of 86%. The other three patients had deformed rheumatic mitral valve. The severity of mitral regurgitation was confirmed in all 16 patients studied by left ventricular cineangiography. We have shown that the antegrade systolic left atrial flow is the result of the swirling of a large regurgitant eccentric jet, is commonly observed with flail mitral valve, can occur in patients with deformed rheumatic mitral valve without flail leaflet, and most significantly indicates the presence of severe mitral regurgitation. PMID- 2629873 TI - Precise evaluation of a complex coronary arteriovenous fistula: the utility of transesophageal color Doppler. AB - The transesophageal color flow Doppler appearance of coronary artery fistulas have not been described previously. We present a patient with a fistulous connection between the right coronary artery and the right atrium with an additional connection to the coronary sinus. The fistulous connection to the coronary sinus, confirmed at operation, was only diagnosed with transesophageal color flow Doppler and missed on both transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. In addition, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was extremely useful in confirming closure of both these fistulas, thus confirming a successful operative result. PMID- 2629874 TI - Traumatic intracardiac communication: detection by color flow mapping. AB - A previously healthy 20-year-old man underwent emergency surgery for repair of a right ventricular free wall laceration that was the result of a knife wound. A systolic murmur was first heard 1 month later, and two-dimensional echocardiography and color flow mapping demonstrated a communication between the left and right ventricle in the region of the membranous septum. The visualized turbulent flow was consistent with a ventriculoseptal defect but also appeared to extend posteriorly into the left atrium in a direct line with the septal communication. At cardiac catheterization the calculated left-to-right shunt was 1.2:1. PMID- 2629875 TI - Abnormal diastolic flow patterns in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: evaluation by simultaneous Doppler echocardiography, cineangiography, and hemodynamics. AB - A 62-year-old woman with an 8-year history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and recent septal myotomy and/or myectomy underwent simultaneous hemodynamic and two dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic evaluation. Evidence of abnormal diastolic relaxation in the absence of obstruction or systolic cavity obliteration was observed. Two abnormal patterns of diastolic blood flow were detected: flow from the left ventricular outflow tract toward the left ventricular body during isovolumetric relaxation, and middiastolic blood flow from the left ventricular body toward the mitral apparatus. This case provides evidence of abnormal diastolic function and two patterns of abnormal diastolic blood flow in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but without a systolic gradient or cavity obliteration. These findings support the importance of disturbed diastolic function in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. PMID- 2629876 TI - A patient with right and left atrial membranes: the role of transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis. AB - A patient who had right and left atrial membranes was examined. The diagnosis and the hemodynamic significance of both membranes were detailed by transesophageal echocardiography and were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Transesophageal imaging was found to be superior to routine echocardiography in visualization of these atrial structures. PMID- 2629877 TI - Left ventricular dynamic geometry. PMID- 2629878 TI - Effect of dimethylsulfoxide on human gliomas: correlations between the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and the transformed phenotypes of the tumor cells. AB - Prolonged in vitro induction of six established human glioma cell lines with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) generated an adherent human fibroblastoid phenotype. The development of contact-inhibited cell growth coincided with the decreased colony forming potential of these cells in semisolid medium and with the reduction or elimination of tumorigenicity when transplanted in athymic nude mice. These DMSO induced changes persisted for at least 19 passages after removal of the inducer from the medium. High-resolution natural-abundance 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed specific spectral differences between the cell lines with more or less malignant transformed phenotypes: the glioma cells with a higher degree of tumorigenicity and colony-forming potential exhibited more intense myoinositol signals than those with the more benign phenotype. PMID- 2629879 TI - Mast cell activity in normal human skin. PMID- 2629880 TI - Recombinant TGF-beta 1 is synthesized as a two-component latent complex that shares some structural features with the native platelet latent TGF-beta 1 complex. AB - The entire coding region of the human transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) precursor cDNA has been stably expressed in a human renal carcinoma cell line. Like platelet TGF-beta 1, the recombinant TGF-beta 1 is secreted in a biologically latent form. Immunoblot analysis and gel-filtration indicate that the recombinant latent TGF-beta 1 is a 100-kDa complex in which active 25-kDa TGF beta 1 is noncovalently associated with the remaining 75 kDa of the processed precursor. Unlike the platelet latent complex, the recombinant latent complex contains no 135-kDa component. Thus, the processed precursor peptide alone is sufficient to confer latency on active TGF-beta 1, and the 135-kDa platelet component has a different role. The processed precursor is similarly glycosylated in recombinant and platelet complexes, and in both has an exposed heparin binding site that may be involved in targeting of the latent complex. Finally, acid activation of recombinant and platelet complexes is reversible, suggesting that the activation process does not cause major structural modifications in the components of the latent complex. PMID- 2629881 TI - In vivo binding of topically applied human bFGF on rabbit corneal epithelial wound. AB - We present the results of the first evaluation of human placenta extracted basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in a rabbit corneal epithelium wound-healing model. Healing dose-response experiments after selective epithelial wounding with iodine vapors demonstrated that bFGF accelerated the repair process in a saturable manner. Corneal binding of topically applied 125I-labeled bFGF was investigated using radioassay and autoradiographic techniques. Basic FGF was shown to bind specifically to denuded epithelial basement membrane in a very stable fashion and not to the intact epithelium. No transfer of the topical bFGF to the aqueous humor or any intraocular structure could be observed. The stability of this interaction was further demonstrated by reextracting and characterizing the labeled factor from treated corneas. The specificity of the fixation was documented by in vivo topical competition with unlabeled bFGF or heparin. We propose that bFGF-basement membrane interactions play a role in corneal wound healing. PMID- 2629882 TI - Immunoglobulin allotypes are normally distributed in Swedish AIDS patients. AB - Immunoglobulin allotypes G1m(a), G1m(x), G3m(b) and Km(1) were determined in 83 Swedish AIDS patients. Twenty of the patients had Kaposi's sarcoma and 29 had Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The distribution of the Gm and Km allotypes did not significantly differ between these different disease categories and the general Swedish population. PMID- 2629883 TI - Application of immunoglobulin heavy chain (GM, AM) and light chain (KM) allotypes to cases of disputed paternity. AB - To evaluate the usefulness of extended immunoglobulin allotyping compared to the conventional number of reagents in general use, 1,896 cases of disputed paternity tested for HLA, immunoglobulin allotypes (IGH, [GM, AM] and KM) and red blood cell markers (RBC) (ABO, RH, MNS, Kidd, Duffy, Kell, Colton, Lutheran, and Lewis) were analyzed. There were 1,289 cases in which both the mother and alleged father were Black, 548 cases in which the mother and alleged father were White and 59 cases that were either mixed or of different ethnic groups. A total of 691 exclusions were observed (533 Black, 143 White and 15 other). The observed exclusion rates for the HLA system in Blacks (93.9%) and in Whites (94.9%) were similar to previous estimates of the HLA exclusion rates, indicating that these cases appear to be consistent with other studies. The observed exclusion rates for the IGH haplotypes (alleles) were the highest single system exclusion rates beside the HLA system (54.08% in Blacks and 31.47% in Whites). Further, the values were higher than any single blood group system, or electrophoretic system in common usage. The combined IGH and KM observed exclusion rates were 57.50% for Black cases and 37.06% for White cases. The value of the combined immunoglobulin allotypes in Blacks almost exceeds the combined exclusion rate for all RBC antigens tested. The importance of doing extended immunoglobulin allotyping in Black cases is demonstrated by the fact that 76.5% of the exclusions would have been missed if only G1M A, F and X and G3M B0 and G had been used in the Black cases. The inclusion of additional markers in the White cases increased the observed IGH exclusion rate from 23.78 to 31.47%. The increase was primarily due to the addition of G2M N. PMID- 2629884 TI - Application of immunoglobulin allotyping in forensic stain analysis: reliability and sensitivity of Gm and Km typing. AB - The detection of immunoglobulin alloantigens in bloodstains was studied. Commercially available allotyping reagents are suited for immunoglobulin allotyping in forensic bloodstain identification. The value and reliability of immunoglobulin allotyping in blood-stain extracts is greatly enhanced by testing for a wide scope of different allotypes. Particular reference is made to the application of a sensitive semiquantitative IgG estimation in relation to the detectability of the respective allotypes. The relative performance of the individual antigens in serum and extracts of fresh and aged bloodstains were obtained. On the basis of these results it was often possible to interpret negative reactions of the bloodstain extract in the hemagglutination-inhibition method with confidence. There is no evidence for the preferential loss of any of the alloantigens after drying and after aging of the blood. PMID- 2629885 TI - Monoclonal antibodies against IgG allotypes G1m(z), G1m(a), G1m(f), G3m(b1/u) and G3m(g1): their usefulness in HAI and capture ELISA. AB - Monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) were produced against the IgG allotypes G1m(z), G1m(a), G1m(f), G3m(b1/u) and G3m(g1). Four out of the six McAbs described in this paper showed in the haemagglutination assay cross-reactivity with some or all IgG-coated cell samples. In the haemagglutination inhibition assay, all six McAbs are useful as typing reagent for the above allotypes. In this assay, two of the McAbs show two different specificities, which depend on the Ig-coated cell sample used. Five McAbs are useful for allotyping in a capture ELISA. The results with four of these are promising for the development of a quantitative determination of Gm allotypes. PMID- 2629886 TI - Human Ig genetic markers. PMID- 2629887 TI - Gene deletions within the human immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region gene cluster. AB - Gene deletions due to unequal crossing-over events represent a not uncommon cause of immunoglobulin isotype deficiency. A variety of deleted haplotypes has been ascertained in the Italian population by means of screening for different Ig isotypes followed by Southern blot analysis of the deficient probands. The total frequency of gene deletions involving the gamma 2 and/or gamma 4 genes amounts to about 1/60; among these, a higher frequency was observed for multigene compared with single gene deletions. Carriers of multiple deficiencies due to gene deletions are able to activate compensation mechanisms, avoiding the usual pathological consequences of the deficiency. PMID- 2629888 TI - No influence of conversions affecting allotype expression on the IgG subclass restriction of specific antibodies. AB - Antibodies against any given antigen are usually restricted to a particular class or subclass, a finding which has been suggested to be due to a preferential association between particular VH and CH genes. The DNA sequences regulating this process are as yet entirely unknown. It is likely however that some of these regulatory sequences are located within or in the immediate vicinity of the immunoglobulin genes themselves. We therefore analyzed the IgG subclass pattern of specific antibodies in sera from individuals displaying mutations, duplications, deletions or gene conversions event (replacing parts of the constant region genes of one subclass with that of another) affecting the allotype expression of immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region genes. Marked influences on antibody levels were noted in sera from individuals displaying duplication or deletions of constant region genes. However, in no case of gene conversion or mutation was there any measurable influence on the antibody pattern, clearly suggesting a lack of VH gene regulation by sequences within and possibly also immediately downstream of the constant region genes. PMID- 2629889 TI - Dispermic chimera associated with dysgerminoma. AB - A 12-year-old female patient (Miss E.Y.) suffering from abdominal tumor was proved to be a dispermic or generalized chimera. Ninety-two percent of her red cells were group A1, the first locus of phosphoglucomutase (PGM1) 1A, 6 phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD) AC and 8% of them were group B, PGM1 1A-2A, PGD A. Ninety cells out of one hundred and ten cultured lymphocytes were normal 46 XY and 20 cells were normal 46 XX. She secreted B and H substances at normal secretor range and a small amount of A substance in her saliva. The A-transferase level found in her serum was about 40% of those of group A1 individuals. The B transferase level was in the normal range. Her hairs had B antigen and PGM1 phenotype of their root cells was 1A-2A. The cells of hair root were X chromatin positive and Y body-negative. Her nails had lesser A antigen and potent B antigen. Major epithelial cells (approximately 75%) of her buccal mucosa expressed B antigen and minor cells expressed A antigen. The proportion of the X chromatin-positive buccal cells (15%) was lower than those in normal females (20 25%) and that of Y body-positive buccal cells (10%) was higher than those in normal females (0-3%). The surgically resected abdominal tumor was her right uterine adnexa with malignant transformation, the histological diagnosis of which was dysgerminoma. The tumor cell nest and the epithelial cells of ductal structure expressed A antigen, whereas the endothelial cells of blood vessels expressed B antigen. These findings showed that the proband's body cells arose from the two cell lines, one carrying A1 gene had normal 46 XY male karyotype and another carrying B gene had normal 46 XX female karyotype, and suggested that her right gonad which was contributed by the former cell line had a malignancy in the presence of Y chromosome. PMID- 2629890 TI - A3 phenotype with A1 gene-specified enzyme character in serum. AB - We found an active A enzyme in the serum of A3 phenotype. The level of enzyme activity, pH optimum, Km and Vmax values, and heat stability were not different from those of A1 gene-specified enzyme. Red cell membrane from anti-A agglutinable cells showed weak A enzyme activity, whereas those from unagglutinable cells did not. From these results, it was assumed that the weak A expression in the present case is due to the suppression of A enzyme production only in hemopoietic tissues. This special A3 phenotype is highly accumulated in the Toyama district (frequency of approximately 0.00086). PMID- 2629891 TI - Detection of a new BF F subtype variant by isoelectric focusing. AB - The paper reports a new BF F variant which was observed in a family, i.e. in the father and in 2 of the 4 children. The variant can only be seen by means of isoelectric focusing and appears as an additional cathodic band of the BF subtype FB. We suggest FB1 as a preliminary name for this variant. The family studied suggested an autosomal-codominant inheritance. PMID- 2629892 TI - Graves' ophthalmopathy, eye muscle antibodies and HLA antigens. PMID- 2629893 TI - Effect of dietary fish oils on the nature of urinary prostaglandin metabolites in rats. AB - Four different fish oils were compared with sunflower seed oil (SO) and hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO) for their effect on the prostaglandin turnover in vivo in rats, reflected by the mono- and dicarboxylic tetranor prostaglandin metabolites in the urine, measured as tetranor prostane monoic (TPM) and dioic acid (TPD), respectively. Prostaglandin turnover was highest for the animals fed SO and lowest after feeding HCO. Most animals fed fish oil were positioned between the other two oils. The ratio between TPM and TPD, reflecting the ratio between beta and (beta + omega) oxidation, was highest for the animals fed fish oil, intermediate after HCO feeding, and lowest for SO administration. The results clearly indicate that various dietary lipids have different effects on the metabolic pathway of prostanoids. This implies that the level of one single urinary prostanoid metabolite cannot be taken as a measure for the turnover of its parent prostanoid in vivo, unless it has been proven that the treatment under investigation does not affect the metabolic pathway of the prostanoid of interest. PMID- 2629894 TI - Absence of a lyso-PAF relationship with PAF (platelet activating factor) in monosodium urate crystal-induced inflammatory exudates. AB - Monosodium urate crystal (MSU)-induced inflammation was evaluated for increased vascular permeability and platelet activating factor (PAF) production. Intraperitoneal injection of MSU crystals increased vascular permeability and lyso-PAF, as shown by acetylation and bioassay, but PAF was not detected. Intraperitoneal administration of PAF elicited dye-extravasation, which was abolished by the PAF antagonist WEB-2086, but this compound had no significant effect upon MSU-induced dye extravasation. Thus, the presence of lyso-PAF did not reflect in situ production of PAF. Lyso-PAF extracted from normal serum in amounts equivalent to that extravasated could account for the lyso-PAF observed. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of acetylated extracts from plasma and peritoneal washouts showed identical Rf values to the PAF standard. We conclude that lyso-PAF in the exudate was associated with extravasated plasma proteins rather than a reflection of in situ production of PAF. PMID- 2629895 TI - The role of prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis by the glomeruli in the development of acute renal failure. AB - Six hours after glycerol (G) injection in normal rats (NR), creatinine clearance (Ccr) decreased while urinary TXB2 (TXA2), 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (PGI2) and PGE2 significantly increased. The administration of OKY-046, a selective TXA-synthase inhibitor in glycerol-treated rats (GTR), significantly prevented the decrease in Ccr (indicating a partial protection against the development of acute renal failure) (ARF) and the increase in urinary TXA2 excretion, while it did not significantly alter urinary prostaglandin (PG) excretion. However, although TXB2 synthesis by the isolated glomeruli (IG) obtained from rats sacrificed 2 and 6 h after G injection was significantly enhanced, PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (6kPGF1 alpha) synthesis was augmented only by the IG obtained from rats killed 6 h after G administration. TXB2 and 6kPGF1 alpha synthesis by the IG obtained from rats killed 24 h after G injection returned to normal levels, while PGE2 synthesis continued to be elevated. Thus the enhanced release of PGE2 and 6kPGF1 alpha observed in intact animals in the early phase of ARF must be of medullary origin, while the augmented release of TXB2 (TXA2) by the IG must be responsible for the afferent arteriolar contraction during the early phase of this syndrome. PMID- 2629896 TI - Endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat aortic rings by leukotriene D4: importance of the magnitude of preload. AB - Leukotriene D4 (LTD4) generally constricts vascular smooth muscle resulting in reduction in blood flow in a variety of blood vessels which can be blocked by specific LT-receptor antagonists. LTD4 has also been shown to cause vasodilation in some animal species. To examine the basis of vasodilation, we evaluated the effects of LTD4 (10(-9) to 2 X 10(-6) M) on precontracted rat thoracic aortic rings in a tissue bath. LTD4 caused relaxation of the rat thoracic rings in a concentration-dependent fashion. This relaxant effect of LTD4 on rat aortic rings was observed regardless of the stimulus used for precontraction, such as l epinephrine, l-norepinephrine, KCl, 5-hydroxy-tryptamine, or non-pharmacologic manual stretch. This relaxant effect of LTD4 was not blocked by inhibition of vascular eicosanoid synthesis with indomethacin or LT-receptor blockade with two different agents FPL-55712 or LY171883. However, de-endothelialization of rat thoracic aortic rings or treatment of aortic rings with the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid abolished the relaxant effect of LTD4. In addition, pretreatment of rings with an inhibitor of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), free hemoglobin, also resulted in inhibition of LTD4-induced vascular relaxation. These observations suggest that the rat aortic ring relaxation by LTD4 is endothelium-dependent and is probably related to the release of EDRF. PMID- 2629897 TI - [Tobacco and cerebrovascular disease]. PMID- 2629898 TI - [Magnetic resonance in the evaluation of neurologic complications of cervical spondylosis]. AB - The evaluation of the neurological complications of cervical spondylosis frequently requires contrast myelography. Magnetic resonance (MR) scan would appear as a good alternative approach. We report the MR findings in 12 patients with symptoms and/or signs of spinal cord and radicular disease associated with cervical spondylosis, and we compare them with the conventional studies, including CT and CT assisted myelography. The MR image, weighted in T1, permitted to visualize the compressed spinal cord in the sagittal planes in 4 cases, with enhanced spinal cord signal in 2 of them. In a patient with herniated C5-C6 disk, the sagittal sections directly demonstrated the herniated material in the spinal canal, displacing and compressing the spinal cord. The sequences weighted in T2 demonstrated the degree of stenosis of the cervical canal caused by extradural compression. In these images, the diminished signal of the nucleus pulposus was correlated with degeneration of intervertebral disks. MR was more sensitive than the other studies to detect discal degeneration and herniation, stenosis of the spinal canal, compression of the subarachnoidal space and spinal cord injury. PMID- 2629899 TI - [Recurrent Miller-Fisher syndrome associated with brachial neuritis]. AB - The clinical and electrophysiological evolution of a 24-year-old patient with Miller-Fisher's syndrome and findings of mild peripheral neuropathy in the electromyographic study is reported. The patient had been treated six years previously for a similar disease and he recovered in 2 months. During the plasmapheresis therapy of the second episode he developed pain and weakness of the left shoulder girdle, and the EMG was consistent with bilateral brachial neuritis. The disease had improved clinically after 6 weeks, except for supracapsular brachial neuropathy; this territory remained denervated after 3 months of evolution. A diagnosis of Crohn's disease had been made between both episodes. The discussion focuses on the rarity of recurrent forms of Miller Fisher's syndrome and the association of the reported case with brachial neuritis and Crohn's disease. PMID- 2629900 TI - [Diffuse meningeal melanoma]. AB - Diffuse leptomeningeal melanoma is an uncommon condition; its diagnosis is difficult, and requires the detection of atypical melanic cells in the CSF or the performance of meningeal biopsy. We report a 34-year-old patient with progressive symptoms of intracranial hypertension of 2 months duration, in whom meningeal biopsy was required for a definitive diagnosis. The patient's age, the neuropathological abnormalities and the images of computed tomography scan (CT), and also a through clinical and paraclinical investigation, led us to the conclusion that the patient had diffuse primary leptomeningeal melanoma. PMID- 2629901 TI - [Bilateral progressive optic neuritis of unknown origin]. PMID- 2629902 TI - [Post-seizure pulmonary edema]. PMID- 2629903 TI - [1st National Meeting on Recommendations, Competencies, and Consensus in Cardiology. 26-27 November 1988, Lisbon]. PMID- 2629904 TI - Responses to mitogenic stimulation of lymphocytes taken during and after pregnancy. AB - Serial blood samples were collected during pregnancy, after delivery and several months postnatally from 28 women. The blastogenic responses of lymphocytes to varying concentrations of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) were tested using autologous plasma or fetal calf serum (FCS) to support the lymphocyte cultures. Using FCS, the blastogenic response decreased as pregnancy progressed and remained depressed months after delivery. In contrast, when autologous plasma was used a 10-fold higher concentration of PHA was required to give optimal stimulation. Blastogenic responses were still suppressed during pregnancy but had returned to initial values by the time of delivery and were greater still in the post-partum and postnatal periods. We conclude that the inherent ability of lymphocytes to undergo blastogenesis is suppressed during pregnancy but that this is over shadowed by a humoral effect of pregnancy plasma. The significance of these results is discussed. PMID- 2629905 TI - Human cellular immune responses to Bordetella pertussis infection. AB - We have compared the responses of peripheral blood leucocytes from three groups (i) patients suffering from pertussis (whooping cough), (ii) clinical staff caring for those patients and laboratory staff working with Bordetella pertussis, and (iii) staff with no known recent contact with B. pertussis. In vitro stimulation with filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) caused significant increases in proliferation of only the patient group's lymphocytes. In vitro stimulation with pertussis toxin (PT) caused a large increase in proliferation of lymphocytes from all three groups and in the patient group the increase in proliferation was related to the dose of PT. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) production by leucocytes from all three groups was significantly increased following challenge with FHA or PT. The increases in IL-2 production were greatest in lymphocytes from patients with pertussis. Challenge with toxoided pertussis toxin had no effect on either proliferation or IL-2 production in any of the groups. PMID- 2629906 TI - Binding of type-I and type-II collagens to Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from patients with toxic shock syndrome compared to other staphylococcal infections. AB - Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from 18 patients with toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and from 56 patients with other diagnoses were compared for capacity to interact with various serum and connective tissue proteins. TSS associated isolates showed significantly stronger binding of Type-I collagen (Cn-I) and Cn-II than non-TSS strains, in a particle agglutination assay (PAA) as well as in 125I labelled Cn uptake experiments. 125I Cn-IV binding, was similar between the two groups, whereas in PAA, a stronger interaction was observed for non-TSS than TSS associated strains. The median binding of 125I Cn to TSS-associated strains were 52.2 (Cn-I), 30.6 (Cn-II) and 20.0 (Cn-IV) compared to 20.0 (Cn-I), 14.4 (Cn-II) and 24.4 (Cn-IV) values of non-TSS strains. A saturation with 125I Cn-I and Cn-II binding was established for TSS (30 min) and non-TSS (15 min) strains. 125I Cn-IV binding reached a saturation in 10 min and 90 min with TSS and non-TSS strains respectively. Finally, the binding profiles of TSS associated and non-TSS strains to fibronectin, fibrinogen, laminin and IgG did not differ in both PAA and radioisotope assays. In scanning electron microscopy, cells of TSS associated strains bound to the reprecipitated native Cn-I fibrils. In contrast, most cells of non-TSS strains were localized to the distal end or were trapped between the Cn fibrils.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2629907 TI - [Study on application of the general selection index]. AB - Several problems associated with selection strategies of breeder rams are discussed using the general selection index. Selection objective is to improve the aggregate breeding value of clean-fleece weight, number of lambs and body weight. Staple length is the assistant trait of selection. Aggregate, restrictive and optimal selection indices are constructed with the information of ram individual and the ram's half-sib sisters and half-sib daughters. The restrictive selection maintains the genetic gain of body weight unchanged. The optimal selection keeps the genetic gain of the clean-fleece weight at 0.4 kg in one generation (20% retention). The selection effects of the three indices are compared. Furthermore, two related problems are discussed. First, if each single trait of the three objective traits is selected to permit the genetic gain of the trait to be as large as possible in a short time, the largest gain of the aggregate breeding value is obtained when the trait is clean-fleece weight. Secondly, when the number of ram's relatives is more than enough, the selection effect of increasing the number is very limited. However, increasing the ram's half-sib daughters is more favorable than increasing the ram's half-sib sisters. PMID- 2629908 TI - [Study on genetic polymorphism of isozyme in natural populations of Drosophila virilis]. AB - Using techniques of polyacrylamide slab electrophoresis and agarose electrophoresis, we have detected genetic variation at 6 loci which coding for enzymes in 4 local samples from natural population of Drosophila virilis. We found 50% of the loci detected are polymorphic, depending on the criterion of polymorphism used. An individual is heterozygotes on the average at 27.13% of its loci. The amount of genetic variation fluctuates widely from locus to locus. At Est-alpha, Est-beta, Amy, most of the individuals are heterozygotes. At the other extreme , Mdh, aGpdh, Acph, few individuals are heterozygotes. For Mdh, we have measured the thermostability at 53 degrees C. No more genetic variation was found. We have measured the amount of genetic differentiation between different local populations. The result showed that there is no relationship between geographical distance and genetic distance. The results are discussed in the light of the continuing controversy over selection and natural theories of genetic variation. We think that both selection and stochastic processes must operate simultaneously in most systems. PMID- 2629909 TI - [Dermatoglyphics parameters and cluster analysis of seven minority nationalities]. AB - This paper reports the normal values of dermatoglyphics parameters of seven minority nationalities in Yunnan Province which are Bai, Blang, Yi, Hui, Lisu, Nu and Jinuo. The test of difference signification and cluster analysis show different parameters in several nationalities and the greatest most remarkable difference between Jinou and other nationalities. Han is very different from several nationalities. In each nationality, the symmetry pattern of same name finger or area is highly unanimous, the symmetry between left and right does not show random combination. PMID- 2629910 TI - [Study on BLUP with reduced animal model in evaluation of performance tested males]. AB - This study is computed in best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) with the reduced animal model. BLUP is a powerful method to evaluate genetic value of animals, but the computation is sometimes costly because of the large set of equations to be solved. Equivalent linear models with a reduced number of elements of breeding values can reduce computations substantially. Using a general animal model and a reduced animal model predictions of additive genetic merit are described for the case of sire and maternal grandsire. A simple numerical example is used to illustrate the identity of the two solutions. The reduced animal model can be useful for evaluation of males that have been performance-tested and have, in some case, progeny that have been tested as is the case with beef cattle. PMID- 2629911 TI - [Study on common fragile sites in chorionic villi cells cultured in vitro]. AB - The chorionic cells cultured in vitro were treated with the inducing factors of fragile sites. These factors could lead to an unbalance of the dNTP pools and thus induce expression of both common fragile sites and Fra(X). Excess guanosine (250 mg/l) or thymidine (250 mg/l) was added to the culture medium 24 hours before harvest. MEM-FA medium was added 48 hrs before harvest and some of these cases were added with guanosine (250 mg/l) 24 hrs before harvest. After harvest the slides were stained with Giemsa staining. Chromosome gaps and breaks were observed and recorded. Then slides were destained and G-banded to confirm the chromosome region of breaks. The expression frequencies of the common fragile site 3p14 and others in villi cells were observed. Both guanosine and thymidine had strong inducing effect on common fragile sites. Guanosine inhibited the cell growth more apparently than thymidine. After guanosine being used in MEM-FA medium, the weaker inducing effect was shown. The possible reason is that the lack of folic acid could block the synthesis of guanosine, so the unbalance of dNTP pools caused by excess guanosine tend to be balanced. Because of the counteracting effect between MEM-FA medium and guanosine or thymidine, it is suggested that these two nucleosides should not be used with MEM-FA medium together in inducing Fra(X). PMID- 2629912 TI - [Primary structure of the leading sequence of 16S rRNA gene in Brassica napus chloroplast]. AB - The 840bp leading sequence of 16S rRNA gene (including 140bp 16S rRNA gene) was sequenced. Screening for structure elements common to tRNA reveals a gene coding for tRNA(Val). An open reading frame, and three E. coli RNA polymerase binding sites were found. In front of the open reading frame, the tRNA(Val) gene, and the 16S rRNA gene, a stable stem-loop structure can be formed. We suggested that these stem-loop structures may have some effect on the gene transcription which are located on the inverted repeat sequence in chloroplast. PMID- 2629913 TI - [Comparison of the common fragile sites and G-banding patterns of chromosomes among rhesus monkeys, white-eyebrow gibbons and human being]. AB - The peripheral lymphocyte cultures from Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), White eyebrow gibbons (Hylobates hoolock) and human being were treated with BrdU (bromodeoxyuridine), FrdU (fluorodeoxyuridine) and MTX (methotrexate). A number of 22 Common fragile sites for Rhesus monkeys and 20 for white-eyebrow gibbons were found. Chromosome homology and the relationship between fragile sites and chromosomal evolution were discussed. Several common fragile sites of human chromosomes have been found at the homologous chromosomal regions in Rhesus monkeys as well as in White-eyebrow gibbons. Furthermore, the fragile sites at 1q14, 1p32 of Rhesus monkey chromosomes may correspond to the homologous fragile sites at 1p21, 1q31 of White-eyebrow gibbons. All of these fragile sites at the homologous regions of chromosomes are evolutionarily conserved and may be the indicators of common origin of chromosomes as genetic markers. Combined with G banding patterns of chromosomes, the conservative fragile sites at homologous regions of chromosomes may be useful for the study of chromosome homology and evolution in closely-related animals. Out results show that the differences of chromosome 1 between Rhesus monkeys and human may involve a pericentric inversion and a paracentric inversion. However, the differences of chromosome 1 between Rhesus monkeys and White-eyebrow gibbons may caused by a pericentric inversion, a pericentric inversion, and a deletion or a translocation. The main differences of chromosome 3 between Rhesus monkeys and human may involve a pericentric inversion. Out results indicate that the differences of chromosome 7 between White-eyebrow gibbons and human may involve a paracentric inversion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2629914 TI - [Effects of longterm selection on the genetic structure of populations--a simulation study. I. Simulation models and selection responses]. AB - Monte Carlo method has been utilized to investigate responses to longterm selection. The simulation involves 3 gene effect models (additive, dominant, and over-dominant), two population sizes, three linkage intensities, and three heritability levels, thus making 54 combinations. For each combination, 5 replicate populations are selected over 49 consecutive non-overlapping generations. The results demonstrate that under all the gene effect models, linkage is important only in the case of small populations and intense linkage, when it reduces responses significantly due to hampering the fixation of favourable alleles and accelerating their loss. Linkage has no apparent effect if it is not very tight or if the population is large. Much greater responses are achieved in the large populations than in the small ones, especially for traits with low heritability. Among those discussed are problems of crossing selected lines to obtain extra responses, and discrepancy of some theoretic results on selection limits. PMID- 2629915 TI - [Study on Bacillus pumilus as a recipient strain for genetic engineering of Bacillus]. AB - Bacillus pumilus 289 can be transformed easily by plasmid pUB110 through protoplast transformation with the frequency of 10(-5)--10(-3), similar to B. subtilis AS 1.1176, a derivative strain of B. subtilis 168. The regeneration frequency of its protoplast is only slightly lower than B. subtilis AS1.1176 (0.3 12.0% compare to 1.53--24.16%). Plasmid pUB110 can be maintained in both bacterial strains stably. The frequency of loss of the plasmid in both strains is lower than 3% after 45 generations in LB medium. But it is quite different that the hybrid plasmid (pUB110 with 3.9 kb foreign DNA fragment) can be maintained much more stably in B. pumilus 289 than in B. subtilis AS1.1176. The frequency of loss of the plasmid is lower than 5% in B. pumilus 289 and 24% in B. subtilis AS1.1176 after 25 generations when they grown in SH medium. The expression level of foreign gene in B. pumilus 289 is also much higher than that in B. subtilis AS1.1176. Therefore B. pumilus 289 is valuable to be exploited as recipient strain for genetic engineering of Bacillus in the future. PMID- 2629916 TI - [Genetic polymorphism of AcP, EsD, 6-PGD and GPT in eleven ethnic groups of China]. AB - The genetic polymorphism of red cell acid phosphatase (AcP), Esterase D (EsD), 6 phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) and Glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in eleven ethnic groups of China was studied by starch gel electrophoresis. The results of 2272 tested showed that the gene frequencies of AcPB1 in Dong, Hui, Bai, Tujia, Miao, Yi, Tibetan, Man, Yao, Hani, Buyi, etc. were 0.7835, 0.7958, 0.8137, 0.7750, 0.7624, 0.8038, 0.8075, 0.8035, 0.7725, 0.6488, 0.6896, EsD1 gene frequencies were 0.6418, 0.7315, 0.6005, 0.6025, 0.6411, 0.6411, 0.6558, 0.6305, 0.6020, 0.6023, 0.6368. 6-PGDA gene frequencies 0.9279, 0.9381, 0.9387, 0.9150, 0.9356, 0.9014, 0.7764, 0.8818, 0.9851, 0.9233, 0.9410. GPT1 gene frequencies 0.4075, 0.5367, 0.5049, 0.4824, 0.5322, 0.6106, 0.6313, 0.6400, 0.3985, 0.4930, 0.3976, respectively. In addition, some rare variants were found. PMID- 2629917 TI - [Analysis of and repair capacity in 247 cancer patients and normal persons by nucleoid sedimentation technique]. AB - The nucleoid sedimentation technique was developed to analyze DNA repair capacity in 108 cancer patients (esophageal cancer 34, lung cancer 24 and ovarian cancer 50) and 139 normal persons. After exposing lymphocytes to UV in radiation at the dose of 2.5 microJ/mm2, the cells were incubated for different periods of time at 37 degrees C for repairing the damaged DNA. The nucleoid sedimentation distance which corresponds to DNA repair capacity was determined. It was found that most normal persons finished the process of DNA repair in II hours while the cancer patients could not do so even 17 hours after incubation. This study showed that decreased DNA repair capacity may be a component of the genetically determined susceptibility to cancer. PMID- 2629918 TI - [Design and application of a computer program for comprehensive segregation analysis]. AB - Based on the major locus genetic model, we designed a computer program used BASIC language for comprehensive segregation analysis in IBM microcomputer. The applicability of the program has been tested by analyzing 113 nuclear families with ichthyosis vulgaris selected by family method and family-history method, 98 nuclear families with ichthyosis vulgaris selected by family method as will as 101 nuclear families with sensorineural deafness of unknown causes. The program is useful for genetic analysis and genetic counselling. PMID- 2629919 TI - [Follow-up and evaluation by means of brain stem evoked potentials of a pediatric population diagnosed as having had fetal distress]. AB - A population of 80 patients affected with foetal distress is analyzed classifying it according to a qualitative variable (Apgar test) to which we assigned three category levels: normal/low/very low; and a quantitative variable, the pH from the umbilical artery being more or less than 7.15. We also studied all the clinical variables and complications derived from the base illness and their relationship. Four subpopulations were established which were studied by means of brain stem potential audiometry over 3 years, establishing that in those patients whose pH is less than 7.15 and their Apgar test is low/very low there exists a very high incidence of hypoacusis, characterized as sensorineural in 13.3%, conductive in 13.3%, not classifiable in 60%, and retrocochlear in 13.3%. There was a tendency to improve in 26.6%. Four of the 24 patients that are in this group wear an auditory prosthesis as an indication of the important damage suffered. There is no relationship in our study between the hypoacusis and the tests of the clinical variables which confirms the foetal distress. PMID- 2629920 TI - [Ototoxicity of desferrioxamine in hemodialyzed patients]. AB - A prospective study performed on 37 patients with end-stage renal disease who required treatment with deferoxamine is presented. Three patients presented a sudden sensorineural hearing loss, with tinnitus in one case, which was demonstrated to be of cochlear origin. All patients recovered auditory function completely after treatment was discontinued. PMID- 2629921 TI - [Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) in the rabbit. Normal patterns]. AB - Brain stem auditory evoked potentials using skin electrodes have been studied in rabbits. The obtained records are integrated by 6 consecutive waves ranging up to 10 ms. of latency time. The most important, constant and well-performed waves were the I, II and IV waves, which persist until the auditory threshold by 10 dB. The obtained results in 50 ears have been statistically treated. Subsequently, a normal pattern of the BAEP in rabbits has been performed as a base for upcoming papers. PMID- 2629922 TI - [Hypothesis on the mechanism of development of some forms of tinnitus. Therapeutic orientation of them]. AB - The author believes that many forms of tinnitus are caused by a functional alteration in the efferent fibers of Ramussen, Galambos and Portmann. Due to the fact of this functional alteration, the noise is not stopped by this filter and the patient has acoustic impressions caused by organic noises, probably vascular noises in the temporal bone. There is also reported an important improvement in subjective disturbances with personal auditory training. PMID- 2629923 TI - [The Preyer reflex in the normally-hearing guinea pig]. AB - Our purpose is to find the minimum auditory level for the Preyer reflex in normally-hearing guinea pigs, examining a range of frequencies between 125 and 8,000 Hz. Therefore, a sound source is used which emits pure tone at different frequencies at the intensities which are required and in an open field at the necessary distance. The Preyer reflex turns up in a reliable and constant way in those frequencies between 500 and 6,000 Hz. The most frequent verified auditory level comes to 65-75 dB. PMID- 2629924 TI - [Allergic rhinitis: evaluation of the sensitivity to allergens]. AB - The high incidence of allergic rhinitis in our community allows us to study large groups of the population. We have observed that graminea pollen is the most common allergen, although mites --Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus-- produce the greatest number of cases. The age of appearance or of most acute symptomatology varies depending on the allergen; sensitivity to more than one allergen is most common. The highest incidence is during the months of November, December, April, May and June for domestic dust and mites, whereas December, May and June present the highest incidence for graminea pollen. PMID- 2629925 TI - [Analysis of the nasal area in unilateral cleft lip and palate, by means of cephalometric teleradiography]. AB - In a cross-sectional study with 149 patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate and 157 non-cleft patients aged from twelve to sixteen, Caucasian males and females were evaluated through lateral cephalometric radiographs of the nasal area. One angular (SNA), 4 linear (S-N; N-P'; P'-Ptm'; Ptm'S) and medial cephalometric measurements of the nasal area were used. In a comparative analysis of the nasal area in cleft lip and palate and control groups one can conclude that: 1. The nasal area in cleft patients is smaller than in non-cleft patients. 2. There is no correlation between the angle (SNA) and the nasal area for the cleft patients and control patients. PMID- 2629926 TI - [Relapsing polychondritis. Apropos of a case]. AB - Relapsing polychondritis is not a very frequent systemic disease. Nevertheless, it has to be borne in mind since very often the first symptoms appear in the sphere of otorhinolaryngology. We are faced with the problem of differential diagnosis in a case which in the beginning seemed to be a neurological pattern. The definitive diagnosis was not established until 15 months after the appearance of the symptoms when, after several outbreaks, the clinical pattern was clearer. As we have to deal with a recurrent and systemic pathology whose diagnosis is eminently clinical, long-term pursuit and valuation are necessary to allow us to know the natural history of the disease as well as the reaction to the treatment. PMID- 2629927 TI - [Granular myringitis]. AB - We present two cases of granular myringitis. A clinical study, diagnosis and therapy of this rare condition are undertaken. PMID- 2629928 TI - [Rhinocerebral mucormycosis. Apropos of a case]. AB - We present a 43-year-old patient with a history of immunodepression secondary to a renal transplant, chronic herpetic hepatitis and steroid diabetes, who showed sudden symptomatology suggestive of rhinocerebral mucormycosis, which was confirmed through cultures of the material obtained after a Caldwell-Luc operation of the affected sinus. Once the diagnosis was confirmed, a radical left superior maxillectomy was performed and medical treatment with progressive doses of amphotericin B was given. The patient improved markedly and left the hospital four months later. PMID- 2629929 TI - [Rhinocerebral mucormycosis]. AB - Mucormycosis is unusual in ORL pathology. We present a case of a 53-year-old patient in the dialysis program for the past 6 years for renal insufficiency. Starting with some trouble in the left lacrimal region, he was diagnosed by his ophthalmologist as having deep dacryocystitis, appearing as an ulcero-necrotic lesion on the same side of the nasal dorsum. In the presumption of clinical mucormycosis, a microbiological and histological study was done to confirm the diagnosis, starting treatment with amphotericin B. Because of the rapid extension of the lesion, surgical debridement of the zone was done but his evolution was bad, lapsing into a coma and requiring a neurosurgical operation for intracranial complications. The patient died 12 days after admission. For that reason we did an evaluation of the problem and also a review of the literature. PMID- 2629930 TI - [Primary malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity]. AB - We report a case of primary malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity in an adult white man, 69 years old, who appeared with recurrent epistaxis of several months duration. Inspection of the nasal cavity revealed a greyish polypoid tumor in the right fossa close to the septum. PMID- 2629931 TI - [Malignant oncocytoma of the parotid gland. Study with the optical and the electron microscope]. AB - Salivary gland oncocytomas are very rare tumors with very few malignant cases reported in the literature. We present in this work a malignant oncocytoma of the parotid gland, and make a summary of all the accepted criteria in the reviewed publications as definitive of oncocytoma and malignant oncocytoma of the salivary gland, and furthermore we make a differential diagnosis with other neoplasms. PMID- 2629932 TI - [Cordopexy. Surgical technic and results. 4 years' experience]. AB - We show our experience during four years, with a new technique used in the management of bilateral vocal cord paralysis. We expose clearly the surgical technique, and the obtained results. We have done 15 cordopexy techniques to 10 patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis, from different etiology, being the thyroid gland surgery, the most frequent. PMID- 2629933 TI - [Epidemiology of cancer of the larynx in the region of Cartagena from 1972 to 1984]. AB - We have carried out a survey on larynx cancer for the Cartagena region between the years 1972 and 1984 out of a population that varies from 210,944 to 250,233 inhabitants and a total number of 207 cases with histopathology control. The average incident valuation per every 100,000 inhabitants is 6.9 for the total population and 13.74 for males. An important fact is the amount of supraglottical carcinomas which have been discovered, meaning 51.08%; more common in males under 60, which has a very close connection with the consumption of black tobacco. The glottical carcinoma represents 46.80% of the cases, more common in males over 60 not related to a smoking habit. The high risk population is formed by males between 55 and 65 who are heavy smokers and drinkers and do manual labour. PMID- 2629934 TI - [Role of viral reactivation in recurrent adenoiditis and tonsillitis in children]. AB - We have been made virus cultures, excepting EBV, in adenoid and palatine tonsil tissue come from adenotonsillectomy. They were practised to eighteen patients between 4 and 17 years old who suffered recurrent infections processes of these organs. The total was 22 specimens to estimate the reactivation function of latent virus in the etiology of this pathology. PMID- 2629935 TI - [Bacteriologic analysis of ear infection pathology and its therapeutic implications in our milieu]. AB - This study reports the incidence of different bacteria in 75 cultures from 67 patients with the aim of selecting the drugs most likely to be effective when used prior to the antibiogram or when the antibiogram cannot be done. PMID- 2629936 TI - [Histologic study of cholesteatoma in surgically treated otorrhea]. AB - The purpose of this paper is to study 33 cholesteatomatous patients with surgical treatment. We report individual and predisposal factors concerning these patients, as well as their clinical and radiological data. Histologic study these cholesteatoma was carried after surgical removal, using conventional staining (H E, A-B, fluorescence, etc.) and a new technique to observation the namely EPU (Epithelial Proliferative Unit). PMID- 2629937 TI - [Auditory evoked potentials of the brain stem in the study of tinnitus]. AB - A brain stem evoked response study is carried out, over a group of tinnitus patient. The purpose of this work is to evidence the electrophysiologic indices indicating tinnitus presence. Morphology tracing alterations, variability in the wave latency, also important decreasing in the amplitude of the wave V were found. PMID- 2629938 TI - [Total and specific IgE in allergic rhinitis]. AB - The specific IgE can be accepted in allergic rhinitis as a determinant for the definite diagnosis, as there does not exist a correlation with total IgE, which may be either high or not, probably depending on other factors, amongst which neither the age of the patient nor the season of the year in which the rhinitis is determined are to be included. PMID- 2629939 TI - [Multiple carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract of metachronic onset]. AB - One of the most important concepts in the understanding of the biology of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is "multicentric cancer" as proposed by Slaughter et al. in 1953. With prolonged survival as a result of improved cancer therapy, the possibility of a second primary lesion should always be kept in mind during patient follow-up. A late or unusual metastasis in a patient with upper aerodigestive malignancy should be suspected of having a new primary carcinoma. In the last 12 months, we have treated 72 patients with upper aerodigestive malignancy. 5 of them had a history of previous squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck treated 6-13 years before. Probable etiopathogenic factors are discussed. PMID- 2629940 TI - [Lateral fistulas of the neck]. AB - We present four new cases of lateral fistulas of the neck which were studied with a fistulographic method, using hydrosoluble iodine contrast. In three of the four cases we were able to demonstrate the existence of an incomplete external branchial fistula, while in the fourth case a complete branchial fistula was seen. In all cases the histopathological examination confirmed the presence of fistulous tracts which were caused by disturbances of embryonic development. PMID- 2629941 TI - [Deformity of the nasal pyramid secondary to benign tumor of the nasal dorsum]. AB - Describing the most relevant findings in the benign tumors of the nose, we present a case of cyst that eroded the dorsum of the nose and produced an aesthetic deformity. The treatment was a rhinoplasty operation including the removal of the cyst and the hump. After the anatomopathological findings we studied the different cysts, arriving at the concluding diagnosis that the cyst is sebaceus. PMID- 2629942 TI - [Malignant lymphoma at the cranial base. Apropos of a case]. AB - A case of malignant lymphoma that manifested itself neurologically is presented. We review the frequency of apparition on the head and neck of these tumours, and comment about clinical features and treatment. PMID- 2629943 TI - [Foreign body in the maxillary sinus. Apropos of a case]. AB - It is described the case of an inflammatory maxillary sinus process, with both torpid evolution and post-traumatic etiology. The surgery proved the existence of a foreign body lodged in the maxillary sinus. PMID- 2629944 TI - [Sinusitis complications: presentation of 2 cases]. AB - Two cases of complications after acute sinusitis are presented. One case corresponds to an intracranial complication and the other to an orbital one. Several clinical considerations concerning their diagnosis and treatment are discussed. PMID- 2629945 TI - Assessing the injured ankle without X-rays. AB - The frequent practice of X-raying all injured ankles is reviewed. A simple test using basic equipment to measure the injuries was assessed. A ratio comparing the swelling, expressed as the bimalleolar diameter of the patient's injured ankle to that of the uninjured ankle, gave a highly reliable method of predicting whether a fracture was seen on X-ray or not. All the fractured ankles had a bimalleolar ratio above 1.065. Patients whose ratios were less than 1,065 formed 62 per cent of the series, and as these contained no fractures, the use of X-rays in these cases is questioned. PMID- 2629946 TI - Plasma potassium in acute severe asthma before and after treatment. AB - The plasma potassium level was studied in 15 patients with acute severe asthma before and six to 14 hours (mean = seven) after treatment with a nebulised beta 2 agonist, salbutamol, intravenous aminophylline and hydrocortisone in recommended doses. The mean basal plasma potassium level in the untreated acute severe asthmatics was 3.54 mmol/l (range 2.6-4), which is on the lower side of normal (3.5-5.0). There was a significant decrease in the mean plasma potassium level to 2.9 mmol/l (2.6-3.5) in asthmatics who received the above treatment. The clinical implications and association of these findings with fatal asthma are discussed. PMID- 2629947 TI - Primary nephrotic syndrome in Qatar (Arabian Gulf). AB - Sixty-two children with primary nephrotic syndrome were studied. The mean age at diagnosis was 5.5 years (range 1.5-11 years). Fifty-five were initially steroid sensitive (88.7 per cent) and seven (11.2 per cent) were steroid resistant. Renal biopsies performed on six of the steroid-resistant cases showed focal glomerulosclerosis in three, minimal change disease in two and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in one. Of the 55 children who were initially steroid responsive, 12 (21.8 per cent) had a frequently relapsing course, while three (5.5 per cent) became steroid resistant. Two out of the 12 who had frequent relapses became steroid resistant and one became steroid dependent. Renal biopsies performed on six of these patients showed minimal change disease in five and segmental glomerulosclerosis in one. Renal biopsies of two out of three patients who were initially steroid responsive but who later became resistant showed minimal change disease in one and segmental sclerosis in one. PMID- 2629948 TI - Osteomyelitis of the symphysis pubis: a complication of cardiac catheterisation. AB - An elderly female experienced the onset of right femoral pain shortly after undergoing cardiac catheterisation. Her condition was later found to be Pseudomonas osteomyelitis of the symphysis pubis. The patient did not have any of the usual risk factors for Pseudomonas osteomyelitis, ie, intravenous drug abuse, contiguous surgery or trauma. The probable mechanism of bacteria seeding into a haematoma around the femoral artery and then spreading to the contiguous osseus structures is proposed for this unusual complication. PMID- 2629949 TI - Spontaneous rupture of the spleen due to metastatic carcinoma. PMID- 2629950 TI - A technical improvement for the thyroid peroxidase iodination assay. AB - Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) iodination activity is generally evaluated in vitro by the iodination of poorly iodinated thyroglobulin or bovine serum albumin, followed by separation of protein-bound and inorganic iodide by paper chromatography. Precipitation of protein-bound iodine by trichloroacetic acid (TCA) was evaluated as an alternative to the time-consuming paper chromatographic separation (PC) in normal rat TPO preparations. The protein-bound iodine estimates as well as the iodination activities determined by these two procedures were significantly correlated (r = 0.95 and 0.98, respectively, P less than 0.001), and the iodination activities regression line slope (b = 0.97 +/- 0.11) was not different from 1. The protein-bound iodine separation by TCA is simpler and faster, without loss of precision. Thus, it can be a useful alternative step in the thyroid peroxidase iodination assay. PMID- 2629951 TI - Lack of correlation between the sulfobromophthalein test and fatty liver in diabetic dogs. AB - The present study was performed to evaluate the correlation between fatty liver and liver function in diabetic dogs. Experimental diabetes was induced in 14 dogs by total pancreatectomy or by alloxan administration, and partial (30%) hepatectomy was performed. Diabetic dogs were compared with control dogs (N = 7) subjected only to partial hepatectomy (30%). Control and diabetic dogs were submitted to the sulfobromophthalein (BSP) liver function test. Serum BSP retention was increased in diabetic dogs but there was no correlation with the extent of fatty infiltration of the liver. PMID- 2629952 TI - Pressor responses to common carotid occlusion in female rats: effects of gonadectomy and treatment with gonadal steroid hormones. AB - The pressor responses to common carotid occlusion were studied in conscious female rats throughout the estrous cycle, after gonadectomy and after gonadectomy followed by treatment with estrogen and progesterone. The initial peak pressor response was highest during proestrus and fell significantly over the remaining 3 days of the estrous cycle. The maintained pressor response was relatively unchanged throughout the cycle, except during diestrus 1 when it decreased markedly. Gonadectomy reduced and treatment with estradiol alone increased the initial pressor component, respectively. Treatment of gonadectomized rats with estradiol plus progesterone enhanced both components. These findings suggest that gonadal steroid hormones are important modulators of the pressor response to common carotid occlusion. PMID- 2629953 TI - Effect of chlorpromazine and biliary drainage on portal blood flow and mitochondrial function during extrahepatic cholestasis. AB - The present study examines the effect of chlorpromazine and biliary drainage in cholestatic rats. The time course of portal blood flow was studied 24, 48, and 72 h and seven days after bile duct ligation. Portal blood flow decreased after 72 h. Chlorpromazine reduced biliary hydrostatic pressure in sham-operated control rats, but 24-h obstruction was sufficient to prevent this effect in cholestatic rats. The drug ameliorated the mitochondrial and cell membrane function of cholestatic rats before and after drainage. The data present further support for the role of ischemia in cholestasis. PMID- 2629954 TI - Effects of physostigmine on the activity of medullary raphe neurons in anesthetized rats. AB - Medullary raphe neurons are involved in the control of sympathetic activity during desynchronized sleep. To determine if cholinergic stimulation of these sites has any effect on raphe unit activity, we administered physostigmine to urethane-anesthetized rats. Most of the neurons (68%) were excited by physostigmine, suggesting the existence of cholinergic synapses which are excitatory for the majority of medullary raphe neurons. PMID- 2629955 TI - The relationship between extracellular calcium and isovolumic systolic pressure in the Langendorff-perfused rat heart. AB - The relationship between extracellular calcium concentration and isovolumic systolic pressure developed by left ventricles was studied in Langendorff perfused rat hearts. At diastolic pressure lower than 15 mmHg the isovolumic systolic pressure increased when external calcium was changed from 0.5 to 1.25 mM. Pressure stabilized when external calcium was increased to 3.5 mM but then declined at 5 mM Ca2+. At higher diastolic pressures (20 and 25 mmHg) systolic pressure increased only up to 1.25 mM Ca2+, and declined with further increases in external calcium concentration. This behavior is probably related to "calcium overload" of the preparations at external calcium concentrations greater than 3.5 mM associated with a decreased perfusion pressure gradient at higher diastolic pressures. PMID- 2629956 TI - Vagal activity: effect of age, sex and physical activity pattern. AB - Heart rate response to a short (4 s) bicycle exercise test during maximal inspiratory apnea was used to assess vagal activity (VA). This study aims to evaluate the role of age, sex and physical activity pattern on VA. A total of 148 subjects, divided into athletes (N = 90) and non-athletes (N = 58) were tested. No correlation was found between age (range from 15 to 42 years) and VA in the male and female athletes (P greater than 0.05). No gender effect could be identified. In spite of a slight tendency toward higher VA in athletes, no significant differences could be found between the two groups. PMID- 2629957 TI - Balloon-induced endothelial denudation promotes deep injury of the arterial wall. AB - To investigate the cellular reactions to arterial injuries and the influence of a cholesterol-rich diet, 18 rabbits underwent endothelial denudation of the abdominal aorta with a balloon catheter. Fourteen animals were fed a 2% cholesterol diet and 4 were fed normal rabbit chow for 8 weeks. In the cholesterol-fed group, 6 animals had only the expected intimal lesions; however, 8 animals exhibited different degrees of balloon-induced medial layer injury, with fibrous healing. Similarly, in the control rabbits, 1 had intimal lesions and 3 had both intimal and medial layer lesions. We conclude that removal of the endothelium with a balloon catheter promotes arterial wall injury deeper than expected. This unexpected result could influence the effect of interventions usually employed in experimental atherosclerosis. PMID- 2629958 TI - Effect of fasting on monosodium glutamate-obese rats. AB - The effect of fasting was studied in lean and monosodium glutamate (MSG)-obese rats. Daily urinary urea excretion and body weight loss were studied before and during 21 days of fasting. MSG-obese rats showed reduced weight loss, higher total liver lipid content, and lower urea excretion during fasting, thus suggesting a higher capacity to spare body protein in comparison to controls. A significant decrease in retroperitoneal fat pad content was observed in both groups after 6 days of fasting (83% in the controls vs 35% in MSG-obese rats). These data suggest that the larger lipid stores of MSG-obese rats can explain their greater mean survival time after fasting. PMID- 2629959 TI - Effect of dietary lithium on cortical spreading depression. AB - The influence of lithium administration on cortical spreading depression (SD) was investigated in rats whelped by dams fed a diet containing lithium (1.5 g/kg) during the gestation or the lactation periods. Velocity of SD propagation was measured when the rats became adults and was similar to that of rats raised on a normal diet. A third group of adult rats received lithium during the three weeks preceding SD recordings and presented a significant reduction in SD velocity as compared to control rats. These data suggest that in adult rats a brief treatment with lithium impairs SD propagation, whereas much earlier treatment does not. PMID- 2629960 TI - [Current trends in experimental peripheral nerve regeneration]. AB - Large posttraumatic defects in the peripheral nervous system need to discover methods to solve the demand of nerve grafts. There is no definite answer now. The authors present a model for nervous regeneration studies. Experiments are performed in the Wistar rat. A venous isograft is used to bridge defects of various size in a divided rat sciatic nerve. The venous tube is a guide for axonal regeneration. In one series, the tube is filled with physiological saline and, in a second one, neonatal Schwann cells are injected in the venous isograft. Results recorded are a combination of quantitative methods: neurophysiology and morphometry. The injection of neonatal Schwann cells is able to stimulate nerve regeneration but not completely. PMID- 2629961 TI - Nutrition, children and health. Proceedings of a symposium. New York, March 9, 1989. PMID- 2629962 TI - New York State's initiatives in child nutrition. PMID- 2629963 TI - The role of early nutrition in subsequent development and optimal future health. PMID- 2629964 TI - The social context of malnutrition in childhood. PMID- 2629965 TI - The challenge of causality: human nutrition, brain development and mental performance. PMID- 2629966 TI - Controversies and children's diets. PMID- 2629967 TI - Predicting adult cholesterol levels from measurements in childhood and adolescence: the Muscatine Study. AB - 2,446 subjects initially examined at ages eight to 18 years were reexamined as young adults at ages 20-25 years or 26-30 years. Measurements of cholesterol, height, weight, and triceps skinfold thickness were obtained during childhood. Lipids, lipoprotein fractions, family history as well as medication, alcohol, and tobacco use were determined during the adult examination. Elevated levels of cholesterol during childhood were associated with elevation in adult life. On average, of children found to have cholesterol levels greater than or equal to the 90th percentile for their age and gender, on a single measurement 43% remained above the 90th percentile, 62% remained above the 75th percentile, and 81% remained above the 50th percentile. Obesity acquired in adolescence and the young adult years, oral contraceptive use, and cigarette smoking had deleterious effects upon adult cholesterol levels and lipoprotein fractions. PMID- 2629968 TI - Childhood nutrition education in health promotion and disease prevention. AB - In the last 10 to 15 years, nutrition has become a major component of health promotion and chronic disease prevention. Two widely recommended strategies for incorporating nutrition education directed toward children and youth into health promotion and disease prevention efforts are school-based nutrition education and the integration of nutritional care into health care. School-based nutrition education programs targeted toward very specific eating behaviors are showing very promising results in regard to behavior and attitude change of children and adolescents. Substantial changes in health care providers' attitudes and practices and in the funding and financing of health care will be needed if nutrition education delivered in the context of routine health care is to be a major force in health promotion and disease prevention for youth. PMID- 2629969 TI - Nutrition and public policy. PMID- 2629970 TI - Second Conference on Nutrition Teaching in Medical Schools. PMID- 2629971 TI - Report on nutrition education in United States medical schools. PMID- 2629972 TI - Regional nutrition center activities. PMID- 2629973 TI - Regional nutrition center activities. PMID- 2629974 TI - Experiences in presenting nutrition in basic science courses. PMID- 2629975 TI - Experiences in presenting nutrition in basic science courses--SUNY/Health Science Center at Brooklyn. PMID- 2629976 TI - Use of food frequency questionnaire results to emphasize nutritional concepts for first year medical students--Medical College of Virginia. PMID- 2629977 TI - Experiences in presenting nutrition in basic science courses--UMDNJ/Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. PMID- 2629978 TI - Experiences with required and elective didactic courses--Mount Sinai School of Medicine. PMID- 2629979 TI - Experiences with required and elective didactic courses--Cornell University Medical College. PMID- 2629980 TI - Experiences with required and elective didactic courses--New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. PMID- 2629981 TI - Experiences with required and elective didactic courses--UMDNJ/New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine. PMID- 2629982 TI - The nutrition program for medical students at New York Medical College. PMID- 2629983 TI - Experiences with required and elective didactic courses--Albert Einstein College of Medicine. PMID- 2629984 TI - Experiences with required and elective didactic courses--SUNY/Health Science Center at Stony Brook. PMID- 2629985 TI - Experiences with required and elective didactic courses--UMDNJ/New Jersey Medical School. PMID- 2629986 TI - The view from the dean's office. PMID- 2629987 TI - Nutrition teaching in medical schools. PMID- 2629988 TI - The missing link: formal case related teaching in clinical clerkships. PMID- 2629989 TI - The roles of dietitian faculty members in clinical nutrition teaching. PMID- 2629990 TI - The roles of dietitian faculty members in clinical nutrition teaching. PMID- 2629991 TI - The roles of dietitian faculty members in clinical nutrition teaching. PMID- 2629992 TI - The roles of dietitian faculty members in clinical training. PMID- 2629993 TI - Objectives of an elective in clinical nutrition. PMID- 2629994 TI - Going Dutch. PMID- 2629995 TI - Doctor on the field. PMID- 2629996 TI - Team doctor. PMID- 2629997 TI - Pulsed electromagnetic (short-wave) energy therapy. PMID- 2629998 TI - Dutch National Institute for Sports Health Care. PMID- 2629999 TI - Effects of a task-specific warm-up on anaerobic power. AB - Twenty-four untrained (UT) males (age 21 +/- 2.5 yr, height 1.77 +/- 0.05 m, weight 75.3 +/- 10.1 kg, values mean +/- SD) performed the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WT) under two conditions, cold (C) and following a warm-up (WU). Trials were separated by a minimum of 48 h. A modified Monark 818 cycle ergometer was interfaced with an Apple IIE microcomputer and peak power (PEAK), mean power (MEAN) and fatigue index (FI) determined. The WU trial consisted of an 8 min incremental continuous cycling bout (cadence 90 rev.min-1) with 5 min rest before the WT. During the C trial subjects completed only the WT. A repeated measures design was employed with order of trials counterbalanced. ANOVA revealed no significant differences for PEAK or MEAN between WU or C conditions. However FI was significantly greater (p less than 0.05) following the WU. A significant correlation (r = 0.45, p = 0.03) was obtained between WU intensity and FI. These findings suggest that our UT subjects were fatiguing themselves during the WU. Future studies are needed to assess whether a task-specific WU in which FI is not impaired would lead to improvements in PEAK and MEAN. Investigators should be aware that a self-spaced WU may increase FI in the WT in UT subjects. PMID- 2630000 TI - Age of menarche in Indian female basketball and volleyball players at different competitive levels. AB - Data for the age of menarche have been collected on 98 female volleyball players and 75 basketball players. The players belonged to four different levels of competition: international, national, intervarsity and district. Menarche is significantly delayed in players as compared with the controls. There is a continuous trend of increase in the age of menarche with the increasing levels of competition; menarche is more delayed in players playing at a higher level than those at the lower levels of competition. PMID- 2630001 TI - Alpine skiing injuries. AB - Alpine skiing accidents admitted to the Trondheim Regional and University Hospital during one year were recorded. Of the 339 injured, 67 per cent were male and 33 per cent were female. Eighty-seven per cent were outpatients, and 13 per cent were hospitalized. Falling accidents (67 per cent), followed by collision accidents (17 per cent), were the most common cause of injury. The injuries in the lower extremities were caused by falling and the head injuries were mostly caused by collisions. Knee ligament strains were the most common injuries, and 17 per cent of these were hospitalized and required operative treatment. Of the minor knee strains, all 44 per cent were not fully recovered after two and a half years. Seventeen patients sustained tibial fractures, eleven of them spiral fractures and six transverse fractures. The patients with spiral fractures were younger than the patients with transverse fractures. Head injuries were the most severe injuries, with eleven concussions and two epidural haematomas. PMID- 2630002 TI - Physiological profiles of young boys training in ballet. AB - In order to evaluate physiological characteristics in young male ballet dancers, 27 boys (aged 9 to 16 years) who participated in a boys' dance course during the Kuopio Dance and Music Festival in June 1988 were studied. In general, the boys had started dancing at the age of 8.6 years and had been training for 4.1 years. They had, on average, three dancing sessions per week and the mean time spent on dancing was four hours per week. In the study, some anthropometric measurements were taken, the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was measured by a cycle ergometer test and the explosive strength and the mechanical power of lower extremities were evaluated by a jumping test. The results indicate that boys who train in ballet are in general moderately lean, have relatively small body size and a high degree of flexibility. The younger boys especially have only moderate aerobic power, but both explosive strength and mechanical power in leg muscles are good in ballet trained boys. PMID- 2630003 TI - Physiological determinants of race walking performance in female race walkers. AB - The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between race pace on a 5 km walking performance and velocity at the lactate threshold (V-LT), VO2 at the lactate threshold (VO2-LT), velocity at which blood lactate corresponded to 4 mM level (V-OBLA), VO2 at which blood lactate corresponded to 4 mM level (VO2 OBLA), walking economy (steady state VO2 at a standard velocity) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in eight female race walkers. A multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was employed to predict the race pace on a 5 km walking performance as dependent variable. Since V-OBLA was highly correlated to 5 km race walking performance (r = 0.94, P less than 0.001), it was selected as the first predictor. When VO2max was added to V-OBLA as the second predictor the predictive accuracy increased significantly, but multiple R did not increase significantly by adding variables of walking economy or other parameters as independent variance. As a result, the combination of V-OBLA and VO2max as independent variables accounted for the greatest amount of total variance (97 per cent). It is suggested that blood lactate variable such as V-OBLA can account for a large portion of the variance in race pace on a 5 km walking performance. PMID- 2630004 TI - Asthma. AB - Asthmatics should be encouraged to increase the quality and intensity of exercise gradually in order to allow the body to adapt to the training load. If sensible precautions are taken and if adequately controlled with medication, asthmatics can reach the top in even the most arduous of sports. PMID- 2630005 TI - Over stretched. PMID- 2630006 TI - Osteocalcin as a biological marker in the therapeutic management of breast cancer bone metastases. AB - Circulating osteocalcin (BGP), the major noncollagenous bone protein, is elevated in patients with certain metabolic bone disease while its behavior in cancer patients, particularly those with bone metastases, is unclear. We measured circulating BGP in 37 healthy females, in 13 female patients with benign breast disease, and in a group of 51 cancer patients (breast, lung, prostate, and bladder) with and without bone metastases, before and after 4'-epidoxorubicin (4' Epidx) therapy (4'-Epidx 120 mg/m2 every 3 weeks). Under basal conditions, mean BGP levels of all of these subjects fell within the normal range of 2.0-5.0 ng/ml (mean +/- SD, 4.8 +/- 1.0 ng/ml). In cancer patients without bone metastases BGP levels measured before and after 4'-Epidx therapy were not significantly different (4.4 versus 4.6 ng/ml). Only in breast cancer patients with multiple bone metastases was circulating BGP higher after the onset of antiblastic treatment and through the entire course of therapy, accompanied by bone pain remission and regression of bone lesions (BGP = 6.7 +/- 1.3 ng/ml). Thus an increase in BGP concentration can be considered as a biological marker of recovered osteoblast activity during therapeutically induced stabilization or regression of skeletal metastatic lesions. PMID- 2630007 TI - Intraperitoneal cisplatin with intravenous cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin for previously untreated stage III and IV ovarian carcinoma. AB - Eighteen evaluable patients with previously untreated Stage III and IV ovarian carcinoma were treated with six cycles of intraperitoneal cisplatin with intravenous cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin. Significant chemotherapy-related toxicities were observed, including one patient with fatal neutropenia and sepsis, two patients with transient severe nephrotoxicity, one patient with severe autonomic and motor neuropathy, and one patient with generalized debility. One patient had Tenckhoff catheter-related peritonitis, but no other morbidity was associated with the peritoneal catheters. Three of eight patients with optimal tumor bulk and none of 10 patients with suboptimal tumor bulk achieved pathologic complete response. The overall estimated median survival is 22 months. This treatment approach is associated with formidable toxicity, and the contribution of intraperitoneal cisplatin to the treatment of newly diagnosed ovarian carcinoma patients must be evaluated in randomized trials. PMID- 2630008 TI - Bereavement: a review for oncology health professionals. AB - Caring and responsibility do not end with the death of a patient with cancer. For health professionals, it marks a time when the focus of such care and responsibility shifts to the survivors. Increased knowledge and awareness of the process of normal versus abnormal bereavement will undoubtedly facilitate heightened sensitivity to the needs of this population. While it is unrealistic to expect clinicians to engage in long-term follow-up in all such cases, adequate medical care would demand some understanding of the normal bereavement process and the ability to differentiate this from a pathological variant, the ability to identify individuals at high risk for a pathological course, and finally, familiarity with community resources capable of addressing ongoing or unmet needs. PMID- 2630009 TI - The biological basis of age in the determination of prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PMID- 2630010 TI - A special role for amsacrine in the treatment of acute leukemia. PMID- 2630011 TI - Modalities of cisplatin administration to brain tumors. PMID- 2630012 TI - Intraperitoneal cisplatin with i.v. therapy. PMID- 2630013 TI - [Pro-and anti-nucleation activity of biliary proteins in gallbladder bile with and without gallstones]. AB - The proteins of pro-and anti-nucleation activity in gallbladder bile were isolated by chromatography on Bio Gel P-100 and Con A Sepharose. The authors for the first time showed the evidence of presence of pro-and anti-nucleation activity proteins co-existing in gallbladder bile of patients with and without cholesterol gallstones. The result of further study showed that Transferrin, one of the glycoproteins in gallbladder bile, had the effect of promoting nucleation activity on rapid formation of cholesterol crystal in artificial supersaturated bile. The difference in pro-and anti-nucleation proteins of gallbladder bile between patients with and those without cholesterol gallstones were also shown in this paper. PMID- 2630014 TI - [Damage caused by endotoxin of the neural components of the organ of Corti]. AB - The endotoxin (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) of H. influenzae extracted with phenol water method was injected into the perilymphatic compartment of guinea pig via the round window membrane. The CAP thresholds of the cochleas injected with LPS rose to 70.00 +/- 21.76 dB. The N1 latency at threshold prolonged until 2.63 +/- 0.28 ms. Compared with the controls, the differences were significant statistically at the level of 1% and 5% respectively. Electron microscopy found that the neural fibers of the organ of Corti were swollen, organelles degenerated, axon atrophied and disappeared. The myelin sheaths collapsed. The organelles and vesicles in the synapses decreased and disappeared. The synaptic membrane destroyed. The results exhibited that the LPS of H. influenzae had toxic effects on the neural components of the organ of Corti and the degeneration of the neural components was the pathological basis of the elevation of CAP thresholds and the N1 latency delay. It is concluded that once endotoxin enters into the perilymphatic compartment, it not only causes physiological changes but results in irreversible alterations of the neural components pathologically. PMID- 2630015 TI - [Morphometric study of bone in domestic pigs with fluorosis caused by coal burning pollution]. AB - Forty four domestic pigs were divided into 2 groups: control group: 17 pigs; fluorosis group: 27. They were fed for 14 months in the endemic area or non endemic area respectively. In some of the pigs, double tetracycline was given for bone dynamic study, and blood and urine were collected for biochemical analyses. Iliac, tibia, fibula, the 2nd metatarsal and the 2nd vertebrae were reserved either for bone density measurement or for bone histomorphometric study. The results showed that fluoride content either in serum and in urine or in bone tissue was significantly elevated. The bone density of tibia was increased. Bone histomorphometry showed that trabecular bone volume of iliac and vertebrae was increased while that of fibula head was decreased. Trabecular resorption surface of fibula head was expanded while that of vertebrae was shrunk. As to bone dynamics, both bone formation rate and bone mineralization rate were inhibited, indicating that the toxic effects of fluoride in tremendous amount on bone remodeling. The authors suggest that the existence of osteosclerosis of axial and osteoporosis of peripheral bone in fluorosis might be related to the redistribution of calcium within the body. Furthermore, fluoride may be an osteomalacic factor for the development of osteomalacia in endemic fluorosis. PMID- 2630016 TI - [Identification of congenital cardiac malformation and in utero arrhythmia by fetal echocardiography]. AB - M-mode, 2D and Pulsed Doppler Echocardiography were performed on 111 fetuses of high-risk pregnancies. Fetal gestation ages ranged 16-41 weeks. Six congenital cardiac diseases were detected in utero and confirmed at autopsy in 4 cases, and one by Pulsed Doppler Echocardiography after delivery. These included a rhabdomyoma, an endocardial fibroelastosis with hydrops, a pulmonary stenosis with tricuspid regurgitation, a VSD, a VSD with descending aortic stenosis, an AV canal defect with single atrium and single AV valve with regurgitation. Arrhythmia was diagnosed in 23 fetuses, 9 had transient sinus bradycardia, 8 had premature atrial contraction, 2 had premature ventricular contraction which disappeared after birth, 4 had sustained sinus bradycardia, one of them combined PVC occurring in bigeminy and trigeminy, which continued after birth. These 4 fetuses had congenital heart disease. CONCLUSION: (1) 2 DE and PDE are the most valuable non-invasive technique for detection of fetal structural cardiac abnormalities. (2) M-mode and PDE make correct rhythm diagnosis in fetus. (3) The fetus with transient sinus bradycardia or PAC usually has a favorable prognosis. Sustained bradycardia has a more ominous prognosis, particularly if associated with heart abnormalities. (4) Fetal hydrops may associate with congestive cardiac failure in uterus. The incidence of cardiac disease is high in hydrops. PMID- 2630017 TI - [A new pathogen of farmer's lung disease-Streptomyces thermohygroscopicus and its antigen analysis related to diagnosis]. AB - Streptomyces thermohygroscopicus (H9-4) is a new pathogenic strain of farmer's lung disease (FLD) which is wide spread in Hubei province. Experimental "farmer's lung" in mice C87 was induced with the metabolites of this strain. Rabbits also suffered from the same FLD with characteristic pathogenic changes after aspiration of dried powder of this organism. For analysis of antigen fractions, with diagnostic value from this crude antigen of H9-4 SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting technic was employed and sera of 82 patients suffering from FLD from several districts were tested with this technic and the results revealed IgG antibodies could recognize the antigen-peptides from Mw 73 Kd and 68 Kd which were main antigen-peptides or pathogenic antigen to the disease. Sera of patients with present illness could recognize the peptide antigen between 11-90 Kd. In addition, all serum samples from healthy controls and from patients suffering from other respiratory diseases gave negative results. Therefore we conclude that SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting technic can be used in the diagnosis of FLD. PMID- 2630018 TI - [Experimental studies on the role of retinal lipid peroxidation induced by intraocular iron foreign body]. AB - Experimental studies were made to evaluate the role of lipid peroxidation in retinal damage by intraocular iron foreign bodies. It was found that after iron particles were implanted into the vitreous bodies (1) iron concentration in the aqueous humour rose rapidly and significantly (n = 24, P less than 0.01), (2) malondialdehyde (MDA) a degradation metabolite of lipid peroxidation, in the retinas increased significantly (n = 24, P less than 0.05), and (3) superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased (n = 11, P less than 0.05). These findings suggest that lipid peroxidation plays a key role in the retinal damage of siderosis bulbi, and provide a solid basis in studying the pathogenesis and guiding clinical management of the disease. PMID- 2630019 TI - [Quantitative changes in mitochondrial membrane structure of leukemic cells in children with acute leukemia]. AB - The quantitative changes of mitochondrial membrane of AL cells were studied by morphometric technique under electron microscope. We found that the delta sM was 25.0% more increased and the delta mM was 18.0% more decreased in AL than in the controls. The extent of changed of delta mM in C-ALL and N-ALL was much greater than that in T-ALL. We also found that the changing extent of delta mM in AL is related with long term disease-free survival. During the period of inductive therapy, observation on the dynamic changes of delta mM may provide a useful information for predicting the therapeutic effects and the therapeutic scheme individually. PMID- 2630020 TI - [Chronic effect of fluorine on the eye]. PMID- 2630021 TI - [Superficial blood flow (SBF) in 193 patients with traumatic paraplegia]. AB - SBF in 15 regions (sacral spot and bilateral nail-fold, Zu-San-Li, San-Yin-Jiao, Tai-Xi, Xing-Jian, Guan-Yuan-Shu and femur) was measured by means of Laser Doppler Flowmeter in 193 patients with paraplegia resulted from trauma during the Tangshan earthquake, and the result was compared with that in 53 normal subjects. The results showed: (1) The SBF in region of the patients' limbs was more decreased than that in normal subjects (P less than 0.001). (2) There was also a declining of SBF in the right femur as compared with the normal (P less than 0.001). (3) The bilateral nail-fold blood flow in 55 patients with injury of vertebrae thoracales was significantly lower than that in 38 patients with lumbar vertebrae injury, indicating that having lived for 12 years since spinal cord injury, the patients still have microcirculatory disturbance over the whole body. Since SBF at the predilection site of decubital ulcer was decreased significantly more than that at non-ulcer site, it would be very important to improve local microcirculatory perfusion for prevention and treatment of decubital ulcer. PMID- 2630022 TI - [Cytotoxin adhesion and invasiveness of Campylobacter jejuni from children with diarrhea: assay and correlation with clinical manifestations]. AB - Some potentially pathogenic properties have been identified for Campylobacter jejuni in vitro. The cell-free filtrates of 42 strains, (28 isolated from clinical cases of diarrhea, 12 from domestic animals and 2 from healthy children) were investigated. 30 of the 42 were cytotoxin producers, and the strains from clinical cases were more frequent than those from other sources (P less than 0.05). Meanwhile, 25 of the 42 strains exhibited adhesion and invasiveness with HeLa cell line in vitro. It is surprising that the 2 strains from healthy children were all negative in cytotoxin production, adhesion and invasiveness in vitro. Analysis of the virulence correlation with clinical manifestations indicated that the pathogenic significance of cytotoxin, adhesion and invasiveness should be adequately evaluated. PMID- 2630023 TI - [Therapeutic effect of low-fluorine drinking water on fluorosis of bone]. AB - 495 clinical cases and 25 radiographic cases of fluorosis of bone diagnosed six years ago in an endemic area showed satisfactory results after six years' treatment with low-fluorine drinking water. Among these, 140 have been completely cured, 105 have gained marked clinical improvement and 172 have gained moderate improvement; the cure rate being 49.49% and the effective rate, 84.84%. Of the 25 X-ray diagnosed cases, 15 showed marked improvement. Radiographic examination has revealed reappearance of evenly distributed fine bone trabeculae. Two cases of grade III osteosclerosis have turned to grade II; 4 to grade I; 8 cases of grade II have turned to grade I; 1 case of grade I has become normal. The results demonstrate that fluorosis of bone is reversible. PMID- 2630024 TI - [Quantitative histologic study of early osteoporosis induced by plate fixation]. AB - Thirty New Zealand rabbits were used in the experiment. Three animals served as control and the other 27 were divided into 3 groups, in which the tibiae of the animals were fixed by methylmethacrylate, titanium, and stainless-steel plates respectively. 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, 3 animals in each group were killed. Image analysis of microsection of the cortical bone beneath and opposite the plate was performed by a digital image processing system. All of the 3 types of plates may lead to bone loss, which is proportional to the degree of the stress protection produced by the plate. In addition, the amount of bone loss in each group was all much greater beneath the plate than opposite it. PMID- 2630025 TI - [Therapeutic mechanisms and effects of urea in treating mouse transplantable hepatocellular carcinoma]. AB - In this paper, mouse transplantable hepatocellular carcinomas of both solid and ascitic types were effectively treated by urea. Survival time of tumour-bearing animals was obviously prolonged. Tumour cells in the treated group were significant swelling, degeneration, necrosis, smoothing of cellular surface and loss of infiltrating ability to surrounding soft tissues observed by light, electron and scanning electron microscope. As assayed by cellular kinetics and autoradiography, proliferation was inhibited, appearing as decrease of mitotic index and prolongation of cell cycle time, and so on. The proliferating ability of tumour stem cells in the treated group was severely inhibited as tested by colony formation frequency in soft-agar medium. There was no obvious alteration in relative DNA content in tumour cells or in the ratio of number of cells in various phases to cell population according to the assay of fluorescence activated cell sorter. This means that urea is a cell cycle non-specific antitumour agent and is able to kill tumour cells in various phases. PMID- 2630026 TI - [Animals with liver fibrosis induced by albumin immunization]. AB - An animal model of liver fibrosis was produced by means of albumin immunization. Human serum albumin was given subcutaneously to immunize the rats with a dose of 4 mg, for 4 times. Then a booster dose was given through the caudal vein of rats in which albumin antibodies had been produced. Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis was formed in 85.5% of the animals. The increase of collagen content in liver tissue was parallel with the pathological grading of fibrosis. Reabsorption of fibrous tissue in this model occurred much later than in CC14 model. Subcutaneous administration of PGE1 could effectively protect the rats from anaphylactoid shock due to bigger booster dose. In regard to the mechanism of fibrosis, study with electronic microscopy, immunofluorescence histology, detection of serum C1q and C3 suggested that liver fibrosis results from proliferation of lipocytes, which was promoted by the formation of albumin and immune complex, and excessive secretion of collagen. PMID- 2630027 TI - [Clinical manifestations, CT diagnosis and surgical management of Arnold-Chiari type I malformation]. PMID- 2630028 TI - [Evaluation of calcium and phosphorus nutrition in residents of Beijing]. PMID- 2630029 TI - [Evaluation of calcium and phosphorus nutrition in children in nurseries in Beijing]. PMID- 2630030 TI - [Etiology, prevention and treatment of post-tubal ligation syndrome]. PMID- 2630031 TI - [A proposed prototype for recording and analysis of mandibular movement: the Cinetic]. AB - The investigation of means of recording mandibular movement has aroused the interest of a considerable number of researchers. Their own devices, increasingly ingenious, all display certain advantages and shortcomings. The need for a device more appropriate to the needs of day-to-day odontological use has been felt for some time. By giving a broad explanation of how it works, we have tried to assess the possibilities of the proposed prototype, the Cinetic. It measures movement of the dentalium in all three dimensions simultaneously. Since its reliability, when tested by a study concerning a sample of 40 patients, proved entirely satisfactory, a more sophisticated version was promptly devised. This latest Cinetic allows the ROZENCWEIG dyskinesia index, to be calculated, the FARRAR diagram to be drawn, and the mastication movements to be analysed by giving a visual display of the mandibular opening and closing trajectories, the speed diagram, the duration of the cycle, mandibular velocity and acceleration, and a breakdown of the cycles for each respective side. In order to be fully competitive, the Cinetic lacks the capacity to record and analyse condylar movement. Work on incorporating these features is currently at an experimental stage. PMID- 2630032 TI - Growth and survival of four strains of Francisella tularensis in a rich medium preconditioned with Acanthamoeba palestinensis. AB - The hypothesis of positive interactions between Francisella tularensis LVS (live vaccine strain) and Acanthamoeba palestinensis was tested. Pregrowth of the amoebae, in a rich (autoclaved and filtered) medium, from which they were subsequently removed by filtration, conditioned the medium so that growth of the live vaccine strain of F. tularensis occurred and the growth rate of one other strain was increased. PMID- 2630033 TI - Isopenicillin N synthase and desacetoxycephalosporin C synthase activities during defined medium fermentations of Streptomyces clavuligerus: effect of oxygen and iron supplements. AB - When the level of dissolved oxygen was increased to saturation in defined media fermentations of Streptomyces clavuligerus, the total duration of activity of the penicillin ring cyclization enzyme, isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS), was extended by at least 20 h; however, no increase in the stability of the ring expansion enzyme, desacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS), was observed. Consequently, the conversion of the excreted intermediate penicillin N to cephamycin C was 15 20% less efficient at this high oxygen concentration. The increased dissolved oxygen level also led to the complete loss of IPNS and DAOCS activities for 4 h during the period of fastest growth, and the rate of specific cephamycin C production fell to zero. A several hundred fold increase in the level of iron in the defined media resulted in a sixfold improvement in the rate of specific cephamycin C production after 60 h fermentation. This increased rate appeared to be due to an elevation in the in vivo activities of a number of the cephamycin biosynthetic enzymes, particularly those catalysing later pathway steps. PMID- 2630034 TI - Depression: updating the concepts. PMID- 2630035 TI - Amineptine and depression. An international experience. Istanbul, January 28, 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2630036 TI - Amineptine (Survector 100) in the treatment of depression in Brazil. AB - Amineptine was studied in open, simple, and comparative trials in several Latin American countries, primarily in Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile. These countries developed studies with this antidepressant in an individualized way in different centers as well as multicenter studies under single coordination. The author analyzes the results of two of these studies. Generally, amineptine showed a positive result in depression in which the inhibition symptom is predominant. This drug also showed a good tolerance: it may be prescribed to elderly patients with depression and to people who suffer from diseases for which the classic antidepressants cannot be recommended. Many other studies on this drug were developed among the general practitioners in view of its rapid onset of action and also its easy clinical handling. Many people who suffer from depression are not treated by psychiatrists; it is very important that other specialists take notice of these effective and safe antidepressants. It is also very interesting to compare these studies to others that have already been developed in several other countries so that a better comprehension of the phenomenon of depression and its treatment can be reached. PMID- 2630037 TI - IV International Headache Congress. 14-18 October 1989, Sydney, Australia. Abstracts. PMID- 2630038 TI - A look at dental education. PMID- 2630039 TI - [Initial experience with cryopreservation of human embryos]. AB - We present our first experience with human embryo cryopreservation. In our hands the best results were obtained with cryopreservation of pronuclear-staged embryos using propanediol as cryoprotectant. In this group 3 embryos out of 4 continued their development after thawing. The advantages of embryo cryopreservation in IVF programs are discussed. PMID- 2630040 TI - [Developmental capacity of human embryos after cryopreservation in the unicellular zygote stage]. AB - This study deals with the developmental competence of human embryos after cryopreservation at the one-cell stage using propanediol as cryoprotectant. From 11 frozen zygotes, nine underwent cleavage after thawing. The occurrence of multinuclear blastomeres was the most frequent abnormality which, however, can often be observed in fresh embryos as well. The results of an ultrastructural analysis of the developing frozen-thawed embryos, with special attention to markers of embryonic genome expression, did not show any noticeable impairment of the developmental competence of these embryos as compared with parameters previously described for unfrozen embryos. The findings are discussed with particular reference to current freezing policies in human in-vitro fertilization programmes. PMID- 2630041 TI - [Onset of menarche and the menstrual cycle in top-level volleyball players]. AB - Within the framework of the research programme MZ-SSR 08-8106 the authors examined in 1986 three groups of top level volleyball players: A)- representatives of the CSSR, B)--volleyball players Slavia UK Bratislava, C)- volleyball players TSM Bratislava, with regard to general health, gynaecological, anthropometric and somatotypological status. They investigated also the development of secondary sex signs, age of menarche and course of the menstrual cycle. The results were evaluated statistically and the parameters were mutually compared and confronted with data in the literature. The authors revealed: 1. The general health status of the probands was better than in the corresponding female population of this age. 2. The development of secondary sex signs and the gynaecological finding were normal. Group B) and C) was examined for the first time. 3. The age of menarche was later than in women not engaged in sports and in the general female population. 4. The menstrual cycle in the three groups was associated with relatively slighter complications. 5. The results were compared with data reported in the literature. The authors proceed with the investigation. PMID- 2630042 TI - [Enzymes of the female prostate during the fertile age and after menopause. Comparative histochemical study]. AB - Using histochemical methods, the authors compared the enzymes in the prostate of 19 women of fertile age (15-45 years) and in 9 women after the menopause (53-79 years). In women after the menopause they observed a reduced naphthylesterase activity and also of some other enzymes in the prostatic glands which indicates a possible reduced secretory activity of the prostate in women past reproductive age. Conversely in women after the menopause, with age a marked increase of the activity of lysosomal acid phosphatase in the epithelium of the prostatic ducts was found. "Prostatic" acid phosphatase persisted as regards its activity also in women after the menopause. A drop of activity of dehydrogenases occurs only in women in the most advanced age groups, during the early menopause the findings were similar as during fertile age. The demonstrated differences in enzymes of the prostate in fertile women and after the menopause indicate their different function in the woman's life. These data are the first basis for the possible inclusion of the female prostate among hormone-dependent organs of female reproduction. PMID- 2630043 TI - [Prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis at the Institute for Maternal and Child Care (results of 2700 successful examinations in the 2d trimester of pregnancy)]. PMID- 2630044 TI - [Personal experience with performing mini-abortions]. PMID- 2630045 TI - [The role of ischemia per se in the mechanism of ischemic-reperfusion injury of the heart]. PMID- 2630046 TI - [Papers presented at the 17th conference of the Commission on Cardiology of the Purkinje Physiology Society. Krpacov, 26-28 October 1988]. PMID- 2630047 TI - [Biochemical aspects of reoxygenation of the ischemic and hypoxic myocardium (the oxygen and calcium paradox)]. PMID- 2630048 TI - [The calcium paradox in the isolated rat heart--effects of diltiazem]. PMID- 2630049 TI - [Protection of myocytes against reperfusion injury by calmodulin inhibition]. PMID- 2630050 TI - [Transmural nonhomogeneous calcium-induced heart damage]. PMID- 2630051 TI - [The role of free oxygen radicals in the mechanism of ischemic-reperfusion injury of the heart]. PMID- 2630052 TI - [Metabolism of phospholipids in the myocardium during ischemia and reperfusion]. PMID- 2630053 TI - [Indicators of formation of oxygen radicals in patients undergoing open heart surgery]. PMID- 2630054 TI - [Methods in experimental models of heart damage using reactive forms of oxygen]. PMID- 2630055 TI - [The effect of smoking and ethanol on the formation of oxygen free radicals in the myocardium]. PMID- 2630056 TI - [An attempt to monitor parameters of glycolysis and degradation of nucleotides in patients during heart surgery]. PMID- 2630057 TI - [An overview of clinical manifestations of regional ischemic-reperfusion injury]. PMID- 2630058 TI - [Disorders of rhythm and contractility in the heart damaged by ischemia and reperfusion: is pH stabilization important?]. PMID- 2630059 TI - [Functional sequelae of global ischemia of the heart]. PMID- 2630060 TI - [The development of ischemic-reperfusion focal injury in the myocardium of the dog 4 to 24 hours after the beginning of ischemia]. PMID- 2630061 TI - [Morphologic aspects of myocardial injury]. PMID- 2630062 TI - [Echocardiographic findings after thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarct]. PMID- 2630063 TI - [Ischemic reperfusion injury of the myocardium and left ventricular function]. PMID- 2630064 TI - [Accelerated idioventricular rhythm]. PMID- 2630065 TI - [Reperfusion arrhythmia after thrombolysis]. PMID- 2630066 TI - [The effect of reperfusion and diltiazem on the extent of experimental infarct in the dog]. PMID- 2630067 TI - [Energy reserves and the extent of heart injury in ischemia and reperfusion during single and repeated administration of cardioplegic solutions]. PMID- 2630068 TI - [Relation between resistance to hypoxia and the cross-sectional surface area of the papillary muscles in laboratory rats]. PMID- 2630069 TI - [Thin-needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid gland]. AB - A group of 187 fine needle aspiration cytology materials from thyroid gland was classified according to international cytology classification. The most important diagnostic criteria were presented for single lesions and correctness of cytologic evaluation compared with a complete bioptic finding. PMID- 2630070 TI - [Advanced carcinoma of the stomach--I. Prognostically important signs]. AB - Fifty one bioptic cases of resected advanced cancer of the stomach (34 males- mean age 67.8 years 17 females--mean age 75.9 years) were studied in a five-year period (1982-1986). Nine patients (17.6 per cent) has survived without any clinical or laboratory symptoms of disease on average 4 years and 8 months after operation, two patients less than 3 years, seven more than 3 years. Two of them had diffuse type carcinoma (DC), 7 had intestinal type carcinoma (IC) according to Lauren. The group was simultaneously evaluated according to Ming's classification as expansive (infiltrative types of carcinoma respectively. Both classification schemes gave similar results and combined with TNM system yielded sufficient prognostic information. According to the TNM system all cancers (excepting one DC) were stage II. pT2, pNO. IC had as much as 8 cm in diameter (T3), regional lymph nodes in 6 patients produced a favourable type of reaction with predominating lymphocytes of germinal centres mostly combined-with sinus histiocytosis. Absence of lymph node metastasis was more important for prognosis than the favourable type of lymph node reaction. PMID- 2630071 TI - [Viral and chlamydial diseases of the uterine cervix--histocytological correlates]. AB - A retrospective analysis of 919 consecutive cervical biopsies from the year 1987 showed three different types of lesion--unspecified lymphocytic endocervicitis, herpetic changes and coilocytic changes. Attention was concentrated on their histo-cytologic picture as well as on a coincidence of dysplasia and collocytosis. PMID- 2630072 TI - [Congenital anomalies of the coronary vessels (review)]. PMID- 2630073 TI - [Pseudoparasitic structures and their histological diagnosis-- (review)]. PMID- 2630074 TI - [Fluorescence microscopy detection of mycopathogens using Rylux BSU]. AB - Rylux BSU (Synthesia, Pardubice--Semtin), a derivative of diaminostilbendisulphonic acid, has a good affinity to chitin of fungal cell walls as well as to cellulose of algae. A histologic method using this compound for detection of fungi in dermatology is presented accompanied with results of a quick diagnostic procedure. Pathogenic fungi were stained with a 2 per cent solution of Rylux BSU in phosphate buffer (pH 7.3) or in a 2 per cent aqueous solution of NaOH with an admixture of 10 per cent dimethylsulphoxide. A yellow green fluorescence of the cell walls of fungi (tested on 52 species) and algae (2 species) was evoked by incident blue light (max. filter transmission for 405 nm) combined with a barrier filter (max. 578 nm). Fluorescence was not fading and remained stable in Canada balsam. Moreover, the method could be applied on sections previously stained (HE, Weigert, Giemsa, KOH-preparations) because of more information offered by a combined procedure. PMID- 2630075 TI - [The effect of vitamin administration on mental development in mentally retarded children]. AB - Vitamin administration in severely mentally retarded children in order to improve their IQ and other forms of personality development has not such a favourable effect as in children with minor cerebral dysfunction. The author administered vitamins A, B, C, D and E to 18 imbecile children. As compared with a control group not given vitamins, no marked changes were observed. This leads to the view that the favourable action of vitamins in children with minor cerebral dysfunction is sometimes assumed in severely mentally affected children where the final effect is in the optimal case nil. PMID- 2630076 TI - [Pathways to care]. AB - The main objective of the study designed by the World Health Organization is to obtain information on provision of care for mental disturbances in various countries. The main pathways to mental health care based on the first results of an analysis obtained from two out-patient psychiatric departments of District Institutes of National Health in Benesov and Kromeriz in Czechoslovakia are described. The delays at different points, the problem and care provided are reviewed both as regards mental health care and previous other than mental health care. PMID- 2630077 TI - [Educational level and psychosexual adaptation in women]. AB - By means of a structured interview the author examined the course of sexual development and life in 862 young married women born after 1951. Women with primary education (n = 425) started full sex life significantly sooner than women with a higher education (n = 437) Contrary to probands born in 1911 to 1950, no major differences were found in the member of coital partners before marriage, in the coital activity and reactivity. The author confirms the hypothesis that differences in sexual development and life between different social groups diminish markedly. PMID- 2630078 TI - [Aggression with homicidal behavior in psychotic patients]. AB - The paper deals with the problem of homicidal behaviour with psychotic motivation, draws attention to the difficulty of prediction in this respect. Two case histories from the authors' own observation--one patient with psychotic disease of the schizophrenic type (paraphrenia) and the behaviour of one female patient with manifestations of depressive psychosis who committed this serious crime--indicate the difficulty of psychiatric prognoses. Although an aggressive deed in a paranoid patient is not an exception the way of its implementation unexpected. Less common and quite unexpected was the behaviour of the female patient with involutional depression which provides evidence that these patients are not only dangerous to themselves. PMID- 2630079 TI - [Problem groups in therapeutic communities for neurotics]. AB - From a total of 71 problem groups the author described 9 groups as hopeless and 62 groups as hopeful problem groups. The main adverse factor is the inadequate composition of the group, in particular a predominance of hypothymic members inadequately motivated for group therapy. In hopeless groups it is not possible to use effectively group events for therapeutic purposes and treatment depends mainly on the therapists. In hopeful problem groups it is possible to release by differentiated group-focused procedures the therapeutic potential and group dynamics and use them successively for treatment. PMID- 2630080 TI - [Aggressive behavior in adolescent groups]. AB - Aggressive behaviour of adolescents may be based either on an inborn personality structure, or cultivated by training, i.e. the character of punishment. It is encountered in children with organic disorders of the CNS or psychotic disease. A specific case is aggressive behaviour in communities, being found in particular in communities of boys. The authors describe a typical case of an aggressor and the typical profile of the victim. Psychiatric intervention involves psychotherapeutic treatment and influencing of the social and family which should be focused on possible aggressive behaviour. PMID- 2630081 TI - [A case of male pseudopregnancy]. AB - The authors give an account of views concerning pseudocyesis and phantom pregnancy resp. It is a condition which is extremely rare in males. The authors describe the case-history of a 60-year-old man hospitalized at the Psychiatric Clinic of the Faculty Hospital Bratislava on account of phantom pregnancy. They discuss the possible nosological classification of the presented case. In the conclusion they submit the view that phantom pregnancy can be included among monosymptomatic psychoses (e.g. as tactile hallucinosis). PMID- 2630082 TI - [Developmental psychopathology]. AB - The author describes the part played by developmental psychopathology in the epidemiology of psychiatric disorders. Analysis of three basic perspectives. The problem of age and developmental trends due to the incidence of certain psychiatric diagnoses at a certain age (in a certain developmental period). Continuity and discontinuity of normal and pathological forms of behaviour from childhood to adult age. Time patterns of continuity in diagnostic categories of depression, behavioural disorders and schizophrenia. Perspective of causal mechanisms, where two pathways seemed feasible: research of factors reducing the deviant behaviour and investigation of harmonious marriages. PMID- 2630083 TI - [Sexologic forensic expert evaluation of sex offenders]. AB - The authors differentiate between deviant and nondeviant sexual delinquents and focus attention in particular on the forensic evaluation of deviantly conditioned delinquents. They describe some differences in the psychosexual development of deviant delinquents and some anamnestic facts which signalize a deviant structure of the sexual motivation system. They emphasize the necessity of a comprehensive examination of the delinquent, incl. thorough sex diagnosis, psychological diagnosis of the personality, a detailed analysis of controlling and recognizing ability of the time of the crime and they submit suggestions for health measures. PMID- 2630084 TI - [The Bulgarian model of Freudism]. PMID- 2630085 TI - A chemical model of catechol-O-methyltransferase. Methylation of 3,4 dihydroxybenzaldehyde in aqueous solution. AB - The reaction of 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (LH2) and dimethylsulfate (DMS) to form the m- and p-O-methylated products (vanillin and isovanillin, respectively) in aqueous 2-(N-morpholino)ethane sulfonate buffer was studied kinetically. The products were determined by means of high-performance liquid chromatography. The O-methylation occurred principally at the p-hydroxyl group in the absence of divalent metal ions. In the presence of Cu(II), the m-methylation was promoted and became predominant. Zn(II) showed a similar but less pronounced effect. The effects were explained in terms of the complex formation of LH2. The second order rate constants for the m- and p-methylation of the species, LH2, CuL and CuL2-2 by DMS were calculated. The values and their ratio for the m-/p-reactions increased in the order of LH2 less than CuL less than CuL2-2. The reaction may serve as a chemical model for catechol-O-methyltransferase, which requires divalent metals and catalyzes the m-methylation. PMID- 2630086 TI - Studies on the biosynthesis of corrinoids and porphyrinoids. I. The labeling of oxygen of vitamin B12. AB - Recently the amide-oxygen has been suggested to participate in the formation of the corrin ring of vitamin B12. To confirm this hypothesis, 17O-labeled aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was prepared and administered to Propionibacterium shermanii. The isolated vitamin B12 showed only broad 17O signals in the oxygen 17 nuclear magnetic resonance (17O-NMR) spectrum. However, distinct isotope shifted peaks were observed in the 13C-NMR spectrum of vitamin B12 isolated after incorporation of [1-13C:1,4-18O2]ALA. Of these shifted peaks, one peak (C27) showed very low intensity. This indicates that dilution of 18O occurred at the acetyl chain of the A ring of vitamin B12. This result supports the assumption that the lactone formation of the A ring promotes the ring contraction, as proposed by Eschenmoser. PMID- 2630087 TI - A novel heterocyclic compound. Synthesis and reactivities of an oxazolo[3,2 a]thieno[3,2-d]-pyrimidine derivative. AB - A practical preparation of 2,3-dihydro-5H-oxazolo[3,2-a]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-5 one (2) from methyl 3-aminothiophene-2-carboxylate in two steps was developed. The addition reactions of various nucleophiles to 2 were investigated and oxazole ring-opened compounds were produced (5, 6, 12, 13 and 14). Desulfurization reaction of 2 with Raney Ni gave an oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine derivative (15). It was found that 2 showed potent anti-gastric secretion activity. PMID- 2630088 TI - Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-chloro-1-carbacephem compounds. AB - The 3-chloro-1-carbacephem nucleus was prepared for the first time from a 3H-1 carbacephem compound through a sequence of reactions involving addition of thiophenol, oxidation of sulfide to sulfoxide, and alpha-chlorination of the sulfoxide, followed by elimination of phenylsulfinic acid. The 2-beta-methyl analog was similarly prepared, but the 2 alpha-methyl analog was not obtained. Optical resolution of the 3-chloro-1-carbacephem compound was achieved by the employment of penicillin acylase. That is, the 7-phenylacetamido derivative was enantioselectively hydrolyzed to afford the optically active 7-amino-3-chloro-1 carbacephem compound. Carbacefaclor, the carbacephem analog of cefaclor, was directly and efficiently prepared by enzymatic phenylglycylation of the racemic 7 amino-3-chloro-1-carbacephem compound by using immobilized penicillin acylase. Carbacefaclor thus prepared exhibited comparable antibacterial activity against most gram positive bacteria tested and higher activity against typical gram negative bacteria as compared with cefaclor. Moreover, carbacefaclor possessed remarkably high chemical stability. PMID- 2630089 TI - Synthesis and analgetic activity of sulfur-containing morphinans and related compounds. AB - 3-Acylthiomorphinans, 3-carbamoylthio-3-deoxydihydromorphine and 3-benzoylthio-9 aza-17-carbamorphinan were synthesized by Newman-Kwart rearrangement of the corresponding O-thiocarbamates. The analgetic activities were lower than that of pentazocine, and the opioid receptor binding affinities were very weak. These acylthiomorphinans showed low antinociceptive activity compared with corresponding sulfur-containing benzomorphans. 3-Carbamoylthio deoxydihydromorphine had no significant analgetic activity. PMID- 2630090 TI - Synthesis and antitumor activity of new alkylphospholipids containing modifications of the phosphocholine moiety. AB - New antitumor alkylglycerophospholipids, in which primarily the phosphocholine moiety of the platelet activating factor (PAF) molecule was modified, were synthesized from 1-alkyl-2-substituted glycerols by introducing polar head phosphoryl groups having methylene bridges of various lengths (from 2 to 14 carbons). They were tested for PAF agonistic activity and antitumor properties. In a series of 1-octadecyl-2-acetoacetylglycerophospholipids (1a-f), an increase in the length of the methylene bridge separating the phosphate and trimethylammonio group in the polar head side chain at position 3 of the glycerol backbone resulted in a progressive decrease in PAF agonistic activity and a characteristic change in antitumor activity against human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60). Maximal potency was obtained with the compound having a decamethylene bridge (1e, IC50 value = 1.5 microgram/ml). Thus, alkylphospholipids possessing a decamethylene bridge and a variety of substituents at position 2 (1g-n) were synthesized. They showed potent inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.4 to 1.9 micrograms/ml, depending on the nature of the 2-substituent in the phospholipid molecule. In in vivo tests of the present series of alkylglycerophospholipids (1a--n), using mice bearing sarcoma 180 and mice with mammary carcinoma MM46 (both cells and compounds were given i.p.), 1-octadecyl-2-acetoacetyl-3-glyceryl omega-trimethylammoniodecyl phosphate (1e) showed the most potent life-prolonging effect. The structure-activity relationships are discussed. PMID- 2630091 TI - Studies on hypolipidemic agents. IV. 3-[4-(Phenylthio)benzoyl]propionic acid derivatives. AB - 2-Acetylthio-3-benzoylpropionic acid derivatives having two benzene rings or condensed-ring moieties were prepared, and tested for hypolipidemic activity in normal rats. Some of these compounds were active. 2-Acetylthio-3-[4 (phenylthio)benzoyl]propionic acid (10) and its derivatives seemed to have the most potent hypocholesterolemic activities. Compound 10 showed strong activity, especially in cholesterol-fed rats. PMID- 2630092 TI - Synthetic studies on diuretics. 5-(3,3-N,S-substituted-2-propenoyl)-2,3-dihydro-2 benzo[b]furancarboxylic acids. AB - 6,7-Dichloro-2,3-dihydro-2-benzo[b]furancarboxylic acid derivatives having a 3,3 N,S-disubstituted-2-propenoyl group at the 5-position were prepared by alkylation of 5-(thiocarbamoyl)acetyl derivatives of the 2,3-dihydro-2 benzo[b]furancarboxylic acid ester or by acetal exchange reaction of 5-[3,3 bis(alkylthio)-2-propenoyl] derivatives. Synthesis of 5-[4 and/or 5 (di)substituted-4-thiazolin-2-ylidene]acetyl-2,3- dihydro-2 benzo[b]furancarboxylic acids was also achieved by the reaction of 2-halo-1 methoxyethyl isothiocyanate with the 5-acetyl derivative in the presence of base or through sulfide contraction of 2-[[6,7-dichloro-2-methoxycarbonyl-2,3 dihydrobenzo[b]furan-5-yl) carbonyl)-methylthio]thiazolium bromide. Some of the compounds which were synthesized showed potent natriuretic activities in rats and mice. The structure-activity relationship is also discussed. PMID- 2630093 TI - Studies on the panaxytriol of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. Isolation, determination and antitumor activity. AB - An antitumor-active substance was obtained from the residue of the ethyl acetate extract of red ginseng, a traditional Chinese medicine, by chromatography on a silica gel column. From the proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, it was identified as heptadeca-1-ene-4,6-diyne-3,9,10-triol (panaxytriol). The panaxytriol contents of red ginseng and white ginseng, determined by gas chromatography after solvent extraction and formation of trimethylsilyl derivatives, were 0.38 and 0.25 mg/g, respectively. Panaxytriol showed a growth-inhibitory activity against several tumor cell lines. PMID- 2630094 TI - Synthesis and analgesic activity of novel heterocycles, [1]benzothiopyrano[3,4 b]pyrrole derivatives. AB - In order to develop analgesic compounds possessing a sulfur atom in the alicyclic ring, novel cis-fused heterocycles, [1]benzothiopyrano[3,4-b]pyrrole derivatives (II) were synthesized via a unique cyclization reaction starting from 4-(4 methoxyphenylthio)-2-butanone (1) or 6-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzothiopyran-4 one (7). The analgesic effects of benzothiopyranopyrroles (16, 18) were measured by means of the writhing test. The phenolic derivative 18 completely inhibited the appearance of writhing at the dose of 50 mg/kg, but the methoxy derivative 16 had no analgesic effect. PMID- 2630095 TI - Isolation of inhibitors of adenylate cyclase from dan-shen, the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza. AB - The effect of dan-shen extract, the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on adenylate cyclase was investigated in both rat brain and rat erythrocytes. The EtOAc fraction of the MeOH extract was proved to have significant inhibitory activity. Potent inhibitory principles in the EtOAc fraction were isolated and identified as 4 polyphenolic acids, rosemarinic acid, lithospermic acid, and their methyl ester derivatives. PMID- 2630096 TI - The effect of scoparone, a coumarin derivative isolated from the Chinese crude drug Artemisiae capillaris flos, on the heart. AB - In the present study, scoparone isolated from Artemisia Capillaris Flos has been investigated to determine its pharmacological properties on the heart. Scoparone was found to cause the increase in coronary flow and heart rate, but did not affect cardiac output, left ventricular pressure or left ventricular work in the isolated perfused heart. Scoparone at 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, p.o. had a marked inhibitory effect on the ST wave depression. Consequently it is suggested that scoparone has antianginal action. PMID- 2630097 TI - Effect of protein binding on high performance liquid chromatography analysis of drugs with an internal-surface reversed-phase silica column. AB - The effect of protein binding on the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) elution profile of drugs injected directly onto an internal-surface reversed-phase (ISRP) silica column was investigated. When a relatively large volume (greater than or equal to 100 microliters) of the sample solution containing warfarin and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was applied directly onto the ISRP column and elution was carried out with the mobile phase containing an organic modifier, two distinct peaks, both due to warfarin, appeared separated from the protein peak. The peak splitting was not observed in the case of antipyrine-BSA mixed solution, where the protein binding is weak. It was found that the drug bound at the strong-binding site on the BSA molecule was released slowly during the process of chromatography and was eluted as the first peak with a shorter retention time, while the drug bound at the weak-binding site was released quickly, and was eluted as the second peak together with the free drug. The warfarin-BSA interaction at the strong-binding site was evaluated, under minimum influence from the other binding site, from the warfarin concentration obtained from the first peak and the free warfarin concentration determined by the ultrafiltration method. PMID- 2630098 TI - The major pectic arabinogalactan having activity on the reticuloendothelial system from the roots and rhizomes of Saposhnikovia divaricata. AB - The major acidic polysaccharide, named saposhnikovan A, was isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Saposhnikovia divaricata. It showed remarkable reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clearance test. It is composed of L-arabinose: D-galactose: D-galacturonic acid in the molar ratio of 6:15:10, and its molecular weight was estimated to be 54000. About 35% of the D-galacturonic acid residues exist as the methyl esters. Methylation analysis, 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance, and controlled Smith degradation studies indicated that the polysaccharide has the alpha-1----4-linked D-galacturonan backbone bearing alpha-1----5-linked L-arabino-beta-3,6-branched D-galactan side chains. PMID- 2630099 TI - The correlation between molecular weight and antitumor activity of galactosaminoglycan (CO-N) from Cordyceps ophioglossoides. AB - A galactosaminoglycan (CO-N) obtained by ultrasonication from a protein-bound polysaccharide SN-C, which was isolated from Cordyceps ophioglossoides culture, has a direct cytotoxicity against tumor cells (Ohmori et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 37, 1019 (1989). High performance liquid chromatographic analysis revealed that CO-N shows a broad molecular weight distribution with an average molecular weight of 33000. A potent antitumor activity of CO-N was observed in the higher molecular-weight fraction on gel filtration, and the low-molecular-weight fraction below 6600 showed a weak activity. However, the depolymerized CO-N (ca. 5500) obtained by further ultrasonication of the original CO-N still retained the antitumor activity of CO-N against Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma or MM46 solid mammary carcinoma. PMID- 2630100 TI - The effects of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose on rat liver mitochondrial respiration. AB - The inhibitory effects of pure galloylglucose (1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D glucose) on the respiratory chain of rat liver mitochondria were investigated. The respiratory control ratio (RCR) decreased by 50% on addition of 20 microM pentagalloylglucose to highly coupled mitochondria, but the adenosine-5' diphosphate/oxygen (ADP/O) ratio decreased only slightly. The RCR disappeared and the ADP/O ratio could not be measured at concentrations of pentagalloylglucose above 30 microM. On the other hand, the uncoupler-induced oxygen consumption was also inhibited. These findings suggest that pentagalloylglucose at low concentrations inhibits the electron transport system to decrease the RCR, but scarcely impairs the membrane, practically retaining the coupled reaction, while at high concentrations it impairs the structural integrity of the mitochondrial membrane. Pentagalloylglucose competitively inhibited succinate dehydrogenase activity, and noncompetitively inhibited reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase and ubiquinol-1 oxidase activities of submitochondrial particles (SMP). However, it did not show significant inhibition of the cytochrome c oxidase activity of SMP. It is thus concluded that pentagalloylglucose, which is the lowest-molecular-weight component of tannic acid, exerts its effect on mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation through action on the membrane and on succinate dehydrogenase, NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome bc1 complex of mitochondria. PMID- 2630101 TI - Enhancement of zymosan-induced respiratory burst of rat neutrophils by lead in vitro. AB - The effect of Pb2+ on serum-treated zymosan (STZ)-induced O2 consumption of rat peritoneal neutrophils was studied. Pb2+ was found to mimic effectively the enhancing action of Ca2+ on the O2 consumption depending on the concentration up to about 80 microM. However, at concentrations over 80 microM, Pb2+ inhibited the O2 consumption. The enhancing effect of Pb2+ on the O2 consumption was further examined using the intracellularly Ca2(+)-depleted neutrophils. Pb2+ also enhanced the O2 consumption of the Ca2(+)-depleted cells as effectively as Ca2+. The Pb2(+)-enhanced O2 consumption of the Ca2(+)-depleted cells was inhibited by N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene-sulfonamide (W-7) based on its calmodulin antagonistic action. The effect of Pb2+ on the activity of activator-deficient 3',5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE), a calmodulin-dependent enzyme, was examined. Pb2+ activated PDE as effectively as Ca2+ only in the presence of calmodulin. The Pb2(+)-activated PDE activity was also inhibited by W-7 only in the presence of calmodulin. These results indicated that Pb2+ could replace Ca2+ in the activation process(es) of the respiratory burst, suggesting a possible involvement of calmodulin in the enhancing mechanism of the O2 consumption by Pb2+. PMID- 2630102 TI - Liposomes prepared from synthetic amphiphiles. I. Their technetium labeling and stability. AB - In order to apply liposomes prepared from synthetic amphiphiles containing amino acid residues to radiopharmaceuticals, their labeling with 99Tc or 99mTc and stability in saline or in serum were investigated. These liposomes were highly labeled by embedding stearylamine-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid as a ligand of technetium. The labeling was more efficient at pH 7.0 than at pH 4.0 or 8.5. Among these technetium-labeled liposomes tested, liposomes containing the alanine residue were stable in saline or in 50% serum at 37 degrees C for at least 24 h, in contrast to liposomes (phosphatidylcholine: cholesterol = 1:1 molar ratio) whose stability had been enhanced by adding cholesterol. PMID- 2630103 TI - Factors affecting the bioadhesive property of tablets consisting of hydroxypropyl cellulose and carboxyvinyl polymer. AB - The bioadhesive property of tablets consisting of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and carboxyvinyl polymer (CP) was investigated using the mouse peritoneal membrane. The adhesion force was significantly affected by the mixing ratio of HPC and CP in the tablet, and the weakest adhesion force was observed at the ratio of 3:2 (HPC:CP). Interpolymer complex formation was confirmed between HPC and CP in the acidic medium by turbidity and viscosity measurements. The interaction between CP carboxyl groups and HPC molecules was considered to be a possible mechanism for this complex formation on the basis of a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. These observations suggested that the adhesion force of the HPC--CP tablet to the mucous membrane was significantly affected by the interpolymer complex formation between HPC and CP. PMID- 2630104 TI - Studies on the biological activity of tocotrienols. AB - Tocotrienols were evaluated for activity against transplantable murine tumors inoculated i.p. into mouse, and the activities of two tocotrienols and alpha tocopherols were compared. When the compounds were injected i.p., alpha- and gamma-tocotrienols were effective against sarcoma 180, Ehrlich carcinoma, and IMC carcinoma, and gamma-tocotrienol showed a slight life-prolonging effect in mice with Meth A fibrosarcoma, but the tocotrienols had no antitumor activity against P388 leukemia at doses of 5-40 mg/kg/d. On the other hand alpha-tocopherol had only a slight effect against sarcoma 180 and IMC carcinoma. The antitumor activity of gamma-tocotrienol was higher than that of alpha-tocotrienol. Tocotrienols showed growth inhibition of human and mouse tumor cells when the cells were exposed to these agents for 72 h in vitro, whereas tocopherol did not show any marked cytotoxic activity. Alpha- and gamma-tocotrienols had inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation of murine microsomes by adriamycin. PMID- 2630105 TI - Effect of several enhancers on the skin permeation of water-soluble drugs. AB - Since the percutaneous absorption rates of water-soluble drugs are low in general, an enhancing system is needed when using the skin as an administration site for the drugs. We have investigated the effect of various penetration enhancers on the in vitro and in vivo percutaneous absorptions of catecholamine analogs, i.e. levodopa (LD), dopamine hydrochloride (DPH) and isoproterenol hydrochloride (IPH), as model water-soluble drugs. It was found that medium-chain glycerides (Sefsol 318) markedly enhanced the in vitro permeation of the drugs through excised hairless rat skin among the enhancers tested in the present experiments; the permeation rates with 5% Sefsol 318 in water were about 65, 34 and 53 times higher than the corresponding control (without enhancer) for LD, DPH and IPH, respectively. In addition, the in vivo percutaneous absorption experiments showed that the blood levels of these drugs after application of aqueous gels containing 5% Sefsol 318 on rat skin were higher than those in the absence of enhancer. Drug levels in the liver and kidney were also higher than without Sefsol 318. Percutaneous administration of DPH with Sefsol 318 to hairless rats resulted in lower diastolic blood pressure and a slightly higher heart rate with as compared to administration without the enhancer. These results suggest that Sefsol 318 is a potential candidate to enhance the transdermal absorption of water-soluble drugs. PMID- 2630106 TI - Isolation of a new tremorgenic indoloditerpene, 1'-O-acetylpaxilline, from Emericella striata and distribution of paxilline in Emericella spp. AB - The distribution of a tremorgenic mycotoxin, paxilline (1), was investigated in 19 species belonging to the genus Emericella. It was found that Emericella desertorum, E. foveolata, and E. striata produced paxilline (1). A new type of indoloditerpene, emindole DA (4), was also found in E. quadrilineata. A new tremorgenic indoloditerpene, 1'-O-acetylpaxilline (3), was isolated from the mycelium of E. striata. Its structure was established on the basis of spectroscopic investigations. PMID- 2630107 TI - Preparation and evaluation of albumin microspheres and microcapsules containing cisplatin. AB - Albumin microspheres and microcapsules containing cisplatin (CDDP) were prepared and tested as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. CDDP albumin microspheres were prepared by hardening with glutaric aldehyde in accordance with the method to prepare W/O emulsion. On the other hand, microcapsules were prepared by formation of a coacervate by the phase isolation method. CDDP albumin microspheres and microcapsules thus prepared were sieved and sterilized by dry heat at 135 degrees C for 4h prior to use. The content and release of CDDP were determined. The CDDP contents for albumin microspheres and microcapsules were found to be 9.2% and 33.3%, respectively. Release of CDDP in vitro was found to be significantly different between the two formulations. CDDP release in vivo was also investigated by injecting albumin microspheres and microcapsules into the hepatic artery of adult dogs. The blood CDDP concentrations after injection of both formulations were lower than those noted after injection of CDDP injectable solution, indicating that CDDP might be accumulated in the liver at a higher concentration and that use of the two formulations might result in alleviation of CDDP side effects. PMID- 2630108 TI - Effect of pH and small inorganic ions on binding of sulfadimethoxine and sulfaphenazole to human serum albumin measured by circular dichroism. AB - The binding of sulfadimethoxine and sulfaphenazole to human serum albumin (HSA) has been shown by circular dichroism measurements to be dependent on the N-B transition. The secondary drug binding sites were found to be optically active in the B conformation form in HSA but optically inactive in the N form. Moreover, the drug-HSA interaction in Tris-HCl buffer seems to be more sensitive to the conformational change in HSA, compared with that in the phosphate buffer. PMID- 2630109 TI - Skin permeability of water-soluble drugs. AB - The permeabilities of several water-soluble drugs through excised hairless rat skin from their aqueous suspensions were investigated by using newly designed two chamber diffusion cells. Disodium cromoglycate, diclofenac sodium, dopamine hydrochloride, isoproterenol hydrochloride, diltiazem hydrochloride and papaverine hydrochloride were selected as water-soluble drugs. Indomethacin, a lipophilic drug, and deuterium oxide (D2O) were used for comparison. The skin permeability coefficients of these water-soluble drugs were 100--1000 times lower than that of indomethacin. Since these drugs have high solubility in the donor solution (distilled water or lactate buffer), however, the skin permeation rates, which are in general proportional to the product of skin permeability coefficient and solubility of drugs in the drug-donor compartment, were comparable to or higher than that of indomethacin (1.7 micrograms/cm2/h): the skin permeation rate of dopamine hydrochloride (458 micrograms/cm2/h) was about 300 times higher than that of indomethacin. The water-soluble drugs with lower molecular weight and higher solubility in water showed higher skin permeation rates. These results suggest that some water-soluble drugs with low molecular weight and high solubility in water might be good candidates for transdermal drug delivery. PMID- 2630110 TI - [Long term complications of splenic artery ligation for haematologic problems in the child. A study of 7 cases]. AB - Since 1983, the authors have performed a surgical ligation of the splenic artery in 7 patients suffering hypersplenism due to hematological diseases (4 Minkowski Chauffard, 2 Betathalassemia Major, 1 Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic purpura). The immediate post operative course and long-term outcome of the patients were evaluated on clinical and biological grounds. The early post operative period was not influenced by the underlying hematological disorder. In all patients the hemoglobin, erythrocyte and platelet counts significantly increased and were related to functional hyposplenism. Delayed outcome depended on the underlying disease. Patients with Betathalassemia returned to preoperative status within months; thus, the only advantage of the arterial ligation was to transiently decrease the requirements in blood transfusion. Two patients with Minkowski Chauffard disease did not present further episodes of acute hemolysis and did not required additional blood transfusion. On the other hand, the other two patients with Minkowski-Chauffard disease progressively returned to preoperative status, including severe episodes of hemolysis, and required a splenectomy be performed. Since the arterial supply to the spleen remains inchanged after the operation, it may be expected that the results (i.e. long-duration hyposplenism) could be improved by performing extensively devascularization of the spleen to complete the ligation of the splenic artery. PMID- 2630111 TI - [The value of CT scanning in ano-rectal malformations]. AB - Eighteen patients with ano-rectal malformation were studied by computered tomographie (1 low malformation, 9 intermediates, 6 high malformations and 2 cloacale malformations). There is no indication of this technic during neo-natal period. Computered tomographie is more important for analysis of the sequel because the appreciation of the pull through digestive segment is better. However, perineal muscles are more difficult to evalue, because there is not objective criterion. PMID- 2630112 TI - [Surgical treatment of renal artery stenosis in children]. AB - Fifty six children with renal artery stenosis (unilateral in 42, bilateral in 14) underwent surgical treatment. Ten nephrectomies and 63 vascular repair procedures were performed. Postoperative follow-up varied from 1 to 14 years. After surgery, blood pressure returned to normal and subsequently remained so in 51 patients without any antihypertensive medication. This represents a 91% success rate. In five patients blood pressure remained high due to lesion of the renal parenchyma. Fibrous dysplasia of the renal artery was the prevailing pathologic findings. In children, associated lesions are especially frequent: coarctation of the abdominal aorta, stenosis, occlusion, aneurysms of the splanchnic arteries, pheochromocytoma. Postoperative prognosis of renovascular hypertension in children is good since atheroma and visceral or renal lesions are usually lacking. PMID- 2630113 TI - [The Fontan operation in tricuspid atresia. Effect of age, shunt and type of atrial pulmonary connection in tricuspid atresia]. AB - Between 1977 and 1988, 20 patients underwent the Fontan operation. Their age ranged from 4 to 24 years (mean 11 years). The basic disease was tricuspid atresia with ventriculo arterial concordance and right ventricular hypoplasia. Pulmonary stenosis was present in 16 patients. Twenty-eight palliative procedures had been performed previously in the group of patients presenting some forms of pulmonary stenosis. In 2 cases a non-valved conduit has been used for correction, in a third case a valve conduit was utilised, and in a fourth case a right atrioventricular connection was carried out. In the remaining 16 patients, a wide posterior connection between the right atrium and the pulmonary arteries was performed. There were 2 early deaths (10%), and 2 late deaths (10%). After a follow-up ranging from 6 months to 11 years, all survivors are in a satisfying functional condition. We think that a wide unrestricting atriopulmonary anastomosis is mainly responsible for those good functional results. Age at operation has not influenced the results. Previous and long standing shunts may be responsible for immediate and late postoperate cardiac failure. Consequently, we now prefer an earlier corrective procedure, particularly when the patient has a patent systemic pulmonary shunt. PMID- 2630114 TI - [Percutaneous epiphysiodesis. First trials with the long bones of the lower limbs]. AB - Ten children underwent a percutaneous drilling. The growth plate is destroyed under X ray control. The results are usually good, except in one analysed case. The percutaneous epiphysiodesis is minimally traumatic, cosmetically preferable and safe. PMID- 2630115 TI - [Adjusted cupula in the treatment of massive osteonecrosis of the upper part of the femur in adolescent children]. AB - Six important necrosis of the apophysis of the femur were treated by arthroplasty with adjusted cup. This operation always made these hips painless, 5 times, the mobility was greatly improved. This a normal social life was quickly recovered. However, the distant future remains uncertain. With the exception of one immediate failure, one hip had to be reoperated, 8 years after the total arthroplasty. PMID- 2630116 TI - [Surgical treatment of spinal deformity due to cerebral motor disorders using a Luque type appliance]. AB - The authors report a series of 20 cerebral palsy patients with spine deformities who need a surgical treatment. The procedure is a posterior approach and a segmental spine instrumentation: Luque-Galvestone or Cotrel-Dubousset-Luque type. Vertebral bone-graft is always performed and sacral bone is fused 16 times. Sitting position is authorized 4 to 7 days after the operation. Improvement of frontal and sagital curves as well as pelvic obliquity is of 50% and remains unchanged with a two years follow-up. Among the complications, most of them are pulmonary infections with 2 severe cases on 9 patients. Even functional status is also improved, post-operative pains and social difficulties are frequent during almost 6 months. PMID- 2630117 TI - [Salter's innominate osteotomy. 20 years later...]. AB - This is a retrospective review of nineteen innominate osteotomies with an average follow-up of 20, 6 years. These osteotomies were done mainly for treatment of late diagnosed congenital hip dislocation, or occasionally for persistent subluxation after orthopaedic treatment. The mean age at diagnosis was 2 years 2 months, at operation 3 years 5 months. We performed eight combined open reduction and pelvic osteotomies, eight associated pelvic and femoral varisation derotation osteotomies and only 3 isolated pelvic osteotomies. At follow-up the Charnley hip's score is 5.7 for pain; 5.4 for gait and performance, 5.6 for mobility. We found 15 hips without any significant pain and only 4 hips with mechanical pain. The Xray evaluation shows an average CE angle at 28.5 degrees, AC angle at 16 degrees and anterior coverage on "faux profil de Lequesne" at 40 degrees; 4 hips show arthritic changes, 4 others had important deformation of the head of the femur, but without diminution of the height of articular space. 6 hips (1/3) in 4 patients must be reoperated in adolescence because insufficiency of coverage of the head of the femur: 3 because technical errors and 3 because osteonecrosis with progressive cervicocephalic valgus. This historical serie with a very important follow-up, demonstrate that between 1/3 and 1/2 of cases have some kind of problems mainly radiological. The quality of results depends on the respect of the conditions and technique described by Salter, early diagnosis and absence of osteonecrosis eventually caused by prealable orthopaedic treatment. PMID- 2630118 TI - [Preliminary results of biodegradable osteosynthesis in craniofacial surgery in the child]. AB - After an experimental study on biodegradable implants for fixation purpose in skull plasties of the minipig we began a clinical trial. Six children aged 1-18 years and suffering from trigonocephaly, Morbus Apert and Morbus Crouzon as well as plagiocephaly underwent a reconstructive procedure of the skull and midface, mostly frontal advancement. The different part of skull have been fixed by biodegradable implants made of polylactate acid. Another two infants, one with a skull defect after removal of an encephalocele and the other for reconstruction of the skull after open cerebral injury and consecutive osteoclastic trepanation, have been treated with skull splitting. The two halves of the skull have been fixed by biodegradable material too. The follow-up of these 8 children now is from 2-20 months (medium 10 1/2 months). From the aesthetic point of view as well as from radiological and clinical signs we judge the result as good as with conventional materials, for example wire loops. No material had to be removed and CT scans show a fully resorption of the implants. The present paper shows the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative evolution. PMID- 2630119 TI - [Ileo-caeco-appendicular agenesis. 1 case]. AB - A case of congenital absence of the appendix is reported. A 16 old years Female patient presented a 2 yr history peri-umbilical and hypogastric pain with tenderness in the right lower quadrant. Abdominal radiography and echography were normal. Exploration through a Mc Burney incision found only small intestine. After midline incision, mesenterium commun and agenesis of vermiform appendix were found. Abnormal adhesions of right quadrant were divided. The post-operative course was uncomplicated. Absence of the appendix is a very rare condition. This diagnosis should not be made unless the ileocecal area is thoroughly explored. Only the laparoscopy could achieve diagnosis before surgery. PMID- 2630120 TI - [Cystic lymphangioma of the greater omentum appearing as an inguinal hernia in an 18-month-old child]. AB - Cystic lymphangioma of greater omentum is an exceptional pathology: a world literature review in 1978 reported on only such cases. Preoperative diagnosis is actually impossible, due to the lack of pathognomonic symptoms or signs. A child 18-months-old was recently operated upon with diagnosis of hydrocele: surprisingly, at surgery we found an inguinal hernia containing a cystic lymphangioma of the greater omentum, histologically proved. A partial resection of the cystic omentum was successfully performed. An obstruction of the omental lymphatic drainage is the most reliable pathogenetic hypothesis. PMID- 2630121 TI - [Mucocele of ophthalmologic expression and treatment apropos of 46 cases]. AB - Mucoceles of the facial sinuses are benign tumors. They consist of a pouch made up from altered sinusal mucosa containing mucus ant inflammatory exudate. This tumors have a tendency to distension and to erode the bony walls. Their common site is in the anterior frontoethmoidal, rarely in the posterior ethmoidal or sphenoidal and exceptionally in the maxillary sinuses. They grow progressively at the expense of the eye and its annexes. Standard radiology is the main diagnostic key, but the scanner is essential to determine the extension and to evaluate the integrity of the posterior wall of the frontal sinus. Surgical intervention is the only way to treat a mucocele. The way of access to the mucocele can be either via the inferior way of Jacques or via the superior way of neurosurgical approach. PMID- 2630122 TI - [The ophthalmologist-internal medicine duo: apropos of a case of chronic uveitis]. AB - The ophthalmologist is often faced with recurrent or apparently primitive uveitis. The specialist in internal medicine almost never meets first with this type of disease. Taking advantage of a seldom seen sarcoidosis case (almost exclusively ocular), the authors point out the interest of a systematic collaboration when confronted with an endocular disease so called "inflammatory", or vascular and in appearance isolated. PMID- 2630123 TI - [Morning Glory syndrome]. PMID- 2630124 TI - [Leber's optic neuropathy. Future prospects]. AB - Leber's optic neuropathy is a maternally inherited disease. Its transmission does not correspond to Mendelian principles and two hypothesis about the role of cytoplasmic transmission are discussed. The role of a virus or a mutation mitochondrial DNA, maternally transmitted, are possible. However if not definite conclusion can be, actually, certified, there is a good hope to find a solution for this disease, in a near future. PMID- 2630125 TI - [Results of peripheral retinoschisis treatment in sex-linked congenital retinoschisis]. AB - Overall study of 20 years of curative and prophylactic peripheral retinoschisis treatment in 60 cases of sex linked congenital retinoschisis. Peripheral retinoschisis was present in 36 out of 120 eyes. Twelve eyes of children under 10 years severely affected, have undergone surgery (8 improvements and 4 aggravations) and 21 cases were photocoagulated (18 stabilizations, 3 aggravations which were subsequently treated by surgery). Six cases were not treated. Aggravations after surgery or photocoagulation have always been observed in early postoperative follow-up period. The above findings bring to light the problems of treatment. An epidemiological study of these 60 patients demonstrates that peripheral retinoschisis into bullous phase is only present under 5 years of age with tendency to regress with age (none reported after age of 50). This study corroborates ad absurdum the results of some authors who think that this type of retinoschisis has a tendency to improve spontaneously, and that indications for prophylactic and curative treatment must be thought of very carefully. PMID- 2630126 TI - [The use of expansive gas in retinal detachment complicated by vitreoretinal proliferation]. AB - We used quantities of perfluoropropane as a substitute of vitreous in some cases of retinal detachment with vitreoretinal proliferation. It seems to be a good method compared with the injection of silicon oil for in 23 cases treated recently, the evolution of the vitreoretinal proliferation seems to have stopped better than with silicon oil. Postoperative intraocular pressure surveyance is highly advisable. PMID- 2630127 TI - [Treatment of subretinal neovessels in age-related maculopathy]. PMID- 2630128 TI - [Central areolar choroid dystrophy]. AB - Central areolar dystrophy is a dominantly inherited macular dystrophy characterized by a bilateral, symmetrical, well circumscribed loss of choroidal and retinal tissues. A family presenting such degeneration is studied on three generations in initial and late stages. Clinical, functional and angiographic datas are characteristic: earliest changes and evolution are analysed. PMID- 2630129 TI - [The contributions of Lille to the evaluation of ocular hypertension. A video film]. PMID- 2630130 TI - [Long-term results of the treatment of glaucoma in children]. AB - We have studied among 192 patients affected by congenital glaucoma the long term efficacy of 4 interventions. Elliot's trophination, iridencleisis, goniotomy, trabeculotomy. Trabeculotomy gives the best results and is the most suitable intervention in congenital glaucoma. PMID- 2630131 TI - [Isolated plasmacytoma of the orbit]. AB - A case is described of a 62 years-old man who developed solitary plasmocytoma of the lacrimal sack. Treatment was by excision. PMID- 2630132 TI - [Treatment of subretinal neovessels in idiopathic recurrent multifocal choroiditis]. AB - We have conducted a retrospective study about 25 patients who have presented subretinal neovascularization and idiopathic recurrent multifocal choroiditis. Final visual acuity level (mean 20/30) was almost the same as the pre laser treatment visual acuity level (mean 20/25) for a follow up of 12 months. We have also studied the main clinical, angiographic and serologic features of these cases of multifocal choroiditis. PMID- 2630133 TI - [Bacterial endophthalmitis: treatment with a combination of fosfomycin and pefloxacin apropos of 9 cases]. PMID- 2630134 TI - [Lacrimal involvement in viral keratoconjunctivitis. Preventive and therapeutic consequences]. PMID- 2630135 TI - [Calculation of the implant power: the importance of usually neglected factors]. PMID- 2630136 TI - [Indications and monitoring of insulin pumps at the Hospital Center in Mans]. PMID- 2630137 TI - [Informatization of a department of ophthalmology. Preliminary study]. PMID- 2630138 TI - [The photomotor reflex at birth]. PMID- 2630139 TI - [Psychomotor relations of the strabismic and dysgraphic contractors]. PMID- 2630140 TI - [Strabismus and parental function]. AB - In this work, the authors pointed out that the perturbation of connection between parents and children was the primary factor of squint in 10% in cases. They proved it with two examples. PMID- 2630141 TI - [Study of visual evoked potentials using a half-field pattern reversal under acupuncture in homonymous lateral hemianopsia]. AB - The visual evoked potentials by half-field pattern reversal method were recorded in 12 hemianopic patients. The VEP amplitudes ipsilaterally to the occipital lesion were more important after periorbital acupuncture. PMID- 2630142 TI - [Photographic study of retinal nerve fibers in glaucoma and ocular hypertension]. AB - Photographic study of retinal nerve fiber (RNF) in glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Photographic study of retinal nerve fiber layer try to show defects in case of glaucoma or ocular hypertension. After describing the method used and the different aspects met, we present the results of confrontation between the exam and campimetry for 49 eyes, with control of the evolution for 30 eyes during an average time of thirty months. PMID- 2630143 TI - [Clinical aspects of Coats]. AB - Coats' disease associates on exudative retinopathy to vascular telangiectasis. The authors analyse the different factors which take part to many clinical aspects of the Coats' exudation: the age of the patients and the vascular trouble which causes the exudative retinopathy. PMID- 2630144 TI - [Statistical data on the distribution of care services in treatment of periodontitis of bacterial origin in exclusively periodontal offices]. PMID- 2630145 TI - [Tetrahydroisoquinoline and parkinsonism]. AB - In squirrel monkeys (n = 13), 20 mg/kg/day of TIQ was injected subcutaneously for 43 to 104 days. Behavioral scores of motor disturbance were analysed; ranging from 20/45 to 30/45 (mean 27.8 +/- 4.18). Dopamine, total biopterine and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were decreased in the substantia nigra of TIQ treated monkeys compared to saline treated monkeys (n = 5). Levodopa was administered in 5 TIQ treated monkeys and remarkable recovery was recorded in these monkeys for more than 2.5 hours. In mice 50 mg/kg/day of TIQ was similarly administered for 70 days. TH staining was negative in about half of the cells of the substantia nigra, but cell bodies were preserved intact when checked by cresyl violet staining. Importance of use of aged animals was indicated in this kind of study. PMID- 2630146 TI - [A susceptible factor to acquire parkinsonism: sparteine oxidation polymorphism]. AB - Recently, we found that hepatic oxidative enzyme(s) functions to attenuate neurotoxic effects of MPTP by converting the agent to its inactive metabolite(s) and reducing the amount of MPTP reaching at the brain in mice. Since the factors affecting the neurotoxic effects of MPTP may be related to the cause of spontaneous Parkinsonism, we studied the oxidation polymorphism of sparteine in 49 patients with parkinsonism. Although no poor metabolizer was found in patients with Parkinsonism, mean metabolic ratio of the patients was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater than that of healthy subjects. Furthermore, the value showed a significantly negative correlation (r = -0.327, p less than 0.05) with the onset of age. In addition, the percentage of the presumed heterozygotes (metabolic ratio less than 1.4) was tended to be greater in the patients with the onset of age, younger than 49 years (10/31) than in those with the onset of age, older than 50 years (2/18). These results suggest that decreased capacity of sparteine oxidation may be one of the susceptible factors to acquire Parkinsonism in human. PMID- 2630147 TI - [Application of NMR in the neurology--in its future]. AB - The development of NMR technique is surprisingly progressive also at present. In this article, firstly we want to report our clinical experiments about mainly congenital and development anomalies, vascular disorders, dysmyelinating or demyelinating disorders, and neurodegenerative disorders. Secondly we report about the new techniques of MR imaging and MR spectroscopy those are applicable in clinical studies at present and in the near future. Fast scan imaging technique using gradient echo acquisition enables us to perform CSF cine-mode study, MR angiography, and three-dimensional imaging. Detectability of intracranial calcification is higher in the fast scan images than in the conventional spin-echo images. MR imaging and spectroscopy using other than proton are not performed screening at present. However, in vivo MR imaging of sodium, fluorine, and phosphorus can be used, and their clinical utilities are now evaluated. In vivo MR spectroscopy of proton is also used in some institutes. Its clinical utility is already reported and this application in clinical studies is strongly expected. PMID- 2630148 TI - [Disorders of the nervous system associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-clinical approach]. AB - The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and characterized by disorders of the nervous system in addition to opportunistic infection and cancer. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend the classification system consisting of four major groups. Group I is patients with acute HIV infection, and Group II is asymptomatic carriers. Group III is those with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL). Group IV includes five subgroups: IVA with constitutional disease, IVB with neurologic disease, IVC with secondary infectious diseases, IVD with secondary cancers and IVE with other conditions. The nervous system disorders are classified into two types: one is produced by HIV itself and not directly related to immunodeficiency, and the other caused by opportunistic infectious agents and cancers. The former is further divided into two kinds: atypical aseptic meningitis and acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) occur mainly in Group I and II, whereas HIV encephalopathy, distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) and vacuolar myelopathy in Group III and IV. Group I or II patients have no apparent medical problems. Therefore, when neurologists see patients with risk factors for HIV infection presenting with atypical meningitis or AIDP, it is of utmost importance to have a high index of suspicion and to look for evidence of HIV infection. PMID- 2630149 TI - [Neuropathology of AIDS: Montefiore experience]. AB - From September 1982 to December 1988 113 cases of AIDS have been autopsied and the brains examined at Montefiore Medical Center. Findings in four areas were presented; 1. Opportunistic infections In approximately one third of cases there were opportunistic infections which were often the cause of death. Cryptococcus, cytomegalovirus and toxoplasma were the three most common infections followed by papovavirus (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) and herpes zoster. Tuberculosis, aspergillosis, histoplasmosis and infection with mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection were found in only one case each. 2. Malignant lymphoma Both primary and metastatic lymphomas were seen in almost 10% of the cases. 3. HIV encephalitis This conclusion is regarded as the pathological substrate of "AIDS dementia complex" described by the neurologists. In general, it was characterized by cerebral atrophy and diffuse pallor of the white matter with gliosis. The basal ganglia and other areas of the CNS were also often involved. Histologically, there was perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages and multinucleated giant cells. Microglial nodules were commonly seen. Electron microscopic and other techniques demonstrates the HIV virus within macrophages and multinucleated cells. 4. Cerebrovascular lesions These lesions are known in AIDS but their high frequency is not generally appreciated unless a careful search for microinfarcts is made. Microinfarcts were found in approximately 1/3 of our cases. PMID- 2630150 TI - [30th meeting of the Societas Neurologica Japonica. 24-26 May 1989. Abstracts]. PMID- 2630151 TI - The diabetic heart: a porcine model evaluated with positron emission tomography using 1-11C-palmitate and 3-11C-pyruvate. AB - The potential value of positron emission tomography (PET) in evaluating the myocardial energy metabolism was studied in two previously healthy mini-pigs before, during and after the induction of non-insulin dependent diabetes with alloxan. The distribution and kinetics of radioactivity derived from trace amounts of 11C-pyruvate and 1-11C-palmitate were followed in different sections of the myocardium. The early distribution of both tracers was similar even after the development of diabetes. The elimination of 11C-pyruvate derived radioactivity was slower in the diabetic heart. The rate of beta-oxidation was also decreased as suggested by the elimination curve of 11C-palmitate and the incorporation of 11C-palmitate into the triglyceride and phospholipid pool of the myocardium was increased in the diabetic animals. The results are consistent with previous observations using other techniques. Positron emission tomography offers the opportunity to characterize regional tissue metabolism quantitatively in vivo. This method may become a powerful tool in studying myocardial metabolism and the metabolic basis for the cardiac dysfunction in diabetes mellitus. PMID- 2630152 TI - A comparative evaluation of the 75 G OGTT and the 50 G OGTT during pregnancy. AB - The aim of the present study was to establish reference values for the diagnosis gestational diabetes (GD) by the 75 g OGTT using the 3 hr 50 g OGTT as a reference. Women with an area of greater than or equal to 42 AU in the 50 g OGTT were regarded as gestational diabetics. Sixty-one women with a 3 hr area of greater than or equal to 39 AU in the 50 g OGTT were subject also to a 3 hr 75 g OGTT within one week. 25/61 had GD according to the result of the 50 g OGTT. The 2 hr concentration in the 75 g OGTT had the highest correlation (r = 0.62, p less than 0.001) to the 3 hr-area in the 50 g OGTT. A 2 hr B-glucose concentration of greater than or equal to 8.0 mmol/l in the 75 g OGTT will give about the same number of GD patients (25/61) as a 3 hr-area of greater than or equal to 42 in the 50 g OGTT and have an acceptable sensitivity without too low specificity. PMID- 2630153 TI - [Imaging properties of a high-resolution CT system]. AB - This paper provides an overview of the most important imaging properties of a high-resolution computed tomography system. Spatial and contrast resolution (inplane as well as crossplane) are described, while the trade-off between those two characteristics is pointed out. Furthermore, it is shown that extremely small structures are imaged, but not with realistic Hounsfield units. Finally, the noise is set into relation to the contrast resolution. PMID- 2630154 TI - [Combination fractures of the pelvic girdle: comparison of CT with the conventional pelvic image]. AB - 102 polytraumatised patients with pelvic fractures were studied by conventional x rays of the pelvis as well as by computed tomography to obtain detailed information on type and degree of the fractures. We paid particular attention to acetabular and sacral fractures and combinations thereof. We found that only computed tomography enabled us to precisely define type and degree of pelvic injury. We thus draw the conclusion that each patient with proven or suspected pelvic injury should be subjected to a CT study to enable the surgeon to plan his therapy-conservative or surgical-to the best benefit of the patient. PMID- 2630155 TI - [Computerized tomography image of entero-enteric invagination]. AB - A case demonstrating the computertomographic appearance of entero-enteric intussusception in an adult patient is presented. Unlike conventional barium studies CT is able to demonstrate completely the intussusception complex. Its characteristic CT-appearance allows a definite diagnosis. PMID- 2630156 TI - Commission of the European Communities COMAC-BME Workshop on Fetal Electro- and Phonocardiography. Ischia, Italy, 15-18 September 1988. PMID- 2630157 TI - The effect of changes in the conductive medium on the fetal ECG throughout gestation. AB - The electrical conduction of the ECG from the fetal heart to the maternal abdomen has been modelled by using volume conductor models based on the measured actual geometry. The models have been verified by means of multi-lead recordings of the fetal ECG. The results show that early in pregnancy (less than 28 weeks) the conduction can successfully be described by an electrically homogeneous model. Based on this model, a description of the fetal ECG that is independent of the position of the fetus is derived. In late pregnancies, the conduction is dominated by the isolating effect of the vernix caseosa. As the distribution of the vernix over the fetal body is unknown, the shape of the fetal ECG is disturbed in an unintelligible way. As a consequence, caution has to be applied when using the shape of the fetal ECG for diagnostic means. PMID- 2630158 TI - Spectral analysis of antepartum heart rate variability. AB - The present paper illustrates the basic methodological aspects of the power spectral analysis applied to fetal ECG starting from a gestational age around the 25th week of gestation until term. An abdominal ECG signal is recorded and fetal and maternal QRSs are recognised through selective digital filtering and averaging techniques. Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the discrete R-R series is then calculated through an autoregressive (AR) technique. In analogy with what happens in adult human subjects, fetuses manifest variability in correspondence to particular bands in the spectrum which are sensitive to the sympatho-vagal balance which controls many cardiovascular functions and respiration in different physiological conditions. Such a method is easily implemented on a personal computer and may be used to asses the development of the autonomic nervous system in fetuses as well as to show the physiopathological reasons which perturbate the relevant control mechanisms. PMID- 2630159 TI - Long-term ST waveform changes in the ovine fetal electrocardiogram: the relationship to spontaneous labour and intrauterine death. AB - The experimental evaluation of the fetal ECG waveform as a method of fetal surveillance has been based largely on experimentally induced hypoxia. The present data, obtained from chronically instrumented fetal lambs, includes three fetuses monitored throughout spontaneous labour, six fetuses with spontaneously developed long-term ST waveform changes and another three fetuses which died in the post-operative period. Uterine contractions could by themselves cause an increase in T wave height (T/QRS ratio greater than 0.30). If the ST elevation was normalised between contractions the fetus seemed to compensate to a moderate degree of hypoxia. When oxygenation was further reduced the T wave remained elevated between contractions and a progressive increase occurred in the T/QRS ratio (greater than 0.60) during the final stages of labour, in parallel with increasing blood lactate levels. Long-term ST changes with T/QRS consistently exceeding 0.30 were found to be related to low haemoglobin levels and/or fetal hypotension. Subsequently, all these fetuses died during labour as compared with a survival rate of 40% in fetuses showing a normal ST waveform. In this group negative T waves are reported as a sign of failing myocardial response to hypoxia. Death in utero, whatever the cause (bleeding, infection or spontaneous hypoxia) was always preceded by marked ST waveform changes. It is concluded that ST elevation with high peaked T waves can appear on a long-term basis in fetuses with intrauterine complications. PMID- 2630160 TI - Electrocardiogram waveform in fetal sheep: a system for ECG analysis. AB - Computerised ECG analysis is helpful for the analysis of fetal ECGs, recorded during animal experiments. It provides a tool for rapid measurement of characteristics of ECG signals. Such an ECG analysis system is described. The different steps of the signal analysis are discussed and preliminary results are presented. The current version of the program is implemented in Turbo-Pascal and runs on an IBM-compatible PC with an 8087 processor and an EGA colour display. PMID- 2630161 TI - Variability of the ECG waveform in fetal and neonatal lambs. AB - Changes in the waveform of the fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) are being investigated by several groups for its clinical significance with regard to the assessment of fetal condition. During our experiments with fetal lambs we frequently observed spontaneous FECG waveform changes, also during steady state in control animals. From the examples presented we conclude that the FECG waveform can be very sensitive to changes in the electrode position relative to the fetal heart. Such changes can easily be caused by fetal movements. ECG leads with a minimal sensitivity to these effects should be selected. PMID- 2630162 TI - A transducer for recording fetal movements and sounds based on an inductive principle. AB - Recording fetal breathing movements requires a transducer with a large dynamic range. The compliance of the transducer should be matched to the compliance of the maternal abdominal wall in order to pass the very weak acoustic signal caused by heart sounds and fetal breathing movements on to the transducer. The output signal is stored on the hard disc of a personal computer (PC) simultaneously with a control signal indicating the presence of breathing movements. Ultrasound imaging is exclusively used for verification of breathing movements. The images are stored on videotape simultaneously with control signals from the PC for synchronisation of data and image. Substantial digital filtering is necessary to discriminate between actual breathing movements and other fetal activities. It is shown that by optimal adjustment of the transducer's compliance to that of the maternal abdominal wall individual breathing movements can indeed be measured. PMID- 2630163 TI - Real time processing and analysis of fetal phonocardiographic signals. AB - The monitoring of fetal heart rate (FHR) is commonly used in assessing the general health of the fetus. Although certain periodic cycles may be indicative of fetal problems, only short term observations are routinely employed in clinical practice. This is due to cost considerations, inconvenience to the patient and concern about long term ultrasonic monitoring. Therefore only a low confidence assessment can be established between detected rhythms and the health of the fetus. The technique advocated in this paper makes use of an inexpensive, non-invasive phonocardiographic (phono) transducer which facilitates safe long term patient monitoring. A variable comb filter applied to the frequency domain is used in order to take full advantage of the harmonic content of fetal heart signals. Real time estimation of FHR has been achieved on pre-recorded phono signals lasting eight hours. Recordings with a reasonable signal quality were analysed and some of the results are given. Advanced signal processing techniques followed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms reduce the number of erroneous estimates during periods of low signal to noise ration (SNR). The resulting FHR time series is stored on the host computer for further processing, display and parameter extraction. This paper outlines the processing steps involved. PMID- 2630164 TI - Description of a real-time system to extract the fetal electrocardiogram. AB - An overview is given of the FEMME-project (Fetal Electrocardiogram Measuring Method and Equipment). The project started in 1981 and is, at the moment, close to producing a prototype personal computer-based system. This records simultaneously a number of cutaneous potential signals and derives from this set one or more maternal electrocardiogram-free fetal heart signals, by combining linearly the recorded signals. An on-line adaptive algorithm based on the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) has been designed to compute the coefficients in these linear combinations. This algorithm will be implemented on a DSP board that can be plugged into the real-time recording system. The system will be very useful in studies of the fetal electrocardiogram during pregnancy, but also in all other studies such as fetal heart rate variability, fetal movements, etc., where a precise trigger of the electrical signal from the fetal heart is required. PMID- 2630165 TI - A laser interferometer to measure fetal heart activity. AB - The function, some specifications and preliminary results of a new device, a so called laser microphone for detection of fetal heart activity, are presented. The fundamental principle of the new transducer is based on a Michaelson interferometer. Though the device was built only to discover whether it is possible to detect vibration of the maternal abdomen due to fetal heart activity, the results showed much more than that. The findings suggested the construction of a comparable based on a laser diode. PMID- 2630166 TI - Stimulating associates: the ultimate resource in research. PMID- 2630167 TI - A search for the osteogenic factor in dentin. Rat incisor dentin contains a factor stimulating rat muscle cells in vitro to incorporate sulfate into an altered proteoglycan. AB - Demineralized dentin matrix has the capacity to induce bone formation via a chondrogenic pathway when implanted into muscle, in a fashion entirely analogous to bone matrix implants. In this work we have attempted to isolate, from rat incisor dentin, the matrix factor responsible for initiating osteogenesis. Rat incisor dentin was demineralized with EDTA plus 4.0 M guanidine. HCl. The proteins in the extracts were collected and, after a CaCl2 precipitation step, fractionated on Sephacryl S-200 in 6.0 M guanidine. HCl. The primary assay for activity was the incorporation of 35S-sulfate into proteoglycan in cultures of the fibroblast-like outgrowth cells from explants of neonatal rat muscle. Two Sephacryl S-200 fractions showed enhanced sulfate incorporating activity, but only one showed enhanced incorporation without a concomitant increase in cell number. In the presence of this fraction, the cell cultures produced a larger amount of a new small proteoglycan, as compared to controls, and a significant amount of a much larger proteoglycan. The active fraction had proteins in the Mr range from 8,000 to 15,000 as the major components. These data suggest that the fraction identified may contain the factors responsible for initiating the osteogenic response to dentin matrix upon its implantation in muscle in vivo. PMID- 2630168 TI - Further characterization of osteogenic-cell growth promoting activity derived from healing bone marrow. AB - During its osteogenic phase, post-ablation regenerating bone marrow produces bone promoting activity to osteogenic cells. In the experiments reported, activity derived from (rat) healing bone marrow conditioned medium (HBMCM) after boiling was analyzed using chromatography on heparin-Sepharose. The activity in HBMCM was shown to be divided among at least six independent activities that stimulated DNA synthesis rates is osteogenic rat osteosarcoma (ROS) cells. Three activities resolved when heparin-Sepharose was washed isocratically with phosphate buffered saline. Two of these were resistant to reduction and acidification and their effect was considerably more potent in osteogenic than non-osteogenic ROS cells. Three additional activity peaks recovered when the heparin-Sepharose column was pumped with an NaCl gradient. Two of them eluted at 0.3 and 0.65 M NaCl, affected osteogenic and non-osteogenic ROS cells to a similar extent and may be attributed to platelet-derived growth factor. A third peak, resolved at 1.2 M NaCl, implies the residual activity of acidic fibroblast growth factor that persisted after boiling of the conditioned medium. It is concluded that the activity profile of HBMCM reflects the in vivo situation where the osteogenic phase of marrow regeneration is probably regulated by multiple growth factor species. PMID- 2630169 TI - Monokines produced by macrophages stimulate the growth of osteoblasts. AB - We have previously reported that the J774A.1 macrophage-like tumor cell line produces two potent monokines which stimulate the growth of osteoblasts and chondrocytes. These growth factors, which have an affinity for heparin-agarose, have been termed HEP I (a 30 Kd PDGF-like molecule) and HEP II (an approximately 20 Kd molecule), respectively, based on their elution profile. Unlike HEP I, HEP II does not stimulate the growth of fibroblasts. Extensive biological and chromatographic studies disclosed that HEP II appears to be a unique bone cell mitogen unlike any known growth factor, including the FGFs, IL-1s, and TNFs, EGF, IGF-I and -II, TGF-beta, beta 2 microglobulin, G-CSF, CSF-1 and GM-CSF. To characterize more fully the effects of the macrophage-derived monokines on osteoblast growth and function, clones were derived from calvaria explant cultures. Two clones, SDFRC-2.05 and SDFRC-3, were developed and found to exhibit osteoblastic characteristics, including high levels of alkaline phosphatase, synthesis of type I but not type III collagen, and an increased intracellular cAMP production in response to PTH. The SDFRC-3 cells exhibited a polygonal morphology like that of the explant-derived cells while SDFRC-2.05 cells exhibited a more fibroblastic morphology. When tested on the explant cultures and clones, HEP I and HEP II were found to stimulate DNA synthesis and increase protein per culture, but decreased alkaline phosphatase activity. Clone SDFRC-3 was found to be more responsive to HEP II than clone SDFRC-2.05. Both monokines were found to be more potent mitogens for bone cells than TGF-beta. HEP II, but not HEP I or TGF-beta, induced a transformation of bone cells from a polygonal to a fibroblastic morphology, suggesting the induction of migration prior to proliferation. Thus, macrophages may be responsible not only for bone repair but also for ensuring the linkage of bone formation to resorption during physiological remodeling. PMID- 2630170 TI - Association of the C-propeptide of type II collagen with mineralization of embryonic chick long bone and sternal development. AB - Several proteins may play a role in bone formation. The C-propeptide of type II collagen is intimately associated with endochondral bone formation in bovine growth plate. We have used an antibody against this peptide to determine its immunofluorescent distribution in early stages of embryonic chick limb development with emphasis on first bone formation which occurs in the mid diaphyseal region. The C-propeptide II is first evident by immunofluorescent localization at stage 27 (day 5-6) of embryonic tibia development with chondrocytes in the central mid-diaphysis. In subsequent stages, there is an increase in the number of chondrocytes in which it is localized in discrete vacuoles. Up to stage 30, immunofluorescence is observed intracellularly, after which it appears in the matrix. The released C-propeptide II appears to remain only transiently associated with the cartilage matrix and becomes concentrated in the calcifying periosteum, the region outside of the cartilage core where bone formation first occurs in a sequence of events comparable to intramembranous bone formation. These observations can be reproduced in cultures of stage 35 hypertrophic chondrocytes (core cells) and periosteum cells (collar cells). Core cells contain intensely stained intracellular vacuoles while collar cells are negative, although the collar cell osteogenic matrix concentrates exogenously added C-propeptide II. Double label immuno-staining shows that the C-propeptide II, unlike type II collagen and proteoglycan, which are secreted and incorporated into extracellular sites, is initially stored in intracellular vacuoles. The matrix localization of the C-propeptide II during the transition from cartilage to bone indicates a close association with the initiation of mineralization events of cartilage and bone and its specific origin in chondrocytes and not osteoblasts. These observations suggest that the C-propeptide II made by chondrocytes is associated with the formation of bone. PMID- 2630171 TI - The potential role of platelet-derived growth factor as an autocrine or paracrine factor for human bone cells. AB - Platelet-derived growth factor, PDGF, is a potent mitogen for cells of mesenchymal origin such as fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and glial cells. PDGF is thought to have the potential to act as both a paracrine and an autocrine factor. Studies described here extend these observations to human bone-derived cells. Exogenous PDGF induces biologic activity in two human osteogenic sarcoma cell lines and in one of these, the two PDGF genes, PDGF-1 and PDGF-2/c-sis are expressed. In addition, PDGF stimulates proliferation of normal osteoblastic cells derived from adult human cancellous bone. The expression of the PDGF-1 gene but not the PDGF-2/c-sis gene is demonstrated in normal human adult bone-derived cells by Northern blot analysis and synthesis of PDGF is shown by immunoprecipitation with PDGF antisera. These studies indicate that PDGF has the potential to act as a paracrine or autocrine regulator of bone cells. PMID- 2630172 TI - Collagen metabolism in human colon adenocarcinoma. AB - The collagen metabolism has been studied in a human colonic adenocarcinoma. The overall collagen content was decreased in the tumor. The internal layers of the tumor tissue have the lower collagen content. Stroma cells and epithelial transformed cells, obtained from colon adenocarcinoma explants, were "in vitro" cultured in order to explain the decreased collagen content in the tumor. Cells from the epithelial lineage (both round-shape cells, and those derived from them, epithelial-like cells) showed an almost negligible ability for collagen synthesis. Stroma cells (fibroblast-like cells) maintained a normal ability for collagen biosynthesis but exhibited a 2-fold increased non-collagenous protein synthesis as well as a decreased collagen secretion, when compared with control fibroblasts from non-affected colon regions. The alterations in the stroma cells are not due to soluble factors produced by adenocarcinoma cells. Thus, the fibroblast-like cells, which have been studied for the first time, would be related to the alterations of the extracellular matrix contributing to the invasiveness of the tumor cells. PMID- 2630173 TI - The three-dimensional 'knit' of collagen fibrils in articular cartilage. AB - TEM stereoscopy of thick sections has been used to reconstruct the 3-dimensional relationships of collagen fibrils in the general matrix of articular cartilage in its relaxed and deformed states. As well as identifying a variety of fibril interactions involving direct physical entwinement which are assumed to provide matrix cohesion the study also highlights the functional importance of the repeatedly kinked morphology exhibited by the radial fibrils. It is suggested that these fibril kinks, in accommodating local compressive strains that approach 100%, function as macro-molecular hinges and permit the collagen elements to undergo large spatial rearrangement without risk to their structural integrity. PMID- 2630174 TI - Increased fibronectin production by cell lines from hypertrophic scar and keloid. AB - Primary cell lines of fibroblasts from 8 tissues were established--three from hypertrophic scars (HS), one keloid (K) and four from the normal uninvolved dermis adjacent to each lesion. The objective was to quantify and compare all eight cell lines on the basis of fibronectin (FN) produced per cell and per total protein (PR). Two hypertrophic scars and their adjacent skin cell lines were evaluated by the ELISA method for FN and a micro Lowry assay for PR. The scar lines showed statistically significant increases in the amount of FN/cell compared to the cell lines from their adjacent normal dermis. The third hypertrophic scar and the keloid with their adjacent skin cell lines were assayed for FN and PR by radioimmunoprecipitation. Subconfluent cells were metabolically labeled with 35S-methionine for 20 hours. Harvested media and cell monolayers were assayed for radioactivity incorporated into FN and PR. The percentage of FN/PR was significantly higher in media for HS and K compared to the adjacent normal skin lines in the three passages tested. These results support our previous immunofluorescence studies and demonstrate that a fibroblast-type cell line from a hypertrophic scar or keloid produces more FN/PR over time than the normal fibroblast-type cell line from adjacent uninvolved dermis. PMID- 2630175 TI - Immunohistochemical studies using BRL 12, a monoclonal antibody reacting specifically with osteogenic tissues. AB - A monoclonal antibody of immunoglobulin class G1 has been produced which reacts with a high molecular weight antigen apparently present exclusively in osteogenic tissues. Immunohistochemical studies have shown that the antigen is present throughout the mineralized matrix and in osteoid. None of the other tissues examined namely liver, intestine, kidney, spleen, thymus, heart, lung, skin, cartilage and skeletal muscle showed evidence of specific antibody binding. Immunohistochemical staining was also demonstrated in tissues developing from rabbit marrow cultured in vitro and in diffusion chambers in vivo. Temporal studies of antigen expression in the chambers indicated that the antigen occurs at sites of bone formation after the appearance of alkaline phosphatase but before the formation of a mineralized matrix. The results of these studies suggest that the monoclonal antibody recognises a product of differentiated osteoblasts. This antibody may therefore prove useful in studies of osteogenic differentiation. PMID- 2630176 TI - 5'-thioadenosine derivatives as potent and selective inhibitors of histamine N methyltransferase. AB - Several new analogues of adenosine bearing a lipophilic side chain at the 5' position have been synthesized and investigated for their ability to inhibit histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT). The 5'-deoxy-5'-[4-(3-indolyl)but-1 yl]thio]adenosine (2e), exhibited a pI50 of 5.00 against guinea pig brain HNMT. Interestingly, the polar methyl sulphonium analogue (1c) was a more potent inhibitor of this enzyme (pI50 = 5.26). Both compounds were relatively ineffective inhibitors of rabbit adrenal phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), rabbit lung indoleamine N-methyltransferase (INMT), and rat brain catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT). 5'-[N(4-phenylbutyl)]-amino-5'deoxyadenosine (2a) and 5'-[N-methyl,N-(4-phenylbutyl]-amino-5'deoxyadenosine (2b) also exhibited potent and selective inhibition against guinea pig brain HNMT. Results from kinetic studies indicate that the above compounds are inhibitors that compete for both the histamine and the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) binding sites of HNMT. Compound 1c is one of the most potent adenosine analogue inhibitors of HNMT known. PMID- 2630177 TI - Effect of biliary diversion on the ability of cefamandole to inhibit vitamin K metabolism. AB - The effect of biliary diversion on the ability of cefamandole, a methyltetrazole thiol (MTT) containing antibiotic, to alter both hepatic vitamin K metabolism and the gamma-carboxylation of glutamic acid were examined in the rat, in order to understand the hypoprothrombinemia associated with MTT-containing antibiotics. At a dose of 3 gm/kg, cefamandole decreased the activity of hepatic vitamin K epoxide reductase at 24 but not at 4 hours after its administration. This inhibition occurred with or without diversion of the bile duct from the intestine. When vitamin K was used as the cofactor in the enzymatic reaction, carboxylation of glutamic acid was also found to be reduced in both biliary diverted as well as in biliary intact rats. Carboxylation of glutamic acid was not reduced when vitamin K hydroquinone was used. These results suggest that part of the mechanism underlying the hypoprothrombinemia associated with MTT containing antibiotics is linked to the ability of the MTT group to inhibit vitamin K metabolism. Furthermore, biliary secretion of the intact antibiotic may not be required for the effect upon vitamin K metabolism to be observed. PMID- 2630178 TI - Application of colour laser microscope for observing living biological specimens. AB - Pollen-mother cells from Lilium longiflorum, human metaphase chromosomes and human spermatozoa, were observed under a colour laser microscope. Helical mitochondrial strands were clearly evident in the middle piece of human spermatozoa. The technique enables living specimens to be conveniently and effectively examined. PMID- 2630179 TI - Trivalent behavior during prophase I in male mice heterozygous for three Robertsonian translocations: an electron-microscopic study. AB - A synaptonemal complex (SC) analysis was carried out in male mice heterozygous (CHT/+) for three Robertsonian translocations. All pachytene preparations studied showed the presence of three trivalents. At early pachytene, the nonhomologous centromeric regions of the acrocentric chromosomes were unpaired. Heterosynapsis subsequently took place with complete pairing of the trivalents. Association between one of the three trivalents and the sex vesicle was observed in 30.4% of the nuclei. Association between the unpaired regions of two trivalents was present in 14.4% of the cells, suggesting that the relationship between unpaired regions of structural rearrangements and the X-Y bivalent may simply reflect the tendency of unpaired regions to establish end-to-end associations or heterosynapses among them, which are usually resolved during the pachytene stage of prophase I. Since the sex bivalent always has unpaired regions, these associations often affect the sex chromosomes. PMID- 2630180 TI - Meiosis in trisomic female mice with Robertsonian translocations. I. Prophase pairing. AB - The prophase oocytes of two murine Robertsonian translocation (Rb) trisomies of chromosomes 16 and 19 were investigated using electron microscopy and a whole cell micro-spreading technique after silver staining. About 20% of fetuses of each type were trisomic. They were obtained by mating animals heterozygous for two Rb's, monobrachially homologous for either chromosome 16 or 19, to an entirely acrocentric stock. Because of the almost inevitable prenatal mortality of the trisomic embryos, their fetal ovaries were "rescued" by an in vitro method for prophase studies. Analysis of the recovered oocytes showed frequent, close pairing associations of the three trisomic axes and evidence suggesting that the closely apposed axes coincided with the side-by-side formation of parallel, complete, true synaptonemal complexes; hence, the cytogenetic dogma that pairing is always two-by-two was contradicted. The presence of two parallel complexes has implications for crossing-over recombination. Triple associations of axes were found in almost half the trisomy 19 (Ts19) and in about 70% of the trisomy 16 (Ts16) prophases. The extent of triple associations varied and was greater in Ts16 than in Ts19 oocytes. Other relevant observations concerned the proportions of univalents and of univalence of the trisomic axes (21% in Ts16 and 46% in Ts19) and the distinctive, thickened appearance of all univalent axes. The pairing behaviour observed in balanced heterozygotes confirms what appears to be nonhomologous pairing and synaptic adjustment within the short-arm axes of the Rb trivalents. PMID- 2630181 TI - Meiosis in trisomic female mice with Robertsonian translocations. II. Chromosome behaviour at first and second meiotic metaphases. AB - First and second meiotic metaphases (MI and MII, respectively) from female mice of Robertsonian translocation (Rb) stock, trisomic for chromosome 16 (Ts16) or 19 (Ts19), were studied. The mature trisomic oocytes were derived from explanted fetal ovaries that had been cultured and then transplanted so as to mature heterotopically. Multivalent configurations involving the Rb chromosomes and the additional trisomic acrocentric were analysed. Pentavalent configurations occurred in 74.5% of 98 Ts16 MI and 44.2% of 249 Ts19 MI oocytes; quadrivalents (with a univalent acrocentric) were found in 9.2% of Ts16 MI and 10.8% of Ts19 MI oocytes. In 1% of Ts16 MI and 4% of Ts19 MI oocytes, there were two Rb bivalents and a univalent trisomic acrocentric. Rb trivalents and Rb bivalents occurred together in 14.3% of Ts16 MI and 39.4% of Ts19 MI oocytes. Chiasma frequencies were similar in trisomic and chromosomally balanced MI. Chiasma position, distribution, and localization were nearly identical, whether they were found in Rb multivalents or acrocentric bivalents, but one control group (from chromosomally balanced Ts19 littermates) had significantly more terminal chiasmata. Within the triple homologous region of 8% of Rb pentavalents, two chiasmata were observed in the same relative position in the two sister chromatids of one of the three homologs, suggesting a lapse in chiasma position interference. Assortment at MI anaphase was influenced by secondary nondisjunction of the Rb. The ratio of balanced to unbalanced MII oocytes was 1:4 in both trisomies. PMID- 2630182 TI - Localization of the acetylcholine receptor gamma subunit gene to human chromosome 2q32----qter. AB - The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of skeletal muscle (CHRN in man, Acr in mouse) is a transmembrane protein composed of four different subunits (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta) assembled into the pentamer alpha 2 beta gamma delta. These subunits are encoded by separate genes which derive from a common ancestral gene by duplication. We have used a murine full-length 1,900-bp-long cDNA encoding the gamma subunit subcloned into M 13 (clone gamma 18) to prepare single stranded probes for hybridization to EcoRI-digested DNA from a panel of human x rodent somatic cell hybrids. Using conditions of low stringency to favor cross species hybridization, and prehybridization with rodent DNA to prevent rodent background, we detected a single major human band of 30-40 kb. The pattern of segregation of this 30-40 kb band correlated with the segregation of human chromosome 2 within the panel and the presence of a chromosomal translocation in the distal part of the long arm of this t(X;2)(p22;q32.1) chromosome allowing the localization of the gamma subunit gene (CHRNG) to 2q32----qter. The human genes encoding the gamma and delta subunits have been shown to be contained in an EcoRI restriction fragment of approximately 20 kb (Shibahara et al., 1985). Consequently, this study also maps the delta subunit gene (CHRND) to human chromosome 2q32.1----qter. In the mouse, the Acrd and Acrg genes have been shown to be linked to Idh-1, Mylf (IDH1 and MYL1 in humans, respectively) and to the gene encoding villin on chromosome 1. Interestingly, we have recently localized the human MYL1 gene to the same chromosomal fragment of human chromosome 2. These results clearly demonstrate a region of chromosomal homoeology between mouse chromosome 1 and human chromosome 2. PMID- 2630183 TI - Closely linked loci on the long arm of chromosome 13 flank a specific 2;13 translocation breakpoint in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma. AB - A specific chromosomal translocation, t(2;13)(q35;q14), is present in tumor cells from about one-half of children with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, who generally have widely disseminated disease at diagnosis. Using a series of six DNA probes from five loci previously assigned to bands 13q12----q14, we have localized the translocation breakpoint on chromosome 13 by in situ hybridization. Each probe was used to examine metaphase spreads from two or more rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines that have the t(2;13), as well as from control lymphoblastoid cell metaphases. All six probes bound to chromosome 13q12----q14 in the control cell line, but showed no appreciable hybridization to other sites. With rhabdomyosarcoma metaphases, cDNA clones of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (RB1) and the esterase D gene (ESD), as well as the arbitrary genomic fragment 7D2 (D13S10), showed specific hybridization to the normal chromosome 13 and the der(2) marker, but not to the der(13). By contrast, the genomic fragments HU10 (D13S6) and 7F12 (D13S1) hybridized specifically to the normal chromosome 13 and the der(13), but not to the der(2). Thus, the breakpoint of this translocation lies distal to D13S6 and D13S1 and proximal to ESD, RB1, and D13S10. Our data indicate that the locus affected by the translocation breakpoint on chromosome 13, which we have termed RMS, is physically distinct from the RB1 locus and is, in fact, proximal to ESD, which others have placed at least 10(6) bp proximal to RB1. The consistent presence of the der(2) marker chromosome, coupled with occasional loss of the der(13), suggests that the RMS gene, or at least a critical component, moves to chromosome 2 in tumors with this translocation. PMID- 2630184 TI - Genetic convergence during serial in vitro passage of a polyclonal squamous cell carcinoma. AB - A cell line was established from an in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (Bowen's disease), and its in vitro karyotypic evolution was cytogenetically analyzed. Initially, considerable genetic heterogeneity was evident. Nine cytogenetically abnormal clones, eight of which were apparently unrelated, were found among the 83 metaphases analyzed from the primary culture and the first passage. With increasing time in culture this complexity was reduced, so that a single clone dominated passages 7-11. The clone that emerged from this genetic convergence had a t(12;17)(p13;q21) as the sole abnormality. Our findings indicate that the cytogenetic multiclonality that has been repeatedly detected in short-term cultures of squamous cell carcinomas is not caused by the in vitro conditions. Instead, the principles of Darwinian selection apply: the altered, but stable, selection pressure facing a newly established and initially multiclonal cell line will lead to a reduction of genetic heterogeneity until the one clone that now has the proliferative advantage outgrows the other subpopulations. PMID- 2630185 TI - Trisomy 7 and sex chromosome loss in human brain tissue. AB - Short-term cultures of nonneoplastic brain tissue from 11 patients, seven of whom had a malignant brain tumor, were cytogenetically examined. In only a single case was a wholly normal chromosome complement detected; the remaining ten cases exhibited mosaicism with clonal numerical aberrations found alongside cells carrying a normal karyotype. The abnormal clones were characterized by trisomy 7, the loss of the Y chromosome in men and an X chromosome in women, or by combinations thereof. No structural aberrations were present. Our findings demonstrate that although -Y, -X, and +7 have in the past repeatedly been associated with brain tumors, these changes presumably reflect normal in vivo organ mosaicism and, thus, should not be accepted as neoplasia-specific in this context. PMID- 2630186 TI - Chromosome banding and DNA replication patterns in bird karyotypes. AB - The karyotypes of the domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus), Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix), and griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) were studied with a variety of banding techniques. The DNA replication patterns of bird chromosomes, analyzed by incorporation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and deoxythymidine (dT), are presented here for the first time. In particular, the time sequence of replication of the ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes throughout the S-phase was meticulously analyzed. BrdU and dT incorporation are very useful methods to identify homoeologies between karyotypes, as well as rearrangements that occurred in the macroautosomes during speciation. The Z chromosomes of the three birds displayed the same replication patterns, indicating a high degree of evolutionary conservation. In the homogametic male, BrdU and dT incorporation revealed no evidence of asynchronous replication between euchromatic bands in the ZZ pair. The same was true of the three Z chromosomes in a triploid-diploid chimeric chicken embryo. Minor replication asynchronies between the homologous ZZ or ZZZ chromosomes were restricted to heterochromatic C-bands. These results confirm that, in the ZZ male/ZW female sex-determining system of birds, dosage compensation for Z-linked genes does not occur by inactivation of one of the two Z chromosomes in the homogametic male. The heterochromatic W chromosomes of the three species showed bright labeling with distamycin A/mithramycin counterstain enhanced fluorescence and exhibited significantly delayed DNA replication. The nucleolus organizers of birds, frequently located in microchromosomes, were also distinguished by bright distamycin A/mithramycin fluorescence. PMID- 2630187 TI - Assignment of the gene coding for human peroxisomal 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase (ACAA) to chromosome region 3p22----p23. AB - The chromosomal location of the human gene coding for peroxisomal 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase (ACAA) was determined with the aid of cDNA and genomic probes by screening of rodent x human somatic cell hybrids and in situ hybridization. The results localize the gene to chromosome region 3p22----p23. PMID- 2630188 TI - Analysis of the sex-chromosome constitution of digynic triploid mouse embryos. AB - LT/Sv strain mice regularly ovulate up to 50% of their eggs as primary oocytes, which are fertilisable and give rise to digynic triploid embryos. A similar number of eggs are ovulated as secondary oocytes and, following fertilisation, give rise to normal diploid embryos. Pregnant LT/Sv females were autopsied at about midday on day 10 of gestation, when normal diploid embryos would be expected to possess between 25 and 30 pairs of somites. While a few of the triploid embryos either consisted of disorganised embryonic masses or were resorbing, most were at readily recognisable embryonic stages. Just over half of the embryos recovered were "unturned," while the remainder had "turned" and possessed between 15 and 25 pairs of somites. The triploids were usually readily recognised, owing to their small size and because they often displayed neural tube and cardiac defects. All of the embryos recovered were analysed cytogenetically by G-banding to establish their ploidy and sex-chromosome constitution. The XY:XX sex ratio of the 105 diploid embryos recovered, all of which had "turned," was 1.06:1, while the overall XXY:XXX sex ratio of the 120 triploids was 1:1. Analysis of only the developmentally most advanced triploid embryos (i.e., the 49 that had "turned") revealed that the XXY:XXX sex ratio in this group was 1.13:1, which was not significantly different from the expected ratio of 1:1. The crown-rump lengths of the XY and XX "turned" embryos were almost identical, as were those of the XXY and XXX "turned" embryos, although the triploids were significantly smaller than the diploids. No obvious effect of sex chromosome constitution on developmental potential was therefore observed in this study in relation to either the digynic triploid or the control diploid embryos. PMID- 2630189 TI - Expression of rat hepatocyte plasma membrane antigens in hybrid clones: assignment of genes coding for two antigens of the basolateral domain to chromosomes 11 and 13. AB - Expression of three rat hepatocyte plasma membrane antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was examined by immunofluorescence in mouse hepatoma x rat hepatocyte hybrid clones segregating rat chromosomes. The antigen defined by mAb B1, a marker of the lateral domain of the hepatocyte plasma membrane in vivo, was expressed in hybrids retaining the rat chromosome 11. The antigen defined by mAb A39, mainly located on the sinusoidal (basal) domain of the plasma membrane in vivo, was expressed when chromosome 13 was present. The genes coding for these two antigens were thus assigned to chromosomes 11 and 13, respectively. The antigen defined by mAb B10, exclusively located on the canalicular (apical) domain of the plasma membrane in vivo, was not expressed in most hybrid clones, and the chromosome location of the gene could not be determined. PMID- 2630190 TI - Fine localization of genes on distal murine chromosome 15. AB - The following genes were localized by in situ hybridization on distal chromosome 15 of the mouse: thyroglobulin (Tgn) to 15D3/E, parvalbumin (Pva) to 15E, and the NADH-dependent cytosolic form of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gdc-1) to 15F1-3. These genes belong to three different conserved chromosomal linkage groups on human chromosomes 8, 22, and 12, respectively. PMID- 2630191 TI - Assignment of the gene coding for the alpha 1 chain of collagen type XIII (COL13A1) to human chromosome region 10q11----qter. AB - The gene coding for the alpha 1 chain of human type XIII collagen. COL13A1, is assigned to chromosome region 10q11----qter by Southern blot hybridization of DNA from 24 human x rodent somatic cell hybrids using a cloned cDNA as probe. A number of previous reports indicate that 10 of the collagen genes are located on six autosomes, but no other collagen genes have been found on chromosome 10. The data therefore provide further evidence for the dispersion of members of the collagen gene family throughout the genome. PMID- 2630192 TI - Localization of the PRR1 gene coding for rat prostatic proline-rich polypeptides to chromosome 10 by in situ hybridization. AB - The gene coding for rat ventral prostatic proline-rich polypeptides (PRR1) was mapped to chromosome region 10q26----q31 by in situ hybridization. The high percentage (40%) of specific hybridization signal obtained is probably the result of the highly repetitive structure of the PRR1 gene. PMID- 2630193 TI - Assignment of the human 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene (HSDB3) to the p13 band of chromosome 1. AB - Three-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSDB3) is the enzyme which catalyses the oxidative conversion of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxy steroids to the delta 4-3-keto configuration and is therefore involved in the biosynthesis of all classes of hormonal steroids, namely progesterone, glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, androgens, and estrogens. Deficiency of the enzyme is associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and is usually lethal in early life. Despite its crucial role, chromosome assignment of the gene for this enzyme has not been reported. Using in situ hybridization, we report that hybridization with labeled human HSDB3-specific cDNA yielded 27% of silver grains associated with chromosome 1 with a maximal concentration in the p13 band. PMID- 2630194 TI - [A terminology of intracapsular dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint]. PMID- 2630195 TI - [Management of operative consequences. Use of the Helium-Neon laser]. PMID- 2630196 TI - [Ophthalmic complications of dental origin. Therapeutic approach for the dentist]. PMID- 2630197 TI - [Modeling of form for restoration of anterior guidance]. PMID- 2630198 TI - [Magnetic holder for canal instruments]. PMID- 2630199 TI - [The role of intraoral mucosal receptors in the completely edentulous in the discrimination of the layers]. AB - Studies on proprioceptive sensitivity in edentulous subjects let appear prevalent mucosal receptors compared to muscular or articular receptors. Neurophysiological mechanism seem identical in edentulous patients and statistical studies allowed us to highlight the functional characteristics of receptors in the intraoral mucosa; they replace the missing desmodontal receptors. The perception accuracy of extremely thin layers permits the practitioner to perfect his occlusal equilibration as well as to control his patient's occlusal vertical dimension with a new method of reference. The use of patient's sensitive information through their lemniscal systems should lead to a better integration of our dentures and avoid a physiopathology such as dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint. PMID- 2630200 TI - [Occlusal corrections in complete dentures]. PMID- 2630201 TI - [Pre-prosthetic surgical ridge augmentation]. AB - After detailed examination of most products used for rehabilitation of atrophied alveolar borders, the authors describe the procedure of surgical use of hydroxylapatite blocks placed under periosteum. In a further stage, this method can be completed by a vestibuloplasty combined with a depression of the floor covered and protected by a graft. PMID- 2630202 TI - [Monophyodontic molars: retained or permanent tooth?]. PMID- 2630203 TI - [The operating microscope and dentistry]. PMID- 2630204 TI - [Endodontic retreatment]. PMID- 2630205 TI - [The cost of oral pathology in black African countries. Evaluation of some problems]. PMID- 2630206 TI - [Intrapulpal anesthesia]. PMID- 2630207 TI - Laminar technique offers both simplicity, economy. PMID- 2630208 TI - Making a good impression: old silicones may be best. PMID- 2630209 TI - Luting agents developing into more durable cements. PMID- 2630210 TI - DentalMac's users praise flexibility. PMID- 2630212 TI - Technician training system emphasizes denture quality. PMID- 2630211 TI - Instrument craftsmanship endures. PMID- 2630213 TI - Plaque control rinses bolster oral regimen. PMID- 2630214 TI - Fluoride battle endures, but supporters still win. PMID- 2630215 TI - Home bleaching may lure new patients. PMID- 2630216 TI - ICS system part of broader office management approach. PMID- 2630217 TI - 'Tooth shaping' requires an objective view. PMID- 2630218 TI - Laminate success relies on preparations. PMID- 2630219 TI - Biomedical modalities assist appearance-related dentistry. PMID- 2630220 TI - Superior strength, beauty mark ceramic restorations. PMID- 2630221 TI - Caution crucial in diastema upkeep. PMID- 2630222 TI - Mechanical aids supplement conventional home therapies. PMID- 2630223 TI - Clinicians shifting to indirect resins. PMID- 2630224 TI - Porcelain laminates add esthetic choices. PMID- 2630225 TI - Improved materials pique interest. PMID- 2630226 TI - [Study of the hepatic tolerance towards normothermic occlusion of total blood flow during hepatectomy]. AB - In this report, duration of normothermic occlusion of total hepatic blood flow varied from 20 to 60 minutes averaging 35 minutes during hepatectomy in 27 patients. There was no mortality within 30 days postoperation, nor post-operative encephalopathy, though transient and slight SGPT elevations were observed in the majority of patients, and in two cases marked elevations were found to last for 20 and 44 days respectively. The authors discussed the hepatic tolerance towards total occlusion of blood supply at room temperature. PMID- 2630227 TI - [Multiple system organ failure in postburn: characteristics of plasma amino acid profiles]. AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of various plasma amino acids in 30 burned patients (76.83 +/- 14.4% TBSA, with III. 42.16 +/- 27.95% TBSA) and identify the alterations in plasma profiles characteristic of patients who later developed MSOF (n = 16) versus those who did not developed MSOF (n = 14). The levels of amino acids were analyzed by use of individual amino acid and the ratio of BCAA (Branched-Chain Amino Acid) to AAA (Aromatic Amino Acid) and Phe to Tyr. The results showed that: (1) The patients who developed MSOF later had significantly lower levels of Pro, Gly Arg, Val, Leu, Ile, and BCAA/AAA, and higher values of Phe, Trp, Tyr, and Phe/Tyr than those who did not develop MSOF. (2) The incidence rate of MSOF increased as the ratio of BCAA/AAA decreased. When the ratio lower than 1.5, eight of ten patients developed MSOF. (3) The higher of the values of Phe/Tyr, the more of the incidence of MSOF. When Phe/Tyr was higher than 2.0, six of seven developed MSOF. These data suggested that: (1) Both BCAA/AAA and Phe/Tyr were the indices of prognosis available in severe trauma patients. (2) Alterations in metabolism as reflected in plasma amino acids patterns were thus critical indicators of MSOF. (3) Liver may be the earliest involved and the most severe injured organ in multiple system organ failure. PMID- 2630228 TI - [Clinical significance of serum secretory immunoglobulin A in cholelithiasis and biliary tract obstruction]. AB - The sera of 93 patients with biliary tract diseases and other diseases were analyzed for secretory immunoglobulin A (sIg A) by sandwich enzyme immunoassay and the results were compared with that in a control group of 117 adults. Serum SIg A levels in patients with bile duct stones or non-cholelithic extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction were markedly higher than that in the control group (P less than 0.001). After drainage of biliary tract, the obstruction was relieved and serum SIg A levels decreased significantly (P less than 0.001). A strong correlation was observed between serum SIg A concentrations and severity of biliary obstruction, rs = 0.743, P less than 0.001. It was also showed that, for the diagnosis of bile duct stone, serum SIgA was more sensitive than serum bilirubin (P less than 0.05) and AKP (P less than 0.025). PMID- 2630229 TI - [CT myelography with low concentration and/or a low dose of nonionic contrast water-soluble medium]. AB - This paper presented the results of CT myelography with a low concentration and/or low dose of nonionic contrast water-solvable medium was used for 170 patients. The results had shown that the micro-structure within the spinal canal was shown clearly, the quality of film screen images were good, the interval between the time of injection and that of scanning was shortened, the scope of plain CT was widened, and its diagnostic accuracy was high. The side effects did occur infrequently and were usually mild in nature. PMID- 2630230 TI - [Planning of a local flap of expanded scalp for repair of alopecia cicatrisata]. AB - Tissue expansion of scalp opens a new way for the treatment of alopecia cicatrisata. From May 1986 to April 1988, 56 cases of alopecia cicatrisata and skull outcrop had been repaired by Chinese tissue expander in our department. All cases got good results. Of them, the area of alopecia was over 120 cm2 and the greatest one (320 cm2) consisting of two third of the total scalp in 21 cases. There were 49 cases repaired by one expansion and other 7 cases followed by a secondary expansion. The characteristics of the expanded scalp and the common types of local flap design had been discussed. It was applicable for all kinds of alopecia cicatrisata and both for children (over 3 yrs) and adults. The results of scalp expansion in children revealed superior than that in adults. We considered that the repairing of alopecia cicatrisata by scalp expansion had more advantages than other methods. PMID- 2630231 TI - [Dynamic change in the ligmenta flava of the cervical spine in motion]. AB - Cervical spine specimen from fresh cadaver of 10 young persons, 8 males and 2 females, aged from 23 to 32 years, were divided right through the midline after frozen under -30 degrees C. Changes in length and thickness of each ligmenta flava were measured in hyperflexion and hyper extension as well as in neutral position. Being stretched long and thin in flex and contracted short and thick in extension, the ligmenta flava stuck into the spinal canal in position of hyperextension, mostly at C5-6 (3.50 +/- 0.34 mm) and then C4-5 (3.25 +/- 0.50 mm), C6-7 (2.96 +/- 0.61 mm) in descending order. This experiment definitely demonstrated that segmental narrowing of spinal canal , due to sticking in of ligmenta flava at each intravertebral level, was fashioned in hyperextension. PMID- 2630232 TI - [Clinical study of colic vessels with respect to their significance in the replacement of the esophagus by the colon]. AB - In 162 cases of esophageal replacement by colon we observed the configuration, distribution and pulsation of the middle, left, right and marginal colic arteries. Observation showed that the middle colic artery had only one major stem in 120 cases, 2-4 branches in 37 cases, and was absent in 5 cases. The middle colic artery originated from the superior mesenteric artery in 126 cases, had one stem originating from the superior mesenteric artery and another from the right colic artery in 10 cases. The middle and the right colic arteries forming one stem and originating from the superior mesenteric artery were seen in 21 cases. The distributive patterns of the middle colic arteries showing "T" type was seen in 37 cases, "V" type in 28 cases, and multiple paralleled branches in 9 cases. Vascular anastomoses between the ascending branch of the left colic artery and the middle colic artery were available in 157 cases (97%), 12 cases with the arc of Riolan. The nearest distance between the marginal artery and the colic wall was at the splenic flexure. The origin of the right colic artery varied greatly and its distributive area was small. We advocated the use of the ascending branch of the left colic artery for blood supply and the transverse colon for replacement of the esophagus in an isoperistaltic fashion (131/162 cases) to be the procedure of choice. PMID- 2630233 TI - Hispanics in dentistry. PMID- 2630234 TI - Cerebral blood flow velocity assessed by Doppler technique after intravenous application of diazepam in very low birth weight infants. AB - Studies on the side effects of diazepam on the particularly vulnerable brain of preterm infants have not been done so far. We studied changes of blood flow velocity in the anterior, basilar and internal carotid artery by Doppler technique in 11 preterm infants less than 1,500 g who were given 0.5 mg/kg i.v. diazepam. The flow velocities in the internal carotid and basilar artery did not change significantly and values for carbon dioxide tension, mean arterial blood pressure and HF remained stable. There was a marked increase of flow velocity in the anterior cerebral artery. We conclude that diazepam in this dosage does not cause dangerous haemodynamic changes in the premature brain. PMID- 2630235 TI - Vancomycin pharmacokinetics in infants: relationship to postconceptional age and serum creatinine. AB - Multidose pharmacokinetics of vancomycin were studied in 15 infants with gestational age less than 36 weeks and suspected or confirmed Staphylococcus epidermidis infections. Postconceptional age (PCA) at the time of the study ranged from 26 to 44 weeks. Vancomycin individual doses ranged from 6.7 to 10.6 mg/kg and were infused over 60 min. Five postinfusion samples were obtained in 13 infants, while 4 samples were obtained in 2 patients. Vancomycin pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by fitting the data to a two-compartment model using a weighted least-squares nonlinear regression method. Mean vancomycin body clearance (CL), volume of distribution (Vdss) and terminal elimination half-life were 1.37 ml/min, 0.58 liters and 5.6 h, respectively. When standardized for patient weight, the CL and Vdss values were 1.07 ml/min/kg and 0.48 liters/kg, respectively. The CL (ml/min/kg) was strongly inversely correlated with the serum creatinine (r = -0.82), while a weaker but significant association was noted with PCA (r = 0.41). These data suggest that in sick infants, in addition to the PCA, serum creatinine should be considered when determining the initial vancomycin dosing regimen. PMID- 2630236 TI - Phenobarbital for treatment of seizures in preterm infant: a new administration scheme. AB - The serum concentration of phenobarbital used as an anticonvulsant was monitored in 30 preterm babies. The therapeutic serum concentration was achieved with a loading dose of 20 mg/kg i.v., 10 min after administration. Thirty-six hours after loading, it was possible to maintain therapeutic serum levels with a daily intramuscular dose of 5 mg/kg, avoiding toxicity. A comparison of CSF and serum concentrations indicated that the drug passage to CSF is rapid and depends on a brain lesion. Serum monitoring of phenobarbital is important in preterm neonates under 30 weeks gestation and/or with severe pathological complications. PMID- 2630237 TI - Bilirubin displaces furosemide from serum protein: the effect is greater in newborn infants than adult subjects. AB - The protein binding of furosemide was studied in the serum from 7 umbilical cords and 7 healthy adult subjects in presence or absence of bilirubin. In cord serum, the unbound fraction of furosemide (mean +/- SD) was 2.32 +/- 0.14 (control), 2.94 +/- 0.26 (200 microM bilirubin) (p less than 0.001) and 3.52 +/- 0.38 (400 microM bilirubin) (p less than 0.001). Percent increase (mean +/- SD) of the unbound furosemide was 22 +/- 11 and 51 +/- 12 after 200 and 400 microM bilirubin, respectively. In adult serum, the unbound fraction of furosemide was 1.69 +/- 0.21 (control), 1.93 +/- 0.24 (200 microM bilirubin) and 2.15 +/- 0.38 (400 microM bilirubin). Percent increase of the unbound fraction was 14 +/- 8 and 28 +/- 16 after 200 and 400 microM bilirubin, respectively. Binding of furosemide was also studied in 5 cord and adult serum specimens previously dialysed for 18 h at 4 degrees C. Unbound furosemide in dialyzed serum was 1.39 +/- 0.05 (cord) and 1.25 +/- 0.04 (adult). Cord serum contains dialyzable compounds that enhance the unbound fraction of furosemide. Displacement effect of bilirubin was unchanged by dialysis and it was significantly higher in cord than adult serum. The different displacing effect of bilirubin might suggest the presence of qualitatively different albumin in cord serum. PMID- 2630238 TI - Vitamin E status in pediatric patients receiving antiepileptic drugs. AB - Decreased vitamin E levels have been reported in epileptic children receiving antiepileptic drugs (AED). In order to investigate the tocopherol status of patients receiving AED, the alpha-, beta, gamma- and delta-tocopherol concentrations were each determined in 447 patients' serum samples using a high performance liquid chromatographic method. In pediatric patient samples (n = 244, aged 1-16 years), there was a negative relationship (p less than 0.02; r = 0.153) between age and alpha-tocopherol levels, while there was a positive relationship (p less than 0.05; r = 0.142) between age and gamma-tocopherol levels. The mean (+/- SD) alpha-tocopherol levels (0.73 +/- 0.23 mg/dl) in the older children (n = 166, aged 7-16 years) were significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than the levels (0.83 +/- 0.23 mg/dl) found in the younger children (n = 78, aged under 7 years). Administration of alpha-tocopherol acetate, 3 mg/kg/day to 8 children and 5 mg/kg/day to 4 children, increased alpha- and total tocopherol levels (p less than 0.01 for both), while gamma-tocopherol levels and serum lipid peroxide levels were decreased (p less than 0.01 for both). In 203 epileptic patient samples (over 16 years of age), the mean alpha-tocopherol level (0.92 +/- 0.28 mg/dl) tended to be lower (p less than 0.1) than in 22 healthy adult controls (1.01 +/- 0.26 mg/dl). PMID- 2630239 TI - The influence of topical prostaglandins on HSA-induced uveitis in the rabbit. AB - In this study the effect of topical administration of prostaglandins (PGs) on a human serum albumin (HSA)-induced uveitis is evaluated. Topical prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) partly inhibited hyperaemia and flare in the anterior chamber after the induction of immune complex uveitis. A marked increase in the cellular response was observed in the aqueous humour after topical PGE1 and PGF2 alpha. Topical prostaglandins may decrease endogenous prostaglandin formation and reduce the prostaglandin-mediated inflammatory symptoms; on the other hand, they also stimulate the aqueous cellular response, possibly by facilitation of leukotriene formation. These results indicate that topical prostaglandins should not be used to treat immunogenic uveitis. PMID- 2630240 TI - Carcinoid tumour in the lacrimal gland. AB - A case of carcinoid tumour in the lacrimal gland is described, thought to be a metastasis from a known primary lesion in the mediastinum. The results of light and transmission electron microscopic examination are presented, and the possibility of the lesion representing a second primary tumour discussed. PMID- 2630241 TI - Abnormality of the pattern electroretinogram and pattern visual evoked cortical response in esotropic cats. AB - In six 3-week-old kittens, the tendon of the lateral rectus muscle of one eye was sectioned under anaesthesia in order to induce an esotropic (nasally-directed) squint. At maturity, the pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and pattern visual evoked response (PVER) were recorded under anaesthesia to phase-reversal at 1.67 Hz of a 0.5c/deg square wave grating pattern of 75% contrast. Refraction was determined by retinoscopy and confirmed by recording the PERG for different trial lenses. The amplitude and time-to-peak of the PERG and PVER were compared between operated and unoperated eyes, and with the responses of one normal and two sham operated cats. With stimulation of the operated eye, the amplitude of the PVER was consistently reduced by 50% compared with the non-operated eye, confirming that the cats had become amblyopic as a result of the squint. While the appreciable inter-eye variations in the amplitude of the PERG of the normal and sham-operated cats precluded identification of a change in the esotropic cats, there was a consistent prolongation of the time-to-peak of the PERG by 50% with stimulation of the operated eye. This result is consistent with a retinal component to strabismic amblyopia. PMID- 2630242 TI - Prevalence of tapeto-retinal dystrophies among Danish children. AB - Age specific prevalence rates are presented based on 110 cases of pigmentary retinopathy (RP) recorded in the Danish child population of a little over one million individuals on January 1, 1988. A steady and steep rise in age specific prevalences of notified RP throughout infancy and childhood was found. The material consisted in 52 non-systemic and 58 systemic cases. 35 of the systemic cases could be nosologically identified, leaving 23 cases unidentified with respect to known diseases or syndromes. Among the genetic types autosomal recessive inheritance was the most common with 60 cases (55%). Parental consanguinity was less frequent than hitherto reported. On the other hand undetected carrier state for X-linked tapeto-retinal dystrophy played a more significant role than expected. A clear excess of males among the simplex cases indicated that some X-linked cases may still be unrecognized. A significant proportion of non-systemic, early infantile RP with an autosomal recessive or simplex mode of inheritance are clinically and electrophysiologically characterised as cone-rod dystrophies. PMID- 2630243 TI - [The use of monoclonal antibodies for identification of one of the microtubule proteins localized primarily in the centrosome and mitotic spindle]. PMID- 2630244 TI - [DNA replication in brain cell nuclei of adult rats following transplantation of embryonal nerve tissue]. PMID- 2630245 TI - [Transplantation of the nerve tissue into the brain of adult mice of mutant strain fidget]. PMID- 2630246 TI - [The effect of catecholamines on various components of lipolysis system during heart pathology]. PMID- 2630247 TI - [A new type of gland in the skin of mammals]. PMID- 2630248 TI - [Accumulation of chlorophenols in fishes in wood-pulp industry waste waters]. PMID- 2630249 TI - [CCCTC-binding protein: a new nuclear protein factor which interaction with 5' flanking sequence of chicken c-myc oncogene correlates with repression of the gene]. PMID- 2630250 TI - [The effect of zymosan activated blood plasma (products of the activation of complement system) on heart function]. PMID- 2630251 TI - Antiresorptive dose-response relationships across three generations of bisphosphonates. AB - The first generation of bisphosphonates was discovered in the late 1960s and is characterized by short alkyl or halide side-chains. Well known representatives of this class are 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-bisphosphonate (etidronate) and dichloromethane bisphosphonate (clodronate). The antiresorptive activity of these and other analogues was measured in an assay in which a drug was administered for 7 days to growing rats, followed by a morphological assessment of bone volume. In this model, the first generation analogues have antiresorptive activity at dose levels from 0.1 to 10 mg P/kg. Some first generation analogues are now used to treat metabolic bone disease but, when given orally, their efficacy in aggressive resorptive disease may be limited because of low potency. A second generation of bisphosphonates, characterized by an amino terminal group and a higher antiresorptive potency, includes 3-amino-1-hydroxypropane-1,1-bisphosphonate (pamidronate) and 4-amino-1-hydroxybutane-1,1-bisphosphonate. Their antiresorptive activity in growing rats ranges from 0.01 to 1 mg P/kg. In the 1980s a third generation of bisphosphonates, characterized by a cyclic chain, was synthesized. It includes series of pyridinyl ethane bisphosphonates, pyridinyl aminomethane bisphosphonates, indan bisphosphonates, cyclopentane bisphosphonates, piperidyl ethane bisphosphonates, pyridinyl and piperidyl hydroxyethane bisphosphonates, piperidinylidene aminomethane bisphosphonates, and pyridinyl oxa- and thiomethane bisphosphonates. Several of these show antiresorptive activity in growing rats as low as 0.001 mg P/kg. Many of the first-, second- and third-generation bisphosphonates have been tested in a model of retinoid-induced bone resorption, and in this model the rank ordering of potency is similar, though somewhat larger doses of bisphosphonate are required to block the resorption induced by the retinoid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2630252 TI - Bacteriolytic combination effect of cefminox and piperacillin evaluated by turbidimetry. AB - The bacteriolytic combination effect of cefminox (a potent bactericidal cephamycin) and piperacillin (a broad spectrum ureidopenicillin) was investigated using turbidimetry and expressed as a measure of the combination effect by the relative ratios of bacteriolytic area under the growth curves. Against 20 strains of Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, simultaneous treatment of both antibiotics showed synergy (five strains), indifference (15 strains) and no antagonistic effect. Pretreatment with piperacillin for 1 h followed by combined treatment with cefminox showed a profound enhancement of the bacteriolytic activity against 12 out of 20 strains, especially against Serratia, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas species. In contrast, pretreatment with cefminox against seven strains gave mainly an indifferent effect (four strains). The turbidimetric method gave results comparable with those obtained from the chequerboard method (FIC index), as far as Gram-positive and some of the Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, M. morganii) were concerned. For Serratia, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas sp., the turbidimetric method showed synergy or indifference in many cases, whereas the chequerboard method showed antagonism. Marked enhancement of lysis by the combination was ascribed at least partly to the D-amino acid side chain of cefminox. PMID- 2630253 TI - Esaprazole, a new antiulcer agent, stimulates gastric mucus output in the rat. AB - The effect of esaprazole, a new antiulcer compound endowed with gastro-protective properties, on rat gastric mucus was investigated after acute oral administration. Both soluble (luminal) and insoluble (parietal) mucus were examined for their content of: acidic and neutral glycoproteins; N acetylneuraminic acid by colorimetric techniques; and fucose by HPLC methods. One hour after dosing (50-200 mg/kg) a 2-15-fold increase in soluble mucus and a 2-4 fold increase in insoluble mucus output were observed. Under the same experimental conditions, carbenoxolone (200 mg/kg, p.o.) caused a similar increase in gastric mucus output. These results demonstrate that quantitative changes in both luminal and parietal mucus occurred after orally dosed esaprazole: it is tempting to speculate that this effect might be responsible, at least in part, for the gastro-protective action of the drug. PMID- 2630254 TI - Neurophysiological studies of L-acetylcarnitine administration in man. AB - Systemic administration of L-acetylcarnitine HCl (LAC) increases in human subjects the amplitude of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) obtained with patterned elements of 7.5 min of visual angle, of steady-state VEPs obtained with intermittent luminous stimulation, of EEG theta, alpha and beta bands. The latency of the "cognitive" P300 potential obtained with an auditory "oddball" paradigm was also reduced by LAC injection, while the amplitude of this potential was increased. These results were obtained in control volunteers and in patients affected by different forms of dementias. The modifications induced by LAC appear 10-15 min after the i.v. injection and last for 50-90 min. These results parallel previously described findings of animal experiments and suggest an effect of LAC on cholinergic neurotransmission. PMID- 2630255 TI - Scanning electron microscopic investigation on the effect of chronic toxicity of permethrin on the tongue papillae of albino rats. PMID- 2630256 TI - Exfoliative cytology of the oral mucosa under complete and over dentures. PMID- 2630257 TI - Dento-skeletal components of vertical and horizontal facial growth patterns. PMID- 2630258 TI - Atypical forms of histiocytosis-X of the lower jaw. PMID- 2630259 TI - Evaluation of inferior alveolar nerve integrity in resected ameloblastic mandibular lesions. PMID- 2630260 TI - Isomaltulose "palatinose". An anticariogenic substitute for glucose. PMID- 2630261 TI - [Root canal filling--manual and mechanical methods]. AB - A satisfactory apical seal can be achieved with all the methods listed in this article. The result depends on the experience and skill of the operator using his or her standard method. One single method, however, does not always adequately meet the requirements arising from the morphology of the canals, the alignment of the tooth in the dental arch, jaw opening, and the conditions governing the preparations of the root canal. The time saving aspect favors the use of engine driven instruments. The use of thermomechanical methods and the injection method is limited in the posterior jaw area. Similar to preparation, all methods present difficulties in handling certain situations, such as narrow, curved canals, or wide open foramina in straight canals. The so-called standard methods of manual techniques provide reliable good results in almost any situation. PMID- 2630262 TI - [Contact pattern of cultivated gingiva cells on different substrates]. AB - The question of contact with the surface of biomaterials has not been fully elucidated. The importance of the surface structure continues to be discussed in terms of the roughness profile. However, it can be demonstrated that surface structure alone is not the crucial parameter for the adhesion or the lack of adhesion of cells. Probably factors like serum coating of a substrate and fibronectin formation of cells are at least as important, if not decisive preconditions for cell adhesion and in particular for the active spreading of cells in contact with biomaterials. PMID- 2630263 TI - [Marginal gaps of combined composite and glass ionomer cement fillings in different preparations in vitro]. AB - In 34 extracted molars with class V cavities (coronal margin in the enamel, apical margin in the dentin) a shoulder or a shoulder with bevel were prepared on the apical aspect. The dentin was covered with glass ionomer cement (GIC) and after beveling the neighboring enamel composite material was applied on top with enamel etching. 24 other cavities filled with either composite or glass ionomer cement served as controls. The specimen were exposed to 2000 alternating thermal tests (1 min. at 8 degrees C, 1 min at 60 degrees C) and alternations of the filling margins were recorded quantitatively using replicas in the SEM. After the alternating thermal tests GIC controls showed statistically significant better margin in enamel and dentin with shoulder preparations alone than the combined or pure composite fillings. Combined fillings with beveled apical cavity margins were superior to shoulder preparations alone. Glass ionomer cement seems to be better for the treatment of class V cavities in terms of margin tightness than composite alone or in combination. PMID- 2630264 TI - [Removal of hard tooth substance with Excimer lasers]. AB - The usefulness of an Excimer laser (wavelength 308 nm) to remove enamel and dentin was assessed by examining the necessary energy flow density, micromorphological changes, and irradiated surfaces. Our results demonstrated that it is possible to remove dentin and enamel with the Excimer laser in controlled fashion. The temperature in the pulp cavity rose as a function of the distance to the site of irradiation (corresp. to distance between temperature measuring probe and irradiated tooth surface) and the duration of exposure and amounted to 3.5 degrees C-18.3 degrees C. Differences in the micromorphology of the surface structures were observed as a function of the material (enamel or dentin) and the duration of irradiation. PMID- 2630265 TI - [Preparation of hard tooth structure with Excimer lasers. In vitro study]. AB - The present study will show, that caries removal and conditioning of tooth surfaces by an (ArF)*-Excimer-Laser is an alternative to conventional preparation methods without thermal and mechanical irritations. This promises caries removal without pain to the patient. The photoablative process leads to retentive surfaces of the treated cavities. These findings promise good results in adhesive techniques. In vitro studies show, that photoablation of dental tissue is effective enough to make clinical usage possible. PMID- 2630266 TI - [Psychological aspects on the treatment with periodontal surgery]. AB - In a pilot study on psychological aspects of periodontal treatment more than 90% of 95 patients gave a positive rating of our approach of periodontal surgery by quadrants in cases of profound periodontitis. On the basis of their own experience with this course of surgery more than 90% of patients would recommend periodontal treatment to others. The results of our questionnaire survey confirm that their is no reason for doing periodontal surgery at one appointment. About half of the patient showed a reduction of their anxiety level in the course of surgical periodontal treatment. With increasing interval (1 year) a minor part of the patients partly modified their opinion on some of the questions asked. PMID- 2630267 TI - [Quantification of friction-induced corrosion of non-precious metal dental alloys]. AB - In six commercially cast non-precious metal alloy samples friction-induced corrosion products were quantified by means of an electrochemical method. For a prosthodontic tooth restauration a model calculation arrives at uncritical ion concentrations, if measurement criteria are the daily nutritional element uptake or element concentrations considered toxic for the tissue. In case of multiple restaurations for some alloys nutritional element levels may be reached or exceeded. PMID- 2630268 TI - [Effect of different hand instruments on the shape of the root canal]. AB - Six different types of root canal instruments have been tested in vitro for alterations of the original shape of the canal during the manual preparation of curved root canals. Blocks of transparent Plexiglas with simulated curved canals were prepared using a modified conical canal preparation method. The alterations were documented with the aid of superimposed photographs. Without exception, all types of instruments resulted in a straightening of the canals. Zones of increased loss of tooth structure were found mesially in the apical and coronal thirds. In the middle third this zone was on the distal side. The more curved the canals, the more pronounced was the alteration of the original canal shape. Marked differences in enlarging, straightening and perforations were observed between the instruments tested in the apical and coronal thirds. PMID- 2630269 TI - [Preparation of curved root canals using hand instruments and mechanical aids]. AB - Root canal preparation in curved canals was performed with handinstruments and three automated devices (Enac-Ultrasonic, Canal-Finder-System, Endolift). Ten curved roots canals in extracted teeth and 10 simulated curved canals in resin blocks were prepared with each device. The extracted teeth were cracked and investigated under the scanning electron microscope. Preparation with the ultrasonic system showed the best results in cleaning the middle and coronal part of the canal walls. The Canal-Finder-System gave the best results in maintaining the curvature of the canal. Hand preparation resulted in the best apical preparation. The use of the Endolift led to fractures of the instruments in four cases and to the worst results in cleaning the walls. With no method the canal preparation was perfect in form and cleanliness. Hand preparation should remain the standard method of root canals preparation. Nevertheless the use of automated devices such as Ultrasonics or the Canal-Finder-System may be helpful in certain strongly limited cases. PMID- 2630270 TI - [Bacteriological studies on the use of sonic and ultrasonic units in endodontics]. AB - Two units for root canal preparation operated in the sonic and ultrasonic range have been tested for their antibacterial action The Cavi-Endo-Unit (DeTrey/Dentsply) rendered the root canal absolutely sterile in less than 60s, while the Endo MM 3000 Sonic Air (Micro Mega) left the root canal with evident germs after as much as 5 min. PMID- 2630271 TI - [Studies into the effectivity of Caridex in caries removal]. AB - It was the goal of this study to find out if Caridex is a reliable method for removing dentine caries. Different lesions on 37 teeth were treated with the system and subsequently examined for caries. The macroscopic results were verified using undecalcified thin sections stained with toluidine blue and examined for residual caries under the light microscope. Even after applying the system for as long as 30 minutes there were only two cases where the floor of the cavity could be referred to as caries-free, while none of the enamel/dentin interfaces was caries-free in the cases treated. Histologically four preparations could be considered caries-free. The use of the Caridex system alone produced no satisfactory results. PMID- 2630272 TI - [Influence of self-tapping parapulpal posts on dentin structures]. AB - A combined light and scanning electron microscopic study in human molars examined the effects of seven different parapulpal screw systems on dentin structure. Dentin changes were systematically categorized into four different groups occurring alone or in combinations. Based on these observations a less traumatic screw system must be postulated. The assessment of a modified system demonstrated a considerable reduction of dentin lesions. PMID- 2630273 TI - [The periodontally affected tooth from the restorative aspect]. AB - On each periodontally affected tooth with loss of attachment caries lesions may develop under bacterial plaque on the root surface. The prevention of root caries follows the rules of prevention for crown caries: 1) optimized oral hygiene, 2) reduced intake of fermentable carbohydrates, and 3) fluor treatment. Successful periodontal therapy can prevent root caries with good professional management of the patient and/or adequate preventive measures on the part of the patient. If root fillings become necessary aspects of secondary caries prevention, like good margins and fluor treatment, and filling/margin/periodontium are of utmost importance. Progressive periodontal disease might affect pulp tissue. Careful endodontic monitoring of the tooth is indicated. There are yet no established measures for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity after periodontal treatment. PMID- 2630274 TI - [Possiblities and limitations of implantology in older patients]. AB - Inspite of major progress in preventive dentistry the loss of all teeth is still considered characteristic of old age. In addition to the classical procedures of preprothetic surgery for an improvement of the denture bearing structures the insertion of implants into an edentulous ridge has gained increasing importance in recent years. In view of the great clinical practicability and success rate of osseointegrated implant systems we decided to insert implants into an edentulous ridge also in patient with generally compromised health and severely atrophic jaws to restore of masticatory function in these cases. Complete restoration of masticatory function so far has been achieved in 35 patients over the age of 65 by insertion of osseointegrated implants alone or in combination with a bone graft. Results may be summarized by saying that age is not of particular relevance for patient selection before osseointegrated implants are inserted. It is more important to carefully assess morphological structures, physical and psychological status, and individual stress tolerance of the patient. PMID- 2630275 TI - [Use of periotest equipment for early detection of experimentally induced periodontal lesions]. PMID- 2630276 TI - [Temperature-dependent changes in the microcirculation of the dental pulp]. AB - Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to study the changes in the blood flow within the dental pulp as a reaction to thermal stimuli between 17 degrees C and 57 degree C. Temperatures below 31 degrees C resulted in a reduction, temperatures above 43 degrees C in an increase in blood flow. Temperatures higher than 49 degrees C caused irreversible damage to the pulp's microcirculation. Experimental nerve blocks showed that the reactive increase is linked to the afferent rather than the sympathetic innervation of the tooth pulp. PMID- 2630277 TI - [Caries prevalence, degree of cure, and oral hygiene in preschool children. 2. Improvement in oral health from 1983-1985]. AB - 341 children, age 3 to 6, were examined for caries prevalence and oral hygiene in kindergardens in Gottingen. 59% of subjects had healthy natural dentitions, the DFS was 2.3, which was 40% lower than in a comparable study two years before. Oral health had improved differently in the various institutions. The mean DSF was between 1 and 5.1. Only 20% of teeth with caries lesions had an intact filling. PMID- 2630278 TI - [Mechanical preparation of root canals using a Canalfinder as compared with hand operated instruments]. AB - In an in vitro study of 134 teeth the efficacy of manual canal preparation was compared with that of the mechanical method using the Canalfinder system. The superiority of the mechanical instrument in narrow and curved root canals is particularly evident in the buccal segment. Since, however, the canal lumen and the master point are not perfectly equal, it is necessary to finish the preparation with conventional hand instruments. PMID- 2630279 TI - [Comparison of two cavity preparations to examine the efficacy of dentin adhesives]. AB - Cylindrical cavities and class V cavities were treated with six different dentin adhesives before filling them with composites. Cavity margins were studied quantitatively with defined criteria before and after alternating thermal stress tests in a scanning electron microscope. In both cavity preparations groups of dentin adhesives with significantly different efficacies (p 0.05) were identified. The efficacy of dentin adhesives and their effect on marginal adaptation of composite materials in dentin can be determined rather easily in cylindrical cavities. PMID- 2630280 TI - [Erosions of hard tooth substance]. AB - Lemon juice was applied to intact and eroded tooth surfaces in vivo to demonstrate the development of erosions based on morphological changes. Under the influence of the fruit acid the protecting pellicles are removed and the enamel demonstrates the typical etch lesion with a honeycomb surface structure. In the dentin the acid works mainly on the peritubular area. Abrasive brushing techniques wear down the already damaged tooth surfaces. PMID- 2630281 TI - [Epidemiological studies in 14-16-year old pupils from schools in Lippstadt. 1. Caries occurrence and oral hygiene]. AB - In a cross-sectional examination we received a current state of the prevalence of caries of 14-16 year old pupils, who attend different types of schools in Lippstadt, a town with a balanced social structure. An average DMF-S-Index of 14.6 (DMF-T: 7.8) was found. The particular results show a clear influence of age, sex and type of school. Comparing our results with former examinations a tendency of reduced caries-prevalence can be derived from the low annual caries increment. PMID- 2630282 TI - [Influence of caries preventive measures on prevalence and incidence of caries in Hamburg preschool children]. AB - A decline in caries prevalence and incidence was observed in preschool children in Hamburg kindergardens and day care centres. On the occasion of dental exams staff and children were interviewed about measures of caries prevention. It was possible to establish complete records about oral hygiene, intake of sweets in the institutions, and ingestion of fluorides. Statistical analyses demonstrated that, apart from age and social class, the social environment of the children was of significant influence. The prevalence of caries also was significantly a function of the intake of sweets in the institution. The incidence of caries and fluoride ingestion at home correlated with high significance. The reduction of caries in Hamburg preschool children is predominantly due to the reduced intake of sweets in kindergardens and day care centres. PMID- 2630283 TI - [Opacity of composites and hard tooth substance on X-ray]. AB - The opacity of eleven composites, enamel, and dentin was determined quantitatively using densitometric measurements of X-rays. The reference material was aluminium 99.5% which was exposed with each film. Opacity values were 215% for enamel and 118% for dentin. Three of the composite materials demonstrated an opacity similar to enamel, one similar to dentin. The other materials showed higher values than enamel. Consequently, the majority of composites reaches opacity values necessary for the diagnosis of secondary caries. PMID- 2630284 TI - [In vivo contact angle measurements on filling materials before and after surface polishing]. AB - The adhesion of oral bacteria on teeth and filling materials is a function of the surface energy and consequently the contact angle of a drop of fluid on the respective material. This study determines the contact angle on various filling materials (composites, glass ionomere cement) before and after surface polishing. Thirty and sixty minutes after application of the filling materials composites demonstrated contact angles which partly were significantly smaller than on natural enamel. Glass ionomere cements did not show any significant differences from enamel. After surface polishing, one composite material and one glass ionomere cement showed significantly larger contact angles than before. Further studies are required to elucidate the clinical relevance of different contact angles. PMID- 2630285 TI - [Flexural strength tests of repaired amalgam specimen]. AB - Test results of four types of alloys: Flexural strength declined significantly with increasing age of the specimen, however, differently for the tested alloys. The increase in mercury content of the repair amalgam did not influence flexural strength. The combination of materials with each other demonstrated that none of the amalgams was particularly suitable as a repair amalgam. PMID- 2630286 TI - [Factors influencing the corrosion of amalgams]. AB - In a comparative corrosion test specimen were produced from eleven different amalgams using two different plugging pressures and were exposed to two different corrosive solutions. As was to be expected containing amalgams corroded the most. A more accurate differentiation between the individual non gamma 2 amalgams and the two different plugging pressures was only possible with the stronger corrosive solution. Therefore this solution seemed to be better suited for a standardized corrosion test according to DIN 13904, part 2. The greater plugging pressure inhibits corrosion especially in badly corroding amalgams. This seems to be due to the limited diffusion which is the result of a smaller pore size. PMID- 2630287 TI - [Optimizing marginal fit of amalgam restorations on the cervico-interproximal aspect]. AB - SEM studies were conducted to demonstrate that marginal fit and surface quality of cervico-interproximal amalgam fillings may be improved considerably by polishing the fresh filling with fine grain finishing paper. The time of finishing as a function of the amalgam used was crucial, while the method of plugging (manual or automatic) had very little influence on later finishing of the filling surface. PMID- 2630288 TI - [Mercury concentrations in blood and urine before and after placement of non gamma 2 amalgam fillings]. AB - The object of the study was to determine whether mercury concentrations in blood and urine were increased directly after placement of non-gamma 2-amalgam fillings. Our cohort consisted of 45 subjects, male and female, age between 19 and 45 years, who had amalgam fillings and were not exposed to mercury on their jobs. Thirty subjects received non-gamma 2-amalgam fillings, 15 did get new fillings. Cold, flameless atom absorption spectrometry was used to analyze mercury levels in blood and urine samples before and for 24 hours after placement of the amalgam fillings at one hour intervals. Mercury concentrations in blood (before and after) and - before placement of new non-gamma 2-amalgam fillings - in urin were below the normal upper limit in all 45 subjects. Mercury concentrations in urin after placement of new fillings did not show any increase over 24 hours. Median values varied between 1.0 and 2.1 micrograms Hg/g creatinine and thus were also within the normal range. PMID- 2630289 TI - Glyoxalase II from Zea mays: properties and inhibition study of the enzyme purified by use of a new affinity ligand. AB - The synthesis of N-(p-nitrocarbobenzoxy)glutathione (N-pNCBG) is reported. N pNCBG and glutathione (GSH) were coupled to Affi-gel 10 by a thioester linkage and resulted in very effective bound ligands for a fast purification of glyoxalase II from corn. The S-(N-pNCBG)-affinity column showed a glyoxalase II binding capacity of up to 2-fold higher than that of the glutathione-affinity column. A single form of glyoxalase II was evidenced by PAGE in both crude extracts and in the affinity purified enzyme. A 45% recovery of glyoxalase II activity (purification, approx. 433-fold) was obtained for both matrices by a single chromatography. The purified glyoxalase is an acidic protein (pI 4.5) of about 26,000 relative molecular mass. Substrate studies for the corn glyoxalase II show, among possible substrates tested, that S-D-lactyl-glutathione is the preferred substrate. An inhibition study was performed with methyl-, propyl-, hexyl-, p-nitrobenzyl-, p-chlorophenacyl-, carbobenzoxy-, and p-nitrocarbobenzoxy S-glutathione. Methyl-S-glutathione did not inhibit corn glyoxalase II; the others were found to be linear competitive inhibitors. The derivatives containing a thioether bond are weaker inhibitors than those containing a thioester bond or a carbonyl group. p-Nitrobenzyl-S-glutathione is the weakest inhibitor; the carbobenzoxy-S-derivatives are stronger inhibitors than the p-chlorophenacyl S derivative. PMID- 2630290 TI - Phospholipase C activity in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: partial characterization and effect of indomethacin. AB - Several hormones act at the cellular level to increase diacylglycerol via increased catabolism of phosphatidylinositol by phospholipase C. Diacylglycerol stimulates protein kinase C, leading to protein phosphorylation and hormone action. Since phospholipase C activity has not been well studied in man, we have established an assay for phospholipase C in human neutrophils. In this assay sonicates of neutrophils were incubated with L-3-phosphatidyl-[U 14C]-inositol and the incubation mixture extracted with chloroform/methanol. Following the additions of 2 mol/l KCl and chloroform, phospholipase C activity was determined by counting [14C] in the aqueous phase. The phospholipase C activity was linear with respect to time and the quantity of added enzyme. Optimum substrate concentration and pH were 2 mmol/l and 7.0, respectively. Optimal activity was dependent on Ca2+ (2 mmol/l) and deoxycholate (2 mmol/l). Naloxone, and PGD2, which affect various aspects of leucocyte function, had no significant effects on neutrophil PLC activity. The effects of various compounds with phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity were also tested on this enzyme. Of these, mepacrine, lidocaine and indomethacin inhibited the enzyme activity. The inhibition by indomethacin was of the noncompetitive type with an apparent Km of 0.17 X 10(-6) mol/l and apparent Ki of 3.6 X 10(-6) mol/l. From these data we conclude that indomethacin is capable of inhibiting phospholipase C activity in neutrophils at clinically significant levels and that this may be relevant in the therapeutic action of this drug. PMID- 2630291 TI - Special issue on race, reactivity, and blood pressure regulation. PMID- 2630292 TI - Patterns of cardiovascular responses to stress as a function of race and parental hypertension in men. AB - This study investigated cardiovascular responses to two stressors known to elicit either beta-adrenergic (mental arithmetic) or alpha-adrenergic (forehead cold pressor) reactivity in Black and White men. Participants in each group were selected for presence or absence of parental hypertension. Based on previous research, Blacks were expected to show smaller cardiovascular responses to the beta-adrenergic mental arithmetic task and greater responses to the alpha adrenergic cold pressor relative to the Whites. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate, forearm blood flow, and forearm vascular resistance were assessed during a resting baseline, a prestress period, and during and after each experimental procedure. Unlike previous findings, no significant racial differences in cardiovascular responses were found during either task. However, Black participants had significantly higher SBP and DBP levels throughout the cold pressor periods. Parental history did not significantly influence cardiovascular responses in either group. The results are discussed in relation to previous research on racial differences in stress reactivity and their implications for future research. PMID- 2630293 TI - Relationship of racial stressors to blood pressure responses and anger expression in black college students. AB - The physiological effects of racism, as a stressor, were examined as they related to blood pressure (BP) and anger experiences in Black college students. Current research has failed to consider the stressful effects of racism as a factor contributing to the higher incidence of essential hypertension among Blacks. Twenty-seven Black college students viewed three excerpts showing racist situations involving Blacks; anger-provoking, nonracist situations; and neutral situations. After each scene, BP was taken, and a mood checklist was administered. The Framingham Anger Scale and the Anger Expression Scale were administered. Analyses revealed that BP significantly increased during the presentation of racist stimuli but not of anger-provoking or neutral stimuli. Self-reports of state anger, as measured by the mood checklist, were significant for both the anger-provoking and racist stimuli. BP scores were significantly correlated to the two trait anger measures. Exposure to racist stimuli was associated with BP increases among Blacks. Such cumulative exposure to racism may have important implications for the etiology of essential hypertension. PMID- 2630294 TI - Associations of blood pressure with self-report measures of anger and hostility among black and white men and women. AB - This study examined associations between blood pressure (BP) and dispositional variables pertaining to anger and hostility. Black and White 25- to 44-year old male and female normotensives and unmedicated mild to moderate hypertensives completed four reliable self-report scales--the Cook-Medley Hostility (Ho) Scale, the Trait Anger subscale of the State-Trait Anger Scale (STAS-T), and the Cognitive Anger and Somatic Anger subscales of the Cognitive-Somatic Anger Scale- plus the Framingham Anger Scale and the Harburg Anger Scale. They also engaged in three laboratory tasks--Type A Structured Interview (SI), a video game, and a cold pressor task--that elicit cardiovascular reactivity. Ambulatory BP readings at home and at work were also obtained from most subjects. Blacks had significantly higher Ho and lower STAS-T scores than did Whites. Women reported higher levels of somatic anger than did men. White women showed significant positive correlations between STAS-T and systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) both at rest in the laboratory and during the SI. Black women revealed significant positive relationships between STAS-T and SBP and DBP at rest in the laboratory and at work as well as with DBP during the cold pressor test. For Black men, cognitive anger and DBP at rest were positively related. In contrast, White men revealed significant negative correlations between Ho scores and SBP at rest and during the video game; these men also showed significant negative relationships between somatic anger and SBP and DBP reactivity during the cold pressor test. Women, but not men, showed significant positive relationships between all four anger measures and ambulatory BP at work. Whereas main effects relating anger and cardiovascular measures were not apparent as a function of race, Blacks demonstrated significantly greater SBP and DBP reactivity than Whites during the cold pressor test, with the converse occurring during the SI. Men demonstrated significantly greater DBP reactivity than women during the video game. The present findings indicate that self-reports on anger/hostility measures and cardiovascular responses to behavioral tasks differ as a function of race but that relationships between anger and BP regulation need to take into account possible race-sex interactions and selection of anger/hostility measures. PMID- 2630295 TI - Impact of caffeine and psychological stress on blood pressure in black and white men. AB - The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of caffeine and psychological stress on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) in 40 healthy Black and White male regular coffee drinkers. Half the subjects had a positive family history of hypertension (FH+), and half did not. The effects of 250 mg of caffeine versus placebo (3 mg) in decaffeinated coffee were compared in a within-subject, double-blind, cross-over design. SBP and HR were measured at rest, after caffeine ingestion, during mental arithmetic stress, and during recovery. Results confirmed previous findings with White men that a moderate dose of caffeine produced significant increases in SBP and little effect on HR and that the pressor effects of caffeine and stress combined additively. Contrary to expectations, no overall race or family history differences in SBP levels or in SBP reactivity were observed. FH+ Blacks, however, evidenced slower SBP recovery than Whites. Whites evidenced higher overall HR levels than blacks, but this difference was not specific to caffeine or to mental stress. Mechanisms of racial differences in reactivity underlying differential risk for hypertension are discussed, as well as the utility of caffeine as a pharmacologic probe for such differences. PMID- 2630296 TI - Race differences in stress-induced reactivity in young adults. AB - The cardiovascular response to the stress of mental arithmetic was studied in young Black and White adults. Stress-induced reactivity was studied before and following 14 days of oral sodium loading (10 gm NaCl per day). Marginal hypertensives, both Black and White, had greater systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels (p less than 0.001) and greater diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels (p less than 0.01) in response to stress. Whites had a greater SBP level during mental stress than Blacks (p = 0.008) and greater reactivity (change from baseline; p less than 0.001). The prevalence of sodium sensitivity was greater in Blacks (37.3%) than in Whites (18.4%). Sodium loading did not augment the BP reactivity to the mental stress in any of the racial or BP groups. These data demonstrate racial variation in the cardiovascular response to centrally mediated adrenergic stimuli. The results also suggest that mild BP elevation in Blacks may be regulated through changes in vascular resistance. PMID- 2630297 TI - Renal vasodilatation and microvessel adenylate cyclase stimulation by synthetic parathyroid hormone-like protein fragments. AB - The hypercalcemia caused by malignancy factor, also called parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP), exhibits most of the biological activities of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in kidney and bone. On the basis of the well-documented vascular action of PTH, we characterized the vasodilator action of human (h) PTHrP-(1-34) on a preparation of the isolated rat kidney, and its activity to stimulate adenylate cyclase in microvessels isolated from rabbit kidney cortex. Injection of sequential cumulative doses of hPTHrP-(1-34) into the isolated kidney preparation produced increasing vasodilatation up to 10(-8) M (EC50 of 3 x 10(-9) M) and decreasing responses thereafter. The maximal effect represented 26% of the reference relaxation induced by papaverine. Single injections of hPTHrP-(1 34) resulted in a greater (over 60%) vasodilatation. These results were reminiscent of the tachyphylaxis that occurs after repeated exposure to the peptide. The (3-34) PTH antagonist inhibited the hPTHrP-induced vasodilatation. Human PTHrP-(1-34) was equipotent with hPTH-(1-34) (EC50 values of 3 x 10(-9) M) but 5-fold less potent than rat (r) PTH-(1-34) in stimulating microvessel adenylate cyclase. GTP enhanced the enzyme responses to the peptides but reduced their potency. Both (3-34) and (7-34) PTH antagonists were inhibitors of hPTHrP- or PTH-stimulated microvascular adenylate cyclase. Synthetic hPTHrP-(1-16) had neither vasodilator nor adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity. This hPTHrP fragment exhibited some inhibitory effect on the hPTHrP-(1-34)-induced stimulation of microvessel adenylate cyclase. These results indicate that hPTHrP possesses PTH-like activity to cause vasorelaxation and to stimulate microvascular adenylate cyclase in the kidney. PMID- 2630298 TI - Reversal by apomorphine of the gabaculine-induced GABA accumulation in mouse cortex. AB - To test the assumption that in the mice cortex the rate of accumulation of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) after irreversible inhibition of 4-aminobutyrate: 2 oxoglutarate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.19; GABA-T) represents an index of GABA turnover, we examined whether the reversal of the gabaculine-induced accumulation of GABA elicited by apomorphine was due to a decrease in GABA turnover or to a modulation of the activity of the GABA-T inhibitor. Therefore, we simultaneously measured the action of apomorphine on gabaculine-induced accumulation of GABA and on GABA-T activity. In vitro, apomorphine (3 and 30 microM) did not alter the concentration-dependent inhibition of GABA-T by gabaculine. Ex vivo, apomorphine (2 x 0.5 mg/kg s.c.) markedly decreased (69%) gabaculine-induced (150 mg/kg i.p.) accumulation of GABA. This drug had no direct effect on GABA-T activity, but significantly reduced from 83 to 71% the inhibition of GABA-T by gabaculine. The linear correlation found between GABA levels and GABA-T activity allowed the quantification of the decrease in GABA turnover elicited by apomorphine. The results showed that apomorphine decreased significantly (P less than 0.001) the rate of GABA synthesis from 7.48 to 3.36 micromol GABA/g per h, if the partial reversal of gabaculine-induced inhibition of GABA-T is considered and 2.44 micromol/g per h if not. Apomorphine effect on GABA accumulation is mainly due to a decrease of the rate of GABA synthesis and to a lesser extent to a reversal of the inhibitory activity of gabaculine. Thus, inhibition of GABA-T by gabaculine is a sensitive and reliable method for the estimation of the rate of synthesis. PMID- 2630299 TI - Effect of phenazine methosulfate on electrophysiological activity of the semicircular canal: antioxidant properties of trimetazidine. AB - Ischemia strokes appear to be the main source of cochleo-vestibular dysfunctions of peripheral origin. The present study aimed to investigate the action of oxygen free radicals on the bioelectric activity of the labyrinthine epithelium, using the frog semicircular canal as an in vitro preparation. We also examined the possible effect of the antianginal drug, trimetazidine (TMZ), under physiological conditions and during the administration of phenazine methosulfate (PMS). The model allows the ionic composition of endolymphatic and perilymphatic fluids bathing the semicircular canal to be dealt with separately. Spontaneous afferent vestibular nerve activity and the endolymphatic potential were recorded under resting conditions. Three additional parameters were investigated during mechanical displacement of the endolymphatic fluid: the ampullar direct current, the nerve direct current and the frequency of the evoked afferent spikes. Addition of TMZ (10(-6) and 10(-5) M, 50 min) into the perilymphatic compartment did not induce significant modifications of the different bioelectrical signals. Generation of oxygen free radicals, through administration of PMS (10(-5) M, 15 min) into the perilymphatic compartment, caused an impairment of all bioelectrical signals, except the ampullar direct current. The spontaneous activity, nerve direct current and frequency of afferent evoked spikes signals were significantly reduced 75 min after the start of PMS administration (-64, -17 and -32%, respectively). In contrast, there was a marked increase of the endolymphatic potential signal (+51%). Addition of TMZ (10(-6) or 10(-5) M) into the perilymph solution reversed the effect of PMS on all bioelectrical signals. These results indicate that TMZ acts as an antioxidant molecule which is capable of protecting the labyrinthine epithelium from the deleterious effect of oxygen radicals. Our data suggest that the protective effect of TMZ on ischemia-induced cochleo-vestibular dysfunctions may be accounted for by the antioxidant properties of this antianginal drug. PMID- 2630300 TI - Supersensitivity to noradrenaline in preparations of rat cauda epididymis after vasectomy. AB - Preparations of cauda epididymides were taken from rats unilaterally vasectomised by medial transection of the vas deferens. Responses of preparations from the operated side to field stimulation (10 pulses, 70 V, 1 ms, 0.1-20 Hz) declined in parallel with decreases in catecholamine fluorescence. There were leftward shifts in the mean cumulative concentration-response curves to noradrenaline on vasectomised cauda epididymides of 5-, 10-, and 12-fold at days 2, 7 and 28, respectively compared to unoperated cauda epididymides following vasectomy. Nisoxetine (0.1 mumol/l) enhanced the potency of noradrenaline upon unoperated but not upon vasectomised segments. There were leftward shifts of 7- and 8-fold in the mean cumulative concentration-response curves to acetylcholine in vasectomised cauda epididymides at days 2 and 7, respectively, following surgery. Responses to methoxamine and carbachol were unaffected by vasectomy. Thus neurotransmission to the smooth muscle of the rat cauda epididymis resembles that to the vas deferens, in that vasectomy results in the development of prejunctional supersensitivity to noradrenaline and acetylcholine. PMID- 2630301 TI - Subsensitivity of presynaptic adenosine A1-receptors in caudal arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - (-)-N6-(R-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (R-PIA) depressed tritium overflow and vasoconstriction evoked by electrical stimulation to a similar extent in isolated tail arteries of Wistar rats (WR) preincubated with [3H]noradrenaline. The inhibitory effects of adenosine, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) and R-PIA were determined on the constrictor responses of tail arteries obtained from WR, as well as spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). In WR and WKY, the rank order of agonist potency (R-PIA greater than NECA greater than adenosine) was compatible with the presence of adenosine A1-receptors. Whereas adenosine, NECA and R-PIA were equiactive in WR and WKY, they produced no or only slight changes in SHR. The left renal arteries of some WR were partially occluded to induce hypertension. R-PIA had the same effect in the tail arteries of these animals as in preparations obtained from sham-operated WR. The above results suggest that the subsensitivity of presynaptic A1-receptors in the blood vessels of SHR is genetically determined. This could contribute in vivo to enhanced transmitter release from terminals of perivascular nerves and subsequent increases in vascular resistance. PMID- 2630302 TI - Direct measurement of muscarinic agents in the central nervous system of mice using ex vivo binding. AB - Muscarinic agents produce a range of side effects including hypothermia and tremor. Although these responses can be used to estimate the in vivo activity of these muscarinic agents in the central nervous system (CNS), the approach is limited by compensatory feedback mechanisms and the difficulty of equating degree of receptor occupancy to effect. We have developed an ex vivo assay to measure the potency and penetration of muscarinic agents into the CNS. The muscarinic antagonists scopolamine and N-methylscopolamine dose dependently inhibited the ex vivo binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M to homogenates of mouse whole brain membranes. Following intraperitoneal administration these compounds had ED50 values of 2.6 and 26 mg/kg respectively, which were comparable to the doses which inhibited RS86 induced hypothermia in mice. Three muscarinic agonists RS86, pilocarpine and arecoline also demonstrated CNS activity in this assay with ED50 values of 11, 23 and 220 mg/kg. RS86 and pilocarpine additionally showed good penetration into the CNS with estimated values of 1.5 and 0.31% of the administered dose. These values were comparable with the ability of these compounds to induce a centrally mediated hypothermic response. These studies demonstrate a simple, quick and reliable biochemical means of assessing a muscarinic agent's potency and penetration within the CNS. PMID- 2630303 TI - The vasodilator role of endogenous nitric oxide in the rat gastric microcirculation. AB - The role of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in the gastric microcirculation of the anaesthetised rat was investigated using the selective inhibitor of NO synthesis, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). L-NMMA (12.5-50 mg kg-1 i.v.) induced a dose dependent increase in systemic arterial blood pressure (BP) and fall in resting gastric mucosal blood flow (MBF), as estimated by hydrogen-gas clearance. The effects of L-NMMA on BP and MBF were abolished by concurrent administration of L arginine. The enantiomer D-NMMA had no effect on resting BP or MBF. These findings indicate that endogenous NO, derived from L-arginine, plays a local vasodilator role in the gastric mucosal microvasculature. PMID- 2630304 TI - Effects of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine on field stimulation-induced decreases in cytosolic Ca2+ levels and relaxation in the rat anococcygeus muscle. PMID- 2630305 TI - Nutritional stress-induced implantation failure in newly inseminated mice: effect of the presence of stud males. AB - Implantation failure was induced in a large proportion of newly inseminated female mice by food deprivation for 48 hrs beginning at 10.00 hr on day 4 post coitum. The presence of the stud male prevented implantation failure in food deprived females. The protective effect on implantation in food-deprived females was not provided by the presence of a conspecific strange male. It is suggested that the newly inseminated female retains the olfactory "memory" of the stud male over a period of time after mating and this memory induces a luteotrophic effect in food-deprived females leading to the protection of implantation. The results also lend strong support to the view that the newly inseminated female mouse identifies her coital partner as an individual through olfactory cues. PMID- 2630306 TI - Suppression of plasma androgen levels with a combination therapy of depot estrogen (Turisteron) and Dexamethasone in patients with prostatic cancer. AB - Treatment of patients with prostatic cancer with a combination of 1-2 mg depot estrogen (ethinylestradiol sulfonate = Turisteron) per week and 1 mg dexamethasone per day suppressed the mean testosterone (T) level to 2.8% (0.53 nmol/l), the free T to 0.8% (1.9 pmol/l) and the adrenal androgens (AA) -- androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAS) -- to more than 40% of the initial values. Treatment with Turisteron alone (2 mg per week) did not change the DHEA and DHEAS levels but decreased plasma A concentration to 65% (2.96 nmol/l) of the initial values. PMID- 2630307 TI - Effect of postnatal starvation on the 5 alpha-reductase activity of the brain and of the isolated myelin membranes. AB - The 5 alpha-reductase, the enzyme which converts testosterone into its major "active" metabolite (dihydrotestosterone, DHT), has been found to be present in high concentration in brain structures particularly rich of myelin (white matter structures), as well as in myelin membranes. Previous ontogenetic observations seem to indicate that, during the process of myelinogenesis, the enzyme might be synthesized in the oligodendrocytes, and subsequently incorporated into the myelin membranes. It is well established that postnatal malnutrition produces a decreased formation of myelin, when starvation is performed from birth until to the 2nd or 3rd week of life; on the contrary food deprivation does not produce any significant effect on myelin accumulation when performed after the 14th day of life. The present experiments have been performed in the rat in order to study the effects of postnatal undernutrition (from birth to the 19th day of life: long malnutrition; and from the 14th to the 19th day of life: short malnutrition) on the 5 alpha-reductase activity present in the following brain structures: cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, corpus callosum, pyramidal tract, as well as in isolated myelin membranes. Undernourished animals have been killed at 20 days of age. Normally nourished animals served as controls. Long undernutrition induced a statistically significant decrease of the formation of DHT in the corpus callosum and in the pyramidal tract vs controls. On the contrary, the nutritional deficiency did not decrease the 5 alpha-reductase activity in the cerebral cortex and in the hypothalamus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2630308 TI - Studies on the compensatory growth of the adrenal cortex of the male hamster after unilateral adrenalectomy. AB - The aim of the study was to investigate the cellular aspects of compensatory growth of the adrenal cortex of male hamster after unilateral adrenalectomy. Relative right adrenal gland weight was higher at 24 h after hemiadrenalectomy with no differences--if compared with sham operated hamsters--at 12, 48, 96 and 120 h. In vitro 3H-thymidine incorporation per mg of adrenal after 12 h was higher and 120 h lower in monoadrenalectomised male hamsters than in sham operated animals with no differences in the remaining time-points studied. If 3H thymidine incorporation was expressed per entire gland, only 120 h after surgery the uptake was lower than in sham operated animals. Five days after hemiadrenalectomy an increase in the average volume of the zona fasciculata cell and no change in the glomerulosa and reticularis zones were observed. At that day solitary adrenal cortex contained similar number of parenchymal cells as the right adrenal gland of sham operated animals. Thus, hemiadrenalectomy in the male hamster leads to a prompt proliferative response of the contralateral gland at 12 h after surgery, followed by decreased proliferative activity at 120 h after surgery. Monoadrenalectomy increased average volume of the zona fasciculata cell and did not change the total number of parenchymal cells in the gland if compared with sham operated animals. PMID- 2630309 TI - Blood-spot 17-hydroxyprogesterone in nonclassical 21-hydroxylase deficiency. AB - The value of blood-spot 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) measurements in selective screening for non-classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency (NC 21-OHD) among female patients with postnatal virilization was studied. Early morning basal blood-spot and serum samples, and post-ACTH serum samples for 17-OHP measurement were collected from twenty-seven patients with precocious pubarche, hirsutism and/or menstrual abnormalities (age: 3 to 17 years). Using a two-step extraction method for blood-spot 17-OHP measurements of all the nine patients with NC 21-OHD showed higher values than the eighteen patients without 21-OHD. Blood-spot 17-OHP values of patients with NC 21-OHD showed a diurnal rhythm with pathological high levels between 0500 and 0900 h, and normal or slightly elevated levels between 1700 and 2100 h. In conclusion, early morning blood-spot 17-OHP measurement is a useful method to detect NC 21-OHD in the peripubertal period. PMID- 2630310 TI - Relationship between T4, T3 and T4/T3 ratio in thyroid tissue, thyroid and peripheral veins in patients with nontoxic nodular goiter. AB - The relationship between T4, T3 and T4/T3 ratio in thyroid nodules/paranodular tissues, thyroid and peripheral veins has been investigated in 26 patients with nontoxic nodular goiters; eleven of them were treated with l-thyroxine 150 micrograms daily. A significant correlation between iodothyronine concentrations and T4/T3 [corrected] ratio in paranodular thyroid tissues and thyroid effluents was found in both groups of patients. By contrast, the correlation between these parameters in the nodule and thyroid veins was poor, which implies that the thyroid hormone pattern in the thyroid veins on the side of nodular lesion is predominantly controlled by the release of the hormones from paranodular healthy tissue. A close dependence of the serum T4/T3 ratio on the values of iodothyronines and their ratio in thyroid tissues and thyroid veins was observed in nontreated, but not in treated patients. Conversely, in the latter group, the thyroidal T4/T3 ratio in paranodular tissue, but not in the nodule, was found to be dependent on the serum T4/T3 ratio, suggesting that paranodular thyroid tissue more readily responds to 1-thyroxine-inhibited TSH secretion. The results demonstrate that 1. the serum thyroid hormone pattern under physiological conditions is dependent on the intrathyroidal T4/T3 ratio, and 2. minor alterations in the serum thyroid hormones may secondarily change the thyroidal T4/T3 ratio, presumably by their effect on TSH secretion. PMID- 2630311 TI - Serum TBG and thyroid hormone levels of patients on regular haemodialysis. AB - The Teffect of haemodialysis on the level of TBG and thyroid hormones in the serum of patients, suffering from terminal form of kidney insufficiency, were investigated. It was established that in the majority of patients euthyroid function of the thyroid gland was preserved. According to our results this preservation of euthyroid function results from the decreased concentration of sera TBG, which follows the decrease of total sera proteins as well as increased peripheral conversion of thyroxine mostly in rT3. PMID- 2630312 TI - Effect of different thyroid state on ornithine decarboxylase activity and receptors of T3 in rat liver. AB - The effects of thyreoidectomy, of the administration of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), of thyroxine (T4) together with the inhibitor of iodothyronine 5' deiodinase activity 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) and of PTU alone on rat liver ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity was studied. 28 days after thyroidectomy there was a decrease in ODC activity, whereas T3 treatment of normal rats increased enzyme activity. PTU decreased ODC activity in intact rats and inhibited ODC activity in animals treated with T4. Neither thyroidectomy T3, T4 given in vivo nor the polyamines spermine and spermidine added in vitro influenced the binding of 125I-T3 to its receptor in liver nuclei. Only addition of PTU increased Ka significantly (P less than 0.01). It is concluded that ODC activity in the liver is directly correlated with the thyroid state but not to parameters of thyroid hormone receptor in liver nuclei. PMID- 2630313 TI - Blood platelet behaviour in patients with a type I diabetes mellitus. AB - Platelets appear to be involved in the development of vascular diseases in diabetic patients. In a number of studies, platelet adhesion and aggregation has been found to be enhanced in diabetic patients indicating a platelet hyperreactivity. However, contradictory results on hyperreactivity of diabetic platelets towards agonists published in the literature leading to the problem of reliability of agonist-induced aggregation as a parameter which is able to reflect an altered platelet reactivity. Therefore, we introduced the quantification of actin filaments of platelets as an early indicator of platelet hyperreactivity. In 20 patients with type I diabetes mellitus agonist-induced aggregation, spontaneous aggregation, malondialdehyde (MDA)-formation, plasma lipid status and the ability of plasma to degrade platelet activating factor (PAF) as well as the G- to F-actin equilibrium of platelets were assayed. Compared to an age- and sex-matched control group F-actin values, spontaneous aggregation and PAF-hydrolase were significantly increased in diabetic patients. PMID- 2630314 TI - Prostaglandin F2 alpha stimulates vasopressin and oxytocin release from isolated rat neurointermediate lobe. AB - Prostaglandin F2 alpha (1.4 X 10(-7) - 1.4 X 10(-5) M) increases vasopressin and oxytocin release from isolated rat neurointermediate lobes. Prostaglandin F2 alpha may be therefore supposed to serve as a modulatory factor for the vasopressin and oxytocin release, the respective processes being localized, at least in part, in the neurohypophysis. PMID- 2630315 TI - Effect of glucagon on glucose output from bivascularly perfused rat liver. AB - Glucose output was investigated in bivascularly perfused rat liver. Flow rate was 1 ml/min/g from hepatic artery and 2 ml/min/g from portal vein. Basal glucose output (130 +/- 30 microM/min) from bivascularly perfused liver was significantly (p less than 0.02) higher than that (80 +/- 20 microM/min) from usual monovascularly perfused (3 ml/min/g from portal vein) liver. However, glucagon induced (1 ng/ml) increment in glucose output from bivascularly perfused liver 589 +/- 127 microM/30 min) was not significantly different from that (630 +/- 127 microM/30 min) of monovascularly perfused liver. These results suggest that glucagon-dependent glucose output was similar in monovascularly and bivascularly perfused rat liver, and that arterial blood supply may have some role in glycogenolysis in the perfused rat liver. PMID- 2630316 TI - The Nobelpharma System of oral reconstruction. PMID- 2630317 TI - Maxillary implants. PMID- 2630318 TI - The 'Rational Formula' for practice valuation. PMID- 2630319 TI - Case planning and treatment plan recommendations for the totally edentulous mandible. PMID- 2630320 TI - A preliminary report: Niobium filter for dental X-ray systems. PMID- 2630321 TI - Managing your serious money. PMID- 2630322 TI - Implant restoration of partially edentulous jaws. PMID- 2630323 TI - What is the nursing profession doing to address the nursing shortage? PMID- 2630324 TI - How would one investigate nurse attitudes towards acceptance or rejection of work assignments? PMID- 2630325 TI - A commitment to success: JMH-SON a tutorial/retention program addresses special needs. PMID- 2630326 TI - The role of the teacher affects learning. PMID- 2630327 TI - Immediate surgery for the treatment of open angle glaucoma? PMID- 2630328 TI - Initial clinical experience using a diode laser in the treatment of retinal vascular disease. AB - A pilot study has been carried out to investigate the clinical use of an infrared diode laser in the treatment of a number of retinal vascular conditions. A hand held device was employed initially and subsequently a further prototype was developed for use in conjunction with a standard slit lamp microscope. Thirty three eyes in thirty patients were treated for conditions such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy, exudative retinopathy and branch and central retinal vein thrombosis. Regression of neovascularisation was observed in 13 of 16 eyes (81%) with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and in six of eight eyes (75%) with branch retinal vein occlusion. Four eyes were successfully treated for established or incipient rubeosis iridis following central vein thrombosis. Focal photocoagulation applied to five eyes for diabetic exudative maculopathy resulted in partial resorption of the exudates. These results are presented together with information on the ease of use of the laser and its reliability. The implications of the development of this instrument in the context of its place in ophthalmic therapy are discussed. PMID- 2630329 TI - The visual field in chronic simple glaucoma and ocular hypertension; its character, progress, relationship to the level of intraocular pressure and response to treatment. AB - Nine hundred and twenty-nine patients with chronic simple glaucoma or ocular hypertension were followed for one to thirteen years using the King's College Hospital glaucoma data base. The 30 degree visual field was divided into twelve clinical zones. The field sensitivity and its change as measured by the mean differential threshold both in these zones and overall was followed to determine the pattern and progress of field loss in eyes diagnosed initially as chronic simple glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The findings were related to other similar analyses in which the mean differential threshold in chronic glaucoma was found to correlate significantly with the initial intraocular pressure and its progress with the mean follow-up intraocular pressure under treatment. Inferences were drawn regarding the nature of chronic simple glaucoma and ocular hypertension and their management. PMID- 2630330 TI - Combined extracapsular cataract extraction and trabeculectomy using a separated corneal section. AB - A retrospective study of 35 cases of extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implant combined with trabeculectomy was undertaken. The cataract extractions were performed through a corneal section to separate the cataract wound from the trabeculectomy. Control of intraocular pressure was achieved without medication in 77% of cases. Median improvement in visual acuity was 3.5 lines at one year. This technique provided improved trabeculectomy drainage compared with previous reports for corneoscleral incisions. Improvement in visual acuity was poorer for a group of patients with severe preoperative field loss. PMID- 2630331 TI - Silicone tubes in glaucoma surgery: the effect of technical modifications on early postoperative intraocular pressures and complications. AB - One hundred and nineteen eyes with glaucoma were treated by implantation of silicone rubber tubes draining either to encircling inverted gutters (92 eyes) or to integral plates sutured at the equator of the globe. The occurrence of persistent choroidal effusion was related significantly (S less than 0.01) to post-operative hypotony and choroidal haemorrhage appeared to occur during periods of ocular hypotony. This paper describes our surgical modifications to overcome these problems. A one-piece integral tube and plate with a slit-valve mechanism designed to regulate post-operative intraocular pressure had a very variable response in 27 eyes, with mean pressures similar to those after unligated tube and gutters. Ligation of the tube in 34 eyes caused significantly higher mean intraocular pressures on the first two days after surgery than that in 43 eyes without ligation and the incidence of ocular hypotony (less than 7 mmHg) was significantly lower after ligation. However, five eyes with ligated tubes required operative release of the suture because of uncontrollably raised intraocular pressures. Venting of the drainage tube on the anterior chamber side of the occlusive ligation in 15 eyes caused fewer cases of raised post-operative intraocular pressures, but also a moderate increase in the frequency of ocular hypotony. At present a combination of occlusive ligation and a venting stab into the drainage tube in a one-piece tube and plate system appears to be the best design for avoiding short-term ocular hypotony whilst achieving long-term pressure control. PMID- 2630332 TI - Glare and contrast sensitivity in contact lens corrected aphakia, epikeratophakia and pseudophakia. AB - The effects of glare on contrast sensitivity and high contrast Snellen acuity were investigated in a group of unilaterally aphakic patients with normal fellow eyes. In spite of relatively good visual acuity and apparently satisfactory surgical results, there was a marked reduction in contrast sensitivity in epikeratophakia and contact lens corrected aphakic eyes, relative to fellow normal eyes, especially in the presence of glare (P less than 0.05). Although the results from the pseudophakic patients were more variable, there is some evidence to suggest that epikeratophakia provides inferior visual function to contact lens correction or intraocular lens implantation. The results also suggest that the measurement of visual acuity in the presence of glare fails to identify many patients with a functional visual impairment secondary to glare. PMID- 2630333 TI - Prospective study of the new diffractive bifocal intraocular lens. AB - The visual results of 55 bifocal lens implantations are compared with 55 matched PMMA monofocal implantations. 84% of the eyes with bifocal implants compared with 20% of the eyes with monofocal implants could read N8 or better with the distance correction (p less than 0.001). 52% of +/- 3.5D bifocal eyes could read N5 with the distance correction. The mean reading addition for a near point of 25 cm was 0.3D in the bifocal group and 2.2D in the monofocal group. 20% of eyes with bifocal implants could not be corrected to N5 at a comfortable distance (p = 0.005). It was found that the clear advantages of this bifocal lens must be countered in a minority by a loss in quality of vision particularly for reading. PMID- 2630334 TI - Rotational autokeratoplasty. AB - The results of sixteen patients who had undergone ipsilateral rotational autokeratoplasty are presented. Thirteen patients obtained significant visual improvement, and eight patients achieved an acuity of 6/12 or better. There were no significant pre-operative or post-operative complications. The principles of pre-operative assessment and surgery are discussed. PMID- 2630335 TI - Thiomersal keratoconjunctivitis, frequency, clinical spectrum and diagnosis. AB - Thiomersal keratoconjunctivitis is a common problem in soft contact lens wearers, accounting for thirty two (10%) of three hundred and twelve consecutive referrals for contact lens related problems to an out patient department. The clinical findings in 55 patients are described, of which 42 show the 'typical' appearance of the condition. This consists of non-specific conjunctival changes, limbal follicles, superficial punctate keratopathy and superior corneal epithelial opacity. Thirteen atypical cases are presented, demonstrating superior limbitis occurring in isolation, coarse punctate keratopathy, severe keratopathy with visual loss, pseudo-dendritic corneal lesions, acute conjunctival hyperaemia without keratopathy. Symptoms were also seen in two patients who were hard lens wearers. In such atypical cases, diagnosis may be difficult but can be aided by the use of topical challenge with thiomersal. PMID- 2630336 TI - Orbital and ocular micro-vascular corrosion casting in man. AB - The methods of preparation and examination of complete orbital and ocular vascular casts, suitable for the study of anterior segment vasculature, are described from our experience of 20 casts. The use of low viscosity methylmethacrylate produced complete vascular filling with few artefacts when injected into isolated orbital preparations from human cadavers 36-48 hours post mortem, despite suggestions by previous authors that injection should be within 12 hours. Using scanning electron microscopy, arteries and veins are clearly distinguishable by their endothelial nuclear impressions. The vascular anatomy of the anterior segment and of other sites including the optic nerve and choroid in man can therefore be elucidated with this method. PMID- 2630337 TI - Lamellar separation in the human lens: the case for fibre folds. A combined in vivo and electron microscopy study. AB - Lamellar separation is seen as parallel lines in the lens cortex. It has been the subject of a joint study between Oxford and Amsterdam. The condition was studied in vivo by macro photography and in vitro by scanning electron microscopy. The lines are seen to run concentric with the lens equator, crossing the lens fibres at right angles. The lines are commonly limited by a spoke cataract, a water cleft, or a lens suture. The line may continue beyond these features with a change in direction. The lines may branch and rejoin. The lines extend in depth into the lens, polarised light showing that the lines are due to reflection. The name 'lamellar separation' implied that the appearance is due to separation between the lens lamellae. Lamellar separation is now shown by electron microscopy to be due to folds crossing the lens fibres. The clinical study showed the lines occurring with spoke cataract and the electron microscopy showed the association with the novel finding of peripheral breaks in the fibres. A new name 'Fibre Folds' is proposed. PMID- 2630338 TI - Estimation of DNA content in uveal melanomas by flow cytometry. AB - Flow cytometry was used to evaluate ploidy and tumour cycle kinetics in fresh tissue samples obtained from 19 uveal melanomas. The results were compared with other parameters including, histological cell type, tumour size and anatomical location. Three tumours (15.8%) were aneuploid (two mixed cell, one epithelioid cell). Cell turnover was estimated in the 16 diploid tumours by summating the total percentage of cells in S and G2/M phases. We found the mean percentage of cells in G2/M/S to be 5.96% (range 2.2-9.8%). Spindle cell neoplasms appeared to have lower cell turnover rates (4.5 +/- 1.2%) than epithelioid cell turnover (8.4 +/- 1.2%). There was no correlation between cell turnover and either tumour size or anatomical location. PMID- 2630339 TI - Control of cellular proliferation in the bovine cornea: an in vitro study. AB - Keratocytes from the bovine cornea secrete a factor(s) that stimulates the proliferation of corneal epithelial cells. The novel finding of this study is that this stimulation was only achieved if the epithelial cells were already proliferating. Cells which had stopped growing could not be stimulated to re enter the growth cycle. This stimulation was not reciprocal; the growth of keratocytes was not stimulated by factor(s) secreted by the epithelium, whereas epithelial factors were able to stimulate the proliferation of thermocytes. The importance of these non-reciprocal growth responses to corneal wound healing and immune response is discussed. PMID- 2630340 TI - The scotopic threshold response in diabetic retinopathy. AB - The scotopic threshold response (STR) is a recently discovered component of the electroretinogram. It is a corneal negative deflection elicited in the fully dark adapted eye to dim stimuli, and appears to originate in the inner retina. The STR was recorded in a group of 50 insulin dependent diabetics with various degrees of diabetic retinopathy, who had not undergone laser photocoagulation. In addition, the scotopic b-wave, oscillatory potentials (OPs) and a pattern electroretinogram (PERG) were recorded. Retinopathy was assessed with stereo colour photographs of the seven standard fields as defined in the Diabetic Retinopathy Study. Retinopathy level was assigned to each eye using a modification of the Airlie House Classification System. Fluorescein angiograms were taken using a 60 degree fundus camera and graded for the presence of leakage and capillary non-perfusion. There was a significant correlation between the severity of retinopathy and the amplitude and latency of the STR. There was a similar correlation with the amplitude and latency of the OPs, a weaker correlation with the amplitude of the PERG, but no significant correlation with the latency of the PERG. These results support an inner retinal origin for the STR and suggest a role for STR in the electroretinographic assessment of diabetic retinopathy. PMID- 2630341 TI - Early ultrastructural changes after low-dose X-irradiation in the retina of the rat. AB - In this study Lister rats were given doses of X-rays ranging from 200-2,000 Rads to the retina of one eye, sacrificed at various time intervals between one hour and one month later and the irradiated eye processed for electron microscopy. The rod photoreceptor cells were by far the most radiosensitive cells in the retina, their outer segments showing distinctive membrane damage at one hour after 200 Rads of X-rays. Photoreceptor cell death was not seen at doses less than 1,000 Rads in the time period of the experiment. The retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells showed damage in the form of mitochondrial swelling but only in doses over 500 Rads. Retinal pigment epithelial cell loss did not occur under 2,000 Rads. The inner retinal neurones, glial elements and the retinal vasculature did not show any ill effects in the time period of this study. PMID- 2630342 TI - Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy: present and future. PMID- 2630343 TI - Radial keratotomy: 500 consecutive cases. AB - A report on 500 consecutive eyes having radial keratotomy for myopia and myopic astigmatism is presented. Surgery was on an out-patient basis under local anaesthetic, with a follow-up of 99.2% of cases, 91.8% of the 294 patients elected to have radial keratotomy on the fellow eye. The surgical protocol was designed to minimise side effects and complications rather than maximise the reduction in myopia. 6/12 unaided vision or better was achieved by 99% of cases in the low myopia group, 91% in the middle and 41% in the high myopia group. Persistent hypermetropia of +1.00D or greater occurred in only 0.4% of cases and secondary astigmatism of 1.00D or greater in 1% of cases. Corneal perforations were minimised by single-pass incisions, but this was at the cost of lesser myopic corrections in the higher myopic group. Centering on the visual axis rather than the centre of the pupil minimised glare sensitivity. No patient developed potentially blinding complications. PMID- 2630344 TI - Endocapsular cataract extraction. AB - Endocapsular (intercapsular) cataract surgery has recently gained popularity, particularly in Europe. We describe our technique of endocapsular cataract extraction and insertion of an intraocular lens and prospectively compare 93 eyes which underwent endocapsular cataract extraction with 83 which underwent a standard extracapsular procedure. There was no apparent difference between the two groups in visual outcome. Preoperative and post-operative complications were more common in the endocapsular group: posterior synechiae formation in the latter occurred in 19%. In 90% of the endocapsular cataract extractions, the lens was placed 'in the bag' at the time of surgery but at three months only 53% remained 'in the bag'. Displacement of one haptic from the capsular bag was associated with symptomatic lens decentration requiring repositioning in four eyes in the endocapsular group and two eyes in the extracapsular group. PMID- 2630345 TI - How clean is your capsule? AB - Proliferation of residual lens epithelial cell is believed to be the major cause of posterior capsule opacification following extracapsular cataract extraction. During surgery these cells can be visualised with appropriate illumination facilitating their mechanical removal with the McIntyre cannula. When flat preparations of the anterior capsule are examined by light microscopy, the areas 'cleaned' of cells in this way appear transparent but scanning electron microscopy reveals tufts of remaining debris which may represent points of cellular attachment to the capsule. Control of lens epithelial cell proliferation is important for the future development of cataract surgery. PMID- 2630346 TI - Bacterial contamination of intraocular lenses: the source of the bacteria. AB - In order to investigate potential sources for the bacterial contamination of intraocular lenses, specimens were taken for culture from a variety of sites. A swab from the lid margin, the operating room air, an intraocular lens which was allowed to rest on the eye, and the sodium hyaluronate were cultured during routine intercapsular lens implant surgery on 31 patients. Positive cultures were obtained from six intraocular lenses. Subtyping by three independent methods showed that isolates from five of these lenses were indistinguishable from bacteria cultured from the air. In the case of the sixth lens a bacterial isolate from the lid margin matched with that from the lens. Staphylococcus epidermidis was cultured from four lenses; Staphylococcus haemolyticus was also isolated from one of these four lenses and the remaining two lenses produced isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. PMID- 2630347 TI - Complications of anterior chamber lens implants and their effects on the endothelium. AB - A five-year follow-up study of 186 eyes which were subject to intracapsular cataract extraction and rigid anterior chamber lens implantation is reported. Ninety-two per cent of cases achieved a visual acuity of 6/12 or better. Serial corneal endothelial cell counts were performed. In 37 pairs of eyes the median difference in operative endothelial cell loss between the operated and un operated eyes was -7.3% (95% Confidence Interval from -8.7 to -6.1%). Iris tuck occurred in 22.0% and late 'iris ovalling' developed in a further 15.6% of eyes. The median operative endothelial cell loss for those eyes with iris tuck was 9.7% and this was significantly higher than that of eyes with no long-term complications (median loss = -7.3%). The median operative endothelial cell loss for those eyes which developed late ovalling was -8.0% and this was not significantly greater than that of the eyes with no long-term complications (p = 0.745). There was a progressive median endothelial cell loss for all operated eyes and this progressive cell loss was significantly greater for those eyes with iris tuck when compared with those with no complications (p = 0.045). PMID- 2630348 TI - Clinical indications for intraocular lens power calculation: a prospective randomised study. AB - Patients about to undergo cataract extraction were assessed clinically using several criteria to try and judge the necessity for biometry. The patients judged not to need biometry were allocated randomly to two groups, one of which had biometry. The only significant clinical criterion for biometry was found to be the wearing of glasses since before the age of 30 years. Several unexpectedly high refractive errors occurred in the group of patients who did not have biometry. In the group of patients judged not to need biometry but allocated to the biometry group, refractive results were significantly better (nearer to target refractions) than in the unmeasured group. Routine pre-operative biometry is probably the only way to avoid unexpected high ametropia, and it also improves the refractive results. There is however much room for improvement in the accuracy of biometry. PMID- 2630349 TI - A closed microsurgical technique for anterior vitrectomy using a continuous air infusion. AB - A new technique of anterior vitrectomy using a continuous air infusion is described. It has a number of advantages over conventional techniques and is recommended for the management of vitreous loss during cataract extraction. The vitreous gel is displaced posteriorly by the surface tension of an air bubble. The identification of vitreous strands is facilitated by the air/vitreous interface. Air in the anterior chamber reduces the refractive power of the cornea, providing direct visualisation of the posterior segment. PMID- 2630350 TI - Extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber lens implantation in patients with primary chronic angle-closure glaucoma: effect on intraocular pressure control. AB - Twenty-three eyes of 22 consecutive patients with primary chronic angle-closure glaucoma (PCACG) undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were studied prospectively to assess the effect of ECCE on intraocular pressure (IOP) control. For comparison, a group of 21 eyes with open angle glaucoma (OAG) which had undergone ECCE were reviewed retrospectively. The PCACG group had a low incidence of acute post-operative IOP elevations (9%), and long-term the majority (65%) achieved an IOP less than 21 mmHg off all glaucoma medications. In the OAG group the IOP control was largely unaffected. We recommend that eyes with cataract and PCACG should be considered for ECCE as a first procedure rather than combined cataract and filtering surgery. PMID- 2630351 TI - The management of post-keratoplasty glaucoma by trabeculectomy. AB - The results of 35 consecutive trabeculectomies in eyes developing medically uncontrollable glaucoma following penetrating keratoplasty are presented, with a mean follow-up of 3 years from the time of drainage surgery. Five eyes remained phakic until trabeculectomy was performed. Additional medical therapy was necessary to control the intraocular pressure in 32 eyes, which therefore were considered to have failed to be controlled by trabeculectomy and 90% of these failed within 6 months of filtration surgery. Despite additional medical therapy, in 17 eyes, further drainage surgery was required and 90% of this surgery took place within the first 14 months. Adverse prognostic factors were multiple grafts and synechiae closure of the drainage angle. PMID- 2630352 TI - Morphological effects of argon laser trabeculoplasty upon the glaucomatous human meshwork. AB - Thirty four trabeculectomy specimens from open angle glaucoma patients who had under argon laser trabeculoplasty as part of their treatment, were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Three of these were also examined by transmission electron microscopy. The intervals between laser therapy and surgery ranged from one month to five years. A sub-group consisted of six patients who had received laser treatment on more than one occasion prior to surgery. Electron microscopy revealed distortion of trabecular beams, loss of trabecular endothelial cells and the development of a cellular sheet extending from the region of Schwalbe's line and covering the anterior surfaces of the anterior portion of the uveal meshwork. The sheet occluded the trabecular spaces of the region; thus, when extensive, contributing to laser trabeculoplasty failure. It is concluded that argon laser trabeculoplasty induces a repair process, in the form of repopulating a cellular deficient meshwork, but which can become detrimental as a consequence of its success. PMID- 2630353 TI - The detection of glaucomatous visual field defects by oculo-kinetic perimetry: which points are best for screening? AB - Oculo-kinetic perimetry (OKP) uses the patient's ocular movements to position a test stimulus in the visual field. By virtue of its simplicity and low cost, this test could be useful in the screening of glaucoma. The general purpose OKP chart, however, which tests 100 points in the central 25 degrees field, is too time consuming for this purpose, taking approximately 4-7 minutes per eye. Accordingly, this study was performed to identify the points most likely to detect patients with glaucoma. Fifty-one eyes with glaucomatous visual field defects and 51 non-glaucomatous eyes of age matched individuals were tested by conventional and oculo-kinetic perimetry. At least one of only six points were missed by 82.4% of glaucomatous eyes and by 9.8% of nonglaucomatous eyes. These results, although falling short of the ideal efficiency, are comparable with data published by other research groups using computerised equipment and suggest that, with further development, a specialised OKP chart testing only a small number of points might be valuable in screening for glaucoma. PMID- 2630354 TI - The flash stimulated VEP in the diagnosis of glaucoma. AB - The Visual Evoked Potential using pattern stimulation has been used in recent years as an attempt to make an early diagnosis of glaucoma. However because of the macular dominance of responses obtained by this method, only diseases involving the papillomacular bundle reveal abnormality; such conditions do not occur in glaucoma. In this study we report the use of the early component (P1) of the flash stimulated visual evoked potential in the diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma. It appears to provide an objective, accurate and repeatable screening technique. The size of P1 correlates well with the size of optic disc cupping, and field loss. The relationships between systemic vascular disease, P1 reductions, and glaucoma, lend support to the ischaemic origins of the disease. PMID- 2630355 TI - Microprocessor controlled tonometry. AB - Microprocessors have enabled new techniques to be applied to the design of tonometers. Three new microprocessor controlled tonometers, one operating to the principle of Mackay-Marg (Tono-Pen) and two non-contact airstream tonometers (Pulsair and CT-10) have been examined using as a reference Goldmann and the Hand Held Applanation Tonometers (Draeger-HAT) which used the Goldmann applanation principle. The non-contact tonometers produce a conically formed airstream with top speeds of 90 m/s (CT-10) and 70 m/s (Pulsair) which at the moment of pressure measurement applanates the cornea exactly with a diameter of 4 mm. The readings of the microprocessor controlled tonometers correlate well with the readings of HAT (Tono-Pen r = 0.8414 and s = 3.783, CT-10 r = 0.8606 and s = 4.5477, Pulsair r = 0.8968 and s = 3.2641, where r is the correlation coefficient and s is the standard deviation in mmHg). Repeated measurements with one tonometer give the following standard deviations (HAT 1.6617, Tono-Pen 3.4969, CT-10 2.9179, Pulsair 2.9434). Although the three new instruments are able to measure the intraocular pressure in a wide range they do not work with the same precision as the classical applanation tonometer. PMID- 2630356 TI - Do optometrists screen for glaucoma? AB - A survey of optometrists practising in Nottingham was undertaken to identify their methods of screening for glaucoma in the community. There was found to be great variation in all parameters examined including referral criteria. Although all of the respondents screened for glaucoma, 50% appeared not to be aware of subtle optic disc signs of the disease, 8% never measured intra-ocular pressures and 19% never performed visual field analysis. In a general practice population age 50 and over, 73% of patients had visited their optician within the last two years, 67% knew glaucoma was an eye disease, but only 15% remembered being screened for glaucoma. PMID- 2630357 TI - Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma in Greece. AB - Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma is commonly seen in Greece, however there is little data concerning the prevalence and characteristics of this disorder. Patients undergoing trabeculectomy for open angle glaucoma were investigated both by the appraisal of the case notes and by re-examination. The prevalence of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma in this population was found to be 87.8%. The characteristics of this disease process in the population studied are discussed. These findings indicate that pseudoexfoliation is a major contributor to severe glaucoma in the population of Northern Greece. PMID- 2630358 TI - Retinal detachments--when to refer? Identifying the complicated case. AB - Cases of retinal detachment are usually referred by one ophthalmologist to another, because of their complexity. The complicated nature of such cases can be judged by their likely response to conventional methods of retinal reattachment surgery. When the causative retinal breaks cannot be identified or closed by conventional means, it is reasonable to call detachments complicated. The prompt identification of such cases and their referral, if appropriate facilities and expertise to undertake them are not at hand, are essential steps in the correct management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. PMID- 2630359 TI - Retinal detachment following YAG laser capsulotomy. AB - A retrospective study of 12 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment following YAG posterior capsulotomy is reported. Eleven out of these 12 were at increased risk of detachment. Three had lattice degeneration, three had previous detachment and five had axial myopia. Only 50% of the holes were typical "aphakic" post-oral breaks. PMID- 2630360 TI - Long term effectiveness of photocoagulation for diabetic maculopathy. AB - The long term visual results of photocoagulation for diabetic maculopathy were determined in 128 eyes of 95 patients followed over ten years. The mean age of patients was 55.5 years and mean follow up time was 7 years. Ten year data were available on forty patients (62 eyes) and of the remainder the majority had died. Of those eyes initially with good vision (defined as 6/12 or better), 60% maintained this level of acuity at ten years and of those which deteriorated 50% became blind (defined as 6/60 or worse). A significantly greater proportion of eyes with exudative maculopathy (48%) had good final vision compared to eyes with oedematous and ischaemic maculopathy (26%). PMID- 2630361 TI - Retinal vessel responses to exercise and hypoxia before and after high altitude acclimatisation. AB - Computerised microdensitometry was used to study diameter changes in 93 arterial and 91 venous vessel sites in the retinas of four mountain climbers before and after spending seven weeks in the Himalaya mountains. The vascular response to short-term strenuous exercise was measured at sea level, to acute hypoxia of simulated altitude of 15,000 ft (4,572 m) at rest, and to strenuous exercise while acutely exposed to the same hypoxic condition. Before the mountain exposure, retinal vessels constricted during exercise -1.9% (arteries); -3.3% (veins) and dilated in acute hypoxia 9.4% (arteries); 8.1% (veins). Superimposed exercise on hypoxic dilated arteries reduced the vasodilation (9.4% to 6%). After acclimatisation, the same physical work load at sea level constricted the arteries more (-5.4% vs -1.9%) but did not constrict the veins (0.2% vs -3.3%). Superimposed exercise on hypoxic dilated vessels, excessively dilated both arteries (8.4% vs 6.0%) and veins (13.7% vs 8.4%), compared to changes seen before the mountain sojourn. This study shows that physical conditioning and long adaptation to hypoxia, significantly change the vascular response of the retina to physical activity both in normal atmospheric conditions and during hypoxic stress. High altitude retinal hemorrhages (HARH) were present in one climber, and the study may indicate why HARH is seen often in young and physical well-trained subjects. PMID- 2630362 TI - Evaluation of several tests in screening for chloroquine maculopathy. AB - Patients receiving antimalarial therapy, specifically hydroxychloroquine, for different periods were evaluated using contrast sensitivity test (CST) and results were compared with those of electro-retinography (EOG), and pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP), and a matching age control group. The results indicated CST to be most sensitive of the evaluated techniques particularly in patients under 40 years old. In 44.4% of the cases CST revealed macular dysfunction of which the other two methods of examination were not capable. Our findings suggest the CST is a reliable and practical method which could be used as an additional screening test for chloroquine maculopathy. PMID- 2630363 TI - The sensitive period for anisometropic amblyopia. AB - Fifty-five children with pure anisometropic amblyopia presented consecutively between 1983 and 1986. Analysis of their records was undertaken with respect to the age at presentation, the initial visual acuity after spectacle correction, and the final acuity attained after treatment. The results show that the final vision achieved does not depend on the age at presentation. The implications of these findings are discussed and their relations to the sensitive period for the development of amblyopia from other causes outlined. PMID- 2630364 TI - Terrien's disease: clinical and ultrastructural studies, five case reports. AB - Terrien's disease occurs in middle-aged patients and is characterised by an insidious thinning of the cornea near the limbus. In most cases, this results in a peripheral ectasia associated with a severe degree of astigmatism. Inflammatory signs are rarely observed in this marginal corneal degeneration which is of unknown aetiology. Electron and light microscopic studies have been performed on five specimens from penetrating keratoplasties. Anatomical and clinical correlations showed the marked marginal degenerations of the corneal stroma to be consistently associated with lipid deposits, but without inflammatory cell infiltrate. These changes are in agreement with previous reported pathological descriptions of Terrien's disease. PMID- 2630365 TI - 'Sterile' corneal infiltrates in contact lens wearers. AB - Ninety four patients with 'sterile' keratitis presenting consecutively over a nine month period to the Accident and Emergency Department of Moorfields Eye Hospital were studied. This condition was found to account for 0.49% of all new casualties. A significant association was found in these patients, compared with controls, with contact lens hygiene, particularly for daily wear soft contact lenses, and contact lens case contamination by bacteria suggesting that these may be important factors in the aetiology of 'sterile' keratitis. Compared to gas permeable hard contact lenses the relative risk of developing 'sterile' keratitis in our patients was found to be 2.3 times higher with extended wear soft contact lenses, 1.56 times higher with daily wear soft contact lenses and 0.509 with polymethylmethacrylate lenses (test of trend p-value less than 0.05). The results indicate that 'sterile' corneal infiltrates are related to contact lens hygiene and in part to contact lens case contamination by bacteria and also to the type of lens worn. PMID- 2630366 TI - Corneal mosaic patterns--morphology and epidemiology. AB - The corneas of 1485 consecutive patients were examined for the presence of a mosaic pattern. One hundred and ninety-nine peripheral mosaic patterns, ten posterior crocodile shagreens and two cloudy dystrophies were found. Peripheral mosaic pattern is age related and distinct from corneal arcus. Posterior crocodile shagreen is also age related and in one case was found to be unilateral. The morphology of the mosaic patterns is discussed. PMID- 2630367 TI - Preferential looking in the mentally handicapped. AB - We have assessed the feasibility of Preferential Looking (PL), using Teller Acuity Cards, for the estimation of binocular and monocular visual acuities in a group of mentally handicapped adults. Our results show the comparison between grating and recognition acuities, inter-observer variation, success rate, time taken and the sensitivity of this method in identifying monocular visual deficit in this group of subjects. The reasons for success or failure with PL methods in relation to criteria for mental handicap are discussed. PMID- 2630368 TI - Pupil dilatation with tropicamide. The effects on acuity, accommodation and refraction. AB - The effect of pupil dilatation with tropicamide 1% on visual acuity and accommodation was assessed in 100 eyes of 52 consecutive patients attending the general ophthalmic outpatient clinic. Snellen visual acuity remained unchanged in 55 eyes and deteriorated by one line in 41 eyes. The remaining four eyes deteriorated by two lines. Tropicamide gave rise to a reduction in the amplitude of accommodation which tended to vary inversely with the age of the patient. However, all patients who wore reading glasses for presbyopia were still able to read when their pupils had been dilated. PMID- 2630369 TI - Rosai-Dorfman disease (sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy) with cutaneous and ocular involvement: a case report. AB - This case report presents both the clinical and the histopathological features of the oldest patient on record with ophthalmic manifestations of Rosai-Dorfman Disease. An unusual feature, which has not been previously reported, is involvement of the cornea with subsequent perforation of the globe. The absence of lymphadenopathy is discussed. PMID- 2630370 TI - Antichlamydial activity of tear fluid. AB - Tear fluid collected from healthy children and adults, was tested for its capacity to inhibit Chlamydia trachomatis, serotype I, to form inclusions in McCoy cell cultures. Pooled tear fluid added to such cultures reduced the chlamydial inclusion count even at concentrations of 1%. The inhibitory activity was concentration-dependent. The chlamydial inhibitory factor has a molecular weight of less than 10,000 dalton and the principle is heat-stable. The antichlamydial factor seems to affect the attachment of the elementary body (EB) to the host cell surface, while no effect on the intracellular development and reproduction of the chlamydiae could be demonstrated. The activity could not be explained by the presence of antichlamydial antibodies. PMID- 2630371 TI - Subconjunctival injections of antibiotics are used increasingly at the conclusion of intraocular and extraocular procedures. PMID- 2630372 TI - Rare form of craniostenosis known as cloverleaf or Kleeblattschadel syndrome. PMID- 2630373 TI - Seven-year-old sustained a blunt injury to one eye. PMID- 2630374 TI - Plaque removal by a new type of toothbrush. PMID- 2630375 TI - How to get the best from your hygienist. PMID- 2630376 TI - [Abstracts of papers presented at a scientific meeting of the French Association for the Study of Diabetes and Metabolic Illnesses. 20-21 October 1989. Paris, France]. PMID- 2630377 TI - Protein composition in resting and activated platelets of type I diabetic patients. AB - Protein composition of platelets of eleven type I diabetic patients and thirteen control subjects were analyzed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Bands have been scanned and quantified. No significant difference was shown between controls and patients in any of the bands identified in electrophoretic patterns of whole platelet, membrane fraction, resting, activated and aggregated cytoskeleton. Data suggest that alterations observed in platelet function of diabetic patients cannot be connected to the changes in protein composition. PMID- 2630378 TI - Is glucose self-monitoring beneficial in non-insulin-treated diabetic patients? Results of a randomized comparative trial. AB - To study if self-monitoring of glucose, urinary or capillary, could help them to improve their metabolic control through better compliance to diet and/or hypoglycaemic agents, 208 non-insulin-treated poorly controlled diabetic patients were randomized to: group A--regular HbA1c determinations but no self-monitoring, group B--self-urine glucose monitoring, twice every other day, group C--self blood glucose monitoring, twice every other day, and followed six months. At the end of the study period, the decrease of HbA1c over six months--main endpoint- was not significantly different between the three groups (mean +/- SEM; group A: 0.5 +/- 0.2%; group B: -0.1 +/- 0.3%; group C: -0.4 +/- 0.3%). However, the degree of compliance to blood glucose self-monitoring in group C appeared to relate to the outcome: a significant correlation was found between the number of blood glucose strips used and the decrease of HbA1c (r = .36, p less than .02). We conclude that regular self-monitoring has no definite advantage over the usual management for improving metabolic control in non-insulin-treated diabetic patients, though it may possibly help patients ready to comply with its use. PMID- 2630379 TI - Focal muscle infarction in a diabetic. PMID- 2630380 TI - Multifactorial memory training with older adults: how to foster maintenance of improved performance. AB - The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a multifactorial memory training program designed for normal older adults. The multifactorial program involved the training of three components that are critical to memory functioning: recoding operations, attentional functions and relaxation. Two controls groups were used. One control group took part in a general cognitive activation program involving training in problem solving, logical thinking, and visuospatial skills, whereas the other received no training. Three types of tasks were administered to assess potential effects of training: (a) free recall of words within the Buschke selective reminding paradigm, (b) digit span, and (c) the Benton visual retention test. Results indicated that the multifactorial group improved performance following training on several measures of the selective reminding task, and that this improvement was maintained 6 months after completion of training. In addition, the two other groups did not show any improvement of memory performance, and no effects occurred in the digit span and visual retention tasks. This pattern of results suggests that multifactorial training may be an effective way of achieving long-term benefits of training for older people, and that effects of memory training may be relatively task specific. PMID- 2630381 TI - Characteristics of lymphocyte chromatin from Alzheimer's disease patients and from young and old normal individuals. AB - We have examined chromatin in lymphocytes from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and from normal individuals of a range of ages. We have found that the neucleosome repeat length does not vary with age for normal individuals over the range 24-78 years and that there is no difference between the value for AD cells (mean and standard deviation, 202 +/- 7 base pairs, bp) and for normals (207 +/- 5 bp). The rate of digestion of chromatin in lymphocyte nuclei by micrococcal nuclease does not appear to differ significantly between old and young normals and AD patients. PMID- 2630382 TI - Lipid peroxidation and free radical scavengers in Alzheimer's disease. AB - Lipid peroxidation products and defenses against free radical damage were determined in serum of 55 patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) and compared with values in 24 age-matched healthy control subjects. The following parameters were evaluated: lipid-conjugated dienes and trienes, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in erythrocytes, vitamins E, C and A, zinc, selenium and copper, ceruloplasmin, transferrin and albumin. The results showed a statistically significant decrease in the levels of GSH-Px, vitamins E, C and A, zinc, transferrin and albumin in the SDAT group. On the other hand, most of the deficiencies concern the malnourished subgroup of the SDAT population (SOD, GSH Px, vitamins E and C, selenium, zinc, transferrin and albumin). Such an alteration of free radical scavengers in the malnourished subgroup of the SDAT population could combine the radical and nutritional hypothesis advanced by some authors. PMID- 2630383 TI - Study on changes in basal lamina width of mucosal epithelium and of capillary in the lamina propria of murine stomach in advance of age. AB - Correlation between advance of age and changes of basal lamina width of mucosal epithelium and capillary was estimated in both the fundic gland and the pyloric gland, respectively, by electron-microscopic morphometry, using C57BL/6N mice. In basal lamina width of mucosal epithelium, no change was found in both the glands throughout life. In basal lamina width of mucosal capillary, change related to aging was not found in the fundic gland, but in the pyloric gland; it increased in the old mice. This fact is considered to be related to physiological and anatomical differences of microcirculation between the two glands. PMID- 2630384 TI - Age- and sex-related differences in febrile response to peripheral pyrogens in the rabbit. AB - A reduced febrile response with aging has been reported in mice, rats, rabbits, squirrel monkeys and man. Young adult male and female rats and rabbits respond differently to pyrogens, but little is known about relative febrile responses in old male and female animals. To further describe the effects of age and sex on fever, we gave intravenous injections of Salmonella typhosa endotoxin (0.05 micrograms/kg) and of endogenous pyrogen (EP) (40 microliters/kg) to old and young, male and female rabbits. Old females did not exhibit smaller fevers in response to endotoxin compared to young females, but both young and old females had smaller fevers than aged and young males. Old male rabbits did not have a decreased febrile response to endotoxin. Old females, but not old males, showed a reduced febrile response to EP, the presumed endogenous mediator of endotoxin fever, when compared to young rabbits. To determine if the reduced febrile responses were due to reduced capacity to generate heat, D-amphetamine sulfate (2 or 5 mg/kg i.v.) was administered, and the resulting hyperthermias indicated that all groups of rabbits, including the aged and young females, were capable of raising body temperature to high levels. Body weight and reduced capacity to produce and retain heat do not contribute to these differences in fever. We conclude that the febrile response is not uniform over age, and that it is also strongly influenced by sex and type of pyrogen. PMID- 2630385 TI - Radioimmunoassay of circulating alpha-interferon with reference to aging and osteoporosis. AB - Circulating immunoreactive alpha-interferon in elderly individuals was 0.139 +/- 0.042 ng/ml in males and 0.111 +/- 0.033 ng/ml in females at ages 70-79, and 0.120 +/- 0.045 ng/ml in males and 0.105 +/- 0.039 ng/ml in females at ages 80 89. These values were significantly lower than those in young adults (p less than 0.01), but higher compared with the values found in disease states including rheumatoid arthritis (p less than 0.0025). There was no correlation between circulating alpha-interferon and bone mass indices, such as bone mineral content or quantitative computed tomography values, in these elderly individuals. Circulating alpha-interferon was, however, significantly increased in senile osteoporotic patients after 2 months of treatment with 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 or calcitonin, whereas it was unaltered in patients receiving ipriflavone or in nonosteoporotic individuals without medication. These findings indicate that circulating alpha-interferon, which is highest in young adults, declines with aging. It appears that circulating alpha-interferon is maintained at a certain steady-state level in healthy elderly individuals. Although there was no apparent relationship between bone mass indices and circulating alpha-interferon, it is possible that bone and cellular metabolism related to vitamin D3 may be contributing factors for the maintenance of circulating alpha-interferon. PMID- 2630386 TI - The effect of the short-term administration of fish oil on serum lipoproteins in old people. AB - The effect of large-dose short-term administration of Max-Epa fish oil on serum lipoproteins in elderly people was studied. 17 elderly (aged 61-96 years) hospital patients were given an isocaloric diet which contained 70-80 ml (14-16 g of eicosapentaenoate) of Max-Epa fish oil for 3 weeks. The concentration of plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol decreased significantly during the diet with fish oil. The levels of plasma VLDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides decreased slightly (p less than 0.05). The concentration of apoprotein A decreased significantly (p less than 0.001) during the fish oil diet but the plasma level of apoprotein B did not change significantly. The ratio of apoprotein B to LDL cholesterol increased significantly (p less than 0.01) during the period with Max-Epa fish oil. The results show that marked changes in the lipoproteins of the elderly people occur when diet contains large doses of fish oil. PMID- 2630387 TI - Diffusing capacity in healthy elderly Chinese. AB - Diffusing capacity (DLCO) was measured in 260 healthy subjects aged 60-86 years who were leading an active life in the community. DLCO correlated with body surface area and spirometric indices, and declined with age. It was lower in women, in smokers and in those with chronic bronchitis. Multiple regression equations based on age and body surface area were derived for elderly Chinese men and women. Compared with predicted values based on studies of Caucasians of all ages, those for elderly Chinese men were higher, while those for elderly women were similar. Predicted values for an elderly Chinese population should be derived from equations established from this survey rather than those extrapolated from Caucasians of all ages. DLCO/VA correlated with weight and body surface area but not with height, and declined with age. There was no difference between men and women, and between those with or without symptoms of chronic bronchitis. Predicted values from this study of elderly Chinese were comparable to those derived from Caucasians of all ages. Differences in DLCO values for elderly Chinese compared to Caucasians may be explained by differences in lung volumes rather than ethnic variations in the diffusing characteristics of the alveolar capillary membrane, and by the small numbers of elderly subjects in some of the studies of Caucasian subjects. PMID- 2630388 TI - Consideration of spatial orientation mechanisms as related to elderly fallers. AB - This study examines some aspects of spatial orientation mechanisms in idiopathic elderly fallers. Tests of visual perception of verticality and horizontality showed no significant difference between 6 fallers and 6 controls, although 50% of fallers indicated difficulties in the recognition of postural tilt. Results of responses to standing balance indicated that fallers leant more heavily on a supporting frame and were more spatially deflected when standing on one leg than were controls. The results suggest that fallers may rely on visual cues to recognise and correct postural deviations, thus implying that their proprioceptive feedback is impaired. PMID- 2630389 TI - [Epidemiological study of malignant neoplasm mortality among workers in the rubber footwear factory]. AB - Oncoepidemic study was undertaken in order to determine the level of oncologic risk. The risk of death from malignant neoplasms in workers engaged in rubber production was higher by 4-4.7 times than in the city population. Maximum risk of death in males was associated with cancer of bladder and kidneys, esophagus, and larynx, in females with cancer of esophagus, larynx, and intestine. Standardized death rates from all malignant neoplasms in the males engaged in rubber production exceeded that of females by 1. 4. Life expectancy of workers of the main industrial shops was lower than in the control group. PMID- 2630390 TI - [Comparison of physiological work capacity in lifting and carrying the loads]. AB - Comparative data on the physiologic value of carrying over (along the horizontal surface with the rate of walking of 4.5 km/hr) and load lifting from the floor up to 0.7 m with the rate of 6, 10, 16 per min are given, the magnitude of external load with the weight of 4-300 H being different. Physiologic values of the completed work have been compared because of the significant difference in the work load when lifting and carrying over some objects. It is demonstrated that external load magnitude and physiologic value of muscular work are directly correlated. Physiologic work value during load lifting per work unit is higher than that during its carrying over. The ratio of physiologic value of load carrying over and lifting is different under various magnitudes of external load. PMID- 2630391 TI - [Use of the ethanol test in the diagnosis of occupational diseases and alcoholism]. AB - Pharmacokinetic indices of blood absorption of ethanol test-dose of 0.2 g/kg of the body weight from the gastrointestinal tract were distinctly lower among the workers exposed to organic solvents or lead, compared to the control group. Ethanol absorption constant was always significantly higher in patients with chronic alcoholism exposed to industrial toxic substances than in those having no contact with them. PMID- 2630392 TI - [Risk factors of the development of the changes in the nervous system after exposure to chromium]. AB - Due to the mathematical method of maximum probability it was established that under long-term chromium exposure possible factors of risk of changes in the workers' nervous system were as follows: hereditary and familial predisposition to allergic and vegetovascular disorders, negative Rh, the haptoglobin type 2-2 and the peculiarities of the major cerebral hemisphere functioning manifested by the decrease of sensomotor dominance. There was developed an estimating and prognostic table which made it possible to identify groups with adverse and favourable health forecast and to carry out necessary differentiated curative and preventive activities. PMID- 2630393 TI - [Lipid peroxidation and the status of the antioxidant systems of the blood and liver in isolated and combined action of copper- containing dust and sulfur dioxide]. AB - During the clinical examination of copper smelters the disorders of some body systems were detected. They were assumed to be caused by changes in the ratio of lipid peroxidation and antioxidative body activity. The study of isolated and sulphur dioxide-combined effect of copper dusts on rats revealed that interaction of sulphur dioxide metabolites and metals, contained in dusts, formed a "vicious circle" and reduced protective capacities of antioxidative blood systems and liver, thus giving rise to body accumulation of cytotoxic products of lipid peroxidation. PMID- 2630394 TI - [Carcinogenic activity of nickel-containing welding aerosols in relation to their copper and manganese content]. AB - Chronic experiments on animals showed that aerosols formed during cast iron welding and facing due to the use of electrode nickel-based materials could produce blastomogenic effect that was mostly caused by the presence of copper-and manganese-containing aerosols in the particles of the solid component. Morphologic inhomogeneity of the particles of the solid component, qualitative composition and solubility of the compounds spatially arranged in the surface layer were of great importance for their carcinogenic and toxic effect. The capacity of copper- and manganese-containing compounds to suppress nickel carcinogenic effect should be taken into account when developing welding and facing materials with better hygienic characteristics. PMID- 2630395 TI - [Relation between genetic and non-genetic factors of individual susceptibility to silicosis]. AB - The study was carried out at a number of industrial enterprises at risk of silicosis by means of the methodological approach based on the mathematical theory of image discrimination. It was shown that under the given conditions of dust exposure higher or lower probability of the development of silicosis and silicotuberculosis in an individual depended on the whole set of environment and endogenic factors, involving genetic predisposition to the disease as one of the leading factors. The impact of the above factors being similar irrespective of the type of the enterprise, their comparative contribution could be different. Thus reliable prediction of high probability of the disease development could be provided by means of the method of multifactorial analysis only as applied to specific conditions of the given enterprise. In spite of low prevalence of the genotype of silicosis- and silicotuberculosis-associated resistance, under the exposure to quartz dust, high probability of the disease development was predicted only in a number of cases if other individual symptoms were taken into account along the genotype. Therefore it became possible to identify the most susceptible persons at the stage of medical vocational selection. PMID- 2630396 TI - [Dust lung or dust-induced lung disease ( discussion on chronic dust-induced lung disease)]. AB - The comment on the article by D. M. Zislin (Occupational Hygiene and Industrial Diseases, 1988, N 10) is presented. Proceeding from the author's own experience and literary data, the main statement of D. M. Zislin disputing the concept of dust pulmonary disease (DPD) in the modern occupational pulmonology, is analyzed. The common cause of pneumoconiosis and dust bronchitis has been identified as fibrogenic dust, allergic, carcinogenic and toxic characteristics of which can be only condition affecting the disease clinical character. The article shows that neither generality, nor the differences in the functional changes of external respiration can serve as a convincing argument for or against the existence of the concept of DPD. Modern histomorphologic studies give evidence that low fibrogenic dusts practically simultaneously cause the onset of the pathologic process both in the interstitial tissue and in the bronchi, the outcome of the process being diffuse pneumosclerosis. The concept of DPD caused by low fibrogenic dusts has been substantiated on the basis of common etiology and similar pathogenetic, clinical and functional manifestations. PMID- 2630397 TI - [Use of the indicators of morbidity with temporary disability during conducting of the sanitary control at the Moscow subway]. AB - Current sanitary surveillance at the Moscow Metro was analyzed under the conditions of scientific and technical revolution. A new form of current sanitary surveillance based on the data derived from medical certificates processed at the Moscow Metro Computer Centre was proposed. Excess coefficient of disease rates was calculated. If it exceeded 2, working conditions at the bay were considered unfavourable. A special impetus was given to the analysis of catarrhal diseases. Highlighted was the importance of economic interest in disease control, involving both individual members of work collectives and sanitary workers. PMID- 2630398 TI - [Dynamics and state of occupational diseases in the Hungarian People's Republic]. AB - The modern stage of development of Hungary is characterized by positive trends in occupational morbidity. Ear disorders, communicable and skin diseases are listed as the biggest health problems in the structure of occupational morbidity. The highest disease rates are registered in mining, food, chemical, metallurgical+ branches of industry, in forestry and in the production of building materials. PMID- 2630399 TI - [Experience with improving the sanitary legislation concerning the prevention of occupational mercury poisoning]. AB - The purpose of the study is to generalize the experience of the improvement of sanitary legislation on prevention of occupational mercurialism. The results of the research specific to differentiated standards of permissible content of mercury and its nonorganic compounds in the workplace air are presented along with the data on substantiation of new effective measures on prevention and reduction of mercury steam release into the workplace air, development of the means of protection of building constructions, equipment and furniture from mercury penetration. Some legal normative methodological documents, regulating safety requirements for those working with mercury and its compounds, are described. PMID- 2630400 TI - [Non-pharmacological methods of the treatment of initial stages of arterial hypertension in automobile drivers]. AB - The difficulties in hypotensive treatment of arterial hypertension (AH) in drivers encouraged the search for effective methods of correction of elevated arterial pressure (AP). During 5 years a group of 631 drivers with different levels of elevated AP was examined. For their treatment a complex of non pharmacological methods was proposed, i.e., exercise therapy, preshift gymnastics, psychoemotional relief, autotraining, punctate massage, electric sleep, balneotherapy, decoction of sedative and plant diuretics. The dynamics of mean indices of diastolic pressure and high efficiency of using non pharmacological methods for treating AH in drivers were demonstrated. The absence of adverse and undesirable effects of non-pharmacological AH-control methods enabled one to regard them as an effective means of treatment of the drivers with the initial AH stages. PMID- 2630401 TI - [Study of the effect of gymnastics on health indicators and work capacity of workers in an experimental shop of new anti-corrosion devices]. AB - Application of specially developed physical exercises (an interval for sports, sports minute, a microinterval for sports) and hygienic procedures at the end of the working day resulted in a more rapid restoration of work capacity and in decrease of fatigue in the main group both in the process of work and after office hours, compared to the control one. PMID- 2630402 TI - [Immunomorphological characteristics of the bronchi and broncho- pulmonary lymphatic system after sensitization of rats with coal allergen]. PMID- 2630403 TI - [Experimental evaluation of the effect of aerosols of titanium mono- and disulfide on the body]. PMID- 2630404 TI - [Toxicity of OP-10 for human embryo fibroblast culture]. PMID- 2630405 TI - [Etiopathogenetic mechanisms of peripheral nerve damage after performing strenuous manual work]. PMID- 2630406 TI - [Bioassay using spermatozoa suspensions]. PMID- 2630407 TI - [Characteristics of the development of emotional stress in persons with different levels of physical fitness]. AB - Emotional stress is one of the most important problems. Until now scientists can't determine a norm of physical state which is characteristic of human stress resistance in the extreme conditions. The study is designed to analyze the dependence of stress resistance in young males on their physical fitness. Physical capacity for work has been established in young males aged 17-24 by means of PWC170 test. Modelling of the novelty with an element of personal risk has been carried out for the complex study of emotional stress. During the first appearance of those under experiment on the beam placed at the height of 10 m, the changes occurring in their omega-potential, vegetative indices according to heart rhythm and arterial pressure were investigated. Predominance of parasympathetic regulation and higher values of omega-potential in persons with general physical capacity for work of 18 kg.m/min.kg and higher were set forth. They could indicate their higher stress resistance and psychic capacity for work. PMID- 2630408 TI - Overproduction of microbial products. Second international symposium. Ceske Budejovice (Czechoslovakia), July 3-8, 1988. Abstracts. PMID- 2630409 TI - Microbial transformation of semisynthetic derivatives of daunomycinone modified in ring A. AB - Semisynthetic derivatives of daunomycinone with 7,9-isopropylacetal, 7-O-methyl, 7-O-(4-penten-2-yl), and 7-O-(2-hydroxyethyl) substituents were converted by Streptomyces peucetius var. caesius (an adriamycin-blocked mutant) into 7-deoxy 13-dihydrodaunomycinone, while daunomycinone was transformed into 13 dihydrodaunomycinone (predominantly) and 7-deoxy-13-dihydrodaunomycinone. S. coeruleorubidus mutants 24-74 (accumulating aclavinone derivatives instead of daunomycin and related compounds) and 96-85 (producing no anthracycline substances), and S. aureofaciens B-96 (a tetracycline-blocked mutant) transformed the above substrates into the corresponding 13-dihydro derivatives, with the exception of 7,9-isopropylacetal daunomycinone which remained intact. 7-O-Propyn 1-yl daunomycinone was not transformed by any of the strains used under the conditions. PMID- 2630410 TI - [Treatment of shallow and deep cavities]. PMID- 2630411 TI - [Dental implantation in practice]. PMID- 2630412 TI - [Research on thixotropic parameters of whole blood from Chinese adult subjects]. AB - This study measured the thixotropic parameters of whole blood from 314 healthy subjects (154 women, 160 men) with our modified method by Low Shear-30 Rheometer according to Huang's equation. We suggested the range of normal values of thixotropic parameters from man and woman group. The results demonstrated that no significant differences existed in the plasma viscosity (eta p) and fibrinogen between man and woman group. Man group had significantly higher values than those in woman group in hematocrit (HCT), yield stress (tau 0), Newtonian contribution of viscosity (mu), non-Newtonion contribution of viscosity (eta s-mu), apparent viscosity at 2.37s-1 (eta s), the equilibrium value of the structural parameter (A) and apparent kinetic rate constant of rouleaux breakdown (ARC). The man and woman groups could be separately divided into five subgroups on the basis of age. All parameters were compared with one another and treated statistically. We found that the levels of fibrinogen and eta p had an increasing trend with aging. In the old subgroup (greater than or equal to 60 years) of man and woman, HCT, tau 0, mu, eta s, (eta s-mu) and A had significantly lower values than those in young and middle age subgroups. However, it was very interesting that there were differences of ARC versus age between the man and woman groups, i.e., ARC in the man subgroup 3, 4 had lower values and in the woman subgroup 2, 3, 4 had higher values than their respective older subgroups did. PMID- 2630413 TI - [Comparative study on human chorionic gonadotropin receptor in normal human ovary with ovarian tumors]. AB - Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is major physiological luteotropic factors for the human corpus luteum. The observations strongly suggest that the human ovary possesses a gonadotropin receptor in the cell membrane. We studied the HCG receptor in normal human ovary and ovarian tumors. Twenty-three human ovarian specimens and 16 ovarian tumor specimens were obtained from women patients having gynecological surgery. Ovaries were homogenized and sonicated. The homogenates were centrifuged at 2000 g for 15 min. After sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation (78,000 g, 4 h), two fractions were collected from layer of 33% and interface between 33% and 37%. Thirty micrograms of ovarian protein, 8 ng 125I-HCG and unlabeled HCG in a final volume of 0.5 ml of 0.05 mol/L Tris buffer were incubated at 30 degrees C for 2 h. The results were shown in the table. PMID- 2630414 TI - [Preparation and identification of monoclonal antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst fluid antigen]. AB - McAbs were prepared by fusing SP2/0 cells with spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) antigen. Antibodies in hybrid culture supernatant were detected by ELISA, and positive hybrids were cloned by technique of limiting dilutions. Numbers of chromosomes of five hybridoma cell lines (1D1, 1D8, 2D6, 4B10, 4F4) were demonstrated in the range of 99-108. The immunoglobulin class/subclass of McAb 4F4 was IgM and the others belonged to IgG1. IHA, ELISA and I-ELISA were used for identifying titer and specificity of five McAbs. The titers of two McAbs (1D1, 1D8) reached 1:10(6)-10(7) in IHA and ELISA. Two of these McAbs (1D1, 4F4) with other parasitic antigens revealed cross-reactions. This indicated that the McAbs 1D1 and 4F4 were against common antigen determiners of different parasitic antigens and the McAbs 1D8, 2D6, 4B10 against specific antigen determiners of HCF. PMID- 2630415 TI - [Antigen presentation of human B lymphocytes on BCG particulate antigen]. AB - The possibility of human B lymphocytes to process and present BCG particulate antigen to BCG specific T cell line was studied. It was found that about 6% of B cells after incubated with BCG for 24 h, showed BCG bacilli in their cytoplasm, by acid fast stain, and became obscure 48 h later. These results demonstrated that human B lymphocytes could phagocytose, process, and degrade BCG particulate antigen. The BCG pulsed B cells acted as antigen presenting cells to BCG specific T cell line. The proliferation and IL-2 production of specific T cell line were significantly enhanced by BCG pulsed B cell stimulation. It was evident that BCG antigen was presented to T cell lines by B cell. The activity of BCG pulsed B cell was time depending. By treating B lymphocytes with chloroquine which interferes with normal lysosome functions could completely inhibit the proliferation of BCG specific T cell line when B lymphocytes were pulsed with BCG or express of BCG. The results revealed that B cells must process antigen before presenting antigen to T cells. It is concluded that B lymphocytes can phagocytose, process and present relevant determinants of BCG particulate antigen to BCG specific T cell line, and that human B lymphocytes may play an important role in the anti-tuberculous immunity in vivo, at least as antigen presenting cells. To pursue the study of this problem, it is suggested to use B lymphocytes deficient mice as experimental models for further investigation. PMID- 2630416 TI - [Mechanisms of effects of electrical stimulation of "Renzhong" (Du 26) on phrenic discharge in rabbits]. AB - Experiments were performed on urethane anesthetized, bivagotomized, flaxedil paralyzed and artificially ventilated rabbits. The effects of stimulation of "Renzhong" (Du 26) on phrenic discharge were not caused secondarily by blood pressure alteration. The effects were abolished by bilateral section of infraorbital nerves, were similar to those of stimulation of the central end of the infraorbital nerve, and were not qualitatively changed by mid-colliculi decerebration. The responses of the bulbar respiratory related neurons were coordinated with those of the phrenic nerve to stimulation of "Renzhong", i.e., the responses of almost all of the inspiratory neurons were consistent with phrenic responses and those of the most of the expiratory neurons were contrary to them. It can be concluded that the effects of electrical stimulation of "Renzhong" on phrenic discharge result from the nervous reflex. Its afferent is infraorbital nerve and the higher centers are not essential for it. The bulbar respiratory related neurons might play an important part in it. PMID- 2630417 TI - [Study of a high molecular copolymer HFMC in vaginal irrigation for contraception in mice]. AB - A vaginal spermicide of high molecular copolymer, ethyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HFMC), was introduced through a small tube into the mouse's vagina and made to adhere to it's wall, causing a pH alteration in the vaginal environment. Matching experiments showed that the sperms were killed or/and lost their mobility and vitality owing to the infertile acidic environment. The fertility could be restored when the HFMC dissolved gradually. But the delivering time was delayed for about 112-118 days versus the control (P less than 0.001). The fertility could also be restored artificially by flushing out the copolymer with solvent DMSO. In this case the delivering time was consistent with the control (P greater than 0.05). PMID- 2630418 TI - [Stress distribution analysis of a loaded fixed bridge by finite element method]. AB - The fixed bridge is a common prosthesis widely used in clinical dentistry. In order to design an ideal fixed bridge which can provide the best protection of the abutments, we must study the stress distribution of alveolar bone, when the fixed bridge is under the loading. In this article, we report the application of the finite element method to examine the stress distribution of the alveolar bone of fixed bridge abutments. We have made seven vertical loading models and two oblique loading models. A quantitative analysis result has been obtained and the stress distribution result drawn up by a computer. The results of this analysis are as follows: 1. Under the seven vertical loadings, the bearing compress stress on the mesial apex of the second bicuspid is large. In this area the compress stress is largest, when the vertical loading is applied on the two-abutment tooth and pontic, the sigma 2 is -120.0 but the stress of alveolar bone of the molar is uniform. 2. Under the oblique loading, by the mesial apex of bicuspid are borne the tensile stress and compress stress, the latter is larger than the former, and the sigma 2 is -75.0. 3. The molar is an ideal abutment tooth for the fixed bridge. PMID- 2630419 TI - [Relationship of serum lipids, apolipoproteins and sex hormones with coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women]. AB - The study was carried out in 25 postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease (CHD) and 25 matched controls. Age, menopausal time, body mass index, hypertension, smoking and occupation in CHD were not different from those in the control group. Serum lipids, apolipoproteins (apo), sex hormones and gonadotropin hormones were measured. Serum TG and apo AI/apoB100 ratio increased more significantly in CHD than in the control group. Serum apo A II decreased more significantly in CHD than in the control group. Other serum factors in CHD were not significantly different from those in the control group. Matched logistic regression analysis showed that serum TG and apo A I were probable risk factor, serum apo A II was a protected factor of CHD, and all of them were important predictors for CHD in postmenopausal women. Our results suggest that sex hormones seem to have important effects on the occurrence of CHD by esterone (E1) and progesterone (P) interrupting serum lipid and apolipoprotein metabolism. Serum E1 is related with TG, P is positively related with apo B100. PMID- 2630420 TI - [Evaluation of three multiple regression equations of rheogram of pulmonary impedance for pulmonary artery pressure measurement]. AB - This paper reports the use of 3 multiple regression equations (designated as A, B, and C), established by right cardiac catheterization and rheogram of pulmonary impedance examination simultaneously, for the determination of mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in 100 healthy persons and 129 cases of chronic cor pulmonale on exacerbation. By analysis and comparison of the PAP values obtained from these 3 equations, the results showed that on equation B the upper limit of the PAP in 95% normal value range was 2.439 kPa (18.34 mmHg), which correspond to the upper limit of normal value range of the PAP 2.394 kPa (18.0 mmHg) as measured by right cardiac catheterization. Also, the range 1.032-2.597 kPa (7.761 19.530 mmHg) and standard deviation 0.383 kPa (+/- 2.88 mmHg) of PAP value in healthy persons, using the equation B for measurement were less than those on equation A and C. Thus, it was illustrated that the values of PAP were more stable on equation B than those on the other equations. On the other hand, the results obtained from the PAP test with these 3 equations in 100 healthy persons and 129 cases of chronic cor pulmonale on exacerbation, indicated that the specificity on equation B for healthy persons was higher, while using equation B the sensitivity and specificity for cor pulmonale patients were higher than those equation A or C. Therefore, we suggest that equation B is more conformable to the actual circumstances and suitable for clinical application. PMID- 2630421 TI - [Polarographic determination of titanium in natural water]. AB - Titanium has a very sensitive catalytic polarographic wave in the system of cupferon-hexamine-sodium sulfate at pH 6.0-6.4. The catalytic current was proportional to the content of titanium. High blank of the reagents could be improved by extraction with the system of cupferron-chloroform. For determination, samples were filtered with quantitative filter paper, but it was not necessary for drinking water samples. The filtration was acidified with HCl to 0.5% (V/V) and heated in a boiling water bath for 30 min, 5 ml sample was sufficed to most analyses. The detection limit was 0.12 microgram/L. The coefficient of variation was 8% for 6 determinations at 0.2 microgram/L. Three levels of titanium were spiked to one sample, and it was found that the recoveries were 96-101%. The proposed method was applied to rain water, well-head water, well water, tap water and river water. The content of titanium of most samples was less than 2 micrograms/L. PMID- 2630422 TI - [Preventive effects of fortified pollen on diphenylhydantoin teratogenesis]. AB - This paper reports the preventive effects of fortified pollen and folic acid on diphenylhydantoin (DPH) teratogenesis in pregnant SD rats. The experiment showed that i.p. injection of DPH 75mg/kg per day to pregnant rats on gestational days 7 through 11, and feeding of fortified pollen (pollen 10g/kg per day plus folic acid 20mg/kg per day) or folic acid (20mg/kg per day) on gestational days 0 through 20 may partly prevent the embryotoxicity and fetal toxicity produced by DPH. However, the preventive effects of fortified pollen is better than those of folic acid on the following: decrease of fetal body weight; retarded ossification of metacarpus, proximal phalanx, metatarsus, and supraoccipital bone; sternebrae ossification agenesis; subcutaneous hemorrhage; single eye defect; hydronephrosis and the widening of subarachnoid space. This paper also discusses the possible mechanism of prevention of fortified pollen and folic acid against DPH teratogenesis. PMID- 2630423 TI - [Study of logistic curve fitting for primary liver cancer death rate in Chengdu]. AB - Logistic curve was used for fitting primary liver cancer (PLC) age-specific death rate in Chengdu. The results showed that the age-specific death rate from 1981 to 1986 in Chengdu (population about 4,000,000) was satisfactorily fitted by logistic curve in male, female and total (P less than 0.01). The R2s were 0.9885, 0.9912 and 0.9974, respectively. Velocity analysis of death rate showed that the increasing peak was in the group of age 40-60 for male and 50-65 for female. Male's velocity and slope of death rate were higher and steeper than female's. These results are consistent with the feature of logistic curve and parameters obtained from logistic curve fitting in this study. The age-specific death rate by sex for every year from 1981 to 1986 was fitted very well (P less than 0.01). R2s for male and female were 0.9415 +/- 0.044 and 0.9056 +/- 0.048, respectively. PMID- 2630424 TI - [A serological survey of Legionnaires' disease in domestic fowls and animals in Chengdu area]. AB - A serological survey of antibodies against Legionella pneumophila (Lp) serotypes in Chengdu area by microagglutination test showed that there were high levels of antibodies against serotypes Lp1 and Lp6 in healthy domestic fowls and animals (rabbits, pigs, chickens, ducks and geese). In rabbits, antibodies against serotypes Lp1-Lp6 were determined, showing positive rates (titer greater than or equal to 1:16) ranging 6.3-23.8%. Among them only the serotype Lp3 did not show any positive one. The highest positive rate was observed in pigs' anti-Lp6 (89.8%), significantly higher than those reported in America, Denmark and Nanjing, China. The results suggested that recessive infections of Legionnaires' Disease Bacterium might occur in domestic fowls and animals. So the epidemiological surveillance of Legionnaires' disease in animals, as well as in environment (water and soil) is of importance for the prevention in man. PMID- 2630425 TI - OSHA's requirements for infection control and hazard communication in the dental office. PMID- 2630426 TI - Immunological status of patients in carcinoma head and neck. AB - The cell mediated immune response in 45 patients of cancer, head and neck was evaluated by various parameters and compared with 20 control cases. (DNCB) Dinitrochlorobenzene cutaneous reactivity in vivo was compared with T lymphocytes, estimated as active rosette forming cells (ARFC) and Total rosette forming cells (TRFC) in peripheral blood. The ratio of TRFC/ARFC was studied in various histological subtypes of cancer head and neck. Lymphocytic infiltration around tumor mass was correlated with peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL), ARFC and TRFC levels in blood. Significant difference was noted in the level of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). TRFC and ARFC between control cases and cancer patients. There was a marked increase in all three parameters i.e. PBL, TRFC, ARFC (P less than 0.001) and a positive DNCB reaction in Adenocarcinoma of nasopharynx, thyroid and salivary gland and a significant decrease in Squamous cell Carcinoma of oral cavity and larynx (p less than 0.001) associated with impaired DNCB sensitivity. These parameters serve as an assessment of the degree of immune reactivity of the host to the malignant tumours. PMID- 2630427 TI - Cellular blue nevus with nevus cells in regional lymph nodes: a lesion that mimics melanoma. AB - We report the case of a young man who had a large, firm, nodule covered by darkly pigmented skin over the outer aspect of the right ankle and palpable right inguinal lymph nodes. The mole had enlarged rapidly during the past month, contained deeply pigmented cells with increased cellularity and mitotic activity and groups of intensely pigmented nevus cells within the marginal sinus of the inguinal nodes. The excised mass with inguinal lymphadenectomy was reported as benign cellular nevus with benign nevus cell aggregates in lymph nodes. The purpose of this report is to emphasize how cellular blue nevus can masquerade as malignant melanoma and to increase clinical awareness of this benign variant of melanocytic nevus. We have attempted to elaborate its natural history and comprehensive criteria for diagnosis, so that inappropriate surgery and chemotherapy can be avoided in this lesion which occurs conceivably often enough to be more than just a curiosity. PMID- 2630428 TI - Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood: treatment, results and prognostic factors. AB - Two hundred and nine children (20 years and below) diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia between January 1980 and December 1983 were retrospectively analysed to evaluate the clinical features, prognostic factors and the results of therapy. One hundred and eighty one evaluable patients were treated with three different chemotherapy regimens consisting of vincristine and prednisolone (Group-A), vincristine, prednisolone and L-asparaginase (Group B-60 patients), and vincristine, prednisolone and adriamycin (Group C-81 patients). Complete remission was achieved in 152 (84%) patients, remission induction being 75 percent, 85 percent and 88 percent in Group A, B and C respectively. At a median follow-up of 36 months the disease free survival for complete responders was 35.5 patient. The disease-free survival for Group A, B and C was 20 percent, 47 percent 34 percent respectively indicating the superiority of a three drug regimen over the conventional two drug regimen. Patients at standard risk in each group had significantly better survival when compared to those at high risk. A 3 drug treatment regimen was superior to the 2-drug regimen and a low initial leucocyte count was an important favourable prognostic factor. PMID- 2630429 TI - A search for occupational cancer in India. PMID- 2630430 TI - [Anti-nDNA antibodies in lupus erythematosus]. AB - Using the ELISA technique we have tested anti-nDNA antibodies in 79 patients affected with Lupus Erythematosus. The same patients have previously been tested for anti-cardiolipin antibodies. According to the literature, cross inhibition ELISA tests show no cross reactions between these two auto-antibodies families. Patients with highest anti-nDNA antibodies show a production of polyclonal (IgG, IgM, IgA) antinuclear antibodies responsible for a homogeneous pattern detected by indirect immunofluorescence. PMID- 2630431 TI - [Changes in the biomechanic property of the skin after hemodialysis treatment]. AB - Skin extensibility in 21 subjects (belonging to two different age groups) undergoing hemodialysis has been investigated. Measurements have been performed on the forearm before and after two hours of dialytic treatment. A significant decrease of skin extensibility (P less than 0.02) has been recorded in the elderly prior to the dialytic procedure; the data is consistent with an increased dermal water content. Water removal during treatment led to normalization of extensometric levels (P less than 0.05). However, improvement of skin extensibility is not directly related to the amount of water withdrawn. The study support the importance of water in determining skin viscoelastic responses; hemodialysis is a useful model to monitor the effects of water on skin biomechanics. PMID- 2630432 TI - [Nickel and chromium. Analysis of 3 detergents using atomic absorption spectrophotometry]. AB - It is well known that Nickel and Chromium are present, at different concentrations, in detergents used for washing-up, hand-washing and cleaning surfaces. In the present study we have analysed three trade marks of detergents (one for each different use) to evaluate, by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy, whether the concentrations previously detected are specific to a particular trade mark or are connected with the metals concentration variability typical of all detergents as commercial products. According to our results, Nickel and Chromium are always present, at different concentrations, in all the samples tested; detergents used for hand-washing contain the highest Nickel percentage; the concentrations observed show discrete variations also within the same trade mark. PMID- 2630433 TI - [Alopecia areata: appropriateness of various laboratory parameters]. AB - Over the past four years 190 patients with alopecia areata have been examined: hematochemical parameters have been assessed in each patient and the possible presence of organ-and non-organ-specific circulating antibodies has been assayed. No significant alterations were found with regard to the different hematochemical parameters examined. On the other hand, a highly significant increase of anti gastric parietal cell autoantibodies was observed in patients with alopecia areata and alopecia universalis in comparison to normal control subjects; in addition, patients with alopecia universalis showed a significant increase of anti-thyroid antibodies. PMID- 2630434 TI - [Infantile sclero-atrophic lichen and infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi]. AB - The authors describe a study of 8 girls suffering from genital and perianal lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. Following the most recent reports in literature, antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi have been looked for, and the patients have been treated with propicillin. The results are discussed. PMID- 2630435 TI - [Findings on dermatomycoses observed at the Dermatologic Clinic, University of Pavia. A third pathology caused by Trichophyton rubrum]. AB - From 1974 to 1988 T. rubrum have been isolated in 304 cases (27.8% of dermatophytes) in the Department of Dermatology in Pavia and it is the second most frequent fungus after M. canis. Males are more frequently affected (61.1%) than females (38.9%). A single localization was found in 82.2% of the cases and two or more types of "Tineae" only in 17.8%. The age-group 31-40 is more frequently affected (29%). The most frequent dermatophytosis caused by T. rubrum was Tinea pedis (33.9%) while Tinea capitis resulted a very rare localization (2.1%). An increase of T. rubrum infections is noted particularly in the last years. PMID- 2630436 TI - [Multinodular keratoacanthoma]. AB - Multinodular Keratoacanthoma is a variant of keratoacanthoma presenting with large annular plaques localized on the photo-exposed surfaces of the aged people. It is characterized by progressive growth of new nodules of keratoacanthoma at the periphery, while partial or complete spontaneous central healing occurs with scar formation. There is no tendency toward spontaneous regression. Multinodular Keratoacanthoma is quite rare. In our opinion only ten cases can be complied from the literature. We report an additional case in a diabetic 87 year old woman. She was previously affected by a vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. No recurrence was observed four months after the surgical excision. PMID- 2630437 TI - [Melanoma-lymphoma association]. AB - The association of malignant melanoma with different neoplasias is uncommon but not exceptional. We present two cases of malignant melanoma associated with lymphoma, and analyze the variety of etiopathogenic factors which have been implicated in both neoplasias, with special emphasis on those that may explain this association. PMID- 2630438 TI - [Skin metastasis of clear cell carcinoma of the kidney]. AB - A case of a 70 year old man, affected by a solitary cutaneous metastasis of a clinically asymptomatic clear cell adenocarcinoma of the kidney is reported and some histopathological differential diagnoses are considered. PMID- 2630439 TI - [Persistent lymphedema of the penis and scrotum after recurrent episodes of cellulitis and urethritis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis]. AB - A 20 year old man affected by a persistent peno-scrotal lymphedema is reported. This condition followed recurrent attacks of cellulitis and a chronic urethritis. From the urethral discharge we isolated Chlamydia trachomatis and, only during the attacks of cellulitis, Group G Streptococcus. This pathogen cannot be isolated from microflora of the normal urethra and rarely cause cellulitis. In our opinion Chlamydial infection favoured the urethral colonization of Group G Streptococci and their passage in the loose connective tissue of the penis and scrotum. Lymphedema, clinically inapparent before the first attack, become progressively more severe and recurrent attacks took place at intervals without obvious re-exposure to an exogenous source of streptococci. The operative treatment of persistent lymphedema is lymphangiectomy and lymphangioplasty. PMID- 2630441 TI - [Use of oral isotretinoin in the treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus]. AB - Twenty-four in- or out-patients (12 males and 12 females) with chronic cutaneous (CCLE) (n = 19) or subacute cutaneous (SCLE) (n = 5) lupus erythematosus have been treated with oral isotretinoin. The initial dose 0.15 mg/kg/day was progressively increased to a maximum of 0.50 mg/kg/day; the total treatment period was 16 weeks. One female patient with SCLE stopped the therapy for sudden fever. None of the other known side effects induced interruption of treatment. In 20 subjects (86.9%) isotretinoin therapy was associated with clearing or improvement of clinical lesions and histopathologic changes. Best responses with isotretinoin therapy was seen in patients with CCLE. No changes were observed in the laboratory parameters before, during, and at the end of the study. In the light of these results, isotretinoin can be considered as an effective and well tolerated drug in the treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus. PMID- 2630440 TI - [Antibiotic treatment of urogenital infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Preliminary study]. AB - The authors followed 56 patients with clinical signs of urogenital phlogosis, due to Chlamydia trachomatis, treated with one of the following antimicrobial agents: miocamycin, minocycline, doxycycline. The results showed that all the antibiotics used were well tolerated and effective against Chlamydia trachomatis. PMID- 2630442 TI - Knowledge attitude towards breast-feeding amongst auxiliary nurse midwives in rural Delhi. AB - A study was undertaken to determine the knowledge and attitude about breastfeeding amongst auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) working in rural Delhi. It was found that all respondents had correct knowledge about age of initiating breastfeeding, feeding of colostrum and superiority of breast milk over commercial milk preparations. About 76% responded that top milk given after 4 months of age should be diluted. A majority of workers mentioned that consumption of dry fruits, high quantity of milk and ghee increases the quantity of breast milk secretion. The percentage of ANMs who thought that breast-feeding should be discontinued if mother is suffering from an illness were: breast cancer (68%), tuberculosis (56%), malaria (50%) and diarrhea (36%). There is need for continuing education of peripheral health functionaries for updating their knowledge. PMID- 2630443 TI - Prognostic value of 'C' reactive protein in tuberculosis. AB - 'C' reactive protein (CRP) levels were determined in 100 cases of tuberculosis and 30 age and sex matched children. Serial estimations, one and 3 to 6 months after initiation of therapy was done in 81 and 41 of these patients, respectively. Mean initial levels of CRP in tuberculosis group was 18.52 micrograms/ml while in the control group it was 2.77 micrograms/ml (p less than 0.001). The elevated CRP levels fell significantly to 5.93 micrograms/ml after one month of treatment (p less than 0.001) and by 3 to 6 months of treatment had fallen to normal values. The fall in CRP levels correlated with clinical response. It is concluded that CRP can serve as a sensitive indicator of activity of the disease and the return to normal values of initially elevated CRP levels may indicate a good therapeutic response. PMID- 2630444 TI - Early onset hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia: an autosomal recessive disorder distinct from Friedreich's ataxia. AB - The important clinical features of seven patients with an early onset slowly progressive heredofamilial spinocerebellar degenerative disorder of probably autosomal recessive inheritance included limb ataxia, retained and/or exaggerated tendon reflexes (biceps and knee), pyramidal weakness of lower limbs and normal sensory action potentials. This rare disorder is probably distinct from Friedreich's ataxia and carries a better prognosis. PMID- 2630445 TI - Anesthesia in Stevens Johnson syndrome. PMID- 2630446 TI - Cerebral hydatid cyst. PMID- 2630447 TI - Time utilization study in pediatric outpatient of a referral hospital. PMID- 2630448 TI - Ellis Van Creveld syndrome. PMID- 2630449 TI - Kocher-Debre-Semelaigne syndrome. PMID- 2630450 TI - Prenatal diagnosis of Tay-Sachs disease. PMID- 2630451 TI - Split hand/split foot syndrome with atresia of nasolacrimal ducts and buphthalmos. PMID- 2630452 TI - Epispadias with complete non-retractile prepuce. PMID- 2630453 TI - Collodion babies in a gestational diabetic mother. PMID- 2630454 TI - Cimetidine induced psychosis. PMID- 2630455 TI - Outcome of low birth weight babies. PMID- 2630456 TI - Holt-Oram syndrome with polydactyly and ostium primum defect. PMID- 2630457 TI - Successful breast feeding with retracted nipples. PMID- 2630459 TI - Universal immunization. PMID- 2630458 TI - Poliomyelitis in vaccinated children. PMID- 2630460 TI - Spinal muscular atrophy: some easy clues to diagnosis. AB - Seven cases of benign form of spinal muscular atrophy were studied to evaluate the importance of detecting hand tremors, muscle fasciculation, evertion of foot and ECG tremors to distinguish these cases from muscular dystrophy. Taken in combination, diagnosis of all the seven cases was possible without the need for application of more sophisticated and invasive investigations, e.g., EMG, nerve conduction study, CPK levels and muscle biopsy. PMID- 2630461 TI - Auditory brain stem evoked response in normal neonates and infants. AB - Auditory brainstem evoked responses (ABER) were recorded to provide normative data regarding the latency values, brainstem conduction times in term neonates and infants up to 24 months of age. The mean latency for wave I - 1.86 +/- 0.11 m sec, wave III - 5.11 +/- 0.31 m sec, wave V - 7.10 +/- 0.30 m sec progressively decreased at birth to wave I - 1.64 +/- 0.17 m sec, wave III - 4.40 +/- 0.27 m sec, wave V - 6.15 +/- 0.21 m sec at 12 months of age by stimulus strength of 75 decibels at a rate 20 clicks/sec. Interwave conduction times improved to I-III - 2.76 +/- 0.29 m sec, I-V - 4.51 +/- 0.29 m sec, III-V - 1.75 +/- 0.17 m sec at 12 months from I-III - 3.25 +/- 0.26 m sec, I-V - 5.23 +/- 0.23 m sec, III-V - 1.99 +/- 0.35 m sec at birth. PMID- 2630462 TI - Neonatal behavior of small for gestational age infants. AB - The behavioral pattern of small for gestational age (SGA) infants differs from that of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Maternal malnutrition and SGA infants being a common problem in our country, we assessed the behavior of 36 full term SGA infants using the Brazelton scale. These infants had an excellent orienting capacity, state control and self quieting. Their motor performance was fair and autonomic regulation showed a good recovery over first 10 days. A comparison of this behavior with full term AGA infants showed a better orientation in SGA infants. Though there was a significant difference in motor, state regulation, and autonomic regulation, by the end of the first month they recovered to the same level as the AGA infants. The pattern of SGA behavior described is at marked variance with most of other reports from abroad. PMID- 2630463 TI - Efficacy of oral water soluble vitamin K in neonates. AB - Effect of oral water soluble synthetic Vitamin K on prothrombin time was evaluated in 120 full term exclusively breast fed babies. Group A (n = 30) received 1 mg vitamin K (menadione sodium disulphite) intramuscularly at birth, Group B (n = 30) received 0.5 mg intramuscularly, Group C (n = 30) 1 mg orally and Group D (n = 30) did not receive any vitamin K. Prothrombin time (PT) was measured in all between 36-72 hours of age. The PT values in the four Groups A, B, C and D were 17.1 +/- 2.68 seconds, 17.2 +/- 4.42 seconds, 17.0 +/- 2.86 seconds, and 33.1 +/- 12.2 seconds, respectively; the control being 17.0 seconds. The differences between Groups A, B and C were insignificant. Group D babies had a significant prolongation of prothrombin time (p less than 0.001) as compared to the other groups. It is concluded that oral water soluble vitamin K at birth is as good as injectable vitamin K. It is a much simpler form of prophylaxis and avoids intramuscular injection. PMID- 2630464 TI - Factors influencing breastfeeding behaviour. AB - The influence of nine socio-demographic factors (family size; child spacing; socio-economic status; mother's employment, education, age and weight; birth weight; and father's education) on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding was studied in a group of urban mothers. Only a small fraction (15%) of the wide variability in breastfeeding behaviour could be related to these factors. Educated mothers alone started artificial feeds significantly earlier (p less than 0.05). Our findings suggest that the decision to breastfeed is largely an individual one and not related in any simple way to the easily measurable characteristics. PMID- 2630465 TI - Perinatal and neonatal care: the need for reappraisal and action. PMID- 2630466 TI - National workshop on strategies for reduction of perinatal and infant mortality. PMID- 2630467 TI - Trends in perinatal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in India. AB - Although the infant mortality rate (IMR) has reduced by 50% during the past century, it compares poorly with the advanced countries and some developing countries. The observed fall in IMR has been mostly in post-neonatal mortality, with the result that neonatal deaths now account for over 60% of all infant deaths. The overall perinatal mortality rate (PMR) in India is still over 50 per 1000 and has shown virtually no decline during the past decade, However, PMR differs widely in different states, urban/rural areas, different hospitals and so on. PMR is seen to correlate better with social development than economic development of the representative community. The causes of perinatal deaths suggest poor health of mother and poor health facilities and are hence potentially preventable. Various studies have shown that PMR can be significantly reduced within a short span of time. The registration of vital statistics continue to be highly unsatisfactory especially in rural areas. PMID- 2630468 TI - Socio-economic and environmental determinants of perinatal and neonatal mortality in India. PMID- 2630469 TI - Alternative approaches to delivery of perinatal and neonatal care in rural communities: the experience of the Comprehensive Labour Welfare Scheme of UPASI. AB - The concept of "Link Workers" was developed in plantations as part of a process of people's participation in health. However, the participation of the community was seen as a means to create a debate in the society about health and this debate would lead to social legitimacy for positive health action based on information about health. It was projected that information on health was essential for people to take decisions, individually and collectively. PMID- 2630470 TI - Community participation in health programmes. AB - No clear operational definition of 'Community Participation' has emerged over the last decade of experimentation. One reason is the markedly contrasting perspectives that exist at different levels such as Aid Agencies, Ministry of Health, Government Health Programmes and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). A more pragmatic definition is "decision making at the community and different levels of providers". Clearly defined strategies are required for operationalizing this concept at different levels where grass-root level workers and the community are involved in managing health services. This paper provides a matrix which can be used for operationalizing this concept and evaluating participation. Strategies have been suggested for involving the community in various management processes of health delivery. The inputs required of the health system for operationalizing community participation are the same as those of an 'Information, Education Communication' (IEC) programme. PMID- 2630471 TI - A community based surveillance system for perinatal and neonatal care. AB - The impact of maternal health services on perinatal and neonatal mortality depends on both the quantitative and qualitative coverage of pregnant women with obstetric services. In rural areas this becomes all the more difficult because of the requirement of a large decentralized infrastructure extending from village based health workers and subcentres to the Primary Health Centre and tertiary levels of referral. An effective introduction of socio-cultural, biomedical and managerial interventions is required to reduce perinatal and neonatal mortality. A community based surveillance and monitoring system is central to and facilitates the introduction of all other interventions. Finally, the system operated by grass-root level workers is a motivational tool for achieving expected levels of performance. PMID- 2630472 TI - Training and education in perinatal and neonatal care. PMID- 2630473 TI - Appropriate technologies for mother and child health care in developing countries. PMID- 2630474 TI - Strategies for lowering perinatal mortality. PMID- 2630475 TI - Efficacy of nalidixic acid in the treatment of acute bloody diarrhea. AB - Of sixty four children (mean age 20.1 +/- 1.2 mo) with acute bloody diarrhea and high fever, 47 had infection with non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) (20), Shigella (15) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) (12) and were treated with nalidixic acid (NA). The mean duration (h) of presence of macroscopic blood in the stool following institution of treatment was significantly shorter (p less than 0.05) in those with EPEC (11.5 +/- 4.9) as compared to NTS (30.4 +/- 15.4) or Shigella groups (22.9 +/- 15.6). The number of children having less than or equal to 50% reduction in stool frequency within 72 h was: NTS (17); Shigella (14); EPEC (10). Negative stool cultures on day 5 were obtained in all patients with Shigella and EPEC and 16 (80%) of those with NTS. Two patients with NTS and one with EPEC failed to respond to NA. PMID- 2630476 TI - Exchange transfusion in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. AB - Four hundred and thirty three exchange transfusions (ET) for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in 225 full term (Group I) and 110 premature/low birth weight (Group II) babies were analyzed. A total of 78.5% cases required one, 15.22% two, 4.8% three and 1.5% four ET. In Group I ABO HDN (35.94%), Rh HDN (10.7%), septicemia (8.9%), and G-6-PD deficiency (6.2%) were the major causes. Nearly 20% had multiple factors and in 9.3% no cause was identified. In multifactorial cases 13.3% had septicemia, 17.3% ABO HDN and 6.2% Rh HDN in various combinations. Common causes in Group II babies were septicemia (20.9%), ABO HDN (19.07%), Rh HDN (6.4%) and G-6-PD deficiency (5.4%). Nearly 8% had multifactorial etiology while 30.9% were idiopathic. Complications occurred in 20.4% Group I and 41.8% in Group II babies during ET. Procedure related mortality was 3.2/100 ET which declined to 0.9/100 ET when high risk babies were excluded. Overall mortality in babies subjected to ET was 10.6/100 ET. Cardiorespiratory arrest during procedure (30.4%), septicemia (26.1%) and kernicterus (19.6%) were the leading causes of death. Anemia (23.5% Group I and 50.9% Group II babies) and clinical septicemia (14.2% Group I and 16.4% Group II babies) were major delayed complications. PMID- 2630477 TI - Permanent pacing for congenital complete heart block (CHB) in an infant. PMID- 2630478 TI - Neonatal urinary ascites with urogenital and anorectal malformations. PMID- 2630479 TI - Metatropic dwarfism. PMID- 2630480 TI - Hypocalcemic cataract secondary to idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. PMID- 2630481 TI - Robinow syndrome. PMID- 2630482 TI - Diaphyseal dysplasia [corrected] with anemia and thrombocytopenia. PMID- 2630483 TI - Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in association with tuberous sclerosis. PMID- 2630484 TI - Fatal neonatal perforation of appendix. PMID- 2630485 TI - Substandard infusion sets, inadequate transfusion sets, weak bottle hangers and missing spoons and droppers. PMID- 2630486 TI - Hemorrhagic disease of newborn. PMID- 2630487 TI - [Intermaxillary relationship in complete dentures. 2. Registration]. PMID- 2630488 TI - [Radiographic view. Right mandibular cyst]. PMID- 2630489 TI - [The use of photo retractors to improve dental practice]. PMID- 2630490 TI - [Infrared telethermometry measuring method for temperature elevations in implantology]. PMID- 2630491 TI - [Periapical surgery]. PMID- 2630492 TI - [The particular nature of the dentist-patient relationship in periodontics]. PMID- 2630493 TI - [The history of canines or orthodontic sequence]. PMID- 2630494 TI - [Fracture of the zygomatic arch]. PMID- 2630495 TI - [The scanner in therapy of large radiotranslucencies of the mandible]. PMID- 2630496 TI - [Preprosthetic orthodontics]. PMID- 2630497 TI - [Familial dental risk]. PMID- 2630499 TI - [Mucoid cysts of the oral region]. PMID- 2630498 TI - [Determination of the intermaxillary relationship in immediate complete dentures. (1). Case of a completely edentulous opposing arch]. PMID- 2630500 TI - [Psychological impact of the assistant]. PMID- 2630501 TI - Psychologists' role in functional assessment of rehabilitation patients. AB - In this study attention was paid to the psychological criteria that clinicians may use when assessing global functioning of rehabilitation patients. Global functioning was understood to be determined by physical, psychological and social factors and was operationally defined as performance in three different areas of life: work, daily activities and human relations. The psychological factors whose relationships to global functioning were studied were three components of personality dynamics:--mental health, cognitive skills and motivation. Patients' mental health, cognitive abilities, motivation and global functioning were clinically rated on the basis of data given by psychological interview, psychological test-results and other information. Correlation analysis showed that the clinicians tend to use the mental health state, the level of cognitive performance and the degree of motivation as criteria when assessing the functioning of rehabilitation patients during the rehabilitation examination. However, multiple regression analysis showed that these psychological variables explained as little as 32% of the variance in follow-up functioning. This is in agreement with the biopsychosocial view that psychological factors are only one class of events manifesting in illness, functioning and behavior. PMID- 2630502 TI - The systems approach: an innovative model for improving the delivery of inservice training. AB - A systems approach consisting of eight elements was used in the design, implementation, and evaluation of a module for physical therapy inservice training at McDonald Army Hospital, Fort Eustis, Virginia. Use of this approach was aimed at increasing the effectiveness of learning, improving participant attitudes toward inservice training, and developing a model which could be used for delivering inservice training throughout the helping professions. The design requires that the problem area be selected by staff consensus--in this case planning and administration of therapeutic exercise programs for patients with hip dysfunctions. Five sessions which centered around this patient oriented problem area were presented by the physical therapist to the three physical therapy technicians. Principles of instructional design and events of instruction were incorporated using the format of Gagne and Briggs (1979). The technicians' perception of physical therapy inservice training was rated before the implementation of the systems approach, after the second inservice session, and after the final inservice session. By the end of the five inservice sessions, all three technicians were able to accomplish the predetermined goal of planning and administering a safe therapeutic exercise program to patients with hip dysfunctions. Progress notes also indicated that patient programs were being appropriately upgraded based on the patient's condition. Technicians' ratings of inservice training also had increased after the final session. Further implementation and evaluation of this approach to training is recommended. PMID- 2630503 TI - Prosthetic rehabilitation of elderly bilateral amputees. AB - A retrospective evaluation of vascular amputees, all over 55 years of age, found that 18 underwent bilateral lower limb amputation. The ages of patients ranged from 55 to 83 years, mean age at the time of second amputation was 65.9 years, 13 men and 5 women. Out of the 18 patients, 12 underwent bilateral below knee amputation (BK-BK), 3 below knee and above knee (BK-AK), and 3 bilateral above knee (AK-AK). Six patients (50%) of the 12 with BK-BK were fitted with prostheses. They therefore became users of two prostheses and have achieved a high functional level of rehabilitation despite a high mean age of 67.8 years. Five of these patients had been successful prosthetic users after the first leg amputation. The sixth patient underwent double BK amputation almost at the same time. He was fitted and rehabilitated with two prostheses simultaneously. Patients with BK-AK and AK-AK amputations had not been fitted with two prostheses. Deciding about prosthetic prescription and type of rehabilitation of elderly bilateral amputees is very difficult. Age alone is not a factor in success or failure of prosthetic rehabilitation. The type of rehabilitation for these patients is related mainly to the level of amputation, associated diseases and successful prosthetic use after the first leg amputation. Careful evaluation by a multidisciplinary team is the key for the right treatment decision and successful rehabilitation of this group of patients. PMID- 2630504 TI - Follow-up of maladjusted academically underachieving children treated in a therapeutic community. AB - Follow-up studies present many difficulties and variables of which the researcher must be aware. They include finding the subjects--in this case children--who are being followed-up and seeking their cooperation in participating in a follow-up scheme. They also include considering the population that one is treating and most especially the duration and severity of the disturbance and how this could well affect the outcome of treatment in a therapeutic community and, eventually, the success or failure after such youngsters leave the therapeutic community. The skill and dedication of treatment being given in the therapeutic community and how this affects outcome once the child leaves the community is also important. The fact that some individuals who leave are withdrawn before it is felt they are ready may mean that incomplete treatment leads to poor outcomes anyway. Also the events that occur after leaving the treatment centre are of particular importance. These may be beneficial or harmful to the individual, increasing or decreasing the chances of rehabilitation. This is the most difficult aspect to control and hence the child who has done well during treatment in a therapeutic community may encounter extreme stresses after leaving. This may result in a poor outcome that is not attributable to what was done in the therapeutic community. This study showed that those children or adolescents with severe problems who were not rejected by the therapeutic community and who received the support of the Local Authority, parents etc. were likely to be more effective in adjusting to life outside the therapeutic community in due course. Those who were able to manipulate the system by turning one professional against another, however, were more likely to experience failure subsequently in late adolescence and as young adults. PMID- 2630505 TI - Biopsychosocial aspects of patient care. PMID- 2630506 TI - Illness coping strategies and hypochondriacal traits among medical inpatients. AB - The Illness Coping Strategies scale (ICS) is an 18-Likert-item scale developed to examine illness appraisal and coping by medical patients more comprehensively than instruments which screen for hypochondriacal traits in this population. This study has examined the association of hypochondriacal traits with illness coping strategies addressed by the ICS among 101 randomly selected inpatients drawn from a general medicine unit of a teaching general hospital. Despite the exclusion of patients with substance abuse or organic mental disorder, or referral for psychiatric consultations, hypochondriacal traits were prevalent in this inpatient sample. Five factor-derived subscales of the ICS (disease vigilance, limit activity, overresponsiveness, self-treatment and obsessive worry) were extracted, and internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities were determined. Multiple regression analysis on a composite measure of hypochondriasis revealed that the five ICS factor scales accounted for 26 percent of the variance. Patients with a high hypochondriacal index had associated high scores on symptom vigilance, limit activity and obsessive worry subscales, suggesting that these illness coping strategies may represent an important aspect of hypochondriacal illness presentation. The self-treatment subscale appeared to act as a suppressor variable, contributing to the prediction of the hypochondriacal index by extracting self treatment aspects from the other illness coping factors. Illness coping responses found to be associated with hypochondriacal traits in this study were rather passive strategies which promoted increased vigilance and concern about symptoms while providing few opportunities to reduce uncertainty regarding health status. PMID- 2630507 TI - Atypical angina in patients with coronary artery disease suggests panic disorder. AB - The occurrence of psychiatric disorders in patients with "medical" problems is not only possible but may be even facilitated by these problems. This article examines the relationship between the type of chest pain and the diagnosis of panic disorder among coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Forty-nine such cardiology patients were interviewed using a structured instrument. Forty percent of patients with atypical angina met DSM-III-R criteria for current panic disorder while no panic disorder was identified in the typical angina group. This finding should have great implications for the care of CAD patients. At least many of the atypical angina patients could benefit from standard effective treatment for panic disorder. This would likely improve their functioning and decrease the financial burden on them and the health care system. PMID- 2630508 TI - Psychiatric consults on medical and surgical wards: a six year study. AB - Using a psychiatric consultation database 1,463 consults were completed over a six-year period (1980 to 1986). Many variables were studied, including demographics, who requested the consults, the reasons for consultation, DSM-III diagnoses, and treatment recommendations. Most variables were unstable from year to year despite thorough and consistent supervision. This study demonstrates the vulnerability of traditionally reported consultation data in establishing norms for defining psychiatric morbidity in the hospital. Future recommendations are discussed. PMID- 2630509 TI - Antidepressants in the medically ill: prediction of benefits. AB - Although depression secondary to medical illness occurs frequently, little is known about its response to conventional antidepressant therapy. In this retrospective study of 50 patients, the authors assessed the charted therapeutic effect of antidepressants and sought to define pretreatment features associated with good outcome. Half (9/18) of the patients with a previous history of depression improved while only 22% (7/32) of the patients without a previous history of depression showed improvement in mood. Those patients meeting DSM-III criteria for major depressive disorder were no more likely to benefit from antidepressants than were patients meeting criteria for adjustment disorder with depressed mood. The authors conclude that previous history of depression should be considered when assessing risks and benefits for antidepressants for medically ill patients with depressive syndromes. PMID- 2630510 TI - Prevalence of alcohol related admissions to general medical units. AB - The prevalence of alcohol related admissions to hospitals in Manitoba was examined in an investigation limited to the general medicine units of four representative hospitals within the province. All admissions during one-month periods were closely examined. In order to determine if an admission was related to alcohol, the investigators obtained permission from each patient to ask the attending physician to rate the degree to which they felt the admission was alcohol related, and intensively reviewed all charts. The percentage of alcohol related admissions was found to range from 6.38 percent to 14.93 percent on medical units. The disorders which alcohol related patients presented on admission tended to differ from those in the not-related category. At all hospitals, disorders of the gastrointestinal system were in the majority for the alcohol related group, while the not-related group presented more difficulty in the area of cardiovascular disorders. The cost which is associated with these alcohol related admissions is large, the highest being $61,050.00 for a one-month period in one of the hospitals surveyed. The findings clearly indicate that in Manitoba, health care facilities and health care professionals are very much involved in problems related to alcohol. The findings of this study indicate that the problem is with us and we should make every effort to ensure proper and effective care, and to establish systems for the identification and referral of alcohol related admissions. PMID- 2630511 TI - Psychosocial services for AIDS patients in the general hospital. AB - Ninety consecutive non-repeating hospital admissions of patients with AIDS were studied. The rates of psychosocial service utilization were quite high for consultation psychiatry (24.4%), social work (42.2%), and home care (discharge planning) nursing (24.4%). The presence of psychiatric co-morbidities and social needs were associated with increased length of stay. In addition, psychiatric co morbidities were associated with increased charges for pharmacy and laboratory. PMID- 2630512 TI - Psychological support and psychiatric management of patients with automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators. AB - There are well over 6,000 automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (AICD) that have been implanted in the United States since 1980. The device clearly reduces arrhythmic mortality in high risk patients. Many AICD patients have other cardiac diseases, most commonly, coronary artery disease with associated prior myocardial infarctions. These patients have special psychosocial stresses that may make them vulnerable to depression and other psychological disturbances. Psychological support together with psychiatric treatment, if needed, should be provided to these patients. Use of psychotropic medications should be closely monitored, especially in this population, as many of these drugs can exacerbate ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Special precautions should also be taken when administering electroconvulsive therapy in these patients. PMID- 2630513 TI - Fluoride concentration of bottled and processed waters. PMID- 2630514 TI - Metabolism of AMP-succinate in rat liver. PMID- 2630515 TI - Association of histone-like tightly-bound proteins to hypermethylated nucleosomes. PMID- 2630516 TI - Acid-soluble tightly-bound chromatin proteins and DNA methylation. PMID- 2630517 TI - Analysis of DNA inverted repeat sequences for their ability to fold in solution. PMID- 2630518 TI - HIV genome in seronegative partners of HIV infected subjects. PMID- 2630519 TI - Variations of adenine nucleotide levels in normal and pathologic human erythrocytes exposed to oxidative stress. PMID- 2630520 TI - "Cross talk" between protein-kinase C (PKC) and adenylate cyclase (AC) in human platelets. PMID- 2630521 TI - Keller method of TMJ orthodontics. AB - This article explains a specific orthodontic method which has been designed to treat TMJ dysfunction patients. The desired mandibular/maxillary relationship is established and maintained throughout treatment. The resultant occlusion will then support a functional condyle-disc-fossa relationship. Cases are presented which illustrate the patented method and apparatus. Both patients have remained pain and dysfunction free for three years and five years respectfully. PMID- 2630522 TI - Case report. Open bite malocclusion. PMID- 2630523 TI - Anterior repositioning of the maxilla (non-surgical). PMID- 2630524 TI - Morphometric analyses of adrenal gland growth in fetal and neonatal sheep. I. The adrenal cortex. AB - This, the first linear morphometric analysis of the epigenesis of the fetal mammalian adrenal cortex, has shown that in the fetal sheep during the latter two thirds of gestation and in the newborn lamb, there are two periods of rapid growth separated by a period of much reduced growth. The fetal ages studies were 53 days (0.36 gestation), a period when the fetal adrenal cortex is actively steroidogenic; 100 days (0.68 gestation), a period of adrenocortical quiescence; 130 days (0.88 gestation), the period of increasing responsiveness to ACTH and cortisol production; 144 days (0.98 gestation), the period of maximal adrenocortical steroidogenesis; and 2 days postpartum, when cortisol production is normally maintained. The first adrenocortical growth period extends to mid gestation, then growth slows to 0.85 gestation when the second growth period begins. The changes between the first growth period (0.36 gestation) and the period of quiescence (0.68 gestation) are characterised by the attainment of normal adrenocortical zonation and the separation of the medulla. The rate of adrenocortical cell division slows and the zona fasciculata cells become smaller in size. The volume density of the adrenocortical blood sinusoids decreases significantly. The onset of the second growth phase is associated with the previously reported increased levels of fetal plasma ACTH at 0.85 gestation and is expressed initially as a hypertrophic response. Cellular hypertrophy increases from 0.88 gestation to 0.98 gestation and then declines over the birth period. The rate of adrenocortical cell division increases from 0.88 gestation and maintains a maximal rate from 0.98 gestation to 2 days postpartum. These interactions of cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia, which result in adrenocortical growth, may be explained as a response to fetal ACTH, which has the ability to stimulate the production of peptide growth and differentiation factors, e.g. IGF-II, and cortisol, which then control adrenocortical development in an autocrine and paracrine fashion. PMID- 2630525 TI - The morphology of normal human bladder urothelium. AB - A comprehensive study of human bladder urothelium was undertaken to define the normal histological and fine structural features of this tissue. Urothelial biopsies from consenting male and female patients undergoing diagnostic or review cystoscopies were analysed. In 31 patients there was an apparently normal urothelium lining the bladder, and in 3 patients the trigone appeared normal. Normal urothelium was not observed to contain lymphocytes, lymphoid follicles, mast cells, Brunn's nests or cysts. No mitoses were seen despite examining about 50,000 urothelial cells. Trigonal and bladder urothelium normally consisted of 3 and 3-6 cell layers, respectively, but they shared the same basic architecture of basal, intermediate and superficial (or surface) cell types. The urothelium possessed a regular, polarised architecture of increasing morphological complexity and differentiation from base to surface. Occasional, slender, cytoplasmic projections were observed to reach the basal lamina from the intermediate cell layer, but not from the surface cell layer. Human urothelium should therefore be considered a stratified, not a pseudostratified, epithelium. The nuclear shape in cross-section was indented in the basal layer, and rounded in the superficial layer. Correspondingly, chromatin configurations of urothelial nuclei were evenly and finely granular in the superficial layer and condensed in the basal layer, suggesting a greater degree of transcriptional activity in the former. Intermediate cell nuclei assumed intermediate degrees of shape and chromatin configuration. Prominent nucleoli were found in the nuclei of all cell layers. Both basal and intermediate cell nuclei and superficial cell nuclei contained characteristic nuclear bodies. Urothelial cells of all layers were connected by interdigitations of cytoplasmic processes and by desmosomes. Clusters of mitochondria were seen throughout the urothelium. Elaborate Golgi membranes and rough endoplasmic reticulum, although rare in the basal layer, were observed in the remainder of the urothelium. Large, prominent lysosomes were identified with the electron microscope and histochemically in the surface layer. The superficial aspect of the urothelium was lined, at least in some regions, by an asymmetric luminal membrane. Tight junctions linked adjacent urothelial surface cells. Such junctions were not observed anywhere else in the urothelium. Fine cytoplasmic filaments, probably of the intermediate type, were most conspicuous in the surface layer. Overall, normal human bladder urothelium is arranged in increasing complexity from base to surface. PMID- 2630526 TI - The structure of physiologically located periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors of the cat canine tooth. AB - A correlative morphological study was carried out on physiologically located periodontal mechanoreceptors in anaesthetised cats. Three periodontal mechanoreceptors were electrophysiologically identified from functionally single fibres teased from the inferior alveolar nerve. One receptor was studied by recording in the mesencephalic nucleus. The four receptors were located by punctate stimuli in the labial aspect of the periodontal ligament of the left mandibular canine tooth in three cats. The receptors were within the intermediate to rapidly adapting part of the range of adaptation rates with conduction velocities of 39.6 ms-1 +/- 4.7 ms-1 and were typical of those recorded in previous studies. The receptor loci were marked and these regions were studied in silver-stained sections and ultrastructurally. Under each ink-marked region Ruffini terminals and smaller terminals resembling free nerve endings were observed. The Ruffini terminals were unencapsulated and the majority had diameters of 2-3 microns. The terminals were observed near the junction of the inner (cemental) and middle zones of the periodontal ligament with the axons running from the alveolar aspect. The results support the view that periodontal mechanoreceptors, even those with more rapidly adapting properties, are Ruffini terminals. PMID- 2630527 TI - Microvascular distribution in normal human synovium. AB - The distribution of vessels in normal human synovium has been investigated using frozen sections and staining with Ulex Europaeus lectin by an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. The presence of a vascular net close to the tissue surface was confirmed. Quantitative analysis showed the majority of vessel profiles to be small venules with a peak density 25-100 microns beneath the tissue surface. A smaller number of capillaries was present with a peak density within 25 microns of the tissue surface. It is suggested that important functions of the numerous venules seen in synovium may include the provision of a source of fresh monocytes to replace surface macrophages and provision of nutrients for the surface layer of cells as a whole, and that the density of the vascular net may reflect angiogenic signals from this cell layer. PMID- 2630528 TI - Growth of the humerus after denervation. An experimental study in the rat. AB - The purpose of the study was, firstly, to determine if muscle activity in the rat has any effect on the growth in length of the humerus and on the migration of the deltoid tuberosity and, secondly, to evaluate the effect of muscle activity on the size and shape of the deltoid tuberosity. Three groups of 25 days old male rats were used. In the first group the brachial plexus innervating one forelimb was resected (the treatment side) and the opposite side was unoperated (the non treatment side). The second group was sham-operated on one side and the third group, the control group, was unoperated. All animals were killed at 53 days of age and the dried humeri measured and compared. For all dimensions the experimental group varied significantly from the remaining two groups in the magnitude of the differences between the treatment and non-treatment sides. In the experimental group the deltoid tuberosities were smaller, less curved, and closer to the proximal end of the bone in humeri from the treatment sides compared to humeri from the non-treatment sides. Humeri from the treatment sides were significantly shorter and were narrower opposite the deltoid tuberosity. A prominent nutrient artery canal was significantly closer to the proximal end of the bone in humeri from the treatment side. These results indicate that after denervation more growth occurred distally and less growth occurred proximally. The differences were, however, small. The present study provides evidence of the contribution made by muscle activity to the form and growth in length of a long bone, and provides indirect evidence of the interaction between the activity of the growth plates and periosteal tension. It is postulated that muscle pull affects periosteal tension and consequently bone form and growth in length. PMID- 2630529 TI - Morphometric analyses of adrenal gland growth in fetal and neonatal sheep. II. The adrenal medulla, with some observations on its ultrastructure. AB - This account of fetal and neonatal sheep adrenomedullary development is the first such study in mammals using both morphometric and microscopic techniques. At 53 days gestation some cells in the migratory whorls and columns contained noradrenaline (NA) granules whereas by 100 days the medulla, now enclosed by the cortex, was composed of elongated juxtacortical cells and rounded central medullary cells, both populations of cells containing NA granules. In the 130 days glands, many of the juxtacortical cells contained adrenaline granules and had synaptic connection with axons of the preganglionic sympathetic nerve fibres. Later development was essentially growth-related. While the juxtacortical cells decreased from 33% of the medulla at 100 days to 22% at 144 days, the central medullary cells increased from 19% to 30% over the same period. Both cell populations exhibited hypertrophic growth over the study period; but the central cells multiplied at a faster rate. We conclude that the development of the cortical and medullary compartments of the adrenal gland are closely linked, for both showed rapid mid-gestational growth which slowed with the attainment of definitive tissue organisation. Then a second phase of growth, associated with increased and controlled catecholamine secretion in the medulla and cortisol secretion in the cortex, occurred in late gestation. PMID- 2630530 TI - The collagen content of the gubernaculum during testicular descent in the pig fetus. AB - Contracture of collagen fibres in the gubernaculum has been suggested as a mechanism responsible for fetal descent of the testis. We measured the collagen content of the gubernaculum, fetal thigh muscle and umbilical cord tissue by assaying its hydroxyproline and protein content in 194 male pig fetuses between 60 and 109 days of gestation. During the period of testicular descent (80-90 days of gestation), a decrease occurred in the hydroxyproline/wet mass and protein/wet mass of the gubernaculum, but not of fetal striated muscle or umbilical cord tissue, reflecting an increase in the water content of the gubernaculum during this period. An increase occurred in the hydroxyproline/protein concentration of the gubernaculum and fetal striated muscle, but not of umbilical cord tissue, denoting an accumulation of collagen in the gubernaculum after descent of the testis. In view of the absence of a firm distal attachment of the gubernaculum in the pig fetus, the increase in its collagen content is probably not a cause of descent by exerting traction on the testis, but merely reflects the involution of the gubernaculum noted after descent. PMID- 2630531 TI - The cerebrum and cerebellum of the fixed human brain: efficient and unbiased estimates of volumes and cortical surface areas. AB - Extremely old and relatively new stereological methods for the efficient and unbiased estimation of volumes and surface areas were applied to fixed human brains. Brains from twelve subjects (six males aged 76-81 years, six females aged 70-98 years) were hemisected. Cerebral hemispheres and cerebellar halves from both sides were sliced systematic randomly for Cavalieri estimates of volume and vertical sectioning estimates of cortical surface area. Weights and linear dimensions were also recorded. It took less than 30 minutes per cerebral hemisphere to estimate total volume and cortical surface area. Cerebellar halves were analysed even more quickly. No significant differences between brain sides and no interaction effects were found but sex differences were confirmed. For male cerebrum (both hemispheres combined), the average volume was 840 cm3 and cortical surface area was 1640 cm2. Two thirds of this surface was hidden within sulci and in the insula. Cortical volume was 320 cm2 with an arithmetic mean thickness of 2.2 mm. In females the cerebral hemisphere was smaller and the cortex was less extensive but just as voluminous. In males, the cerebellum occupied 70 cm3 with a cortical surface of 550 cm2 of which 86% was hidden in fissures. Values were not significantly different from those found in females. PMID- 2630532 TI - Megakaryocytes in the yolk sac, liver and bone marrow of the mouse: a cytometrical analysis by semithin light microscopy. AB - Megakaryocytes of the yolk sac, liver and bone marrow were cytometrically observed by light microscopy using semithin plastic sections. In the yolk sac at 10 and 11 days of gestation, megakaryocytes contained an irregularly round nucleus and clearly stained short lines corresponding to the demarcation membranes. All yolk sac megakaryocytes were less than 10 microns in diameter. Large megakaryocytes appeared in the fetal liver at 12 days and increased in number thereafter. Megakaryocytes in the fetal liver changed in their size between 12 and 15 days of gestation. Liver megakaryocytes at 15 days of gestation and during the neonatal period showed similar distribution profiles in cell size and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio as adult bone marrow megakaryocytes. PMID- 2630533 TI - A comparison of the effects of 6-hydroxydopamine and reserpine on noradrenergic and peptidergic nerves in rat brown adipose tissue. AB - While co-existence of noradrenaline and neuropeptide-Y is, by inference, indicated in sympathetic nervous projections to rat interscapular brown adipose tissue by the fact of their coincident disappearance from the tissue following 6 hydroxydopamine treatment of the animals, reserpine treatment produced a divergent effect suggestive of possible differences either in the localisation and/or release mechanisms for noradrenaline and the peptide within the same neurons. Thus reserpine produced a depletion of noradrenaline but not of the immunohistochemically demonstrable neuropeptide-Y in the nerve plexuses of the tissue. PMID- 2630534 TI - The mandibular incisive foramen. AB - An anatomical variant in the region of the mental foramen is discussed. In these cases the inferior alveolar nerve divides into its two terminal branches only after it has exited through the mental foramen. The incisive nerve thus commences outside the mandible, and has a short extra-osseous course before it enters the mandible through a separate foramen on the same horizontal plane. For the distance between these two foramina there is no nerve supply within the mandible. The groove between the two foramina may be the remnants of the mandibular canal. The foramen through which the nerve enters the bone is a separate anatomical entity from the mental foramen and should be recognised as such. It is proposed that this foramen be named the mandibular incisive foramen. PMID- 2630535 TI - The fine structure of human extraocular muscle spindles and their potential proprioceptive capacity. AB - Twenty seven muscle spindles from six extraocular muscles removed following ocular enucleation from patients aged 58, 76 and 74 years were examined throughout all or most of their length by means of light and electron microscopy using serial transverse sections. Five others were prepared in longitudinal section. Twelve spindles of the superior rectus muscle from three sheep orbits were studied in a similar manner to provide a comparison. The human spindles contained a total of 90 (42%) nuclear chain and 5 (2%) nuclear bag fibres with the usual complement of sensory endings, and 120 (56%) fibres were anomalous with continuous, unattenuated myofibrils throughout their length, a constant width and peripherally placed nuclei. Eight anomalous fibres received sensory terminals similar in form to those of chain and bag fibres. Most (26) spindles contained at least one chain and one anomalous fibre. The periaxial space was limited or absent and the inner capsule was often segmented and in contact with the outer capsule. Abrupt termination of some chain fibres including several with one pole missing, together with evidence of fibre fragmentation and other structural anomalies, were indicative of degeneration. Eight further encapsulated fibre groups were identified as false spindles containing only anomalous fibres; associated nerves failed to terminate in the encapsulations. Sheep spindle content was of regular form, all spindles containing several chain and at least one bag fibre enclosed by an inner capsule and surrounded by a substantial periaxial space equatorially. The human extraocular muscle spindles have lost, either by aging or phylogenetically, the privilege of contractile chambers isolated by a fluid periaxial space from extrafusal fibre activity and sensory terminals are subject to the direct mechanical influences of anomalous intrafusal fibres. These, and the other departures from normal structure described, must jeopardize monitoring of muscle activity in the manner normally attributed to spindles and their capacity to provide useful proprioceptive information is questionable. PMID- 2630536 TI - Encapsulated nerve endings in murine dorsal ear skin. AB - Encapsulated nerve endings in the hairy skin of mice were identified by means of cholinesterase histochemistry. They were especially numerous in the dorsal skin of the ear and where totals ranged from 150 to 597; clustering of corpuscles was an obvious feature. The use of silver impregnation as a counterstain revealed that clusters comprised one or more sets of lamellated corpuscles, each being attached to a single parent axon. The members of each set resembled one another morphologically. Corpuscles from different sets could be classified as simple, branched or coiled. In the hairy skin of cheek, trunk and hindlimb a much lower density of corpuscles was observed; they were all simple in form and occurred in small clusters. PMID- 2630537 TI - Heart weight and running ability. AB - The weight of the heart as determined by dissection techniques was compared with liveweight and total muscle weight in different types of horses and dogs as adults and during growth. With increasing body size both within and between species, heart weight forms a lesser proportion of liveweight and of total muscle weight. Heart weight forms a greater proportion of liveweight in Thoroughbreds and Greyhounds (breeds noted for high speed running) than in other less fleet members of their species and Greyhounds have greater heart weights relative to total muscle weight than other dogs. PMID- 2630538 TI - Cell proliferation in the exocrine pancreas during development. AB - This study examined the relative proliferation of the ductule cell compartment and the mononucleate and binucleate acinar cell populations in the developing pancreas in rats from 5 to 49 days of age. Proliferation of these cell types was assessed in the intact gland and in isolated acinar cells by autoradiography after in vivo labelling with tritiated thymidine at 5, 10, 17, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days of age. It was found that the acinar cell population was predominantly mononucleate at birth, but following weaning became progressively binucleate. At all times studied, DNA synthesis in mononucleate acinar cells was between 3- and 10-fold greater than in binucleate acinar cells. Ductule cell labelling was high relative to that seen in the adult from 5 to 17 days after birth, but after weaning duct cell labelling fell to levels seen in the adult. The results suggest that up to weaning acinus formation is derived from duct cell differentiation and mononucleate acinar cell proliferation, and that after weaning mononucleate acinar cells continue to replicate, either giving rise to binucleate acinar cells or continuing to divide as mononucleate cells. The mononucleate acinar cell thus appears to have the capacity to proliferate, while the binucleate acinar cell appears to be static and non-dividing. PMID- 2630539 TI - The morphology of the lung of the black mamba Dendroaspis polylepis (Reptilia: Ophidia: Elapidae). A scanning and transmission electron microscopic study. AB - The lung of a snake, the black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis), has been investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. This species has only one lung, the right, which is long and occupies most of the pleuro peritoneal cavity. Grossly, the lung could be divided into two discrete anatomical regions: an anterior respiratory area made up of a honeycomb network of capillary-bearing partitions, and a posterior membranous saccular region. The exchange region consisted of a central air duct, the bronchus, which was delineated both dorsally and laterally by morphologically and spatially distinct hierarchically arranged septa. The primary septa gave rise to the secondary septa from which the much deeper peripherally situated tertiary septa that formed the immediate openings to the faveoli arose. The faveoli were rather parallel elongated pockets separated by partitions, the interfaveolar septa, and terminated peripherally on the pleura. A double capillary disposition of the blood capillaries was observed on the relatively thick primary and secondary septa. These septa were lined by a heterogenous epithelium made up of ciliated cells, secretory cells, and smooth squamous cells. This epithelium was continued from the trachea and the bronchus. At the faveolar level the blood capillaries exhibited a single system where they formed a matrix on both sides of the partitions. The surface of the faveoli was covered by two types of cells: Type I cells were squamous and their remarkably attenuated cytoplasmic arborisations were notably extensive while the Type II cells were rather cuboidal, bore stubby microvilli and contained the characteristic osmiophilic lamellated bodies. On the basis of the clearly evident complete differentiation of the pneumocytes and the presence of both the double and single capillary systems, it was observed that this lung, and apparently the reptilian lung in general, manifests a transitional developmental and structural stage in the evolution of the lungs of the air breathing vertebrates from lower through to higher vertebrates. The gross and ultrastructural heterogeneity of the organisation of the ophidian lung is illustrated and the dearth of pulmonary morphological data in this taxon is pointed out. PMID- 2630540 TI - The ultrastructure of human abdominal mesothelium. AB - Fresh specimens of human peritoneum collected from heart-beating cadaver organ donors have been examined by transmission electron microscopy. Samples were taken from the anterior abdominal wall and from the surfaces of the liver, stomach and diaphragm. The mesothelium consisted of a single layer of flattened cells generally 2.5 microns to 3 microns thick. These were joined by tight junctions and desmosomes to form a continuous sheet. The cells rested on a prominent basement membrane deep to which was a layer of fibrous connective tissue. This layer was more compact under the mesothelium from the abdominal wall and liver than elsewhere. Long microvilli projected from apical surface of the cells. In many cases these covered the entire surface but sometimes they were more profuse at the edges of the cells near the intercellular junctions. The cells possessed a well-developed cytoskeleton of intermediate filaments which coursed through the cytoplasm in thick bundles. The cells also had a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Numerous smooth-surfaced and coated vesicles could be seen adjacent to the plasmalemma at all surfaces, providing evidence of considerable pinocytotic activity. There was little regional variation in the structure of the mesothelium. We found no evidence of pores passing through the layer although, on the liver, cisternae were present between the cells and these were often occupied by lymphocytes. PMID- 2630541 TI - The relationship between innervation and arterial structure in late prenatal and early postnatal development of the rat jejunal artery. AB - The peripheral nervous system exerts a trophic influence on target tissues. We have examined the development of the perivascular innervation of the rat jejunal artery and correlated the simultaneous development of the endothelium and medial smooth muscle. Before birth a close relationship exists between endothelial cells and the first layer of differentiating medial smooth muscle, whereas the nerve fibres at this stage are formed into large remote bundles. After birth the differentiation of the media continues and the endothelial cells become separated from the smooth muscle by a thick internal elastic lamina. The nerve fibres grow from the large peripheral bundles to reach the smooth muscle as small bundles or individual fibres, with those immunoreactive to anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide being best developed by birth. From these studies it would seem that it is unlikely that perivascular nerve fibres influence the early development of the arterial wall, but they suggest that endothelial cells are more likely to be involved. PMID- 2630542 TI - The combined effects of unilateral enucleation and rearing in a 'dim' red light on synapse-to-neuron ratios in the rat visual cortex. AB - One day old rats had their right eyes removed and together with non-enucleated controls were raised in either 'light' or 'dark' (red light) conditions from birth until 39 days of age. This resulted in four groups of animals: light-reared enucleated, light-reared non-enucleated, dark-reared enucleated and dark-reared non-enucleated. All animals were killed by intracardiac perfusion with 2.5% sodium cacodylate-buffered glutaraldehyde at 39 days of age. Pieces of visual cortex (Area 17) from both right and left cerebral hemispheres of each animal were dissected out and processed for electron microscopy. Stereological procedures were used to estimate the synapse-to-neuron ratios in Layers II-III of these cortices. Light-reared non-enucleated rats had about 16,000 synapses per neuron in both right and left visual cortices. Rearing non-enucleated rats in the dark reduced this value to about 11,500. The synapse-to-neuron ratio of unilaterally enucleated rats raised in the light was not significantly different from that observed in light-reared non-enucleated rats. Combined dark-rearing and unilateral enucleation did reduce the synapse-to-neuron ratio but not to any greater extent than did dark-rearing alone. However, there was a suggestion of a differential effect between the right and left cortices in these enucleated, dark reared animals. These results demonstrate the importance of light stimulation for the normal development of interneuronal connectivity of the visual cortex. They also show that the effects of unilateral enucleation for the visual cortex are not as great as those previously observed for the superior colliculi in the same animals, at least as far as synapse-to-neuron ratios are concerned. PMID- 2630543 TI - Annual changes in the number, testosterone content and ultrastructure of glandular tissue cells of the testis in the marbled newt Triturus marmoratus. AB - The testes of 8 specimens of Triturus marmoratus were collected during each month of 1987 and processed for electron microscopy and light microscopy demonstration of testosterone (T) following the ABC (avidin-biotin peroxidase complex) method. According to their staining affinity for anti-T antibodies, the glandular tissue cells were classified as T-, T+, T++, and T and the annual changes in the numbers of these cell populations, as well as in the volume occupied by the glandular tissue, were calculated. The volume occupied by the glandular tissue increases from September to December; it begins to decrease in April and disappears from June to August. The glandular tissue is formed from the interstitial cells that surround the lobules containing differentiating germ cells. During the spermatogenic process, the interstitial cells do not show staining affinity for anti-T antibodies. In August-September, the interstitial cells around the lobules that have completed spermatogenesis become positively stained (T+) and form the glandular tissue when the spermatozoa leave the testis. The numbers of intensely stained cells in the glandular tissue (T++ and T ) increase from September to November; begin to decrease in December; disappear in January-February; increase again in March and decrease again in April until they disappear in June September. The interstitial cells, before their transformation in glandular tissue, are ultrastructurally similar to fibroblasts. After their transformation these cells increase in size and develop abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria with tubular cristae and lipid droplets. This morphological pattern is maintained in the glandular tissue from September to April in spite of the changes in staining affinity during this period. PMID- 2630544 TI - Fine structure of the epidermal Leydig cells in the axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum in relation to their function. AB - The fine structure of the Leydig cells in the epidermis of the strictly aquatic adult axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum resembles that of similar cells in larval salamanders. The major finding of this study is that the mucous secretion of the Leydig cells is released into the intercellular spaces from which it is discharged through pores onto the surface of the epidermis where it forms a mucous layer to protect the skin. PMID- 2630545 TI - Oral acyclovir (Zovirax) in the treatment of recurrent herpetic gingivostomatitis and recurrent herpes labialis. PMID- 2630546 TI - Identifying elder abuse and neglect. PMID- 2630547 TI - Notes on dentistry in China. PMID- 2630548 TI - Infection control in the dental office. PMID- 2630549 TI - Are you prepared for a malpractice trial? PMID- 2630550 TI - Communicable disease: a dental care team responsibility. PMID- 2630551 TI - Subarachnoid haemorrhage: prognostic factors as related to working capacity. AB - Seventy-two adult patients suffering spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) were investigated concerning early mortality. Five patients died within 3 weeks after the onset of clinical symptoms. A demonstrable bleeding source and a Hunt Hess score greater than 2 were found to be powerful predictive factors for early mortality. Sixty-seven survivors of SAH were examined at an average of 85 months after their first bleeding with regard to working capacity. Various clinical variables and different rating scales during the acute and subacute stage of SAH were identified retrospectively, and their prognostic value for working capacity was investigated. We found that all clinical features at the acute stage of SAH were not predictive of limited working capacity. At the time of discharge, however, organic brain syndrome, focal neurological deficits and a low Barthel Index proved to be significantly related to impaired working capacity. A Hunt Hess score greater than 2 on admission, and a demonstrable bleeding source, were powerful predictors for early death, but not for impaired working capacity of survivors of SAH. PMID- 2630552 TI - A prospective 5-year follow-up study of 276 patients hospitalized because of suspected lumbar disc herniation. AB - The study consists of 276 patients who were hospitalized between 1980 and 1982 because of suspected lumbar disc herniation. Treatment choice was based on clinical indications only; no randomization was used. A total of 179 patients were treated surgically and 97 had continued conservative treatment. Both groups were followed-up 1 and 5 years later. Five-year follow-up results showed that 68% of operated patients still had pain in sciatic distribution and 21% were retired. Re-operation frequency was 13.8%. Of non-operated patients, 82% still had sciatica and 26% were retired. Reasons for outcome differences between the study groups are discussed. PMID- 2630553 TI - Portable ramps for wheelchair users--an appraisal. AB - This paper describes a study to establish values for gradients which could be achieved by wheelchair users whilst using two different lengths of otherwise identical portable ramps. Sixty subjects each tested gradients of between 1:14 and 1:6 on portable ramps of 1 metre and 1.8 metres length. The results demonstrated that the majority of attendant-propelled, self-propelling, and powered wheelchair users could negotiate gradients of 1:8 and 1:6 on the shorter ramp with varying degrees of effort. A gradient of 1:10 on a short ramp presented few difficulties for the majority of wheelchair users. Although this work relates specifically to portable ramps, there is little to suggest that the results could not be applied to permanent ramps, including those used in the home. PMID- 2630554 TI - Human energy expenditure during level walking on a treadmill at speeds of 54-130 m min-1. AB - Controversy exists in the literature as to the accuracy of the formulae used in predicting oxygen consumption (VO2) during level walking. The purpose of this study was to develop an equation for use at speeds of 54-130 m min-1. The VO2 and energy expenditure (EE) of 25 healthy subjects were measured while walking on a level, motor-driven treadmill at four varying speeds (54, 81, 107 and 130 m min 1). The regression analyses revealed that a quadratic model was a better predictor (p less than 0.05) of both the VO2 and EE than a linear model. The quadratic equation relating VO2 and EE to walking speed (X) is as follows: VO2 (ml kg-1 min-1) = 17.77 - 0.3023X(m min-1) + 0.0027X2 (R2 = 0.935, SEE = 1.5) EE (kcal min-1) = 6.14 - 0.1076X (m min-1) + 0.00093X2 (R2 = 0.830, SEE = 0.89). PMID- 2630555 TI - Erectile and ejaculatory function of males with spinal cord injury. AB - The object of the study was to investigate the frequency of physiological sexual dysfunction in a population of men with spinal cord injury (SCI). A questionnaire based survey of admissions during 1980-84 was undertaken at a regional spinal cord injury rehabilitation unit. Male patients aged 20-63 years with complete or incomplete tetraplegia or paraplegia living in their own homes were included in the study; 43 complied with inclusion criteria, and 38 answered the questionnaire. Ninety-five per cent of the patients stated that they could obtain an erection, 61% on a purely reflex basis; 66% stated that erection was sufficient for coitus, and 45% that they could obtain ejaculation/emission. More patients with incomplete than complete lesions reported ability to obtain ejaculation/emission. Significantly, more of the patients aged below 30 years reported erection sufficient for coitus (p less than 0.05). Forty-five per cent of the patients experienced complications of sexual activity, mainly in the form of bladder dysfunction and pain or spasms. In conclusion, SCI is usually accompanied by considerable sexual dysfunction, but most patients are still capable of functioning sexually. Thus, in the rehabilitation process after SCI, sexual counselling and information may be valuable. PMID- 2630556 TI - Experiencing symptoms in chronic illness: fatigue in multiple sclerosis. AB - This paper examines the various ways in which symptoms of chronic illness may be experienced. With particular reference to fatigue in multiple sclerosis, it discusses how the conceptualization of symptoms as discrete entities requiring targeted action (common in much current writing on chronic illness) is only one form in which physical disorder may be recognized by those directly affected, and one which probably applies little in the course of everyday life. The paper draws attention to the significance of personal and social context in symptom definition and to the implications for the measurement of symptoms and for advice to patients on management. PMID- 2630557 TI - The relationship between impairment and disability in arthritis: an application of the theory of generalized linear models to the ICIDH. AB - We investigated the relationship between impairment, as represented by limitation in range of movement and pain in the knee joint, and disability as measured by a series of activities of daily living in 123 patients with either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthrosis. A log-linear modelling technique found there was a positive association between functional limitation, as measured by reduction in angle of flexion, and disability. However, there was only a marginal relationship between pain in the knee joint and disability, and no association between pain and range of movement, which suggests that conventional beliefs that pain is a key factor in assessing health outcomes may need to be reassessed. PMID- 2630558 TI - Confocal fluorescence microscopy with the tandem scanning light microscope. AB - Applications of the tandem scanning confocal microscope (TSM) to fluorescence microscopy and its ability to resolve fluorescent biological structures are described. The TSM, in conjunction with a cooled charge-coupled device (cooled CCD) and conventional epifluorescence light source and filter sets, provided high resolution, confocal data, so that different fluorescent cellular components were distinguished in three dimensions within the same cell. One of the unique features of the TSM is the ability to image fluorochromes excited by ultraviolet light (e.g. Hoechst, DAPI) in addition to fluorescein and rhodamine. Since the illumination is dim, photobleaching is insignificant and prolonged viewing of living specimens is possible. Series of optical sections taken in the Z-axis with the TSM were reproduced as stereo images and three-dimensional reconstructions. These data show that the TSM is potentially a powerful tool in fluorescence microscopy for determining three-dimensional relationships of complex structures within cells labeled with multiple fluorochromes. PMID- 2630559 TI - The behaviour of microtubules in chromosomal spindle fibres irradiated singly or doubly with ultraviolet light. AB - Areas of reduced birefringence (ARBs) produced by ultraviolet microbeam irradiation are areas of depolymerized microtubules. ARBs probably move poleward either by microtubule subunit addition at the kinetochore and loss at the pole, or by microtubule subunit addition at one edge of the ARB and loss from the other edge. In this paper we have used two approaches to try to distinguish between these two models. First, we determined whether the edges of the ARB move at the same rate; if ARB motion is due solely to addition at the kinetochore and loss at the pole, with the ARB edges unable to exchange subunits, then the two edges of each ARB should move at the same rate. On the other hand, if the exchange is at the ARB edges, then, from data from microtubules in vitro, the poleward edge should move much faster than the kinetochoreward edge. We found that the two edges of the ARB move at the same rate about half the time, but half the time they do not. Second, we studied the behaviour of two ARBs on a single fibre. If ARB motion is due solely to subunit addition at the kinetochore and loss at the pole, then the two ARBs must move poleward together. We found that after two ARBs are formed on a single fibre the region between the ARBs is unstable and rapidly depolymerizes. These results do not fit either model and suggest that influences of kinetochores and poles or other factors need to be considered that are not duplicated in experiments on microtubules in vitro. PMID- 2630560 TI - Actin is associated with the formation of the cell wall in reverting protoplasts of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. AB - To clarify the involvement of actin in the formation of the yeast cell wall, reverting protoplasts of Schizosaccharomyces pombe were used as a simple model system. Actin of reverting protoplasts was labeled with rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin and observed by conventional fluorescence microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy. A close spatial as well as temporal relationship between actin and cell wall formation was observed in protoplast reversion. That is, the site of actin 'dots' in the reverting protoplasts coincided with the site of new wall formation and the timing of rearrangement of actin coincided with the initiation of cell wall formation and with the timing of cell wall expansion. Treatment of reverting protoplasts with cytochalasin D (CD) further clarified the close relationship between actin and cell wall organization. The effect of CD was dose dependent. A high dose of CD caused the absence of actin as well as the complete inhibition of cell wall formation. A low dose of CD caused weakly stained unlocalized actin, which induced grossly aberrant cell wall deposition as well as substantial changes in the morphology of the reverting protoplasts. These results demonstrated that actin is associated with initiation of cell wall formation, the proper deposition of cell wall materials, and maintaining the normal morphology of reverting protoplasts. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of a fibrillar net structure on the surface of non-treated control reverting protoplasts. However, the absence of a fibrillar network on the surface of reverting protoplasts was observed in the presence of a high concentration of CD. Lack of localization of microfibrils as well as poor development of the fibrillar network were also observed in the presence of a low concentration of CD. Recovery experiments confirmed the close relationship between actin and cell wall formation. PMID- 2630561 TI - Dynamics of cytoplasmic organelles in the cell cycle of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe: three-dimensional reconstruction from serial sections. AB - Changes in the ultrastructure of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe during the cell division cycle were analyzed by three-dimensional reconstruction of serial section electron micrographs of freeze-substituted cells. Cytoplasmic vesicles were found at the cell ends during interphase and at the equatorial zone of cells undergoing cytokinesis. Filasomes behaved in a similar but temporally retarded way to vesicles. Microfilament(mf)-associated granules were found attached to the plasma membrane at the growing ends. Microfilaments were identified against the plasma membrane and adjacent to developing septa. From these observations it is suggested that mf-associated structures such as filasomes constitute dense knots of actin network that function in localized cell wall growth by controlling the deposition of cytoplasmic vesicles. Dictyosomes occur as tubular and fenestrated cisternae with associated cytoplasmic vesicles. They were distributed uniformly in the cytoplasm and did not change significantly during the cell cycle. Changes in the three-dimensional localization of cytoplasmic microtubules and mitochondria are also described. PMID- 2630562 TI - The first transition point of the mutant cdc2.33 in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. AB - We show that the first of the two transition points of cdc2.33, a mutant of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, exists in exponential phase cells. Using flow cytometry and a double-block experiment, we have measured the position of this transition point both in the single mutant and in the double mutant cdc2.33 wee1.6. In the single mutant, this point is in early G1. In the double mutant, however, this point is only delayed slightly, if at all, despite much larger delays in the S period and in the transition point of cdc10, another 'start' mutant. There is therefore a significant dissociation in the timing of what are thought to be two start events, and the first one appears not to be subject to a size control and to be associated with the completion of mitosis rather than the G1/S boundary. PMID- 2630563 TI - Subfractionation of the endocytic pathway: isolation of compartments involved in the processing of internalised epidermal growth factor-receptor complexes. AB - The aim of the present study was to isolate different parts of the endocytic pathway in order to examine the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor internalisation in mediating the biological effects of EGF. We have used an antibody to the transferrin receptor complexed with colloidal gold to modify the density of the endocytic compartments so that they can be purified by sucrose density centrifugation. Using this technique, we have been able to isolate a highly purified preparation of endocytic vesicles from H.Ep.2 cells that contain internalised EGF. By employing pulse--chase protocols, it is possible to isolate the different parts of the endocytic pathway and show that they are temporally distinct with regard to the processing of EGF. It should now be possible to examine interactions between the EGF receptor and intracellular substrates in different parts of the endocytic pathway. PMID- 2630564 TI - Translocation of precursor proteins into the mitochondrial matrix occurs through an environment accessible to aqueous perturbants. AB - We have identified translocational intermediates generated during import of precursor proteins into the mitochondrial matrix and have characterized their association with mitochondrial membranes. Partially translocated forms of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) were generated during import of the corresponding precursors (pMDH and pOTC) into mitochondria at 2 degrees C. Import at this temperature results in the formation of intermediate-sized MDH (iMDH) and OTC (iOTC) produced by the removal of a portion of the leader peptide, and in the production of mature-sized MDH. All of these forms contain NH2 termini located within the mitochondrial matrix, although the majority of their polypeptide chains remain extramitochondrial. All three are strongly associated with mitochondrial membranes, but can be extracted by protein denaturants such as urea. These translocational intermediates appear to be hydrophilic proteins, on the basis of their partitioning properties during extraction with the nonionic detergent Triton X-114. The data indicate that the translocation of polypeptide chains into mitochondria occurs in a microenvironment that is aqueous in nature and is mediated by integral membrane proteins. PMID- 2630565 TI - Unique geometry of actin-membrane anchorage sites in avian gizzard smooth muscle cells. AB - Adherens junctions in isolated avian gizzard smooth muscle cells appear as short longitudinal streaks or chevrons that are arranged in periodic, mainly transverse bands along the cell surface. This barrel-like geometry, revealed by antibodies to either vinculin or talin, was seen also in teased gizzard strips by confocal laser-scanning microscopy and contrasted with the rib-like surface pattern observed here and previously in other avian and mammalian smooth muscles. There were on average 67 transverse bands per gizzard cell and an estimated total of around 800 vinculin/talin sites. The longitudinal spacing between the transverse bands of vinculin streaks in the gizzard cells changed from 4-5 microns in extended cells to around 1 micron in shortened cells and the bands remained essentially transverse at all cell lengths, inconsistent with a screw-like mode of cell shortening as has been invoked for smooth muscle cells by others. The absence of rotation on shortening was confirmed by observations on isolated and bead-decorated skinned cells that were induced to contract with ATP. Counterlabelling of cells with alpha-actinin antibodies produced more or less exclusive staining of the cytoplasmic dense bodies, and little surface label: the total number of dense bodies per cell, estimated from confocal microscope through focal series was in the range of 3000. The data are consistent with a periodic anchorage of actin filaments to the cell surface and, in turn, with the existence of regularly spaced contractile assemblies. PMID- 2630566 TI - Further characterization of the antigen defined by the monoclonal antibody M27. AB - Using immunoblotting techniques, the antigen that binds the monoclonal antibody M27 has been clearly defined in terms of apparent molecular mass and distribution. In reducing conditions it has an apparent mass of 178K (K = 10(3) Mr) and is present in the cytoplasm and membranes of all mammalian tissue culture cells so far examined. It is absent from lines derived from avian, piscine and amphibian sources. It is also absent from foetal liver of both rat and mouse, but subsequently appears after cultivation in vitro. Similarly, it can be detected on rat lymphocytes only after mitogenic stimulation. However, it is found on both hepatoma and lymphoma cells in vitro, and on in vivo tumours from murine sources. It thus appears to be associated with cell proliferation. PMID- 2630567 TI - Human macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity of Schistosoma mansoni. Functional and structural features of the effector cells. AB - Human monocytes were purified from peripheral blood and cultured in vitro on hydrophobic membranes. Such cells developed into mature tissue-type macrophages after approximately 1 week in culture. During this maturation period the macrophages developed a potent cytotoxic mechanism whereby they could kill the schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni in standard in vitro cytotoxicity assays. Cytological and ultrastructural studies of the cells grown in vitro indicated that macrophages developed many of the classical histological and ultrastructural features of 'activated' cells with ruffled plasma membranes and significant increases in rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi vesicles. Effective cytotoxicity depended upon contact of the effector cells and their parasite target. Further, experiments using metabolic inhibitors indicated that cytotoxicity was dependent upon protein synthesis. Initial results point to the macrophage factor being distinct from some of the better-characterised macrophage secretory products such as tumour necrosis factor, proteases and products of oxygen metabolism. PMID- 2630568 TI - Suppression of malignancy in human lymphoid cell hybrids: the role of differentiation. AB - Human somatic cell hybrids were generated from fusions between a tumorigenic B cell line, and mononuclear cells from a patient with low-grade B-cell lymphoma in which the neoplastic cells largely corresponded to cells at an intermediate stage of differentiation. The resulting hybrids and the parent cells were immunophenotyped, karyotyped and genotyped in an effort to determine whether the stage of B-cell development of the fusion partners was important in the suppression of malignancy. The majority of hybrids demonstrated suppression of tumorigenicity as measured in immunodeprived mice. Chromosome markers and immunoglobulin gene rearrangements found in the patient's neoplastic cells were also present in several of the hybrids. One of the tumorigenic hybrids retained specific chromosomes also found in the non-tumorigenic hybrids, but demonstrated an immunophenotype and genotype possibly associated with a subset of early B cells. In the non-tumorigenic hybrids that retained most of the chromosomes from both parents there was evidence of plasmacytoid differentiation. These results suggest that the ability of B-lymphocytes to suppress malignancy in human lymphoid hybrids may be dependent on the corresponding stage of normal B-cell ontogeny, and that suppression is associated with differentiation. PMID- 2630569 TI - Dissociation of senescence-associated changes in differentiated gene expression and replicative senescence in cultured adrenocortical cells. AB - In bovine adrenocortical cells senescing in culture, the decline in expression of cyclic AMP-inducible 17 alpha-hydroxylase in mass cultures and clones of bovine adrenocortical cells results from a decrease in the number of cells in the population capable of expressing this gene. As the population of cells decreases in proliferative potential, the fraction of the population that expresses 17 alpha-hydroxylase after induction with cyclic AMP decreases, until the population comprises entirely nonexpressing cells. We used in situ hybridization to study the relationship between the loss of the ability to replicate and the loss of expression of this differentiated function gene. Colonies of cells from early passage cultures comprised complex mosaics of expressing and nonexpressing cells, indicating a high-frequency switching event. At an individual cell level, there was a complete independence of replicative senescence and loss of 17 alpha hydroxylase expression. Groups of cells with a morphology characteristic of replicative senescence, occurring frequently in early-passage cultures, comprised both expressing and nonexpressing cells, as did cells that appeared to be in rapid growth. This was confirmed by prior incubation of cells with bromodeoxyuridine to label cycling cells; both cycling and noncycling populations comprised mixtures of expressing and nonexpressing cells. In contrast, replication was required for the loss of 17 alpha-hydroxylase expression, since cells rendered incapable of division by treatment with mitomycin C maintained 17 alpha-hydroxylase expression over long time periods. Thus, the process that results stochastically in replicative senescence and the process that results in loss of 17 alpha-hydroxylase expression are independent, but they have similar time-courses and both require replication for phenotypic switching to take place. PMID- 2630570 TI - Immunological functions and phenotypes of peripheral blood lymphocytes from human T-cell leukemia virus-I carriers. AB - We studied immunological functions of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-seropositive healthy carriers in vitro. Proliferative responses of PBL to T-cell and B-cell mitogens such as concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) were moderately impaired in HTLV-I carriers compared with normal controls. Immunoglobulin (Ig)-producing activity of PBL stimulated with B-cell mitogens were also impaired in HTLV-I carriers. However, cytotoxic T-cell activity induced by in vitro culture was not impaired but slightly increased in HTLV-I carriers. Natural killer-cell activity was only slightly decreased. By a flow cytofluorometric analysis of the cell surface phenotypes of PBL, the percentage and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD 3-positive cells and CD 4 positive cells were significantly decreased in HTLV-I carriers. The percentage and the MFI of CD 8-positive cells was not changed. The percentage and the MFI of CD 25-positive cells were increased. These results suggest that some immunological abnormalities are already present in HTLV-I carriers and such abnormalities have some roles for the leukemogenesis from the infection of the HTLV-I into adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). PMID- 2630571 TI - T-lymphocyte activation in IgA nephropathy: serum-soluble interleukin 2 receptor level, interleukin 2 production, and interleukin 2 receptor expression by cultured lymphocytes. AB - The present study was undertaken to examine the T-lymphocyte activation in IgA nephropathy. Serum-soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2R) levels were studied in 29 IgA nephritic patients, 17 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (non-IgA nephropathy), and 30 healthy controls during an infection-free period. No difference in serum sIL2R level was demonstrated among these three groups of subjects. However, the serum sIL2R levels of IgA nephritic patient rose significantly during clinical exacerbation with synpharyngitic macroscopic hematuria and the serum sIL2R levels fell when hematuria subsided. Mitogen stimulated cellular interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R) expression, sIL2R release, and interleukin 2 (IL2) production were also examined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultured for 24-48 hr in 21 patients with IgA nephropathy, 17 patients with chronic glomerulonephritides, and 17 healthy controls. The total cellular IL2R expression and sIL2R release did not differ among these three groups of subjects. However, the individual T-cell subsets bearing IL2R were distinctly different between IgA nephritic patients and the other two groups of controls. IgA nephritic patients had increased activated CD4+ lymphocytes and reduced activated CD8+ lymphocytes. Furthermore, IL2 production in response to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen stimulation was increased in lymphocytes from patients with IgA nephropathy. The IL2 production did not correlate with the quantities of cellular and sIL2R yet the cellular IL2R expression paralleled the sIL2R released by cultured lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2630573 TI - "Prophy only, please". PMID- 2630572 TI - Taking dentistry to the underserved: treatment for the Killer B's. PMID- 2630574 TI - Colorado pit and fissure sealant survey: attitudes toward and use of pit and fissure sealants by Colorado general dentists. AB - The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey of Colorado general dentists regarding the use of and attitudes toward pit and fissure sealants. The survey consisted of a questionnaire to determine the utilization levels of sealants by general dentists, reasons for limited placement or non-utilization of sealants, whether sealant placement was delegated to dental auxiliaries or not, and if continuing education courses on sealants had been attended by the dentists and/or their dental auxiliaries. A total of 544 completed questionnaires were available for study. The results indicated that sealants were used by 82.7% of the dentists. Approximately 70% of the practitioners reported that they utilized sealants either routinely or occasionally. Reasons for limited placement or non utilization of sealants were, in descending order: 1) Not covered by insurance; 2) Inadvertent sealing in of caries; 3) Sealants do not last; 4) Sealants too expensive; 5) Not familiar with sealant technique; 6) Sealants not effective. Placement of sealants was delegated as follows: 1) Dentists, 64.8%; 2) Hygienists, 17.8%; 3) Assistants, 17.4%. Continuing education courses had been attended by 29.1% of the dentists surveyed. Only 6.6% of the dentists indicated that their staff had attended continuing education courses on sealant placement. A relatively high percentage of Colorado dentists are utilizing sealants on a frequent basis. Major reasons for limited usage or non-utilization of sealants relates to lack of insurance coverage and concern regarding sealing in of caries. A need for continuing education courses on sealants appears to exist. PMID- 2630575 TI - [Oral health of University of Montreal students in the early 60's]. AB - This article reviews the data which was assimilated relative to the dental health status of first year students during the 1962-63 and 1963-64 school years. The majority of the students were in the 20-29 year old age group. 29.4% of these students were women. In the 20-29 year old age group: 8% were completely edentulous; and, on average, they were missing 6.3 teeth; they had 7.9 carious lesions requiring treatment; and they had 7.8 teeth which had been restored with fillings. Several statistics are similar to those found in the 1968 Simard Lussier study and the 1970-72 Nutrition Canada study. PMID- 2630576 TI - [Oral manifestations of infectious diseases]. AB - Numerous bacterial diseases, both viral and fungal in nature, can affect the oral cavity, either directly or secondarily as a result of a systemic problem. Their oral manifestations can vary, but are sometimes very typical, and early detection significantly reduces the risk of transmitting pathogenic agents to the dental team and to patients. The principal oral manifestations are reviewed and special emphasis is placed on sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infection. PMID- 2630577 TI - [Sterilization and quality control]. AB - The dental profession has always considered the sterilization of surgical instruments as an important element in the prevention of infection. During the last decade the concern with blood and to a lesser degree with saliva in the transmission of infection, due primarily to the hepatitis and HIV viruses, has resulted in many corporate organizations releasing recommendations to reinforce the use of sterilization techniques and disinfection techniques when sterilization is not applicable or justifiable. As a result of the fact that the two terms are often intermingled, the authors review the fact that each one pursues different objectives and put the emphasis on sterilization by briefly reviewing the principal advantages and disadvantages of each method of sterilization presently available for use in dental offices. Subsequently, they stress the importance of introducing quality control in any infection prevention program, in order to assure that the sterilization process is not at the mercy of human error or mechanical failure. The pharmaceutical industry, food chains and hospital centres have for more than 40 years realized the importance of using chemical indicators and especially biological testing. Only biological testing can put one's mind at ease, for the professional in a dental office and the patient receiving care, that the instruments or objects that one comes in contact with are truly sterile. The dental profession did not wait for the discovery of the hepatitis B and HIV viruses to become preoccupied with the spread of disease and have sterilized their surgical instruments for many years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2630578 TI - [Barrier protection and disinfection]. AB - The practice of dentistry has changed considerably with the proliferation of infectious diseases. A dentist must integrate new universal aseptic measures in his practice to prevent the spread of these diseases. In the first instance, each member of the dental team must be informed of the risks of contamination and infection inherent with their work. They must be properly trained to know and be able to apply all measures which will minimize any possible risk for themselves and for all their patients. Infection control begins with prevention and consists of using protective barrier techniques which will prevent the spread of infection directly from one person to another. Their use is suggested in order to protect those providing care, as well as, patients from cross contamination. One must reinforce these preventive measures by using corrective techniques which will eliminate contamination agents on all instruments, surfaces and equipment. Everything that cannot be sterilized must be disinfected with disinfectants following recommended procedures which are efficient and protect those providing care. PMID- 2630579 TI - [Infection transmission: an infallible protection system]. AB - The control of the transmission of infection has always been a preoccupation of members of the dental team. However, the sudden appearance of new infectious diseases has made everyone more conscientious and has resulted in the development of new methods of control. This article details such a method, namely, the I.M.S. system. It consists of a series of simple operations which allows for the cleaning, rinsing, drying, packaging, sterilization and storage of small instruments and all of this without manipulation once the process is undertaken. PMID- 2630580 TI - [Vaccination as a means of prevention]. AB - While recognizing the fact that the use of strict hygienic techniques, disposable materials and quality control are essential for sterilizing instruments, vaccination still remains the most efficient way to combat infection. In this article, the authors discuss the principle problems associated with the use of vaccines and especially as they relate to the dental office. Hepatitis B is certainly of interest to all dentists and their personnel, especially since its primary mode of transmission is by contact of blood with the skin and the mucosa. The two forms of vaccines presently available, are derived from the human plasma of carriers or from yeast and cause a genetic reaction which produces hepatitis B virus antigens. These vaccines protect at least over 90% of all healthy individuals and do not generate any secondary infection or unfavorable reactions. Faced with the reality of hepatitis B, it is very wise to remember that it is BETTER TO BE VACCINATED THAN TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE EFFECTS OF HEPATITIS. PMID- 2630581 TI - [Disinfectants and sterilizants for dental instruments]. AB - A comparative study of ten (10) products recommended for disinfection and/or sterilization of dental instruments is detailed. Four (4) out of fourteen (14) characteristics have been evaluated, namely corrosive power, monthly cost, odor and availability. PMID- 2630582 TI - The use and transfer of patient records. PMID- 2630583 TI - [Oral manifestations in the patient taking antineoplastic medication. The role of the dentist]. AB - This article details the pernicious odontostomatological effects provoked by antitumorous and immunosuppressive medication. The role of the dentist as a member of the chemotherapeutic team is highlighted as well. PMID- 2630584 TI - [Toothbrush holder for a day-care center]. AB - A recent investigation of the various oral hygiene activities in 23 day-care centers located in the district administered by the Verdun Community Health Department has highlighted the need for a standardized hygienic method of storing toothbrushes. The study proposed to identify the main criteria related to hygiene that must be observed in order to prevent the transmission of contagious diseases within a day-care center, through the use of toothbrushes or toothbrush holders. Furthermore, the toothbrush holder has to meet four requirements: (1) be inexpensive; (2) be easy to build or manufacture; (3) allow the storage of 15 toothbrushes at the same time; (4) permit easy identification of the toothbrush by the child or teacher. A review of the literature, together with an assessment of toothbrush holders presently used by day-care centers in the district administered by the Verdun Community Health Department, showed that there were none which completely satisfied the required criteria. Under these circumstances, the authors of the study propose a detailed plan for the construction of a toothbrush holder that will satisfy these requirements. The toothbrush holder can be used to promote dental health to the very young. A sponsor could present it as a gift to one or more day-care centers in order to demonstrate their interest in the prevention of dental disease among these children. PMID- 2630585 TI - Automated Sanger DNA sequencing with one label in less than four lanes on gel. AB - Novel Sanger dideoxy sequencing with only one fluorescent dye label for the four bases of one clone and sequence determination in two lanes on polyacrylamide gel is presented, loading A greater than G in one lane and T greater than C in the other. Sequencing reactions for the two bases in each lane are carried out in one tube. At present the ratio of ddATP:ddGTP and ddTTP:ddCPT is set to 5:1 in the two tubes. Distinction between the two bases in one lane is done by comparing the different magnitudes of the peaks. This method increases the capacity since more clones may be run simultaneously on one gel, while keeping the reliability and simplicity that comes with the use of only one fluorescent dye for the four bases of one clone. At present about 200 bases are determined with the one-dye two-lane method on the EMBL's automated fluorescent DNA sequencer, using T7 DNA polymerase. The error rate in the deduced sequence is about 1%. The technique is used for the determination of overlaps in mapping projects. In principle, it is possible to determine the sequence with one dye in only one lane on the gel by choosing the proper ddNTP ratios for all four bases, carrying out reactions in one tube and applying the product in one lane, but the error rate for this one lane method seems too high at present and further improvements in the uniformity of peaks obtainable with the T7 DNA polymerase or other enzymes are required. PMID- 2630586 TI - Peptide: N-glycosidase F: studies on the glycoprotein aminoglycan amidase from Flavobacterium meningosepticum. AB - Peptide: N-glycosidase from Flavobacterium meningosepticum was isolated in a homogeneous state and its physico-chemical characterization was accomplished. The reliability of the previously recorded assay procedures was assessed. Using an octaglycopeptide derived from ovomucoid a rapid and sensitive FPLC method was developed for the assay of enzymatic activity. Peptide: N-glycosidase was found to effect deglycosylation of glycoproteins bearing complex and/or multiantennary glycans even in their native state. In contrast, glycoproteins with high mannose and/or hybrid carbohydrates required denaturation to become susceptible to deglycosylation by the enzyme. PMID- 2630587 TI - Real time monitoring of acylations during solid phase peptide synthesis: a method based on electrochemical detection. AB - Monitoring of acylation reactions during solid phase peptide synthesis is important to ensure high coupling yields in all steps of the synthesis. We describe in this paper a simple and reliable method for monitoring the time course of the acylation steps as well as the washing and deprotection steps during computer-controlled solid phase peptide synthesis. The method is based on the continuous measurement of electrical conductivity in the reaction vessel. It is shown that there is a close correspondence between the degree of acylation (as determined from the amount of 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl- (Fmoc) groups released during deprotection) and the conductivity profile obtained during coupling of the amino acids to the growing peptide chain. The measurements are fed back to the computer providing data for software control of the duration of the acylation, deprotection and washing steps. The method is demonstrated with pentafluorophenol esters, but is equally applicable to dihydroxybenzotriazole esters and symmetric anhydrides using the Fmoc-polyamide strategy in a continuous flow set-up with dimethylformamide (DMF) as the general solvent. PMID- 2630588 TI - Soft tissue ulceration. PMID- 2630589 TI - Stress fracture of the first metatarsal after Keller bunionectomy. AB - Complications following the Keller bunionectomy procedure are reviewed. The authors particularly reference metatarsal stress fractures. They describe a first metatarsal fracture sustained postoperatively in a 58-year-old diabetic patient. PMID- 2630590 TI - Ciprofloxacin: a study of usage in pedal infections with case reports. AB - Ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic of the quinolone class, has exhibited properties that may lead to frequent use in the febrile patient. Particularly important to the podiatrist is the bactericidal action of the drug on penicillinase producing Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas species. Ciprofloxacin also kills many Gram negative bacteria, and some anaerobic bacteria. Infections of this nature have been classically treated with parenteral antibiotics in a hospital setting. Ciprofloxacin has demonstrated, in clinical studies, the ability to kill these organisms in skin, soft tissues, and bone while using an oral route of administration. When considering cost-containment strategies in the patient with osteomyelitis, ciprofloxacin can cost between 50% to 80% less than parenteral therapy. PMID- 2630591 TI - Digital chondroma. AB - Digital or extraskeletal chondromas are rare tumors. Slow growing in nature, they rarely exceed 3 cm. in diameter. Surgical intervention is necessary for diagnosis and elimination of the problem. PMID- 2630592 TI - Bone scan: indium-WBC correlation in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the foot. AB - A retrospective study was performed of 20 podiatric cases using technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate three-phase bone scans along with indium-111 oxine leukocyte scans, as needed, to determine the presence and extent of osteomyelitis of the foot. Using criteria developed at our institution, the authors attempt to provide a mechanism to make a reliable diagnosis for osteomyelitis that has been supported by surgical/pathologic confirmation of long-term clinical follow-up. The sensitivity, using bone scans alone, was 100%, and specificity was 47%. Correlating bone and indium-111 leukocyte scans yielded a sensitivity of 100% with a specificity raised to 81%. Indium-111 leukocyte scans were used in 40% of cases when a definitive diagnosis for osteomyelitis could not be made on the basis of the three-phase bone scan or clinical presentation alone. Indium-111 leukocyte scans were also helpful in delineating the extent of the disease process. The authors present a standard technique for a 5-hour delayed imaging in the three-phase bone scan, as well as marking the foot in the indium-111 leukocyte scan with three routine views obtained for each imaging procedure, to ensure clinical accuracy. PMID- 2630593 TI - Metaphyseal osteotomy for the treatment of tailor's bunions. AB - There have been many surgical approaches described for the surgical treatment of tailor's bunions. The authors have been using a procedure that addresses both an elevated fourth to fifth intermetatarsal angle and an elevated lateral deviation angle, for the past 3 years. The metaphyseal osteotomy provides reliable correction of these two abnormalities and allows for uncomplicated rigid fixation. PMID- 2630594 TI - Tumoral calcinosis simulating osteomyelitis. AB - A case of tumoral calcinosis simulating osteomyelitis and associated with bunion formation in a 20-year-old female is presented. The most striking findings in this patient were the soft tissue calcifications. There was no evidence of any of the known causes of heterotopic calcifications. This kind of simulation between tumoral calcinosis bunion formation and osteomyelitis has not been previously described. PMID- 2630595 TI - An alternative technique in the care of the postoperative wound. AB - The authors discuss whether bathing a surgical incision with sutures intact alters the postoperative infection rate. They present a prospective study of 60 patients involving 137 surgical wounds. Results of the study discount the theory that bathing an incision with sutures present leads to an infection. PMID- 2630596 TI - Deep fibromatosis of the foot with metatarsal involvement. AB - The author discusses superficial and deep fibromatoses. He cites one middle-aged female 10 years following surgical intervention. The clinical and histologic characteristics of fibromatosis are illustrated. PMID- 2630597 TI - Importance of peak enzyme level and reinfarction while attempting to intervene myocardial infarction process. AB - Isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) was tried in 27 patients, of which 4 patients with evidence of reinfarction were excluded in the course of the study, with acute myocardial infarction, with the aim of reduction of enzymatically estimated infarction size. The drug apparently seemed useless, when overall effects of the therapy was looked into. But in the group, where drug was administered before the occurrence of peak enzyme level (PEL), ISDN could reduce infarction size by 22.95% (p less than 0.01). Similarly when all the 12 cases of re-elevation of enzyme level (suggesting reinfarction) were excluded, the drug was found to reduce infarction size by 21.14% (p less than 0.01). Time of onset of therapy with respect to PEL and occurrence of reinfarction seemed to be important governing factors regulating the efficacy of drug therapy. PMID- 2630598 TI - Comparative value of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and lactic dehydrogenase enzyme pattern in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in acute cerebrovascular accidents. AB - A study of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) enzymes in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was carried out on 30 cases of acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA) to determine their role in precise diagnosis and prognosis of the cases. The CSF GOT and LDH activities were well correlated with the severity, mortality and peak and proper timing in relation to infarct, same is about serum GOT. A characteristic rise of GOT and LDH was observed in cerebral haemorrhage especially in fatal cases. However, in cerebral thrombosis and embolism specially in non-fatal cases, the enzyme change was not so marked. GOT and LDH enzyme pattern in CSF and serum may, therefore, serve as an early, relatively easy and widely available tool for differential diagnosis and prognosis of cases of acute CVA. PMID- 2630599 TI - Endoscopic and histopathological study of duodenitis. AB - Fifty patients who presented with symptoms suggestive of disease related to peptic acidity having endoscopic evidence of duodenitis were analysed. Endoscopic duodenal biopsy was done in all these patients. Histologically duodenitis was labelled if there was infiltration of epithelial layer. Male to female ratio was found to be 3:2. Duration of symptoms in the patients ranged from less than one month to more than 5 years. Possible aetiological factors like drugs, alcohol and smoking were established in 26 patients (52%), drugs being the commonest (26%). Stool examination showed cyst or ova of parasites in 8 patients (16%). Endoscopically multiple hyperaemic patches were seen in 15 (30%), erosions in 19 (38%), coarse mucosal folds in 5 (10%), nodules in 2 (4%) and multiple lesions in 9 (18%) patients. Histological and endoscopical correlationship was established in 40 (80%) cases. PMID- 2630600 TI - Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography using Chiba needle by blind method. AB - Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography using Chiba needle by blind method was done on 25 patients with suspected obstructive jaundice. The overall success rate of the procedure was 96% and with few minor complications only. PMID- 2630601 TI - Cardiovascular manifestations of scorpion sting in a case of congenital complete atrioventricular block. PMID- 2630602 TI - Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura mimicking intracranial tumour. PMID- 2630603 TI - Spontaneous closure of benign duodenocolic fistula. PMID- 2630604 TI - Medicolegal problems faced by a practitioner. PMID- 2630605 TI - [Molecular mechanisms for cell adhesion mediated by fibronectin molecules]. PMID- 2630606 TI - [Isolation and characterization of human KB cell mutants resistant to epidermal growth factor-Pseudomonas exotoxin conjugates]. PMID- 2630607 TI - [Molecular architecture of annelid giant hemoglobin]. PMID- 2630608 TI - Radiographic anatomic variant of the mandible. PMID- 2630609 TI - Dietary fluoride supplements for Maryland's children--the role of the dentist. PMID- 2630610 TI - A clinico-pathologic presentation. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma. PMID- 2630611 TI - Factors influencing the career selection of first-year dental hygiene students. AB - As dental hygiene programs experience declining enrollments, attention has focused on the need for effective recruitment strategies. One response to this need is to learn more about what influences dental hygiene students' career selections. This study examined the factors that were reported to have influenced the career selections of students newly enrolled in one baccalaureate dental hygiene program. Additionally, the students' levels of vocational identity were measured in order to determine if students with higher levels of vocational identity were influenced by different factors. The dental hygienist received the highest ranking by all students for being influential in the decision to select dental hygiene as a career. This supports earlier findings related to the importance of involving dental hygiene professionals in recruitment of future dental hygienists. PMID- 2630612 TI - Dental hygiene continuing education. Satisfaction and achievement. AB - This study addresses questions associated with performance on a continuing education course in periodontics and the participants' satisfaction with that course. The authors examine relationships between pre- and post-course test scores and various characteristics of the 120 dental hygienists who enrolled in one or more continuing education courses on periodontics. Four characteristics were found to be related to pre-course test scores. Those who performed significantly better on the written pre-course test generally were (1) younger, (2) less experienced, (3) educators and (4) four-year graduates rather than two year graduates. Those who went on to take additional continuing education courses in periodontics had higher mean scores on the post-course I test than those who did not. Satisfaction with the course was generally high. Additional research is needed on factors which may influence achievement in a continuing education program and encourage participation in additional learning experiences. PMID- 2630613 TI - Dental hygiene student. Interest in advanced education. AB - This paper reports the results of a 1985 survey of certificate/associate degree students' interest in advanced education: baccalaureate degree completion and non degree granting residency programs. Subjects included first- and second-year dental hygiene students enrolled in 12 vocational, community college, state, and research university institutions in a five-state region in the upper Midwest. The data collection instrument consisted of a 12-item mailed questionnaire. One hundred percent program and 78.7% student response rates were achieved. Results indicate that respondents are interested in degree completion and non-degree granting residency programs. Interest varied by age and by type of institution in which respondents were completing their dental hygiene education. While younger respondents were more likely to express interest in advanced education, respondents over the age of 30 were generally interested or undecided. Overall, respondents indicated slightly different areas of interest for degree completion versus residency programs. In general, respondents indicated an interest in pursuing advanced education on a part-time, evening basis, within five years of completion of their basic dental hygiene education. Cost, time, and family commitments were identified by respondents as major barriers to continuing their education. PMID- 2630614 TI - Dental needs and perceptions of adult Hispanic migrant farmworkers in Colorado. AB - To identify oral health needs, 231 adult Hispanic migrant farmworkers participated in an oral interview and dental epidemiologic survey in Colorado in summer 1986. DMFT and CPITN scores and restorative treatment needs were recorded. Overall treatment needs then were calculated. Mean DMFT was 9; 85% had one or more decayed teeth and 66% had one or fewer filled teeth. Analysis of CPITN scores revealed 69% displaying ADA perio cases types I and II, and 28% with ADA case types III and IV. Twenty-two percent of the sample had never received dental care, with another 56% not having received regular care. Barriers to care are cost, time factors, and perceptions of ineffective diagnosis or treatment. Differences by age, sex, language, education, home base, and care-seeking status are presented. Results document the need for increased preventive and treatment services and education for migrant adults. PMID- 2630615 TI - Self-regulation for dental hygienists. The Canadian example. AB - The policy of regulating dental hygiene practice by dental governing bodies raises concerns about market competition, service accessibility, and civil rights. In Canada, self-regulatory status has been accorded to over two-thirds of dental hygienists--those residing in Ontario and Quebec--and is being considered in Alberta. Using a public interest perspective, dental hygiene regulation in North America and the differing self-regulatory policy approaches in Quebec and Ontario are described, and implications are considered. In both provinces, the profession and its relations with other groups have changed. While the future is uncertain, service accessibility and quality assurance may improve; however, enhanced technical efficiency through labor substitution appears less likely. PMID- 2630616 TI - An investigation on the safety of rewashed gloves. AB - Despite recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services, some dental professionals are using rewashed gloves. To study the effects of repeated washings, latex gloves were washed up to 50 times and tested for defects before and after washing. Then, to investigate the safety of rewashed gloves, they were contaminated with either bacteriophage viruses or Staphylococcus epidermidis. After application of four commonly used hand-washing solutions, the contaminated gloves were washed one to five times and tested for residual organisms. Our results showed that one percent of the gloves had manufacturer's defects, and that repeated washings did not increase the incidence of these defects. Furthermore, in spite of significant reductions in the number of microorganisms on contaminated gloves after repeated washings, rewashed gloves remained infected with the test organisms. The results of this investigation indicate that rewashed gloves have the potential to cause cross-contamination. PMID- 2630617 TI - A closer look at tartar control dentifrices. AB - A variety of tartar control dentifrices is currently on the market. This has led to some confusion on the part of both clinicians and the public about the need for and efficacy of these products. A description of the effects of these dentifrices on calculus, a discussion of the commercial products available, and comparative research findings are presented. PMID- 2630618 TI - Juvenile diabetics' oral health and locus of control. A pilot study. AB - The purpose of this pilot study program was to evaluate the effects of a one-year dental health education program on the oral health status and locus of control of juvenile diabetic children. Thirty subjects with juvenile diabetes mellitus were allocated to control and experimental treatment groups so that group frequencies (age, sex, race, duration of diabetes) were similar. Both groups had a Silness and Loe Plaque Index (PLI) and a Ramfjord Periodontal Disease Index (PDI) performed, and received an oral prophylaxis three times over the one-year period. Locus of control was measured at baseline and one year using the Children's Health Locus of Control Scale. In addition, the experimental group received an extensive dental health education program which emphasized the effects of dental disease on diabetes control. Twenty-five subjects completed the study. Pre- and post-locus of control measures were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Signed Rank test. The Mann Whitney U Test was used to analyze differences between the groups. Indexes were compared using nonparametric two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance. Analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between groups or in locus of control scores over time. However, PDI and PLI scores improved in both groups, particularly from baseline to six months (p less than .01). Although not statistically significant, both groups exhibited a high internal locus of control. While the dental health education program resulted in only minor improvements in mean group scores, the intervention of preventive treatment produced significant improvement in measured indexes. PMID- 2630619 TI - Assessment of curette sharpness. AB - Nothing to date has appeared in the literature addressing the relationship of specific bevel dimension and clinical sharpness of curette blades. This study investigated the degree of clinical sharpness of Gracey curettes following four periods of simulated root planning and, using the scanning electron microscope (SEM), determined the approximate number of strokes at which loss of clinical sharpness became apparent. Seventy-five new stainless steel curette blades were standardized and randomly assigned to one of five groups: control, 30-stroke, 50 stroke, 70-stroke, and 90-stroke. With the exception of the control group, blades underwent a simulated root-planing procedure, on extracted, periodontally involved teeth, which employed a device to standardize pressure and stroke length. Blades were then tested for clinical sharpness using light reflection, with two degrees of magnification; and plastic stick, a tactile evaluation. Blades were photographed under the SEM at a magnification of x1,000. Bevel width was measured at 10 standardized locations on the photomicrographs, and a mean was calculated. Nonparametric data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis statistical test and SEM parametric data using ANOVA and post hoc Newman-Kuels tests. Results showed no significant differences among treatment groups when either tactile or magnification sharpness tests were used. Analysis of the SEM data showed no statistically significant differences among bevel dimensions for any of the five groups. A Spearman rank order correlation, used to compare the clinical data to the SEM bevel measurements, showed no correlation of clinical sharpness and SEM determined bevel dimension. PMID- 2630620 TI - A.B.C's periodontics. "J" is for the Juvenile. PMID- 2630621 TI - Remodeling of devitalized bone threatens periosteal margin integrity of endosseous titanium implants with threaded or smooth surfaces: indications for provisional loading and axially directed occlusion. AB - Microradiographic analysis of endosseous implants in dogs revealed similar patterns of healing and remodeling of the alveolar process adjacent to both types of implants. However, substantial differences were noted in bone morphology both at the periosteal margin and within the cervical half of the interface. The grooves of the threaded implant were filled with relatively immature composite bone. In contrast, the smooth cylindrical implant was bordered by a dense cortex of relatively avascular bone except for a 1 mm at the periosteal margin that was remodeled and vital. For both types of implants, areas of apparently nonvital, hypermineralized bone were remodeling near the interface and in subperiosteal areas of the alveolar process. The integrity of the periosteal margin may be threatened by undermining remodeling of adjacent bone during the late healing period. The cervical (alveolar) crest and particularly the periosteal margin of the interface are high stress bearing areas. If overloaded, these areas are subject to "cervical cratering," a common prelude to implant failure. The results of this study suggest that axially directed occlusion and a progressive loading scheme are indicated. PMID- 2630622 TI - The use of Peridex (chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12% oral rinse) in maxillomandibular fixation patients. PMID- 2630623 TI - Nitrous oxide: a survey of Indiana dental offices. AB - This investigation surveyed Indiana dental practices to determine the current use of nitrous oxide; administration procedures, ventilation techniques, and potential health hazards associated with exposure to nitrous oxide waste gases. A 26-item questionnaire was sent to 2,256 dental offices in Indiana. Questions were asked regarding office demographics, use of nitrous oxide administration and inspection procedures, symptoms of N2O exposure, and interest in further administration and safety information. The data were evaluated using a computer program for frequency counts and percentages. The results of this survey provide a profile of nitrous oxide utilization in Indiana. PMID- 2630624 TI - New ways to handle pain. PMID- 2630626 TI - Periodontal curettes. PMID- 2630625 TI - A benign, "nodular" growth in the tongue. Differential diagnosis. PMID- 2630627 TI - When goals become responsibilities. PMID- 2630628 TI - Assessment of clinical application of test-dose concept for theophylline in patients with respiratory failure. AB - The possibility of clinical application of test-dose concept for theophylline was assessed in 11 patients with serious underlying disease who required theophylline. Based on the pharmacokinetic parameters calculated from the single intravenous aminophylline administration, they received a continuous infusion of aminophylline in order to maintain about 10 micrograms/ml plasma which is considered to be the lowest therapeutic level. Plasma levels during a constant rate infusion were assayed at 6:00, noon, 18:00 and midnight on the 3rd or 4th day after the infusion had started. There were no significant differences among plasma levels at each sampling time, but plasma levels varied ranging from 5.1 to 24.8 micrograms/ml (12.1 +/- 5.5 micrograms/ml: mean +/- S.D.), which values were in disagreement with the predicted value in some cases. The correlations of the theophylline clearance ratio to dose, pH, arterial partial pressures of oxygen (Pao2) and carbon dioxide (Paco2) ratios, which were calculated by dividing the value during continuous infusion by the value at the test dose, were investigated to evaluate which factor largely contributed to the failure of this dosing method. Although the clearance ratio did not correlate to pH and Pao2 ratios, significant negative relationships were observed between the clearance ratio and the dose (p less than 0.05) or Paco2 ratios (p less than 0.02). In other words, the alternation of dose or Paco2 resulted in the change of theophylline clearance. These findings suggest that the test-dose concept should not be used in the seriously ill patients whose theophylline clearance can change easily in relation to dose and/or Paco2 change. PMID- 2630629 TI - Effect of serum on dose- and temperature-dependent hepatic uptake of multilamellar vesicles (MLV). AB - Effects of the addition of serum to the perfusate on hepatic uptake of multilamellar vesicles (MLV) were examined in recirculating perfused rat liver. MLV was labelled with both membrane lipid marker ([14C]cholesteryl oleate) and aqueous phase marker ([3H]inulin or 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF)). The uptake rates of [14C]cholesteryl oleate and CF at 37 degrees C coincided well, indicating both markers to be taken up as MLV. Inulin was released from MLV at 37 degrees C but its uptake rate tended to approach that of [14C]cholesteryl oleate at 4 degrees C or at high MLV dose. Some factor in serum promoted MLV uptake at 37 degrees C, but its effect was inhibited at 4 degrees C. The promoting effect was indicated to be possibly due to activation of adsorption of MLV to the hepatic Kupffer cell surface and/or that of phagocytosis by the cells. The saturation of MLV uptake was observed with increase in MLV dose, suggesting the saturation of MLV adsorption to the hepatic cell or the consumption of serum factor which promotes MLV uptake. PMID- 2630630 TI - Effect of fasting on the hydrolysis of salicyluric acid in rabbit intestinal microorganisms. AB - The effect of fasting on the hydrolysis of salicyluric acid in rabbit intestinal microorganisms was investigated. The blood concentration of salicyluric acid and salicylic acid following oral, intracecal and rectal administration of salicyluric acid was determined. In fasted rabbits (24 and 48 h), the blood concentration of salicylic acid after oral administration was changed compared to the control. However, a significant effect of fasting was not observed in the blood concentration of salicylic acid after rectal administration. Following intracecal administration, the blood concentration of salicylic acid was increased in fasted rabbits compared to the control. From these results, it seems that the slow rate of stomach emptying due to coprophagy during fasting is the principal reason for the change of blood concentration of salicylic acid following oral administration of salicyluric acid. PMID- 2630631 TI - Comparison of disposition parameters of quinidine and quinine in the rat. AB - The difference in disposition of quinidine (Qd) and its diastereomer quinine (Qn) after intravenous administration was examined in rats at doses ranging from 5 to 20 mg/kg. Dose-dependent kinetics in total clearance and in distribution volume of tissue based on a two-compartment model was observed for Qd; there was no evidence of nonlinearity for Qn. However, there was no significant difference between Qd and Qn for blood clearance at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, at which the blood clearances were almost equal to hepatic blood flow for both Qd and Qn since the excretion of Qd and Qn into the urine and bile was minimal. This indicates the elimination of these diastereomers to be non-restrictive in the liver. A concentration dependence in unbound volume of tissue distribution and in plasma protein binding was observed for Qd; there was no concentration dependence for Qn. Although affinity of the drug for components on or within the blood cells was not concentration-dependent for either Qd or Qn, a significantly higher binding capacity for Qn than for Qd was observed attributable to blood cell binding. Based on these results, it is suggested that a larger number of binding sites exist for Qn than for Qd in the body. However, the dissociation binding constant for Qd is much lower than for Qn, resulting in a higher binding of Qd and Qn at low concentrations, with a reversal at high concentrations. PMID- 2630632 TI - Enhancement of heparin-binding ability of fibronectin by S-carboxamide methylation. AB - Human plasma fibronectin (FN) was reduced and carboxamidemethylated, and its binding ability to several matrices was analyzed in vitro. The binding of S carboxamidemethyl (Cam)-FN to heparin-Sepharose was not influenced by either 4 M urea, 0.5 M NaCl or 0.5% heparin, but was disrupted by the coexistence of urea and NaCl or heparin. S-Cam-FN, compared with intact FN, obviously had a more potent ability to bind heparin, while it had little or no binding ability to gelatin, fibrin and thrombin-stimulated platelets. A conformational change of S Cam-FN by heparin-binding has been proposed as a possible mechanism from the result of circular dichroic spectrum measurement. PMID- 2630633 TI - Identification of menaquinone-4 metabolites in the rat. AB - Four metabolites of menaquinone-4 [MQ-4] were isolated from rat urine, bile and liver. From rat urine following intravenous or oral administration of [14C]MQ-4, two major metabolites were isolated and their aglycones were identified as 2 methyl-3-(5'-carboxy-3'-methyl-2'-pentyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone [K acid 1] and 3-(3' carboxybutyl)-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone [K acid 2]. The aglycone of a third minor metabolite isolated from bile was tentatively identified as 2-methyl-3-(15' carboxy-3',7',11'-trimethyl-2',6',10', 14'-hexadecatetranyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone [MQ-4-COOH]. The structures of the three aglycones, which were excreted into the urine or bile mainly as glucuronide conjugates, indicated that oxidative degradation of the alkyl side chain of MQ-4 had occurred by omega- and beta oxidation. In addition, 2,3-epoxy-MQ-4 was identified in the liver of rats which were pretreated with warfarin and then dosed with [14C]MQ-4. PMID- 2630634 TI - Effect of solubilizer on the metabolic fate of menaquinone-4 in rats. AB - Following intravenous administration to rats of all-trans [14C]menaquinone-4 solubilized with purified soybean lecithin [L] or with HCO-60 [H], we examined the effect of the solubilizers on the distribution and excretion of menaquinone-4 [MQ-4]. The level of radioactivity in the liver after dosing with L was about 2 times higher than in dosing with H, and a similar result was obtained in the hepatic microsomal fraction, a target of MQ-4. The rate and amount of biliary excretion of radioactivity after dosing with L were greater than in dosing with H. In addition, the uptake of [14C]MQ-4 by the isolated perfused rat liver was greater with L than H, consistent with the in vivo observation. Further, upon incubation of L or H with hepatic microsomes, the MQ-4 metabolizing enzyme was more highly active toward L than H. These results show that L is more easily transported to the target region, and more rapidly metabolized and excreted into the bile than H, suggesting that the lecithin-solubilized preparation of MQ-4 may be more effective clinically. PMID- 2630635 TI - [Cytotoxicity of Corylifoliae fructus. I. Isolation of the effective compound and the cytotoxicity]. AB - The ethanol extract of Psoraleae Fructus (Psoralea corylifolia L.) was found to have cytotoxic activity against L929-cells in cell culture. The active compound was isolated by column chromatography on silica gel and identified as bakuchiol by means of spectral evidence. The cytotoxic activity of bakuchiol in cell culture was observed in short time and found to be unreversible. The mechanism of the cytotoxic activity was considered to be due to an injury of cell membrane from electron microscopic observation and hemolytic activity. PMID- 2630636 TI - [Dissolution properties and bioavailability of ground mixture of N,N dimethylcarbamoylmethyl alpha, 2-dimethyl-5H-[1]benzopyrano[2,3-b]-pyridine-7 acetate with various pharmaceutical ingredients]. AB - Ground mixture of N,N-dimethylcarbamoylmethyl alpha, 2-dimethyl-5H-[1]benzopyrano [2,3-b]pyridine-7-acetate (1) with various pharmaceutical ingredients were prepared in order to investigate their dissolution behaviors and bioavailability. Taking into account the weakly basic property of 1, the dissolution rate was determined in the 2nd fluid (pH 6.8) of disintegration test, JP XI. Dissolution rates of the ground mixtures (1 : 1, w/w) of 1 with hydroxypropylcellulose-L (HPC L), low substituted hydroxypropylcellulose (L-HPC) or lactose respectively, showed a significant increase compared with compound 1 alone. Three kinds of experimental fine granules were prepared; type A: produced from ground mixture of 1, HPC-L, L-HPC and lactose; type B: produced from physical mixture having the same composition as type A; type C: produced 1, L-HPC and lactose. In these fine granules, only type A exhibited pH-independent dissolution profiles. Bioavailability study was carried out in beagle dogs whose gastric acidity was controlled in advance to low levels by administration of omeprazole. The test was conducted in a cross over design. Reflecting their dissolution characteristics, type A granules showed better bioavailability than the others. These results suggest that grinding is useful for the improvement of the dissolution property and bioavailability of 1, a weakly basic compound. PMID- 2630637 TI - [Interaction between polyethylene films and bromhexine HCl in solid dosage forms. I. Effects of moisture contents in the solid dosage forms on the sorption of the drug]. AB - The decrease of bromhexine HCl contents in granules and tablets was determined when the preparations were stored in polyethylene film package. Effects of temperature, contact area with film, excipients and moisture contents in the preparation on the remaining amount of bromhexin HCl were studied in order to investigate the interaction mechanism between bromhexine HCl and polyethylene film. It was observed that the decrease of bromhexine HCl was due to the sorption to the polyethylene film. The results indicated that the moisture contents of the dosage forms determined the rate of sorption predominantly, and that removal of adsorbed water from dosage forms was effective to prevent bromhexine HCl content decrease. PMID- 2630638 TI - [Studies on chemical protectors against radiation. XXVII. Survival effects of methanol extracts of various Chinese traditional medicines on radiation injury]. AB - The survival effect of mice irradiated with a lethal dose of X-ray was studied by use of 60 kinds of Chinese traditional medicines. Methanol extracts of these medicines were prepared, and then each extract injected intraperitoneally into male mice before or after whole-body irradiation. As a result of these studies, the survival effects with Ogi-kentyu-to, Simotu-to, Sessyo-in, Zokumei-to and Boi ogi-to were observed by intraperitoneal injection before irradiation. Of these effective methanol extracts, only Zokumei-to was shown to have a significant survival effect by intraperitoneal injection after irradiation. PMID- 2630639 TI - [Synthetic cephalosporins. IV. Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 7 beta [(Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-(O-substituted oxyimino)acetamido]-3-(1,2,3 triazol-1-yl)methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid and related compounds]. AB - Synthesis and oral activity of 7 beta-[(Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-(O substituted oxyimino)-acetamido]-3-(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl-3-cephem-4 carboxylic acid and its related compounds were described. 3-(1,2,3-Triazol-1 yl)methylcephalosporins have been prepared by the direct cycloaddition of acetylene to 3-azidomethylcephalosporins, which were obtained by nucleophilic substitution of 3-chloromethylcephalosporins with sodium azide in N,N dimethylformamide. The cephalosporins (8a--c) had potent and wide antibacterial spectra against gram positive and gram negative bacteria which were comparable to those of cefixime or cefteram. Urinary recovery of 9a and 9b, pivaloyloxymethyl esters of 8a and 8b, were 9.2% and 3.5%, respectively, through oral administration in mice, exhibiting lower rate than that of cefteram pivoxyl (28%). PMID- 2630640 TI - [Cytotoxicity of corylifoliae fructus. II. Cytotoxicity of bakuchiol and the analogues]. AB - Bakuchiol is a major component of Corylifoliae Fructus (Psoralea corylifolia L.) and has been clarified to have cytotoxic activity. The chemical structure cytotoxic activity relationship of bakuchiol was investigated by means of cytotoxic activity of synthesized analogues of bakuchiol and phenol. It was proved that an alkyl group was necessary for cytotoxic activity. But the double bonds in the unsaturated hydro-carbon group exerted but little influence on the cytotoxic activity. The cytotoxic activity of bakuchiol was the strongest as compared with that of the analogues examined. PMID- 2630641 TI - [Fluoromicroscopy]. AB - The fluorescence is a photoluminescent phenomena consisting in the emission of light under the influence of a light wave excitation. Two types of fluorescence exist: the primary fluorescence (natural) and the secondary (induced by a fluorochrome) The fluoromicroscope is composed of two parts. One of which, unspecific, consists in the classical optical system of the photonic microscopy. The other part, specific, consists in a source of light at a high mercurial pressure and a double filtration system of excitation and pause. There are many applications of this technique. In odontology, it is frequently used for the study of apposition in calcified tissues after their labelling by injection of a fluorochrome. PMID- 2630642 TI - [Gutta-percha cones: chemical composition, X-ray analysis]. AB - We determined the chemical composition, confirmed on X-ray diffraction analysis, of 10 brand commercially available dental gutta-percha cones. We observed a great chemical heterogeneity among gutta-percha cones of different origin as well as within the same brand between small and large sizes. PMID- 2630644 TI - Periodontal malpractice: current standards and record keeping requirements. PMID- 2630643 TI - [The interview in dental clinical examination: the role of reformulation]. AB - Faced to the major role of the patients examination as a part of our interventions in dentistry, and with to our pedagogic mission towards students, we propose a method of interviewing the patients based on the principle of reformulation, basic technique in the help-talk. The described experimentation demonstrates the interest of method compared with the classical "interrogatory", particularly with rebellious or "problematic" patients. The personalized interview is efficient in obtaining their cooperation which is a key factor for the subsequent treatment. PMID- 2630645 TI - Having a plan to deal with unexpected death. PMID- 2630646 TI - Dentist's schedule includes Tuesdays 'on the Island'. PMID- 2630647 TI - Investigation of HBV infection status in anti-HBe Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis by in situ hybridization assay. AB - To investigate HBV infection in anti-HBe positive Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis, demonstration of intrahepatocellular HBV-DNA was performed by in situ hybridization technique, coupled with detection of intrahepatic HBcAg and HBsAg. Based on the presence or absence of HBV-DNA, HBcAg and HBsAg of 15 cases, three subgroups were identified: 1) 4 cases with HBV active replication characterized by intrahepatic HBV-DNA, HBcAg and HBsAg copositive; 2) 8 cases with HBV incomplete replication or antigen expression defined as positivity of both intrahepatic HBV-DNA and HBsAg; 3) 3 cases with HBV inactive replication described as absence of intrahepatic HBV-DNA, HBcAg and HBsAg. All findings strongly suggest that different HBV infection status could be distinguished among Chinese patients with seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe positivity: a small number of cases had stopped replication; but part of the cases was still undergoing HBV active replication; on the other hand, HBV infection status in half of the remaining cases seemed to stay in an intermediate phase from active virus replication to inactive replication. PMID- 2630648 TI - Morphology, distribution and its significance of intrahepatic HBV DNA in liver disease: a study by in situ hybridization. AB - A biotin-labeled DNA probe specific for hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleotide sequences was hybridized in situ to liver tissue of 129 cases with liver disease. It was found that HBV DNA was predominantly visualized in cytoplasm of hepatocytes in three patterns: cytoplasmic compact, discrete and inclusion pattern. Its distribution in parenchyma in the sections of specimens may be defined as lobular, focal and spotty. The detection of intrahepatic HBV DNA depended on two factors, at least in the present study: 1) liver disease activity; chronic active hepatitis (CAH) group had a significant higher prevalence (81%) as compared to cirrhosis, chronic lobular hepatitis (CLH), acute hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) groups; 2) HBV infection state: HBV DNA was more easily detected in HBeAg positive or intrahepatic HBcAg positive patients than in single HBsAg positive or anti-HBc cases. The findings that hepatocytes expressing HBV DNA, particularly in focal distribution, were closely related to hepatic necrosis sites suggested that HBV replication might occur in conjunction with hepatic necrosis. PMID- 2630649 TI - Effect of acetylcholine on membrane potential in toad dorsal root ganglion neurons and its underlying ionic basis. AB - Intracellular recordings were made to investigate the responses of membrane potential to acetylcholine (ACh) on neurons in isolated toad dorsal root ganglion (DRG). In the 73 neurons examined, 67 were of type A, and the remaining 6 of type C cell. The resting membrane potential of these two types of cells was -67.5 +/- 1.3 mV (means +/- SE). During the application of ACh (4 x 10(-4)-6 x 10(-4) mol/L), the changes in membrane potential were as follows: 1) hyperpolarization, with amplitude of 9.1 +/- 3.0 mV (means +/- SE; n = 23); 2) depolarization, with amplitude of 12.9 +/- 2.2 mV (means +/- SE; n = 20); 3) biphasic response, i.e., hyperpolarization with amplitude of 8.0 +/- 2.4 mV (means +/- SE) followed by depolarization with amplitude of 10.9 +/- 2.1 mV (means +/- SE) (n = 24); no effect (n = 6). The hyperpolarization induced by ACh was blocked by superfusion with atropine (1.3 x 10(-5) mol/L; n = 23), while ACh depolarization was blocked by the mixture of d-tubocurarine (1.4 x 10(-5) mol/L) and hexamethonium (1.4 x 10(-5) mol/L) (n = 18). When ACh caused hyperpolarization, the membrane conductance was increased by 13.8% and the reversal potential was about -96 mV (n = 3). TEA (20 mmol/L) superfusion enhanced ACh depolarization amplitude by 48.2 +/- 3.2% (means +/- SE; n = 6), and depressed ACh hyperpolarization amplitude by 79.4 +/- 4.3% (means +/- SE; n = 8).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2630650 TI - Effects of cigarette smoking on hemodynamics and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction: role of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. AB - This study investigated the role of prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrieres (LTs) in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) and in cigarette smoking-induced changes in hemodynamics and HPV in Wistar rats. Selective LTD4-LTE4 receptor antagonist LY-171883 (LY) inhibited HPV by 71.8%, while cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (IND) augmented HPV. The results indicate that LTs mediate HPV in Wistar rats. Smoking increased the level of TXB2 over control by 143.6% in plasma and 69.2% in lung tissue, concomitantly, pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance (PVR and SVR) were increased by 38.7% and 46.7%, respectively. Both LY and IND prevented the smoking-induced increase of PVR and SVR. After smoking HPV increased twofold. The increase of HPV was abolished by LY, but not by IND. Our results suggest that smoking leads to pulmonary and systemic vasoconstriction partly mediated by TXA2 and LTs; smoking also leads to an augmentation of HPV, and LTs play an important role in it. PMID- 2630651 TI - Characteristic of marrow culture and clinical relevance in leukemia with 8/21 translocation. AB - Karyotypes and in vitro cultures of bone marrow cells from eleven patients with acute myelogenous leukemia M2 type were performed. 8/21 translocation was found in 5 patients. In all of them the cultures in vitro shared one characteristic, i.e., clusters were small and less in number. These patients could relatively easily obtain complete remission. The similarity of CFU-GM in patients with t (8; 21) may be another important biological phenotype. PMID- 2630652 TI - Clinical significance of hemorrheological parameters in patients with renal transplantation. AB - Hemorrheological studies carried out on 14 recipients of cadaveric kidney transplant regularly before and after transplantation showed very significant differences in plasma viscosity in the period of stable function after successfully transplanted kidney, dialysis before transplantation, and renal rejection (P less than 0.001). Significant difference was observed in fibrinogen level in cases with stable normal function and rejection (P less than 0.05). Significant positive correlation was found between plasma viscosity and fibrinogen level in patients on dialysis as well as after transplantation. The results in this series showed that abnormal changes in hemorrheology respond to the development of rejection episode and deterioration of renal function in patients after receiving cadaveric renal allografts. PMID- 2630653 TI - Structure characteristics of QMSOC and the relevant operators. AB - This article presents a further description on the background, significance, and structure characteristics of Quantitative Medicine Simulation and Operation by Computer (QMSOC). Also some basic operators were recommended for calculations of biomedical events such as estimation of substance concentrations, exploration of etiology, evaluation of biomedical effects, etc. At last some differences of QMSOC from other artificial intelligent systems in the medical field were discussed. PMID- 2630654 TI - Studies on monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies to human B cell leukemia. AB - Murine immunocytoma cell line, NS-1, was fused with spleen cells of Balb/C mice which had been stimulated by tolerogenic disaggregated human gamma globulin and immunized by purified serum IgM from the patient with chronic B cell leukemia (B CLL). 10 hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal anti-idiotype (anti-Id) antibodies to human CLL were obtained. The McAbs were subclasses belonging to IgM and of IgG mouse. Specificity and biologic characters of the monoclonal anti-Id antibodies from culture fluid or ascites were assayed by ELISA, indirect mixed ELISA sandwich, ELISA inhibition, immunofluorescence (IF) and IF inhibition. The study also proved that monoclonal anti-Id antibodies could react with homologous IgM, but not with Ig from normal donors or a panel of patients with myeloma. The results of IF and IF inhibition assay showed that monoclonal anti-Id antibodies were bound to lymphocytes of patient with B-CLL. Their reactivity was inhibited by homologous IgM, but not by lymphocytes of patients with ALL or lymphoma. Monoclonal anti-Id antibodies were heterogenous reactive patterns with cell lines in vitro. PMID- 2630656 TI - [Clinical and experimental chromosome analysis]. PMID- 2630655 TI - [Characteristic banding patterns of human chromosomes]. PMID- 2630657 TI - [The reverse banding by the fluorescent staining technique]. PMID- 2630658 TI - [C-band staining method, nucleolus-organizer-region staining method]. PMID- 2630659 TI - [Technique for detecting sister chromatid exchanges]. PMID- 2630660 TI - [Indications for chromosomal analysis]. PMID- 2630661 TI - [The fragile X chromosome]. PMID- 2630662 TI - [Pattern of DNA replication]. PMID- 2630663 TI - [High-resolution chromosome banding techniques: ethidium bromide method]. PMID- 2630664 TI - [Method for the high resolution G-banding after cell synchronization]. PMID- 2630665 TI - [Lymphocyte chromosome survey in 100 retinoblastoma patients]. PMID- 2630666 TI - [Chromosome abnormalities in neuroblastoma]. PMID- 2630667 TI - [Chromosome analysis of bone marrow in leukemia]. PMID- 2630668 TI - [Cytogenetic studies of hemopoietic colonies in patients with leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome in vitro]. PMID- 2630669 TI - [Chromosome analysis of renal cell carcinoma]. PMID- 2630670 TI - [The new-type gene map of human chromosomes]. PMID- 2630671 TI - [Cytogenetic studies in meningioma]. PMID- 2630672 TI - [Malignant lymphoma]. PMID- 2630673 TI - [Chromosome analysis of cancer of the endometrium]. PMID- 2630674 TI - [Cytogenetic analysis of human urinary bladder cancer]. PMID- 2630675 TI - [Chromosome analysis of adenomatosis coli and colon carcinoma]. PMID- 2630676 TI - [Ovarian cancer--assessment of methods for cytogenetic analysis and chromosome aberrations found in ovarian cancer]. PMID- 2630677 TI - [Chromosome analysis of lung cancer]. PMID- 2630678 TI - [Practical techniques for chromosome preparations of mammalian meiotic cells]. PMID- 2630679 TI - [Chromosome preparation technics and chromosome analysis of gametes, fertilized eggs and early embryos]. PMID- 2630680 TI - [Chromosome analysis of diagnostic amniotic fluid cell cultures]. PMID- 2630681 TI - [Chromosome preparation technics and chromosome analysis of chorionic epithelium]. PMID- 2630682 TI - [Chromosome preparation technics and chromosome analysis of hydatidiform mole]. PMID- 2630683 TI - [An easy screening methods of sex-chromatin]. PMID- 2630684 TI - [G staining]. PMID- 2630685 TI - [Giemsa R banding]. PMID- 2630686 TI - Analysis of lymphocyte response to chironomid midge antigens in asthmatic and non asthmatic individuals. AB - Chironomid antigens are currently one of the important allergens for bronchial asthma in Japan. We evaluated in vitro responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) to chironomid antigens and compared these responses with serum IgE levels. PBLs from adult asthmatic patients showed stronger proliferation in response to the extract of adult midges of Chironomus yoshimatsui compared with healthy adults. On the other hand, elevated PBL responses of child asthmatic patients to chironomid antigens were not observed. There was no significant correlation between PBL proliferation and the serum IgE level. Our results might suggest that elevated PBL proliferation in response to chironomid allergens has somehow important pathogenic roles in adult cases although this does not correlate directly with specific IgE production. PMID- 2630687 TI - The phylogenetic systematics of the miltogrammatine flies (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) of the world. AB - A new system of Miltogrammatinae is proposed. Forty-six characters were coded in plesiomorphic and apomorphic states. The subfamily consists of six tribes, which are devided into two phylogenetic branches: Chorezmomyiini-Oebaliini-Metopiini and Miltogrammatini-Phyllotelini-Amobiini. The phylogenetic relationships of subtribes and genera are also discussed. Five new subtribes are described: Mesomelaenina, Phrosinellina, Sphenometopiina (Metopiini); Lampometopiina (Phyllotelini) and Aenigmetopiina (Miltogrammatini). PMID- 2630688 TI - Comparison of immune responses to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids of various mouse strains. AB - Immune responses of 11 mouse strains with known genetical characteristics and two outbred strains to diphtheria and to tetanus toxoids were compared. Both diphtheria and tetanus antitoxins were titrated by passive hemagglutination. From the pattern of the immune response, the mouse strains tested may be classified into four groups. [1] Strains ddY (SPF) and ddY (conv) and those with haplotype H 2b, such as C57BL/6 and C57BL/10, were high responders to both toxoids. [2] Strains with H-2d, such as BALB/c, B10.D2 and DBA/2Cr, were intermediate responders to both toxoids. [3] Strains with H-2k, H-2a or, H-2m, such as C3H/He, B10.BR, B10.BR/SgSn, B10.A/SgSnJ and B10.AKM/O1a, were high responders to diphtheria toxoid but low responders to tetanus toxoid. [4] The strain with H 2h4, B10.A (4R), was a poor responder to both toxoids. PMID- 2630689 TI - [Psychological approach to a child with urinary incontinence. A case study of a child separated from his mother for extended hospitalization]. PMID- 2630690 TI - [Management of urinary incontinence by patients--comparison between England and Japan]. PMID- 2630692 TI - [2 problems to be solved in the question of urinary incontinence in the aged]. PMID- 2630691 TI - [Definition of urinary incontinence--from its etiology to treatment]. PMID- 2630693 TI - [Urinary incontinence among middle-aged and aged women. A report from a clinic specializing in urinary incontinence]. PMID- 2630694 TI - [The problem of urinary incontinence and the future prospect viewed by patients- activities by the Simon Foundation of the United States]. PMID- 2630695 TI - [Nursing report. Nursing actions to encourage independent urination by a boy following kidney transplantation]. PMID- 2630696 TI - [Revision of the curriculum for nursing schools]. PMID- 2630697 TI - [Profile of a nurse. Ms. Sachiko Hayakawa and her research on nursing history while engaged in nursing education]. PMID- 2630698 TI - [Ms. Watt's self-help group of breast cancer patients. 15. Social grace and the management of the organization]. PMID- 2630699 TI - [King's nursing theory. 4. Application of King's nursing theory to nursing practice]. PMID- 2630700 TI - [Counseling. 3. Informing the patient of the result of the diagnosis. 2. Evaluation of advantages and disadvantages]. PMID- 2630701 TI - [Welfare and medical care in an aging society. 34. Initiatives in care: the relationship between family members and the staff]. PMID- 2630702 TI - [Report on the medical mission in Colombia. 6. Women and children in isolated communities]. PMID- 2630703 TI - [Nursing problems occurring in patients with chronic respiratory dysfunction]. PMID- 2630704 TI - [Methods for pulmonary function tests and respiratory training]. PMID- 2630705 TI - [Innovation in expanding the area of activities of respiratory patients by the use of portable oxygen bottles]. PMID- 2630706 TI - [Instruction in self care by patients with chronic respiratory failure]. PMID- 2630707 TI - [The stress suffered by patients on respirators and their nursing]. PMID- 2630708 TI - [Problems with patients on home oxygen therapy and their future direction]. PMID- 2630709 TI - [Nursing of an asthmatic child showing an accentuated tendency towards dependency on others]. PMID- 2630710 TI - [Nursing of a patient with COPD and a passive attitude toward the disease]. PMID- 2630711 TI - [Nursing of a patient in the terminal stage of lung cancer]. PMID- 2630712 TI - [Nursing of a tuberculosis patient with respiratory failure]. PMID- 2630713 TI - [Nursing of a patient with acute respiratory failure and his family?]. PMID- 2630714 TI - [Nursing of a patient receiving home oxygen therapy]. PMID- 2630715 TI - [The practice of home oxygen therapy using liquid oxygen]. PMID- 2630717 TI - [Questions and answers in neurosurgical care. Observations of the cognitive status and approaches to the patient in the stable state following neurosurgery]. PMID- 2630716 TI - [A description of the sleep apnea syndrome]. PMID- 2630718 TI - [Questions and answers in respiratory care. Methods for communicating with a patient with a tracheostomy]. PMID- 2630719 TI - [Questions and answers in circulatory care. The nursing of a patient with acute myocardial infarction during PTCR]. PMID- 2630720 TI - [Questions and answers in the care of the digestive system. The nursing of a patient with hepatic failure and subsequent hepatic coma]. PMID- 2630721 TI - [Questions and answers in urologic care. The problems and things to be watched for in placing a balloon catheter]. PMID- 2630722 TI - [Questions and answers in the care of the motor system. The prevention of decubitus ulcers in a patient following surgery for spinal tuberculosis]. PMID- 2630723 TI - [Questions and answers in gynecological and obstetrical care. The support of a patient during the first stage of labor]. PMID- 2630724 TI - [Questions and answers in emergency care. Nursing to promote natural defecation in an emergency patient]. PMID- 2630725 TI - [Questions and answers in psychiatric care. The prevention of suicide by psychiatric patients and the associated nursing actions]. PMID- 2630726 TI - [Postoperative critical care. 7. Postoperative respiratory insufficiency]. PMID- 2630727 TI - [The nursing of patients with chronic hepatitis]. PMID- 2630728 TI - [The evaluation of assistance in ADL in the rehabilitation of patients suffering from the sequelae of cerebral apoplexy--the designing of a table listing the needs for assistance based on the psychological aspect of the patient]. PMID- 2630729 TI - [Surgery in patients with infection--the results of a survey on the attitudes of medical staff towards surgery in patients with infectious diseases]. PMID- 2630730 TI - [A nursing study on the self care of diabetic patients. 7. Self evaluation and responses to diabetic diet and their relationship to the state of the ego]. PMID- 2630731 TI - [100 words to understand modern medicine]. PMID- 2630732 TI - [Informed consent and Japanese medicine. A discussion]. PMID- 2630733 TI - [Nursing problems concerning patients with urinary incontinence]. PMID- 2630734 TI - [Factors affecting the development of urination disorders following total or subtotal hysterectomy and the management of the problem]. PMID- 2630735 TI - [Use of a program for urinary catheterization to be practiced by patients and their families at home]. PMID- 2630736 TI - [Current status of urinary incontinence among aged patients and their care- practice at a home for the aged requiring special care]. PMID- 2630737 TI - [Current status of urinary incontinence among aged patients and their care- practice at a hospital for the aged]. PMID- 2630738 TI - [Scenes of urinary problems and their management in home nursing]. PMID- 2630739 TI - [Nursing of a patient with urinary difficulties following surgery of cerebral hemorrhage]. PMID- 2630740 TI - [Urination difficulty in a patient with a spinal cord injury and her nursing care]. PMID- 2630741 TI - [Assistance in independent urination actions by a patient with neurogenic bladder -a case of an aged patient with psychiatric symptoms]. PMID- 2630742 TI - [Assistance in independent urination actions by a young adult with enuresis]. PMID- 2630743 TI - [Nursing of a demented patient with repeated incidences of urinary incontinence]. PMID- 2630744 TI - [Pros and cons of the use of an indwelling catheter in patients with urination disorders]. PMID- 2630745 TI - [Conservative and surgical treatments of urinary incontinence caused by a rise in abdominal pressure]. PMID- 2630746 TI - [Questions and answers on neurological care. Daily activities of a patient with an indifferent attitude following surgery of a cerebral aneurysm and his nursing]. PMID- 2630747 TI - [Questions and answers on respiratory care. Nursing of a patient who is allowed overnight stays at home while still fitted with a tracheal cannula]. PMID- 2630748 TI - [Questions and answers on circulatory care. Nursing of a patient dependent on IABP (intra-aortic balloon pumping)]. PMID- 2630750 TI - [Questions and answers on urological care. Management of a balloon catheter which cannot be removed smoothly]. PMID- 2630749 TI - [Questions and answers on nursing related to the digestive system. Adverse effects of chemotherapy in patients with stomach cancer and their management]. PMID- 2630751 TI - [Questions and answers on the care of the motor system. Key points in nursing of a patient undergoing surgical treatment for intra-articular dysfunctions of the knee]. PMID- 2630752 TI - [Questions and answers on pediatric care. Understanding of infants who cannot describe their discomfort in words]. PMID- 2630753 TI - [Questions and answers in obstetrical and gynecological care. Management of abnormal hemorrhage immediately after expulsion of the placenta]. PMID- 2630754 TI - [Questions and answers on emergency care. Nursing of a patient with myocardial infarction who reports insomnia]. PMID- 2630755 TI - [Questions and answers on psychiatric care. Encouragement of social rehabilitation of a patient with schizophrenia who had been left untreated for an extended period]. PMID- 2630756 TI - [Postoperative heart failure]. PMID- 2630757 TI - [Post-hospitalization health instruction of patients with chronic renal failure (undergoing hemodialysis)]. PMID- 2630758 TI - [Nursing problems related to hemodialysis and their management]. PMID- 2630759 TI - [Nursing research on self-care by diabetic patients. 8. Life adjustment and the state of ego in diabetic patients]. PMID- 2630760 TI - [New methods for measurement of peripheral airway resistance]. AB - We have developed two new methods to evaluate the peripheral resistance of the lung. The first is a method for continuous measurement of the frequency dependence of dynamic compliance (Cdyn, f.d.) and pulmonary resistance (RL) from a single-breath cycle by Fourier-series analysis. In this method, we have found that procaterol my first dilate the central airway and then gradually dilate the peripheral airway in bronchial asthma. The second is a method for the direct measurement of peripheral resistance by the anterograde catheter system using a catheter tip micromanometer. The catheter tip was inserted into the 3 mm diameter small airway anterogradely and intrabronchial pressure was measured simultaneously with transpulmonary pressure and mouth flow. We have found that the values of peripheral resistance in patients with COPD are four to seven times higher than that of normal subjects. These results suggest that the behavior of the peripheral and central airway may differ between patients and that the peripheral airway may be important to examine the pathogenesis of COPD. PMID- 2630761 TI - [Simultaneous analysis of the distribution of ventilation and diffusive conductance to perfusion in the lungs]. AB - Theoretical analysis and experimental observations were performed to establish an essential method allowing demonstration of the characteristics of distribution of ventilation (VA) as well as of diffusive conductance (G) to perfusion (Q) in the lungs. O2, CO2 and CO binding to hemoglobin molecules within erythrocytes, together with six inert gases including SF6, ethane, cyclopropane, halothane, diethyl ether and acetone, possessing various degrees of solubility in blood and different degrees of diffusibility in lung tissue were used as indicator gases. Fifteen patients with interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology, placed in a supine position, were given a mixture of 21% O2 and 0.1% CO in N2 as the inspired gas and normal saline containing appropriate amounts of the six inert gases via the antecubital vein. After a steady state was established, the expired gas was collected and both arterial and mixed venous blood were simultaneously sampled through the catheter inserted either into the femoral or pulmonary artery. The concentrations of the indicator gases in the samples were measured by gas chromatography, with electrodes or with Scholander gas analyzer. Assuming that the mass transfer efficiency of a given indicator gas at each gas exchange unit would be limited by the ratio of VA to Q (VA/Q) and by that of G/Q, the data obtained from the human subjects were analyzed in terms of a lung model having 20 units along the VA/Q and G/Q axes, respectively. The numerical analysis including the procedure of a simultaneous Bohr integration for O2, CO2 and CO in a pulmonary capillary and the method of weighted least-squares combined with the idea of constrained optimization permitted the data to be transformed into a virtually continuous distribution of Q against VA/Q and G/Q axes. The numerical procedure was strictly tested based on many artificial distributions of VA/Q and G/Q ratios, showing that it could characterize distributions containing up to at least two modes in the VA/Q-G/Q field with a substantial accuracy. Analytical results estimated from the patients with interstitial lung disease revealed: 1) most of the lung is operating in the range of normal VA/Q in an early stage of their illness, while widening of VA/Q distribution accompanied with a significant contribution of both high and low VA/Q areas is observed in an advanced stage of the disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2630762 TI - [New clinical method to evaluate the ventilatory and non-ventilatory functions of respiratory muscles]. AB - New clinical methods have been developed to evaluate the ventilatory and non ventilatory functions of respiratory muscles. Three-dimensional stereoscopic diaphragm imaging method: Using this method we found that the diaphragm is shaped like an elliptic cylinder with an ellipsoid dome. During ventilation with relatively small tidal volume (less than 1L) the diaphragm moves like a piston keeping the same configuration. Multiphasic analysis of chest wall configuration: By observing movements at the different local regions of the chest wall, the activity of the respiratory muscles can be estimated. The non-ventilatory functions can be evaluated by the relaxation and the iso-volume lines on the Konno-Mead diagram. Deviation of the chest wall configuration from the relaxation line means a conversion of the intercostal muscles from the fixator function to the ventilatory function. The movement of the chest wall along the iso-volume line seen during coughing or talking also indicates the non-ventilatory function of the respiratory muscles which generates antigravitational forces. PMID- 2630763 TI - [The significance of moment analysis of spirogram]. AB - In order to assess the significance of moment analysis of transit times on spirograms, we investigated the characteristics of this analysis and the distribution of mechanical time constants of the lung derived from this method. Assuming the log-normal distribution of time constants, mu is the mean and sigma is the standard deviation of the natural logarithms of the time constants. The normal value for mu was -0.64 +/- 0.41 and for sigma was 1.54 +/- 0.42 (mean +/- 1 S.D.) in 94 normal males. The smoking habits enhanced the response of sigma on age-effect, but did not enhance the response of V25/HT. Compared with the normal group, excessive sigma was observed in the patients with bronchial asthma, pulmonary emphysema and interstitial lung disease. Mu was especially greater in the patients with the former two diseases. In bronchial asthma, mu decreased and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1.0) increased after inhalation of salbutamol, but these did not always correlate. Mu correlated with some clinical conditions. Moment analysis was available on the volume-time profile of quiet breathing with good reproducibility. The first moment (alpha 1) and standardized first moment (alpha 1') showed an increase in bronchial asthma and pulmonary emphysema, and decreased with treatment in bronchial asthma. It was concluded that the moment analysis of transit times on spirogram is useful as an index of time-course aspects of expiration. PMID- 2630764 TI - [Collapsibility of the downstream segment]. AB - With an abrupt interruption of airflow at the mouth during the V-V curve maneuver, the mouth pressure suddenly increased (1st phase), followed by a slower rise (2nd phase). The pleural pressure and alveolar pressure remained constant during this process. The first phase represented the pressure induced by the instantaneous interruption of the airflow itself. Analysis of Vsupramax which occurred just after resumption of the airflow suggested that the choke point was maintained constant during the 2nd phase. Based on the above results, a method was introduced for the determination of the airway compliance (Cb) of the downstream segment. Cb was below 1.5 ml/cmH2O in healthy subjects, and above 1.5 ml/cmH2O in COPD. Cb should be useful for the pathophysiological evaluation of the V-V curve and large airway in various diseases. PMID- 2630765 TI - [Distribution of inspired and alveolar gases in the lung]. AB - Alveolar components in single breath tests were studied in normal subjects and patients with COPD using simultaneous He and N2 single breath washout and the "Air N2 method" developed in our laboratory since 1979, which was summarized as follows: Special device for the N2 fractional output of a mass spectrometer (Perkin Elmer MGA1100B) was made using a DC cancellation amplifier with inspired N2 concentration (FIN2) suppressed to zero voltage and the changing fraction (FEN2-FIN2) of expired N2 concentration (FEN2) was magnified by the high fidelity DC amplifier. FAirN2 (=FEN2-FIN2) versus expired volume (VE) was designated "Air N2 Curve" with prominent cardiac oscillations (CO) on its mild ascending plateau in normal subjects. Air N2 curve of COPD, however, showed a much steeper ascending plateau without CO. The slope of the air N2 curve under normal resting tidal volume breathing, expressed as the increase in nitrogen concentration per liter BTPS expired (delta AirN2), has been of particular value in the diagnosis of COPD as a new indicator of V A/Q inequality. The air N2 curve expired from tidal volume breath to residual volume (RV) was utilized to analyze phase IV and V. Fractional concentration of Air N2 ceased to increase with the appearance of phase IV and thereafter began to decrease, and then showed abrupt terminal rise at the onset of phase V. High VA/Q units must contribute to phase IV and to the contrary low VA/Q units must contribute to phase V. This provided supporting evidence of the contribution of upper lung regions in causing phase IV and of lower lung regions in causing phase V. Combined He bolus and N2 washout and Air N2 methods with changing expiratory flow rates proved phase IV and V to be flow dependent. Closing volume (CV) in a static condition could be determined by the extrapolation of phase IV volume to zero flow. Phase IV and V were also shown to be parallel compartments of gravity dependence by the technique of postural change between inspiration and expiration. Simultaneous He and N2 washout curves revealed terminal falling He against continuous rising N2 without CO in COPD. This dissociation of slopes of alveolar plateaus was never seen in normal subjects when the usual amount of He bolus (200 ml) was introduced properly on RV. This offers the possibility of a unique, physiologically significant method to diagnose COPD indicating the disappearance of interregional non-homogeneity and the development of much more serious intraregional non-homogeneity with increased residual volume of poorly ventilated units. PMID- 2630766 TI - [Impedance analysis using the random noise oscillation method and a body box]. AB - The frequency characteristics (at 10-40 Hz) of airway (Za) and tissue (Zt) impedances in patients with chronic bronchitis (CB), chronic pulmonary emphysema (CPE) and interstitial pneumonitis (IP) were examined using the random noise oscillation method and a body box. Compared with normal subjects, Zar (r:real part) was elevated in cases of CB, but not in those with CPE. Zai (i:imaginary part) was decreased in cases of CB and CPE. Applying an electromechanical analogy to these results, it was inferred that CB increases both central and peripheral airway resistance, while CPE only increases peripheral resistance. In CPE, but not in CB, Ztr fell; only Zti decreased in IP, which suggests a decrease in mass per unit of lung tissue in CPE and a loss of pulmonary compliance in IP. We also measured the impedance of a dog with acute pulmonary edema induced by oleic acid. Zar an Ztr were increased but Zti was decreased, which corresponded with the increase of airway resistance due to hypersecretion and the decrease of lung compliance. We conclude that this method is useful in differentiating interstitial disorders from COLD, and also CB from CPE, because it can detect lung stiffness and can identify sites of airway narrowing. PMID- 2630767 TI - [Mechanism of activation of B lymphocytes in idiopathic UIP: evaluation of BCGF and BCDF-production from blood T lymphocytes]. AB - The activation of B lymphocytes and formation of immune complexes were suggested to play important roles in the pathogenesis of idiopathic UIP. To investigate the mechanism of the activation of B lymphocytes, we studied the production of B cell growth factor (BCGF) and B cell differentiation factor (BCDF) in patients with idiopathic UIP and those with IP-CVD, in comparison with healthy controls. Culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with idiopathic UIP induced more IgM- and IgA-production than those from healthy controls, indicating a higher production of BCDF. Culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with idiopathic UIP did not induce higher proliferation of B lymphocytes than those from healthy controls, indicating that production of BCGF was not enhanced in the patients. Increase of production of BCGF and BCDF from patients with IP-CVD was not observed. From these results, it was suggested that T lymphocytes that release lymphokines like BCDF are activated in patients with idiopathic UIP, but not in those with IP-CVD, and that the process of activation of B lymphocytes might be different between these fibrotic diseases. PMID- 2630768 TI - [The motility of lung lymphocytes in hypersensitivity pneumonitis and sarcoidosis]. AB - Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and pulmonary sarcoidosis (Sa) are characterized by an accumulation of large numbers of lymphocytes within the interstitium and the epithelial surface of the lung. Although the lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) are representative of interstitial cells in these diseases, the mechanism involved in an accumulation of lymphocytes on the epithelial surface are yet unknown. To explore the possibility that the lymphocytes on the epithelial surface are migrated cells from the interstitium, we studied the motility of the BALF lymphocytes in five patients with HP and nine patients with Sa and compared them to that of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The lymphocyte migration assay was performed using blind well chemotaxis chambers and cells migrated into the cellulose nitrate membranes were assessed. The total migrated cell numbers of BALF lymphocytes in HP and Sa were 753.3 +/- 86.5 and 334.2 +/- 41.0, respectively. The migration distance of BALF lymphocytes in HP and Sa assessed with leading front method were 50.2 +/- 3.8 microns and 57.9 +/- 4.6 microns, respectively. The motility of BALF lymphocytes in HP and Sa was significantly greater than that of peripheral blood lymphocytes and the motility of BALF lymphocytes were comparable to that of PHA-activated lymphocytes. The motility of BALF lymphocytes were correlated with the proportion of lymphocytes in BALF cells and the proportion of Ia+T lymphocytes. These results suggest that BALF lymphocytes in these diseases are activated and enhanced motility may facilitate the accumulation of lymphocytes to the epithelial surface. PMID- 2630769 TI - [Effect of smoking on pulmonary function among patients with pneumoconiosis]. AB - To clarify the effect of cigarette smoking on pulmonary function among patients with pneumoconiosis, we studied the relationship between the smoking index (number of cigarettes smoked per day X number of years of continued smoking) and lung function tests. The value of V25/Ht was significantly decreased with an increase of the smoking index, but there were no difference between %VC, FEV1.0%, AaDO2 and smoking index. Moreover, there was no relationship between pulmonary function and duration of dust exposure. These results show that antismoking campaigns are important among workers in a dusty work environment. PMID- 2630770 TI - [Effects of nicotine and cigarette smoke extracts on plasma level of complement C3a and C5a, thromboxane B2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha in rabbits]. AB - In the present investigation we measured plasma levels of complement C3a and C5a, thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and 6-keto PGF1 alpha in anesthetized rabbits by radioimmunoassay after the intravenous injection of nicotine and cigarette smoke extracts. Plasma levels of complement C3a in rabbits showed a significant increased and reached a maximum value 60 minutes after the intravenous injection of nicotine and cigarette smoke extract. Plasma levels of complement C5a in rabbits showed a significant increase and reached a maximum value 30 minutes after the intravenous injection of nicotine. Plasma levels of complement C5a in rabbits showed a significant increase and reached a maximum value 60 minutes after the intravenous injection of cigarette smoke extract. Plasma levels of TxB2 in rabbits showed a significant increase after the intravenous injection of nicotine and cigarette smoke extract. Plasma levels of 6-keto PGF1 alpha in rabbits did not show any change after the intravenous injection of nicotine and cigarette smoke extracts. The above results may suggest that the intravenous injection of nicotine and cigarette smoke extracts induces an increase of plasma levels of complement C3a and C5a and TxB2 in anesthetized rabbits. PMID- 2630771 TI - [An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring desmosine in vivo]. AB - Pulmonary emphysema may be a disease in which some elastin in lung is lost. In order to evaluate lung elastin degradation, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for desmosine and measured urinary desmosine excretion and serum desmosine levels in healthy individuals and patients with pulmonary emphysema and other chronic pulmonary disorders. The measurement was performed by the inhibition technique of ELISA so that the samples had to be applied to CF11 cellulose mini-column for partial purification of desmosine. Total urinary excretion of desmosine was uniformly low in healthy individuals and patients with lung cancer, but urinary desmosine was elevated in some cases of pulmonary emphysema and diffuse panbronchiolitis. Using this ELISA method, more than 0.06 micrograms/ml serum desmosine concentration could be measured in 3 out of 25 healthy subjects who had never smoked (13.6%), 4/9 healthy current smokers (44.4%) and 19/26 patients with pulmonary emphysema (73.1%). Mean serum desmosine levels of meseared 19 cases of empysema were 0.182 micrograms/ml. It has been reported that approximately 15% of smokers develop pulmonary emphysema. The most important problem now is whether smokers with elevated urinary desmosine or with high serum desmosine will eventuality develop pulmonary emphysema. PMID- 2630772 TI - [Pulmonary hemodynamics during mild exercise in COPD]. AB - The effects of mild exercise on pulmonary hemodynamics and ventilatory responses in COPD were studied. Six patients with FEV1% less than 70% received 20 watt exercise tests by cycle ergometers for 5 minutes. Changes in hemodynamics and ventilation were observed before and during exercise. Nine patients with an FEV1% of more than 70% also received exercise tests as controls. There were no different in changes in respiratory frequency, tidal volume and minute ventilation between control and COPD group. However, the mean pulmonary arterial pressure were higher in the COPD group than in the control group before exercise. Moreover increments of mean pulmonary arterial pressure by exercise were also greater in COPD group. It was concluded that hemodynamics in COPD are much more influenced by mild exercise than in healthy subjects. PMID- 2630773 TI - [A case of proliferative sparganosis associated with PIE syndrome and pulmonary embolism]. AB - A 48-year-old man was admitted because of ischialgia. The CT scanning revealed tumors in the right pelvic cavity and the gluteal muscle. The bodies of Sparganum proliferum and granulation tissues were revealed by the tumor biopsy. In this hospital course, the chest roentgenogram revealed patchy infiltrative shadows in both lungs and left pleural effusion while chest CT scanning revealed multiple nodular shadows. Eosinophils increased in the peripheral blood and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) showed non-destructive vasculitis with eosinophilic infiltration. The pulmonary lesion was diagnosed as intrapulmonary migration of Sparganum proliferum and PIE syndrome caused by this worm. Thiabendazole and prednisolone were administrated, but he died of pulmonary embolism. PMID- 2630774 TI - [Primary pulmonary cryptococcosis treated with transbronchial injection of amphotericin B]. AB - A 76-year-old man was admitted because of multiple nodular opacities in both lungs on chest X-ray. Cryptococcus was identified in the specimens obtained from bronchial brushing and bronchial washing. Primary pulmonary cryptococcosis was diagnosed as he had no underlying diseases and no foci in any other organs except the lung. Transbronchial injection (TBI) of amphotericin B was administered to the largest focus, in addition to the intravenous administration of miconazole. The chest tomogram 25 days after the first TBI showed marked decrease in the size of the largest focus, but no improvements were observed in other foci. TBI can be performed easily and safely, and perhaps more effectively than administration of amphotericin B with aerosol. This procedure may be of value in the treatment of pulmonary cryptococcosis. PMID- 2630775 TI - [A case of adenomatoid mesothelioma of the pleura]. AB - A case of adenomatoid mesothelioma of the pleura was presented. The patient was a 69-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus. She was admitted to our hospital because of a chest roentgenographic abnormality, which was pointed out during her clinical course. Chest X-ray-film on admission revealed a semicircular lesion located in the left lower lung field. The physical examination and laboratory data showed no abnormalities. Left lower lobectomy was performed. The tumor was approximately, 3.0 x 3.0 x 3.0 cm, elastic soft, encapsulated, and originated from the pulmonary pleura. The histological findings of the tumor showed benign epithelial localized pleural mesothelioma. However histologically, the tumor tissue was not like the usual epithelial type. That is, most cells which had intracellular vacuoles, were similar to signet ring cell. The tumor was diagnosed as adenomatoid mesothelioma of the pleura. PMID- 2630776 TI - [Wegener's granulomatosis in a woman with asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis]. AB - A 60-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital in June 1985, complaining of fever, cough and right lower chest pain, with a five-year history of asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis. Chest X-ray on admission showed an infiltrative shadow in the right lower lung field. She was first treated with various antibiotics unsuccessfully. Hemoptysis continued. Dyspnea and anemia appeared. Chest X-ray 17 days after admission showed multiple infiltrative shadows in the both lung fields. She was treated with steroid pulse therapy successfully. During prednisolone treatment decreasing nodular shadows with cavities appeared on chest X-ray. An open lung biopsy was performed in March 1986. The histologic findings showed a necrotizing vasculitis with granuloma and perivascular fibrosis. She was treated with prednisolone and prednisolone-azathioprine therapy unsuccessfully, but successfully with prednisolone-cyclophosphamide therapy. This case was a rare case of Wegener's granulomatosis with transition from fulminant type to granulomatous type. No similar case of Wegener's granulomatosis with asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis has been reported in the literature. PMID- 2630777 TI - [A case of pneumonitis due to sho-saiko-to]. AB - We reported a case of pneumonitis due to Sho-saiko-to. A 71-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of pneumonia. She complained of dry cough, pyrexia and severe dyspnea. Fine crepitation was heard on physical examination of the chest and a chest X-ray film revealed diffuse reticulo-nodular shadow in both lung fields. We suspected summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis and followed her up, however her condition deteriorated. Under a suspicion of drug-induced pneumonitis, all drugs were stopped and she was given prednisolone. Consequently her complaints, laboratory data and chest X-ray findings markedly improved. Microscopic examination of a transbronchial lung biopsy specimens showed interstitial pneumonitis. The results of a lymphocyte stimulation test were positive for sho-saiko-to. She gave informed consent after receiving an explanation of the challenge test. She was tested with 2.5 g sho-saiko-to twice and developed high fever and dyspnea with hypoxia, while the chest X-ray film also revealed diffuse infiltrative shadows similar that on admission. Based on these findings, we diagnosed this case as pneumonitis due to sho-saiko-to. To our knowledge, there has been no previous case of pulmonary hypersensitivity due to sho-saiko-to reported in the world. PMID- 2630778 TI - Depression associated with chronic pain: incidence, characteristics, and long term outcome. AB - Of 98 consecutive patients admitted to a pain management program for patients with nonmalignant chronic pain, 34 were definitely depressed, 20 were probably depressed, and 44 were not depressed by research diagnostic criteria (RDC). At the time of admission, no characteristic differences were observed among the three study groups except for, by definition, the presence of a RDC diagnosis of major depression (definite or probable) and an associated increase in Hamilton depression scale score and a group of MMPI scale scores. There was a 98% improvement rate for depression by participation of the patients in a nonpharmacologic program for nonmalignant chronic pain; there were no differences in frequency of depression among the three study groups at the time of dismissal. This progress was maintained at long-term follow-up (average, 11.6 months): 87 of 98 patients (88.8%) remained nondepressed. PMID- 2630779 TI - A clinical study on T1 glottic cancer treated by laser technique. AB - It is commonly accepted that radiotherapy is a first choice for treatment of T1 glottic cancer. However, side effects caused by irradiation are sometimes troublesome to a patient and to a physician. Among side effects, oncogenic problem and late radiation change are most undesirable and may become fatal. Hence, we avoid radiation therapy especially for younger aged patients. We prefer surgical therapy to radiotherapy for such a case. In our clinic, laser therapy has been employed. A laser beam is introduced through an operation microscope and a lesion can be microscopically vaporized. In this study, a survey of 40 patients with T1 glottic cancer submitted to laser surgery was reviewed. From those patients 25 were T1a and 15 were T1b. From our experience, laser vaporization is recommendable for T1 glottic cancer in younger aged patients. However, in order to obtain cure rate comparable to radiation therapy, the indication must be correctly designated. PMID- 2630780 TI - Effects of lesions in the substantia innominata on active avoidance task and cerebral glucose metabolism. AB - Abnormalities in the central cholinergic system have been reported in Alzheimer disease. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of the central cholinergic neurons in the substantia innominata on cognitive functions and cerebral metabolism in rats. Forty-nine Wistar rats were trained for an active avoidance task for 5 days. On Day 5, rats which had acquired the avoidance response were divided into two groups. The lesioned group (n = 7) received ibotenic acid in the substantia innominata bilaterally and the sham-operated group (n = 7) received the vehicle only. From Day 8 to 12, the rats were again trained for the avoidance task. On Day 12, the local cerebral metabolic rate for glucose was measured by the 14C-2-deoxyglucose method. The rats in the lesioned group revealed severe deficits in retention and re-acquisition of the active avoidance task. In addition, the glucose metabolism was decreased in the cerebral cortices, especially in the frontal cortex (p less than 0.05). The central cholinergic neurons of the substantia innominata may be closely related to cognitive functions and to glucose metabolism in the cortices. PMID- 2630781 TI - Development of a new exposure monitoring system considering pulmonary ventilation (DEM 1). AB - Exposure evaluation is an essential facet in the assessment of the risks of exposure to toxic materials in the workplace. Presently, samples from the breathing atmosphere are measured in order to determine the level of individual exposure to toxic substances. This method, however, does not take into account the level of physical exertion during exposure. Physical activity is known to increase pulmonary ventilation by up to 10 times that of the level at rest. Thus, measurement of pulmonary ventilation, as well as the concentration of a toxic material in the air would provide valuable data in evaluating exposure. We have developed a device that measures and records the concentration of a toxic material in the air and pulmonary ventilation as predicted by heart rate both simultaneously and continuously. In this system, real time pulmonary ventilation is predicted from heart rate by using a regression equation that was obtained from the results of our study. The percentage error of predicted pulmonary ventilation at each heart rate is within 30%. The present study assessed the feasibility of the use of heart rate as the predictor of pulmonary ventilation. Our new exposure monitoring system is the first practical device that monitors the level of exposure dependent upon pulmonary ventilation and will be useful in the reevaluation of threshold limit values (TLV's) and in working management. PMID- 2630782 TI - Measurement of lung density by computed tomography: implication for radiotherapy. AB - In order to achieve practical application for the treatment planning of radiotherapy, lung density was assessed by means of CT. Cork phantoms were measured 360 times to test the reliability of CT densitometry. Densities were corrected by the CT value of pure water measured at the same time. The mean value of cork phantoms as measured by CT was 0.287 +/- 0.11 g/cm3, the true value of which was 0.320 g/cm3. These errors were within an allowable limit for radiotherapy. Lung density was studied in 50 patients with a mean age of 50 years, ranging from 46 to 76. The values obtained of the upper, middle, and lower lung were 0.123 +/- 0.46 g/cm3, 0.121 +/- 0.033, and 0.154 +/- 0.057 g/cm3 during inspiration and were 0.215 +/- 0.058 g/cm3, 0.228 +/- 0.066, and 0.260 +/- 0.078 g/cm3 during expiration, respectively. The dorsal, central, and ventral portions of the lung were measured simultaneously with a patient on supine position. In order to hold the variation of radiation dose within 2%, the variation must be kept within 30 HU of CT value. As for the upper lung, the difference of which between both subjects and sites was smallest during inspiration in this results, that was 20%; the difference of 60 HU CT value existed between the dorsal and ventral lungs. Variations in CT number between subjects were more than 60 HU in one third of this series. Before starting radiotherapy to the lung field, lung densitometry is warranted in order to irradiate the exact dose. PMID- 2630783 TI - Public policy consideration: leadership in policy development. PMID- 2630784 TI - Death and dying. PMID- 2630785 TI - A paper highlighting the role of TBAs in the implementation of primary health care. PMID- 2630786 TI - Health for all: where are we today and where do we need to go? PMID- 2630787 TI - Paper on STD and AIDS. PMID- 2630788 TI - Kentucky celebrates National Children's Dental Health Month. PMID- 2630789 TI - Benefits and salaries of dental hygienists. PMID- 2630790 TI - Basic issues in screening for oral cancer among male subpopulation. AB - The value of population screening for oral cancer among male adults as a method of oral cancer control is an issue of great controversy. Screening programs have different objectives, varying costs, undocumented benefits, and some may have harmful effects. Consequently, these programs are not unanimously accepted and with the many constraints in evaluating these programs, the future of screening as oral cancer prevention strategy is questionable. Basic issues in the prevalence of oral cancer include factors affecting the patient such as age, sex, exposure to carcinogens, plus the site or the type of the neoplasm. Oral cancer afflicts primarily middle-aged and older adults, particularly heavy users of tobacco and alcohol; long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation may also be important in the initiation of the disease. Eighty percent of oral cancer patients are over 45 years of age. Exposure to tobacco and/or alcohol seems to be a critical factor in the transformation of normal cells to cancer-producing cells. In the U.S.A., 70-80 percent of oral cancers detected occurred in men. 27,000 new cases of oral cancer are found annually in the United States and at least 9,000 of the cases will result in death. Squamous cell carcinomas represent 90 percent of all oral soft tissue cancers. The most common sites are the floor of the mouth, and soft palate complex. Cancers of the lip and tongue show the greatest association with age while major salivary gland cancers show the least. An inexpensive test should be developed in the near future and subjects should be followed carefully. PMID- 2630791 TI - Flotation may compromise effectiveness of cold sterilization solutions on plastic instruments. PMID- 2630792 TI - 30-minute universal splint. PMID- 2630793 TI - On antigen-antibody binding distribution. AB - The probability distributions for the number of bound antigens and antibodies during immune response are obtained in this paper. Biological significance of this work and directions for further application are discussed along with some illustrative numerical results. PMID- 2630794 TI - An analysis on the rates and regulation of insensible water loss through the eccrine sweat glands. AB - An analysis is presented on insensible water loss from the human body at rest through exposed skin surfaces into still air. Possible sites of moisture release are identified as the stratum corneum of the skin, free surfaces of dilute sweat liquids perpetually present in the microscopic ducts of a large population of eccrine sweat glands, and moist microvillous processes which line part of the periductal surfaces in the glands, particularly in the helical coils within the stratum spinosum of the epidermis. Water supply to the sites involves transepidermal migration across skin tissue layers, secretion and partial reabsorption of solutes and water within eccrine glands, and transport across periductal lining of eccrine glands from the surrounding connective tissues respectively. Evaporation and gas phase diffusion within eccrine ducts were modelled. Basal loss rates of water (as regulated by the ambient temperature and relative humidity and by aspects of the anatomy of and physiological factors for eccrine glands, the epidermis and the dermis) were calculated at between 1 and 20 g hr-1 at an ambient temperature of 25 degrees C and a relative humidity of 60% as an example. Such rates are significant fractions of experimental values for insensible water loss rates reported at between 4 and 35 g hr-1 in air at 22-30 degrees C and a relative humidity of 30-60%. PMID- 2630795 TI - Probabilistic division systems modeling the generation of mosaic fields. AB - The explanation of mosaic pattern in chimeric organs analyzed by in situ methods requires modeling of specific hypotheses. The use of computer simulations to achieve this has led to the conclusion that finely variegated mixtures of cell lineage within chimeric tissues does not require extensive cell movement. Cell division models were used to determine the distribution of patch size as mosaic fields are generated. The results establish that these distributions are sensitive to the proportion of the two cell types which comprise the mosaic. PMID- 2630796 TI - The genetic code as a clue to understanding of molecular evolution. AB - The genetic code is comprised of a system concerning the distribution of doublets of the first two codon bases among amino acids. According to this system a definite order in the relative distribution of the first and the second codon bases coincides with a definite order among the common amino acids and their distribution for the number of hydrogen atoms per molecule (an unexpected parameter). The pattern of the relative distribution of the first and the second codon bases suggests it originated from a crystalline-like structure in which the set of bases AUGC served as an elementary structural unit and the base doublets played the role of structural analogs to the amino acids. These hypothetical crystalline-like aggregates are composed of the free molecules of amino acids and bases, and although different in their composition, should have an even number of hydrogen atoms per standard structural module. PMID- 2630797 TI - Time delays in age-structured populations. AB - A combination of analytical and computational techniques is employed to investigate age-structured populations in which the life cycle consists of two sequential demographic phases. Individuals within each phase have identical demographic rates that are functions of population size, but these rates may differ between phases. A model consisting of a system of delay ordinary differential equations is derived, and existence and stability of equilibria are discussed. Analysis reveals how equilibrium abundances depend on all demographic variables and, in particular, on the lengths of the demographic phases. PMID- 2630798 TI - Reading frames of HIV genes. PMID- 2630799 TI - Muscle contraction and in vitro movements. PMID- 2630800 TI - Computing multiple cell kinetic properties from a single time point. AB - New developments in experimental procedures have made it necessary to extend the theory for describing the movement of a population of cells and estimating the kinetic properties of the population. The new procedures are based on the use of fluorescent monoclonal antibodies to halogenated analogues of thymidine, which are incorporated as a label into cells during DNA synthesis. These populations may be examined by dual-parameter flow cytometry to discriminate between the labelled and unlabelled populations of cells and define their position within the DNA reproductive cycle. A particular need exists for a theory that can be used for measurements of tumors in which many cells are not actively cycling and only a single time point can be obtained. In order to develop a useful theory for evaluating the kinetic properties of the cells observed by these techniques, the standard methods of theoretical cell kinetics have been recast in a form that is amenable to the type of analysis demanded by these constraints and a novel method for the rapid analysis of the kinetic properties of the cell population is presented. The method is shown to yield a direct measurement for the population doubling time from a single time point as well as estimates for the transit times through each phase of the cell cycle. The method which is approximately linear is shown to be robust to the effects of different assumptions about the distribution of transit times as well as being insensitive to the effects of variation in the transit times of the cells. The methodology developed in this paper may also be used to examine other theoretical methods of computing kinetic properties. PMID- 2630801 TI - Vesicle formation in the Golgi apparatus. AB - In this paper we examine the mechanics of vesicle budding from the Golgi apparatus. We propose a model for this process based on the notion that molecular surfactants can release the elastic energy stored in the lipid bilayer. The same physical process may drive other vesiculation processes, including coated vesicle formation and budding of enveloped viruses from the plasma membrane. PMID- 2630802 TI - Simulation of the diffusion of acetylcholine in the neuroeffector junctions of the sinus node. AB - Traditionally, the diffusion of acetylcholine (ACh) from a neuron to cardiac muscle in a neuroeffector junction has been modeled as radial diffusion from a nerve ending into a spherical homogeneous medium. Various microscopic structures in the heart may or may not influence the spatial distribution of ACh within neuroeffector junctions. To determine the effect of microscopic anatomy on the diffusion of ACh in neuroeffector junctions, we simulated the diffusion of ACh in a two-dimensional inhomogeneous geometry that was based on micrographs of neuroeffector junctions in the sinus node. ACh was released at sites adjacent to a neuron. Simulations showed that the times of peak concentration after release and the peak concentrations per se were distributed symmetrically above and below and to the right and left of the neuron, but not radially about the neuron. We conclude that the diffusion of ACh in the neuroeffector junctions of the sinus node cannot be predicted well by a mathematical model that assumes radial diffusion in a spherical and homogeneous medium. PMID- 2630803 TI - Metabolic dynamics in the human red cell. Part I--A comprehensive kinetic model. AB - The experimental investigation of the red cell over the last three decades has accumulated extensive biochemical data on its enzymes and metabolites. The goal of this work is to provide a unified theoretical framework for the integration and consistent interpretation of these data by means of a comprehensive mathematical metabolic model of the red cell. This model is described in four parts. Here, we describe the general conception, scope and the biological assumptions of the model. The model is comprised of dynamic mass balances based on stoichiometry and enzyme kinetics with the imposed physico-chemical constraints of osmotic balance and electroneutrality. PMID- 2630804 TI - Metabolic dynamics in the human red cell. Part II--Interactions with the environment. AB - The maintenance of human red cell volume under multitude of trying physiological conditions is a self regulated dynamic process. Theoretical and experimental studies on red cell osmotic states have been primarily focussed on three different interdependent areas: the permeative properties of the red cell membrane, the kinetic studies of transmembrane fluxes of various ionic and nonionic chemical constituents of the red cell and plasma, and the ideal and non ideal thermodynamic formulation of the osmotic states. The primary objective of this work is to provide a general model that converges the above mentioned components of the red cell and its environment under one umbrella. Such a model facilitates the simultaneous interpretation and prediction of quantitative changes in the red cell volume, pH, Donnan ratios, osmotic effects, plasma volume, transmembrane fluxes, and permeable and impermeable solute concentration. PMID- 2630805 TI - 413 cases of abnormal fetal position corrected by auricular plaster therapy. AB - The authors corrected the abnormal fetal position in 413 cases of pregnant women by the auricular plaster therapy (APT) with a success rate of 83.3%--remarkably higher than treatment by knee-chest positioning. Further analysis showed that APT was also superior to the knee-chest positioning for primiparae, breech fetal position, and pregnancies over 33 weeks. The authors also noted the clinical signs of successful cases and failures. PMID- 2630806 TI - Observation on analgesic effect of acupuncturing the dazhui point. PMID- 2630807 TI - Seven cases of spinal arachnoiditis treated by electro-acupuncture along the du meridian and moxibustion on guanyuan point. PMID- 2630808 TI - Acupuncture treatment of 60 cases of numbness due to cerebral arteriosclerosis. PMID- 2630809 TI - Acupuncture treatment of 182 cases of abdominal colic due to calculi in the urinary system. PMID- 2630810 TI - Optic atrophy treated with acupuncture. PMID- 2630811 TI - Acupuncture treatment of traumatic vitreous opacity. PMID- 2630812 TI - Treatment of pain by laser irradiation--a report of 76 cases. PMID- 2630813 TI - Personal experience on the treatment of dysmenorrhea. PMID- 2630814 TI - Treatment of 104 cases suffering from cervico-spinal hypertension with rotation reduction method--observation of the long-term effect. PMID- 2630815 TI - Treatment of 133 cases of chronic prostatitis by seminal consolidation and turbidity excretion. AB - The authors adopted the method of seminal consolidation and turbidity excretion in a specific prescription with modifications according to symptoms for the treatment of 133 cases of chronic prostatitis. The average therapeutic course was 95 days with a cure rate of 69.1% and a total effective rate of 96.2%. This prescription relieved obstruction in the prostatic ducts and promoted excretion of stagnant secretions, thus alleviating the clinical symptoms. Tests of serum and prostatic fluid, and prostatic fluid culture suggested that, besides direct bacteriostatic and bacteriocidal effects, the prescription also strengthened or regulated local immunological functions. PMID- 2630816 TI - The effect of "jiang zhi yi gan tang" in the treatment of fatty liver. PMID- 2630817 TI - Studies of the blood pressure depressing and blood lipids reducing effect of "hou's black powder". PMID- 2630818 TI - The treatment of 44 cases of simple obesity with TCM. PMID- 2630819 TI - 47 cases of chronic atrophic gastritis treated with the modality of depressing the upward adverse flow of qi. PMID- 2630820 TI - Treatment of mucous membrane diseases of the digestive tract with jing jie lian qiao tang--therapeutic effect in 168 cases. PMID- 2630821 TI - A study of the immunofunction in patients of coronary heart disease with the fundamental deficiency and outward excess syndrome. AB - The fundamental deficiency and outward excess syndrome of coronary heart disease can be classified into Qi Yang deficiency with blood stasis (QYD) and Yin deficiency with blood stasis (YD). The patients showed disturbances in immunofunction manifested as marked increase of serum IgG, CIC, IC-IgG and IC-C3 levels and the percentage of B cells in the peripheral blood, while the percentages of OKT3+, OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells markedly decreased, especially the percentage of OKT8+ cells, resulting in an increase of the ratio of T4/8 and imbalance between TS and TH. The authors deem that the fundamental deficiency of coronary heart disease is related to the low cellular immunity, especially the imbalance between TS and TH cells, while outward excess of coronary heart disease is related to hyperactivity of humoral immunity. PMID- 2630822 TI - Tongue color and whole blood viscosity in patients of diabetes mellitus after treatment by TCM prescription for replenishing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood circulation. PMID- 2630823 TI - Clinical and experimental studies of chronic gastritis in patients with qi deficiency of spleen. PMID- 2630824 TI - Computerized digital description and classification of the tongue and its coating. PMID- 2630825 TI - Treatment of toothache with acupuncture. PMID- 2630826 TI - Recommendations on dental office infectious waste management. American Dental Association. Division of Scientific Affairs. PMID- 2630827 TI - A comparison of the effect of zinc and fluoride on the growth and acid production of Streptococcus mutans. PMID- 2630828 TI - Age-related changes in proteolysis of aberrant crystallin in bovine lens cell free preparations. AB - Bovine alpha-crystallin fragments were prepared by H2O2/Cu2(+)-mediated free radical treatment (which generated 15.1 and 16.6 K Mr fragments) and cyanogen bromide cleavage (which generated 8.4, 13.8 and 16.8 K Mr fragments). Proteolysis of the fragments and native and denatured alpha-crystallin was then compared using bovine lens homogenates prepared from either cortex or cores of lenses obtained from animals of different ages (foetal, 1.5 years and 6.5 years old). In all preparations the fragments were more rapidly degraded than the denatured but uncleaved protein, while the untreated crystallin was only slightly susceptible to proteolytic attack. Both developmental and age-related differences in proteolytic activity towards the aberrant crystallins were detected, most notably a marked age-related decline in the fragment catabolism in preparations obtained from the cores. Should a similar decline occur in human lenses then the changes which we have detected may be important contributary factors towards cataractogenesis. PMID- 2630829 TI - Age influence on sucrose hydrolysis and on monosaccharide absorption along the small intestine of rat. AB - The consequences of aging on the hydrolysis and absorption of hexoses was assessed in vitro using everted intestinal segments. Glucose and fructose were given either as a mixture of free monosaccharides or as a disaccharide solution (sucrose). The jejuno-ileum of 3- and 24-month-old rats was everted and divided into four equal segments. For each segment, the mucosal medium contained either sucrose (140 mM) or an equimolar mixture of glucose and fructose (70 mM). Monosaccharide concentrations in the mucosal ans serosal media were measured after 1 h of incubation at 37 degrees C. In the young adult, glucose absorption was enhanced when given as sucrose. In contrast, in the aged rat, free glucose or glucose released from sucrose hydrolysis were similarly absorbed. Independently of age, fructose was better absorbed when provided in a mixture of free monosaccharides. The intestinal segments (and especially the ileum), of the aged animals exhibited higher abilities to hydrolyse sucrose and to absorb monosaccharides indicating a normal or increased intestinal hydrolytic activity and absorptive capacity for dietary sugars. PMID- 2630830 TI - Fate of allogeneic embryonal chick chondrocytes implanted orthotopically, as determined by the host's age. AB - Chondrocytes derived from chick embryos can be successfully implanted in defects of adult chick articular cartilage surfaces. Such implants thrive in their implantation site and create a new articular surface. The chondrocytes mature and hypertrophy in the orthotopic site without invoking an immune response. Eventually a steady state is reached in which mature chondrocytes resurface the defect while in the deeper areas spongy bone replaces the hypertrophic chondrocytes. Time schedules of these repair events have been studied in hosts of different ages. We compared 4-month-old chicks with 3-year-old chickens. The embryonal chondrocytes implanted in the latter group underwent an accelerated aging process. The defects were completely filled-up after 1 month as compared with 2-3 months in the younger age group. Endochondral ossification in the older group was evident as early as 2 months post implantation and was completed after 6 months. This contrasts with the situation in the younger group where the chondrocytes only began to hypertrophy after 6 months. At this stage endochondral ossification was hardly seen at all. A unique response to the cartilaginous implants is seen in the old group only in the vicinity of the reparative tissue, accumulation of hematopoietic centers. This study seem to indicate that the host's environment affects the "biological clock", i.e. rate and degree of aging of the implanted cells, as well as their matrices. PMID- 2630831 TI - Failure of dietary restriction to influence natural killer activity in old rats. AB - Natural killer activity of Sprague-Dawley rats maintained on an ad libitum versus restricted diet was compared using an 18 hour 51Cr-release assay, against the K562 erythroleukemic line, Yac-1 lymphoma cells and SV40-3T3 cells. The results indicated that no enhancement of natural killer function was induced by dietary restriction of 10.5-month-old rats from weaning. Prolongation of the restricted diet into late life (24 months) similarly did not enhance basal natural killer activity over levels observed in the ad libitum controls. This suggests that the improved resistance to some tumours seen after prolonged dietary restriction depends on another defensive mechanism, reduced metabolic activity and/or a reduction of available nutrients at cancerous foci. PMID- 2630832 TI - Frequency of sister chromatid exchanges induced by trimethyltin chloride in human peripheral blood lymphocytes as related to age of donors. A brief report. AB - Two concentrations (0.5 microgram and 1.0 microgram) of trimethyltin chloride were added to lymphocytes of healthy male and female donors of different age groups and cultured at 37 degrees C for 72 h. The range and mean number of sister chromatid exchanges were significantly increased in the treated cells but could not be related to age or sex of the donor. PMID- 2630833 TI - Age-dependent change in activities of lysosomal enzymes in rat brain. AB - The age-dependent change in activities of seven lysosomal enzymes (cathepsin D, beta-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase, acid/alkaline DNases and acid/alkaline RNases) was studied in four brain regions (cerebrum, hippocampus, pons and cerebellum) of Wistar rats. The activity of cathepsin D was significantly increased with aging in the four regions. The age-dependent change in activities of acid and alkaline DNases showed the characteristic regional difference, and the ratio of acid to alkaline DNases was increased with aging in all regions. Acid RNase showed the lowest activity in 18-month-old rats, and alkaline RNase activity was decreased with aging. The activity of beta-glucuronidase was higher in 2-month-old rats in all of the regions studied. Acid phosphatase showed no significant age-dependent change except in pons. The study demonstrated that all of the lysosomal enzyme activities do not change in parallel with aging, and that the age-dependent change showed the characteristic regional difference. PMID- 2630834 TI - Age and membrane fluidity. AB - Male rats aged 1, 9 and 19 months were used to study changes in membrane fluidity with age, employing the fluorescence polarization technique with 1,6-diphenyl 1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) as the fluorescent probe. The intestinal microvillus membranes derived from the 19-month-old rats were found to possess lower fluidity than that observed with the membranes derived from the younger animals. The decrease in fluidity with age was also reflected in a corresponding increase in the gel-to-liquid crystalline transition temperature. Only small insignificant changes with age, were observed in the fluidity of the red blood cell membrane. PMID- 2630835 TI - Organization of DNA in cerebellar neurons of ageing unirradiated and irradiated rats. AB - Male Fischer 344 rats were either unirradiated or whole-brain irradiated with single doses of 10.83 or 17.16 Gy of X-rays at 4 months of age, and the organization of the DNA in permanently non-dividing cerebellar neurons examined as a function of age, dose and time after irradiation. In unirradiated rats and rats receiving a whole-brain dose of 10.83 Gy, there were no statistically significant changes in the organization of the bulk DNA and its association with the nuclear matrix as determined by: (a) the sensitivity of the DNA to digestion by micrococcal nuclease, (b) the sensitivity of the nuclear matrix-associated DNA to digestion by DNase I, (c) the relative DNA and protein content of undigested neuronal nuclei, and (d) the relative amount of DNA and protein that is tightly associated with the nuclear matrix after digestion with DNase I. In rats that were irradiated with 17.16 Gy at 4 months of age, there was a gradual decrease in the amount of nuclear proteins as a function of age (P less than 0.003). The amount of protein associated with the nuclear matrix in these irradiated aging rats was also consistently lower than that of their unirradiated counterparts (P less than 0.03). This decrease in the nuclear protein content of the cerebellar neurons in aging rats irradiated with 17.16 Gy may have caused a change in the overall organization of their neuronal DNA. Such a change in the organization of their neuronal DNA was indicated by a higher stainability of their bulk DNA by propidium iodide (P less than 0.03) and a higher sensitivity of the bulk DNA to digestion by m. nuclease (P = 0.087). Although these organizational changes in the neuronal DNA of aging rats irradiated with 17.16 Gy at 4 months of age are subtle, they might alter DNA repair processes or other neuronal functions that may be associated with the "natural" process of aging. PMID- 2630836 TI - Characterization of age-related malondialdehyde oxidation: the effect of modulation by food restriction. AB - Age-related in vitro malondialdehyde (MDA) oxidation by liver was investigated. It was established that mitochondria are the major site of oxidation, and that the oxidation process was catalyzed by aldehyde dehydrogenase as indicated by inhibitory action of disulfiram. The reaction of MDA oxidation requires Mg2+ and NAD as cofactors. The capacity for MDA oxidation was progressively lost with increasing age and the extent of the loss was modulated by food restriction. PMID- 2630837 TI - Pharmacokinetics of hexobarbital in young and old rats. AB - Hexobarbital is a drug widely used to study the capacity of the liver to metabolize drugs. The pharmacokinetics of hexobarbital in 3- and 30-month-old male BN/BiRij rats were studied. The half-life of hexobarbital in 30-month-old rats (39.9 +/- 4.1 min) was significantly higher than that of 3-month-old ones (21.3 +/- 3.8 min). The volume of distribution (ml.kg-1 body weight) did not change with age. The intrinsic clearance, expressed as ml.min-1.kg-1 body weight, of hexobarbital in 30-month-old rats (20.2 +/- 6.6) was half that of the 3-month old ones (39.5 +/- 7.6). Further studies will be performed to investigate the effect of age on the intrinsic clearance of S(+)- and R(-)- hexobarbital. PMID- 2630838 TI - Speech repetition abilities in children who differ in reading skill. AB - A previous study (Brady, Shankweiler, and Mann, 1983) demonstrated inferior speech repetition abilities for poor readers with degraded stimuli. The present study, in contrast, used clear listening conditions. Third-grade average and below-average readers were tested on a word repetition task with monosyllabic, multisyllabic, and pseudoword stimuli. No group differences were obtained on speed of responding, and the lack of reaction time differences between reading groups was corroborated on a control task which measured verbal response time to nonspeech stimuli. However, below average readers were significantly less accurate at repeating the multisyllabic and pseudoword stimuli. This evidence is compatible with the hypothesis that encoding difficulties contribute to the memory deficits characteristic of poor readers. PMID- 2630839 TI - Differences in inventory size affect the location but not the precision of tongue positioning in vowel production. AB - The question addressed by this study was whether native speakers of languages that have a relatively large inventory of vowels maximize the phonetic distance between those vowels by using a relatively wider range of tongue positions than speakers of small-inventory languages. Glossometry was used to measure tongue height in the Spanish vowels /i/, /u/, /a/, /e/, and /o/ and in the English vowels /i/, /u/, /a/, /eI/, and /oU/. These vowels were spoken by eight native speakers each of Spanish and English, normally and with a bite block. The effect of the bite block on average vertical tongue height was negligible, but the tongue was slightly lower in the front of the mouth and higher at the back of the mouth for vowels spoken with, than without, a bite block. Token-to-token variability for vowels spoken in a/b-bV/ context was no greater for the Spanish than for the English subjects despite the smaller vowel inventory of Spanish. The average position of the tongue for the five Spanish and the five English vowels examined did not differ significantly, suggesting that the two languages have the same articulatory "setting". Despite this, the English subjects produced point vowels with a greater range of vertical tongue positions than the Spanish subjects. Taken together, the results suggest the vowel inventory size may affect the location but not the precision of tongue positioning in vowel production. PMID- 2630840 TI - Computer-assisted design of surface coils used in magnetic resonance imaging. I. The calculation of the magnetic field. AB - For a number of reasons, it is desirable to fabricate coils which, for a known current, shall produce predetermined values of the magnetic field intensity at a number of points within a nuclear magnetic resonance imager. The calculation of the magnetic field intensity at a set of points involves the integration of the Biot-Savart equation for all components of the segments of conductor which make up the coil. This process in itself is a rather formidable task. When this process is parameterized in terms of coil diameter, coil spacing, etc. the problem is to determine the values of these parameters to match values of magnetic field intensities which are desired. The problem thereby increases in complexity to the point where, by ordinary methods, the problem becomes intractable. This note describes an algorithm and offers a computer subroutine to calculate magnetic fields for coils of arbitrary shape and complexity for fixed currents. PMID- 2630841 TI - Computer-assisted design of surface coils used in magnetic resonance imaging. II. Rotational discrimination nonlinear regression analysis and the design of surface coils. AB - For a number of reasons, it is desirable to fabricate coils which, for a known current, shall produce predetermined values of the magnetic field intensity at a number of points within a nuclear magnetic resonance imager. The calculation of the magnetic field intensity at a set of points involves the integration of the Biot-Savart equation for all components of the segments of conductor which make up the coil. This process in itself is a rather formidable task. When this process is parameterized in terms of coil diameter, coil spacing, etc. the problem is to determine the values of these parameters to match values of magnetic field intensities which are desired. The problem thereby increases in complexity to the point where, by ordinary methods, the problem becomes intractable. A generalized solution technique has been developed on a digital computer to implement the rotational discrimination nonlinear regression techniques of Faris, Law and Letcher to find the best solution to this problem. The problem is posed by integrating the Biot-Savart equation. This produces algebraic expressions for incorporation into the optimization program which is executed on a computer in a conversational mode. This technique was employed to specify the dimensions of a rectangular surface coil for the investigation of the whole human spine. PMID- 2630842 TI - Computer-assisted design of surface coils used in magnetic resonance imaging. III. The design and construction of two long twin axial antennae for imaging of the whole human spine. AB - Two modified folded dipole MRI surface coils were designed, constructed and tested. These antenna which are long twin axial lines use the effective distributive capacitance resulting from the distance between two longitudinal elements to provide tuning. The principal advantage of this type of antenna is the ability to image longer objects such as vertebrae, spinal cord, and longer portions of the extremities. This type of antenna shows less localized high intensity in the image due to a more evenly distributed current pickup from the sample. The coils were designed by calculating theoretical magnetic field distribution for the twin axial coils. These were obtained by integrating the Biot-Savart equation. This gave excellent agreement with an MR image of a di electrically uniform phantom. As antennae of this sort are nonlinear in response, giving rise to an image intensity nonuniformity, computer software for the MR image was developed to correct the image intensity profile over the experimental volume. The software significantly improved the image quality by reducing the saturated intensity of the region near the antenna, thereby revealing detailed structure of the tissue being imaged. PMID- 2630843 TI - Assessment of mitral regurgitation by magnetic resonance imaging. AB - To evaluate the potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detection and quantification of mitral regurgitation, 26 pts. with echocardiographically or angiographically documented mitral regurgitation were examined using a 0.5 Tesla superconducting magnet. In each patient a multislice-multiphase study in a sagittal-coronal double angulated projection (four-chamber view equivalent) was performed to assess left and right ventricular volumes, ejection fraction and regurgitant fraction. Additionally a blood flow sensitive cine-study (fast field echo: FFE) was done to visualize direction and area of regurgitant jet. MRI data were compared with quantitative and quantitative assessment of mitral regurgitation by angiography, 2D echocardiography, Doppler sonography and color flow mapping. Using the FFE mode MRI was able to detect the regurgitant jet as a typical signal loss within the left atrium in all patients. The ratio of regurgitant jet area/left atrium area as determined by MRI showed a correlation with a comparable ratio from color Doppler sonography of R = 0.87 (p less than 0.001). There was also good agreement in semiquantitative grading of mitral regurgitation between MRI and angiography (R = 0.77, p less than 0.001). The determination of left and right ventricular stroke volume allowed the calculation of the regurgitant fraction, which showed a correlation with invasively determined regurgitation fraction of R = 0.84 (p less than 0.001). These data provide additional information that MRI may be useful as a noninvasive technique to detect and quantify mitral regurgitation. PMID- 2630844 TI - Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as a liver MRI contrast agent: contribution of microencapsulation to improved biodistribution. AB - We have developed a new method of synthetizing superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, consisting in the modifications of Molday's method, which ensures high relaxivity (2.4 10(5) s-1.M-1.L), good chemical stability, singular biodistribution and a considerable safety margin. The ED (Efficace Dose) to LD50 ratio is 1/2400 instead of 1/50 for Gd-DTPA. In order to develop a magnetite delivery system to the liver we have incorporated the nanoparticles into biodegradable synthetic microcapsules. Encapsulated 59Fe oxide nanoparticles are injected into rats; in these conditions the sequestration is 9-fold greater in liver and 6 and 5 times lower in blood and carcase, respectively. This modification of the biodistribution enables the use of magnetite containing microcapsules at only 0.3 mg/kg iron to obtain an improved contrast in liver. PMID- 2630845 TI - Correlation between liver iron content and magnetic resonance imaging in rats. AB - Currently, serum ferritin concentration is the best noninvasive estimator of liver iron content. This study investigated the ability of magnetic resonance imaging to determine hepatic iron concentration. Fisher rats were treated with either parenteral iron to increase levels of phlebotomy to lower them and achieved a wide range of liver iron concentrations. Rats were imaged using a clinical whole body scanner at 1.5 Tesla with a 15-cm Helmholtz surface coil and a 23-cm field of view. The ratio of signal intensity of liver to skeletal muscle from images of the live intact rats correlated well with chemically measured iron concentration of the liver (r = -.89, p less than .0001, linear regression analysis). Transverse relaxation rates (1/calculated T2 relaxation times) also correlated with liver iron content (r = .66, p less than .0001). The observation of a significant correlation between liver iron content and both signal intensities and T2 relaxation rates, obtained by magnetic resonance imaging, may have considerable clinical relevance. If adapted to humans, this technique would have obvious applications in the diagnosis and management of diseases associated with iron overload as well as in the investigation of the overall role of iron in various human liver diseases. PMID- 2630846 TI - Lesions involving the fourth ventricle evaluated by CT and MR: a comparative study. AB - A retrospective review of 21 patients with lesions involving the fourth ventricle was performed to determine the relative capability of computed tomography (CT) and MR for detection, characterization, localization, and diagnosis. Lesions involving the fourth ventricle included ependymoma (three), subependymoma (one), glioma (five), cysticercosis cyst (three), medulloblastoma (three), bleeding into the fourth ventricle (two), epidermoid cyst (two), "trapped" fourth ventricle (one), and lymphomatoid granuloma (one). Posterior fossa lesions that displaced but did not invade the fourth ventricle were excluded. Lesion detectability on CT was judged excellent in ten, good in 8, and fair or poor in 3. Detectability of lesions by MR was judged excellent in 16 and good in 5. There was complete agreement on lesion extension between CT and MR in 6 lesions, mild disagreement in 4, and moderate to significant disagreement in 11. Preoperatively, MR alone correctly diagnosed seven lesions, and CT alone correctly diagnosed three lesions. A review of the combined scans (after the correct diagnosis was given) showed both CT and MR were equal in the diagnosis of 14 lesions, MR better than CT in six, and CT better in one. There was complete agreement on both CT and MR with the surgical/pathologic findings in three lesions. Both studies proved disappointing in their ability to make the correct histologic diagnosis, probably because CT and MR characteristics may not always offer a definitive diagnosis and because of the wide spectrum of pathologic processes that may involve the fourth ventricle. PMID- 2630847 TI - Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry of the normal heart: relationship between collagen content and relaxation times of the four chambers. AB - The use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation time measurements for characterization of abnormal cardiac tissue depends upon knowledge of variations of relaxation times of normal myocardium and determinants of these variations. We calculated in vitro NMR T1 and T2 relaxation times of canine myocardium from the four cardiac chambers, and determined hydroxyproline concentration (as a measure of collagen) and percent water content of the samples. We found both water content and T1 relaxation time of the right ventricle to be significantly greater than the left atrium (p less than 0.05). T2 relaxation time of the left ventricle was found to be shorter than each of the other three chambers (p less than 0.05). There were significant correlations between the spin-lattice relaxation time and both percent water content (r = 0.58) and hydroxyproline concentration (r = 0.45). A significant correlation was also found between T2 relaxation time and hydroxyproline concentration (r = 0.49). When T1 and T2 were adjusted for water and hydroxyproline content, there was no longer any evidence for significant interchamber differences for either T1 or T2. These data suggest that differences in NMR relaxation times exist among the four chambers of the normal canine heart. Furthermore, a major determinant of myocardial spin-lattice relaxation time is tissue water content while both collagen content and percent water content significantly contribute to variability in cardiac chamber T2 relaxation times. PMID- 2630848 TI - Negative gastrointestinal contrast enhancement and image distortion induced by superparamagnetic particles at 0.02 Tesla. AB - Gastrointestinal contrast enhancement and image distortion induced by superparamagnetic particles were evaluated in vitro and in rabbits at 0.02 Tesla. Test tubes containing 0.01-1.0 mg particles/ml were imaged in an oil or water bath in order to demonstrate the concentration-dependent signal void and image distortion in vitro at several pulse sequences. The lowest concentration of particles tested clearly decreased the signal intensity. Image distortion was observed when the concentration exceeded 0.07 mg/ml and was more pronounced on the T2-weighted images. The in vitro T2 relaxation time decreased from 122 ms to 56 ms with an increase in the particle concentration from 0.01 to 0.06 mg/ml. A loss of the GI-tract signal was observed in rabbits after the administration of 1 mg particles/kg, given as a 0.03 mg/ml suspension. At a dose of 20 mg/kg (0.6 mg/ml suspension) significant image distortion was observed. PMID- 2630849 TI - Treatment-related central nervous system toxicity: MR imaging evaluation with CT and clinical correlation. AB - Thirteen patients with abnormal brain MR scans attributable to treatment-induced injury were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were treated with radiation therapy and 62% received chemotherapy. Five patients were graded as having severe white matter (WM) changes, four had moderate WM changes, and four had mild WM changes. CT was generally equivalent to MR in evaluation of severe and moderate WM abnormalities, whereas MR was superior to CT in detection of mild WM abnormalities. In general, the severity of changes depicted by MR/CT correlated with the extent of neurologic dysfunction. The most severe changes were seen in those patients treated with combination irradiation and chemotherapy. PMID- 2630850 TI - MRI of polysplenia syndrome. AB - The polysplenia syndrome is the association of multiple spleens, situs inversus, congenital heart disease, and azygous continuation of the inferior vena cava. Magnetic resonance (MR) is a noninvasive imaging modality which can easily confirm the multiplicity of spleens, situs inversus, and identify complex congenital cardiovascular malformations. The anomalies of the polysplenia syndrome as imaged by MR are presented. PMID- 2630851 TI - Hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia: new MR findings. PMID- 2630852 TI - Metastasizing chordoma in early childhood: report of a case at 1.5 T. AB - We present here the first report of an extraskeletal metastasizing presacral chordoma found in a child. MRI of this large lesion showed heterogeneous signal intensity on both the SE 550/30 and on SE 2440/100 images. MRI demonstrated this mass to be separate from the sacrum and provided nonionizing cross-sectional imaging prior to attempted surgical resection. PMID- 2630853 TI - [Experience in organizing group social correctional work in a department of a psychiatric hospital]. PMID- 2630854 TI - [An improvement in the rehabilitative service at a psychiatric hospital]. PMID- 2630855 TI - [A system of differentiated rehabilitation regimens in a department of a psychiatric hospital]. PMID- 2630856 TI - [The activities of a laboratory collective in an economic experiment]. PMID- 2630857 TI - [A system of differentiated observation regimens in a department of a psychiatric hospital]. PMID- 2630858 TI - [Inflammatory processes of the adnexa uteri]. PMID- 2630859 TI - [The clinico-social characteristics of women who have committed illegal actions]. PMID- 2630860 TI - [The outlook for the rehabilitative trend in the sanatorium-health resort service]. PMID- 2630861 TI - [The characteristics of the chemotherapy of malignant tumors in children]. PMID- 2630862 TI - [The characteristics of caring for patients with pathology of the locomotor apparatus]. PMID- 2630863 TI - [Medical first aid in closed craniocerebral trauma]. PMID- 2630864 TI - [A method for the simultaneous study of the gastrointestinal tract in children]. PMID- 2630865 TI - [Allotment cards of dietetic dishes and a model 7-day menu for hospitals]. PMID- 2630866 TI - [The concentrations of drugs that most often cause poisonings]. PMID- 2630867 TI - [Active methods of instruction in anatomy]. PMID- 2630868 TI - [Hemangiomas of the skin in children]. PMID- 2630869 TI - [Diabetic nephropathy in children: study using the amount of urinary albumin]. AB - It is well known that 30 to 50% of patients with Type I Diabetes develop nephropathy and that chronic renal failure, it's final pathway, is the main cause of death. Assessment of urinary albumin becomes an essential tool for identifying the population at risk of developing nephropathy, to study its physiopathologic mechanisms and to evaluate the response to therapeutic trials. The present article is a preliminary report on the study of urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) in a pediatric population with Type I Diabetes and its relation to teh duration of the disease. A RIA technique with double antibody was developed for albumin assessment, with a displacement range of 1 to 300 ng/tube. Urine samples were collected during short periods with water load as suggested by Mogensen. Thirty nine children (30 patients and 9 controls) free of renal disease and with normal blood pressure were studied. Patients were divided according to duration of the disease in: Group I: less than 5 years, Group II: 5 to 10 years and Group III: more than 10 years. Results (mean +/- SD) in micrograms/min/1.73 m2 were: Control Group (n = 9) 4.30 +/- 2.53, GI: (n = 12) 10.44 +/- 9.47, GII (n = 10) 8.03 +/- 7.27 and GIII (n = 8) 8.56 +/- 4.26. The mean value of the Control Group (+3 SD) 12 micrograms/min/1.73 m2, was considered as the upper normal limit. Thus, 16.6%, 40%, and 12.5% of children in Groups I, II and III had microalbuminuria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2630870 TI - [Diabetes and calcium transportation in liver mitochondria]. AB - It is a well known fact that isolated, energized mitochondria take up large amounts of Ca2+, thus regulating their own internal Ca2+ concentration and modulating the activity of matrix dehydrogenases involved in the aerobic steps of glucose oxidation. The information available on biochemical alterations in diabetes is extensive but no data on Ca2+ transport alterations have been reported. Therefore, it seemed of interest to study Ca2+ uptake and release (efflux) by liver mitochondria of diabetic rats, in relation to other metabolic parameters representing the energization state of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Rats (male; 200 +/- 20 g body weight) were injected with streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) and after 1-3 months, liver mitochondria were isolated and suspended in an isotonic medium supplemented with 3.0 microM rotenon, 5.0 mM succinate (the energy source), 50 microM Antipyrylazo III and CaCl2 (20-100 microM Ca2+). Ca2+ uptake was monitored by the decrease of the Ca2(+)-Antipyrylazo III complex concentration, measured spectrophotometrically at 720-790 nm and 30 degrees C. The initial rates of Ca2+ uptake (in nmol Ca2+/min/mg of protein; average +/- S.E., n = 5) were as follows (in parenthesis, initial [Ca2+] microM): normal mitochondria, 171 +/- 20 (20); 207 +/- 13 (40); 233 +/- 22 (60) and 237 +/- 14 (100); diabetic mitochondria, 114 +/- 13; 134 +/- 22; 186 +/- 7 and 184 +/- 14, respectively. Accordingly, the decrease of Ca2+ uptake activity was 33, 36, 20 and 22 (%), respectively (P less than 0.05 at all [Ca2+].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2630871 TI - [Programming VTIM physiologic pacemakers (evoked QT)]. AB - Seventeen VTIM pacers were implanted in seventeen patients. Average follow up were 16.7 months. This paper concerns TX track and TX on modes only. Sensing window period and slope, which determine the rate response, must be programmed carefully. Potential competitive rhythms, severe ventricular arrhythmias or inadequate rate response to physical stress may potentially develop under inadequate programming. Consequently, it is advisable to program the sensing window 20-25 ms longer than the QTE max (at LRL) and the slope at 100% of the whole value. No complications were detected. Figures 1, 2 and 3 show examples of competitive rhythms without heart stimulation and unsensed beats by abnormally long programmed SW values. When properly shortened, this interval allows proper measurement of the Stim.-T and no competitive rhythm, during almost the same spontaneous rhythm. This system fulfills the major conditions for pacing the heart: rate adaptation to neurohormonal release, to physical stress and operative mode as a close-loop system during the recovery period. PMID- 2630872 TI - [Pleural effusion: diagnostic usefulness of pleural puncture biopsy]. AB - To assess the diagnostic usefulness of thoracocentesis with pleural needle biopsies, we retrospectively studied 316 procedures performed in 254 patients between 1977 and 1984. Of these, 130 were ultimately found to have pleural malignant disease, with a diagnostic cytologic study in 60% of the patients, a positive pleural biopsy in 52.30% and both methods combined in 81.53% of the patients. The marginal gains from pleural biopsy in the presence of negative cytology results were 63.46%. In 59 patients, the primary neoplasm was lung cancer, the most frequent tumor (45.30%); in second place, 30 patients presented carcinoma of the breast (23%). Needle biopsy of the pleura proved to be nonspecific for the diagnosis of nonmalignant diseases except for tuberculous pleurisy: in our study 55 patients presented tuberculosis (21.65%) and in 35 of them, the pleural biopsy was characteristic. The culture of pleural fluid revealed Koch bacillus in 5.45% of these patients. Routine culture of biopsy specimen for tubercle bacillus was not carried out. Complications occurred in 4.4% of needle biopsies, with no death. PMID- 2630873 TI - [Knowledge and treatment of hypertension in La Plata, Argentina]. AB - Hypertensive subjects, aged 15-75 years, detected by the survey of Prevalence of Hypertension in La Plata, were evaluated to settle the rates of awareness, treatment, control status and the efficacy of pharmacologic therapy (EPT). The survey was composed of 2,090 subjects when the threshold of hypertension was equal to blood pressure (BP) greater than or equal to 140-90 mm Hg and of 1,203 subjects with a BP threshold greater than or equal to 160-95 mm Hg (Table I). The rates of awareness, treatment and control for the 140-90 mm Hg threshold were 43.97%, 33.06%, 4.9%, respectively, and the EPT was 15.03%. For the 160-95 mm Hg threshold the rates were 69.41%, 54.44% and 27.76% and the EPT was 48.32% (Table 2 and Fig. 1). The awareness and treatment rates for women were greater than those for men (p less than 0.0005) (Table 2). The EPT was similar in both sexes when the 140-90 mm Hg threshold was used while it was greater in women than in men with the 160-95 threshold (p less than 0.014) (Table 2). The rates of awareness and treatment increased with age and with the severity of the disease (Table 3-5). The EPT decreased from 85.71% in the 15-24 yr. age group to 10.56% in the 65-75 yr. age group (Table 4). Although the rates of awareness and treatment of hypertension found in La Plata were similar to those found in USA, the control of the disease was lower.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2630874 TI - [Specular bilateral lenticular hematomas]. AB - A 49-year-old right-handed hypertensive female developed two consecutive putaminal hemorrhages in the left and right hemispheres within one month. Recurrent specular hypertensive hematomas are rare, even though the underlying pathological changes in the arterial wall occur bilaterally. This may be explained by the spontaneous decrease in blood pressure occurring in patients after an acute stroke. In this patient, a new abrupt increase in blood pressure may account for the second hemorrhage. While lowering the blood pressure during an acute stroke may be in principle unadvisable, it seems reasonable to prevent a new increase in blood pressure with adequate therapy. PMID- 2630875 TI - [Endocarditis due to Corynebacterium xerosis]. AB - Corynebacterium sp. are found as normal flora in skin and mucosal sites. They have been isolated in empyemas, brain abscesses, blood cultures and ventricular shunts. About 9-10% of early-onset and 4-5% late-onset prosthetic valve endocarditis are due to different species of the so-called "diphteroids". A 30 year-old white female was admitted after 30 days with fever of undetermined origin. A mitral prosthesis had been fitted in 1977. On physical examination a protomesosystolic mitral murmur, petechiae, retinal hemorrhages and hepatosplenomegaly were detected. Laboratory tests showed 37% hematocrit, 14,800/mm3 white blood cells, 78 mm ESR, urinary sediment: less than 30/h.p.f. red blood cells. A new first-degree A-V block was detected. Blood cultures were negative. Due to persistent fever, progressive anemia, leukocytosis and new vegetations on echocardiogram, surgery was performed. A mitral valve ring abscess was found. Corynebacterium xerosis was isolated from surgical specimens. The strain was found susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, oxacillin, ticarcillin, piperacillin, cephalotin, cefoxitin, cefoperazone, rifampin, gentamicin, amikacin, and norfloxacin. Studies with clindamycin, disclosed MIC and MBC = 0.25 mg/l. The patient received 1800 mg/day clindamycin for 4 weeks. Serum cidal studies showed a peak concentration 1/128 and a titre of trough 1/4. Negative control blood cultures were obtained. She has remained well for nine months after treatment. Corynebacterium sp. can cause "apparently" negative blood cultures. Blood samples should be incubated for more than 15 days before they can be considered negative. Almost 50% of previously described cases have been detected during the six months after cardiac surgery. Mortality has been high (48%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2630876 TI - [The development of bio-ethics. Moral consequences of the progress of biology and medicine]. PMID- 2630877 TI - [AIDS, biological marker of insufficiencies]. PMID- 2630878 TI - [The lung, macrophages and oxygen radicals]. PMID- 2630879 TI - [Trauma and surgical complications]. PMID- 2630880 TI - [Metabolic effects of antihypertensive drugs]. PMID- 2630881 TI - [Synergistic effect of organic solvents and tobacco smoke on serum immunoglobulin levels in humans]. AB - The IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD and IgE levels in the blood serum was determined using the radial immunodiffusion method--the Tri-Partigen and the Partigen plated produced by Behringin 49 male non-smokers, 47 subjects who had been smoking for more than 10 years, 19 non-smokers occupationally exposed to organic solvents and 41 smokers exposed to the above-mentioned chemical compounds. It was found that both tobacco smoke and organic solvents, when acting separately, diminish the IgA and IgG level in the serum. Additionally, in the smokers the lowering of the IgM level occurred. In smokers occupationally exposed to benzene and its homologues the decrease in the IgA, IgG and IgM level in the serum was more significant than in those exposed to either tobacco smoke or organic solvents. The authors emphasize the role of smoking in the evaluation of the immunotoxic effect of various factors of industrial origin. PMID- 2630882 TI - [Evaluation of the nervous system with reference to the bioelectric activity of the brain and neural conduction in workers exposed to organic solvents]. AB - Fifty patients occupationally exposed to organic solvents were examined using EEG, neural conduction velocity test, peripheral blood testing and psychological examination. A correlation between degree of CNS damage and time of exposure was observed. Also, subclinical changes detected using EEG and neural conduction velocity test were reported. PMID- 2630883 TI - [Evaluation of somatic development, physical fitness and motor skills of girls from the Textile Technical College in Lodz (I)]. AB - Thirty-five girls from a technical college (TC) and forty-five from a grammar school (GS) (a control group) were included in a long-term examination. Somatic traits have been investigated for 4 years, while aerobic capacity and motor efficiency have been studied for 3 years. The preliminary selection was noticed in girls--candidates to technical college and grammar school. These two groups of girls differed in respect of social factors and somatic predisposition. At the beginning of the examination the girls from the technical college revealed a considerably lower motor efficiency as compared to those from the GS. After 3 or 4 years of learning traits of the body length were still weaker in the girls from the technical college. However, they had a more massive skeleton, stronger trunk muscles and stronger hands. In addition, these girls were characterized by a remarkable improvement of general physical efficiency, particularly endurance, speed and nimbleness. In the final stage of the study in all girls from both TC and GS aged 18 lower aerobic capacity in comparison with data from the previous year was found, which could results from inefficient physical activity during the educational process. This fact may be especially unfavourable for the girls from TC as far as their future profession is concerned. PMID- 2630884 TI - [Evaluation of the stability of biological specimens used for monitoring of occupational exposure. Studies of the stability of phenol and trichloroacetic acid in urine]. AB - The paper presents results of studies on phenol and trichloroacetic acid concentration in urine samples stored for 30 days at + 5 degrees C and + 20 degrees C. It has been checked whether the addition of sulphuric acid as a conservant to urine can affect changes in phenol concentration in the samples stored. The results obtained did not indicate any significant changes in concentrations of phenol or trichloroacetic acid in the urine samples. It has been recommended that due to bacterial processes the material studied should be kept in refrigerator (+ 5 degrees C). PMID- 2630885 TI - [Exposure to vinyl chloride in the Polish industry]. AB - Information concerning exposure to vinyl chloride collected in Occupational Hygiene Departments of Sanitary-Epidemiological Stations were verified. On the basis of the studies performed it was found that about 3700-4000 persons in Poland are occupationally exposed to vinyl chloride; 400 of these workers are employed at the synthesis and polymeryzation of vinyl chloride, and the others at plasticination and processing of polyvinyl chloride. About 200 workers employed in 3 plants of vinyl chloride polymerization and synthesis and about 30 employees of one of the plants processing this compound are exposed to vinyl chloride whose concentration exceeds the hygienic standard accepted in Poland (30 mg/m3). PMID- 2630886 TI - [So-called Monday leukergy in polishers of chromium-tanned leather]. AB - The authors carried out preliminary leukergy examinations on Mondays and Fridays in 18 polishers exposed to chromium compounds at concentration of 0.1 mg in 1.0 m3 of air. On Mondays leukergy (X*-SD) was significantly higher and amounted to 27.3 +/- 11.4%. On Fridays leukergy amounted to 18.4 +/- 11.4% and it was not statistically different from that in the control group. PMID- 2630887 TI - [Specialization of physicians of the Industrial Health Care System in occupational medicine]. AB - One of the principal issues concerning the analysis of industrial health care functioning is the problem of the practitioners' qualifications, including specialization. In the present paper the authors focus their attention on specializations of practitioners employed in regional Industrial Health Care Complexes. The analysis refers to two groups of problems concerning: a) those practitioners who are specialists in occupational health, and b) those who are going to obtain such specialization. The authors refer to the personnel of the industrial health care as a whole and pay special attention to those who are employed in the districts where seats of Industrial Health Care Complexes are located. PMID- 2630888 TI - UMKC Library outreach services. PMID- 2630889 TI - Sketches of a dental mercy mission. PMID- 2630890 TI - Community based nursing research. Interview by Andrea C Bostrom. PMID- 2630891 TI - Infant mortality among Arab Americans in Michigan is cause for concern. PMID- 2630892 TI - Programs explore the art of caring. PMID- 2630893 TI - [Mortality among lead-zinc miners in Val Seriana]. AB - The mortality experience of 1392 lead-zinc-silver miners (Gorno, Northern Italy) employed in the period 1/1/1950-31/12/1980 and followed-up to 31/12/1986 was examined. Two separate estimates of the radon exposure level are available: 0.60 and 0.36 working levels respectively. The silica exposure level was not assessed. Vital status was ascertained for 95.6% of the cohort members and their mortality was compared with expected deaths based on national rates. Significant excess mortality from esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, respiratory tuberculosis, respiratory diseases and deaths from external causes was found among underground miners. Surface workers show significantly increased mortality from liver and bile ducts cancer, hepatic cirrhosis, respiratory tuberculosis and respiratory diseases. Based on the 16.4 excess lung cancer cases among underground miners and their cumulative radon exposure, an attributable risk estimate ranging from 9.78 and 16.31 cases per million person-years and WLM (Working Level Month) was calculated. PMID- 2630894 TI - Respiratory disorders and lung function impairment in pyrite miners. AB - A research study was carried out at a pyrite mine in Niccioleta, southern Tuscany, during the period 1980-1983 to investigate the possible effects of gaseous and particulate pollutants on the respiratory function of mine workers. The study was undertaken to fill the gap in recent scientific information in this field and also collect data which could be used for future planning of epidemiological and environmental controls at the mine. For the most exposed underground workers a dust exposure of 1.04 mg/m3 of inhalable dust and 0.60 mg/m3 of respirable dust was found. The average quartz content was less than 1.5% in both types of dust. Median exposures of the most exposed risk group were 6.0 ppm for carbon monoxide (CO), 0.22 ppm for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 0.09 ppm for sulfur dioxide (SO2). The health effects of gaseous and particulate pollutants were studied by comparing the respiratory symptoms and lung function data of the miners with those of a reference group. A significantly increased prevalence of simple chronic bronchitis was found among underground miners when compared to the reference group. This condition was not associated with functional impairment of obstructive nature. Chest x-rays revealed 14 cases of p type pneumoconiosis. PMID- 2630895 TI - [Asthma caused by Lucilia Caesar larvae: clinical and immunologic study]. AB - Lucilia Caesar larvae (LCL) are used as live fish bait by anglers. Five cases of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis following exposure to LCL are reported. Three had work-related asthma as they were working on a fish bait farm or shop and two had asthma when they went fishing. In one subject exposure to LCL caused asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and contact urticaria. In four subjects peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was monitored during exposure to LCL. In three out of four subjects there was evidence of LCL-related asthma. In one subject it was not possible to record PEFR during exposure to LCL, as he had not gone fishing since 1985. Two extracts of LCL were prepared: one was the PBS (phosphate-buffered saline) washing fluid of LCL, the other was the PBS extract of homogenized LCL. Positive cutaneous prick tests to both LCL extracts were detected in three out of four symptomatic subjects. Specific IgE against both LCL extract antigens were found by the RAST method in four out of five subjects with LCL-related asthma. One subject had both negative skin tests and RAST. Specificity and potency of LCL-IgE binding was shown by RAST inhibition method performed on the serum pool of four patients with positive RAST results. Significant inhibition of more than 50% by LCL washing fluid at a dilution extract was found at a dilution of 1:10 and by homogenized LCL extract at a dilution of 1:100. No significant inhibition of LCL IgE binding by dermatophagoides, parietaria and milk antigens was found. This study demonstrated that LCL emanations are potent sensitizers and elicit IgE mediated asthma. PMID- 2630896 TI - [Effects of long-term use of inhaled steroids (beclomethasone dipropionate) in patients with occupational asthma no longer exposed]. AB - Ten subjects with occupational asthma who, were either no longer exposed or had minimal exposure, were controlled every three months after cessation of exposure. All subjects showed airway responsiveness to metacholine, complained of mild symptoms and had minor lung function abnormalities. The subjects underwent inhalation therapy with beclomethasone dipropionate (2000 micrograms/day) for 3 to 12 months. Although pulmonary function values and symptoms did not change significantly during treatment, PD20 FEV1 improved markedly after 3 months and further improved after the longest period of treatment. PD20 FEV1 after treatment was significantly correlated with the base PD20 FEV1 value and not with the FEV1 increase. Good therapeutic results were obtained in 6 subjects. In the remaining 4 subjects who did not respond to treatment, the base PD20 FEV1 value was below 200 micrograms. In 4 of the 6 subjects who responded to treatment PD20 FEV1 was lower than during treatment but higher than before treatment. PMID- 2630897 TI - [Description of an accident in the Carrara marble mines]. AB - New technological systems introduced in marble quarries have increased production but also the risk of accidents among the workforce. A case of an unusual accident is described that occurred in the marble quarries of Carrara (Italy) which we believe will be of interest to occupational health professionals in view of its medical and legal implications. PMID- 2630898 TI - [Changes induced by auditive monoaural and binaural fatigue in TTS and the auditory brainstem response latency]. AB - The purpose of the research was to study the TTS values and latency of fifth wave Auditory Brainstem Response in human monaural and binaural fatigue, using auditory evoked potentials. From the results obtained in 12 volunteers, it is concluded that during exposure to auditory fatigue, if only one ear is protected, the unprotected ear is subject to a greater hearing loss than would be expected with both ears unprotected. The practical implication of these conclusions is that subjects with unilateral hearing loss occupationally exposed to noise run a greater risk for the healthy ear than subjects with normal hearing. PMID- 2630899 TI - [The autonotification card: observations on the quality of responses]. PMID- 2630900 TI - On research on HIV infection and AIDS in correctional institutions. AB - AIDS presents unique problems and opportunities in jails and prisons for epidemiological research on HIV infection and its sequelae. If correctional institutions constrain inmates' access to social benefits, means exist to protect incarcerated people's rights in health studies. A reading of federal regulations indicates that research involving prisoners should be subject to scrutiny by an institutional review board (IRB); inmates participating in IRB-approved clinical trials on AIDS-related drugs should not receive placebos alone, moreover, given that some medications are partially effective against the syndrome. As in other domains of public health and public policy, HIV infection and AIDS in prisons compel new perspectives on justice and equity. PMID- 2630901 TI - Oral antimicrobial rinses: comparison and review. PMID- 2630903 TI - Odontogenic keratocyst. PMID- 2630902 TI - The dentist's vital role in treating oral cancer. PMID- 2630904 TI - Guided tissue regeneration. 1. Review of a new periodontal therapy. PMID- 2630905 TI - AAEE case report #4: Guillain-Barre syndrome. AB - A case report is presented of a 33-year-old woman who awoke with distal paresthesias, mild incoordination, and progressive weakness. Examination 3 days later demonstrated weakness of the extremities, which was greater in distal muscles than in proximal ones, mild facial weakness, distal vibratory loss, and areflexia. Electrodiagnostic studies provided evidence of an acquired demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy of recent onset. Motor conduction studies revealed abnormal temporal dispersion and partial conduction block. Preserved sural responses with abnormal median sensory conduction studies supported the diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome, as did subsequent cerebrospinal fluid examinations documenting increasing total protein, identification of preceding cytomegalovirus injection with increasing serum convalescent titer, and progressive clinical improvement after a brief plateau. The role of electrodiagnosis in establishing the diagnosis and prognosis in Guillain-Barre syndrome is reviewed. PMID- 2630906 TI - The relationship of cold and warmth cutaneous sensation to age and gender. AB - To evaluate cold and warmth cutaneous sensation separately, thermal discrimination thresholds (TDTs) for the foot were estimated for cold and warm stimuli in 71 normal subjects aged between 21 and 92 years. A "thermoaesthesiometer" operating on the Peltier principle was used. A rise of TDTs with age was found. Furthermore, female subjects appeared to have lower thresholds than males. Independent of age or gender, TDTs for cold stimuli were on average lower than for warm stimuli. In accordance with other studies, a large intraindividual variability was found, which emphasizes the necessity for repeated measurements. PMID- 2630907 TI - Botulinum toxin therapy in hemifacial spasm: clinical and electrophysiologic studies. AB - Three patients with idiopathic hemifacial spasm were studied clinically and electrophysiologically before and after injections of botulinum toxin into the involved periocular and facial muscles. The spasms were improved for approximately 3 months, and the effect was repeatable on reinjection. The spasms diminished only as long as the muscles were clinically weak, and spasms were observed electromyographically even though therapy eliminated the clinical spasms. Uninjected muscles continued to have spasms. Transmission of excitation from the zygomatic branch to the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve and vice versa in all patients was unaltered after therapy, but the amplitude of the response was decreased. The efficacy of botulinum toxin in hemifacial spasm appears to be related to the production of muscle weakness; there is no demonstrable effect on phenomena believed to be ectopic excitation or ephaptic transmission in the facial nerve. PMID- 2630908 TI - Differential effects of nerve, muscle, and fat tissue on regenerating nerve fibers in vivo. AB - Axonal regeneration through silicone tubes was studied using distal nerve stumps, denervated, preatrophied muscle tissue, as well as fat tissue as a target. During the first stage of regeneration, i.e., within 2-3 weeks after surgery, a thin, filamentous structure consisting of fibrin and connective tissue was seen bridging the gap in all systems. Thereafter, this cord obviously served as a guideline for the outgrowth of increasing numbers of axons into distal nerve stumps as well as into muscle tissue, but not into fat tissue. These findings confirm that preatrophied muscle tissue has a similar "neurotrophic" effect on regenerating nerve fibers as distal nerve stumps. The ineffectivity of fat tissue in promoting nerve fiber regeneration could be attributed either to the absence of "neurotrophic factors" or even to an inhibitory effect. PMID- 2630909 TI - Central motor pathways are normal in patients with myotonic muscular dystrophy. PMID- 2630910 TI - [Age-related changes in the olfactory sensitivity of laboratory mice]. AB - Laboratory males and females of two strains (C57BL/6 and AKR) have been studied for age variations in the electric responses of the olfactory epithelium to an odorous stimulation as well as for some morphometric indices. The EOG amplitude is found to be different for three age groups. The maximum amplitude was registered in the animals of groups I and II. In old animals the EOG amplitude decreased. Age distinctions of morphometric characteristics of the olfactory epithelium of mice were found. The relationship between the morphometric age variations in the olfactory epithelium and the character of the physiologic responses to an odorous stimulation are discussed. PMID- 2630911 TI - [The action of alpha-bungarotoxin on the acetylcholine responses of the membrane of snail neurons]. AB - The effect of alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BT) on two types of acetylcholine (ACh) induced currents distinguished by their desensitization properties was studied on the isolated dialyzed Helix neurons by a concentration clamp method. It was shown that alpha-BT depressed both types of ACh responses and this action was reversible in the majority of experiments. The depressive action of alpha-BT on ACh-induced currents occurred only in the presence of albumin, though albumin itself had no effect on the ACh responses. The concentration dependence of the blocking effect of alpha-BT on ACh-induced currents in both types of neurons was studied. The calculated values of alpha-BT concentration which caused 50% depression of the ACh-induced current were (13.85 +/- 1.25) X 10(-8) and (5.56 +/ 1.0) X 10(-8) g/ml for A and B types of neurons, respectively. PMID- 2630912 TI - [The geometrical characteristics of the presynaptic mitochondria and active zones of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in the cat]. AB - An electron microscopic study of the ultrastructure of 140 presynaptic terminals (PTs) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of cat was carried out. Some spatial characteristics of mitochondria and active zones (AZs) at these PTs were examined by the statistical stereological analysis. The distribution of spatial mitochondrial radii and active diameters were estimated. Mean values of following parameters were obtained: volume, surface area and the number of mitochondria, AZ area, volume of synaptic clefts at observed synapses. Relations of these morphometrical data to the transmembrane diffusion and accumulation of the ions were discussed. PMID- 2630913 TI - [The impulse activity of the motor units of the human soleus muscle in the tonic vibration reflex]. AB - The tonic vibration reflex was evoked in the human soleus muscle, the range of vibration frequencies was 30-180 Hz. The potentials of single motor units (MUs) were picked up. At low frequencies (to 70-80 Hz) the potentials of all MUs under study correlated with vibration stimuli. This showed the existence of ripples in the excitatory inflow to motoneurons. With an increase of the vibration frequency the correlation disappeared. In the voluntarily contracted muscle the correlation was revealed at higher vibration frequencies than in the relaxed muscle. Since the vibration is known to depress monosynaptic reflexes from primary spindle endings, it is suggested that the correlation of motoneuron discharges and vibration stimuli at low vibration frequency is, apparently, a result of the activation of secondary spindle endings which via short synaptic pathways evoked discrete EPSPs in motoneurons. PMID- 2630914 TI - [The effect of stimulation of the substantia nigra on the low- and high-threshold neuronal responses of the reticular formation]. AB - Modulation of somatosensory responses of bulbar (n. reticularis gigantocellularis) and pontine (n. reticularis pontis caudalis) reticular neurons by the substantia nigra (SN) stimulation was studied in cats under light chloralose anesthesia. It was found that the action of the SN stimulation on the somatosensory activity of the neurons was based on the principle of the inhibitory control of their high-threshold synaptic somatosensory inputs; high threshold neuronal responses were much more depressed than the low-threshold ones in most (71%) of the studied reticular units. Possible neuromodulatory mechanisms and functional significance of described influences are discussed. PMID- 2630915 TI - [An analysis of the functional heterogeneity of the sensory motor neuron synapse of the frog]. AB - Four models of the amplitude fluctuations of postsynaptic potentials have been compared. Better agreement of convolution of the two binomial distributions and beta-model as compared to the binomial model is demonstrated. The beta-model is based on the assumption that the probability of the transmitter quantum release is a random variable which has beta distribution. The number of the quantum generators estimated by the beta-model is close to the number of synaptic boutons in the sensory-motor synapses of the frog. Investigation of this model has shown that the number of generators estimated by the binomial model may be interpreted as the number of transmitter release sites functioning with probabilities exceeding 0.2. Results obtained confirm the hypothesis concerning the functional heterogeneity of release sites at the frog interneuronal synapses. PMID- 2630916 TI - [Synaptically evoked spreading cortical depression in short-term high-frequency electrical stimulation of the rat brain]. AB - Properties of the cortical spreading depression (SD) were studied at different parameters of the electrical stimulation (ES) of the rat brain. The ES consists of 10 pulses with the frequency from 10 to 200 Hz. Thus, the seizure activity, usually complicating SD, did not appear. With an increase of the ES frequency SD thresholds decreased from 30-40 to 5-10 V. Suprathreshold ES significantly broadened the SD focus. Secondary synaptic SD foci were regularly triggered in the stimulating and contralateral hemisphere as well. Long-term changes in the cortical excitability following the high-frequency ES resulted in a decrease of SD latencies and thresholds. These changes have shown the active role of synaptic events in SD triggering. PMID- 2630917 TI - [Neuronal reactions of the substantia innominata in the cat during an instrumental conditioned reflex]. AB - Neuronal impulse activity in the substantia innominata has been studied in cats during conditional placing with food reinforcement. 44.3% of neurons changed their activity in trained cats. Activity of 24.3 neurons correlated with conditional sound stimuli. Reactions correlating with the conditional movement were weak. The most intensive and prolonging response was observed during food reinforcement. In some cases this reaction appeared 500 ms before the reinforcement. It is assumed that involvement of cholinergic neurons of the substantia innominata in reinforcement assisted trace phenomenon maintenance in neocortex neurons. PMID- 2630918 TI - [An increase in the excitability of the cortical neurons during reinforcing stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus]. AB - Pyramidal tract response (PTR) was recorded from unanaesthetized rabbits. The following three experimental paradigms were used which imitated behavioural conditioning procedures: pairing of direct stimulation of two cortical points; similar pairing conjoint with stimulation of additional reinforcing the lateral hypothalamus (LH); LH stimulation in response to increased PTR in a manner similar to instrumental conditioning procedure. An increase in the monosynaptic wave was the most common result for all three paradigms. The direct wave increase was significantly larger for the second and third experimental paradigms in comparison with the first one. In general the data obtained suggest that an increase in the synaptic efficacy is the major mechanism of behavioural conditioning, while changes in the membrane excitability reflect a participation of motivational components of reinforcement resulted from the LH activation. PMID- 2630919 TI - [The effect of sombrevin on the orientation adjustment of the visual cortex neurons in the cat]. AB - Change in the orientation tuning of 58 visual cortex neurons, evoked by light sombrevine anaesthesia were studied in acute experiments on immobilized cats. After the sombrevine injection a reliable change of the preferable orientation by 47.6 +/- 5.6 degrees took place in 60% of cells, while in the remaining cells it was stable in all stages of anaesthesia. Stable neurons preferred the horizontal and vertical orientations, in the unstable ones this preference was less expressed. The stable neurons possessed higher qualities of orientation detection than the unstable ones. The width of the orientation tuning changed reliably by 65.2 +/- 6.7 degrees on the average in 55% of neurons, while in 31% of neurons the tuning acuteness was worse, but in 24% it was sharper. The frequency of background discharges under anaesthesia in 2/3 of investigated neurons was reduced by 58% and that of the evoked discharges by 35%. The preferable orientation, the width of the tuning and the frequency of the neuron discharge as a rule recovered in 30 min after the beginning of the anaesthesia. PMID- 2630920 TI - [The nature of the background activity in identified neurons of the rat superior cervical ganglion before and after partial denervation of the submandibular gland]. AB - The ongoing activity of the ganglionic cells innervating the normal and partial denervated submandibular gland of rat was investigated with intracellular recording. With the aim to be identified these cells were preliminary labeled by the fluorescent dye Di-1. The most of neurons innervating the normal gland were entirely silent. Ongoing activity was found only in 11% of these neurons and the average frequency of discharge was 0.1 +/- 0.01/s. After partial denervation of the gland, the number of active ganglion cells among the neurons innervating the gland increased from 11 to 42%. The average frequency of discharge in these cells has increased about three times. The data suggest that changes found in neurons innervating the partially denervated gland were a result of the increase in convergence of preganglionic fibres on these neurons. PMID- 2630921 TI - [The organization of the neuronal activity of the cortical cingulate gyrus in the waking-sleep cycle]. AB - Dynamics of the neuronal activity of the cingulate gyrus (CG) in the sleep wakefulness cycle (SWC) was studied in free-moving cats. Most of neurons (65.4) discharged with high frequency during active wakefulness (AW) and emotional stage of paradoxical sleep (PS); the frequency of discharges decreased during the passive wakefulness (PW) and slow-wave sleep (SWS). 15% of neurons showed opposite dynamics of the activity. They fired more intensively during the SWS. 19.6% of neurons showed no statistically significant difference in the discharge frequency of different phases of the SWC. Most of neurons (75.2%) regularly changed the pattern of discharges at a chang of the phases of the SWC. In particular, those neurons discharged by single spikes, more or less uniformly distributed in time, against the background of AW and PS. With the development of the SWS neurons began to discharge according to the cluster-pause principle. During the development of the short fragments of the EEG arousal, most of neurons either decrease (42.6%) or did not change (50.4%) the activity. The involvement of the CG in the regulation of the SWC is discussed. PMID- 2630922 TI - [The neuronal reactions of the parietal associative cortex (area 5) in the cat during internal inhibition of the instrumental food reflex]. AB - Neuronal responses of the parietal associative cortex were studied in cat during differentiation, extinction and conditional inhibition of the placing reflex. It has been shown that this cortical area is involved in triggering and realization of the conditioned movement. PMID- 2630923 TI - [Compressive vertebral hemangioma. The contribution of imaging technics to diagnosis and pretherapeutic evaluation]. AB - From a serie of ten cases of compressive vertebral hemangiomas (H.V.C.), the interest of different imaging methods was evaluated. CT scan and M.R.I. were the best imaging modalities in most cases. A CT guided biopsy was necessary in three cases to differentiate from metastasis. Angiography permitted to establish the vascular patterns and to evaluate the usefulness of embolization performed in six cases. PMID- 2630924 TI - [Embolization of vertebral hemangioma. Technic-indications-results]. AB - A series of 19 cases of vertebral hemangiomas treated by hyperselective embolization is reported. Localization is thoracic in 12 cases and lumbar in 7. Patients were referred for back pain in 10 cases, neurological signs of spinal cord compression in 5 and of radicular compression in 4. The first step is a precise analysis of the vascular pattern of each case with identification of the feeders of the spinal cord. Embolization as the only treatment, was proposed in 12 cases with painful manifestations. In 5 cases with symptoms of spinal cord compression, it was associated with surgery. The last 2 cases were not treated because of the close proximity of an Adamkiewicz artery. Results on painful symptoms were excellent in 9 cases and good in 3. There was no complications in this series. Therefore, we consider embolization to be a safe tool in the treatment of vertebral hemangiomas, with good efficiency on painful symptom and pre-operatively in case of spinal cord compression. PMID- 2630925 TI - [Role of surgical resection in the treatment of vertebral hemangioma]. AB - Resection (total or subtotal excision of vertebra) of vertebral hemangiomas appears to be the logical course when there are neurological signs. This is a rather complicated surgery with the aim of reduction of recurrence rate. We report two such cases with surgical technique and results at 2 and 4 years post operatively. PMID- 2630926 TI - [Radiotherapy of vertebral hemangioma with neurologic complications]. AB - The interest of radiotherapy in the treatment of compressive vertebral hemangiomas (H.V.C.) is discussed from a literature review. Recent advances in imaging permit to precisely define the target-volume. The dose of 35 grays with standard fractioning affords optimal results on H.V.C. with no risk of spinal cord damage. PMID- 2630927 TI - [Vertebral hemangioma with neurologic signs. Therapeutic results. Survey of the French Society of Neurosurgery]. AB - 45 cases of vertebral hemangiomas with neurologic involvement are reported. This series corresponds to the french experience between 1969 to 1988 (series of the "Societe Francaise de Neuro-Chirurgie" (S.F.N.)). In this report, the therapeutic results are detailed. 16 patients were treated by a simple laminectomy, 6 by laminectomy associated with radiotherapy, 4 by radiotherapy alone. In 9 patients, a large removal of the hemangioma was performed by mean of a lamino-arthrectomy (7 cases) or a corporectomy (2 cases). 7 patients were treated by embolization or vertebroplasty. Both techniques were used alone or in association with surgery or radiotherapy. 3 patients had no therapy. Results of the S.F.N. series demonstrated that 75.5% of the patients had a long term favorable clinical course. 13.4% of the patients were not improved. Mortality was of 11.1%. The mean follow up time was of 51.6 months. Recurrence was encountered in 13 cases. It was mainly observed in the first two years. In cases of total involvement of the vertebrae by hemangioma, laminectomy associated with radiotherapy was the best mean of therapy: 93% of recovery without recurrence. Treatment of body localization appeared to be difficult. Corporectomy could be unefficient if a complete removal of the hemangioma could not be performed. In contrast, posterior arch localization was successfully treated by a simple laminectomy without radiotherapy, even in cases of incomplete removal of the hemangioma: all such cases (10 cases) had a complete recovery without recurrence. PMID- 2630928 TI - [Strategy of the surgical treatment of primary tumors of the spine]. AB - The surgical treatment of the primary spinal tumors is started after the analysis of the following data: --location of the tumor, --pathological identification after the biopsy examination, --staging of the lesion according to Enneking. In case of benign tumors it is possible to realize: a total resection by morcellement until healthy margins in case of chondroma or osteochondroma, intralesional excision until healthy borders in case of osteoid osteoma, total excision by partial anterior or posterior vertebrectomy (with previously embolization) according to the location (body or neural arch resection) in case of giant cells tumour or aneurysmal bone cyst. In case of malignant tumors, the total resection is an absolute goal when the feasability occurs (total vertebrectomy), in case of chordoma, chondrosarcoma and malignant giant cells tumours; the stabilization surgery is indicated without attempt of total tumor removal because others means are availables and/or accurates (radio and/or chemotherapy) in cases of Ewing's sarcoma, plasmocytoma and lymphoma. PMID- 2630929 TI - [Surgery of the craniocervical junction in primary tumors of the spine]. AB - Tumors of the cranio-cervical junction can be surgically approached either anteriorly or posteriorly. The main anterior (transoral, transcervical or lateral) and posterior routes are described. Posterior approach is used for localization on the posterior arch and for anthrodesis. Anterior approach is proposed for extra-dural lesions of the anterior part of C1 and the foramen magnum. PMID- 2630930 TI - [Bilateral anterolateral approach in primary tumors of the cervical vertebrae]. AB - The author reports on his experience with the bilateral anterolateral approach to the cervical spine for primary tumors of the cervical spine. It has a threefold objective: Neurological: aiming at the decompression of the spinal cord and the roots as much as possible without making any radicular or vascular sacrifice. Anatomic: the bilateral control of the foraminal segment and the vertebral arteries ensures absolute safety for the approach to the lateral parts of the vertebral body, the pedicles, and if necessary, the articular surfaces and the isthmi. Static: the anterior reconstruction graft and osteosynthesis with a plate or an acrylic prothesis ensure stability. Compared with the classic anterior approach, the bilateral anterolateral approach offers the following advantage: it allows more extensive surgery on tumors. However, the posterior segment of the spine appears to be difficult to control by this approach. An anterior support is necessary because of the removal of the stabilizing elements of the vertebra. Computed tomography provides great help in determining the exact indications for this surgical procedure. PMID- 2630931 TI - [Lateral and lateral anterior approaches in tumors of the cervical vertebrae]. AB - The limit of the standard anterior and posterior approaches on the cervical spine is a small area including the pedicle and transversary process. However, this area contains the vertebral artery and the merging cervical roots. The lateral anterior route gives access to both structures while the lateral one leads mainly to the intervertebral foramen and nerve roots. Both techniques are described with stress on the great advantages of the lateral-anterior route: easy exposure, large operative field, possibility of complementary arthrodesis and venous graft by-pass on the vertebral artery. Experience on 14 cervical bony tumors resected through the lateral-anterior approach is reported. Complementary techniques were performed in 5 cases: carotid-vertebral artery by-pass in 1, laminectomy in 2 and bone grafting in 2. Therefore, the lateral anterior approach is considered a good way to deal with the intermediate part of the cervical spine. PMID- 2630932 TI - [Tumor surgery of the thoracolumbar vertebrae (mobile spine)]. AB - Three main techniques can be discussed for surgery of spinal tumor at the thoraco lumbar level: posterior stabilization, partial vertebrectomy (lamina or body) and total vertebrectomy. Surgical principles to realize these 3 techniques are described according to the tumoral level: upper thoracic (C7-T3), midthoracic (T4 T10), thoraco-lumbar (T11-L2), upper lumbar (L2-L4) and lower lumber (L5-S1). PMID- 2630933 TI - [Extensive resection of primary malignant tumors of the sacrum]. AB - The most common primary tumors of the sacrum are chondrosarcoma, and giant cell tumors. These tumors can display a great development at the time of first examination on account of their slow growth, delayed expression of pelvic organs compression and metastases. The spontaneous long lasting evolution of sacral primary tumors is disastrous with neurological involvement, painful visceral complications and a high incidence of lethal evolution. Local control and cure of these tumors is possible only if radical resection is done regardless to neurological sequelae. The author proposes a surgical procedure for a carcinologic resection using two different anterior and posterior approaches in one stage with two teams. Six patients were treated in this way and the follow-up ranges from 5 to 11 years. One patient died two years post-operatively (malignant teratoma); the others survive: 2 chordomas (11 and 5 years post-op.), 2 chondrosarcomas (8 and 6 years pos-op.) and 1 giant cell tumor (6 years post op.). These results with prolonged survival without recurrence justify our proposal of an aggressive surgical approach to treat these malignant tumors. PMID- 2630934 TI - Cerebral atrophy and vigilance performance in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. AB - The relationship between ventricular size, as a measure of brain atrophy, and performance on a vigilance task was investigated in 39 patients with anorexia or bulimia nervosa during the acute stage of their illness. Compared to normal controls, the patients performed significantly more poorly in the cognitive task. Half of the patients displayed enlarged ventricles. However, the patients with ventricular dilatation did not perform worse in the cognitive test than patients with normally sized ventricles. Other clinical characteristics, such as symptom severity or duration of illness, were also not correlated with ventricular size. These results support the interpretation that cerebral atrophy per se does not have severe consequences on the neuropsychological or psychopathological status in eating disorder patients. PMID- 2630935 TI - Effects of low-yield cigarettes on electroencephalographic dynamics. AB - Previous research had indicated that the smoking of medium tar and nicotine (T/N) yield cigarettes produced a psychostimulant action on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity which was apparent after a single cigarette and was evident as early as the fourth puff. The present study adopted the identical smoking and recording procedure to examine whether low-T/N yield cigarettes produced qualitatively similar EEG profiles as previously observed with medium-yield cigarettes. Although the results indicated similarities in post-smoking EEG profiles of low- and medium-yield cigarettes, discrepancies with several EEG components and temporal (puff-by-puff) EEG features suggested that low-yield cigarettes may exert less impact on brain electric activity. The results are discussed in relation to motivational theories of smoking behavior. PMID- 2630936 TI - Progress in orthopaedic nursing. PMID- 2630938 TI - Care of the mouth. PMID- 2630937 TI - Mr. Simpson's hip replacement. PMID- 2630939 TI - An introduction to primary nursing. PMID- 2630940 TI - The value of citizen advocates. PMID- 2630941 TI - Action on Addiction. PMID- 2630943 TI - Visual handicap in childhood. PMID- 2630942 TI - Eye investigations. PMID- 2630944 TI - The blind child in hospital. PMID- 2630945 TI - Conjunctivitis, keratitis and iritis. PMID- 2630946 TI - Drugs and the eye. PMID- 2630947 TI - Careers in ophthalmic nursing. PMID- 2630948 TI - The cost of nuclear weapons. PMID- 2630949 TI - Who are you accountable to? PMID- 2630950 TI - Keep proper records of protective equipment. PMID- 2630951 TI - Personal protective equipment. Keeping up standards after 1992. PMID- 2630952 TI - Personal protective devices. Ear protectors--do they really work? PMID- 2630953 TI - Personal protective equipment. Walking safely at work. PMID- 2630954 TI - Personal protective equipment. Protection of the eyes during welding. PMID- 2630955 TI - Personal protective equipment. A practical guide to eye protection. PMID- 2630956 TI - Personal protective equipment. Respiratory protection and COSHH. PMID- 2630957 TI - Personal protective equipment. Better safety helmets. PMID- 2630958 TI - Personal protective equipment. Fall-arrest equipment--what price safety? PMID- 2630959 TI - Personal protective equipment. Protective clothing for chemicals. PMID- 2630960 TI - Treatment of juvenile periodontitis. PMID- 2630961 TI - Hypnosis in dentistry. PMID- 2630962 TI - Eastern European tumult: lessons for physicians. PMID- 2630963 TI - Heat retention in varieties of warm compresses: a comparison between warm soaks, hard-boiled eggs and the re-heater. AB - Warm compresses are the most common form of treatment for chalazia and other inflammatory conditions of the eyelids. We compared the heat retention characteristics of warm washcloths, hard-boiled eggs, and a heat-generating product called the Re-Heater when used for delivering heat to the eyelids. Skin temperature was measured during 20-minute applications of each "device." The Re Heater had the best total heat delivery, followed closely by the hard-boiled egg. Both of these methods are reusable, easy, and cause no discomfort. We recommend that physicians instruct their patients in the use of either of these techniques when heat application to the eyelids is desired. PMID- 2630964 TI - Intraocular lens explantation with and without penetrating keratoplasty. AB - We reviewed the records of 33 consecutive patients who had undergone intraocular lens (IOL) explantations for IOL-related complications. Results from 19 eyes that underwent penetrating keratoplasty at the time of explantation (pk eyes) were compared with the results from 14 eyes that underwent only IOL explantation (npk eyes). Uveitis was the most common indication for explantation in the npk eyes; frank bullous keratopathy was the most common in the pk eyes. Fifteen of the IOLs explanted from the pk eyes were anterior chamber IOLs, 13 of which were the semiflexible, closed-loop type. Ten of the npk eyes had anterior chamber IOLs explanted, six of which also were the semiflexible, closed-loop type. Visual acuities in the pk group were significantly worse than they were in the npk group, both before and after explantation. Based on this review, we conclude that if anterior chamber and iris-supported IOL complications occur and medical therapy fails, IOL explantation prior to the need for penetrating keratoplasty may improve visual acuity. PMID- 2630965 TI - Teflon tubes for stenting and bypassing the lacrimal drainage pathways. AB - I report my experience using a new tear duct tube made from medical grade Teflon (Dupont) both as a bypass tube in situations in which a Pyrex Jones tube (Gunther Weiss, Portland Oregon) traditionally would be used, as well as a stent through the lower canaliculus, or as a bypass tube placed either through the lower canaliculus or at the inner canthus in connection with canaliculus laceration repair. After relatively brief follow-up, these Teflon tubes appeared to be associated with fewer complications than the Jones tube and in certain instances to offer other advantages as well. PMID- 2630966 TI - A new intraocular lens formula for high myopia. AB - We developed a formula suitable for calculating intraocular lens power for eyes with axial lengths of 27 mm or greater. We then used this formula in a prospective study to determine its reliability in 32 eyes. In these latter cases the mean error between predictive postoperative refraction and actual postoperative refraction was 0.36 D, with 67% of the cases having less than 1.0 D error; 84% of the cases having less than a 2.0 D error; and no cases having an error greater than 3.0 D. The new formula provided greater accuracy for these highly myopic eyes than the SRK, SRKII, Hollady, and Thompson formulas. PMID- 2630967 TI - Cryotherapy for stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity: visual and anatomic results. AB - Fifty eyes of 25 preterm infants with stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and 180 degrees to 360 degrees of preretinal neovascularization were treated with cryotherapy to ablate the peripheral zone of avascular retina. All neovascularization regressed. Eleven eyes developed traction detachments, eight of which were successfully reattached with scleral buckling surgery. With follow up of 6 to 70 months (mean, 29 months), visual acuity was 20/30 to 20/60 in 11 of 16 eyes (69%) of eight children old enough to be tested, and 20/100 to 20/200 in three of these eyes. Thus, vision was 20/200 or better in 14 of 16 eyes (87.5%). Visual behavior was normal for their age in 16 infants too young to test. One child developed bilateral inoperable detachments. We conclude that cryotherapy safely resolves stage 3+ ROP with excellent visual results. PMID- 2630968 TI - Conjunctivochalasis: a surgical technique. AB - Conjunctivochalasis can be surgically corrected when it gives an appearance of a moist eye, produces tearing by mechanical obstruction of the lower punctum, or if it impedes the normal outflow of the lacrimal film. We present a surgical technique that provides a satisfactory anatomical reconstruction, does not leave a deformity, and will not lead to a retraction that could produce a cicatricial ectropion. We stress the importance of a complete ophthalmologic examination to rule out more common causes of tearing. PMID- 2630969 TI - Management of detachment of Descemet's membrane caused by injection of hyaluronic acid. AB - We report a case in which, in an attempt to reform a flat anterior chamber, hyaluronic acid inadvertently was injected between Descemet's membrane and the corneal stroma. The surgical repair is described and a way to prevent this complication is recommended. PMID- 2630970 TI - A comparison of motility: autogenous dermis-fat vs synthetic spherical implants. AB - The socket and prosthesis motility and the forniceal depths in a group of 47 patients who had undergone enucleation and implantation of synthetic spherical implants were compared with those in a group of 34 patients who had undergone enucleation and implantation of autogenous dermis-fat orbital implants. The primary autogenous dermis-fat orbital implants provided greater socket movement and deeper fornices than the synthetic spherical implants. Prosthesis motility, however, was the same in the two groups. PMID- 2630971 TI - Merest sclera technique for primary pterygium surgery. AB - Over a 5-year period, 800 patients with primary pterygium underwent "merest sclera" surgery, a procedure in which the injured limbo-conjunctival area is covered completely with superior and inferior conjunctival flaps so that the tear film can be reestablished. After a 1-year follow-up, 17 recurrences were found (2.1%). All these resulted from premature wound dehiscence and/or postoperative infection. PMID- 2630972 TI - Silicone intraocular lens and air injection in retinal detachment repair. PMID- 2630973 TI - The use of viscoelastic substances in the drainage of postoperative suprachoroidal hemorrhage. PMID- 2630974 TI - [Various problems of the treatment of patients with medial fractures of the femur neck]. AB - There are many problems that remain unsolved in the treatment of the patients with medial fractures of the femoral neck. The authors present their results of treatment of 543 patients with this pathology and give recommendations concerning the necessity of using mainly the surgical method of treatment at the early posttraumatic period, the choice of the methods of rational anaesthesiologic aid and the advisability of an early activization of the patients at the postoperative period. PMID- 2630975 TI - [Closed intramedullary osteosynthesis of the femur in isolated and combined trauma]. AB - The authors have analysed the results of the treatment of 329 patients with closed diaphyseal fractures of the femur; in 252 of them various types of osteosynthesis have been made. Preference was given to closed osteosynthesis with a massive metal rod and drilling out of the medullary canal of the femur. It is pointed out that with this method of treatment the duration of disability was the lowest possible, and there was no invalidity. The necessity of exercise therapy and isometric gymnastics during the early postoperative period is stressed. PMID- 2630976 TI - [Experience with stable and functional osteosynthesis in diaphyseal fractures of long bones using the "METOST" (METal OSTeosynthesis) fixation kit]. PMID- 2630977 TI - [Comparative evaluation of methods of fixation of metacarpal bone fragments]. AB - The authors have carried out an experimental study of stability of the bone fragments of the 2-5th metacarpal bones in various hypes of fixation of the hands of fresh human cadavers. It has been established that the highest stability in all kinds of fractures in the conditions of functional loading is provided by osteosynthesis with rod apparatnses. A differential approach concerning the choice of the hype of osteosynthesis depending on the fracture plane is necessary in the treatment of the metacarpal bone injuries. An early functional loading of the fingers should be made with regard to the plane and the type of osteosynthesis. PMID- 2630978 TI - [Stress fractures of the metatarsal bone in sportsmen (Jones' fracture)]. AB - The authors examine the peculiarities of the diagnosis, the clinical course and the roentgenologic manifestations of the fracture of the 5th metatarsal bone, the so-called Jones' fracture, in sportsmen. In this type of injury a good treatment result, i.e. the consolidation of the bone and the recovery of the foot at the early posttraumatic period is achieved by surgical treatment which provides for a necessary compression at the fracture site. PMID- 2630979 TI - [Various characteristics of hemodynamics in pelvic injuries associated with cranio-cerebral trauma]. AB - The authors have analysed the results of the treatment of 325 patients with injuries of the pelvis associated with cerebrocranial trauma. It has been determined that the severity of the condition and the occurrence of shock depended not only on the character of the pelvis injuries, but also on the severity of the brain injuries. The investigation of the circulating blood volume in 92 victims (pelvis injuries were associated with light brain injuries in 59 cases and with severe brain injuries in 33 cases) has demonstrated that severe cerebrocranial trauma associated with similar injuries of the pelvis influences the circulating blood volume deficit. The arterial pressure and the systolic rate correlate with the circulating blood volume deficit with the exception of the cases of gross truncal disorders with the circulating blood volume deficit reaching 30% and more above the normal values. PMID- 2630980 TI - [Therapeutic effect of nalorphine and naloxone in experimental traumatic shock]. AB - In their acute experiments on 86 rabbits the authors have established that the intravenous administration of nalorphine and naloxone produces a marked therapeutic effect only during the early period of experimental traumatic shock. In most of the animals there was a reliable extension of the lifetime (nalorphine) and an increase in the survival rate (naloxone). In a lesser part of the animals the administration of nalorphine had no considerable influence on the outcomes. During the late period the therapeutic effect of these drugs has not yet been manifested. A conclusion has been made that the contradictory data in the literature concerning the effect of nalorphine and naloxone on the course of experimental traumatic shock seem to depend on the fact that they were administered at various stages of this pathologic process. It is pointed out that it is advisable to administer these drugs (especially naloxone) at the pre hospital stage in the patients with traumatic shock. PMID- 2630981 TI - [Late results of replantation of the upper extremity]. AB - The authors present the long-term results observed in 82 patients after replantations of various segments of the upper extremity which were performed at centres of microsurgery of in Italy. A number of tests of prac- four towns tical importance aimed at the evaluation of the recovery of the extremity and the fingers sensitivity has been used during the examination. The authors have come to the conclusion that the success of the operations of replantation of various moments of the extremities is determined not only by the technical aspect of the surgery, but to a greater degree by correct implementation of the system of rehabilitation treatment aimed at the extremity sensitivity recovery. PMID- 2630982 TI - [Functional state of various organs in patients after replantation an revascularization of large segments of the extremities]. AB - The authors have analysed the results of functional examinations of some organs in 26 patients after replantation (9 cases) following complete (4) and subtotal (5) avulsion and after revascularization (17 cases) of large segments following severe mechanical injuries. It has been demonstrated that 4 to 6 months after the operation the disturbances in the electric activity of the brain and in the secretory and secretory functions of the kidneys have a reversible character and regress 2 to 5 years later. No functional disturbances concern-ing the thyroid gland, the cardiovascular system and the liver have been revealed in the patients who were examined 4 to 5 months following the surgery. The authors believe that after replantation or revascularization of a large segment of an extremity which was devoid of circulation for 5 to 7 hours the patients should be under medical control for the activity of the inner organs, first of all the brain and the kidneys for at least 2 paors to be able to correct their functioning in good time. PMID- 2630983 TI - [Fractures of the head of the humeral condyle in children and characteristics of their treatment]. AB - The author has examined 165 children with FHCH. A method of surgical treatment of FHCH has been worked out and applied in 37 children; its essence consists in the open reposition of the fractures and the fixation of the fragment of the head with an original construction compression device which provides the possibility of making early active movements preventing rigidity in the elbow joint. The method does not envisage the necessity of fixation of the extremity with a plaster bandage and reduces the period of clinical and general treatment (by 18 and 14 days respectively). The economic damage making 139.33 roubles per one patient has been reduced. The rational character of using the new method of surgical treatment of FHCH has been confirmed. PMID- 2630984 TI - [Surgical treatment of fractures of the distal end of the humerus in children]. AB - The author presents his epyerience in the treatment of 473 children with fractures of the distal end of the humerus. An effort is made to systemize the fractures according to the degree of their dislocation for working out the optimal method of surgical treatment. Preference is given to actively surgical methods. The problems of stable fixation of the fragments are considered and it is suggested to use a lateral dosed compression apparatus as a fixator. The period of immobilization is considered from the point of siev of the restoration of the circulation in the distal fragment and it is proposed to extend the period of immobilization in the fractures of the distal epiphysis to 5 or 6 weeks. The immediate and the long-term results of the treatment of the fractures of the distal end of the humerus in children are analysed. PMID- 2630985 TI - [Fractures of the radius neck associated with ulna fractures in children]. AB - The author has described one of the typical combinations of injuries in the elbow joint area in children, i.e. fractures of the neck of the radius with a simultaneous fracture of the ulna. The study is based on 37 cases observed by the author. Two types of the above-mentioned fractures have been distinguished: abduction (32) and extension (5) fractures. The methods of closed reposition of each type have been presented. These methods allow to reach the desired results even in major dislocations (60-90 degrees) of the head of the radius. PMID- 2630986 TI - [Complicated fractures of long bones in children]. PMID- 2630987 TI - [Effect of the osteomyelitic process on bone growth in children and its correction]. AB - The article is devoted to the results of the treatment of 264 children with hematogenic osteomyelitis. The analysis of the changes of the extremities length growth depending on the children's age, the form of the disease, the localization of the osteomyelitic process and the administered treatment is presented. The authors have proposed a new method of stimulating the growth of the shortened tubular bones in cases of difference in the length of the extremities up to 3 cm in the children of the younger age group. PMID- 2630988 TI - [Rehabilitation of patients with suppurative osseous complications of gunshot wounds of the shoulder in Ethiopia]. AB - The authors have analysed the results of the treatment of 68 patients with pyo osseous complications of the gunshot wounds of the shoulder which had been repeatedly operated at previous stages. The failures were connected with suppurations of the wounds, faults of the surgical technique and the postoperative management of the patient. All the patients were operated repeatedly at two stages: radical necrosequestrotomy, epidermatoplasty and tendoplasty were performed at stage I and bone autografting with immobilization with an plaster bandage were performed at stage II. The results of the treatment were good in 31 patients, satisfactory in 18 patients and not satisfactory in 6 patients. After tendoplasty the results were good in 12 patients and satisfactory in in 6 patients. PMID- 2630989 TI - [Chronic gunshot osteomyelitis of the long bones of 40-45 years' duration and its significance for expert testimony]. AB - The authors have made a clinicoroentgenologic and pathomorphologic comparison of the materials of examination of 81 patients aged 60 to 75 years with exacerbations of chronic gunshot osteomyelitis of the long bones after 40-45 years. The clinicoroentgenologic characteristics of active and slow exacerbations is presented. Four types of changes in the roentgenologic picture have been revealed: destructive, necrotic, corticalitis type, fistulous and mixed. The peculiarity of the manifestations of osteonecrosis in the form of sequesters and two types of crumb-like inclusions and bone reconstruction (with linear separation of the compact bone layer on the inner surface and perifocal osteoporosis) has been pointed out. Besides, some problems of medical labour examination in chronic gunshot osteomyelitis after 40-45 years have been considered. PMID- 2630990 TI - [Functional intramedullary osteosynthesis of the femur neck with a bundle of nails (biomechanical, anatomo-morphologic and clinical substantiation)]. AB - The authors prove by their biomechanical and anatomomorphological investigation that osteosynthesis with a three-blade nail is traumatic, and that it is little traumatic when performed with a bundle of rods (6 rods 1.8 mm in diameter and 6 10 rods 1 mm in diameter) which are dispersely introduced through the femoral neck diameter and that it is rigid enough for functional management of the patients during the postoperative period. 37 patients were operated. The support and movement function of the extremity was restored on the average 176 +/- 25 days and the consolidation took place 217 +/- 60 days after the operation. There were no cases of non-consolidation, false joints, osteomyelites, arthrites and postoperative mortality. There was 1 case of aseptic necrosis of the femoral head. PMID- 2630991 TI - [Cefzol level in the blood and tissues after its intramuscular and intravenous administration in patients with post-traumatic osteomyelitis]. AB - The authors present the results of their studies of the concentrations of kephsol in the bones, in the soft tissues and in the plasma (48 samples) of the patients with posttraumatic osteomyelitis in intramuscular and intravenous administration of the drug. It is pointed out that the administration of kephsol in the ways mentioned above may lead to the achievement of an effective concentration of the drug in the pathology focus area only for some types of staphylocci. PMID- 2630992 TI - [Arthrodesis of the distal tibiofibular articulation]. PMID- 2630993 TI - [Osteosynthesis in medial fractures of the femur neck using a bundle of nails with stop surface]. PMID- 2630994 TI - [Treatment of fractures of the base of the 1st metacarpal bone using the external fixation apparatus]. PMID- 2630995 TI - [A method of setting inveterate dislocation of the semilunar bone]. PMID- 2630996 TI - [A method of treating osteomyelitis at the site of bone nails]. PMID- 2630997 TI - [A splint for immobilization of the arm]. PMID- 2630998 TI - [A device for osteosynthesis in fracture of the femur head]. PMID- 2630999 TI - [A protractor-rotatometer]. PMID- 2631000 TI - Hydrogel lens wettability during overnight wear. AB - The in vivo wettability of soft contact lenses worn by a group of 10 subjects was monitored over a 24-hour period including 8 hours closed eye. Two types of lenses were tested: Igel 67 (Prima) and Bausch & Lomb 70. They were each worn once in both eyes by all the subjects. The in vivo wettability of the lenses tested was evaluated by measuring the pre-lens non-invasive break-up-time (NIBUT) and assessing the nature of the pre-lens tear film structure. The results obtained showed good wettability throughout the study and no difference between the two materials tested, but a significant difference between open and closed eye wear. The tear film was far more stable (p less than 0.01) immediately upon waking (mean NIBUT 21.2 s) than during open eye wear (mean NIBUT 11.2 s). Also at waking the pre-lens lipid layer was thicker than during open eye wear and the lens surface had a greater mucous coating. The presence of a more stable pre-lens tear film at waking was associated with a different tear film structure. We believe these differences in pre-lens tear film structure are responsible for the greater stability recorded. PMID- 2631001 TI - The spectral transmittance of hydrogel contact lens filters. AB - The spectral transmittance characteristics of each of thirty-two solid tint hydrogel contact lenses available in the United Kingdom were investigated using a dual beam spectrophotometer. Good agreement was found with the small number of spectral functions that had previously been published. Lenses with similar colour appearances were seen to differ markedly in terms of their transmittance factors. The importance of visual performance and radiation protection is discussed in the light of the spectral transmittances of the lenses. PMID- 2631002 TI - The onset of prolonged glare recovery with age. AB - The effects of ageing upon the recovery of contrast discrimination following exposure to a bright source of light (glare recovery) were investigated. A total of 65 subjects were tested, with a distribution of ages ranging from 16 to 79 years. Total glare recovery times were relatively constant up to about 56 years of age, after which they became significantly prolonged. Contrast thresholds to a small spot target gradually increased with age. PMID- 2631003 TI - The accommodative contribution to binocular vergence eye movements. AB - Forced vergence fixation disparity curves were generated for both with and without an accommodative stimulus (accommodative closed and open loop conditions respectively) for fifteen asymptomatic subjects. All subjects exhibited an exophoric shift in fixation disparity for the accommodative open loop condition at the forced convergence side of the curve. No corresponding bias was found at the forced divergence side of the curve. The findings are discussed in terms of the results of previous studies and the existing models of vergence eye movements. PMID- 2631004 TI - A quasistatic study of pupil and accommodation after-effects following near vision. AB - The study examines the effect of a near task on immediate post-task measures of pupil size and accommodative state. The method of quasistatic measurement of accommodation was used and pupillary changes elicited by the accommodative stimulus were simultaneously recorded using an infrared video-pupillometer. This method requires a short (typically 2 minutes) but strong (up to 10 D in most subjects) near-vision effort, with the accommodative and pupillary responses being recorded before, during, and after the task. The results show pupil after effects to be more pronounced than tonic accommodative after-effects. Inter individual difference in after-effects is large. The pupil after-effect was dissociated from the tonic accommodation after-effect and lasted in some cases for more than 15 minutes. The pupil after-effect was not masked by darkness. It is proposed that monitoring the changes of pupil is valuable when assessing the after-effects of sustained near vision. PMID- 2631005 TI - Frequency analysis of accommodation: single sinusoids. AB - We present an experimental frequency analysis of a neurological control system, the accommodation system, using single sinusoids. Also, by means of continual experimental calibration full coverage of one subject's dynamic range, we demonstrate an AC nonlinearity saturation, which probably lies in the motor response portion of the system; in contrast to the switching-mode nonlinearity, which probably lies in the sensory-processing portion. We offer our findings as a basis for further models. In addition, our results can be compared with studies using multiple sinusoids and transients to document how the different aspects of the accommodation system are realized given their different input conditions. PMID- 2631006 TI - The effect of defocus on the contrast and phase of the retinal image of a sinusoidal grating. AB - The variation with defocus in the contrast and phase of the retinal image of a grating stimulus is computed from a knowledge of the measured wavefront aberration of individual eyes. Contrast or modulation transfer is generally lower than in the aberration-free, diffraction-limited case, even at a pupil size of 3 mm, and marked spatial phase shifts, which can be seen as sideways shifts in the retinal image, frequently occur. A simple demonstration of these effects is given. The possible significance of the focus-dependent spatial phase shifts for the phase discrimination of the visual system and accommodation is discussed. PMID- 2631007 TI - Meridional differences in temporal response characteristics. AB - It is well established that a large variety of psychophysical factors influence the critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF). Several recent studies have examined the relationship between CFF and retinal location with confounding and contradictory results. The aim of this study was to determine the CFF for a number of stimulus sizes and luminances in an attempt to evaluate the interactive effects of these parameters and the quadrantic variation in temporal sensitivity. Retinal sensitivity gradients were measured along the two major oblique meridians out to an eccentricity of 50 degrees. CFF profiles for the 1.724 and 0.431 degree targets were shown to decrease with increasing eccentricity more rapidly in the inferior nasal quadrant (superior temporal retina). No significant difference between superior and inferior visual field temporal processing was evident. PMID- 2631008 TI - Calculation of crystalline lens radii without resort to phakometry. AB - A computing scheme was developed in 1988 to determine the equivalent powers of the eye and its crystalline lens without resort to phakometry. An adaptation to this scheme is described which allows calculation of the crystalline lens radii using an assumed average value for Q. The values obtained for lens radii using this method compare well with phakometric measurements made on 36 eyes (ocular refraction range -9.37 D to + 3.14 D) which suggests that the variations in Q for a large proportion of the population are small. PMID- 2631009 TI - The second fundamental form of a surface and its relation to the dioptric power matrix, sagitta and lens thickness. AB - The dioptric power matrix of a single refracting surface is shown to be directly related to the differential form known in differential geometry as the second fundamental form. Consequently it is a complete description of the local refractive character of the surface. Generalized equations are derived for sagitta and lens thickness for surfaces of any form. The equations hold approximately for points close to the optical axis except in the case of paraboloidal surfaces: for paraboloidal surfaces they hold exactly. Lens thickness approximately obeys what is termed the principle of form independence. The value of the second fundamental form is approximately double the sagitta. Formal support is provided for Keating's concept of a generalized matric vergence of astigmatic wave-fronts. PMID- 2631010 TI - Reduced vergence response velocities in dyslexics: a preliminary report. AB - Dyslexia is a developmental disorder characterized by a reduced ability to recognize or comprehend written or printed words. Two clinically diagnosed dyslexics and two normals served as subjects. Both dyslexic subjects showed reduced static accommodative and vergence ranges compared with normals and numerous regressions and fixation pauses during reading and target tracking tasks. The subjects were then presented with convergent and divergent ramp disparity stimuli ranging in speed from 1.33 to 32.0 deg/s and steps of either 2 or 4 degrees amplitude. The dyslexic subjects showed reduced vergence velocities and fewer step-ramp and multiple step responses than normals. These preliminary findings suggest that certain vergence control functions may be diminished or absent in dyslexics. However, the vergence deficit may parallel dyslexia and may not be a causative factor. Thus vergence eye movement measurements may be used to provide additional insight into the components of the central deficits associated with dyslexia. PMID- 2631011 TI - The path to presbyopia: straight or crooked? AB - The non-linear trends in the mean amplitude of accommodation with age that are observed in transverse studies as presbyopia is approached can be explained in terms of the summated effect of many individual linear trends. Increases in the near addition that may be required by patients after their early fifties are probably associated with an age-dependent decrease in acuity, which necessitates a closer working distance to increase angular subtense, rather than with any continuing decline in accommodation. PMID- 2631012 TI - Comparison of accommodative adaptation using laser and infra-red optometers. AB - Previous investigations have reported differences in the rate of decay of accommodative adaptation depending on the form of optometer used to assess dark focus (DF). This study has used both laser and infra-red optometers to measure pre- and post-task values of DF in 10 subjects. DF was assessed before and immediately after an 8 min near-vision task performed at the subjective near point of accommodation. Examination of the data from the two optometers revealed significant differences in both magnitude and distribution of pre-task DF. Additionally variations in the post- to pre-task shift in DF were observed between the two methods of assessment. Using the laser optometer, six subjects exhibited positive adaptation following the near-task which was not apparent with the infra-red optometer. The data suggest that both instruments may not be sampling open-loop accommodation; the laser optometer is particularly vulnerable to extraneous influences. PMID- 2631013 TI - Does target orientation influence the accommodative response? AB - A number of studies have demonstrated that visual responsitivity is optimum when viewing either horizontal or vertical stimuli but is significantly reduced when viewing an obliquely oriented object of regard. Accordingly this study examined the accommodative response in 10 subjects to targets oriented at 45, 90, 135 and 180 degrees to the horizontal. Stimuli were located at distances of 1, 3 or 5 D, and steady-state accommodation was measured subjectively from the right eye using a Hartinger coincidence optometer. The data indicate that, for high contrast, supra-threshold targets, variation in target orientation did not produce any significant change in accommodative response. These results suggest that neural sensitivity for monocular blur-driven accommodation is orientation independent. This finding would imply that accommodation and contrast detection are mediated by dissimilar processes. PMID- 2631014 TI - The effect of high frequency flicker on accommodation. AB - Monocular accommodation was measured by a laser optometer while two subjects viewed a letter matrix target illuminated by steady or intermittent (300, 100, 50 and 25 Hz) light and presented at a number of optical distances (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 D). At certain rates of intermittent illumination, both above (50 Hz) and below (25 Hz) flicker fusion, an increased accommodation response was found. This increase occurred at all optical distances, except for the distance closest to each subject's dark focus, and resulted in a more accurate accommodation response for one subject, and a less accurate one for the other. Furthermore, for both subjects, evidence of an increase in the amplitude of the fluctuations in accommodation at 50 and 25 Hz was found for the higher stimulus levels. The implications of these findings for the control of accommodation and for practical problems of visual performance in the environment, such as visual discomfort associated with fluorescent lighting and intermittently illuminated visual display units, are discussed. PMID- 2631015 TI - Do visibility and colour recognition isopters relate to the distribution of P alpha and P beta ganglion cells of the human retina? AB - Early perimetrists recognized that the threshold stimulus diameters for visibility and colour recognition differ markedly in peripheral vision. However, we observed that these diameters are identical at the fixation point. This means that these threshold diameters, when plotted against eccentric visual angle, have unequal slopes, perhaps related to recently reported data on estimated magnocellular and parvocellular neural sampling intervals. We therefore collected perimetric data on eleven normal observers, using red stimuli on the Zeiss Jena Type 1 Bowl Perimeter. It was found that the slopes were steeper than those for supposedly corresponding neural data. This could be explained by taking into consideration that (a) the slow rate of stimulus movement allowed parvocellular contribution to visibility; and (b) the possibility of an enhanced foveal representation in the cortical colour processing areas. The clinical significance of these findings is briefly discussed. PMID- 2631016 TI - A procedural guide to the modification of a Canon AutoRef R-1 for use as a continuously recording optometer. AB - We have recently reported on the modification of the Canon AutoRef R-1 for use as a continuously recording optometer, while retaining its capacity to measure in 'single-shot' mode. Although the principles of the modification and performance of the dual mode of operation have been described in previous publications, this technical not aims to provide sufficient detail for research laboratories wishing to implement the modification. PMID- 2631017 TI - Simplified rational representation of dioptric power. PMID- 2631018 TI - Visual acuity measures in clinical research. PMID- 2631019 TI - Assessment of toroidal surfaces by the measurement of curvature in three fixed meridians. PMID- 2631020 TI - Validity and reliability of visual acuity measurements. PMID- 2631021 TI - Accommodation performance for chromatic displays. PMID- 2631022 TI - Kinetic outline perimetry as a technique for examining the visual fields of young children. PMID- 2631023 TI - Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in children: the role of infectious diseases and its relationship to serum enzyme. AB - The records of 28 children whose first episode of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia occurred before 12 years (median age 10 months) were reviewed. There were 17 males and 11 females. In 17 cases the first attack occurred before the first year and in 11 of these it occurred after the first year. One case had congenital heart disease (ASD). The WPW syndrome was diagnosed in 3 cases. When first seen, most of the infants presented with signs of incipient or manifest congestive heart failure. In almost nine-tenth of cases there was an increased of serum enzymes (lactic dehydrogenase, creatine-phosphokinase and glutamic oxaloaccetic transaminase. Digitals was effective against congestive heart failure and when continued, might prevent failure during subsequent attacks. Antiarrhythmic agents other than digitals were not used. It is recommended to continue digitalis treatment for at least one year in all patients with SVT, whether or not the first episode terminated spontaneously. PMID- 2631024 TI - Ventricular tachycardia in children with diphtheritic myocarditis. AB - Nine children with diphtheritic ventricular tachycardia ranging in age from 2 to 11 years (mean 6.5 years) were observed and followed up until their terminal state. The ventricular tachycardia showed a left bundle branch block contour in 5 of 9 patients, right bundle branch block in four, multifocal pacemaker in three and unifocal in six patients. Fusion and captured beats were present in two and 4 patients respectively, including one patient who had both. Four cases were without obvious atrio-ventricular dissociation. All patients were treated with standard therapy for diphtheria, and prednison was given to patients with myocarditis. Because of its controversial results, antiarrhythmic agent was not given. The prognosis is very poor; all patients died one to 8 days after ventricular tachycardia appearance. PMID- 2631025 TI - Bacterial endocarditis in children: clinical and laboratory findings, and the role of echocardiography in its diagnosis and management. AB - We report clinical and laboratory findings of 15 children with bacterial endocarditis, admitted to the Department of Child Health, University of Indonesia/Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital from February, 1987 to June, 1989. There were 8 boys and 7 girls with bacterial endocarditis, ranging in age from 10 weeks to 16 years. The diagnosis was suspected because of prolonged fever, with or without other manifestations, i.e. congestive heart failure, refractory anemia, or paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. The underlying heart disease was congenital in 12 cases and rheumatic heart disease in 3 cases. The clinical, electrocardiographic, and radiologic manifestations were generally predominated by the pre-existing heart disease. No 'characteristic' findings of bacterial endocarditis, i.e. Osler's nodes, Janeway lesions or splinter haemorrhages were detected. Positive bacterial culture was obtained in 12 cases; the most frequent bacteria isolated was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4 cases). Streptococcus viridans was isolated in 2 cases only. Vegetation was visualized echocardiographically in 12 cases; 9 with clear cut evidence of large vegetation, and in the other 3 the vegetation was equivocal. On follow-up they disappeared gradually with clinical improvement. Large vegetation might need 2 full months to disappear echocardiographically. It is concluded that bacterial endocarditis is not a rare complication of structural heart disease in our hospital, with a high mortality rate. The availability of good resolution echocardiography has been very helpful in establishing the diagnosis as well as in following-up patients with bacterial endocarditis. PMID- 2631026 TI - Secundum atrial septal defect before and after surgery. AB - Twenty patients with secundum atrial septal defect, who had undergone open heart surgery were studied retrospectively. Girls were more affected than boys; the sex ratio was 1.5:1. Associated cardiac defects were diagnosed in two patients, one with moderate valvular pulmonic stenosis and the other one with small ventricular septal defect. Typical clinical findings consisted of loud first heart sound, widely fixed split second heart sound and soft ejection systolic murmur at the upper left sternal border were heard in all cases. Mid diastolic murmur due to relative tricuspid stenosis was detected in most cases (75%). Electrocardiographic findings included right axis deviation, prolonged PR interval and right atrial enlargement were found in 50%, 15% and 60% of cases, respectively. Incomplete right bundle branch block and right ventricular enlargement were found in all cases, as was cardiomegaly with increased vascular markings were found in all cases. Paradoxical ventricular septal motion and visualization of the atrial septal defect were seen in 95% and 75% of cases, respectively. Cardiac catheterization was performed in 19 patients (95%). The pulmonary-systemic flow ratio (Qp/Qs) ranged from 1.7 to 6.3 (mean 2.9 +/- 0.67), and was correlated to the presence of mid diastolic tricuspid flow murmur and paradoxical ventricular septal motion. Simple closure of the defect was the procedure of choice, but in one patient (5%) pericardial patch was used to close the very large defect. The mortality rate was 10 per cent. Physical retardation was found in all boys and 50% of girls, before surgery. Body weight percentile increased in most cases (61.1%), while body height percentile increased in only 5.6% of cases, postoperatively. Ejection systolic murmur at the upper left sternal border was still detected in one patient (5.6%). Incomplete right bundle branch block persisted in all cases, while cardiomegaly was still found in 5.6% of cases followed-up six months to five years after surgery. There was no residual left ventricular dysfunction in all cases. PMID- 2631027 TI - Electrocardiographic pattern of typhoid fever in children. AB - Of 87 children with typhoid fever, from age ranging in 2.5 to 14 years, 62.0% showed ECG changes. Sinus tachycardia and left ventricular hypertrophy were the two most frequent abnormalities. The majority of ECG changes occurred in the first week of admission and return to normal two weeks thereafter. There were no significant differences in the frequency of abnormal ECG pattern by sex, age, and nutritional state. PMID- 2631029 TI - [Abstracts of papers presented at the annual meeting of the Foundation of Research on Hormonology. 26 January 1989]. PMID- 2631028 TI - [Familial hyperthyroxinemia with dysalbuminemia: screening of 21,000 patients at the occasion of thyroid evaluation]. AB - Serum samples from 21,342 patients undergoing evaluation of thyroid status were screened for familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia (FDH) using a specific test based on the measure of charcoal uptake of 125I thyroxine (T4) from serum diluted 1:100 with addition of unlabelled 10(-6) M T4. We found 17 cases of FDH: a higher incidence (8:10,000) than previously reported in the general population (1:10,000). The results of thyroid function tests of patients with FDH are presented: total T4 concentration is increased in only 14 subjects; thyrotropin and free T4 measured by an immunoextraction method are the most useful assays to evaluate the clinical status of these patients. PMID- 2631030 TI - [Determination of EGF receptors (epidermal growth factor) in the placenta and breast tumors]. AB - Receptors for Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) have been identified in different types of tumors and they are often associated with other characteristics which are related to a bad prognosis. A technic has been established to measure membrane receptors in human placenta, which is appropriate for the study of tumors. Preparations of placental membranes were incubated either with increasing amounts (0.1 to 3.0, 10(-9) M) of EGF labeled with 125I (method by saturation) or with 0.2, 10(-9) M labeled EGF and increasing concentrations (0 to 1.6, 10(-9) M) of cold EGF (method by competition). The KD obtained with both technics are not significantly different: 0.85 and 0.77, 10(-9) M respectively, as well as the maximum binding capacity: 5.9 and 4.4 pmol/mg protein respectively. A preliminary study in breast tumors showed that 2 out of 9 contained significant amounts of receptors (58 and 114 fmol/mg protein). One of these two tumors held both estradiol and progesterone receptors. In the other 7 tumors without EGF receptors only one did not contained any estradiol or progesterone receptors. Further studies are needed to evaluate the relationships between EGF/sex hormone receptor status and the degree of breast tumor malignancy. PMID- 2631031 TI - [Biological action of the antiestrogen ICI 164.384 in the MCF-7 mammary cancer cell line]. AB - The biological effects of the anti-estrogen ICI 164.384 on proliferation, on progesterone receptor (PR) and on the conversion of estrone sulfate to estradiol in the MF-7 mammary cancer cells were studied. This anti-estrogen at the low concentration (10(-9)-10(-10) M) blocks cell proliferation and significantly decreases the levels of PR. ICI 164.384 also provokes a very important diminution in the conversion of estrone sulfate to estradiol. It is concluded that the study of the biological responses of this potent anti-estrogen opens new possibilities in the knowledge of the different steps of the mechanism of action of anti estrogens in mammary cancer cells. PMID- 2631032 TI - [Epidermal growth factor induces the progesterone receptor in fetal uterine cells in culture: antagonistic effect of antiestrogens]. AB - Cells isolated from the uterus of the guinea pig foetus can be maintained in culture even through several sub-cultures. In these cells, estradiol increases progesterone receptor concentrations 2 o 3 times, although estradiol has no effect on cell proliferation. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates both cell proliferation and the progesterone receptor 4-Hydroxytamoxifen, a tamoxifen metabolite and potent anti-oestrogen, completely inhibits the stimulatory effect of EGF on the progesterone receptor but has no effect on the EGF-induced cell growth. These cells have specific binding sites with high affinity for 125I-EGF. Estradiol increases the number of binding sites but does not affect the affinity for EGF. 4-Hydroxytamoxifen has no significant effect on either the number of binding sites or the binding affinity. In conclusion, EGF could be an autocrine or paracrine factor in estrogen-sensitive cells not only as a potent mitogen but also as a factor capable of increasing an estrogen-induced protein like the progesterone receptor. The observation that an anti-estrogen can also act as an "anti-growth factor" suggests a close relationship between estrogens and growth factors. PMID- 2631033 TI - [Evaluation of the Coulter STKR differential histogram and the Coulter VCS formula analysis: a strategy of joint utilization]. AB - Coulter STKR is an haematological analyser providing a histogram differential analysis with interpretative report (IR). Coulter VCS is a flow cytometer providing a leucocyte five-part differential. Both instruments include a software for flagging abnormal differentials. They were evaluated in an hospital with numerous haematological and Pediatric patients. By using the same criteria as the analysers, the frequency of abnormalities found in 638 samples by the optical method was 42%. STKR histogram differential, with IR and monocytes lab action limits, resulted in a 53% review rate with a false negative percentage of 2.2%. VCS analysis resulted in a 52% review rate with a false negative percentage of 0.8%. Association of both instruments, the VCS analysis being performed only on samples having given non IR alarms, resulted in a lower false negative percentage (0.5%). In a population such as ours, with an important part of pathological conditions, these results may be considered satisfactory, both regarding the safety and the review rate. PMID- 2631034 TI - The gestation of a state nurses' convention. PMID- 2631035 TI - The nursing shortage: cause and effects. PMID- 2631036 TI - The concept of quality nursing. PMID- 2631037 TI - Health status of nurses and Yoga. II. Subjects with and without-health problems. PMID- 2631038 TI - A quadrennial assessment of global nursing situation. PMID- 2631039 TI - Nursing audit: an evaluation of patient care. PMID- 2631040 TI - How to organize a short-term course on neonatal nursing. PMID- 2631041 TI - Need to develop leadership qualities. PMID- 2631042 TI - In-service education and improved patient care: the experience at NIMHANS. PMID- 2631043 TI - Beliefs and practices related to disposal of human placenta. PMID- 2631044 TI - Taking on the challenge of research in nursing. PMID- 2631045 TI - Staff nurses: role perception and role performance. AB - The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between role perception and role-performance. A sample of three hundred Staff Nurses was drawn from a Central Government hospital of Delhi. To assess role perception and role performance, a role perception questionnaire and a role performance inventory were administered respectively to each subject individually. The results indicated that inner-directed role perception had a negative relationship with role performance. Other directed role perception had a significant positive relationship with role performance. To achieve job success, Staff Nurses seemingly can concentrate on other directed role perception. PMID- 2631046 TI - Occupational health nursing: a symposium. PMID- 2631047 TI - Global trends in nursing: the dilemma and the reality. PMID- 2631048 TI - [Respiratory regulation in bronchial asthma]. AB - The aim of this study was to determine the changes in respiratory regulation in patients with bronchial asthma in different phases of the disease and after pharmacological bronchodilation. This study was carried out on 10 healthy volunteers and 35 asthmatics. In order to assess the changes in respiratory regulation the respiratory response to increasing hypercapnia using the rebreathing method. Changes in minute ventilation (VE) and CO2 induced occlusion pressure (PO2) were analysed. The respiratory index and PO2 during quiet breathing were registered. It was found that patients with bronchial asthma have increased respiratory drive (increased VT/TI and PO2), with unchanged time control fo the respiratory cycle. The response to hypercapnic stimulation based on evaluation of occlusion pressure is two times higher bronchial asthma compared with healthy volunteers. The ventilatory response to CO2 is decreased proportionally to the degree of bronchoconstriction. Bronchodilating agents decreased respiratory drive and increased the CO2 ventilatory response. In 2 patients with a history of asthmatic states an individual low reactivity to CO2 was found, which could be the reason for respiratory insufficiency in them. PMID- 2631049 TI - [Evaluation of right ventricular function using radioisotope angiography in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. AB - The aim of the study was the evaluation of equilibrium gated blood pool angiography in noninvasive assessment of right ventricular ejection fraction in 50 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The degree of ventilatory disturbances was measured using plethysmography to calculate air flow indexes- FEV1, MEF50 and Rt and gasometric values of arterialized capillary blood--PaO2, PaCO2, pH. The used method allowed calculation of RVEF in 41 patients, which were divided into three groups according to presence of symptoms of right ventricular failure and RVEF values. In 12 patients free of RV failure symptoms RVEF was decreased (below 40%). Basing on results of this study the authors believe that this method is useful in diagnosing subclinical states of RV failure. PMID- 2631050 TI - [Psychological state of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. AB - The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychical state of 48 patients with chronic respiratory failure in the course of COPD qualified for home oxygen therapy. The psychical state was analysed using the following tests: thorough clinical history, J. Taylor's evident anxiety scale, H. Gough's adjective scale and psychological rehabilitation effectiveness scale according to J. Tylka. The study showed that the majority of patients demonstrated high levels of fear, depression and anxiety, lowered self evaluation, negative attitude toward work, lack of life aims and disbelief in therapy benefit. Correlation between degree of primary disease and lowered self-being could not be demonstrated. The decisive effect had socio-economic situation and individual traits. PMID- 2631051 TI - [Role of fungi in house dust allergy in patients with bronchial asthma]. AB - The aim of the study was to evaluate the contribution of skin hyperreactivity to fungi in patients with bronchial asthma and demonstrating skin sensitivity to house dust. In 50 patients skin tests with 24 allergen solutions of fungi found most often in house dust. Positive skin tests were found in 92% of the evaluated patients. Reactions to fungi allergens were seen more often than to Dermatophagoides pteronyssimus. Most often skin reactivity toward the following fungal allergens were seen: Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium culmorum and Aureobasidium pullulans. It seems that skin hypersensitivity to fungi is very common in patients with bronchial asthma and sensitive to house dust. Clinical verification of this hypersensitivity should be studied further. PMID- 2631052 TI - [Effect of ambroxol on surfactant lipids in patients after resection of pulmonary tissue]. AB - Effect of Ambroxol on phospholipids and higher fatty acids of pulmonary surfactant was studied in patients with lung cancer undergoing pulmonary resection. Intravenous administration of Ambroxol was carried out for 8 days in a dose 1000 mg per day before pulmonary resection. It produced elevation of disaturated phosphatidylcholine and the general level of phosphatidylcholine. Also increase of palmitic acid and saturated fatty acids of the phospholipid fraction was found. The results of this study show that Ambroxol on a short time elevates levels of active substances of pulmonary surfactant and decreases the destructive processes of pulmonary parenchyma. PMID- 2631053 TI - [Primary lung cancer from biopsy material of the Pathomorphology Department of the Silesian Medical Academy in Zabrze]. AB - An analysis was carried out of material biopsied during fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination of 289 patients suspected of lung malignant disorders were present more often in males. In the group of patients older than 40 years the most often diagnosed malignant process was squamous cell carcinoma. A high correlation of clinical suspicion of malignant process and histopathological diagnosis was found. A low rate of diagnosis of operable cases was found. PMID- 2631054 TI - [Suggestive characteristics of inferior wall heart infarct in the EKG of patients with chronic cor pulmonale]. AB - ECG tracings are presented recorded in patient with cor pulmonale in the course of COPD. The ECG recording suggested infarct of the lower wall of the left ventricle. The dynamic changes of the tracing are shown occurring in the course of the disease. Differential diagnosis is made. PMID- 2631055 TI - [The families of diabetic children: a 2-year follow-up]. AB - A great amount of clinical and experimental evidence has been accumulated on the role of immunological early events in the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus. In order to try to make a precocious diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus, the Authors have studied all the components of the family in a group of diabetic children. This study is a part of a collaborative International Study called IFS (International Family Study). The Authors describe the scheme of this project in detail. During this study the Authors made a very early diagnosis of diabetes in a child, brother of another diabetic boy. The importance of this approach to the diabetic disease is discussed. PMID- 2631056 TI - [Neonatal hypothyroidism screening. 9 years' experience at a peripheral hospital]. AB - Since 1979 in our Hospital 2500 newborns have been screened for C.I. by T4 and, afterwards, by TSH test. One case of C.I. was detected with an apparently higher frequency than in Lombardia and Italy. Even in a peripheral hospital, the screening for C.I. is useful for patients and the society and it has to be extended all over the country. PMID- 2631057 TI - [Evaluation of the treatment with levodropropizine of respiratory diseases in children]. AB - Sometimes, antitussives can be a valid adjuvant to respiratory tract infections treatment. Although not always needed, this therapeutic support can be extremely useful in selected cases, and when patient is resident and monitored. In this line, the efficacy of a new peripheral antitussive, levodropropizine (Dompe farmaceutici, Milan), has been evaluated in 70 children inpatients of the Pediatric Department at san Paolo Hospital - Milan University - from September 1987 to May 1988. Thirty one male and 29 female children, aged 4 years and 6 months +/- 3 years and 5 months, suffering from various respiratory tract diseases were included in the study. Underlying diseases were represented by 21 acute bronchitis, 20 asthmatic attacks, 18 bronchopneumonia, 11 tracheitis, 6 acute episodes of chronic bronchitis, 2 hypoglottis laryngitis, 1 pertussis, 1 spontaneous pneumothorax. All parents gave their oral informed consent. The basic treatments were antibiotics in 44 patients associated or not with beta 2 agonists (31), theophylline (15), corticosteroids via aerosol (9) or parenterally (3), immunomodulators (2). Treatment with levodropropizine in the oral drops formulation at 2 mg pro kg a day was continued for 5 days and withdrawn according to the clinical evolution. Cough was registered by means of appropriate record forms given to the parents as well as with 120' tape recording whenever possible, i.e. 60 minutes before and 60 minutes after drug administration, on day one and 2. At treatment end, parents and investigator gave an antitussive efficacy judgement. Tolerability was evaluated as per clinical evolution and laboratory parameters. PMID- 2631058 TI - [The influence of click polarity and stimulation rate on the auditory evoked response in relation to age]. AB - In order to study the changes which occur in phase of the click stimulus and its relation to the stimulus repetition rate on the auditory brainstem response (ABR) as a function of age, the Authors recorded the ABR from the scalp's surface of 10 newborns and 40 infants, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 3 years old as well as from 10 normal adults. The stimulus was a square wave of 0.1 msec duration and 90 dBHL level. The stimulus equipment was calibrated twice under visual inspection to ensure that the C and R clicks resulted in an initial membrane deflection toward and from the ear drum respectively. No significant differences could be found for the latencies and amplitude in the C-R comparison. However, the mean values of the complete group of test subjects showed most intraindividual stability for the conventional click stimulation. The latency of the ABR with excitation of the cochlea seemed to be mainly determined by the internal oscillation sequence in the cochlea and not by the stimulus polarity. The amplitudes and latencies of the ABR components tend to decrease when the stimulus rate increases and the age decreases. The importance of the stimulus characteristics is discussed and some suggestions for clinical use of ABR are made. PMID- 2631059 TI - [Abnormal synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and hypercalcemia in children with tuberculosis]. AB - Three children with tuberculosis and hypercalcemia are reported. Before antitubercular treatment 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D serum levels and urinary calcium excretion were elevated for age in all patients; vitamin D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were in normal range whereas serum intact parathyroid hormone concentrations were suppressed. Low calcium diet and antitubercular treatment caused a normalization of serum calcium levels and urinary calcium excretion; 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations returned in normal range after three months of antituberculosis therapy. When 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was normal, a reintroduction of a diet with normal calcium content did not determine new hypercalcemic episodes. These data suggest that an abnormal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D production sustains the hypercalcemia of children with tuberculosis. An ectopic and unregulated synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D by macrophages of granulomatous tissue is proposed. PMID- 2631060 TI - [Hypochromic hyposideremic anemia as the first symptom of gastroesophageal reflux]. AB - In a five months infant is described by authors iron deficiency anaemia as early symptom of gastroesophageal reflux undiagnosed previously. Laboratory evaluation excluded any haematological pathology; thereafter clinical suspicion was confirmed by radiological exams and oesophageal PH-monitoring. PMID- 2631061 TI - [Clinical effectiveness of a new preparation of sustained-release theophylline]. AB - Twenty pediatric patients, age range 7-13 years, affected by asthma, have been treated with a sustained release preparation of theophylline once daily (mean dosage 13 mg/kg). The findings of plasma levels of theophylline below therapeutic range twenty four hours after dosing, in steady-state conditions, underline the need of individualized therapy specially in pediatric patients. The Authors observed a good therapeutic effect of this sustained release preparation, as expressed by improvement of symptomatology and pulmonary function tests, together with the sparing effect on other drugs. No side effects have been observed. PMID- 2631062 TI - [Benign intracranial hypertension caused by sulfenazone]. AB - Case report of a iatrogenic benign intracranial hypertension in a 7 months old infant. Unlike in the child and the adult, this syndrome has a peculiar non specific clinical pattern in the infant. Having ruled out other specific acute diseases of the central nervous system, it seems reasonable not to start any treatment since the outcome of this condition is always benign. PMID- 2631063 TI - [Possible interpretation errors in studying the pelvis in children. Description of 2 clinical cases]. AB - The Authors describe two clinical cases in which the report of an abnormal conformation of the pubic bones required a careful differential diagnosis between a pathological condition and physiological variants of the normal ossification. Considering the different ways of this process of ossification, the pediatrician and the radiologist can avoid a wrong diagnosis with considerable consequences for the little patient. PMID- 2631064 TI - [Delayed presentation of left-side congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Personal experience]. AB - The Authors report their experience on four patients affected with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia presented in the post-natal period. They describe the symptoms, diagnosis and surgical approach and discuss the prompt and normal response of the respiratory function to the operation. PMID- 2631065 TI - [Neonatal stridor. Description of a case of double aortic arch]. AB - Neonatal stridor often relates with a serious respiratory distress. We report a case of stridor appeared in tenth day of life. In this case of double aortic arch the surgical intervention at 25 days had a favourable outcome. Three months later the child was completely asymptomatic. An early diagnosis allows a prompt surgical approach with a favourable outcome. We outline the diagnostic procedure in neonatal stridor. PMID- 2631066 TI - [Melorheostosis linear scleroderma with osteopoikilosis. Description of a clinical case]. AB - A case of melorheostosis with osteopoikilosis and linear scleroderma is reported. The authors emphasize the rarity of the disease, the complexity of the therapeutic approach to the patient. PMID- 2631067 TI - [Function of the left cardiac ventricle in "pure" aortic insufficiency prior to and following valve replacement with a biological prosthesis]. AB - Contractibility of the left ventricle was investigated in 15 patients with chronic aortic insufficiency with class II and III NYHA lesions. The patients were examined prior to and 6 months-2 years after valve replacement with biological prosthesis. The following parameters have been determined: end systolic and end-diastolic left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction, mean rate of circular muscle fibers shortening, and segmental contractibility of the left ventricle. Valve replacement with biological prosthesis improved contract ability of the left ventricle in the great majority of the operated patients with chronic aortic insufficiency. Assessed parameters did not correlate well with those obtained following valve replacement. PMID- 2631068 TI - [Interaction of diprophylline with propranolol and procainamide]. PMID- 2631069 TI - [Tendinous cords in echocardiographic studies--occurrence, clinical significance]. AB - Tendinous chords inside cardiac ventricles were found in 53 (5.6%) out of 954 individuals examined echocardiographically within one year. Only 30 individuals were further analysed. No marked pathology in the cardiovascular system was found. Tendinous chord was localized in the right ventricle in 7 individuals, in left ventricle in 21, and in both ventricles in 2 subjects. Ventricular arrhythmias were shown in 11 subjects (36.6%) with the aid of a 24-hour ECG monitoring with Holter's technique. They were of the II and IV stage of advancement according to Lown's classification. Ventricular rhythm disorders were seen in both subjects with tendinous chord within left ventricle (7 subjects) and in the right ventricle (4 subjects). Local diastolic disorders with no effect on the ejection fraction were noted in all subjects with false chord and ventricular rhythm disorders. Ventricular cardiac rhythm disorders are being observed in the subjects with the false chord located within the right or the left cardiac ventricle producing local diastole disturbances. PMID- 2631070 TI - [Superoxide dismutase activity and malonic dialdehyde level in blood platelets of patients with coronary disease]. AB - The investigations aimed at evaluating free superoxide radicals generation and the degree of blood platelets cell membrane lipids peroxidation on the base of superoxide dismutase activity and malonic dialdehyde level in patients with ischaemic heart disease. The obtained results have shown that blood platelets superoxide dismutase activity is markedly lower in patients with ischaemic heart disease than in healthy individuals whereas malonic dialdehyde levels are markedly higher. PMID- 2631071 TI - [Diagnosis of intra- and pericardial tumor with transthoracic and transesophageal 2D echocardiography]. AB - To examine the value of the combined approach of transthoracic and transesophageal 2D-echocardiography in diagnosis of heart tumors this study was performed on 30 patients (11 males, 19 females, age 15 to 82 years) with atrial (n = 17) and pericardial (n = 13) tumors. Echocardiography was performed using an electronic sector scanner (Varian 3400 R) and a 2.25 MHz transducer for the transthoracic approach and a 3.5 MHz transducer at the tip of a 9 mm gastroscope for examination from the esophagus. In 9 of 11 patients with atrial myxoma diagnosis was established by transthoracic echocardiography, whereas in 2 cases with reduced image quality at the conventional approach the tumor was identified by the transesophageal technique. In one of 5 patients with atrial thrombi acoustic properties and mobility could be better judged by transesophageal echocardiography. In 7 of 13 cases with pericardial tumors diagnosis was established by transthoracic echocardiography, whereas in 6 cases diagnosis was achieved by the transesophageal approach only. Thus, transesophageal echocardiography is suggested a decisive additional tool in diagnosis of heart tumors. PMID- 2631072 TI - [Effect of a single episode of exertion on serum 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentration in healthy individuals and patients with exercise-induced stable angina pectoris]. AB - An effect of the electrocardiographic exercise on serum 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was investigated in healthy individuals and patients with exercise-induced stable angina pectoris. It was found that serum 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentration was higher in healthy individuals following single exercise and at rest than that in the patients with exercise-induced stable angina pectoris. Single exercise increased serum 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentration only in healthy individuals. PMID- 2631073 TI - [Genetic aspects of alcoholism]. PMID- 2631074 TI - [Alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis as a cause of portal hypertension]. AB - Basic data on pathomorphology and symptomatology of the alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis accompanied by portal hypertension are discussed. Respective data were compared with the group of cirrhotic patients not abusing alcohol. A high percentage of encephalopathic disorders and nearly 50% of the patients suffering from the hemorrhage from esophageal varices were the first sign of the cirrhosis in both groups. Despite hemorrhage from esophageal varices a few patients obtained surgical help preventing recurrence of the hemorrhage. Liver functional reserve, incidence of encephalopathies and the degree of liver involvement are in favour for non-alcohol cirrhosis. Inflammatory process in the liver, splenomegaly and hypersplenism were more frequent in the liver cirrhosis of non-alcohol origin. PMID- 2631075 TI - [N-Acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity and hydroxyproline excretion in liver diseases in alcoholics]. AB - In 35 biopsied alcoholic subjects daily hydroxyproline excretion in the urine and NAGL activity in the serum was determined. Hydroxyproline did not correlate with morphological changes but NAGL activity was significantly higher in the group with active fibrosis. PMID- 2631076 TI - [Free fatty acids in the serum of patients with alcoholism]. AB - Blood free fatty acids and their composition were investigated in 25 alcohol abusers hospitalized for detoxication. Blood samples were collected at the admission to the hospital and following detoxication therapy. Free fatty acids were assayed with Dole's technique whereas their composition with gas chromatography. Liver functioning was evaluated with the aid of the following tests: AspAT, AlAT, AP, bilirubin concentration, and thymol test. An increase in free fatty acids concentration was seen in 12 out of 25 patients prior to detoxication. Blood serum free fatty acids were within normal limits in all except one patient after detoxication. A decrease in linoleic acid levels was seen in both total fatty acids and free fatty acids before detoxication. It is more marked in total fatty acids than in free fatty acids and persists after detoxication. Linoleic acid content in free fatty acids returns to the normal values following detoxication. An increase in oleic acid level accompanying a decrease in linoleic acid concentration is probably secondary to the stimulation with hydrogen excess formed during alcohol fermentation. PMID- 2631077 TI - [Ischemic cerebral stroke and alcohol]. AB - Retrospective analysis of patients with ischaemic cerebral stroke with particular relation to an effect of alcohol has been made. A group of 277 male patients aged upto 60 years was distinguished. Out of these patients alcohol abuse in anamnesis concerned 128 patients, and ischaemic cerebral stroke occurred in 16 of them during or immediately after drinking. An analysis included neurological status of the patients and the status of vascular system in correlation with changes in cerebral vessels angiography. PMID- 2631078 TI - [Alcoholism in patients with pharyngeal cancer]. PMID- 2631079 TI - [Stimulation of depression as a cause of circulatory and respiratory failure and death]. PMID- 2631080 TI - Rampant dental caries in Papua New Guinean children. AB - The main etiological factors and the pattern of distribution of rampant caries in a sample of children in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG) are presented. Inadequate oral hygiene and prolonged breast or bottle feeding at will were found to be main causative factors. The study sample showed many decayed teeth with pulpal involvement making the treatment procedures more complicated. PMID- 2631081 TI - Overbite values in Nigerian children. AB - Overbite values in 650 Nigerian children aged 11-13 years have been measured using the Jackson method of overbite classification. The commonest overbite value in Nigerian children is 1 with a prevalence of 75.3 per cent which is followed by overbite 2 with a prevalence of 16.3 per cent. The study showed that Nigerians have a lesser overbite value compared with Caucasians. PMID- 2631082 TI - [Construction technic for globular and palpebral ocular prosthesis]. AB - A prosthesis mounted on dark glasses was made for the right eyeball and lid of, a child of 13, one year after exeresis and chemotherapy following a recurring liposarcoma. The presence of local or distant metastases was ruled out. The aestheti improvement reduing socila disomfort is clearly illustrated in photographs taken before (1) and after (8). PMID- 2631083 TI - Dental caries experience of 7 to 12-year old West Malaysian aborigines (Temuan tribe). AB - A preliminary survey on sixty-nine 7 to 12 year old Temuan tribe school children living some 30 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur was conducted. The examinations were carried out using a chair-table set up with natural daylight as the source of light. The DMF index of klein, Palmer and Knutson was used to assess the dental caries status. In spite of low fluoride content in their water supply, the findings revealed a generally low prevalence of caries experience (DMFT 1.26). The highest DMFT was in the 11 year olds. The relationship between these findings and their possible causes are discussed. PMID- 2631084 TI - The biotechnologies in the pharmacological research. Proceedings of a symposium held during the XXIV national congress of the Italian Society of Pharmacology. Brescia, Italy, September 28, 1988. PMID- 2631085 TI - Enhanced antitumor activity of adriamycin by encapsulation in mouse erythrocytes targeted to liver and lungs. AB - Adriamycin was encapsulated within human and murine (B6D2F1 female mice) erythrocytes using a procedure based on hypotonic hemolysis followed by isotonic resealing and reannealing. Following drug encapsulation the murine erythrocytes were treated with glutaraldehyde to obtain: a) control of Adriamycin efflux from loaded erythrocytes, b) appropriate hepatic and pulmonary targeting of the in vivo re-infused cells. The antitumor effect of equivalent amounts of bolus (i.v.) administered Adriamycin, 1) free, 2) encapsulated within erythrocytes, 3) encapsulated within glutaraldehyde-treated erythrocytes, was compared using an in vivo model of metastasis based on selective hepatic and pulmonary dissemination of intrasplenically injected L1210 cells in B6D2F1 mice. The therapeutic index (TI) of Adriamycin encapsulated within glutaraldehyde-treated erythrocytes increased by more than two-fold over that of the free drug. PMID- 2631086 TI - Dry heat popping of amaranth seed might damage some of its essential amino acids. AB - Amaranth was a major crop among the Aztecs. In Mexico the seed is popped and eaten with brown sugar. The crude protein content of the seed is 14 +/- 2% but its contents of lysine and tryptophan are 6.2 and 1.6 g/16 g N respectively. We developed a popping method based on a fluid bed system (FBS) whereas the traditional method (TM) is just to pop the seeds manually in a hot plate. Assays carried out were evaluation of racemization of the amaranth protein due to heat treatment, amino acid composition of the raw and heat treated seeds and a biological experiment testing whether leucine was the most limiting amino acid of amaranth protein. Male rats were fed both popped amaranths and roasted amaranth. Parboiled amaranth and casein were controls. The results were: (a) Lys, Arg and Cys were damaged in the heat treated seeds; (b) Asp, Met, Glu, Ala and Phe were racemized in that decreasing order in the seeds popped and roasted by the TM; (c) the estimated net protein retention (NPR) and estimated net protein utilization (NPU) of popped amaranths by either method were not different, but were lower than for the parboiled amaranth. The parboiled amaranth was not different from casein; (d) Leu was not the most limiting amino acid in any of the amaranth seeds tested. After Lys, sulfur amino acids appear to be the next most limiting in severely heat treated amaranth. The FBS seems to be a promising method for popping amaranth at industrial level. PMID- 2631087 TI - Changes in nutritional value of guava fruits infected by major post-harvest pathogens. AB - Post-infection changes in ascorbic acid, sugars, proteins and phenols were studied in guava fruits infected by major post-harvest pathogens which in order of importance were Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, (Penz.), Botryodiplodia theobromae, Pat., Rhizopus arrhizus Fischer., Phomopsis psidii Nag Raj and Ponnappa apud Ponnappa and Nag Raj, and Pestalotiopsis versicolor (Speg.) Steyaert. Contents of ascorbic acid, sugars and proteins declined in the fruits infected by Botryodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Pestalotiopsis versicolor, Phomopsis psidii and Rhizopus arrhizus. Total phenols increased in fruits infected by Pestalotiopsis versicolor and Rhizopus arrhizus while reverse was observed in fruits infected by other pathogens. PMID- 2631088 TI - Effect of addition of bovine milk and vegetable milks on the in vitro availability of iron from cereal meals. AB - Studies were carried out on the in vitro availability of iron from a standard cereal meal with and without the addition of bovine milk (BM), groundnut milk (GM) and soybean milk (SM). Further, availability of iron from these milks per se was also investigated. Estimation of the total iron content from BM, GM, and SM revealed that it was highest in case of SM followed by GM and BM. This trend was reversed for percent available iron which was highest for BM followed by GM and SM. The in vitro availability of iron from the cereal meal was low (3.7%). Addition of BM and GM enhanced the availability of iron from the standard meal whereas SM had no particular enhancing quality. The practical implications of the findings for iron nutrition in humans are discussed. PMID- 2631089 TI - Quantitative determinations of chemical compounds with nutritional value from Inca crops: Chenopodium quinoa ('quinoa'). AB - Quantitative determinations of total and soluble proteins, total and free sugars, starch, total lipids, tanins, ash (Ca, Na, K, Fe, and P), and caloric value were carried out on quinoa flour. Results show that the amount of soluble proteins was higher than the standard value for wheat and maize and was very close to that of barley's. The yield of free sugars like glucose (4.55%), fructose (2.41%) and sucrose (2.39%) were also of importance. Iron and calcium levels were higher than the reported values for maize and barley. The same occurred for the caloric value (435.5 Kcal/100 g). The content of saponins was also examined since its effect on red blood cells of group A and O has been related as a potential problem of the Andes population. From the chemical analysis a more complete view about quinoa as human food was presented. PMID- 2631090 TI - Intestinal absorption of D-galactose in the presence of extracts from Phaseolus vulgaris hulls. AB - The relatively low nutritional value of protein from legume seeds has been attributed to the occurrence of some antinutritional factors and the poor content in sulphur aminoacids, which leads to undesirable physiological and biochemical alterations. However, the intimate nature of these processes remains unclear. In order to evaluate the influence of naturally occurring substances of legume constituents on nutrient utilization, the intestinal absorption of D-galactose in the presence of aqueous or alcoholic extracts, obtained from Phaseolus vulgaris hulls, has been measured by use of the in vivo successive absorption technique. Aqueous extracts inhibited significantly (p less than 0.01) the uptake of D galactose at different times of exposure, while no changes in sugar transport were observed with the alcoholic solutions. Polyamide treatment (a polyphenolic complexing agent) of the aqueous extracts decreased its ability to inhibit sugar uptake. Kinetic studies showed that the aqueous fractions modify Vmax values for D-galactose absorption and also KT data. This inhibition appeared to be reversible after short periods of exposure, affecting mainly the active component of transport. Therefore, it can be suggested that some substances, contained in aqueous extracts of Phaseolus vulgaris reduce sugar absorption. Furthermore, our studies seem to indicate that polyphenols are, at least partly, involved in this phenomenon. PMID- 2631091 TI - Properties of Thai cooked rice and noodles differing in glycemic index in noninsulin-dependent diabetics. AB - Glycemic index responses of two cooked rices and six types of cooked noodles consumed by eight noninsulin-dependent diabetics correlated positively with in vitro starch digestibility of food slurry and negatively with amylose content of the food. Glutinous (waxy) rice had the highest values, and mung bean noodles the lowest. PMID- 2631093 TI - Nutritional evaluation of experimental weaning foods prepared from green leaves, peanut oil, and legume flour. AB - Experimental weaning foods were prepared from alfalfa leaves, peanut oil, and mung bean, chickpea or soy flour. The weaning foods were analyzed to determine their yield, proximate composition and amino acid content. Yields from starting materials ranged from 29 to 99%. Highest yields were obtained when 20% legume or oilseed flour was incorporated into leaf protein-peanut oil gels. The moisture content of the weaning foods ranged from 42 to 65%, protein from 3.4 to 6.5%, fat from 23 to 48%, and carbohydrate from 3 to 13%. Proteins in the experimental weaning foods were found to be deficient in the sulfur amino acids. Amino acid scores for weaning foods containing 20% legume or oilseed flour ranged from 50 for mung bean to 62 for soy. It was estimated that a four-ounce daily serving of one of the soy weaning foods would supply 40% of the energy and 35% of the protein needs of a one-year-old infant. PMID- 2631092 TI - Bioavailability of riboflavin from fortified palm juice. AB - The bioavailability of riboflavin from fortified palm juice was assessed in young adult men, Riboflavin status was assessed from urinary riboflavin excretion and erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGR-AC) while iron status was assessed from haemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations. Although the consumption of unfortified palm juice made significant contribution to the meager riboflavin intake, it conferred no metabolic advantage. The consumption of fortified palm juice produced a marked reduction in EGR-AC values and a significant increase in urinary riboflavin excretion. Since iron release from storage sites may be flavin dependent, riboflavin deficiency may affect iron utilization. Fortification may prove effective in alleviating nutrient deficiencies, but the carrier vehicle must be acceptable to all age groups. PMID- 2631094 TI - Aflatoxin levels in foodstuffs in Fiji and Tonga islands. AB - Fungal growth is a major problem of food storage in humid environments, as occur in South Pacific countries for parts of the year. Major crops, including edible nuts, copra and root crops, are susceptible to Aspergillus growth and therefore potential contamination with aflatoxin. Liver cancer occurs in Fiji and Tonga, with the occurrence in Fijians being significantly higher than in the Indian population. Thirty-three peanut samples from farmers were analysed for aflatoxin and 50% of the samples from Fiji were positive but only 9% from Tonga, reflecting different storage practices. Local copra, cassava, and maize samples were found contaminated, with only the maize at a serious level. Twenty-five plate food samples from Fiji showed low contamination. When starch foods from the Fijian diet left after cooking were analysed to follow potential aflatoxin development only sweet potatoes showed some contamination. PMID- 2631095 TI - Fatty acid composition of eleven algae from coastal zones of Qatar. AB - The fatty acid composition of eleven species of algae belonging to Rhodophyceae, collected from the coastal zones of Qatar, are reported. The major fatty acids identified were palmitic (16:0), myristic (14:0), oleic (18:1), eicosadienoic (20:2), linoleic (18:2), stearic (18:0) and hexadecaenoic acid (16:1). The fatty acids were characterized by the relatively high abundance of polyunsaturated acids, while the C18 unsaturated acids were appreciably more abundant than the C20 unsaturated acids. PMID- 2631096 TI - Student loans: long term debts? PMID- 2631098 TI - 'Barefoot' dentistry in Andhra Pradesh. PMID- 2631097 TI - Why dentistry? Recruitment problems loom for the 1990s. PMID- 2631099 TI - Improve your practice image. PMID- 2631100 TI - Taking the pressure off new graduates. PMID- 2631101 TI - Hepatitis B: is it worth taking the risk? PMID- 2631102 TI - Insurance: so you think you're covered. PMID- 2631103 TI - It must never happen here.... PMID- 2631104 TI - Effects of chlorine and fluorine on vitamin E, the human body and the environment. PMID- 2631105 TI - Stress and tooth decay. PMID- 2631106 TI - Why use a computer? PMID- 2631107 TI - Birth of the Probe. PMID- 2631108 TI - [Affinity chromatography for purification of phospholipase A2 from the venom of Central Asian cobra]. AB - A method of affinity chromatography was developed for purification of phospholipase A2(PL-A2) from the Central Asian cobra venon. The enzyme was covalently coupled to a polyamide sorbent with phosphatidilethanolamine (PEA) and cytotoxin (CT). The effect of CA2+ concentration and the ion strength of the solution on the enzyme adsorption was studied. The most efficient coupling of the enzyme to the sorbent was observed at pH 8--9 in case of the Ca2+ absence and a low ion strength of the solution. For desorption of the enzyme Triton X-100 at a concentration of 0.5% should be introduced in the eluting solution. The affinity adsorption chromatography enabled the isolation of two forms of phospholipase A2 with different affinity for PEA and CT. The total yield of the enzyme was 91% at a purification degree of 5.5 and 3.5, respectively. The introduction of the second ligand (CT) in the composition of the sorbent with the phospholipid ligand allowed the authors to increase its capacity and affinity for the phospholipase A2 from the snake venom. PMID- 2631109 TI - [The use of hemoglobin for determination of phospholipase A2 activity]. AB - A spectrophotometric method is proposed for determining phospholipase A2 activity, which is based on the conversion of hemoglobin into hemichrome under the fatty acid action. The spectral difference between hemoglobin and hemichrome was registered by the difference spectrum with a minimum at 405 nm and a maximum at 423 nm. The absorption value determined as the difference between the spectrum maximum and minimum was proportional to the amount of the fatty acid derived from hydrolysis of phospholipids. The method enables the enzyme activity to be determined directly in the spectrophotometric cell. PMID- 2631110 TI - Hygienists visit the Soviet Union (March 12-21, 1989). PMID- 2631111 TI - The effect of rubber cup vs an air-powder abrasive system on root surfaces. PMID- 2631112 TI - Diet and dental caries. PMID- 2631113 TI - Distribution and excretion of artesunate in rats. AB - The tissue distribution and excretion of artesunate in rats were determined using a radioimmunoassay method. Ten min after i.v. administration of the drug, the highest level was found in the intestine. Levels in other tissues were in the following decreasing order: brain, liver, kidney, testicle, muscle, fat, heart, serum, eyeball, spleen, and lung. However, 1 h after administration, the drug levels dropped significantly in all tissues, but not in the same proportions. High levels remained in the brain, fat, intestine and serum. Drug levels in other tissues were very low. Less than 1% of the dose was found in urine and feces collected during the 24 h period after administration. PMID- 2631114 TI - Comparative study of metastatic behavior of a human tumor cell line in athymic (nu/nu) and beige nude mice (bg/bg-nu/nu). AB - In this experiment, the "nu" gene was introduced into "beige" mutant mice, which are immunodeficient in NK cell activity. The resultant beige nude mice (bg/bg nu/nu) have combined immunodeficiency in both T and NK cell activities. The level of NK cell activity in beige nude mice is slightly higher than that in beige mice, but much lower than that in nude mice. This is consistent with other studies. In order to elucidate the role of the metastatic behavior of a human tumor cell line PAa in both athymic nude mice and beige nude mice. The PAa cell line was originally established from a human lung adenocarcinoma and maintained as a solid tumor by serial s.c. passage in nude mice. During the first 18 passages in nude mice, PAa cells were found to have metastasized spontaneously to regional lymph nodes in only 4 animals, but metastases were no longer found in subsequent passages. The total incidence of metastasis in nude mice was 9% (4/44). However, when inoculated s.c. into beige nude mice, the metastatic rate of PAa cells was 43% (9/21) to the regional lymph nodes and 10% (2/21) to the lungs in two separate experiments. We conclude from the results that NK cells may play an important, if not exclusive, role in host resistance to tumor metastasis. Beige nude mice could serve as a useful in vivo model in studies of the biology and heterogeneity of human tumor metastasis. PMID- 2631115 TI - Determination of avicularin in Polygonum aviculare L. by square wave polarography. AB - A method for the determination of avicularin in Polygonum aviculare L. is described. Square wave polarography (SWP) with a static mercury drop electrode was used to observe the reduction of avicularin. The supporting electrolyte was an acetate buffer solution of pH 4. Avicularin gives a well-defined peak at a potential of -1.30 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). An excellent linear relationship was obtained between the concentration (1.20-3.59 x 10(-6) mol/L) and peak current. The method can be used to analyze small amounts of sample. PMID- 2631116 TI - Treatment of habitual dislocation of the temporomandibular joint with subsynovial injection of sclerosant through arthroscope. AB - Five patients with habitual dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), failing in conservative therapy, were treated with subsynovial injections of sclerosant through an arthroscope, and this treatment was proved to be effective over the short-term. Compared with operation, this method is easily performed and produces less damage and no significant sequelae, but the long-term effects have yet to be observed. PMID- 2631117 TI - Observation on the effect of sodium nitroprusside and dopamine on acute myocardial infarction during hospitalization. AB - With improvements in cardiac monitoring systems and the effective treatment of arrhythmias, the case-fatality rate of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been declining gradually since 1972. But since 1977, despite the great efforts of medical workers in many countries, the lowest case-fatality rate of AMI has still been about 10%. Over many years, our institute has carried out research aimed at improving the treatment of AMI. However, in our institute the case-fatality rate has fluctuated between 15 and 20% in recent years. From March 1986 to January 1987 we adopted a sodium nitroprusside and dopamine intravenous drip in the treatment of 92 cases of AMI and achieved a hospitalization period AMI case fatality rate of less than 5% (2 patients died). The treatment methods and relevant materials are reported here. PMID- 2631118 TI - A study of event-related potential P300 in cerebral infarction. AB - N1, P2 and P300 potentials were studied in 20 cases of cerebral infarction and 47 healthy controls with the standard technique of auditory event-related potentials. Healthy controls of both sexes, different ages, education levels and cognitive capacity did not show apparent differences in the latency of P300 (P greater than 0.05, respectively). The patient group, however, revealed a significant (P less than 0.001) prolongation of latency of P300 (means = 409.6 +/ 50 ms) as compared with 28 well matched healthy subjects (means = 337.7 +/- 24 ms). Although there was a slightly lower amplitude of P300 in the patient group, the difference between control and patient groups was not significant (P greater than 0.05). There was a significant difference in the Cognitive Capacity Screening Examination findings between control and patient groups (P less than 0.01), but it seems that evaluation of the cognition-related latency of P300 may be more objective and sensitive in distinguishing between organic and cognitive distress (P less than 0.001). PMID- 2631119 TI - Design and clinical application of a dual channel electrical stimulator for scoliosis. AB - Fifteen patients with scoliosis were treated by a dual channel surface stimulator made in China. After an 18.5 month treatment, their curves decreased by 3 degrees to 15 degrees. The effective rate was 93.3%. PMID- 2631120 TI - DNA sequence analysis of the Hind III M fragment from Chinese vaccine strain of vaccinia virus. AB - The complete DNA sequence of the Hind III M fragment of vaccinia virus (VV) Tian Tan strain genome was determined by the dideoxynucleotide chain termination method. Three open reading frames (ORFs) were identified in the complementary strand of the sequence, comprised of 2218bp. Among them, ORF K1 initiates its transcription at -45 of the Hind III K fragment. The deduced peptide encoded by K1 contains 284 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 32.48 KDa. Its sequence is homologous to the host range protein of VV Copenhagen strain; the variation is only 2.46% at the amino acid level. ORF M2 could encode a peptide of 21.94 KDa with 196 amino acids. This gene was shown to be homologous to that of the 23 KDa peptide of herpes simplex virus type I. A non-coding region of 204bp located between K1 and M2 is rich in palindromic structures. ORF M1 extends its 3' terminus into the Hind III N fragment. Within the M fragment, M1 can only encode 212 amino acids. The major part of ORF M1 is very similar to the M portion of a possible alpha-amanitin resistance gene isolated from VV-WR strain. This work provides a molecular foundation in the construction of a new insertion vector for the preparation of a recombinant vaccinia virus to be used as a polyvalent live vaccine. PMID- 2631121 TI - Effect of ligustrazine on Ca2+ uptake by inside-out red cell membrane vesicles from renal hypertensive rats. AB - The effect of ligustrazine (Lig) on blood pressure and Ca2+ uptake by inside-out red cell membrane vesicles (IOV) was investigated in renal hypertensive rats (RHR). After oral administration of Lig (30 mg/kg body weight/day) for 10 days, the blood pressure of RHR was not significantly changed (before vs after experiment: 147.50 +/- 2.50 vs 150.00 +/- 13.42 mmHg). The active Ca2+ uptake rate of IOVs from RHR was 5.03 +/- 1.15 nmol/ng IOV protein/min, and this was lower than that of IOVs from normotensive Wistar rats (8.95 +/- 1.08 nmol/ng IOV protein/min, P less than 0.01). In RHR, no change in IOV Ca2+ uptake capacity was observed after administration of Lig in vivo. Experiments in vitro showed that Lig markedly reduced Ca2+ uptake by IOVs from both RHR and control rats. The results indicate that the active Ca2+ transport capacity of red cell membranes is decreased in RHR and not significantly affected by oral administration of Lig; this drug, however, exerts an inhibitory effect on the transport process in vitro. PMID- 2631122 TI - Effect of chuanxiongqin (tetrame-thylpyrazine) on microcirculatory perfusion in hamsters and capillary permeability in rats. AB - The authors continuously observed the effect of Chuanxiongqin on the microcirculation of hamster cheek pouch by use of the Dual-Window Television Automatic Estimating System. It was seen that the caliber of arterioles, the microcirculatory velocity, and blood flow all decreased after local application of noradrenaline and all increased and returned to normal 1 to 30 min after local administration of Chuanxiongqin. Microcirculatory perfusion, however, could not be improved by normal saline or Iluangqi. The effect of Chuanxiongqin on the pulmonary capillary permeability was also investigated in rats. Pulmonary edema was induced in rats by adrenaline administration. Evans blue was injected intravenously and the amount of Evans blue in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid was estimated. It was found that Evans blue was increased in broncho-alveolar fluid of rats with pulmonary edema, and this increase could be lessened by Chuanxiongqin. PMID- 2631123 TI - First case of sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus in mainland China. PMID- 2631124 TI - Crow-Fukase syndrome--a case report. PMID- 2631125 TI - [Heart rhythm reactivity in patients with endogenous depression. I. Respiratory tests]. AB - The aim of the study was the evaluation of central autonomic regulation in endogenous depression. It was based on estimation of heart rhythm reactivity to physiologic stimuli with regards to the dependence between the severity of anxiety and the reactivity. In thirty healthy subjects, fourteen neurotics and thirty patients with endogenous depression intensity of anxiety and depression symptoms was measured. The measurements included: heart beat rate and respiratory rate in rest, amplitude of heart rhythm changes during normal breathing and both during hyperventilation and Valsalva test, the time of duration of heart rhythm acceleration in Valsalva test, and the index of termination of heart beat rate in hyperventilation test. It was proved the domination of excitability and reactivity to weak and short stimuli, and the functional dominance of sympathetic system in endogenous depression. No dependence was found between autonomic system reactivity in depression and the intensity of anxiety. The results may indicate that one part of vegetative disturbances in endogenous depression is not connected with anxiety but results from other pathogenetic mechanisms of depressive syndrome. PMID- 2631126 TI - [Delusions as a multidimensional phenomenon]. AB - The new scientific approach to the problem of delusions--the search for their internal structure, emerges in the literature. The aim of the study is both the presentation of self-constructed Scale of Delusional Dimensions, and the presentation of results obtained by the use of the that particular scale. The scale consists of seven subscales dealing with various dimensions of delusional thinking: conviction, preoccupation, coherence, objectivity, range, eccentricity, and the influence on behaviour. Each of the subscales includes five statements which describe the traits of delusions and their dimensions. One hundred paranoid schizophrenic patients were examined by the use of Scale and data were statistically analysed. The significant correlations between the features in each dimensions prove their independence from each other. It raises the conclusion that delusions are multidimensional phenomenon, i.e., they possess a complex structure. On this basis one may predict that each dimension may change independently in the course of disease and healing. It appeared that relatively low correlations exist between some features of delusions located in various dimensions, which allows to predict only the tendency to coupling of individual traits of delusions. PMID- 2631127 TI - [Severity of alcohol dependence and social functioning of male patients with alcoholism. I. Functioning in the sharing of marital roles]. AB - The relations between social functioning and severity of alcohol dependence of 40 male patients from Dependence Treatment Ward in Bydgoszcz were studied. Using the MAST, CAGE, and self clinical scale the cohort was divided into two groups: less and more severe dependent probands. The demographic and social data of patients from both groups did not differ significantly. Social functiong was evaluated by use the Scale of Social Roles taking into consideration the set of marital roles (with basic roles of sexual partner, friend, guardian, and family support). The disposition to perform the role, privileges, fulfilling the duties, activity, and harmonization of the role were estimated in each of the role mentioned above and in every patient. It was shown that subjects more dependent on alcohol are significantly less active in the role of sexual partner and in support of family, as well as are less effective in performing such roles and are more egoistic in the role of sexual partner than men less dependent on alcohol. No differences were found in other roles among studied groups. The revealed differences were discussed in the aspect of psychologica and interactive hanges in marital couple. PMID- 2631128 TI - [Severity of alcohol dependence and social functioning of male patients with alcoholism. II. Functioning in parental, employee's and autonomous roles]. AB - The relations between social functioning and severity of alcohol dependence of 40 male patients from Dependence Treatment Ward in Bydgoszcz were studied. Using the MAST, CAGE, and self clinical scale the cohort was divided into two groups: less and more severe dependent probands. The demographic and social data of patients from both groups did not differ significantly. Social functioning was evaluated by use the Scale of Social Roles taking into consideration the set of basic roles: role of guardian, family support, educator, superior, subordinate, member of social group, patient, and the role of child. The dispositions to perform the role, privileges, fulfilling the duties, activity, and harmonization of the role were estimated in each of the role mentioned above and in every patient. It was shown that subjects more dependent on alcohol are significantly less active in the role of family support, educator, subordinate, and they possess significantly less dispositions to the role of educator and superior. No differences were shown between the groups regarding other characteristics of each role. The comparison of joint structural elements of the whole set of roles among more dependent patients showed deficits of social functioning as follow: the impairment of dispositions and fulfilling of duties as well as lesser activity, in comparison with less dependent probands. The level of privileges obtained from the roles did not differ in both groups. The specific influence of alcohol dependence severity on the way of social functioning demonstrated in the study may show the directions of therapy. PMID- 2631129 TI - [The Rorschach test in the diagnosis of schizophrenia]. AB - Rorschach test was performed in 20 schizophrenics and 20 patients with endogenous depression. The results were interpreted according to Piotrowski system by using the computer elaboration of data. At least a half of schizophrenics showed abnormal values of following: index alpha indexes (impairment of external and internal activity), %D (analytic, practical thinking) %H + Hd (attitude toward people), %F + p (correctness of thinking). The comparison with the endogenous depression group revealed however only the %F + p significant difference between both groups of patients (values in depressed patients were within normal range). The comparison of schizophrenia and depression group regarding other results of the test their configuration showed more often answers of anatomic and sexual content, more often popular answers, and larger number of introverts in the group of schizophrenia. In the depressive group larger was the number of refusal to answer after presentation of some test tables. The results confirm several abnormalities in various indexes in Rorschach test psychogram among patients with schizophrenia. At the same time they shake the opinion of relative diagnostic specificity of the test because several similar abnormalities were found in patients with endogenous depression. PMID- 2631130 TI - [Expert evaluation by forensic psychiatrists of aged delinquents]. AB - In the period from 1970 till 1987 forensic psychiatric certification of 1333 delinquents war made in Regional Psychiatric Hospital in Ciborz. Forty experts (3%) regarded subjects aged 60 years or more. The most common crimes were those against life and health--62.5%; predominantly homicides, assaults and assaults on public functioning, as well as arson--10%. Among male delinquents 68% were under the influence of alcohol at the time of crime of arson and assaults. Other common crime were establish in 15%. Only 1 patient was accused of sexual child abuse (2.5%). Women made 20% of offenders; one half of them committed the crime against life and health, mainly menace. Mental disturbances were found in 90% of patients. Dementia was diagnosed in 20%, organic personality disorder in 30%, and pseudoneurotic syndrome in 15%. Delusional syndrome was diagnosed in 15% while 5% of patients had long history of psychiatric disorders. 35% of expertise were made during single psychiatric interview. It is our opinion that a single examination of aged delinquent does not allow the correct evaluation of the influence of complex relations between possible mental disturbances, somatic illness, drugs (often various pathology and polytherapy) and alcohol, on delinquent's soundness of mind. Taking into consideration the widespread of above mentioned disturbances in the aged population we think that every person in the age above 60 suspected of crime should undergo psychiatric evaluation and hospital observation. PMID- 2631131 TI - [Dementia syndromes in hospitalized chronic schizophrenics]. PMID- 2631132 TI - [Two cases of somnambulism]. PMID- 2631133 TI - Personality disorders. PMID- 2631134 TI - Open assessment of the safety and efficacy of thioridazine in the treatment of patients with borderline personality disorder. AB - A 12-week open study was conducted to assess the possible efficacy and safety of low-dose thioridazine in 11 outpatients (8 women, 3 men) with borderline personality disorder (BPD) diagnosed according to DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association 1987) and the Diagnostic Interview for Borderline Patients (DIB; Gunderson et al. 1981) criteria. Mean thioridazine dose averaged 92 mg per day across the duration of this study. At endpoint, there was a significant reduction in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS; Overall & Gorham 1988) scores, and patients appeared to be less symptomatic on the impulse action patterns, affects, and psychosis subscales of the DIB (modified to assess change). Subjects completing the entire study (n = 6) also showed improvement in interpersonal relations. On self-report measures, significant improvement was noted on most Hopkins Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90; Derogatis et al. 1973) subscales, particularly in hostility and additional depressive features. Subjects completing the entire study showed significant improvement in paranoid ideation, interpersonal sensitivity, and anxiety. Three patients, however, developed sustained melancholic depressions that necessitated their discontinuation from the study and the initiation of anti-depressant treatment. These three individuals were more schizotypal, schizoid, and paranoid at baseline according to Personality Disorder Examination (PDE; Loranger et al. 1987) structured interviews. Weight gain was not a significant problem, but sedation and erectile dysfunction were. Overall, these findings suggest that thioridazine may exert prominent effects on patients with BPD and that double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are warranted. PMID- 2631135 TI - The role of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of patients with borderline personality disorder. AB - Most patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), especially early in their treatment, will need pharmacotherapy along with supportive or exploratory psychotherapy. A benzodiazepine anxiolytic will suffice for some. Many require more definitive treatment with an antidepressant or a neuroleptic in low dosage. Those with bipolar II comorbidity may benefit from lithium or, if the irritability component is pronounced, from carbamazepine. In practice, a variety of personality factors and comorbid conditions, over-represented in populations of BPD patients, often complicate the clinical picture. Depending upon the mix of these factors, drugs may have to be avoided, nonstandard combinations of drugs may be necessary, or a safer but less effective drug may have to be substituted for a generally more effective drug whose abuse in a suicidal patient might have more dangerous consequences. Examples of complicating factors, namely premenstrual syndrome (PMS), bulimia, agoraphobia, major affective (including bipolar II manic-depressive) disorder, hypersomnia, and so forth are discussed. PMID- 2631136 TI - [Difficulties in serological diagnosis of HIV infection]. AB - Using Abbott's kits for immunoenzymatic diagnosis of antibodies to the recombinant antigens of the HIV-1 retrovirus (EIA-II test which was higher valued than the EIA-I test of the previous generation of the same production) 16,480 examinations of the sera of high risk groups and foreign students were done. All positive or doubtful results of the EIA test were verified by the Western blot technique. The obtained results positive and doubtful are presented, and only four were not in agreement by both methods. Attention is called to the possibility of erroneous results of tests when the instructions of the producer are not followed, if the sera are incorrectly prepared for the test, and if inactivated sera are used. PMID- 2631137 TI - [Prevalence of specific anti-HIV antibodies among the population of the Lodz province]. AB - In an examination of 109,041 subjects for the presence of antibodies to HIV in the serum in 7 cases a positive result was obtained by the EIA method (Abbott), including 2 blood donors (out of 101,971 examined ones), 4 homosexuals (of 232 ones) and 1 prostitute (of 337 ones). All results were confirmed by the Western blot technique in the State Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw. Three out of six men infected with HIV had had previously syphilis. No positive result was found in 2420 foreign students at the universities in Lodz. In the group of blood donors, besides the above mentioned 2 cases of certain HIV infection, in another 8 cases difficulties were encountered in the interpretation of the results indicating the need for further serological observation. PMID- 2631138 TI - [Incidence of HIV infection among homosexuals]. AB - In the period 1985-1988 blood samples were examined of 1297 homosexual and bisexual men. The samples were sent by health service units from the whole country. Anti-HIV antibodies were demonstrated by the EIA method and confirmed by the Western blot technique in the serum of 35 subjects (2.7%). In the second half of 1988 a rise was observed in the number of infections among the tested subjects (10.3%). In Poland similarly as in West Europe and the USA, homosexual and bisexual males are the group of high risk for HIV infection. PMID- 2631139 TI - [Results of 1 year's activities of the AIDS Serological Laboratory of the District Dermato-Venereological Clinic in Szczecin]. AB - In the AIDS Serology Laboratory in Szczecin founded in March 1988 during one year to March 1989 a group of 7710 subjects were tested, among them 7263 sailors. Anti HIV antibodies were found in 4 subjects and the result was confirmed in the Immunopathology Laboratory of the State Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw by the Western blot technique. The infected subjects had no clinical signs of AIDS. Among patients with the antibodies one was a heterosexual sailor, one homosexual (out of 23 tested ones) and one unemployed woman suspected of drug addiction and her infant aged 2 weeks. Before the organization of this laboratory the tests were carried out in the Institute of Venereology in Warsaw, and among 548 subjects HIV antibodies were found in 7 cases, including 3 prostitutes, 3 foreign students, a female sexual partner of one of these students and her child aged 2 months, who became completely seronegative after 15 months. Up to March 1989 HIV infection was diagnosed in 9 subjects in Szczecin and environs. One child is being observed. PMID- 2631140 TI - [Prevention of HIV infection among drug addicts]. AB - The studied group comprised 2651 patients from detoxication centres and dehabituation treatment institutions who were addicts taking intravenous drugs (71.5% males and 28.5% females). In 12 patients, including one foreign (from Spain) anti-HIV antibodies were found (0.5%). In the years 1986-1987 all tests gave negative results, the first positive result was obtained in 1988, after testing of nearly 1900 patients. In the second half of 1988 positive results were more frequent, since in a group of 400 subjects tested between August and November 10 were positive (2.5%). This shows that the infection spreads rapidly in this population. At the end of November infections among drug addicts accounted for 12.2% of the total number of HIV-positive cases found in Poland. The authors predict a further rapid spreading of this infection in this risk group and postulated gratuitous providing of addicts with dispensable syringes and needles and condoms, and providing systematic intensive training of the personnel of dehabituation treatment institutions as well as extensive informational education of the addicts. PMID- 2631141 TI - [The program of prevention and control of AIDS in Poland]. AB - The programme accepted in Poland since November 1988 evolved in accordance with the WHO directives for stopping of infection spread is discussed. The programme includes multidirectional activities: training of staff, diagnostic facilities and research units, prevention of infection by sexual transmission, with blood, needles and syringes. The programme lays stress on the methods for protection of health service workers against infection. Much attention was given to health education for the high risk groups and for the population, especially adolescents. Health education is connected with prompting for the serological testing of anti-HIV antibodies which is principally voluntary. In accordance with the London Declaration and the WHO Resolution on prevention of discrimination of HIV-infected patients and AIDS patients the programme considers these aspects. PMID- 2631142 TI - [Participation of district dermato-venereological clinics in preventing HIV infection in Poland]. AB - Dermato-venereological outpatient clinics are health service units for patients who want to be tested for HIV-antibodies and persons who are infected and are in need of medical care. The provincial clinics are also engaged in the training of health service workers and in health education in their own districts. PMID- 2631143 TI - [Changes in fluoride levels in the blood serum and urine of children with mottled enamel]. AB - The study comprised 46 children (25 boys and 21 girls) aged 10 to 14 years with endemic mottled enamel. From birth all children used aqueductal potable water containing supraoptimal amount of fluorine equal to 2,68 mg/ml. The control group consisted of 40 children from Lodz children care homes free from mottled enamel in whom endogenic fluoridation has been performed using Fluodar tablets according to generally accepted instructions. In both groups of children the fluorine content in the blood serum and urine has been determined. The children with mottled enamel the fluorine excretion with urine was statistically significantly higher than in the control group. Moreover, the children with mottled enamel showed higher concentration of fluorine in the urine than in the serum whereas in the control group the fluorine concentration in the urine and in the serum were almost identical. PMID- 2631144 TI - [Results of various biochemical studies in secondary bacterial pneumonia]. AB - In patients with chronic circulatory insufficiency, chronic nonspecific diseases of respiratory system, lung malignancies, as well as in the group of patients with "other diseases" complicated by bacterial pneumonia the total protein and protein fractions, bilirubin, activity of alanine aminotransferase and of aspartate aminotransferase in the blood serum has been determined. The control group consisted of analogous groups of patient without, however, bacterial pneumonia. It has been stated that in patients with lung cancer bacterial pneumonia has been accompanied by the increased concentration of beta-globulin and the decreased concentration of gamma-globulin. In other groups of patients the lowered concentration of albumin and the increased concentration of alpha globulin has been observed. Chronic nonspecific diseases of respiratory system were, moreover, characterized by the increased concentration of gamma-globulin. In some groups of patients with secondary bacterial pneumonias if compare with analogous++ groups of patients without pneumonia the increased bilirubin concentration and increased activity of alanine aminotransferase and/or aspartate aminotransferase remaining however within normal range has been demonstrated. PMID- 2631145 TI - [Mental state of marijuana-smoking adolescents]. AB - The study comprised 13 subjects (3 girls and 10 boys) aged 17 to 20 years from various groups of youngsters in whom in the course of marihuana smoking the psychical disturbances such as depressive-anxiety syndrome, characteristic syndromes or schizophrenia-like syndrome, characteristic syndromes or schizophrenia-like syndromes occurred. Basing on evaluation of the psychical and somatic state prior and after marihuana smoking in the all subjects studied the presence of the organic central nervous system lesion sign has been stated. Moreover, in a majority of subjects studied atypical clinical symptoms of intoxication were observed: prolonged stunning (1 case), bad trip of the strong fear reaction type (2 cases), and psychoses characterized by varying clinical symptomatology (6 cases). The schizophrenia-like syndromes in the group studied have been treated with Leponex and no relapses have been noted during 3 years. The so-called schizophrenic defect has not been noted. PMID- 2631146 TI - [Effect of hemodialysate and its peptide fractions on stromal cells and heme synthesis in the bone marrow culture and on the activity of selected enzymes and GSH level in human erythrocytes.VI. Effect on GSH level in the erythrocytes of healthy persons and in patients with terminal renal failure]. AB - The purpose of study was in evaluation of the hemodialysate and its peptide fractions on the reduced glutathione++ (GSH) concentration in erythrocytes from healthy subjects and patients with terminal renal insufficiency treated by repeated hemodialyses. Erythrocytes rom dialysed patients' showed statistically significant decrease of the GSH concentration--1.69 +/- 0.28 mmol/l when compared with that in erythrocytes from healthy subjects--2.45 +/- 0.57 mmol/l. In search of factor decreasing the GSH concentration the erythrocytes from healthy subjects and from patients studied were incubated in vitro with the hemodialysate and its peptide fractions. After the 3 hours lasting incubation no significant alterations in the GSH concentration were noted both in erythrocytes from healthy subjects and the patients. PMID- 2631147 TI - [Notes on 10-year activities of the Center for the Treatment of Pain]. PMID- 2631148 TI - Case study. Hand, foot and mouth disease. PMID- 2631149 TI - The write stuff. PMID- 2631150 TI - Speaking the language of infection control. PMID- 2631151 TI - Learning agenda. PMID- 2631152 TI - [Thermic agreement between an alloy and a dental ceramic. 1]. PMID- 2631153 TI - [Thermal agreement between an alloy and a dental ceramic. 2]. PMID- 2631154 TI - [Effect of oxytocin and naloxone on the plasma levels of corticosterone in the rat]. AB - The effect of two doses of oxytocin (2 or 4 UI/kg i.p.) has been studied in the male Wistar rats, either preceded or not by a naloxone administration (10 mg/kg i.p.), on the response of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system, the latter being valued by changes produced in the plasmatic corticosterone levels. Oxytocin produced significant increases of the plasmatic corticosterone levels, this effect being stronger and longer lasting after the superior dose. Naloxone alone produced the same effect, but not as intense and stable as that of oxytocin. Pretreatment with naloxone modified the response of the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal system to oxytocin, producing partial blockade. The results suggest that the oxytocin action on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis might be mediated by the endogenous opiates. PMID- 2631155 TI - Brown adipose tissue thermogenesis above the lower critical temperature. AB - Heat-acclimated rats show lighter IBAT deposit with different gross composition and lower GDP-binding than controls at thermoneutrality. A thermal disactivation of the tissue is then inferred. Cafeteria regime increased IBAT mass and GDP binding when offered to rats at a thermoneutral ambient temperature. These results indicate that BAT thermogenesis at thermoneutrality is not the lowest one of the tissue and that diet-induced thermogenesis can take place even at thermoneutrality. PMID- 2631156 TI - 4-aminobutyrate-2-ketoglutarate aminotransferase (GABA-T) in human hair follicle. AB - GABA-T (4-aminobutyrate-2-ketoglutarate aminotransferase) has been found in human hair follicle. Kinetics experiments with hair follicle homogenate supported a ping-pong type of enzymatic mechanism. Extrapolated Km values were 1.02 mmol/l for GABA and 0.45 mmol/l for alpha-ketoglutarate. Hair follicle GABA-T activity was completely inhibited by preincubation of the samples with either 5 x 10(-8) mol/l aminooxyacetic acid or 5 x 10(-4) mol/l gamma-vinyl GABA. The radioenzymatic assay presented is both sensitive enough (only 10 hair follicles are needed for one assay) and economical, making it suitable for clinical practice. Hair follicle GABA-T activity determination could be useful in the study of GABA deficiency diseases (such as epilepsy), congenital GABA-T deficiencies or the control of GABA-T inhibitors treatment. PMID- 2631157 TI - [Hyperaluminemia and parathormone release]. AB - Previous studies have shown that aluminum (Al) could inhibit parathyroid function. However, controversy still remains about the possible mechanisms implicated. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the acute parathyroid hormone (PTH) response to intravenous Al infusion. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 5): received 0.1 ml of saline. Group B (n = 5): received 0.5 mg of Cl3Al in 0.1 ml of saline. In both groups ionized calcium (Ca(+)+) decreased, but despite a similar degree of haemodilution, this change was only significant in group A. This variable Ca(+)+ decrease was followed by different responses in the PTH secretion. In group B there was a significantly (p less than 0.05) lower PTH release compared with control group. These results suggest that Al could directly inhibit the PTH secretion, and at the same time might exert an indirect effect on PTH release "blunting" the serum Ca(+)+ variations. PMID- 2631158 TI - [Effects of juvenile hormone and precocene II on the metabolic rate of the digestive system, fat body and ovaries of the insect Oncopeltus fasciatus]. AB - The metabolic rate of midgut, fat body and ovaries from Oncopeltus fasciatus adult female has been studied, comparing the results with that from juvenile hormone or precocene II treated insects. Neither juvenile hormone nor precocene II had any effect on midgut and fat body. Precocene II treatment increased the oxygen consumption rate of ovaries, which in turn remained undeveloped. Juvenile hormone had no detectable effects on the metabolic rate of ovaries, other than accelerate their development. PMID- 2631159 TI - Developmental studies on creatine kinase. Isoenzyme in rat gastrointestinal tract. AB - Creatine kinase activity and its isoenzymatic profile in rat intestinal mucose during normal development have been studied. Creatine kinase enzymatic activity increased stepwise during fetal development and the first week of life. An isoenzymatic pattern of exclusively CK-BB types occurred in all segments of the digestive tract during the early fetal stage. The isoenzyme profile of creatine kinase in the esophagic tissue with advancing maturation of the fetus shifted in the same way as in adults, with preferential concentration of CK-MM. However, CK BB continued to be the main isoenzyme in the rest of the digestive tract. Our results show that rats are particularly suitable for experimental studies of intestinal creatine kinase isoenzymes. PMID- 2631160 TI - [Measurement of the spontaneous motility in vitro of the floor of the reticular sulcus in cattle]. AB - The bases and the parameters which define the smooth muscle spontaneous motility of the reticular groove floor in cattle have been established. The study has been carried out in 27 esophageal grooves in a classic organ bath technique. The results show a recognizable own spontaneous motility with two kinds of contractions: high tension ones and others with smaller contraction intensity. The young animal parameter values are different from those of grown-up ones. In adults, these values depend on the muscular dissection belt. PMID- 2631161 TI - Kinetics of glycylsarcosine transport by isolated chicken intestinal epithelial cells. AB - Kinetics of Glycylsarcosine (Gly-Sar) uptake by isolated chicken enterocytes was studied by measuring its intracellular concentration, and by discriminating between the saturable and the diffusive components of the total uptake. The diffusive component was greater at pH 6.0 than at pH 7.4, and the J max was also increased by lowering external pH, whereas the Km remained in the same order of magnitude. Carnosine competitively inhibits Gly-Sar uptake, indicating that both share a common transport system. PMID- 2631162 TI - [Increase in the number of colloidal droplets in the hypothalamus of Natrix maura caused by dehydration]. AB - The influence of osmotic stress on the number of colloid droplets in the magnocellular neurosecretory nuclei of the water snake Natrix maura, has been studied. Five experimental groups of five specimens each, were submitted to dehydration by immersion in sea water for several periods of time (3 to 60 h). The number of colloid droplets, identified by histochemical procedures, was counted in serial sections of the retrochiasmatic nuclei. The study of the mean of each group revealed that the amount of colloids increased with the time of permanence in the hyperosmotic environment (48 h elicited the greatest response). As a conclusion, dehydration seems to activate the hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory nuclei of N. maura and, consequently, increases the production of colloid droplets. PMID- 2631163 TI - Effect of probenecid and benzbromarone on gluconeogenesis in isolated rat liver cells. AB - The effect of benzbromarone on gluconeogenesis from several gluconeogenic substrates in isolated rat liver cells is reported. Benzbromarone inhibited glucose synthesis from all substrates employed when the drug was used at concentrations half to ten times greater than its therapeutic plasma levels. This inhibition was more pronounced from lactate and pyruvate than from fructose and glycerol. The results are compared with those obtained for probenecid, a classical uricosuric drug. We found that probenecid inhibited the pathway in the same way as benzbromarone. PMID- 2631164 TI - [Glycolysis in the mantle of Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk: effect of hypoxia caused by closing of the shell]. PMID- 2631165 TI - [New editorial requirements for the journal]. PMID- 2631166 TI - 100 meso-caval interposition-shunts for recurrent variceal hemorrhage in portal hypertension. A prospective study. AB - The results of a prospective series using the mesocaval interposition shunt (MIS) over a period of 13 years is reviewed: 100 patients were selected for the operation using strict criteria and in 98 cases the operation was performed electively. Selection criteria included liver volume between 1000-2500 mL, portal perfusion between 15-30%, no active liver disease and no stenosis of hepatic artery or coeliac axis as well as a good functional CHILD-PUGH classification (A B). In all the cases preoperative sclerotherapy was performed so many times as needed by each individual patient with the goal of controlling the active bleeding episodes at admission and of diminishing the pre and postoperative bleeding probability. Intraoperative postshunt measurements showed residual portal perfusion in all studied patients. Early mortality was 10% and the follow up mortality 38.8%. Main causes of death were liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Five and ten years survival rates were 63.9% and 35.1% respectively. The total encephalopathy rate was 12.2%. Rebleeding was observed in 5.5% of the cases and long term shunt patency rate among survivors was 90%. Angiography and sequential scintigraphy showed residual portal perfusion in 75% of cases soon after operation, in 60% after 6 months and 38% after 2 years, showing the tendency of the derivation to diminish the portal perfusion rate in the late postoperative period. The results show that MIS still has a place in the treatment of portal hypertension and that it is an excellent alternative choice to the selective shunts and the devascularization procedures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2631167 TI - [Integrity of the blood-brain barrier and intrathecal synthesis of IgG in parenchymatous and subarachnoid cerebral cysticercosis]. AB - Patients with cerebral cysticercosis (CC) have specific antibodies of the IgG type in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In order to determine if the specific antibodies present in the CSF come from blood or synthetized in the subarachnoid space, we studied the integrity of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and the intrathecal synthesis of specific antibodies. We found a ruptured BBB with more frequency and in a higher intensity in patients with CC and hydrocephalus (malignant CC) than in patients with parenchymal CC (benign CC). The patients with malignant CC have a greater number of inflammatory cells, a higher albumin index (serum albumin/CSF albumin), a higher level of protein and a higher titre of specific antibodies in the CSF than those with benign CC. In 15 patients in both groups we could demonstrate intrathecal synthesis of antibodies. We conclude that in CC the specific antibodies are produced intrathecally, and in a lesser amount come from the blood through a ruptured blood-brain barrier. PMID- 2631168 TI - Serum IgA deficiency induced by prolonged phenytoin treatment. AB - In a longitudinal study we have evaluated several immunological parameters in thirty three epileptic children and adolescents 4 to 14 years old treated with phenytoin, and matched normal controls. The patients had significantly lower levels than normal controls of IgA (153 +/- 89 vs 236 +/- 128 mg/dL p less than 0.001) and IgM (155 +/- 58 vs 217 +/- 105 mg/dL p less than 0.01). The decrease in serum IgA levels correlated with the length of treatment (r = 0.44, p less than 0.03). Eight of the patients had IgA deficiency. In 7 of these children, T lymphocytes subpopulations were determined. The results did not differ significantly from the matched controls. PMID- 2631169 TI - Psychological study in children addicted to inhalation of volatile substances. AB - Deliberate inhalation of volatile substances is a common and harmful practice among young persons around the world. Psychological studies were performed in 40 children habituated to inhalation of volatile agents, with the aim to define the psychological profile of inhalers, particularly their reactions against frustration. A significant difference in the extrapunitive attitude (p less than 0.001) and in the reaction of ego-defense (p less than 0.02) was found in sniffers as compared with controls. Addicted children also showed inadequate handling of frustration, aggressive and defensive behaviours, and passive and irresponsible attitude when confronted with problems. PMID- 2631170 TI - [Ileosigmoid volvulus. A case report]. AB - This is a case report of an ileosigmoid volvulus in a 68 year old man. The patient had emergency surgery for an acute abdominal condition. Intraoperative diagnosis of an ileosigmoid knot was made and it was necessary to resect the necrotic portion of the ilium, with ilioiliostomy, and to resect the gangrenous section of the sigmoid colon, end colostomy, and Hartmann pouch. Eleven weeks later, a colosigmoidostomy was realized. The evolution of the patient was satisfactory. The literature about ileosigmoid volvulus is reviewed. PMID- 2631171 TI - [Method for calculating the distribution of randomly expected scores in a false true-do not know-type of test]. AB - Multiple choice tests have been used widely in the evaluation of knowledge. The lowest passing limit is generally chosen arbitrarily. Better and more objective criteria may arise from analyzing the distribution of correct and incorrect answers as expected by chance. In order to calculate the distribution of correct answers and the difference between correct and incorrect answers (core) we propose the use of a method based on a gaussian distribution. The distribution of scores expected by chance is approximated by a gaussian distribution with a mean of zero and a standard deviation SD = square root of n(pA + pE), and the distribution of the total number of correct answers has a mean of npA and SD = square root of npApE, where n is the total number of questions, and pA and pE are the probabilities of having a correct and an incorrect answer, respectively. The formulae are applicable to questions type false/true/do not know and to the more common type of one correct in five options. Once the chance distribution is known, it can be compared with the distribution of scores or correct answers obtained, which can then be used to separate people in two groups: those that answer the test as expected or worse than expected by chance, and those that answer the test better than expected by chance. The first group should not be passed. The passing of individuals in the second group can be decided by additional criteria. PMID- 2631172 TI - [Patient data for evaluating reference values]. AB - OBJECTIVE: To explore the use of data in patients as a way to evaluate the values of reference in clinical assays. Serum calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) were selected for this purpose. MATERIAL: A total of 836 consecutive admissions in a 10 week period were revised. Seventy percent (580 cases) had data of Ca and P in the first week following admission. A total of 424 were excluded by anyone of the following criteria: a) serum urea greater than 50 mg/dL, b) serum creatinine greater than 1.5 mg/dL; c) serum albumin less than 4 g/dL; d) lack of data of either urea, creatinine or albumin. These cutoff values were selected on the basis of a significant difference (t test) in the mean of Ca and/or P in patients grouped according to levels of the available data. The remainder of 156 cases is the selected population of study, and the 580 with Ca and P is the total population. METHODS: Ca and P were assayed in an analyzer (Coulter Chemistry) using the DAM and the Jaffe methods respectively. The precision during the period of study was adequate (CVs of 2.6% for Ca and 2.9% for P). RESULTS: Table 1 compares the mean, SD and CV of Ca and P in the selected versus the total population. There are significant reductions (F test) in the variability of Ca and P in the selected population (from a CV 9 to 5% in Ca and from 35 to 13% in P). Table 2 compares the age and sex distributions of the selected versus the total population. There are no significant differences (chi square test) although there is a lower proportion of people above 80 years of age in the selected population. The reference intervals of Ca and P in the selected population were obtained with the mean +/- 2 SD as both showed Gaussian distributions. These limits are compared in table 3 versus the values of the institution and of the manufacturer of the analyzer used. The P limits of this study fall intermediate to the other two, but in Ca they are the lowest of the three. Shortly after the completion of this study, the institutional values of Ca were changed to 8.5-10.5 mg/dL on the basis of the one year results in a WHO quality assessment scheme. The modification made the Ca limits of this study also intermediate to the other two series. The small differences in the limits have clinical and economic repercussions. Table 4 shows there is a 20% reduction in the number of abnormal tests (206 vs 259) and in the number of abnormal individuals (165 vs 203) using the limits of this study versus the institutional limits before modification. CONCLUSIONS: The data of Ca and P in a selected but representative population of patients proved to be a reliable way of evaluating its reference intervals. The reference intervals of this study were intermediate to those of the manufacturers of the analyzer and the laboratory (after modification). This finding suggests the strategy may be as good as more conventional approaches to establish reference values. PMID- 2631173 TI - [Prickly pear as an acid absorber]. PMID- 2631174 TI - [Endorphins and lipotropins: relevant combined action]. PMID- 2631175 TI - [Immunologic classification of acute leukemia]. PMID- 2631176 TI - Orthodontic retention of anterior teeth utilizing an etched metal retainer. PMID- 2631177 TI - Chronobiologic reference values in clinical chemistry. AB - Circadian rhythms of 23 biochemical parameters were studied in the serum of 194 children 11 +/- 1.5 years of age, 43 young adult subjects 21 +/- 2 years of age and 200 elderly subjects 77 +/- 8 years of age. In the children and the elderly subjects, the investigations extended over all four seasons allowing also the study of seasonal variations or circannual rhythms. The circadian rhythms were characterized by population mean cosinor for each group and sex. The circannual rhythms were explored by single cosinor and one and two way analysis of variance applied to the circadian means obtained during each season, and by the comparison of the circadian rhythm parameters obtained during the four seasons by the parameter test described by Bingham et al. Circadian rhythms were found in most and circannual rhythms in many parameters. The rhythm characteristics are presented as cosinor summaries. A number of laboratory parameters show high amplitude rhythms in one or the other frequency studies and require time qualified reference ranges for a meaningful use of these variables for clinical diagnosis. The majority shows small amplitude rhythms, which do not pose diagnostic problems, but are indicators of the complex time structure of the human organism. PMID- 2631178 TI - Habenular nuclei specifically bind synthetic arginine vasotocin. AB - The antidiuretic activity of an arginine vasotocin (AVT) solution (10 microU/ml) was studied in comparison with an arginine vasopressin (AVP) solution (10 microU/ml) after their incubation for 1 h at 37 degrees C with the supernatants (S) or the pellets (P) of the habenular nuclei (HN) or frontal cortex (FC) fragments homogenized in saline solution, removed from adult or newborn rats. Both SHN and SFC from adults inactivated about 5 microU/ml AVT and 10 microU/ml AVP, PHN and not PFC inactivated only about 7 microU/ml. In newborns the phenomena were in the same direction, but the specific inactivation of AVT by the PHN was of about twice greater than in adults. The results are interpreted as suggesting that, in contrast to an unspecific inactivation from S, probably of an enzymatic nature, the PHN specifically bind AVT and that this activity is greater in newborn than in adult rats. PMID- 2631179 TI - Circadian rhythms in urinary trace element and electrolyte excretion in children with and without endemic goiter. AB - Six boys and six girls 11 +/- 1.5 years of age living in the endemic goiter area of Tirgoviste, Romania were studied. Three of the children of each sex did have a palpable endemic goiter, three did not. The children followed a diurnal activity pattern synchronized by their school routine and ate their usual three meal diet. Urine was collected at 4-hour intervals over a 24 hour span (six samples). Urinary volume, pH, total (T) solids, protein, glucose, phosphorus, uric acid, urea nitrogen, creatinine, total and nondialyzable (ND) sodium and potassium were determined by conventional methods and the total and nondialyzable (ND) portion of urinary calcium, magnesium, and zinc and the ND portion of aluminum, copper, boron, lead and silicon were determined by an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system. PMID- 2631180 TI - [Proposal for a model for the desaggregation of demographic projections of large areas into their geographical components]. AB - The problem of the preparation of estimates of the total population of geographic subdivisions after the 1980 census is studied with a view to the tabulation on mortality data of Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil) by municipal districts and the estimation of regional mortality rates. In Brazil, the calculation of the official population estimates is undertaken by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The method employed to estimate the population of geographic subdivisions is known as the "AiBi method". This procedure is analysed and an alternative mathematical model is proposed that also satisfies the closure condition, that is, the projected values for the sum of the segments up to the total population projection. As an application of the proposed model, estimates of the population of the municipal districts of Rio de Janeiro State were prepared covering the period from 1981 to 1990. PMID- 2631181 TI - [Simultaneous occurrence of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus on the hands, mouth and feces of asymptomatic carriers]. AB - One hundred and twelve asymptomatic individuals were analysed with regard to the simultaneous incidence of Staphylococcus aureus on their hands and in their nose, mouth and stools, in the city of S. Paulo (Brazil). A total of 40 (35.7%) individuals were detected as carriers of this microorganism. Among these carriers, 27 (67.5%) were positive in only one of the four niches studied, 8 (20.0%) in two and 5 (12.5%) in three niches. They were identified 113 Staphylococcus aureus strains, and 28 (24.8%) of these strains, isolated from 9 (22.5%) carriers, produced enterotoxin. Of these strains, 7 (25.0%) produced type A enterotoxin, 6 (21.4%) of type B, 11 (39.3%) type C and 4 (14.3%) produced both type A and C. The phage typing of the 113 Staphylococcus aureus strains revealed the predominance of the strains lysed by phages belonging to the Group I/III/NC (16.8%). The results obtained did not demonstrate the simultaneous incidence of Staphylococcus aureus strains in samples collected from mouth, hands and stools of the group studied. PMID- 2631182 TI - [Anatomo-clinical diagnosis correlation. Retrospective assessment of the clinical diagnosis in necropsies]. AB - The post mortem findings in 200 autopsies were compared with the clinical diagnoses. Twenty diseases were analysed with respect to clinico-pathological correlation. In relation to the respective totals the diseases most frequently missed clinically were (false negative) pyelonephritis (100%), pulmonary embolus (87.50%) and bronchopneumonia (58.16%). In relation to the respective totals the clinical diagnoses less frequently confirmed (false positive) were tuberculosis (69.56%), paracoccidioidomycosis (57.14%), sepsis (53.13%) and Chagas' disease (44.44%). There was clinicopathological agreement in 97 autopsies (48.50%). In 19 cases (9.50%) if the diagnostic error had been detected during life this probably would have changes the prognosis. The findings are discussed in the light of previous studies. The importance of routine post-mortem examination and clinico pathological correlation is stressed. PMID- 2631183 TI - [Analysis of the completion of death certificates in a locality of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), 1987]. AB - It was analyzed the quality of death certificate information for deaths registered in Viamao county (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) during 1987, considering unfilled blanks, and unknown and incorrect responses. Small omissions were found in data identifying the person who had died; larger omissions in data concerning social and obstetric history, medical assistance, and violent deaths. To improve the quality of death certificate information it was suggested that physicians be continually reminded of the importance of giving the correct information on death certificates to allow for their later adequate administrative and research use. PMID- 2631184 TI - [Sampling design for the implementation of a national information system on the demand for ambulatory services]. AB - The principles and planning of a sample of consultations undertaken in the public health services belonging to or financed by INAMPS (Brazilian federal social welfare service), are gave. It was describe the epidemiological profile of the population assisted over a twelve-month period. The sampling technique of clustering in two stages, with probabilities proportional to size (PPS), was used. The health services are the Primary Sampling Unit (PSU) and the estimated number of consultations for each one, over the period, is the measure of its size (Mj). The Brazilian states were taken as strata named domains. The sample size of consultations of Health Services was defined by means of simulations studies. The overall sampling fraction was defined by f = n/N = a.Mj/epsilon Mj.b/Mj; where b = 250. The calculations, which include intervals for the systematic sampling of consultations (Ic) in the second stage of selection, defined by Ic = Mj/(epsilon Mj) : n/N; are also given. PMID- 2631185 TI - [3 new species of Simulium Latreille of the Neotropical region: Simulium (Hemicnetha) cristalinum sp.n., (Grenieriella) wygodzinskyorum sp.n. and sumapazense sp.n. (Diptera, Simuliidae)]. AB - Three new species are described and illustrated: Simulium (Hemicnetha) cristalinum from Roraima, Brazil, (female, male, pupa and larva) belonging to the brachycladum group; (Grenieriella) wygodzinskyorum from Junin, Peru (female, male, pupa and larva) belonging to the lahillei group and of the sumapazense from Cundinamarca, Colombia, the pupa, and part of the male are described. PMID- 2631186 TI - [Occurrence of Sarasinula marginata (Mollusca: Soleolifera) in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil]. PMID- 2631187 TI - [Minimal standards in the practice of health education--a pioneer project]. AB - PAHO/WHO sought an institution which could be asked to prepare a definition--in concrete, operational terms--of the basic responsibilities and areas of activity of the health professionals in charge of the educational actions appropriate to the health system. The School of Public Health (Health Education area) of the University of S. Paulo accepted this responsibility for the study of the definition of the health educator's role. This article sets out some of the positive results which have arisen, as a result of that study, over the two last years. PMID- 2631188 TI - [Morphologic changes in the heart atrium in frogs after extinction of current due to suction electrode induced damage]. AB - In biological model experiments in frog heart morphological substrate was observed in current extinction due to damage under suction electrode. After short term suction discharge monophase recording disappeared without demonstrable myocyte ultrastructure changes by means of reparation ad integrum. Monophase recording spontaneously disappeared in distinct changes of monocyte structure with enlarged spaces in between myofibrils, with breakdown of cristae in mitochondria and with dilatation of tubules and cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. This tissue disintegration leads to demarcation and forming of new cellular surfaces on the border with the healthy tissue so that the damaged area turns into a mere electric conductor. PMID- 2631189 TI - [Disruption of biliary calculi in vitro with low amplitude shock waves and verification by chemical dissolution]. AB - In lowering the amplitude of pressure in the point of the shock-wave concentration under MPa (in our equipment by means of lowering discharge tension under 8 kV) macroscopically observable breakdown of stones in vitro after passage of 5 shock-waves will not occur in approximately 1/3 of bile stones. After effect of 5 shock-waves cholesterol elution in model solvents was accelerated. In exposed parts of stones the cholesterol concentration was in the 40th minute in methanol and perchlorethylene solution in 9:1 ratio 2.45 times higher on average. The stones were halved by a diamond knife. Only one half was exposed and the other one was used for comparison. From the study were eliminated such halves of stones that were macroscopically damaged after the shock-wave exposition where acceleration of cholesterol elution is a priori obvious. PMID- 2631190 TI - [Regional blood flow and uptake of 99mTc-MDP and 85Sr in the femur and tibia in rats: regional differences and mutual relations]. AB - We established blood flow (by means of 85Sr-microparticles) and 24 hours 99mTc methylendiphosphonate (MDP) catchment and that of 85Sr (at different time intervals) in five portions of femur and 4 portions of tibia in rats. 1. We detected a marked differentiation in blood flow among all measured portions with the highest values in growth active distal femur metaphysis and proximal tibia metaphysis and with the lowest value in distal terminal tibia portion. 99mTc-MDP catchment is also highest in both metaphysis parts, and in the other parts it is differentiated similarly as the blood flow. 85Sr catchment in the early phase is very high in both metaphyses, but in several weeks it decreases to very low values; in the other parts the differences are small as well as the changes in the course of several weeks. 2. There is a considerable similarity in blood flow and 99mTc-MDP, in 85Sr catchment only high initial catchment in growth active metaphysis parts corresponds with blood flow. The time course of 99mTc-MDP and 85Sr catchment in the first hours after an intravenous injection is almost identical. The experiments showed great (up to 15-fold) local differences in blood flow among growth active and the other parts of femur and tibia in rats and a similar differentiation in 99mTc-MDP catchment, suggesting a certain relationship (but not quantitative dependency). PMID- 2631191 TI - [Desmoid fibromatosis in absorption infrared spectroscopy, emission spectral analysis and roentgen diffraction recording]. AB - The authors present results of serial quality and quantity microanalyses of bone patterns and dental tissue patterns in patient with desmoid fibromatosis. Methods of absorption spectroscopy, emission spectral analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis with follow-up to x-ray examination are tested. The above mentioned methods function in a on-line system by means of specially adjusted monitor unit which is controlled centrally by the computer processor system. The whole process of measurement is fully automated and the data obtained are recorded processed in the unit data structure classified into index sequence blocks of data. Serial microanalyses offer exact data for the study of structural changes of dental and bone tissues which manifest themselves in order of crystal grid shifts. They prove the fact that microanalyses give new possibilities in detection and interpretation of chemical and structural changes of apatite cell. PMID- 2631192 TI - The cumulative structure of personal and instrumental ADL. A study of elderly people in a health service district. AB - Katz' Index of ADL has been supplemented by five well-defined instrumental activities, namely cooking, washing, transportation, cleaning, and shopping. Eighty-five persons, mainly elderly, who had consecutively consulted a district occupational therapist, were assessed in their homes in order to study the reliability, the scalability, and the validity of the expanded index. The inter observer reliability was high. The coefficient of scalability was well above the acceptance level, indicating construct validity. No person was dependent in personal ADL and totally independent in instrumental ADL. Persons who were dependent in both personal and instrumental ADL were older and lived in sheltered accommodation more often than persons who were dependent only in instrumental ADL, indicating external validity. This study shows that there was a cumulative relationship between certain well-defined instrumental activities and between personal and instrumental activities. This supplemented index can be useful for assessing and differentiating the need for personal assistance and homecare among disabled elderly people. PMID- 2631193 TI - Standing balance in healthy subjects. Evaluation of a quantitative test battery on a force platform. AB - A quantitative battery of tests for standing balance is needed in the assessment of functional impairments. The aims of the present study were to obtain stabilometric reference values for healthy females and males, 20-64 years of age, on a stable computerized force platform (AMTI) and to relate the balance data thus obtained to some traditional functional balance tests. Altogether, 152 subjects performed a series of tests. The test battery on the force platform comprised tests of standing with feet close together or on one leg while looking straight ahead or while blindfolded. Traditional functional balance tests were checked and various background data were collected through a questionnaire. Results of a separate test-retest reliability study of the test battery given on the force platform appeared promising, especially for the tests with eyes open. In the main study, results obtained on the force platform correlated significantly (p less than 0.001) with results of most of the functional tests. Women showed higher standing balance as compared with men. The results suggest the importance of relating the test-data not only to age but also to sex. PMID- 2631194 TI - Wheelchair propulsion technique at different speeds. AB - To study wheelchair propulsion technique at different speeds, five well-trained subjects propelled a wheelchair on a treadmill. Measurements were made at four belt speeds of 0.56-1.39 m/s and against slopes of 2 and 3 degrees. Cardiorespiratory data were collected. Three consecutive strokes were filmed. Using markers on subject, wheelchair and treadmill frame a kinematic analysis was performed. Considerable inter-individual differences in propulsion style were found, but also general changes relative to speed occurred in the group as a whole. Cycle time decreased with speed, predominantly as the result of a shorter push time while push angle remained constant and the movement ranges of trunk and arms shifted with speed. It is concluded that despite different propulsion styles, general and continuous adaptations to speed changes occurred, mainly by flexion of the trunk and arms. PMID- 2631195 TI - A wheelchair ergometer with a device for isokinetic torque measurement. AB - A wheelchair ergometer has been developed for the study of wheelchair work. At each propulsion the peak torque can be examined, and there is an opportunity to directly study angular amplitude, power output, work etc. The physical capacity of the subject as well as the importance of chair adjustments upon performance can be evaluated. PMID- 2631196 TI - Female sexuality and spinal cord injury. PMID- 2631197 TI - Ethical dilemma: the SCI patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AB - Spinal cord injury alone is a disability that takes all an individual's strength, both mental and physical, to overcome. Even after months of hard work by the SCI individual and health care professionals, there are still those who do not cope with or successfully overcome this disability. As the number of people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) increases and these persons continue to remain typically asymptomatic for indefinite periods of time before they develop AIDS, it is reasonable to think that they will have the same incidence of traumatic injuries and illnesses (such as SCI) that others of the same group will have. The high cost of SCI rehabilitation is already exceeding the available funding. The practicality of attempting to rehabilitate an SCI patient who is perhaps unable to fully participate in the standardized, vigorous program because of another debilitating disease, AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), has yet to be decided. It follows that this will create a dilemma for the health care population that may be one of this nation's worst and potentially unsolvable problems. PMID- 2631198 TI - Anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons. AB - The anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons has long been a subject of controversy but enough data have now been accumulated to support the view that hydrocarbons can be metabolized in the natural environment in the absence of molecular oxygen. For a limited number of molecules, anaerobic hydrocarbon metabolism has been demonstrated under fermentative or denitrifying conditions with samples collected from several different biotopes. However, the micro organisms responsible for anaerobic metabolism generally still need to be isolated and identified and the biochemical mechanisms of the strictly anaerobic strains which carry out hydrocarbon metabolism are still unknown. Despite this restricted knowledge, the improvement in sampling techniques and in experimental methods is now sufficient to confirm the existence of anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation. The importance of such metabolism should stimulate research in this field. PMID- 2631199 TI - Air filtration: protection against respirable dust. AB - The principal health hazard associated with airborne dust is attributable to particles with aerodynamic diameters of a few micrometers or less, and filtration is, in principle, a good way of obtaining protection against such small particles. The elements of filtration theory can be deduced from simple arguments, which illustrate that it is difficult to remove particles that are 1 or 2 microns in diameter from air by filtration using a filter made from ordinary textile fibres. Either much finer or electrically charged fibres must be used and, in general, the latter solution is preferable. A number of different electrically charged filter materials exist, examples of which are materials that are charged triboelectrically, by corona, or by induction. The mechanism of action of these materials is described, along with conditions necessary for their successful use. PMID- 2631200 TI - Dr Nathwani et al: Adult Presentation of X-Linked Hypogammaglobulinaemia. PMID- 2631201 TI - Concomitants of excess coronary deaths--major risk factor and lifestyle findings from 10,359 men and women in the Scottish Heart Health Study. AB - The Scottish Heart Health Study is a study of lifestyle and coronary heart disease risk factors in 10,359 men and women aged 40-59 years, in 22 districts of Scotland. The study was conducted during 1984-86, when Scotland had the highest national coronary heart disease mortality reported by the World Health Organisation. A self-completed questionnaire, complemented by a 40 minute visit to a survey clinic, staffed by nurses, enabled the classical major risk factors and some more newly described ones to be measured. The study emphasised quality control and representativeness, and incorporated a World Health Organisation protocol for measurement of key items to allow comparisons in place and time, and therefore also to provide a definitive baseline against which interventions can be assessed. This paper describes the overall findings. Current cigarette smokers constitute 39% of men and 38% of women, higher levels than those reported in England but lower than previous Scottish reports. Mean blood pressure levels were 134/84 mmHg for men and 131/81 mmHg in women, lower than in British studies of the 1960s and 1970s. Mean body mass index levels, 26.1 Kg/m2 in men and 25.7 Kg/m2 in women, were not high by international standards. However, mean serum cholesterol levels were 6.4 mmol/l in men and 6.6 mmol/l in women--as high as those in previous British studies and high by international standards. Levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-fasting triglycerides and fibrinogen are also reported. Physical activity both at work and in leisure time was low.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2631202 TI - Coronary risk factor and lifestyle variation across Scotland: results from the Scottish Heart Health Study. AB - Between 1984 and 1986 the Scottish Heart Health Study recorded coronary risk factors and lifestyle in 10,359 men and women aged 40-59 years across 22 districts of Scotland--districts whose standardised mortality ratio for coronary heart disease in men varied from 61 in Eastwood to 136 in Monklands. This paper presents the results by district. Cigarette smoking levels showed the greatest variation, from 29% to 52% in men and 24% to 51% in women. Blood pressure means varied but were not high (129-138mmHg systolic in men, 126-137mmHg in women, 81 88mmHg diastolic in men and 77-84mmHg in women). Mean serum cholesterol values were high and varied little by district in men, (6.1 to 6.5mmol/l), although there was more variation in women (6.3 to 7.0mmol/l). Body mass index (25.3 to 26.6kg/m2 in men and 24.8 to 26.3kg/m2 in women) also varied little. Distribution of other lipids, fibrinogen, exercise levels and fruit and vegetable consumption is also described. When district mean levels of major coronary risk factors are entered into predictive formulae, cigarette smoking and blood pressure could explain part of the regional variation in mortality, but much remains unaccounted for. Nonetheless, these levels provide data for local preventive initiatives. While the overall pattern and interaction of the factors will repay further study, the high levels of serum cholesterol in all districts, and the level and variation in cigarette smoking, are a challenge for action. PMID- 2631203 TI - Testing for HIV in pregnancy: 3 years experience in Edinburgh city. AB - Since HIV testing became available in Edinburgh in September 1985, testing in pregnancy has been offered (after counselling and with informed consent) on a selective or case finding basis. This study reviews the results of the first three years for all Edinburgh city hospitals. HIV serostatus was known for 436 such pregnant individuals during this time, and 79 women were known to be infected with HIV. There was little change in the number of first tests done in pregnancy, a decline in the number of women discovered during pregnancy to be seropositive, and a corresponding increase in women referred known to be HIV infected. With one exception, all seropositive women gave a history of injecting drug use or having a steady drug using sexual partner known to be HIV seropositive. Forty-five per cent of pregnant women with the former risk, and 16% of pregnant women with the latter risk were HIV seropositive. The minimum prevalence of HIV infection for women domiciled in Edinburgh city was approximately 0.4% of pregnancies, with a higher prevalence in women having induced abortion and a lower prevalence in continuing pregnancies. However, HIV serostatus was known in only 1.6% of all pregnancies. HIV infection in pregnant Edinburgh women may be confined largely to a cohort of injection drug users and sexual partners of infected male drug users but total population prevalence data are urgently required. PMID- 2631204 TI - An unusual 'appendix' testis. AB - A six-week-old infant was seen with bilateral inguinal herniae. It was noted that the position of the right testis within the scrotum varied with the degree of inguinal herniation. At exploration the appendix was found lying within the patent processus vaginalis with its tip firmly adherent to the upper pole of the right testis. Appendicectomy was performed through the same incision. This unusual finding should be considered by the clinician if presented with a child with easily reducible inguinal herniae and a fluctuating testicular position. PMID- 2631205 TI - Idiopathic myoglobinuria in the early puerperium. AB - Myoglobinuria is rare in association with pregnancy. We report a case of idiopathic myoglobinuria in the early puerperium in a patient who had a spontaneous vaginal delivery. Acute muscular pain and port wine staining of the urine should alert the clinician. PMID- 2631206 TI - Recurrent pneumothorax: an unusual presentation of malignant mesothelioma. AB - Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon condition with about 250 new cases each year in the United Kingdom, most of which present with dyspnoea due to pleural effusion or chest pain. We report a case of malignant mesothelioma which presented as recurrent pneumothorax. PMID- 2631207 TI - An unusual cause of a pulsatile neck swelling: report of a case of cervical aortic arch. AB - Pulsatile neck swellings are usually related to the carotid vessels and include aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms and tortuous atherosclerotic vessels. A very rare cause of congenital extension of the aortic arch into the neck is described. PMID- 2631208 TI - [Traumatic complications of indirect cardiac massage]. AB - The author analyzed injuries in 238 subjects where before death indirect cardiac massage was applied by skilled health workers. The ribs were fractures in 27.7% and the sternum in 16% of the deceased, injuries of other organs were detected 13 times (5.5%). In women injuries were more frequent and fractures of the sternum markedly more frequent than in men. While in men rib fractures on the left side were more frequent than on the rights side, in women this difference was not observed. Rib fractures were mostly in the medioclavicular line at the level of the 3rd-5th rib. The fractures of the sternum were also most frequently at the level between the 3rd and 5th rib. No fractures of the 10th-12th rib were found. The author observed an age-depunende cy of rib fractures in men and women, while fractures of the sternum were age-dependent only in men. There was no relationship with age as regards injuries of other organs. Only in two deceased subjects the injury which developed during indirect cardiac massage was the immediate cause of death. Once it was rupture of the interval mammary vein with haemorrhage into the mediastinum and haemorrhage into the chest, in the other case rupture of the right ventricle with cardiac tamponade. PMID- 2631209 TI - [Determination and interpretation of carboxyhemoglobin in traces of biological material]. AB - The author investigated the possibility of assessment of the carboxy haemoglobin level in blood stains and particles of tissues which contain at least minimal amounts of blood pigment. For the examination methods were modified which are used for similar estimations in blood. In the blood stains the decline of carboxy haemoglobin was investigated in relation to some external influences. The author investigated also the ability of haemoglobin to react with carbon monoxide at different periods after the development of blood stains. PMID- 2631210 TI - [Intense agitation]. PMID- 2631211 TI - [The Rorschach test and obsessional neurosis]. PMID- 2631212 TI - [Psychoanalysis and obsessional neurosis]. PMID- 2631213 TI - [The Rat Man. A case of obsessional neurosis analyzed by Freud]. PMID- 2631214 TI - [Fears and rituals of childhood]. PMID- 2631215 TI - [Phobias and obsessions]. PMID- 2631217 TI - [Obsessive disorders and ritualizations in the psychotic patient]. PMID- 2631216 TI - [Obsessive disorders leading to schizophrenia]. PMID- 2631218 TI - [The Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. (tic disorder)]. PMID- 2631219 TI - [Behavior therapies in obsessional disorders]. PMID- 2631220 TI - [Obsessive disorders]. PMID- 2631221 TI - [Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Definition and therapeutic strategy]. PMID- 2631222 TI - [Obsessive neuroses. Glossary]. PMID- 2631223 TI - [Computer activities in a day hospital]. PMID- 2631224 TI - [Obsessional neurosis. Symptoms]. PMID- 2631225 TI - [Experiences of a nurse in the daily life of a psychiatric hospital]. PMID- 2631226 TI - [Nursing practice in "home visits" in Sector 12]. PMID- 2631227 TI - [The family of the anorexic patient]. PMID- 2631228 TI - [Management of care in the child]. PMID- 2631229 TI - [Rehabilitation of the elderly with memory disorders in psychiatric institutions]. PMID- 2631230 TI - [The outcome of obsessional neurosis and its complications]. PMID- 2631231 TI - [The obsessional personality]. PMID- 2631232 TI - [Biochemical features of meningococcal infectious-toxic shock]. PMID- 2631233 TI - [Instability of the knee joint]. PMID- 2631234 TI - [Use of ozone in complex treatment of complicated fractures of the lower thoracic and lumbar sections of the spine]. PMID- 2631235 TI - [Difficulties of differential diagnosis in traumatic and aneurysmal intracranial hemorrhages]. PMID- 2631236 TI - [Clinical aspects and prognosis in comatose states in postpartum eclampsia]. PMID- 2631237 TI - [Primary carcinosarcoma of the esophagus]. PMID- 2631238 TI - [Late diagnosis of podagra in women]. PMID- 2631239 TI - [Effects of kinilentin on phase structure of left ventricular systole and hemodynamic parameters]. PMID- 2631240 TI - [Emergency cytodiagnosis of tumors and nontumorous processes localized in the mediastinum]. AB - The author analyzes the potentialities of emergency cytologic diagnosis of 109 mediastinal tumors and nontumorous processes. This method is rapid and simple and may be used with any type of tumors; it clearly detects the details of the cellular composition; the share of reliable findings is sufficiently high. Urgent cytologic study at the final stage of the diagnostic investigations may specify and even correct the tentative diagnosis and detect the type of the process, this promoting a rational surgical intervention and helping plan the postoperative treatment policy. PMID- 2631241 TI - [Metabolic aspects of bronchial hyperreactivity to physical exertion in bronchial asthma]. AB - The blood levels of stress mediators--catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline), parameters characterizing the intensity of lipid peroxidation (hydroperoxides, blood antioxidant activity (from the levels of SH groups), and the content of prostaglandins F2 alpha and E (PGF2 alpha and PGE) were measured in patients with bronchial asthma and chronic asthmatic bronchitis before and after exercise. The studies have revealed that bronchial hyperreactivity to exercise is in accord with the high blood levels of catecholamines, hydroperoxides, PGF2 alpha and low content of thiol group reflecting the depression of the total antioxidant system in asthmatics. Increase of catecholamine, hydroperoxide, and PGF2 alpha levels and decrease of the total thiol group content after muscular exercise in the patients with bronchial asthma is in accord with the bronchial reactivity. Changes in the bronchoconstrictor PGF2 alpha are the most marked and measurements of its blood levels and computation of the PGF2 alpha/PGE coefficient may help assess the bronchial hyperreactivity without resorting to provocative tests. PMID- 2631242 TI - [Therapist as a consultant in other clinical departments]. PMID- 2631243 TI - [Groundless recommendations for hospitalization: a defect in the organization of emergency therapeutic care]. PMID- 2631244 TI - [Introduction of economical management methods in hospitals]. PMID- 2631245 TI - [Clinical characterization of patients with HIV infections]. PMID- 2631246 TI - [Treatment of arrhythmia in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease using kinilentin combined with an inhibitor or inductor of microsomal oxidation]. PMID- 2631247 TI - [Kordaron treatment of effort angina pectoris]. PMID- 2631248 TI - [Alternative diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal tachycardia]. PMID- 2631249 TI - [Atrial stimulation test and repeated left ventriculography in the evaluation of left ventricular function in stable angina pectoris]. PMID- 2631250 TI - [Transesophageal electric stimulation of the heart in the early period after myocardial infarction]. PMID- 2631251 TI - [Aortocoronary bypass in patients with ischemic heart disease with persistent angina pectoris]. PMID- 2631252 TI - [Diagnostic criteria in neurocirculatory dystonia of the hypertensive type in adolescents]. PMID- 2631253 TI - [Diagnosis of right atrial infarction]. PMID- 2631254 TI - [Ketotifen treatment of bronchial asthma]. PMID- 2631255 TI - [Residual cavitary changes in the lungs in tuberculosis]. PMID- 2631256 TI - [Acute respiratory distress syndrome as a cause of death in young patients with croupous pneumonia]. PMID- 2631257 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of liver cysts]. PMID- 2631258 TI - [Factors affecting survival of patients and graft after transplantation of a cadaver kidney]. AB - The following factors were found to contribute to survival rate of 5 years and longer in the patients with transplanted cadaver kidneys: patients' age of 20 to 40, a non-autoimmune nature of the underlying disease (chronic pyelonephritis and renal polycystosis), hemodialysis treatment for not longer than 6 months, and 4-5 preoperative blood transfusions. A good initial status of the recipients, no presensitization, and HLA histocompatibility of the donor and recipient for 3-4 A and B loci are the necessary conditions for prolonged survival of kidney transplants and patients. Programmed hemodialysis is preferable for the patients with a high sensitization, for no long survivals were recorded among them, high mortality rate being registered within the first two years after kidney allotransplantation. PMID- 2631259 TI - [Clinical aspects and diagnosis of abnormalities of the large intestine in adults]. PMID- 2631260 TI - [Adverse effects of combined chemotherapy in cancer of the ovary]. PMID- 2631261 TI - [Experience with 33 operations for pheochromocytoma]. AB - The authors submit experience with 33 operations of pheochromocytomas in 29 patients, incl. 5 children under 15 years (15%) and 5 adolescents aged 16 to 23 years (15%). Of 33 pheochromocytomas 32 were benign (23 adrenal, 9 extra-adrenal) and 1 malignant pheochromoblastoma. In 4 patients there were duplicit pheochromocytomas and in one triplicit (both adrenals and an extraadrenal pheochromocytoma). Five patients developed relapses or new pheochromocytomas in the course of 4-16 years after the previous operation. The only serious peroperative and post-operative complication with a fatal outcome was in 1957 in a 17-year-old girl with bilateral pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla, where the left one was diagnosed and extirpated in 1953, while the other one was not diagnosed intra vitam. The authors evaluate also the long-term results of their patients who survive 3-25 years after operation. Three died some time after operation (pheochromoblastoma, 2X IM), two were recently re-operated on account of new pheochromocytomas which developed 11-16 years after the first operation. Patients after operation of pheochromocytomas should be regularly checked and dispensarized throughout life. PMID- 2631262 TI - [Le Duc's implantation of the ureter into the neovesical]. AB - Implantation of the ureters into a neovesica should be antireflux and prevent thus their obstruction. These demands are met by Le Duc's implantation which is simple and safe. Le Duc's implantation was used in 16 patients with very favourable results documented by cystography, urography and cystoscopy. PMID- 2631263 TI - [Pyeloureterostomy in necrosis of the ureter in a transplanted kidney with a low ureteral fissure]. AB - Duplication of the urinary pathways of a transplanted kidney makes the localization of the ureteral defect and its repair more difficult. The authors describe difficulties associated with detection of the site where urine escapes and with restoration of the continuity of the urinary pathways by pyelopyeloureterostomy in a female patient with transplantation of a kidney with low fissure of the ureter. PMID- 2631264 TI - [Dynamic scintigraphy of the kidneys using a diuretic]. AB - The authors describe the application of the method of dynamic scintigraphy of the kidneys, using a diuretic, in patients with signs of stasis in the upper urinary pathways, based on findings of excretory urography and standard radioisotope examination of the kidneys. They obtained three groups of results: 1. Obstruction during the standard radioisotope examination of the kidneys became normal after administration of the diuretic. 2. The obstruction receded during the standard radioisotope examination of the kidneys as a result of the diuretic, but only insignificantly. 3. There were signs of obstruction on standard radioisotope examination of the kidneys and they persisted also after administration of the diuretic. These results of dynamic scintigraphy of the kidneys using a diuretic make it possible to differentiate more readily dilatation of the upper urinary pathways in the absence of an obstruction from dilatation due to a significant obstruction, which is important when deciding on further diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in clinical urological practice. PMID- 2631265 TI - [Simplified correction of female stress incontinence]. AB - A simplified operation for female stress incontinence, using a pair of double prong needles, is described. A 91.9% cure was achieved in 37 patients followed for a mean of 16.8 months. Merits of this procedure include operative simplicity and brevity, and high rate of cure. PMID- 2631266 TI - [Personal experience with the treatment of priapism]. AB - The authors discuss the aetiology and therapy of priapism. They deal in detail with different therapeutic approaches and analyze the results with regard to new pathophysiological findings in a group of 23 patients. They mention possible complications and emphasize the necessity of an urgent approach to the solution of this disease. They decide on treatment after assessment of the type of priapism; as to surgical methods they use puncture fenestration according to Winter, if this does not prove satisfactory then they operate according to Al Ghorab's method. PMID- 2631267 TI - [Urodynamics of the continent neovesical]. AB - The authors present an account of urodynamic findings in 14 patients after replacement of the urinary bladder by a detubulized ileocoecal or ileal segment sutured in the shape of a pouch. An ileocoecal pouch (so-called Mainz pouch) was anastomized in nine patients to the urethra and in three it was led into the umbilicus by an ileal valve. Through this valve the patients are intermittently catheterized. In two patients an ileal neovesica stitched to the urethra was created. After a 1-12-months interval following operation the authors evaluate the urinary flow (average 12 ml/s), the residue after micturition (0-170 ml), the intravesical pressure at rest (mean 17 cm H2O), the compliance of the neovesica (mean 47 ml/cm H2O), the urethral closing pressure (mean 51 cm H2O) and continence. This type of replacement meets the demands of a large-volume, low pressure reservoir, it has also a satisfactory evacuating ability and ensures satisfactory continence. PMID- 2631268 TI - [A new method of treating male infertility: percutaneous transfemoral embolization of varicoceles with Vilan 500]. AB - The authors describe a new method of treatment of male infertility. In 25 men aged 19-45 years with varicocele, after percutaneous transfemoral catheterization, embolization of the spermatic vein with the Czechoslovak preparation Vilan 500 (hydrolyzed co-polymer of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol in 96% ethyl alcohol) was performed. Six patients were treated on account of marked subjective complaints and 19 because of reduced fertility. Of these in 16 after embolization the spermiogram improved. The authors describe the diagnostic procedure, the technique of embolization, its complications and results. The described method is simple, safe, effective and as compared with other embolization methods it is cheaper. PMID- 2631269 TI - [Complications after transvesical prostatectomy in relation to the hemostatic suture in the neck of the urinary bladder]. AB - In an investigation of 200 patients with benign hyperplasia of the prostate early and late complication after transvesical prostatectomy were followed up. Their incidence in patients with Kucera's haemostatic suture was compared with the incidence of complications in operated patients where haemostasis was ensured by pericentesis of the bleeding vessels and their coagulation. PMID- 2631270 TI - [Percutaneous treatment of calculi in the horseshoe kidney]. AB - Horseshoe kidney and renal anomalies are not a contraindication for endourological procedures. In horseshoe kidney, anatomical features and impaired drainage of urine, make stone treatment by ESWL technically difficult and fragments output unsuccessfully. By PNL, via a middle or upper calix posterior approach, is possible to remove the stone without serious complications. Technical modifications of traditional percutaneous approach are required to deal with these cases. A careful preoperative study of caliceal and pelvic anatomy by retrograde pyelography with films taken in lateral and oblique position is needed to plan the correct approach to the stone. However, a skilled use of endourological procedures and techniques are required. Authors present our experience on two cases successfully treated. PMID- 2631271 TI - [Male sterility and artificial insemination using donor semen. Our experience]. AB - There has been a considerable increase in the demand for artificial insemination with donor semen (A.I.D.) in Italy during the past 5 years. This study describes the 4 year experience of an infertility practice which maintains a frozen bank as its primary source of A.I.D. The overall pregnancy rate was 52.27%. There is a significant difference in pregnancies in various age groups. Our pregnancy rate was 72.2% for those women under 31 and 31.5% for those over 31. PMID- 2631272 TI - [Primary adenocarcinoma of the bladder]. AB - A clinicohistopathological study of 12 cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the bladder diagnosed over an 11 year period is presented. Six of these were pure adenocarcinomas, while the remainder consisted of 2 adenocarcinoma with transitional malignant elements, 2 adenosquamous carcinomas and 2 mesonephric adenocarcinomas. The biological behaviour of these neoplasms was particularly aggressive: in none of the cases was the neoplasm limited to the bladder epithelium, but was generally seen to have infiltrated the muscular wall. Leaving aside the specific treatment carried out, the prognosis was in all patients poor and a complete clinical recovery was achieved for just 2 subjects. Except for one case, death was always directly attributable to bladder cancer, but as a result of obstructive and inflammatory diseases relating to the size and the degree of local infiltration of the tumor rather than metastatic spread. PMID- 2631273 TI - [Use of human fibrin glue in the ileal neobladder]. AB - Eleven cases of total cystectomy for neoplasia in which an ileal neovesica was fashioned and fibrin sealant used to guarantee adhesion of the urethro-ileal anastomosis are described. The results obtained and radiological control are reported. PMID- 2631274 TI - [Nephrogenic adenoma. Presentation of 7 cases]. AB - Nephrogenic adenoma is a vesical lesion of uncertain pathogenesis. Histologically it is characterised by glandular-like aspects that take on the form of tiny tubules consisting of a single layer of cuboidal or columnar epithelium. The lesion was first described by Davis in 1949 and a year later Friedman and Kuhlembeck coined the term nephrogenic adenoma. Personal experience with seven cases of this lesion is reported here. Six of the seven cases occurred in the bladder, the remaining one in the prostatic urethra. Four patients reported prior surgery of the urinary ways, three suffered from recurrent cystitis, one had bladder stones while three were being followed up in our department for urothelial carcinoma. Diagnosis of nephrogenic adenoma was based on histopathological examination carried out on biopsy samples taken during urethrocystoscopy. The urothelial lesions were subjected to transurethral resection or endoscopic diathermocoagulation. All patients are being followed up and no recurrences have yet been reported. PMID- 2631275 TI - [A rare case of bilateral granulomatous orchitis]. AB - A rare case of bilateral granulomatous orchitis is presented and the problems of diagnosis and treatment are discussed. There are no relationships between echography and granulomatous orchitis. At present, granulomatous orchitis remains a disease with a difficult etiology treatment. PMID- 2631276 TI - [Leiomyoblastoma of the prostate. Presentation of a case]. AB - The Authors report a case of leiomyoma of the prostate. It's a relatively rare neoplasm and although usually benign, malignant changes have been noted. PMID- 2631277 TI - [Asymptomatic, right reno-ureteral calculi in a cake kidney]. AB - The primary caudal site of the urogenital anlage in the embryo explains why certain positional anomalies occur during cranial migration and are the outcome of various associated factors. A case of ectopic fusion in the ileo-sacral site known as cake kidney whose peculiarity consists of totally asymptomatic right multiple reno-ureteral lithiasis identified by chance is reported. PMID- 2631278 TI - The social worker joins the team: a look at the socialization process. AB - Although much has been written about interdisciplinary teams, little is known about how social workers who begin employment in interdisciplinary settings learn how to be team players. This article, based on a year-long ethnographic sociolinguistic research study in one such setting, describes and analyzes the interactive experiences of a social worker who, during the course of the study, changed roles from newcomer to instructor of social work students. Through an analysis of the social worker's interactions, several observations were made. (1) Three team rules prescribed how team members were to participate (use trigger words, develop behaviorally specific descriptors, use action verbs). (2) The "coaching" of the new social worker and her coaching of students were visible in the two teams that were observed. (3) Certain language was preferred by the teams and disciplines. (4) Over time the social worker became more assertive and pro active. PMID- 2631279 TI - Family therapy with spinal cord injured substance abusers. AB - To incorporate family therapy into an inpatient treatment program for spinal cord injured substance abusers required overcoming both staff and patient resistance. Since it became an integral part of the program, family therapy has shown itself to be helpful in dealing with this population's tendency to adapt to their injury either by overdependency or overachievement. Its usefulness to patients with other chronic disabilities appears to warrant consideration. PMID- 2631280 TI - The significance of empathy in current hospital based practice. AB - This paper examines empathy as a practice component that is particularly significant in its relationship to self-determination in the discharge process in acute hospital settings. Empathy is also emphasized as an essential ingredient to a psychosocial assessment that leads to accurate problem formulation and preciseness in planning. Current theories on empathy are discussed in a literature review, while pertinent practice issues are presented in several case vignettes. Theory and practice confirm that empathic skills can develop on both sentient and cognitive levels over time. This development is enhanced by supervision that utilizes the worker's capacity for self-awareness. PMID- 2631281 TI - Psychosocial influences on research subject recruitment, enrollment and retention. AB - Psychosocial factors may profoundly affect the successful implementation of a research study. The purpose of this paper is to describe psychosocial influences on the researcher-participant interaction during: (1) recruitment, (2) enrollment, and (3) retention and to provide guidelines for effective implementation of a study within a clinical health care setting. An interdisciplinary teamwork approach was used to identify and to resolve psychosocial issues. A study of 4781 family planning patients will be used as the case example. PMID- 2631282 TI - Social work services for elderly persons with mental retardation: a case example. AB - Elderly persons with mental retardation constitute a relatively small and often overlooked subgroup of our aged population. As their numbers continue to grow, it is likely that social workers in health care and social service agencies serving either the mentally retarded or the aged will increasingly encounter such older persons as clients. This paper presents a case study that illustrates some of the problems and issues that social workers in a variety of community-based and institutional-based agencies are likely to face in helping to provide for the health and residential care needs of members of this group. PMID- 2631283 TI - Psychosocial factors for couples awaiting in vitro fertilization. AB - This paper reviews the literature on the psychological and psychosocial aspects of in vitro fertilization and of consumer attitudes towards IVF. A study of the psychosocial factors reported by 61 couples who were awaiting IVF treatment in Auckland, New Zealand is presented. Results cover demographic characteristics, couples responses to infertility, decision making regarding IVF, the impact of infertility on self and relationships, availability and use of counselling, expected problems associated with IVF treatment and attitudes towards policy and ethical issues. Discussion of the results includes some implications for social work services. PMID- 2631284 TI - Enduring over the long haul--a letter. PMID- 2631286 TI - Risk management: improving your communication with the patient and the periodontist. PMID- 2631285 TI - The Statute of Limitations in Texas: what does it mean in malpractice litigation? PMID- 2631287 TI - Orthopedic considerations of cervical syndrome and temporomandibular disorders. AB - Dental clinicians should be aware that symptomatology of the head, neck, shoulders and arms, associated with cervical syndrome may present concurrent to temporomandibular disorders. A review of some cervical complex alterations is presented as well as treatment procedures which could reflect upon temporomandibular treatment in dentistry. PMID- 2631288 TI - Endocrine therapy monitored by hormone cytological examination in advanced female breast cancer. AB - Endocrine polychemotherapy of advanced breast cancer of women was monitored by vaginal hormone receptor cytological examinations and hormone receptor assay. The methods, results and endocrinological observations of the authors have been described. The revision of the indication field of antioestrogen therapy is suggested. PMID- 2631289 TI - Attempt with oral immunobiotherapy (broncho-vaxom) and immunochemotherapy (broncho-vaxom + neomycin) for the elimination of bacteria in symptom-free "other Salmonella" carriers. AB - Forty-five symptomless "other Salmonella" carriers were treated; stool became negative for Salmonella in 22 of the 25 patients treated with Broncho-Vaxom (88%) and in 16 of the 20 patients treated with Broncho-Vaxom + Neomycin (80%) (who had discharged Salmonella for not longer than one month previously). This result is very favourable when compared to data of references of thoroughly controlled patients according to which 69% was the highest rate of bacterial negativity obtained in the treated patients who discharged "other Salmonellas" for not longer than 1 month. The stool of all 10 patients admitted as symptomless carriers of "other Salmonellas" became negative for bacteria in response to the mentioned therapy (in 6 cases of Group I, and 4 cases of Group II). Treatment was unsuccessful primarily in chronic alcohol addicts and toxicosis cases (13%). The unresponsiveness of the two patients suffering from cholelithiasis and excreting also "other Salmonella" with the bile deserves attention. In such cases the positivity of the bile for Salmonella was a reason for exclusion from the study. Further studies (completed with immunological data) are required to assess the value of Broncho-Vaxom immunobiotherapy, and Broncho-Vaxom + Neomycin immunotherapy. PMID- 2631290 TI - Attempts with lipanthyl to improve lipid metabolism during the adaptation period of women taking oral contraceptives. AB - In the course of a 6-month comparative prospective clinical trial the parameters of fat metabolism in women taking first oral contraceptives of different hormone balances and contents were examined. It has been observed that the different tablets increase within the physiological limits the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride as well as LDL-cholesterol and--except for the biphasic tablet- they decrease HDL fraction. By administering minimum doses of fenofibrate the increase and changes in fat metabolism may be prevented and the eventual unwanted effects of the adaptation period moderated. The clinical usefulness of the method and some open questions of this therapy have been discussed. PMID- 2631291 TI - Intensive postoperative mydeton therapy of traumatological patients. AB - The effect of high-dose oral Mydeton therapy has been examined during the postoperative treatment of 73 patients who had undergone traumatological operations. By controlling the most characteristic parameters it has been observed that due to its myotonolytic and lymph flow improving action Mydeton improves significantly motor function and articular movement, shortens the postoperative therapeutic period, and facilitates the performance of curative physical exercise. Since the drug is well tolerated by the patients its use may be recommended as a routine in the above mentioned traumatological indications. PMID- 2631292 TI - Moderation of urinary and faecal incontinence with loperamide. AB - The author used Imodium in a clinical trial for the treatment of urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomies, urinary and faecal incontinence due to carcinoma or cerebral accident in history. The drug significantly improved incontinence and did not cause adverse effects. On the basis of the similarity of innervation the author opines that loperamide also influences the function of detrusor and/or bladder orifice besides exerting an antiperistaltic and anal sphincter influencing action. PMID- 2631293 TI - Biological activity of 2,4,8-trichlorodibenzofuran: promotion of rat liver foci and induction of cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases. AB - The biological activity of 2,4,8-trichlorodibenzofuran (2,4,8-TCDF) was tested using 2 endpoints: (a) the promotion of enzyme-altered, preneoplastic foci initiated by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in livers of weanling female Sprague-Dawley rats; and (b) the induction of aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase (AHH), a marker for cytochrome P-4501 activity, in livers of adult female Sprague Dawley rats and in H4IIEC3 rat hepatoma cells. When animals were treated with 200 or 500 mg/kg 2,4,8-TCDF 5 X weekly over 10 weeks after a single application of 10 mg/kg DNA, the higher dose of 2,4,8-TCDF had a promoting effect on the appearance of preneoplastic foci. Thus number and total area of foci deficient in adenosine 5'-triphosphatase were significantly increased by a factor of 1.6. 2,4,8-TCDF induced AHH-activities in 9000 X g supernatants of liver 2-3-fold, when rats were treated with 100-1000 mg/kg/day for 5 days and monooxygenase activities determined after another 3 days. The amounts of 2,4,8-TCDF required for inducing AHH activity in H4IIEC3 cells were 7 orders of magnitude higher than those of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD). the results indicate that the 2,4,8-TCDF has a biological activity which is extremely low compared to that of 2,3,7,8-TCDD. PMID- 2631294 TI - Comparative testicular toxicity of bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether and 2-methoxyethanol in rats. AB - Male rats were exposed to 0, 110, 370, or 1100 ppm bis(2-methoxyethyl)ether (diglyme) 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks. One group of male rats was exposed to 300 ppm 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME) for 2 weeks as a positive control. Exposed rats were killed after 10 days of exposure and 14, 42, or 84 days post-exposure (PE), respectively. At 110 ppm diglyme, spermatocytes in pachytene and meiotic division at spermatogenic stages XII-XIV were mainly affected. At 370 ppm diglyme, affected germ cells were similar to those seen at 110 ppm diglyme, but round spermatids at spermatogenic stages I-VII were also affected. The testes regained normal spermatogenesis by 84 days PE. At 1100 ppm diglyme or 300 ppm 2-ME, marked testicular atrophy was found affecting all spermatogenic stages. Damaged seminiferous tubules were lined with regenerating pachytene spermatocytes at 14 days PE and with spermatocytes and round spermatids after 42 days PE. Most but not all testes in rats exposed to 300 ppm 2-ME or 1100 ppm diglyme had normal morphology after 84 days PE. Based on the observation of germ cell damage, spermatozoa population in the epidymal tubules, reversibility of spermatogenesis after various PE periods, testicular toxicity induced by 300 ppm 2-ME was more severe than that seen at 370 ppm diglyme but was slightly less remarkable than that of 1100 ppm diglyme. PMID- 2631295 TI - Biochemical effects of combined gases of nitrogen dioxide and ozone. III. Synergistic effects on lipid peroxidation and antioxidative protective systems in the lungs of rats and guinea pigs. AB - Rats and guinea pigs were exposed continuously to 0.4 ppm NO2, 0.4 ppm O3 or a combination of the two gases for 2 weeks. The concentration of lipid peroxides in lungs of rats and guinea pigs exposed to NO2 alone or O3 alone did not change. The lipid peroxide level of rats inhaling the combined gases also did not change. However, the level of lipid peroxides in guinea pigs exposed to a combination of the two gases was increased to 2.2 times of the control level, showing a synergistic interaction. No increases of antioxidative protective enzyme activities and of antioxidants (such as NPSH, VE, VC) in guinea pigs exposed to NO2, O3 or the combined gases were found. In rats, no changes in enzyme activities and of the antioxidant contents were observed after NO2 alone, but O3 exposure produced slight increases of NPSH, VC, and GPx-H2O2. On the other hand, in rats exposed to the combined gases, marked synergistic increased of many antioxidative factors such as NPSH, VC, G6PD, GPx-cum.OOH and GPx-H2O2 were found. The results show that those animals which are able to increase antioxidative protective factors in the lung following exposure to the combined gases do not respond with a significant increase in lipid peroxides. On the other hand, in animals with poor induction-ability of these factors lipid peroxides are formed. This might explain why guinea pigs were the most sensitive to the effects of the combined gases. Furthermore, it was shown that in guinea pigs the increased level of lipid peroxides and that in rats the increased activities of antioxidative enzymes and the increased contents of the antioxidants were synergistic following exposure to the combined gases. PMID- 2631296 TI - Induction and inhibition of rat liver cytochrome(s) P-450 by an imidazole fungicide (prochloraz). AB - Prochloraz (1-[N-propyl-N-2(2,4,6-trichlorophenoxy) ethyl carbamoyl] imidazole) is an imidazole molecule widely used as a fungicide. This study reports the in vivo and in vitro effects of this compound on microsomal drug metabolising enzymes from rat liver. In vivo pretreatment of animals (250 mg/kg body wt for 3 days) with prochloraz elicited complex modifications. When animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last dose, an increase in total cytochrome P-450 was observed as well as an increase in catalytic activities towards benzphetamine, alkoxyresorufins and alkoxycoumarins. However, when animals were sacrificed 48 h after the last dose, a lower induction of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase and a higher induction of 7-pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase and 7-benzoxyresorufin O debenzylase were found. Such results lead us to consider prochloraz as a "mixed inducer" of the hepatic cytochromes P-450. In vitro experiments were indicating a strong inhibition of 7-alkoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activities by prochloraz. The analysis of the CO-difference spectrum of cytochrome P-450 showed also tight binding of prochloraz to the haemoprotein in animals sacrificed 24 h but not 48 h after the last dose. Furthermore, prochloraz did not induce significantly the microsomal cytochrome P-450 IVA1-dependent 12-hydroxylation of lauric acid. PMID- 2631297 TI - 6-substituted-1,3,8-trichlorodibenzofurans as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin antagonists in the rat: structure activity relationships. AB - The activities of several 6-substituted-1,3,8-trichlorodibenzofurans (CDFs) as partial antagonists of the induction of hepatic microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities in the rat by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) were structure-dependent. Treatment of the rats with TCDD (16 nmol/kg), the 6-substituted-1,3,8-triCDFs (50 mumol/kg) and TCDD plus the 6-substituted-1,3,8-triCDFs showed that most of the substituted congeners were either inactive (6-methyl, ethyl, propyl, i-propyl, t-butyl) or weak (6-cyclohexyl, nitro) inducers of AHH and EROD activities, whereas TCDD caused an 8.1- and 58-fold induction of these enzyme activities respectively. In the co-administration studies, the 6-methyl, propyl, ethyl, isopropyl and t-butyl analogs partially antagonized the induction of the monooxygenase enzyme activities by TCDD, whereas, the 6-cyclohexyl and 6-nitro-1,3,8-triCDFs exhibited minimal activity as TCDD antagonists. The Ah receptor binding affinities of the 6 substituted compounds were determined in a series of in vitro competitive binding studies using [3H]TCDD as the radioligand. Analysis of the data by Scatchard and Dixon plots showed that the avidities for the Ah receptor by the 6-substituted 1,3,8-triCDFs followed the order 6-methyl greater than 6-t-butyl greater than 6-i propyl greater than 6-propyl approximately 6-ethyl greater than 6-cyclohexyl greater than 6-nitro-1,3,8-triCDF. In addition there was a good correlation between the in vitro binding avidities and Ki values for these compounds and their in vivo activity as partial antagonists of the induction of AHH and EROD activities by TCDD. The results suggested that the 6-substituted-1,3,8-triCDFs competitively displayed TCDD from the Ah receptor and this interaction may play a role in the mechanism of action of this class of TCDD antagonists. PMID- 2631298 TI - Thirteen-week toxicity studies of 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidene and C.I. Direct Blue 15 in the Fischer 344 rat. AB - The benzidine congener 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine (DMOB), and C.I. Direct Blue 15 (Blue 15), a prototypical compound of the DMOB-derived class of dyes, were evaluated in 13-week studies to characterize the toxicity and establish dose levels for subsequent chronic studies. Groups of 10 Fischer 344 rats of each sex were administered either DMOB, or Blue 15, at 1 of 5 concentrations in drinking water for 13 weeks. DMBO concentrations were 0, 0.017, 0.033, 0.063, 0.125, and 0.25% for males and females. For Blue 15, the concentrations were 0.063, 0.125, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0% for females and 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, and 3.0% for male rats. Rats showed dose-related decreases in water consumption and weight gains. All DMOB-treated rats and their controls survived the 13-week treatment. There were 7 deaths in the 3% level of male rats treated with Blue 15. Liver and kidney weights were increased in rats treated with both compounds. Target organs for DMOB-treated rats were the kidney and thyroid. These lesions were characterized by chronic nephropathy, and increased pigment in the follicular cells of the thyroid. The kidney and liver were identified as target organs for Blue 15 treated rats. In the high-dose rats that died before termination of the study, renal effects were characterized by degeneration and focal necrosis of proximal tubular epithelial cells. Liver lesions in this group consisted of degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes, fatty metamorphosis, and minimal megalocytosis. Mild chronic nephropathy was the principal histological effect in Blue 15-treated rats surviving to study termination. PMID- 2631299 TI - Comparative effects of pair-feeding and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on various biochemical parameters in female rats. AB - Hypophagia is a common characteristic of the toxicity of 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and may be responsible for some of the toxic manifestations. Pair-feeding has been used in control animals to compensate for the hypophagia, but relatively few studies have assessed biochemical changes associated with pair-feeding versus weight loss induced by TCDD. Rats were treated with TCDD and killed 7 days post-treatment while pair-fed animals received an amount of diet equivalent to TCDD-treated partner animals. Ad libitum fed rats were also used. No correlations were seen in altered calcium and iron homeostasis between pair-feeding and TCDD administration relative to ad libitum fed animals. Pair-feeding resulted in greater alterations than TCDD administration in the subcellular distribution of iron in mitochondria, microsomes and cytosol. Pair-feeding also resulted in greater accumulation of calcium in mitochondria and microsomes in pair-fed as compared to TCDD-treated animals. Greater lipid peroxidation was observed in whole liver and nuclei of rats receiving TCDD relative to pair-fed animals. A significantly greater incidence of DNA single strand breaks occurred in hepatic nuclei of TCDD-treated animals as compared to pair-fed and ad libitum-fed animals. Significantly greater inhibition of hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity and thymic involution were observed in TCDD treated animals as compared to the pair-fed group. Although some similarities existed between TCDD-treated animals and pair-fed rats, the overall biochemical changes which were observed following TCDD administration cannot be attributed to weight loss associated with hypophagia. PMID- 2631300 TI - Relative scotoma and statokinetic dissociation (Riddoch's phenomenon) from occipital lobe dysfunction. AB - Riddoch's phenomenon, in which a stimulus is perceived during movement but not with static presentation, has been reported for occipital lobe and anterior visual pathway disorders. To our knowledge, a threshold for movement detection in the affected hemifield has not been reported. A case of statokinetic dissociation from occipital lobe infarction is presented in which a threshold range for movement detection was identified. The possible role of separate channels in the visual cortex for analysis of kinetic and static stimuli is suggested. PMID- 2631301 TI - Isolated cyclovertical muscle palsy: a simplified algorithm for interpreting the three-step test. AB - A simplified algorithm is presented for determining the palsied cyclovertical muscle, once the three-step test is completed. The examiner is required only to remember the three-step test characteristics of two muscles (right superior oblique, left inferior oblique) and the Knight's move in chess. PMID- 2631302 TI - Intraocular lymphoma: clinical presentations, differential diagnosis and treatment. AB - Lymphoma is a term which encompasses a diverse group of human lymphoid malignancies. Most lymphomas rarely affect the intraocular tissues, and those that do are generally of the diffuse large cell (histiocytic) type. The typical clinical patterns of presentation of intraocular lymphoma are (1) diffuse intravitreal cells, (2) geographic subretinal pigment epithelial infiltrates, and (3) uveal tumors. In this paper, the authors illustrate the most common presentations of this disorder, review the differential diagnosis of these different presentations, and suggest an approach to diagnosis and management of affected patients based on their experience and a review of the literature. PMID- 2631303 TI - Combined extracapsular cataract extraction, posterior chamber lens implantation and pars plana vitrectomy. AB - The authors describe the technique of extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber lens implantation in conjunction with pars plana vitrectomy. In persons with the sequelae of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and retinal branch vein obstruction, as well as those with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, the procedure enables visual rehabilitation with one operation and seemingly no increase in morbidity. PMID- 2631304 TI - Room air pneumatic retinopexy. PMID- 2631305 TI - HIV and banked fascia lata. AB - Banked irradiated fascia lata is used in many ophthalmic procedures. Along with its increased popularity has come concern over protection from the AIDS virus. Banked fascia lata is protected against the AIDS virus by donor selection, antibody testing and irradiation sterilization. With the knowledge that fascia may also be heated as additional protection, this study was performed to determine if heat treatment weakens the fascia. Results suggest that heat treatment does not clinically or statistically weaken banked homogenous fascia lata. PMID- 2631306 TI - Diagnosis and treatment of congenital choanal atresia. AB - Choanal atresia is the developmental failure of the posterior nasal cavity to communicate with the nasopharynx. Because of its rare incidence, otolaryngologists have limited experience in treating this unusual congenital anomaly. We report the case of a seventeen year old female with bilateral membrano-osseous choanal atresia who miraculously survived her anomaly and was not definitively diagnosed and surgically treated until she was seventeen. Definitive surgical correction of choanal atresia is challenging. The various methods advocated include the transnasal, transpalatal, trans-septal and sublabial approaches. We will discuss the various treatment options and relate our own personal experience in the management of choanal atresia. A review of the literature on the various modalities available for surgery, stenting and rehabilitation will be discussed also. PMID- 2631307 TI - Endoscopic sinus surgery-experience with the initial 100 patients. PMID- 2631308 TI - Sterilization of anesthetic carpules in otologic surgery. PMID- 2631309 TI - Difficulties in the diagnosis of acoustic neuromas. PMID- 2631310 TI - The effects of magnetic resonance studies on hearing. PMID- 2631311 TI - Thrombosis of the carotid artery following blunt trauma. PMID- 2631312 TI - Wegener's granulomatosis presenting as facial skin lesions. PMID- 2631313 TI - Decruitment and abnormal auditory adaptation. AB - 1. Factual findings related to decruitment have been presented. 2. Decruitment is considered to be a manifestation of eighth nerve involvement indicating abnormal adaptation. 3. Loudness match as a quick screening test may be applied in cases of suspected abnormal auditory adaptation. PMID- 2631314 TI - Integrated magnetic resonance and 31p spectroscopy. AB - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proven to be a powerful tool for accurate assessment of the anatomical extent of head and neck neoplasms. The ability to localize precisely defined volumes of interest within tissue with measurement of multinuclear magnetic resonance spectra (1H and 31P) has provided a basis for integrating spectroscopy into the clinical MRI examination. This technique which offers a means for noninvasive monitoring of relative concentrations of mobile metabolites at specific regions within a tumor is discussed. Examples of data obtained from integrated MRI/MRS studies for representative head and neck lesions are presented. The potential role of integrated MRI/MRS to monitor the response of neoplasms to therapy is reviewed. PMID- 2631315 TI - Severe airway obstruction from cricoarytenoid fixation. PMID- 2631316 TI - Approach to the pediatric neck mass. AB - Neck masses are frequent findings in the pediatric population and the physician caring for a child with a neck mass may be faced with a diagnostic dilemma. The etiology of pediatric cervical masses includes a variety of conditions. Unlike for the adult, there are few established guidelines for evaluation of these children. A recent review of 445 neck masses operated on at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia noted the preoperative diagnosis to be correct in 270, or only 61%. Clinical characteristics which may aid in establishing a correct preoperative diagnosis, as well as guidelines for the evaluation of the child presenting with a neck mass will be discussed. PMID- 2631317 TI - [Isolation of intact mitochondria from the rat liver using vibration]. AB - A method for isolating mitochondria from the rat liver is described. In this method the homogenization step is replaced by vibration with the frequency of 50 Hz realized by a simple device. Mitochondria isolated by vibration demonstrate higher indices of the oxidative phosphorylation with succinate and glutamate + malate used as substrates than those isolated by homogenization do. The method described permits decreasing considerably the isolation medium expenditure remaining the mitochondria yield per gram of the liver unchanged. PMID- 2631318 TI - [Optimization of hydroxythiamine administration regimen in vitaminological research]. AB - A correlation between the different doses and inhibitory effect of hydroxythiamine relative to the activity of main thiamine pyrophosphate-dependent enzymes is studied in experiments on animals. It is established that the maximal inhibitory effect on the transketolase and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activities is at a dose of antivitamin of 0.35 mmol/kg and that of pyruvate dehydrogenase of 0.55 mmol/kg. At lower doses of hydroxythiamine the inhibition of enzyme activities occurred in a dose-dependent manner. PMID- 2631319 TI - [Tissue thromboplastin in the human brain]. AB - The studies by the scanning electron microscopy have shown that there are small amounts of membrane-like structures in the dry preparation of tissues thromboplastin obtained from the human brain. In water phospholipids of thromboplastin form hexagonal (H11) cylinders. Protein moiety of the tissue factor essentially influences on the phase state of phospholipids and on the dynamic properties of their fatty acid chains' radicals. The interaction of Ca2+ with the tissue thromboplastin does not change the phase state of phospholipids and at the same time rises rigidity of polar parts of phospholipids and their hydrophobic segments in the internal structures. PMID- 2631320 TI - [Reaction of glycine with acetoacetate and various properties of the catalyzing enzyme from the rat liver]. AB - The enzymic interaction between acetoacetate and glycine which are added outside is established to occur in the tissue homogenates of the liver, kidneys and spleen of rats. The interaction leads to a decrease of the both components in the equivalent quantities. Homogeneous crystalline preparations of the enzyme catalyzing the above mentioned reaction are isolated from the liver tissues and purified. Certain properties of the enzyme are studied. PMID- 2631321 TI - [Molecular mechanism of calcium ion transport in mitochondria. II. Parameters of Ca2+ binding with glycoprotein and glycoprotein-peptide complex]. AB - Calcium binding sites with high and low affinity are revealed while only sites with high affinity to the calcium ion (Kd = 5.8 x 10(-6) M) are found in the glycoprotein component of the complex. A model of the glycoprotein-peptide complex functioning in the system of electrogenic transport of Ca2+ in mitochondria is suggested. PMID- 2631322 TI - [Interaction of neuroblastoma C 1300 N18 cells with liposomes and intermembrane metabolism of lipids]. AB - The methods of isotopic and fluorescent labels have shown that interaction of cells of neuroblastoma S 1300 N 18 with small one-layer neutral liposomes prepared of the egg phosphatidyl choline with the addition of different amounts of cholesterol is realized by two mechanisms: the transmembrane transfer of cholesterol by the concentration gradient and membrane lipid metabolism proper, the ratios of cholesterol phospholipids in the biological and artificial membranes being equal. A dependence is established of the neuroblastoma cell viability on the activity of the cholesterol membrane metabolism. A problem on the mechanism which causes the death of cells during the interaction with phosphatidyl-cholesterol liposomes is under discussion. PMID- 2631323 TI - [Study of the intermembrane lipid metabolism between neuroblastoma C 1300 N18 cells and liposomes using the double isotope label technic]. AB - Methodological approaches are developed for simultaneous study of the intermembrane transfer of lipids by the concentration gradient, equilibrium metabolism of lipids between neuroblastoma and liposome cells as well as of translocation and metabolism of exogenous and endogenous lipids in cells. Methods to calculate the content of endogenous and exogenous lipids in cells and liposomes taking into account their possible metabolism are suggested. PMID- 2631324 TI - [Characteristics of concanavalin A-binding neurospecific glycoproteins from various regions of the rat brain during experimental neurosis]. AB - The polypeptide composition of neurospecific glycoproteins in different areas of the rat brain under experimental neurosis is characterized using SDS-PAG electrophoresis followed by electroblot and immunofixation on nitrocellulose membranes. The soluble and membrane-bound glycoproteins are purified by Con A Sepharose column chromatography. Changes in the glycoprotein polypeptide composition in different areas of the rat brain under experimental neurosis are qualitative. Soluble glycopolypeptide 27 kDa and membrane glycopolypeptide 32 kDa are not revealed in the midbrain and corpus striatum. Soluble polypeptide 47 kDa is absent in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. It is suggested that the above mentioned glycopolypeptides are important for the CNS physiological functioning. PMID- 2631325 TI - [Amino acid composition, heterogeneity and antiheparin activity of protamine sulfate from the milt roe of the sturgeon Acipenser sturio]. AB - The homogeneous preparation of protamine sulphate is obtained chromatographically and electrophoretically from milt roe of the sturgeon. Its amino acid composition and properties are studied. The methods to blockade the functional groups of protamine sulphate amino acids is used to investigate the possible mechanism of heparin inactivation. PMID- 2631326 TI - [Stabilization of fly head cholinesterase immobilized on a gelatin membrane]. AB - Immobilization of meat fly head cholinesterase in gelatin membrane essentially increases the enzyme stability and changes its kinetic characteristics: the Michaelis constant and maximum velocity of acetylthiocholine hydrolysis and also biomolecular velocity constant of phosphorylation by DDVP. PMID- 2631327 TI - [Impairment of energy metabolism in rabbit tissues during ammonia toxicosis]. AB - The studies are conducted on the model of grave toxicosis in vivo in rabbits. It is shown that an increase in the ammonia content in blood and tissues enhances the content of lactate, glutamate, oxaloacetate in the liver and kidneys of animals, decreases the level of pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate and malate in the liver tissue. The NAD+/NADH ratio in the cytoplasm of the liver and kidney cells decreases, the ratio of NADP-pairs in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of these tissues noticeably increases. The energy metabolism is disturbed sharply, the content of adenosine phosphates lowers. PMID- 2631328 TI - [Simple methods of isolation of mitochondrial DNA in vertebrates]. AB - Two rapid and simple methods for isolating DNA from certain species of vertebrates are approbated. The both methods exclude the stage of centrifugation in the gradient of cesium chloride. The isolated DNA is hydrolyzed specifically by restricted endonucleases. Applicability of the mentioned methods is shown. PMID- 2631329 TI - [Preanesthetic preparation and induction anesthesia in acute cholecystitis in middle-aged and elderly patients]. AB - Under examination there were 59 elderly and senile patients with acute cholecystitis subjected to emergency operations. It was found that among 3 kinds of initial narcosis smooth course was notable in the phentanyl-sombrevin initial narcosis. The administration of thalamonal-sombrevin initial narcosis results in a certain inhibition of blood circulation, and gives adequate anesthesia during endotracheal intubation. The initial sombrevin narcosis is followed by inhibition of blood circulation and fails to give sufficiently deep anesthesia during intubation of the trachea. PMID- 2631330 TI - [Detoxication in the critical state due to rhabdomyolysis]. AB - An examination of 92 patients with the crush syndrome and the position compression syndrome was made. All the patients were examined by clinico biochemical methods, the cardiovascular system being also studied. The leading place is occupied by endogenous intoxication. The metabolic disorders were of a total character involving different links of metabolism. It required inclusion of efferent methods in the program of treatment. The most effective program of using efferent methods of treatment was developed on the basis of the state of hemodynamics and clinico-biochemical peculiarities. PMID- 2631331 TI - [A method for the surgical treatment of paraproctitis]. PMID- 2631332 TI - [The surgical approach in extended gastrectomy]. PMID- 2631333 TI - [The treatment procedure in acute suppurative metapneumonic pleurisy]. AB - Operative intervention--pleurectomy with resection of the lung within the first 10-20 days from the beginning of the disease was used in 53 patients with acute purulent metapneumonic pleurisy who had no contraindications. Good immediate and long-term results were obtained in 47 patients. Lethality was 3.8%. PMID- 2631334 TI - [Gynecologic diseases simulating acute appendicitis]. PMID- 2631335 TI - [The diagnosis and treatment of intestinal obstruction in colonic cancer]. PMID- 2631336 TI - [Experience in using plasmapheresis in patients with thrombo-obliterative diseases of the vessels of the leg]. PMID- 2631337 TI - [The role of x-ray diagnosis in preventing odontogenic mediastinitis]. AB - A method of roentgen diagnostics for patients with phlegmons of the maxillofacial area with suspicion of spread of pyo-inflammatory processes into the fat space of the neck is proposed which consists of radiographic survey of the neck with soft rays in two (direct and lateral) projections. The timely diagnosis of spread of pyo-inflammatory processes into the fat space of the neck allows to make necessary corrections in the plan of treatment. PMID- 2631338 TI - [The diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of the spleen]. AB - Based on an analysis of treatment of 58 patients subjected to splenectomy, the authors recommend to perform autotransplantation of the spleen tissue if the spleen had to be resected. PMID- 2631339 TI - [The surgical procedure in injuries of the spleen]. PMID- 2631340 TI - [The distal phalanges of the fingers: clinico-anatomical aspects]. PMID- 2631341 TI - [Optimization of the preoperative preparation of patients with chronic suppurative lung diseases]. AB - Complex preoperative preparation of 87 patients with chronic suppurative diseases of the lungs included sanitation of the tracheobronchial tree by means of bronchoscopies (in 45 patients) and method of continuous nasobronchial catheterization (42 patients). The use of the latter resulted in rapid arrest of inflammatory alterations in the bronchial tree, effective sanitation of the suppuration focus, shorter period of preoperative preparation and less amount of postoperative complications. PMID- 2631342 TI - [The treatment of diabetics with ulcerative-necrotic lesions of the legs]. PMID- 2631343 TI - [The consultant professor in the clinic--an evil, a rule or a necessity?]. PMID- 2631344 TI - [Chronic pneumonia--arguments and reality]. PMID- 2631345 TI - [The diagnosis and surgical procedure in perforated gastroduodenal ulcer]. AB - An analysis of results of treatment of 476 patients with perforating gastroduodenal ulcers has shown that choice of the operative method must be differentiated with special reference to the patient's age, localization of ulcer and its morphological characteristics, time from perforation till operation, general state of the patient and availability of conditions for a certain operation. PMID- 2631346 TI - [Reconstructive surgery of peptic ulcer and ulceration of the gastroenteric anastomosis]. AB - An experience with treatment of 177 patients has shown that peptic ulcers are a severe pathology with a pronounced pain syndrome and early development of complications. They are subject to operative treatment after thorough examination and a course of antiulcer therapy during 4-5 weeks before operation. Reconstructive resection of the stomach in combination with truncal vagotomy is thought to be most radical for peptic ulcer. Lethality after reconstructive operations was 5.5%. Trophic ulcers of the gastrointestinal anastomosis is subject to operative treatment but in cases of the presence of other postresection disorders requiring surgical treatment. PMID- 2631347 TI - [Characteristics of thrombocyte aggregation properties in portal hypertension syndrome complicated by esophagogastric hemorrhage]. AB - An investigation of ADP-induced aggregation of thrombocytes in 62 patients with the portal hypertension syndrome has revealed pronounced functional alterations of blood platelets characterized by a lower aggregation rate, lower rate and degree of thrombocyte deaggregation. More profound alterations were found in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. It was established that the decreased rate and degree of the thrombocyte deaggregation with the growing aggregation rate, change of the aggregation into the irreversible form is a very dangerous portent of gastrointestinal bleeding. PMID- 2631349 TI - [The dialectic of the biological and the social in man: the medical aspect of the problem]. PMID- 2631348 TI - [The importance of endoscopic papillosphincterotomy in biliary tract surgery]. AB - Based upon 129 endoscopic operations in 98 patients with choledocholithiasis and stenosis of the major duodenal papilla the authors came to a conclusion on an increasing significance of endoscopic papillosphincterotomy (EPST) in the surgery of bile ducts. EPST was shown to be followed by less amount of complications and less lethality as compared with surgical papillosphincterotomy. The intrahospital lethality after EPST was 1%. EPST allowed to elevate efficiency of the treatment in elderly and senile patients. It may be considered as an alternative surgical intervention after preceding cholecystectomy and can be used as an emergency procedure for acute obstructive purulent cholangitis and pancreatitis. In patients with little operative risk and preserved bile duct the indications for EPST must be restricted. PMID- 2631350 TI - [Microsurgical correction of the congenital adactylous hand]. AB - The correction of different kinds of congenital malformations of the hand by means of microsurgical autotransplantation of toes onto the hand was performed to 17 patients. The main purpose of the operation was to restore the hand function, to improve the esthetic appearance of the hand which must be solved in parallel, but is not an indication to operation. Tactics of operation for transplantation of toes onto the hand must be different for different congenital defects and dependent on the function of the 1st finger. Of great importance is the question whether the operation will give an additional function of the hand and whether this function will be more effective or profitable than the initial one. PMID- 2631351 TI - [Occult intrapulmonary hemorrhage in a vascular lung tumor]. PMID- 2631352 TI - [A cyst of the thymus gland]. PMID- 2631353 TI - [A combination of perforated duodenal ulcer with other acute diseases of the abdominal organs]. PMID- 2631354 TI - [Nonparasitic cysts of the liver]. PMID- 2631355 TI - [The use of the blood serum refraction index in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis]. PMID- 2631356 TI - [12 years' observation of pancreatoduodenal resection with preservation of the stomach in pancreatic cancer]. PMID- 2631357 TI - [Treatment of a patient with recurrent perforation of typhoid ulcers of the small intestine]. PMID- 2631358 TI - [Complication of tumors and cysts of the abdominal cavity in children]. AB - An analysis of results of the surgical treatment of 41 children with complicated tumors and cysts of the abdominal cavity shows that most frequent complications are torsion of the pedicle, testicle cysts and intestinal obstruction. Suppuration and rupture of the cyst are rare. The diagnostics is considerably difficult which is due to great variety of clinical manifestations and to the disease being rare. The present-day diagnostics and operative treatment represent an effective method of prevention of the above complications. PMID- 2631359 TI - [Treatment of late appendicular infiltrates in children]. AB - Late appendicular infiltration was observed in 23 children during 10 years. The authors make a conclusion that the use of bdellotherapy in children with late appendicular infiltration gives considerably better results of treatment as compared with the routine one. The absence of an effect of using leeches for appendicular infiltration may be used as an additional symptom of the infiltrate abscess formation. PMID- 2631360 TI - [Liver abscess in a child]. PMID- 2631361 TI - [Ulcerous duodenal hemorrhage in a nursing infant following intestinal disinvagination]. PMID- 2631362 TI - [Gas gangrene in a child with an open fracture of the leg bones]. PMID- 2631363 TI - [Iatrogenesis]. AB - Iatrogenesis, earlier considered to be an unfavorable effect of the word on the patient has acquired a new essence. Iatrogenesis means an unintentional and often inevitable complication resulting from contact with the patients, the influence upon him or due to inaction of medical personnel during prophylactic, diagnostic and curative procedures. An analysis of clinical and social sources of iatrogenesis gives grounds to find out ways to make it less. PMID- 2631364 TI - [Factors that are conducive to diagnostic errors in emergency abdominal surgery]. AB - Certain subjective factors influencing the quality of diagnosis of acute surgical diseases of the abdominal cavity are analyzed. Of great importance in the process of making diagnosis is the first impression about the patient, denial factors, probability analogy, suggestive action etc. A thorough and nonroutine analysis of the errors with special reference to the factors under consideration can improve diagnosing the diseases which is one of the most difficult parts of abdominal surgery. PMID- 2631365 TI - [Characteristics of the healing of wounds of the stomach, intestines and liver after exposure to the plasma scalpel]. AB - Results of experimental application of plasma surgical device UMPR-20 in operations on the stomach, intestine and liver in acute and chronic experiments are described. Coagulating properties of the plasma jet were detected responsible for reliable hemostasis in dissection of the parenchymatous organs. As compared with other surgical devices (electroknife, ultrasonic scalpel, laser "Scalpel-1" device) the zone of injury of the underlying tissues is much less and makes up 0.2-0.3 mm. The plasma surgical device UMPR-20 has good prospects in using during operations on parenchymatous organs and for treatment of their injuries. PMID- 2631366 TI - [The suppuration of surgical wounds]. AB - An analysis of wound complications in 699 patients after operation has been made. Microbiological examinations of the wound exudate have shown that the content of "seromas" and "hematomas" is infected with aerobic and anaerobic nonsporulating microflora in 80% of the cases. "Seromas" and "hematomas" were proved to be typical cases of suppuration of operative wounds. PMID- 2631367 TI - [Emergency correction of traumatic mitral valve insufficiency under craniocerebral hypothermia]. AB - Data of emergency correction of traumatic mitral insufficiency in 15 patients after closed mitral commissurotomy under conditions of craniocerebral hypothermia without artificial blood circulation are presented. Prostheses of the mitral valve were made in 3 patients, plastic valve-preserving interventions--in 12 patients. One patient died. The authors consider that in most cases with traumatic insufficiency of the mitral valve after closed commissurotomy it is possible to perform valve-preserving operations, craniocerebral hypothermia being a reliable method of their maintenance. PMID- 2631368 TI - [Conservative treatment of postoperative defects of the bronchial stump and of bronchoalveolar fistulae]. AB - Based on their experience with the treatment of 65 patients the authors consider that choice of the method of treatment depends on the bronchus calibre and the fistula size. Good results were obtained when using different variants of bronchus obturation with the application of glue. PMID- 2631369 TI - [Prevention of reflux gastritis after distal resection of the stomach in peptic ulcer]. AB - A complex pre- and postoperative examination of 181 patients with ulcer disease of the stomach (86) and duodenum (95) was performed. The patients were operated on by an original authors' method with the formation of artificial sphincter in the anastomosis area. The investigations performed have shown that the method of gastric resection with the formation of functionally active anastomosis allows to considerably decrease probability of the appearance of duodenogastric reflux and reflux gastritis. PMID- 2631370 TI - [Prevention and treatment of necrosis of the downward transposed intestine following abdomino-anal resection of cancer]. AB - The article analyzes an experience with treatment of 83 patients with necrosis of the descended gut after 1128 sphincter-preserving resections of the rectum. The rectum resection if performed at high professional level and the drug correction of coexistent diseases were found to reduce the amount of necroses of the descended gut up to 4%. In 33.7% of the patients inflammatory phenomena in the small pelvis were arrested with satisfactory functional results. PMID- 2631371 TI - [Surgical methods of preventing aorto(prosthesis)intestinal erosions and fistulae in surgery of the abdominal aorta and its branches]. AB - An analysis of 72 reconstructive operations on the abdominal aorta (in 5 cases shunts of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric arteries were performed) fulfilled by the authors has shown that in order to prevent the development of the aorto(prosthetic)-intestinal erosions and fistulas and possible extension of the inflammatory process to the synthetic prostheses from the adjacent organs it is necessary to use the corresponding technical means and the following methods of protection of anastomoses and vascular transplants: protection of the prosthesis by local tissues or greater omentum flaps, selection of the corresponding diameter and length of the prosthesis. PMID- 2631372 TI - [The mechanism of the action of UV-irradiated autotransfusions in treating patients with suppurative-inflammatory diseases of the face and neck]. AB - An analysis of examination and treatment of 36 patients with acute pyo inflammatory diseases of face and neck has shown the inclusion of UV-irradiated autotransfusions into the complex of therapeutic measures to decrease blood viscosity and to increase deformability of erythrocytes. It elevates the intensity of blood circulation in the system of macro- and microcirculation. The increased arteriovenous oxygen difference after UV-irradiated autotransfusions points to improved utilization of tissue blood and enhanced bioenergetic processes. PMID- 2631373 TI - [Blood reinfusion in injuries of the chest and abdomen]. AB - Reinfusion of blood used in 78 patients with injuries of the chest and abdomen has shown the method to be clinically effective and expedient including treatment of injuries of hollow organs of the abdominal cavity. The technique of blood reinfusion for different injuries is described. Data are presented which allow to suspect that the reinfused blood has curative properties in treatment of injuries of the chest and abdomen. PMID- 2631374 TI - [An evaluation of conductometric methods for determining circulating blood volume]. AB - An analysis of the theory and practical check-up of the methods of determination of the circulating blood volume by the conductometric methods in 86 surgical patients with different phases of compensation of disturbance of water electrolyte metabolism have shown them to be incompetent. The authors propose a new way to search for and develop a noninvasive impedance measurement method of determination of the extracellular fluid on the basis of Thomasset principle corresponding to possibilities and specific features of national rheographic apparatus. PMID- 2631375 TI - [Evaluation of a new mineral food supplement used in feeding young breeding cattle in the winter season]. AB - A total of 260 tons of a new mineral feed supplement [MKP-C(P)] was used on farms in the Pisek district. In the period from January to April, 1988, the mortality of calves decreased by 2.9% in comparison with the same period of 1987 when the Polymin Z or MKP-C supplements had been used. The MKP-C(P) supplement, containing 8 to 10% calcium, 3 to 4% phosphorus, 6 to 7% magnesium and 8 to 10% sodium, was used in all first-calver barns in the 1987/88 winter feeding season. It was administered to about 7300 highly pregnant heifers and first-calvers at rates of 0.15 to 0.2 kg per head and day. It has been concluded from the results of the experimental and farm-scale testing of the MKP-C(P) supplement, containing much more magnesium (by 180%) and less phosphorus (by 46%) than the commercially produced supplements MKP-C and Polymin Z, that the new product is able to meet all the phosphorus requirement, together with a rational management of magnesium, in young breeding cattle. Apart from a higher effect, especially in the compensation of hypomagnesiaemia and metabolic acidosis, the use of the new supplement in first-calver stocks allows to reduce the total financial costs of mineral feed supplements by 20%. The basis for the reduction of costs is the saving of phosphates in the potato-growing areas; this is also associated with a reduction of the supply of cadmium to the cattle feed rations. PMID- 2631376 TI - [Mucus synthesis in the goblet cells of the small intestine in experimental infection with the coccidium Isospora suis in piglets]. AB - The state of mucus synthesis in the goblet cells of the small intestine was studied in conventional piglets infected with a dose of 200,000 oocytes of the coccidium Isospora suis the first and fifth day after parturition. The synthesis of mucus and its chemical characteristics undergo significant changes during the third and fourth day after infection. The activity of acid and neutral mucous substances declines; their level and the physiological synthetic function of goblet cells begin to return to the normal during the period starting on the eight to tenth day after infection. However, there were no fully functioning goblet cells in the broken numerical ratio even at the end of the period of investigation, i.e. the 13th day after infection. The thin surface layer of mucus remained almost unchanged within the whole extent of the small intestine parts studied. PMID- 2631377 TI - [Use of nitrovin in feed and its effect on the development of Marek's disease in chickens]. AB - The effect of the Czechoslovak product Nitrovin, administered at a rate of 15 mg per kg of feed mixture, was studied as exerted on the growth activity, meat quality, and the development and intensity of occurrence of patho-morphological changes ascribable to Marek's disease. An increase of weight gains and dressing percentage was recorded in the group of birds given Nitrovin, as well as in those which had Nitrovin in their feed and were infected with a highly virulent virus of Marek's disease. No significant changes occurred in the contents of dry matter and protein, but there was a much lower fat content in breast muscle in the groups of chickens infected with the Marek disease virus. Internal organs were subjected to biometrical measurements. The birds treated with Nitrovin and infected with the highly virulent virus of Marek's disease had significantly lighter hearts and heavier spleens. Liver, nervus ischiadicus, gonads and spleen were affected most intensively by the changes testifying to Marek's disease. The results are just preliminary and the investigation continues. PMID- 2631378 TI - [Detection of streptococci from various serological groups in animals]. AB - During the period from 1985 to 1988 we determined 228 strains of streptococci isolated from samples of various sorts of biomaterials, mainly animals. From this set of streptococci we classified 207 strains into serological groups according to the Lancefield classification and about 30% strains into species by means of serological and biochemical methods. Most of the strains were allocated to group C (37.28%) and group Q (17.39%). 89 streptococci strains originated from pigs, 40 strains from horses, 13 from cattle, 12 from dogs, 9 from poultry and 8 from coypu. The other streptococci strains originated from other animal species or from different material. Most serological groups of streptococci were determined in pigs, less in cattle (7), in poultry (6), in dogs (6), in horses (5) and in coypu (3). Streptococci of the serological group Q were determined in as many as 9 animal species, group C in 8 species and group G in 6 species. PMID- 2631379 TI - Plasma progesterone concentration and reproductive function relative to thyroid activity in postpartum buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). AB - The lowest value for plasma protein bound iodine (PBI) (3.47 micrograms %) in 20 freshly calved Murrah buffaloes was observed on day 1 postpartum. The values then increased consistently up to day 36 and were almost constant thereafter. The plasma progesterone concentrations were lower in animals with relatively low PBI from day 22 to 57 postpartum, except on day 36. The mean values +/- SE (ng/ml) in the high and low PBI groups were 0.93 +/- 0.09 and 0.72 +/- 0.15. The correlation coefficient between PBI and progesterone was 0.80 (p less than 0.01). Relatively poor reproductive efficiency, in terms of a higher initiation of follicular development interval, postpartum oestrus interval, service period and number of services for conception, was observed in animals in the low PBI group. PMID- 2631380 TI - Sequential changes in tissue D-fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase activity in chickens experimentally infected with Borrelia anserina. AB - Following experimental Borrelia anserina infection of chickens, aldolase activity increased in the proventriculus, heart and bone marrow but declined in the kidney and cervical spinal cord. PMID- 2631381 TI - Evaluation of serum iso-amylase in the normal dog using an improved electrophoretic technique. AB - Six iso-amylase fractions are known to exist in human serum, three originating from the salivary glands and three from the pancreas. Although it is known that a different number and source of iso-amylase fractions occur in the dog, the routine detection of all the canine iso-amylase fractions has not been previously established. Earlier methods detected either two iso-amylase fractions or, in a proportion of cases, four fractions. A method is described which detects four iso amylase fractions in 95% of normal canine serum samples. Trials have shown the method is reproducible and that freezing at -40 degrees C has no effect on iso amylase activity. The normal values for iso-amylase are recorded in 18 normal dogs. PMID- 2631382 TI - The effect of niclosamide on Raillietina tetragona. PMID- 2631383 TI - The effect of some haemoparasites on the reproductive performance of zebu bulls. PMID- 2631384 TI - Preliminary investigations on the effects of a Strongylus vulgaris larval extract, mononuclear factors and platelet factors on equine smooth muscle cells in vitro. AB - Factors involved in the proliferation of equine vascular smooth muscle cells were studied in vitro. The most prominent proliferative responses in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells were induced by Strongylus vulgaris larval antigen extract (LAE) and platelet-derived factors. Less significant proliferative responses were obtained with conditioned media from S. vulgaris LAE stimulated and from unstimulated equine mononuclear leukocytes. Additionally, vascular smooth muscle cells exposed to S. vulgaris LAE developed numerous perinuclear vacuoles and were more spindle-shaped than control or smooth muscle cells exposed to other factors. Equine mononuclear leukocytes exposed to LAE developed prominent morphological changes, including enlargement, clumping and increased numbers of mitotic figures. PMID- 2631385 TI - Experimental Brachiaria decumbens toxicity in cattle. AB - Although Brachiaria decumbens was not toxic when fed to cattle, the infusion of rumen liquor from B. decumbens intoxicated sheep into the rumen of cattle produced evidence suggesting hepatic and renal dysfunction. Several biochemical changes were observed including increases in serum aspartate amino transferase, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen and a marked reduction in the plasma bromosulphthalein clearance. PMID- 2631386 TI - Frequency transfer properties of the spike generating mechanism of cat retinal ganglion cells. AB - The dynamic properties of the spike generating (SG) mechanism of retinal ganglion cells have been studied from intracellular recordings in the cat eye. Intracellularly recorded light flicker responses were separated by computer into spike trains and corresponding generator potentials. Both the spike train and the generator potential responses to temporally modulated light spots were analysed in terms of amplitude and phase plots. The differences in dynamic properties between the two response measures reveal that the SG-mechanism affects the temporal frequency transfer properties of retinal ganglion cells to a considerable extent. With respect to the transfer of the amplitude of the first harmonic the SG-mechanism has differentiating (or high-pass) properties. This means that the responses to high temporal stimulus frequencies are amplified relatively much more than are the responses to lower frequencies. Furthermore, the SG-mechanism causes a phase lead of the spike train response relative to the generator potential by, on average, 37 degrees. The measured frequency responses, among other things, have been used to verify and to quantify the SG-model that we proposed in a previous paper (Lankheet, Molenaar & van de Grind, 1989). With this model it proved possible to reproduce the spike train responses as model output from the corresponding measured generator potentials as model input. A good qualitative and quantitative correspondence between model output and the measured spike trains was obtained for a wide range of stimulus frequencies and with fixed values of the model parameters. With parameter values that optimized this correspondence the model allowed us to investigate the dynamic behaviour of the SG-mechanism in more detail. It also provides a reliable and validated method to predict the shape of the generator potential from the spike train (the "inversion problem"). PMID- 2631387 TI - Enigma of early receptor potential in fly eyes. AB - The early receptor potential (ERP) of fly photoreceptors R1-6 has been recorded in the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala, and quantitatively analyzed. Photoconversion of the native visual pigment (P) into the meta-state (M) does not induce a measurable ERP. Photoconversion of M into P induces a biphasic ERP, presumably due to the slow thermal decay of intermediate N, recently discovered by Roebroek, Gagne and Stavenga (1989). The experimentally measured ERP's are interpreted with an RC-model which incorporates the time constant of the flash, the time constant of the thermal decay of intermediate N, the electrical properties of the photoreceptor cell and the charge displacements within the visual pigment molecules occurring upon photoconversion. The model satisfactorily describes the ERP for the M to P conversion by assuming that effectively 0.03 electron charges are moved across the cell membrane during conversion of the M to the N state and that 0.04 electron charges are moved in the opposite direction during conversion of N to P. The net 0.01 electron charge movement during conversion of P to M would, according to the simple RC-model, induce a measurable ERP, in conflict with the experimental results. The longstanding enigma of the ERP of fly photoreceptors appears largely but not completely resolved. PMID- 2631388 TI - Neural motion after-effects in the cat's striate cortex: orientation selectivity. AB - Single striate cortical neurones were recorded from adult cats, lightly anaesthetized with N2O/O2/halothane. The receptive fields for the dominant eye were subjected to direction-specific adaptation by a square-wave grating of optimal spatial frequency and velocity, drifting continuously in each neurone's preferred direction. Recovery of the neural motion after-effect induced by prior adaptation was assessed with the same grating pattern which now moved alternately in the preferred and opposite directions. In controls the same tests for recovery followed a period of exposure to a uniform field of identical luminance to the adapting grating. Three sets of measurements were made to establish whether the adaptation was orientation- as well as direction-specific. In the first, test grating orientation was maintained constant and optimal for each neurone whilst adapting orientation was systematically varied. In the second, test orientation was varied whilst maintaining adapting orientation constant. In the third set, adapting and test orientations were initially fixed at each neurone's optimum; they were next set, non-optimally to one side of the optimum. Results from the latter configuration were compared with similar tests in which the test grating remained at that non-optimal orientation whilst the orientation of the adapting grating was now altered to a new point on the other flank of each neurone's orientation tuning curve that was matched for strength of adaptation. Thus the degree of adaptation was identical in each case, but zero orientation difference between adapting and test gratings in one case was contrasted with a substantial orientation difference in the other. The results from all three sets of data were unequivocal: in simple neurones, and in standard and intermediate classes of complex neurones, but not in special complex neurones, the sequential effects of adapting gratings on the responses and sensitivity to subsequently presented test gratings were maximal when their orientations were matched and optimal for each neurone, less marked when orientations were matched but non-optimal. In conclusion, adaptation induced by pattern motion was orientation- as well as direction-specific only in standard (length summating) and intermediate complex neurones, and in simple cells; in special complex neurones it was not. PMID- 2631389 TI - Accommodation and presbyopia in the human eye--aging of the anterior segment. AB - Ocular biometric parameters and accommodative amplitude were measured by various techniques in 100 normal emmetropic human subjects age 18-70 yr. Anterior chamber depth decreased and lens thickness increased linearly over the entire age group. Accommodative amplitude declined linearly until a stable nadir was reached at about age 50 yr. The respective slopes and intercepts of the age-dependent decline in anterior chamber depth were essentially the same for measurements made independently by optical pachmetry, A-scan ultrasonography, and slit-lamp Scheimpflug photography. The age-dependent increase in lens thickness differed in slope and intercept for measurements made by photography and ultrasonography if the generally accepted lenticular sound velocity was assumed for all subjects. However, if putative lenticular sound velocity was adjusted for age, the relationships given by the two techniques were essentially identical. Total anterior segment length (defined as the distance between the anterior corneal and posterior lens surfaces), vitreous cavity length (distance between the posterior lens and anterior retinal surfaces), and total globe length were all independent of age. This constellation of findings indicates that the human lens grows throughout adult life while the globe does not, that thickening of the lens completely accounts for shallowing of the anterior chamber with age, but that the posterior surface of the lens remains fixed in position relative to the cornea and retina. PMID- 2631390 TI - The electroretinogram of the little owl (Athene noctua). AB - Electroretinographic responses (ERGs) have been recorded from the cornea of the little owl (Athene noctua) in response to single light flashes and to alternating sinusoidal gratings (pattern) at different levels of light adaptation. Both flash and pattern-evoked ERGs show scotopic as well as photopic components. The pattern evoked ERG is spatially tuned with tuning functions which shift towards lower frequencies by reducing the mean luminance. The retinal acuity is about 6 c/deg at 2.3 log cd/m2 and decreases progressively by reducing the mean luminance. No pattern ERG can be recorded beyond -6.7 log cd/m2 at any spatial frequency. The pattern ERG amplitude decreases progressively by reducing the contrast. The extrapolated contrast threshold is about 1%. Acuity and contrast sensitivity ERG values are in the range of those obtained by operant techniques in other species with duplex retinae such as owls and cats. PMID- 2631391 TI - Retinoids bound to interstitial retinol-binding protein during light and dark adaptation. AB - High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the types and amounts of retinoids bound to interstitial retinol-binding protein (IRBP) during light- and dark-adaptation in frogs. IRBP was separated from CRBP and CRA1BP by ion-exchange chromatography and quantitated by determining the amount of Serva Blue R dye bound to it in stained sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. The amount of IRBP was not significantly different in light- and dark-adapted eyes (0.15 +/- 0.05 nmol/eye compared with 0.18 +/- 0.08 nmol/eye). In the dark adapted state, IRBP bound mainly 11-cis retinol and 11-cis retinal in quantities that summed to about 1 mol/mol IRBP. After the onset of light-adaptation, all trans retinol increased from its very low dark-adapted level, peaked at 0.2 mol/mol IRBP and then declined to the dark-adapted level again. Concomitantly, the total retinoid bound to IRBP fell, mainly because there was a drop in the amount of 11-cis retinal. During dark-adaptation, the amount of 11-cis retinal increased. No significant changes were seen in the amount of 11-cis retinol in light and darkness. These findings support the hypothesis that when rhodopsin is bleached IRBP transports all-trans retinol from the retina to the pigment epithelium and that it delivers 11-cis retinal to the rod outer segments for rhodopsin regeneration. PMID- 2631392 TI - Distribution of retinol isomerase in vertebrate eyes and its emergence during retinal development. AB - Ocular tissue homogenates were incubated in darkness with [11,12-3H] all-trans retinol. Formation of radiolabeled 11-cis retinol was used as an index of isomerase activity and was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Isomerase was found in the eyes of cattle, human, rat, chicken, turtle, goldfish and frog, representing the mammals, birds, reptiles, bony fishes and amphibians. The enzyme was concentrated in the pigment epithelium (RPE). Variable activity was found in the retina, where the amount of radiolabeled 11-cis retinol formed under standard incubation conditions at protein concentrations of 0.03-1.08 mg/ml was 6.4 +/- 6.0% of that in the RPE-choroid. Using the same methodology, we could not detect isomerase in the retinas of three cephalopods (Octopus, Sepia and Loligo). In rats, isomerase was present at postnatal day 10 but not at postnatal days 0 and 4. Therefore, the expression in the RPE of retinol isomerase, which is essential for the formation of rhodopsin in the developing photoreceptors, is coordinated with the emergence of the rod outer segment in the retina. However, the continued expression of this enzyme in RCS rats does not depend on the presence of photoreceptors, because loss of photoreceptors was not associated with an absence of isomerase activity in RCS rats. Our findings suggest that a reciprocal flow of retinoids between the retina and the site of isomerase action in the RPE is a feature common to the visual cycle in all vertebrates. PMID- 2631393 TI - Tetrachromatic color vision in the goldfish becomes trichromatic under white adaptation light of moderate intensity. AB - Spectral sensitivity of the goldfish was measured under white room light of 5 lx and 1.5 lx illuminance, using a behavioral training technique. Compared with the result obtained under 25 lx (Neumeyer, 1984), the functions differed remarkably in the mid- and longwave spectral ranges. Under 1.5 lx, the longwave maximum was absent, and wavelength discrimination was impossible in the mid- and longwave range (between 555 and 663 nm). This indicates that the longwave cone type does not contribute to color vision in these conditions. Since discrimination ability was not affected in other spectral ranges, we conclude that color vision is trichromatic then, being subserved by the ultraviolet, the short- and the midwave cone types only. Under 5 lx, the longwave cone type contributes to color vision, but, as shown in color mixture experiments, to a lesser extent. PMID- 2631394 TI - Effect of context and efference copy on visual straight ahead. AB - Bias in efferent commands to the eye changes the apparent straight ahead direction in an unstructured visual field, but has little effect in a normal visual environment. Naive subjects set a visible marker to appear straight ahead under monocular viewing conditions and while pressing on the viewing eye. Three background conditions were used: a naturalistic landscape photograph, a blank field, and a repeating checkerboard texture that provides strong contours but no information about visual direction. Effect of eyepress on straight-ahead judgments was small but significant with the landscape background, and larger with the blank field; the checkerboard texture yielded a bias halfway between the magnitudes of bias in the other two conditions. A visual capture theory predicts that the textured field should work like a blank one, while an oculomotor theory predicts that it should work like a natural one. Interpreted in this context, the results show the two theories to be about equally important in judging straight ahead. A second experiment with experienced observers and moving backgrounds gave the same result. PMID- 2631395 TI - Differences in accuracy of human saccades between stationary and jumping targets. AB - Saccades have traditionally been studied in response to suddenly changing visual stimuli, such as jumping targets. In every-day life, however, most targets are stationary. We studied saccades made in either target condition. Saccadic accuracy was two- to five-fold better with stationary targets than with jumping targets. In addition, both the number of secondary saccades and the total time required to foveate the target were decreased with stationary targets in comparison to jumping targets. We also found that with an illuminated background the total time required to foveate the target was shorter than when the background was dark. PMID- 2631396 TI - Reversed apparent motion with random dot patterns. AB - When luminance contrast of target in Braddick-type random dot cinematograms (RDC) is reversed, apparent motion in a direction opposite to the physical displacement is observed. The displacement limit of direction discrimination for this contrast reversed RDC was found to have three characteristics: (1) the limit resembles that for regular RDC; (2) it is sensitive to target area; and (3) it is limited by the visual angle rather than by number of dots. This indicates that the same short-range process underlies both normal and reversed motion. However, it was found that performance declines remarkably in figural segregation for reversed motion, which suggests that the so called short-range process should be treated as having two distinct components. PMID- 2631397 TI - Growth and ageing effects on the refractive index in the equatorial plane of the bovine lens. AB - The refractive index profile in the equatorial plane of bovine lenses from over a wide age range is presented. The form of the profile is parabolic and the shape, already apparent in lenses from early prenatal age, is maintained throughout the span investigated. With age the magnitude of the refractive index increases at all points. An empirical formula which relates the value of the refractive index to any point along a radial distance from the centre is derived. This is applicable to lenses of all sizes in the range studied. PMID- 2631398 TI - Failure of motion discrimination at high contrasts: evidence for saturation. AB - The ability of human observers to discriminate the direction of motion of a briefly-presented, slowly moving, 1 c/deg sinusoidal grating varies non monotonically with the contrast of the grating. At low contrasts, performance improves with increasing contrast, but it reaches a peak between 95% and 100% correct at a contrast of 0.02-0.05. With further increases in contrast performance declines, reaching chance levels at a contrast of about 0.4. Detection of the same stimulus improves with increasing contrast to 100% correct and stays there. This behaviour would be expected if the visual signal which determines direction-of-motion is given by the difference between the responses of paired direction-selective filters tuned to opposite directions of motion and if the responses of these paired filters saturate at modest contrasts. PMID- 2631399 TI - Extension of displacement limits in multiple-exposure sequences of apparent motion. AB - In order to examine the processes by which motion signals are combined over time, we presented subjects with random dot kinematograms which could vary in terms of the number of frames in the sequence and the duration between the onset of each stationary frame. Performance (as measured by the greatest displacement at which subjects could discriminate opposite directions of movement) improved with increasing number of displacements up to around 5 displacements, whilst manipulations of the frame duration had no affect upon this figure. Thus the results cannot be described in terms of a limited integration time. By creating sequences in which no dots underwent more than a single displacement we show that the improvement is not specific to individual dot paths. We suggest that these results could be accounted for in terms of a co-operative network in which mutual facilitation can propagate between detectors tuned to a common direction of motion. PMID- 2631400 TI - Kinetic depth effect and optic flow--I. 3D shape from Fourier motion. AB - Fifty-three different 3D shapes were defined by sequences of 2D views (frames) of dots on a rotating 3D surface. (1) Subjects' accuracy of shape identifications dropped from over 90% to less than 10% when either the polarity of the stimulus dots was alternated from light-on-gray to dark-on-gray on successive frames or when neutral gray interframe intervals were interposed. Both manipulations interfere with motion extraction by spatio-temporal (Fourier) and gradient first order detectors. Second-order (non-Fourier) detectors that use full-wave rectification are unaffected by alternating-polarity but disrupted by interposed gray frames. (2) To equate the accuracy of two-alternative forced-choice (2AFC) planar direction-of-motion discrimination in standard and polarity-alternated stimuli, standard contrast was reduced. 3D shape discrimination survived contrast reduction in standard stimuli whereas it failed completely with polarity alternation even at full contrast. (3) When individual dots were permitted to remain in the image sequence for only two frames, performance showed little loss compared to standard displays where individual dots had an expected lifetime of 20 frames, showing that 3D shape identification does not require continuity of stimulus tokens. (4) Performance in all discrimination tasks is predicted (up to a monotone transformation) by considering the quality of first-order information (as given by a simple computation on Fourier power) and the number of locations at which motion information is required. Perceptual first-order analysis of optic flow is the primary substrate for structure-from-motion computations in random dot displays because only it offers sufficient quality of perceptual motion at a sufficient number of locations. PMID- 2631401 TI - Manipulating stereopsis and vergence in an outdoor setting: moon, sky and horizon. AB - A simple stimulus generator has been constructed that permits a small illuminated target to be seen with variable inter-ocular disparity, when superimposed upon the binocular view of an outdoor landscape. This device was applied to several questions involving perception of size, distance and orientation, with the following results: (1) when the apparent distance to an "artificial moon", as perceived through stereopsis, is decreased by about 50-fold (from near horizon to about 60 m), its apparent size is reduced by only a miniscule amount (8% on average); hence, the moon illusion is probably not due to compensation--conscious or subconscious--for its apparent distance; (2) those changes in apparent size known as convergence micropsia vary as a function of the visual surround; for a vergence change of 1 deg, greater perceived change in size of a small target arises when a landscape is seen nearby than with empty sky as surround; (3) when a target is shown somewhat above the horizon against an empty sky, it must be viewed with divergence of the visual axes (image positions for "hyper-infinite" distance), in order to be perceived as vertically above objects on the skyline; this effect implies a strong backward tilt to the apparent vertical and probably reflects an attempt to "null out" the perceptual consequences of the convergence that typically occurs during downward saccades. PMID- 2631402 TI - Imaging retinal densitometry with a confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope. AB - We describe a novel use of the Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (SLO), viz. as an imaging retinal densitometer. In our SLO a helium-neon or an argon laser beam is moved in a raster pattern over the retina; the reflected light is descanned (confocal SLO) and collected by a photomultiplier. Images of the fundus subtending 22 by 18 deg are displayed on a TV monitor. Single frames taken with 514 nm light were stored in a computer in arrays of 256 by 256 pixels and density differences between dark adapted and bleached images were calculated. With a full bleach density differences of about 0.35 were found in the center of the fovea; at retinal eccentricities of 15-20 deg we found 0.15. After selective bleaching with 633 nm light substantial density differences were only seen in the foveal area. We conclude that the confocal SLO is a very suitable instrument for imaging fundus reflectometry. PMID- 2631403 TI - Temporal summation in a rod monochromat: response to Sharpe, Fach and Nordby. PMID- 2631404 TI - [At the Central Polyclinic of the Navy]. PMID- 2631405 TI - [A quality evaluation of scientific and technical output for military public health using personal computers]. PMID- 2631406 TI - [Cellular immunity of patients with peptic ulcer undergoing antiulcer therapy]. PMID- 2631407 TI - [The current problems of allergology in the Soviet Army]. PMID- 2631408 TI - [Conversion in medicine and public health]. PMID- 2631409 TI - [Syndromic characteristics of foci of strong poisons]. PMID- 2631410 TI - [Energy expenditures in diseases of the digestive organs]. PMID- 2631411 TI - [A method of excretory urography with kidney zonography]. PMID- 2631412 TI - [The efficacy of intravenous laser therapy of patients with ischemic heart disease at a day hospital of a polyclinic]. PMID- 2631413 TI - [The problems of hygiene education in the medical support system for the troops]. PMID- 2631414 TI - [More attention to individual educational work]. PMID- 2631415 TI - [The current problems of medical flight support]. PMID- 2631416 TI - [Medical care in burn injuries on board ships of the northern basin]. PMID- 2631417 TI - [An interview at the request of readers with Nikolai Mikhailovich Skachkov (by Iu.S. Golov)]. PMID- 2631418 TI - [Results of a preliminary study of the quality of Yugoslav human albumin preparations for therapeutic use]. AB - The quality of human albumin preparations has been tested of 20 bottles of the Yugoslav and 8 bottles of foreign production. The criteria for quality evaluation have been based mainly on the standards of human albumin of the British pharmacopoeia. Of domestic preparations the best quality showed those obtained by application of chromatographic methods of albumin isolation. Although preliminary studies of a smaller number of samples are in question it is considered that the following measures should be undertaken: a) to issue the Yugoslav criteria for human albumin preparations for therapeutical application, b) to introduce chapters on human albumin into the Yugoslav pharmacopoeia, and, c) to bring regulations for production, putting on sale and therapeutical application of human albumin preparations. PMID- 2631419 TI - [The effect of refractive abnormalities in young people on their success in sharpshooting]. AB - The visual functions (visual acuity, binocular vision, color tests and visual field) have been examined in three homogenous group of subjects aging 23-28 years involving 101 subjects, and their success in the basic shooting ability has been followed up. Specially selected psychologic tests relevant to shooting have been followed up paralelly. The first group consisted of subjects with hypermetropia, complex or simple hypermetropic astigmatism of the eye used in shooting with the corresponding optical correction achieved the mean mark of 4.30 of the maximum of 5 marks. The second group consisted of subjects with myopia, myopic complex or simple astigmatism with the corresponding optical correction achieved the mean mark of 4.67. The third or control group consisted of subjects without refractory anomalies (emetropics) achieved the mean mark of 4.96. It has been concluded that for evaluation of the shooting ability of a greater importance is the visual acuity achieved by the optical appliances than the degree and types of eye refraction. PMID- 2631420 TI - [The stability of the oxime Hi-6 in eyedrops]. AB - The stability of an efficacious antidote in the treatment of organophosphorous poisoning--HI-6 has been examined in aqueous solutions of eye drops by accelerated stability tests. Disintegration kinetics has been examined at the increased temperatures and pH value of isotonic solution of 25 mg/ml concentration in ampules. First order hydrolysis is larger than in the known oximes: pralidoxime, obidoxime and other due to unfavourable physicochemical properties of HI-6. The period of 44 days which is necessary for reduction of exime concentration in eye drops for 10% at 25 degrees C is not enough for preservation of reliable solution and because of that it should be prepared whenever necessary. PMID- 2631421 TI - [Criteria for the diagnosis of epilepsy caused by cerebral cysticercosis in a population of recruits]. AB - Epidemiological and clinical characteristics as well as characteristic of paraclinical findings in epilepsia caused by cerebral cysticercosis in recruit population have been studied. The experimental group consisted of 50 recruits with epilepsia caused by cerebral cysticercosis and the control group consisted of 28 recruits with symptomatic epilepsia of other etiology. By correlation of all the results obtained the criteria for diagnosis of epilepsia caused by cerebral cysticercosis have been defined. The results were graded as reliable, probable and suspected. For diagnosis of epilepsia caused by cerebral cysticercosis the decisive factors have been the results of tests of indirect immunofluorescence to cysticercosis (IIF) and computerized tomography (CT) of the brain. Finally, some clinical signs and paraclinical findings have been grouped on the basis of which it can be established a reliable, probable or suspected diagnosis of the disease. PMID- 2631422 TI - [Immunochemical findings in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy]. AB - The aim of the study was to check the hypothesis of involvement of the structure of the central nervous system on the basis of the analysis of the integrity of blood-brain barrier and the degree of IgG synthesis in the intrathecal space of patients with inflammatory demyelinization polyradiculoneuropathy. The study involved 27 patients with acute and 14 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinization polyradiculoneuropathy. The analysis of liquor was performed in different stages of the disease. The results have shown that in the acute phase, in the phase of the maximal functional deficit there are signs of damaged integrity of the blood-brain barrier but without signs of increased intrathecal IgG synthesis. It has been concluded that there are no reliable signs of increased immunologic activity in the intrathecal space of patients with inflammatory demyelinization polyradiculoneuropathy. PMID- 2631423 TI - [Transfixation of the tibio-fibular syndesmosis in the surgical treatment of malleolar fractures]. AB - The authors consider the problem of management of malleolar fractures with a special reference to B and C types of fractures by Weber. They have presented their observations in the out-patient service and consequences of inadequate surgical treatment of these fractures. Transfixation of distal tibio-fibular syndesmosis should be performed only if necessary which is evaluated by a single pronged hook test after osteosynthesis. Adequate rigidity and stability of syndesmosis has been achieved several times by osteosynthesis only so that additional fixation is not necessary. PMID- 2631424 TI - [Treatment of peripheral paresis-paralysis of the facial nerve using corticosteroids]. AB - The study comprised 113 patients with Bell's paresis-paralysis of the facial nerve. This group was considered as experimental while the control group involved patients with the same disease treated with oral corticosteroids. In both groups physical therapy has been applied from the very beginning of therapy. The results of the study have shown that in the group of patients treated with local corticosteroids the complete recovery was found in 82% of cases, partial in 14% and no signs of recovery in 4%. The mean time of clinical and electrophysiologic recovery was 17 days. In the control group of patients the complete recovery was found in 50%, partial in 37.5% and no improvement in 12.5%. The significant influence on the time and degree of recovery in both groups, and especially in the first group, has the time of starting the therapy; if the therapy started in the first week after the onset of the disease, the recovery was usually complete in the first group. PMID- 2631425 TI - [Use of low dose lasers in physiatry]. AB - The prospective study comprised 105 patients treated for six months in the out patient and in-patient institutions suffering from the syndrome manifested in pain and disturbed functions due to the diseases of the nerve-muscle and bone connective tissue systems. The group of patients with the vertebro-basilar syndrome was selected by a single-blind controlled trial while the rest constituted the group whose results were preliminary presented. Two modes of laser photobiostimulation were applied: local stimulation and stimulation of acupuncture points. Evaluation of effects were performed by following up subjective troubles, clinical examinations, laboratory analyses and in patients with the vertebro-basilar syndrome by rheoencephalography in addition. The application of the mentioned methods in different pathological states have shown positive results in 78% of patients with analgesic, spasmolytic and antiadematous effects. In patients with the vertebro-basilar syndrome disappearance of subjective troubles was followed by the improved perfusion in the vertebro basilar system with the mean increase of the amplitude of the rheoencephalographic curve of 0.063 +/- 0.018 oms and the mean shortening of the anacrotic phase of 0.048 +/- 0.019 seconds. PMID- 2631426 TI - [Hemorrhage in alloarthroplasty of the hip joint]. PMID- 2631427 TI - [Infantile autism]. PMID- 2631428 TI - [Microsurgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia using the posterior fossa approach]. PMID- 2631429 TI - [Kaposi's pseudosarcoma with leiomyoma of the large intestine]. PMID- 2631430 TI - [Pyoderma vegetans]. PMID- 2631431 TI - What every dentist should know before signing a contract with a dental benefit organization. PMID- 2631432 TI - [Surgical treatment of goiter in older people]. AB - Experiences are reported connected with surgical treatment of goitre in 84 patients aged over 65 years. Deaths occurred exclusively in patients with thyroid malignant tumours, and the most frequent postoperative complication was paresis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Owing to adequate preparation of patients for operation and correct postoperative management the old age of the patient, is not increasing significantly the surgical risk. PMID- 2631433 TI - [Condition of the oral mucosa in cement plant workers]. AB - The condition of oral mucosa was evaluated in the workers of the cement plant in Chelm. Clinical examination demonstrated in all workers exposed to cement dust features of mechanical trauma and oral mucosa inflammation. PMID- 2631434 TI - [A test for determining personality traits in patients with organic psychosomatic diseases]. AB - Using the Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MPI) of Eysenck 100 patients with peptic ulcer were studied. The mean age of female patients was 46 years, that of males was 44 years. The studied males showed features of extroverted personality and neuroticism, but without psychic abnormalities. The studied women had, most frequently, normal psychic features, but frequent neuroticism with elements of anxiety and depression. Males more than females expressed the need for social acceptance of their behaviour. PMID- 2631435 TI - [Difficulties in diagnosing acute appendicitis in women]. AB - Among acute diseases of the abdominal organs acute appendicitis is the most frequent cause of emergency laparotomies. In women the most frequent cause of preoperative diagnostic errors are diseases of the reproductive system. The material analysed by the authors was a group of 865 patients operated on with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in the I Department of Surgery in the period 1964 1973 and in the III Department of Surgery, Medical Academy in Cracow in the years 1974-1986. In this material from two teaching hospital departments and from two different time periods similar proportions of diagnostic errors (12.7% and 13.4%) were found, and during the operation similar types of pathological changes were noted in the reproductive system. The authors stress the analysed diagnostic difficulties and point out that exploratory laparotomy is safest for the patient. PMID- 2631436 TI - [Severe alcoholic hepatitis]. AB - A case of severe alcoholic hepatitis was observed in a man aged 30 years. Attention is called to possible diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. Despite abstinence lasting 9 months the results of biochemical tests failed to return to normal values. PMID- 2631437 TI - [Removal of clear cell carcinoma in a patient with bilateral polycystic kidney degeneration]. AB - A case is described of enucleation of a renal clear-cell carcinoma in a patient with bilateral polycystic renal degeneration. The tissue defect after removed tumour was filled with tissue adhesive and catgut sutures. The patient is alive without evidence of recurrence 16 months after the operation. PMID- 2631438 TI - [Lymphangiosarcoma of the leg following radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma]. AB - A case of lymphangiosarcoma of lower extremity was observed in a female aged 68 years who had had radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma. The late therapeutic result was bad, and this indicates the necessity of radical management, that is amputation in hip joint already in an early stage of the disease, although this decision is extremely difficult for the physician. PMID- 2631439 TI - [Chronic pancreatitis in the Brodno district of Warsaw]. AB - A retrospective epidemiological-clinical analysis of patients with chronic pancreatitis living in the Brodno District of Warsaw is reported. It was found that the approximated coefficients of morbidity and incidence per 100 thousand of the population in 1987 were 17.0 and 5.0 respectively, and they were similar to those reported from Rochester (USA) and Copenhagen (Denmark). However, the incidence has risen from 2 in 1982 to 5 in 1987 per 100 thousand, which might be connected with increasing alcohol consumption by the population or increased detectability of chronic pancreatitis in this city district. PMID- 2631440 TI - [Gallbladder carcinoma--results of treatment]. AB - One-hundred patients treated for gallbladder carcinoma in the years 1970-1986 are described. They accounted for 2.63% of all patients treated surgically for diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts. Coexistence of carcinoma and cholelithiasis was found in 76% of cases. In 64 cases only exploratory laparotomy was done and biopsy was done for histological examination, since the progression of the tumour precluded any radical operation. In 15 cases cholecystectomy was done and in the remaining 21 patients palliative procedures were done. In the perioperative period 17 patients died. Information on the length of survival time was obtained in 43 cases. It was longest in cases in which the degree of progression of the tumour was classified into stages I and II after Nevin. Six patients are alive 7 months to 8 years after the operation. The authors think that the methods for improvement of the results of surgical treatment should be sought in prevention of this carcinoma that is early surgical treatment of cholelithiasis. PMID- 2631441 TI - [Effectiveness of sucralfate in the treatment of gastric ulcer in women during menopause--comparison with cimetidine]. AB - The reported study was done in 60 women aged 44 to 60 years during menopause. In group I (n = 30) sucralfate was used (Venter, Krka) in doses of 1.0 g daily. The rate of symptom disappearance and ulcer healing and the frequency of recurrences were assessed. It was observed that the rate of ulcer healing after sucralfat was higher and recurrences were leas frequent. PMID- 2631442 TI - [Clinical aspects of peritonitis after cesarean section]. AB - Caesarean sections complicated with peritonitis were analysed in a period of 10 years. In the whole group of 2238 caesarean sections done in the years 1977-1986 peritonitis developed in 8 cases (0.36%). In this group total or supracervical hysterectomy was done between the 4th and the 7th days of puerperium. Diagnostic difficulties in puerperal peritonitis and advantages of early surgical intervention for saving the life of the women in puerperium are stressed. PMID- 2631443 TI - [Selected markers of cell-mediated and humoral immunity in children with chronic pyelonephritis]. AB - The studied group comprised 38 boys and girls aged from 7 months to 5 years with chronic pyelonephritis. Counts of B and T-cells and serum concentrations of IgG, IgM, IgA were determined. A significant depression was noted of the per cent proportion of T-cells in relation to the control group of healthy children with a significantly lower IgM concentration without significant changes in IgG and IgA levels. PMID- 2631444 TI - [Polycystic renal disease in infants]. AB - In the light of the observation of 4 infants with polycystic renal disease the clinical manifestation, diagnosis (with stress laid on USG) and therapeutic management are discussed. Attention is called to the possibility of adult-type polycystic renal disease in neonatal period and infancy. This type of nephropathy is supposed by the authors to be in 2 living children. PMID- 2631445 TI - [Changes in acid hydrolase activity in white blood cells as an indicator of occupational exposure to mercury vapors]. AB - Using histochemical methods the activity was determined of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase in 89 men exposed to mercury vapours during chloride production by means of mercury electrolysis. The activity of both enzymes was low and the intensity of the histochemical reactions was correlated with duration of exposure and mercury concentrations in urine and blood. The determination of the activity of acid hydrolases may be used for monitoring of the biological consequences of occupational exposure to mercury vapours. PMID- 2631446 TI - [A case of constrictive pericarditis complicated by mitral insufficiency]. AB - A case of constrictive pericarditis complicated with mitral valve insufficiency is presented. Attention is called to the haemodynamic consequences and clinical effects of the coexistence of both these conditions and decidedly favourable effect of surgical treatment. PMID- 2631447 TI - [A case of myxoma of the left cardiac atrium--morphologic analysis]. AB - A case is reported of left atrial myxoma with clinical manifestations suggestive of mitral stenosis. The morphogenesis of the tumour is analysed on the basis of histological examination. PMID- 2631448 TI - [A case of familial hemochromatosis]. AB - A case of familial haemochromatosis was observed in a man aged 44 years. Attention is called to atypical clinical course of the disease and related diagnostic difficulties. In the described case the final diagnosis was based on evaluation of liver biopsy specimen. PMID- 2631449 TI - [Atypical picture of familial medullary thyroid carcinoma]. AB - Two sisters are reported treated at various times for thyroid medullary carcinoma. In one of them, treated later, right adrenal tumour coexisted suggesting a classical picture of the syndrome of multiglandular endocrine adenomatosis type 2a. Histological examination of the adrenal tumour showed presence of metastasis of medullary thyroid carcinoma, that is atypical pattern of this neoplasm. In the light of these the authors stress the necessity of comprehensive diagnosis of thyroid tumours with particular stress laid on histological preoperative diagnosis. Indications are discussed to thyroid reoperation in patients in whom medullary thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed only in the resected goitre. PMID- 2631450 TI - [Two cases of term pregnancy after Strassmann's operation with Higier's modification despite previous inability to complete pregnancy due to developmental anomalies]. AB - Two successive cases are described of pregnancy going to term after Strassmann's operational in Higier's modification with leaving of polyethylene phantoms in the uterine cavity for the period of healing. The value of the method was demonstrated for shaping of uterine cavity and prevention of intrauterine adhesions and strictures. PMID- 2631451 TI - [Late diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumonia in an 8-year-old boy]. AB - Mycoplasma pneumonia was diagnosed in a boy aged 8 years. It is stressed that the possibility of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia should be considered in cases of pneumonia refractory to traditional treatment. PMID- 2631453 TI - [2d joint symposium of the AG "Promotion of not smoking". Reinhardsbrunn, 2-4 November 1988. Proceedings]. PMID- 2631452 TI - [Significance and value of epidemiologic studies for assessing the effectiveness of measures in primary prevention]. PMID- 2631454 TI - [Results of international studies of the effect of smoking on life and health and the effectiveness of smoking cessation]. PMID- 2631455 TI - [Comparison of the incidence of bronchitis in children of smoking and non-smoking parents. A contribution to the significance of passive smoking in children]. PMID- 2631456 TI - [Important aspects in the development of the consumption of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages]. PMID- 2631457 TI - [The importance of civil rights competence in medical treatment circumstances]. PMID- 2631458 TI - [The search for interventional priorities for the prevention of chronic diseases in females employed in the health service]. AB - With a view of clearing up certain influence of the working and living conditions on health, some results of control examinations in occupational medicine from the years 1985 to 1988 of women employed in the health service (n = 86,769) were analyzed and compared with those of the investigations carried out on all women in the GDR (n = 662,578). The tracking down of significant deviations in the age standardized prevalence rates for chronic health disturbances was performed by means of a specialized computer programme for the health of women and for 7 occupations. Among other things, it was possible to prove permanently increased prevalence rates for chronic diseases of the kidneys/urinary passages in the overall population and in the personnel for laboratory diagnostics, as well as an increased prevalence of hypertension in day nursery educators. The elaborated strategy for tracking down work-related diseases and chronic diseases proved effective and can also be used for issues in other economic sectors. PMID- 2631459 TI - [Local muscle work and noise and their effect on the amplitude of the finger pulse]. AB - The finger pulse amplitude of 10 healthy men (aged 20 to 30 years) was measured during noise (70, 80 and 90 dBA) and combined exposure (local muscular work with 30% MVC and noise with 70, 80 or 90 dBA) and during a recovery phase of 60 min. The finger pulse amplitude was reduced only during noise exposure with 90 dBA and was increased during the combined exposures. A continuous decrease of the finger pulse amplitude was observed during the recovery phases. Differences between noise exposure and combined exposure do not exist. The findings were discussed as the risk of hypertension in workers exposed to noise. PMID- 2631460 TI - [Sex specific stress reactions in students during final examinations]. AB - 24 women and 43 men were investigated in rest and in connection with final examinations with a complex psychophysiological method. The reactions of women were characterized by a lower level of blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, a higher level of heart rate, trijodthyronine, cortisol. No differences were found in subjective parameters and the results of examinations. Discrimination analysis supports partly these findings. The explanation of the gender specific reactions and their epidemiological importance is only possible on the basis of the complexity of the load strain connections. PMID- 2631461 TI - [Effects of chemical occupational environmental factors on the prevalence of damage to the teeth, mouth and jaw of exposed workers]. AB - 320 workers exposed to chemicals in a large petrol-company and 100 nonexposed workers under the nearly same conditions of work and life were examined on damages of their dental, oral and jaw areas. As criterias of the examinations were used DMF/T-Index, Oral-Hygiene-Index (Quigley/Hein) and the Parodontopathy Index according to Kotzschke. The result of the examinations was a higher prevalence of damages of the periodontium among the workers in the chemical company in comparison to the control group. Within the several groups of workers exposed to chemicals were found significantly differences of the damages depending of exposures. PMID- 2631462 TI - [Pharmacokinetics of tetrachloroethylene in steady stage conditions]. AB - Pharmacokinetic behaviour of tetrachloroethylene (clearance, pool, elimination kinetics, metabolic capacity) was studied by intravenous and inhalative long term administration. Concentrations of tetrachloroethylene in blood can be calculated from the concentration in the external air, as to be predicted for a substance, practically not metabolizable and eliminated totally by exhalation. The advantages of steady state techniques and their applicability to problems of industrial pharmacology are discussed. PMID- 2631463 TI - [Occupational medicine and occupational science evaluation of shift work systems with integrated 12-hour shifts]. AB - A field study was performed on 32 male deep drilling workers engaged in hard physical work and 10 male operators with mainly supervisory tasks; both groups working in a shiftwork system including 12 hr shifts. Both the analysis and evaluation of stresses and strains were carried out by means of physiological, psychological and sociological methods. The obtained results show that under the conditions of the given working requirements, existing reproduction conditions, and observed social structure of the populations operating and supervisory activities in a 8 hr shiftwork system including 12 hr shifts are acceptable. In case of hard physical work this shiftwork arrangement can't be agreed to for industrial-medical reasons. PMID- 2631464 TI - [The effect of noise on the feto-placental unit (epidemiologic and experimental study)]. AB - Epidemiologic investigations on pregnant working women with noise exposure in ear damaging range didn't astonish in regard to essential parameters like average birth weight, average duration of gravidity, hyperemesis gravidarum, abortion frequency and disablements in comparison with a control group. In an experimental study 13 pregnant women in the 18th to 21st, 28th to 31st and 34th to 37st week of pregnancy were tested against a load of 75, 85 and 95 dB(A) via earphones and by means of cardiotocogram the derivations of foetal cardiac actions were taken. During all observation phases, all derived parameters are signated within the physiological deviations considering the gestational age. PMID- 2631465 TI - [Risk of nose cancer following occupational exposure to organic dusts]. PMID- 2631466 TI - [Polar medical research from the viewpoint of public health]. AB - The increasing interest in polar researches is the reason for numerous foundations of antarctic stations during the last years. In 1987 the German Democratic Republic founded a research station on the 6th continent, working all the years round. The medical polar research, hitherto done only sporadically has got a greater importance now and a working group "Polar Medicine" was established in 1989. Special hygienic problems in Antarctica and future research are discussed. PMID- 2631467 TI - [Physiologic adaptation of the thermal manikin]. AB - At present time thermal manikins (TM) are used as standard method to determine the thermal quality of clothing. Besides, in the last time TM's apply to estimate indoor climate. Now used types of TM enable quantitative assertions on human convective and conductive heat exchange, as for the whole body as for different parts. The limited factor for this heat flow is the topical value of TM's skin temperature which is regulated by software. As a rule, this temperature is the same like human's skin temperature at thermal comfort conditions. Distal change of skin temperature takes a leading part to determine thermal conditions which are still tolerable regarding human thermoregulation. The influence of this kind of thermal regulation on topical convection and conductive heat exchange was examined by variation of TM's skin temperature on a concrete indoor situation and defined clothing and metabolic conditions. PMID- 2631468 TI - [The role of migration in assessing age-specific event probabilities exemplified by the probability of death]. AB - Estimating probabilities of age-specific events both in demography and in epidemiology (force of mortality, force of morbidity) will contain additional errors if the frequency of the respective events is influenced by net migration and if migration is not taken into consideration when estimating these events. The terms used in including migration into estimating the respective rates are refined terms. The influence of migration on age-specific events is demonstrated by age-specific mortality and the life expectancy computed on the basis of age specific mortality rates for the GDR in 1984. The results demonstrate that the life expectancy of the population of Berlin will be underestimated by 0.28 years if migration processes are not taken into consideration. PMID- 2631469 TI - [Contributions of experimental and clinical medicine to environmental medicine]. AB - Contributions towards the system of risk assessment and risk management are the most important topical tasks to be solved by environmental medicine. This covers the whole range of hazard evaluation for chemicals, assessment of exposure (biomonitoring), systematic development of biological markers for effects and the detection of damages on the organism-, organ-, cellular and subcellular level, the epidemiology of environmentally related diseases, and the elaboration of computer-assisted models for the conception of risk assessment and risk management in terms of a better preventive efficiency in the field of environmental medicine. PMID- 2631470 TI - [Future needs in health protection and preventive health]. AB - Health protection is a social political program and dosely connected with the social development. It is pointed out that progress in health protection demands progress in social development. One of the main problems of preparing health protection strategies is to assess the numberless risks for health. Because of the fact that risk assessment is full of social implications people have to be involved in assessing risks. Stressing this fact it is concluded that concepts of health protection mainly reflect ideas about people and social life more than ideas about health and illness. Promoting health protection in the GDR four key problems of major concern are summarized: 1) improving information and education, 2) netting the responsibility of the whole society, 3) further progress in socialist democracy and communal life, 4) increasing the role of health protection in the whole social-political activities. PMID- 2631471 TI - [Environmental epidemiologic research as the basis for organizing health inspection]. AB - In the practical work of hygiene guideline and limitation values derived from animal experiments are used. The necessity to verify their validity and applicability by environmental epidemiologic research is pointed out. The close relationship between epidemiological research and practice of hygiene in the GDR is demonstrated by examples. In conclusion the problems are listed which should be treated by environmental epidemiologic research with priority. PMID- 2631472 TI - [Results of clinical and epidemiologic studies of the nitrate problem]. AB - Small differences in nitrate intake with the drinking water are not reflected in nitrate contents of saliva and urine of test persons. A correlation of nitrate concentration in body fluids and cancer incidence can be expected hardly. Inflammatory diseases of the gut are frequently accompanied by enhanced endogenous nitrate synthesis and have an essential influence on total nitrate load of the human organism. Nitrate contents in saliva and/or urine are not general indicators of inflammatory processes. As the role of the nitrate ion in humans is not yet understood, the claim remains for a nitrate intake being as low as possible. PMID- 2631473 TI - [Evaluating the intake of heavy metals]. AB - An environmental hygienic test model has been developed with Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn and Cr as examples, which allows to investigate the distribution and behaviour of the elements in biological cycles and to estimate the metal reception by humans. The model enables to calculate the mean reception of heavy metal per person for differently contaminated areas. The results demonstrate that the maximum tolerable intake, proposed by FAO/WHO, fell short of concerning Cd and Pb and that the supply with the other elements was sufficient in the population investigated. PMID- 2631475 TI - [Gallopamil. New pharmacologic and clinical research results on calcium antagonism]. PMID- 2631474 TI - Protective effects of gallopamil against ischemia and reperfusion damage. AB - To establish if the administration of gallopamil, a derivative of verapamil, protects heart muscle against the deleterious effect of ischemia and subsequent reperfusion, rabbits were injected subcutaneously twice daily with 2 mg/kg of Gallopamil for 5-6 days. The hearts were isolated and perfused with aerobic Krebs Henseleit buffer solution by the Langendorff method. The hearts were paced (180 b/min) and wall temperature was controlled. Ischemia was induced by reducing coronary flow from 25 ml/min to 1 ml/min for 90 min and then the hearts were reperfused for 30 min. At the end of either the ischemic period or reperfusion, the hearts were assayed for ATP, CP, and calcium. Others were homogenized, their mitochondria harvested and monitored for oxidative phosphorylating and ATP generating activity as well as calcium content and uptake. The mechanical function of the hearts and noradrenaline release was also measured. Hearts that were made ischemic gained calcium, their endogenous stores of ATP and CP were depleted, their mitochondria had reduced RCI and state 3 respiration and increased calcium concentrations. During reperfusion tissue and mitochondrial calcium was significantly increased, the capacity of mitochondria to use oxygen for state 3 respiration was further impaired and their ATP generating capacity reduced. Diastolic pressure increased and there was no recovery of developed pressure and important noradrenaline release. Pretreatment with gallopamil protected the mitochondria against the ischemically induced changes in RCI, state 3 respiration. There was also a less marked rise in tissue and mitochondrial calcium and a reduced increase of diastolic pressure. Gallopamil also diminished the effect of reperfusion on the calcium accumulating activity of mitochondria and on the decline in the ATP generating and oxygen utilizing capacity of the mitochondria. The tissue levels of ATP and CP were better maintained, and noradrenaline release was reduced, the systolic pressure generating capacity was enhanced by the treatment with gallopamil. These results are discussed in accordance with the hypothesis that this drug protects heart muscle against the deleterious effects of ischemia and reperfusion by ensuring that sufficient ATP remains available to maintain homeostasis with respect to calcium. PMID- 2631476 TI - [Effect of calcium antagonists and beta receptor blockers on coronary vessel diameter]. AB - 32 patients in an early state of coronary sclerosis were investigated in connection with diagnostic angiography. 8 patients received 2 mg gallopamil (G) and for every 12 patients 0.1 mg/kg propranolol (P), respectively, 0.12 mg/kg Atenolol (A). All medications were injected intravenously over 4 min. The angiograms were repeated in identical projections before (control) as well as 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after G and 2, 4, 6...up to 20 min after P and A. All angiograms were analyzed using a quantitative computerized contour detection system. 10 min after infusion of G 34 measured coronary segments showed a significant (p less than 0.05) medium dilation of 21 +/- 4.3% and after a further 10 min an insignificant increase in coronary diameter was observed up to 25 +/- 4%. After infusion of P and A a distinct vasoconstriction could be seen. Especially P showed a decrease in diameter of almost 25% in small coronary segments (less than 2.0 mm diameter). The dilatative effect of G i.v. seems to be important in the therapy of acute ischemic situations, for instance, for unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, or during PTCA. The acute coronary vasoconstriction after infusion of P and A should be considered when used in acute ischemic events. PMID- 2631477 TI - [Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of gallopamil]. AB - Despite its almost complete absorption following oral administration, gallopamil has an absolute bioavailability of only 15% due to an extensive hepatic first pass metabolism. During multiple oral dosing bioavailability increases to approximately 25% indicating a partial saturation of first-pass metabolism. Since the half-life time of gallopamil is on average 3-6 h a minimum of three times daily dosing of the instant-release 50 mg tablet is required in order to maintain therapeutic plasma concentrations. The sustained-release 100 mg tablet which recently became available has a relative bioavailability comparable to the instant release preparation. Due to the delayed drug liberation therapeutic plasma concentrations are maintained for 24 h following once or twice daily administration of this drug preparation. PMID- 2631478 TI - [Diastolic ventricular function in hypertrophic, obstructive and non-obstructive cardiomyopathy--effect of gallopamil]. AB - Left ventricular function was investigated by radionuclide ventriculography in 13 patients (11 male, two female) with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aged from 22-57 years (mean 45.5 years) at rest and during exercise. Ten patients had hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with maximal left ventricular outflow tract gradients of 64-290 mmHg (mean 147 mmHg). Left ventricular enddiastolic pressure of all patients ranged from 8-35 mmHg (mean 21 mmHg). Radionuclide ventriculography was performed without therapy, after acute application of a single oral dose of gallopamil (50 mg), and after longterm treatment for 3 weeks (50 mg tid). Ejection fraction at rest after single dose increased from 69.2% to 72.9% (p less than 0.02), peak ejection rate (PER) increased from 333.5 to 362.0/s (p less than 0.01) and peak filling rate (PFR) from 284.5 to 316.5/s (p less than 0.02). Under exercise single dose as well as longterm treatment led to a slight but significant shift in the ratio of PFR/PER (from 1.02 to 1.12 after single dose [p less than 0.04], and to 1.18 with longterm treatment [p less than 0.03]). There was no correlation between the individual response to gallopamil treatment and histopathological parameters such as hypertrophy or fibrosis. These data demonstrate that gallopamil in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy leads to an improvement mainly in left ventricular diastolic function which appears to be most effective under exercise. PMID- 2631479 TI - Dental pharmaceutics: a pharmacology update--antibiotics. PMID- 2631480 TI - Get the most out of your computer investment: steps in choosing and setting up the right system for you. PMID- 2631481 TI - [Scanning electron microscopy of normal gutta percha points]. PMID- 2631482 TI - [Replantation and transplantation]. PMID- 2631483 TI - [Health reform law (GRG): year and concepts of dental care]. PMID- 2631484 TI - [Dental assistant in administration--indispensible]. PMID- 2631485 TI - [Dental care and development in Hungary]. PMID- 2631486 TI - [The development of osteoarthrosis and the role of collagen in the pathophysiology of its development]. AB - The work deals with the structure, chemical composition and physical properties of individual types of collagen of which thirteen has been so far described. Special attention is devoted to the types of collagen II, VI, IX and XI which are found in the articular hyaline cartilage. The main collagen type of the articular cartilage is type II which makes up approximately 90 per cent of all the collagen. The remaining three types fall into the so called minority types. Collagen of type IX differs from other types by the kink in its structure. This type of collagen represents a certain transition to proteoglycans with regard to the fact that the lateral glycoaminoglycan chain is attached. The work is supplemented with electron microscope pictures of individual molecules of these types. It describes also individual stages of biosynthesis and special attention is devoted to the aggregation of molecules into fibrils. The authors describe the cross-linking elements of lysinonorleucine and pyridinoline type. The changes which occurring in the structure and metabolism of collagen in the course of osteoarthrosis are described. The role of adhesive proteins is mentioned and the influence of the osteoarthrotic changes on nutrition and its function as well as on the development of pathogenetic mechanism is described. PMID- 2631487 TI - [Surface bioactive ceramics (preliminary report)]. AB - The Research and Development Institute of Industrial Glass in the town of Teplice (North Bohemia) has developed bioceramics (BAS-O) with presupposed surface activity manifested during its implantation in the macroorganism. The test was carried out by means of Macor inert ceramics produced by Corning Co. In total there were performed 8 implantations of surface active bioceramics and 7 implantations of inert ceramics in the tibiae and femurs of four dogs. After two months the experimental animals were sacrificed and the implants were examined. All eight prisms of BAS-O surface active ceramics were firmly connected with the bone and could be removed from bones only by force. On the contrary, the control inert ceramics could be removed from the bone by a pincette. The contact X-ray pictures showed an interface of surrounding tissue around inert ceramics and contrary to this, in case of surface bioceramics the bone trabeculea penetrated into the implants. The surrounding fibrous tissue around inert ceramics was proved in all cases by microscopic examination. In case of surface active bioceramics the fibrous intermedial layer was not proved even by electron microscopy. PMID- 2631488 TI - [Surgical lengthening of the femur using the Poldi 7 device]. AB - The work presents the evaluation of longterm results of the surgical prolongation of the femur. The examined group includes 10 patients: 5 boys and 5 girls which the authors treated in the years 1978-1986. Their average age in time of operation was 15.5 years. The youngest was 8 and the oldest 25 years old. Shortening was in 4 cases caused by poor healing of the fracture, in three cases it was a results of congenital hypoplasia of the femur or the whole lower extremity, in three cases it was caused by osteomyelitis. The duration of the prolongation was on average 4 months, the external fixation device was removed on average after 8 months. The mean prolongation was 8 cm, ranging from 4 cm to 11 cm. In 8 cases healing was without complications, twice there occurred a fatigue fracture which was treated by plate osteosynthesis. PMID- 2631489 TI - [Calcaneonavicular coalition and its treatment]. AB - The work deals with calcaneo-navicular coalition which occurs most frequently. The clinical picture is discussed of this congenital defect which is usually manifested by the peroneal spastic flatfoot in the period around 10th year of age and biomechanics of the foot with this anomalous coalition is dealt with. As for therapy the authors recommend surgical resection of the bony bridge between the calcaneum and the navicular with subsequent filling of the defect by a muscular flap of the short extensor of toes as recommended by Bentzon in 1928. Proceeding from their own material the authors evaluate the effect of this operation in 6 feet. In obsoleta symptomatic cases the authors recommend in case of arthrosis of the talo-navicular articulation desis of this joint, in case of arthrosis of the whole Chopart's joint the triple desis sub talo is the method chosen. With regard to the simplicity of the surgical operation conservative therapy is not recommended. However, it is essential to operate on in due time, and namely as early as at the age of about 11 years. The work points out the frequent wrong diagnosis of the painful flatfoot and the necessity is emphasized of performing an oblique dorsoplantar projection of the foot to reveal calcaneo-navicular coalition. PMID- 2631490 TI - [Helal's oblique subcapital metatarsal osteotomy]. AB - The authors present four-year surgical experience using Helal's oblique metatarsal subcapital osteotomy to manage metatarsalgy of various etiology. A total of 109 patients (131 feet) were operated on during the observance period. The amount of 79 patients (108 feet) were revised on the average 21 months after the surgery. According to Gainor's score excellent results were achieved in 76.9 per cent of cases, 3 patients were re-operated on for a relapsing preoperational condition. The indication for Helal's metatarsal osteotomy is the finding of metatarsalgy with reducible metatarsal capitula. PMID- 2631491 TI - [Helal's metatarsal osteotomy]. AB - At the Orthopaedic Clinic of the Institute for In-Service Training of Physicians and Pharmaceuts of the Teaching Hospital at Bulovka in Prague Helal's metatarsal osteotomy was performed between 1979-1987 in 54 patients for obstinate pain in the forefoot. Evaluated were 41 patients which underwent the operation minimum two years ago. The control group comprised 38 female and 3 male patients, the average age was 54 years. In 17 patients the operation was performed bilaterally. Thus in total we evaluated 58 osteotomies according to Helal. Excellent result was found out in 19 patients (46 per cent), good result in 20 patients (48 per cent). Only in 4 cases there occurred complications (2 cases of superficial infection, 1 case of thrombophlebitis, 1 case of painful pseudoarthrosis), out of which only the last one required another intervention. Helal's osteotomy seems to be a simple effective operation with a shortterm hospitalization and good postoperative results. PMID- 2631492 TI - [Personal experience with Wolf's metatarsal osteotomy]. AB - The author presents longterm experience with the surgical treatment of metatarsalgia by subcapital osteotomy. Operated on were 903 metatarsals in 281 patients. The operation brought relief in 96.5 per cent of cases. The article presents the surgical technique, indications for and complications of the method. PMID- 2631493 TI - [Unusual complications of anticoagulation therapy]. AB - In the introduction to the work the authors deal with the problems of the prevention of flebotromboses in patients operated on in the area of proximal part of the femur. They analyze ways of physical and pharmacological prevention and point out the potential undesirable effects and unusual complications in the treatment by means of Heparin and Kumarin derivatives--and namely the toxoallergic reaction to Heparin and the necrosis of skin and subcutis in case of the application of Kumarin drugs. In Kumarin necrosis the etiology of the which has not been, unequivocally elucidated, yet, they present views on the causes of its origin and describe the course of the Kumarin necrosis. They summarize predispositional factors which increase the risk of its occurrence and present their own observations of two cases. In the discussion they deal with the views on the etiology of the origin of this complication. In the conclusion they recommend the treatment in compliance with the latest findings. PMID- 2631494 TI - [Classification of deformities of the glenoid labrum in congenital hip dislocation]. AB - The authors have developed their own classification of the deformities of labrum glenoidale in congenital hip dislocation. Open reposition was performed by the Ludloff procedure. The basic material for their work was the group of patients operated on at I. Orthopaedic Clinic of the Faculty of General Medicine of Charles University in Prague in the years 1970-1985. In the course of this period they operated on 78 hip joints in 70 children, out of which 8 operations were bilateral, the group comprised 17 boys and 53 girls, operation was performed on 30 right hip joints and 48 left ones. The age of children ranged from 5 to 23 months. The average age of children in time of operation was 9.3 months. On the basis of the cadaver material the authors have found out that glenoidale represents an extensive part of acetabulum. Labrum glenoidale is considerably more sizable in the dorsal parts of acetabulum so that the head seems to be completely enveloped by ligamentary limbus and the acetabulum seems to form at least half of the ball-shaped surface. In the dorsal and upper parts the acetabulum is from great part formed by a fibrous structure which is easily deformed. The pressure applied to the head dorsally can result in its dislocation just because the cartilaginous model of acetabulum is flat in its dorsal and proximal parts. This easily deformable structure is under certain conditions deformed by pressure of the head in such a way that in the first phase in the course of the onset of the dislocation it is always everted and in the second phase the evertion lither persists or the head shifts over the margin of the limbus and the limbus is then inverted by reposition force. The authors present in their work the classification of the limbus. Proceeding from operation findings they divide limbi into four groups according to differences in their shape: Type I: regularly annular (everted) limbus--it corresponds to a normal anatomic shape, it is not pronouncedly deformed and does not present an impediment to reduction. Type II: inverted gracilis limbus--it is exaggerated in comparison to the normal one, usually it is inverted in the acetabulum, it is never rigid but elastic. Together with the structure of capsule it can be an impediment to reduction. It can be relatively easily everted. Type III: inverted callous limbus--it is sizable, rigid, reducing by its position the capacity of the acetabulum. The reduction is usually difficult.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2631495 TI - [The role of exogenous factors in the etiology of congenital hip dislocation: a socio-epidemiologic study]. AB - The authors present in their work the results of the analysis of the relation between congenital dislocation of vertebral joints and social factors which they have found out in 120 children singled out of 9516 live-born children in the Martin district (Slovakia) in the period 1979-1983. The investigation of social factors has been based on the analysis of socioeconomic and social conditions of the Martin district which has no regional particularities. According to their results the share of exogenous factors in the origin and development of this disease is manifested more frequently in the first-borns (having the highest representation in the examined group). On the top of the list of social indices, which they have examined in primiparae and multiparae respectively, there are unsuitable housing conditions (living in discord with mother-in-law in the same house-hold), high percentage of impregnation before marriage which can be considered a strain and longterm conflicting situation and can have together with other factors a sociopathogenetic effect. PMID- 2631496 TI - The estimation of probandwise concordance in twins: the effect of unequal ascertainment. AB - This report examines the impact of two major kinds of unequal ascertainment on the estimation of true probandwise concordance (Cpbt) in twin studies: 1) concordance-dependent - where the ascertainment rate differs in affected members of concordant vs discordant pairs, and 2) non-independent - where ascertainment rates differ in affected members of concordant pairs where the cotwin has vs has not been ascertained. Concordance-dependent ascertainment is easily modeled algebraically; non-independent ascertainment is more complex and we here propose a model based on survival analysis. Overall, concordance-dependent ascertainment produces greater bias in estimates of probandwise concordance than does non independent ascertainment. The bias introduced by concordance-dependent ascertainment is greatest when Cpbt is low and/or when the ascertainment rate for twins in concordant pairs is low. The bias introduced by non-independent ascertainment is greatest when Cpbt is high and/or when the ascertainment probability for an affected twin in a concordant pair where the cotwin has already been ascertained approaches unity. The impact of concordance-dependent and non-independent ascertainment on estimates of heritability and common environment is examined. Correction terms to estimate Cpbt in the presence of concordance-dependent and/or non-independent ascertainment are presented. PMID- 2631497 TI - Triplet pregnancy: a 10-year review of 105 cases at Harare Maternity Hospital, Zimbabwe. AB - During the 10-year period, 1975-1984, 105 triplet pregnancies were delivered at Harare Maternity Hospital, Zimbabwe, among 286,338 pregnancies in the Greater Harare Unit, giving an incidence of triplets of 1:2,727. The mean gestational age at delivery was 32.5 wk with 81 women (77.1%) delivering before 37 wk. Primigravidas delivered at a significantly earlier mean gestational age (P less than 0.05) and had a higher perinatal mortality (P less than 0.001) compared with grand multigravidas. Of the 315 babies, 277 (87.9%) weighed less than 2500 g. The overall perinatal mortality rate was 327%, with a perinatal mortality rate of 146% for infants weighing greater than or equal to 1000 g. Women hospitalised for bed rest during the antenatal period had fewer perinatal deaths compared with those diagnosed during the antenatal period, but not hospitalised for bed rest (P less than 0.02). No difference was found in the mean gestational age at delivery or the mean birth weights between these two groups. Among infants greater than or equal to 28 wk gestation there were fewer perinatal deaths in triplets delivered by cesarean section compared with triplets delivered vaginally (P less than 0.0004). This suggests that cesarean section may offer the optimal mode of delivery in triplet pregnancy. PMID- 2631498 TI - Recurrent spontaneous twinning. AB - The perinatal outcome of seven recurrent twin deliveries after 28 weeks gestation, was compared to the first twin delivery and to randomly selected controls matched for parity, maternal age and gestational age. The outcome of the recurrent twin gestation was associated with significantly increased gestational age (P less than 0.04) and mean twin birth weight (P less than 0.05) compared to the first twin pregnancy. When compared to controls matched for maternal age and gestational age they were of significantly higher parity (P less than 0.005) but had otherwise similar obstetric characteristics as when compared to controls matched for parity. These data suggest a better outcome for the recurrent compared to the first twin gestation. The frequencies of repeat twinning (0.0165% of all deliveries) and the calculated probability of having by chance a recurrent twin delivery were significantly different (P less than 10(-6)) suggesting that both deliveries may be stochastically dependent events. PMID- 2631499 TI - Conjoined twins in Hungary, 1970-1986. AB - The total prevalence of conjoined twins (birth + prenatally diagnosed) was 1:68,000 in the study of 1970-1986. Symmetrical cases (the so-called siamese twins) have an obvious predominance (92.3%). Associated major malformations occurred in 80% of conjoined twins and more than 1/5 were discordant. The surviving time of liveborn conjoined twin sets was not more than two days except in two surgically successfully separated pairs. The family study did not indicate a higher recurrence risk. The case group was compared to two control groups and it appeared that the periconceptional use of oral contraception and ovulation induction were mentioned more frequently in pregnancies resulting in conjoined twins. PMID- 2631500 TI - [20th annual meeting of the Austrian Society for Internal Medicine. Held jointly with the Austrian Society for Clinical Chemistry, the Austrian Society for Laboratory Medicine, the Austrian Society for Nuclear Medicine, the Austrian Society of Lung Diseases, and the Austrian Society of Infectious Diseases. Salzburg, 21-23 September 1989. Abstracts]. PMID- 2631501 TI - Biological and immunological properties of avirulent strain of Listeria innocua. AB - The strain isolated by Dr. J. H. Welshimer from plants has antigenic formula V (VI) IX; XV; XI; AB, C--serovar 6a, is non-haemolytic, produces lipase, and toxic factor Ei, is avirulent for adult mice, but causes encephalitis in sucklings. In organs of intravenously injected mice the strain persists and multiplies for 1-3 weeks. The protective effect against listerial infections in mice of this strain administered 2-14 days before challenge is dose depending. After 3 weeks induces resistance of guinea pigs to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv measured by spleen weight and Feldman index. The hypersensitivity induced in animals is detectable by factor Ei and PPD or OT tuberculins using MIF method. A suspension of living cells of this strain injected intraperitoneally causes resistance to Mycobacterium kansasii in mice, measured by inhibition of loss of weight and decrease of the number of bacillus in their lungs. PMID- 2631502 TI - Listeriosis of animals: problems and research. AB - In a pig farm virulent Listeria were found in 25% of animal tissues and environmental object and 7% in human tonsil samples from patients with tonsillitis. The isolates were characterized by serological and phage-typing. Purified cytoplasm and cell wall fractions and subfractions protected laboratory animals in 40-58%. PMID- 2631503 TI - Listeriosis in Austria--report of an outbreak in 1986. AB - In 1986 Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from various specimens of 28 patients in Austria: 24 were newborn infants, 4 patients were adults (25-73 years). All four adult patients and five of 20 mothers had consumed unpasteurized milk. Nine of 20 mothers and two of four adult patients had received vegetables from biologic agriculture. The consumption of raw milk and biologically grown vegetables as possible source of infection cannot be dismissed. The fatality rate (5 of 28) was remarkably low; in our experience there was no difference in the therapeutic outcome between the use of a combination of ampicillin or penicillin with an aminoglycoside or of amplicillin alone; all were effective. PMID- 2631504 TI - The treatment of Listeria monocytogenes infections in the central nervous system. AB - Fifty-four cases of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis and meningoencephalitis occurred in Denmark between 1981 and 1986. The aim of the present study was to consider the antibiotic treatment of these patients, 33 males and 21 females aged from 16 months to 91 years: average (AV) 54 years. One or more predisposing factors (PF) were found in 30 patients (55%): steroid treatment (15), cancer (12), alcoholism and/or cirrhosis (10), diabetes mellitus (5), and renal allograft (2). Follow-up varied from 3 months to 5 years. Ampicillin (AMP) was used as the only antibiotic in 14 patients, and with an aminoglycoside (AMI) in 38 but AMI was withdrawn within 24-48 h in 14. High doses of AMP were used (AV 16 g/day) generally for two weeks (AV 11 days), but AMI was usually withdrawn in the first week (AV 5 days). The mortality rate (MR) was 39% and varied greatly between previously healthy patients (PHP) and those with one or more PF: only 2 out of 24 PHP died, both admitted to hospital with respiratory insufficiency and shock. No significant differences between survivors and non-survivors were observed either in the doses, duration and administration of AMP, or use of AMI, although a higher number of PF was found in the non-survivors. Relapse occurred in at least 3 immuno-compromised patients. Sequelae were reported in 9 patients. Death occurred in 6 within 24-48 h of admission. Delayed diagnosis and treatment together with the underlying disease seemed responsible for the high MR. More effective treatments in immunocompromised patients should be tried. PMID- 2631505 TI - The treatment of Listeria monocytogenes septicaemia. AB - Thirty cases of Listeria monocytogenes septicaemia occurred in Denmark between 1981 and 1986. The aim of this study was to consider the treatment of these patients, 18 males and 12 females aged from 20 to 87 years: average (AV) 65 years. One or more predisposing factors (PF) were found in 90% of the patients, mainly cancer (16), steroid treatment (12), cirrhosis and/or alcoholism (8), and diabetes mellitus (3). Follow-up varied from 3 months to 5 years. Ampicillin (AMP) alone or with an aminoglycoside (AMI) was the treatment in 9 and 16 cases, respectively. One patient was successfully treated with penicillin G and another received oral co-trimoxazol after recovered with carbenicillin plus AMI. AMP doses were lower than used in listerial meningitis (AV 5 g/day vs. 16 g/day), and the duration was variable: from one to 21 days (AV 8 days). The mortality rate was 50%. No significant differences between survivors and non-survivors were observed either in the antibiotic treatment (doses, duration, administration, and use of AMI), or the number and kind of PF found. The cause of septicaemia could not be established in most cases but 3 endocarditis, 2 perianal abscesses and one pericarditis were found in the non-survivors. Pulmonary involvement was present in 13 patients and CNS infection suspected in 10. Early diagnosis, adequate doses and duration of antibiotic treatment, and the use of drugs capable to penetrate purulent collections (microabscess and abscess formations) should improve the prognosis of L. monocytogenes septicaemia. PMID- 2631506 TI - Isolation and characterization of genes coding for proteins involved in the cytolysis by Listeria ivanovii. AB - We established a library of chromosomal DNA of Listeria ivanovii in the pTZ19R plasmid system, using Escherichia coli DH5 alpha as the host. One recombinant clone reacted strongly with a polyclonal antiserum raised against the listeriolysin O and a second exoprotein (24kDa) of L. ivanovii, which is most probably also involved in cytolytic processes. The recombinant E. coli clone may contain part of the listeriolysin O gene of L. ivanovii. PMID- 2631507 TI - Gene probes for the detection of Listeria spp. AB - Four cloned genes of Listeria monocytogenes coding for listeriolysin O, beta haemolysin, CAMP-factor and a DTH-inducing protein (DTH-18) were used as gene probes in DNA-DNA hybridization with different listerial references strains. The fragment encoding for DTH-18 is the only probe reacting specifically with pathogenic strains of L. monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii. PMID- 2631508 TI - The use of the Listeria monocytogenes DTH gene for the detection of pathogenic biovars in food. AB - A gene probe encoding a Listeria monocytogenes delayed type hypersensitivity factor (DTH) was used for the detection of pathogenic biovars/serovars of the genus Listeria isolated from soft cheese. A total of 187 strains, isolated by plating techniques, were screened. The probe reacted with all isolated serovars of L. monocytogenes (except one 4b strain) and did not react with any of the Listeria innocua strains. Using the mouse bio-assay, as described by Kaufmann, a significant correlation was found between probe reaction and pathogenicity. PMID- 2631509 TI - Further results and experiences with phage-typing of Listeria. AB - Results of phage-typing of 22 strains from 16 listeriosis cases, which were isolated during an epidemic outbreak in the district of Magdeburg, showed that most strains were determined by the octal codes 73611, 73615, 73655, 73645. We suppose that this was the epidemic strain, although also other phage-patterns (40000, 00600, 03200) were found. The source of the epidemic outbreak could not cleared up. The purpose of further investigations was to establish how far phage patterns of Listeria from the same patients from different materials might be identified as identical, similar or different. We give examples of typing results in 1/2a and 4b strains and compare the results concerning an significant or non significant alteration. PMID- 2631510 TI - International Phage Typing Center for Listeria: report for 1987. AB - A total of 3400 Listeria strains were sent for identification and/or phage typing during 1987. These strains mainly originated from Europe. They were isolated from humans, animals and mostly from foodstuffs, thus reflecting the increasing interest concerning the view that listeriosis is a foodborne disease. Phage typing proved to be a useful tool for epidemiological survey. That was especially evidenced during studies of the outbreak of human listeriosis in Switzerland, for which a contaminated cheese was incriminated as the source of contamination. PMID- 2631511 TI - Serovars of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua from food. AB - The increase of listeriosis outbreaks in recent years has mainly been due to the consumption of contaminated dairy products. This prompted a revision of prevention and control measures. Cheese and other foods (meat, poultry meat) were investigated. For isolation, samples were prepared and investigated according to the recommendations of the FDA with some modifications including, in particular, sub-enrichment. Suspicious colonies were tested biochemically followed by serological identification with factor sera. Out of 100 chicken (95 broilers, 5 layers) Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 85 carcases. The contamination rate for minced beef and pork (n = 76) was approximately 30%. That for selected ripened soft cheeses (n = 89) was 9%. The counts of Listeria in red meat were usually very low (approximately 10/g). Serovar 1/2a was predominant (78 out of 102 strains). Further serovars detected were: 1/2b, 1/2c, 3a, 4a, 4b, 4d. For comparison, isolated strains of L. monocytogenes and Listeria innocua were inoculated into chicken embryos. In contrast to the former, L. innocua did not kill the embryos. PMID- 2631512 TI - Differentiation of Listeria and Streptococcus strains. AB - Colonial morphology of non-beta haemolytic Listeria strains is frequently similar to that of non-haemolytic streptococci. Biochemical characteristics, motility, haemolysis on ox blood agar, growth on Clauberg, selective streptococcus (Si) and Mitis-Salivarius agar medium, CAMP test, serological behaviour of 16 Listeria strains were studied and the results were compared with the properties of Streptococcus strains. Microscopic morphology, motility and catalase activity are useful for distinguishing these strains. To avoid a false diagnosis, latex agglutination should be supplemented with the above tests. PMID- 2631513 TI - A ten year's experience with inactivated vaccine against listeriosis of sheep. AB - Efficacy of preventive use of an inactivated vaccine was controlled through several years in 24 farms on 32,124 vaccinated and 35,880 unvaccinated (control) sheep. Death due to listeriosis was 273 (0.85%) in the vaccinated and 462 (1.29%) in the non-vaccinated groups. Vaccination in the acute phase of the disease was performed in 5 flocks, on 10,303 animals, leaving 9,781 as unvaccinated controls. In most flocks, deaths due to listeriosis ceased or became minimized 7-10 days post-vaccination. In total 59 (0.57%) of the vaccinated and 251 (2.56%) of the non-vaccinated animals died as a result of listeriosis. PMID- 2631514 TI - Experimental listeriosis in immunized sheep. AB - Sheep immunized with live or inactivated vaccine were challenged with a virulent strain of Listeria monocytogenes. Clinical manifestations, penetration of listeriae into the mucous membranes and persistence in organs were noted. Bacteriaemia caused by intravenous injection of high doses of virulent strain disappears in 3 days. Readily after inoculation, listeriae penetrate into the gastrointestinal tract where they persist for 8 days. Listeriae appear from the 3rd day in the conjunctiva and nasal mucous membranes with clinical symptoms of conjunctivitis and rhinitis whence they are eliminated in 8 to 14 days. The brain, liver and spleen of animals that died in 5 to 7 days were loaded with listeriae. Organs from immune animals sacrificed 14 days after challenge were negative by cultivation even when listeriomas were in the liver and spleen. Rapid penetration and persistence of listeriae are an expression of their increased affinity to epithelia of systems which are not only the portal of their entry but even the site of their secondary propagation and thus a source of infection. PMID- 2631516 TI - Tenth International Symposium on Listeriosis and Round Table Discussion on Methods of Isolation and Characterization of Listeria. Pecs, Hungary, August 21 26, 1988. Proceedings. PMID- 2631515 TI - Cellular immune response to Listeria in genetically resistant and susceptible mouse strains. AB - Relatively Listeria-resistant C57B1/6 mice and more susceptible to the infection DBA/2 mice were immunized with Listeria-antigen (LA). Immunized DBA/2 mice developed weaker delayed hypersensitivity to LA and still eliminated listeriae less effectively than identically immunized C57B1/6 mice. An accessory function of LA-pulsed macrophages of normal C57B1/6 mice was only slightly enhanced as compared with LA-pulsed macrophages of DBA/2 mice. It is suggested that some suppressor lymphocytes, IgM+ and/or FcR+, could be responsible for the enhanced susceptibility of DBA/2 mice to listeriosis. PMID- 2631517 TI - Multisectoral approach in the prevention of human listeriosis. PMID- 2631518 TI - International aspects of the control of animal listeriosis. PMID- 2631519 TI - Comparative study of pentoxifylline vs antiaggregants in patients with transient ischaemic attacks. AB - Out of 235 patients with recent cerebral transient ischaemic attacks, 208 subjects were available for final evaluation after 6 months' randomised treatment with either pentoxifylline (PTX 1200 mg/day) or a combination (ASAD) of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 1050 mg/day) and dipyridamole (D, 150 mg/day). Prevention of TIA, stroke or death attributable to previous events were endpoint criteria. The pentoxifylline group (n = 100) exhibited no recurrent episodes in 86 patients (86%). TIA occurred in 9 patients, stroke in 5 patients and there was 1 death. In the ASAD group (n = 108) no recurrence of ischaemic episodes was recorded in 82 cases (75.9%). TIA occurred in 20 patients, stroke in 6 patients and there were 3 deaths of vascular origin. Side effects were recorded in 4 ASAD and 1 PTX patients. The total rate of recurrence was 14% with PTX as compared to 24.1% with ASAD treatment. PMID- 2631520 TI - Effect of hemodilution on regional cerebral blood flow. PMID- 2631521 TI - Cerebral blood flow and cerebral hematocrit in patients with cerebral ischemia measured by single-photon emission computed tomography. AB - Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used for the measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and cerebral hematocrit (Hct). CBF was measured using N-isopropyl-p-I-123-Iodoamphetamine. CBV was measured by both RBC tracer (Tc-99m RBC) and plasma tracer (Tc-99m human serum albumin) and cerebral hematocrit (Hct) was calculated. In normals, the cerebral-to-large vessel Hct ratio was 75.9%. Isovolemic hemodilution in patients with high Hct tended to increase the cerebral-to-large vessel Hct ratio. Low CBF, high CBV and slow cerebral blood mean transit time (MTT by dynamic CT scanning) was seen during the acute stage of completed infarction and during the symptom free interval of TIA. Cerebral Hct was increased in the ischemic region of poor prognosis. PMID- 2631522 TI - Cervical connective tissue in relation to pregnancy, labour, and treatment with prostaglandin E2. PMID- 2631523 TI - Maternal mortality revisited. PMID- 2631524 TI - Maternal mortality in Jamaica. Socioeconomic factors. AB - Socioeconomic factors relating to all maternal deaths identified during the 12 months of the Jamaican Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Survey were compared with a control population of over 10,000 women. The maternal mortality rate was 11.5 per 10,000 livebirths. Initial analyses revealed (a) that the risk of maternal death declined with increasing maternal education level, (b) that mothers who lived in households with direct pumped water and/or flush toilets enjoyed a reduced risk; (c) mothers who were themselves the major wage earner and (d) those living in households where the major wage earner and source of income was an agricultural worker or farmer were at increased risk of maternal death. A previous analysis showed that the mother's age, her parity and variables indicating access to medical care were important. Logistic regression showed that only maternal age and toilet facilities were independently associated with maternal mortality. PMID- 2631525 TI - Changes in frequency and indications for cesarean section in Norway 1967-1984. AB - We have studied the cesarean section frequencies and changing spectrum of indications in Norway during six consecutive 3-year periods from 1967 to 1984. The data set consists of 1,046,162 births notified to the Medical birth registry of Norway, of which 52,426 were specified as cesarean sections, the frequency rising from 1.9% in 1967-69 to 9.7% in 1982-84. A check for completeness of cesarean section notification was made against the birth protocols of the largest obstetrical unit in Norway. The error rate was about 3%. Information on the indication for performing cesarean section was missing in 11.4% of the cases. We grouped thirty-one specified indications under seven headings. In 1967-69 the operation was most often performed for 'maternal' reasons, followed by 'mechanical', 'abnormalities of fetal presentation' and 'acute placental' conditions. Throughout the study period, 'mechanical' (which can also be labelled 'dystocia') accounted for about one third of the indications for cesarean section, while 'maternal' (including high maternal age and pre-eclampsia) and 'acute placental' (placenta praevia and placental abruption) decreased in relative importance. 'Fetal presentation' (including twins) doubled its relative share, while increasing from 2.4 per 1000 births in 1967-69 to 24.8 per 1000 births in 1982-84. A steep rise in the group 'fetal asphyxia' corresponded to the period when the mass of electronic monitoring devices was introduced, in the early 1970s. 'Fetal asphyxia' had a higher relative share of the indications among para 0 mothers than in the total birth population. PMID- 2631526 TI - Maternal height, birthweight, obstetric conjugate and their influence on the management of parturients with a previous cesarean scar. AB - A retrospective analysis was made of the second deliveries of 492 women who had previously undergone emergency cesarean section with a clinical indication of cephalopelvic disproportion and had undergone X-ray pelvimetry. In their index (second) pregnancy, 234 (47%) had an elective cesarean section; 122 (25%) gave birth vaginally and 136 (28%) had undergone an emergency cesarean section. Maternal height had a moderate value as a surrogate measure of pelvic capacity. A trial labor was more often allowed in women with larger obstetrical conjugate (inlet) measurements but likelihood of a successful outcome of labor was not influenced by the above pelvic measurements. A baby weighing more than 4000 g was associated with a greatly reduced chance of a vaginal delivery. The study confirms the limitations of X-ray pelvimetry measurements and proposes that antenatal estimation of fetal size may be of benefit in determining the likelihood of success in a trial labor. PMID- 2631527 TI - Incidence and relation to parity of pregnancy-induced hypertension in Iceland. AB - A retrospective study was made to determine the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH, pre-eclampsia) in Iceland. One-fourth of all births in Iceland in 1985 were selected from the national birth registry files by random number allocation, a total of 904 women. Maternity records were found in 97.9% of the cases. The criteria used to define PIH were met in 17.4% of the women. There were 146 (16.5%) with mild PIH (blood pressure of greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg with or without proteinuria after the 20th gestational week). Eight (0.9%) had severe PIH (blood pressure of greater than or equal to 160/110 mmHg with or without proteinuria after the 20th gestational week). Primigravid women formed one-third of the group and of these 20.9% had PIH compared with 15.4% of the parous women. The incidence in parous women was higher than usually reported. PMID- 2631528 TI - Short umbilical cord as a cause of fetal distress. AB - The purpose of this study was to examine if a short umbilical cord might give rise to fetal distress of such a severity that would necessitate operative delivery. Review of the literature gave little clarification. Out of a database consisting of 7212 births, 5885 were included in the study according to pre-set criteria. The incidence of operative delivery was then compared with cord length. A significantly higher incidence of forceps deliveries and vacuum extractions was found when cord length was less than 40 cm. The incidence of cesarean section was also higher for the shorter cords. There was no increased need for neonatal resuscitation for the babies with the shortest cords. PMID- 2631529 TI - Lipid metabolism during treatment of endometriosis with the progestin dienogest. AB - The effects of a new progestational compound, dienogest (17 alpha-cyanomethyl-17 beta-hydroxy-estra-4,9-dien-3-one) on lipid metabolism have been studied in 84 otherwise healthy women with laparoscopically proven endometriosis. The women, aged 17 to 45, years were treated with 2 mg dienogest in tablet form daily for 24 weeks. The progestin was highly effective on endometriotic lesions and symptoms, showing an objective endoscopic and a subjective symptomatic improvement in 80% and 83% respectively. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and the LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio were determined before and after 1, 3 and 6 months use of the progestin. There was a maximum decrease of -5.8% in HDL-cholesterol and of -6.5% in triglycerides after 6 months of therapy vis-a-vis the pretreatment values. The maximum increase in LDL-cholesterol of +5.0% was recorded by the end of the first month of dienogest ingestion. The LDL cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio rose from 1.6 to 1.8 during the course of therapy. There were no significant changes. The data suggest that 2 mg dienogest has little influence on lipid metabolism and provides also in this respect a suitable approach to the hormonal therapy of endometriosis. PMID- 2631530 TI - Serum CA 125 levels in patients with a provisional diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease. Clinical and theoretical implications. AB - In 50 patients with a provisional diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), CA 125 concentrations in serum were measured before laparoscopy and during hospitalization, using an enzyme immunoassay. The findings at laparoscopy were graded on the basis of the extent of inflammatory peritoneal involvement (grades 0-3; normal observations having a score of 0). On admission, 66% of the patients had serum CA 125 concentrations in excess of the cut-off value of 16 U/ml (range: 20-1300 U/ml). The serum CA 125 concentration before laparoscopy correlated with the extent of inflammatory peritoneal involvement (eta = 0.74). The predictive value of an elevated serum CA 125 level to indicate the presence of salpingitis (grades 1-3) was 97%. However, the predictive value of a normal CA 125 level indicating normal observations at laparoscopy (grade 0) was only 47%. During treatment and follow-up, the serum CA 125 concentration returned gradually to normal levels. It was concluded that the finding of an elevated serum CA 125 level confirms the diagnosis of peritoneal involvement in patients with a clinical diagnosis of PID. PMID- 2631531 TI - Simultaneous tubal and intra-uterine pregnancy following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. AB - A case of simultaneous ectopic and intra-uterine pregnancy following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) is described. On day 56 after ET the tubal pregnancy ruptured, with massive hemoperitoneum. Following salpingectomy, the intra-uterine pregnancy continued to term when delivery was carried out by cesarean section owing to non-progress of labor and suspected fetal distress. The pitfalls in diagnosing a simultaneous pregnancy of this kind following IVF-ET are discussed. PMID- 2631532 TI - Spontaneous rupture of an ovarian-artery aneurysm in the third trimester of pregnancy. AB - The first report of a ruptured ovarian artery aneurysm in the third trimester of pregnancy is presented. A 31-year-old woman, para 3, was admitted at 39 weeks of gestation with an acute onset of severe abdominal pain and signs of circulatory collapse. At the operation a 3 x 4 cm ruptured aneurysm of the right ovarian artery was found. The mother survived, with no sequelae. Intensive resuscitation of the infant was carried out in vain. Etiology, symptoms and differential diagnosis are discussed. PMID- 2631533 TI - Diagnostic potential of cardiotocography (CTG) for silent uterine rupture. AB - We report on 3 patients with silent rupture of previous uterine scars. Despite continuous monitoring by cardiotocography, diagnosis was not made until the time of surgery. The cesarean section was indicated by the obstetrical-clinical examination, while CTG offered no evidence of uterine rupture. PMID- 2631534 TI - I.V.F. treatment following danazol priming in a patient with severe endometriosis. PMID- 2631535 TI - Broad ligament mucinous and serous cystadenomas of borderline malignancy. AB - The clinical and pathological findings including light microscopic and ultrastructural features of two cases of borderline mucinous and serous cystadenomas that originated in the broad ligament are reported. The tumors did not involve the oviduct or ovary. They probably arose in pre-existing cysts of mesothelial and paramesonephric (primary Mullerian) origin. These rare tumors bear a close resemblance to the borderline epithelial tumors of the ovary and the same prognostic criteria may be applicable to the lesions presented here. PMID- 2631536 TI - Endodermal sinus tumor treated with high dose cisplatin. AB - A woman with an endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary stage IV obtained a short but complete remission after treatment with vinblastine, bleomycin and standard dose cisplatin. A second complete remission for 42+ months was obtained with a regimen of vinblastine, bleomycin, etoposide, and high dose cisplatin. This result suggests a dose-response relationship for cisplatin in ovarian germ cell tumors. PMID- 2631537 TI - How to grapple with risk factors for perinatal mortality. PMID- 2631538 TI - Ranking risk factors for perinatal mortality. Analysis of a nation-wide study. AB - This paper analyses data from the Israeli nationwide perinatal census, with the aim of revealing the possible causes of perinatal death, and to assess the effects of risk factors, using a logistic regression analysis. The analysis provided an estimate of the net effect of each characteristic independently, thus identifying high-risk pregnancies that should be monitored with greater intensity. Five variables were found to have a significant effect on perinatal death. Among these, in order of decreasing risk: fetal presentation, maternal diseases complicating pregnancy, number of fetuses, ethnic origin, and maternal age. Other variables such as parity, standard of hospital, the mother's country of birth and domiciliary circumstances, did not significantly affect perinatal mortality. PMID- 2631539 TI - Human chorionic gonadotropin in cord blood and peripheral maternal blood in singleton and twin pregnancies at delivery. AB - The influence of fetal sex on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in cord and peripheral maternal blood was studied at delivery in 57 twin and 66 singleton uncomplicated pregnancies. In twin pregnancies the hCG levels were about twice as high in female-female and in female-male vis-a-vis male-male combinations in both maternal and cord blood. In singleton pregnancies the hCG levels were significantly higher in maternal and in cord blood in cases of female vis-a-vis male infants. The ratio of maternal hCG/placental weight was also highest in the twin pregnancies when one or both infants were female. This suggests a "female effect", possibly genetically based. PMID- 2631540 TI - The performance of a simple scoring system screening for low birthweight infants for gestation in an unselected pregnant population. AB - Identification of poor fetal growth is an important objective of antenatal care. We evaluated the validity of the Wennergren score to predict small for gestational age and/or underweight for length infants (low ponderal index). To 405 randomly chosen pregnant women from our university hospital population, this numerical scoring system was applied at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation. Birthweights below the 2.3rd and 10th centile and ponderal indexes below the 3rd and 10th centile were used as outcome standards. The sensitivity of predicting SGA infants ranged from 28.4% for infants below the 10th birthweight centile at 28 weeks, to 66.7% for infants below the 2.3rd centile at 34 weeks. Figures for low ponderal indices ranged from 25.0% to 50.0%. In contrast to the promising performance of the Wennergren score as described in the Scandinavian literature, this score was not useful as a screening test for SGA or underweight for length infants in a Dutch hospital population. PMID- 2631541 TI - The unborn and newborn child. I. Risk factors predicting complicated delivery in a general population of 4,102 women. AB - Among the 56 risk factors (RF) in pregnant women, used by the Danish National Board of Health, those that can predict complicated delivery (CD) were identified. The significance of parity, maternal age, social class and civil status was also analysed. The material comprises a Danish county cohort of 4,102 deliveries. The 56 original RFs affected 56% of the population. Women (8.8%) with twin pregnancy, fetus in breech, footling and transverse lie, or having an elective cesarean section were analysed separately. The incidence of CD was otherwise 39%. Of all the women, 8.7% had only prepregnancy RFs with a CD rate of 52%; 19.2% had only pregnancy RFs other than special conditions mentioned with a CD rate of 52%; 3.6% had both prepregnancy and pregnancy RFs with a CD rate of 62%. When the special conditions separately analysed were included, 14 RFs of the original 56 were found to predict complicated delivery. These affected 40% of the population. Primiparity was also a RF. The conceptional age of a primipara raised the odds in favor of CD by a factor 1.09 for each year. Social class and civil status were of no significance for CD. PMID- 2631542 TI - The unborn and newborn child. II. Risk factors predicting perinatal morbidity and mortality in 4,138 infants. AB - In this study, antenatal risk factors (RF) predicting perinatal morbidity and mortality (PMM) were identified among 56 RFs defined by the Danish National Board of Health. The association with parity, age, social class, civil status, complicated delivery was also analysed. The RFs predicting complicated delivery have been described in Part I (1). All events, both prenatal and during the perinatal period, in 4,138 infants borne by 4,102 women in an entire Danish district were analysed. The frequency of perinatal mortality was 0.8% and of perinatal morbidity, 12.7%. The original 56 RFs affected 56% of the population. Fourteen 'new' RFs among the original 56 RFs predicted PMM and affected 27% of the population. The prepregnancy RFs affected 4.5% of all women with singleton pregnancies and their infants had a PMM rate of 21%; the pregnancy RFs affected 18.1%, the PMM rate being 25%; 3.4% had both prepregnancy and pregnancy RFs, their PMM rate was 41%. Twin pregnancies occurred in 0.9%, with a PMM rate of 47%. Apart from these groups, the PMM rate was only 8%. Parity, social class and civil status were of no significance for PMM. Some delivery complications, termed labor RFs, raised the odds of PMM by a factor of 1.92. PMID- 2631543 TI - Maternal bilirubin, cord bilirubin, and placenta function at delivery and the development of jaundice in mature newborns. AB - The study material comprised 213 newborns with a birth weight above 2000 g, and their mothers. At delivery, blood samples were obtained from the umbilical cord and the mother's cubital vein for determination of the transplacental bilirubin gradient and assessment of placental function by means of the HPL concentration in the maternal blood. The HPL concentration showed no relation to the transplacental bilirubin gradient or the umbilical cord bilirubin concentration. Therefore, to the extent that the HPL concentration reflects the rate constants for bilirubin transfer, an increased transplacental bilirubin gradient or an increased cord bilirubin concentration could not be explained by an impaired ability of the placenta to transfer bilirubin. When the infants who became jaundiced were compared with the non-jaundiced, significantly higher transplacental bilirubin gradient (p less than 0.00001), cord bilirubin (p less than 0.00001) and maternal bilirubin values at the time of delivery (p less than 0.03) were found among the jaundiced infants. On the basis of the results it was possible to define subgroups of infants with significantly higher/lower risk of subsequent jaundice. PMID- 2631544 TI - Estrogen and progesterone receptors in uterine leiomyomas. AB - The purpose of our study was to evaluate the contrasting data between estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR) in uterine leiomyomas, endometrium and myometrium. Uteri were obtained from 30 women undergoing hysterectomy for uterine leiomyomas (24 premenopausal and 6 postmenopausal patients). Cytosolic and nuclear ER and PgR were analysed in uterine tissues by the method of single saturation point assay at a final concentration 5 nM of [3H 17 beta]estradiol and [3H]ORG-2058. Our results confirm that leiomyomas undergo changes similar to those observed in other uterine tissues during the menstrual cycle. The ER levels show decreased values during the postovulatory phase. After subdividing leiomyomas according to their topographic criteria, as submucous or subserosal, we observed that ER and PgR are significantly more numerous in submucous than in subserosal myomas, both in proliferative and in the secretive phase of the cycle. These results agree with the hypothesis that leiomyomas have a different etiology and may explain why some myomas decrease after progestin therapy (submucous), while others (subserosal) remain unchanged. PMID- 2631545 TI - Reversal of female sterilization using macro technique. AB - The pregnancy rate of 63 women who underwent macrosurgical reversal of sterilization is reported. The pregnancy rate is based on life table estimates. The present material is the largest reported with this method. No statistically significant correlation was found between pregnancy outcome and tube length, anastomotic site, technique of sterilization, day of refertilization in menstrual cycle, or time interval between sterilization and refertilization. Using life tables, the cumulative probability of intra-uterine pregnancy 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 66 months after surgery was 14%, 26%, 39%, 39%, 43%, and 51% respectively. Our results of macroscopic sterilization reversal are comparable to the reported results of microsurgical methods. They support the contention that atraumatic technique rather than the microscope is important for good results. PMID- 2631546 TI - The characteristics of 100 women presenting to a gynecological clinic with premenstrual complaints. AB - 100 women consecutively referred to a gynaecological clinic with premenstrual problems were prospectively assessed by daily completion of a set of visual analogue scales (VAS). The relationship of their symptoms to menstrual cycle phase was quantified by calculating the percentage change in symptom intensity between the premenstrual week and the postmenstrual week and also during menstruation itself. The results indicated that the physical symptoms of breast discomfort and swelling were more closely related to menstrual cycle phase than were the psychological symptoms of tension, irritability or lethargy and depression. Only 32 of the women showed reduction of the premenstrual psychological symptoms by 75% or more during the postmenstrual week, while the corresponding degree of physical symptom relief was recorded by 62 women. For almost half the women, adverse mental symptoms reached their peak after the onset of menstrual bleeding. Significantly fewer of the women with almost total (75% or more) relief of their psychological symptoms postmenstrually had a history of psychiatric treatment, marital breakdown, or more than three children, compared with those whose symptoms were less completely relieved. The results suggest that a large proportion of women who experience premenstrual symptoms suffer a premenstrual and/or menstrual exacerbation of problems which are present throughout the cycle and are therefore unlikely to respond to hormonal manipulation. PMID- 2631547 TI - Dome osteotomy of the tibia for osteoarthritis of the knee. AB - Dome osteotomy of the tibia was performed for osteoarthritis of the medial knee compartment in 54 knees (48 patients). All patients were reviewed after a mean follow-up period of 5-7 years (range: 2 to 10 years). At follow-up, 42 knees (78 per cent) were rated good or excellent, according to the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Service Rating System (H.S.S.). Twelve knees (22 per cent) were rated fair or poor, according to the H.S.S. score. A highly significant correlation (p less than 0.01) was found between the H.S.S. score and the preoperative grade of osteoarthritis, as well as between the H.S.S. score and the grade of preoperative laxity. Immediate postoperative complications occurred in 19 knees (35 per cent), although without significant influence on the final clinical outcome. Revision surgery had to be performed in 6 knees. PMID- 2631548 TI - [Soft-tissue sarcomas. Review of 47 patients treated in 10 years in the same institute]. AB - We have retrospectively examined the records of 47 patients treated in our department between 1977 and 1987 for soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities trunk, head or retroperitoneal space. We also reanalyze the histologic slides of 38 patients with respect to grade and necrosis. Surgery was performed for cure intent in 31 patients. Of these, 20 with a tumor of the extremities, trunk, or head underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. The patients with a high-grade sarcoma also received adjuvant chemotherapy. Local control was achieved in 95% of these 20 patients. These results compare favorably with other reported series. Out of the 8 patients with a tumor of the retroperitoneum, only one is alive without evidence of disease. The histological studies confirmed the relationship between grade and necrosis. PMID- 2631549 TI - [Hypermobility of the first ray associated with osteonecrosis-fracture of the tarsal navicular bone]. AB - Is an increase in medio-plantar strain the common denominator in Kohler disease and in stress fractures of the tarsal navicular? This hypothesis is illustrated by the present observation where the increase in strain is provoked by constitutional articular laxity. PMID- 2631550 TI - [Treatment of fractures of the finger phalanges using a mini external fixator]. AB - The authors describe a new method for external fixation of phalangeal hand fractures. This method is atraumatic and very easy to perform. It permitted early mobilization and good healing in a series of 20 patients. PMID- 2631551 TI - Decompressive surgery in the tendinitis and tear stages of rotator cuff disease. AB - Eighty-six shoulders with rotator cuff disease (54 with tendinitis and 32 with rotator cuff tear stage) operated on to relieve the impingement exerted by the coracoacromioclavicular arch on the rotator cuff were analyzed. The median follow up time was 5.0 years. Partial resection of the anterior undersurface of the acromion, excision of the coracoacromial ligament or of the lateral end of the clavicle (and most commonly a combination of all three measures), were the methods used to achieve decompression. The final results show a substantial improvement in 83% of the cases. The results were related to the extent of acromial resection, preoperative range of the painful arc, and age ; but no statistically significant prognostic signs could be determined. There was some evidence, however, that a wide painful arc and extensive resection of the acromion were associated with a poor outcome. The indications for clavicular resection remain somewhat uncertain. Clavicular resection combined with acromioplasty seemed to give somewhat fewer good results, but the procedure is nevertheless indicated in cases with subacromial impingement associated with acromioclavicular osteoarthrithis. Decompressive surgery proved to be as effective in the tendinitis stage of the disease as in the case of rotator cuff tear. Conclusive operative release of shoulder impingement in rotator cuff disease is a useful procedure in patients with painful arc symptoms resistant to conservative treatment. The result can be improved by refinement of both indications and techniques. PMID- 2631552 TI - The effect of skeletal traction on femoral neck fractures. AB - Patients with fracture of the femoral neck often undergo skeletal traction until surgery. We found that the fracture position worsened in 5 of 15 patients during the period with skeletal traction. Accordingly, skeletal traction does not prevent further vascular damage to the femoral head. We advocate operating as soon as the patient's condition is stable. PMID- 2631553 TI - [Arthrodesis of the elbow using Ilizarov's external fixator]. AB - Arthrodesis of the elbow was achieved without major surgery on the joint itself, while maintaining satisfactory pronation, supination, and function of the arm. To this end, the external fixator of Ilizarov was used in a compression set-up which interfered only moderately with daily life activities. Solid fusion was achieved after 4 1/2 months. To our knowledge this is the first time that this technique has been used for such an indication. The operative technique is described and its advantages emphasized. PMID- 2631554 TI - Hypertrophic cervical osteophytes presenting with pharyngeal symptoms. AB - Very few cases have been described of pharyngeal symptoms resulting from upper cervical osteophytes. All other conditions causing dysphagia should be excluded before operating on these spurs. Surgery is also indicated in patients who do not respond to conservative treatment. In our patient, removal of the osteophytes was simple and effective. PMID- 2631555 TI - [Madura foot]. AB - Madura foot is the most frequent clinical form of mycetoma, which is a tumor-like destructive fistulized infection of the foot, caused by fungi. The only effective treatment is complete resection of the lesions. Leg amputation is frequently required. PMID- 2631556 TI - Intercellular contacts between germinal center cells. Mechanisms of adhesion between lymphoid cells and follicular dendritic cells. AB - Intercellular connections exist between germinal center cells especially between lymphoid cells and follicular dendritic cells (FDC). Even after isolation, FDC remain associated to lymphocytes and are able, in a cell suspension, to establish new connections with others. Using human tonsillar cells or mouse lymph node cells we analysed these connections which were shown to be species-specific. Low temperature as well as absence of Ca++ and Mg++ in the culture medium reduced the adherence of fluorochrome-labeled lymphoid cells to FDC. Colchicine treatment did not impair the adherence, whereas cytochalasin B dit it; this was the first observation underlining the importance of microfibrils in FDC. Antibodies directed towards integrin molecules (LFA-1 alpha or beta chain, CD11a and CD18 respectively) reduced the adherence, others (anti-CR3 or anti-gp 150/95, CD11b and c respectively) did not influence it. Antibodies directed against MHC class II exerted no inhibitory action on the lymphoid cell adhesion to FDC. As, at ultrastructural level, gold-labeled immune complexes can be found between FDC and lymphoid cells, we examined the effect on cell adhesion of the addition of immune complexes to the cell suspensions. It only impaired the lymphoid cell adhesion when complement components were present. IgM complexes were then more inhibitory than IgG complexes. When antibodies against Fc IgG receptors (CD16) were added, the adhesion was strongly reduced whereas antibodies to Fc IgE (CD23) receptors had no influence. The antibody DRC1, specifically recognizing an antigen on human FDC reduced the attachment of cells to FDC. This antigen thus seems to play a role in the intercellular contacts; this is the first function ascribed to this FDC specific antigen. PMID- 2631557 TI - Tuberculosis in the middle ear: 5 case reports. AB - Five cases of tuberculosis otitis media are reported. The clinical picture and the hazards of diagnosis are discussed. Although not a common cause of chronic otitis media, tuberculosis of the middle ear cleft is an entity one should recognize especially when a chronic suppurative ear disease does not respond to the usual treatment. The signs and symptoms are non-specific. Altering features include racial predisposition, contact or personal history of past or present tuberculosis, chronicity, development of a facial palsy and the pale granulation tissue found at the operation. PMID- 2631558 TI - Meniere's disease as a late manifestation of congenital syphilis. AB - Five patients, suffering from tinnitus, perceptive hearing loss and vertigo were examined. A positive FTA - ABS test and a history of interstitial keratitis in early adult - life suggest a causal relationship between the Meniere's triad and congenital syphilis in these cases. The value of a positive serological test (FTA - ABS or MHA - T.P.) in the presence of inner-ear symptoms is discussed. PMID- 2631559 TI - Nasal meningioma. Report of a case. AB - A case of intranasal meningioma is reported. The possible etiopathogenic hypotheses are discussed. A possible primary intracranial localisation has to be excluded. Therapy is also briefly discussed. PMID- 2631560 TI - Leiomyoma of the nose. A case report. AB - A case of leiomyoma of the nose is reported. The nose is a very rare site for tumours of myogenic origin. Up to date, only seven cases have been published. Anatomopathological considerations and etiopathogenetic hypotheses are discussed. PMID- 2631561 TI - [Benign paroxysmal vertigo: comparison of 2 rehabilitation methods]. AB - In case of non-self regression of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), reeducation is mandatory. Two reeducation protocols have been compared on 32 subjects with BPPV. Fourteen were handled by the classic habituation exercises, and 18 by the more recent Semont's manoeuvre. Moreover a specific rotatory nystagmus habituation has been investigated by caloric stimulation in Brunning III position. Semont's technique shows quicker and more efficient results. This manoeuvre doesn't provoke any habituation, in accordance with the hypothesis of mechanical dispersion of otoconia, based on the cupulolithiasis concept. PMID- 2631562 TI - [Tuberculous laryngitis: not so rare?]. AB - It is a well-known fact that tuberculosis is a major health problem in developing countries. What about its incidence in European countries, especially in Belgium? We present a case of laryngeal tuberculosis in which the clinical appearance of laryngeal malignancy was amazing. The histopathological examination revealed tuberculosis. The laryngeal involvement is the first and single sign of the primary pulmonary form. Recent Belgian epidemiological data are illustrated. PMID- 2631563 TI - [Gentleness in ENT: optimalization of drug therapy]. AB - Presentation of 5 drug strategies relating to the realm of E.N.T. permitting a therapeutic approach both effective and comfortable. 1. Avoidance of oto-toxic antibiotics and antiseptics, especially in case of underlying pathology. 2. Reasoning for endonasal administration of topical (corticoids, vaso-constrictors, anticholinergics) and systemic (Suprefact, Minrin, Miacalcic, Diergo) drugs. 3. Importance of oral administration of a new mucolytic, Surbronc which improves the muco-ciliary clearance by means of an increased synthesis of the "Surface Tension Lowering Substance". 4. Avoidance of abusive tonsillectomies in recurrent pharyngo-tonsillitis failing to penicillin treatment, due to the "indirect pathogenic phenomenon". 5. Optimalization of nonmorphinic oral analgesics with acetaminophen (in monotherapy or in association) and morphinic ones by anticipative and repetitive administration. PMID- 2631564 TI - [Exercise therapy in E.N.T]. AB - A non exhaustive survey of physiotherapy methods and techniques in "soft E.N.T. treatment" is briefly described. Without using "strength or brutality" which might retard the patient's recovery, the physiotherapist should focus his efforts to regain optimal functioning of the affected structure. So, physiotherapy techniques such as relaxation, bio-feedback, massage, exercise and electrotherapy, are used for a successful treatment of headache, migraine, vertigo, peripheral facial palsy, neck, cervico-facial (awkward positioning) and temporo-mandibular joint problems. Manual lymphatic drainage in post-surgical regeneration of skin and underlying structures, an example of very soft technique suits perfectly in the context of "soft E.N.T." PMID- 2631565 TI - [Aminomethylamides of N-benzazoleacetic acids]. AB - New ester, acetamide and aminomethylacetamide derivatives of 3-benzoxazolin-2-one and its 5- and 6-chloro derivatives, 2-methyl-l-benzimidazole, and of 1- and 2 benzotriazole were obtained. Pharmacological screening has shown that amides VII, VIII, XI and XII exert slight deppressory effects on the central nervous system. PMID- 2631566 TI - [Effectiveness of new quarternary ammonium chloride compounds against selected bacteria and fungi. XXI. Synthesis of alkoxymethyl-3,4-dimethyl- pyridine and 1 ethyloxymethyl-3-alkylthiomethylimidazole chlorides]. AB - Syntheses and antibacterial properties of alkoxymethyl-3,4-dimethylpyridinium chlorides and 1-ethyloxymethyl-3-alkylthiomethylimidazolium chlorides are described. Alkoxymetgyl-3,4-dimethylpyridinium chlorides were synthetized by reacting 3,4-dimethylpyridine with chloromethyl alkyl ethers, while 1 ethyloxymethyl-3-alkylthiomethylimidazolium chlorides were obtained in reactions of 1-ethyloxymethylimidazol with chloromethyl alkyl sulfides. Antibacterial properties of the obtained compounds were tested on 13 strains of bacteria and fungi. Strong bacteriostatic activity was found to be displayed by iminium chlorides with octyloxymethyl, decyloxymethyl, octylthiomethyl and decylthiomethyl groups. PMID- 2631567 TI - [Analysis of the products of drug decomposition. XLII. Determining the levels of vitamin K in pharmaceutical preparations in the presence of decomposition products]. AB - Chromatographic-spectrophotometric methods for the determination of vitamins K1, K3 and K4 in pharmaceuticals (tablets, dragees, injection solutions) in the presence of decomposition products have been elaborated. The TLC method on Kieselgel HF 254 (Merck) was applied to separation of the active substances from decomposition products, using the following solvent systems: benzene--ethyl acetate (9:1) for vitamin K1, cyclohexane--chloroform--metanol--acetic acid (2:15:3:1) for vitamin K3, and benzene--acetone (9:1) for vitamin K4. After elution from the plates, vitamin K1 was determined in ethanol at lambda = 251 nm, vitamin K3 in water at lambda = 234 nm and vitamin K4 in methanol at lambda = 225 nm. Maximum sensitivity of the elaborated methods came up to 7 X 10(-5) g, and standard deviations of single determinations ranged from 1.99% to 3.70%. PMID- 2631568 TI - [Chromatographic identification and analysis of dextromoramide in the plasma by the method of high performance liquid chromatography]. AB - Dextromoramide and pethidine were separated and identified by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel, using ammonia and methanol (1.5:100) as the mobile phase, after previous extraction with dicthyl ether or with a mixture of n-hexane and isoamyl alcohol (98.5:1.5) from blood alkalized to pH 10.3 Dextromoramide can be revealed on the chromatograms in the amount of 0.5 micrograms and pethidine in the amount of 1 micrograms using the Dragendorff reagent. Reversed-phase TLC proved less sensitive. High-performance liquid chromatography on the column of LiChrosorb RP-18 was applied to the determination of dextromoramide in blood after extraction with diethyl ether, using methanol--phosphate buffer pH 4.5 (95:5) as the mobile phase. The determination range was of 0.5-5.0 micrograms per 2 cm3 of blood plasma (1.26.10(-8)-1.26.10(-7) mole/dm3). PMID- 2631569 TI - [Use of a densitometric method for analysis of active substances in the drugs. XVI. Multicomponent drugs containing ascorbic acid]. AB - A densitometric method for the determination of active substances in Ascofer, Fenquil, Rutinoscorbin and Scorbolamid after separation of their components by means of TLC-has been elaborated. Usefulness of the method was checked by comparison of the obtained results with those afforded by means of reference methods. PMID- 2631570 TI - [Drug interactions during storage of mixtures of the antacid group. II. Effect of temperature on the formation of hydrotalcite in neutralizing suspensions]. AB - Eight antacid mixtures were stored for 110 days at 25 degrees C, 35 degrees C and 45 degrees C in the form of suspensions in water. Changes in pH were followed, and the structural changes in suspension components were studied by X-ray analysis. It has been stated that formation of hydrotalcite, the product od interaction of the mixture components depends mainly on the kind and ratio of the suspension reactants, and only to a little degree on the storage temperature. PMID- 2631571 TI - [Drug interactions during storage of mixtures of the antacid group. III. Effect of relative humidity on structural changes in mixtures aluminum hydroxide gel and magnesium hydroxide in the solid phase]. AB - Mixtures of A1(OH)3 gel and Mg(OH)2 were stored for 14 months in the solid phase in chambers with relative air humidity of 35%, 55%, 76% and 92%. IR spectra of the stored mixtures were measured. In mixtures stored at relative air humidity of 35% there were found no changes in IR spectra, while the mixtures stored at relative air humidity of 92% proved to exhibit IR spectra characteristic for hydrotalcite. PMID- 2631572 TI - [Effect of electrolytes, components of peritoneal dialysis fluid, on the stability of glucose]. AB - Dependence of stability of glucose upon electrolyte composition of solutions used for peritoneal dialysis was studied. Stability of glucose was estimated by determinations of formed 5-HMF. It has been stated that stability of glucose depends on the kind of electrolytes present in the solution, glucose concentration and conditions of thermal sterilization. The highest levels of 5 HMF were found in glucose solutions containing sodium acetate and sodium chloride, while glucose proved more stabile in solutions containing calcium chloride and magnesium chloride. PMID- 2631573 TI - [A comparative psychopathologic study of university students]. AB - We present here the results of GHQ-28 items in its spanish version in a sample of 50 university students in examination period. The mean total score was 8.20. We observed a higher mean total score in medical students (9.40) than in students of other careers (7.00), which indicates greater psychopathology in medical students. This fact is corroborated by the higher scores obtained in etch scale. PMID- 2631574 TI - [Schizophreniform disorder: a comparative study of the active phases of schizophrenic disorders]. AB - An attempt is made to clinically differentiate between schizophreniform and schizophrenic disorders through the data obtained from a computerized clinical record. The information was handled by the SPSSX statistical program package. A group of 15 variables (flat affect, altered spontaneous attention, delusional mood, primary delusion, thoughts of suicide, disturbed sleep, D and Pt scores of the MMPI, axis V of DSM-III, secondary effects evaluated after a month of treatment, length of hospitalization, disorder development time and migration) enabled the two disorders to be differentiated, and of these, four (migration, Pt score on the MMPI, BPRS score after a month of treatment and the secondary effects after one month treatment) formed a discriminant function that differentiated 100% of the cases studied. PMID- 2631575 TI - [Personality traits and hyperactive behavior]. AB - The hyperactive child has traditionally been considered impulsive rather out of self-control, anxious, problematic as regards his/her interpersonal relationships, and highlystrung. In this paper, we aim to prove the existence of these traits by analyzing them from a psychometric perspective, and starting from Cattell's theory of traits. We have worked with a sample of 130 hyperactive children and 79 control individuals, aged six to ten, who were diagnosed according to DSM III criteria. We have used the CPQ and ESPQ tests. The data were submitted to a contrast of differences. The results agree with the hypothesis proposed. PMID- 2631577 TI - [The human being as the basis for a medico-anthropologic approach]. PMID- 2631576 TI - [Prison psychosis: apropos of a case]. AB - We have realized a review and actualization of prisons psychosis; an important problem at present in prison's ambit because it generates a great number of recoveries and graves questions to prison's doctors and psychiatry's doctor which they work in this world. Also, this problem origins a numbers judicial's questions in relation with the imputability. Further, we expose a clinic case of our practice. PMID- 2631578 TI - [Classification of psychiatric disorders in children: a comparison of the most frequent systems]. AB - Six different systems of classification are compared in Child Psychiatry (ICD-9, ICD-10, DSM-III, DSM-III-R, RUTTER, Alfred Binet Centre). Some critical aspects they have exposed about the contents in each systems with practical examples. The classification systems is very different a psychopathological aspects. You emphasize the role of classificatory exercises for the training and the research, and the psychiatric case registers. PMID- 2631579 TI - ["Alpha" coma. A clinico-electroencephalographic review]. AB - These authors revise and study retrospectively a series of fifteen patients with standard E. E. G of "coma alfa" admitted in the hospital during a lapse of four years. PMID- 2631580 TI - [The distinctive quality of depressed mood. I: Is it a myth or a reality? (a controlled study)]. AB - The authors have investigated the real existence of "distinct quality" of pathological sadness in depressed subjects. This paper, show a discriminant function that recognize the "distinct quality" with a 100% of cases correctly classified. PMID- 2631581 TI - [The distinctive quality of depressed mood. II: Predictive value of a pathologic sadness index]. AB - The authors develop a Pathological Sadness Index. It recognize between pathological and normal sadness with a sensitivity of 0.94, a specificity of 0.96, and 5% of misclassified cases. Its diagnostic reliability is kw = 0.90. PMID- 2631582 TI - Evaluation of renal function before and after intravenous injection of uroangiographic water soluble contrast media in men. AB - Nephrotoxicity due to injection of uro-angiographic water soluble contrast media is a wellknown hazard in patients with renal failure, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, multiple myeloma and old age. Cases of nephrotoxicity in other patient populations are extremely rare. In order to document the influence of water soluble contrast media in patient undergoing intravenous urography diuresis, osmolar changes, creatinine clearance, absolute urinary creatinine excretion and uric acid metabolism were evaluated before and after contrast medium injection. No adverse reaction could be evidenced as far as the renal function is concerned, as creatinine clearance and absolute urinary creatinine output values showed no significant differences. The significant raise (p less than or equal to 0.001) of uric acid excretion (absolute urinary uric acid excretion values before and after contrast injection were respectively 5.22 micrograms/min.kg (IR: 3.24) and 10.68 micrograms/min.kg (IR: 4.03] can be co responsible for adverse reactions when the renal function is not normal. PMID- 2631583 TI - [Ureteral stenosis of appendicular origin, observations apropos of the value of imaging]. AB - A 73-old man undergoes exploration for right nephrotic colic. IVP demonstrates a dilatation of the upper tract up to the iliac vessels. Extensive exploration is not able to precise the cause of the extrinsic stenosis. At the operation, a subacute appendicitis perforated in the retroperitoneum is assessed. The contribution of new imaging techniques to the aetiologic diagnosis of ureteric stenoses is discussed. PMID- 2631584 TI - [In-vitro incorporation of BUDR by the prostate and by human urothelium and immunohistological detection in plastic-encased sections]. AB - The measurement of the S phase fraction, essential parameter of cell proliferation, may be done through the immunohistochemical revelation of BUDR incorporated in the cells. The technique is illustrated. The advantages of in vitro incorporation as compared with in vivo injection as discussed. Easier than autoradiography, this method may be useful, in clinical practice, to study the aggressiveness of cancer tissues. PMID- 2631585 TI - Etiology, treatment and recurrence of urethral strictures. AB - This is a study of urethral strictures in 50 Jordanian patients. The etiology, treatment and recurrence were discussed. The commonest causative agent was iatrogenic trauma and the commonest way of treatment was direct vision internal urethrotomy with an 80% non-recurrence rate. PMID- 2631586 TI - [The surgical treatment of erection disorders caused by penile curvature]. AB - The authors report their experience of the surgical management of penis curvature in 26 patients. Eight patients had a congenital curvature due to an asymmetry of the corpus cavernosa and 18 patients had a secondary curvature (La Peyronie's disease : 17, traumatism : 1). The Nesbit procedure alone produces usual excellent results (84.6%). In Peyronie's disease with distal non-erection, a cavernous body prosthesis is recommended. PMID- 2631587 TI - Rhabdomyosarcoma of the testis. AB - A case of pure rhabdomyosarcoma of the testis is reported. The origin of these tumors is discussed and it is believed that they are teratomas with rhabdomyoblastic overgrowth of the cells. Prophylactic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is recommended at the time of the orchiectomy, in those cases where there is no evidence of lymph node metastases. PMID- 2631589 TI - Orthodontic volunteers for Israel: a dream come true. PMID- 2631588 TI - [Levator muscles pf the anus (levator ani). Normal or pathological cytoarchitecture of endorectal biopsies in man]. AB - The structure and ultrastructure of normal or pathological needle biopsies of the human levator ani are studied. Disturbances of the muscular cyto-architecture: cellular degeneration with infiltration of glycogen and disorganization of the myofibrillar A, I and Z stripes are shown. The comparison between the histological data and the clinical results demonstrates that the quality of the levator ani is not always clearly defined by the clinic. The muscular biopsy reaches its main interest when in physical reeducation or in surgical correction of the incontinence, some doubt remains on the clinical value of the levator ani. PMID- 2631590 TI - [EEG monitoring in anesthesia]. PMID- 2631591 TI - [A different approach to the comatose patient]. AB - To be comatose leads one to physical and psychological distresses which mean meeting an peak vital experience. The authors analyze how patient and family are concerned by the recovery of consciousness in Intensive Care Unit conditions. In order to get a quicker and better recovery, there is a need for interpersonal interaction. This type of approach in this specifical is analyzed. PMID- 2631592 TI - [Ambiguities and discrepancies in EEG monitoring during anesthesia]. AB - Neurophysiological basis of EEG interpretation appears to day stil poor; conversely mathematical and computerized management of EEG waveform is well documented. To quantify the signal two main procedures are now used: spectral analysis of frequency and aperiodic analysis. As for others electro-biological signals, to-day micro-computers facilities for exemple colored in prospect screen presentation, picture or EEG call back, data record and printing...allows such a management easy to read by anyone in real time and into operating room or intensive care unit conditions. Such possibilities are now the main point of EEG monitoring because it appears as an empiric clinical practice. The knoledge of genuine activity of anesthesic drugs on neuron and neurologia metabolism, local cerebral blood flow and/or neuromediators concentration is not wider than EEG neurophysiological basis. So that, more than the EEG signal itself, alterations of its stability allows specific monitoring for anesthesia which could be more beneficial than others to day usual. PMID- 2631593 TI - [Continuous spectrum analysis during anesthesia and the recovery period in infants under 1 year of age]. AB - Continuous spectral EEG activity monitoring has been used in adults as a monitor of brain activity during anesthesia. It has not been used in infants. We studied 22 infants less than 7 months old undergoing minor surgery. Halothane alone or minimal Halothane anesthesia associated with caudal epidural anesthesia were used. Life-Scan analysis, in spite of wide individual variations, allowed us to detect infraclinical hypoxia episodes, it provided informations about operative confort, depth of anesthesia and added in the post-operative period an objective criteria to clinical evaluation of pain. A wide use of such a monitoring is warranted in infants. PMID- 2631594 TI - [Spectrum analysis of the electroencephalographic signal using the Life-Scan method during the early months of life]. AB - EEG activity in infants is difficult to assess because of the fast development of brain activity during the first months of life. EEG spectral activity monitoring seems to be easier than non processed EEG analysis. We studied processed EEG aspects in infants less than one year old. As in previous studies, we found an early lack of dominant frequency with slow activity alone with subsequent wanderning of the dominant frequency from slow towards faster frequencies. PMID- 2631595 TI - [Monitoring of cerebral ischemia: current data and review of results based on the ischemic carotid model]. AB - Recent studies appear to indicate that computerized electroencephalogram (CEEG) monitoring is a reliable method for early detection of cerebral ischemia. This article summarizes the current status of this type of monitoring during cerebro vascular procedures. PMID- 2631596 TI - [Monitoring of cerebral function. Limits and values]. AB - The Cerebral Function Monitor registers EEG amplitude and frequency variations. The C.F.M.A. described in 1979 produces a more detailed analysis of the EEG amplitude and analyses the frequency of the waveforms into standard bands. The device has many indications in anaesthesia and intensive cares for continuous monitoring of cerebral electrical activity over long periods. Unfortunately it is not as well diffused as it might be. PMID- 2631597 TI - [Psychiatric problems and sleep disorders in surgical intensive care. A polygraphic study: 8 cases]. AB - The patients hospitalized in intensive care units present sleep disorders, mainly a sleep deprivation, particularly in paradoxical sleep. Both on the experimental and clinical plan sleep deprivation has been considered to be responsible for psychotic disorders. Over the past fifteen years these results have been controversial. Polygraphic study of sleep in eight patients hospitalized in a post-operative intensive care unit confirmed this nightly sleep deprivation; the deep slow wave sleep decreases and there is often a lack of paradoxical sleep. Analysis of these eight cases corroborates the latest experimental results on sleep deprivation and current methodological considerations. Sleep deprivation in itself does not seem to lead to major psychiatric disorders but it is one of the factors, contributing to genesis of psychiatric troubles in an intensive care unit. The other ones that have been suggested (environment, somatic pathology, psychological ill effects due to the hospitalization) are also quite important. PMID- 2631598 TI - [German Anesthesia Congress 1989. Annual meeting of the German Society for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine. Bremen, 26-30 April 1989. Abstracts]. PMID- 2631599 TI - [Prognosis factors in hypoxico-ischemic encephalopathy in full term infants]. AB - This study analyzes 61 full-term neonates affected by hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, who were followed for a minimum of 15 months to determine the factors related to the later appearance of neurological sequels. No severe sequels have been detected, while 8.2% showed moderate sequels and 4.9% slight sequels. The degree of cerebral suffering and the intensity of convulsions influence both the appearance of sequels and their severity, contrary to the scores of the Apgar tests after one minute or 5 minutes and the birth weight. By applying the formula (Sequel Rate = 0.2143* Cerebral suffering + 0.3228* Convulsions - 0.2276* EEG RN - 0.0851), if the "sequel rate" is equal to or lower than 0.55, the probability of later sequels is null, whereas a value in excess of this figure indicates a 57.1% probability of their arising. PMID- 2631600 TI - [Quantification of heart rate variability in newborn infants and during the first 6 months of age]. AB - We have registered, on 36 normal newborns at term, ECG recordings of sixty seconds at a speed of 100 mm/second, from birth tooth sixth month of postnatal life. The heart rate variability was measured on its double slope, short and long term by the numerical method that Yeh proposed, consistent with the "differential index" (DI) and the "interval index" (II). For the short term variability, we have obtained minimum values at birth and maximum values at 72 hours of postnatal life, with a tendency to drop up to the end of the first month and later to become stable until the end of six months of age. The changes found among different ages, could be related to modifications in basal heart rate under autonomic nervous system control. The variability values of the long term, do not show a clear age relation. PMID- 2631601 TI - [Neonatal varicella: indications for the use of varicella-zoster specific immunoglobulin]. AB - Case reports from January-1986 through December-1988 of neonates born to women who develop varicella and neonates with household postnatal exposure are presented. Mother developed varicella in three cases (15 days before delivery, at delivery, 10 days after delivery), the last case was infected by direct exposure from his brothers. Only neonates with household contacts developed varicella. In every case varicella-zoster immunoglobulin a doses of 0.2 mg/kg/day from the three days was administered. Adding aciclovir intravenous a daily doses of 15 mg/kg/8h for seven days in neonates who developed varicella. Are propose considered a high risk group the neonates with postnatal exposure. PMID- 2631602 TI - [The newborn infant of the drug addicted mother. Clinical and therapeutic problems]. AB - A revision of 16 newborns and their heroin-addicted mothers was carried out. The mean maternal age was 23.06 +/- 3.43 years, and mean duration of addiction was 3.07 +/- 1.43 years. The last dose of heroin was administered less than 24 hours prior to giving birth in every [corrected] case except one. Antenatal care was irregular and previous abortions were frequent. Two mothers had a history of syphilis, five had markers for anti-HIV antibodies. The mean duration of pregnancy was 37.8 +/- 2.28 weeks, and unknown in five cases. Mean birth weight was 2.715 +/- 281 g. Withdrawal symptoms were observed in 13 babies. Of these, 12 required treatment with phenobarbital and in 1 case with chlorpromazine as well. In 9 babies, hepatitis B prophylaxis was carried out and three had HIV antibodies. PMID- 2631603 TI - [Pulmonary function in newborn infants with transitory tachypnea and pneumothorax]. AB - The pulmonary function has been studied in 13 newborns with transient tachypnea (TT), matched for birth weight in 7 newborns with pneumothorax (NT) with higher birth weight than 2,500 g and the results were compared with 21 newborns healthy, matched for weight. The study was done in first 24 h after birth. Inspiratory and expiratory flow was measured by a pneumotachograph, esophageal pressure though a water-filled feeding tube. Lung compliance was lower in the newborns with respiratory distress, which results in less tidal volume, whereas the minute ventilation remains unchanged due higher significantly breathing rate. Lung resistance were higher in the newborns with Nt, although without significantly differences. Work of breathing was higher in the newborns with respiratory distress although without significantly differences. PMID- 2631604 TI - [Importance of vitamin D doses in bone mineralization in preterm infants]. PMID- 2631605 TI - [Electroencephalographic maturation in preterm newborn infants]. AB - We have studied 51 preterm infants [gestational age (GE) less than 32 weeks] by: a neurologic examination at 40 weeks of postconceptional age, serial cranial ultrasonographies, weekly electroencephalograms (EEG) until 42 weeks of postconceptional age, and Brunet-Lezine test of psychomotor developmental at 1 year old. Our objective is the longitudinal study of EEG maturation in preterm infants with or without neurologic injury. In preterm infants with the less gestational age are present the EEG characteristics reported for the older infants, the typical EEG pattern is the "sawtooth" (27-30 weeks GE). If these infants are "normal", the EEG maturation get adjusted to the previous reported pattern, except for the earlier presentation of transitory acute frontal waves and the disappearance of the preterm's discontinuous trace. The EEG maturation of preterm infants with perinatal neurologic injury are significantly delayed in contrast with "normal" preterm infants until 40 weeks of postconceptional age; this fact have a poor prognosis for these infants. PMID- 2631606 TI - [Evaluation of the treatment with clonidine of short stature in children]. AB - We report the results obtained after a treatment with clonidine. 100 micrograms/m2/d, to 23 prepubertal children (11 boys and 12 girls) along six months. All of them presented the characteristics of constitutional growth delay, and responded to different stimuli with serum GH levels upper to 10 ng/ml. The growth speed and the somatomedin C levels increased and the height SD score decreased, in 87% of the subjects. We contrast this results with the ones obtained by others authors and we finally comment the clonidine acting mechanisms and the possible therapeutic indications. PMID- 2631607 TI - [Type I pseudohypoparathyroidism. Study and prolonged follow-up of a case]. AB - The prolonged evolution of a case of pseudohypoparathyroidism with hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) and osteitis fibrosa is presented. The diagnosis was confirmed by the existence of a peculiar phenotype, hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphatemia, increased PTH values, and a lack of tubular response after PTH and radiological signs of hyperparathyroidism. The clinical and biochemical evolution, under 1.25 (OH)2D3 therapy with special emphasis on the growth and development were shown. The bibliography was also reviewed. PMID- 2631608 TI - [The problem of dental caries in children: prevention using a weekly mouthwash of sodium fluoride]. PMID- 2631609 TI - [Intolerance to cow's milk proteins. An epidemiologic study]. AB - The incidence of cow's milk protein intolerance (CMPI) varies depending on the series. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the incidence of this disease in our population and its change over the past the years. Over the period January 1977 to December 1986, 217 patients suspected to have the disease were submitted to a cow's milk challenge test. Diagnosis was confirmed clinically and/or pathologically in 121 patients and was ruled out in 96 patients. The incidence for the whole period was 0.78 cases/1,000 alive newborn infants. However, it fell significantly over the ten years, with a maximum of 1.36/1,000 alive newborn infants in 1979 and a minimum of 0.17/1,000 alive newborn infants in 1986 (r = 0.76, p less than 0.001). We conclude that, similarly to the observation in other diseases of nutritional origin, the incidence in our population of CMPI has clearly decreased, probably as a consequence of changes in the dietary habits. PMID- 2631610 TI - [Intraoperative radiotherapy in the multidisciplinary treatment of malignant tumors in children. Preliminary results]. AB - From September 1984 to March 1989, 57 children received intraoperative radiotherapy as part of a multidisciplinary tumor treatment. Their age ranged from 2 to 18 years. Tumor types: osteosarcoma, 21; Ewing's sarcoma, 19; soft tissue sarcomas, 6; neuroblastoma, 5; Wilm's tumor, 3; Hodgkin, 1; glioma, 1, and malignant pheochromocytoma, 1. In 44 patients the disease was localized while 13 had distant metastases. Intraoperative radiotherapy was used in 48 previously untreated patients as part of a radical treatment program and in 9 cases as an effort to rescue local failures (5 in previously irradiated areas). The intraoperative radiation field included the surgically exposed tumor or tumor bed, and the single doses ranged from 10 to 20 Gy, with 6-20 MeV electrons. With a median follow up time of 25 months (4 to 51 + months) 44 out of 57 patients are alive without local recurrence and 13 have died from tumor (6 with local progression). Intraoperative radiotherapy seems to be a feasible treatment which might promote local control in pediatric tumors. PMID- 2631611 TI - [Neurology of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in children]. PMID- 2631612 TI - [Short-term treatment of meningococcal infections]. AB - Based upon our previous experience on the treatment of meningococcal infections with satisfactory evolution when the fourth day of therapy was finalized and taking into account published experiences with four or less days of therapy, we realized a study on the efficacy of a four days therapy when venial meningococcal infections but of seven days when the serious ones. The results obtained were like the former ones we published concerning to death rate but having inferior number of complications. The results of our study suggest that meningococcal infections may be successfully treated according to seriousness, with a four or seven-day course of intravenous penicillin G (300,000 UI/kg/day) distributed in six "aliquots" each four hours. The possibility of a four-days therapy, not taking into account seriousness, is considered for every meningococcal infections. PMID- 2631613 TI - [Normal values of forced spirometry in children 100 to 140 cm tall]. AB - We describe standard value charts with lower limit for our population between heights 100-140 cm. We have made different charts for males and females for VC, FVC and FEV. For PEFR, MMF, MEF (25%), MEF (50%) and MEF (75%) charts are common for both sexes. PMID- 2631614 TI - [Tissue concentrations of beta-methyl-digoxin in children]. AB - Beta-methyl-digoxin concentrations in adipose, skeletal muscle and myocardial tissues, were studied in 8 patients undergoing by-pass surgery because of congenital heart disease. Correlation between doses/kg, plasmatic and tissue concentrations were analysed. We found statistically correlation between doses/kg and plasmatic concentrations; doses/kg and skeletal muscle concentrations (p less than 0.01); plasmatic and skeletal muscle concentrations (p less than 0.05). Concentrations was significantly greater in myocardial than adipose tissue before extracorporeal circulation (p less than 0.01); and significantly greater than adipose (p less than 0.01) and skeletal muscle (p less than 0.05) tissues after extracorporeal circulation. Extracorporeal circulation lessens adipose and skeletal muscle concentrations, but increases myocardial concentrations significantly (p less than 0.05). It is concluded, that the behaviour of beta methyl-digoxin, in relation with tissue concentrations, is similar to digoxin. PMID- 2631615 TI - [Morbidity caused by accidents in the child population in Cantabria]. AB - This work presents the morbidity by accident which required medical assistance, covering the population from zero-to-nineteen years of the Autonomic Community of Cantabria between the first of October 1986 and the 30th of September 1987. For this study 1610 families chosen at random depending on the zone's population, were interviewed. The number of registered accidents was of 527 and the number of injured children of 453, which represents the 28.14% of the total of children interviewed. A 42.66% required out-patient medical assistance, a 53.82% required medical assistance at the hospital's emergency units and a 3.5% had to enter hospital. A 5.1% of the accidents were considered very serious, no deaths occurred. The circumstances that defined the accidents were analyzed and the facts that conditioned them, subject, agent and mean. PMID- 2631616 TI - [Computerized radiography in pediatrics: 6 months' clinical experience]. AB - We present 6 months' clinical experience in the use of computerized radiography system in a Pediatric Radiology Service. The basic technology of the system and its utilization are described. An analysis is made of its principal advantages, like the reduction of the repetition of films, increased quality and diagnostic information, and reduction of the dose of radiation, and the practical disadvantages of the system are commented. PMID- 2631617 TI - [Disaccharidases: 25 years later]. AB - This report shows, that the major factors involved were histological damage of the mucosa and the etiological diagnosis. Other factors (bacterial overgrowth, malnutrition, etc.), added to the previous referred, increase the oligosaccharidases alteration, yielding statistically significant values referring to healthy subjects. The oligosaccharidases activity were significantly decreased to referring to healthy subjects (p less than 0.001) in the IC1.o and 2.o that have not histological damage, in the DGR, IPLV and coeliac disease with AS of the mucosa and in the SPG that present APM. On the other hand, the analytical methodology with its different biochemical basis could evidence very various values and there is always important to remark the reference normal values in each laboratory. PMID- 2631618 TI - Quantitative evaluation of genotoxic effects by molecular dosimetry. AB - The covalent binding of alkylating agents with DNA is considered a critical event in the mutagenic and carcinogenic effect of these chemicals. Several studies have indicated that only certain DNA alkylation products contribute to the mutagenic or carcinogenic activity of these agents. In this paper we summarize data obtained in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells after treatment with two ethylating agents, N-ethylnitrosourea and diethylsulfate, which are known to alkylate DNA sites with different efficiency. A correlation study between DNA adduct formation and induction of mutations at two gene loci, i.e. hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) and Na,K-ATPase, has been performed. The influence of DNA repair processes on the final yield of mutation is specifically discussed. PMID- 2631619 TI - Italo-Hungarian Meeting on Genotoxicity of Environmental Chemicals: Scientific and Regulatory Aspects. Rome, April 28-29, 1988. PMID- 2631620 TI - The use of in vitro assays for neoplastic transformation and tumor promotion. AB - We investigated growth control in mixed cultures of normal and oncogene transformed mouse fibroblasts. NIH/3T3 transformed by v-myc, polyoma large T, polyoma middle T, v-ras and v-src showed comparable cloning efficiencies in agarized medium. However, when cultivated with an excess of normal cells (Balb/3T3, C3H10T1/2 or primary rat and hamster embryo cells) ras, src, and middle T-transformed cells were able to form "foci" of transformation on the layer of density arrested normal cells, whereas myc- and polyoma large T transformed cells lacked this ability. Addition of the phorbol ester tumor promoter, phorbol-12,13-didecanoate, rescued proliferation and focus-formation by these nuclear oncogenes-transformed cell lines. Evidence is presented and discussed supporting a main role of intercellular communication between normal and transformed cells in modulating suppression or expression of the transformed phenotype. PMID- 2631621 TI - Cytogenetical studies on a large control population and on persons occupationally exposed to radiation and/or to chemicals. AB - Nowadays all people are exposed to mutagens environmentally, occupationally, therapeutically or due to life style. In order to validate any conclusions concerning a possible effect of some kind of these mutagens to the relevant exposed groups, chromosomal analysis was carried out on a standard population (211 persons) distributed randomly from biological and social points of view and on 163 persons, occupationally exposed to different kinds of mutagens. Analysis proved that the mean frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CA) of control was 0.81% and it was similar before and following the Chernobyl events. Data concerning the CA frequency in people exposed occupationally to low doses of ionizing radiations below the internationally accepted permissible level, showed a 2-6-fold increase of aberrant cells. Occupational exposure to chemical mutagens such as vinyl-chloride and organic solvents like benzene and toluene revealed 2-4 times higher frequency of CAs than the control; however, exposures to organophosphorus insecticides reached a 5-6-fold increase in CAs as well. The sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency data were in each exposed group higher than the control values. Neither chromosomal aberration frequencies, nor sister chromatid exchanges differed significantly between smokers and non smokers in control and exposed persons. PMID- 2631622 TI - Molecular approaches to the study of chemical mutagenesis. AB - The use of shuttle vectors has been applied in recent years to develop a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of mutagenesis in mammalian cells. These recombinant DNA molecules replicate together with the host eukaryotic cells and can be retrieved in bacteria for rapid detection and analysis of mutation. Two approaches based on the use of shuttle vectors for studying the mutagenic effects of DNA lesions induced by alkylating agents are presented. PMID- 2631623 TI - Short-term tests, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity in light of a multivariate statistical exploration. AB - This is a brief overview on a series of studies performed in the Istituto Superiore di Sanita (Italian National Institute of Health), all focusing on the ability of mutagenicity short-term assays of identifying genotoxic agents and predicting carcinogenicity. The analytical tools of such studies were the multivariate data analysis statistical techniques. The overall picture points to three main classes of assays, on the basis of their responses to the chemical agents in the available data bases (mainly the comparative studies). The implications for practical chemical testing and battery design are discussed. PMID- 2631624 TI - Genotoxicity of selected herbicides. AB - Twenty-two herbicides were studied in 67 tests for induction of DNA damage, gene mutation and chromosomal changes in vitro and in vivo. Triazine and urea-type herbicides were found to be inactive in all but one test. Of 4 thiocarbamates, molinate and vernolate caused chromosomal changes, namely increased incidence of sister chromatid exchanges and chromosomal aberrations in vitro and increased frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mouse bone marrow. These compounds, however, did not cause gene mutation and only molinate gave equivocal positive result in bacterial repair test. Out of 11 miscellaneous herbicides, ethofumesate, alachlor, dichlorprop and fluorodifen proved to be positive only in one or two tests. In the light of clastogenicity of some thiocarbamates, serious consideration should be given to start animal carcinogenicity studies with these chemicals. PMID- 2631625 TI - Monitoring of urban air pollution by mutagenicity assays. AB - Urban air particulate extracts were assayed for mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 and in the nitroreductase deficient derivatives TA98NR and TA98/1,8DNP6. The results obtained indicate a low contribution of nitropyrenes from diesel exhausts to air particulate mutagenicity in the city of Rome. Fractionation of extracts into acidic, basic and neutral components showed that neutral compounds account for about two-thirds of the total mutagenic activity. No significant mutagenic activity was detected in body fluids of rodents treated with airborne particulate extracts nor in the micronucleus test in mice. Basic and neutral fractions of air particulate extracts proved to inhibit liver aminopyrine-N-demethylase in the mouse. PMID- 2631626 TI - Mutagenicity and PAH content of airborn particulates and of fallen dusts from two Hungarian towns and emission samples from aluminum reduction and power plants. AB - Urban air particulates (suspended particles and settling dust), furthermore dust emitted by a Soderberg aluminum reduction plant and a coal burning power plant from an industrial town, Ajka (30,000 inhabitants) were analysed for PAH content (liquid chromatography) and mutagenicity (Salmonella microsome test). Air particulates from Papa--a town of similar size without considerable heavy industry--and corresponding plant emission from Inota, a third town in the study, served as controls. The dust content and the PAH concentration, as well as the mutagenic potency of the air in Ajka were higher than in Papa. Mutagenicity of the airborne particulates showed a clear seasonality with a winter maximum and a summer minimum in both towns. The mutagenic potency of air correlated well with the air BaP and total PAH content in Ajka, but not in Papa. The amounts of extractable organic material and mutagenic potency as calculated for unit quantity of airborne particulate matter was higher in the Papa samples. Similar differences between the two towns were observed in the case of fallen dust, too. On the basis of examination of emitted dust, it can be stated, that in the mutagenicity of urban air, the aluminum plant emission plays a considerably higher role than the power plant emission, which is the main component of air dust pollution in Ajka. PMID- 2631627 TI - Regulatory aspects of chemical mutagenesis in Italy and in the European Community. AB - The first part of this paper outlines the guidelines on mutagenicity testing recommended in Italy by the National Advisory Committee on Toxicology. Thereafter, there is a description of the current Italian situation regarding the mutagenicity testing requirements for new chemicals of different use, which also takes into account the European Community approach and its legal implements (directives and recommendations). PMID- 2631628 TI - Methods for assessing human exposure to and/or biological effects of genotoxic agents. PMID- 2631629 TI - [Clinico-biological aspects of myositis due to Trichinella T3 with special regard to a rheumatologic study]. AB - One hundred and fifty patients living in Salsomaggiore Terme developed signs and symptoms of trichinellosis after eating infected horse meat. The etiological agent was identified as Trichinella T3. This large outbreak gave us the opportunity of studying the rheumatic manifestations during this kind of parasitic disease. Myositis was observed in 62% of the entire series whereas arthralgias were recorded in only 20% of the patients. The muscle pain was described in several ways, but in the majority it appeared during isokinetic movements. The scapular girdle was involved much more than the pelvic girdle. Arthralgias correlated with the degree of myositis, thus allowing us to conclude that the involvement of the muscle groups proximal to the joint clearly determined a painful sensation in the joint itself. Our histopathologic data suggest that the eosinophils may play an important role in the myositis process. PMID- 2631630 TI - [Imported malaria in Italy: retrospective analysis from 1960 and update for 1986 1988]. AB - The trend of imported malaria cases in Italy from 1960 to 1988 is discussed. Comparative analysis of its incidence in the last three years is also presented. Since 1985, a rapid increase has been recorded with 191 cases in 1986, 287 in 1987 and 350 in 1988. In 1986-88 Plasmodium falciparum has been responsible for 74% of the total number, followed by P. vivax (21%), P. malariae (2%) and P. ovale (1%). 86% of the imported cases have been acquired in African countries, 8% in Asia and 3% in South America. As far as travelers categories are concerned workers represent 45.6% of the total population, tourists 36.6%, seamen and aircrew 2.1% and strangers coming from endemic malaria areas and traveling to Italy 15.7%. In 1986, 1987, and 1988 one, two and two deaths, respectively, due to malaria, are reported. PMID- 2631631 TI - [Archives of the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar. Annual report 1988]. PMID- 2631632 TI - [Cognitive processes in unconscious patients? A brain mapping study of the P300 potential]. AB - P300 is the most investigated component of the event-related potentials. Being the correlate of an active target discrimination and decision making process it is seen as related to cognition. Such elementary cognitive processes--as expressed in P300--can happen even in states of coma. In four of 35 comatose patients with diffuse head injury we were able to measure the P3-wave showing frontal and parietal components. Accordingly some unawakable patients can still recognize differences in pitch. The structure of components and their psychophysiological meaning are discussed. PMID- 2631633 TI - To link, to infer, to understand. AB - A model of linkage in text processing is proposed: An external proposition and an inference belonging to one frame are superimposed to constitute understanding. A text containing four academic subjects was presented orally to students who recalled it in writing. After transforming the recalls into propositions they are entered into a nonmetric multidimensional scaling to yield a text space. The subjects' interest choices among items of the four aspects are scaled to render an interest space. The decomposition ob both as subspaces of a common space yields an angle as their overall similarity and indicates the degree of predictability from interests. As the aggregate of inferences shows directedness, correlated with volitional-motivational orientation, and inference base is assumed to intervene. It is concluded that recipients try to superimpose and thereby construct a primary stage of processing. This allows for a very general algorithm of parallel information processing (holographic thesis), perhaps constructing the properties we are used to. Motivated perception, knowledge influence, schema-directedness and contribution to coherence are rivalled out as an explanation of this process. PMID- 2631634 TI - [Implicit and explicit memories of odors]. AB - The present experiments explore whether there may be some forms of implicit memory for odors. In the first experiment, the elaborateness of olfactory encoding was varied at presentation. For (explicit) recognition memory testing we found positive effects of labeling responses to odors at encoding. Implicit memory measures (temporal and preference judgments) did not reveal reliable effects of prior odor presentation, however. The second experiment corroborated effects of levels of processing on r recognition memory. Again, perceptual or affective judgments remained insensitive for prior odor exposures. Implicit memory could only be detected with verbal measures at the testing stage (labeling accuracy or latency). These results are consistent with the proposal that odor information is represented at different levels of processing that are even with implicit memory measures only partly accessible. PMID- 2631635 TI - Partial report, visual matching, and search as a function of cue-delay. AB - Three experiments are reported where a cue that was varied in time indicated a letter pair (or pairs) in a circular display with six pairs. The S had either to report letters from a pair (Exp. 1) or to decide about the equality of the letter pair (Exp. 2) or to decide about the presence of a target letter given with various delays (Exp. 3). Exp. 1 shows a short-lived partial report superiority, the loss being primarily due to adjacency errors. In Exp. 2 a short loss in the correct same decisions, but almost no loss in the correct "differents" was observed. In spite of its search task character, Exp. 3 showed the same loss as Exp. 1, 2. In all experiments performance recovered with the latest ISI (1 sec). The results of Exp. 1 can be explained by post-categorical accounts of the partial report (PR-) effect (loss of positional information), those of Exp. 2 by visual confusion, i. e. a precategorical account, those of Exp. 3 by neither. The results suggest that the PR-effect might be due to non-visible persistence rather but to visible persistence. A theory of early visual processing which would also explain the PR-effect is still lacking. PMID- 2631636 TI - [Vascularization of the tibia during compensation for a diaphyseal defect by lengthening one of the fragments using Ilizarov's method]. AB - In the experiment performed on 67 dogs (2 series) by means of the x-ray vasographic and morphological methods changes in all the links of the bone vascular system have been studied during the compensatory course of the diaphyseal defect (20% of the shin length), taking into account certain peculiarities of local blood supply of the nonfree bone fragment being dislocated. When its medullary blood stream is switched off, it is accompanied with certain disturbances in blood circulation and in blood circulation and in decreasing of its participation in formation of the vascular network of the distractive regenerate. The circulatory disturbances are compensated at the expense of reconstruction of the periosteal vascular network, which ensures restoration of the magistral type of the bone blood supply. Preservation of the medullary blood stream ensures an adequate blood supply of the fragment and a high regenerative ability of the blood vessels. PMID- 2631637 TI - [Body weight dynamics of laboratory white rats in the postnatal development period]. AB - Dynamics of body mass has been followed in 663 noninbred animals from birth up to 3.5 years of age. The rats are kept in vivarium, taking into account necessary demands upon their diet, breeding, amount of the brood and sex dimorphism. The offspring is obtained with a strictly dated time of birth. During the first month of life they are weighed daily (up to a complete maturation, specimens of both sex are measured, till intensity of males and females growth is similar), and then with the interval, increasing as a geometrical progression, with a coefficient 1.1 up to the 1231st day after birth (males only). At every period of observations no less than 7 animals are examined, average mass and standard deviation are calculated. Dynamics of the parameters are determined by means of sliding average. Using the curves on the body mass changes in the laboratory rats during nearly their whole life, it is possible with a desired precise to determined their age at carrying out investigations of wide range on ontogenesis of organs and tissues, when the animals are bred in nurseries. PMID- 2631638 TI - [Compensatory-adaptive modifications of the C-cell apparatus of the thyroid in normal rats of various ages and in partial sympathectomy]. AB - Population of the thyroid C-cells, normal and at sympathectomy has been analyzed in 75 white male rats at the age of 1, 3 and 6 months by means of electron microscopical, morphometrical and radioimmunological methods. Partial sympathectomy has been performed using subcutaneous injection of guanethidine (15 mg/kg of body mass) during 14 days after birth. During the period from 1 up to 6 months of life in intact rats a decrease in C-cells functional activity is observed. Under conditions of sympathectomy in 30-day-old animals decreasing extrusion processes of the secretory material are observed. During successive periods of life (3 and 6 months) mechanisms of paracrinic evacuation of hormonal products enhance considerably, nuclear volume of the cells and number of C-cells in the field of vision increase. Their hyperplastic alterations in the sympathectomized thyroid gland are more pronounced in 3-month-old animals. PMID- 2631639 TI - [Morphogenesis of structural elements of the cervical spine in the white rat in prenatal ontogeny]. AB - Embryonal development of the spinal column cervical part has been studied in 100 series of sagittal, transversal, frontal sections; time of the main structural elements anlagen (vertebral bodies, arches, joints, ligaments) is noted. The prenatal development of the spinal column cervical part is divided into 3 stages- mesenchymal, cartilagenous, osseous. The first stage lasts up to 16 days of development; during this period anlagen of vertebral bodies, arches, joints, ligaments are formed. The second stage--cartilagenous; mesenchyma is substituted for cartilagenous tissue, cartilagenous cells are differentiated. This stage lasts from the 16th up to the 18th day of embryogenesis. The third stage--osseous -lasts from the 18th up to the 21st day of embryogenesis. During this period structures of the spinal column cervical part acquire a definitive form, the cartilagenous tissue is substituted for the osseous one. PMID- 2631640 TI - [Characteristics of myohistogenesis during experimental mono- and bilocal distraction osteosynthesis]. AB - Regularities of the skeletal muscle tissue histogenesis have been studied in the canine shin at its elongation by 50% of its initial length by means of the mono- and bilocal distractive osteosynthesis after Ilizarov. Using light and electron microscopy, it has been stated that under conditions of monolocal distractive osteosynthesis, when the strain effort acts in the area of the muscle belly, together with elongation dystrophic and necrotic changes, proliferation of the intermuscular connective tissue and atrophy of myons increase. In a half of a year, after cessation of distraction there is no complete restoration of the skeletal muscle tissue structure. Under conditions of bilocal distractive osteosynthesis, when the conditions of the muscle distortion are comparable to those existing during the period of the extremity growth, cellular type of regeneration in the skeletal muscle tissue predominates. Therefore growth of the muscle fibers is longitudinal, like that of their growth in the process of ontogenesis and the structure of the muscle tissue of the extremity elongated is preserved. The results of the experiment performed demonstrate certain prospectiveness of application of the bilocal distractive osteosynthesis method in practical orthopedics. PMID- 2631641 TI - [Early postnatal development of myocardial stroma in the rat]. AB - By means of transmissive electron microscopy and morphometry methods volumetric parts and number of cells in various components of the myocardial stroma have been studied in male Wistar rats at the age up to 45 days. Two age periods have been determined--before and after 10 days. Synchronization of processes in development of the stromal elements is observed. PMID- 2631642 TI - [Dynamic structural characteristics of the m. triceps surae in human subjects of various physiques]. AB - At examination of 305 boys and girls Russian, Kazakh in Alma-Ata strength of the m. triceps surae (strength of the foot flexion) has been estimated, anatomical diameter of this muscle and strength per 1 sm2 of the anatomical diameter (specific strength) has been calculated. Somatotyping after V. N. Shevkunenko has been performed. At dolichomorphy the specific strength is higher than at brachymorphy. In 24 corpses of 18-38-year-old men typical peculiarities of construction and structure of the m. triceps surae is studied. Correlation of the m. triceps surae parts and degree of its pinnateness do not reveal any definite differences in connection with the complexion. As demonstrate the data of light microscopy and mathematical treatment of the results by means of mixtures method statistically reliable predominance of the connective tissue component in the m. triceps surae and more often occurrence of thick muscle fibers in the m. soleus at dolichomorphy is stated. According to the electron microscopy data, better development of the connective tissue carcass of the m. triceps surae is proved in persons of dolichomorphic complexion. PMID- 2631643 TI - [Validation of the concept of morphofunctional unity of the structural components of the human mandible]. AB - Interconnections of the mandibular macro- and microsigns have been studied in 98 corpses of men. By means of the multidimensional analysis discreteness and autonomy of the mandibular structural components are revealed; this demonstrates that there is a possibility of an active arrangement of parts and structural components of the mandible depending on the external environmental conditions in order to reach optimal terminal functional effect--chewing. The most discriminative signs of contrasting variants in the structure of the mandible are revealed. PMID- 2631644 TI - [Morphofunctional transformations of the blood vessels in the transplantation of syngeneic normal tissue and of a tumor]. AB - In 360 Fisher rats dynamics of changes in blood vessels, the microcirculatory bed vessels included, have been investigated. An original model of the experiment at implantation of syngenic tissues of the fetus normal intestine and tumorous adenocarcinoma of the small intestine has been used. Specific changes of the blood vessels have been revealed around and in the capsule of the implant, depending on their morphological reorganization. The blood vessels changes can serve as a prognostic sign of possible alterations in the implant structure. PMID- 2631645 TI - [Cellular mechanisms of compensatory processes of the kidney in relation to the mass resected]. AB - As a result of comparative investigation of compensatory processes in the kidneys at various degree of their resection, the most general regularities in these processes have been revealed: an initial functional strain of renal cells and their ultrastructures, the secondary increase in hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the renal cells and their organelles. The degree of manifestation of these regular reactions directly depends on the mass of the resected part of the kidney. Subtotal resection of the kidney (80%) is an operation that gets out of the limits of the organ's compensatory possibilities. A sharp decrease, up to complete disappearance of its cellular division in 2-3 weeks after the operation is of great importance. Mechanism for development of renal insufficiency is evidently connected with absence of cellular renewal against the background of their hyperfunction and their quick worn out, that is, evidently, resulted in deficiency of renal epithelium and functional defectiveness connected with it in the remained renal mass. PMID- 2631646 TI - [Interrelation of the osteogenic and hemopoietic tissues of the bone marrow during the development of estrogenic myelofibrosis]. AB - By means of estrogenic myelofibrosis, using the method of heterotopic transplantation of the bone marrow, interrelations of osteogenic and hemopoietic tissues have been studied. Under estrone effect disorders in stromal microenvironment take place at the level of stem osteogenic cells of the bone marrow. Deficiency in cells of monocytic-macrophagal line, inhibiting proliferation of the bone marrow connective tissue cells, contributes to development of myelofibrosis. The hormone acts mainly in committed hemopoietic cells, singly launching them from G0- into S-period of the cycle, and then--into differentiation, accompanied with an enhanced discharge of cells from the bone marrow. There is neither direct, nor indirect dependence between the osteogenic mass and the cellularity of the hemopoietic tissue of the bone marrow. The changes, that take place in the bone marrow under estrone effect, are reversible. PMID- 2631647 TI - [Characteristics of the ensemble organization of the human cerebral cortex from birth to 20 years of age]. AB - When studying frontal, somatosensory and visual areas of the human cerebral cortex from birth up to 20 years of age in year-to-year intervals, it has been stated that by birth in neocortex all components of the neuron-glio-vascular ensembles are presented. They are not connected in their composition. During the first year of life the size of all types of neurons increases, long-axonal basket neurons differentiate, fasciculi of radial fibers become thick. By 3 years of life in the ensembles the neurons are definitely grouped as clusters. Sizes of spindle-like and satellite neurons increase; they distribute their axonal collaterals vertically, horizontally and in frontal-posterior direction. By 5-6 years of age the horizontal connection system becomes more complex at the expense of longitudinal growth and ramification of lateral and basal dendrites of the pyramidal neurons. In the section transversal areas occupied with cell groups increase. By 9-10 years of age the pyramidal neurons reach their greatest size. By 12-14 years of age the fibrillar component of the cortex increases considerably, inter- and intraensemble horizontal connections become more complex, the system of local connections becomes more plastic owing to development of short-axonal basket-like neurons. By 16-18 years of age the ensemble cortical organization in its main parameters of architectonics reaches the level specific for mature persons. PMID- 2631648 TI - [Age-related ultrastructural characteristics of various cells in acute hypoxia]. AB - Ultrastructural peculiarities, concerning reaction of cells in various populations brain-sensorimotor cortex, mammillary nuclei, vascular plexus; myocardium; liver; jejunum) in mature (6-8 months) and old (24-30 months) male white Wistar rats have been studied at an experimental acute hypobaric hypoxic hypoxia. Both general changes, that are manifested in various degree in different cell groups and organo-specific ones are noted. The manifestation degree of the reactive changes is evidently connected with certain metabolic and functional peculiarities, as well as with the character of cell restoration. In the old animals hypoxic hypoxia produces more profound destructive processes in all cell populations studied. This is accompanied with a restriction in ability to adaptation. PMID- 2631649 TI - [Age-related characteristics of the myeloarchitectonics of the peripheral nerves]. AB - By means of macromicroscopy and microscopy myeloarchitectonics of morphologically and functionally different somatic and visceral nerves (branches: mandibular nerve, cervical spinal nerves, inferior laryngeal nerve, hepatic plexus) have been studied in 11 age groups. During the prenatal period of ontogenesis asynchronism of myelogenesis is stated in various muscle branches of the nerves, dependent on formation of function in corresponding muscles and muscle groups. As demonstrate investigations on peculiarities of myelogenesis course in the somatic and visceral nerves studied, during the period of pre- and postnatal ontogenesis, its dynamics embraces three stages of myelogenesis, determined by G. B. Stovichek for visceral nerves: productive myelogenesis, stages of stabilization and involution. The stage of productive myelogenesis in the somatic nerves studied lasts up to the end of the adolescent period. Two phases are determined in it: the first lasts up to 2-3 years; the second--up to the end of the adolescent period and is characterized with a complete formation of the myelin fibers spectrum. In the visceral nerves studied increase of general amount of myelin fibers and their differentiation are completed simultaneously during the adolescent age. The stabilization stage of myeloarchitectonics of the nerves studied corresponds to the mature age (I and II periods) and the involution stage -to the elderly (and old) age. PMID- 2631650 TI - [Determination in the system of the neuromuscular relations of the coronary arteries at stages in human postnatal development]. AB - By means of micromorphometric method in transversal sections of electively stained right and left coronary arteries the data, characterizing the area of the middle and external sheaths, amount of myelin fibers in nerves, accompanying the artery have been obtained in men of 8 age groups (from birth up to old age), who died from causes not connected with the cardiovascular pathology. The summary amount of all classes of myelin fibers increases synchronously with an increase of the muscle sheath area from newborn up to 35-45 years of age. After this age the amount of the myelin fibers decreases together with decreasing area of the middle sheath. Minimal values of these indices are observed in the old age (85-90 years). The external sheath area increases permanently from birth up to the old age. The correlative analysis reveals a positive and significant connection of various degree between the myelin fibers number and value of the middle arterial sheath in persons of juvenile, mature and elderly age: amount of the muscular layer is adequate to the myelin fibers amount. In other age groups the correlative connections are either small, or not significant. Alternative, corresponding to each age quantitative gradations of the nervous connections are determined by means of the peripheral substrate. Its role in the vessels investigated is performed, to a definite degree, by the muscle sheath. PMID- 2631651 TI - [Age-related characteristics of the organic angioarchitectonics of normal rats and in arterial hypertension]. AB - Architectonics of intraorganic arterial vessels in the cervical cortex, heart, kidneys and spleen have been investigated in 40 normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats, 6 months and 1 year old. In all the organs studied a direct dependence has been revealed between the degree of changes in the intraorganic arteries and relative content of the arterial vessels in the tissue organs. Functional changes of the arterial vessels in the organs studied observed during the hypertensive phase, transfer into the organic ones, as a result of prolonged adaptation, when the stage of a stable hypertension takes place. PMID- 2631652 TI - [Dynamic age-related changes in the human physique at stages in postnatal development]. AB - In 926 children (7 age groups) combined group differences of the signs have been studied by means of a unified standardized method, using the hand length as a linear measure; the conformity index to definitive size has been applied. For newborns proportional discrepancy to the definitive sizes is specific. They have a relatively long, thick and round body, short extremities, large dimensions of the head and abundant adipose subcutaneous deposits. According to the constitutional peculiarities the newborns resemble the children of the digestive type in mature persons--pycnotic or endomorphic. Beginning from birth, including children of early and first childhood (4-7 years of age), age changes of complexion go in two directions: a) dolichomorphy of complexion is realized; for it decreasing diameters of the chest and dimensions of the neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis (in boys), shoulder, arm, hand, foot and decrease in the subcutaneous adipose tissue are specific; b) longitudinal proportions of body and extremity segments change under influence of biomechanical adaptations to physical loads in connection with adaptation to the vertical position. PMID- 2631653 TI - [Physique types and the skeletal mineral saturation of young men and women]. AB - The term "massiveness of the skeleton" does not reflect the amount of the mineral component in bones. As demonstrates application of the standard linear x-ray densitometry, in a more "massive" skeleton amount of mineral salts per a volume unit of the osseous tissue is less than in a thin "gracile" skeleton of the thoracal type of constitution. The muscular type of constitution concerning the mineral saturation occupies an intermediate position between the thoracal and digestive constitutional types. PMID- 2631654 TI - [Developmental characteristics of the human lumbar spinal column at various periods of ontogeny]. AB - Regularities in development and differentiation of vertebrae have been investigated according to ageing. The data concerning the size of the vertebral canal at the level of the lumbar vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs, intensity of increase of these dimensions in various age periods, the character of spatial relations of sizes and form of the canal has been analysed. The transversal section area of the canal and the body in the corresponding segment varies between 1:3 and 1:5.5. By means of x-ray osteophotometry the mineralization degree of the lumbar vertebral bodies has been determined in men of various age. An important fact has been stated on a close connection between mineral saturation in juvenile and first mature ages with induces of general strength. PMID- 2631655 TI - [Age-related changes of the bones of the leg, foot and ankle joint in pole vaulters]. AB - The data on age changes occurring in the height of the articular cleft of the talocrural joint, in morphological components of the diaphysis of the crus and foot bones have been presented in pole-jumpers and in non-sportsmen at the age of 13-21 years. Roentgenological, roentgenogrammetric and x-ray densitometric methods have been used. At the age of 14-15 years the greatest changes in the talocrural joint, crus and foot bones are noted. PMID- 2631656 TI - [Morphofunctional characteristics of microcirculation in the skin of girls 5-17 years of age]. AB - In 261 girls year-to-year morphofunctional transformations of spatial composition of the skin microcirculatory bed have been studied at rest and after a dynamic local load. By means of biomicroscopy main regularities in development of the skin capillary network have been revealed in the nail torus in the postnatal ontogenesis. Formation of the microvessels reactivity during various age periods and maturation of mechanisms of the compensatory-adaptive reactions are connected with formation of the definitive composition of the microcirculatory bed, that in girls corresponds to 11-12 years. Qualitative transformations in the skin capillary network bring certain quantitative changes in the structural microcirculatory parameters--increasing diameter of microvessels and increasing density of functioning capillaries. PMID- 2631657 TI - [Functional morphology of the neural apparatus of the hen ovary in postnatal ontogeny]. AB - When comparing the data of neurohistochemical and electron microscopic investigations in the hen and chick ovaries, adrenergic, cholinergic and, possibly, peptidergic nerve fibers have been identified. Previously described cells in the follicular internal theca are mainly SIF-cells and AChE-positive neurocytes of afferent and efferent nature. Axonal terminals make synaptic (or synaptic-like) contacts with chromaffin cells, thecocytes, pericytes of capillaries, AChE-positive motor neurons. Integral estimation, taking into account informative parameters, demonstrates that the degree of the neuromediator differentiation and age resistivity of nervous structures correlates the gland steroidogenic activity. The vascular adrenergic apparatus and chromaffin cells can be considered as potential sources of innervation and catecholamines, able to perform a compensatory function at ageing and other conditions, that are accompanied with a local deficit of sympathetic mediation. PMID- 2631658 TI - Proceedings of meetings of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and special societies. PMID- 2631659 TI - 28th Arthur Mills Memorial Oration. The physician as an internationalist. PMID- 2631660 TI - Guillain-Barre syndrome and related conditions in Victorian teaching hospitals 1980-84. AB - Cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, its variants, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy presenting during the period 1980-84 were identified through computer-based record systems. Case notes were examined, and cases that did not meet standard criteria for diagnosis were excluded. A hundred and ten patients were identified, giving an annual adult incidence rate of 0.9/100,000 and a male:female ratio of 1.3:1. The majority of cases developed severe tetraparesis, but unusual presentations included the Miller-Fisher variant, paraplegia, and bibrachial involvement. There was wide variation in peak disability, ranging from ambulant with weakness (32%), through bedfast but without significant respiratory involvement (29%), to respiratory involvement requiring admission to an intensive care unit (38%). Of those discharged directly home, the average hospital stay for those less than 50 years was 27 days, whilst that for those over 50 was 49 days. CSF protein was measured in 87 patients, and was greater than or equal to 0.6 g/L in 76% of these. Nerve conduction studies were performed in 52 patients, and were abnormal in 90% of these. Guillain-Barre syndrome and allied conditions represent a major drain on health resources, and the need to provide adequate plasmapheresis facilities for patients early in the course of severe disease is stressed. PMID- 2631661 TI - Cerebral dysfunction with evidence of cerebral HIV infection amongst asymptomatic HIV seropositive subjects. AB - Twelve asymptomatic HIV seropositive subjects ages 21 to 40 years were examined for serologic evidence of cerebral HIV infection, for cerebral structural abnormalities, and for neuropsychologic evidence of cerebral dysfunction using standard methods. Eleven of the 12 had antibody to HIV in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Nine subjects had oligoclonal immunoglobulins in the CSF, of whom five had some for which there were no corresponding serum oligoclonal immunoglobulins ('unique' oligoclonal immunoglobulins). Intracerebral synthesis of HIV specific antibodies was demonstrated for four subjects. Significant deficits of memory and frontal lobe function were found in five of the 12 subjects. Subjects who had oligoclonal immunoglobulins unique to the CSF all had significant neuropsychological abnormalities. No structural cerebral abnormalities were demonstrated using CT scanning for any subject tested. These results support other evidence that HIV is neurotropic and capable of directly inducing brain damage even in immunologically normal subjects. Tests of memory and frontal lobe function are frequently abnormal in patients with early HIV infection, and identify as abnormal a similar group of patients to immunological or biochemical tests which might indicate cerebral HIV infection. PMID- 2631662 TI - The neurological features of early and 'latent' human immunodeficiency virus infection. AB - Neurological manifestations of unknown cause occurring in patients who become or are HIV antibody positive with presumed normal immune function have been described recently. This report adds a further six cases, all of whom had normal CD4+ cell counts either throughout the period of observation or after the episode of seroconversion. Three had an acute presentation, two in the context of documented seroconversion consisting of one of the following: an encephalitis, an ataxia, and confusion with neuralgic amyotrophy. Three had a subacute disorder occurring at a later phase of HIV infection but before opportunistic infections or neoplasms, and marked by a static mild cognitive deficit. This report extends the range of abnormalities that may be seen at seroconversion and documents the presence of a non-progressive cognitive deficit occurring in the latent phase of HIV infection. PMID- 2631663 TI - Histoplasmosis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AB - This case report describes a 50-year-old man from South America with AIDS who developed disseminated histoplasmosis with focal lymph node involvement. Treatment with ketoconazole was initially successful. Six weeks after cessation of ketoconazole he died of what was thought to be relapse of histoplasmosis. PMID- 2631664 TI - Hyperviscosity syndrome secondary to rheumatoid arthritis. AB - A women with longstanding seropositive rheumatoid arthritis presented with the insidious onset of a hyperviscosity syndrome. This responded to plasma exchange and corticosteroids. Plasma exchange was complicated by severe bleeding which was associated with disturbances of coagulation and of platelet function related to the marked increase in plasma immunoglobulins. PMID- 2631665 TI - Hypercalcemia and lipoid pneumonia. AB - A 49-year-old man with an 11 year history of NIDDM presented hypercalcemic and with acute on chronic renal failure. His only symptoms were mild anorexia and nausea. Four years previously he had been diagnosed as having lipoid pneumonia, with classical histological findings. On this admission, serum parathyroid hormone was suppressed and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D levels elevated. The cause of his hypercalcemia presumably was ectopic 1 hydroxylation of 25 hydroxyvitamin D in the chronic granulomata in his lungs. It should be emphasised that any chronic granulomatous disease, and not just sarcoidosis, may be a cause of hypercalcemia. PMID- 2631666 TI - Left heart involvement with cardiac shunt complicating carcinoid heart disease. AB - The manifestations of carcinoid heart disease are usually right heart failure due to pulmonary and tricuspid valve disease and sometimes high output failure due to peripheral vasodilation. Recently there has been one case report of progressive central cyanosis due to right to left shunting through a patent foramen ovale. We present a similar case where such a shunt developed and was also complicated by significant valvular disease affecting the left side of the heart. PMID- 2631667 TI - Glomerulonephritis, pulmonary hemorrhage and anemia associated with Campylobacter jejuni infection. AB - A 5-year-old girl suffered Campylobacter jejuni enteritis. Over the ensuing weeks she developed glomerulonephritis, pulmonary hemorrhage and anemia. Renal biopsy revealed immune-complex mediated, crescentic glomerulonephritis. Campylobacter jejuni antigen was identified in the glomeruli suggesting a causal role of Campylobacter jejuni in the disease process. PMID- 2631668 TI - Two dimensional echocardiography and left ventriculography in cardiac sarcoidosis. AB - A 48-year-old woman with histologically proven pulmonary sarcoidosis presented with congestive heart failure. Two dimensional echocardiography showed a peculiarly ragged appearance at the left ventricular apex which was confirmed on left ventriculography. This echocardiographic finding has not been previously described in cardiac sarcoidosis. PMID- 2631669 TI - Leucogyrophana pinastri, a wood decay fungus as a probable cause of an extrinsic allergic alveolitis syndrome. AB - Two patients were suspected of having extrinsic allergic alveolitis due to exposure to an agent in their home environment. On inspection of their houses, fungal decay was evident in the floorboards, and fungal spores were found deposited on many surfaces. The decay fungus was later identified as Leucogyrophana pinastri. Using an extract of the fruiting bodies and mycelium of this fungus, precipitating antibodies were identified in the sera of both patients. Based on the known exposure by the two patients to these small spores, the absence of a likely alternative allergen, the similarity between these two cases, and the positive precipitin test results, L. pinastri was considered to be the most likely cause of extrinsic allergic alveolitis in our cases. PMID- 2631670 TI - Sardine sandwich salt overload. PMID- 2631671 TI - Treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma. PMID- 2631672 TI - Cytopenias induced by methotrexate in inflammatory arthritis. PMID- 2631673 TI - When do perinatal deaths in multiple pregnancies occur? AB - Perinatal mortality for multiple pregnancy remains at least 5 times the rate for singleton births. The major causes are neonatal deaths due to gross immaturity before 30 weeks' gestation, and stillbirths due to intrauterine growth retardation at all gestations, but especially after 32 weeks. Sixty four per cent of perinatal losses before 30 weeks' gestation occur before 26 weeks, highlighting the need to commence prophylactic measures earlier than usually recommended. The perinatal mortality in infants in multiple births weighing more than 2,500g is the same as that of singletons, but is 10 times this rate in multiple births weighing between 500g and 2,500g. Because the stillbirth rate in twins proceeding beyond 38 weeks' gestation is 3 times that of singleton births, elective termination of pregnancy is recommended if spontaneous labour has not occurred by this time. PMID- 2631674 TI - The influence of in-utero transfer on perinatal mortality in a tertiary care centre. AB - From March 1, 1986 through February 28, 1989 inclusive there was a total of 8,319 births with a birth-weight of 500 g or more at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNS). Three hundred and sixty one births (4.3%) resulted from in-utero transfer of high risk pregnancies (IUT); the remainder were booked at RNS. There were 141 perinatal deaths of which 55 (39%) occurred in infants transferred in-utero. For the whole population delivered at RNS the perinatal mortality rate was 17.0/1,000 births (10.8/1,000 for booked patients versus 152.4/1,000 for IUT births), the stillbirth rate was 7.1/1,000 births (5.4/1,000 for booked patients versus 44.3/1,000 for IUT births) and the neonatal mortality rate was 9.9/1,000 livebirths (5.4/1,000 for booked patients versus 113.0/1,000 for IUT livebirths). These data show that crude perinatal mortality statistics from individual hospitals do not necessarily reflect their standard of care. Although the infants transferred in-utero comprised only 4.3% of the total population they constituted more than one third of the perinatal deaths at RNS. Their very high group specific mortality rates are related to their degree of prematurity and associated maternal and neonatal conditions. PMID- 2631675 TI - Secondary postpartum haemorrhage. AB - Eighty-three cases of secondary postpartum haemorrhage managed in this teaching unit over a 3-year period are described. Bleeding occurred most frequently between the 8th and 14th day of the puerperium; 73% of the patients had already been discharged from hospital and required readmission. Suction evacuation was performed in 72 patients and was successful in arresting haemorrhage whether retained placental tissue could be demonstrated on histology or not. There was histological confirmation of retained gestational products in only 30 (42%) of the patients treated surgically. No predictive factors for secondary postpartum haemorrhage could be identified in the obstetric profiles or antenatal course of most of these patients. Patients with retained gestational products could not be distinguished from those without on the basis of history or examination alone apart from 4 patients noted to have incomplete membranes at delivery. PMID- 2631676 TI - Philippino and Vietnamese women--a study of intrapartum differences. AB - The pregnancies of 140 Philippino women (168 deliveries) and 198 Vietnamese women (250 deliveries) were compared to those of Australian-born women delivered at the Mater Mothers' Hospital, Brisbane over the 5-year period 1980-1984 with the aim of detecting differences in their labour and mode of delivery. The Philippino women were predominantly married to Caucasian men whereas the Vietnamese women were married to Vietnamese men. The study assesses the clinical impression that this difference between the 2 groups affects intrapartum outcome. Birth-weights of the babies of Philippino women followed the same pattern as those of Australian women while Vietnamese women delivered smaller babies. Philippino primiparas had increases in all parameters of labour studied, notably an increased Caesarean section rate, especially those performed in the second stage. Comparable increases were not found in either Philippino multiparas or Vietnamese women. Based on these results 'relative' cephalopelvic disproportion is postulated among the Philippino women. PMID- 2631677 TI - Abnormal cornual ostia and infertility. AB - Hysteroscopy performed on 126 infertile patients and on 73 fertile patients revealed a significant association between abnormal uterine cornual ostia and infertility (p less than 0.002). Ostial abnormalities included absence of cupping with uterine cavity distension, diminution of ostial diameter and complete ostial occlusion. High intrauterine pressures from dye perturbation can overcome the occluded ostial state giving a false impression of adequate tubal patency. These findings may explain some cases of apparently unexplained infertility and may bear on the success rates of procedures such as artificial insemination and gamete intrafallopian transfer. PMID- 2631678 TI - Ovarian remnant syndrome. AB - Twenty-seven patients with ovarian remnant syndrome were operated on by the author in a 7-year period. All patients presented with pelvic pain as their major symptom. A mass was palpable in 20 patients. In 3 patients, no mass was palpable but a lesion was visible on computed tomographic scanning. In 4 patients, there was no palpable mass and scans were negative, yet an ovarian remnant was found at laparotomy. Segmental bowel resection was necessary to obtain clearance in 8 patients, and partial bladder resection was performed in 2. Previous pelvic operations (mean, 4.3) in this group of patients probably contributed to the development of this syndrome. The ovarian remnant syndrome occurs in a patient who has previously had a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A piece of ovarian tissue remains, and this remnant often produces symptoms, usually pelvic pain and associated dyspareunia. Usually the patient has had a hysterectomy as well as bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, so that the pain is often dismissed as 'not gynaecological' in origin. This syndrome is not synonymous with residual ovary syndrome, in which an ovary that has previously been intentionally conserved either develops an abnormal pathological process or causes symptoms necessitating its surgical removal (6). Unfortunately, awareness of the problems caused by an ovarian remnant is not widespread, and often these patients have been to many gynaecologists, general surgeons, or even psychiatrists in an attempt to get relief from their symptoms. It is not possible to estimate the incidence of symptomatic ovarian remnants, but certainly when an awareness of the syndrome develops, referral of patients with the problem is common. PMID- 2631679 TI - An evaluation of cervical smears consisting of spatula and Cytobrush samples. AB - Analysis of 100 paired spatula and Cytobrush cervical smear samples taken and evaluated by one person showed that the combined smear was excellent for sampling the transformation zone and for detecting lesions. However, care in obtaining and evaluating smears are still vital if false-negative smears are to be eliminated. The greater use of the 2-sample smear is advocated. PMID- 2631680 TI - Stage I adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix: tumour size, grade, lymph node metastases and 5-year survival. AB - This study includes 22 cases of Stage I cervical adenocarcinoma. The lymph node metastases and 5-year survival according to the size of lesion and grade of tumour were evaluated. The overall pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastases were found to be 31.8% and 0% respectively. Metastases in the pelvic lymph nodes were found in 16.6% of patients with lesions less than 2 cm and 50.0% of patients with lesions 2 cm or greater in size. Pelvic lymph node metastases were found to be 0% for Grade 1, 25% for Grade 2 and 46% for Grade 3 tumours. The overall 5 year survival was 68.2%. This figure varied from 60% to 75% according to the size of lesion and from 61.5% to 100% according to the grade of tumour. PMID- 2631681 TI - The IUCD-associated incidence of Actinomyces israelii in the female genital tract. AB - Cervical swabs and in many cases also intrauterine contraceptive devices were examined from 973 women for the presence of Actinomyces israelii. It was detected in 11.6% of these women, the majority of whom were asymptomatic. The detection, however, of A. israelii in the female genital tract was associated with an almost 4-fold increase in the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), indicating that colonization may progress to an infection in a small number of women. The incidence of A. israelii in the female genital tract of IUCD wearers was more than doubled when the IUCD was worn for longer than 4 years. The type of IUCD worn did not appear to be an important risk factor. Immunofluorescent staining of cervical smears identified 64% of cases. Specific culturing for A. israelii or cytological screening of Papanicolaou smears in addition were required to increase the isolation rate to nearly 90%. PMID- 2631682 TI - Advanced extrauterine pregnancy mimicking intra-uterine fetal death: case reports. AB - Two cases of late second trimester extrauterine pregnancy are presented- intraabdominal pregnancy in one and an ampullary pregnancy in another. In the former the diagnosis was made only after attempts at induction of labour for fetal death with prostaglandins failed and in the latter only at laparotomy. The diagnostic and surgical problems encountered are discussed. PMID- 2631683 TI - Carcinoma of the cervix in women under the age of 35 in Queensland. PMID- 2631684 TI - [Amino acid sequence of various peptides of tryptophanyl-tRNA-synthetase from bovine pancreas]. AB - Method of isolation of the bovine pancreas tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase is improved and a protein with greater than or equal to 99% purity, according to PAGE-SDS, is obtained. The pure enzyme is digested with clostripain and the hydrolysate is separated by FPLC anion-exchange chromatography followed by reversed phase HPLC. Amino acid sequences of 6 individual peptides, including C terminal one, were determined by the automated Edman degradation. A peptide is also revealed which is encoded with the low degeneracy. PMID- 2631685 TI - [Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the 5'-flanking area of the human interleukin 2 gene]. AB - We have cloned human interleukin-2 gene and sequenced its 1'-flanking region ( 1940 to -936). The region contains promoter-like structures having a high degree of homology with the real promoter. PMID- 2631686 TI - [Establishing the structure of anthracyclinones produced by Streptomyces griseoruber]. AB - Streptomyces grisoruber strain 1618-306 produces three types of anthracycline antibiotics, derivatives of epsilon-pyrromycinone (methyl (7S, 9R, 10R)-9-ethyl 5,7,8,9,10,12-hexahydro-1,4,6,7,9-pentahydroxy-5,12-di oxo-10- naphthacenecarboxylate), epsilon-1-hydroxyauramycinone and epsilon-1 hydroxysulfurmycinone, differing in C-9 substituent in D ring of anthracyclines (Et, Met or CH2COCH3, respectively). Besides 7-O-glycosides of these aglycones, complex of antibiotics contains corresponding 7-deoxy- and 7,8,9,10 bisanhydroanthracyclinones. PMID- 2631687 TI - Idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis. An approach to diagnosis and treatment. AB - The cause of recurrent acute pancreatitis can be identified in the majority of patients. A small group of patients in whom an etiological association is not obvious is characterized as idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis (IRP). During the last seven years, we used endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and sphincter of Oddi (SO) manometric pressure studies to investigate 116 patients initially diagnosed as IRP. Forty-four of the 116 patients were found to have a demonstrable cause of their pancreatitis. Appropriate therapeutic intervention was carried out in 43 of these patients with a favorable outcome in the majority of patients noted during long-term follow-up. PMID- 2631688 TI - Vascular stents and atherosclerosis. PMID- 2631689 TI - Exposure to occupational hazards among Hispanics, blacks and non-Hispanic whites in California. AB - Relative risks of exposure to each of six types of occupational injuries and illnesses for Hispanic and Black workers compared to Whites who are not Hispanic were calculated using 1986 California data. Among males, Hispanics faced relative risks of exposure to all hazards adjusted for education and years of work experience of 1.33 (95% CI 1.22, 1.45), while Blacks faced relative risks of 1.17 (1.0, 1.37). Among females, adjusted relative risks were 1.19 (1.09, 1.29) for Hispanics and 1.31 (1.15, 1.50) for Blacks. PMID- 2631690 TI - A perch for primate squeeze cages. PMID- 2631691 TI - Inter-rater reliability of the Crichton Geriatric Behavioural Rating Scale. AB - This study examined the inter-rater reliability of the Crichton Geriatric Behavioural Rating Scale. On consecutive days, two raters interviewed each of the carers of 47 demented subjects. Inter-rater reliability was determined by calculation of the correlation coefficient (r) for individual item scores of interviewers as well as for the total scale score. Most item correlations were acceptably high. The inter-rater reliability of the total scale score was 0.81. PMID- 2631692 TI - Directable cannula for gastrojejunal catheterization. PMID- 2631693 TI - Systemic antibiotics for treatment of the conjunctivitis-otitis media syndrome. AB - In a private pediatric practice setting 114 episodes of conjunctivitis-otitis syndrome were treated with orally administered antibiotics. In 108 (95%) of these infections Haemophilus influenzae was isolated from the pretreatment cultures of the conjunctivae; 61 were susceptible and 47 (44%) were resistant to ampicillin by a disc diffusion technique. Six cultures grew Streptococcus pneumoniae, all ampicillin-susceptible. Symptoms of conjunctivitis disappeared in 2 to 3 days in all but one patient. Of the 48 follow-up conjunctival cultures 3 to 5 days after start of therapy, 46 grew no pathogens. PMID- 2631694 TI - New observations on the healing process in prosthetic substitution of large veins by microporous grafts--animal experiments. AB - Based on the experimental experiences in more than 180 implantations of different materials as venous substitutes segments of the inferior vena cava have been replaced in 34 dogs by Polyurethane (low microporosity) and modified e-PTFE prostheses (increased microporosity of 60 microns and 90 microns fibril length). The 12 months patency rate didn't differ between both tested optimized materials and ranged from 43 to 50%. After a follow-up of 12 months the grafts were taken out and analysed by light, immunofluorescence microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In addition a new technique of microcorrosion casts was used for SEM-analyses. As a result a transmural microvessel system in the microporous meshwork of the prostheses with multiple orifices at the inner surface of the grafts could be demonstrated. Complete endothelialization was only observed in e-PTFE prostheses of high microporosity (greater than 60 microns fiber length). There is strong evidence that a full tissue incorporation of microporous artificial grafts mainly depends on a sufficient primary intramural deposit of blood components (fibrin, platelets, leucocytes), which initiates cell invasion from the surrounding tissue, accompanied by a highly developed microvessel network. A multifocal endothelialization takes place from the numerous microvascular orifices on the inner surface of the prostheses. Other sources such as pannus invasion or adhesion of multipotent cells from the blood stream play probably a very limited role. PMID- 2631695 TI - Neurological impairment in violent schizophrenic inpatients. AB - This study relates violent behavior of schizophrenic inpatients to demographic, historical, EEG, neurological, and neuropsychological variables. Patients were classified into high (N = 28), low (N = 27), or no (N = 34) violence groups. There were no significant differences among the groups on demographic or historical variables, except for prevalence of violent crime, which was higher in both violent groups than in nonviolent patients. Neurological and neuropsychological abnormalities differentiated the groups, with the high violence group evidencing more abnormalities than the other two groups in the area of integrative sensory and motor functions. The authors suggest that violence as well as neurological and neuropsychological deficits may characterize a more severe form of schizophrenia. PMID- 2631696 TI - Diarrhea associated with metastasis from medullary carcinoma of thyroid. AB - Watery diarrhea is a prominent symptom in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MCT) and may occur as the initial symptom and/or during the course of metastatic malignant disease. Death is generally the result of widespread dissemination of the tumour. We report a case with MCT and metastatic disease manifesting with diarrhea and dying due to widespread metastatic disease. PMID- 2631697 TI - Intravenous calcitriol in the treatment of refractory osteitis fibrosa of chronic renal failure. AB - Osteitis fibrosa, a frequent complication of chronic renal failure, is characterized by increased rates of bone formation and bone resorption due to increased secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Effective treatment with oral calcitriol is often impossible in patients with osteitis fibrosa, because low doses may cause hypercalcemia. Because short-term infusions of intravenous calcitriol are capable of suppressing the secretion of parathyroid hormone in patients with uremia without causing hypercalcemia, we evaluated the effectiveness of long-term intermittent calcitriol infusions (1.0 to 2.5 micrograms three times weekly, during dialysis) in treating severe osteitis fibrosa in 12 consecutive patients on hemodialysis whose disease was refractory to conventional therapy. After a mean (+/- SE) treatment period of 11.5 +/- 1.4 months, the mean bone-formation rate declined from 1642 +/- 277 to 676 +/- 106 microns 2 per square millimeter per day (P less than 0.01) in the 11 patients who successfully completed the study. Similar reductions occurred in the osteoblastic osteoid (18 +/- 3 to 9 +/- 2 percent; P less than 0.01) and the degree of marrow fibrosis (6.2 +/- 1.7 to 3.5 +/- 1.3 percent; P = 0.01). Concomitant serum biochemical changes included increased calcium levels (2.55 +/- 0.03 to 2.67 +/- 0.05 mmol per liter; P less than 0.01), decreased alkaline phosphatase levels (489 +/- 77 to 184 +/- 32 U per liter; P less than 0.001), and decreased levels of PTH (amino-terminal, 172 +/- 34 to 69 +/- 16 ng per liter in five patients, P less than 0.03; and carboxy-terminal, 1468 +/- 467 to 1083 +/- 402 ml-eq per liter in six patients, P not significant). Although the majority of the patients had transient episodes of asymptomatic hypercalcemia, this complication could be quickly reversed by temporarily halting treatment or decreasing the dose of calcitriol. We conclude that long-term intermittent infusions of intravenous calcitriol are effective in ameliorating osteitis fibrosa in patients on dialysis. Patients whose osteitis fibrosa is refractory to oral calcitriol and who are candidates for parathyroidectomy should be considered first for intravenous calcitriol therapy. PMID- 2631698 TI - From the Centers for Disease Control. Occupational disease surveillance: carpal tunnel syndrome. PMID- 2631699 TI - A PCR artifact: generation of heteroduplexes. PMID- 2631700 TI - Physicians who have lost their malpractice insurance. Their demographic characteristics and the surplus-lines companies that insure them. AB - The present study analyzes demographic data on 920 physicians who lost their coverage and applied to a "surplus-lines" company that insures essentially all applicants. Our analysis reveals that (1) some specialties are heavily overrepresented in the surplus-lines pool, (2) physicians aged 45 to 54 years are also overrepresented, (3) board certification is seen as frequently in the surplus-lines group as in the US physician population, and (4) the percentage of foreign medical graduates in the surplus-lines pool is virtually the same as that in the US physician population. A model of the actuarial process by which claims data can lead to termination of standard coverage suggests that disproportionate representation of high-risk specialties is not simply a function of a high average claims rate. We also show that, in contrast to joint underwriting associations, surplus-lines companies impose high premiums, large deductibles, and restrictions on practice, all of which are likely to reduce the frequency of negligent behavior. PMID- 2631701 TI - Internal-mammary coronary artery grafts: is their superiority also due to a basically intact endothelium? AB - The internal mammary artery (IMA) is a superior conduit for coronary artery revascularization and many factors have been suggested for explanation of this superiority. IMA and saphenous vein grafts have been systematically analysed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in a series of 11 patients undergoing coronary artery revascularization. At the time of implantation endothelial damage is almost absent in internal-mammary-artery (IMA) grafts; small areas of exposed subendothelial matrix may be present but are essentially non-thrombogenic as reflected by the lack of clots in these areas. In contrast the endothelium of harvested human saphenous veins (SV) shows large thrombogenic defects with exposed collagenous fibrils. The extent and deepness of the defects deteriorated in the period between removal of the vein and its attachment to the aorta. We conclude that long-term superiority of IMA grafts may also be due to the lack of primary intimal defects. PMID- 2631702 TI - Academic sanction. Targeting South African science. AB - Academic sanction, the intentional denial of scholarly exchange for political reasons, presents grave practical and moral problems to the open pursuit of medical science. The focus of this article targets South African science. However, examples of academic sanction in Western Europe, the United States, the Soviet Union, China, Japan, and other areas are given to support the existence of discriminatory restrictions against scientists. Examples and reasons also are offered for and against academic sanction, with the recommendation that academic sanction be pursued only with judgment informed by factual knowledge as well as moral, ethical, and compassionate values. PMID- 2631703 TI - Transfusion of blood and blood products. PMID- 2631704 TI - Early and late prognosis after valve replacement in aortic regurgitation. Preoperative risk stratification and reasons for a more aggressive surgical approach. AB - From 1965 through 1986 136 patients underwent valve replacement for aortic regurgitation. Mean age was 50 years and male:female ratio 3.7:1. Hospital mortality (HM, less than or equal to 30 days) varied with NYHA classes and digitalis/diuretics treatment (D/D):I (n = 80) 0%, II without D/D (n = 17) 0%, II with D/D (n = 21) 5%, III (n = 55) 7%; and IV (n = 35) 29% (p less than 0.01). Long-term survival was examined for 121 patients who were alive 30 days postoperatively. Five- and 10-year cumulative survival +/- SE were 80 +/- 4% and 66 +/- 6%, respectively. No late deaths were noted for NYHA class I and NYHA class II without D/D; NYHA class II with D/D had survival characteristics comparable to NYHA class III with 10-year survivals of 60%. Patients with acute regurgitation (endocarditis, n = 35) had a 10-year survival +/- SE of 88 +/- 5% compared to 57 +/- 7% for chronic regurgitation (p = 0.05). A Cox regression analysis revealed that ventricular ectopic beats, chronic regurgitation, left ventricular failure, and right ventricular failure were independent risk factors. Presence and different combination of these risk factors identified 5 risk groups (A-E) with 10-year survivals of:A (n = 16) 100%; B (n = 50) 75%; C (n = 37) 63%; D (n = 15) 27%; and E (n = 3) 0% (p less than 0.0001). Minimally symptomatic patients without preoperative medical treatment for congestive heart failure had superior survival characteristics compared to those who received treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2631705 TI - Allergic reactions to cold sterilising solutions. PMID- 2631706 TI - Origins of the AIDS virus. PMID- 2631707 TI - Abortion. PMID- 2631708 TI - Reducing liability risks. PMID- 2631709 TI - Urinary infection and febrile infants. PMID- 2631710 TI - Skin testing revisited. PMID- 2631711 TI - CT studies of schizophrenia. PMID- 2631712 TI - The fear questionnaire. PMID- 2631713 TI - Affective 'switch mechanisms'. PMID- 2631714 TI - Possible and up-to-now not-exploited treatment of restenosis. PMID- 2631715 TI - Imaging urinary tract infection in children. PMID- 2631716 TI - [The effect of sodium ions on amino acid and peptide assimilation in the small intestine of developing chicks]. AB - The absorption of free glycine and L-tryptophan as well as amino acids released in the hydrolysis of glycil-L-leucine and glycil-L-tryptophan was studied in vitro with accumulating preparations of intestinal mucosa of 1-65-day old chicken. Two ways of absorption of free and peptide amino acids were found: sodium-dependent and sodium-independent. Intensity of each of them depended on the age of chicken and was dissimilar for the compounds. The sodium-independent way is more important for glycine than for free amino acid. Absorption of glycil L-tryptophan as well as its amino acids is mainly performed by the sodium dependent way. PMID- 2631717 TI - The "snow white" sign. PMID- 2631718 TI - Duodenal ulcer in sickle cell disease. PMID- 2631719 TI - ELISA methods for the estimation of C3d. PMID- 2631720 TI - Erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes in patients with RA. PMID- 2631721 TI - Recurrent benign osteoblastoma of the parietal bone. PMID- 2631722 TI - Problems over litigation. PMID- 2631723 TI - Number clarification requested. PMID- 2631724 TI - Maternal hematocrit and premature labor. PMID- 2631725 TI - Re: Letterman and Schurter: a sitting position for mammaplasty with general anesthesia. PMID- 2631726 TI - Rewarming infants on a heated mattress. PMID- 2631727 TI - Godlewski has drawn attention to the sex ratio of transsexuals requesting sexological treatment in Poland. PMID- 2631728 TI - Health care for blacks in the United States. PMID- 2631729 TI - Castleman's disease of the mediastinum: misleading clinical and radiological characteristics. PMID- 2631730 TI - Species and genus specificity of the intergenic spacer (IGS) in the ribosomal RNA genes of Cucurbitaceae. AB - The use of intergenic spacer (IGS) fragments of plant ribosomal DNA (rDNA) for the differentiation between genera and species is tested by cross-hybridization experiments with different IGS probes of two Cucurbitaceae, Cucurbita pepo (zucchini) and Cucumis sativus (cucumber). Hybridization with cloned fragments of different parts of the IGS of ribosomal DNA exhibit a different degree of conservation within and between the Cucurbitaceae genera. In general, Cucurbita species seem to be closer related to each other than the Cucumis species. A repetitive element of the external transcribed spacer (ETS) shows a more genus specific pattern, reacting only with the respective genera; the region preceding the ETS is conserved between the Cucurbita species but also cross-hybridizes weakly with the Cucumis species. A GC-rich element of the Cucumis sativus IGS ("Cfo-cluster") is present in small amounts in Cucumis melo (melon) and even less represented in other genera of the Cucurbitaceae. PMID- 2631731 TI - Analogical representation of the genetic code in terms of the virtual base "e" and codons of triplets. AB - The analogical representation of the genetic code on base "e" is described. The possible use of the "e" base in codification processes is emphasized. PMID- 2631732 TI - HPLC-determination of apomorphine in a mormyrid fish, gnathonemus petersii. AB - Uptake of apomorphine and elimination kinetics in brain and muscle tissue of the weakly electric fish Gnathonemus petersii (Mormyridae) was determined by HPLC. 20 min exposure of the fish to apomorphine in the aquarium water (0.4 mg/l) resulted in a concentration factor of 1.09 for brain and 0.55 for muscle tissue. Elimination from brain tissue can be described with first order kinetics (t1/2 = 2.4 h). PMID- 2631733 TI - Lipid composition in the classification of Rhodococcus equi. AB - The fatty acid, menaquinone and polar lipid composition of representatives of Rhodococcus equi and related taxa were determined. All of the R. equi strains had major proportions of straight chain saturated, monounsaturated and 10-methyl branched fatty acids, dihydrogenated menaquinones with eight isoprene units as the predominant isoprenologue, and characteristic polar lipid patterns that contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides and glycolipids including a "cord factor"-like compound that was most pronounced in fresh isolates. The mycolic acids of these strains fell within the range C24 to C48, had 0 to 4 double bonds and released major amounts of C14:0 esters on pyrolysis. These lipid data provide further evidence that R. equi strains form a distinct taxospecies within the genus Rhodococcus. The remaining strains also gave lipid profiles consistent with their assignment to the genus Rhodococcus. These organisms included strains identified as R. sputi. PMID- 2631734 TI - Cellular fatty acids and fatty aldehydes of Listeria and Erysipelothrix. AB - The cellular fatty acid composition determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, was found not to differ among Listeria monocytogenes, L. innocua and L. ivanovii. Slight quantitative differences found in the fatty acid pattern of L. welshimeri were significantly pronounced in L. denitrificans. L. murrayi and L. grayi displayed characteristic closely related patterns. Considerable amounts of fatty aldehydes and their dimethyl acetals were observed in hydrolysates and methanolysates of L. seeligeri. The fatty acid composition of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was found to strongly differ from that of Listeria. PMID- 2631735 TI - Application of a biotin-labelled DNA probe to detect Campylobacter. AB - A procedure for direct detection of Campylobacter in feces has been developed using a biotin-labelled DNA probe. A species-specific probe (Bio-pCJ174 probe) for C. jejuni and a multivalent probe (Bio-pooled probe) for the thermotolerant Campylobacter species were developed with Bio-11-dUTP. Both probes were used to detect Campylobacter in 100 specimens of chicken feces. The coincidence rate of the results obtained by the Bio-pooled probe and cultivation was 90% and that of the Bio-pCJ 174 probe and cultivation was 96%. Identification of isolates was also carried out with both probes. PMID- 2631736 TI - Synergism between ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin against gram-negative bacteria in vitro. AB - A combination of ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin was evaluated for synergism employing time-kill experiments. A total of 59 clinical isolates of gram-negative bacteria was examined. All organisms were moderately sensitive or resistant to ciprofloxacin; 72.9% also showed moderate sensitivity or resistance to fosfomycin. After 24 h, synergism was seen in 22% of the strains, i.e. less than reported by other authors. There was no correlation between synergistic action and sensitivity to ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin, respectively. PMID- 2631737 TI - [Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: is it a problem in Mexico?]. PMID- 2631738 TI - [Antimicrobial sensitivity profile of Staphylococcus aureus at a pediatric hospital: prevalence of resistance to methicillin]. AB - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a significant cause of nosocomial infections. In efforts to delineate the magnitude of this problem, we determined the prevalence of MRSA in community acquired (n = 382) and nosocomial strains (n = 207) of S. aureus isolated between Jan 1986 and March 1989. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using an agar dilution method (Muller-Hinton agar supplemented with 4% NaCl incubated to 35 degrees C for 24 h) and MIC breakpoints were determined according to NCCLS standards. We detected (24.2%) MRSA in nosocomial strains and (5%) MRSA in community acquired strains (P less than 0.05), with a global prevalence of 11.7%. The susceptibility of community acquired S. aureus was 90% or higher for dicloxacillin, cephalothin, sulbactam/ampicillin (S/A), clindamycin, rifampicin and amikacin; 85% for cefotaxime and SMX/TMP and only 75% for erythromycin. The susceptibility pattern of the nosocomial strains was consistent with the prevalence of MRSA but the susceptibility for cephalothin, amikacin and sulbactam/ampicillin was 84.4%, 89.4% and 86.5% respectively, significantly higher than for methicillin (P less than 0.05). Although the increased susceptibility for cephalothin and amikacin has been reported for MRSA before, the published reports using these antibiotics in the treatment of MRSA infections are controversial. The increased susceptibility of MRSA to S/A could be explained in part if the MR was mediated by "acquired MR" attributable to B-lactamase production. Our data provide a perspective on the magnitude of MRSA as a problem in a pediatric teaching hospital in Mexico. Moreover, if taken at face value, the in vitro susceptibility data point to various potential treatment options which warrant clinical evaluation. PMID- 2631739 TI - [Factors affecting the duration of maternal breast-feeding in a cohort of urban mothers studied longitudinally]. AB - A prospective study on the incidence and duration of breastfeeding in a cohort of urban women of the city of Tlaxcala was carried-out in a private pediatric clinic from January, 1983 to December, 1987. In a total of 547 women studied, breastfeeding had a median of three months, and only 5% of the children continued to be breastfed at one year of age. Family tradition of breastfeeding, late introduction of solid foods and/or whole milk and less formal education of the mother were factors related with breastfeeding beyond three months. About 70% of the mothers weaned their children claiming a rejection of the breast-milk by the child, a lack of sufficient quantity to fulfill the child's needs or because of their work outside the home. PMID- 2631740 TI - [Neonatal systemic infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes]. AB - Listeria monocytogenes is a gram positive cocco-bacillus which causes perinatal infections and also attacks immunocompromised hosts. Little is known about it in our medium. As part of a prospective study on neonatal systemic infections, its participation at the National Institute of Perinatology was researched. During a period of 18 months, 9,283 live newborns were observed, 141 of them were diagnosed with neonatal septicemia. During this period seven neonates had systemic infections due to Listeria monocytogenes: three had septicemia (two of these with meningitis) and all seven cases had pneumonia. The gestational age of the neonates was 26.1 to 41 weeks (X + DS = 35 + 4.3), with a weight of 830 g to 2,975 g (X + DS 1,958 + 773), four out of seven weighed less than 2,000 grams. The most frequent clinical manifestation was respiratory related causing a need for a differential diagnosis with hyaline membrane disease, transitory tachypnea and meconium swallowing at birth. All of the strains isolated were found to be susceptible to ampicillin, penicillin, gentamicin and amikacin; requiring high CMI levels of cephalosporins. PMID- 2631742 TI - [Biological importance of breast feeding]. PMID- 2631741 TI - [Enterobacterial antigen in human peripheral blood lymphocytes]. AB - The following study has as prior history the research reports which have shown the existence of an antigenic tissue deposit in gram-negative enterobacteria. The antigens of the enterobacteria have also been found in the lymphocytic membranes and cytoplasm. Since intestinal lymphoid tissue cells can recirculate by means of the thoracic duct to the peripheral venous system, it was proposed that the circulating lymphocytes in healthy people could also contain small amounts of a common enterobacterial antigen. The study was carried out in 15 human venous blood samples, of which the lymphocytic population was separated to later be used in the preparation of 15 alcohol soluble extracts. This material was used for inhibiting the immuno-hemolysis assay in three occasions in order to show the presence of antigens shared by different enterobacterias, using as reference a fraction separated from the LPS of Escherichia coli 08. The results showed that the human lymphocytes also had antigenic determinants common to gram-negative bacteria. PMID- 2631743 TI - The incidence of congenital color deficiency among Koreans. AB - It is important to investigate the incidence of congenital color deficiency and to determine the type and degree because the color deficiency can effect as a handicap to certain occupations. The incidence of congenital color deficiency is remarkably constant among Caucasians but other races show considerable variations. We investigated the incidence of congenital color deficiency among Koreans by the use of H-R-R pseudoisochromatic plates. The present study revealed that the incidence of congenital color deficiency among Koreans was 31.5% (5.90% in men, 0.44% in women). PMID- 2631744 TI - Oncogene expressions detected by in situ hybridization of squamous metaplasia, dysplasia and primary lung cancer in human. AB - In order to elucidate the dynamic changes of oncogene expression in the sequential cascade of squamous metaplasia, dysplasia, and squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchial epithelium, hybridization in situ was employed with a biotinylated oncogene probe. The expression of c-myc was localized exclusively in nuclei. While normal bronchial epithelium revealed no discernible clumps of c-myc grains, except occasional grains less than 3 per cell, squamous metaplasia showed increased number of grains and a few clusters of c-myc grains. In dysplasia, c myc expression was more intensive than in squamous metaplasia. Approximately, 1/3 to 2/3 of tumor cell populations of squamous cell carcinomas of the lung revealed tremendously increased c-myc expression. In addition clumpy grains of c-myc in squamous cell carcinoma appeared more frequently than in squamous metaplasia or dysplasia. The c-myc expression was found to vary between different samples and within each cancer, and not all cancer cells expressed c-myc. These data indicate that c-myc oncogene plays it's role on reprogramming for growth control of cell populations particularly in multistage carcinogenesis and progression of lung cancer. These dynamic alterations of c-myc expression suggest that neoplastic transformation may occur conceivably at the dysplastic phase eventually resulting in carcinoma in situ. This means, in turn, squamous dysplasia is a putative precancerous lesion of the human lung. PMID- 2631745 TI - A study on the recent trend and risk factors of cerebrovascular disease. AB - Six hundred eighty seven cases of cerebrovascular disease, confirmed by C-T scan, were evaluated at Hanyang University Hospital from January 1985, to December 1988, and the following results were obtained. 1) The incidence of cerebral infarction was markedly increased in the last 5 years. 2) Cerebral hemorrhage showed a peak age of incidence in the fifties, cerebral infarction in the sixties. 3) Among the preceding diseases at the onset of cerebrovascular disease, hypertension was the most common. 4) Total lipid, Total-cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio were significantly higher in cerebral infarction than in cerebral hemorrhage. 5) Triglyceride concentration and total cholesterol concentration were also higher in cerebral infarction than those of cerebral hemorrhage, but statistically not significant. 6) In cerebral infarction HDL cholesterol concentration was significantly lower than that of cerebral hemorrhage. (p less than 0.01.) 7) In cerebral infarction, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration were significantly higher, respectively, than those of cerebral hemorrhage. PMID- 2631746 TI - Intrathecal meperidine as the sole agent for cesarean section. AB - Recently several reports have described the usefulness of meperidine as the sole agent for spinal anesthesia. In this study, meperidine 50mg mixed with 10% dextrose 0.5ml was used for the spinal anesthetic agent for Cesarean section in 182 cases. The subarachnoid injection of meperidine resulted in anesthesia similar to that noted with the intrathecal administration of local anesthetics. Sensory and motor blockades in all patients with meperidine spinal anesthesia were obtained. Prolonged analgesic effect (453.7 +/- 158.1 minutes) and rapid motor recovery (75.9 +/- 17.2 minutes) were obtained. Side effects included nausea (49 patients), hypotension (95 patients) and pruritus (30 patients). Hypotension was easily treated with rapid hydration and ephedrine. Eighteen patients complained of mild pain during the last period of operation. At birth, all newborns cried immediately and the mean Apgar scores were 9.8 +/- 0.4 at one minute and 10 at 5 minutes. It is concluded that meperidine, which has advantages such as rapid motor recovery, prolonged postoperative analgesia, and mild complications which may be easily treated, can serve as a good alternative agent for spinal anesthesia for Cesarean section. PMID- 2631747 TI - MR demonstration of cryptic vascular malformation producing a palatal myoclonus- a case report. AB - A 47-year-old man had suffered oscillopsia associated with palatal myoclonus for 10 years. High-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a cryptic vascular malformation within the "Guillain-Mollaret triangle" which was thought to be the responsible lesion. PMID- 2631748 TI - Multiple rhabdomyoma of the heart presenting with a congenital supraventricular tachycardia--report of case with ultrastructural study. AB - A case of congenital rhabdomyoma of the heart in a 5-month-old Korean infant is described. The patient presented with a congenital supraventricular tachyarrhymia that was detected in utero by fetal sonography. The tumor was multiple, but no obvious association with tuberous sclerosis complex was demonstrated. Microscopic examination revealed classic "spider cells" with rich glycogen content. Ultrastructurally, the cells contained numerous leptofibrils, clumped Z band material, and desmosome-like cell junctions. The case is a second documented case of cardiac rhabdomyoma in this country, and its presentation as an etiological factor of supraventricular tachycardia is a very unusual manifestation. PMID- 2631749 TI - Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney--a case report. AB - Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) is a highly malignant childhood tumor, distinguished from classic Wilms' tumor by its propensity to metastasize to the skeletal system. Authors described a case of CCSK from a 3-year-old boy in the right kidney, showing various histologic features, such as classic, epithelioid, trabecular, neurilemmoma-like, cystic and entrapped collecting tubular pattern. Ultrastructurally epithelial differentiation was absent. Immunohistochemically, none of the intrinsic tumor cells showed positive staining with the antibodies against the keratin, S-100 protein, carcinoembryonic antigen, vimentin, desmin and myoglobin, suggesting primitive mesenchymal cell in origin. PMID- 2631750 TI - Clear-cell chondrosarcoma--a case report. AB - Clear-cell chondrosarcoma, a recently specified entity, is a low-grade malignant tumor and has characteristic clinical, roentgenographic and pathologic findings which separate it from conventional chondrosarcoma and other benign tumors. Therefore, correct diagnosis is important from the viewpoint of both prognosis and therapeutic approach. We report a case of typical recurrent clear-cell chordirosarcoma. Typical round cells with clear cytoplasm, large nuclei, and small nucleoli were wellnoted. The clear cytoplasm was faintly positive in PAS staining. Electronmicroscopic study showed that these cells were of chondroid origin, showing indented nuclei, large dilated endoplasmic reticulum cisternae, bundles of actin-like filaments and a few glycogen particles. PMID- 2631751 TI - The dental cosmetics product market: tips for making it through the maze. PMID- 2631752 TI - Insurance game winners line up all the aces. PMID- 2631753 TI - Insightful consideration goes far in motivating dental personnel. PMID- 2631754 TI - [Dental health of retired pensioners who live at home]. PMID- 2631755 TI - WDA's interpretation of the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct. PMID- 2631756 TI - Marquette's Dental School is a crucial Wisconsin resource. PMID- 2631758 TI - Paid dental: everyone's choice. PMID- 2631757 TI - Explanation of MUSOD Action Plan. PMID- 2631759 TI - [Noise and its effect on the health of personnel in the dental section of the C.E.S. Specialist Center]. PMID- 2631760 TI - [Skeletal growth and pubertal development in Valle del Aburra individuals]. PMID- 2631761 TI - [Incidence of the presence of hepatitis B virus surface antigens in a group of 3rd, 4th and 5th C.E.S. dental students]. PMID- 2631762 TI - [Evaluation of the reproducibility of condylar position with a verifier, in children in mixed dentition, using two mandibular relation technics]. PMID- 2631763 TI - [Mercury levels in auxiliary dental personnel in the CES Specialist Center (Sabaneta, Antioquia)]. PMID- 2631764 TI - [Biomechanics of orthodontics for the general dentist]. PMID- 2631765 TI - [Stomatologic atlas. Mucous retention phenomenon]. PMID- 2631766 TI - [Research program in the pregraduate, postgraduate and profesoreal body of the C.E.S. Dental School]. PMID- 2631767 TI - Low background scintillation counting. AB - Counting radioactive samples with Beckman Instrument's Ready Caps, using a restricted energy window, LL-UL = 400-1000, resulted in machine backgrounds of under 2 cpm and efficiencies of counting relative to liquid scintillation cocktails (LSC) of 51%, 65%, 57%, 62%, and 1% for 32P, 125I, 14C, 35S and 3H, respectively. Signal-to-noise ratios from a quantitative molecular hybridization technique were increased 8-10 fold. There may be a general application for this product in experiments yielding low amounts of radioactivity in liquid samples. PMID- 2631768 TI - Southern blot analysis of polymerase chain reaction products on acrylamide gels. PMID- 2631769 TI - A rapid procedure for creating nested sets of deletions using mini-prep plasmid DNA samples. PMID- 2631770 TI - Rapid preparation of proteins for crystallization trials. PMID- 2631771 TI - Simple screening for the presence of antibiotic resistant CAT gene plasmids in bacteria. PMID- 2631772 TI - Photon counting imaging: applications in biomedical research. AB - Photon counting imaging, a technique capable of imaging at the single photon level, is finding applications in biological research and is providing unprecedented views of ultra-low light level phenomena. In combination with the optical microscope, this technique has provided a means of directly visualizing gene expression in single cells, imaging metabolites in tumor tissue and visualizing the chemiluminescence associated with oxidative metabolism in phagocytic cells. At the macroscopic level, it has greatly extended the sensitivity of detection in protein blots and has been applied as an image luminometer to assay microtiter plates. The technique holds great promise for use with fluorescence- and luminescence-based methods in many fields of research. PMID- 2631773 TI - The ultra-high resolution scanning electron microscope and some applications to biological studies. PMID- 2631774 TI - Rapid protein matrix reduction by a hydrophobic interaction-based solid phase extraction method. PMID- 2631775 TI - A simple and inexpensive system to amplify DNA by PCR. PMID- 2631776 TI - Migration in polyacrylamide gels of the 80K protein substrate for protein kinase C in mouse fibroblasts is dependent on the choice of crosslinker. PMID- 2631777 TI - A dedicated database program for cataloging recombinant clones and other laboratory products of molecular biology technology. AB - A novel computer database program dedicated to storing, cataloging, and accessing information about recombinant clones and libraries has been developed for the IBM (or compatible) personal computer. This program, named CLONES, also stores information about bacterial strains and plasmid and bacteriophage vectors used in molecular biology. The advantages of this method are improved organization of data, fast and easy assimilation of new data, automatic association of new data with existing data, and rapid retrieval of desired records using search criteria specified by the user. Individual records are indexed in the database using B trees, which automatically index new entries and expedite later access. The use of multiple windows, pull-down menus, scrolling pick-lists, and field-input techniques make the program intuitive to understand and easy to use. Daughter databases can be created to include all records of a particular type, or only those records matching user-specified search criteria. Separate databases can also be merged into a larger database. This computer program provides an easy-to use and accurate means to organize, maintain, access, and share information about recombinant clones and other laboratory products of molecular biology technology. PMID- 2631778 TI - A Macintosh program for the management of DNA clones generated by combinatorial cassette or saturation mutagenesis. PMID- 2631779 TI - Application of theoretical considerations to the analysis of ELISA data. AB - Solid-phase immunoassays such as the ELISA are in routine use in many areas of biological research. Data from these assays are analyzed in a variety of ways, frequently without taking into account the immunochemical principles of the assay. The Reference Standard Method is often used and is suitable and convenient for obtaining concentration (or activity) values from the antigen-specific ELISA or spRIA, sandwich assays, and inhibition assays. The standard curve required for this method may be obtained by simple linear regression analysis of logarithmic or logitlogarithmic transformed data obtained from titration of the reference standard. The shape of the logarithmic plot of the reference standard provides information on the performance of the assay. Examining data from multiple dilutions of the samples is essential to assure that each titrates with the same slope as does the reference standard; the analysis routine must permit this comparison to be made. ELISANALYSIS is a program for the IBM PC which was developed to perform such analyses. It is presented here as a model, with sufficient information provided for the development of similar analytical routines by interested users. This approach to ELISA data analysis is presented as an alternative to complicated empirical curve-fitting systems and simple endpoint methods, which can be immunochemically misleading or, in some cases, even invalid. The consistent use of the described routines would encourage greater uniformity in the means of data interpretation and thereby enhance our understanding of immunobiology. PMID- 2631780 TI - NMR microscopy--a new biological tool. PMID- 2631781 TI - Video-enhanced differential interference contrast light microscopy. PMID- 2631782 TI - Quantitative autoradiography of dot blots using a microwell densitometer. AB - We have established conditions for the quantitation of DNA hybridization by "reading" dot blot autoradiographs with a microwell plate densitometer. This method is more convenient, as accurate, and more sensitive than counting the spots in a liquid scintillation counter. PMID- 2631783 TI - Modifications for SDS-PAGE of proteins. PMID- 2631784 TI - The polymerase chain reaction colony miniprep. PMID- 2631785 TI - Analysis of T cell receptor transcripts using the polymerase chain reaction. AB - The immune system is composed of two major types of lymphocytes, called B and T cells, that recognize foreign antigens. Recognition of antigens is accomplished through the generation of a large repertoire of different cell surface receptors, called immunoglobulins (Igs) on B cells and T cell receptors (TCRs) on T cells. The elucidation of Ig structure and molecular genetics preceded that of the TCR because of the greater abundance of Ig protein and mRNA. Although studies of TCRs have recently shed light on many of the issues of T cell recognition, the process of examining TCR gene structure has been tedious. Such analyses are also difficult because of the time required for the production, maintenance, and culturing of T cell clones. This report describes several strategies that use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze very rapidly the structure of TCRs. Specific manipulations of the amplified material are discussed, as are the advantages of using the PCR to study TCR diversity. PMID- 2631786 TI - A simple plant and tissue culture growth chamber for the regeneration of tobacco mesophyll protoplasts. AB - The isolation and regeneration of tobacco mesophyll protoplasts from fully developed leaves, an important methodological step in plant genetic engineering as well as in plant cell biology and physiology, has been proven unreliable to the extent that it has become a significant setback to basic research. This unfortunate situation is primarily due to the suboptimal physiological state of greenhouse-grown protoplast donor plants. A technically simple and inexpensive method, based on the utilization of commercial Phototron units, is described for the production of suitable tobacco donor plants. Furthermore, a modified version of such a culture unit can be used to regenerate plants from protoplast-derived calli. PMID- 2631787 TI - A simple method to prevent membranes from touching during western blot incubations. PMID- 2631788 TI - Polymerase chain reaction in restriction enzyme mapping. PMID- 2631789 TI - Preparation of protoplasts of Ustilago violacea for transformation and pulse field electrophoresis. PMID- 2631790 TI - A simple and sensitive method for quantifying human genomic DNA in forensic specimen extracts. AB - The analysis of DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms by Southern blot hybridization requires that sufficient quantities of high molecular weight genomic DNA be extracted from biological specimens. Prior to analysis, it is necessary to determine the quantity and quality of the extracted DNA. For many applications, it is also desirable to determine the amount of DNA which is of human origin. In this report, we describe a simple and highly sensitive procedure for the specific quantification of human genomic DNA in forensic extracts or any biological sample. A small fraction of the extract is immobilized onto a nylon membrane and subsequently hybridized to p17H8 (D17Z1), a cloned probe which detects highly repetitive, primate-specific alpha satellite DNA. The procedure requires less than four hours to complete and can be used to quantify subnanogram amounts of hybridizable human genomic DNA. PMID- 2631791 TI - Construction of mRNA genes for the synthesis and translation of duck alpha globin mRNA. AB - In studies of the effects of changes in mRNA structure and sequence on the initiation of protein synthesis, we used a generally applicable approach to transcribe reconstructed genes for duck alpha A globin by the bacteriophage SP6 RNA polymerase promoter in a pGEM-2 plasmid vector. The genes were reconstructed such that the first nucleotide to be transcribed, the 5' adenosine, was placed directly adjacent to the SP6 promoter sequence. The 3' ends of the genes were constructed such that cleavage with Ssp 1 endonuclease yielded a template that directed the synthesis of mRNA terminating in a poly A tail containing 56 adenosines and a single 3' uridine. Special conditions using a Mn++ buffer were developed to enable the SP6 RNA polymerase to initiate at the 5' adenosine and synthesize the A-start transcription product. The mRNA could be capped and was subsequently used as an effective template for in vitro translation and synthesis of duck alpha A globin. PMID- 2631792 TI - The catalysis of protein and nucleic acid coupling to an affinity membrane substrate. AB - With the model ligands studies, which included IgG, HSA, streptavidin, MEA and amine-modified DNA, it was possible to enhance the rate of covalent immobilization by using nucleophilic acylation reaction catalysts. Imidazole, triazole and 2-hydroxypyridine are readily available catalysts that are effective when immobilizing immunoglobins. 4-N,N,Dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) as a co reactant or as a prereactant is a potent rate enhancer with all of the molecules that were examined. The precise protocol to be used is probably best derived empirically. In addition to optimizing the amount of ligand bound or the amount of time necessary to bind a fixed quantity of ligand, it is likely that the retained functionality of the ligand may be affected by the use of reaction catalysts. PMID- 2631793 TI - An adaptor strategy to subclone entire cDNA libraries as single insert recombinants. AB - The current methods for subcloning entire cDNA libraries usually result in a significant portion of recombinants containing multiple inserts, since in most instances the inserts derived from the library to be subcloned are released as a bulk of self-ligatable DNA fragments. By use of an adaptor strategy, a method is presented to confer noncompatible ends to primarily self-ligatable inserts, resulting in efficient subcloning of entire libraries as single insert recombinants. PMID- 2631794 TI - Regulating the 3'-5' activity of exonuclease III by varying the sodium chloride concentration. PMID- 2631795 TI - Examining protein translocation in cell-free systems and microinjected Xenopus oocytes. AB - A variety of assays have been developed which permit rapid and unambiguous determination of the membrane topology adopted by newly synthesized proteins. Cell-free systems and microinjected Xenopus oocytes are two of the most attractive approaches for characterizing the elements in both the nascent polypeptide and the membrane which together determine the final orientation of the protein in the membrane. Careful analysis of the mechanism of protein translocation using these methods has revealed a number of unusual topologies. The applications of a number of different assays for endoplasmic reticulum membrane translocation are described for the most commonly used cell-free systems (wheat germ and reticulocyte lysate), as well as for microinjected Xenopus oocytes. PMID- 2631796 TI - Improved retroviral vectors for gene transfer and expression. AB - We describe a set of murine retrovirus-based vectors that include unique cloning sites for insertion of cDNAs such that the cDNA can be driven by either the retroviral long terminal repeat, the immediate early promoter of human cytomegalovirus, or the simian virus 40 early promoter. The vectors carry the neomycin phosphotransferase gene expressed from an alternate promoter as a selectable marker. These vectors have been constructed to prevent viral protein synthesis from the remaining viral sequences, to yield high-titer virus stocks after introduction into retrovirus packaging cells, and to eliminate homologous overlap with viral DNAs present in retrovirus packaging cells in order to prevent helper virus production. Methods for generating high-titer virus are described. PMID- 2631797 TI - Genetic regulation of lipopolysaccharide responses in NZB mice. AB - Several of the autoimmune defects of NZB mice have been linked to chromosome 4 where the Lps gene which regulates B cell activation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is found. Thus, studies of an NZB.Lpsd strain may facilitate functional analysis of B cell hyperactivity. To develop NZB.Lpsd mice, the Lpsd mutation of C57BL/10ScN mice was further characterized by studying the influence of Lpsd on LPS-induced spleen cell proliferation colony-stimulating factor (CSF) production, and B cell colony-forming unit (CFU-B) proliferation in (C57BL/10SnJ X C57BL/10ScN) F1 X C57BL/10ScN mice. Twenty-one of 27 backcross offspring demonstrated concordance of results in the three assays indicating common genetic regulation of these traits. Subsequently, the Lps allele of NZB mice was characterized by determining the mitogen responsiveness, CSF production and CFU-B proliferation of (NZB X C57BL/10ScN) F1 X C57BL/10ScN mice. In addition, concordance of assortment of the C57BL/10ScN Mupb allele and LPS unresponsiveness was verified. Results of these assays were concordant in 12 of 14 backcross mice, indicating that NZB LPS responsiveness is also regulated by a gene or closely linked set of genes on chromosome 4. Further, the LPS responsiveness of homozygous fifth backcross NZB.Lpsd mice was significantly diminished compared to that of NZB mice. Interestingly, the hypergammaglobulinemia and anti-DNA antibody levels in 6-month-old Lpsd mice did not differ from those of NZB mice despite the absence of LPS-responsive CFU-B. PMID- 2631798 TI - H-2 antigens and tumour-associated transplantation antigens in clones derived from a methylcholanthrene-induced BALB/c tumour: their influence on the generation in vitro and in vivo of the specific anti-tumour immune response. AB - The methylcholanthrene GR9 tumour is a fibrosarcoma, originated in a BALB/c (H 2d) mouse, composed of different clones (A7, G2, D8, D6, B11, B3, B7, C11, B10, B9) with different class I (Kd Dd Ld) expression. We present data indicating that MHC class I differences observed between the different clones correlated with RNA levels and can be modified with recombinant interferon-gamma. We also studied the presence of tumour-associated antigens in GR9 and their different clones using the monoclonal antibody (MoAb) technology. We produced two syngeneic MoAbs, A7.2 and A7.6, which reacted to GR9 clones. These MoAbs precipitated a 70-kilodalton molecule and did not react with cells positive for the classical Gp70 antigen such as YC-8, LSTRA (H-2d) and RBL-5 (H-2b) lymphomas. A7.2 and A7.6 MoAbs were also negative with normal cells. In this well-characterized tumour model, we analysed the influence of the expression of class I molecules and tumour associated antigens upon the generation, in vitro and in vivo, of the specific anti-tumour immune response. We produced syngeneic anti-GR9 A7 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) which showed significant cytotoxicity against most of the GR9 clones including clones with low or no H-2 class I expression. These CTLs showed no cytotoxic activity against other tumour cells and concanavalin A blasts, neither could the CTL-specific response be inhibited with A7.2 and A7.6 syngeneic MoAbs nor with a panel of anti-class I MoAbs. In vivo experiments have shown that pre-immunization with the immunogenic clone GR9 A7 protects against a challenge of the different GR9 clones, independently of their class I expression and their in vitro susceptibility to lysis by anti-GR9 A7 CTLs. These results demonstrate the existence of cross-reactive tumor-associated transplantation antigens between different clones of the same tumour and the absence of correlation between in vitro susceptibility to lysis and in vivo tumour rejection. Finally, we discuss these results in the context of anti-tumour effector mechanisms generated in chemically induced tumours. PMID- 2631799 TI - Sheep major histocompatibility (OLA) complex: apparent involvement in a flock endemic infection by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. AB - In a Prealpe flock with endemic infection by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, some sires seem to have transmitted some resistance traits not yet genetically defined. In sire progenies including offspring with and without abscess, abscesses occurred independently of the transmitted sire's OLA haplotype. However, in all considered offspring, some OLA antigens were positively or negatively associated with the delayed occurrence of abscess. The three antigens OLA-A4, A10, B6 were positively associated with delayed abscess and negatively with early abscess. Conversely, antigen OLA-A2 was negatively associated with delayed abscess and to a less extent positively with early abscess. When the three following groups of offspring without abscess (a), with late abscess (b) and with early abscess (c) were compared, frequencies of genes OLA-A4, A10, B6 on the one hand, OLA-A2 on the other hand, varied inversely, which shows that the OLA complex is linked to, at least, one locus from which the genes are implied in the delay of abscess formation (or precocity). Similarly, antigen OL-X5, loosely linked with the OLA complex, appeared to be positively associated with recurrent abscess and negatively with unique abscess. The observed associations were probably caused by linkage disequilibria between OLA (and OL) genes and genes influencing either the abscess delay or recurrence. PMID- 2631800 TI - [Motor complications in Parkinson disease, in patients undergoing levodopa therapy]. PMID- 2631801 TI - [Pneumoencephalos: etiology, pathologic significance and diagnosis. Apropos of 13 observations]. AB - Thirteen cases of pneumoencephalos attended at our hospital in a four-year period are reported. All the cases were men; mean age was 47.2 years. The most frequent cause was injury (seven cases) followed by surgical procedures (five cases); in one case, pneumoencephalos was secondary to barotrauma. In the initial period, the most frequent clinical features were impairment of level of consciousness and psychomotor agitation (84%), whereas in the established period, deep coma (Glasgow scale less than or equal to 7) predominated in 69% of patients. Only 16% of patients complained of headache. The most frequent localization of gas was in subdural space (54% of cases) followed by subarachnoid space (23% of cases). Twenty-three percent of patients presented tension pneumoencephalos. With respect to distribution of gas, 53% of patients presented pneumatocele, 38% of patients had pneumoencephalos, and 15% presented a laminar distribution of the gas. Pneumoencephalos is usually associated to a high mortality rate; 53% of our patients died. In the postsurgical group, mortality rate was 60% and in the posttraumatic group, mortality rate was 43%. PMID- 2631802 TI - [Prognosis factors in conservatively treated patients with non-traumatic supratentorial intracerebral hematoma]. AB - We have carried out a retrospective study of 90 patients who were diagnosed of non traumatic supratentorial intracerebral hematoma by computerized tomography and received conservative treatment. Clinical features and laboratory and radiographic findings during acute stage as well as the course of the patients during hospital stay (mean, 34 days) are analyzed. The overall mortality rate was 21%. The factors having a significant influence on prognosis were: degree of neurologic impairment at admission, degree of motor impairment at admission, progression of neurologic impairment after the admission, level of glycemia at admission, extent of the hematoma, and presence of mass effect in CT. We conclude that the extent of the hematoma and the level of glycemia at admission are the primary prognostic factors without being related to each other. The "critical" values were 40 cc for the extent of the hematoma and 130 mg/dl for glycemia at admission. Patients with higher values had a poorer prognosis with a worse clinical condition at discharge. PMID- 2631803 TI - [Pyramidal intermittent claudication as isolated manifestation of multiple sclerosis]. PMID- 2631804 TI - [Flat electroencephalogram with pupillary miosis]. PMID- 2631805 TI - [Early sign of extensive cerebral infarct: arterial hyperdensity in non-contrast computerized tomography]. PMID- 2631806 TI - [Motor complications in patients with Parkinson disease treated with levodopa]. AB - Motor complications appearing in 180 patients with Parkinson's disease who received levodopa for a long period are reviewed. The most frequently observed motor disorders were wearing off fluctuations and dyskinesias of "dose benefit". Most patients who presented a decrease in the response to levodopa developed signs during the course or findings in complementary tests which were incompatible with the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. In the present study, the duration of the treatment with levodopa and the duration of the disease varied in parallel in such a way that it was not possible to individualize the relative importance of both factors in the development of the observed motor complications. PMID- 2631807 TI - Effects of intragenic recombination on Est-alpha allele frequencies in natural populations of Drosophila virilis. AB - Relationships between the occurrence frequencies of intragenic recombinants and the allele frequencies at the Est-alpha locus were examined in two ecological populations of Drosophila virilis. The effective occurrence rate of recombinant alleles is on the average 0.95 X 10(-5). The effects of the recombination were slightly recognized in terms of the allele frequencies. PMID- 2631808 TI - Evolutionary genetics of the Drosophila montium subgroup. I. Reproductive isolations and the phylogeny. AB - Seventeen species of the Drosophila montium subgroup, originated from the Southeast Asia, were genetically examined to clarify the phylogenetic relationships. Among 272 interspecific crosses, 61 combinations were successful in mating and 39 combinations produced hybrid flies. These results enabled us to classify the subgroup into three species complexes: the kikkawai complex (6 species), the jambulina complex (4 species) and the auraria complex (7 species), which were very similar to that obtained by the electrophoretic classification (Ohnishi and Watanabe, 1984). Asymmetrical mating preference between species was found in the present experiment. They were applied to estimate the relative age of species according to the hypothesis proposed by Watanabe and Kawanishi (1979). The evolving order was as follows: kikkawai, leontia, pennae, lini-like, lini, bocki in the kikkawai complex, punjabiensis, punjabiensis-like, jambulina, barbarae in the jambulina complex, and quadraria, yuwanensis, rufa, subauraria, biauraria, triauraria, auraria in the auraria complex. Hybrid flies, if produced, were mostly fertile or partially fertile in both sexes (32/39) within species complex crosses. Therefore premating isolation played a more important role than postmating isolation in speciation of the D. montium subgroup. PMID- 2631809 TI - [Recent developments of the neutral theory of molecular evolution, and a world view based on the neutral theory]. PMID- 2631810 TI - Detection of a null allele for MDH isozymes in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), with special reference to sex-linked inheritance. AB - Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) was examined by starch gel electrophoresis for strain differences in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata. The electrophoretic patterns revealed duplicate gene loci encoding a mitochondrial form of MDH and the existence of a null allele at one of the duplicate loci. Different phenotypic frequencies at Mdh-4 were observed among 9 strains and between males and females within each strain. The progeny tests for Mdh-4 variants in the inter-strain crosses indicated a mode of partial sex-linked inheritance. PMID- 2631811 TI - [Evaluation of left ventricular function after myocardial infarct using equilibrium radionuclide angiography. 1-year follow-up]. AB - OBJECTIVE: To study the evolution of left ventricular (LV) function in the 1st year after acute myocardial infarction (MI) and to define its prognostic significance. DESIGN: Patients recovering from acute MI submitted to evaluation of LV function by equilibrium radionuclide angiography (RNA) at the time of discharge, three months later and at 12 months of follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 93 patients suffering an acute transmural MI were submitted to equilibrium RNA. Studies were taken at time of discharge, 3 and 12 months of follow-up. 19 patients had just the 1st study; in 14 the one year follow-up study was not performed. The other 60 include the group submitted to 1 year follow-up. We used the technic of labelled erytrocites in vivo, with acquisition of the blood pool gated with EKG in left lateral. PAGE protocol from GE has been used for processing of images. RESULTS: Mean global ejection fraction (EF) was 20.6 +/ 8.5% for anterior MI with LV failure and 40.2 +/- 14.5% for those without failure; in inferior MI it was 49.9 +/- 12.3% and for combined MI 30.3 +/- 9.5%. The differences between these values are statistically significant. For the 56 patients in which the 1st and 2nd examination were taken we found no significant differences between the mean values for global EF in the 4 groups previously considered. Conversely, we couldn't find a significant difference between the mean EF in the 4 groups, when we compared the values of early (1st and 2nd examinations) test with those of 12 months follow-up. 10 patients (10.8%) died in the 1 year follow-up. All had global EF lower than normal: 33% of deaths in the group with EF less than 20%; 14% in the subset with EF between 20 and 30%; 8% in the sub-group with EF between 30 and 45%. As far as regional motion is concerned we noticed that changes include both the necrotic and the spared areas. We didn't found significant differences between the contribution of necrotic and viable myocardium to the positive or negative variation of global EF, in the 4 groups of infarction considered. Apical segment seems to have an important contribution for global EF changes, both in anterior and inferior MI. CONCLUSION: In this group of patients with acute MI, followed for 12 months, we noticed a higher degree of LV dysfunction in the group of anterior MI. The values of LVEF measured early after the acute attach, usually at hospital discharge are stable along the follow-up, unless major cardiac episodes develop. All the deaths along the one year follow up had LV dysfunction with EF below 45%. Prognostic "quod vitam" worsened while EF decreased, with a death rate of 33% in the sub-group with global EF less than 20%, and 28% considering those with EF below 30%. In relation with regional motion we found that changes may be elicited both in the necrotic and spared segments. We emphasize the contribution of the apical area to the changes in global EF. PMID- 2631812 TI - [Clinical methods for evaluating infarct size and its anatomic correlations. A study conducted with 193 cases. II. Evaluation of infarct size by determining maximal creatine phosphokinase in serum. Enzimatico-anatomic correlations]. AB - AIMS: To compare the infarct size calculated by the peak serum CK method with the anatomic infarct size in a population dying of acute myocardial infarction. CONCEPT AND PLACE OF THE STUDY: To use the method of peak serum CK in the assessment of infarct size, calculated by a method developed by the authors, in a population dying of acute myocardial infarction in a coronary care unit. METHODS: 193 patients who successively died with acute myocardial infarction entered the study. After establishing the exclusion criteria the anatomical infarct size was measured using the method developed by the authors of myocardial slices after fixation of the heart and by the peak CK method. The two methods were correlated using linear regression curves. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A global correlation between the two methods was found although wide scattered values were found. After dividing the population in several subgroups, the analysis showed that survival below 48 hours, death in left ventricular failure, inferior infarcts and reinfarction influenced negatively this correlation. The anatomical method showed its value for this kind of evaluation having always in mind its known limitations. The enzyme method looked less discriminating as peak CK, obtained by 12 h sampling will seldom reflect the peaks of CK liberation curve. As the study was applied to a population of patients dying of acute myocardial infarction its results cannot be applied without caution to a population of survivors. We anticipate that in such a population peak CK will have a better correlation with real CK peaks even with 12 hours sampling and therefore reflecting more accurately infarct size. PMID- 2631813 TI - [Calculation of the pulmonary to systemic flow ratio using echo-Doppler in septal defects--correlation with oximetry]. AB - OBJECTIVE: 1. local validation of a protocol of measurement of pulmonary to systemic flow ratio (QP/QS) by echo-Doppler in children with septal defects; 2. to assess continuous wave Doppler efficacy mainly in those patients where peak pulmonary flow velocity was beyond the Nyquist limit of pulsed Doppler. DESIGN: To correlate QP/QS ratio determined by echo-Doppler with that obtained by cardiac catheterization (oximetric method) performed within 48 hours, in children with isolated septal defects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The QP/QS ratio was evaluated by pulsed and or continuous wave echo-Doppler in 50 children who were submitted within 48 hours to cardiac catheterization. All children had an intracardiac shunt (12 atrial septal defects--ASD; 26 ventricular septal defects--VSD and 12 atrio ventricular septal defects--AVDS). Identical measurements were performed in a group of 20 children without cardiac malformation--control group. To test inter observer variability, all the measurement in 31 patients were repeated by a second observer. Pulmonary and aortic flow was calculated as: Q = A x V x ET x CF where, A is the valvular orifice area (cm2), V the mean flow velocity (cm/sec), ET the ejection time (sec) and CF the cardiac frequency (cycles/min). The Doppler beam-flow direction angle in the pulmonary (P) artery and ascending aorta (Ao) was less than 20 degrees. Results were correlated with those obtained by catheterization (oximetric method). RESULTS: We obtained a fairly good correlation with both pulsed wave Doppler (n = 43; r = 0.88; p less than 0.001; y = 0.84x + 0.40) and continuous wave Doppler (n = 50; r = 0.91; p less than 0.001; y = 0.86x + 0.35) or with pulsed wave Doppler in the P artery and continuous wave Doppler in the Ao (n = 43; r = 0.92; p less than 0.001; y = 0.86x + 0.27). In the control group, QP/QS ratio was evaluated by echo-Doppler: pulsed wave Doppler at 1.05 +/- 0.15 (mean +/- DS); continuous wave Doppler at 1.05 +/- 0.12 and, pulsed wave Doppler in the P artery and continuous wave Doppler in the Ao at 1.03 +/- 0.12. There was no significant difference in all three groups to the normal range of 1.00 (p less than 0.01). Inter-observer variability was less than 5.5% (p less than 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pulsed and/or continuous wave echo-Doppler measurements are a reliable noninvasive method in evaluating QP/QS ratio in children with isolated septal defects. PMID- 2631814 TI - [Early left ventricular dysfunction in acute myocardial infarct. Evaluation using imaging methods]. AB - A patient admitted in a Coronary Care Unit with an acute anterior myocardial infarction, is presented. He had initially normal left ventricular function and, on the 11th day he had, suddenly, an acute pulmonary edema. The reason for this episode was detected through imaging techniques--echocardiography and isotopic studies, and consisted on infarct expansion with early evolution for apical aneurysm. Contrast angiography confirmed the presence of a huge aneurysm and two vessels disease. Tallium Scintigraphy showed reversible ischemia beyond necrotic areas. The patient was submitted to aneurysmectomy and received three aorto coronary bypass. He is now doing well, in class I, NYHA. The discussion emphasizes the actual role of imaging techniques in the diagnosis of infarct expansion and early functional aneurysm. We discuss the prognostic of infarct expansion and the importance of perfusion studies on defining areas of myocardium in jeopardy, enabling a better surgical approach. PMID- 2631815 TI - [Organ and system involvement in arterial hypertension and its classification]. PMID- 2631816 TI - [Mitral valvotomy: scalpel or balloon?]. AB - Comparison of results of percutaneous double balloon mitral valvotomy with open surgical valvotomy. The results in 85 patients with mitral stenosis who had successful balloon mitral valvotomy, using 20 + 20 mm diameter balloon catheters, were compared with the results achieved in a group of 85 patients who had elective open mitral valvotomy. Both groups were of similar age. The mean mitral valve area increased from 0.9 +/- 0.2 to 2.0 +/- 0.3 cm2 (p less than 0.001) after balloon valvotomy. The mean mitral valve area increased from 0.9 +/- 0.3 to 2.2 +/- 0.6 cm2 (p less than 0.001) following surgical open valvotomy. Overall, results of balloon mitral valvotomy are comparable to open surgical mitral valvotomy. PMID- 2631817 TI - [Automatic processing of clinical information related to 2334 myocardial infarcts consecutively hospitalized at a coronary care unit]. AB - OBJECTIVE: Brief description of a clinical information system and its application to 2334 cases of acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN: To evaluate the influence on intra-hospital prognosis of 22 clinical characteristics observed in patients on the acute phase of myocardial infarction admitted to a coronary care unit. SETTING: Coronary care unit. PATIENTS: 2334 cases of myocardial infarction admitted sequentially to a coronary care unit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A locally developed computerized information system was used. Software was organized in a modular way in order to turn available simplicity, flexibility and expandibility which are requisites of an automatic information system operating in a coronary unit. Following characteristics were evaluated: age and sex; previous myocardial infarction, angina, hypertension, diabetes, tabagism and hyperlipidemia; electrocardiographic localization of the infarction; ventricular dysfunction as evaluated by Killip classes; supraventricular and ventricular dysrhythmias; auriculo ventricular and intraventricular blocks; epistenocardic pericarditis; intra-hospital extension of the infarction; transient episode of hypertension and post-infarction angina. Statistical association between these characteristics and intra-hospital mortality was evaluated. Statistical significance was considered with a p less than 0.05. RESULTS: Statistical significant differences were found between surviving and non-surviving patients in the following characteristics: age and sex; previous history of myocardial infarction, angina and diabetes; Killip classes distribution; electrocardiographic localization of the infarction; intra-hospital extension of the infarction; auriculoventricular block, left and right bundle branch block; supraventricular and ventricular dysrhythmias. Patients with a previous history of tabagism and hyperlipidemia had a lesser mortality and were younger than the patients without these characteristics. Patients with transient episodes of hypertension and epistenocardic pericarditis had a lesser hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Local development of a computerized information system turned available clinical information of 2334 patients sequentially admitted to a coronary care unit. A worse intra-hospital prognosis was present in the following groups of patients: older patients and females; patients with a previous history of infarction, angina and diabetes; anterior myocardial infarction, left ventricular dysfunction as evaluated by Killip classes, ventricular and supraventricular dysrhythmias, auriculoventricular and intraventricular blocks, transient episodes of hypertension and extension of the infarction. Patients with a previous history of tabagism and hyperlipidemia had a lesser mortality; however, there patients were younger than other. Patients with transient episodes of hypertension on first hours of infarction and those who had epistenocardic pericarditis had a lesser mortality. PMID- 2631818 TI - [Clinical methods for evaluating infarct size and its anatomic correlations. Study carried out in 193 cases. III. Comparison of data on the evaluation of the infarct size using the QRS score and a method of maximal creatine kinase determination in the serum]. AB - AIMS: To compare two methods concerning the clinical evaluation of infarct size- one using a QRS score, the other based on peak Ck values--applied to the same population. CONCEPT AND PLACE OF THE STUDY: to determine--based on previously established correlations between a QRS score and the anatomic total infarct size on one hand, and between the peak CK values and the anatomic recent infarct size on the other hand--which myocardial infarction subgroup constitutes the best indication for each method. The study took place in a Coronary Care Unit of a Central Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 193 patients who died successively of acute myocardial infarction through out 4 years were studied. After establishing the exclusion criteria, the QRS score was calculated according to the method of Selvester modified by Wagner, and peak CK values were evaluated. Infarct size, either recent or old, was determined by means of an anatomical method developed by the authors and based on Hackel's and Alonso's previous works. Correlations were established between data from each clinical method and those from the anatomical method. Several myocardial infarction subgroups were considered for comparison of the correlations found in each subset. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: As long as QRS score was regarded, significant correlations were found between the evaluation by QRS score and anatomical infarct size in the subgroups of patients with severe pump failure, prior myocardial infarction, or total loss of ventricular muscle mass of at least 20 percent; however, a significant correlation was missing when the whole myocardial infarction group was taken into consideration. When peak CK value were considered, a weak significant correlation was found between the evaluation by enzyme determination and anatomical infarct size in the whole group of patients, but a stronger correlation was present in the subgroups of patients with survival longer than 24 hours, anterior wall myocardial infarction, free wall cardiac rupture, or first acute myocardial infarction. In conclusion the choice of the method to be used in the clinical evaluation of infarct size should take into account the type of population beeing studied, and follow the results obtained in different myocardial infarction subgroups as mentioned above. PMID- 2631819 TI - [Pericarditis caused by cholesterol. Apropos of a clinical case]. AB - A case of a 76 year-old woman with a large pericardial effusion is described. The microscopic examination of the scintillating, yellow-greenish fluid obtained by the first pericardiocentesis, showed numerous crystals of cholesterol. In search of the underlying diseases there were found values of T3, T4 and TSH diagnostic of hypothyroidism. Considering the rapid relapse of the effusion and after a second pericardiocentesis, it was decided to open a pleuro-pericardial window. The biopsy of the pericardium showed deposits of cholesterol on electronics microscopy. She was discharged from hospital two weeks after surgery, showing an evident clinical improvement. Six months later she was feeling well, keeping a normal activity for her age. The values of T3, T4 and TSH were normal, and there were no echocardiographic signs of pericardial effusion. It is presented a rare case of cholesterol pericarditis associated to sub-clinical hypothyroidism, showing the presence of cholesterol, as crystals in the pericardial effusion and, we think for the first time in this pathology, in vesicles of pinocytosis, in the pericardial biopsy. The six months period of follow-up showed a good clinical improvement with the selected therapeutic attitude. PMID- 2631820 TI - [Cardiology as an art. In honor of an old concept]. PMID- 2631821 TI - [Ischemic cardiopathy. What is its future?]. PMID- 2631822 TI - [Are we overdiagnosing and overtreating mild arterial hypertension?]. AB - Mild hypertension is the most difficult type of hypertension do diagnose in clinical practice due to the great variability of blood pressure and to the alert reaction. There is evidence that overdiagnosis and overtreatment of mild hypertension are a common finding. We suggest that more baseline readings should be obtained before establishing the diagnosis. Also an individualized approach should be used and in selected cases, the 24-hour blood pressure monitoring can be useful. PMID- 2631823 TI - [MB isoenzyme of myocardial creatino-kinase: activity curves in the blood, after ischemic cardiopathy surgery]. AB - OBJECTIVE: To determine the curve of cardiac creatine-kinase (MB-CK) plasma activity, in patients with coronary heart disease who were submitted to Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) and/or aneurysmectomy, in order to evaluate the degree of a eventual myocardial lesion occurring during the first 72 hours after surgery. DESIGN: Assay of the plasma MB-CK activity and of the 12 lead electrocardiogram (EGC) during the first 72 hours after surgery. SETTING: Patients undergoing surgery in a Department of Cardiac Surgery. PATIENTS: 49 consecutive patients included in 2 groups: Group A: 38 pts submitted to CABG. Group B: 11 pts submitted to aneurysmectomy (6 of them with simultaneous CABG). INTERVENTIONS: Determination of plasma MB-CK activity and execution of 12 lead EGC before surgery and at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 72 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Using as a reference the MB-CK values in a control group undergoing surgery for either aortic or mitral valvulopathy, the patients in group A were subdivided: Group A1: 25 pts which curves of MB-CK activity were similar to the control group; none showed sign of myocardial infarction in the EGC. Group A2: 13 pts which curves of MB-CK activity showed a increased value when compared to controls (at least, two Standard Deviation above the medium control value). In 6 of them the EGC were compatible with acute myocardial infarction. Group B patients were also divided in 2 subgroups: Group B1: 10 pts with a similar MB-CK activity to the control group. Group B2: 1 patient with MB-CK activity similar to the patients in Group A2 and whose EKG showed a pattern of "the new" myocardial infraction. CONCLUSIONS: The method used in our work allowed us to define a MB-CK activity curve that translates the expected variability after surgery in patients submitted to CABG and/or aneurysmectomy. This curve allows the distinction between myocardial lesion due to surgical aggression and a ischemic lesion. The EGC although a method with high specificity has apparently a low sensitivity for the detection of myocardial necrosis after CABG. The aneurysmectomy "per se" does not influence the MB-CK activity. PMID- 2631824 TI - [Echocardiographic evaluation of simple transposition of great vessels subjected to physiologic correction]. AB - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cardiovascular morphology after Senning's operation for transposition of the great vessels (TGV) using Doppler echocardiography. The study included 25 patients (pts) aged 17 to 127 months (mean = 60 +/- 27) who were evaluated 6 to 112 months (mean = 42 +/- 27) after surgery. The following parameters were analysed: right (RV) and left ventricular (LV) morphology and function; tricuspid regurgitation and its severity; caval and pulmonary venous pathways and the presence of pulmonary stenosis, its type and severity. All the 25 pts had an abnormal end-systolic interventricular septal (IVS) configuration, with left convexity in 22 (88%) and a flat septum present in 3 (12%). The LV fractional shortening (FS) ranged from 25 to 60% (mean = 41 +/- 10) and the preejection/ejection time ratio (PET/ET) from 0.18 to 0.33 (mean = 0.24 +/- 0.04). The RV mean FS ranged from 23.0 to 32.5% (mean = 26.9 +/- 3.0) and PET/ET from 0.27 to 0.46 (mean = 0.38). The RV wall motion study revealed that the IVS was hypokinetic in 3 pts (12%), akinetic in 19 (76%) and dyskinetic in 3 (12%). Three pts also had an hypokinetic antero-apical segment. TR was detected in 22 (88%) pts being trivial in 16 (64%), mild in 4 (16%) and moderate in 2 (8%). It was always possible to visualise the neo left and right atria as well as the caval-right atrial junctions. No systemic or pulmonary venous obstruction was detected. In 3 pts there was a mild subpulmonic dynamic stenosis related with septal buldging and mitral valve apposition. In conclusion, Doppler echocardiography can provide accurate information for the follow-up of patients with TGV submitted to physiological correction and it can reduce the number and frequency of late postoperative cardiac catheterization. PMID- 2631825 TI - [Electrocardiogram in dilated cardiomyopathy]. AB - The authors describe the main electrocardiographic features in 90 cases of dilated cardiomyopathy. The patients were divided into tree groups: in group I were the patients with electrocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy, in group II the patients with complete left bundle branch block and in group III the cases with right bundle branch block, was held in the group I 64 patients (71%), in the group II 22 (24.6%) and in the group III four case (4.4%). Seventy two cases (80%) showed arrhythmias. Atrial fibrillation was observed in 20 patients (28%), supraventricular tachycardia in two (3%), atrioventricular block, of the 1st and 2nd degree, in eight (11%), ventricular arrhythmias in 63 (87.5%) and supraventricular arrhythmias in 42 (58%). In the 64 patients, with left ventricular hypertrophy, 60 (93.75%) showed very important S waves in, at least two right precordial leads. Fourty four patients (73.3%) had rS pattern in right precordial leads, from V1 to V4, with the R waves in V5 and V6 with normal, low and height amplitude. A first degree left bundle branch block was recorded in 16 cases (25%), a pathologic Q waves in 22 (37.5%), low voltage in limb leads in 24 (37.5%), left atrial enlargement in 36 (56%), right atrial enlargement in two (3%) and atrial fibrillation in 10 (16%). In the 22 patients from the group II six (27%) had left atrial enlargement, two (9%) had right atrial enlargement and six (27%) atrial fibrillation. In the four patients from group III two (50%) had an incomplete right bundle branch block, two (50%) the complete form and all had atrial fibrillation. PMID- 2631826 TI - [Metolazone in the treatment of refractory heart insufficiency. Experience of 10 cases]. AB - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of the association furosemide-metolazona in ten retrospective cases of Congestive heart failure, furosemide resistant. SETTING: Service of cardiology, patients admitted in two year period, from September 1985 through May 1987. PATIENTS: Revision of ten cases of congestive heart failure who was administered metolazona after inadequate response to furosemide. The etiology of congestive heart failure included three cases of ischemic heart disease, two cases of dilated myocardiopathy, two cases of rheumatic valvular cardiopathy, one case of congenital heart disease, two cases with no established etiology. All cases was in functional class III and IV of NYHA classification. RESULTS: Good results were obtained in eight patients. The other two were not different in etiology of heart failure, renal function, serum electrolytics and associated therapy. Diuresis was independent of the creatinine plasmatic values. CONCLUSION: In our study, in eight of ten cases, metolazona had additive diuretic effect when associated to furosemide in patients with congestive heart failure. PMID- 2631827 TI - [Surgical treatment of variant angina. Apropos of a clinical case]. AB - A case of a male 66 years-old patient who presented with a clinical picture of Prinzmetal's variant angina early in the evolution of an acute myocardial infarction is reported. Transient elevation of ST-segment was documented on Holter monitoring in association with angina at rest as well as asymptomatic episodes of ST-segment changes. Significant two-vessels obstructive lesions (left anterior descending and circumflex arteries) was present. As variant angina had several recurrences in spite of medical therapy with nitrates and calcium antagonists, the patient was submitted to coronary by-pass surgery associated to plexectomy. A Thallium myocardial scintigraphy suggests that a peroperative infarction had occurred. The patient was asymptomatic at six months follow-up. PMID- 2631828 TI - [Isolated hypoplasia of the right ventricle--apropos of a case]. AB - OBJECTIVE: To report one case of a rare heart disease (Isolated Hypoplasia of the Right Ventricle) and discuss the methodology used to propose surgery with goal. Good follow up results. DESIGN: To report a case. SETTING: One patient studied in the Cardiology Department of the Santa Marta Hospital, Lisbon, and submitted to surgery in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of the same Hospital. PATIENT: A 22 years old woman, who had cyanosis since birth, normal cardiac auscultatory findings, pulmonary oligohemia in the chest Roentgenogram and right atrial strain on the Electrocardiogram. INTERVENTIONS: She had an echocardiogram (M1 Mode and 2D) and catheterised, with pressure and oximetry measurements. During the latter procedure, the atrial septal defect was occluded for 20 minutes with a Fogarty catheter and pressure and oximetries were reevaluated. She was later operated. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The Echocardiogram showed right ventricular hypoplasia, with a normally inserted tricuspid valve and a dilated right atrium. The hemodynamic study confirmed the presence of an atrial septal defect with right to left shunt, normal pulmonary artery pressure, no gradients and giant "a" wave in the right auriculogram. The right ventriculography showed right ventricular inflow hypoplasia. The occlusion of the atrial septal defect with the balloon catheter decreased the peripheral insaturation, without a significant increase in the right ventricular pressure. With this information, surgery was proposed (closure of the atrial septal defect), with good results (4 years of follow-up). CONCLUSION: The interruption of the shunt with a balloon allows us to see if the right ventricle can handle properly the volume load. With this information surgery can be suggested. It may be rather simple as in this case. PMID- 2631829 TI - [Digitalis in the treatment of heart insufficiency at the end of the 80's]. PMID- 2631830 TI - [Thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarct. Experience at Santa Maria's Hospital]. AB - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the experience with i.v. streptokinase (SK) in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in two cardiac care units. Conception: Retrospective analysis of patients (pts) admitted either to UCIM or UTIC-AC with the diagnosis of AMI receiving SK. PATIENTS: 77 pts were treated, although one of them was later proved to be a false positive diagnosis of AMI. Of the other 76, there were 63 men and 13 women with age 55 +/- 12 (mean age +/- SD) years (limits of 20 and 82 years). AMIs were anterior in 42% of the pts, inferior in 51%, anterior and inferior in 4% and non Q wave in 1%; Killip classes (cl) were: cl I in 64%, cl II in 26%, cl III in 5% an cl IV in 5%. The time interval from the beginning of acute symptoms to the arrival at the hospital was 2.8 +/- 1.2 hours (1 to 15) and from that moment to administration of SK was 1.6 +/- 1.4 h. The whole interval to the administration of SK was 4.4 +/- 2.5 h. RESULTS: The 3 criteria of reperfusion (pain relief, ST changes resolution and less than 18 h maximum CK rise) were present in 36% of the pts, 2 of the criteria in 21%, and 41% of the pts had only one or no criteria. The time interval to the administration of SK in these 3 groups was 3.3 +/- 1.3 h, 4.8 +/- 3.1 h and 5.0 +/- 2.5 h respectively. Non fatal complications occurred in 16% of the pts (major bleeding in 2.6%, minor bleeding in 99% and minor anafilaxy in 4%. Mortality was 11.8% (9 pts). Two thirds of the deaths were due to cardiac rupture. In hospital residual ischemia was present in 9% (7 pts). CONCLUSION: Treatment of AMI with i.v. SK proved to be a safe and easy to apply therapeutic option, carrying a low morbidity and mortality, lower than that normally observed in our hospital with the conventional approach of AMI before the era of thrombolysis. PMID- 2631831 TI - [Silent ischemia in patients with previous myocardial infarct. Correlation of Holter and coronarography]. AB - OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the presence of silent myocardial ischemia and the degree of coronary obstructions. DESIGN: Successively patients with myocardial infarction. SETTING: Patients admitted to the coronary intensive care, later followed in a specialised out-patients consultation. PATIENTS: 62 patients with previous myocardial infarction. INTERVENTIONS: All the patients were submitted to Holter-monitoring and coronary angiography. RESULTS: Silent ischemia was present in 14 (22,6%) of the patients. Seven of these (50%) had 3 vessels disease, 2 (14,3%) had 2 vessels disease, and 5 (35,7%) had 1 vessel disease. Twelve of the patients (86%) had occlusive lesions (greater than 90%), localised in 11 (79%) in the third proximal segment of the artery. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the presence of silent myocardial ischemia was predominantly associated with 3 vessels disease, and with lesions of more than 90% of occlusion, localised in the 1/3 proximal of the vessel. Patients with previous myocardial infarction and silent ischemia may belong to a subgroup with surgical indication. And so, Holter studies in these patients should be followed by angiographic studies for localization of the obstructive lesions. PMID- 2631832 TI - [Therapeutic effectiveness of intravenous magnesium sulfate in tachyarrhythmia. Apropos of 4 clinical cases]. AB - This is a report about four patients with tachyarrhythmias successfully treated with intravenous magnesium sulfate. In two cases (supraventricular tachycardia and torsade de pointes) because they were resistant to other antiarrhythmic drugs, and in the remaining two cases (paroxistic atrial fibrillation) because they presented characteristic features of magnesium depletion. The efficacy, the rapid onset of action and the absence of adverse reactions must be emphasized and the authors suggest that larger and randomized trials should be carried out, in order to establish the real place of magnesium sulfate in the antiarrhythmic armamentarium. PMID- 2631833 TI - [Echocardiographic diagnosis of a hydatid cyst localized at the intraventricular septum]. AB - A patient with case of an hydatid cyst located in the interventricular septum is presented. The two-dimensional echocardiography clearly visualized the cystic configuration of the disease, demonstrating its great usefulness for detecting this type of cardiac pathology. The patient underwent surgery with extracorporeal circulation. In this article we also discuss the surgical indications of this pathology. PMID- 2631834 TI - [Aortic valve stenosis without apparent "gradient". Demonstration and treatment in heart catheterization]. AB - The case of a six years-old girl with Ductus Arterious, Pulmonary Hypertension, Aortic Stenosis and poor left ventricular function is presented. No aortic valvular gradient could be found on a simple aortic and left ventricular pressure measurement, but it could be recorded when transvalvular aortic flow was increased while the Ductus Arteriosus was occluded with a balloon. This manoeuver forced an increase in pulmonary blood flow by avoiding right-to-left ductal shunting, thus increasing the venous return to the left heart and across the aortic valve. The aortic valve stenosis was subsequently relieved by percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty performed in two separate instances. This was thought to be particularly indicated in this case, considering the high risks of open-heart surgery. PMID- 2631835 TI - Advanced formation of cardiologists specialising in nuclear cardiology a personal view. PMID- 2631836 TI - [Holter ECG in evaluating myocardial ischemia. Validation using the exercise test]. AB - OBJECTIVES: Validation of ST-T ischemic changes in the Holter system by those recorded in the 12-lead ECG during the exercise test. DESIGN: The changes induced by the exercise test in the ST segment of the two Holter leads--aVF e V5 like- were compared with the changes simultaneously registered in the 12-lead ECG. SETTING: Exercise Test Laboratory and Holter Laboratory of the UTIC-Arsenio Cordeiro. Hospital de Santa Maria de Lisboa. PATIENTS: 31 patients, 23 male and 8 female, with a mean age of 55 +/- 7 years, 84% with ischemic heart disease. METHODS: The patients underwent a treadmill exercise test. 28 with the Bruce protocol and 3 with the Naugton protocol, during which the electrocardiogram was registered simultaneously with a 2-channel Holter recorder and by a conventional 12-lead system. The changes induced in the ST segment in the two systems were compared. RESULTS: The results of the two tests were concordant in 94% of the patients. In 4 patients (13%) there was not a good correlation between the inferior and anterior leads of the two methods, which diverged mainly between the Holter lead aVF and the inferior leads of the conventional ECG. The morphology of the ST depression was similar in both methods, and the severity of ST depression as judged by its amplitude showed an excellent positive linear correlation (r = 0.8542, p less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and the specificity of the Holter system is similar to the conventional 12-lead ECG in detecting ischemic changes during exercise whenever they have electrocardiographic evidence. PMID- 2631838 TI - [Mitral valve prolapse]. PMID- 2631837 TI - [2 cases of acute myocardial infarct complicated by fatal pulmonary embolism]. AB - Two cases of pulmonary embolism with lethal course in the setting of acute myocardial infarction are presented. Both cases are clinically characterized by a late pulmonary embolism occurrence (2nd and 3rd week, respectively), and the presence of a large infarct, heart failure during acute myocardial infarction evolution and the interruption of anticoagulant therapy due to a complication. From the anatomic point of view, both cases had large hearts and very large biventricular infarctions. On the other hand, deep venous plexus constituted the pulmonary embolism origin in one case, and right ventricular thrombosis in the other. PMID- 2631839 TI - [Comparison of Holter electrocardiography and thallium 201 scintigraphy in the detection of myocardial ischemia]. AB - OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: To compare ischemic changes (I) detected by Holter ECG (H ECG) to the myocardial perfusion defects found in 201 TI myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. DESIGN: 201 TI exercise test was made during the performance of a 24 hours H ECG. The validation of ST segment changes detected by H ECG during the exercise test was made on basis of reversible myocardial perfusion defects (RPD) detected on 201 TL and a relation between ST segment changes detected during the remaining 24 hours recording period and 201 TI (TI) RPD was established. SETTING: The patients (pt) included in the study have come from Cardiology and Heart Surgery Clinics of a Central teaching hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 20 pt with a high coronary artery disease prevalence have been submitted to a two lead (V5 and aVF) 24 hour H ECG during which they have performed a symptom limited bicycle exercise test followed by an injection of 201 TI with acquisition 5 minutes later. Ischemic episodes detected on H ECG were quantified and their relation with heart rate and symptoms was established. As far as 201 TI studies are concerned the fixed and reversible perfusion defects as well as their location were evaluated. RESULTS: 1. H ECG: 6 pt (30%) presented ST changes on H ECG during the exercise test and a total of 9 pt (45%) had ST changes during exercise and during the remaining period of H ECG. 2. TI: 19 pt presented perfusion defects images (fixed in 7, reversible in 14, both kinds of defects in 7). 3. H ECG validation: H ECG during exercise presented I in 6 out of 14 pt with RPD on TI (sensitivity = 43%). Six of these 8 pt, with negative H and positive TI, had a chronic myocardial infarction. All the 6 pt with negative TI had negative H ECG (specificity = 100%). 4. H ECG TI comparison: 7 (50%) of the 14 pt with RPD had ST changes on 24 hrs H ECG. Seven of 11 pt with negative H ECG had RPD in TI. Two pt with negative TI had positive H ECG. These 2 pt had during H ECG a higher heart rate (HR) than the HR recorded during the exercise test. CONCLUSIONS: 1. In pt with known CAD, TI has a high sensitivity and specificity to show perfusion defects. 2. Considering TI as gold standard, H ECG showed to be a useful method to detect I in the studied population (sens. = 43%; spec. = 100%). 3. H ECG revealed to be an important diagnostic tool in detecting additional I episodes beyond the ones recorded during TI exercise test. PMID- 2631840 TI - [Calculation of cardiac output using Doppler echocardiography]. AB - The authors describe the theoretical basis and general methods for calculating Cardiac Output (CO) by Doppler Echocardiography, using triangulation and planimetric methods ro obtain the Average Velocity (AV) of the flows. They point the more advisable Bidimensional Echocardiography views plans for the measurement of aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid cross sectional areas (CA) used in calculating the respective outputs (CO = CA x AV x cardiac frequency) and the rate Pulmonary Flow/Systemic Flow (PF/SF). They point out the main technological limitations, alternative methods and places for calculating CO in certain situations (Aortic stenosis, Pulmonary stenosis, etc.). They stress that these are alternative methods to the invasive techniques in the clinic Cardiac Pathologies (infants and adults), many of them treated in Intensive Care units, where the prolonged non invasive monitorization of CO is facilitated by the use of the same CA. PMID- 2631841 TI - [Flow patterns of a normally functioning monocuspid aortic prosthesis evaluated using Doppler echocardiography]. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: Flow analysis in normally functioning eccentric monocuspid aortic prosthetic valves, to obtain a reference data list. DESIGN: To analyse, using 2D-Doppler Echocardiography, aortic flow velocity and systolic time intervals in clinically normal patients (pts), by physical examination. SETTING: Referred pts to the Echocardiographic Laboratory at Santa Marta Hospital--HCL. PATIENTS: Sequential sample of 61 pts with aortic prosthesis (41 Bjork-Shiley and 20 Hall-Kaster) without clinical evidence of either cardiac failure or significant aortic regurgitation. Patients with bad quality record were also excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Doppler Echocardiography was used to record transaortic flow, and the following indexes were analysed: instantaneous peak velocity (pv) and gradient (pg), presence of regurgitation, systolic time intervals and both preejection period/ejection time (PEP/ET) and acceleration time/ejection time (AT/ET). RESULTS: Pv ranged from 1.1 to 4 m/sec (mean 2.4 +/- 0.2. The prosthesis size 19 and 21 showed a greater pg compared to the larger ones: 46.3 +/- 14.4 mmHg against 12.6 +/- 6.4 mmHg (p less than 0.001). Occasionally a pg over 50 mmHg was found in the prosthesis size 19 and 21. The correlation between prosthesis size and pg was also significant (r = -0.62; p less than 0.001). PEP interval was 60 +/- 10 milisec in prosthesis no. 19 and 90 +/- 13 milisec in no. 27 (p less than 0.01). AT ranged from 77 +/- 14 to 88 +/- 14 milisec (mean 82 +/- 13). ET was 294 +/- 5.4 milisec in valves size 19 and 257 +/- 34 millisec in no. 25 (p less than 0.05); there was also a significant difference between prosthesis size 19 and 27 (p less than 0.05). Mild regurgitation was detected in 32.7% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: These data may be particularly useful as reference values to the follow-up of pts these types of prosthesis. Significant differences were found in pg between different valve sizes and this should be remembered when proceeding to standard evaluation by 2D-Doppler Echocardiography. Regurgitation is frequently detected in normally functioning prosthesis, not deeper than 2 cm in the left ventricle. PMID- 2631842 TI - [Risk and follow-up after myocardial infarct at a peripheral hospital]. AB - AIM: Analysing the influence of clinical and paraclinical "markers" in long term prognosis (LTP) of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), in terms of mortality, post AMI Angina, post AMI Heart Failure and non fatal recurrent AMI in patients of a Post AMI Consultation of a peripherical hospital. DESIGN: A) Retrospective study (series A and B) of the average incidence of 17 "markers" of bad post AMI TLP so as to identify those that had a discriminating value with regards to death after hospital discharge. B) Prospective study so as to determine its influence in those patients followed in a post AMI Consultation (series C), with regards to mortality, post AMI Angina, post AMI Heart Failure and non fatal recurrent AMI. PARTICIPANTS: Series A - 97 survivors of AMI treated on the CCU of Madeira's Hospital Center in its 1st year. Series B - 91 survivors of AMI treated of AMI treated on the CCU of Madeira's Hospital Center in its 2nd year. Series C - 88 survivors of AMI treated on the CCU of Madeira's Hospital Center after this period and followed up since then at the post AMI consultation. RESULTS: A) Significant statistical differences were observed in the series A and B, with regards to late mortality, in 5 of those "markers" (aged greater than or equal to 70 years, Auricular Fibrillation and Killip III class during the acute phase of the AMI, frequent ectopic ventricular beats before discharge and a survival probability of less than or equal to 60% at 5 years after AMI). B) It was observed that bearers of greater than or equal to 1 of these 5 clinical "markers" of the series C had significant statistical differences in relation to non bearers with regards to mortality, post AMI Angina, post AMI Heart Failure and non fatal recurrent AMI. CONCLUSIONS: It is considered that those 5 post AMI clinical "markers" allows identification of the very bad cases of post AMI LTP in peripherical hospitals. This identification can lower the ratio cost benefit of the indispensable diagnostic techniques for stratification of post AMI risk, through the rationalization of its use. A Study of its accessibility with regards to peripherical hospitals and a AMI national register became important to evaluate the problem of the Portuguese AMI survivors in terms of Public Health. PMID- 2631843 TI - [Percutaneous mitral valvotomy]. AB - We report the first percutaneous mitral valvotomy performed in Portugal in October 19th 1987. The valvotomy was attempted successfully in a 34 year old man, with calcific mitral stenosis, in NYHA class III, with functional mitral valve area less then 1 cm2. The intervention was performed using the transseptal technique with two balloons (20 and 18 mm in diameter), placed in the mitral valve annulus through two long transseptal sheaths (14F). The procedure resulted in a marked decrease in the diastolic transmitral gradient, and an increase in mitral valve area superior to 100%. No immediate or late complications were observed, namely mitral regurgitation or left to right shunt through the atrial septum. One year later the patient is in NYHA class I, with a mitral valve area of 1.7 cm2. PMID- 2631844 TI - [Behavior of arterial pressure during administration of intravenous streptokinase, in patients with acute myocardial infarct]. AB - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect on blood pressure (BP) of intravenous (IV) streptokinase (SK) in patients (PTS) with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). DESIGN: Retrospective study with analysis of BP registers ten minutes before and during SK infusion. SETTING: PTS admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Santo Antonio Hospital, Oporto. PATIENTS: Thirty-eight male PTS, average ages of 54, ranging from 38 to 67, AMI confirmed, and criteria to thrombolytic therapy. One patient was excluded on account of persistent hypotension since admission. MATERIAL AND METHODS: IV infusion of 1,500,000 U of SK over 60 minutes, preceded by 200 mg IV of prednisolone. BP and heart rate (HR) were evaluated with a Datascope Accutorr 1A set. The lowest value of the systolic BP (SBP) recorded ten minutes before SK infusion was considered the baseline value. We valued the reduction of SBP above 15%, defining its fall as the difference between the baseline value and the minimum value of SBP recorded during the infusion. Hypotension was defined to SBP values below 90 mmHg. MAIN RESULTS: The SBP fall was 40.4 +/- 22.1 mmHg (range 9 to 102), having been recorded the minimum value at 22.9 +/- 10.9 minutes. It was accompanied by diastolic BP (DBP) fall of 30.6 +/- 18.9 mmHg (range -2 to 76) and by a HR increasing from 76.2 +/- 13.7 beats/min. to 80.8 +/- 14.1 beats/min. (p less than 0.01). In 86% of the PTS this fall was transient, lasting 8.9 +/- 6.3 minutes, and was corrected by slowing or stopping the infusion for a few minutes and placing the patient in Trendelenburg position. Two PTS needed sympaticomimetic amines because of persistent BP reduction despite the previous measures. 92% of the PTS had a SBP fall higher than 15% in relation to the baseline value. The SBP was kept over 90 mmHg in 20 PTS (54%); hypotension was recorded in the remaining 14 PTS (38%), and in 10 (27%) of these the SBP fell below 80 mmHg. We couldn't prove that the infarction location and the extension of the ischemic lesion had influenced this BP fall. CONCLUSION: The BP reduction during treatment with high doses of SK deserves some attention because, although transient and easily reversible, it is frequent and sometimes significative. It demands then careful monitoring in order to avoid the hypoperfusion to the ischemic myocardium, that could jeopardize the potential benefits of reperfusion in the reduction of infarction area, the main objective of the thrombolytic treatment. PMID- 2631845 TI - [Pulmonary valvotomy in adults. The double balloon technic--apropos of 2 cases]. AB - Percutaneous double balloon valvotomy was performed in two adult patients with severe non dysplasic pulmonary valvular stenosis. The balloons were introduced through two 14F sheaths placed in the right and left femural veins, the intervention was well tolerated and succeeded with a marked decrease in right ventricular pressure and in pulmonary transvalvular gradient (113 and 147 mmHg to 10 and 12 mmHg respectively). The patients were discharged within 24 hours, without the need of Intensive Care admission. Indications for the procedure and technical aspects are presented, as well as the potential advantages of two balloons over one balloon and surgical valvotomy. PMID- 2631846 TI - [Technical report of the Study Group on Arterial Hypertension: self-measurement of arterial pressure]. AB - Although experience is still limited and more research is needed, the World Hypertension League recommends self-measurement of blood pressure in selected patients as an additional source of information to practicing physician, and as a way of encouraging patients to participate more actively in the therapeutic regimen. English version statement published in Bulletin of the World Health Organisation 1988;66,2:155-9. PMID- 2631847 TI - [Diagnostic value of the submaximal treadmill exercise test in the subacute phase of myocardial infarct]. AB - OBJECTIVES: To assess the diagnostic value of treadmill submaximal exercise testing (TSET), early after myocardial infarction (MI) under medical treatment, evaluating the ST changes predominantly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 65 patients, 62 males and 3 females, mean age 52 years with demonstrated MI under clinical, electrocardiographic and enzymatic criteria were evaluated with TSET before hospital discharge. Thrombolytic therapy in acute phase of MI was done in 45 of the patients. All patients underwent angiographic studies with left ventriculography and selective coronariography. RESULTS: Of all TSET variables considered (Treadmill time, ST segment, presence of chest pain, systolic pressure, double product and presence of ventricular arrythmias) the single most important predictor for high-risk groups like left main disease and three vessels disease, was ST changes alone or associated with exercise precordial pain, with a sensitivity of 100% to left main and 83% to three vessels disease. In the thrombolytic group we did not find any differences related with reperfusion. IN CONCLUSION: TSET is a useful, noninvasive, and safe method for risk stratification after MI mainly when ST segment changes are considered alone or with stress precordial pain, predicting high risk groups, namely left main or three vessels disease patients. PMID- 2631848 TI - [Non-invasive evaluation of left ventricular function (systolic time interval) in patients using double-chamber pacemakers programmed on DDD and VVI]. AB - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes on left ventricular function as assessed by systolic time intervals (STI), by programming "physiological" pacemakers either on VVI or DDD mode. STUDY DESIGN: Comparison of STI values--electromechanical systole (QS2); left ventricular ejection time (LVET); pre-ejection period (PEP); PEP/LVET--in patients submitted to double chamber pacing programmed in DDD or VVI mode. SETTING: Cardiac Pacing Center in a Department of Cardiology at a University Hospital. PATIENTS: We have studied 12 patients (3 men, 9 women), mean age 56.16 years (range 25-76 years) treated with double chamber pacing. INTERVENTIONS: Initial measurements of STI in DDD or one week in VVI mode, and again after one week in DDD mode. RESULTS: Significant changes were found after the first week in VVI pacing, versus baseline determination in DDD pacing, for LVET, PEP, and PEP/LVET (p less than 0.05). At the end of the second week (DDD pacing), there were also statistically significant differences for QS2 (P less than 0.05), LVET (P less than 0.01) and PEP/LVET (P less than 0.05) values when compared with the ones obtained in VVI pacing, at the end of the preceding week. No significant changes were found between the initial and the final STI determinations (both in DDD pacing). CONCLUSION: We concluded for a better performance of the left ventricle at rest when "physiological" pacing is compared with VVI pacing. PMID- 2631849 TI - [Cerebral vascular disorders and arterial hypertension: cardiologic and neurologic aspects]. AB - OBJECTIVE: To report and discuss some cardiologic, neurologic and radiologic aspects in different types of stroke (AVC) present in hypertensive patients. DESIGN: Retrospective study in patients with acute cerebrovascular accident (AVC) and high blood pressure (HTA). Separate this population in three groups according to the results of computerized tomography scanning of the brain (TAC): hemorrhage (H) cerebral infarction (IC) and lacune (L). In each group describe the findings. SETTING: Department of Internal Medicine in a University Hospital of Lisbon. PATIENTS: Thirty-four patients, after having discarded 8 because their TAC were normal. Twenty were men (M), 14 women (F) with a total age average of 58 years. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All patients had AVC, HTA and underwent initial TAC. For each group were considered: Past history, cardiac repercussions of HTA, neurologic features and the localisations of cerebral lesions. For statistical study were used the Student T Test. There was 45% of IC, 24% of H and 26% of L. In past history was found 35% of cardiac diseases and 24% of diabetes. There wasn't any difference in blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) between the groups. Fifty-six percent had an important cardiac repercussion, with 72% of alterations of ventricular repolarization and 35% of coronary heart diseases. Both were more prevalent in IC than in the others. Twenty percent of H were in physical activity, 20% had a progressive start and in 10% there were meningeal signals. The site of cerebral lesions were characteristical, specially the H and L and 60% of H were thalamic. There wasn't any lacune neither in the cerebral stem nor in the cerebellum. It was reviewed some theoric aspects of neurologic feature. CONCLUSIONS: IC is the more frequent AVC in hypertensive patients. The cardiac involvement, is the most frequent disease in past history. The cardiac repercussion of HTA is more important in IC. The findings were insufficient to well characterize the neurologic feature. Sometime TAC and seldom magnetic resonance are necessary. The localisations, specially of H and L are the same that have been described in medical literature. PMID- 2631850 TI - [Movement of the mitral valve in patients with ischemic cardiopathy]. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: 1. Determination of the clinical value of the mitral-septal angle (MSA), a new two-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) index, in the evaluation of left ventricular function; 2. Assessment of the relation of incomplete mitral leaflet closure (IMLC) with the presence of mitral regurgitation (MR) or elevated end-diastolic left ventricular pressure (EDLVP). DESIGN: Prospective study involving subjects without heart disease and patients with coronary artery disease. SETTING: Cardiology Department of the Hospitais Civis de Lisboa--Hospital de S. Marta. PARTICIPANTS: We studied: A - 30 normal volunteers; B - 43 patients (pt) with coronary artery disease documented by coronary angiography. METHODS: Two-Dimensional Echocardiography was performed in all subjects. MSA was measured in early diastole using the apical four-chamber view. Using the same view IMLC was assessed. Echo pulsed Doppler was used to detect the presence of MR. All patients in group B were submitted to cardiac catheterization. EDLVP was measured and left ventriculography and coronary arteriography were performed. Presence of MR was assessed and ejection fraction (EF) calculated. According to EF patients were divided: Group B1 (EF greater than 50 - 23 pt); Group B2 (EF 35-50% - 11 pt); Group B3 (EF less than 35% - 9 pt). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In group A MSA was always less than 30 degrees and IMLC was never observed. In group B pt with EF greater than 50% had MSA less than 30 degrees in all but one case. Patients with EF less than 50% had MSA superior to 30 degrees in all but two cases. MSA superior to 45 degrees was found in 2 pt with EF 35-50% and in 5 pt with EF less than 35%. IMLC was detected in 11 pt. Only 2 pt had MR and 7 had EDLVP greater than 18 mmHg - 15 pt had an elevated EDLVP in the whole group. IMLC was frequent in group B3 - 7 pt. Correlation between MSA and EF was good (r = -0.81). Sensitivity and specificity of MSA in the separation of pt with EF superior and inferior to 50% was 90% and 95%, respectively: they dropped when we tried to separate pt with EF superior and inferior to 35% (sensitivity 55%, specificity 77%). CONCLUSIONS: IMLC didn't correlate with the existence of MR or elevated EDLVP; it appears, however, to be associated with poor left ventricular function (EF less than 35%). MSA is a good echocardiographic index of left ventricular in patients with coronary artery disease. It is easily measured and it can be a good alternative to mitral E point septal separation in patients in which left sternal views are difficult or impossible. PMID- 2631851 TI - [Traumatic rupture of the aorta presenting as aortic coarctation syndrome]. AB - Aortic rupture is a frequent cause of death in chest trauma. The coincidence with other associated severe lesions and the absence of clear cardiographic signs may induce to an important delay in the diagnosis. We report a case in which the late apparition of arterial hypertension expressed as an acute aortic coarctation syndrome pointed out the diagnosis. We review the pathogenic mechanisms of arterial hypertension in traumatic aortic rupture and the utility of different diagnostic procedures. PMID- 2631852 TI - [Role of digitalis in the pharmacologic treatment of cardiac insufficiency]. AB - The use of digoxin in some patients with heart failure is controversial. Although many patients taking digoxin have no clinical deterioration after discontinuance of the drug, there is a group who demonstrate clinical deterioration on digoxin withdrawal (patients with enlarged hearts, S3 gallop and supraventricular dysrhythmias). The risk of digitalis administration is high in some patients with increased sensitivity to the drug--renal failure, thyroid disfunction, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstruction lung disease and geriatric patients. It seems reasonable that on 1989 the use of digitalis on heart failure should be preferred on patients with supraventricular arrhythmias, enlarged hearts and S3 gallop. PMID- 2631853 TI - The value and extent of valve area increase by balloon dilatation of the stenosed bioprosthesis: in vitro studies. AB - The value and extent in which balloon dilatation increases the valve area in severe bioprosthesis stenosis has not been defined. In-vitro double balloon dilatation, using 15 to 20 mm diameter Meditech balloon catheters, simultaneously inflated to 5 atmospheres, was attempted in 10 intact, stenosed, surgically excised bioprosthetic valves, 7 mitral and 3 aortic, size 21 to 35 mm. Radiological studies and calculation of the valve area, using a conical sizer, were performed both before and after balloon dilatation. After balloon dilatation the valve area was increased from 1.1 +/- 0.4 to 2.0 +/- 0.5 cm2 (p less than 0.001). The valve area increase was due to improved leaflet mobility in all cases. Leaflet calcium fractures were noted in 9 valves, 5 exhibited leaflet tears and the valve annulus was distorted in 3. A control group of balloon dilatation in 10 unused bioprostheses of the same sizes showed no leaflet tears. The mechanism of valve area increase, (80%), of stenotic bioprostheses by balloon dilatation, is improvement in leaflet mobility, partially secondary to leaflet calcium fractures and tears. Despite the marked increase in the bioprosthesis valve area the induction of leaflet tears will limit the clinical use of this technique for the dilatation of stenosed bioprosthetic valve. PMID- 2631854 TI - [Bioavailability of 3 formulations of diltiazem]. AB - The plasma concentration profiles of diltiazem were determined in three series of twelve male volunteers to whom a single doses of 60 mg of diltiazem was administered. Three commercial diltiazem preparations, labelled A, B and C were evaluated. The plasmas were analysed for diltiazem concentration by a new HPLC technique and from the data on concentration profiles, the pharmacokinetic parameters, Cmax, Tmax, T1/2, AUC0-12 and AUC0-infinity were calculated from the function derived by computerized curve fitting and integration. Computerized Pattern Analysis was used for product comparison, based on the plasmatic concentration and the calculated pharmacokinetic data. Differences observed between the three products regarding plasmatic levels and pharmacokinetic, were within the range values defined by individual variation, and were similar to the ones described in the literature for single doses of diltiazem - 60 mg. However, the multiparametric analysis showed that the studied preparations formed two distinct groups: preparation B was different from preparations A and C. This means that preparation B was not bioequivalent to preparations A and C, both considered as bioequivalent. PMID- 2631855 TI - [Aneurysm of the Valsalva sinus. Echocardiographic diagnosis. Apropos of a case of long post-rupture survival]. AB - The authors present a case of aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva with rupture and aorto-cardiac shunt to the exit chamber of right ventricle. Based on clinical information, one can assume that it could be a case which has been with few symptoms for a period of seven years or more. The diagnosis was made possible due to the images obtained by M mode and two dimensional echocardiography, which allowed an unmistakable view of an aneurysmatic dilatation and the site of the rupture which was confirmed later by Doppler echocardiography with colour codification and and anatomical assessment at surgery. PMID- 2631856 TI - [Atherosclerotic disease--what kind of prevention?]. PMID- 2631857 TI - [Surgery of the coronary vessels in the elderly]. AB - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The rising numbers of elderly patients with occlusive coronary artery disease amenable to surgical correction prompted us to reevaluate the benefits and risks of aorto-coronary bypass in these patients. PATIENTS: In the five-year period, from June 1980 through May 1985, 293 patients 65 years old and older (mean 69.1 years) and with a male: female ratio of 4:1, were subjected to aorto-coronary bypass. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 4.8%, higher amongst 71 patients who had endarterectomy (8.5%) and those who had concomitant valve replacement (7.7%), but lower (2.5%) in the 99 patients who had only saphenous vein grafts (p less than 0.05). The survivors were followed for three to eight years (mean 4.9 years), with a cumulative follow-up of 1.005 patient-years. Late mortality was 4.6%/patient-year (46 patients), higher in patients with valve replacement (6.0%/patients-year; p less than 0.05), but lower in patients with internal mammary artery grafts (2.6%/patient-year). Late mortality was cardiac related in 45.6% of the cases (21/46). Two patients were reoperated upon (0.2%/patient-year) and other two had percutaneous balloon angioplasty. Thirty six patients (12.9%) had recurrent angina during the period of follow-up, but the incidence was 20% in those who had only vein grafts (p = NS). Nine patients had myocardial infarction (0.9%/patient-year) of which six (67%) were fatal. In actuarial terms, 80% of the patients survived and 95% were free from myocardial infarction after six years. CONCLUSIONS: As in younger patients, coronary surgery in the elderly patient leads to improved life quality and survival. This study appears to confirm the superiority of internal mammary artery grafts also in the old patient. PMID- 2631858 TI - [Surgical treatment of high-risk valvular endocarditis]. AB - The authors have studied the short and long term results of surgical treatment of acute phase of infectious endocarditis in a group of 33 high risk patients with valvular heart disease. The age varied from 2 to 68 years; 18 patients were male and 22 were of the white race. The aortic valve was most frequently involved (18/54.5%), followed by the mitral valve (13/39.3%) and tricuspid valve (2/6.0%). Twenty four patients (72.7%) were in functional class III and seven (21%) in functional class IV. The noninvasive studies in those patients revealed 13 cases (39.4%) with normal cardiac size. The ECG was abnormal in 27 cases (81.8%) mostly with left atrial and ventricular hypertrophy. The echocardiogram revealed the presence of vegetations in 27 patients (81.8%) and blood cultures were positive in 22 cases (66.6%). All patients were treated with antibiotics. The pathologic analysis revealed the presence of vegetations in 94% and structural alterations in 16.5%. Twenty-one patients had heart valve replacement with mechanical prosthesis (63.6%), 11(33.3%) had bioprosthesis and one had tricuspid excision without replacement (3.0%). The hospital mortality was 12% and the late mortality 3%. Three deaths occurred in patients who had prolonged clinical treatment (more than 65 days) and one patient died of severe fungal endocarditis. The follow-up of the remaining 26 patients varied from 01 to 448 weeks (mean 183) demonstrating important clinical improvement and a normally functioning valve prostheses. All patients are in functional class I and II. The analysis of our data indicates that surgical treatments is the best option for high risk endocarditis and should be undertaken earlier in all patients in this risk group. PMID- 2631859 TI - [Right coronary fistula to the right atrium. Diagnosis using Doppler echocardiography with color coding]. AB - A case of right coronary fistula draining to the right atrium which was diagnosed by Echo Doppler and colour flow mapping is presented. A patent ductus arterious was initially diagnosed clinically on this child and he was been waiting for 2D Echo and Doppler registration. The patient is now on waiting list for corrective surgery and a cardiac catheterization confirmed totally our diagnosis obtained by non invasive methods. PMID- 2631860 TI - [Heart transplant]. AB - The author presents a short historical note on the evolution of heart transplantation. He comments on the problems related with patient selection, organ donation and harvesting, and clinical evolution after transplantation, based on his experience with 21 patients submitted to heart transplantation. They are divided in two groups. The first, includes 4 who were operated on while being on heart assisted devices and had a hospital mortality of 50% (14-86; CL 70%). The second comprises the other 17 patients who had a hospital mortality of 12% (14-86; CL 70%). On a average hospital stay of 45 days, 59% of the patients had complications, on a average of 2.4 events per patient. Infectious problems were the most frequent. He emphasis the need for a earlier surgical indication to prevent the height incidence of post operative complications. There were 1.6 rejection episodes per patient on an average follow up period of 11 months. Actuarial survival curve shows a 67% survival at 2 years. PMID- 2631861 TI - [Heart insufficiency in acute myocardial infarct. Long-term prognostic implications. Study of 213 cases of myocardial infarct]. AB - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate intra-hospital and first year prognosis of the acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN: Univariate analysis of hospital and late mortalities in 21 characteristics on the evolution of the acute phase of myocardial infarction of patients sequentially admitted in a coronary care unit. SETTING: Coronary care unit and out patient clinic of a school hospital. PATIENTS: A group of 213 patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted sequentially in a coronary care unit was studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Making use of a computerized information system the following characteristics f the patients were prospectively studied: age, sex, previous history of myocardial infarction, angor, diabetes, hypertension and tabacism, presence of left ventricular dysfunction electrocardiographic localization of the infarction, presence of angor in the acute phase of the infarction, epistenocardic pericarditis, hypertensive reaction, hypotension, sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, supraventricular disrhythmias, ventricular disrhythmias, A-V block, complete right bundle branch block, complete left bundle block and peak of CPK values. Univariate analysis was made between each one of these characteristics and hospitalar and one year mortalities. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were obtained in the hospitalar mortality in the following characteristics: age (p less than 0.001), sex (p less than 0.03), previous history of diabetes (p less than 0.05) and tabagism (p less than 0.005), left ventricular disfunction (p less than 0.0005), hypotension (p less than 0.005), sinus tachycardia (p less than 0.0005), sinus bradycardia (p less than 0.024), A. V. block (p less than 0.004), and peak of CPK (p less than 0.05). Statistically significant differences were found in one year mortality in the following characteristics: age (p less than 0.001), left ventricular disfunction (p less than 0.02), sinus tachycardia (p = 0.0116) and peak of CPK (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: Influence in the hospitalar mortality was demonstrated by the following characteristics of the patients with myocardial infarction: age, sex, previous history of diabetes and tabagism, left ventricular disfunction, infarct size expressed by the peak values of CPK, sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, hypotensive reaction in the acute phase of the myocardial infarction and A-V block. Mortality in the late phase infarction was influenced by age, left ventricular dysfunction, sinus tachycardia and peak values of CPK. PMID- 2631862 TI - Fluorescence spectroscopic studies on tryptophan at the saccharide-binding site of castor bean hemagglutinin. AB - The environment of tryptophan in castor bean hemagglutinin (CBH) was analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy with regard to saccharide binding. Upon binding of specific saccharides, the fluorescence maximum of 333 nm of CBH shifted to a wavelength 2 nm shorter, owing to the change in the environment of tryptophan at the saccharide-binding site. By analyzing the change in the fluorescence intensity at 320 nm as a function of concentration of saccharides, the association constants for binding of saccharides to CBH were determined. The results suggest that the saccharide-binding site on each B-chain is actually composed of a subsite with which the saccharide residue linked to galactopyranoside at the non-reducing end can interact, and another site which recognizes the galactopyranoside moiety. Quenching data indicated that five out of 22 tryptophans in CBH are surface-localized and are available for quenching with both KI and acrylamide, and three other tryptophans are buried and are available only to acrylamide. Binding of raffinose to CBH decreased by 2 the number of tryptophan residues accessible to quenchers in the CBH molecule. We speculate that raffinose binds to CBH in such a manner as to shield the tryptophan located at the subsite from quenching by KI and acrylamide. The results also suggest that the tryptophan residue at the saccharide-binding site on each B-chain is localized near the surface, and present in the positively charged environment. PMID- 2631863 TI - Sequence simplification and the intra- and intermolecular self-recognition properties of vasopressin/neurophysin biosynthetic precursor. AB - The self-assembly properties of the arginine 8-vasopressin/bovine neurophysin II (AVP/BNPII) biosynthetic precursor were studied using glycopeptide-deleted and sequence-redesigned semisynthetic derivatives. Semisynthetic precursors were prepared by chemically coupling synthetic vasopressinyl sequence domains and native protein-derived neurophysin II domain. Measurement of precursor-protein association by the extent of affinity chromatographic retardation on agarose immobilized BNPII verified that the semisynthetic precursor with native AVP sequence has an enhanced self-association propensity similar to that predicted for native precursor. Here, the stabilizing contacts between hormone and neurophysin domains, mainly the positively charged protonated alpha-amino group and tyrosyl 2 side chain of the hormone, are retained. Semisynthetic precursor variants in which the hormone domain is sequence-simplified by introducing alanyl residues in positions not considered important for neurophysin recognition show non-reduced association to BNPII. In contrast, removal of one of the main contact elements between hormone and neurophysin by acetylation of the hormone alpha amino group abolishes potentiation of precursor self-association. The results show that the presence of the C-terminal glycopeptide sequence domain of native vasopressin precursor is not required to promote self-assembly of the precursor. The data verify the view proposed for the oxytocinyl precursor that intramolecular domain interaction is the triggering event which promotes the increase in affinity of precursor self-association (intermolecular self recognition). The data also define some of the intramolecular self-recognition elements in the folded precursor required for the high affinity intermolecular self-recognition. PMID- 2631864 TI - Hidden self-association of proteins. AB - Sedimentation equilibrium measurements were carried out on solutions of bovine serum albumin, aldolase, and ovalbumin in phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.2, at 10 degrees C. The data obtained for each protein were analyzed to yield the dependence of apparent weight-average molecular weight upon protein concentration, over a concentration range of ca 1-200 g/L. Using the approximate theory of Chatelier and Minton [1987) Biopolymers 26, 507-524), models are formulated for the dependence of apparent weight-average molecular weight upon concentration in non-ideal solutions containing proteins which may self-associate according to a monomer/n-mer or a monomer/dimer/tetramer scheme. The concentration dependence data for serum albumin may be accounted for, assuming either no self-association or weak monomer/dimer association. The data for aldolase may be accounted for assuming either weak monomer/dimer or weak monomer/trimer association. The data for ovalbumin may be accounted for assuming either weak monomer/trimer or weak monomer/dimer/tetramer association. The associations do not approach saturation at the highest concentrations studied, and the standard-state free energy changes accompanying self-association amount to less than 4 kcal/mol of intermolecular contacts, suggesting that non-specific clustering of protein molecules at high concentration rather than the formation of specific complexes is being observed. PMID- 2631865 TI - Production of anti-idiotypic antibodies by immunization with a pair of complementary peptides. AB - Previous investigations have suggested that pairs of peptides specified by complementary RNA sequences (termed complementary peptides) can interact with one another. In the light of this finding, we hypothesized that an antibody directed against a peptide might interact with an antibody against its complementary peptide at the antigen combining site. To address this possibility, polyclonal antibodies against a peptide, Leu-Glu-Arg-Ile-Leu-Leu (LERILL), and its complementary peptide, Glu-Leu-Cys-Asp-Asp-Asp (ELCDDD), were made monospecific by affinity chromatography. Using radioimmunoassays, anti-ELCDDD antibodies were shown to interact with 125I-anti-LERILL antibodies but not with 125I-control antibodies. More importantly, the interaction of the two antibodies could be blocked using either peptide antigen, but not with control peptides. Furthermore, 125I-anti-LERILL binding to LERILL could be blocked with anti-ELCDDD antibody and vice versa. We concluded therefore that antibody/antibody binding occurred at or near the antigen combining site, demonstrating that this interaction was an idiotypic/anti-idiotypic one. PMID- 2631866 TI - Systemic spread of Campylobacter jejuni after intravenous infections. AB - Mice were infected intravenously with Campylobacter jejuni in order to study systemic translocation of this vibrio, as well as the interactions between bacteria and the host's defense mechanisms. It was found that granulocytes phagocyte C. jejuni in the bloodstream and that phagocytosis could be stimulated with LPS-pretreatment or, less effectively, opsonizing antibodies. It could also be demonstrated that these circulating 'infected' granulocytes are eliminated from the bloodstream mostly by the hepatic Kupffer's cells and that virulent strains of C. jejuni persist in the liver up to thirty days. It has to be concluded that phagocytosis by granulocytes and clearance of C. jejuni from the bloodstream by the liver represent important defense mechanisms in systemic Campylobacter infections. PMID- 2631867 TI - Influences of related retroviruses on lymphocyte functions. AB - The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is known to be profoundly immunosuppressive [Spickett and Dalgleish (1988) Clin. Exp. Immunol. 71, 1]. In this communication, we have studied the influences of HIV-1 (BH10), HIV-2 (LAV-2) and STLV-3 on B and T cells from healthy volunteers. B lymphocytes were found to differentiate into immunoglobulin secreting cells in response to stimulation by proteins of HIV-1 and LAV-2, but not by STLV-3. This response was obtained at protein concentrations of 0.05-0.005 micrograms/ml and was T cell dependent. IgM secretion was induced only by HIV-1 in the EBV-transformed B cell line SKW 6.4. At higher concentrations all three retroviral preparations had inhibitory influences on functions of B as well as T lymphocytes. B cell differentiation was maximally inhibited by HIV-1 and LAV-2 when these proteins were added concurrently to cultures with the polyclonal B cell activators pokeweed mitogen or Epstein-Barr virus. Tetanus antigen-specific T cell lymphoproliferation was inhibited by all retroviral proteins. These findings suggest that related retroviruses differ in their capacity to influence normal immune responses. PMID- 2631868 TI - Phagocyte responses to endotoxin: intracellular signals and oxidative activity. PMID- 2631869 TI - Endotoxin binding, and changes in monocyte sub-populations subsequent to binding, detected by flow cytometry. PMID- 2631870 TI - Interaction of human monocytes and endothelial cells potentiates the oxidative response to phorbol myristoyl acetate (PMA) and endotoxin in vitro. PMID- 2631871 TI - Chemotaxis of mononuclear cells in patients with community acquired pneumonia. PMID- 2631872 TI - Properties of human peritoneal macrophages from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. PMID- 2631873 TI - Modulation of macrophage iron metabolism by tumour necrosis factor and interleukin 1. PMID- 2631874 TI - Therapeutic applications of phagocytes. PMID- 2631875 TI - Relationship between secretion of the Anton blood group antigen in saliva and adherence of Haemophilus influenzae to oropharynx epithelial cells. AB - Inhibition of adherence of bacteria to epithelial cells contributes to a reduction of infections by these bacteria. We have shown that the Anton blood group antigen, the erythrocyte receptor for Haemophilus influenzae (van Alphen et al. 1986, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 37, 69-71), occurs in saliva, that the occurrence is not related to the secretor state of the donor of the saliva and that saliva containing Anton antigen could not inhibit the adherence of H. influenzae to oropharynx epithelial cells. Anton antigen was detected in saliva samples of 14 donors by immunoblotting with two different anti-Anton sera. The amount of Anton antigen correlated with the ability of H. influenzae to adhere to the epithelial cells of the donor of the saliva: 4.1 +/- 0.1 Anton antigen units for donors with more than 50 H. influenzae per cell and 1.6 +/- 0.5 units for donors with less adhering epithelial cells. No correlation between the amount of Anton antigen in saliva and secretor status of the donor was observed. Adherence of H. influenzae to epithelial cells was not inhibited by saliva of secretors (N = 11) or non secretors (N = 3). The same saliva did not inhibit the interaction of the bacteria with Anton antigen bearing erythrocytes as measured by haemagglutination inhibition. This indicates that the amount of Anton antigen in saliva is probably too low to interfere with the interaction of H. influenzae with oropharynx epithelial cells and erythrocytes. PMID- 2631876 TI - Influence of P blood group phenotype on susceptibility to urinary tract infection. AB - Bacterial attachment is an important event in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection (UTI). Increased receptivity on the host cells has been suggested influence proneness to infection. The dual function of the globoseries of glycolipids both as receptors for attaching E. coli and as P blood group antigens lead us to examine the P blood group phenotype distribution in UTI prone patient populations. A correlation between the P1 blood group phenotype and susceptibility to UTI was found. Patients with recurrent pyelonephritis had 74/79 (94%), P1 compared to 75% in healthy controls. In contrast patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) had a reduced frequency of P1, 43/74 (58%). P1 and P2 individuals differ in amount and composition of the globoseries of glycolipids on their erythrocytes. A similar difference in other tissues, e.g. uroepithelial cells might explain the association of P1 with UTI. There was, however, no significant difference in bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells from P1 and P2 individuals. Other mechanisms explaining the increase in P1 individuals in recurrent pyelonephritis are discussed. PMID- 2631877 TI - Secretor state and renal scarring in girls with recurrent pyelonephritis. AB - The non-secretor phenotype was significantly associated with the occurrence of renal scarring among patients with recurrent pyelonephritis. Girls (n = 77) with recurrent pyelonephritis were followed from the first known episode of infection for up to twelve years with repeated radiological investigations. They were divided into two categories: those with renal scars (n = 35) and those who did not develop scars (n = 42). There was a significant over-representation of non secretors among the patients with scarring, (14/35, 40%) compared to the healthy controls (21.8%, P less than 0.05). The frequency of non-secretors among the girls who did not develop scars in spite of repeated episodes of acute pyelonephritis was not significantly different from the healthy controls (9/42, 21% n.s.). This study provides a basis for analysis of the influence of secretor state on host-parasite interaction in the urinary tract. PMID- 2631878 TI - Non-secretion of ABO blood group antigens: a host factor predisposing to recurrent urinary tract infections and renal scarring. AB - In a study of 718 women referred for specialist investigation for recurrent urinary tract infections, 250 (34.8%, P less than 0.01) were non-secretors. The proportion of non-secretors among the women with renal scars (42.6%) was higher than that found for women with no evidence of renal scars (36.6%). Among 29 patients in whom symptoms began in childhood or adolescence, 51.7% were non secretors. The proportion of non-secretors among individuals with renal scars in this study (42.6%) and that reported in the accompanying paper for Swedish children (40%) suggests that non-secretion might influence the pathogenic sequelae of these infections. Possible host-parasite interactions underlying the increased proportion of non-secretors among women with recurrent urinary tract infections and those leading to development of renal scars are discussed. PMID- 2631879 TI - Secretor status and dental caries in Iceland. AB - The proportion of non-secretors of ABH blood-group substances among Icelanders is one of the highest recorded for European countries. Dental caries prevalence is also very high. In this study of dental caries in young adults mean number of decayed, missing and filled teeth for secretors were 17.4 and for non-secretors 19.9 (P less than 0.05). A majority of patients seeking free dental treatment in the Dental School were non-secretors (62.7%) significantly more than the proportion of non-secretors in the general population (36%; P less than 0.01). It is postulated that blood group substances may interfere with the adherence of Streptococcus mutans to teeth. PMID- 2631880 TI - Non-secretion of blood group antigens and susceptibility to infection by Candida species. AB - One of the innate defences against superficial infections by Candida species appears to be the ability of an individual to secrete the water-soluble form of his ABO blood group antigens into body fluids. There was a significantly higher number of non-secretors (48.9%) among 174 patients with either oral or vaginal candida infections compared with the proportion of non-secretors in the local population (26.6%). The protective effect afforded by the secretor gene might be due to the ability of glycocompounds in the body fluids of secretors to inhibit adhesins on the surface of the yeast. In attachment studies, preincubation of blastospores with boiled secretor saliva significantly reduced their ability to bind to epithelial cells. Non-secretor saliva did not reduce the binding and often enhanced the numbers of attached yeasts. Possible host-parasite interactions underlying the susceptibility of non-secretors to candida and other infections are discussed. PMID- 2631881 TI - Lewis a blood group antigen of non-secretors: a receptor for candida blastospores. AB - This study tested the hypothesis that the Lewis a blood group antigen found predominantly on the cells of non-secretors might be one of the receptors for Candida species. Binding of strain 3118C to epithelial cells from either secretor or non-secretor donors was not inhibited by treating the cells with anti-Lewis a or anti-Lewis b antisera. Binding of strain 3091 to non-secretor cells was inhibited by pretreating the cells with anti-Lewis a, but this was not observed for secretor cells. The results suggest that Lewis a might be one of the receptors for some yeast strains. PMID- 2631882 TI - [Clinicopathologic characteristics of laryngeal neoplasms in the region of Cartagena from 1972 to 1984]. AB - We have carried out a research into the clinicopathological characteristics of the cancer of larynx between 1972 and 1984 in the area of Cartagena, with a populations that oscillated between 210,944 and 250,233 inhabitants, and over a number of 207 cases. We observe that the symptom to which the patients attach most importance and the reason why they most often consult is dysphonia or voice alteration, and that its clinical development average time until diagnosis is of 6.08 months. It is to be pointed out the proportion of supraglottic carcinomas which at the moment of diagnosis usually show a T3 or a T4 stage and palpable adenopathies in a third of the patients. On the contrary, glottic carcinomas are usually T1 lesions and without satellite adenopathies. With regard to the histologic type, the great majority of cases belong to epidermoid carcinomas, followed at a great distance by warty carcinomas and finally by pseudosarcomas. PMID- 2631883 TI - [Recurrent left paralysis caused by heart or aortic arch disease]. AB - The authors had made a study of 20 left laryngeal palsies. The etiological factor had been cardial an aortic pathology in all cases. They, had made one appeal of attention to generalist, about the Ent and thoracic explorations in this patients. PMID- 2631884 TI - [Epidemiologic study of mortality caused by cancer of the larynx in Spain, from 1951 to 1983]. AB - We have reviewed the mortality from laryngeal cancer in Spain (1951-1983). An evident increase of the tendency for males has been observed, while an stabilization in females, with lower rates, has been appreciated. It is reflected in the increase of the sex ratio along the studied period, specially since 1970. Concerning the morbidity, through hospital diagnostic data in Spain, as much the absolute numbers as the corresponding morbidity rates have been clearly increasing in males, specially during the last years of our study (1977-1985). PMID- 2631885 TI - [Electroneurographic study in facial paralysis]. AB - We studied the facial electroneurography (facial ENoG) in 20 normal subjects and 37 patients with facial palsy and their different etiologies. Facial ENoG was performed for the first time within 3 days after palsy onset. We carried out anamnesis, physical and functional exploration (Schirmer's test, stapedial reflex and electrogustometry) as well as motor valuation and facial ENoG. These last two test were performed, not only in the first 72 hours after the onset, but also 7, 15 and 21 days later, in the first month and in successive months until complete recovery of the facial movement or for six months in cases of partial recovery. We studied two parameters of facial ENoG: amplitude and latency. We discovered that the ENoG revealed the progression of the Wallerian degeneration in the distal nerve beginning from the lesion. Therefore, we consider that the amplitude is the most reliable data in the facial ENoG. PMID- 2631886 TI - [Causes of failure in radical surgery of the mastoid]. AB - We review the surgical findings of 85 revisional radical mastoidectomies for recurrent otic discharge, with the purpose to determinate the causes of surgical failure. Cholesteatoma was found in 38.8% of the cases. The other causes were unexentered cells and granulation tissue in the sinodural angle, mastoid tip, tegmental cells and root of the zygoma. The facial recess was the place of residual cholesteatoma in 47% and the supratubal recces in 40% of the cases. We emphasized the big importance of a good meatoplasty, this was the cause of failure in 62.4% of cases. A dry ear was obtained in 94% of the cases. The mean following up period was three years. PMID- 2631887 TI - [Lymphoma of primary extranodal localization in the otorhinolaryngologic region]. AB - Eighty patients presenting to HGGM with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas between 1962 and 1986, were reviewed. Eighty-three per cent were of unfavorable histology; 72% had stages I-II. The control were obtained in 40% with radiotherapy alone (16% of the T3T4 when the disease were stages according to the TNM). The control rate was 78% with radiochemotherapy. Chemotherapy should be considered the elective therapy alone or combined with radiotherapy. PMID- 2631888 TI - [Tuberculosis in current clinical otorhinolaryngology]. AB - 39 cases of ENT tuberculosis diagnosed in the last 15 years are studied. We review the annual incidence, the distribution by age and sex and the different found localization: oropharyngeal, laryngeal cervical ganglionar, salivary and otical ones. We analyse the concomitance with tuberculous pulmonary lesions and the results of diagnostic explorations: Mantoux, bacilloscopy and biopsy. We discuss the method, diagnostic difficulties, therapeutic behaviour and the consequences of misdiagnosis. PMID- 2631889 TI - [Extracranial primary meningioma. Presentation of a case of nasoethmoid localization]. AB - A case is presented of primary meningioma situated in the right nasal ethmoid. Clinical and radiological studies, as well as histopathological and ultrastructural examinations of the piece to be operated upon confirm definite diagnosis. The word is concluded by a bibliographical revision of the subject. PMID- 2631890 TI - [Sarcoma of the larynx]. AB - The soft-tissue sarcomas are rarely encountered in the larynx. A case the undifferentiated soft-tissue sarcoma of the larynx is presented, analyzing, the clinical features, the diagnosis and incidence into the laryngeal carcinoma. The prognosis and therapeutic measures are also discussed. PMID- 2631891 TI - [Chondroma of the larynx. Apropos of a case]. AB - Tumours originating from the laryngeal skeleton are a rarity. We present a case report of an 82 year old male with chondroma in the larynx. 23 years before, the tumour was diagnosed when the patient was asymptomatic. 10 years later he was operated up on with conservative surgery when the tumour grew to a size that caused permanent dyspnoea and dysphonia. After regular examinations, 13 years later, there is no evidence of recurrence of the mass. Chondromas are rare. Surgical extirpation is the essential line of treatment for tumours of the cricoid cartilage. PMID- 2631892 TI - [Chondrosarcoma of the sinuses: an infrequent tumor]. AB - The case of 69 year old male patient who developed sinusal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is presented. At the time of diagnosis the tumor had spread into the intracranial cavity, which explains why no surgical treatment was carried out. A combined palliative treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy was used which did not improve the course of the tumor. The rare location of this form of tumor is discussed. Also commented on are the therapeutic--both surgical and other modalities (chemotherapy and radiotherapy)--difficulties encountered with this condition, given the little experience accumulated with it and its habitual resistance to the therapeutical regimens employed. PMID- 2631893 TI - [Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome; a model of autoimmune neurosensory hypoacusia]. AB - The immunological disorders appearing in several kinds of autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss, are not unusual in daily practice. We present a case with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada's disease with hearing impairment, and describe its clinics aspects, and the diagnosis and therapeutics methods we used. PMID- 2631894 TI - [The 40 hertz potential: a preliminary study]. AB - In this paper we introduce our preliminary results with 40 Hz. potentials in the study of the auditive pathway in a group of normal subjects. Wave characteristics, amplitude and latency in different frequencies and intensities are analyzed. PMID- 2631895 TI - [Review of 156 myringoplasties]. AB - We report the anatomical and functional results of 156 myringoplasty; 134 with onlay surgical technique and 22 with underlay technique. We comment the climatologic of our area and its relation with the surgical failures. PMID- 2631896 TI - [Cranioencephalic traumatism. Audiovestibular sequelae]. AB - A group of 80 patients with blunt head injury were examined. Long-term clinical neurologic and otologic sequelae of traumatic head injury are well recognized. The authors studied the vestibular disorders using ENG, EEG and high resolution CT. PMID- 2631897 TI - [Total phonatory laryngectomy (Herrmann's technic). Our clinical experience]. AB - In this paper we present a follow up of 24 patients that underwent total laryngectomy with Herrmann's technique of phonatory voice prosthesis. We discuss the complications and the facts that provoqued the removal of the prosthesis. PMID- 2631898 TI - [Our experience in the deferred use of phonatory prosthesis in laryngectomees. Secondary technic]. AB - In this paper we introduce our experience dealing with phonatory prosthesis in laryngectomees (secondary technique). We comment about clinical evolution, results and complications. PMID- 2631899 TI - [Oropharyngeal functional evaluation in patients subjected to total laryngectomy with phonatory prosthesis. Manometric and isotopic study]. AB - Our goal in this paper is to evaluate the motor function of the oropharinx using esophageal manometry and isotopic study, in patients that underwent total laryngectomy (TL) with phonatory prosthesis (PP), and with or without cricopharyngeal myotomy (CM). 50 por 100 of the laryngectomized patients showed oropharyngeal dysphagia, more frequent and stronger in patients without CM. Voice quality was considered good or medium in 12/20. With manometry we achieve that after TL there is an intense pressure reduction of the UES, higher in patients with CM, there aren't differences for other manometrics parameters. The oropharyngeal isotopic clearance is clearly disturbed in all patients, there aren't differences due to the type of surgery, neither the degree of dysphagia nor the CM. The association of a CM to PL plus PP is a surgical procedure that improves markedly the manometric and clinic results in these patients. PMID- 2631900 TI - [Submucous resection of the lower bony turbinate]. AB - The technique, results, and complications of 43 patients operated upon, by submucous turbinal resection (STR), is presented (1985-1988). To cope with bony turbinal problems, either "in totto", or submucose resections are a "must". The author claims STR is more functional than the other possible techniques. Properly done, good results are to be expected, through minimal, transient risk, of tracheo-pharyngeal dryness. PMID- 2631901 TI - [Mucous nasosinus melanoma. Apropos of a case]. AB - The mucous melanoma is a rare affection which has a very poor prognosis by its difficult diagnosis and unsatisfactory treatment. We have a patient with mucous melanoma nasal, which has been studied (clinic evolution, diagnosis and treatment) in our Hospital. PMID- 2631902 TI - [Histiocytosis X: problems of differential diagnosis in otorhinolaryngology]. AB - Four cases of Histiocytosis X are presented here, with symptoms otorhinolaryngologic. The evolution has been good, so they have been without disease for three of four years. We are presenting the problem of differential diagnosis of this disease for ENT specialists and the delay in the diagnosis. All our cases were diagnosed after one year of the beginning of symptoms. PMID- 2631903 TI - [Primary malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity]. AB - This refers to a case of a malign melanoma in the nasal cavity. Melanomas of the mucosal origin differed from the melanomas cutaneous in that size of the primary lesion did not influence prognosis. Regional lymph node metastases are rare and did not influence prognosis. Local recurrence at the primary site is frequent. Surgical treatment offers long-term cure to only a limited number of patients. PMID- 2631904 TI - [Parotid actinomycosis. Apropos of a case]. AB - The parotid Actinomycosis is a very uncommon infectious disease. In this article one case is presented discussing several aspects of its diagnosis and treatment. PMID- 2631905 TI - [Solitary extramedullary plasmocytoma of the nasal cavity]. AB - It is described a case of solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of nasal cavities. It's also made a review of the similar cases published about this infrequent but not extraordinary tumour to establish his diagnostic, prognosis and treatment. PMID- 2631906 TI - [Peripharyngeal abscess. Apropos of 2 cases]. AB - Peripharyngeal abscess still occurs despite the advent of antibiotics. Mediastinitis developing from a retropharyngeal abscess is a rare complication. A patient with retropharyngeal and subsequent mediastinal abscess is reported. We explain how pathological processes in the neck, can spread into the chest by direct continuity or by dissection through the fascial planes. We also report another patient lateropharyngeal abscess and respiratory distress. PMID- 2631907 TI - [Myotomy of the lower constrictor in total laryngectomy with phonatory prosthesis. Our experience]. AB - We study in this paper the results from two groups of patients that underwent total laryngectomy with voice rehabilitation through phonatory prosthesis, with and without myotomy. We present the complications and the phonatory results and decreased complications. PMID- 2631908 TI - [Voice quality in laryngectomees with phonatory prosthesis]. AB - The Work is a study of quality voice in laryngectomy patients with speech prosthetic supports. We have studied the quality voice objective and subjective. We explain the results. PMID- 2631909 TI - [Diagnosis of tumor invasion of the cartilage in neoplasm of the larynx using computed tomography]. AB - The demonstration of the tumoral invasion of the cartilaginous structure of the larynx is a fact that contraindicates any conservative treatment, either surgical or radiotherapeutic. The usual methods of clinical exploration, such as direct or indirect laryngoscopy or fiberoptic laryngoscopy are not very useful, as well as conventional radiology which presents little sensitivity to defect tumoral invasion. It has been communicated previously that computerised tomography (CT) is more sensitive. In our evaluation of these different diagnostic methods, we present a series of 51 patients with laryngeal cancer at different stages in a hom studies prior to surgery using computerised tomography (CT) have been realised. We evaluate the efficacy of his diagnostic method in the tumoral invasion of the laryngeal backbone. Results have been analysed, demonstrating that this method is superior to other techniques used. PMID- 2631910 TI - [Transtympanic ventilation tubes and serous otitis media. Study of 100 cases]. AB - The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the use of 100 ventilation tubes in the treatment of 60 patients with secretory otitis media. A study of the course, the complications and the sequelae has been realized. It is concluded that the use of ventilation tubes is justified in our patients. PMID- 2631911 TI - [Otorhinolaryngologic surgery in patients with coagulopathy]. AB - A personal experience of ORL surgery in patients suffering from bleeding disorders is presented. 26 patients have been submitted to different surgical procedures, fibrin glue being used in all of them. Treatment results were as satisfactory as those in normal patients. PMID- 2631912 TI - [Cancer of the nasopharynx: our experience with 34 cases]. AB - Thirty four cases of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer, all white people, are reviewed. The more frequent clinical signs are, in order of frequency: nasal obstruction, which is presented in 65% of patients, transmission deafness, in 59%; adenomegalies in 44%; epistaxis in 26% and migraine in 21% of cases. The mean time evolution between the first clinical symptom and the treatment was four and a half months. The pathologic study was: epidermoid carcinoma in 31 cases (91.9% and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 3 cases 8.9%). The 31 cases of epidermoid carcinoma were treated with radiotherapy and the 5 years survival was 38%. In 62% of cases, the tumor recurred locally, in lymph nodes or were distant metastasis. PMID- 2631913 TI - [Experience with cancer of the cavum in Murcia]. AB - A retrospective study was made of cavum malignant neoplasias. They were diagnosed and treated in the Ciudad Sanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (Murcia-Spain), between 1973 and 1982, with an epidemiological, clinical, anatomopathological, treatment and prognosis analysis. Cavum cancer is more common in men, with an average evolution time before the diagnosis about 4, 8 months, and an overall survival rate following treatment for every anatomopathological type about 32.4% after five years. PMID- 2631914 TI - [Verrucous carcinoma of the larynx]. AB - From 1981-1984, we have diagnosed and treated 5 cases verrucous carcinoma of the larynx. The clinical findings, histopathology, and management of verrucous carcinoma of the larynx are discussed. PMID- 2631915 TI - [Cranial nerve involvement as the primary manifestation of Guillain-Barre syndrome]. AB - The presentation of a Guillain-Barre Syndrome in a initial paralysis form of cranial's nerves is strange. The remark in the event of an initial lonely velopalatinal paralysis, lead us to study the similar cases published in the literature to settle the characteristics which are typical of these cases. PMID- 2631916 TI - [Unusual tumor of the thyroid: amyloid goiter]. AB - The goiter amyloid is an infrequent complication in the expanded symptomatic range of the generalized amyloidosis. Much more habitual alteration among the reactive secondary amyloidosis: it's characterized by a fast and progressive growth of the thyroid which can bring about compressive problems over the closest cervical structures. In the same way, it can be observed regarding to neoplastic process of the thyroid gland; either carcinoma medullary or another type. It is necessary its with a clear differentiation. We present you a case of a male suffering systematic reactive amyloidosis, secondary to bronquiectasys in the bosom of a pneumoconiosis, with an increase of serum figures of IgA. PMID- 2631917 TI - Blood vascular beds of rat adrenal and accessory adrenal glands, with special reference to the corticomedullary portal system: a further scanning electron microscopic study of corrosion casts and tissue specimens. AB - Blood vascular casts of the rat adrenal glands were observed with a scanning electron microscope. The cortical capillary plexus drains, through the corticomedullary venous radicles, into the subcortical veins continuous with the medullary collecting veins. The medullary capillary plexus drains into the corticomedullary venous radicles, subcortical veins and medullary collecting veins. No portal vessel was noted between the cortical and medullary capillaries. These findings indicate that the cortical blood rich in glucocorticoids preferentially and continuously flows into the corticomedullary venous radicles, subcortical veins and medullary collecting veins all three of which are fenestrated in type, and also suggest that the vascular route from the cortical capillaries to the medullary collecting veins functions as a substitute for the portal system, controlling the biosynthesis of catecholamines in the adrenal medulla. The vascular bed of the accessory adrenal gland (extra-adrenal cortical or chromaffin body) is sometimes annexed to that of the adrenal gland. On rare occasions, the vascular beds of the extra-adrenal cortical and chromaffin bodies fuse with each other. Additional scanning of tissue samples confirmed the direct drainage of cortical capillaries into the medullary veins and also the endothelial fenestrations of these capillaries and veins. PMID- 2631918 TI - Microvascular organization of human palatine tonsils. AB - We describe the three-dimensional organization of the microvasculature of human palatine tonsils as revealed by the vascular corrosion casting/scanning electron microscope method and light microscopy of sections. The tonsillar arteries travel in the connective tissue septa and give off many branches. They further branch into arterioles which in turn enter the follicle and the interfollicular region. These arterioles, giving off capillaries en route, reach the subepithelial region where they break up into sinusoidal capillaries. The subepithelial capillary network overlying the follicle protrudes hemispherically towards the crypt, while that overlying the interfollicular region has many switch-back loops of capillaries projected towards the crypt. The subepithelial sinusoids gather into the high endothelial venules (HEVs) which, collecting capillaries in the follicle and the interfollicular region en route, course down into the interfollicular region alongside the follicle. The HEVs surround the lateral and basal surfaces of the follicle and ultimately lead into the ordinary veins in the septa. The subepithelial sinusoids seem to be involved in taking up immunoglobulins secreted by plasma cells and any other substances released by lymphocytes and/or macrophages as well as supplying the tissues with necessary oxygen and nutrients. That the HEVs are downstream to the subepithelial sinusoids suggests that some substances which are taken up into the sinusoids and transported to the postcapillary venules induce differentiation of HEVs and maintain them. PMID- 2631919 TI - The periurethral glandular complex in the water buffalo: an ultrastructural, histological and lectin-histochemical study. AB - The periurethral glandular complex of the male water buffalo consists of a prostate body (not always present), a disseminate prostate and paired bulbourethral glands. The epithelium contains two types of columnar secretory cells and occasional basal cells. Type I secretory cells produce glycoprotein with a wide range of terminal sugars, these cells dominate in the cranial region of the periurethral glandular complex, whereas Type II secretory cells elaborate a mixture of carboxylated and sulphated sialomucin and prevail in the caudal portions of the periurethral glandular complex. At the ultrastructural level, Type I cells display a characteristic localization of organelles: a round nucleus in the basal portion, a Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum in the middle third, and secretory granules in the apical portion. Type II cells possess the ultrastructure of typical mucous cells. Following perfusion fixation of the epithelium, modifications of the lateral plasmalemmata are very obvious forming apicolateral secretory canaliculi, and intercellular channel system and a basolateral labyrinth. Nerve fibers surround the glandular basal lamina. Occasionally axons, probably of cholinergic nature, penetrate the basal lamina, then terminate in the intercellular clefts or form intraepithelial neuroglandular contacts. PMID- 2631920 TI - Studies of the clear zone of osteoclasts: immunohistological aspects of its form and distribution. AB - Bone marrow cells isolated from long bones of a ddY mouse were cultured on sperm whale dentin and examined by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The osteoclasts in vitro showed essentially the same ultrastructures as in vivo. The distribution of actin in the osteoclasts was examined by an indirect immunofluorescent antibody method, which revealed a wide ring-shaped area under the fluorescence microscope. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the ring-shaped area corresponded to the clear zone. The clear zone and resorption lacunae were examined by a double illuminating method to determine the relationship between the clear zone and the lacunae, which could be divided into three types. The distribution and function of the clear zone are discussed. PMID- 2631921 TI - Collagen phagocytosis by cementoblasts at the periodontal ligament-cementum interface. AB - The periodontal ligament-cementum interface of rat first molars was investigated by electron microscopy. Evidence supporting cementoblast phagocytosis of collagen fibrils of the periodontal ligament was found. In addition, collagen-containing vacuoles were frequently observed within cementoblasts in association with an acid phosphatase activity. The presence of acid phosphatase activity in these vacuoles suggested that intracellular degradation of collagen was occurring. Our results showed that cementoblasts exhibited collagen phagocytic activity and suggest that cementoblasts may play an important role in the physiological remodeling and metabolic breakdown of the collagen at the periodontal ligament cementum interface. PMID- 2631922 TI - An electron microscope study of the distal segment of the os penis of the rat. AB - The d-segment of the rat penile bone at 14 weeks is composed of an outer zone of atrophy, a middle zone of hypertrophy and an inner zone of ossification. Hypertrophic chondrocytes in the middle zone generally present a few secretory vesicles and a poorly developed Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting a serious decrease in the secretion of territorial matrix substances. Instead, most of the cells contain prominent glycogen lakes, lipid droplets and/or fine cytoplasmic filaments. These and other findings indicate that the chondrocytes are in a resting state. In the calcified layer of the zone, and in addition to the hypertrophic or degenerating chondrocytes, another type of cell is recognizable. These sometimes remain viable through the process of cartilage degeneration and may be liberated from the besieging calcified interterritorial matrix and from their own lacuna by chondroclasts. These surviving cells are more similar in ultrastructure to bone cells than to the adjacent chondrocytes, surrounded by the lamina limitans characteristic of the resting osteocytes. However, they are directly covered by a typical territorial matrix inside the lamina limitans and do not extend slender cell processes into the calcified matrix beyond the lamina limitans, and the territorial matrix is never calcified even after calcification of the interterritorial matrix. The cells, therefore, are regarded as belonging to the chondrocytes. PMID- 2631923 TI - Immunocytochemical localization of amelogenins in the deciduous tooth germs of the human fetus. AB - The immunocytochemical localization of amelogenins in the developing deciduous tooth germs of 6-month-old human fetuses was investigated by the protein A-gold method using an antiserum against porcine 25K amelogenin. The inner enamel epithelial cells and underlying matrix showed no amelogenin-like immunoreactivity. Distinct immunoreactivity was initially shown by fine fibrils found beneath the intact basal lamina of preameloblasts at the early differentiation stage. At the late differentiation stage, amelogenin-like immunoreactivity was shown by a fine granular material within the extracellular matrix as well as by the Golgi apparatus, secretory granules, lysosomal structures, coated vesicles, and coated pits of preameloblasts with a disrupted basal lamina. At the formative stage, the localization of immunoreactivity in secretory ameloblasts was similar to that in preameloblasts during the late differentiation stage. However, immunopositive coated vesicles and coated pits were only found at the early stage of matrix formation. The calcified enamel matrix and stippled material showed intense immunoreactivity. Immunocytochemical labeling of the enamel matrix appeared as a gradient, decreasing from the enamel surface to the dentinoenamel junction. No maturation stage of ameloblasts existed in the tooth germs examined. In predentin and dentin, amelogenin-like immunoreactivity was occasionally detected on odontoblasts and their processes, but odontoblasts and cells of the stratum intermedium contained no immunoreactive elements. These findings confirmed that the secretory ameloblast in the human deciduous tooth germ is responsible for the synthesis and secretion of enamel proteins. PMID- 2631924 TI - Innovation-diffusion theory and the evolution of the nurse practitioner role: how a good thing has caught on. AB - Nurse practitioners are one of the most unique innovations in health care delivery in recent decades. In this article, Roger's innovation-diffusion theory is applied to an analysis of the evolution of the nurse practitioner role. The four elements of the diffusion process, the innovation, communication, time, and social system, are addressed. Consequences of the innovation-diffusion process, as well as research implications, are presented. PMID- 2631925 TI - Effective case presentations--an important clinical skill for nurse practitioners. AB - Effective case presentations are an important component of the nurse practitioner's skills, yet very little literature exists to guide the development of this skill, and frequently little priority is given to teaching this skill during the education of the nurse practitioner. This report discusses the importance of effective case presentations, describes the organization of the presentation, and outlines the appropriate information to be included. The main components of a case presentation--introduction, history of the present illness, physical examination, diagnostic studies, differential diagnosis, management, and summary of the case--are discussed in detail. Examples of a formal and an informal case presentation are presented and used to illustrate key points in the text. PMID- 2631926 TI - The nurse practitioners' role in smoking cessation. AB - Most people who smoke want to quit. Smoking is a combination of nicotine addiction, psychologic dependency, and habit. Nurse practitioners are in a unique position to influence clients to stop smoking. The authors discuss individual and group therapy programs and the role of the nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are encouraged to start smoking cessation programs in their communities. PMID- 2631927 TI - Teenagers' perceptions of unplanned adolescent pregnancies and oral contraceptive use. AB - Adolescent women who are sexually active often do not use contraceptives consistently and correctly. Adolescents are sexually active for an average of 15 months before initiating regular contraceptive use and the majority of young women who initiate use discontinue within the first year after initiation. This study enrolled 50 young women who initiated oral contraceptive use and was designed to provide more understanding of their perceptions about the possibility of an unplanned pregnancy and about contraceptive use. They were again contacted 6 weeks after initiation of oral contraceptives to assess continuation. Findings revealed that 90% of the subjects were sexually active at the time of the first visit; the mean period of sexual activity was 15 months. Only 30% had used a nonprescription birth control method during this period. While perceiving themselves to be highly susceptible to pregnancy, many young women continue to have psychosocial barriers to contraceptive use. Follow-up contact revealed more than 10% of the subjects were not using oral contraceptives. PMID- 2631928 TI - Assessing the need for family nurse practitioners--the Florida experience. AB - This article presents results of a descriptive study designed to assess the need for Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) in Florida. The need for FNPs was examined within the context of the current crisis in access to health care in the United States and in Florida, where unique features of the state's population and economy combined to create inequities in the health care system. Data were also collected related to the number of primary care agencies already employing nurse practitioners, the educational preparation of these nurses, and the likelihood of agency nurses enrolling in an FNP program if such a program were available. A ten item questionnaire was mailed to nursing service administrators at 330 health care agencies involved in the delivery of primary care. Ninety-seven questionnaires were returned. Results from the study indicated that the agencies will require increased numbers of primary care providers in the next 5 years. Further, a minority of nurse practitioners are prepared at the Master's level in the surveyed agencies, suggesting a need for increased educational opportunities for nurses if they are to enter advanced practice. The study represents one approach to establishing needs for FNPs that might be used in other states both to develop educational programs and to influence legislators regarding health and nurse practitioner issues affecting access to care. PMID- 2631929 TI - Direct reimbursement: we're making headway. PMID- 2631930 TI - Quality assurance for office laboratories. PMID- 2631931 TI - Health care for rural America: long on challenges, short on promises. PMID- 2631932 TI - Marketing techniques in print. PMID- 2631933 TI - Lyme disease: easy to treat, easy to miss. AB - Lyme disease is a relatively newly identified entity that has received much attention in the public press. Because of the confusion of information and the seriousness of the disease, nurse practitioners need to know the facts and resources, including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The author discusses recent information in these areas and presents easy reference tables for guidelines. PMID- 2631934 TI - Clinical communication strategies of nurse practitioners with patients. AB - Nurses' awareness of their communication strategies is critically important both in identifying effective patterns in their interaction and in teaching themselves to improve their patient education techniques. Ineffective communication between client and nurse practitioner can result in failure to improve health status or deterioration of health status when recommendations are not followed. Studies of nonverbal aspects of clinical communication tend to count or average types of communication behaviors over the entire interaction rather than use sequential analysis of these behaviors. This paper presents initial results of a pilot study that used a sequential analysis of strategic roles played by nonverbal communication in nurse practitioner-patient interactions involving patient education. Because there is little previous work in applying sequential analysis, the grounded theory approach was used to identify nonverbal communication behaviors. Routine visits that focused on osteoporosis prevention were conducted by three nurse practitioners. Two visits per nurse were videotaped and analyzed for sequential events of nonverbal communication by the researchers alone and then in combination with the nurse conducting the visit. Descriptions of each visit were developed based upon both the verbal and nonverbal characteristics of the nurse-patient interactions as observed in the videotaped visits. From these, vignettes were created that summarized each nurse-patient visit according to the nature of the clinical communication that took place. Interviews of both nurses and patients were conducted before and after the visits to explore osteoporosis knowledge, goals, and strategies for the visit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2631935 TI - Papanicolaou smear: an update on classification and management. AB - Current research has caused us to reconsider the factors associated with cervical dysplasia. New recommendations for the collection of cervical specimens, interpretation of the Papanicolaou smear, and patient management have also evolved. Research findings and a discussion of the classifications to be used when reporting the results of the smear are updated in this paper. Interpretation and nurse-practitioner management of the normal and mildly abnormal Pap result is included. PMID- 2631937 TI - Pearls for practice. Quick and easy ear cleaning. PMID- 2631936 TI - Report of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Nurse Practitioner Survey. Part I. AB - This report is the first of a series of reports on the total results of the National Nurse Practitioners Survey of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Data regarding educational status, length of time in practice, employment settings, physician contact and interaction, and charges according to specialty are presented. PMID- 2631938 TI - Adapting the environment to age-related sensory losses. AB - Alteration of the environment to compensate for age-related sensory losses as well as common pathological sensory losses is necessary to maintain the independent living of many elderly people. Thorough knowledge of the changes in vision, taste, smell, kinesthesia, touch, and hearing that accompany the aging process is essential to the nurse practitioner for accurately assessing environmental alteration. By applying Dorothea Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory, this article illustrates ways for the nurse practitioner to prevent hazards, adapt institutional settings, and support successful independent living. It focuses on adapting the environment to the normal sensory physiological changes that occur with aging, and identifies some common pathological processes that concur with these losses. PMID- 2631939 TI - Weight loss counseling in primary care. AB - Caring for the overweight client requires a multifaceted approach. The nurse practitioner can help clients lose weight by providing them with strategies for reducing calorie intake, maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, exercising more, and developing positive behavioral and attitudinal changes. Weight reduction programs need to be individualized and clients should be periodically reassessed for changes in behaviors, eating patterns, and goals. Success in weight loss and maintenance requires a lifelong commitment to behavioral and nutritional changes. The goal of this article is to improve the clinician's understanding of the overweight person and to assist health care providers in counseling clients in weight reduction and maintenance. PMID- 2631940 TI - Ectopic pregnancy: a growing concern. AB - Ectopic pregnancy rates have increased threefold since 1970. Ectopic pregnancy continues to be the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester of pregnancy. The identification of clients with ectopic pregnancies may be difficult. In this article, risk factors, assessment techniques, and treatment strategies are reviewed. A questionnaire is included for use during pregnancy verification to identify those clients who may be at risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. The role of the nurse practitioner in providing comprehensive care is also addressed. PMID- 2631941 TI - Prevention of osteoporosis: the calcium controversy. AB - The continuing scientific controversy regarding the use of calcium supplements for the prevention of osteoporosis during menopause presents a challenge to the nurse practitioner. There is little doubt that estrogen prevents bone loss following menopause, but there is a growing doubt among many researchers whether calcium supplementation beyond 800 mg/per day produces any benefit at all in preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis. Yet, the medical consensus in this country continues to recommend 1500 mg of calcium per day for menopausal women. The practitioner's clinical questions relate to the effectiveness, cost, and compliance of calcium prescription. An alternate recommendation and protocol are presented here. PMID- 2631942 TI - How obstetric/gynecologic nurse practitioners make practice changes: a national study. AB - A national study to determine how obstetric/gynecologic nurse practitioners (OGNPs) make practice change was conducted. A random sample of 1000 currently certified OGNPs was surveyed. Results indicated that continuing education meetings were primary sources of practice change information. Other important sources included discussion with physicians and other NP colleagues, as well as nursing and medical journals. The survey results indicate that continuous learning for practice change is occurring and that a variety of sources are used to assist OGNPs in keeping their practice activities current. PMID- 2631943 TI - Report of the National Survey of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Part II: Pharmacologic management practices. AB - Nurse practitioners provide pharmacologic management to their patients throughout the country. This report focuses on the results of the Academy's national survey regarding pharmacological management practices by nurse practitioners according to locale and specialty. Included is data regarding methods for handling prescriptive medications, types of drugs prescribed or recommended, and interactions with pharmacists. PMID- 2631944 TI - Question and answer. Attention deficit disorder: recognition and management. PMID- 2631945 TI - Hospital privileges: who needs them? AB - Hospital privileges should be seen as a vital part of every nurse practitioner's practice. It allows the nurse practitioner to continue as the primary case manager. It helps to demonstrate the nurse practitioner's competence and credentials and may assist the nurse practitioner in becoming a preferred provider for some insurance companies. To the patients, it shows that the nurse practitioner's scope of practice is truly comprehensive. PMID- 2631946 TI - Computed tomography in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. AB - Early recognition of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and of other similar angiotrophic fungal pneumonias has been claimed in previous reports to be possible with computed tomography (CT) and may improve survival of immunocompromised hosts. Chest CT was performed, in the course of fungal pneumonia, in 11 leukemia patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia either with (n = 8) or without (n = 5) contrast enhancement. Early (n = 5), before the 7th day from the beginning of the clinical setting) chest CT always demonstrated one or more nodules or mass-like infiltrates surrounded by a halo of low attenuation. This halo was absent in middle (n = 4, after 7 days) and later (n = 4, after 15 days) CT examinations. The contrast-enhanced nodules or mass-like infiltrates showed a peripheral enhancement in 4/8 cases with a target feature (hyperdense peripheral ring and isodense central area). CT showed a non-specific enlargement of liver and spleen in 2 patients. Early chest CT should be used in the management of opportunistic pneumonias. PMID- 2631947 TI - Generalized increase of arterial blood flow to the liver observed at visceral radiocolloid angiography. AB - Visceral radiocolloid angiography was performed in 1230 consecutive patients studied with scintigraphy of the reticuloendothelial system (RES). The hepatic arterial flow was considered increased if an early and obviously increased accumulation of the radiocolloid occurred in the liver during the visceral radionuclide angiography, i.e. that the early part of the liver time-activity curve coincided with the early parts of the kidney and spleen time-activity curves with respect to time and steepness. A generalized increase of arterial blood flow to the liver was found in 70 patients, of whom 54 per cent had alcoholic liver disease. 20 per cent metastatic liver disease, 19 per cent had various diagnoses, and in 7 per cent no certain diagnosis was found. Generalized increase of arterial blood flow to the liver gives a typical appearance in radiocolloid angiography and the corresponding time-activity curves. It may be a sign of severe disease, most often localized in the liver, but in some cases it may be of extrahepatic origin. In 27 per cent it was the only obvious pathologic finding. It was in a few cases a reversible condition. Generalized increase of arterial blood flow to the liver is a clinically important finding that could escape detection if radionuclide angiography is not included in the RES scintigraphy. PMID- 2631948 TI - Computed tomography findings in pancreas divisum. AB - In 29 patients with abdominal pain the diagnosis of pancreas divisum (PD) was verified by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) via both the major and the minor papilla. Computed tomography (CT) was done in all patients to evaluate contour, volume, antero-posterior diameters and attenuation values of the gland in comparison with a normal reference series. Also, the validity of the CT grading of pancreatitis was assessed in comparison with ERP grading. Patients with PD had an increased cranio-caudal diameter of the pancreatic head (p less than 0.001). Further, the main pancreatic duct was visualized more often in patients with PD (p less than 0.01), who also had an increasing frequency of pancreatic calcifications (p less than 0.05). Otherwise there were no differences compared with the normal series. The observed reduction in the volume of the gland in patients with marked pancreatitis at ERP seemingly reflected the severity of inflammation. No cleavage between the dorsal and ventral anlage was identified. CT was found to be too unspecific to be of any use in grading of pancreatitis. In conclusion, CT findings in patients with PD are sparse, unspecific and preferably a reflection of pancreatitis, if present. ERP remains the 'gold standard' for the diagnosis. PMID- 2631949 TI - Computed tomography and histologic appearance of pancreatic metastases from distant sources. AB - The computed tomographic and histologic appearances in 34 cases of autopsy confirmed metastatic tumors of the pancreas including secondary malignant lymphoma are discussed. In 18 (53.8%) the pancreas appeared abnormal on computed tomography, the lesions being classified into three types: In 8 cases there was diffuse enlargement of the pancreas; in 9 cases a localized mass; and one patient had multiple low attenuated nodules within the organ. Histologic investigation revealed that metastatic carcinoma involved the pancreatic lobules. The degree of infiltration in the interlobular connective tissue was related to the invasiveness of the tumors. In the majority of cases with diffuse infiltration the pancreatic lobules were destroyed and varying degrees of proliferation of malignant cells into the interlobular septa were documented. In patients with localized infiltration there was extensive invasion of the carcinoma within the pancreatic lobule. Dilatation of the pancreatic duct and/or organ-related symptoms were occasionally seen in these cases. PMID- 2631950 TI - A prognostic algorithm for assessment of subcapital femoral neck fractures. AB - A new method for prognostication of non-union in subcapital femoral neck fractures is presented. From routine pre- and post-operative films from 112 patients with Garden stage 2, 3, and 4 fractures 4 parameters were obtained: Cranial displacement, orientation of the nail in the femoral head, depth of nail inserted, and attainment of perfect reduction. These 4 variables were combined into a simple algorithm capable of non-union prediction at various levels of certainty (74-100%). PMID- 2631951 TI - Effect of contrast media on left ventricular function during left coronary arteriography in dogs. AB - The effect of contrast media on the left ventricular function of the heart was assessed by left coronary administration of contrast media using canine models. Following insertion of the catheter into the left coronary artery, 0.5 ml/kg of a test solution was injected at a rate of 1 ml/s. The test solutions included isotonic saline, meglumine/sodium diatrizoate, iopamidol and ioxaglate. The mean systemic pressure, left ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic pressures and the first derivative of left ventricular pressure were continuously measured until five min post-injection. Left ventricular function decreased immediately by 15 s post-injection and recovered quickly by one min. The inhibition of myocardial contractility was observed with diatrizoate and ioxaglate to the same degree. These changes were statistically more pronounced than those with iopamidol, which showed changes similar to those with saline in all parameters except for the positive inotropic effects. These observations suggest that not only hyperosmolality but also ionic composition and chemotoxicity are the factors responsible for the myocardial depression and that no single factor dominates in their effects. PMID- 2631952 TI - Dual cervical thoracic coil for spine magnetic resonance imaging. AB - The need for repositioning of surface coils and patients in MR examinations of the cervical and thoracic spine prolongs examination time. A new receiver design is proposed which overcomes this problem. The device is composed of two actively decoupled receiver coils mounted on the frame of a Philadelphia collar. These coils may be used separately to image either the thoracic or cervical spine or together to produce larger field-of-view images of the combined region. Signal-to noise ratios of the separate cervical and thoracic spine images are not degraded as a result of mounting the receivers together. The full cervical and thoracic region is shown to be imaged at a signal-to-noise ratio significantly higher than that afforded by the body coil. A retrospective review of our case load suggests that a time saving could be achieved in approximately 1/3 of spine examinations by using this coil. PMID- 2631953 TI - Simulation of biologic tissues by using agar gels at magnetic resonance imaging. PMID- 2631954 TI - [Phagocytic activity of granulocytes after UV-irradiation]. AB - The effect of UV-irradiation on three functions of human isolated granulocytes (viability, phagocyte activity and capacity to reduce nitrotetrazolium blue) was investigated. The phagocytosis appeared to be the most sensitive function. The number of phagocytic cells was decreased under UV-doses as low as 0.63 kJ.m-2. Cell lethality was increased under UV-doses 4.32 kJ.m-2 and higher. The capacity to reduce nitrotetrazolium blue was uneffected even at the dose as high as 10.17 kJ.m-2. PMID- 2631955 TI - [Calculation of parameters of neuronal network model on the basis of analysis of power spectra of rat brain biopotentials]. AB - On the basis of neuronal network a linearized model of power spectrum of the network stable activity was calculated with the approximation of external input by "white" noise. The power spectrum function obtained was used for approximation of the power spectra of the rats motor cortex potentials by the least squares method. As a result the network parameters modelling excitatory and inhibitory cellular and synaptic mechanisms were calculated for two rat strains differing in seizure readiness. As a result of calculations genetically predisposed to seizures KM rats were assumed to differ from unpredisposed to seizures Wistar rats in the increase of efficacy of neuronal interactions (excitatory and inhibitory) as a consequence of the enhanced neuronal "reactivity". PMID- 2631956 TI - [A model for determination of muscle forces in a given movement of man]. AB - A model of a muscular-skeletal system of a man for determination of muscle forces knowing kinematics of the body is elaborated. Forces exerted by the muscles of the lower extremities in normal walking are presented (planar model of a leg, 8 muscles). The forces found were compared with corresponding EMG-activity of muscles. PMID- 2631957 TI - [Estimation of muscle forces during natural movement of man on the basis of minimization of various functions]. AB - Forces exerted by 11 muscles of lower extremities of a man in squat jump were determined using 4-link planar muscular-skeletal model. The research project was performed in two stages: 1) kinematic data were used for the calculation of control moments in joints, 2) determination of muscle forces as a result of minimization procedure of 5 objective functions with constraints to forces. The forces found were compared with corresponding EMG-activity of muscles. The highest correlation with EMG parameters was shown by the minimized sum of absolute powers of all muscles. PMID- 2631958 TI - [The effect of plasma viscosity on the resistance of erythrocyte movement along capillaries]. AB - By means of three-dimensional mathematical model describing movement of an asymmetric erythrocyte along the capillary of a small section the effect of the viscosity of the blood plasma on the resistance value to the erythrocyte movement in microvessels was studied. The model takes into account the elastic properties of the erythrocyte, the volume and area of its surface and the mobility of the membrane performing the rotation. It is shown that for characteristic conditions of hemodynamics experimentally observed in the microcirculation system the pressure gradient on the erythrocyte ends is 3-5-fold above the difference of pressures at the ends of plasma column of similar length. The dependence of the pressure gradient at the erythrocyte ends, which accounts for its movement along the capillary, on plasma viscosity is determined at different values of erythrocyte velocity. PMID- 2631959 TI - [Chemiluminescence of leukocytes in the whole blood stimulated by barium sulfate crystals]. AB - Luminol dependent stimulated by barium sulfate crystals chemiluminescence of leukocytes in the whole blood was studied. Chemiluminescent kinetics and dependence between the chemiluminescence intensity and temperature were investigated. The chemiluminescence is related to the formation of reactive oxygen by stimulated leukocytes which settled to the bottom of the cell together with the crystals of barium sulfate. PMID- 2631960 TI - [Scanning microcalorimetry of the blood]. AB - The age dependence of haemoglobin denaturation temperature in the composition of erythrocytes is established. Children have a much more expressed correlation of this temperature depending on the type and stage of disease than the adult. It is found that children ill with leukemia have haemoglobin, the value of heat denaturation of which is decreased about 15-25% in relation to the norm. Tests are created. They allow to reveal leukemia by heat parameters of haemoglobin denaturation of the whole blood. PMID- 2631961 TI - [Formation of liquid crystal structures in the tissue fluid in wound healing during periodic irradiation with helium-neon laser]. AB - Rabbit tissue fluid at different stages of wound healing was studied. Interaction between the formation of liquid crystalline fractions and the course of healing was revealed both under natural conditions and under periodic laser irradiation of the wound. PMID- 2631962 TI - [Growth and proliferation stimulating effect of extremely small doses of nitrosomethylurea]. AB - The increase to 30-50% of spleen weight of intact and with La leukemia C57Bl/6 mice after 5 days i.p. anticancer drug nitrosomethylurea (10(-3)-10(-8) g/kg) injection was observed. The reaction of intact spleen was more expressed than that of leukemic spleen. The growth-stimulating effect of nitrosomethylurea supersmall doses was accompanied with perturbation in 3H-thymidine cell incorporation, that assume a certain change in cell proliferation. PMID- 2631963 TI - [Fractionation of low density lipoproteins in NaBr density gradient]. AB - The method of atherogenic class lipoproteins fractionation by equilibrium zonal centrifugation in SW 41 Ti rotor (density range 1,006-1,063 g/ml) was proposed. Hydrated densities, flotation coefficients and mean diameters of LDL particles from different subfractions were estimated. PMID- 2631964 TI - [Cold denaturation of staphylococcal nuclease]. AB - It has been shown that the structure of staphylococcal nuclease breaks down reversibly both at a temperature increase above 20 degrees C and at its decrease. Both the heat and cold denaturations of protein are well approximated by a transition between two states differing in heat capacity, which means that the whole protein molecule represents a unique cooperative system with a well developed hydrophobic core. The transfer to a denatured state at a temperature decrease is accompanied by heat release and leads to a complete loss of the unique tertiary structure, decrease of the helicity and increase of the hydrodynamic volume of the molecule. PMID- 2631965 TI - [Analysis of the distribution of low density lipoprotein flotation coefficients using an analytical centrifuge equipped with absorption optics]. AB - Procedure of polydispersity determinations of low density lipoproteins (LDL) on low concentration scale (0.04%) using analytical ultracentrifuge with absorption optics was produced. No corrections for Johnston-Ogston effect and hydrostatic compressibility effect are required. Isothermal compressibility of LDL particles was estimated to be equal to 1.9 X 10(-5) Bar-1. An equation was obtained relating the flotation coefficients of LDL from different sources with solvent density and buoyant density of their particles. It was revealed that LDL particles from individual human plasma are divided into three-four subgroups having specific flotation characteristics and particular quantities of the material in these subgroups. PMID- 2631966 TI - [Possibility to study cell membrane topography using tritium planigraphy]. AB - The method of tritium planigraphy was adopted for the investigation of intact cells. Conditions for the incorporation of thermally activated tritium atoms in the erythrocytes are described. The accessibility of erythrocytes hemoglobin for tritium was compared to that of free hemoglobin. By comparing specific radioactivities of amino acids it was shown that the incorporation of the label into free hemoglobin was over 100 times higher than into that in erythrocytes. The cell membrane was highly tritiated. Thus the plasma membrane protects the cell inner regions from penetration of the hot tritium atoms. Tritium planigraphy can be used for studying the cell surface topography. PMID- 2631967 TI - [The effect of phalloidin and its nontoxic derivative dethiophalloidin on morphological transformation of mitochondria]. AB - As the in vitro experiments showed, the process of osmotic swelling of isolated liver mitochondria was inhibited by phalloidine produced by mushrooms Amanita phalloides. The degree of the effect pronounced depended both on the heptapeptide concentration and duration of the action on mitochondria. Mitochondrial contraction caused by ATP adding was also inhibited. The control experiments performed using dethiophalloidine as a nontoxic derivate showed the absence of similar effect. The data obtained point to functional significance of the actin like protein as a factor capable of forming a continuous primembrane system connected with the integral components and controlling the volume of mitochondria themselves. PMID- 2631968 TI - [Electrokinetic potential of cell nucleus during changes in the functional activity of rat hepatocytes]. AB - There were investigated changes of electrokinetic potential (EKP) of hepatocyte nuclei during hydrocortisone induction and activation induced with amino acids mixture. An increase of RNA-polymerase activity was shown to correlate with EKP value. Actinomycin D essentially decreased this potential. Injection of hydrocortisone or amino acids mixture under the suppression of transcription with actinomycin D removed the inhibitor action, but the potential value did not reach that under the action of the activators only. Induction with hydrocortisone increased the potential by various degrees for the nuclei of different size. The results obtained suggest that EKP of the nuclei carries the information about functional condition of the genetic apparatus and can be a valuable and handy instrument of definition of its physiological activity. PMID- 2631969 TI - Asymmetry in the relationship between finger temperature changes and emotional state in males. AB - Eighty male college students each listened to monaural music that was intended to cause either positive-valence emotions (e.g., happiness) or negative-valence emotions (e.g., unhappiness). When the music was to the left ear, subjects' finger temperature changes during the music correlated significantly with the subjects' ratings of the valence of the emotions they experienced during the music. When the music was to the right ear, finger temperature changes were not different during positive- versus during negative-valence music, and the subjective reports did not correlate significantly with the finger temperature changes. The results are interpreted as indicating that the extent to which males' autonomic responses, such as finger temperature changes, reflect the emotional state of the subject depends upon which cerebral hemisphere is more involved in the processing of the emotion-generating stimulus. Theoretical and practical aspects of this finding are discussed. PMID- 2631970 TI - The presence or absence of light during flotation restricted environmental stimulation: effects on plasma cortisol, blood pressure, and mood. AB - This study examined the effect of light on relaxation associated with flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST), as measured by plasma cortisol, mean arterial pressure, and psychometric parameters. Twenty-one subjects were paired by baseline cortisol levels into two groups: one experiencing flotation REST in the presence of light (REST-L) and one experiencing flotation REST in the absence of light (REST-D). Subjects were 15 male and 6 female students aged 22-28 in normal health who had not experienced REST. Repeated flotation REST (8 sessions) either with light or without light was associated with a decrease in plasma cortisol and a decrease in mean arterial pressure, with no differences in effectiveness between groups. The psychometric assessment of mood, using the POMS scale, before and after sessions 1 and 8 revealed mood state improvement in both REST-L and REST-D groups. These data suggest that the presence of light did not compromise the flotation REST experience, as evidenced by the lack of difference between REST-L and REST-D groups. PMID- 2631971 TI - The efficacy of biobehavioral and compliance interventions in the adjunctive treatment of mild pregnancy-induced hypertension. AB - This investigation assessed the efficacy of a biobehavioral intervention in the adjunctive treatment of mild pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), a potentially serious complication of pregnancy in which normotensive women develop hypertension, proteinuria, and edema of unknown etiology late in gestation. Forty five women with symptoms of PIH were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: bed rest alone (the most common obstetrical treatment), bed rest with individualized compliance enhancement training, or a four-session biobehavioral treatment consisting of bed rest, compliance enhancement training, and individualized thermal biofeedback-assisted relaxation training. Results indicated that while blood pressure for the bed rest and compliance enhancement groups continued to rise and pose an increasing health risk to maternal and fetal well-being, subjects in the biobehavioral group maintained their blood pressure at a significantly lower, and presumably safer, level. The biobehavioral treatment is hypothesized to affect blood pressure levels in subjects with mild PIH through the mediation of the sympathetic nervous system, decreasing peripheral vascular resistance and cardiac output. The results of this investigation suggest that the biobehavioral intervention may be an effective adjunct to bed rest in the treatment of mild PIH remote from term. PMID- 2631972 TI - Hand temperature norms for headache, hypertension, and irritable bowel syndrome. AB - Hand temperature norms are presented for 221 headache patients (migraine, mixed, and tension), 105 hypertensives, 45 irritable bowel syndrome patients, and 56 normal controls under conditions of resting baseline, self-relaxation, volitional handwarming, mental arithmetic, and cold pressor. The two vascular headache groups (migraine and mixed) had significantly lower hand temperatures across conditions. PMID- 2631973 TI - A 1- and 2-year follow-up study of bowel sound biofeedback as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. AB - Five patients initially treated with bowel sound biofeedback were assessed at 1- and 2-year follow-up. Although variable results were reported, subjects who improved to a clinically significant extent at posttreatment maintained their improvement through 1-year and in some cases 2-year follow-up. In light of these results, this form of treatment may prove effective for some patients in the long term. PMID- 2631974 TI - Yawning: a possible confounding variable in EMG biofeedback studies. AB - An elderly hemiplegic patient participating in an EMG biofeedback training program was observed to produce a synergistic flexion movement of the plegic (determined by functional evaluations) upper limb while yawning. In the course of the training sessions the electrical activity of the anterior deltoid (the target muscle) was recorded during yawning. These peak EMG values were greatly facilitated in comparison with the session mean peak values obtained during an attempted maximum voluntary isometric contraction (shoulder flexion) of the same limb (e.g., Trial 1: 85.00 vs. 4.33 microV). The possibility of yawning as a confounding variable in EMG biofeedback studies is presented and discussed. PMID- 2631975 TI - Immunity, infection, malignancy and aging: possible immunity restoration and tumor prevention. AB - The incidence and gravity of infectious diseases in aged humans were known and feared before the age of antibiotics. Today the phenomenon, even if forgotten, still exists in old people's hospices where cross-infection flourishes. Although death in the elderly as a result of hospice-induced pneumonia may not attract public attention, a proportion of the public is still affected by death from cancer in the old. Their reaction is understandable, as it is at about 40 years of age that aging-related spontaneous tumors start to appear, after which their incidence tends to increase. The same phenomenon has been observed for spontaneous tumors in mice, in which they appear after 16 months of age. After this age, we have observed the decrease of T- and B-lymphocyte immune functions and their possible restoration parallel to tumor appearance prophylaxis, with the application of bestatin after the said 16 months. This cell regulator is also able to restore the CD4+ CD8- lymphocyte count in humans (possibly lowered after the age of 40 yr), but only if the CD4- CD8+ count is also reduced. A trial on the possible prevention or retardation of human tumor appearance by application of bestatin after the age of 40 yr is indicated. PMID- 2631976 TI - Clinical studies of the reactivity of serum IgG from patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy with porcine orbital tissue preparations. AB - The clinical utility of ELISA assays for antibodies reactive with a variety of porcine orbital tissue antigen preparations is described using sera from large numbers of patients. Use of such assays does not allow reliable identification of patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) due to the overlap between patients with and without eye involvement and normal individuals. In 5/6 patients showing high levels of reactivity with porcine eye muscle membrane antigen, a considerable but variable proportion of the binding was found to be species, rather than tissue, specific. No consistent pattern of change in ELISA reactivity with time was seen in studies of serum samples from patients treated medically for hyperthyroidism and patients who received immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporin A for active, severe ophthalmopathy. Use of previously published ELISA methods using the crude antigen preparations described is therefore not likely to be of use in the routine clinical management of GO patients. PMID- 2631977 TI - Serum levels of CA-50, CA-19.9, CA-125, neuron specific enolase and carcinoembryonic antigen in lung cancer and benign diseases of the lung. AB - The serum levels of five markers (CA-50, CA-19.9, CA-125, Enolase (NSE) carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were studied in 96 lung cancer patients and in 60 patients with benign diseases of the lung: sensitivity was 0.44, 0.41, 0.54, 0.23 and 0.38 respectively; specificity was 0.67, 0.87, 0.47, 0.93 and 0.97 respectively. Serum levels of CA-125 over 20 U/ml were found in 74% of patients with acute pneumonia. A good parallel existed between the clinical evolution of lung cancer and the variations in the serum level of CA-50, CA-19.9 and NSE. Although the pretreatment result was elevated, successive assays of the marker allowed the clinical evolution to be followed. Conflicting results were found with CA-125 and to a lesser extent with CEA. A close correlation existed between the serum levels CA-50 and CA-19.9 in the 2 groups of patients. In the absence of a specific marker for lung cancer, complementary information can be provided by means of a simultaneous determination of CEA, NSE, CA-19.9--or CA-50--and CA-125. PMID- 2631978 TI - Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) reduces ADH-induced water flow and induces cell surface changes in epithelial cells of frog urinary bladder. AB - The functional and structural changes induced by apical wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) 100 micrograms/ml exposure on frog urinary bladder have been investigated and the possible correlations between these effects discussed. Bladders, apically exposed to WGA for 30 min to 3 hr exhibit a marked reduction of their response to antidiuretic hormone (ADH) challenge and of their hydrosmotic reactivity. Structural changes triggered by WGA treatment are: 1. apical invaginations of the plasma membrane, interpreted as endocytotic in nature, taking into account the results of carbohydrate cytochemical detection and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) exposure: 2. cytoskeleton disorganization and microvilli collapse. These phenomena do not interfere with cortical granule traffic and are independent of ADH challenge: they occur in ADH-stimulated bladders as well as in bladders at rest. These findings could be interpreted as follows: binding of the divalent lectin WGA to its coat specific receptors would induce changes in the apical membrane structure which in turn could provoke disorganization and disruption of apical cytoskeletal elements associated with plasma membrane. Reduction of bladder response to ADH challenge could result from a reduced recycling of aggrephores, as they are associated with cytoskeletal elements in the subapical cytoplasm. Collapse of microvilli and endocytotic events also could result from apical cytoskeleton disruption, as microvilli are sustained by bundles of actin filaments interconnected with apical cytoskeletal filaments and as plasma membrane is associated with apical cytoskeleton. However, these two last events evidently occur in ADH-challenged or non-challenged bladders. PMID- 2631979 TI - Modification of cell evagination and cell differentiation in quail oviduct hyperstimulated by progesterone. AB - Quail oviduct development is controlled by sex steroid hormones. Estrogen (E) induce cell proliferation, formation of tubular glands by epithelial cell evagination and cell differentiation. Progesterone (P) strongly increases the secretory process in E-treated quails, but inhibits cell proliferation, cell evagination and differentiation of ciliated cells. The balance between E and P is critical for harmonious development of the oviduct. After 6 daily injections of two doses of estradiol benzoate (10 or 20 micrograms/d) and high doses of P (4 mg/d), tubular gland formation by epithelial cell evagination was inhibited, while epithelial cell proliferation occurred, as shown by the height of the villi and the increase in DNA. Secretory processes were strongly stimulated. Ovalbumin, a tubular gland cell marker and avidin, a mucous cell marker, were localized by immunofluorescence and immunogold labeling. Ovalbumin was localized only in the rudimentary tubular glands, whereas avidin was dispersed throughout the secretory cells. High doses of progesterone inhibited tubular gland cell proliferation, disturbed the distribution of avidin and inhibited differentiation of ciliated cells. Ovalbumin synthesis occurred only in epithelial cells which were evaginated despite the hyperstimulation. Ovalbumin gene expression appeared highly dependent upon the cell position. PMID- 2631980 TI - Chromosomal localization of the mouse gene coding for the 68 kDa neurofilament subunit. AB - The chromosomal localization of the mouse gene coding for the 68 kDa intermediate filament subunit of neurones (NF-L) was determined by in situ hybridization using specific 3H-labelled DNA probes. There is only one copy of the NF-L gene. The gene encoding NF-L is located on chromosome 14 region (D1-E1). PMID- 2631981 TI - [Progression and regression of the atheromatous plaque]. PMID- 2631982 TI - Transesophageal echocardiography: the expanding role of ultrasounds in the operating room. PMID- 2631983 TI - [Cardiocirculatory and respiratory reflexes of muscular origin during prolonged experimental dynamic exercise. Effects of sectioning of the sino-carotid and aortic nerves and bilateral vagotomy]. AB - In anesthetized rabbits we have evaluated the effects of denervation of sino aortic areas and vagotomy on the reflex cardiorespiratory responses during 2 min of contractions of gastrocnemius muscle induced by electrical stimulation of tibial nerve. The following parameters were examined: blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (f), tidal volume (Vt) and pulmonary ventilation (Ve) while arterial pH, pCO2 and pO2 and end-tidal CO2 (petCO2) were monitored. During steady state of rhythmic contractions we observed a decrease of BP, a slight decrease in HR and marked rise of Ve due to an increase of f with a slight increase of Vt. The sectioning of carotid-sinus, aortic and vagus nerves does not substantially modify the cardiorespiratory responses to muscular exercise; all the responses are abolished from the sectioning of somatic nerves in exercising limbs. The importance of the role of the peripheral nervous control by muscles (peripheral drive) is confirmed in the regulation of cardiorespiratory participation in motory activity, also in the steady state phase of muscular exercise in which components of a chemometabolic or hemodynamic nature could be more effective. PMID- 2631984 TI - [Various clinical and vasomotor coronary responses to calcium block in mixed angina and Prinzmetal's angina, expression of various physiopathologic mechanisms]. AB - Impedance to flow due to coronary spasm is currently interpreted as the mechanism of Prinzmetal angina. Flow impedance, probably of vasomotor origin, superimposed on severe coronary stenosis is also viewed as the trigger for the spontaneous component of mixed angina. The major question that we attempted to answer in this study was whether mixed angina may be considered a variant of the Prinzmetal form, or a particular manifestation of the classic effort form. For these purposes we investigated the acute vasomotor response to calcium channel blockade (nifedipine 10 mg sl) of both significant (greater than 50%) stenotic lesions and of normal coronary vessels in 22 patients with mixed angina and in 14 patients with Prinzmetal angina, and correlated it with the clinical response to treatment (nifedipine 20 mg qid). Calcium channel blockade, in fact, is considered as a specific remedy in the presence of an altered coronary vasomotility. The clinical response was evaluated through ambulatory Holter monitorings of 48 hour duration, while on placebo, nifedipine and placebo again. In mixed angina an angiographic evaluation showed that the residual lumen diameter of significant lesions was unchanged in 2, enhanced in 11 and reduced in 9 patients after sl nifedipine; lumen variations from base line ranged from +1.5 to -1.3 mm. Acute stenosis widening or narrowing correlated closely with the efficacy or not of the treatment. In the Prinzmetal group the vast majority of the lesions had compliant portions which invariably responded with dilatation (the residual coronary lumen increased by an average of 69% of base line); 100% of patients in this group responded favourably to treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2631985 TI - [Diagnosis of delayed upper left ventricular activation: limits of electrocardiography and usefulness of vectorcardiography]. AB - The electrocardiographic (ECG) diagnosis of delayed ventricular left superior activation (DVLSA) is often difficult and uncertain, even when all the criteria proposed in clinical literature are fulfilled. The vectorcardiography (VCG) always permits an accurate diagnostic evaluation because the contour of the QRS loop describes successively the various phases of ventricular depolarization. Sensitivity and specificity of ECG in diagnosing DVLSA have been calculated referring to VCG analysis. The QRS loop initial forces orientation in the frontal plane, a VCG highly reliable criterion, was considered especially significant for this purpose. The sensitivity and specificity of ECG were, respectively, 75% and 95%. Moreover, this study has confirmed the low performance of frontal plane QRS axis criterion and the necessity of polyparametric method for a correct ECG-VCG diagnosis of DVLSA. However, the VCG is more reliable than ECG in such diagnosis because it allows thoroughly to analyze QRS-loop initial forces. PMID- 2631986 TI - [Cold pressor test in the evaluation of autonomic neuropathy]. AB - Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension is due to interruption of the baroreceptor reflex. To optimize the pharmacological therapy in this clinical setting the lesion should be carefully pinpointed and the degree of denervation established. To this purpose 7 patients with autonomic failure underwent ambulatory intraarterial monitoring, which showed the reversal of the normal 24-hour blood pressure (BP) pattern. During daytime BP gradually rose from its lowest point early in the morning to a peak during late evening. No BP fall was observed during sleep. Tilting test, Valsalva maneuver, hyperventilation, cold pressor test, handgrip and pharmacological tests showed interruption of the efferent pathway of the reflex. The BP fall 60 seconds after assuming the orthostatic position significantly correlated with the BP response to the cold pressor test (r = 0.89; p less than 0.01), while it did not with the BP changes during hand grip and hyperventilation and with the orthostatic increase of heart rate. Therefore, the BP response to the cold pressor test seems the most reliable indicator of the degree of autonomic dysfunction in the lesions of the efferent pathway of the reflex. PMID- 2631987 TI - [Left ventricular function a short time after myocardial revascularization surgery: radioisotope angiographic study]. AB - The short-term effects after coronary bypass surgery on left ventricular function were studied in 65 patients with coronary artery disease. Each patient underwent gated radionuclide left ventriculography on the second-third day before and 5-7 days after coronary bypass surgery. After surgery, global ventricular ejection fraction had a significant increase, anteroseptal wall motion was unchanged, while apical motion and mainly inferoposterior motion were significantly increased. The most important improvement of inferoposterior motion was observed in 18 patients who had complete revascularization of the previously infarcted inferior segments, while in the 11 patients with incomplete revascularization of the same area, inferoposterior motion had a slight increase. There was a slightly significant direct linear correlation between size and direction of the anteroseptal and inferoposterior motion changes. The patients were divided in subgroups related to the site and number of obstructed coronary vessels as well as of implanted grafts; the computed parameters showed similar changes in all subgroups. After surgery, peak ejection rate showed an evident increase, and time to peak reciprocally shortened. Peak filling rate, which had reduced preoperative values, was found clearly improved, with a corresponding shortening of the time to peak; these results confirmed that diastolic ventricular damage was a reversible disturbance related to myocardial ischemia. In 8 of the 65 patients, 24 hours urinary catecholamine levels showed similar values at both pre and postoperative radionuclide controls. In conclusion, the radionuclide angiography showed an evident improvement of left ventricular function during a short period following surgery, suggesting a better myocardial perfusion after revascularization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2631988 TI - [Non-invasive diagnosis of acute rejection in heart transplant]. AB - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensibility of some clinical and non-invasive parameters in the early diagnosis of cardiac rejection in heart transplant patients. Eighteen patients (15 males and 3 females) aged 13-57 years (mean 44 +/- 14), with orthotopic heart transplant were followed clinically for a mean period of 15 +/- 8.7 months (range 3-27). They were all treated with cyclosporin, associated with azathioprine or prednisone, or both. During the same day of the endomyocardial biopsy, the patients were submitted to a clinical examination, 12 leads ECG and 2-dimensional and Doppler-echocardiography. The following parameters were evaluated: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, summated QRS voltage in the 12 leads ECG, interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall end-diastolic thickness, left ventricular myocardial mass and fractional shortening, isovolumic relaxation time. Biopsy specimens were graded according to the Billingham criteria. Totally, 251 biopsies were performed: 130 were negative, 98 positive for mild or moderate rejection, 23 had a resolving rejection pattern; in 61 cases the patients were treated for acute rejection. Compared to negative biopsies, during acute rejection the QRS voltage and the isovolumic relaxation time significantly decreased, while left ventricular wall thickness and body weight increased. To evaluate the effects of the acute immunosuppressive therapy, the same parameters before and after treatment were compared. The QRS voltage, the wall thickness and the isovolumic relaxation time were significantly modified, returning to the pre rejection values. In conclusion, both clinical and non-invasive information, may be useful to suspect an episode of acute rejection in heart transplant patients and to program myocardial biopsy. PMID- 2631989 TI - [Angiographic course of coronary atherosclerosis in angina pectoris. Its relation to 2 years' treatment with propranolol, nifedipine and nitrates]. AB - Calcium antagonists and beta-blockers may retard or inhibit atherogenesis. We tested whether nifedipine or propranolol may retard or induce regression of coronary atherosclerosis in man. In selected population of 113 patients with effort angina and proven coronary artery disease, the coronary cineangiographic pattern after 2 year therapy with nifedipine (Group 1, 39 patients), propranolol (Group 2, 36 patients), or isosorbide dinitrate (control group, 38 patients) was compared to the pre-treatment pattern. After 2 years the disease evolved to a different extent in the 3 groups. The number of lesions with evidence of progression was significantly smaller after nifedipine (14), and larger after propranolol (39) as compared with controls (24). Patients with evidence of progression of old lesions, and appearance of new lesions were significantly fewer in Group 1 than in Group 2 and in control patients. Thus, nifedipine seemed more protective than either of the other drugs against coronary atherosclerosis. The coronary risk factors were within normal limits in the nifedipine treated group and remained so with treatment supporting that they were likely dissociated from influences on atherosclerosis. The evolution, at least as judged by the number of lesions with progression, appeared significantly (p less than 0.01) worse with propranolol than with isosorbide dinitrate. This may prospect that nitrate contrasted the evolution of the disease, or that propranolol made it worse, possibly through unfavourable modifications of serum lipids (28% rise of total triglyceride and 25% decrease of HDL cholesterol were already detectable at 12 months in Group 2). PMID- 2631990 TI - [Hemodynamic adaptation in severe obesity with or without arterial hypertension]. AB - Hypertension and obesity are 2 common pathological conditions that have been directly related. The incidence of hypertension in an obese population is far greater than in otherwise normal people. Nevertheless, a causal relationship between the 2 disorders has not been established. But their coincidence in the same patient carries increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In the present study we have studied a group of normotensive obese patients (21 patients, Group A), a group of hypertensive obese patients (19 patients, Group B) and a group of normal subjects (11 patients, Group C) by radionuclide ventriculography with Tc 99m to visualize the different hemodynamic adaptation to these different conditions. Overweight causes an increased preload while hypertension causes an increased afterload. In response to the increase in preload the heart of obese patient undergoes eccentric hypertrophy; when an increase in afterload is present at the same time, the left ventricle develops concentric hypertrophy. We found an increased preload in both the obese groups (A and B) testified by increased blood volume and end diastolic volume. Heart rate was higher in the 2 populations of obese patients. As a result, cardiac output was significantly increased in Group A and B. But the stroke index is decreased in Group A and B with respect to Group C. The ejection fraction is reduced in Group A with respect to Group B and C. The contractility index (systolic blood pressure/end systolic volume) is higher in Group B in comparison with Group A. Thus, hypertensive obese patients seem to have a better cardiac performance respect to the normotensive obese patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2631991 TI - [Chronic isolated occlusion of the main stem detected with angiography]. AB - We describe 2 cases of chronic isolated occlusion of the left main stem. This is a very unusual finding at coronary angiography, the more so in patients with no history of myocardial infarction. PMID- 2631992 TI - [Hyperlipoproteinemia and the genetic epidemiology of diabetes mellitus]. AB - Cardiovascular diseases are the most frequent cause of mortality in the sub population of type II diabetics (cca 600,000 in the CSSR). Type II diabetics very frequently cumulate several very serious risk factors (hyperlipoproteinaemia, arterial hypertension, obesity, hyperuricaemia, smoking) for the manifestation of cardiovascular disease. Concurrent comprehensive treatment of all revealed risk factors is essential for primary prevention. Systematic application of methods of genetic epidemiology in families of affected diabetics helps to detect in time and to treat other affected members of the family. It is at the same time a rational way of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in the highest risk sub-populations. The authors submit an algorithm of treatment of hyperlipoproteinaemic type II diabetics. PMID- 2631993 TI - [Evaluation of energy requirements in basic physical activity]. AB - When evaluating the influence of physical activity on the organism it is important to know its energy requirement. A positive influence is exerted only by those physical activities, when during their application a certain minimal threshold level is exceeded. The level depends on the purpose for which these activities are performed. When evaluating the energy requirement of different physical activities, it is important to respect body weights of the investigated subjects. The coefficient of energy requirement is expressed in kJ.min-1.kg-1. The author presents values of basic physical activities which may be used by the public. Based on a cross-sectional survey of the Czechoslovak population the authors recommend for stabilization of the attained level of physical fitness and performance a minimal extra physical activity expressed as the energy output per week and amounting to 6000-8000 kJ per week. To achieve an increasing effect, this level must amount to at least 13,000 kJ per week. PMID- 2631994 TI - [The occurrence of circadian rhythm in respiration in healthy persons and in patients with bronchial asthma]. AB - The authors examined in 69 healthy young men at times 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 hours values of FVC, FEV1, FEF50 a PEF. In 149 patients with bronchial asthma after the same time intervals FEV1 was assessed, whereby the interval at 3 a.m. was used as the mean of values at times 0 and 6 a.m. By analysis of variance the minima of the majority of investigated indicators were assessed in healthy subjects at 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. By cosinor analysis a statistically insignificant circadian rhythm for values FEC and FEV1 was proved in the entire group of healthy subjects and in subgroups of smokers and non-smokers. No rhythm was found in values of FEF50 and PEF. Rhythms in the ventilation values were detected in 40 60% of the subjects, in the remainder no rhythms were detected. In patients with bronchial asthma a significant circadian rhythm of FEV1 changes was found in groups with a morning or variable type of respiration. In groups with a stabilized ventilation a rhythm was detected but was not significant. In the group with an apparently irreversible obstruction no circadian rhythm was found. PMID- 2631995 TI - [The clinical picture and etiology of meningoencephalitis in hospitalized patients in 1986]. AB - In 1986 in the CSR 978 cases of acute meningoencephalitis were notified, incl. 184 in the capital. In a group of 129 patients aged 1 to 63 years hospitalized at the First Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Prague-Bulovka (Paediatric Faculty Charles University) in 1986 the authors investigated the clinical course of acute meningoencephalitis in relation to the causal agent of the disease. The aetiological agent was assessed by isolation from cerebrospinal fluid or by isolation from faeces with the corresponding antibody response, or by serological examination only. In children under 15 years of age the etiological agent was assessed in 36%, in adults in 65%. In the investigated group, contrary to previous years (3), tick-borne encephalitis was involved which accounted for the majority of severe cases of the disease. The severe clinical course, manifested at first by symptoms of cerebral oedema with impaired consciousness, is more frequent with advancing age. In adults tick-borne encephalitis had a severe course in one third of the patients. In the other age groups the development was favourable, in particular in the group of children aged 4-10 years. As compared with previous years, there was no fatal case, no permanent paresis as a complication of the disease (2). PMID- 2631996 TI - [Isolation of monocytes from peripheral blood by gradient centrifugation on Lymphoprep in a hypertonic medium]. AB - The author describes a new method of isolation of monocytes from peripheral blood, involving hypertonization of the blood and isolation of monocytes by centrifuging above a gradient of hypertonic Lymphoprep. The method makes it possible to obtain a monocyte suspension with at least 85% cells; there are no B lymphocytes in the suspension and the monocytes are not damaged. The quality of the thus obtained monocytes was tested by examination with monocytic sera and with HLA-DR antibodies, whereby the test was concurrently made with monocytes obtained by adherence and with B lymphocytes. PMID- 2631997 TI - [Rational treatment of necrotizing external otitis]. AB - Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of necrotizing external otitis (NEO) during the past 20 years improved substantially the prognosis of this disease. The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy greatly potentiates the effect of newly developed highly effective antibiotics. Radioisotope examination of the petrous bones facilitates the diagnosis and indicates the time to terminate treatment. Medicamentous treatment is preferable to surgical treatment, which is reserved for exceptional very advanced cases of the disease. As NEO has been known for 30 years and the means to control it have been improved, it is no longer "malignant" for the majority of patients where the disease is diagnosed in time and treated adequately. PMID- 2631998 TI - [Prognosis in patients in intensive care from the aspect of renal function]. AB - The authors evaluated in 82 patients 228 findings of renal functions. Twenty-nine patients with a total number of 113 findings died. In those who died frequently the values of renal functional parameters were beyond the reference limits, indicating various failures (high serum creatinine, high serum urea, elevated fractional osmolal and water excretion, reduced creatinine clearance). In those who died tubular osmotic diuresis was more frequent, while overflow osmotic diuresis was found mostly in the surviving patients. By means of linear discrimination analysis vectors of parameters were assessed suitable for evaluation of the relationship of renal functions and the prognosis and functional shapes of so-called renal prognostic indicators. In the calculation of renal prognostic parameters the following ones prove useful: serum creatinine (SKrea), creatinine clearance (CKrea), serum osmolality (SOsm), osmolality of urine (UOsm), sodium cation in serum (SNa), fractional excretion of water (FeH2o), of potassium (FeK), osmolal (FeOsm), urinary excretion per 24 hours of creatinine (DuKrea), sodium (DuNa) and potassium (DuK). The best prognostic effectiveness was obtained from the calculation of the renal prognostic indicator (RPU) according to the following equation: RPU = SOsm.0.0178--CKrea.0.944 + FeK.0.854 + + DuKrea.0.0665--DuNa.0.0022 + DuK.0.0047--4.931. The RPU value rises with the deteriorating prognosis of the patients; in those who died it reaches more frequently positive values, in surviving patients the values are negative. By reclassification, using this prognostic index, 82% of the patients with a favourable prognosis and 68% with a poor prognosis (those who died) were correctly classified, i. e. a total of 74% patients. PMID- 2631999 TI - [Detecting and evaluating hyperaluminemia in 3 dialysis centers]. AB - We have investigated plasma aluminium level in normal conditions and after application of 40 mg of desferrioxamine per one kilogram of body weight in 101 patients with different content of aluminium in dialysate solution. At 20 to 120 months of exposure by dialysate with aluminium content higher than 20 micrograms/l in an average the plasma aluminium level reached 80 micrograms/l in an average and after desferrioxamine application 211 micrograms/l. Plasma aluminium level varied between 80 to 250 micrograms/l in 16 patients with osteomalacia proved by bone biopsy. Oral ingestion of aluminium dosed 500 mg/day may result in significantly high plasma aluminium level. Desferrioxamine test proved significant accumulation of aluminium in some cases with low level of plasma aluminium, and further proved significant accumulation of aluminium in tissues at long time desferrioxamine treatment. Plasma aluminium levels 40 to 80 micrograms/l may be of clinical relevance. Aluminium level was determined by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy in graphite furnace with the accuracy +/- 3.0 micrograms/l. PMID- 2632000 TI - [Thymosin fraction 5. Preclinical study]. AB - Thymosin fraction 5 from the Research Institute for Pharmacy and Biochemistry possessed the immunomodulatory activity in performed tests. The activity is manifested mostly by the induction of the maturation and the differentiation of T cell precursors, which are released from thymus to secondary lymphoid organs. Thymosin fraction 5 causes the expression of the surface membrane markers Thy 1.2, Lyt-2 and L3T4 on the immature T lymphocytes as well. The induced cells are immunocompetent and able to exert the complete functional activity. In the intact mice thymosin fraction 5 had not pronounced effect on the functional potency of mature immunocompetent cells, but in MTA influenced mice its stimulatory effect on the proliferative response to mitogens and on the antibody production against the T-dependent antigen was demonstrated. Thymosin fraction 5 influenced positively not only the components of the specific immunity, but also the functional activity of peritoneal macrophages. The toxicity of thymosin fraction 5 was in the battery of tests in vitro and in vivo very low and therefore it can be considered to be harmless for the clinical practice. PMID- 2632001 TI - [Perfusion pyeloureterography with manometry]. AB - The degree of obstruction of the upper urinary pathways is assessed from the relative pressure value which is calculated by subtracting the intravesical pressure from the intrapelvic one. The intrapelvic pressure is measured after puncture of the renal pelvis by perfusion manometry. By using a contrast substance it is possible to perform at the same time antegrade pyeloureterography. The author presents experience assembled with 20 patients. PMID- 2632002 TI - [Myasthenia gravis treated with plasmapheresis]. AB - Therapeutic plasmapheresis is nowadays the method of choice in severe cases of myasthenia gravis. The authors confirm the therapeutic effect of this method and emphasize its importance in the differential diagnosis of severe cases where myasthenia gravis is suspected only from clinical symptoms, and electromyographic, roentgenological and laboratory evidence (antibodies against acetylcholine receptors) is lacking. The mentioned procedure led to thymectomy with the finding of a tumour of the thymus within three and a half months after the development of the first symptoms of the disease. PMID- 2632003 TI - [Reiter's syndrome or Lyme disease?]. PMID- 2632004 TI - Condom use and acceptance: a survey of male Zimbabweans. AB - In addition to their traditional contraceptive role, condoms have moved to a crucial and central position in the strategy for prevention of sexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). As a cure for AIDS remains out of sight, condom use, celibacy and extensive health education remain the immediate sole weapons for controlling HIV infection. A stratified cluster sampling design of 722 Zimbabwean men reported 35.7 percent ever use of condoms while only 4.9 percent reported current condom use. 32.4 percent had unprompted knowledge of condom use for contraception. Circumstances during which condoms were used are discussed. Asked if the men would use condoms if asked by either wife or partner, only 30.0 percent of men who had not previously used condoms indicated that they would. Reasons given by the 64 percent with no previous use of condoms are discussed. Health education to promote acceptance and use of condoms is proposed. PMID- 2632005 TI - Endotoxic activity and enterotoxigenicity of human strains of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from patients in a Nigerian hospital. AB - Limulus gelation assay and dermal Schwartzman reaction provided a sensitive and reproducible means of testing the endotoxic activity of hospital strains of Campylobacter jejuni in Lagos, Nigeria. All the 22 isolates of Campylobacter jejuni tested for the limulus gelation assay were positive for the production of endotoxin. Furthermore, the Campylobacter suspensions caused a positive dermal Schwartzman reaction in rabbits. The area of skin reaction was less extensive than that produced by Escherichia coli 01114B and E7539/77 which served as positive controls. Five local strains of Campylobacter jejuni tested for enterotoxin production showed negative reaction in the infant mouse test whereas enterotoxin production was observed in Campylobacter jejuni strain 11168 and Escherichia coli E7539/77. Consequently, the infant mouse test may not be suitable for enterogenicity testing of our local isolates of Campylobacter jejuni. PMID- 2632006 TI - Early post-appendicectomy discharge in Nigerians. AB - Thirty-one Nigerians with uncomplicated acute appendicitis were discharged within forty-eight hours of operation. Before discharge, 3 patients experienced abdominal colics but this did not prolong their hospital stay. 3 patients developed wound infection which, in all cases, manifested more than twenty-four hours after removal of stitches. No patient returned to hospital with any complaints before removal of stitches and there were no re-admissions. 26 patients liked this early discharge while the remaining 5 patients preferred the conventional hospital stay. Early discharge after appendicectomy is safe, has socio-economic benefits and should be more readily practised in the developing countries. PMID- 2632007 TI - Hydatid disease in Zimbabwe: a case report. AB - A case of multilocular hydatid cyst involving the hamstring compartment of the thigh is presented. The nature of the lesion was realised intraoperatively and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of muscle hydatid disease. Although rarely recorded in the rural population of Zimbabwe, cystic hydatid disease should be in the list of differential diagnosis of any slowly growing, cystic occupying mass. PMID- 2632008 TI - Acute pulmonary oedema caused by lightning. AB - A case of a 35-year-old housewife who developed acute pulmonary oedema due to the blast effect of lightning is reported. The literature is reviewed and the general effects of lightning are discussed. PMID- 2632009 TI - Fatal accident puncture of the left ventricle: case report. PMID- 2632010 TI - Problems of hydrocephalus in Zimbabwe: a philosophical view. PMID- 2632011 TI - Implanted drug delivery system. PMID- 2632012 TI - [Microbiological diagnosis of microorganisms tentatively designated as "SP organisms"]. AB - The authors describe the biochemical characteristics of two strains described as "SP organism". This microorganism incertae sedis resembles from the biochemical aspect (oxidase+, mannite-, dextrose+ with gas) the species Pasteurella aerogenes; contrary to the latter it does not break down urea and differs also as regards the morphology of colonies, which on blood agar are coarser; it also has a higher content of G + C in DNA than Pasteurella. It is a pathogen of rodents. The authors describe two isolates, the first is obviously an incidental finding from the faeces of a 5-year-old girl who was symptom-free, the second is from the contents of an abscess of a nutria. For comparison also biochemical characteristics of known aerogenic pasteurellae and Pasteurella-like strains are given. PMID- 2632013 TI - [Isolation of mycoplasmas from female genitalia]. AB - The author tested ways of collection, transport and storage of material for mycoplasmatological examination. The use of tampons on a stick during transport in urea substrate medium proved useful. The site of maximum occurrence of mycoplasmas was the posterior vaginal vault. On examination of the vaginal secretion of 804 women Mycoplasma hominis was isolated in 29.6% and Ureaplasma urealyticum in 65.2% of the cases. Concurrent isolation of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum was recorded in 22.1% of the women. The results of the examination do not suggest the participation of mycoplasmas in the development of aminocolpitis. In pregnant women there is a greater probability of colonization of the vagina by U. urealyticum. PMID- 2632014 TI - [Transmission of resistance to 1st and 2d generation cephalosporins]. AB - The authors investigated the incidence of transferable resistance in bacterial strains resistant to cephalosporins of the first and second generation in the course of two years in materials of the microbiological department of one of the larger district hygiene stations. They recorded the development of the first strains resistant also to cephamandol, although this antibiotic is not used at all in the above area, and in exceptional instances also resistance to cephotaxime. It was revealed that the transferable resistance to cephamandol is due to the presence of an enzyme which hydrolyzes this antibiotic. When using cephalosporins of the first generation, it is important to foresee an increasing incidence of transmitted resistance to these antibiotics and possibly some strains resistant also to cephalosporins of the second generation and in exceptional cases strains resistant to cephalosporins of the third generation. PMID- 2632015 TI - [The incidence of Streptococcus pneumonia strains with resistance to penicillin]. AB - In the submitted paper the authors give an account of the incidence of 10 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae resistant to penicillin and other antibacterial substances in children under one year. In the majority otitis media was involved (8 x), in one instance with septic manifestations and detection of pneumococci also from the haemoculture. From a total number of 580 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from the end of 1986 to the first half of 1988 the ratio of penicillin resistant strains was 1.72%. The values of penicillin resistance varied within the range of MIC from 1 mg/l to more than 16 mg/l. The strains were also resistant to ampicillin, oxacillin, cephalotine and tetracycline. One strain was moreover resistant also to erythromycin and lincomycin. There was also one strain resistant to cotrimoxazole with a MIC of 64 mg/ml. PMID- 2632016 TI - [Determination of antitoxoplasma IgG antibodies using the ELISA method]. AB - The described ELISA reaction is suggested as a method for examination of antitoxoplasmatic IgG antibodies. It is a simple, i.e. three-layer sandwich with the following layers: 1. antigen 2. the examined serum either in serial dilution or single dilution 1:300 and 3. a peroxidase anti-IgG conjugate with a final conclusive step, i.e. a substrate solution with OPD. Sera and conjugate are allowed to bind for 30 mins. at 37 degrees C and the substrate solution with OPD is allowed to act for 15 mins., also at 37 degrees C, and thus the entire reaction lasts about two and half hours. The authors describe alternative procedures with standard serum of a known number of international units (I.U.) or without it, evaluated optically or by a photometer. In the version with standard serum evaluated optically we compare the different localization of equally stained wells in the series of serially diluted (4n) examined and standard serum and thus we assess, based on the different dilutions the number of I.U. in the examined serum. If we compare the sera with the serum standard by means of a photometer, we examine them in a single dilution of 1:300 and compare the resulting optical density (OD) with the calibration curve made with four dilutions of the standard. The calibration curve is plotted on a scale which straightens it approximately at an angle close to the optimal 45 degrees and which makes it possible to take readings of interpolated international units.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632017 TI - [Determination of secretory IgA in saliva]. AB - The authors elaborated a method of assessment of secretory IgA in saliva by the nephelometric technique. They used an antibody and standard for serum IgA. The authors discuss the advantages and limitations of the method. PMID- 2632018 TI - [Information systems in epidemiology]. AB - At present epidemiological informations are dispatched from epidemiological departments of regional hygiene stations in different forms to different departments. The separate follow up of partial information leads to the development of different isolated information systems. Individual information systems help to resolve information problems in epidemiology, they provide, however, only limited opportunities when causal relations are sought and applied in the control of diseases. Surveillance calls for a uniform information system which concentrates scattered information in a single epidemiological centre. The author formulates possible approaches to the solution of the information problem in epidemiology. PMID- 2632019 TI - [Salmonella bulovka 6,7:z44:--a new serovar isolated in Czechoslovakia]. AB - The authors describe a new serovar of Salmonella, Salmonella bulovka, isolated from the faeces of a 35-year-old man with diarrhoea. The antigenic formula is 6.7:z44:--. PMID- 2632020 TI - [Are functional and structural changes required in the health service?]. PMID- 2632021 TI - [Benign tumors of the lungs and bronchi]. AB - Results of a retrospective study from the years 1961 to 1986 have been presented based on hospitalization of 292 patients with benign tumours of the lungs and bronchi verified by histology. The prevailing tumours in the cohort were chondrohamartomas (62.0%) and carcinoids (21.9%). The tumours were localized more frequently inside the parenchyma (75.7%) than inside the bronchi (24.3%). The patients were men in 59.9% and women in 40.1%, the mean age during hospitalization being 48.8 years. In 60.6% of the patients the tumours were detected during an accidental radiographic examination, the tumour increased in size over several years of observation in 22.6% of the patients. A total of 280 patients (95.5%) were surgically treated, the tumour was removed in the bronchoscopic way in nine cases, two patients could not be operated on for advanced processes and one patient refused the operation. In 83.2% of the patients the surgical intervention was smaller than lobectomy, larger interventions prevailed in endobronchial localization making 54% on the whole, bronchial carcinoids being 71% of these. PMID- 2632022 TI - [Experience with dilatation of tight esophageal stenoses using a balloon catheter]. AB - The dilatation of oesophageal stenoses with balloon catheters was made in 38 patients with 44 stenoses of different origin. The most frequent stenosis was localized in oesophagogastric or oesophagocolic anastomosis after oesophagectomy, postcorrosive stenoses an those after reflux oesophagitis. The stenoses were mostly of filiform type, the diameter being 1-3 mm (79%) less frequently 4-7 mm (21%). It became possible to dilate 37 stenoses up to 10 to 20 mm, four stenoses to 22 mm. In only three cases the stenosis was dilated to less than 10 mm. In six patients it proved necessary to repeat the dilatation within one to six-month intervals. The dilatation failed to give positive in one case. PMID- 2632023 TI - [The acoustic internal meatus--tomographic and autopsy findings]. AB - The authors compared the autopsy and tomographic findings of meatus acusticus int. In addition to the dimensions of meatus acusticus int. the authors also evaluated its shape and measured the distance between fossa jugularis and lower wall of fundus. The mean values of six parameters observed and measured on the cadavers and the tomograms differed in the following way: three parameters up to 0.5 mm and three by 0.8 mm, 1.1 mm and 1.2 mm, respectively. In eight patients the tomograms were evaluated as pathological; these were described in detail and put into relation to CT, CT-cisternomeatographic or the operation finding. PMID- 2632024 TI - [Bone changes in tuberous sclerosis (Bourneville-Pringle disease)]. AB - The tuberous sclerosis is a rare hereditary disease which mostly becomes manifest in a triad of symptoms: epilepsy, mental defects and skin changes of the adenoma sebaceum Pringle type. There may be an atypical clinical picture without neurological or psychiatric signs, in 50% of cases also without skin changes. Bone changes in tuberous sclerosis are asymptomatic and present in up to 50% of patients. Their finding in patients without basic known symptoms may be the cause of mistaking it for osteoplastic metastases. A case like that was described in the case history part of the communication. The knowledge of the possibilities of these changes in tuberous sclerosis may considerably ease differential diagnosis by suitable indication of computer tomography of the brain with the finding of typical calcifications. PMID- 2632025 TI - [Carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomosis]. AB - Anastomoses between carotid and vertebrobasilar vascular bed in extracranial region are less usual compensatory anastomoses of the brain vascular bed. They are either langer compensatory arteries--a. hypoglossica primitiva or a. proatlantica or smaller anastomoses between a. carotis externa and a. vertebralis. A precise differential diagnosis is difficult, as it requires selective catheterization of a. carotis externa, interna, a. vertebralis, or arcography. The paper demonstrates two cases. In a 75 years old man with symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency there was a substantial filling of the whole vertebrobasilar vascular bed in puncture of a. carotis communis. In a 14 years old girl with coarctation of the aorta, acute hemiplegia and occlusion of a. carotis interna in supraclinoideal area there was a conspicuous abnormal filling of large veins in dorsal part of the neck and filling of the atlas loop of a. vertebralis. Selective catheterization could not be performed. The author is of the opinion that the case was an anastomosis between a. occipitalis and a. vertebralis. PMID- 2632026 TI - [Computer tomography in the diagnosis of persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous body]. AB - The authors described and evaluated clinical and CT pictures of five children with persistence of hyperplastic primary vitreous body originating due to regression of embryonal hyaloid vascular system. It becomes clinically manifest especially in leucocoria, reduced globe of the eye, prolonged ciliary processi and the formation of fibrovascular changes behind the lens. CT picture is characterized by a) increased density of vitreous body, b) dense stripes going in retrolental direction and in the course of the Cloquet canal, c) microphthalmus, d) absence of calcifications and e) facultative changes on the lens and anterior chamber. These signs represent an important criterium for differentiating persistence of hyperplastic primary vitreous body from retinoblastoma. PMID- 2632027 TI - [Lymphographic examination in gynecologic tumors]. AB - The paper presents the results of lymphographic and histological examination of lymphographic nodes having been extirpated during operation on patients with gynaecological tumours. Both kinds of examination are compared. PMID- 2632028 TI - [Our modification of the Record syringe for puncture biopsy]. PMID- 2632029 TI - [The uremic lung]. AB - 27 cases of uremia with abnormal appearances on the chest films were analysed. The results showed that the clinical features were cough, expectoration dyspnea and hemoptysis. However, the degree of these symptoms was relatively mild as judged from the amount of pulmonary edema found on the chest films. The chest X ray finding in these group of patients were characterized by pulmonary blood stasis, interstitial edema of the lung and edematous alveoli. The pathogenesis of uremic lung was said to be related to blood urea nitrogen and creatinine retention and the concurrent presence of left side heart failure may also play a role. Hemodialysis and other comprehensive treatments could help the patients with uremic lung for relief the symptoms. But the fundamental managements to improve the prognosis for this disease are early treatment of the primary renal diseases, in order to prevent the occurrence of renal failure. Kidney transplantation should be advised. PMID- 2632030 TI - [The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. AB - In 75 COPD patients with (group I) or without (group II) cor Pulmonale, we measured plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensin I and II (ATI and ATII), and aldosterone (Ald) by RIA. We found that the levels of PRA, ATI, ATII, Ald in group I are all higher than those in 25 healthy subjects and in group II (P less than 0.05, P less than 0.001), The PRA, ATI, ATII, Ald also increased in patients with respiratory failure, especially accompanied by hypercapnia, and in patients with hyponatrium. In addition, the strong correlation was found between PaO2, PaCO2 and RAAS activation. These findings suggest that the activation of RAAS increased significantly in COPD patients with cor pulmonale or with respiratory failure, and the changes may involve in the pathophysiologic process in COPD patients. PMID- 2632031 TI - [Influence of acute respiratory failure on renal function in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic cor pulmonale]. AB - Renal function was assessed in 89 patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic cor pulmonale, 62 of them had respiratory failure, 18 health aged served as control. The results showed that the creatinine clearance and the free water clearance were decreased in 82.3% and 69.5% of patients with respiratory failure respectively. The renal function was impaired in case of hypoxia, PaO2 less than or equal to 6.0 kPa (45 mmHg), mean 5.33 kPa (40 mmHg). Hypercapnia was one of the most important factors that effected the renal function. There was a clinical threshold which effected the renal function, i.e. PaCO2 equals more than 8.67 kPa (65 mmHg). Renal function was greatly impaired if hypercapnia and hypoxia exist at the same time. The impairment of renal function was further marked when right heart failure and acidosis developed. The causes and effects of the abnormality of renal function were preliminarily discussed. PMID- 2632032 TI - [Plasma amino acid changes in 40 cases of chronic cor pulmonale]. AB - Serum amino acid determinations were made in 40 patients with chronic cor pulmonale in the period of 1985-1987 in our hospital. There were slight type 14 cases. severe type 26 cases (including pulmonary encephalopathy 10 cases). In severe type the ratio of branched chain amino acid to aromatic amino acid (BACC/AAA) was significantly lower than normal (P less than 0.01) and there was significant negative correlation between PaCO2 and BCAA/AAA (r = -0.49 P less than 0.05). The plasma amino acid pattern in severe type cor pulmonale is similar to that found in hepatic encephalopathy. The mechanism of coma in cor pulmonale is at least in some degree, similar with that of hepatic encephalopathy. PMID- 2632033 TI - [Effects of smoking on human health]. AB - In this study, 30 cases of male smokers aged 35.7 +/- 5.2 years mean and 30 male nonsmokers aged 36.6 +/- 6.8 years were selected from a factory. Before the assay, everyone smoked one pack of cigarette in a day, after that these tests were done. The experimental results as follows. 1. Comparing with control group, the levels of IgG and IgM in serum of smoking group are lower. It was shown that smoking has an inhibitive effect on phagocytosis and bactericidal of AM, so smoking has a damaging and prohibitive effect on the immunity of the body. 2. Smoking increases the level of serum IgE. 3. The increase of the level of CIC in serum in smoking individuals suggested that the defensive function decreases and the infectious susceptibility increases. So we should pay greatest attention to the occurrence of allergic disease of type III. 4. Smoking increases the level of serum elastase. 5. The level of TXB2 in human plasma of smokers increases. The result suggested that smoke plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases. 6. The decrease of the level of cAMP in the plasma of smokers may be related to the release of some mediators. 7. The increase of the level of vWF in the plasma of smokers may suggest that there are lesions in the endothelium of pulmonary blood vessels. PMID- 2632034 TI - [Micronuclei in lymphocytes of smokers]. AB - Micronuclei of peripheral blood lymphocytes of 66 smokers and 88 non-smokers in healthy person were determined. The result is that the average presence rate of micronuclei is markedly higher in the former group than in the latter (P less than 0.01). The lymphocytes of micronuclei of peripheral blood in smokers also increased. This shows that there are more chromosome aberrations in the smokers. The practical value of this investigation and the mutagenic mechanism of the smoke and also discussed. PMID- 2632035 TI - [An extensive pedigree of autosomal dominant inheritance of bronchial asthma]. AB - This paper reports a particularly extensive pedigree in which 33 (13 men and 20 women) of its 118 members (60 men and 58 women) through four generations had bronchial asthma. There were 22 cases of extrinsic asthma (accounting for 66.7%) which occurred chiefly in the juveniles and 11 cases of mixed asthma (accounting for 33.3%) which occurred mainly in the middle-aged and old people. Pedigree chart suggested the pattern of autosomal dominant inheritance. It was also found that when either husband or wife had the disease, 37.3% (19/51) of the offsprings would have it; and when both husband and wife had it, 83.3% (10/12) of their children would have it. Nevertheless, the patient II9 had two sons (III37, III39) free from asthma; and yet, their two children (IV53, IV54) had the disease. This is an exception. It is thus thought that in addition to hereditary factors, environmental factors and individual differences must also play a certain role. PMID- 2632036 TI - [Pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus. A clinical analysis of 42 cases]. AB - From 1978 to 1987, 1852 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) and 702 cases of diabetes mellitus (DM) were admitted to our hospital. Among them, 42 cases had both PT and DM. The morbidity of DM among the 1852 cases of PT was 2.3%. The morbidity of PT among the 702 DM patients was 6.0% which was 9.4 times higher than that among the local population at the same period. Most (83.3%) of the 42 cases with both PT and DM were above 40 years of age, and their fatality rate was 28.6%. The interrelationship between DM and PT was discussed. PMID- 2632037 TI - [Tuberculosis of the breast misdiagnosed as breast cancer]. AB - The authors report 15 patients with tuberculosis of the breast initially misdiagnosed as breast cancers. Criteria of differentiation of breast tuberculosis were: incidence (Tbc: cancer = 1: 245), lacking in constant site of involvement, possible concomitant involvement of other organs, eg. lung tuberculosis, youth of the patient, multi-para and history of breast feeding, in isolated cases, co-existence of tuberculosis and cancer is not impossible. The authors stress meticulous care in evaluating the history, symptoms, signs and supplementary examinations. Needle biopsy and pathology are indicated. PMID- 2632038 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of solitary tuberculosis of the spleen]. AB - Solitary tuberculosis of spleen is a rare case in abdominal organ tuberculosis, three cases were reported and we discussed the nomination diagnosis, classification, treatment and some important points that surgeons should notice during the operation. It is suggested that according to the pathological classification we classified solitary tuberculosis of spleen into miliary, caseous and calcified type. This would help us to determine the stage and the treatment of the disease, we also emphasize that B-scan is important to the diagnosis of the disease and splenectomy is preferable in treating solitary tuberculosis of caseous type of spleen. PMID- 2632039 TI - [Uses of polymeric-OT antigen ELISA in the early diagnosis of tuberculosis]. AB - 794 cases of tuberculosis were examined by polymeric-OT antigen ELISA. There were 276 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and 257 of them were positive, giving a positive rate of 93.12%. When the advancing stage and the improving stage were compared respectively with the stable stage, it was seen that P less than 0.01. There were 164 cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and 151 of them were positive, giving a positive rate of 92.07%. When compared with the stable stage of pulmonary tuberculosis, it was seen that P less than 0.01. There were 304 cases of other febrile diseases and 43 of them were positive, yielding a positive rate of 14.15%. Comparing with the group of tuberculosis it showed P less than 0.01. There were 50 healthy subjects in the control group and 2 of them were positive. In all the cases diagnosed as tuberculosis, re-examination after 6 months of regular chemotherapy showed remarkable lessening of positive cases. Practice has proved that this method is more advantageous than the other serological methods in the diagnosis of tuberculotic diseases. PMID- 2632040 TI - Partial purification, and some properties and reactivities of cetraxate benzyl ester hydrochloride-hydrolyzing enzyme. AB - Debenzylating enzyme from Aspergillus niger enzyme (commercial crude cellulase) catalyzes the hydrolysis of cetraxate benzyl ester hydrochloride (2), a precursor of the antiulcer agent (1). The enzyme was highly purified by three kinds of chromatographies (hydrophobic, ion exchange, gel filtration) with a recovery of 36%. The content of the debenzylating enzyme was about 0.1% in the crude cellulase, but the enzyme showed no cellulase activity. The purified enzyme was inactivated by Hg2+, and diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP). It was a monomer with a molecular weight of about 35,000, and its isoelectric point was estimated to be 5.3. It showed a debenzylating activity for the phenylpropionic acid benzyl ester moiety of various benzyl ester derivatives, and the benzyl ester of phenylalanine or that of tyrosine was also well hydrolyzed. PMID- 2632041 TI - Imidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazoles. II. Synthesis and antiinflammatory activity of some imidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazoles. AB - 3-[2-[p-(Un)substituted phenyl]imidazo [2,1-b]benzothiazol-3- yl]propionic acid derivatives (2a--e) were prepared via the interaction of the corresponding 2-[p (un)substituted phenyl]imidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazoles (1a--e) with acrylic acid in the presence of acetic anhydride and acetic acid. Esterification of 2a--e produced methyl esters (3a--e). Upon the interaction of 3a with m chloroperbenzoic acid, the S-dioxide (4a) was obtained. Compound 5a was prepared from 4a by alkaline hydrolysis. Vilsmeier formylation for 1a--e produced novel [2 [p-(un)substituted phenyl]imidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazol-3- yl]formaldehyde derivatives (6a--e). Derivatives 6a--e reacted with ethyl bromoacetate to give ethyl 3-hydroxy-3-[2-[p-(un)substituted phenyl]imidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazol- 3 yl]propionate esters (7a--e). Compound dl-7a was resolved with l-(+)-tartaric acid. Compounds 2a--e showed weak or no activity in the carrageein-induced paw edema assay. Compound 4a significantly inhibited the leakage of pontamine-sky blue dye into the peritoneal cavity of mice, in the capillary permeability inhibition assay. Compound 5a inhibited the writhing by 62% in the acetic acid induced writhing assay. PMID- 2632042 TI - Synthesis and antitumor properties of N1-acyloxymethyl derivatives of bis(2,6 dioxopiperazines). AB - Many N1-acyloxymethyl derivatives VI of bis(2,6-dioxopiperazine) I, ICRF-154, were prepared and tested for antitumor activity. The treatment of I with formaldehyde gave a crystalline bis(N1-hydroxymethyl) derivative VII, which was acylated under various conditions to give bis(N1-acyloxymethyl) derivatives VI. Antitumor activity of VI against P388 leukemia in mice was studied. Several bis(N1-acyloxymethyl) compounds such as phenylacetyloxymethyl VI-6, methoxycarbonyloxymethyl VI-41, isobutoxycarbonyloxymethyl VI-44, and furancarboxymethyl VI-38 compounds were found to have potent antitumor activities. On the other hand, water-soluble esters having an amine or a carboxylic acid function in their acyl groups showed rather reduced activity. These bis(N1-acyloxymethyl) derivatives VI were presumably hydrolyzed into the parent bis(2,6-dioxopiperazine) I by nonspecific esterase in the body to exhibit their antitumor activity. PMID- 2632043 TI - Interaction between human tissue thromboplastin and human antithrombin III. AB - It is known that antithrombin III (ATIII) activity is inhibited by tissue thromboplastin (TP) in the presence of heparin. In our study on the mechanism of the inhibition, however, TP was found to inhibit ATIII activity even in the absence of heparin, indicating an interaction between ATIII and TP. We then studied effect of ATIII on the interaction between factor VII (FVII) and TP using FVII-depleted human plasma. When the mixture of FVII + ATIII + TP was incubated at 37 degrees C and mixed with FVII-depleted plasma, the interaction between FVII and TP was inhibited. Possible complex formation was examined by electrophoretic techniques. In the immunoelectrophoresis, ATIII shifted toward the cathode in the presence of TP and the substance which had changed the mobility of ATIII showed TP activity after zone electrophoresis. The results indicated that TP had shifted toward the anode due to ATIII while ATIII had shifted toward the cathode due to TP. In the immunoblotting analysis, ATIII was separated into several bands in the presence of TP. ATIII antigenicity was altered in the presence of both heparin and TP but not in the presence of TP alone. Our results strongly suggest that TP modulates ATIII activity in the initiation of the TP-mediated coagulation cascade and that in progressing coagulation ATIII participates in the inhibition of the coagulation cascade by blocking not only thrombin activity but also the interaction between TP and FVII. PMID- 2632044 TI - Studies on the constituents of Indonesian Picrasma javanica. III. Structures of new quassinoids, javanicins A, C and D. AB - Three new quassinoids, javanicins A, C and D, were isolated from the bark of Picrasma javanica (Simaroubaceae). The structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. PMID- 2632045 TI - Phenolic constituents of licorice. II. Structures of licopyranocoumarin, licoarylcoumarin and glisoflavone, and inhibitory effects of licorice phenolics on xanthine oxidase. AB - An anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) phenolic constituent, licopyranocoumarin (4), and two other new phenolics named licoarylcoumarin (5) and glisoflavone (6) were isolated from Si-pei licorice (a commercial licorice; root and stolon of Glycyrrhiza sp. from the north-western region of China) using droplet countercurrent chromatography and centrifugal partition chromatography, and their structures were assigned based on chemical and spectroscopic data. Kaempferol 3-O-methyl ether (7) and licocoumarone (8) were also isolated from the licorice. The inhibitory effects of ten licorice phenolics on xanthine oxidase were examined. Licochalcone B (1), glycyrrhisoflavone (2), 8 and licochalcone A (19) showed 50% inhibition at the concentration of 1.3-5.6 x 10(-5) M. PMID- 2632046 TI - Distribution-analyzing latex immunoassay (DALIA): methods for determination of antigen and for elimination of non-specific reaction induced by rheumatoid factor. AB - A highly sensitive distribution-analyzing latex immunoassay method (DALIA), which is based on analysis of the volume distribution of latex particles including both the agglutinates and the residual non-agglutinating particles, has been established. Numbers of latex particles, which are sensitized with specific antibodies, are counted by using an electric particle counter with a personal computer and simultaneously the extent of agglutination was quantified by analyzing the volume distribution of the reacted latex particles. It was found that ultramicrospheres coated with normal goat immunoglobulin G can completely eliminate non-specific reactions induced by human serum containing rheumatoid factor (RF) in this DALIA method. The degree of absorption of RF activity by these ultramicrospheres was associated with the diameters of the ultramicrospheres. Moreover, by use of the combination of ultramicrospheres and latex particles coated with monoclonal antibodies against alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) or with polyclonal antibody specific to C-reactive protein, specific DALIA systems were able to be developed. Both DALIA systems exhibited the high sensitivity (1 to 7 ng/ml). The correlation coefficient (gamma) of the results of DALIA with those of enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay in measuring AFP was 0.994. PMID- 2632047 TI - Determination of 21-hydroxycorticosteroids in human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. AB - A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection for the determination of nineteen 21 hydroxycorticosteroids is described. The corticosteroids are oxidized by cupric acetate to form the corresponding glyoxal derivatives. The derivatives are converted into fluorescent quinoxalines by reaction with 1,2-diamino-4,5 methylenedioxybenzene, a fluorogenic reagent for alpha-dicarbonyl compounds. The quinoxalines are separated within 70 min on a reversed-phase column (TSK gel ODS 120T) by stepwise elution with mixtures of methanol, acetonitrile, and 1.0 M ammonium acetate. The detection limits are 0.14-29.4 pmol at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 in a 50-microliter injection volume. This sensitivity permits precise determination of hydrocortisone, cortisone, corticosterone, and their tetrahydro derivatives in 500 microliters of normal human urine. PMID- 2632048 TI - Superoxide dismutase activity in some strains of lactobacilli: induction by manganese. AB - Dialyzed cell-free extract of lactobacilli was found to contain superoxide dismutase activity by using a test system in which superoxide ion is generated by xanthine oxidase. The specific activities of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356, Lactobacillus murinus ATCC 35020, Lactobacillus acidophilus CRL 358, Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014, Lactobacillus casei CRL 431, Lactobacillus plantarum CRL 353, Lactobacillus fermentum ATCC 9338, Lactobacillus buchneri NCDO 110, and Lactobacillus fermentum CRL 251 were between 0.06 and 0.43 U/mg protein. The presence of superoxide dismutase activity was demonstrated when the strains were grown in media containing Mn2+ ions. Superoxide dismutase of lactobacilli may be an Mn enzyme since it was not inhibited by either cyanide or azide ions. However, the cell-free extract of Lactobacillus murinus ATCC 35020 contains superoxide dismutase activity sensitive to both ions. PMID- 2632049 TI - Plant mucilages. XLII. An anti-complementary mucilage from the leaves of Malva sylvestris var. mauritiana. AB - A mucilage, designated as MSL-M, was isolated from the leaves of Malva sylvestris L. var. mauritiana Mill. It was homogeneous on electrophoresis and gel chromatography. Its intrinsic viscosity value in aqueous solution was 12.0, and its molecular weight was estimated to be about 6.0 x 10(6). The major constituent is an acidic polysaccharide composed of L-rhamnose: D-galactose: D-galacturonic acid: D-glucuronic acid in the molar ratio of 6:3:2:2. Methylation analysis of both the mucilage and the carboxyl-reduced derivative, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance and partial hydrolysis studies indicated its main structural features. It has considerable anti-complementary activity. PMID- 2632050 TI - Evaluation of mitochondrial function by measuring the heat production in state 3 and state 4 respiration. AB - Using a microcalorimetric method, we have measured the heat production in states 3 and 4 respiration of a mitochondrial preparation from rat heart ventricle. Adenosine triphosphate production in state 3 respiration was also determined for the same preparation after heat production was measured. In Tris-buffered solution with pyruvate and malate used as substrates, the total heat production in states 3 and 4 respiration for a 10-min reaction period were about 709 and 207 mJ/mg of mitochondrial protein, respectively. 2,4-Dinitrophenol, an uncoupler of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, increased the heat production in both states 3 and 4 respiration. On the other hand, antimycin A1, an inhibitor of the electron transport system, decreased the heat production in both states. When ventricle mitochondrial dysfunction was induced by the in vivo administration of a high dose of isoproterenol, heat production was increased in state 4 respiration. These results indicate that the calorimetric method can be used to evaluate the mitochondrial function. PMID- 2632051 TI - Effect of the calcium-binding protein regucalcin on the Ca2+ transport system in rat liver microsomes: the protein stimulates Ca2+ release. AB - The effect of the calcium-binding protein regucalcin on the Ca2+ transport system in the liver microsomes from fed rats was investigated. Ca2+ transport was assayed by the method of Millipore filtration to estimate microsomal 45Ca2+ accumulation following addition of 10 mM adenosine triphosphate (ATP). 45Ca2+ uptake was retarded by the presence of regucalcin (1.0-4.0 microM). This retardation was remarkable at 1 min after regucalcin addition, while appreciable retardation was no longer seen at 5 min. Regucalcin (2.0 microM)-induced retardation of 45Ca2+ uptake was prevented by the presence of calmodulin (5 micrograms/ml). Calmodulin alone (1 and 5 micrograms/ml) caused a significant increase in 45Ca2+ uptake at 3 min after the start of incubation. Also, regucalcin (2.0 microM)-induced retardation of 45Ca2+ uptake was completely blocked by the presence of a Ca2(+)-trapping agent, oxalate (3 mM). On the other hand, 45Ca2+, which accumulated in microsomes during 5 min after ATP addition, was markedly released by the addition of regucalcin. This release was dose dependent (0.5-4.0 microM). Guanosine triphosphate (GTP; 10-100 microM) caused a significant release of 45Ca2+ from the microsomes. The presence of regucalcin (2.0 microM) further enhanced the GTP effect. Regucalcin (2.0 microM)-induced release of 45Ca2+ was not blocked by the presence of the protein thiol-protecting agent dithiothreitol (0.1 mM). The presence of oxalate (3 mM) completely blocked the effect of regucalcin on 45Ca2+ release from the microsomes. These results indicate that regucalcin stimulates Ca2+ release from liver microsomes, and that the protein retards the microsomal Ca2+ uptake. The present study suggests that regucalcin can regulate the Ca2+ transport system in rat liver microsomes. PMID- 2632052 TI - Studies on the optimal immunization schedule of the mouse as an experimental animal. The effect of antigen dose and adjuvant type. AB - This study was undertaken to establish the optimal immunogen dose for immunization of mice, using a viomycin-protein conjugate as a hapten immunogen. It was found that specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) formation depends on both the dose of antigen and the type of adjuvant: the optimal antigen dose for an immune response is quite different depending on whether the mice are being treated with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) or Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FICA). The total IgG amount depends mainly upon the type of adjuvant used. FCA gave the double the level of IgG compared to that obtained with FICA. The antigen dose was found to have little influence on the total production of IgG. Mice given a primary immunization with 10 micrograms of antigen emulsified in FCA and then given a booster with the same amount of antigen emulsified in FICA produced a strikingly high level of specific anti-viomycin antibody of over 2.5 mg/ml of the antiserum. It was also found that decreases in the weight of the mice were related to the kind of adjuvant used as well as to the level of the specific antibody formed. PMID- 2632053 TI - Biopolymers from marine invertebrates. X. Mode of action of an antibacterial glycoprotein, aplysianin E, from eggs of a sea hare, Aplysia kurodai. AB - An antibacterial factor, aplysianin E, was purified from the eggs of a sea hare, Aplysia kurodai. Purified aplysianin E was a glycoprotein of 250 kilo daltons consisting of 3 subunits, and showed both antibacterial and antineoplastic activities. The two activities were lost in parallel on heating and at low and high pH. This factor was half-maximally active for gram-positive and -negative bacteria at 0.12-3.3 micrograms/ml and its action was not bactericidal but bacteriostatic. Aplysianin E did not induce morphological elongation of bacteria or their release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), but it completely inhibited the syntheses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) by E. coli within 10 min. These results suggest that aplysianin E, found in an invertebrate, the sea hare, is a new antibacterial protein and that it exerts its action by inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis, as a DNA-inhibiting chemotherapeutic drug does. PMID- 2632054 TI - An acidic polysaccharide having activity on the reticuloendothelial system from the roots and rhizomes of Saposhnikovia divaricata. AB - An acidic polysaccharide, named saposhnikovan C, was isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Saposhnikovia divaricata Schischk. It was homogeneous as judged by electrophoresis and gel chromatography, and showed remarkable reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clearance test. It is composed of D galacturonic acid:L-rhamnose:L-arabinose:D-galactose in a molar ratio of 27:7:8:8, and its molecular mass was estimated to be 132000. About 30% of the D galacturonic acid residues exist as the methyl esters. O-Acetyl groups were identified, and the content amounted to 3.3%. Methylation analysis, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, and controlled Smith degradation studies indicated the structural features. It has a pectin-like rhamnogalacturonan backbone with branched arabinan and galactan side chains. PMID- 2632055 TI - Enhanced cytotoxicity in simultaneous and sequential drug-heat treatments of cultured Chinese hamster V79 cells. AB - Under hyperthermal conditions, some genotoxic drugs such as bleomycin, paraquat, and N-alkyl-N-nitrosoureas exhibit increased cytotoxicity toward cultured Chinese hamster V79 cells. Sequential combinations of heat and drug treatments, regardless of whether drug-exposure precedes or follows hyperthermia, also induce synergistic cytotoxicity to some extent. This may be attributed not only to the relationship of temperature and chemical injury as defined by the Arrhenius law, but also to a lethal interaction between the biological consequences of chemical injury and thermal damage. Ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and urea, which are known to affect cell membrane and protein, also exert synergistic cytotoxicity at 43 degrees C at a dose range that is nontoxic at 37 degrees C. When used sequentially with thermal treatment, they also proved to be synergistic. Glycerol, however, protected cells against thermal damage when used in a simultaneous chemical-thermal combination. But when treatments were carried out sequentially, glycerol proved destructive. PMID- 2632056 TI - Encapsulation of drugs by lyophilized empty dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes: effect of calcium ion. AB - The effects of divalent cation (Ca2+) on the characteristics of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes regenerated from lyophilized empty liposomes by rehydration and warming were investigated. The results showed that the volume (ml) of internal aqueous compartment per g lipid (captured volume; Vcap) has a maximum at a certain concentration range of calcium chloride and the maximal value is more than ten times the minimal value. This phenomenon can be explained by considering that binding of Ca2+ to phosphate groups in DPPC molecules induces an increase in the distance (r) between adjacent bilayer membranes in multilamellar liposomes through electrostatic force and causes an increase in Vcap. The dynamic properties of lyophilized liposomes in the rehydration process were examined using a multilamellar vesicle model. The results of simulation suggested that a repulsive force induced between the adjacent bilayer membranes causes rearrangement of the constituent lipid molecules in a liposome followed by an increase in the distance r, a decrease in the internal lamellar number, a smaller increase in liposome size and finally a significant increase in Vcap. PMID- 2632057 TI - Preparation and release characteristics of cisplatin albumin microspheres containing chitin and treated with chitosan. AB - Cisplatin (CDDP) containing albumin microspheres and microcapsules incorporating biodegradable macromolecules, chitin and chitosan, were prepared, and their CDDP content and releasing ability and susceptibility to various enzymes were examined. Chitin was incorporated during preparation of the microspheres, while chitosan was used to treat preformed microspheres. CDDP content was remarkably increased by chitin; when chitin was incorporated at a concentration of 1.5%, the CDDP content of the microspheres was found to be 16.2% (1.8 times that with no addition of chitin). CDDP release was suppressed by chitin and chitosan. The 50% CDDP release time was about 1.5 h when no chitin was added, but about 16 h was required when chitin was incorporated into the microspheres at a concentration of 1.5%. Chitin and chitosan suppressed the decomposition by protease. The microspheres treated with 70% deacetylated chitosan showed the greatest susceptibility to lysozyme. In conclusion, CDDP release can be controlled by the use of chitin or chitosan, and the microspheres should show no immunogenicity in vivo because of their susceptibility to lysozyme. PMID- 2632058 TI - Endogenous and exogenous testosterone levels after administration of deuterium labelled testosterone propionate in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. AB - A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring technique was employed to determine simultaneously the plasma concentrations of endogenous and exogenous testosterone in three patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism after a single i.m. dose of testosterone propionate-19,19,19-d3. The plasma levels of testosterone-19,19,19-d3 derived from testosterone propionate-19,19,19-d3 were maintained above the normal testosterone levels (greater than 4 ng/ml) for 48 h, while the plasma levels of endogenous testosterone changed little. PMID- 2632059 TI - Benzylpiperazine derivatives. XI. Synthesis of compounds related to the metabolites of 1-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-4-(2,3,4-trimethoxybenzyl)piperazine dihydrochloride (KB-2796). AB - The metabolites of 1-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-4-(2,3,4 trimethoxybenzyl)piperazine dihydrochloride (KB-2796, 1), a cerebral vasodilator, and related compounds were synthesized to confirm the proposed structures. The structures of the metabolites (3-5) in rats were identified by means of synthesis of the authentic compounds. PMID- 2632060 TI - Isolation of flavonoids from Populus nigra as delta 4-3-ketosteroid (5 alpha) reductase inhibitors. AB - Inhibitors of delta 4-3-ketosteroid (5 alpha) reductase, which had been prepared from rat prostate and converted testosterone to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 4 androstene-3,17-dione, were isolated from 50% ethanol extract of Populus nigra. They were identified as pinobanksin (I, 3,5,7-trihydroxyflavanone), 3,7 dimethylquercetin (II, 3',4',5-trihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone) and pinocembrin (III, 5,7-dihydroxyflavanone). Compound III showed the most potent inhibitory activity among them. PMID- 2632061 TI - Formation of hydroxynorspermidine from exogenously added 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol in Vibrio species. AB - When Vibrio parahaemolyticus AQ 3627 was grown in the presence of 1,3 diaminopropan-2-ol (OH-Dap), a new compound accumulated in the cells. This was identified as hydroxynorspermidine (OH-Nspd), N-(3-aminopropyl)-1,3-diaminopropan 2-ol, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and thin-layer chromatography. It was also synthesized enzymatically from OH-Dap by a cell-free preparation from this strain. All other Vibrio strains examined also showed the ability to synthesize this compound, but none of the non-vibrio organisms did, indicating that OH-Dap is an in vivo substrate for the enzyme responsible for biosynthesis of norspermidine characteristically present in vibrios. These results suggest that the ability to synthesize OH-Nspd from OH-Dap present in the growth medium may be useful as an additional identifying factor for the genus Vibrio. PMID- 2632062 TI - Effective inhibition by pentobarbital of forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in rat brain. AB - The effect of pentobarbital on the adenylate cyclase system was examined in synaptosomal membranes from rat brain. Pentobarbital inhibited forskolin stimulated enzyme activity more effectively than the basal and Mn2(+)-stimulated enzyme activities. The degree of inhibition of the enzyme activity by pentobarbital was increased by the presence of forskolin in a concentration dependent manner. No significant difference is observed in the degree of the inhibition by pentobarbital between the basal and forskolin-stimulated activities in the membranes prepared from the peripheral tissues. PMID- 2632063 TI - Study on absorption of indomethacin from sustained-release suppositories containing hydrogenated soybean lecithin in rabbits. AB - The absorption of indomethacin (IM) from suppositories containing hydrogenated soybean lecithin (HL) after rectal administration in rabbits was investigated with the aim of producing sustained-release suppositories. The suppositories were prepared by the fusion method with IM, HL and Witepsol H-15 (H-15). The IM release rate from the suppositories (IM 10 mg, HL 200 mg, total weight 1 g) was faster than that of the control suppositories without HL. The release of IM from the suppositories (IM 10 mg, HL 300 mg or 350 mg) showed slow-release profiles. In absorption studies in rabbits, sustained-plasma levels of IM were obtained when suppositories having an HL content of more than 300 mg were administered. The suppositories composed of Witepsol E-85 (melting point approximately 43 degrees C), 10 mg of IM, and 200 mg of HL, showed slow-release profiles in the release test, but did not show sustained plasma levels of IM in the absorption test. These results indicate that sustained-release suppositories able to release IM gradually from the surface of the suppositories can be obtained when HL, IM and H-15, whose melting point is lower than body temperature, are used in the preparation of the suppositories, provided that the HL content is high enough in relation to IM. PMID- 2632064 TI - Increased transport of theophylline into gastrointestinal lumen and gastrointestinal dialysis by activated charcoal in rats with hepatic cirrhosis. AB - The characteristics of exsorption and/or excretion of theophylline into the small intestinal lumen in rats with hepatic cirrhosis (HC rats) induced by carbon tetrachloride were investigated by an in situ single-pass perfusion technique. The serum concentrations of theophylline after i.v. administration of aminophylline (10 mg/kg) in the HC rats were significantly higher than those in normal rats during the experimental period. Moreover, the exsorption of theophylline from blood into the intestinal lumen was significantly increased in the HC rats compared with the normal rats. Treatments with oral activated charcoal reduced the serum theophylline levels in the HC rats. Consequently, gastrointestinal dialysis by oral administration of activated charcoal may be a useful method to remove poisonous drugs from the blood in patients with hepatic failure (including cirrhosis), which decreases the systemic clearance. PMID- 2632065 TI - Effect of protein binding on the disposition of cephalexin and cefazolin in a simultaneous perfusion system of rat liver and kidney. AB - The effect of protein binding on the disposition of cephalexin (CEX) and cofazolin (CEZ) was investigated in a simultaneous perfusion system of rat liver and kidney. In the present study, we used bovine serum albumin (BSA) or human serum albumin (HSA) as plasma protein to control the degree of perfusate protein binding of drugs. Total clearance (CLt) of CEX perfused with BSA (0.70 +/- 0.27 ml/min) was slightly smaller than that with HSA (0.89 +/- 0.08 ml/min), corresponding to the unbound fraction of the drug in the perfusate plasma. On the other hand, CLt of CEZ perfused with BSA (0.90 +/- 0.20 ml/min) was significantly larger than that with HSA (0.32 +/- 0.10 ml/min). The unbound fraction of CEZ to BSA (0.703 +/- 0.052) was much larger than that to HSA (0.253 +/- 0.017) and the clearance of the unbound drug did not differ significantly between two kinds of albumin perfusate (1.30 +/- 0.40 ml/min for BSA and 1.26 +/- 0.40 ml/min for HSA). These results suggest that plasma protein binding is an important factor determining the biliary clearance as well as the urinary clearance of drugs. PMID- 2632066 TI - Feasibility of using [18O2]11-dehydrothromboxane B2 as an internal standard of immunoaffinity purification followed by gas chromatography/selected ion monitoring. AB - [1,1-18O2]11-Dehydrothromboxane B2 (11-dehydro-TXB2) was prepared by repetitive base-catalyzed hydrolysis of the lactone ring of its [1,1,11-18O3]-analogue, and evaluated for its suitability as an internal standard in gas chromatography/selected ion monitoring (GC/SIM) of 11-dehydro-TXB2. Use of the present [18O2]-analogue as an internal standard may make it a suitable candidate for specific immunoaffinity purification followed by GC/SIM. PMID- 2632067 TI - Camelliin B and nobotanin I, macrocyclic ellagitannin dimers and related dimers, and their antitumor activity. AB - Camelliin B and nobotanin I, dimeric hydrolyzable tannins of a new class having macrocyclic structures, were isolated from Camellia japonica and Heterocentron roseum, respectively. Nobotanin G and H of the structures related to nobotanin I, were also obtained from H. roseum. Camelliin B and also woodfordin C, a macrocyclic dimer from Woodfordia fruticosa, exhibited marked host-mediated antitumor activities. PMID- 2632068 TI - Binding position of phenylbutazone with bovine serum albumin determined by measuring nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation time. AB - The binding of phenylbutazone (PB) to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was considered to be predominantly due to hydrophobic interaction based on the thermodynamic parameters obtained by an equilibrium dialysis method. Little variation of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) chemical shift of PB was found with change in the concentration of PB (0.5-5 mM) or upon the addition of BSA (7.25 x 10(-5) M). The NMR spectrum of PB in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution at pH 7 showed that PB existed as a mesomeric anion. The spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) of PB was almost concentration-independent, but decreased in the presence of BSA to 36-38% for the phenyl group and 48-100% for the butyl group. The spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of PB was also almost independent of concentration, but was remarkably decreased in the presence of BSA to ca. 2.5% for the phenyl group and ca. 6-9% for the butyl group. The ratios of the spin-spin relaxation rate (1/T2) of the free PB to that of the bound PB were ca. 5000-11000 for the butyl group and ca. 23000 for the phenyl group. The binding of PB to BSA was considered to involve primarily the phenyl group. PMID- 2632069 TI - A reticuloendothelial system-activating arabinoxylan from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia. AB - A neutral polysaccharide, named cinnaman AX, was isolated from the dried bark of Cinnamomum cassia Blume. It was homogeneous on electrophoresis and gel chromatography. It is composed of L-arabinose: D-xylose in the molar ratio of 4:3, and its molecular weight was estimated to be about 1.0 x 10(6). Methylation analysis, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance and controlled Smith degradation studies enabled elucidation of its structural features. It showed remarkable reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clearance test. PMID- 2632070 TI - Fasciculic acids A, B and C as calmodulin antagonists from the mushroom Naematoloma fasciculare. AB - Three new fasciculol esters, fasciculic acids A (1), B (2) and C (3), having potent calmodulin antagonistic activity were isolated from the toxic mushroom Naematoloma fasciculare (Fr.) Karst. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. PMID- 2632071 TI - Studies on orally active cephalosporin esters. IV. Effect of the C-3 substituent of cephalosporin on the gastrointestinal absorption in mice. AB - The effect of the C-3 substituent on the oral absorbability of pivaloyloxymethyl (POM) ester of cephalosporin in mice is described. The C-3 substituent affects the physicochemical and biochemical properties of POM ester, such as lipophilicity, water solubility, chemical stability and enzymatic stability. Quantitative analyses of the relationships between these properties and the oral bioavailability have been attempted. Lipophilicity made a parabolic contribution to the absorption. The optimum log P octanol/water value was estimated to be around 2.22. The chemical isomerization of the cephem double bond from delta 3 to delta 2 in the intestinal lumen prior to absorption contributed linearly to decrease of absorption. In the case of POM ester having a larger isomerization rate, more delta 2 isomer was detected in feces and urine. Enzymatic hydrolysis of POM ester to the parent acid in intestinal tissue was faster for a more lipophilic ester. Hydrolytic activity, which was detected in the content of the intestinal lumen, would lower the absorption. The effect of the C-3 substituent on water solubility was not important for the absorption of cephalosporin employed in the present study. Isomerization of the double bond, which was found to be characteristic for cephalosporin ester, presented a problem in the prodrug approach for oral use. PMID- 2632072 TI - Synthesis and antitumor activity of new amphiphilic alkylglycerolipids substituted with a polar head group, 2-(2-trimethylammonioethoxy)ethyl or a congeneric oligo(ethyleneoxy)ethyl group. AB - A new series of amphiphilic 1-octadecyl glycerolipids (eleven compounds, 1a-k) were designed and synthesized, in which the 3-phosphocholine portion of platelet activating factor (1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, PAF) was replaced by the 2-(2-trimethylammonioethoxy)ethyl group and congeneric groups having oligo(ethyleneoxy)ethyl bridges of various lengths at position 3, together with modification at position 2 (lower alkyl, acetonyl, acetoacetyl, carboxymethyl and pyrimidin-2-yl groups). These ether lipids, characterized by a nonphosphorus lysoglycerolipid structure, showed potent antitumor activity in vitro (human promyelocytic leukemia cells, HL-60, and human epidermoid carcinoma cells, KB) and in vivo (mouse sarcoma S180 and mouse mammary carcinoma MM46). Maximal in vitro potency was obtained with 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-(2-pyrimidinyl)-3-O [2-(2-trimethylammonioethoxy )ethyl] glycerol (1g; IC50 values for both HL-60 and KB were 0.32 microgram/ml, indicating a higher activity than alkyl lysophospholipid, ET18-OMe). Several appropriately 2-substituted 1 octadecylglycerolipids with the 3-[2-(2-trimethylammonioethoxy)ethyl] group (e.g., methyl, 1b; butyl, 1f; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 1j; and acetonyl, 1k) showed a potent life-span-prolonging effect on mice with ascites sarcoma S180 and on those with mammary carcinoma MM46, when administered intraperitoneally at 16.5 and 12.5 mg/kg/d, respectively. Compounds 1b and 1k showed definite tumor growth inhibition against solid sarcoma S180 in mice, whether given p.o. or i.v. at 16.5 mg/kg/d. Studies on the structure-activity relationships indicate that the metabolic stability to phospholipase C or related enzymes is at least partly responsible for the potent antitumor activity of this series of ether lipids. PMID- 2632073 TI - Studies on topical antiinflammatory agents. III. Synthesis of 17 alpha-acyloxy-9 alpha-fluoro-11 beta-hydroxy-16 beta-methyl-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione 21-thio derivatives and related compounds. AB - A series of 21-thio derivatives of 9 alpha-fluoro-11 beta,17 alpha-dihydroxy-16 beta-methyl-1,4-pregnadiene-3, 20-dione 17-esters and related compounds were synthesized and evaluated as topical antiinflammatory agents. These compounds were prepared by the reaction of 9 alpha-fluoro-11 beta,17 alpha,21-trihydroxy-16 beta-methyl-1,4-pregnadiene-3, 20-dione (betamethasone, I) 17-ester derivatives and various mercapto compounds. A structure-activity relationship study revealed that the structural combination of a thio group at the 21-position and an ester group at the 17-position contributed to vasoconstrictive activity. Among these compounds, the 21-methylthio 17-propanoate compound (6) was found to have the most potent activity, being more potent than betamethasone 17-valerate (BV). PMID- 2632074 TI - [Total synthesis of oxa-9-anthracyclines]. AB - Racemic 7-hydroxy-9-oxa-anthracyclinone (5a) has been synthetised in seven steps from quinizarin (6) and its resolution achieved after glycosylation with 3,4-di-O acetyl-2-deoxy-L-fucose. Chiral pool syntheses of (8S)-8-hydroxymethyl-9-oxa anthracyclinone (5b) and of (8S,10R) and (8S,10S)-8-hydroxymethyl-10-methyl-9-oxa anthracyclinones (5c and 5d) have been achieved using (R)-2,3-O isopropylideneglyceraldehyde (12) and leucoquinizarin (13) as starting materials. Glycosylation of aglycones 5b-5d by either 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-L-fucose or various 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-L-hexoses yielded the corresponding anthracyclines. The synthetic glycosides do not show significant cytotoxic activity at a concentration of 1 microgram/ml against L 1210 cells. PMID- 2632075 TI - Molluscicidal triterpenoidal saponin from Lysimachia sikokiana. AB - The main molluscicidal activity of the methanol extract of Lysimachia sikokiana is due to several triterpenic saponins called sakuraso-saponins. The most active component was isolated from the aerial parts and elucidated as 3-O-beta xylopyranosyl-(1----2)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)- [beta-glucopyranosyl-(1--- 2)]-alpha-arabinopyranosyl protoprimulagenin A, named lysikoianoside 1, on the basis of 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data and methylation analysis results. PMID- 2632076 TI - Effects of saikosaponin metabolites on the hemolysis of red blood cells and their adsorbability on the cell membrane. AB - The hemolytic properties and the adsorbability on red blood cells of saikosaponin a, saikosaponin d and 13 metabolites formed in the alimentary tract were investigated. Among these compounds, saikosaponin d and its intestinal product, prosaikogenin G, which possess an alpha-hydroxyl function at C16, showed the strongest hemolytic activity at the dose range of 1.0 to 5.0 micrograms/ml. Saikosaponin a and its intestinal product, prosaikogenin F, which possess a beta hydroxyl function at C16, showed activity above 10 micrograms/ml. In this case, the monoglycoside, prosaikogenin F, showed the stronger activity than the diglycoside, saikosaponin a. Among the gastric products whose ether ring was cleaved to produce a carbinol, the monoglycosides, prosaikogenin A and prosaikogenin H, showed a slight activity above 25 micrograms/ml, and the saikogenins except saikogenin A were inactive. Saikogenin A, however, had hemolytic activity at a dose of 15 micrograms/ml. The adsorbabilities of these compounds on red blood cell membranes closely paralleled their degrees of hemolytic activity. PMID- 2632077 TI - Photo-switchable ion and enzyme sensors. Photoinduced potentiometric response of glassy carbon electrode coated with polymer or polymer/enzyme dual membrane. AB - Photo-switchable ion and enzyme sensors were fabricated by the use of glassy carbon electrode coated with nonactindoped or enzyme modified poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membranes. The ion sensor with nonactin-doped PVC membrane, which contained spirobenzopyran as the photosensitive dye, exhibited a potentiometric photoresponse to NH4+ ion in the solution. The dynamic range of the NH4+ ion sensor was 10(-7)--10(-3) M. Urea, adenosine, and asparagine sensors were prepared by coating the surface of the NH4+-ion sensor with urease, adenosine deaminase, and asparaginase membranes, respectively. These enzyme sensors could be used for determining the substrates at the micro mole level. The performance characteristics of these sensors were compared with those previously prepared membrane electrode sensors. PMID- 2632078 TI - Enzyme sensors based on an ion-sensitive field effect transistor coated with Langmuir-Blodgett membranes. Use of polyethyleneimine as a spacer for immobilizing alpha-chymotrypsin. AB - A highly branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) was used as a spacer for immobilizing alpha-chymotrypsin on the surface of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) membranes which were deposited on the gate of an ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET). alpha Chymotrypsin could be covalently immobilized through the glutaraldehyde-activated PEI on the LB membrane-coated ISFET. The alpha-chymotrypsin-modified ISFET showed a potentiometric response to the substrate at concentrations of more than 0.1 mM. Some performance characteristics of the sensor, such as pH response, response time, and long-term stability were examined. PMID- 2632079 TI - Potential bile acid metabolites. XV. Synthesis of 4 beta-hydroxylated bile acids; unique bile acids in human fetal bile. AB - The 4 beta-hydroxylated derivatives of lithocholic, deoxycholic, chenodeoxycholic, and cholic acids were synthesized from their respective parent compounds. The principal reactions employed were 1) beta-face cis-dihydroxylation of delta 3 intermediates with osmium tetroxide-N-methylmorpholine N-oxide, 2) selective cathylation of vicinal 3 beta,4 beta-diols followed by oxidation of the resulting 4 beta-monocathylates, or direct selective oxidation at C-3 of 3 beta,4 beta-diols with pyridinium chlorochromate, and 3) stereoselective reduction of the 3-oxo compounds with tert-butylamine-borane complex. The results of analysis of the prepared 4 beta-hydroxylated bile acids with a diequatorial trans-glycol structure and their 3 beta-epimers by proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies are briefly discussed along with the mass spectrometric properties. PMID- 2632080 TI - Calculation of membrane potential in synaptosomes with use of a lipophilic cation (tetraphenylphosphonium). AB - To estimate membrane potential in synaptosomes with the use of tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+), an equation relating the amount of TPP+ accumulated in synaptosomes with membrane potential was derived from the following two assumptions. (1) TPP+ molecules were distributed into plasma membranes, mitochondria and cytosol of synaptosomes. (2) TPP+ achieves a Nernst equilibrium across both the synaptosomal and inner mitochondrial membranes. We propose three methods for calculation of membrane potential using this equation. The concentration of TPP+ was measured under various controlled conditions with an electrode selective for TPP+. The amount of TPP+ accumulated in synaptosomes was determined by measuring the difference between its initial concentration and the concentration after addition of synaptosomes, and membrane potential was estimated by the three methods. The resting potential of synaptosomes was estimated to be -75 to -90 mV by all of these methods. Membrane potentials under various controlled conditions were calculated, and the characteristics of the methods for estimation of membrane potential and those of membrane potential obtained by the methods are discussed. PMID- 2632081 TI - Biopolymers from marine invertebrates. XI. Characterization of an antineoplastic glycoprotein, dolabellanin A, from the albumen gland of a sea hare, Dolabella auricularia. AB - An anti-neoplastic factor, dolabellanin A, inducing tumor lysis was purified from the albumen gland of a sea hare, Dolabella auricularia. Purified dolabellanin A was found to be a glycoprotein of 250 kilodaltons containing 4 subunits. This factor was half-maximally active towards a variety of tumor cells at 1-18 ng protein/ml and lysed tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-resistant tumor cells. Dolabellanin A was labile on heating, at low and high pH, and on treatment with urea, guanidine, sodium lauryl sulfate or trypsin, but not with 2-mercaptoethanol or periodate. Dolabellanin A completely inhibited the syntheses of deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid by tumor cells within 1 h and caused their complete cytolysis within 18 h. Tumor lysis by dolabellanin A was not inhibited by anti-TNF antibody but was inhibited by certain sugars, suggesting that recognition of a sugar moiety is a key step in its induction of cytolysis. Dolabellanin A also prolonged the survival of mice bearing syngeneic MM46 ascitic tumors (p less than 0.001). These results suggest that dolabellanin A, found in an invertebrate, the sea hare, is a new antitumor factor. PMID- 2632082 TI - Chloroperoxidase-catalyzed oxidation of aminopyrine. AB - Although in the absence of halide ion chloroperoxidase did not catalyze the ethylhydroperoxide (EHP)-supported oxidation of aminopyrine, in the presence of Br- or Cl-, chloroperoxidase did catalyze the oxidation of aminopyrine, generating the aminopyrine cation radical (AP+). The initial rate of AP+ formation was determined by monitoring the absorbance at 565 nm. The pH optimum of the reaction was centered around 5.0. The rate of AP+ formation showed typical Michaelis-Menten saturation kinetics with respect to EHP, aminopyrine and Br-. The rate of formation of bromine in the chloroperoxidase-EHP-Br- system was also determined by measuring the change in absorbance at 267 nm. In the system containing 1 mM EHP and 0.2 M KBr at pH 5.0, the rate was 1.8 nmol of bromine/s/micrograms of chloroperoxidase, which was slower than that of AP+ formation under the same conditions. The present results suggest that the formation of AP+ is initiated by the halogenation of the N,N-dimethylamino group followed by the homolysis of the haloammonium cation, and that the most likely halogenating reagent is an enzyme-bound halogenating intermediate. PMID- 2632083 TI - Ozagrel hydrochloride monohydrate, a thromboxane synthase inhibitor, and its metabolites as inhibitors of hepatic microsomal drug metabolism. AB - The change in the hepatic oxidative drug-metabolizing capacity in humans treated with ozagrel hydrochloride monohydrate (OZA), an imidazole derivative and a new thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitor, was studied and the inhibitory potencies of the metabolites of OZA (M-1 and M-2) on the mouse hepatic microsomal monooxygenase system in vitro were compared with that of OZA. In vitro, M-1 and M 2, which are the beta-oxidized form and the reduced form of OZA, respectively, inhibited aminopyrine N-demethylation, aniline hydroxylation and testosterone hydroxylations in mouse hepatic microsomes and produced type II difference spectra in the same manner as OZA. The kinetic data indicated that the inhibitory potencies and the affinities of these compounds for cytochrome P-450 were decreased in the order of M-2 greater than OZA greater than M-1. The ratio of 6 beta-hydroxycortisol (6 beta-OHF) to cortisol (F) in urine, used as an indicator of oxidative drug-metabolizing capacity in humans, did not change significantly during oral treatment with 400 mg/d of OZA, while the ratio decreased to 80-85% of the original level during treatment with 800 mg/d of OZA. Although the participation of the metabolites of OZA in the reduction of drug-metabolizing capacity in vivo is not yet clear, the results suggest that hepatic oxidative drug-metabolizing enzyme activities in humans are inhibited by treatment with a relatively high dose of OZA. PMID- 2632084 TI - Effect of dose, pH, and osmolarity on nasal absorption of secretin in rats. III. In vitro membrane permeation test and determination of apparent partition coefficient of secretion. AB - Nasal absorption of secretin in rats was enhanced in an acid solution and the maximum absorption was observed at a sodium chloride solution molarity of 0.462. In order to predict how changes in the secretin molecule would affect its absorption through the nasal mucosa independently of structural changes in the epithelial membrane, an artificial membrane permeation test was conducted, and the apparent partition coefficient between octanol and a test solution was determined. The concentration of secretin was measured using high performance liquid chromatography. The amount of secretin that permeated through an artificial membrane was hardly affected by changes in pH, which suggest that the size of the secretin molecule was not changed. The apparent partition coefficient, however, increased as the pH of the test solution rose from 3.81 to 7.0, which suggested that the hydrophobicity of secretin was enhanced. In relation to the osmolarity of the test solution, the amount of permeation was hardly affected by the concentration of sodium chloride, but the partition coefficient increased with the concentration of the sodium chloride solution. It was supposed that the size of the secretin molecule was not changed in spite of the increasing hydrophobicity, and the nasal absorption of secretin at a sodium chloride molarity of 0.462 was dependent on a change in the epithelial cells. When sorbitol was used as an osmoregulatory agent, the apparent partition coefficient hardly varied as the osmolarity of the solution was increased, whereas the amount of permeation decreased, and these findings reflected the nasal absorption in rats. PMID- 2632085 TI - Clinical evaluation of population pharmacokinetic parameters in phenytoin dosage adjustment. AB - We investigated the influence of the population pharmacokinetic parameters on the performance of the Bayesian feedback method in predicting the phenytoin (PHT) dosage needed to achieve a desired PHT serum concentration. Population pharmacokinetic parameters studied were taken from reports by Sheiner et al. (I), Grasela et al. (II), Miller et al. (III), and the authors (IV). The predictive abilities of the Bayesian feedback method were evaluated by using retrospective data from 70 patients. The mean prediction error, mean absolute prediction error (MAE), and root mean squared error (RMSE) served as measures of prediction bias and precision. The precision of the initial estimates based on the population parameter set IV was superior to those of other initial estimates studied. The performance of the Bayesian feedback method to predict PHT dosage at the steady state was relatively insensitive to bias in the estimates of the population parameters. However, the revised estimates derived from the Bayesian feedback method using the population parameter set IV with one feedback gave the lowest MAE and RMSE in predicting PHT dosage. PMID- 2632086 TI - Effect of gastric acidity on bioavailability of N,N-dimethylcarbamoylmethylalpha, 2-dimethyl-5H-[1]benzopyrano[2,3-b]pyridine-7-acetate, a new prodrug-type anti inflammatory agent. AB - The effect of gastric acidity on the bioavailability of N,N dimethylcarbamoylmethyl alpha,2-dimethyl-5H-[1]benzopyrano[2,3-b] pyridine-7 acetate (1), a new anti-inflammatory agent, was investigated in gastric acidity controlled beagle dogs. The dissolution rates of this compound in media of pH 1.2 and 3.0 were greater than those in media of pH 5.0 and 6.8. Reflecting these dissolution characteristics, the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-12h) were reduced by shifting the gastric acidity to low levels (more than pH 6) with omeprazole treatment. In designing dosage forms of 1, it is necessary to develop pharmaceutical preparations whose bioavailability is not affected by the gastric acidity. PMID- 2632087 TI - Synthesis of C-labeled imipramine and its biodistribution in mice: a potential tracer for positron emission tomography. AB - A tricyclic antidepressant, C-labeled imipramine was synthesized by N-methylation of desipramine with 11CH3I to assist in the imaging of the human imipramine receptor by positron emission tomography. The radiochemical yield after purification of 11C-imipramine by high performance liquid chromatography was 28 63% at a specific activity of 26-53 Ci/mmol. The time required for synthesis, including purification was 30 min from the end of 11CH3I trapping. The organ distribution of 11C-imipramine was investigated in mice at various times after i.v. injection. The main accumulation of radioactivity was in the kidney, followed by the lung and the heart. In the brain, the radioactivity levels in the hypothalamus and striatum were the highest and remained constant, differentiating them from other portions of the brain. Furthermore, the result of a binding assay with 3H-labeled imipramine suggested that the regional distribution of 11C imipramine in the same mouse brain correlated to that of the high affinity imipramine binding site. PMID- 2632088 TI - 5-Fluorouracil derivative. XVII. Synthesis and antitumor activity of 5'-O-acyl-5 fluorouridines. AB - With the aim of diminishing the toxicity of 5-fluorouridine (1) and obtaining biologically active derivatives of 1, various kinds of 5'-O-acyl-5-fluorouridines 2 were synthesized. The antitumor activity of the compounds against L-1210 leukemia in mice was examined. The 5'-O-heptanoyl derivative 2h showed the highest antitumor activity. PMID- 2632089 TI - Studies on medicinal resources from livestock. I. Anti-allergic effects of pig bile. (1). AB - Anti-allergic activities of animal biles and commercially available bile acids were evaluated in experimental allergic disease models. Pig bile exhibited marked preventive effects on the models of delayed-type hypersensitivity (type IV allergy), picryl chloride-induced contact dermatitis (PC-CD) and sheep red blood cells (SRBC)-induced footpad swelling in mice. Fel ursi (dried bear gallbladder) also had an inhibitory effect on PC-CD, whereas ox bile, chicken bile and bile acids had no effect on ether of the models. PMID- 2632090 TI - Effect of aclacinomycin on lipid peroxide levels in tissues of mice. AB - We have examined the lipid peroxide levels in aclacinomycin (ACM)-treated mice by using adriamycin (ADR) as a comparative drug. There was no increase in the lipid peroxide level of the heart at either 3h or 4d after ACM administration (15 mg/kg, i.p.), although the level in the heart of ADR-treated mice was elevated to 257% of that in normal mice. The effect of ACM and its glycoside-type metabolites on the increase of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation (in vitro) was weaker than that of ADR. Then, we examined the tissue concentrations of ACM. The AUC0-24h of ACM was the lowest in the heart among the tissues examined, being only 29.3% of that obtained with ADR. However, the concentrations of the glycoside-type metabolites of ACM in all tissues determined were higher than the concentration of ACM. In the heart, the T1/2 and AUC0-24h of ACM glycosides were somewhat higher than those of ADR. In conclusion, ACM and its metabolites do not lead to an increase in lipid peroxide level in the heart of mouse, and the difference in lipid peroxide increment in the mouse heart induced by ADR and ACM is independent of the tissue concentration of the drugs. PMID- 2632091 TI - Biopharmaceutical evaluation of sustained-release ethylcellulose microcapsules containing amoxicillin using beagle dogs. AB - A beta-lactam antibiotic, amoxicillin, was microencapsulated with ethylcellulose using a solvent evaporation process in liquid paraffin containing sorbitan tristearate as a dispersing agent, and the microcapsules obtained showed first order drug release. Usage of the previous log-log relationship of cefadroxil between in vitro dissolution half-lives (T50) and the experimental release rate constants (k'r) of the drug in vivo, and the nomogram for the design of satisfactory sustained-release preparations resulted in the prediction that ethylcellulose microcapsules containing 60% amoxicillin would show the most effective sustained-release pattern. Prepared microcapsules containing various amounts of amoxicillin were administered to beagle dogs and it was found that above prediction was correct. In addition, a more precise log-log correlation concerning amoxicillin was also undertaken, good linearity was observed and the decline was very similar to that of cefadroxil. PMID- 2632092 TI - Potentiation of ifosfamide toxicity by chlordiazepoxide, diazepam and oxazepam. AB - The effects of chlordiazepoxide, diazepam and oxazepam on the lethal toxicity and metabolic activation of ifosfamide were investigated in mice. Ifosfamide was administered 24 h after the final injection of chlordiazepoxide, diazepam or oxazepam (100 mg/kg/d for 3 d, i.p.). The prior administration of chlordiazepoxide, diazepam or oxazepam enhanced the toxicity of ifosfamide (778 mg/kg, i.p.) during observation for 6 d after the administration of ifosfamide. In chlordiazepoxide-, diazepam- or oxazepam-treated mice, a higher concentration of active metabolite in the plasma after the administration of ifosfamide (200 or 600 mg/kg, i.p.) was observed as compared with that in mice treated with ifosfamide alone. On the other hand, chlordizepoxide, diazepam or oxazepam markedly enhanced the activity of ifosfamide oxidase in the liver microsomes. These results suggest that the potentiation of ifosfamide toxicity is due to stimulation of the metabolic activation of ifosfamide by chlordizepoxide, diazepam and oxazepam. PMID- 2632093 TI - New platelet aggregation inhibitors. AB - From a cultured broth of Streptomyces matensis A-6621, we isolated three new platelet aggregation inhibitors designated as PI-080, PI-085 and PI-087. The structures of these compounds were established by spectral and chemical methods. PMID- 2632094 TI - Tetrafluoroboric acid, a useful deprotecting reagent in peptide synthesis. AB - We have found that tetrafluoroboric acid (HBF4) in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in the presence of thioanisole cleaves various protecting groups currently used in peptide synthesis. HBF4 in TFA cleaves an amino acid amide from 4 methylbenzhydrylamine resin more effectively than trifluoromethanesulfonic acid in TFA. Lamprey gonadotropin-releasing hormone (a 10-residue peptide amide) was synthesized using 1 M HBF4-thioanisole in TFA by both solution-phase and solid phase methods. PMID- 2632095 TI - On the why's and the wherefore's of research. PMID- 2632096 TI - [Aspects of the popular attitude about diarrhea among Tswana-speaking urbanites]. AB - This article contains a general overview of cultural perceptions of diarrhoeal disease amongst infants as expressed by Tswana-speaking urbanites. Attention is mainly given to the perception of gastro-enteritis. The research on which this article is based was concluded during 1984. The article indicates that a majority of respondents maintains the view that aetiologically it is possible to distinguish between three categories of illness, viz. illness of sorcery, illness of the shades or ancestors and "natural" illness or illness that "just happens". Within this general aetiological frame, serious diarrhoeal disease of infants is usually seen as sorcery related. Contact of infants with people regarded as ritually polluted is seen as a major causal agency. It is conceptualised as infants being "stepped upon" by "tracks". It causes an illness known as "phogwane", which can be interpreted as "sunken fontanelle". The concept "kokwana", which can be interpreted as "intestinal snake", is however also used to indicate serious diarrhoeal illness. In the case of "kokwana" it is said that the snake, "sent" to the child through witchcraft, "eats" the child's food and the child itself. Although many of the respondents were in doubt, the majority were of the opinion that Western doctors do not really understand the treatment of these dangerous illnesses. The author believes that nursing practitioners who are involved in health education services should take note of these popular conceptions of gastroenteritis. Knowledge of these views should be used during education session in a meaningful way, to tactfully dissipate "misconceptions". PMID- 2632097 TI - [A critical evaluation of the role and functions of community health nurses in the health service of local authorities in larger cities in the Republic of South Africa]. AB - The aim of this study was to determine and describe the role and functions of the community health nurse in the health services of local authorities of the larger cities within the framework of legislation regarding health and the health service structure of the Republic of South Africa. A questionnaire was used to gather data in connection with the present role and functions of the community health nurse who is responsible for direct client/patient care in the local authority areas of Greater Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein. The information gained from the questionnaires was followed up by personal observations of the services rendered in Greater Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, after it had been computed. The study indicates that the community health nurse in the urban, local authority health services of the Republic makes a very important contribution to the delivery of services within the provisions of the Health Act, no. 63 of 1977. The analysis of the computed data and personal observations showed that the community health nurse in the large cities must carry out a certain percentage of the administrative, educational, preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative activities in the services. PMID- 2632098 TI - Community health workers in Gazankulu. PMID- 2632099 TI - [Study of the quality of interhospital transport of sick neonates by selected ambulances in the Witwatersrand area]. AB - The quality of the inter hospital transport of ill neonates, by selected ambulances in the Witwatersrand area, was investigated by means of the case study method. Of the fifteen case studies investigated, eleven neonates were transported by a private ambulance and four by provincial ambulances. Data regarding the maternal- and neonatal history, the optimal maintenance of the neonate's condition, the communication system, as well as aspects relating to the transport personnel, were collected by means of a structured instrument. Retrospective auditing of records, structured interviewing and direct observation/inspection were utilised as the research techniques. The quality of the inter hospital transport of ill neonates, especially by the private ambulance, is not up to standard. Deterioration of the neonate's body temperature, heart and respiration rates, as well as the serum glucose values after transport, were of the more important findings. The lack of equipment, especially in the private ambulance, increases the risk of transport. Staff development and formal control by a local committee, as well as a national control body, are recommended. PMID- 2632100 TI - [Standards for the interhospital transport of sick neonates]. AB - The transport of ill neonates between hospitals and/or health care centres, plays an important role in the mortality rate of these seriously ill neonates. It is therefore important that the ill neonate is transported under optimal conditions. A lack of standards in this regard hampers the evaluation of the quality of inter hospital transport of ill neonates. The purpose of this study is to formulate valid standards for the transport of seriously ill neonates between hospitals (and/or other health care institutions) to form the basis for the evaluation of the quality of this service. Factors that need to be considered in the transport of ill neonates include the ambulance, equipment and stock, the transport personnel and communication. These factors were systematically explored and described and standards were formulated accordingly. PMID- 2632101 TI - An evaluation of two guidance programmes to promote breast-feeding. AB - During the past ten years a comprehensive research project has been undertaken to develop a guidance programme in three adjacent communities in the South-Western Cape with the aim of lowering the high incidence of coronary heart disease. The purpose of this substudy was to determine whether the guidance provided in the different communities had any influence on the knowledge of and attitudes towards the nutrition of pregnant women, babies and infants as well as breast-feeding practices of the women who gave birth during the period 1980 to 1986. In the first community guidance was provided by means of small mass media and interpersonal communication whereas only the small mass media were employed in the second. The third served as the control community. The findings suggest that the combined interpersonal and mass media programme was more successful than the mass media programme alone. PMID- 2632102 TI - Formative clinical evaluation of first-year students in fundamental nursing science. PMID- 2632103 TI - [The use of the Swedish scale in the selection of nursing students at the Rand African University]. AB - Students applying to follow the B. Cur. degree at the Rand Afrikaans University are subjected to a selection process. In spite of the selection process the drop out rate is high. An attempt is being made to evaluate the present academic selection process. The amended Smeltzer method is used as a point of departure to correlate with the model proposed by the University administration. The academic predictions are implemented on the Swedish formula and a cut-off point is obtained according to a sliding scale proposed for academic selection. With the abovementioned two methods it appears that the selected population has the most successful academic results if the cut-off point of the amended Smeltzer method and the Swedish formula is 60 and 15 respectively. PMID- 2632104 TI - The masters degree in departments of nursing science at South African universities: types, growth and policy differences and similarities. AB - In this exploratory study nine masters programmes in nursing were surveyed to establish the types of programmes available, the growth of masters students over the years and the policies governing each programme. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire developed by the investigator. From the findings it could be established that considerable variation existed in the type of form of degree offered, that growth was steady but slow and that both similarities and differences existed in the policies of the departments. Several areas were identified for additional research. PMID- 2632105 TI - Myeloma--the integral role played by the professional nurse. AB - Myeloma is a malignancy of plasma cells which are terminally differentiated B lymphocytes. The diagnosis may be made incidentally at routine blood testing, when an abnormality is found in the plasma proteins on electrophoresis. More usually the patients are symptomatic, with bone pain, anaemia, evidence of renal failure, or the metabolic abnormalities associated with increased plasma calcium and urate levels. Effective treatment will extend survival from 7 to approximately 30 months and at the same time improve the quality of life. Treatment is multidisciplinary, prominently involves the professional nurse and may arbitrarily be divided into two stages. Firstly, reversible lesions, such as dehydration and plasma hyperviscosity must be corrected, hypercalcaemia and hyperuricaemia improved and, if necessary, renal dialysis undertaken. Secondly, but of equal importance, is the need for specific therapy to be directed against the tumour itself, and both cytotoxic agents and irradiation have an important role to play. More recently, newer approaches have included high dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2632106 TI - The implications of change in South African society for the health professions. PMID- 2632107 TI - [Aspiration of silicone oil]. PMID- 2632108 TI - [Transient monocular blindness and carotid surgery]. PMID- 2632109 TI - [Complications of antiglaucoma surgery associated with 5FU. Apropos of a case]. PMID- 2632110 TI - [Problems in the disinfection of contact lenses]. PMID- 2632111 TI - [Refitting with disposable lenses of patients with giant papillary conjunctivitis. First results]. AB - The giant papillary conjunctivitis is a indication for the disposable lenses: 21 successes on 23 patients. The results are excellent with a precocious diagnosis. PMID- 2632112 TI - [Congenital myopic astigmatism: results of surgery using the Thornton T-CUTS technic, combined with radial keratotomy]. PMID- 2632113 TI - [Erythrocyte aggregation and retinal vein occlusion. Preliminary data for a randomized study on the efficacy of anti-erythrocyte aggregation (troxerutin) in retinal vein occlusion]. AB - Erythrocyte aggregation (EAg) is one of the principal determinants of blood viscosity at low shearing rates (slow flow). The retinal venous circulation, characterised by a slow circulatory rate and a high resistance to flow, creates a favourable environment for the formation of erythrocyte aggregates. EAg and other laboratory parameters (haematocrit, fibrinogen, plasma proteins, clotting) were measured in 64 patients presenting with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and 64 controls matched for age, sex, risk factors (HT, diabetes, smoking) and concomitant vascular disease. Statistical analysis of the results demonstrated a significant difference between the RVO group and the control group for fibrinogen (p = 0.03) and erythrocyte aggregation (p = 0.00003 for the aggregation index at 10 sec and p = 0.0002 for the threshold of partial dissociation). The rise in the fibrinogen level alone cannot explain the increased erythrocyte aggregation. These results demonstrate that the increased EAg largely explains the hyperviscosity reported by other authors and suggest that it plays an important role in the pathogenesis of RVO. PMID- 2632114 TI - [Cataract caused by ethylene oxide poisoning]. PMID- 2632115 TI - [Benign tumor of pilar origin of the upper eyelid. Apropos of a case]. AB - The authors report a case of superior eyelid tumour, pilary originated, trichofolliculoma type. They considered the diagnostic and therapeutic problems about this type of tumour. PMID- 2632116 TI - [Eye perforation caused by retrobulbar injection]. AB - The authors present a case of scleral perforation following a retrobulbar injection of anesthetic. Predisposing factors are reminded and ways to avoid such complications are expanded. PMID- 2632117 TI - [Leber's idiopathic stellate macula: apropos of 3 cases]. PMID- 2632118 TI - [Etiopathogenic aspects of flow-like atrophy of the pigment epithelium of eye]. AB - "Like flows" atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium are observed in multiple cases of lesions of the posterior pole. The authors are reported one observation of different diseases with like flows atrophy. PMID- 2632119 TI - [Side effects of argon-krypton photocoagulation]. PMID- 2632120 TI - [Eales' syndrome and hypereosinophilia]. AB - Authors report one case of a non typical Eales' disease associated to an hypereosinophily. None etiology was found nosology and physiopathology of Eales' syndrome and Eales' disease are still unclear. Main element of diagnosis is the discovery of a general pathology. PMID- 2632121 TI - [Xerophthalmia caused by self-induced deficiency]. AB - The case is described of a 36 years old woman with bilateral xerophthalmia secondary to his diet. She presented a perforation of the left cornea which required an emergency penetrating keratoplasty. The treatment is described. PMID- 2632122 TI - [Jadassohn's sebaceous nevus]. AB - We report the case of a child's Jadassohn sebaceous noevus, localised on the vertex cranii, the trunk and the limb, associated with the presence of ophthalmological and neurological abnormalities. The diagnosis of this syndrome has been difficult because all the signs were not present at birth. The surgical treatment of the vertex cranii lesions will be realised after expansion with sub cutaneous prothesis, allowing a large exeresis and an adequate reconstruction. Only the anatomo-pathological examination allows any malignant degeneration of the lesion. PMID- 2632123 TI - [Retinal arterial ischemia caused by papillar vascular malformation]. PMID- 2632124 TI - [Claude Bernard-Horner syndrome. Apropos of a case. Etiopathogenic discussion]. AB - Authors report a case of Horner's syndrome, associated with symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia and image of vertebral mega-dolicho-artery. Etio-pathogenic hypothesises are discussed. PMID- 2632125 TI - [Anaphylactic shock caused by fluorescein]. AB - Authors report one case of death caused by anaphylactic collapsus after a fluorescein angiography. They make a review of all the complications described and particularly insist about the anaphylactic reactions. They conclude on the modalities of treatment. PMID- 2632126 TI - [Diagnostic problems in dystrophy of the cones]. PMID- 2632127 TI - [Spontaneous rupture of Bruch's membrane and transient macular hemorrhage in patients with myopia]. AB - 18 eyes of 14 pathologic myopia patients with lacker cracks have been studied during a mean follow up of 45 months by initial and final clinical and fluoroangiography evaluation. These lacker cracks happen early in the myopia degeneration evolution in young patients. The evolution is marked by transient coinlike macular hemorrhages without CNM detectable. Prognosis for the retention of central vision after macular hemorrhages resolution is good. It mainly depends of lacker cracks initial location if macular quite wrong, if intramacular, quite right. Development of CNM is an infrequent eventuality but must be systematically research by angio-fluorography after spontaneous macular hemorrhage resolution which usually occurs 4 or 6 weeks later. PMID- 2632128 TI - [Asteroid hyalitis: an uncommon complication of retinal telangiectasis]. AB - The authors report a case of asteroid hyalosis which required a vitrectomy because of the decreased vision. The vitrectomy places in a prominent position an epi-macular membrane which has been peeling during the procedure and retinal vascular malformations like "telangiectasies" which are the starting point of other complications. PMID- 2632129 TI - [Acute strabismus caused by accommodative spasm]. AB - Acute strabismus accommodative spasm about an adult. A 17 years old woman presents an acute strabismus with accommodative spasm. The different diagnostics and treatments are evoked. PMID- 2632130 TI - [Penetrating keratoplasty using the Hanna trephine. Anatomic and functional results]. AB - The survey of 21 penetrating keratoplasty, using Hanna trephine is reported. Corneal transparency, astigmatism, visual acuity are studied. PMID- 2632131 TI - Serum IgG level against Streptococcus mutans in subjects with caries experience. AB - Serum IgG level against Streptococcus mutans serotype c was studied in 33 subjects, in relation to dental caries, oral hygiene and age. The activity of the serum IgG against the sonicated antigens of the bacterium was evaluated by micro ELISA. The serum IgG titer to S. mutans was significantly higher in the subjects with no detectable carious lesions than in the subjects with active caries (p less than 0.05). However, there was no clear difference between the serum IgG antibody to S. mutans and the DMF index. The serum IgG antibodies to S. mutans were associated with the level of oral hygiene but not with age. PMID- 2632132 TI - Effects of dialyzable leukocyte extracts (DLE) and inosine on stimulated lymphocytes. AB - The effects of dialyzable leukocyte extracts (DLE) on the lymphocytes were examined. The crude DLE suppressed the blast-formation of the PHA-stimulated lymphocytes and proliferation of the leukemic cell-lines but enhanced that of the fibroblastic cells. A certain fraction of the DLE caused the ATP level of the stimulated lymphocytes to rise, after incubation for 24 hours. The fraction was further purified and the inosine eluted from it. The inosine increased the ATP level and markedly enhanced the lymphocyte blast-formation and proliferation of the fibroblastic cells and leukemic cell-lines. It is suggested that when the DLE show some effects on the lymphocytes, the inosine contained in the DLE may show important effects. The effect of inosine was inhibited by other substances contained in the DLE, especially deoxynucleotides. These substances suppressed the blast-formation of the lymphocytes and the proliferation of the leukemic-cell lines. It remains to determine why the fibroblastic cells were not suppressed by them. PMID- 2632133 TI - Development and clinical application of DNA probe specific for Peptostreptococcus micros. AB - P. micros is thought to be an important pathogen in the etiology of certain inflammatory lesions, however, the role of this microorganism is uncertain due to the lack of rapid and reliable method to identify this species. The purpose of this study was to develop a DNA probe specific for the detection of P. micros in order to evaluate its prevalence in oral infectious lesions. The whole genomic DNA from P. micros was partially digested and inserted into the vector pUC 13. Four recombinant clones were selected, purified and screened against reference strains of Peptostreptococcus species to check the species specificity and then applied to clinical isolates. The sensitivity and specificity of the DNA probe for P. micros was 99.2% and 100%, respectively. P. micros could be detected in 7.2% of subgingival dental plaques from the patients with adult periodontitis and in 16.1% of the endodontic lesions with periapical pathosis. In the endodontic lesions, there was a good correlation between the clinical symptoms and the presence of P. micros. These data strongly suggested that the DNA probe can be useful in the detection of P. micros and that this microorganism is important in certain periodontal and endodontic lesions. PMID- 2632134 TI - Inhibiting effects of cancer sera on in vitro responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes to recombinant interleukin-2. AB - The effects of cancer sera on the in vitro induction of lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells and the killer activity of the LAK cells were determined. When the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were incubated with recombinant interleukin-2 in a medium (RPMI 1640 + 10% normal human AB serum) for 96 hours, 53-55% of the LAK activity were induced. LAK induction was inhibited when cancer sera were added to the medium. The inhibition rates varied from slight to high (a mean LAK activity; 37.1%). The cancer sera also inhibited the killer activity of the LAK cells which were already induced in the PBLs. These results suggested the presence of an inhibiting factor against the LAK cells in the cancer serum. PMID- 2632135 TI - Automated performance checking of infusion equipment. AB - A universal method of assessing the performance of infusion devices is described. An electronic balance was interfaced to a personal computer and software was written to provide a graphical display of output rate and to check for inconsistency in performance. PMID- 2632136 TI - Burn wound evaporation--an evaluation of air diffusion resistances governing heat transfer in a clean air unit. AB - Heat losses from burned patients need to be reduced to avoid placing unnecessary demands on body metabolism. In order to allow more accurate assessments of heat loss, heat transfer has been studied in a clean air unit used for intensive care of burned patients. Evaporation rates have been measured from a phantom representing a recumbent human torso with burn wounds simulated by moist lint strips mounted on the surface. Heat transfer is determined by a complex interaction of free and forced convection, with evaporation rate being greatest on the side of the abdomen in free convection and towards the top in the forced case. Air diffusion resistances have been derived to describe evaporative heat transfer from different parts of a body. Equations have been fitted to data obtained under a wide range of conditions, and will be used to evaluate heat losses from burned patients in order to improve treatment conditions. PMID- 2632137 TI - A study of contact pressure points in specialised beds. AB - Pressure was measured at seven body points liable to develop pressure sores, in four commonly available beds. A small water-filled sensor attached to a transducer and measuring system was used, and the limitations of this system are discussed. The investigation was undertaken in female volunteers lying supine in each of the beds. The results show that compared with the standard, hard mattress normally used in the intensive care bed all the specialised beds have some beneficial effect. The water bed produces an even distribution of body weight but some elevation in pressures, notably in the sacrum and heel regions. The fluidized bed was the most consistent but the low air loss bed also provided safe pressures and has the advantage of greater postural flexibility. PMID- 2632138 TI - Detection of breast cancer by measuring areolar blood flow--a pilot study. AB - Regional blood flow in the areola was measured by using the non-invasive transient thermal clearance method in normal breasts and in breasts involved with cancer. Areolar blood flow (ABF) in normal breasts was almost constant for women in the age range 20-60y, but decreased at higher ages. ABF in breasts involved with cancer was higher than that in the contralateral breast, and higher than the average normal ABF in the corresponding age group. The effect was more prominent in the left breast. The transient thermal clearance method provides a potential non-invasive means for detection of breast cancer. PMID- 2632139 TI - Computer linked apparatus for upper limb therapy: a new system of resistive exercise. AB - A need has been recognised for equipment that can be used to provide objective evaluation of exercise of the upper limb in occupational therapy while being motivational to the patient. The microcomputer was seen to be a suitable tool as part of a system that might satisfy this need. After consulting experienced hand therapists the criteria were established for equipment that would encourage and quantify exercise. Three systems were built that represented three methods of resistive exercise. These were presented to therapists in a structured assessment to determine the most suitable. As a result of this a system employing a dashpot and a potentiometer connected to a BBC microcomputer was designed. Software was written in the form of activities that could be controlled by the movements of exercise on the equipment. Dashpot resistance could be varied and graded and the range of software was of varied motivational content. This allowed the principal movements of the wrist and forearm to be objectively exercised. After suitably calibrating the system it was used to assess patient effort and ability, and hence progress of treatment. PMID- 2632140 TI - Low-frequency photoplethysmograph signals. PMID- 2632141 TI - A sensitivity method for electrical impedance tomography. PMID- 2632142 TI - Biochemical, morphological and stereological study of the dermis in three members of a large family with type IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. AB - Biochemical, morphological and stereological studies were carried out on dermal biopsies obtained from three members of a large family with a positive clinical history of type IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Ultrastructural analysis showed that fibroblasts from two affected individuals presented abnormally dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae engorged by microfilamentous material. When cultured, fibroblasts from two affected individuals synthesized and secreted normal amounts of type I procollagen, but only a very low percentage of type III procollagen was secreted. Cellular retention of type III procollagen was confirmed by immunofluorescence. Also the secretion of fibronectin appeared delayed. Stereological analysis carried out on semithin sections of dermis by the point counting method showed that the relative volume of collagen fibers was decreased in the reticular dermis and the relative volume of elastin fibers was increased mainly in the upper layer of reticular dermis, in comparison to normal controls (P less than 0.01). Collagen fiber sizes were significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced in all dermis layers. No alterations were seen in the dermis and in cultured fibroblasts from the clinically normal individual. PMID- 2632143 TI - Changes in the sedimentation profile of proteoglycan aggregates in early experimental canine osteoarthritis. AB - Osteoarthritis was induced in 12 normal dogs by severing of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knees, the left knees serving as sham operated controls. The animals were killed at 7 and 14 weeks postsurgery. The total hexuronate, and thus proteoglycan, content of the articular cartilage of operated knees remained unaltered during the period of study. After pretreatment with a highly purified collagenase and in the presence of selected protease inhibitors, a higher proportion of the tissue hexuronate could be extracted from the different topographical areas of osteoarthritic joints under non dissociative conditions (70-75% versus 55-65% for control knees). The nondissociatively recovered osteoarthritic proteoglycans (a-A1 preparations) displayed progressive and consistent changes in their sedimentation profile. First, the size of the fast sedimenting or more saturated aggregates appeared to be reduced in the different regions of osteoarthritic joints at 7 weeks postoperatively. The disappearance of the faster sedimenting mode as well as a dramatic increase in the proportion of monomers were only detected in the topographical zones exhibiting the most severe surface damage and histologic abnormalities at 14 weeks postsurgery. The proteoglycan molecules present as "free" or "nonaggregated" monomers in a-A1 preparations recovered from normal and osteoarthritic cartilage at different time periods after surgery were separated from their corresponding aggregates by rate zonal centrifugation in isokinetic cesium sulfate gradient. Although they were severely depleted in keratan sulfate, the purified "free" and "aggregated" osteoarthritic monomers appeared to be normal in terms of aggregating capacity and size distribution, and were therefore not degraded. This progressive changes in size distribution of proteoglycan aggregates in the early stages of experimental canine osteoarthritis could contribute significantly to the biochemical and biomechanical alterations of osteoarthritic cartilage. PMID- 2632144 TI - Hierarchical structure of the intervertebral disc. AB - Optical microscope techniques are used to characterize the hierarchical structure of the collagenous components of the human intervertebral disc. In the anterior annulus fibrosus, the thickness of lamellae increases abruptly 2 mm inward from the edge of the disc, dividing the annulus into peripheral and transitional regions. Lamellae in the lateral and posterior aspects of the disc have a broad distribution of lamellar thicknesses throughout the annulus. In alternating lamellae, fibers are inclined with respect to the vertical axis of the spine in a layup structure. From the edge of the disc inward to the nucleus, this interlamellar angle decreases from +62 to +45 degrees. Within lamellae, the collagen fibers exhibit a planar crimped morphology. The plane of the waveform is inclined with respect to the vertical axis by the interlamellar angle. From the edge of the disc inward, the crimp angle increases from 20 to 45 degrees and the crimp period decreases from 26 to 20 um. A hierarchical model of the intervertebral disc has been developed that incorporates these morphological gradients. PMID- 2632145 TI - A histological and biochemical assessment of the cartilage matrix obtained from in vitro storage of osteochondral allografts. AB - Fresh osteochondral allografts were stored at 4 degrees C in tissue culture media at variable time periods (3, 7, 14 and 28 days). Sterilely dissected tibial plateaus with a standardized 1/2 cm subchondral bone "shell" were obtained from canines 1-3 hrs post mortem. X-rays were taken to determine maturity of the animals. Only mature animals (closed epiphyses) were considered for the study. Histologically, safranin 0 (metachromatic stain for glycosaminoglycans) was observed in all experimental specimens. H&E stained sections showed at all time periods of 3, 7, 14 and 28 days that the cell morphology and arrangements were similar in the superficial and deep areas of the cartilage obtained from the stored osteochondral allograft when compared to the control articular cartilage. The cells were in lacunae and arranged in clusters. Biochemically, glycosaminoglycans and collagen content showed no difference at the 95% level of confidence during the duration of the study (28 days) when compared to the 0 day control cartilage. Collagen typing, based on the assessment by HPLC of the CNBr peptides showed the major presence of type II collagen (no evidence of dedifferentiation was observed). No type I was found to be present. Some apparent variations in the proportions of minor collagen components were noted--e.g. at 14 days the cartilage appeared to contain increased amounts of type XI but little or no type IX collagen (HMW, LMW) when compared to the day 0 control. At 28 days a shift to a larger amount of type IX collagen occurs, especially in the LMW component, with a small amount of type XI collagen when compared to normal day 0 articular cartilage. Cell viability, i.e., the ability of the allograft tissue to incorporate 35SO4 in the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans, was intact up to 28 days of storage. PMID- 2632146 TI - A comparison of the number of X-chromatin bodies and of X chromosomes in carcinomas of the cervix uteri. AB - The number of X-chromatin bodies in interphase cells was compared with the number of X chromosomes in metaphases in nineteen carcinomas of the cervix uteri. This is the first time that such a direct comparison has been made. Nine tumours had a single X-chromatin body, four had two bodies and six were X-chromatin negative. Thus, a total of seventeen X-chromatin bodies was present in these tumours which collectively had forty-seven X chromosomes. Surprisingly, three tumours with near diploid complements were X-chromatin negative although they had two X chromosomes. The findings suggest that duplication of the active X is advantageous during tumour development while the inactive, X-chromatin forming, X chromosome tends to be lost. PMID- 2632147 TI - Interaction between Leydig and Sertoli cells in vitro. AB - The interaction between Leydig and Sertoli cells grown in co-culture was studied. After 3 to 4 days in culture, Leydig and Sertoli cells formed monolayers. To distinguish functional Leydig cells from Sertoli cells, a histochemical test for delta 5,3 beta-HSD activity was performed, and cells which showed a positive reaction were defined as Leydig cells, in contrast to Sertoli cells which did not manifest enzyme activity. Testosterone and oestradiol levels in culture media were determined by radioimmunological assays. Sertoli cells in co-culture showed a tendency to organize themselves as in vivo, forming a kind of pseudo-wall of the tubule. This process becomes more evident with the time of culture. Co cultures secreted more androgens than Leydig cells alone and more oestradiol than Sertoli cells alone. This influence was strengthened by the presence of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the culture medium, which was not the case in cultures of Leydig and Sertoli cells cultured separately. PMID- 2632148 TI - Morphological and metabolic responses of embryonic hearts to administration of exogenous L-thyroxine. AB - Injection of 1 microgram L-thyroxine (T4) into the yolk sacs of embryonated chicken eggs at 3 to 6 days of incubation not only induced cardiomegaly but also instigated more rapid differentiation of the heart as an organ and of the individual myocytes per se. Myocytes showed evidence of responding to this dose of exogenous T4 as early as 5 to 6 days of incubation, even though endogenous T4 was not normally forthcoming (in amounts sufficient to provoke organ changes) until 11 to 12 days of incubation. By 7 days of incubation the hearts, conditioned by a single 1 microgram dose of T4, exhibited larger areas occupied by myofibrillar material than controls. Measurements, beginning at 9 days of incubation, indicated the presence of greater amounts of RNA, total non-lipid solids and total lipids. Early increases in DNA in T4-conditioned embryos, compared with controls, indicated that hypertrophic hearts had reached this condition, at least in part, by increased cell division. By 12 days of incubation, hearts pre-treated with T4 showed conversion of many mitochondria to vesicles resembling smooth endoplasmic reticulum. No evidence of classical sarcoplasmic reticulum was seen through hatching. PMID- 2632149 TI - Nuclear changes induced in NIH/3T3 cells by transfection and tumorigenesis. AB - Discriminants such as nuclear phenotypes, nuclear areas and perimeters, multinucleation, nuclear fusion and micronucleation were investigated in NIH/3T3 cells transfected with the whole genomic DNA of T24 and MCF-7 cells and with the ras oncogene of T24 cells, and primary cultures of tumours induced in nude mice by injection of transfected cells. The observations were carried out in cell preparations stained with 0.025% toluidine blue solution at pH 4.0. An increase in chromatin condensation involving euchromatin areas was detected in transfected cells and in cells derived from tumours. The pattern of condensation varied with the type of DNA transfected to the recipient cells. Based upon the enhanced expression of nuclear phenotypes exhibiting clumps of condensed chromatin in tumour-derived cells, it was concluded that chromatin condensation is associated with cell transformation, which is also manifested by multinucleation, nuclear fusion and micronucleation. PMID- 2632150 TI - Denaturing effect of acridine orange and adriamycin. AB - Acridine orange and adriamycin have a very low denaturing effect on DNA isolated from Chinese hamster cells but strongly increase heat-induced denaturation. When these intercalating agents are added to the growth media they modify the sensitivity to heat denaturation of DNA extracted from treated cultures when compared with untreated cultures. This effect correlates with a considerable increase in the disruption of chromosomal ultrastructure. PMID- 2632151 TI - A unique microvesicular sphere associated with the Golgi complex of gonadotrophs in the golden hamster. AB - A spherical accumulation of numerous, closely packed, minute vesicles, tentatively called a microvesicular sphere (MVS), was often found at the cis side of the Golgi complex in the gonadotroph of the hypophysis of the golden hamster. After prolonged impregnation with OsO4, the cis saccules of the Golgi stack and the MVS were stained with osmium. In gonadotrophs from normal and castrated hamsters, reaction products of thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase) and inosine diphosphatase (IDPase) were intensively localized in the trans and intermediate cisternae of the Golgi complex, respectively, but not in the MVS. Acid phosphatase (AcPase) reaction products were patchily distributed in the trans cisternae of the Golgi stack, but were not localized in the MVS in normal and castrated hamsters. However, in the blinded hamsters, in which gonadotrophs and their Golgi complexes were atrophic, AcPase reaction products were seen consistently in the MVS, and also in many of the Golgi cisternae in addition to those on the trans side. In such cells TPPase and IDPase activities were greatly decreased; the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes might be engaged in production of lysosomal proteins rather than secretory products. The MVS may represent an accumulation of special transfer vesicles between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex, and may constitute an adjunct of the latter in certain cell types. PMID- 2632152 TI - [Peroperative isotopic detection in the treatment of osteoid osteoma in children]. AB - Peroperative isotopic detection, which was rendered possible by use of the cadmium telluride semi-conductor probe developed by C. Proye et al., has permitted nidus removal, as well as promoting cure in case of osteoid osteoma, by limiting bone resection to a strict minimum. Five cases are presented, all children. The method seems to present great value, particularly in case of localisations involving the spine or the neck of the femur. PMID- 2632153 TI - [Open fracture of the leg with major cutaneous lesions. Imperative character of immediate closure and following possibilities of internal stabilization of the skeleton. Apropos of a continuous series of 20 cases]. AB - The advantages of immediate wound closure in case of open leg wounds, as opposed to delayed repair or the use of greasy dressings, need no longer be proven. Indeed, modern plastic surgery technics have become quite ingenuous, reliable and applicable to most severe skin, lesions (type III as per Cauchoix-Duparc and so- called potential type III). These facts have been confirmed by a study of 20 cases including both types. Moreover, more and more often, immediate wound repair allows for external fixation replacement, typically by osteosynthesis, which is more advantageous from the viewpoint of fracture consolidation. Complications (namely infection rates) have not increased, which is an encouragement for the continued application of this method, which constitutes a departure from usual indications. PMID- 2632154 TI - [Subclinical identification of cancer of the breast. Radiologic progress, proposition for treatment]. AB - In the case of breast cancer with no clinical signs, radiological signs are the decisive factors to indicate surgery, histological studies or treatment. Foci of microcalcifications currently are the feature to identify as a rule. However, they reveal canalicular carcinoma in only 1 case out of 3. We propose a radiological technique allowing the selection of the microcalcifications to be operated by means of the digitization of a mammographic film and of a software controlled morphometric analysis. 10,000 microcalcifications have been studied in this way. The most reliable of the 12 parameters that were distinguished is compacity. 100 files were studied with conventional mammography and a morphometric and histological analysis. Any microcalcification less compact than 0.35 is highly suspicious, since this parameter is the only one having a significant difference, with a confidence interval of 95%. The patients are now selected in this way. Differences in the age of the lesions, multiple foci and sometimes lesions with multiple centers lead us to automatically propose the exeresis of the gland, followed by immediate reconstruction of its shape and volume. According to a retrospective study we carried out on 111 subclinical intracanalicular carcinomas after a 5 to 20-year time interval, recurrence is observe in only 4.5% of all cases. PMID- 2632155 TI - [Rigid and flexible ureteroscopy. Apropos of 200 consecutive cases]. AB - 191 patients underwent a total of 200 ureteroscopies. Indications for these were as follows: ureter stones (172 cases); ureteral anomalies undiagnosed by other methods (20 cases); therapeutic ureteroscopy (8 cases). Stones: ureteroscopy for stones was carried out using either a rigid instrument (156 cases) or a flexible ureteroscope (16 cases). The localization of the stones was pelvic (123 cases), iliac (18 cases) or lumbar (10 cases). The stones were either removed directly using the basket under visual control (74/139 cases), or removed by ultrasonic/laser fragmentation (65/139 cases). As regards the rigid ureteroscope, success rates were 89% (139/156); 15 patients required additional therapy. Repeated ureteroscopic interventions always provided positive results. As concerns flexible ureteroscopy, we only had one positive result; 15 failure cases warranted repeated additional treatments. In three instances, failure with flexible ureteroscopy was corrected by using the rigid device during the same surgical period. We observed a single case of major complication in this series, i.e., a laterovesical urinoma which necessitated surgical drainage and was linked to the lack of ureteral drainage following ureteroscopy. Diagnostic ureteroscopic examinations: in 20 instances, ureteroscopy allowed to diagnose with precision the ureteral abnormality. No complication was reported following diagnostic ureteroscopy. Therapeutic ureteroscopy: such interventions were carried out to introduce a guide into the renal cavities (3 cases); to remove a double J stent, the lower extremity of which had moved up into the ureter (3 cases); or to carry out endoscopic ureterotomy (2 cases). Ureteroscopy is a safe and reliable method for the treatment of ureteral stones, and more particularly of stones localized in the distal part of the ureter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632156 TI - [Surgical excision of the cancer of the stomach after 75 years of age]. AB - A retrospective study of 302 patients hospitalized for gastric adenocarcinoma in the period between 1976 and 1987 revealed that 133 of the patients (44%) were over 75 years of age. In order to bring out the characteristics of stomach cancer in the elderly, these patients were compared with younger subjects, as a comparison with a population of under seventies emphasizes the existing differences. Clinical signs, the time necessary for reaching diagnosis, as well as the evolutive stage of the pathology at the time of diagnosis were the same. The incidence of the intestinal histological type, which has a better prognosis, was significantly higher after the age of 75. Operability was decreased due to contraindications related to the patients' general status. Resectability (86 patients, i.e., 77.2%) did not differ significantly. Complications imputable to surgery did not occur more frequently. Anastomotic fistulas were rare, although invariably fatal in the over-seventy-five group. Overall mortality for excision patients over 75 was 12.8%, and did not rise significantly (or exponentially) before the age of 79. Mortality was 14.3% in case of palliative excision versus 9.8% for curative excision. This parameter was nil for the 48 patients classified ASA 1 and 2, and 30% for the 38 patients classified ASA 3 and 4. In this latter group, it was 20% when the operation was curative versus 43% in palliative surgery situations. Post-surgery survival rates were similar to those obtained for the younger subjects. In conclusion, the course of stomach cancer is the same for both the elderly and younger subjects. This study permits to set up certain rules for excision surgery after the age of 75. PMID- 2632157 TI - [Stiffness of the knee of joint origin]. AB - The knee usually loses its mobility following trauma, such as fracture of the femur, fracture of the upper extremity of the tibia, or fracture of the patella. We are concerned here only with joint stiffness, exclusive of any case presenting limited mobility of the knee articulation associated with retraction and/or adhesions of the entire quadriceps muscle of the femur. Forceful mobilization is strongly discouraged. The operation consists in removing all obstacles, one by one, the main ones being adhesion of the patella to the femur due to sclerosis of the cul-de-sac; adhesion of the lateral parts to the internal and external surfaces of the condyle, retraction of the patellar retinacula; finally, multiple intra-articular adhesions. This loosening procedure is studied here and its results are analyzed. PMID- 2632158 TI - [Critique and results of the hip prosthesis with an external cortical femoral support. Apropos of Y. Cirotteau's paper. June 28, 1989 meeting]. PMID- 2632159 TI - [Apropos of a verbal communication. Clinical diagnosis of breast cancer. Proposal for treatment. Apropos of the communication by P.A. Goumot, J. Reynier, P. Bousser, F. Vilde and R. Villet. Session of 18 October 1989]. PMID- 2632160 TI - [The immunosuppressive activity of human syncytiotrophoblast]. AB - Enzyme treatment and mechanical tearing were used to separate syncytiotrophoblast from human placentae in this study. The normal fresh placentae were digested in a collagenase solution and then forced through a stainless steel mesh (mesh no. 60 = 0.301 mm). Smears of syncytiotrophoblast suspensions were stained with Wright's as well as PAS-hemotoxylin. It has given an isolation of 90-95% pure syncytiotrophoblast as obtained by our technique. The viability of the syncytiotrophoblast in the culture at onset and at harvesting was over 90%. The supernatants from short-term cultures of pure syncytiotrophoblast suppressed remarkably the maternal and fetal lymphocyte transformation to phytohemagglutinin and the one-way mixed lymphocyte culture. This effect is not antigen-specific, non-MHC restricted, and not due to non-specific toxic effects of dying cells. Our preliminary results, similar to that reported in the literatures indicate that the direct suppression by syncytiotrophoblasts and their products might play an important role in the protection of the fetus from rejection by the maternal immune system. PMID- 2632161 TI - [Histomorphometry of the placenta in preeclampsia]. AB - Ten term pregnancy placentas from preeclampsic cases, uncomplicated by essential hypertension, IUGR or renal disease were studied by means of histomorphometric analysis and the results were compared with 10 term pregnancy normal placentas. There was no significant statistical difference in the parameters between the two groups. In the membrane rolls and in a portion of placental bed biopsies from preeclampsic patients there was no acute atherosis in the spiral arteries. This study demonstrated that, the morphological and functional changes in the placentas of preeclampsia yielded little effect on fetal growth and that acute atherosis in spiral artery was not pathognomonic of preeclampsia. PMID- 2632162 TI - [Prostaglandin E2, F2 alpha,6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2 in the placenta of normotensive women and women with pregnancy induced hypertension]. AB - Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha),6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were measured with radioimmunoassay in placentae of 18 normotensive and 22 moderate or severe PIH gravidae. The content of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha did not change significantly in placentae of PIH patients suggesting that PGE2 and PGF2 alpha in placenta were not important in causing PIH. The content of placental 6-keto-PGF1 alpha also showed no significant difference, while TXB2 levels were significantly higher in PIH patients. The 6-keto-PGF1 alpha/TXB2 in PIH patients was remarkably lower than in normotensive women. These results indicate that an increase in TXB2 level and thus a decrease in the ratio of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha to TXB2 of placenta may be a pathogenetic factor in PIH. PMID- 2632163 TI - [Pathologic analysis of the placenta in preterm deliveries]. AB - The results of pathological analysis of 198 placentae from preterm deliveries of 28-37 week pregnancy in year 1985-1988 were presented Grossly there were: placenta previa and low implantation 2.91%, bipartate placenta and rupture of marginal sinus 0.97%, large placenta 2.91%, short cord 4.85%, velamentous insertion of cord 3.88, etc; all significantly different from those from term deliveries statistically. Microscopic, 165 placentae showed: infection of membranes and umbilical vessels in 19 (11.52%), of which 11 cases were with premature rupture of membranes or cervical interventions and 8 could be regarded as the cause of preterm delivery. Among 72 PIH cases, 65 (90.28%) had arteriopathy of decidual capsularis. Notably 18 cases (25%) of PIH were not diagnosed as such clinically until the discovery of arteriopathy of decidual capsularis microscopically and upon reviewing the case history. Combining with placental examinations, it is possible to tell the cause of preterm delivery whether in placenta, amniotic fluid or umbilical cord. In 20 PIH cases (27.78% of total PIH) with premature rupture of membranes, whether the decidual arteriopathy makes it liable to have membranes ruptured needs further study. PMID- 2632164 TI - [Histomorphometric study of the placenta in intrauterine growth retardation]. AB - Histomorphometric study was made in 22 placentas of intrauterine growth retardation by measuring the proportion of the parenchyma to nonparenchymal tissue, villi components as well as their surface areas and also villi capillaries in the placentas. The results were compared with 20 placentas from the control patient with normal fetal weight. The ratios of parenchymal tissue, absolute villi component and surface area values, villi capillaries in the placentas of IUGR were significantly smaller than those in the control group. It shows that quantitative analysis of the morphometry might serve as an important tool to investigate the change of transference function occurring in IUGR placenta. We postulate that the development of IUGR is related to smaller functional structure in the placenta. PMID- 2632165 TI - [Morphology and histology of the placenta from parturients of various nationalities in the Tibet plateau]. AB - The morphology and histology of placentae from Tibet have been studied and reported in this article. The subjects studied were 51 Tibetan women and 19 Han women who were healthy and pregnant 38 to 42 weeks. The Han women had migrated to Tibet plateau from the plains. It showed that Tibetan women had newborns of significantly higher birth weight and lighter placentae and also a higher positive rate than Han woman in syncytial nodes, vascular syncytial membranes, vascular proliferation and cellulose-like necroses. There was a very significant difference between women living at high-altitude and women living at sea-level in most parameters. PMID- 2632166 TI - [Color-Doppler for predicting vascular resistance to feto-placental blood flow and fetal well-being]. AB - Aloka Color-Doppler, model SSD-860, was used to observe the blood velocity waveforms in the umbilical artery and in the fetal descending thoracic aorta in 139 normal pregnant women from 16th to 40th week and 30 patients suffering from pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH syndrome). The ratio of systolic to diastolic peak flow (A/B) reflected the fetoplacental vascular resistance and peripheral resistance. The results demonstrated that the placental resistance in PIH syndrome and IUGR were much higher than that in normal pregnancy. The placental resistance decreased when patients condition improved after treatment and vice versa. This suggests that fetal blood velocity waveforms (FVW) is of great value in the intensive monitoring of IUGR fetuses. The blood velocity FVW was also of great value in evaluating the curative effects on PIH patients. PMID- 2632167 TI - [A preliminary study on in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer]. AB - Forty-two women with infertility were enrolled in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ET) program, from July, 1986 to February, 1988, at the First Affiliated Hospital, Human Medical University. CC/hMG/hCG and hMG/hCG regimens for ovulation induction were used for 35 and 7 patients. Monitoring methods consisted of daily follicular ultrasonography and serum estradiol measurements. Human chorionic gonadotropin 10,000IU was administered when the leading follicle reached 18mm in diameter and serum E2 level was equal to or more than 1,480 pmol/L (400 pg/ml). Twenty-one laparoscopies and nineteen laparotomies for oocyte retrieval were performed. The IVF/ET results using CC/hMG/hCG for ovarian stimulation were as follows: an average of 6.1 follicles were aspirated and 3.5 oocytes recovered for one case. The recovery rate and fertilization rate was 57.0% and 60.1% respectively. In twenty-five women one to five embryos were transferred and a clinical pregnancy occurred in one who received three embryos. Laparotomy for oocyte retrieval showed that more oocytes could be obtained than laparoscopy. The purity of CO2 used for laparoscopy was considered to affect the IVF results. PMID- 2632168 TI - [The natural occurring incidence of chromosome abnormalities in 330 chorionic villi samples in the first trimester of pregnancy]. AB - The natural occurring incidence of chromosome abnormalities (ICA) and its clinical significance were investigated in 330 chorionic villi samples (CVS) from the first trimester of pregnancy. It was found that the ICACVS was 5.67 per cent (11/194) in the normal group and 11.77 per cent (16/136) in the risk group. The difference between two groups was highly significant (P less than 0.01). The result shows that the pregnant women with threatened abortion, history of spontaneous abortion and greater than or equal to 40 years old are the high-risk factors. Special attention should be paid to these cases in clinical genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis. PMID- 2632169 TI - [A clinical and pathologic analysis of 13 cases of adult respiratory distress syndrome]. AB - The autopsy findings and clinical features of 13 cases of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were analysed. The underlying causes consisted of malignant tumor of the hematopoietic tissue, severe infections, surgical wounds and water drowning. Although tachypnoea and dyspnoea are the chief symptoms of ARDS., we noticed, however, that at the beginning of the episode or when complicated by other factors (such as fracture of cervical vertebra with transverse paralysis), the pulmonary symptoms may be not very obvious. Histological examination showed hyperplasia and fibrosis of the alveolar epithelium in those cases with a course of more than 5 days. Such findings rendered classification of ARDS into acute and chronic types reasonable. PMID- 2632170 TI - [Clinical and pathologic comparison of adult respiratory distress syndrome and infant respiratory distress syndrome]. AB - The authors compared the clinical and pathological findings between adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS). In ARDS, the most common causes were injury, infection, shock and acidosis. The clinical course was longer. The weight of the lungs increased markedly, the hyaline membrane formation in the alveoli was late in the clinical course, and the degree of edema in the interstitium of the lungs and microthrombosis within the blood vessels was more serious. The pathogenesis of ARDS was related to the activation of the complements and neutrophils by inflammation in which proteinase, oxygen radical, thromboxane, leukotriene and prostaglandin were released. Thus the endothelial cells of the blood vessels and capillary-alveoli membrane were damaged by these mediators. On the other hand, the main contributory factors of IRDS were suffocation of premature fetus by various reasons in the uterus and aspiration of meconium during delivery by the infant. The clinical course was shorter, alveolar hemorrhage and collapse were severe and hyaline membrane in alveoli was formed in early stage of the clinical course. Insufficiency of surfactant in premature fetus, damage of the surfactant system by hypoxia, aspiration of foreign materials and defect of the epithelial cells of infant were the pathogenic factors of IRDS, they resulted in increase of permeability of fluid and, as a result, led to pulmonary edema and atelectasis. PMID- 2632171 TI - [A clinical analysis of 18 cases with adult respiratory distress syndrome]. AB - 18 cases with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) admitted to our hospital since 1985 were reported. Among them, 2 cases were mild, 10 moderate and 6 severe. All of them received a combination of treatment, including correction of primary disease, O2 therapy, medications such as corticosteroid diuretics and anti-inflammatory agents, restriction of water intake and keep of negative fluid balance. Mechanical ventilation, especially early application of PEEP, was applied in 12 cases. In general, the level of pressure was kept between 0.08-0.1 KPa. End inspiration pause (EIP) was also routinely taken. Usually, the pausing period accounted for 10% of the respiratory cycle. 2 died among the 12 cases with mechanical ventilation, whereas all of the 6 cases receiving simple artificial ventilation died. The mortality rate was 44%. PMID- 2632172 TI - [Primary gastric lymphoma: a clinical and pathologic analysis of 25 cases]. AB - 25 cases of primary gastric lymphoma diagnosed in our hospital from 1973 to 1987 were analysed. Primary gastric lymphoma comprised 1.55% of the stomach malignancies. There were 25 gastric lymphomas among 198 patients with lymphomas (12.6%). The diagnostic accuracy with X-ray was 30.4%. However, with modern fiberoptic endoscopy and directed biopsy technique, a correct diagnosis was made in 72% of the cases. Of the 24 follow-up cases, the overall 5 years survival rate was 54.28%. Surgery combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy has yield a 5-year survival rate of 72%. Therefore, both correct and early diagnosis may contribute to improved prognosis. PMID- 2632173 TI - [Clinical, immunophenotypic and cell cyclic analysis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia]. AB - 15 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were immunophenotyped with a panel of monoclonal antibodies. 13 cases were B-CLL, which was characterized by CD20+, HLA-Dr+, SmIg+ and CD5+/Em+. 2 cases were T-CLL, one with Ts phenotype and HLA Dr+ T-Cll in the other. The ratio of G0 + G1 cells in bone marrow of CLL was 91.1 +/- 2.3% (76.0 +/- 5.1% in controls), while S + G2M cells was 8.9 +/- 2.3% (23.9 +/- 5.1% in controls). The ratios of various cyclic cells were similar in bone marrow and in peripheral blood. Prolymphocytoid transformation developed in the late stage in 3 CLL patients. The clinical course, cytochemistry and immunologic changes in CLL were also analysed. PMID- 2632174 TI - [Hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in thyrotoxoicosis and the therapeutic effect of propranolol]. AB - Measured levels of serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and urinary hydroxyproline were measured and calcium-phosphate product was calculated in 20 hyperthyroid patients and 20 normal controls. Eleven of the patients took propranolol 160 mg per day for 28 days. We found that the serum level of calcium was higher than that of normal controls. The incidence of hypercalcaemia in hyperthyroid patients was 10%. The serum level of phosphate and the calcium phosphate product increased (P less than 0.01). Elevation of alkaline phosphatase and bone alkaline phosphatase were also observed (P less than 0.01). The urinary hydroxyproline was also elevated (P less than 0.01). After treatment with propranolol serum calcium and triiodothyronine decreased (P less than 0.05). It is suggested that the major mechanism of hypercalcaemia and hyperphosphatemia in hyperthyroidism was increase of bone absorption stimulated by triiodothyronine. Propranolol decreased the serum level of calcium through decreasing triiodothyronine level and through beta-receptor blocking effect as well as its direct effect on bone. PMID- 2632175 TI - [Risk factors for the formation of urinary calcium-containing stones in diabetics]. AB - Levels of 24-hour urinary calcium, magnesium, oxalate, citrate, uric acid, phosphorus and creatinine as well as urinary volume were determined in 85 patients and 81 normal subjects. Among the patients, 43 were diabetics without stone, 5 diabetics with stone and 37 with idiopathic calcium stone formation in the urinary tract. It is shown that the main risk factors involved in urinary calcium-containing stone formation are the levels of calcium, oxalate, uric acid and citrate and the volume of 24-hour urine. With the data obtained, the authors calculated the ion-activity products index of calcium oxalate and the relative probability of stone formation in the three groups of patients and the control group of normal subjects. The index in normal subjects, diabetics without stone, diabetics with stone and patients with idiopathic urinary calcium stone was 3.07 +/- 0.16, 2.90 +/- 0.25, 3.90 +/- 0.58 and 5.11 +/- 0.38 respectively. The upper limit of the relative probability in normal subjects was 0.54. Most of the patients with idiopathic urinary calcium stone (32/37) and all the 5 diabetics with stone had higher probability value than this, while most of the normal subjects (73/81) and of the diabetics without stone (39/43) had value lower than this. The results indicate that though the diabetics have higher level of urinary calcium and higher value of the product of calcium x oxalate x uric acid, they have also inhibitive factors for stone formation, such as increased level of urinary citrate. As a result, urinary stone formation will not be a frequent occurrence. PMID- 2632176 TI - [Value of angina pectoris after myocardial infarction in predicting the extent of coronary artery disease]. AB - Clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic data were examined in 53 patients who underwent catheterization within 6 months of a documented first acute transmural myocardial infarction. The patients were divided according to the presence (23 patients) or absence (30 patients) of angina pectoris 1 month after infarction (group I and group II). Group I patients had more severe coronary artery disease and a greater prevalence of multivessel disease than group II patients. Partial preservation of segmental wall function in group I was related to the presence of collateral vessels. In patients with single vessel disease, the incidence of spontaneous recanalization of the infarct-related artery was higher in group I as compared with that in group II. It is concluded that angina pectoris after myocardial infarction suggests multivessel disease or infarct-related artery recanalization. Coronary arteriography may be advised in order to select adequate therapeutic interventions and improve prognosis in these patients. PMID- 2632177 TI - [Comparison of endoscopy and the milk 99mTc-EHIDA test in assessing duodenogastric reflux]. AB - Duodenogastric reflux was estimated in 101 patients with chronic gastritis by means of endoscopy and milk 99mTc-EHIDA test. 61 patients (60.4%) were deemed to be duodenogastric reflux positive by endoscopy, as compared to 40 patients (39.6%) by milk 99mTc-EHIDA test. These differences are statistically significant (P less than 0.005). The discrepancy arises largely from the error in endoscopic estimation of duodenogastric reflux. In a group of 58 patients who were mild to moderate reflux positive by endoscopy, the assessment made by the milk 99mTc EHIDA test was reflux positive in only 33 (57%). In other words more than 40% of the endoscopically reflux positive patients did not show reflux with 99mTc activity in the stomach. Measurement of the ratio of 99mTc activity in gastric aspirates to the total 99mTc activity injected intravenously was carried out in 13 patients. A perfect correlation was found between the ratio and the grading of duodenogastric reflux estimated by the milk 99mTc-EHIDA test. This finding suggests that by using the milk 99mTc-EHIDA test, duodenogastric reflux may be monitored semiquantitatively without recourse to a nasogastric tube. Furthermore, 10 patients were evaluated twice by the milk 99mTc-EHIDA test at intervals ranging from 3-14 days. In 8 patients the results were identical. This indicates the good reproducibility of the test. This study demonstrates that milk 99mTc EHIDA test is a more physiological and more accurate method of studying duodenal contents in the stomach, than endoscopy. PMID- 2632178 TI - [Percutaneous transhepatic and transileocolic obliteration with absolute ethanol for the treatment of bleeding gastroesophageal varices]. AB - Embolization of bleeding gastroesophageal varices with absolute ethanol performed in the recent two years was reported. The treatment was carried out either by means of percutaneous transhepatic or transileocolic obliteration. Obliteration treatment was attempted in 42 cases, among which 20 were transhepatic and 22 transileocolic. 16 of the 20 and 17 of the 22 were effectively obliterated with a total success rate of 78.6%. Two control groups of bleeding varices, one of 45 cases treated with conventional medical methods and the other of 53 cases treated with endoscopic sclerotherapy, were studied to compare the results. The efficacy for control of active bleeding in the obliteration, conventional and sclerotherapy groups were 100%, 84.1%, and 91% respectively, while the rebleeding rate was 27.2%, 31.5% and 23.2% and mortality rate (due to rebleeding) 12.1%, 31.5% and 11.6% respectively. The control of active bleeding, the results in the three groups were more or less similar, but the rebleeding rate was much lower in the obliteration and sclerotherapy groups than in the conventional group. However, sclerotherapy requires longer time and yields more complications than obliteration is a valuable therapeutic measure in controlling variceal bleeding and preventing rebleeding. PMID- 2632179 TI - [Autoimmune hemolytic anemia: clinical analysis of 100 cases]. AB - In 100 cases with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Coombs test was directly positive in 77 cases (77%). 82 patients had warm autoantibodies. IgM was increased in 12 patients. 3 patients were diagnosed as lymphoma with titers more than 1:1024. One patient had paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria. The dramatic clinical response to corticosteroid therapy was observed in patients with warm autoantibodies. However, immunosuppressor should be given to patients with cold autoantibodies. It was suggested that combined therapy with two drugs may be more effective than the use of corticosteroid alone. Of 6 patients in whom splenectomy was performed, 4 showed excellent results. Out of 100 cases, there were 23 with Evans syndrome. PMID- 2632180 TI - [Anatomic observation and clinical significance of vertebral pedicle]. AB - To be aware of the security in fixing the spine through posterior approach with instrumentation, a study of the regional anatomy of the pedicle was done by measuring various parameters in 51 thoraco-lumbar (T-9 to L-3) specimens, including the thickness, height, and length of pedicle, the angles made by line of the pedicle axis with both the sagittal and longitudinal lines of the same vertebral body, and the distance between pedicles of each vertebra. The space between spinal cord and pedicles on cross section of 35 cadaveral specimens was also measured. For purpose of comparison to find out the anatomical significance for clinical application, measurement of corresponding parameters on CT scan films of 50 cases were carried out. Taking into account of all these parameters, findings and some clinical experience, detailed discussion about operative indications, procedures of internal fixation and the inserting point along with the direction of drilling screws in were made. PMID- 2632181 TI - [Biomechanical relation of the intervertebral disk, intervertebral foramen and vertebral canal: an experimental study on autopsy specimens]. AB - For the purpose of observing the biomechanical relationship among intervertebral disk (D), intervertebral foramen (F) and vertebral canal (C), 11 sets of functional unit of lumbar spine from fresh cadavers were used as specimens in this experiment. The data showed that the DFC were closely related in dimensional changes with different loadings, a phenomenon we call it DFC variation reaction. It was shown that the loading axes in the disk and in the inter-articular joints worked together biomechanically as an isosceles triangle to accommodate the stresses applied. The mechanism of the relapsed symptoms of protruded intervertebral disk after diskectomy, and of that of spinal canal stenosis was discussed. A reasonable operation for treatment of these maladies has been suggested. PMID- 2632182 TI - [Re-operation in protrusion of a lumbar intervertebral disk: report of 30 cases]. AB - Thirty cases, who had been operated on under diagnosis of protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disk, were re-operated upon because of failure of relieving their sufferings or tardy recurrence of symptoms. The actual causes found at operation were: missing a preexisting schwannoma in 4 patients, failing in working on correct space in diskectomy in 3, leaving another co-existed protruded disk untouched in 2, and lastly, recurrence of disk protrusion at the previous space in 7. Causes of these mishaps were discussed and some preventive precautions and measures have been suggested. PMID- 2632183 TI - [Long-term results of Grice subtalar arthrodesis in children]. AB - Talipes valgus, mostly resulted from poliomyelitis, of 44 feet in 43 children, aged 4 to 12 years, were treated by Grice extra-articular arthrodesis of the subtalar joint, and on 36 of them tendon transfer was done as well at the same time. The result in all of them, after a period of 15.3 years (ranging 5 to 23 yrs.), was found satisfactory in 32 feet (72.7%), and unsatisfactory in 12 (27.3%). Eight of the latter were found to be due to secondary varus deformity, a consequence of imbalance of muscle power following medial transfer of peroneal tendon (s). It is emphasized that in correcting foot deformity, slight valgus is receptible while over correction (varus) must be avoided. It is also found that after subtalar stabilization, traumatic osteoarthritis of midtarsal and ankle joints developed more frequently in patients who had better limb function than in those whose limbs had functioned much less. PMID- 2632184 TI - [Surgical treatment of Kashin-Beck's disease of the ankle: results of long-term follow-up]. AB - 31 cases with Kashin-Beck's disease of ankle had been surgically treated by thorough debridement and were kept under observation for a period of 5 years and 10 months on average (ranging 3 years to 8 years and 9 months.). The excellent and good results were 81.81%. To achieve satisfactory result, efforts should be made to reach the goal of restoring normal relationship between the joint lines and the weight-bearing surfaces, in addition to thorough debridement, synovectomy and elimination of any impediment to motion. post-operative early movement of the ankle joint can never be over emphasized. Causes of the unsatisfactory results of the rest cases were discussed. PMID- 2632185 TI - [Surgical treatment of residual defects following closure of secundum atrial septal defect]. AB - Among 1485 patients with secundum atrial septal defect repaired from May, 1958 through May, 1986, 6 and 1 additional patient were readmitted to our hospital with symptomatic recurrence. In all but 1, their systolic murmur persisted. Cardiothoracic ratio and pulmonary plethora remained unaltered. A residual defect in all of the 7 patients was confirmed by right heart catheterization. They were reoperated upon under cardiopulmonary bypass. There was no early mortality, nor late death. The major postoperative complications include: hemothorax in 2 cases; temporary atrial fibrillation in 1. This article analysis the common causes of residual defect and discussed methods of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. PMID- 2632186 TI - [Application of a suspending abdominal retractor and stapling device in resection of carcinoma of the gastric cardia using a trans diaphragm approach]. AB - The article describes the structure assemblage and Clinical application of a Suspending abdominal retractor. From the experience gained in 40 cases of cardial carcinoma operated on, it was found that the device has the following advantages: (1) there is no need for a thoracotomy, and hence the operative trauma is much reduced; (2) good exposure of the upper abdomen and lower mediastinum; (3) adequate length of the lower esophagus and as many as 110 lymph nodes can be resected. Postoperative complications were relatively few. The incidence of residual carcinoma at the esophageal Stump was 2.5%, being much lower than in cases using a single abdominal incision, and similar to those using a combined left thoracoabdominal incision. It was concluded that this operative approach, applying the device recommended, is a relatively ideal procedure for resection of carcinoma of the gastric cardia, especially in elderly patients with poor general health. PMID- 2632187 TI - [Long-term result in 22 cases of adrenal autotransplantation with arterio-venous anastomosis]. AB - Since 1982 22 cases of Cushing's disease treated by bilateral adrenalectomy and left adrenal autotransplantation with A-V anastomosis have been followed up for 2 5 years. 3 cases with anastomosis of adrenal vein to the epigastric inferior artery failed completely. 19 cases with anastomosis of adrenal vein to the gastrodiploic artery stopped all steroid replacement therapy 7-40 days after operation and the short-term results within three months were good, but later 2 cases died, 5 cases developed adrenocortical hypofunction, 1 case recurred and 11 cases are satisfactory. The pathologic mechanism of occurrence of adrenocortical hypofunction and hyperfunction are discussed. PMID- 2632188 TI - [Breast repair using a silicone gel-filled prosthesis. Report of 21 cases]. AB - From March 1985 to May 1988, a total of 32 breast repairs in 21 patients following mastectomy were performed in our hospital. The operative procedures included: immediate prosthesis insertion following subcutaneous mastectomy in 16 patients; subsequent prosthesis implantation following simple mastectomy in 4 patients; a transfer of latissimus dorsi skin-muscle flap with submuscular placement of prosthesis subsequent to the radical mastectomy in 1 patient. The chief indications for mastectomy are: multiple fibroadenomas, giant fibroadenoma, severe fibrocystic mastopathy and cystosarcoma phyllodes and so on. After a period of 1-38 months follow-up postoperatively, the results were satisfactory with no significant complications. It is believed that the breast repair by utilizing silicone gel-filled implant following mastectomy is a safe, reliable and more effective procedure, and is reasonable to extend its indication in latter clinical application. PMID- 2632189 TI - [Clinical analysis of metastatic carcinoma of the brain. Report of 234 cases]. AB - Metastatic carcinoma of the brain are quite common. There are 234 cases treated in our hospital. Ages ranged from 41-60 years. Most of them originated from pulmonary, nasopharyngeal, GI tract, female genetic or thyroid carcinomas. The symptoms of primary tumors usually concealed, and the metastatic tumors were found firstly. Some primary tumors even could not be found out. The history of illness of these patients were short and symptoms worsened progressively. Trauma might accelerate the illness. Intracranial hypertension and neurologic deficits were marked. It may be related to the degree of malignancy of the tumor and the severity of brain edema. The routes of metastasis were hematogenous mainly. CT scan was reliable diagnostic method. It may shows the size, number, location of the tumors exactly in the brain. Our experiences is that resection of the metastatic foci in non-function area with it's surrounding brain even lobectomy. The comprehensive treatment, including postoperative chemical or radiotherapy, may prolonged the patients life. PMID- 2632190 TI - [Percutaneous transpopliteal venography]. AB - The authors advocate percutaneous transpopliteal venography as a new method for evaluating the function of deep venous valves of the lower extremity. At the popliteal fossa, the popliteal vein was punctured and a catheter was inserted cephaladly for venographic study of the valves. By this method, not only the ilio femoropopliteal vein was clearly visualized, also the competence of the valves in this venous segment may accurately be tested one by one, thus making up the shortcomings of the ascending and descending venography. It was found, through this venography, that even if the highest valve of the superficial femoral vein was competent distal valves in the femoral and popliteal veins may become incompetent resulting in primary valvular incompetence of the deep veins in the lower extremity. PMID- 2632191 TI - [Comparative study of the transplantation of vascular pedicle and traditional free tendon tissues]. AB - The most frequent cause of failure after tendon transplantation is the formation of adhesions between the tendon graft and its surrounding tissues. In this study, the healing mechanism, adhesion formation and biomechanical properties of vascular pedicle and traditional free tendon grafts were compared in the rabbits. It was observed that the former remained normal histologically in healing process and had less adhesion formation; that of the latter underwent necrosis and was gradually replaced by new connective tissues, its adhesions were extensive and dense; and that the healing mechanism of the both tendon grafts at the anastomosed site were extrinsic, the biomechanical properties (rupture load and elastic stiffness) showed no statistically significant difference (P greater than 0.05). On the basis of these results, we believe that preserving of the blood supply of tendon graft is important for reducing the adhesion formation and improving the functional results. PMID- 2632192 TI - [The vicissitudes of managing ureteral stones]. AB - Beginning with the use of rigid ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URS) in 1984 and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in 1987, the methods of treatment for ureteral stones have undergone significant changes. The successful rate of URS for 132 cases was 89.4%. The successful rate for the upper third was rather low, so that percutaneous antegrade URS should be considered. For the 376 patients treated with ESWL in prone position, the successful rate was 96.8%. The need of open surgery was further reduced, 17.8% in 1987 and 14.5% in 1988. PMID- 2632193 TI - [Late results of testis homotransplantation]. AB - 15 patients with testis dysplasia and traumatic anorchidism were treated with testis homotransplantation. 14 of 15 cases have been followed up for 1.5 to 5 years. The transplanted testes of 14 cases were with moderate hardness and obvious improvement of secondary sex characters and sexual function have been observed in these patients. The size of the transplanted testes was as big as that of international testis model 15 in 11 cases. The transplanted testes of 3 cases atrophied 9 to 14 months after operation. The sperms were found in semen or urine collected from the bladders after prostatic massage in 3 cases. Sperm count and sperm motility were normal in 2 cases. The wife of 1 case was impregnated and bore a boy in the fourth year after operation. The value of serum testosterone became normal (450-900 ng/dl) from preoperative low level. Therapeutic effectiveness of testis homotransplantation was evaluated and treatment of rejective reaction of the testis homotransplantation was discussed in the paper. PMID- 2632194 TI - [The DNA content of bladder carcinoma in relation to pathologic grading, staging and prognosis: a flow cytometric study]. AB - DNA ploidy analysis of 90 paraffin embedded specimens in bladder carcinoma were carried out by flow cytometry (FCM). Emphasis was paid on grade II tumors which usually have variable clinical course. DNA ploid level determined by FCM correlates highly with pathologic grade, stage, and prognosis of bladder carcinoma. Among grade II tumors, the patients with diploid and peridiploid carcinoma had a favourable prognosis whereas the patients with aneuploidy of high average DNA index had a bad prognosis, in particular, those with triploid and peritriploid tumors had poorer prognosis. DNA ploid level by which the prognosis of patients with bladder carcinoma is evaluated, appears to be more accurate than pathologic grade and clinical stage, particularly stage T0-T or grade II tumors. It therefore can serve as a tumor marker in bladder carcinomas. PMID- 2632195 TI - [A modified maneuver in radical nephrectomy]. AB - From 1975 to 1988 nephrectomy was carried out in 59 cases with renal cell cancers over 6 cm in diameter. A comparison was made between two manoeuvres of conventional group (Ligating renal arteries and veins simultaneously) and modified group (First ligating renal arteries). In the conventional group (35 cases) 22 cases (68.85%) needed a transfusion over 600 ml and in modified group (24 cases) only 5 cases (20.8%) needed over 600 ml. Amount of blood required was significantly larger in the former. In conventional group 3 cases occurred slipping of ligature (1 case died) and in modified group no this accident occurred. PMID- 2632196 TI - [Cytologic diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma by transrectal prostatic aspiration biopsy]. AB - Since October 1982, 500 cases of transrectal fine needle aspiration biopsy have been done. Among them, 486 cases (97.2%) got prostate epithelium enough for diagnosis but 14 cases (2.8%) failed. The cytologic results showed prostatic cancer in 100 cases (20.5%), bladder cancer with metastasis to prostate in 7 cases (1.4%), suspicious cancer in 4 cases (0.82%), hyperplasia of prostate 251 cases (51.64%), normal prostate 104 cases (21.3%), tuberculosis one case (0.2%), lithiasis one case (0.2%), purulent prostatitis 4 cases (0.82%), granulomatous prostatitis 6 cases (1.23%), and insufficient epithelium for diagnosis in 8 cases (1.64%). In this series, there were one false positive and two false negative by Franzen's technique. Among 41 cases received further treatment, 35 prostate specimen were available for regular pathological study. The consistent rate between pathological and cytologic diagnosis was 85.4%. In a word, transrectal prostatic aspiration is an outstanding safe and practical method for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. PMID- 2632197 TI - [Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in gallstones: a report of 109 cases]. AB - An EDAP LT-01 lithotripter was used to treat 100 patients with functional gallbladders containing one to three radiolucent stones not larger than 20 mm in diameter, and 9 patients with bile duct stones. Ursodeoxycholic acid was administered as adjuvant in patients with gallbladder stones. The gallbladder stones disintegrated in 98 percent of patients and disappeared completely in 27, 33, 40, 45, 50, 51, and 58, percent of the patients within 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months respectively after lithotripsy. Of the 9 patients with stones in the common hepatic duct and/or intrahepatic duct. 4 had complete disappearance, 3 almost complete disappearance, 1 partial disappearance, and 1 stone unchanged. Shock-wave therapy exerted no severe adverse effects, a mild transient elevation of SGPT, cholangitis, and hemobilia occurred in 4, 3, and 1 patients respectively after lithotripsy. PMID- 2632198 TI - [Differential diagnosis of tuberculotic lung tumor and peripheral lung cancer]. AB - This report discusses the two diseases differentiated characteristics in age, diseases time, clinical signs and symptoms, location and size of lesions, exercise with radiographs and fiber bronchoscopy and cytologic etc. by experience of diagnosis and treatment to 94 patients of lung tuberculosis tumor and 196 patient of peripheral lung cancer for ten years. This article summarizes that early diagnosis characteristic of lung cancer is: asymptomatic in clinic, most patients are over 40 age, less lesions as satellite on a sectional roentgenography. The lesions still gradually develop, through treatment effectively tuberculosis, and the article suggests that the lung tuberculosis tumors that they may be cancer but diagnosis is doubtful in clinic should be treatment by operation. PMID- 2632199 TI - [Diagnosis and treatment of delayed intracranial hematoma]. AB - 20 patients of head injury with delayed intracranial hematoma were diagnosed by CT scan. There are 15 men and 5 women, and ages ranged from 12-74 years. The location of hematomas were epidural hematoma 9, subdural 1, and intracerebral 10. The time of hematoma formation ranged from 12 hours to 21 days. Those were not found at first, but lately were diagnosed by CT scan. Early diagnosis, early treatment and prognosis are discussed also. PMID- 2632200 TI - [Factors in long-term survival after total portal systemic shunting: a multiple regression analysis]. AB - 163 patients with portal hypertension underwent portal systemic shunting at PUMC hospital during the time of 1970's. There were 98 cases had central spleno-renal shunts. 38 had portacaval shunts and 27 had meso-caval shunts. The live function in this group are A-40%, B-55% and C-5%. The totaled operative mortality was 11.0%, and the totaled 5 years survival was 59.5%. The analysis reveals that: (1) The long-term survival and the patient's life quality were significant influenced by liver function and the type of shunting; (2) The mortality of emergency operation was significant higher than elective shunting surgery (30.0% vs 4.6%); (3) The cephalopathy and rebleeding rate were correlated with the type of shunting, liver function and the diameter of shunt; (4) The patient with A or B liver function could accept either elective or emergency operation, but emergency surgery should be carefully chosen for. The mortality was higher than 80% in emergency shunting for the patient with liver function C. PMID- 2632201 TI - [Effect of porto-azygous disconnection with or without low esophageal transection on esophageal varices and portal pressure]. AB - 73 cases of cirrhotic portal hypertension treated in 4 years period (1982-1986) were followed by endoscope. Varices showed very little chance to disappear completely, and little difference in results between porto-azygous disconnection and that in combination with lower esophageal transection. The pressure of disconnected coronary vein on stomach side showed considerable elevation than that before and also in combination with lower esophageal transection. Continuous observation of portal pressure changes during and after operation for 4 days showed variations of amplitude suggesting redistribution of portal circulation. Judging from the series of postoperative events in follow-up, particularly rebleeding from recurrence of varices, there was renewed collateral circulation developed in the area of porto-azygous connection irrespective of the means of interruptions. PMID- 2632202 TI - [Value of myelo-angiography in late cases of spinal cord injury]. AB - 42 cases of spine injury complicated with cord damage were investigated pre operatively through myelo-angiography to look into the patterns of circulatory changes with relation to treatment and prognosis. The lag period between trauma and this examination varied from 2 months to three years. Myelo-angiograms of 23 patients with incomplete paraplegia showed no trace of A. spinalis anterior, but enlarged radicular and tortuous myelominingeal arteries, in 21 patients; in the rest 2 patients, the A. spin alia anterior appeared thinned above and blocked at the fracture site. Myelo-angiograms of 19 patients with complete paraplegia demonstrated dilated radicular arteries in 2 patients, but none of any blood vessels in the rest 17 patients. All the patients with positive A. spinalis anterior or enlarged radicular arteries regained satisfactory muscle function, useful active motion, following omental transplantation. We come the conclusion that pre-operative myeloangiography is valuable in making choice of treatment: omental transplantation or anterior decompression. PMID- 2632203 TI - [Experimental study on the relation of estrogens to gallstone formation]. AB - Estradiol and progesterone were given intramuscularly to seventeen and sixteen male rabbits respectively on every other day for six weeks. After six weeks, gallstone formation were found in all of the rabbits. In two of them there were cholesterol stones in main hepatobiliary ducts. According to the data resulting from estimation of trace elements and lipid components of the gallbladder bile and findings of microscopic and ultramicroscopic examination on the gallbladder wall, the authors suggest that the mechanisms of gallstone formation are probably due to: 1. Estrogens promote nucleation of gallstones; 2. Estrogens raise lithogenic index of the bile; 3. Estrogens cause stagnation of the gallbladder bile. PMID- 2632204 TI - [Multinucleated giant cells in cultured giant cell tumor of bone]. AB - Further observations on multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) in 12 giant cell tumors of bone (GCT) were made, by means of tissue culture, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. In continuous in vitro culture, two distinct types of MGCs were found and herein termed preliminarily short-lived MGCs and long-lived MGCs respectively. The former type had limited life span of about 2-3 weeks, whereas the latter type of MGCs maintained growth or continual formation. They had entirely different appearance and characteristics. This fact reflects two types of MGCs exist in GCT in vivo. Besides, the origin of MGCs were also investigated and discussed in considerable depth. PMID- 2632205 TI - [Treatment of patellar fracture using an internal fixator of shape-memory alloy]. AB - An internal fixator made of memory alloy, that can autonomously exert pressure centripetally on fragments from multi-directions (5 to 9), but mainly longitudinal (23 to 28 kg), had been designed to treat lateral fracture. Its application on 33 cases of such fracture manifested that it could restore the shape of communicated patella through progressive pressure and maintain the anatomical position until bony union. On account of firm and stable fixation, the patient was able to start drilling the limb in 1 to 7 days after surgery, and regained full extension and flexion of knee joint in 6.8 weeks on average. All of the patients resumed excellent limb function without complication. PMID- 2632206 TI - Cardiac tumours. AB - Most patients with cardiac mass have clinical signs mimicking mitral stenosis. As this tumorous mass carries the risk of obstructing the systemic circulation, the physician must consider the possibility of a cardiac tumour in differential diagnosis. That's why all patients presenting with clinical symptoms and a physical finding of mitral stenosis--even those without a history of rheumatic fever--should have routine echocardiography performed. All patients with a documented mass in cardiac chambers should be treated surgically and without delay, if possible. PMID- 2632207 TI - Feeding behaviour in infants. AB - 20 healthy full-term infants have been studied in their 2nd, 10th, 18th and 26th weeks of life in three standard situations: before feeding, in the course of milk drinking and after feeding. A polygraphic record of sucking, breathing, swallowing, the oculomotor activity, the EEG and vocalization has been taken simultaneously with a video-recording of the infant's behaviour. Physiological patterns and developmental changes of sucking, breathing and swallowing are described. These activities are considered as fine motor activity of the earliest age. The possibility of using polygraphic recordings of these variables for the diagnosis of the neurological syndrome called feeding problems is discussed. Further, behavioural activities in above mentioned three situations and their developmental changes, are described. None of the infants, not even the smallest ones, were asleep in the beginning of feeding. On the contrary, their eyes were open and there were more eye movements during feeding than in other situations. In the authors' opinions, the situation of feeding has, especially in the first days and weeks of life, a special significance for the development of social interactions between the infant and the person taking care of him. The behaviour of a regularly fed infant in the second quarter of his first year seems to be no longer influenced in the periods proceeding and following the feeding act by the prandial cycle but rather by cognitive needs. The influences involved in the regulation of the behaviour of the youngest infants are discussed. PMID- 2632208 TI - [Highly polyploid lines of saccharomycete yeasts produced by destabilization of chromosome III (sexual)]. PMID- 2632209 TI - [Neuronal activity in the area of the central gyri of the human cerebral cortex during the recognition of semantic and grammatical signs of speech]. PMID- 2632210 TI - [Changes in the redox potential of the brain structures in the rat during paradoxical sleep]. PMID- 2632211 TI - [The cloning and determination of the nucleotide sequence of the RNAse gene in Bacillus intermedius]. PMID- 2632212 TI - [Intracortical inhibition and the adaptive restructurings of the receptive fields of the visual cortex neurons]. PMID- 2632213 TI - [Recombinant tumor necrosis factor modifies the metastatic potential of tumor cells]. PMID- 2632214 TI - Antimicrobial activity of dactimicin in vitro compared with that of dibekacin, netilmicin, sisomicin and micronomicin. AB - Antimicrobial activity of dactimicin, a pseudo-disaccharide aminoglycoside antibiotic, was compared with those of dibekacin, netilmicin, sisomicin and micronomicin using clinical isolates of four Gram-positive and sixteen Gram negative bacteria. Dactimicin was more active than the reference amino-glycosides against Serratia marcescens, especially gentamicin-resistant Serratia sp., Proteus vulgaris, P. rettgeri and Klebsiella oxytoca, but less active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and P. mirabilis. Dactimicin was equally active as the references excepting netilmicin against Gram-positive bacteria and some Gram negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, K. pneumoniae, Morganella morganii, Haemophilus influenzae, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogens, E. cloacae, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Campylobacter jejunii. Dactimicin was active against resistant strains possessing various aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes including AAC(3)-1, by which dactimicin was acetylated. PMID- 2632215 TI - Comparative antimicrobial activities of ribostamycin, gentamicin, ampicillin and lincomycin in vitro and in vivo. AB - The antimicrobial activity of ribostamycin, a unique aminoglycoside antibiotic possessing a neutral sugar component, was compared with those of gentamicin, ampicillin and lincomycin in vitro and in vivo. Ribostamycin showed comparable or slightly weaker in vitro activity than the reference antibiotics against Gram positive bacteria. Against Gram-negative bacteria, ribostamycin was less active than gentamicin, but comparable to or more active than ampicillin. Lincomycin was less active or inactive to Gram-negative bacteria. Ribostamycin was active against some gentamicin-resistant bacteria, especially K. pneumoniae possessing the aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes AAC(3)-l and AAD(2"). The in vivo activity of ribostamycin was weaker than that of gentamicin, but comparable to that of ampicillin and lincomycin against Gram-positive bacteria, and superior to that of ampicillin against Gram-negative bacteria. The in vivo activity of ribostamycin was characterized by (i) and ED50 value not so affected by the challenge inoculum as that of ampicillin; (ii) a lower ED50 value by bolus administration than that by divided administration of the same dosage; and (iii) a lower ED50 value than that expected from the MIC value as compared with that of ampicillin and lincomycin. These characteristics are explained by the rapid and potent bactericidal activity of ribostamycin at high inoculum and high drug concentration, assisted by high serum concentration in mice. PMID- 2632216 TI - Susceptibility of Brucella melitensis to fluoroquinolones. AB - In vitro activity of four fluoroquinolones and four other antibacterial agents was tested against clinical isolates of Brucella melitensis. Initially all the 146 isolates studied were inhibited by 0.06-0.5 mg/l of ciprofloxacin and fleroxacin and 0.12-0.5 mg/l of pefloxacin or norfloxacin. One of these isolates developed resistance during therapy with ciprofloxacin, with a rise in MIC from 0.06 mg/l to more than 5.0 mg/l. This strain also showed cross-resistance to all other quinolones. All the isolates remained susceptible to tetracycline, gentamicin, rifampicin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. None of the quinolones showed in vitro synergy with other antibiotics. PMID- 2632217 TI - Synthesis and antitumour activity of 4-nitroso-4-(2-chloroethyl)semicarbazides. AB - 1-Methyl-1-(2-chloroethyl)-4-nitroso-4-(2-chloroethyl)semicarbazide, 1,1-di-(2 chloroethyl)-4-nitroso-4-(2-chloroethyl)semicarbazide and 1,1-di-(2-bromoethyl)-4 nitroso-4-(2-chloroethyl)semicarbazide, which are a novel class of nitrosoureas containing hydrazinomustard residue, have been synthesized. A dose-dependent antitumour activity was found with the three tested compounds. PMID- 2632218 TI - Evaluation of ventricular function by echocardiography and radionuclide angiography in patients treated with mitoxantrone. AB - Mitoxantrone, an anthracenedione derivative structurally similar to anthracycline, was tested in 25 Phase II patients with advanced breast cancer, previously treated with different cycles of 5-fluorouracil. Cardiac toxicity was evaluated by means of electrocardiography, echocardiography and radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction. Ten patients received a cumulative dose less than 70 mg/m2 (median 33.6, range 28-63) and 15 a dose equal to or more than 70 mg/m2 (median 81, range 70-84). ECG abnormalities in the form of dysrhythmias and ST-T changes were observed in 41% of the patients. Echocardiographic myocardial function parameters recorded in 10 of the 15 patients who received more than 70 mg/m2 demonstrated a trend to deterioration, whereas the nuclear angiographic ejection fraction recorded in all 15 patients who had more than 70 mg/m2 had significantly decreased. No patients developed congestive heart failure but almost one-quarter of them had a fall in myocardial function parameters of more than 15% compared to pretreatment values. These data indicate that mitoxantrone has a significant toxic effect on myocardial cells also at cumulative doses of less than 85 mg/m2 which is generally considered beyond the limit of safety for patients without risk factors. PMID- 2632219 TI - Expression of engrailed during segmentation in grasshopper and crayfish. AB - We have used a monoclonal antibody that recognizes engrailed proteins to compare the process of segmentation in grasshopper, crayfish, and Drosophila. Drosophila embryos rapidly generate metameres during an embryonic stage characterized by the absence of cell division. In contrast, many other arthropod embryos, such as those of more primitive insects and crustaceans, generate metameres gradually and sequentially, as cell proliferation causes caudal elongation. In all three organisms, the pattern of engrailed expression at the segmented germ band stage is similar, and the parasegments are the first metameres to form. Nevertheless, the way in which the engrailed pattern is generated differs and reflects the differences in how these organisms generate their metameres. These differences call into question what role homologues of the Drosophila pair-rule segmentation genes might play in other arthropods that generate metameres sequentially. PMID- 2632220 TI - Developmental stages of fetal-type Leydig cells in prepubertal rats. AB - Fetal Leydig cells were studied in rats during and after the perinatal-neonatal period by comparing changes in morphology, number and volume with changes in testicular steroids and serum luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration. Stereologic examination indicated regression of fetal Leydig cells in testis by showing that their total volume as well as the average cell volume decreased between prenatal day 20 and postnatal day 3. The total number and total volume of cells both increased between postnatal days 3 and 11 but the average cell volume did not change during the same time period. Determination of serum LH showed a close correlation between an increase in LH concentration and increases in total number and volume of cells. The combined number of fetal- and adult-type Leydig cells on day 20 was more than 20 times the number of fetal cells at 3 days of age. Electron microscopic analysis showed that fetal Leydig cells after birth formed conspicuous clusters, which were surrounded by a layer of envelope cells and extracellular material. Occasional dividing fetal Leydig cells and possible precursors of fetal or adult Leydig cells were observed. Mitoses of spindle shaped pericordal cells were frequent during the neonatal period. During and after the second postnatal week fetal Leydig cells again showed signs of regression, indicated by disintegration of the cell clusters, a decrease in cell size, accumulation of collagen between the cells and a decrease in steroid content per cell.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632221 TI - Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) induces different responses in lens epithelial cells depending on its concentration. AB - We reported previously that epithelial cells in explants from neonatal rat lenses, when cultured in the presence of fibroblast growth factor (FGF), showed increased proliferation, cell migration and fibre differentiation; moreover, fibre differentiation in response to the basic form of FGF (bFGF) was virtually completely blocked by an anti-bFGF antibody. In the present study, we report a detailed analysis of the effects of bFGF on cells in the central region of lens epithelial explants. Proliferation in explants was assessed by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation. Cell migration was measured by labelling cells in explants with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran and monitoring them by UV fluorescence microscopy. Fibre differentiation in explants was assessed on the basis of beta-crystallin accumulation. This study showed that half maximal activities for the three responses, proliferation, migration and fibre differentiation, were achieved at different concentrations of bFGF, namely, 0.15, 3 and 40 ng ml-1, respectively. Thus, the response of lens epithelial cells to bFGF varied qualitatively, as well as quantitatively, as the concentration increased. Monitoring FITC-dextran injection cells for up to 5 days after exposure to bFGF allowed analysis of the interrelation between various responses to bFGF in individual cells. As expected some cells divided in response to FGF, mainly within the first three days. However, whether or not they divided, all labelled cells responded to FGF by migrating and elongating. Maximal migration occurred during the first day of culture and maximal elongation was achieved by day 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632222 TI - Mesoderm-inducing factors and Spemann's organiser phenomenon in amphibian development. AB - Certain proteins from 'growth factor' families can initiate mesodermal development in animal cap cells of the amphibian blastula. Cells that are in early stages of their response to one such factor, XTC-MIF (Smith et al. 1988), initiate the formation of a new axial body plan when grafted to the ventral marginal zone of a similarly aged host embryo (Cooke et al. 1987). This replicates the natural control of this phase of development by the dorsal blastoporal lip when similarly grafted; the classical 'organiser' phenomenon. I have explored systematically the effect, upon the outcome of this pattern formation using defined inducing factors, of varying graft size, XTC-MIF concentration to which graft cells were exposed, length of exposure before grafting, and host age. The 'mesodermal organiser' status, evoked by the factor, appears to be stable, and the variables most influencing the degree of completeness and orderliness of second patterns are graft size and factor concentration. Inappropriately large grafts are not effective. A Xenopus basic fibroblast growth factor homologue, present in the embryo and known to be a strong inducer but of mesoderm with a different character from that induced by XTC-MIF, produced no episode of pattern formation at all when tested in the procedure described in this paper. Organiser status of grafts that have been exposed to mixtures of the two factors is set entirely by the supplied XTC-MIF concentration. Lineage labelling of these grafts, and of classical dorsal lip grafts, reveals closely similar though not identical patterns of contribution to the new structure within the host. Implications of the results for the normal mechanism of body pattern formation are discussed. PMID- 2632223 TI - Cellular insertion of primary and secondary myotubes in embryonic rat muscles. AB - Mammalian muscles develop from two populations of myotubes; primary myotubes appear first and are few in number; secondary myotubes appear later and form most of the muscle fibres. We have made an ultrastructural study to investigate how primary and secondary myotubes in embryonic rat muscles transmit tension during the period of their development. Primary myotubes extend from end to end of the muscle from the earliest times, and attach directly to the tendon. In contrast, newly formed secondary myotubes are short cells which insert solely into the primary myotubes by a series of complex interdigitating folds along which adhering junctions occur. As the secondary myotubes lengthen and mature, their insertion is progressively transferred from the primary myotube to the tendon proper. We suggest that this variable insertion of immature secondary myotubes, combined with complex patterns of innervation and electrical coupling in developing muscle, makes it difficult to predict the overall contribution of secondary myotubes to muscle tension development. This work extends other studies showing the unique relationship between a primary myotube and its associated secondary myotubes, indicating that these may constitute a developmental compartment. PMID- 2632224 TI - Retinoic acid inhibits growth in agarose of early chick embryonic cells and may be involved in regulation of axis formation. AB - The mechanisms involved in the generation of axial structures in the chick are well documented, yet, little is known about the actual factors that generate such a complex pattern. The recent demonstrations that all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) acts as a morphogen during limb development (Thaller and Eichele, 1987) lead us to examine whether during axis formation in the developing chick, RA could be one of the factors involved. We now show that retinoic acid can block a very unusual property of normal early chick embryonic cells, mainly their capacity to grow in semisolid medium. We also present experiments that suggest that RA may play a direct role during axis formation in the developing chick. PMID- 2632225 TI - Antisera to basal lamina and glial endfeet disturb the normal extension of axons on retina and pigment epithelium basal laminae. AB - In order to determine the role of the extracellular matrix in regulating the directed growth of embryonic neurites, antisera to retina (a-RBL I and II), to pigment epithelium (a-PBL) and to glomerular (a-GBL) basal lamina were probed for an effect on the ordered extension of neurites. In the assays, retina explants from chick and quail were cultured on basal lamina from embryonic chick retina and pigment epithelium either in the presence of anti-basal lamina antisera or in the presence of the corresponding preimmune sera. In the presence of all anti basal lamina antisera, normal extension of axons was greatly inhibited both on retina and on pigment epithelium basal lamina. The antisera affected the growth pattern and the morphology of the individual axons in two ways: in the presence of a-RBL I the short axons were less directed, developed more and longer side branches, and the lamellipodia of the growth cones were reduced in size compared to axons from control cultures. In the presence of a-RBL II and a-GBL, axons grew slowly out from the explants as very thick bundles, strikingly different from axons in control cultures. The antiserum to pigment epithelium basal lamina induced both strong fasciculation and disorganization of the linear fiber extension, being intermediate between the two types of effects observed after antiserum addition. The results suggest that adhesive matrix molecules in basal laminae have important functions in elongation, fasciculation and in the morphology of growing axons. PMID- 2632226 TI - Autonomous expression of tissue-specific genes in dissociated sea urchin embryos. AB - The effects of disrupting cell interactions in early development were investigated by examining the accumulation of a primary mesenchyme specific transcript (SM50) and an aboral ectoderm-specific transcript (Spec 1) in cultures of sea urchin embryos that were dissociated at early stages and then cultured in CFSW. The expression of both SM50 and Spec 1 is temporally correct and remains restricted to the appropriate cell types, even if the embryo is dissociated as early as the 2-cell stage and maintained as a suspension of single cells. This result is consistent with the idea that the specificity of expression of these two genes, each characteristic of different lineages, is strongly regulated by information in the egg. Average SM50 expression is half that of intact embryos, but Spec 1 expression is very low, only 10-20% of intact controls, suggesting some differences in the response of the two genes to lack of close cell interactions. PMID- 2632227 TI - Spatially ordered transcription of regulatory DNA in the bithorax complex of Drosophila. AB - The identities of the second through ninth abdominal segments of Drosophila are specified by two genes of the bithorax complex (BX-C), abdominal-A (abd-A) and Abdominal B (Abd-B). The correct deployment of these two genes requires an extensive region (the iab region) located between the two protein-coding transcription units. We show here that one iab mutation affects the pattern of expression of Abd-B. We also show that most or all of the DNA in this regulatory iab region is transcribed. In blastoderm stage embryos we can define three distinct domains within the iab DNA, each transcribed in a region that extends from a characteristic anterior limit to the posterior end of the segmented part of the embryo. The anterior limits of expression for the three regions are colinear with the sequence of the domains on the chromosome, and lie at about two segment intervals. We suggest that these early transcription patterns reflect the initial activation of the BX-C. PMID- 2632228 TI - Cell death of motoneurons in the chick embryo spinal cord. XI. Acetylcholine receptors and synaptogenesis in skeletal muscle following the reduction of motoneuron death by neuromuscular blockade. AB - Treatment of chick embryos with neuromuscular blocking agents such as curare during periods of naturally occurring motoneuron death results in a striking reduction of this normal cell loss. Inactivity-induced changes in motoneuron survival were found to be associated with increased levels of AChRs and AChR clusters in skeletal muscle and with increased focal sites of AChE that are innervated ('synaptic sites'). Treatment of embryos with curare after the normal cell death period (E12-E15) resulted in no change in motoneuron survival. Although AChR-clusters and focal sites of AChE were increased in these embryos on E16, many of these sites were uninnervated. Treatment of embryos with nicotine or decamethonium (E6-E10) also reduced neuromuscular activity but did not alter motoneuron survival nor did such treatment alter AChRs. The different effects of curare vs nicotine and decamethoniam on motoneuron survival and AChRs may be related to the fact that the former is a competitive blocker whereas the latter two drugs are depolarizing blockers. Finally, treatment of embryos (E6-9) with doses of curare (1 mg daily) that allow for the almost complete recovery of neuromuscular activity a few days following treatment (by E16) resulted in the gradual loss of the excess motoneurons that were present on E10, and by E16 the number of remaining AChR clusters and focal sites of AChE were also decreased to levels comparable to control values. Inactivity-induced changes in AChRs or AChR clusters may be an important factor in the reduced motoneuron death that accompanies neuromuscular blockade during critical stages of development. These receptor changes very likely reflect increased synaptogenesis in the muscles of paralyzed embryos which in turn may act to reduce motoneuron death by providing increased access to muscle-derived neurotrophic molecules. PMID- 2632229 TI - Analysis of the testes of H-Y negative XOSxrb mice suggests that the spermatogenesis gene (Spy) acts during the differentiation of the A spermatogonia. AB - H-Y antigen negative XOSxrb mice, like their H-Y positive XOSxra counterparts, have testes; but, in contrast to XOSxra males, XOSxrb testes almost totally lack meiotic and postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis. The quantitative analysis of the testes of XOSxrb males and their XY +/- Sxrb sibs, described in the present study, identified two distinct steps in this spermatogenic failure. First, there was a reduction in mitotic activity among T1 prospermatogonia, so that approximately half the normal number of T2 prospermatogonia were produced. Second, there was a dramatic decrease in the number of A3 and A4 spermatogonia and no Intermediate or B spermatogonia. These reductions were also largely due to decreased mitotic activity, there being a shortage of A1 and A2 spermatogonial divisions and no divisions among A3 or A4 spermatogonia. Mitotic activity among the T2 prospermatogonia and the undifferentiated A spermatogonia was normal. This means that the spermatogonial stem cells, which are a subset of the undifferentiated A spermatogonia, are unaffected in XOSxrb mice. Sxrb is now known to have arisen by deletion of DNA from Sxra. It is clear from the present findings that a gene (or genes) present in the deleted DNA plays a major role in the survival and proliferation of the differentiating A spermatogonia. PMID- 2632230 TI - Nuclear transplantation of male primordial germ cells in the mouse. AB - We examined the developmental ability of enucleated eggs receiving embryonic nuclei and male primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the mouse. Reconstituted eggs developed into the blastocyst stage only when an earlier 2-cell nucleus was transplanted (36%) but very rarely if the donor nucleus was derived from a later 2-cell, 8-cell, or inner cell mass of a blastocyst (0-3%). 54-100%, 11-67%, 6-43% and 6-20% of enucleated eggs receiving male PGCs developed to 2-cell, 4-cell, 8 cell and blastocyst stage, respectively, in culture. The overall success rate when taking into account the total number of attempts at introducing germ cells was actually 0-6%. Live fetuses were not obtained after transfer of reconstituted eggs to recipients, although implantation sites were observed. The developmental ability of reconstituted eggs in relation to embryonic genome activation and genomic imprinting is discussed. PMID- 2632231 TI - XIF3, a Xenopus peripherin gene, requires an inductive signal for enhanced expression in anterior neural tissue. AB - A full-length cDNA clone for the Xenopus intermediate filament gene XIF3 has been isolated. It is very similar in sequence to the rat intermediate filament cDNA clone 73 that is thought to encode the neuronal intermediate filament protein 'peripherin'. By analysing dissected embryos, we show that XIF3 is expressed predominantly in anterior and dorsal structures and most strongly in the brain of the tailbud (stage 26) embryo. In situ hybridization shows XIF3 transcripts to be localized in neural tissue and especially in regions that most probably correspond to the motor neurones of the neural tube and to some cranial nerve ganglia. New XIF3 transcripts are first found at the start of gastrulation at a low level throughout the ectoderm and are not localized to the presumptive neurectoderm. Expression subsequently increases by about 10-fold in neural tissue, and requires an interaction of the mesoderm with overlying ectoderm. Because new transcripts are found predominantly in neural tissue of the head, this response can be used as a marker of anterior neural induction. PMID- 2632232 TI - Dynamics of Drosophila eye development and temporal requirements of sevenless expression. AB - The development of the compound eye of Drosophila consists of a linear, stereotyped program starting at the posterior end of the eye imaginal disc and progressing towards the anterior border. The determination of the R7 photoreceptor cells is part of this process and is dependent on the sevenless gene. In this study, we used a heat-shock-inducible sevenless gene as a conditional allele to determine the exact temporal requirements of sevenless gene expression and to reveal the stages of ommatidial development during which the presumptive R7 cell can respond to the presence of sevenless protein. Our results indicate that sevenless gene function is only required during a brief, defined period for the initiation of R7 development; subsequently sevenless is dispensable for both differentiation and function of the R7 photoreceptors. Furthermore, using rescue of R7 cells as an internal marker to monitor the progression of eye development we could examine when and at what rate ommatidial columns form. PMID- 2632233 TI - Spatial aspects of neural induction in Xenopus laevis. AB - A monoclonal antibody, 2G9, has been identified and characterised as a marker of neural differentiation in Xenopus. The epitope is present throughout the adult central nervous system and in peripheral nerves. Staining is first detected in embryos at stage 21 in the thoracic region. By stage 29 it stains the whole central nervous system, except the tail tip. The epitope is present in a 65K Mr protein, and includes sialic acid. The antibody also reacts with neural tissue in mice and axolotls and newts. 2G9 was used to show that both notochord and somites are capable of neural induction, and the stimulus is present as late as stage 22. Attempts to demonstrate the induction of nervous system by developing nervous system (homoiogenetic induction) were unsuccessful. The view that the lateral extent of the nervous system might be determined by that of the inductive stimulus is discussed. Neural induction was detected as early as stage 10 and occurs in embryos without gastrulation and without cell division from stage 7 1/2. PMID- 2632234 TI - Effect of the notochord on proliferation and differentiation in the neural tube of the chick embryo. AB - After implantation of a notochord fragment lateral to the neural tube in a 2-day chick embryo, at 4 days the ipsilateral neural tube half was increased in size and axons left the neural tube in a broad dorsoventral area (van Straaten et al. 1985). This enlargement appears to coincide with an increased area of AChE positive basal plate neuroblasts, as determined with scan-cytophotometry. The effect was ipsilateral and local: clear effects were seen only when the implant was localized less than 80 microns from the neural tube and over 120 microns from the ventral notochord. In order to investigate the expected enhancement of proliferation, the mitotic density and the number of cells at the site of the implant at 3 days was determined and the mitotic index calculated. All three parameters showed an increase. It was concluded that the cell cycle was shorter in the implant area relative to the control area, at least during the third day. At 4 days the number of cells was still increased, predominantly in the basal plate. It appeared that the numerical increase was for the larger part due to neuroblasts. The synergism of two notochords thus resulted in enhancement of proliferation and differentiation in the neural tube. It is suggested that the notochord merely regulates and arranges the surrounding sclerenchymal cells, which are the effective cells in the regulation of neural tube development. PMID- 2632235 TI - Temporal and tissue-specific expression of the proto-oncogene c-fos during development in Xenopus laevis. AB - We describe the isolation and complete sequence of the Xenopus c-fos proto oncogene. c-fos expression throughout Xenopus development was analysed using a homologous probe derived from the cloned gene. c-fos RNA is accumulated during oogenesis to reach a plateau of 2 x 10(5) transcripts per stage VI oocyte, suggesting an unusual stability of the c-fos message. The amount of RNA per embryo decreases substantially after fertilisation to reach a level corresponding to less than 0.1 molecule per cell at the tailbud stage. Subsequently, at the swimming tadpole stage, the amount of c-fos mRNA increases; an increase that is correlated with the start of skeleton formation. In the newly metamorphosed froglet, c-fos mRNA shows a marked tissue-specific distribution, with the highest level in intestine and lowest in gall bladder, lung and spleen. We also demonstrate that the Xenopus c-fos gene is serum-inducible in Xenopus cultured cells, a property attributable to a promoter sequence known as the Serum Response Element (SRE). A protein activity (indistinguishable from Serum Response Factor) in both whole cell and nuclear Xenopus embryo extracts binds specifically to the SRE and is present at an approximately constant level throughout early development. Our results suggest roles for c-fos in aspects of both the rapid cell proliferation and cell differentiation characteristic of early Xenopus development. PMID- 2632236 TI - Analysis of function of the pair-rule genes hairy, even-skipped and fushi tarazu in mosaic Drosophila embryos. AB - We report the first attempt of its kind to study genetic interactions using young Drosophila embryos that are mosaic for wildtype and mutant cells. Using nuclear transplantation we make mosaic embryos in which a patch of cells lacks a particular segmentation gene, A. With antibodies, we than look at the expression of another gene that is known to be downstream of gene A, with respect to the cells in the patch. We have examples of patches of hairy cells (where we monitor the effect on fushi tarazu (ftz) expression), even-skipped (monitoring ftz) and ftz (monitoring engrailed and Ultrabithorax). Our main finding is that the dependence of engrailed expression on the ftz gene is strictly cell-autonomous. This result goes some way towards explaining the dependence of Ultrabithorax expression on ftz, a dependence we show to be locally cell-autonomous within parts of parasegments 6 and 8 but non autonomous within parasegment 7. PMID- 2632237 TI - Retinoic acid induces a pattern of digits in anterior half wing buds that lack the zone of polarizing activity. AB - Wing buds whose posterior half is excised, develop into wings lacking distal structures. However, such experimentally generated preaxial half wing buds can be rescued by implanting a retinoic-acid-releasing bead at their anterior margin. The polarity of the pattern that originates from preaxial half wing buds is reversed. For example, instead of a 234 digit pattern typical for normal wings, the order of digits is 432. This result implies that retinoic acid has the capacity to reprogram anterior limb bud tissue, and that the resulting change in cell fate does not depend on the presence of posterior tissue regions such as the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA). PMID- 2632238 TI - Unidirectional displacement of cells in fibrillar matrices. AB - It has long been recognised that the alignment of fibrils of an extracellular matrix can guide cell displacement along an axis. However, bidirectional guidance alone is insufficient to explain the directed translocation of cell populations in an embryo. Evidence is presented here that matrix fibrils can also be arranged to confer a unidirectional bias on cell displacement. When chick heart fibroblasts were cultured between two collagen matrices pretreated by shearing, the displacements of these cells were biased in the direction opposite to that of pre-shear. A possible explanation is that cells detect the directional arrangement of fibrils linked to a rigid surface. Results of a second experiment suggested that cells can indeed respond directionally to the linkage of fibrils to rigid surfaces. Cells spreading on the surface of matrices were aligned perpendicular to the edge of a rigid body embedded just beneath the surface. For cells close to this body, the effect of linkage was able to override guidance as the more important orienting cue. 'DESMOTAXIS' is suggested as a suitable name for the unidirectional movement of cells in response to the arrangement of fibrils relative to a rigid, anchoring surface. In the embryo, several factors could generate such arrangements of extracellular matrices around relatively solid structures. These possibilities are discussed with reference to directed cell migrations in vivo. PMID- 2632239 TI - The maternal store of the xlgv7 mRNA in full-grown oocytes is not required for normal development in Xenopus. AB - We have attempted to analyze the function of a maternal mRNA xlgv7 which is distributed as an animal-vegetal gradient in stage 6 oocytes using a combination of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide injection into oocytes followed by in vitro maturation and fertilization. Injection of 20 ng of the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide resulted in the destruction of the xlgv7 mRNA to undetectable levels. Upon maturation and fertilization the resulting embryos develop with no specific defects suggesting that the maternal store of xlgv7 in stage 6 oocytes is not required and that the embryo can develop solely with the maternal store of the xlgv7 protein. Also, these results demonstrate the feasibility of this approach in destroying a specific maternal RNA and assaying its effect on development. PMID- 2632240 TI - Tissue-specific regulation of junctional communication in the skin of mouse fetuses homozygous for the repeated epilation (Er) mutation. AB - Mouse embryos homozygous for the repeated epilation (Er) gene have abnormally developed skin characterised by hyper-proliferation and incomplete differentiation of the epidermis. In this report, we have studied the patterns of junctional communication in the skin of these mutants to see if the loss of control of proliferation/differentiation is associated with any altered patterns of communication. Using the dye-injection technique we have shown that, compared to normal skin, junctional communication among dermal cells of Er/Er mutants is greatly reduced and the frequency of dermal-epidermal communication is, on the other hand, increased. These results support our previously proposed model, which suggests that selective regulation of junctional communication can be a component of proliferative control in a complex tissue. PMID- 2632241 TI - The contribution made by cells from a single somite to tissues within a body segment and assessment of their integration with similar cells from adjacent segments. AB - Somites represent the first visual evidence of segmentation in the developing vertebrate embryo and it is becoming clear that this segmental pattern of the somites is used in the initial stages of development of other segmented systems such as the peripheral nervous system. However, it is not known whether the somites continue to contribute to the maintenance of the segmental pattern after the dispersal of the somitic cells. In particular, the extent to which cells from a single somite contribute to all of the tissues of a single body segment and the extent to which they mix with cells from adjacent segments during their migration is not known. In this study, we have replaced single somites in the future cervical region of 2-day-old chick embryos with equivalent, similarly staged quail somites. The chimerae were then allowed to develop for a further 6 days when they were killed. The cervical region was dissected and serially sectioned. The sections were stained with the Feulgen reaction for DNA to differentiate between the chick and quail cells. The results showed that the cells from a single somite remained as a clearly delimited group throughout their migration. Furthermore, the sclerotome, dermatome and myotome portions from the single somites could always be recognised as being separate from similar cells from other somites. The somitic cells formed all of the tissues within a body segment excluding the epidermis, notochord and neural tissue. There was very little mixing of the somitic cells between adjacent segments. The segmental pattern of the somites is therefore maintained during the migration of the somitic cells and this might be fundamental to a mechanism whereby the segmentation of structures, such as the peripheral nervous system, is also maintained during development. PMID- 2632242 TI - Effects on rats of subacute intoxication with deltamethrin via an osmotic pump. AB - To explore the possibility of liver enzyme induction by deltamethrin, subacute intoxication was carried out in rats for 28 days, by administration 7.2 mg.Kg 1.day-1 of deltamethrin i.p. delivered by an osmotic pump inserted in the peritoneal cavity. The body weight curve of the treated rats increased slightly but not significantly compared to the controls. No neurotoxic effect was observed. Blood parameters were unchanged, except for eosinophilia and an increase in the plasma Na+ level. Cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5, NADPH cytochrome c reductase, esterases and the activities of six mixed function oxidases were assayed. No variation was noted. Ultrastructural study of the liver, more specially in midlobular region, showed that deltamethrin increased the number of mitochondria and altered their shape which became irregular. These findings were consistent with morphometric results. Succinate cytochrome c reductase, citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase were essayed, only this last showed a significant enhancement in deltamethrin treated rats. PMID- 2632243 TI - Comparing the response surfaces of two cholinolytics when used in combination with physostigmine as a pretreatment against organophosphate challenge. AB - Physostigmine (PHY) is currently being evaluated as a potential pretreatment against nerve agent challenge. Although it might provide increased protection against nerve agent-induced incapacitation, it is nonetheless behaviorally toxic itself. Addition of a cholinolytic adjunct is expected to significantly reduce this behavioral toxicity. The efficacy of pretreatment regimens (PRG) (composed of PHY in combination with either scopolamine (SCP) or trihexyphenidyl (artane; ART] was evaluated in guinea pigs challenged with soman (98 ug/kg, sc; 3.5 LD50) to determine the dose of PHY and adjunct required for optimal efficacy as well as the better of the two adjuncts. Three different endpoints were measured on each animal: (1) whether or not the animal survived up to 24 hours post challenge, (2) severity of incapacitation, and (3) time to recovery. The survival data revealed no significant differences between the two adjuncts and PHY against soman, but the data suggests that a pretreatment combination of PHY and ART is likely to give a greater therapeutic index than one containing SCP. Furthermore, since ART is less toxic behaviorally, it would most likely be better tolerated as a pretreatment with PHY in non-agent exposed subjects. The findings in this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents. In conducting the work described in this report, the investigators adhered to the "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" as promulgated by the Committee on Revision of the Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council. PMID- 2632244 TI - Assessment of motor performance decrement following soman poisoning in mice. AB - A simple motor performance test, the inverted screen test, was used to assess the incapacitating effects of soman in mice and to evaluate the effectiveness of carbamate pretreatment and/or treatment with atropine plus 2-PAM on soman-induced debilitation. The test requires minimal equipment and personnel training, and can be done rapidly on untrained animals. Mice were placed individually on wire mesh screens which were horizontally mounted on a metal rod. The rod was rotated 180 degrees so that the mice were oriented upside down on the bottom of the screen. The animals were observed for their ability to climb to the top of the screen within one minute. Mice exhibited significant disruption of performance on the screen test 24 hours after soman doses of 0.71 LD50 or more. Treatment with atropine and 2-PAM i.m. 10 sec post-soman (1.1 x LD50) did not improve screen test performance when measured at 24 hours. Pretreatment with pyridostigmine or physostigmine in combination with post-soman therapy with atropine and 2-PAM significantly improved screen test performance as early as 2 hours after soman. The results suggest that the inverted screen test may be useful as a first-line assessment of the efficacy of pretreatment and treatment compounds against nerve agent-induced incapacitation. PMID- 2632245 TI - Vitamin A acetate: a behavioral teratology study in rats. AB - We evaluated the effects of maternal administration of vitamin A acetate on pup development and behavior. Vitamin A acetate was administered by oral gavage to pregnant rats (N = 10/treatment) on gestation days 6-19 at doses of 25,000, 50,000 or 100,000 I.U./kg/day. Male and female pups from dams that received 100,000 I.U./kg/day showed a significantly reduced live birth index but few external abnormalities. Twenty-four and 48 hour survival indices were also significantly reduced. The mean pup body weight gain at 100,000 I.U./kg/day was significantly reduced at days 1-3, 3-7 and 21-42. Pinna detachment and eye opening were significantly delayed in all male pups and in female pups from the 50,000 and 100,000 I.U./kg/day groups. Incisor eruption was significantly delayed in male and female pups from the 25,000 and 50,000 I.U./kg/day groups. The following showed no treatment effects: dam mean weight change, length of gestation, total litter size, surface righting, cliff avoidance, negative geotaxis, swimming development, open field activity and discriminatory learning. PMID- 2632246 TI - Benefit vs. risk of oral aluminum forms: antacid and phosphate binding vs. absorption. AB - Oral consumption of aluminum (Al) compounds to neutralize stomach acid and bind phosphate can result in Al absorption and potential Al accumulation and toxicity. Selecting an effective antacid/phosphate binder would optimize the benefit/risk of therapy. It has been suggested that Al solubilization would predict oral Al bioavailability, and therefore risk. The acid neutralizing and phosphate binding capacity of eight representative Al forms was determined. The results were compared to the oral bioavailability, solubility and octanol/water partitioning coefficient of each compound. The results fail to confirm Al solubilization as an indicator of Al absorption, and presumably, Al toxicity. Acid neutralizing and phosphate binding capacities did not correlate with bioavailability, solubility or the partitioning coefficient. Determination of acid neutralization and phosphate binding in vitro and Al absorption and/or toxicity in vivo may be more predictive measures to establish the benefit/risk ratio of Al-containing products. PMID- 2632247 TI - Contact hypersensitivity response to isophorone diisocyanate in mice. AB - Isophorone diisocyanate was evaluated for its potential as a sensitizing agent for allergic contact hypersensitivity in mice. Female B6C3F1 mice were sensitized with 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0% isophorone diisocyanate and challenged with 3.0% isophorone diisocyanate. Doses of isophorone diisocyanate were selected from assays for primary irritancy. Mice received 20 microliters by direct dermal application, for 5 days, to sites prepared by shaving, dermabrading and, in some mice, with intra dermal injection of complete Freund's adjuvant. The rest period was 7 days. Measurement of the contact hypersensitivity response in mice was by radioisotopic assay two days after challenge and mouse ear swelling one and two days after challenge. Mice demonstrated statistically significant dose-dependent contact hypersensitivity responses to isophorone diisocyanate with or without adjuvant pretreatment. PMID- 2632248 TI - Immunosuppressive effects of 2-acetylaminofluorene and 2-aminofluorene on murine splenocytes culture. AB - The immunosuppressive effects of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and 2-aminofluorene (AF) were studied in BALB/c mouse splenocyte culture. Direct addition of AAF and AF to the splenocyte culture produced a dose-related suppression of the in vitro antibody response to sheep erythrocytes(SRBC), DNP-Ficoll, and lipopolysaccharide(LPS). AAF and AF also produced suppression on lymphoproliferative responses to LPS and concanavalin A(Con A). The immunosuppressive effects of AAF and AF, however, were diminished when AAF and AF were incubated in the splenocyte-hepatocyte coculture system for 4 hr. When hepatocyte cultures were pretreated with SKF 525A, a cytochrome P-450 inhibitor, before coculture with spleen cell along with AAF and AF, the suppression of in vitro antibody response reappeared. Meanwhile, both AAF and AF produced a dose related DNA single-strand breaks in spleen cells only if AAF and AF were treated to spleen cells cocultured with hepatocytes. These results indicate that the immunosuppression by AAF and AF is not mediated by the reactive metabolites implicated to DNA damage. PMID- 2632249 TI - Current methods in cognitive ergonomics. PMID- 2632250 TI - Fault management in process control: eye movements and action. AB - Operators controlled a simulated thermal hydraulic system based on Crossman's waterbath task. They were required to keep the system at set points for temperature, level and flow rates. The system was subjected to disturbances and to failures, which the operators were required to manage. Behavioural data were collected in the form of keystroke commands, and in addition eye movements were measured. Evidence for 'cognitive lockup' and for a preference for serial fault management were found. Fixation durations do not change, but faulty subsystems are examined more frequently. During lockup other subsystems may be examined but action on them is delayed. Eye movements give considerable additional insight into the nature of process control information processing compared with traditional measures of operator performance. PMID- 2632251 TI - Pharmacokinetics of Brequinar sodium (NSC 368390) in patients with solid tumors during a phase I study. AB - The pharmacokinetics of the novel antipyrimidine agent Brequinar sodium (NSC 368390; DUP 785) was studied in 23 patients with solid tumors during the phase I study of this compound. The drug was administered by short-term (10-60 min) intravenous infusion every 3 weeks. The doses ranged from 15 to 2250 mg/m2. At doses higher than 1500 mg/m2 the areas under the plasma concentration vs. time curve (AUC) increased non-proportionally, while the total body clearance (Clt) dropped substantially, indicating non-linear pharmacokinetics of the drug. Brequinar sodium showed a triphasic decay of plasma concentrations with half-life ranges of 11.1-36.6 min, 1.7-6.9 h and 12.5-25.0 h, respectively. The volume of distribution (Vdss) ranged from 4.4 to 10.6 l/m2. The total body clearance (Clt) ranged from 6.9 to 22.1 ml/min with a small contribution of the renal clearance (0.04-0.4 ml/min). Up to 7 days, the cumulative urinary excretion (CUE) and the cumulative fecal excretion (CFE) ranged from 0.4 to 8.3% and from 7.7 to 18.3% of the dose, respectively. There was evidence for the presence of drug metabolites in urine and feces. There was no drug accumulation with repeated administration of Brequinar sodium by the above mentioned drug schedule. The ratio between the plasma AUC at the maximum tolerable dose (MTD) in man and that at the mouse LD10 was 0.8, while the ratio between the respective doses was 5.7. The ratios between the AUC in patients and that at the mouse LD10 were applied to guide dose escalation in the phase I study. The results of the above mentioned pharmacokinetic studies were useful for the choice of an optimal schedule for phase II trials of Brequinar sodium. PMID- 2632252 TI - Blood flow distribution within transplantable tumours in the mouse. AB - Tumour blood flow was estimated by fractional distribution of rubidium in two allografts (B16 melanoma and Lewis lung tumour) and two xenografts (Glioma 522, a human grade IV astrocytoma and Mel-mo, a human melanoma), in order to investigate the influence of certain tumour characteristics on tumour perfusion. In all four tumours perfusion decreased with increase in tumour weight. The rubidium extraction in Mel-mo was markedly lower than that of the other three tumours; this tumour was the most necrotic. Necrosis was patchy in Glioma 522 and Mel-mo, but predominantly central in B16 and Lewis lung tumour. However, all tumour nodules examined showed a similar pattern of rubidium extraction: high at the rim with a rapid fall towards the centre. It appeared that while overall blood flow may be related to the extent of necrosis, blood flow distribution within tumour nodules did not correlate closely its pattern. PMID- 2632253 TI - Creatine kinase-BB in the cerebrospinal fluid as a marker of CNS metastases and leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in patients with breast cancer. AB - To determine whether creatine kinase-BB isoenzyme would be useful in detecting central nervous system metastases secondary to breast cancer, we measured the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) activity of creatine kinase (CK) and its BB isoenzyme (CK-BB) in 65 consecutive patients suspected of having CNS involvement. All patients underwent neurological evaluation, computer tomography (CT) scan and/or radionuclide scintigraphy and lumbar puncture with CSF examination. Thirty patients had CNS metastases, of whom 18 had parenchymal brain metastases (MET). Twelve had leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (MC), of whom four also had parenchymal brain metastases. Thirty-four patients were concluded not to have CNS involvement, whereas one was considered equivocal. CK-BB activity was significantly higher in patients with CNS metastases than in those without (P less than 0.05). This difference was primarily related to the fact that patients with MC had a significantly higher CK-BB activity than patients without CNS metastases or patients with parenchymal brain metastases only (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05, respectively). Taking 0.20 U/l as a tentative cut-off value (the upper limit range of patients without CNS metastases being 0.19 U/l), 10 out of 12 patients with MC had activities above this level. The sensitivity and specificity for having MC were 83% and 87%, and the positive and negative predictive values 60% and 96%, respectively. The sensitivity and negative predictive value for having any CNS metastases were 57% and 72%. Specificity and positive predictive value: 100%. The CSF activity of CK-BB appears to be a contribution in the diagnosis of MC secondary to breast cancer and seems superior to protein and LDH. PMID- 2632254 TI - Alcohol and breast cancer: update from an Italian case-control study. AB - The analysis of alcohol and breast cancer risk from an Italian case-control study of breast cancer has been updated to include a total of 2402 women with histologically confirmed breast cancer and 2220 controls with acute conditions unrelated to any of the established or potential risk factors for breast cancer, admitted to a network of teaching and general hospitals in the greater Milan area. Compared with non-drinkers, the estimated relative risk for ever drinkers was 1.4 (95% CI = 1.2-1.6). The multivariate risks were 1.3 for less than 1 drink (e.g. 10 g of ethanol) per day, 1.3 for 1 less than 2 drinks, 1.4 for 2-3 and 2.2 for over 3 drinks per day. The positive association between alcohol and breast cancer was consistent across strata of age, socio-demographic variables, smoking, menstrual, reproductive, and hormonal factors, family history of breast cancer, nutrition and diet indicators. In particular, this study indicated that the alcohol-breast cancer relationship is probably not materially different in younger and older women, that alcohol drinking at an early age is not a particularly clear indicator of subsequent risk, nor that the effect of alcohol is enhanced in thin women. Thus, the findings of this study are both internally consistent and in agreement with most previous evidence, since the relative risks of 1.3-1.4 for a consumption of 10-30 g of alcohol per day compare well with the corresponding highest intake levels in most American studies. This study is of particular interest, since it provides data on higher levels of alcohol consumption, on which very little information is available. There are nontheless at least three elements which leave open the question of causality: the absence of duration-risk relationship, the inconsistency with evidence from descriptive epidemiology, and the lack of plausible biological mechanisms. PMID- 2632255 TI - Serum bioactive lactogenic hormone levels in women with familial breast cancer and their relatives. AB - Serum levels of bioactive lactogenic hormone (BLH), immunoreactive prolactin and growth hormone (ir-PRL and ir-GH) were measured in a group of familial breast cancer patients and their first degree female relatives and compared to those found in normal healthy women. The ratio of BLH to the sum of ir-PRL and ir-GH was slightly but significantly decreased in the familial breast cancer group (P = 0.018 by the Mann-Whitney U test) although there were no significant differences in the levels of BLH, ir-PRL and ir-GH between the two groups. No differences in the levels of the lactogenic hormones could be detected when the pre-menopausal women were considered separately or when 20 women from the familial group were compared to normal controls matched for age, parity, weight and menopausal status. The levels of BLH were highly correlated with the sum of ir-PRL and ir-GH in both the familial breast cancer group and the controls (P less than 0.001 for both groups by Spearman's rank correlation test). These findings are not indicative of the presence of an additional species of bioactive, but not immunoreactive, lactogen in the sera of women with or at high risk of breast cancer. However, the presence of different, but equipotent, forms of lactogen cannot be excluded in these women. PMID- 2632256 TI - Prevention of adverse effects of gamma-ray irradiation after metallothionein induction by bismuth subnitrate in mice. AB - The effect of preinduction of metallonthionein (MT) by bismuth subnitrate (BSN) on the adverse effects and antitumor activity of gamma-ray irradiation was investigated in mice. Preinduction of MT by oral administration of BSN significantly reduced the lethal effects and bone marrow injury caused by total body irradiation with gamma-rays. A significant increase in the MT concentration in bone marrow was observed in mice treated with BSN. In tumor-bearing mice, pretreatment with BSN did not compromise the antitumor activity of gamma-ray irradiation although bone marrow injury was remarkably suppressed. These results suggest that BSN pretreatment is an effective method for protection against side effects in radiotherapy. PMID- 2632257 TI - Ploidy and proliferative activity measurement by flow cytometry in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Do speculative aspects prevail over clinical ones? AB - Paraffin-embedded lymph node biopsies from 107 patients with newly diagnosed non Hodgkin's lymphomas were examined for cell DNA content and proliferative activity (as percentage of S-phase cells) by means of flow cytometry. Patients were diagnosed between 1975 and 1985 and were homogeneously treated according to the grade of histologic malignancy. Cytofluorimetric data were studied with regard to their correlation with histology (classified and reviewed according to both Kiel and Working Formulation criteria), clinical stage, presence of constitutional symptoms, presence of bulky disease, sex, age, and the following laboratory data measured at diagnosis: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin, serum lactic dehydrogenase and serum albumin concentration. Aneuploidy was more frequent in the high grade malignant subtypes and in the miscellaneous group but showed no correlations with the other clinical parameters studied. Proliferative activity demonstrated a wide variation of data but a trend was evident toward higher proliferative values in the more severe histologic subtypes. The survival discrimination allowed by high- and low-grade malignant histology is exactly reproduced when highly and slowly proliferating lymphomas are considered (greater than or less than or equal to 12% of S-phase cells). These results, analyzed with those in the literature, suggest that measurements of ploidy and proliferative activity add little independent information to what is already provided by current histologic classifications, mainly as far as clinical evaluation and prognosis are concerned. Cytokinetic-aided therapeutic choices can be usefully proposed in a restricted number of cases. Improvement of the available lymphoma classifications through a better integration of ploidy and cytokinetic data with immunologic, genetic and histologic findings is still an object to be pursued in cytometric studies. PMID- 2632258 TI - Implications of tamoxifen metabolism in the athymic mouse for the study of antitumor effects upon human breast cancer xenografts. AB - The metabolism of tamoxifen in the human has been well established and may be important in the antiestrogenic activity of this agent. This study examines whether tamoxifen metabolism in the athymic mouse xenograft model is similar to tamoxifen metabolism in the breast cancer patient. Serum taken from athymic mice 24 h after a single large oral dose (200 mg/kg) of tamoxifen contained compounds corresponding to standards of tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, N desmethyltamoxifen, 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen and tamoxifen-N-oxide when analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography. The administration of large single doses (200 mg/kg) of 4-hydroxytamoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen either alone or in combination produced the expected peaks for the administered agents and a peak confirming the identity of 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen. 4-Hydroxy-N desmethyltamoxifen was detected in serum from six out of 10 breast cancer patients receiving 10 mg bid of tamoxifen. These patients had tamoxifen, 4 hydroxytamoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen levels of 108 +/- 23, 2.6 +/- 0.5, and 238 +/- 58 ng/ml, respectively. Repeated large oral doses (200 mg/kg/day for 6 days) of tamoxifen to athymic mice produced a similar array of serum metabolites as seen after the single dose and in the breast cancer patient. However, levels of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (628 +/- 192 ng/ml) were similar to those of tamoxifen (441 +/- 208 ng/ml) whereas N-desmethyltamoxifen (1343 +/- 388 ng/ml) levels were 2-3 times greater. A similar pattern of metabolites was produced with a 50 mg/kg dose of tamoxifen although levels were considerably reduced. Subcutaneous administration of tamoxifen (200 mg/kg/day for 6 days) produced serum levels of the parent compound (120 +/- 19 ng/ml) in the same range as tamoxifen levels in the breast cancer patient. However, although N-desmethyltamoxifen was the major metabolite, levels (115 +/- 18 ng/ml) were only equivalent to those of tamoxifen itself and 4-hydroxytamoxifen levels (26 +/- 5 ng/ml) were appreciably higher than the breast cancer patient. Lowering the dose of tamoxifen (50 mg/kg) administered s.c. produced not only lower circulating tamoxifen levels (41 +/- 3 ng/ml) but also changed the metabolite profile. Rather than N-desmethyltamoxifen levels equivalent to those of tamoxifen, as seen with the higher dose, they were reduced to the level of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (7 +/- ng/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2632259 TI - Short- and long-term estrogen deprivation of T47D human breast cancer cells in culture. AB - The effects of short- and long-term estrogen deprivation on T47D human breast cancer cells was studied. Cells were routinely grown in an estrogenized environment in media containing fetal bovine serum with phenol red indicator. Cells were estrogen deprived (grown in media containing dextran-coated charcoal stripped fetal bovine serum without phenol red) for either 10 days or at least 8 months, and effects on genotype, receptor content, and cell growth responsiveness were studied. Cells grown in an estrogenized environment are hypertetraploid, whereas long-term estrogen-deprived cells have become hyperdiploid. Short-term estrogen-deprived cells exhibit a decreased growth rate and progesterone receptor (PgR) content, while estrogen receptor (ER) content is not significantly altered. ER mRNA levels are significantly decreased in these cells. Incubation of these cells with estradiol (10(-10) M) for 6 days causes a 5-fold stimulation in cell growth and this stimulation can be inhibited by the antiestrogens 4 hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), ICI 164,384, and RU 39411. Cells cultured under long term estrogen deprivation exhibited an increased growth rate and were refractory to the effects of estradiol and of 4-OHT on cell growth. These cells were ER negative with low levels of PgR; however, one clone of this line was found to be ER and PgR negative. No mRNA for the ER was detected in this line or its clone. With these cell lines it is possible to study the biological characteristics necessary for the outgrowth of a receptor negative, hormone nonresponsive cell population from a receptor positive, hormone-responsive population grown in a estrogen-free environment. PMID- 2632260 TI - Differences in bone marrow cytogenetic characteristics between treated and untreated myeloma. AB - Clonal karyotypic abnormalities in myelomatosis at initial diagnosis have been widely studied, but little data are available on the karyotypic status following treatment. We have studied bone marrow (BM) from 17 cases of untreated myelomatosis at initial diagnosis and from a further 29 cases who had received chemotherapy with regimens containing alkylating agents. At the time of study all previously treated cases had been off treatment for at least 152 days, had a paraprotein level in plateau phase, had a BM with less than 4% blasts, and in 28 of these 29 cases had less than 20% BM plasma cells. Two cases had more than 15% BM ringed sideroblasts; one other case was transfusion dependent. Clear differences in cytogenetic characteristics between the two groups were seen. At initial diagnosis clonal karyotypic abnormalities were observed in six of 11 accessible cases. All had hyperdiploid clones (of 49-54 chromosomes) and showed characteristic involvement of chromosomes 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15, 19 and 21. Additional structural rearrangements were present in only two of these cases. Following treatment, clonal abnormalities were seen in 10 of 25 assessible cases, of which only two showed hyperdiploidy (one with a hyperdiploid line, one with an additional derived chromosome). The remaining eight showed hypodiploid or pseudodiploid lines, and seven of these showed complex karyotypes with multiple rearrangements particularly affecting chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7. After a minimum follow-up of 16 months, only four of these 10 cases (40%) remain alive compared with 12 of 15 (80%) with a normal karyotype after treatment (P = 0.03). No correlation was observed between the presence of an abnormal karyotype and the total dose or timing of previous therapy, though cases with an abnormal karyotype tended to have received treatment for longer (790 +/- 166 days) than cases with a normal karyotype (486 +/- 50 days). It is not clear whether the ploidy difference between the two groups represents a change in the disease state due to treatment or a direct effect of treatment itself. PMID- 2632261 TI - Systemic administration of doxorubicin-containing liposomes in cancer patients: a phase I study. AB - A clinical study was designed to evaluate the tolerance of cancer patients to liposome-associated doxorubicin (L-DXR). The liposomes used contain phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and DXR intercalated in the lipid bilayer, and have a mean size in the range of 0.3-0.5 microns. Thirty two patients, most of them with primary or metastatic liver cancer refractory to conventional therapy, were entered into the study. A total of 69 courses of therapy was administered by intravenous infusion of a suspension of L-DXR (0.5 2.0 mg DXR/ml) in physiologic saline at an approximate rate of 2 ml/min given on a 3-week intermittent schedule. The L-DXR and phospholipid doses were escalated from 20 mg/m2 and 0.3 g/m2 to 120 mg/m2 and 3.2 g/m2 respectively. Treatment was generally well tolerated and acute toxic effects such as nausea and vomiting were mild and infrequent. Chills and fever (greater than 38.0 degrees C) were observed in three patients during infusion of L-DXR and in seven patients 6-12 h after the end of infusion. Median WBC nadir counts were 2700, 2300 and 700/microliters at 85, 100 and 120 mg/m2 respectively. All three patients receiving 120 mg/m2 developed grade 4 leukopenia and fever requiring intravenous antibiotics, and, in two of them, severe stomatitis (grades 3 and 4) was observed. Significant hair loss was apparent in all patients receiving doses higher than 50 mg/m2. The maximal tolerated dose of L-DXR appears to be 120 mg/m2, with leukopenia and stomatitis being the dose-limiting factors. While the subacute toxicity of L-DXR appears to be qualitatively similar to that of free DXR, its tolerance exceeds the recommended dose of free DXR (75 mg/m2) in the standard 3-weekly schedule. PMID- 2632262 TI - A controlled study of the ocular effects of tamoxifen in conventional dosage in the treatment of breast carcinoma. AB - The use of tamoxifen is expanding in its application in the treatment of breast carcinoma, and proposed prophylactic use. Tamoxifen in high dosage and in some reports at conventional dosage is associated with ocular toxicity. This study in a single blind fashion examined 79 patients receiving tamoxifen for varying treatment durations at conventional dosage and 115 patients not receiving tamoxifen. No ocular toxicity was found. Further follow up studies are required to ensure no toxicity develops in patients receiving high cumulative dosage on conventional therapy. PMID- 2632263 TI - In vivo tumour x host cell fusion in spontaneous Syrian hamster metastasis. AB - The HSV-2 tumour system was originally derived from an in vitro transformation of HEF by inactivated HSV-2. When injected s.c. these cells produce spindle-cell sarcomas which are metastatic at a low level. Detailed cytogenetic studies have provided evidence of tumour x normal host cell fusion in two of seven cell lines derived from metastatic lung deposits (Met D and Met G). This is the first report, in an unselected, intraspecific system, of in vivo cell fusion in spontaneous metastasis. The cells of Met D consisted of a heterogeneous population of fused and unfused tumour cells, whereas those of Met G were a homogeneous population of hybrid cells. Fusion, therefore, is likely to have occurred after metastasis in Met D and prior to, or at, metastasis in Met G. The fused cells of Met D showed comparatively little chromosome loss, while in Met G there was loss of approaching one haploid set of chromosomes. The generation of metastatic variants by cell fusion contributes to genetic diversity and emphasizes the importance of tumour heterogeneity in malignancy. PMID- 2632264 TI - Short-term effects of Carbetimer on calcium and bone metabolism in man. AB - Carbetimer is a new antineoplastic agent whose limiting toxicity consists of dose and treatment duration-dependent hypercalcemia. We examined the short-term effects of Carbetimer on calcium metabolism on days, 1, 3 and 5 during 11 5-day courses (6.5-8.2 g/m2/day given over daily 2-h infusions, q 3-4 weeks). Blood parameters were measured before and after Carbetimer, whereas urinary parameters were studied in three consecutive 2-h collections before, during and after Carbetimer infusions. Carbetimer effects were similar regardless of the infusion day. We found a consistent decrease of plasma ionized Ca (Ca2+) levels from 4.56 +/- 0.05 mg/dl before infusion to 4.28 +/- 0.06 mg/dl after infusion (P less than 0.001) whereas total serum Ca (corrected for protein levels) did not change. The fall of Ca2+ stimulated parathyroid function, as suggested by the increased plasma PTH levels, the decreased serum phosphorus and TmP/GFR index, or the increased urinary phosphate and cyclic AMP excretion. Carbetimer infusions also induced a marked increase in urinary Ca excretion (expressed as mg Ca/mg creatinine) from 0.093 +/- 0.011 before to 0.359 +/- 0.042 during and 0.177 +/- 0.031 after infusion (P less than 0.011). These changes were best explained by Carbetimer-induced Ca chelation that we confirmed in vitro by incubating Carbetimer at various concentrations in whole blood for 2 h at 37 degrees C, e.g. 2 mg of Carbetimer/ml lowered Ca2+ from 4.82 to 3.20 mg/dl without changing total Ca levels. On the other hand, a direct effect of Carbetimer on bone cannot be excluded since we observed an increase of serum osteocalcin levels from 2.0 +/- 0.3 to 2.5 +/- 0.4 ng/ml after infusion (P less than 0.001). In summary, the short-term effects of Carbetimer on calcium metabolism markedly differ from the long-term effects. They mainly consist of a dose-related calcium chelation leading to a decrease in Ca2+ levels, an increase in urinary Ca excretion and a stimulation of parathyroid function. PMID- 2632265 TI - Growth acceleration of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells treated by proteinase in vitro. AB - Since the cytotoxic effect of ionizing radiation increases in faster proliferating cell populations, the effects of a mild trypsin and bromelain treatment on the growth rate of Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells cultured in vitro were studied. A continuous exposure to proteinase started at the time of cell plating caused a temporary block of DNA synthesis that was followed by an accelerated growth rate 48 h later (approximately 1.5-fold). EAT cells exposed to bromelain and trypsin after completed adaptation to the substratum demonstrated a similar increase of growth 2 days after the beginning of the enzyme treatment. The acceleration of growth was also observed when exposure to proteinase was interrupted after 24 h but the stimulation effect was reversible and continued only 2 days. It is concluded that bromelain and trypsin are able to modify reversibly the growth rate of EAT cell population cultured in vitro. PMID- 2632266 TI - Growth-inhibitory and growth-stimulatory effects of epidermal growth factor on human breast cancer cell line, MDA.MB.436: dependence on culture conditions. AB - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is growth inhibitory for some cell lines, especially those having over-expressed EGF receptors. We have examined the effects of murine EGF on the growth of the human breast cancer cell line, MDA.MB.436, which has low numbers of EGF receptors. In the presence or absence of serum a 6 day exposure to 0.1 ng/ml EGF causes inhibition of growth if the culture medium is left unchanged during the course of the experiment but the same concentration of EGF causes stimulation above control if the EGF-containing medium is replaced daily. A 1 day exposure to 0.1 ng/ml followed by return to control medium has no effect on subsequent growth. The cells do not synthesize EGF receptor binding activity and added EGF is degraded within 2 days, suggesting that the inhibitory effects of EGF persist in its absence. PMID- 2632267 TI - Intraperitoneal tumor growth and chemotherapy in a rat model. AB - Animal models are important to evaluate new treatment modalities. In the present paper a new animal model is described, in which the effects of intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of cytostatic drugs on cancers restricted to the peritoneal cavity can be studied. The tumor cell line used is a chemically induced carcinoma (CC531), sensitive in vitro to cisplatin (cDDP), carboplatin (CBDCA), 5 fluorouracil (5-FU), doxorubicin and mitoxantrone. Three to 5 weeks after i.p. inoculation of 2 x 10(6) CC531 cells, 80% of Wag/Rij rats develop small tumor nodules on peritoneal surfaces. Both tumor size and localization at this time are comparable to the human situation, especially to cases of minimal residual disease ovarian carcinoma. The model has been used to determine the usefulness of i.p. treatment in comparison to i.v. Changing the route of administration of cDDP from i.v. to i.p. increases tumor platinum concentrations and prolongs survival. The model offers the possibility to study drug pharmacokinetics and tumor drug penetration related to i.p. drug administration. PMID- 2632268 TI - A phase I clinical and pharmacological study of weekly intravenous infusions of piritrexim (BW301U). AB - Thirty-eight patients with advanced resistant cancers were enrolled on this study of piritrexim (PTX; BW 301U) administered intravenously weekly for 4 weeks. Of 50 courses of treatment begun, 39 evaluable 4-week courses of the drug were completed by this group of patients. Dosages ranged from 44 to 530 mg/m2/week. One patient at each dosage level received an initial weekly dose of PTX in oral form accompanied by pharmacokinetic blood sampling after the oral dose and also after a subsequent intravenous dose. Toxicities included mild nausea and vomiting, and moderate to severe peripheral vein phlebitis. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were the dominant hematological toxicities. One patient with pulmonary metastases from malignant fibrous histiocytoma experienced a 12-week partial response to PTX treatment at a dosage of 400 mg/m2/week. Pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma for PTX concentrations was accomplished utilizing a competitive protein binding assay. The estimated total body clearance ranged from 136 to 173 ml/min/1.73 m2. Mean terminal half-life after intravenous administration was 5.61 +/- 2.38 h (S.D.), and after oral administration was 5.72 +/- 2.04 h. Mean systemic bioavailability after oral administration was 75 +/- 56%. PMID- 2632269 TI - Norethisterone acetate as secondary endocrine treatment in advanced breast cancer. PMID- 2632270 TI - TCNU in advanced renal cancer. Phase II study in previously untreated patients from the EORTC Genito-Urinary Tract Cancer Cooperative Group. PMID- 2632271 TI - A phase II study of M-azido-pyrimethamine ethane sulphonate (MZPES) in advanced, recurrent soft tissue sarcoma. An EORTC Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group Study. PMID- 2632272 TI - A meta-analysis of prognostic factors in advanced ovarian cancer with median survival and overall survival. PMID- 2632273 TI - Can bismuth decrease the kidney toxic effect of cis-platinum? PMID- 2632274 TI - EuroCODE: a new approach to collaborative research in clinical oncology. EuroCODE Steering Committee. PMID- 2632275 TI - PDQ: a new source of information on cancer therapy. PMID- 2632276 TI - Endogenous oestrogens and androgens in normal and malignant endometrial and mammary tissues. AB - Because of a well-established mechanism of action, tissue concentrations of steroid hormones are thought to be more closely related than blood levels to the biological effects exerted by these hormones. The results of studies on oestrogen and androgen concentrations in malignant and normal breast tissues are presented. Normal fatty and epithelial breast tissues and malignant tumour samples which had been obtained from pre- and postmenopausal women of two countries (Poland and The Netherlands) differing in the incidence of this malignancy were studied. In both countries highly comparable oestradiol concentrations in the breast were found. The median hormone levels in tumour tissue of 0.65 pmol/g tissue did not change with age. They were significantly higher than in normal epithelial (0.48 and 0.25 pmol/g in pre- and postmenopausal women) and fatty tissues (0.54 and 0.19 pmol/g respectively). Particularly in postmenopausal women, hormone levels in tumour tissue were much higher than plasma concentrations, which are comparable in both populations. Oestrone levels decreased with age in normal and malignant breast tissues. In both countries median levels in normal and fatty tissues of premenopausal women were similar (1.10 pmol/g tissue) but higher than those in postmenopausal patients (0.45 pmol/g tissue. Significantly lower levels were found in the malignant tissue samples of Polish premenopausal women (0.70 pmol/g) than in Dutch women (1.05 pmol/g); similarly, after menopause the tissue concentrations were higher in Dutch (0.55 pmol/g) than in Polish (0.31 pmol/g) patients. Thus lower oestrone tissue levels were observed in tumours from the country with the lower incidence for breast cancer. In a comparable study of uterine tissues, obtained from pre- and postmenopausal women, higher oestradiol concentrations than in the breast were found, whereas estrone levels were very similar. The levels in the uterus did not correlate with those in the plasma; no relation with histology was observed. The results of androgen measurements in breast tissues were in agreement with the concept that, particularly, androstenedione and testosterone could play a role as substrates for local aromatization. Lower concentrations were observed in the tumours than in the normal and fatty tissues. More extensive investigations will be needed to clarify the role of local formation (aromatization, hydrolysis by sulphatase) of oestrogens in tissues and of the interconversion of less active (oestrone) to more active (oestradiol) oestrogens. PMID- 2632277 TI - Control of cell proliferation in senescent cells. PMID- 2632278 TI - Growth factors as probes of cell aging. AB - We present examples of four types of alterations which contribute to the senescence phenotype of WI-38 cells: a) in senescent cells there is an increased lability of the tyrosine autophosphorylation capacity of detergent isolated EGF receptor; b) following serum stimulation, the calmodulin protein level fails to increase in senescent cells, although the calmodulin mRNA level increases as expected; c) following heat shock at 43 degrees C, senescent cells produce both less RNA and less protein for the HSP70 and HSP90 genes; d) we find that membranes isolated in basic buffer from senescent or young cells increase the EGF proliferative response of senescing cells, in contrast to the finding by others that membranes isolated in neutral buffer inhibit cell proliferation (Pereira Smith et al., Senescent and quiescent cell inhibitors of DNA synthesis Exp. Cell Res. 160, 297-306, 1985; Stein and Atkins, Membrane-associated inhibition of DNA synthesis in senescent human diploid fibroblasts: Characterization and comparison to quiescent cell inhibitor. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83 9030-9034, 1986). We conclude that senescence alterations are complex and occur at many levels, and that senescence changes are not identical to quiescence features. PMID- 2632279 TI - The relationship between cell size, the activity of DNA polymerase alpha and proliferative activity in human diploid fibroblast-like cell cultures. AB - In kinetic studies with human diploid fibroblast-like (HDFL) cells carried out in heterokaryons and in monokaryons, we have observed a first-order relationship between the level or concentration of DNA polymerase alpha and the rate of initiation of new rounds of DNA synthesis. Because cell size is inversely proportional to the concentration of DNA polymerase alpha and presumably other replication factors, it is inversely related to the initiation of new rounds of DNA synthesis. An inverse relationship between cell size and clonogenic activity was also observed in both unsorted HDFL cells and in HDFL cells sorted on the basis of size. Experimental enlargement of cells by serum deprivation at low density resulted in changes in colony-forming ability that would be predicted by these studies. A causal relationship between the observed increase in cell size with advancing passage level and the loss of proliferative activity is suggested by these studies; in addition, cell size may be a useful biophysical marker for cellular aging. PMID- 2632280 TI - Studies on the molecular-genetic basis of replicative senescence in Werner syndrome and normal fibroblasts. AB - Based on evidence that human diploid fibroblasts (HDF) from the Werner syndrome (WS) of premature aging might overexpress an inhibitor of DNA synthesis (IDS), we prepared a eukaryotic cDNA expression library from WS mRNA and tested it for IDS activity in a transient assay. Two of six WS cDNA pools tested gave IDS activity, then on plus/minus screening revealed several differentially expressed cDNA clones. By slot blot and Northern analysis, one cDNA clone was found to be overexpressed in WS and normal senescent HDF, but not in quiescent normal HDF, indicating that it is senescence-specific. Further studies are needed to clarify: a) whether this cDNA truly acts as an IDS; b) if so, whether it acts alone or in concert with other cDNAs; and c) whether it is involved in the degenerative and malignant sequelae of WS and normal aging. PMID- 2632281 TI - Approach to the isolation of antiproliferative genes. AB - Poly(A) RNAs from normal rat liver and senescent human fibroblasts appear to have more antiproliferative activity than RNAs from regenerating rat liver and early passage human fibroblasts. We have screened two rat liver and one human liver library by differential hybridization and isolated four candidate cDNAs for this antiproliferative activity; one is fibronectin and three others do not match to any sequence in the mammalian portion of the GENBANK database. We are currently testing the antiproliferative nature of these cDNAs by microinjection of hybrid selected RNA, and we describe an alternative strategy for cloning such genes based on construction of a cDNA library in an RNA expression vector. PMID- 2632282 TI - Cloning and molecular characterization of a cDNA clone to statin, a protein specifically expressed in nonproliferating quiescent and senescent fibroblasts. PMID- 2632283 TI - Growth-factor-inducible gene expression in senescent human fibroblasts. AB - Human diploid fibroblasts undergo only a finite number of population doublings in culture. At the end of their life span in culture, human fibroblasts enter an irreversible quiescent state, a process termed cellular senescence. Senescent cells fail to proliferate despite an adequate supply of growth factors in the medium and no apparent change in the number or binding properties of cellular growth factor receptors. In proliferating fibroblast cultures, growth factors have been shown to induce the expression of several genes (growth-related genes). In this report, we review some of our findings on the expression of growth related genes in senescent cells. We find that the mRNAs for some growth-related genes are not induced by growth factors in senescent cells. By contrast, the mRNAs for other such genes actually increase after human fibroblasts have undergone senescence, although these mRNAs are not necessarily translated efficiently. Our results indicate that multiple changes in gene expression occur during cellular senescence and suggest that the failure to proliferate is a consequence of a more complex change in cellular phenotype, akin to the cessation of proliferation that accompanies terminal differentiation. PMID- 2632284 TI - Polyamine metabolism and cell-cycle-dependent gene expression in IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts during senescence in culture. AB - Aging of IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts in culture is accompanied by specific changes of polyamine metabolism including: (a) a fivefold decrease of serum induced activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC1 EC 4.1.1.17); (b) a six to tenfold increase of polyamine catabolism; and (c) a reduction of putrescine uptake. These changes apparently led to a significant reduction of putrescine accumulation in senescent cells following serum stimulation. Since the induction of ODC is a mid-G1 event, the change of polyamine metabolism may be related to changes of expression of other cell-cycle-dependent genes during cellular aging. In addition to ODC gene, we have examined the expression of two early G1 genes, c erbB and c-myc, and one late G1/S gene thymidine kinase, at mRNA levels, in both young and old IMR-90 cells. We have also compared the enzyme activities of two late G1/S genes, thymidine kinase and thymidylate synthetase, in young and old cells following serum stimulation. We did not observe significant changes of c erbB, c-myc, and ODC mRNA levels during cellular senescence. However, we found that serum-induced mRNA level of thymidine kinase gene in old IMR-90 cells was significantly reduced compared to that in the young cells. Results also demonstrate that aging of IMR-90 cells was accompanied by significant decrease of both thymidine kinase and thymidylate synthetase activities. In view of the recognized importance of polyamines in growth regulation, it is possible that alteration of polyamine metabolism may contribute to the impairment of expression of some key G1/S genes and such impairment may contribute to the ultimate loss of dividing potential in senescent cells. PMID- 2632285 TI - Trace elements in patients on chronic hemodialysis. 1. Plasma aluminium. PMID- 2632286 TI - Trace elements in patients on chronic hemodialysis. 2. Plasma magnesium. PMID- 2632287 TI - A study of natural history of chronic glomerulonephritis. 16. Factors that influence the survival of patients with diffuse mesangial cell proliferative glomerulonephritis with focal sclerotic changes. PMID- 2632288 TI - [Statistical analysis of new out-patients in the Department of Medicine, Fukuoka Dental College Hospital. 10: From January 1 to December 31, 1987]. AB - To clarify the common diseases of new out-patients, a retrospective study was made in 1.523 out-patients, who visited our department from January 1 to December 31, 1987. Of 1,523 out-patients, 3,513 diseases were diagnosed in 1,350 patients and the others were normal subjects who visited the department for obtaining health certificates. Of these 3,513 diseases, 1,220 (34.7%) were respiratory diseases including upper respiratory infections, 471 (13.4%) were gastrointestinal diseases, 396 (11.3%) were renal and urinary tract diseases, 371 (10.6%) were liver and biliary tract diseases including pancreas diseases, 354 (10.1%) were cardiovascular diseases, 257 (7.3%) were allergic, muscle, bone and connective tissue diseases, 206 (5.9%) were neurologic diseases, 153 (4.4%) were metabolic diseases, 46 (1.3%) were endocrine diseases and 39 (1.1%) were hematologic diseases. Of these 1,523 out-patients 20 (1.5%) patients were positive for HBs antigen. PMID- 2632289 TI - [Research on the fatigue of dentists]. AB - Fatigue of the dentist is mainly caused by his forced working posture. Although several studies of the cause of the fatigue and its recovery way have been done, it seems that they are not practically applied to the dental field. In this study authors obtained some basic information for the fatigue of dentists and analysed them in view point of the experience year and working posture of dentists. The results were as in the following: 1) Rate of dentists to feel the fatigue after dental treatment was 26.7% in "often" on the average, and 90% including such dentists as "occasionally". There was few difference between the fatigue and the experience year and working posture, except for a number of the dentists experienced below 10 years, who felt the fatigue in "occasionally". 2) The characteristics of physical parts for appearance of the fatigue were as follows. (1) In the standing working group, "languor" of crus and back in the dentist group experienced below 10 years, and "pain" of waist in the group experienced over 30 years were recognized. The complaints of the fatigue were not so complicated. (2) In the sitting working group, "stiffness", "pain" and "languor" of waist were recognized complicatedly. The fatigue of fingers and arms were recognized only in this working group of posture. (3) In the standing and sitting combined working group, "stiffness", "pain" and "languor" of waist were recognized complicatedly in the dentists experienced over 30 years, and their rates were in high degree.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632290 TI - [The dental anthropological study on the erupted mesiodens in the Paiwan tribe of Formosan aborigines]. AB - Mesiodens is one supernumerary tooth which appears in upper intra-central incisors. This tooth was originally described by Bolk (1917) who proposed the term 'mesiodens'. We investigated the incidence of mesiodens for the Paiwan tribe of Formosan aborigines (9 tribes) living in the mountain area of Taiwan. We have been continued to research on these tribes as viewed from dental anthropology. The materials used in this study were plaster casts of 152 males and 238 females (dental age: IIIA or over). The samples of the Paiwan tribe were selected from the dental casts obtained at Taitung and Pingtung (Machia and Wutai) in southern Taiwan. The results were as follows: 1. The occurrence of the erupted mesiodens in the upper incisal region was five cases (3.3%) in males, but was none in females. This tendency of incidence was much the same as that of Japanese. 2. The mesiodens was of rudimentary form: four cases (80%) showed conical-shaped type and the rest case was the sort of incisor. 3. In the incidence of the erupted mesiodens, the Paiwan tribe showed significantly higher than Japanese. PMID- 2632291 TI - [Measuring periodontal pockets with contrast media. 1. Preparation of contrast media]. AB - Periodontal pocket is main clinical symptom of periodontitis. Measurement of periodontal pocket depth is the most important examination. The purpose of this study was to get contrast medium radiography of periodontal pocket. The present study was compared with contrast media of varying concentration. Contrast medium sample containing 40% Sodium Iothalamate and 30% Meglumine Adipiodone had slight higher radiopacity than the others. These contrast media-sample were adequate to clinical practice over 40% concentration. Using Sodium Iothalamate and Meglumine Adipiodone, radiopacity was able to differ from radiopacity of teeth at 60%-100%. PMID- 2632292 TI - [Local analgesic action and tissue irritability of nishika thesirol, a root canal disinfectant]. AB - Local analgesic action and tissue irritability of nishika thesirol made newly, which was one of the root canal disinfectants, were investigated. 1) Nishika thesirol was less irritative than any other drugs such as formocresol, champhophenique and creodon, and there was a significant difference between nishika thesirol and formocresol. 2) Marked local analgesic action of nishika thesirol was observed by means of formalin method in mice. Formalin-induced pain response was also inhibited significantly, when nishika thesirol was directly applied to the sciatic nerve 3 days before the experiment. 3) Thesit, one of the effective ingredients of nishika thesirol, had a long lasting local anesthetic action as compared with the same dose of lidocaine. PMID- 2632293 TI - [A case of carcinoma of the tongue treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy]. AB - A case of carcinoma of the tongue treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been reported. The patient was a 61-year-old man complaining of tumor and contact pain at the left margin of the tongue. The tumor was oval and elastic soft with pedicle, measuring 26 X 16 X 8 mm in size. The tumor was histopathologically diagnosed as a highly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was treated with CDDP (75 mg/body) and PEP (5 mg/body) for 5 days. After two trials with about a 3-week interval, treatment result showed partial response. This result demonstrated that combination chemotherapy of CDDP and PEP is an effective regimen for remission neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma. PMID- 2632294 TI - Early diagnosis and classification in acute pancreatitis. A comparison of clinical outcome with findings at computed tomography and Ranson's prognostic signs. AB - The clinical outcome in 52 consecutive episodes of suspected acute pancreatitis was compared with Ranson's prognostic signs and findings on noncontrast and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans performed within 24 h of patient admission. The predictive value of CT scan for diagnosis was 95% for positive results and 53% for negative results. In providing an accurate prognosis of a single attack, scoring of extrapancreatic signs was as good as that of Ranson's prognostic signs. CT with contrast medium revealed pancreatic ischaemia in 3 cases of 4 with clinically severe disease. The risk of developing severe pancreatitis was 23% in first attacks and 6% in relapses. Early CT scan is recommended in most patients with suspected pancreatitis to confirm diagnosis and to predict the severity of an attack. PMID- 2632295 TI - Effects of various cytokines on collagen synthesis by normal rat hepatocytes in primary cultures and fibroblasts. AB - Collagen formation is an important function of liver parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells that may be relevant to the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. In the present study, the effect of various kinds of cytokines and prednisolone on collagen synthesis by hepatocytes obtained from perfused rat livers and confluent human skin fibroblasts were investigated. The cells were cultured in serum-free medium for 24 h with [3H]proline and various additives. The amounts of collagen and noncollagen protein synthesis were calculated from the incorporation of [3H]proline into collagen-sensitive and collagen-resistant proteins. The additions of interleukin 1 alpha, interleukin 1 beta and transforming growth factor alpha enhanced both collagen and noncollagen protein synthesis by hepatocytes as well as by fibroblasts. Transforming growth factor beta also increased both collagen and noncollagen protein synthesis by fibroblasts while it selectively inhibited collagen synthesis by hepatocytes. Interferon preparations and prednisolone showed a selective suppression of collagen synthesis by both cells, indicating that these additives did not affect either cell viability or proliferation during the observed period. These results suggest that collagen synthesis by liver parenchymal cells is either positively or negatively modulated by various kinds of cytokines and hormone. PMID- 2632296 TI - Effect of amino acids on H+ production by isolated rat parietal cells. AB - We investigated the hypothesis of a direct effect of amino acids on gastric parietal cells. [14C]aminopyrine uptake into isolated enriched rat parietal cells served as a quantitative index of H+ production. Cells were incubated in media containing 1 mM Ca2+ in the absence or presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), or 3 mM Ca2+ without IBMX. Under these different conditions, L-arginine, L-phenylalanine and L-tryptophan (10(-6) M to 3 X 10(-2) M) failed to alter basal [14C]aminopyrine uptake as well as the response to submaximal stimulation by histamine, forskolin, N6O2 dibutyryladenosine-3',5'-(cyclic)-phosphate (db cAMP) or carbachol. Pentagastrin failed to elicit an appreciable response in the presence and absence of 10(-3) M of all three amino acids studied. It is concluded that in vivo the potent stimulation of gastric acid secretion by L-arginine, L-phenylalanine and L tryptophan is mediated by other than direct mechanisms. PMID- 2632297 TI - Expression of preS antigens in serum during the chronic phase of hepatitis B virus infection. AB - Serum patterns of preS gene encoded proteins during the chronic phase of hepatitis B virus infection and their relationship with hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid and hepatitis B 'e' antigen were investigated. The results indicate that the presence of preS1 and/or preS2 antigens in serum does not correlate with circulating hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid and hepatitis B 'e' antigen. It is, therefore, suggested that preS antigens cannot be regarded as specific markers of active viral replication in chronically hepatitis B virus infected patients. PMID- 2632298 TI - Caring for adolescents. PMID- 2632299 TI - What is a good doctor? A personal view. PMID- 2632300 TI - Patient-centredness in the consultation. 1: A method for measurement. AB - This paper presents a method for assessing the doctor-patient interaction in terms of its patient-centredness. Patient-centredness was defined in terms of doctor responses which enabled patients to express all of their reasons for coming, including symptoms, thoughts, feelings and expectations. The method was tested and found to be valid (correlations for criterion validity rs = 0.51 and 0.89), reliable (inter-rater correlation rs = 0.91, intra-rater correlation rs = 0.88), and sensitive, in that it was able to detect differences among doctors (P less than 0.001) and among doctor responses to different patient offers (P less than 0.001). The method was also found to be practical in that it was inexpensive and could be used for a variety of purposes such as by tutors to give feedback to their students, by examiners as part of the evaluation of candidates' consultation skills, and by students and clinicians alike, for self-assessment. The finding that the score for the first two minutes of the consultation correlated highly with the score for the entire consultation (rs = 0.806) greatly increases the time effectiveness of the method, suggesting that it would be practical for use on a large scale, including student assessment and future studies of the relationship between patient-centredness and patient outcomes. PMID- 2632301 TI - The impact of discussion of non-medical problems in the physician's office. AB - To determine the impact of discussion of non-medical problems with the physician, patients with at least one chronic illness who were taking medication were interviewed in their family doctor's office. Of 149 patients interviewed, 90.6% reported at least one non-medical problem. Half (51%) of those patients with a problem had discussed it with their doctor. More than half (55%) of those patients discussing a problem reported that the discussion was helpful. Patient compliance and satisfaction were positively associated with 'helpful' discussion, but not with discussion per se. In particular, the two aspects of doctor-patient communication which were significantly associated with feeling helped were: 'Doctor tells me all I want to know about my illness' and 'Doctor gives me a chance to say what is really on my mind'. Both factors reflect care which is oriented to patient concerns. The study results provide support for a patient centred approach to care. PMID- 2632302 TI - Evaluation of clinical diagnosis and stressful life events in patients at a rural family practice centre. AB - The occurrence of stressful life events in patients might be used as a cue for the diagnosis of psychosocial illness at a consultation where a physical symptom has been presented. In this study 555 patients attending a rural family practice clinic were interviewed about their stressful life events using a questionnaire. Stressful life events had occurred in 44.7% of patients and the total number of events recorded was 624. More life events were found in patients who were female, older and of lower social class. Three types of clinical diagnoses were recognized: simple physical diseases (55.1%) and psychosocial illness with and without physical diseases (36.8% and 8.1% respectively). Patients who were female, older and of lower socioeconomic status and who had experienced more life events had more psychosocial problems than the rest of the group (P less than 0.001). The diagnosis of psychosocial illness could be predicted by the variables of stressful life event and age up to 66%. PMID- 2632303 TI - Evaluation of an educational programme for telephone advisers in primary health care. AB - Telephone advisers, usually registered nurses, have a very important role in the Swedish primary health care service. In order to improve this service, a special educational programme has been worked out for registered nurses working at a Swedish health centre. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate this educational programme at one of the health centres. The quality of the telephone advice was evaluated by a blind observer. After the educational programme the quality of advice was improved. Among the participating nurses, the confidence and the satisfaction with the work increased after the educational programme. PMID- 2632304 TI - General practitioners' opinions about their responsibility for medical tasks: comparison between England and The Netherlands. AB - A questionnaire survey compared a sample of 371 general practitioners in the Avon region of England with 74 general practitioners in the east of the Netherlands. A list of 14 medical tasks--six technical tasks and eight chronic disease management tasks--was presented and the doctors indicated whether each task was totally, often, sometimes, seldom or not at all the responsibility of the general practitioner. The results show that English general practitioners felt more responsibility for chronic problems than the Dutch doctors whereas Dutch general practitioners felt more responsibility for technical tasks than the English. Fewer general practitioners in both countries felt responsible for technical tasks than for chronic disease. Reasons for the differences in terms of the structure of general practice and training are discussed. PMID- 2632305 TI - The semantics of diagnosis and management of genitourinary infections: a cross specialty study. AB - To investigate agreement between physicians about diagnosis and management concepts of genitourinary infection, data from 63 symptomatic women was collected and distributed to a panel consisting of three general practitioners, three urologists and three nephrologists. Using double-blind methods, the panel was asked individually to give a preliminary diagnosis and a management recommendation for each case. Pairwise comparison of the evaluations showed 66% agreement for diagnosis and 79% agreement for prescription of antibiotics. Adjusting for chance agreement, the kappa index was 0.43 for prescription of antibiotics, 0.31 for diagnosis of cystitis, 0.20 for vulvovaginitis, 0.21 for pyelonephritis and 0.09 for urethritis. The specialist groups ordered significantly more laboratory investigations, resulting in a 75-95% more expensive work-up compared with general practitioners. The findings imply a need for more distinct use of the concept of 'urethritis' and are consistent with previously demonstrated differences in resource use between general practitioners and specialist physicians. PMID- 2632306 TI - Usefulness of a standard battery of laboratory tests in investigating chronic fatigue in adults. AB - Twenty-two adults with chronic fatigue were studied to determine the clinical usefulness of commonly applied laboratory tests. Subjects with the chief complaint of fatigue persisting for more than one year were followed for an average of seven months at a university family health centre. During this time a group of commonly recommended tests were carried out and the patients had repeated physical examinations. Physical diseases and laboratory abnormalities were few, and patients with abnormal values and active problems were followed until their fatigue resolved or their abnormalities reverted to normal following therapy. The study demonstrated that the presence of an abnormal laboratory result in a fatigued individual does not necessarily indicate the cause of fatigue. A psychiatric history was also performed and patients were tested with the symptom check list 90-R (SCL-90-R), a 90-item psychological symptom check list. Seven patients were receiving psychotherapy when they enrolled in the study. Two additional subjects entered therapy after the start of the study. Results on the symptom check list for the study group were largely abnormal, with a majority scoring in the highest quartile for depression, paranoid ideation and psychoticism. It is concluded that the investigation of patients with fatigue which has lasted for longer than one year should focus on psychological causes. In this group of patients laboratory abnormalities are not useful in guiding evaluation or treatment for their fatigue. PMID- 2632307 TI - General practice and continuity of care: organizational aspects. AB - Continuity of care is an interaction between patient and doctor lasting over time. This relationship is governed by several factors related to the patient, to the doctor and to the health care system. This study evaluates some organizational aspects of the primary health care system of Norway which influence continuity of care. Factors such as practice organization, responsibilities for patients and availability of the physician are related to five conceptual aspects of continuity: the chronological, geographical, interdisciplinary, interpersonal and informational dimensions. In Norway patients are free to change primary care physicians as and when they wish. There is also a referral system and the patient cannot, in principle, go directly to a specialist or to a hospital. This open-access primary health care system provides a base from which continuity of care in other countries may be described and discussed. PMID- 2632308 TI - Morbidity at an Amsterdam inner city clinic in relation to drug use. AB - In a small clinic in a deprived area of Amsterdam, a city with a high incidence of recreational drug use, sexually transmitted diseases and social problems, the association between drug use and disease was notable. Frequent presentation with sexually transmitted diseases, repeated trauma, unexplained recurrence of infections of the skin and respiratory tract, or severe dental caries may alert the physician to the possibility of recreational drug use and with it an increased possibility of HIV related illness. The group of drug users staying permanently in the city appeared to be ageing, without being replenished by youngsters. Very young drug users were mainly 'drug tourists' from neighbouring countries who were without medical insurance or money. PMID- 2632309 TI - Self-medication among secondary school pupils in Hong Kong: a descriptive study. AB - A self-completion questionnaire was used to survey self-medication among secondary school pupils in Hong Kong. Data were collected from 4793 pupils aged 10 to 23 years (55.9% female and 44.1% male). Nearly three quarters (72.1%) had taken self-medication without consulting a medical practitioner and 51.8% of the sample had done so without the knowledge of older family members. The prevalence of self-medication increased with age. More than half the pupils (50.4%) indicated that trivial illness did not warrant a consultation with a doctor. Information relating to the sources of self-administered drugs, types of drugs used and sources of information about these drugs was collected. Medicine cabinets at home and pharmacy shops were the two most common places from which the pupils obtained their drugs. Though the prevalence of taking tranquillizers and sleeping tablets was found to be low, the probability of young people, especially boys, obtaining dangerous drugs from these places should not be overlooked. The medical, nursing and teaching professions should take a more active role in health education, as the sources from which the pupils obtained their drug knowledge, in descending order of frequency, were: family members, previous illness experience, pharmacy shops, doctor or nurse, television or radio, newspapers or magazines, friends and teachers. PMID- 2632310 TI - [Voluntary hand movements in man]. PMID- 2632311 TI - [The age-related dynamics in the regulation of the frequency of the heart contractions in schoolchildren during different physical activities]. PMID- 2632312 TI - [The circadian rhythms of metabolic systems as an index of the body function of athletes]. PMID- 2632313 TI - [The inhibitory reactions of the gastroduodenal zone during electrical stimulation of the area of the afferent innervation by the vagus nerve on the human external ear]. PMID- 2632314 TI - [The characteristics of the work of the duty personnel of a thermoelectric power station on the night shift]. PMID- 2632315 TI - [The effect of the degree of temporal synchronization of speech stimuli on the results of dichotic testing]. PMID- 2632316 TI - [The efferent conduction of the spinal cord following trauma]. PMID- 2632317 TI - [The effect of posture on the thermoregulating activity of the shoulder muscles]. PMID- 2632318 TI - [The impulse activity of the motor units activated by vibration of the muscle]. PMID- 2632319 TI - [An automated system for collecting and storing multiparameter and multichannel electrophysiological information for the study of long-term ongoing processes in the brain]. PMID- 2632320 TI - [A computer method for finding the amplitude-frequency characteristics of the cardiorespiratory system in the task of adaptation to alpine conditions]. PMID- 2632321 TI - [A method for analyzing the forced expiration spirogram based on the time constant of the process]. PMID- 2632322 TI - [Interhemispheric differences in the spatial-frequency analysis of images]. PMID- 2632323 TI - [The functional dynamics of the brain during transcranial electroanalgesia]. PMID- 2632324 TI - [Interhemispheric alpha rhythm asymmetry and the efficiency of mnemonic activity]. PMID- 2632325 TI - [The concept of the norm in assessing the human immune status]. PMID- 2632326 TI - [The physiological aspects of adaptive modifications to biomembrane lipids in man in the north]. PMID- 2632327 TI - [The dynamics of the body energy characteristics during human transmeridian travels]. PMID- 2632329 TI - [Elevated skin temperature as a criterion of adaptation to the high temperature of an arid zone]. PMID- 2632328 TI - [A clinico-physiological assessment of the functional interrelations of the body hemodynamics and heat status in hypertension]. PMID- 2632330 TI - [The functional asymmetry of the brain and the structure of the visual field]. PMID- 2632331 TI - [The effect of altitude hypoxia on respiration and blood circulation in the initial period of adaptation]. PMID- 2632332 TI - [The sympathetic-adrenal and kinin-kallikrein systems in the pre- and postoperative periods]. PMID- 2632333 TI - [The significance of kidney homeostatic function in forming the hemodynamic types of children in the prepuberty period]. PMID- 2632334 TI - Future growth in biotechnology in the developing countries. AB - Conditions in developing countries are nowhere near what they should be to reap the benefits of modern biotechnology. Be that as it may, there are possibilities in which intelligent thinking and rational planning by the people concerned, combined with input from international agencies and national centres of excellence, can lead to potential economic gains. One possibility is the establishment of collaborative research on a regional basis to tackle common problems and to train each other's manpower in acquired skills. Similarity of circumstances would make these programmes more relevant and cost effective. To ensure the success of joint programmes in the local setting, foreign input in the form of finances, provision of critical laboratory materials, and expert advice in the selection of technically solvable problems becomes inevitable. Thus participation by the developed-country agencies and laboratories in the developing countries presents a purposeful pooling of efforts that will sow the seeds for sustainable development of the developing world. Given that, new technology would prove a boon and a blessing for humanity in general and for the developing world in particular. PMID- 2632335 TI - Mammalian chromosome imprinting. PMID- 2632336 TI - Genes of the immune response: disease associations. PMID- 2632337 TI - Summary report on animal breeding strategies workshop. PMID- 2632338 TI - Mathematical analysis of DNA sequences. PMID- 2632339 TI - Organelle evolution. PMID- 2632341 TI - Human mutation rates. PMID- 2632340 TI - Computerization of data bases for genetic stock collections. PMID- 2632342 TI - What is the intent of the history of genetics? PMID- 2632343 TI - Protein targeting and protein secretion. PMID- 2632344 TI - The genetic basis of chemical resistance. PMID- 2632345 TI - Transgenic animals: techniques. PMID- 2632346 TI - Interfacing biotech in industry and universities. PMID- 2632347 TI - DNA repair replication by soluble extracts from human lymphoid cell lines. AB - A system is described in which extracts from human cells can perform repair replication on DNA damaged by ultraviolet light or chemical carcinogens. Whole cell extracts from lymphoid cell lines are incubated with damaged plasmid DNA circles at 30 degrees C in the presence of ATP and the four deoxynucleoside triphosphates. Repair synthesis is monitored by the incorporation of alpha-32P dATP into closed circular plasmid molecules. Analysis of the time course of the reaction suggests that the slowest step in repair is incision, rather than polymerization or ligation. The size of repair patches inserted into ultraviolet irradiated DNA during a reaction was estimated by substitution of thymidine triphosphate with 5-bromodeoxyuridine triphosphate and sedimentation in alkaline cesium chloride gradients. Patches with heterogeneous sizes of less than 120 bases were observed. PMID- 2632348 TI - Transgenic mice to study T-cell receptor gene regulation and repertoire formation. AB - Transgenic mice have been obtained with genes coding for an alpha beta T-cell receptor that recognizes the male-specific antigen H-Y in association with the Db class I major histocompatibility complex molecule. Most if not all of the T-cells express the beta chain encoded by the transgene and show allelic exclusion of endogenous beta genes. In contrast, the expression of the alpha transgene does not completely block rearrangement and formation of functional endogenous alpha genes. In H-2b transgenic female mice the transgenic T-cell receptor is functionally expressed on at least 30% of CD8+ peripheral T-lymphocytes as indicated by their ability to lyse male target cells. Also in transgenic H-2b male mice a large proportion of peripheral T-cells appear to express the transgenic receptor. However, these cells do not react with male target cells because they show only low level or no expression of CD8 cell interaction molecules. Tolerance is established in the male transgenic thymus through deletion of CD4+CD8+ immature thymocytes. PMID- 2632350 TI - Likelihood estimation of quantitative genetic parameters when selection occurs: models and problems. AB - Conceptual aspects of estimation of genetic components of variance and covariance under selection are discussed, with special attention to likelihood methods. Certain selection processes are described and alternative likelihoods that can be used for analysis are specified. There is a mathematical relationship between the likelihoods that permits comparing the relative amount of information contained in them. Theoretical arguments and evidence indicate that point inferences made from likelihood functions are not affected by some forms of selection. PMID- 2632349 TI - Structure, organization, and expression of the 16-kDa heat shock gene family of Caenorhabditis elegans. AB - Exposure of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to a heat shock results in the induction of a number of genes not normally expressed in the animals under normal growth conditions. Among these are a family of genes encoding 16 kDa heat shock proteins (hsp16s). The major hsp16 genes have been cloned and characterized, and found to reside at two clusters in the C. elegans genome. One cluster contains two distinct genes, hsp16-1 and hsp16-48, arranged in divergent orientations separated by only 348 base pairs (bp). An identical pair, duplicated and inverted with respect to the first pair, is located 415 bp away. This cluster, located on chromosome V, therefore contains four genes as two identical pairs within less than 4 kilobases of DNA, and the pairs form the arms of a large inverted repeat. A second pair of genes, hsp16-2 and hsp16-41, constitutes a second hsp16 locus with an organization very similar to that of the hsp16-1/48 locus, except that it is not duplicated. Comparisons of the derived amino acid sequences show that hsp16-1 and hsp16-2 form a closely related pair, as do hsp16-41 and hsp16-48. These hsps show extensive sequence identity with the small hsps of Drosophila, as well as with mammalian alpha-crystallins. The coding region of each gene is interrupted by a single intron of approximately 50 bp, in a position homologous to that of the first intron in mouse alpha-crystallin gene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632351 TI - The evolution of growth trajectories and other complex quantitative characters. AB - Growth trajectories differ from many other quantitative characters in that they are characterized by a continuous function rather than by a finite number of discrete measurements. We review here recently developed methods for predicting the evolution of growth trajectories under the influence of natural or artificial selection. Using our method, analysis of genetic data from mice shows that the patterns of genetic variation arising from developmental processes impose constraints on evolution of growth trajectories. These constraints can be quantified to reveal the families of growth trajectories that can be produced by selection and those families that cannot. The data suggest there may be relatively few evolutionary degrees of freedom for growth trajectories despite the presence of abundant additive genetic variation to alter size and (or) growth rate at every age. The description of these constraints may be useful to both biologists who would like to determine the evolutionary options available to natural populations and to breeders who would like to alter growth trajectories to economically improve domesticated species. Our methods and conclusions can be generalized to other kinds of "infinite-dimensional" or complex characters, including morphological shapes and norms of reaction. PMID- 2632353 TI - Impact of economic policy on the development of genetics in China. PMID- 2632352 TI - Genetic risk assessment of germ-line mutations. Introduction. PMID- 2632354 TI - [Suggestions and environmental hygiene and disinfection in the dental office]. PMID- 2632355 TI - [Significance of preoperative diagnosis in implantation]. PMID- 2632356 TI - Illinois dentists and their hobbies. PMID- 2632357 TI - Dental licensure: what practitioners need to know. PMID- 2632358 TI - Albumin bound nonesterified fatty acids inhibit in vitro lipid peroxidation. AB - Individual nonesterified fatty acids were bound to albumin in vitro and these fatty acid albumin complexes were used to study their effect on lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes. Peroxidation was induced by various methods and malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured as an index of peroxidation. Among the fatty acids tested, albumin-bound monounsaturated fatty acids showed more inhibition of peroxidation as compared to other fatty acids. Increasing the concentration of iron in the peroxidizing system, partially reversed the inhibition by fatty acids. Moreover, albumin-bound fatty acid did not inhibit iron independent peroxidation. This suggests that, like nonesterified fatty acids, albumin-bound fatty acids inhibit peroxidation by chelating the iron. Albumin fatty acid complex, similar to the fatty acid composition present in the circulating albumin, also showed inhibition of peroxidation. These data indicate that nonesterified fatty acids even when bound to albumin are capable of inhibiting peroxidation and circulating albumin, which contains various fatty acids bound to it, may impart some antioxidant effect in addition to other plasma antioxidants. PMID- 2632359 TI - Alpha-galactoside-binding isolectins from wild jack fruit seed (Artocarpus hirsuta): purification and properties. AB - Five isolectins with marked specificity for alpha-linked galactose were purified from the wild jack (Artocarpus hirsuta) seeds by affinity chromatography on cross linked guar gum. They were composed of a glycosylated subunit A (Mr = 16 kDa) and a nonglycosylated subunit B (Mr = 11 kDa) in noncovalent association. The isolectins which eluted as a single peak of Mr 45 kDa on gel filtration in Biogel P-100 and in a TSK G-3000 SW high pressure column, were resolved into five peaks on electrophoresis at pH 4.5. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoreogram of the major isolectin band suggested that the isolectins may be the five possible tetrameric combinations of A and B subunits. The combined isolectins bound only two molecules of 4-methyl umbelliferyl alpha-D-galactoside with a binding constant of 4.75 x 10(4) M-1. The pH optimum of sugar binding was 7.0. The isolectins specifically bound to human IgG and IgA but not to IgM. PMID- 2632360 TI - Effects of dexamethasone on lipid metabolism in rat organs. AB - Injecting of dexamethasone (10 mg/kg body weight) for 8 days to rats decreased the body weight and feed intake by 29 and 50%, respectively. The increase in weights of liver, heart, kidneys and testes per 100 g body weight was 55, 37, 33 and 13%, respectively. Though, in general, the triglyceride content increased in all the organs, maximum increase (9-fold) was observed in the liver. The plasma showed elevated levels of triglycerides, cholesterol and phospholipids. In hepatic mitochondrial membranes, the content of protein, phospholipids and cholesterol decreased/g tissue. The percent 14C distribution, as a part of total incorporation in nonpolar lipids, of [14C]acetate into triglycerides of liver, kidneys and testes increased significantly. The increased turnover of phospholipids in liver and heart was mainly due to increased turnover of phosphatidyl choline (PC) and phosphatidyl ethanolamine in liver and PC in heart. Turnover of phospholipids of testes was not affected. PMID- 2632361 TI - Influence of cholesterol-enrichment under in vivo and in vitro conditions on the erythrocyte membrane lipids and its deformability. AB - The cholesterol feeding in rabbits leads to an increase in the levels of cholesterol and phospholipids in plasma and erythrocytes. The increases in cholesterol (C) level is more than that of phospholipids (P) thereby resulting in increase of C/P ratio. The levels of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin are increased in plasma and that of phosphatidylcholine in erythrocytes. Under in vitro conditions the incubation of normal human erythrocytes in cholesterol enriched plasma (CEP) leads to increase in the cholesterol level, whereas there is no change in phospholipid composition. The deformability of cholesterol enriched erythrocytes, as measured by their passage time through micropore membranes, under in vivo and in vitro conditions, is significantly decreased. PMID- 2632362 TI - Site-site heterogeneity in isocitrate lyase of castor seed endosperm: evidence from kinetics of inactivation by tetranitromethane. AB - Inactivation of isocitrate lyase (native and EDTA-dialysed) by excess tetranitromethane (TNM) exhibits, biphasic kinetics, in which half of the initial activity is lost in a fast and the remaining half in a slow phase each following the pseudo-first order kinetics. Rate constants of the two phases are proportional to the TNM concentration. High succinate concentration protects the enzyme against TNM inactivation only in the slow phase without any effect on the fast phase. With the EDTA-dialysed enzyme, no such protection (against inactivation by TNM) is observed in the presence of succinate or Mg2+ ions. Addition of both these ligands together brings about protection against the slow phase (as with the native enzyme). It has been proposed that the site-site heterogeneity of isocitrate lyase is a consequence of its quaternary structure constraints. PMID- 2632363 TI - Stability and kinetic behaviour of some enzymes in surfactant environment. AB - The interaction of alpha-chymotrypsin, invertase, alcohol dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase with some ionic and non-ionic surfactants, viz. sodium dodecyl sulphate, dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide and Triton X-100, has been examined by studying the effect of varying surfactant concentrations on enzyme activities as well as by determining the time-dependent inactivation and the time independent inhibition. The kinetic parameters, Km and Vmax, for alpha chymotrypsin-catalysed reaction in presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate were evaluated. Anionic surfactants markedly decreased enzyme activity, whereas cationic surfactants were less effective. Nonionics showed no effect. This change in enzyme activity was also dependent on the nature of enzyme. PMID- 2632364 TI - Fate of leucine in the biosynthesis of bakuchiol, a meroterpene from Psoralea corylifolia. AB - Significant incorporations of labelled leucine, valine and isovaleric acid into the meroterpene, bakuchiol (1) isolated from the medicinal plant, Psoralea corylifolia have been observed. Degradation experiments show that labels from these substrates find their way into both phenylpropane derived as well as terpenic part of 1 thereby indicating that none of the known pathways is operative in the case of 1. It is suggested that these substrates are metabolised to CO2 which is then incorporated into 1. PMID- 2632365 TI - Antidiabetic effect of a leucocyanidin derivative isolated from the bark of Ficus bengalensis Linn. AB - A dimethoxy derivative of leucocyandin 3-O-beta-D-galactosyl cellobioside isolated from the bark of F. bengalensis Linn demonstrated antidiabetic action. On oral administration, it decreased blood sugar very significantly both in normal and moderately diabetic rats and increased serum insulin significantly in the latter at a dosage of 250 mg/kg for a 2 hr period. During one month treatment of the diabetic rats orally with the active principle, at a dosage of 100 mg/kg, there was a significant decrease in blood and urine sugar, certain lipid components in serum and tissues and glucose-6-phosphatase activity in liver, but significant increase in body weight and the activities of hexokinase and HMGCOA reductase in tissues as compared to diabetic control. The mechanism of action of the principle may be related to its protective/inhibitory action against the insulin degradative processes. PMID- 2632366 TI - Quantitative structure-activity relationship studies on some anticancerous, antiviral and cytostatic agents. AB - QSAR studies using molecular connectivity and van der Waal volume have been performed on a new series of hydroxyguanidine derivatives and a series of isoindolediones. Regression analysis has shown that anticancer and antiviral activity of hydroxyguanidines as well as cytostatic activity of isoindolediones correlate well with both the structural parameters. PMID- 2632367 TI - Preliminary studies on excretory components of a virulent strain (F-2) of Pseudomonas solanacearum. AB - The excretory material (EM) was isolated from the culture medium of a virulent strain (F-2) of Pseudomonas solanacearum. Electrophoretic studies depicted the heterogeneous nature of EM and the presence of released lipopolysaccharide in it. Both the exopolysaccharide and the released LPS contained D-galactose as the major sugar constituent together with D-glucose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and N acetyl-D-glucosamine. In addition, L-rhamnose was present as a constituent sugar of the released LPS. PMID- 2632368 TI - A cytostatic protein isolated from the conditioned medium of mouse monocytic leukemia WEHI-3 cell cultures. AB - A cytostatic factor (CF) with a molecular mass of 50 kDa was purified to more than 16,000-fold from the conditioned medium of LPS-treated mouse myelomonocytic leukemia (WEHI-3) cell cultures. The activity of CF was completely destroyed by heating at 70 degrees C for 10 min, 50 degrees C for 30 min, or by the treatment in pH 3 buffer for 2 h. CF showed a strong growth inhibitory effect on CHO cells, as well as several other unrelated cell lines, e.g., K562 and L1210, but not on L929 cells. It also inhibited Con A-induced mitogenesis in mouse and rat spleen cells. The growth inhibitory effect of CF, however, was highly reversible; CHO cells were able to regain the normal growth after removal of the factor from the culture medium. Our results suggest that CF is a protein secreted by WEHI-3 cells, which is distinct from other known macrophage- or tumor-derived cytotoxic proteins. PMID- 2632369 TI - A single-step purification procedure and partial amino acid sequence analysis of picomole amounts of the rat T cell alloantigen RT6.2. AB - A single-step immunoaffinity purification procedure for the rat T cell marker RT6.2 is described which permits the isolation of microgram quantities of protein from the RT6.2+ T-T hybridoma EpD3. The amino terminus was sequenced directly from a polyvinylidene (PVDF) membrane blot prepared after SDS-PAGE. Further internal sequence data were obtained from peptides generated from purified RT6.2 digested with different endoproteases and separated by reverse-phase micro-HPLC. A computer search in data banks did not reveal any significant homology to other proteins. PMID- 2632370 TI - Interleukin-2 receptors in infectious mononucleosis. AB - The majority of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from acute-phase infectious mononucleosis (IM) patients express high levels of T10 (CD38) and HLA DR surface antigens, which are markers characteristic of activated T cells. However, Tac antigen (p55) expression on these cells was not detectable by flow cytometric immunofluorescence, and only a low level of specific interleukin-2 (IL 2) binding was found by Scatchard analysis. These results suggest that IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) are lost or down-regulated on activated T cells in acute IM. Since a large proportion of T cells die during the first 24 h of in vitro culture in the absence of exogenous IL-2, the data implicate a physiological role for the observed low levels of IL-2R on T cells. PMID- 2632371 TI - The enhancement of lymphocyte localization in skin sites of sheep by tumor necrosis factor alpha. AB - Using radiolabelled lymphocytes, we have demonstrated that recombinant bovine TNF alpha is potent in its ability to recruit lymphocytes from the blood into TNF alpha injected skin sites. Furthermore, TNF alpha mediates this observed increase in lymphocyte accumulation in a clear dose-response manner, and may play an important role in the mediation of DTH reactions in the skin. PMID- 2632372 TI - IgG Fc fragments induce B cell differentiation and immunoglobulin secretion. PMID- 2632373 TI - Germinal center kinetics in lymph nodes of primed mice stimulated with complexed as opposed to free antigen. AB - Primed mice with low titers of circulating tetanus antitoxin (AB) were stimulated via the hind footpads with either fluid tetanus toxoid alone (AG) to create in vivo complexes in AG excess, or the same dose of toxoid complexed at equivalence with isologous antibody (AB-AG CPX), to have in vivo complexes in AB excess. All experimental animals reacted with three topically distinct consecutive waves of enhanced proliferative activity in popliteal lymph nodes, i.e., in the T-zone (peak on day 2), in the medullary area, the main site of plasmocytopoiesis (day 3), and in lymphoid follicles (day 5-6). Maximum serum AB titers following injection of AG-AB CPX were only about 25% of those found in animals boosted with AG alone. This suppressive effect was best reflected in a comparable reduction in plasmocytopoiesis, and to an lesser extent in the proliferative activity within the T-zone, and not at all in the overall magnitude of germinal center formation and/or expansion. However, the patterns of germinal center kinetics differed markedly between the two groups: a high sharp peak of development on day 5, followed by a marked drop on day 6 characterized the response in mice given AG alone, and a broad peak around day 6 that of those receiving AG-AB CPX. These differences could not adequately be accounted for by variations in centroblast/centrocyte proliferation rate vs. pycnotic indices, so that different patterns of lymphoid cell emigration from the centers may be considered. The results suggest that immune complexes, fixed on follicular dendritic cells, with different antigen-to-antibody ratios have divergent effects on the development and kinetics of germinal centers, the principal sites of memory B cell generation. PMID- 2632374 TI - Bacteriology of pyodermas and antibiograms of pathogens. AB - One hundred and seventy six cases of various clinical types of pyodermas were investigated to find the causative organism of the disease. Folliculitis formed the largest clinical group followed by infectious eczematoid dermatitis, secondary infection, furuncles, impetigo, ecthyma and carbuncle in descending order of frequency. A total of 189 micro-organisms were isolated from the specimens examined. A single infecting organism was isolated from 74.43% and more than one type of organism from 16.48% of cases. Coagulase positive staphylococcus (73.02%) was the predominant species followed by beta-haemolytic streptococcus (26.98%). Coagulase positive staphylococcus was isolated from 109 (61.93%), beta haemolytic streptococcus from 22 (12.5%) and both these organisms from 29 (16.48%) cases. The antibiotic resistance pattern showed maximum resistance to penicillin followed by ampicillin. None of the strain was found to be resistant to kanamycin. Low percentage of strains were found to be resistant to streptomycin, oxytetracycline, trimethoprim, cloxacillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, cephalexin, gentamycin and neomycin. PMID- 2632375 TI - 'Dhat' syndrome--a useful clinical entity. AB - 48 consecutive male patients of potency disorders were examined and classified as 'Dhat' syndrome, impotence or premature ejaculation. The age range of these cases was found as 20-38 years (mean 23.5 +/- 3.3 years) while age of onset was 16-24 years (mean 20.6 +/- 4.5 years). Majority of cases were unmarried (54.2%) and educated 5th class or above (79.1%). 31 cases (64.6%) had Dhat syndrome with or without impotency and/or premature ejaculation while 7 cases (14.6%) had only premature ejaculation and 10 cases (20.8%) only impotence. The cases with 'Dhat' syndrome or with impotence scored maximally on neuroticism and depression scales. Neurotic depression was the commonest associated psychiatric illness (39.5%) followed by anxiety neurosis (20.8%) while 31.3% did not have any possible diagnosis. The common presenting symptoms of 'Dhat' syndrome include weakness (70.8%), fatigue (68.7%), palpitations (68.7%), sleeplessness (62.4%) etc. Among the four groups on the basis of type of treatment (antianxiety drug, antidepressant, placebo, psychotherapy), the best response was seen in those receiving antianxiety or antidepressant drugs while those receiving psychotherapy showed minimal response. 7 cases (14.6%) dropped out of treatment and the maximum dropout (40.6%) was seen in psychotherapy group. PMID- 2632376 TI - Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (a case report in male genitalia). PMID- 2632377 TI - Lichenoid tissue reaction. AB - Lichenoid tissue reaction (LTR) is characterised by epidermal basal cell damage which takes the form of liquefaction degeneration or cell death either apoptosis or necrosis with an associated cascade of histologic events in epidermis and dermis. LTR is found in clinical conditions with lichenoid poikilodermatous and pigmentary dermatoses. A selected group of fifty lichenoid and pigmentary dermatoses such as Lichen planus (LP) Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) Lichenoid melanodermatitis (LM) and Lichen nitidus (LN) were studied. In LP basal cell liquefaction degeneration was extensive in comparison to other disease with large number of Civatte bodies and colloid bodies. There were significant vasodilatation in upper dermis inside the massive band like infiltrate. PAS positive basement membrane was disrupted in reaction area. Hypergranulosis was conspicuous. Chronic DLE showed spotty lichenoid reaction in the form of basal cell liquefaction degeneration. Civatte bodies and colloid bodies were infrequent. Infiltrate was more focal but could be band like. Epidermal atrophy and thickening of PAS positive basement membrane were important differentiating features, LM or Melanodermatitis toxica revealed focal mild to moderate liquefaction degeneration of basal cells with atrophy of the epidermis. The infiltrate although band like was less dense with marked pigmentary incontinence in clumps and giant melanophages. Civatte bodies, colloid bodies were not found and vascular changes were less prominent. LN showed localised basal cell damage with claw like rete ridges clutching a dense infiltrate. The dermal infiltrate often showed multinucleated giant cell. Civatte bodies and colloid bodies were not present. In some cases of the overlap syndrome LP/LE a careful study of lichenoid tissue reaction could distinguish these two diseases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632378 TI - Langerhans' cells in urticaria: an electron microscopic study. AB - Sections from the wheals of recent onset 24 hours old or less taken from 11 patients with urticaria were examined by electron microscopy. The results have demonstrated that some langerhans cells display cell structure damage, namely: vacuolation of cytoplasm, damage to some mitochondria, prominent golgi complex and rough endoplasmic reticulum. The Birbeck granules have shown various forms. These findings suggest that in urticaria, the langerhans cells take part in the allergic reactions. PMID- 2632379 TI - Epidemiologic study of oral cancer in eastern India. AB - From January 1967 to December 1987, 732 consecutive cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma were analysed at a Dental College and Hospital in Calcutta. Incidence of oral cancer was 47.73 per 100,000. Male:Female ratio was 1.76. Mean age was 52.07 years. Buccal mucosa was the commonest site involved, next was gingiva and alveolar ridge. Tobacco chewing, smoking and paan chewing were the deleterious habits which were significantly more common among the affected group compared to the control group. PMID- 2632380 TI - Faun-tail nevus--a case report. AB - A Case of faun-tail nevus is presented. A long tuft of hair over the back in the lumbar region hid a bony defect of the fifth lumbar spine. No neurological symptoms were encountered. PMID- 2632381 TI - Comparative study of miconazole and clotrimazole in superficial mycosis. AB - Two hundred cases of superficial mycosis (100 dermatophytosis, 40 candidiasis and 60 pityriasis versicolor) were studied for the comparative effect of miconazole and clotrimazole. The patients were evaluated both clinically and mycologically every 2 weeks for a period of 12 weeks. In dermatophytosis, miconazole showed accelerated response (75% cleared in 6 weeks) than clotrimazole (56%). In candidiasis, both were found to be effective (80-85%) cure though clotrimazole showed slightly earlier response (40% cure in 6 weeks) against miconazole (30% cure). In pityriasis versicolor both were, effective (miconazole 99.6% and clotrimazole 86.7%). PMID- 2632382 TI - Scrofuloderma with inguinal and genital syndrome--a case report. AB - A case of scrofuloderma presented as lymphogranuloma venereum closely mimicking its inguinal and genital syndrome. A lymph node biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. PMID- 2632383 TI - Iopanoic acid prevents spring premigratory increase in body weight of redheaded bunting Emberiza bruniceps. AB - Effects of long term administration of iopanoic acid (IOP), a potent inhibitor of peripheral conversion of thyroxine (T4) into triiodothyronine (T3), on body weight and gonad development in intact and in thyroidectomized (Thx) redheaded bunting that received replacement therapy with T4 were studied. IOP prevented the premigratory increase in body weight observed in intact bunting (during March/April). In contrast to the Thx birds receiving T4 only, IOP administration in combination with T4 caused a significant decrease in body weight of Thx birds. The gonad development in intact and Thx birds that received IOP was significantly inhibited. Results suggest that IOP through an effective inhibition of peripheral T4-monodeiodination may prevent the spring premigratory fattening. Emphasis is given for an important role of T3 in the physiological preparations associated with migration. PMID- 2632384 TI - Rat luteal cells in tissue culture: a technique for obtaining primary cell culture without enzymatic dissociation. AB - A technique for obtaining isolated luteal cells without any prior enzymatic dissociation of the rat corpus luteum (CL) has been developed. With a view to obviate any kind of chemical/biophysical trauma to the cells the latter were obtained following simple migration of cells from small pieces of chopped up CL (8-10 day old) put in culture. The cells started migrating in progressively increasing numbers from these tissue pieces within 24 hr leading to monolayer formation by day 10-12 of culture. The cells were found to grow under the described conditions for 35 days without any exogenous hormonal supplementation. The technique is being utilized for characterization of different cell types of the rat CL of pregnancy and the regulatory mechanisms involved in their metabolic function and/or regression. PMID- 2632385 TI - A protocol used for splitting mouse embryos into two halves. AB - 8-16 cell embryos and early blastocysts were obtained from the oviducts and anterior portion of uterine horns of albino mice at 70 and 90 hr after LH injection respectively. Splitting of embryos was done by using two microtools attached to a micromanipulator unit (Research Instruments Ltd, UK). After bisection, each pair of the half embryos is transferred to a dish containing 2 ml of T-6 medium and cultured in CO2 incubator (at 39 degrees C, 95% RH and 5% CO2 in air mixture). Splitting of blastocysts as compared to 8-16 cell embryos was found difficult (35.48% vs 52.44%, respectively). 38.88% of bisected 8-16 cell embryos and 11.36% of bisected blastocysts developed on 48 hr culture. Information on splitting mouse embryos and their subsequent development in culture are significant in view of using the technique for commercial application and for research in developmental biology of animal embryos. PMID- 2632386 TI - Myocardial dysfunction in diabetic rats: influence of beta-adrenoceptor blockade (propranolol). AB - The effects of a beta-blocker, propranolol, on the enzyme and isoenzyme activities in the heart muscle in vitro and concomitant histopathology of the component cells of the islets of Langerhans were studied in the Wistar rats after treatment with streptozotocin and isoproterenol. The biochemical data indicated that the isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction (MI) precipitates an acute diabetic response in the rat heart. The superimposition of MI in diabetes mellitus caused significant inhibition of phosphofructokinase and hexokinase in the heart muscle. The lactate dehydrogenase depicted shifting of H-type to M-type in diabetes with or without MI. The drugs, when administered in combination, brought distinctive histopathological changes in beta-cells of the pancreatic islets including degranulation, hyalinosis and a near-total destruction; however A and D cells remained more or less unaffected. The effect of propranolol in diabetes mellitus was uncertain but in MI with or without prior diabetes, the drug inversely altered the activities of all the cardiac enzymes, besides stimulating a mild recuperation of the cells of the endocrine parenchyma. PMID- 2632387 TI - Effect of aspartate and glutamate on experimental myocardial infarction in rats. AB - Cardiac necrosis was produced in rats by administering isoproterenol sulphate (85 mg/kg, sc for 4 days). The myocardial damage was proved by observing the elevated levels of serum aspartate amino-transferase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase and the changes were confirmed by histopathology of the tissue. Both aspartate and glutamate (100 mg/kg, ip) significantly reduced the elevated levels of these enzymes. The average degree of cardiac necrosis produced in these rats when observed macroscopically and histologically was also found to be significantly reduced on pretreatment with aspartate and glutamate. PMID- 2632388 TI - Reversal of changes of lipid peroxide, xanthine oxidase and superoxide dismutase by cardio-protective drugs in isoproterenol induced myocardial necrosis in rats. AB - In myocardial necrosis produced by isoproterenol (beta-adrenergic agonist) marked increase in creatine phosphokinase, phospholipase and significant decrease in cardiac glycogen and phospholipid levels were observed. The enhanced levels of lipid peroxides, xanthine oxidase activity and lowering of superoxide dismutase may lead to excessive formation of free radicals resulting in cardiac cell damage. Nifedipine--a calcium antagonist, Propranolol--a beta-blocker and guggulsterone a lipid lowering agent showed marked reversal of these metabolic changes related to ischemia induced by isoproterenol. PMID- 2632389 TI - Failure of reversal of cardiovascular responses of clonidine by centrally administered naloxone in anaesthetised rats. AB - Central effects of naloxone on the cardiovascular responses of centrally administered clonidine were studied in anaesthetised normotensive, renal DOCA salt hypertensive and morphine dependent rats. Clonidine (5 micrograms/ICV) produced significant decrease in blood pressure and heart rate in all the groups of rats in a dose dependent manner. Naloxone (2 micrograms/ICV) failed to reverse the responses of clonidine in all the rat groups. In morphine dependent normotensive and morphine dependent renal DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, the responses of clonidine were further enhanced in the presence of naloxone. Our observations clearly indicate that clonidine does not influence endogenous opioid system for producing cardiovascular effects. PMID- 2632390 TI - Adaptogenic activity of Indian Panax pseudoginseng. AB - The crude extract and saponins of Indian pseudoginseng and saponins of Korean ginseng have been studied using a battery of biological tests in rats and mice. Indian pseudoginseng saponins were found to exhibit better activity than the Korean ginseng saponins in several tests employed. The results indicate a need for in-depth study of Indian pseudoginseng as an adaptogenic agent, after cultivation of the plant under controlled conditions. PMID- 2632391 TI - Intermediary metabolic changes in rabbits administered linamarin or potassium cyanide. AB - Since cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple food item of several million people in the tropics, its toxicity cannot be underestimated. Therefore an attempt has been made to understand the metabolic changes caused by the chronic administration of sublethal doses linamarin, the principal cyanoglucoside of cassava, to rabbits. A significant rise in lactic acid and total cholesterol in liver and brain and a highly significant depletion of phospholipids of brain tissue was observed. There were also significant variations in the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme pattern of treated animals as compared with the control rabbits. The findings suggest that some of the biological effects of linamarin are similar to those of free cyanide. PMID- 2632392 TI - Effect of anaesthetic ether on lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase isozymes of young and adult rat brain. AB - Changes in lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase level in rat brain due to single exposure to diethyl ether (anaesthetic) were studied in 100 and 300 day old rats. Enhancement of superoxide dismutase activity was more pronounced in young rat brain, while the reverse was the case with lipid peroxidation. The neurotoxic effects of diethyl ether may involve active oxygen species and superoxide dismutase activity increases as a defensive adaptation. PMID- 2632393 TI - In vitro effect of mammalian pituitary hormones on germinal vesicle breakdown in oocytes of major carps, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, Catla catla and Cyprinus carpio. AB - Among all the mammalian pituitary hormones, luteinizing hormone (LH) was the most potent in vitro inducer of oocyte maturation in L. rohita, C. mrigala, C. catla and C. carpio. It induced significant germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) at concentrations of 10, 1, 0.1 and 0.01 micrograms/ml. At the highest concentration used, LH induced 77.9 +/- 5.9, 73.8 +/- 4.6, 50.3 +/- 2.8 and 40.8 +/- 1.4% GVBD in oocytes of L. rohita, C. mrigala, C. catla and C. carpio, respectively. Among other hormones, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) induced only a marginally significant GVBD (13.2 +/- 0.8%) in the oocytes of C. carpio, but not in other three species. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) had no effect on GVBD. PMID- 2632394 TI - Ca2(+)-dependent glucose transport in chicken intestine. AB - Transport of glucose was measured in the intestine of white leghorn layers in vivo using ligated upper small intestinal segment in the presence of Ca2+ and other ions either singly or in combination. Transport of glucose across the intestine was very significantly increased with Ca2+ than Na+, K+ and Po4(3-) individually, but when Ca2+ was combined with Na+, K+ and PO4(3-), the glucose absorption increased significantly over that achieved by Na+ ions alone. These data revealed that Ca2+ ions might be exerting the major influence on glucose transport processes of the chicken intestine. PMID- 2632395 TI - Frequency of acrocentric association in abnormal sexual development in males and females. AB - A significant difference (P less than 0.05) was observed in a chi 2 comparison of DD, GG and DG-DI associations between male hypogonads and females with primary amenorrhea. This difference increased still further (P less than 0.01) when only DD and GG associations were compared between males and females with abnormal sexual development (ASD). Similarly, when normal males and females were compared for DI, TRI, TETRA, DD vs GG and DG vs GG acrocentric chromosome associations, a significant difference (P less than 0.05) was again observed. The sex difference was also apparent in TRI and TETRA acrocentric associations both in abnormal and normal sexual development males and females. These results suggested that probably sex difference (may be hormonal) influences the number and/or type of acrocentric chromosomes involved in association between males and females with ASD and also between normal males and females. PMID- 2632396 TI - Induction of lactation in cattle with estradiol 17-beta and progesterone primed with progesterone. AB - Five parous non-pregnant, non-lactating cows were injected (sc) with progesterone (50 mg/day for 7 consecutive days) followed by estradiol (0.1 mg) plus progesterone (0.25 mg) per kg body wt/day on day 12 to 14 and with reserpine / 2 mg twice a day on day 19 to 22. All the 5 cows were successfully induced into lactation. Animals exhibiting estrus following hormonal therapy were artificially inseminated and one cow became pregnant and exhibited normal parturition. Jugular blood collected was used for estimation of progesterone by RIA technique and considerable individual variation was observed in progesterone concentration. PMID- 2632397 TI - Effects of gamma irradiation on histomorphology of some endocrine glands of the rain quail, Coturnix coromandelica (Gmelin). AB - Effects of single, whole-body 60Co-gamma irradiation in different doses (250 rad to 15 k rad) on histology of thyroid, adrenal and pancreatic islets of the rain quail were studied. A low dose of 250 rad failed to evoke any change in histology of the glands studied. Doses of 500 rad and 1 k rad resulted in hypoactivity of thyroid but could not affect adrenal and pancreatic islets. Exposure to 1.5 k rad and higher doses caused hyperplasia and hypertrophy of thyroid and hypertrophy of adrenal gland. Thyroid was injured by heavy irradiation. Doses up to 3 k rad did not bring about any change in islet cells, however, higher doses resulted in degenerative changes in islet cells. alpha-islets were affected by 7 and 15 k rad but necrotic changes in beta-islets were observed only after exposure to 15 k rad. The results indicate that thyroid is the most sensitive and pancreatic islet, highly resistant to gamma radiation. PMID- 2632398 TI - Lipids changes in rat tissues in experimental urolithiasis. AB - Total lipids, free and ester cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipids were determined in plasma, liver, kidney and intestine in control and calculi producing diet (CPD) fed rats. Cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides were increased in plasma while they were decreased in all the three tissues of CPD fed rats, compared to that of control. Distribution studies of phospholipids in the tissues of treated rats showed marked decrease in the concentration of the major lipids, i.e., PC, PE, PI and SPH. However, significant increase in absolute concentration as well as percent distribution of phosphatidic acid in kidney of treated rats was observed. PMID- 2632399 TI - Study of activating and conjugating enzymes of drug metabolism in zinc deficiency. AB - A study was undertaken to investigate the activities of certain enzymes of drug metabolism in zinc deficiency. For this purpose, an experimental model for zinc deficiency was produced in a NIN/Wistar strain of rats by feeding an egg albumin starch based diet. Of the two enzymes of Phase I pathway of drug metabolism studied, Benz (alpha) pyrene hydroxylase was altered in zinc deficiency and food restriction; the other one microsomal epoxide hydrolase was unchanged. The activity of glutathione-S-transferase, a key enzyme in conjugation reaction was significantly lowered in zinc deficiency as well as food restriction. These alterations in the activities of xenobiotic metabolising enzymes are discussed with reference to toxicity manifestation in zinc deficiency. PMID- 2632400 TI - Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of N-phthaloyl GABA--a new GABA derivative. AB - A new gamma-aminobutyric acid derivative, N-phthaloyl GABA (P-GABA), was synthesised and its anticonvulsant activity was tested and compared with sodium valproate for efficacy against experimentally induced convulsions in mice. At a dose of 80 mg/kg, P-GABA rendered more protection than sodium valproate. ED50 of P-GABA and sodium valproate against bicuculline-induced convulsion was 96 and 301 mg/kg respectively in mice. PMID- 2632401 TI - Role of liver and brain lysosomal and mitochondrial enzymes in development of delayed neuropathy in hens by 0,0-diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate. AB - Subacute dose of 0,0-diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP), a potent organophosphorus ester capable of producing delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN), did not produce any significant change in the levels of lysosomal and mitochondrial marker enzymes of brain, liver and serum at any time after treatment in hens protected with atropine. The results suggest the absence of any involvement of mitochondrial and lysosomal enzymes at any stage in the development of OPIDN in susceptible species by treating with DFP. PMID- 2632402 TI - Experimental model of staphylococcal osteomyelitis in dogs. AB - Osteomyelitis was induced in 45 male dogs by inoculating hemolytic strain of Staphylococcus aureus alone into the tibial marrow cavity. Clinical, radiological and bacteriological studies were conducted to evaluate the progress of disease up to 15 weeks. Clinical signs consisted of localized soft tissue swelling, pain, pyrexia and lameness which later developed an open wound with purulent exudation. Predominant radiographic features were extensive periosteal reaction, cortical lysis, new bone formation, frequent development of sequestrum and formation of localized abscess pockets in advanced cases. Staphylococci were recovered from the tibial marrow cavity for as long as 15 weeks after onset of the infection. PMID- 2632403 TI - Hydrogen production from glucose by Citrobacter freundii. AB - C. freundii, a member of Enterobacteriaceae was isolated from nearby sewage and characterised. With optimum conditions, its hydrogen production capacity and efficiency was tested in synthetic medium containing glucose as carbon and energy source. C. freundii was grown in a 51 fermentor under batch anaerobic conditions. The total production of gas was 8.91 in the volumetric ratio of 63% H2 and 37% CO2 in 11 hr from 30.8 g glucose. From 1 mole of glucose 1.286 mole of hydrogen was produced (YH2/s). The rate of gas production (rQ) and hydrogen production (rH2) was 0.71 and 0.45 1/hr respectively. The strain appears to be a better one for hydrogen production compared to the earlier Citrobacter spp reported. PMID- 2632404 TI - Morphine-like activity of some N-substituted amides of met-enkephalin. AB - Opioid activity of a homologous series of met-enkephalin alkylamides was analysed. In guinea pig ileum test, the hexylamide derivative was most active, whereas the isopropylamide derivative was most potent in analgesia test. The results suggest that structural changes of this type at the C-terminus of the pentapeptide improve the opioid activity. PMID- 2632405 TI - Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-kindling development in intact and subcortical structure lesioned rats. AB - Kindling was induced in male wistar rats (280-320 g) by daily ip injections of PTZ in subthreshold doses (30 mg/kg). Repeated administration of PTZ to animals resulted in developing of enhanced seizures and also enhanced seizure susceptibility which could be sustained for a long time (6 months) after last seizure paroxysm. The lesioned hippocampus retarded the manifestation of PTZ kindling, where as lesioned caudate nuclei increased the seizure kindling development. Results also revealed hippocampus as a determinant structure in PTZ kindling formation, which stabilize the epileptic manifestations and make them chronic, at the same time caudate nuclei retarded the epileptic seizures stabilization. This role may be only antiepileptic, and not anti-kindling as is known for caudate nuclei. PMID- 2632406 TI - Effect of envenomation on enzymes of brain of albino rats. AB - Effects of high doses of cobra venom, (150 micrograms/120 +/- 20 g body wt) and viper venom (300 micrograms/120 +/- 20 g body wt) on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acetylcholinesterase (ACh) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of brain of albino rats were studied. While AST, LDH, ACh and ALP activities increased in both viper and cobra venom treated rats, ALT decreased in both groups compared to control. PMID- 2632407 TI - Alterations in phospholipid content of chick skeletal muscle under stress conditions. AB - Alterations in the phospholipid levels of three gastrocnemii (G. externus, G. medius and G. internus) of chick have been studied during 56 days postembryonic growth of the three muscles. The effects of denervation and work-overload stress on their phospholipid content during the same period have been discussed in the light of denervation-induced membrane breakdown and exercise-induced fibre hypertrophy. PMID- 2632408 TI - Respiratory complication in tetanus. AB - Six hundred cases of tetanus were studied to find out incidence of respiratory complications and to evaluate factors predisposing such complications in tetanus. The incidence of complications was 41 per cent. Infants, patients of more than 40 years of age, smokers, cases with grossly contaminated injuries, short incubation period and short period of onset were more vulnerable. Patients with dysphagia, spasm, associated respiratory diseases and the patients in higher grades were also found to be more susceptible to respiratory complications. PMID- 2632409 TI - Role of dopaminergic system in opioid-induced cardiovascular responses in dogs. AB - A study was carried out to determine the involvement of dopaminergic system in opioid-induced cardiovascular responses in the dogs. The study population consisted of 32 mongrel dogs of either sexes. The results show that morphine given in small dose (2 mg/kg I.V.) causes significant fall in blood pressure. The results also show that there is involvement of dopaminergic system in opioid induced vasomotor responses in dogs. Partial blockade of the parenterally induced hypotensive response of morphine by haloperidol given centrally induced hypotensive responses of morphine by haloperidol given centrally in doses, which are too low to be effective by the peripheral route, strongly favours the involvement of central dopaminergic system in the morphine-induced hypotensive responses. The results also show that the hypotensive response of morphine was almost completely blocked after naloxone pretreatment by central route. PMID- 2632410 TI - Cat scratch fever and bags of experience in a French pain clinic. PMID- 2632411 TI - Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC): a clinicopathological study of 21 cases. AB - Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis (XGC) is an uncommon inflammatory disease. In a retrospective analysis of 159 cholecystectomy specimens revealed 21 cases of diffuse and focal XGC with an overall incidence of 13.2 per cent. The age distribution was identical to those of traditional chronic cholecystitis with female predominance (M:F ratio 1:4). Gallstones were seen in 15 cases with marked thickening of the gall bladder on ultrasonography. In one case it falsely diagnosed as carcinoma on ultrasonographic examination, however, histopathologically it was turned out to be XGC. One case of XGC was associated with adenocarcinoma of gall bladder. The incidence of diffuse XGC was 5.66 per cent, whereas incidence of focal XGC was 7.54 per cent amongst chronic cholecystitis. PMID- 2632412 TI - Effects of scrotal hydrocele over testicular histology. AB - Forty four biopsies were performed on testes during hydrocele operations. They show alteration in 52.2 percent of the biopsies. There is variable effect of size and duration of hydrocele on the morphogenesis of testes. However, size and duration are not the only influencing factors and there is need to analyse the histological changes in hydrocele of different etiology. PMID- 2632413 TI - Study of an outbreak of epidemic conjunctivitis in Delhi in 1986. AB - An epidemic of acute conjunctivitis occurred in Delhi during July-September 1986. The clinical presentation in total of 350 patients were characteristic of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC). Bacterial cultures from conjunctival swabs were sterile in 85 out of 105 (80%) patients, virus cultures in Vero and HeLa cells were negative in 30 patients. However, conjunctival scrapes from 20/30 (66.7%) patients showed specific cytoplasmic fluorescence with enterovirus 70 (EV 70) antiserum, suggesting EV 70 to be the etiologic agent of the epidemic. PMID- 2632414 TI - Ultrastructural reappraisal of endometrial glandular changes in women wearing Cu T200 device for longer duration. AB - The present communication deals with the effects of Copper-T200 Sq mm intrauterine device on the endometrial glands in the women using it for a longer duration i.e. up 8 years. The ultrastructural changes in the lining endometrial glands were studied during both non-ovulatory and ovulatory phases of the menstrual cycle. The ultrastructural studies demonstrated significant progressive changes in the lining endothelial cells of endometrial glands. The findings showed marked accumulation of glycogen in the cells in secretory phase of the endometrial cycle. Ultrastructural changes in glandular lining cells were more pronounced in women using Cu-IUCD for 4-8 years having distorted morphology with disrupted cell organelles, swollen mitochondria, irregular pattern of microvilli, deposition of electron dense material on cell surface and narrowing of glandular lumen. PMID- 2632415 TI - Ovarian tumours--prevalence in Punjab. AB - In a 15 year retrospective study of ovarian tumours, in Medical College, Amristsar, 636 cases were reviewed. Serous tumours were the commonest with 208 cases followed by mucinous tumours which formed the 2nd commonest group with 159 cases and teratoma which formed the 3rd commonest group with 142 cases. Of 636 tumours, 420 were benign, 201 malignant and 15 of borderline malignancy. PMID- 2632416 TI - Observations on human bone-marrow for Leishmania donovani. AB - During the recent epidemic in North Bihar, a total of 65 cases which were clinically designated as Kala-azar had been subjected to bone-marrow aspiration from the iliac crest, out of which the L.D. body was demonstrated in 55 cases (84.61 per cent). Culture analysis of bone-marrow on modified Tobie's medium, revealed that ten cases (15.39 per cent) which were negative for L.D. body did not show any leptomonads, whereas out of 55 L.D. body positive cases, the promastigote forms developed in 22 cases (40.00 per cent). The probable reasons for the negative findings and also the age and sex distribution in Kala-azar are discussed in brief. PMID- 2632417 TI - Role of immunoglobulin estimation in lymphomas. AB - 50 cases of biopsy proved primary nodal lymphomas were selected and serum immunoglobulins IgA, IgG and IgM were estimated by SRID method. Clinical stage and histological sub-typing were correlated with Immunoglobulin levels. PMID- 2632418 TI - Fine needle aspiration cytology of intrathoracic lesions--a repraisal. AB - FNAC was performed in 186 cases. Inadequate material was obtained in 41 cases. A definite diagnosis of malignancy could be made in 120 cases. In five cases a diagnosis "suspicious" of malignancy could be made. No serious complication was encountered with the technique. FNAC is of definite help in diagnosing the intra thoracic lesion whether malignant or inflammatory in nature. It also avoids unnecessary thoracotomy for diagnostic purposes. PMID- 2632419 TI - Selective IgA deficiency--a case report. PMID- 2632420 TI - Rhinosporidioma of bone--a case report. PMID- 2632421 TI - Histoplasmosis presenting as bilateral adrenal tumour. PMID- 2632422 TI - Angiosarcoma of the breast--a case report. PMID- 2632423 TI - Health for all and rural Medicare. PMID- 2632425 TI - Dewali and fireworks safety: the role of the pediatricians. PMID- 2632424 TI - Juvenile Justice Act--a comprehensive approach towards justice for children. PMID- 2632426 TI - Fetal environment and congenital malformations. PMID- 2632428 TI - Great progress made in neonatology in the Western world. PMID- 2632427 TI - The oxygen radical disease in neonatology. PMID- 2632429 TI - Non-invasive oxygen saturation monitoring in neonates. PMID- 2632430 TI - Nutritional regulation of immunity and risk of illness. AB - Nutrition is a critical determinant of immunocompetence and risk of illness. Young children with protein-energy malnutrition exhibit increased mortality and morbidity, largely due to infectious disease. Recent work has demonstrated that, undernourished individuals have impaired immune responses. The most consistent abnormalities are seen in cell-mediated immunity, complement system, phagocytes, mucosal secretory antibody response, and antibody affinity. These changes, together with other handicapping factors observed in underprivileged societies, lead to more infections, which in turn produce physiological changes that worsen nutritional status. It is now established that deficiencies of single nutrients also impair immune responses. The best studied are zinc, iron vitamin B6, vitamin A, copper and selenium. If malnutrition occurs during fetal life, as epitomized by small-for-gestational age infants, the effects on cell-mediated immunity are very significant and long lasting. These interactions on nutrition and immunity have several practical applications. PMID- 2632431 TI - Use of computers in pediatrics: basic aspects. AB - Computer: 1. An electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. 2. A person who computes; computist (1640-50). PMID- 2632432 TI - Computerized perinatal database management: successes and suggestions. PMID- 2632433 TI - On choosing babies' first feeding. PMID- 2632434 TI - Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) dye test for quick diagnosis of urinary tract infection. AB - We evaluate the triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) dye reduction test for quicker diagnosis of urinary tract infections for its sensitivity and reliability to detect significant bacteriuria. Of the 1400 urine samples tested 780 (55.7%) had significant bacteriuria. TTC dye test was positive in 678 (86.9%) of those with significant bacteriuria thereby showing its usefulness. The test is simple and cheap and can be carried out in field situations. PMID- 2632435 TI - Socio-biological determinants of birth weight. AB - A study on a few selected socio-biological determinants of birth weight was conducted at a rural project hospital in Haryana. Records of 2292 singleton live births over a period of two years (1985-1987) were analysed, by bivariate and multivariate methods. The mean birth weight of the infants was 2715 g (S.D. 453). Mean birth weight of male infants was 92 g more than female infants. Literacy levels of both parents, maternal age, parity, place of residence and antenatal care were found to have significant influence on the birthweight. Multiple regression showed that maternal age, maternal literacy and place of residence had minimal influence on the birth weight compared to other factors. PMID- 2632436 TI - Medication compliance in children. AB - Children of various ages and both sexes (numbering 1,004) attending the out patient department of Conwest Jain Clinic Group of Hospitals were studied for medication compliance (MC). MC was divided into total, partial, poor and excessive. Various parameters influencing MC like acute or chronic illness, age, sex, community, income, parental education and occupation, number of children, number of family members, form of medicine and number of medicines were studied in details. Only three factors e.g. community, occupation of the father and form of medicine were found to influence MC. No single factor consistently influenced MC. Negligence and poverty play a very important role in MC. PMID- 2632437 TI - Prepucial Epstein pearls. AB - The incidence of prepucial Epstein pearls was found in 7.3/1000 live born male newborn babies. Gestational age and birth weight were the important determinants as 72.7% babies were term and 54.5% babies weighed 3000 g or more. The formation of Epstein pearl on the prepuce was independent of that of palatal Epstein pearl. PMID- 2632438 TI - Campylobacter diarrhea in children in Trivandrum. AB - One hundred and fifty two stool samples from patients belonging to the pediatric age group clinically diagnosed as acute diarrhea/dysentery were processed for thermophilic campylobacters. C. jejuni was isolated from 9 samples (5.9%). Five of the C. jejuni isolates were from children who presented with bloody diarrhea and 4 were from those who had watery diarrhoea. Though the pathogenic role of C. jejuni in these cases is not proved, this study indicates the prevalence of the organism in Trivandrum district. PMID- 2632439 TI - Gianotti-Crosti syndrome. PMID- 2632440 TI - Primary lymphoma of the central nervous system. PMID- 2632442 TI - Tubercular spinal arachnoiditis with radiculomyelopathy. PMID- 2632441 TI - A family with adrenoleucodystrophy. PMID- 2632443 TI - Medical therapy of cataracts, yet again? PMID- 2632444 TI - Eye banking in India. PMID- 2632445 TI - A simple accurate method of cataract classification. Cataract-I. AB - A simple and accurate system of cataract classification using slit lamp and direct ophthalmoscope is reported. Lens opacities are classified into cortical (anterior and posterior), nuclear and posterior sub-capsular and each sub-type of opacity is graded, extent and density wise, using both slit lamp and direct ophthalmoscope. A circle representing enface view of opacity divided into 100 equal parts is used in calculating the area of each opacity. This classification takes into account both the area and depth of opacity in arriving at the total extent of sub-type of each opacity. For density determination, we do not recommend the use of a resolution target projection ophthalmoscope. Intra observer and inter-observer variability studies using this classification system indicated that the classification system is fairly reliable. PMID- 2632446 TI - Methodology for studies on medical therapy of cataracts: cataract-II. AB - The methodology for testing any possible effect of potential anti-cataract agents is described. This is based on slit lamp and ophthalmoscopic cataract classification and on visual acuity. The difficulties encountered in such studies are highlighted. The presented methodology is suggested to be fairly adequate in assessing usefulness of any possible medical therapy of cataracts. PMID- 2632447 TI - Topical glutathione therapy in senile cataracts. Cataract-III. AB - We undertook a prospective study in 66 cataract patients to study if topical glutathione has any effects on the progression of cataracts. The eye with more advanced cataract received topical glutathione drops q.i.d. and contralateral eye served as control. Only 32 patients completed the follow-up of three months or more. Data analysis revealed no beneficial effect of topical glutathione drops on any of the parameters studied. PSC opacity density in eyes treated with topical glutathione showed significant increase as compared to control eyes. PMID- 2632448 TI - Topical sulindac therapy in diabetic senile cataracts: cataract-IV. AB - Sulindac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug has been found to be a potent inhibitor of enzyme aldose reductase. We used sulindac topically in diabetic senile cataract patients to note if it effects the progression of cataracts. More of sulindac treated eyes maintained initial vision and fewer eyes had visual loss of up to two lines or more as compared to control eyes. The extent and density of different opacities showed less progression in sulindac treated eyes but it was not statistically significant except that the ophthalmoscopically observed density of opacity showed statistically very significant lesser mean increase in sulindac treated eyes. We suggest that sulindac is a potential drug which should be further evaluated in large double blind photodocumented studies in diabetic senile cataracts. PMID- 2632449 TI - Systemic aspirin and systemic vitamin E in senile cataracts: cataract V. AB - We undertook a prospective study in senile cataract patients using systemic aspirin and systemic vitamin E. Vitamin E treated eyes did show less progression of PSC opacities extent and less new nuclear opacities during the follow-up, but overall vitamin E treated eyes did no better than the control group eyes. More eyes in systemic aspirin treated group maintained the initial vision and loss of vision in the aspirin group was also less marked. Aspirin also caused a significant less mean increase in cortical opacity extent, nuclear/opacity and density and PSC opacity extent and density as well as in ophthalmoscopically graded opacity extent and density. We suggest that aspirin is a potential drug which should be further evaluated in large double blind photodocumentated studies. The present data does not justify the recommendation that aspirin be prescribed for slowing down cataract progression. This must await large studies and confirmation. PMID- 2632450 TI - Single injection anaesthesia for intra ocular surgery. PMID- 2632451 TI - Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina. AB - A rare case of gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina is reported in two female siblings. The diagnosis was made on clinical, electrophysiological, angiographic and biochemical features. This possibly is the first documentation of hyperornithemic gyrate atrophy (HOGA) from the Indian subcontinent. PMID- 2632452 TI - Orbital wooden foreign bodies--a case report. AB - A case of multiple wooden foreign bodies is presented. Any case presenting with a history of injury and a discharging sinus with osteomyelitis warrants a thorough exploration of the orbit. Anterior orbitotomy was performed and 4 pieces of arhar sticks were taken out. The guidelines for the management of the wooden foreign bodies are highlighted. PMID- 2632453 TI - Giant meibomian cyst--a case report. PMID- 2632454 TI - Presumed DDS ocular toxicity. PMID- 2632455 TI - Intracranial extension of orbital meningioma--a case report. PMID- 2632456 TI - Vick's Vaporub induced dermo kerato conjunctivitis--a case report. PMID- 2632457 TI - Children of victims of terrorism in Israel: coping and adjustment in the face of trauma. AB - A follow-up study was conducted of children whose parents were killed in terrorist activities in Israel over 10 years ago. Therapy at that time concentrated on promoting family strengths and coping. Subjects in the 10-year follow-up, however, demonstrated considerable psychopathology, which was hypothesized as emanating in part from unresolved fears of loss of control experienced at the time of the traumatic event. Cases presented, together with previous findings, suggest that early abreactive intrapsychic intervention may help prevent long-term pathology, but interpersonal intervention may also be necessary to prevent manipulative antisocial behavior. In the Israeli context, adjustment is likely to be strongly influenced by recurring events such as military reserve duty, war, or terrorist activities that retrigger or exacerbate existing posttraumatic symptomatology. A process view of posttraumatic adjustment and treatment is presented together with recommendations for future research and intervention. PMID- 2632459 TI - Comparative binding of lactate dehydrogenase to mitochondrial fractions. AB - Beef liver mitochondrial fraction showed LDH activity (1.76 +/- 0.25 U/g pellet). Sixty seven% of the initial mitochondrial pellet LDH activity (almost M4 isoenzyme) was released when suspended in NaCl 0.15 M. When the washed particles were sonicated in a 0.15 M NaCl medium, the solubilized LDH activity (all five isoenzymes as cytosoluble fraction) was 5-fold higher than the initial pellet activity. The different isoenzymatic composition of intramitochondrial and externally bound forms of the enzyme should be taken into account when investigating the physiological role of intramitochondrial LDH. Beef liver cytosoluble LDH (very little content of M4 isoenzyme) showed no affinity for the beef liver mitochondrial fraction but purified M4-LDH isoenzyme was able to bind to the particulate fraction from the same source. This suggests an isoenzyme specificity for the interaction. The maximum amount of cytosoluble LDH bound to the mitochondrial fraction depends on the enzyme and the particulate fraction source. Therefore, binding capacity to the mitochondrial fraction depends not only on the net charge of LDH isoenzymes, which play a predominant role in the binding, but also on individual characteristics of the LDH isoenzymes and mitochondrial fractions from different sources. This suggests that electrostatic forces are not the only ones involved in the binding process. PMID- 2632458 TI - A two-year follow-up of time limited therapy in a community mental health center in Jerusalem. AB - The present paper reports on a quantitative two-year follow-up of small cohort of somewhat unusual, selected, brief therapy cases treated by modified James Mann methods. The follow-up demonstrates the feasibility of conducting qualitative research in time limited therapy in a setting of community mental health care. The findings show favorable and durable clinical results. PMID- 2632460 TI - A novel 500,000 Da, linear, single chain extracellular protein synthesized by several childhood tumors. AB - A high molecular weight extracellular protein has been purified from cell culture medium of Ewing's sarcoma cell lines, by high performance liquid chromatography and electroelution from SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. This protein has an apparent molecular mass of about 500,000 Da on SDS-PAGE. Immunoprecipitation studies with several extracellular matrix glycoproteins (laminin, fibronectin) specific antisera indicate it is a separate protein. Reduction of disulphide bonds with 2 ME or DTT fails to significantly alter its migration on SDS-PAGE gels, other than a slight apparent increase in molecular mass, indicating an apparent single polypeptide chain structure. The slightly greater mobility observed in unreduced gels suggests one or more regions of intrachain disulfide bonding. It is sensitive to pepsin and trypsin, but resistant to bacterial collagenase indicating that it does not contain collagenous domains. Metabolic labelling with 3H-proline, 3H-leucine, and 35S-methionine indicate that this protein is proline poor, but leucine, and especially methionine, rich. Sodium 35S-sulfate incorporation is totally negative and treatment with glycosaminoglycan degrading enzymes has no effect on the mobility of the protein on gels, unlike typical proteoglycans. This protein appears by rotary shadowing electron microscopy as a long, thin, filamentous molecule at least 500 nm (0.5 um) in length. The tissue localization and function are unknown at this time, but are under active investigation. PMID- 2632461 TI - Micro-determination of amino acid composition of proteins electroblotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride membranes. AB - A method for determination of amino acid composition of proteins separated by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred to polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes is described. A single blotted band containing 50 to 200 pmoles of protein was cut out and submitted to acid hydrolysis with HCl followed by derivatization with phenylisothiocyanate. The amino acid derivatives were separated by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, myoglobin, ovalbumin, soybean trypsin inhibitor and carbonic anhydrase were analyzed; the results revealed a good correspondence with reported values. This can be considered an analytical method to determine the amino acid composition of samples from microquantities of protein mixtures, particularly in those cases in which SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is the most suitable separation system. PMID- 2632462 TI - Biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycan precursors: evidences for different tissue specific forms of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase. AB - UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UDPGDH) was extracted and partially purified from different rat tissues and the kinetic parameters and some properties of the enzyme were determined and compared. The pH optimum ranged between 8.6 and 9.4 for liver and kidney UDPGDH and between 8.4 and 8.6 for skin and lung UDPGDH. Liver and kidney enzymes showed a similar affinity for both UDPG and NAD. Lung and skin enzymes also showed similar affinity for both substrates, which differed however from that of liver and kidney UDPGDH. Both liver and kidney enzymes had a higher heat stability and a different electrophoretic mobility compared to skin and lung UDPGDH. These data suggest the existence of different tissue specific forms of the enzyme. PMID- 2632464 TI - [Swiss Society for Surgery. 76th annual meeting. 8-10 June 1989, Interlaken. Held jointly with the 4th annual meeting of the Swiss Society of Thoracic, Heart and Vascular Surgery. Proceedings]. PMID- 2632463 TI - Tissue polyamine concentrations in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.): change with age and season of the year. AB - Independently of the age of the European sea bass, putrescine and spermidine are much higher in liver and brain than in muscles, while spermine concentrations are more similar to one another. The polyamine concentrations are higher in 2 years old sea bass than in 1 year old fish except for heart spermidine and liver spermine. Lowering in water temperature causes a decrease in the concentration of spermidine and spermine in all tissues examined. Putrescine, however, increases in heart, caudal muscle, liver and brain and it is unchanged in red and dorsal muscles. PMID- 2632465 TI - [Iatrogenic immunologic disorders and malignant tumors]. AB - A severe or lengthy disturbance of immunity favors the development of malignant tumors. The increased incidence of lymphomas, leukemias and certain carcinomas in cases of congenital immunodeficiency, as well as of Kaposi's sarcoma and certain lymphomas in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are well known. In transplantees, patients undergoing immunosuppressive treatment for autoimmune disorders and cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, the occurrence of secondary neoplasias represents a phenomenon with a specific profile. We have seen 14 solid tumors in patients who were immunosuppressed for one of the 3 above-mentioned reasons. It is a heterogeneous group, both in terms of patient profile and tumor localisation. However, there are certain characteristics of these tumors which distinguish them from similar ones arising in the general population. The advent of more aggressive immunosuppressive therapies, the constant increase in organ transplants and the development of new cancer treatment modalities which influence the patients immune systems explain the importance of this phenomenon. Thus one must constantly be wary of these unusual tumors which occur independently of age and usual risk factors. PMID- 2632466 TI - [Epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus: preliminary results of combined treatment]. AB - In 1986, a prospective study was started in CHUV on the squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus treated with a multimodality protocol associating preoperative chemotherapy and surgery. Nineteen patients are currently followed-up. Dysphagia is the main symptom and was found in 16 patients (84%). After chemotherapy, dysphagia disappeared completely in 7 cases (44%), regressed in 7 other cases and worsened in 1 case. Twelve patients were operated on, without operative mortality. Histologically, no tumor was found in one case (5%) after the preoperative treatment. Follow-up is currently too short to draw statistical conclusions. The rationale, advantages and perspectives of the multimodality treatment are presented and compared with different recent series. PMID- 2632467 TI - [Neo-adjuvant radio-chemotherapy of epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus]. AB - In spite of progress in surgery and radiation therapy, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma's outlook remains grim with a cure rate of approximately 10%. The high failure rate is not only due to loco-regional failure but also to distant metastasis. The association of preoperative chemotherapy with radiation has gained interest with hope to improve control of this disease. The present pilot study is an alternating treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for poor risk carcinomas of the esophagus, not primarily amenable to surgery. The chemotherapy is composed of Cis-Platinum 60 mg/m2 Day 1 (D), Mitomycin 8 mg/m2 D1 and Vindesin 3 mg/m2 D1 and D8, alternating with radiotherapy twice 20 Gy in fraction of 2 Gy per day. After reevaluation patients are if possible submitted to surgery and if not, to a third course of treatment to a total of 3 courses and 60 Gy. Seventeen patients were entered in our study with 15 evaluable. The radiochemotherapeutic association was overall well tolerated with no toxic deaths due to treatment. Seven patients had symptomatic improvement after the first treatment cycle. The presurgical evaluation showed 8 CR and 3 PR. Eight patients have been operated with 3 pathological CR and 3 PR. Five patients completed the 3 courses of chemo- and radiotherapy (without surgery) with no improvement compared to the workup before the third course. The survival is as follows: among the 8 operated: 4 are alive without evidence of disease and 4 are dead with 2 postoperative deaths and 1 local recurrence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632468 TI - [The significance of omentum-plasty for early detection of local recurrence following abdomino-perineal rectum amputation in cancer]. AB - In a prospective study activated in October 1986 feasibility of omentoplasty after abdomino-perineal resection for cancer and implications of this procedure on early diagnosis of local recurrence were assessed. In 22 of 32 patients abdomino-perineal resection was completed by obliteration of the pelvi-perineal deadspace with pedicled omentum. CT-scans 6 months and 1 year postoperatively were analyzed in relation to diagnosis or exclusion of local recurrence. In 6 patients (27%) local recurrence was diagnosed in CT-scan and confirmed clinically (no false positive result). In 11 patients (50%) local recurrence could be excluded with high probability. In 5 patients (23%) uncertainty remained about exclusion of local recurrence. PMID- 2632469 TI - [Synchronous hepatic metastases of colorectal adenocarcinoma: what is the course? Apropos of 36 cases]. AB - The discovery of synchronous hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer poses a tactical problem ticklish to resolve. What are favourable circumstances for curative excision of hepatic metastases? When and how to operate them? To try to respond, we analysed a collective of 36 patients between 10. 1. 1985 and 30. 12. 1986. Of the patients staged Dukes B presenting synchronous hepatic metastases (less than 4, less than 50% of hepatic involvement by the tumour) without systemic involvement, excision at the first attempt is realizable and will be a benefit for the patient. For the others, excision is to be considered in the near future after having analysed (tumour grading and staging, CEA, ploidy of primary tumour). Patients presenting extrahepatic metastases will not benefit from hepatic resection. Surgery, associated or not to regional infusion chemotherapy is discussed. PMID- 2632471 TI - Diagnosis and treatment of malignant oddian tumors. AB - Between 1959 and 1987 we operated on 18 patients for malignant oddian tumor. Eleven had a Whipple resection, 3 a bilio-enteric anastomosis, 4 a local excision with or without bilio-enteric anastomosis. The overall operative mortality was 11% and the median survival was 13.8 months. Three patients are living and without evidence of disease 12, 29 and 30 months, respectively, after a Whipple resection. Because of their anatomy and favourable behaviour, malignant oddian tumors must be separated from the other periampullary tumors. Echography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with deep biopsies are the most efficient diagnostic modalities. With the aim of cure, the treatment is always surgical and relies mainly on duodenopancreatectomy. Those patients with unresectable tumors or unfit for a major procedure should benefit from internal or external biliary drainage. By coexisting duodenal obstruction, a surgical double derivation should be done. PMID- 2632470 TI - [Blood transfusions and prognosis following curative resection of colorectal cancer: is there an association?]. AB - More recently a number of retrospective analyses in rather ill defined patient populations demonstrated an association between perioperative blood transfusion and recurrence after curative resection of colorectal cancer. In the randomized trial (SAKK 40/81) (adjuvant cytotoxic intraportal infusion versus no further treatment) we evaluated the transfusion status in a well defined, prospectively documented and controlled patient population. Of 457 patients, 353 (77.2%) received either pre-, intra- or postoperatively blood transfusions. After a median follow-up of 4 years, the transfused patients developed significantly more recurrences (38.2%) than patients without blood transfusions (23.1%), the death rate being 33.7% versus 23.0%, respectively. Patients without transfusion but treated with adjuvant intraportal chemotherapy are strikingly doing better (10.5% recurrences) than patients with perioperative blood transfusion not having an adjuvant treatment (44.5% recurrences). PMID- 2632473 TI - [Pulmonary metastases. Apropos of 40 cases]. AB - This is a retrospective study of 40 patients with pulmonary metastasis who underwent resection. Metastasis were solitary in 28, few in 12: seven in one lung and 5 bilateral. Most were asymptomatic and were discovered during routine follow up examinations. The most frequent primary tumors were (in decreasing order) colorectal in 11, a sarcoma (bone or soft tissue) in 9, a non-seminoma testicular tumor in 5. Resection was either uni- or bilateral through a posterolateral thoracotomy or sternotomy. Postoperative mortality and morbidity were negligible. Our experience is not large enough to have a precise opinion, and resection of pulmonary metastasis, usually between chemotherapy administration, gives good long-term results. PMID- 2632472 TI - [Prospective therapy study of differentiated thyroid cancer]. AB - During a 15-year period (1973-1988) a consecutive series of papillary (n = 52) and follicular (n = 48) thyroid carcinomas was prospectively selected, on the basis of a clinico-pathologic and prognostic classification, for 1. non-total thyroidectomy, mostly hemithyroidectomy (n = 37), 2. total thyroidectomy (n = 19), or 3. total thyroidectomy and radioiodine (n = 44), together with exogenous suppressive thyroxine therapy in most patients. Patients with an occult or with an intrathyroidal, single papillary carcinoma without nodes, and microangioinvasive follicular carcinoma were often treated by non-total thyroidectomy or without radioiodine. During the follow-up period of 1-15 (7 +/- 4) years 5 recurrences (nodes n = 4, pulmonary n = 2) and 3 deaths occurred. Seven out of the 8 patients (age 58-76 years) had total thyroidectomy and radioiodine as initial treatment of an intrathyroidal papillary (n = 1), an extrathyroidal papillary (n = 3), and of an angioinvasive follicular (n = 4) carcinoma, respectively (no radioiodine in 1 patient). The study confirms that the outcome may be favourable in selected patients following hemithyroidectomy or without radioiodine treatment. Recurrences or death occurred in some biologically unfavourable tumors despite total thyroidectomy and radioiodine; the relatively frequent total thyroidectomy (73% of the patients) and radioiodine (51%) may have contributed to the disease-free course in the remaining patients. PMID- 2632474 TI - [Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases]. AB - From 1973 to 1988, 58 patients underwent operation for pulmonary metastases in our institution. The operative mortality was low (1-2%). The primary tumor was a melanoma in 7 cases, a sarcoma in 7 cases and a carcinoma in the remaining 44 cases. The overall 5-year patients survival was 30% and compares favorably with other series. Radical surgical excision significantly affects survival. Repeated or bilateral surgical excisions are sometimes needed. With the increased effectiveness of chemotherapy the role of surgery is changing. Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases is indicated in selected cases. PMID- 2632475 TI - [Invasive adenocarcinoma of the stomach: prognostic factors and surgical technics]. AB - Between 1976 and 1987, 183 patients with an invasive adenocarcinoma of the stomach were treated in the Department of Surgery of the CHUV in Lausanne. This study allows us to conclude: 1. The localisation, age, sex and the association with atrophic gastritis have no prognostic significance. 2. Histologic subtype does not influence prognosis. Eighty percent of patients with isolated cell carcinomas survived less than 2 years, as did 68% of those with intestinal cell carcinomas. 3. No patients with distant metastasis survived over 2 years: mean survival for these patients was 4.1 months. 4. Patients without distant metastasis had a survival of 24 months regardless of the type of operation and degree of stomach wall invasion. 5. Wide gastric resection seems wise to avoid local recurrence but in itself did not improve survival. 6. Wide lymph node resection should be offered to patients who can withstand the procedure by medicosurgical teams with low predictable morbidity and mortality. The improved survival seems clear for patients with stage T1N1 and T1N2 tumors. 7. These results need to be confirmed by a prospective study. PMID- 2632476 TI - [Rate of perioperative complications of thyroid surgery]. AB - Mortality and complication rate of thyroid surgery was evaluated between 1980 and 1987. Patients undergoing thyroidectomy during parathyroidectomy, tracheotomy or tumor operation in the anterior mediastinum were excluded. 548 thyroidectomies were performed in 536 patients. There were no mortalities. The incidence of local complications was 16% with paralysis of the recurrent nerve being the most frequent (6.2%). Other complications were hematoma or hemorrhage (4.9%), hypocalcemia (2.1%), allergic skin reaction (1.3%), or wound infection (0.7%). 2.2% of the patients needed reoperation because of false negative interpretation of a frozen section, or carcinoma in final histology. Systemic complications were found in 13 patients (2%), 6 of whom required intensive care treatment. Statistical analysis revealed that patients undergoing total thyroidectomy or re thyroidectomy, and patients older than 50 years are at higher risk for local complications. PMID- 2632477 TI - [Initial experiences with a new kind of computer compatible coding and analysis system for inpatient and ambulatory services]. AB - This paper describes a new concept of an operational database management system including the word processing program "Word Star". The system structure is composed of patients identities and linked MIR's (medical information records) to follow a patient's history in space and time. In- and out-patient's data are collected on a special data sheet with numeric responses from the following areas: demographics including risk factors, diagnosis, surgical procedure, intra- and postoperative morbidity analysis. Data are entered using a DBS-16 concurrent dos system and stored on a 105 Megabytes hard disk. The software program in its compiled version allows for processes like outpatients clinic management, appointments organisation and statistical analysis of different variables thus providing detailed information on patients postoperative morbidity. PMID- 2632478 TI - [T-cell oriented therapy concept in the treatment of rejection following liver transplantation]. AB - Since 1984 32 liver transplantations were performed at the University of Hamburg in 29 patients. 2-year survival rate of electively grafted patients is 71.4%. Immunosuppression is performed with ciclosporin A, steroids and azathioprine. The diagnosis of rejection episodes or viral infections is established by determination of activated lymphocytes, lymphoblasts or LGL-cells in the peripheral blood or in the graft (aspiration cytology). Additional liver biopsy gives information regarding the extent and kind of a white blood cell infiltrate and furthermore allows a differentiation of T-lymphocytes by immunohistological staining. Rejection episodes are primarily treated with ATG (Fresenius), non responding cases either with ATG (Stanford) or OKT 3. Successful treatment with ATG results in an elimination of T3, T4 and T8-lymphocytes. A sufficient result of OKT 3 treatment is stated after elimination of T3 cells. PMID- 2632479 TI - "Piggy back" adult orthotopic liver transplantation. AB - In analogy to liver transplantation techniques developed in children, a method of adult liver grafting is described in which the recipient, intra- and retrohepatic, inferior vena cava is completely preserved. PMID- 2632480 TI - [Transplantation of kidneys from children]. AB - During an 11-year period from 1978 to 1988, 720 cadaver kidneys were transplanted at the University Hospital of Zurich. 103 of the kidney grafts were from donors 16 years old or younger. The mean age of these donors was 11 years (range 2 1/3 to 16 years). There were 3 donors under 5 years, where we preserved and transplanted both kidneys en bloc. Only 3 recipients were less than 16 years old. After 1 year, 67 out of 103 recipients had a functioning pediatric graft. In the cyclosporine-treated group, the 1-year graft survival was even 80%, similar to kidney transplants from adult donors. Graft loss was observed in 48 cases. 33 patients rejected the transplant and 10 grafts were lost after recurrence of the primary renal disease. Only 5 grafts had a vascular complication. We conclude that kidneys from pediatric donors can successfully be transplanted into adults. PMID- 2632481 TI - [Transplantation of kidneys of relatives]. AB - In the last few decades kidney transplants have shown an increasing survival rate of about 85% after one year. The growing demand for transplants is limited by the insufficient availability of kidneys and the living donor represents a possible means of reducing the discrepancy between supply and demand. We report here results of 41 transplantations from related, living donors. The overall transplant survival rate at one year was 91% and at 5 years 71%. In the group treated with cyclosporine the survival rate was 92% at 5 years. The mean serum creatinine levels at the latest follow-up was 115 mumol/l, while the mean blood pressure was 139/82 mmHg. Donor nephrectomy resulted neither in morbidity nor mortality. An extensive follow-up study of 8 donors revealed normal values for both blood pressure and serum creatinine. Careful donor selection is crucial in order to guarantee the voluntary nature of donation and, thus, to avoid the risk of commercialism. PMID- 2632482 TI - [Reduction of renal reperfusion damage following warm ischemia by allopurinol and superoxide dismutase]. AB - Preserved organs are damaged not only by the ischemic injury due to lack of oxygen. The reperfusion injury mediated by oxygen free radicals is an important factor in the postischemic organ failure. The prevention of free radical-induced reperfusion injury with allopurinol (AP) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) is shown in a warm ischemia kidney model. Rats were treated with allopurinol (40 mg/kg i.v.) one hour, or with SOD (20,000 IU/kg i.v.) one minute before reperfusion after a period of 35 minutes of warm ischemia. Allopurinol and SOD reduced significantly the postischemic kidney failure with a less important increase of creatinine. Creatinine levels on day three in the control group: 517 +/- 87 mumol/ml, in the SOD-group: 206 +/- 105 mumol/ml, and in the AP-group: 163 +/- 81 mumol/ml (anal. of variance: p = 0.0001). AP has a wide therapeutic range. We feel, that it is important to confirm the prevention of reperfusion injury by allopurinol prophylaxis clinically. PMID- 2632483 TI - [Thrombocytosis following pancreas transplantation]. AB - Thrombosis of the pancreas transplant is one of the main causes for the lower success rate of this procedure compared with that of other organ transplantations. Approximately one quarter of the pancreas transplantations discussed in this study are unsuccessful for this reason. This work is a retrospective study focusing on the postoperative blood platelet counts from 19 patients with a combined pancreas and kidney transplant, functioning well for at least 1.5 months. 19 patients with only a kidney transplantation with similar distribution of sex, age and postoperative immunosuppressive treatment were observed as a control group. After pancreas transplantation the platelet counts increased considerably and were found to be far above the normal level. There are no proven pathophysiological explanations for this thrombocytosis. Because of an increased risk of thrombosis, we recommend to use platelet inhibitors during the first two postoperative months. PMID- 2632484 TI - [Is there an age limit for organ donors?]. AB - Multi-organ-harvesting, living related organ donation and a continuing extension of donor age are well known methods to overcome the shortage of suitable cadaveric organs for transplantation. With an appropriate technique even neonatal grafts can be successfully grafted. When specific organ damage is excluded, kidneys, livers, hearts and pancreas from donors as old as sixty-five, fifty five, fifty-five and sixty years, respectively, can be used for transplantation with satisfactory results. PMID- 2632485 TI - [Magnetic resonance tomography in preoperative analysis of chronic post-traumatic osteomyelitis]. AB - Chronic osteomyelitis in 8 patients was studied preoperatively by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and in part of them also by computed tomography (CT). Morphologic information about extraosseous and intraosseous changes was important for surgical planning. In long bones CT generally is superior delineating bone structures (sequestra and fragments of devitalized bone in the intramedullary cavity) and MR may be used as an adjunct for localizing extraosseous and intraosseous abscesses. In trabecular bones as the os calcis MR seems to be equivalent to CT. PMID- 2632486 TI - [Osteitis--imaging with magnetic resonance tomography]. AB - Between January 1985 and December 1988 41 patients with clinically suspected osteomyelitis were examined by MRI. All cases were proved either by surgery or by clinical follow-up. Evidence of osteomyelitis on MRI consisted of abnormalities of the bone marrow with decreased signal intensity on T1-weighted images and increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Other abnormalities such as degeneration of the intervertebral disc, fatty degeneration of the muscles and thickening of tendon sheaths with fluid were also seen on the same images. The sensitivity of the MRI for the diagnosis of osteomyelitis was 100%, the specificity was 86% and the accuracy 96%. We conclude that MRI is a reliable method in diagnosing osteomyelitis because of its high sensitivity and high specificity. PMID- 2632487 TI - [The value of computerized tomography in assessing chronic osteomyelitis]. AB - Computed tomography (CT) creates cross sectional images with the benefit of high density and contrast resolution. In a retrospective study we have assessed the value of CT investigation of 23 patients with chronic osteomyelitis of the lower limb by comparing the findings with the plain radiographs, the surgical records and the histology of specific areas. We were able to establish that CT provides an excellent assessment of the bone and soft tissue structures as well as providing a precise localisation of the process. Sequestra, periosteal and endosteal bone proliferation, sinus, scar tissue and abscesses can be clearly identified. A rough evaluation of the bone vitality can also be made. In cases of chronic osteomyelitis without metal implants CT studies, together with clinical records and plain radiographs are able to establish the better operative approach and so optimise the indication for operation. PMID- 2632488 TI - [Preliminary treatment of the recipient site and healing of open spongiosa transplant in post-traumatic osteitis]. AB - On the occasion of a new surgical procedure 48 patients with chronic osteitis were treated with a new antiseptic called "Lavasept" and open spongiosa treatment. The spongiosa-filling was covered with saturated Lavasept-dressing which were changed once or twice daily till the spontaneous wound-healing occurred. None of the 48 patients has shown complications of the wound-healing or a relapse till today. PMID- 2632489 TI - [4 fragment fractures of the proximal femur: is the dynamic hip screw a suitable implant?]. AB - The DHS-implant system is widely used in the operative treatment of pertrochanteric fractures of the femur. The telescoping effect of the implant in the unstable 4-fragment fracture leads to lateralisation of the greater trochanter and shortening of the leg. The quality of reposition influences this secondary dislocation. In our series of 65 patients treated with this device 17 repositions were in a varus position, followed by leg shortening of more than 10 mm in 9 patients. Independent of the quality of reposition in the long-term follow-up only one patient of 25 complained of persistent pain. PMID- 2632490 TI - [Incidence and treatment of fresh connective tissue injuries of the knee in winter sports]. AB - For the last 18 years 21,808 alpine skiing injuries have been treated at the hospital of Davos. There is a great decline in the incidence of lower leg fractures with a contrary development of knee ligament injuries. Today half of the lower leg injuries are knee injuries. To ameliorate the documentation of all patients with acute injuries of the knee ligaments we are using a detailed questionnaire, including the mechanism of injury, release of the safety binding, skiing ability, pattern of instability and the techniques of treatment. We report of the evaluation of 145 patients with knee ligament injuries. It is the aim of that protocol to follow up all these cases up to 5 years. PMID- 2632491 TI - [The cruciate ligament prosthesis made of polytetrafluoroethylene. 2 years' results]. AB - The results of 142 cases, more than two years after implantation, are showed and discussed. Good results are found in 78% of the cases. Rules for the implantation are proposed. The benefits of this artificial prosthesis compared to the autologous grafts are: reduced patient morbidity, ease of implantation, immediate secure fixation, rigid immobilization not required, reduced rehabilitation time. With a new design of the device a reduced rate of ruptures is expected. PMID- 2632492 TI - [Modified gracilis and iliotibialis-plasty in anterolateral rotation instability of the knee joint. Retrospective study]. AB - During 1979 to 1986 72 patients have been treated surgically because of "anterolateral rotation instability" of the knee joint. The follow-up of 51 patients is based on the AOK-method. The surgical technique (modified gracilis and iliotibialis replacement) is described. 82.4% ended up in a good to very good result, in patients' view even 88.2%. The cases with bad and medium results are discussed, as well as those who underwent further treatment elsewhere. PMID- 2632493 TI - [Initial results with the new tibial interlocking nail of the Orthopedic Study Group]. AB - The new AO universal tibia nail with interlocking possibility has several new features. The wall thickness has been increased from 1.0 to 1.2 mm. In order to give the stiffer nail smoother insertion properties and better cortical contact, the overall design has been altered with the help of computer calculation. Proximally there are 3 holes for locking purposes in the frontal plane, while distally we find two holes in the frontal and one in the sagittal plane to accommodate the locking bolts. The new nail has been applied in 17 clinical cases with overall good results. The indications were deliberately pushed to the extremes and even 5 open fractures were nailed after minimal remaining. There were 2 major perioperative complications: one proximal blow-out of the anterior cortex due to a wrong point of insertion and several other technical mistakes. The situation was salvaged with an external fixator. In an 85-year-old multiple injured lady with a 3-degree open tibia, the initial fixateur externe was replaced after 3 weeks by a 10 mm universal nail. Due to severe porosis and rather proximal extensive cortical comminution, the locking bolts and therefore the nail did not find a good hold in the tibia plateau. After uneventful healing of the soft tissues and additional splinting, the fracture, however, consolidated within 4 months. There were two superficial soft tissue infections early postoperatively, but no cases of osteitis. Healing of the fractures seems to progress without delay.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632494 TI - [Clinical significance and treatment concept of Lisfranc dislocation and dislocation fracture]. AB - Dislocations and fracture dislocations of the tarsometotarsal joint are uncommon (only 30 cases have been treated in our hospital in a 20-year period). The late results of tarsometotarsal injuries in 20 patients have been reviewed. The average follow-up was 3.8 years (range 8 months to 20 years). Methods of treatment were either open (n = 15) or closed (n = 5) reduction with (n = 18) or without (n = 2) internal fixation and cast immobilization (n = 10). Late results clearly correlate with the quality of reduction. An open procedure is usually necessary to achieve anatomical reduction. Diagnostic and operative problems are discussed. PMID- 2632495 TI - [Vascular reconstruction following trauma. Experience in Basel 1980-1988]. AB - From 1980-1988 twenty patients with vascular trauma were treated at the Kantonsspital Basel, Switzerland. The incidence of 1% in open fractures is low. Nerve lesions in combination with vascular trauma are very frequent, specially at the upper extremity. Nearly all patients were treated with the interposition of a venous graft from the vena saphena magna. We deplore 3 amputations after successful vascular reconstruction, mainly due to extensive bone and soft tissue damage. Our long-term control shows very satisfying vascular results, but poor neurological results. We therefore conclude that the functional outcome is--apart from a short ischemia time--highly related to the neurological situation at the time of the trauma. PMID- 2632496 TI - [Surgical experiences with the arteriovenous hemodialysis shunt (1970-1988)]. AB - Data were collected concerning 307 arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis created in 186 patients between 1970 and 1988 at the Municipal Hospital Waid of Zurich. The average age of all patients was 52.7 years. The procedure which provides access for 97.2% of all patients is the radiocephalic fistula (Cimino-Brescia), which became dilated within 4 weeks in 82.9%. There was a primary failure rate of 11.2%. The patency rate was 60.2% after 3 years and 36.6% after 5 years. Early complications, especially thrombosis, occurred in 11.2% and were caused usually by technical faults or hypotonia. Late complications were discovered in 42.8% of the patients (22.5% thrombosis, 7% stenosis, 2.1% aneurysm, 2.6% infection, 2.7% steal syndrome and 5.9% skin alterations). During the average period of dialysis (4.6 years), 38% of the patients needed more than one fistula. In that situation too, the same radiocephalic fistula was performed in the contralateral forearm (30%) prior to perform advanced procedures like PTFE-grafts (29%), etc. The patency rate after 3 years was 60.4% for radiocephalic fistula and 69.7% for PTFE transplants. The shuntthrombosis was again the main early (9.9%) and late (24%) postoperative complication. With help of a surgical thrombectomy or more conservative procedures like anticoagulation, local thrombectomy and transluminal angioplasty, 81.2%, respectively 64% of the failed fistula could be restored. Other complications like bleeding, aneurysms and infections occurred especially in arteriovenous grafts (0.5-5.7%). PMID- 2632497 TI - [Inflammatory aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and ureteral obstruction]. AB - The incidence of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA) is reported in between 5 and 15% of all cases of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). As a diagnostic hint the CT- or MRI-scan shows the ureters typically displaced medially, caused by a simultaneously visible retroperitoneal perianeurysmal fibrosis. In IAAA, one has to expect about 25% ureteral congestion, uni- or bilateral. Since the probability of rupture of IAAA--in the natural course between 15 and 25% of the cases--does not apparently differ much from the arteriosclerotic AAA, the operative aorto-iliac reconstruction with bypass grafting is the only solution and procedure of choice. Postoperatively, renal insufficiency caused by congestion normalizes: long-term follow-up by CT-scanning demonstrates the regression of both retroperitoneal fibrotic process and ureteral entrapment. Therefore, the dangerous ureterolysis results to be unnecessary. Hydronephrosis due to ureteral obstruction following aorto-iliac bypass grafting, if progressive or symptomatic, should be treated first non-operatively by ureteral splint. PMID- 2632498 TI - Familial and environmental aetiologic factors in paranoid psychosis quantified by a new statistical method. AB - A new mathematical model for quantification of familial factors was used in this study of psychiatric morbidity among the first-degree relatives of 25 patients with paranoid psychosis. The method provides a measure, a familial score of psychiatric morbidity of practical value in correlation analysis since it is applicable at different numbers of relatives per proband, excludes the influence of systematical errors, and allows the inclusion of background factors. A total of 159 first-degree relatives above the age of 15 were traced, 44 (28%) of whom were found to have a history of psychiatric disorder. The familial score of psychiatric morbidity, which varied between 2.0 and 23.0 in the 25 patients, was not significantly correlated to neurophysiological findings or clinical picture. A highly significant negative correlation between the familial score and parental age suggested that the relative influence of nonfamilial factors on the development of psychiatric disorder may be increased with increasing parental age. PMID- 2632499 TI - Transferrin and structural anomalies of chromosome 3 in the blastic phase of chronic myelocytic leukemia. PMID- 2632500 TI - Munchausen syndrome by proxy. AB - Munchausen Syndrome by proxy as a form of child abuse is appearing with greater frequency in the literature. It is essential for pediatric nurses to know this form of child abuse and to aid in early detection, diagnosis, and intervention. The purpose of this article is to present a model of care to assist nurses in detecting and managing affected children and their families. PMID- 2632501 TI - Cholesterol: a practical teaching plan for children and adolescents. AB - Hypercholesterolemia is a problem not only shared by many adults but also by their children. It has been hypothesized that fatty streaks in the aorta may be established by 10 years of age, thus aiding in the process of calcification later in life. Autopsy exams on young U.S. soldiers killed in Viet Nam and Korea revealed coronary calcification in 45-77%. Pediatric nurses can do much to assist both parents and their children in learning the appropriate diet and exercise regimen necessary to help reduce the cholesterol-heart disease risk in identified children. PMID- 2632502 TI - Gastroesophageal reflux, fundoplication, and dumping: literature review and case study. AB - This article describes a very uncommon phenomenon that can result from surgery to correct gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Although, GER is a common illness in infants, the methods of management and nursing care are diverse. Review of the literature on GER and dumping are discussed and a case study of a girl with dumping following a fundoplication is presented. PMID- 2632503 TI - Phenylketonuria: counseling and teaching functions of the nurse on an interdisciplinary team. AB - Phenylketonuria (PKU) is estimated to occur in 1 in 8,000 to 20,000 live births. Newborn screening identifies these children and proper dietary management changes the course of their lives from mental retardation to normal intelligence. However, there are many factors that influence whether the family and the person with PKU will cope satisfactorily with this lifelong condition. Interdisciplinary teams often assist the family and client with this process. As a member of the team the nurse assumes a counseling and teaching role. That role, following a developmental perspective, is presented in this article. PMID- 2632504 TI - [Reproductive health--trends in industrialized and underdeveloped countries]. PMID- 2632505 TI - [Midwives in Boston, USA]. PMID- 2632506 TI - [Da Luz--give light]. PMID- 2632507 TI - Hematopoietic growth factors. PMID- 2632508 TI - Medical emergencies associated with disorders of calcium homeostasis. AB - Medical emergencies due to severe hypercalcaemia and hypocalcaemia are relatively rare in clinical practice. 89 cases of hypercalcaemia were seen during 1975-1987 and 16 presented as medical emergencies; renal colic (7) acute renal failure (3), spontaneous fractures (3), acute pancreatitis (1), cardiac arrhythmia (1) and acute hypercalcaemic crisis resulting in death (1). 81 cases of severe hypocalcaemia were seen during the same period. 22 presented initially as epileptic seizures with one ending fatally due to status epilepticus. The other emergencies were severe laryngeal stridor and inability to speak (7), papilloedema (3) and acute behavioural disorder (4). A few illustrative cases have been briefly described. PMID- 2632509 TI - Circulating androgens in hirsutism. AB - The androgen status in fifty consecutive women with hirsutism in the reproductive age group referred to the endocrine clinic was studied. Mean BMI was 24.3 +/- 5.6 kg/M2, 42% had menstrual disturbances and 30%, had severe hirsutism. The hirsute patients had significantly higher estimates of testosterone (48%), dihydrotestosterone (38%) and androstenedione (86%). Based on clinical and hormonal data, polycystic ovarian disease was diagnosed in 20 patients, nonclassical 21 hydroxylase deficiency in one and idiopathic hirsutism in 29. PMID- 2632510 TI - Non-invasive evaluation of global ventricular functions in coronary artery disease by exercise radionuclide angiocardiography. AB - Rest and exercise radionuclide angiocardiographic measurement of left ventricular functions were obtained in 12 normal subjects (group I) and 42 patients with well documented coronary artery disease (group II). Additionally thirty-five patients had an exercise tread mill test. Resting left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50% provided the greatest diagnostic information. Exercise was induced by supine bicycle exercise ergometer. In group II 32 patients of coronary artery disease with normal global ventricular function at rest, new regions of dysfunction developed during exercise and global ejection fraction fell by 8 to 15 percent while in group I there was an increase in LVEF and no areas of any ventricular wall motion abnormalities were detected. Exercise radionuclide angiocardiography is a useful non invasive technique which permits accurate assessment of the presence and functional severity of coronary artery disease. PMID- 2632511 TI - Glycosylated haemoglobin(HbA1C) and serum protein bound hexose in diabetes mellitus. AB - Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) and serum protein bound hexose (SPBH) levels were estimated in 35 healthy control subjects and 35 diabetic subjects. The mean levels of SPBH in control subjects was 161.69 +/- 3.84 mg/dl. The SPBH levels in diabetic subjects were found to be increased (P less than 0.001). It was not influenced by age and sex of the patients, complications, type of diabetes and treatment received. HbA1C levels in control subjects were 5.33 +/- 0.38/dl. The HbA1C levels in diabetic subjects was found to be markedly elevated (11.95 +/- 0.46/dl) and was found to be highly significant (P less than 0.001). The levels were found to be on higher side in juvenile diabetics. A progressive linear correlation was observed between fasting blood sugar levels and concentration of SPBH and glycosylated haemoglobin concentration. A significant correlation was also observed between the levels of glycosylated haemoglobin and SPBH levels (P less than 0.05). PMID- 2632512 TI - Alpha-1-antitrypsin activity in duodenal ulcer. AB - Alpha-1-antitrypsin activity was estimated in thirty-one duodenal ulcer patients and twenty-five age and sex matched controls. Statistically significant (P less than 0.05) decrease was noted in the mean alpha-1-antitrypsin activity in the patients sera. These observations indicate that alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency may be one of the important factors in the aetiopathogenesis of duodenal ulcer in a considerable proportion of patients. PMID- 2632513 TI - Plasma cortisol levels in enteric fever. AB - Plasma cortisol levels were estimated in twenty two culture positive cases of enteric fever and in equal number of patients with fever due to non-enteric causes. Patients of typhoid with severe toxaemia and or some complication were found to have lowered mean levels on the day of admission and at the time of defervescence. The levels returned to normal one week later. Patients of typhoid with mild to moderate illness showed elevated levels of plasma cortisol. To conclude cases of typhoid with severe toxaemia and/or complications have lower cortisol levels and may be given supplementary steroids (if no contraindications exist). Since these values return to normal one week after fever subsides, supplementary steroids need not be given for longer than one week of acute illness. PMID- 2632514 TI - Deglycyrrhizinated liquorice in aphthous ulcers. AB - Twenty patients with aphthous ulcers were advised deglycyrrhizinated liquorice (DGL) mouth wash and were followed for two weeks. Fifteen patients experienced 50 75% improvement within one day followed by complete healing of the ulcers by third day. PMID- 2632515 TI - Serum rhodanese in goitre and calcific pancreatitis of tropics. AB - Rhodanese is one of the enzymes concerned in the detoxification of cyanide. Cassava intake and consequent cyanide toxicity are incriminated in the pathogenesis of goitre and calcific pancreatitis of tropics. So we studied the activity of rhodanese in these patients. 14 controls, 13 patients with pancreatitis and 12 with goitre were studied. The median (and range) of rhodanese in these groups were 82 (50-144), 110 (64-180) and 71 (22-160) units respectively. The serum rhodanese was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in patients with pancreatitis when compared to the other groups. There was no significant difference between the serum rhodanese in patients with goitre and the controls. The presence of adequate amounts of rhodanese indicates that goitre and chronic pancreatitis are not produced by impaired cyanide detoxification. PMID- 2632516 TI - Carboxyhaemoglobin and serum cholesterol levels in smokers. AB - Carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) and serum cholesterol levels were studied in twenty five chronic smokers, smoking different quantities of cigarettes, biris and "hooka" for more than ten years and compared with equal number of age and sex matched non-smoker controls. COHb levels were found to be significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in chronic smokers as compared to non-smokers while no significant difference (P greater than 0.1) was found in serum cholesterol levels between the two groups. Cigarette smokers had a higher COHb level as compared to biris smokers (P less than 0.001). PMID- 2632517 TI - Torsade de pointes--an ECG discussion. PMID- 2632518 TI - Disseminated intravascular coagulation. PMID- 2632519 TI - Dermatitis artefacta. AB - Dermatitis artefacta is an uncommonly encountered condition. This paper presents a case report of two such rare patients. The symptomatology and history of fourteen and sixteen year old males with dermatitis artefacta are described. Possible psychophysiological aetiology of the cases is discussed. PMID- 2632520 TI - Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinaemia. AB - Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinaemia is a rare disease. One such case is reported. PMID- 2632521 TI - Massive lymphadenopathy in chronic myelocytic leukemia. AB - A 50 year old male presented with massive lymphadenopathy and was found to be in extramedullary blast crisis is reported. Lymphadenopathy regressed on busulphan therapy and the overt blast crisis took 15 months to occur after initial presentation. PMID- 2632522 TI - An unusual case of right atrial myxoma. AB - An unusual case of right atrial myxoma who had a ten year symptom free interval, following the initial manifestation is presented. PMID- 2632523 TI - Factors causing Aspergillus precipitin seronegativity. PMID- 2632524 TI - Orchitis--an unusual complication of typhoid fever. PMID- 2632525 TI - Indigenous medicines--an ethical codification called for. PMID- 2632526 TI - Symptomatic extreme bradycardia in obstructive jaundice. PMID- 2632527 TI - Diagnosis of iron deficiency. PMID- 2632528 TI - Effect of iron deficiency on renal function. AB - Renal function was assessed by determining three hour creatinine clearance (THCC) values in 20 patients (13 males, seven females; age 16-55 years) of nutritional iron deficiency anaemia. Mean transferrin saturation was 4.6% (SD 2.3). Haemoglobin and THCC were determined twice at the interval of three days before therapy. All patients received total dose iron-dextran intravenously. Three days after therapy, haemoglobin and THCC were determined again. Paired 't' test was used to determine the significance of the difference. There was no significant difference between the two pretherapy mean haemoglobin values (6.1 +/- 3.5 g/dl and 5.6 +/- 4.5 g/dl; p greater than 0.2), and the two pretherapy mean THCC values (67.2 +/- 36.9 ml/min and 70.3 +/- 22.8 ml/min; p greater than 0.5). There was no significant difference (p greater than 0.5) between pre-and post-therapy mean haemoglobin levels (6.6 +/- 2.2 g/dl). The difference between the pre therapy and post-therapy THCC (95.3 +/- 34.0 ml/min) was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). It is concluded on the basis of these results that renal function as measured by THCC is impaired in iron deficiency anaemia, and it improves significantly within three days of total dose intravenous iron dextran therapy when there is no significant increase in haemoglobin value. This is likely to represent the effect of iron at the tissue level independent of the anaemia. PMID- 2632529 TI - Bone marrow iron in nutritional anaemias. AB - Bone marrow smears of 168 patients with nutritional anaemias attending the Dr. J.C. Patel, Department of Hematology, K.E.M. Hospital were stained by Prussian blue method for iron (haemosiderin). Iron in the bone marrow was classified as absent, decreased, normal or increased. Amongst 93 cases with transferrin saturation (TS) of less than 16% and normoblastic erythropoiesis, bone marrow iron was absent in 48 (51.6%) and decreased in 45 (48.4%). In 50 cases with TS of less than 16% and marrow showing megaloblasts and/or giant myelocytes and metamyelocytes, bone marrow iron was absent in 15 (30%), decreased in 22 (44%), normal in 7 (14%) and increased in 6 (12%). In 25 cases with TS over 16% and megaloblastic erythropoiesis, bone marrow iron was absent in 4 (16%), decreased in 1 (4%), normal in 7 (28%) and increased in 13 (52%). In 150 (89.3%) patients out of 168, bone marrow iron and TS gave concordant results whereas in 18 (10.7%), the results were discordant; former was encountered in cases of uncomplicated iron deficiency while latter was found with megaloblastic morphology of the marrow. It is concluded that there is a good correlation between TS and bone marrow iron and hence, either of the criteria can be used for the diagnosis of iron deficiency especially when it is not complicated by megaloblastosis. PMID- 2632530 TI - Effect of incentive breathing on lung functions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). AB - The effect of incentive breathing exercise was evaluated on patients of blue bloater variety of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a controlled study. The study used a device working on the principles of biofeed back for imparting breathing exercise. Exercise was given for half an hour daily for six weeks. There was significant increase in the vital capacity (VC) and reduction in air trapping in exercise group. There was remarkable improvement in subjective feeling of well being and breathlessness. PMID- 2632531 TI - Severity of mitral regurgitation in mitral valve prolapse syndrome. A Doppler echocardiographic study. AB - Thirty-three consecutive patients with mitral valve prolapse with a systolic murmur were evaluated using pulsed doppler echocardiography to quantify the severity of mitral regurgitation. There were thirteen (39%) patients with mild regurgitation, twelve patients (36%) with moderate regurgitation and eight patients (24%) with severe regurgitation. It was noticed that, all the patients with severe regurgitation had posterior leaflet prolapse. In contrast, patients with anterior leaflet prolapse had either mild or moderate regurgitation only. Our results suggest that the degree of mitral regurgitation differs depending on the leaflet that shows the prolapse, which may be of importance in the followup of patients with mitral valve prolapse. PMID- 2632532 TI - Role of metronidazole in improving response and specific drug sensitivity in advanced pulmonary tuberculosis. AB - One hundred and thirty-seven patients of advanced pulmonary tuberculosis were randomly allocated to receive metronidazole 400mg tid (76) or placebo (61) for 2 months in a single blind study. All received streptomycin 0.75 g,INH 30 mg and rifampicin 450 mg daily as standard antitubercle treatment. There were no significant pretreatment differences, among both groups. Compared to placebo group there was superior clinical improvement in metronidazole treated group at 4 and 8 weeks (81% vs 53%-P less than 0.05; 87% vs 72%-P less than 0.05 respectively), greater sputum reduction at 4 weeks (49% vs 9%-P less than 0.001) greater radiologic improvement at 4 weeks (60% vs 43%-P less than 0.01) and a better antituberculous drug sensitivity. Metronidazole seems to have beneficial adjuvant role in the drug treatment of tuberculosis. This may improve response in advanced cases. PMID- 2632533 TI - Neurological manifestations of homocystinuria. AB - Six cases of homocystinuria with different clinical manifestations are described. Two of these patients presented with vascular problems, two had proximal muscle weakness, one each had cerebellar ataxia and psychiatric manifestations. Biochemical defects and the pathological mechanisms in different types of homocystinurias are reviewed. PMID- 2632534 TI - Prognostic significance of predischarge 2D-echocardiography after first transmural myocardial infarction. AB - Predischarge two dimensional echocardiography (2D Echo) was performed in 45 survivors of first transmural myocardial infarction to assess its value in predicting major cardiac complications (MCC) during convalescence. Wall motion score was derived for each patient by analysing endocardial motion in 11 left ventricular segments. In 18 months follow up 11 of 14 patients (78%) who had major cardiac complications had wall motion score of at least 5. Wall motion score of less than 5 was present in 29 of the 31 (94%) of patients in asymptomatic group. Non-invasively obtained wall motion score helps in risk stratification of survivors of AMI. Wall motion score at predischarge 2D Echo or more identifies high risk cases from a relatively asymptomatic group (Killip Class I & II). PMID- 2632535 TI - A newer avenue for evaluation of thyroid dysfunction. AB - Attempt has been made to rationalise the biochemical assessment of patients suspected to have thyroid dysfunction by introduction of a new rapid and supersensitive immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) for TSH. 294 patients were subjected to thyroid investigation viz; tT3, tT4 and TSH (IRMA). Of these, 51 (17.34%) were hypothyroid, 22 (7.48%) were hyperthyroid and 221 (75.1%) were euthyroid. The ratio of thyroid disorder in male to female was 1:3.38. In all patients with hyperthyroidism TSH (IRMA) was 0.05 to undetectable and it was more than 4.5 ulu/ml in hypothyroid patients. TSH (IRMA) was low in one euthyroid patient a 0.34% incidence of false negativity. In 2 patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism TSH (IRMA) was low while tT3 and tT4 were normal. TSH (IRMA) therefore may obviate the need for more time consuming and expensive TRH test and simplify the approach to thyroid function tests in patients suspected to have masked or overt hyperthyroidism. PMID- 2632536 TI - Estimation of marrow iron stores, biopsy vs. aspirate. PMID- 2632537 TI - Serum nickle estimation in acute myocardial infarction. AB - Serum nickle was estimated by atomic absorption spectrometer in 20 healthy controls and in 25 cases of acute myocardial infarction at 12 hourly intervals upto 48 hours, after the onset of chest pain. The mean serum nickel was 0.27 micrograms/dl in healthy controls and 0.40,050,049 and 0.30 micrograms/dl in patients of acute myocardial infarction. The serum nickel values were significantly (P less than 0.001) raised upto 36 hours in acute myocardial infarction when compared with controls. PMID- 2632538 TI - Significance of heart rate response in shock due to aluminium phosphide poisoning. AB - Mixed heart rate response has been observed in shock due to aluminium phosphide poisoning. Bradycardia observed in 9 of 30 cases studied indicated transient vagotonia and it reversed with atropine. Both tachycardiac bradycardiac responses were associated with significant increase in the mortality. PMID- 2632539 TI - Intracardiac electrocardiogram. PMID- 2632540 TI - Staphylococcal lung abscess. PMID- 2632541 TI - Alkaptonuria. AB - A case of alkaptonuria with its various sequelae in the form of ochronosis, ochronotic arthropathy, spondylitis and prostatic calculi is reported. The case is of interest as it presented with hepatocellular failure and hepatitis B surface antigenaemia. PMID- 2632542 TI - Breast involvement in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. AB - A 35 year old woman who was in clinical remission of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on standard therapy presented with leukaemic involvement of both breasts. Local radiation therapy with concurrent systemic chemotherapy with vincristine, daunorubicin. L-asparaginase and prednisolone produced complete resolution of the breast lesions. PMID- 2632543 TI - Multiple choledochal cysts with stones (a case report with review of literature). AB - This is a case report of a 35 year old female with multiple choledochal cysts diagnosed on ERCP and treated by hepaticojejunostomy Roux-Y. PMID- 2632544 TI - Myelomyopathy and thyrotoxicosis. AB - A thirty year female patient presented with features of thyrotoxicosis, myopathy and cervical myelopathy of one year duration. Her cervical metrizamide myelogram was normal. On antithyroid therapy muscle weakness and features of myelopathy improved over three months follow up. PMID- 2632545 TI - Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. AB - Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria is an uncommon condition characterised by undue susceptibility of the red cells to get lysed by the complement components. Three cases of this disorder encountered over a period of two years are presented here. PMID- 2632546 TI - Management of hyperlipidaemia: few more facts. PMID- 2632547 TI - The menace of quick phos. PMID- 2632548 TI - Hypokalaemia mimicking Guillain-Barre syndrome. PMID- 2632549 TI - Intestinal pseudo obstruction with galactorrhoea. PMID- 2632550 TI - Acute jejunal obstruction in a renal allograft recipient. PMID- 2632551 TI - Cranial nerve palsies in organophosphorus poisoning. PMID- 2632552 TI - Adverse reactions to cinnarizine. PMID- 2632553 TI - Popularize trade names through proper advertisements only and not through scientific articles. PMID- 2632554 TI - Primary gastrointestinal symptoms--reply from authors. PMID- 2632555 TI - Combination therapy (131I and carbimazole) of toxic diffuse goitre. PMID- 2632556 TI - Tropical myositis. A clinical immunological and histopathological study. AB - Thirty cases of tropical myositis, (22 suppurative, 8 non-suppurative) aged 11 to 65 years were seen in a period of one year. There were 22 males and 8 females. There was a total of 78 muscular lesions in 22 suppurative cases and 19 muscular lesions in 8 non-suppurative cases. The most common presentation was localised myalgia (100%), fever (96.7%) generalized myalgia (56.7%), arthralgia (40%), pain in abdomen (33.3%) and breathlessness (30%). Extramuscular complications were present in 50% cases. Twenty four muscle biopsies were taken. Sixteen showed changes of suppurative myositis i.e. non-specific acute inflammatory reaction, muscle necrosis with myocytolysis, vacuolation of cytoplasm and loss of striations. Cell mediated immunity was found to be suppressed in patients of non suppurative myositis in comparison with the suppurative group. IgG, IgA and IgM were significantly raised in patients in comparison to controls (p less than 0.05). The intact humoral immunity indicates good response to acute phase reaction and increased levels of IgG, IgA and IgM (specially IgG) can be taken as good prognostic parameter. PMID- 2632557 TI - Upper gastro-intestinal mucosal changes in patients with chronic renal failure. AB - A prospective study was undertaken to determine the radiological, endoscopic and histological changes of upper gastro-intestinal mucosa in patients with end-stage renal failure and the effect of haemodialysis. Of the 30 patients studied, 28 (93%) had presented with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Abnormal findings on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were observed in 66.7% patients. These comprised oesophagitis (23.3%) gastritis (30%), duodenitis (33.3%) and peptic ulcer (6.7%). Histological study of the mucosal tissue biopsy in 24 patients showed oesophagitis, gastritis and duodenitis in 12.5%, 45.8% and 37.5% respectively. Ten patients were re-evaluated after institution of haemodialysis therapy for a minimum of one month. Though there was a significant improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms (p less than 0.05), there was no effect on endoscopic changes. The study documents a high incidence of mucosal inflammatory changes rather than that of ulcer disease in chronic renal failure. PMID- 2632558 TI - Hypothyroidism in children/adolescents. Clinical and hormonal profiles. AB - This paper describes the clinical, hormonal and radiologic profiles in 282 children evaluated for hypothyroidism. Short stature, mental retardation or puberal disturbances were often the presenting features in the older age group, whereas in the 1-5 years age group medical opinion was usually sought for symptomatology suggestive of thyroid hypofunction. Children in the 0-1 year group were suspected on the basis of psychomotor dysfunction. Skeletal immaturity was found in 93.0% of patients with overt hypothyroidism and in 36.6% cases with normal thyroid profiles but associated with malnutrition. High TSH levels were noted in 70.9% of the cases studied. 4.9% and 7.3% patients with normal TSH had low T3, and T4 levels respectively. FSH, testosterone and PRL levels were also affected in some patients with overt hypothyroidism. Therapeutic responses based on at least 1 year follow up were available in 170 cases. The results are discussed. PMID- 2632559 TI - Multigated radionuclide ventriculography during in-hospital phase of acute myocardial infarction. AB - Global and regional left ventricular performance was assessed by multigated radionuclide technique in thirty patients sustaining acute myocardial infarction on two occasions during in-hospital phase. Thirteen (76.5%) of the seventeen patients with anterior infarction had depressed initial left ventricular ejection fraction compared with seven (53.8%) of the thirteen patients with inferior infarction. From initial to discharge study, change in ejection fraction was statistically insignificant in either group of infarctions. All except three (10%) patients had regional wall motion abnormality on initial evaluation with little subsequent alteration. Our data demonstrates that ejection fraction changes variably during the course of illness, and location of infarction has profound effect upon degree of left ventricular dysfunction. Assessment by non invasive radionuclide technique may have prognostic implications. PMID- 2632560 TI - Cardiovascular manifestations of aluminium phosphide intoxication. AB - Aluminium phosphide (ALP) a major suicidal agent in the developing countries is freely available as grain fumigant. It is highly toxic to lungs, heart and blood vessels causing pulmonary oedema, shock and arrhythmias. There is massive focal myocardial damage resulting in raised cardiac enzymes. Clinical manifestations were nausea and vomiting (32), dyspnoea and palpitations (25 each), cyanosis (12), hypotension (12) and shock (15). Cardiac arrhythmias were present in 28 cases and hypermagnesaemia in 13 patients. Mean serum magnesium level (1.95 +/- 0.2O, mEq/L) was significantly raised compared to mean magnesium level in control subjects (1.62 +/- 0.23 mEq/L). Hypermagnesaemia occurs due to myocardial and liver damage. Out of 32 cases studied, 22 died 18 within 24 hours of ALP ingestion. Thirty two cases of ALP were studied. PMID- 2632561 TI - Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (idiopathic diffuse crescentic glomerulo nephritis). PMID- 2632562 TI - Recurrent fainting--an unusual reaction to acupuncture. AB - A case exhibiting recurrent fainting associated with particular acupuncture point needling is reported and the possible mechanism discussed. The phenomenon is very unusual and has not been described in the literature. PMID- 2632563 TI - Congenital alopecia universalis. AB - A case of congenital alopecia universalis without any other ectodermal defect and mental abnormality is described in a girl of eight years. There was no family history in any of the members. The child was born of a non-consanguineous marriage. PMID- 2632564 TI - Contralateral hemiplegia in herpes zoster ophthalmicus. Role of temporal artery biopsy. AB - We describe clinical, radiological and pathological findings in a case of herpes zoster ophthalmicus who developed contralateral hemiplegia. The CT scan showed discrete infarction of the right internal capsule and the right carotid angiogram showed concentric narrowing of the supraclinoid portion of right internal carotid artery. Superficial temporal artery biopsy showed infiltration by lymphocytes and plasma cells without any granuloma formation or giant cells. The importance of trigemino-vascular connections in the pathogenesis of this complication of herpes zoster ophthalmicus and the role of temporal artery biopsy in the diagnosis of arteritis following herpes zoster are discussed. PMID- 2632565 TI - Temporal arteritis. The Indian scene. AB - We describe a series of 7 patients with temporal arteritis (TA), 5 of whom had undoubted TA and 2 almost certainly had TA. All presented with considerable morbidity but responded dramatically to treatment. PMID- 2632566 TI - Preoperative ECG--a must. PMID- 2632567 TI - Chloramphenicol and preleukaemia/leukaemia. PMID- 2632568 TI - Immunity in diabetes mellitus. PMID- 2632569 TI - Ataxic hemiparesis syndrome. PMID- 2632570 TI - Sexual transmission of hepatitis B. PMID- 2632571 TI - Live dogs and dead men. PMID- 2632572 TI - Post infective polyradiculoneuropathy with bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. PMID- 2632573 TI - An unusual case of phaeochromocytoma. PMID- 2632574 TI - Hepatitis B positivity among medical professionals. PMID- 2632575 TI - Incidence of hepatitis B carriers in Calcutta. PMID- 2632576 TI - Intravenous benzyl penicillin. PMID- 2632577 TI - An ultrastructural study of crossbridge arrangement in the fish skeletal muscle thick filament. AB - A procedure has been developed for isolating gold-fish skeletal muscle thick filaments that preserves the near-helical arrangement of the myosin cross-bridges under relaxing conditions. These filaments have been examined by electron microscopy and computer image analysis. Electron micrographs of the negatively stained filaments showed a clear periodicity associated with the crossbridges, with an axial repeat every 42.9 nm. Computed Fourier transforms of the negatively stained filaments showed a series of layer lines confirming this periodicity, and were similar to the X-ray diffraction patterns of fish muscle obtained by J. Hartford and J. Squire. Analysis of the computed transform data and filtered images of the isolated fish filaments demonstrated that the myosin crossbridges lie along three strands. Platinum shadowing demonstrated that the strands have a right-handed orientation, and computed transforms and filtered images of the shadowed filaments suggest that the crossbridges are perturbed both axially and azimuthally from an ideal helical arrangement. PMID- 2632578 TI - A somatic cell-derived system for studying both early and late mitotic events in vitro. AB - We describe a cell-free system for studying mitotic reorganization of nuclear structure. The system utilizes soluble extracts prepared from metaphase-arrested somatic chicken cells and supports both the disassembly and subsequent partial reassembly of exogenous nuclei. By fluorescence microscopy, biochemical fractionation, protein phosphorylation assays and electron microscopy, we show that chicken embryonic nuclei incubated in extracts prepared from metaphase arrested chicken hepatoma cells undergo nuclear envelope breakdown, lamina depolymerization and chromatin condensation. These prophase-like events are strictly dependent on ATP and do not occur when nuclei are incubated in interphase extracts. Compared to interphase extracts, metaphase extracts show increased kinase activities toward a number of nuclear protein substrates, including lamins and histone H1; moreover, they specifically contain four soluble phosphoproteins of Mr 38,000, 75,000, 95,000 and 165,000. Following disassembly of exogenous nuclei in metaphase extracts, telophase-like reassembly of a nuclear lamina and re-formation of nuclear membranes around condensed chromatin can be induced by depletion of ATP from the extract. We anticipate that this reversible cell-free system will contribute to the identification and characterization of factors involved in regulatory and mechanistic aspects of mitosis. PMID- 2632579 TI - Replication occurs at discrete foci spaced throughout nuclei replicating in vitro. AB - Demembranated Xenopus sperm nuclei were induced to replicate synchronously in a low-speed supernatant (LSS) of Xenopus eggs by preincubation in a high-speed supernatant (HSS). DNA replication was observed by incorporation of [alpha 32P]dATP, BrdUTP or biotin-dUTP. Biotin-dUTP incorporation, visualised with fluorescent streptavidin, reveals a striking pattern of replication foci throughout replicating nuclei. We show that this represents a precursor to the bright uniform fluorescence seen later. Confocal microscopic analysis of nuclei fixed early in replication reveals that these foci of DNA replication number about 100-300 for each nucleus and probably represent the replicon clusters already described for tissue culture cells. Foci are evenly distributed throughout the nuclei and are not concentrated at or near the nuclear envelope. Complete replication of each nucleus occurs in an average time of only one hour in this system. Hence we calculate that there must be at least 300-1000 replication forks together in each cluster. Furthermore, pulse labelling at later times in the period of replication reveals a similar pattern of foci indicating that replication forks remain tightly clustered in groups of at least 300 throughout the period of DNA replication. PMID- 2632580 TI - A novel component of the axonal cortical cytoskeleton, A60, defined by a monoclonal antibody. AB - A Mr 60,000 protein of the axonal cortical cytoplasm, which is recognized by a novel monoclonal antibody, is described. The antibody, DR1, was produced by immunizing mice with a soluble extract of bovine brain membranes that is enriched in known membrane cytoskeletal proteins. DR1 recognizes a Mr 60,000 protein in this extract. Immunofluorescence and subcellular fractionation reveal that the protein is primarily located in axons, where it appears to form a thick lining to the axolemma. Operationally, this Mr 60,000 protein is defined as a cytoskeleton associated peripheral membrane protein. It is solubilized from brain membranes only under harsh conditions (0.1 M-NaOH), but not with KI (0.8 M) or Triton X-100 (1%). It is present at higher levels in the central nervous system than in peripheral nerves that have been examined. The Mr 60,000 protein copurifies with neurofilaments through cycles of assembly and disassembly. It does not appear to react with the anti-IFA antibody, suggesting that it is not a member of the intermediate filament class of proteins. This Mr 60,000 protein, which we designate A60, is distinct from other known neurofilament-associated proteins, including the Mr 60,000 protein alpha-internexin and the Mr 58,000 intermediate filament protein peripherin. A60 is suggested as being a previously unrecognized component of the axonal cortical cytoskeleton. PMID- 2632581 TI - Expression of oncomodulin does not lead to the transformation or immortalization of mammalian cells in vitro. AB - A recombinant plasmid (pMTONCO) containing the coding sequences for rat oncomodulin under the direction of the metallothionein promoter was constructed. pMTONCO was co-transfected with the pSV2-NEO plasmid into primary mouse kidney cells or Rat-1 cells using the calcium phosphate technique and stable transformants were isolated after selection with G418. Transcription from the metallothionein promoter was inducible with heavy metals and produced an oncomodulin-specific mRNA. The presence of oncomodulin protein in stable cell lines was verified by immunoprecipitation with specific antisera. While a plasmid encoding the polyomavirus T-antigens was able to prolong the life-span of primary mouse kidney cells in culture, no equivalent activity was noted when the pMTONCO plasmid was used to transfect primary cells. When expressed in Rat-1 cells, oncomodulin did not affect the growth properties of these cells, nor did it predispose cells to higher frequencies of oncogenic transformation to a viral oncogene. We conclude that oncomodulin is neither an immortalizing nor transforming agent in vitro. PMID- 2632582 TI - Biochemical characterisation of polycation-induced cytotoxicity to human vascular endothelial cells. AB - Pro-inflammatory effects of cationic proteins secreted by human granulocytes include induction of increased vascular permeability and oedema, which are likely to be mediated by damage to vascular endothelium. We have shown previously that a series of synthetic polycationic amino acids produce a dose-, time- and Mr dependent inhibition of [3H]leucine or [3H]thymidine incorporation into macromolecules by human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and that the extent of inhibition was correlated with changes in cell morphology, with release of cytoplasmic constituents and was irreversible. The experiments reported here characterise further the requirements for the induction of cytotoxicity by polycations. We have found that the extent of inhibition is related to both the identity of the monomer, for polymers of Mr 40,000 the order is ornithine greater than lysine greater than arginine, and to its configuration; poly-D-lysines are more potent inhibitors than poly-L-lysines of similar Mr. Only brief exposure to the agonist is required, 90% inhibition occurred after 10 min of exposure to poly L-lysine (Mr 90,000). Treatment of endothelial cells with neuraminidase, heparinase, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase or trypsin did not reduce their susceptibility to polylysine. Inhibition of microtubule or microfilament formation also had no effect on polylysine cytotoxicity, indicating that internalisation of the polymer was not a prerequisite for the effect. Inhibition of protein synthesis or pretreatment with simple sugars likewise failed to block the effects of polylysine treatment. Natural cationic proteins exerted similar effects on endothelial cells, the extent of the effect apparently being related to the pI of the protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632583 TI - Expression of anionic sites on tumour cells at different stages of tissue invasion in vivo: a comparative study by X-ray microanalysis. AB - Quantification of colloidal iron hydroxide (CIH) labelling by X-ray microanalysis was used to investigate anionic sites at the surface of Ehrlich carcinoma cells from different locations in the mouse host. Individual tumour cells from peritoneal ascites suspensions (pre-invasion stage) varied up to threefold in their ability to bind CIH and a similar degree of intra-tumour heterogeneity was observed in different experimental animals. Pretreatment of the cells with neuraminidase confirmed that binding was at least partly due to surface sialic acid. Invasive cells isolated from mesenteric tumour nodules were also heterogeneous with regard to the availability of surface anionic sites, as were tumour cells adhering to the surface of the mesentery; however, in both these populations CIH binding was significantly greater on average than for free ascites tumour cells. The results suggest that surface anionic sites are determinants of the invasiveness of malignant cells in vivo, and that both the number and topography of these sites may be important in modulating tumour cell behaviour. PMID- 2632584 TI - Proliferative behaviour of fibroblasts in plasma-rich culture medium. AB - We examined the proliferative behaviour in tertiary culture cells of human skin fibroblasts (HSF) as well as cells of the rat 3Y1 diploid fibroblast line placed on a plastic substratum in a nutrient-rich medium containing high concentrations of platelet-poor plasma (PPP). Autochthonous human PPP was used for the HSF cells and heat-treated (at 56 degrees C for 30 min) bovine PPP was used for the 3Y1 cells. In both types of cells, the saturation cell density rose with increasing PPP concentration and reached a plateau at 30-90% PPP. When the cells were cultivated in serum, the saturation densities were the same as those with the same concentrations of corresponding PPP in both the HSF and 3Y1 cells. When the cells were arrested at a saturation cell density in a medium containing 10% PPP and then were refed with a fresh medium containing 90% PPP, DNA synthesis and cell division occurred in both types of fibroblasts. This effect was either reduced in the HSF cells or enhanced in the 3Y1 cells by the addition of platelet lysate. TGF-beta 1 added to the fresh medium containing 90% PPP also inhibited the induction of DNA synthesis in the HSF cells but not in the 3Y1 cells. The inhibitory effect of the platelet lysate was neutralized by anti-TGF-beta 1 IgG. On the other hand, PDGF added to the fresh medium had no effect on either type of cells. These results suggest that cultured fibroblasts are capable of proliferating on a plastic substratum under fluid conditions that essentially reflect the fluid environment of the body, as long as sufficient nutrients are supplied. Platelet lysate represses the proliferation of HSF cells, possibly through the inhibitory effect of TGF-beta 1, and promotes the proliferation of 3Y1 cells by growth factor(s) other than PDGF and TGF-beta 1. PMID- 2632585 TI - Differences between adult and foetal fibroblasts in the regulation of hyaluronate synthesis: correlation with migratory activity. AB - We have previously reported that confluent foetal fibroblasts migrate into three dimensional collagen gel matrices to a significantly greater extent than do adult cells. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a major constituent of the extracellular matrix deposited by fibroblasts and has been demonstrated to stimulate the migration of a number of different cell types. Previous studies have indicated that the synthesis of HA by normal adult skin fibroblasts declines significantly when the cells achieve confluence. Data presented in this paper indicate that foetal fibroblasts differ from adult cells in this respect, in that they do not show an inverse relationship between cell density and HA synthesis, i.e. confluent foetal fibroblasts continue to produce approximately the same amount of HA as do subconfluent cells. These data suggest that the synthesis of relatively high levels of HA by foetal fibroblasts at confluence may be causally related to the elevated migration displayed by these cells. In this context, a close correlation was observed between the level of HA synthesized by confluent foetal and adult fibroblasts and the differential migratory activity displayed by these cells. Such differences in HA synthesis and migratory behaviour were only apparent at cell confluence, with subconfluent foetal and adult fibroblasts being indistinguishable in terms of these two criteria. Our data further reveal that: (1) cell density affects the size class of HA synthesized by both foetal and adult cells; and that (2) there is a considerable degree of heterogeneity amongst the nine different fibroblast lines examined in this study in terms of the size class of HA that they produce. PMID- 2632586 TI - Sequestrocytes: a manifestation of transcellular cross-bonding of the red cell membrane in sickle cell anemia. AB - An unusual form of red cells (called sequestrocytes) that circulate in the peripheral blood of patients with sickle cell anemia has been identified. In wetmount light microscopy preparations, sequestrocytes appear as massively vacuolated erythrocytes. We have shown by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy that the morphology of sequestrocytes can be accounted for on the basis of transcellular cross-bonding of the cell membrane. Initially, endocytotic vesicles span the cytoplasmic space, forming putative cytoskeletal fusion zones. Points of fusion of the membrane skeleton bridging the cytoplasmic compartment expand laterally to form linear fusion zones that entrap lakes of hemoglobin within pseudovacuoles. Sequestrocytes can be isolated in the densest layer (1.159 g ml-1 or greater) of an arabinogalactan density gradient. These cells can be generated in increased numbers in sickle cell blood by incubating samples in 1.5 mM-acetylphenylhydrazine (APH) solution for two hours at 37 degrees C. Their formation is partially blocked by incubation with the reducing agent, dithiothreitol (DTT). Our results suggest that these cells represent an expression of oxidative membrane injury in sickle cell anemia. PMID- 2632587 TI - Action of activated 27,000 Mr toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis on Malpighian tubules of the insect, Rhodnius prolixus. AB - The action of activated 27,000 Mr toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti toxin) on Malpighian tubules of Rhodnius prolixus has been investigated. Its binding to the tubules is slowed by low temperature but is not prevented even at 0 degree C. The binding is less effective at pH 10 than at pH7. Pretreatment of the tubules with 0.1 mmol l-1 ouabain or bumetanide or 1 mumol l 1 5-hydroxytryptamine did not affect the toxicity of the toxin. The toxin causes very large changes in the trans-epithelial potential difference; it changes from 40 mV, lumen negative, often to more than 100 mV, lumen positive. This reflects an initial collapse of the potential of the basal cell membrane, followed by a large positive-going potential change at the luminal cell membrane. Just prior to the effects of the toxin on rapid fluid secretion, the basal cell membrane becomes permeable to sucrose molecules. Raffinose at 170 mmol l-1 in the bathing solution does not protect the tubules from Bti toxin action but dextran, Mr5000, at 60 mmol l-1 significantly delayed failure of fluid secretion and, even more, the onset of staining of the tubule cells with Trypan Blue. Exposing tubules to saline that is calcium-free and/or magnesium-free, or has a composition adjusted to be similar to that of the intracellular milieu, does not affect the time course of failure of fluid secretion induced by the toxin. There is no evidence that effective aggregates of Bti toxin molecules are formed in concentrated solutions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632588 TI - Classical conditioning of meaning--II. A replication and triplet associative extension. AB - The meaning associated with verbal stimuli is modifiable by classical conditioning, suggesting that such "language conditioning" may be used clinically to modify a client's maladaptive associative history. The current research investigated the existence and generalizability of this phenomenon by attempting to replicate Staats and Staats' (1957) language conditioning effect and then extend it to a triplet conditioning paradigm (CS2----CS1----UCS). Previous research by the current authors replicated language conditioning, yet failed to extend it to a higher-order situation. Significant conditioning was obtained to the CS1, particularly for aware subjects, but no conditioning occurred to the CS2. Implications for verbal conditioning theory and clinical practice are discussed. PMID- 2632589 TI - Arsonists and sexual arousal to fire setting: correlation unsupported. AB - The penile responses of 26 firesetters and 15 nonfiresetters to audiotaped narratives were compared. The categories of narratives were: neutral, heterosexual sexual activity, and firesetting motivated by sexual excitement, general (unspecified) excitement, insurance, revenge, heroism, or power. Responses to all of the categories were of small magnitude, although both the heterosexual activity and the sexual excitement firesetting categories elicited larger responses than the neutral category. There were no significant differences between the firesetters and nonfiresetters to any of the story categories. These data contain no support for the idea that sexual motivation is commonly involved in arson. PMID- 2632590 TI - An objective test of AIDS risk behavior knowledge: scale development, validation, and norms. AB - Efforts to curtail the spread of AIDS emphasize changing risk practices. An objective measure of practical knowledge about AIDS risk behaviors can permit the more accurate assessment of the impact of such prevention programs. This paper describes the construction of a standardized 40-item test of AIDS risk behavior knowledge and presents data on the validity, reliability, and psychometric characteristics of the measure in addition to norms for several populations. Knowledge scores of risk behavior may serve as a useful dependent measure when evaluating the impact of applied or experimental AIDS prevention programs, especially with groups at potential risk for the syndrome. PMID- 2632591 TI - Multi-component behavioral treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a case report. AB - A 36-year-old female was treated for severe Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) utilizing a multi-component behavioral approach which included relaxation training, stress inoculation, assertiveness training, marital therapy, and prescribed exercise. Following nine weeks of therapy the patient reported significantly less premenstrual distress and a decrease in sick leave each month. Treatment gains were maintained at both three and nine month follow-up. PMID- 2632592 TI - Assessing independent and interactive effects of behavioral and pharmacologic interventions for a client with dual diagnoses. AB - Behavior analytic methods were applied to the assessment and treatment of the problem behaviors of an 8-year-old male classified as having moderate mental retardation and atypical psychosis. Functional assessment procedures demonstrated that verbal behaviors diagnosed as hallucinatory were affected by environmental contingencies. Next, a multi-element/multiple baseline design was used to evaluate the independent and interactive effects of contingency management and pharmacologic interventions on three dependent variables: (1) psychotic speech; (2) aggressive-disruptive behavior; and (3) appropriate speech. Results indicated that contingency management without haloperidol was the most effective treatment for all inappropriate and appropriate behaviors. These results are important in that behavior analytic methods were shown to have utility for: (1) assessing the functional relationship between environmental contingencies and behaviors related to differential diagnosis; and (2) evaluating the independent and interactive effects of behavioral and pharmacologic treatments. PMID- 2632593 TI - The effects of exercise and cardiovascular fitness on stereotyped bodyrocking. AB - A severely mentally retarded person residing in a large state institution participated in a 16-week cardiovascular conditioning program. The participant engaged in a high rate of stereotyped bodyrocking. Cardiovascular fitness was estimated by a measure of heart recovery rate obtained during the exercise periods. The amount of bodyrocking was measured prior to, during and following the implementation of the conditioning program. Increased fitness and decreased rates of bodyrocking were noted. These results are encouraging with regard to the implementation of fitness training programs for persons with severe retardation who reside in institutions. PMID- 2632594 TI - Managing noncompliance in a schizophrenic patient with chronic skin disorders. AB - A schizophrenic-diagnosed woman with a long-term history of scratching and skin problems was referred for behavioral treatment because she was not responding well to medical care and was often described as noncompliant. The treatment of noncompliance consisted of four phases: (I) direct habit modification, (II) compliance training, (III) controlling anxiety precipitants and (IV) follow-up monitoring and evaluation. After several months of treatment, the maladaptive behaviors decreased and the skin condition improved. Follow-up at six month intervals for three years indicated no recurrence of skin problems. PMID- 2632595 TI - Management of disruptive behaviour in the brain-damaged patient using selective reinforcement. AB - Selective reinforcement was used to reduce screaming in a 32-year-old woman with diffuse cerebral dysfunction following a suicide attempt. This paper describes the successful reduction in this disruptive behaviour in a patient with severe communicative disability. Also outlined are some of the organizational and educational problems encountered during the introduction of treatment. PMID- 2632596 TI - The behavioural treatment of nocturnal enuresis in a severely brain-damaged client. AB - Barrey is a 42-year-old man with severe brain-damage. His nocturnal enuresis was pin-pointed as a major behavioural and management problem. Various treatments had failed to help him, so it was decided to implement a modified version of a behavioural programme which Azrin and Thienes (1978) used effectively with enuretic children. This programme involved: bladder training, regular awakenings throughout the night, self-correction with positive practice following an accident, and reinforcement. After only four weeks of training the enuresis had been successfully treated. Six-month follow-up data revealed this improvement had been maintained. PMID- 2632597 TI - [The prevalence of malocclusion problems and orthodontic treatment needs in 13 and 14-year old Quebec school children in 1983-1984]. AB - This article details the problems related to occlusion of 13-14 year old Quebec students. The data was derived from a province wide probability sample of 1201 children in 1983-84 using Granger's Orthodontic Treatment Priority Index (TPI). The principal conclusion are: 32% of the children are in Angle's class II; 18% have an overjet of 5 mm and over; 50% have one or more teeth in minor or major displacement; treatment is mandatory or highly desirable for 13.7% and only 2.9% of the students are under treatment. The results are compared to 6 surveys of the same nature. PMID- 2632598 TI - The effect of pH on the sensitivity of species of Lactobacillus to chlorhexidine and the antibiotics minocycline and spiramycin. AB - The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity of a range of Lactobacillus species to chlorhexidine, Minocycline, and Spiramycin, at a range of pH from 5.0 to 7.4. Strains of Streptococcus were also tested for their sensitivity to chlorhexidine, as a comparison between the genera. There were both inter- and intra-species variations in the sensitivity of these strains to chlorhexidine. The strains tested were sensitive at pH 6.7 to the following levels of chlorhexidine (micrograms/mL): L. casei (6 strains), 10-60; L. plantarum (4 strains), 40; L. fermentum (13 strains), 2-20; L. brevis (1 strain), 10; and L. acidophilus (3 strains), 10-60. The Streptococcus species were sensitive to 1-4 micrograms/mL (13 strains); 4-10 micrograms/mL (3 strains); and 10-20 micrograms/mL (2 strains). One strain was able to survive 20 micrograms/mL. Chlorhexidine was found to be less effective at lower pH levels. The following examples show sensitivity (micrograms/mL) at pH 6.5 followed by sensitivity at pH 5.0: L. casei (ATCC 15008), 40,60; L. plantarum (CH 374), 40,100; L. fermentum (CH 324) 10,40; L. acidophilus (ATCC 4356), 10,40; and S. mutans (BM 52), 2,2. All of the strains of Lactobacillus tested with Spiramycin were resistant at pH 5.0. Minocycline was less affected by changes in pH, but at pH 7.4 Lactobacillus strains were more resistant to Minocycline as compared with Spiramycin. Both of these antibiotics are bacteriostatic, and therefore may have a more limited effect than a bactericidal agent such as chlorhexidine. The Lactobacillus strains tested required higher concentrations of chlorhexidine than did the strains of Streptococcus for a killing effect in vitro. PMID- 2632599 TI - A microbiological study of early caries of approximal surfaces in schoolchildren. AB - A cross-sectional epidemiological study has been undertaken to relate the bacterial composition of approximal dental plaque with the earliest stages of caries development in schoolchildren. Small samples of plaque were removed from multiple sites around the contact areas of 42 premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons from 29 schoolchildren (mean age = 13.5 yr). Caries diagnosis was based on polarized light microscopy and contact microradiography of thin sections cut through the sample sites. Fifty-seven percent of sites (37/60) showed histological evidence of demineralization. Both the isolation frequency and the mean percentage viable count of mutans streptococci and Actinomyces viscosus were higher at sites with early caries, although mutans streptococci could not be detected at 37% of sites with early caries. At these latter sites, the proportions of Veillonella were markedly reduced. Lactobacilli were rarely isolated and were never recovered from caries-free surfaces. Analysis of the data shows that the relationship between plaque bacteria and enamel is neither merely passive nor indifferent, and that particular stages of lesion formation may be associated with different combinations of bacteria. PMID- 2632600 TI - An investigation into the use of restriction endonuclease analysis for the study of transmission of mutans streptococci. AB - Restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) was performed on the total cellular DNA from each of 396 strains of mutans streptococci (1) to determine its potential usefulness for the study of transmission of the organism and (2) to document the proportions and variety of strains harbored by members of a small group of families. The DNA was digested with restriction enzyme EcoRI and/or HindIII, electrophoresed on agarose gels, and the resulting patterns compared. The strains examined included fresh isolates from 58 subjects, including 19 strains from each member of five families. The sensitivity and reproducibility of REA patterns from the mutans streptococci seemed ideal for studies of their epidemiology and transmission. The pattern of each isolate from humans was unique, except for isolates from the same individual or from the same family. REA types from subjects from different families were always heterogeneous. A high frequency of multiple REA types (up to 5) was observed in many subjects. While evidence for intra-familial transmission was obtained, including transmission between spouses, there was also strong evidence of frequent sources of infection outside of the family. Mutations of strains to streptomycin resistance or to lactate dehydrogenase deficiency caused no detectable change in the REA patterns. The lack of plasmids in any of the 57 fresh isolates that were examined for them suggested that they may have contributed little to the heterogeneity of the patterns seen. PMID- 2632601 TI - Effect of an acute maternal fluoride dose on fetal plasma fluoride levels and enamel fluoride uptake in guinea pigs. AB - We conducted this study to measure maternal plasma, fetal plasma, and fetal enamel fluoride concentrations for four hours following an oral F dose to near term pregnant guinea pigs. We placed female guinea pigs on de-ionized (Group I) or 3-ppm-F (Group II) drinking water prior to breeding and during gestation. On the 57th day of gestation, we administered a maternal dose of NaF solution (0.6 mg F/kg) by stomach tube. We collected samples of maternal plasma, fetal plasma, and fetal enamel at baseline, at 15 and 30 min, and at one, two, and four h after administration of the dose. We assayed samples for F using a modification of the micro-diffusion and ion-specific electrode method. Group I mean baseline F values were: maternal plasma, 0.016; fetal plasma, 0.002; and fetal enamel, 7.0 ppm. Group II mean values were: 0.055, 0.004, and 19.0 ppm. After the maternal fluoride dose, the mean maternal plasma [F] rose sharply for 30 to 60 min and declined to about 50% of peak values by four h. Fetal plasma [F] changed less in absolute values, but similarly to maternal changes relative to baseline. Fetal enamel mean [F] rose more in Group II than in Group I. Baseline F status had an important effect on F uptake in fetal enamel following an acute maternal fluoride dose. PMID- 2632602 TI - Scanning electron microscopy of monkey secretory- and transitional-stage enamel organ cells. AB - This scanning electron microscope (SEM) study of secretory- and transitional stage enamel organ cells of the permanent dentition of Macaca mulatta and Macaca arctoides was undertaken because the topography of these cells in primates has not been described in the literature. Comparison of our results with murine enamel organ morphology reported previously revealed not only many similarities, but also some significant differences. Tooth buds of the permanent dentition were routinely prepared for SEM. Murine secretory-stage ameloblasts have been described to be 65-70 microns long, with smooth lateral membranes, but those of monkeys were only 30-35 microns tall, with four different lateral plasma membrane configurations: smooth, filamentous, longitudinally ridged, and transversely ridged. The filamentous form was most common. Cells were seen with either transverse or longitudinal ridges in the basal half, and with filamentous ridges in the apical portion; this indicates modulation between these forms. Because of the extraordinary similarity between these lateral membrane modulations and those of rat incisor maturation ameloblasts, a comparable function is proposed--namely, that monkey secretory ameloblasts function, in part, in the resorption and mineralization of enamel matrix. There were several layers of rounded stratum intermedium cells basal to monkey secretory-stage ameloblasts, but only one layer of cuboidal stratum intermedium in rodents. The stellate reticulum cells of rats and monkeys appeared attenuated, with large extracellular spaces. There was little or no reduction in cell length of monkey transitional-stage ameloblasts. The position of the nuclear bulge differentiated transitional- from secretory stage ameloblasts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632603 TI - Influence of tempering and contraction mismatch on crack development in ceramic surfaces. AB - Tempering of glass produces a state of compressive stress in surface regions which can enhance the resistance to crack initiation and growth. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of tempering on the sizes of surface cracks induced within the tempered surfaces of opaque porcelain-body porcelain discs, with contraction coefficient differences (alpha O-alpha B) of +3.2, +0.7, 0.0, -0.9, and -1.5 ppm/degrees C. We fired the discs to the maturing temperature (982 degrees C) of body porcelain and then subjected them to three cooling procedures: slow cooling in a furnace (SC), fast cooling in air (FC), and tempering (T) by blasting the body porcelain surface with compressed air for 90 s. We used body porcelain discs as the thermally compatible (delta alpha = 0) control specimens. We measured the diameters of cracks induced by a microhardness indenter at an applied load of 4.9 N at 80 points along diametral lines within the surface of body porcelain. The mean values of the crack diameters varied from 75.9 microns (delta alpha = -1.5 ppm/degrees C) to 103.3 microns (delta alpha = +3.2 ppm/degrees C). The results of ANOVA indicate that significant differences in crack dimensions were controlled by cooling rate, contraction mismatch, and their combined effect (p less than 0.0001). Multiple contrast analysis (Tukey's HSD Test) revealed significantly lower (p less than 0.05) crack sizes for tempered specimens compared with those of fast-cooled and slow-cooled specimens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632604 TI - Amalgam margin breakdown caused by creep fatigue rupture. AB - This study was designed to determine whether the mechanical cyclic stressing that occurs during normal mastication contributes to margin breakdown of dental amalgam restorations. The method used appears to duplicate the mechanical stresses developed in vivo during mastication, as the result of tooth flexing. We evaluated one low-copper alloy--NTD--and three high-copper alloys--Dispersalloy, Phasealloy, and Tytin. We prepared simple amalgam restorations in a cavity centrally located in an aluminum beam. Each specimen received five periods of three-point cyclical loading (1.7 hertz, 4200 cycles at 37 degrees C). The margin area was subjected to SEM examination prior to and at the completion of each period of cycling. At the beginning of each period of cycling, beam deflection was set to establish a maximum theoretical stress of 1, 2, 4, 6, or 8 MPa. For all brands, cycling resulted in margin gap formation and surface wrinkling. Wrinkling in Dispersalloy occurred as a wide band of shallow wrinkles, whereas that in NTD occurred as a narrow band of deep wrinkles. At 21,000 cycles, very little void formation and fracturing had occurred in the Dispersalloy or NTD restorations. In contrast, the Phasealloy and Tytin restorations developed extensive fracturing even after 4200 cycles. Fracture surface analyses of Phasealloy and Tytin indicated that creep fatigue rupture was the fracture mechanism responsible for margin breakdown in these amalgam restorations, when subjected to cyclic compressive loading similar to that experienced during mastication. PMID- 2632605 TI - Oral gram-negative bacilli in bone marrow transplant patients given chlorhexidine rinses. AB - Fifteen bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients who received three 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) mouthrinses daily for eight weeks were monitored weekly for the occurrence of oral opportunistic Gram-negative bacilli (GNB). Tongue and buccal mucosa were sampled with use of Culturette swabs that were streaked on plates containing selective MacConkey agar. After incubation, colony forming units were scored and putative GNB classified with use of the API 20E rapid identification system and supplemental biochemical tests. After identification, the susceptibilities of all GNB to CHX were determined by means of a disk diffusion sensitivity assay. Sixty-seven percent (10) of the BMT subjects had at least one GNB-positive tongue culture, and 53% (8) had GNB in samples taken from the buccal mucosa. Of 218 samples taken, 26% and 24% from the tongue and buccal mucosa, respectively, were GNB-positive. The predominant clinical GNB isolates were Enterobacter cloacae (46%) and Klebsiella pneumoniac (30%). Their respective CHX minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were similar to those of ATCC reference strains. Although the CHX MIC values of the clinical GNB isolates were high (less than or equal to 37.5 to less than or equal to 300 micrograms/mL), they were not dependent upon length of exposure to the agent. Therefore, changes in sensitivity or resistance to CHX did not appear to occur. The results suggest that the mouths of BMT patients--and perhaps of other immunosuppressed individuals--should be routinely monitored for GNB, as are other clinically important sites, such as the throat and the urinary and gastro intestinal tracts. PMID- 2632607 TI - The development of dental research in Taiwan. PMID- 2632606 TI - Surface tension and contact angle on enamel of surfactant solutions for caries diagnosis with dyes. AB - We measured the surface tension of solutions of five surfactants in water, ethanol, and a 50% water/ethanol mixture at 25 degrees C, as well as the contact angle of these solutions on ground and polished bovine enamel in vitro and on intact pellicle-covered human enamel in vivo. All surfactants lowered the surface tension of water. In ethanol, no reduction of the surface tension was achieved by any of the five surfactants. In the water/ethanol mixture, only Fluorad lowered the surface tension from 29.2 to 19.7 mJ.m-2 at 25 degrees C. On bovine dental enamel, all surfactant solutions showed a significantly lower contact angle than did distilled water. On pellicle-covered human enamel, Rewoteric in distilled water showed no significantly lower contact angle than did pure distilled water, but all other solutions did. Both in vitro and in vivo, ethanol spread instantaneously over the enamel surface. Based on these measurements, we concluded that several surfactants may be used to spread aqueous dye solutions. In a 50% mixture of water and ethanol and in pure ethanol, no surfactant is necessary for enhanced spreading of the solution, but surfactants may be considered for adhesive properties. PMID- 2632608 TI - Rheological properties of elastomers during setting. AB - A controlled stress rheometer has been used to monitor the changes in rheological properties occurring in five elastomeric impression materials during setting. The rheometer differs from conventional rotary viscometers in that the torque is the controlled variable, and the resulting deformation is measured. The use of such an instrument in oscillatory mode enables a range of rheological parameters- including viscosity, rigidity, and elasticity--to be monitored during setting. The polyvinylsiloxane impression materials develop elasticity at a rate that would not be apparent from measurements of viscosity or rigidity alone. This highlights the potential danger of basing the evaluation of clinically important properties, such as working time, on simple measurements of viscosity or rigidity. PMID- 2632609 TI - Effect of admixed indium on mercury vapor release from dental amalgam. AB - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of admixed indium on the amount of mercury vapor released from dental amalgam. We made amalgam specimens according to ADA Specification Number 1. We added various amounts (0-14% by weight) of indium to the alloy powder. We also tested the commercial amalgams Dispersalloy, Valiant, and Indiloy. Specimens were held at 37 degrees C and 100% humidity. We used a Jerome Mercury Vapor Analyzer (model 411) to measure the mercury vapor released. We analyzed the data by means of ANOVA and Student-Newman Keuls procedures. Admixed indium significantly decreased the amount of mercury vapor released from dental amalgams; the period of the greatest effect on mercury vapor released was during the setting phase of amalgam; and dental amalgams with greater than or equal to 8% admixed indium released the least amount of mercury vapor. PMID- 2632610 TI - An in vitro investigation of the effects of glass inserts on the effective composite resin polymerization shrinkage. AB - We placed an MOD preparation in each of 12 permanent molars, then restored each tooth with a posterior composite resin by means of six different application techniques (I-polymerization as one complete unit; II--polymerization as one complete unit with glass inserts; III--polymerization in gingivo-occlusal increments; IV-polymerization in gingivo-occlusal increments with glass inserts; V--polymerization in bucco-lingual increments; and VI--polymerization in a gingival increment with glass inserts, then bucco-lingual increments). A precision strain gauge was attached to the buccal surface of each tooth and balanced at zero. After each increment was polymerized, the strain appearing on the strain gauge indicator was recorded. Each tooth was restored by use of all techniques; two teeth started with each technique. Results demonstrated the average microstrain units to be 127-I, 102-II, 105-III, 86-IV, 72-V, and 66-VI. A randomized block design was the format used for data evaluation. Scheffe's Test indicated that composite resin placement and polymerization in bucco-lingual increments (V) created significantly less cuspal deflection than polymerization as one complete unit, with or without glass inserts (I and II), p less than 0.001, and gingivo-occlusal increments (III), p less than 0.05. Placement and polymerization in a gingival increment with glass inserts, then bucco-lingual increments (VI), also created significantly less internal deflection than polymerization as one complete unit, with or without glass inserts (I and II), p less than 0.001, and gingivo-occlusal increments (III), p less than 0.005. PMID- 2632611 TI - The effects of airborne fluorides on oral conditions in Morocco. AB - The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of dental caries and dental fluorosis, as well as various other oral conditions, in 2378 subjects (ages seven to 60) living in the fluoridated area of Khouribga and the non-fluoridated area of Beni Mellal, Morocco. The community index of dental fluorosis (CFI) ranged from 1.99 to 2.80 in the high-fluoride area: Over 90% of the population was affected, and more than one-third of the subjects showed moderate dental fluorosis. However, in Beni Mellal, more than 96% of the dentate subjects examined were free of dental fluorosis, and the CFI of 0.02 was considered not significant. Significant differences were observed between the two areas with respect to caries prevalence. DMFT and DMFS indices were markedly lower in the fluorosis area of Khouribga. The oral conditions of subjects appeared to be better in Khouribga, where the gingival and calculus indices were significantly lower than in Beni Mellal. The analyses of covariance showed no significant differences in plaque accumulation (PI) between the Khouribga and Beni Mellal samples. However, a close statistical correlation was found between PI and GI in Beni Mellal and Khouribga. PMID- 2632612 TI - Associations between salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, lactobacilli, and caries experience in Kenyan adolescents. AB - Salivary levels of mutans streptococci (S. mutans and S. sobrinus) and lactobacilli were determined in a random sample of rural Kenyans between 15 and 19 years of age (n = 149). It is possible for the natural history of dental caries in this population to be studied since it is characterized by a limited access to conventional dental treatment. Using a short set of biochemical tests, we identified from seven to ten presumptive mutans streptococcus colonies- cultured from the saliva of each individual--to differentiate between S. mutans and S. sobrinus. No colonies resembling S. rattus (S. mutans serotype b) were isolated. Lactobacilli were identified as Gram-positive, catalase-negative rods. The mean D1-4MFS and D3-4MFS were 7.03 +/- 6.43 and 1.46 +/- 3.44, respectively. The mean mutans streptococcus and lactobacillus levels were 8.7 x 10(4) and 6.7 x 10(4), respectively. The salivary mutans streptococcus and lactobacillus levels were significantly correlated (p less than 0.01). Of the subjects, 64% harbored only S. mutans, 4% only S. sobrinus, 30% both species, and 2% neither. Lactobacilli were ubiquitous. The caries experience of the group was significantly (p less than 0.001) correlated with both the total salivary level of mutans streptococci and the salivary S. mutans levels, but not with the salivary S. sobrinus level. PMID- 2632613 TI - Effects of thyroxine and dexamethasone on rat submandibular glands. AB - Glucocorticoids and thyroxine are known to have a marked effect on the flow rate and protein composition of rat parotid saliva in hormonally intact animals. In the present study, the effects of a one-week treatment of male rats with dexamethasone and thyroxine were studied by electron microscopy and x-ray micro analysis, and by measurement of the flow rate and determination of the chemical composition of pilocarpine-induced submandibular saliva. Thyroxine had the most extensive effects on the submandibular gland. The acinar cells were enlarged and filled with mucus; the cellular calcium concentration was significantly increased. The flow rate of the submandibular saliva was significantly reduced compared with that in saline-injected control animals. Thyroxine caused an increase in the concentrations of protein, total calcium, and potassium in the saliva. Dexamethasone had no significant effects on gland ultrastructure or on the elemental composition of the acinar cells; flow rate was not affected, but the concentrations of protein, calcium, and potassium were significantly increased. The effects of dexamethasone and thyroxine on the flow rate and protein composition of pilocarpine-induced rat submandibular saliva differ from those reported earlier for rat parotid saliva after simultaneous stimulation with pilocarpine and isoproterenol. PMID- 2632614 TI - The effects of submandibularectomy on the thymus and T-cell system of mice. AB - Functional changes of the T-cell immune system in submandibularectomized (SMx) male mice of CBA/H strain were analyzed three or four weeks after treatment. Thymuses and spleens were weighed and morphologically examined by light microscopy. We tested proliferation rates of thymocytes and splenocytes (stimulated by Con A and PHA) and cytotoxic activity of T lymphocytes in SMx, CBA/H (H-2k) mice by means of the rejection test of allogeneic skin graft (Balb/c, H-2d) and a microcytoxicity to allo-antigens of EL-4 tumor cells (H-2b). Results showed a reduction of the weights of the thymus and spleen. However, there was increased functional capacity of the thymocytes--expressed as increased proliferation rates of the stimulated thymocytes, increased microcytotoxicity to allo-antigens of EL-4 tumor cells in vitro, and a reduction of the survival period of skin allografts in vivo. No morphological changes other than a reduction in both the cortex and medullar of the thymus were observed. The subpopulational changes within the T-cell system because of SMx indicate that the morphological atrophy could be just a consequence of SMx. PMID- 2632615 TI - A three-dimensional evaluation of the effects of functional occlusal forces on the morphology of dental and periodontal tissues of the rat incisor. AB - We examined the effect of function on tooth and periodontal ligament (PDL) morphology in 40 lower incisors of adult female rats. Ten teeth were exposed to occlusal hyperfunction for three months, ten to hypofunction for three weeks, ten to hypofunction for three months, while ten teeth in normal occlusion served as control. Transverse ground sections were cut at various levels perpendicular to the tooth long axis, and their distances from the apex were calculated. The outlines of the tissues were traced and fed into a computer. We plotted the measurements according to their location and fitted them by second-order polynomials. We calculated tissue volume for the proximal 18 mm of bone-embedded tooth. Hyperfunction affected tooth shape, in that it became more rounded. The volumes of the dental tissues remained unchanged, while width and volume of the cementum-bordering PDL increased. Hypofunction did not alter tooth shape, but influenced its size: After three weeks, tooth circumference decreased, and after three months, it expanded. Dentin width was reduced, with concomitant increase of pulp size. The amount of enamel diminished initially, but after three months returned to normal values. The PDL bordering enamel expanded proportionally to the duration of hypofunction. The changes in socket size reflected the total dimensional variations in the tooth and its PDL. The results demonstrate that the shape and size of growing teeth and their periodontium are influenced by functional occlusal forces. PMID- 2632616 TI - Depth and area of dental erosions, and dental caries, in bulimic women. AB - Dental caries and the severity (depth) and area of erosions of tooth substance were studied in 11 bulimic subjects and 22 matched controls. Erosions were seen in 69% of the bulimics' teeth and in only 7% of the controls' (p less than 0.001). Depth of penetration was greater in the bulimics, extending even into the pulp, and the area of erosion was also larger. Scores for dental caries were higher in bulimics (mean DMFS 27.9, median 36) than in controls (mean DMFS 19.1, median 13.5), although the difference was not statistically significant. This study suggests that when erosions are present on the lingual surfaces of maxillary anterior teeth, as well as on the buccal surfaces of maxillary canines, premolars, and maxillary incisors, a diagnosis of bulimia is likely. Patients with these signs should be referred for medical help. PMID- 2632617 TI - In vitro effects of calcitonin and/or parathyroid hormone on odontogenesis of mouse embryonic molars. AB - Mandibular first molars of mouse embryos were cultivated for examination of the effects of calcitonin (CT) and/or parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the odontogenesis of the molars, and for determination of whether and how CT, which is a PTH antagonist, has an influence on the effect of PTH on odontogenesis. On the second day, the inner enamel epithelium in the control group had already differentiated into pre-ameloblasts. Typical odontoblasts had secreted a layer of predentin. On the fourth day of culture, the pre-ameloblasts achieved terminal differentiation into secretory ameloblasts, and enamel and dentin had already been deposited. PTH (1 unit/mL) inhibited the odontogenesis of the cultured molars during the designated culture periods (two and four days), while CT (0.5 unit/mL) stimulated odontogenesis. On the second day, the development of the molars in the CT + PTH group showed an intermediate stage between the control and PTH-treated explants, but on day 4 it corresponded to that of the controls. Moreover, when the molars exposed to PTH for two days were untreated and treated with CT for an additional two days, the former produced a small quantity of enamel matrix, while the latter formed a large amount of the matrix. These histological findings were also supported by a morphometric analysis of the enamel matrix in the cultured molars. The present results suggest that CT stimulates, but PTH suppresses, the odontogenesis of the mouse embryonic molars, and that CT is an antagonist to the inhibitory effect of PTH on odontogenesis. PMID- 2632618 TI - Development and in vitro evaluation of an intra-oral controlled-release delivery system for chlorhexidine. AB - Copolymers of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were prepared and used to fabricate a membrane-controlled reservoir-type controlled release delivery system for chlorhexidine that should be suitable for intra-oral use. The reservoir of the system was prepared by softening an 80:20 mixture of chlorhexidine diacetate and 50:50 HEMA:MMA copolymer with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and pressing standard amounts of the resulting dough-like mixture into silicone rubber molds. A membrane was applied to the reservoirs by rotating them through a solution of 30:70 HEMA:MMA copolymer in MEK. The finished oval-shaped controlled-release pellets were approximately 4.7 mm wide, 3.3 mm high, and 7.4 mm long, and contained 45.0 +/- 3.7 mg of chlorhexidine diacetate. The mean in vitro release rate of chlorhexidine diacetate from the pellets into 37 degrees C water was 608 +/- 55 micrograms/24 h for days 2 through 11, and 389 +/- 50 micrograms/24 h for days 15 to 30 of the test period. The chlorhexidine released on day 30 was biologically active, as determined by a serial dilution assay against Streptococcus mutans. The extended release of biologically active chlorhexidine at a controlled rate from this system suggests that it is worthy of further evaluation for the intra-oral therapy of chlorhexidine-treatable oral infections in non-compliant and physically or mentally compromised individuals. PMID- 2632619 TI - Fluoride incorporation into and retention in remineralized enamel. AB - This study assessed the incorporation of fluoride into remineralized enamel and the stability of the incorporated fluoride under various test conditions. Lesions were produced on bovine enamel slabs by a two-day immersion in 0.01 mol/L lactic acid buffer containing 3.0 mmol/L Ca, 1.8 mmol/L P, and 1% CMC adjusted to pH 4.0 at 37 degrees C. The remineralizaing solution contained the same amount of Ca, P, and CMC, plus 150 mmol/L NaCl and 3 ppm F, and was adjusted to pH 7.0 at 37 degrees C. All slabs were exposed to this unstirred solution, which was changed every two days during the ten-day remineralizing period. The remineralized slabs were divided into four groups. Group A (the control group) received no further treatment. The other three groups were exposed for 24 h to either the intra-oral environment (Group B), a 1.0 mol/L KOH solution (Group C), or a 0.01 mol/L lactic acid buffer (Group D). Fluoride incorporation assessed by abrasion biopsy in 10 microns layers showed about 10,000 ppm F maximum in Group A. Similar levels of fluoride concentration from the surface to approximately 30 microns thick were found in Groups A, B, and C. No appreciable fluoride was released from remineralized slabs from Groups B or C, and only a small fraction from Group D. Statistical analyses of the fluoride values showed no significant differences between the various test conditions in any of the layers sampled. No difference was evident in the Ca/P ratio between the ten-day remineralized enamel (Group A) and the treatment groups. The lack of appreciable fluoride loss from enamel with any of the above three conditions indicated a stable fixation of fluoride in the remineralized enamel lesions. PMID- 2632620 TI - Let your vote be counted. PMID- 2632621 TI - To know or not to know: some observations on women's reactions to the availability of prenatal knowledge of their babies' sex. AB - The author studied reactions to the availability of prenatal information concerning the sex of the fetus, with the specific aim of differentiating between women: those who chose to know the sex of their babies prenatally (Group A) and those who did not (Group B). Two psychoanalytically informed interviews were conducted by the author with each subject, one before amniocentesis results were known, and one after. The attitude concerning the wish to know the sex or not proved enduring and as such bore a stable relation to the pregnancy. The differing cognitive approach to incorporating the data made available by prenatal technology was accompanied by differing cathexes: Group A women invested more in the fetus as a real object, whereas Group B women invested more in the state of being pregnant. The findings are related to the psychoanalytic literature on pregnancy; special emphasis is placed on the mourning of the lost fantasy of the sex-preferred child as well as the loss of the fantasy of the child of sex opposite to the one determined through amniocentesis. Possible consequences regarding postpartum depression are discussed. PMID- 2632622 TI - The female psychoanalyst in the movies. AB - The last five decades of the American cinema have produced a remarkably consistent stereotype of the female analyst. In films such as Spellbound (1945), Knock on Wood (1954), Sex and the Single Girl (1964), They Might be Giants (1971), and The Man Who Loved Women (1983), women analysts are swept away by countertransference love that leads them to become sexually or romantically involved with their male patients. In stark contrast to the data from studies of patient-therapist sexual involvement, there are more than twice as many films portraying unethical sexual behavior on the part of a female analyst as there are films depicting similar countertransference acting out by a male analyst. Moreover, a stable relationship with a man and a successful analytic practice never coexist for any woman analyst in the cinema. Neither does a female analyst ever successfully treat a male patient in the American cinema unless she falls in love with him. On the contrary, the male patient is more likely to cure his female analyst. Clinical reports from cross-gender analyses are useful in understanding these cinematic myths. PMID- 2632623 TI - Infantile sexuality, gender identity, and obstacles to oedipal progression. AB - Contrary to when it was first proposed, infantile sexuality nowadays is accepted as an important part of child development. However, Freud's views on masculine primacy and feminine inferiority are seen to be incomplete and inaccurate not only because they over-emphasize sexuality and sexual anatomy, but also because they neglect aggression, object relations, ego and superego functioning, and the sense of self. Infantile sexuality is therefore reconsidered within the broader perspective of gender identity. Within this broader perspective, normal and aberrant sexual development is discussed, and new ideas are offered about familiar concepts such as castration anxiety and penis envy. PMID- 2632624 TI - Dream frequency and treatment outcome in psychoanalysis and in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. PMID- 2632625 TI - Track II diplomacy. PMID- 2632626 TI - Reply to Louis A. Sass and Robert L. Woolfolk. PMID- 2632627 TI - On Freud's "project". PMID- 2632628 TI - The patient-analyst match and the outcome of psychoanalysis: a pilot study. AB - This paper presents a pilot study in which we explore the possibility that the match between analyst and analysand is a factor of central importance in the analytic situation. It is an attempt to look at the issue of match across a large number of patients. The data we used were not collected for studying this topic; thus, the study has serious limitations. Nevertheless, certain patterns emerged which support our thesis that patient-analyst match plays a significant role in the outcome of psychoanalysis. We present this work as a first step in developing concepts and methods which will be pursued in a more systematic and rigorous fashion in a later study. PMID- 2632629 TI - Followup in psychoanalysis: clinical and research values. AB - Psychoanalysis has never developed a tradition of systematic followup study to evaluate outcome and to improve technique and theory for a variety of reasons, partly theoretical, stemming from the conception of the unfolding transference neurosis and its analytic resolution as the precondition for cure, and partly historical, having to do with the happenstance of its development as a private practice-based discipline and training outside of the academic setting. Freud, however, was never bound by such strictures and published whatever post-treatment data he acquired on all his best-known case histories. But following Freud most analysts, with some notable exceptions, eschewed followup activity as unanalytic. It is this tradition that more recent studies like those of Pfeffer in New York and the Psychotherapy Research Project of The Menninger Foundation in Topeka have squarely challenged. Data are presented from the Menninger project dealing specifically with the impact of routine planned followup on issues of treatment termination and resolution and on the nature of the post-treatment period. The degree and kind of patient cooperation with the followup inquiry, the impact of followup on treatment termination and resolution (both impeding and facilitating), and the role of followup intervention in relation to return to formal post-treatment therapy (or consolidating against it), are all discussed. PMID- 2632630 TI - Intolerance of responsibility for internal conflict. AB - A type of patient is described, who has marked intolerance of taking responsibility for his internal conflicts so as to confront them, analyze them, and change. Defensive repetition in pathological object relations aims to avoid what is wrong within and to engage another so as to protect oneself. Genetic, dynamic, and technical aspects of such defensive, dependent relating are considered. Responsibility for oneself and for what is within oneself is held to be terrifying--more than anyone can bear on his own. How destructiveness has become, and remains, so terrifying is discussed. PMID- 2632631 TI - Emptiness as defense in severe regressive states. AB - This paper examines the empty states experienced by severely ill borderline patients. At times of stressful regression, these patients use complaints of emptiness to describe profound disturbances of affect, cognition, object relations, and bodily experience. Empty states may be seen as complex defensive configurations which protect a borderline level of psychic structure from the impact of aggressively charged object relations, and ward off further regression to states of fragmentation or fusion. Severely ill borderline patients consolidate an empty screen by means of a characteristic repertoire of primitive defenses consisting of various forms of projective identification, including bitriangulation and projective identification of psychic agencies, somatization, acting out, and specific alterations in cognition. The author describes the highly deviant organizations of the object world seen in empty states, and the complex and disturbing countertransferences which these states evoke. PMID- 2632632 TI - Effects on an adult of incest in childhood: a case report. AB - Recognition of the widespread incidence of overt incest in childhood has significantly increased in recent years. The described long-term effects range from severe psychopathology and behavioral disorder to mild and subtle manifestations. The interplay of the child's sexual developmental processes and intrapsychic fantasies with the overtly incestuous behaviors adds complexity to the understanding of longterm effects. In this case presentation successful analysis revealed previously repressed extensive father-daughter incest resulting in typically autoplastic neurotic symptomatology and character formation. Effects on ego development and function were traced, and an attempt was made to develop recognition of cues suggestive of past overt incest. The case suggests that many additional factors contribute to the final long-term effects of overt incest in childhood. PMID- 2632633 TI - Evaluation of cardiovascular control by neurons in the dorsal medulla of rats. AB - The contribution of sympathoexcitatory neurons in the dorsal medulla to the regulation of arterial pressure and the involvement of such neurons in integration of physiological responses or in the genesis of basal vasomotor tone are not well defined. In the present study discharge of neurons in the dorsal medulla of anesthetized rats was increased or decreased by microinjections of amino acids to examine effects on systemic arterial pressure, heart rate and blood flow and conductance of the renal and femoral vascular beds. Microinjections of excitatory D, L-homocysteic acid caused increases in arterial pressure of 18 +/- 2 mmHg, increases in heart rate ranging from 5-40 beats/min and renal vasoconstriction; the femoral bed constricted after some injections and dilated in response to others. Injections of the inhibitory amino acid glycine caused no consistent decreases in arterial pressure and heart rate and injections of the gamma-aminobutyric acid analog, muscimol were ineffective. These data demonstrate that neurons in the dorsal region of the rat medulla can contribute to regulation of arterial pressure and can integrate generalized differential changes in regional vascular resistance, but do not appear to be essential for the genesis of basal vasomotor tone. PMID- 2632634 TI - Nerve-mediated contractile and electrical activity of the guinea-pig choledocho duodenal junction. AB - The intrinsic motor innervation of the guinea-pig choledocho-duodenal junction was investigated by recording the contractile and intracellular electrical activity of smooth muscle from different regions of this tissue. Electrical transmural nerve stimulation evoked phasic contractions in rings of muscle from the ampulla (0.45 s-1) and tonic contractions in rings of muscle from the choledochal sphincter. Intracellular microelectrode recordings from muscle strips from these two regions revealed that excitatory junction potentials (peak amplitude 7 mV) evoked by transmural nerve stimulation were more conspicuous in muscle strips from the choledochal sphincter, but inhibitory junction potentials (peak amplitude 13 mV) were of larger amplitude in muscle strips from the ampulla. Contractions and membrane depolarization evoked by transmural nerve stimulation were sensitive to 1.4 microM atropine and abolished by 3.1 microM tetrodotoxin. Histological studies on the choledocho-duodenal junction also revealed that the distribution of smooth muscle was non-uniform along the tissue. These results suggest that the two regions may have different functions in the motility of the choledocho-duodenal junction. PMID- 2632635 TI - Sympathetic peripheral chemoreflex is independent of expiratory output neurons in the cat. AB - Previously we reported that activities of certain chemoreflex sensitive cervical preganglionic sympathetic nerves (PSN) were augmented by carotid chemoreceptor stimulation independently of phrenic nerve (PN) activity in the cat. To test the hypothesis that the PSN carotid chemoreflex could have been mediated by the expiratory neuron activity, we studied the relationship between PSN, internal intercostal expiratory nerve (IICEN) and PN activities in vagotomized, anesthetized, paralysed and artificially ventilated cats. We made the following observations. (1) Hypoxia often inhibited IICEN activity while the PN and PSN activities were stimulated. (2) during normoxia, cyanide strongly stimulated PN and PSN discharges but only moderately IICEN discharges. (3) Hyperventilation hypocapnia suppressed or eliminated PSN and PN rhythms and activities, but made some IICEN fibers fire continuously. (4) During hypocapnic apnea, cyanide stimulated PSN activity before PN and IICEN activities, although some PSN fibers were stimulated simultaneously with PN fibers. Accordingly we conclude that IICEN activity does not significantly influence chemoreflex stimulation of PSN activity and that a direct chemoreflex stimulation of IICEN is minimal in the cat. Thus, the chemoreflex PSN response is in part independent of respiratory chemoreflex pathways. PMID- 2632636 TI - Electrophysiological and morphological properties of type C vagal neurons in the nodose ganglion of the cat. AB - Some passive and active electrical properties of type C neurons were studied intracellularly, in situ, in the nodose ganglia of adult cats. From the neuronal responses to hyperpolarizing and depolarizing rectangular current pulses it was possible to determine the input resistance (34.4 M omega) and specific membrane resistance (2373 omega.cm2). Significant changes in magnitude and duration of the action potential evoked by vagal stimulation result from changes in the resting potential caused by the passage of steady polarizing currents across the cell membrane. The action potentials evoked by infranodose vagal stimulation had a long duration, a long latency and comprised several components. The fast main spike was followed by a long post-hyperpolarization. The double shock technique showed that the fast main potential was composed of an initial segment spike ('A spike') and a somatic spike ('S spike'), and made it possible to determine the somatic refractory periods. After electrical identification of the cells, horseradish peroxidase was injected ionophoretically into the soma, and it was shown that the central processes were about four times smaller in diameter than the peripheral processes. PMID- 2632637 TI - The effect of misclassification of diarrhoea on estimates of its occurrence, the identification of risk factors, and the assessment of prevention efforts. AB - Inaccurate assessment of true diarrhoea status introduces bias into estimates of its occurrence. A cross-sectional study of diarrhoea among 357 children in a rural Kenyan community found the sensitivity and specificity of the mother's report of diarrhoea to be 0.79 and 0.94 respectively, when compared to an independent observation of loose stool consistency. The observed diarrhoea prevalence of 9.5% overestimated the "true" prevalence estimated at 4.8%. With data on an exposure variable, lack of latrine ownership, an observed odds ratio of 2.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9-4.3) underestimated the "true" odds ratio of 5.4 (95% CI 2.0-14.5). Misclassification of diarrhoea can hinder the identification of communities of high incidence, the determination of risk factors for diarrhoea, and the evaluation of preventive intervention strategies. A precise definition and reliable means of measuring diarrhoea are critical for evaluating prevention or intervention efforts. PMID- 2632638 TI - Assessment of the effect of training on management of acute diarrhoea in a primary health care setting. AB - Health care providers were trained to treat patients with acute diarrhoea using WHO-recommended oral rehydration therapy (ORT) in a rural area of Haryana, India. One year after the completion of the training programme, the diarrhoea management practices of these trainees were observed while they were treating 240 children with acute diarrhoea. The patients were treated by 12 Multipurpose Health Workers (MPHW), 12 Community Health Guides (CHG), and 11 childcare volunteers, called Anganwadi Workers (AWW), in 12 randomly selected villages. In addition, 9 doctors practising in Primary Health Centres and in a 50-bed hospital were also studied. The assessment of patients on the basis of the history of illness taken and the results of physical examinations varied significantly between the various health functionaries. Doctors assessed dehydration in 80% of patients, MPHWs in 65%, CHGs in 60% and AWWs in only 45% of patients (p less than 0.05). Oral rehydration solution (ORS) was given to every case. However, anti-microbial and anti diarrhoeal drugs were used at a significantly higher rate by doctors than by other functionaries (p less than 0.05). The method of ORS preparation was explained to most (85-90%) of the parents by all types of functionaries but the quantity to be given to the child was told by doctors to 67%, MPHWs to 60%, CHGs to 63% and AWWs to only 43% of patients. Advice on feeding normal food during diarrhoea was either not given or restrictions to food intake were suggested by all types of functionaries. However, continuation of breast feeding during treatment was advised by all types of functionaries for the majority of patients. PMID- 2632639 TI - Carriage of enteric bacterial pathogens by house flies in Yangon, Myanmar. AB - The carriage of enteric bacterial pathogens by house flies, caught from different places of human habitation and at different seasons, was quantitatively determined in the town of Tamwe, Yangon, Myanmar. A total of 186 fly-pools, each containing 10 live flies, were caught in entomological cages by random sampling regarding season, month, frequency and place of collection. A 10% suspension of each homogenised fly-pool in sterile normal saline was prepared on the day of collection and was cultured to isolate pathogens using standard microbiological methods. Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae non-O1, and species of Salmonella and Shigella were isolated from 76.3%, 45.7%, 11.8% and 4.8% respectively from all the fly-pools. Enteric bacterial pathogens were isolated more frequently in flies from refuse dumps and animal pens and least commonly in flies from kitchens. Of the E. coli isolates, one pool each from flies trapped in animal pens (n = 30 fly pools), latrines (n = 32) and refuse dumps (n = 34) produced enterotoxins (ETEC). These ETEC isolates were obtained in the months of June and July. The rates of isolation of pathogens were highest in the hot-wet season. The faecal coliform counts in the fly-pools also increased in this season compared with those in cool dry and hot-dry seasons. These data suggest that flies may be an important carrier of enteric infections in Myanmar. PMID- 2632640 TI - Bacterial and viral causes of acute diarrhoea in children in Kuwait. AB - Bacterial and viral causes of acute diarrhoea were studied prospectively for one year in 343 hospitalised young children in Kuwait. In 288 (84%) patients, one or more pathogens were identified compared with 12 of 86 (13.9%) children admitted with diseases other than diarrhoea (p less than 0.01). Forty-four (12.9%) of the patients were infected with two or more pathogens. Viral agents detected in the stools were rotaviruses (40.2%), enteric adenoviruses (1.7%), and enteroviruses (1.5%). Enterobacteria were isolated from the stools of 44% of the patients as follows: Salmonella (18.0%), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) (17.5%), enterotoxigenic E. coli (6.7%), Shigella (5.0%), Campylobacter jejuni (2.3%), Vibrio cholerae non-01 (2.3%), Yersinia enterocolitica (1.5%), and Aeromonas hydrophila (0.9%). The incidence of diarrhoea in children showed two seasonal peaks: during March-May and October-November. The present study indicates that Salmonella and EPEC are the major causes of bacterial gastroenteritis, while rotaviruses are the main cause of viral gastroenteritis in young children in Kuwait. PMID- 2632641 TI - Cryptosporidiosis in children in Idukki District in southern India. AB - Concentrated stool samples from 560 children, aged from two weeks to 10 years, from Idukki District, southern India, were examined to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts, using a phenol-auramin stain and fluorescent microscopy. Smears of stool samples were also stained by a modified Ziehl-Neelsen method and were examined by light-microscopy. One sample was collected from each of 266 children with diarrhoea and 294 age-matched children without diarrhoea. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 4.5% of all stools, in 6% of diarrhoeal stools and in 3% of stools from healthy controls. Results of the study show that Cryptosporidium infection is common in children with diarrhoea in southern India, and there is also a high frequency of asymptomatic cyst-passers in this area. PMID- 2632642 TI - Contamination of currency notes with enteric bacterial pathogens. AB - To determine the degree of faecal contamination of currency notes, samples of the notes that were in circulation in a local market in Rangoon were collected and examined bacteriologically to count the number of the total bacteria and faecal coliforms (TC, FC) using standard methods. TC and FC ranged from 0 to 2.9 X 10(7)/sq cm of currency notes and the isolation rates of pathogens increased during the hot wet season. Enteric pathogens, such as enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Vibrio, and Salmonella were isolated from paper-money samples obtained from butchers and fish mongers. The study suggests that currency notes may carry enteric pathogens. PMID- 2632643 TI - Lymphatic system and microcirculation. Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Daflon 500 held during the First Mediterranean Congress of Angiology. Corfu, Greece, May 31, 1988. PMID- 2632644 TI - Lymphagogue and pulsatile activities of Daflon 500 mg on canine thoracic lymph duct. AB - An earlier report proved that Daflon 500 mg constituted of 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin exerts a lymphagogue effect on dogs. The aim of the present work is to investigate whether the lymphagogue effect of Daflon 500 mg is associated with an increase in pulsatile activity of lymphatic vessels. The investigation was carried out on mongrel dogs anaesthetised by pentobarbital (10 mg/kg); the lymph was collected by a fistula on the thoracic lymphatic duct; using this fistula the pulsatile activity of lymphatic vessels was estimated by Campbell and Health methodology. The lymphatic volume was measured every ten-minutes in graduated tubes for 2 hours and the pulsatile component of intralymphatic pressure (MPC) was estimated from measurements of the area (expressed in mm2) enclosed by the part of the tracing due to the pulsatile component during one minute. Daflon 500 mg was intravenously injected after having been dissolved in DMSO + TRIS; three doses were injected: 12.5, 6.25 and 3.125 mg/kg. Regarding the lymphagogue effect, Daflon 500 mg induced an increase in lymphatic flow correlated with the administered doses. The maximal 10-minute period lymphatic flows were 191% (12.5 mg/kg), 171% (6.25 mg/kg) and 91% (3.125 mg/kg); the peak of the effect was, in each case, reached between 20 and 25 minutes after the injection. Regarding the pulsatile activity, Daflon 500 mg induced an increase of MPC. The MPC was correlated with the increase in lymph flow (r = 0.877). PMID- 2632645 TI - Effects of Daflon 500 mg on bovine vessels contractility. AB - The effect of Daflon 500 mg, consisting of 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin, on bovine veins and lymphatic vessels was shown. The recording of mechanical tension on metacarpal vein rings demonstrated a dose-effect relationship with an ED50 of 0.5 X 10(-6) M. This effect observed on isolated organs, is close to the tonic effect of Daflon 500 mg observed in human. An effect was also observed as demonstrated by the depolarisation curve obtained after administration of solutions containing increasing concentrations of potassium. The curve was shifted to the right which may indicate a decrease in potassium permeability in the presence of Daflon 500 mg. On lymphatic vessels isolated from mesenterium, the main effect was an increase in the frequency of spontaneous response which could explain the effect of Daflon 500 mg on lymph flow as shown previously. This dose-effect relationship could be due to an increase in the sensitivity of receptors to some agonists. However, this effect could be pleiotropic. This pleiotropic effect could involve the stimulation by Daflon 500 mg of other cellular mechanisms such as phosphatidylinositol metabolism, or more directly, the pacemaker activity of the cells which govern spontaneous activity, pacemaker activity being under the control of membrane potassium permeability. Some evidence about the action of Daflon 500 mg on potassium permeability could also be shown on other tissues. PMID- 2632646 TI - Capillary filtration and lymphatic resorption in diabetes. Application to the pharmacodynamic activity of Daflon 500 mg. AB - Microcirculatory disorders are often a complication of diabetes. They are associated with an increased capillary permeability which can be assessed by the Landis test using 99mTc-labelled albumin. Labelled albumin retention is measured by external detection (residual radioactivity after removal of venous tourniquet). The Fast Fourier Transform of the radioactivity disappearance graph reflects the lymphatic albumin resorption. Thirteen out-patients with diabetes from 1 to 19 years suffering from evident microcirculatory disorders were treated with a micronized flavonoid fraction: Daflon 500 mg (2 tablets per day) during a month. Antihypertensive and/or antidiabetic treatment were continued during the study if they were given before starting. A test was performed before, and at the end of the treatment. In 10 of the 13 patients, the test was carried out a third time 5.5 +/- 1.0 months later, after treatment withdrawal. Results were as follows: 1) labelled albumin retention was abnormal (greater than or equal to 8%) at the start and became normal in the patients and improved in 1 patient. After treatment withdrawal, the results of the third test were again abnormal, in the patients who had been normalized beforehand; 2) the initially abnormal lymphatic resorption became normal in six of the 13 patients at the end of the treatment and became abnormal again in all patients after treatment withdrawal. In a parallel group of 15 patients with abnormal test lymphatic fluctuations and not being treated with a vasculo-protector agent, the initially abnormal test remained abnormal 5 to 48 months later in all patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632647 TI - Microcirculatory unit. Actual news. AB - The microcirculatory unit is the localization of important exchanges. Any disturbance in the state of equilibrium, though at first functional, quickly becomes organic. This imbalance can appear at the level of the secretion of prostaglandin modification of the capillary permeability, which may be the consequence of Paf Acether secretion. Free Radical release can disrupt the normal functioning of the cell wall. Venotonic drugs act at this level, assisting the return to normal histochemical equilibrium. PMID- 2632648 TI - Activity of Daflon 500 mg on the hemorheological disorders in diabetes. AB - A rheological study was performed on blood samples from 10 insulin-treated diabetics with retinopathy. As part of their treatment, they all received 4 tablets of Daflon 500 mg per day for 30 days. Three complementary rheological criteria were used to characterize blood samples: 1) viscometry, using a Couette viscometer, which produces data on viscosity, shear-thinning, viscoelasticity and tixotropy of blood, 2) aggregametry, using an apparatus based on light reflectometry, using a filtrometer based on the deformations red cells undergo as they pass through narrow pores which produces information on red cell deformability. The main results were: a better red blood cell disaggregability, a decrease in red blood cell aggregation and no change in red blood cell deformability. PMID- 2632649 TI - Venous reflux. PMID- 2632650 TI - Vital capillaroscopy on microcirculation: pharmacodynamic activity of Daflon 500 mg in venous insufficiency. AB - A group of ten female patients suffering from telengiectasia of the lower limbs was treated with Daflon 500 mg administered orally. The results obtained are presented and discussed. PMID- 2632651 TI - A long term treatment with a venotropic drug. Results on efficacy and safety of Daflon 500 mg in chronic venous insufficiency. AB - Drugs for long term administration have to prove their efficacy and safety. Previously published double blind controlled studies (from single dose to two months treatment) have already demonstrated the phlebotropic activity of Daflon 500 mg in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). The aim of the study was to investigate the safety of this agent during one year of continuous administration. Two-hundred and fifteen out-patients suffering from CVI received Daflon 500 mg, 2 tablets per day. Therapeutic activity was evaluated every 2 months on: 1) venous symptoms (functional discomfort, cramps, evening oedema) assessed by a 0 to 4 scale; 2) supramalleolar and calf circumferences; 3) overall assessment of efficacy (excellent, useful, nil). Acceptability was assessed by recording the side effects and measuring laboratory parameters. RESULTS: 170 patients completed the study. Functional symptoms were statistically significantly improved as shown by the following: functional discomfort: 0.55 +/- 0.06 vs 2.63 +/- 0.06, supra-malleolar circumference in cm: 22.5 +/- 0.2 vs 23.1 +/- 0.2, and calf circumference in cm: 34.7 +/- 0.3 vs 35.2 +/- 0.3. This improvement in the symptoms quickly appeared from the first control (M2) and reached about 50% of the total decrease. Overall assessment of efficacy was evaluated as follows: excellent = 58%, useful = 33%, nil = 9% of the cases. Laboratory parameters remained constant during the 12 months. Side effects were essentially gastralgia (n = 7). According to these results, it appears the efficacy and safety of Daflon 500 mg are corroborated even after a one year administration. PMID- 2632652 TI - [The relationship between the movement of molars and the transmitted mechanism of orthodontic forces in extraoral anchorage (2)]. AB - The relationship between the movement of molars and the transmission of orthodontic forces were especially studied about the upward pull of the outer bow in extraoral anchorage. Molar movements were theoretically analyzed from horizontal pull to upward angle of 40 degree. The transmission mechanism of the orthodontic force was studied from horizontal pull to 40 degree upward angle on each 5 degree with the holography experiment on a human dry skull. 1. Horizontal pull of the outer bow resulted in distal movement of the molar. The long axis of the molar was tipped distally. The dentofacial cranium transformed to the lower and backward direction. 2. When the outer bow was inclined at an upward angle of about 18 degree, the molar moved bodily to the distal and superior direction. But the dentofacial cranium transformed a little to the lower and backward direction. 3. When the outer bow was inclined from 25 to 30 degree upward angle, the molar rotated to the clockwise direction, and the dentofacial cranium rotated to the counter clockwise. The bending deformation was not observed on the dentofacial cranium. 4. The dentofacial cranium was compressed in the pull direction from 25 to 30 degree upward angle. These directions were clinically interpreted as inhibition of the downward and forward growth of the maxillary bone. PMID- 2632653 TI - [Hyoid bone position and airway accompanied with influence of head posture]. AB - The position of hyoid bone has been analyzed using roentgenogram. But, due to the great variability with the change of head posture, the position could not be determined correctly. In the present study, we investigated the influence of head posture to the position of hyoid bone. Subjects consisted of 32 Japanese males, those mean age was 25.8 years. Lateral cephalograms had been taken for each subjects at 5 different head posture. The findings were as follows. 1. Superimposed on SN plane, hyoid bone moved along the line of menton to 4th cervical vertebrae (C4) with the change of head posture. The hyoid bone moved in parallel with the line of 3rd cervical vertebrae (C3) to C4 (cervical plane). In spite of these movements, RH kept an uniform ratio. 2. The distances between sella turcica and hyoid bone and between C3 and hyoid bone, and the angle between menton, porion and hyoid bone, were at constant value. 3. Some measurements included the distance between hyoid bone and menton and the angle between nasion, sella turcica, hyoid bone showed very high correlation with the change of head posture. 4. EpPW1 (the width of airway) and the distance from C4 to hyoid bone showed almost the same change. It means the position of hyoid bone has a great influence on airway. PMID- 2632654 TI - [The effects of morphological variation of the spheno-occipital complex to the formation of skeletal facial pattern]. AB - The purpose of this study was first to classify the morphological type of spheno occipital complex and second to verify the relationship between the type of spheno-occipital complex and skeletal facial pattern. Materials used in this study were latelal cephalograms of 341 Japanese female adults. None of the subjects underwent any orthodontic therapy. Data were evaluated by multivariate analysis. The following results were obtained. 1. By the cluster analysis, the spheno-occipital complex was classified into three types, namely Thick type, Average type, and Slender type. 2. By the principal component analysis, it was shown that the classification was made by the factor of the inclination of posterior cranial base as the first component and the factor of the projection of sphenoidal rostrum as the second component. The Thick type group had less inclined posterior cranial base and more projected sphenoidal rostrum. 3. There was little relationship between mandibular pattern and the spheno-occipital complex. 4. The principal component analysis of the skeletal facial pattern showed that the Thick type group showed skeletal Cl. III tendency and the Slender type group showed skeletal Cl. II tendency, but there was no significant relationship between the vertical skeletal facial pattern and the spheno occipital complex. In conclusion, the spheno-occipital complex was divided into three type groups according to the inclination of posterior cranial base and the projection of sphenoidal rostrum. It was concluded that the spheno-occipital complex has a close relationship to the skeletal facial pattern and contributes to the facial formation. PMID- 2632655 TI - [The effects on upper first molars by the face-bow construction. Consideration of utilizing the strain gauge method and the computer method of structural analysis]. AB - The present study was undertaken for the purpose of detecting the influence on upper first molars by the dynamic behavior originated in face-bow construction. Tests were made at occipital pull and cervical pull face-bows utilizing strain gauge method and the computer method of structural analysis. As for the occipital pull face-bow, a short outer-bow 35 mm frontward of a tube was bent 30 degrees upward and be pulled in that direction. As for the cervical pull face-bow, a medium outer-bow flash to tube, parallel to the inner-bow was pulled from 20 degrees downward. These two types of face-bows were divided into 4 types, those with loops at the back end (WL) and to those without loops (NL). In the strain gauge method, the force and moment to tubes was measured and compared with the values obtained from theoretical analysis. And in the structural analysis, the data of deflection was compared with each other. Those results indicated that 1. face-bow shows a different force to the molars and a different phase of deflection, according to the difference of it's force concentrative section. 2. the larger the deflection, the larger the deviation of forces on molars from theoretical values. 3. the way of setting loops against the direction of pull alters the phase of deflection of face-bow and the force on molars. 4. existance of loops at inner-bow affects as follows: (1) Reduction of moment of each type of face-bow. (2) Reduction of vertical force at occipital pull face-bow and it's increase at cervical pull face-bow. (3) Resistance for deflection of face-bows in the case of tractive force for closing loops. PMID- 2632656 TI - What's the best approach for unexplained infertility? PMID- 2632657 TI - Immediate versus delayed progesterone supplementation in gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). AB - Exogenous progesterone (P) was supplemented to gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) patients to determine the optimal timing to start P supplementation and the role of isthmic block in GIFT. Patients were alternatively divided into two groups. In the immediate group, exogenous P was supplied from the day of surgery. In the delayed group, P was supplied 4 days after the surgery, the day the fertilized ovum is supposed to arrive in the uterine cavity. Except for higher serum P levels on luteal day 3 in the immediate group, no significant differences were found in serum P levels during the early luteal phase, the pregnancy rate, and the abortion rate between the two groups. It is possible that in stimulated cycles, higher serum P levels during the early luteal phase render the endometrium receptive for embryo implantation, albeit unlock the isthmic block. It may not be crucial to start exogenous P supplementation either before or after a fertilized egg(s) arrives in the uterine cavity. The role of isthmic block in GIFT needs further evaluation. PMID- 2632658 TI - Glass wool-filtered spermatozoa and their oocyte penetrating capacity. AB - The capacity of glass wool-filtered spermatozoa to penetrate zona-free hamster oocytes was studied. As compared to prefiltered sperm samples, oocyte penetration was significantly increased. A significant increase in the penetration rate for the filtered sperm population was noted even after the sperm motility in the filtrate was adjusted with medium equal to that of the prefiltered sample. However, no significant differences in oocyte penetration were seen between the prefiltered and the filtered sperm population when the filtered sperm samples were diluted with nonviable spermatozoa. These results show that glass wool filtration yields a sperm population with a greater penetrating capacity. It was concluded that motility alone could not account for the improved penetrability and that the removal of nonviable spermatozoa may at least, in part, be responsible for this effect. PMID- 2632659 TI - Gamete intrafallopian transfer vs superovulation with intrauterine insemination for the treatment of infertility. AB - Superovulation with intrauterine insemination (SO-IUI) has been suggested as an alternative to gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), despite the absence of controlled or comparative trials. We retrospectively analyzed all GIFT and SO-IUI cycles performed concurrently from January 1985 to August of 1987 at a single university center. Pregnancy rates were significantly better for GIFT than SO-IUI (P less than 0.001), with an odds ratio of 3.25 (P = 0.001). Stepwise multiple logistic regression identified factors that correlate with pregnancy: absence of endometriosis (P = 0.05), infertility less than 3 years' duration (P = 0.002), TMS greater than or equal to 30 X 10(6) (P = 0.005), and treatment with GIFT rather than SO-IUI (P = 0.001). These data give a first approximation of the increased efficacy of GIFT versus SO-IUI and provide valuable insight into significant confounding variables to be considered when planning a randomized, prospective trial to evaluate these techniques. PMID- 2632660 TI - Establishment of pregnancy after embryo transfer in mares with gonadal dysgenesis. AB - Embryo transfer was performed in three mares with gonadal dysgenesis. Karyotypes of the mares were as follows: Mare 1, 63,XX, 64,XX, 65,XX; Mare 2, 63,X; and Mare 3, 65,XXX. The mares were administered progesterone in oil, 300 mg intramuscularly daily, starting 1 or 2 days after donor mare ovulation. Embryos were transferred on day 7 after donor ovulation. Mare 1 became pregnant after the first embryo transfer and had a normally developing fetus on necropsy on day 45 of gestation. Mare 3 became pregnant after the third embryo transfer, but the embryo was lost between day 14 and day 18 of gestation. Mare 2 received embryos on six occasions without maintaining pregnancy after transfer. Mares with gonadal dysgenesis treated with progesterone can establish and maintain pregnancy after embryo transfer, but there may be differences in this capability among mares, possibly related to the cause of the gonadal dysgenesis. PMID- 2632661 TI - Screening test for mouse blastocysts as an index of the vitality of embryos. PMID- 2632662 TI - Clinical results of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) program at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City. PMID- 2632663 TI - The use of the EMG in clinical dentistry. PMID- 2632664 TI - A NosA-specific bacteriophage can be used to select denitrification-defective mutants of Pseudomonas stutzeri. AB - phi PS5, a double-stranded DNA bacteriophage of Pseudomonas stutzeri JM604 that adsorbs specifically to the outer-membrane protein NosA, was isolated from stagnant irrigation ditch water. Mutant strains that do not produce NosA are resistant to phi PS5 and cannot grow anaerobically with N2O as the sole electron acceptor. phi PS5 did not adsorb to nosA mutants and adsorption to the wild-type strain was reduced when cells were grown with a high concentration of copper, a condition that represses the synthesis of NosA. The isolation of spontaneous phi PS5-resistant mutants yielded strains that were clearly defective in growth on N2O at about a 10% incidence. About half of these strains could respire N2O when supplied with a high concentration of exogenous copper. PMID- 2632665 TI - Expression of the surface properties of the fibrillar Streptococcus salivarius HB and its adhesion deficient mutants grown in continuous culture under glucose limitation. AB - Streptococcus salivarius HB and four adhesion deficient mutants, HB-7, HB-V5, HB V51 and HB-B, were grown in continuous culture in a defined medium under glucose limitation over a range of growth rates from 0.1 to 1.1 h-1. The ability to coaggregate with Veillonella parvula V1 cells and the ability to adhere to buccal epithelial cells did not alter with increasing growth rate. Cell surface hydrophobicity decreased markedly with increasing growth rate for the non fibrillar non-adhesive mutant HB-B but not for the other four strains which all carry different combinations of fibril classes. The thickness of the ruthenium red staining layer (RRL) also varied with growth rate for strain HB-B, ranging from 19.5 +/- 3.8 nm at high growth rate to a minimum of 12.3 +/- 4.8 nm at low growth rate. Low cell surface hydrophobicity correlated with a thicker RRL for strain HB-B. Strains HB-V5 and HB-7 also showed a significant increase in RRL thickness at high growth rates although to a lesser degree than HB-B. SDS-PAGE revealed a large number of protein bands common to all strains at all growth rates, with the major common protein occurring at 15.6 kDa. Protein bands at 70, 56, 40.5 and 39 kDa appeared stronger at high growth rates than at low. A protein band at 82 kDa showed strongly only at low growth rates. Therefore, adhesion and coaggregation are not phenotypically variable with increasing growth rate but RRL thickness, hydrophobicity and cell surface proteins may be phenotypically variable depending on the strain. PMID- 2632666 TI - DNA-DNA hybridization studies and phenotypic characteristics of strains within the 'Streptococcus milleri group'. AB - Twenty-five strains resembling 'Streptococcus milleri' were compared by DNA-DNA hybridization, by whole-cell-derived polypeptide patterns on SDS-PAGE, and by biochemical tests. Four homology groups were revealed by DNA-DNA hybridization. DNA homology groups 1, 2 and 3 were closely related and contained the type strains NCDO 2226 (Streptococcus constellatus), NCDO 2227 (Streptococcus intermedius) and NCTC 10713 (Streptococcus anginosus), respectively. DNA homology group 4 consisted of four strains received as variants of Streptococcus intermedius which were found not to be closely related to strains in groups 1-3. The data from SDS-PAGE polypeptide patterns and biochemical tests supported the recognition of three centres of variation within the 'Streptococcus milleri group' corresponding to DNA homology groups 1-3 and indicated that strains of DNA homology group 4 are members of an as yet undescribed species within the viridans streptococci. PMID- 2632667 TI - Heterogeneity of ribosomal proteins among Streptomyces species and its application to identification. AB - The ribosomal proteins from 11 Streptomyces strains representing various numerical taxonomic clusters were compared by two-dimensional PAGE. The protein patterns were specific for each species and were unaffected by acridine dye treatment, suggesting genetic stability of ribosomal proteins. An attempt was made to identify one strain of Streptomyces by both traditional taxonomic methods and analysis of the ribosomal protein patterns. Both methods identified the strain as Streptomyces lavendulae, and protein pattern analysis also showed that Streptomyces avidinii was closely related to this species. The practical application of ribosomal protein patterns in Streptomyces taxonomy was therefore demonstrated. PMID- 2632668 TI - Partial characterization of Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium smegmatis auxotrophs by syntrophism using Bacillus subtilis. AB - Syntrophism (cross-feeding) could be demonstrated between mutants of Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium smegmatis, and previously characterized mutants of Bacillus subtilis, auxotrophic for arginine, histidine, lysine or phenylalanine. Based on this cross-feeding data, the possible site of blockage in the biosynthetic pathways of the mutants could be inferred. PMID- 2632669 TI - Characterization and taxonomic significance of lipopolysaccharides of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo. AB - Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo (reference strain hardjoprajitno and strain hardjobovis) were prepared by the hot phenol water procedure. High yields of LPSs were found in the phenol phase. Gel electrophoresis of the phenol phase LPSs showed similar patterns for all strains in contrast to the different patterns found in the water phase LPSs. Sugar composition was also similar among all strains with rhamnose as the predominant sugar. Mannosamine was detected by high performance thin layer and gas-liquid chromatography. 2-Keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid (KDO) was comparable with authentic KDO by paper chromatography. Periodate oxidation at near neutral pH with or without prior hydrolysis showed that most of the KDO was substituted. The fatty acid composition of strain hardjobovis LPS was slightly different from that of the reference strain hardjoprajitno. Myristic and 3-hydroxymyristic acid were not detected in any of the LPS preparations. In conjunction with genetic and other data, the two strains are sufficiently different to be regarded as members of two separate species sharing common antigens. There is sufficient evidence to rename the hardjoprajitno strain type L. interrogans hardjo-p, and the hardjobovis strain type L. borgpeterseni hardjo-b. PMID- 2632670 TI - Oestradiol-induced infection of the genital tract of female mice by Mycoplasma hominis. AB - Treatment of female BALB/c mice with oestradiol rendered them susceptible to vaginal colonization by three of four different strains of Mycoplasma hominis. Overall, the organisms were recovered persistently from the vagina of 68 (87%) of 78 of these mice. Strain TO mice given one of the strains were at least susceptible, all of ten becoming colonized and larger numbers of organisms being recovered. The hormone arrested the reproductive cycle in the oestrous phase, characterized by non-nucleated, cornified vaginal epithelial cells. In contrast, M. hominis organisms were isolated transiently from only seven (10.5%) of 66 BALB/c mice not treated with oestradiol, after intravaginal inoculation; treatment with progesterone, which induced the dioestrous phase of the cycle, did not render any of 10 BALB/c mice susceptible to vaginal colonization. The minimum number of organisms (2.5 x 10(5)) of one strain of M. hominis and the minimum dose of oestradiol (0.05 mg) required to induce persistent colonization were established. Vaginal colonization persisted for more than 200 d in some mice, the numbers of organisms recovered ranging between 10(1) and 10(8). At autopsy there was evidence of spread to the uterine horns and ovaries, and also to the oropharynx, of some animals but not to other organs. Infection was not associated with a polymorphonuclear leucocyte response in the vagina or elsewhere, but a fourfold serum antibody response to M. hominis, measured by the metabolism inhibition technique, was detected in almost half of the mice tested. PMID- 2632671 TI - Genetic transformation in encapsulated clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae type b. AB - Haemophilus influenzae type b strains isolated from children with meningitis, septicaemia and pharyngitis were studied for their ability to undergo genetic transformation by two chromosomal markers, streptomycin resistance and nalidixic acid resistance. Fifty-eight percent of the strains were non-transformable while the remaining 42% showed considerable strain variation with regard to their transformation frequencies, which ranged from 8 x 10(-4) to 1 x 10(-6). The effect of type b capsule on competence development and transformation activity was studied by comparing encapsulated strains with their non-encapsulated variants. Type b capsule did not inhibit either competence development or transforming efficiency. The lack of transformability in the majority of strains was not due to the presence of a capsule. PMID- 2632672 TI - Achieving professional status for dental hygiene. PMID- 2632673 TI - An educational model for preparing dental hygiene students in the treatment of periodontal diseases. AB - Inflammatory periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. Experts agree that prevention is crucial, with frequent and through plaque removal being the simplest and most effective method for preventing inflammatory periodontal disease. Since it is often the dental hygienist who plays the major role in providing such care, it is imperative that dental hygiene programs educate students in the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases and provide necessary breadth and depth in theory and clinical experience in the curriculum. The purpose of this paper is to describe an educational model designed to enhance the treatment phase of the periodontal component of the curriculum for dental hygiene students. Both the didactic and clinical components of the periodontics courses are built upon a program-planning model: students assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the periodontal needs of all patients. Case presentations permit students to assimilate and analyze clinical data while internalizing the importance of comprehensive care and adequate follow-up. In general, the program planning model in periodontics incorporates the application of theory to practice and enhances clinical decision-making skills needed for graduates to meet the complexity of periodontal health needs. PMID- 2632674 TI - Increasing access to quality dental hygiene care. An educational model. AB - Restrictions on the manner in which dental hygienists practice are determined by individual state laws, each state's dental practice act, and how those are interpreted by the state board of dental examiners. Prior to 1986, state laws or regulations did not permit dental hygienists to practice independently of a dentist's supervision in public and private settings. These restrictions on the way hygienists practiced have been a barrier to expanding access to preventive dental hygiene care. Recently, the number of states that have eased the restrictions related to dental hygiene practice has increased. More hygienists have actively pursued legislation that would permit minimal supervision, and one state, Colorado, secured unsupervised practice. In addition to these legislative changes, the ADHA has made a commitment to expand the scope of dental hygiene practice. Given this focus, it is critical that dental hygiene practitioners receive the appropriate education to support their providing care directly to the public-functioning independently as licensed professionals. The purpose of this paper is to propose an educational model which will describe the advanced clinical and practical management skills necessary to practice unsupervised. Implications for how this model will increase access to care will also be addressed. PMID- 2632675 TI - Effects of dietary pyrazinamide, tryptophan, or nicotinic acid and gamma-ray irradiation on levels of NAD and NADP in various organs of mice. AB - The effects of large amounts of tryptophan, pyrazinamide, or nicotinic acid in diets on the contents of total NAD (NAD + NADH) and NADP (NADP + NADPH) of various organs were investigated in mice with or without gamma-irradiation. Female C3H/HeN mice were fed one of the following 4 kinds of experimental diets for one week: 1) control diet (20% casein diet containing 3 mg niacin per 100g diet); 2) diet supplemented by 0.5% L-tryptophan (T-diet); 3) diet supplemented by 0.5% L-tryptophan (T-diet); 4) diet supplemented by 0.1% nicotinic acid (NA diet). Half of the mice in each group were subsequently irradiated with 8 Gy of gamma-ray (60 Co) after 4 h of fasting. Then, the contents of total NAD and NADP in thymus, spleen, kidney, liver, and blood were determined in all animals. The results indicated that NAD content of spleen was higher in PT-group (21.5%) and NA-group (23.2%) than in that of control group. In thymus, however, NAD content of only the PT-group was significantly greater (13.1%) than control. NAD level of kidney was also significantly higher (32.6%) in PT-group. By gamma-irradiation, NAD contents of thymus and spleen of all groups tended to be decreased, but those of kidney and liver were not always reduced. In the latter two organs, significant NAD reduction was shown only in kidney of PT-group and in liver of PT and NA-groups. Even after irradiation, NAD levels of spleen and thymus in PT- and NA-groups tended to be kept higher than those in irradiated control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632676 TI - Vitamin E protects against thyroxine-induced acceleration of lipid peroxidation in cardiac and skeletal muscles in rats. AB - To determine whether vitamin E protects against thyroxine-induced oxidative stress in heart and soleus (slow oxidative) muscles, lipid peroxide (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) and antioxidant enzymes were measured in those tissues of hyperthyroid rats supplemented with vitamin E. The rats were rendered hyperthyroid by the administration of L-thyroxine in their drinking water. In experiment (EXPT) I, 30 mg/kg/dose of alpha-tocopheryl acetate was administered to the vitamin E-treated group. In EXPT II, the rats were fed a diet containing either less than 1 IU/kg (deficient diet), 20 IU/kg (control E diet), or 500 IU/kg (high E diet) of vitamin E and hyperthyroidism was induced. In EXPT I, hyperthyroidism induced an increase in oxidative enzymes, mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxide level, and a decrease in cytosolic superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase in both tissues. Vitamin E treatment inhibited the increase in lipid peroxide level totally in the heart and partially in the soleus, with minimal changes in the other biochemical indices studied. In EXPT II, the lipid peroxide level was markedly increased in both tissues of the vitamin E-deficient group, and decreased in those of the group fed high E diet. There were some adaptive changes in the levels of cytosolic superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in response to vitamin E deficiency, whereas neither oxidative enzymes nor mitochondrial superoxide dismutase were altered. These results suggest that vitamin E protects against lipid peroxidation in hyperthyroid heart and skeletal muscle independently of the changes in oxidative enzymes and antioxidant enzymes. PMID- 2632677 TI - Effects of dietary ethanol on ascorbic acid and lipid metabolism, and liver drug metabolizing enzymes in rats. AB - Effects of dietary ethanol on ascorbic acid and lipid metabolism, and liver drug metabolizing enzymes in rats fed a semi-purified diet containing a powdered ethanol preparation (30 cal% in the diet) were studied. Administration of ethanol increased urinary ascorbic acid excretion (p less than 0.001) and ascorbic acid level in the liver (p less than 0.001) and the spleen (p less than 0.01). The activity of hepatic aniline hydroxylase was increased (p less than 0.05) by ethanol feeding but that of aminopyrine N-demethylase was not. Increases of serum total and high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, commonly observed by the administration of xenobiotics, were not observed. These results showed ethanol possessed rather similar properties to xenobiotics such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) or 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane (DDT) in some metabolic changes. In this study, no accumulation of lipid in the liver was observed. PMID- 2632678 TI - Galactose absorption after oral administration of lactose in neonates. AB - 1. A lactose tolerance test was performed in infants and children. The majority of the infants showed a good response with serum glucose elevations, while there were poor responders among children more than 2 years old. During this test, serum galactose usually was nondetectable, even in the good responders. 2. After simultaneous loading with a constant amount of galactose and varying amounts of glucose in neonates, the degree of elevation of serum galactose levels decreased with increasing amounts of glucose, and loading with equal amounts of galactose and glucose resulted in no elevation of serum galactose levels. 3. In a 6-year old galactosemic child, serum galactose levels were markedly and continuously elevated after lactose loading. 4. After galactose loading with simultaneous intravenous glucose loading in neonates, elevation of serum galactose was markedly suppressed, as compared with that after galactose loading alone, while it was higher than that after oral loading with the equal doses of galactose and glucose. From the above, the fact that no increase was observed in serum galactose concentration when lactose was loaded orally in neonates is ascribable partially to inhibited absorption of galactose by glucose in the intestine but in the most part to accelerated metabolism of galactose by the glucose absorbed. PMID- 2632679 TI - Inhibitory effect of 6-azauracil on beta-alanine metabolism in rat. AB - The effect of 6-azauracil on beta-alanine metabolism was investigated in vivo in the rat. Both of the enzymes beta-alanine-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (aminobutyrate aminotransferase) and D-3-aminoisobutyrate-pyruvate aminotransferase [R)-3-amino-2-methylpropionate-pyruvate aminotransferase), which are beta-alanine catabolizing enzymes from rat liver and kidney, were inactivated by 6-azauracil injection, while dihydrouracil dehydrogenase, dihydropyrimidinase, and beta-ureidopropionase, which are pyrimidine metabolizing enzymes, were not affected. The content of beta-alanine was increased, but the level of uridine and uracil in rat liver was not affected, by 6-azauracil. When a crude enzyme preparation was passed through a Sephacryl S-200 column, both enzymes could be separated from each other. beta-Alanine-oxoglutarate aminotransferase and beta alanine-pyruvate aminotransferase activities in rat liver decreased to 27.4% and 63.9%, respectively, upon 6-azauracil injection, and those in kidney were 11.7% and 38.3%, respectively. From these findings, it is suggested that the accumulation of beta-alanine in 6-azauracil-treated rat liver might be caused by the inhibition of beta-alanine catabolizing enzymes, but not by an increase in the uridine pool nor by the activation of pyrimidine metabolism. PMID- 2632680 TI - Transient control of serum cholesterol homeostasis in adult ExHC (exogenous hypercholesterolemic) rats by dietary cholesterol during weanling period. AB - Rats hyper-responsive to a diet containing cholesterol plus cholic acid (exogenous hypercholesterolemic (ExHC) rats) were used to assess if cholesterol feeding at weanling period influences later serum cholesterol homeostasis. Diets containing cholesterol plus cholic acid (atherogenic diet) in early life, when compared to non-atherogenic diet, caused a transient suppression of serum cholesterol elevation in very-low- and low-density lipoprotein fractions during refeeding of the atherogenic diet in later life. Such an effect was not observed when ExHC rats were early given a diet supplemented with cholesterol or cholic acid alone, nor when ordinary Sprague-Dawley rats were given atherogenic diet. Early atherogenic diet caused an increased secretion of cholesterol as very-low density lipoprotein from the perfused livers of adult ExHC rats. Neither the activity of hepatic cholesterol-7 alpha-hydroxylase of fecal steroid excretion in later life was influenced by the early dietary manipulation. Therefore, the present results show the deferred effect of early dietary manipulation on later serum cholesterol metabolism in ExHC rats, but the underlying mechanism(s) remains to be determined. PMID- 2632681 TI - An improved high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the determination of free and esterified carnitine in animal tissues. AB - A high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of carnitine that is converted to coenzyme A(CoA) stoichiometrically by carnitine acetyltransferase is described. The chromatographic separation was accomplished by using Unisil QC8 column and a mixture of 190 mM KH2PO4 and methanol (87:13, v/v) as eluent. The present method is rapid, sensitive, and can be used for the routine analysis of animal tissues and plasma. PMID- 2632682 TI - Effects of high protein diet and sodium bicarbonate supplementation on calcium metabolism in rats. AB - This study was conducted to determine the effect of a high protein diet on calcium metabolism in rat. Wistar strain male rats (50 days old) were divided into 5 groups (day 0): control diet (18% casein); high protein diet (18% casein +20% lactalbumin); high protein and 0.1% sodium bicarbonate diet; high protein and 0.2% sodium bicarbonate diet; and high protein and 0.4% sodium bicarbonate diet. On days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, urine samples were collected and, at the same time, feces were collected from half of the animals in each group. Urinary titratable acidity (TA-HCO3-), ammonium ion (NH4+), and net acid excretion (NAE) were measured as an index of acid-base balance in rat body. Urinary volume was rapidly increased and the increase of urinary volume continued throughout the study in rats fed the high protein diet. Urinary excretions of calcium and phosphorus were increased after day 3 and day 1, respectively, in rats fed the high protein diet. The high protein diet depressed calcium absorption and elevated phosphorus absorption from the digestive tract in rats fed the high protein diet. The high protein diet decreased TA-HCO3-, which was closely correlated with the decrease of NAE. Sodium bicarbonate supplementation to the high protein diet had little effect on urinary calcium excretion and NAE. This study suggested that there was no relationship between metabolic acidosis and hypercalciuria in rats fed the high protein diet. PMID- 2632683 TI - Effect of thiamine, magnesium, and sulfate salts on growth, thiamine levels, and serum lipid constituents in rats. AB - Six variable supplementations of thiamine magnesium, and sulfates were given to 30 male adult rats in their diets. After 3 weeks, the concentrations of thiamine in the blood and liver and those of cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides in the serum were determined. Blood thiamine level did not reflect the vitamin content in liver. Sufficient and/or excessive intake of the 3 supplementations caused an increase in liver thiamine content and body weight gain; it also caused a reduction in serum cholesterol level without a change in the levels of serum triglycerides and phospholipids. Deficiency of both magnesium and sulfate salts in thiamine-supplemented groups decreased body weight gain and liver thiamine content with a significant elevation of serum triglycerides. PMID- 2632684 TI - Ethionine in feces of oligomethionine-fed rats: its identification as a by product in the synthetic process. PMID- 2632685 TI - Proceedings of the Fourth European Meeting on Hypertension. 18-21 June 1989, Milan, Italy. PMID- 2632686 TI - Rapid left ventricular filling is more dependent on age and twenty-four-hour blood pressure than on cardiac size. AB - The associations of age, blood pressure and cardiac structure with rapid left ventricular filling were assessed in 47 subjects (21 normotensives and 26 age matched untreated hypertensives) by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, sector-guided M-mode echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography. Univariate analyses revealed strong negative correlations of the left ventricular filling rate with age, and 24-h systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and a moderate positive correlation with the left ventricular ejection fraction at rest. Multiple regression analysis was performed with these variables, left atrial size and left ventricular mass index. Left atrial size and the left ventricular mass index were dependent on 24-h blood pressure, indicating that these two cardiac structural variables were less important than left ventricular filling. Age was undoubtedly the most important correlate of left ventricular filling, since 88% of the subjects over 53 years of age had reduced left ventricular filling rates regardless of the blood pressure status. However, under the age of 53 years, only the hypertensives had reduced filling rates. Thus, our study shows that the left ventricular filling rate is more dependent on age and 24-h blood pressure than on the left ventricular mass index. Furthermore, in patients over 53 years of age, it is not possible to separate the effects of hypertension on the diastolic function of the heart from the physiological alterations associated with ageing. PMID- 2632687 TI - Alterations in cardiopulmonary receptors in hypertensive patients with impaired left ventricular filling. AB - We examined the response of total peripheral resistance to low levels of lower body negative pressure (-15 to -20 mmHg) in two groups of hypertensive patients, one with a reduced index of left ventricular filling and the other with normal left ventricular filling characteristics. These groups were compared with a group of normal volunteers of the same age range. Total peripheral resistance increased significantly from corresponding baseline values both in the normal volunteers and in the hypertensives with a normal diastolic function, but the hypertensives with a decreased diastolic function showed a non-significant change in total peripheral resistance. We suggest that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in hypertension may be associated with an impairment in cardiopulmonary reflexes, and therefore may influence peripheral vascular regulation. PMID- 2632688 TI - Correlations between ST-segment depressions in patients with arterial hypertension and changes in arterial blood pressure and the heart rate. AB - In 10 treated hypertensives without coronary heart disease we carried out 24-h monitoring of the ST-segment and blood pressure. Twenty-four periods with ST segment depressions of greater than 0.1 mV were recorded in nine of 10 patients. In nine of 24 periods with ST-segment depressions blood pressure was elevated. The heart rate was increased in 20 of 24 ST-segment depressions. During nine periods with ST-segment depressions angina pectoris was reported, and 27 anginal attacks without ST-segment depressions were observed. These results indicate that only 38% of ST-segment depressions in hypertensive heart disease are paralleled by increases in blood pressure, but 83% are paralleled by increases in the heart rate (P less than 0.001), which shows a better correlation with ST-segment depressions than blood pressure. PMID- 2632689 TI - Role of nuclear proto-oncogenes in the proliferation of aortic smooth muscle cells in spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - In order to define the molecular mechanism involved in the enhancement of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) cell proliferation, we compared the actions of fetal calf serum and angiotensin II on both SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) aortic smooth muscle cells. Both compounds were more mitogenic on the SHR cells than on the controls. However, phospholipase C hyper-responsiveness was present only after angiotensin stimulation. This was also true of the expression of c jun, c-fos and c-myc. Oncogene overexpression therefore appears to be more strongly related to phospholipase C hyperreactivity than to enhanced proliferation of SHR aortic smooth muscle cells. PMID- 2632690 TI - Effect of low-density lipoprotein on intracellular calcium, intracellular pH and DNA synthesis in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. AB - Low-density lipoprotein has proliferative effects on vascular smooth muscle cells and thus may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and hypertension. In order to investigate the underlying mechanisms, we studied the influence of low-density lipoprotein on intracellular free calcium, intracellular pH and the rate of DNA synthesis in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells of the rat aorta. The low-density lipoprotein (1-30 micrograms/ml) caused a dose-dependent increase in intracellular calcium and affected the intracellular pH accordingly. In addition, a marked low-density lipoprotein-induced increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA was observed. It is concluded that low-density lipoprotein, apart from its classical role as a cholesterol-transporting vehicle, enhances cellular processes leading to cell proliferation. PMID- 2632691 TI - Endothelium-dependent mechanical properties of the carotid artery in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - An experimental model of in situ isolated carotid arteries has been used to evaluate the static mechanical properties of the arterial wall in 12-week-old Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The effects of endothelium removal on carotid compliance were compared with the effects of total abolition of the vascular smooth muscle tone by potassium cyanide. Carotid compliance measured at pressures ranging from 50 to 175 mmHg had maximal values (0.22 +/- 0.07 microliter/mmHg and 0.13 +/- 0.03 microliter/mmHg, respectively, for WKY and SHR; P less than 0.001) for pressure values close to the operating pressure in both groups. Maximal values of carotid compliance were increased by 35 and 45% in WKY and SHR, respectively, after potassium cyanide poisoning (P less than 0.01). Endothelium removal induced a significant increase in carotid compliance compared with control values (WKY +37%, P less than 0.01; SHR +25%, P less than 0.01). The present results suggest that the mechanical properties of the wall of the carotid artery are endothelium-dependent. The differences between the effect of endothelium on the vascular smooth muscle observed in the present experiment and previous results may be due to differences in experimental conditions (in vitro versus in situ) and/or to the specificity of the rat carotid artery. PMID- 2632692 TI - Salt-induced and spontaneous hyperactivity of phospholipase C in primary hypertension. AB - Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that platelets from both spontaneously hypertensive rats and essential hypertensive patients exhibited an increased thrombin-triggered phospholipase C activity compared with normotensive subjects. In order to determine the relationship between phospholipase C and hypertension we investigated this enzymatic activity in Dahl salt-resistant (Dahl R/Jr) and salt-sensitive (Dahl S/Jr) rats fed either a low- or a high-NaCl diet, and in DOCA-NaCl hypertensive rats. Phospholipase C activity was increased in the Dahl S/Jr rats fed a high-NaCl diet compared to a low-NaCl diet. This difference was not observed in the Dahl R/Jr rats, irrespective of diet. Likewise, phospholipase C activity was similar in the DOCA-NaCl hypertensive rats compared with their controls. Our results indicate that the increased platelet phospholipase C activity was not a consequence of either the blood pressure elevation or the high NaCl intake and was probably of genetic origin. While the increased phospholipase C activity was not correlated with blood pressure, the enhanced enzymatic activity in Dahl S/Jr hypertensive rats may be involved in the elevation of blood pressure and may be NaCl-regulated. PMID- 2632693 TI - Dexamethasone therapy selectively increases the sensitivity to noradrenaline of the rat mesenteric circulation. AB - We studied the effects of dexamethasone on the vascular responsiveness of the isolated perfused mesenteric vascular bed of the rats. Dexamethasone was infused at a low dose (2 micrograms/day) to avoid steroid-induced catabolic effects. The mesenteric arteries were perfused with increasing concentrations of noradrenaline, vasopressin and potassium chloride. Vascular responses to vasopressin and potassium chloride were similar in both dexamethasone-treated and control arteries. However, the dexamethasone treatment increased the sensitivity, but not the maximal pressor response, to noradrenaline. These results show that dexamethasone selectively increases the vascular sensitivity to noradrenaline in rats before the development of systemic hypertension. PMID- 2632694 TI - Resting intracellular pH in mesenteric resistance arteries from spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats: effects of amiloride and 4,4' diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid. AB - In order to investigate the membrane-located mechanisms that control intracellular pH in resistance arteries, mesenteric vessels from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) at 5 weeks of age were mounted in a myograph and loaded with 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)5,6 carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). Resting intracellular pH was studied over 10 min in the presence of amiloride (1 mmol/l), or 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2' disulphonic acid (DIDS; 0.2 mmol/l). In the presence of DIDS, there was no significant difference in the resulting fall in intracellular pH over 10 min between rat strains. However, in the presence of amiloride there was a significantly greater fall in intracellular pH in SHR (P less than 0.001). These data indicate that in the resting state Na(+)-H+ exchange is increased in SHR resistance arteries at the time when blood pressure is rising and vascular remodelling is taking place. PMID- 2632695 TI - Spectral analysis of R-R and arterial pressure variabilities to assess sympatho vagal interaction during mental stress in humans. AB - We tested the hypothesis that spectral analysis of the R-R interval and systolic arterial pressure variabilities allows assessment of the dynamic changes in neural control of the cardiovascular system in men undergoing mental stress testing. Mental arithmetic increased the low-frequency components of R-R and systolic arterial pressure, i.e. markers of sympathetic activity to the SA node and the vasculature, respectively; it also decreased the high frequency component of R-R variability, a marker of vagal activity. Spectral analysis of R-R and systolic arterial pressure variabilities may be used in the clinic to test the dynamic effects of mental stress on both sympathetic and vagal activities. PMID- 2632696 TI - Increased forskolin stimulation of lymphocyte-adenylate cyclase in normotensive subjects predisposed to essential hypertension. AB - Since a significant heritability has been shown for forskolin stimulation of lymphocyte adenylate cyclase activity in twins, we evaluated lymphocyte forskolin stimulated adenylate cyclase activity with respect to a familial predisposition towards essential hypertension. Lymphocyte adenylate cyclase activity was measured in broken cell preparations of 32 male normotensive volunteers with (n = 15) and without (n = 17) a positive family history of hypertension. The maximal forskolin stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity was significantly higher in the positive compared with the negative group (maximal stimulation of activity 53.5 +/- 3.4 versus 41.2 +/- 1.9 pmol cyclic AMP (cAMP)/mg protein per min; P less than 0.01). Dose-response curves showed a significantly greater stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in the positive group at forskolin concentrations of 10(-7) to 2 x 10(-4) mol/l. The median effective dose (ED50) and adenylate cyclase activity in the absence of forskolin were similar in both groups. We conclude that lymphocyte forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity may depend in part on hereditary factors associated with a familial predisposition to essential hypertension. PMID- 2632697 TI - Inhibition of epidermal growth factor-mediated DNA synthesis by a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor in vascular smooth muscle cells of the spontaneously hypertensive rat. AB - Aortic vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) grow nearly twice as fast in vitro as cells isolated from several normotensive control strains of rats. We have previously shown that DNA synthesis in SHR cells from both young and adult animals in response to epidermal growth factor is selectively enhanced compared with normotensive controls, suggesting that epidermal growth factor may be at least partly responsible for the enhanced growth rate. To determine whether the enhanced DNA synthesis in response to epidermal growth factor in SHR cells is mediated via an enhanced epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, we measured thymidine incorporation in epidermal growth factor-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells in the presence of the highly specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. The 50% inhibitory dose (IC50) of genistein was higher for the SHR vascular smooth muscle cells than for the normotensive Wistar rat (NBR; National Institutes of Health Black rat). This suggests that the increased DNA synthesis in response to epidermal growth factor in SHR cells is a result of higher receptor tyrosine kinase activity initiating further intracellular signals. PMID- 2632698 TI - Lanthanum potentiation of the vascular response to a protein kinase C activator in genetically hypertensive rats. AB - The effects of lanthanum on the contraction induced by the protein kinase C activator, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) were studied in femoral artery rings from stroke-prone, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). When exposed to a calcium-free buffer containing 1 mmol/l EGTA, the femoral artery rings from SHRSP and WKY, pre contracted with TPA (10(-6) mol/l), relaxed by 52 and 24%, respectively. Treatment of the rings in this calcium-free buffer with 2.6 mmol/l lanthanum significantly potentiated the TPA-induced contractions in vascular rings from WKY (49%) and SHRSP (136%). Potentiation by lanthanum of the TPA-induced contraction in the absence of extracellular calcium suggests that this cation is acting intracellularly to increase protein kinase C activity. The increased vascular responsiveness of SHRSP to lanthanum may reflect an abnormality in protein kinase C activation in vascular smooth muscle of genetically hypertensive rats. PMID- 2632699 TI - Electron-probe X-ray microanalysis of sodium ion content in vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats. AB - In aortic smooth muscle cells from 12 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of the Munster strain and 11 normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), the intracellular Na+ content was measured by electron-probe microanalysis. Measurements were performed in aortic cryosections 3 microns thick; the Na+ content was 12.5 +/- 2.4 g/kg dry weight in SHR versus 6.96 +/- 1.1 g/kg dry weight in WKY (P less than 0.01). Thus, aortic smooth muscle cells from SHR are characterized by a markedly elevated intracellular Na+ content compared with normotensive cells. This may either be due to genetically determined disturbances in transmembrane Na+ transport or to a circulating factor affecting Na+ transport. Cellular Na+ handling may be disturbed in SHR aortic smooth muscle as it is in hypertensive blood cells. PMID- 2632700 TI - Platelet intracellular pH in essential hypertensives and normotensives. AB - Using the intracellularly trapped pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, BCECF, basal intracellular pH was measured in 18 essential hypertensives and 23 normotensives. The average intracellular pH was slightly, but not significantly, lower in the hypertensives (7.173 +/- 0.017 versus 7.211 +/- 0.014, P = 0.09). Although basal intracellular pH is not significantly altered in hypertension, abnormal regulation of intracellular pH during growth factor or agonist stimulation may play a role in the development or maintenance of hypertension. PMID- 2632701 TI - Altered renal tubular function in men with high erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport. AB - The renal fractional excretion of uric acid was determined for both a habitual diet and an NaCl-restricted diet in two groups of untreated subjects with low (117-207 mumol per litre of cells per h) and high (373-598 mumol per litre of cells per h) erythrocyte Na-Li countertransport identified in a population-based survey of middle-aged male workers. The group with high Na-Li countertransport had a higher mean blood pressure (P less than 0.05); this group also had a significantly reduced fractional excretion of uric acid with the NaCl-restricted diet even after adjustment for the difference in blood pressure (P less than 0.03). These findings are compatible with an abnormality in kidney tubular function and possibly in the renal handling of sodium in subjects with elevated erythrocyte Na-Li countertransport. PMID- 2632702 TI - Increased erythrocyte magnesium in untreated essential hypertension. AB - In the present study we tested the hypothesis of magnesium deficiency and intracellular magnesium depletion in essential hypertension. Atomic absorption was used to determine the erythrocyte content of magnesium in 50-year-old otherwise healthy white men with never-treated, essential hypertension (n = 12, supine blood pressure 155 +/- 4/109 +/- 2 mmHg) and in a group of particularly well-matched normotensive control subjects. The erythrocyte magnesium content was higher in the hypertensive group (P less than 0.001). No significant difference between the groups was detected for serum concentration or the 24-h urinary excretion of the magnesium. In conclusion, magnesium deficiency is unlikely in white middle-aged hypertensive men. PMID- 2632703 TI - Calcium dependency of the angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction in the rat. AB - In the present study we investigated the effect of different calcium antagonists on the constrictor effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) in two vascular preparations of the rat, the coronary and the mesenteric arterial beds. In contrast to the coronary bed, vasoconstriction elicited by Ang II in the rat mesentery could in part (1/3) be explained by a release of noradrenaline from the sympathetic nerve endings. In both preparations the calcium antagonists inhibited the vasoconstrictor effect of Ang II to the same extent (about 65%). In the pithed rat, the increase in diastolic blood pressure induced by Ang II could only be inhibited by the calcium antagonists by approximately 40%. Since this model only reflects overall changes in peripheral resistance, regional differences may lead to greater beneficial effects from the calcium antagonists in certain vascular beds. PMID- 2632704 TI - Age-related alterations in cardiac parasympathetic responsiveness: a preliminary report. AB - Baroreceptor control of the heart rate is reduced by ageing in animals and man. This has been ascribed to an age-related reduction in beta-adrenergic receptor density and cardiac responsiveness to sympathetic modulation. However, the baroreceptor-heart rate reflex largely depends on the vagus and the age-related changes in cardiac parasympathetic responsiveness have never been tested directly. We examined the heart rate responses to acetylcholine in six young (3-5 months) and six old (22-24 months) ketamine-anaesthetized, bilaterally vagotomized Sprague-Dawley rats instrumented with arterial and venous catheters. The acetylcholine was given as 2, 4 and 8 micrograms/kg intravenous bolus injections. Linear regressions between each dose of acetylcholine and the ensuing bradycardia were calculated. The acetylcholine-induced bradycardia was strikingly larger in old than in young rats, amounting to 20.9 +/- 4.4 and 8.6 +/- 1.5 beats/min per microgram per kg, respectively (P less than 0.05). Thus cardiac muscarinic receptor responsiveness is increased rather than reduced by ageing. Therefore not all functions involved in cardiovascular regulation show an age related impairment, and some may even be enhanced as age progresses. It is also clear that mechanisms other than attenuation of cardiac responses to autonomic stimuli (central and/or afferent) account for the age-related impairment in the baroreceptor-heart rate reflex. PMID- 2632705 TI - Low-density lipoprotein amplifies the platelet response to serotonin in human plasma. AB - The effect of low-density lipoprotein, serotonin and low-density lipoprotein plus serotonin on platelet aggregation (measured ex vivo in plasma) was studied in 28 normotensive subjects (15 non-smokers, 13 smokers) and 15 previously untreated non-smoking patients with essential hypertension. Low-density lipoprotein alone had no platelet-activating effect. Serotonin-induced platelet aggregation was enhanced by low-density lipoprotein in both the normotensive and the hypertensive subjects. The platelet response to low-density lipoprotein plus serotonin was higher in the smokers than in the non-smokers; it was also higher in the hypertensive patients than in the normotensive controls. We conclude that low density lipoprotein activates platelets in plasma via an interaction with a serotonergic mechanism. Low-density lipoprotein amplifies the serotonin-induced platelet aggregation (normally reversible), making it irreversible. A higher platelet response to low-density lipoprotein plus serotonin in patients with essential hypertension may be of pathophysiological relevance in respect to the thrombovascular lesions accompanying hypertension and/or atherosclerosis. PMID- 2632706 TI - Effects of noradrenaline infusion on platelet catecholamine levels and platelet aggregation. AB - Noradrenaline infusions were administered to 10 normal subjects through stepped doses and continued at 60 ng/kg per min for 2 h. Plasma noradrenaline rose from 1.7 +/- 0.3 to 7.7 +/- 0.7 pmol/ml and platelet noradrenaline rose from 2.1 +/- 0.2 to 2.6 +/- 0.2 pmol/mg protein. There was no change in plasma or platelet adrenaline. Platelet aggregation studies using ADP, adrenaline, collagen and thrombin as aggregants showed no overall change during the course of the infusion. Blood was sampled from a heated hand vein (hot box at 60 degrees C) to test the degree of arterialization. Plasma noradrenaline and blood pO2 and pCO2 showed intermediate levels at this sampling site compared with venous and true arterial values. Changes in platelet noradrenaline content can occur over 2 h when plasma levels are considerably increased by noradrenaline infusion. No change in platelet sensitivity to aggregation was observed. The heated hand vein did not provide true arterial levels of noradrenaline. PMID- 2632707 TI - Erythrocyte and platelet volume in human hypertension. The Gubbio Study Collaborative Group. AB - It has been reported that in rat and human hypertension the erythrocyte volume is reduced while platelet volume is increased. Data from the Gubbio Study, a population-based study involving over 5000 people (response rate greater than 84%), were analysed in order to address this issue among adult participants. The erythrocyte volume was significantly greater in male and female hypertensives compared with sex-matched normotensives. Female hypertensives also had a slightly but significantly reduced platelet volume while no significant difference in platelet volume was found between male hypertensives and male normotensives. Contrary to data from previous clinical studies based on small series of patients and controls, the findings of this study indicate a positive association between hypertension and erythrocyte volume. PMID- 2632708 TI - Characterization of the renal effects of an intravenous calcium gluconate infusion in normotensive volunteers. AB - The effects on renal function of an intravenous infusion of calcium gluconate at subpressor doses have been investigated in a group of seven normotensive male volunteers. In the absence of changes in blood pressure, the calcium gluconate induced a significant increase in renal plasma flow and the glomerular filtration rate (P less than 0.01) with a significant fall in the filtration fraction (P less than 0.01). Both diuresis and natriuresis increased significantly (P less than 0.01), plasma renin activity fell (P less than 0.01) and the urinary excretion of 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha (PGF1 alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increased (P less than 0.01). These results indicate that calcium infusion at subpressor doses has renal vasodilating, diuretic and natriuretic properties that appear to be facilitated by an increase in the renal production of vasodilatory and natriuretic prostaglandins. PMID- 2632709 TI - Sodium reabsorption in the isolated perfused kidney of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - Kidneys of 3-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of the Munster strain and age- and weight-matched normotensive rats (Wistar-Kyoto; WKY) were isolated and perfused at a constant pressure of 100 mmHg with a modified, albumin free Krebs-Henseleit solution. Fractional Na+ reabsorption, which is independent of the glomerular filtration rate under these conditions, was significantly elevated in SHR kidneys compared with WKY kidneys during 90 min of perfusion (P less than 0.01). Renal perfusion flow rates did not differ between SHR and WKY. These data support the concept of an intrinsic renal abnormality in Na+ excretion that may contribute to the maintenance of hypertension in SHR. PMID- 2632710 TI - Role of the renal nerves in the natriuretic response to vasopressin infusion. AB - The present study was designed to determine whether renal nerves influence the natriuretic response to an infusion of vasopressin. Experiments were performed on anaesthetized rats in which the response to vasopressin of the innervated kidney was compared with that of the contralateral surgically denervated kidney. During the vasopressin infusion the natriuretic effect was evident in both kidneys and was proportionally greater in the innervated kidney than in the denervated one. Efferent renal nerve activity, recorded in three additional animals, decreased during the vasopressin infusion. Our data demonstrate that the natriuretic response of the innervated kidney is larger than that of the denervated kidney, probably because of an associated decrease in efferent renal nerve activity. PMID- 2632711 TI - Altered plasma leucine-enkephalin concentrations in patients with established hypertension may be involved in impaired regulation of blood pressure. AB - Leucine-enkephalin is known to modulate cardiovascular activity. In the present study we determined plasma leucine-enkephalin and noradrenaline concentrations in young men with essential hypertension and in normotensives at rest and after bicycle exercise. The essential hypertensive patients had a lower concentration level of resting leucine-enkephalin than the normotensives. Exercise increased leucine-enkephalin in both groups. Noradrenaline was significantly higher in the essential hypertensives than in the normotensives. The central alpha 2-agonist clonidine reduced leucine-enkephalin at rest in the normotensives and prevented its increase during exercise, but had no effect on leucine-enkephalin in the essential hypertensives. These results may reflect an altered interaction between leucine-enkephalin and noradrenaline in essential hypertensives compared to normotensives, possibly contributing to hypertension. PMID- 2632712 TI - The effects of daily sodium intake on the relationship of blood pressure, renal plasma flow and natriuresis in essential hypertension. PMID- 2632713 TI - Clinical correlates in parathyroid hypertension. AB - There is a known association between hypertension and hyperparathyroidism but the mechanism remains unclear. A total of 115 patients with hyperparathyrodism were examined in a retrospective study, and 54.8% were hypertensive. Serum urea and creatinine levels were higher in the hypertensive patients compared with the normotensive patients. Parathyroidectomy had little effect on blood pressure, suggesting that hypertension alone is not an indication for surgery in these patients. PMID- 2632714 TI - Aldosterone and pressor responses to angiotensin II in primary hyperparathyroidism. AB - The aim of this study was to assess the effect of hypercalcaemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism on the pressor and aldosterone responses to angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion. Five patients with hyperparathyroidism were studied, before and after parathyroidectomy, and were compared with five normal subjects. After 30 min of equilibration, Asp1-Val5 Ang II was infused in all subjects at stepwise increasing dose rates of 2 and 4 ng/kg per min for 30 min each. In the hyperparathyroid patients the baseline levels of plasma parathyroid hormone and calcium were significantly higher than in the controls, and returned to normal after the parathyroidectomy; plasma aldosterone and renin activity were normal both before and after the parathyroidectomy. Two hyperparathyroid patients had high blood pressure levels, which were normalized after surgery. The increase in the aldosterone response from baseline at each time point of the Ang II infusion was greater in the hyperparathyroid patients before than after the operation (P less than 0.05), and greater than in the normals (P less than 0.05). No difference in the increased response of systolic or diastolic blood pressure was observed between the hyperparathyroid patients, either before or after the parathyroidectomy, and the normal subjects. High levels of extracellular calcium or parathyroid hormone, or both, might play a primary role in the aldosterone hyper-responsiveness to Ang II in the hyperparathyroid patients. The similar pressor response to Ang II in hyperparathyroid patients and the normal subjects suggests that hypercalcaemia does not potentiate the vasoconstrictive action of Ang II. PMID- 2632715 TI - Effect of cyclosporine on blood pressure and renal function of recent type 1 diabetes mellitus. AB - The effect of cyclosporine A therapy on blood pressure and renal function was assessed in 11 young adults with type 1 diabetes of recent onset (7 +/- 1 weeks). Metabolic control and renal haemodynamics and function were evaluated at 3-month intervals before, during and after cessation of a 6-month course of cyclosporine A (initial dose 7.5 mg/kg per day, then adapted on whole-blood trough levels of 401 +/- 45 and 308 +/- 49 ng/ml at 3 and 6 months, respectively). A significant increase in blood pressure (from 117 +/- 2/65 +/- 2 to 122 +/- 2/72 +/- 3 mmHg; P less than 0.01) and a decrease in 99Tc-DTPA (diethylene triaminepentaacetic acid) clearance (124 +/- 6 to 98 +/- 5 ml/min per m2; P less than 0.01) were observed after 3 months of cyclosporine A; both alterations remained unchanged after 6 months. No variation in body weight, 24-h urinary sodium or urinary albumin excretion was observed. Blood pressure and the glomerular filtration rate returned to basal levels 3 months after the cyclosporine A therapy ceased. These results suggest that even moderate doses of cyclosporine A have a reversible deleterious effect on blood pressure and renal function in young diabetic patients. PMID- 2632716 TI - Effects of alcohol intake on blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity in normotensive humans: a preliminary report. AB - Although several epidemiological studies have shown an association between alcohol consumption and high blood pressure, the mechanisms involved in the pressor effect of alcohol are not clear. We hypothesized that alcohol might increase blood pressure at least in part by increasing sympathetic nerve activity. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of seven normotensive subjects (mean age +/- s.e.m. 24.0 +/- 1.5 years), we investigated the effects of oral administration of alcohol (0.75 g/kg body weight, diluted in orange juice) or vehicle on arterial blood pressure, heart rate and muscle sympathetic nerve activity, measured directly in the peroneal nerve by microneurography. Plasma ethanol levels increased from 0 (control) to a range of 47.7 +/- 7.6 to 53.3 +/- 5.0 mg/dl 30 min after alcohol intake. This increase in plasma ethanol was accompanied by a significant increase (P less than 0.05) in mean blood pressure, heart rate and sympathetic nerve activity. The vehicle did not affect any of these parameters. Our data suggest that acute oral administration of a moderate dose of alcohol induces a pressure effect through activation of sympathetic nervous outflow. PMID- 2632717 TI - Osmoregulation of vasopressin during acute lowering of arterial pressure by clonidine in moderate hypertension. AB - Hypertonic saline (100 mmol in 50 ml) was injected intravenously over 5 min in two groups of moderate essential hypertensive patients (group 1, n = 13; group 2, n = 6). In group 2, arterial pressure had been lowered by infusion of clonidine (0.3 mg in 100 ml saline), from 186 +/- 8/116 +/- 3 to 146 +/- 9/98 +/- 5 mmHg (mean +/- s.e.m.). The hypertonic stimulus increased the plasma osmolality of all subjects from 288 +/- 1 to 296 +/- 1 mosmol/kg (P less than 0.01). Plasma vasopressin increased from baseline values that were not significantly different (P less than 0.01) in each of the two groups. The increase in plasma vasopressin was significantly greater (P less than 0.05) in the group 2 hypertensives with a reduced arterial pressure (+7.81 +/- 1.79 pg/ml) than in the group 1 untreated hypertensives (+3.15 +/- 1.2 pg/ml). In our study, acute lowering of arterial pressure by clonidine did not significantly change baseline vasopressin, but facilitated osmotically induced vasopressin secretion. PMID- 2632718 TI - Vasopressin and water distribution in rats with DOCA-salt hypertension. AB - The role of vasopressin in the regulation of body water volume and its distribution to intravascular, interstitial and intracellular compartments, and the importance of particular body water compartments in the pathogenesis of DOCA salt hypertension were studied in young Brattleboro rats. Vasopressin-deficient, vasopressin-synthesizing and vasopressin-deficient rats chronically supplemented with deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP) were compared with water-drinking controls. The chronic DOCA-salt treatment caused a marked hypertension in vasopressin-synthesizing animals; in these animals body water was slightly increased due to the expansion of extra-cellular fluid volume whereas intracellular water tended to decrease, so that the ratio of extracellular fluid volume to intracellular water rose significantly. The development of DOCA-salt hypertension was attenuated in the vasopressin-deficient rats, which had a similar level of total body water, slightly increased intracellular water and significantly decreased extracellular fluid volume compared with the hypertensive vasopressin-synthesizing rats. Consequently, in the vasopressin-deficient rats, the ratio of extracellular fluid volume to intracellular water did not differ from that of controls. A vasopressin deficiency was associated with a failure to expand the interstitial fluid volume although plasma volume was increased. Unaltered total body water together with elevated plasma osmolality indicated an extracellular water deficiency in DOCA-salt-treated vasopressin-deficient rats. Chronic dDAVP supplementation restored the body fluid pattern and the hypertensive response of the DOCA-salt-treated vasopressin-deficient rats. In conclusion, the antidiuretic effects of vasopressin are necessary for the interstitial fluid volume expansion that is essential for a full development of DOCA-salt hypertension. PMID- 2632719 TI - Regulation of cardiac output during aldosterone-induced hypertension. AB - The classical haemodynamic transients of volume-loading hypertension have been difficult to demonstrate in aldosterone-induced hypertension. Because recent studies have shown that continuous whole-day measurements of cardiac output are superior to short-term recordings, we studied the transient haemodynamic effects of aldosterone-induced hypertension while monitoring arterial pressure and cardiac output (electromagnetic flow probe) continuously for 20 h a day. In six dogs maintained on a fixed sodium intake of 150 mmol/day, we infused aldosterone (12 micrograms/kg per day, intravenously) for 10 days. The aldosterone induced a progressive increase in mean arterial pressure, from a control value of 88 +/- 1 to 107 +/- 2 mmHg. Cardiac output increased progressively, reaching a peak average value on the 4th day of infusion of +14 +/- 5% above control, and remained slightly elevated throughout the infusion period. Total peripheral resistance increased slowly to a value averaging +13 +/- 4% above control. Therefore, our experiments show that aldosterone induces a primary increase in cardiac output followed by a secondary vasoconstriction, which is consistent with the classical transient haemodynamic effects of volume-loading hypertension. PMID- 2632720 TI - Arterial hypertension as a complication of prolonged ketoconazole treatment. AB - Two of 14 patients with Cushing's syndrome treated on a long-term basis with ketoconazole developed sustained hypertension. In both cases normal plasma and urinary free cortisol levels had been achieved following ketoconazole therapy, yet continuous blood pressure monitoring demonstrated hypertension 31 (patient 1) and 52 weeks (patient 2) after treatment. In patient 1, plasma levels of deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol were elevated. In patient 2, in addition to an increase in both deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol levels, plasma aldosterone values were raised, with a concomitant suppression of renin levels. Our findings show that long-term treatment with high doses of ketoconazole may induce enzyme blockade leading to mineralocorticoid-related hypertension. PMID- 2632721 TI - Atherosclerotic cholesterol ester deposition is markedly reduced with a high potassium diet. AB - In a normal rat on a normal diet, no cholesterol esters are detected in the aorta by gas chromatography. Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were fed for 3 months a basic diet containing 4% cholesterol, 14% coconut oil and 7% NaCl. One group of 13 rats ingested a normal (0.5%) level of potassium in the diet. Another group of 10 rats ingested a high (2.1%) potassium level. Mean intra arterial blood pressures averaged 165 mmHg in the normal-potassium group and 161 mmHg in the high-potassium group (NS). Serum cholesterol levels averaged 229 mg/dl in the normal-potassium group and 214 mg/dl in the high-potassium group (NS). Total aortic cholesterol esters per rat involving 16- and 18-carbon chain fatty acids averaged 187 micrograms in normal-potassium rats versus 68 micrograms in high-potassium rats. These were the main esters; other esters were negligible. Thus, the high-potassium diet reduced cholesterol ester deposits by 64% (P less than 0.0003), even though blood pressures and cholesterol levels were quite similar in the two groups. Both high cholesterol and high blood pressure injure endothelial cells and increase the invasion of macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells into the intima; they also increase endothelial permeability to proteins. With high plasma cholesterol levels, these processes lead to atherosclerosis with cholesterol ester deposition. The high-potassium diet, by protecting endothelial cells, can greatly decrease this cholesterol ester deposition. This effect could be useful for preventing heart attacks and sudden coronary death in human hypertension. PMID- 2632722 TI - Prevention of aortic hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive turkeys. AB - In spontaneously hypertensive turkeys, both high blood pressure and high catecholamine levels play a role in the development of vascular hypertrophy. We studied the effect of labetalol, an alpha- and beta-blocking drug, on the aortic media. Seventeen turkeys were given increasing doses of the drug (20-35 mg/kg daily) from the 2nd to the 35th week of age; 13 control birds were given a daily placebo. The actively treated turkeys showed significantly lower values of blood pressure and a lower heart rate compared with the controls throughout the study period. After the turkeys had been killed, seriate histological sections taken from the abdominal aorta near the bifurcation were used for a three-dimensional assessment of the aortic media by computerized morphometry. The volume of aortic media was significantly lower in the labetalol-treated birds than in the controls. This was also observed in the non-responder turkeys. This finding indirectly supports the view that catecholamines may play a major but independent role in the development of vascular hypertrophy. PMID- 2632723 TI - Calcium intake, calcium excretion and blood pressure in adolescents in the upper decile of the distribution: the Torrejon study. AB - We studied, by dietary recall, the calcium and magnesium intake in 1109 adolescents aged 14-18 years; from 128 we collected a 24-h urine sample to determine electrolyte excretion. Subjects with blood pressure greater than 90th percentile (211) did not consume less calcium or magnesium than those with blood pressure less than 50th (597). Urinary calcium excretion tended to be higher in the adolescents with the highest blood pressure, the difference being statistically significant in males. Urinary sodium excretion also tended to be higher in those adolescents with blood pressure above the 90th percentile than in those with blood pressure below the 50th percentile, the differences being statistically significant in females. A positive significant correlation was found between systolic blood pressure and both calcium and sodium excretion. Our results suggest that hypercalciuria is present in the early phase of hypertension and demonstrate that adolescents at high risk of developing hypertension consume the same amounts of calcium and magnesium as those with low blood pressure. PMID- 2632724 TI - Abstinence from coffee leads to a fall in blood pressure. AB - The long-term effects of coffee use on blood pressure and the effects of two common brewing methods were studied for 12 weeks in 107 young normotensives. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups, receiving either (1) 4-6 cups of filtered coffee per day, (2) 4-6 cups of boiled coffee per day, or (3) no coffee for a period of 9 weeks. During the 9 weeks of abstinence, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased. The fall in systolic blood pressure amounted to 4.9 mmHg, compared with the filter group (P = 0.02). There was no difference with either brewing method. Our findings suggest that abstinence from coffee may reduce blood pressure in young normotensive subjects. PMID- 2632725 TI - The k-complex vasoconstrictor response: evidence for central vasomotor downregulation in borderline hypertension. AB - Central sympathetic outflow and the baroreflex were measured as an integrated cardiopressor response to a noise stimulus during normal sleep, in 13 normotensives and 14 borderline hypertensives. The pressor response latency was prolonged in the borderline hypertensives, and the stimulus-induced increase in systolic and diastolic intra-arterial pressure was greater in the borderline hypertensives (23.0 +/- 7.3-16.2 +/- 5.6 mmHg) compared with the normotensives (16.7 +/- 5.9-13.6 +/- 4.6 mmHg; P less than 0.001), but the heart rate was not increased. Despite the increased pressor response, the baroreflex-mediated fall in the heart rate following the pressor response was reduced in the borderline hypertensives, indicating secondary adaptation to hypertension and a resetting, or downregulation, of central vasomotor control mechanisms in the borderline hypertensives relative to normotensives. PMID- 2632726 TI - Suppression of cerebral, myocardial and renal arteriosclerosis by the calcium antagonist flunarizine in hypertensive rats (Skelton model) without reduction of the high blood pressure. PMID- 2632727 TI - Effect of nicardipine on renal sodium handling in normotensive insulin-dependent diabetics and controls. AB - In 12 newly diagnosed normotensive insulin-dependent diabetics and eight controls, we compared the effects of acute nicardipine administration on renal haemodynamics and segmental tubular movement of sodium assessed as by lithium clearances. Both in the controls and the insulin-dependent diabetics, nicardipine induced similar haemodynamic changes, including a mild decrease in mean arterial pressure and renal vascular resistance, whereas the glomerular filtration, renal plasma flow and filtration fraction were unchanged. Despite a fall in blood pressure, nicardipine exerted a marked natriuretic effect in both groups, which appears to have been primarily due to a decrease in distal reabsorption and, to a lesser extent, in proximal reabsorption. PMID- 2632728 TI - Vasodilation in the vascular bed of skeletal muscle after intravenous nifedipine in normotensives and hypertensives. AB - The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of nifedipine on blood flow and resistance in the forearm vascular bed of skeletal muscle in 10 male patients with primary hypertension and 10 age-matched male normotensives. We measured the effects of increasing doses of intravenous nifedipine on blood pressure, heart rate, total forearm blood flow and muscle blood flow. Muscle blood flow was determined by a combination of computed tomography and strain-gauge plethysmography. The nifedipine-induced increases in total forearm blood flow were the same in both groups. However, both the increase in muscle blood flow and the decrease in the resistance of the muscle vasculature were more pronounced in the hypertensives than in the normotensives (P less than 0.05). The data provide an explanation for the blood pressure reduction induced by nifedipine in hypertensives and support the hypothesis that elevated vascular resistance is an important functional component in primary hypertension. PMID- 2632729 TI - Circadian changes in vascular sympathetic activity in ambulant subjects. AB - In 10 ambulant subjects we studied the circadian changes in sympathetic vasomotor control as assessed by the spectral power of the 0.1-Hz low-frequency component of systolic arterial pressure variability measured with a Millar phi 3F tip transducer. The low-frequency component was higher during the daytime, while the subjects were performing light physical activity, and lower during the night, thus paralleling the circadian systolic blood pressure pattern. However, the morning low-frequency rise preceded the blood pressure increase by about 3 h, suggesting that vasometer control and blood pressure control are at least partly related to different mechanisms. PMID- 2632730 TI - Hypertension and micro-albuminuria in diabetic patients taking indapamide. AB - The effects of indapamide on diabetic patients with micro-albuminuria were evaluated in a multicentre study to assess the advantages of this compound in long-term renal protection. Thirty-two hypertensive diabetic patients (10 males, 22 females, aged 46-84 years) were given indapamide at 2.5 mg/day for a 2-month period. There was a significant fall in systolic blood pressure (174 +/- 18 to 148 +/- 12 mmHg, P less than 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (95 +/- 13 to 85 +/- 8 mmHg, P less than 0.001) and in the albumin excretion rate (median, 40.8 to 18.9 mg/l; P less than 0.05). Blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, electrolytes, creatinine and serum lipids remained unchanged. There was a small but significant correlation between changes in systolic blood pressure and changes in albuminuria (r = 0.04, P less than 0.05). Thus, the effect of indapamide on albumin excretion cannot be explained by a decrease in the intraglomerular perfusion pressure alone. Indapamide, therefore, might be of potential interest in the long-term renal protection of the diabetic patient with elevated blood pressure values and/or micro-albuminuria. PMID- 2632731 TI - Spectral analysis of heart rate variability under mental stress. AB - It has been claimed that an increase in the 0.1-Hz component in power spectra of heart rate variability indicates an increased sympathetic tone. We tested 135 middle-aged unmedicated men (mean age 44 +/- 7 years) with two types of mental tasks, a reaction-time test and a mental arithmetic test, to determine whether the results were comparable with those from tilt tests. Although both tasks significantly increased the heart rate and blood pressure, to the same extent as the tilt tests, energy in the 0.1-Hz band decreased during the reaction-time test (from 899 +/- 641 to 482 +/- 430; P less than 0.01) yet was unchanged during the mental arithmetic test. We conclude that the response of the 0.1-Hz component is a task-specific phenomenon. PMID- 2632732 TI - A log-dose-response study of xipamide and its effect on metabolic parameters. AB - An extended dose-response study with xipamide, using seven doublings of the dose, from 0.3125 to 40 mg/day at 4-week intervals, was carried out in 12 hypertensive patients. Blood pressure showed a progressive decline with doses from 5 to 20 mg, and 40 mg xipamide produced no greater fall. Some subjects showed a maximum fall in blood pressure with a single dose increase but most showed a declining blood pressure over two or more dose increases. Plasma urea increased with doses of 5 40 mg to a similar extent, but there was no fall in the mean potassium level except with the 40-mg dose. Urinary calcium was reduced (from 4.2 to 1.7 mmol/24 h) on the 40-mg dose and the corrected plasma calcium level rose from 2.28 to 2.32 mmol/l. Triglycerides, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and plasma aldosterone increased at the maximum dose; the cholesterol ratio, however, was unchanged. PMID- 2632733 TI - Time-course study of blood pressure over a 20-year period in congenital blindness. AB - In a prospective study blood pressure was recorded for 20 years in 132 white patients with congenital blindness and in 138 white control schoolchildren. The subjects for both groups were consecutively enrolled without any selection parameters. During the study period a similar proportion of blind patients and controls reported identical consumption of tobacco (above the age of 14 years) and of oral contraceptives (above 21 years) among women. Mean 24-h urinary sodium excretion, collected randomly in both groups, did not differ between the blind patients and the controls. During the 20-year period systolic and diastolic blood pressure rose with age in the control group as expected and much less in blind patients; after 14-17 years the difference was statistically significant. The mean slope of the regression line (beta coefficient) for systolic blood pressure versus age was 1.143 in the blind patients and 1.794 in the controls (P less than 0.001), and for diastolic blood pressure 0.908 in the patients and 1.353 in the school children (P less than 0.001). The mean weight and body mass index increased more in the blind patients than in the controls (difference 5.9 and 2.8 kg, respectively). The results support the hypothesis that low visual and cognitive stress levels determine a lower level of cardiovascular reactivity with ageing. PMID- 2632734 TI - Multiple risk factor evaluation in a hypertension clinic. AB - Hypertension is associated with abnormal lipoprotein metabolism, which may be exacerbated by some groups of antihypertensive drugs and represents an additional powerful coronary heart disease risk factor. Of our Hypertension Clinic population, 75% had a total fasting serum cholesterol greater than 5.2 mmol/l. Dietary advice and adjustment of antihypertensive therapy has achieved significant reductions in total cholesterol, serum triglycerides and body weight (14%, 18% and 4.3%, respectively) in a cohort of 65 patients reassessed over a period of 3-21 months. The reduction in cholesterol is likely to represent at least a 28% reduction in the risk of a major coronary heart disease event, even before taking account of any improvement in other coronary heart disease risk factors. PMID- 2632735 TI - Micro-albuminuria as a predictor of cardiovascular damage in essential hypertension. PMID- 2632736 TI - Hypertension and cardiac complications in normotensive myocardial infarction patients with elevated exercise blood pressure. AB - Four hundred and sixty-two patients with uncomplicated transmural cardiac infarction were investigated to determine the influence of isolated exercise hypertension on the subsequent development of hypertension (group I, n = 180) and its clinical course (group II, n = 282). Of the infarcted patients with an elevated exercise blood pressure, 83% developed manifest hypertension within 5 years, compared with only 3% with normal exercise blood pressures. Within an observation period of 6 years, the cardiac infarction patients with exercise hypertension suffered a fourfold higher rate of complications than those with normal exercise blood pressures. With elevated exercise blood pressures the mortality rate was 26% and the reinfarction rate 16%, compared with only 5 and 4%, respectively, in patients with normal exercise blood pressure. In addition to the severity of coronary ischaemia and the degree of ventricular impairment, isolated exercise hypertension carried a further unfavourable prognosis. PMID- 2632737 TI - Retrospective analysis of clinical data of normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women and their newborns. AB - The medical history of 256 hypertensive and 263 normotensive pregnant women was analysed retrospectively. There was a negative correlation (P less than 0.01) between the maximal pretreatment diastolic blood pressure and the birth weight of newborns in the hypertensive group. The prevalence of a hypertensive family history, pyelonephritis, proteinuria, delivery by Caesarean section, fetal asphyxia during delivery and death of the newborn during delivery was significantly higher in the hypertensive group than in the normotensive one. The gestational age at delivery was shorter and the birth weight of the newborn was lower in the hypertensive women than in the normotensive women. PMID- 2632738 TI - How much should blood pressure be lowered? The problem of the J-shaped curve. PMID- 2632739 TI - Heart rate variability and ventricular ectopic activity in hypertensive patients. AB - In order to investigate whether the severity of ventricular ectopic beats in hypertensive patients is influenced by the autonomic drive to the heart, we evaluated the relationship between the degree of dysrhythmias and 24-h spontaneous heart rate variability, an index of sympatho-vagal balance at cardiac level. Ambulatory 24-h ECG monitoring was used to examine 42 untreated essential hypertensives, previously scored for the presence and the extent of hypertensive target organ damage. No significant difference was found in the prevalence of complex ventricular ectopic beats in patients with a heart rate variability that was lower and higher than the arbitrary cut off points selected to divide subjects into groups. Neither heart rate variability nor the degree of arrhythmias was correlated with blood pressure levels, whereas the degree of ectopy was influenced by the presence of target organ damage and left ventricular hypertrophy (by ECG). Our results seem to exclude an association between dysrhythmias in hypertensives and autonomic outflow to the heart as detected by the analysis of heart rate variability. PMID- 2632740 TI - Ischaemia of the insular cortex increases the vagal contribution to the baroreceptor reflex in the rat. AB - Neurones in the insular cortex have been shown to innervate medullary autonomic nuclei. Occlusion of the stem of the left proximal middle cerebral artery in rats caused a lesion in the insular and adjacent lateral frontoparietal cortices. Nine and 10 days after lesioning or sham operation, we examined the relationship between mean blood pressure and the heart rate in conscious rats, using the steady-state method. Individual contributions to blood pressure from the cardiac vagus and sympathetic nerves were determined after the administration of atenolol and methylatropine, respectively. Lesioning the insular cortex did not affect mean blood pressure or the heart rate. However, the lesion selectively enhanced the reflex vagal bradycardia that occurred when blood pressure was artificially elevated. There was no effect on the sympathetic heart rate range. These observations suggest that the unilateral cortical lesion chronically affected the baroreceptor control of the heart rate through mechanisms affecting the vagus. PMID- 2632741 TI - Effects of twenty-four hours of bed rest with head-down tilt on cardiopulmonary baroreflex control: preliminary study. AB - The cardiopulmonary baroreflex response was studied before and after 24 h bed rest with head-down tilt (-5 degrees) in six normal male subjects, through lower body negative pressure (-5, -10, -15 mmHg) and passive leg raising. The reflex response was assessed (using plethysmography) by changes in forearm vascular resistance. During the lower body negative pressure and leg raising, forearm vasoconstriction and vasodilation were similar before and after head-down tilt. The study shows that orthostatic intolerance following head-down tilt is not explained by an abnormality in the response of low pressure baroreceptors. PMID- 2632742 TI - Relationship between splanchnic vasodilation and postprandial hypotension in patients with primary autonomic failure. AB - The haemodynamic responses to a standard liquid meal were measured in patients with autonomic failure and in normal subjects. Resting superior mesenteric artery blood flow was similar in both groups, but mean supine arterial pressure and the superior mesenteric artery vascular resistance were higher in the patients with autonomic failure than in the normal subjects. After the meal there was a rise in superior mesenteric artery blood flow and a fall in superior mesenteric artery vascular resistance in both groups. Mean arterial blood pressure fell substantially after food in the patients with autonomic failure but not in the normal subjects. The basal heart rate, stroke distance and cardiac index were higher in the patients with autonomic failure, and rose significantly after the meal only in the normal subjects. Forearm blood flow fell and the vascular resistance rose after the meal in the normal subjects but not in the patients with autonomic failure. We conclude that superior mesenteric artery blood flow rose and superior mesenteric artery vascular resistance fell after the meal in the normal subjects and in the patients with autonomic failure. However, in the normal subjects the blood pressure was maintained by factors which include a rise in the heart rate and cardiac output. The lack of such compensatory changes probably accounts for postprandial hypotension in patients with autonomic failure. PMID- 2632743 TI - Central haemodynamics in essential hypertension at rest and during exercise: a 20 year follow-up study. AB - Central haemodynamics were studied invasively at rest and during ergometer bicycle exercise in 77 males with essential hypertension aged 17-66 years and in 33 age-matched normotensives. At the start of the study, resting cardiac index, the heart rate, oxygen consumption (VO2) and mean arterial blood pressure were about 15% higher in those hypertensive patients aged 17-29 years than in the normotensives while the total peripheral resistance index was similar in both groups. During exercise, the stroke index decreased significantly and the total peripheral resistance index increased in the hypertensive group. After 10, and then 20 years, central haemodynamics were restudied in the hypertensive patients. The initially high cardiac index-low total peripheral resistance index pattern was reversed after 10 years. At the 20-year follow-up there was a further fall in the cardiac index and a more marked increase in the total peripheral resistance index at rest as well as during exercise. The study has shown a progressively abnormal haemodynamic pattern over two decades in young subjects with essential hypertension, characterized by a reduced cardiac function and excessive systemic vascular resistance. PMID- 2632744 TI - Comparison of Finapres non-invasive beat-to-beat finger blood pressure with intrabrachial artery pressure during and after bicycle ergometry. AB - To evaluate the accuracy of continuous non-invasive blood pressure measurements in the finger during exercise, Finapres blood pressures of six normotensive healthy males were measured during increasing levels of bicycle exercise, using simultaneously registered ipsilateral intrabrachial artery pressures as a reference. At rest, finger systolic blood pressure was higher and finger diastolic and mean arterial pressures were lower than the corresponding intrabrachial pressures in five of the six subjects. During exercise, average finger diastolic and mean arterial pressures did not differ further from these intrabrachial pressures, but finger systolic pressure increased considerably more than the direct systolic pressure, exceeding it by 26 +/- 20 mmHg (mean +/- s.d.) at maximal exercise. This latter finding potentially limits the use of finger blood pressure measurements during exercise. PMID- 2632745 TI - Is early diagnosis of hypertension a function of cuff width? AB - This study followed blood pressure in 11 subjects 5 years after slight or established hypertension had been revealed using a cuff of the correct width (appropriate to arm circumference); at that time, the use of a standard-width cuff (12 cm) had shown a blood pressure within the normal range. For the present study, blood pressure was determined indirectly under very strict conditions so that a faithful comparison between the readings with both cuffs could be achieved. An important underestimate of blood pressure was detected in thin arms when the standard width cuff was used. The present measurements showed a consistent increase in blood pressure with standard-width cuff readings, confirming the hypertension that had been identified using the correct cuff width 5 years previously. These results support our previous hypothesis that early diagnosis of hypertension can be masked by the standard-width cuff, particularly in lean persons. PMID- 2632746 TI - Change in posture during sleep causes errors in non-invasive automatic blood pressure recordings. AB - When measured with automatic non-invasive monitors blood pressure is seen to fluctuate during sleep. The recorded blood pressure is influenced by the vertical distance between the heart level (zero reference) and the level of the brachial artery at the point of compression by the inflated cuff. In 20 randomly selected men, blood pressure was measured every 20 min during the night. The difference between consecutive recordings was 7.6 mmHg +/- 5.7/5.0 (s.d.), range 0-23/0-20 mmHg. The maximum blood pressure difference was 19 +/- 6.8/15 +/- 6.0, range 7 32/6-26 mmHg. These results were compared with the difference in blood pressure recorded on the left arm in 20 volunteers changing posture between four standardized recumbent postures. The posture change caused an average blood pressure difference of 9 +/- 6.1/9 +/- 6.5 mmHg, range 0-28/0-30 mmHg. The maximum blood pressure difference was 15 +/- 5.1/12 +/- 5.5 mmHg, range 5-27/(-)2 23 mmHg recorded between lying supine and lying on the right side. The similarity between differences and the variation in blood pressure during the recumbent posture indicates that changes in posture cause most of the night-time blood pressure variation recorded with non-invasive devices. PMID- 2632747 TI - Early twenty-four-hour blood pressure elevation in subjects with parental hypertension. AB - We studied 15 normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents, comparing them with 15 normotensive controls matched for sex, body mass index and age. In the offspring, both parents were hypertensive, while in the controls, neither parent was hypertensive. Blood pressure was measured at rest, during a variety of laboratory stressors (mental arithmetic, mirror drawing test, hand grip and cold pressor test), and was also monitored for 24 h in ambulatory conditions (Spacelabs 5300 M, Richmond, Washington, USA). Resting mean and diastolic blood pressures were higher (P less than 0.05) in the subjects with parental hypertension than in those without. The mean blood pressure rise induced by the laboratory stressors was not significantly greater at any time in the subjects with hypertensive parents compared with controls. Twenty-four-hour systolic and mean blood pressures, however, were significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in the subjects with hypertensive parents than in the controls. Thus the higher office blood pressure shown in the prehypertensive stage by subjects with parental hypertension is not due to hypersensitivity to stress, but represents an early and permanent blood pressure elevation. PMID- 2632748 TI - Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure pattern in youngsters with a different family history of hypertension: the Dutch Hypertension and Offspring Study. AB - The offspring of hypertensive parents in general show higher casual blood pressure levels during adolescence than the offspring of normotensive parents. Comparative ambulatory blood pressure measurements might reveal the stability and pattern of this difference during circadian blood pressure variation. We studied the 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (Space-Labs 90202 monitor, Redmond, Washington, USA) in youngsters with two hypertensive parents (high; n = 62), with one hypertensive parent (mixed; n = 51) and with no hypertensive parent (low; n = 42). The pattern for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the three groups ran parallel, with the high group continuously at a higher level. A clear difference in systolic blood pressure was observed during the day period (high minus low: 5.4 mmHg; 95% confidence range 2.5-8.3). Our data show that offspring of hypertensive parents differ in ambulatory blood pressure levels, but not in the circadian pattern, from the offspring of normotensive parents. PMID- 2632749 TI - Role of corticosteroids in the diurnal rhythm of blood pressure. AB - Blood pressure, a chronobiological parameter, shows a circadian rhythm which parallels the levels of hormones such as glucocorticoids and catecholamines. This rhythm is lost in excess states like Cushing's syndrome or phaeochromocytoma. We designed a double-blind crossover study to look at the role of physiological doses of glucocorticoids in the circadian rhythm of blood pressure. We found no change in the circadian rhythm when 30 mg hydrocortisone (20 + 10 mg versus 10 + 20 mg, a.m./p.m.) was administered. PMID- 2632750 TI - Nocturnal hypertension in renal failure, haemodialysis and after renal transplantation. AB - Diurnal blood pressure variations in 20 patients with advanced renal failure, 20 patients on chronic haemodialysis, and 21 renal transplant recipients were compared with those of matched control groups without renal disease, using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Whereas the blood pressure during the day (from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) was roughly the same in the patients compared with their respective control groups, during the night (from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.) it was substantially higher in all patient groups. The differences between the mean daytime and night-time values were significantly lower in the patients (P less than 0.05 to P less than 0.001). The nocturnal blood pressure decrease may be attenuated or even reversed in renal failure, in haemodialysis and after renal transplantation. In a proportion of these patients, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring showed an elevated nocturnal blood pressure, which may require some modification of treatment. PMID- 2632751 TI - Blood pressure changes during heavy-resistance exercise. AB - To study the mechanisms of the blood pressure changes during weight-lifting, three hypertensive and five normotensive body-builders underwent continuous intra arterial monitoring. In two subjects (one normotensive and one hypertensive), intrathoracic and intra-abdominal pressures were also measured. Extremely high blood pressure elevations of up to 345/245 mmHg were observed during the lifts. Squatting caused the highest pressure rises and single-arm curls the lowest. Both the intrathoracic and the intra-abdominal pressures increased greatly during each lift and closely paralleled the changes in intra-arterial pressure. A close correlation was found between the blood pressure increase during the exercise and during a hand-grip test (r = 0.95, P less than 0.001). These results suggest that a pronounced increase in intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal pressures is a major determinant of the blood pressure elevations occurring during weight-lifting. The pressor reflex which accompanies static contractions and the individual baseline blood pressure levels also seem to affect the height of the pressure peaks. PMID- 2632752 TI - The effects of a microgravitational environment on the blood pressure maturation curve in normotensive rats. AB - In order to determine whether gravity influences the growth of terrestrial mammals, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, urinary output and body weight were measured at 10-day intervals from the age of 30 days (weaning) to 150 days in 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Six rats were grown in a gravitational environment. 'Dry' water immersion was used to subject six rats to a microgravitational environment between the ages of 30 and 90 days. A downward shift in systolic blood pressure and body weight maturation curves was observed in the microgravitational group from the age of 60 days. After the 'dry' water immersion was stopped, the fully developed rats showed a significant increase in systolic blood pressure, which returned to control values, but not in body weight. We conclude that the physiological increase in systolic blood pressure taking place in rats during growth is partly dependent on gravity. PMID- 2632753 TI - Large and small forearm arteries of essential hypertensives are less reactive to angiotensin II than to noradrenaline. AB - In order to investigate the reactivity to angiotensin II (Ang II) in large and small arteries in situ, brachial artery diameter, blood flow velocity, local volumic blood flow and local vascular resistance (mean arterial pressure divided by local blood flow) were determined non-invasively, using a pulsed Doppler system. Increasing doses of Ang II (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ng/kg per min) were given intravenously and double-blind to nine normotensive subjects (group I) and 10 hypertensive patients (group III); placebo (glucose) was given to nine hypertensives (group II). Angiotensin II did not change the brachial artery diameter, blood flow velocity, local blood flow or local resistance. Mean arterial pressure was increased slightly but significantly (P less than 0.05) by Ang II at 2 ng/kg per min in groups I and III. In contrast, we had shown previously, following the same procedure, that subthreshold doses (for the increase in mean arterial pressure) of noradrenaline reduced branchial artery diameter, velocity and local blood flow and increased local resistance in hypertensives. These results indicate that in hypertensives the vascular reactivity of the brachial circulation (1) is lower than that of other territories in response to Ang II and (2) is lower in response to Ang II than in response to noradrenaline. PMID- 2632754 TI - Do subjects with stiff arteries have high blood pressure? AB - It has been argued that age-related increases in arterial stiffness could lead to spuriously high indirect blood pressure measurements, with consequent overdiagnosis of hypertension in older patients. To study the relationship between arterial stiffness and blood pressure, we identified patients with 'arterial stiffness', using Osler's manoeuvre, and compared their blood pressure levels with patients of a similar age. A total of 250 hospital inpatients were assessed independently by two doctors. In the 198 patients (79%) where both observers agreed on Osler's manoeuvre status, positive Osler's manoeuvre was uncommon under the age of 50 years but became more common thereafter, rising to 58% of patients aged over 75 years. However, blood pressure levels were similar in each age group, irrespective of Osler's manoeuvre status. We conclude that increased arterial stiffness as measured by Osler's manoeuvre is not necessarily associated with raised blood pressure levels in the elderly. PMID- 2632755 TI - Arterial compliance in uraemia. AB - Aortic and brachial pulse wave velocity were measured in 26 haemodialysis patients in order to assess the effect of uraemic waste-product retention on arterial compliance. Dialysis with a 'low-calcium' dialysate (1.50 mmol/l) did not change the pulse wave velocity, but dialysis with a 'high-calcium' dialysate (1.75 mmol/l) induced a significant increase in both aortic and brachial pulse wave velocity. The results indicate that (1) waste-product retention is not responsible for the increased arterial pulse wave velocity observed in uraemic patients and (2) the increase in serum ionized calcium decreases arterial compliance. PMID- 2632756 TI - Circulatory changes in muscle and skin arteries in orthostatic hypotension and constitutional hypotension. AB - It is not known whether there are vascular changes in the peripheral circulation of patients with orthostatic hypotension and patients with constitutional hypotension. Therefore, blood flow was studied simultaneously at the calf (mainly muscle circulation) and at the finger (mainly finger circulation) with ECG triggered venous occlusion plethysmography. Calf and finger blood flow were measured for 20 min at rest and during reactive hyperaemia due to an arterial occlusion for 3 min. Vascular resistance was calculated from the blood flow and arterial blood pressure. In orthostatic hypotension there is a decreased vasodilator capacity of the calf resistance vessels and not of the finger resistance vessels. In constitutional hypotension there is a decreased vasodilator capacity of the calf and finger resistance vessels. These results suggest that there are structural or functional changes, or both, in the muscle and skin circulation of patients with constitutional hypotension, whereas there are only structural or functional changes, or both, in the muscle circulation of patients with orthostatic hypotension. PMID- 2632757 TI - Strenuous short-term dynamic exercise: effects on heart rate, blood pressure, potassium homeostasis, and packed cell volume in mild hypertension. AB - This study examined the effect of strenuous short-term dynamic exercise on the heart rate, blood pressure, plasma potassium and packed cell volume in mildly hypertensive subjects. At baseline a symptom-limited Bruce Exercise Protocol was carried out with blood pressure, heart rate, plasma potassium and packed cell volume measurements at fixed time points at rest and during and after the exercise. After 6 weeks of taking exercise sessions (Bruce protocol) to fatigue three times a week, the subjects were restudied. Blood pressure and the heart rate fell significantly at rest and during and after exercise. The packed cell volume was higher at all study points and plasma potassium was higher in the postexercise period after the exercise conditioning. Strenuous short-term exercise has a beneficial antihypertensive effect, raises packed cell volume and has a favourable effect on plasma potassium homeostasis. PMID- 2632758 TI - Forearm vasodilatory capacity in patients with syndrome X: a comparison with normal and hypertensive subjects. AB - Minimal forearm vascular resistances during maximal postischaemic vasodilation were measured in normotensive subjects with syndrome X, a condition characterized by angina and normal coronary arteries, in which a reduced coronary and systemic vasodilatory capacity has been reported. Age- and sex-matched normals and essential hypertensives constituted the control groups. The syndrome X patients had a significantly higher minimal forearm vascular resistance than the normals, indicating that arteriolar alterations may occur in the normotensive state and therefore cannot be considered solely as a consequence of hypertension. PMID- 2632759 TI - [Limits on the use of propylene glycol in topical preparations]. AB - The authors define some limits for useful concentrations of propylene glycol (P.G.) by determination of inhibition produced in cell respiration from (crushed) mouse liver and in human cutaneous fibroblastic proliferation. They conclude that P.G. is able to inhibit both these physicological mechanisms from concentration as weak as 5.5% and 2% respectively. They give a method for analytical determination of P.G. in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products using gas liquid chromatography. This method is useful for a wide range of concentrations. PMID- 2632760 TI - Evaluation of sodium hyaluronate as viscous vehicle for eye drops. AB - The influence of sodium hyaluronate and hydroxyethylcellulose on the elimination of a fluorescent tracer from the precorneal area of human eyes is investigated using a slit lamp fluorophotometer. The rheological characteristics of the equiviscous ophthalmic solutions are examined. Both viscosity enhancing polymers improve significantly the residence of the tracer in the tear film. The high viscous sodium hyaluronate solution is better tolerated than the hydroxyethylcellulose solution. PMID- 2632761 TI - [Microbial contamination of raw materials of plant origin: incidence in cosmetic preparations]. AB - The authors discuss their data on quantitative and qualitative microbial contamination of vegetal raw materials and some cosmetics. Microbial limits are proposed for the cosmetics. PMID- 2632762 TI - Effects of a new positive inotropic agent with a vasodilatory action, 5-methyl-6 (4-pyridyl)-2H-1,4-thiazin-3(4H)-one (ZSY-27), on agonists-induced contractions in the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta. AB - The mechanism of the vasodilatory effect of 5-methyl-6-(4-pyridyl)-2H-1,4-thiazin 3(4H)-one (ZSY-27), a non-catecholamine and non-glycoside positive inotropic agent with a vasodilatory action, was investigated using helically-cut strips of the rabbit thoracic aorta. The contractile responses of the thoracic aorta to phenylephrine and prostaglandin F2 alpha were antagonized noncompetitively in a concentration-dependent manner by ZSY-27 (1 x 10(-4) - 1 x 10(-3) M). Furthermore, precontractions induced by high K (34.5 mM K) and by phenylephrine (1 x 10(-6) M) were relaxed in a concentration-dependent manner by ZSY-27 (1 x 10(-6) - 1 x 10(-3) M). These relaxant effects were not affected by a decrease in extracellular Ca or by pretreatment with methylene blue, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, but were significantly potentiated by pretreatment with forskolin, a direct stimulator of adenylate cyclase. Moreover, the amount of Ca stored in smooth muscle cells was estimated from the amplitude of the phasic contractions induced by phenylephrine in Ca-deprived medium. The first phasic contraction induced by phenylephrine was inhibited by pretreatment with ZSY-27. After ZSY-27 was washed out with a Ca-deprived solution, the second phasic contraction induced by phenylephrine occurred manifestly, but not in preparations untreated with ZSY-27. It is concluded that ZSY-27 caused a nonspecific relaxation of arterial smooth muscle contractility mainly by acting on some processes distal to adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) production by adenylate cyclase; probably inhibition of cAMP-phosphodiesterases. PMID- 2632763 TI - Effects of a new positive inotropic agent with a vasodilatory action, 5-methyl-6 (4-pyridyl)-2H-1,4-thiazin-3(4H)-one (ZSY-27), on calcium-movement and mechanical response in rabbit thoracic aorta. AB - The effects of 5-methyl-6-(4-pyridyl)-2H-1,4-thiazin-3(4H)-one (ZSY-27), a positive inotropic agent with a vasodilatory action, on a concentration-response curve of CaCl2 in the KCl-depolarized rabbit thoracic aorta and Ca-uptake by the microsomal fraction from the rabbit artery were tested. ZSY-27 (10(-5) - 10(-4) M) inhibited noncompetitively a concentration-response curve of CaCl2 in the KCl depolarized preparation. Furthermore, ZSY-27 (10(-5) M) stimulated significantly Ca-uptake by the microsomal fraction in the presence of oxalate, as an indicator for Ca-uptake by the internal membrane, in every incubation time. However, it inhibited significantly that in the absence of oxalate, as an indicator for Ca uptake by the plasma membrane-derived vesicle, after 6 min of incubation time. These results suggest that ZSY-27 stimulates Ca-uptake by the internal membranes and inhibits Ca-uptake by the plasma membrane-derived vesicles. Therefore, these effects of ZSY-27 are considered to be related to relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. PMID- 2632764 TI - Modification of immunostimulating activities of grifolan by the treatment with (1 ---3)-beta-D-glucanase. AB - We have developed a method to control the effective time period of (1----3)-beta D-glucan in vivo by using (1----3)-beta-D-glucanase and found that grifolan LE (GRN), a (1----3)-beta-D-glucan, administered intraperitoneally to the host required more than 2 d to exert antitumor activity. During these two days many immunological changes were induced, such as increasing the number of peritoneal exudated cells (PEC), augmentation of production of interleukin 1 (IL-1), acid phosphatase and phagocytic capacity of adherent cells in PEC. In addition, there was increased carbon clearance activity in vivo, augmentation of responsiveness of splenocytes to mitogens such as concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and production of ceruloplasmin. When (1----3)-beta-D-glucanase was injected 1 d after GRN administration, IL-1 productivity and responsiveness to LPS were significantly reduced, but lysosomal enzyme activity and phagocytosis of macrophage and production of ceruloplasmin were similar to those not treated with glucanase. These facts indicate that the induction of the activities of the former group requires longer contact of host cells with the glucan, and the latter group requires a shorter period to achieve fully active stages. PMID- 2632765 TI - Behavioral and electroencephalographic effects of a depot type neuroleptic fluphenazine decanoate, in rats. AB - The behavioral and electroencephalographic (EEG) effects of intramuscular fluphenazine decanoate (Fl-D) were investigated in rats and compared with those of fluphenazine enanthate (Fl-E) and fluphenazine HCl (Fl-HCl). It was clearly observed that 1) these two depot type neuroleptics reduced open-field activity, 2) antagonized methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity, 3) inhibited the conditioned avoidance response, and 4) produced catalepsy, for a substantially long period of time (4-35 d). Although both Fl-D and Fl-E significantly inhibited muricide in olfactory bulbectomized rats and impaired rotarod performance, these effects were relatively weak in potency and short-lasting (4 h-2 d). The EEG was changed to a drowsy pattern which consisted of high voltage slow waves following the injection of Fl-D and Fl-E. Fl-D significantly inhibited the EEG arousal response to auditory stimulation, but Fl-E did not. However, neither Fl-D nor Fl E inhibited the EEG arousal response to electrical stimulation of the midbrain reticular formation and posterior hypothalamus. These results indicate that Fl-D has the same spectrum of pharmacological activity as Fl-E, except for its longer duration of action in antagonizing methamphetamine as well as in inhibiting the EEG arousal response to auditory stimulation. PMID- 2632766 TI - Enhanced adrenergic response of the cerebral vasculature in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. AB - The influence of alloxan-induced diabetes on the adrenergic constriction of the rat cerebral vasculature was investigated in the in situ perfused brain preparation. The preparation was perfused with an artificial medium at a constant flow rate and the change in perfusion pressure was measured. Norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin produced a dose-dependent increase in the perfusion pressure, but only the effect of NE was significantly enhanced in the diabetic rats. Such an enhancement of NE-induced vasoconstriction was not observed in the perfused hindquarter preparations from the diabetic rats. Propranolol (1 microM) potentiated the cerebrovascular constriction by NE and abolished the difference between diabetic and control rats at low doses of NE. However, vasoconstriction by the higher doses of NE in the diabetic rats was still enhanced even in the presence of propranolol. The cerebrovascular constriction by phenylephrine was also enhanced in the diabetic rats, while the vasoconstricting effects of clonidine, xylazine and oxymetazoline were not affected by diabetes. These results suggest that the enhanced cerebrovascular constriction by NE may be due to either the reduced response through beta-adrenoceptors or the enhanced response through alpha 1-adrenoceptors. The enhanced adrenergic constriction of the cerebral vasculature might be concerned with the high incidence of neurological deficit in stroke patients with diabetes. PMID- 2632767 TI - Stimulatory effect of calcitonin on bone formation in tissue culture. AB - The present investigation was undertaken to clarify the in vitro effect of synthetic [Asu1,7]eel calcitonin (CT) on bone metabolism in tissue culture. Calvaria were removed from weanling rats (3-week-old male) and cultured for periods up to 96 h in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium supplemented with antibiotics and bovine serum albumin. The experimental cultures contained 1.0 to 100 ng/ml CT. All cultures were incubated at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2-95% air. Bone calcium content was increased significantly by the presence of 10 and 100 ng/ml CT. This increase was blocked by the presence of 10(-6) M cycloheximide or 10(-7) M actinomycin D. Bone alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly increased by the presence of 100 ng/ml CT for 48 and 96 h. Bone acid phosphatase activity was not altered significantly by CT (1-100 ng/ml). The incorporation of [3H]proline into the acid-insoluble residues of bone tissue was significantly increased by the presence of CT (1-100 ng/ml) for 96 h. This increase was completely blocked by the presence of 10(-7) M cycloheximide. Bone DNA content was significantly raised by the presence of 10 and 100 ng/ml CT for 96 h. Furthermore, the culture with CT (10 and 100 ng/ml) produced a significant decrease in glucose concentration in the medium. Also, CT (10 and 100 ng/ml) stimulated the production of pyruvic acid from bone tissue. These results suggest that CT had a direct stimulatory effect on bone formation and mineralization in vitro, and that the hormone stimulates energy metabolism in bone cells. PMID- 2632768 TI - Auxotrophic mutants of the yeast Trichosporon adeninovorans. AB - We have isolated and characterized auxotrophic mutants of Trichosporon adeninovorans, strain PAR-4 to get genetic markers that cover the entire nuclear genome of this thermotolerant yeast of technological interest. The nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis yielded mutants at a high frequency. We detected a broad spectrum of auxotrophic phenotypes in the random mutant samples. Obviously, strain PAR-4 is a haploid or hyperhaploid yeast. In correspondence we determined a low DNA content per cell. In contrast to NG1), UV light was an inefficient mutagen. UV survival curves were without the typical shoulder indicating suppression of repair of UV-induced lethal lesions. Thus, the response of PAR-4 to UV was different from those of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other yeasts. PMID- 2632769 TI - Phase-dependent response of the lung to NO2 irritant insult. AB - The biochemical and histopathological response of the lung following acute and repeated (subacute) exposure to nitrogen oxide (NO2) was examined. Activities of lactate dehydrogenase, beta-glucuronidase, choline kinase, and protease inhibitor were measured in murine pulmonary tissue immediately and two days following exposure. Nonenzymatic parameters, pulmonary protein content, and wet lung weight were also monitored. Immediately following acute exposure to NO2, only the nonenzymatic parameters were elevated. By two days following acute exposure, following subacute exposure; however, the nonenzymatic parameters were attenuated with respect to the enzymatic activities. The lung exhibits a dynamic response following damage by oxidants such as NO2. This response is divided into three distinct phases (exudative, proliferative, and tolerant), which can be characterized both biochemically and histopathologically. PMID- 2632770 TI - Subchronic toxicology studies of hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (HCBD) in B6C3F1 mice by dietary incorporation. AB - Two-week repeated-dose and 13-week subchronic studies of HCBD were conducted in B6C3F1 mice. Groups of five mice/sex received 0, 30, 100, 300, 1,000, or 3,000 ppm HCBD in feed for 15 days. Toxic responses, primarily in the higher dose groups, included abnormal clinical signs (lethargy, hunched posture, rough coat, sensitivity to light, and/or incoordination), mortality (all mice in the top two dose groups died by day 7), body and organ weight depression, and gross and histopathological changes. The most prevalent microscopic lesion, seen in all HCBD-treated mice of both sexes, was renal tubular cell necrosis and/or regeneration. Regeneration was seen only in the lower dose groups. Thirteen-week studies were conducted in which groups of 10 mice/sex received 0, 1, 3, 10, 30, or 100 ppm HCBD in feed. No treatment-related clinical signs or mortality were observed. Body weight gain was reduced in the 30- and 100-ppm males (-49 and -56, respectively), and the 100-ppm females (-47). Significant reduction in kidney weights was seen in the 30- and 100-ppm males and 100-ppm females. A treatment related increase in tubular cell regeneration in the renal cortex occurred in both male and female mice. This lesion was characterized by an increase both in number and basophilic staining intensity of the tubular epithelial cells. Regeneration was seen in the outer stripe of the outer medulla and extended into the medullary rays (pars recta); severity increased with dose. Female mice were more susceptible to the toxicity of HCBD than male mice. Although no adverse effects were observed at the 10-ppm level for male mice in the subchronic study, the regenerative lesion was present in female mice at 1 ppm, the lowest dose administered. PMID- 2632771 TI - Metabolic changes in man under hypokinesia and physical exercise. AB - It was theorized that physical exercise may be used to prevent the development of metabolic changes in man under hypokinesia (diminished muscular activity). In this investigation we assessed the efficacy of physical exercise in attenuating metabolic disturbances in twelve physically healthy men aged 19 to 23 years under 100 days of hypokinesia and 15 days of a readaptation period. The subjects were divided into an experimental and a control group with six men each. The experimental group was subjected to combined hypokinesia and physical exercise and the control group to pure hypokinesia (that is, without the use of any preventive measures). The actual experimental period was preceded by a period to establish baseline values. Both groups of men were on a diet that consisted of about 2700 kcal/day. For the simulation of the hypokinetic effect the men were kept under a liberal bed rest regimen. During the background period, hypokinetic period, and readaption period, several biochemical parameters were measured. Energy requirements were found to be suppressed, protein metabolism impaired, loss of nitrogenous products increased, fluid and electrolyte excretion accelerated, vitamin elimination was enhanced, corticosteroid blood concentration decreased, and hemoglobin and cell counts increased. It was concluded that hypokinesia caused marked debilitating metabolic changes in man. Physical exercise failed to counteract effectively the development of adverse reactions in the examined parameters under hypokinesia. PMID- 2632772 TI - [Adherent gingiva: therapeutic approaches as a function of different clinical situations]. AB - Mucogingival surgery has been indicated for many years in cases of insufficiency or absence of attached gingiva. With time results of clinical studies have led to reconsidering this concept. Some authors today believe that systematic increase of attached gingiva is a therapeutic abuse. It is necessary to find a satisfactory attitude in the midst of this debate. Only the careful analysis of the clinical situation considered with the whole patient's dental problem can guide our clinical choice. Our attitude will be different if we are confronted with a natural dentition, prosthetic requirements on orthodontic movement. PMID- 2632773 TI - [Characteristics of certain early periodontitis: apropos of two cases]. AB - The study of early onset periodontitis led in the last years to important improvement in the etiopathogenic knowledge of periodontitis. The clinical and microbiological analysis of 2 early onset periodontitis cases gives a better understanding of the evolution of these 2 models of periodontal lesions. Hypothesis are presented concerning the transition between localized juvenile periodontitis and rapidly advanced periodontitis. PMID- 2632774 TI - [Lyophilized dura in covering of filled sites]. AB - When closing is difficult to obtain in a filled site at the end of the surgical phase, the use of dried-dura-mater (connective tissue of the brain external envelope) can be very helpful. Placed under a full thickness flap or sutured on a periosteal site, it is, after a week, already continuous with tissues and helps for a good closing. The dura-mater can be shaped and cut differently according to specific clinical situations. PMID- 2632775 TI - HLA: a review of actual knowledge and perspectives in periodontology. AB - The Major Histocompatibility Complex is a relatively poorly explored research area among the various immunological aspects of periodontal diseases. After a recall of general concepts, the authors first describe the general HLA-pathology association and then, the reported HLA-periodontal disease associations. HLA theoretical potential interests are multiple. Typing results show, on one hand, no clear correlation with juvenile periodontitis (diminution of A 2, augmentation of A 9, A 28, Bw 15 and Bw 35) but on the other hand, a more constant correlation between HLA A 9 and rapidly progressive periodontitis. Besides, three resistance factors have been reported: A 10, B 5 and A 28. PMID- 2632776 TI - [A case of hemangioma]. AB - A case of an atypic hemangioma involving the incisors palatal mucosa of a 12 year old patient is presented here. The biopsy shows some features of hemangioma: blood vessels with large lumen surrounded by endothelial cells, suggesting arteries. A large part of the connective tissue is fibrous and inflammatory. These observations lead us to the diagnosis of fibro angiomatous tumor. The treatment consisted in surgical excision. No recurrence has since occurred. PMID- 2632777 TI - [Biological criteria for osseointegration]. AB - The aim of this paper is to define osseointegration which is now considered as the criteria for implant success. Metal characteristics are described and the importance of other parameters like surgical technique and load on implants are emphasized. PMID- 2632778 TI - [Detection of formaldehyde during use of household products sold in France in 1988]. PMID- 2632779 TI - [Papers presented at the 26th French Congress of Poison Control Centers. Marseilles, 4 and 5 October 1988. Proceedings]. PMID- 2632780 TI - [Technologic risk and Poison Control Center. From immediate advice to prevention, based on a field experience]. PMID- 2632781 TI - [Experience of a poison control center "on the region". Creation of a poison control center during the 57th International Exhibition in Toulouse, April 22-May 2 1988]. PMID- 2632782 TI - [From a toxic accident to protective measures of the potable water distribution system]. PMID- 2632783 TI - [Prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning in the Herault district]. PMID- 2632784 TI - [Is the prevention of fulminating paracetamol hepatitis adequately assured? (3 cases)]. PMID- 2632785 TI - [Circumstances of antifreeze and cooling fluid poisoning. Evaluation of the Marseille Poison Control Center 1973-1987]. PMID- 2632786 TI - [Neuroleptic malignant syndrome and tiapride]. PMID- 2632787 TI - [Acute myopia and combination sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim]. PMID- 2632788 TI - [Acute poisoning by maprotiline--experience of Marseille Poison Control Center]. PMID- 2632789 TI - [Acute poisoning by T-61. Evaluation of the Poison Control Center]. PMID- 2632790 TI - [Profile of acute poisonings in the hospital milieu in Saragosse (Spain) during the first 6 months of 1988]. PMID- 2632791 TI - [Lead poisoning in the child. Study of 95 dossiers of hospitalized children in Ile de France between January 1986 and October 1987]. PMID- 2632792 TI - [Severe alcoholic poisoning treated by hemodialysis]. PMID- 2632793 TI - [Poisoning by immersion in a cleaning tank]. PMID- 2632794 TI - [Acute poisoning by inhalation of zinc and aluminum chloride (12 cases)]. PMID- 2632795 TI - [Collective poisoning by cortinarius]. PMID- 2632796 TI - [Causticity of a non-foaming degreasor]. PMID- 2632797 TI - [The toad: venomous animal. Experience of the Marseille Poison Control Center]. PMID- 2632798 TI - [Carbon monoxide poisoning: analysis of situation and intervention strategies]. PMID- 2632799 TI - Lexical projection and the interaction of syntax and semantics in parsing. AB - A series of self-paced reading studies utilized an embedded anomaly technique to investigate long-distance dependencies with dative verbs. Previous research in our lab demonstrated that argument structure influences the gap-filling process. Experiment 1 extended that work by demonstrating that dative verbs pattern with other complex transitive verbs (i.e., a fronted filler that is implausible as the direct object will not be interpreted as the direct object until the absence of a noun phrase after the verb forces the postulation of a direct object gap. This pattern contrasts with that of transitive verbs that subcategorize for a single internal argument position, where fronted fillers are obligatorily interpreted as the direct object). Experiments 2 and 3 investigate the prediction that semantic analyses precede syntactic analyses in dative questions. It is argued that the lexical information about argument structure and thematic roles can guide semantic interpretation. PMID- 2632800 TI - Polysemy and the subjective lexicon: semantic relatedness and the salience of intraword senses. AB - Subjective perceptions of the senses of polysemous English words are collected in questionnaire studies and the effects of variability in semantic distances among these senses are examined in an experiment. In the first of two questionnaire studies, native speakers produce meanings for 175 polysemous words; from their responses, the most frequently produced meaning for each word is identified as its dominant sense. In a second questionnaire, independent subjects rate the semantic relatedness between the dominant meaning and the other senses generated for each word in the first study. Relatedness measures vary, raising the possibility that polysemous words vary in terms of the salience of their different senses in different contexts. This is confirmed in an experiment showing that salience ratings are influenced by the interacting factors of sentential context, extent of relatedness of the senses, and the dominance status of the senses. PMID- 2632801 TI - The phagocytic activity of monocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes against viral antigens as measured by chemiluminescence in patients with multiple sclerosis. AB - Twenty-two patients with Multiple Sclerosis in different stages of the disease were investigated in a chemiluminescence-assay and compared with a similar number of healthy individuals. The reactivity of peripheral blood monocytes to different viral antigens was followed by measurement of both the immediate oxidative activity and the development of activity through a 85-minutes period. The patients with a progressive course of the disease showed a high activity and reached maximum activity in a shorter time than the other groups, indicating an activation of the monocytes in these patients.--The patients in steady state showed a rather low activity, compared with both the other patient groups and the control group. A possible significance of these findings is discussed. The activity of the polymorphonuclear cells did not show differences in activity between the groups. PMID- 2632802 TI - Polyclonal B lymphocyte activation in progressive systemic sclerosis. AB - In 13 women affected by progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) the activation state of circulating B lymphocytes by use of monoclonal antibodies and the in vitro IgG, IgA, IgM synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultured with or without pokeweed-mitogen (PWM) were evaluated. The total and "activated" B lymphocytes were increased. The supernatants of PBMC cultured without PWM contained increased IgG and IgA levels; only in two patients, however, were IgM levels increased. The addition of PWM augmented IgG and IgA levels only in three cases and never IgM levels. Our results indicate that the polyclonal hyperactivity of B lymphocytes is a major immunologic feature in PSS patients. The lack of increase of in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis in the presence of PWM suggests either that B lymphocytes, already maximally activated in vivo, are unresponsive to further mitogen stimulation or that a more complex imbalance of B lymphocyte responsiveness to PWM may exist. PMID- 2632803 TI - Effects of interferon-alpha on macrophage activation in patients with ovarian carcinoma and cervical dysplasia. AB - Patients with progressive ovarian carcinoma and patients with dysplasia of the uterine cervix were studied in order to compare clinical efficacy, hematological toxicity and effects on macrophage activation of administered interferon-alpha for both patient groups. One of three patients with ovarian carcinoma showed a minor response. Four of six patients with cervical dysplasia had slight improvements of PAP-smears. Moderate hematological toxicity was observed in the former patient group while side effects were much more pronounced in the latter patients group. However, changes of hematological parameters were not statistically different. Interestingly, the administered interferon-alpha caused the same activation of macrophages in both patients groups as indicated by raised neopterin levels. This activation does not result in clinical improvement but appears to play a role for the hematological toxicity observed during therapy of patients with ovarian carcinoma. It has been suggested that suppression of hematopoiesis is mediated by interferon-gamma. The present neopterin data propose that this lymphokine is continuously produced through influence of the tumor and enhanced by interferon-alpha. PMID- 2632804 TI - Analysis of the decreased NK (natural killer) activity in lung cancer patients, using whole blood versus separated mononuclear cells. AB - The aim of this study was to analyze whether a whole blood assay would give a more correct measure of NK activity than assays using separated mononuclear cells (SMNC). We found that the NK activity of whole blood was higher than the NK activity of SMNC in the 28 lung cancer patients investigated (p = 0.01), whereas this difference between the assays could not be demonstrated in the 29 healthy controls. Since no differences were found between the NK activity of washed blood, SMNC, and monocyte-depleted lymphoid cells, there was no indication that the lower NK activity of SMNC in comparison with whole blood was due to cell loss or to a systematic disturbing effect due to monocytes. The possible effect of plasma factors on the whole blood NK activity was analyzed by comparing whole blood and washed blood. The NK activity of whole blood was increased in comparison with washed blood in the lung cancer patients (p less than 0.0001) indicating a stimulatory effect of plasma. Further, the finding that the reactive capability of lymphocytes from cancer patients was higher than in controls could indicate preactivation of the lymphocytes from the cancer patients due to the presence of stimulatory plasma factors. The NK activity of lung cancer patients was lower than the NK activity of healthy controls. The difference was found to be smaller with whole blood than with SMNC as effector cells, although both differences were significant. The decreased NK activity of cancer patients could be due to blocking immune complexes (IC), but we found no evidence for circulating or cell-bound IC in the lung cancer patients. PMID- 2632805 TI - Intravenous immunoglobulin preparations: a comparative in vitro study of Fc mediated functions. AB - An ideal immunoglobulin (Ig) preparation intended for clinical use should be safe and efficacious. Efficacy depends on suitable levels of protective antibodies against pathogens and the functional integrity of the Ig molecule. In the present paper, the functional integrity of the Ig molecule was investigated in eight intravenous Ig preparations commercially available in our country and compared to an intramuscular preparation. The experimental approach included protein A and rheumatoid factor binding, complement activation and opsonic activity. Ultracentrifugation profiles were obtained for all Ig preparations in order to ascertain the presence of components other than the expected 7S monomeric IgG. Immune complexes were investigated with C1q solid phase and conglutinin assays. Results show that chemical treatments such as sulfonation or reduction alkylation, and enzymatic treatment such as plasmin digestion, variably but consistently impair Fc-mediated functions. The present data emphasize the use of in vitro tests for assessing the suitability of Ig preparations for intravenous administration. PMID- 2632806 TI - Neutrophil leucocyte function in primary hyperparathyroidism. AB - Neutrophil leucocyte chemotaxis, phagocytosis and oxidative metabolism were measured in six patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) who underwent parathyroidectomy. The preoperative neutrophil chemotaxis value was 6.2 +/- 0.3 arb.U. and this decreased to 5.8 +/- 0.5 arb.U. (p less than 0.05) on the third postoperative day and to 5.4 +/- 0.3 arb.U. three weeks later. Serum calcium levels were 2.95 +/- 0.06 mmol/l preoperatively and decreased to 2.20 +/- 0.05 (p less than 0.05) and 2.34 +/- 0.05 mmol/l (p less than 0.05) on the third and 21st day after parathyroidectomy. Phagocytosis measured as the intracellular uptake of complement-opsonized yeast particles by neutrophils was not influenced by operation. In a control group, six patients undergoing hemithyroid ectomy due to microfollicular tumours were studied. In this group leucocyte chemotaxis, phagocytosis and serum calcium levels were not significantly different before and after surgery. Neutrophil oxidative metabolism, measured by the ability of the cells to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT), was similar in the HPT and control groups both before and after operation. The results indicate that HPT is associated with an abnormal leucocyte migration which is reversed after successful parathyroidectomy. PMID- 2632807 TI - Immunological effects of in vitro hyperthermia. AB - The effect of in vitro hyperthermia treatment on the immunological function of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was investigated to evaluate the immunosuppressive effect of hyperthermia, which has been successfully used for the treatment of cancer. The viability was slightly reduced after the treatment in a temperature dependent manner, however, it was statistically insignificant. Both natural killer (NK) activity and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced blastogenesis were temperature-dependently reduced after the treatment. After the treatment at 44 degrees C, NK activity was only 4.3% and no PHA-induced blastogenesis was observed. The reduced NK activity after the treatment may be in part due to a decreased number of subpopulations of highly active NK cells. Leu 7 1, 11+ cells and Leu 7+, 11+ cells. Therefore, the possibility of hyperthermia induced inhibition of the host immune system must be considered when we use hyperthermia clinically for cancer treatment. PMID- 2632808 TI - Age dependent alterations of host immune response in the ethanol-fed rat. AB - The interaction between ethanol and aging with respect to cellular immune response is unclear. For our studies, Sprague-Dawley rats were pair fed using a synthetic liquid control diet (LCD) or a diet in which ethanol was substituted for carbohydrate (LED). The special diets were started when the rats' age varied from 1-18 months and were continued for one, two, or three months. In a second set of experiments, rats were treated continuously with these diets for 24 months. At each study period blood was drawn for serum and the spleen cells removed. Immune response was assessed by the lymphocyte transformation test using combinations of cells and serum from each of the rat groups. When LCD or LED were started in aged rats (18 months), after three months, there was a significant decrease in the Concanavalin A induced lymphocyte transformation test using the serum from LCD rats compared to serum from LED rats with either cells from LCD (1,273 +/- 831 (DPM +/- SD) vs 302 +/- 139; p less than 0.04) or cells from LED animals (984 +/- 338 vs 420 +/- 196; p less than 0.02). When the diet started at younger age or for less than three months these effects were not seen. In the continuously LCD or LED fed rats, the blastogenic response peaked at three months of treatment (four months of age) and decreased at six months and remained constant over the remainder of the 24 month period. There was no difference in lymphocyte DNA synthesis comparing any of the serum or cell groups with respect to diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632809 TI - Effects of barium on spontaneous mechanical and electrical oscillations in rat papillary muscle. AB - In experiments on isolated rat papillary muscles the effects of Ba2+ (0.2-1 mM) on spontaneous resting tension oscillations (RTO) and membrane potential oscillations (MPO) were investigated. In normal Tyrode's solution the muscles were not spontaneously active, however, the addition of barium (1 mM) after a delay of 3-5 min induced the spontaneous excitations of the preparations. During this time period the amplitudes of RTO and MPO of the quiescent muscle increased gradually, and just before the first spontaneous beat their values were many fold above control levels. It was noted that just before the first spontaneous excitation the RTO became very synchronous and resembled the sinusoidal oscillations. By means of a special transducers the displacements of two adjacent points (distance, 1.0 mm) on a muscle surface were continuously recorded at the resting state. The correlation coefficient between these displacement signals was shown to increase from zero (before Ba2+ addition) to 0.5-0.7 (just before the first spontaneous beat). It was suggested that the enhancement of the RTO and MPO is a result of the synchronization of subthreshold electrical and mechanical activities of all muscle cells after the addition of barium. PMID- 2632810 TI - Effects of hemodynamic variables on myocardial K+ balance during and after shortlasting ischemia. AB - Ischemia-induced myocardial potassium loss and post-ischemic potassium reuptake was quantitated in 8 open chest pigs during control conditions and during hemodynamic alterations which have been shown to increase steady state sarcolemmal potassium fluxes. Myocardial K+ balance was continuously computed before, during and after a 90 s occlusion of a branch of the circumflex artery during control (CTR), during pacing tachycardia (PACE: 34% increase in heart rate), during proximal aortic constriction (AC; 28% increase in LVSP), and during isoprenaline infusion (ISO; 135% increase in LVdP/dt and 35% increase in heart rate). Ischemia-induced potassium loss increased significantly (40%) during ISO only. Higher basal metabolic rate, increased sarcolemmal K+ conductance, or ischemia-induced depression of a more active Na/K-pump during ISO are possible explanations to why increased K+ loss appeared in this situation. The maximal rate of post-ischemic potassium reuptake was not different from CTR during PACE and ISO, but it was reduced during AC, which might be due to persisting subendocardial ischemia in early reperfusion when ventricular wall stress is high. The extent of potassium restoration was not different from CTR during AC, PACE and ISO. PMID- 2632811 TI - Isoproterenol-induced cytotoxicity in neonatal rat heart cell cultures is mediated by free radical formation. AB - The cardiotoxic effect of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol was studied in cultured neonatal rat myocytes. A progressive increase in irreversible cell injury as determined by leakage of the cytoplasmic enzyme alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH) from the cells was noted at concentrations above 2.5 x 10(-4) M isoproterenol (exposure time 6 h). The isoproterenol-induced cell damage was reduced or prevented by several free radical scavengers: the application of Trolox C, a water-soluble vitamin E analogue, ICRF-159, a chelator of divalent cations, ascorbic acid, a potent antioxidant, as well as the enzymatic free radical scavengers superoxide dismutase and catalase reduced alpha-HBDH release. This study corroborates the hypothesis that oxidation products of isoproterenol, especially the formation of oxygen- and/or oxygen-derived free radicals, are responsible for the cytotoxicity observed after prolonged exposure to isoproterenol. In contrast to isoproterenol, exposure to 5 x 10(-4) M fenoterol, another beta-adrenergic agonist which is not oxidized, does not impair the viability of the myocytes. Moreover, application of the beta-blocker propranolol (10(-4) M, 10(-5)M) in combination with 5 x 10(-4) M isoproterenol does not prevent alpha-HBDH release. These findings suggest that isoproterenol-induced cardiotoxicity is not the result of excessive beta-adrenoceptor activation, but is mediated by the formation of free radicals. PMID- 2632812 TI - Effects of halothane on contractile properties of skinned fibers from cardiomyopathic animals. AB - The effects of clinical concentrations of halothane (1 and 2% v/v) on detergent treated cardiac fibers were studied in two different models of cardiomyopathic animals, the Syrian hamster UM-X7.1, and the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. The changes of contractile properties in cardiac muscle observed on cardiomyopathic animals, although of moderate importance, were different in these two models. The cardiomyopathic hamsters exhibited macroscopic structural changes in cardiac muscle responsible for a significant decrease in maximal activated tension, but myocardial calcium sensitivity was unchanged. On the other hand, in diabetic rats, maximal activated tension was unchanged, while a slight but significant increase in myocardial calcium sensitivity was observed. Addition of halothane produced a similar dose-dependent decrease in myocardial calcium sensitivity, in both the controls and the two groups of cardiomyopathic animals. Halothane exposure was also associated with a dose-dependent decrease in maximal calcium activated tension in all groups, an effect that was more pronounced in cardiomyopathic hamsters than in their control at the lowest anesthetic concentration. These results indicate that the negative inotropic effects of halothane are additive to the myocardial depression observed in these cardiomyopathies. PMID- 2632813 TI - Effect of ryanodine on neonatal and adult rat heart: developmental increase in sarcoplasmic reticulum function. AB - Negative inotropic responses to nicardipine, MnCl2 and ryanodine of isolated papillary muscles were compared between 1-day-old neonatal and adult rats. All of the drugs produced dose-dependent negative inotropic responses at both ages. Nicardipine and MnCl2 were effective at lower concentrations in the neonate when compared to the adult, while ryanodine was more effective in the adult. Attenuation of the positive inotropic effect of isoproterenol by nicardipine was greater in the neonate, while that by ryanodine was greater in the adult. The relaxation phase of contraction was shortened by isoproterenol and prolonged by ryanodine in adult preparations, but there were no changes in the neonatal preparations. In the adult, increasing the stimulus frequency resulted in a decrease in contractile force (negative force-frequency relationship) at control conditions, while it produced rather slight increases in contractile force in the presence of ryanodine. In the neonate, increases in the stimulus frequency resulted in an increase in contractile force (positive force-frequency relationship) both in the presence and absence of ryanodine. It was concluded that contraction of the adult rat myocardium is highly dependent on Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, while that of the neonatal myocardium is more dependent on trans-sarcolemmal Ca2+ influx. It was also speculated that the negative force-frequency relationship is produced by some factor(s) closely related to sarcoplasmic reticulum function. PMID- 2632814 TI - 31P NMR spectroscopy of hypertrophied rat heart: effect of graded global ischemia. AB - To investigate the cause for the greater susceptibility of hypertrophied hearts to ischemic injury, we determined the interrelations of total work output, contractile function and energy metabolism in isolated, perfused normal and hypertrophied rat hearts subjected to graded global ischemia. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by giving rats seven daily injections of either triiodothyronine (0.2 mg/kg) or isoproterenol (5 mg/kg). All hearts were perfused at an aortic pressure of 100 mmHg in the isovolumic mode in an NMR spectrometer (7.05 Tesla). Heart rate, developed pressure, and coronary flow were monitored simultaneously with changes in pH, creatine phosphate, ATP and inorganic phosphate. During pre ischemic perfusion, the total work output (rate-pressure product) of hyperthyroid hearts was 28% higher than that of control hearts, whereas hearts from isoproterenol-treated animals showed no difference. However, when related to unit muscle mass, work was normal in hyperthyroid hearts and 26% lower after isoproterenol. Contractile function per unit myocardium (developed pressure/g wet weight) was lower in the hypertrophied hearts. ATP content was the same in all groups. Creatine phosphate decreased 41% after triiodothyronine and 25% after isoproterenol. Inorganic phosphate levels and intracellular pH were similar in control and isoproterenol-treated rat hearts, but were higher in the hyperthyroid rat hearts. The phosphorylation potential and the free energy change of ATP hydrolysis were lowered by hypertrophy, the levels correlating with the depressed contractile function. At each ischemic flow rate, both work and contractile function per unit myocardium were the same for all hearts, but the relations between flow and phosphorylation potential were different for each type of heart. Thus, at low flow rates, hypertrophied hearts perform the same amount of work and have the same contractile function as control hearts, but with abnormal changes in energy metabolism, indicating that the relations of energy status to coronary flow, total work output and contractile function are altered during the process of hypertrophy. PMID- 2632815 TI - Effect of hypoxia on endothelial morphology and interendothelial junctions in the isolated perfused rat heart. AB - Isolated perfused rat hearts were used to assess the effect of 30 or 60 mins of hypoxia on the ultrastructure of the capillary endothelium and particularly on the interendothelial junctions. Perfusions were carried out both in the presence and absence of albumin. Albumin had no effect on ultrastructure or membrane spacing in the interendothelial clefts, neither in oxygenated controls nor in hypoxic hearts. After 30 and 60 mins of hypoxia some capillaries showed endothelial swelling while after 60 mins the endothelium of others was attenuated. The wide regions of the intercellular cleft were not affected by hypoxia but the "narrow zone" gap between membranes became significantly smaller. We conclude that factors within the clefts other than the "tightness" of the narrow zones are responsible for changes in permeability in hypoxia and with albumin. PMID- 2632816 TI - Enzyme linked immuno assay of cardiac troponin T for the detection of acute myocardial infarction in patients. AB - For the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients circulating constituents of the contractile apparatus may be measured instead of cytosolic cardiac enzymes. The potential advantages of the use of myofibrillar cardiac proteins as marker proteins for AMI results from their expression as cardio specific isoforms, their high intracellular concentration, and their continuous release from infarcting myocardium. While analyzing the specificity of polyclonal goat anti-human cardiac myosin light chains antisera a cardio-specific antibody fraction was identified which is directed against cardiac troponin T contaminations of the myosin light chains antigen. Using this antibody fraction a standardized enzyme immuno-assay for circulating troponin T was developed to detect AMI in patients. In this assay troponin T is bound on different epitopes by affinity purified goat anti-cardiac troponin T antibodies immobilized on polyvinyl chloride test tubes as well as horse raddish peroxidase labeled monoclonal anti-troponin T antibody in liquid phase. The assay procedure can be completed semiautomatically in 90 min with a detection limit of the assay of 0.5 ng/ml human or bovine cardiac troponin T. There is 1% crossreactivity with skeletal troponin T. In 26 healthy volunteers no cardiac troponin T was detectable in serum of 25 persons, while in 1 further volunteer 1 ng/ml troponin T was found. In the sera of all 50 patients with transmural AMI troponin T was elevated ranging from 7.2 to 110 ng/ml. In the mean troponin T remained elevated from three until 300 hours after onset of ischemic pain showing a biphasic serum concentration curve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632817 TI - Relation between mixed venous blood oxygen saturation and cardiac pumping function at the acute phase of myocardial infarction. AB - In this study, we monitored changes in the mixed venous blood oxygen saturation (Sv-O2) level of 45 patients with acute myocardial infarction and compared these results to the traditional parameters. The Sv-O2 level was found to correlate well with the clinical course of patients and their hemodynamic conditions. The mean Sv-O2 level of the group having congestive heart failure (53.3 +/- 8.4%) was found to be statistically lower than those without (69.8 +/- 5.6). Furthermore, patients whose Sv-O2 level was lower than 60% were found to be at greater risk for heart failure and a very high mortality rate. Patients were classified into four subsets according to Forrester's hemodynamic classification; their Sv-O2 levels were 70.7 +/- 4.1% (I: 23 cases), 54.7 +/- 6.9% (II: 8 cases), 55.8 +/- 9.4% (III: 10 cases), and 47.0 +/- 8.0 (IV: 4 cases), respectively. A severe relationship between pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and Sv-O2 having a correlation coefficient of r = -0.64 was observed, and a logarithmic curvilinear relation between cardiac index approximately Sv-O2, stroke volume index approximately Sv-O2 and left ventricular stroke work index approximately Sv-O2 was also evident. When the decrease in the Sv-O2 level was more than 5%, it always showed a significant decrease in the cardiac index. This study suggested tht continuous monitoring of the Sv-O2 level revealed simultaneous changes in the hemodynamic state, which lead to the assistance and aid for treating patients with critical conditions of acute myocardial infarction. In such circumstances, it was noted that the Sv-O2 level should be maintained above 60% in order to stabilize the hemodynamic state. PMID- 2632818 TI - Clinical significance of Aqrs, At and ventricular gradient in single vessel coronary artery diseases. AB - Deflection area vectors of QRS (Aqrs) and T (At) and ventricular gradient (G) calculated from vectorcardiographic leads were compared in single vessel coronary artery diseases divided into subgroups of normokinetic, hypokinetic and akinetic by left ventriculography. In the LAD group, Aqrs shifted posteriorly, At were smaller and shifted to the right and G were smaller and shifted posteriorly or to the right. In the RCA group, Aqrs were smaller and shifted upwards, At shifted upwards and G were smaller and shifted upwards. In the LCx group, Aqrs shifted upwards, At shifted anteriorly and upwards and G were smaller and shifted upwards. Decreased magnitude and directional change of G reflect the severity and location of myocardial damage. PMID- 2632819 TI - Breathing abnormalities during sleep in patients with chronic heart failure. AB - Polysomnography was carried out in 11 adult outpatients with stable chronic heart failure (CHF) due to valvular heart disease in order to investigate respiratory abnormalities during sleep. The subjects consisted of 6 males and 5 females and their ages ranged from 54 to 76 years. A coexisting central dominant sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) was found in 4 males, 3 of whom had evidence of nasal obstruction. A successful mitral valve replacement in one patient with central dominant SAS was associated with a reduction in the frequency of sleep apnea. The results suggest complications caused by respiratory abnormalities during sleep are common and should be considered in the management of patients with CHF. PMID- 2632820 TI - The effect of inotropic dose of dobutamine during reperfusion on myocardial infarct size. AB - We examined whether dobutamine infusion during reperfusion modifies myocardial infarct size in a rabbit ischemia-reperfusion model. Prior to the infarct size study, the hemodynamic response to dobutamine 5, 10, and 15 micrograms/kg/min i.v. was evaluated in the rabbit model. Ten micrograms/kg/min of dobutamine increased the left ventricular dp/dt max by 34.0 +/- 4.9% (n = 7) and the myocardial blood flow from 0.86 +/- 0.16 to 2.19 +/- 0.57 ml/min/g without change in the collateral blood flow (n = 4). The heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were elevated by only 4.7 +/- 1.0%, 9.4 +/- 3.0%, and 8.0 +/- 3.7%, respectively (n = 7). In the infarct size study, a coronary branch was occluded for 30 min and then reperfused. Seventy-two hours after reperfusion, the myocardium supplied by the occluded artery (area at risk, AAR) and the infarcted area were determined by fluorescent particles and histology (hematoxylin-eosin and modified Mallory's staining), respectively. In the dobutamine treated group (DB group), 10 micrograms/kg/min of dobutamine were infused for 30 min starting immediately after reperfusion, and a comparable volume of saline was infused in the control group. Hemodynamic parameters and the size of AAR were comparable in the control and DB groups. Myocardial infarct size, expressed as the percentage of AAR, was 45.1 +/- 3.9% in the control (n = 11) and 40.2 +/- 2.4% in the DB group (n = 10), which was not significantly different. These findings indicated that the inotropic dose of dobutamine administered during reperfusion did not cause myocardial necrosis by disturbing the recovery process of the myocardium from ischemic injury. PMID- 2632821 TI - Isovolumic relaxation period as an index of left ventricular relaxation under different afterload conditions--comparison with the time constant of left ventricular pressure decay in the dog. AB - In order to determine whether isovolumic relaxation period (IRP) reflects left ventricular relaxation under different afterload conditions, 17 anesthetized, open chest dogs were studied, and the left ventricular pressure decay time constant (T) was calculated. In 12 dogs, angiotensin II and nitroprusside were administered, with the heart rate constant at 90 beats/min. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the aortic dicrotic notch pressure (AoDNP) and T were major determinants of IRP, while left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was a minor determinant. Multiple linear regression analysis, correlating T with IRP and AoDNP, did not further improve the correlation coefficient compared with that between T and IRP. We concluded that correction of the IRP by AoDNP is not necessary to predict T from additional multiple linear regression. The effects of ascending aortic constriction or angiotensin II on IRP were examined in five dogs, after pretreatment with propranolol. Aortic constriction caused a significant decrease in IRP and T, while angiotensin II produced a significant increase in IRP and T. IRP was affected by the change of afterload. However, the IRP and T values were always altered in the same direction. These results demonstrate that IRP is substituted for T and it reflects left ventricular relaxation even in different afterload conditions. We conclude that IRP is a simple parameter easily used to evaluate left ventricular relaxation in clinical situations. PMID- 2632822 TI - Histological evidence of left ventricular involvement in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. AB - A 40-year-old female with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) demonstrated a reduced motion of the left ventricular (LV) apex. Specimens of LV free wall, obtained by endomyocardial biopsy, histologically revealed prominent interstitial fibrosis with sparse distribution of myocytes. The myocytes were hypertrophic and disrupted with loss of myofibrils. This is a case of ARVD, where LV involvement was histologically verified. PMID- 2632823 TI - Sudden cardiac arrest: clinical characteristics and predictors of survival. AB - Much remains unknown about the conditions surrounding the occurrence of prehospital sudden cardiac arrest. We have investigated the clinical characteristics and predictors of survival in a total of 90 consecutive patients in whom sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) happened to occur during their hospitalization in general wards over the past 19 years. The types of arrhythmia present at the time of SCA were ventricular fibrillation (in 46% of cases), ventricular tachycardia (19%), and bradyarrhythmia (35%). The underlying causes were coronary artery disease (45%), cardiomyopathy (20%), and valvular disease (14%). SCA showed a circadian pattern, with many cases during the day and few at night. Prodromal symptoms included chest pain (16% of patients), dyspnea (11%) and palpitations (2%). Of the total of 90 subjects, 26 (29%) were discharged from hospital alive, and SCA recurred in 24% of these. The 5-year survival rate was 52%. The most important predictors of survival examined were initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, NYHA class, and time of SCA. Of those in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated within 1 min, 52% were discharged alive, but all of those not receiving it within 10 min died. PMID- 2632824 TI - Clinical characteristics of sudden cardiac death in patients with vasospastic angina. AB - Of 383 patients with vasospastic angina who were followed for a period of 3.2 +/- 0.1 years, 9 (2%) died suddenly from cardiac causes. Calcium antagonists had been given to 98% of our patients. Only one patient who died suddenly had a fixed coronary stenosis of 75% or greater. Eight of the 9 patients showed ST segment elevation during anginal attack at rest, and 3 patients showed ST segment elevation at both anterior and inferior leads. Sudden death occurred in 6 of 41 patients (12.5%) who were documented to have multivessel coronary spasm, but in only 3 of 342 patients (1%) who had single vessel spasm (p less than 0.01). Serious arrhythmia occurred during anginal episode in 3 of 9 patients who died suddenly (53%) and in 52 of 374 who did not (14%). These results suggest that the frequency of sudden cardiac death was rather low in Japanese patients with vasospastic angina. The risk of sudden death was increased in patients with multivessel spasm and serious arrhythmia during anginal attacks but not these with fixed coronary stenosis. PMID- 2632825 TI - Sudden death in hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy. AB - The long-term prognosis for 314 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and 82 with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was investigated in an attempt to elucidate clinical variables predicting sudden death (SD). In the patients with HCM, 68% of cardiac deaths occurred suddenly and unexpectedly. Variables associated with an increased risk to SD were young age (less than 30 years), reduced fractional shortening (less than 35%) and elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure (greater than or equal to 20 mmHg). Eight of the 10 patients who died suddenly during or immediately after strenuous exercise were less than 30 years old, and the collapse tended to be associated with exercise-induced ST depression. In contrast, SD occurring during mild activities, resting or sleep was mainly observed in those aged 30 years or more. Ventricular tachycardia was observed on electrocardiographic monitoring in 24% of those 30 years or more, while it was rare in those under 30 years (5%). On the other hand, no SD was found in patients with apical hypertrophy nor in those 50 years or more. These observations suggest that HCM patients at a young age, with impaired left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, have an increased risk to SD. Since exercise-induced myocardial ischemia rather than ventricular arrhythmias appears to be the more likely mechanism for SD for those under 30 years old, restriction of strenuous exercise should be strongly advised for these patients. For those aged from 30 to 50 years, ventricular tachycardia should be controlled by antiarrhythmic agents for the prevention of SD. In patients with DCM, 24% of all cardiac deaths were attributed to SD. Although no variables reliably predicted SD, it was of note that only one patient out of 26 with SV1 + RV5 greater than or equal to 35 mm died suddenly. Whereas ventricular arrhythmias are known to be a contributing cause for SD, the prognostic significance of ventricular tachycardia on electrocardiographic monitoring in predicting SD has not yet been established. In addition, antiarrhythmic agents often precipitate hemodynamic deterioration. It therefore appears that use of antiarrhythmic agents is not a therapy of first choice and that primary treatment should be focused upon improvement in ventricular function in order to prevent SD in patients with DCM. PMID- 2632826 TI - Long-term prognostic assessment of ventricular tachycardia with respect to sudden death in patients with and without overt heart disease. AB - The purpose of this study is to investigate the long-term prognosis of ventricular tachycardia (VT) mainly with respect to sudden death (SCD) in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), idiopathic cardiomyopathy (ICM), miscellaneous heart disease (MHD) and idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (IVT). The study included 117 patients with VT (80 male, 37 female). The number of patients with IHD, ICM, MHD and IVT were 40, 18, 26 and 33, respectively. Follow up was conducted by means of a mailed standardized questionnaire. The mean follow up period was 46.8 +/- 32.0 months (range from 6 to 125 months). In 24 out of the 117 patients the cause of death was SCD, in 9 there was no sudden cardiac death and in 5 no cardiac death. The other 76 were surviving. The number of SCD in IHD, ICM, MHD and IVT was 14/40 (35%), 4/17 (24%), 6/25 (24%) and zero (0%), respectively. The number of having had syncope in IHD, ICM, MHD and IVT was 19/40 (48%), 7/18 (39%), 6/26 (23%) and 6/33 (18%), respectively. Out of the 19 IHD patients with syncope, 15 had had ventricular fibrillation (VF). As for IVT with syncope, only one of the 6 had VF, which was induced by a disopyramide injection. In IVT, the patients with syncope had a significantly higher VT rate than those without syncope (p less than 0.01). There were no significant differences in the electrocardiographical high risk parameters for SCD, the age, follow-up periods, the presence or absence of VF and ejection fraction between the SCD and the surviving groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632827 TI - Mechanism and prediction of sudden cardiac death in arrhythmia patients using electrophysiological studies. AB - Thirty nine cases, in which sudden cardiac death (SCD) was suspected, were studied to evaluate the mechanism and the prediction of SCD in arrhythmia patients using electrophysiological studies (EPS). The 39 cases (28 male and 11 female) were located by surveying 2098 patients who underwent EPS for the evaluation of arrhythmias. Age at time of EPS ranged from 4 to 86 years, average 50.5 years. Time from EPS to death was 2 to 163 months, average 27.9 months. Underlying heart disease was: dilated cardiomyopathy in 11, old myocardial infarction in 5, ischemic heart disease in 5, hypertensive heart disease in 5, valvular heart disease in 3, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia in 1, myocarditis in 1, sarcoidosis in 1, cor pulmonale in 1, and no obvious heart disease in 4. Fifteen had a permanent pacemaker implanted. SCD in cases without a permanent pacemaker (24 cases): 2 had chronic complete A-V block (one BH block, one HV block), 1 had advanced A-V block (HV block), 3 had bundle branch block with first degree HV block, 9 had ventricular tachycardia (VT), 3 had sick sinus syndrome (SSS), 3 had paroxysmal atrial flutter, 1 had WPW syndrome and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, 1 had paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, and 3 had premature ventricular beats and first degree HV block. SCD in cases with permanent pacemaker (15 cases): 5 had SSS, and 10 had A-V block. In 3 of the 5 with SSS and 7 of the 10 with A-V block, VT was found before pacemaker implantation. In our study, brady and tachyarrhythmias coexisted in 25 cases (64%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2632828 TI - Sudden cardiac death in childhood. AB - To evaluate the mechanism of sudden death in childhood and the physical activity levels at the onset of sudden death, we studied the following items: (1) the incidence and the circumstances surrounding sudden death at school in Kanagawa Prefecture, (2) high risk heart diseases detected among healthy school children by heart disease screening, (3) sudden cardiac death or near miss seen in outpatients with heart disease except congenital heart disease. Among total 15,156,346 school children, sudden death was observed in 97 subjects (M:77, F:20). Annual incidence of sudden death was 6.4 per 10(6). Of the 97 subjects, acute heart failure of unknown etiology was found in 60 (62%), cardiovascular disease in 18 (19%), cerebral vascular accidents in 14 (14%) and heat stroke in 5 (5%). Of the 78 subjects (M:64, F:14) considered as sudden cardiac death, 62 (79%) died during sports activities, and 16 (21%) died at rest. Of the 62 subjects, 29 died during track and field activities and 7 while swimming, both in physical education classes. Eighteen died during athletic club activities and 8 during extracurricular activities. Consequently, 54 subjects (87%) died in the presence of a school teacher. Of the 18 subjects with cardiovascular disease, 9 (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 3, myocarditis in 3, Kawasaki disease in 2 and long QT in one) were diagnosed initially by the autopsy study. Latent high risk heart diseases, detected among presumably healthy school children by the heart disease screening program, were the following: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, long QT syndrome, Kawasaki disease and some arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia, sick sinus syndrome, A-V block and atrial fibrillation). Follow-up observations of outpatients with heart disease revealed the same results as the heart disease screening program. In order to prevent sudden death at school, the following recommendations should be observed: 1) sports directors should learn "sports medicine in childhood", including primary cardiovascular resuscitation, 2) an accurate heart disease screening program should be operated to detect latent high risk heart diseases, advise on adequate medical treatment, and help ensure an appropriate selection of sports activities, 3) comprehensive autopsy studies should be performed. PMID- 2632829 TI - An epidemiologic and histopathological study of sudden cardiac death in Osaka Medical Examiner's Office. AB - From 1982 to 1986, 1230 sudden death cases were autopsied in Osaka Medical Examiner's Office. Among them, 810 cases were sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) including coronary heart disease (77%), cardiomyopathy (7%), valvular disease (3%). All SCD cases were dead within 24 hours of the appearance of the fatal symptoms, and most of them (72%) were considered instantaneous death. Many of the fatal symptoms began in bed (31%), at bath (17%), at toilet (8%), or at work (8%). Thirty-four percent of them were thought by themselves or by their families to be healthy before the death. Hypertension (38%), coronary heart disease (13%) and diabetes mellitus (11%) were the major past history recorded. Microscopic observation of the hearts of 200 cases autopsied in 1986 showed various cardiac lesions: hypertrophy, atrophy, degenerations of myocytes, cellular and fatty infiltrations of the interstitium. According to their cardiac lesions and degrees of severity of coronary sclerosis, patients who died suddenly were divided into 8 groups as follows: 1. myocardial infarction (41) 2. myocarditis (6) 3. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (19) 4. chronic ischemia with severe coronary sclerosis (65) 5. chronic ischemia with moderate coronary sclerosis (27) 6. small vessel disease (18) 7. amyloidosis (1) 8. unknown (23). These results suggest that coronary heart disease and hypertension play an important role in SCD. PMID- 2632830 TI - Noninvasive assessment of left ventricular diastolic filling in coronary artery disease by Doppler dipyridamole-stress testing. AB - To evaluate left ventricular diastolic function during dipyridamole-provoked myocardial ischemia, transmitral flow was studied in 73 patients with coronary artery disease and 8 normal subjects using pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Coronary vasodilating agents like dipyridamole can provoke myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease. The peak flow velocity of left ventricular rapid filling (R), that of atrial contraction (A) and the ratio of A to R (A/R) in each cardiac cycle were measured. The rapid filling phase was divided into two subphases at the point of R. The integral of the two subphases and atrial contraction were computed and designated IR1, IR2 and IA. The time intervals of the two subphases of rapid filling were designated TR1 and TR2. Of the 73 patients with coronary artery disease, 41 patients developed ischemia (positive responder = PR) and 32 patients did not (negative responder = NR) after dipyridamole infusion. In PR, A/R increased (p less than 0.05), IR2 decreased (p less than 0.01) and TR2 shortened (p less than 0.01) significantly. In NR and normal subjects, these indices remained unchanged. We observed mitral regurgitation (MR) in 13 PR patients during acute myocardial ischemia. A/R increased in patients without MR but A/R remained unchanged in patients with MR. These results suggest that in acute myocardial ischemia, changes in Doppler indices (A/R, IR2 and TR2) reflect a left ventricular diastolic abnormality, and that the masking of the diastolic abnormality was ascribed to the presence of MR. PMID- 2632831 TI - Stenotic lesions and length of the left main coronary artery in the aged. AB - To evaluate lesions of the left main coronary artery (LM) in the aged, a pathologic study was performed on a total of 972 consecutive autopsy cases over 60 years of age. The study population consisted of 503 men and 469 women with an average age at death of 79.0 years. In this study the degree of narrowing and length of the LM were evaluated in all cases (T), and the 141 cases with normal hearts (N) were compared with the 202 cases with myocardial infarction (MI). The following results were obtained: (1) the average coronary stenotic index (CSI) was 9.1/15 in T, 5.8/15 in N and 11.2/15 in MI (N less than MI, p less than 0.001), (2) the grade of narrowing in the LM (LMG), when 100% obstruction of the LM is counted as 5, was 1.8 +/- 0.9 in T, 1.3 +/- 0.6 in N and 2.3 +/- 1.1 in MI (N less than MI, p less than 0.001). Cases showing more than 75% narrowing of the LM were found in 58 (6%), of which 35 cases belonged to MI, but development of MI directly due to lesions in the LM was found in only 9 patients (4.5% among MI), (3) the average length of the LM (LML) was 9.4 +/- 4.4 mm in T, 9.0 +/- 4.2 mm in N and 9.3 +/- 3.8 mm in MI (N vs MI; n.s.). Cases presenting left coronary artery dominance (n = 82) or a balanced type (n = 159) showed shorter LML than those with right coronary artery dominance (n = 729) (8.5 +/- 4.0 mm, 8.8 +/- 4.6 mm and 9.7 +/- 4.4 mm, respectively, p less than 0.05), (4) in T there was a correlation between the LMG and CSI, but not between the LML and CSI. In conclusion, lesions of the LM in the aged were generally mild and the LMG showed a positive correlation with CSI and the narrowing of each coronary branch, while no relationship was noted between the LML and CSI. PMID- 2632832 TI - Variation in length and termination of the right coronary artery in man. AB - The length and termination of the right coronary artery of the human heart were studied in 81 hearts, after injection of a colored substance containing a radiopaque medium. The hearts were radiographed, dissected, drawn and photographed. The long type of right coronary artery, defined as a branch that reached or ran distal to the crux cordis, was found to be much more frequent (88.8%) than the short type and terminated in the majority of the cases (71.6%) as one of the posterior branches of the left ventricle. The relationship between these findings and the so-called "coronary circulation dominance" is discussed. PMID- 2632833 TI - Immunological disorders in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. With special reference to the production of interleukin-2 and the expression of interleukin-2 receptors in the patients' peripheral blood lymphocytes. AB - Cell-mediated immunological function was studied in 18 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) making use of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The results were as follows: 1) Blastoid transformation of PBL stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was significantly suppressed in patients with DCM compared with normal controls (p less than 0.01). 2) The T-cell subset ratio of Leu-3a-positive cells to Leu-2a-positive cells was significantly higher in patients with DCM than that in the control group (p less than 0.05). 3) Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production of PBL under PHA stimulation was enhanced significantly in patients with DCM (p less than 0.05). 4) IL-2 receptor-positive cells were significantly fewer in number in patients with DCM than in controls (p less than 0.05). These results suggest that immunological disorders including changes in the IL-2 system are present in some patients with DCM and may play a role in the occurrence of DCM. PMID- 2632834 TI - Cardiovascular response to exercise in pacemaker implanted patients with fixed heart rate. AB - Cardiovascular response to supine exercise was studied in 11 patients with chronic ventricular pacing for complete atrioventricular block whose heart rate was fixed during exercise, and compared with 11 age- and sex-matched normal subjects. Oxygen uptake increased linearly with increasing work rate, and attained maximum values of 15.7 +/- 0.7 and 29.5 +/- 1.1 ml/min.kg, respectively. In both groups, cardiac output increased in association with oxygen uptake, although the maximum value in the patients was less than one half that in the controls (6.8 +/- 0.5 and 15.1 +/- 0.3 l/min). Stroke volume, however, could change in patients, as in the controls under similarly increased afterloads (maximum values were 96 +/- 7 and 93 +/- 3 ml/beat, respectively). During exercise, the systolic arterial pressure elevated to a similar extent in both groups (221 +/- 14 and 235 +/- 12 mmHg, respectively). The increase in stroke volume in the patients was achieved by complete systolic emptying and the Frank Starling mechanism. It is considered that in patients with ventricular pacing, exercise can produce an increase in stroke volume when myocardial function is not impaired. PMID- 2632835 TI - Chronic effect of smoking on the electrocardiogram. AB - The electrocardiograms (ECG) of 232 male non-smokers and 224 male smokers, aged 20-60 years, devoid of cardiovascular diseases, were studied. Among these subjects 5.2% of non-smokers and 6.7% of smokers had pathological ECGs. Non pathological ECGs of 220 non-smokers and 209 smokers were analyzed for R, S and T wave amplitudes, P and QRS axes and P-R, QRS and Q-Tc intervals. The 2 groups did not differ significantly from each other for R and T-wave amplitudes in any of the age groups except for 40-60 years, in which R-amplitude obtained from standard limb leads was significantly lower in smokers. S-amplitude recorded from standard limb leads was significantly lower in smokers of all ages combined. The reverse phenomenon was noted for S-amplitude obtained from precordial leads. R, S and T-amplitudes decreased with the advancement of age at a relatively higher rate in smokers. These waves had significant negative correlation with pack years of smoking habit. QRS and P axes differed significantly between smokers and non smokers. The rate of shifting of these axes to the left with increasing age was relatively higher in non-smokers. Lung function did not show any relation to electrocardiogram in normal healthy subjects. These results indicate that aging affects electrocardiographic wave patterns and that this aging effect is modified by long term smoking. PMID- 2632836 TI - Effect of sodium intake on the hypotensive effect of calcium antagonists. AB - To clarify the influence of Na balance on the hypotensive effect of calcium antagonists, the changes of blood pressure and humoral factors after a single oral administration of 40 mg nicardipine were evaluated in 15 subjects with essential hypertension under high, normal, and low Na regimens (mean 24 hour urinary Na excretion: 320 +/- 24, 147 +/- 7, 27 +/- 6 mEq, respectively). Nicardipine induced a significant reduction of mean blood pressure and increase in heart rate. The change of mean blood pressure after nicardipine was negatively related to the pretreatment mean blood pressure under the three levels of Na intake (p less than 0.01). The slopes of the correlation lines for high, normal, and low Na regimens were -0.61, -0.69, and -0.52, respectively, without statistical significance. Nicardipine brought about significant increases in plasma renin activity and plasma norepinephrine, but no changes in plasma levels of epinephrine, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, thromboxane B2 or serum aldosterone concentration. These results suggest that the magnitude of the untreated blood pressure and thereby the peripheral resistance are major determinants of the blood pressure fall caused by calcium antagonists, and that the failure to increase aldosterone and epinephrine in the face of peripheral vasodilation may be responsible in part for the hypotensive effect of this drug. PMID- 2632837 TI - Effects of propranolol on coronary vasculature and cardiac performance in dogs with fixed and dynamic coronary stenosis. AB - The coronary hemodynamic effects of propranolol (0.1 mg/kg, i.v.) were examined in anesthetized dogs with flow-limiting dynamic and fixed coronary stenosis of the left circumflex coronary artery. During fixed coronary stenosis created by external application of an occluder device, propranolol significantly decreased coronary blood flow (CBF) by 6.8 +/- 2.7% (mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.05) and increased mean distal coronary pressure (DCP) by 7 +/- 2.1 mmHg (p less than 0.05). This resulted in a decrease in stenosis resistance (SR) by 26 +/- 3.1% (p less than 0.01) due to oxygen demand reduction. By contrast, during dynamic coronary stenosis produced by an intraluminal microballoon occluder, propranolol decreased CBF by 68 +/- 3.4% (p less than 0.01) and mean DCP by 36 +/- 4.2 mmHg (p less than 0.01), resulting in an increase in SR by 694 +/- 109% (p less than 0.01). This increase in SR was attenuated by pretreatment with an alpha adrenergic receptor antagonist phentolamine (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.), or by holding heart rate constant at the pretreatment level. These results suggest that propranolol ameliorated the severity of stenosis during fixed coronary stenosis and exacerbated the severity during dynamic coronary stenosis. This increase in SR appears to be related to vasoconstriction of the large stenosed coronary artery, mediated both by alpha-adrenergic receptors in the coronary artery and by myocardial oxygen demand reduction. PMID- 2632838 TI - Origin of the giant R wave in acute transmural myocardial infarction in the pig. AB - An increase in R wave amplitude and a diminution of S wave amplitude, together with ST segment elevation, have been described as very early electrocardiographic changes during clinical and experimental acute myocardial infarction. The genesis of these QRS changes remains unclear. We assessed the quantitative relationship between the local conduction delay and the formation of the giant R wave, using multiple epicardial, intramural unipolar, and bipolar electrodes in 30 open-chest pigs with acute transmural myocardial ischemia. Blood pressure, heart rate, serum electrolytes, hematocrit, and left ventricular size remained constant, or varied insignificantly throughout the experiments. In nonischemic pigs, transmural left ventricular activation occurred nearly simultaneously, and the activation time was not correlated with the net QRS potential. During acute ischemia, a giant R wave developed at all of the electrodes located within the ischemia region; R wave amplitude began to increase 1 min after coronary artery ligation (p less than 0.05), compared to control amplitude and peaked at 8 min (p less than 0.0001). The degree of conduction delay at a given site was correlated linearly with the local R wave amplitude (average of correlation coefficients +/- SEM at 1 min, r = 0.64 +/- 0.08, and at 8 min, r = 0.81 +/- 0.06). The magnitude of the R wave potential and the conduction delay were greater in regions deep inside the ischemic zone than in the border and normal areas (p less than 0.0001), and were greater in subepicardial than in subendocardial areas (p less than 0.05). In summary, during transmural ischemia, conduction is markedly slowed, and an orderly and discrete wavefront advances toward the center of the ischemic zone from lateral and subendocardial areas. When depolarization is complete in the rest of the heart, this slow activation front becomes temporally isolated and its progression gives rise to a giant R wave, which appears in recordings from overlying electrodes. PMID- 2632839 TI - Comparative study of cardiovascular effects of clonidine and alinidine in cross perfused dog atrial preparations. AB - Cross-perfused canine atrial preparations were used to investigate the direct and indirect cardiac actions of clonidine and alinidine. Intravenous injections of clonidine (0.1-3 micrograms/kg) produced an initial brief pressor response and bradycardia followed by hypotension in the intact dog. Chronotropic and inotropic responses were absent in the isolated atrium perfused with the intact dog's blood. Intravenous clonidine (10-300 micrograms) also induced negative chronotropic and inotropic effects in isolated atria. On the other hand, alinidine, at doses which caused a depressor action and bradycardia in the intact dog, consistently produced negative chronotropic and inotropic effects in the isolated atrium. Therefore, it was confirmed that a relatively small dose of clonidine has a selective vascular action, while alinidine has direct cardiac depressant properties at all effective doses. Negative chronotropic and inotropic effects of peripheral vagal stimulation, carbachol and adenosine were not significantly modified by 100 or 300 micrograms doses of intraarterial clonidine. On the other hand, the effects of vagal stimulation and carbachol were significantly inhibited by 100 and 300 micrograms of alinidine, without affecting adenosine-induced cardiac actions. Therefore, it was demonstrated that alinidine has anti-muscarinic properties. PMID- 2632840 TI - The influence of dietary protein on the synthesis of vasoactive substances in subtotally nephrectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats. AB - The effects of dietary protein alterations on the synthesis of prostaglandins and kallikrein were examined in subtotally nephrectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats. Three diets containing 40, 24 and 8% protein were prepared. After subtotal nephrectomy, rats were given one of the three diets for the next 12 weeks. During the study, systolic blood pressure, urinary excretions of protein, 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha, thromboxane B2 and kallikrein were measured every 2 weeks. Although the diets did not prevent the further elevation of systolic blood pressure, the rats on the low protein diet displayed lower serum creatinine levels and urinary protein levels. The urinary excretion of thromboxane B2 was unaffected by the amount of dietary protein, but the urinary excretion of 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha was lower in the low protein diet group. Furthermore, the urinary excretion of kallikrein increased significantly in rats on high protein diet. These results suggest that manipulation of dietary protein may alter the natural course of renal failure induced by subtotal nephrectomy in spontaneously hypertensive rats. PMID- 2632841 TI - Reversibility of primary pulmonary hypertension with vasodilator, anticoagulant and nocturnal oxygen therapy. AB - Successful vasodilator therapy of a 19 year old woman with primary pulmonary hypertension is described. Long-term home oxygen therapy during sleep (2 1/min, 8 hours) in combination with vasodilator drugs (prazosin 2 mg and long-acting ISDN 20 mg bid) and an anticoagulant (ticlopidine 100 mg bid) brought significant reduction of pulmonary artery pressure and a rise of cardiac output 3 years later. This combination therapy may be effective in selected patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. PMID- 2632842 TI - High activity of acid phosphatase of Pseudomonas pseudomallei as a possible attribute relating to its pathogenicity. AB - Phosphatase activities were compared quantitatively among selected species of pseudomonads. P. pseudomallei showed the highest activity of a bell-shaped pH pattern with a peak at around pH 5.0. P. cepacia had a similar pattern of milder intensity. In contrast, P. aeruginosa revealed an alkaline phosphatase activity with a pH optimum higher than 8.0, but the level of activity was much lower than those of the above two species. The enzymatic reactions of other species were slight or negligible at their optimum pH in the same test system. These data were discussed in reference to their growth behavior in different pH environments and also in connection with such recent information that the high activity of microbial acid phosphatase may be a favorable attribute to their intracellular parasitism. PMID- 2632843 TI - [Mechanism for symptoms: keypoints in nursing observation. Lymphatic swelling]. PMID- 2632844 TI - [Am I a failure as a mother? Mrs. S. who suffered from maternity blues]. PMID- 2632845 TI - [Ms. T. who taught us the importance of gentle sensitivity]. PMID- 2632846 TI - [Information on nursing care obtained from patients]. PMID- 2632847 TI - [Patient information used in nursing: a case study]. PMID- 2632848 TI - [The minimum standard for nursing information at abolition of the system of information transfer between shifts]. PMID- 2632849 TI - [Evaluation of nursing history taking at admission based on the purpose of nursing assessment]. PMID- 2632850 TI - [Data collection using the Cornell Medical Index (CMI) Health Questionnaire and nursing evaluation]. PMID- 2632851 TI - [Questions on the system of patient information transfer between nursing shifts]. PMID- 2632853 TI - [Profile of a nurse. Ms. Yoko Kihara, representing a "Community Nursing Care Planning" organization]. PMID- 2632852 TI - [A nursing home in New York: current topics]. PMID- 2632854 TI - [An essay by the organizer of a patients' organization: professional attitude]. PMID- 2632855 TI - [Concept of nursing according to Roy's nursing theory]. PMID- 2632856 TI - [Death of my father: sincerity and honesty in facing death]. PMID- 2632857 TI - [Welfare and medical care in an aging society. 35. Problems in geriatric nursing]. PMID- 2632858 TI - [Recovery from a near-fatal acute myocardial infarction. 1]. PMID- 2632859 TI - [Mechanism for symptoms: key points in nursing observation. Cognition disorders]. PMID- 2632860 TI - [Psychological approach in nursing. Delusion associated with alcoholism]. PMID- 2632861 TI - [Tenderness in nursing shown by a nursing supervisor]. PMID- 2632862 TI - [Mechanism of sleep and insomnia]. PMID- 2632863 TI - [Nursing management of the factors responsible for insomnia]. PMID- 2632864 TI - [Pharmacological information on medication to be used for the treatment of insomnia]. PMID- 2632865 TI - [Nursing innovations to solve problems of insomnia]. PMID- 2632867 TI - [Criteria of nurses' and caretakers' duties at a home for the aged requiring special care, and a suggestion to nursing]. PMID- 2632866 TI - [A night at a hospital: monologue by a night-duty nurse]. PMID- 2632868 TI - [Probing the mind of a patient facing death]. PMID- 2632869 TI - [Effective health education for patients in the puerperal period: evaluation based on the extent of comprehension, fatigue and pain]. PMID- 2632870 TI - [A profile of nursing personnel. Mr. Kazuyoshi Yamamoto, head of a department of physical therapy at Daito City Public Health Clinic, who promotes regional rehabilitation programs]. PMID- 2632871 TI - [An essay by the organizer of a patients' organization: anger at the current state of terminal care]. PMID- 2632872 TI - [On Roy's nursing theory. 2. Humanity: man as an adaptable system]. PMID- 2632873 TI - [Keypoints in terminal care: a lesson from my father's death]. PMID- 2632874 TI - [Welfare and medical care in the aging society. 36. Geriatric nursing and nurses]. PMID- 2632875 TI - [Recovery from a near fatal acute myocardial infarction. 2. A long day]. PMID- 2632876 TI - [New curriculum for nursing education. An interview with Ms. Yasuko Aoki and Ms. Eiko Isuda by S. Nagao and T. Takeno]. PMID- 2632877 TI - [New curriculum for midwifery education. An interview with Ms. Toyoko Toshima]. PMID- 2632878 TI - [New curriculum for public health nursing education. An interview with Ms. Asako Hirayama and Ms. Nobuko Yamamoto]. PMID- 2632879 TI - [An outline of a revised curriculum for nursing education]. PMID- 2632880 TI - [Expectation on nursing education: improvement at the National Nursing Examination and the tendencies indicated by new curricula]. PMID- 2632881 TI - [An interview with Ms. Hanako Fukazawa, Professor at Sapporo Medical College School of Nursing]. PMID- 2632882 TI - [Psychiatric nursing. I. Laws governing psychiatric care and psychiatric nursing]. PMID- 2632883 TI - [Psychiatric nursing I. The position of psychiatric nursing within the framework of nursing]. PMID- 2632884 TI - [Psychiatric nursing I. From psychiatric nursing to psychological nursing. Nursing in the psychiatric department and methodology in psychiatric nursing. 1]. PMID- 2632885 TI - [Psychiatric nursing. I. From psychiatric nursing to psychological nursing. Nursing in the psychiatric department and methodology in psychiatric nursing. 2]. PMID- 2632886 TI - [For the discovery of a direction in nursing studies by students: preparation of a teaching outline for the "life environment"]. PMID- 2632887 TI - [Exchange between American nursing colleges and Kitasato University--for the establishment of a graduate school of nursing (2). Opinions of nursing instructors at American nursing colleges concerning the concept of graduate schools]. PMID- 2632888 TI - [Interview with Ms. Michiko Ehata, Professor at Nagoya University School of Medical Technology]. PMID- 2632890 TI - [Guidelines for the management of schools of public health nursing]. PMID- 2632889 TI - [Significance of teaching social welfare in nursing training]. PMID- 2632891 TI - [Guidelines for the management of schools for midwives]. PMID- 2632892 TI - [Guidelines for the management of schools of nursing]. PMID- 2632894 TI - [A guide for the operation of schools for public health nursing]. PMID- 2632893 TI - [Guidelines for the management of schools for practical nursing]. PMID- 2632895 TI - [A guide for the operation of schools for midwives]. PMID- 2632896 TI - [A guide for the operation of schools of nursing]. PMID- 2632897 TI - [A guide for the operation of schools of practical nursing]. PMID- 2632898 TI - Effects of venous pressure elevation on myogenic vasoconstrictive responses to static and dynamic arterial pressures. AB - In order to establish the nature of the stretch-evoked dynamic properties of vascular smooth muscle in arterioles, we have examined the static and dynamic effects of both arterial pulse pressure and elevated venous pressure on the resistance vessels (arteries and arterioles) in an intestinal mesenteric preparation derived from dogs. The dynamic myogenic response to stretch stimuli was directly related to both the frequency of arterial pulse pressure (1-20 c/min) and the level of venous pressure (0-45 mmHg). Under elevated venous pressure (20 mmHg), the mean arterial flow decreased with an increase in the frequency of arterial pulse pressure. The arteriolar vascular tone (namely, vascular resistance) was seen to be enhanced. We found that elevated venous pressure promotes active constriction (9-53%) of arteriolar smooth muscle (myogenic mechanism). The elevation of venous pressure also caused a rhythmic constriction (vasomotion) in the site of both vein and artery, which was completely abolished by an alpha-blocker (phentolamine). The results suggest that during venous pressure elevation a very pronounced myogenic constriction in terminal arterioles is caused by either a local neural reflex or a propagated myogenic response in the arteriolar network. PMID- 2632899 TI - Temporal changes of plasma erythropoietin level in hypobaric hypoxic mice and the influence of an altered blood oxygen affinity. AB - Temporal changes of plasma erythropoietin (Epo) in mice exposed to hypobaric hypoxia were studied by a fetal mouse liver cell culture method. Since a colony formation inhibitory activity was found in the mouse plasma, thirteen pretreatment procedures for bioassay were compared and the procedure of shaking with chloroform followed by dialysis was concluded to be the best. When normal mice (P50 = 40.4 +/- 2.2 Torr) were exposed to hypoxia of 350 Torr, the plasma Epo level was elevated, with peak at the 2nd to 3rd day, and afterwards declined gradually. On the contrary, cyanated mice (P50 = 30.1 +/- 1.5 Torr) showed much less of the Epo response when exposed to 350 Torr. Under 200 Torr hypoxia, both mice exhibited a similar and remarkable extent of the response. These results suggest that the renal Epo-producing tissue or its oxygen-sensing system is less hypoxic in cyanated mice than in normal mice under 350 Torr, and that the physiologically optimal oxygen affinity of blood is variable depending on hypoxic degrees. The fact that the inhibitory activity showed an inverse temporal change to that of Epo, suggested a possible important role of this activity in the regulation of erythropoiesis under hypoxia. PMID- 2632900 TI - Blood flow redistribution during spontaneous wheel walk of the rat. AB - Changes in regional blood flow and arterial pressure in the rat during spontaneous walk in a wheel were observed. An electromagnetic flow probe was implanted around the carotid, superior mesenteric, or renal artery, or the terminal aorta and a catheter for pressure measurement was inserted into the terminal aorta or the common carotid artery. The wheel had a diameter of 35 cm and rotated passively as the rat walked. When hindquarter (terminal aortic) flow increased markedly during wheel walk, carotid flow decreased, superior mesenteric flow decreased or remained unchanged, and renal flow did not change. Arterial pressure remained almost unchanged and heart rate increased an average of about 10%. Semiquantitative considerations indicated that arterial pressure was maintained in the face of the profuse increase in hindquarter flow during wheel walk by an increase in cardiac output rather than shifts of blood flow from other regions. PMID- 2632901 TI - Differences in stimulatory effects between rat pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor-61 and -56 on rat pancreas. AB - Two types of pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitors (PSTIs) were recently purified from rat pancreatic juice. One consisted of 61 (PSTI-61) and the other of 56 (PSTI-56) amino acid residues. PSTI-61 has been reported to elicit cholecystokinin (CCK) release when injected into the duodenum. Since no information has been available about the action of PSTI-56 on CCK release, the two PSTIs were compared for their stimulatory effect on CCK release and pancreatic exocrine secretions in conscious rats after intraduodenal administration. Rats were prepared with bile and pancreatic fistulae and with two duodenal cannulae. Pancreatic juice was excluded from the duodenum for 48 h prior to the experiment because rat PSTIs were trypsin sensitive. PSTI-61 significantly stimulated pancreatic secretions and increased plasma CCK concentrations from 3.6 to 6.5 pM, whereas PSTI-56 had no effect on either CCK release or pancreatic secretions. It is suggested that the action as a regulator for CCK release and pancreatic secretions is possessed only by PSTI-61, but not by PSTI-56. PMID- 2632902 TI - Comparative effects of mammalian pancreastatins on the pancreatic exocrine secretion. AB - We have reported that porcine pancreastatin inhibits cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion in conscious rats. In the present study, the effects of mammalian pancreastatins on exocrine pancreatic functions in rats were compared using synthetic pancreastatins (porcine, bovine, human, and rat). Rats were prepared with cannulae draining pure pancreatic juice and bile separately and a duodenal cannula to return bile-pancreatic juice to the intestine and with a jugular vein cannula. After 90-min basal collection of pancreatic juice, CCK-8 (100 pmol/(kg.h] was infused for 3 h with or without pancreastatins (100 pmol/(kg.h]. All pancreastatins significantly inhibited protein output at an equivalent molar potency. These results suggest that mammalian pancreastatins have the same biological activity of a comparable magnitude and exert a similar biological action on the exocrine pancreas. PMID- 2632903 TI - The nature of choleresis induced by deoxycholate and its conjugates in the rabbit. AB - A hypothesis for the mechanism of bile salt-induced choleresis with increased bile bicarbonate concentration (cholehepatic recycling; CHR), requires a relatively high pK'a value of a bile salt to be easily protonated in bile canaliculi. If the choleresis induced by taurodeoxycholate and glycodeoxycholate (which increase bile bicarbonate concentration in rabbits) is to be explained by this thesis, these bile salts must be extensively deconjugated in the liver, enabling a bile salt having a higher pK'a value, free deoxycholate, to undergo CHR. With a stepwise increase in the infusion rate, the increments of bicarbonate concentration, as well as the bile flow rate induced by taurodeoxycholate and glycodeoxycholate, were as efficient as those caused by an equimolar infusion of deoxycholate. With infusion of conjugated deoxycholates, the major bile salts excreted in the bile were those which had been infused. In studies with conjugated deoxycholates, unconjugated deoxycholate was not detectable in the bile. Furthermore, deoxycholate concentration in the liver significantly increased after a 2-h infusion of deoxycholate but did not increase after infusion of either glycodeoxycholate or taurodeoxycholate. The present results suggest that the choleresis induced by conjugated deoxycholates in rabbits requires an explanation other than CHR of deoxycholate. PMID- 2632904 TI - Circulatory and respiratory responses to lower body negative pressure in man. AB - Circulatory and ventilatory responses to lower body negative pressure (LBNP) were simultaneously investigated in 8 healthy men before, during, and after the application of -20, -40, and -60 mmHg pressure. Minute ventilation (VE) decreased during LBNP due to a fall in respiratory frequency with sustained tidal volume. The cardiac output (Q) was reduced in proportion to the applied LBNP exposure, while VE decreased to almost the same level at all LBNP applications. In spite of decreased VE, end-tidal PO2 and PCO2 were increased and decreased, respectively, indicating a relative alveolar hyperventilation. The ventilation equivalent for O2 (VE/VO2) increased, while the cardiac output equivalent for O2 (Q/VO2) decreased. The relation between VE/VO2 and Q/VO2 showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.93, p less than 0.01). The veno-arterial CO2 concentration difference (CvCO2--CaCO2) increased with LBNP, due to a fall in CaCO2 with constant CvCO2. The constant CvCO2 indicated a constant tissue acid-base balance. These observations suggest the existence of a ventilatory mechanism improving the efficiency of respiration in order to compensate for the sustained LBNP depression of Q at a given gas exchange. PMID- 2632905 TI - Effect of acute cold-exposure on norepinephrine turnover and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue and metabolic rate in MSG-induced obese mice. AB - Mice treated neonatally with monosodium-L-glutamate (MSG) are known to develop into obese adults without hyperphagia, which are characterized by the reduced levels in the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and the thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in the thermoneutral environment. The present study revealed that an acute cold-exposure (5 degrees C, 1 h) of these animals resulted in the increase in norepinephrine turnover and mitochondrial-5'-diphosphate (GDP) binding in the interscapular BAT as well as the guanosine RMR, suggesting a normal thermogenic responsiveness of BAT to cold. PMID- 2632906 TI - Decreases in left ventricular contractility during endotoxin shock in rabbits. AB - The participation of the heart in shock syndrome formation during endotoxin shock is a problem still awaiting solution. The task undertaken is to assess the work of the left ventricle and arterial pressure in rabbits before and after endotoxin injection at a dose of 2 mg.kg-1. Heart rate is the first to reach significantly lower values--at 30 min (p less than 0.05). At 45 min, there are significant reductions in dP/dtmax (p less than 0.01), (dp/dt)/P40 (p less than 0.001), LVP (p less than 0.05), and increase in dP/dtneg (p less than 0.02). Both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly decreased at 60 min. The data obtained warrant the assumption that impaired myocardial contractility plays a part in the formation of shock syndrome in rabbits exposed to endotoxin. PMID- 2632907 TI - Seasonal changes in energy reserves in the common frog, Rana tigrina. AB - Liver glycogen and lipid, ovarian glycogen, and lipid index were used as criteria to elucidate energy changes associated with reproduction and biphasic pattern of dormancy (summer and winter) in the female forg, Rana tigrina. Liver glycogen showed 2 peaks; the ovarian glycogen showed reciprocal relationship with that of liver. The liver lipid and glycogen showed parallel trend. PMID- 2632908 TI - [Continuous electric stimulation of the heart in sick sinus syndrome]. PMID- 2632909 TI - [Our experience using continuous atrial stimulation in sick sinus syndrome]. AB - Temporary atrial pacing (AAI) was applied in 31 patients with sick sinus syndrome (S.S.S.), including 20 with tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (t.b.s.). In all patients before pacemaker implantation atrioventricular conduction was estimated using rapid left atrial, transoseophegeal stimulation assuming Wenckebach's point over 120 imp./min to be a physiological one. In all cases, but one ventricular electrodes were implanted and connected with multiprogrammable pacemakers (MP). Follow-up time ranged from 3 to 38 months (mean 18,4). Electrode dislodgment was not observed. In 9 persons sensing disorders were observed but thanks to programming the pacemaker sensitivity they could be resolved almost in all of them. Second degree Mobitz type I a-v block occurred in 3 patients during a long term follow-up. In one of them changing the pacing mode to VVI was necessary. In persons with tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome cardiac pacing together with pharmacologic therapy allowed to almost eliminate tachycardia attacks. Authors positively estimated AAI pacing mode. PMID- 2632910 TI - [Effect of pharmacologic blockade of the autonomic nervous system on electrophysiologic properties of the accessory pathway and atrioventricular node in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome]. AB - In 17 patients aged 21-61 (mean 32) with WPW syndrome the transoseophageal stimulation was performed before and after intravenous administration of propranolol (0.1 mg/kg b.w.) and atropine (0.02 mg/kg b.w.). Pharmacological blockade of the autonomic nervous system resulted in statistically significant increase of heart rate (from 81 to 111/min), shortening of a-v nodal and atrial refraction (from 298 to 272 ms) as well as in shortening of stimuli cycle length revealing Wenckebach's point (from 324 to 291 ms). The Kent bundle refraction did not at the average change (333 and 324 ms), while in individuals great differences were observed. Generally, pharmacological blockade of the autonomic nervous system improves a-v nodal conduction, but in patients with WPW syndrome does not significantly effect on the accessory pathway. PMID- 2632911 TI - [Evaluation of the relative biological availability of amiodarone Polfa preparation after extravascular administration of a single dose]. AB - Relative bioavailability of amiodarone was studied in 10 healthy volunteers after its 600 mg single dose administration. Mean values of individual maximal concentrations and time for reaching them did not significantly differ and were respectively 0.828 +/- 0.401 microgram/ml and 4.4 +/- 1.5 h for Amiodarone preparation Polfa and 0.541 +/- 0.207 microgram/ml and 5.2 +/- 1.6 h for Cordarone preparation. Bioavailability extent (EBA) of examined preparation was 120 per cent in comparison with the standard one. Amiodarone absorption from both preparations was slow and individually diversified. Absorption rate constant Ka did not statistically significant differ and was respectively 0.35 +/- 0.10 1/h and 0.49 +/- 0.35 1/h. Obtained data indicated that both preparations were biologically equivalent. PMID- 2632912 TI - [Effect of dipyridamole on the functional state of the atrioventricular node]. AB - Effect of dipyridamole on sinoatrial node function was evaluated in 24 patients during invasive cardiac electrophysiological examination. 3 multipolar USCI electrodes were inserted into the heart through femoral veins using Seldinger's method. Intracardiac potentials (A, H, V) and ecg tracings (I, II, III, aVR leads) were recorded during sinus rhythm and right atrial stimulation - continous, with gradually increasing pacing frequency and during extrastimulation, with gradually shortening of coupling interval. 0.5 mg/kg b.w. of dipyridamole (Curantyl, Germed, GDR) was intravenously administrated. During the initial examination and 5 minutes after the end of a drug injection following parameters were estimated: sinus cycle length (SCL), sinoatrial conduction time using Narula's and Strauss's methods (respectively SACTN, SACTS), maximal, corrected and standardized sinus node recovery time (respectively SNRTmax, SNRTcor, SNRTnorm) and maximal second postimulation pause (II pause max). Statistically significant (p less than 0.01) shortening of SCL by 26%, SACTN by 17%, SACTS by 13% SNRT max by 21%, II pause max by 26% was observed after dipyridamole administration. Only in the patient with sinoatrial node dysfunction dangerous bradycardia occurred. PMID- 2632913 TI - [A case of ectopic junctional tachycardia]. PMID- 2632914 TI - [Transcutaneous stimulation of the heart ventricles: its effectiveness, comfort during the examination and new diagnostic possibility]. AB - An attempt of assessment of transcutaneous cardiac pacing tolerance in healthy volunteers was carried out as well as abilities of this method utilization for examination of retrograde atrioventricular conduction. Ventricles were paced through highohm electrodes positioned on the chest wall with simultaneous recordings of transoesophageal ecg at the level of the left atrium and the sphygmogram of the right common corotid artery. Pacing perception threshold, skeletal muscle stimulation threshold, cardiac pacing threshold, algesic and myo respiratory threshold of examination tolerance were estimated. Effective ventricular pacing within the range of stimulation tolerance was obtained in 10 of 15 patients (67%). Mean ventricular pacing threshold was higher than pacing perception and skeletal muscles stimulation thresholds (42 mA; 9.4 mA and 20.2 mA). Ventricular pacing threshold was lower than algesic and muscles thresholds of examination tolerance (60-70 mA) warranting relatively good tolerance of transcutaneous cardiac ventricular pacing. In 8 of 10 persons with effective ventricular stimulation retrograde a-v nodal conduction was stated which proved that transcutaneous cardiac ventricular stimulation can be used for noninvasive assessment of retrograde a-v nodal conduction. PMID- 2632915 TI - [Long-term results of repeated defibrillation in cardiac fibrillation in patients with ischemic heart disease]. PMID- 2632916 TI - [Sick sinus syndrome in myocardial infarct]. PMID- 2632917 TI - [Fontana-type operation in surgery of severe congenital defects in criss-cross heart]. PMID- 2632918 TI - [Catheterization of the right heart and pulmonary artery in acute myocardial infarction: methods and complications]. PMID- 2632919 TI - [Work capacity of patients after resection of post-infarction heart aneurysm]. AB - The paper provides data of a ten-year follow-up of 51 patients who underwent postinfarction left ventricular aneurysmectomy in the All-Union Surgery Research Center with a view to verifying the degree of working capacity loss. In the long term period, out of them 37 persons (72.5%) had Group II disability, 10 (19.6%) had easier managerial jobs (4 persons (7.8%) had not worked before surgery) and 3 (5.9%) retired on their old-age pension. The surgical therapy for postinfarction cardiac aneurysm significantly improves the functional status and physical working capacity in 72.5% of the patients. PMID- 2632920 TI - [Bicycle ergometry training during the sanatorium stage of patient rehabilitation after insertion of aortic valve prosthesis]. AB - A sanatorium stage in the rehabilitation of patients who have aortic valve prosthesis is of great importance. The impact of bicycle ergometric trainings on these patients' physical rehabilitation had been little studied. Bicycle ergometric testing prior to and following the training and examination of external respiratory parameters enabled their efficiency to be increased. Bicycle ergometric trainings were demonstrated to improve the patients' status, to increase their physical working capacity, to result in a positive dynamics in heart rates and oxygen consumption. Following 1 year, the patients who had had trainings showed higher physical fitness for work, better indices in oxygen consumption, oxygen pulse, and metabolic units. PMID- 2632921 TI - [Dynamics of clinical and functional parameters in patients with ischemic heart disease after aortocoronary bypass surgery]. AB - Complete myocardial revascularization was examined for effects on long-term results of aortocoronary bypass surgery in 219 patients. Myocardial revascularization was proposed to be divided into: (1) truely complete; (2) tentatively complete; and (3) partial. Clinical and functional parameters deteriorated in tentatively complete and partial myocardial revascularization as compared with truely complete revascularization. A positive dynamics in abnormal Q wave signs was found in 9% of the patients after the surgery in the presence of the wave in ECG leads corresponding to the anterior left ventricular wall, in the absence of signs of myocardial asynergy prior to the surgery, and on complete recovery of blood flow in the shunts supplying the diseased myocardial areas. PMID- 2632922 TI - [Sanatorium-resort treatment in a low-mountain region of patients with ischemic heart disease after aortocoronary bypass]. AB - Sanatorium treatment of patients with coronary heart disease performed in Kislovodsk 6-8 months after aortocoronary bypass leads to a substantial improvement of the functional status of patients without anginal episodes and with Functional Classes I and II angina pectoris. PMID- 2632923 TI - [Aneurysm of the membranous heart septum]. AB - Cardiac membranous septal aneurysm is a rare congenital abnormality which occurs in 0.3% of patients as suspected congenital heart disease and in 19.1% as suspected ventricular septal defect. The main method for its diagnosis is biplane cineangiocardiography along with ventricular contrast injection. The patients with membranous septal aneurysm without hemodynamic abnormalities, complications, and concomitance with other congenital heart diseases require outpatient cardiologist's observation. Hemodynamic abnormalities, complications, and concurrent heart diseases are indications for surgery. PMID- 2632924 TI - [Characteristics of the clinical course of myocardial infarct during acute and functionally restorative periods in patients with concomitant bronchial asthma]. AB - A comprehensive clinical and instrumental examination of patients aged 45 years or more with coronary heart disease and bronchial asthma (BA) indicated that the incidence of documented large myocardial infarction was high and equal to 24.3%. In patients with a long history of BA, myocardial infarction was more frequently characterized by a typical anginal onset, clinical symptoms of the concomitant lung disease regressing. No substantial differences were found in the site and magnitude of focal changes, in the incidence of first and recurrent myocardial infarctions among the patients with a prior history of BA and among those who had myocardial infarction before BA manifestations. An older age and shorter history of angina pectoris were typical of patients sustaining myocardial infarction in the presence of a long-term prior course of BA. Late complications of myocardial infarction included aggravated concurrent BA more frequently (25%), which was largely of allergic origin and pathogenetically applied to the postinfarction syndrome. PMID- 2632925 TI - [Effects of transcranial electrostimulation of the opioid systems on reparative processes in patients with myocardial infarct]. AB - Sixty three patients with primary excessive myocardial infarction (MI) were examined. Transcranial electric stimulation (TES) was demonstrated to contribute to more rapid formation of a postinfarction scar, development of compensatory hypertrophy of the preserved myocardium, and improvement of cardiac contractility. TES-induced activation of the endogenous opioid system was found to be one of the mechanisms responsible for stimulation of reparative processes in patients with MI. Introduction of TES into the multimodality therapy for MI improves the clinical picture of the disease, promoting diminution of circulatory failure signs and relapses of angina-associated pains and favoring decrease in the long-term course of MI and frequency of cardiac arrhythmias. PMID- 2632926 TI - [Rehabilitation of patients after heart surgery: experience and problems]. AB - The problem of rehabilitation of cardiac surgical patients is of great humane and socioeconomic significance. Over years, a great scientific and practical experience has gained in rehabilitating patients with acquired and congenital heart diseases after surgical correction. Stages of rehabilitation, a complex of medical, somatic, psychological, and socio-occupational measures are specified. Substantial shortcomings in medical labour examination of operated patients lead to an increase in the number of disabled persons. There is a lag in the study into the problem of patients with coronary heart disease after aortocoronary bypass. PMID- 2632927 TI - [Morphological study of the damaged myocardium in autopsies with previous ECG and blood enzyme test evidence of various clinical forms of ischemic heart disease during exacerbation phase]. AB - Of 98 patients who died from myocardial infarction as evidenced by sectional and histological examinations, during their life 74 had had signs of extensive myocardial infarction (EMI), 11 had presented with small myocardial infarction (SMI), 10, focal myocardial dystrophy (FMD), 3, angina pectoris (AP). In the acute period, the highest values of hyperenzymia, CPK, MB-CPK, ACT, LDH1, LDH2, and enzyme ratios were revealed in EMI, the lowest ones were seen in AP; SMI and FMD stood midway. A significant moderate direct relationship was established between the maximum activity of CPK, MB-CPK, and LDH1 and the histological sizes of ischemic necrosis as documented by planimetry. It was suggested that the topography and site of ischemic lesion determined life-time ECG evidence of respective clinical forms of coronary heart disease during its exacerbation, and the severity of hyperenzymia governed necrotic mass. PMID- 2632928 TI - [Oxygen supply of the body in myocardial infarction]. AB - Oxygen transport and demand were examined in 71 patients with myocardial infarction within the first 5 weeks of the disease. The volume of blood transported oxygen was shown to be determined mainly by the blood circulatory minute volume. Lower arterial blood oxygen is an additional factor of diminished oxygen transport in hypodynamic central hemodynamics. Within the first 5-10 days of myocardial infarction, there was a progressive reduction in oxygen transport, but by days of 28-35, there was its gradual increase. These changes are the most prominent in patients with a hyperdynamic type and negligible in those with a hypodynamic type within the first 24 hours of myocardial infarction. The important of oxygen transport decrease compensation is its increased tissue extraction from arterial blood, thereby providing the stable oxygen demand in the wide range of its supply fluctuations. PMID- 2632929 TI - [Tl-201 perfusion scintigraphy of the myocardium in patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk (clinico-anatomical comparisons)]. AB - The clinical significance of 201Tl myocardial perfusion scintigraphy was studied in 7 patients with abnormal branch of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk and in 1 patient with that of the anterior interventricular artery from the pulmonary trunk. Radiological criteria for the defect were established on the basis of comparative analysis of the data of myocardial scintigraphy with those of electrocardiographic, coronary angiography and anatomic examinations. It was shown that it was feasible to make a differential diagnosis between abnormal left coronary artery branch and dilated cardiomyopathy and that the technique was of value for comparative assessment of the efficacy of various types of surgical treatment for abnormal left coronary artery ramus from the pulmonary trunk. PMID- 2632930 TI - [Tl-201 scintigraphy of the myocardium in combination with pharmacological tests in the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease]. AB - The paper presents the results from examination of 67 patients with coronary heart disease verified by coronary angiography. Sixty three patients had a bicycle ergometric tests, 48 underwent 201Tl myocardial scintigraphy along with a dipyridamole test, 19, the scintigraphy in combination with an isoproterenol test. The feasibilities of employing the procedures in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease were compared by statistic analysis. PMID- 2632931 TI - [Electrocardiographic loading tests in persons with various ECG changes (findings of epidemiological studies)]. AB - The results from a complex of functional electrocardiographic tests (exercise test, transesophageal pacing of the left atrium, dipyridamole test and cold test) were compared with resting ECG data by using epidemiological findings from a study conducted in Novosibirsk. In the absence of other signs of the disease, coronary heart disease was verified in 11.1% of the persons with prominent Q-QS waves, in 10.0% of those with small Q-QS, in 16% of those with slightly altered ST segment and T wave, in 35.3% with marked altered ST-T interval, and in 50% of those with marked altered ST-T interval in the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy. The total number of cases with coronary heart disease amounted to 20.8% in the presence of ischemic ECG changes. PMID- 2632932 TI - [State of the blood platelet link of hemostasis and microcirculation in patients with ischemic heart disease during plasmapheresis treatment]. AB - The paper provides the results of studies into plasmapheresis-induced changes in the thrombocytic link of hemostasis and microcirculation in 40 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Repeated sessions of plasmapheresis (P) were found to produce an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation and to improve microcirculation in CHD patients with signs of increased platelet functional activity. In CHD patients with low platelet functional activity, the first P session was demonstrated to cause an increase in platelet functional activity whereas the subsequent sessions inhibited platelet aggregation. No significant microcirculatory improvement was seen in this group of patients. Heparin and rheopolyglucin given to control patients exerted no substantial effect on the thrombocytic link of hemostasis and microcirculation. PMID- 2632933 TI - [Sympathetic-adrenal activity and arterial pressure at rest and during psychoemotional stress in patients with essential hypertension]. AB - No differences in urinary catecholamine excretion could be demonstrated in resting conditions between patients with essential hypertension, stages I-III, and normotensive subjects. Under psycho-emotional stress, adrenalin and noradrenaline excretion rose significantly, while diastolic BP increased, and systolic BP went down in patients with first-stage essential hypertension, aged 18-30 years, in contrast to their normotensive counterparts of similar age, an evidence of increased sympatho-adrenal reactivity of these patients. PMID- 2632934 TI - [Detection of ischemic heart disease in a survey of a male population 40-59 years of age (data of cooperative studies performed in Moscow, Kaunas, Kiev and Kharkov)]. AB - The authors analyzed the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and its various types detected by routine epidemiological methods among the examinees in four cities (Moscow, Kaunas, Kiev, and Kharkov). The results were obtained in the collaboration study, adhering to the rigid standardization of all the procedures applied. Examination of 17, 168 males aged 40-59 years revealed signs of CHD in 13.8%; 3.3% had a history of myocardial infarction; 5.3% suffered from exertional angina without prior myocardial infarction; 5.2% showed a painless course of CHD. The analysis demonstrated that simultaneous use of the standard epidemiological methods is the only way of ensuring a more complete detection of CHD. In different cities, from 36.4 to 60.8% were not aware of the presence of the disease. Secondary preventive measures should involve methods for identifying the major risk factors and eliminating the latter. PMID- 2632935 TI - [Evaluation of results of the exercise test in females with ischemic heart disease]. PMID- 2632936 TI - [Functional state of the left heart ventricle during isometric exercise test in patients with ischemic heart disease complicated by heart failure]. PMID- 2632937 TI - [Bilateral tumors of the adrenal cortical substance]. AB - The results of surgical treatment of 4 patients with bilateral tumors of the adrenal cortical substance are presented. In 1 patient, glucosteronoma was revealed, in 2--malignant glucoandrosteronoma, in 1--nonfunctioning cancer. The patients with functioning tumors were operated on in two stages with the interval of 3-4 weeks. In 1 patient, 3 years after removal of the left adrenal gland for cancer, a tumor of the contralateral gland was removed. In removing the nonfunctional tumors and aldosteronomas, the median laparotomy is expedient, in glucosteronomas and glucoandrosteronomas--extraperitoneal lumbotomic approach. All the patients are alive 1.5-8 years after the operation. PMID- 2632938 TI - [Algorithm of tactics in the surgical treatment of patients with urologic diseases]. AB - On the basis of mathematical-statistical analysis of clinical data, 5 risk degrees permitting to predict the course of the disease were distinguished. An algorithm for management of the urologic patients is suggested. PMID- 2632939 TI - [Angiographic criteria in the determination of indications for organ-preserving surgery in renal artery occlusion]. AB - According to the data of angiography, performed in 63 patients with occlusion of the renal artery, the additional ultrasound scanning being perfgrmed in some of them, the indications for the organ-preserving treatment have been developed. They are: the longitudinal kidney size of more than 9 cm, its regular outline, presence of collaterals. The involvement of the distal third of a kidney has negative effect on preservation of kidney viability. PMID- 2632941 TI - [Gastrointestinal hemorrhage after removal of brain tumors]. AB - The diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding after the removal of a brain tumor is very difficult due to the severity of the state of the patients. Treatment of the bleeding is effective only in influencing both its source and the higher vegetative centers. PMID- 2632940 TI - [Diagnosis and surgical treatment of traumatic hematomas of the posterior cranial fossa]. AB - On the basis of the analysis of 35 cases of traumatic hematomas of the posterior cranial fossa, the clinical manifestations, possibilities of diagnosis and surgical treatment of given pathology are presented. Timely diagnosis and surgical treatment are life-saving for the majority of patients. PMID- 2632942 TI - [Prognostication of the development of degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the hip joint in dysplasia]. AB - Examined were 184 children with dysplasia of the both hip joints and initial forms of a degenerative-dystrophic lesion. The roentgenologic signs of dysplasia of the hip joint, indicating the possible development of the degenerative dystrophic lesion were established. PMID- 2632943 TI - [Functional anatomy, diagnosis and treatment of chronic instability of the knee joint]. AB - On the basis of results of anatomical experimental, biomechanical investigations and 285 clinical observations, a new approach to the understanding of the problem of instability of the knee joint is suggested. It was proved, that instability of a joint developed in damage to a number of its structures. A classification of the anteromedial and anterolateral instability has been developed. PMID- 2632944 TI - [Surgical treatment of patients with non-organ teratomas of the small pelvis]. AB - Of 86 patients with extra-organic teratomas of the small pelvis, 52 (60.5%) underwent radical operations, 22 children and 30 adults at the age of from 3 mos to 60 years. Benign neoplasms were removed in 33 (89.2%) of 37, malignant--in 19 (38.7%) of 49. In 48% of patients, the lower approaches were used, in 23.1%--the upper, in 28.9%--combined. In 16 (30.7%) patients, the combined interventions were performed. Eighteen (34.6%) patients developed complications. One (1.9%) female patient died. The long-term results of the treatment of teratoblastomas are unsatisfactory. PMID- 2632945 TI - [Characteristics and surgical treatment of nodular goiter in middle-aged and aged patients]. AB - Four hundred and two elderly and senile patients with nodular goiter were operated on. In most of them, hypothyrosis (decreased triiodothyronine level and increased thyrotropic hormone content in the blood) was revealed; in all- concomitant diseases (2.9 per a patient) and immunologic disorders; in 47%- cervico-retrosternal location of a goiter. In 65.2% of goiter preparations, the degenerative-sclerotic changes were found, in 33%--lymphoid infiltration of stroma, in 18.7%--malignant growth. Operation is the most effective method of treating elderly and senile patients with nodular goiter. It should be of little trauma relative to normal parenchyma. PMID- 2632946 TI - [Anesthesiologic management in experimental surgical interventions on the heart and major blood vessels]. AB - On 26 mongrel dogs with a mass of 8-26 kg, 5 methods of anesthesiologic maintenance of operative interventions on the heart and major vessels were studied. An optimal method has been found. PMID- 2632947 TI - [Surgical treatment of postoperative recurrences of thyrotoxicosis associated with autoimmune thyroiditis]. AB - Of 228 patients operated on for postoperative recurrence of diffuse toxic goiter, in 77 (33.8%) thyrotoxicosis was associated with autoimmune thyroiditis. The method of surgical treatment stipulated preservation of the optimal volume of thyroid gland parenchyma with regard to autoimmune processes, objectivization of a stump size, a number of technical manoeuvres. Analysis of the immediate and long-term results of treatment confirms the expediency to perform reoperations in such patients. PMID- 2632948 TI - [Puncture scrotostomy--a treatment method in acute inflammatory diseases of the scrotal organs]. AB - A method for the treatment of acute inflammatory diseases of the scrotal organs by means of puncture scrotostomy, which consists in passing the indwelling micro irrigator into a cavity of the serous sheath of the testis and epididymis and administration via this route of antibacterial and resolving preparations for 4-5 days, is suggested. A method approved in treatment of 45 patients permits to avoid surgical intervention, and is highly effective. PMID- 2632949 TI - [Long-term results of complex treatment of spasmodic torticollis]. AB - The early and long-term results of the treatment of the patients with tonic form of spasmodic torticollis using the own method, which includes the removal of the whole involved sternocleidomastoid muscle with fascia and prolonged postoperative therapy, were studied. A method is more effective than the stereosurgical intervention, causes no neurologic complications. PMID- 2632950 TI - [Jugular-axillary bypass in the surgical treatment of post-thrombotic occlusion of the subclavian vein]. AB - On the basis of investigations on 20 cadavers, the authors have pathogenetically substantiated and developed a method of jugular-axillary bypass. By means of the suggested method, 3 patients were operated on, the long-term results are good. PMID- 2632951 TI - [Use of combined epidural anesthesia in surgery on the organs of the upper abdominal cavity with preserved spontaneous respiration]. PMID- 2632952 TI - [Clinical classification of cold injuries and prognostication of the depth of tissue damage during the acute period]. PMID- 2632953 TI - [Urinary pseudocysts of the retroperitoneal space in ureteral injuries]. PMID- 2632954 TI - [A rare complication of metallo-osteosynthesis of the clavicle]. PMID- 2632955 TI - [A complication of conduction anesthesia]. PMID- 2632956 TI - [Restoration of fertility after conservative treatment of tuberculous epididymitis]. PMID- 2632957 TI - [Complicated giant ovarian cysts simulating ascites]. PMID- 2632958 TI - [Association of undetected extra-uterine abdominal and complicated tubal pregnancy]. PMID- 2632959 TI - [Chondritis and osteomyelitis of the ribs]. PMID- 2632960 TI - [Radiotherapy of diabetic arthropathy of the feet]. PMID- 2632961 TI - [Pulsating intrapelvic hematoma as a complication of a trans-acetabular fracture]. PMID- 2632962 TI - [A case of Madelung's syndrome]. PMID- 2632963 TI - [Cryotherapy of breast fistulas]. PMID- 2632964 TI - [Multi-flap osteoplastic trepanation of the skull]. PMID- 2632965 TI - [Postoperative analgesia by endolymphatic administration of analgin]. PMID- 2632966 TI - [Anesthesiologic management in surgery of diseases of the omental processes of the colon]. PMID- 2632968 TI - [Resection of the kidney using a clamp]. PMID- 2632967 TI - [Treatment of post-traumatic alopecia by the use of dermotension]. PMID- 2632969 TI - [Use of a new cutaneo-fascial islet flap from the posterior surface of the thigh for plastic surgery of wound defects in the region of the knee joint]. PMID- 2632970 TI - [Quantitative immunomorphological criteria in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases]. AB - Quantitative assessment of the degree of pronouncement of lymphoid infiltration in the micropreparations of the thyroid gland (TG) allows to define the index of lymphoid infiltration according to which autoimmune reactions and autoimmune diseases can be differentiated. Similar reaction of stroma in cancer, nodular and mixed euthyroid, goiter and TG adenoma permits to consider the patients with nodular goiter as a group of risk for the development of cancer. PMID- 2632971 TI - [A device for rehabilitation of the muscles of the upper limbs]. PMID- 2632972 TI - [Conduction anesthesia of the brachial plexus in surgery on the upper limbs]. PMID- 2632973 TI - [Improvement in the catheterization of the epidural space]. PMID- 2632974 TI - [Differential diagnosis of thyroid cancer]. AB - Of 3229 patients with diseases of the thyroid gland, in 71 we revealed cancer, in 61--ossified goiter, in 2--cast iron stroma, in 25--autoimmune thyroiditis, in 5- median and lateral cervical hydrocele, in 1 case each--neurinoma, thymoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. The complex clinico-radionuclide investigation of the patients contributes to accurate definition of diagnosis and choice of an adequate operative intervention. PMID- 2632975 TI - [The Booster test in the diagnosis of glaucoma]. AB - The goal of investigations was the answer the question wheather the results of Booster's test are different in healthy persons, in persons with ocular hypertension and persons with glaucoma. The mean amplitude in persons with healthy eyes was 4.8 mm Hg (0.64 kPa), in ocular hypertension--8.3 mm Hg (1.11 kPa) and in glaucoma 11.0 mm Hg (1.47 kPa). Differences between particular groups are statistically significant. This demonstrates the value of the Booster's test for early diagnosis of glaucoma. PMID- 2632976 TI - [Relation between optic disk changes and visual fields and the intraocular pressure values in primary glaucoma]. AB - On the basis of archival records of 1463 patients treated in the period 1964-1986 the author isolated the cases of primary open angle glaucoma (2248 eyes) and closed angle glaucoma (333 eyes). The influence of the intraocular pressure on the grade of damage done to the nervous fibres and manifesting itself by pathological changes of the optic disc and visual field was analyzed. It was discovered that this influence was statistically significant especially in cases of closed angle glaucoma. PMID- 2632977 TI - [Relation between optic disk changes and visual fields and the outflow coefficient values in primary glaucoma]. AB - On the basis of archival records of 1463 patients the author isolated the cases of primary open angle glaucoma (2248 eyes) and closed angle glaucoma (333 eyes). The influence of the outflow factor on the grade of damage of nervous fibres manifesting itself by changes in the optic disc and abnormalities of the visual field was analyzed. It showed that this influence was statistically significant especially in cases of closed angle glaucoma. PMID- 2632978 TI - [Laser trabeculoplasty in open-angle glaucoma. Personal experience]. AB - Twenty one patients (26 eyes) who were subjected to laser trabeculoplasty in the 360 degrees range were observed. Normalization of the intraocular pressure was obtained in 76.9 p.c. of cases. The outflow coefficient (C) increased after trabeculoplasty in 57.6 p.c. of cases. The analysis of results suggests that the trabeculoplasty surgery is less effective in young persons below 40 years of age and in cases with a very low outflow coefficient. PMID- 2632979 TI - [Our results of laser trabeculoplasty in simple glaucoma]. AB - In 24 patients with simple glaucoma in whom the IOP did not normalize under the conservative treatment the authors checked--between others--the Po, the outflow coefficient (C) and calculated Po/C. Laser trabeculoplasty was performed subsequently. The enumerated indexes were examined the day after surgery, then after the 1-st and 2-nd week, after a month and 2 months. In the majority of cases the coefficient C showed an improvement and normalization of the IOP distinctly seen till the 1-st month after operation. In subsequent observations 5 persons showed a renewed deterioration of the hydrodynamic conditions and the intervention was repeated leading to an improvement in 3 cases. In consideration of the lack of normalization of the IOP in 2 persons it was necessary to subject them to a surgical procedure. PMID- 2632980 TI - [Our observations concerning the use of low temperature in the treatment of glaucoma]. AB - Cyclocryoapplication in glaucomatous patients is performed since 1983 by the method settled on the basis of results of experimental investigations. Observations concern 174 persons with various forms of glaucoma. Best results were obtained in patients with glaucoma in the course of uveitis, with secondary glaucoma after perforating injuries and after intracapsular cataract extraction. Fewest favourable results were observed in patients with closed angle glaucoma. PMID- 2632981 TI - [Decrease of relative amplitude of evoked visual potentials caused by the use of a prism]. AB - In search for an objective method of defining the quality of the binocular vision the author used the visual evoked potentials. The point was before all to estimate the added up records from both eyes checking up whether the amplitude of this record increases in dependence on the fact whether we apply the stimulus to one or to both eyes. A straight dependence between a binocular record from the whole retina and a record from the maculae cannot be discovered. By macular stimulation after placing a prism occurs a lowering of the relative amplitude connected with a disturbance of binocular vision and this enables the differentiation between the presence or lack of the stereoscopic vision in dependence on the fact wheather diplopia occurs or it does not. PMID- 2632982 TI - [Binocular vision in concomitant strabismus]. AB - It was discovered that in a small angle concomitant squint there occurs a kind of binocular vision maintained by abnormal retinal correspondence. This phenomenon may be discovered by a campimetric examination, by VEP and by other psychophysical tests. There appear accomodational movements which tend to maintain a stable angle of deviation which enables a binocular vision. Analysis of these movements is presented. PMID- 2632983 TI - [A diploptic method in the early treatment of concomitant strabismus in children]. AB - In 1917 Avietisov proposed a new treatment of concomitant squint by so called diploptic method to restore the binocular vision in natural conditions. To verify this method the authors carried out examinations of children in pre-school and in school age. The extent of disturbances of the binocular vision was evaluated by means of colour filters of various dissociation. For this purpose a set of colour filters is used arranged similarly to the retinoscopy set or in a form of round discs. The children exercised on a device ensuring a smooth change of the colour filters. In result of the diploscope therapy 70.8 p.c. from among 132 patients aged 3-6 years regained the binocular vision. PMID- 2632984 TI - [Recession of the inferior rectus muscle in superficial anesthesia in the treatment of thyroid orbitopathy]. AB - Recession of the inferior rectus in surface anaesthesia by 5% cocaine drops was performed in 8 patients with signs of hypotropia in the course of thyroid orbitopathia and with diplopia persisting after conservatory treatment and not corrected by prisms. This method enables us an accurate intraoperative settlement of the distance of recession and it may be recommended in cases metabolically normalized, with not too much advanced exophthalmos, with a stability of the motor disturbances for at least 6 months and without any signs of inflammation. PMID- 2632985 TI - Behaviour of the crossbridges in stretched or compressed muscle fibres. AB - The maximum chord of the myosin heads is comparable to the closest surface-to surface spacing between the myofilaments in a muscle at the slack length. Therefore, when the sarcomere length increases or when the fibre is compressed, the surface-to-surface myofilament spacing becomes lower than the head long axis. We conclude that, in stretched or compressed fibres, some crossbridges cannot attach, owing to steric hindrance. When the amount of compression is limited, this hindrance may be overcome by a tilting of the heads in the plane perpendicular to the filament axes; in this case, there is no consequence as concerns the crossbridge properties. In highly compressed fibres, the crossbridges become progressively hindered and all the crossbridges are hindered for an axis-to-axis spacing representing about 60% of the spacing observed under zero external osmotic pressure. In this case, both the isometric tension and the ATPase activity of the fibre are zero. In fibres stretched up to 3.77 microns (sarcomere length corresponding to the disappearance of the overlap between the thick and the thin filaments), the ratio of hindered crossbridges over the functional crossbridges may be estimated at about 55%. In stretched fibres, a noticeable proportion of crossbridges are sterically hindered and the crossbridges performance (e.g. constants of attachment and detachment) depends on filament spacing, i.e. on sarcomere length. Therefore, we think it is probably impossible to consider the crossbridges as independent force converters, since this idea requires that the crossbridge properties are independent of sarcomere length. In this connection, all the experiments performed on osmotically compressed fibres are of major importance for the understanding of the true mechanisms of muscle contraction. PMID- 2632986 TI - A non-uniform equivalent cable model of membrane voltage changes in a passive dendritic tree. AB - A non-uniform equivalent cable model of membrane voltage changes in a passive dendritic tree extending Rall's equivalent cylinder model is presented. It is obtained from a combination of cable theory with the continuum approach. Replacing the fine structure of the branching dendrites by an equivalent, conductive medium characterized by averaged electrical parameters, the one dimensional cable equations with spatially varying parameters are derived. While these equations can be solved in general only numerically, we were able to formulate a general branching condition (comprising Rall's 3/2 power relationship as a special case) under which analytical solutions can be deduced from those of the equivalent cylinder model. This model allows dendritic trees with a greater variety of branching patterns than before to be analytically treated. PMID- 2632987 TI - Energetics and geometry of huddling in small mammals. AB - Huddling in small mammals appears as an efficient response to low ambient temperatures with important consequences in thermoregulatory energy savings. These energy savings have been ascribed to a decrease in the exposed area in relation to the animal's volume. It has been proposed that during huddling reductions in the exposed area and in the metabolic rate are equal functions of the number of grouped individuals with a common exponent of -1/3. However, reported data shows a great variability of this exponent. In this paper we present a geometrical and energetic analysis on several huddling efficiencies in small mammals and in geometric bodies. Our theoretical analysis shows a variability in the efficiency of huddling, depending on the morphological characteristics of the geometric bodies. At the same time original and literature information show an analogous interspecific variability in small mammals. Finally, a general mathematical expression is proposed which represents and explains the energetic and geometric specific variations of huddling in small mammals. PMID- 2632988 TI - The NK model of rugged fitness landscapes and its application to maturation of the immune response. AB - Adaptive evolution is, to a large extent, a complex combinatorial optimization process. Such processes can be characterized as "uphill walks on rugged fitness landscapes". Concrete examples of fitness landscapes include the distribution of any specific functional property such as the capacity to catalyze a specific reaction, or bind a specific ligand, in "protein space". In particular, the property might be the affinity of all possible antibody molecules for a specific antigenic determinant. That affinity landscape presumably plays a critical role in maturation of the immune response. In this process, hypermutation and clonal selection act to select antibody V region mutant variants with successively higher affinity for the immunizing antigen. The actual statistical structure of affinity landscapes, although knowable, is currently unknown. Here, we analyze a class of mathematical models we call NK models. We show that these models capture significant features of the maturation of the immune response, which is currently thought to share features with general protein evolution. The NK models have the important property that, as the parameter K increases, the "ruggedness" of the NK landscape varies from a single peaked "Fujiyama" landscape to a multi-peaked "badlands" landscape. Walks to local optima on such landscapes become shorter as K increases. This fact allows us to choose a value of K that corresponds to the experimentally observed number of mutational "steps", 6-8, taken as an antibody sequence matures. If the mature antibody is taken to correspond to a local optimum in the model, tuning the model requires that K be about 40, implying that the functional contribution of each amino acid in the V region is affected by about 40 others. Given this value of K, the model then predicts several features of "antibody space" that are in qualitative agreement with experiment: (1) The fraction of fitter variants of an initial "roughed in" germ line antibody amplified by clonal selection is about 1-2%. (2) Mutations at some sites of the mature antibody hardly affect antibody function at all, but mutations at other sites dramatically decrease function. (3) The same "roughed in" antibody sequence can "walk" to many mature antibody sequences. (4) Many adaptive walks can end on the same local optimum. (5) Comparison of different mature sequences derived from the same initial V region shows evolutionary hot spots and parallel mutations. All these predictions are open to detailed testing by obtaining monoclonal antibodies early in the immune response and carrying out in vitro mutagenesis and adaptive hill climbing with respect to affinity for the immunizing antigen. PMID- 2632990 TI - Cartesian or polar co-ordinates in pattern formation? PMID- 2632989 TI - On using a double-exponential model for describing faecal marker concentration curves. AB - A mathematical and numerical appraisal of the double-exponential model is presented, with particular reference to its ability to reproduce preset values of biological measures such as rumen and whole-tract mean retention times and faecal production rate. A complete, formal mathematical derivation is provided, with consideration given to a solution to the model when the two smallest rate constants are equal. It is concluded that any error introduced by using an approximation in deriving the double-exponential form is negligible in practice, and that the double exponential in logarithmic form is able to determine the relevant biological measures quite satisfactorily and speedily. PMID- 2632991 TI - Morphometric analysis of elastic fibers in human skin lymphatic capillaries. AB - In contrast to their absence near dermal blood capillaries, elastic fibers are commonly seen adjacent to dermal lymphatic capillaries under light microscopy. Based on morphometric analysis, the elastic fiber network that surrounds these skin lymphatic capillaries is predominantly oriented longitudinally to the lymphatic vessel wall. Quantitative analysis reveals that the density of these pericapillary elastic fibers are almost twice that of the intercapillary elastic fibers but only about one-half as thick. These data suggest that dermal lymph capillaries are surrounded by a specific elastic network of functional significance, morphologically distinct from that seen in the intercapillary dermis. Because lymphatic capillaries are often difficult to identify especially when collapsed, this elastic network may facilitate the positive identification of dermal lymphatic capillaries by light microscopy and thereby help differentiate them from blood capillaries. The possible role of this lymphatic elastic network in the absorptive activity of the dermal lymphatic system is also discussed. PMID- 2632992 TI - Lymphatic capillaries of the periosteum: do they exist? AB - Normal periosteum from 12 humans was examined for the presence of lymphatic capillaries using immunohistochemistry (light microscopy) and transmission electron microscopy. Both techniques failed to demonstrate lymphatic capillaries suggesting that periosteum is devoid of these structures. PMID- 2632993 TI - Factorial analysis in radionuclide lymphography: assessment of the effects of sequential pneumatic compression. AB - The effects of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) in 12 patients with lower or upper limb lymphedema were studied using a computer-based technique (factorial analysis) of dynamic lymphoscintigraphy. After subcutaneous injection of radiocolloid into the first interdigital web space of the arm or leg, scintigraphic recordings consisted of 40 consecutive one-minute frames of both lower extremities or an edematous upper extremity. Pneumatic compression by Euroduc (6 patients) or by Lymphapress (6 patients) was applied during the final 20 minutes of the recording. A three factors factorial analysis (FA) was performed successively for each extremity. FA allowed "uncontaminated" curves to be displayed distinct from neighboring structures and corresponded to dynamic tracer activity in the interstitium, at the injection site, and within lymphatic vessels. Based on the results of lymphatic vascular factorial analysis, a beneficial effect of IPC was detected in 18 of 22 limbs examined. FA processing suggested that IPC facilitated radiocolloid transport in the proximal portion of the limb and also propelled tracer from the injection site toward the lymphatics. The effect of IPC was evident as soon as external compression therapy began and was similar with either mechanical unit. Residual tracer activity in peripheral lymphatics 20 minutes after application of IPC was higher in the edematous as compared with the normal limbs. FA processing is a new and potentially valuable method to evaluate the effects of external pneumatic compression in the management of peripheral lymphedema. PMID- 2632994 TI - Contractility of human leg lymphatics during exercise before and after indomethacin. AB - Subcutaneous lymphatics in the lower leg were catheterized in the retrograde direction in 6 healthy male subjects. The catheter was connected to a pressure transducer, and pressure was measured during three stages of exercise including standing, tip-toeing, and running in place. Before the third stage, indomethacin (50mg) was given i.v. Rhythmic pressure waves were registered in each subject. During the second stage, when the subjects were "warmed up," the frequency (min 1) was 2.4 +/- 0.5 (mean +/- SEM). The corresponding values during tip-toeing and running were 5.8 +/- 0.7 (p less than 0.05) and 5.4 +/- 0.5 (p less than 0.05), respectively. The amplitudes (mean values between 3.2-4.7mmHg while standing) were not consistently altered during tip-toeing or running in any of the three stages. During standing there was a negative correlation between frequency and amplitude. No such correlation was found during tip-toeing or running, or after injection of indomethacin. Indomethacin did not significantly alter any of the measured parameters, but in two subjects the frequencies and amplitudes were decreased (about 50%) during standing, tip-toeing, and running. PMID- 2632995 TI - Thoracic duct lymph in a patient with chylous ascites and a carcinoid tumor. AB - An adult patient with both intraabdominal carcinoid tumor and chylous ascites underwent thoracic duct drainage in an attempt to relieve accumulation of intraabdominal fluid. After cannulation of the left cervical thoracic duct, lymph flow rate was normal (1.4ml/min) and 24 hours of drainage was without effect on the ascites. In contrast to the chylous nature of the ascitic fluid, however, thoracic duct lymph was non-chylous and its protein content was lower than that of the ascitic fluid. The administration of secretin intravenously increased both the flow and amylase content of thoracic duct lymph. These observations signify that the chylous ascitic fluid neither leaked from nor had access to thoracic duct lymph but originated instead from obstructed mesenteric lacteals. PMID- 2632996 TI - The first isolate of Tatumella ptyseos in Malaysia. AB - Tatumella ptyseos, the type species for the genus Tatumella, is a newly established member of the Family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a Gram-negative, oxidase negative, fermentative rod that grows on Mac Conkey agar. This first isolate was obtained from the blood culture of a neonate having neonatal jaundice with presumed sepsis. The organism was in vitro sensitive to Gentamicin, Chloramphenicol, Cotrimoxazole and Ampicillin. The patient was treated with Ampicillin and Gentamicin and recovered uneventfully. PMID- 2632997 TI - The erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, plasma fibrinogen and viscosity in chronic renal disease patients with infection. AB - The sensitivity of the C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement as an indicator for infection in patients with chronic renal disease was compared to that of ESR, fibrinogen and plasma viscosity measurements. The ESR, fibrinogen and plasma viscosity did not correlate with the presence of infection, whereas the CRP level was elevated in the majority of patients with infection/fever and decreased when fever subsided. PMID- 2632998 TI - Recovery of forensically important entomological specimens from human cadavers in Malaysia--an update. AB - A total of 101 entomological specimens recovered from human cadavers were processed and studied. Analysis of the data indicated that about 95% of these specimens were maggots of flies. Maggots of the blowfly Chrysomya (Family: Calliphoridae) especially Ch. rufifacis and Ch. megacephala were predominantly found in 77 cases (76.2%) while larvae of several other flies of the genera Sarcophaga, Calliphora, Lucilia and hermetia were also recovered. It was notable that Musca domestica or other related flies were not found in all these specimens. The age of these larvae was useful in the determination of the minimum time lapsed after death. However, more biological studies on animal carcases should be conducted for more accurate determinations. Methods of collection, preservation and despatching of specimens were also discussed. PMID- 2632999 TI - Sensitivity of yeasts to amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine. AB - One hundred and forty-four clinical yeast isolates were tested for antifungal susceptibility to Amphotericin B (AMB) and 5-Fluorocytosine (5FC). 61% (88 of 144) of the total yeast isolates were C. albicans. Yeasts were most frequently isolated from high vaginal swabs. High vaginal swabs constituted 64% (92 of 144) of the total number of specimens. Antifungal susceptibility testing of yeasts was conducted by employing an agar dilution technique. 76% (67 of 88) of C. albicans demonstrated MIC values of less than or equal to 1.0 ug/ml to 5FC. All yeasts tested against AMB demonstrated MICs of less than or equal to 0.25 ug/ml. Resistance to 5FC and AMB was defined as any isolate demonstrating an MIC of greater than 16 ug/ml and MIC greater than or equal to 2 ug/ml respectively. Based on this definition approximately 6% of total yeasts and 8% of C. albicans were resistant to 5FC. All yeasts tested were sensitive to AMB. PMID- 2633000 TI - Activity of imipenem against clinical isolates. AB - Imipenem is a new carbapenem antibiotic which is highly active against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The purpose of this study is to establish the in-vitro activity of imipenem against recent clinical isolates of bacteria obtained from patients at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the antibiotic against these isolates were determined using an agar dilution method. With the exception of Flavobacterium sp, some Pseudomonas sp and certain other non-fermentative Gram negative bacilli, imipenem was found to be active against a wide range of both Gram positive and Gram negative organisms. Imipenem could be a valuable alternative in cases of hospital infection caused by multiply resistant organisms. PMID- 2633001 TI - Morphological changes in taste buds of the fungiform papillae after a single dose of x-ray irradiation in rats. AB - The qualitative and quantitative changes occurring in the taste buds of the fungiform papillae of male Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 51-125 days old) after x-ray irradiation were studied. A single dose of 2000 Roentgen (R) was delivered and observations were made at 0, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days after x-ray irradiation. The changes in taste bud morphology were interpreted first as degenerative and then as regenerative at various stages of the study. The degenerative process appeared at about the third day and reached a peak at 7 days. Regeneration then began after a further week and the taste buds appeared mature at about 30 days. While the number of fungiform papillae remained constant throughout the study, there was a marked loss of taste buds on these papillae at 7 days. At 14 days, the number of taste buds increased from this low level, and by 30 days the number approached the control values. Initial taste bud loss could be attributed to a direct irradiation damage leading to taste bud cell desquamation combined with a concomitant mitotic inhibition of the stratum germinativum. PMID- 2633002 TI - Kaposi's sarcoma following long term steroid therapy. AB - An 18-year-old Malay lady was treated with high dose steroids for three and a half years for idiopathic thrombocytopaenic purpura. At 21 years, after a series of relapses, a splenectomy was carried out. In addition, two nodules at the hilum of the spleen were also removed. Histological examination of these nodules revealed features of Kaposi's sarcoma. Kaposi's sarcoma resulting from immunosuppression by corticosteroids is rare. Our patient is the first such case reported in Malaysia. PMID- 2633003 TI - Adult neuroblastoma: a case report. AB - Neuroblastoma is an uncommon malignancy in adult life as compared with childhood. A case of Stage IV neuroblastoma in a 24-year-old Chinese man seen at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur is reported. The diagnosis was based on characteristic histological features seen in an excised lymph node with metastatic involvement and an elevated urinary metanephrine level. The finding of a suprarenal mass on computerised axial tomographic scan supported an adrenal origin. Other diagnostic aids which help to distinguish this tumour, especially the less differentiated forms, from other "small, dark, round cell tumours" are discussed. PMID- 2633004 TI - [Clinico-genetic expression of myotonic dystrophy in Istria]. AB - The present genetic study has been conducted on 29 patients with myotonic dystrophy. The diagnosis of Steinert-Batten-Gibbs disease was made by anamnestic, clinical and laboratory procedures. Six families from Istria were examined in which genealogical study was carried out through five generations. Consanguinity was observed in one family. The frequency of myotonic dystrophy, correlative features and mortality was determined for each family. The incidence of myotonic dystrophy and correlative features among the first-, second-, and third-degree relatives of patients examined was determined. We conclude that the disease occurred far more frequently in families of patients with myotonic dystrophy (8 to 33%) than in the population in general (0.017%) and that it is significantly maintained among the first-, second-, and third-degree relatives. PMID- 2633005 TI - [The importance of clinical and histologic variables in the prognosis of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland]. AB - Patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) have aroused considerable interest ever since Horn (1951), Hazarde et al. (1959) and Williams (1966) described MTC as a separate clinicopathologic entity, because this tumor occurs both in families and in association with neural and endocrine abnormalities. This interest also underlines our clinicohistologic study of 31 patients with a histologically demonstrated MTC. The patients have been analyzed at the Central Institute for Tumors and Allied Diseases in Zagreb from 1969 to 1988. The youngest patient was 17, and the oldest one 85 (average 45 years). None of the patients had thyroid carcinoma in his/her family history, or any association with pheochromocytoma or multiple skin and mucosal neurinoma. The men to women ratio was 1:0.94. The prognostic significance of some clinical and histologic variables in patients affected by medullary thyroid carcinoma have been studied. Treatment involved total thyroidectomy with or without neck dissection. Some of the patients were subsequently irradiated or administered chemotherapeutic agents. The data obtained in the study were statistically processed and the statistical differences between the survival rates of the various patient groups were determined by the logrank-test. Of the studied variables (sex, age, tumor size, cervical metastases, tumor structure, cell type, stroma, calcification, number of mitoses, necrosis, bleeding, amyloid content), the following were found to have a prognostic significance: age, tumor size and regional lymph node metastases. PMID- 2633006 TI - [A 5-year study of arterial occlusive disease]. AB - The difference of the frequency of occurrence of risk factors has been tested by the method of the comparison of bound pairs of the group of 46 patients with arterial occlusive disease (AOD) - group A, and of the group of 54 subjects without AOD - group B. The patients with AOD included more diabetics, smokers, physically inactive persons and those suffering from hyperlipemia (P less than 0.05). The difference of number of adipose and hypertonic persons belonging to those two groups has not been statistically significant. The results of the measures to change risk profile of the group A have been observed. On the completion of the period of five years (1982-1987), increased weight has been normalized with 26.5% of the persons with AOD, normal blood pressure has been attained with 43.5% of patients, normolipemia with 8.7% and blood sugar has been checked once or twice a year for all patients. After that period of five years only 13% of the patients with AOD, have been smoking. During the mentioned period, only one patient with AOD has his leg amputated. Between 1982 and 1987, 21 persons died in the group A, respectively 45.7% of the subjects, while in the same period, 14 persons died in the group B, respectively 25.9% of them. The difference of the mortality between groups A and B has been statistically significant (P less than 0.05). PMID- 2633007 TI - [Prenatal diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency]. AB - Prenatal diagnosis of the "classical" forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) which is a result of 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) deficiency either complete, with salt-wasting or incomplete without salt wasting, is performed in two ways: by measuring concentration of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androstendione (delta 4) in amniotic fluid and by HLA typing of fetal cells from amniotic fluid. Having ones own normal values is the basic condition for the safe prenatal diagnosis of CAH 21-OH deficiency by measuring steroid concentration in amniotic fluid. Normal concentrations of 17-OHP in amniotic fluid achieved by amniocentesis in 85 pregnant women from 16-23 gestation week have been measured, as well as concentrations of delta 4 in 66 pregnant women in the same period of gestation. It has been proved that there are no differences between the concentrations of delta 4 in amniotic fluid regarding the sex. As far as 17-OHP is concerned, the same was confirmed earlier. The results of 9 prenatal diagnosis in 8 families, having already one child with "classical" form of CAH with salt wasting, have been presented. It was achieved by combination of two methods: by measuring concentration of 17-OHP and delta 4 in amniotic fluid and HLA typing of fetal cells from amniotic fluid. In 8 fetuses at risk the birth of healthy children was correctly predicted, which was confirmed after the birth in three cases by HLA typing and measuring concentration of 17-OHP and delta 4 and from the blood of newborn babies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2633008 TI - [Incidence of congenital anomalies in 2 communities in Croatia before and after the Chernobyl nuclear accident]. AB - The Institute for Medical Protection of Mothers and Children, being regional centre of European registry of congenital malformations (EUROCAT) since 1982, registers congenital anomalies in municipals of Varazdin and Rijeka. Following the nuclear disaster of Chernobyl, there were numerous articles published mainly in daily newspapers, pointing to the increased number of malformations, particularly to Down's syndrome, due to additional irradiation imposed on population. Through this study we wanted to find out whether in Varazdin and Rijeka, following the Chernobyl's accident, there has been any increase of congenital anomalies and whether our regional and EUROCAT registry have been adequate to find out genetic effects of small doses of ionizing radiation. The total incidence of registered congenital anomalies in Varazdin and Rijeka in previous four-year period, amounted to 12.97%, while following Chernobyl, it amounted to 12.7%. Not even nine marker malformations, including Down's syndrome, show any statistically significant increased number of malformations, a year after this nuclear accident. In 18 EUROCAT registries, on almost half a million of newly born children and foetuses, conceived before and after May 1, 1986, the frequency of Down's syndrome and congenital malformations of central nervous system and eyes has been compared. There have been no important differences between two compared groups, and the rate of Down's syndrome was 1.26% before, and 0.91% after the accident. Anticipated stochastic genetic effects of measured and estimated additional doses of radiation imposed to our and Western European populations are too small to be found out neither by regional nor by EUROCAT registries. PMID- 2633009 TI - [Early detection of diabetic retinopathy in adult-onset diabetes patients]. AB - The frequency of early diabetic retinopathy by using ophthalmoscopy and intravenous fluorescein angiography in adult-onset diabetics with short duration of diabetes was examined, and the findings are presented. The authors studied 103 insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent diabetics ranging in age from 38 to 55 years, mean 47.7 years. The duration of diabetes was up to 10 years, mean 5.3 years. All diabetic patients included in this study underwent a detailed ophthalmoscopic examination and in 71 patients with normal ophthalmoscopic finding intravenous fluorescein angiography was performed. Both methods revealed signs of early diabetic retinopathy in 2/3 (60.2%) of cases; among insulin dependent diabetics in 3/4 (75.5%) of cases and among non-insulin dependent diabetics in 1/2 (51.5%) of cases. Compared with regular ophthalmoscopy, fluorescein angiography doubled the frequency of diagnosis of early diabetic retinopathy. Early detection of diabetic retinopathy enables better evaluation of the disease, early treatment and better diabetic control. PMID- 2633010 TI - [Bronchogenic carcinoma of the lungs in 3 workers with asbestosis employed in the same factory]. AB - In two female workers (nonsmokers) and in one male worker (a smoker) employed in the same mill with a history of asbestosis, bronchogenic lung carcinoma type adenocarcinoma (women), respectively anaplastic carcinoma (a man) had developed. All the three patients worked in the same area in a spinning-mill. The duration of exposure to asbestos was relatively short (10 to 15 years) in female workers, while the duration of exposure to asbestos was much longer in a male worker (29 years), although it was intermittent. Dyspnea was the main and the only discomfort. In accordance with the International Labour Organization (ILO) classification, a chest radiograph revealed the lesions of s/t 1/2 and s/t 2/1 features. There was also a ventilation deficit (very decreased carbon monoxide diffusing capacity). PMID- 2633011 TI - [Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia]. AB - Critical survey of functional anatomy of the upper mesenteric artery, patophysiology of the mesenteric ischemia, and the diagnostic procedures are assessed from the viewpoint of possibilities of operative correction and the author's hitherto experience in the upper mesenteric surgery. Comparison of diagnostic with operative management in two patients points to common causes of the disease, as well as to some of the preoperative misunderstandings. The indication for revascularization of the upper mesenteric artery and consequent amelioration of postoperative course in the patient with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia is explained. Each of the described facts is of great importance for the postoperative course without fatal complications. PMID- 2633012 TI - [Aminophylline-retard preparation in the treatment of patients with bronchial asthma]. AB - The authors have examined the compliance of asthmatic patients receiving slow release aminophylline and the relationship between the serum theophylline concentrations and lung function. The effect of meals on the serum concentrations of theophylline was also studied. Twenty-nine patients were analyzed. When the serum drug concentration was measured in a blood sample obtained without prior announcement, 79% of patients were found to have the concentration of theophylline lower than the therapeutic one. When the concentration was measured in a blood sample obtained announced, 55% of patients had therapeutic concentrations. A statistically significant difference (P less than 0.01) in the concentrations of theophylline between the blood samples obtained unannounced and announced was found. There was no correlation between the concentrations of theophylline and PEFR neither in the blood sample obtained unannounced (r = 0.11) nor in that obtained announced (r = 0.09). The theophylline concentrations were higher when the drug was ingested before the meal (means 1 = 70 mumol/L), whereas they were lower when it was ingested after the meal (means 1 = 40 mumol/L). Thus, in hypodosed patients who ingest medicine after the meal, the serum theophylline concentrations might be elevated by taking therapy before the meal. PMID- 2633013 TI - [The role of the TRS-Glucotest apparatus in self-monitoring by patients with diabetes mellitus]. AB - Successful treatment of diabetes mellitus requires a reliable control of glycaemia where self-monitoring with reflectometer plays a significant role. TRS glucotest reflectometer (TRS, Zagreb), the result of our experts' efforts, makes it possible for diabetic patients to perform self-monitoring. According to our research TRS-glucotest reflectometer shows lower blood glucose levels for more than 20%, especially in 3.8-11.5 mmol/L range of glucose concentration, that is in the range most often expected in patients with diabetes got under control. A considerable dispersion of the results got by measuring glucose levels with reflectometer doesn't offer the possibility to correct the obtained values. Our results suggest that TRS-glucotest reflectometer should be improved so that reliable control of glycaemia can be made what is especially important in patients with intensive conventional insulin treatment. PMID- 2633014 TI - [Treatment of neoplastic hematologic diseases with intensive radio-chemotherapy and transplantation of cryopreserved autologous bone marrow]. AB - Autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) allows application of intensive myeloablative therapy aimed at eradication of neoplastic disease by facilitating haematopoietic reconstitution. Between March and June 1988, four patients (two with acute myelogenous leukaemia in first remission, one with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in second remission, and one with Burkitt lymphoma, stage IV with CNS involvement in second remission) received this treatment. Methods of collecting, processing and freezing bone marrow as well as thawing and reinfusion of the marrow into patients after intensive chemoradiotherapy are described. Viability of bone marrow cells tested by the dye exclusion method after freezing and thawing process was 89, 88, 91 and 78%, respectively. CFU-GM recovery in culture, as a test of marrow stem cells clonogenicity was between 63,3 and 156,5%. Patients received between 1,7 and 3,0 x 10(8)/kg nucleated cells and 4,0 to 7,6 x 10(4)/kg CFU-GM, respectively. In all four patients stable haematopoietic reconstitution was achieved. The bone marrow function was evident mainly at 11th day after marrow reinfusion. Leukocyte count reached 1,0 x 10(0)/L in 11 to 15 days, and granulocyte count raised more than 0,5 x 10(9)/L in 19 to 37 days after transplantation. Platelet recovery was prolonged with the minimum of 29 days and maximum of more than 60 days to reach 20 x 10(9)/L. Side effects caused by the intensive radiochemotherapy were moderate. Bacterial, fungal and viral infections in early posttransplant period were successfully treated. All patients have survived and left the hospital 63, 54, 36 and 65 days after ABMT, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2633015 TI - [Principles in medical ethics and duties in working with dental patients]. AB - Dental deontology is a branch of medical deontology which defines the relationship of a dentist with his patient and other medical workers. The purpose of medical deontology is to prevent and eliminate psychic harms, as well as to put more self-confidence in a patient, so important for his good health and treatment. The proper relationship of a dentist with a dental patient is based upon two main principles, namely psychoprophylaxis and psychotherapy. The dentist (with his improper conduct and words) should not pose additional psychic harm to a patient, so he should mind his behaviour. At the same time, the dentist should be active and have to know how to dismiss too high an emotional tension of a patient. Preparation to a dental treatment should be adjusted to age and particularities of each patient. This is where one most often makes a mistake, since the patient is usually approached too habitually, with no understanding at all of his personal problems. Should one show compassion and interest in a patient, his worries and preoccupations, the patient will surely bear, although painful and not at all comfortable, the treatment much better. Finally, it is highly important to educate individuals, groups and the community on the whole how to take care of their own teeth and mouth, and the medical education should be paid much more attention in this field. PMID- 2633016 TI - [Self-help groups--a fashion trend or objective requirement?]. AB - The role and the significance of the self-help groups in the modern medicine are described. The authors propose that the medical profession should actively support the formation and the activity of such groups with the aim to improve the quality of life of many groups of patients. PMID- 2633017 TI - Study of plasma neuropeptide Y and catecholamine levels during high dose fentanyl anesthesia. AB - Ten ASA physical status I-II patients were studied after obtaining institutional approval and informed consent. All patients were free from endocrine and metabolic disease undergoing elective low risk operation. They were premedicated with pethidine 1.0 mg/kg intramuscularly and diazepam 0.1 mg/kg orally one hour before anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 4 mg/kg and succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg for tracheal intubation. Anesthesia was maintained with intermittent intravenous injection of fentanyl (50-100 micrograms/kg) and inhalation of N2O-O2 (50%). Ventilation was controlled during surgery. Atracurium (0.4 mg/kg iv) was given for muscle relaxation when needed. Blood samples were obtained from the radial artery 15 min before induction of anesthesia and 5 min after intubation, 15 min, 30 min, 60 min, 120 min during operation and 30 min after operation. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) was determined by radioimmunoassay, catecholamines were determined by radioenzymatic method using CAT-A-KIT (Amersham). Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test for paired and unpaired samples. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Naloxone 0.4 mg was given by iv at the end of operation in all of the patients to establish adequate spontaneous respiration. The results showed that the plasma NPY was significantly decreased under high dose fentanyl as well as catecholamines. PMID- 2633018 TI - Effects of pH of cerebrospinal fluid and local anesthetic on the success rate of spinal anesthesia. AB - Forty-three ASA physical status I-II adult patients, receiving spinal anesthesia for lower abdominal or lower limb surgery, were allocated randomly to two groups. Group 1 patients (n = 21) were given heavy bupivacaine 12 mg and group 2 patients (n = 22) were given tetracaine 12 mg in 2.5 mL of 10% dextrose. Spinal anesthesia was performed in the lateral decubitus position the at L 3-4 interspace with a 25 G spinal needle. Radial artery blood samples were collected before and after spinal anesthesia fpr pH measurement using a NOVA Biomedical machine; CSF samples were collected before and after injection of local anesthetic, and local anesthetic was also collected at the same time, for pH measurement using a Radio pH meter. The time from injection to maximal cephalad spread of analgesia and level of spinal analgesia were measured by the pin-prick method. The result was regarded as a failure if pain sensation still existed at the level of the operation site after spinal anesthesia. There were 1 failure case in the bupivacaine group and 2 failures in tetracaine group. The pH of CSF and local anesthetic in these failures were compared with those in effective cases, and the results showed that there was no significant relationship between the pH value of CSF and the local anesthetic drug. PMID- 2633019 TI - [Oral tramadol for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy]. AB - Two hundred patients undergoing shock wave lithotripsy for renal calculi with the improved version of Dornier HM3 lithotripter system were randomly divided into group A and group B with 100 patients in each. Patients in group A were orally given tramadol 100 mg and lorazepam 1 mg and those in group B flunitrazepam 1 mg was given. Those in group A, who did not need supplemental medication during ESWL were subdivided in group A while those who needed an adjuvant of 100 micrograms intravenous fentanyl were subdivided in group A2. Like group A, those in group B, who did not need supplemental drug and those who needed 100 micrograms intravenous fentanyl were respectively subcategorized into groups B1 and B2. Drugs were given with 15 mL water 30 min prior to ESWL. Pre-operatively, an intravenous line and monitoring system which included noninvasive blood pressure and pulse oximeter were established. The entire course was divided into 5 stages i.e. stage I (prior to oral medication), stage II (10 min after medication), stage III (10 min following ESWL), stage IV (5 min following 100 micrograms intravenous fentanyl) and stage V (10 min after ESWL). The mean blood pressure, heart rate and SpO2, pain scale, sedation scale and side effects were recorded in various stages. The results showed that in group A 68 patients passed the ESWL smoothly (A1) and 32 patients needed supplemental fentanyl (A2). In group B 70 patients successfully underwent the ESWL (B1) while 30 patients needed supplemental fentanyl (B2). Ther were no significant changes in both groups in various stages regarding heart rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2633020 TI - The optimal dose of hyperbaric tetracaine spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. AB - Seventy-five term parturients undergoing cesarean section were anesthetized with 9 mg, 12 mg, 15 mg and 18 mg of tetracaine in 1.5 cc of 10% using a standardized spinal anesthetic technique. The four groups were compared for their maximal spread of anesthesia, quality of analgesia, incidence of hypotension, mgs of ephedrine used to correct hypotension, and the Apgar scores of the infant. It was found that maximal segmental spread of analgesia for 9 mg. 12 mg and 15 mg groups were not different significant regardless of height or weight. But with the 18 mg group there was significant excessive spread of analgesia. While there was no difference in maximal spread of analgesia, there was a progressive increase in good quality of analgesia with increasing dosages. There were 67%, 81%, 96%, 100% of the patients had good analgesia for their operation in the four respective group. The percentages of hypotension were significanly more in the 15 mg and 18 mg groups. However, we did not find the hypotension in the 15 mg and 18 mg group need more ephedrine to correct than the lower dosages. In addition, all babies had good Apgar scores and there was no statistical difference among the four groups. PMID- 2633021 TI - The depth to the epidural space. AB - Two hundred and ten patients, 145 males and 65 females, aged 20 to 72 years old, ready to receive extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy under epidural anesthesia were studied to evaluate if any correlation existed between body weight, body surface area, body mass index and body height and the depth to the epidural space. The mean value for the depth to the epidural space was 4.77 +/- 0.55 cm for males, 4.25 +/- 0.55 cm for females and the overall average was 4.61 +/- 0.60 cm. The range of the depth to the epidural space was 3.0-7.0 cm. Linear regression analysis revealed significant correlation between body weight, body surface area, body mass index, body height an the depth to the epidural space, in the order of BW greater than BSA greater than BMI greater than BH. It is concluded that body weight, body surface area, body mass index and body height affect the depth to the epidural space and play an important role in predicting the depth to the epidural space. PMID- 2633022 TI - [Pulmonary barotrauma during anesthesia]. AB - There were three cases of pulmonary barotrauma during anesthesia. The causes of barotrauma were: 1) Undue length of the tube pressed by machine's wheel which connect the ventilator to the anesthesia machine. 2) Inadvertent connection of the breathing tube to the inspiratory side of the machine when using the Bain system. 3) Inadvertent placement of expiratory valve. All resulted in obstruction to air outflow. The condition further aggravated by repeated flushing of the oxygen flush valve, leading to rapid increase in intraluminal pressure and rupture of alveolar. The condition can be rapidly recognized by palpation of the neck, auscultation of breathing sound, and finally, with a portable chest X-ray. When any problem exists in the breathing system of anesthesia machines, disconnecting the patient from the machine is mandatory. The patient can be ventilated with an Ambu bag while checking the system thus lessening the incidence of barotrauma. PMID- 2633023 TI - Unilateral re-expansion pulmonary edema during general anesthesia--a case report. PMID- 2633024 TI - Interpleural analgesia for herpetic neuralgia. PMID- 2633025 TI - Inadvertent epidural spread after subpleural-paravertebral block with 0.5% bupivacaine. PMID- 2633026 TI - [Anesthetic considerations in complete obstruction of major veins of upper trunk- report of two cases]. AB - This article presents two cases about complete obstruction of major veins of upper trunk. One was a 45 year-old woman who suffered from complete obstruction of superior vena cava due to bronchogenic carcinoma. Venous bypass grafting from left innominate vein to right atrium was performed. The other was a 41 year-old man. Both of his right and left, internal and external jugular veins were completely obstructed after radical laryngectomy and radiotherapy due to hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Venous bypass grafting from cerebral transverse sinus to right atrium was performed. In both cases, general anesthesia with neurosurgical anesthetic concepts were performed with continuous blood pressure monitoring, CVP monitoring, pulse oximetry, end-tidal CO2 monitoring, blood gas analysis, urine output and EKG monitoring. The outcome was satisfactory in both cases. PMID- 2633027 TI - IMLS 89. Triennial conference of the Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences. Warwick, September 1989. Abstracts. PMID- 2633028 TI - Biomembranes--Part U. Cellular and subcellular transport: eukaryotic (nonepithelial) cells. PMID- 2633029 TI - Identification of bile acid transport protein in hepatocyte sinusoidal plasma membranes. PMID- 2633030 TI - Measurement of transported calcium in synaptosomes. PMID- 2633031 TI - Purification and reconstitution of glucose transporter from human erythrocytes. PMID- 2633032 TI - Isolation of bilitranslocase, the anion transporter from liver plasma membrane for bilirubin and other organic anions. PMID- 2633033 TI - Calcium ion transport in mitochondria. PMID- 2633034 TI - [Parallel double helix and tertiary structure of nucleic acids]. AB - The thermal denaturation of four oligonucleotides, viz. 3'-d(AT)5pO(CH2)6Opd(AT)5 3' (parAT), 3'-d(AT)5pO(CH2)5Opd(AT)5-5' (antiAT), 3'-d(A)10pO(CH2)6Op(T)10-3' (parA-T) and 3'd(A)10pOX X (CH2)6Opd(T)10-5' (antiA-T) in 0.01 M phosphate buffer at pH 7 in presence 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 M NaCl have been studied. It was shown that at lower temperature (0-20 degrees C) all oligomeres exist as complexes of two (canonic duplex) or four (eight) molecules of oligonucleotides, but at higher temperature (30-70 degrees C)- as hairpins with parallel (parAT and parA-T) of antiparallel (antiAT and antiA-T) orientation of chains. Thermodinamic parameters of separated strands-hairpins and hairpins--"low temperature complexes" transition were computated from the melting curves [A260 (T)] by nonlinear regression. AntiA-T was shown by ethidium bromide binding to exist at low strength (0.01 M phosphate buffer without NaCl) as four-stranded complex from two antiparallel double stranded helices parallely oriented and bonded by satisfy hydrogen-bond of groups not involved in WC-pairing. At higher ionic strength the two of such tetramers was conjugated by hydrophobic interaction into octamers. We speculate that four-stranded complexes serves to bring together, and zipper up two antiparallel double stranded helices at replication of DNA, cross-over of gomologues chromosomes and other biochemically important processes. PMID- 2633035 TI - [Synthesis of nonlinear DNA-binding peptide with binding specificity determinants close to those of 434 Cro-repressor]. AB - Design, synthesis and DNA binding activity of a nonlinear 102 residue peptide are reported. The peptide contains four sequence-specific DNA binding domains of 434 Cro protein. These four domains were linked covalently to a symmetrical carboxyterminal crosslinker that contains four arms each ending with an aliphatic aminogroup. From CD studies we have found that in aqueous buffer in the presence of 20% trifluoroethanol the peptide residues assume alpha helical, beta-sheet and random coiled conformations with an alpha helical content of about 16% at room temperature. The alpha helicity is increased up to 40% in the presence of 40% trifluoroethanol. Upon complex formation between the peptide and DNA a change in the peptide conformation takes place which is consistent with an alpha-beta transition in the DNA binding, helix-turn-helix motif of 434 Cro repressor. Evidently residues present in helices alpha(2) and alpha(3) form a beta hairpin which is inserted in the minor DNA groove. The latter inference is supported by our observations that the peptide can displace minor groove binding antibiotic distamycin A from a complex with poly(dA).poly(dT). As revealed from DNase protection studies the peptide exhibits preferences for binding to operator and pseudooperator sites recognized by 434 Cro repressor. It binds strongly to operator sites OR1, OR2 and OR3 and exhibits a greater affinity for pseudooperator site Op1. From analysis of nucleotide sequences in the strong affinity binding sites for the peptide on DNA a conclusion is drawn that it binds to pseudosymmetrical nucleotide sequences 5'-ACAA(W)nCTGT-3', where W is an arbitrary nucleotide. n is equal to six or seven. In the strongest affinity binding site for the peptide on DNA (Op1) motif 5'-ACAA-3' is replaced by sequence 5'-ACCA-3'. A difference in binding specificity shown by the peptide and 434 Cro protein could be attributed to a flexibility of the connecting chains between DNA-binding domains in the peptide molecule as well as to a replacement of Thr - Ala in the alpha 2 helix. Removal of two residues from the N-terminal end of helix alpha 2 in each of the four DNA binding domains of 434 Cro present in the peptide leads to a loss of binding specificity, although the modified peptide binds to DNA unspecifically. PMID- 2633036 TI - [Nucleic acids as a basis for creating biosensors]. AB - Here we present a brief conception of biosensors. Structural peculiarities and properties of single- and double-stranded nucleic acids that are to be taken into account when creating biosensors on the basis of these biomolecules are considered. On the example of two biologically active compounds a possibility is shown for constructing biosensors on the basis of liquid-crystalline dispersions of low molecular mass DNA and on the basis of liquid-crystalline DNA dispersions immobilized due to their inclusion into the synthetic polymeric matrix. PMID- 2633037 TI - [In vitro transcription of esterase S gene in Drosophila virilis]. AB - In vitro transcription of D. virilis esterase S gene and it's dependence on reaction conditions and template configuration was studied. Localization of major in vivo transcription initiation points were proved. In vitro transcription can start from alternative points, localised at positions -125 and -342. Dependence of the transcription efficiency of the presence of the 5'-flanking region is shown. PMID- 2633038 TI - [Secondary structure of pre-rRNA 41S spacers and its possible role in determining the processing sites]. AB - The mechanism of pre-rRNA processing is still unknown. In this paper we discuss a possible role of the secondary structure of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS-1 and ITS-2) in processing of 41S pre-rRNA. Potential possibilities for double strand structure formation in ITS-1 and ITS-2 and its rearrangement in the course of processing of 41S pre-rRNA with involvement of U3 RNA were analyzed for a number of species. We have concluded that this rearrangement is the necessary stage in 41S pre-rRNA processing when every functionally designated area (for mature 18S, 28S and 5,8S rRNAs, for ITS-1, ITS-2 and 21S pre-rRNA) has to be organized into an individual domain. In these strongly structured domains 5'- and 3'-ends are spatially brought together whereas processing sites are localized between these compactised areas. PMID- 2633039 TI - [Chromosomal proteins in chick embryo erythrocytes on transcriptionally active and inactive genes]. AB - Using chicken embryonic erythrocytes as a model, an experimental scheme for comparing the density of linker histones and high mobility group proteins on single-copy sequences of eukaryotic genome has been developed, thus permitting to probe alterations in the chromosomal protein pattern of transcribing chromatin. The report provides experimental evidence for validity of intracellular DNA protein cross-linking, immunoaffinity chromatography and hybridization with single-stranded probes. Depletion of linker histones and enrichment of HMG 14/17 were shown to be the discriminating feature for transcriptionally active globin gene chromatin as opposed to inactive ovalbumin and lysozyme gene chromatin. PMID- 2633040 TI - [Expression of human growth hormone in cultured mouse fibroblasts]. AB - The new system for the transfer and expression of foreign genes based on retroviral vectors pPS-neo, conferring neomycin resistance was constructed. The BALB/c mouse cell lines producing highly active human growth hormone (more than 7 micrograms/ml into culture medium) were constructed using these vectors. An antibody column was used to purify the growth hormone from cell culture medium. Possibilities of producers to be applied for gene therapy are discussed. PMID- 2633041 TI - [The effect of catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase on the activity of cytotoxic factor from natural killer cells]. AB - The catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase modifies proteins of NKCF. Several proteins of the treated NKCF can be labelled with 32P. Treatment of NKCF with protein kinase enhance the cytotoxicity of NKCF. PMID- 2633042 TI - [Inhibition of HIV reproduction in cell culture by 5'-phosphonates of 3'-azido 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides]. AB - The antiviral activity of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxynucleoside 5'-phosphate analogues: 5'-phosphonomethylene-3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine, 5' methylphosphonate and 5'-phosphite of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine, 5' phosphites of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyadenosine and guanosine was investigated in HIV-infected cell cultures (human lymphoblastoid cells). The effectivity of inhibition of HIV-reproduction in cells by these substances was close or even higher than that for the corresponding 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides, whereas their toxicity was lower than that of nucleosides. These substances are supposed to be transported into the cells and to be transformed into the corresponding 5' triphosphate analogues under the action of cell kinases. It is possible that such agents are terminator substrates of virus reverse transcriptases and thus inhibit the biosynthesis of DNA chains. PMID- 2633043 TI - [Cloning and structural analysis of genes coding for tumor necrosis factor and lymphotoxin in rabbits]. AB - Genes, coding for tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and lymphotoxin (TNF-beta), have been cloned from the rabbit genomic library. The two genes are tandemly arranged and separated only by 1 kb of DNA as previously observed in human and mouse genomes. We have sequenced the entire rabbit lymphotoxin gene (LT) and calculated the amino acid sequence of the rabbit LT whose cDNA is not yet cloned. We also analyzed the upstream sequences of this gene and revealed a number of recognition sites for the known transcriptional factors. The rabbit TNF gene comprised in the cloned genomic region has been sequenced earlier. PMID- 2633044 TI - Inhibition of human natural killer cell activity by polyclonal IgM. AB - Pretreatment of effector cells with normal human IgM induced strong dose dependent inhibition of NK activity. The degree of inhibition by normal IgM was stronger than that induced by monomeric IgG, which has previously been reported to be a negative regulator of NK activity. For 100% inhibition, 1.1 x 10(-6) M of IgM was required, whereas 66.6 x 10(-6) M of IgG was needed to abolish NK activity. This inhibitory property of polyclonal IgM appeared to be localized in the Fc region of the molecule, and also was significantly reduced upon mild reduction of disulfide bonds. Monoclonal IgM purified from sera of five patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia and tested in parallel with normal IgM lacked or had a decreased capacity to inhibit the cytotoxic reaction. As with IgG, IgM interfered mainly with the lytic event, after binding of effector cells to target cells. The inhibition by IgM appeared to be a direct effect on NK cells, since similar effects were observed with purified large granular lymphocytes as with non-adherent lymphocytes. These results indicate a new mechanism for negative regulation of NK cells and suggest the presence of Fcmu receptors on these effector cells. PMID- 2633045 TI - Phosphorylation of class I but not class II MHC molecules by membrane-localized protein kinase C. AB - Membranes were isolated from B cells stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate (PMA) for a time sufficient to allow maximal redistribution and activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Exposure of such membranes to a short incubation with [gamma-32P]ATP resulted in the detection of at least nine unique or hyperphosphorylated membrane proteins by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. The appearance of these phosphoproteins was blocked by pretreatment of the membranes with H-7 or sangivamycin, two selective inhibitors of PKC. In addition, membranes purified from B cells treated with an inactive phorbol ester or stimulated with dibutyryl cAMP failed to exhibit a pattern of new phosphoproteins. These results are consistent with the involvement of PKC in the phosphorylation of the proteins. These phosphoproteins are also candidates for proteins whose functions are modified as a consequence of early signal delivery to resting B cells following membrane immunoglobulin occupancy. This system was utilized to identify the heavy chain of MHC class I molecules as one of the membrane proteins phosphorylated by PKC. The MHC class II molecules were not phosphorylated in membranes isolated from PMA-treated normal B cells or from PMA-treated B cells which had previously been exposed to IL-4. These results indicate that class I, but not class II, MHC molecules are phosphorylated by PKC. It is possible that such a modification of cell surface class I molecules may be involved during the process of signal transduction leading to B cell activation. PMID- 2633046 TI - Antibody-dependent cytotoxicity mediated by natural killer cells is enhanced by castanospermine-induced alterations of IgG glycosylation. AB - Inhibitors of glycosylation and carbohydrate processing were used to probe the functional consequences of specific, differential alterations in glycosylation of monoclonal IgG secreted by hybridoma clones. Neither the absence of glycosylation nor the presence of atypical oligosaccharides significantly influenced binding of the monoclonal antibody to the cell surface antigen recognized. However, lymphocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cytotoxicity was enhanced significantly, as compared to native (unmodified) IgG-sensitized target cells, when target cells were sensitized with IgG bearing the atypical oligosaccharides induced metabolically by castanospermine, N-methyldeoxynojirimycin, deoxymannojirimycin or monesin, but not by swainsonine. The enhanced cytotoxicity was mediated by natural killer cells but not by monocytes or interferon-activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. By contrast, antibody-dependent cytotoxicity mediated by activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes against target cells sensitized with the IgG glycosylation phenotypes induced by swainsonine and tunicamycin, but not by castanospermine, was decreased in comparison to cytotoxicity against target cells sensitized with native IgG. The enhanced lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity was Fc receptor-dependent. A panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against different human tumor target cells was used to demonstrate that the castanospermine-induced IgG phenotype generally enhanced antibody-dependent tumoricidal activity mediated by natural killer cells. However, differences in lymphocyte response to an alteration in IgG glycosylation were observed. PMID- 2633047 TI - N-deglycosylation of human complement component C9 reduces its hemolytic activity. AB - The effect of enzymatic deglycosylation of human complement component C9 on its hemolytic activity was investigated. Treatment of native C9 (Mr 71,000) with glyocpeptidase F (PNGase F) results in a stepwise decrease of the mol. wt. The formation of an Mr 67,000 peptide which is further converted to Mr 63,000 suggests that there are two N-linked carbohydrate chains per C9 polypeptide. Removal of approximately 88% of the N-linked oligosaccharides results in 80% reduction of the hemolytic activity (CH50). The completely N-deglycosylated Mr 63,000 peptide contains a remaining amount of 25% of the total carbohydrates of native C9. These glycans are assumed to be O-linked and predominantly attached to the C9a part of C9. The electrophoretic mobility of C9 is not affected by endoglycosidase F or H treatments revealing that the two N-linked glycans are of the tri- or tetra-antennary complex type. Cleavage of terminal sialic acids from native C9 by neuraminidase results in an Mr 67,000 product with nearly unaltered hemolytic activity. In contrast to other glycoproteins in which deglycosylation remained without major effects on their functional activity, our findings suggest that the N-linked carbohydrates are required for full expression of hemolytic activity of C9. PMID- 2633048 TI - The molecular basis of a VH gene polymorphism that determines the expression of a major idiotype. AB - The strain A immune response to a synthetic antigen (p-azophenylarsonate) is dominated by antibodies bearing an idiotype encoded by VH genes derived from a single germline VH gene segment called VHIdCR (a member of the J558 family). Balb/c mice fail to produce this idiotype. Southern blotting analyses with a probe derived from VHIdCR have shown that differences in patterns of hybridization and in intensity of bands are seen between the two strains. We demonstrate by DNA cloning and sequence analyses that Balb/c mice have no allelic version of VHIdCR. This result constrasts with that reported for interstrain comparisons of VH genes encoding antibodies to environmental pathogens where evolutionary conservation of VH sequence information is seen. We suggest, on the basis of these and earlier results, that domination of the anti-Ars immune response by antibodies encoded by VHIdCR is not the indirect consequence of evolutionary or somatic selection pressures acting on the VHIdCR gene segment. PMID- 2633049 TI - Heterogeneity in the electrophoretic mobility of CD5 molecules after phorbol ester stimulation. AB - As judged by Western blot analysis, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBU) induce the rapid and dose-dependent appearance of slower mobility CD5 molecular forms from peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and thymus cell lysates. This phenomenon was inhibited by staurosporine, suggesting that it can be mediated by PKC activation. Furthermore, under our experimental conditions, neither Concanavalin A, nor Phytohaemagglutinin P or the calcium ionophore A23187 were able to reproduce the phorbol ester-induced changes in the CD5 electrophoretic mobility. When immunoprecipitated from phorbol ester stimulated P32 labelled PBMC lysates, the slower mobility of CD5 molecules was associated to important phosphorylation. This special electrophoretic behaviour after phorbol ester-stimulation makes CD5 different from other lymphocyte surface glycoproteins and may have important implications in the elucidation of the biological role of this molecule as discussed below. PMID- 2633050 TI - A model for leadership in administrative practice. PMID- 2633051 TI - Quality care assurance. PMID- 2633052 TI - Confronting the challenge of computerization for social workers in health care settings. AB - Computerization and information technology will profoundly affect the work of health care social workers in the coming years. This paper reviews recent trends in information technology in health care systems and their implications for social workers. It describes recent innovations in information systems designed specifically for social workers. It concludes with a review of recent studies of utilization of computer and information systems by social workers and from these derives some of the conditions that must be created if social workers are to effectively make use of this technology. PMID- 2633053 TI - Social work: an important component of community medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. PMID- 2633054 TI - Reflections on community health education. A program that is working. PMID- 2633055 TI - Indicators of social risk for poor adjustment to nursing home placement. AB - In an attempt to identify indicators of risk for psychosocial maladjustment in new nursing home residents, we evaluated the first-year course of 88 new nursing home residents. These 88 study patients constituted all the new residents admitted in 1987 to the Kingsbridge Center of the Jewish Home and Hospital for Aged, Bronx, NY, and assigned to the health-related floors (indicating less serious impairments). Social work intake and progress notes were abstracted to evaluate their utility in identifying indicators of risk for medical and psychosocial maladjustment among these patients. Patients admitted from home fared worse (had more medical visits) than those admitted from hospitals. Lack of additional findings suggests that more uniform and structured intake and progress assessments be made. PMID- 2633056 TI - Social well-being: the future of the social and health care systems. AB - There are signs that the American public is becoming more concerned than in the previous decade with issues of compassion such as helping the poor, giving families a better break, helping children and people of color. Concern about the nation's vulnerable groups is increasing at a time of particularly profound societal change. The nation is aging demographically, vast technologic changes have displaced masses of workers, there are sharper economic contrasts than ever between the "haves" and "have-nots," and family structure is changing dramatically. In this era of change there are increased pressures on health care professionals, particularly in terms of fiscal constraints and public demands for accountability. At this time, we recommend moving toward a unified social well being system which incorporates medical care,health care, and social services in a manner that makes the most efficient use of limited resources. PMID- 2633057 TI - Can ethics be taught? An essay. PMID- 2633058 TI - [Pericerebral collection in the infant. A round table of the French Society and Belgian Society of Neurosurgery. Chamonix, January 1988]. PMID- 2633059 TI - [Ventricular subarachnoidal hydrocephalus of arachnoid villi origin]. AB - In 102 infants (0.5 to 22 months), the C.T. scan performed for various neurological symptoms, was systematically reviewed with analysis of ventricular size, pericerebral space and interhemispheric fissure. In 70% of the cases, an increase of the intracranial volume of C.S.F. was noted, with a good correlation between the ventricular and pericerebral volume. The authors discuss the pathophysiological mechanism of this condition an evoke the possibility of an idiopathic disturbance of the C.S.F. reabsorption. In two cases, suffering from severe axial hypotonus, this fact was explored by four methods: continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure, intraventricular infusion test, isotopic cisternography through ventricular injection and venous phase of angiography. From these investigations showing no venous anomaly, and because of the lack of any pathological event able to induce a C.S.F. obstruction, we suggest a delay in the maturation of arachnoid villi (normally ended at 18 months) to explain this condition. PMID- 2633060 TI - [Hydrocephalus of venous origin]. AB - The relationship between intracranial pressure and superior sagittal venous pressure has been often debated. On one side, the observation of patients with achondroplasia or hydrocephalus associated with craniostenosis suggest that the venous hyperpressure could be the cause of the enlarged ventricles; on the other side, reports have demonstrated that an increased superior sagittal venous pressure could be the consequence of increased intracranial pressure. Therefore, the authors undertook a study to determine if there was a test that could distinguish between rare instances of increased superior sagittal venous pressure caused by structural and irreversible narrowing of the sinus, and those caused by increased intraranial pressure. This test is based on the study of venous pressure variation during cerebrospinal fluid withdrawal as compared to simultaneous intracranial pressure variations. The relationship between a sinus venous hyperpressure and an enlargement of the ventricles, the pathology of pericerebral collection occurring in such cases of hydrocephalus are discussed. PMID- 2633061 TI - [Pericerebral collections. Analysis of neuroradiologic and radionuclide tests and therapeutic results]. AB - The authors retrospectively studied 32 neonates with macrocrania associated with a pericerebral collection. Differential diagnosis was made between external communicating hydrocephalus, atypical communicating hydrocephalus, subdural hygroma and local cerebral atrophy by means of CT scan, isotope cisternography, and isotope brain scintigraphy. Especially the two last examinations are of great interest. The most important arguments in favour of operation were a rapidly increasing and uncontrolled head circumference graph and a deterioration of the psychomotor development. In this regard, 13 out of 25 patients with external communicating hydrocephalus were operated upon (lumbo-peritoneal shunt). The analysis of the results reveals that rapidly increasing macrocrania is a good operative indication and gives excellent results but psychomotor deterioration turned into normal evolution only in 14% of the operated cases. Evacuation of a subdural hydroma first by external and followed later on by internal drainage normalizes the clinical picture. PMID- 2633062 TI - [X-ray computed tomography coupled with cisternography in chronic pericerebral effusions in young children]. AB - The authors study 26 children with macrocranium and pericerebral effusion as diagnosed by C.T. Three groups are described: 10 with the classical C.T. features of subdural effusion, 12 with features of external hydrocephalus and 4 with massive pericerebral effusion. C.T. performed after lumbar subarachnoid injection of contrast medium, shows that all the effusions are subdural. In only one case, opacification of the subdural space occurred. The authors conclude that plain C.T. alone is unable to demonstrate the precise localization of pericerebral effusion in children and that all these effusions are, in their experience, subdural in localization. PMID- 2633063 TI - [Subdural hematoma in infants. Indications and results of external subdural derivation]. AB - 20 infants presenting with a chronic subdural hematoma (S.D.H.) including 15 boys and 5 girls from 1.5 to 16 months (mean age 6.3 months) were treated by tapping (1 case) or irrigation through burr-holes (2 cases) or external drainage (17 cases). The drainage was performed on both sides when the S.D.H. was bilateral (13 cases). Results were analyzed clinically and by C.T. scan. No sequela was noted in 10 cases while in 10 others persisted some neurological (5 cases) or psychomotor (4 cases) impairment or an epileptic status (1 case). In all but one case, the S.D.H. disappeared completely on C.T. scan controls. Therefore, in case of acute S.D.H., we consider that simple therapeutic methods, if early realized, are generally sufficient. PMID- 2633064 TI - [Treatment of chronic subdural collection in infants by subdural peritoneostomy]. AB - Between 1980 and 1987, 50 chronics bilateral subdural collections in infants were treated by means of a subdural peritoneal shunt (unilateral in 48 cases, bilateral in 2 cases). In 2 patients with huge macrocranium the drains were left in situ. In the 48 others, the drains were removed after an average of 10 months. In these 48 cases, the drainages either bilateral (2 cases) or unilateral (46 cases) led to the disappearance of the collections; however, in 1 of these 48, a drain had to be reinserted due to the reproduction of the collection following the removal of the initial drainage. High level of C.S.F. protein content did not alter the peritoneal resorption. Obstruction of the catheter by a clot occurred in 3 cases with grossly bloody collections. Unilateral subdural peritoneal drainage for bilateral pericerebral collection is an efficient and safe treatment. The authors should advocate temporary external drainage only in the cases where the collection is grossly bloody. PMID- 2633065 TI - [The sites of pericerebral effusion in infants]. AB - Clinical observation and chemical analysis led us to consider several anatomical varieties of pericerebral effusions in the infant: pure subdural effusions, subarachnoid effusion as part of ventriculo-subarachnoid hydrocephalus, and at the same time, subdural and subarachnoid effusions resulting from the rupture of a ventriculo-subarachnoid hydrocephalus either in a preexisting subdural effusion or between the dura and the external arachnoid leaf. Amongst these effusions from various aetiologies, the particular cases of the so-called infantile subdural haematomas and postmeningitic effusions are considered. Changes in the pathology and progress in the diagnostic field might explain why the classically described thick membranes are, actually, only exceptionally found. PMID- 2633066 TI - [Parasellar chondrosarcoma: report of a case surgically treated using a pteriono temporal approach and a review of the literature]. PMID- 2633067 TI - [Myopathy in the uremic patient: apropos of a case]. AB - Uremic myopathy is relatively unknown, despite the fact that it can be quite a severe handicap. It is a non-specific proximal myopathy which must be distinguished from uremic polyneuropathy. Several disorders linked to renal insufficiency have been implicated, but these only play an adjuvant role with regard to renal osteodystrophy. Indeed the presence of myopathy in cases of severe osteodystrophy, its similarity to the myopathies associated with different types of osteomalacia and hyperparathyroidism without renal failure, suggest that the most important pathogenic factor is related to disorders of the calcium phosphate metabolism: excessive parathyroid hormone, vitamin D deficiency and/or impaired calcium transport. Treatment will depend on the predominant bone lesions: secondary hyperparathyroidism or osteomalacia. However prevention remains the best course. PMID- 2633068 TI - [The prevention of recurrence of calculus: results of a regional study]. AB - The frequency of measures of prevention of stone recurrence was evaluated in 250 patients treated in one center by extra corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Half were recurrent stone formers (RSF). Only two thirds admitted a previous 24 h urinary analysis and less than 30% knew the result as abnormal while hypercalciuria and or hyperuricuria was later evidenced in 63%. These figures were similar in first stone and recurrent stones formers. Dietary or drug based regimen were followed by only 27.5% of RSF irrespective of the activity of the disease. This percentage was the highest (40%) in RSF known as having abnormal urinary values and the lowest (13%) in those without previous analysis. Only 17% of RSF admitted having received dietary advise after ESWL. PMID- 2633069 TI - [Scintigraphy using gallium 67 in sarcoidosis interstitial nephritis]. PMID- 2633070 TI - [Risk of anuria during the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of nephritic colic of the only functional kidney]. PMID- 2633071 TI - [Operative central unit for coordinating the emergencies-urgencies department. Proposal for a mini-unit to solve the problems caused by the relation between volunteer associations and the public structure]. AB - One of the most important problems, of very difficult solution, in organizing an A/E department is to co-ordinate the emergency in the field. This peculiar task is carried on by an operative central station, the core of an A/E Dept. The organizer in Arezzo try to find out the efficiency and a cost benefit ratio of this central station and try to jump over an historical hindrance to operate by mutual consent with voluntary service. This seems to be possible with the technological development of telephone system and broadcast system. Staff, technical qualifications, connections, reception, modulation, sorting out of different calls are discussed in conjunction with problems of health education concerning the operative central station that coordinates A/E Dept in Arezzo. PMID- 2633072 TI - [5 patients in irreversible coma in which it was not possible to remove the organs for therapeutic transplant]. AB - The special committee consisting of a neurologist, an anaesthesist and a forensic doctor, refused transplantation permission since spinal reflexes were present. These reflexes persisted until cardiac death occurred. Brain death was diagnosed by instrumental techniques and was confirmed by necropsies. PMID- 2633073 TI - [Buprenorphine in balanced anesthesia]. AB - Buprenorphine was administered for the balanced general anaesthesia in 300 patients during several operations. The results obtained, the good features of analgesia, morphine-like, the absence of cardiovascular and respiratory side effects are presented. PMID- 2633074 TI - [Anesthesia for shoulder surgery. Comparison of anesthesiologic problems and technics]. AB - We evaluated the ability of general, regional (interscalene block) and balanced anaesthesia (interscalene block supplemented by general anaesthesia) to manage the problems of shoulder surgery. Our results show that general anaesthesia is not adequate. Interscalene block provides intra and postoperative analgesia, allows an early realization of the postoperative rehabilitation programme and quickens the recovery of shoulder function. Therefore, interscalene block should routinely be performed. The positions of patient and surgeons cause the main disadvantages of anaesthesia with interscalene block alone, ad the control of airway of sedated patients is difficult and performing general anaesthesia in case of insufficient analgesia may be troublesome. Balanced anaesthesia, as compared to regional block alone, allows a safer control of respiration and an easier control of surgical analgesia. PMID- 2633075 TI - [Multiple organ failure syndrome in infection caused by ictero-hemorragic Leptospira. Description of a clinical case]. AB - A 53 years old fisherman was admitted to General Intensive Care Unit in Arezzo with signs and symptoms of Weil disease. An early acute respiratory failure developed. Radiological and haemodynamic findings confirmed a diagnosis of ARDS. The patient developed a severe jaundice, acute renal failure and ARDS (MOF multiple organs failure). To support different failures of the organs, CMV (continuous mandatory ventilation: CPPV with PEEP max 10 cm H2; IRV max 2:1) and AMV (assisted mandatory ventilation: Pressure Support Ventilation), haemofiltration, haemoperfusion and plasmapheresis were simultaneously used, that got better and better renal and respiratory performances. Haemodynamic worsening by PEEP during extracorporeal treatment was overcome by PSV very useful new ventilatory procedure even during weaning period. The patient treated in such manner survived without important disabilities. This care confirms that ARDS (non cardiogenic edema) and MOF can develop during Icterohaemorrhagic Leptospirosis. PMID- 2633076 TI - [A clinical case of pulmonary thromboembolism in a patient at risk treated with rt-pA]. AB - After a brief mention of new advances in the pathophysiology of fibrinolysis, the authors outline the pharmacological properties of the new thrombolytic agent rt pA versus classic thrombolytic agent urokinase and streptokinase. Thereafter they report a case of acute pulmonary embolism with severe hypoxemia in a patient with a history of recent traumatic cerebral bleeding. Thrombolytic treatment with rt pA (100 mg/2 h) resulted in a satisfactory clinical outcome without appreciable worsening of intracranial injury. PMID- 2633077 TI - [Spirometric evaluation of respiratory activity recovery after neuromuscular block with atracurium in ambulatory surgery]. AB - We studied a group of 60 patients, undergoing day hospital operations. Neuromuscular blockade was obtained with atracurium besilatum; we made a spirometric evaluation at recovery of respiration at the end of surgeons. The comparison between actual and theoretical values shows that atracurium is a good drug for anaesthesia in day hospital surgery. PMID- 2633078 TI - [Anesthesia with isoflurane in surgery of the anterior segment of the eye]. AB - The effects of isoflurane on intraocular pressure (IOP) were studied in 46 patients undergoing cataract surgery. The IOP was measured 30 minutes after premedication, 10 minutes after induction of anesthesia and 10 minutes after administration of isoflurane. Since a significant decrease of IOP was found to occur after the administration of volatile agent, and in account of absence of complications or side effects, the Authors conclude that isoflurane can be considered a suitable anesthetic agent in ophthalmic surgery. PMID- 2633079 TI - [Anesthesiologic management for lower pulmonary lobectomy intervention in patients with heart transplant. A clinical case]. AB - The Authors describe the case of a patient who had undergone human allograft cardiac transplant seven months before inferior pulmonary lobectomy for neoplasia. The pulmonary neoplasia had been revealed by X-rays during the periodic check-up examinations. Because of the high risk of infection following corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy, sterile equipment for invasive monitoring and oro-tracheal intubation has been used. The denervated heart presents peculiar haemodynamic and pharmacological aspects that the anaesthetist must pay attention to in the conduction of a general anaesthesia; moreover, arrhythmias are common in the recently transplanted heart. Anaesthesia has been induced and maintained by an association propofol-fentanyl that showed a good cardiocirculatory stability; neither arrhythmias have happened, nor the need for drugs different from those of anaesthesia and resuscitation have occurred. PMID- 2633080 TI - [Use of neuroleptoanesthesia for carrying out a Harrington intervention in a patient probably susceptible to malignant hyperthermia]. AB - The Authors, after a brief review of malignant hyperthermia (MH), describe the use of NLA a Harrington's surgical procedure in a malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MHS) patient. Such an anaesthesiological procedure, using benzodiazepines, droperidol, fentanyl, pancuronium and N2O/O2, didn't lead to any form of MH crisis on to complications. PMID- 2633081 TI - [Use of atracurium in continuous intravenous infusion]. AB - In this study the use of atracurium was evaluated for use in continuous endovenous infusion by controlling infusion levels using the simple technique of TOF monitoring during general surgical operations. In conclusion, continuous infusion of blocking agents is the preferential technique for controlling and maintaining a neuromuscular block; moreover, the use of besylate of atracurium is advised to ensure a reduced rate of individual variation. PMID- 2633082 TI - [Role of creatine phosphate in myocardial protection in heart surgery]. AB - The Authors report their experience with the use of Creatine Phosphate (CP) in cardiac surgery. Forty patients undergoing mitral valve replacement are randomly divided into two groups: the former is treated with plain cardioplegia, the latter with CP-enriched cardioplegia at a concentration of 10 mmol/l. A sample of papillary muscle, obtained from the removed valve, is studied by means of spectrophotometric analysis in order to assess the enzyme activities and the intermediate metabolites of the different biochemical pathways of the myocardial cell. Our results suggest a possible interaction of exogenous CP with the cellular metabolism: all the mechanisms involved with the production of energy seem to be shifted towards a better preservation of the available pool of high energy compounds. PMID- 2633083 TI - [Anesthesiologic assistance to children undergoing magnetic resonance]. AB - The paper describes the anesthesiological technique used during magnetic resonance tomography in young patients. The Authors developed a neurosedative technique, based on the balanced use of thiopentone sodium, DBP and atropine, which was used in a large study involving 247 patients between November 1986 and April 1989. The results were found to be excellent in patients treated under day hospital conditions, and the Authors conclude that this method is the most efficacious of all solution tested in pediatric patients undergoing magnetic resonance tomography. PMID- 2633084 TI - [Survey carried out by land of the intervention time for territorial health care]. AB - While organizing the Catchment area of A/E Department in Arezzo, a recording of intervention time of prehospital care system (primary transport) was made by land. The analysis recorded that one third of the field on the Catchment area of the A/E Dept was in a red dangerous zone reachable in 15 minutes and more. Such analysis confirmed the importance of local operation bonds all for a correct redistribution of ambulances in the Catchment area and a rational choice of vans and staff suitable for an advanced life support only where and when really necessary. PMID- 2633085 TI - [Comparison of 2 exchangers of heat and humidity in anesthesia (Hygrobac vs Ultipor BB50)]. AB - Comparison between Hygrobac and Ultipor BB50, two commercially available heat and moisture exchangers, shows that the former is more efficient: temperature (T degrees C) and water content (absolute humidity, AH) of the inspired gas is greater with Hygrobac than Ultipor BB50. However, both HMEs work at the low limit of the normally accepted range of T degrees C and AH for intubated patients. PMID- 2633086 TI - [The principles of the primary surgical treatment of fragmentation eye wounds]. AB - On the grounds of the analysis of results after treatment of 280 patients (25 women, 255 men), aged from 9 to 62 years, with fragmentation wounds of the eye a system of primary surgical treatment of such patients is worked out. The analysis of personal investigations carried out on the basis of studying variants of intraocular pathology in penetrating fragmentation injuries of the eye, succession and volume of surgical interventions allowed to work out a tactics of treatment for such patients using primary surgical treatment of the wound. removal of a foreign body, operations of phacoemulsification, phacofragmentation, vitrectomy and operations on the retina depending on the localization of the fragment, the size of the penetrating wound and associated changes in the eye. As a result of primary surgical treatment, foreign bodies were removed in 235 patients, reconstructive interventions were made in 208 patients. PMID- 2633087 TI - [Experience with the organizational and medical support for emergency measures in eye injuries]. AB - The paper generalizes the experience of work of an optimized variant of the system of urgent aid and treatment of patients with eye traumas, an ophthalmological centre, organized on the basis of the Department of Urgent/Ophthalmological Aid and the Department of Vitreo-Retinal Surgery. The authors describe results after IOL implantation in removal of traumatic cataract and treatment of corneal wounds, diascleral removal of foreign bodies, localized paramacularly, from the posterior segment of the eye the usage of extracapsular transmembranous dialysis of antibiotics for treatment of intraocular infection. All this allowed to essentially improve outcomes after severe eye traumas. PMID- 2633088 TI - [The clinical characteristics and emergency microsurgical care in eye injuries in children]. AB - The paper describes results after primary surgical treatment in 131 children, aged from 2 to 14 years, with severe combined trauma of the anterior segment of the eye complicated by lens injury in 84.4%, prolapse of eye coats in 34.9%, injury of the iris in 12.8%, extensive hemorrhages in 12.8%, intraocular foreign bodies in 6.4%. Besides sutural fixation of corneal and scleral wounds, there were simultaneously made iridoplasty, aspiration of a swelling lens, anterior vitrectomy, removal of a foreign body, organized hyphema and exudate tectonic corneoscleroplasty, and, if indicated, IOL implantation. The functional outcomes (a cure with visual acuity 0.3-1.0 was recorded in 45% of patients) speak in favor of such a method of rendering urgent aid and allow to recommend it into a wide ophthalmological practice. PMID- 2633089 TI - [Methods for the primary surgical treatment of penetrating eye wounds with the use of the intraocular lens]. AB - The analysis of results after treatment of 60 patients with penetrating eye wounds in whom primary surgical treatment included IOL implantation, has shown that early intraocular correction, by indications elaborated by the author, is justified and allows to achieve high visual acuity. The choice of the surgical method should be determined by the character of the eye ball injury. In those cases when the corneal wound is 7-8 mm in size, it is advisable to implant the IOL through the inlet opening, this being less traumatic, than implantation through the additional corneoscleral incision. In case of embedment of a foreign body and its localization within 5-6 mm from the limbus, it can be removed through the corneoscleral incision together with conducting all necessary procedures. In case of a deeper embedment of foreign body, but not beyond the eye equator, it should be removed diasclerally and the IOL implanted through the additional incision. The proposed methods for treatment of penetrating eye wounds using IOL implantation allowed to achieve good vision in the patients operated on, and in remote terms it achieved the levels from 0.28 +/- 0.09 to 0.70 +/- 0.06. PMID- 2633090 TI - [The characteristics of the emergency surgical care for patients with eye trauma complicated by an injury to the iris]. AB - The paper describes results after a complex surgical treatment of 58 patients with fresh eye traumas complicated by iris injuries. An improved method of iridoplasty is proposed for treatment of extensive iridodialysis using no additional surgical incisions in the process of primary surgical treatment. On the grounds of the analysis of the treatment carried out it is emphasized that in primary surgical treatment the injury of the iris and of other eye structures should be eliminated as maximum as possible. The proposed method of complex reconstructive treatment allows to obtain high optical and cosmetic results in patients with severe injuries of the eye, to achieve their fuller medical and social rehabilitation in a shorter time. PMID- 2633091 TI - [The microsurgical treatment of penetrating wounds of the cornea with the use of collagenous materials]. AB - The character of influence of a modified collagen possessing a prolonged antimicrobic activity on account of including into its molecule a preparation 5 nitrofuryl-2 acrolein of a nitrofurane series, on the healing of corneal wounds has been studied in 86 rabbit eyes and in 38 patients with penetrating corneal wounds. The results obtained have shown that surgical treatment of the wounds by using collagenic membranes in a form of applications under corneal sutures and as a plastic material for covering defects of corneal tissue stimulates a quicker reparation of the cornea, prevents filtration of the aqueous humor and development of bedsores under sutures as well as development of microbic infection in the wound. PMID- 2633092 TI - [The prevalence of acute vascular optic neuropathies in Donetsk Province]. AB - The analysis of the wide-spread nature of acute vascular pathology of the optic nerve in Donetsk Province, according to applications for the period of 10 years- from 1978 to 1987, has shown a continuing growth of this pathology in the general structure of optic nerve diseases, being considerably greater in a young (30-44 years) and a middle-aged (45-59 years) age groups. The highest level of the wide spread nature of the disease has been and remains in persons above 60 years of age. At the present time, the most critical age for development of acute vascular optic neuropathies is a middle-aged group. Among the patient of this age group women prevail and among men with this pathology prevail unskilled workers and employers. PMID- 2633093 TI - [The kallikrein-kinin activity of the blood serum after intracapsular cataract extraction and the implantation of intraocular lenses]. AB - After intracapsular cataract extraction the level of kallicrein in blood serum is slightly increased. The authors consider it as a compensatory, stimulating regeneration. The postoperative period after IOL implantation is characterized by a remarkable rise of kallicrein activity. This is accompanied gl a higher exudative reaction in the postoperative period. The manifestation of exudative changes after IOL implantation prevails in persons with a high initial level of kallicrein in blood serum. A high level of kallicrein before surgery may serve as a prognostic test of a pronounced exudative reaction in the postoperative treatment of patients after IOL implantation. PMID- 2633094 TI - [Ocular changes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. AB - It is shown that children with acute lymphoblastic leucosis develop eye changes at various stages of the disease. Biomicroscopy of conjunctival vessels revealed disturbance of blood flow in perivascular intravascular vessels and in vessels of the vascular wall. In patients with recurrences of the disease these changes were more expressed. Prescription of antiaggregants, angioprotectors and general therapy had a positive influence on the state of microcirculation in eye vessels. The detection and the study of specific changes in the eye allow to improve general early diagnostics and to conduct additional treatment. PMID- 2633095 TI - [The biomechanical properties of the crystalline lens capsule in emmetropia and myopia]. AB - Morphometric and electronmicroscopic studies of the capsule of a clear lens depending on the degree of myopia and age as compared with the capsule of a clear lens in emmetropia and myopia have shown that with age the anterior capsule of a clear lens becomes thicker, while the posterior capsule becomes thinner and increases in length. This is connected with the weakening of accommodation in the presence of different curvature of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the lens on the background of the lowering of the metabolic level in elderly persons. In myopia, with the development of age changes the thickness of the lens capsule remains almost unchanged. The degree of myopia doesn't influence the thickness and the length of the anterior capsule of the lens, while with the rise of myopia the thickness of the posterior capsules increases. No dystrophic changes in the structure of such a capsule in high myopia were revealed. Hypertrophy of the posterior capsule speaks about the increase of its mechanic strength in a clear lens and is connected with the weakness of accommodation. Such a capsule can serve as a support for IOL implants in patients with myopic refraction. PMID- 2633096 TI - [Lipid peroxidation in experimental adrenaline-induced glaucoma]. AB - It is shown that in dynamics of the development of experimental glaucoma, simulated in rabbits, there takes place accumulation of lipid peroxidation products in the blood of animals. It is recorded that with the rise of intraocular pressure, tonographic and rheographic changes in the development of the glaucomatous process, i. e. of the glaucoma symptomatic complex, the level of lipid peroxidation becomes higher. It is emphasized that activation of lipid peroxidation as a factor of destructive changes in the eye and a body as a whole is connected with the stimulation of beta-adrenoreception in the development of the glaucomatous process. PMID- 2633097 TI - [Indications for keratotomy]. AB - The paper analyses indication to anterior radial keratotomy. Results of the study carried out concerning the influence of uncorrected myopia on successful fulfillment of different tasks (aiming from a sporting gun, operation of a bridge crane, take off and landing on the airplane trainer, etc.) have shown that myopia of 2. OD doesn't influence the fulfillment of work not only with objects situated at near distance from the eyes but at far distance as well. Thus the mentioned myopia cannot serve as a professional indication to keratotomy. The analysis of typical complaints of patients after keratotomy allowed to distinguish 8 main complaints and to assess their incidence and causes as well as causes their of appearance. It is established that even uncomplicated keratotomy can lead to functional changes in vision lowering visual capacity for work. On the basis of all mentioned above a scheme of indications and contraindications to keratotomy is proposed. PMID- 2633098 TI - [A comparison of the accuracy of the x-ray localization of intraocular foreign bodies by the methods of Komberg-Baltin and Abalikhin-Pivovarov]. PMID- 2633099 TI - [A modification of sinusotrabeculotomy for treating patients with open-angle and mixed glaucoma in single sighted eyes]. PMID- 2633100 TI - [The use of the preparation Kenalog-40 for treating chalazion in children]. PMID- 2633101 TI - [The residual pupillary membrane in myopics]. PMID- 2633102 TI - [A variant of trichiasis and its complication]. PMID- 2633103 TI - [A case of changes in the fundus oculi in burns]. PMID- 2633104 TI - The distribution of amino acids in the genetic code. AB - By introducing a mutational deterioration function MD and a principle of approximate minimum of the function, we have deduced the distribution of amino acids in genetic code, which includes the degeneracy rule of codons, the global extreme of genetic code from codon interactions and the hydrophobicity domain of the prevalent (standard) code. PMID- 2633105 TI - On the electro-magnetic nature of life. AB - Man has wondered since the dawning of thought about the origin and the meaning of the spark of life. How does life work and what is the difference between life and non-life? This paper wonders about the part that electromagnetism plays in the life process. It proposes a new insight into the relation of in vivo electromagnetic fields and gravitational fields and discusses such manifestations as solitons, the quantum hall effect, gravity waves, biological strings, biologically closed electric circuits, phonos and the piezoelectric nature of living tissue. It proposes a new and fundamental form of resonance, called Jacobson resonance. The system unifies quantum genetic characters and associated structures with electromagnetic field interaction energies. The result is the reorientation of atomic crystal lattice structures of organic molecules critical to the sustenance of life. A new treatment methodology is proposed for genomic, viral and trophic factor disorders essentially in terms of the potential efficacy of the magnetic force to reorient the spin angular momenta of electrons and protons; to therein rearrange atomic and molecular magnetic domains regulating homeostasis on microscopic, mesosopic and macroscopic levels through biological amplification of quantum interactions. Finally it proposes that the equation, mc2 = Bvl coulomb, may indeed represent the achievement of fourfold physical unification, the unification of physics and medicine, and resultant production of a thorough understanding of what may be the most fundamental natural law of the universe representing the ultimate goal of Einsteinian equivalence and relativistic field theory. PMID- 2633106 TI - Lipidemic effects of a mild-term treatment with calcium heparin in vasculopathic subjects. AB - The Authors study the lipidemic effects of a "middle-term" treatment with heparin calcium in vasculopathic subjects undergoing the drug for antithrombotic purposes. The series consists of 35 subjects (21 m, 14 f, mean age 57 +/- 8) suffering from peripheral arteriopathy (24 cases) and instable angina (11 cases) of arteriosclerotic nature, and free from endocrinometabolic and hepatorenal diseases; all the subjects were normolipemic, except for 4 cases having hyperlipoproteinemia of type II B. After a week of standard diet and drug wash out, each patient underwent antithrombotic treatment with calcium heparin (10.000 Units subcutaneously) for three weeks during the hospitalization; for each sample, the plasma levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL-3-cholesterol (HDL-3-C) and HDL 2-cholesterol (HDL-2-C) were determined enzymatically (kits Boerhinger Mannheim). The Authors observe a significant (P less than 0.05) increase of TC and LDL-C after one and after two weeks of treatment with a return to the baseline after three weeks; levels of TG, HDL-C, HDL-3-C, HDL-2-C and the HDL-C/TC and HDL-2 C/HDL-C ratios showed an ascending profile until the third week without significant changes, compared to the baseline values. Subdividing the series arbitrarily into into two groups (A and B) respectively having rather low ("normolipemic") and high ("hyperlipemic") values of TC and TG respectively below (group A) and above (group B) 230 mg/dl (TC) and 165 mg/dl (TG).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2633107 TI - The release of thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha following pulmonary embolism. AB - It has been shown in animals that acute obstruction of pulmonary artery branches is followed by an early but shortly lived increase in blood levels of thromboxane B2 and a subsequent longer-lasting increase in blood levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Our study was conducted on twelve patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Nine were treated with urokinase; three could not be given thrombolytic or anticoagulant drugs due to bleeding peptic ulcer (2 cases) or recent cerebral hemorrhage (1 case). HPLC and RIA tests were performed on arterial blood samples at diagnosis and after 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours. Findings were compared with those in a control group of 6 healthy subjects. There was a difference in prostanoid behaviour between the untreated and urokinase treated patients. Among the former mean TxB2 was significantly raised at clinical onset and began to decline after 6 12 hours, approaching the mean level found among the controls after 24 hours. In contrast 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was raised after 1 hour and gradually declined thereafter. In the subjects treated with urokinase TxB2 was already close to the mean control level after 1 hour; 6-keto-PGF1 alpha had increased after 1 hour but had returned near the control level after 12. The behaviour of prostanoids appears to match the clinical course. PMID- 2633108 TI - Prenatal diagnosis of heterozygosis in a pregnancy at risk for Wolman's disease at the 8th week of gestation. AB - Wolman's disease is a rare autosomal recessive disease due to lysosomal acid lipase complete deficiency (McKusick 27.800). Prenatal diagnosis is based on safe chorionic villus sampling procedures. We test acid lipase activity in cultured chorionic villus cells, selected from a biopsy performed during the 8th week of pregnancy. We now report the first prenatal diagnosis of heterozygosity for Wolman's disease during the first trimester of pregnancy. Reduced acid lipase activity was shown in the chorionic villi cells using a natural substrate (Cholesterol 14C oleate). The diagnosis was confirmed by the demonstration of reduced acid lipase activity in cultured amniotic cells and in the newborn lymphocytes. Early prenatal diagnosis in pregnancies at risk for lysosomal storage diseases is possible when enzyme activity levels in chorionic villi are similar to those in cultured amniotic cells and in infant cells. PMID- 2633109 TI - Anti-HIV antibodies in postmortem vitreous humor. AB - Anti-HIV antibodies were detected in postmortem blood and vitreous humor samples from 60 drug addicts died in 1988 and medicolegally autopsied at the University Institute of Forensic Science of Turin. Fifteen subjects were positive both in blood and in vitreous samples confirming the possibility to detect anti-HIV antibodies in vitreous humor in the screening of high-risk population. PMID- 2633110 TI - Craniofacial dysostosis (Crouzon's disease) associated with metaphyseal dysplasia (Pyle's disease) in the same subject. A roentgenologic study. AB - Two distinct constitutional bone diseases, Crouzon's and Pyle's disease, transmitted in autosomal dominant manner trough maternal and paternal lines, were observed joined together in a young patient of 17. The roentgenographic pattern of this never (to our knowledge) before reported associated and the mode of inheritance are presented. PMID- 2633111 TI - Vanishing penis syndrome: the Ife experience. AB - Twenty-five cases of vanishing penis syndrome as a rare cause of mechanical impotence seen over a nine year period in Ile-Ife are presented. Local aetiological factors some distinct from those earlier recorded in literature are highlighted. The prominent role which surgery can play in the management of this form of physical and mental handicap, loss of sexual function let alone becoming a social out cast is stressed. PMID- 2633112 TI - The expression of Lewis antigens in neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. AB - The indirect immunoperoxidase technique has been used to demonstrate Lea and Leb antigens in paraffin sections of both morphologically normal gastric and colonic mucosae and their neoplastic counterparts. Expression differed in various regions of the gastrointestinal tract: Leb occurred most frequently in the stomach and Lea most frequently in the colon. Coexpression of Lea and Leb occurred in only 5% of cases of normal mucosa, in 65% of gastric carcinomas and in 82% of carcinomas of the colon. Furthermore, 75% of cases of intestinal metaplasia in gastric mucosa and 30% of tubular adenomas, 50% of villous adenomas and 70% of tubulovillous adenomas in the colon co-expressed Lea and Leb antigens. In this study, the expression of Lewis antigens in carcinoma was found to differ from that of adjacent normal mucosa in 95% of cases of gastric carcinoma and 100% of cases of colonic carcinoma. The differences were shown by antigen acquisition and/or deletion. Similar changes were shown in 88% of cases of intestinal metaplasia in gastric mucosa, 20% of cases of tubular adenomas and 57% of cases of villous and tubulovillous adenomas of colon. PMID- 2633113 TI - Expression of MHC class I and class II antigens in colonic carcinomas. AB - Malignant and non-malignant ('normal') colonic tissues from patients with colonic carcinoma were examined for the expression of MHC class I and class II antigens by immunoenzymatic staining using monoclonal antibodies. The amount of class I antigen as detected by 2 monoclonal antibodies, FMC 16 or W6/32 was clearly diminished in 11 of 14 tumours when compared to the amount present on 'normal' colonic tissue from the same individual. The loss of class I antigen did not correlate with tumour stage or differentiation. The reactivities of FMC 16 and W6/32 with these tissues were not identical, which indicates that the 2 monoclonal antibodies may recognize different epitopes on the HLA class I molecule. Class II antigens were absent from 'normal' colonic epithelium but were present on 20 of 28 tumours, with DR being detected more often than DP, and DQ found only on 4 of 28 tumours. When present, staining for class II antigens was heterogeneous within the tumour, in that all tumour cells did not stain equally. DR and DP antigens were found more often on moderately or poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas and on stage B, C and D tumours in that order of frequency. Thus tumours with a better prognosis were less likely to express DR and DP. The expression of DQ was unrelated to staging or differentiation. PMID- 2633114 TI - The structure of the normal human glomerular basement membrane. Ultrastructural localization of type IV collagen and laminin. AB - Structural models of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) have been based solely on the localization of antigens in animal kidneys. These models depict a type IV collagen lattice as the structural skeleton along the central portion of the membrane, with the glycoprotein laminin attached predominantly in the laminae rarae where it is thought to be involved with endothelial and visceral epithelial cell attachment. The human GBM is also known to contain type IV collagen and laminin. The present study localizes both of these structural antigens in normal human GBM using the ultrastructural immunogold technique. Type IV collagen is situated in the sub-endothelial third of the GBM and is continuous with the type IV collagen within the mesangial matrix. Laminin is localized throughout the entire thickness of the GBM and mesangial matrix. These results indicate that the structure of human GBM is significantly different from that proposed in animal models. A structure for the normal human GBM is discussed, depicting a thin type IV collagen lattice which is asymmetrically placed in the sub-endothelial third of the membrane, with laminin distributed as an integral component of the membrane in addition to its role in cell attachment. PMID- 2633115 TI - Endometriosis of the large bowel: a report of 11 cases. AB - The clinical and pathological features of 11 cases of large bowel endometriosis are reported, one of which also had lesions in the small intestine. All of the cases had rectal or rectosigmoid involvement. Altered bowel habit and pain were common symptoms but were rarely associated with the menstrual cycle. Sigmoidoscopy was generally unhelpful. Rectal or vaginal examination and barium enema often revealed a mass which was usually diagnosed preoperatively as a malignancy. A correct diagnosis was made preoperatively in only two cases; carcinoma was suspected in four and carcinoid in one case. Histological evidence of recent hemorrhage was confined to those cases where endometriosis seemed to be the major cause of intestinal symptoms. The colonic mucosa overlying the endometriotic deposits was commonly histologically abnormal. It showed a range of changes resembling colitis, solitary ulcer, prolapse or even neoplasm. An appreciation of these mucosal alterations is important to those reporting colonic and rectal biopsies; when observed to be focal in a female patient they should arouse a suspicion of endometriosis. PMID- 2633116 TI - Test and teach. Number Sixty-one. Diagnosis: Cerebral and cerebellar infarctions due to mucormycosis with secondary hydrocephalus. PMID- 2633117 TI - Phaeohyphomycosis of the nasal sinuses caused by Bipolaris species. AB - Phaeohyphomycosis of the nasal sinuses of three patients is reported. Diagnosis is based on the laboratory findings of the biopsy tissue from the sinus lesions. All cases demonstrate a localized opportunistic infection caused by the dematiaceous fungus Bipolaris spicifera. PMID- 2633118 TI - Spontaneous papillary necrosis in the heterozygous Gunn rat. AB - Spontaneous papillary necrosis develops in aging heterozygous non-jaundiced Gunn rats. The lesion is situated in the subapical or mid papilla and in its earliest stages is manifest by the appearance of amorphous material in the interstitial space. This is seen in plastic-embedded sections taken from rats 6 months old. In its later stages, the accumulation of amorphous material is accompanied by loss of interstitial cells and cyst formation, but there is no associated inflammatory reaction. The largest lesions are found in the oldest rats, but even in these animals the macroscopic appearance of the papilla is normal. Similar papillary changes were not found in albino or homozygous Gunn rats, but in aging albino rats there was loss of papillary interstitial cells without accumulation of amorphous material. PMID- 2633119 TI - Perivascular nerve lesion of the coronary artery involved in spasm in a patient with variant angina. AB - An autopsy case of a 52-year-old man with typical variant angina is reported. He had recurrent attacks of chest pain at rest, particularly from midnight to early morning, associated with ST segment elevation in the electrocardiogram. At autopsy, degenerative changes and fibrosis were confirmed light microscopically in the perivascular nerves of the coronary artery involved in spasm. This finding indicates an intimate relationship between coronary spasm and the autonomic nervous system. PMID- 2633120 TI - Atypical lupus erythematosus cells in pleural fluid. PMID- 2633121 TI - Gastrointestinal bleeding due to leukemic infiltrate in myelodysplastic syndrome. PMID- 2633122 TI - Role of dietary cholesterol in atherosclerosis: reply to comments of Dr J. T. Lie and Dr B. A. Kottke. PMID- 2633123 TI - Patient education for people with schizophrenia. AB - This paper presents a rationale for greater nursing involvement in patient education for people with schizophrenia--specifically, providing information about the illness and ways to adapt to it (psychoeducation). It includes a conceptual framework for such education within the context of the nurse-patient relationship, plus an outline of suggested content. The proposed model is within the competency of professional psychiatric nurse generalists. PMID- 2633124 TI - Elements of effective clinical supervision. AB - Nursing students have clinical supervision. So, too, do RNs working in psychiatric settings and those in private practice. The ANA certification requires access to clinical supervision or consultation. How is this ideal turned into reality? Who provides clinical supervision to working RNs? Do such supervisors use a model or do they practice impressionistically? What do practitioners mean when they talk about supervision? Does that differ from actual practice? How do clinical supervision and therapy differ? The authors explore these questions and provide examples from their own clinical experience. PMID- 2633125 TI - Modeling awareness of feelings: a needed tool in the therapeutic communication workbox. AB - Feelings are the focus of much therapeutic time with clients. This article reviews the reasons for encouraging clients to explore feelings and provides a therapeutic communication tool. Clients who are reluctant or unable to acknowledge their feelings present a challenge. One way around this impasse is for the nurse to model feelings--directly or indirectly. PMID- 2633126 TI - Caring for the psychiatric inpatient with AIDS. AB - As the incidence of AIDS spreads to different groups, it becomes an increasing concern to health care givers. The emotional state of many psychiatric patients may make them more vulnerable to risk behaviors than the general population. This paper responds to several issues confronting the staff caring for patients with AIDS on a psychiatric unit. PMID- 2633127 TI - Treatment of AIDS in a psychiatric setting. AB - Treatment staff in psychiatric facilities must meet new diagnostic and treatment challenges as more patients with an AIDS-related syndrome are admitted to their institutions. Staff probably will encounter two categories of patients with AIDS related syndromes requiring treatment: functional, which is adjustment disorder; and organic brain syndrome, which includes major depression, dementia, and delirium. Health care professionals dealing with these people must respond to legal and ethical questions surrounding the diagnosis and plan of care. This article examines treatment issues, and legal and ethical questions that often arise in the delivery of care to psychiatric patients with an AIDS-related syndrome. Specific areas addressed include care of the psychotic patient, compulsory testing, and confidentiality of information. The article presents some suggested basic guidelines for working with patients with AIDS. PMID- 2633128 TI - [Analysis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in the right paratracheal area and the pretracheal retrocaval space by tomography with a compensating filter--diagnostic significance of mediastinal reflection]. AB - Findings of mediastinal reflection tomography with a compensating filter (Tomo) and its diagnostic significance for mediastinal lymphadenopathy were compared with those of computed tomography (CT) in 140 patients. The nodes were of normal size in 88 patients and enlarged (short transverse diameter on CT greater than or equal to 10 mm) in 52. With Tomo, the following findings had high sensitivity and a high positive predictive value (PPV): Irregularly widened (greater than or equal to 10 mm) right paratracheal stripe (RPS), irregular mediastinal reflection on the plane 1-2 cm in front of the plane of the trachea, bulge in configuration of the superior vena cava (SVC) exclusive of the area near the configuration of shadow thought to be the azygos arch (azygos arch), disappearance of the azygos arch, enlargement of the azygos arch, irregular margin of the upper-lateral portion of the azygos arch and increase in size of the more anterior part of the azygos arch, which is of homogeneous density. A high PPV but low sensitivity were noted for displacement or deformity of the trachea and/or the right main bronchus. High sensitivity but a low PPV were noted for disappearance of RPS and bulge in configuration of the SVC near the azygos arch. When the 7 findings with high sensitivity and a high PPV were combined, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of Tomo were 84.6%, 96.6%, 92.1%, respectively. PMID- 2633129 TI - [Sequential MRI and CT monitoring in cryosurgery--an experimental study in rats]. AB - Cryosurgery is one of treatments of cancer, such as carcinomas of the face, oral cavity, prostate, breast, rectum and liver. But the method of cryosurgery seemed to be not yet completely established. The most important problem in this procedure is to define the extent of the cryolesion. But the trial with MRI and CT has not been reported. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the image diagnosis such as Magnetic Resonance (MR) and CT is useful for the determination of the region during and after cryosurgery. The animal experiments were performed using 13 Wistar rats with inoculated Walker 256 cancer on both sides of femoral regions subcutaneously in the concentration of 1 million cells. After 7 days, cryosurgery was done by contacting for 15 sec with the absorbent cotton ball dipped in liquid nitrogen to the surface of right femoral tumor 3 to 6 times. The left side of tumor was intact. MRI was performed with a 0.1 Tesla ASAHI MR Mark-J and CT images were obtained using GE 9800. From the freezing to thawing, LF image (Low Flip Angle gradient echo image of Tr = 100 msec, Te = 18 msec, 60 degrees of flip angle) of MR and plain CT were taken every one minute. After thawing is over, SE image of Tr = 1500 msec, Te = 90 msec, IR images of Tr = 1200 msec, Td = 400 msec, and plain and contrast enhanced CT were carried out. Two and 7 days after cryosurgery, LF, SE and IR images of MR and CT with and without contrast medium were obtained with corresponding pathological examinations. The frozen cryolesion was of no signal intensity on the LF MR image and hypodensity on plain CT. Identification of cryolesion became possible during the cryosurgery. The cryolesion immediately after thawing showed higher intensity on the SE and LF images and hypodensity on enhanced CT. Therefore, the extent of cryosurgery can be diagnosed easily by these methods during and immediately after cryosurgery. In the follow-up studies after cryosurgery, the histological changes such as necrosis or tissue reaction were well represented by MRI and enhanced CT, but insufficiently by plain CT. From these experimental results, it may be concluded that MRI and CT are useful for monitoring the process of cryosurgery during and after the procedure. PMID- 2633130 TI - [Thin-slice CT analysis of localized inflammatory pulmonary lesions--pathologic CT correlation]. AB - In order to evaluate thin-slice CT findings of localized inflammatory pulmonary lesions, 5 granulomatous lesions without preoperative pathological diagnosis were examined. On thin-slice CT, fifth order bronchi and vessels were detected, and inflammatory lesions were observed in margins of pulmonary veins. Of involved bronchi, thick walls were detected in 3 cases, central convergence in 2 cases, mucoid impaction in 3 cases. The characteristics of inflammatory nodules, strand like shadow and concave margin of lesion contiguous to normal lung, were demonstrated on thin-slice CT. Thin-slice CT can be effective to differentiate localized inflammatory pulmonary lesion. PMID- 2633131 TI - [A study on restriction of the areas working in speech function--application of multivariate analysis of aphasia test data and of lesions on CT images, by composing a "restricted-aphasia-lesion-map"]. AB - Computed tomography (CT) gave a large contribution to morphological analysis of the aphasia syndromes. The aphasia problems are, however, still controversial and have many unresolved issues, even from a morphological point of view. In most cases with cerebral vascular lesion causing speech dysfunction, we are able to define an extent of density change on CT images. But its extent seems to be often not consistent with the area supposed to be deranged in functional work-up of speech. CT appearance of some areas may be little changed or normal when those areas are to be in poor condition in their functional maintenance. This may be due to such a vascular supply which permits brain tissues to be sustained but which does not work for their function to be normally performed. From 642 cases with cerebral vascular lesion we reviewed CT images of 382 cases: 171 cases having a lesion in the left hemisphere and 46 of them showing aphasia syndrome; 151, a lesion in the right hemisphere alone and 3, aphasic; and 60 cases having lesions on both sides and 7 showing aphasia syndrome. First, we determined anatomically the extent of CT change in 102 cases, all right-handed, with a lesion in the left hemisphere. The extents were piled and made up to a "non aphasia-lesion-map". This map was used for eliminating those areas as not working in speech function. The other map of the areas was made out of CT images of aphasia cases (33 cases including one agraphia). The latter map was put upon the "non-aphasia-lesion-map", so that the very area working in speech function could be more restricted. The third map, "restricted-aphasia-lesion-map" demonstrated those areas related to speech function: (1) the region limited around the three rami in the Sylvian fissure (Broca A); (2) the inferior frontal gyrus and the posterior aspect of the middle frontal gyrus (Broca B); (3) the inferior aspect of the cortex and subcortex of the Reil's island; (4) most of the middle temporal gyrus, the posterior third of the superior temporal gyrus, a large portion of the supramarginal gyrus and a part of the limbic system; (5) a large portion of the limbic system; (6) the anterior aspect of the superior frontal gyrus; and (7) the corpus callosum. The Standard Language Test for Aphasia (SLTA) was applied for 33 cases of aphasia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2633132 TI - [Radiologic diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma]. AB - Five cases of pleural mesothelioma (3 benign and 2 malignant) were evaluated with chest radiograph and CT. A case of benign localized mesothelioma growing within the major fissure, and a case of diffuse malignant mesothelioma encircling the descending thoracic aorta are included among the five cases. Pleural mesotheliomas present a variety of roentgenographic manifestations depending upon the histologic type, the site of origin, and the direction of the extension, and can easily be misdiagnosed as lung tumor, aortic aneurysm, or mediastinal tumor. It is emphasized that pleural mesothelioma should be considered as a differential diagnosis when a mass lesion is found in the mediastinum, hilar region, interlobar fissure, or near the chest wall. PMID- 2633133 TI - [Magnetic resonance imaging of bladder tumors: superiority of serial "Fast SE" assisted by Gd-DTPA in tumor staging]. AB - Eighteen cases with bladder tumors were examined by means of superconducting MRI. Sequences used were spin echo (TR/TE (msec) = 500/20 as T1WI (weighted image) and 1500/80 as T2WI) and serial "fast spin echo (fast SE)" pre/post Gd-DTPA administration. "Fast SE" was a new technique offering a distinct T1WI (TR/TE = 100/14, utilizing a 14 second breath hold). Slice thickness of "fast SE" was 10 mm and slice plane was selected perpendicular to the tumor base to detect the extent of invasion. Serial scan of "fast SE" was performed before and immediately after 0.1 mmol/kg Gd administration. Scanning was completed before the bladder was opacified by Gd. Tumor and normal mucosa were both markedly enhanced whereas the surrounding muscle layer remained hypointense. On delayed scan, the elevated character of the tumor was outlined by opacified urine but the distinction between the mucosa and the muscle layer became unclear. Total cystectomy (TC) was performed in 6 of 18 cases and pathological tumor extension was correlated with MR findings. Transurethral resection (TUR) was performed in the remaining 12 patients, and the tumor extension was assessed by follow-up biopsy after TUR. Intact liner hypointensity indicated superficial lesions (= less than pT2), while disruption of the linear hypointensity corresponded pathologically to deep muscle invasion (= greater than pT3a). Accuracy of serial "fast SE" in tumor staging was 94% (17/18). Serial "fast SE" allowed the distinction of superficial from invasive tumors more accurately than conventional studies, and therefore assisted in choosing the correct operative method. PMID- 2633134 TI - [Clinical evaluation of Tl-201 ECG-gated myocardial SPECT--comparison with ECG gated blood pool SPECT]. AB - In order to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the Tl-201 ECG-gated myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), we compared the wall motion and the grade of the Tl-201 uptake of the ECG-gated myocardial SPECT with the wall motion of the ECG-gated blood pool SPECT. Materials were 87 patients of 50 old myocardial infarctions (OMIs), 19 hypertrophic cardiomyopathies (HCMs), 2 dilated cardiomyopathies (DCMs) and 16 others. After intravenous injection of 111 185 MBq (3-5 mCi) of Tl-201 at rest, the projection data were acquired using a rotating gamma-camera through 180 degrees, from RAO 45 degrees in 24 directions, each of which consisted of 80-100 beats. For the reconstruction of ED, ES and non gated images, R-R interval was divided into about 20 (18-22) fractions. In 348 regions of interest (anterior, septal, lateral and inferior wall) in 87 cases, wall motion and the Tl-201 uptake were evaluated to three grades (normal, hypokinesis and akinesis; normal, low and defect, respectively), which were compared with the wall motion of the ECG-gated blood pool SPECT. The wall motion and the grade of the Tl-201 uptake of the ECG-gated myocardial SPECT correlated well with the wall motion of the ECG-gated blood pool SPECT (96.6% and 87.9%, respectively). In conclusion, the ECG-gated myocardial SPECT can provide clear perfusion images and is a very useful diagnostic strategy to evaluate the regional wall motion and perfusion simultaneously. PMID- 2633135 TI - [Prerequisites for bacterial invasion of the periodontal tissues]. AB - Bacterial invasion of the periodontium has recently been described by several authors. The conditions necessary for this to occur in vivo are being discussed. The anatomical relations of the periodontal pocket are described macroscopically and microscopically as well as the postulated mechanisms for colonization, adhesion and penetration. It is necessary for the microorganisms to colonize and adhere in order to be able to invade tissues. The possibility of establishment of microorganisms in the tissues and the importance of the immune system are also being described. The conclusion is that there is a possibility of bacterial invasion of the periodontal connective tissue. However, the human body with help from the immune system will in most cases be able to neutralize and get rid of these microorganisms. PMID- 2633136 TI - [Collaboration between general practitioners and orthodontists]. AB - The orthodontic service in Norway is mainly performed in private practices. However, in Oppland county, in the eastern part of Norway, there are several public orthodontic clinics. Financial support for orthodontic treatment is minimal whether carried out by private or public orthodontists. The public dentist has the main responsibility for diagnosing. The present study was conducted to examine the collaboration between general public dentists and orthodontists in Oppland county. The study was based on telephone interviews with 48 dentists. More than 90% of the dentists claimed that the orthodontic services in their district was sufficient. 81% felt that there was no orthodontic overtreatment. Written contact with the orthodontist was more common than oral communication (telephone). 31% of the dentists had weekly contact with the orthodontist, and 50% had monthly contact with the orthodontist. One third of the dentists expressed a desire for regular meetings with the orthodontist. Nearly two-thirds of the dentists preferred the orthodontist having the responsibility of diagnosing malocclusions. 81% were well satisfied with the treatment results. 63% rarely observed adverse effects of orthodontic treatment. The most common indications for recommending orthodontic treatment were functional disorders and prophylactic measures, and 65% considered the esthetic aspect of a malocclusion less important when referring a patient to an orthodontist. 62% felt that the financial support for orthodontic treatment in Norway today was unsatisfactory. 42% of those interviewed were of the opinion, that orthodontic services should be free, whereas 54% thought that orthodontic services should be only partly subsidized. PMID- 2633137 TI - [Norwegian HIV research in focus]. PMID- 2633138 TI - [Changes in hourly rate for dental treatment in the 1980s]. AB - The hourly rate for dental treatment in relation to general price and salary changes in Norway has changed in the period from 1979 to 1988. The results of the present study show that the increase of the hourly rate from 1983 has been less than for the consumer price index, and less than for the index for the average industrial worker's salary. The real price index for dental treatment in 1988 was 87.6. The relationship between the index for the average industrial worker's salary and the nominal price index for dental treatment was 80.5. It is concluded that dental treatment has become cheaper in Norway during the 1980's. The negotiations for dentists' hourly rate cannot be evaluated from these results without taking other factors into consideration. PMID- 2633139 TI - [Causes of interruption of dental studies and subsequent change in careers]. AB - During recent years an increasing number of dental students at the University of Oslo used prolonged student time and graduated with mediocre results, or interrupted studies without graduation Jacobsen, Acta Odontol Scand 45:399-408, 1987). The present investigation aimed at clarifying the reasons for interrupted studies and at getting information about subsequent career. Semistructured questionnaires on curricular and socioeconomic causes for drop-out and on subsequent career were mailed to 98 persons who had quit dental studies during a 10-year period. Free comments on circumstances relevant to their drop-out were encouraged. The following findings are based on 68 replies (69 per cent): Sixty three students (93 per cent) quit dental school for different curricular reasons, a majority of which was "more interest in other subjects". Contributory factors of socioeconomic nature, mostly future unemployment concern, were often mentioned. Forty-five (66 per cent) later graduated with university degrees in medicine, economics, veterinary medicine, science, technology, law etc, and the remainder, except two persons, finished up to 4 years of studies at regional colleges or similar institutions. Free comments focused on curricular, pedagogical, and social shortcomings at the dental faculty. The findings indicated that a large majority of the students who dropped out did so for lack of stimulation by the dental curriculum and not for lack of academic potential. Only a few students quit because, in their own description, they were immature for university studies at the time, or because they had "academic" difficulties with the early science/biology courses or with the preclinical technique courses. PMID- 2633141 TI - [Possible routes of infection]. PMID- 2633140 TI - [Immune-system--factor in development of periodontal disease]. PMID- 2633142 TI - South Dakota Dental Association medical waste management guidelines adopted May 24, 1989. PMID- 2633143 TI - [Clinical usefulness of respiratory function testing in children]. PMID- 2633144 TI - [Phospholipids and fatty acids in pulmonary surfactant of patients with lung cancer]. AB - The authors present the results of a study on composition of pulmonary surfactant phospholipids and fatty acids in 87 lung cancer patients. The comparison was made between smoking and non-smoking patients, related to ageing, and different histopathological structures of the tumors. Smoking lowered phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol increasing sphingomyelin. Increased levels of lysophosphatidylcholine were seen in smoking patients and ageing of the organism. Active phospholipid levels decreased with age. No correlation could be demonstrated between histopathological type of tumor and lipid composition of the surfactant. PMID- 2633145 TI - [Concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with lung cancer]. AB - Serum and BAL CEA levels were determined in stage I (WHO scale) lung cancer patients. The immuno-enzyme assay for the quantitative determination of CEA according to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) principle was used. Eight smokers without symptoms of respiratory disease served as a control group. The CEA levels were also determined in 48 patients with chronic bronchitis to evaluate the influence the role of the inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract in producing CAE. All determined serum, and BAL fluid CEA levels were related to total protein and albumin for comparison of both media. It was shown that the BAL fluid CEA levels in lung cancer patients exceeded 10-fold the control levels, and twice fold the levels found in chronic bronchitis. It must be emphasized that serum levels were within normal limits in all analysed groups. The concentration of CEA expressed as ratio to total protein and albumin supported a diagnostic usefulness of CEA in BAL and indicated a slight modification of it by inflammatory process. PMID- 2633146 TI - [The significance of fine needle transthoracic aspiration biopsy in diagnosing lung diseases]. AB - The results of fine needle transthoracic aspiration biopsy in diagnosing lung diseases in given. Out of 192 biopsies performed in 169 patients with lung tumors, lung cancer was diagnosed in 125 patients (73%), in two hilar cysts, in one an intercostal neurinoma were diagnosed. Side effects were seen in 17 patients (10%) most often pneumothorax in one requiring chest tube drainage. Diagnosis was made during the first 28 days of hospitalisation. This biopsy decreases hospitalization and shortens considerably the diagnosing time. It is a safe and uncomplicated procedure requiring only fluoroscopy. PMID- 2633147 TI - [Comparison of two exercise tests with various loads]. AB - In 30 males of a mean age 45.6 years suspected of asbestosis the author compared maximal oxygen consumption symptom limited, ventilation during consumption of oxygen (1 L per min) VE1.0 pulse rate on this level (HR1.0) and respiratory volume during ventilation 30 L X min.-1 (VT30) registered during exercise tests with an increasing load of 30 W every 3 minutes (group A) and 15 W every 1 minute (group B). Although both tests were judged to be equally stsrenuous the B test was shorter by one third and produced significantly higher VO2SL 1.89 L X min.-1, A: 1.71 L X min.-1 (p 0.01). Important diagnostical tests evaluating respiratory VE1.0, VT30 and circulatory (HR30) cost did not differ between groups. The author corroborated earlier studies that VE1.0 is one of the most sensitive tests of unequal ventilation and/or diffusion disorders in patients with slightly abnormal respiratory parameters: VC = 83% pred. FEV = 84% pred., FEV1% = 71%, DLCO = 82% pred. The results of this study show that test B is better than test A, being mich better tolerated. PMID- 2633148 TI - [Effect of age and intravenous dose of lidocaine on the circulatory reaction during bronchoscopy]. AB - The hypertonic reaction and pulse increase was studied in 88 males undergoing bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia. 28 patients were below 45 years of age, 60 were above 60 years. In half of the patients prior to introduction of the bronchoscope into the trachea lidocaine was given in a dose 1.5 mg per kg b.w. Differences in circulatory reactions were seen related to age and lidocaine administration. In the group of younger patients tachycardia was observed, in the older patients increased diastolic and systolic pressure. After lidocaine infusion the differences in circulatory reactions between the age groups became nonsignificant. This study suggests that lidocaine has a negative chronotropic reaction especially in younger patients and hypotensive in older. PMID- 2633149 TI - [Combination of gentamycin and amikacin with rifampicin, ethambutol and isoniazid on selected standard strains of Mycobacterium species in experiments done in vitro and in vivo]. AB - The authors present results of in-vivo and in-vitro studies of combined effect of gentamycin , amikacin and rifampicin , ethambutol, isoniazide on selected standard strains of Mycobacterium sp. (Myc. H37Rv, Myc. An5, Myc. wells, Myc. kirchberg, Myc. kansasii, Myc. intracellulare, and Myc. fortuitum). In in-vitro studies the synergistic effect of gentamycin and amikacin with the tuberculostatic drugs was demonstrable on all Mycobacterium strains. The weakest effect was seen on Myc. fortuitum colonies. In-vivo studies have also shown this synergistic effect on all studied strains, and a much weaker effect when used in monotherapy. The authors have shown the possibility of using combination of gentamycin and amikacin with RMP, EMB, INH in treating Myc. intracellulare infections. PMID- 2633150 TI - [Experimental studies on the effect of tobacco smoke, vitamin C and vitamin E on elastase-induced pulmonary emphysema]. AB - In this study the authors tried to evaluate the effect of tobacco smoke (source of oxidants) vitamin C and E (antioxidants) on elastase induced pulmonary emphysema in hamsters. Using morphometry the internal area of pulmonary alveoli was calculated. The results of this study differ from other similar studies because no effect of tobacco smoke could be demonstrated. The authors discuss this finding. PMID- 2633151 TI - [Tuberculosis of the breast]. AB - Mammary tuberculosis was diagnosed in a 76 year old female. The diagnosis was made based on result of histopathological examination of a tumor biopsy material. The tumor was excised. Antituberculous therapy was begun. The authors discuss the Sheffer classification of mammary tuberculosis. PMID- 2633152 TI - [Sequential photopolymerization of composites for Class II cavities]. PMID- 2633153 TI - [Experimental S.E.M. study of surface states of various denture base materials. 2]. PMID- 2633154 TI - Dihydropiridine inhibition of K+ and maitotoxin stimulated calcium fluxes in PC12 cells: effect of pertussis toxin. PMID- 2633155 TI - Effect of bezafibrate on plasma lipid in a strain of genetically hypercholesterolemic RICO rats. PMID- 2633156 TI - Effects of verapamil and N-acetylcysteine on doxorubicin or isoproterenol cardiotoxicity in mice. PMID- 2633157 TI - Sodium gradient influences agonist-induced Ca++ transients in single vascular smooth muscle cells: a fluorescence digital imaging microscopy study. PMID- 2633158 TI - Influence of the age on energy metabolism and purines turnover in Watanabe hyperlipemic (WHHL) rabbit aorta. PMID- 2633159 TI - Effect of quinones on isolated guinea-pig left atria. PMID- 2633160 TI - Inhibition of neutrophil adherence to vascular endothelial cells by a new acylated flavonoid. PMID- 2633161 TI - Visualization of adriamycin uptake and internalization by receptor-mediated endocytosis in mast cells. An ultrastructural study using adriamycin-colloidal gold complexes. PMID- 2633162 TI - Effects of trans-RuCl2 (DMSO)4 on B16 melanoma in mice. PMID- 2633163 TI - Effect of adriamycin and of d-amphetamine on endogenous levels of ascorbic acid in rodents. PMID- 2633164 TI - Effects of different light cycles and stress on urinary excretion of melatonin and tumor spread in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma. PMID- 2633165 TI - Effect of (-)nicotine on GABA efflux from guinea pig cerebral cortex slices. PMID- 2633166 TI - Effect of calcium ions and calcium chelators on 3H-CHA binding. PMID- 2633167 TI - Differential effects of estrogen and antiestrogen on expression of prodynorphin gene in the rat hypothalamus and pituitary. PMID- 2633168 TI - The paraventricular nucleus as a site of action for the vasopressin releasing effect of tachykinins. PMID- 2633169 TI - Dynamic adaptation of QT interval to heart rate changes: influence of amiodarone and D-sotalol. PMID- 2633170 TI - Antiproliferative activity of unfractioned heparin on a human smooth muscle cell line. PMID- 2633171 TI - Effect of some Ca++ entry blockers (CEBs) on vascular and non vascular preparations "in vitro". PMID- 2633172 TI - Correspondence between 3H-MPP+ binding site and MAO-A enzyme: pharmacological evidences. PMID- 2633173 TI - Two and half years of oral zinc sulphate therapy in an adult patient with Wilson's disease. PMID- 2633174 TI - Modification of CCK-8 hypothermia after chronic administration of dexamethasone in the rat. PMID- 2633175 TI - P1 and P2 receptors in the rat duodenal smooth muscle. PMID- 2633176 TI - Isolated myocardiocytes and DNA synthesis: a possible experimental model to predict the in vivo cardiotoxicity. PMID- 2633177 TI - Behavioural changes in offspring of rats exposed to diazepam during gestation. PMID- 2633178 TI - Changes in urinary output after depletion of cerebral acetylcholine stores in the rat. PMID- 2633179 TI - Calcium dependence of the evoked arginine vasopressin release by electrical stimulation and by L-glutamate. PMID- 2633180 TI - Behavioural, electrocortical power spectrum and body temperature effects of ribavirin in the rat. PMID- 2633181 TI - Interleukin I modulation of anterior pituitary function: effect on hormone release and second messenger systems. PMID- 2633182 TI - Peripheral and central opioid activity in the analgesic potency of morphine in rats. PMID- 2633183 TI - Habenular effect on hippocampal excitability is not cholinergically-mediated. PMID- 2633184 TI - Behavioural, ECoG and neuropathological effects after intracerebral injection of MPP+ and paraquat in rats. PMID- 2633185 TI - Neurochemical mechanisms of neurotensin-induced miosis. PMID- 2633186 TI - Anterior pituitary adenosine receptors, coupled to adenylate cyclase, modulate prolactin release. PMID- 2633187 TI - Evaluation of alprazolam-induced behavioural effects: differences with chlordiazepoxide after interaction with desipramine and rolipram, a cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor. PMID- 2633188 TI - Genotoxicity of heroin and cannabinoids in humans. PMID- 2633189 TI - Neonatal heroin withdrawal syndrome; evaluation of different pharmacological treatments. PMID- 2633190 TI - Interaction of opiates with omega-conotoxin in guinea pig ileum in vitro. PMID- 2633191 TI - Oral opiate intake in a free-choice procedure in the rat. PMID- 2633192 TI - Optimization of experimental design for ligand binding studies: improved estimation of affinity and binding capacity. PMID- 2633193 TI - Receptor affinity profile for evaluation of MRI contrast media tolerability. PMID- 2633194 TI - An in vitro model for studying acetylcholine and dopamine release from striatal slices. PMID- 2633195 TI - Distribution of cytoplasmic estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors in bovine genital tract. PMID- 2633196 TI - Role of an intact endothelium in the vascular action of cadralazine and ISF2405. PMID- 2633197 TI - Regulation of intestinal motility by different muscarinic receptor subtypes. PMID- 2633198 TI - Microinjection of muscimol into posterior hypothalamus blocks cardiovascular response to experimental stress in rats. PMID- 2633199 TI - cAMP binding proteins after chronic treatment with antidepressants. PMID- 2633200 TI - Behavioral and neurochemical alterations caused by chronic L-dopa treatment in the rat. PMID- 2633201 TI - Anti-class II antibody production prolongs renal allograft survival. AB - It is widely accepted that transfusions are beneficial to the outcome of renal allotransplantation. Whereas some investigators suggested that transfusions may induce both specific and nonspecific suppression of the cell-mediated immune response, others disagree. To lend clarity to this discrepancy, we collected 40 serum samples before and after blood transfusion therapy of first-time cadaveric renal allograft recipients and evaluated each for T cell and B cell cytotoxic antibodies using an Amos modified complement-dependent microlymphocytotoxicity assay. When greater than 10% of the panel cells reacted with a grade 4 or better, the panel was considered significant, and when a lymphocyte specificity was lysed by antibody-rich serum greater than 50% of the time, the antibody was considered specific. Control T and B cell PRA assays employed sera from 27 normal nontransfused volunteers of similar age and sex. Survival distributions of differences in the PRA before and after blood transfusions and posttransfusion PRA levels were compared using the Gehan generalized Wilcoxon test. Other factors which influence allograft survival such as HLA-A, -B and -DR matches, number of blood transfusions, immunosuppressive therapy, age, sex, parity, previous positive crossmatch, circulating cytotoxic antibodies matching the graft, prior dialysis, length of time on the waiting list, lapse of time between transfusion and transplantation and the underlying primary diagnosis were also considered using the Gehan generalized Wilcoxon test or the chi 2 approximation. Transfusion related B cell cytotoxic antibodies, HLA-DR monospecific or multispecific antibodies and HLA-A, -B matching extended graft survival in a significant manner. Sex influenced the production of B and T cell transfusion-related cytotoxic antibodies with females producing greater quantities of antibodies than males. Parity and the production of monospecific or multispecific antibody were associated with an increase in transfusion-related B cell cytotoxic antibody. A difference in sex was not linked to the production of monospecific or multispecific HLA-DR antibodies. The majority of males failed to respond to multiple blood transfusions with the production of B cell cytotoxic antibodies although more than half were successfully grafted. All females and males who responded with the production of B cell cytotoxic antibodies monospecific or multispecific, with the exception of 1 female, demonstrated an allograft survival of greater than 1 year. In conclusion, differences between pre- and post transfusion B cell PRAs and monospecific or multispecific HLA-DR antibodies identified in patient sera following transfusions were good predictors of renal allograft survival in both males and females.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2633202 TI - Ontogenic development of the secretory immune system in human fetal salivary glands. PMID- 2633203 TI - Nutritional effects on hematological and immunological responses of mice exposed to diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS). PMID- 2633204 TI - Uptake of 14C-xylitol by xylitol-cultured Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC 27352 and Streptococcus mitis ATCC 36249 in vitro. AB - The effect of three successive cultures in the presence of 6% xylitol on the uptake of 14C-xylitol was studied using resting cells of Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC 27352 and Streptococcus mitis ATCC 36249. In the case of S. mitis, the three successive cultures did not alter the growth inhibition observed in the presence of xylitol. In the case of S. sobrinus, however, growth inhibition decreased. The 14C-xylitol uptake experiments also demonstrated that uptake of xylitol by S. sobrinus was decreased by culture in the presence of xylitol. Previous 14C xylitol uptake levels were, however, re-established by culturing S. sobrinus in the presence of glucose alone. Culture in the presence of xylitol did not affect 14C-xylitol uptake in the case of S. mitis. These results show that S. sobrinus and S. mitis differ in the ways they handle of exogenous xylitol, and that uptake of xylitol by S. sobrinus could be reversibly regulated by addition xylitol to the growth medium. PMID- 2633205 TI - True and nonspecific alveolitis sicca dolorosa related to operative removal of mandibular third molars. AB - Alveolitis sicca dolorosa (ASD) following removal of 145 mandibular third molars from 109 healthy university students was studied. The operations were all performed under local anaesthesia by the same oral surgeon under similar conditions, using similar postoperative procedures. True ASD was considered to have occurred if a patient returned to the surgeon seeking relief of the typical symptoms of ASD before the scheduled check-up date. Non-specific ASD was considered to have occurred in a patient who recorded an increase in pain intensity on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) from the third or fourth postoperative day onwards but did not return to the surgeon. True ASD was diagnosed in 5% of cases and non-specific ASD in 15% of cases. PMID- 2633206 TI - Periodontal health in 47,XXY men (Klinefelter syndrome). AB - Periodontal health in 37 patients with a 47,XXY chromosome complement (Klinefelter Syndrome) and in 12 brothers of patients was studied. Mean age adjusted Gingival, Gingival Bleeding and Calculus Indices were statistically significantly higher in 47,XXY men than in the controls. The mean percentage of tooth surfaces with pathologically deepened probing depths for all 47,XXY men was 8.5%, for the subgroup of 47,XXY men with brothers it was 7.1%, and for the brothers it was 7.5%. Tooth mobility was found in two 47,XXY men and in one control. The results indicate that gingival inflammation was increased in the 47,XXY men than in the controls. PMID- 2633207 TI - Effective dose equivalent in dento-maxillofacial radiology. AB - The effective dose equivalent, HE, is discussed, with special emphasis on organs/tissues in the head and neck region, in dento-maxillofacial radiology. Risks, and weighting factors used in evaluations of HE are estimated for several tissues. Application of the method to two cases of full-mouth survey is demonstrated. This extension of the HE concept may stimulate further efforts to diminish exposure of various parts of the body to high dose radiation. PMID- 2633208 TI - Copy number control and compatibility of nuclear plasmids in Dictyostelium discoideum. AB - Copy number of the endogenous nuclear plasmids of Dictyostelium discoideum is a plasmid-specific trait. Copy number is stable over time, is constant relative to ploidy level, is independent of host cell genetic background, and is independent of the presence of a second unrelated plasmid in the same nucleus. Unrelated plasmids are compatible with one another within a single nucleus. Pairwise combinations of Ddp1, Ddp2, and Ddp5 were stably maintained over many generations in the absence of selection. In contrast, one of the D. discoideum plasmids (Ddp2) was incompatible with a recombinant plasmid derived from it (p7d2). In the absence of selection for retention of p7d2, transformants contain either one or the other but not both plasmids. The plasmids are stably maintained in host cells with differing genetic backgrounds, although plasmid-free colonies were detected at a frequency of about 1-2% in populations of some strains after 50 generations growth following a previous cloning. PMID- 2633209 TI - Identification and DNA sequencing of a new plasmid (pPST1) in Pseudomonas stutzeri MO-19. AB - A cryptic plasmid, pPST1, was isolated from Pseudomonas stutzeri MO-19 and its complete nucleotide sequence was determined. This plasmid consisted of 1446 bp and could encode a putative polypeptide of 152 amino acid residues (ORF1) in an open reading frame. The putative protein contained a sequence homologous to the sequences found in DNA-binding sites. PMID- 2633210 TI - Comparative biological activities of the four synthetic (5,6)-dihete isomers. AB - (5,6)-dihydroxy-7,9-trans-11,14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acids [5,6)-DiHETEs) were synthesized and separated into four pure diastereoisomers. They were tested for comparative binding affinities to leukotriene receptors (LTC4, LTD4, LTB4) in guinea pig lung membranes. Only (5S,6R)-DiHETE was recognized by the LTD4 receptor, the other receptors interacted with neither of the four isomers. (5S,6R)-DiHETE also contracted ileum in vitro and this effect was inhibited by the LTD4 receptor antagonists ICI 198,615 and SKF104,353. These data suggest that the bioproduct (5S,6R)-DiHETE generated by enzymatic conversion of LTA4 could have some LTD4-like activity when produced in large concentrations. PMID- 2633211 TI - Prostaglandins can modify gamma-radiation and chemical induced cytotoxicity and genetic damage in vitro and in vivo. AB - The effect of prostaglandin E1, E2, and F2 alpha on gamma-radiation, benzo(a)pyrene and diphenylhydantoin-induced cytotoxicity in vivo and genotoxicity in vitro was investigated. Prostaglandin E1 prevented both cytotoxic and genotoxic actions of all the three agents, where as both PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were ineffective. In fact, it was seen that both PGE2 and PGF2 alpha are genotoxic by themselves. Gamma-linolenic acid and dihomogamma-linolenic acid, the precursor of PGE1 were also as protective as that of PGE1, where as arachidonic acid, the precursor of 2 series PGs, has genotoxic actions to human lymphocytes in vitro. These results suggest that prostaglandins and their precursors can determine the susceptibility of cells to cytotoxic and genotoxic actions of chemicals and radiation. This study is particularly interesting since, it is known that some tumor cells contain excess of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha and many carcinogens can augment the synthesis of 2 series of PGs. PMID- 2633212 TI - Case report--MR imaging of chronic persistent hepatic encephalopathy. AB - The MR images of a patient with chronic persistent hepatic encephalopathy are described. Mild cortical atrophy and multiple symmetrical hyperintense lesions were observed on T2-weighted MR images. No such case has been previously described in the literature. PMID- 2633213 TI - CT and MR appearance of multiple intracranial lesions associated with suprasellar dermoid cyst. AB - Multiple lesions associated with suprasellar dermoid cyst are well demonstrated preoperatively on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Although the presence of multiple fatty globules in ventricles and/or subarachnoid space has been thought to be evidence of ruptured dermoid cyst, there are no signs or symptoms, including operative findings, attributable to dermoid cyst rupture in our case. The distinctive CT and MR appearance is described and possible etiology of the multiple lesions is discussed. PMID- 2633214 TI - Aging factors and cardiovascular dimensions: a longitudinal study. AB - The effects of selected aging factors including body weight, blood pressure, and radiation dose on the cardiac and aortic arch transverse diameters, based on posteroanterior and lateral radiographs obtained 17 to 22 years apart were evaluated for 200 normal subjects. Increases in body weight and blood pressure caused increases in transverse cardiac diameter of 26% and 2%, respectively, but no appreciable effect on aortic arch transverse diameter. Radiation dose caused no significant effects. Effects of increases in body weight and blood pressure on cardiac and aortic arch transverse diameters with age ought not be overestimated in healthy adults. PMID- 2633215 TI - Development of multi-purpose catheter for visceral arteriography. AB - We developed a multi-purpose catheter for visceral arteriography. The outer diameter of the catheter is 5 Fr and the inner diameter admits a 3 Fr catheter. The catheter is made of soft nylon, with a shaft enforced with stainless wire mesh to improve torque transmission. The head is shaped into a three-dimensional configuration, enabling the superselective catheterization that is required for interventional technique as well as arteriography of first-order branches of the abdominal aorta, e.g. the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery. Using the catheter, we performed 275 arteriographies in 100 cases (first-order-branch arteriography in 190; superselective technique in 85). Arteriography of first order branches was successful in all cases. The superselective technique was successful without using any other catheters in 89% of cases. PMID- 2633216 TI - Radiation therapy for primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck in stages I and II. AB - From January 1975 through December 1986, 58 previously untreated patients with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck in stages I and II were treated at our department. Thirty-seven patients were classified as stage I and 21 as stage II. Complete local remission was obtained in all cases. The 5-year survival rates were 68% and 79% in stages I and II, respectively. The 5-year survival rates according to site of origin were as follows: Waldeyer's ring 77% and neck lymph node 63%. The 5-year survival rates according to the histological classification of the Working Formulation were 73% intermediate grade malignancy and 63% for high grade malignancy. Chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy was essential, especially for cases in stage II. The 5-year survival rate was 100% for patients with chemotherapy and 71% without chemotherapy. The relapse-free 5 year survival rate was 67% with chemotherapy and 36% without chemotherapy. Most first failures were due to the development of generalized disease and the 5-year survival rate after salvage was 44%. PMID- 2633217 TI - Carcinoma of the maxillary sinus: the role of radiotherapy. AB - From 1975 to 1986, 75 M0 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus were treated at the Department of Radiology, Tokyo University Hospital. The overall 5-year survival rate calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method was 24%. During the period of the study, the method of treatment used in our hospital changed. From 1975 to 1979 (the first period), the treatment of choice was low dose irradiation and frequent necrotomy. From 1980 to 1982 (the second period), more extensive surgery was performed and 50 to 60 Gy of irradiation was given. The 5-year survival in the first period was 20%, that in the second 14%. From 1983 to 1986 (the third period), trimodal therapy (surgery + radiation + intra arterial infusion) was introduced and 5-year survival was improved to 50%. Intra arterial cisplatinum infusion and treatment planning using CT scans were especially useful in improving survival. PMID- 2633218 TI - The use of porcelain veneers as coronal splints for traumatised anterior teeth in children. AB - The value of porcelain veneers in a dentist's armamentarium for providing coronal splinting to anterior teeth is highlighted by two case reports. The splinting of weakened tooth structure by the use of porcelain bonded to enamel provides both stability and good aesthetics. In children porcelain veneers provide a simple means of splinting traumatised anterior teeth which have coronal fractures either for the immediate or the long term. PMID- 2633219 TI - One visit ceramic restorations made at the chairside: the CEREC machine. AB - The move towards restoring teeth with materials which more closely match the properties of the lost dental tissues is gathering momentum. Of the materials currently available, glass ionomer cements are adhesive to dentine and enamel, leach fluoride, have negligible contraction on setting and are tooth-coloured; but their abrasion resistance is poor. Composite materials can be bonded to enamel and dentine and are made in a range of tooth-coloured shades. Their polymerisation contraction is a problem and, although they are more abrasion resistant than glass ionomer cements, there is still some anxiety about this. Porcelain has good abrasion resistance but does not bond directly to dental tissues and the need to manufacture porcelain restorations in the laboratory adds to their cost and increases the number of clinical appointments necessary. The CEREC machine produces porcelain inlays at the chairside which are used in combination with composite and glass ionomer materials to produce a restoration which optimises the advantageous properties of all three materials. The restoration can be completed in a single appointment. PMID- 2633220 TI - A self retaining apicoectomy retractor. AB - A self retaining apicoectomy retractor suitable for use under local or general anaesthesia in the upper and lower premolar, canine or incisor regions is described. Constructed from an Ash no. 1 rubber dam clamp the device can be cheaply and easily constructed from materials available in most orthodontic or dental laboratories. PMID- 2633221 TI - [A periapical lesion does not condemn the tooth]. AB - Through three clinical cases, the authors demonstrate that large lesion do not compromise the teeth. Endodontic surgery could be used as the ultimate solution when classical root canal therapy fails to repair the lesion. PMID- 2633222 TI - [Bleaching of devitalized teeth with ultrasonic assistance]. AB - A new bleaching technique for pulpless teeth is demonstrated by a clinical case. The principle of the method is to clean the dentinal tubules by an 1% sodium hypochlorite solution activated by a 40 endosonofile. A mixture of sodium perborate and a 3% hydrogen peroxide is left in the pulp chamber between the treatment sessions. PMID- 2633223 TI - [An unusual anatomy]. PMID- 2633224 TI - [A new canal obturation system: the H. Martin Endotec. 1. Preliminary experimental studies]. AB - Thirty-five freshly extracted human teeth with necrotic pulps were used to evaluate in vitro the ability of the Endotec to fill the root canals. Two experimental series showed the best results are obtained by combining the Endotec to fill the apical third with the McSpadden compactor to fill the two coronal thirds. PMID- 2633225 TI - [Comparative study of the seal and porosity of provisional coronal filling materials in endodontics]. AB - The porosity and the leakage properties of 13 temporary fillings used between each appointment during endodontic treatment were investigated by means of thermocycling and dye staining of the interface between the teeth and the filling material. A scanning electron microscope was also used for these observations. The 8 commercially produced temporary fillings seal adequately the cavity whereas the 5 materials prepared and mixed by the practitioner allowed wide staining diffusion and therefore were leaky. PMID- 2633226 TI - [Predictive value of tactile sense in electronic endodontometry]. AB - A statistical study has been conducted in order to study the benefit afforded by tactile sense in endodontometry. The study is based on 154 electronic measures (Dentometer, Endoradar, MEO2) and 90 tactiles ones, all radiographically controlled. Results show that: 1. The rate of good electronic measures is, as a whole, the same as tactile ones. 2. The risk of wrong measures is twofold in the case of narrow root canal, necrosis or molar treatment. 3. The risk lessens in the case of a pulpectomy when the electronic measure is associated with a tactile one: 48.38% success instead of 25%, in tactile sense: 48.8 success instead of 56.25%. Evidently, the study bring up to date the tactile perception in endodontometry in the case of pulpectomy. PMID- 2633227 TI - [Comparative test of the malleability of three gutta-perchas]. AB - The obturation of a prepared canal consisting in molding a gutta-percha cone, in order to spread against the canal wall, the authors tested the malleability of three brands of gutta-percha. The study points out the superiority of the brand "Hygienic", and the different underpressure characteristic related to the speed of compression. PMID- 2633228 TI - [A resorption]. PMID- 2633229 TI - [Experimental study of the efficacy of endodontic instruments in pure traction]. AB - A method to test the efficiency of traction is developed on bovine bones, according to a mechanical mode. This procedure concern specific dynamics of the M.M.E. as well as the traction components of M.M.C. Profilometric measurement of the volume of material removed with each instrument for a specific number of turns, reflects its cutting efficiency in traction. Lubrification always increases the instruments' cutting power, whether it is provided by water or sodium hypochlorite solution. Loss of the efficiency of an M.M.E. instrument, used clinically, has been estimated at approximately 50%. PMID- 2633230 TI - [Pulp pain]. AB - The pulpal pain tract can be understood while learning the sensory nerve supply of the dental pulp and the trigeminal system. Some hypothesis on the pain genesis are related to the originality of the pulp-dentin complex. PMID- 2633231 TI - [Treatment of a canal with a "C" configuration]. AB - The prevalence of "C" shaped root canals in the second mandibular molars is relatively low, but diagnosis and treatment of these canals are sometimes difficult. Through clinical cases, the authors emphasize on the importance of preoperative X-rays and describe convenient preparation techniques. Some "C" shaped canals are difficult to interpretate because of the thickness of bone trabeculae, and a "C" shaped canal must be suspected when the roots are fuse and/or very close each other. PMID- 2633232 TI - [Light, the eye, and the tooth. A divertissement in three acts. 1]. PMID- 2633233 TI - [Prevalence of serum markers of hepatitis B virus, in health personnel at a general hospital]. AB - We have determined hepatitis B virus markers to 107 nursing personnel (90 women and 17 men) of a general hospital. The prevalence was 15.88% (17 persons). Two persons (1.86%) presented HBs-Ag. The prevalence was more low what the prevalences found by other authors of our country. The difference between the two sexes not was significative. The highest prevalences were found in the personnel of outpatient clinics and in the personnel in contact with blood and its derivates. The prevalence more low was found en the nursing personal rooms. The collective of midwives presented the prevalence more height: 37.5%. The prevalence increased generally with age and years in occupation. We associated the low indexes of prevalence found for us with the high percentages of young personnel (39.25%) are more low of 30 years age) and with short years occupation in the hospital (19.62% are more low of 4 years). PMID- 2633234 TI - [Clinical aspects of stasis hepatomegaly]. AB - The clinical characteristics of 100 patients diagnosed of congestive hepatomegaly have been reviewed in order to analyze some of the clinical and analytical parameters. The protocol for the study consisted of ten variables: sex, age, quality and size of the hepatomegaly, presence of hepatojugular reflux, jugular engorgement, ankle edema, abdominal ultrasonography, laboratory data and any other pertinent exploration. The mean age of the patients was 69 (31%). 65% of the cases had ankle edema. Prothrombin time was abnormal in 12% of the total series and in 27.9% of those with abnormal laboratory data. The most common ECG finding was atrial fibrillation (26%). The second most common was complete bundle block (21%). PMID- 2633235 TI - [Presenting forms and diagnostic procedures in gigantic hemangioma of the liver]. AB - We present eleven patients diagnosed of giant hepatic hemangioma in the last 20 years. The diagnosis was confirmed in all the cases during laparoscopy or laparotomy. The mean age of the patients was 44.9 +/- 8.99; nine of them were women. Only two of the patients complained of abdominal pain. Five patients showed abnormal liver function tests; the most common finding was increased levels of alkaline phosphatase. We have reviewed the diagnostic tools employed: isotopic study of the liver with 99Tc, and labeled erythrocytes, abdominal ultrasonography, CAT, hepatic arteriography, laparoscopy, laparotomy and liver biopsy. Usually we employed more than one of these diagnostic methods. In the last years there has been a shift to employ less invasive procedures. PMID- 2633236 TI - [Correlation of etiology and severity in a series of 506 cases of acute pancreatitis]. AB - We present a retrospective study on 506 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP), admitted in our hospital in the last five years (1984-1988). The goal of the paper is to establish a possible correlation between the severity and the etiology of the AP. Depending on the severity of the acute attack, and according to the Ranson's prognostic signs and the findings of the abdominal CAT, we have classified AP in three grades: mild, moderate and severe. 52% of AP were of biliary etiology, 25.7% alcoholic, and in 17.0% of the cases the responsible agent was not demonstrated. In relation with severity, the distribution was as follows: mild, 184 (36.4%), moderate, 254 (50.2%) and severe, 68 (13.4%). Among the cases of biliary and alcoholic etiology, 14.7% and 9.2%, respectively, were severe. Postoperative AP were severe in 71.4% of the cases. Systemic complications were more frequent in the severe forms, particularly of biliary etiology. Pancreatic abscesses and fistulas were also more frequent in biliary pancreatitis; on the other hand, pseudocysts and ascites were more common in alcoholic pancreatitis. Overall mortality was 2.8% (14 patients). Mortality was 19.1% in the severe forms. In relation to etiology the mortality was as follows: 3.7% in biliary AP; 0.8% in alcoholic AP; 14.3% in postoperative AP; and 2.3% in the idiopathic AP. PMID- 2633237 TI - [Pancreatoduodenal traumatism. Apropos of 18 cases]. AB - We present our experience on pancreato-duodenal trauma surgically treated; we have studied the etiopathogenesis of the lesions and the severity of the condition, which is related to their anatomical relationships and to the difficulties of the early diagnosis. We emphasize the value of non invasive diagnostic methods, particularly immediate ultrasonography, CAT and exceptionally RECP. Abdominocentesis with peritoneal lavage and the insertion of a catheter through a minimal jejunostomy, for the nutritional support of the patient and to prevent complications merits special mention. PMID- 2633238 TI - [A comparative cross-over study of pellet pancreatin and tablet pancreatin in chronic pancreatitis]. AB - We have made a comparative cross study of 30 patients with chronic pancreatitis and steatorrhea. The aim of the study has been to compare the effectiveness of a new galenic form of pancreatin, in pellets, with the common galenic presentation, in tablets. In all the cases the cause of pancreatic failure was alcoholism. In both groups the treatment was administered during seven days, after a period of wash out. We evaluated steatorrhea and clinical symptoms, including the typical abdominal pain. (The doses administrated were 12 tablets/day or 9 pellets/day.) Statistically there was a significant decrease of steatorrhea p less than 0.01. PMID- 2633239 TI - [Prognostic factors in colorectal cancer]. AB - We present a retrospective study of 208 colorectal cancers, 131 of them followed during more than 5 years. Overall survival was 38%. We have tried to correlate clinical findings with prognosis and survival. The analyzed parameters have been the following: age, sex, site and size of the tumor, time and cause of surgical treatment, stage of the lesion, cytologic grade of differentiation of the tumor, delay between the presenting symptom and surgery, surgical procedure, local invasion and number of positive lymph nodes. The results show that the main factors related to prognosis are local extension through the intestinal wall and the presence of positive lymph nodes (particularly if more than 4) and, of course, distant metastases. PMID- 2633240 TI - [Epidemiology of cancer of the colon and the rectum in Asturias (1977-1981)]. AB - We have studied the epidemiology of colorectal cancer in Asturias. We have collected 850 cases of colonic and rectal cancer, diagnosed from 1977 to 1981 (470 males and 380 females). The incidence was 17.13 per 100,000 for males and 13.08 per 100,000 for females. The incidence adjusted for the age was 12.32 (males) and 7.95 (females). The average age was 63.68 and 64.06, for females and males, respectively. The more frequent localization were rectum, sigmoid colon and cecum. Two hundred and sixty two patients lived in rural areas and 588 in urban areas. In 57.9% of the cases of blood group was A. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain and blood in the feces. 69.9% of the tumors were Dukes' type C. The treatment was elective surgery in 693 cases. Five years after surgery the survival rates were 44.1% for tumors type C, and 68.5% for tumors type B. During the period of present study underlines the importance of the programs directed to the early diagnosis of high risk groups, as an efficient secondary prevention of the colorectal carcinoma. PMID- 2633241 TI - [A worm in the peritoneum. Risks in the consumption of shellfish and raw fish]. PMID- 2633242 TI - [Angiodysplasia of the colon. Apropos of 2 cases]. AB - Angiodysplasia of the colon is a vascular lesion which involves the arterioles, venules and small venous vessels; usually it is a lesion of the aged and presents with rectorrhagia, melena or chronic anemia due to chronic blood loss. We present two cases of angiodysplasia of the colon in two female patients in the eighth decade of their lives, treated in the Servicio de Cirugia del Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena de Sevilla. We emphasize the value of the angiographic study for the diagnosis of this lesion, and also the usefulness of isotopic study with labeled erythrocytes for the localization. The treatment of choice is surgical resection of the affected area. It was performed in both patients. One of them died. PMID- 2633243 TI - [Mucinous cystadenoma of ileocecal appendix]. AB - We present two patients with mucinous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix, respectively. These are very uncommon lesions in that localization. We point out the lack of specificity of the term "mucocele" and also the need of strict criteria to define this type of lesions in order to establish the adequate treatment. Usually the diagnosis is not possible before surgery. The treatment consists of simple appendectomy for the benign lesions and right hemicolectomy for mucinous carcinoma. PMID- 2633244 TI - [Anomaly of the biliopancreatic junction, choledocal cyst and pancreatic lithiasis. Endoscopic possibilities]. AB - Choledocus cyst is a rare anomaly which affects the intramural segment of the common bile duct. The presenting clinical symptoms are recurrent abdominal pain, episodes of jaundice, with fever, and increased levels of serum amylase. Although the diagnosis may be obtained by conventional clinical and radiologic methods, the anatomy of the ducts is best demonstrated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; moreover, this technique enables some therapeutic manoeuvres. We present a young girl with a choledocus cyst and some other ductal abnormalities with the results of the previously mentioned technique. PMID- 2633245 TI - [Cholesteatoma and labyrinthine fistula]. AB - 43 cases of large labyrinthic fistulas caused by a cholesteatoma of the middle ear were studied (33 External Semi-circular Canal fistulas, 4 External Semi circular Canal amputations with opening of the vestibule, 3 of the promontory, 2 of the oval window, 1 of the Semi-circular Canal). The audiometric, preoperative, radiological data was analyzed. The radiological exam is often disappointing for the average-sized fistulas. Preoperative labyrinthization is moderate for External Semi-circular Canal fistulas and even for certain vestibular amputations; it is often incomplete in the other locations. Systematic exeresis of the cholesteatoma matrix is recommended by the authors, at least for the External Semi-circular Canal fistulas as it is not generally accompanied by aggravation of the bony curve. In the other locations, surprising auditory preservations were observed. In conclusion, the presence of External Semi circular Canal fistulas should not be a counter-indication for carrying out a ossiculoplasty. PMID- 2633246 TI - [Labyrinthine fistulae]. AB - The study is based on 44 cases of labyrinthic fistulas which were almost always discovered per-operatively. The authors describe the different stages of evolution, grouped under the term of "fistula". Having summed up the main therapeutic guidelines published since 1950 and following the study of the different cases presented, a therapeutic approach is proposed which takes into account the condition of the opposite ear and the open or closed technique selected. As far as audiometry is concerned, the cochlear reserve must be safeguarded. Technically speaking, the best attitude is to carry out the ablation of the matrix in one or two phases depending on the size, to prefer a closed technique and to drain the fistula at the end of the operation. PMID- 2633247 TI - Characteristics of a pathological process in the destroyed tympanic part of the facial canal in chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. AB - The authors examined the histopathological characteristics at the sites of destruction of the tympanic part of the facial canal in chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. Two types of pathological process were observed. The first is characterized by the cholesteatoma at the sites resorption and the second is characterized by pronounced granulation or fibrocystic tissue. PMID- 2633248 TI - [Natural history of Meniere's disease concerning 92 cases from 1971 to 1980]. AB - The author analyzes 92 cases of Meniere's disease seen for the first time between 1971 and 1980 (average duration: 3 years and 11 months). The isolated forms of cochlear and vestibular onset are respectively in the order of 21% with periods of 10 to 13 years before the appearance of the second symptom. In this series, the frequency of bilateral forms appears to be low (7.5%). It is probably much greater in the long term, justifying conservative therapeutic methods for hearing. A total of 22 patients underwent surgery: decompression of the saccus endolymphaticus (10 cases); vestibular neurectomy (11 cases); decompressive plate (3 cases); and sacculotomy operation of Fick (2 cases). Four patients were operated on twice. PMID- 2633249 TI - Densitometry of implanted allograft ear ossicles. AB - Densitometry measurements of allograft ear ossicles implanted in humans middles ears for more than 10 years have been performed by means of High Resolution Computerized Tomography and compared with similar measurements made in the opposite normal middle ear ossicles. Eight patients operated for unilateral chronic ear disease were selected for this study. Densitometry findings have been also correlated with histological observations made in allograft ossicles removed after a long-term implantation period. PMID- 2633250 TI - [Auditory electrophysiology and retrolabyrinthine non-tumorous diseases]]. AB - The authors present 55 cases of non-tumoral retrocochlear impairment, studied over the period between 1984 and 1988 in the ENT University Clinic of Bordeaux. Deafness was the most frequent symptom leading patients to come for consultation (89%). The stapedial reflex was pathological in 70% of the cases. No conclusion could be drawn from electro-occulography. Only the early auditory evoked responses made it possible to reach the diagnosis of retrocochlear impairment in 35% of the cases. Electrocochleography was required in 65% of the cases to establish the topographic diagnosis. The neuro-radiological examination proved to be negative in 48 cases, and positive in 7 cases (6 atrophic symptoms, 1 left vertebral dolichoartery). Among the other etiologies, we noted 14 cases of auditory trauma, 12 vascular pathologies, 9 neurological pathologies, 7 cases of Meniere's disease, and 7 sudden onsets of deafness. The incidence of vasculo nervous conflict reported by other authors appears very low in this series (with only 1 case). PMID- 2633251 TI - [Submaxillary gland excisions: a retrospective investigation]. AB - Swellings of the submaxillary region are very frequent in otorhinolaryngology clinical practice. The authors of this study analyzed 106 cases of submaxillary gland excision under their observation, emphasizing their epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects which could be useful during the diagnostic and therapeutic phase of the submaxillary gland affections. They also made a comparison with the data already published on the same subject. PMID- 2633252 TI - [Progressive facial palsy. 2 recent cases]. AB - Following 2 recent observations of progressive facial paralysis, the authors discuss the diagnostic problems encountered and the compressive etiology observed frequently. Extrinsic nerve damage calls for rapid care but should not cause the existence of neurinomas of the 7th nerve, more frequent than suspected, to be overlooked. Facial paralysis is the most frequent inaugural symptom, however the neurinomas of the 7th nerve may be preceeded by a pure cochleovestibular syndrome or a tumoral syndrome of the middle ear. They can appear at any place on the nerve, however the tympanomastoidal locations are most frequent. The approach of these tumors depends on their position, size and the patient's hearing. Nerve rehabilitation can be obtained using modern derouting techniques, grafts of sometimes hypoglossalfacial anastomosis. PMID- 2633253 TI - [Congenital malformation of the ear associated with secretory otitis media]. AB - The authors presented a child with congenital malformation of the ear in whom secretory otitis media (SOM) was discovered during an operation. Histological analysis of the mucous membrane showed an advanced phase of the disease. PMID- 2633254 TI - [Oncocytoma of the nose and ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses]. AB - The authors present a patients with oncocytoma, a rare tumor of the nasal cavity and the ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses. By using computerised tomography (CT) they localised the tumor and through pathohistological analysis confirmed the nature of the disease. Recurring tumors can also be localised by use of CT. PMID- 2633255 TI - [Rhinoplasty using an external approach: experience in Bordeaux]. AB - Rhinoplasty using an external approach is an option of rhinoplastic surgeons; its use should be reserved for specific indications, essentially post-traumatic surgery or re-surgery after rhinoplasty. PMID- 2633256 TI - [Lyophilized homologous bone grafts in middle ear surgery: new perspectives]. AB - The authors share their experience of the use of allografts in the reconstruction of the tympano-ossicular chain. The implants were cut from the cortical substance of the long bone in patients deceased for a maximum of six hours; the donors were tested for syphilis, hepatitis, AIDS, systemic diseases or a neoplasm. These bone allografts were cut to size, degreased, demineralized, frozen and then lyophilized in order to be presented to the surgeon in a sterile container (Bone Bank). The implants were all tolerated well. The anatomical results were satisfactory. Optical microscopic studies showed that the implant was: a) covered with mucosa, b) full of osteoblasts and c) the site of a bone neoformation. Experimental research is currently underway in order to perfect the implant preparation methodology. PMID- 2633257 TI - [Surgical anatomy of the retrotympanum: on 25 temporal bones]. AB - Based on 25 anatomical dissections of the petrosal bone, the author presents a study on the surgical anatomy of the retrotympanum and all its constituent parts. This area often considered as the blind spot of closed techniques is explored in a more exact and complete manner with the aid of a posterior tympanotomy which is not always as easy to carry out as we might be led to believe. A description of all the parts of the retrotympanum with special attention to the sinus tympani and all the facial relations make up the main part of this study, to which the different variants found during these dissections needs to be added. This will perhaps make it possible to remove all reluctance for carrying out posterior tympanotomies as completely as possible. This article is completed by photographs of these dissections with explanatory schemas. PMID- 2633258 TI - [Anatomical case on the middle meatus of the nasal cavity]. AB - A serie of 20 dissections carried out in the anatomy Laboratory enabled us to make a close observation of the middle meatus of the nasal cavity. Certain anatomical parts such as the bulla, the unciform process, the ostia of the maxillary and frontal sinus are relatively set in their positions, but quite variable in their shape and size. This knowledge is now indispensable, at a time when endonasal microsurgery has become commonplace in ENT. PMID- 2633259 TI - [Solacy and non-specific chronic laryngitis]. AB - Adult subjects, without age or sex distinction, presenting a non-specific chronic laryngitis were treated with SOLACY. The posology of SOLACY administered was: 2 capsules in the morning and 2 at night for four months in a row. The subjects were seen at least twice: one consultation before the treatment and one after the 4 months of treatment. These consultations included an interview and fibroscopic test of the laryngeal mucosa (photographs were taken). The subjects were also requested to quantify the overall discomfort experienced. Ten subjects were recruited for this study. Dysphonia was significantly lower after the 4-month treatment as was the self-evaluation of the overall discomfort brought on by the different symptoms. In addition, it can be noted that SOLACY lessened coughing and laryngeal discomfort in most of the patients treated and it improved the fibroscopic test results, especially concerning the congestive aspect of the laryngeal mucosa, whether limited to vocal chords or spread throughout the entire vestibule. The treatment was tolerated perfectly well. In conclusion, SOLACY, administered in adults presenting non-specific chronic laryngitis improves the state of the laryngeal mucosa and its main symptoms (dysphonia, coughing, laryngeal discomfort). PMID- 2633260 TI - [Elimination of carious tissue with the Caridex system: bacteriological study]. AB - The Caridex a chimio mechanical removal system of dental caries has been on the European Market since 1986. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if this procedure can eliminate the totality of the infected dentin through comparative bacteriologic samples taken after the opening of the cavity and the use of the Caridex. The article also covers the use and mechanism of action of the system and evaluates the bacteriocidal effect of the active solution. The results demonstrate the efficiency of the tested solution but seem to show that vigorous curettage is necessary for total eviction of the carious lesion. Besides no bacteriocidal effect has been attributed to the Caridex solution over seventeen bacterial samples cultured from the decay. PMID- 2633261 TI - [Functional dental anatomy and amalgam]. AB - Very often, the functional dental anatomy are reflected during the rehabilitation of posterior quadrants. However, the placement, the shaping in correct relation of the different dental components are indispensable conditions to respect, in order to achieve an adequate integration of the restoration within the neuro muscular system. A clinical protocol is proposed in order to reconcile the anatomical and biological prerequisite and the setting time of modern alloys. PMID- 2633262 TI - [Current therapy of gingival recession]. AB - The muco-gingival surgery represents one of the facet of periodontal surgery. The gingival recessions, characterized by a total attachmentless uncovering the root surface, become an esthetic and painful problem for our patients. The recessions can be treated by different surgical procedures. After a review of the etiologic factors and of the different type of wound healing, the authors describe and illustrate respectively the gingival graft for root coverage and the laterally positioned flap. PMID- 2633263 TI - [Survey of focal infection in a hospital environment]. AB - To make their study the authors inquired in the different departments of the University Hospital in Rennes, concerned by the problem of focal infection. This study aims at helping practitioners to take the right therapeutic decision in case of high, low or non existent infection risks. The results of the study show new pathologies involving focal infection risks. The evaluation of the patient's examination will be made by the service the patient comes from, and the Odonto Stomatologist; the decision will be taken in common and according to the severity, the evolution, and the possible recurring of the disease. PMID- 2633264 TI - [Infectious foci of dental origin. Presentation of a diagnostic form]. AB - The diagnosis report for investigation of focal infections from dental origin permits a dialogue between the demanding physician and the dental practitioner, in order to take a unique therapeutic decision after evaluating the infections potential which will be more risky than the disease to treat. Every information is mentioned on this document: the missing teeth, the vital and non vital teeth, and the risk of bacteremia for each lesion. Some modalities of treatment are proposed by the dentist that the physician will be able to modulate according to the severity of the disease. PMID- 2633265 TI - [The psychosomatic effect of the sonic environment in the dental office]. AB - Electrophysiologic recordings of certain neurovegetative manifestations produced by a sonic environment in the dental office, were able to demonstrate and evaluate the stressing and relaxing power of noise or music. The high speed and the telephone represent the most stressing elements in the dental office and show an intense electrodermal activity and respiratory disturbances (a decrease in the magnitude and specially an increase in the inspiratory frequency) characteristic of anxiety, stress and all emotional states. This neurovegetative manifestations are induced in the same way by dissonic music, irregular rhythms and aggressive sounds. On the contrary slow, regular melodious and harmonious music such as J. S. BACH's "Aria", induce a subjective and relaxing climate with neurovegetative reaction characteristic of a state of physiologic relaxation. Some correlations exist between different components of the character and the intensity of the neurovegetative reactions. PMID- 2633266 TI - [Lateral condylar movement: recording and transfer from the physiologic closing path]. AB - The lateral condylar movement can be observed through cat scan images. A clinical method based on the muscular disconnection can be done after recording the physiologic arc of closure. The incisal jig and the relined occlusal basis are used to transfer the immediate side shift, the Benett movement the lateral progressive movement and the condylar inclination on a full adjustable DENAR D5A articulator. PMID- 2633267 TI - [Convulsive manifestations]. AB - The convulsive crisis (involuntary muscular contractions, tonic then clonic, associated to a sudden loss of conscience) occur on comitial persons or represent the expression of a prolonger cerebral suffering following a deficiency of one or several nutrients, necessary to the function of the nervous system (glucose, oxygen...) or an drug intoxication (local anesthetics) of the nervous centers. Following the etiology, the following aspect will be studied: the different clinical forms, the differential diagnosis, the emergency treatment of the crisis according to their possible evolution and finally their prevention. PMID- 2633268 TI - [Enamel, composites and Coca-cola]. AB - The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the action of coca-cola on two composite materials (Silux and Valux) and on enamel. Discoloration of the composites was estimated according to Smales Index and enamel surfaces were analyzed by SEM. No discoloration was observed on restorative resins but coca cola produced an important demineralization of the enamel. This demineralization was similar to enamel acid etched with 50% phosphoric acid for 2 mn. PMID- 2633269 TI - [Methodology for a rational approach to endodontic cavity access and canal preparation. Endodontic cavity access and pretreatment]. AB - The purpose of this study was to develop a protocol which allows for improved access cavity preparation in all clinical circumstances. From radiographic and clinical evaluation a systematic organization of 10 burs was found to be optimal for all cases encountered. This standard arrangement makes burs available for use in situations with varying loss of coronal tooth structure and provides an orderly approach to endodontic therapy. A complete protocol accompanies the standardization of instruments making the techniques widely available. The standardization of this phase of endodontic therapy permits foreseeable and reproducible results. The use of a rational protocol in the form of systematically organized burs results in improved root canal therapy because of better patient and instrument management. PMID- 2633270 TI - ["Tooth mortality" in a Marseille S.C.T.D. The effect of periodontal disease: comparison with some results of a national epidemiological study]. AB - 1,247 avulsions have been noted for a year in the S.C.T.D. (tooth, age and sex of the patient). 44.6% were caused by tooth decay. However periodontal disease was responsible for 39.5% of tooth avulsions. The tooth lost because of periodontal disease were in most part extracted after 40 years. A weakness of some type of teeth regarding tooth mortality may be quoted. A sexual dimorphism of tooth mortality was present in the studied population. PMID- 2633271 TI - [Initial colonization of composite resins by Streptococcus mutans: the influence of polishing]. AB - The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the in vitro initial colonization of Streptococcus mutans on three composite materials (HERCULITE, FILLISPAD and SILIFILL) regarding the polishing procedure (SOFT-LEX, 3M). Surface roughness and bacterial deposit were analyzed by SEM and the deposit was estimated using a modified method of SKJORLAND. Results indicated that surface roughness was reduced by the polishing procedure, but this roughness was more important at the periphery of restorations. Bacterial deposit was strongly reduced on the polished materials but bacteria not adhered in the same number on the composites with a comparable surface roughness: the accumulation of bacteria was less important on FILLISPAD materials. It is concluded that the initial colonization of resin composites was not only dependent of surface roughness. PMID- 2633272 TI - [Is breast feeding a contraindication to prescribing of drugs in dentistry?]. AB - The practitioner, has to prescribed medication to the breast feeding woman however the majority of these drugs can get through the maternal milk, inducing with some of them, toxic risks for the new born and the child. It is essential to know the type of medications which pass in the milk and in particular the ones which present a risk for the child. PMID- 2633273 TI - [The papillary flap: esthetic factors in the anterior maxillary sector]. PMID- 2633274 TI - [The dam in operative dentistry: the right choice]. PMID- 2633275 TI - [The enchanted flute, or: the determining influence of the orolabial environment]. PMID- 2633276 TI - [The tongue: a complex muscular system]. PMID- 2633277 TI - [Postural and dynamic changes in the tongue: influence on facial growth]. PMID- 2633278 TI - [The role of the orthodontist in surgical-orthodontic treatment]. PMID- 2633279 TI - [The tongue, a natural orthodontic appliance "for better and for worse"]. PMID- 2633280 TI - [Neuromuscular education of orofacial function]. PMID- 2633281 TI - [What is the thinking on tongue plasty in 1989?]. PMID- 2633282 TI - [Glossectomies]. PMID- 2633283 TI - [Macroglossia and orthodontic indications for partial resection of the tongue]. PMID- 2633285 TI - [A new method to stop thumb sucking]. PMID- 2633284 TI - [Autotransplantation of premolars in orthodontic treatment. A new therapeutic possibility]. PMID- 2633286 TI - [Scanner localization of retained tooth germs in the maxilla: implications for orthodontic surgery]. PMID- 2633287 TI - [The destroyed lung. Apropos of 46 surgical patients]. AB - The authors report the results of a retrospective study of 46 patients operated upon for lung destruction of various origins. The main points that emerged were: (1) this type of pathology is regressing in France but persists in North Africa and Black Africa; (2) tuberculosis is the predominant cause of lung destruction; (3) superinfection with aspergillosis is frequent and must always be looked for; (4) surgery is difficult, especially pleuropneumonectomy for tuberculosis or its sequelae which has numerous complications (e.g. haemorrhage and pyothorax) responsible for a high mortality rate in this and other published series. However, in all patients operated upon for complications of lung destruction, when cure was obtained it was complete and permanent. PMID- 2633288 TI - [Can weight gain during weaning from smoking be limited using nicotine gum?]. AB - One hundred subjects smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day were divided into two groups allocated at random to either nicotine gum or a placebo gum. Forty eight subjects stopped smoking, irrespective of the treatment received. The magnitude of weight gain after given up smoking and the benefits of nicotine gum were evaluated. Weight gain was found to increase in ex-smokers compared with persistent smokers, but the increase was less pronounced in subjects who chewed nicotine than in those who chewed the placebo, although the difference was not statistically significant. However, enough gum must be chewed for the appetite and feeling of hunger to be reduced. PMID- 2633289 TI - [Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. Apropos of 12 cases]. AB - Arteriovenous fistula of the lung is a relatively rare lesion with various clinical manifestations. It may be clinically silent and discovered by chance on X-ray films of the chest or during evaluation of Rendu-Osler-Weber disease with which it is associated in about one-half of the cases. It may also have loud manifestations when complicated. The fistula is diagnosed in successive steps, mainly by respiratory function tests and pulmonary angiography. Conservative treatment should be the rule, especially in case with multiple fistulae, but it must begin at an early stage to avoid the dramatic complications of this abnormality, such as acute neurological disorders, haemoptysis, haemothorax, etc. Wide and crippling lung resection must be avoided. Aneurysmorrhaphy or embolization is sufficient to cure most of these multiple angiomas. The results obtained are measured by calculating the blood flow rate in the shunt, as it should theoretically disappear after surgery. PMID- 2633290 TI - [Diagnosis of calcified mediastinal opacity]. PMID- 2633291 TI - [Predominantly bullous pulmonary sarcoidosis complicated by aspergillosis]. AB - The authors report a case of multivisceral sarcoidosis which started in childhood and presented at radiography as multiple air-filled round cavities without signs of pulmonary fibrosis. The course of the disease was marked by progression of the bullae from apex to base and by the development of intracavitary aspergillosis responsible for haemoptysis. PMID- 2633292 TI - [Development of bronchio-alveolar cancer on strictly unilateral bullous dystrophy]. PMID- 2633293 TI - [Severe varicella pneumopathy in health adults. Apropos of a case]. AB - The authors report a new case of respiratory distress syndrome which occurred as complication of varicella in an otherwise healthy adult patient. The case is well documented by images and immunological studies which are discussed in the light of recently published data. PMID- 2633294 TI - [Complicated hydatid cyst of the lung. Endoscopic diagnosis. Spontaneous favourable outcome]. AB - We report the case of a 16-year old male patient admitted for bronchial suppuration, haemoptysis and opacity with abscess located in the inferior lobe. General deterioration, notably a loss of 10 kg in 2 months, and the radiological findings were strongly suggestive of tuberculosis, pyogenic abscess or malignant process. Bronchial fibroscopy provided a diagnosis of hydatid cyst by showing shreds of the cyst membrane protruding through the opening of the posterior basal segmental bronchus. The diagnosis was confirmed by pathological examination and serological tests. The spontaneous course of the disease was favourable, with complete emptying of the cyst contents following vomica. The need for surgery is discussed. PMID- 2633295 TI - [Pulmonary hemorrhage complicating transthoracic puncture]. AB - Fine needle transthoracic aspiration (FNTA) of pulmonary opacities under guidance of computerized tomography (CT) is a simple procedure yielding conclusive results in many patients with malignant lung tumours. The small caliber of the needles utilized and the CT control make this increasingly popular procedure both accurate and safe. Yet a number of complications have occurred; most of them were benign (e.g. pneumothorax) but some were potentially dangerous (e.g. pulmonary haemorrhage), so that the pros and cons of the procedure must carefully be weighed. We report the case of a patient in whom FNTA was complicated by copious haemoptysis and a pulmonary haematoma clearly visible at CT. The literature concerning the potential complications of transthoracic puncture is reviewed. PMID- 2633296 TI - [Hydatid cyst of the thymus. Apropos of a indigenous case]. AB - Hydatid cysts located in the thymus are extremely rare. Only 8 cases were reported in a recent publication, and all concerned patients from endemic areas. The case presented here is original in that it concerns a patient living in Picardy. PMID- 2633297 TI - Liver system. II. A categorical coarse model for its autoisodiasostasis. AB - In the context of the system theoretic theory of the liver, a new categorical approach is introduced, by which autoisodiasostasis is characterized in terms of the splitting of certain idempotents. Equifinal behaviors are then described in this setting. PMID- 2633298 TI - Liver system. III. Prototype to study its unstable equilibrium on human biopsy samples. AB - Autoisodiasostasis of the liver, i.e., its self-maintenance without change over the course of time, is characterized by a bistable equilibrium between two extreme phases called homopoiesis, during which the liver system repairs its worn structures and replicates its cells, and homeorhesis, during which it satisfies the body's needs. Albumin traffic through the hepatocyte, rendered visible by means of an immunohistological method, has been used as a prototype model to study the dynamics of autoisodiasostasis. An account is given of the oscillation of autoisodiasostasis between homopoiesis and homeorhesis through two intermediate phases. The phase cycle of autoisodiasostasis is illustrated in the form of atemporal bidimensional and tridimensional diagrams. The temporal behavior of the system is represented as a helix trajectory obtained by the projections of homopoiesis-homeorhesis phase cycle on time series. PMID- 2633299 TI - Screening for congenital coagulation disorders. AB - A thorough screening procedure to diagnose congenital coagulation disorders must start from a careful collection of the personal and family clinical history, followed by a two-step laboratory screening. The first step is aimed at detecting the most frequent and well established causes of hemorrhage by a simple battery of laboratory tests such as bleeding time, platelet count, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. The second step is to be performed in case of a past history of bleeding, but normal first-step laboratory screening and is aimed at detecting the less frequent abnormalities of hemostasis such as factor XIII, antiplasmin, platelet factor 3, von Willebrand factor, tissue plasminogen activator and dysfibrinogenemia, to which the first-step screening tests are not sensitive. PMID- 2633300 TI - Second International Symposium on Standardization and Quality Control of Coagulation Tests: Implications for the Clinical Laboratory. Rome, September 28 29, 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2633301 TI - Predictive value of factors of the hemostatic system in screening procedures for coronary artery disease. AB - Thromboembolic events play a major pathogenetic role in the final occlusion of atherosclerotic vessels. May such a catastrophic event be predicted or an increased risk be indicated by analyzing the hemostatic system in plasma? A hugh literature exists about disturbances of the platelet, coagulation and fibrinolytic systems after atherosclerotic events such as myocardial infarction or stroke. This data, however, has no predictive significance. In contrast, the epidemiological studies in healthy persons have shown fibrinogen to be a potent risk predictor which is independent from other risk factors such as age, cholesterol or cigarette smoking. Results on factor VII:C are still controversial. Ongoing studies have included further factors of the hemostatic system. A second approach to elaborate the predictive power of hemostatic factors is to follow up patients with overt atherosclerotic disease and to correlate baseline hemostatic tests with event recurrences. The ECAT Angina Pectoris Study performed in 19 European clinical centers will present its prospective results by 1990. Some correlations of risk factors at baseline point to the many interrelationships among each other and to the need of careful statistical management of such data. It is reasonable to include fibrinogen in the recently developed coronary risk scores. So far, thrombin clotting time procedures, such as the Clauss method, appear to be appropriate for the purposes of risk prediction. PMID- 2633302 TI - Screening for hemostasis during hemorrhagic emergencies. AB - We propose a laboratory screening scheme for the hemostatic system to be adopted during hemorrhagic emergencies in hospital patients bleeding excessively to the extent of requiring massive blood transfusions. The aim of the screening scheme is to establish whether excessive bleeding is due to alterations of the hemostatic system or to other causes. Seven tests were chosen on the basis of their simplicity, rapidity and comprehensiveness in the evaluation of the hemostatic system: the platelet count, the prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times, the thrombin and reptilase times and the assays of plasma fibrinogen and fibrin(ogen) degradation products. We then attempted to validate the choice of these tests with 172 emergency cases due to excessive bleeding which led to massive blood replacement. The high frequency of abnormalities of one or more tests found in this series (93%) indicates the excellent diagnostic sensitivity of the screening scheme in detecting hemostatic abnormalities. The screening scheme was also useful in the diagnostic work-up of the bleeding disorders most frequently encountered during hemorrhagic emergencies (disseminated intravascular coagulation, liver disease, unsuspected heparinization and the hemostatic defect associated with massive blood transfusion). PMID- 2633303 TI - Performance guidelines for the partial thromboplastin time test. AB - The partial thromboplastin time (PTT) test is widely used as a screening test for the detection of hemophilia. It is also used to monitor patients on heparin anticoagulation. These proposed guidelines for the performance of this test, including comparable reference ranges, precision and sensitivity requirements are felt to be reasonable and attainable. Whether further progress will occur depends upon a perceived need by laboratorians, instrument and reagent manufacturers and government regulators that standardization of the PTT is desirable. PMID- 2633304 TI - Use of the activated partial thromboplastin time for monitoring heparin therapy: problems and possible solutions. AB - There is considerable variation in available methods for the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), giving widely differing results with patients on heparin treatment. The study is primarily concerned with the assessment of five of the widest used APTT reagents. The heparin response of these reagents has been related to their lipid composition and physical properties. Of the various correlations between lipid composition of the reagents and clotting performance only electrophoretic mobility was associated with the APTT response to heparin. There was a highly significant negative correlation between the APTT prolongation with heparin and electrophoretic mobility. When plasma is heparinized in vitro a differing order of ranking for APTT reagents is obtained than when heparinized patients are tested. The APTT response in patients with recent thrombosis must therefore be the best guide to the clinical dose of heparin. The therapeutic range of conventional heparin therapy is generally regarded as 1.5-2.5 times the control. External quality assessment programmes in the UK and USA have shown considerable differences between heparin dosage according to the APTT test systems. The definition of the therapeutic range must be derived from randomized clinical studies. The need for progress in standardization of the APTT monitoring of heparin is demonstrated. PMID- 2633305 TI - Standardization of the activated partial thromboplastin time for monitoring of heparin therapy: where should we go? AB - Standardization of the APTT for monitoring of heparin therapy is needed urgently. On the one hand, reference materials and methods should be established. On the other hand, the scale for reporting of results should be standardized. The implementation of a system based on a reference APTT method meets a number of practical problems. The use of lyophilized plasma as a reference material is of questionable value, until these products more satisfactorily resemble fresh patient plasma specimens. PMID- 2633306 TI - [The quality of biomedical scientific information]. PMID- 2633307 TI - [Determination of lymphocyte populations and subpopulations in patients with immunoallergic respiratory disease]. AB - The serum IgE levels were determined; LB and LT groups and T4 (CD4+) and T8 (CD8+) subgroups were quantified, in 20 patients with immunoallergic respiratory disease (rhinosinusitis and/or bronchial asthma). The IgE levels were raised in 90% of the patients (mean value 412 IU/ml; range 56-1000 IU/ml). The LB count was normal or reduced. There was a relationship between LT count and IgE: for low levels of IgE, the LT count was normal and below normal when the IgE levels were high. The T8 subgroup count was normal in 50% of the patients. The T4 subgroup count was below normal in 80% of the patients. Perhaps, a more detailed study of T4 subgroup components, would explain the immunologic finding in these patients. We can conclude that the immune system must be thoroughly studied before instituting a specific immunotherapy. PMID- 2633308 TI - [Correlation of the degree of bronchial hyperreactivity and intensity and onset of symptoms in asthmatic children]. AB - We studied 51 children with stable bronchial asthma, we did a challenge with methacholine in different dilution until we found their PD20. Once we have it, we correlate this results with the age of onset of asthma and the severity of the symptoms. The results shows that if the symptoms start early in the life had more severe asthma and the PD20 is lower this means that they have more hyperreactivity. Our results are similar to those found in the literature. PMID- 2633309 TI - [Serum levels of IgE in children with invasive amebiasis]. AB - In order to determine whether an elevation of the IgE serum level exist in children with invasive amebiasis when compared with a control group, a prospective, observational and descriptive study was performed on 20 patients from the problem group and 21 from a control group, where the possibility of other causes which could raise the IgE levels were dismissed. This antibody was measured in serum and compared with the reported levels of mexican and foreign populations. A notable elevation of the IgE level was found in the studied groups, without any significant differences between them. It wasn't demonstrated that the serum level is as high as immunological response against E. histolytica. PMID- 2633310 TI - Catheter induced urethral inflammatory reaction and urinary tract infection. An experimental and clinical study. AB - Urinary tract infections accounts for over 40% of all nosocomial infections, and almost all these infections are associated with indwelling catheters. The acquisition of urinary tract infections following urinary bladder catheterizations are associated with nearly a threefold increase in mortality among hospitalized patients. The economic impact of nosocomial urinary infections is difficult to assess. An estimate of the cost of these infections have shown that patients with hospital-acquired urinary tract infections secondary to indwelling catheters, spent an average of 2.4 additional days in the hospital. Bearing this in mind, even a marginal decrease in urinary tract infections may be cost-effective. In two randomized prospective clinical studies we have shown that coating urinary catheters with silver significantly reduces the infection rate during short-term catheterization (less than 7 days). We also showed that silver coating of urinary catheters prevented adherence and growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the catheter material. Another risk from using indwelling catheters is an inflammatory reaction of the urethral mucosa leading to stricture formation. Several aetiological factors whereby indwelling catheters may cause a urethral stricture have been discussed. During the last years much attention has been paid to the catheter material as such, especially latex, and its role in stricture formation. Urinary catheters are made from a variety of materials combined with different chemicals. It seems as if these chemical substances can dissolve from the catheter material, causing inflammatory reactions. Using a cell culture technique with a mouse fibroblast cell line (BALBc/3T3), and an animal model with implantation of catheter material into the urethra, we assessed both in vitro cytotoxicity (IC50) and inflammatory reactions in vivo from different catheter materials. The studies confirmed that especially latex materials do not have both cytotoxic effects and cause considerable inflammation within the urethral mucosa. By coating the catheters with silver, the cytotoxicity could be significantly reduced as compared with pure latex and hydrogel coated latex catheters. Several studies have demonstrated a cytotoxic effect from catheter materials, indicating that this may be of importance in urethral inflammation. However, the exact mechanisms behind this phenomenon is not known. In an attempt to explain the inflammatory reaction within the urethra secondary to an indwelling catheter, we investigated the influence of the nervous system on experimentally induced urethral inflammation. Our findings indicate that an important part in catheter induced inflammation is played by neurogenic reactions. PMID- 2633311 TI - Urinary cytology in the detection of bladder tumours. Influence of concomitant urothelial atypia. AB - The role of urinary cytology in detection and follow-up of urinary bladder tumours is still evolving. However, considerable variations in the accuracy of detecting bladder tumours exist in published work on the subject. In this study the influence of concomitant urothelial atypia on urinary cytology was investigated. Further, the correlation of grading between cytology and tumour histology was examined, and finally the role of urinary cytology as a prognostic factor was investigated. 102 comparative studies of simultaneously achieved precystoscopic voided urine samples, tumour histology and 8 pre-selected site biopsies were available from patients having a Ta, T1 or T2 bladder tumour. The overall numbers of positive cytology were found to be 64%, but correcting for false positives caused by concomitant urothelial atypia the numbers were reduced to 55% (p less than 0.01). A considerable higher ability to detect high-grade than low-grade tumours was found. Correlation between grading of tumour histology and cytology was found to be only 50%. Patients were followed for 3 years. From the results of pre-cystoscopic cytology it was possible to define a low-risk group and a high-risk group. Patients with negative cytology had very low risk of future invasive tumour recurrence whereas all patients with grade III-IV cytologic changes were found to harbour either a grade III tumour or carcinoma in situ, both conditions predictive of aggressive tumour course. PMID- 2633312 TI - Acute changes in the bladder reservoir function after irradiation alone or in combination with chemotherapy: a matter of mouse strain. AB - The acute change in bladder reservoir function was investigated in two different strains of mice [C3H/HaA and C3D2F1 (C3H/Tif x DBA/2)] to elucidate strain dependent differences in response. Both groups were investigated by repeated bladder fillings over a period of 30 days after various treatments. The end point was a 50% reduction in bladder volume at an intravesical pressure of 20 mmHg. Treatment consisted of irradiation alone, chemotherapy alone [Cyclophosphamide (CTX) or Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (Cis-DDP)] or irradiation in combination with either drug. A significant difference in response between the two strains of mice was noted in the groups treated with CTX alone, irradiation alone and a combination of Cis-DDP plus irradiation. The importance of a strain dependent response in experimental assays is emphasized. PMID- 2633313 TI - Lower urinary tract function in vesicoureteral reflux. AB - Sixty patients with vesico-ureteral reflux underwent a thorough urodynamic investigation including multiple spontaneous voidings, a combined video voiding cystourethrography, cystometry and pressure flow study via suprapubic catheters. A final urodynamic assessment was derived from the compiled information with respect to the consistency of the findings. We chose the least abnormal finding. Stable bladder was diagnosed in 23 patients while 33 had various degrees of instability. The incidence of bladder instability showed a tendency to a decrease with age from 67% among children aged 2-6 years to 50% in the age group 12-16 years. Voiding was normal in 52 patients. Six patients showed consistent urethral overactivity and one patient had signs of minor infravesical obstruction. Patients with normal urodynamics showed a significantly lower incidence of nephropathy compared to those with pathological urodynamics although the prevalence and the degree of reflux were equally distributed over the whole material. A significant correlation was seen between the severeness of bladder instability and reflux nephropathy in high grade reflux (grade III or more). Consistent urethral overactivity did not influence the incidence of reflux and reflux nephropathy. The study underlines the relationship between abnormal bladder activity and reflux nephropathy. PMID- 2633314 TI - Vesico-ureteral reflux. I. Renal function and morphology in relation to anamnestic and urodynamic parameters. AB - Hundred and one children aged 12 years or less were consecutively referred with non-neurogenic vesico-ureteral reflux. None of the patients were previously operated for reflux. Based on the degree of reflux and the degree of nephropathy judged from urograms or renoscintigrams the patients were assigned an index defined as the sum status of both nephro-ureteric units. We found no correlation between VUR index, nephropathy index and GFR on one side, and bladder function parameters (spontaneous voiding, cystometry, bladder activity during sleep) on the other. Further, no correlation was found to history concerning urinary tract infections or enuresis the year before admittance. Possible reasons for the lack of correlation are discussed. PMID- 2633315 TI - Vesico-ureteral reflux. II. The longterm outcome of kidney function in non surgical treatment. AB - Seventy one patients were included in a prospective study of non-surgical treatment of vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR). We found 111 refluxing ureters, with 20 grade 1, 4 grade 2, 41 grade 3, 5 grade 4 and 1 grade 5. There was no correlation between presenting symptoms and degree of VUR or nephropathy, or between renal function in terms of glomerular filtration rate. During followup the patients were treated with long-term low-dose antibiotic prophylaxis and voiding disorders were corrected pharmacologically or by micturitional training. With a median follow up time of 6 years (3-10) 63% of the patients had cessation or down grading of VUR, irrespective of initial VUR degree. There was no correlation between cessation rate and urodynamic parameters, GFR, history of enuresis or previous urinary infections. The study supports a non-surgical attitude towards VUR patients irrespective of VUR degree, with prophylaxis of urinary infections and possibly correction of voiding disorders. PMID- 2633316 TI - Urinary tract function. PMID- 2633317 TI - Descriptive epidemiology of urinary incontinence in 3,100 women age 30-59. AB - 3,114 women were randomly selected among the 30-59 years old female inhabitants of the Municipality of Aarhus, Denmark, and mailed a questionnaire on experience of urinary incontinence (UI) through adult life. Eighty-five % responded, and 26% reported to have experienced UI in adult life. Fourteen % had perceived it a social of hygienic problem, in accordance with the International Continence Society (ICS) definition. The total period prevalence year 1987 and the period prevalence according to the ICS definition were found to be 17 and 10%, respectively. The estimated incidence of UI increased with age, especially through ages 25-29 and 45-49. By the age of 59, 30 and 18% were estimated to have had one or more episodes of UI in general and ICS defined UI, respectively. Pure stress UI and combined stress and urge UI seemed to be the predominant clinical types. PMID- 2633318 TI - Urethral pressures during bladder filling. AB - Continuous simultaneous recordings of the urethral and intravesical pressures (pves) during medium fill cystometry (CMG) were performed in 1) twelve healthy fertile volunteers, 2) nine healthy postmenopausal volunteers, 3) nine genuine stress incontinent and 4) sixteen women with unstable detrusor. During the cystometry the urethral pressure rose in two stages. Approximately 70% of the maximum urethral pressure (MUP) rise occurred within the first minute. This was followed by a gradual increase to a maximum at the conclusion of the CMG. The bladder pressure showed a similar pattern with 10-20% of the intravesical pressure rise occurring during the first minute of the cystometry. Both active and passive forces seemed to participate in the MUP and maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) rise. This urethral pressure increment was found in all the women except the stress incontinent, reflecting deficient activity of the pelvic floor musculature in this category of patients. Changing position from supine to sitting increased the pves more than the MUP. Consequently a decrease in the MUCP was noted. The MUP increment during position change was due to both passive intraabdominal pressure (pabd) transmission and increased pelvic floor muscle activity but it was obviously not sufficient to maintain the pressure difference in any of the groups. Continuous recordings of the intraurethral pressure showed a significantly lower MUP in the postmenopausal and stress incontinent women both at rest and during the CMG. The group with unstable detrusor contraction showed apart from this no difference compared to healthy fertile women. These changes were detectable using continuous registration which stresses the value of such measurements in the investigation of urinary incontinence. PMID- 2633319 TI - Computer analysis of manometric recordings. A study of overnight rectal activity in normal children. AB - To read and analyze manometric tracings from selected biological systems, a computer program was produced using low cost personal computer hardware. The program contains facilities for automatic scoring of contractions, intercontractile intervals (modality) and frequency analysis. This report concerns analysis of two overnight rectal motility recordings in 11 normal teenagers. After A/D conversion of data the developed software offers a set of options i.e. automatized scoring of contraction, detection of intervals between contractions and analytical tools such as histographic presentation of data, and presentation in the time domain. The A/D conversion time and computer analysis time for an 8 hour recording was 15 and 13 minutes, respectively. The analysis of frequency distribution overnight showed for the material as a whole 63% of no activity, 33% of 0-2 contractions x min-1 and 4% of more than 2 contractions x min-1. Modality analysis showed a peak between 15 and 25 seconds. Approximately 30% of the tracings showed accumulated intervals, which were multiples of the peak. No significant correlation was found between the first and second night of observation regarding the number of contractions and maximum frequency overnight. Significant correlation was found for the number of periods with high frequency activity between the two nights (p less than 0.05). Long-term pressure activity can be analyzed using the presented computer-aided method, providing a rapid and objective measurement of classical parameters and access to more in-depth analysis. This actual study of normal overnight rectal activity showed a large inter- and intra-individual variation. PMID- 2633320 TI - Symptomatology and urodynamic findings in younger males with bladder neck dysfunction. AB - We studied consecutively 46 males, median age 36 years (range 16-59), diagnosed as bladder neck dysfunction (BND) according to a urodynamic investigation. The diagnosis was based on a prolonged opening time (greater than 04 sec) in the pressure-flow investigation and absence of organic obstruction and neurologic disease. Median duration of symptoms was 24 months (range 1-240). The most frequent symptoms were poor stream (in 70%), frequency (50%) and dribbling (37%), while 30 % had nocturia, and 20% urgency, dysuria or perineal pain during voiding. Thirty-two % had one or more urinary tract infections. We found no correlation between urodynamic findings and symptomatology in terms of total symptom-score or -duration. Median opening time was 10 sec. Patients with shorter opening time were found to have significantly greater Qmax, while the rest of the parameters did not differ. Concerning single symptom-items we found a significant correlation between small bladder capacity and frequency and nocturia but no correlation between obstructive symptoms and the pressure at the bladder neck or the urethral resistance factor. Previously used classifications of BND patients on basis of micturition pressure or response to acute alpha-blockade were not found to be of use and it is concluded that future research should be directed towards a better definition of outflow resistance which then may be used both diagnostically, prognostically and as a therapeutic aid. PMID- 2633321 TI - Clean intermittent catheterization in women with different bladder disorders. AB - The records of eighty women treated with clean intermittent self catheterization (CISC) were reviewed. The majority of the women had non neurogenic voiding dysfunctions whereas a fifth of the patients had a neurogenic voiding disorder. Nine patients with non neurogenic disorders stopped CISC because of problems encountered. No other patient gave up treatment. In accordance with previous reports we find CISC effective in treating patients with residual urine in association with urinary tract infection and/or incontinence. We recommend CISC as a safe and effective treatment of non neurogenic voiding dysfunctions where non invasive bladder rehabilitation has proven futile. PMID- 2633322 TI - Effect of prostaglandin E2 and indomethacin on blood flow in the lower urinary tract of the rabbit. AB - The effect of the cyclooxygenase system on lower urinary tract blood flow was investigated in a standardized rabbit model with empty bladder. Twenty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were separated into 3 groups. The first group received 1 mg per kg b.w. s.c. daily of PGE2 for 4 days. The second group received 10 mg per kg of indomethacin perorally daily for 7 days. The third group served as controls. The experiments were undertaken in general anaesthesia. Regional blood flow of the lower urinary tract was measured with 141Ce-labeled microspheres and plasma volume was assessed by the equilibrium distribution of 125I-labeled fibrinogen in tissues. Peroral treatment with indomethacin caused a significant increase in blood flow in the trigone. No difference in whole bladder blood flow was found and no differences were found among groups with respect to plasma volume. PMID- 2633323 TI - Vesico-ureteral reflux. PMID- 2633324 TI - Nocturnal studies in enuretics. A polygraphic study of sleep-EEG and bladder activity. AB - In patients with monosymptomatic enuresis we investigated bladder activity together with electroencephalography during sleep on two consecutive nights. Thirty-one patients were investigated. Enuretic episodes were found to be normal micturitions not related to any specific sleep stage. Except for a very few bladder contractions outside the enuresis episode we did not observe any bladder activity. In the few instances where bladder activity was seen it was not associated with changes in EEG activity. The bladder contractions were all eliminated by pelvic floor activity, and this could be seen without any disturbances of the sleep indicating that voiding can be inhibited without the child waking up. PMID- 2633325 TI - Reproducibility of iodine-123-hippuran renoscintigraphy in the normal pig at various flow rates. AB - Twenty-two pigs with normal kidney function and upper urinary tracts were examined with renoscintigraphies once a week for 4 weeks. In order to study the influence of urine flow on the reproducibility, renoscintigraphies were undertaken during various urinary flow rates. Renal split function was reproducible at any level of and independent of the urinary flow rates. For parenchymal and pelvic mean transit times a normogram was constructed for selected urinary flow intervals. An inverse relationship to urine production was seen. Parenchymal and pelvic transit times were fully reproducible when data were compared in two or three consecutive examinations of the same kidney at the same urinary flow rate. Both parenchymal and pelvic mean transit times were however significantly different (p less than 0.001) in kidneys studied from one urinary flow rate to another. Single kidney hippuran clearance was fully reproducible when compared in the same urinary flow interval. However a significant difference was found (p less than 0.05) when single kidney hippuran clearance was compared in renographies undertaken at different urinary flow intervals. Furthermore the study suggests that the size of hippuran clearance is dependent on the urine production, since an increase in hippuran clearance was seen in relation to increase in urinary flow. In conclusion this pig study showed, that monitoring of the urinary flow rate is extremely important in this very commonly used clinical investigation, and that the investigation should be performed in the same state of hydration at any renography to obtain reproducible results. PMID- 2633326 TI - The clinical significance of the reflux producing intrinsic bladder pressure and bladder volume in reflux and reflux nephropathy. AB - In 60 patients with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) primarily diagnosed on a conventional voiding cystourethrography, the VUR was revisited more precisely by way of a video pressure flow VCU via suprapubic catheters with special emphasis on the reflux producing intrinsic bladder pressure (RPBP) and the reflux producing bladder volume (RPBV). The VUR was subdivided into a low pressure reflux group (RPBP less than or equal to 35 cm H2O) and a high pressure reflux group (RPBP greater than 35 cm H2O), and into a low bladder volume reflux group (RPBV less than or equal to 50% of bladder capacity or 150 ml) and a high bladder volume reflux group (RPBV greater than 50% of bladder capacity or 150 ml). Reflux grade II or less was defined as low grade reflux and reflux higher than grade II was defined as high grade reflux. Thirty-three units refluxed at low pressures and 17 units at high pressures. In 33 units the reflux occurred at a low bladder volume and 17 at a high bladder volume. The pressure at the reflux was equally distributed in the low and the high grade reflux group. However, in the high grade reflux group low pressure, low bladder volume reflux was accompanied by a significantly higher incidence of nephropathy compared to the high pressure high volume reflux group. Furthermore, the low volume reflux group showed a significantly higher incidence of nephropathy compared to the high bladder volume reflux group. This report substantiates the coincidence between severity of reflux nephropathy and exposure to reflux and stresses the importance of a thorough evaluation of VUR patients including measurement of the reflux producing intrinsic bladder pressure and bladder volume. PMID- 2633327 TI - Combined pressure and drainage studies in hydronephrosis. AB - Current evaluation of hydronephrosis includes pressure-flow studies as well as isotope renography with induced diuresis. A case is presented where a new approach of combining these two methods gave opposing results concerning the significance of obstruction. Some of the implications are discussed. PMID- 2633328 TI - Pharmacologically induced prolonged erections produced by papaverine. Follow-up of injection therapy. AB - Over a 27 months period papaverine induced erections were routinely used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). A total of 53 patients, 29 with neurogenic, 20 with arteriogenic, one with a combined arteriogenic/neurogenic ED and 4 with ED of uncertain etiology, in total used 1149 injections, of which 1069 (93%) produced erections with a rigidity sufficient for vaginal penetration. Fifteen patients discontinued treatment during the observation period. Nine patients experienced sustained erections on 16 occasions; all cases were managed by aspiration of blood and/or injection of adrenergic drugs. Penile indurations occurred in three cases, one of which resolved spontaneously. Papaverine induced erections was found to be an effective and well tolerated tool in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. PMID- 2633329 TI - Energy cost of level walking. AB - Devices and methods have been developed for determining speed and oxygen cost of level walking. Speed was recorded and controlled using a speedometer cart. Oxygen uptake was determined with an argon-dilution method using a mixing box mounted on a backpack. The method was found valid, coefficient of variation (cv) less than 2.1%, and to give excellent reproducibility with regard to self-selected speed, cv less than 1.9%, predetermined speed, cv less than 1.3%, and to oxygen cost, cv less than 3.2%. Artificially arranged immobility of the knee or instability of the ankle decreased comfortable walking speed 23% and 4% respectively. Oxygen cost increased 23% and 10% respectively. Stabilizing splints allowing some flexion could if possible be advocated, particularly with elderly patients. Patients with coxarthrosis were studied before and after THA. One year after surgery the Harris hip score had increased from 35 to 85 points and maximal walking speed from 62 to 80 m min-1 Oxygen cost had decreased from 0.267 to 0.221 ml kg-1m-1. The onset of and the recovery from complications, as well as differences between patients with uni- and bilateral diseases, were reflected in change in oxygen cost but not in clinical scoring. Patients with moderate gonarthrosis were studied before and after unicompartmental knee prosthetic replacement. No major benefit of preoperative physical therapy, mainly aiming to improve thigh muscle strength, was observed three months after surgery. One year after surgery the patients had improved in clinical score rating and recovered an almost normal walking ability. Measurements of pain and self-selected walking speed were found to be sufficient for assessing effects of treatment in these patients. Patients with severe gonarthrosis had improved in clinical score rating one year after TKR. Oxygen cost of walking was unchanged. An acquired uneconomic walking pattern was considered to be the reason for unimproved walking efficiency. Patients with spastic paraparesis were treated with long-term stretch of the hip adductor muscles. Either the oxygen cost or the blood lactate level was decreased during walking, indicating that even during moderate exercise blood lactate must be taken into consideration when energy cost is measured in these patients. Measurements of walking speed and oxygen cost of level walking were found to be useful objective parametres for assessing walking and to be a valuable supplement to clinical assessment of effects of treatment in patients with walking disorders. PMID- 2633330 TI - Comparison of backscattered scanning electron microscopy and microradiography of secondary caries. AB - Carious lesions are usually studied using light microscopy and/or microradiography which require preparation of thin sections. Backscattered scanning electron microscopy (BSEM) has received little attention although it provides information similar to that obtained with microradiographs, with the potential for higher resolution. Recently, microscopes have been introduced that can be used to study wet or nonconducting specimens, offering techniques for studying specimens without desiccation or preparation of thin sections. This investigation sought to determine if secondary carious lesions have the same characteristics when studied by microradiography as when using the "wet" BSEM mode. Microradiographs were made of thin sections from restored teeth with secondary caries induced in an artificial caries system. The thin sections were also studied by BSEM with a partial pressure in the specimen chamber to prevent specimen charging. Comparisons of the lesion size and shape were made using the two methods. Lesion depth measurements in enamel were the same; lesions that penetrated into dentin appeared to be of similar size and shape, but lesion depths measured by BSEM were slightly greater (paired t-test, p less than .05). This was a result of cracks at the carious enamel-dentin interface that probably developed during storage of the samples. Variations in the surface enamel rod structure and the development of subsurface lesions were apparent. Several zones were also apparent in the carious dentin, demonstrating loss of dentinal tubule detail in the depth of the lesion, collapse of tubules, and hypermineralized regions near the advancing front of the lesion. Several additional samples of natural carious teeth were examined. They demonstrated the characteristic structural features of the carious process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2633331 TI - Bone ingrowth into porous coated canine total hip replacements. Quantification by backscattered scanning electron microscopy and image analysis. AB - Bone ingrowth into titanium fiber mesh porous-surfaced canine total hip replacement prostheses was evaluated and quantified using a computer assisted image analysis system attached to a scanning electron microscope equipped with a back scattered electron detector. Excellent contrast between the bone, the porous metal and the soft tissues resulted in the backscatter mode, allowing easy differentiation of these components in real time by the image analysis based on gray scales. By three weeks the mean (+/- standard deviation) amount of bone ingrowth expressed as a percentage of porous layer measured 7.2% (+/- 1.5%) for the acetabular components, and 3.9% (+/- 1.7%) for the femoral components. At six weeks the amount of bone ingrowth increased to 10.5% (+/- 1.3%) for the acetabular components and 8.5% (+/- 1.4%) for the femoral components. Cementless prosthetic fixation using porous surfaced prostheses holds great promise in joint replacement surgery, and the ability to quantitate the amount of bone ingrowth will permit the evaluation of the efficacy of various techniques to improve bone ingrowth. PMID- 2633332 TI - A stereoscopic scanning electron microscope study of pulmonary hypoplasia in chondrodystrophic mice. AB - Pulmonary hypoplasia is a life threatening condition in newborns resulting from a generalized underdevelopment of the lungs. The lung disorder is usually secondary to conditions outside the lung such as thoracic volume reduction. The precise mechanism by which thoracic volume reduction prevents normal lung development and growth is unknown. As a model for human pulmonary hypoplasia associated with lethal skeletal dysplasia, a stereoscopic SEM study of chondrodystrophic (cho) fetal mouse lungs fixed by intratracheal instillation with 3% glutaraldehyde was conducted. In comparison with lungs of phenotypically normal littermates, the mutant's lungs appeared unaffected with respect to structure of major bronchiolar airways and in the morphology and amount of surfactant precursors (multilamellar bodies). The primary saccules within the mutant's lungs were significantly smaller and more numerous relative to those of normal littermates. These observations provide evidence that the lungs for this type of pulmonary hypoplasia are ultrastructurally normal with respect to upper airways, but that the primary saccules, or units of function in neonatal breathing in the rodent, are significantly smaller. This effect, however, does not appear to inhibit differentiation of type II pneumocytes or production of surfactant. PMID- 2633333 TI - Interferon beta 2/interleukin-6 and interleukin-3 synergize in stimulating proliferation of human early hematopoietic progenitor cells. AB - Early 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) resistant hematopoietic progenitor cells (pre-colony-forming units, pre-CFU) were evaluated by a two-step liquid culture system, (earlier progenitors), pre-CFU, as well as by the conventional semi-solid mixed colony assay (later progenitors) for their growth response to interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and a combination of both factors. The effect of the IL-6/IL-3 combination was compared to that of IL-1/IL-3. IL-3 alone proved less effective in supporting earlier pre-CFU cells than later progenitor cells. In a previous work IL-6 promoted the growth of early multipotential progenitor cells circulating in hairy cell leukemia (HCL) patients. IL-6 alone did not stimulate growth of either early or later normal progenitor cells. However, a significant synergistic effect was obtained when IL 6 and IL-3 were added together (p less than 0.05). IL-6/IL-3 synergism was more potent than IL-1/IL-3 in promoting growth of colonies. The previously described synergistic effect of IL-1/IL-3 seems to be independent of IL-6. Thus, our results suggest that the multi-functional cytokine IL-6, may be of use in shortening the engraftment time in bone marrow transplantation. PMID- 2633334 TI - Scanning electron microscopy of the small intestine mucosa in children with celiac disease after long-term dietary treatment. AB - Jejunal mucosal specimens from twenty children with celiac disease were studied by light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after one year of dietary treatment. An ultrastructural morphometric study was performed in five patients who had an intestinal permeability (IP) test. Seventeen patients were tested for serum antigliadin antibodies (AGA). In ten children, in whom LM showed partial villous atrophy, SEM and TEM examination confirmed the lesion. In the second group (10 children) with normal morphology at routine LM, SEM showed lesions of variable degree in 70% of cases. The morphological ultrastructural investigation showed good correlation with the immunological and functional data (IP test): ultrastructural damage of the jejunal mucosa after one year of a gluten-free diet was found in patients with positive serum AGA and an abnormal IP test. Furthermore, the morphometric study of the ultrastructural alterations allowed a quantitative, closer correlation between morphological and functional data. Our results suggest: 1) SEM and TEM investigations offer additional and more complete information on celiac patients, over LM alone. 2) The morphometric evaluation of the ultrastructural alterations highlights quantitative and reproducible correlations between morphological and clinical data, not strengthened by the subjective, qualitative study. PMID- 2633335 TI - The effect of 10 and 20 Gy single dose irradiation on the esophageal mucosa of the rabbit. An electron microscopic study. AB - The mucosa of rabbit esophagus was irradiated with single doses of 10 and 20 Gy respectively. Specimens were taken for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and light microscopy investigations. Examinations were made 1-14 days after 10 Gy and 1-17 days after 20 Gy. Irradiation resulted in edema during the first days. The thickness of the epithelium was at its lowest value around day 5 after the administration of 10 Gy, and on days eight to ten after the administration of 20 Gy. Damage of the epithelium surface, as scored on SEM micrographs, was most pronounced on days eight to eleven after irradiation, showing a clear dose dependency. The second week after irradiation repair was seen concluding in an overshoot of the mucosal height. The amount of bacteria on the surface increased during the period of edema, and decreased when the damage was most pronounced. PMID- 2633336 TI - The use of scanning electron microscopy in the analysis of pathological hairs. AB - The potentials of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) have only to a certain degree been exploited in the study of pathological hair fibers. In this review brief viewpoints on aspects of preparation and interpretation are discussed. It is shown that SEM will reveal important facts on the morphology of pathological hairs is appropriate experiment are performed, such as forming a knot on the fiber. Such a simple experiment will provide information on the fiber cross section, and on the tensile strength of the cuticle and the fiber. Complementary methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis of pathological hair fibers are suggested. PMID- 2633337 TI - Achilles tendon replacement by a collagen fiber prosthesis: morphological evaluation of neotendon formation. AB - Reconstituted type I collagen was processed into fibers which were subsequently severely dehydrated and cyanamide cross-linked. Fibers prepared by this method were stronger and more resistant to degradation than uncrosslinked fibers. When used as a tendon replacement prosthesis, morphological events occurred which were observed by light, scanning, transmission electron microscopy and electron histochemistry. Resorption was the initial host response to the prosthesis and involved gradual biodegradation. Formation of a host-replacement tendon was the second response. Increased collagen fibril diameters and a transition in the proteoglycan/collagen fibril interactions occurred in the newly developing connective tissue between 3 and 10 weeks postimplantation. These extracellular matrix transitions were major events occurring during wound healing and led to the assembly of a mature connective tissue. When used as a tendon prosthesis, these collagen fibers rapidly resorb while allowing simultaneous formation of aligned connective tissue. The fibers may have other applications in the fields of Orthopaedic Surgery, Neurosurgery and Biomaterials Research. PMID- 2633338 TI - Ultrastructural features of osteoclasts in situ. AB - The morphology of in situ osteoclasts on endocortical surfaces of the femoral midshaft was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Mice were perfusion fixed and bone marrow plugs were flushed out of femoral diaphyseal cylinders. The bones were split longitudinally and the endocortical surfaces examined. This method left on the bone surface most of the endosteal cells in their natural, in situ shape and position. Most of the bone surface was lined by contiguous bone lining cells covering resting bone surfaces, making a clear physical barrier between the bone and marrow compartments. On resorption surfaces, which were characterized by excavation cavities, osteoclasts were very polymorphic and spread on the bone surface, extending large pseudopods. The in vivo morphology of individual osteoclasts appears somewhat similar to that described by other investigators on calvaria surfaces and for isolated osteoclasts adherent to artificial substrates. In the resorption domains, osteoclasts appeared to be connected with adjacent osteoclasts, suggesting that the cells form a functional syncytium in resorption areas. PMID- 2633339 TI - The physical state of potassium in frog skeletal muscle studied by ion-sensitive microelectrodes and by electron microscopy: interpretation of seemingly incompatible results. AB - According to the commonly accepted membrane pump theory most of cellular K+ ions are freely dissolved in free cellular water; the alternative association induction hypothesis postulates that the bulk of cellular K+ is adsorbed (weakly bound) to cellular proteins which are maintained in a specific labile state in the cytoplasm of a living cell. K+ activities measured with ion-sensitive microelectrodes in the cytoplasm of frog skeletal muscle seem to confirm the claim that most of cellular K+ ions are free in cellular water. On the other hand, it is evident from electron microscopic ion binding studies that in frog skeletal muscle most of cellular K+ ions are adsorbed to cellular proteins. The conflicting results can be explained with the assumption that a damage of the cytoplasm caused by the impaling microelectrode leads to a liberation of adsorbed ions. The possibility that microelectrodes damage the muscle cytoplasm is tested by using the light microscope. It is found that microelectrodes produce visible traumas which increase with time. Electron microscopic ion binding studies with damaged muscle support the view that monovalent cations are liberated in the disturbed area of a muscle fiber. It is concluded that a K(+)-sensitive microelectrode is not suited to determine the concentration of free K+ ions in intact frog skeletal muscle. PMID- 2633340 TI - Binding of ions to nuclear chromatin. AB - Ion concentrations in isolated lymphocyte nuclei subjected to KCl or MgCl2 media of varying ionic strength were measured by X-ray microanalysis. Values were corrected for the contribution of free ions by estimating the volume fraction of the water space morphometrically. The amount of bound cations and Cl was constant and independent of the widely varying free ion concentration. It is concluded that the mechanism of binding is counterion condensation but with limited cooperativity. In contrast to classical counterion condensation theory, the binding of ions occurs at oppositely charged clusters at the surface of the chromatin. Therefore, both cations and anions are bound and binding cannot be completely delocalized. The bound ions stabilize the basic chromatin fibre but are not involved in the regulation of the transition between the condensed and decondensed state. Using earlier data, we estimated the concentration of free cations in rat liver nuclei under in-vivo conditions to be in the order of about 80 mM. PMID- 2633341 TI - Release of hemoglobin and potassium from human red blood cells treated with Triton X-100 under the critical micellar concentration. AB - The action of detergents is thought to be connected primarily with micelle formation. However, detergent monomers can also effect biological systems. It was found in this study that human red blood cells can be disintegrated with Triton X 100 non-ionic detergent at a concentration of 0.007%, lower than the critical micellar concentration (CMC). The time dependent release of hemoglobin and potassium was detected at 37 degrees C and both were sigmoid in character. Although potassium was released faster than hemoglobin, a cooperative relationship between potassium and hemoglobin within the intact red blood cell is suggested by this observation. PMID- 2633343 TI - [Central mechanisms of somatic afferent impulses in the blocking of vagus bradycardia in rabbits]. PMID- 2633342 TI - Quantitative evaluation of scanning electron microscopy-examined ciliary morphological changes in control and noise exposed guinea pig cochleas. AB - Many investigations of noise-induced hearing loss have demonstrated a poor correlation between hearing threshold and hair cell loss. One reason for this is that more subtle changes in the hair cell, such as detailed morphological changes of stereocilia, have not been evaluated. However, examining such changes increases the problem of distinguishing experimental pathological changes from artefacts. Preparation of the specimen for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) may result in too many artefacts for an adequate quantification of defects due to noise exposure. One problem with some earlier studies seems to be lack of controls and/or statistical analysis for the purpose of eliminating the influence of artefacts and spontaneous degeneration. The aim of this study was to compare unexposed and noise-exposed cochleas examined with SEM in order to determine if subtle changes due to noise could be distinguished from preparation artefacts and from spontaneous deterioration. Ten different types of hair cell changes were found in exposed and control animals. By means of using controls for statistical comparison with noise-exposed animals two cell damage categories--hair cell loss and missing stereocilia--were found to be produced by exposure to noise. PMID- 2633344 TI - A study of erythrocyte sedimentation rate in dengue hemorrhagic fever. AB - Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was determined in 180 DHF patients and 70 patients with various viral and bacterial infections using the Winthrobe method. Seventy-seven percent of DHF patients had normal ESR (less than 20 mm/hour) and 15% had slightly elevated ESR value (between 21-30 mm/hour). The other 8% had ESR in the range of 31-49 mm/hour. Among 7 patients in the latter group, one had definite evidence of complicating urinary tract infection while the other 6 cases had anemia and severe bleeding. The mean ESR in DHF patients (10.71 mm/hour) was significantly lower than the mean values in other groups of patients with viral infection (20.46 mm/hour), bacterial infection (34.81 mm/hour) and miscellaneous illnesses (35.29 mm/hour). The mean ESR in shock cases was 7.63 mm/hour while in non-shock cases it was 13.87 mm/hour and they are statistically different (p less than 0.05). The mean ESR during the time of shock was lower than in the pre-shock and post-shock period. Hemoconcentration, low level of albumin and fibrinogen and the presence of disseminated intravascular clotting (DIC) in a majority of DHF patients are most likely responsible to this observed lower ESR especially during shock period. The determination of ESR, which is simple, is therefore useful in differentiating DHF from bacterial infections and dengue shock syndrome from septic shock. PMID- 2633345 TI - Malaria clinics in Mae Sot, Thailand: factors affecting clinic attendance. AB - Clinics of the Anti-Malaria Program of Thailand play an important part in the control of malaria morbidity and mortality, treating over 60% of reported cases yearly. Interviews were conducted both with attenders at three clinics in Mae Sot District and among those reporting malaria illness but not attending. Distance travelled to the clinic, costs of travel and frequency of other treatment prior to clinic attendance were all highest among patients at the large centralized clinic, moderate in a peripheral fixed clinic, and lowest in a village-based mobile clinic. Reported length of illness prior to attendance was similar for all three clinics. As many as 91% of villagers interviewed chose not to treat their illness in a malaria clinic. These non-attenders reported longer illness time and higher expenditures on treatment than clinic patients. Provision of village-based clinics can improve access. However, the widespread reliance on non-Program treatment of malaria suggests the need for policies to address these alternative therapeutic modes. PMID- 2633346 TI - Chemotherapeutic malaria control operation by single dose of Fansidar plus primaquine in North Sumatra, Indonesia. AB - Selective age group treatment and village scale chemotherapeutic malaria control operation were carried out in east-coast villages in North Sumatra, Indonesia in 1987/1988. A single dose of Fansidar plus primaquine was adopted as the drug regimen to cut the transmission of malaria at the gametocyte stage. After the treatment on day seven, the gametocyte positive rate was reduced to only 2.7% in 72 Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriers. A significant reduction of P. falciparum prevalence in the community was observed after successive selective age group treatment in primary school, however P. vivax prevalence persisted. Village scale active case detection was carried out by one health center staff and two village health volunteers. After eight months P. falciparum prevalence was reduced from 14% to 1%. As the result of the chemotherapeutic control activities covering high-prevalence villages in the coastal area, malaria prevalence in 1988 became very low, as compared with the status in 1985/1986. PMID- 2633347 TI - Development of a magnetisable solid-phase fluoroimmunoassay for primaquine and carboxyprimaquine. AB - Primaquine coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin was used as an immunogen to produce antiprimaquine antibodies in three sheep. The antisera obtained were characterised by the increase in fluorescence polarisation found upon binding to fluorescein-labelled primaquine prepared via same route. All sheep showed a good antibody response and one antiserum was coupled to magnetisable solid-phase particles to facilitate the separation of the antibody bound from free labelled antigen and the removal of interfering components which may be present in the sample. The fluoroimmunoassay requires addition of 100 microliters of standard or sample (urine or serum) to 100 microliters tracer (150 nmol/l) followed by 100 microliters of magnetisable solid-phase particles (12.5 g/l). After one hour incubation followed by the usual washing and eluting procedures, using a magnetic rack, the fluorescence of the supernatant was measured directly in a fluorimeter. Sodium salicylate was incorporated in the tracer solution to block the non specific binding of tracer to the protein in serum samples. Cross-reactivity studies showed that the antibodies have high specificity for the 8-aminoquinoline nucleus but not to the 8-N-aminobutyl side chain. Thus carboxyprimaquine cross reacted equally with primaquine and the assay can be used to measure their combined level. After extraction of primaquine from a basified sample with methylene chloride, the assay may be applied for the quantitation of either primaquine (in the organic phase) or its acidic metabolites including carboxyprimaquine (in the aqueous phase) separately. This approach was applied for the determination of total primaquine (primaquine and its metabolites) and extracted primaquine in urine samples following a single oral dose of 45 mg primaquine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2633348 TI - Determination of antiamoebic IgG, IgM, IgA and IgG subclasses in sera from patients with amoebiasis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. AB - The HK-9 strain of Entamoeba histolytica was cultured axenically. A crude extract of the trophozoites was used as antigen in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of antiamoebic IgG, IgM, IgA and IgG subclasses in sera of patients with E. histolytica infection. Sera from amoebiasis patients had significantly higher mean ELISA values for all classes and subclasses of immunoglobulins examined compared with healthy controls. The ELISA for IgG, IgM and IgA was positive for 76 (97.4%), 34 (43.6%) and 62 (79.5%) respectively of 78 amoebiasis sera. Analysis of IgG subclasses by ELISA showed that 76.7%, 25%, 33.3% and 66.6% of the patients were positive for antiamoebic IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 respectively. IgG1 and IgG4 were the dominant IgG subclasses involved in amoebiasis. The role of antiamoebic antibodies in amoebiasis is discussed. PMID- 2633349 TI - Susceptibility status of Anopheles maculatus Theobald (Diptera: Culicidae) to DDT in Peninsular Malaysia. AB - Susceptibility tests were carried between 1987-1989 on Anopheles maculatus female adults collected from twelve different localities in Peninsular Malaysia to DDT. Mosquitoes collected from all localities except those from Kuala Berang, Trengganu state were found to be susceptible to DDT when tested with 4% impregnated paper. Several factors contributing to the lack of development of resistance despite many years of residual spraying in Peninsular Malaysia include exophily, exophagic and excito-repellency behaviour of An. maculatus and the inadequate spraying coverage of houses. PMID- 2633350 TI - Long residual activity of Bacillus sphaericus 1593 against Culex quinquefasciatus larvae in artificial pools. AB - The microbial larvicide, Bacillus sphaericus 1593, was evaluated against Culex quinquefasciatus larvae in artificial pools at Huay Kwang area in Bangkok between March and October 1985. This study was aimed at determining the residual activity of B. sphaericus 1593 in waste water under field conditions. The larvicidal activity of B. sphaericus 1593 was found to persist for at least 5 months in artificial pools containing waste water. The populations of B. sphaericus 1593 in the test water fluctuated, decreasing by approximately 4.25 and 3.47 log10 colony forming unit (cfu)/ml from the original concentrations in 60 and 80 days after application and then increasing approximately 2.92 and 2.77 log10 cfu/ml in 92 and 72 days for pools No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. This evidence indicates that B. sphaericus 1593 can recycle in such conditions. PMID- 2633351 TI - A brief survey of phlebotomine sandflies in Thailand. AB - Sandflies were found in widely scattered localities in Thailand in varied numbers. Daytime resting places for the adults included caves, termite hills, abandoned houses, ancient stone sanctuaries, air-raid shelters, tree hollows, loose bark of dead standing trees and rock crevices. Of fifteen species, P. major major, P. teshi, S. anodontis, S. gemmea, S. hodgsoni hodgsoni, S. perturbans, S. punjabensis and N. vietnamensis were here recorded for the first time in Thailand. P. argentipes and P. major major are interesting in view of their potential as disease vectors. PMID- 2633352 TI - Antigens, antibodies and immune complexes in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with cerebral gnathostomiasis. AB - Methods for the detection of antigens, antibodies and immune complexes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with neurological manifestations suggestive of cerebral gnathostomiasis were developed, in the hope that they may be useful in confirming the diagnosis of Gnathostoma spinigerum infection. Gnathostoma antigens were determined by a sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antibodies from rabbits immunized with the excretory/secretory (ES) antigens obtained from the in vitro supernatant fluid in which the third-stage G. spinigerum larvae were maintained. With a biotin streptavidin procedure, the presence of G. spinigerum antigens as low as 2 ng in one ml of CSF could be detected. An indirect ELISA was used for the quantitation of IgG antibodies in the paired serum and CSF of these patients. A complement consumption method was used for the detection of immune complexes in the concentrated CSF specimens. Of the 11 patients with clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of having G. spinigerum infection involving the central nervous system, only one patient had antigens detected in the CSF and in this one patient no antibody could be demonstrated. One other patient had immune complexes in her CSF. All remaining patients had IgG antibodies demonstrable in the CSF specimens. These data suggest that the detection of IgG antibodies in CSF is more reliable than the other two methods in confirming the diagnosis of cerebral gnathostomiasis. PMID- 2633353 TI - Lymnaea (Bullastra) cumingiana Pfeiffer (Pulmonata: Lymnaeidae): second intermediate host of Echinostoma malayanum in the Philippines. AB - Adult flukes were obtained from laboratory rats and hamsters fed with metacercariae isolated from Lymnaea (Bullastra) cumingiana Pfeiffer and were identified as Echinostoma malayanum Leiper based on the presence of a circumoral collar of 43-45 spines and the highly lobed testes. This discovery is of public health significance because L. (Bullastra) cumingiana in eaten raw by certain local populations in northern Luzon. The proposed new species, Cathaemasia cabrerai (Jueco and Monzon, 1984), is probably invalid because it apparently was based on E. malayanum flukes that had lost their circumoral collar of spines after treatment with praziquantel and bithionol. This is the first case where L. (Bullastra) cumingiana has been proven to be of medical importance in the Philippines. i.e., as the natural second intermediate host of E. malayanum. The first intermediate host and reservoir host of this parasite in the country are still unknown. Previously, only E. ilocanum was reported to be present in the Philippines. PMID- 2633354 TI - Assessment of iron status of Filipino pregnant women. AB - Plasma ferritin (PF), erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) and hemoglobin (Hb) were used to assess the iron status of 158 Filipino pregnant women included as subjects in the third national nutrition survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in 1987. The prevalence of iron depletion was 39.9% based on PF (less than 12 ng/ml). Iron deficient erythropoiesis was present in 36.1% based on EP of greater than 28 micrograms/dl whole blood and 40.5% based on EP/Hb ratio of greater than 2.4. When the criterion of iron deficiency was that both PF and EP were abnormal, the prevalence of deficiency was lower and only 16.4%. Iron deficiency anemia was present in 14.6% based on Hb less than 11 g/dl in addition to abnormal PF and EP. Significantly lower mean values for PF were obtained in women on the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy indicating decreasing iron stores and the need for iron therapy to prevent anemia during those periods. The iron status of 38 women who reported taking iron supplements was not significantly different from those who did not take supplements. PMID- 2633355 TI - Clinical manifestations and therapy of heat stroke: consumptive coagulopathy successfully treated by exchange transfusion and heparin. AB - This report of 8 cases (6 severe and 2 mild) heat stroke patients seen during the hot summer of 1987 at Pramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, represent the first report of this syndrome in Thailand. Severe cases presented with deep coma, shock, ARDS, DIC and other systemic complications. Two cases of mild heat stroke recovered completely with conventional treatment. Two of the 6 severe cases died with DIC, bleeding and acute renal failure. The other 4 surviving cases received early exchange transfusion and low dose heparin therapy. The clinical features of these 4 cases were as severe as those recorded for fatal heat stroke patients, including shock over 10 hours in 4, coma longer than 120 hours in 3, ARDS and DIC in 1. From these findings, early exchange transfusion plus low dose heparin should be considered as one effective treatment in severe fatal heat stroke patients. PMID- 2633356 TI - Current status of widal test in diagnosis of typhoid fever in an endemic area. PMID- 2633357 TI - On a species of Paragonimus lung fluke metacercaria in Thailand. PMID- 2633358 TI - Community acquired Acinetobacter pneumonia: report of two cases. PMID- 2633359 TI - [Personal experience with surgical treatment of diffuse peritonitis after perforated appendicitis]. AB - The authors investigated the incidence of postoperative complications in 94 patients with diffuse purulent peritonitis after perforated appendicitis in the material of the surgical department of the Regional Institute of National Health in Banska Bystrica in the course of seven years. Most frequently they observed infections of wounds, intraperitoneal abscesses, early adhesive ileus with a mortality of 1.0%. The authors draw attention to the importance of early and accurate diagnosis and the urgency of surgical treatment as the best prevention of the development of peritonitis and serious postoperative complications. PMID- 2633360 TI - [Possibilities of emergency endoscopic diagnosis of hemorrhage in the upper gastrointestinal tract from a prognostic viewpoint]. AB - The authors give an account on the analysis of results of urgent endoscopy in 112 patients with haemorrhage into the upper gastrointestinal tract. From their work ensues that it is an advantage to apply the method in the surgical department; urgent endoscopy reduces the number of urgent operations, eliminates so-called "blind" resections and contributes to a reduction of the general and surgical mortality. PMID- 2633361 TI - [Mediastinal inflammation as a complication of heart surgery under extracorporeal circulation]. AB - The authors describe mediastinitis in two patients operated on account of ischaemic heart disease. In both patients they used the closed approach which involved suture of the sternum and surgical wound, perfect drainage and the administration of antibiotics (general and local). They describe the applied method of fixation of the sternum. In both patients the sternum and surgical wound healed. PMID- 2633362 TI - [Levels of serum immunoglobulins in patients with acute and chronic inflammation of the appendix]. AB - The author analyzes, based on examinations of IgA, IgG and IgM immunoglobulin levels in a group of 130 patients with acute and chronic appendicitis the possibility to improve diagnosis of the disease based on changes of the above values. The investigation of these levels was stimulated by the hypothesis that the appendix in mammals plays a similar role as Fabricius' bursa in birds. The assembled results do not confirm that reduced values of these immunoglobulins are one of the causes of appendicitis and the method is not asset as regards improvement of diagnostic possibilities. PMID- 2633363 TI - [Relation of the mechanical properties of callus tissue and its roentgenologic picture during osteotomy in radiation sickness]. AB - The author investigates the relations between the toughness, firmness and elastic module of callus tissue and its X-ray picture in radiation sickness. On the example healing of experimental osteotomy in rabbits he provides evidence that the X-ray picture of the callus does not always correspond to its actual mechanical parameters. He defines an eight-grade classification for evaluation of the X-ray picture of the callus and compares it with three mechanical parameters of the callus from the aspect of restoration of mechanical properties, which is sufficient for common burdening of the injured extremity. In the conclusion he mentions that mechanically adequate healing of the osteotomy is achieved when on the X-ray picture the fracture line is reconstructed and there is a marked periosteal or remodelled callus. In radiation sickness the recovery after osteotomy is adversely influenced, bones with an advanced X-ray picture of the degree of recovery are mechanically less resistant, as compared with the control group. PMID- 2633364 TI - [Reconstruction of an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta using a single-ring, fibrin impregnated prosthesis with an intraluminal bifurcation]. AB - The author reports on his initial experience with the use of an intraluminal prosthesis of his own design, used in radical operations of aneurysms of the abdominal aorta in the subrenal portion. He demonstrates on his material that this prosthesis implanted by intraluminal stitchless technique significantly reduces the time of clamping of the aorta and the total time needed for the operation. If the prosthesis is moreover fibrin-impregnated, blood losses associated with preliminary clotting as well as the period of aortal clamping are eliminated. The author recommends further to change the sequence of stitching of anastomoses. All mentioned factors: the time needed for operation, blood loss and the shortest time of necessary clamping of the aorta are closely linked with the results of operation. It appears that by means of this technique the operation of abdominal aortal aneurysms can be performed within a shorter time with a smaller blood loss. From the small group of patients operated hitherto by this method so far no general conclusions can be drawn on results of operations. Hitherto achieved results are very good. PMID- 2633365 TI - [Spontaneous rupture of a renal liposarcoma]. AB - The authors describe a rare case of spontaneous rupture of a renal liposarcoma which imitated the clinical picture of an acute abdomen. Urgent transabdominal left nephrectomy was performed. The entire lower half of the kidney was altered by the tumour and ruptured and there was an extensive perirenal and retroperitoneal haematoma. The histological finding confirmed the presence of a primary renal liposarcoma. This is the first case of spontaneous rupture of a liposarcoma of the kidneys described in our literature and the second case in the world literature. The patient survives now for eight years after operation and is in a good condition. PMID- 2633366 TI - [A professional profile of a surgeon with level I and II certification]. PMID- 2633367 TI - [Nutritional and risk-factor dynamics of ischemic heart disease during a 3-year prophylactic intervention in an organized population]. AB - An experimental and prophylactic study was performed in an organized population of 1563 men aged 20-59 years engaged in scientific work. Intervention was realized in a group at high risk, mainly at the expense of changes in nutrition. After 3 years the main group demonstrated the lowering of the total caloricity of nutrition, consumption of food cholesterol and refined sugar together with the rise of animal protein, poly- and monounsaturated fatty acids (PUFA and MUFA) and complex carbohydrates consumption, leading to reduction of risk factors for coronary disease. After 3 years the control group manifested a decrease of sugar and a rise of complex carbohydrates consumption, which was not associated with changes in risk factors. It has been established using a multiple step-by-step regression analysis that the greatest effect on the drop of blood plasma cholesterol was produced by body weight reduction and diminution of the content of SFA in the diet whereas the decrease of arterial pressure by body weight reduction and the rise of the PUFA portion in the diet. PMID- 2633368 TI - [Dynamics of blood viscosity indices in patients with alcoholic myocardiodystrophy]. AB - According to I. V. Strel'chuk's classification, 120 patients with alcoholic myocardiodystrophy induced by stage I-III chronic alcoholism were examined. The control group included 25 normal men. The rheological blood parameters (fluidity limit, apparent viscosity, red blood cell aggregation ratio, and hematocrit) were examined over time: before treatment, after its discontinuance, and one month after discharge from hospital. It was shown that blood viscosity increased with the disease gravity, whereas the results of the treatment correlated well with the initial patient's status. In stages I and II chronic alcoholism, the study parameters could return to normal, while in stage III, blood viscosity remained significantly higher than normal both towards the end of the treatment at hospital and on control examination one month after discharge. The control over blood rheology performed over time may be recommended as an additional method for assessing the disease gravity and efficacy of the treatment of alcohol-induced abnormalities. PMID- 2633369 TI - [The detoxication and rehydration effect of oral rehydration therapy in acute intestinal infection]. AB - As many as 120 patients with food toxinfections were treated by intravenous injections of kvartasol solution and the oral solutions glucosolan and rehydron. The data obtained allow the conclusion that rehydration therapy is not only not inferior to intravenous treatment but also favours the quickest recovery of the disturbed parameters of homeostasis including most rapid elimination of intoxication. Rehydron solution should be regarded as the most effective one. PMID- 2633370 TI - [The effect of human recombinant interleukin-2 on natural cytotoxicity in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy]. PMID- 2633371 TI - [The effect of an acute pharmacologic test with prozerin on cardiac and central hemodynamic indices in patients with myasthenia]. AB - It has been shown that the overwhelming majority of myasthenia patients manifest changes in the cardiovascular system characterized by cardiac pains of different nature, duration and intensity, by electrocardiographic changes and lowering of the central hemodynamics and myocardial contractility. A direct relationship was established between heart involvement into the pathological process and myasthenia gravity as well as the underlying disease standing. The changes in cardiovascular function were not affected by the acute use of neostigmine. PMID- 2633372 TI - [The identification of persons with excess body weight by means of a mail survey]. AB - The data of postal questionnaire were compared to those obtained as a result of examination (anthropometry) of a random sample (n-806) of persons working at one of the Moscow industrial enterprises. It has been shown that the postal questionnaire makes it possible to assess the body weight with an accuracy of up to +/- 3 kg in 67 percent of men and in 69 percent of women. Meanwhile the height could be assessed with an accuracy of up to +/- 3 cm in 93 percent of men and in 80 percent of women. The relationship was established between the error made in the subjective assessment of the body weight and the genuine magnitude of the body weight. The possibilities of correcting the data obtained have been also demonstrated. The postal questionnaire permits the identification of excess body weight (Quetelet's index over 28) in 68 percent of men and in 78 percent of women and can be used for studying the prevalence of excess body weight among the population without employment of additional manpower for examinations. PMID- 2633373 TI - [Physical work capacity studied by measured physical loading in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis]. AB - A significant decrease of work fitness was revealed in 23 patients with verified diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis exposed to graded physical exercise. It is assumed that the decrease of exercise tolerance in these patients may be most possibly accounted for by the lowering of myocardial contractility as a result of its injury due to iron overload. It is not excluded, however, that nonspecific dystrophic processes determined by diabetes mellitus, liver damage and coronary atherosclerosis in some cases may develop. PMID- 2633374 TI - [Functional status of the hemostatic and fibrinolytic systems in patients with clinical variants of chronic glomerulonephritis]. AB - Function of hemostasis and fibrinolysis was investigated in 152 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). Of these, 63 patients presented with an isolated urinary, 49 with hypertensive and 39 with nephrotic syndromes. The patients' groups showed differences in the intensity of the derangement of hemocoagulation and fibrinolysis. The patients with hypertensive CGN manifested different types of responses on the part of thrombin and plasmin, depending on the initial magnitudes of arterial pressure. PMID- 2633375 TI - [Precursor thymus-dependent lymphocytes in variants of chronic glomerulonephritis]. AB - Altogether 67 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) were examined for the content of thymus-dependent precursor lymphocytes (auto-RFC, pre-T-cells). The patients suffering from CGN were characterized by the high content of the young post-thymic T-cells (auto-RFC) and high affinity T lymphocytes carrying a receptor for the Fc fragment of IgM as compared to normal donors. In patients with different clinical patterns of CGN, an analysis was made of the content of precursor thymus-dependent lymphocytes. A relationship was discovered between the content of pre-T-cells and the activity of the nephritic process. The activity of the pathological process was associated with the high content of precursor lymphocytes. The inactive course of nephritis was characterized by a well-defined reduction of the number of precursor cells. This might be regarded as depletion of the amount of precursor lymphocytes. PMID- 2633376 TI - [Odontogenic neuropathy of the trigeminal nerve]. AB - The paper is concerned with the problems of the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture and methods of the treatment of odontogenic neuropathies of the trigeminal nerve. The clinical manifestations of odontogenic neuropathies of the trigeminal nerve are described in detail. The data on the preclinical methods of examination are provided as are pathogenetically based schemes of the treatment for odontogenic neuropathies of the trigeminal nerves. PMID- 2633377 TI - [The initial work experience of offices for the control of risk factors]. PMID- 2633378 TI - [The intoxication syndrome in patients with food poisoning]. AB - As a result of studying the clinical characteristics and paraclinical signs of intoxication in 420 patients with food toxinfections, markers of intoxication have been defined: concentration of citric acid and medium molecular metabolites in blood serum and the magnitude of the leukocytic index of intoxication. PMID- 2633379 TI - [Mycoplasma pneumonia]. PMID- 2633380 TI - [The role of prostaglandins in pathology of the systemic microcirculation in patients with a meningococcal infection and secondary suppurative meningitis of pneumococcal etiology]. PMID- 2633381 TI - [Should the therapist know how to distinguish only "the iamb from chorea"? (by way of a discussion)]. PMID- 2633382 TI - [Enzymologic characteristics of the course of brain edema in patients with meningococcal meningoencephalitis]. PMID- 2633383 TI - [Intracellular metabolism and leukocyte functional activity in patients with meningitis of various etiologies]. AB - Cytochemistries were made in 55 patients with meningitides of different etiology to study the functional metabolic activity of neutrophil leukocytes. At the same time consistent and different changes were discovered in the content of glycogen and cationic protein, in the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase and myeloperoxidase as well as in the indicators of the NBT test, depending on the etiology, stage, gravity and the character of complications. In patients afflicted with meningitides, different degree of the activity of intracellular components and of the indicators of the NBT test characterizes nonspecific responsiveness and is of differential-diagnostic importance. PMID- 2633384 TI - [Difficulties in the diagnosis of brain abscess at an infectious disease hospital]. PMID- 2633385 TI - [HIV infection or AIDS?]. PMID- 2633386 TI - [Microcirculatory function in various clinical forms of HB and HD viral infections]. AB - Bulbar microphotographic vasography was used in 100 patients with different clinical patterns of HBV and HDV infections to study microcirculation over time. The data obtained were correlated to the data of the immunoassays. The relationship between microcirculatory disorders recordable during HBV and HDV infections and immunopathological responses and conditions occurring in those infections is under discussion. PMID- 2633387 TI - [Results of clinical and hematologic examination of donors infected with the human immunodeficiency virus]. AB - The data on the myelogram, peripheral blood and the proteinogram of 30 donors infected with human immunodeficiency virus are provided. The donors were observed for 6 months in the Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion of the Mukhimbili hospital (Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania). It is concluded that the above enumerated parameters should be controlled over time, which is likely to be instrumental in the diagnosis of a qualitatively new condition of the patients--a stage of human immunodeficiency infection transformation to AIDS. PMID- 2633388 TI - [A case of death from AIDS in the USSR]. AB - The authors describe the first case of death from AIDS in the USSR of our countrywoman. The clinical manifestations of AIDS in the young woman were determined by opportunistic infections: disseminated candidiasis of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory organs as well as Pneumocystis pneumonia which ran an extremely grave course with a progressive increase of acute respiratory and cardiopulmonary failure and sepsis. PMID- 2633389 TI - [Characteristics of the course and outcome of viral hepatitis A in patients treated at home]. AB - As many as 40 adult patients aged 15 to 40 years with virus hepatitis A treated at home were followed up since October 1987 to March 1988 in 6 districts of Moscow. There were 23 women and 17 men. The control group comprised 101 adult patients (46 women and 51 men) admitted to the Clinical Infectious Hospital No. 1. The diagnosis of virus hepatitis A was made on the basis of the clinico epidemiologic and biochemical data, supported by detection of specific IgM antibodies to virus hepatitis A. Staying in bed, sparing diet and abundant drinking were indicated to all the patients. The patients who reported for work were followed up for 6 months. The mean duration of disability constituted 34.1 +/- 1.69 days, if the patients were treated at home and 38.6 +/- 1.26 days, provided they received hospital treatment. The number of lingering cases was 4 (10%) during the treatment at home and 11 (10.9%) at hospital treatment. The data obtained attest to the possibility of treating adult patients with virus hepatitis A at home. PMID- 2633390 TI - [Humoral and cellular indices of nonspecific resistance in viral hepatitis A and ascorbic acid]. AB - A total of 260 patients aged 15 to 57 years with virus hepatitis A were examined over time for some indicators of humoral and cellular immunity (serum IgA, IgM, IgG, the phagocytic number and indicator of the completeness of neutrophil phagocytosis, cytochemical content of ribonucleic and deoxyribonucleic acids in blood leukocytes). The immunological indicators were determined in two patients' groups after intake per os of 300 mg/day of ascorbic acid for 2-3 weeks and without its administration. It has been established that in virus hepatitis A, vitamin C exerts a remarkable immunomodulating action. In view of this fact, it should be necessarily included into multimodality treatment of patients suffering from pathology under consideration. PMID- 2633391 TI - [The effect of viral hepatitis A on thyroid function in adolescents with thyroid pathology]. AB - In patients with virus hepatitis (VHA) without thyroid pathology, thyroid function decreases but during the recovery, it rapidly restores. In the presence of concomitant thyroid hyperplasia, its function in the acute period of VHA is inhibited to an ever greater degree and remains decreased during convalescence. This circumstance requires the use of replacement hormonal therapy. In cases of concomitant hypothyrosis, the initial level of thyroid hormones diminishes but it does not manifest itself by clinical disease exacerbation. In patients with concomitant toxic goiter, the hormonal status does not undergo any changes in mild forms of VHA, whereas in VHA of medium gravity and grave patterns of VHA, hyperthyroxinemia increases and the course of diffuse toxic goiter is exacerbated. Therefore, the treatment of patients with VHA associated with thyroid pathology should be conducted with regard to thyroid function. PMID- 2633392 TI - [Clinico-laboratory characteristics of the cholestatic form of acute alcoholic hepatitis]. AB - Altogether 108 patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH) were examined. Of these, 14 patients (13%) presented with the cholestatic pattern of AAH, 45 with extrahepatic cholestasis, and 45 were healthy. As compared with the total patients' group with AAH, the patients with the cholestatic form consumed alcohol in greater amounts. Due to intensive jaundice, 50% of the patients were admitted by error to the infectious clinic and 32% to the surgical one. The disease runs a comparatively grave course, the general conditions gets deteriorated, the body temperature rises, the patient senses pains in the right hypochondrium, skin pruritus is lacking. As compared with other patterns of cholestasis, cholestatic AAH is characterized by a higher thymol test, higher levels of cholesterol, low density lipoproteins, activation of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and aspartate aminotransferase and by a lower level of leukocytes, bilirubin, free fatty acids and alkaline phosphatase. Verification of the diagnosis demands the use of certain up-to-date instrumental methods. To identify the cause of cholestasis, great diagnostic significance is attached to echography. PMID- 2633393 TI - [Leukinferon in the treatment of severe forms of acute hepatitis B]. PMID- 2633394 TI - [Replacement therapy with pancreatic enzymes and the principle of reversible regulation of the enzyme-secreting activity of the pancreas]. AB - In patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis (outside exacerbation) with initial enzyme-secretory pancreatic failure, the two-week intake of pancreatin as a replacement therapy brought about a decrease of the enzyme-secretory activity of the patient's own pancreas paralleled by the lowering of diurnal steatorrhea. This was confirmed by repeated pancreozymine tests. These data confirm the concept of a reverse relation between pancreatic enzymatic secretion and the concentration of the enzymes in the duodenal contents. Combined administration of pancreatin and calcium gluconate led to the preservation of the degree of steatorrhea by the enzymatic preparation. At the same time its inhibitory effect on the activity of the own pancreas was prevented. The effect of calcium gluconate is accounted for from the standpoint of the role Ca2+ plays in the maintenance of the function of the exocrine part of the pancreas. The combination with calcium gluconate is indicated in the clinical use of replacement therapy with preparations of pancreatic enzymes in patients with chronic pancreatitis. PMID- 2633395 TI - [Local cellular protection in patients with various forms of pulmonary tuberculosis]. AB - To study the cellular component of local immune defence, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was examined in 69 patients: 24 children and adolescents with primary tuberculosis and 45 patients with secondary patterns of tuberculosis complicated by catarrhal and purulent endobronchitis. With no appreciable lesions in the bronchial mucosa the cellular composition of BALF and functions of alveolar macrophages (AM) in patients with primary tuberculosis are determined by the phase of specific process. In secondary tuberculosis associated with endobronchitis, the cellular composition of BALF is mainly determined by the character of bronchial pathology whereas AM function by the patterns of both specific and nonspecific processes. PMID- 2633396 TI - [Clinical efficacy and pathogenetic validation of the intrapulmonary and intrabronchial administration of proteinase inhibitors and antibiotics in the treatment of patients with nonspecific lung diseases]. AB - Eighty patients (34 with lung abscess, 39 with lingering pneumonia associated with chronic bronchitis) were examined for the activity of the proteinase inhibitory system in bronchial washing off as well as for the level of alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor in blood serum. The system of proteinases inhibitors was found to be unbalanced with the predominance of proteinases. The proteinase inhibitor contrycal was included into the multimodality treatment of patients. The patients of the main group were administered contrycal and antibiotics intrapulmonarily with the aid of a needle jet injector (NJI-1) and endobronchially, whereas the control group patients were given intravenous injections in the identical daily and total dose. The local (intrapulmonary and endobronchial) administration of proteinase inhibitors and antibiotics turned out to compare very favourably with intravenous injection of the same remedies. PMID- 2633397 TI - [Functional characteristics of the endocrine and immune systems in patients with visceral candidiasis]. AB - A study was made of pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, endocrine pancreatic, adrenocortical and immune system functions in 56 patients afflicted with visceral candidiasis. The clinical and laboratory data obtained point to the presence in some patients with visceral candidiasis of parathyroid, thyroid, pancreatic and adrenocortical dysfunctions, attesting to their importance in the disease pathogenesis. The role of immune disorders, particularly that of the T component of the immunity system is found to be of paramount importance as well in the pathogenesis of candidiasis. Correction of endocrine disorders coupled with antimycotic therapy brought about a more rapid and steadier therapeutic effect. PMID- 2633398 TI - [Prognostic criteria of suppurative-destructive complications in patients with a severe course of acute pneumonia]. AB - 54 patients with acute pneumonia were examined. There were 36 men and 18 women aged 16 to 72 years. Use was made of the clinico-roentgenological, bronchological and laboratory methods including biochemistry and immunoassays to assess the gravity of the patients' condition. The system protease inhibitors, the concentration of immunoglobulins in blood serum, circulating immune complexes, functional activity of neutrophils and monocytes of peripheral blood were under study. The major part of the patients (45 persons) did not develop destructive lesions, in 9 patients, pneumonia was complicated by suppurative-destructive lesions. In both patients' groups, the disease (in 90.3% of cases) ran its course with the signs of active virus infection. The risk factor for the destruction development was the rise of the laboratory gravity index to over 5-6 marks, a tendency towards the decrease of the phagocytic activity of monocytes and immunoglobulin M, the presence of unbalance in the system protease inhibitors at the expense of inadequate reduction of the antiproteolytic potential. PMID- 2633399 TI - [Hemosorption in the intensive therapy of agranulocytosis]. AB - The authors describe a case of successful treatment of medicamentous agranulocytosis (induced by mercasolyl) using hemoperfusion, an extracorporeal method for the treatment of intoxications. In the severe total intoxication syndrome, application of hemoperfusion in multimodality therapy of myelotoxic agranulocytosis improves the disease prognosis. PMID- 2633400 TI - [Characteristics of cardiac structure and function in young persons with so called functional murmurs (clinical echocardiographic research)]. AB - As many as 70 males aged 14 to 28 years with functional systolic murmur and 16 young persons of the same age, in whom murmur failed to be detected both at rest and after 15 squattings and the hyperventilation test. It was shown by echocardiography that in addition to the proneness to the hyperdynamic type hemodynamics, the patients with functional murmurs manifested, in different anatomicofunctional heart zones, definite characteristics of the heart structure which in the majority of the examined (77.1%) were marked by deformity of the left ventricular contours. Therefore, the left ventricular chamber is the main area where in young persons there occurs functional systolic murmur. Frequent combination with each other of heart structure characteristics in persons with functional systolic murmur attests to the diversity of the causes and mechanisms by which it forms. PMID- 2633401 TI - Deaggregation of human platelets in vitro by an RGD analog antagonist of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors. AB - Binding of fibrinogen to platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptors is essential for normal platelet aggregation. We investigated whether inhibition of GP IIb/IIIa receptors with arginine-glycine-aspartate-O-methyltyrosine amide (RGDY), an analog of the receptor recognition sequence found in fibrinogen, is associated with platelet deaggregation. Platelets from five healthy human subjects that were maximally aggregated by addition of adenosine diphosphate to platelet-rich plasma were deaggregated in a dose-dependent manner by subsequent addition of RGDY (86.5 +/- 6.2%, 68.2 +/- 4.3%, 44.9 +/- 6.4%, and 31.6 +/- 4.1% for RGDY concentrations of 400, 200, 133, and 67 microM, respectively vs. 7.8 +/- 2.9% for saline control samples, p less than 0.0001). The extent of deaggregation was decreased as the time of addition of RGDY (400 microM) after maximal aggregation increased (85.6 +/- 6.7%, 58.5 +/- 12.6%, 47.1 +/- 2.7%, and 37.1 +/- 4.2% for 0, 1, 3, and 5 minute intervals, respectively, vs. 8.3 +/- 3.1% in control samples, n = 4, p less than 0.0001) consistent with the occurrence of irreversible aggregation. Thus, RGDY can rapidly and extensively deaggregate human platelets under certain conditions which may enhance its antithrombotic efficacy. PMID- 2633402 TI - Platelet aggregability and in vivo platelet deposition in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease--evaluation by indium-111-platelet scintigraphy. AB - In ischemic cerebrovascular disease, it is not clear whether platelet function in vitro actually reflects the situation in vivo. Using indium-111 platelet scintigraphy as a method for detecting platelet activation in vivo, we tried to elucidate this problem. Twenty eight patients with chronic stage of ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and 17 control subjects were examined. Platelet scintigrams were positive in 9 of 28 patients in CVD, while all were negative in control. A comparison of the results obtained from qualitative platelet imaging and platelet aggregability was performed to evaluate whether threshold aggregation concentration (TAC) grade differed across the three groups (control, CVD patients without platelet deposition and CVD patients with platelet deposition). CVD patients with platelet deposition showed a higher TAC than those patients who did not show platelet deposition (P less than 0.05) or control subjects without platelet deposition (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that some patients in chronic stages of CVD may have active platelet deposition on carotid atheromatous lesions, and presence of platelet deposition in vivo could contribute to reduce platelet reactivity in peripheral blood. PMID- 2633403 TI - Amino acids and peptides XII: synthetic peptides related to the N-terminal portion of fibrin alpha-chain and their inhibitory effects on fibrinogen/thrombin clotting. PMID- 2633404 TI - Rapid photometric method for estimation of platelet count in blood plasma or platelet suspension. PMID- 2633405 TI - Effects of exercise on platelet indices in well-trained athletes. PMID- 2633406 TI - Disorganization process in the development of diabetic nodular glomerulosclerosis. AB - In order to clarify the mode of development of the diabetic nodular glomerulosclerosis, 38 kidney specimens of autopsied and biopsied diabetic cases were studied light and electron microscopically including serial sections. Disorganization process occurred chiefly at the capillary region of glomeruli. Early change of this process was proliferation of intramembranous cells following histolysis in the glomerular loop and it was characterized by transformation of the glomerular loop into enmeshed or reticular structure, that is, disorganization of the glomerular architecture. In the subsequent stage intercellular matrix production and hyalinization accompanied by axial crowding of proliferated intramembranous cells and peripheral recanalization of blood spaces were clarified. And in the later stage axially crowded intramembranous cells decreased in number and the matrix was increased and hyalinized, resulting in the formation of the axial hyaline nodule. The distribution of this process was focal and segmental, lesions of various stages coexisted, and it was suggested that glomerular lesions may spread all over the kidney by recurrence of this process. This process was quite similar to those seen in disorganization process of glomerulonephritis. But another characteristic changes were the presence of foam cells, intra- and intercellular deposition of lipid droplets, and increased matrix formation. PMID- 2633407 TI - Quantitative measurement of renal plasma flow by positron emission tomography with oxygen-15 water. AB - We successfully determined renal plasma flow in the human kidney by means of positron emission tomography (PET) with oxygen-15 water using a one compartment model. PMID- 2633408 TI - Characterization of resistance to VP-16 in human leukemic cell line. AB - Resistance mechanism was studied in the VP-16-resistant human leukemic cell line (THP-1/E) which was developed by continuous drug exposure. The drug uptake and efflux studies revealed no decrease in net cellular drug accumulation. VP-16 induced DNA single- and double-strand breaks in the whole THP-1/E cells decreased significantly compared to the sensitive counterpart as assessed by alkaline elution methods. Decrease in DNA SSBs was also observable in the isolated nuclei from the THP-1/E cells. The resistance to VP-16 in THP-1/E appeared to be independent of altered membrane permeability, and more likely to be associated with decreased VP-16-mediated DNA cleavage. PMID- 2633409 TI - Relationship between serum free thyroid hormone concentrations and target organ responsiveness in thyroid disease patients before and after treatment. AB - Relationship between serum free thyroid hormone concentrations and several markers of peripheral tissue response to thyroid status was studied in 24 patients with hyperthyroidism, 17 with euthyroidism with goiter and 10 with primary hypothyroidism before and after the initiation of standard forms of treatment. Before treatment, serum free T4 correlated significantly, either positively or negatively, with the basal metabolic rate (BMR), duration of the achilles tendon reflex (ATR), resting pulse rate (RPR), serum total cholesterol (T-cholesterol), ratio of the pre-ejection period to the left ventricular ejection time (PEP/LVET), serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in the descending order. Serum free T3 also correlated significantly all the these parameters. After treatment, changes in both serum free T4 and free T3 correlated well with those of the BMR and ATR in the patients with hyperthyroidism, and with those of the ATR, serum CPK and T-cholesterol in the patients with hypothyroidism. These results indicate that these peripheral parameters correlated well with serum free thyroid hormone concentrations in thyroid disease patients. Therefore, these parameters can be used to assess thyroid functions in patients with thyroid hormone resistance. PMID- 2633410 TI - An improved cellophane method for in vitro germination of recalcitrant pollen. AB - The cellophane technique of La Cour and Faberge has been improved by the use of a booklet of filter paper. The booklet consists of seven squares of filter paper stapled together; the cellophane on which the pollen is germinated is placed between the two top leaves of the booklet and the whole soaked in a sucrose-based nutrient medium for 15 min. This arrangement keeps the cellophane flat as it absorbs medium. The top leaf of the booklet is then removed, the pollen dusted on it and the completed preparation closed in a plastic-wrapped Petri dish. The lower leaves of the booklet keep the cellophane moist for up to 24 hr. Proportions of pollen grains germinating are at least as high as in the hanging drop method; pollen of species that germinate poorly or not all in hanging drops do well in this technique. Because the pollen tubes adhere tightly to the cellophane, staining, observation, and studies of various sorts are facilitated. PMID- 2633411 TI - Processing of free-living amoebae for transmission electron microscopy. PMID- 2633412 TI - A method for flat embedding thick cryostat tissue sections in plastic resin. PMID- 2633413 TI - [Use of the lysosomal-cationic test for the prognosis of postoperative suppurative complications in patients with infectious endocarditis]. PMID- 2633414 TI - [The nature of lung damage in endogenous toxemia]. PMID- 2633415 TI - [Characteristics of the metastasis of lung cancer in young patients]. AB - Based on an investigation of micropreparations of resected lungs, findings of test thoracotomies and autopsies the authors have studied regularities of regional lung cancer metastazing in 275 patients of young age. It was shown that the intensity of regional metastazing is higher in young patients with lung cancer than in elderly patients, it grows with low-differentiated forms of tumor, nodular-peribronchial form of growth and increases in parallel with the growing size of the tumor node. PMID- 2633416 TI - [Medical expert testimony regarding work capacity of patients with stomach cancer of cardial and cardioesophageal locations]. PMID- 2633417 TI - [Differential diagnosis of nonspecific ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease of the colon]. PMID- 2633418 TI - [Results of the treatment of patients with fractures and abdominal injuries]. PMID- 2633419 TI - [Clinico-economic characteristics of open and closed intramedullary osteosynthesis of the femur]. PMID- 2633420 TI - [New modifications of the Heller operation in surgical treatment of cardiospasm]. PMID- 2633421 TI - [Left-side hemiproctocolectomy with inversion ileotransverso-anastomosis and lowering of the terminal segment of the ileum to the anal sphincter]. PMID- 2633422 TI - [A new method of diagnosis of functional megacolon]. PMID- 2633423 TI - [Technical characteristics of small-pelvic drainage through the obturator foramen]. PMID- 2633424 TI - [Surgical topography of the membranous part of the interventricular heart septum]. AB - An investigation of the membranous part of the interventricular septum of the heart during operations and an autopsy material has shown the shape and size of this structure of the heart to be variable and to have complex interrelations with many components of the heart. The ventricular portion of this part of the septum is always covered in some extent with chordae, threads of the tricuspid valve and its anterioseptal commissure. The atriotomic access may be an alternative to the surgical access via the right ventricle, but in this case it is necessary to dissect or cut off the septal cusp from the valve. PMID- 2633425 TI - [Nodular goiter and cancer of the thyroid]. AB - Among 3229 patients with diseases of the thyroid gland aged from 6 to 83 years there were 2924 patients who had nodular forms of goiter and 71 patients who had malignant tumors of the thyroid. Thyroidolymphography with aimed trepanbiopsy was used to make more exact diagnosis. Complex clinico-radiological examination, thyroidolymphography with aimed biopsy before operation are considered to facilitate making more exact diagnosis and choosing the adequate treatment. PMID- 2633426 TI - [Characteristics of the formation of fat deposits in circumscribed lipomatosis of the neck and variants of surgical approaches to them]. AB - During 15 years operations for circular lipomatosis of the neck (Madelung syndrome) were performed to 73 patients. Three variants of incisions (accesses) for removal of the fat accumulation from anterior areas of the neck are developed and described: 1) auriculo-mastoido-hypoglossal; 2) supraclaviculo-sternal; 3) cleidosternal The occipito-suprascapular incision is proposed for removal of fat accumulations from posterior areas of the neck. PMID- 2633427 TI - [Functional results of gastrectomy in cancer in relation to the surgical method and creation of esophago-intestinal anastomosis]. AB - A comparative analysis of functional results of gastrectomies depending on the type of esophagointestinal anastomosis has shown advantages of gastroplastic types of operations. Radionuclide investigations have revealed a statistically reliable improvement of processes of hydrolysis and absorption of lipids in the small intestine after gastroplastic operations. PMID- 2633428 TI - [The extent of resection in rectal cancer]. AB - The condition of the "tumor field" in cancer of the rectum was studied. The work was performed on 28 preparations of the resected and extirpated rectum as serial paraffin sections in 8 radial directions for a distance of 10 cm from the visible margin of the tumor. The "tumor field" border at the distal direction is not less than 3.5-4 cm with the exophital growth and 4-5 cm with the endophital growth. The "tumor field" contours resemble an ellipse with excentricity in the proximal direction. PMID- 2633429 TI - [Surgical treatment of dolichosigmoid and its torsion]. PMID- 2633430 TI - [Methods of studying motor function of the small intestine at a surgical clinic]. AB - On the basis of 200 many-hours investigations of motor function of the duodenum and jejunum performed in experiments and clinic with the help of polydigestograph "Express-MT" five degrees of its activity were established: negative, relative rest, weak, medial and strong. High exactness of the registration of intestinal motility at the early period after operations on the abdominal organs was proved. It was found that no complete extinction of the motor function of the small intestine was observed even under conditions of diffuse peritonitis. PMID- 2633431 TI - [Use of an autovenous transplant, polytetrafluoroethylene prosthesis and human umbilical vein bioprosthesis for creating an arteriovenous fistula for programmed hemodialysis]. AB - The work presents an experience with 84 operations of making nonstandard arteriovenous fistulas in 75 patients using autovenous transplants, polytetrafluorethylene prosthesis and home bioprostheses from human umbilical veins made at plant "Sever". Results of the operations were followed-up during 3 years. It was shown that arteriovenous fistulas made of plastic materials generally have a higher level of complications and shorter terms of functioning as compared with ordinary fistulas. Nevertheless, using nonstandard fistulas is justified in a certain category of patients. PMID- 2633432 TI - [Viability of tissues of the extremities and surgical tactics in stage IV arteriosclerosis obliterans]. AB - Amputation of the extremity was performed in 26 of 52 patients with the IV stage obliterating atherosclerosis. Clinical severity of the disease was confronted with results of special investigations. Three groups of such patients are described: with traumatic necroses, with ischemic necroses and with necrotic ischemia (criteria of its irreversibility are presented). Surgical tactics of treatment in the first group of patients may include sympathectomy with necrectomy. The outcome of treatment of the second group patients is determined by the efficiency of reconstructive operations. Amputation of the extremity is indicated to patients of the third group. PMID- 2633433 TI - [Blood flow "stealing" phenomenon in the foot as one of the causes of ischemia of the toes]. AB - An examination of 750 patients with chronic ischemia of lower extremities has revealed 12 patients whose foot arteries pulsation could be determined by pulpation. However, by means of angiography of the ischemic lower extremity, ultrasound flowmetry of the foot arterial arch with the use of compression tests these patients were found to have the syndrome of "robbing" the foot bloodflow. PMID- 2633434 TI - [Late results of combined surgery of the veins and lymphatic vessels in patients with chronic lymphovenous insufficiency of the leg]. AB - An analysis of long-term results of treatment of 1258 patients with chronic lymphovenous insufficiency of lower extremities has shown the necessity of differentiated approach to different categories of the patients. A substantial improvement of results of the treatment of patients with complicated forms of varicose disease is observed in combination of operations on the venous and lymphatic systems. The character of these operations (lymphovenous anastomoses, lymphonodovenous anastomoses) must be determined strictly individually on the basis of an analysis of clinical course of the disease, data of lympho- and phlebography. PMID- 2633435 TI - [Experience with the treatment of anaerobic gas infection at a city hospital]. PMID- 2633436 TI - [A method of immunothermistography in the diagnosis of sensitivity to antibiotics in surgical patients]. PMID- 2633437 TI - [Reserves of pulmonary-capillary perfusion in patients after surgical treatment of mitral valve defect]. PMID- 2633438 TI - [Diagnosis and surgical treatment of hepatic echinococcosis]. PMID- 2633439 TI - [Diagnosis of hemorrhage of small-intestinal tumors in patients under observation for gastroduodenal ulcers]. PMID- 2633440 TI - [The onset of circulatory venous gangrene of the arm and its successful treatment by thrombolysis]. PMID- 2633441 TI - [Use of ganglionic blockaders in the treatment of patients with closed thoracic injuries]. PMID- 2633442 TI - [Acute diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas in patients with severe trauma and shock (characteristics of the diagnosis and treatment)]. AB - Under study were 56 observations of posttraumatic cholecystitis and pancreatitis in patients with polytrauma without a direct injury of the gallbladder and pancreas. Diagnostics of posttraumatic cholecystitis and pancreatitis is based on data of laparoscopic and ultrasonic examinations. Treatment of acute cholecystitis in the postshock period of trauma disease is operation, while treatment of posttraumatic pancreatitis must be started with intensive therapy. PMID- 2633443 TI - [Surgical tactics in obstructive-suppurative calculous pyelonephritis in children]. AB - An analysis of results of decompressive nephrostomy for obstructive purulent calculous pyelonephritis in 30 children has detected different complications aggravating the course of the disease and process of treatment. The authors propose a rational variant of operation--primary nephrolithotomia with nephrostomy. Operations were performed on 40 children. Immediate results of treatment were good in 30 children, satisfactory in 9 children. One patient died. PMID- 2633444 TI - [Birth injuries of the spine]. AB - Results of treatment of 204 children with labour traumas of the vertebral column are presented. Among the 204 patients there were 151 neonates, 28 infants and 25 patients with consequences of labour trauma. The cervical part is traumatized most frequently. Injury of the cervical vertebrae was diagnozed in 154 patients, of lumbar vertebrae in 18 patients. One child has an injury of the cervical and thoracic vertebra. In 41 patients there were ischemias in the vertebrobasilar area. An associated labour trauma of the vertebral column was diagnozed in 36% of the cases. Results of treatment were followed-up in 174 patients. Good results were obtained in 133 patients (76%). Satisfactory results were noted in 36 children (20%). Five patients died. Early and complex treatment gave good results in 93% of the cases. PMID- 2633445 TI - [Problems of the pathogenesis of acute suppurative lung diseases]. AB - An investigation of pathogenesis of abscesses and gangrenes of the lungs in 306 patients has shown that their main pathogenetic forms are bronchogenous, pneumonic and hematogenic forms. Hematogenic abscesses can be divided into metastic and embolic according to peculiarities of their pathogenesis. The course of acute purulent diseases of the lungs has 5 clinico-pathogenetic stages. PMID- 2633446 TI - [Fractures of the radius neck associated with dislocation of the elbow joint in children]. PMID- 2633447 TI - [Use of plasmapheresis in pediatrics]. PMID- 2633448 TI - [Disorders of the "lipid peroxidation-antioxidant" system and ways of their correction after transplantation of vascularized tissue complexes]. AB - An experimental investigation in 40 rabbits and 13 dogs has shown that arrest of blood flow in tissues is accompanied by activation of lipid peroxidation processes with reduced activity of the antioxidant system. Tissue anoxia during 4h sharply activates lipid peroxidation processes which is considerably aggravated after early performance of oxygenobarotherapy sessions (1h after revascularization). Relatively late sessions of oxygenobarotherapy (10h after the reestablishment of bloodflow) are not accompanied by activation of lipid peroxidation and decrease of the level of antioxidants of lipid nature, alpha tocopherol acetate has a marked antioxidation effect and enhances tissue survival after anoxia. PMID- 2633449 TI - [Classification of post-burn cicatricial deformities of the neck and chest and clinico-anatomic substantiation of the use of cutaneofascial flaps from the thoracic wall]. PMID- 2633450 TI - [Use of the "epaulet" flap in plastic surgery of defects of soft tissues of the head and neck]. PMID- 2633451 TI - [Esophageal rupture during resuscitation and anesthesiologic procedures]. PMID- 2633452 TI - [The present state and perspectives of postgraduate education of physicians in internal medicine]. AB - Postgraduate training in internal medicine, although conceived as a programme for the entire productive life, is most intensive during the preparation for specialization examinations in the discipline. These examinations have two grades. Grade I can be obtained after attendance of a prescribed training and grade II after another four years. The author gives an account of the existing opportunities for training for specialization I in internal medicine (supplementary courses are organized in some regions) and grade II for which the Institute for Postgraduate Medical Training organizes three-month courses in Prague. In these courses not only the acquisition of recent findings is emphasized but also active participation of the participants of the course (demonstrations of patients and lectures prepared on a given subjects). The authors discusses also the possible motivations for postgraduate training after specialization in the discipline of internal medicine. Knowledge of internal medicine is important also for the discipline of general medicine. The author submits some suggestions for collaboration of the two disciplines to achieve a better standard of provided care. PMID- 2633453 TI - [Monoclonal antibodies against erythrocyte antigens. Present status]. AB - The author summarizes the contemporary state of the problem of monoclonal antibodies against red cell antigens. He discusses the possible use in immunohaematology. Conditions are outlined which must be met for ther use as diagnostic sera. PMID- 2633454 TI - [Interferon alpha in the treatment of malignant hematologic diseases]. AB - The majority of malignant haematological diseases is incurable by contemporary procedures and therefore new approaches are sought, based on recent findings on haematopoiesis and its regulation. One of the new approaches is the use of so called biological response modifiers between the later interferons. Recently relatively abundant experience was assembled with therapy using alpha interferon. The author presents an account of hitherto achieved therapeutic results obtained with alpha interferon in neoplasias of myelopoiesis and lymphopoiesis. PMID- 2633455 TI - [Clinico-biochemical characteristics of patients with congenital glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in erythrocytes]. AB - The authors submit a clinical and biochemical investigation of five families with a congenital glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase red cell deficiency. Congenital nonspherocytic haemolytic anaemia was detected only in one hemizygous carrier, in four there was latent haemolysis with intermittent haemolytic crises and hyperbilirubinaemia. In 14 relatives carriership was revealed without clinical manifestations. The authors give a biochemical characteristic of kinetic properties of enzymatic variants according to WHO instructions (enzyme activity, thermal stability, pH stability and other kinetic constant) and emphasize the need to improve the diagnosis. PMID- 2633456 TI - [Thyroid gland function after short-term administration of amiodarone and digoxin]. AB - The authors administered to 13 patients with auricular fibrillation amiodarone (Cordarone), 1200 mg/day, by the oral route from the 4th to the 10th day of the trial, 600 mg per day from the 11th to the 13th day of the trial. Simultaneously the patients were given digoxin, 1 mg, by the i.v. route: on the first day 1 mg i.v., 2nd to 5th day 0.5 mg i.v., and on the 6th to 10th day of the trial 0.25 mg. They assessed the serum digoxin concentration on the 1st, 4th, 11th and 14th day, the serum concentration of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyrotropic hormone (TSH) on the 1st and 14th day of the trial. The authors revealed that after ten days administration of amiodarone T4 does not change (102.4 +/- 28.2 nmol/l vs. 101.3 +/- 13.4 nmol/l, NS), T3 declines significantly (2.47 +/- 0.85 nmol/l vs. 1.86 +/- 0.54 nmol/l, p less than 0.001) and TSH rises insignificantly (2.82 +/- 1.18 mU/l vs. 3.34 +/- 1.43, NS). Consistent with data in the literature on the effect of several weeks administration of amiodarone on thyroid function, the authors assume inhibition of 5'monodeiodization of T4 with a reduced formation of T3 and increased formation of rT3. The drop of T3 may play a part also in the antiarrhythmic action of amiodarone in the treatment of auricular fibrillation. PMID- 2633457 TI - [Differential diagnosis of acute myocardial infarct in hypothyroidism]. AB - The authors demonstrate the case of a female patient with hypothyroid myopathy where they recorded repeatedly a rise of enzymes used for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, whereby myocardial infarction was not revealed. The authors followed up the disease for two years. They evaluated the relationship between the state of substitution and the activity of the mentioned enzymes and myoglobin. PMID- 2633458 TI - [The effect of molsidomine on bicycle ergometry in patients with stable angina pectoris]. AB - The authors investigated the effect of a single dose of 4 mg molsidomine on the course of bicycle ergometry. This effect was compared with that of 120 mg isosorbide dinitrate retard and with placebo. Isosorbide dinitrate in this large dose significantly protracted the period before angina pectoris developed after exercise, it significantly reduced the duration of stenocardias, significantly increased the total work output, significantly prolonged the period before a reduction of the ST segment occurred on the ECG and significantly reduced the values of reduction of the ST segments. Moisidomine in medium doses significantly protracted the period before angina pectoris developed after exercise and significantly increased the total work output. After comparison of the described results with those of investigations where smaller doses of isosorbide dinitrate were used, the authors assume that after increasing the dose of molsidomine its effect will be comparable with large nitrate doses. PMID- 2633459 TI - [Anabolic effects of vitamin D in patients with osteomalacia]. AB - The author examined a group of 143 patients with osteomalacia of different origin before treatment and after adequate treatment with vitamin D, using laboratory tests, assessment of body weight and muscular strength (grip of the dominant hand). After treatment there was a significant rise of calcaemia, phosphataemia and calciuria and a drop of alkaline phosphatase activity. The body weight increased within the first month of treatment on average by 1.27 kg, during the second month by another 1.15 kg. The patients gained a total of 2.42 kg. The muscular strength increased during the first month on average by 3.23 kg and during the second month by another 2.16 kg, i.e. a total of 5.39 kg. From these results it may be concluded that vitamin D may have a certain anabolic effect if used in pharmacological does either due to an increased nutrient absorption from the gut because of hypertrophy of the intestinal wall or indirectly via hypercalcaemia which increases the hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach as well as pepsin secretion, and promotes activation of trypsin and lipase in the duodenum and moreover causes retardation of the intestinal transit. The increased muscular strength in due to a rise of calcaemia, improved muscle contraction and probably also due to the mentioned nutritional factors. There may be also the factor of an improved lifestyle due to the immunomodulating action of vitamin D and disappearance of bone pain. PMID- 2633460 TI - [Heterogeneity of current epidemic influenza A viruses with respect to reproduction activity in a tissue culture]. AB - The reproduction activity in human embryo kidney cell culture (HEK) of epidemic influenza A viruses (H3N2 serosubtype) isolated in different years and with a certain level of virulence for man was studied. The cells were inoculated with the viruses at a multiplicity of infection of 0.001 EID50/cell, and the reproductive activity was judged by the levels of infectious and hemagglutinating activity during 96 hours of observation. There was a clear-cut correlation between the virus virulence level and the reproductive activity in HEK cell culture. Epidemic influenza A (H1N1) viruses of the A/Chile/1/83 variant were found to be heterogeneous by the marker of their reproductive activity in HEK cells. It is presumed that the observed differences in the infectious activity of the viruses of this group are also associated with different levels of their virulence for man. PMID- 2633461 TI - [Isolation and characteristics of cloned variants of influenza virus A/USSR/13/81 (H1N1-N3)]. AB - Cloning in chick embryos and MDCK cell culture of influenza A/USSR/13/81 (H1N1 N3) virus isolated during virological examinations of autopsy materials from a child who had died from acute respiratory virus infection yielded three subpopulations of clones differing in antigenic, biological, physico-chemical properties and glycoprotein structures. One subpopulation contained hemagglutinin (HA) similar to that of the A/PR/8/34 strain and neuraminidase (NA) N3, the other HA similar to that of A/WS/33 and NA N1, and the third HA of the isolate proper and NA of the both serosubtypes mentioned. PMID- 2633462 TI - [Masking of HIV antigen by specific antibodies in a model experiment]. AB - An immuno-diagnostic test system of competitive EIA detecting HIV antigen in a concentration up to 1 ng/ml has been developed. Using this system, a phenomenon of binding of HIV antigen by antibody in sera from infected persons consisting in masking of antigenic determinants was demonstrated. The "undetectability" of HIV antigen in the system of competitive EIA caused by this phenomenon is considered to be a model of clearance of antigen at the excess of antibody in vitro. The experimental results are in agreement with the suggestion that repeated HIV antigenemia occurs as a result of exhaustion of specific immune responses. PMID- 2633463 TI - [The effect of preparations of specific and nonspecific transfer-factor on the course of experimental tick-borne encephalitis]. AB - Syrian hamsters subcutaneously inoculated with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus were given transfer-factor (TF) preparations derived by different methods. The preparation of specific TF was obtained from the blood leukocytes of TBE convalescents. The nonspecific TF preparations were made of the lymphocytes of the tonsils removed from children with chronic tonsillitis outside the TBE focus. The effect of the TF preparations depended on the TBE virus strain and dose, TF preparation dosage schedule and characteristics. The specific TF preparations stimulated the development of acute fatal TBE after 3 injections at intervals of 0, 48 and 96 hours postinoculation with the virus. The preparations of nonspecific TF potentiate the infection after preliminary (24 hours) and simultaneous inoculation of the virus, producing transformation of asymptomatic infection to subacute TBE or exacerbation of the subacute process. A significant inhibition of TBE virus reproduction in spleen and brain tissues is observed after inoculation of a nonspecific TF F150 preparation 72 hours after virus inoculation, that is at the time when the virus has been already localized in the central nervous system. The results of the study indicate that the protective effect of TF is mainly associated with nonspecific immunopharmacological activity of the preparations. PMID- 2633464 TI - [Changes in biological properties of tick-borne encephalitis virus during cleavage of disulfide bonds in protein E]. AB - The study showed the disruption of disulphide bonds in E protein of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBE) to lead to the loss of antigenicity, infectivity, hemagglutinating and protective activities. The loss of infectivity under the effect of a thiolic reagent appears to be associated with block of the very first stage of virus-cell interaction, virus adsorption on the target cell. An attempt to reestablish the E protein structure and the above-mentioned virus properties after the removal of the thiolic reagent failed. The role of tertiary structure of E protein in the manifestation of TBE virus main biological properties is discussed. PMID- 2633465 TI - [Computer model for prognosis of incidence of aseptic meningitis]. AB - A possibility of construction of a mathematical model for current prognosing of aseptic meningitis incidence both for 2-4 months in advance and for the whole year has been demonstrated. The initial information consisted of the data on prevalence of enteroviruses in water objects as from May. Comparison of the actual and estimated incidence indicates that with the proposed model, up to 90.4% of the incidence of aseptic meningitis may be explained. PMID- 2633466 TI - [The effect of various inducers on interferon-synthesizing activity of leukocytes in patients with diabetes mellitus]. AB - The results of the study of interferon response of leukocytes in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) with three inducers: Newcastle disease virus (NDV), poludan, and dipyridamole are presented. Different patterns of interferon production in patients with DM and normal subjects were shown. Dipyridamole and NDV induced high interferon levels in patients with DM which allow it to be recommended as an additional therapeutic means. PMID- 2633467 TI - [Stabilization of antiviral activity of porcine leukocytic interferon]. AB - Unithiol (2,3-dimercaptopropan-sodium sulphonate) has been found to be an effective, nontoxic stabilizer of antiviral activity of labile interferons. The optimum stabilizing concentration of unithiol is 0.07%: at this concentration its protective effect is maximum with the lowest content of the substance. Unithiol at this concentration retains about 66% of the initial antiviral activity in acid medium (pH 2.0) and up to 75% of the initial antiviral activity on mechanical exposure. PMID- 2633468 TI - [Experimental study of the effectiveness of inactivated chromatographic influenza vaccine prepared from the native and recombinant strains of influenza virus]. PMID- 2633469 TI - [Experimental model of inhalation influenza infection for evaluation of the effectiveness of anti-influenza preparations]. PMID- 2633470 TI - [The use of a test for anti-HBc for prevention of post-transfusion hepatitis B]. PMID- 2633471 TI - [Phagocytosis system and resistance of mice to Western equine encephalomyelitis virus]. PMID- 2633472 TI - [Problems for discussion on the predicted (normal) values for the indices of forced expiration]. PMID- 2633473 TI - [Diagnosis and progress]. PMID- 2633474 TI - [The clinico-diagnostic and therapeutic problems of patients with bronchial asthma combined with ischemic heart disease]. AB - The combination of bronchial asthma and ischemic heart disease presents new qualitative problems related to the diagnosis and treatment, 476 patients with bronchial asthma above 48 years of age (mean age 56.9 years) were studied. In 294 of these patients (61.7%) ischemic heart disease was found as an accompanying disease. In 31 patients (6.15%) there were signs of past myocardial infarction. The ischemic heart diseases presented with typical clinical features in 33.33% of the patients only. In the remaining 66.67% the disease ran a silent course with out pain. In the combination bronchial asthma and ischemic heart diseases the diagnostic criteria of the ECG in rest fall to 55%. Many pathogenic factors, facilitating and aggravating, change the clinical characteristic of the combined diseases. The combination leads to new therapeutic problems, since the therapeutic approaches to them are different and sometimes opposite. The active treatment of one of the disease may lead to iatrogenic deterioration of the other. PMID- 2633475 TI - [M-echocardiographic determination of left-ventricular diastolic noncompliance, diastolic wall stress and the rate of relaxation of the circumferential muscle fibers]. AB - New noninvasive contemporary indices for assessment of left ventricular diastolic function are presented. They can be obtained by the simultaneous recording of the M-echocardiographic left ventricular dimensions and the apexcardiogram. These indices are: left ventricular diastolic compliance, left ventricular wall stress and the velocity of the circumferential fibre shortening. These indices are statistically significantly changed to a greater extent in hypertrophic cardiomyopathies and to a lesser extent in ischemic heart disease and arterial hypertension and after nifedipin treatment they improve considerably. The left ventricular diastolic wall stress was studied in both types of left ventricular load: by volumetric load a twofold increased stress of the wall was registered while by tension load the stress of the wall was almost normal. PMID- 2633476 TI - [The role of the risk factors in ischemic heart disease for the work capacity of persons who have had a myocardial infarct]. AB - The ischemic heart disease factors were studied in 283 patients with myocardial infarction. The greater number of risk factors and their combinations play a negative role for the duration of treatment and the temporary disability of the patients. The presence of the risk factors is related to the profession of the patients. For the intellectuals are characteristic the arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, psychoneurotic strain, diabetes mellitus and coffee drinking. The number of risk factors increases with age. The greater spread among young people of the risk factors smoking, psychoneurotic strain, hypercholesterolemia and coffee drinking creates favourable conditions for an active prophylaxis of ischemic heart diseases by respective medicosocial measures. PMID- 2633477 TI - [The clinico-laboratory characteristics of the cholestatic form of acute alcoholic hepatitis]. AB - The study includes 108 patients with acute alcohol hepatitis, 45 patients with cholestasis and 124 healthy controls. In 14 patients (13%) cholestatic acute alcohol hepatitis was found. The patients with cholestatic acute alcohol hepatitis consumed considerably more alcohol than the other patients with acute alcohol hepatitis. The intensive jaundice led half of the patients with cholestatic acute alcohol hepatitis to the infectious diseases clinic and 32% of them to the surgical clinic. The course of the disease was heavy, with disturbed general condition, high temperature, pain in the right subcostal region but without itching. The patients showed higher levels of timol test, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, coefficient LDL/HDL-cholesterol, beta-lipoproteins, total lipids, gamma-GTP, ASAT and lower levels of leucocytes, bilirubin, SMC, alkaline phosphatase and LAP than the other patients with cholestasis. The patients with cholestatic acute alcohol hepatitis showed a higher level of total lipids and gamma-GTP than the other patients examined. The confirmation of the diagnosis implies the application of contemporary instrumental and invasive methods. The ultrasound examination is of special importance. PMID- 2633478 TI - [Impedance methods of studying the vascular changes in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus]. AB - The early diagnosis of the vascular degenerative changes in diabetes mellitus is a present day problem in view of their early prophylaxis. In 89 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes the changes of the peripheral vascular segments in the legs and of the brain arterial system were studied with impedance methods by clinical index--stage of the disease. Changes of the impedance indices which characterize the structural-tonic changes of the vascular wall as well as changes of the velocities of the volumetric hemispheric circulations--the basic parameters of brain hemodynamics--were found. In difference from the peripheral vascular segments, the changes of the complex impedance indices of the carotid arterial system occur in the moderately severe forms of diabetes mellitus. The impedance noninvasive examinations give early preclinical informative data for the peripheral vascular segments of the legs and for the brain vascular systems determined by the clinical stage of the disease. PMID- 2633479 TI - [Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in malignant lymphomas]. AB - The incidence, evolution and prognostic importance of hemolytic anemia in malignant lymphomas are not yet well studied and clarified. The study includes a four-year period, 1985-1988, during which in 5 patients with malignant lymphoma an autoimmune hemolytic anemia was found. In two of the patients the hemolytic anemia preceded the lymphoproliferative disease. An attempt is made to assess the importance of the hemolytic process in the evolution of malignant lymphoma. The need of a detailed examination and a long term follow up of the patients with autoimmune anemia in view of improving the early diagnosis of malignant lymphoproliferative diseases is pointed out. PMID- 2633480 TI - [Liver involvement in patients with malignant lymphomas]. AB - The clinical and histomorphologic characteristics of the liver lesions in patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were analyzed. The pathogenic importance of the specific lymphoma infiltration of the liver, the toxic drug and viral action is discussed. Rare cases of a combination of lymphoma metaplasia with cancers in other organs and jaundice are discussed. PMID- 2633481 TI - [Benign and malignant hemopathies in elderly patients]. AB - 108 patient over 75 years of age, treated in an internal diseases ward during a five-year period, were studied. 62 of them were with benign blood diseases, the women prevailing. The malignant hemopathies were found more frequently in men than in women, the ratio being 2.83:1. 35 of the patients (76%) were with non Hodgkin's lymphoma and 10.8% of the patients were with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Only single patients suffered from chronic myeloid leukemia, myelofibrosis and blastic leukemia. The survival of the patients with benign hemopathies was shortened considerably because of the polymorbidity in elderly people. The survival of the elderly patients with malignant hemopathies did not differ from that of the patients from the other age groups. PMID- 2633482 TI - [The screening diagnosis of porphyria cutanea tarda]. AB - A method is proposed which gives an idea of the type of the absorption spectra of the total porphyrines in the urine without requiring its recording. A single portion of 0,2 ml of urine is mixed with 1,8 ml of IM HCL. The extinctions at 380, 401, 405 and 430 nm are read. The doubled real extinctions (2RE) at 401 and 405 are calculated by the formulae 2RE401--(E380 + E430) and 2E405--(E380 + E430). The extinctions at 380 and 430 outline the "background" of substances which are not porphyrines. When using Spekol 10 the results are multiplied by 1,6 and for Spekol II--they are multiplied by 1,4. 204 patients, 173 of them suffering from porphyria cutanea tarda, were examined by this method and it was established that when the values of 2RE405 exceed 0,060 and are greater than those of 2RE401 uroporphyrine exceeds coproporphyrine and the total porphyrine excretion is above 270 micrograms/l which indicates with great probability an active phase of porphyria cutanea tarda and implies a quantitative determination of the porphyrines. PMID- 2633483 TI - [Hypokalemic periodic paralysis in thyrotoxicosis]. AB - For the first time in Bulgaria a case of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in thyrotoxicosis is described. Three periods of paralysis were observed and documented in a hospital. The thyrotoxicosis was well manifested with disturbed carbohydrate tolerance and responded favourably to methizole treatment. It is suggested that the mechanism for the development of the hypokalemic periodic paralysis is the intracellular blockade of potassium by the surplus of thyroid hormones. PMID- 2633484 TI - [Ebstein's anomaly observed in an adult patient]. AB - The Epstein's anomaly--a congenital heart disease--is an exceptional rarity in medicine and cardiology. A case of this anomaly is described. The patient was admitted to hospital with cardiac and neurologic complaints. The accompanying Wolf-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome type B created diagnostic difficulties concerning the basic diagnosis. The lipothymic states in childhood, the presence of cyanosis, bulging neck veins, divided I cardiac tone, systolic murmur at the cardiac apex and the conduction anomaly directed the diagnostic thinking towards a congenital heart disease of the right cavities. PMID- 2633485 TI - [A patient with psoriatic arthritis and secondary amyloidosis]. AB - A case of a man suffering from psoriasis vulgaris is presented. The onset of the disease was at the age of 5. From the age of 14 all joints were gradually affected by the type of severe, symmetrical psoriatic arthritis which led to aseptic necrosis of the hip joints. In the course of the disease, from 1988 on, proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome were found. The renal biopsy proved amyloidosis which is considered secondary, developed on the basis of psoriatic arthritis. The severe psoriatic arthritis with especially emphasized clinical activity is in this case the pathologic antigenic stimulus for the amyloid formation. The clinical course and the histologic findings from the renal biopsy point to serious structural disorders of the renal parenchyma which determine the progressing tendency toward chronic renal failure. PMID- 2633486 TI - [Kidney involvement in rheumatoid arthritis]. AB - Two cases of rheumatoid arthritis with renal lesions are presented. In one of the patients a mesangial IgM nephropathy and in the other patient a mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis were proved clinically and by biopsy. In the first patient proteinuria was found only while in the second patient the proteinuria was combined with nephrotic syndrome and arterial hypertension. The various renal lesions in rheumatoid arthritis and their causes are discussed. PMID- 2633487 TI - [Psychosomatic factors in a population of men who have pulmonary tuberculosis at a young age and are full of strength]. AB - The structure of anxiety and fear was studied in young men in good condition after three months of chemotherapy given for pulmonary tuberculosis, correlating the results with the effects of chemotherapy (sputum-negativity achieved or not achieved during the treatment). With age the aggressiveness was found to increase and the resistance to the threat decreased. This correlation was particularly evidence in the subgroups of men in whom sputum-negativity was not achieved. These findings suggest hypotheses requiring verification. PMID- 2633488 TI - [Psychological determinants of symptoms in patients after cholecystectomy]. AB - Psychological testing revealed the participation and features of emotional traits and personality of patients in the development and course of various diseases. The authors applied psychological testing to two groups of patients: 1) operated on for cholecystolithiasis, and 2) those with various symptoms after cholecystectomy. The methods applied extended the data on the non-medical determinants of the experienced symptoms. The tests demonstrated differences in neurotic reactions between two groups of patients. It seems that such processes as self-concentration, increased anxiety level, neurotic substrate of behaviour and low emotional resistance were characteristic of the group dissatisfied with the results of cholecystectomy. The personality of these patients may influence the psychological determinants of the experienced symptoms. PMID- 2633489 TI - [Pregnancy and labor after artificial abortion]. AB - The course of pregnancy, labour and puerperium was analysed in 170 women in labour after previous artificially interrupted pregnancy. They were compared with a group of 96 women in first labour. The women in labour after artificial abortion were older, had during pregnancy more frequently bleeding, gestosis, urinary tract infection. Labour, especially the stages of fetus expulsion and placenta expulsion lasted longer, and blood loss was greater. Postnatal complications were more frequent. No significant differences in the condition of the newborn were noted. PMID- 2633490 TI - [Perinatal hysterectomy]. AB - Cases of hysterectomy in women in labour in the years 1977-1986 were analysed retrospectively. In the total number of 16390 labours in 23 cases hysterectomy was done in the period around the labour, that is 0. 14%, which was done by caesarean section in 13 cases (0.95%). Multiparae accounted for 73.9% of cases. In 21.7% of cases labour occurred before the 36th week of pregnancy. In 70% of cases injury to the uterus was noted in women giving birth by natural ways and natural forces after earlier operations leaving scars or with endometriosis. In women after caesarean section in 70% of cases the cause of hysterectomy was infection and septic shock, and in 15.4% uterine atonia was present. Complications were related most frequently to the urinary system--ureteral and vesicovaginal fistulae (36.4%) and coverings--wound infection (45.5%). The mean time of stay of the patients in hospital was 22 days. There were no deaths. PMID- 2633491 TI - [Results of treatment of severe craniocerebral injuries in an interdisciplinary intensive therapy unit]. AB - Early results of treatment of severe craniocerebral injury were analysed in the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Province Hospital in Bielsko Biala. The preliminary scoring below 15 points of Glasgow scale was obtained. During five years of observation 63 out of 78 patients (80.7%) died. Full recovery was obtained in two cases (2.56%). The results of treatment were analysed in relation to clinical diagnosis, associated injuries, age of patients and treatment results. Pulmonary complications were significantly more frequent: adult respiratory distress syndrome and acute posttraumatic pulmonary oedema (over 60% of cases). The treatment methods and their modifications are surveyed. PMID- 2633492 TI - [Hypochromic anemia associated with ascariasis and giardiasis in children]. AB - The purpose of the study was determination of the frequency of the association of hypochromic anaemia with infections by Ascaris lumbricoides and Giardia intestinalis. Among 5603 studied patients of either sex, aged 3 to 18 years ascaridiasis alone was diagnosed in 226 children (4%), and giardiasis alone in 106 cases (1.9%). The frequency of this anaemia in these groups ranged from 6% to 16%. PMID- 2633493 TI - [A particular role of free fatty acids in the fetus and newborn and during pregnancy and labor]. AB - Free fatty acids account for a small fraction of plasma lipids. The author describes their significant role in the energy-yielding processes in the organism, and their participation in many important metabolic functions in the tissues during intrauterine life, neonatal period, pregnancy and labour. PMID- 2633494 TI - [Hypertension in a case of pancreatic pseudocyst]. AB - A 33-year-old male is described in whom compression of the renal artery by a pancreatic pseudocyst caused hypertension refractory to conservative treatment. After operation with removal of the contents of the cyst and Roux-type enterostomy the arterial blood pressure fell to normal level. PMID- 2633495 TI - [Constrictive pericarditis as a cause of circulatory failure in a pregnant woman]. AB - A case is reported of severe circulatory failure in a pregnant woman caused by previously unrecognized constrictive pericarditis. The effect of haemodynamic changes characteristic of pregnancy on the manifestation of the disease end the importance of echocardiography as a diagnostic method of choice is stressed in cases of cardiac diseases in pregnancy. PMID- 2633496 TI - [Giant hepatic hemangioma--diagnostic value of radioisotope investigations]. AB - In an example of a 60-year-old female patients with a giant hepatic haemangioma the authors discuss the diagnostic possibilities of radioisotope angiography in the detection of this vascular pathology. In confrontation with ultrasonographic examinations, computerized tomography, laparoscopy and even coeliac angiography only later hepatic scintigraphy using labelled erythrocytes was of decisive diagnostic importance. PMID- 2633497 TI - [A case of three episodes of primary squamous cell carcinoma in different locations]. AB - A 68-year-old woman is described who had in a period of about 20 years three separate carcinomas (endometrial carcinoma, laryngeal carcinoma and pulmonary carcinoma). In the light of this case the problem, increasing in the last years, of multiple neoplasms development is discussed, mainly in individuals with long term survival after successful treatment of the first neoplasm. Attention is called to a consistency observed by various authors concerning frequent coexistence of certain types of neoplasms. PMID- 2633498 TI - [A case of Reye's syndrome]. AB - A case of Reye's syndrome was observed in a girl aged 4 years. The diagnosis was based on clinical findings and diagnostic procedures. The diagnostic difficulties in the initial stage of the disease are stressed. PMID- 2633499 TI - [Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica and other intestinal protozoa among the inhabitants of Poznan province over a period of 30 years]. AB - The aim of the study was to present the past and actual prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica and other intestinal protozoa in Poznan Province. Although in Poland there are only few accurate data concerning the prevalence of intestinal protozoa, the results of some studies were found reliable. In a survey conducted in 1958 in an orphanage in Poznan (Kasprzak and Karlewiczowa) the intestinal protozoa were found with high prevalence (Table 1). After six years this prevalence decreased considerably (Karlewiczowa and Kasprzak, 1964). Because at the same time such a decrease in intestinal protozoa prevalence, especially that in Entamoeba coli, was observed in the whole population of the Poznan Province, long-term surveys were undertaken. The diagnosing of intestinal protozoa in faeces of 4165 persons, performed at more points in time in the period of 1963 to 1986 in the Poznan Province, were conducted by the same highly skilled staff. Decreasing rates of infection were seen for each amoeba species at nearly each point in time, particularly in the first eight years of observation (Table 2). By using the "amoebic index" and "amoebic prevalence rate" in assessing epidemiological factors (acc. WHO, 1969), the considerable reduction in both indices should be accounted for the improvement of the sanitation and socio economic status in our country. After the Second World War some Polish authors expressed the fear that after returning to the country, the Polish soldiers who had fought in the endemic regions of invasive amoebiasis, infected with E. histolytica, would constitute sources for spreading amoebiasis and that the disease would be a nucleus of a new, hitherto unknown, social calamity in Poland. Fortunately, the fear did not come true. Although in this country the infection with amoebae, also with E. histolytica, decreased considerably after several years, unfortunately, some opinions still prevail, being the source of an amoebo mania in the medical staff and corresponding amoebophobia in the patients. PMID- 2633500 TI - [Epidemiologic picture of trichomoniasis and candidiasis in the Bytom district]. AB - The research was done in the dermatological laboratory of Bytom Hospital No 2 in the years 1979 - 1983. 31,842 women were examined at the age 16 to 82. Samples were taken from urethra and neck of the uterus with sterilized loop. Both direct slides in 0.9% NaCl solution and permanent slides were made. The latter were dyed by means of Gram's method in order to establish identity of C. albicans and by means of Giemsa's method to identity T. vaginalis. During 5 years the cases of trichomoniasis and candidosis recorded in the years of 1982 and 1983 were the most numerous. Seasonal fluctuation of trichomoniasis in 1980 and 1983 years and of candidosis in 1970, 1980, 1983 are also presented. PMID- 2633501 TI - [Malaria brought from the tropics to the port town of Klajpeda]. AB - Cases of malaria brought by persons returning from tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America appearing in 1978-1987 were analysed. Malaria was found in 46 of 4775 examined patients. Mostly subtropical malaria, less often tertiary malarial fever and mild tertiary malaria were diagnosed, and exceptionally quartan malaria. There is a danger of permanent introduction of malaria as a native disease in the Latvian, USSR, as the climate favours sporogonia of the plasmodia in gnats. PMID- 2633502 TI - [Alpha-amylase activity in serum and some organs of guinea pigs with larval ascariasis]. AB - The studies were carried out on 40 guinea pig males weighting about 230 g. The experimental animals were infected with 7000 invasive eggs of Ascaris suum. On the 3-rd, 7-th and 10-th day after infection the activity of alpha-amylase was estimated according to Caraway's method in serum, liver, pancreas, lungs, kidneys and spleen. The infection of guinea pigs results in increased activity of enzyme in serum and spleen, and decreased in pancreas, liver, kidneys and lungs. On the 3-rd day after infection the changes in amylase activity were the most intense. PMID- 2633503 TI - [Trypsin and alpha-amylase activity in the pancreas of guinea pigs. I. The influence of infective dose and duration of infection by Ascaris suum Goeze, 1782]. AB - The studies were carried out on guinea pig males weighting about 280 g. The animals were infected with 5000 or 20,000 invasive eggs of Ascaris suum. On the 3 rd, 7-th, 10-th and 14-th day of invasion the animals were dissected. Lungs were weighted, and the number of Ascaris larvae was estimated using Baermann method. The activity of alpha-amylase (Fennel's method) and trypsin (Anson's method) were examined in pancreas homogenate. The infection of guinea pigs with A. suum larvae resulted in a decrease of amylase and trypsin activity in pancreas. The activities were the lowest at the 3-rd day of invasion for amylase and at the 7 th day for trypsin. The results obtained for the animals infected 5 or 20,000 invasive eggs A. suum did not differ statically. PMID- 2633504 TI - [Harboring of helminth parasites by the European bison (Bison bonasus L.) and deer (Cervidae) in the Bialowieza forest]. AB - Parasitological autopsy of 31 european bison , 9 red-deer and 3 roe-deer was made in Bialowieza Forest in the period 1983-1988. Together 20 species of nematodes were found, from them as much as 18 in bison , 6 in red-deer and 8 in roe-deer . The highest intensity and 100% of extensity was shown by nematodes from subfamily Ostertagiinae. Four species of this subfamily (O. leptospicularis, O. kolchida, S. boehmi i S. mathevossiani) have been permanently adapted by bison from cervids, however two species of nematodes typical for bison and cattle (O. ostertagii and O. lyrata) have not been adopted by deer . Besides, bison adopted from deer the following species of nematodes: T. capricola, C. pectinata, N. roscidus, N. europaeus and from moose N. alcidis. Bison gave to red-deer only C. bilobata, and roe-deer have not adopted any nematodes from bison . B. trigonocephalum and S. dagestanica found in roe-deer are in Poland typical parasites of moose . PMID- 2633505 TI - [A redescription of Capillaria carbonis (Rudolphi, 1819), (Capillariidae), based on material collected from the black cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)]. AB - A redescription of a nematodes Capillaria carbonis was made on the basis of specimens found for the first time in Phalacrocorax carbo in Poland in Milicz district. It has been found that: the body of male terminates with two processes with a single large papilla, in its distal part surrounded by cuticular pseudobursa formed from four cuticular lobes; spicular sheath non spiny has a transversely-oblique striation; two lateral bacillary bands extend along whole body; number of stichocytes equals 38-42 and 42-45 in males and females respectively; vulva of gravid females appears sometimes with vulvar appendage. PMID- 2633506 TI - New canestriniid mites (Acari, Astigmata, Canestriniidae) associated with Scarabaeidae and Cerambycidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) from the Indo-Australian region. PMID- 2633507 TI - [Diurnal motor activity of Lipoptena cervi (L.) (Hippoboscidae: Diptera)]. AB - The motive activity of L. cervi is highest in the early and late morning, and in the evening, and correlated with the motoric activity of the host (roe-deer). PMID- 2633508 TI - [Effect of therapeutic sunscreen cream on phototest reaction in polymorphic light dermatosis]. AB - In 15 patients with polymorphic light eruption, we tested the protective action of a therapeutic sunscreen agent containing both UVB and UVA filters. The photoprovocation test showed that the preparation successfully suppressed the development of skin lesions in both wavelengths. PMID- 2633509 TI - [Successful local treatment of nail psoriasis with 5-fluorouracil]. AB - Topical application of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has proved effective in the therapy of psoriasis of the nail. Over a period of 6 months, we treated 114 patients with 1% 5-FU liquid and 59 patients with 20% urea plus 1% 5-FU cream twice daily. An improvement of more than 50% of the clinical signs of psoriasis, such as oil spots, subungual hyperkeratosis, and combined signs, was achieved after treatment with urea + 5-FU cream. PMID- 2633510 TI - [Optimizing the effect of a cosmetic care product on the human skin]. AB - After explaining the idea and purpose of cosmetic products, we report on the course of development these products usually take: marketing briefing, selection of the raw materials, serial experiments and stability tests, and finally, dermatophysiological efficacy tests. In particular, we deal with the application of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and its moisturing and smoothing effect on human skin. Our results are discussed in detail. PMID- 2633511 TI - [Compatibility of cosmetics and toiletries]. AB - In West Germany, cosmetics and toiletries are covered by the law on foodstuff and commodities. The German Cosmetic Ordinance--an adoption of the EEC directive on cosmetics--lists 384 forbidden substances and 65 substances restricted in use. Colorants, preservatives and UV filters are registered in positive lists. The German Public Health Office and the EEC Scientific Committee for Cosmetology have laid down a code of standards regarding the toxicologic and dermatologic/allergologic testing of cosmetics and the raw materials they contain. Full declaration of the components, which is still voluntary in Germany, is based on the customary method practiced in the USA. Intolerance reactions caused by cosmetics or toiletries vary between 1% and 4% of all the complaints recently published. PMID- 2633512 TI - [Case report of papulosis atrophicans maligna (Kohlmeier-Degos-Delort-Tricot)]. AB - Malignant atrophic papulosis (Degos'disease) is very rare and shows characteristic clinical symptoms. We report on a patient with Degos'disease who died as a result of intestinal involvement. The clinical and histological changes are indicative of a systemic disease. PMID- 2633513 TI - [Idiopathic and diuretic-induced edema]. AB - Between may 1987 and may 1989, the case histories of 48 female patients with idiopathic oedema and of 5 female patients with diuretic-induced oedema were evaluated retrospectively at Dr. Asdonks' Feldbergklinik. Prior to and after the termination of the physical anti-oedemic treatment according to Asdonk, the volume of the limbs was determined. The extent of reduction in volume as reflected by lipophagia and decrease in oedema, as well as the regression of complaints were rated as a measure of therapeutic success. On discharge, all patients were free from complaints. PMID- 2633514 TI - [Isotype lymphography findings in sclerotherapy, varicose exeresis and excision of autologous venous transplants for arterial reconstructions]. AB - In an isotope lymphography study on 24 patients (38 legs), the influence of complete sclerosation therapy of trunk varicosis of the great and small saphenous veins according to Tournay is examined before and, on average, four weeks after treatment. The isotope lymphography parameter was defined as the ratio of the outflow from the foot to the influx to the groin area (quotient Q). The results showed no significant change in Q after treatment compared with the starting values. Thus, sclerosation therapy did not result in any impairment of lymphatic transport. In contrast, of the 9 patients (12 legs) treated by varicose exeresis who were referred for isotope lymphography there were 8 cases (i.e. 9 legs) of impaired lymphatic transport. However, this was a pre-selected patient group. Three further patients were examined by isotope lymphography after resection of a saphenous segment for arterial reconstruction. These revealed excessive lymphatic transport disturbances which were quantified for the first time. Vascular surgeons should include this complication in their explanatory talks with patients. PMID- 2633515 TI - ["Free men from the double burden"]. PMID- 2633516 TI - [Gunilla calculated there are 1000 ways to say "she is pregnant". Interview by John Gradowski]. PMID- 2633517 TI - [Message about health in variable wrappings]. PMID- 2633518 TI - [The doctor was hardly ever there--now Eva is chief of the laboratory. Interview by Jan Thomasson]. PMID- 2633519 TI - [We develop ourselves! Laughter strengthens the district nurse]. PMID- 2633520 TI - [Mattias is a regular customer with orthoptist Maria. Interview by Britta Nilsson]. PMID- 2633521 TI - [Pay grades and salary classes disappear. A system goes into the grave]. PMID- 2633522 TI - [Many are keeping an eye on the districts in prolonged economy discussion]. PMID- 2633523 TI - [Bone cement--a lump of plastic cement keeps the prosthesis in place]. PMID- 2633524 TI - [Ulcer care--simple transplantation technic improves ulcer healing]. PMID- 2633525 TI - [Ulcer care--don't concentrate on the ulcer to the exclusion of everything else!]. PMID- 2633526 TI - [Ulcer care--now Paul doesn't need to be afraid of amputation]. PMID- 2633527 TI - [Ulcer care--from gauze dressing to occlusive dressing]. PMID- 2633528 TI - [Patients, personnel and postoperative complications]. PMID- 2633529 TI - [Ethics--they must come to an end]. PMID- 2633531 TI - [Eva took a detour to dream job. Interview by Monika Trozell]. PMID- 2633530 TI - [Discharge threatens fjords]. PMID- 2633532 TI - [Endoscopy units need nurses. Interview by Monika Trozell]. PMID- 2633533 TI - [Government proposal: medical superintendent gets total responsibility. Interview by Jan Thomasson]. PMID- 2633534 TI - [The closed hospital becomes cooking school and refugee camp]. PMID- 2633535 TI - [Employers must take responsibility for their people at work]. PMID- 2633536 TI - [Health is more than freedom from disease. Interview by Britta Nilsson and Monika Trozell]. PMID- 2633537 TI - [District nurse when it is slippery]. PMID- 2633538 TI - [Community health nurse defends living environment]. PMID- 2633539 TI - [Protests against disruption of primary health care]. PMID- 2633541 TI - [Slave contract usually made to solve shortages]. PMID- 2633540 TI - [Team nursing, nursing-in-pairs, group nursing--Spri teaches us to discriminate between concepts (Health Care Planning and Rationalization Institute)]. PMID- 2633542 TI - [Let nurses beware of blood lipids!]. PMID- 2633543 TI - [New aspects of the pathogenesis and treatment of Schulmann's eosinophilic fasciitis]. AB - A female patient, aged 64, was admitted to hospital with a tentative diagnosis of dermatomyositis or systemic scleroderma. Basing on the clinical symptoms and histologic findings in examination of a musculocutaneofascial biopsy specimen from the focus of involvement on the left thigh, Schulmann's eosinophilic fasciitis was diagnosed. The mechanism of the disease is polypathogenic, it includes newly detected disorders of the blood rheology, of the enzymic and electrolyte metabolism, of the immunologic homeostasis at the cellular (E0-RFC) and humoral (IgE) levels, of the peripheral skin analyzer function, of the orocaudal relationships, and of the microcirculation. Treatment with enzymic, vasoactive, and immunocorrective drugs combined with D-penicillamine and He-Ne laser therapy has yielded a good clinical effect without resorting to glucocorticoids; the time of the treatment was reduced to 28 days. A stable clinical remission for 1.5 years was achieved. PMID- 2633544 TI - [The quantitative assessment of the severity of the pathological process in dermatosis patients]. AB - The authors present a model of the quantitative estimation (in conditional units) of the process severity in patients suffering from chronic dermatoses and define the range of this model application. Quantitative estimation of a chronic dermatosis severity helps develop objective criteria for the assessment of the treatment efficacy (of drug therapy, health resort management, prophylactic, follow-up). PMID- 2633545 TI - [The effect of metabolites of the epidermal barrier on the development of phototoxic dermatitis]. AB - Mechanical removal of the horny layer immediately after UV irradiation of the skin did not result in development of erythema when irradiated in the minimal erythemal dose (MED). When a patient was irradiated in a dose of 2 MED, the intensity of erythema was drastically reduced. This leads to a conclusion that the metabolites accumulating on the surface of the skin and in the horny layer during their oxidation with UV light are capable of return diffusion into the skin where they act as erythema mediators. Simultaneous recording of lipid peroxidation and oxygen consumption in the removed horny layer has demonstrated the relationship between the intensity of oxidation processes in the horny layer and the UV irradiation dose. PMID- 2633546 TI - [Treatment efficacy in patients with secondary recurrent and latent early syphilis based on a new abbreviated method]. AB - The authors analyze the findings of clinical and serological follow-up of 370 patients with secondary relapsing and early latent syphilis treated with a new rapid method. This method consists in intramuscular injections of water-soluble penicillin in high daily doses (4,000,000, 6,000,000, 8,000,000 U) made for 3-4 weeks. The follow-up period of 1-6 years has confirmed a high therapeutic efficacy of this method. PMID- 2633547 TI - [Enterosorption in the combined therapy of psoriasis patients]. AB - The authors consider the clinical efficacy of enterosorption, carried out in 112 patients with various forms of psoriasis. Indications for and contraindications to this treatment modality are defined. Changes in the level of endogenous intoxication in the paramecium test over the course of enterosorption treatment are analyzed. PMID- 2633548 TI - [Atopic dermatitis in pregnant women]. AB - Thirty-six patients with atopic dermatitis exacerbating during pregnancy are described. Case histories, the disease course, and the earlier therapy for this condition are analyzed, and the treatment administered to these patients with due consideration for the pregnancy dates is described. Recommendations on the follow up of pregnant patients with atopic dermatitis are given. PMID- 2633549 TI - [A diagnostic criterion of Reiter's disease]. AB - Clinical and laboratory criteria of the diagnosis of Reiter's disease are presented, based on many-year clinical and immunologic examinations of 254 male patients with this condition; these criteria help early and reliably diagnose this disease. PMID- 2633550 TI - [The clinical picture and correction of paroxysmal neuropsychic disorders in children suffering from neurodermatitis]. AB - Clinical and electroencephalographic examinations of 182 children with neurodermatitis have revealed paroxysmal neuropsychic disturbances, differing from the psychopathologic disorders, in 16. These disturbances, that may be described as the night fears syndrome, may be cured by long treatment including anticonvulsive therapy. This permits a conclusion that neurodermatitis in children is associated with deep organic involvement of the brain. PMID- 2633551 TI - [The typological characteristics of the nervous system and the autonomic tonus of patients with true eczema]. AB - Studies of the clinical course of true eczema and of the therapy efficacy, as well as of the typologic features of the nervous system and the vegetative tone have shown that the therapy efficacy is much lower and the exacerbation of the dermatosis is longer in the subjects with a weak-type nervous system and sympatheticotonia than in those with a strong-type nervous system and vagotonia. PMID- 2633552 TI - [The treatment of psoriasis patients with concomitant neurological symptoms]. AB - Routine electroencephalographic (EEG) examinations were carried out in 47 patients with psoriasis. Analysis of EEG has shown functional disorders of the brain bioelectric activity, among other things in the mesodiencephalic and stem structures. Cerebrolysin administered via various routes was used in the multiple modality treatment of psoriasis patients. Injection of the agent into the earlobe (according to auricular acupuncture technique) has proved to be the most effective and economic. PMID- 2633553 TI - [The blood rheological indices of patients with necrobiosis lipoidica]. AB - Rheologic parameters of the blood were examined in 17 patients with necrobiosis lipoidica before and over the course of trental (pentoxyphyllin) therapy. The study has revealed an unchanged hematocrit in the presence of significantly increased blood viscosity, red cell aggregation and stability of red cell aggregates. Another finding was a deterioration of the red cell deformability; red cell mechanical resistance was found liable to alter. Trental therapy has resulted in positive shifts in respect of the skin symptoms; a tendency to normalization of the examined blood rheologic parameters was observed in all the patients. PMID- 2633554 TI - [Skin leiomyomas]. AB - Three patients with multiple leiomyomas of the skin were treated with electro excision techniques. The tumor was hereditary in one of these patients. PMID- 2633555 TI - [Experience in treating psoriasis patients with the preparation Ditrastic]. AB - The results of clinical trials of ditrastic, an agent manufactured by Orion, Finland, are analyzed. The drug contains 1.5 or 3% of ditranol. Of the 59 patients treated with this drug complete resolution of clinical eruptions was achieved in 43, the condition of 10 patients considerably improved, a partial effect was observed in 4, and no effect in 2 patients. Therefore ditrastic has proved to be a highly effective agent for the treatment of psoriasis, convenient for outpatient therapy. PMID- 2633556 TI - [A rare localization of erysipeloid]. AB - A female patient aged 56 is described, suffering from a cutaneoarticular form of erysipeloid, that developed after application of raw fat at the site of injury to the third toe of the left foot. The process completely regressed within a week after a single intake of sulfalene in a dose of 2.0 g. PMID- 2633557 TI - [The successful treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with an argon laser]. AB - A patient suffering from skin leishmaniasis is described. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by histologic findings and isolation of Leishmania tropica. Since antibiotic therapy was ineffective, the patient was exposed to argon laser for the coagulation of nodular elements. Six sessions of laser therapy under local anesthesia with intervals of 4-5 days were carried out, this resulting in complete clinical cure. PMID- 2633558 TI - [Treatment of facial granuloma with eosinophilia by using laser radiation]. AB - Six patients suffering from Pinkus' eosinophilic granuloma of the face are described. The etiology and pathogenesis of this disease are unknown, it is resistant to whatever conservative therapy. The authors suggest an effective method of laser destruction of the foci of skin involvement, giving a good stable cosmetic result. PMID- 2633559 TI - [The clinical characteristics of malignant lymphomas of the skin]. AB - Analyzing the morphologic changes in 106 biopsy specimens from patients with malignant lymphomas of the skin (MLS), the authors paid special attention to abnormalities in the epidermis and to specific features of the infiltrate. Correlations between MLS morphologic types and clinical symptoms were followed. Despite a variety of clinical symptoms of MLS, specific features of each morphologic form and group (of epidermotropic and nonepidermotropic lymphomas) were detected. Since MLS diagnosis should be based on the clinical and morphologic data, the knowledge of the clinical picture corresponding to every morphologic variety of MLS will help the dermatologist predict the disease course and define the examination and treatment strategy for this patient population. PMID- 2633560 TI - [Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation of cytosol and membrane proteins of the brain in light craniocerebral trauma]. AB - Immediately after light craniocerebral trauma (LCCT) the system of Ca2+, phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation of cytosol and microsomes of diencephalic brainstem regions was impaired. The system of regulation of activity of C-kinase by phosphatidylserine was upset in the course of posttraumatic period and was different for cytosol and hemispheres. The increase in phosphorylation upon addition of exogenic C-kinase to incubation medium was evident only with stimulation of endogenic phosphorylation by phosphatidylserine. The decrease in Ca2+, phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation was characteristic of all fractions studied 1 day after trauma. After 14 days, the enzyme activity did not return to baseline. The authors suggest that C-kinase participates in trigger mechanisms of posttraumatic disease. PMID- 2633561 TI - [Functional diagnosis in psychiatry]. PMID- 2633562 TI - [Experience in heterozygote detection in Wilson-Konovalov mutation based on the study of molecular forms of ceruloplasmin]. AB - A specific novel molecular form of ceruloplasmin (CP) was detected in the sera of Wilson's disease patients and their closest relatives using two-dimensional cross immunoelectrophoresis. This protein shares some antigenic properties with normal CP but is not completely identical to the latter. Besides, anomalous CP has no oxidase activity of normal CP and differs from it in electrophoretic mobility in agarose and polyacrylamide gels. Anomalous CP was purified to homogeneity and monospecific antibodies to this protein were obtained. The quantitative analysis showed that the ratios of normal CP to anomalous CP in homo- and heterozygous carriers of the "Wilsonian" gene are reproducibly different and can be used as a diagnostic test allowing the differentiation between these groups. PMID- 2633563 TI - [Pneumomyelography with regard to cerebrospinal fluid replacement]. AB - Spinal arachnoidal space was investigated with cerebrospinal fluid drained and replaced with air. Some adequate parameters of the CSF replacement with gases were calculated according to rules derived from 140 pneumomyelographic investigations in patients with lumbar osteochondrosis: baseline CSF pressure, its withdrawal time and total volume. These parameters reflect the volume of arachnoidal space and its conductivity. Due account of these data allowed to determine the beginning of gas insufflation and its total amount. PMID- 2633564 TI - [Organization of therapeutic aid to patients with hereditary neuromuscular diseases]. AB - The paper summarizes experience gained for many years by the All-Union Research Methodological Center for Study of Hereditary Neuromuscular Diseases. The specialists of the Center render counselling and therapeutic assistance to patients afflicted with neuromuscular diseases. The counselling and diagnostic services are characterized by the fact that it is based on the activity of a large hospital intended for the treatment of various diseases. The problems which are being solved by the out- and inpatient services of the Center are considered in detail. The advantages of the setting up of the common in- and outpatient complex on the basis of the hospital intended for the treatment of various diseases are described. PMID- 2633565 TI - [Effects of hyperbaric oxygenation in acute compression-dislocation syndrome in experimental animals]. AB - A model of the acute compression dislocation syndrome of grave degree was designed by means of local compression of the parietotemporal area of rabbit brain. A study was made of the effect produced by hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on the syndrome after compression elimination. HBO has been noted to decrease the lethality, primarily among animals with the gravest manifestations of the syndrome, to bring about frequent and more full-value recovery of the survived animals, and an insignificant lowering of brain edema. PMID- 2633566 TI - [Use of combined neuro-myo-electric stimulation in the treatment of compression injuries of the peripheral nerves]. AB - Animal experiments and clinical studies were made to examine the effectiveness of combined neuro-myo-stimulation (conjugated electric stimulation of the injured nerve and muscles and intact reflexogenic areas together with conventional electric stimulation of the nerve) in the treatment of compression ischemic injury to the nerves. The combined neuro-myo-stimulation used in 27 rabbits with experimental compression ischemic injuries to the peripheral nerves made it possible to reduce the time of the recovery of the movements and sensitivity of the paresthetic limb and to reduce vegetative trophic disturbances. This conclusion was supported on the use of the combined neuro-myo-stimulation in the treatment of 16 patients with different injuries to the peripheral nervous system, in whose genesis the main part was played by compression ischemic factors. PMID- 2633567 TI - [Dynamics of neurological symptoms during immediate and long-term periods after radiotherapy of patients with brain metastases of malignant tumors]. AB - The paper treats of 60 patients with metastases to the brain, subjected to radiotherapy coupled with hormonal treatment. The control group was made up of 17 patients who did not undergo radiotherapy. It has been concluded that radiotherapy noticeably increases (4-fold) the lifetime of patients with metastases to the brain and that its efficacy depends on timely diagnosis of the latter ones and early terms of the treatment onset. PMID- 2633568 TI - [Familial case of late recessive X-linked Kennedy's spinal and bulbar amyotrophy]. AB - The authors describe a familial case of Kennedy's spinal amyotrophy. In three brothers of the R. family, the disease was marked by the appearance in the 4th 5th decade of life of myasthenia in the proximal parts of the limbs and of bulbar symptoms, which will run a slow-progressive course. Since the young age all the patients manifested gynecomastia. Besides, later one of the brothers developed scirrhus of the left mammary gland. Clinically, Kennedy's spinal amyotrophy in the R. family manifested itself by asymmetric distribution of myotrophies (more pronounced in the left limbs), bilateral Dupuytren's contractures in the hands. Apart from the signs of injuries to motoneurons of the anterior horns, electromyography and electroneuromyography have shown the peripheral nerves to be involved into the pathological process. PMID- 2633569 TI - [Immunological status of patients with painful syndromes in the face and head]. AB - As many as 145 patients with painful syndromes in the face and head underwent immunologic examination. They manifested certain changes in cellular and humoral immunity. An increase in the content of secretory IgA in the saliva and in the serum and a decrease of the concentration of IgM and IgG in the serum were detected in the majority of patients. In patients with NTN of mainly peripheral genesis and with Horton's syndrome, the concentration of IgE in the serum was significantly (P less than 0.01) elevated. The changes in the immunologic status, seen in patients after the treatment are discussed. PMID- 2633570 TI - [Appearance of anxiety after intake of a placebo]. AB - In 45 of 73 patients (organic brain syndromes of complex genesis, schizophrenia, manic phase of manic-depressive psychosis, alcoholism), intake of placebo one week before discharge induced anxiety accompanied by dryness of the mouth, enhanced perspiration and increase of tremor. Anxiety/disappeared after verbal information that the action of this drug is exhausted 1 hour after its intake. Peculiarity of this observation consists in the fact that all placebo responders (61.6% of patients) appeared to be negative, i.e. they had no positive placebo responses. According to the reported data, the negative placebo responses are observed in 10-20% of patients. Anxiety is considered as a symptom provoked by placebo in patients who are in the "neurotic" phase following the cessation of psychotic symptomatology. PMID- 2633571 TI - [Dynamic diagnosis of psychopathies]. AB - It has been discovered that in persons aged 18-20 years, the establishment of psychopathy is not always completed. Later many of them get steadily compensated and do not seek treatment. In view of this circumstance it is suggested that for this particular age dynamic diagnosis of psychopathies may be employed. It is based on the hypothesis of ontogenetic counterbalancing of early-age associated personality disharmony, of the development with age of the mechanisms of psychological sanogenesis and defence, and enhancement of the adaptive social structure of the personality conduct. PMID- 2633572 TI - [Clinical features of mixed affective states and their place in the dynamics of endogenous affective and schizoaffective psychoses]. AB - Clinico-pathopsychological and catamnestic investigation was performed in 82 patients with manic-depressive psychosis featuring the mixed affective states. The typology of these states was developed. Their appearance in both nosological forms was a malign prognostic sign indicating the disease exacerbation with its progredience enhanced and the disadaptation increased in terms of social activities and labor. PMID- 2633573 TI - [Recurrent inhibition in patients with lesions of the central nervous system]. AB - Recurrent inhibition was studied by antidromic stimulation of Renshaw's cells. 25 normal subjects and 74 patients with CNS lesions accompanied by movement disturbances were examined. During weak voluntary contraction of the soleus muscle, the stimuli were applied to motor fibers of the n. tibialis (weak M response was evoked). In normal subjects, the stimulation was followed by short latency suppression of the EMG background activity of the muscle brought about by recurrent inhibition. The same inhibition was revealed in patients with spastic paresis caused by pyramidal system lesion. However, the stimulation failed to evoke the recurrent inhibition in patients with movement disturbances caused by brain stem and cerebellum lesions, including patients with hypotonia. PMID- 2633574 TI - [New modification of the anxiety scale]. AB - The shortcomings of Hamilton's anxiety scale are reviewed as are those by other authors. An anxiety scale is offered, characterized by less subjectivity of assessment grades. The scale consists of three sections: psychic manifestations of anxiety, somatic manifestations of anxiety, and mental disorders attending anxiety or triggered by it. The validity of the scale offered is supported by a high ratio of correlation with Hamilton's scale. PMID- 2633575 TI - [Activity of platelet serotonin receptors of patients with endogenous depression before and after treatment with antidepressive agents]. AB - Effective 5-HT concentration eliciting the half-maximal rate of platelet deformation (aggregation) in drug-free bipolar or unipolar depressed women was significantly (p less than 0.001) lower as compared with matched controls (0.13 +/- 0.04 microM and 0.532 +/- 0.1 microM, respectively). After 1-3 months of antidepressant treatment this value increased to 0.47 +/- 0.16 microM and was no longer different from control. Possible mechanisms controlling the activity of serotonin2 platelet receptors are discussed. PMID- 2633576 TI - [Pathogenetic connections between psycho-organic disorders in occupational diseases induced by exposure to antibiotics]. AB - Occupational diseases caused by antibiotics were studied in 104 patients. Somato neurologic disorders with concomitant psycho-organic signs were characteristic of the ailment. The severity of the psycho-organic syndrome depended on the allergic activity, the development of systemic allergic vasculitis, pathology of cerebral circulation with developing brain organic changes, and on the severity and complexity of the somatic pathology. PMID- 2633577 TI - Neuronal pathways involved in the optokinetic head nystagmus of the frog. AB - The morphology of projection neurons in the basal optic nucleus and the pretectal area and the interconnections of these brain regions were studied with the aid of the cobalt-filling technique. It was found that the nucleus-sends long descending axons to the medullary reticular formation. The two basal optic nuclei are reciprocally interconnected and do not give a direct descending pathway. The pretectal nuclei and the basal optic nucleus are also reciprocally coupled. It is supposed that the described pathways mediate commands for horizontal and vertical nystagmic head movements. PMID- 2633578 TI - Effect of different cryoprotectants and transfer temperatures on the survival rate of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cell suspension in deep freezing. AB - Adequate cell dehydration is the precipitating element in the successful cryopreservation of plant cells and organs. This could be achieved by using different cooling rates, transfer temperatures and cryoprotectants. Experiments were performed to determine these critical points in the freeze preservation procedure of Cannabis sativa (L.) suspension cultures. The explants were frozen at a cooling rate of 2 degrees C/min, while the transfer temperatures were -10 degrees C, -20 degrees C, -30 degrees C, -40 degrees C and -50 degrees C. The applied cryoprotectants were the DMSO, glycerol, proline and PEG in different concentration. The highest viability (58%) was obtained by using 10% DMSO and at 10 degrees C transfer temperature. The optimum transfer temperature varied remarkably by different cryoprotectant concentrations indicating the importance of their interactions. PMID- 2633579 TI - Biochemical investigation of the Rana esculenta complex in the Kis-Balaton Nature Reserve, Hungary. AB - In this study it has been proved by PAGE of serum proteins that all the three members of the Rana esculenta complex occur in the Kis-Balaton Nature Reserve (Hungary). On the basis of the LDH isoenzyme pattern which is characteristic in green frogs we could distinguish all three variations of R. ridibunda and R. lessonae and one type of R. esculenta. The mobility of serum albumins on SDS-PAGE implies that the R. esculenta comes from hybridization of the two other species. The PAGE methods provide a reliable basis for the rapid taxonomic identification of both adults and immature speciments of the three forms of frogs. PMID- 2633580 TI - The corpus luteum of the pig. Scanning electron microscopic study of surface features at different times of incubation. AB - The surface ultrastructure of porcine early corpus luteum cells (days 1-3 of the luteal phase) was studied in SEM and correlated with progesterone secretion. Luteal cells were divided into 2 groups: small cells (10-20 microns) and large cells (20-30 microns) and their surface features were observed after 1, 3, and 5 h of incubation in the control medium and in a medium supplemented with prolactin (PRL). The surface morphology of control cells was characterized by numerous smooth blebs and the presence or absence of thin microvilli. Small and large cells showed a tendency to adhere to the glass during the experiment, but on the large cells the number of thin adhesive filopodia was greater. After the 1st and 3rd h of incubation with PRL the number of microvilli and numerous filopodia on the small cells increased substantially. Nodular blebs were scattered and appeared to protrude from the cell surface. Many small cells adhered to the glass by thick, layered and thin thread-like cytoplasmic processes. After the 5th h distinct smoothing of the surface of the small cells was seen. The number of microvilli seen on the PRL stimulated surface of the large cells was smaller and in some cases even entirely absent. After the 1st and 3rd h of the experiment the large cell surface was ruffled with minute folds. Numerous nodular blebs protruded from the cell surface. The number of adhesive filopodia attaching the cells to the glass decreased or vanished during the experiment. After the 5 h of incubation most of the cells had smooth surface with smooth blebs. Progesterone secretion was measured by radioimmunoassay. The cells in the medium without exogenous hormone (control) secreted relatively low levels of progesterone throughout 1-5 h of the incubation period. After addition of PRL to the medium the amount of secreted progesterone increased. PMID- 2633581 TI - Behavior-genetic analysis of the paradise fish, Macropodus opercularis. III. Genetic analysis of the response to novelty using recombinant inbred strains. AB - Fifteen behavioral measurements were taken on paradise fish of two inbred progenitor strains and of 16 recombinant lines derived from their cross and maintained under inbreeding with gynogenesis and sib-mating. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed significant differences among the RI means on all measures. Four combined variables extracted by principal component analysis showed that there were common sources of a large part of the behavioral variability measured in the arbitrarily designed test situations. There were no separate subgroups of the RI strain means, and overlapping ranges point to a polygenic genetic determination of the studied behavioral phenotypes. A biometrical analysis of the distribution pattern of recombinant lines and the progenitor strains showed that in several characters non-allelic genic interactions made a significant contribution to the variation. Additive and interaction components of the mean, the heritabilities and the minimum number of effective factors were estimated for all studied behavioral phenotypes, and the combined variables as well. PMID- 2633582 TI - Behavior-genetic analysis of the paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis). IV. Behavioral unit analysis of the response to novelty using recombinant inbred strains. AB - Frequencies and relative durations of eleven ethologically defined behavioral units were measured on paradise fish of two inbred strains and 9 recombinant inbred lines derived from their cross and then maintained under inbreeding. Significant genotype-dependent differences were found in all but one behavior units. Strain distribution patterns showed polygenic genetic determination of all units, and in several cases non-allelic genic interactions seem to contribute to the variation. Additive and interaction components of the progenitor means and minimal number of effective factors were estimated for each behavior unit. PMID- 2633583 TI - Diallel genetic analysis of the elements of paradise fish's (Macropodus opercularis L.) behavior in familiar and novel situations. AB - Elements of the paradise fish's ethogram were recorded in 1 familiar and 3 different unfamiliar situations and the inheritance of these behavioral elements was investigated employing a five times replicated diallel cross between 3 inbred strains. A generalized Hayman Analysis of Variance and a Variance Covariance Analysis were performed to estimate genetic effects and parameters, such as, additive genetic variance, different sorts of dominance variance, reciprocal effects, direction and degree of dominance, ratio between the frequency of dominant and of recessive alleles, minimum number of effective factors and heritabilities, etc. Knowing the genetic architecture, we make inferences about the possible evolutionary past of the behavioral elements and explain why selection might favor certain types of paradise fish's behavior in particular circumstances. In several cases a possibility of "monogenic" inheritance emerged. We explain this finding and conclude that in a cross experiment where the inheritance of phenotypical units are investigated by employing only a few genetically different strains this result may be expected. PMID- 2633584 TI - The influence of olfaction on exploratory behaviour in the paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis L.). AB - We studied the role of olfaction on the exploratory behaviour of the paradise fish. Intact animals showed habituation of exploratory behaviour toward a heterospecific fish after five consecutive encounters. Fish with olfactory nerves destroyed spent significantly longer time with exploration compared to the control even at the fifth encounter. We suggest that olfactory inputs have a strong influence on exploratory behaviour. PMID- 2633585 TI - Effect of the components of the physical environment on escape behaviour of the paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis). AB - Physical features of a seminatural environment on provoking various defence behaviour elements of the paradise fish were studied. It was found that most escape behaviour forms were under the control of visual stimuli. Transparent physical space induced escape and inhibited jumping. While the latter was induced by the presence of vertical untransparent surfaces. Dark places usually were avoided by the paradise fish. Placed into an unfamiliar environment in the presence of different escape routes the paradise fish seemed to make decisions after careful comparison of alternatives. PMID- 2633586 TI - Inhibition by sodium bromide of synaptic potentiation and calcium accumulation in the superior cervical ganglion of rat. AB - Electrophysiological data show that sodium bromide (NaBr) inhibits the development of the post-tetanic potentiation in superior cervical ganglia of rat. NaBr treatment also prevented the accumulation of calcium in synaptic vesicles and dendritic vacuoles otherwise seen for some minutes after a tetanizing stimulation. These observations support the notion that the calcium ions entering into pre- and postsynaptic elements play an important role in the genesis of synaptic potentiation. PMID- 2633587 TI - Mercury and cadmium induced structural alterations in the taste buds of the fish Alburnus alburnus. AB - The ultrastructural damages of the taste buds of the fish, Alburnus alburnus were studied after applying 0.05 microM and 0.5 microM mercury chloride as well as 0.1 microM and 1 microM cadmium chloride. The most conspicuous alterations were induced during the first week of heavy metal exposition. The main structural alterations are: 1) the swelling of sensory microvilli and cilia; 2) the extreme dilation of the rER tubules and nuclear membranes, which is most expressed after cadmium exposition; 3) the increase in the number of lysosomes and dens bodies, which is more expressed after mercury exposition; 4) the swelling of the innervating nerve fibres at the synaptic areas of the taste buds, especially after mercury exposition. The damaging processes induced by the applied dose of heavy metals did not increase after the first week of exposition. The taste buds showed regenerated structural appearance after two weeks of exposition to 1 microM CdCl2, while the evoked structural alterations could be detected even after two weeks of exposition to 0.5 microM HgCl2. PMID- 2633588 TI - The antiallatal effects on locusts and lethal effects on nematodes of synthetic precocene-1 derivatives differing at the carbon 7 position. AB - Fourteen precocene-1 (P1) derivatives differing at C-7 were synthetized and tested for their antiallatal activities on Locusta migratoria (in vitro and in vivo) and nematocidal effects on Caenorhaditis elegans. An outstanding antiallatal effect was produced by 7-propargyloxy-P1 in vitro. It caused an elevated rate of mortality when applied in vivo to locusts or nematodes. The antiallatal effect of 7-cyclopentyloxy-P1 was not accompanied by toxicity. Aralkyloxy substitution at C-7 eliminated the precocene activity. PMID- 2633589 TI - Effect of lard and corn oil intake on serum lipids in young men. AB - An experimental diet with lard (30 g/day for 7 days) and corn oil (30 g/day for 7 days) on high carbohydrate (basal diet) was given to four healthy Japanese young men and the effect of diets containing different fat on serum lipids was examined. Serum total cholesterol was increased significantly from a basal diet of 106 +/- 23 to 141 +/- 26 mg/dl on lard diet, and then decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) to 111 +/- 22 mg/dl on corn oil diet. Serum triglycerides increased significantly (p less than 0.01) from 66 +/- 38 to 173 +/- 32 mg/dl on basal diet. Serum HDL-cholesterol was decreased significantly (p less than 0.01) from 41.9 +/- 1.6 to 31.2 +/- 3.8 mg/dl on lard diet and increased significantly (p less than 0.05) to 41.9 +/- 4.6 mg/dl on corn oil diet. Serum HDL-cholesterol fraction was decreased significantly (p less than 0.01) from 41.6 +/- 4.9 to 28.1 +/- 3.2% on basal diets, but increased significantly (p less than 0.05) to 44.3 +/- 3.1% on lard diet, and then decreased to 36.3 +/- 2.5% on corn oil diet. Serum HDL phospholipid fraction decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) from 62.5 +/- 6.7 to 50.7 +/- 1.8% on basal diet and increased significantly (p less than 0.05) to 60.4 +/- 1.0% on lard and corn oil diet. Serum phospholipids did not change by experimental diets. It is concluded that lard and corn oil have different and specific roles in lipid metabolism. PMID- 2633590 TI - [Treatment of fractures of the distal part of the forearm using external fixation]. AB - In the years 1986-1987 the authors operated on 14 patients with 15 fractures in the area of the distal part of the forearm. They performed external fixation in open fractures and in unstable, intra-articular and extra-articular closed fractures. They use Poldi 7 external fixation device, the clamp type of fixation with the insertion of 2 screws into the radius and 2 screws into the second metacarpal. Reduction is carried out by distraction using the principle of ligamentotaxy. The evaluation of the results in the period between' 8-22 months after the operation showed excellent clinical results in 6 patients, good results in 7 patients and a fair result in one elderly female patient where a sizable radionulnar synostosis occurred during healing. Subjective feelings evaluated ten times as excellent and four times as good. In one patient the choice of the method of treatment was incorrect; an extensive lesion of ligamentary apparatus did not allow the correct reduction of fragments by distraction it was necessary to perform open reduction and transfixation of the fragments by means of K-wires, This patient was not included into the clinical results. Other more serious complications were not found out. Proceeding from their own experience the authors present some of the advantages of the method used: 1. Easy reduction and reliable retention of fragments 2. Possibility of the control and treatment of the damaged soft tissues 3. Possibility to perform additional operations without the danger of losing the reduction achieved a) fasciotomy b) spongioplasty c) skin grafts PMID- 2633591 TI - [Ender nailing in fractures of the proximal femur. II. Analysis of our cohort]. AB - The work presents the analysis of the group of 172 patients with the fracture of the proximal femur treated by the technique of Ender nailing between June 1985 and December 1988. The group comprised 45 male (26 per cent) and 127 female (74 per cent) patients. Their average age was 76 years (ranging from 20 to 97 years of age) out of which 75 per cent of patients were older than 70 years and 40 per cent older than 80 years. Indication of Ender nailing in patients under 60 years of age we consider exceptional. In our group we operated on in total 14 patients under 60 years of age (ranging from 20 to 57 years of age) and namely in case of the comminuted type of fracture increased risk of infection or serious total condition. The whole group was operated on by 21 variously experienced surgeons. 147 operations were performed in the general anesthesia and 25 in the epidural one. The fractures of the proximal femur were divided into basicervical--10 (6 per cent), stable pertrochanteric 96 (56 per cent), unstable pertrochanteric--38 (22 per cent), per-subtrochanteric--19 (11 per cent) and subtrochanteric--9 (5 per cent). For the objective evaluation we compared our classification of the fracture of the trochanteric part with these of Evens, Kyle and Jensen. For stable fractures we considered the types I and II according to Kyle, for unstable the type III of Kyle classification. Per-subtrochanteric fractures (Kyle IV) we singled out for their seriousness as a separate group of unstable pertrochanteric fractures. Almost the same spectrum of fractures was in the group of 108 patients in which we evaluated longterm results. The minimum observence period was 3 months the mean period 6.3 months. Almost all patients from this group were followed up until complete healing. The mean duration of operation was 52 minutes, the mean duration of anesthesia was 81 minutes and the duration of X-ray exposure was 2.6 minutes. These data were calculated also for individual types of fractures. In this case the time intervals differed according to the seriousness of the fracture. The comparison of our time data with other authors reliably evaluating the results of Ender nailing has proved that it is necessary to free this intervention from the myth of a quick and easy operation. The average number of nails inserted in one patient was 3.6.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2633592 TI - [Incidence and treatment of congenital dysplasia of the hip joint in the Bardejov District over the 5-year-period 1984-1988]. AB - The author deals with the incidence and treatment of inborn dysplasia of the hip joint in the region of Bardejov which has 80,000 inhabitants. He evaluates the results achieved in the period of 5 years (1984-1988) in 7208 children. 1152 children, i.e. 16 per cent, were treated for any grade of inborn dysplasia, subluxations and dislocations amounted to 323, i.e. 4.5 per cent, the boy-girl ratio was 1:3. Preventive screening of new-born children as early as in the first days of their life, a timely diagnosis and treatment are of great importance in this inborn deformity and lead to good results. The most suitable for the treatment appeared to be the Pavlik harness. PMID- 2633593 TI - [Prediction of body height and shortening of the lower part of the body in adults with achondroplasia]. AB - The authors present the method of predicting the body height of patients with achondroplasia in adulthood and the method of predicting shortening of the lower segment of the body as compared to the trunk. They evaluate a group of 12 patients with achondroplasia at the age from 3 to 17 years. They compare the growth curves of patients with normal Czechoslovak population and with a group of American patients suffering with achondroplasia. The application of growth curves of American patients with achondroplasia appears to be the most suitable and simple graphical method for the prediction of the body height of the Czechoslovak patients suffering from achondroplasia. The method of the prediction of dwarfism of the lower segment of the body has been developed for the purpose of the rational indication of the stepwise prolongation therapy by the compression distraction method. Analogically it will be possible to verify the growth curves for some other bone dysplasiae presented in literature and predict dwarfism of the lower segment of the body in adulthood, e.g. in hypochondroplasia, metaphyseal chondrodysplasia of the type of Schmid, Turner syndromes, etc. PMID- 2633594 TI - [A distraction abduction apparatus for treatment of Calve-Legg-Perthes disease]. AB - The authors submit to the orthopaedic public an abduction apparatus of their own desing for functional treatment of Calve-Legg-Perthes disease. The apparatus is relatively simple, uses the pantographic system and during gait is preserves very satisfactory immersion of the head of the femur into the acetabulum. Contrary to the lumbal orthesis "Atlanta", it makes it possible to correct also anteversion in the hip joints. In the discussion the authors outline the contemporary therapeutic procedure of their department, the response to comments and finally the view of paediatrivians as regard treatment of the above disease. PMID- 2633595 TI - [Morphology of the human rib perichondrium from the aspect of arthroplasty of the small joints of the hand]. AB - The human rib perichondrium is a suitable material for reconstruction interventions on small joints of the hand. Optical and electron microscopy analysis of the human rib perichondrium has shown some features different from the similar perichondrium in rabbits. In its superficial layers there are apart from the vascularity also myelinized nerve fibres, fat-cells and heparinocytes. In the medium layer and in the inner layer of the perichondrium there are cells which by their characteristics correspond to fibrocytes. Among them are collagen fibrillae coated with materials which can be fixed by the ruthenium red. The inner layer cannot be exactly distinguished from the cartilage of the rib. PMID- 2633596 TI - [Problems in the diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma]. AB - The aim of the work was to analyze by the method of retrospective study the difficulties in diagnosing the Ewing sarcoma at the Department of Orthopaedic of the Teaching Hospital in Bratislava in the years 1967-1987. The authors found out that there were diagnosticated 28 cases of the Ewing sarcoma, the boy-girl ratio was: 1:1. Most frequently it occurred between 12 and 18 years of age. Apart from clinical examination they use classical sciagraphy, macropictures, tomography, arteriography, gammagraphy of the skeleton, computer tomography, lymphography, histological, and electron microscopic examination. In the conclusion the authors point out that the timely treatment may be ensured by a precise and demanding screening carried out by pediatricians, practitioners in charge of adolescents and orthopaedists and by further reduction of the time interval necessary for performing all above mentioned examinations. The care of the Ewing sarcoma is the responsibility of suitably equipped special centres of bone oncology. PMID- 2633597 TI - [Mineralization status in bones in patients with femoral neck fractures]. AB - The authors present the results of the evaluation of the state of the art of mineralization of the bone in 56 patients over 45 years of age with the fracture of the femoral neck. The state of the art of mineralization was evaluated by means of bone indices. In each patient there were determined 6 values of bone indices and thus they got a more objective picture of the state of the art of bone tissue. They found out that most cases of fractures occurred on the osteporous skeleton. For pathological values corresponding to osteoporosis they considered such values when the bone index according to Barnet-Nordin was less than 45, Garn index less than 67, Singh index equal to the values I, II, III and Kocian index corresponded to normograms. Lower cortico-diaphyseal index on the side of the fracture in comparison with the contralateral side they explain by timely demineralization after the fracture during immobilization. Proceeding from the results achieved they emphasize the necessity of a timely prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. PMID- 2633598 TI - [Dislocation of the foot and talus--a rare injury of the ankle joint]. AB - In their communication the authors describe two cases of a very rare injury presented in the world specialized literature under the title "luxation pedis cum talo". They treated two professional sportsmen with this diagnosis at the clinic. The authors describe the pathological anatomy of this injury where there occurs almost complete rupture of both deltoid and fibular ligaments of the ankle. In both mentioned cases, despite the severe instability of the nakledorsally placed parts of both ligaments have been preserved, and namely pars tibiotalaris post. lig. deltoidei and lig. fibulotalare post. The authors deal with the question if the cases of "luxatio pedis cum talo" consist in the actual momentary dislocation or rather an extreme subluxation in this joint. Surgical treatment of this injury -the suture of the ruptured ligaments--is an absolute indication and necessity. Adequate reconstruction of the ligamentary apparatus of the ankle gives a guarantee of complete recovery and full functional return of the injured ankle. PMID- 2633599 TI - [Allergologic evaluation in chronic rhinitis: study of 411 cases]. AB - The present work reports the results of an allergological evaluation performed on 411 patients suffering from chronic rhinitis alone or associated with bronchial asthma. Allergic diagnosis was based on the results of skin prick tests, serum RAST, nasal provocation, allergy avoidance diets and food provocation. 207 patients were sensitized to one or more allergens (50.4%); mean age for onset of rhinitis was 14.9. The first ten years of age proved most relevant for onset of symptoms, while late onset was significant in females. The most common reactions were to house dust mites, most likely due to the local environmental-climatic conditions which favor the growth of Dermatophagoides. Olive-sensitization was frequently found in pollen-positive subjects. Careful allergological evaluation of chronic rhinitis is very important so as to establish the best treatment and environment prophylaxis for the disease. PMID- 2633600 TI - [Postural rhinomanometry in normal subjects]. AB - Measurement of decubitus-caused variations in air flow resistance through the nasal cavities indicates the vascular reactivity of turbinate cavernous tissue and makes it possible to evaluate the variable component in nasal resistance; a component usually suppressed by previous pharmacological vasoconstriction. The aim of the present work has been to indicate normative values regarding variations in nasal resistance in different types of decubitus. The latter will be referenced for future studies regarding nasal vasomotor pathologies (specific or aspecific hyperreactivity). Eighty nasal cavities from normal subjects were examined by means of Anterior Active Rhinomanometry in the following positions: seated, supine, homolateral and contralateral to the fossa in question. As absolute values are highly variable even in normal subjects, the resistance variations in decubitus were expressed in percentage of basal value (seated position). In every decubitus there is an average increase in resistance due to the increased venous pressure in the cephalic area although the greatest statistical significance and lowest scattering of values is found in the supine position with 20 degrees head-trunk angle. Mean values and standard deviations are given and will be referenced for further studies on rhinopathology. PMID- 2633601 TI - [Smooth pursuit eye movements evoked by head-phone acoustic stimulation]. AB - Smooth pursuit eye movement evoked by binaural acoustic stimulation is examined in the present work. The effect of lateralization was achieved by modulating the interaural difference in intensity, within the headphone, following a pendular pattern. The test was performed on 10 healthy subjects; oscillation frequencies of the acoustic target being 0.15, 0.5 and 0.83 Hz, stimulus intensity 65 and 92 dB SPL. The acoustic signal consisted of white noise. Each trial was performed with eyes closed and then with eyes open. The results demonstrate that sinusoidal eye movement can only be obtained in a few subjects when the acoustic target has the lowest velocity and especially at the higher intensity. In all other cases eye movement was characterized by multiple saccades. The variability in eye movement amplitude is reduced and the value of this parameter decreases significantly under open-eye conditions. The data obtained are in agreement with other reports obtained with free field acoustic stimulation and demonstrate that smooth pursuit eye movement is principally an ocular reflex. In conclusion, acoustic smooth pursuit eye movement appears normally to be characterized by multiple saccades whose pattern can be modulated by intensity and oscillation frequency of the acoustic target as well as by the presence of visual inputs and attentional factors. PMID- 2633602 TI - [Influence of static stimulation of cervical and otolithic receptors on posturographic parameters]. AB - In the present work 30 normal adult subjects (20 males, 10 females; age range 25 40 years) having no signs or symptoms of vestibular involvement were studied in order to verify whether posturographic parameters could be influenced by the static stimulation of cervical and otolithic receptors. The posturographic evaluation was carried out using a stabilometric platform (Bertec) with the subject standing and the head in one of the following positions: median position, turned left (45 degrees), turned right (45 degrees), tilted left (40 degrees), tilted right (40 degrees), with eyes both opened and closed. The data obtained indicate that wide standard deviations exist in the observed parameters and no significant changes were observed with the head turned either to the right or left nor with the head tilted in either direction. Moreover, the posturographic data obtained with eyes open were slightly reduced in comparison to those obtained with the eyes closed. One can, thus, conclude that neither cervical nor otolithic inputs influence posturographic parameters under static conditions, while visual inputs modify significantly posturographic data, except the coordinates of the foot center of pressure. PMID- 2633603 TI - [Comparison of transcutaneous radiotherapy and cordectomy in the treatment of T1a glottic carcinoma]. AB - 770 patients affected by squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cords, classified as T1a (U.I.C.C. TNM - P978) were studied retrospectively by the Head and Neck Oncology Cooperative Group. Several such studies have demonstrated the substantial equality of results, in terms of survival, obtained by the two common therapeutic approaches (radiotherapy and cordectomy). On the other hand, from a functional point of view, radiotherapy undoubtedly offers the best outcome. Site of origin has never been considered a possible prognostic factor for such cordal neoplasms; such factors could possibly make the choice between treatments significant. Therefore, the present study evaluated tumors, separating them by the anterior, middle and posterior third of the vocal cord and taking into consideration local check-up as a function of therapy. Local check-up, in terms of Relapse Free Survival (R.F.S.) was 83% at 10 years and no significant difference was observed between the different treatment modalities. Moreover, the site of origin did not appear relevant to prognosis. More accurate and prospective studies should be encouraged so as to assess the value of such data. PMID- 2633604 TI - [Carcinoma of the hypopharynx: reconstruction of the alimentary canal using the residual larynx]. AB - Treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma is difficult and frustrating due to notable problems in reconstruction and because of the low rate of healing. A review of the reconstruction techniques proposed over the last fifty years is given, particularly in regard to those using the residual larynx in reconstructing the alimentary canal. Wookey-type surgery provides for multiple stages and requires long hospital stays; even the reconstruction proposed by Bakamjian requires two operations and is often hampered by a distal necrosis of the deltopectoral flap. The one-stage reconstructions use the abdominal intestine, myocutaneous tubulized flaps and local mucosa flaps made of the tongue, epiglottis and residual larynx stripped of its cartilage. Those techniques using the abdominal intestine have an elevated rate of complications and per-operative mortality, while those using tubulized pectoral myocutaneous flaps at times compress the vascular peduncle due to their thickness, thus leading to post-operative stenosis. In the present work description is given of the hypopharyngeal reconstruction technique using the residual larynx stripped of its cartilage. In cases of cancer of the pyriform sinus the contralateral hemilarynx has been used while, in posterior tumors, the anterior larynx has been used, sutured to the residual posterior mucosa or to a myocutaneous flap. Nine patients underwent surgery using this technique; of these, seven had a tumor of the pyriform sinus, one a retrocricoid tumor and one carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx. The oncological results do not appear much different than those obtained with the more well-known techniques, although follow-up is still too short.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2633605 TI - [Possibilities of diagnostic errors in paralysis of the 7th cranial nerve]. AB - Approximately 5% of all facial paralyses are of neoplastic origin while approximately 80% represent idiopathic or Bell's palsies. Whenever a tumor is suspected accurate testing is imperative; testing aimed at the nerve trunk both above and especially below the stilomastoid foramen. In fact, occult neoplasms are much more frequently located within the parotid. The present work presents a case where facial palsy was associated with profound ipsilateral hearing loss. Diagnostic efforts were, therefore, focussed on the cerebello-pontine angle and the Fallopian canal, thus delaying recognition of its real etiology (a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid). PMID- 2633606 TI - Premenstrual syndrome in a group of hysterectomized women of reproductive age with intact ovaries. AB - In this prospective study 13 women of reproductive age, unselected with regard to the presence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and hysterectomized but with intact ovaries, eight variables were rated as indicative of PMS on visual analog scales (VAS) for 35 consecutive days. Their menstrual cycles were subsequently reconstructed in relation to the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge as pin-pointed in urine samples and confirmed with progesterone in saliva. The aim of the study was to investigate PMS apart from psychological and psychosocial factors and to compare prospective and retrospective ratings of PMS. Retrospectively, 50% of the participants reported having had both somatic and mood changes typical of PMS, but only 3/13 were found to have PMS according to prospective ratings. Symptoms of PMS were absent in one woman according to retrospective ratings and in 4/13 with prospective ratings. There was no significant correlation between retrospective and prospective ratings of PMS. The results indicate that PMS does exist apart from psychological and psychosocial factors. PMID- 2633607 TI - Long-term experience with Multiload intrauterine devices. AB - This paper reports the joint experience of three investigators who used three types of the Multiload (ML) IUD (MLCu250 Short, MLCu250 Standard, and MLCu375) in 1987 consecutive insertions during which an experience of 56,005 woman-months of use was accumulated. The material was analyzed using the life-table method and complemented with a case by case investigation, the main purpose of the study being the specific analysis of IUD-related complications. The authors also evaluated return of fertility whenever a device was removed because of wish of pregnancy. Results indicate that serious IUD-related complications were rare, continuation rate high, and reversibility of fertility unaffected by the device. PMID- 2633608 TI - Thymidylate synthase: a target for anticancer drug design. AB - N10-Propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717) has proved to be an interesting recent addition to the spectrum of antifolate drugs. Its sole biochemical locus of action appears to be thymidylate synthase, an inhibitory effect which is potentiated by intracellular polyglutamation. The drug has shown a spectrum of clinical activity and toxicity which is unusual for an antimetabolite. It seems likely that the former is attributable to its inhibition of TS, whilst the latter relates to the drug's poor aqueous solubility at physiological pH. Seminal to the discovery of a new generation of more selective thymidylate synthase inhibitors has been the observation that the C2 desamino derivative (CB3804) retains the useful TS-inhibitory and cytotoxic properties of CB3717. It is some two orders of magnitude more water soluble than CB3717 at physiological pH and appears not to produce, in the mouse, the liver and kidney toxicities which have restricted the wider use of CB3717. Thus, in desamino CB3717, it has proved possible to separate the structural features determining antitumor activity from those which are responsible for its systemic toxicities. These encouraging results prompted systematic structure-activity studies of other C2-modified quinazolines, which revealed that the desirable properties of the desamino compound are not unique. Results with two other CB3717 analogues, the C2-methyl (CB3819) and C2-methoxy (CB3828), have been discussed in the present paper. All three CB3717 analogues exhibit TS-inhibitory activities which are broadly comparable to those of the parent drug. In continuous culture CB3828 is as cytotoxic as CB3717, while CB3804 and CB3819 are at least an order of magnitude more potent. As with the desamino derivative (CB3804), so CB3819 is substantially more water soluble than CB3717 and is apparently devoid of its major toxicities. However, the effects of CB3828 on whole cell TS inhibition, both in vitro and in vivo, are rapidly reversible upon removal of exogenous compound, while the inhibition is sustained in similar experiments with the other three compounds. It is likely that these effects relate to the extent to which the various derivatives are converted to polyglutamate species and retained intracellularly. With the exception of CB3828, all are good substrates for FPGS, and the polyglutamate derivatives of CB3717, CB3804 and CB3819 are better TS inhibitors than the corresponding monoglutamates. CB3804 and CB3819 are less toxic and are cleared from the plasma much more rapidly than CB3717, so that the rate and extent of their polyglutamation may be an essential prerequisite of pharmacological activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2633609 TI - The characteristics and consequences of folate depletion in hepatoma cells in vitro by inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase. AB - Growth of rat hepatoma cells in subtoxic concentrations of the DHFR inhibitor metoprine caused a marked time and concentration dependent reduction in cellular folates. As much as 75% total cellular folates can be lost without impairing growth. Increasing the concentration of metoprine into a range that causes inhibition of growth results in no further reduction in cellular folates. This effect is presumably mediated through inhibition of DHFR and several mechanisms are discussed which may account for these results. Cells grown in medium in which the concentration of folate is changed from 4 microM to 20 nM had intracellular folate levels that were reduced 85%. This is nearly the same reduction caused by treating cells grown in normal medium (4 microM folate) with continuous, subtoxic levels of metoprine. The reduction in cellular folates caused by growth in nM folic acid caused enhanced growth inhibitory activity of several antifolates. On a concentration basis metoprine was 12-fold more active under these conditions, PDDF was 37-fold more active and DDATHF was 44-fold more active. The reason for the enhanced sensitivity to PDDF and DDATHF may also be analogous to the reason for their synergism with the low concentration of metoprine and trimetrexate (12). PMID- 2633610 TI - Adriamycin entrapped in sulfatide-containing liposomes. AB - Sulfatide-containing liposomes composed of PC, cholesterol, and sulfatide in a molar ratio of 7:2:1 entrapped ADM most efficiently among the negatively-charged liposomes tested. A unilamellar vesicle entrapped 123 ADM molecules, of which 6 molecules are localized in the internal space of the vesicle, 4 molecules are embedded into the membrane matrix, and 113 molecules are bound to the inner surface of the liposomal membrane. Highly efficient entrapment of ADM by the liposomes seems to be due to their rigidity. By the experiment using ovarian tumor-bearing nude mice, it was found that the liposome-entrapped ADM was maintained at much higher blood level, at lower concentration in the heart, and at higher concentration in the tumor than the free drug. The antitumor activity of the liposome-entrapped ADM was comparable with that of the free drug. The body weight of the animals was not affected by the former, whereas it was drastically decreased by the latter. PMID- 2633611 TI - Resistance to methotrexate and multidrug resistance in childhood malignancies. AB - Resistance to drugs, either primary or acquired, is a main problem in cancer chemotherapy. The paper summarizes our results in regard to resistance to methotrexate and multiple drug resistance in human cell lines of pediatric malignancies and in children with resistant cancer. In cell lines as well as in children we could demonstrate amplification of the gene coding for dihydrofolate reductase as a cause for resistance to MTX. Procedures to overcome drug resistance such as treatment with high dose MTX and leucovorin rescue are discussed. The increased expression of the mdrl gene coding for the P glycoprotein is related to multidrug resistance. This could be shown in cell lines and in children. The expression decreased when the drug, used for induction of resistance, was omitted for a few weeks from the cell culture medium. Readdition of the drug caused a rapid increase of expression. For the first time data in children are presented which demonstrate the amplification of the gene coding for dihydrofolate reductase or increased expression of the mdrl gene as cause of drug resistance. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed. PMID- 2633612 TI - Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: studies with animal models. AB - The present studies have shown that low doses of methotrexate can suppress the inflammation and joint destruction associated with animal models of arthritis. The antiinflammatory effects of methotrexate are probably related to its inhibitory effect on chemotaxis. At the low doses used, methotrexate does not induce systemic immunosuppression. In methotrexate-treated rats, an improvement in IL-2 synthesis is observed and increases in IL-2 levels are expected to improve cell mediated immunity. Suppressor cells appear to be very sensitive to methotrexate. Macrophage function is modulated by methotrexate. All of these effects including the effects on joint destruction are probably due to inhibition of DHFR activity of critical cells that are involved in the pathogenesis of rat arthritis induced either by adjuvant or by streptococcal cell walls. Some of these effects have been extended to human arthritis but additional studies are required to understand how low dose methotrexate exerts its beneficial effects in humans. PMID- 2633613 TI - The problem of the quiescent cancer cell. AB - 1. Antimetabolites and inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase II are relatively ineffective against quiescent cells. 2. Alkylating agents (carmustine, cisplatin) retain significant activity against Q-cells. 3. Of the various cytokinetic reasons why tumors may have slow growth rates (long cycle times, high cell loss factors, differentiation, Q-cells), modeling studies suggest that the presence of a large Q-cell compartment has the most serious implications for chemotherapy. 4. Agents may be active against Q-cells for two reasons: (a) Direct cytotoxicity that is not dependent upon cell proliferation, e.g., direct DNA damage or ATP depletion. (b) Drug accumulation and retention within the cells, resulting in delayed cytotoxicity when the cell re-enters the cell cycle. 5. Q-cells have low rates of RNA synthesis, very low rates of DNA synthesis, and relatively normal ribonucleotide pools. Though earlier results suggest that RNA synthesis is an exploitable target for Q-cell cytotoxic agents, the RNA synthesis inhibitor NSC 366140 did not inhibit RNA synthesis in Q-cells. 6. The pyrazoloacridine, NSC 366140, retained a high level of activity against quiescent cells, as did other pyrazoloacridine compounds with a 9-methoxy substitution. 7. Successful chemotherapy of carcinomas with high Q-fractions will probably require the development of new Q-cell active drugs with sites of action other than DNA. The antimetabolite APP-MP is an example of a non-DNA-directed agent active against Q cells. PMID- 2633614 TI - The basis for intrinsic drug resistance or sensitivity to methotrexate. AB - Natural resistance to MTX in three different types of malignant cells is discussed. Two causes of resistance found were impaired drug uptake and impaired polyglutamylation. These resistance mechanisms have also been described to occur in cell lines with acquired resistance to this drug. In cells with acquired drug resistance, these phenotypic changes may reflect mutations in genes associated with transport of MTX or the enzyme DHFR, or in some circumstances reversion of the cell to a different phenotype without a mutational event. In cells with intrinsic resistance, the genetic mechanism responsible for these phenotypes is not known. Alternate treatment programs, e.g., with TMTX, or with TMTX and CPG2, a folate depleting enzyme, are under evaluation for these MTX resistant neoplasms. PMID- 2633615 TI - The role of acupuncture in asthma: changes in airways dynamics and LTC4 induced LAI. AB - A cohort of nine extrinsic asthma patients were treated by means of acupuncture. Patients were followed up for changes in medical treatment, spirometry, skin reactivity to immediate type reactions, total serum IgE levels and reactivity of their leukocytes to leukotriene C4 challenge (LTC4 induced leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) assay). Our results show that after acupuncture, treated patients were able to reduce bronchodilator and taper completely corticosteroid therapy. No change in skin reactivity or in IgE levels were noted. However, acupuncture treatment was able to negate, in 66.6%, the positive LTC4 induced responses. PMID- 2633616 TI - Suppression of the DTH reaction in mice by means of moxibustion at electro permeable points. AB - The effects of moxibustion stimulation on picryl chloride-induced cutaneous contact hypersensitivity, a delayed type of hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction, were investigated in mice. Three electro-permeable points (B-20, LI-15, S-36) were selected as moxibustion points. Moxibustion at point B-20 (spleen associated point) significantly suppressed the DTH reaction. Adoptive transfer of spleen T cells from moxibustion-stimulated donors resulted in an increased suppression of the DTH reaction in the recipients. These studies suggest that suppression of the DTH reaction with moxibustion may be related to cellular immunity, especially to the induction of the suppressive activity of T cells in the spleen. PMID- 2633617 TI - Needling sensation receptor of an acupoint supplied by the median nerve--studies of their electro-physiological characteristics. AB - We classified 50 receptor units from 10 acupoints supplied by the medium nerve. It was found that the needling stimulation mostly excited slowly adapting receptors and that the classification of acupoint receptors related closely to their location. For example, the Shanyang, Zhongchong, Shaoshang acupoints in the skin needling sensation receptors are touch or pressure receptor units; the receptors of Neiguan, Yuji, etc.; the acupoints located in deep tissue with abundant muscles, are mostly muscle spindles; the Daling acupoint might be a colgi tendon and/or pressure receptor unit. Besides a significant receptor, an acupoint contains one or more needling sensation receptor. The receptors and the afferent fibers of acupoints take part in forming and maintaining the needling sensations. PMID- 2633618 TI - Effect of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine (san zhuang wan) on the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis of the immature rat. AB - San Zhuang Wan (SZW) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used to treat male impotence. The mechanism of its therapeutic effect is not known nor have any of its potential physiologic actions been investigated. We examined the effect of SZW administered by gavage, on the reproductive system of the prepubertal male rat. After 10 days treatment of 21-day-old rats the concentration of testosterone in serum and testicular weight had decreased whereas the serum concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH) had significantly increased. When administered to gonadectomized rats SZW partially restored the weight of the accessory sex organs and concentration of LH toward normal, but serum androgen concentration was not changed. In vitro assessment of fragments of testicular tissue or purified Leydig cells for responsiveness to maximal doses of LH or cyclic AMP showed that SZW significantly reduced testosterone secretion in response to either stimulant. The data demonstrate that SZW has potent effects on the reproductive axis of the pubertal male rat. At least one locus for such action is on the Leydig cell at a point distal to the formation of cyclic AMP. Further study is necessary to determine whether these effects could be involved with or independent of the mechanism of the therapeutic action of SZW. PMID- 2633619 TI - Analysis and processing of Chinese herbal drugs. VIII: The study of sophorae floe. AB - The quantities of active constituents in commercially available Sophora japonica L. (huai-hua) and its processed samples were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Rutin, quercetin, sophoricoside, sophorabioside and genistein were found. Sophora flower buds (huai-mi) contained a great deal of rutin, while the immature fruits (huai-chiao) contained sophoricoside and sophorabioside. When Sophora flower bud was stir-fried for short periods using low heat, the extracted rate of rutin and quercetin increased slightly, decreasing with longer cooking periods at higher temperatures. When stir-fried with vinegar, it quickly blackened, but when cooked with honey, it changed very little. Immature Sophora fruit, however, exhibits less variation in its active constituents after processing. All huai-hua processed samples give forth a pronounced aroma and could be more easily extracted with water than that of the unprocessed herbs. PMID- 2633620 TI - The hypotensive action of Desmodium styracifolium and Clematis chinensis. AB - The cardiovascular pharmacology of aqueous extracts of Desmodium styracifolium (DSE) and Clematis chinensis (CCE) were studied in rats both in vivo and in vitro. DSE produced two successive hypotensive actions: the first one via cholinergic receptor stimulation, while the second one potentiated by blockades of autonomic ganglion and alpha-adrenoceptor. In contrast to DSE, CCE produced only one hypotensive response which was mediated through histaminergic activity. Furthermore, both extracts relaxed isolated methoxamine preconstricted helical tail artery strips. CCE also produced both negative chronotropic and inotropic effects on isolated atria, while DSE was positive chronotropic without apparent effect on the contractile force. PMID- 2633621 TI - The effects of vandellia cordifolia on renal functions and arterial blood pressure. AB - Vandellia cordifolia (COLSM) G. DON of Scrophulariaceae (V. cordifolia) is an annual wild herb indigenous to Taiwan. It can be found in plains, low altitudes, swampy places, and paddy fields. Taiwanese folk physicians use it in "nephritis, uremia, furnucle, carbuncle." The LD50 (95% confidence limit) of the crude extract of V. codifolia given by the oral route was more than 10 g/kg in rats. By the intraperitoneal route, it was 4.6 g/kg (4.35-4.93). The extraction rate was 16.6%. We studied its effects on renal functions and blood pressure and found that (1) it had diuretic effect on normal rats, (2) it decreased glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow on normal kidneys in rabbits, (3) it had no effects on glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow on glycerin-induced insufficient kidneys in rabbits, (4) it had diuretic effects on both normal and glycerin-induced insufficient kidneys in rabbits, (5) it could inhibit Na+ and K+ reabsorption on normal and glycerin-induced insufficient kidneys in rabbits, (6) it had hypertensive effect and this effect could be blocked by phenoxybenzamine. From the above facts, we conclude that V. cordifolia has diuretic effect and it may act on renal tubules to inhibit Na+ and K+ reabsorption. PMID- 2633622 TI - The herbal medicine tian ma gou teng yen alters the development of high blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. AB - In this study, the effect of the herbal prescription Tian Ma Gou Teng Yen (TGY), which is traditionally used to treat certain diseases associated with elevated arterial pressure (AP), on the general development of hypertension was investigated in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). An aqueous extract of TGY was given orally (0.5 ml/100g body weight) to 5 week old SHR twice a day for six consecutive days followed by one day without herbal therapy. The herbal prescription was administered until the SHR were 16 weeks of age. Administration of TGY significantly altered the development and prevented hypertension in SHR. On the other hand, heart rate, body weight, food and water intake, and urine volume and electrolytes were not altered. These data suggest that the effect of TGY on AP was through an action of TGY on sympathetic vasomotor activity. PMID- 2633623 TI - Hypoglucaemic activity of Opuntia streptacantha throughout its annual cycle. AB - Opuntia sp. used in mexican traditional medicine diminishes blood sugar levels when orally administered. Possible seasonal variations in the hypoglycaemic property of Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire, were studied using the fresh sap of its stems collected throughout the year. The evaluation was performed in the already proven sensitive experimental model in normal rabbits. No seasonal variation in the hypoglycaemic activity of this plant product was detected suggesting it can be used year round for the treatment of Diabetes mellitus. PMID- 2633624 TI - Hachimijiogan treatment is effective in the management of infertile women with hyperprolactinemia or bromocriptine-resistant hyperprolactinemia. AB - Twenty-seven infertile women with hyperprolactinemia were treated with Hachimijiogan (5.0 to 10.0 g/day), Chinese herbal medicine. In 15 out of 18 patients, who were treated with Hachimijiogan, the serum prolactin levels dropped to 19.4 +/- 10.5 ng/ml during Hachimijiogan treatment, and the levels in 8 patients remained essentially unchanged during 6 months after the cessation of Hachimijiogan treatment. Three patients with 100 to 300 ng/ml did not drop to the level below 30 ng/ml. Four of 6 patients with amenorrhea ovulated. Eleven patients conceived and delivered normally. The hormonal profiles during or after pregnancy were normal. These results indicate that Hachimijiogan is a new safe treatment for hyperprolactinemic women. PMID- 2633625 TI - Ovulation following combined therapy with wen-jing-tang and clomiphene citrate therapy in anovulatory women. AB - The effect of combined therapy with Wen-Jing-Tang and clomiphene citrate on anovulation was studied in 16 infertile patients who did not respond to clomiphene citrate alone. Wen-Jing-Tang was given at a dose of 5 g a day every day from day 2 of the menstrual cycles and clomiphene citrate was given at 150 mg a day for 5 days from day 5 of the cycle. Ovulation occurred in 43.8% of the patients and 48.6% of the cycles. No case of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome or pregnancy were observed. These results suggest that the combined therapy with Wen Jing-Tang and clomiphene citrate should be used before therapy with human menopausal gonadotropin. PMID- 2633626 TI - Chinese origin of correspondence-paper with black margins as used during mourning. AB - In Europe there is the custom of observing mourning at the loss of a relative by using, even in correspondence, paper with a black margin. This may be traceable to China where a document on such a paper has been offered as the original. PMID- 2633627 TI - Comparing Yin-Yang, the Chinese symbol of creation, with Ouroboros of Greek alchemy. AB - The universe was early divided into Earth below and Heaven above. These, two as one, gave the idea of opposites but forming a unity. Each opposite was assumed to be powerful and so was their final unity. For creation of the universe they projected reproduction to conceive creation. Now reproduction results in the union of two opposites as male and female. Correspondingly, the Chinese believed Light and Darkness, as the ideal opposites, when united, yielded creative energy. The two opposites were further conceived as matter and energy which became dual natured but as one. The two opposites were yin-yang and their unity was called Chhi. Yin-Yang was treated separately in Chinese cosmology which consisted of five cosmic elements. Since Chinese alchemy did reach Alexandria probably the symbol Yin-Yang, as dual-natured, responsible for creation, was transformed into a symbol called Ouroboros. It is a snake and as such as symbol of soul. Its head and anterior portion is red, being the colour of blood as soul; its tail and posterior half is dark, representing body. Ouroboros here is depicted white and black, as soul and body, the two as "one which is all." It is cosmic soul, the source of all creation. Ouroboros is normally depicted with its anterior half as black but it should be the reverse as shown here. With the name Chemeia taken to Kim-Iya, the last word would take Ouroboros to Yin-Yang. PMID- 2633628 TI - AIDS--employment discrimination--Raytheon Co. v. California Fair Employment & Housing Comm'n. PMID- 2633629 TI - AIDS testing--prisoners--Dunn v. White. PMID- 2633630 TI - Beyond the pleasure principle: a speculative essay on Freud. PMID- 2633631 TI - Theseus and Hippolyta on the couch. PMID- 2633632 TI - Transformations of identity: referent location, agency, and levels of integration in the progress from potential self to existential identity. AB - The study traces the genesis of existential despair and empty depression in personality disordered individuals to the impact of a premature definition of the self in terms of an other-centered referent. Three aspects of identity are discussed: self identity, role identity, and existential identity. Their respective potential contribution to self-integration is examined. PMID- 2633633 TI - Ego differentiation: Eastern and Western perspectives. PMID- 2633634 TI - Diseases of the pancreas and the pancreaticobiliary tree. Proceedings of the Gastrointestinal Pathology Society symposium. PMID- 2633635 TI - Experimental pancreatic cancer. AB - Pancreatic cancer induced in hamsters offers a unique model for studying important aspects of the disease. Studies of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis show that carcinogens require specific molecular structures for pancreatotrophic action. The neoplastic effects of these carcinogens is humoral, rather than operating through the bile reflux mechanism. Moreover, islet cells seem to play a direct or indirect role in cancer induction. Experiments concerning tumor histogenesis show that ductal/ductular cells are the progenitor cells of induced tumors. The proliferation of endocrine cells during the early stages of cancer development seems to be associated with a functional abnormality of the endocrine pancreas. Hormone secretions are altered in the serum and pancreatic juice. Furthermore, production of blood group-related antigens, particularly of A antigen, is characteristic for early cancer development and represents a tumor specific antigen. Encouraging results have been obtained for the use of an anti-A antibody in early detection and therapy of this experimentally induced pancreatic cancer. PMID- 2633636 TI - [The provision of specialized medical personnel in the obstetrical-gynecological network in the People's Republic of Bulgaria]. AB - The development of the medical obstetric-gynecological staff in the People's Republic of Bulgaria is characterized by a high rate of quantitative growth. Conversely worsening of the index of the relative part of obstetricians gynecologists with acquired specialty is present; this index is reduced by almost 10% for the whole country during the recent two decades. Regional differences are established as the regions, located in the western part of the country, lag behind in training staff. An attempt is made to determine the factors, which cause the existing regional differences. Adequate measures are proposed to improve postgraduate qualification of medical staff for obstetric-gynecological services in the country during next years. PMID- 2633637 TI - [Alkaline phosphatase in the leukocytes of women with a normal pregnancy]. AB - 280 women were studied--30 of whom were nonpregnant and 250 were pregnant at various periods of normal progressing pregnancy. The activity of leucocytic alkaline phosphatase was determined cytochemically. It was established that the activity of the enzyme was elevated even at the earliest periods of pregnancy compared with the activity of nonpregnant women. The activity increased continuously up to 25-27 week's gestation. After this period up to 35-37 week's gestation the activity of leucocytic alkaline phosphatase was constant. New elevation of enzymic activity was established at the term of pregnancy. Possible causes for the observed changes were discussed. Reference values for the activity of leucocytic alkaline phosphatase during the second half of normal progressing pregnancy are described. PMID- 2633638 TI - [The place of x-ray pelvimetry in obstetrical practice]. AB - The frequency of roentgenological pelvimetry, its changes in accordance with obstetric management of labour and its place in the obstetric practice were studied at the Research institute of Obstetric and Gynecology for the period of 1979-1988. It was established that its mean frequency for the investigated period was 7.0%, but its highest frequency--11.1% during 1982. During the following years its frequency gradually diminished and it was stabilized within the ranges of 3.5 to 5.0% during the last three years. It is indicated that roentgenological pelvimetry should be made compulsory in women with secondary deformed pelvis and in women with fetal breech presentation, whose parturition should be managed per vias naturales. It is stressed that the roentgenological pelvimetry has its place in the obstetric practice and it is a valuable diagnostic method. PMID- 2633639 TI - [Our experience in using nolitsin in puerperal infections (preliminary report)]. AB - The therapeutic possibilities of the chemotherapeutic preparation Nolicine were studied. Clinical and laboratory parameters were followed in dynamics as well as microbiological examination of lochial and wounded secretion in dynamics. The results from the study showed that the applied preparation, when its usage is contemplated with the isolated bacterial flora, is suitable for treatment of some postpartal infections especially in women, who are allergic to antibiotics. PMID- 2633640 TI - [Cesarean section and postoperative infectious-inflammatory complications. I. A new method for assessing the degree of risk of infectious-inflammatory complications]. AB - After analysing the present practice and describing their experience in 111 caesarean sections, the authors present a new scoring test for evaluation of the degree of the risk from infectious inflammatory complications after caesarean section and implementation of selective antibiotic prophylaxis in accordance with the evaluation. An attempt is made to classify separate factors according to their significance for development of inflammatory complications during the post partial period. The results, schematized on table 1 and figure 1 in the article, illustrate the practical benefit from the test in the prophylaxis of infectious inflammatory complications after caesarean section. PMID- 2633641 TI - [A single dose of doxycycline for preventing infections after cesarean section]. AB - The effect of a single prophylactic dose of 500 mg of doxacycline was studied on infectious morbidity in 50 women, undergone caesarean section. There was a reduction in the number of women with puerperal infection in comparison with a control group of women, who received long regimen of prophylactic antibiotics- ampicillin and gentamicin. The reduction was manifested mostly in women with endometritis and febrile state. It is suggested that this could be due to long lasting monotonous prophylaxis, causing resistance of the microorganisms. PMID- 2633642 TI - [The prevalence of the HBsAg carrier state among pregnant women and its effect on newborn infants. IV. Our experience in using hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin to immunize infants born to mothers who carry HBsAg]. AB - 59 children, born to mothers--carriers of HBsAg were immunized with hepatitis B vaccine (Gen HB-VAX) and hepatic B immunoglobulin (H-BIG) during 1988 in the municipality of Pleven. The results showed that GEN H-B-VAX possessed high immunological and epidemiological effect, manifested by the presence of anti-HBs in all examined children one month after conclusion of immunization. No diseases due to virus hepatitis B as well as persisting antigenemia were observed during the indicated 7-month period. Simultaneously there were one case with virus hepatitis B and 6 cases with persisting antigenemia in the control group of newborn infants. PMID- 2633643 TI - [The artificial feeding with adapted milks of infants born with a very low body weight]. AB - 43 children, born with a weight of 690 to 1000 g, were observed for a period of 20 to 67 days during the first trimester after delivery. The children were divided into two groups in accordance with the feeding. 27 children of the first group received Humana 0; 26 children of the second group were fed with Bebe 0, sweetened with 5% of sugar for increased energy. All children received the adapted milks well. There were no manifestations of intolerance. The mean daily addition of weight was 28.5 g for children, fed with Humana 0 and 27.3 g for those fed with Bebe 0 and this was enough to assure optimal physical development of children. The children, fed with Bebe 0, received considerably larger amount of carbohydrates. The protein intake in both groups was almost equal. There were no considerable differences in respect to KEB. Higher intake of energy (p less than 0.01) was found in children, fed with Bebe 0, without gaining additional body mass. PMID- 2633644 TI - [The secretion of the main ovarian steroids during bleeding in the premenopause]. AB - The authors study the secretion of the basic ovarian steroids (estradiol, progesterone and testosterone) during dysfunctional bleedings in 46 women at the premenopausal phase of climacteric (mean age of 47.02 years). The results show that the premenopausal bleeding occurs on the background of manifested hypoestradiolemia (2.5 times lower than that at the early follicular phase), hypoprogesteronemia (relatively higher that at the early follicular early follicular phase) and relatively high testosteronemia. Determination of the hormones during three successive days show lack of definite dynamics in the secretion of these ovarian steroids. Considerable individual differences are described. PMID- 2633645 TI - [The laser therapy of wound complications with partial dehiscence following gynecologic operations. Clinical studies]. AB - Clinical studies were carried out on 160 women, aged from 26 to 58 years, with partial wounded dehiscence after gynecological operations. The influence of helium neon laser energy with densities of power of 100, 90, 80, 70, 50 m W/cm2 at exposition time of the field of 1.5 min was studied in respect to anesthetic and antiinflammatory effects, initial clearing of devitalized tissues with the appearance of young granulation tissue on the wounded defects till the final healing of the complicated operative wounds. Resorption of inflammatory tissue changes and analgetic effect occurred for the shortest periods of treatment in patients with wounded dehiscences, irradiated with densities of power of laser irradiation of 90 mW/cm2. Initial clearing of devitalized tissues with appearance of young granulation tissue was achieved by the smallest number of irradiations with density of power of laser irradiation within the ranges of 90-70 mW/cm2. The highest alternatively relative part of healed partial wounded dehiscences for a period of 5-10 days of treatment was achieved by the applied density of power of laser irradiation within the ranges of 100-70 mW/cm2. The density of power of the laser irradiation of 50 mW/cm2 was slightly effective in respect to its stimulating possibilities both at the inflammatory phase and at the phases of proliferation and reorganization of the wounded process. PMID- 2633646 TI - [The effect of betamethasone (celeston) on fetal lung development in rats]. AB - The influence of betamethasone (celestone) was studied on the fetal lung development in pregnant rats of Wistar strain. It was shown that the drug was without effect, administered singly. After treatment of the pregnant rats for a period of 3 days with a dose of 0.100 mg/kg the content of the lung surfactant in their amniotic fluids was increased, manifested by an elevation of the threshold dilution (TD), determined by the method of the black foam film. Administration of two-fold higher dose did not cause quicker synthesis of surfactant. The morphological examination of the fetal lung showed that celestone accelerated the synthesis, maturation and secretion of surfactant and intensified differentiation of prealvelocytes of I and II types after the 18th day of the fetal development, which occurred a day earlier than in the control rats. PMID- 2633647 TI - [A new approach in the diagnosis of obstructive azoospermia]. AB - The author describes a new approach to the diagnosis of obstructive azoospermia. The method consists of administration of Panetblau in the seminal duct by an operative way and blue staining is anticipated in urine. This method gives a possibility to examine the patency of seminal pathways at proximal direction. This method was used in 78 patients with mean age of 29 years, suffering from chronic nonspecific epididymitis and obstructive azoospermia and fertile problems. Allergic reaction, caused by Patenblau occurred only in one patient. The proposed method has the following advantages: it is an objective method for establishment of the patency of the seminal pathways, the drug used is water solution, which does not irritate and does not obstruct the lumen of seminal duct, and this method avoids roentgenological irradiation of patients with disturbed spermatogenesis and has a definite economic effect as well. PMID- 2633648 TI - [Cesarean section with the second twin]. PMID- 2633649 TI - [Hysterographic diagnosis of a recently perforated uterus following the placement of an intrauterine pessary (a case report)]. PMID- 2633650 TI - [Genital molluscum contagiosum]. PMID- 2633651 TI - International Symposium on Electroanalysis in Biochemical, Environmental and Industrial Sciences. Loughborough, UK, 11-14 April, 1989. Proceedings. PMID- 2633652 TI - Determination of glutathione in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection with a carbon-epoxy resin composite electrode chemically modified with cobalt phthalocyanine. AB - High-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (LCEC), incorporating a novel carbon-epoxy resin working electrode modified with cobalt phthalocyanine, has been employed for preliminary studies directed towards the determination of normal circulating levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in human plasma. The mobile phase consisted of 0.05 M phosphate buffer (pH 3) containing 0.1% m/m ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); the calibration graph was linear in the range 0.24-30.7 ng of GSH injected. The mean recovery of GSH added to a control serum over the physiological concentration range (0.38-3.07 ng ml-1) was 99%; this was achieved following a simple sample pre-treatment method, prior to LCEC, involving chelation of divalent cations with EDTA and subsequent acidification with orthophosphoric acid. Using the LCEC method, the mean circulating level of GSH in plasma, found in three normal subjects, was 2.69 microM, GSH; this indicates that the method might be applicable to the determination of depressed circulating levels of GSH. PMID- 2633653 TI - Cyclic and linear sweep voltammetry of cefazolin and cefmetazole: electroanalytical applications. AB - A study of the variables influencing the voltammetric behaviour of cephalosporins and cefamycins bearing substituents of the S-R' type (R' = non-electroactive group) has been carried out in order to determine the most suitable conditions for obtaining reproducible peaks for the determination of both types of antibiotic and the calculation of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. The voltammetric behaviour of cefazolin and cefmetazole has also been studied. The voltammetric peak yielded by these two antibiotics at high sweep rates and low concentrations is due solely to the reduction of adsorbed molecules as the contribution of those molecules moving to the electrode through diffusion to the current is negligible. The peak current of cefazolin varies linearly with its concentration in the range 10(-9)-10(-7) M, whereas the linear range for cefmetazole is between 10(-8) and 5 X 10(-7) M, which allows the electroanalytical determination of the two antibiotics at these concentrations. PMID- 2633654 TI - Determination of trichloroacetate in human serum and urine by ion chromatography. AB - A simple and rapid ion chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of trichloroacetate in human serum and urine. Two short (50 x 5 mm i.d.) low-capacity anion-exchange resin columns in series were used as the analytical column and a mixture of 35 mM sodium hydroxide, 20 mM p hydroxybenzonitrile and 2% V/V acetonitrile (pH 12.3) as the eluent. The calibration graph was rectilinear from 0.3 to 33 mg l-1 of trichloroacetate at 10 microS with a detection limit (3 sigma) of 0.08 mg l-1. The recovery of trichloroacetate, obtained by analysing spiked serum and urine samples, was in the range 98.2-101% and the coefficient of variation was always less than 3.0%. PMID- 2633655 TI - Gas chromatographic determination of 2-ethylhexanoic acid in urine as its pentafluorobenzyl ester. AB - A gas chromatographic (GC) method was developed for the determination of 2 ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA), initially in the urine of animals, but subsequently in samples of urine from sawmill workers in order to evaluate their exposure to 2 EHA which is used as a wood preservative. The 2-EHA was derivatised to the pentafluorobenzyl ester, which was then analysed by means of a cross-linked methyl silicone GC column with electron capture detection. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used to confirm the identity of the GC peaks. The analytical range of the method was 0.03-2.70 mmol of 2-EHA per mol of creatinine in urine and the limit of detection was 0.01 mmol per mol of creatinine. The recovery of 2-EHA was 81-90% with a coefficient of variation of 9.8%. The amount of 2-EHA excreted in urine was corrected for the excretion of creatinine. The concentration of 2-EHA in the urine of the workers studied varied from 0.01 to 5.40 mmol per mol of creatinine; the median was 0.1 mmol per mol of creatinine. PMID- 2633656 TI - Determination of molybdenum in plasma using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. AB - A sensitive method is described for the determination of Mo in plasma or serum by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The method involves extraction of the metal as the 8-hydroxyquinoline complex and is free of the interference effects that prevent the direct analysis of plasma for Mo. Recoveries of internal standards were excellent and results from the analysis of a National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Material were in good agreement with certified values. The sensitivity of the method, based on the analysis of 1 ml of plasma, is ca. 3 ng ml-1. PMID- 2633657 TI - Determination of serum nickel by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman-effect background correction: values in a normal population and a population undergoing dialysis. AB - An atomic absorption spectrometric method with Zeeman-effect background correction for the determination of nickel, which requires only serum dilution with an aqueous surfactant, is described. The average nickel concentration in sera collected from 38 healthy adult volunteers was 0.14 +/- 0.09 micrograms l-1 of Ni, which is approximately four times lower than normals reported previously (0.65 +/- 0.35 or 0.46 +/- 0.26 microgram l-1 of Ni). The procedure yielded accurate results for the analysis of three different reference serum pools. A comparison of the average nickel concentrations from a patient population undergoing regular haemodialysis with our normal population showed that the average concentration of serum nickel in the dialysis patient group (n = 27 patients) was 46 times higher than normal (6.38 +/- 3.36 micrograms l-1 of Ni; n = 40 specimens). PMID- 2633658 TI - Extraction--spectrophotometric determination of oxalate in urine and blood serum. AB - An extraction--spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of oxalate, based on the formation of a mixed ligand vanadium (V)--mandelohydroxamic acid--oxalate complex. The complex was extracted into a solution of trioctylmethylammonium chloride (Adogen 446) in toluene and the absorbance measured at 535 nm. The experimental variables and interferences in this determination were studied. The detection limit is 0.5 microgram ml-1 and the range of application is between 2 and 8 micrograms ml-1. The method was applied to the determination of oxalate in urine and blood serum. PMID- 2633659 TI - [Tolerance of femoral vein catheterization]. AB - The femoral vein is a convenient venous access site which has remained relatively neglected since earlier reports of major complications. However, over the last 10 years, its beneficial use for various purposes (mainly haemodialysis) justifies a reexamination of the value of femoral venous catheterization. The ease of femoral catheterization and its complications were prospectively studied in 92 intensive care patients. Of the 113 attempts made by physicians, 75% of whom were inexperienced, 103 (91.2%) were successful. Insertion resulted in 17 (15%) arterial punctures and 5 local hematomas. Seventy catheters were left in place for an average of 8.8 days. No clinical manifestations of thrombosis were observed. Bilateral phlebography was carried out before removal of the catheter in 70 cases; 45 (64%) of these controls were normal. Of the remaining 25 pathological phlebograms, there were 11 (15.7%) fibrin sleeves, 2 (2.8%) partial thromboses of the common femoral vein which could be directly linked to the venous cannulation, and various abnormalities not directly due to the catheterization (superficial femoral vein thrombosis (4), thrombosis of calf or popliteal veins (18]. One case of catheter septicaemia occurred. Microorganisms were present in 15 (18.3%) of 82 catheter cultured tips. Percutaneous catheterization of the femoral vein might therefore be considered as a good venous access route. It can be successfully used by inexperienced physicians. There is no serious risk of injury to surrounding structures and the risks of thrombosis and infection are acceptable in comparison with other routes. PMID- 2633660 TI - [Peripheral venous catheterization: influence of catheter composition on the occurrence of thrombophlebitis]. AB - Infusion thrombophlebitis is a common troublesome complication of intravenous therapy. This study compared peripheral intravenous Teflon and Vialon catheters. The incidence of phlebitis, bacterial adherence and mechanical resistance (distortion) were assessed on 170 catheters, 85 of each type. The Vialon catheter resulted in less phlebitis than the Teflon one (18 vs. 35; p less than 0.01). During the period 49 to 72 h after the insertion of the catheter, the risk of phlebitis in the Teflon group was twice that in the Vialon group. The study of bacterial adherence using a semi-quantitative culture method demonstrated that 9.0% of the catheters were infected with Staphylococcus epidermidis. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (5.7% Vialon group vs. 12.5% Teflon group). The Teflon catheters were much more distorted than vialon catheters: 1.7% vs. 55.7% in the macroscopic study; 1.75% vs. 8.2% in the microscopic study. As Vialon softens at body temperature, it would seem likely that it generates a lesser degree of endothelial injury, explaining the lower rate of phlebitis with Vialon catheters. PMID- 2633661 TI - [Hemodynamics and hepatic transplantation using a veno-venous shunt: influence of the preoperative hyperkinetic state]. AB - The routine use of a veno-venous bypass is not accepted by all surgical liver transplantation teams. The putative benefits (maintaining haemodynamic stability during the anhepatic phase, reducing blood losses, avoiding renal failure) are counterbalanced by the real risks of air embolism or thromboembolism. A severe preclamping hyperkinetic haemodynamic status represents an elective indication for some authors, whilst it is a reduced cardiac function for others. Two groups of ten patients undergoing liver transplantation, with a porto-femoro-axillary venous bypass (flow rate 2 to 2.5 l.min-1), were studied retrospectively. They differed by their pre-clamping cardiac index (CI), greater than 5 l.min-1.m-2 in group A and less than 4.5 l.min-1.m-2 in group B. The same anaesthetic protocol was used in all patients consisting in fentanyl, thiopentone, pancuronium, and midazolam. The use of blood products and biological parameters did not differ between the two series of patients. The CI decreased by 30% and systemic vascular resistances (Rsa) increased by 48% in group A after clamping, without any deleterious effects on oxygen delivery; similarly, in group B, CI fell by 15% and Rsa increased by 20%. After unclamping, CI rose by greater than 50%, and Rsa decreased in both groups. No differences were seen between the two series 5 min after revascularisation. The release of vasoactive agents by the cold ischaemic graft could explain this. These results suggest that veno-venous bypass could be beneficial in the 2 different preoperative haemodynamic profiles studied. The low decrease in CI in hyperkinetic patients allowed tissue oxygenation to be maintained at adequate levels during the anhepatic phase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2633662 TI - [Retrograde orotracheal intubation]. AB - Four different techniques of retrograde tracheal intubation were studied in 77 cadavers (patients who had died less than 4 h before). None had any laryngeal disease or a previous intubation. Following techniques were evaluated: cricothyroid membrane puncture; infracricoid puncture; catheter guide inserted through the endotracheal tube; catheter guide only inserted through the distal lateral eye (Murphy eye) of the endotracheal tube. An epidural catheter was used as a guide. Success rate was low (5 out of 17 attempts) when cricothyroid puncture was used, and the guide passed through the whole length of the tube. All 20 attempts were successful when infracricoid puncture was used and the guide passed through the distal lateral eye of the endotracheal tube. The different techniques and equipment needed are discussed in the light of the available literature. Retrograde tracheal intubation seems to be an easy and useful technique, which all anaesthetists should know, in case of difficult intubation. PMID- 2633664 TI - [Lumbar epidural catheterization]. PMID- 2633663 TI - [Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia complicated by hematoma of the adrenal glands and acute adrenal insufficiency]. AB - Three cases of acute adrenal haemorrhage complicating heparin induced thrombocytopaenia are described. The patients were 2 men and 1 woman, respectively 62, 74 and 76-year old. They all had orthopaedic problems requiring a treatment by subcutaneous calcium heparinate. Thrombocytopaenia occurred 7 to 10 days after the beginning of treatment, with a progressive return to normal of platelet count on stopping heparin. A syndrome suggestive of adrenal failure appeared on the 10 th to 12 th day consisting of abdominal pain, hyperpyrexia, arterial hypotension, asthenia, altered consciousness. Adrenal hormone levels were decreased. Abdominal scanography demonstrated adrenal haemorrhage in 2 patients. The third patient died before further investigations could be carried out. Hormonal replacement therapy brought things back to normal. Six other similar cases have already been published. The heparin induced thrombocytopaenia probably explains the two paradoxes of adrenal haemorrhage complicating heparin therapy: its occurrence in the absence of excessive anticoagulation, and adrenal venous thrombosis. The presence of abdominal pain, fever, collapse, or hyponatraemia with heparin induced thrombocytopaenia should suggest a possible adrenal haemorrhage. Adrenal CT scans should be carried out rapidly, so that hormone treatment can be initiated without delay. PMID- 2633665 TI - [Use of propofol in a patient with acute intermittent porphyria]. PMID- 2633666 TI - [Comparative evaluation of 2 fiber optic catheters for the continuous measurement of Svo2]. AB - Nineteen intensive care patients with shock and acute respiratory failure were studied using two different fiber-optic catheters used for the continuous measurement of mixed venous blood oxygen saturation (SVO2). In groupe I patients (n = 11), a Swan-Ganz catheter with optic fibres emitting light characterized by three different wavelengths was used (Opticath Oximetrix). In groupe II patients (n = 8), a Sat-one Edwards catheter was used instead (only two different wavelengths). All the patients were studied in the early stages of shock, once all the calibration procedures had been carried out. An increase in FIO2, using PEEP, fluid replacement therapy and vasoactive drugs or diuretics all improved the cardio-respiratory status of each patient. After each new therapeutic procedure, SVO2 was measured in blood samples obtained from these catheters, and from the pulmonary artery (to give the reference value, using an OSM3 Hemoximeter). Over a period of 1.5 to 6 h, 119 measurements were carried out in Group I, and 91 in Group II. The correlation coefficient was higher with the Oximetrix catheter than with the Edwards one (r = 0.970 and 0.855 respectively; p less than 0.001). Moreover, the 24 h spontaneous drift of the former catheter was less than that of the latter (+3.3 +/- 3.1% vs. +9.3 +/- 7%, p less than 0.05). This study showed that a catheter with optic fibres emitting a light with three wavelengths is more accurate than one emitting only two for the measurement of changes in SVO2 in critically ill patients. PMID- 2633667 TI - [Relation of oxygen transport and consumption. Role of impaired tissue uptake]. AB - In healthy subjects, when oxygen transport is gradually decreased, oxygen consumption is maintained as tissue oxygen extraction is increased. When delivery is decreased further, there is a critical level below which tissue extraction cannot increase in proportion to the reduced delivery, and oxygen consumption falls. Blood lactate levels then rise, a sign of tissue hypoxia, despite further increases in oxygen extraction as delivery drops below this critical level. There are two major mechanisms which tend to prevent tissue hypoxia in case of reduced oxygen delivery: regional redistribution of blood flow and an increase in the number of perfused capillaries. This possibility of regulating blood flow distribution may be lost during disseminated intravascular coagulation, alpha adrenergic receptor blockade, hypothermia, arteriovenous shunting. All these alterations have been reported as occurring in sepsis. An abnormal dependency on oxygen supply is observed during bacteriaemia or endotoxinaemia. This is secondary to a reduced ability, at the whole body level, to extract oxygen from a limited supply. The inability to increase oxygen extraction is related to a maldistribution of the cardiac output, with "stealing" of blood, i.e. overperfusion of some organs (skeletal muscle) rather than those where perfusion is rapidly compromised (small intestine). Endotoxin also reduces the efficacy of oxygen extraction within the isolated intestinal segment, whereas that within other organs is preserved. These observations are similar to findings in patients with sepsis who seem to have both an increased demand in oxygen, and a reduced ability to extract it at the tissue level. PMID- 2633668 TI - [What is the role of monitoring of mixed venous blood saturation in cardiac surgery?]. AB - The equipment available for mixed venous blood saturation (Svo2) monitoring is now accurate. SvO2 is not a direct measure of cardiac output, because it depends on the balance between oxygen delivery (TaO2) and consumption (VO2). As haemoglobin affinity for oxygen increases during cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB), the optimal level of SvO2 after CPB should be above 65-70%. There is a critical level of TaO2 below which VO2 is dependent on TaO2. Below this level, SvO2 has no clinical value as it no longer depends on TaO2. Similarly, SvO2 has no clinical value during lactic acidosis. When these limitations are taken into account, SvO2 monitoring is useful for the interpretation of intra- and post-operative haemodynamic alterations occurring during cardiac surgery. It is particularly indicated in patients with preoperative NYHA class III or IV congestive heart failure. PMID- 2633669 TI - [Weaning from artificial respiration: value of continuous monitoring of mixed venous oxygen saturation]. AB - Weaning from mechanical ventilation is particularly difficult in patients with combined cardiac and respiratory failure. Continuous monitoring of mixed venous blood oxygen saturation (SvO2) redefines weaning in terms of tissue oxygenation. A stable SvO2 greater than 60% during weaning is a reliable index of weanability. However, further studies are required to establish a tolerance threshold for SvO2 during weaning. In the limited experience reported here, an immediate and abrupt fall in SvO2, when the patient started to breathe spontaneously was invariably associated with difficulties in weaning. In some patients, other signs of left ventricular dysfunction rapidly ensued, with a fall in cardiac index. Weaning remained possible if the treatment was capable of increasing cardiac output and normalizing SvO2. If, during spontaneous breathing, SvO2 remained stable in the 50-55% range, with no significant decrease in cardiac output, abrupt and unpredictable drops of SvO2 under 40% range occurred. Such falls always preceded signs of tissue hypoxia, leading to a resumption of controlled mechanical ventilation. However, further studies are required to fully delineate the role of SvO2 in the fine tuning of inotropic support and ventilatory assistance in the difficult weaning of patients recovering from cardio-respiratory failure. PMID- 2633670 TI - Age-dependent doses to members of the public from intake of radionuclides: Part 1. A report of a Task Group Committee of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. PMID- 2633671 TI - Radiological protection of the worker in medicine and dentistry. A report of a Task Group of Committee 3 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. PMID- 2633672 TI - The psychobiology of human eating disorders: preclinical and clinical perspectives. PMID- 2633673 TI - Hunger and satiety in anorexia and bulimia nervosa. PMID- 2633674 TI - Eating behavior in bulimia. AB - Despite our strong belief in the utility of laboratory studies of eating behavior, we also note several caveats on the data thereby obtained. First, it must be assumed that subjects' behavior is influenced by the laboratory environment and is not identical to eating behavior in a "normal" setting. Second, not all bulimic subjects who were screened for these studies actually participated, so that it is possible that the sample of patients from whom we obtained data differed in some ways from a general clinical population of women with bulimia. Nonetheless, we believe that our data provide compelling evidence that the disturbed eating behavior characteristic of bulimia nervosa can be profitably studied in the laboratory. Even under structured laboratory conditions, most bulimic patients rated one of their multicourse meals as typical of a binge, and, during that meal, consumed a much larger amount of food and ate more rapidly than did controls who were asked to overeat. The significant correlations between the sizes of the multicourse and single-course binge meals and between the size of laboratory binge meals and the size of the "naturally occurring" binge meals reported to the dietician suggest that a reproducible phenomenon is being examined. The results of our studies suggest that the abnormalities of eating behavior in bulimia nervosa cannot be viewed simply as a disturbance of carbohydrate consumption or even as the episodic consumption of a certain type of food. Rather, eating behavior in this syndrome appears more generally disturbed. The most striking difference between the binge and the nonbinge meals of bulimic patients and between the binge eating of patients and the overeating of normal persons is the amount of food consumed, not the macronutrient composition of the meals. In addition, for all four meal types, the patients were hungrier after the end of the meal than were the controls, even though the patients' average caloric intakes were generally larger and their average hunger ratings before the meals did not differ from those of the controls. Certainly, self-induced vomiting may contribute to this abnormality, but it was also observed after nonbinge meals when vomiting did not occur. Together, these data are consistent with the notion that the essential appetitive abnormality in bulimia nervosa lies in the control of the amount of food consumed, not in the consumption of a particular macronutrient or type of food. Patients with bulimia nervosa appear less responsive than normal to the signals that lead to the termination of a meal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID- 2633675 TI - [Value of x-ray computed tomography in osteoid osteoma]. AB - Four cases of suspected osteoid osteoma were evaluated by computed tomography (CT). The authors relate the role of CT. As a key diagnostic tool: radionuclide imaging is helpful in directing subsequent CT scans, which allows the study of complex anatomical sites (spine) or the analysis of atypical lesions (invisible nidus, sclerosis or lytic lesions, double nidus...). CT provides the surgeon with the exact location and extent of the lesion, and thus, CT may allow a more limited surgical resection of the involved bone. PMID- 2633676 TI - [International Symposium on Peroperative Radiotherapy. Montpellier, 6 July 1989. Proceedings]. PMID- 2633677 TI - [Biological bases of peroperative radiotherapy]. PMID- 2633678 TI - Intraoperative radiation therapy for carcinomas of the stomach and pancreas. PMID- 2633679 TI - The Munich experience in intraoperative irradiation therapy of pancreatic cancer. PMID- 2633680 TI - [The French experience with peroperative radiotherapy of gastric and pancreatic cancers]. PMID- 2633681 TI - Application of intraoperative radiation therapy to refractory cancers. PMID- 2633682 TI - The French experience on intraoperative radiotherapy in gynecological cancers. PMID- 2633683 TI - Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for locally advanced carcinoma of the base of the tongue. Technique - preliminary results. PMID- 2633684 TI - Preliminary report on local tumor response and tissue damage after intraoperative and external beam radiation therapy in lung cancer. PMID- 2633685 TI - [Thoracic puncture-biopsy. Technic and indications. Critical study of more than 1,200 procedures]. AB - With the use of CT guidance, thoracic (pulmonary and mediastinal) biopsy is a very accurate procedure. The authors obtained 86% of good results in a series of more than 1,200 procedures. Aspiration-biopsy therefore occupies an important place in the diagnostic process and in pretreatment assessment when fibroscopy is negative. The authors describe their technique and demonstrate the value of minimally traumatic biopsy equipment: fine millimetric needles. The use of CT and fine needles dramatically decreases the risk of pneumothorax and blank aspiration. A personalised collaboration between radiologists and pneumocytologists is an essential prerequisite. The authors discuss the indications for this technique and propose a decisional flowchart. PMID- 2633686 TI - [Mesenterico-atrial shunt in the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome. Contribution of MRI in monitoring of 2 cases]. AB - The authors report the value of MRI in the long-term follow-up of two cases of mesenterico-atrial shunt for Budd-Chiari syndrome. They discuss the problems of differential diagnosis between slow flow and thrombosis, a significant risk with this type of shunt. PMID- 2633687 TI - [Cancer of the tonsillar region. Role of irradiation in treatment]. AB - In our center, carcinomas of the tonsillar region are usually treated by radiotherapy. This study presents the results of our treatment experience over ten years. Between 1976 and 1986, we treated 137 patients with carcinoma of the tonsillar area. The mean age was 54.3 years. The UICC TNM staging of 1979 was used: 63% of the patients had T3 and T4 tumours and 53% had lymph nodes at the first examination. All patients were treated by radiotherapy, alone for 121 patients and associated with brachytherapy for 16 patients. 61 patients received induction chemotherapy with Cisplatinum. Local control rate at the primary site was 56%, and was respectively 92%, 71%, 57% and 11% for T1, T2, T3 and T4 tumours. Local control rate in the neck was 72%. The 5-year actuarial survival rate was 34%. Distant metastasis occurred in 12 patients. 9 patients had a second primary tumor. Node status and stage were the main prognostic factors. Age, sex, histological subtype were not prognostic factors. PMID- 2633688 TI - [Pseudotumoral aspect of stress fracture of the pubis]. AB - Stress fractures of the symphysis pubis are usually due to bone insufficiency. After describing two cases which caused diagnostic difficulties, the authors relate how these fractures may simulate tumor with deceptive bone destruction. The existence of predisposing factors, namely post-menopausal osteoporosis and a history of pelvic radiation therapy, together with the radiological characteristics associating bone destruction with peripheral sclerosis suggest the diagnostic. Awareness of this pathology may avoid unnecessary biopsies which can cause delay in bone consolidation. PMID- 2633689 TI - [The fate of ureteral endoprostheses]. AB - Fifty-five pyelovesical endoprostheses were inserted percutaneously in 56 patients. The indication for this procedure was a benign disease in 22 cases and a malignant disease in 34 cases. Early complications were haemorrhagic (3 haematomas) and infectious (septicaemic syndrome: 2 cases). 80.6% of the stents remained patent and most of the obstructions occurred before the second month in the benign indications (mean: 4.1 weeks) and later (mean: 13 weeks) in the malignant indications. Two-stage insertion (nephrostomy then insertion of the endoprosthesis under conditions of sterile and non-haemorrhagic urine) decreased the risk of early occlusion of the stent by urinary debris and clots. Abundant diuresis and control of urinary tract infection by prophylactic antiseptic treatment contribute to the maintenance of the patency of the prosthesis. PMID- 2633690 TI - [The association of 2 histologically different neuroepithelial tumors]. AB - The association of two primary brain tumours is seen in phacomatoses. Tumours may also be induced by radiotherapy or a primary tumour may be associated with a secondary tumour. The presence of two histologically different primary neuro epithelial tumours in a subject with no particular medical history appears to be very rare with a undefinable frequency. PMID- 2633691 TI - [Hepatic puncture-biopsy with embolization of the tract]. AB - Recently reported by Shuang, percutaneous liver biopsy with embolisation of the tract (PLBET), involves the use of a coaxial needle system permitting embolisation of the tract while avoiding the haemorrhage complications of conventional biopsy. We conceived a system similar to shuang's 14G, 16G. We report the description of this system and the results obtained on 50 patients. Thanks to it simplicity we believe that PLBET should definitely replace definitely the transjugular liver biopsy (TLB). PMID- 2633692 TI - [Current problems of production and rational use of antibiotics]. PMID- 2633693 TI - [Production of new antibiotics. Problems and prospects]. PMID- 2633694 TI - [Determining the conditions for stimulation of levorin biosynthesis in the presence of succinic acid]. AB - Conditions promoting the stimulating effect of succinic acid on biosynthesis of levorin were determined. The optimal concentration of succinate was shown to be equal to 0.05-0.3 per cent and the best time for the addition was before inoculation. The most pronounced stimulating effect was observed when the initial pH value of the fermentation medium was equal to 7.0. The important role of ammonium nitrogen in manifestation of the succinic acid stimulating effect on biosynthesis of levorin was suggested. PMID- 2633695 TI - [Effect of various microorganisms on the activity of levorin]. AB - Levorin added to nutrient media with growing cultures of aerobic gram-positive bacilli, Escherichia, enterococci and filamentous fungi was partially inactivated. The antibiotic activity decrease depended on the strain characteristics, incubation period and temperature. Fermentation broth filtrates of the experimental strains also inactivated levorin while to a lesser extent than the growing organisms. In contaminated levorin pastes, the antibiotic activity was lower. The fermentative nature of inactivation was not proved. PMID- 2633696 TI - [Mass-spectrometric analysis of an anti-microbial preparation decamethoxine]. AB - I. I. Mechnikov Kharkov Research Institute of Microbiology, Vaccines and Sera, Ministry of Public Health of the Ukrainian SSR. The results of mass spectrometric investigation of decamethoxine++, an antimicrobial chemotherapeutic drug, are presented. It was shown that desorption-field mass spectrometry provided recording decamethoxine++ intensive quasimolecular ions [M.Cl]+ and [M]++ forming under conditions of high electric intensity only from the intact parent molecule. Hence, the presence of the peaks in the desorption field mass spectra made it possible to definitively determine decamethoxine++ in the samples. Therefore, the procedure of desorption-field mass spectrometry proved reliable in identification of bisquaternary ammonium compounds. Ways for thermal decomposition and mass spectrometric fragmentation of the decamethoxine++ molecule under various ionization conditions are also discussed. PMID- 2633697 TI - [Effect of glycosides of betulafolientriol and its 3-epimer on the growth of tumor cells in vitro]. AB - The effect of triterpene glycosides synthesized on the basis of betulafolientriol, ginsenoside Rb1 from gingseng, betulafolientriol and its 3 epimer on the growth of the Ehrlich tumor cell cultures was studied. It was shown that, in relation to the quantitative composition and sites of carbohydrate residue linkage to aglycone as well as configuration of the alpha- or beta hydroxyl group at C-3, the activity of the triterpenoids of the dammaranic series changed within wide ranges. 3- and 12-0-beta-D-glycosides of 3 epibetulafolientriol proved to be the most active. PMID- 2633698 TI - [Composition and immunological activity of membrane-bound surface glycoprotein from Crithidia oncopelti]. AB - A membrane-bound glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 10000-12000 was isolated from Crithidia oncopelti and purified. The glycoprotein contained peptide, carbohydrate and lipid fragments and phosphorus. The peptide fragment was represented by 10 amino acids. The carbohydrate fragment was represented by 7 monosaccharides. The lipid part was mainly represented by stearic acid. The glycoprotein showed immunostimulating properties. It had a comitogenic effect on murine spleen cells in vitro and induced tumoricidal activity in murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro and in vivo. PMID- 2633699 TI - [Immunostimulating properties of synthetic derivatives of muramyl dipeptide and glucosaminyl muramyl dipeptide in vitro]. AB - Production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) by macrophages of the spleen and peritoneal exudate of mice as well as cytotoxic factors (CFs) by murine splenocytes after in vitro activation was estimated. All the derivatives of muramyldipeptide (MDP) and glucosaminylmuramyldipeptide (GMDP) were able to induce production of TNF and CFs. In the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the effect was always higher. The response of the spleen macrophages to the effect of the preparations was higher than that of the peritoneal ones and ++non-fractionated splenocytes. GMDP and GMDP4 especially in the presence of LPS had the highest effect on induction of IL-1 by the murine peritoneal macrophages. On the contrary, MDP induced higher IL-1 synthesis by the spleen macrophages. The most active substances with respect to production of TNF, CFs and IL-1, i.e. MDP3 and GMDP4, might be recommended for immunotherapy of syngeneic tumors in animals. PMID- 2633700 TI - [Increasing the sensitivity of murine splenic cells to interleukin-2 after in vivo exposure to lipopolysaccharide, muramyl dipeptide and concanavalin A]. AB - Changes in sensitivity of the murine spleen cells to interleukin-2 (IL-2) after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), muramyldipeptide (MDP) and their combinations were studied. The possible effect of concanavalin A (Con A) administered in vivo on increasing sensitivity of the lymphoid cells to IL-2 was also studied. Exposure to LPS, MDP and their combinations led to an over 2-fold increase in responses of the spleen cells to the effect of IL-2 as compared to the controls. When Con A was administered to mice intravenously in a high dose, sensitivity of their spleen cells to IL-2 markedly increased in 18 hours. PMID- 2633701 TI - [Effect of carbohydrate components of ristomycin A on platelet aggregation in human plasma]. AB - In the process of the investigation, conditions for specific removal of arabinose in tetrasaccharide of ristomycin A, a glycopeptide antibiotic as well as conditions for simultaneous removal of arabinose and mannose-2 bound to actinoidinic acid were determined. The role of arabinose in manifestation of the ristomycin A ability to induce platelet aggregation was shown to be important. Mannose-2 also had the same ability while its level was somewhat lower. PMID- 2633702 TI - [Comparative study of the cytotoxic effects of anthracycline antibiotics on heterotransplants of human breast cancer cultivated in diffusion chambers in vivo]. AB - Cytotoxic activity of doxorubicin, daunomycin, carminomycin and ruboxyl against 50 human breast cancer heterotransplants in diffusion chambers was studied. The effect was estimated autoradiographically on the 6th or the 7th day of the cultivation after the drug administration in the maximum tolerance doses. The tumors were considered sensitive when the labeling index of their transplants after the treatment appeared to be reduced by 50 or less per cent against the control. The number of the tumors sensitive to all the drugs amounted to 72-80 per cent. 19 tumors were sensitive to 4 antibiotics. 14 and 8 tumors were sensitive to 3 and 2 antibiotics, respectively, and only 1 tumor was sensitive to 1 drug. The sensitivity significantly correlated with the initial labeling index of the primary tumors and their heterotransplants. The results suggested that daunomycin and ruboxyl possessed a high cytotoxic activity close to that of doxorubicin and carminomycin and might be recommended for clinical trials in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. PMID- 2633703 TI - [Status of the adenine system of the rat liver after administration of anthracycline antibiotics]. AB - Changes in the content and ratio of various components of the adenylate system were followed up in the liver of rats after their exposure to doxorubicin and daunorubicin in the time course of 35 days. The shifts detected in various periods after the exposure must be due to different regulatory mechanisms. By the end of the experiment (on day 35) there was a tendency to normalization of the indices. PMID- 2633704 TI - [Experimental study of late effects of the damaging action of doxorubicin on the lymphoid tissue]. AB - It was shown in experiments with CBA/Lac J mice that both a single use of doxorubicin (MID) and its use during a treatment course (1/10 LD50.10) induced impairment of the morphological composition of the central and peripheral lymphoid organs along with changes in the functional activity of separate cell populations of the immune system which persisted over a prolonged period up to 3 months. The course use of the drug resulted in a significant decrease in the proliferative response of the splenocytes to the polyclonal T- and B-cell mitogens in 1 month, which was followed by inhibition of interleukin-2 production. On the contrary, 1 month later, the single administration of the cytostatic induced activation of the LPS-responding cell populations and an increase in production of the growth factor in the culture of T-lymphocytes. PMID- 2633705 TI - [Effect of antihepatotoxic tea on the course of drug-induced hepatitis]. AB - Pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of antihepatoxic tea was studied on an experimental model of tetracycline-induced hepatitis. It was concluded that the tea had a marked pharmacotherapeutic effect on the process of tetracycline-induced hepatitis in animals. It lowered the level of the cytolytic syndrome, prevented the progress of cholestasis and stimulated the bile secretory function of the liver. The favourable effect of the plant antihepatotoxic preparation was due to the presence of a complex of its biologically active substances. PMID- 2633706 TI - [Large-form histoplasmosis (H. duboisii) in Madagascar (apropos of 3 cases)]. PMID- 2633707 TI - [Cyto-microbiological and serological study for the screening of sexually transmissible diseases in Malagasy multiparous women]. PMID- 2633708 TI - [Gynecological cancers in Madagascar (observed by the Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy of the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar 1954-1987)]. PMID- 2633709 TI - [Prospective study of the immunomodulator properties of i.m. administered "ALVA" extract in patients with solid tumors under a course of chemical immunosuppressive therapy]. PMID- 2633710 TI - [Study of the antimicrobial action of various essential oils extracted from Malagasy plants. II: Lauraceae]. AB - The microbial growth inhibitory properties of some Lauraceae essential oils, Laurus nobilis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon) and Ravensara anisata were studied by the determination of their respective M.I.C. (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration). Five bacterial strains, one fungi and two yeasts were used to evaluate the essential oils inhibitory capacities. These vegetable extracts, with decrease activity, were range also: C. zeylanicum--bark greater than R. anisata- bark greater than C. zeylanicum--leaves greater than L. nobilis greater than R. anisata--leaves. The essential oils extracted from cinnamon and R. anisata--bark were very interesting by their antifungic activities. PMID- 2633711 TI - [The presence of the Culex (Culex) neavei mosquito in Madagascar, its relevance in the transmission of arboviruses]. AB - A study was made of 25 male and 43 female mosquitoes belonging to the Culex (Culex) univittatus group, from different localities in Madagascar, Indian Ocean. This showed that Culex neavei Theobald, 1906 is present on the island, at least in the Tsiroanomandidy region. As demonstrated previously, Cx. univitatus Theobald, 1901 is also present. Because of the presence of some atypical forms, firm identifications was made only in males according to the structure of the leaflet of the sub-apical lobe of the gonocoxite. The relevance of the presence of Cx. neavei to the epidemiology of West Nile and Babanki viruses in Madagascar is discussed. PMID- 2633712 TI - [A venomous snake of Madagascar. 2 case reports of bites by Madagascarophis (Colubrida opisthoglypha)]. PMID- 2633713 TI - [Sensitivity of Yersinia pestis to antibiotics: 277 strains isolated in Madagascar between 1926 and 1989]. AB - The antimicrobial susceptibility of 277 strains of Yersinia pestis was studied using broth microdilution panel. In recent strains, trimethoprim, cotrimoxazole and ampicillin were the most active of the antibiotics tested (MICs less than 2 mg/l). All strains were inhibited by 16 mg/l of kanamycin and sulfamethoxazole, 32 mg/l of sulphadiazine and sulfanilamide, and 64 mg/l of sulfamethoxypyridazine. Doxycycline, minocycline, chloramphenicol, demeclocycline, tetracycline, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline were equally active but some of strains were resistant (13% for tetracycline; 32.5% for oxytetracycline; 84.5% for chlortetracycline). Analysis of MICs in relation with time (comparison of the two period: 1926-1948 and 1948-1989) evidenced a trend towards a decrease in susceptibility to cyclines prime generation. Sulphonamides and streptomycin preserve the some efficacity on Y. pestis but we have to notice the possible existence of resistant strain on high level with streptomycin. PMID- 2633714 TI - [Study of the plasmid expression of Malagasy strains of Yersinia pestis from 1926 through 1988]. PMID- 2633715 TI - [Current problems caused by malaria in the pediatric environment (apropos of 1,230 cases encountered in Pediatrics "A" from 1980 to 30 September 1988)]. PMID- 2633716 TI - [Biotransformation of progesterone-4-14C into 17-hydroxyprogesterone and testosterone by human skin in vitro]. AB - Human skin biotransform naturally occurring steroid hormones. 4-14C progesterone skin fate might involve C-19 derivates formation. In vitro incubation of 4-14C progesterone with defammation. human abdominal skin minces for 5 days periods, predominantly yield: 1) Metabolites reduced at C-20 and C-5 positions of 4-14C progesterone. 2) 4-pregnen-17 01-20-one (0.85%). 3) 4-Androsten-17-01-3-one isolated as an acetylated derivative (0.29%). 4) A metabolite that behaves like 4 androsten-3, 17-diol. The metabolites identity was established through repeated cocrystallizations with known purified carriers in different organic solvents 17 hydroxy-progesterone was found at greater concentrations in the group of polar metabolites. These metabolites are of biochemical interest but can not be assessed until the effects of these compounds on human skin are known. PMID- 2633717 TI - The function of the middle-ear air spaces as tuned resonators. AB - The middle-ear air-spaces (MEAS) not only act as an air reservoir and provide a buffering effect against negative intratympanic pressures caused by tubal dysfunction, but more fundamentally constitute a resonant cavity whose impedance is appropriately tuned to the frequency response of the auditory system of each individual species. When this ideal air volume is altered, either by pathology or by surgery, the response characteristics of the middle ear, and consequently, of the entire auditory system are modified. This concept was tested by measuring the compliance of artificial membranes coupled to closed rigid air spaces of varied volumes, and also by obtaining compliance-pressure functions (tympanograms) of guinea pig ears when the volume of their MEAS was surgically modified. A direct relationship between changes in the middle ear air volume and measurements of tympanic compliance was demonstrated in both models and real ears. This effect has implications on the sensitivity and frequency response characteristics of ears in which this volume has been significantly altered by either pathological processes or by surgical procedures. PMID- 2633718 TI - [Deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in a family]. AB - The erytrocyte glucose-6-phosphate deshydrogenase (G6PD) identification and activity were determinated in all member of a family, which was selected because one of the sons showed the clinical signs of hemolitic anemia due to G6PD deficiency and this was confirmed by qualitative fluorescent test, enzyme activity quantification and electrophoretic runs. It was found that two clinically healthy brothers are G6PD deficients and that the mother and one sister are carriers of this enzimatyc defect of the A--variant. As an antecedent it was found that the propositus mother received chloramphenicol treatment for ten days during the first three months of pregnancy. The advantages of the opportune enzymatic studies, with the objective to avoid hemolitic crisis in those G6PD deficient persons, are commented. PMID- 2633719 TI - [Differences in the synthesis of IgA antibodies against T-dependent antigens in males and females]. AB - Rats immunized with T-dependent antigens revealed a greater specific IgA and IgM antibody response in females. There was no significant difference in the IgG antibody response. Quantitative differences in the IgA and IgM antibody response between males and females may be explained by genetics and hormonals factors. Greater IgA response in females may be another factor explaining the majority of female survival. PMID- 2633720 TI - Acute respiratory infections in Mexican rural communities. AB - This study describes the epidemiology of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in a sample of rural population of Mexico. The study includes 137 communities from all over the country: 51 with 5001 to 15000. In each community ten families with one child under one year of age were followed. Each family was child under one year of age were followed. Each family was visited weekly by one physician from the local IMSS-COPLAMAR clinic in order to register frequency and characteristics of ARI in each family member. We followed 1359 families and observed 4796.9 persons year. Eight thousand and two episodes of ARI were observed. The relative risk of getting ARI in children below two years of age was 2.8 and in severe malnourished was 1.8. The frequency of ARI was higher in large communities than in small ones. Eight six point eight percent of the episodes were upper respiratory infections, 95.3 percent of the cases cured, 4.6 became chronic and there were four deaths. Mortality rate was 0.8 per 1000 persons-year. Sixty nine point eight percent of the cases received antithermics, 49.3 percent antihistaminics and, 48.6 percent antibiotics. PMID- 2633721 TI - [Increase of lymphocytes producing antibodies against rabies virus, using intrasplenic adoptive transfer in mice treated with cyclophosphamide]. AB - Spleen lymphocytes from donor mice immunized against rabies virus were transferred into non immunised cyclophosphamide treated syngeneic mice. Antibody producing cells against rabies antigens were increased in the cyclosphosphamide treated recipient mice (p less than 0.01) as compared to then non treated recipient mice. A fusion was made with the splenic cells of cyclophosphamide treated recipient mice and SP2 murine myeloma cells 30 of 144 hypridoma plated welles were positive. There results suggest that cyclophosphamide immunosuppression inhibits the regulation of antibody production. PMID- 2633722 TI - Biliary excretion of mercury and cadmium. AB - The own kinetic data on the biliary excretion of different mercury species and cadmium are presented. The role of enterohepatic circulation, mechanisms of biliary excretion and mobilization of Cd2+ and Hg2+ with selected chelating agents are discussed. The experimental results are confronted with scarce human data available from own laboratory and literature. PMID- 2633723 TI - [Measurement of serum cholinesterase activity: comparison of commercial and laboratory test reagents, enzyme standards and statistical processing of the results]. AB - The commercially available kits (Test-Combination, Cholinesterase, Boehringer, Mannheim and Test-reagent, Cholinesterase EC 3.1.1.8, Pliva, Zagreb) and reagents prepared in own laboratory for measuring cholinesterase activity (Ellman method) were tested with respect to their stability and the reproducibility of the activity measurements. The reagents of the three sources were shown to be interchangeable and equally stable over a few weeks. The coefficient of variation for within-run measurements by the Ellman method was 2-3% and that for between run measurements 6%. The stability of the few enzyme standards (Precinorm E, Precinorm U, NBS-serum and native human serum) for the quality control of the measurements was also tested: the most stable was native human serum. PMID- 2633724 TI - [Reevaluation of work disability in chronic bronchitis and functional criteria at rest]. AB - As part of an investigation to reassess disability which was performed in 579 subjects with an internist's diagnosis, disability was reassessed in 68 males with chronic bronchitis as the main diagnosis. Disability reassessment was carried out by an informal team of physicians consisting of pulmologists and members of a second degree disability board. The aim of the study was to define the differences between disability reevaluation and residual working capacity. In. chronic bronchitics, a complete functional pulmonary test was carried out including measurement of the degree of obstruction, several specific parameters, non-specific bronchial reactivity and an analysis of arterial blood gases. Disability was reassessed in accordance with the following parameters: accurate evaluation, inaccurate evaluation, residual working capacity, uncompleted treatment. The one-way Kruskal-Wallis rank analysis of non-parametric data attributed the following predictors as specific: age, PC20, FEV1, the condition of hyperreactive airways and the degree of airway obstruction. The relevance of functional criteria ar rest, particularly of FEV1, for assessing the loss of working capacity in persons with chronic obstructive bronchitis is emphasized. PMID- 2633725 TI - [Respiratory diseases, symptoms and ventilatory function in workers involved in processing food for livestock]. AB - The prevalence of chronic and acute respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity were studied in a group of 71 workers employed in animal food processing. A control group of 55 unexposed workers was also included in the study. A significantly higher prevalence for most of the chronic respiratory symptoms was found among the exposed than among control workers. Exposed smokers had a significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, chronic bronchitis and chest tightness than control smokers. The values for FVC, FEV1 and FEF50 measured in the exposed workers were significantly lower in comparison to predicted normal lung function values. In smokers all the measured parameters of ventilatory capacity were significantly lesser than predicted. For non-smokers only FVC and FEV1 were below normal. Our data indicate that occupational exposure to animal food may cause the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and impairment of ventilatory capacity. PMID- 2633726 TI - [Butyrylcholinesterase activity in agricultural workers in seasons when pesticides are not used]. AB - This paper aims at proving the usefulness of determination of butyrylcholinesterase activity (BuChE) out of the spraying season, in workers exposed to pesticides periodically or permanently over a period of several years. A group (I) of 95 agricultural workers periodically exposed to pesticides was examined twice, and another group (II) of 29 permanently exposed workers up to four times. The results were compared with the results for 111 control workers. The mean value for BuChE activity in control workers was x = 1.828 delta pH/30 min (SD = 0.148), and the lower normal value (1.6 delta pH/30 min) was C 6.2. At first examination Group I showed xIa = 1.645 (SD = 0.170), and the lower level of normal value C 38.9. At second examination the respective values were XIb = 1.622 (SD = 0.202) and C 40.1. The values for Group II were XII = 1.680 (SD = 0.199) and C 29.2. The results showed a statistically significant decrease in BuChE activity (p less than 0.01) in Group I as well as in Group II, at both examinations. Comparison of the results for the two exposed groups did not show a statistically significant decrease. The results obtained prove that repeated exposure to pesticides prolongs the time of enzyme BuChE regeneration, thus making determination of BuChE useful even out of spraying season. PMID- 2633727 TI - [Evaluation of the health status of workers exposed to carbon disulfide]. AB - The investigation included 134 workers from a viscose rayon factory who were exposed to average concentrations of carbon disulphide exceeding MAC values (x = 119.3 mg/m3) for more than 75% of their working hours. Workers' chronic morbidity from carbon disulphide exposure was analysed over a three-year period, and results were compared with those for a control group of the same age but with a shorter exposure duration. The percentage of ill workers and the prevalence rate were both similar to those of the control group. However, as concerns the specific morbidity caused by carbon disulphide exposure, toxic polyneuropathy was present only among the exposed workers. In that group hypertension too reached a higher prevalence rate, statistically significant, although both groups consisted of younger workers of similar age. The prevalence of other diseases was comparable, possibly because of the selection bias, and the healthy worker effect. Owing to that effect workers with the most distinct symptoms had been removed from their jobs and, consequently, excluded from examinations. That could have been a reason for underestimating exposure effects. PMID- 2633728 TI - [The importance of the adaptation period in medical rehabilitation in attaining definitive work capacity]. AB - Medical rehabilitation may bring functional improvement up to a level permitted by damages of the locomotor system, especially by those of the joints. At the start of rehabilitation the restricted motions are initially very painful and provoke an intensive protective spasm. In the course of rehabilitation the range of motions becomes more extensive, motions are less and less painful, until finally the pain disappears. The final condition which is medically considered as definite is the contracture due to damages of the joints and periarticular tissues. The process of rehabilitation includes a period of worker's adjustment to the new conditions. The worker learns to use the damaged part of the body in a different manner by means of adaptation, substitution and other mechanisms of adjustment. That is a period of voluntary control of the damaged parts, and yet some certain tenderness or pain is present. Adaptation is supposed to develop new neural patterns, a new sequence and coordination of motions, and consequently new motion schemes. So voluntary use of the damaged body part is substituted by automatic and painless control. Definite evaluation of working capacity and residual working ability is possible only after the period of adaptation. PMID- 2633729 TI - Biochemical approach to occupational neurotoxicology. AB - Dose-effect and dose-response relationships in occupational neurotoxicology are rarely studied by means of biochemical methods. Some biochemical markers are however available to extrapolate from animal to man and to use in monitoring human exposures. They might be framed in three categories exploring: the delivery of chemicals to the site of action, the modifications of the molecular target induced by chemicals, the biochemical consequences of these modifications. Estimation of absorbed doses in man is possible for virtually every neurotoxic chemical by means of analytical chemistry of body fluids. Protein adducts, as measured in cellular and other blood components, might assess more closely the delivery in vivo, to the site of action. In this way also in vivo comparisons across species will be more precise. Examples include haemoglobin adducts, plasma pseudocholinesterase inhibition etc. In addition measurements of blood enzymes involved in the detoxification (e.g. A-esterases and organophosphorus esters) might contribute to assess metabolic capabilities. Once the molecular target of neurotoxicity is known, extrapolations across species are easy to make. Biochemical markers reflecting in vivo the effect at the site of action are available in very few cases, when the same target is accessible in body fluids. In such circumstances the biochemical marker represents an integrated dose/effect index. Examples include Red Blood Cell Acetylcholinesterase and Lymphocyte Neuropathy Target Esterase for acute and delayed neurotoxicity of organophosphorus esters. The understanding of the pathogenesis of a neurotoxic effect might lead to markers reflecting biochemical consequences of the interaction of the chemical with the target. The specificity of the test will dissect the chain of pathogenetic events from secondary consequences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2633730 TI - Imagines facere possum (the correct use of Latin and Greek terms in radiology). PMID- 2633731 TI - Evaluation of the mammographic lesion. AB - Radiologists have all too often been vague about mammographic problems presenting on films. Their reports are often too equivocal. However, with a thorough mammographic evaluation, most lesions can be classified as benign, malignant or spurious. We have listed thirteen positions, apart from the routine craniocaudal and oblique views, that may help decide the malignant potential of a mammographic problem. PMID- 2633732 TI - The quality mammographic image. A review of its components. AB - Seven major factors resulting in a quality or high contrast and high resolution mammographic image have been discussed. The following is a summary of their key features: 1) Dedicated mammographic equipment. --Molybdenum target material - Molybdenum filter, beryllium window --Low kVp usage, in range of 24 to 30 - Routine contact mammography performed at 25 kVp --Slightly lower kVp for coned compression --Slightly higher kVp for microfocus magnification 2) Film density - Phototimer with adjustable position --Calibration of phototimer to optimal optical density of approx. 1.4 over full kVp range 3) Breast Compression - General and focal (coned compression). --Essential to achieve proper contrast, resolution and breast immobility. --Foot controls preferable. 4) Focal Spot. - Size recommendation for contact work 0.3 mm. --Minimum power output of 100 mA at 25 kVp desirable to avoid movement blurring in contact grid work. --Size recommendation for magnification work 0.1 mm. 5) Grid. --Usage recommended as routine in all but magnification work. 6) Film-screen Combination. --High contrast--high speed film. --High resolution screen. --Specifically designed cassette for close film-screen contact and low radiation absorption. --Use of faster screens for magnification techniques. 7) Dedicated processing. --Increased developing time--40 to 45 seconds. --Increased developer temperature--35 to 38 degrees. --Adjusted replenishment rate and dryer temperature. All seven factors contributing to image contrast and resolution affect radiation dosage to the breast. The risk of increased dosage associated with the use of various techniques needs to be balanced against the risks of incorrect diagnosis associated with their non-use.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2633733 TI - Mammography and breast pain. AB - Two hundred and three consecutive patients underwent mammography at both public and private facilities. Their patients were asked to complete a questionnaire which recorded their assessments of pain. There was a very low incidence of significant pain (4%). The rate was highest (10.9%) in those with pre-existing breast pain. This compared with a rate of 1.4% in those without pre-existing breast pain. A larger number of premenopausal women suffered from breast pain (69%). Breast pain was particularly common in the week prior to onset of menstruation. Therefore, routine mammography should be scheduled in a pain-free interval and, if possible, the week prior to onset of menstruation should be avoided. PMID- 2633734 TI - MRI--the investigation of choice in syringomyelia? AB - During a 12 month period of operation of a 0.3 Tesla MRI iron cored resistive scanner 74 cases of syringomyelia were diagnosed on clinical, radiological and/or surgical grounds. Without knowledge of any clinical or radiological data the syrinxes were classified into five groups--idiopathic, idiopathic associated with Chiari malformation, tumour associated, post-traumatic and arachnoiditis associated--and the lesion characteristics within each group were compared. Although MRI was extremely sensitive in picking up even small syrinxes, there was considerable overlap of MRI characteristics across the sub-groups, so that two post-traumatic syrinxes had lesion characteristics identifiable with those of tumour syrinx and one intramedullary tumour syrinx had the MRI characteristics of a benign, idiopathic syrinx. It is concluded that meticulous attention to technique, including axial as well as sagittal T1 weighted sequences, and the administration of intravenous paramagnetic contrast media are necessary for detection and accurate classification of syrinxes. PMID- 2633735 TI - Does "black" brain mean doom? Computed tomography in the prediction of outcome in children with severe head injuries: "benign" vs "malignant" brain swelling. AB - A retrospective review of initial and subsequent CT scans of 179 children who has suffered severe head injury requiring admission to intensive care was performed. The aim was to define the CT appearance which was always associated with a poor outcome. The children whose brain showed poor definition of basal ganglia and grey-white differentiation overall, together with sufficient swelling to obliterate the ambient cistern and third ventricle always died or remained in a vegetative state. Over half of these had reduced brain density, and several had small focal high densities consistent with contusions or petechial haemorrhages. A typical appearance showed homogeneous scans at the levels of the ambient cistern and thalami with no normal internal brain detail. Conversely obliteration of the ambient cistern associated with a large surface collection was compatible with complete recovery if grey-white definition remained normal and treatment was prompt. PMID- 2633736 TI - Ionic and non-ionic contrast media: current practice in the major hospitals of Australia and New Zealand. AB - Major hospitals in Australia and New Zealand were surveyed to estimate the extent of conversion to non-ionic and/or low-osmolar media. The results indicate that conventional ionic media now comprise only approximately one-third of the total usage. PMID- 2633737 TI - A comparison of different doses of non-ionic contrast media in i.v. urography. AB - This study attempts to find out what is the appropriate dose of non-ionic contrast media to provide an acceptable study at the lowest possible cost. 139 adults with normal renal function were studied. Four different dose regimes were employed and a standardised set of I.V.U. films were obtained. These were reviewed by two independent assessors who were unaware of the dose regime used. Each I.V.U. was scored on a modified Fry regime. This survey showed a clear relationship between quality and dosage. PMID- 2633738 TI - Primary bone tumours of the pelvis in childhood--Ewing's sarcoma of the ilium, pubis and ischium (report of 30 cases). (Part I). AB - 30 children with Ewing's sarcoma, the most common malignant pelvic tumour in childhood, were analysed. The diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma is relatively easy and can be established in most of the cases on plain radiography. The diagnostic radiographic features of the tumour are discussed. The two most important conditions in differential diagnosis are eosinophilic granuloma and the rare primary bone lymphoma. Osteomyelitis should rarely cause confusion unless the clinico-radiographic findings are not properly evaluated. PMID- 2633739 TI - Rare, primary iliac, pubic and ischial tumours in children (report of 14 cases)- Part II. AB - 14 cases of rare, primary iliac, pubic and ischial bone tumours or tumorous conditions are reported. These include aneurysmal bone cyst, eosinophilic granuloma, cavernous haemangioma, osteoid osteoma, fibrous dysplasia, fibrous dysplasia with sarcomatous degeneration, chondrosarcoma, lymphoma and atypical malignant histiocytosis. The possibilities to be considered in the accurate radiographic recognition of primary tumours of iliac, pelvic and ischial bones are discussed. PMID- 2633740 TI - CT findings in melioidosis. AB - CT findings in 5 patients with melioidosis were presented. Lungs lesions consisted of upper lobe infiltration with a small thin-walled cavity in 2 cases and lower lobe consolidation without cavity in another case. Pleural lesions may be seen as a small pleural nodule, effusion with associated lung lesion, hydropneumothorax as a complication or the end stage fibrothorax due to chronic empyema thoracis. In one case hepatosplenic microabscesses were observed. PMID- 2633741 TI - Imaging Yttrium-90 synovectomy studies. AB - The method of planar imaging utilizing Bremsstrahlung radiation in patients treated with intraarticular Yttrium-90 for joint synovitis is described, illustrated and discussed. PMID- 2633742 TI - Antegrade double J ureteral stenting for ureteric strictures: use of silicone stents. AB - In 16 patients with ureteric strictures, silicone double J ureteral stents were inserted antegradely following percutaneous nephrostomy. In 9 patients prior attempt at retrograde placement of a stent had failed. Balloon dilatation of the stricture using angiographic catheters was also performed in 5 patients. The ureteric strictures were most commonly caused by malignant infiltration, post operative fibrosis, infection and ureteric calculi. Most previous reports have described the use of polyethylene and polyurethrane stents. Technical problems with the use of silicone stents are discussed. Although silicone stents are better tolerated by patients and associated with low complication rates, in 5 of 18 stents inserted (28%) the procedure failed. Suboptimal positioning of the stent due to poor radio-opacity and premature occlusion were the causes. With the availability of co-polymer stents, it is likely that these will replace silicone stents as the stent material of choice for antegrade insertion. PMID- 2633743 TI - Eosinophilic granuloma of mandible in an adult (a case report). AB - A case of mono-ostotic eosinophilic granuloma localised to the mandible of an adult patient is described. The role of low dose radiation therapy as a curative modality is discussed. PMID- 2633744 TI - The effects of water soluble contrast agents on the respiratory tract. PMID- 2633746 TI - Behavior Genetics Association abstracts. PMID- 2633745 TI - The question of dose in IV-DSA procedure. PMID- 2633747 TI - [Content and function of sexual fantasies. Results of a panel study of males and females]. PMID- 2633748 TI - Resuscitation from cardiac arrest using high-dose epinephrine. PMID- 2633750 TI - Effects of PPS on the care of elderly patients with hip fracture. PMID- 2633749 TI - Intravenous infusion of zidovudine (AZT) in children with HIV infection. PMID- 2633751 TI - Body iron stores and the risk of cancer. PMID- 2633752 TI - Aspirin, heparin, or both to treat unstable angina. PMID- 2633753 TI - Limited joint mobility in power lifters. PMID- 2633754 TI - Gonococcal and chlamydial antibodies in ectopic and intrauterine pregnancy. PMID- 2633755 TI - Selling health promotion to corporate America: uses and abuses of the economic argument. PMID- 2633756 TI - Regenerative anemia in horses. PMID- 2633757 TI - Re: "Benzene and Leukemia: a Review of the Literature and a Risk Assessment". PMID- 2633758 TI - Hunting firearm injuries. PMID- 2633759 TI - Release of scientific information to the news media. PMID- 2633760 TI - Cold spot question heats up. PMID- 2633761 TI - Particulate matter content of D5/NS for injection. PMID- 2633762 TI - Nutrition and alcoholic liver damage. PMID- 2633763 TI - SI unit dangers. PMID- 2633764 TI - Wound infection after appendicectomy. PMID- 2633765 TI - Mechanisms of carrageenan injury of cell monolayers. PMID- 2633766 TI - Dysplasia in ulcerative colitis: aneuploidy versus morphology. PMID- 2633767 TI - Operative mortality after perforated peptic ulcer. PMID- 2633768 TI - Toward a theory of the genesis of violence: a follow-up study of delinquents. AB - The results of a follow-up study of 95 formerly incarcerated delinquents are reported. Adult F.B.I. and state police records were used. All but six of the subjects had adult criminal records. The average number of adult offenses was 11.58. Juvenile violence alone did not distinguish well between those who would and would not go on to adult violent crime. Seventy-seven percent of the more violent juveniles and 61% of the less violent juveniles committed adult aggressive offenses. The interaction of intrinsic vulnerabilities (cognitive, psychiatric, and neurological) and a history of abuse and/or family violence was a better predictor of adult violent crime. PMID- 2633769 TI - Transient global amnesia associated with cerebral angiography performed with use of iopamidol. AB - Transient global amnesia has been associated with cerebral angiography performed with use of ionic agents. Nonionic contrast agents are associated with fewer complications, but complications do occur. The authors describe two patients who developed transient global amnesia after they underwent cerebral angiography with iopamidol. The precise pathophysiologic mechanism remains unclear, but the syndrome is by definition self-limited. PMID- 2633770 TI - AIDS as a current psychopathological theme. A report on five heterosexual patients. AB - Five patients are described, whose common fear of contracting, or a belief of having contracted, AIDS is the presenting feature. There is a need for liaison with psychiatrists in the provision of counselling services for AIDS patients. PMID- 2633771 TI - Telogen effluvium and minoxidil. PMID- 2633772 TI - Educational malpractice: a timely proposal? PMID- 2633773 TI - Is popliteal angle measurement useful in early identification of cerebral palsy? AB - The ability of the popliteal angle test to identify infants with cerebral palsy was evaluated in a population considered to be at increased risk for early childhood impairment. The proportion of infants failing the test increased with decreasing gestational age. Over-all, the test had a sensitivity of 51 per cent and a specificity of 92 per cent: it was more sensitive but less specific for infants less than 30 weeks gestation. Only 12 per cent of infants who failed the test were subsequently diagnosed as having cerebral palsy, but the test had a high negative predictive value (99 per cent). Health visitors were asked to identify infants about whom they felt a general concern, regardless of the test results: their increased concern about an infant proved considerably more sensitive than the popliteal angle test. PMID- 2633774 TI - Gore Tex organoids and genetic drugs. PMID- 2633775 TI - Welfare implications of 'organic' lambs. PMID- 2633776 TI - The factor structure of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30). A reliability study on 6317 community residents. AB - An individual's responses to Goldberg's 30-item General Health Questionnaire are usually represented as a single score which provides a measure of the number of psychiatric symptoms reported. No account is taken of the nature of the symptoms. Factor analyses of the GHQ-30 were undertaken in ten randomly selected samples of 600 adults each, and also on 12 age-sex groupings covering the age range 18-98. The results indicate an impressive degree of consistency of the factor structure, and the identification of five distinct factors corresponding to anxiety, feelings of incompetence, depression, difficulty in coping, and social dysfunction. PMID- 2633777 TI - Anorectal function after abdominal rectopexy. PMID- 2633778 TI - Adaptation of tendon collagen to exercise. AB - We report an experimental study on the effect of exercise on tendon structure in mice. After one week of physical training an increase in mean diameter, in number, and in cross-sectional area, as well as a change in mean fibril diameter distribution, was demonstrated. In the long-term, there was an increase in fibril number, a fall in mean diameter, but no statistically significant changes in the relative cross-sectional area per unit compared with the control tendons. PMID- 2633779 TI - Polymicrobial bacteremia. PMID- 2633780 TI - Welfare implications of 'organic' lambs. PMID- 2633781 TI - Treating otitis media. PMID- 2633782 TI - Who should bear the burden of pharmacists' refusal to dispense? PMID- 2633783 TI - Post-traumatic stress disorder. PMID- 2633784 TI - Post-irradiation morphoea. PMID- 2633785 TI - The pathology of diabetic hepatitis. PMID- 2633786 TI - Third-order aberrations of pseudophakic eyes. AB - The aberrations of pseudophakic eyes were analysed by third-order theory assuming thin intraocular lenses. Third-order aberrations with spherical surfaced lenses are quadratic functions of lens shape. Spherical aberration and coma are generally the most rapidly changing aberrations, at small field positions, with change in lens shape. Optimum designs probably lie within the shape factor range at which these attain minimum absolute values (+1.1, spherical aberration; -0.9 to -3.4, coma). The importance of spherical aberration declines relative to that of off-axis aberrations as pupil size decreases. The introduction of a level of corneal asphericity alters each aberration by a constant amount for any lens shape. PMID- 2633787 TI - Gas-powered pulmonary resuscitators. PMID- 2633788 TI - An automated system for detection and analysis of locomotor behavior in crustaceans. AB - An efficient and simple system is presented for the analysis of crustacean locomotor behavior. The system is composed by six dual-compartment actographic chambers with photocoupling circuits for movement detection, and a device for acquisition and analysis of data. Such device is made by a digital interface which feeds into a microcomputer with disc unit and printer. Information is processed in real time during the experiment, with a simultaneous printout and storage in a floppy disc. PMID- 2633789 TI - 6-Thioguanine resistant T-lymphocyte determination as a possible indicator of human ionizing radiation exposure. AB - We used the autoradiographic assay to assess human in vivo somatic cell gene mutation at the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (hgprt) locus in T-lymphocytes. Cells able to incorporate tritiated thymidine in vitro in 6 thioguanine containing short-term cultures were enumerated in order to determine 6-thioguanine resistant (TGr) variant frequencies in cryopreserved lymphocytes from control individuals and 3 persons suspected of 60Co exposure from an accident in Cd. Juarez, Mexico. The data indicate that the lymphocyte TGr variant frequency assay may be potentially usefull for human population monitoring following accidental exposures to ionizing radiation. PMID- 2633790 TI - Repetitive electrical stimulation of X-area and parabrachial lateral nucleus: effects upon ponto-geniculo-occipital activity in the reserpinized cat. AB - The ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) activity is a characteristic field potential of paradoxical sleep, that can be continually induced by reserpine administration. It has been postulated that the X area (XA) and parabrachial lateral nucleus (Pbl) contain the generator cells for the PGO activity. In this study, repetitive electrical stimulation in the XA and Pbl was applied, with the aim of inducing progressive plastic changes in PGO activity, which was recorded from the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). Reserpinized cats were used; they were curarized and maintained with artificial respiration. We analyzed the PGO spike frequency at one, five and sixty minutes after stimulation, which was given every 30 minutes for at least 8 consecutive hours. Stimulation of the XA did not produce changes, while that of the Pbl induced a relatively poor progressive increment in the PGO spike frequency. The findings obtained with XA stimulation discard the possibility of inducing functional plastic changes in this region. On the other hand, the response to Pbl stimulation indicates an activation of the PGO spike generator system. These differences suggest that these nuclei have different influence on PGO activity, although it is possible that the responses found in the Pbl were indirect effects, given its anatomical relationships. PMID- 2633791 TI - Influence of nickel chloride on iron-deficiency in rats. AB - The present study was designed to investigate the effects of nickel chloride on dietary iron deficiency in rats. The degree of iron deficiency was relatively moderate, but a more generalized anemia occurred in iron deficiency, in absence of nickel chloride. Moderate iron deficiency anemia induced increased lactate dehydrogenase activity of serum and bone marrow, perhaps related to the decreased production of energy by oxidative means. Nickel chloride, perhaps for its ability to change iron absorption, for the maintenance of bone marrow metabolism and for to increase ceruloplasmin activity, inhibited the alteration on hemoglobin synthesis. Furthermore, nickel chloride possibly for its action on copper content and Cu-Zn superoxide-dismutase activity, inhibits the shortening of the red cell life span, caused by superoxide radicals. PMID- 2633792 TI - In situ amplification of viral signal in infected samples applied directly to nitrocellulose membranes. AB - A method for the amplification of viral signal present in infected samples is described. Viral suspensions are spotted on nitrocellulose paper, and immediately afterwards an adequate amount of a permissive cell line is added. The nitrocellulose filter is then incubated overnight, fixed and hybridized to labeled viral probes. The technique is extremely fast, reproducible and inexpensive, and may be readily applicable to the clinical diagnosis of many viral diseases. PMID- 2633793 TI - Convenient and inexpensive system for low temperature preservation of enzymes during storage and use. PMID- 2633794 TI - Automation of protein crystallization trials: use of a robot to deliver reagents to a novel multi-chamber vapor diffusion plate. AB - We report here the automation of search procedures to rapidly screen a large number of reagents and incubation conditions that lead to the formation of protein crystals. The system consists of a Biomek 1000 Automated Laboratory Workstation from Beckman Instruments under the control of a custom user-interface program developed by Cryschem. A plate composed of twenty-four vapor diffusion chambers, each with its own reservoir well and protein drop holder was designed by Cryschem to fit the Biomek table. The Cryschem software manages a large data base of incubation conditions and generates instructions for the workstation to dispense the protein, buffers, detergents, cofactors and other reagents used to promote the formation of protein crystals. The plate is manually positioned on the Biomek table and then under program control additions are automatically made to each chamber as follows: Precipitating solution is added to each reservoir well and the protein solution along with the precipitating solution and various other reagents are added to each drop holder. The plate is removed from the table and a mylar tape is applied to simultaneously seal all the chambers. The plates are placed at a controlled temperature and periodically examined for crystal formation. PMID- 2633795 TI - Leukotriene D4 and hypoxia: differential effects on the pulmonary and systemic circulations in newborn piglets. AB - Hypoxia-induced release of cysteinyl leukotriene from pulmonary macrophages has been considered an important mechanism mediating hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in the immature circulation. However, studies leading to this conclusion blocked hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction by relatively nonspecific LT antagonists. We have evaluated this hypothesis further by separate measurement of the hemodynamic effects of leukotriene D4 (LTD4) and hypoxia before and after administration of the highly specific leukotriene D4/E4 antagonist LY 171883 (LY). Anesthetized, open-chest newborn piglets were exposed to LTD4 0.1-3 micrograms/kg IV, or to hypoxia (12% 02 + 88% N2, for 3 min) prior and subsequent to LY 30 mg/kg IV (n = 7) or saline vehicle (n = 5). LTD4 administration before LY caused a 37% - 446% increase in pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) (p less than 0.05). With LTD4 mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) rose 14% - 69% (p less than 0.05), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) rose 18% - 160% (p less than 0.05) and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) increased 88% - 100% (p less than 0.05). Cardiac index (CI) and left ventricular shortening fraction (LVSF) fell only at peak LTD4 dose (92 +/- 7 to 49 +/- 8 ml/kg/min, 12 +/- 1 to 6 +/- 1%, both p less than 0.05). Hypoxia produced a 69% rise in PAP and a 122% increase in PVRI, both p less than 0.01. LY abolished LTD4-induced changes in PVRI, PAP, LVEDP, CI, SVRI, and LVSF, but had no effect on the hypoxic rise in PAP and PVRI. Thus, doses of LY which completely inhibited the substantial circulatory actions of LTD4 failed to alter hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. The results suggest that acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in newborn piglets is not attenuated by selective LTD4/E4 receptor antagonism. PMID- 2633796 TI - Influence of naproxen on uterine PGF2 alpha and the antifertility effect of IUDs in rats. AB - An IUD was implanted into one horn of the uterus in each of our experimental rats. The animals were mated with males of proven fertility about 2 weeks later. At day 1 of gestation (positive mating smear), the animals were treated with oral naproxen at 2 mg/kg per day or 20 mg/kg per day for 10 consecutive days. Control animals received saline. At day 16 the animals were sacrificed and the implantation rates and fetal survival and pregnancy rates were determined. The IUD completely prevented fetal survival and largely reduced implantation rates. Naproxen did not modify these parameters in either the IUD or the non-IUD horn. In a separate set of experiments, the reduction in uterine levels of immunoreactive PGF2 alpha (iPGF) was measured during the implantation period. Naproxen treatment for 5 days with 2 mg/kg per day or 20 mg/kg per day reduced iPGF from 6.71 +/- 0.93 to 2.19 +/- 0.34 and 1.01 +/- 0.18 ng/100 mg tissue, respectively (P less than 0.01). These data show that the suppression of uterine PG synthesis by naproxen does not interfere with the antifertility effects of IUDs in the rat. PMID- 2633797 TI - Thromboxane receptor antagonists and endotoxaemia. PMID- 2633798 TI - [Abstracts of papers presented at the 61st annual meeting of the Genetics Society of Japan. October 13, 14, and 15, Sapporo]. PMID- 2633799 TI - Papers presented at the meeting "Group Translocation in Bacterial Membrane Transport." Paris, France, 7-9 September 1988. PMID- 2633800 TI - [The role of long-chain acyl-CoA in the disturbances of oxidative phosphorylation in the myocardium]. AB - The effect of intramitochondrial acyl-CoA on the respiration of rabbit heart mitochondria in different metabolic states was studied. Acyl-CoA inhibited O2 consumption by 11% in State 4 and by 6% in State 3. However, the effect of acyl CoA was more pronounced (20%) in the intermediate state of respiration between State 4 and State 3. The data obtained suggest that acyl-CoA can regulate oxidative phosphorylation in heart mitochondria in vivo. PMID- 2633801 TI - [Accessibility of tryptophan residues in immunoglobulin M molecule as an indicator of its conformational variability]. AB - The accessibility of tryptophan residues in immunoglobulin M to modification with the Koshland reagent (2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide) was used as an indicator of its conformational variability. Of 14 tryptophan residues (per HL-fragment) in the native IgM, only one (presumably Trp312 in the mu-chain) was the most accessible. Irreversible acid- or temperature-induced conformational changes of IgM increased almost 2-fold the number of accessible tryptophan residues. After partial enzymatic deglycosylation of IgM (especially by an intense splitting of mannose), all tryptophan residues became inaccessible. Modification of the most accessible tryptophan residue increased 2- to 3-fold the number of tyrosine residues accessible to nitration with tetranitromethane. Using the spin label method, it was demonstrated that modification of four tryptophan residues in IgM considerably decreased the mobility of the Cmu 3 domain together with an essential drop in. the solubility of the modified IgM. PMID- 2633802 TI - [Kinetic properties of transketolase from the rat liver in a reaction with xylulose-5-phosphate and ribose-5-phosphate]. AB - An analysis of steady-state kinetics of purified rat liver transketolase shows that the reaction proceeds according to a two-stroke substitution ("ping-pong") mechanism. Based on the kinetic data, a competitive relationship was shown to exist between xylulose-5-phosphate and ribose-5-phosphate for the sites of substrate binding by the substituted form of the enzyme with the formation of a non-productive abortive complex (kd = 125 microM). The values of constants of two monomolecular steps of the reaction (k2 = 42 s-1; k4 = 9.4 s-1) were determined. It was assumed that the maximum rate-limiting step of the transketolase reaction is the degradation of the substituted form of transketolase--ribose-5-phosphate complex having a rate constant of k4. PMID- 2633803 TI - [Chemical modification of antibodies against carcino-embryonal antigen]. AB - Chemical modification of different amino acid residues and the carbohydrate moiety of antibodies to carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) was used to elucidate their role in the interaction with CEA and to evaluate the effect of antibody modification and steric factor in immunosorbent synthesis. The distribution of the modified groups among the structural fragments of IgG and the levels of changes in the antigen-binding properties of modified antibodies were investigated. The Fc-fragment of IgG was shown to contain carboxylic groups, tyrosine and histidine residues, whose modification influences the antigen binding properties as a result of generalized conformational changes in the IgG molecule. A comparison of these results with earlier obtained data on the functional properties, of immobilized antibodies revealed that the decrease of antigen-binding characteristics of anti-CEA after IgG immobilization via NH2- and COOH-groups, carbohydrate moiety, tyrosine and histidine residues is due to the direct effect of antibody modification, whereas the changes in parameters of antibody interaction with antigen after IgG immobilization via SH-groups, methionine and histidine residues is due to steric hindrances. PMID- 2633804 TI - [Analysis of proteins in normal and regenerating rat liver using two-dimensional electrophoresis]. AB - The major proteins of homogenate, cytosol, nuclei and nuclear membrane extract from normal and regenerating rat liver were studied by two-dimensional electrophoresis with a view of detecting proteins involved in DNA replication regulation. Essential quantitative differences in three out of 200 polypeptides separated as spots and dyed with Coomassie R-250 on two-dimensional maps were revealed. The content of the p38 nuclear protein (Mr congruent to 38 kD, pI congruent to 4) increases 6-8-fold in the S-phase. The level of another nuclear protein, p50 (Mr congruent to 50 kD, pI congruent to 6.5) decreases 2-3-fold. The cytoplasmic protein p35 (Mr congruent to 35 kD, pI congruent to 8) also decreases 2-3-fold. Moreover, the p40 protein (Mr congruent to 40 kD, pI congruent to 6) whose content in the nuclei sharply rises up to 20 times after sham operation was revealed. PMID- 2633805 TI - [Complement-inhibiting acidic factors from the venom of Central Asian cobra Naja naja oxiana]. AB - Two anticomplementic factors isolated from the venom of the Central Asian cobra Naja naja oxiana by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and subsequent gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 were studied. Of these, five factors (CFA-Ia, CFA Ib, CFA-Ic, CFA-IIa and CFA-IIb), CFA-Ib had been characterized earlier, while CFA-Ia was assigned to a previously identified H-CoF factor. It was shown that CFA-Ic has a molecular mass of 3900 Da; its content in the venom amounts to 2.6 mg/g of dry venom. This factor inhibits the classical pathway of C3 convertase formation abrogating the C2 component activation by subcomponent C1s [Ki = (2.5 +/- 0.8).10(-7) M]. CFA-IIa and CFA-IIb are present in the venom in very low amounts (2 mg/g) and have Mr of 5700 and 3200 Da, respectively. The complement inhibiting action was studied for a more active CFA-IIa. Factor CFA-IIa was shown to inactivate the native component of C2 with a rate constant, k, of (2.7 +/- 0.2).10(3) s-1M-1 (37 degrees C, pH 7.4). CFA-IIa had no effect on C2 and C2a within their complexes with C4b. PMID- 2633806 TI - [Septal nuclei in the mechanisms of lateral hypothalamic self stimulation in rabbits]. AB - Unilateral lesions of medial septal nucleus and lateral septal nuclei (dorsalis, intermedius, ventralis) decreased ipsilateral hypothalamic self-stimulation; the lesions of n. dorsalis, n. medialis and lateral septal nuclei (intermedius and ventralis) has the opposite effect on contralateral self-stimulation. The inhibition of ipsilateral self-stimulation was neither total nor permanent; 25 32% decrease in stimulation rate was seen, but behaviour returned to near-normal levels over a period of few days. In contrast, the augmentation of contralateral self-stimulation showed no significant change over the same period; in this case the 35-40% shift in stimulation rate was immediate and permanent. Bilateral lesions of septal nuclei had no effect if the initial level of self-stimulation rate was high and significantly increased self-stimulation. PMID- 2633807 TI - [Effects of death of a single neuron on the functional organization of the neuronal ensemble in the leech]. AB - The reaction of leech nervous system after elimination of individual mechanosensory neuron by intracellular Pronase injection were studied. In the motor neurons connected with killed cells at 14-90th days after the operation there were the changes of the resting membrane potential and amplitude of postsynaptic potentials developed by the stimulation of mechanosensory neuron. It is suggested that the leech nervous system serves as the dynamic formation depending on changes of neuronal ensemble structure. PMID- 2633808 TI - [Electrophysiologic effects of serotonin on atrioventricular conduction in dogs]. AB - In 12 anaesthetized dogs acute effects of serotonin on the atrioventricular conduction system were studied by obtaining intracardiac electrograms. The significant increase in the heart rate and decrease in aortic pressure elicited by an intravenous infusion of 50 mg/kg.min serotonin for 30 minutes were comparable to those observed in previous investigations. Our data indicate a serotonin induced acceleration of the sinus node pacemaker and atrioventricular conduction by direct and indirect mechanisms. PMID- 2633809 TI - [Dynamics of albumin transport across the venule walls of the rat mesentery]. AB - FITC-Albumin was injected into the circulation for estimating transport possibilities of blood microvessels and then investigating its maintenance near vessel wall with the help of the photometry. Velocity of albumin entrance into the interstitium and its top concentration near the wall of consecutive links of venules (20-60 mm) raised. Our data show that it may be caused by enhancing vessel surface and increasing its permeability for this protein. PMID- 2633810 TI - [Selection of an optimal system for measurement of blood pressure]. AB - The "pop-test" method was used to design an optimal system for precise measurement of fast arterial pressure oscillations by means of selecting optimal parameters of cardiovascular catheters and pressure transducers. PMID- 2633811 TI - [Studies on the mechanisms of the effects of protein kinase C activation on electrical and contractile activity of smooth muscle]. AB - Experiments have been carried out with guinea-pig smooth muscles taenia coli by the use of the double sucrose-gap technique. Phorbol esters (PE), activating protein kinase C (PcC) suppressed the spontaneous and induced (by turning on of depolarizing pulses, or turning off a long lasting hyperpolarizing step) electrical and contractile activity of a muscle. The inactive analog of PE did not affect the muscle activity. Na/H-ionophore monensin imitated the effects of active PE. Blockade of K+ channels by 10 mM TEA greatly decreased or in some cases even removed the inhibitory effects of PE. A treatment of the muscle by Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor ethyl isopropyl amiloride (EIPA) increased the amplitude of action potentials during membrane depolarization and markedly weakened the PE-induced suppression of muscle electrical activity. The data obtained suggested that inhibitory effects of PE on smooth muscle electrical and contractile activity resulted from an increase in potassium permeability of the membrane. Na+/H+ exchange seems to be involved in PE-induced K+ channels activation. PMID- 2633812 TI - [Fluctuation of energy of spectral components of the EEG signal during dying, clinical death and early period of resuscitation]. AB - Fluctuation energy of spectral analysis containing ECG signals were studied in 17 experiments before the modeling of fast death. In the early period of resuscitation ECG recordings were done in 13 orthogonal leads (Frank method). On each lead 5 cardiac cycles were registered with the analysis of 2 components of the ECG: complex QRS and T-wave. In the analyzed period the phase changes for coefficient fluctuations were established. The authors express supposition, that the low meaning of coefficient fluctuations appear in the process of compensation, but high meanings--just like an explosion of compensation. PMID- 2633813 TI - [Effects of dalargin, a synthetic analog of endogenous opioids, on functional indices of isolated rat heart in experimental toxemia in vitro]. AB - The authors studied direct effect of alpha-toxin of Staphylococcus aureus on the main functional indices of isolated perfused heart of intact Wistar rats with the working left ventricle and the ways of pharmacological correction of cardiotoxic lesion of the myocardium in vitro. It was established that alpha-toxin produced a dose-dependent effect on the functional indices of the isolated rat heart, causing in low concentrations positive inotropic effect and with more high concentrations--inhibition of cardiac activity. PMID- 2633814 TI - [Influence of adaptation to stressor effects on bioelectrical activity, contractile function and resistance of the papillary muscles to the excess of intracellular calcium]. AB - In experiments on papillary muscles of rats it was established that adaptation to stressor effects increases resistance of the myocardium to contracture effects and restricts depression of electrophysiological parameters caused by the excess of calcium. Such adaptation decreased contracture by 6.5 times. On the next stage it was established that adaptation restricts depression of electrophysiological parameters of cardiomyocytes with the action of large concentrations of calcium. Possible mechanism of cardiac protector effect of adaptation to stressor effects is being discussed. PMID- 2633815 TI - [Correction of disorders of the system of blood aggregation regulation by ionol in the post-resuscitation period]. AB - In the experiments on white rats resuscitated after a 7-minute mechanical asphyxia, phase disorders in the indices of the system of regulation of aggregate state of the blood in postresuscitation period have been revealed. They appear in the shape of a syndrome of disseminated intravascular blood coagulation with the development of hypercoagulation phase by the 3rd hour. Prophylactic introduction of ionol in a dose of 100 mg/kg in 48, 24 and 1 hour before the experiment prevents the development and progressing of the above syndrome. PMID- 2633816 TI - [Effects of diverse regimes of artificial respiration on the course of experimental toxic pulmonary edema]. AB - In acute experiments on cats with closed chest the author studied the influence of artificial ventilation of increased frequency or volume on the pulmonary edema degree, foam formation intensity, pulmonary gas exchange and the animals survival in experimental pulmonary edema caused by intravenous infusion of mixture fatty acids. It was shown, that artificial ventilation of increased frequencies or volumes in pulmonary edema reduces the increase of the pulmonary coefficient and edema liquid quantity at the beginning of edema and it does not become stronger in following stages. Artificial ventilation of increased regimes decreases the foam formation, increases survival of the animals, delays the arterial pressure decrease, improves the pulmonary gas exchange. Artificial ventilation of increased frequency is more effective then ventilation of increased volume decreases foam formation and improves gas exchange in the lungs. PMID- 2633817 TI - [Effects of serotonin and stress on the state of the gastric mucosa in rats with the intact and transsected vagus nerve]. AB - In experiments on vagotomized and intact rats with the use of two models of experimental gastric ulceration (injection of serotonin and stress) it was demonstrated that the inhibitory action of vagotomy on haemorrhagic gastric effectiveness was more pronounced in stress than after serotonin application. Vagotomy decreased stress-induced erosive lesions but increased serotonin-induced erosions that may be a result of the increase of gastric tissue sensitivity to this amine which developed simultaneously with significant decrease of its level in gastric wall after vagotomy. Serotonin-antagonist peritol decreased stress induced gastric disturbances in vagotomized rats more significantly than in intact rats; this suggested the great role of serotonin in anti-ulcerogenic effect of vagotomy. PMID- 2633818 TI - [Burst discharges of a single nerve cell induced by korazol and penicillin]. AB - The electrical activity of an isolated stretch-receptor neuron of a crayfish was studied under the action of corazol and penicillin by microelectrode techniques. Burst discharges induced by these agents are found to have in their basis the depolarizing shifts of pacemaker origin. PMID- 2633819 TI - [Use of spin probe in the determination of oxygen consumption in human neutrophils]. AB - A quantitative method of the oxygen consumption rate measurement by human blood neutrophils upon their activation is described. This method is based on the spin exchange determination between 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-pyrroline-1 yloxyl spin probe and oxygen molecules from the ESR spectra. Method allows the determination of about 1 micromolar concentrations of oxygen. PMID- 2633820 TI - [Effects of hyperosmolarity and furosemide on resting membrane potentials and skeletal muscle fiber volume in rats]. AB - The changes of the muscle fibres volume and resting membrane potential (RMP) were studied following treatment with hypertonic medium and furosemide. The volume changes in hypertonic medium began with cell shrinkage and later have been followed by the volume increase up to normal level during 30-40 minutes. At the same time the medium hypertonicity caused muscle fibres depolarisation. The hypertonic-induced decrease of the RMP was delayed in the furosemide-treated muscle. Besides, furosemide abolished the muscle fibres volume restorative properties in hypertonic medium. It is suggested that the membrane depolarisation and cell volume restoration in hypertonic medium are the resultant effects of intracellular chloride ions level elevation which, in turn, have been evoked by activation of furosemide-sensitive Cl(-)-influx system. PMID- 2633821 TI - [Effects of litonit and piracetam on the course of experimental myocardial infarction]. AB - Influence of litonit and piracetam on development of experimental myocardial infarction, free radical lipid oxidation in myocardium and immunological reactivity was studied in dogs. The analysis of pharmacological action of litonit and piracetam in cardiogenic stress proves more positive effect of litonit upon dynamics of myocardial infarction, peroxide lipid oxidation process, humoral and cellular immunity indexes. PMID- 2633822 TI - [Immunoenzyme test system with monoclonal antibodies to human IgG4 in the determination of allergen-specific antibodies in pollinosis]. AB - ELISA for determination of allergen-specific IgG4 antibodies was developed with the help of monoclonal anti-IgG4 antibodies obtained by classic hybridoma technique. Subclass specificity of antibodies were studied in sera of 108 patients suffering from pollinosis. Antibodies of this isotype were found in the majority of patients with tree pollen allergy but not in patients with grass pollen allergy. The level of IgG4 antibodies correlated with the severity of the disease but not with the intensity of skin tests. Specific hyposensitization resulted in significant increase of IgG4 antibody level in patients with tree pollen allergy. Determination of IgG4 antibodies is proved to be useful to reveal tree pollen allergy and to monitor hyposensitization therapy. PMID- 2633823 TI - [Sensitivity of human lymphocytes to antiproliferative effects of glucocorticoids and effectiveness of reception]. AB - The relation between the type of lymphocyte dexamethasone sensitivity in vitro of 9 healthy donors and their corticosteroid receptor characteristics was tested. It was found that in the high sensitivity group the effectiveness of corticosteroid reception (ratio of quantity of glucocorticoid receptors and constant of dissociation (Bm/Kd) was significantly higher than in the group of low sensitivity. Thus, genetically related parameters of binding of glucocorticoid hormones to its receptors play a great role in lymphocyte glucocorticoid sensitivity of inhibition of mitogen stimulation. PMID- 2633824 TI - [C3b-mediated chemiluminescence of human lymphocytes]. AB - Data are presented concerning peculiarities of human lymphocyte luminol-dependent chemiluminescence stimulated with C3b-opsonized and native zymosan. The response was maximal by the 60th min and 4-17 exceeded the results of the negative control. The C3b-opsonization considerably potentiated the lymphocyte activating zymosan's properties and the rate of reaction/maximal level at the 10th min; the effect of phytohemagglutinin reached max by the end of the 1st min in the same tests. The functional significance of the CR- and lectin-mediated structures of lymphocytes is discussed. PMID- 2633825 TI - [Tripeptide, a fibronectin fragment, increases ingestion capacity of phagocytes]. AB - It has been found out that tripeptide Arg-Gly-Asp being under natural conditions a fibronectin fragment, responsible for adhesion, is capable in vitro to stimulate ingestion ability of the rat blood polymorphonuclear leucocytes and monocytes. Maximum increase of phagocytes index, phagocytes number and phagocyte per cent, which has ingested more than 10 latex particles, has been discovered after leuko-suspension incubation with tripeptide in initial concentrations 10( 3) mM and 10(-2) mM. Tripeptide can be regarded as a perspective phagocyte function regulator. PMID- 2633826 TI - [Ryodipine--a new fluorescent probe in the determination of differences between lymphocytes]. AB - Ryodipine (foridon ), a fluorescent compound possessing hypotensive activity, can be useful as fluorescence probe to distinguish between lymphocyte populations. The heterogeneity of cells revealed by the intensity of ryodipine fluorescence is mainly due to differences in the amount of membranous material in the cells. The use of ryodipine for lymphocyte identification has certain advantages over MBA, a known fluorescence probe generally employed for this purpose. Ryodipine is less prone to photodegradation and its fluorescence intensity shows no dependence on cell concentration over a much wider dye/cell ratio range. PMID- 2633827 TI - [Cytotoxicity of effector cells of the peripheral blood, lymph nodes and spleen in Hodgkin's disease]. AB - The mononuclear cells and T-lymphocytes of the blood, spleen and lymph nodes from 83 patients with Hodgkin's disease and 50 healthy donors were tested in assays for lectin-dependent (LD) and natural killer (NK) cytotoxic activity (CTA). On an average, peripheral blood T cell LD-CTA of patients did not differ from that of the donors. However, the CTA appeared to be dependent on the stage of the disease; in the IVth stage LD-CTA was decreased 2-fold. The LD-CTA was also dependent on the histological type of disease and the lowest level of LD-CTA (50% of the control level) was associated with the "lymphocyte depletion" type. The CTA of T-lymphocytes from the affected areas of the patients' spleen was more marked than that of the unaffected areas. Spleen cell CTA showed no other correlations. The CTA of lymphocytes from the affected lymph nodes was drastically lower than CTA of blood and spleen lymphocytes. The NK activity of the patients' blood and spleen lymphocytes was twice as less as the control level (healthy donors) and did not correlate with a stage and/or a histological type of the disease. It was assumed that in Hodgkin's disease the specific antitumor immunity remains mostly within normal and is decreased only in the last, terminal stage of the disease. PMID- 2633828 TI - [Chronobiological analysis of thyroxine action on cell proliferation in the hypotetraploid strain of Ehrlich's ascitic tumor]. AB - Experiments on white random-bred male mice were made to study the effect of L thyroxine on cell proliferation of the hypotetraploid strain of Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma. It was shown that prolonged thyroxine administration (during 6 days of carcinoma growth) lead to synchronization of cell proliferation and the maximum values of the mitotic index was found 3 hours earlier then in the control experiments. At the same time thyroxine did not exert any noticeable effect on the average daily magnitudes of the number of DNA-synthesizing cells and did not change the pattern of modulations in the radioactive index. The changes in the mitotic index and radioactive index were asynchronous in control and experimental animals. Analogous results were found for hyperdiploid strain of Ehrlich's ascites tumor. Ploidy of cells did not influence the tipe rhythms of the cell proliferation and its reaction on the action of thyroxine. PMID- 2633829 TI - [Circadian rhythm of reaction of epithelial cells of the tongue and esophagus to the effects of hydroxyurea]. AB - A study was made of the effect of a single injection of hydroxyurea (HU) on the daily rhythm of labelling index (LI) in the epithelial cells of the tongue and esophagus. HU was injected 6 times a day. The degree of decrease in the LI at varying times of the day correlated well with the initial level of the LI. At the same time the number of sensitive cells changed thought the day in a different proportion than LI rhythm, the fact suggesting the independence of these rhythms. PMID- 2633830 TI - [Artificial selection for increased metastatic potential in cell population of transplanted rhabdomyosarcoma RA-2 in rats]. AB - The rhabdomyosarcoma was induced with 20-methylcholanthrene in unbred white rat; it was selected for the metastatic potential (MP)--the ability to form experimental lung metastasis after i. v. injection of tumor cells. After 10-15 cycles of selection there was 100-fold increase in the level of MP, all the tumor cells acquired simultaneously the affinity to the lung tissue. After that the tempo of selection decreased. From 112-124 to 177-183 cycles of selection the frequencies of MP-cells in the population were increased only 10-fold (from 0.007 to 0.06). High level of karyotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity persisted in the selected cell population, the differences for MP between clones were great. It was shown the heritable instability of the character "the MP-level" in the selected cell population. PMID- 2633831 TI - [Analysis of factors determining sex differences in stress reactions of white rats]. AB - Female rats demonstrate more considerable increasing of corticosterone synthesis and secretion in comparison with male ones under the conditions of emotional and emotion-pain stress. These differences are not disappeared after castration. The sexual differences in stress reactions of infants are accompanied by lower sensitivity of their adaptation system in relation to stressors. The adult neonatal androgenized females show the same reactivity as normal females under the condition of emotion-pain stress. It is concluded that the sexual differences in stress reactions are genetically determined. PMID- 2633832 TI - [Effects of monoclonal antibodies to bovine nerve growth factor on NGF-induced cell differentiation in culture]. AB - Five Hybridoma clones producing monoclonal antibodies (MAT) to bovine nerve growth factor (NGF) were developed. The biological effects of antibodies were studied: the influence of MAT on neurit outgrowth induced by NGF in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 or spinal chicken ganglia was investigated. MAT fell into two groups. Two of them inhibited neurit induction by NGF, three others stimulated this process. The stimulation of the neurit outgrowth by MAT was observed at low concentration of NGF (3 ng/ml of culture medium). Mechanisms of antibodies effects are discussed. PMID- 2633833 TI - [Increased number of sympathetic neurons in the superior cervical ganglia of rats of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto strains as compared with Wistar rats]. AB - With histological technique increased number of sympathetic neurons in cranial ganglia of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats in comparison with Wistar line has been shown. The resistance to hypobaric hypoxia (simulated altitude 12000m) was also enhanced in SHR and WKY rats. PMID- 2633834 TI - [Effects of opioids on the development of preimplantation mouse embryos]. AB - Opioid peptide DAGO, agonist of opiate mu-receptors and naloxone antagonist of mu , delta- and kappa-receptors in concentration 3 x 10 M inhibit embryonic development of CBA mice. Inhibition was stage-specific with maximal effect after addition of opioids to zygotes: in the presence of Naloxone no more than 6.7% of embryos reached morula and blastula stages and in the presence of DAGO--36.8%. The other embryos were arrested at two-, four- or, sometimes even, at eight-cell stages without any signs of fragmentation. Four and eight-cell embryos were less sensitive to drug action. Inhibitory effects of these opioids were reduced when they were added simultaneously to zygotes. Agonist of opiate delta-receptors, opioid peptide DADLe, failed to affect embryonic development. PMID- 2633835 TI - [Paramembraneous microfilamentous structures of the synapses of rat cerebral cortex during sensitization by brain antigens]. AB - On the material contrasted by phosphotungstic acid the state of paramembranes microfilament structures of interneuronal contacts of molecular layer of sensomotor field cortex of rat brain of Krushynsky-Molodkina line during sensitization by homologous brain antigens was studied. Sharp reduction of general density of synapses and symmetric contacts because of damaging of paramembranes microfilament structures of cerebral cortex synapses and reduction of new contacts was proved that plays an essential role in changing of brain integrating activity during different pathological processes connected with autoimmune mechanism of neuronal tissue damaging. PMID- 2633836 TI - [Reorganization of the cortico-spinal tract after unilateral lesions of the neocortex]. AB - By means of retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase the left and right hemisphere connections of neocortex with right spinal cord in normal and 7-14 days after the left sensory-motor neocortex damage have been investigated. In normal brain the quantity of cross corticospinal projections was revealed. After the unilateral lesion of neocortex the atypical retrograde transport of HRP in neocortex of ipsilateral hemisphere has been observed. The role of collateral sprouting mechanisms in posttraumatic reorganization of the corticospinal tract has been discussed. PMID- 2633837 TI - [Pathomorphology of stellate ganglia in thermal injuries of the body]. AB - Structural changes of stellate-ganglia in 80 patients aged from 20 to 80 dead in different stages of burn disease (shock, toxemia, septico-toxemia and burn exhaustion) were studied with neurohistological and neurohistochemical methods. It was determined that the increasing of neuron's reactivity was the sign of its changes at the early stages of burn disease. Later hypertrophy, atrophy and neuron's body destruction took place. At the period of burn shock excessively bright luminescence sympathetic neurons prevailed, at the period of toxemia its number decreased. At the period of toxemia and septico-toxemia for the first time it was determined the increase of lipofuscin insertion in adrenergic neurons as well as the increase of the activity not only at the shock period but also at the next periods of burn disease. PMID- 2633838 TI - [Ultrastructural changes in somatotropinocytes of the adenohypophysis during development of transplantation immunity]. AB - The authors conducted two series of experiments on 144 mice of BAL/c and C57B1 line. It was established that in autotransplantation submicroscopical changes developing in somatotropinocytes are typical of stressor situation and reflect various phases of general adaptation syndrome. An increase in the number of cells in the phase of active proteinic synthesis and degranulation is observed in allotransplantation in inductive phase of immunogenesis. Before rejection the number of cells in the phase of active proteinic synthesis is decreased, and in degranulation phase--is increased. PMID- 2633839 TI - [Morphofunctional features of lymph nodes, thyroid gland and testis of rats during adaptation reactions to stress and activation]. AB - The morphofunctional state of lymphatic nodes, thyroid gland and testis have been studied with morphometric, cell photometric and biochemical methods in experiments on adult white rats under the influence of nonspecific adaptation stress and activation reactions caused by small doses of adrenaline (125 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg). The research showed that the changes in the structure and function of the lymphatic organs under stress and activation were markedly different. If stress results in depression of functional state of these organs, the activation reaction, on the contrary, stimulates it. PMID- 2633840 TI - Diuretic, natriuretic and kaliuretic effects of dexamethasone. AB - We report the diuretic, natriuretic and kaliuretic effects of dexamethasone (DEXA) on intact and adrenalectomized (ADX) male Wistar rats. Indomethacin (INDO) and spironolactone were used to evaluate the involvement of prostaglandin and mineralocorticoid receptors in these actions. DEXA (400 micrograms/kg) and INDO (20 mg/kg) were injected iv and spironolactone (8 mg/100 g) was administered by the oral route. The parameters analyzed were urinary volume (UV), sodium excretion (UNaV) and potassium excretion (UKV). DEXA increased UV and UKV in both intact and ADX rats. INDO administered to intact rats reduced UV by 28% (P less than 0.05) and caused anuresis in ADX rats, but did not interfere with the increased UV induced by DEXA in either ADX or intact animals. Spironolactone did not interfere with diuretic parameters in control animals, but in DEXA-treated animals it decreased UKV by 30% and inhibited DEXA-induced diuresis. These data rule out the possibility of prostaglandin involvement in the acute effects of DEXA and suggest that DEXA induces diuresis through its action on mineralocorticoid receptors or on specific receptors for glucocorticoid (the type II receptor). The latter might also be inhibited by spironolactone. PMID- 2633841 TI - Effect of hyperosmolality on the sensitivity of right and left atria of the rat to noradrenaline. AB - This study analyzes the effects of hyperosmotic solutions on the sensitivity of the rat isolated right and left atria to the chronotropic and inotropic effects of noradrenaline (NA), respectively. Hyperosmotic NaCl solution caused subsensitivity to both effects of NA (pD2 values for NA, right atria: control 7.42 +/- 0.06, NaCl 6.83 +/- 0.18, P less than 0.05; left atria: control 7.67 +/- 0.22, NaCl 6.61 +/- 0.18, P less than 0.05). Hyperosmotic sucrose solution produced a similar effect in right atria (pD2 NA: 6.96 +/- 0.17, P less than 0.05), whereas in left atria it depressed the maximum inotropic response to NA by about 80%. All changes, except that of maximum inotropic response, were abolished following combined pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine, phenoxybenzamine, atropine and imipramine. These data suggest that the noradrenergic subsensitivity induced in atrial tissue by hyperosmolality is probably not due to changes of beta-adrenoceptor function and/or coupling of these receptors to the effector mechanisms. PMID- 2633842 TI - Effect of acute bromopride treatment on rat prolactin levels and sexual behavior. AB - Acute intraperitoneal administration of bromopride (BRO), a dopamine D2 blocker used as an anti-emetic drug in gastroenterology was tested in male and female rats for its effect on prolactin (PRL) serum levels and on sexual behavior. Rats that received 2.5 mg/kg BRO, the lowest dose tested, showed a maximal increase in PRL serum levels. Male rats that received 5.0 mg/kg BRO showed higher postejaculatory mount latency and postejaculatory intromission latency than controls. Rats treated with 10.0 mg/kg BRO showed higher mount latency, intromission latency, ejaculation latency, postejaculatory mount latency and a lower percentage of animals showing mount and ejaculation. Female rats that received 5.0 mg/kg BRO showed a lower lordosis quotient. The data suggest that blockade of postsynaptic dopamine D2 receptors inhibits male and female sexual behavior and that this inhibition is not related solely to the increase in PRL levels. PMID- 2633843 TI - A time-course study of physiological indicators of handling stress in the tropical fish Piaractus mesopotamicus (pacu). AB - The response of juvenile cultivated Piaractus mesopotamicus to handling stress, without anesthesia, was determined over 3-5 min (T1), 1 h (T2) and 6 h (T3) after capture. Plasma cortisol, glucose and total cholesterol were measured. Hyperglycemia present at T2 continued to rise until T3 while plasma cortisol levels increased but were similar at T2 and T3. Total plasma cholesterol was altered only at T3. Hyperglycemic changes were greater in fish without than with stomach contents during the T2-T3 period. These differences in hyperglycemic changes may reflect the role of hormones other than cortisol in the regulation of glucose release in these fish. PMID- 2633844 TI - The renal effects of kainic acid. AB - The effect of kainic acid (KA), a potent neurotoxic agent, on the renal function of rats was investigated. Intrahippocampal and intraperitoneal KA injections (2.5 micrograms and 8 mg/kg, respectively) led to a decrease in glomerular filtration rate and U/P inulin ratio with a concomitant increase in the amount of excreted Na+. However, acid excretion was maintained. These findings support the idea of a straight connection between neurohormonal secretion and renal function and may provide an interesting model to study renal hemodynamic changes induced by neurological disturbances. PMID- 2633845 TI - Central lesion abolishes the beneficial effect of hypertonic saline on circulatory shock produced by compound 48/80 in rats. AB - The purpose of the present study was to examine the protective action of a 7.5% hypertonic NaCl solution (HS) on the circulatory shock produced by compound 48/80 (48/80) in rats and to determine the effect of the AV3V lesion on the protective action of HS. Intravenous injection of 48/80 into sham-operated rats resulted in an immediate drop of mean arterial pressure (MAP). In sham-operated rats, intravenous injection of HS prevented the drop of MAP produced by 48/80, but HS was ineffective in AV3V-lesioned rats. These results show that HS had a protective action on the circulatory shock produced by 48/80 and that the AV3V region plays an important role in this protective action. PMID- 2633846 TI - Effects of aspirin-like drugs on Walker 256 tumor growth and cachexia in rats. AB - Several studies have shown the relationship between prostaglandins (PGs) and cell proliferation. Some PGs may trigger cell division or are involved in this process. This study analyzes the effect of PG biosynthesis inhibitors on tumor growth in vivo and cachexia in Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats. Indomethacin markedly inhibited tumor growth (95.5%) while ibuprofen and aspirin reduced tumor growth by 73.9% and 59.4%, respectively. In addition, all drug-treated rats partially recovered body weight and food intake as compared to the saline-treated group. These findings suggest that PG synthesis inhibitors improve cancer cachexia. PMID- 2633847 TI - A Bothrops jararaca plasma cysteine-proteinase inhibitor related to mammalian kininogen. AB - A kininogen-like protein was purified from Bothrops jararaca plasma by DEAE Sephadex ion-exchange and carboxy-methyl-papain-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The molecular weight, estimated by SDS-gel electrophoresis, is about 100,000 and a species of about 75,000 is formed after incubation with horse urinary kallikrein. After incubation with trypsin, only traces of biological activity were detected in tests on guinea pig ileum. The purified protein inhibits papain and bromelain, does not correct the clotting time of a kininogen depleted human plasma, and does not affect the clotting time of plasma from Waglerophis merremii, a nonpoisonous snake; the same type of inhibitor was found in this nonpoisonous snake. The dissociation constant (Ki) for the papain inhibitor complex is approximately 1.6 nM. PMID- 2633848 TI - Circulating molecular forms of parathyroid hormone in primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism. AB - To study the circulating forms of parathyroid hormone (PTH), sera from 5 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) and 12 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism due to chronic renal failure (SHP) were submitted to gel filtration chromatography. The eluent samples were analyzed using two sequence specific radioimmunoassays (RIA), one amino-terminal (NH2), the other carboxyl terminal (COOH). The results obtained with the NH2 RIA showed a single molecular form in both groups co-eluting with the intact hormone. The COOH assay identified several molecular forms with a broader distribution in the SHP patients. These results confirm the diagnostic superiority of the NH2 assay under both conditions. PMID- 2633849 TI - Neutropenia in an infant: possible autoimmune etiology. AB - The present study was undertaken to determine if the serum of a child with severe neutropenia contained antibodies against parental neutrophils. The presence of IgG antibodies to granulocytes from both parents was demonstrated using the indirect immunofluorescence technique. These data suggest an autoimmune etiology for the neutropenia of this patient. PMID- 2633850 TI - Is monofluoracetic acid the active neurotoxic principle in Palicourea marcgravii (St. Hill) leaves? AB - Acute intoxication of rats with the crude extract of Palicourea marcgravii (PM) and with monofluoracetic acid (MFA) solutions was compared since it has been reported that PM leaves contain monofluoracetates (455 micrograms/g air-dried material). The neurotoxic signs produced by oral administration of PM and MFA were similar and included tonic-clonic seizures. The dose-response curves constructed for the convulsant effects of PM and MFA were parallel and the CD50s were 630 mg/kg (508-781) and 0.90 mg/kg (0.76-1.06), respectively. These data suggest that the neurotoxic signs produced by PM are the consequence of MFA present in the plant leaves. PMID- 2633851 TI - Effect of a specific stress (aldrin) on rat progeny behavior. AB - The effect of dam exposure to aldrin, an organochlorinated compound (1.0 mg/kg, sc, daily), during pregnancy or lactation was studied in young rat pups (11, 15, 18 and 22 days of age) and in adult animals (90 days of age). Locomotor activity was significantly greater in both young and adult animals when compared to controls. Male rats that received aldrin during lactation also showed reduced plasma corticosterone levels. Maternal behavior was not affected by treatment during either period. The results suggest that aldrin may act as a perinatal stress factor. PMID- 2633852 TI - Comparison of five methods for the determination of lethal dose in acute toxicity studies. AB - The aim of the present study was to compare the reliability of LD50 determination using the traditional Litchfield and Wilcoxon method with that obtained by four alternative tests requiring smaller numbers of animals, for the purpose of classifying chemicals according to their acute toxicity. Acute lethal dose determinations were carried out in mice for oral and intraperitoneal administration of hexachlorophene, lidocaine, methanol, phenobarbital and physostigmine. The Molinengo method proved not to be as reliable as suggested by its author. Determination of LD50 using the Thompson and Weil method or, alternatively, the maximal non-lethal dose and the approximate lethal dose permitted the classification of the chemicals in essentially the same order. The approximate lethal dose method, in particular, seems to be a very suitable alternative method to the classical LD50 test since it requires only about 6 animals, provides enough information to order chemicals according to their toxicities, and provides useful information for planning subsequent repeated-dose studies. PMID- 2633853 TI - [The relation between carcinogenesis and mutagenesis: a re-evaluation]. AB - To determine whether genotoxic and non-genotoxic carcinogens contribute similarly to the cancer burden in humans and which types of short-term tests are more relevant for predicting human hazards, an analysis was performed on agents that were evaluated in Supplements 6 and 7 to the IARC Monographs for their carcinogenic effects in human and animals and for the activity in short-term genotoxicity tests. The prevalence of genotoxicity among four groups of agents, consisting of established human carcinogens (group 1, n = 30), probable human carcinogens (group 2A, n = 37), possible human carcinogens (group 2B, n = 113) and agents with limited evidence of carcinogenicity in animals (a subset of group 3, n = 66) was determined. Each of the groups 1, 2A and 2B contained a high proportion (80-90%) of genotoxic carcinogens, which were also multiple-species or multi-tissue carcinogens. The distribution of carcinogenic potency in rodents did not reveal any specific characteristic of the human carcinogens in group 1 that would differentiate them from agents in groups 2A, 2B and many group 3. Although limited by the data-base available through the Monographs Series, this analysis implies that genotoxic carcinogens add more to the human cancer burden than non genotoxic carcinogens. Thus, the continued use of in vitro/in vivo short-term tests, involving as endpoints DNA chromosomal damage, to identify genotoxic carcinogens or the isolation of carcinogenic components in complex mixtures is fully justified. It is concluded that a) an agent or complex mixture with unknown carcinogenic potential showing sufficient evidence of activity in genotoxicity assays in vitro or in vivo is likely to represent a hazard to humans and b) an agent or complex mixture showing lack of activity in this spectrum of genotoxicity assays should undergo evaluation for carcinogenicity for rodent bioassay, in view of the present lack of validated short-term tests for non genotoxic carcinogens. Overall one can deduce that identification and subsequent lowering of exposure to genotoxic agents/mixtures will remain one of the main goals for primary cancer prevention in man. PMID- 2633854 TI - [The predictable development of poliomyelitis]. AB - Poliomyelitis eradication is more complicated than Smallpox one because disappearance of the disease does not mean that poliovirus is no more circulating. As long as eradication is not achieved, it is important to continue to draw attention of the clinicians about poliomyelitis to maintain a high vaccination coverage, to seek for unimmunized small group, and to recommend a booster for all adult traveller going in endemic areas. Replacement of living poliomyelitis vaccine by inactivated one is ineluctable as complications though exceptional will become less and less accepted, and the surveillance of poliovirus circulation will be facilitated. National and international reference laboratories will take a prominent part. Interruption of poliomyelitis vaccination could be decided only when WHO will have reviewed data from all countries, one by one. PMID- 2633855 TI - [The dorsal root entry zone of the spinal cord: the surgical target in the treatment of pain and spasticity]. AB - The large amount of experimental works performed in the 60s and 70s, demonstrating the important role of DREZ in the modulation of the segmental mechanisms of pain and spasticity, drew the author's attention to this site as a possible target for surgery. The anatomical rationale, techniques and results of the procedure, named microsurgical -DREZ-tomy, are developed. PMID- 2633856 TI - [Mortality in emergency abdominal surgery: apropos of 304 cases. An argument for clinical medicine]. AB - Survey of 304 cases of surgical, abdominal emergencies (peritonitis and bowel occlusions). We deplored 42 post-operative deaths (14%). When patients are operated within 12 hours after the beginning of the pain, out of a group of 56 patients, two died (4%). After the 48th hour, of 114 patients operated, 26 died (23%) despite a stay in an intense care unit. 174 patients, under 60 years old, were operated; 4 died (2.3%). This is mainly due to a stay in an intense care unit (50 were operated after the 48th hour). Out of a group of 60 eighty years old patients, 18 were operated before the 24th hour; one death, that of a 94 years old patient, was deplored. Out of the 42 patients operated after the 24th hour, 19 died (45%). On the 304 patients, 56 (18%) were operated before the 12th hour, and 18 only, before the 6th hour (6%). The delay in operating, does not increase mortality only, but increase the duration of hospitalisation; this in itself increase expenses and sufferings. The causes of these delays are analyzed. A wiser use of clinical examination would decrease them. PMID- 2633857 TI - [Psoriasis and HIV infection]. AB - This study concerns 15 together H.I.V. positive and psoriatic patients. The existing relationship between psoriasis and H.I.V. infection associated in the same patient still remains quite unclear. However, some conclusions may be drawn from those studies devoted to the association psoriasis-H.I.V. infection. Psoriasis may be the first clinical manifestation and should draw attention on behalf of its possibly clinically atypical pattern, of its evolution and of its frequent unresponsiveness to treatment. It may lead to the discovery of an H.I.V. seropositivity. Immunosuppressive therapy (methotrexate, phototherapy...) should be avoided in such patients unless under specific circumstances. PMID- 2633858 TI - [The new modular field medical units of the Army Health Service]. AB - Wishing to adapt itself to foreseeable conditions of modern combat army medical service had to imagine, for battle time, new sanitary units using shelters. They have two main characteristics: modular structure and quick deployment. From a first realization, part of a broad and ambitious program, characteristics and tactical using rules are defined. Such medical units could be easily used for non military purposes: i.e. to face disaster situations or modern technological risks. PMID- 2633859 TI - [Therapeutics using plants: medications based on plants]. AB - There has been renewed interest in the age-old practice of using plants to treat disease. The general public prefers to emphasize the side effects of modern drugs rather than consider the efficacy of the revolutionary changes in therapeutics over the past forty years. So the need to implement protective measures to prevent the uncontrolled use of herbal remedies is being discussed throughout Europe. It is impossible to confirm whether the suggested plants are just placebos but even if they were, the need for the doctor to resort to this form of therapy must be stressed because of its unquestionable success rate. However, it is vital that the doctor's and perhaps public education allow the precise recognition of cases in which this form of treatment should be formally prohibited. PMID- 2633860 TI - [The role of mefloquine in the prevention of malaria]. AB - The use of Mefloquine in the prophylactic treatment of malaria has, up to now, been hampered by the standpoint adopted by the WHO, the Conseil Superieur d'Hygiene and some specialists, for whom Mefloquine should be administered only for short stays in areas of strong chloroquine-resistance. This policy, which prevents many travellers and overseas residents from benefitting from one of the most effective prophylactic treatments on the market today, thereby indirectly causing a number of pernicious cases of malaria, is based on the unfounded, unproved premise that wide use of this drug would foster the development of mefloquine-resistance or on side-effects, which are in fact rarely of any consequence and always curable. The efficacity of this drug should ensure that it is used for the basic prophylactic treatment of malaria in chloroquine-resistant areas, whatever the degree of this resistance and the length of stay involved, on condition that care is taken as to the tolerance of this drug in the early stages of treatment. PMID- 2633861 TI - [Cardiovascular complications of Marfan's syndrome: long-term results of surgical treatment]. AB - Surgery has changed the prognosis of the Marfan's syndrome. Cardiovascular manifestations (aneurysmal dilatation of the aortic root and its risk of dissection, aortic insufficiency, mitral insufficiency due to valvular anomalies) represent the vital risk of the disease and reduce the life expectancy in one third of these patients during the first 32 years. Twenty seven patients (22 to 53 years of age, mean 38) surgically treated have been followed up to 14 years (mean 6.5 years). 12 had aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement with reimplantation of coronary arteries, 9 had mitral valve replacement and 6 had simultaneous correction of aortic and mitral lesions. All patients survived the operation and late mortality was 18.5% to 14 years, with a long term survival of 90% at 5 and 70% at 10 years. Echocardiographic studies permit nowadays to measure the aortic root diameter, to appreciate the left ventricular function, to reveal a mitral prolapse and to precise valvular insufficiency, in young patients with Marfan's syndrome and during family investigation. Indication of surgical repair can be stated at the right time to prevent dissection, aortic rupture or cardiac failure with excellent and durable long term results. PMID- 2633862 TI - [The sympathetic and renin-angiotensin systems are complementary in blood pressure regulation]. AB - The consequences of a chronic destruction of sympathetic nerves or of the blockade of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) on the blood pressure (BP) level and its spontaneous variability were studied using a computerized method which allows a continuous monitoring of BP in conscious unrestrained rats. Guanethidine, used to lesion the sympathetic fibres did not alter the BP level but significantly enhanced its variability. On the opposite, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition decreased the BP level without changing its variability. It is concluded that both systems play a complementary role as the RAS determines the long-term BP level while the sympathetic nerves control its short-term variability in conscious animals. PMID- 2633863 TI - [Effects of the oral administration of midazolam on respiration]. PMID- 2633864 TI - [Propofol and regional anesthesia in children]. PMID- 2633865 TI - [Prophylactic antibiotic therapy using oxacillin (Bristopen) in pediatric orthopedic surgery]. AB - The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of oxacillin in the prophylaxis of bone infections in orthopaedic surgery in children. Staphylococcus is the usual pathogen in orthopaedics. This is the reason of our choice: oxacillin. 420 patients are included: 195 control patients did not receive any prophylactic antibiotherapy; 225 patients received oxacillin. The oxacillin treatment started at anaesthetic induction and was carried on for 72 hours. In the control group, 7 superficial and 4 deep infections were observed, while a single superficial infection was noted in the oxacillin-treated group. This easy and inexpensive prophylactic treatment gave excellent results. We think that it should be systematically administered in orthopedic surgery to ensure as little complication as possible to the child. PMID- 2633866 TI - [A study of the impact of an antipollution device on the functioning of a respirator]. PMID- 2633867 TI - [The antipyretic efficacy of propacetamol in severely burned children]. PMID- 2633868 TI - [Treatment of postoperative pain in children in the recovery room. Use of morphine and propacetamol by the intravenous route]. AB - The analgesic efficiency of morphine and propacetamol for postoperative pain, in the recovery room, was studied in two groups of children, who had undergone either orthopedic or visceral surgery. An injection of 50 mcg/kg of morphine chlorhydrate was given to the first group of 239 children ASA I, who were admitted to the recovery room and who presented signs of severe pain (agitation, crying, complaining). The analgesic efficiency of morphine was judged on physiological criteria (blood pressure, heart rate) and on behavioral criteria (calming of the child). No incidents were noticed. A second study was then performed on a second group of 100 children ASA I, who received 15 mg.kg-1 of propacetamol as an intravenous perfusion for 15 minutes. The analgesic efficiency of propacetamol was judged on behavioral criteria alone. In the morphine group, 67% of the children was calmed following one injection (94% after a second injection given 15 minutes after the first). In the propacetamol group, 77% of the children were calmed. Propacetamol was insufficient for the pain in 23% of the cases but one subsequent injection of morphine was always sufficient to calm the child. These two successive studies show the need for an analgesic protocol for children in the recovery room. Propacetamol should be administered first and then, if insufficient, followed by only one injection of morphine. This protocol of propacetamol and morphine seems to be satisfactory and thus avoids all pernicious side effects. PMID- 2633869 TI - [Neurologic and neurosensory forms of Rift Valley fever in Mauritania]. AB - During and after a Rift Valley fever epidemic in Southern Mauritania, we observed 348 patients infected by RVF virus. 17 of them had encephalitis. These belonged to 2 groups, acute febrile forms with short duration and possibility of death, and sub-acute forms, with a longer duration and with sequelae. They were pure encephalitis, without clinical or biological meningeal signs. We also noticed 5 brutal ocular attacks, running very slowly, with sequelae. PMID- 2633870 TI - [Hemorrhagic forms of Rift Valley fever in Mauritania]. AB - During and after a Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemic in Southern Mauritania, we collected 600 clinical observations. 348 were confirmed to be RVF cases. Among the 5 clinical forms we observed, some are benign but others, especially those with hemorrhagic signs are serious. We observed 48 icterohemorrhagic forms with 25 deaths. An icterus was associated with hemorrhagic signs, varying from gingivorrhagia to abundant bleeding. Biological hepato-nephritis was always present in major hemorrhagic forms. Fulminant forms, spectacular and characteristic are excellent markers for epidemiological studies in the field. PMID- 2633871 TI - [Mild clinical forms of Rift Valley fever during the epidemic in Mauritania]. AB - During and after a Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemic in Southern Mauritania we collected 600 clinical observations. 348 were confirmed to be RVF cases. We described 5 major clinical aspects: mild, icteric, icterohemorrhagic, hemorrhagic and neurological forms. The first one is the most frequently seen with 42.8% of the cases at admission. Fever was associated with various pains (cephalalgia, myalgia, arthralgia) and an important asthenia. Inconsistently this syndrome was accompanied by epistaxis and conjunctival hyperemia. The icteric form, never described before, is an icterus occurring during evolution of a mild form. It represents 28.5% of total cases at admission. The great number of theses mild forms implies that they could be used as excellent markers for an epidemic emergence. PMID- 2633872 TI - [Development of a clinical and biological scoring system for the prognosis of Rift Valley fever]. AB - With regard to an acute disease, Rift Valley fever, we tried to establish a prognostic score to help physicians to set prognosis and to choose a health management suitable in their context. Using clinical and biological data collected during the 1987 RVF epidemic in Southern Mauritania, we established a prognosis score card. Data analysis allows to prognosticate forms of possible severe evolution as an association of four syndromes: fever over 39 degrees, hemorrhagic syndrome, icterus and neurological signs. Using 12 clinical symptoms and 3 biological signs, it is possible to prognosticate cases with fatal evolution. PMID- 2633873 TI - [Frequency and characteristics of Campylobacter jejuni-coli diarrhea in Tunisia]. AB - Because importance of Campylobacter jejuni/coli in human disease, we studied frequency, clinical and biological symptoms of Campylobacter enteritis. Investigation has been realised on 216 cases of diarrhoea seen outside the hospital and aged from 4 days to 60 years, and 512 cases of hospitalised diarrhoea. Outside the hospital, this bacteria has the same frequency as Shigella and Salmonella (3-5%). Inside the hospital, it is rare. Outside the hospital, this bacteria is isolated in babies and children. Inside the hospital, it affects children and adults. In the hospital, clinical and biological symptoms of Campylobacter enteritis are more serious: Campylobacter predominant in stools, presence of leukocytes for all patients, and no other pathogenic organisms associated. PMID- 2633874 TI - [Eco-epidemiology of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Yemen Arab Republic. I. Presence, in sympatric condition, of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani complexes]. AB - In complement to a previous survey, the authors proceed to the analysis of strains isolated from visceral human and canine leishmaniasis. Finally, among eight human strains isolated and identified with an enzymatic method, seven belong to the Leishmania donovani complex and one to the L. infantum complex. The L. donovani complex is represented by the MON-31 and MON-83 zymodem. The first one is also present in Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia. The second one, corresponding to a small variant, pleads for an intrafocal polymorphism phenomenon which was until now unknown in the L. donovani complex. The L. infantum complex is observed: 1) in sympatria with L. donovani in mountainous areas; 2) alone in the Tihama coastal plain. As for human cutaneous leishmaniasis present in the same focuses it is caused by L. tropica MON-71 and not by the above mentioned complexes. PMID- 2633875 TI - [Eco-epidemiology of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Arab Republic of Yemen. II. A survey using intradermal reaction to leishmanin in a zone of mixed infestation with Leishmania tropica, L. donovani and L. infantum]. AB - Frequency distribution of leishmanin test survey in Dhamran valley around Taez (Yemen Arab Republic) is reported. It was carried out on 174 school children from 6 to 12 years old. Three schools located at 950 m, 1,100 m and 1,430 m of altitude were visited. The maximum of positivity is observed in the lower range where L. tropica, L. donovani and L. infantum are rife. In the upper valley, where cutaneous leishmaniasis is rare and visceral leishmaniasis absent, the rate of positivity is a little bit lower. The conjugated influence of the three parasites is suggested. PMID- 2633876 TI - [Eco-epidemiology of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Arab Republic of Yemen. III. Inventory and dynamics of Phlebotomus]. AB - The systematic inventory and annual following of Phlebotomus population is established by the authors in a transmission area of visceral (human and canine) and cutaneous (human) leishmaniasis in the Yemen Arab Republic (province of Taez). Seven species of Phlebotomus and nine species of Sergentomyia are thus identified. Among them, four are considered as potential vectors: on the one hand, P. orientalis (s.g. Larroussius) and, probably P. arabicus (s.g. Adlerius) for L. infantum and L. donovani, in the other, P. sergenti and P. saevus (s.g. Paraphlebotomus) for L. tropica. PMID- 2633877 TI - [Ancylostomiasis in the mines. Apropos of 2 cases]. AB - The etiological importance of Ancylostomidae in miners' anaemia has been discovered in 1880 by Perroncito during the boring of the Saint-Gothard tunnel in a dreadful epidemic. Thereafter in France, the illness disappeared between 1930 and 1940 because of the preventive dispositions realized. Two present cases of contamination in the coal mines of Lorraine due to N. americanus drive us to remember the interest of systematic faecal examinations of the miners at the engagement and every five years. PMID- 2633878 TI - Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. WHO Working Group. AB - Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the commonest enzyme disorder of human beings and a globally important cause of neonatal jaundice, which can lead to kernicterus and death or spastic cerebral palsy. It can also lead to life-threatening haemolytic crises in childhood and at later ages, by interacting with specific drugs and with fava beans in the diet. The complications of G6PD deficiency can largely be prevented by education and information, and neonatal jaundice can be successfully treated by phototherapy, a cheap and simple approach suitable for use in primary health care. This update describes developments in the methodology for characterizing G6PD deficiency, recent knowledge of the factors that can cause haemolysis, community approaches for prevention of haemolytic crises and neonatal jaundice, and the implications of recent advances at the DNA level. PMID- 2633879 TI - In vitro screening of traditional medicines for anti-HIV activity: memorandum from a WHO meeting. AB - Many plant products are being used by patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in some countries without any scientific proof that they possess anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) activity. Traditional healers are now offering their remedies for scientific evaluation, and a few studies provide information on the inhibitory activity against HIV of plants such as Viola yedoensis, Arctium lappa, Epimedium grandiflorum, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Castanospermum australe. Natural products can be selected for biological screening based on ethnomedical use, random collection or a chemotaxonomic approach (i.e., screening of species of the same botanical family for similar compounds), but the follow-up and selection of plants based on literature leads would seem to be the most cost-effective way of identifying plants with anti-HIV activity. No single in vitro screening methodology for anti-HIV activity is ideal and confirmatory assays in multiple systems are needed to examine completely the potential use of a compound. To promote further research in traditional medicine and AIDS, appropriate institutions will be identified where the different activities for the scientific evaluation of plants and their extracts for possible treatment of AIDS can be carried out. PMID- 2633880 TI - Primary health screening by haemoglobinometry in a tropical community. AB - The usefulness of a recently developed portable haemoglobinometer in primary health care was assessed in a survey of anaemia carried out in an isolated Indian community living in the jungles of northern Peru. This haemoglobinometer requires only one drop of blood to be added to a disposable cuvette without predilution; other advantages and limitations of the method are described. A high incidence of anaemia was found in men, women and children. Although intestinal parasite infections, including hookworm, were prevalent, there was no direct relationship with the anaemia. These observations indicated the need for a more extensive epidemiological study to identify the etiological factors. Considering the importance of reliable haemoglobin measurements for providing baseline data, the study demonstrated the value of this portable, simple-to-operate haemoglobinometer for use in geographically remote areas with little or no laboratory facilities. An important advantage was that locally recruited workers were able to measure the haemoglobin easily and correctly after a brief training session. PMID- 2633881 TI - Poliomyelitis surveillance and vaccine efficacy in Bombay, 1982-87. AB - Reported are updated data on poliomyelitis surveillance in Bombay for the period 1982-87 and estimates of the efficacy of oral poliovaccine (OPV) calculated by the case exposure method, using two approaches. The first, a screening technique that used only data on the reported number of doses of vaccine administered and the immunization status of all poliomyelitis cases, appeared to underestimate the true vaccine efficacy. In the more rigorous second technique, which used data for children of the same age group, geographical areas, and study year, obtained from immunization coverage surveys, and information on the immunization status of poliomyelitis cases, the results indicate that the OPV vaccine efficacy for fully immunized children aged 12-23 months exceeded 90%. These findings show that the estimated efficacy of OPV is high in Bombay and that, in general, vaccine efficacy should be re-estimated using more rigorous techniques if preliminary screening estimates indicate a lower than expected efficacy. In Bombay, poliomyelitis therefore results primarily from a failure to fully vaccinate all eligible children rather than as a result of vaccine failure. Furthermore, the age distribution of cases suggests that the strategy of focusing immunization activities on children aged under 1 year is epidemiologically correct. PMID- 2633882 TI - The accuracy of mother's reports about their children's vaccination status. AB - Estimates of measles vaccination coverage in the Sudan vary on average by 23 percentage points, depending on whether or not information supplied by mothers who have lost their children's vaccination cards is included. To determine the accuracy of mother's reports, we collected data during four large coverage surveys in which illiterate mothers with vaccination cards were asked about their children's vaccination status and their answers were compared with the information given on the cards. Mothers' replies were very accurate. For example, for measles vaccination, the data supplied were both sensitive (87%) and specific (79%) compared with those on the vaccination cards. For both DPT and measles vaccination, accurate estimates of the true coverage rates could therefore be obtained by relying solely on mothers' reports. Within +/- 1 month, 78% of the women knew the age at which their children had received their first dose of poliovaccine. Ignoring mothers' reports of their children's vaccination status could therefore result in serious underestimates of the true vaccination coverage. A simple method of dealing with the problem posed by lost vaccination cards during coverage surveys is also suggested. PMID- 2633883 TI - Monitoring selective components of primary health care: methodology and community assessment of vaccination, diarrhoea, and malaria practices in Conakry, Guinea. ACSI-CCCD team. AB - The Africa Child Survival Initiative-Combatting Childhood Communicable Diseases (ACSI-CCCD) Project is a primary health care activity that focuses on antenatal care, immunization, diarrhoeal disease control, and malaria control in children under 5 years of age. In order to gauge progress made in the project, a community based health interview survey to measure simultaneously several prevention and treatment indicators was carried out in 1986 in Conakry, Guinea. A sample of 1415 caretakers and their 2048 children aged under 5 years was visited using a cluster sampling technique. The survey documented the levels of literacy and health education awareness of the caretakers, measured the vaccination coverage levels for children and women of childbearing age, and determined treatment practices for diarrhoea and malaria. Of the 637 women who reported having given birth in the previous 12 months, 96% had visited an antenatal clinic, but only 49% had had two or more doses of tetanus toxoid, and 13% took weekly chemoprophylaxis against malaria. The vaccination coverage for measles was 16% for children aged 12-23 months. Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) was given to 16% of children with diarrhoea; however, only 43% of those who were administered ORT at home were treated according to standard guidelines. Of children with diarrhoea, 51% were given antidiarrhoeal or antimicrobial drugs by caretakers. Fever was treated at home for 79% of the febrile children, and 43% of those with fever also visited health units. The use of injectable antimalarials and prolonged treatments with chloroquine were common. Combining findings from a population-based community study with an assessment of practices in health facilities can provide reliable information for the implementation and monitoring of selective components of primary health care. PMID- 2633884 TI - Home treatment of febrile children with antimalarial drugs in Togo. AB - In Togo, the principal strategy for preventing death from malaria in children is prompt treatment of fever with antimalarial drugs. A household survey was conducted in a rural area of south-central Togo in which information was collected from mothers on the treatment received by 507 children under 5 years of age who, according to their mothers, had recently had fever. Altogether, 20% of the children (95% confidence interval (Cl): 15-25%) were seen at a health centre during their illness, while 83% (95% Cl: 76-90%) were treated at home with an antimalarial drug. Of the children in the latter group, 97% received the drug on the first day of fever. In contrast, only 17% of children who attended a health centre were seen on the first day of their fever. Chloroquine, usually obtained from a street or market vendor, was used for 94% of the treatments given at home. Based on children's weights and treatment histories provided by their mothers, the median total dosage of chloroquine given at home was 12.8 mg per kg body weight--more than that recommended and known to be fully effective in Togo at the time of the survey (10 mg per kg) and less than the total dosage recommended at present (25 mg per kg). The dosage administered was considered to be inadequate for 70% of home treatments, because less than 10 mg per kg was given during the first 24 hours of treatment. In the study area, parents were the main providers of antimalarial drug treatment to children with fever and need guidance on the correct dosage of chloroquine. PMID- 2633885 TI - Infant feeding and risk of severe diarrhoea in Basrah city, Iraq: a case-control study. AB - A case-control study of the relationship between feeding mode and risk of hospitalized diarrhoea in infants (aged 2-11 months) in Basrah city was conducted between September 1983 and May 1984. A total of 597 cases were recruited from among infants admitted with diarrhoea to the major paediatric hospital in the city, while 723 controls were recruited from among healthy infants attending any of the seven maternal and child health clinics in Basrah. A variety of potentially confounding variables were controlled in the analysis. For infants aged 2-5 months, breast-feeding alone or breast-feeding plus food were the least risky feeding modes. Bottle-feeding was dangerous and bottle-feeding alone was associated with a risk of 55 among infants aged 2-3 months, and 37 among infants aged 4-5 months, relative to exclusive breast-feeding. For older infants (6-11 months), the risks of hospitalized diarrhoea were not significantly different among different partial breast-feeding modes, but non-breastfeeding was dangerous, especially exclusive bottle-feeding. Food intake was associated with a reduced risk of severe diarrhoea among bottle-fed infants but not with an increased risk among breast-fed infants. Among bottle-fed infants, no association was found between risk of severe diarrhoea and method of bottle-cleaning. Previous breast-feeding conferred no current protection. PMID- 2633886 TI - Adverse reactions after large-scale treatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin: combined results from eight community trials. AB - Eight community trials were carried out by the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa to determine the safety of the new microfilaricide ivermectin during large-scale treatment of onchocerciasis. The trial areas were located in eight different countries and varied greatly in endemicity level; a total of 50,929 persons were treated and monitored for 72 hours. Overall treatment coverage was 60% of the census population, the main reasons for non-treatment being the exclusion criteria. Of those treated, 9% reported with adverse reactions, 2.4% with moderate reactions, and 0.24% with severe reactions. Most reactions were reported during the first day of follow-up, the most frequent severe reaction being severe symptomatic postural hypotension (in 49 cases). Three cases of severe dyspnoea were life-threatening but their relationship with ivermectin treatment is uncertain. The incidence of adverse reactions was directly related to skin microfilarial load and was highest in the foci with the highest endemicity levels. Treatment resulted in 98% reductions in mean microfilarial loads at all endemicity levels. The benefit of treatment largely compensated for the discomfort due to adverse reactions, which were all transient and managed successfully. Ivermectin thus appears to be sufficiently safe for large-scale treatment but monitoring by resident nurses for at least 36 hours is recommended. PMID- 2633887 TI - Community-based treatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin: acceptability and early adverse reactions. AB - A study of community-based treatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin was undertaken in a rain forest area of Liberia to investigate the possible occurrence of serious adverse effects. The total population was 13,704, the microfilarial load was 5.35 mf/mg skin, and the prevalence of Onchocerca volvulus infection was 50% at 9 years of age and over 80% among those aged 15 years and older. Certain groups (like pregnant women and young children) were excluded from treatment. Out of the 7956 people eligible for treatment, 7699 (97%) accepted the ivermectin. Data on possible adverse reactions were collected by four different methods, including systematic house-by-house follow-up visits three days after treatment, biweekly population surveillance, and monitoring of both mobile clinic records and hospital records. No severe adverse reactions were noted, and no deaths could be related to ivermectin treatment; only 1.3% of the persons treated had a moderate adverse reaction of the Mazzotti type, presumably related to the killing of microfilariae. The study showed good acceptance by the population, and that mass treatment campaigns with ivermectin are feasible. PMID- 2633888 TI - Purified equine rabies immune globulin: a safe and affordable alternative to human rabies immune globulin. AB - Reported are the results of a retrospective study of 3156 patients who were treated at the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Bangkok, with equine rabies immune globulin (ERIG). Only 51 patients (1.6%) exhibited serum-sickness-like reactions, none of which persisted for more than a week, and only 8 of these patients (15%) were treated with a short course of steroids. One patient, whose skin test was negative, had an immediate anaphylactic reaction to ERIG that responded to parenteral therapy with epinephrine and hydrocortisone sodium succinate. Serum-sickness-like reactions were more frequent among females and over 21-year-olds but were exceedingly rare (0.086%) among children under 10 years of age. PMID- 2633889 TI - [Cell line of hybridoma secreting monoclonal antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus antigens]. AB - In order to produce specific monoclonal antibodies for immunodiagnosis and immunoprophylaxis in hydatid disease, a monoclonal antibody cell line NIA2 secreting specific antibodies was established, through fusion of myeloma cells SP2/0 and spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with hydatid fluid from a local (Ningxia) patient and repeated screenings and clonings. The specificity was assayed via ELISA, immunoprecipitating and ultramicroscopy. Antibody titer of 1:2,560 was obtained in the supernatant of the culture medium by ELISA and a high titer of 1:163,840 in seeded ascitic fluid of mice of the same isolate. Immunoglobulin subclass of the NIA2 secreting antibody was determined to be IgG1 which showed no cross reaction to Cysticercus cellulosae. Cloned cell lines from the hybridomas were found consistent in secreting anti-Echinococcus granulosus antibody through serial passage in tissue culture for ten months. PMID- 2633890 TI - [Comparative studies on several biochemical indices of Anopheles anthropophagus and Anopheles sinensis]. AB - Proteins, sugars and esterase isoenzymes of An. anthropophagus and An. sinensis were compared by IEF and two dimensional gel electrophoresis. The results show that there are some differences in the electrophoretic patterns between An. anthropophagus and An. sinensis. The glycoprotein, lipid protein, glycolipidprotein, protein, polysaccharide and esterase isoenzymes showed 10, 0, 6, 14, 2 and 13 bands in An. anthropophagus; 10, 1, 5, 16, 3 and 15 in An. sinensis. There exist 234 and 240 polypeptide spots in An. anthropophagus and in An. sinensis, respectively, altogether 27.8% of polypeptide spots being different. PMID- 2633891 TI - [Optimum number of mixed peripheral blood samples by membrane filtration technique for mass blood survey of filariasis]. AB - The membrane filtration technique has been used widely in the evaluation of effect of control and survey of filariasis. The present study was made to explore an optimum number of mixed peripheral blood samples and a mathematical model of work load for this method in surveying filariasis. By analysing the correlation between the microfilaremia rate and the optimum number of mixed peripheral blood samples and applying the theory of Binomial Distribution or Poisson Distribution, the authors reckoned a table for estimating the number of filariasis cases in villages with different microfilarial rates and different population as well as the optimum number of mixed peripheral blood samples. PMID- 2633892 TI - [A paracentric inversion in the salivary gland chromosome 3R of Anopheles sinensis]. AB - An inversion heterozygote has been found in the fourth stage larvae of the laboratory line of Shanghai Anopheles sinensis in our laboratory, the frequency of occurrence of the heterozygote being 2 to 5%. The characteristic inversion loop formed in the midst of chromosome 3R together with the break points arises from 26C to 30A segment of the chromosomes. This inversion paracentric is the first record in the literature available and may be of significance as a genetic marker in studying the inter-specific variation of Anopheles sinensis. PMID- 2633893 TI - Metabolism and disposition studies with a [35S]-labelled growth promotor: bis(N1 methyl-N2-methylsulphonyl) guanidinylethyl] disulphide. AB - The disposition and metabolism of the [35S]-labelled growth promotor bis[N1 methyl- N2-methylsulphonyl) guanidinylethyl] disulphide was studied in the rat following oral administration. There was rapid and significant absorption of drug derived products evidenced by maximum concentrations for plasma and the majority of sampled tissues at 1 h post dose, and extensive renal clearance, with greater than 62% of dose voided in urine in 12 h. Analysis of urine revealed that the administered compound had been completely metabolised to five metabolites of which the two major products have been characterised. A metabolic pathway involving reductive cleavage of the disulphide bond, followed by S-methylation and sulphoxidation would appear to be involved in the biotransformation of the compound. PMID- 2633894 TI - Intensive day treatment provides an alternative to residential care. PMID- 2633895 TI - Educating youth about AIDS: a model program. PMID- 2633896 TI - 20 years on Sesame Street. PMID- 2633897 TI - Child sexual abuse prevention programs: what makes them effective in protecting children? PMID- 2633898 TI - Serving refugee children and families in Head Start. PMID- 2633899 TI - [Clinical application of asphero-iseikonic posterior chamber intraocular lens]. AB - The asphero-iseikonic posterior chamber intraocular lens has the advantages of an aberration and iseikonia. The clinical study of 63 eyes in 62 patients showed that 98.4% of the eyes achieved a visual acuity of 0.5 or better, 84.1% of 0.8 or better, and 79.4% of 1.0 or better. With the distance correction, 90.6% of the eyes achieved a near vision of 0.3 or better and the highest was 0.8. The mean apparent accommodative power in the pseudophakic eyes was 3.11 +/- 0.85 D, and the mean spherical aberration 0.21 +/- 0.21 D. The distance from the anterior apex of cornea to the anterior surface of the implant lens corresponded to the theoretical design. Computer image analysis system confirmed the iseikonic precision. The visual field of all cases was normal and elevation of intraocular pressure occurred in none. PMID- 2633900 TI - [Implantation of posterior chamber IOL after traumatic cataract extraction]. AB - Traumatic cataracts are often complicated with posterior capsule perforation and opacity to render implantation of posterior chamber IOL difficult. The authors operated on 62 cases using McIntyre's canula and Peyman's vitrophage with satisfactory results. The visual acuity was 0.5 or better in 66%, 0.7 or better in 45%, less than 0.1 in 3 patients because of vitreous opacity and corneal leucoma. In 2 cases associated with aniridia, the IOL was implanted into the capsule bag to obtain visual acuity of 1.2 and 1.0. In 4 patients with intraocular foreign body, the combined operation of foreign body and cataract extraction, vitrectomy, and posterior chamber IOL implantation was performed. PMID- 2633901 TI - [Clinical observations and calcium determinations in hypocalcemic cataract]. AB - Among 38 cases of hypoparathyroidism, 32 patients were found to have hypocalcemic cataract. The morphology and mechanism of cataract formation were studied by clinical observation and biochemical calcium determinations, which indicated that the development of hypocalcemic cataract was related to the calcium level in blood but not to the duration of disease. The results suggest that early diagnosis and treatment of hypocalcemia may be useful in controlling the development of cataract. Calcium determinations showed that the blood calcium level was related to that in the aqueous humor. It is probable that the blood calcium content may reflect the calcium level in the aqueous humor, thus evaluating the tendency for cataract development. PMID- 2633902 TI - [Scleral buckling operation for primary retinal detachment and secondary acute angle-closure glaucoma]. AB - Of 233 eyes (215 patients) operated on for primary retinal detachment with scleral buckling, 38 eyes (16.3%) developed angle-closure glaucoma. The authors found no correlation between onset of the post-operative IOP elevation and the age of the patient, the preoperative IOP, the width of the chamber angle, refraction, the duration of operation, and the number of operations. The clinical characteristics of this type of glaucoma, its pathogenetic mechanism, and management are discussed. PMID- 2633903 TI - [Neodymium YAG laser iridotomy]. AB - 130 eyes with primary angle-closure glaucoma were performed iridotomy successfully with Nd: YAG laser. The iris perforations remained open in follow ups of 1 week to 8 months, and pupil block was relieved. The technique involved was described. The common complications included slight local opacity in the peripheral cornea, mild iris hemorrhage, and postoperative hypertensive response in IOP, all of which did not affect the visual acuity. PMID- 2633904 TI - [The surgical treatment of intermittent exotropia]. AB - 77 cases of surgically treated intermittent exotropia were followed up for analysis with regard to the relation between the age of operation and curative effect, the age and post-operative restoration of homologous retinal correspondence, and the effect of over-correction on final orthophoria. The authors were of the opinion that the earliest surgical intervention was conducive to recovery of Grade III visual function and restoration of homologous retinal correspondence, and slight over-correction was significant for final orthophoria. They recommended that the earliest surgical intervention be accorded patients with intermittent exotropia of 20 delta and over, instead of purposeless waiting and observation. PMID- 2633905 TI - [Contrast sensitivity in amblyopia]. AB - The contrast sensitivity function for sinusoid gratings of various spatial frequencies was determined for both eyes of 21 cases with unilateral amblyopia. The CSF of all amblyopic eyes except one was reduced in comparison with the non amblyopic eye of the same person. The CS curve was depressed, especially with the middle and high spatial frequencies. The cut-off high frequency shifted toward to the left, as was the peak sensitivity. The changes in CSF with respect to different degrees of amblyopia, and the possible errors that could be made during the examination were also discussed. PMID- 2633906 TI - [Significance of the lactate dehydrogenase level in aqueous humor in the diagnosis of retinoblastoma]. AB - Aqueous humor LDH levels of 104 patients (113 eyes) were determined. In 18 patients (18 eyes) with retinoblastoma, the range was 3,850.8-86,717.3 mumol.s 1/L, very significantly higher than those of cataract, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and penetrating eye injury (P less than 0.01). The LDH values of 7 eyes of chronic endophthalmitis were 1,917.1-84,250.2 mumol.s-1/L and that of 1 eye with choroidal malignant melanoma was 19,553.9 mumol.s-1/L, the differences being insignificant (P greater than 0.05). The authors deemed that aqueous LDH levels exceeding 16,670 mumol.s-1/L could be indicative of retinoblastoma; however, with a pseudo-positive rate of 28.6% and a pseudo-negative rate of 16.7%, its practical use in differential diagnosis was limited. PMID- 2633907 TI - [Tear lactoferrin content in normal Chinese adults and various ocular diseases]. AB - The authors found the tear lactoferrin content in normal Chinese adults to be 1.46 +/- 0.32 mg/ml (mean +/- 1 SD), and the mean counting rate of its unsaturated binding power of iron 63,660 +/- 17,010/min/ml (mean +/- 1 SD), with very significant positive correlation between the two, irrespective of sex or eye distinction. Tear lactoferrin began to decrease after 40 years of age, and remarkably so after 70. The authors deemed the measurement of tear lactoferrin a reliable and sensitive marker for the diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis sicca. In patients with bacterial corneal ulcer and acute catarrhal conjunctivitis, the lactoferrin content in tears was normal, in chronic catarrhal conjunctivitis, the unsaturated binding power of iron was decreased. PMID- 2633908 TI - [An epidemiological survey of blindness and low vision in Chongqing]. AB - An epidemiological survey of blindness and low vision in Chongqing showed that in a random sample of 13,832, there were 62 cases of bilateral blindness and 97 cases of bilateral low vision, the prevalences being 0.45% (male 0.38%, female 0.52%) and 0.70% (male 0.50%, female 0.90%) respectively. The prevalences in people over 60 years of age were significantly higher. The important blinding diseases were cataract, infectious keratitis, corneal turbidity, glaucoma, trachoma, and ametropia/amblyopia. PMID- 2633909 TI - Diabetic state-induced modification of Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn content of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles. AB - The metal content of diaphragm, gastrocnemius, ventricle, and bladder muscles in genetically obese diabetic KK-CAy and alloxan-diabetic ddY mice was compared with that in prediabetic KK-CAy and normal ddY mice, because the muscles of the diabetic KK-CAy mice had morphological abnormalities, such as atrophy, disappearance of Z-band, disturbed myofibrils and swollen sarcoplasmic reticulum. The amounts of calcium (Ca) in gastrocnemius, ventricle and bladder muscles from the prediabetic KK-CAy mice were significantly 7.7, 98.3, and 36.9% greater, respectively, than those in normal ddY mice. In contrast, the magnesium (Mg) content of the diaphragm, the gastrocnemius, and the ventricle in the prediabetic mice was 8.6, 7.4, and 4.3% lower, respectively, than in the ddY mice. The iron (Fe) content of the diaphragm, gastrocnemius, and ventricle muscles in the prediabetic mice was 29.2, 43.6, and 44.6% greater, respectively, than in the ddY mice. The Ca content in the gastrocnemius muscles of the diabetic KK-CAy mice and the alloxan-diabetic mice was 19.8 and 11.7% higher, respectively, than in the prediabetic and normal mice. The Ca content of the ventricle muscle was increased only in the alloxan-mice. The gastrocnemius Mg was also 9.0 and 5.5% greater in the KK-CAy and the alloxan-mice. The Fe content of the diaphragm and the gastrocnemius muscles from the KK-CAy mice was 27.3 and 23.2% greater, respectively, than in the prediabetic mice. The zinc (Zn) content of the gastrocnemius and the bladder was 16.4 and 18.0% higher, but the ventricle Zn was 13.4% lower, respectively, than in the prediabetic control. The changes in metal content induced by the diabetic state may be related to the morphological abnormalities. PMID- 2633910 TI - Normotensive glucocorticoid-suppressible hyperaldosteronism in adult. AB - A 40 year-old man was admitted to our hospital for detailed examination of hypokalemia (2.7 mEq/l). His blood pressure was normal. Metabolic alkalosis, ACTH dependent hyperaldosteronism (18 ng/dl) and over-response to synthetic ACTH were observed. Plasma renin activity, on the other hand, was within the normal range (1.7 ng/ml/hr). Serum potassium was normalized to 4.1 mEq/l and the responsiveness of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system was recovered after the administration of dexamethasone. These results led us to suggest that this case might be normotensive glucocorticoid-suppressible hyperaldosteronism. The etiology which was not associated with hypertension and low plasma renin activity has not been clarified but may be related to the shortness of duration of this disease. Our case was also afflicted with mild hypercortisolemia and excessive excretion of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid and 17-ketosteroid which was suppressed by the administration of dexamethasone (2 mg/day). These findings may be related to hypersensitivity of the fascicular zone of the adrenal gland to ACTH. PMID- 2633911 TI - Cord transferrin and ferritin values for erythropoiesis in newborn infants of diabetic mothers. AB - Neonatal polycythemia is a perinatal complication in infants of diabetic mothers. The cord CBC (complete blood counts), serum iron, transferrin and ferritin concentrations were studied in newborn infants of 9 GDM (gestational diabetes), 21 NIDDM (noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), and 8 IDDM (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) mothers. The RBC (red blood cell) count, Hb (hemoglobin) and Hct (hematocrit) of these infants were higher than control infants. There was no difference between the serum iron concentration of the infants of each group diabetic mothers and the infants in the control group, but the transferrin concentration was significantly higher and the ferritin was significantly lower in the infants of diabetic mothers than in those of control mothers. There was a significant negative correlation between transferrin and ferritin (r = -0.491 p less than 0.001). Erythropoiesis is considered to be enhanced in the fetuses of diabetic mothers, and the iron needed for erythropoiesis is reportedly transported from the mother to the fetus according to the demands of the fetus, but the iron storage was shown to be reduced in the fetuses of diabetic mothers. PMID- 2633912 TI - Trend analysis of serum progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, deoxycorticosterone sulfate, cortisol, corticosterone, 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone and estradiol in early neonates. AB - To elucidate the origin and regulatory mechanism of deoxycorticosterone (DOC) and deoxycorticosterone sulfate during fetal life, the levels of serum DOC, DOC sulfate, progesterone, cortisol, corticosterone and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone (18OH-DOC) were determined in the fraction separated on high performance liquid chromatogram (HPLC) by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using the serum from normal newborn. Elimination curves both of serum DOC and DOC sulfate showed two phases: rapidly decreasing and slowly decreasing ones. Both serum DOC and DOC sulfate correlated with progesterone (r = 0.340, p less than 0.01; r = 0.737, p less than 0.01, respectively). They also correlated with cortisol (DOC, r = 0.467, p less than 0.01; DOC sulfate, r = 0.549, p less than 0.01, respectively). Serum DOC reached normal adult levels by 16 hrs after birth. However serum DOC sulfate concentration was maintained high throughout the entire early neonatal period. On the contrary, the changes in serum cortisol, corticosterone and 18OH-DOC showed a peak surge in the initial phase after delivery. Both serum corticosterone and 18OH-DOC correlated with cortisol (r = 0.518, p less than 0.01; r = 0.410, p less than 0.01, respectively). These findings suggest that, in the fetus, serum DOC and DOC sulfate are mainly produced at extraadrenal sites isolated from normal mineralocorticoids synthesis and after birth they begin to be formed at adrenal glands. PMID- 2633913 TI - Subacute thyroiditis associated with systemic multi-organ disorders. AB - Subacute thyroiditis is generally thought to be a self-limited inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland. This paper describes serial observations on the clinical course of a typical patient with subacute thyroiditis. This patient showed specific features of destructive thyrotoxicosis with increases in the serum levels of acute phase reactants and in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. She also showed signs of liver dysfunction [slightly increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP), and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP)], slight anemia, glucose intolerance, increased pancreatic enzymes, splenomegaly, and an increase in peripheral Leu 7 positive (NK/K) cells. These abnormalities all improved with recovery from disease. These findings indicate that in this patient with subacute thyroiditis inflammation is not limited to the thyroid gland but also involves the liver, pancreas and spleen. Thus the subacute thyroiditis in this patient may be a systemic multi-organ disease. PMID- 2633914 TI - The prediction of thyroid function in infants born to mothers with chronic thyroiditis. AB - To elucidate the relationship between the mother's TSH-receptor antibody activities and the status of thyroid dysfunction in their offspring, blood was taken from 5 mothers with chronic thyroiditis with potent thyrotropin (TSH) receptor blocking activity, and the potency of TBII and TSBAb activity was assayed more quantitatively. In those mothers whose infants suffered from neonatal hypothyroidism, the 50% inhibition of binding of labeled TSH to its receptors was obtained at more than 30 to 50-fold dilution, while in those mothers whose infants had transiently increased TSH or were euthyroid, the titers were of less than 30-fold dilution. Similarly, in those mother whose infants suffered from neonatal hypothyroidism, the 50% inhibition of TSH-induced cAMP accumulation was obtained at approximately 400 to 3000-fold dilution, while in those mothers whose infants had transiently increased TSH or were euthyroid, the titers were of less than 50-fold dilution. On the other hand TBII activity was much less potent in serum from patients with Graves' disease. These results suggested that the titration of serum with dilution to obtain 50% inhibition of labelled TSH binding to its receptor may be the simplest way to predict thyroid dysfunction of the newborn infants born to mothers with chronic thyroiditis. PMID- 2633915 TI - Studies on the nuclear 3, 5, 3'-triiodo-L-thyronine binding sites in cytotrophoblast. AB - Human placental trophoblasts contain 3, 5, 3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) nuclear receptors not only at term but all throughout pregnancy. We determined which of the trophoblast, cytotrophoblast (C-cell) or syncytiotrophoblasts (S-cell) respond to thyroid hormone, and whether the T3 binding capacity changes with placental aging. Nuclear protein of mononuclear cells purified from term chorionic tissue by enzymatic digestion and Percoll gradient centrifugation had an apparent association constant (Ka) of 5.2 x 10(9)M-1 and a binding capacity of 445 fmol T3/mg DNA, 8 times greater than that of term trophoblasts. Primary harvested mononuclear cells reacted against neither anti-hCG-beta nor anti-hPL antibodies, although some of them reacted immunocytochemically against anti-hCG alpha antibody. These cells aggregated with each other and transformed into multinuclear cells in culture after 96 hrs of incubation, showing that these primary harvested cells were C cells that had morphologically transformed into S cells. The transformed cells secreted hCG and hPL and immunocytochemically stained for these markers, suggesting that the C cells had functionally transformed into S cells. Nuclear binding of T3 in trophoblastic tissue is present not only at term but throughout pregnancy. Although each nuclei had a similar Ka value, the binding capacity decreased towards term. These findings suggest that nuclear T3 receptors of placental trophoblast change with placental aging and this change is mainly due to the change in the C/S cell ratio. We concluded that the cytotrophoblast is an active target cell of thyroid hormone. PMID- 2633916 TI - Destructive thyrotoxicosis in a patient with anaplastic thyroid cancer. AB - A 55-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with an anterior neck tumor, hoarseness, and dysphagia that had continued for a few weeks. He was diagnosed as anaplastic thyroid cancer by fine-needle aspiration cytology. He was treated by external radiation and chemotherapy, but left hemothorax developed and he died of respiratory failure on the 76th day in hospital. On admission, the levels of serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and TSH were 12.8 pg/ml, 4.2 ng/dl, and 0 microU/ml, respectively. The simultaneous thyroidal I-131 uptake rate was 1.2% at 24 hours. The levels of free thyroid hormones fell gradually without antithyroid drugs to result in hypothyroidism (FT3 0.8 pg/ml, FT4 0 ng/dl, and TSH 36 microU/ml). The rapid growth of anaplastic thyroid cancer seemed to be responsible for destructive thyrotoxicosis followed by hypothyroidism in this patient. PMID- 2633917 TI - Euthyroid hypothyrotropinemia in children of short stature. AB - Unique association of hypothyrotropinemia with euthyroidism was described in 2 children of short stature. Both had a history of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), but showed an appropriate growth rate after infancy (5 cm/y). Growth hormone secretion after provocation tests was normal, whereas TSH response to TRH was absent. With a highly sensitive TSH radioimmunoassay (RIA) and a specific RIA for TSH-alpha-subunit, both responded to a high dose of TRH stimulation. Serum thyroid hormones were within the normal range, while prolactin response to TRH was exaggerated. Exogenous thyroxine (T4) supplement in case 1 did not improve his growth rate, indicating absence of hypothyroidism. Case 2 was treated with stanozolol, which accelerated his growth velocity to 8 cm/y. During the treatment, serum T4 gradually decreased to 50% of the initial level, but blunted TSH response to TRH remained unchanged. These results indicate that their thyrotrophs are resistant to TRH stimulation and the pituitary setpoint of TSH release is unusually high. The exact mechanism involved in maintaining euthyroidism despite hypothyrotropinemia remains to be elucidated, but a common history of IUGR appears to play a role in producing this pituitary-thyroid state. PMID- 2633918 TI - Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of 14C isobytylnaphtyl acetic acid in rat. AB - After oral administration to rats, absorption of INAA was slow but complete. Plasma level curves reached a plateau for INAA as well as for the two metabolites, which were rapidly formed (MI and MII). The plateau concentration led to an increase of the apparent elimination half-life, which was short after i.v. administration due to the small volume of distribution and to the high rate of metabolism. In any case the half-life was independent of the dose and the pharmacokinetics of INAA remained linear from 1.5 to 15 mg/kg. The two rapidly formed plasma metabolites were eliminated more slowly than INAA. INAA and its metabolites were distributed only sparsely in all tissues under investigation, probably due to the high protein binding. Both routes of administration resulted in elimination of the radioactivity mainly by the urine. Besides the two main metabolites with known structures (MI and MII) small amounts of INAA and two additional metabolites were detected. PMID- 2633919 TI - Acid metabolite of progabide pharmacokinetics following single administration in the rabbit with special references to HPLC and (3H) muscimol radioreceptor assay. AB - The aim of the present study was to monitor plasma levels of progabide and its metabolites in the rabbit following single oral administration of 20 mg.kg-1. The plasma levels were determined selectively using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and then correlated with a global estimation by a (3H) muscimol radioreceptor assay (RRA). In our "in vitro" binding conditions progabide itself was virtually ineffective (IC50 greater than 100 microM) so only RRA active materiel plasma concentrations were studied. A good enough correlation (r = 0.71) has been established between HPLC and RRA plasma concentrations from 0 to 3 hours following oral administration specially considering the absorption phase. But with closed regards to the elimination pharmacokinetic parameters specially the elimination half-life values (t1/2el (RRA) = 1.67 h and t1/2el (HPLC) = 0.70 h) that correlation should be weaker than the former instead metabolites including GABAmide and GABA itself are probably present in amounts likely to affect the displacement of specific binding in the (3H) muscimol radioreceptor assay. PMID- 2633920 TI - In vivo metabolism of the anti-inflammatory agent 2-(5-ethylpyridin-2 yl)benzimidazole. AB - The metabolic fate of anti-inflammatory agent 2-(5-ethylpyridin-2 yl)benzimidazole (KB-1043) was studied in rats after oral administration. An average of 12.2 +/- 1.5% of the dose was excreted in the urine in the course of 0 48 h; 56.7 +/- 2.6% with feces. Two metabolites were also detected in the urine and isolated by reverse phase HPLC. Structures have been given after identification by comparison with authentic samples. The more abundant metabolite proved to be 2-(5-(1-hydroxyethyl)pyridin-2-yl)benzimidazole, a benzylic oxidation product, which was also excreted as glucuronic acid conjugate; the other metabolite was confirmed to be 2-(5-acetylpyridin-2-yl)benzimidazole. Carrageenin edema and gastric ulcerogenic activity were also tested for the two identified metabolites. PMID- 2633921 TI - Mephenytoin stereoselective elimination in the rat: II. Comparison of mephenytoin stereoselective clearance during chronic intravenous and hepatic portal vein administration. AB - The stereoselective clearances of R- and S-mephenytoin were determined in rats receiving either an intravenous or hepatic portal vein infusion of racemic mephenytoin. The mean +/- SD intravenous clearances of R- and S-mephenytoin were 1630 +/- 250 ml/hr and 630 +/- 250 ml/hr, respectively. The corresponding portal vein clearances for these enantiomers were 2560 +/- 1230 ml/hr (R-mephenytoin) and 540 +/- 230 ml/hr (S-mephenytoin). In spite of the slightly higher clearance for R-mephenytoin following portal vein administration, the difference between the intravenous and portal vein clearances for R- or S-mephenytoin were not found to be significant. Subsequent computer simulations of the data indicated there was less than a 5% probability that this result could be attributed solely to interanimal variability in drug clearance. The estimated extraction ratio of R mephenytoin by the liver was modest and suggested mephenytoin may undergo a substantial degree of extrahepatic elimination in the rat. PMID- 2633922 TI - Assessment of pharmacokinetic interaction between theophylline and loperamide in the rat. AB - The effect of loparamide (1 mgkg-1, p.o.) on the pharma-cokinetics of theophylline was studied in the rat. Theophylline (as aminophylline-25 mgkg-1, p.o.) was administered either alone, in combination with, or 1 hr after loperamide. Plasma levels of theophylline were serially measured over a period of 12 hr using HPLC. The disposition kinetics of theophylline was markedly altered by loperamide. This was evident from the significant differences obtained between the control and drug combination groups in most of the parameters studied (Cpmax, tmax, Ka, t1/2 and AUC). Allowing for the limitations of single dose studies, the data presented here suggest that pharma-cokinetic interaction between theophylline and loperamide is possible during their concomitant use. PMID- 2633923 TI - Pharmacokinetics of flutoprazepam, a novel benzodiazepine drug, in normal subjects. AB - The single dose pharmacokinetics of flutoprazepam and its active N-desalkyl metabolite were determined in 8 normal subjects by using newly developed, highly sensitive, GC-MS and HPLC techniques. Following a 2 mg dose of the drug, the concentrations of unchanged flutoprazepam in serum were extremely low (below 5 ng/ml at 2 h) and declined rapidly to undetectable levels within 6-9 h after dosing. At all sampling times, the serum concentration of the N-dealkylated metabolite (N-desalkylflurazepam) was much greater than that of the parent compound. This metabolite appeared in serum rapidly (within 2 h), reached a peak between 2 and 12 h and declined slowly, with an elimination half-life of about 90 h on average. The serum concentration of two additional putative metabolites (3 hydroxy-flutoprazepam and N-desalkyl-3-hydroxy-flutoprazepam) was below the limit of detection (2 ng/ml) in all samples. Mild CNS effects (documented by prolonged choice reaction time) were present at 2 and 4 h but were no longer detectable at 9 h. It is suggested that unchanged flutoprazepam is unlikely to contribute significantly to clinical effects and that the drug exerts its therapeutic activity through conversion to the slowly eliminated N-desalkyl metabolite. PMID- 2633924 TI - Pharmacokinetics of atracurium besylate in the pig after a single i.v. injection. AB - A pharmacokinetic study of atracurium besylate was performed in the pig after a single i.v. bolus injection of 2 mg/kg, the dose needed to produce surgical neuromuscular blockade. The plasma concentration values were obtained by high performance liquid chromatography. Using a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model, the elimination half life was found to be 28.6 +/- 6.3 min (mean +/- SEM), the total volume of distribution 341 +/- 56 ml/kg and the plasma clearance 8.7 +/- 1.1 ml/min/kg. Although the doses required to obtain a satisfactory neuromuscular blockade as well as the plasma level, volume of distribution and plasma clearance values were higher in the pig than in man, the distribution and elimination half lives were similar to those recently reported. PMID- 2633925 TI - Single and multiple dose pharmacokinetics of a new NSAID (droxicam) in healthy volunteers. AB - The pharmacokinetics of droxicam, both as a single 10 mg dose and as a multidose regimen of 10 mg/day for 20 consecutive days, have been studied in healthy volunteers. The study was performed in two separate groups of volunteers. Following a single dose the Cmax was 0.82 +/- 0.15 micrograms/ml, the Tmax was achieved at 6.1 +/- 3.5 h, the elimination half life was 65.7 +/- 17.6 h, the Clt/F was 2.04 +/- 0.53 ml/min, the Vd/F was 11.0 +/- 1.7 l and the AUC infinity was 86.9 +/- 24.6 mugh/ml, which was similar to results reported in other study from piroxicam (10 mg). Following multiple doses the Cmed(ss) was 2.06 +/- 0.42 microgram/ml, the Tmax(ss) was 8.2 +/- 6.0 h, the elimination half life was 41.4 +/- 12.4 h, the Clt/F was 3.30 +/- 0.63 ml/min, the Vd/F was 11.8 +/- 4.3 l and the AUC infinity was 52.4 +/- 11.3 mugh/ml. The differences encountered between single and multiple dose administration in elimination kinetics are due to the wide interpersonal variation described for the elimination half life of piroxicam. It may be concluded from these results that absorption, elimination and bioavailability kinetics of droxicam are independent of the administered dose. PMID- 2633926 TI - Metabolic disposition of ajmaline. AB - Urine was collected from six patients receiving a continuous infusion of 20 mg/h ajmaline. Pooled urine was extracted with and without enzymatic conjugate cleavage or hydrolysis with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Ajmaline and its metabolites in urine were identified in the form of their acetylated derivatives. Twenty two different acetylated derivatives of ajmaline and its metabolites could be detected. Three of these derivatives were artifacts generated by acetylation and/or thermal decomposition. The major metabolic pathways were mono- and di hydroxylation of the benzene ring with subsequent O-methylation, reduction of the C-21, oxidation of the C-17 and C-21-hydroxyl function, N-oxidation, and a combination of these metabolic steps. Ajmaline and its metabolites were mainly excreted in the form of their conjugates. Furthermore, the interference of sparteine, debrisoquine, quinidine, and nifedipine with ajmaline metabolism was studied with semiquantitative thin-layer chromatography. Ajmaline metabolism was inhibited by co-administration of sparteine or quinidine, but not by debrisoquine or nifedipine. Sparteine most likely competed with ajmaline metabolism. Quinidine probably bound competitively to ajmaline-metabolizing enzymes without being metabolized itself. Additionally, the metabolic ratio of hydroxyajmaline/ajmaline in urine was determined in 9 extensive metabolizers and one poor metabolizer of dextromethorphan. The poor metabolizer had a significantly reduced metabolic ratio of hydroxyajmaline/ajmaline, which indicates that ajmaline metabolism probably co-segregates with polymorphic sparteine/debrisoquine/dextromethorphan metabolism. PMID- 2633927 TI - Pharmacokinetics/bioavailability of colchicine in healthy male volunteers. AB - In a randomized 2-way cross-over study with twelve healthy male volunteers, two colchicine preparations (tablets, A vs. oral solution, B) were tested. The preparations were administered as single doses of 1 mg; prior to and up to 72 h after medication blood samples were collected and the plasma colchicine concentrations determined. Additionally urine samples were collected at 0-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-24, 24-48, 48-72 and 72-96 h intervals. The colchicine plasma and urine concentrations were determined by a newly developed and validated RIA method. The mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC-1, AUC-3) was calculated as 23.95 +/- 12.10 (AUC-1) and 26.73 +/- 12.75 (AUC-3) h.ng/ml after application of A and 28.01 +/- 14.74 (AUC-1) and 31.57 +/- 16.58 (AUC-3) h.ng/ml after application of B, respectively. Mean peak plasma concentrations of 4.15 +/- 2.35 (A) and 4.88 +/- 3.90 (B) ng/ml were reached at 1.15 +/- 0.38 (A) and 1.13 +/- 0.42 (B) h after application. The mean terminal half-lives accounted for 9.31 +/- 3.98 (A) and 10.57 +/- 5.53 (B) h. The mean total clearance (Cl/F) and volume of distribution (V/F) were found to be 40.12 +/- 20.87 (A) and 46.58 +/- 24.65 (B) l/h and 472.59 +/- 196.46 (A) and 624.89 +/- 304.09 (B) l, respectively. The mean total amount excreted in urine (Ae) was 172.66 +/- 91.51 (A) and 174.85 +/- 63.53 (B) micrograms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID- 2633928 TI - Piroxicam affects collagen changes around experimental intestinal anastomoses. AB - The effects of piroxicam on postoperative changes of collagen--measured as hydroxyproline--concentrations were measured around intestinal anastomoses in rats. Piroxicam, in a dose of 2 mg/kg/day, significantly reduced the decrease of hydroxyproline concentrations around colonic anastomoses during the first 3 days after the operation but also reduced the increase of hydroxyproline concentrations observed at day 7 around ileal anastomoses in the control group. 10 mg piroxicam/kg/day resulted in a 100% lethal peritonitis after the 5th postoperative day. We suggest that piroxicam affects collagen metabolism by inhibiting granulocyte functions. PMID- 2633929 TI - Multifocal gastric cancer in patients younger than 50 years of age. AB - To identify the high-risk group having a large number of cancerous lesions in the stomach, the histopathological characteristics of multifocal gastric cancer in 38 young patients (49 years old or younger, group A) were studied and compared with 204 older patients (at least 50 years old, group B). In terms of the number of foci, patients with over 4 foci (high-risk patients) were more frequent in group A (20%) than in group B (5%, p less than 0.05). In 80% of the patients in group A, each focus was near the borderline of both glands (pyloric and fundic glands) and was not always surrounded by intestinal metaplasia, while in 70% of the group B patients the lesions were scattered throughout the stomach and were surrounded by intestinal metaplasia. The carcinogenesis of multifocal cancer in group A, which differs from that in group B, might be stimulated by some strong carcinogenic promoters. PMID- 2633930 TI - Hemodynamic effects of mexiletine and disopyramide after cardioplegic arrest. AB - To study the hemodynamic side effects of mexiletine and disopyramide when administered before cardioplegic arrest 15 dogs underwent sham cardiac surgery with a 90-min period of aortic cross-clamping. 5 dogs served as control, 5 were given 8 mg/kg/day mexiletine and another five 11 mg/kg/day disopyramide for 1 week before surgery. On the day of surgery a continuous infusion was started. After reperfusion treated animals exceeded their preischemic blood pressure and regained their preoperative cardiac output. Compared to control animals left ventricular work was higher in the treated animals after reperfusion. The two tested type I antiarrhythmics tend to add to myocardial protection when given before cardioplegic arrest and do not exhibit negative inotropic side effects. PMID- 2633931 TI - Rib fracture healing after osteosynthesis with wire mesh titanium and screws: a histological study in sheep. AB - Twenty sheep were placed under general anesthesia and five ribs (6-10) were transected at their lateral angle using a pair of rib shears. The fractures were stabilized by titanium wire mesh plates. After 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks groups of 4 animals were sacrificed and rib samples were prepared for histological examinations. The study showed that the osteosynthesis stabilized the fractures and that the healing is similar to untreated rib fractures. This osteosynthesis method is a good contribution to severe injured chest treatment. PMID- 2633932 TI - Isolation and characterization of pig lymphocyte Fc receptor. AB - Fc gamma Receptor contained in a mixture of plasma-membrane components released from pig peripheral blood lymphocytes following a 4----37 degrees C temperature shift was isolated by affinity chromatography on immobilized pig IgG. The main component of the receptor preparation exhibited an apparent molecular weight of 40-43 kDa in SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Specificity of interaction of isolated Fc gamma receptor with immobilized pig IgG (Ka = 5.4 x 10(6) M-1) was investigated by competitive radioimmunoassay employing labelled Fc gamma receptor. The interaction was specifically inhibited by pig IgG, its Fc fragment, and less so by its pFc' fragment. Inhibition by peptides prepared from the pig IgG CH3 domain pointed to the heavy chain segment between residues 340 and 380 as the probable location of the binding site. In the competitive assay, bovine, human, mouse and guinea pig IgGs were as effective inhibitors as the homologous IgG, while rabbit IgG produced weaker inhibition. The amino acid composition of the pig lymphocyte Fc gamma receptor was determined. Comparison with the amino acid compositions of some other Fc receptors and other proteins revealed its structural relatedness to several Fc gamma receptors of lymphoid cells and to the poly-Ig receptor. In addition, the comparison of amino acid compositions suggested a structural relationship between the pig Fc gamma receptor and some seemingly unrelated proteins. PMID- 2633933 TI - Transplantation of nuclei from 2- to 16-cell embryos into enucleated blastomeres of 2-cell mouse embryos. AB - Individual blastomeres of 2-, 4-, 8- and 16-cell embryos were fused with enucleated blastomeres of 2-cell embryos. The percentage of fused nuclear donor/recipient pairs was high (92 to 100%). Most of the reconstituted embryos cleaved twice within 24 h of in vitro culture and 83% to 95% developed to the morula or blastocyst stage. Increasing the number of blastomeres in reconstituted embryos by the construction of aggregates from blastomeres obtained 24 h after nuclear donor/recipient fusion was effective. All constructed aggregates reached the morula or blastocyst stage within 30 h of in vitro culture. The normal day-13 implantations were recorded after the transfer of reconstituted "half" embryos and aggregates when 8-cell blastomeres were used as nuclear donors. PMID- 2633934 TI - Parthenogenetic activation of cattle oocytes by a single pulse of direct current. AB - Bovine follicular oocytes cultured in vitro for 26-27 h were exposed to AC/DC cycle. Mature and immature oocytes were effectively parthenogenetically activated by a single DC-pulse of a different voltage. Application of AC/DC cycle with 60 V DC-pulse (30 microseconds) resulted in 96% of activated mature and 94% of activated immature oocytes. The high activation rate was also recorded when oocytes were treated with higher voltage. The exposure of oocytes to 120 V and 240 V pulses increased the number of degenerated oocytes (6% to 46%) and incidence of oocytes with two pronuclei. The resumption of meioses was observed in 92% of mature and 88% of immature oocytes 1 h after DC-pulse and pronuclei formation was recorded in 72% of mature and 40% of immature oocytes after 6 h of IVC. Two-cell stage parthenogenones were obtained after prolonged IVC (22%) or after transfer into mouse oviducts for 44 h (61%). Possible use of parthenogenetic pronuclear oocytes and 2-cell parthenogenones in pronuclear/nuclear microinjection and nuclear transplantation experiments is outlined. PMID- 2633935 TI - Patterns of physiological cell death and mitoses in the apical ectodermal ridge in normodactylous and polydactylous rat limb buds. A quantitative evaluation. AB - Limb buds in normally developing foetal rats and rats with the polydactyly-luxate syndrome at day 14 and 15 of intrauterine growth were studied at the optical and electron microscopic levels. Four sets of limb buds were collected and evaluated: 14th e.d.N., 14th e.d.P., 15th e.d.N., and 15th e.d.P. (e.d. embryonic day, N - normodactylous, P - polydactylous); they were studied for apical ectodermal ridge development with reference to the rates of cell death and mitosis. Both phenomena were evaluated quantitatively. A significant difference was found in the rate of physiological cell death, which was far lower in polydactylous (4.33 and 28.73) as compared with normodactylous individuals (62.40 and 82.11 cell deaths per 300 cells in the ridge on days 14 and 15). The difference found documents a considerable retardation in cell death rate in the polydactylous apical ectodermal ridge epithelium. Physiological cell death is associated with a process called apoptosis, which is characterized by the presence of "apoptotic bodies" in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells and in the intercellular space. The total number of mitoses in the ridge epithelium was relatively low (4.63 - 6.33 per 300 cells) and the differences between norm and polydactyly were not statistically significant. PMID- 2633936 TI - Cytoplasts from two-cell embryos for nuclear transplantation in the mouse. AB - Cytoplasts for nuclear transplantation were prepared by microsurgical enucleation of one or both blastomeres of C57BL/6J and 129/Sv-ter 2-cell embryos. The survival of cytoplasts was high (85 to 97%) in both inbred strains. When cytoplasts with a "doubled" amount of cytoplasm were prepared by electrofusion of enucleated blastomeres in individual embryos, the fusion rate in C57BL/6J embryos was 93% while in 129/Sv-ter only 2%. Similar fusion rates were obtained for C57BL/6J (100%) and 129/Sv-ter (7%) embryos when enucleated and intact blastomeres were fused. The live foetuses and young born after transfer of manipulated embryos into day-1 recipients showed that enucleation and electrofusion were compatible with normal pre- and post-natal development. PMID- 2633937 TI - Haemopoiesis in murine bone marrow and spleen after fractionated irradiation and repeated bone marrow transplantation. I. Erythropoiesis. AB - Erythropoiesis was studied in mice repeatedly subjected to individual doses of 3 Gy of 60Co gamma-rays at 4-day intervals up to a total dose of 24 Gy on the basis of total bone marrow and spleen cellularity follow-up and analysis of myelograms and splenograms. Half of the mice received 10(6) nuclear cells of syngeneic bone marrow after each fractional radiation dose. It was mainly the spleen which was involved in the adaptation and regeneration of erythropoiesis, its contribution to total erythropoiesis in bone marrow recipients having been as much as 73.9% (day 20 of experiment, total dose 15 Gy). In mice only irradiated, the number of nuclear cells of erythroid lineage decreased to zero values sooner in the spleen (day 16 of experiment, total dose 12 Gy) when compared to the bone marrow (day 24 of experiment, total dose 18 Gy). Analysis of the results of collections made on day 9 after the last irradiation, however, revealed that the haemopoietic microenvironment of the spleen and haemopoietic cells capable of differentiation in the erythroid direction are so resistant to irradiation in only irradiated mice that erythropoiesis in their spleens exhibits signs of regeneration even after the highest total dose of 24 Gy. PMID- 2633938 TI - Haemopoiesis in murine bone marrow and spleen after fractionated irradiation and repeated bone marrow transplantation. II. Granulopoiesis. AB - Granulopoiesis was studied in mice repeatedly subjected to individual doses of 3 Gy of 60Co gamma-rays at 4-day intervals up to a total dose of 24 Gy on the basis of total bone marrow cellularity follow-up and analysis of myelograms and splenograms. Half of the mice received 10(6) nuclear cells of syngeneic bone marrow after each fractional radiation dose. After an initial steep decrease, the number of granuloid cells in the spleen increased about 30-fold between days 12 and 16 of the experiment (total dose 9 and 12 Gy, respectively). This increase was temporary and between days 20 and 24 (total dose 15 and 18 Gy, respectively) a steep decrease again occurred. At a low level (below 10% of the control value) remained the granuloid cells in the spleens of bone marrow recipients until the end of the experiment (day 37, total dose 24 Gy). The behaviour of the granuloid compartment of haemopoiesis thus contrasts with findings in the erythroid compartment (see Hofer et al., 1989b) when high numbers of erythroid nuclear cells remained in the spleens of bone marrow recipients until the end of the experiment. On the whole, the influence of repeated bone marrow transplantation on granulopoiesis in the bone marrow and spleen is positive. Of the 22 comparisons made between bone marrow recipients and mice only irradiated, 14 differences are statistically significant, always in favour of bone marrow recipients. PMID- 2633939 TI - Regulation of fibronectin, integrin and cytoskeleton expression in differentiating adipocytes: inhibition by extracellular matrix and polylysine. AB - The differentiation of 3T3 preadipocytes into adipocytes is characterized by major changes in cell morphology from a fibroblastic to a rounded shape and by the induction of gene expression related to lipid metabolism. We have studied the synthesis and mRNA levels of proteins involved in the formation of cell-matrix contacts and in defining cell shape to determine the role and molecular basis of these morphological changes during adipose conversion. When confluent preadipocyte cultures were stimulated with adipogenic medium there was a gradual decrease in the expression of fibronectin, beta-integrin, actin and in the microfilament-associated proteins vinculin, alpha-actinin and tropomyosin. The changes in extracellular matrix and cytoskeletal mRNA levels were apparent before the accumulation of glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) mRNA and continued during the massive increase in GPD mRNA level. The culturing of preadipocytes on an extracellular matrix deposited on the dish by corneal endothelial cells, or on substrata coated with polylysine, prevented the morphological changes, the decrease in the level of assembled actin, the accumulation of lipid and the shifts in the expression of integrin, cytoskeletal proteins and GPD. In cells cultured on malleable hydrated collagen gels, adipocyte differentiation proceeded at normal rates. The results suggest that the regulated expression of proteins involved in the formation of the transmembrane linkage between the extracellular matrix and the microfilaments are programmed regulatory events that affect cell adhesion and thereby cell shape during adipocyte differentiation. PMID- 2633941 TI - [Idiopathic portal hypertension. Study of 35 cases at the Salvador Zubiran National Nutrition Institution]. PMID- 2633940 TI - Retinoids, sex steroids and glucocorticoids regulate ectocervical cell envelope formation but not the level of the envelope precursor, involucrin. AB - In spite of extensive study of the reproductive tract, little knowledge is available regarding the function of ectocervical epithelial (ECE) cells. In the present study we utilized a feeder layer of 3T3 cells to grow homogeneous cultures of human ectocervical epithelial cells and demonstrated the presence of the cornified envelope precursor, involucrin. Treatment of these cultures with 1 nM Ro 13-6298, a synthetic analogue of trans-retinoic acid, suppresses envelope formation 6-fold with half-maximal suppression at 0.005-0.01 nM. Treatment with 1 microM hydrocortisone elevates envelope production 2.5-fold. Sex steroids also regulate desquamation: 10 nM diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen, increases envelope levels 2- to 3-fold, while 300 nM progesterone reduces envelope production 2- to 3-fold. In spite of the retinoid-, glucocorticoid- and sex steroid-stimulated changes in envelope production, the level of the envelope precursor, involucrin, remains constant. Our results suggest: (1) that, in vivo, ectocervical cell squame formation is regulated by the combined direct action of estrogens, progestins, glucocorticoids and retinoids; and (2) that envelope formation is not regulated by changes in the cellular content of the envelope precursor, involucrin. We present a model summarizing the estrogen, progestin, glucocorticoid and retinoid effects on ectocervical epithelial cell function. PMID- 2633942 TI - [Classic dengue and hemorrhagic dengue in Mexico]. PMID- 2633943 TI - [Fibrobronchoscopy teaching using dynamic images in television]. PMID- 2633944 TI - [Molecular detection of cystic fibrosis in a Mexican family. From molecular biology to medicine]. PMID- 2633946 TI - [Integral practice of medicine]. PMID- 2633945 TI - [Endomyocardial fibrosis]. PMID- 2633947 TI - [Participation of the olfactory system in the regulation of food intake]. AB - Evoked potentials in the olfactory bulb (OB), lateral hypothalamus (HL) and rostral portion of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS), were recorded after cervical vagus nerve stimulation. The slow component in the OB only was recorded in the periglomerular layer. Electrolytic lesion of the NTS, abolished the evoked potentials in the OB by vagus nerve stimulation. The results of the present experiments indicate that the pathway from the vagus nerve to OB go into the NTS but probably not into the LH. PMID- 2633948 TI - [Prognostic classification of cerebral cysticercosis. Therapeutic implications]. PMID- 2633949 TI - [Results of severe aplastic anemia treated with antilymphocytic globulin]. AB - The best results of the therapeutic immunosuppression in a plastic anemia have been obtained with antilymphocyte globulin (ALG). Considering this, 14 patients with this disease, 9 females and 5 males, from 8 to 60 years of age, were given ALG (40 mg/K/day/4 days) and corticosteroids. Fifty one percent of them, older than 30 years of age, showed partial or minimal remissions of the disorder. According to this result ALG administration together with bone-marrow transplantation in younger patients may offer effective treatment for a generally fatal disease to a greater number of patients. PMID- 2633950 TI - [Hypoplasia of the intrahepatic bile ducts. A clinicopathologic study]. AB - Paucity of intrahepatic bile ducts is considered part of the differential diagnosis of cholestatic syndromes in infancy. The purpose of this work is to inform the experience at the Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez in the last few years on this entity. We reviewed the clinical charts as well as the biopsies of 31 patients with paucity of intrahepatic bile ducts. We find a slight male preponderance; the vast majority of patients were under three months of age. Cholestasis was the most frequent finding with significant clinicopathologic correlation. The remaining findings were similar to those previously reported, except for a peculiar distortion of the hepatic architecture which may be secondary to the hypoplastic development of the biliary tree. Finally, it is possible that the failure to thrive observed in this patient may commence in utero. PMID- 2633951 TI - [Student evaluation of the professor's performance and its effects on teaching effectiveness]. AB - A prospective study of educational research was carried out. Its type was observational, comparative and longitudinal being its main objective to determine whether the student evaluation of the teachers' performance and the immediate feedback that the students gave to the teachers are useful to improve teaching effectiveness. An instrument of evaluation was outlined with the students give a certain grade on the teaching performance of eleven physicians who participated as teachers in three or four courses for training of medical teachers. Each teacher's grades were compared with the ones they got in preceding courses, and a significant statistical difference was observed in almost all the cases (p less than 0.001) which was interpreted as an improvement in performance after receiving the immediate feedback at the end of the previous course. There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.86) between different tests applied to the students and the grades that the students give to the teachers. The instrument of evaluation turned out to be reliable and reasonably valid. In conclusion, the evaluation that the students make of the teaching performance and the immediate feedback that the teacher receives are of great help to improve teaching effectiveness. PMID- 2633952 TI - [A comparative audiometric study inside and outside of a sound-absorbing chamber]. AB - Results of audiometric studies carry out in fifty patients previously diagnosed as bilateral corthipathy caused by chronic acoustic trauma. The studies were performed with the same audiometer in a silent chamber, and out of it, in a audiology service from a social security institution along 1988. The analysis of results show that both procedures have the same accuracy for the assessment of the audiologic level, and are confidential for the diagnosis and evaluation of secuelae. PMID- 2633953 TI - [Acute abdomen or lead poisoning: a diagnostic dilemma?]. PMID- 2633954 TI - [An integral system of quality control at the Mexican Institute of Social Security]. PMID- 2633955 TI - [Purine-low diets keep after a year the glomerular filtration, in moderated kidney insufficiency]. PMID- 2633956 TI - [Immunologic classification of acute leukemias in Puebla city, Mexico: 3 years' experience]. PMID- 2633957 TI - [Arteriovenous malformations of the occipital lobe]. PMID- 2633958 TI - [Giant bronchiectasis caused by chronic inhalation of porcine hair]. AB - A rare case of gigantic bronchiectasis consecutive to chronic inhalation of pork hair (hog's bristle) is presented. The possible pathogenic mechanisms are discussed. The case was subject to surgical resection of the affected lung segment, lingula. PMID- 2633959 TI - In vitro effects of gossypol and lactic acid on rat uterus and ovary during implantation and antiimplantation. AB - ATPase activity of uterus and ovary was markedly elevated in presence of gossypol and decreased in presence of lactic acid indicating activation and inhibition of energy metabolism by gossypol and lactic acid respectively. The elevated levels of glycogen in uterus indicate inhibition of glycogenolysis as supported by phosphorylase activity. Whereas in ovary the glycogen depletion indicates activation of glycogenolysis supported by phosphorylase activity. The activity levels of aldolase and G-6-PDH decreased in the uterus in presence of gossypol and increased in presence of lactic acid. The same were elevated in ovary indicating the activation of hexose mono and diphosphate pathways. Lactic acid accumulated in presence of both gossypol and lactic acid with a depletion in level of pyruvic acid in both the tissues. This situation in the uterus indicates the condition of anti-implantation in presence of both gossypol and lactic acid. The NAD-LDH activity was inhibited in presence of gossypol and activated in presence of lactic acid in both tissues. PMID- 2633960 TI - Appearance of C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum and liver cytosol of cadmium treated rats. AB - The possibility of stimulation of C-reactive protein (CRP) due to inflammation and necrosis caused by cadmium was investigated. Cadmium injection (less than 3 mg/kg body weight) in white rat was found to be associated with the appearance of CRP in liver cytosol after 8 hr and in serum after 18 hr of injection. Although, no definite dose-response relationship was found, yet CRP level was elevated drastically, varying from 1-4 mg/g wet weight liver and 0.3-0.7 mg/ml serum. CRP positive serum from Cd-treated rats precipitated with normal rat serum on agarose covered slides in the presence of 1 mM CaCl2. Evidences for raised level of CRP indicates acute tissue damage in the animal. PMID- 2633961 TI - Pharmacology of scorpion (Lychas laevifrons Pock) venom with special reference to its neuromuscular activity. AB - L. laevifrons venom caused irreversible blockade of electrically induced twitch responses on phrenic nerve diaphragm and chick biventer cervicis preparation. The venom lowered cat blood pressure, caused a brief cardiac arrest and increased cutaneous capillary permeability. It contracted several smooth muscle preparations. The quick contraction produced on guinea pig ileum was partly antagonized by mepyramine and completely by methysergide. The residual slow contraction was antagonized by SC 19220, a prostaglandin blocker. Haemolysis was not produced by the venom on human RBC. LD50 of crude venom in mice was 13.8 mg/kg (iv). PMID- 2633962 TI - Effects of textile dye stuff effluent on food utilization of Cyprinus carpio (Linn.). AB - Dye stuff effluent at 15% caused 100% mortality within 24 hr; 96 hr LC50 value being 10% concentration. Prolonged exposure of C. carpio to chosen sublethal concentrations (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9%) reduced the food intake and increased the maintenance cost. Exposure also caused significant reduction in growth rate and conversion efficiency; these values averaged to 11 mg/g/day and 28% in the control group (0% concentration) respectively and decreased to 0.8 mg/g/day and 4% respectively at 9% concentration. PMID- 2633963 TI - Highly specific sites of prolactin binding in benign and malignant breast tissue. AB - An immunocytochemical method involving the application of polyclonal antisera to human prolactin (PRL) followed by a highly sensitive and a modified version of dinitrophenyl (DNP) hapten sandwich staining procedure using anti-DNP IgM monoclonal antibody has been used to detect PRL binding in benign and malignant breast tissue. The technique was applied to 5 microns thick sections of paraffin embedded formalin fixed tissue. Out of 107 breast biopsies 40 were carcinomas, 41 were fibroadenomas, 18 were benign cystic disease and 8 were gynaecomastia. In cases of carcinoma positive staining was observed in 82.5% cases whereas in fibroadenoma the positivity was in 57% cases only. The positive reaction in fibroadenoma was mainly due to the presence of apocrine metaplasia associated with the tumour. Also PRL was present in greater proportion in post menopausal patients as compared to premenopausal cancer patients. These findings suggest the presence of specific PRL binding sites in breast tissue. The staining was restricted to epithelial cells and background staining of the stroma was minimally seen in these cases. Positively stained breast carcinoma may represent an apocrine subset of the carcinoma. PMID- 2633964 TI - Evaluation of a colorimetric method for vitamin A estimation. AB - A simple colorimetric procedure for plasma vitamin A is evaluated, which does not require sophisticated or expensive equipment. Vitamin A values obtained with 30 human plasma samples and 11 liver samples obtained from lactating rabbits, using a colorimetric procedure based on Carr-Price reaction with ferric chloride and acetyl chloride were compared with those obtained with spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric micro methods. With widely varying plasma samples, the values showed a high degree correlation and good agreement. The intraassay variation was 3% which is in the acceptable range. The plasma samples could be analysed within 4 weeks and the reagents, were found to be stable, unlike some batches of trifluoro acetic acid (TFA). PMID- 2633965 TI - Inhibition of anticonvulsant action of carbamazepine by aminophylline and caffeine in rats. AB - Interaction of two well known methyl xanthines, aminophylline--an antiasthmatic agent--and caffeine--commonly present in beverages, on the seizure protective ability of carbamazepine (CBZ) against electrically and chemically induced seizures in rats was investigated. Aminophylline (75 mg/kg, ip) did not alter the activity of CBZ (10 mg/kg, ip; ED100) on maximal electroshock seizures while dose dependent antagonism of CBZ efficacy was seen at 100 and 150 mg/kg, ip. Similar effects were observed with caffeine (200 and 250 mg/kg, ip). At the highest tolerated doses, aminophylline (150 mg/kg, ip) and caffeine (250 mg/kg, ip) produced antagonism of CBZ protection against pentylenetetrazole seizures. These observations support the possibility that the antagonism due to the interaction of these drugs could be related to their action at adenosine receptor sites in the brain. PMID- 2633966 TI - Effects of ingestion of thermally oxidized edible oils on plasma lipids, lipoproteins and postheparin lipolytic activity of rats. AB - Acute (after 4 hr) and short-term (after 7 days) effects of ingesting heated and unheated groundnut, coconut and safflower oils on plasma lipids, lipoproteins and postheparin lipopolytic activity (PHLA) were studied in rats. All heated oils were characterized by increases in carbonyl value, peroxide value and free fatty acid (FFA) content, except heated coconut oil which showed a decrease in FFA content. Heating procedure also did not alter to an appreciable extent their fatty acid compositions. Acute and short-term effects of feeding heated and unheated oils showed no significant differences in rat plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides, total phospholipids, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol + very-low density lipoprotein cholesterol, TC/HDL-C ratio and PHLA. Inspite of certain changes in some of the indices of thermal alteration of these heated oils, consumption of such heated oils by rats did not have any significant effect on various plasma parameters in these animals. PMID- 2633967 TI - Effect of corticosteroids on carbohydrate metabolism in Bufo melanostictus (Schneider). AB - A single injection of corticosterone (1 or 5 micrograms/50 g body weight) produced a significant elevation in plasma glucose, liver and muscle glycogen contents of B. melanostictus. Single but identical doses of aldosterone had no effect on plasma glucose concentration. Liver and muscle glycogen contents were however significantly augmented. Administration of 1 or 5 micrograms corticosterone and 1 microgram or 200 ng aldosterone/50 g body weight, for 15 days, caused no change in plasma glucose concentration. In all the groups receiving corticosterone or aldosterone for 15 days, liver and muscle glycogen contents significantly increased. The magnitude of increase in liver and muscle glycogen by aldosterone was marginally greater than that by corticosterone. The results suggest that both the corticosteroids may be gluconeogenic in B. melanostictus. PMID- 2633968 TI - Xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and lipid peroxidation in Mastomys natalensis: effect of Dipetalonema viteae infection. AB - Status of xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and lipid peroxidation, the enzymes metabolizing reactive oxygen intermediates in liver, lungs and spleen of M. natalensis during D. viteae infection was investigated. Xanthine oxidase and lipid peroxidation exhibited stimulation, while superoxide dismutase and catalase showed depression in liver and spleen of the infected animals. The filarial infection therefore appears to create O2 toxicity in these tissues. Lungs, on the other hand was found safe as it possessed elevated xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Lipid peroxidation in lungs operated below the control level. The impact of these changes in the establishment and development of the infection has been discussed. PMID- 2633969 TI - Synovial fluid changes in mycoplasma induced septicaemic polyarthritis of goat kids. AB - Synovial fluid samples of goat kids inoculated (ip) with 5 ml of 48 hr log phase culture of Mycoplasma mycoides sub sp. mycoides (large colony type) containing 10(7) cfu/ml were analysed for physical, cytological and biochemical properties. The synovial effusions were exudative in nature with increased volume. Gross appearances were serofibrinous, haemorrhagic and turbid containing flocculent materials with immediate clot formation. Mucinous precipitate quality was very poor having friable precipitates with cloudy supernatant. There were high total leucocytic and erythrocytic counts with significant high numbers of both neutrophils and lymphocytes. Synovial fluid sugar contents were significantly reduced, whereas total protein contents were significantly increased with concomitant reduction in albumin:globulin ratio. The alkaline phosphatase and transaminase values were also markedly increased in the synovial fluids of mycoplasma induced polyarthritic goat kids. The results may provide a clinical guideline for diagnosis, chemotherapy and prognosis of different joint diseases in domesticated animals. PMID- 2633970 TI - Effect of gossypol on few testicular enzymes in mature rats. AB - Effect of oral administration of gossypol acetic acid (15 mg/kg/day) for 10 weeks, on certain enzymes, which may be taken as markers for the different stages of spermatogenesis, was studied in male albino rats. Gossypol produced a significant decrease in hyaluronidase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, while no change was observed in beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase. A significant increase in the total lactate dehydrogenase activity was observed in the testis. The possible significance of these findings is discussed. PMID- 2633971 TI - Effect of herbicide banvel on rabbit vaginal mucus membrane. AB - Effect of banvel and its active ingredient, dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid) was investigated employing rabbit mucus membrane irritancy test. Inflammatory changes which did not exceed an average score of 2+ were observed in the animals 48 hr after a single intravaginal application of banvel (0.1 ml/rabbit) and dicamba (100 mg/rabbit). Persistent histopathological changes were observed in 1 out of 6 banvel-treated rabbits 15 days post-application. The results suggest that banvel and dicamba are not primary irritants but should nevertheless be employed with caution. PMID- 2633972 TI - Lysosomal membrane stabilization by antiinflammatory drugs. AB - Lysosomal enzymes are important mediators of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The release of lysosomal enzymes into cytoplasm stimulate the inflammatory mediators like oxygen radicals, prostaglandins etc. Enfenamic acid, a fenamate, along with other antiinflammatory drugs, did not stabilize lysosomal membrane isolated from normal and activated phagocytic polymorphonuclear leucocytes of different species. PMID- 2633973 TI - Effect of cod liver oil supplementation on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, lipase activity and platelet aggregation in normotensive and hypertensive volunteers. AB - No significant change in plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, phospholipids, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), lipase activity and TC/HDL-C ratio could be observed in both normotensive and hypertensive individuals after cod liver oil supplementation. Measure of platelet aggregation rates did not also show any significant change after cod liver oil ingestion in both normotensive and hypertensive individuals. The results suggest that supplementation of normal diets with 600 mg cod liver oil per day for 50 days neither affects plasma lipids, lipoproteins and lipase activity nor affects platelet aggregation in both normotensive and hypertensive individuals. PMID- 2633974 TI - Haematocytometrical changes in chicken blood to acute 60Co gamma radiation. AB - Newly hatched white leghorn chicks (Gallus domesticus) subjected to single whole body 2.25 Gy (225 rads) gamma radiation exposure at the dose rate of 0.50 Gy/sec (50 rads/sec), were studied for changes in a number of haematological parameters at days 1,3,5,7,14 and 28 post irradiation during development. The sudden decline and gradual recovery in total RBC and WBC counts and the level of Hb and Hct along with MCV, MCH and MCHC values evaluation indicates a high regenerative capability of leghorn chicks. PMID- 2633975 TI - Cyclopcidal activity of some new insect growth regulators. AB - A series of synthetic terpenoid diethers, with known mosquito development inhibitory activity, were tested for cyclopcidal activity against adult cyclops, Mesocyclops leuckarti. Four among these exhibited promising activity comparable to that of the conventional organophosphate, temephos, thus providing for the first time a possible reserve arsenal for the control of the guineaworm disease vector. PMID- 2633976 TI - Antigenic analysis of excretory-secretory products of Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi infective larval forms by SDS-PAGE. AB - Excretory-secretory (ES) products of W. bancrofti and the closely related B. malayi infective larval forms were analysed for their antigenic activity by SDS PAGE followed by Western blotting as well as by gel elution-sandwich ELISA using filarial serum immunoglobulin-G (FSIgG) as a capture antibody. In W. bancrofti infective larval ES products, the protein molecules of 66, 46, 35, 33, 30 and 14 kDa molecular wt. showed antigenic activity by immuno blotting technique. In sandwich ELISA technique eventhough all SDS-PAGE fractions except ESA 6 (55-47 kDa) showed antigenic positivity, the fractions ESA 8 (37-31 kDa) and ESA 9 (31 25 kDa) showed high reciprocal antigen titre of 262144 and 32768 respectively. In B. malayi infective larval ES products, the protein molecules of 109, 102, 97 and 77 kDa molecular wt. showed reactivity with FSIgG by blotting technique, where as in sandwich ELISA except ESA 7 (47-37kDa), all fractions showed antigenic positivity. However, these fractions failed to show high antigen titre similar to W. bancrofti ES products with FSIgG. PMID- 2633977 TI - Effect of masheri, a pyrolysed tobacco product on carcinogen metabolizing enzymes. AB - Studies on the modulation of the carcinogen metabolizing enzymes on treatment with masheri extract (ME) and benzo (a) pyrene (B (a)P), were carried out in male Sprague Dawley rats (12 weeks old) fed a nutritionally adequate standard diet. Injection (ip) of ME and B (a) P at 3/4 LD50 dose given in 3 doses at 24 hr interval increased the phase I activating enzymes, viz. cytochrome P-450, benzo (a) pyrene hydroxylase and benzphetamine demethylase while both ME and B (a) P significantly depleted glutathione content and decreased glutathione-S transferase activity. Furthermore, the same treatment of ME and B (a) P significantly depleted the hepatic vitamin A pool while a concommittant increase in vitamin C content was observed. PMID- 2633978 TI - Cyclic changes in salivary lactate dehydrogenase, peroxidase and leucine aminopeptidase during menstrual cycle. AB - Salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), peroxidase (Px) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activities were scanned in both normally ovulating and anovulating women during entire menstrual cycle. In ovulating women, all the three enzymes exhibited significant increase in the activity on or before the onset of ovulation which was monitored by the shift of the basal body temperature (BBT) as well as the ferning pattern of the cervical mucus. The peak maximum at the midcycle was several times higher than the previous day value in all the six normal women. In anovulatory women, no such remarkable change in the enzyme activities was found throughout the cycle. Salivary LDH and LAP showed peak at the midcycle and at the same time required short time for assay, so the present results are strongly suggestive that the determination of salivary enzyme content may be a convenient method for detecting the day of ovulation. PMID- 2633979 TI - Effect of pinealectomy and 5-methoxyindoles on Harderian gland activity of the Indian Jungle bush quail Perdicula asiatica. AB - The present study reveals that the annual Harderian gland weight cycle of P. asiatica has a direct relationship with the testicular cycle and an inverse relationship with the pineal gland cycle. Pinealectomy resulted in a significant decrease of the Harderian gland weight during the recurdescence (March-May) and active (April-June) phases. Subcutaneous implantation of melatonin (aMT) and 5 methoxytryptamine (MT) brought about a significant reduction during the recrudescence and active phases whereas subcutaneous injections of aMT, MT and 5 methoxytryptophol (ML) reduced Harderian gland weight effectively during the morning as well as in the evening hours in the active and inactive phases. PMID- 2633980 TI - Effect of corticosterone on epididymal lipids in pubertal rat. AB - Serum corticosterone excess was induced by the administration of corticosterone acetate to adrenal intact rats. Different lipid classes were studied in unwashed and washed (epididymal sperm and fluid free) caput and cauda epididymides. The unwashed caput epididymidis registered a significant decrease in total lipid, cholesterol and phospholipid while total glyceride glycerol and its fractions were not altered after corticosterone treatment. Among phospholipid fractions phosphatidyl inositol, choline and ethanolamine showed a significant decrease. Unlike the unwashed caput epididymidis, the washed caput region recorded a marked increase in total lipid, glyceride glycerol and its fractions. However, total lipid in the washed cauda region significantly increased and the increase was mainly due to triacyl glycerol. Though the phospholipid fractions phosphatidyl choline and ethanolamine showed an increase, the total phospholipid was not altered significantly. Serum testosterone and prolactin registered a significant decrease while gonadotropins were unaltered. On the withdrawal of corticosterone treatment, all the lipid classes turned to normalcy along with serum testosterone and prolactin. It is concluded that corticosterone excess favours lipid accumulation in the sperm free epididymal tissue and its influence on epididymis is region specific and reversible. PMID- 2633981 TI - Effect of antiulcerogenic drug, ranitidine, on intestinal absorption and digestive functions in mice. AB - Oral administration of antiulcerogenic drug ranitidine significantly inhibits glucose and amino acid uptake in small intestinal segments. It also inhibits activities of brush border membrane disaccharidases and alkaline phosphatase but increases the activity of leucine aminopeptidase. Kinetic analysis reveals noncompetitive and mixed type of inhibition for disaccharidases and alkaline phosphatase, respectively. In vitro addition of the drug to membrane preparation shows similar type of results as seen in vivo with the inhibition constant (ki) for sucrase, lactase, maltase and alkaline phosphatase as 12.5, 5, 11.5 and 19.5 mM, respectively. PMID- 2633982 TI - Toxicity of endosulfan on kidney of male rats in relation to drug metabolizing enzymes and microsomal lipid peroxidation. AB - Endosulfan administration (po, 15 and 30 days at 7.5 and 10 mg/kg body wt respectively) inhibited the activity of microsomal mixed function oxidases in kidney tissue of male rats. Microsomal and cytosolic protein contents of kidney were significantly increased following 30 days endosulfan exposures. Profound induction in the activity profiles of alcohol dehydrogenase and cytosolic glutathione s-transferase was noticed, however, no such change was apparent in the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase. Microsomal preparations from treated animals showed a dose and duration dependent increase in spontaneous lipid peroxidation. The observed biochemical changes persisted even after 7 days normalcy allowance provided after the endosulfan (10 mg/kg body wt) withdrawl. The results suggest a substantial renal toxicity of endosulfan to male rats in relation to microsomal mixed function oxidases and associated functions which possibly resulted from lipid peroxidative damage of microsomal membrane in treated animals. PMID- 2633983 TI - Fuel mobilization for energy metabolism in the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, during reproductive processes. AB - Flight muscles of male moth, B. mori seem to utilize carbohydrate preferentially as a source of energy for all its acrobatic movements during the search for female moth. Depletion of triacylglycerol from flight muscles without affecting its level from fat body suggests that this lipid fraction serves as a source of energy in flight muscles during insemination processes. Significant depletion of triacylglycerol and glycogen from flight muscles of female moth after egg laying indicates that they are used to meet the energy requirement of female during oviposition activity. Depletion of proteins from flight muscles of male and female insects suggest that these proteins are transported to the accessory reproductive glands to meet their protein demand. PMID- 2633984 TI - Effects of methyl [5 [[4-(2-pyridinyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl]-1H-benzimidazol-2 yl] carbamate on energy metabolism of Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. AB - Effects of methyl [5[[4-(2-pyridinyl)-1-piperazinyl] carbonyl] 1H-benzimidazol-2 yl] carbamate (CDRI Comp. 81-470) and mebendazole on the energy metabolism of A. ceylanicum and N. brasiliensis were compared. At 10 and 50 microM concentration both compounds inhibited glucose uptake and its conversion into metabolic endproducts. The shift towards the increased production of lactic acid appeared to be the result of inhibition of PEP carboxykinase and increase in LDH activity. The compounds also caused significant inhibition of ATP production in mitochondria. PMID- 2633985 TI - Microbial transformation of 13-ethyl-3-methoxy-8,14-seco-gona-1,3,5(10),9(11) tetraene-14, 17-dione to its 17-beta hydroxy derivative by Pichia farinosa in pilot plant fermentors. AB - Parameters for microbial transformation of 13-ethyl-3-methoxy-8, 14-seco-gona 1,3,5 (10), 9(11)-tetraene-14,17-dione to its 17 beta-hydroxy derivative by P. farinosa have been standardised in pilot plant fermentors. The yield of the pure crystalline compound was 80%. PMID- 2633986 TI - Change in acetylcholinesterase during early phase of experimental spinal cord trauma in primates. AB - Specific activity of acetylcholinesterase has been shown to be decreased following experimental spinal cord trauma (200 gcm) in primates. The decrease in activity was evident at 8, 24, 48 hr and 1 week after injury to the traumatized segments of spinal cord. PMID- 2633987 TI - Innocent and functional murmurs. PMID- 2633988 TI - Predicting fetal distress. PMID- 2633989 TI - Indications for cytogenetic studies. PMID- 2633990 TI - Use of appendix in biliary atresia. AB - Antiperistaltic appendiceal conduit based on its vascular pedicle was used as hepaticoporto-appendico-jejunostomy (HAJ) in 9 infants with advanced stage of biliary atresia. Operative procedure was simple and less time consuming. The postoperative cholangitis was conspicuously absent, possibly due to the role played by the presence of lymphoid follicles in the wall of the appendix. Our early experience with this technique shows that antiperistaltic appendiceal conduit works quite satisfactorily. The procedure has been successfully utilised to reduce the problems contributing post-operative morbidity and mortality in cases with the advanced disease. The HAJ procedure provides a conduit for bilioenteric drainage, that closely resembles to normal anatomy. PMID- 2633991 TI - Study of 1,26,266 consecutive births for major congenital defects. AB - Retrospective study was carried out in 1,15,851 consecutive births in five hospitals, and prospective study of 10,415 consecutive births in one hospital of West Bengal. The overall frequency of congenital defects was 4.42/1000 live births. Incidence of NTD and talipes was predominant in rainy season, whereas cleft palate with/without hare lip had highest frequency during winter. Incidence of these anomalies decreased with increasing birth order. The frequency was noted to decline with increasing maternal age, 21-25 years age group had maximum number of malformed babies. Sex ratio and religion, however, did not have any correlation with the incidence of these malformations. When comparison was done between urban and rural population no statistically significant variation was observed. PMID- 2633992 TI - Spectrum of congenital malformations in the newborns from rural Maharashtra. PMID- 2633993 TI - Hydroxyprolinemia. PMID- 2633994 TI - Multiple gastrointestinal atresias with intraluminal calcifications. PMID- 2633995 TI - Tuberculosis of lacrimal gland. PMID- 2633996 TI - Acute acalculous cholecystitis in a young child. PMID- 2633997 TI - Atrial flutter in infancy. PMID- 2633998 TI - Abdominal epilepsy. PMID- 2633999 TI - Primary Ewing's tumor of the skull at birth. PMID- 2634000 TI - Persistent diarrhoea. PMID- 2634001 TI - Vitamin A and diarrhoea. PMID- 2634002 TI - Integrated child development services programme. PMID- 2634003 TI - Monitoring and continuing education system in ICDS scheme--a module for national health programmes. PMID- 2634004 TI - Systemic lupus erythematosus in Indian children. AB - Twenty cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in prepubertal children (less than 14 years of age) were seen over a period of 14 years. The male:female ratio was 1:2.3, and the mean age at onset was 9.37 years. Fever with joint involvement was the commonest presenting manifestation (60%), followed by nephrotic syndrome (25%). Notable clinical features included a high incidence of renal involvement (75%), significant hypertension (45%) and reversibility of acute renal failure (2 cases). The other organs and systems involved included: mucocutaneous manifestations (60%), cardiovascular system (30%), respiratory system (25%), neuropsychiatric manifestations (45%), and anemia (75%). Raynaud's phenomenon and thrombocytopenia were rare while leucopenia was not seen in a single patient. Immunological abnormalities noted were 100% positivity for antinuclear antibodies, and 87.5 and 75% positivity for antibodies to double-stranded and single-stranded DNA, respectively. Hypocomplementemia was seen in 75% of patients tested. PMID- 2634005 TI - Cardiorespiratory response to stress test in normal Indian boys and adolescents. AB - Thirty-one boys between the ages of 9 and 17 years were subjected to submaximal exercise stress testing on a treadmill using the Bruce's protocol. All the children completed the test with the younger group (9-13) reaching Grade III and the older group boys (14-17) reaching Grade IV on an average. The heart rate, blood pressure and FEV1 during exercise compared well with other reported studies. On ECG analysis there were no significant ST segment changes or J junction depression. This study was conducted in well nourished boys from high socio-economic group who regularly took part in sports. PMID- 2634006 TI - Mother's attitude towards child's health education and play in ICDS and non-ICDS areas. AB - To lay the foundation for proper physical and psychological development of children is one of the stated objectives of Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, which is operational in India since 1975-76. This objective can not be achieved unless a positive change in maternal attitude is accomplished. The present investigation was conducted in an oldest project area of India to assess this change using an adjacent Non-ICDS area as control. Majority of the mothers in both the areas were apathetic towards the health, education and play of their children. Nevertheless one encouraging trend was also observed. Significantly higher number of mothers in ICDS area had positive attitude in all the three variables in comparison to mothers in Non-ICDS area. It appears that ICDS Scheme has given the start but to have more acceptable answers, in depth investigations at national level are needed. PMID- 2634007 TI - Childbirth spacing in a rural community of Delhi: profile in various marriage cohorts by decades. AB - Complete retrospective fertility histories of 843 ever married women of two villages in Delhi, obtained through house to house survey, were analysed to study various marriage cohorts by decades for trends of child birth spacing over a period of 60 years from 1921 to 1980. Spacing between consummation of marriage and first child birth gradually declined over the last 6 decades. For all other subsequent livebirths remained constant at an average of nearly 30 months. Irrespective of the reasons for such a trend, much more efforts are required to be put in to increase child spacing. PMID- 2634008 TI - Prescription audit of under six children living in periurban areas. AB - One hundred and seventy two children were prescribed, in 212 episodes of illness, antimicrobial agents (28.4%), followed by antidiarrheals (10.9%), nutritional products (9.4%), analgesics (7.5%) and steroids (6.8%). Ampicillin (22.7%) and cotrimoxazole (12.7%) were the most commonly prescribed antimicrobials. Tetracyclines, which are not indicated in children below 8 years, were used in 7.1% of total exposures of chemotherapeutic agents. Penicillin, a comparatively safe and useful drug, was used only in 4.5% exposures. Analgin and hydroxyquinolines were used frequently. Corticosteroids were used for simple ailments like diarrhea, fever and jaundice. ORS was used in only 13.9% episodes of diarrhea. Adverse drug reactions were noted in 30 (17.4%) cases and death in 6 (3.5%) cases. The average cost per prescription for neonates was Rs 32.43 and for a child was Rs 30.65. Weight of the children was not taken prior to prescribing drugs. There is need for prescription audit as there is high consumption rate of drugs, with overuse of antimicrobial and nutritional products, and misuse of steroids. PMID- 2634009 TI - Optimum radiation technique for retinoblastoma in conserved eyes. AB - The study evaluated 121 consecutive unoperated cases of retinoblastoma in children. They received radiation as the primary treatment for their ocular disease. The stage grouping was done according to Reese classification. Ninety four children had their disease evaluated by CT scan. All except one had imaged lesions in both eyes. In addition, twenty six had thickened optic nerves and twenty one showed chiasmal infiltration. Radiation field selection was based on clinical and CT imaged disease. A tumor dose of 4500c Gy in 16 to 19 fractions over 18 to 24 days was delivered by cobalt teletherapy. The target volume encompassed ora serrata anteriorly and optic chiasma posteriorly in all cases. Tumor response and patient survival was correlated with the initial stage and radiation factors utilised amongst them. Encouraging results were obtained using three field radiation technique with an open anterior field and a TDF between 75 and 90. PMID- 2634010 TI - National seminar on reducing incidence of cerebral palsy in children. PMID- 2634011 TI - Superstitious beliefs and practices during childhood illnesses. PMID- 2634012 TI - Osteopetrosis reports of four cases. PMID- 2634013 TI - An unusual presentation of hiatus hernia with esophageal stricture. PMID- 2634014 TI - Advanced pediatric genitourinary soft tissue sarcoma. PMID- 2634015 TI - Omphalopagus--successful separation of conjoined twins in the newborn period. PMID- 2634016 TI - Supraventricular tachycardia. PMID- 2634017 TI - Prune belly syndrome with intracranial angiomatous malformation.